Its a blazing hot noon-time…

>> The sun is fiercely casting its rays upon the earth…

The situation appears to be very tense and the emotions are running high.
The people of Israel have greatly offended the Lord by erecting a golden calf as their god!

>> Moses is right at the gate of the camp, emotionally charged and full of zeal and rage!

In a loud voice, with passion engulfing his entire self and bubbling with deep righteous anger, Moses, the man of God roars, “Whoever is for the Lord, come to me!” (Ex 32: 26)
“Whoever is for the Lord, come to me….”

>> It is a time of making a decision. 

The Israelites are to make a choice: 

> Choose to be with God or to follow other idols.

> Choose to obey His laws and commandments or to stray away from His paths. 

This choice will lead them to either life or death….

A similar question is presented before us too… 

>> “Whoever is for the Lord, come to me!”

This choice will lead us to either life or death! 

The Gospel of the Day presents this Call of the Lord to make a clear-cut and distinct choice in life: Choose between God and Mammon!

>> “No servant can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other or, be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon” (Lk 16: 13) 

More than any time before, the world faces this deep-rooted problem of a “divided heart”

We say we obey God…

… but we fail to abide by His commandments and teachings in the Church!

Am I serving both…? 

… God in His Church and the ways of the world… 

>> We say we love God…but we fail to express this love in a faithful lifestyle of prayers and devotions.
Am I serving both…?

… God in devotion and the pleasures of our interests… 

>> We say we serve God…but we fail to extend His love and compassion to our people in need.

Am I serving both…? 

… God in His people and the comforts of our own self…

>> We say we honour God…but we fail to witness to His Gospel values and dilute them to serve our petty interests.

Am I serving both…?

… God in His values and the welfare of our own selfishness…

>> Let’s not be afraid to look at the naked face of reality staring at us today…

> Most people today serve something besides God.

> Most people serve sin instead of God.

> Many people serve music instead of God.

> Many people serve sports instead of God.

> Many people serve money instead of God

> Many people serve themselves instead of God.

> Many people serve power and positions instead of God

> Many people serve the cravings of their bodies instead of God. 

Am I also serving something else instead of God? 
In the Old Testament, one of the greatest accusations made against the people of Israel was the 

“Sin of Idolatry”…

… abandoning the Living and True God and rendering worship and honour to some non-living thing as a god. 

>> Though, as Christians, we may not be explicitly worshipping some idol or running after some gods or crazy over some tantras-mantras, it is not a bad idea to examine our conscience and check whether we really have formed some gods in our lives and thus entering into “practical” idolatry….

Maybe I am too much attached to my electronic gadgets like the phones, tv, music players, cams…and use them way beyond my “need”!?

>> The idol of gadgets? 
Maybe I am too much obsessed with my looks, my styles, my clothing and food habits, my make-up styles…and “over-conscious” than the minimal requirements!

>> The Idol of the Self? 
Maybe I am crazy about gaining over-popularity through an “n” number of picture displays and posts on many social networking sites…and “get totally upset” when I fail to receive the expected appreciations and “likes”!

>> The Idol of Attention-seeking? 
Maybe I am too much occupied with my work, business and other undertakings, that I fail to give attention to my family, my community, the needs of my own spiritual self etc…and lose out on the little joys and happiness of life!

>> The Idol of Money and Work? 

There could be many more idols in our life..
> The Idol of Laziness…

> The Idol of Immoral Lifestyles…

> The Idol of Bad Habits…

> The Idol of losing a Sense of Sin…

> The Idol of Power-obsession…

> The Idol of Criticizing and Judging…etc… 

The Gospel of the day places a great choice before us… 

>> Choose to be with God or to follow other idols? 

>> Choose to obey His laws and commandments or to stray away from His paths? 

We cannot serve both God and other things…

One leads to life… the other to death. 

>> Which side are we on? 

God Bless! Live Jesus!

“Chalta Hain” is a common phrase that is uttered in many of our circles.

 

In its general use, Chalta Hain (= a phrase in Hindi Language which means “It’s ok!”)…

… refers to an attitude of just being casual in important aspects of life…

… refers to an attitude of not taking life too seriously and just float through…

 

 

A Chalta Hain attitude allows lethargy, sluggishness and disinterestedness to creep in…

>> A Chalta Hain attitude dampens enthusiastic hearts and excited spirits…

 

There is a great danger that such a “Chalta Hain” Attitude can move stealthily into our spiritual lives and corrode it.

 
Am I weighed down by this casual and dispirited attitude of Chalta Hain?

>> Or Am I filled with a great zeal and passion and a spirit of resolute determination in my life?

 

The Gospel of the Day is a Parable of a person who was filled with a great amount of courage, preparedness and zeal for a secure future…

… The Parable of the Unjust Steward.

 

 

The Steward, who was working under a rich man, has been reported for deceitful service.

 

He realises that the writing is on the wall…

>> He needs to produce his accounts.

>> He is to be terminated from his job.
It’s a tense situation for him…

 

But this steward is a wise and shrewd fella.

 
He doesn’t allow the tense and apprehensive situation to overpower him!

>> Rather, he takes stock of the situation and becomes a manager of the entire crisis-situation…

 
His brain worked super-fast…his shrewdness gained momentum! 

He called his master’s debtors…and his pen was set to work…
The debt of one hundred jars of olive oil, was manipulated to fifty… (Lk 16:6)

>> The debt of thousand bushels of wheat was reduced to eighty… (Lk 16:7)

 

 

It’s interesting to know how business was done in the first century…

 

In those days, the amount charged to a customer who purchased on credit would include three things:

1. The price of the product

2. The interest charged by the owner

3. The commission to be earned by the steward.

 
The steward could add whatever commission he thought he could collect. That was his profit.

 

In this case, the shrewd steward probably reduced his commission, and perhaps some of the interest added to the loan.

 

The rich master lost no money as he made sufficient profit…

… the customers gained happiness as their debt was reduced.

 

The steward lost some of his profit…

… but he gained much more: an enhanced reputation, some friends, and lots of security.

 

 

It was a win-win situation for all – the Master, the Customers and the Steward!

 
Well…

… so far, so good, with this shrewd steward and his crafty style of management.

 

 

But what is the message in for us?

 

The Steward never went into a lethargic or casual mode…

 

He never allowed the “Chalta Hain Attitude” to conquer him. 

>> He never let the “Chalta Hain Attitude” to control his life.

 
He was pro-active.

He was courageous.

He was bold.
 

Here is the challenge…

>> If this is what the Steward could do, to earn those things that are temporary, how much more should we be doing for those things that count for eternity? 

 

>> If this is what the Steward could do, to please his boss & for a secure future life, should we not be doing much more, to please God?

 

 

Sometimes, it’s incredible to see the great efforts undertaken by people to gain expertise and mastery in the skills of the world…

>> Sportspersons slug it hard and exercise and practise for many many hours to become adept in their sporting skills…

>> Singers and musicians put in many many continuous hours of practise and performance to gain proficiency in their fields…

>> Students preparing for competitive exams spend nights & days into varied studies & preparatory techniques to crack the tests…

 

 

Do we put that same kind of love, energy and creativity into building up the Church, the Kingdom of God and into the things that are to serve God?

 

We can’t afford to get lethargic in matters related to God, to eternal life, to spirituality etc.

 

However, most of the times, this is our attitude….”Chalta Hain…”

 

>> Chalta Hain…when we skip a prayer time or two… (We are tired!)
>> Chalta Hain…when we fail to read sometime of Word of God…(There are so many other works!)

 

>> Chalta Hain… when we skip a Sunday Holy Eucharist…(It’s the only day I get to relax more!)

 

>> Chalta Hain…when we fail to go for confessions… (God will understand me!)

 

>> Chalta Hain…when we don’t care much about our spiritual life…(God is after all, lenient and nice!)

 

 

The Parable of the Shrewd Steward has some negative shades…

>> But still it has a very powerful and challenging tone to shake us off from our “Chalta Hain Attitude” to Life.

 
Let us have a deeper conviction about our faith and the importance of serving God, so that we would put as much heart and soul into our faith as we do into the many other things that we do!

 
Its time to say ta-ta bye-bye to the listless and slothful “Chalta Hain Attitude” in life!

 
God Bless! Live Jesus!

 “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 realize 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!

One of the fast grown trends in many restaurants is the Buffet System.

 

A buffet is a system of serving meals in which food is placed in a public area where the diners generally serve themselves.

>> Buffet restaurants typically offer all-you-can-eat food for a set price.

 

Buffets make it possible to choose the item one likes, in the quantity one likes and to serve in the style or combination that one likes.

 
In our modern society, such a Buffet System, is however, extended beyond the taste buds..

>> The trend, today, is also to have a Buffet Style for our Souls…

 
Spirituality and religion is also, today, under the great influence of being enclosed in a buffet system!

 
Very often religious aspects, spirituality, the Church and our Christian Faith are treated like a big buffet.

>> We take as much of what we like and want, but leave behind what we do not like.

>> We skip off what’s too hard to swallow, what we disagree with, or what does not fit our personal opinions and beliefs.

 

 

The Gospel of the Day, however, warns against opting such a “Pick-n-Choose” Buffet System in our Spiritual Life.

 

 

The Passage begins with the verse, “Great crowds were travelling with Jesus and He turned and addressed them…” (Lk 15:25)

 

Crowds gather where there is something new and exciting happening…

 
The crowds looked at Jesus as a great wonder-worker.

>> Jesus was the new buffet for them…

>> Jesus had a great variety in His menu…

 
He offered healing for those in sicknesses and in distress…

>> He offered exorcisms for those in bondage and captivity…

>> He offered teaching to those lost in life and inspired a renewed zest for life…

 

He had bread for the hungry, wine for the saddened, freedom for the oppressed, new vision for the wayward, hope for the crushed ones and new energy for the lifeless.  

 

 

Some followed Jesus for His mighty healing works…

>> Some for His power as a prophet and preacher…

>> Some for His bread-multiplying abilities and nature-arresting potentials…

>> Some for His power to arouse curiosity and generate excitement…

 

He had what they wanted. 

>> And they gathered around, surrounded, and pressed on him.

 

 

But the Lord was clear in His intents…

>> He chose neither popularity nor quick fame nor cashed in on reputation and recognition…

 

He would not let the crowds to adopt a Buffet Spirituality in following Him.

 

He would make sure that the crowds realized that such a spirituality would not win His approval.

 

 

And so, He clearly proclaims, “If anyone comes to me, without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple” (Lk 14: 26-27)

 
Jesus wants a clear priority from the part of His followers.

>> He demands a radical choice for Him.

 
This choice would mean a love and a priority for Jesus, which goes beyond one’s blood kindred, one’s emotional relations, one’s attachments to various entities and even one’s own very self!

 

 

We need to have a hard look into ourselves…

 

We sacrifice many years to study and gain education…

>> We sacrifice many sleeps and many weekends to have a successful career…

>> We sacrifice desserts and tempting food to have a healthy and wholesome lifestyle…

>> We sacrifice much time, money and energy to gain many skills and improve talents…

 

These are all are great and important aspects of our life.

 

 

But what costs are willing to pay, to follow Jesus wholly? W

>> What sacrifices are we willing to make, as the disciples of Jesus?

 
Very often, we are content with a Buffet Style of Spirituality…
We serve ourselves…

… a little bit of the Gospel values and teachings…

… a handful of prayers and devout practices…

… a tiny measure of occasional petitions and time with God in our needs…

 … a few morsels of forwarding some Bible verses and messages…

>> And we feel that our Life as a Christian is “pretty tasty” with this Buffet Serving.

 
The Lord, is perhaps telling us…”It is not enough!“
>> Unless you take a few more steps in self-renunciation…

… you can’t be My disciple.
>> Unless you seek to give the first priority to Me in all aspects…

…. you can’t be my disciple.

 
>> Unless you involve yourself more deeply into spiritual matters…

… you can’t be My disciple.

 
The Buffet Meal is more cheap…

… but a Buffet Spirituality will certainly deprive us in becoming His authentic disciples.

 

Let us cease the “pick-n-choose” method in our spirituality.

>> Let’s instead…

… prioritize Jesus in all the dimensions of our life.

 
                                         

God Bless! Live Jesus!

“Excuses are the nails that are used to build the house of failure”

 
We often, run our lives, basing ourselves on many excuses and justifications…

 

>> Politicians sometimes make excuses for failure to undertake developmental works blaming their opposition parties.
>> Citizens sometimes make excuses for their inability towards nation-building by purely blaming the corruption among politicians.
>> Motorists or car-drivers sometimes make some excuses and jump signals and violate traffic rules.
>> Traffic inspectors sometimes make some excuses and escape from duties and dump it on someone else.

 

>> Students sometimes make excuses for their poor performance by blaming the education system.
>> Teachers sometimes make excuses for their loopholes in work by blaming the students and parents for non co-operation.

 
Are we becoming a Generation of Excuse-givers?

 

 
The Gospel of the Day brings our attention to this grave and urgent issue that we need to tackle: The Issue of making Excuses for Escapism.

 

 
We have the Parable of the Great Wedding Feast in today’s Gospel.

“A man once gave a great feast and invited many guests” (Lk 14:16)

 
Here was a big and great feast being organized and invitations were sent out to many guests.

 

>> This was no simple feast.

>> This was no ordinary event.

 
It’s similar to someone today, being invited to a lavish and a grand party by the President of the Nation or some highly dignified person.

 
It was kind of a once-in-a -lifetime opportunity.

>> The people waited with eagerness to get such a chance.

 

 

In those days, it was the custom to send two invitations.

 
The first invitation was to tell everyone that the event was being planned.

Those were the days when Time was a lavish commodity.

 
Clocks were scarce and time management techniques were still unheard of.

 >> The actual day and the actual time of the event were left open.

 
It would depend a lot on the preparation time for the killing of animals, their cleaning and cooking…

… getting all the vegetables and everything needed to get the meal ready.

 
And so there was a need for a second invitation…

 

 

The second invitation was to tell everyone that everything was ready and about to begin.

>> This second reminder was for to those who had been given the first invitation and had indicated that they would attend.

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                       

But the Gospel says, that when the second invitation was sent to the pre-invited guests, they began to make excuses!

 
Making excuses is nothing new!

It has existed right from the first days…

 

>> Adam and Eve made excuses before God in trying to hide the sin of disobedience.

>> Cain made excuses before God in trying to hide the sin of killing his brother Abel.

 

>> Moses gave excuses before God in trying to escape from the task being entrusted to him.

>> Jeremiah gave excuses before God that he was only a small boy to take up the responsibility
 

Those who were able to overcome the excuses, found true meaning and joy.

>>> But those who got stuck with their excuses, lost out on discovering greatness!

 

The guests who had been invited for the grand feast, gave silly excuses….

 
One said, “I have purchased a field and must go and examine it”

>> Silly excuse, isn’t it?

 

Does anyone enter into land dealings without having seen it in prior?

>> And even if one has not, was it so urgent, so as to miss the grand feast?

 

 

Another said, “I have purchased five oxen and am on my way to evaluate them”

>> Silly excuse, isn’t it?

 

Does anyone purchase land animals, without having examined them?

>> And even if one has not, was it so immediate a need, so as to skip the great feast?

 

  

Another said, “I have just married a woman, and I cannot come”

>> Silly excuse, isn’t it?

 

Couldn’t the husband take along his wife to the feast, to have a joyful time together?

>> Or was this couple so much exclusive, that they failed to have any social contacts, so as to avoid the fine feast?

 
 

> Here was an invitation so grand.

>> Here was a generosity so lavish.

 >>> Here was a preparation so extensive.
 

But unfortunately, it was responded with excuses which were baseless, childish, illogical and quite ridiculous!

 

We might sometimes laugh at those excuses made by the people.

 
But perhaps, we are also no different…

… or if not, worse.

 
We are in a trend of being a Generation of Excuse-givers….

 

>> We make excuses of physical tiredness, to avoid saying our personal prayers, our family prayers and being faithful to our spiritual activities.

 

>> We make excuses of saying that “it’s impossible to live an honest life” and give into many corrupt malpractices, which go against the Gospel values.

 

>> We make excuses of being too busy to find time to participate in the Holy Eucharist with greater devotion and preparedness.

 

>> We make excuses to reach out to the needy ones in their necessities by citing our own hardships to get out of our comfort areas. 

 

 

We have a strong exhortation from the Lord today, to get rid of our “Excuse-giving Tendency”.

 
It’s easy to escape from responsibilities by giving excuses.

>> But by doing so, we end up missing out on many graces from God…

… causing much pain to God who expects much from us…

… and also disturb the plan and purpose of God for our lives.

 

 
We have a duty to overcome this tendency of making Excuses for Escapism.

 

The Lord gives us many opportunities to grow in holiness and grace.

>> Let us not make silly and baseless excuses and throw them away.

 

 
God Bless! Live Jesus!

O Master, grant that I may never seek!

So much to be consoled, as to console, To be understood, as to understand

To be loved, as to love with all my soul..

 
This chorus from the Hymn of Peace, “Make me a channel” is known to most of us.

 

 

However, in our daily life, the chorus we sing is perhaps quite the opposite…

 

“O Master, help that I may always seek for more…

>> So much to be comforted, but not to comfort others…

>> To make sure that I am well understood, even if I misunderstand others…

>> To receive an abundance of love, even if others are ignored in the process!”

 

 

Very much, true isn’t it?

 
>> We love to give…

… but expect to be returned back in equal or more terms.

 

>> We love to donate…

… but expect to be acknowledged & given due consideration.

 

>> We love to offer…

… but expect to get back something more in return.

 

 
The Gospel of the Day is a call from Jesus to examine our attitude towards others.

 
We are in the 14th Chapter of St Luke.

Jesus has been invited for a dinner to the house of a leading Pharisee on a Sabbath Day.

 

>> He has just cured a person with dropsy…

… a disease wherein water gets retained in the body!

 

>> He also tried to cure persons with hypocrisy…

… a disease wherein duplicity gets retained in the mind!

 

>> And now He seeks to cure the attitude of the people who have a false understanding of giving.

 

 
Jesus says, “When you give a lunch or a dinner, do not invite your friends, or your brothers and relatives and wealthy neighbours. For surely they will invite you in return and you will be repaid” (Lk 14:12)

 
Much of our giving is based purely on the (hidden) aspect of receiving back…

>> Much of our sharing is based purely on an (unconscious) agenda of getting back…

 

 
We share our time with friends…

… often expecting that they too will accompany us in our times of hardships and difficulties!

 

We work hard for and support our families (especially our relatives)…

… often expecting that they too will be with us in our moments of struggle & not leave us lonely!

 

We render service to many people who are in need…

… often expecting that they too will render us assistance in our difficulties!

 

We pray to God & make a lot of sacrifices…

… often expecting that He’ll meet all our expectations, in the way & time, we want!

 

We love many saints…

… often expecting that they’ll make faster intercession on our behalf and get our works done quickly.

 
We have, perhaps, become very business oriented:

>> I give, and expect returns

>> I share, and expect a bonus.

 

 

But the Lord, in today’s Gospel comes down heavily on such an attitude.

“When you give, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame and the blind…because they cannot repay you” (Lk 14:13)

 
We are exhorted to give to those, who may never be able to repay back.

>> We are challenged to help those, who may never have a chance to return back the favour.

 

 

The Lord who said these words, shows us an example in the highest manner possible….

… in the Holy Eucharist.

 

 
The Holy Eucharist is the best example and model…of such kind of a giving..

>> A giving without expecting back!

>> A sharing without seeking back!

 

 

1. The Eucharist is a banquet for us, the poor…

>> We who are poor in our morals and purity… 

>> We who are poor in our commitment and dedication

 

2. The Eucharist is a banquet for us, the crippled…

>> We who are crippled with our many sins and faults… 

>> We who are crippled with the guilt of many past failures

 

3. The Eucharist is a banquet for us, the lame…

>> We who are lame in our longing and thirst for the Divine… We who are lame in our acts of self-giving and self-sacrifice

 

4. The Eucharist is a banquet for us, the blind…

>> We who are blind to the cries of those around us…

>> We who are blind to see our habits which needs repentance & improvement

 

 
Jesus, who gives Himself entirely in the Holy Eucharist today challenges us to do the same..,

 

“I give myself to you as food and nourishment…even though many people fail to thank me

>> Can you also give yourselves to nourish the lives of others…even if they fail to acknowledge?”

 
“I give myself to you in joy, happiness and peace…even though many despise and mock me

>> Can you also become a source of joy to others…even if they back-bite and spread calumny?”

 

“I give myself to you as a healing for sin and guilt… even though many hate and desecrate me.

>> Can you also become a healing touch to the other…even if it means dying slowly to your self slowly die in the process?”

 

 
The onus is on us…

Can we truly pray and live…

              That we may never seek..

                      …to be consoled, as to console,

                             …to be understood, as to understand,

                                      …to be loved, as to love with all my soul…..

 
God Bless! Live Jesus!

There is an interesting story that appears in the 12th Chapter of the 2nd Book of Kings.
Joash was the King of Judah.
He observed that Temple of the Lord was in need of repair. 
So he raised a fund-raising program…

>> ” Jehoiada, the priest took a chest and bored a hole in its lid and put it beside the altar, on the right side as one comes into the house of the LORD” (2 Kings 12:10)
The amount thus realised, was given to the master workmen of the Temple.
>> These master workmen in turn…

… gave it to the carpenters and builders

… to the lumbermen and stone cutters

… and for the purchase of wood and hewn stone used for repairing

There is a fascinating verse that then appears…

… It says, “They did not require an accounting from the men, into whose hand they gave the money to pay to those who did the work, for they dealt FAITHFULLY.” (2 Kgs 12: 16)

Other Bible translations read…

… they worked with INTEGRITY

… they acted with complete HONESTY

Faithfulness, integrity and honesty are qualities that are expected of everyone…

… who engage themselves in the works of the Lord

>> And naturally so, for all of us as Christians – the followers of Jesus, the Faithful, the Integral and the Honest One!
Do I live my Christian life in Faithfulness, Integrity and Honesty? 

The Gospel of the Day presents a Challenging Jesus..

… who seeks to expose the duplicity in the life of the Teachers of the Law

… and exhorts, instead, to lead An Authentic way of Life!

 

 
Chapter 23 of the Gospel of Matthew is an extremely emotion filled and volatile passage.

 

 The Great Master Jesus, is in a confronting mode and minces no words in exposing the duplicity of the Teachers of the Law.

 

 

Chapter 23 almost speaks of Jesus reaching a sort of boiling point…

 

Let’s think of a pan of water on the stove…

You turn the burner on high and slowly the water becomes warmer and warmer …

>> And then, there are a few bubbles in that water and those few bubbles come to the fore…

>>> And pretty soon the water in the pan is furious with bubbles because the water has come to its boiling point…!

 

The words of Jesus in Chapter 23 come to a boiling point!

>> (23: 1-12): Denunciation of the attitude of the Scribes and Pharisees

>> (23: 13-36): Pronouncement of 7 woes on the Scribes and Pharisees

>> (23: 37-39): Lamentation over the city of Jerusalem

 
Today’s Gospel Passage deals with some of the crucial areas of the Teachers of the Law…

… which very often have a similarity in our lives too

 

 

1: They preach, but do not practice! (Mt 23:3)

 

>> How often are we in the habit of telling virtues to others…

… but fail to practise them ourselves?

 

>> How often do we love to advise goodness to others…

… but fall short of trying to be good ourselves?

 

>> How often do we want the whole world to be changed…

… but reach nowhere in trying to improve our own selves?

 

 

2: They lay burdens on others..but lift not a finger to help (Mt 23: 4)

 

>> How often do we expect others to achieve perfection…

… but fail to do our own activities with zeal and passion?

 

>> How often do we want others to fulfil their duties well…

… but miserably unaware of our own obligations and tasks?

 

>> How often do we impose others to be good and holy..

… but indulge our selves in deeds of corruption and sin?

 

 

3: They Practice deeds of Religiosity to be seen by others (Mt 23: 5)

 

>> How often do we parade our acts of charity before others…

… in order to boost our index of popularity?

 

>> How often do we want our deeds of assistance be noticed by others…

… in order to win admiration and acclaim?

 

 

>> How often do we go vocal in boasting of our own achievements…

… in order to become great and famous?

 

 

4: They love places and titles of honour and respect (Mt 23: 6-7)

 

>> How often do we seek the best places in society and the Church…

… and try to make a peripheral show of our status?

 

>> How often do we grow attached to places and titles of glory…

… and develop an unconscious love for vain glory?

 

>> How often do we get disturbed and even troubled easily…

… when others fail to acknowledge our positions and repute?

 
The list of questions is too long…. the record of queries is too extensive…

>> But we need to make this check.. a reality check of our own lives!

 
It is not very difficult to live under the garb of a well-polished and neat looking title of a “Christian”.

>> It is not very hard to move forward with our Christian lives being peripherally good and “appearing” pious.

 

 

But we need to realise?  

In our life here, some day or the other, our hollowness will get exposed if were are not true to our inner selves.

>> A false life does not befit a person who seeks to follow the Authentic Christ.

 

Yes, on Judgment Day, none of our ‘external packing and wrapping’ will come to our rescue!
 

To live an authentic and true life is certainly hard…

… and is a treading through paths of difficulties.

 

But…

… in difficulties, grace abounds

… in hardships, blessings increase

… in adversities, mercy flourishes

Let us give heed to the words of St Bernard of Clairvaux (Doctor of the Church and promoter of the Marian Devotion especially through the prayer, “Memorare”), who says:

” >> There are those who seek knowledge for the sake of knowledge: that is curiosity

>> There are those who seek knowledge to be known by others: that is vanity

>> There are those who seek knowledge in order to serve: that is love!”

 

May we seek knowledge in order to serve, by growing in the virtues of faithfulness, integrity and honesty…

… and thus be true followers of Jesus, the Faithful, the Integral and the Honest One!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

 The Greek mythology has a character named Narcissus who was renowned for his beauty.

 

He was exceptionally proud; so much that he even disdained those who loved him!

 

 

One day, Narcissus was attracted to a pool of water.

 

He saw his own reflection in the water and fell in love with it. 

>> He failed to realize that it was only an image!

 

Unable to leave the beauty of his reflection, he drowned in the waters!

 

 

An obsessive love of his own-self drowned him!

 

 

No doubt that true appreciation, real honoring and genuine love of oneself is highly important & needed…

… but when this self-directed love crosses the boundary, it can lead to obsession and fixation!

 

 

 

Are we in anyway getting drowned, knowingly or unknowingly, as a result of an excessive love for our self?

 

 

The Gospel of the Day challenges us to ponder over this aspect by inviting us to examine our life with respect to the virtue of humility.
Jesus says, “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” (Lk 14:11)

 
One of the most supreme and vital messages that we learn from the life and teachings of Jesus is that of Humility – a virtue in direct contrast to the dangerous vice of Pride!

 

 

There are two kinds of pride: good and bad.

 

>> ‘Good pride’ is our dignity & self-respect

>> ‘Bad pride’ is the deadly sin of superiority that reeks of conceit and arrogance.

 

 

What is pride, as a vice?

>> In simple words, it could defined as “wanting our own way!”

 

Therefore, what is humility as a virtue?

>> In simple words, it could be defined as “wanting God’s Will!”

 

 
This is what Jesus teaches through the parable of “how a person sought the highest place, but got humiliated in accepting the lowest place!” (Lk 14: 7-9)

 
 
In our life, it is easy for us to lose our focus from the Lord and have a “narcisstic” style of preferences for our own selves…

 

>> Many times in our works, we forget the blessings that the Lord has showered on us…

… and instead attribute all successes to our own talents and abilities.

 

>> Many times in our ministry, we lose sight of the Lord, the real purposes of our vocation and the mission… 

… and instead seek to fulfill our personal agenda and motives.

 

 

> It is easy to bask in the glory of popularity and fame.

> It is satisfying to enjoy the sunshine of reputations and recognitions.

… But let them never lead us to have a “narcisstic” approach of just “looking” into ourselves.

 

 

>> Let us have the humility to acknowledge that it is God’s power being manifested in our works.

>> Let us have the acceptance that it is God’s graces that has lifted us to a high position.

 

St Augustine says: 

“It was pride that changed angels into devils; 

It is humility that makes men as angels”

Yes, we need to take care not to “drown” in the murky waters of pride, egoism and selfishness…

… Instead, we need to “sail” together with the Lord through the clean waters of humility and meekness! 

 
God Bless! Live Jesus!

Kindly check out the latest Video Reflection Capsule: The Father Himself Loves You!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNq4bjU_X1U

For our reflection today, we shall make a verse by verse analysis of the Gospel Passage…

 

The passage under consideration is the Healing of the man with dropsy on the Sabbath Day.
Let us carefully reflect on this amazingly dramatic incident…

 

 

The passage begins with the statement, “On a Sabbath, Jesus went to dine at the home of one of the leading Pharisees…” (Lk 14:1a)

 
Here was an invitation of a high and elite nature…
A leading Pharisee of the Jewish society had called Jesus to his home. 

> He was joined by many other scholars of the Law and the Pharisees.

 

>> Maybe it was a show of one’s status and pride and dignity as a great Pharisee…

>> Maybe it was another chance for the critics of Jesus to find something to crib about him…

 

 

“…and the people there were observing Him carefully…” (Lk 14:1b)

 

To be invited for a dinner was something nice and pleasant…

>> But to be invited to become an object of observation and scanning was bad enough.

 

“The people were observing Him carefully” suggested a suspicious action…

> It was as if, some thieves were waiting eagerly to strike on their target…

> It was as if, some fierce lions, were stealthily preparing to pounce upon their prey…

 

 

And then comes the bait “In front of him, there was a man suffering from dropsy” (Lk 14:2)

 

 
What’s dropsy?

>> Dropsy was a condition in which there was an unnatural collection of serous (pale yellow and transparent) fluid in any cavity of the body.

 

Dropsy was water retention in the body.  

>> Dropsy itself was not a disease, but a symptom of a disease.
It could be a number of things – complications of the liver or kidney or the heart or all three!

 
In the Jewish understanding, someone who had this condition of dropsy, was seen as a great sinner, even related to being a sexual sinner.

 

This sickness was a pointer to the man’s condition of being highly unclean!

 

 

But to bring back our attention to the Gospel…

Was this not a setting of a dinner?

 

Was not Jesus called for a meal…

… and that too, a dinner with the elite and leading religious people… 

…and that too, on a Sabbath day?!

 
Then what was a man with dropsy, a serious condition of uncleanness, doing there?

 

The plot of the drama seems to be thickening…

 
The setup was clear…

>> The Pharisees have invited Jesus for a meal, yes…but with a hidden and a mean agenda:

 Drop a man with dropsy in front of Jesus…and observe what he does!

 

>> They know Jesus has the power to heal…but they also know that it will lead to violation of the Sabbath!

>> They know Jesus would feel compassion on the man…but they also know that it will give them a chance to go up in arms!

 

They wanted Jesus to violate the Sabbath to give proof that He was not from God!

 

 

The Rabbinical rule was that one could only be doctored if one was going to die immediately on the Sabbath.

>> But if death is not imminent, wait till the Sabbath is over.

 
But Jesus had time & again proved, that he had no regard for that silliness or for that lack of compassion or for the folly of that legalism.

 

>> In Lk 6:6-11, Jesus healed a withered man, on the Sabbath…

>> In Lk 13: 10-17, Jesus healed a woman, crippled for eighteen years, on the Sabbath…

 

 

So, He asks the guests gathered around, “Is it lawful to cure on the Sabbath or not?” (Lk 14:3)

 
>> Jesus knew their answer.

>> Jesus knew their perspective of things.

Yet He wanted them to tell.

 

 

“..but they kept silent” (Lk 14:4a)…

>> They knew the answer too.

>> They knew it was unlawful.

Still they did not tell Him.

 

>> Sheer hypocrisy!

>> Absolute malicious trapping!

>> Horrifying trick of deception!

 

 

 

And then Jesus does something astonishing…

“..he took the man, and after he had healed him, dismissed him” (Lk 14:4b)

 

The Greek word used for “took” is a very very strong verb….”Epilombano”

 
“Epilombano” literally means to lay hold of or to seize upon anything with the hands

 

It is the same word used in…

… Lk 23:26, when the soldiers seized Simon of Cyrene to carry the cross

… Acts 16:19 to say that Paul and Silas were seized and dragged by their persecutors..)

 

The cruel silence of the crowd provokes Jesus, to strongly seize the afflicted man!

 

He doesn’t work the miracle in hiding or quietly or from a distance!

 
Rather, with much force, He just grabs the man, seizes him, crushes him in His arms as if to squeeze the fluid out and give him a new heart, a new liver, and a new self and creates in the man a whole new set of internal organs.

 

 

And finally Jesus justifies His action with another thundering question, “Who among you, if your son or ox falls into a cistern, would not immediately pull him out on a Sabbath?” (Lk 14:6)

 
A beautiful picture indeed…

 

Jesus asks them, “None of you would have allowed your son or ox to drown in the waters, isn’t it?

>> Then why don’t you see, that I have also saved from drowning… this man with dropsy, drowning in his own fluid!?

 

 

Another total silence by the onlookers!

 
>> Am I also silent now?

 
 

There is much to learn from this dramatic incident, isn’t it?

 
May this dramatic Gospel incident, become…

… a wonderful inspiration, for us… who need the touch of the Lord, from being drowned in the troubled waters of life!

… a hard warning, for us… who malign other’s lives by seeking to find ways and means to trap them in the works of goodness!

… a tremendous booster, for us.. who often get bogged down by troubles of life & instead to be bold to the hard & gritty challenges of life!

 
God Bless! Live Jesus!