The TIME magazine, in its declaration of Jesus, as the Man of the Millennium, proclaimed:
“The single most powerful figure – not merely in these two millenniums but in all human history – has been Jesus of Nazareth . . . a serious argument can be made that no one else’s life has proved remotely as powerful and enduring as that of Jesus.”

One of the reasons for this Massive Influence of Jesus, was His uncompromising and ever-bold attitude with respect to sin, evil and living a life of total love!

The Gospel of the Day presents this lofty teaching of Jesus on non-retaliation and the power of forgiving love.

One of the highly debatable and confusing teachings of Jesus is contained in today’s Gospel reading.

Jesus says, “Do not resist the one who is evil. But if any one strikes you on the one cheek, turn to him the other also” (Mt 5: 39)

This verse could easily raise a lot of doubts and questions…
>> Did Jesus mean that a Christian should be passive to evil?
>> Did Jesus teach that we should suffer unnecessarily in the face of social evils?
>> Did Jesus teach passivity and being lethargic when one encounters wickedness and evil?

The one direct answer to all such doubts is seen in the light of the life of Jesus Himself…
>> He was always actively against evil and sinful activities
>> He was a constant opponent to oppression, condemnation and human wickedness

Then what would have Jesus meant by those strong phrases of “resist evil.. and turning one’s cheeks?”

There could be, speaking in general terms, three responses to evil:
1. Opposing with violence
2. Bearing everything passively
3. A courageous non-violence

The first two responses are also popularly called as Fight or Flight
…either FIGHT against the evil… or take FLIGHT from the evil situations

>> FIGHT: oppose with evil and violence
>> FLIGHT: run away from the situation or passively be submissive

But the way of Jesus is a higher one… a much higher and bolder one: the way of ACTIVE NON-VIOLENCE.

The Greek word that is used by St Mathew, for “resist” is “antisthemi”

‘Antisthemi’ is not a passive or a weak term.
>> It was a classical Greek ‘military’ term.

It means…
… to take a stand against, to oppose or to resist
… to establish one’s position publicly by conspicuously “holding one’s ground,”.
… It means refusing to be moved (” being pushed back”)

This clearly shows that “to resist evil” is not merely a passive act of submission, rather is a firm, courageous and bold action of holding onto one’s convictions of truth and opposing every reaction to subdue truth.

This is further illustrated in the example that Jesus gives, “of turning one’s cheek, when hit on the right cheek”

In the culture of Jesus, the left hand was commonly used for unclean tasks, and only the right hand was considered appropriate for such actions as striking another person.

Now, its common sense to note, that if one hits with the right hand, it would hit the other person only on the “left” cheek.

Therefore, if the person is hit on the “right” cheek, as in the example of Jesus, it simply means, that one was hit with a “back-hand”.

What is the significance of a back-handed slap?
>> A backhanded slap, had a greater message than merely hurting or causing pain…
Instead, it meant to be an act of “severe” humiliation… of “terrible” insult!

A backhand slap, in the time of Jesus, was the usual way of admonishing inferiors:
Masters backhanded slaves; husbands, wives; parents, children; men, women; Romans, Jews.

What is the response that Jesus suggests for such an act of dreadful humiliation?
>> Not Fight… Not Flight.
Rather, a strong and bravely opposing act of courage: “turn the other cheek as well!”

It is a calculated response intended to invite the aggressor to consider his or her actions.
>> This bold action of turning one’s cheek robs the oppressor of the power to humiliate.

It is as if the oppressed person is saying,
“Try again if you want, buddy!
Your first blow failed to achieve its intended effect.
I deny you any power to humiliate me!”

This was how our Blessed Lord who gave this supremely lofty teaching demonstrated in His life… by dying on the Cross!
>> The Cross was a powerful opposition to evil and sin.

The One who died on the Cross did not die a passive death…
>> Rather, He boldly preached against every act of oppression and mightily spoke against every form of discrimination!

As Christians, we need to be bold and courageous to “resist” every evil and sinful deed.
In Christ, we have a teaching that is not passive, but is “extremely” active and powerful.

To merely FIGHT or simply make a FLIGHT in the face of oppressions, is cheap and ordinary…
In fact, it is “no spirituality”.

But to “be bold in one’s convictions” and “to oppose” evil, even to the point of giving up one’s life, is a lofty, supreme and mighty spirituality.
>> Jesus embodied this spirituality.
>> Many great men and women in history have been inspired by it and lived it.

As Christians, the followers of the Bold Jesus, are we ready to embrace this “powerful” spirituality?
>> Let us become…. Agents and Ambassadors of true love…destroying evil forces with goodness!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

– Fr Jijo Manjackal MSFS
  Bengaluru, India

All of us have been school kids…
And as students, one of the most dreaded, avoided and boring (or for the really good students…one of the most exciting, scoring and loved) topics in class was “Grammar”!

Grammar plays a vital function in every language!
And in grammar, “Tenses” play a key role…

(Does the word, “Tenses” bring some tension on our face??!)

Well, we are not to reflect on any boring (or exciting…either way we consider) lesson on Grammar!
>> But for our surprise….the Gospel of the Day, presents to us Jesus, the teacher!

And He is out to teach us …
… Well, you guessed it right: Grammar!

Welcome to the “Class on Grammar…by the renowned Teacher, Jesus”…! (Lk 7:36-8:3)

The class today is in a different setting… it is taking place in a house, around a dinner table (Lk 7:36)

The participants in this session are many…but the attention remains focused on three persons:

1. Simon, the Pharisee
Unlike other Pharisees, this man is much more open to receive Jesus into his home.
We don’t know whether he was a die-hard fan of Jesus…
… but he certainly seemed not so opposed to Him!

How do we describe him?
>> Social Person…? Diplomatic… ?Polished… ? Willing to be open…?or perhaps, a Villain in disguise?

2. Jesus, the Guest
The Lord seems to enjoy food…!
>> But more than food, He very certainly enjoys and values the people, He eats with!

He was happy to be a guest to Simon, the Pharisee…
>> He would have been happy to sup with the class of people who were highly critical of His ways of teaching!

How do we describe Jesus?
>> Friendly! Welcoming! Open-hearted! Compassionate! Gentle!

3. The Sinner Woman
She was a woman of the city, who was a sinner (Lk 7:37)

>> She was a victim of the people’s duplicity & discrimination – misused as a source of pleasure yet despised &categorized as the scum of the society!

She however, feels privileged to have been able to come near Jesus, in whom she places her hope of receiving true acceptance and genuine love.

How do we describe her? 
>> Penitent! Sorrowful! Hopeful! Courageous! Loving!

The story is familiar to us…

Simon, the Pharisee hosts the dinner for Jesus…
>> Meanwhile, the sinner woman approaches the Lord, and showers her love and affection:
“she stood behind Jesus at His feet, weeping and began to bathe His feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with the ointment” (Lk 7: 38)

The host Simon gets irked by this gesture…and scandalized by his guest allowing her to do so!

What was Simon’s problem?

He thought he was better than the prostitute. 
>> He thought he was more righteous than the lady who sold her body!
>> He thought he was far more worthy than the woman who had no moral groundings!

And this is where, the Master Teacher…steps in…
… And teaches The Grammar of Life –  ” by changing Tenses”!

Simon said, “She IS a sinner.” … in the present tense!
>> But Jesus pointed out to say, “No, she WAS a sinner.”…in the past tense!
Jesus changed the tenses in her life!

>> People considered her to be woman with loose morals… (past tense)
… Jesus considers her to be a woman of deep love! (present tense)

>> People thought of her as a dirty and shameless creature… (past tense)
… Jesus thinks of her as a beautiful and precious child of God! (present tense)

How often do we fall into this grave mistake of mixing up “tenses” in the lives of people…

There is a Simon, perhaps, in all of us!

>> A person WOULD have been known for some misdeeds…
… but we think he/she WILL always remain to be so!

>> A person WOULD have done some wrongs in the past…
… but we think he/she WILL be always fixated in that!

>> A person WOULD have displayed some bad habits…
… but we think he/she WILL always have to be condemned!

We often think of ourselves as being “more righteous”, “more holy” and “more Christian” than others.

There is a sense of negative pride in us…
… a pride that causes us to out down others (forgetting that we ourselves were once “down and out”!)
… a pride that makes us to avoid extending God’s Mercy to others (forgetting that we ourselves are always “at the mercy of God”!)

>> We need to learn from the Master Teacher, that God can change the “tenses” in the life of people.
>> We need to be hopeful from the Master Teacher, that God can change the “tenses” in our own lives.

At the end of the incident, the Master Teacher blesses the sinner lady, again, in a grammatical style… (Lk 7: 48, 50)

Jesus says to the sinner lady,
>> “Your SINS are forgiven”:  The PAST is purified!
>> “Your faith has SAVED you”: The PRESENT is strengthened!
>> “GO in peace”: The FUTURE is blessed!

Simon, the Pharisee deserves our empathy.
>> Perhaps, most of us also, would have reacted in a similar way, if we were to be in his place.

Imagine having the presence of a famous prostitute barging in during some family occasion!
>> We too would have been very scandalized!
>> We too would have been ashamed!
>> We too would have felt offended!

But the Lord invites us to weed off… slowly atleast.. the little ‘SIMONness’ in us….
… the tendency to judge people based on their past life.
… the tendency to fail to give any room or chance for improvement
… the tendency to not able to see persons, however bad, as ultimately being children of God, our Merciful Father!

Jesus, the Master Teacher can “change tenses” in our lives and in the lives of others!

This Jubilee Year of Mercy is a mighty invitation to “learn these nuances of being merciful and compassionate”… just “as the Heavenly Father is…” (Lk 6:36)

Let us learn this “Grammar of Love and Mercy” from the School of Jesus…and earn accolades in the University of God!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

– Fr Jijo Manjackal msfs
  Bengaluru, India

The Canadian author, Thomas Costain in his historical novel “The Three Edwards” speaks of the life of a 14th century Duke named Raynald Ill.
>> Raynald was extremely overweight and was commonly called by his Latin nickname “Crassus” which meant ‘fat’!

This Duke Raynald, after a violent quarrel, suffered defeat in a revolt by his younger brother Edward.

Edward captured Raynald, but did not kill him.

Instead he imprisoned Raynald in a room in the castle…
… and promised that he could regain his title and property, if he was able to escape from the room.

This task – to escape from the room – would have been pretty simple for most people, since the room had several windows and a door; none of which was locked!

But Raynald had a problem…. His size… His uncontrolled appetite!

Edward knew his elder brother…
… and He very well knew this weakness as well!

Each day, therefore, Edward send him a variety of delicious foods!
>> Instead of dieting his way out of the room, he began to relish on the grand food served to him…
… and Raynald grew fatter!!

When Edward was questioned by the people on his cruelty for having captured his elder brother, he would reply, without any qualms: 
“My brother is not a prisoner. He may leave when he so wills.”

The story goes on to say that Raynald stayed in that room for ten years and wasn’t released until after Edward died in battle.
>> But by then his health was so ruined, that he died within a year!

Raynald died…
… as a prisoner of his own appetite!

How often is this a reality in our spiritual lives as well!

>> Sin sometimes captures our hearts so much…
.. that we are unwilling to let go, and thus wither in our sinful state

>> Immorality and transgressions take over our lives so much…
… that we become slaves, and remain much bound to them.

The Gospel of the Day is a powerful call by Jesus to make an honest examination of our state of life, and check whether we are imprisoned by sin…
… especially from the perspective of immorality and decadence in our ethical system.

Our modern society is often a rude and mute witness to many inhuman atrocities and abuses, especially against women.
>> The world seems to be more and more losing, the sense of sin!

In this context, it’s shocking to read the words of Jesus in today’s Gospel reading:
“Anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has committed adultery in his heart”! (Mt 5:28)

Jesus’ words pierces through the heart!
>> He gives no space for lame excuses and silly explanations…
… he hits straight at the target!

SIN consists not in some external actions alone…
…..but SIN is conceived and given birth in one’s heart!

When we consider the society in which we live in, we find that…
Immorality is on the rise….
>> We pass through cities and towns..
>> We look through newspapers and magazines…
>> We scan across websites, swanky apps and fancy shops…
.. and we find that…  Immorality is, indeed, on the rise!

Immoral pictures, sensual visuals, inhuman portrayal of persons, double-meaning talks have somehow become the order of the day!
>> We are very often surrounded by filth and lewdness in our society.

Just as the God, the Divine Sower sows the seeds of Word of God…
… so, Satan, the Father of Deception scatters the seeds of Immorality and Lust everywhere!

It’s here, that a Christian needs to be on the watch.
>> It is our duty as Christians, to preserve our hearts from this dangerous contagion.

The beatitudes tell us, “Blessed are the pure in heart, they shall see God” (Mt 5: 8)

We have a duty…
… to preserve ourselves from Impurity!
… to protect others in their dignity and honour!
…to awaken the society which is often, deadened in immorality & perversion!

Let us examine our lives and check.. “Am I becoming a prisoner of my own appetite?”
… being a slave to lustful thoughts or immoral patterns of attitudes
… being indifferent to a society which strips itself of all dignity in the name of liberty and freedom

The Lord very powerfully challenges us to be totally intolerant to casting away sin and sinful tendencies from our life…
>> ” If your right eye causes you to sin… tear it out and throw it away” (Mt 5: 29)
>> ” If  your hand causes you to sin… cut it off and throw it away” (Mt 5: 30)

Sin has no place in a world of mercy and love!
>> Mercy places an obligation that all sin be rid off!
>> Love demands that all wrongdoing be cast away!

Let the words of St Antony of Padua be given heed to:
“Anyone, then, who desires to live chastely in Christ Jesus, must flee not only the mouse of lust, but even from its very scent.”

Let’s awake, Dear Christians…
…  Purify our World and live in Sanctity and Holiness…

Let us free ourselves from the “imprisonment of our appetites” and experience the “glorious liberty” of the Children of God!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

– Fr Jijo Manjackal msfs
  Bengaluru, India

It is said that there are two extremely fatal phrases in the English language. 
>> They are
1. “What is the use?”
2. “Why should I?”

“What is the use?” is the fatal tendency…
… that causes people to look at the world from a purely pragmatic perspective

>> Such a tendency…
…  causes people to lose interest in things and people, if they don’t seem useful and beneficial
… causes people to  manipulate people, things and situations in a way that suits their self-interests

“Why should I?” is the fatal tendency…
… that causes people to look at the world from a resigned and indifferent perspective

>> Such a tendency…
… causes people to rot in lethargy and tepidity and lose the spice of life
… causes people to push the responsibility to other, and themselves slacken in comfort and ease

These two phrases were very much reflected in the “Pharisaic and the Scribal lifestyle” which Jesus, in today’s Gospel invites each us to surpass and overcome.

>> The “What is the use” lifestyle…
… which made them to only flaunt their external piety and lose sight of the unglamorous aspect of devotion

>> The “Why should I” lifestyle…
… which made them to reject any offer calling them to repentance or amend their ways and instead made them to be stuck to their own prejudices and adamant patterns of thought.

Jesus always keeps challenging us!
The Lord loathes laziness and lukewarmness…
>> He loves to keep raising the standard of our holiness and faith!

This challenge is reflected in today’s Gospel Reading.

Jesus says, ” Unless your righteousness exceeds that of Scribes & Pharisees, you can’t enter the Kingdom of heaven” (Mt 5: 20)

The righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees would consist…
… in a lifestyle which insisted only on the exact following of the ‘letter’ of the Law neglecting its spirit
… in a tendency to neglect the fundamental aspects of the Law and focus only on the peripheries

What could be some of the negative aspects of the Righteousness of Scribes and Pharisees, which Jesus condemns…and which perhaps, we need to overcome?

1. They liked to preach…but not practise

We live in a world where there are many people who are good in preaching, writing reflections and advising on spiritual matters.
>> But very often, a massive chasm appears between their preaching and their way of life.

The Scribes and Pharisees seemed to be in this category of people.

2. They liked to do things to “show-off”

A tragedy of religious practices can be, when things are done not to please God, but to win the approval and endorsement of people.
>> Religious piety and devotions very often become means to have self-gratification of one’s senses, and sadly, even platforms to boast and brag about one’s capacities and capabilities.

The Scribes and Pharisees seemed to be in this category of people.

3. They liked to make the Word of God, user-friendly, at the cost of God’s Will:

One of the trends in the modern world, is to have all products and gadgets “user-friendly”.

Sadly, this trend is also often applied to the Word of God.
>> The Word of God, its commandments and laws are twisted and condensed and expanded and interpreted and quoted and explained and elucidated – all to suit one’s own comfortable and pleasurable way of life!

The Scribes and Pharisees seemed to be in this category of people.

Am I in any of these category of peoples??

The Lord challenges us today.. to exceed this sort of a righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees.

We need to be people…
… “who walk the talk”!
… “who practice our Faith to Please God and Him alone
… “who live a Gospel-oriented life”

The Gospel ought to mould and shape us – and not we changing the Word of God to suit and justify our secured and comfortable lives!
>> Gal 1:10, says,” If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a slave of Christ.”

Our modern world strongly advocates the two fatal phrases of…
… “What is the use?” and “Why should I?”

As followers of Christ, it is our duty and task to go beyond such a “Pharisaic and Scribal Lifestyle”…
… and live as Jesus would want us to!

We need to counter these two fatal phrases, with inspirational mantras…
>> “What is the use?” is to be countered by “All to Thy Glory!”
>> “Why should I?” is to be countered by “To let Thy Will be done!”

Let all our actions and thoughts be directed only to God.
Let our Lives truly be a Good News!
>>  As St Francis of Assisi says, “Preach the Gospel always…use words, if necessary!“

God Bless us! Live Jesus!

– Fr Jijo Manjackal msfs
  Bengaluru, India

Great incidents and heroic stories can inspire and challenge us greatly.

The Bible is most certainly a power-filled storehouse of such great incidents and heroic stories…
… which inspire us to be more zealous in serving the Lord
… which challenge us to be more enthusiastic in our following of the Lord

One of the most powerful incidents, which has this dual dimension of “inspiring and challenging” is the one found in the First Book of the Kings, Chapter 18, verses 20-39.

This incident is known by many titles …
>>The Challenge of Elijah, the Prophet
>> Elijah v/s Baal
>> Elijah and the prophets of Baal
… and many more.

The incident is familiar to most of us…

After a drought of three years, the prophet Elijah presented himself to Ahab, the king of Israel, with the promise that the Lord would provide rain.

Elijah, then went on to challenged 450 prophets of the pagan god named Baal and 400 prophets of another pagan god, Asherah to a contest on Mount Carmel.

His words of challenge to them were powerful:
“How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” (1 Kings 18:21).

The game of challenge began:
>> Each side (The numerous prophets of Baal v/s Elijah, the solitary prophet) made sacrifices to their God without building a fire…
… and the lighting of the fire was to be performed by the strongest god (God!)!

Baal was silent.
>> The confident prophet Elijah began to even mock the prophets of Baal:
“Cry aloud, for he is a god; either he is meditating, or he is busy, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened” (1 Kings 18:27).

The time then can for Elijah to intercede for the revealing of the Glory of God…

He poured a large amount of water over his sacrifice and asked Jehovah to reveal Himself by consuming the sacrifice.
>> “Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench” (1 Kings 18:38)

When the people saw the clear victory of Jehovah, they fell on their faces and said:
“The Lord, He is God!
The Lord, He is God!”

Elijah then commanded the people to seize the prophets of Baal and to not let one of them escape.
>> God then sent the rain he had promised and the drought ended (1 Kings 18:41-46).

One of the most powerful messages derived from this incident is that…
…” When we stand for God, God stands by us!”
… “When we seek to uphold the Lord, the Lord reveals His Glory through us!”

The Prophet Elijah, who stood for the Lord and was bold to proclaim His Power…
… became the mighty instrument through whom God would reveal His glory!

Elijah, the prophet , through whom God manifested His Glory…
… would foreshadow the Great Prophet, Jesus, Who would be the fullness of God’s Glory! (Col 1: 19)

>> Jesus is not just the Great Prophet, Who is the Voice and Word of God
>> Jesus is not just the Supreme Law-Giver, through Whom everything came into being
… Jesus would be the fulfilment and the completion of the Law and the Prophets (Mt 5: 17)!

This Jesus goes on to present a mighty challenge to His followers:
“Whoever relaxes one of the least of the commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven;
But he who does them, and teaches them shall be called great in the Kingdom of heaven” (Mt 5:18-19)

This is a powerful invitation that the Lord presents before us:
>> “Are you willing to stand up for me?”
>> “Are you willing to uphold my virtues and the Kingdom values by your life?”

Just as Prophet Elijah, in his days, found challenged by paganism, our world today is faced with innumerable challenges…
>> A spirit of materialism, that seeks to devour all people into a life of comfort and cosiness…
… at the loss of dependence on God and faithfulness to Divine Providence

>> A spirit of relativism, that does away with even fundamental truths and basic institutions…
… by seeking to dilute the virtues for which the Church champions and makes void Christ’s teachings

>> A spirit of division, that slays communities and societies on peripheral grounds like colour, language, caste, region etc…
… and causes people to even divert from essential elements like faith, worship, communion etc

>> A spirit of indifference, that makes people to behave as strangers to one another…
…  and making one to be insensitive to the needy and hurting the Triune Image of God within oneself

As Christians, more than ever before, the challenge is before us…
>> To stand up for God…
… and know for sure, that He will stand by us!

>> To uphold the Lord…
… and experience truly the Glory of God revealed through us!

May the great incidents and the heroic stories of the Bible continue to always “inspire and challenge” us…
>> And may we be bold and daring… to rise up to the occasion…
.. and Stand up for God!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

– Fr Jijo Manjackal msfs
  Bengaluru, India

Let’s do a short-visualization based on today’s Gospel Reading….

There are over six billion people in the world…
… spread over seven continents and around 195 countries…

There are people belonging to thousands of tribes, ethnicity, languages etc…
… and again hundreds of temperaments, personalities, outlooks and characters.

Among all these various people… the Lord, the Creator of the whole universe…
…  through today’s Gospel reading tells YOU…
.. Yes, YOU, His beloved creation, and the one whom He loves deeply….
… ” You are the salt of the earth!“

Now hearing this, you look up in surprise to God!

You look up to His face and tell Him bluntly:
” You must be kidding, Lord!
I mean…. Look at the vast expanse of the world….
…  millions of people in here, variety of languages, behaviors, temperaments, personalities…
… and amidst, all this, You expect, Me…
… Me? To be the Salt of the Earth?!

I am just nothing, in this vast ocean of people!
Do you expect Me, a puny little thing, to really be the Salt to the Earth?
I am just a Nobody!”

But the Lord thunders back and says:
“Do not say, you are a nobody!

But I am precise in calling You…!
You have been Baptized in Me, and you have My Spirit dwelling in You.

Long back some of my servants also expressed their inability in a similar fashion…
… Abraham
… Jeremiah
… Peter

But they were raised… by My Grace and their co-operation.

You too, have a responsibility towards Me and My Kingdom…
… and You will do much in doing little, when and as I wish!”

But I, with a long face, again highlighted my helplessness:
“But Lord, the challenge is just too great!
I do have some talents and capabilities, that You have bestowed on me.
But will those be enough?

I just feel that I am too small and insignificant, to be making a real difference in the world!”

But the Lord, was unwilling to budge and said:
“Of course, I don’t deny that it is going to be easy for you to be the Salt of the Earth!

You will struggle…
… You will have to walk the hard path, as did even my Beloved Son on His Way of the Cross.

Some of you might perhaps think that as in the modern days, salt may never lose its taste.
>> But the salt that I spoke of in the Gospel, was not the pure, refined type that is available today.

The salt of the olden days, when exposed to moisture, could easily become insipid.
>> It could become tasteless and useless… good only to be thrown and trampled down!

In the same way, you, as the Salt of the Earth, need to be highly careful.

>> If you expose yourself, too much to the worldly and material affairs, you will lose your saltiness!
>> If you pollute yourself by the many vain pleasures in the world, you will end up being ineffective!
And then you will be useless…only to be trampled upon!

Your life is like… as my servant St Paul had once written in his Second Letter to the Corinthians… ‘Treasure in Clay’!

When preserved and careful utilized, you will remain precious
>> If not handled carefully, you will end up spoiling a wonderful fortune!

You are to be the Salt of the Earth…
… in whichever state of life you are
… to whichever vocation you are called to
… in whichever works or activities you engage in

You are to be the salt…
… that gives taste, to those who have lost meaning and hope in life
… that preserves the virtues of the Gospel and teachings of the Church in a world of decay
… that symbolizes purity even though the world around you plunges into immorality and sin
… that makes you part of the Sacrifice that is offered to God as described in the Law (Lev 2:13)

Remember…
You have a great calling.. to be the Salt…
… to give taste to the world… to preserve the Gospel values..to be a symbol of purity…to offer your life as a sacrifice.
>> Yes, You are Precious!

Never let yourself, be diluted with the waters of worldly pleasures and thus become insipid!

Do not be contaminated by the World… rather, preserve your saltiness, by being in Communion with Me!

So, my Child…
… Are You ready to be the Salt of the Earth…?”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

– Fr Jijo Manjackal msfs
  Bengaluru, India

An owner’s manual is an instructional booklet that is supplied with almost all technologically advanced products such as vehicles, home appliances, computer peripherals etc.
>> It is also called as an instruction manual or a user guide

Information contained in the owner’s manual typically includes:
1. Usage instructions,
2. Safety instructions
3. Assembly and Installation instructions
4.  Maintenance instructions.
5. Troubleshooting instructions
6. Service locations
7. Product technical specifications.
8. Warranty information

These 8 instructions helps the user to make the best use of the product and get the maximum out of it.

Instructional Manuals become guidelines for better usage, greater effectiveness and higher appreciation.

Our Christian spiritual life also needs an Instructional Manual…
… for better fruitfulness
… for greater effectiveness
… for the higher glory of God

The B.I.B.L.E. is sometimes expanded as being “Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth”!

The Gospel of the Day – The Eight Beatitudes: one of the most beautiful passages of the B.I.B.L.E. – presents to us a ready reference Instruction Manual with 8 instructions, on how to live as a True Follower of Christ.

The passage begins with the sentence, “Jesus went up to the mountain and SAT DOWN…and HE BEGAN TO TEACH them” (Mt 5:1)

In the Jewish Tradition, the Rabbi (teacher) would sit and teach.
>> The Hebrew word ‘Rabbi’ is derived from “rav”, which means ‘Great One’.

When St Matthew specifically mentions that “Jesus sat down and taught”, Jesus is presented as the Rabbi: The Great One – The Teacher –  who speaks with great authority.

Jesus is the New Moses, who presents the “New Law- the law of Absolute Love!“

What is this teaching of such great authority?
>> It’s a teaching which calls for a reversal of the worldly values!
>> It’s a teaching that turns the worldly standards of greatness upside down!

The world holds in high esteem the aspects of power, prestige, richness and prosperity.
>> The yardstick of greatness of people is very often measured in terms of these external achievements.

But Jesus, the teacher-par-excellence, reverses this false notion of the world…
… And pronounces BLESSEDNESS to the poor, the mourning, the meek, the hungry and thirsty, the merciful, the clean of heart, the peacemakers and the persecuted ones!

High jumpers while competing with each other, keep raising the bar higher and higher, to achieve victory.
>> Similarly, the Beatitudes that are pronounced by Jesus raises the bar – the standards of Christian life are raised to a great proportion.

All the beatitudes, focus on one aspect: The need to lower oneself and instead to understand that “God alone suffices”!

Very often many questions pop up in our minds…
…. ” Why is my life full of suffering, though I seek to live a genuine life?”,
… ” Why do the unjust prosper, and the people who pursue for justice fail to receive rewards?“
… “Why does success elude me whereas those who adopt wrong means bask in achievements?”

It’s hard to give a downright answer to such questions…
… but the Beatitudes gives us a glimpse into the mind of Jesus: That in all such occasions, our attitude ought to be, ” God alone suffices!”.

“God alone suffices” ought to be our mantra…
… when we find ourselves at the receiving end, even though after having worked hard, we don’t find the expected success
… when we are still subject to persecutions and hardships even though we live in honesty and truthfulness

Of course, this teaching is hard to follow..may even seem impractical…!
>> Yet, we are not alone..
.. Jesus the teacher, Himself is our Model and Example.. He walked the talk!

Hanging on the Cross, Jesus became the epitome of the Beatitudes that He Proclaimed…
… He was the One Who was Poor, Mourning, Meek, Hungry and Thirsty, Merciful, Clean of Heart, Peacemaker and the Persecuted One!

Today let us look to Jesus, the Teacher and the One who lived out the Beatitudes, and make our Christian life more meaningful!

In the words of Fulton Sheen, ” It’s hard to be a Christian… but it’s harder not to be one!”

May the Divine Instructional Manual given by Jesus on the Mount became the pattern for us to lead a Committed Christian Life!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

– Fr Jijo Manjackal msfs
  Bengaluru, India

“Alice in Wonderland” is a popular 1865 novel.

It tells of a girl named Alice falling through a rabbit hole into a fantasy world populated by peculiar creatures  which are also anthropomorphic (having human characteristics).

One of the conversations, in this book, between Alice and a cat goes thus…

Alice: “Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here”?
Cat: “That depends a good deal on where you want to get to”

Alice: “I don’t much care where”….”So long as I get somewhere.”
Cat: “Then it doesn’t much matter which way you go!”

Many times, like Alice we are such…
… we don’t really know where are going
… we are not aware of the destination towards which are we moving
>> As a result, we fail to realise the importance of the “Journey” that we make.

The Gospel of the Day is an invitation to examine our “life as a journey”…
… and to come to a greater awareness, of how the Lord, Who is “The Way”, needs to become “our Road, our Direction as well as our Destination!” 

Life is a constant journey.

Our lives are filled with all sorts of journeys…
>> Short and long journeys…
>> Journeys in our minds and hearts…
>> Journeys towards God and away from God..

… Journeys that are as trivial as a trip to a shop..
… or as life-changing, as a trip to the hospital to witness the miracle of birth!

Our lives are made up of many such journeys: journeys that shape and mould us into who we are today.

Our earthly life, too, is a journey that begins at birth and ends with death.
>> With each passing day, one moves a step closer to the eventual-reality of one’s earthly life: death!

The Gospel of the Day – the incident of the raising of the dead son of the widow in the city of Nain – presents several journeys in an atmosphere of death and life:

1. The Journey of Jesus
Jesus the Preacher and Healer was on mission journey.
> His words influenced and inspired many people – the sinful, the broken and the hopeless!
> His deeds healed and touched many people – the sick, the ailing and the bedridden.

>>> Do I make a journey similar to the Lord in being a messenger of mercy and hope to the suffering world?
>>> Do I make a journey in the ministry of the Lord by reaching out the Gospel of Joy to a depressed humanity?

2. The Journey of the people accompanying Jesus
There were many followers and people (Lk 7:11) who were attracted to the magnetic personality of the Lord and who after seeing the amazing miracle of the dead man raised, begin to glorify God with loud acclaims.
> Many people were touched by the charm and miracles of the Lord.
> Many people were overwhelmed by the grand deeds and mighty works of the Lord.

They make a journey, with Jesus – From a “Curious Following” to realizing the “Divine Presence” in their midst!

>> Do I make a journey to move from a ‘peripheral following’ of Jesus to a ‘deeper seeking of His Presence’?
>> Do I make a journey from mere ‘external praises’ to a ‘heart-involved acclamation’ of the Lord?

3. The Journey of the crowd accompanying the dead man’s bier
It was a time of sadness and grief for the people who accompanied the dead man’s bier. (Lk 7: 11b)

Some of them would have been his relatives, some his friends, some his neighbours and some just unknown people.
>> But the reality of death, especially of a young man, hit all of them hard.

Death had cast its pale gloom on the minds of them all!
> They however, make a journey with Jesus – from a ‘sad mourning’ over a death to ‘joyful applauses’ over a life!

>> Am I able to make a journey from dead and lifeless situations to lively and enthusiastic moments with the Lord?
>> Am I able to make a journey from gloom and sadness to splendid joy and happiness in the Lord?

4. The Journey of the Widow
The grieving mother is a widow (Lk 7: 12a) and since it is her only son who has died, she finds herself in dire straits:
> She has no male to protect or provide for her.
>> To add injury to sorrow, she is faced with the reality that her family line has ended with the death of her son.

She too makes a journey with Jesus: From absolute hopelessness and despondency to a fresh lease of hope and life!

>> Do I journey with Jesus to have my situations of total despair be changed to thrilling moments?
>> Do I journey with Jesus to allow my life-threatening instants to be converted to blessed occasions?

5. The Journey of the Dead Man
Death is no respecter of persons – their status or age.

The dead man had to undergo this tragic reality at a younger stage of his life.
> He would have been the only strong support of his family, after the death of his father. And now, the bread winner was reduced to absolute starvation!

He too, however makes a journey with Jesus: From the dungeons of death to the glorious castles of life!

>> Can I make a journey from a “quit-easily” style of life to a “committed” style of life?
>> Can I make a journey from “luck-dependant” lifestyle to a “God’s Providence-aware” lifestyle?

Life itself is a journey where each day is a step closer to the eventual-reality of one’s earthly life: death!
>> Let us beautify this journey by constantly travelling with Jesus and undergoing many transformations!

In this life, we have the Church which supports and replenishes us with her life-enriching and life-giving Sacraments – especially the Holy Eucharist and the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
>> Let us adorn this journey with the jewels of the Holy Sacraments that our Church provides us with!

May we not remain ignorant regarding the purpose or destination of our life journey…
… Let us come to a greater realisation that “The Lord is our Road, Our Direction and Our Destination”!

May we make the journey from a “dead lifeless existence” to a “dynamically passionate living”!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

– Fr Jijo Manjackal msfs
  Bengaluru, India

A little boy was on stage, reciting a poem, as part of the Sunday School (catechism) competition.

However, mid-way, he forgot the lines of the poem.

His mother was, seated in the front row, to prompt him.
>> She gestured and formed the words silently with her lips, but it did not help.

Her son’s memory was blank.
>> Finally, she leaned forward and whispered the cue, “I am the light of the world.”

The child beamed and with great feeling and a loud clear voice said: “My mother is the light of the world!”

For the child, the mother was the shining light!
>> Godly mothers are indeed, the reflection of God, to their children

Mothers (of course, Fathers are not excluded!) are indeed very special!

Today we celebrate the Heart of a Blessed Mother… the Immaculate Heart of Mary
… the Mother of the Most Perfect Child in the world
… the Mother, Who herself was Immaculate and Stainless!

The Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, follows immediately after the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Love seeks unity…
… and Jesus and Mary – Son and Mother – were deeply united in love!

>> The Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary…
… in their lives, they were One
… in their sorrow, they were One
… and in their love, they were One!

In celebrating the Immaculate (a word which means “unstained) Heart of Mother Mary, we focus our meditation on Her Single-heartedness.

In Mt 6:24, we read, “No one can serve two masters!”.

Sin divides our heart…we no longer remain immaculate….
>> But Mamma Mary, remained focused all through Her life, in doing God’s Will…and remained Immaculate!

The Fiat that she pronounced was lived all through Her life…from the womb to the tomb.

In today’s Gospel reading (Lk 2: 41-51), we read that, “Mary kept all these things in her heart…” ( Lk 2: 51)

When we ponder over the life of our Blessed Mother, we realize, that there were many events and occasions, which our Blessed Mother was probably unable to grasp and understand…
>> The Angel’s dramatic visit
>> The invitation to be the Mother of God
>> The coming of the Three Kings
>> The travel to Egypt on the cold night of the delivery
>> The visit of the Shepherds
>> The prophecy of Simeon
>> The loss of Her Beloved Child at the age of twelve in the Temple
>> The public ministry of Jesus
>> The horrific crucifixion and death of Her tender Child!

Most of these events were probably minimally understood by our Blessed Mother…
… And yet, at every moment, a word pressed upon her precious lips… always:
“Fiat Lord! – Let Thy Will be done, Lord!”

As the Letter to the Hebrews says, “Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen” (Heb 11: 1)
>> Mother Mary, by Her immense trust and acceptance to God’s Will…
… even when things were not understood fully…
… even when events would generate confusion, doubts and uncertainty…
.. Is the Mother of Faith!

We go through the chores and grinds of daily life…
… and innumerable events and occasions stare at our face.
>> Some are joyful…
… but many are also painful and soul-crushing.

The Immaculate Heart of Mary today invites us to have our minds and hearts, focused on God… “The One who has called you, is faithful”! (1 Thess 5:24)

Like our Immaculate Mother, let us also seek to proclaim:
“Fiat Lord- Let Thy will be done, Lord”…
…. in all moments and situations of our lives!

The last recorded words of Mamma Mary in the Bible are..”Do whatever He tells You!” (Jn 2: 5)
>> Our loving Mother, she teaches us the Gospel of God in these 5 words…

Let us give heed to Her… just as she pondered His Word and lived a Perfect Christian Life
>> Let us also strive to be Immaculate and Holy.

She is the Immaculate Light Who will lead us to greater illumination of Jesus, the Great Light!
>> Let’s  obey Her words, “DO WHATEVER HE TELLS YOU!”

A  Blessed Feast of the Beautifully Immaculate Heart of our Precious Mamma, united to the Sacred Heart of Her Divine Child….
… and to all of us, Her Little Children and Followers of Her Son!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

– Fr Jijo Manjackal msfs
  Bengaluru, India