Aicha Moussaoui had been up all night, weeping and pacing inside her house…

“I am wounded,” she said.

Moussaoui was enduring a hard time.
>> She was the mother of an alleged conspirator in terrorist crimes.

Her youngest son, Zacarias Moussaoui, 33, had been accused of plotting with the 9/11 hijackers which killed thousands of Americans at the World Trade Centre.

“For me, it’s as if he had died,” she said of her son…
>> “I want to see him so I could ask my son: Why? How? Is it true?”

Moussaoui said she “felt like the roof fell on me”

These are painful and heart-wrenching words of a mother who was shattered by the alleged misdeeds of her son.

She expected him to respect and honour her care.
>> She had brought him up, with much love and affection.
>> She wanted him to become a responsible person in the society.

But her love was answered with disgrace….
>> Her expectations shattered by humiliation
>> Her affections bruised with pain

The heart of a mother is broken when her child strays away from the ways of truth and honesty!

If this is the experience of an earthly mother, how much more will be the pain and suffering of our God, if we stray away from Him…
… Him, Who loves each one of us deeply with a motherly affection?
>> If a human mother has so much pain, how much more will God, with a motherly heart suffer!

It is this sorrow and grief that is strongly expressed by Jesus in the Gospel of the day.

Jesus laments over the City of Jerusalem.

St Luke records this lamentation of the Lord with a powerfully sentimental verse:
“As Jesus drew near, he saw the city and wept over it” (Lk 19: 41)

Jesus is usually an epitome of great joy and rejoicing.
>> But this joyful Jesus being made to shed tears shows the gravity of situation.

What made Jesus to shed tears?
>> The pain and the hurt He experienced because of the ill-response and harsh reaction of His  chosen people, Israel, represented by the city of Jerusalem.

God had chosen Israel as His people. 

Out of all the civilizations on the earth, He chose them as His beloved.
… through them He promised that the Saviour of the human race would come. 
>> This promise ignited the hearts of the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

God wiped out their enemies even in the most extreme of circumstances! 
>> Time and again, God blessed them with judges, kings and prophets. He even provided them a place to worship. 

But as the quote goes, “Familiarity breeds contempt!”
>> Israel, God’s own people no longer delighted in being His distinctive people. 

For them, He became a routine.
>> They began to consider Him of little value. 
>> They allowed their hearts to grow hard… over and over… again and again.

Finally, Jesus, the long-promised Messiah came, the One whom God the Father had sent.

But most of the Jews by then, had grown stubborn and complacent in their ways.  
>> They had no room for One who came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets.  

They maltreated the Saviour of the World.
>> They rejected the Chosen One of God.
>> They abused the Anointed One of the Lord.

And this led, Jesus to shed tears.
>>  Like a mother…
… whose heart is broken in seeing her child choose wrong ways.
… whose soul is crushed in witnessing her child engaged in misdeeds.
… who cries in agony when her child strays away from the path of goodness.

This story of Jerusalem could well be our own life-story.

We have been specially chosen and loved by the Lord. 
>> He has taken us through many dangers, sicknesses and accidents.
… In times when everything seem lost, He has been our refuge.
… In moments when all seemed totally blank and dark, He has been the glowing light.
… In occasions we felt like quitting life and escaping from realities, He held us in good stead.

But we tend to easily forget all these good deeds and wonders of the Lord.
>> We fail to be grateful and thankful to the Lord….
…by living a holy and virtuous life.
…by deepening our bond of love and affection with Him
…by translating His graces into deeds of charity and concern for our people.

We instead persecute and torture Him…
…by living a lethargic or unholy or even scandalous life
…by abandoning many of His commandments and the teachings of the Church
…by harming our brothers and sisters and being highly indifferent in situations.

God’s heart, like that of a broken mother weeping for her child, is crying out for us…
>> We have strayed much!

It’s time to come back to Him
>> He calls us.
>> He longs to have us with Him always.
>> He wants us back in His loving embrace.

As little children, let us run, in sincere repentance, to the welcoming motherly heart of our Beloved God.

God Bless! Live Jesus!

And they lived happily forever….

This is an ending that we read in many fairytales and kids stories.

As kids we felt that life is always going to be happy as in these fairytales.

>> But as we grow, we realize, that life often is the other way!

Life…

… grinds us with problems and difficulties…

… crushes us with tensions and worries…

… squeezes us with struggles and labours…

Sometimes, we have a very fairytale understanding of God too.

We experience His love and read about His deeds of power and greatness.

>> And we draw up a fairy-tale image of God…

A God…

… Who is always goody-goody and smiley-faced.

… Who is always lenient and closing His eyes to any of our misdeeds.

We take God for granted.

>> We assume God to give us a free-hand always.

But the Gospel of the Day reminds and warns us of demanding side of God!

>> The Lord is gentle and kind…

… but HE is also challenging.

>> The Lord is soft-hearted and loving…

… but HE is also tough and firm.

The parable of the Ten Gold Coins begins with a nobleman who is about to make a trip to a distant country.

>> He leaves his servants in charge of his kingdom.

While he is gone, he expects them to make the most of their opportunity to serve him.

He calls ten servants and gave them ten gold coins.

The phrase used for 10 gold coins’ is “ ten minas” which means “10 units of money”…

… equivalent to about 3 months wages.

They were told to put the money to work, to invest the money, until the nobleman returned.

How well did they do?

 

 

The first two gave their financial report…

The first man came and said, “Sir, your mina has earned ten more.”

“Well done, my good servant!” he replied. “Because you’ve been trustworthy in a small matter, take charge of ten cities.”

The second came and said, “Sir, your mina has earned five more.” His master answered, “You take charge of five cities.”

And then come the third servant… Mr Play-it-Safe.

>> He felt that he knew his master very well…

… but in fact, he failed to understand his mind.

>> He felt it was easier to play safe, than to invest…

… but in fact, he failed in his poor calculation.

This caused great anger for the Master…

What angered the servant was not that the servant did not make profit…but because…

…this servant did not even try to use his money…

…this servant had a very lethargic attitude…

… this servant was overly-cautious and hesitant for any risks…

The focus now turns to us…

All of us have been entrusted by God, with great resources, which needs to be invested.

>> Some of us might put them into good use, and gain rewards from the Lord.

But some of us, might want to keep it securely and imitate the third servant, Mr Play-it-Safe.

We may think that we know God well…

… that He is always a forgiving and kind-hearted one, and so all my inactivity and sluggishness will be overlooked

… that He is all too sweet & compassionate, and so all my failures to do my duties will be ignored

But the Lord warns us of serious consequences, as the third servant, Mr Play-it-Safe had to face.

>> “With your own words, I shall condemn you” (Lk 19:22) were the harsh words addressed by the Master to the servant.

Our inability to respond to His grace…

Our lethargy to try to utilize God-given gifts…

Our failure to make attempts to use our talents…

.Our apathy to acknowledge God’s manifold blessings…

… all these will be very severely condemned and punished by God.

>> The Lord doesn’t care for results…

… but He demands a try.

>> The Lord doesn’t look for profit…

… but He demands an effort

>> The Lord doesn’t ask for success…

… but He demands an attempt

>> The Lord doesn’t fret over victories…

… but He demands commitment.

>> The Lord doesn’t bother about accomplishments…

… but He demands faithfulness

We have perhaps very rosy and fairytale images of God.

>> But along with it, let us also become aware of the tough and challenging dimension in God.

His deep love and mercy will save us….

… But His unfailing justice can cause us to be condemned!

His deep compassion will protect us…

… But His impartial righteousness can cause us to be destroyed!

Let us be on the guard.

>> Let us make the best use of the resources that God has blessed us with.

And may we be privileged to hear the soft words of our Lord:

“Well done, good and faithful servant!”

And thus…we can truly, live happily forever…..

God Bless! Live Jesus!

Biblical stories are interesting and motivating.

One of the Biblical story which is not just interesting & motivating, but also greatly popular is of the little man – Zacchaeus.

The Gospel of the Day takes us through this life-changing incident of this Little Man.
>> Thought little, this person teaches us big things
>> Though small, the story tells many great lessons.

The story begins with Jesus coming to Jericho and intending to pass through the town (Lk 19:1)

Jericho has a long history, especially seen in the Old Testament.
>> Jericho was the first city to be conquered by the Israelites under Joshua. (Josh 6:1-27)

It was surrounded by a huge wall. However, with directives from God & under the leadership of Joshua, the city was laid siege.

On the appointed day, Joshua ordered the people to shout & the walls of the city collapsed and the Israelites destroyed it.

Joshua laid a curse on the one who would rebuild this city.
>> Thus, Jericho bore the brunt of a curse.

It is to this ‘place of curse’ that Jesus makes his entry.

As Jesus makes his entry to this cursed place, a little man named Zacchaeus climbs & hides himself behind the leaves of a sycamore tree.

Zacchaeus was a rejected man.
>> This rejection was on two levels:
1. A personal level
2. A societal level

The Gospel mentions that Zacchaeus was “short in stature” (Lk 19:3)

It is interesting to note that “Zacchaeus” in Greek means…
… the pure –  a just one

However when St Luke speaks of him as being “short in stature”, it was a pointer…
… that he was perhaps living a life contradictory to what his own name suggested.

His being short was probably referring to the fact…
… that as a tax collector, he was living a life of corruption
… that as a rich man, he was still quite unsatisfied in life

Being short, he faced a sense of rejection…
… in his own self!

At the same time, Zacchaeus was also rejected by the society.

The Gospel describes him as being a tax collector.

Under the Roman system, tax collecting jobs were outsourced to people…
… who bought the right to collect taxes.

Tax collectors paid a fixed amount of tax to Rome
>> After that, they enriched themselves by forcing the public to pay far more than what Rome required.

Zacchaeus thus became a tax collector for the hated Roman government
>> He was probably treated as a heathen…
…  isolated from all social life
… equated with the Gentiles at a distance when he went to the temple!

Thus, being a tax-collector, he faced a sense of rejection…
… in his own society and among his own people!

Besides, Zacchaeus was a “chief” tax collector…
… so his rejection was still more “chief” – greater and graver.

Do we also find ourselves to be rejected – just as Zacchaeus was?
>> Despising ourselves because of our own weaknesses and shortcomings?
… Being despised by the society, when we take a conviction that is opposed to the worldly and materialistic ways?

>> Despising ourselves, because of the weight of habitual sins and prolonged bad habits?
… Being despised by the society, when we fail to abide by the unholy trends of the modern world?

Zacchaeus, however, stands as an example and challenge to us…
… to not get dejected by such rejections!
>> Instead to “deeply desire” for the Lord and be ready to climb the sycamore tree of “sadness, rejection, disappointment and dejection” in our lives!

The Lord is gazing, addressing and seeking for us.
>>  Am I ready to encounter, to listen and to be found by Him?
 

A Yes to the question, will also mean taking some radical decisions in our life, just like Zacchaeus did…
>> Giving up of possessions…
>> Letting go of my undue desire for money, cheap popularity, the riches in my life etc.
>> Repaying those whom I have cheated…
>> Forgiving and accepting those whom I hurt, whom I don’t like, whom I am not in good terms etc.

Zacchaeus was a despised man.
>> He was despised because of his short stature.
>> He was despised because as a tax collector, he worked for the enemy-government and would cheat and defraud people.
>> He was despised because Jesus came to his house – a house of a sinner.

But the encounter with Jesus made him a transformed person
>> The encounter with Jesus made him to go beyond all complexes and filled him with deep joy!

This same transformation is at hand for us…

Let, us, learn from the Little Man and make significant changes in our life, in order to experience the magnanimous wonders and graces from our Big God!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

Every person in the world faces a moment of darkness.
>> Some of us get encompassed by it.
>> Some of us get dejected by it.

The Gospel of Day presents the healing of a blind man.
> The blind man, faced immense darkness, but did not allow to get encompassed  or dejected by it.

Let us travel with him through this exciting journey of moving  from “Tamas”(darkness) to “Jyothi”(light)…

These blind man takes us through four stages of a spiritual life:

1. A State of Blindness

The man was stuck with blindness.
There is no idea as to when or how or why he became blind.

>> Maybe he was blind from birth.
>> Maybe he was blind  due to some sickness as he grew up
>> Maybe he was blind  as a result of some accident or calamity

The reasons for his blindness is unknown

Perhaps, many of us are in a state of blindness….
>> Blindness of being rejected and not accepted…
>> Blindness of inferiority complexes…
>> Blindness of inner brokenness…
>> Blindness of family crisis…

> Some of us maybe experiencing this darkness from the time of our birth.
> Some of us maybe experiencing this darkness due to calamities striking our lives as we grew

2. A State of Seeking

A life of blindness meant a life of total dependence on others…
…at times facing the ire of the people…at times facing the rejection of the people.

> The blind man could have become dejected and totally depressed.
> He could have given up in life and cursed their destiny.

But the blind man, did not allow the darkness to cloud his lives.
>> He probably would have heard about Jesus and the wonders He had done.
>> He sought with hope, the One who could banish his darkness.
>> His sought with faith, the One who could heal his gloominess.

Our state of blindness should not become a hindrance to seek the Lord.
>> We need to seek the Lord with our entire being…
>> We need to seek the plan of God and His providential care in our shadows..
>> We need to seek the road ahead with Hope and Faith in His Divine plans…

3. The State of Faith

The blind man, after making a deliberate choice to seek the Lord, expressed his deep faith in the healing power of the Lord.

The Lord makes a test of his trust and hope in Him.

“What do you want me to do for you?”
He said, “Lord, let me receive my sight” (Lk 18:41)

Our seeking for the Lord, needs to be supplemented greatly with the vitamin of Faith!
>> Delays in our prayer requests, should become an incentive to grow deeper in faith.
>> Addition of more problems in life, ought to be a moment to have more faith in Him

4. The Stage of Proclamation

The blind man, who was healed by Jesus, now, was filled with tremendous joy and enthusiasm.

> His happiness is so much overflowing, that he goes beyond the words of Jesus, and proclaims His wonderful miracle to the peoples.

“And immediately, he received his sight and followed Jesus, glorifying God” (Lk 18: 43)

> Once we are touched by the Lord, our happiness would know no bounds.
> Once we are healed by the Lord, our enthusiasm would get highly contagious.

The Blind man in the Gospel take us through these four stages…
The Stage of Blindness… The Stage of Seeking…the Stage of Faith…the Stage of Proclamation.

Let us be inspired and challenged by him

>> Let us seek the Lord of Light in our darkness.
>> Let us seek the Lord of healing in our sicknesses.
>> Let us seek the Lord of holiness in our blindness.

God Bless! Live Jesus!

One of the common technique of understanding and personalizing a Biblical text is by, what could be called as the Method of Assuming a Character.

>> One puts oneself in the shoes of one of the characters in the Biblical passage and draws reflections and thoughts for one’s spiritual growth.

 

In the Parable of the Prodigal Son…

>> One could assume the character of the Younger Son…and identify as one having gone away from God.

>> One could assume the character of the Father….and identify as one who longs for the return of those lost and those gone away from us.

>> One could assume the character of the Elder Son….and identify as one who gets irritated and even angry at the apparently “unjust” side of God’s love of being overly merciful!

 

In the Parable of the Good Samaritan…

>>One could assume the character of the injured man….and identify as one who is beaten up and lying helpless, seeking for assistance

>> One could assume the character of the thieves….and identify as one who engages in wicked activities and harming the lives of others

>> One could assume the character of the Levite or the Priest….and identify as one who fails to set right the priorities in life.

>> One could assume the character of the Good Samaritan….and identify as one who reaches out to people in their dire need.

>> One could assume the character of the inn-keeper….and identify as one who remains generous in allowing the injured man in the inn, despite a possible loss of money.

 

 

The Gospel of the Day is the Parable of the Persistent Widow.

>> For our reflection, we shall use the similar Method of assuming a Character.

 

The Parable speaks of a judge and a widow.

 

The judge is characterised by some features:

> He did not fear God.

>> He did not fear humans.

>>> He was initially adamant in his refusal.

 

The Widow is characterised by some features:

> She had a genuine need.

>> She was denied justice.

>>> She remained persistent till the end.

 

 

In our usual understanding, we assume the character of the Widow and God as the Judge and draw some of the following conclusions:

> We are often in many and true needs.

But we often, find ourselves, a bit depressed at the delays in receiving the answers to our prayers.

The parable encourages and exhorts us to remain persistent in our prayer life and not to get discouraged by God’s delays, which apparently appears as God’s denials.

Yes, God’s delays are certainly not His denials!

>> God’s pauses are certainly not His refusals!

 

But for a change, for our reflection, we shall try to reverse our roles…

 

Let US assume the role of the JUDGE…and GOD as the WIDOW!

Sounds strange?

Me as the Judge? God as the Widow?

 

Widows in the first century found themselves at a very sad state.

They were quite literally unprotected. Many became homeless and destitute after the death of their husbands.

 

Often they were at mercy of cunning men, including some religious leaders who would ?devour widows houses? (Mark 12:40)

> A widow couldn’t count on anyone to come to her aid.

She represents the hopeless….the unaided…the oppressed.

 

In Mt 25:35, Jesus identifies Himself with the one who was hungry, thirsty, naked, stranger and the imprisoned.

>> Jesus in the poor, the hungry, the thirsty, the naked, the stranger and the imprisoned…. is the hopeless one…the unaided one..the oppressed one.

 

Jesus, like the widow in the Parable…comes knocking at our door: Behold I stand at the door, and knock… (Rev 3:20)

 

As the oppressed and justice-deprived widow, Jesus, knocks at our door – we the Judges.

 

What is our reaction and response?

 

The cry of the one in pain and suffering reaches our hears…

>> Do I reach out my heart to them and seek to ease their troubles and hardships?

 

The moaning of a broken family or a lost teenager or a spoilt child comes to us…

>> Do I pray for them and help them, in ways possible for me?

 

The sad tear of the abused or oppressed people with whom we work is seen by us…

>> Do I get out of my comfort-shell to make them feel comforted and consoled?

 

The disturbing reports of violence, corruption, injustice in the society falls on our senses…

>> Do I remain indifferent to them and become saturated with such atrocities?

 

Yes…the widow – the hopeless, the unaided and the oppressed one… keeps knocking at our doors…

>> As a Judge…do I keep refusing?…do I keep getting irritated?…do I feel life as a botheration?

 

The Parable of the Persistent Widow is certainly a big lesson to remain firm and to persevere in our prayer life.

>> But this parable, when looked from another perspective, is also a big challenge to become a people who reach out in justice and give comfort and consolation to the needy.

 

 

 

Knock….knock…

Do we hear the knock, seeking for help?

 

God Bless! Live Jesus!

Spending time along little streams can be a fascinating pastime.

 

When along these streams, one can observe tiny flies that come and bathe in it.

 

If one notices carefully, it can be seen that while they plunge their bodies, they keep their wings high out of the water and fly away, with their wings dry!

 >> The wings are kept safe from getting wet, so that there is no hindrance in flying again!

 

How beautiful a lesson is this for us Christians…

…. who live in the world, yet are called to be out of the world.

… who live amidst possibilities of wealth, yet are called to be detached from them.

… who live with the prospect of gaining immense power, yet are exhorted to not be attached

 

The Gospel of the Day presents Jesus highlighting this essential element of Christian living : Being in the world, but living out of the world, with eyes firmly set on heavenly realms.

 

Jesus says, “Whoever seeks to gain his life, will lose it, but whoever loses his life, will preserve it” (Lk 17:33)

Very often our lives get too attached to material riches and attachments.

 

>> We fall prey to seeking great honour and fame in being a Christian…

… but are unable to grasp the fact that ‘to be a Christian is to be living a life of simplicity’.

 

>> We yield to temptations of being obsessed to seek power and positions of futile vanity…

… and fail time and again to live up to the Christian virtues of humility and modesty

 

>> We often become victims of engaging in dirty politics and authority-grabbing games…

… and become an anti-witness to the Lord who ‘came to serve, rather than be served’

 

We need to give heed to the words of the Lord who prayed that “we are in the world, but do not belong to this world” (Jn 17: 15)

 

 

A Christian life ought to be hallmarked by detachment and separation…

… detachment from too much of worldly distractions and vain glory

… separation from sinful ways and evil tendencies

 

 

It ought to be radiated with total focus and complete dedication…

… total focus on the Lord who ‘walked the talk’ by giving up His life in service

… complete dedication to the Kingdom of God which calls for a humble way of life

 

The world today is being ‘gripped in sin’, “as it was in the days of Noah” (Lk 17:26)

>> We need to open our eyes to realise the warning given by the Lord and be ‘on the watch’ after the example of the destruction of the sinful city of Sodom.

Perhaps our own life… or our family… or our community… our society…

… is resembling the city of Sodom

>> There is much drunkenness in worldly pleasures!

>> There is much ‘eating and consumption’ of corrupt practices!

>> There is much neglect of honest ways and of truthful conduct!

>> There is much enjoyment of bad, inhuman and cruel behaviours!

Let us deepen…

… our faith in the Lord

… our love for the Kingdom

… and our detachment from riches

As St Frances Xavier Cabrini, the first American citizen to be canonized a saint says:

” We must pray without tiring, for the salvation of mankind does not depend on material success; nor on sciences that cloud the intellect.

>> Neither does it depend on arms and human industries, but on Jesus alone.”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

Spending time along little streams can be a fascinating pastime.

 

When along these streams, one can observe tiny flies that come and bathe in it.

 

If one notices carefully, it can be seen that while they plunge their bodies, they keep their wings high out of the water and fly away, with their wings dry!

 >> The wings are kept safe from getting wet, so that there is no hindrance in flying again!

 

How beautiful a lesson is this for us Christians…

…. who live in the world, yet are called to be out of the world.

… who live amidst possibilities of wealth, yet are called to be detached from them.

… who live with the prospect of gaining immense power, yet are exhorted to not be attached

 

The Gospel of the Day presents Jesus highlighting this essential element of Christian living : Being in the world, but living out of the world, with eyes firmly set on heavenly realms.

 

Jesus says, “Whoever seeks to gain his life, will lose it, but whoever loses his life, will preserve it” (Lk 17:33)

Very often our lives get too attached to material riches and attachments.

 

>> We fall prey to seeking great honour and fame in being a Christian…

… but are unable to grasp the fact that ‘to be a Christian is to be living a life of simplicity’.

 

>> We yield to temptations of being obsessed to seek power and positions of futile vanity…

… and fail time and again to live up to the Christian virtues of humility and modesty

 

>> We often become victims of engaging in dirty politics and authority-grabbing games…

… and become an anti-witness to the Lord who ‘came to serve, rather than be served’

 

We need to give heed to the words of the Lord who prayed that “we are in the world, but do not belong to this world” (Jn 17: 15)

 

 

A Christian life ought to be hallmarked by detachment and separation…

… detachment from too much of worldly distractions and vain glory

… separation from sinful ways and evil tendencies

 

 

It ought to be radiated with total focus and complete dedication…

… total focus on the Lord who ‘walked the talk’ by giving up His life in service

… complete dedication to the Kingdom of God which calls for a humble way of life

 

The world today is being ‘gripped in sin’, “as it was in the days of Noah” (Lk 17:26)

>> We need to open our eyes to realise the warning given by the Lord and be ‘on the watch’ after the example of the destruction of the sinful city of Sodom.

Perhaps our own life… or our family… or our community… our society…

… is resembling the city of Sodom

>> There is much drunkenness in worldly pleasures!

>> There is much ‘eating and consumption’ of corrupt practices!

>> There is much neglect of honest ways and of truthful conduct!

>> There is much enjoyment of bad, inhuman and cruel behaviours!

Let us deepen…

… our faith in the Lord

… our love for the Kingdom

… and our detachment from riches

As St Frances Xavier Cabrini, the first American citizen to be canonized a saint says:

” We must pray without tiring, for the salvation of mankind does not depend on material success; nor on sciences that cloud the intellect.

>> Neither does it depend on arms and human industries, but on Jesus alone.”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

  India is witnessing some historic economic reforms…

… with a view to curb corruption and especially to root out “black” money!

>> Scrapping of all existing Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes

(These are the highest denomination notes in the country and are extremely common)

 

Without taking any political stance or engaging in a debate to say what are the motives behind such a governmental policy, it is safe to say that the focus is being laid on having a society…

… that is free from corruption

… that seeks to value honesty and integrity

Such policies and steps are reminders for us Christians, to reflect and consider…

… If this is the focus laid on having a corrupt-free society, how much more should be our zeal to live sin-free lives!

…If these are the steps to ensure integrity and honesty in a system, how much more should be our eagerness to root out anything that hinders us from living a holy life!

Our Christian lives must be lived eagerly and enthusiastically to nurture and promote the Kingdom of God…

… and live as citizens, worthy of a King Who is all-holy and all-honest!

 

Are we ready to collaborate with Jesus, to infuse a greater spirit of the Kingdom of God in this world …

… and to promote the reach and spread of the Kingdom of God?

 

 

The Gospel of the Day is a teaching on the Kingdom of God.

 

The Pharisees ask “when” the kingdom will come (Lk 17:20)

>> Jesus however explains “how” the Kingdom will come (17:22-35)

 

Jesus does not give an answer to the question of the Pharisees.

>> Rather, He makes to realize what should be the proper question.

 

It’s the style and technique of the Lord to get right the priorities and focus in life!

 

The people searched for Jesus after the miracle of the multiplication of loaves…

> Jesus sets right their intentions by speaking of the need to hunger for the bread of life (Jn 6)

 

The disciples of John came to clarify whether Jesus was indeed the Messiah to come…

> Jesus sets right their focus by turning their attention to all His signs and deeds (Lk 7:19ff)

 

 

The two disciples, James and John, sought for privileged places in Jesus’ future reign…

> Jesus sets right their priorities by exhorting them to grow rather in humility and service (Mk 10: 35-45)

 

Nicodemus, in his encounter with Jesus, remained on peripheral questions and doubts…

> Jesus sets right his doubts by calling his attention on living a life in the Spirit and being born anew spiritually (Jn 3: 1-21)

 

 

 

The Lord loves to challenge our doubts, theories & even convictions…in order to be in harmony with the priorities of the Kingdom.

 

>> Am I willing to allow the Lord to work in me to change some of my thinking patterns, that would be in accord to His Will?

 

>> Am I flexible to let the Lord to mould and shape my lifestyle and thus be in tune with the focus of His Kingdom?

 

The “Kingdom of God” is an oft-repeated phrase in the New Testament and especially in the Gospels.

 

 

What is the Kingdom of God?

 

A kingdom normally brings to picture a geographical territory, with its clear-cut boundaries and its rulers and citizens.

 

The Kingdom of God, is however, quite different!

>> The Kingdom of God is not a geographical dominion like worldly kingdoms!

 

The Kingdom of God is a spiritual reality where God’s Will is done.

 

It is a person; it is He – Jesus!

 

“Jesus leads people to realize the overwhelming fact that in Him, God is present among them and that He is God’s presence…” (from the book, “Jesus of Nazareth – Part I” by Pope Benedict XVI)

 

The Pharisees who asked Jesus on “when” the Kingdom would come, were probably expecting an external sort of a Kingdom.

 >> They probably expected a Kingdom which would overturn and overthrow the Roman Government.

But Jesus clarifies the nature of this Kingdom…

 >> He speaks of a Kingdom which is much more internal & spiritual, and whose impact would be felt and experienced in the external world.

 

 

One experiences the Kingdom of Heaven first in one’s inner life…and this is manifested in one’s external lifestyles…

 

The Samaritan Woman experienced the power of the Kingdom of God within herself, when she spoke to Jesus, the fountain of life…

>> And this experience of the Kingdom led her to proclaim the name of Jesus to all her villagers & bring many to the saving fold of the Lord.

 

 

The Disciples experienced the power of the Kingdom of God within them, when the Holy Spirit descended on them…

>> And this experience of the Kingdom was manifested in their bold and powerful witnessing life!

 

St Paul experienced the force of the Kingdom of God within him, when he encountered the Risen Lord on the way to Damascus…

>> And this experience of the Kingdom was displayed by him through his passionate life of preaching and missionary works.

 

 

In the Prayer, the Our Father, we pray:

 “Thy Kingdom Come,

Thy Will be Done…”

 

>> The Kingdom of God is, where the Will of God is fulfilled.

The question arises before us:

Is the Kingdom of God here?

>> Or is the Kingdom yet to come?

 

This is where we speak of the concept of “Already and not yet”

 

The Kingdom of God is already here, but not yet!

>> The Kingdom of God already reigns now, but not yet, in its fullness!

 

As St Paul says in 1 Cor 13: 12, “At present, we see indistinctly, as in a mirror, but then face to face. At present, I know partially; then I shall know fully, as I am fully known”.

 

 

Do I experience the Kingdom of God in my life?

 

The Kingdom of God is not a matter of food and drink, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Rom 14:17)

 

>> I need to experience the joy and the peace of the Lord in my life…

>> I need to place the priorities of God over all else in my life…

That’s the Kingdom of God.

>> That’s the Reign of God.

 

 

We are invited today “to radiate heaven on our faces”!

May our Christian lives be lived eagerly and enthusiastically to nurture and promote the Kingdom of God…

… and thus live as citizens, worthy of a King Who is all-holy and all-honest!

 May we become a “Kingdom People!!

 

*God Bless! _Live Jesus_!*

*- Fr Jijo Manjackal MSFS*

*_Bengaluru, India_*

  “In Hoc Signo Vinces” (By this sign you shall conquer).

This was the motto…

… which propelled the Christian Faith

… which signalled the beginning of Christianity as the Official Religion

Constantine who had been converted to Christianity along with his mother Helen…

… had ascended to the throne of the Roman Empire.

The historian Eusebius tells that on the night of the major battle, Constantine saw a cross of light in the skies, with the words: “In Hoc Signo Vinces.”

As a gratitude for the many battles won in the name of “In Hoc Signo Vinces”,

… Constantine donated his personal property for the construction of one of the first Basilicas of the Church – St John Lateran Basilica.

Today we celebrate the Feast of this great Cathedral Church of the Pope, the Bishop of Rome.

>> This Basilica is the oldest Christian church building in the world.

>> It is the first permanent, public place of worship for Christians in the world.

The Gospel of the Day vividly and dramatically displays the zeal and passion of the Lord, for the House of God through the incident of the Cleansing of the Jerusalem Temple.

 

Christianity, in its infancy, suffered a great deal at the hands of her persecutors.

>> The Roman Empire sought to extend its domination over the entire world.

>> The power and might of the Roman Empire was determined to utterly destroy the Christian religion.

 

Christians, with a staunch belief in Jesus Christ, refused to worship the Roman pagan gods.

>> This led the Christians to be labelled as the enemies of the state and thus were sought to be eliminated.

Christians were arrested, imprisoned, tortured, and even cruelly executed!

>> This wave of violent persecution crashed against the Rock, the Church for three centuries!

It was only in 312, when the Emperor Constantine legalized Christianity that these persecutions ceased.

In gratitude to Christ, the new Emperor Constantine sponsored the construction of Christian churches, the first of which was the Church of the Most Holy Saviour, known today as the Basilica of St John Lateran…or simply called as the Lateran Basilica.

 

On this Feast day of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica, the call of the Gospel is towards examining our relationship with God in the Church.

 

In the Old Testament, we read that the Lord had established a covenant with His people, Israel.

>> This covenant had its physical symbol in the Temple of Jerusalem.

The majestic and glorious Jerusalem Temple was an external symbol of God’s love-relationship with His people.

 

Jesus cleansing this Jerusalem Temple, was a strong message to the people, that He had come to revive and revamp the strained relationship between God and His people.

>> It was also symbolic of the need of the people to realise that the Jerusalem Temple which was to be destroyed in a few decades, was only a temporary symbol.

Jesus, Himself is the real and everlasting Temple…

… the permanent symbol of God’s eternal covenant with His people.

And so, He showcases a tremendous zeal and passion, in cleansing the Temple, of all the corruption and filth and fraud!

 

The Commemoration of this Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica and the Cleansing of the Jerusalem Temple is a call for each of us, to examine our own lives…

 

Is my relationship with God corrupted by many evil tendencies and pleasurable sins?

>> My heart needs a cleansing drive by the Lord…

 

Is my relationship with the other, who is also a Temple of the Holy Spirit, badly tainted with anger, jealousy, calumnious thoughts etc…

>> My relationships needs a cleansing drive by the Lord…

 

Is my relationship with the Church, strained by negative feelings of her dogmas and teachings, and stained by angry-feelings due to many scandals by her responsible authorities?

>> My mentality towards the Church needs a cleansing drive by the Lord…

 

 

This Feast is a call to revive our zeal and passion for the Lord, His Mission and His Church.

The Lord’s ways are sometimes very hard to follow and difficult to tread in this highly materialistic and sensational world.

>> But the Lord promises to be with us, in all our trials and hardships.

 

The Mission of the Lord to spread His Kingdom is a very challenging one and at times, they seem too very impossible and our efforts meaningless.

>> But the Lord assures His ever-abiding presence and love to those committed and faithful.

The Church of the Lord is very often found to wrench in corrupt practices, discouraging scandals, heart-crushing and shameful incidents.

>> But the Lord assures that His might Spirit will guide the Church through any storms and will surely “write straight, with crooked lines.”

 

The invitation is strong…

>> To be filled with a deeper love and zeal for the Lord, His Mission and His Church!

The challenges are deep.

>> The trials are too discouraging.

Yet, with the grace of God, can we display immense pleasure and thrill in building the Kingdom of God?

 

Happy Feast Day!

God Bless! Live Jesus!