Christus Heri Hodie Semper – Christ, Yesterday Today Forever!
>> This was the theme of the Great Jubilee year 2000.

The theme highlighted the great aspect of the perpetual divinity of the Lord.

He is the same.. yesterday, today and forever! (Heb 13:8)

However, not all are able to digest this fact, that Jesus, could be fully divine.
>> Not all are able to grasp this aspect that Jesus, could be the Son of God.

It is such a debating discussion over the Divinity of the Lord that forms the chunk of the Gospel of the Day.

One of the constant companions of the Lord, all through His life was..being hated!

It was especially His declaration on having a Divine origin that generated greater sparks of hatred.

The debate continues between Jesus and the Jews.
>>The Jews had immense pride in calling themselves as the children of their Father, Abraham.

As the debate continues, the Lord puts forward the gem of His defence…the core of His revelation: ” Truly truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM” (Jn 8:58)

Those words hit the critics of the Lord, direct on the face…
“Before Abraham was, I AM!”

>> “I AM” was the title of God Yawheh!
>> “I AM” was the sole privilege of the Lord Almighty!

This was the name that was given by God to Moses: “I AM who am. This is what you shall tell the Israelites: I AM sent me to you” (Ex 3:14)

>> It was pure blasphemy for any mortal to use it for oneself.
>> It was sheer heretical for any human to apply it to oneself.

I AM – the Name..
… demanded fear as to none other
… commanded respect as to no one
… contained awesomeness as in nothing else

And therefore, the Lord had to face the consequences of this “blasphemous” act:
“So they picked up stones to throw at Him” (Jn 8:59)

And so the life of the Lord expounds an important truth:
>> Where there is the mention of Divinity…
… there are forces of the evil seeking to cast it away.

>> Where there is the presence of the Divine…
… there are powers seeking to destroy the sacredness.

Jesus, the One hated the most, was the Most Divine.
>> Jesus, the One who was always contrary to the moods of the world, was the Most Divine

Fulton Sheen picks up this beautiful aspect, to present a secular, rational and a logical reasoning to see the Truth in the Holy Catholic Church.

We quote him here….

“If I were not a Catholic, and were looking for the true Church in the world today, I would look for the one Church which did not get along well with the world;
in other words, I would look for the Church which the world hated.
My reason for doing this would be, that if Christ is in any one of the churches of the world today, He must still be hated as He was when He was on earth in the flesh.

If you would find Christ today, then find the Church that does not get along with the world!

>> Look for the Church…
…  that is hated by the world as Christ was hated by the world!
…  that is accused of being behind the times, as our Lord was accused of being ignorant and never having learned.
… which men sneer at as socially inferior, as they sneered at Our Lord because He came from Nazareth.
… which is accused of having a devil, as Our Lord was accused of being possessed by Beelzebub, the Prince of Devils.
… which, in seasons of bigotry, men say must be destroyed in the name of God as men crucified Christ and thought they had done a service to God.
… which the world rejects because it claims it is infallible, as Pilate rejected Christ because He called Himself the Truth.
… which is rejected by the world as Our Lord was rejected by men.
… which amid the confusions of conflicting opinions, its members love as they love Christ, and respect its Voice as the very voice of its Founder, and the suspicion will grow, that if the Church is unpopular with the spirit of the world, then it is unworldly, and if it is unworldly it is other worldly. since it is other-worldly, it is infinitely loved and infinitely hated as was Christ Himself.

But only that which is Divine can be infinitely hated and infinitely loved.
>> Therefore the Church is Divine.”

>> Our own lives sometimes becomes an object of hate when we stand for Christ, the Truth

> The more we tend towards being Divine…
… the greater is the opposition we face.

> The more we tend towards being Spiritual…
… the higher is the shame we encounter.

Jesus, is the same, yesterday today and forever

As His true followers, we too will have to undergo agony, pain, humiliation and even suffering….
>> Let us be firm in His grace and stand bold, facing the challenges to our faith
>> Let us grow in our love and commitment to the Holy Church and share in Her suffering.

God Bless! Live Jesus!

There is a simple fable, perhaps known to many of us… of a swan….

The swan – white, beautiful and spotless – was pitying a poor pig, who was in its muddy environment.

It began to describe to the pig, that further up the river, there was a beautiful country – with green banks and rising slopes.

The swan invited the pig to join the happy company of the white swans that lived in that “pleasant country”.

The pig was pretty fascinated and was willing to go.
>> But it asked a question: ” Is there any marshy swamp in that pleasant country?”

“Oh no!” replied the swan, “the land is free from all mud and mire”

“Ah Hmm…” said the pig with face cast-down, “In that case, I am sorry, I cannot accompany you!
I must stay here in the swamp!”

An invitation to move from the dirty swamp to a pleasant country was extended…
… but the offer was refused and rejected!

So true is this fable, with respect to  our own experience in spiritual life.

>> We are constantly exhorted, to advance to  live in holiness and purity…
… but we stubbornly choose to inhabit in sin, shame and ignorance!

>> We are often invited, to move  into a life of spotlessness and sanctity..
… but we remain satisfied to dwell with the unclean and dirty things of life!

The Gospel of the Day is a continuation of the Jews  getting into arguments with Jesus on the question of His Divinity.

>> The Lord invites them open their eyes to see and experience the Truth…
… but they close their minds, and choose to remain stubborn, in their own understanding

>> The Lord exposes before them the futility of being ignorant and the advantage of knowing the Truth…
… but they wilfully choose to remain stuck in their past knowledge and be unwilling to open their hearts to possibilities of change.

Jesus, the Truth-Incarnate, declares:
” You will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free” (Jn 8: 31)

But the people retorted and answered: “… we have never been enslaved…” (Jn 8: 33)

They considered slavery from only a physical perspective!
>> They were extremely offended when Jesus considered them to be slaves!

But Jesus ( as he does always!) brings the focus into right perspective, and speaks of a deadlier form of slavery and a higher form of freedom…

>> A slavery to Sin…
… that causes one to be away from God and His people

>> A slavery to ignorance and error…
… that causes one to be closed to God’s Word and prevent His transformation to take place within

He invites to receive a Freedom in Him…
… that enjoins with knowing and doing the Father’s Will
… that liberates  one from the bondages of death, and leads into peace and joy!

The danger to remain stagnant in sinful or ignorant ways constantly lurks in our life:
>> The Truth of the Bible is often presented to us in appealing and interesting formats…
… but we often seek to remain ignorant or don’t show any interest to read and understand God’s Word

>> The beauty of the Sacramental Life and the Teachings of the Church is laid before our eyes…
… but we time and again, tend to be lethargic, casual and sometimes even, hostile to them

>> Our eyes often come into contact with the suffering lot of people, in and around us…
… but many times, we turn a blind eye to them and remain indifferent in our cosy lifestyle

Each of us needs a purification…
>> Each of us needs a movement…

A purification from our stubborn ways to a life of obedience and docility to God’s Word
>> A movement from a sluggish life of faith to being a fervent and committed Christian

Yes, Jesus is constantly extending His Nail-Scarred Hands to lead us to the “pleasant country” of holiness and sanctity.
>> Let us not deny his invitation and say:
“Ah Hmm…! I am sorry, I cannot accompany You!
I must stay here in the swamp!”

Instead,  let us make a self-examination of our state of life…
… realise the need to have a purification and a movement…
… and embrace and live with Jesus, the Truth, “Who sets us free”!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one’s own death.

Though it has many and wide range of reasons and factors, the cause is frequently attributed to mental disorders such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, borderline personality disorder, alcoholism, or drug abuse.
>> Stress factors such as financial difficulties or troubles with interpersonal relationships also often play a key role.

In this fast-paced world, where indifference has grown in a humongous manner, suicide is certainly one great tendency and trend.

This suicide is, mainly, of the physical order.

However…
There is also a “suicide” of the spiritual order!

>> How many of us have,  thought of the threat of suicide occurring, even with respect to our spiritual life?
>> How many of us, have considered, that there is a danger of suicide happening, even with respect to our life of faith?

The Gospel of the Day is a warning to be aware of the danger of “suicide” from a spiritual angle, that can occur in the soul of each person.

Jesus continues His revelation to the people, of He, being the ambassador of God, His Father.

He tells the people that “I am going away and you will look for me, but you will die in your sin” (Jn 8: 21)

The Lord refers to “dying in one’s sin”
 

This aspect of “dying in one’s sin”, which would be equivalent to a person committing suicide in the spiritual sense, could consist of various ways:

1. A person endangers oneself to “suicide” in the spiritual sense, when “one is too self-righteous” – an attitude of “I know everything – even more than God!”

When Jesus told that He is going away, the Jews said, “He is not going to kill Himself, is He, because He said, “Where I am going, you cannot come?” (Jn 8:22)

>> The Jews failed to understand the words of the Lord, because they were filled with pride of their knowledge, and considered themselves to know everything.

They were filled with a certain obstinacy in being open to the words of the Lord, and failed to see that there could be also other possibilities of looking at the words of Jesus.

2. A person risks the danger of “suicide” with respect to one’s faith, when “one fails to set one’s eyes heavenward, and instead gets fixated with earthly things”.

Jesus said to the Jews, ” You belong to what is below. I belong to what is above. You belong to this world, but I do not belong to this world” (Jn 8: 23)

The Jews had their thoughts and deeds centred only on the things of this world and failed to transcend their minds heavenward.
>> They were filled with a certain worldliness that made their concerns to be limited.

They were unable to understand the heavenly realities that the Lord presented before them, and…
…  even shut their eyes to make an attempt to understand them

3. A person exposes oneself to the perils of “suicide” from the spiritual point of view, when “one is wilfully ignorant of the Truth”.

Though Jesus had spoken much, performed much, the Jews still ask Him,” Who are you?”.
Jesus then said to them, “What I told you from the beginning” (Jn 8: 25)

>> The Jews had great many opportunities to discover faith in the Lord, as He had exposed them to many great wonders, taught several teachings and performed many deeds to show His divinity.

Though, they were learned in their scripture and laws, they failed to recognise the Source of the Scripture and the Giver of the Law.
>> Their minds were adamantly closed to the Reality.
>> Their hearts were purposely shut to the Truth.

The Lord moaned that these Jews were risking the danger of “committing suicide”,  spiritually… of “dying in one’s sins”.

This warning is addressed to us also….
>> Am I exposing myself to the risk of “losing my life, in sin”?
>> Am I endangering myself to the peril of “forfeiting my soul, in sin?”

Let us be wary of these menaces…
… to be adamantly self-righteous and being proud with our own knowledge and failing to trust in the mighty wisdom and power of the Lord.
… to be engrossed only in the affairs of this world and failing to raise our hearts to “seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness”.
… to be obstinately closed in spirit, to the promptings of the Lord through various inspirations and failing to see the hand of God in the wonders that occur in our lives.

Let us seek to live a life of self-emptying and self-giving, seeking the intercession of St Louis de Marillac, whose feast we celebrate today.

Let us give heed to her words – this Patron Saint of Social Workers:
“Be diligent in serving the poor.
Love the poor, honour them as you would Christ himself.”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

St. Augustine speaks of a conversation, he had, with an unbeliever.

The other man showed him his idol gods and said, “Here is my god; Where is thine?”
> He again pointed to the skies and said, “Lo, Here is my god; Where is thine?”
>>He further showed some of the land creatures and said, “behold, here is my god; Where is thine?”

“But” St Augustine says, ” I showed him not my God;
Not because I had not one to show him, but because he had not eyes to see Him”

Unless one open’s one’s eyes to the Divine realities…
… one cannot see the Divine!

If one chooses to remain closed to the light of Divinity…
… then one continues to remain in the darkness of life!

The Gospel of the Day is the account of Jesus presenting Himself as the Light of the World and his continued debate with the Pharisees, who chose to remain in the darkness of error and ignorance.

Jesus is at the Feast of the Tabernacles (Jn 7: 10)
>> It is a kind of a harvest festival.

It’s a festival of going up to Jerusalem and join in the festivities with many of the other farmers and vineyard-keepers…
… being grateful and expressing one’s thankfulness to God Yahweh, who has blessed with a good harvest.

In the evening of the Feastday, everyone gets together in the Court of the Women at the Temple to dance and praise God for his goodness.

There is an elaborate ceremony involving the pouring out of water from great pitchers and then the lamps are lit.
>> Four huge oil lamps are positioned around the courtyard and the priests’ assistants pour great quantities of oil into the bases of them.
>> Massive wicks are created from the worn-out clothing of the priests and stuffed into the necks.
>> Darkness falls quickly with very little twilight between the strong sunlight and the rising of the moon, which follows very rapidly at this time of year.

Suddenly the lamps are lit and the whole courtyard is bathed in their light.
>>  A cheer goes up from the revellers and from around the city, as the light can be seen from every part of Jerusalem.

Using the contrast between…
… the glowing exuberance of the brightly lit courtyard
… and the growing darkness in the atmosphere

>> Jesus makes a loud and bold proclamation:
“I am the light of the world.
Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (Jn 8: 12)

But the Pharisees objected and spoke in retort:
“You testify on your own behalf, so your testimony cannot be verified” (Jn 8: 13)

There was a contrast-play, on here….
>> The Temple was lit brightly
…. Jesus declared Himself as the Light of the World

>> The evening had set and the surroundings were growing darker
… The Pharisees, by rejecting the person of Jesus, chose to remain in darkness!

Jesus was constantly giving witness to the fact that He was the “light of the world”
>> He brought the light…
… of healing –  to those sick and in distress
… of salvation –  to those in sin and guilt
… of power and grace –  by His words and teachings

But the Pharisees and many of the “creamy class” of the Jewish society, chose to dwell in “darkness”
>> They remained in the darkness…
… of ignorance – by not being open to the teachings and works of Jesus
… of death – by continuing a  life of sin and error and refusing the offer of grace from Jesus

Jesus wishes to be the “light of our life”!

Do we open our hearts to allow His light to shine through us?
>> Or do we get stagnant in darkness, and choose to reject His teaching in our life…?

Do we seek the Lord in honesty seeking, to cause His light to shine in our minds?
>> Or do we remain indifferent in darkness, and get stuck to our pride mentality and lifestyle…?

One of the most tragic statements in the Bible reads thus:
” He came to His own, and His own rejected Him” (Jn 1: 11)

The Lord comes to us, today…
.. proclaiming Himself as the “light of the world”

Shall we not open our hearts, in repentance and contrition…
… and allow Him to reveal “the light” of His love and grace in our hearts?

God Bless! Live Jesus!

A small boy had done something wrong.

Unfortunately for him, he got caught up by his elder brother.

Caught red-handed, the little boy found himself, in the midst of a room full of elders…
… stern and hard-looking…waiting to scold him!

(The elders wanted the boy to understand the seriousness of his offence)

The boy looked at each one… with a sense of remorse and guilt…and a tear-stained face.

Seeing no sign of any of the elders relenting, the little boy burst into tears and asked:
“Oh, won’t somebody forgive me?”

Forgiveness is a treasure, that is sought after by many people in our world today
>> So many are broken….so many are hurt… so many are guilty

Maybe…
… they have committed mistakes, knowingly
… they have fallen into wrongs, without being aware
… they got trapped into situations of errors and faults

But each of them… asks us a question:
“Oh, won’t somebody forgive me?”

The Gospel of the Day is a beautiful testimony of a person who…
… found herself at the lowest ebbs of her life
… when everybody seemed to reject her
… and all seemed over and out!

Yet…
… was able to receive acceptance and forgiveness
… found herself to be called to renew her life
… and be given a chance, to live life anew!

All by the grace and power of the Lord, who intervened, and instilled a new hope and zeal in her…
… giving her an answer to the question: “Oh, won’t somebody forgive me?”

The incident in focus is the ‘infamous’ occurrence of the woman who was “caught” in adultery.

This is the story…
… of a tragic failure in life.
… of immense shame in life.
… of generous grace in life.

There are so many things to be pondered and reflected on, through this incident…

>> Think of the “mean” and “disgraceful” attitude of the people who “caught” this woman “in the act” (Jn 8:3)
…  Were they fitted with “special probing and lusty” eyes, that devilishly gazed into “intimate exchanges”, that too on an early morning?

>> Think of the “self-appointed” role of these “moralists” who sought to restore the innocence of the land, without realising that, perhaps, their own eyes were filled with lust, their hearts drenched in obscenity and their lives soaked in vulgarity.
… How was it that their “clean” consciences and “true” intentions caught hold of only the woman, “caught in the act”, whereas, the man involved, was left, scot-free?

>> Think of the “deadly” trap that they were laying before the Lord, in seeking to find his opinion on the accused woman
… How neatly they had trapped the Lord in a “most vicious” dilemma:
~~ If the Lord permitted death, it would be going against the Law of the land – of the Romans – since only the Romans were permitted to take the life of a person
~~ If the Lord did not allow to stone, He would be going against the Law of the Lord, which had ordered the stoning of the convicted adulterer to death.

>> If the Lord permitted killing, He would be going against His own teaching of mercy, and His fundamental mission of “coming to seek and save the lost”
>> If the Lord forgave her, He would be going against the principle of Justice, and that would be infringing the rights and duties of a Just God.

It was a near-perfect scene, for the religious leaders to dreadfully trap the Lord.
The woman had been caught “in the act” of adultery…
>> Jesus was now to be trapped “in the act” of breaking the Law…

The woman had been shamefully paraded and stripped of all her dignity…
>> Jesus was now to be gloriously humiliated and disrobed of His glory and majesty…

But all these were “mere” human thinking and wile wishes…
>> The wisdom of God is much greater than all human craftiness and cunningness
>> The mercy of the Lord extends much beyond all human wickedness and maliciousness.

In their wickedness, they failed to see, that they were testing the law with the Law-Giver Himself!

And so, the Benevolent Law-giver, bent down, and wrote with His finger…(Jn 8:6)
… just as He had, centuries back, written the Law on the tablet and given to Moses: “… tablets that were made by God, having inscriptions on them that were engraved by God Himself” (Ex 32:16)

>> He wrote, not a new law…
… but He wrote to make the law perfectly understood..

>> He wrote, not a new commandment…
… but He wrote to make understand the true spirit of the commandment…
“Let the one who is without sin, be the first to throw a stone at her” (Jn 8:7)

This statement shattered all those accusers who heard it!

>> Those who came to cast the stone had themselves stoned brutally, by the guilt of their sin!
>> Those who came to enjoy parading the nakedness of the woman, themselves were stripped naked, by their sin and shame!

Justice had triumphed!
>> Mercy had excelled!
>>> Love had won!

All had left, save the one accused and the One who was Love and Compassion!
>> The one accused, stood in fear and trembling before the One who recreates and renews!

And so she was given another chance…
… to realise the mistakes of her life
… to amend her life
… and to start anew!

Life may very often reduce us also to the same state as this one who was accused.
We may find ourselves crushed….broken…accused… abandoned…shamed!
>> But the Lord, still gives us a chance….

Whenever we find ourselves lost, abandoned, broken, helpless…
… And ask the question: “Oh, won’t somebody forgive me?”

>> Jesus answers: ” I forgive you, My Child!”

Let us fall at the feet of our Compassionate and Merciful Saviour…
…and hearing Him telling us…
“Neither do I condemn you! Go, from now on…sin no more!
I forgive you, My Child!”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

It’s pretty strange that sometimes contradictions that can actually help to recognise the truth!

For example:
>> If there is a similar looking pair of twins… how does one distinguish one from the other?
Obviously… we look into certain contradictions in the two – in appearance, in voice, in behaviour etc – to spot rightly, who is who.

>> If there are two similar appearing chains of gold… how does one distinguish the true one from the fake?
Obviously… we look into certain contradictions in the two,  – the lustre, the hardness – to spot rightly, which is true and which is false.

Georges Bataille, a French intellectual and literary figure writes, “I believe that truth has only one face: that of a violent contradiction”

This fact is clearly demonstrated in the life of Jesus – the Truth Incarnate.
>> He lived a life of contradictions.
>> He lived a life of paradox.

And therefore Christ had to undergo varied responses from those who encountered Him…
… very few understood Him, a little
… many of them failed to understand Him
… many of them even badly misunderstood Him

He remained The Truth – yet, the sign of contradiction.

The Gospel of the Day presents this deep contradiction that was experienced by the people of His time – including the religious leaders.

The passage records two conversations:
The first one among the crowd
>> The second one among the chief priests and the Pharisees

Both have a similar subject: Jesus.
>> Both have a similar dilemma: Confusion about Jesus.

The people in the crowd were confused in recognising who really Jesus was.

The words of the Lord were so authoritative and astonishing that some considered Him as a prophet revisited and some even seeing Him as the Messiah. (Jn 7:41)

However, others are not convinced and they begin to debate on the origin of the Messiah.

The second conversation, between the chief priests and Pharisees, was not just about some personal opinions, but involved the proper following of the Law as well.

Nicodemus, the one who had met Jesus, one night, however , began to defend Jesus.

It was to him, that Jesus, on that night, had told, one of the most loved verses:
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son; that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life” (Jn 3:16)

After his encounter with the Truth-Incarnate,  Nicodemus….
… the genuine seeker of truth, had the spark in his heart, kindled by the Lord of Love.
… the honest searcher of reality, had the longing within, nourished by the Lord of Holiness.

And so he stands firm and bold, to defend the One whom he perceived as the Truth!

But here, one also gets to see the deep hatred that was grooming in the minds of the leaders…

Nicodemus told that, in judging Jesus, it was necessary to follow the Law properly: “Does our law condemn a person, before it first hears him and finds out what he is doing?” (Jn 7:51)

>> He did not say that he agreed with Jesus…
>> He did not say that he denied Jesus could be a criminal…
All he said was to follow the law – to be just and fair!

But that statement provoked the anger of the other blinded and obstinate religious leaders!

The forces of confusion and dilemma watered him down, and contradictions reigned galore!

>> Where there is the proclamation of truth, there is the presence of many false screams, seeking to drown it hard!
>> Where there is the defence of truth, there is the defiance of many evil forces, wanting to do away with it!

Jesus is a sign of contractions.
He is The Truth.

>> In His presence, no lie can stand.
>> In His presence, no evil can withstand.
But it is this confusion, that can lead a person to understand the reality, if one is open and honest!

Yes, it’s pretty strange that sometimes contradictions that can actually help us to recognise The Truth!

G.K. Chesterton has said, “The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and left untried.”

The Lord – the Truth Incarnate is ready to reveal Himself to those open at heart and honest in seeking Him.
>> Are we ready to learn more from Him and to know Him more?
>> Are we ready to draw the waters of Holiness from the Fountain of Truth?
>> Are we ready to blaze our lives with the fire of passionate love from the Furnace of Truth?

Be not confused by the Lord who was the sign of contradiction.
>> Be not puzzled by the Lord who was the sign of paradoxes.

Instead…

Be Passionate for the Lord of Truth!
>> Be Convinced for the Lord of Truth!

God bless! Live Jesus!

There is an incident about David Hume, 18th century British philosopher.

He was a person who had rejected historic Christianity.

Once his friend met him, hurrying along the streets of London.
He was enquired, “Where are you off to, in such a hurry, Mr Hume?”

The philosopher answered, “To hear George Whitfield preach”

(George Whitfield was an Anglican Cleric, famous for his preaching and especially in the revival movement termed as the “Great awakening”.
He would draw great crowds and was known as one of the best-known preachers in Great Britain and North America.)

This friend was surprised to hear that, since David Hume was a non-believer and queried back, ” But surely you don’t believe what Whitfield preaches do you?”

With a playful smile, he replied  “No, I don’t! But he does believe!”

>> The philosopher did not believe…
…  but the convictions of the preacher made him to listen!

>> The philosopher rejected what was spoken…
… but the certainty of the preacher made him to give heed!

Life is like a roller coaster.
>> There are mountains to climb and hills to coast

>> It is convictions in life that will help to experience true serenity and happiness.
>> It is convictions in life that will help to tide across the various storms encountered.

We need to ask ourselves…
….  Am I living a life of deep convictions in faith, which makes people to take notice of the Lord and help them come closer to Him?
… Am I  filled with a deep passion for the Lord, which makes others to be attracted and fascinated to the Kingdom of the Lord?

The Gospel of the Day presents Jesus, boldly facing and withstanding the various storms of difficulties, and thus emerging as an Epitome of passion and conviction.

Jesus is progressing in His ministry.

>> On one side, there has been a increase in His popularity ratings…
… many sick being healed, many oppressed finding solace, many rejected finding consolation.

>> On the other side, however, there has also been an augmentation in opposition to Him…
… many being offended by His radical call of transformation, many finding Him blaspheming, many snubbed at His uncompromising authority.

But Jesus remains unperturbed!
>> He continues to preach the Word of God…
>> He continues to openly declare His relation with the Father…
>> He continues to publicly affirm His mission and purpose on the earth…

Jesus is the Epitome of convictions and passion!
>> Nothing could make Him to compromise His convictions…
>> Nothing could make Him to lay down His principles of life…
Neither threats, nor adulations… neither opposition, nor exaltation!

Can I also…
… seek to grow in my life of conviction in my faith?
… try to deepen my passion for the Lord and His Kingdom?

One of the very popular and yet, good-to-remind quote is:
“My life may be the only Gospel…
… that people may encounter
…that people may read
…that people may experience”

Let our live radiate powerfully and convincingly the message of the Gospel!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, is considered to be one of the greatest presidents of the nation.

His presidency was under constant attacks and opposition, especially during the painful years of the Civil War.

However, thought he knew, there would be occasions for him to make mistakes, he had made one strong resolve: that he would never compromise on his integrity.
>> He sought to make integrity as one of the hallmarks of his presidential term.

So strong was this resolve, that he once said:
“I desire so to conduct the affairs of this administration…
…  that if at the end, when I come to lay down the reins of power, I have lost every other friend on earth, I shall at least have one Friend left…
… and that Friend shall be down inside of me.”

Abraham Lincoln chose not to compromise his integrity…
… because he realized that only that will ensure his friendship with the Lord…
… till the end!

He valued his integrity for Christ’s sake…
… than to compromise  his principles and turn popular

He gave priority to his honesty for the Lord’s honour…
… than to dilute his ethics and gain cheap fame.

Our Christian Life is a constant challenge to stand against such prospects of gaining false fame and phony popularity, by compromising on one’s Christian ideologies and values.

The Gospel of the Day presents Jesus who stood firm and rock-solid, in his mission commitment, even in the face of opposition, indifference and apathy from the Jews.

The context of today’s Gospel Passage – Jn 5:31-47 – is the aftermath of the Healing of the Crippled Man by the pool of Bethesda, on the Sabbath Day (Jn 5:1-18)

This incident had sparked a rage of opposition against Jesus…
>> He was persecuted because the act of healing was done on the Sabbath (Jn 5: 16)
>> His defense caused the Jews to kill Him, because Jesus equated Himself with God (Jn 5:18)

There was a strong wave of antagonism and hostility, against Jesus…
… that was pressurizing Him to compromise His teachings
….that was coercing Him to dilute His principles

But Jesus stood firm and rock-solid, in his mission commitment, even in the face of opposition, indifference and apathy from the Jews.

He therefore presents before the Jews, witnesses which would testify to Him, to His Divinity.

He uses the language of a courtroom – “witnesses” – to prove His credibility as the Divine Person

The Jews considered that two witnesses were needed for the veracity of a testimony or person.
>> The Torah says, “One witness shall not arise against a man for any sin or guilt that he may commit; according to two witnesses or according to three witnesses a matter shall stand.” (Dt 19:15)
Jesus, however brings in 4 witnesses…
1. The Witness of John the Baptist (Jn 5: 33-34)
2. The Witness of His Works (Jn 5: 36)
3. The Witness of God the Father (Jn 5: 37-38)
4. The Witness of God’s Word – the Scriptures (Jn 5: 39-40)

Our Christian Life is a constant challenge..
… to let go of our values and principles
… to compromise on our efforts and mission works

But we need to be inspired and imitate our Blessed Lord…
… Who was unwilling to let go of His Commitment and Dedication to the Mission

And like Jesus, we too have the help of “Divine Witnesses” to accord veracity to our testimony.

There will be moments when…
… we get into situations of being asked to be dishonest, lethargic and be untruthful
>> We need to seek the Witness of John the Baptist…
… who remained uncompromising in living a life of truth, dare and boldness!

There will be moments when…
… life surrounds us doubts in the form of sicknesses and tragedies
>> We need to seek the Witness of the Works of Jesus…
… which brought new life and healing to the hopeless, the lost and the dying!

There will be moments when…
…our life will be caught in a turmoil of confusions and uncertainties
>> We need to seek the Witness of God the Father…
… Whose unconditional love and compassion, strengthens us and lifts us without fail!

There will be moments when…
… our convictions get challenged by the straying and deceitful philosophies of the world
>> We need to seek the Witness of God’s Word – the Scriptures …
… Which can bring clarity and passion in our Christian life.

Let this Gospel Passage challenge and inspire us…
.. to remain ever uncompromising in our Christian Life.
>> To stand for God and His Kingdom
>> To live to share His Love and Mercy

And to say…
… “if at the end… even if I have lost every other friend on earth, I shall at least have one Friend left…
… and that Friend shall be down inside of me.”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

Let’s get down to do an action song today?

He’s got the whole world…
>> In his hands He’s got the whole wide world..
>> In His hands, He’s got the whole world…
>> In his hands, He’s got the whole world in His hands!

Many of us know this action song, right?

The essence of this popular and simple song, is that God, the Creator is the One who maintains and preserves this entire universe, by His Divine and Loving Providence.

The Gospel of the Day is an amazing revelation by Jesus on His relationship with the Father.

This passage has its background in the healing that Jesus performed on a Sabbath day, of a man who had been ill for a very long time – thirty-eight years (Jn 5: 1-16).

When the Jews found out from the healed person, that it was Jesus who had done this work, they were extremely furious.

Their objection was that…
… Jesus had done this miracle on a Sabbath
… Jesus had made the person to perform a work – of carrying the mat – on the Sabbath day.

They, therefore, began to persecute Jesus (Jn 5: 16).

But Jesus brought out a fair logic in defending Himself, ” My Father is at work until now, so I am at work” (Jn 5:17)

Here is an interesting statement… “My Father is at work until now”

We did an action song at the start of this reflection…a song which affirmed that God, the Creator is the one who sustains and maintains this entire world, this entire universe.

And Jesus also affirms the same here, “My Father is at work until now…”

This could brings us to an interesting doubt:
>> Did God, keep the Sabbath Law, that He had given to the people of Israel?

The Law required the people to refrain from work on the Sabbath Day.
>> Did God do so?
>> Did God refrain from work on the Sabbath?
>> Did the Law-giver follow the Law that was given?

Well.. Gen 2:2 says that “God rested on the seventh day”….

But the Jews soon found out, that if God continued to do so… i.e. resting on the Sabbath day… then by Friday evening, at the start of the Sabbath…
…. the world would soon start collapsing!
… the universe would come to a standstill!

Therefore, when the commandment of Sabbath was expanded and expounded to specific do’s and don’ts, in order to sort of accommodate God, it was exhorted that…
…one could move something from one place to another in the house but not from one house to another.

For eg: a basket of fruits could be taken from one room to another, but not from one house to another…

And since, for God, the whole universe is His House, it is justified, that He can work inside His house!

Thus it was lawful for God to do the maintenance and sustenance of the world, even on the Sabbath day!

Drawing from this logic (or illogic!), Jesus now puts forward the truth and justification for His act of healing on the Sabbath, “My Father is at work until now, so I am at work!” (Jn 5: 17)

>> Jesus equates Himself to the Father….
>> Jesus establishes Himself as the Son of God…

And He draws the point, that just as, on the Sabbath Day, His Father….
… creates and sustains, so is He renewing and bringing life to the world!
… supplies life and maintains, so is He nourishing and refreshing the world!

>> Jesus, as the Son has every right and privilege to engage in life-saving works, just as His Father
>> Jesus, as the Son has every justification and claim to do life-redeeming works, just as His Father

As followers of Jesus, we are to be the extension of His life-saving and redeeming works in the world…
… Am I willing to become a person, filled the power of the Lord, in order to bring healing to the world, by my deeds of kindness and goodness?

… Am I willing to become an extension of the Lord, imbued with His spirit, in order to spread His love and mercy to our broken and struggling world?

As followers of Jesus, we need to have the proper and true understanding of the Sabbath…
>> The Sabbath is a day of solemn rest, holy to the Lord…
… Do I give it to the Lord, entirely, engaging only in deeds that help me come closer to Him?

>> The Sabbath is a memorial of Israel’s liberation from bondage in Egypt
…  Do I remind myself of being a person to be liberated from the bondage of sin, and seeking to grow in holiness?

>> The Sabbath is sign of the irrevocable covenant between God and human beings…
… Do I renew the spirit of this pledge and promise to the Lord with salvific deeds of love?

Let us deepen our relationship and grow in our efforts to be more in union with the Lord…
… the One who guides the world, the One who sustains each of us and the One who fills life in all!

Yes, the One whose got the whole world…
… the One in whose hands, He’s got the whole wide world!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

“The seven habits of highly effective people” by Stephen Covey is one of the most popular best-selling book in the world.

The book speaks of seven prime qualities to tap success in life and to achieve one’s objectives and aims.

The first among these seven habits of highly effective people is  “to be proactive” in life.

>> Problems beset every person in this world.

>> Difficulties surround all of us, in every society.

But, the one who is “proactive” in life, is able to get over these “paralyzing” factors of life.

The Gospel of the Day is a beautiful presentation of this aspect:  
On how to have our heads raised up, in hope and trust, despite many crushing and crippling causes in life.

Jesus is in Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover.

>> As he passed through the town, he came near a pool, named Bethzatha.

 
Jesus encounters a person there, who has been ill for a very long period… thirty eight years! (Jn 5:5)

We are not exactly told what illness was it…
>> Probably a paralyzing illness… a cripple of the legs… or even a combination of many other sicknesses.

But one thing is known: this sickness made the person to not walk!

The sickness had immobilized him.

But more than his physical body, it seems, that the sickness had crippled also his mind:
>> His way of thinking seemed jammed in having hope in life…

>> His outlook to life seemed blurred to see optimism and hope…

>> His perspective of people seemed to distort his confidence and trust…

When Jesus questions the man, “Do you want to be well?”, the man answers not with a positive affirmation or an optimistic assertion.

Instead he begins to get into a complaining and a pitiable mode, ” Sir, I have no one…. ” (Jn 5: 7)

>> A ray of hope was offered to him…
.. but instead the man continued to see only the dark clouds.

>> A glimpse of joy was revealed to him…
… but instead the man persisted on the sad aspects alone.

The long period of sickness had blotted his vision and faded his hopes.

But the Lord.. the ever-challenging God, does not allow the man to remain in this unfortunate and “look-on-me-with-sympathy-please” mode…
>> Instead, Jesus charges him, “Rise, take up your mat and walk” (Jn 5:8)

And immediately the man became well, took up his mat and walked!

>> The presence of the Lord vanished away the man’s doubts and lame excuses…

>> The mighty word of the Lord purged away the man’s feelings of looking at life negatively…

 
The man became proactive…
… casting away his attitude of complaining to become a person of courage

… dropping off his crippling attitude of “none-to-help” and picking up the mat of power and grace
 

>> Problems beset each of us in this world.

>> Difficulties surround all of us, at various times and situations

But, the one who is “proactive” in life, is able to get over these “paralyzing” factors of life!

Jesus gives us this courage and the hope to be “proactive” in life, with His grace and mercy.

>> Pro-activity is not a mere human attitude of determination…
… it is an action spurred by the mighty love and mercy of the Lord.

>> Pro-activity is not a mere individual display of willpower and resolve…
… it is an approach, impelled by a tremendous faith and hope in the Lord.

You and I, very often may find ourselves in crippling situations of life.

>> We may keep on lying down…

>> We may keep on being a “complaint-box”

>> We may keep on blaming people and situations…

Or…

>> We may raise up our heads to see the Lord challenging us to walk…

>> We may garner strength and courage and be bold to pick up our mats of suffering…

>> We may imbue ourselves with the Lord’s power to never let anything cripple our minds..

 
Shall we be ready, “to rise, take up our mats, and walk?”

The choice is ours…

 

God Bless! Live Jesus!