There is a story of a tourist who visited a particular church.

He was quite surprised to see the figure of a lamb, that had been carved near the top of the church’s tower.

On enquiring, he came to know the reason…

He was told that when the church was being built, a workman fell from a high scaffold.

> His co-workers, in fear and despair, rushed down, probably expecting that their companion might have died.

But to their pleasant surprise, they found him alive, with just some minor injuries.

How did the workman survive that steep fall?

A flock of sheep was passing at that time, beneath the scaffold of the tower.

>> The worker, fell on the top of one of the lambs!

The lamb was crushed to death, but the man was saved!

To celebrate this miraculous escape, a carved lamb was placed on the tower at the exact height from which the workman fell!

It is unknown whether this story is true or a legend, but one thing is for sure and certain: we need the Lamb for our survival – the Lamb of God!

The Gospel of the Day presents Jesus, the Lamb of God predicting His passion and death and drives home the message of the necessity of being clothed with humility and innocence, in order to achieve true greatness in life.

Jesus had a very specific purpose in coming to the world – the salvation of all.

> The path chosen to realise this salvific act was the path of suffering and death, leading to glory.

Jesus was always clear in what He wanted and the aims of His Life.

And so very plainly, He forewarns His disciples, “The Son of Man will be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill Him; and when He is killed, He will rise after three days” (Mk 9: 31)

Unlike some popular preachings, Jesus preached to the world…

…. not ordinariness or littleness; rather a Gospel of Greatness

…. not being satisfied with the minimum or with the least efforts; rather a Gospel of the Maximum.

But His understanding of “Being Great” and His way of “achieving the maximum” was unlike how the world thought.

>> The world views greatness in being powerful with power, wrapped in wealth, possessing positions and clothed in vain glory

>> The world views achieving maximum in life by means of exploitation, dishonesty, cheating and trickery

That’s the way also the disciples of Jesus thought, when they were quarrelling on the way, as to “who was the greatest” (Mk 9: 34)

But Jesus defines a “new” way of being great…

… by being little

… by being humble

… and by lowering oneself

And so He says, “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be last of all and the servant of all” (Mk 9: 35)

>> He preaches the “Gospel of Greatness” – being great in the sight of God, by doing His will and following His commandments

>> He preaches the “Gospel of Maximum” – achieving one’s maximum by depending and trusting in the power of God at all times

In tune with His preaching, Jesus lived a life of immense humility, daring innocence and bold holiness!

He was the mighty Lion of Judah…..but He humbled Himself to become the Lamb of God!

>> Clothed in mighty glory and rapturous splendour, He emptied Himself to live a life of sacrifice, gentleness and surrender to God’s Will!

This is true greatness: the higher that one wishes to become, the lower must one humble, to allow the grace of God to fill one’s life!

>> The Lord wishes that we all become “great” in life…

… but “great” in the proper sense of the term.

>> The Lord desires that we all achieve the “maximum” in life..

… but “maximum” in the true sense of the term.

May we cherish and follow the example of our Blessed Lord in leading a life of humility and scaling the heights of true ‘greatness’ and achieving the ‘maximum’ in life.

Jesus, the Lamb of God – by His sacrificial love and total surrender has given us life and salvation, at the cost of His own life.

>> Shall we not reciprocate and commemorate this tremendous sacrifice, by “carving” our lives, in the image of “this Lamb” – being humble, committed to our cause and trusting fully in the power of God?

God Bless! Live Jesus!

A lady once remarked to her spiritual guide, ” I am very afraid to pray, ‘Thy Will be done'”

“And why is that so?”, asked the guide.

“I am afraid…”, continued the lady, “… that God will bring some calamity to my only child or send me a heavy trial in life”

The spiritual guide, having patiently listened to her, replied:

“Suppose if your beloved child comes to you and says, ‘Mummy, here after, I want to always do whatever you say and live as you will…’

Would you say to yourself…

‘Ah! Here is my chance!

>> I will make my child to do all the harsh things.

>> I will make use of his willingness to obey me, by cutting off all his pleasures

>> I will make sure he has a tough time because anyway he will do whatever I say”

“Oh no!” answered back the mother, ” I will give him the best possible things that I can.

>> I will make sure that he is protected from every danger.

>> I will do anything to ensure him true happiness!”

” And do you think…,” continued the spiritual guide, “Do you think that God is less loving than you?”

The will of every human parent is to ensure the best for their children, isn’t it?

>> How much more loving and caring is the Will of the Father!

“God’s Will” is best understood in the set-up of a family…

In a human family…

… Every member wishes that the other is taken care

… Every member seeks for the good of the other

How much more is the love and concern in the Family of God…

… to all those who seek to do the Will of the Father?!

The Church is this Communion of those who “bind upon themselves to do the Will of the Father”

Today we celebrate the Feast of Mary, the Mother of the Church.

>> Mother Mary is the Model for all in the Church to “always say YES to God’s Will!”

This feast which has been brought promulgated from this Year…

… is to be celebrated every year on the Monday after Pentecost.

One of the primary reasons for the celebration of this Feast is “to foster Marian piety and the Maternal sense of the Church.”

Pope Francis says that, “this celebration will help us to remember that growth in the Christian life must be anchored…

… to the Mystery of the Cross

… to the oblation of Christ in the Eucharistic Banquet

… and to the Mother of the Redeemer and Mother of the Redeemed!”

The Marian title of “Mother of the Church,” was given to the Blessed Mother by Pope Paul VI at the Second Vatican Council.

The Gospel of the Day (Jn 19: 25-34) presents the “Model of the Church”

>> Jesus, the Head of the Church

>> Mary, the Mother of all the children in the Church

>> The Beloved Disciple, who stands for all the members of the Church

This “Model Church” stands as a witness and an example for the Church, to “always seek and do God’s Will!”

Jesus said, “Whoever does the Will of My Father in Heaven, is my…. Mother!” (Mt 12: 50)

When we scan through the pages of the New Testament, we find, that perhaps no other person fulfilled the Will of the Father as perfectly as Mary

Mary, the Mother of the Church, always said “YES to God’s Will”

Mary was Blessed not just because she gave a physical birth to Jesus…

… but also because She listened and lived the Will of the Father!

She is blessed…

… because She listened to God’s Word and accepted it wholeheartedly.

… because She chose to put Her faith in God, though the path ahead was dim

… because She was obedient to God’s Will, though She did not understand many things”

As St. Irenaeus says:

“Being obedient, She became the cause of salvation for Herself and for the whole human race.”

The knot of Eve’s disobedience was untied by Mary’s obedience

>> What Eve bound through her disbelief, Mary loosened by Her faith”

Mother Mary is the first Evangelizer and the first Disciple of Her own Son and Lord, Jesus the Christ!

Mother Mary is thus, not just the biological Mother of Jesus…

… but, by doing the Will of the Father perfectly, She is also His Spiritual Mother!

Thus Mary is the Mother of the Church!

>> As St Maximilian Kolbe says, “If anyone does not wish to have Mary Immaculate for his Mother, he will not have Christ for his Brother!”

Yes, doing the Will of the Father…

… is the DNA that joins all the members of the Family of God

… is the sole and mandatory criteria to be part of the Family of God

We may have our fears in doing His Will….

But let us realize, that the Will of Father is wrapped with much love and affection…

… there is a tenderness in His Will, that ensures each of us, His children are protected!

… there is a warmth in His Will, that makes sure that we, His children are always given the best!

Jesus is our Supreme Model and Leader in listening and living the Will of the Father

>> Mother Mary is our Beloved Mother and Perfect Disciple, Who followed Her Son wholly, in obedience to the Will of the Father!

>> Many saints and holy people also show us, by their sanctified lives that it is worth, meaningful and salvific to do the Will of the Father!

All of them beckon us:

“Come be part of the Family of God…

>> Listen always to what God wants of you in your life

>> Ask Him, at all times, what you should be doing in life

>> Put your trust in His Power and Providence, when you do His Will!”

Are we willing to be members of this Family of God?

… Then we need to be ready to do the Will of the Father!

May our Blessed Mother Mary, the Mother of the Church intercede and pray for all of us…

… to be faithful and witnessing members of the Church.

Happy Feast Day of Mary, the Mother of the Church…

… to all Her Little Children of God!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

An old beggar-man lay on his deathbed.

As he was departing from this world, his last words to his only son who had been a constant companion during his begging trips were:

“Dear son,” he said, “I have nothing to give you except a cotton bag and a dirty bronze bowl which I got in my younger days from the junkyard of a rich lady.”

After the death of his father, the boy continued begging, using the bowl his father had given him.

One day, a gold merchant dropped a coin in this boy’s bowl.

>> The merchant was, however, surprised to hear a familiar clinking sound.

“Let me check your bowl,” the merchant said.

To his great surprise, he found that the beggar boy’s bowl was made of pure gold.

“My dear young man,” he said, “why do you waste your time begging?

That bowl of yours is made of gold!

>> It is worth a huge amount of money!

Realize that you are a rich man.

>> Be aware of the worth of the treasure that is with you, and live a life worthy of it!”

How often is our Christian life also lived in such ignorance of the treasure that we possess!

We fail to realize that as Christians, we have been blessed with immense spiritual riches.

Today, on this Great Day of Pentecost, we are invited to open our hearts to receive the power of the Holy Spirit and to become aware of the greatness of our vocation as Christians.

On the day of Pentecost, in the Upper Room, as the disciples were gathered in prayer, along with Blessed Mother Mary, “the Holy Spirit filled the entire house in which they were” (Acts 2:2)

It is to be noted that the word used to describe the coming of the Holy Spirit is the Greek word “aphno” which means “suddenly”

“And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind…” (Acts 2: 2)

The coming of the Holy Spirit was “sudden”.

>> This energetic entry of the Holy Spirit is a glimpse to one important characteristic of the person of the Holy Spirit: Vitality!

The Holy Spirit is a spirit of life…

… of energy

… of vivacity

… of animation

… of dynamism!

Where the Holy Spirit is, there is the great movement of the will, the mind and the heart!

It was this “sudden” coming of the Holy Spirit, that transformed the small group of Jesus’ disciples into mighty warriors of the Kingdom of God.

Fear was transformed into power…

> Timidity was changed into boldness…

>> Uncertainty was converted into conviction…

Our own lives need an encounter of this “life-transforming”  experience.

>> Is my Christian life, dull and slow – merely laced with routine actions of prayers and sacraments?

>> Is my life of faith, lethargic and tepid – simply being pulled on, without any particular awareness or lived without any enthusiasm?

… then, we need the mighty movement of the Holy Spirit to impress life and vitality to our life and our faith!

The Holy Spirit is undoubtedly one of the most shy person of the Blessed Trinity and therefore, also often, neglected in our daily prayers or devotion

>> The study and awareness of the Holy Spirit is certainly, in general, given lesser priority and importance in comparison to the other Persons of the Trinity

>> The Feast of the Pentecost is very often not accorded the “solemn” tone in comparison to other feasts like Christmas or Easter.

But let us realize, that in the Holy Spirit and in the celebration of this Feast, we have a great treasure to cherish and enjoy.

>> Each Christian ought to build an intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit.

>> Each Christian must become more aware of the role of the Holy Spirit in daily living

How wonderful it would be if we could inculcate a few practical resolutions to grow in our intimacy and union with this Powerful and Dynamic Personality of the Blessed Trinity:

a. Wishing “Good Morning, Holy Spirit ” to Him as we begin the day, thanking for His protection and seeking His help through the day

b. Invoking a tiny chaplet, “Come Holy Spirit, fill our hearts and minds” as we begin a particular activity or work

c. Making a short examination of conscience at the end of the day, introspecting our lives in overcoming sin, being grateful for His guidance and seeking to grow spiritually in holiness, with the power of the Holy Spirit

D. Co-operating with the Holy Spirit to become effective agents of unity in our homes, our communities, our places of work and our churches.

e. Purposely creating a few seconds of silence in the schedule of our works or our activity or through the course of the day, and talking to the Holy Spirit, as a friend, in the cave of our heart

f. Listening to the still, gentle voice of the Holy Spirit in the depths of our being, speaking to us to be more active to read God’s Word in the Bible and to partake of the Sacraments more frequently especially Confession and Holy Eucharist.

The Lord has blessed our lives with the gift of the Holy Spirit.

> He longs to empower our lives…

>> He earnestly wants to be in total control of our lives…

But for this, He needs our permission…

A permission in the form of…

… longing for Him

… making sincere efforts to live away sin

Let us realize that by the Grace and Power of the Holy Spirit, we are all rich!

May we be aware of the worth of the treasure that is with us, and live a life worthy of it!

Wish you a very Happy Feast of the Holy Spirit – the Pentecost!

Happy Birthday to our Mother Church!

> May we receive the sweetness of the Holy Eucharist more worthily and enthusiastically!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

The experience of teachers in a school with the students is pretty interesting.

Each student is unique in their character and nature.

>> The relationship with each student is also unique.

Undoubtedly…

… some students tend to be more in the limelight… due to their high vibrancy and level of enthusiasm

… some students remain in the shadows… due to. their soft and timid nature

But the teacher shares a unique relationship with all..

… with some more close, with some just normal, with some just casual

>> Sometimes the most naughty one, or the mischievous one gets special attention

>> Sometimes, the most silent one gets a special favour of affection and care

The Greatest Teacher, Jesus also had his class of students… his chosen twelve.. the Apostles.

He shared a unique relationship with all of them, undoubtedly.

>> Yet, among the twelve, there were some with whom Jesus had a special bonding

·      One among them was very vocal, emotional and actively in the limelight…

·      The other was more silent, affectionate and passively in the backgrounds…

The Gospel of the Day presents Jesus, the teacher in conversation with these two of His students, with whom He had a special bonding – Peter and John.

·      Peter  was the one, very vocal, emotional and being active in the limelight…

·      John was the more silent, affectionate and remained passively in the backgrounds…

We are the end of the Gospel of St John.

Jesus had engaged Peter in a one-to-one conversation reviving His commitment to Him and the Kingdom by asking him, three times, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was also entrusted to be the Shepherd of His Church on the earth.

However, Peter was also curious what would be the future of the other disciple.

His curiosity is a common human trait: a keen desire to know the future and the prospects of other people.

·      Sometimes this trait can also degenerate into jealousy…

·      Sometimes this trait can also be reduced to envy…

1. In the parable of the workers in the vineyard… those who came at the end received the same one denarii as the first.

The complaint of those who toiled the whole day was not just that they received a less pay; but more so, that why did the last ones get a higher pay!

The generosity towards the others, made them to feel envious.

2. In the parable of the Prodigal Son, the prodigal son was given a grand reception on his arrival back.

The complaint of the elder son was not just that he never had enjoyed a luxurious time with his friends; but more so, that the younger sin who had committed many sins, was given a special welcome.

The generosity towards the younger son, made him to feel jealous.

Realizing the possibility of this common human trait, Jesus chides Peter who was over-curious to know of the future of John; instead He re-focusses Peter’s attention on what is most important: Following Him.

Therefore Jesus tells to Peter: “What concern is it of yours? You follow me” (Jn 21: 22)

The same advice is rendered to us also…

·      We sometimes tend to be too anxious about the life of the other… but fail to have a proper control in our personal lives!

·      We sometimes tend to be over-curious about the future of others… but fail to live our lives worthily!

The Lord advises us the same too, “You follow me!”

The vocation and life of Jesus, the teacher’s two special students  – Peter and John is also a reminder of two ways or levels of Christian holiness…

·      The Life of Peter… lived in witness to Christ by a life of martyrdom

·      The Life of John… lived in witness to Christ by a life of loving sacrifices in life

Each one of us are to…

… live in holiness, filled with love, like St John

… live in commitment, willing to give up even our lives, like St Peter

On this eve of the Great Feast of the Pentecost, let us prepare our hearts to receive the fire of the Holy Spirit.

May we be animated and constantly live in the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, so that we too may be Christ’s faithful and dynamic witnesses…

… and like St Peter and St John, become “special students” of our Great Teacher, Jesus!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

A little boy one day approached his father who he knew, was well versed with the terms used in the Bible, with a doubt.

“Daddy,” asked the boy, “what is the meaning of Cherubim and Seraphim. We hear it so often in the Bible.”

The father, appreciating the Biblical curiosity of his child, after some thoughtful moments answered:

“Cherubim is a word which means “knowledge”

>> The word Seraphim stands for “flame”

It is commonly understood that Cherubims are angels that excel in knowledge of God…

… and the Seraphims are those who excel in Love for God.

“Ah,” answered the boy, “In that case, I wish and hope, that when I die, I will be a Seraphim!

>> I would prefer more to love God, than to know everything!”

Do we also desire to Love God…?

… more?

The Gospel of the Day is the encounter of Jesus with His chosen Disciple Peter…

… who “knew Jesus” a lot

… but was yet to “love Jesus completely!”

The incident presents St Peter grappling with his weaknesses in expressing his love for his Master…

… and Jesus, knowing very well the frailties of his chosen one, entrusting great responsibilities on him.

Jesus in His post-resurrection appearances to the Apostles, engages in a special one-to-one conversation with the Peter, the leader of the chosen ones…

It’s interesting to see the choice of the Lord for Peter as the leader of His chosen ones.

Peter was a fisherman by profession…

· Like the waves, his faith and trust in the Lord would also often waver…

· Like the winds blowing heavily, his zeal for the Lord would also often vacillate…

Yet, the Lord chooses him to be a “fisher of man” for His Kingdom…. expecting him…

… to be like the fish – finding life and vibrancy only by being in the waters of grace and mercy

… to be like the net – gathering up the children of God and keeping them together

… to be like the boat – not being stuck on the shores, but ready to launch into the deep waters of evangelization

Peter had undoubtedly a lot of interest and zeal in the Lord… and in His Mission.

Yet by nature, he tended to be more emotional… indecisive…fluttering

And this caused him to deny the Lord three times, during the passion of the Lord..

But the Lord, in His infinite mercy, restores the brokenness in the relationship, with His healing love.

Our lives too, so often, resembles that of Peter.

· We fluctuate in our commitments to the Lord…

· We easily break many of the resolutions made to the Lord…

· We very often go astray, despite having experienced much love from the Lord…

Yet, Jesus does not abandon us.

· Like the Shepherd, who comes after His lost sheep…

· Like a Potter, who re-moulds His work when dis-shaped…

· Like a Physician, who attends with patience for His ailing patient…

The Lord comes to us…

And with much hope puts forward the same question, that He asked Peter:

“Do You love Me?”

The Lord awaits an answer…

It will be easy to jump in and say “Yes, Lord, I do love you”.

But…

· Let our answer, not just be triggered by emotional feelings…

· Let our answer, not be simply impelled by a ritualistic custom…

Rather, from the depth of our inner-being…

… acknowledging our sinfulness and failures…

… realizing our weaknesses and shortcomings…

And yet….

… trusting in the goodness of the Lord…

… hopeful in the mercy of the Lord…

Let us, tell the Lord…

… “Yes, Lord, I love you!!”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

A cute story of a little boy, who loved fruits.

This little boy fellow was once, tempted to pluck some cherries from a tree, which his father had strictly forbidden him to touch.

“You need not be afraid,” said his notorious companion, “for if your father should find out that you have taken them, he is too kind to hurt you.”

“Ah,” said the brave little fellow, “that is the very reason why I would not touch them;

>> For I know that my father would not hurt me. So I should not hurt him by my disobedience!”

The little boy knew the love of his Father towards him…

… and so he dared not hurt his Father.

·      He was not afraid of the punishment of the Father.

·      He was instead afraid of the hurt that would cause pain to the Father.

True  love causes a holy and pious concern of not wanting to cause any offence to the one who is loved.

·      True Love casts away all fear!

·      True Love drives away every anxiety!

It is this True Love of the Father that was made known by Jesus to all of us.

The Gospel of the Day presents Jesus shedding greater light on His intimate relation with the Father and revealing deeper, the love of the Father for each one of us.

Jesus prays, “… so that they may be one, as we are one. I in them and You in Me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that  you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me.” (Jn 17: 22b, 23)

The High Priestly Prayer of Jesus in the Seventeenth Chapter of St John, is another insight into the intimate relation that Jesus had with His Father.

·      All His life, He sought to do only the Father’s Will

·      All His life, He sought to reveal the love of the Father to the world.

This was driven by the fact that Jesus was in intimate union with the Father.

To His disciples, Jesus wishes to leave this same legacy – the legacy of loving the Father intimately.

·      Jesus wishes to tell us that we have a Father who is deeply interested and caring for us.

·      Jesus wishes to convince us that our lives are secure in the Providential care of the Father.

However, our lives sometimes fails to display this trust and confidence in the providential care of the Father

·      Some of us may have a wrong notion of God being interested only in finding my wrongdoings and punishing me for the same…

·      Some of us may have the wrong notion of God being too holy and majestic that makes Him unapproachable, unavailable and inaccessible!

But Jesus seeks to drive away all such false impressions.

He tells us that the Father…

… is surely the keeper of justice, and may take us through a time of trials and difficulties.

But those are not to be seen as cruel punishments, but loving acts for improvements towards a holier life!

He tells us that the Father…

…. is surely the Lord and Master of the Universe, and is totally aware of even the calamities or hardships that befall our lives

But in all those hard moments, the loving Father keeps us safely in the palm of His hand, not allowing us, His beloved children to get hurt or harmed!

When we are convinced of this deep love that the Father has towards us, we would be able to orient our lives in a way that is worthy of our call as witnesses of Christ.

Jesus by His unity with the Father, enjoyed perfect freedom.

>> He invites us to also deepen our union with the Father and enjoy greater freedom of happiness and joy.

God Bless! Live Jesus!

The Question-Answer column of a particular youth magazine, once had a query as follows:

“I’m puzzled about life, and I wonder if you could help me?

Am I different from everyone else of my age?

> Or do they wear false masks as I do?

I go to parties and dances and act as if I were enjoying myself like everyone else I know.

> But I am not enjoying myself at all!

I always feel that there is something missing, and I don’t know what it is. . .

Behind the laughing and the fun I think I look at life just a bit more seriously than most I know.

> I see more in life than just having a good time.

Do you think this is wrong at twenty?

In a few years will I see things differently?

> Or should I take off the false face now, and act the way I feel?”

The expressions of this young man, faced with a dilemma in life, resonates with the thoughts of many people in the world…including perhaps, ours…

>> We get a feel that there is certainly “more” to life…

… than just the peripherals that I daily engross  myself in…

>> We get an impression that there certainly is something “higher” in life…

… than just being limited to the external comforts of life…

An answer to this vital dilemma of our life is given expression by the Lord in today’s Gospel: We live in the world, but we do not belong to the world!

Jesus prays to the Father: “I do not pray that you should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them safe from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world” (Jn 17: 16)

The call of a Christian is to live as a people “set apart” for Christ.

The Lord wishes, desires, wants and makes it a must that the one who follows Him, must seek to follow Him fully, wholeheartedly and unreservedly.

>> But the Lord was also very much aware that this His desire for a people “totally set apart” would face a lot of challenges and crisis from the Evil One.

>> He knew that His followers would struggle much in living a pure life in the midst of many impurity, uncleanness and contamination.

>> He knew that His followers would find it hard to preserve holiness in the hub of wicked temptations, ensnaring enticements and luring persuasions

We often find ourselves lost in this strange maze of the world….

>> We immerse ourselves too much in worldly activities and works….

… But, somehow at the end of the day, when lying down on our beds, we, perhaps, feel ourselves lost and not having a true sense of satisfaction!

>> We plunge ourselves to enjoy a lot of worldly pleasures, comforts and luxuries…

… But, somehow, after having been sort of saturated with those externals, we, perhaps, find ourselves still unhappy or experiencing a void!

>> We engage ourselves in an excess use of the social media, networking sites, chatting applications and remain attached constantly to modern communication gadgets…

… But, somehow, though we are in contact with many people, we, perhaps, realize that there is a grave presence of loneliness and not having genuine relationships of love and true care!

And therefore, Jesus, the ever-practical, sensible and realistic Master…

… firstly, prays for His followers for strength and courage: “I pray for them…. Holy Father,  keep them in Your name… ” (Jn 17: 9a, 11b)

… secondly, reminds His followers on the need to set their hearts on Him because they belong not to the world: “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world” (Jn 17: 16)

This then ought to be our strength and hope, as we seek to live a Holy Christian Life in this world, often corrupted by sin and transgressions.

1. Knowing that Jesus has, and is praying for us….

>> In His prayer, we can find hope and blessings

>> In His prayer, we can find encouragement and support.

2. Setting our heart entirely on the Lord and not being totally attached to the aspects of the world

>> In His Love, we find meaning in our relationships

>> In His Presence, we ought to engage all our activities

Light passes through pollution, but doesn’t get contaminated!

>> Every Christian, a reflection of the Light of Christ, ought to be such…

… focussed on the Lord, seeking to be pure and unsullied, in holiness and sanctity.

God Bless! Live Jesus!

The earthly life and ministry of Jesus is presented in the Bible mainly through the Four Gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke, John.

Of these, Mathew, Mark and Luke are termed as the Synoptic Gospels (synoptic meaning ‘same view’) because they have a common view.

The Gospel of John reflects a Christian tradition that is different from that of the other Gospel.

It differs significantly from the synoptic gospels in theme, content, time duration, order of events, and style.

One important distinction that is seen between the Synoptic Gospels and the Gospel of John is that, while some events are very clearly and narratively described in the Synoptics, the elements of the same are found in the Gospel of John, either figuratively or in more detail.

One such event is the Temptations.

• The temptations of Jesus find a clear mention in the three Synoptic Gospels as a one-time event.

• But the Gospel of John would present the same temptations, not as a one-time affair, but spread through the life and ministry of Jesus.

Another event we see is the Institution of the Holy Eucharist.

• The narrative of the Institution of the Holy Eucharist finds a specific mention in all the three Synoptic Gospels, at the time of the Last Supper

• The Gospel of John presents a very long teaching on the Holy Eucharist (Jn 6) and clearly presents the implications and consequences of being a Eucharist through the washing of the feet and His explicit commandment of love (Jn 12)

Another event or incident that finds a mention in two of the Synoptic Gospels is the Lord’s Prayer – the Our Father.

But it doesn’t appear as one-block of prayer in the Gospel of John.

However, the Gospel of John also presents a very extensive teaching and displays a method of prayer.

The Gospel of the Day is this beautiful expression of Jesus praying in the Gospel ofJohn and presents to us elements which need to become part of our own prayer life.

The Seventeenth Chapter of the Gospel of John is traditionally called as the High Priestly prayer of Jesus.

The Gospel passage of the day (Jn 17: 1-11) presents a few basics and essentials of prayer:

1. Jesus prays for the glory of the Divine

Every prayer ought to be an expression of praise, worship and exaltation of the Holy Name of God.

Jesus prayed, “Father, the hour has come. Give glory to Your Son, so that your Son may glorify You!” (Jn 17: 1)

The lips of the Lord moved in praise of His Father and seeking the glory that was due to Him.

• Is my prayer an expression of my desire to ‘lift up the name of the Lord on high?”

• Or does my prayer degenerate into merely asking for things and wanting to focus the attention on me, than the Divine?

2. Jesus prays for the gift of eternal life for His people

Every prayer ought to have its intention aimed towards eternity!

Jesus prayed, “.. just as You gave Him authority over all people, so that He may give eternal life to all You gave Him” (Jn 17: 2)

The purpose of the Lord was clearly focussed on eternal goodness and everlasting benefits.

• Is my prayer an articulation of my longing for heaven and centred towards seeking the higher-things of life?

• Or do I get limited in my prayer with merely earthly and transitory things of life; not that they are unimportant, but whether they snatch away our minds from the true needs and requirements of life?

3. Jesus prays with an expression of His intimacy with God and His People

Every prayer ought to be a manifestation of my unity with the Lord and the people to whom I am connected.

Jesus prayed, “I revealed your name to those whom you gave me out of the world. They belonged to you and you gave them to me… ” (Jn 17: 6)

The prayer of the Lord showed that He was in intimacy with the Father and was in close union with the people in His life

• Is my prayer a sign of my close friendship with the Lord as well my close binding with the many people in my life?

• Or am I failing in my prayer due to a breakage of relation with the Lord due to sin, and suffering from disturbance of mind due to damaged and hateful links with the people in my life?

4. Jesus prays for the unity of the people and safety from the evil

Every prayer ought to make me closer to the Lord and His people and cause to me stay further away from the evil.

Jesus prayed, “Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are one” (Jn 17: 11b)

The heart of the Lord moved to seek to protect the people He loved and also grow in greater intimacy

• Is my prayer constantly drawing me to purge away sins from my life, so that I can remain in His name, and also make me assist His people in service?

• Or does my prayer life make no effect on me to stay away from the evil and fail to be expressed in loving actions of charity and help?

The Lord desires that just as He prayed, in close intimacy with His Father, we too may grow in our life of prayer and union with the Heavenly Father.

God Bless! Live Jesus!

There goes a legend in the early Church…

The pagans, once forced a holy person to drink a potion of poison, as part of persecutions against the faithful.

>> This holy person had been imprisoned.

He drank it, and not only did he himself remain unharmed, but he also healed others who had been blinded by the potion.

When he left the prison, the pagans searched for him in vain, for he had become invisible to them.

The holy person was St Mathias.

Today is the Feast of this Apostle, St Mathias.

>> He is the Apostle, chosen by lot, to go “into the place of the traitor Judas”.

The Acts of the Apostles describes:” that he may take his place in this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell.” ( Acts 1:25)

St Mathias had one of the most unique privileges as well as one of the most awkward moments.

He had the unique privilege of being counted the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ.

>> He had the unique awkward moment of taking the position left blank by Judas, the betrayer.

It is usually hard to fill up empty spaces of vacancies and opportunities.

>> And it indeed gets too hard to fill up the vacancy of being counted among the exclusive Twelve Apostles.

This task gets too complicated especially if the vacancy was created as a shameful result of “betrayal” and “treachery”

St Mathias had to fill in the gap left by the “traitor” Judas Iscariot.

>> Yet, Divine Providence had it that St Mathias should replace Judas, to be “counted as one among the Twelve”.

Life sometimes is such…

>> We are asked to take up tasks that may seem highly uncomfortable

>> We are invited to draw up duties which may seem highly insulting

Are we willing to accept them, seeing God’s providential hand in them?

>> Are we ready to undertake them, knowing God’s Will is at work in that?

St Matthias stands in the place of the traitor Judas

>>But not as another traitor…

… but as one who knows the treachery of human hearts and the need for Heavenly Grace.

The Feast of St Mathias is a reminder of this naked and frightening, yet remarkable and bold truth:

>> There is a possibility of being a traitor in all of us… like Judas

>> But there is also the glorious chance of being His faithful apostle…like St Mathias.

>> There are elements of betraying God, within each of us…

… like Judas

>> But there are also graces of being passionately committed to the Lord…

… like St Mathias.

May St Mathias intercede and inspire us…

… to be docile to accept God’s strange Will working in our lives

… to be bold to take up the challenge of filling up gaps caused by betrayal and uneasiness

… to be aware of God’s mighty Providence guiding every action of the Church and the world

Happy Feast of St Mathias, the Apostle

God Bless! Live Jesus!

A very poor family by the name of Carpenter, lived in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.

The oldest boy was given education in the city, with the help of some family friends, who generously financed his studies when they realized he wanted to become a doctor.

The boy Carpenter, graduated with honors…

… but declined all job offers to practice medicine in the city.

He decided to go back to the mountains, where there were many sick people and few doctors.

For many years he ministered to the sick.

>> Some paid, most couldn’t.

>> He gave his very best and helped everyone he could.

In his old age he was in broken health himself and almost penniless.

>> Two small rooms above the town grocery store were his home and office.

At the foot of the creaky stairs leading up to his office was a sign with these words: “Dr. Carpenter is upstairs.”

One morning someone climbed those stairs to find their devoted doctor dead.

The entire community was plunged in grief.

>> They wanted to erect some kind of monument to him.

But they decided to simply write these words on a large tombstone: “Dr. Carpenter is upstairs.”

Today, on this Ascension Day, the Church proudly displays the placard of hope and salvation: “Dr Carpenter is upstairs!”

>> But unlike the doctor boy who died, Jesus –the Divine Doctor of our souls – is alive…

… and continues to heal people and bring salvation to all people!

Yes, “Jesus, the Dr Carpenter is upstairs!”

This is the day…

… in which Jesus ascended to the heavens, as a culmination of the glory of the Resurrection

… on which Jesus gave the mission mandate of preaching His Good News to the entire world.

In our proclamation of the Apostles’ Creed, we affirm:

“… He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty!”

The Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord is a declaration of various pointers for our reflection…

1. The Ascension is an event that reminds the glory and majesty of the Lord, who is sovereign over all

The Lord ascended.

Elsewhere in the Bible, we have incidents of persons being taken up to heaven

• Enoch was taken up by God: “Then Enoch walked with God and he was no longer here, for God took him” (Gen 5:24)

• Elijah went up: “As they walked on conversing, a flaming chariot and flaming horses came between Elisha and Elijah, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind” (2Kgs 2: 11)

• Mother Mary was ‘assumed’ into heaven, body and soul (Dogma of the Assumption)

However, Christ ‘ascended’

>> It was His Power that made Him to ‘go up’ to the heavens.

This is a tremendous demonstration of His Divinity, His Glory and His Power!

2. The Ascension is an event which radiates hope to the suffering and optimism to the distressed

The interesting saga of Christ’s life, beginning with….

… His simple yet powerful event of His Birth…

… His ordinary yet impressive event of His ministry…

… His agonizing yet impactful event of His passion and death…

… His glorious and spectacularly amazing event of the Resurrection…

… finds its joyful and resplendent finale in His Ascension to the heavens.

This is a beautiful exhibition of how a life, lived in faith and commitment, even if it has to go through the barbed wires of pain, humiliation, suffering and uncertainty…

… has a splendid and magnificent ending!

3. The Ascension is an event that urges us in our commitment to be Missionaries for the Kingdom of God

The Lord’s concluding words to His apostles constituted a binding mandate…

… to go into the whole world and preach the Gospel to the whole creation

… to be an instrument of His power to cast out demons, to speak in new tongues, to endure poisons, to lay hands on sick and restore them to recovery.

This is a dutiful reminder of how the Lord trusts and has immense confidence in each one of us to be the proclaimers of His word.

• The Lord wishes to reign over in our hearts.

• He wishes to be the sovereign ruler of our lives.

May the Feast of the Ascension be a reminder for us to open our hearts to let the Lord to be in total command of our lives.

May…

a. The conviction in His love

b. The zeal to be His Missionaries and

c. The passion to make this world a holier place

… help and strengthen us, to be “doctors of healing and love” in our world of suffering and pain!

Yes, “Dr Carpenter is upstairs!”

Happy Feast of the Ascension!

God Bless! Live Jesus!