An interesting and often-heard conversation goes thus…

A youngster asked his grandfather “Grandpa! How did you people live before with:

No technology

No aeroplanes

No internet

No computers

No dramas

No TVs

No airconditioners

No cars

No mobile phones?”

To that, Grandpa, after a few thoughtful moments replied:

“Just like how your generation live today

No prayers

No honor

No respect

No character

No shame

No modesty”

Well!

>> Its left to each one of us to decide and judge, how far the above given comparison is true.

But one thing is for sure: External comforts often leads to lethargy in faith and consequently to the loss of devotion.

The Gospel of the Day is a major attack and a mighty warning by Jesus on this danger of how “external comforts can lead to lethargy in faith and consequently to the loss of devotion.”

The Gospel passage of the day is one of the many “sandwich” passages in the Gospel of St Mark.

“Sandwich” stories are a literary technique in which the narration of one story begins, but is interrupted by another story, before finishing the first one.

Some of the examples of these “sandwich stories” are…

In Mk 3: 20-35, we have…

A. Mk 3:20-22: Jesus’ family members set out to seize Him

B. Mk 3: 23-30: Jesus speaks to the Pharisees on their accusation of Him

A’. Mk 3: 31-35: Jesus family comes to meet Him

In Mk 5: 21-43, we have…

A. Mk 5: 21-24: Jesus is pleaded by Jairus to heal his daughter

B. Mk 5: 25-34: The woman suffering from haemorrhage is healed

A’. Mk 5: 35-43: Jesus heals the daughter of Jairus

In Mk 6: 7-33, we have…

A. Mk 6: 7-13: The disciples sent on a mission

B. Mk 6: 14-29: Herod’s opinion on John the Baptist and the narrative of the beheading.

A’. Mk 6: 30-33: The disciples return from the mission

In Mk 14: 1-11, we have…

A. Mk 14: 1-2: The Conspiracy against Jesus

B. Mk 14: 3-9: The anointing of Jesus at Bethany

A’. Mk 14: 10-11: The conspiracy plan by Judas to betray Jesus

Such kind of “sandwich” layers illustrates points for reflection by showing ..

… similarities and contrasts between the outside and the inside layers.

… the first and the last as “the bread”‘ and the centre one as the “filling” of the sandwich!

Today’s Gospel also follows this “sandwich-story” structure… Mk 11: 12-25, we have…

A. Mk 11: 12-14: Jesus cursing the fig tree

B. Mk 11: 15-19: Jesus cleansing the Temple

A’. Mk 11: 20-24: Jesus’ teaching on the withered fig tree

The passage of the Cursing of Fig Tree has been one of the very “puzzling parables”

… especially to know why did Jesus curse the fig tree, “when it was not the season for figs” (Mk 11:13)

It is to be noted that in Palestine “the fig fruit appears before the leaves”

(The fruit that first appears on a fig tree comes in March and April – the Passover time.

>>These are the first fruits – small fruits – very immature but edible, and could be eaten when one was particularly hungry.

The harvest – the season for figs – would be in mid-August to October. That would be when they would be in full fruit and fully mature)

The Gospel says that “Jesus saw the fig tree in leaves…” (Mk 11:13)

To see a fig tree with leaves, therefore, warranted the assumption that there would be fruit on the tree.

But this tree was odd!

The leaves were there, but it was fruitless.

The Lord had a right to expect some fruit, even though it wasn’t the full season for fruit yet.

>> So He approached the tree.

But when He came to it, He found nothing but leaves.

This phenomenon, therefore, served as a perfect “visual aid” for an important lesson that the Savior wished to teach.

In the incident that follows in this “sandwich story”, Jesus cleanses the Jerusalem Temple

The Jerusalem Temple which was to be a place of “prayer and worship”…

… had become more of a “place of business and commerce”

>> It was like a “fig tree: having leaves, but no fruits!”

>> The Fig Tree – with leaves but no fruits…

>> The Jerusalem Temple – with external beauty but no inner devotion…

… both point to this important dimension: “External comforts can lead to lethargy in faith and consequently to the loss of devotion.”

Is my life like this Fig Tree?

>> Having a lot of leaves of comfort and external show…

… but failing to produce the fruits of love, joy and peace?

Is my life like the Jerusalem Temple?

>> Having a strong external edifice of fame and name in the society…

… but failing to maintain intimate devotion and inner faith?

We live in a world with a lot of materialistic and worldly challenges.

Yet, as Christians, we are called forth to live a life “of faith and devotion”

Let us always be reminded: “External comforts often leads to lethargy in faith and consequently to the loss of devotion!”

On this First Friday of the Month, let us surrender ourselves and to the Sacred Heart of our Lord, renewing our love and commitment to Him…

… and may this Gospel Passage be a strong reminder and a warning to all of us, to live a life of “holiness and sanctity”, producing the fruits of good virtues!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

An old sacristan who had served in a particular church was shifting from the city parish, back to his village.

On his farewell day, as many of the parishioners were expressing their gratefulness to him…

… one of them asked this advice: “You have been with all of us for so long.

>> What advice or observation would you like to leave with us?”

The elderly person, after a thoughtful pause replied:

“Most people here wish to serve God…

… but in an advisory capacity only!

I would wish we had more people ‘in service’ than just people ‘in advising!”

Service ought to be the autograph of every Christian!

Today, is the Feast of the Visitation of our Blessed Mother Mary…

… A beautiful incident of how Mother Mary became a person, who rendered Her life “in service” to God and others – and thus gave full bloom to the graces of God within Her!

This Feast of the Visitation of our Blessed Mother has its origin in the medieval times.

>>It was observed by the Franciscan Order before 1263, and soon its practice spread throughout the entire Church.

>> Previously it was celebrated on July 2….

… now it is celebrated on 31st May – between the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord ( Mar 25) and the Birth of St. John the Baptist (Jun 24) , in conformity with the Gospel accounts.

One of the interesting term used by St Luke in his description of this incident (Lk 1: 39-56) is the word “HASTE”.

St Luke says: “In those days, Mary arose and went with HASTE…..” (Lk 1: 39)

The Angel Gabriel had appeared to Mary and announced the Good News that She was to be the Mother of the “Son of the Most High” (Lk 1: 31)

>> Mary was “overshadowed by the Power of the Most High” (Lk 1: 35)

>> The Angel had also pointed to the mighty work that was done in the life of her cousin Elizabeth (Lk 1: 36)

The Annunciation became the turning point in the life of Mary!

She was no longer the same…

… The simple girl had been exalted and chosen to be the Mother of the Most High God!

… She would no longer be seeking to do her desires; She would seek to God’s Will at all times!

… Her life would no longer be carried by her plans; Her life would be impelled by what God wanted!

The Child in Her, would now make Her to be “always in haste”!

… In haste: to serve others

… In haste: to follow perfectly the Will of God

… In haste: to have Jesus as the centre of Her life

The Holy Spirit completely possessed the Virgin Daughter of Nazareth and impelled her to act.

The beautiful incident of the Visitation of Mother Mary teaches us this beautiful lesson:

When Christ grows inside of us, we will be in HASTE….

… to reach out to others in service

… to spare no efforts to get out of our own comfort zones of pleasure, relaxing and lethargy

… to forget one’s own needs and be totally other-centred and radiate joy and hope to others

Mother Mary becomes the “Woman on the move” – on a continual and constant journey:

… She would embark on an hard trip to Bethlehem, while pregnant (Lk 2:4)

… She would again move – after the birth of the Child – along with Joseph, and flee to Egypt (Mt 2:14)

… She would return back to Nazareth, under the instruction of the Angel of God (Mt 2:23)

… She would further travel to Jerusalem for the Passover Feast and there would go in search of Her Beloved Child, when He was lost (Lk 2: 45)

.. She would be travelling with Jesus in His ministry – may not be physically, but Her Heart and Soul completely accompanying Her Son

… She would, finally, even accompany physically, with Her Innocent Child on the Way of the Cross (Jn 19: 25)

Mother Mary lived the words of the poem which centuries later would be formulated by another great Saint – St Francis of Assisi:

“It is in giving that we receive…

It is in dying that we are born to eternal life…”

The Feast of the Visitation is a reminder for us examine some of the important aspects of our life…

… Am I a person allowing the Holy Spirit to fill me and take complete possession of me – my words, my thoughts, my actions?

… Am I a person, having Jesus in me, impelled to reach out to the other in service? As St Paul says: “The love of Christ impels me” (2 Cor 5:14)

… Am I a person, who is daring to be a “person on the move” – moving out of my safe comfortable zones, moving out of conditioned and prejudiced mindsets, moving out to make my life of praise and honour to God?

St Ambrose says: “Delayed efforts are foreign to the grace of the Holy Spirit”

Charity is never idle!

>> Charity is always on the move …

… Sensitive to the needy

… Seeking to do good

May the graces of God in us, not get stagnant, or decayed or rusted …

… instead may they be extended in loving service to God and His people…

And thus our life be a beautiful Magnificat: “My Soul magnifies the Lord my God, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour!”

It is not difficult to serve God in an advisory capacity!

>> But what is needed are more people ‘in service’ than just people ‘in advising!”

Happy Feast of the Visitation of our Blessed Mother Mary – the Mother Who moves us, constantly…towards Jesus!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

Spending time along little streams can be a fascinating pastime.

When along these streams, one can observe tiny flies that come and bathe in it.

If one notices carefully, it can be seen that while they plunge their bodies, they keep their wings high out of the water and fly away, with their wings un-wet!

The wings are kept safe from getting wet, so that there is no hindrance in flying again!

How beautiful a lesson is this for us Christians…

…. who live in the world, yet are called to be out of the world.

… who live amidst possibilities of wealth, yet are called to be detached from them.

… who live with the prospect of gaining immense power, yet are exhorted to not be attached

The Gospel of the Day presents Jesus highlighting this essential element of Christian living: Being in the world, but living out of the world, with eyes firmly set on heavenly realms.

James and John, the sons of Zebedee approach Jesus and ask for a favour: “Grant to us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory” (Mk 10:37)

They sought for a prime place in the future Kingdom of the Lord.

They probably had the conception and understanding, that Jesus would rule in glory, and they being His chosen ones, sought for esteemed positions in this Glorious Kingdom.

They were certainly right that the Lord would surely one day rule in glory.

But they got it totally wrong in their understanding and perspective of the nature of this rule.

>> His was not to be a kingdom of arrogant display of power…

… rather one of serene majesty and mercy

>> His was not to be a rule of aggression and pomp…

… rather one of gentle splendour and grace.

The Lord had, as per St Mark’s Gospel, just made His third prediction, regarding His Passion, Death and Resurrection.

>> He was revealing the true nature and character of the victory that He was to gain.

>> He was exposing the manner in which His glory would be stamped upon all ages to come.

However, the disciples fell short in grasping these words of the Lord.

>> St Mark says that “they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid” (Mk 10: 32b).

Our lives are very often no different, from the ignorance that the disciples had and the wrong notion that was expressed by James and John.

>> We fall prey to seeking great honour and fame in being a Christian…

… but are unable to grasp the fact that ‘to be a Christian is to be living a life of simplicity’.

>> We yield to temptations of being obsessed to seek power and positions of futile vanity…

… and fail time and again to live up to the Christian virtues of humility and modesty.

>> We often become victims of engaging in dirty politics and authority-grabbing games…

… and become an anti-witness to the Lord who ‘came to serve, rather than be served’

We need to give heed to the words of the Lord who prayed that “we are in the world, but do not belong to this world” (Jn 17: 15)

A Christian life…. ought to be hallmarked by detachment and separation…

… detachment from too much of worldly distractions and vain glory

… separation from sinful ways and evil tendencies

A Christian life… ought to be radiated with total focus and complete dedication…

… total focus on the Lord who ‘walked the talk’ by giving up His life in service

… complete dedication to the Kingdom of God which calls for a humble way of life

God Bless! Live Jesus!

Booking tickets and getting a confirmed seat to travel by the Indian Railways is sometimes a stressful affair.

 

The massive number in the people travelling makes this process a very competitive one, with all jostling to get confirmed seats.

 

To those who manage to get confirmed seats, there is a sense of relief.

 

But those who fail to get confirmation, and obtain a waiting-list ticket instead, are made to face a lot of tension and worry.

• There is tension as to whether the tickets would get confirmed in time, so as to be able to travel hassle-free…
• There is anxiety as to what is to be done and what are the other alternatives, if the possibility of confirmation is very less…

 

An assurance of confirmation makes the journey pleasant and tension-free.

An anxiety over the confirmation adds immense apprehension to the possibility of journey.

 

Our lives in the Lord, is a spiritual journey…

• The greater assurance we have in the promises of the Lord, the more pleasant will be our journey
• The stronger our assurances in the Word of the Lord, the swifter will be our progress in this journey towards the Lord

 

 

The Gospel of the Day presents Jesus declaring His assured promises to those who follow Him, sincerely and wholeheartedly.

 

Jesus tells to Peter and the other disciples, ” Amen, I say to you, there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for my sake and the sake of the Gospel, who will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age….and eternal life in the age to come” (Mk 10: 29)

 

This incident takes place right after the encounter of the rich young man with Jesus (Mk 10: 17-22)

 

This man was proposed by Jesus to sell all his possessions and then follow Him.

 

The man, however, found it hard, to let go off his attachments, and instead let go of the Lord.

He went away sad!

 

Peter, as the leader of the disciples, however, contrasts this “possessive and worldly” tendency of the rich young man by telling Jesus, ” We have given up everything and followed you” (Mk 10: 28)

 

• Perhaps, there was a growing concern among the disciples, as to whether their radical decision to commit themselves to the Master would go in vain!
• Perhaps, there was an apparent fear within the disciples, as to whether their decisions to leave their professions, their families and their aspirations to follow the Lord would go fruitless!

 

And so the Lord, with a candid straight-forwardness replies that their sacrifices would surely assure them of rewards of a much higher quality and  eminence.

 

How often do our lives also sometimes sink in hopelessness, thinking whether our expressions of faith would end up in meaninglessness!

 

Sometimes even fearful thoughts and anxious emotions may cross our mind…

… will the various sacrifices and pains that I take up for the Lord, go in vain?

… will my unshed tears, my unspoken prayers and painful sighs, end up in futility?

… will the efforts I make to grow in love and nourish others in faith, lead to fruitlessness?

 

But the Lord assures us, that none of these efforts – small or great, noticed or unnoticed, seen or unseen – will escape the penetrating eyes of the Lord and go unrewarded.

 

All our actions, done in love has an assured reward!

 

 

What is however, most essential, is our total focus on the Lord and unflinched commitment to Him.

 

The Lord most certainly assures us of rewards and gifts.

But, in this pursuit, may we not stray or lose focus of Him!

 

• Our lives ought to be impelled by the love for the God of rewards, than merely the rewards of God!
• Our lives must be lived in faithfulness to the God of gifts, than being fascinated only to the gifts of God!

 

May the Lord Himself be our greatest reward… our finest gift!

 

 

The journey of our spiritual life comes with a “confirmed ticket” from the part of the Lord.

>> There need be no anxiety… no undue worry!

 

 

God Bless! Live Jesus!

A story is told about Phythius, an ancient King of Lydia ( Lydia – a place in the present day Turkey).

Phythius was very wealthy, but also very greedy, and he would spend as little as possible.

His wife – the Queen – was however, greatly determined to cure him of this “wealth mania!”

One day when he came home hungry from a long hunt, she told the slaves to place before him dishes that were filled with gold…

… gold that was fresh from the royal gold mines.

The King stared down at his gold-filled plates, admiring them for some time, and then he asked for some food.

“Food?” his wife asked, feigning surprise, “But surely they have brought you what you love best in the world, haven’t they?”

“What are you talking about?” the King replied, as he lost his temper, “Gold can’t satisfy my hunger.”

“No?” the Queen answered, “Is it not foolish then to have such love for something that cannot be useful so long as you hang on to it?

>> Believe me; gold is truly of service only to people who exchange it for the good and useful things of life.”

The Rich Young Man in the Gospel of the Day also faced a similar “wealth mania”…

… and was reminded that “riches come to have true value, only when given in service, to the needy”

Are we also facing a “wealth mania” in our lives?

The young man in the Gospel approaches Jesus to ask, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Mk 10: 17)

When Jesus gave him a list of commandments, that needed to be followed to help ensure a passage into eternal life, the man replied, “Teacher, all these I have observed from my youth” (Mk 10: 20)

We underline a few aspects of this young man…

… he did desire for a life of eternity and followed the commandments

… he did nurture a sense of being pious and devout, to please the Lord

However…

… he probably failed to live up to the intentions of the commandments

… he possibly got lost into only keeping the letters of the commandments; not the spirit!

• He got attached to doing God’s commandment, but failed to break his attachments with the riches of the world.

• He possessed the good will to follow God’s teachings, but failed to let go of the possessions of his life.

The Lord realized this “pitiable” condition of the young man.

• He was wealthy in the world, but was unable to be rich before God

• He was obedient to the laws, but was unable to be obedient to give up his attachments.

Therefore, the Lord, knowing this state of the young man – devout yet not properly focused – “looked at him, loved him, and said, ‘You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then, come, follow me'” (Mk 10: 21)

This young man could represent any one of us…

• We seek to be pious but find it hard to let go of our possessions

• We seek for holiness in life but go through a struggle to give up our attachments

• We seek to follow the Lord wholly but stumble to give ourselves entirely to the Lord

Yet, the Lord does not give up on us…

• He looks on us…

• He loves us…

And He invites us, to have the proper focus in life!

• It is not material possessions that ought to occupy our hearts; rather, our hearts needs to be possessed with the Love for the Lord.

• It is not worldly treasures that should be our prime motto in life; rather, a life, dedicated to the Kingdom of God and helping the needy with the resources we have.

• Our material life is totally in the control of the Lord.

• Our material possessions will be of no avail, when we leave this world.

• Our hands will not be able to hold any riches when we depart from this life.

Let us instead be possessed by the Lord, gather the precious stones of His grace and love by works of charity and hold on to Him, so that we may have a wonderful life of eternity with the Lord of all treasures!

Let us give heed to some of the wise and noble sayings of Holy People who have described the necessity to be detached from the riches of the world…

>> St Bede the Venerable: “He alone loves the Creator perfectly who manifests a pure love for his neighbor.”

>> St Alphonsus Liguori:”Those who desire nothing from this world are masters of the whole world.”

>> St Gregory the Great: “Be not anxious about what you have, but about what you are… Make use of temporal things, but set your heart on eternal things.”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

When some guests came home, a little child was once asked to make the sign of the Cross, invoking the name of the BlessedTrinity.

This little girl, with a gleaming smile and innocently looking at her parents, made the sign of the Cross with the words, “In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of St Anthony, Amen!!”

(The child had probably heard much more about St Antony than about the Holy Spirit)

Another child, during the time of Christmas was asked, “Who are the three persons of the Blessed Trinity”

Looking at the beautiful crib that was made at home, the child answered, “God the Father, Mary our Mother and Baby Jesus, our Saviour!”

In another incident, a child, after attending a prayer service, with various invocations especially to the Infilling of the Holy Ghost, had this doubt: “I don’t understand why the West Coast isn’t included too!”

When inquired what she meant, she added, “You know, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the whole East Coast.”

(The Holy Ghost had been misunderstood by the little child as Whole East Coast!)

Well, such simple misunderstandings are commonly seen among little children.

>> The truth, however, is that, when it comes to the Dogma of the Blessed Trinity, even elders are not spared of possibilities of similar misunderstandings.

The Dogma of the Blessed Trinity is indeed the most fundamental, yet the most baffling and confusing mystery of the Christian Faith.

However, we are encouraged by a great truth about this mystery…

• The mystery of the Trinity is more to be lived, than merely be understood

• The mystery of the Trinity is more to be encountered, than merely be grasped

• The mystery of the Trinity is more to be experienced, than merely be comprehended

Today we celebrate the Great Solemnity of the Holy Trinity.

This feast is celebrated on the Sunday, following the Feast of the Pentecost.

The encounter of the Holy Spirit, was a life-transforming experience for the Disciples.

• It brought about a huge upliftment in courage for their sagging and fearful spirits.

• It brought about a massive alteration of mind, to being bold and dynamic in their faith.

Along with this, it also brought in the tremendous experience of the Holy Spirit as a God!

This was something very new, strange and heart-experiential.

The disciples, as we know, were Jews.

Jews believed in strict monotheism – One God.

They professed this belief in One God, daily, by the ‘Shema Israel’, “Hear O Israel, the Lord your God is one God….” (Deut 6:4)

However, in Jesus, the disciples encountered a deep Divine experience.

On Pentecost Day, they also encountered a deep Divine experience in the Holy Spirit.

This tremendous experience, along with the grace of God, helped them to reflect on the many words and sayings of Jesus that pointed to the dimension of Three Persons in the One nature of God.

Thus, with gradual and deeper reflection on the words of the Lord, and the power of the Holy Spirit, the disciples – strict monotheists – began to understand the mystery of God in a new light…

• God is One

• There are three Persons – the Father is God, the Son is God, the Spirit is God

• The Father is not the Son and the Spirit; the Son is not the Father and the Spirit; the Spirit is not the Son and the Father.

This Triune invocation was the way the Lord exhorted to Baptize disciples in all the nations, “Go therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Mt 28: 19)

The Dogma of the Blessed Trinity has proofs, explanations, rationalization and details in the Holy Scripture and the Teachings of the Church.

>> However, with all that, the Dogma continues to remain a mystery…

And this is the beauty of the Mystery of the Triune God…

… It is something to grow in, daily

… It is something to develop a deeper relationship, daily

… It something to be lived and experienced in practical life, daily

As Evagrius of Pontus, a Greek monk of the 4th century said: “God cannot be grasped by the mind. If God could be grasped, God would not be God!”

This is our Blessed Triune God…

… He escapes being subjugated to the prisons of the mind; instead, invites to forge a powerful bond with the heart!

… He gets away from being trapped in the intriguing theological explanations and philosophical reasoning; instead calls forth to form an everlasting covenant of love!

• Are we willing to grow in cultivating an intimate and close bond with the Triune God – the God of Love and Holiness?

• Are we willing to live the beautiful virtues of the Blessed Trinity – unity, self-giving, in our personal relationships with one another ?

Our whole world reflects the Triune nature of the Blessed Trinity…

• Water exists in three forms – solid as ice, liquid as water, gaseous as steam

(In physics, it is also proved that theoretically, water exists as solid, liquid and gas at the same time at something called the triple point – a temperature of 0oC or 273.16 K and at a pressure of 611.2 Pa)

• Sunlight displays a triune dimension – the substance of the sun, the heat, the light

• The universe consists of three things: matter, space, and time.

(Each one of those is itself a trinity.

Matter = mass + energy + motion.

Space = length + height + breadth.

Time = past + present + future)

• Human beings have a triple dimension, consisting of the body, the mind and the soul

The Trinity is everywhere!

>> The most important factor that is needed is that we need to grow in this awareness and deeper our love for Him!

May the Blessed Trinity – the Father, Son and Holy Spirit- helps us to grow in our intimacy and union and in turn, help to reflect His image to all people in our lives!

Happy Feast of the Blessed Trinity!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

Home Sweet Home.. is a phrase that is often used in our parlance.

Home evokes a feeling of comfort, relaxation, wellbeing, ease and contentment.

>> “Feel at home” is an constant invitation that we extend to our guests and visitors and make them feel secure.

>> Some places are naturally able to give us this “homely-feeling”…

>> Some persons are also naturally able to render us this “homely-feeling”…

Jesus, is the one person, who is certainly & surely able to give the “best homely feeling!”

The Gospels are a testimony to this fact…

>> Sinners found a home…

… a solace in the Sanctifying Presence of the Lord!

>> Sick people found a home…

… a remedying cure in the Healing Presence of the Lord!

>> Broken souls found a home…

… a regrouping catalyst in the Restoring Presence of the Lord!

>> Outcast groups found a home…

… an accepting embrace in the Welcoming Presence of the Lord!

>> Hopeless persons found a home…

… an encouraging impetus in the Energetic Presence of the Lord!

In the Gospel of the Day, we encounter another set of Persons who sought to find a Home in the Lord and wanted to experience His comforting love – Little Children

Little children are brought to Jesus to be prayed over and to be blessed… (Mk 10:13)

These Little Children are brought to Jesus so that find a Home in Him- a Home of Blessing & Sanctity!

>> But unfortunately… the Disciples prevented the Little Ones from being brought to Jesus!

How often this happens in our world too: Little things in life often not being given the due importance and are discarded or pushed away..

The Disciples of Jesus fell prey to this sad and pitiable trend of the ‘frantic and frenzied’ world…

>> Perhaps they felt…these little children are a nuisance in the hectic & occupied schedule of Jesus…

>> Perhaps they considered…these little children are an unnecessary burden to an already overburdened Jesus…

>> Perhaps they thought.. these little children are a hindrance in the teaching, healing and preaching ministry of Jesus…

But Jesus, the Home-giver, the Care-provider…. reprimands & reproofs this attitude & approach.

>> He is a Home to the Homeless… He is a Shelter to the Shelterless.. He is a Hope to the Hopeless…

He invites the Little Children to be brought to Him & help them feel His Homely Presence!

>> He bids the Little Ones to be brought to Him & let them be touched by His Healing Presence!

In our lives, we at times photocopy this attitude of the Disciples & fall short to approach the Lord: Avoiding the little things of life that give spiritual console and spiritual strength

>> In my work-dominated life…

… Do I fail to spend, a little time in the Homely Presence of the Lord?

>> In my high-styled life…

… Do I miss to realize & enjoy, the little joys in the Providence of the Lord?

>> In my passive life…

Do I take for granted, the favours that I obtain in the Mercy of the Lord?

>> In my tension-filled life…

Do I neglect the blessings, that I receive through the Bounty of the Lord?

People might prevent us…Situations might discourage us…Circumstances might dampen our spirit

>> But, the Lord has a Home for each one of us!

The Lord never gets tired of us… let us go to Him, to seek comfort and solace!

>> The Lord eagerly waits for us… let us run to Him and be blessed and graced in His embrace!

>>>> The Lord has enough time for us … let us approach Him & experience the true happiness of life!

Jesus, is the One Person, Who is certainly & surely able to give the “best homely feeling!”

>> Let us be AT HOME WITH JESUS!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

An elderly couple narrates an incident in the life of their daughter.

A couple of weeks after the marriage of their daughter, they got a call from her.

>> The newly-weds had their first big fight.

After several tense moments over the phone, the mother gave the phone to the father and asked him to speak and console her daughter.

A few minutes later, the father came back to the mother, who had been sitting worriedly, in the living room.

“What happened? What did she say”, asked the tense mother.

“She wanted to come home” replied the father.

“Oh! Then what did you tell her?” enquired the worried mother

“I told her” said the father, “she was already home!”

Yes…

… once married, the husband and wife form one home, “leaving their father and mother”!

>> This was the truth that was explained by the father to her daughter.

Marriage is a sacred institution – a precious covenant – that demands a lifelong commitment and a faithful dedication, despite the ups and downs of life.

It is this message that is driven home by Jesus in today’s Gospel when He expounds His teaching on the sacredness of the Covenant of Marriage.

The passage begins with a testing interrogation by the Pharisees, “Is it lawful for a husband to divorce his wife?” (Mk 10: 2a)

St Mark clearly points the intention of the Pharisees in asking this question to Jesus: “To test Him” (Mk 10: 2b)

Jesus was in the district of Judea, across the Jordan (Mk 10:1)

>> Is there something specific in this particular detail being mentioned – “across the Jordan”?

“Across the Jordan” was the place where John the Baptist had been working (Jn 1: 28)

>> By mentioning the place, St Mark alludes to the outcome that had befallen on John the Baptist.

John the Baptist had got into great persecution because of his open-condemnation of the adulterous relationship of King Herod with Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip. (Mk 6:17)

>> By putting forward the “same question of divorce” before Jesus, the Pharisees were laying a much greater trap…

… If Jesus condemned divorce, it could amount to an act of treason against King Herod, the ruler of the land!

John the Baptist had lost his head due to the strong stance on the issue of divorce

>> Now Jesus, is also being snared into such a life-threatening trap!

But Jesus remains the Person that He is – uncompromising, unflinching, convinced, bold and daring!

A big lesson for us too, to learn from Jesus…

>> There will be situations in life when people get into our skin, trying to put us into confusion and even states of danger…

… Can we still remain undaunted and courageous to stand firm on our convictions and principles?

Jesus came to the world to demonstrate the magnanimity of God’s Love.

This magnanimity includes…

… His unconditional manner of loving us, irrespective of our worthiness

… His unreserved faithfulness to us, despite our many acts of betrayal and disloyalty

It is this model of God’s love that becomes the blueprint for us in loving others, and especially in a marriage relationship.

The partners, pledged in love to each other in marriage, ought to imitate the love that God has for us…

>> We have cheated and strayed away from what God wants of us…

… He still loves us and is faithful to us

>> We have, on innumerable occasions, spat at His face by our shameful deeds and defamed His name by our sinful acts…

… He still holds us close to Him and remains loyal to us

>> We have, despite many warnings, purposely hurt Him in thoughts, words and deeds and even rejected His graces by not co-operating with His Will for us…

… He still waits patiently for our return and constantly seeks to draw us to Him

>> We have failed Him many times, but He has always made efforts to try to win us

>> We have hurt and pained Him much, but He has still longs for us, with His soothing balm of acceptance

It is this “magnanimity of God’s Love” that becomes the basis, the inspiration and the ideal in every marriage relationship.

>> Therefore Jesus says, “What therefore God has joined, let not man put asunder” ( Mt 19: 6b)

We live in a world where the quickest solution to many problems is found in “throwing it away!”

>> And the same mentality affects human relationships too… especially to those in marriage.

The challenge therefore is to dare to swim against these worldly currents and bring in the “Jesus Culture of Faithful Commitment” in human relationships, especially of marriage.

Theoretically speaking, this sounds quite good and wonderful.

>> But when it comes down to the actual practice.. in married lives… it is undoubtedly a very hard effort.

“But what is impossible for humans is possible for God” (Lk 18: 27), is the assurance of Jesus.

When the going gets really hard and we want to call it ‘quits’ in our relationships…

… let us look to Jesus who said “Yes to the Will of God” in the painful agony at Gethsemane

>> There may seem no hope ahead…

>> There may appear only meaninglessness ahead…

Still, can we say Yes to God’s Will – to be faithful and committed?

When none of our efforts of restoration work out and we get ‘fed’ up and feel to have reached the ‘limit’ in relationships…

… let us look to Jesus Crucified, who was never ‘fed’ up with our misdeeds and our constant misunderstanding and misuse of His love

>> It may look like the end of the road…

>> It may seem that all the past was mere fantasy and the future appears to be non-existent…

Still, can we hold on to Hope in God – to be true to our promise and be loyal?

The promises made…

>> to our Faith in Baptism

>> to the spouse in Marriage

>> to the Lord in Consecrated and Priestly Life

… all demand an undissolved commitment, an undiluted faithfulness and an unmixed dedication.

May we grow in the understanding of “being faithful and committed” to our relations…

… and seek to “feel at home” – with God and with one another!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

An experience is narrated of a family who went to visit the world-famous Niagara Falls.

It was spring, and ice was rushing down the river.

>> s the family members viewed the large blocks of ice flowing toward the falls, they could see that there were carcasses of dead fish embedded in the ice.

A large number of sea-gulls (= birds, which feed mainly on fish) were riding down the river, feeding on the fish.

As they came to the brink of the falls, their wings would go out, and they would escape from the falls.

However there was one particular sea-gull, which seemed to delay much in flying.

>> It was deeply engrossed in the carcass of a fish.

Finally, only when it came to the brink of the falls, did it “flap its wings”.

…But it was a moment too late!

The bird flapped and flapped and even lifted the ice out of the water.

>> But it had delayed too long so that its claws had frozen into the ice.

The weight of the ice was too great, and the gull plunged into the abyss!

>> Excessive attachment and attraction, at the expense of “letting go”, cost the sea-gull its life!

How true is the saying: “The finest attractions of this world become deadly when one becomes overly attached to them.”

The Gospel of the Day is the powerful exhortation of Jesus on the need to “cut-off and pluck-off” ANYTHING which causes us to sin…

… thus ascribing the prime duty of every follower of Christ to meticulously and diligently pursue the paths of holiness!

Jesus uses an extreme language to convey this message across:

“If your hand causes you to sin… cut it off!

If your foot causes you to sin… cut it off!

If your eye causes you to sin… pluck it off!” ( Mk 9: 43,45,47)

The hand….the foot… and the eye.. are three faculties which are extremely vital for a person’s activities:

The hand: points to the things “that we do”

The foot: points to the places “that we go”

The eye: points to the things “that we see or desire”

Jesus, thus refers to ANYTHING, which causes sin, to be totally be dismembered.

We need to make an honest examination of our lives.

What are the areas of my life, which cause me to sin…

… and keeps me away, from pursuing holiness?

Who are the people in my life, who lead me to sin…

… or keep me away from becoming closer to the Lord?

Which are the activities, which instigates me to sin…

… and renders me a slave to the wiles of the devil?

As human beings, there could be a naturally tendency….

… to easily get attached to things which attract and allure us

… to find it hard to let go of situations which gives us momentary pleasure and vain gratification

… to be impelled to remain holding onto certain people, even though we know they cause us to sin

But the Lord calls for an honest examination of our life…

…and dares us to “let go” of anything that would cause us to be unworthy of His Love.

May we seek to not get “attached” or “stuck” to the peripheries of life…

…instead “flap our wings” in the proper time…

… and pursue the paths of holiness and sanctity!

Let our lives be a saintly one, attracting many to Christ…

… and not a scandalous one, repelling many from Christ!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

A man possessed a ring set with wonderful diamonds.

>> This ring was a charm – whoever wore it, became so sweet and true in character that all people loved him.

It was always passed down from father to son, and always it did its work.

As time went on, it came to a father who had three sons whom he loved with an equal love.

>> What was he to do when the time came to pass on the ring?

The father had an idea…

… He made two other rings made precisely the same way – so that none could tell the difference.

On his death-bed he called each of his sons in, spoke some words of love … and without telling the other, gave to each a ring.

When the three sons discovered that each had a ring, a great dispute arose as to which was the true ring.

The case was taken to a wise judge.

>> He examined the case, and then spoke:

“If the true ring gives sweetness to the character of the man who wears it,” said the judge, “then I and all people will know the man who possesses the true ring by the goodness of his life.

So, go your ways -Be kind, Be truthful, Be brave, Be just in your dealings.

>> He who does these things will be the owner of the true ring.”

The owner of the original ring was to be found by the life that they lived!

Am I a possessor of the “Ring” of Christian Faith?

>> Then it needs to be displayed by a life of faith and love

>> Am I wearing the “Ring” of being a follower of Christ?

>> Then it needs to be exhibited by a life of conviction and commitment

The incident in today’s Gospel focuses on how Jesus opens the minds of His disciples to “not get limited” by peripherals of religion…

… Instead to focus on the power of God and to live a life worthy of our Christian Calling!

One of the disciples – John – told Jesus: “Teacher, we saw a man casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him, because he was not following Us” (Mk 9:38)

An act of demoniac-healing was being conducted by one who was “not in Jesus’ group”

The disciples were alarmed by it…

… they felt it their duty to forbid it, since that man was outside their “boundary”

… they would have felt within themselves, “How can he who is not with us, do such things?”

… there might perhaps even been a tinge of jealousy, since sometime back, they themselves couldn’t heal a possessed-boy (Mk 9:18)

This incident of the Gospel has a marked parallel in the Book of Numbers 11: 25-29

>> The Lord had spoken to Moses and bestowed the spirit on seventy chosen elders

>> Among them, two named Eldad and Medad were not in the gathering, but left in the camp

>> Joshua, came rushing to Moses and complained, “Stop them… they are prophesying in the camp”

>> To that, Moses replied sternly, “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the people of the LORD were prophets!” (Num 11: 29)

Many times, among the “chosen people”, there could be such a tendency to “monopolize” Divine gifts

>> There could be occasions when “selected persons” feel themselves to be having a special right and privilege, to which no others can lay claim!

But the Lord seeks to break such fake boundaries and false borders, by telling:

“Whoever is not against us, is for us” (Mk 9:40)

The quality of our Christian Life will be not assessed, simply by the vocation to which we are called…

…but by our life of faithfulness and fidelity

>> The Christian Vocation is not merely a “title” to be hung around in pride…

… it is a responsible duty that is to be carried out with sincerity and earnestness

>> The Call to be a member of God’s Kingdom is not merely a “plaque” to be carried around for gratification…

… it is an accountable task that is to be performed with dedication and perseverance

Yes…

> We need to let go of our “restricted, narrow and prejudiced” mindsets and be open to the working of God’s Spirit, in any people

As Christians, we all are blest with the “ring” of being called the followers of Christ

>> Let us live a life of faith and love, conviction and commitment – and become to worthy to be truly called as the “Children of our Heavenly Father”

God Bless! Live Jesus!