A young missionary in a particular village, had heard the fame of a senior missionary and his successful ventures in reviving the faith of the people.

Wanted to know the secret of success in ministry, the younger missionary, on meeting the senior, asked him: “What is the secret of reviving the faith of the people in my village?”

The senior man, who was also aware of the worldly lifestyle of the younger missionary said:

“Go back to your home and lock yourself up in a private room.

>> Then, take a piece of chalk, and mark a circle on the floor.

Get down on your knees, then, inside the circle…

… and pray to God to begin a revival inside the circle!

When this prayer is heard, a revival will take place in your people as well!”

Yes…it is when one is revived with the Spirit and Enthusiasm of the Lord…

… that one can radiate the same to others!

This revival demands that we “encircle” ourselves in prayer and self-discipline…

… by being willing to get out of our “comfortable zones” of worldliness and hard-heartedness!

The Gospel of the Day is an encounter with a group of people, who got stuck in their own “comfortable zones” of interpreting and understanding the Scriptures, failing to be open to the True Author of the Scriptures…

… and thus refusing to tread the path of mercy, compassion and charity.

The Gospel passage is another Sabbath day controversy.

Jesus is in the synagogue, teaching and proclaiming God’s Word.

>> His words would bring strength and courage to those in despair

>> His teaching would fill with hope those who were stranded on the peripheries of life

>> His preaching would invigorate those who were sapped of energy and felt themselves rejected.

Among those who heard Him in the synagogue, was a “a man whose right hand was withered” (Lk 6: 6)

It’s not mentioned how did he began to have a withered hand…

… maybe he was born so

… maybe he met with an accident

… maybe he had a sickness which made it so

But having a withered right hand had its own implications and difficulties to pose.

Right hand in the Bible, usually refers to..

… being the hand of blessing

… being the hand of strength

… being the hand of labour

So this man with the withered right hand is portrayed as being…

… disfigured in his purpose and goals of life

… pitiable in being rendered weak and sort of helpless

But more than this man with the physical disability, there were also some others, who had a “withered mentality” – the Pharisees

>> They had God, the source and origin of the Law, as their “right hand”

>> They had the privilege of learning and knowing the Scriptures, as their “right hand”

But, unfortunately, we find them with “withered”…

… their focus on God, the purpose and goal of the Law was “withered”!

… their opportunity to interpret and understand the Scriptures properly was “withered”!

To the man who had the physically withered right hand, Jesus said, “Stretch out your hand” (Lk 6:10)

Probably these words were also directed or perhaps intended more for the Pharisees who were “withered” in their understanding and mentality regarding the Law and the Author of the Law Himself!

Jesus was asking them to “stretch out their hands” which were withered…

… because they failed to understand the basic purpose of God’s Law which was aimed at reflecting on God’s Goodness and to reflect the same in their lives

… because they were stuck to their own rigid and arrogant interpretation of God’s Word and failed to put into practise the real meaning of God’s Word which is to do good, show mercy and extend charity

Are those words, “stretch out your hand” being directed to us also?

>> Are we failing to centre our lives on the Precious Gift that God has blessed us with – His Holy Word in the Holy Bible – and failing to make efforts to read, learn more and understand God’s Word properly and effectively

>> Do we consciously cultivate practices which help us to set apart time (on a daily, regular basis) to read the Bible and reflect and shape our lives, in the light of the Holy Word of God?

>> Do we remain rigid, obstinate and closed to the voice of the Holy Spirit, who speaks to us, through different sermons, write-ups, talks etc. on the Word of God and allow transformations to happen in my life?

>> Do we be zealous to learn God’s Word more deeply, to know Him more and to cultivate a personal taste to understand the Scriptures better with self-reflection?

Our Blessed Lord invites and exhorts us to have a “Revival in our Christian Lives”

It is only when one is revived with the Spirit and Enthusiasm of the Lord…

… that one can radiate the same to others!

May we allow the Lord to work this revival in us, by “encircling” ourselves in prayer and self-discipline…

… and being willing to get out of our “comfortable zones” of worldliness and hard-heartedness!

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, in 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?

A 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!

>> 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!

But Jesus in 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 legendary story is said of how God sent an angel down from heaven to find the most beautiful thing on earth and bring it back to heaven.

When the angel observed the lovely flowers, he said, “These must be the most beautiful things on earth”

>> And gathered them up to take with him back to heaven.

A little further, when he saw a child of wondrous beauty and golden hair and lovely smile, he said, “This must be the most wonderful thing on earth. Nothing could be sweeter than the smile of that innocent child.”

>> And he held the child with the smile, in the arms

But as he moved ahead, he reached a simple cottage…

… where a mother sat in the doorway with her little baby on her lap.

As he watched her tender and beautiful care for the little babe, he said, “This must be the fairest thing on earth. I will take that mother’s love back with me to heaven.”

When he reached the portals of heaven…

… the flowers had faded and were dead

… the smile on the child’s face had changed into an angry frown

>> But the mother’s love remained unchanged!

Yes, a Mother’s Love is special!

>> The Mother is precious!

>> The Mother is truly worth much much love and affection!

Today, we celebrate the Best, the Most Beloved and the most Lovable Mother of all – Blessed Mamma Mary!

September 8th.

>> The Nativity of the Blessed Mother Mary, the mother of Jesus, the Saviour of the World!

But why should we really be celebrating HER?

“We like the list of qualities and roles of mothers…and truly, we agree that the role of a mothers is very special.

But why should all that be applied to Mary?”

>> “Are we not taking away the glory and the honour which is due only to God?”

>> “Are we not attaching undue festivities and illogical devotions to…well…after all ‘a creature of God'”?

>> “Are we not over-emphasizing and getting over-emotional and going overboard in magnifying Mary?”

How do we understand Mary and Her importance in our lives and the need to give Her a special honour?

As in the words of Fulton J Sheen,

“We begin with Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God!

>> The less we think of Him, the less we think of Her.

>> The more we adore His divinity, the more we venerate Her motherhood.

The less we acknowledge His divinity, the less we have respect for Her.”

Mary receives and deserves and acquires honour and special respect, solely due to Her Divine Son, Jesus!

We may feel that our mothers and Mary as a mother are not too different…

But the difference is their children!!

>> We are just ordinary….but Jesus is not!

Mother Mary is different and unique and exclusive and singled-out, because Her Child is Supremely Special!

And this is what the Church teaches through the Readings of today’s Mass, especially the Genealogy that is presented in Mt 1:1-16.

Today’s Gospel has a dual outlook:

1. The Narration of the Birth of Jesus (Mt 1: 18-23)

2. The Genealogy (Mt 1:1-16)

The Genealogy with its too complex length and its tongue-twisting names is most of the time, “avoided” and “skipped”.

>> But those sixteen verses of the Genealogy in the Gospel of Mathew contains a treasure and mystery of the legacy of our faith!

The Genealogy is like Archaeology.

>> We look for buried cities…

… and we find crumbled walls

>> We look for ancient treasures…

… and we find dust

>> We look for timeless art…

… and instead find broken pottery!

>> We look for holy people but we find cracked sinners

>> We look for valiant persons but we find ordinary folk

>> We look for the precious plan of God and instead find often the non co-operation of people!

And our lives are similar too…

>> We look for peaceful lives…

… but we encounter constant troubles

>> We seek for happiness and success…

… but we meet failures

>> We expect the miraculous interventions of God…

… but often find life hitting hard at us!

But in the history of salvation…and in our own history….

>> The Lord of History guides with His Mighty Hand!

In all the ordinariness that is seen…

…. the Mighty God steers and pilots our lives through the thickets & valleys & plains & deserts!

And it is here, that the role of Mother Mary is brought out in full force and in true vigour: She Said YES!

She said YES to the amazing plan of the God of History…

… and consented for God’s Unique style of saving the world!

>> And with this YES…began Her journey of greatness!

The “Yes” to allow Her body to become the sanctuary of Sanctuaries…

… was repeated at every moment of Her life!

And it is this Her continual state of saying YES to God’s Will that makes Mamma Mary great and worthy of all respect and honour.

The moon does not take the brilliance away from the Sun!

>> All its light is reflected from the Sun!

Blessed Mamma Mary reflects Her Divine Child!

>> With Him, She is the Mother of All!

The Mother is special!

>> And Mother Mary is the most special among them all!

Let’s rejoice with Her today.

>> Let’s thank God for Her today.

>> Let’s become more close to Her from today!

With Her…

… we will always have our lives secure in God!

… we are sure to be safe in God’s embrace!

Happy Birthday Dearest Mamma!

We Love You!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

One of the most popular words that is increasingly becoming trendy and fashionable and in vogue, especially in the context of the Indian Society…is the word….. CHANGE!

Race for the Change…Be the Change… I am the Change…Change begins with oneself…

>> These are some of the widespread slogans that are all over the place…

The Webster’s Dictionary defines “Change… as making something radically different or make a shift from one to another.”

Change involves becoming different…

>> Change involves a transformation!

>> Change involves making an alteration!

The Gospel of the Day too presents Jesus with this Crucial and Central theme: CHANGE!

The Lord is a constant challenge to His followers to adopt a changed lifestyle…

… a lifestyle which is more Divine, a way of life which is more human and a living which is more joyful.

But He is also very much aware of the basic human tendency…

… to neglect and avoid and overlook any change!

That is why He very clearly at the end of today’s Gospel says, “No one who has been drinking old wine desires new, for he says, ‘the old is good'” (Lk 5:39)

With age, wine increases its strength and flavour and the old is therefore preferable.

Take somebody who been drinking the same kind of wine for years and years and years and someone comes along and says, “Ah, I’ve got a brand new variety here for you.”

“Nah, no, I’ll stick with my old favourite.

>> It’s done me grand favours all through these years… I don’t want to…”

“Well the new one promises to be great…it’s got new aroma, a new flavour…a special zest”

“No, no, I’m happy with my old.”

We may either nod with this response…or look down with suspicion…or even just be least bothered…

But one thing is for sure…

>> Many of us, certainly do tend to answer in the same way, as this old-wine devotee was…

It’s really true, isn’t it?

We tend to mellow ourselves down to a comfortable and cozy way of life…

>> We cultivate a taste and a liking for our undisturbed mode of timetable and schedules…

Like the old wine, many of our former ways and thoughts and style of living have become mellowed and settled by years of experience and have become so much a part of the fabric of our lives!

>> Don’t give me the new wine of change…

… I am happy with my old wine of comforts and calm

>> Don’t give me the new wine of spirituality…

… I am happy with my old wine of worldly existence

>> Don’t give me the new wine of holy things…

… I am happy with my old wine of living life in the way it pleases me

>> Don’t give me the new wine of the Church teachings…

… I am happy with my experimental philosophy and thoughts

But the Lord, the Best Wine Giver (Jn 2:10), is intent and keen and even is insistent that we abandon Our Old Wines and drink of Him, the New Wine!

You want the new wine of joy and happiness in your soul and consolation of mind and heart?

>> Then, you will have to abandon the Old Wine of Sin and impure life!

You want the new wine of Justice and Equality and Honesty and Truthfulness in society?

>> Then, you will have to abandon the Old Wine of corruption and discrimination and cheating!

You want the new wine of True Companionship and Faithful relationships and Genuine friendships?

>> Then, you will have to abandon the Old wine of company with Satan and give up envy and resentment and hatred!

Are we ready to abandon the Old Wine?

>> The best wine is being offered…

(P.S. – For all who are eager to be drunk more of this Best Wine… kindly prepare yourselves well and run to the nearest Church or Chapel… and participate in the Holy Mass…

.. especially on this First Friday of the Month!

>> The Master has prepared the best and most satisfying and sumptuous meal: His Body and Blood in the Most Holy Eucharist!)

God Bless! Live Jesus!

“Would you like to come along with me, for a short walk along the sea?

>> We could share some of our experiences of life…

… that would probably help us to live better!”

These are the words of Simon Peter, the Apostle of Jesus.

Saying a “Yes” to this invitation…

… let us now stroll along with Simon Peter, as he recounts, in first person, his experiences…

“Ah, so there you, my friend!

I am so happy that you have accepted my invitation.

Uh… by the way, be careful, as we walk along the sea…

…. ‘cos there might be some rough stones and thorny bushes.

>> Just mind your steps, as we walk along.

So, where shall I begin with?

Hmm.. I guess I shall begin with my beginning itself…

… my beginnings with the Lord!

Let me start by saying that nothing much about my life before I encountered the Lord, is known to others.

But that itself, I feel, is a point of great reflection…

>> That unless we come to the Lord, our life is mere existence…

… nothing noteworthy, nothing special, nothing significant!

>> Only when we are in the Lord…

… do we have a meaning and purpose in life!

>> Only when we are in the Lord…

… can we say that our lives have a destination and a goal!

How I wish that many more discover Jesus as the purpose and objective of one’s life!

>> How I pray that followers of Christ may have more zeal to bring many to the love of Christ!

So continuing with my story – of my beginnings in the Lord – …

>> How very fresh is the memory of that golden day in my life!

… The day the Lord came to me and called me to be His “fisher of men” (as we would read in the Gospel of my friend St Luke 5: 10)

My friend St Luke, told you in 4:38-39, that my mother-in-law was healed of a severe fever.

This incident had brought great joy and hope to our family.

Somehow, ( I probably guess so.. though am not fully sure!), that miracle had also sparked a sense of interest and liking in me, towards that Great Rabbi, Jesus!

>> He was already moving across streets in villages and towns bringing much healing and hope

>> He was also revealing God as a Father… as One Who was much more closer and lovable and friendlier, than many of us traditional Jews had thought!

But the experience of that glorious day still lingers in my mind…

… so fresh… so gracious!

My Master had his large crowd of fans gathered around him.

It was such a privilege that my boat was used by the Master to stand and preach to the crowds!

>> Yeah, my simple boat became His Great Instrument of Evangelization!

… You can call it as the story of “Pauper Peter’s Plank transformed into the Precious Preacher’s Pulpit!”

After the great round of boldly proclaiming the Word of God…

… it was time for the Word to touch me!

The Master, with His powerful words reached out to me, “Put out into the deeper water and lower your nets for a catch!”

But of course, all of you do know that I am a very instinctual and impulsive man!

The “expertise” in me protested and said, “We have worked the whole night and caught nothing!”

But this is where the Master “caught me”

>> That was the bait, by which I, the little fish, would be hooked by the Great Fisherman of Galilee!

I thought I knew everything about the seas… about fishing…!

But the Lord, the Creator of all…

… sliced through my inner being and exposed my weakness!

The miraculous catch of fish that followed was a lesson in humility and obedience!

>> I thought I knew everything… only to realize, that “human knowledge is foolishness before God’s Wisdom”

>> I felt I was an expert in my area of activity… only to realize that “human minds have to always bend before the One Who has shaped and created this entire universe!”

And so I cried out…”Depart from me, Lord! I am a sinful man!”

That was the beginning…

… of the end of my pride

… of the end of wanting “my way”

For it was also the beginning…

… of a new way of life for me!

Yes, God’s Mercy had touched me!

… and His Mercy had sparked me in a new vocation – the vocation to be “fishers of men!”

>> His Mercy would continue to accompany me, all through my life…

…. in times when I would act impulsively as the leader of the group

… in times when I would go on to betray my Master

… in times, when I would once again be called to follow the Lord after His Resurrection

… in times, when I would be instilled with hope to continue as His Vicar on the earth!

And so I strongly believe in this statement: “Mercy is the source and the strength of every vocation!”

>> Be it any vocation: Family life…. Consecrated Life…. Priestly Life… Celibate life…

Have you discovered the meaning and depth of this statement?

>> Check into your lives and see…

… so many are the acts of mercy of God in your life

… so many are the ways in which the Mercy of God has led you through

Perhaps, many times, you are not aware… many times, you have taken it for granted!

>> But look deeper… and surely you will find: Your life is a living witness of God’s Mercy!

And so, become aware that “Mercy is the source and the strength of every vocation!”

Hmmm…Are you still with me?

I guess, I do talk a lot, right?

Well, as you see, I do have tears in my eyes now… (tears of joy, of course!)

… and this would be the joy you too experience, when your life is touched by the Mercy of God

>> And you give yourself, entirely to Jesus, the Great Fisherman of Galilee…and my Hero!

Are you willing to leave everything and follow Him…

… just as I did?”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

Altruism is the principle or practice of concern for the welfare of others.

>> Altruism is selflessness – the opposite of selfishness.

It consists of sacrificing something for someone with no expectation of any compensation or benefits, either direct or indirect.

The Gospel of the Day presents the Altruistic Ideal – Jesus – engaged in number of works…

… of healing

… of rebuking the evil spirits

… of bringing consolation and joy to the people.

In Luke 4:18, Jesus announced His Mission Programme of “…bringing good news to the poor, liberty to the captives, new sight to the blind, freedom to the oppressed…”

In accordance with this manifesto, Jesus sets forward to announce the Kingdom of God through His mighty deeds and works.

The Lord unveils the Compassionate Face of the Father and reveals His Benevolent Heart to the needy and the deprived.

He cures Simon’s mother-in-law of her fever and restores her to good health and wellbeing…(Lk 4:39)

>> Am I today in need of a touch of the Lord…

… which casts away forces that makes weak and fragile?

… which takes away the fever of tiredness and fatigue of spiritual life?

… which restores me back in serving and assisting others in my life?

At sunset, He laid His hands on many with sicknesses and diseases and cured them all… (Lk 4:40)

>> In the sunset of darkness and pain in my life…

…. Do I go to the Lord to receive the Light of Hope and Healing?

>> In the sunset of emptiness in my spiritual life…

… Do I go to the Lord to receive the Light of Faith and Revival?

>> In the sunset of frustrations and despair…

… Do I go to the Lord to receive the Light of Encouragement and Support?

>> In the sunset of sadness and lukewarmness…

… Do I go to the Lord to receive the Light of Joy and Revitalization?

He also rebuked many demons and commanded them to let go of many possessed people… (Lk 4: 41)

>> Am I tormented by the demons of evil forces and satanic powers….. ?

… The power of the Lord is here to deliver!

>> Am I tormented by the demons of bad, unhealthy addictions…?

… The power of the Lord is here to overcome!

>> Am I tormented by the demons of filthy words and dirty thoughts…?

… The power of the Lord is here to liberate!

>> Am I tormented by the demons of peer pressure and societal strains…?

… The power of the Lord is here to set free!

The Lord at the end of today’s Gospel passage expresses His intentions of going to other towns to preach the good news of the Kingdom of God!

The zeal and enthusiasm of the Lord to reach out the Gospel to many others is really amazing….

Do I imitate the Lord…

…. in being zealous to reach out God’s goodness and kindness to many other people?

… in being fervent to let ignorant people to know the saving message of the Gospel?

The Gospel of the Day invites us to take note of the Altruistic Spirit of Jesus…

The Altruism of Jesus challenges us…

…. to reach out to many sick and suffering and troubled and weak-hearted and afflicted people with the Love and Compassion and Healing and Mercy of the Lord!

… to go beyond our zones of comfort and help the lonely and the depressed and the unwanted and the rejected and the discriminated with the Acceptance and Restoration of the Lord!

Jesus was possessed by a deep love of His Father…

>> It made Him to be Altruistic in reaching out to others.

Jesus was filled with a deep fervour for the Kingdom…

>> It made Him to be Altruistic in saving and healing others.

Today, You and I, are invited and challenged to imitate and follow Jesus, the Ideal Altruist!

Let us show forth that we are Children of our Heavenly Father and soldiers of the Kingdom of God, not only through our words…

… but much more by our Altruistic words and deeds and actions.

September 5th is Teacher’s Day in India.

Teachers – through their altruistic life – mould and shape a child to make him/her a beautiful person with a noble character!

>> Teachers inspire change.

>> Teachers motivate transformation.

>> Teachers stir up conversion!

Today the Greatest of all Teachers – Jesus: the Perfect Model of True Altruism – challenges and exhorts each one of us to adopt and adapt…

… a Transformed way of Living

… a Changed Lifestyle

… a Converted Life!

>> And allow Him to reign over every situation of our life!

Today is also the Feast day of Saint Mother Teresa of Kolkata, a fervent example of altruism

Let us seek her intercession…

… and be inspired by her love and life, that we may truly see – and like her – bring the Powerful Presence of God in every situation of our society.

Let us grow in selfless deeds and noble tasks and self-sacrificing actions!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

Napoleon Bonaparte was a French military and political leader who rose into prominence during the French Revolution.

>> In a short span of time, he had gained prominent control of the Continental Europe.

Once, while discussing and planning his strategies, with his staff officers, he spread a large map of the world on the table before him.

Then he put his finger on a kingdom which was coloured red and told them, “If it were not for this red spot, I could conquer the whole world!”

That red spot was the British Isles.

(The British Isles were identified with the colour ‘red’ derived from its prominence in their flag.

> They were the only force, which Napolean felt, was preventing his plans to capture the entire world)

Probably, in the similar manner, Satan, while discussing and planning his strategies, would spread the large map of the universe.

Then, he would put his finger on a place which was coloured red and told them, “If it were not for this red spot, I could conquer the whole universe!”

That red spot is the Blood of our Blessed Saviour, shed on the Cross at Calvary!

Yes, Satan trembles at the glorious presence of our Blessed Lord.

>> Evil cannot stand Holiness!

>> Wickedness cannot tolerate Goodness!

The Gospel of the Day presents this expression and dread of the evil one, who is unable to bear the presence of the Divine Saviour.

The Gospel Passage is the incident of the curing of the demoniac (Lk 4: 31-37).

The preceding passage (Lk 4: 1-30) described the dramatic inauguration of the public ministry of Jesus in His home-town, Nazareth.

… Initially, there was a lot of amazement, wonder and awe that was expressed by the people

… But when the Lord, began to explicate His Mission, especially of being a Saviour of all the nations, there was a change in attitude of the people

… The shift from a “goody-goody” expectation of the Messiah to a “challenging” presence, caused them discomfort, and they began to express their anger and infuriation, by seeking to even kill the Lord

But the Spirit-filled Jesus had no stopping…

>> Nothing could stop Him from continuing His Mission and the Duty entrusted to Him

And so, the Gospel says, “He went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee. And He was teaching on the Sabbath” (Lk 4: 31)

As the quote goes, “This is the kind of stuff, champions are made of!”

He was…

… determined in His dedication

… committed to His cause

… purposeful in His programme

Can we also imitate our Blessed Lord in this unswerving fidelity…

>> Oppositions may rock our life…

>> Crises may strangle our hopes…

But can I still continue to hold on to being Faithful to the Gospel and to the ways of the Lord?

This requires the tremendous infilling and a constant seeking and doing of God’s Will in our lives.

It was this purposiveness that enabled Jesus to be a person of authority and evoke astonishment and amazement from His hearers: “They were astonished at His teaching, for His Word was with authority” (Lk 31b-32)

Therefore, when the man who was possessed by the evil spirit, encountered Jesus, “he cried out with a loud voice, ‘Ah! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us?” (Lk 4: 34)

Yes, Satan trembles at the glorious presence of our Blessed Lord.

>> Evil cannot stand Holiness!

>> Wickedness cannot tolerate Goodness!

As followers of our Blessed Lord, we too are called upon to become “people of authority and holiness”

> Can I seek to grow deeper in my relationship with the Lord…

… so that my Spirit-filled presence will cause the demons of “filthiness, lust, corruption and injustice” to tremble and be cast away?

> Can I make efforts to co-operate still more with the Grace of the Lord…

… so that my life-in-Jesus, will cause the demons of “wickedness, indifference, hatred and pride” to shiver and be chased away?

There is a beautiful hymn, known to many of us, “Are you washed, in the blood of the Lamb?”

>> When we are washed clean by the blood of the Lamb, we have the power to stand before the forces of evil

>> When we are purified by the cleansing might of the blood of Christ, we have the grace to challenge the pressures of Satan

May our lives, washed in the Blood of our Blessed Lord, be a “red spot” which would distort every wicked plan of Satan to conquer this world…

… and may we shine forth, in brightness and holiness, radiating the Authoritative Presence of Christ to all!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

The Dynamite was one of the most powerful invention known to humans at that time.

>> It was invented by Alfred Nobel.

When Nobel had invented it, he asked his friend – a Greek scholar- for a word in Greek, for ‘explosive power’.

>> The Greek word that was given was ‘dunamis’ – an explosive power!

By itself, a dynamite is fairly stable.

But once combined with an ‘igniter’ it becomes extremely powerful.

(An igniter is something like a firecracker placed inside a stick of TNT to set it off)

It is interesting that the “Power” of the Holy Spirit also has the same Greek word, “dunamis”!

As Christians, at our Baptism and in the further Sacraments, we have received this “dunamis” – Power!

>> We all have the potential within us to be a “Dynamite” – of God’s Love, Mercy and Power!

But the question is…

>> Do I give witness to this mighty power of the Holy Spirit- ‘dunamis’ – in my life…?

… Or have I been rendered powerless and ineffective, lacking the force of an ‘igniter’?

The Gospel of the Day is a powerful display of the Power of the Holy Spirit, by Jesus, as He inaugurates His public ministry at Nazareth.

The public ministry of our Blessed Lord begins with the reading and proclamation of the prophetic words:

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me…” (Lk 4:18)

The Jewish world had been eagerly waiting and longing for the coming of the Messiah.

But Divine Irony had it that when the Messiah did arrive, it was not with a mighty bang, but with a sweet gentleness and calm!

>> He came from a place, that was perhaps, least expected – Nazareth

>> He announced His coming to the public not with any grand show or spectacle – but by just declaring the Word of God with authority

But this humble beginning, that Divine Wisdom planned it so beautifully, would slowly unleash its mighty power – its “dunamis”!

>> The mighty words and proclamation by Jesus caused an immediate stir and buzz among the people who listened to Him.

The Gospel would testify to this fact, in the words: “And all spoke highly of Him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from His mouth” (Lk 4:22)

However, as the Spirit of God continued to display its mighty power, in the Person of Jesus, there also arose the spirit of division and opposition.

The “all-hailing” and “all -praising” crowd, on realizing the demands placed by the Word of God…

… got converted to “being enraged” and “being infuriated”!

So much was the antagonism that had brewed up that “all in the synagogue were filled with wrath, and they rose to put Him out of the city…” (Lk 4: 28-29)

This then is the “mighty dynamite of God’s Mighty Spirit”:

>> A Power that arrests the attention of all and causes amazement and wonder…

… yet, a Power that also mightily challenges and confronts!

Each of us, as Christians, possessing the Mighty Power of the Holy Spirit are called to a “Spiritual Dynamite”…

… One which arrests the attention of the people by our witnessing and faithful life

… One which causes people to make an introspection into their lives to turn towards God, even if it results in persecutions

Our Blessed Lord, with the mighty power of the Anointing of the Holy Spirit, became a life-transforming and a society-challenging Dynamite!

>> The unflinching focus and the faithful commitment was His Igniter

>> The deep desire to fulfil His Father’s Will was His Igniter

>> The intense love for His people was His Igniter.

Am I, as a Christian, somehow failing to be a powerful witness and give a mighty testimony to the Gospel?

Can I reinforce the ‘igniters’ of…

> being focused and faithfully committed

> having a deep desire to seek and do God’s Will

> cultivating an intense love and compassion for His people

… so that my life can be a “powerful dynamite” of God’s Compassionate Love and Mercy?

We today seek the intercession of St Gregory the Great on his feast-day

>> He is known as the “Father of Christian Worship” because of his exceptional efforts in reviving the Church Liturgy (Divine Worship).

May his words inspire us:

“The only true riches are those that make us rich in virtue.

>> Therefore, if you want to be rich… love true riches.

>> If you aspire to the heights of real honor, strive to reach the kingdom of Heaven!”

May this Saint’s deep love for Christ and His Church inspire us to make our Christian lives, a “dynamite” of Christ’s love and mercy!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

Here is a simple anecdote known to many of us (perhaps in different versions)…

There was soap manufacturer, who professed atheism.

>> He however had a wonderful friend who was a devout God-believing person – going around different places, preaching the Gospel.

Once, during an evening walk, the soap manufacturer said, “Look around at the evil and wickedness that is prevalent in our world today.

People killing each other, mercilessly.

>> Women and children subjected to horrific abuses.

>> Peace and harmony fearing to walk openly, afraid that they would be mangled and devoured by the forces of injustice!

The Gospel that you preach has just not done much good.

>> Wickedness is so much in the air and seems to be ever increasing!”

The God-fearing friend made no reply to these hard-hitting, yet factual comments until they passed by a little child, who was playing in the mud.

>> The child had dirtied himself badly.

Discovering his chance, the devout friend said, ” Look around at the dirt and the uncleanness that is prevalent everywhere.

The soap that you manufacture has just not done much good.

>> Dirt and uncleanliness is so much around and seems to be ever increasing!”

“Oh, but that’s not fair to say!” said the soap manufacturer, “soap is useful only when it is applied!”

“Exactly”, said the preacher-friend, “so it is with the Gospel that I preach!

It is effective, only when put to use!”

Has the Gospel of the Lord become effective and meaningful in our lives …?

… or is it remaining unused, and causing us to remain dirtied in sin and unclean in lifestyle?

The Gospel of the Day is a wake-up call to discover the Power of God’s Word to cleanse our lives and to abandon our mentality of ‘just being content’ in having the Gospel as a mere “decorative and ornamental” value in our lives.

The Gospel passage begins on a “complaint note” with the Pharisees and some Scribes, finding fault with the Disciples of Jesus, who ate with hands defiled. (Mk 7:2)

Firstly, isn’t it pretty ironical, that the Pharisees and Scribes, who were judicious in their keeping of the Law, failed to recognize Jesus, the Author of the Law Himself?!

Jesus was growing in popularity as the Mighty Healer, the Great Preacher and a Powerful Transformative Force.

But the Pharisees and the Scribes, somehow, failed to discover these Divine elements in Him.

>> Every time they saw Jesus, they would look for something to find fault in Him

>> Every time they heard Jesus, they would sneak a chance to find a loophole in His teachings

>> Every time, they encountered Jesus, they would fastidiously seek to put Him to the test and grill Him

This “Pharisaic and Scribal” tendency is not to be directly condemned or rashly judged…

… They were a group, trying to make sure that Jesus was not any of those false prophets (who were plenty in those days) and wanted to corrupt their pure religion

… They were also wanting to test and prove the authenticity of “the one who came from Nazareth” and His claims to be the Messiah

However, beyond these “innocent intentions” of the Pharisees and Scribes, it is to be also noted, that this “law-protecting” and “law-fanatic” group of Scribes and Pharisees had also slipped into grave dangerous zones…

>> They were critical..

… but they also drenched themselves in total skepticism and gave no room for any openness to the truth or to God’s Spirit talking to them!

>> They were strict followers of the Law…

… but they had also failed to authenticate their zealous following, with a life of mercy, justice and love, which was the aim and goal of the Law!

>> They declared themselves as being faithful to God’s Law …

… but they had also precipitated this Divine Law into hundreds of man-made stipulations and cruelly insisted on its following, without being aware that God’s basic purposes for the Law were being abandoned and trampled upon!

And so our Blessed Lord, makes a scathing attack and strongly exhorts them to move from a mere “decorative and ornamental” understanding of the Law…

… towards a radically “transformative and life-changing” practice of the Law.

>> They insisted only on the strict ritualistic washing of vessels and cups and pots..

.,.. But Jesus exhorts them to first cleanse the sinful vessels of their mind and the adulterous pots of their hearts

>> They insisted only on the austere cleansing of their hands..

… But Jesus exhorts them to first wash the defiled fingers of their duplicity and the dirtied palms of their pride

The attack on the Pharisaic and Scribal attack is also a lesson and reminder for us to examine our attitudes in life and to make the necessary changes…

Have I adopted a “decorative and ornamental” understanding of being a Christian, and just be happy to be “called as a Christian”, enjoying some of the privileges and comforts that come along with it…

… or do I allow God’s Gospel to powerfully effect changes in me?

Am I just satisfied with “external cleanliness” – either in just being neat and tidy or in looking glamorous and fashionable or in being constantly bothered only with my external looks…

… or do I take steps to cleanse my heart of all sinful tendencies and to allow the rivers of God’s grace to wash away my inner defilements?

Sin is a deep reality of our lives…

… whether we like it or not… we accept it or not.

Do I be satisfied with just remaining a Christian and “appearing” to be a Follower of Christ, with some basic Church obligations fulfilled…

… or do I truly open my heart to allow God’s spirit to “heal me from within” of all my evil tendencies and social negligences?

May our Blessed Lord give us the blessing to “put His Gospel into true effect”, so that our lives may shine brightly, not just externally, but more importantly, from His grace that flows from within.

God Bless! Live Jesus!