A five year old boy was playing in the front yard of his house, by throwing a ball up in the air. 
An elderly priest, who was passing that way, asked the boy what he was doing.

The little boy, with innocence answered: 

“I am playing a game of ‘catching the ball’ with God!

>> I throw the ball up in the air…

… and He throws it back to me!”

The senior priest was pretty amused at the simple answer.
And as he moved ahead, he thought in his mind…

” Although, the boy in his innocence just said his experience of a law of nature…

… in that simple statement, he also expressed a religious reality:
>> Divine experience is this: Throwing of ourselves into the Hands of God…

… and receiving what He gives to us”

That’s very true isn’t it?

>> Divine experience is ” throwing of ourselves into the Hands of God…

… and receiving what He gives to us”

When we throw ourselves into the Hands of God, and receive what He gives us…

… that is the experience of Transfiguration!

The Gospel of the Day on this Second Sunday of Lent is the incident of the Transfiguration of the Lord on the mount. 

The Scene of the Transfiguration is one of the most captivating and thrilling scenes of the Gospels. 
It’s interesting to see that this scene takes place on a high mountain. 
The Gospel Passage (Mt 17:1-9), begins with the verse:

“After six days, Jesus took Peter, James and John, his brother and led them up a high MOUNTAIN, by themselves… ( Mt 17: 1)
 
Mountains play a key role, in the Bible and especially in the life of Jesus.
Mountains of course, dot the landscape of the Biblical regions. 

>> They are a great part of the physical reality of the Biblical world. 
They are a symbolic of “being closer to God”. 

 

The Gospel of St Matthew especially has a particular love for this “lofty symbol of God’s presence” 

  

>> Jesus underwent a temptation by Satan on the Mount – the Mount of Temptations (Mt 4:8) 

>> Jesus delivers His Sermon and Teachings on a Mount – the Mount of the Sermon (Mt 5:1) 

>> Jesus performs many deeds of healings on a Mount – the Mount by the Sea of Galilee (Mt 15:29) 

>> Jesus is transfigured on a Mount – the Mount of Transfiguration (Mt 17:1)

>> Jesus gives His final teaching and discourse on a Mount – the Mount of Olives (Mt 24:3) 

>> Jesus gives up His life on a Mount – the Mount of Calvary (Mt 27:33)

>> Jesus delivers His Final Mission mandate on a Mount – the Mount of Galilee (Mt 28:16) 

So in this Lofty and High Place of the Presence of God – a Mountain – Jesus undergoes His Transfiguration…

… and is joined by the presence of two other “Mountain” Figures – Moses and Elijah!
>> Moses is the Man of the “Mount of Sinai” and “Mount Nebo”…

… representing the Law of God! 
>> Elijah is the Man of the “Mount of Carmel”…

… representing the Prophets of God! 
Jesus is the “God and Man of all the Mountains” – the Fulfilment of all the Laws and the Prophets!

What is the purpose of the “many mountain settings” of the Transfiguration Scene? 
It is…

… to look further

… to imagine deeper

… to hear beyond 
To see the way God sees us. 

>> To imagine the way God perceives us. 

>> To hear the way God wants of us. 

We all need a ‘Transfiguration Moment’ in our lives…

… a ‘Transfiguration Experience’ in our lives.
>> Vision that needs to be transfigured…

… into God’s representation!
>> Imagination that needs to be transfigured…

… into God’s resemblance!

 

>> Hearing that needs to be transfigured…

… into God’s resonance! 

Let us take courage… and accompany the Lord:

>> Beyond the peripheral problems of life…away from the hardships and difficulties of our 

physical, mental, spiritual, emotional worries…

… to climb the Mountain of Spiritual Closeness and Presence of the Lord… 

>> And share in the joy of the Transfiguration!

Life has much more to offer.

>> Life has much more to hope for….
>> Do I see, imagine and hear beyond the mere basic realities and peripherals of life?

This requires that we let go ourselves into the hands of God… 

>> And it is when we “throw ourselves into the Hands of God, and receive what He gives us”…

… that we have the experience of Transfiguration!

Yes…

>> When human offering is joined to the mighty power of God…

… there is Transfiguration!
>> When Divine Grace descends on human experiences…

… there is Transfiguration!

The Lord underwent the Transfiguration. 

>> The Disciples shared in this joy. 
You and me are invited today…

Let us “throw ourselves into the Hands of God, and receive what He gives us”…

… and thus have the experience of Transfiguration!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

Myopia is a commonly found eye condition.

>> Popularly, it is also called as “near-sightedness” or “short-sightedness”.

 

It is a state of the eye that causes distant objects to appear blurred, while close objects can be seen clearly.

 
Coming from the greek word, “muōpia”, which literally means “trying to see like a mole”…

… Myopia is a condition of the eye that causes the image that one sees, when looking at a distant object, to be out of focus, but in focus when looking at a close object.

 
Well, this short-sightedness or myopia is limited to not just the physical eye…

>> It can also easily be applicable to our general outlook of life or our spiritual life.

 
Yes, it is often found that one becomes short-sighted in life – seeing things only as they appear at the moment, and unable to take the long view of matters.

>> This is “spiritual myopia”

>> This is “spiritual short-sightedness”

 
The Gospel of the day presents Jesus inviting us to become aware of the presence of a possible “spiritual myopia” in our lives and to take measures to get rid of this condition.

 

The passage begins with the statement.. “You have heard that it was said….. But I say to you” (Mt 5: 43)

 
It must be borne in mind that the region in and around the ministry of Jesus, was multicultural and multilingual.

>> Under the Roman Empire, there was an infusion of languages… Latin, Greek, Aramaic, Hebrew…

 

Many of the common people of Israel usually spoke in Aramaic or Greek and perhaps Latin.

In this multi-linguistic situation, the reading and understanding and interpretation of the Scriptures (which was in Hebrew) was mainly by the religious leaders of the time – the Pharisees and the Scribes.

 
This therefore gave them the chance to interpret the Scriptures in a manner that reflected their own personal and biased teachings.

>> As time passed, this style of interpretation finally led to the situation that just observing the Law in an outward allegiance was sufficient in fulfilling God’s demands.
The spirit of the law was sacrificed for the letter of the law!

>> The inner dimensions and requirements were abandoned.

 
A “spiritual myopia” had crept in…

>> A “spiritual short-sightedness” had overpowered them…

 

• They were fixed only to doing the stipulations, but failed to live the spirit of the Law

• They were limited to a vision of doing only the externals, but got blind to the internals.

 
And therefore, Jesus warns the people to be aware of this “spiritual myopia” and to see beyond..

…to the real requirements of the law

…to the core of God’s commandments

           

                                                                           

Jesus attacks the method which interpreted Scripture with a limited vision and perspective…

He contrasts the Pharisees’ interpretation of the law with the law’s real meaning, by using the formula : “You have heard that it was said to those of old. . . . But I say to you . . .”

 

Six times in the second half of Matthew 5, Jesus uses this formula…speaking about…

… anger (Mt 5: 21-22)

… adultery (Mt 5: 27-28)

… divorce (Mt 5: 31-32)

… oaths (Mt 5: 33-34)

… retaliation (Mt 5: 38-39)

… loving enemies (Mt 5: 43-44)

 

>> Each time Jesus described the “limited” interpretation of the law…and each time He “broadened” the vision of the law.

>> Each time Jesus exposed the “myopic” understanding of the law…and each time, He “enlarged” the understanding of the law.

 
Am I also in a condition of a “spiritual myopia”?

… limited in my vision of the love of God and failing to extend His charitable love to all

… limited in my vision of the law of God and being stuck to my egoistic interpretations

… limited in my vision of the mercy of God and blocking it from reaching our enemies.

 
Am I also in a condition of a “spiritual short-sightedness”?

… having eyes fixed only on materialistic aspects and failing to see heavenly realities

… having eyes fixed only on what happens externally and failing to understand inner facts

…having eyes fixed only on being pious outside and failing to have a genuine intimacy within

 
In the Nazareth Manifesto, at the beginning of His public ministry, Jesus declared that He has been sent, “to proclaim…recovery of sight to the blind…” (Lk 4:18)

 
Let this season of Lent be a time for us…

… to seek the grace of the Lord

… to have our eyes touched

… and thus to be healed of our spiritual “myopia”

 
God Bless ! Live Jesus!

Sinbad the Sailor is a fictional character.

>> His tales are mostly voyage stories – fantastic adventure stories through the seas of Africa and South Asia.

 

 

One of the tales narrates of how Sinbad and his sailors landed on an island.

 

On arriving, they saw coconuts, high up on the trees; which could very well quench their thirst and satisfy their hunger.

>> But these coconuts were far beyond their reach.

 

However, they noticed a large number of monkeys on the branches of the trees.

>> Soon enough, Sinbad and his men, began to throw stones and sticks up at the apes.

 

This enraged the monkeys and they began to seize the coconuts…

… and hurl them down at the men on the ground.

 

This was exactly what Sinbad and his men wanted!

 

 

They got the monkeys so angry…

… that they gave in to satisfy the needs of those who made them angry!

 

 

 

This is exactly what anger does…

… we play ourselves, into the hands of those who cause us to lose our temper!

 

We end up “reacting”…

.. than “responding”! 

 

The Gospel of the day is a teaching by Jesus on this very important concern of Christian Life: Anger.

 

 

 

 

Killing is considered to be a serious evil in every society and every religion.

>> Killing in its basic form is usually considered only in the sense of the physical body.

 

 

But the Lord today presents a higher perspective in the understanding of killing…

“You have heard that it was said to the men of old, ‘You shall not kill’; and whoever kills shall be liable to judgment’. But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be liable to the judgment….” (Mt 5: 21)

 

 

The Lord expands the understanding of killing beyond the physical body…

 

A person engages in killing… if, by anger…

…the social standing of the other person is upset

…the emotional state of the other person is wounded

…the spiritual balance of the other person is disturbed      

 

 

We could understand anger from various perspectives…

 

1. Anger as Quick temper

Prov 15:18 says, “An ill-tempered man stirs up strife…”

 

It is said that speak when one is angry, one makes the best speech that would be regretted much!

 

Quick temper sometimes…

…. forms part of our temperament

… comes even unknowingly

… is instigated by other’s actions

 

Yet, in all this, one ought to…

… rise quickly from remaining in the state of anger.

… become conscious of the occasions which can excite anger

… see that the temper is not fed or nurtured or intensified

 

2. Anger which leads to stubbornness

Eph 4:26: “…. do not let the sun to set on your anger”

 

Sometimes, the anger within is allowed to grow so much…

…that we get habituated to getting angry for even tiny and trivial matters

…that we lose our peace of mind, and sometimes even become indifferent

…that we choose not to budge from our position or viewpoint and remain adamant

 

Yet, we need to make efforts…

… to try to overcome our ego and self mentality and seek to make amends with the person

… to lower oneself in humility (even if we are right) and ease the situation of annoyance

 

Anger needs to be sanctified…channelled in the proper way!

 

 

One may feel a ‘just’ anger at….

… the immense corruption in the world and even in religious circles

… the forces of evil that seem to root away even faint traces of hope

… the indifferent and unchanging attitudes and temperaments of people which is sickening.

 

Yet… even these ought to get channelled properly

…even these ought to be routed in the right manner

 

Yes… even our just anger needs to be sanctified and purified in the burning furnace of God’s Love.

 

>> Anger is indeed a major tendency that is a cause of distress for many of us.

>> Anger is indeed a prime inclination that is a root of sin for many of us.

 

There are moments, when anger captures us and we throw ourselves into people…

… throw words which are not appropriate

… throw emotions that would cause shame and guilt later

… throw actions and deeds that would cause pain and injury

 

 

Let this season of Lent be a time of making genuine, practical and realistic efforts in the fight to sanctify and purify our anger.

 

 

Undoubtedly…

… it is painstaking

… it requires deeper attempts

… it requires committed determination!

 

But the Lord assures His grace to help us and His Love to encourage us!

 

 

Let us make efforts to be people, who not simply “react”…

… instead, in patience and gentleness, seek to “respond”!

 

 

God Bless! Live Jesus!

A story is told of a group of tourists who were visiting a large sheep farm.
The guide of the tourists was explaining how the little lambs are taken care by the mother sheep. 
In order to demonstrate this, he took one little lamb from the farm…

… and placed it in a large enclosure with thousands of sheep.
>> The noise of the bleating sheep was deafening.
The little lamb, who seemed lost in the midst of that crowd…

… after a moment of silence, began crying loudly.
As it bleated, the mother lamb, who was at the end of the enclosure, heard the cry…

… and rushed towards her little lamb. 

As the tourists were wonder-struck at this sight, the guide – who was a Christian – made a statement:

“This is how it is with God also!

We should never imagine that we are beyond the reach of God!

>> He sees us as if we are the only child in the whole world!”

The Gospel of the day presents this assurance given by Jesus, of how every cry of prayer is heard and answered by the Lord, in His Holy Will…

… and His teaching on having a proper attitude and disposition in prayer.
 

The Lord gives the analogy of the human father to expound the right understanding we should have with respect to prayer: “If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Heavenly Father give good things to those who ask Him” (Mt 7: 11)

 
The Lord is clear in proclaiming that the God our Father would very surely bestow “good” things on His children.

“Good” things….

>> “Good” not from our perspective…but from the way God looks at it.

>> “Good” not from the way we understand…but from the manner God sees it.

 
Very often when children ask for certain things…

… the parent does not give immediately.

… or sometimes, the parent even denies it. 

It could be situations involving some danger or risk…

… and so, the parent, in the full interest and care of the child, would either delay or outrightly deny permission.

But would the child understand?

In some cases…they might.

>> But in many cases…perhaps, No!

 
The child would start weeping…crying…throwing tantrums!

They would even yell… even wail saying…

>> “Why do you deny me?”…”You don’t give me what I want”.. “You don’t understand me”..etc..

>> Is the parent really bad in denying the child?

>> Is the parent wanting to make the child sad by giving what is asked?
Certainly No!

 

It is, in fact…

 … out of deep love that the demands are not fulfilled as per the child’s desire.

… out of much care that the query are not answered as per the child’s want

Just as the child who thinks is asking “good” things…we too ask many “good ” things..
But… sometimes we are denied

…sometimes we are given after a while

…sometimes we are given something else

 
The denial…or the delay…or the different…is not because God wants to make us sad…

It’s simply because God loves us much deeply and cares much abundantly!

 
Yes, it is God’s pure love and unfathomable wisdom which sometimes causes…

…denials in our prayers

…delays in what we ask for

…differences in our demands and wants      

 

>> What seems proper for us, in God’s amazing understanding, might not be proper!

>> What seems good for us, in God’s immeasurable wisdom, might not be good!

>> What seems just for us, in God’s glorious insight, might not be just!

 
Are we ready to grow… 

…. in our trust in God, our Father, who knows and cares for us immensely?

… to build our faith in God, our Father, who will take us through any situation in life?

 
>> Let’s trust in God more and more

… because we can only see a little bit down the road, but God can see every curve!

… because we can only see the struggling caterpillar, but God can see the beautiful butterfly!

… because we can only see the dark dismal clouds, but God can see the bright sunrays waiting to shine forth!

 
We may have moments when we feel lost out.. and we keep crying to God in prayer.
But let us always know, that our Loving God, hearing our cry…

… will always rush towards us!

Yes, let us grow in our trust and always keep in mind:

“We should never imagine that we are beyond the reach of God!

>> He sees us as if we are the only child in the whole world!”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

 Remember the school-going days..when there was the (usually considered as) “terrorizing” subject called as Mathematics?

 

One of the questions that would frequent in a Mathematics question paper, would be questions of the type…”Prove that…”

 

So some examples of these theorems or statements to be proven would be…

>> “Prove that” the sum of two even integers is even.

>> “Prove that” the square root of two, is an irrational number.

 

Such examples of proof require a precision in the logic and methodology, so as to arrive at the proper conclusion of the facts.

 
The Gospel of the Day presents a similar question of “prove that” nature.

 
> The Examiners posing the question: The people in the crowd

> The student facing the question: Jesus

> The statement to be proved: Prove that You, Jesus, are the Messiah, the Son of God.

> The nature of proof required: Through signs and miracles.

 

 

This student, Jesus has faced such similar tests many times before.

 

 

>> Many times in His life, He has been worked up by many to prove His status…

 

>> Many times in His life, He has been demanded things to prove His authority…

 

He is an experienced student.

 

 

On the Mount of the Temptations… (Lk 4: 1-13)

 

Satan demanded Jesus to “prove that” He was the Son of God…

… by working a miracle

… by bowing to Him

… by jumping down

 

 

While at ministry…

… the Pharisees and teachers of the Law asked Jesus to “prove that” He had the authority to forgive sins. (Lk 5:21)

 

… the disciples of John asked Jesus to “prove that” He was indeed the One who was to come or whether they should look for another (Lk 7:19)

 

… some in the crowd asked Jesus “to prove that” He worked wonders and even drove out demons by His own power, by asking for a sign from heaven (Lk 11:16)

 
The Student, Jesus….has already faced many such “to prove that” situations!

 
Today’s Gospel once again puts the Student, Jesus to the test “to prove that” He is the Messiah by a demand for signs!

 
Am I also a person who is guilty of making Jesus a student, by putting Him “to the test” by asking Him “to prove” many things in life…?

 

>> In times of sicknesses and pains… maybe I demand signs from the Lord to “prove that” He is indeed a Healing God.

 

>> In times of financial difficulties… maybe I demand signs from the Lord to “prove that” He is indeed a Provider God.

 

 

>> In times of mental tensions and worries… maybe I demand signs from the Lord to “prove that” He is indeed a Caring God.

 

>> In times of spiritual aridity and emptiness… maybe I demand signs from the Lord to “prove that” He is indeed a Living God.
 

Of course, from a human perspective…owing to our limitations and weakness, we do sometimes ask some signs or miracles or some wonders.

 

>> But these demands for sign and miracles should not become THE criteria for proving God’s Existence or even His Presence…

 

>> These demands for some external manifestations and wonders should not become THE yardstick for proving the might and power of God…

 
> We should not be holding God at ransom, by demanding signs

> We should not be hijacking God and demand miracles.

                 
We rather need to look back into our lives, and see the various moments and the times when…

… He has caressed us with His affection

… He has nurtured us with His love

… He has filled us with His presence

 
The Lord gives to the people in the crowd, the signs and examples of the people of Nineveh and the Queen of Sheba.

 

The people of Nineveh and the Queen of Sheba…

… were gentiles

… were not the chosen people

… were not people who had a first-hand experience of God.
Yet, when they heard the preaching of Jonah and saw the glory of Solomon…they believed!

 

They did not demand miracles.. they did not demand signs….yet, they believed!

 

 

The Lord through today’s Gospel makes us to realize the worth and the value of the many wonders and the signs He has already worked in our lives.

 

> We sometimes might tend to take God’s blessings “for granted”

> We sometimes might tend to not consider God’s graces as “something big”

> We sometimes might tend to not able to even see something “special” in God’s favours .

  

Today is a chance for us to have a retrospective into our lives and see the many, maybe tiny and small, wonders and miracles the Lord has worked in our lives…

 

 

None can say, ‘I have no miracles in my life’!

>> From our birth, to our upbringing, our education, our formation, our works, our surroundings, our people…etc….. at every step, we have many miracles and signs of God!
The hand of the Lord is very much at large in our lives.

 
We don’t need to become a people which poses God with “prove that” type questions!

 
Let us see… Let us realize.. and Let us thank!

 
God Bless! Live Jesus!

In the centre of London stands an iconic building – St Paul’s Cathedral.
This majestic structure is built in the shape of a cross…

… with a large dome crowning the intersection of its arms. 

>> At 111.3 metres high, it is one of the largest cathedral domes in the world.

Climbing up 259 steps inside the dome, one reaches the “Whispering Gallery”.
The speciality of this gallery is:

>>When one stands on one side of the circular gallery, and whispers…

… these soft tones of sound can be heard, on the other side – even 30 metres away.
The sound bounces back many times on the smooth walls of the dome…

… and the whisper can be heard even at a far distance.

What is said, even in the lowest of tones, can be heard, on the opposite side of the dome. 

In the spiritual realm, the entire space is like this “whispering gallery”…

… even the lowest of tones, are heard by our Loving God.
>> No matter how low we whisper, He hears!

>> No matter how silent be our prayer, He hears!

Are we able to have such a trust and confidence in our prayer life? 
 

The Gospel of the Day is a beautiful initiation by Jesus to help us to know, grow and deepen our understanding of God as being a Loving and Caring Father…

… as the One Who listens to our every prayer – including the ones whispered in the lowest of tones!

  

Today’s Gospel passage begins with Jesus issuing a warning on the danger of making prayer a mere “lip-service”

>> “In praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do….” (Mt 6:7)

 
 

What was Jesus meaning by the clause “heaping up empty phrases as the Gentiles…”?

 

One of the notable Gentile groups at the time of Jesus, were the Romans, under whose occupation the Jews were living.

 

It’s noteworthy to see some of the aspects of the ancient pagan Roman prayer:

1. All sacrifices and offerings required an accompanying prayer to be effective.

>> It was declared that “a sacrifice without prayer was thought to be useless and not a proper consultation of the gods.”

 

2. Prayer – the spoken word was considered the single most potent religious action.

>> And knowledge of the correct verbal formulas were the key to efficacy.

 

3. An accurate naming was vital for tapping into the desired powers of the deity invoked.

>> Hence public religious ritual had to be enacted by specialists and professionals faultlessly…

… even a small a mistake would require that the action, or even the entire festival, be repeated all over!

 

( A historian named Livy reports of an occasion when the presiding magistrate at the Latin festival forgot to include the “Roman people” among the list of beneficiaries in his prayer…

… the festival had to be started all over!)

 

The Greek word used for “empty phrases” is “battalagesete”.

>> It means to stammer, babble, talk gibberish, or to repeat the same things over and over mindlessly!

 

 

With this in background, Jesus emphatically declares that prayer is not about “heaping empty phrases”.

 

 

In this context, it also good to provide the Catholic understanding and logic of some of the prayers, which are perhaps considered as repetitive (eg: The Rosary, Novenas, Litanies.. etc)

 

 

Are all these standard prayers mere “heaping up of empty phrases…?”

 

>> No!

 

The Bible teaches us many examples of repetitive prayers…

>> The angels continually – day and night – sing “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” (Rev 4:8)

>> Psalm 136 repeats the words “for his steadfast love endures forever” nearly 26 times in 26 verses!

>>Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane prayed in the “same words” three times (Mk 14: 32-39)

>> Jesus, in fact, also commends the fact of continually praying, through the example of the widow and the unjust judge (Lk 18: 1-14)

 
Thus, it is seen that the Bible has many examples of repetitive prayer.

>> Therefore, the repetitive Catholic Prayers like the Rosary, the Divine Mercy Chaplet, Novenas, Litanies etc… are scripturally well-supported

 

>> When prayed with honesty and devotion, they become means to allow the heart…

… to praise God and understand His mighty works

… to grow in His love and come to a deeper awareness of His Providence

… and pray with Mother Mary and the Saints and intercede to them for our intentions

 

 

>> Prayer is not rattling off a few external words and feel satisfied in having done that…

… It is opening up, in dependence, the interiority of our hearts, to the One Who knows all!

 

>> Prayer is not going through a series of stipulated and organised system of words…

… It is allowing the heart to “mean what is said”, and to cause the lips express what the heart feels!

 

 

It is to this effect that Jesus says “Your Father knows what you need, before you ask Him” (Mt 6:8)…

… and teaches us the beautiful prayer – “The Our Father”!

 

Jesus presents the beautiful understanding of God being a Loving and Caring Father…

… The Father, in heaven, Whose Name we acknowledge to be most Holy and Worthy

… The Father, Whose Kingdom becomes the target to Which we ought to aspire

… The Father, Whose Will is to become the compass and blueprint of our life

… The Father, Whose providence nourishes us with daily bread for our sustenance and well-being

… The Father, Who extends His Immense Mercy to us, which we receive only if we forgive in turn

… The Father, Who strengthens us in our moments of trials and temptations

… The Father, Who rescues us from all evil by tenderly holding us in the palm of His Hand

 

 

Yes, Jesus wants us to understand and experience God as a Loving and Tender Father.

 
May we realize that in the spiritual realm, the entire space is like a “whispering gallery”…

… and even the lowest of tones, are heard by our Loving God.
>> No matter how low we whisper, He hears!

>> No matter how silent be our prayer, He hears!

Let this be our trust and confidence in our prayer life…

… and thus throw ourselves, into the loving arms of our Heavenly Father!

 God Bless! Live Jesus

Children studying in school have to time and again undergo a particular experience: The experience of facing their parents with the report card of their examinations, to get it signed.

 
The report card has a particular column, which requires the parent or the guardian of the child, to assess the marks card and then put in the signature of approval.

 

 

It’s interesting to note the varied experience of children before getting the report signed….

 

Those children who have done well and are confident of having performed up to the expectation of the parent, stay fearless and secure.

>> They remain cheerful, joyous and unafraid!

 

Those children who are not sure, what would be the reaction of the parents, undergo a tremendous level of anxiety and nervousness

>> They remain apprehensive, tense and uneasy!

 

Those children who know that they have performed extremely badly and are guilty of having let down the expectations of their parents, experience higher levels of guilt and misery and some even casualness or indifference!

>> They remain distressed, listless and remorseful.

 

This experience for the children is similar to a “trial of judgement”

 

 

The Gospel of the Day presents the scene of the Last Judgment…

 

And probably, before the throne of Judgement, the people of the world would also be going similar feelings as that of the children waiting with the report card – feelings of cheerfulness or apprehensiveness or remorsefulness etc..

 

The passage presents the Son of Man seated in His majestic and awesome glory and all the nations awaiting His judgement. (Mt 25: 31-32)

 

 

The sheep, placed on the right side, are the chosen ones to enjoy the bliss of the Kingdom.

>> The goats, placed on the left side, are the condemned ones to suffer the fire of punishment.

 

 

One of the important aspects to be observed in this passage of the scene of the Last Judgement is the manner in which the Lord looks at human actions…

 

The Bible says, “Humans look on the outward appearance but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Sam 16:7)

 

 

One of the common question that both the groups, the sheep as well the goats, posed was: “When did we know…”

 

 

The sheep were taken by surprise, at the occasions which the Lord found them doing good…

>> They remained unaware of those situations, though they did the good in God’s sight.

>> They remained unaware of those occasions, though they did the needful in God’s sight.

 

 

The goats are taken by surprise, at the occasions, which the Lord found them missing to do good…

>> They remained unaware of those situations, where they failed to do the good in God’s sight.

>> They remained unaware of those occasions, where they missed to do the needful in God’s sight.

 

 

> We may not realise the occasions of doing good…

>> We may not realise the occasions of having missed doing good…

We may externally engage in many good works, but it may fail to find approval in the Lord’s sight.

 

 

>> This calls for cultivation of an inner disposition to do good.

>> This calls for building of an inner character to be charitable.

 

Ø From the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks…

Ø From the abundance of goodness within, good actions flow…

Ø From the abundance of kindness within, kind conduct emerges…

Ø From the abundance of love within, charitable behaviours proceed…

 
Let this season of Lent be an occasion to grow in cultivating love deep within.

>> Let this season of Lent be a time of forming a character of goodness and kindness.

 

 

The Day of Judgement is certainly to be a glorious one…

 

If we fail to build up a character of goodness and charity, we may go through feelings of anxiety or fear or even dread!

 

But trusting in the mercy and compassion of the Lord, let us, as the little children of our Heavenly Father, be hopeful and confident!

 
Let’s prepare ourselves well, to be optimistic in getting the Report Card of our Life, signed with approval, by our Heavenly Father!

 

 

God Bless! Live Jesus!

Once, the trees of the forest formed an association in order to rebel against the ‘axe’, which had caused much harm to all of their folk.

The trees – The redwood, the teak, the cedar, the oak, the cypress, the Sequoias, the banyan and many others – convoked a meeting…

… and decided that none of them would allow the axe to have wood for its helve (= handle of the axe).
But the axe attended the meeting… 

… and pleaded to speak just for a couple of minutes.
The request was granted and the axe spoke:

“I can very well understand the difficulties that all of you have faced, as a result of my nature.

>> And I will definitely not stand in the way of your decision.
But I just have this one suggestion:

” Each of you – be it the redwood or teak or cypress or banyan or any other…

… You look so majestic and splendorous.

>> People look at you, and raise their minds to the Creator for such marvellous creations.
Will you want your beauty and brilliance to be blocked by the small bushes and trivial creepers that grow in front of you and around you?
So just allow me, to be given some wood only for this purpose…

… that I may cut down those irritating and disturbing plants and creepers

>> And thus your grandeur can be beheld without any block!”
This proposal seemed very viable and practical for those majestic trees…

… and thus beguiled… 

>> They allowed to give wood to the “axe” – for the ‘good and harmless’ proposal.  

Do we need to continue to hear the story further?
Well, you guessed it right…

>> The moment the axe was furnished with wood for its handle…

… it chopped down all the trees – sparing none!
Thus the wisdom of the ages comes to highlight: “Watch for the beginnings of evil…”
St Francis de Sales says: 

” We must be especially alert against the beginnings of temptation…

… for the enemy is more easily conquered if he is refused admittance to the mind and is met beyond the threshold, when he knocks.”

The Gospel of the Day, on this first Sunday of Lent, is an account, from the Gospel of St Mathew, of 

how Jesus resisted temptations and emerged victorious by the power of the Spirit, to proclaim the Gospel of God!

 

The Gospel passage begins with the verse: 

“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil” (Mt 4: 1)

 
>> In Jesus, we encounter a God…

… Who has a very human face – sharing in sufferings, partaking in miseries and participating in hardships.

… Who understands us, in our weak moments, consoles us in our painful situations and who empathizes with us in our trials and temptations.

 

Jesus knows what it is like to struggle with temptations and enticements…

>> Because He Himself was tempted!

 

Jesus knows what it is like to ward off the beasts of our vices and evil tendencies…

>> Because He Himself was among wild beasts!

 
Yet, in all His trials, He emerged victorious and triumphant!

 
The reason?

>> He had a tremendous infilling of the Holy Spirit!

>> He had a unshaken determination to be focused on doing God’s Will!

>> He had a indomitable resolve of being faithful and true to His mission and commitment!

 

And these reasons of Jesus, are also the techniques for us to overcome the allures of temptations….

> Can I grow continually in the infilling of the Holy Spirit?

> Can I learn, despite any hardships, to constantly seek and do only God’s Will?

> Can I cultivate the steadfastness to be singly focussed on the mission of His Kingdom?

 
We live in a world which is often, like a wilderness…

… dry in spiritual fervour… heated up with material desires…arid in religious enthusiasm

 

We live in a world where there are often, many wild beasts…

… ferociously corrupt and unhealthy practices…menacingly abusive evil lifestyles

 

 

We need to resist the temptations arising from such situations and stand firm in our focus and commitment to the Lord and His Kingdom.

The account of the ‘First Sin’ in Genesis 3:1-7 clearly gives us the pattern that is followed in every temptation to sin:

1. A sin is proposed

2. The person is either pleased or displeased with the proposal

3. The person either consents or refuses

 
We see the same pattern being followed in all the three temptations of Jesus (Mt 4:3-10)

>> And we have the same pattern followed in all our temptations as well – whether we are aware or not.

Our Blessed Lord in His beautiful prayer “The Our Father” taught us the remedy to resist temptation…

“and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil..”
Yes, the easiest recourse to overcome temptation is: “To Pray”

St Francis de Sales says:

“As soon as you feel yourself tempted, follow what little children would do when they see a wolf or a bear…

… they run at once to their parent’s arms or atleast call out to them for help and assistance”

It is a deeper and purposeful focus on Jesus Crucified that would come to our aid in our moments of temptations. 

We also need to, especially, in our ‘smaller’ temptations, which like bees and flies may constantly seek to disturb…

… make sure that we don’t fall into anxiety or worry

… and instead, perform the contrary virtues 

(eg: 

>> For vain-glory thoughts, think of the triviality of this earthly life

>> For anger, perform deeds of charity and forgiveness

>> For pride, do acts of humility

>> For lust, dwell on the purity of the Lord)

 The Lord today exhorts us to not get caught up in the snares of temptation…instead be victorious and triumphant by the Grace and Power of Him – our Saviour, Model and Master!

 

 
Let us not allow any “wood” to be given to the “axe” of sin…

… and thus prevent any eventuality of we “being chopped ” of our life in the Lord!
 
God Bless! Live Jesus!

A young man was browsing through a huge library.
As he was admiring the various titles of the publications, he came across a small pamphlet on which were written the following words:

“I am responsible. 
I am responsible for a number of haunting experiences in the world…

… pillows being wet by sobs

… noble hearts broken in the silence of a dark corner

… cruel misunderstandings that make life look dark and dirty

… gentle and sensitive natures, seared and smeared with stains

… old-time friends splitting apart and turning their backs on one another

… and many many more!

Use me, therefore, responsibly…

… Else, I would continue to be responsible for many such ignominies!
Yes, I am responsible!

Wanna know my name?
I am the Tongue!

>> And all these my works are called: The Crimes of the tongue!”

Yes, the “crimes of the tongue” are a major source of a number of haunting experiences in the world. 

>> Are we also promoters of such “crimes of the tongue”?
 

The Gospel of the Day is an account of Jesus, the Great Physician of Galilee, in His rounds of healing sick patients…

… and encountering some critical persons who reveal a dark side of human life by their “slanderous and harsh” tongues and committing the “crimes of the tongue!”

 

Levi, the tax-collector heeds the call of the Lord “to follow Him” ( Lk 5:27)

 

In his great happiness of being accepted and the joy of following his new-found love, Levi hosts a grand party.

>> This feast is a wonderful time of sharing for various other tax collectors as well.

 
But this time of joy and happiness, becomes an occasion for some people to “wag their tongues” in negative talks and remarks!

 
As the saying goes…where two or three are gathered with a vicious and malicious mind, there is the assassination of the character of few people!

 
The Pharisees and their scribes, seeing Jesus sharing the joyful companionship of the tax collectors, began to murmur and grumble: “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” (Lk 5: 30)

 
Jesus clarifies His mission of coming to the world to heal the sick and to cure the ill. (Lk 5:31)

 

He is the Great Physician of Galilee.

 

This Great Physician, clearly examines the “tongues” of the Pharisees and the Scribes and identifies their sickness…

Ø Their tongues spoke ill of people who were being saved.

Ø Their tongues criticized the people who were given a redeeming status in the society.

Ø Their tongues lashed at out the Lord who came to bring acceptance and love to the outcast.

 

The words that their tongues uttered …

… revealed the low-state of their life.

… revealed the negativity that was widespread in their life.

 
The Great Physician today wishes to examine our own tongues: our words and our speech.

>> Are we also persons whose tongues lash out in harsh criticism and rash judgements?

>> Are we also persons whose tongues hit out in negative comments and unkind criticism?

 

The Great Physician is here to heal us…

>> Our tongues easily reveal our sicknesses to Him.
 

St Francis de Sales, mentions about this aspect, in his book, ‘Introduction to the Devout Life’…

“Doctors get a good knowledge of the health or the illness of a man by examining his tongue.

Our words are signs of the qualities of our souls”

 

The state of the tongue reveals the state of the health of the person.

>> The condition of the tongue gives an indication of the well-being or illness in a person.

 

Similarly, the words, which the tongue speaks, reveal the state of our inner life.

>> Our speech, which the tongue utters, reveal the condition of our spiritual life.

 

 

This time of the Lent is a great opportunity for us, to improve in this area of our life.

 

The Great Physician has His prescriptions ready….

Ø His Holy Word, which can sweeten our tongues with patience and charity.

Ø His Holy Eucharist, which can cleanse our tongues in sanctity and holiness.

 
May we use the tongue, responsibly…

… else, it would continue to be responsible for many ignominies of life!

Let us be healed and cleansed by the Divine Touch of the Great Physician…

… and avoid all “Crimes of the tongue!”

God bless! Live Jesus!