A commonly known story is told of a Mathematics Professor.

 

He was to give to a test to the class on Trigonometry

(Trigonometry is the branch of mathematics dealing with the relations of the sides and angles of triangles and with the relevant functions of any angles.)

 

 

Before commencing the class, the Professor announced:

“Dear Students, Today I am giving you two tests.

One is a Test on Trigonometry, the other is a Test on Honesty!

 

One will test your obligation to your professor…

… the other will test your obligation to God.

 

 

I hope you will pass them both

>> But if you must fail one, let it be trigonometry

 

For there are many good people in this world today who cannot pass an examination in trigonometry…

… but there are no good people in the world who cannot pass an examination in honesty.”

 

 

How about us?

 

 

Life is an examination, that is posed to us.

>> Do we seek to write it “honestly, and in tune with the Gospel”?

 

Are we ready to take up the Christian mission of “constantly seeking to fulfil all our obligations to God – in love and with joy –  and in selfless service to one another?”

 

 

The Gospel of the Day is a challenging passage to always become aware of our duties in life…

… and especially to give the first and prime importance to the obligations due to God…

… to God, our life giver

… to God, our sustainer

… to God, our meaning and purpose of life!

 

 

We have today with the incident of people seeking to trap the Lord with a query on whether or not to pay taxes to Caesar.

 

The query on “should taxes be paid to Caesar or not” was asked by two groups: the Pharisees and the Herodians.

 

It is interesting to note that forces with evil and crooked intentions often work in tandem.

>> These two groups, normally opposed to each other, join hands, to oppose Christ.

 

Here is a fulfillment of the quote: “The enemy’s enemy is my friend!”

 

 

 

The Pharisees resented and opposed the payment of tax to Caesar…

…because they considered Israel as a sovereign state under God’s rule and therefore should not pay taxes to another king.

 

The Herodians, on the other hand, accepted and supported the payment of tax to Caesar…

…because they belonged to the political party of Herod, the king of Galilee, who owed his power to the Romans.

 

Saying a NO would bring Christ before the Roman government for treason.

>> Saying a YES would bring Christ before the Jewish authorities for blasphemy.

 

 

The forces of evil had posed a severe danger to the Mission of Christ.

>> The answer by Christ would be very vital and important to the continuity of His Mission.

 

 

But the Missionary Jesus…who was convinced of His purpose and aim in life, had the best answer…

“Render to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God!” (Mt 22:21)

 

 

He did not deny paying to Caesar.

>> He rather, raised the level to one’s relationship with God, who is the sole authority of life & the giver of all things and goods.

 

The answer baffled and amazed the ones who had come to interrogate Him.

>> The Mission had not only been saved…the Mission received a greater boost.

 

 

The Lord was convinced of His Mission in life…

… the Mission of ‘always being faithful to the Will of His Father’!

 

 

 

He was convinced that He belonged to His Father and that all authority comes from Him.

>> He was totally sure that His purpose and aim in life was not earthly, but of the divine realm.

>> He was fully certain of His mission in life, to live a life dedicated to His Heavenly Father.

 

 

We too, in our Christian lives, often face such situations of dilemma and trouble…

… in a world getting addicted to consumerism, materialism, relativism and sensationalism, the challenge to live “honestly and in tune with the Gospel” is especially great indeed.

 

 

Situations may force us to give in to abandon ‘faith’, and follow only what ‘reason’ teaches…

>> Situations may make us to give up our ‘values’ and follow the ‘vain standards’ of the world…

>> Situations may cause us to dilute the Church teachings to accommodate our wants and pleasures…

>> Situations may incite us to loosen our hold on true traditions to pave way for a “modernistic” lifestyle…

 

 

The challenges to our Mission as a Christian and as a Catholic are much.

>> But like our Lord Jesus – the First Missionary and our Leader in Missions – we ought to stay convinced and remain enthusiastic to spread the Mission of the Lord.

 

 

Each of us, in any way of life, is a Missionary…

>> We have a Mission to belong to the Lord and to Him completely.

>> We have a Mission to spread the Love of the Lord to the whole humanity.

>> We have a Mission to bring peace and harmony and wholeness for the entire humanity.

 

>> We have a Mission to orient our lives to the values of the Gospel and to travel heavenward.

 

 

Let’s rekindle the fire and zeal of the Missionary Jesus, our King and Leader…

… and constantly write the Examination of Life, “honestly and in tune with the Gospel”

 

 

 

God Bless! Live Jesus!

An African slaveholder had a poor black slave-boy who, having heard of the Christian missionaries and their preaching, had a desire to go and hear about Christ.

The boy crept away quietly one evening.

>> But he had to pass by his master’s window, and was seen by the slaveholder.
“Where are you going?” called the master.
The boy, trembling, answered, “Me go to hear the missionaries, Massa.”

(“Massa” is the word used for a master)
“Oh really? If ever you go there”, answered the master, “you shall have thirty-nine lashes and be put in irons.”
 The boy answered, “Me tell Massa – me tell what you said, to the Great Massa.”
 

“What do you mean – tell the Great Massa?

Is there a Great Massa?” asked the man angrily.
 

“Me tell the Great Massa. He is the Lord of Heaven.

I tell Him that my massa was angry with me because I wanted to go and hear His Word.”

Greatly astonished (and a little afraid as well), the master said, “Go along and hear them, then.”

After the boy had gone, the master became restless and troubled.
He had not thought that he himself had a Master (Massa) in Heaven, who knew all that he was doing.

>> He decided to follow the slave boy to the Christian service.
 

He stood in the rear of the little assembly, as he heard the Missionary asking the people from the scriptures:

“The Lord is asking, Do you love Me?

>> Is there anyone here, who dares to confess his love for Christ?”

The black boy sprang forward…

… and holding up both hands, with tears pouring down his cheeks, he cried out earnestly:

“Yes, Massa, me do love You! Me love the Great Massa, with all my heart!”

The slaveholder went home still more astonished, but convinced of the power of the Gospel.

>> As a result he gave his heart to God and lived a consistent Christian life.

The bold and powerful witness of the little black boy brought about a conversion in the life of that man.

What about us?
>> Are we also bold and powerful, in giving witness to Christ and His Gospel Values in our modern society?

Like the little boy, do we also, by our life proclaim:

“Yes, Massa, me do love You! 

Me love the Great Massa, with all my heart!”

The Gospel of the Day is an exhortation by our Blessed Lord with a challenging tone, to be powerful and bold, in acknowledging His Presence.
Jesus says: “I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God;
But he who denies me before men, will be denied before the angels of God” (Lk 12: 8-9)

The Christian Life is a life seeking to profess and proclaim the Lord…

… by word and deed

… with lips and actions

… in happy moments and through struggles of life!
 

Do we do that?
>> Or have we sometimes been…

… shy?

… afraid?

… reluctant?

… uncertain?

… or even negated?

 

We could reflect on some aspects of our life, whereby we examine, how much do we acknowledge the Lord in our life

1. The Blessings of the Lord

God has gifted each one of us with immense Graces and Blessings.
Do we acknowledge ‘the Blessings of the Lord’ in our Life?

… with a word of thanks and gratitude, everyday?

… by seeking to be, in turn, a blessing to others, by a life of service?
 

2. The Providence of the Lord

Providence refers to the Protective care of the Lord, at all times, in every situation.

>> When we look back into our life, we see how beautifully, God constantly leads us.

True, there are times when we have felt the “absence” of God or the Lord being “at a distance” from us, especially in situations of struggles and suffering

>> But, when look back later… we do find… “God had been joining all those ‘dots of loneliness’ and making a beautiful picture!”
 

Do we acknowledge ‘the Providence of the Lord’ in our life…

… by being more optimistic, knowing that our God will surely have His way, and make “rivers to flow, even in the deserts”?

… by not falling into anxiety or extreme worry; instead allowing ourselves to rest on His Caring Heart, knowing, that He is holding us tenderly in His Arms, as a Shepherd holds the tender lamb?
 

3. The Love and Mercy of the Lord

Each of our life is a beautiful saga of God’s Love and Mercy
We have been created in love… we have been initiated to Salvation in His Mercy

>> We have been constantly encouraged by His Love… we have been continually lifted by, by His Mercy
 

Do we acknowledge ‘the Love and Mercy of the Lord’ in our life…

… by seeking to always do His Will in our Life and letting go of our own ego and selfish desires?

… by turning to Him in repentance, when we go away from His Love?

… by infusing more love into every action that we do, and thus witnessing His Face of Mercy to all around us?
 

4. The Authority of the Lord

The Lord is the Supreme Authority of this entire universe.

>> It is His Power and Wisdom that sustains everything.
 

The presence of evil and sufferings around us, may sometimes, make us question His Power and Glory.

>> Sometimes, the presence of pains and miseries in our life, may also make us doubt His Power and Authority
But can we recognize, that God, in His infinite Goodness and Wisdom, works out everything for our good (Rom 8:28)
 

Do we acknowledge ‘the Authority of the Lord’ in our life…

… by offering our lives to His Supreme Wisdom, and marching forward with Hope, knowing that “the One Who has begun His Good Work in us, will bring it to completion” (Phil 1:6)

… by seeking His Permission in all the activities that we engage in, so that His Grace will inform us, in the best and right path?
 

5. The Presence of the Lord

The Presence of the Lord surrounds and encompasses us at every moment… at every step of our life.

>> This Presence is especially cherished and celebrated in the Sacraments, that the Church offers.

Do we acknowledge ‘the Presence of the Lord” in our life…

… by turning our hearts, in conscious awareness, to the Presence of the Lord, in the midst of our work and activities?

… by longing for and meaningfully celebrating the Sacraments that the Church offers?
 
As a Christian, surely, it is not easy to profess and proclaim.

>> But the Lord invites each one of us, gently and tenderly, to acknowledge Him in our lives.

It is when we grow in these “areas of acknowledgement” that we can boldly and powerfully proclaim before anyone and everyone:

“Yes, Massa (Master), me do love You!

Me love the Great Massa, with all my heart!”
 

God Bless! Live Jesus!

Some of us have been to a circus at some time or the other in our life.
 

One of the most important characters in a Circus is…undoubtedly…the Clown.

>> The Clown has the ability to make people laugh and see the lighter side of life.

>> The Clown usually always appears with a smiling countenance.
 

This amusing and humorous appearance of the Clown is a result of the Mask that is worn.
But the clown perhaps has an important lesson for us all of us to learn…

>> The Clown says… “All people, in actuality, wear masks.. only mine is seen outside!”

Very true perhaps, isn’t it?
“All people, in actuality, wear masks… only mine is seen outside!?
 

This mask that many of us wear is the Mask of Hypocrisy and Duplicity!
 

We are into a reflection of this aspect of Hypocrisy yet again, in today’s Gospel, with Jesus? insistence on this evil tendency with a greater force & urgency.
 

>> Hypocrisy is a vice which is much hated by Jesus.

>> Hypocrisy is a vice which Jesus constantly asks to weed out.

>> Hypocrisy is a vice which often lurks its head in our lives, knowingly or unknowingly.

> Hypocrisy is duplicity.

> Hypocrisy is pretense.

> Hypocrisy is a facade.
 

 It is…

…  trying to be someone, that one is not.

… deceiving others by presenting a false self.

… masking one’s real identity to show one to be someone else.
 

The word “hypocrisy” is a composite word in the Greek.

>> It comes from the joining of two words ….

… Hupo is the Greek word for “under”

… Krino, is the Greek word  “to separate or judge.”
So Hupo + Krino = Hypocrisy means to “be under or stay under and separate or judge”!
 

This word was mainly used in Greek theatres and plays to describe those “actors who would speak their parts, behind a mask”!

Hypocrites in real life, extend this “acting” to their everyday life…

Hypocrites are people…

… who try to impress others, in order to hide their real lives!

… who act more spiritual and holy than they actually are!

… who behave to be too good before others, but a sham within!

Do I have any of such “hypocritic …acting” aspects in my life?

Our Lord calls this vice of hypocrisy as a Yeast…

>> Jesus speaks to His disciples, “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees which is hypocrisy” (Lk 12: 1b)
Why Yeast? 
Yeast or Leaven is something that is used in baking.
>> Yeast has the great property of Influence…

A little amount of yeast is enough to raise the dough or to leaven the batter.
It has a great characteristic of exercising a great amount of influence, though little in quantity!
 

Hypocrisy is such…

… though a little amount, it is highly Influential, like the yeast.
>> Hypocritical people are able to boast much about themselves and exert harmful controls!

>> Hypocritical people are able to make other people highly pessimistic and negative!

>> Hypocritical people are able to drain out the spirit and the enthusiasm in others!
 

>> Yeast starts slow, but grows very quickly…
Yeast starts its activity in a slow manner, but it spreads very quickly and rapidly.

>> It has the great characteristic of exercising its great influence in a timid manner, but rises very fast and swiftly.
Hypocrisy is such… though it starts slow, it spreads its influence speedily, like the yeast…
>> Hypocritical people appear subtle initially, but later it becomes almost a part of their nature!

>>Hypocritical people appear harmless initially, but later consume people by its strong effect!

>> Hypocritical people appear gentle initially, but later it becomes a dangerous influence!

How does Hypocrisy usually originate? 

>> Usually from a Fear…
>> Fear of the people makes one to adopt a totally different disposition and character.
>> Fear of the situations makes one to adjust with a duplicate personality and behaviour.
>> Fear of one’s weaknesses makes one to alter the style of life and tamper with one’s nature.

That’s why the Lord, in today’s Gospel would strongly exhort, “Fear Not!?
>> When we banish the fear of many factors, we are able to be our real self.
>> When we cast away the fear of our material worries, we are able to live our true identity.
 

God is our Loving Father… a Caring Person…He wants us to grow in Holiness and Sanctity.

>> But He also knows that our double standards in life and our pretence and dual-facedness in many areas of our life, is a block to His Grace in us.
 

We all wear masks, and the time sometimes comes when we cannot remove them without removing some of our own skin.
The Lord today invites us to peel away our mask of hypocrisy by casting away our fears, by throwing ourselves into the care of our Loving God, our Beloved Father in Heaven!
 

Let us not be a clown who has a plastic smile because of the mask…

… Rather become a people, who truly rejoice and radiate the joy and happiness of being the precious children of our loving Father in heaven!
 

God Bless! Live Jesus!

“In this world today while we’re living, some folks, say the worst of us they can

>> But when we are dead and in our caskets, they always slip some lilies in your hand…

 

Won’t you give me my flowers while I’m living and let me enjoy them while I can

>> Please don’t wait till I’m ready to be buried and then slip some lilies in my hand…
In this world is where we need the flowers a kind word to help us get along

>> If you can’t give me flowers while I’m living, Then please don’t throw ’em when I’m gone…

Won’t you give me my flowers…?”
 

        – Lyrics from the Song “Give me flowers while I’m living”
 

The words of this song is a living experience to many people in this world, including perhaps some of us.

We have many people in our life.
Many of them receive a lot of favours from us…

… but they fail to thank us.
>> We however, sometimes, do hear them backbiting us or spreading false rumours about us!
 

Many of them are helped in many ways…

… but they fail to acknowledge those favours.
>> We however, sometimes, do hear them talking ill of us or spoiling our name!
 

Many of them are rendered assistance in many ways…

… but they fall short of being grateful to us
>> We however, sometimes, do hear them being negatively critical about us and defaming us.
 

>> But at the grave, perhaps, all those people would talk highly about us.
After our death, perhaps, all those people might acclaim how wonderful a person he/she was!

We often become a people who…

… fail to appreciate when a person is alive, but shower praises after his/her death!

 ….fail to give a simple flower when alive, but spread garlands and bouquets after his/her death!

 …fail to say a good word when alive, but brag and boast highly, after his/her death!
 

Consciously or unconsciously, we cultivate a habit or a tendency to remain ungrateful and unkind to people when alive, but falsely praise and glorify, when they are dead or are no longer with us!
>> An attitude of ungratefulness while living…but false appreciation after death!
 >> A tendency of indifference while living…but vain glorification after death!
 >> An approach of passivity while living…but fake interest after death!
 

Jesus, in the Gospel of the Day speaks of a similar attitude and tendency among the Pharisees.

In His continued attacks on the hypocrisy and duplicity of the Pharisees, Jesus condemns them for building memorials of the Prophets who were killed and murdered by their ancestors.
The Prophets of the old, lived as the true men of God and constantly called the people to a life of repentance and being faithful to God Yawheh.
 

But these prophets were very often persecuted, attacked and even killed.
The Prophets, who were the voice of God, while living, had their voices silenced and drowned by the wicked people…

>> But after their death, they used to be quoted and cited in many scholarly and erudite circles.
An attitude of ungratefulness while living…but false appreciation after death!

The Prophets, who called the people to live as per their true conscience, had their lives terminated and ended by the wicked people…

>> But after their death, they had fine memorials and beautiful tombs built in their name
A tendency of indifference while living…but vain glorification after death!
 

The Prophets, who became the champion of justice and truth, had their efforts ceased and their labours aborted by the wicked people…

>> But after their death, they had many oratories and exquisite lectures in their name.
An approach of passivity while living…but fake interest after death!
 
Jesus condemns the Pharisees for their deception, as they too become sharers of the blood of the True Prophets and the Men of God!
 

Jesus’ attacks on this Pharisaic attitude is a strong reminder and warning to each one of us too..
To realize the worth and value of people, while they are alive..and not just heap up empty words of praise, after their death!
To realize the importance of recognizing the true spirit and teachings of people around us…and not become too late in realizing their significance!
 

>> Life is too short to miss appreciating people for their genuine efforts and contributions.
>> Life is too short to not give people the worth for all what they are in our lives.
 

A fresh flower given when alive is far worth and appreciable than a bouquet given at the grave!
> Appreciate people when they are around…

>> Enthuse people when situations are favourable…

>>> Encourage people when time and space permit us…
 

Let us shake of the Pharisaic tendency of duplicity and dishonesty and rather, clothe ourselves in genuineness and truthfulness, by really appreciating and realizing the value and worth of people in our lives.

God Bless! Live Jesus!

A poor woman had lost her husband and was going through a great deal of agony and distress.

One day, her neighbour brought her a small, worn-out pamphlet.
 

She gave it to the sorrowful woman and told her:

“I found this lying on the street. Somebody must have dropped it.
I read it.
There is a wonderful story of a Man Who helps those who are unhappy.
I thought of you. It might do you help!”
The sorrowful woman took it.

>> She not only read it, but also had her life transformed by it!

The pamphlet was a copy of the Gospel of St Luke!

This Gospel with its powerful themes of consolation and comfort had brought peace and relief to the woman in sorrow.
Today, on this Feast day of the Evangelist St Luke, let us meditate on this beautiful gift which he has penned – the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to St Luke.
St Jerome was of the opinion that, “among all the evangelists, St Luke was the most skilled writer of Greek.”

It is to St Luke that we owe some of the finest Gospel portraits…

>> The nostalgic infancy narratives of Jesus

… The Annunciation of Jesus (1: 26-38)

… The Birth of John the Baptist (1: 57-66)

… The visit of the shepherds at the Birth of Jesus (2: 15-20)

… The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple (2: 22-38)

… The Loss of Jesus in the Temple (2: 41-52)
>> The distinguished and daring ministries of Jesus

… The Programmatic Speech in Nazareth, His hometown (4: 16-30)

… The raising of widow’s son at Nain (7: 11-17)

… The story of Martha and Mary of Bethany (10: 38-42)

… The Samaritan Leper (17: 11-19)

… The transformation of Zacchaeus (19: 1-10)

… The conversion of the good thief (23: 39-43)

… The encounter with the two disciples on the way to Emmaus (24: 13-35)
>> The illustrious and much-loved parables

… The Good Samaritan (10: 29-37)

… The Prodigal Son (15: 11-32)

… Rich Man and Lazarus (16: 19-31)

… The Persevering Widow (18: 1-8)

… The Publican and the Tax Collector (18: 9-14)

The marvellous brush of the Physician St Luke has some unique thrusts as well…

… which are also great reminders to us, in our spiritual lifestyle.
1. A Gospel of Inclusive
St Luke’s Gospel has distinctive stories and incidents on how Jesus accepted and recognized the dignity of  those, who were otherwise, left out in the society…

… the Samaritans

… the tax-collectors

… the public sinners

… the women
>> Am I a person who is willing to accept those who are rejected, abandoned and pushed-out of the society?

>> Do I exhibit “exclusivist” mentality by sticking on to only “my” culture, language, race, class etc and fail to celebrate differences?
 

2. A Gospel of Prayer
St Luke’s Gospel presents greatly the aspect of the prayer, by presenting many instances…

… of Jesus praying

… of Jesus exhorting on prayer

… of many Temple scenes
>> Am I a person who enjoys the taste of prayer?

>> Do I fail to have a regular and consistent time to spend with the Lord and discover and implement the Father’s Will in my life?
3. A Gospel of the Poor

St Luke displays his special love for the poor…

… through his many parables on the poor

… and the denouncement of riches…

>> And thus exalts them as the “favoured ones of God” and restoring their dignity and honour

>> Do I make radical choices to grow in my “poverty” i.e. my total dependence on the Providence of God?

>> Do I share my gifts, my talents and my riches, with those in need and find joy in this sharing?
 

4. A Gospel of the meal
St Luke’s Gospel has an interesting presentation of Jesus as most of the time being “at meal or on the way to a meal”

>> There are nearly 19 references to food, with 13 of them being exclusive to this Gospel.
The meal is a reference to the communitarian dimension in spirituality!

>> Am I a person who cherishes the presence of the other and be willing to celebrate life?

>> Do I also become aware that the Lord constantly calls us to share in His Meal – the Holy Eucharist and make my life, in turn, a Eucharist to the other?
 
The Gospel of Luke has also many other features and names…which we can pick up for our personal reflection:

Ø  The Gospel of the Holy Spirit…

Ø  The Gospel of the Blessed Mother Mary…

Ø  The Gospel of Joy…

Ø  The Gospel of Women…

Ø  The Gospel of Universality…

Ø  The Gospel of Repentance…

Ø  The Gospel showing True Richness… etc…
 

St Luke has left us a masterpiece with His account of the Life of Jesus!
Some of the most pictorial, most classical, most loved,  most remembered and most cherished incidents and parables are from this Gospel…
The Gospel of St Luke, along with many more themes is a wonderful reminder of the Love and Mercy of God…

… calling us to live in joy and service.
 

May this Feast Day of this Great Evangelist…

… help us to grow in our love for the Word, by reading and reflecting daily

… and challenge us to live the Word, in all our daily activities of life!

Happy Feast of St Luke, the Evangelist!
God Bless! Live Jesus! 

“Braving the Lion in its own den” in a phrase that finds expression in various instances of our life.

>> It means encountering or confronting a stronger person or a stronger situation, in its own area of strength and force.
 

> Imagine the Indian Cricket Team trouncing the Pakistan team in a stadium in Pakistan itself.

> Imagine the Congress defeating the BJP in the political elections in Gujarat, which is one of latter’s greatest strongholds.
 

The Bible also has some typical examples of “Braving the Lion in its own den”…

>> The Israelites challenged the supremacy of the Egyptians while in slavery, and were able to script a wonderful exodus.
>> David, the shepherd boy defeated the mighty and proud Goliath in the Palestinian land and cut off his neck with the mighty warrior’s own sword.
>> Elijah, the prophet confronted the claim of the followers of Baal and made them realise the worthlessness of their deity in a challenge of their own style.
 

“Braving the Lion in its own den” requires much courage, conviction, strength and nerves!

The Gospel of the Day presents Jesus, the Master Challenger in such a situation of “Braving the Lion in its own den”!
 

A Pharisee invited Jesus to have a meal in his house.
We are unsure of the motives or the reason for this Pharisee to invite Jesus for the table sharing…

>> Maybe he just wanted to grow in his friendship with Jesus…

>> Maybe he wanted to check how this great preacher would conduct himself in his house…

>> Maybe he wanted to show off to his friends of having invited a great Rabbi to his house…

>> Maybe he wanted to break the ministry of Jesus and trap Him in doing some aberrations…
 

In any case, the Pharisee certainly expected Jesus to follow the rules and customs of the traditional Jewish meal.

>> But he notices that Jesus has failed to wash his hands before dinner.

This washing of the hands was a ritual purification process.

> The insistence on this act was not for the sake of hygiene, but for ritual purity!

This omission of the sacred tradition came as a big shocker for the host Pharisee.
He would have thought about Jesus:

“This Rabbi is doing it all wrong! 

Why can’t He follow our age-old customs?
He is insulting me before my other guests!

How dare He behaves so, in my own house!?”
 

But this is where Jesus in His unique style of courage & conviction comes into confrontation with the attitude of the Pharisee…
>> The Pharisee was surely His host.. yet Jesus dares to “Brave the Lion in its own den!”
>> The Pharisee was surely His invitee.. yet Jesus dares to “Brave the Lion in its own den!?

Standing up for convictions and principles was a value that Jesus always upheld.

>> Being bold to always promote and defend goodness was a virtue that Jesus always supported.
 

Jesus lashes out with a righteous anger, “So then, you Pharisees, you clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside yourselves, you are full of greed and evil. Fools…!…” (Lk 11: 39).

The Pharisee got offended because Jesus failed to wash his hands before meal.

>> But Jesus got offended because they failed to have a true cleansing of their hearts.
The Pharisee got upset because Jesus failed to uphold the sacred tradition.

>> But Jesus got upset because they failed to uphold the values of inner purity and holiness.
The Pharisee felt insulted because Jesus failed to honour their customs and practices.

>> But Jesus felt insulted because the table-meal failed to reflect true love and sharing.

Jesus was not afraid to encounter the Pharisee in his wrong thinking and mightily “Dared to Brave the Lion in his own den”!

This same Jesus today encounters us and wants to “dare to brave the Lion in us, in our own den”.
Maybe I am bold and strong in being relaxed in some of my comfort and pleasure zones..

>> But Jesus dares us, to come out of this den and renew ourselves with a life of holiness and purity.
Maybe I am quite okay with aspiring for many gadgets and objects of passing joys and desires

>> But Jesus dares us, to come out of our den and focus on the real necessities of a good life.
Maybe I am just satisfied to beautify our external life even if it means being greedy and selfish

>> But Jesus dares us, to come out of our den and repent by living a self-sacrificing and a self-controlling life.   

The ‘lion of Pharisaism’ is deep rooted in many of our personal lives, our family lives and in our community lives…

> Having the focus only on external factors…but neglecting the inner dimensions…
> Giving importance to only outer shows…but totally forgetting the internal aspects…
> Being obsessed with doing many things…but totally ignoring the necessity of being holy…
 
The Lord is today “Daring to Brave this Lion within us, in our own den”!

Let us allow the lion of greed, evil tendencies and false priorities, to be conquered and defeated by Jesus, the Lion of Judah, the Great Lion!
 

God Bless! Live Jesus!

Please note that Reflection Capsules will not be sent this week (Oct 8th – Oct 15th 2017) as I am making my Personal Retreat.
I pray for you, that the Good Lord may lead and guide us, with His Providence, and that we may grow in His Love!
 

Do pray for me too.

God Bless! Live Jesus!

An incident is said about a former American astronaut who took over as the President of a major airline.

He determined to make the airline’s service the best in the industry.

>> He sought ‘commitment to work’, by all the employees in all the departments.

One day, as the new president walked through a particular department, he saw an employee resting…

… with his feet on a desk, while the telephone on the desk rang continuously. .
 

“What are you doing? Aren’t you going to answer that phone?” the boss demanded.
“This isn’t my department, Am here, just to relax!” answered the employee, with a total indifference!
>> (He had not recognized his new boss, and so chose to answer with apathy!)
“I work in the maintenance department”, he went on to say.

 “Not anymore!” snapped the president, “You no longer will work in my company!”
 

The Master, with his liking for “committed work” and “achieving excellence”…

… made sure there was no room for “people with lack of commitment and zeal!”
 
As Christians, we are all co-workers of the Project Kingdom!

>> Do we work with commitment?

… or are we often found to be people of indifference, “lacking commitment and zeal?”
 

The Gospel of the Day is a strong message to examine one’s level of commitment to the Kingdom of God…

… exhorting to do away with any “personal agenda” or “selfish motives”

>> And seeks to impress the personality of Jesus…

… Who desires to be the ‘Centre of our Life’!
 

In the Gospel today, Jesus puts forward the parable of the tenants.
The tenants were entrusted with the vineyard by the Master, and were expected to provide the produce in due time.

>> They were entrusted fully with the taking care of the vineyard.

The Master places a lot of trust in the servants.
He gives the freedom… a responsible freedom…

…which could be meaningfully used and nurtured

…or which could be woefully misused and manipulated.
However, the tenants, who were trusted immensely…

… probably lost their focus on the real trust and diminished in their commitment and responsibility to their Master as well as their duty.
·       Their personal interests gained greater prominence over their entrusted duties.

·       Their selfish agenda gained the upper hand over the faithfulness to the Master.

This led to them to a total denial of all the emissaries and servants of the Master, who were sent to collect the produce.

>> This denial was extended even to the Master’s own Son!

This denial of the Son led to the letting loose of the anger and fury of the Just Master!
·       A squandering away of the responsible freedom, led to the downfall of the tenants!

·       A failure to give heed to the emissaries and servants caused them to face the Master’s rage!

·       A denial and rejection of the Master’s own Son, with a cruel intent, caused their destruction!

Are we also, as Christians, as tenants of the Heavenly Master failing in our responsibilities and duties?
 

The Lord presents Himself as the cornerstone…

… “the stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone..” (Mt 21:42)

In ancient practices of building, the cornerstone was 

the principal stone.

>> It was placed at the corner of the edifice or the building.

The cornerstone was usually one of the largest, the most solid, and the most carefully constructed of any in the whole building structure.

>> A cornerstone gives direction to the rest of the foundation.

>> It also is the support on which the rest of the building relies for strength and stability.

Jesus is the cornerstone…of Salvation… of the Church… of His People!

>> At the same time, Jesus can also be “a stumbling block”

As it is written in Romans 9:33, “Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense,

And whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame”
 

·       To those who believe, Jesus is the cornerstone of their faith and their life.

·       To those who do not believe, Jesus is the stumbling block in their faith!     

Who is Jesus in our life?

>> The cornerstone? or a stumbling block?
The cornerstone to build a wonderful life in God and grow in holiness…

>> Or a stumbling block which causes us to be proud in our own merits and not depend on Him?
The cornerstone to stand firm and strong in faith to withstand every storm of life…

>> Or a stumbling block which makes us uncertain, hesitant and cause a collapse in life?
 

As Christians, we are indeed co-workers of the Project Kingdom!
The Master has entrusted the vineyard to us

… our homes, our places of work, our neighbourhood, our families and communities…

…. the people we meet daily, the problems we encounter constantly, the situations we are challenged with…

>> These are “our vineyard!”
 

Do we work with commitment?

>> Or are we often found to be people of indifference, “lacking commitment and zeal?”

Let us never have to hear from Our Master, “Not anymore! You no longer will work in my company!”

>> Instead…

… let us do away with any “personal agenda” or “selfish motives” as the workers of the Vineyard…

>> And seek to be impressed by the personality of Jesus…

… making Him the Centre of our Lives!
 

God Bless! Live Jesus!

It was a one-day convention on inner-healing.
The people who were participating were given helium-filled balloons, and told to release them, at some point during the prayer service, when they felt like expressing the joy in their hearts.   

>> Through the day, there were some balloons that ascended.

But by the end of the day, it was found that more than forty percent of the balloons were unreleased.

The reason: Those people were unable to let go off their inner bitterness and sorrows.
 

What about us…

… Are we in a position to let go of our balloons, in order to witness our joy in the Lord?

The Gospel of the Day invites us to reflect on the theme of “Joy in the Lord”.. with two instances of rejoicing:

>> The Disciples rejoicing after their successful mission experience

>> Jesus rejoicing in the Holy Spirit and thanking His Father for His Infinite Wisdom

One of the essential hallmarks of a Christian is a Life of Joy.
This was the experience of the Disciples, when they returned back from the mission.

>> They had enjoyed success in their ministry…

>> They had a sense of satisfaction in the works that they had done…
They realised that it was the power of the Lord that enabled them to taste success and relish triumph.
 So they rejoiced greatly, saying: “Lord, even the demons are subject to us because of Your Name” (Lk 10: 17)

Do we also rejoice, by seeing the hand of the Lord in the success and achievements of our lives….?

 … knowing that whatever we achieve, is ultimately not just due to our hard-work and efforts; rather, was the result of our co-operation to the grace of God!

… recognising that all our talents and opportunities are gifted by God to exhibit His Glory and Honour!
 

Our Blessed Lord, however also tells the Disciples to go beyond the peripheral joys and happiness in life; instead to rejoice in the Spirit.
St Luke would testify this in the words: “At that very moment, Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, ‘I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth…'” (Lk 10: 21)
 

This then is what we too are expected to imitate from the Lord: Rejoicing in the Spirit.
St Paul would beautifully explicate this, when he says, “Rejoice in the Lord always; I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Phil 4: 4)
 

Our life is to be an inspiring exhibition of the Joy in the Lord and Rejoicing in the Spirit.
Do we radiate joy…

… in our encounter with one another, and spread the cheer of life?

… even in the midst of hardships, knowing that we have a God who is deeply caring for us?

… thanking the Lord for His blessing, above all, for the gift of Himself in the Word and the Sacraments?

There is, without doubt, many reasons for us to be grumpy, to complain and to feel resentment in life.
But can we allow the power of the Lord to enamour us, and realise that beyond all these, we have a reason to celebrate and to rejoice…

… knowing that God is with us, to ensure success in our journey of life, with our wholehearted co-operation

… knowing that God is the greatest reason to be happy and the treasure of life Who deserves every glory

Can we let go our balloons in order to display Christian joy and happiness in life?
 
Today Holy Mother the Church celebrates the Feast of our Lady of the Rosary.
This Feast of our Lady of the Rosary was instituted by Pope St. Pius V in the year 1570.

>> It was a sign of thanksgiving for a great naval victory over the Turks at the battle of Lepanto, obtained primarily by the recitation of the Rosary.

The Feast reminds us that that the Rosary is a Powerful Weapon.

 
The word Rosary means a “Crown of Roses”.
Our Lady has revealed to several people that each time one says a Hail Mary, one is giving her a beautiful rose and that completion of each Rosary makes her a beautiful crown of roses.

>> The rose is the queen of flowers, and so the Rosary is the rose of all devotions.

Like the exhibits in a museum, each mystery of the Rosary reveals much…

>> Each Mystery that we meditate upon, is a miniature theology of the mysteries of the life of
Jesus and the life of Mary, offered with a view to feeding the minds and the heart.
 

The awesome story of our salvation is encapsulated in the Holy Rosary.

>> The Rosary is the nutshell of our salvation history.
 

Let us truly pray the Rosary and live the mysteries of the Rosary in our everyday life.

>> The saying goes true…”No one can live continually in sin and continue to say the Rosary: either they will give up sin or they will give up the Rosary”
 

Happy Feast of our Lady of the Rosary!
 

God Bless! Live Jesus!

God is the Great Gift Giver!

>> He loves to lavish gifts on his creation…

… and especially on Human Beings, the Crown of His Creation!

Among the gifts that He has showered, one of the greatest gifts is…

… the Gift of Freedom!
 

God has bestowed this precious treasure of Freedom to each and every human being.

>> God regards the worth and value of this gift. God respects our yes or no, to this gift!

The Gospel of the day presents to us a classic example of Freedom being lavished, but sadly being squandered away.

The towns of Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum were given the freedom and the choice to become part of the Kingdom of God…

… but they chose to reject and refused the Saving Message.
 

The Gift of Freedom is a double-edge entity:

The gift of freedom can be used….to obtain life!

>> The gift of freedom can be misused…to obtain death!
 The gift of freedom can be abused…to receive troubles!

>> The gift of freedom can be utilized…to receive blessings!
The gift of freedom can be exploited destructively…to acquire sadness!

>> The gift of freedom can be employed constructively…to acquire happiness!
 

The triple cities of Bethsaida, Chorazin and Capernaum failed to use, utilize and employ constructively their freedom…

… rather, they misused, abused and exploited destructively their opportunity to find peace and salvation.
 

And Jesus has harsh words reserved for such kind of an attitude – “WOE TO YOU!“

The word “woe” in Greek is “oh-hoo-aai” or “ouvai”!

>> The figure of speech is onomatopoeia – it means what it sounds like.
It is a word of pain!

>> It is the sound someone makes when they are hurt or are grieved.

When the Lord proclaims a WOE over these cities, there’s a great deal of anguish amplified with a sense of pain.

The Lord was pained that these cities received wonderful opportunity to hear God’s saving message…

… but failed to turn to God in repentance.
The Lord was pained that these cities received great chances to see God’s miraculous deeds and wonders…

… but failed to turn to God in penance.
 The Lord was pained that these cities received exclusive occasions to receive God’s salvific graces…

… but failed to turn to God in humility.
 

The Lord today challenges us to make an examination of our lives:

God lavishes many graces on me through regular chances to hear God’s word through the Bible, retreats, recollections, talks, spiritual magazines etc…
Am I using these chances to grow in my spiritual life?

Or am I wasting away many of such chances?

>> Is freedom used?  Or misused?
 

God showers many opportunities for me to avoid sin…

… by giving me inspiring and holy thoughts

… by a constant urging to be good through my parents, superiors, family and community members and other people in my life…
Am I using these opportunities to foster my holiness?

Or am I frittering away much of such opportunities?

>> Is freedom used? Or Misused?
 

God bestows many occasions to become a powerful witness to His love and His Gospel through different means like…

… preaching the Word

… celebrating or participating in the Eucharist and in the other Sacraments

… helping others in their needs and difficulties

… praying for various people

…  living a integral life in the society based on the Gospel values etc.
Am I using these occasions to strengthen my Christian life?

Or am I throwing away many of such occasions?

>> Is freedom used? Or Misused?
 
The example of the three cities of Bethsaida, Chorazin and Capernaum is before us and the condemnation of Jesus, because of their lackluster response is also before us.
Freedom is the great gift of God…

… and God totally respects the use or the misuse of this precious gift.
 

Are we going to use this Gift to gain life, blessings and happiness?

>> Or are we going to misuse this Gift to receive death, troubles and sadness?

God Bless! Live Jesus!