The Song of Bernadette is a 1943 film which dramatizes the story of Saint Bernadette Soubirous.

St Bernadette, reported eighteen visions of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in Lourdes, France, from February to July 1858.

This movie begins with a prologue-dialogue, which goes thus…

“For those who believe in God, no explanation is necessary.

>> For those who do not believe, no explanation is possible”

This statement casts light on an important aspect of the nature of faith and belief:

To those who believe, miracles are an aid…

>> To those choose not to believe, no miracles can come to aid!

The Gospel of the Day is clear example of this aspect of the nature of faith and belief…

… the constant refusal of the Pharisees to believe in Jesus

… the adamant denial of the Pharisees to accept Jesus

We are in the eighth chapter of the Gospel of St Mark.

Jesus performed an amazing miracle of the multiplication of the loaves…for about four thousand people (Mk 8:1-9)

From there, Jesus proceeds to the region of Dalmanutha (Mk 8:10)

On reaching this place, the religious leaders namely the Pharisees, came forward and began to argue with Jesus, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test Him (Mk 8:11).

But the Lord responded with a “sigh, from the depth of His spirit” (Mk 8:12)

What made Jesus to respond so strongly?

Is Jesus against asking signs?

>> Is Jesus against lack of faith?

>> Is Jesus against having doubts?

The answer to perhaps all the three questions above is…

… not in the affirmative!

Jesus is NOT necessarily against asking signs…

The Bible is a witness to many people asking for signs from God…

• Gideon asked for a sign from God (Judg 6:17)

• Moses asked God what sign would prove to Pharaoh that he was sent by God ( Ex 4:1)

• Elijah promises what Elisha had asked for, on the condition of a sign (2 Kg 2:10)

Jesus is NOT out rightly against lack of belief or unbelief…

• The unbelieving Thomas, was chided, but not condemned by Jesus, after His resurrection (Jn 20:27-28)

• The lack of faith of the disciples is saddening for Jesus, but He does not reject them (Mk 4:40)

• The father, whose boy was possessed with a demon was blessed with a healing, on his acknowledgment of littleness in faith (Mk 9:24)

• The emotionally unsettled and wavering Peter is given another chance to prove his loyalty despite his rejection and denial of faith in Jesus (Jn 21:15-17)

Then what is Jesus against?

Ø Jesus is terribly against those people…

… who reject faith, despite many signs and wonders that are plainly presented

… who demand for greater miracles for merely curiosity and excitement

… who make use of the powers of God for personal satisfaction and gratification

… who remain stone-hearted, unmoved and indifferent despite clear indications and signals from God.

The Pharisees represented this class of people, whom the Lord had a terrible dislike and aversion…

… because of their attitude of indifference

… because of their mentality of coldness

… because of their outlook of rejection

Am I also a person who constantly rejects signs and wonders from the Lord, and fail to grow in faith?

>> Am I also a person who remains obstinate and indifferent to God’s powers, and fail to be open to God’s movements in my life?

The Lord is constantly speaking to us through various miracles.

>> The Lord is constantly moving our hearts through many blessings.

>> The Lord is constantly inspiring our lives through immense wonders.

Let us be open and docile to Him!

Yesterday – Feb 11 – we celebrated the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes.

May our Blessed Mother Mary be an inspiration for all of us, to grow in our trust and confidence in the Lord.

Yes, let us realize, that…

“To those who believe, miracles are an aid…

>> To those choose not to believe, no miracles can come to aid!”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

Kalaupapa was a remote peninsula, surrounded by the roaring Pacific Ocean, on three sides on an island named Molokai.

This tiny place had become the prison for those forcibly banished as a result of being afflicted with Hansen’s Disease (Leprosy).

The souls outcast here became prisoners in their own land, harshly kicked from boats, washing onto shore without adequate supplies, infrastructure, medicine, or tools.

>> Families on surrounding islands, powerless to help, mourned for the cruel fate of their loved ones.

In this situation, a priest named Damien, volunteered to move to this place and serve the people who are afflicted by this dreaded disease.

Fr Damien was greeted with devastation.

>> He walked among the living dead.

Everywhere he looked…

… there was only bleeding and oozing sores

… rampant diseases of various kinds

… and perhaps worst of all, hopelessness and endless misery

Choosing to make this place as his home for life, Fr Damien began his first sermon, addressing the people in the leper colony: “We lepers….”

Fr Damien did not yet have a sign of the leprous infection, but he already identified himself with the afflicted ones, by including himself as “We lepers…”

>> But within fifteen years, he too would be afflicted with the same disease and die!

Ø When one is committed to a cause, one identifies totally with the cause, even to the point of death!

Ø When one is faithful to a mission, one equates with its demands, even to the point of being afflicted!

This is what St Damien would teach from his life…

And this is what we learn, as St Damien did, from the life of Jesus: a total identification with the afflicted ones, in order to redeem and save them!

The Gospel of the Day presents Jesus who effects a healing for a leper…

… but in the process, undergoes the isolation and separation that was the lot of the lepers.

Jesus is in the land of Galilee.

>> A leper comes to Him seeking for a cleansing: “If you wish, you can make me clean” (Mk 1: 40)

Looking at the leper, Jesus knew and understood the immense agony and dread that the man had undergone…

The ancient times had leprosy as one of the most feared diseases.

The book of Leviticus required that all those found unclean with leprosy “shall dwell apart, making his abode outside the camp” (Lev 13:46)

Jesus knew that to come into contact with a leper was to make oneself unclean.

>> Jesus knew that to touch a leper was to also share in the affliction and misery.

Yet, the Lord, who is the One who cleanses (Eze 36:25) and the One who refines (Is 48:10) decides to touch the leper…and bring about a healing!

>> “Jesus stretched out His hand, touched him and said to him, ‘ I do will it. Be made clean'” (Mk 1:41)

The leper was immediately made clean.

>> The leper had to also get it confirmed from the priest.

But Jesus, who cleansed and freed the leper, now Himself, undergoes the pain as that of a leper…

The Gospel says that, “…it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly. He remained outside in deserted places…” (Mk 1:45)

Jesus now identifies Himself with the isolation that the leper himself had undergone

>> Jesus now undergoes Himself the staying away from society, that the leper had undergone.

Yes, when one is faithful to a mission, one equates with its demands, even to the point of being afflicted!

>> When one is committed to a cause, one identifies totally with the cause, even to the point of death!

Each of us is called with a specific mission and purpose in life…

>> It requires a deep commitment.

>> It requires an identification with the people and situation.

>> It requires a complete giving of oneself to the cause and mission.

Am I ready to embrace such a dedication?

St Paul invites us to be “… imitators of Christ” just as he imitated Christ (1 Cor 11:1)

Let us seek to imitate Christ in His deep commitment and dedication.

>> Let us seek to imitate Christ who came to bring healing to all in this world.

>> Let us seek to imitate Christ who shared in sufferings to bring redemption and joy.

God bless! Live Jesus!

One common tendency that is noticed among many of us is the ‘tendency of limitation’.

We tend to think in a limited and restricted manner.
>> We tend to limit ourselves to our inadequacies and narrowness.

But God, always, loves to challenge us to move beyond such boundaries and borders!

Yes, human beings tend to think in a limited fashion…
… but God loves to expand our possibilities.
>> Human beings tend to get bogged down by boundaries…
… but God loves to throw open our horizons.

The Gospel of the day is a clear illustration of this expansion of human horizons and possibilities, through the miracle of the feeding of loaves.

Jesus is with His disciples and huge crowd.
>> They are once again in a situation of having a want of feeding this huge multitude.

It’s interesting to highlight the patterns in the attitudes of Jesus and the disciples.

Jesus sees the hungry crowd and His heart moved in compassion…
>> The disciples saw the hungry crowd and probably their minds were moved in tension!

Jesus expresses His concern and care to feed the hungry crowd…
>> The disciples express their frustration and urgency to send the crowd away at the earliest!

Jesus foresaw the possibility of immense fulfilment and satisfaction in the deserted area…
>> The disciples got stuck with seeing only barrenness and emptiness in the deserted area!

Jesus moved in action, to enquire about the possibilities of feeding the people…
>> The disciples groaned in inaction at the plight of having to feed the people!

The disciples concluded impossibility by their mathematical calculations…
>> Jesus concluded possibility by His Divine calculations!

The disciples saw only the desert…
>> Jesus looked beyond to find an oasis in the desert!

How often are we too like the disciples…
… limited in our thinking
… restricted by our inabilities
… stuck by our mental calculations

But Jesus invites us, like He did to His disciples…to look beyond…
.. to look at Him who can shatter every obstacle and barrier!
… to look to Him who can expand every horizon and possibility!
… to look to Him who can turn deserts into pools and hills into highways!

Let’s positively respond to this challenge of the Lord and  moving beyond the ‘tendency of limitation’…
… seek to, instead, build a “trend of deeper faith and trust”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

“And behold He saw that everything was good”

This is a recurrent refrain that is observed in the first chapter of the first book of the Bible, the Genesis. (Gen 1: 1-31)

God, after each days’ work of creation…

… looked around at the marvellous works and exclaimed with great exultation and thrill… “Everything is indeed good”

He made the light and separated it from darkness…

And God saw that it was good (Gen 1:4)

He made the waters and separated the dry land and called it earth…

And God saw that it was good (Gen 1:10)

He made all sorts of vegetation and every kind of plant and fruit…

And God saw that it was good (Gen 1:12)

He made the great lights and the stars to shed light in the day and the night…

And God saw that it was good (Gen 1: 18)

He made all the various living creatures – animals, birds, reptiles etc…

And God saw that it was good (Gen 1:25)

He finally crowned creation with His masterpiece- the human being….

And God saw that it was very good (Gen 1:31)

The process of creation was “something that was very good” indeed!

But sin came into the world, and brought about disharmony and disunity.

>> The original goodness was lost…

>> The fundamental equanimity had vanished.

But Jesus came into the world to re-establish goodness and integrity.

His ministry on the earth was a mission of restoration….

… to restore complete dignity and honour

… to restore holiness and wholeness

… to restore sanctity and completeness

The Gospel of the Day is an exhibition of Jesus restoring and renewing the Creation…

… through the healing of a person who had a hearing and speaking impediment.

And as in the creation process, so also, in this renewed act of creation by Jesus, the words are proclaimed, “Everything is indeed good”

>> “He has done all things well” (Mk 7:37)…

…. are the words of the people, exclaiming Jesus after His wondrous miracle of recreation and renewal of the deaf and dumb person.

Jesus is back to the district of the Decapolis.

>> It was in this region that Jesus had healed the man who was possessed by a legion of demons (Mk 5: 1-20)

When Jesus had performed the miracle then, the people had requested Him to leave the place.

“Then they began to beg Jesus to leave their district” (Mk 5:17)

But today’s Gospel says that these people, were begging Jesus to lay His hands on the deaf and dumb person! (Mk 7:32)

What had caused this dramatic change?

People who were begging Jesus to leave their place…

… were now begging Jesus to perform a miracle!

Probably, the great witness of the man who has delivered from the legion of demons had caused about this transformation! (Mk 5: 18-20)

>> He would have spread the good news about Jesus.

A real experience of the Lord can indeed be a source of many to believe in the Lord!

>> A true encounter with the Lord can indeed turn one to be a tremendous missionary!

Jesus, while healing this deaf and dumb person, has a very peculiar style of going about.

Jesus takes the person away from the crowd, put His fingers into the man’s ears, spitting, touched his tongue, lifted up His eyes to heaven, groaned and said “Ephphatha, Be Opened!” (Mk 7:33-34)

There is a very personal and intimate touch in this healing process!

It is interesting to note that in the book of Genesis, when God formed human beings…

… there was a very personal involvement from the part of God to create humans – the crown of creation.

>> “God formed man, out of the clay and blew into his nostrils the breath of life, and so man became a living being.” (Gen 2:7)

Jesus also does something similar in the healing of the deaf and dumb person….

>> He very personally involves Himself.

>> He uses His own touch to heal and recreate the person!

A New Creation indeed!

>> A renewal indeed!

Yes, Jesus is the Lord of the New Creation!

God created the world good…

… Human beings spoiled it through sin.

>> But Jesus restores and renews the goodness!

Our ears maybe closed very often to the voice of the Spirit of the Lord

>> Our mouth maybe often mute to speak the power of the Lord to others.

Our ears maybe closed very often to the cries of the poor and the needy,

>> Our mouth maybe often mute to speak for justice for the cause of others.

But the Lord is ready to touch us…

…and renew and recreate us.

Are we ready to receive this renewing and recreating touch from the Lord?

>> ” Ephphatha… Be Opened!”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

A highly contagious virus has affected human life, down through many centuries – societies, communities and families.

This contagion is not some strand of flu that affects the body

This contagion is not even a digital malware spreading from computer to computer.

This contagion is the virus named “blaming”.

This virus – “blaming” – is perhaps the easiest culprit for many of the problems that we face in our lives.

Whenever our plans fail… we “blame” other people.

>> Whenever things don’t go the way it is expected… we “blame” our luck or the stars

>> Whenever we face personal problems and crisis…we “blame” our situations and surroundings

Often…

… our problems find a scapegoat in this virus named “blaming”

… our defeats find a cause in this contagion named “blaming”

But the Gospel of the day presents an amazing personality who overcomes and overpowers this virus of “blaming” and wins for herself the favour of the Lord.

The Gospel passage is the incident of Jesus’ encounter with a Gentile woman who comes seeking for a cure for her daughter, from a demon.

“…a woman whose daughter had an unclean spirit, heard about Jesus. She came and fell at His feet” (Mk 7:25)

This person who came to Jesus went through a string of ignominies and exploitations…

>> She had to face humiliations because she was a woman…

The Jewish society accorded a lowly and highly subjugated status to women

>> She had to face disgraces because she was a Greek…

The Greeks, who were considered pagans by the Jews, were treated with inferiority.

>> She had to face dishonour because she was a Syrophoenician…

A Syrophoenician denoted a mixed race – half Syrians and half Phoenician; thus denoting also a crisis in cultural and linguistic identity.

>> She had to face scandal because she had to approach Jesus who was a pure Jew…

Greeks and especially Greek woman had no interaction at all with Jewish men

>> She had to face crisis because her child was possessed with an unclean spirit…

A demon-possession in her beloved daughter would have chased away all her peace of mind.

>> She had to face challenge to her faith when the Lord addressed to her in an apparently disrespectful manner…

Being called as a “dog” would have put off the mind of a weak and frail person

Well.. this Syrophoenician Greek woman, had many things to complain in life…

She had a number of reasons to “blame” and get defeated in life.

She could have just “blamed”…

… the society for their inhuman attitudes

… the citizens for their class divisions

… the civilization for their cruel outlooks

… her stars and fate for what happened to her daughter…

… Jesus for His challenging and apparently resistant answer…

She could have just kept “blaming” anybody and anything….and get bogged down totally!

>> But this woman decides to overpower and overcome this “virus” of blaming.

She decides to close her eyes to all humiliations and yet stand strong with a bold face!

>> She decides to overlook all setbacks and defy the odds with her deep convictions and trust!

As a result, the Lord rewards her immensely and her daughter was delivered of the demon!

Are we people who get easily afflicted by the contagion of “blaming”?

>> Are we people who are easily paralysed by the virus of “blaming”?

The Syrophoenician woman…

… by her tremendous faith and bold trust is a challenge to us.

… by her amazing determination and resolve is an inspiration for us.

Our society, our families, our own individual selves are often under the grip and possession of this contagion of “blaming”.

Let us approach the Lord for a deliverance and liberation!

Let us seek the intercession of St Bakhita whose feast we celebrate today.

>> This saint from Sudan, was canonised in the year 2000, is a powerful symbol of love and forgiveness.

>> She rose above the “blaming” characters in her society and displayed the fruits of love and forgiveness.

Yes…

… let us join our Lord in opposing every bit of corruption and malice from our hearts!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

One of the key issues that every society faces is that of “corruption”!

How many are the times when we hear comments as…
>> “We wish for a corruption-free society”
>> If corruption were to be rooted away, our country would sprint towards development”
>> “Corruption is the greatest menace that our society faces today”

Every good leader, therefore, seeks to do away with this menace of “corruption”

Yes…
… every corruption of power and authority warrant a strong opposition
… every failure and misuse of laws, traditions and customs gives rise to strong opposition.

The Gospel of the Day is a strong opposition by Jesus to the corrupt and at times, inhuman and oppressive authority of the leaders of His time – the Scribes and the Pharisees.

The Gospel begins with the statement, ” Jesus called to Him the people and said to them…” (Mk 7:14)

Jesus calls together the multitude to Himself to speak something…
>> Jesus brings aside the people to Himself to address to them something…

The background to this action of Jesus, is the context of the unfair remarks of the Pharisees and Scribes about Jesus and His disciples, in Mk 7: 1-14.

The scribes and the Pharisees had objected that Jesus’ disciples failed to keep up the tradition of the Elders to have the ritual washing before eating.

This exercise of ritual washing was more a ceremonial one.

They attached greater importance to external cleanliness over internal purity.
>> They accorded higher priority to hygiene outside than to transparency within.

They would not bother, hearts being corrupted…
… but they would not tolerate dirty hands!

They would despise unwashed hands, but they would bypass filthy hearts!

But Jesus is in prime opposition to all such deceitful and corrupt human practices.
>> He flays the Scribes and Pharisees for their misplaced priorities.
>> He slams the Scribes and Pharisees for their misleading interpretation of purity.

And so, Jesus summoned the crowd and explained what is the meaning of real cleanliness and purity:
“Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile” (Mk 7: 16)

Indeed, a remarkable statement from Jesus, the Purest and the Holiest One!

The Pharisees and the Scribes for a long time, had enforced importance only to external purity and outside cleanliness.

Their authority was used to stamp the importance of rituals and traditions, which were meant to…
… only emphasize bodily cleaning, but avoiding transparency in life
… only highlight cleansing of external parts, but overlooking sanctity of heart and mind

But, Jesus comes in great opposition and places things in the right perspective.

It is not just our hands alone that matter; it is our hearts that matter most!
>> It is not just our medical hygiene that counts; it is our lives that needs consideration the most!

Shall we make a self-introspection….
>> I may be appearing to be clean outside…
… but is my heart pure and holy?

>> I may be appearing to be an angel to the world…
… but am I a barn of devilish actions within?

>> I may be appearing to be very good to all…
… but am I full of anger, jealousy and greed inside?

>> I may be appearing to be successful…
… but am I decaying interiorly with unchastity and deceit?

Is it not time to cleanse my heart and life, which is perhaps…
… defiled with sin?
…  impure with unhealthy thoughts?
… sullied with evil intentions?

Yes…
… let us join our Lord in opposing every bit of corruption and malice from our hearts!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

The microscope is an instrument used to see objects that are too small for the naked eye.

The basic microscope is an optical instrument that uses a lens or a combination of lenses to produce magnified images of small objects – especially of objects that are too small to be seen by the unaided eye.

• Microscopes are used in industrial processes, in investigation of living cells, in comparative studies of chemistry and geology, and in diagnostic medicine.

• Biologists and doctors use microscopes on cell samples, on small organisms, and on chemical structures, to classify and analyze them and their functions.

When we consider relationships, it won’t be wrong to say that there are many who use microscopes in their dealings and interactions.

• Microscopes to focus on the mistakes and negative aspects of others

• Microscopes to magnify and enlarge the faults and failures of others

Perhaps, some of us are also guilty of having such a “microscopic” view of the defects and imperfections of others.

The Gospel of the Day presents Jesus “focussing” His view on this very critical and crucial topic: of judging others and of pinpointing mistakes of others without considering one’s own negative dimensions.

As human beings, we are constantly in the mode of “judging”

>> Judging in the sense of “choosing” or “making a selection” or “taking a decision”

But the Lord clearly warns us to be wary and careful in this act of “judging”

Our judging…

… should not be rash

… should not a final opinion on a person or situation

… should not be a means to putting down other persons

… should not be an unfair ruling on someone’s external behaviours

Maybe a check-list could help us examine our areas of “judging”

Do I…

>> Enlarge the negatives of others—their faults, mistakes and petty ways?

>> Come to hasty and negative conclusions of situations or persons?

>> Get involved unnecessarily in situations where I should not?

>> Gossip critical stories and uncharitable tales regarding others?

>> Have a strong prejudice to find others guilty?

>> Be overly harsh and even ruthless, even when speaking the truth?

>> Add “spicy” remarks and “sensational” jingles when telling a real-story or event?

>> Set aside an unkind comment made by us, by simply saying, “I was just kidding!”

>> Speak something critical and then try to cover it up?

>> Be unkind and hurtful and then quickly change the subject, to impress the hurtful feeling?

>> Have pleasure in condemning others?

>> Report the truth in order to hurt and not to help?

>> Put down others with an intention to let ourselves be seen better?

The Lord strongly warns to keep away from all these and many more acts of such “judgment”.

It is also good to consider judging from another perspective:

When somebody does an act, which we consider that it can be “judged”, there are two areas which we may not really know…

1. How hard the person has tried “not to do” that particular action – be it a sin, or a mistake or a failure or a blunder etc…

2. How strong were the external forces or the circumstances that “made the person to do” that particular action…

Many of us may have perhaps, a tendency to use a “microscope” in finding the faults and failures of others.

>> We tend to focus ..

>> We tend to magnify…

>> We tend to relish looking closely!

The Lord is serious on making us walk the “path of perfection”

• Making efforts to become “less judgmental” is an essential part of this process.

May we focus the lens of our microscopes from looking at the “faults” of others…

… and instead shift to concentrate more on the “positives”, the “brighter” and the “affirmative” areas of people and situations.

God Bless! Live Jesus!

“All that glitters is not gold” is a popular expression…

It means that not everything that is shiny and superficially attractive is valuable.

>> It means that though something “appears” to be spectacular, it need not be so.

The Gospel of the Day presents this theme of “external show not always a sign of internal glow”.

The passage begins with the statement of Jesus crossing over…

“And when they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret…( Mk 6:53)

This place – Gennesaret – is an interesting place.

The meaning of this place name ” Gennesaret” is a “Garden of a Prince” or the “Garden of riches”

This was a fertile crescent-shaped plain on the western shore of the lake of Galilee.

>> This plain of Gennesaret has been also called, because of its fertility and beauty, as “the Paradise of Galilee.”

The history of Gennesaret is glowingly described (especially by Josephus, the Historian) that would do make proud the local tourism office of the Gennesaret Chamber of‘ Commerce!

It is said of Gennesaret, that the “soil was so fruitful that all sorts of trees could grow upon it. The walnut, the palm, the olive and the fig, which usually require diverse conditions, flourished together here.”

>> “One may call this place the ambition of nature; it is a happy contention of the seasons, as if each of them claimed this country; for it not only nourishes different sorts of autumnal fruit beyond men’s expectation, but preserves them a great while.”

The fruits of Gennesaret had such high repute among the rabbis…

… that they were not allowed in Jerusalem at the time of the feasts, lest any might be tempted to come merely for their enjoyment!

Yet, with all these riches and glory, Gennesaret, had its own share of the sick and the suffering!

However fertile the land, there were still many who were badly ailing!

>> However fruitful the land, there were still many who were painfully ill!

The choicest of food couldn’t assure them perfection in health and life!

>> The choicest of fruits couldn’t guarantee them flawlessness in wellbeing and strength!

Yes…

… All that Glitters is not gold

Indeed, never judge a book by its cover

>> Indeed, the cowl (large hood) does not make the monk!

Though the people of Gennesaret enjoyed the best of nature’s gifts, they were “people in need” and “people ailing in suffering and sicknesses”

And so we find, that as soon as Jesus reached their land, the people of Gennesaret “scurried about the surrounding and country and began to bring in the sick on mats to wherever they heard He was” (Mk 6:55)

They had their riches…

… yet need to reach out to Jesus, the richest of all treasures!

They had their resources…

… yet they ran in order to seek Jesus, the source of all supplies!

Our own lives may sometimes represent the Land of Gennesaret…

>> Rich in many aspects – financially, talent wise, relationally etc

>> Fertile in many aspects – having great plans for future, systematic, disciplined etc

>> Fruitful in many aspects – popular, acceptable, having name and fame etc

Yet, like the people of Gennesaret, we too may be lacking some of the essentials…

… lacking good health and in need of the healing touch of the Lord

… lacking peace of mind, and in need of the serene spirit of the Lord

… lacking satisfaction in life, and in need of wholeness from the Lord

The people of Gennesaret were quick to respond to the coming of the Lord.

>> Though their land had plenty, they did not fail to humble themselves…

>> Though their land was rich, they did not fail to realize their basic needs..

>> Though their land was famous, they did not fail to assume lowliness…

Am I willing to respond thus to the Lord… in sincerity, in openness, in docility?

>> Am I willing to bend myself to the Lord…in humility, in meekness, in submissiveness?

Let us make our life a true “Gennesaret”…

… a Garden of Jesus, the Prince of Peace, Joy and salvation!

… a Garden of Riches of holiness, sanctity and grace!

Today we celebrate the feast of St Agatha, a brave girl who suffered martyrdom in the 3rd century Roman persecution.

>> This fragile girl was able to challenge the domination of the might Roman Empire, only because, she made her little heart, “a Rich Garden of Virtues” and Jesus could reign there as King!

May our lives too, truly reflect such a ‘Paradise of God’s Reign’!

May our lives be beautified not just with an external show, but more rather, with an internal glow!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

A young boy went to his Uncle’s house for a few days of vacation.
His uncle was a scientist.

One day, the scientist-uncle told the boy, “Today we are going the method of obtaining petrol”

The boy was super-excited
>> He enjoyed fast cars and racing games.

And so, he was pretty curious to know how petrol was obtained.

They went to a place where oil was dug.

The boy looked in amazement at all the works being done – the digging into the earth, the huge pipes making their way into the depths, the extraction process!

After quite a while, the boy, pretty dejected approached his uncle and asked:
“I thought, you told me, we are going to see petrol being obtained.

But all that I find here, is that they are extracting oil!

Where is the petrol?”

At that time, the scientist-Uncle began to explain to the boy:
“Son! Remember, you never dig petrol!

You only dig for oil…
… and petrol is later, extracted from it, through a process of distillation!

Search not for petrol – which is a byproduct…
… Look rather for the oil, which is the essence!

Is our Christian life sometimes similar?
>> Are we looking often only for the material goods and products from the Lord…
… or do we seek primarily for Jesus and His Kingdom?

We need to check and examine : Have we discovered the “Real” Jesus in our life?

The Gospel of the Day presents before us this great challenge: To identify the real Jesus!

The Gospel reading is a description of the Lord’s ministry as per St Mark’s account.

Jesus is engaged in His proclamation of the Kingdom of God.
>> He is proving Himself to be a person who is of the supernatural and the extraordinary realm.

>> He teaches the Scriptures with deep authority and conviction…
… People hear God speaking in their lives!

>> He silences and expels the forces of evil and influences the nature…
… People experience the Divine force in their lives!

>> He infuses life into the dead and proclaims his great power…
… People come across the marvellous works of the Lord!

>> He exercises His healing over the sick and the suffering…
… People witness His glorious control and supremacy!

People are…
… swayed over His mighty works
… super-excited by His amazing wonders
… overwhelmed with His wonderful deeds
>> But such occasions are the times of great testing and trial for anyone..

The easiest moments of losing oneself is in the midst of immense success!
>> The most tempting times of losing one’s focus is when there are widespread victories!

The Lord was surrounded by immense recognition and successes.
>> The crowds were thronging around Him and His popularity ratings were soaring.

But, just as the tree of success must be deeply grounded & rooted in the soil of stability and firmness…
>> So also, the Lord was fully aware of His goals and mission.

And so the Gospel of St Mark would explicitly point out the actions of the Lord…
‘Rising very early before dawn, He left and went off to a deserted place, where He prayed’ (Mk 1: 35)
>> ‘He told them, “Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also. For this purpose I have come”‘ (Mk 1: 38)

The Lord points out to the people and to His disciples the priorities of His Life – Being in communion with His Heavenly Father and Spreading the Kingdom of God!
>> He doesn’t get over-awed with success!
>> He doesn’t get carried away by reputations!

He reminds His disciples and His people to seek the “real” Jesus!
>> He brings to the notice of His disciples and His people to long for the “real” Jesus!

It’s a moment for us to check and examine our own lives: Am I following the “Real” Jesus?

>> Is Jesus merely a source of healings and remedies in my moments of physical sicknesses…
… or has He also become the true balm and consolation in my spiritual health and well-being?

>> Is Jesus only like a call-centre agent whom I seek in order to fix some problems of life…
… or Has He also become genuinely the treasure and the priceless fortune of my Life?

>> Is Jesus simply a solution and answer when crisis hits my life and things go badly…
… or has He also become authentically the greatest powerhouse and thrust of my Life?

Am I following the “Real” Jesus?
>> Or is it merely…
… a Jesus of quick-fix solutions?
… a Jesus who is a problem-solver?
… a Jesus who is remembered in times of trials alone?
… a Jesus who is expected to give all answers to my confusions?

The people and the disciples, as we see in the Gospel, seemed happy and satisfied to seek Jesus who performs wonders.

Surely, wonders and sensational deeds are good.
>> But they are not to be an end in itself….
>> They are not to be made the primary motto.

Miracles and  marvels ought to become a launching pad for a deeper relationship with the Lord.

Let us not reduce the greatness of Jesus to just miracles…
>> Let us not bring down the immensity of Jesus to just physical needs.

Let us rather, seek…
… the True and Living Lord for a wholesome & integral growth for eternity.
… the Compassionate and Powerful Lord to grow in holiness & sanctity.

Just like digging is done for oil…
… and petrol is later, extracted from it, through a process of distillation!
>> We need to search first for Jesus and His Kingdom (Mt 6:33)
… and all other things – which are a byproduct – will be given to us

Yes, let’s not merely run after ‘byproducts’…
… Let us rather Seek for Jesus, Who is the Essence!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

One of the statistics that can cause great alarms and pop our eyes, are those on hunger.

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that nearly 815 million people of around 7.6 billion people in the world, were suffering from chronic undernourishment in 2016.
>> That is nearly one in every eight persons in the world!

This hunger is of course, about physical hunger.

But something, which does not, as such come under the framework of statistics, are people who are hungry in other areas of life…
Hungry for love…
>> Hungry of being wanted…
>> Hungry on emotional counts…
>> Hungry of the spiritual order…
     

These aspects of hunger may never have a scientific statistic
>> These dimensions of hunger may never flowcharts and pie diagrams to measure them

But these areas of hunger are a great reality and challenge, especially in our world today!

The Gospel of the Day presents Jesus who addresses not just “statistical” hunger but also such hunger of human needs which “may never get numerically converted”.

“When He disembarked and saw the vast crowd, His Heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things” (Mk 6:34)

The Apostles, who were sent on the mission (Mk 6: 7-13) had returned back and reported all that they had done (Mk 6:30)
>> They had driven out many demons…
>> They had anointed many with oil who were sick and cured them… (Mk 6:13)

They would have rejoiced greatly, but they were also physically tired.
>> They would have been satisfied with their works, but they did not have even the time to eat (Mk 6:31)

The Apostles had done many works, but Jesus sensed that they were tired
>> The Apostles were happy with their ministry, but Jesus sensed that they were hungry.

And so the Good Shepherd invites them to come away to a deserted place and rest (Mk 6:31)

Like these Apostles, many times, this can be our case too…
>> We may be doing a lot of things…
… but are we still feeling spiritually tired?

>> We may be happy with what we are doing…
… but are we still hungry deep within?

The Good Shepherd invites us…
… to take some rest in Him
… to relax in His Holy Heart

As in the case of the Apostles, so is the case of the people…

The people had seen many miracles, but Jesus sensed that they were still not truly filled
>> The people had witnessed many wonders, but Jesus sensed that they were still lost and unguided.

And so the Good Shepherd, with a moved Heart, feels compassion on them (Mk 6:34)

Like these people, many times this can be our case too…
>> We may have witnessed God’s wonders…
… but are we still spiritually found wanting?

>> We may be glad to doing the minimum in our spiritual life…
… but are we still missing something?

The Good Shepherd encourages us…
… with His Divine Word
… by His Compassionate Love

There is a indeed a great hunger in the world.

Blessed Mother Teresa said, “Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty, than the person who has nothing to eat”

We may be people who hunger for love and acceptance…
>> Let us go to Jesus, the Supreme Lover of our lives

We may be people dejected and depressed in life…
>> Let us go to Jesus, the Ultimate Happiness of our lives

We may be people feeling unlucky and ill-fated in life…
>> Let us go to Jesus, the Absolute Destiny of our lives

In turn, we also meet people who go through such “hunger”…
… for love, for acceptance, for encouragement, for hope, for basics of life etc…

Do I recognize, in the first place, such requirements of needy people?
>> Does my heart move in loving compassion for them?
>> Can I be a Good Shepherd, like Jesus, to them?

May the prayer in Heb 13:20-21 be our personal prayer:
“May the God of peace, who brought up from the dead, the great Shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, Jesus our Lord, furnish you with all that is good, that you may do His Will.

May He carry out, in you, what is pleasing to Him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory, forever, Amen!”

God Bless! Live Jesus!