It was a healing and deliverance session in a praise and worship music concert.

The music was in full blow…

>> The praises were ringing high…

>>> The atmosphere was electrified….

In that high and spirited ambience, the choir began to sing the hymn,

“In the name of Jesus, In the name of Jesus, we have the victory….

In the name of Jesus, In the name of Jesus, demons will have to flee…”

As this hymn of mighty power and deliverance was being sung…

… some of the people who were standing in front, and were reportedly demon-possessed, also began to sing and dance joyfully!

Now that was something surprising and shocking for the people who were singing on the stage…

It was a song for deliverance…

… but instead, these possessed people were also enjoying…

It was a song for liberation…

… but instead, these possessed people were also rejoicing…

On asking them as to how could they be also happy and rejoicing, these people answered:

” Well, although most of you are singing, ‘In the name of Jesus, demons will flee’, none of you seem to be singing it with any conviction or belief.

You seem to be enjoying the music more..

… and so therefore, we too are happy to enjoy the music and sing along!”

>> The hymn lost its power and value…

… because it was sung merely as a fast number!

>> The prayer lost its sanctity and sacredness…

… because it was sung merely as a jumping song!

There was no authority in the singing.

>> There was no credibility in the prayer.

>>>> There was no sincerity in the faith.

When authority and integrity are lacking in a spiritual endeavour, there is very less spiritual growth and nourishment!

>> When authority and integrity are present in a spiritual endeavour, there is much spiritual progress and advancements!

The Gospel of the Day is an exhibition of how true integrity and authority can work tremendous wonders, conversions of heart and transformations of life…

… and how it can also cause some people to engage in calumny and character-assasination!

The Gospel of the Day begins with the statement that…

… “the scribes who had come down from Jerusalem said, ‘He is possessed by Beelzebul and by the prince of demons , He casts out the demons” (Mk 3:22)

One of the reasons why the Scribes were irked by the personality of Jesus was because of the tremendous authority that was displayed by Jesus!

Yes, the amazing factor in the ministry of Jesus was His tremendous authority!

>> The wondrous aspect in the ministry of Jesus was His awesome integrity!

Elsewhere, in the Gospel of St Mark, we read…

>> The people “were astonished at his teaching, for He taught as one who had authority…” (Mk 1:22)

>> “… they were all amazed so that they questioned among themselves…. ‘…with authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him” ( Mk 1: 27)

This authority and integrity came…

… through His deep union with His Heavenly Father.

… through His faithfulness to the commands of His heavenly Father

… through His undivided devotion to His Heavenly Father

How authoritative, credible and integral are we in our life…

… as a Christian?

… in the family?

… as a consecrated person?

Authoritative does not mean arrogance…

>> Credibility does not mean over-confidence…

>>> Integrity does not mean super-importance…

Authority, credibility and integrity in the Lord means…

… filled with the power and strength of God’s Spirit

… imbued with a deep passion for the Lord and His Church

… living an honest lifestyle in accordance to God’s Will and teachings

The Gospel of the Day calls us to check and examine…

… is my prayer life and devotion truly authentic and credible?

… is my preaching and spreading of God’s Word filled with His Holy Spirit?

… is my reception of the Sacraments helping me to make an honest effort to be a true Christian?

Let our prayers become a true raising of hearts to God…

>> Let the receiving of the Sacraments become an honest transformation for life…

>>> Let the spreading of God’s Word become a credible witness to God’s Kingdom….

Jesus is our model and example to be true and honest in life!

>> Jesus is our ideal and standard to be faithful and committed to our mission!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

The fish has been greatly associated with Christianity.

The early Christians used to associate each other with a code symbol named ICHTHUS.

ICHTHUS is the Greek word for Fish.

ΙΧΘΥΣ (Ichthus) was also an acronym for “Ίησοῦς Χριστός, Θεοῦ Υἱός, Σωτήρ”, (Iēsous Christos, Theou Yios, Sōtēr), which translates as “Jesus Christ, Son of God, Saviour”.

It is a symbol consisting of two intersecting arcs, the ends of the right side extending beyond the meeting point so as to resemble the profile of a fish.

As per an ancient story, when a Christian met a stranger in the road..

… the Christian sometimes drew one arc of the simple fish outline in the dirt.

>> If the stranger drew the other arc, both believers knew they were in good company.

The fish has been sailing along the Christian waters for quite long!

And this journey of the fish in the Christian waters has its commencement in the Gospel of the Day – Jesus calls His first disciples, who were busy “catching fish”.

In the Gospel of the Day, Simon , his brother Andrew, along with the family of Zebedee – John, James and their father, were busy fishing.

>> The Lord, indeed, comes to meet and encounter us in the ordinary situations of our life.

Fishing was their means of livelihood.

As they are engaged in these affairs of livelihood and occupation, they have a surprise visitor – Jesus!

He comes with a contagious fire of love in His heart & a gentle expression on His face.

>> He comes with a deep passionate look in His eyes & a soothing appearance in His personality

He calls out to the busy fishermen, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men!” (Mk 1:17)

“Fishers of men??!”

All their life they had only known that its only fish that can be fished!

>> But this was strange to hear – that “people could also be fished”!

That trade of “fishing of people” would soon be taught to them by the Great Fisherman of Galilee…

>> Not with hooks of iron…

… but with hooks of conscience-appeal and heart-attraction

>> Not spreading nets of cloth, nylon or fibre etc…

… but with nets of goodness and love

>> Not travelling in deep waters of the sea…

… but navigating into the depths of human life

In the ordinary situation of life…

The disciples experienced the call to go beyond mere existential realities

>> The Lord introduced them to a Way to Eternity!

In the normal routine of life…

The disciples experienced the power to transpose their basic and ordinary needs

>> The Lord manifested to them the Higher Needs of Life!

For these fishermen-disciples, life had got into a sort of daily ordinary rhythm:

Going for fishing and trying their luck…

…Sometimes high success… many times immense failure…most of the times nothing exciting.

It was just a monotonous, repetitive and droning style of life.

Our lives too sometimes become a matter of routine and ordinary existence…

>> The same daily works and activities…

…Sometimes high success… many times immense failure…most of the times nothing exciting.

It is, very often, just a tedious, dull and boring style of life.

But in these ordinary moments, there are glimpses of the Extraordinary that is often revealed.

>> In the simple situations, there are rays of the Light of Eternity that often shines through.

Are we open and docile to these “ordinary” and “simple” appearances of the Lord in our lives?

Simple fishermen became part of the Super Fishing Strategy of the Greatest Fisherman of the world!

>> You and I… are called to today, in the littleness and the ordinariness of our lives…

…to give witness to the One who renovates lives and transforms hearts!

… to get transformed & filled with the same passion and zeal of the Disciples!

Are we ready to go fishing with this Great Fisherman of Galilee?

Hail ICHTUS – Jesus Christ, Son of God, Saviour!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

“Enthusiasm” is a word that is very commonly used.

It is interesting to know the root meaning of this word

“Enthusiasm” is derived from two Greek words – “en” and “theos”

>> “En” means IN

>> “Theos” means GOD

“En-theos” means being “In God”

Enthusiasm therefore points to the fact of…

… someone being “possessed by God”

… someone who is mad with the works of God

The Gospel of the Day is a narrative of a Man Who is deeply enthusiastic… IN GOD…

… the “Mad and Insane” Jesus!

St Mark’s Gospel is pretty straightforward – to the point and blunt in its nature.

The Lord was out to preach and proclaim the Kingdom of Love and Mercy…

• Broken lives were mended by the balm of His Holiness

• Ruined minds were revived by the power of His teachings

• Shattered destinies were made whole by the cure of His touch

• Hardened hearts were touched by the softness of His presence

• Ruptured consciences were restored by the gentleness of His love

The crowd following had increased…the popularity ratings had soared!

This however causes a great disturbance and distress in the family of Jesus…

“Again the crowds gathered, making it impossible for them, even to eat.

When His relatives heard of this, they set out to seize Him, for they said, ‘He is out of His mind’ ” (Mk 3: 20-21)

Jesus was labelled as being “out of mind!”

>> Jesus was tagged as being “insane and mad”

>>> Jesus was branded as being “crazy and odd”

The one who is filled with God’s love is indeed an obsessed person!

>> The one who has eyes fixed on one’s goals is indeed a mad person!

Obsessed in love…mad for one’s aim…passionate about one’s goals!

And Jesus was indeed passionate and highly zealous for His mission…

… so much so, that even His own relatives misunderstood and mistook Him.

The Bible and the Church is a gigantic collection of deeds and acts of such people who were “mad” and who took “crazy” decisions in life…

>> Abraham was “crazy” to have faith in God, to have children, even at the ripe old age of hundred!

>> Moses was “mad” to trust God to lead a tiny nation from the clutches of the imposing Egyptian empire!

>> Mother Mary was “crazy” to give up her promising life and instead consent to an Angel to become the Mother of God!

>> St Peter was “mad” to abandon his career and family to follow Jesus for a ministry of unknown and uncertain future!

>> St Paul was “crazy” to undergo tremendous sufferings and agonizing troubles for the sake of the spread of the Gospel!

When one is really passionate towards one’s mission, there is an element of “craziness”!

>> When one is really zealous about one’s purposes, there is an element of “madness”!

Do I have and reflect this “mad” passion and zeal for God’s love?

… by seeking Him in all our works, activities and plans

… by reaching out His love to the needy and the disadvantaged

… by spreading hope, courage and optimism in this broken world

Let us dare to walk and live the path of the Crucified Lord…

… the One who was called mad and insane

… the One who was misunderstood and unaccepted

Because He chose to live and die for His convictions of Love!

Let us not be worried… let us not be anxious…but trust in our Loving God!

In the words of St Francis De Sales:

>> “God takes pleasure to see you take your little steps; and like a good father who holds his child by the hand, He will accommodate His steps to yours and will be content to go no faster than you.

Why do you worry?”

Yes, let us be people filled with “enthusiasm”… being IN GOD….

… someone being “possessed by God”

… someone who is mad with the works of God

God Bless! Live Jesus!

The role of judges in a competition or a contest is known to everybody.

The judge is to make a choice of the outstanding performers.

This choice is based on a number of criteria…

This choosing is dependent on a number of factors…

The ones who are selected are considered to be the best among the lot!

>> The ones who are chosen are considered to be the finest among them all!

But it’s quite interesting and sometimes even strange, that in the Divine realm, this principle is not followed!

>> Yes, God’s ways are truly far different from the way of human beings!

God’s style is exceedingly distinct from the style of human beings!

God makes His choice on the Single Principle of Love!

>> God makes His choice on the Sole Rule of Love!

The Gospel of the Day is a testimony to this fact, when Jesus makes a choice of His disciples.

>> “Jesus went up to the mountain, and called to Him those whom He desired, and they came to Him” (Mk 3:13)

Another translation would read, “…and summoned to Him those whom He wanted…”

The disciples were called because Jesus desired them!

>> The disciples were summoned because Jesus wanted them!

This style of choice is indeed strange and queer, isn’t it?

Judges usually select the best and the outstanding…

>> Judges usually choose the finest and the exceptional…

But Jesus, the Judge, seems to be doing it all wrong!

Here is Project Kingdom at hand…

… and Jesus chooses not the best, but the ordinary!

Jesus is out to usher in a Kingdom of healing and many divine works…

>> But Jesus chooses some mundane fishermen for this task!

Jesus is out to usher in a Kingdom of love and detachment…

>> But Jesus chooses some doubtful personalities like tax collectors and lover of money!

Jesus is out to usher in a Kingdom of Divine love and peace…

>> But Jesus chooses some nationalists and zealots!

Yes, God’s ways are truly far different from the way of human beings!

>> God’s style is exceedingly distinct from the style of human beings!

You and Me – as Christians – followers of Christ – are also called and chosen!

What was the reason for it?

>> What was the criteria for God choosing us?

Nothing exceptional in us…

>> Nothing spectacular in us…

But simply and purely, His exceptional and spectacular love has chosen us!

He chose us simply because He wanted to choose us!

>> He selected us simply because He wanted to select us!

Sounds crazy? Sounds weird?

Well… God’s love and choices are indeed crazy and weird!

>> But they are also full of wisdom and Divine Providence!

Yes, we are called into existence in love, by the One who loves us deeply!

This sole factor can and should be the impelling and encouraging force in our lives!

In moments, when we feel that we are unwanted and unloved…

>> Know and realise, that God has chosen us…in love!

In moments when we feel unequipped and disarmed to undertake some duties and tasks…

>> Know and realise, that God has chosen us…in love!

In moments, when we are broken into despair and rejected into helplessness and loneliness…

>> Know and realise, that God has chosen us…in love!

In moments, when meaning to life is found missing and the future looks too hazy and clouded…

>> Know and realise, that God has chosen us…in love!

It may be easy for me to write reflections on God’s love…

>> It may be not too hard a task for me to preach on God’s love…

But deep within… can we know and experience, for sure.. that God’s Love encompasses us!

He simply loves us!

>> He simply loves to lavish His affections on us!

There can be no greater personal revelation for me than to know and experience that I am loved and chosen by God!

>> There can be no greater personal satisfaction and happiness for me, than to live and be passionate about this deep, personal and intimate love and choice of God!

Today, let us renew our commitment and zeal to this Love of the Lord!

He is calling us once again… in love..

…to be His disciples

…to be close to Him

…to be part of His Project Kingdom

…to be partakers of His mission in this world

God Bless! Live Jesus!

A magnet is an object made of certain materials which creates a magnetic field around itself.

>> This magnetic field causes objects of certain properties to attract to itself…

The closer the objects are to the magnet, the stronger they are pulled to the attracting force.

Another interesting thing is that…

… objects attached to the magnet, over a certain period of time, themselves become magnetized and are able to attract other things to itself.

The Gospel of the Day is a wonderful exhibition of this Magnetic Presence of Jesus!

St Mark beautifully presents this attractive power of the Lord through the words:

“A large number of people followed from Galilee and from Judea.

Hearing what He was doing, a large number of people came to Him also from Jerusalem, from Idumea, from beyond the Jordan and from the neighbourhood of Tyre and Sidon” (Mk 3: 7-8)

The popularity of the Lord was spreading far and wide…

>> His power over sin had many to look up to Him…

>> His authoritative teaching was astonishing to many…

>> His dominance over evil spirits was awe-inspiring for many…

>> His amazing healing power had caused a stir among people…

Like a magnet, the Lord was attracting many to Himself!

>> Like a magnet, the Lord was pulling variety of people to Himself!

The magnetic and charming power of the Lord attracts us too..

… But do we remain willing to get attracted to this amazing force?

The Living Presence of the Lord in our midst is in the Holy Eucharist.

>> The Holy Eucharist is the powerful magnet that can pull and attract many!

The tragedy in our life is that very often, this “magnetic” Eucharistic presence remains abandoned and forsaken!

It’s a pity that the Living Lord is hardly visited in the Blessed Sacrament!

>> Chapels and Churches often remain empty and forlorn…

>> Very few to visit Jesus in the Eucharist!

>> Hardly any say Hello to the Lord in the Eucharist!

We sometimes are reducing ourselves to a generation seeking only after mighty wonders!

>> We sometimes are making ourselves to be a people wanting only fascinating miracles!

>> We sometimes are forming ourselves to be ones who are attracted only to external sensations!

But Eucharist – the greatest wonder and miracle of the world often remains unnoticed!

There is nothing more sublime in this world than the Holy Eucharistic Presence!

>> There is nothing more beautiful than moments spent before the Eucharistic Lord!

>> There is nothing more awesome than an experience of love in the Holy Eucharist!

Am I ready to get attracted and charmed by this magnetic presence of the Holy Eucharist?

>> The Lord waits for us…every moment…every day!

>> The Lord seeks for us…every second…every hour!

We may have different excuses to evade and avoid time before His presence…

>> Maybe too many works and occupations…

>> Maybe a feeling that it is too dry and boring to be with Him…

>> Maybe an attitude that social works suffice and go beyond all such pious devotions…

But no excuse and no theory can give justification to miss the Presence of the Lord!

He is the magnet who can infuse us with power and strength!

>> The more closer we are, the more attracted we be!

>> The more we remain with Him, the more we become like Him!

May the Magnetic Power of the Holy Eucharist be sought more!

>> May the Magnetic Love of the Holy Eucharist be longed more!

And may, we, in turn, become a magnetic Presence of the Lord to others!

… Seeking the Eucharist, to be a Eucharist to the other!

… Loving the Eucharist to break and share oneself to the other!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

The Christian tradition has for a long time, associated the four evangelists (Gospel writers) with the four living creatures that surround God’s throne as described in the book of Revelation.

Rev 4:7, “The first creature resembled a lion, the second was like a calf (ox), the third had a face like that of a human being and the fourth looked like an eagle in flight…”

These associations are made as follows:

>> Matthew – Human being/Angel;

>> Mark – Lion;

>> Luke – Ox (Calf);

>> John – Eagle.

The Gospel of the Day is a passage from the Gospel of St Mark.

>> And today the Lion, associated with Mark’s Gospel is set to “roar”!

Yes, Jesus, the Marcan Lion is out to “roar” in the Synagogue!!

It’s another Sabbath day…

>> And Jesus is in the synagogue where there is a man who has a withered hand.

St Mark is particular to mention that the Pharisees were watching him keenly, to observe what Jesus, the healer would do (Mk 3:2)

They did not look, to praise God…they observed in order to pinpoint faults!

>> They did not seek, to glorify God’s name…they scrutinized in order to defame the Lord!

What a pity when religious leaders become only harsh law-enforcing personnel and fail to administer compassion and love!

>> What a pity when protectors of the law become too rigid and stubborn to keep the rules that they become perpetuators of a perpetual hypocrisy!

As the Pharisees keep watching what He is going to do, Jesus throws the ball in their court.

The Lord knows the secrets of human hearts!

>> The Lord gauges the depths of human hypocrisy!

And so Jesus, the Marcan Lion roars and asks, ” Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?” ( Mk 3:4)

A basic and a fundamental question was staring on the faces of the Pharisees…

They were people…

… who were staunch to uphold the laws and the rules.

… who would strive to maintain faithfulness to the minutest regulations

… who would raise their voice at any violation of God’s commandments.

Was it love that drove them to do God’s commandments?

>> Was it pure motives that made them to be zealous for God’s law?

>> Was it a striving for God’s glory that impelled them to be strict keepers of the rules?

Here was a moment for them to express their intention behind all these things…

>> Here was a chance to tell the world what was their aim in doing all the obligations…

“But they remained silent” (Mk 3:4b)

What an anti-climax it turned out to be!

>> They gave the worst possible reply to the life-convicting question: Silence!

It was a deafening silence that was brutally wounding and viciously hurting!

>> It was a booming silence of their cruel disapproval of Jesus’ healing ministry!

>> It was a crashing silence exposing their wickedness of heart and duplicity of minds!

And so Jesus, the Lion roars…

>> “Looking around at them with anger and grieved at their hardness of hearts…” (Mk 3:5)

The inhuman silence of the Pharisees provokes Jesus, the Lion to anger!

>> The hypocritical hush of the Pharisees instigates Jesus, the Lion to fury!

>> The dreadful stillness of the Pharisees wounds Jesus, the Lion to grief!

How many of us are similar to this attitude of the Pharisees….?!

We see people withered in misery and abjection…

>> And we assume a dignified silence of inaction and apathy!

We see others withered in sinful situations and evil circumstances…

>> And we take refuge in a silence of not doing anything to help them, come out of this condition!

We see families, societies and communities withering in disunity and discord…

>> And we maintain a “clean-image” of silence, instead of doing the unpleasant task of unifying!

We see ourselves withered in corrupt inclinations and errant behaviour…

>> And we uphold a silence of indifference and lethargy and avoid reformation and renewal!

But the Lord, the great Lion, roars in all such “unfair and debasing” moments of silence!

It angers Him…

>> It grieves Him…

>> It provokes Him…

>> It pains Him…

This same Jesus, who is the Lion of Judah, who “roars” fiercely, is also the Gentle Lamb who sacrificed His life for our transformation, renewal and reformation!

ROOARRR!!

The Lion of Judah is “roaring” for a positive and active response from us….

… for a change in our attitude and mentality!

… for a radical transformation in our misery of indifference!

Let the “roar” of Jesus, the Lion instil in us the urgency to take necessary actions in our life.

God Bless! Live Jesus!

“You are under CCTV surveillance!

>> This is one common notice that is increasingly seen, these days.

Institutions, offices, public places…. are getting scanned under the CCTV (Closed Circuit TeleVision) camera.

The CCTV seeks to capture every movement that occurs, in order to trace any untoward incident.

The CCTV is mainly placed…

>> In order to identify possible mishaps and troublesome occurrences.

>> In order to find out people who involve in pranks, harmful actions and terrors.

>> In order to trace any untoward incidents by capturing every movement that occurs

Well.. though the gadget named CCTV is a modern technology…

… we have its human version already existing centuries back…

And the Gospel of the Day is proof of this aspect!

Check out the CCTV – which was used by the Pharisees and the Scribes.

>> And in today’s Gospel, Jesus and His disciples are under the surveillance of this CCTV!

Jesus and His disciples were walking through a field of grain on the Sabbath.

>> The disciples were hungry and decided to pluck some of the grain.

The OT law of keeping of the Sabbath in no way prohibited picking a handful of grain to satisfy one’s immediate hunger

In Dt 23:25, God makes a wonderful provision for travellers:

“When you enter your neighbour’s standing grain, then you may pluck the head with your hand, but you shall not put a sickle in your neighbour’s standing grain”

The traditional law however added many rules and regulations.

>> These traditions were extremely rigid, and concerned the Sabbath observance.

The Talmud, the book of Jewish traditions has 24 chapters listing various Sabbath laws.

>> A rabbi would sometimes spend 2.5 years studying one chapter to figure out all the details.

Here are some examples of the rules:

>> No burden could be carried that weighed more than a dried fig, or half a fig carried two times.

>> If you threw an object in the air and caught it with the other hand, it was a sin.

… If you caught it in the same hand, it wasn’t!

>> A tailor couldn’t carry his needle…. The scribe couldn’t carry his pen… A pupil couldn’t carry his books.

>> No clothing could be examined lest somehow you find a lice and inadvertently kill it.

>> Nothing could be sold. Nothing could be bought. Nothing could be washed.

>> Cold water could be poured on warm, but warm couldn’t be poured on cold.

>> You could not bathe, for fear when the water fell off of you it might wash the floor.

>> If a candle was lit, you couldn’t put it out. If it wasn’t lit, you couldn’t light it.

>> Women couldn’t look in a glass or they might find a white hair and be tempted to pull it out.

>> Women couldn’t wear jewellery because jewellery weighs more than a dried fig!!

It goes on and on…!!

The system had become mercilessly oppressive, horribly ungodly and brutally unkind.

>> The safe guarders and protectors of these scrupulous laws were the Scribes and the Pharisees.

And in today’s Gospel, theyare out, to catch hold of Jesus and His disciples.

Their detective eyes are keen to observe the mistakes committed by them.

>> Their probing eyes are on the look out to get hold of their Sabbath breakages!

>> It’s like a CCTV…

… that is capturing minute-by-minute movements

… that keeps a constant watch for any untoward happenings…

Do I sometimes adopt this tendency of the Pharisees and the Scribes…?

>> Being on the constant look out for mistakes of others…

>> Watching others’ behaviours to probe faults and failures in them…

It’s interesting that the Scribes and the Pharisees fail to see that they also broke the Sabbath Law!

The Pharisees are following Jesus and His disciples….

>>This meant walking beyond the stipulated steps prescribed by the Sabbath Law!

But, they conveniently don’t mention this!

They self-justified themselves…

… but accused others of guilt!

They self-approved themselves…

… but blamed others of faults!

Am I a person prone to only find faults and negativity in situations and in others…

>> Or do I make constructive criticisms and also be a person who genuinely appreciates?

Am I a person constantly bickering about what is lacking and missing in my life…

>> Or do I rather be a person who is delightful and content with all what God has blessed me?

Am I person who magnifies the weaknesses of others and defames others character…

>> Or do I be a person who understands others and encourages them to be stronger?

Its human to chance upon the weaknesses of others…

… but its Divine to accept, understand and encourage them to be better instead!

Its human to always look into the negative dimensions in a person…

… but its Divine to have a magnanimous heart to look to positives in life!

Let’s seek the grace of the Lord…

… to avoid the snare of being pessimistic…being judgmental…being critically evil!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

Most of us are familiar, with the story of that person who bought large new, exquisite flower vase from the market.           
>> This person was excited in possessing this big and wonderful flower vase.

He came home and placed this flower vase in the centre table of the main hall.
>> He looked at the vase and admired saying, “Wow! This vase looks so pretty”.

But as he kept admiring the beauty of the vase, he realised, that somehow the torn and the rugged carpet beneath, was not matching with this newly bought vase.

So he decided to change the carpet…

 
Once he did the changing of the carpet, and as he admired the flower vase, he realized…
… the painting on the walls of the house also did not match with the flower vase, and the new purchased carpet!
 
So there…
… he decided to paint anew the walls as well!

Well…
The entry of the single vase…brought about effective changes in the surrounding!

The love for the beautiful vase prompted the person to make additional changes.
>> The admiration for the charming vase made the person to bring in extra alterations.

 

Something similar is to happen, when the Beautiful and Precious Jesus enters into our lives…

The old is to get transformed.. the new is to be ushered in!
>> The former is to undergo an alteration…the novel is to be welcomed in!

 
This is what the Lord puts forward in the Gospel of the Day by the examples of the old & new cloak and old & new wine.

Our Lord often used examples from daily life to illustrate his parables.
 

Today, He uses two concepts that would have been readily understood by his listeners:
>> No one sews a piece of unshrunken cloth on an old cloak. (Mk 1:21)
>> No one pours new wine into old wineskin (Mk 1: 22)

It was a known fact as to what would happen if an unshrunk (new) patch was sewn onto an old garment.
>> When it was washed, the new patch would shrink and pull away from the garment leaving a bigger tear than before.

In ancient Israel, the grapes were pressed in the winepress and left in the collection vats for a few days.

Fermentation starts immediately on pressing, and this allows the first “tumultuous” (gassy) phase to pass.
>> Then the fermenting juice was put in clay jars to be stored, or into wineskins if it was to be transported some distance.

When this new wine was placed into a wineskin, it continued to ferment.
>> So it was essential to put it into a new, flexible, skin that would expand, as the carbon dioxide gas (a by-product of fermentation) was given off.

 
With respect to Biblical history, these examples illustrate the incompatibility of the old with the new.

The new is Jesus’ message of the Kingdom of God.
>> The old is the present status of Judaism.

 
Contextually, what do these examples mean to us today? 

We have professed and declared ourselves to be Christians, following the path of Jesus.
 
Is there a newness and a novelty that I experience and live in my daily life?
>>Does Jesus Christ really effect any difference in my attitudes and my actions?

For long, perhaps, we have been proud to carry the tag of being a Christian.
>> But is it not time that Christ really begins to become “REAL” and “LIVING” in my life?
 

We often “use” Christianity as a bait to obtain concessions, quotas, easy entries for jobs etc…
>> But does Christianity make me to live the values of the Gospel to root out corruption from the society & within ourselves?

 
As Christians, we are often portrayed as “forward” people – associated as a western culture of posh and sophisticated living, as a “wine-and-cake” people and as “short-dresses-folk”!

These are not to be trademarks of a Real Christian!!

Does being a Christian…
… impel me to forego a sinful life and seek after holiness?

… encourage me to stand for the values of truth and honesty?

… make me to be less materialistic and more focused on things eternal?

… make me shun peer & societal pressures & stand for moral convictions?

… propel me to defy evil tendencies of the world and be firm to the Kingdom values?

The one who is truly living in the Lord, cannot, but alter his/her sinful way of life.
>> The one who is really professing to be a Christian, cannot, but seek after holiness.
 

Let Jesus, as a beautiful vase, occupy the greatest presence and authority in my life!
>> This would certainly mean changing the old carpet of sinfulness and evil habits.
>> This would certainly mean painting the soiled walls with the new shade of holiness.

May the newness and the novelty of the Lord sparkle and glitter in our everyday Christian Life!
 

God Bless! Live Jesus!

There was a field covered with freshly fallen snow.
>> A father and a son entered that field.

As they walk across the field,  the father just went, as normally, walking…
… without paying any particular attention to where he was going.

 
But his son, on the other hand, followed his father directly behind…
… making a special effort to step in his father’s footprints.

After the two had crossed the field, the son looked behind and tugged his father to look behind.
“Look there Father”, said the boy, “there is only one set of tracks visible in the field, although both of us had walked across it!”

 
The father – who was known to be a very honest and gentle person – smiled and said:
“That’s so beautiful, my Child!
You have taken all the efforts to walk on my footprints!”

I wish and pray, that you also do that same, in life!”

 
The Father was inviting his son, to Walk his path of Honesty and Gentleness…
… in his footprints!

 

This is the Christian way, also, isn’t it?
>> Walking the path of Christ..
… In His Footprints!

 
The Gospel of the Day presents the familiar yet fascinating incident of the First Disciples of Jesus following Him…
>> And how this First Following would lead them to “Walk the Path of Christ”…
… in His Footprints!

 

The passage begins by stating that “John (the Baptist) was standing with two of his disciples.
>> And as he watched Jesus walk by, he said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God.’

The two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus.” (Jn 1: 35-37)

 

One of the very beautiful aspects that we find in this “call narrative”…
… is the fact of how the two disciples give heed to the word of John the Baptist.

And to further that call, they would give heed to the invitation of Jesus as well: “Come, and you will see.” (Jn 1: 39)…
… and they went and stayed with Him.

 
These two acts of obedience to the voice of John the Baptist and Jesus…
… would re-define their lives!
… would transform their future!

 
This act of obedience was a radical choice they made
>> Walking the path of Christ..
… In His Footprints!

 
They were probably not very sure what was coming ahead
>> They were mostly uncertain, of what would be the implications of “following Christ closely”

But they made a choice
>> And that choice would change their lives for ever!

 
As Christians, we are also constantly given this invitation
>>To walk in the path of Christ..
… In His Footprints!

 
This requires trust in Him
>> This demands obedience to His Voice

Very often, the voice of the world makes us to stray our paths
>> But Jesus says: “Follow my footprints” and remain firm in Him!

Very often, the comforts offered by the world, makes us lose our values
>> But Jesus says: “Follow my footprints” and be faithful to be my witness!

Very often, the hardships of life, makes us to be discouraged
>> But Jesus says: “Follow my footprints” and being focused on me, always be encouraged and hopeful!

 
Life often takes us through the “fields of snow”…
… the snow of sufferings
… the snow of uncertainty
… the snow of discouragement
… the snow of painful experiences
 

But let’s take conscious and special efforts “to step in Christ’s Footprints”…

So that after crossing “such fields of snow” we can say: “Look Lord, there is only one set of tracks visible in the field, although both of us had walked across it!”
>> And we hearing the Lord, with much love, telling us: “That’s so beautiful, my Child!

 

God Bless! Live Jesus!

There are a few things which are not understood in life…

(Well, don’t worry…. we are not getting too philosophical here…!)

One among these… which has perhaps, intrigued many is…

… a physician’s (doctor’s) medicine prescription!

(Are physicians/doctors reading this more closely now??)

The physician usually is a busy person, with many patients to be attended to and many in distress seeking his/her advice.

>> In the midst of this heavy work, the medical prescription is often scribbled down.

Many times their handwriting goes for a toss!

Many times the legibility of this writing is hard to decipher!

This untidily written prescription of medicines is often not much understood by the patient.

>> This quickly scribbled medicine prescription is often criticized by the patient’s attendants…

… “Why can’t they write neatly?”

… “Who can understood this indecipherable paper?”

But the Physician is quite at ease with the prescription!

The poor writing doesn’t disturb….

The illegibility doesn’t come in the way.

>> The scribbled letters don’t prevent from suggesting the right medicine.

The physician’s prescription in the hands of people who do not understand and grasp, is a cause of irritation and criticism!

>> The physician’s prescription in the hands of person who understands them well, is a cause of life-giving medicines!

The script is the same…but…

… to the one who fails to understand, it becomes a basis of cribbing and complaining

… to the one who understands it well, it becomes the source of life and vitality

The Gospel of the Day is nice setup – a Physician, a chief patient, other patients & some complaining people! (Mk 2: 13-16)

>> The Physician is the Lord Himself…

>> The chief patient is Levi, the tax collector…

>> The few other patients are the other sinners and tax collectors…

>> The set of complaining people are the scribes and the Pharisees…

Jesus, the Great Physician is out on His regular rounds…

… of nursing the wounds of people with His soothing bandages

… of strengthening the brokenness in people with His powerful words

… of touching the miseries and sicknesses of people by His healing touches

On one such round, He comes across Levi, the tax collector.

He sees him busy at his desk, counting the money, exchanging coins…

>> Jesus sees in Levi, a man who perhaps has indulged in cheating…

>> Jesus sees in Levi, a man who has been looked down badly by the local people…

The physician Jesus, sees in Levi, a patient who is sick and in trouble.

>> And so, He scribbles down a prescription…”Follow Me” (Mk 2:17)

The patient, with this prescription is happy and relieved…

… because he realises, the Physician has given him a prescription that will bring him life!

Levi must have not understood much of this prescription….

>> But he follows the great Physician!

However, the other people who watch and see this prescription…fail to understand it!

And they begin to complain and groan, “Why does He eat with tax collectors and sinners?” (Mk 2:16)

Yes, the Physician’s prescription in the hands of people who do not understand & grasp, is a cause of irritation and criticism!

>> But, the Physician’s prescription in the hands of people who understands them well, is a cause of life-giving medicines!

But Jesus, the Great Physician of Galilee, knows well & is confident of the prescription that He has given to His patient.

>> And so He boldly proclaims, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners” (Mk 2: 17)

Is any of us sick among us?

>> Spiritually sick…

… with crisis with God or difficulties in prayer life or a standstill in faith?

>> Emotionally sick…

… with hard feelings hitting our life or unable to handle various moods?

>> Physiologically sick…

… with painful diseases and ailments or troubling aches, hurts and ills?

>> Financially sick…

… with businesses and jobs going down the drain and no hopes seen ahead?

>> Socially sick…

… with ill-acceptance by others and painful rejection by those whom we love?

Then the Great Physician is out here…. to heal and touch us!

>> No matter whether the prescription is not understood by us…

>> No matter whether the prescription is criticized by other people…

It makes perfect sense to the One who has prescribed it!

>> It makes perfect sense to the One who is to give the medicines!

The Great Physician is available…

Come, let us go to Him…

… for His Healing and Life-Saving Prescription!

God Bless! Live Jesus!