The French have a proverb, which states: “A good meal ought to begin with hunger.”

It is usually pretty hard to to enjoy a meal when one is not yet hungry.

>> But, when one is hungry…

… anything tastes good.

This hunger is of course, not only about physical hunger.

There are many other areas of life where we experience hunger…

>> Hunger for love…

>> Hunger for being wanted…

>> Hunger on emotional counts…

>> Hunger of the spiritual order…

These aspects of hunger…

… may never have a scientific statistic

… may never have flowcharts and pie diagrams to measure them

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

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

… with an invitation to always “hunger for God and to serve His people!”

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

The Apostles, who were sent on the mission (Mk 6: 7-13) had returned back and reported all that they had done (Mk 6:30)

>> They had driven out many demons…

>> They had anointed many with oil who were sick and cured them… (Mk 6:13)

They would have rejoiced greatly, but they were also physically tired.

>> They would have been satisfied with their works, but they did not have even the time to eat (Mk 6:31)

The Apostles had done many works, but Jesus sensed that they were tired

>> The Apostles were happy with their ministry, but Jesus sensed that they were hungry.

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

Like these Apostles, many times, this can be our case too…

>> We may be doing a lot of things…

… but are we still feeling spiritually tired?

>> We may be happy with what we are doing…

… but are we still hungry deep within?

The Good Shepherd invites us…

… to take some rest in Him

… to relax in His Holy Heart

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

The people had seen many miracles, but Jesus sensed that they were still not truly filled

The people had witnessed many wonders, but Jesus sensed that they were still lost and unguided.

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

Like these people, many times this can be our case too…

>> We may have witnessed God’s wonders…

… but are we still spiritually found wanting?

>> We may be glad to doing the minimum in our spiritual life…

… but are we still missing something?

The Good Shepherd encourages us…

… with His Divine Word

… by His Compassionate Love

There is a indeed a great hunger in the world.

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

We may be people who hunger for love and acceptance…

>> Let us go to Jesus, the Supreme Lover of our lives

We may be people dejected and depressed in life…

>> Let us go to Jesus, the Ultimate Happiness of our lives

We may be people feeling unlucky and ill-fated in life…

>> Let us go to Jesus, the Absolute Destiny of our lives

In turn, we also meet people who go through such “hunger”…

…for love, for acceptance, for encouragement, for hope, for basics of life etc…

Do I recognise, in the first place, such requirements of needy people?

>> Does my heart move in loving compassion for them?

Can I be a Good Shepherd, like Jesus, to them?

May the prayer in Heb 13:20-21 (1st Reading) be our personal prayer:

“May the God of peace, who brought up from the dead, the great Shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, Jesus our Lord, furnish you with all that is good, that you may do His Will.

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

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “Have patience to walk with short steps…

… until you have wings to fly!”

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Today, we are going to meet an astonishing son of an astonishing father….

The astonishing father is King Herod the Great…

>> He has been described as “a madman who murdered his own family”

>> He has also killed great many rabbis

>> He was one “prepared to commit any crime in order to gratify his unbounded ambition”

King Herod the Great was also known as the “the greatest builder in Jewish history”.

>> In his days, he held at least three architectural world records: the largest palace (Lower Herodium), the largest plaza (Temple Mount) and the largest royal portico (Temple Mount).

His astonishing son is King Herod Antipas

He succeeded his father, and served as tetrarch (appointed by the emperor Augustus to rule over one quarter of his father’s kingdom) from 4 B.C. until 39 A.D., almost exactly the lifetime of Jesus.

>> Like his father, Antipas had great political wit, knowing how to work situations to his advantage.

These two Herods have been responsible for two astonishing events of murders recounted in the Gospels…

>> King Herod the Great ordered the slaying of the innocent children at the birth of Jesus, the King of the world!

>> King Herod Antipas ordered the beheading of the innocent John the Baptist, the precursor of Jesus, the Lamb of God!

The Gospel of the Day recounts this horrific incident of the murder of John the Baptist.

The popularity of Jesus was soaring high…

>> The people were excited with His preaching and healing ministry.

Some accepted Him.

>> Some rejected Him.

>> Some were skeptical about Him.

But in any case…

… He was being known everywhere.

When this news reached the ruler of the land, King Herod Antipas, he got terrified. (Mk 6:16)

His guilty conscience pricked him hard:

He knew that, unlike the common opinion of the public….

… this famous person was not Elijah

… this famous person was not any other prophet.

>> Instead, he assumed this famous person to be John, whom he had beheaded.

The weight of this sin was so heavy on him, that he failed to see any other possibility.

>> The stench of this sin was so strong, that he failed to sense the fragrance of Divinity.

We live in times when the world is progressively losing the “sense of sin”.

St John Paul II in His Apostolic Exhortation ‘Reconciliatio et Paenitentia,’ warns that “the loss of the sense of sin is a form or fruit of the negation of God: not only of the atheist, but also of the secularist”

The two King Herods in the Gospels – Herod the Great and Herod Antipas – represent people who have “lost this sense of sin”

Is my life trending towards this tendency…

…. a loss of the sense of sin?

>> Am I afraid to even encounter this word “sin” and use alternative words to speak about it?

>> Am I waning in consciousness of faults and failures that can cripple my spiritual life?

The Lord came to this world, primarily, as Saviour of the world…

A Saviour to give…

… salvation from sins

… healing for our wounds

… redemption from our transgressions

The Church has often been accused of being obsessed with matters of sin and transgressions..

>> In this process, many a times, Her teachings have been diluted, misinterpreted and misquoted.

The Church offers the wonderful sacrament of Reconciliation to gain back the innocence and grace of being God’s Holy Children.

Are we faithful in seeking His grace through this powerful sacrament?

… a sacrament of healing

… a sacrament of empowerment

Are we aware of the tremendous powers this sacrament carries…

… in making our life more happy?

… in ushering in, greater strength in us?

We are also invited to make “the examination of conscience” a part of our daily life and routine.

>> A regular and daily check up of the state of our life, our spiritual sphere can be a great strength and force to help us live a holy and sanctified life.

A sinful conscience can make us to astonishing and cruel deeds…

… like the King Herods

The Lord today invites us to purify ourselves, through the power of His love and redemption.

May we offer and surrender our lives to the One who can purge us away from sin and help us live a sanctified life!

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

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

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

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “ The devout person after the exercise of dismanting the heart – to review it well – must anoint it…

… with the Sacraments of Confession and Holy Eucharist!”

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A common story is told of a water bearer who had two large pots…

… each hung on each end of a pole which he carried across his neck.

One of the pots had a crack in it.

While the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the master’s house…

… the cracked pot arrived only half full.

For a full two years, this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water in his master’s house.

Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments

>> But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.

After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, the cracked pot spoke to the water bearer:

>> “I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you”.

The bearer asked, “Why? What are you ashamed of?”

The pot replied: “For these past two years I am able to deliver only half of my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master’s house.

>> Because of my flaws, you don’t get full value for your efforts”.

The water bearer without being disturbed said plainly:

>> “Today as we return to the master’s house, I want you to notice the path along your side.”

As they went up the hill, the cracked pot took notice of the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path.

At the end of the trail, the bearer said to the pot:

>> “Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of your path, but not on the other pot’s side?

That’s because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it.

>> I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you’ve watered them.

For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master’s table.

>> Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house!”

As a Christian, each of us are expected to perform our role in mission

>> This requires that we be just the way we are…

… but totally offered to the Hands of the Master, knowing for sure that He will supplement all our flaws with His Grace!

The Gospel of the Day presents Jesus sending out the Twelve on a mission…

… with the tender invitation to depend on Him totally.

The ministry of Jesus had gained a lot of popularity.

>> There were crowds of people following Him…

>> There were multitudes of persons attracted to Him…

But of all these, Jesus had chosen the Twelve…

… who would be with Him and to be sent out (Mk 3:14)

The ministry of Jesus had also gained a lot of opposition.

>> Many of the religious leaders were greatly taken aback by the raw authoritative power of Jesus

>> Many of the Scribes and Pharisees were greatly offended by the blunt and open challenges by Jesus

>> Many of the local and family people were greatly scandalized by the boldness and courage of Jesus

But as the saying goes…

“Challenges are what makes life interesting…

… and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful!”

Though opposition and challenges were raging hard against the ministry of Jesus…

>> He remained courageous and determined.

>> He not only chooses the Twelve…

… but He also sends them on a mission

A mission…

… with an authority over unclean spirits

… to proclaim the Kingdom of God

… to preach repentance and peace

In this mission joureney, the Lord gave a few instructions and principles…

“… to take nothing for the journey…

… whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place…” ( Mk 6: 8-10)

The Twelve were to learn…

… to totally depend on the Lord

… to not get discouraged even in the face of apparent flaws and failures

Each of us, by virtue of our following Christ, is a missionary…

… we have a duty entrusted to us – a duty for the Kingdom of God

Do I totally dependant on the Lord and have the Lord as my Courage and Strength…

…or do I tend to get self-reliant and too proud on my own talents and potentials, with no room for the Lord?

Do I get easily discouraged and disheartened when things don’t go as I plan or when I feel that I am not being “successful” in what I am doing…

… or do I know for sure that even with all my flaws and weaknesses, the Lord will employ me for His Glory, if I trust in Him?

Christian missionary life is a journey

>> There may be times when we feel we are not doing enough

>> There will be situations when we feel that I am not living up to my expectations

But the Lord, Who is holding us, over His Shoulders assures us:

“I have always known about your flaws…

… and I take advantage of that.

>> Just be the way you are – but offer yourself to me totally and trust in me – and you will participate in my plan of bringing Beauty to the House of God!”

Yes, the Lord plants flower seeds of joy, peace and love on the way

>> And if we entrust ourselves totally to Him…

… even our flaws, can become occasions to have these seeds to bloom and bless others!

Shall we – in the words of St Francis de Sales – “Be what we are, and be at its best”…

… offering our lives to the Lord wholly?

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “ It is love that gives value to all our works

>> It is not by the greatness or multiplicity of our works that we please God…

… but by the love with which we do them!”

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A distinguished actor had a large photograph of William Wordsworth prominently displayed in his dressing-room.

(William Wordsworth was a major English Romantic poet who, with Samuel Taylor Coleridge, helped to launch the Romantic Age in English literature with their joint publication ‘Lyrical Ballads’).

A friend, who came to see this actor and observing the picture remarked with some surprise…

“Hmmm… I see!

>> So you are an admirer of Wordsworth?”

“Wordsworth? Who’s that?” enquired back the actor.

“Why, that’s his picture,” was the answer, as the friend pointed towards the image “That’s William Wordsworth, the literary giant. This picture would surely have cost you a fortune!”

The actor looked at the photograph with a bemused gaze!

“Is that old guy, a famous poet?” he exclaimed in astonishment!

>> “Oh! Who bothers about these old guys! I just picked up that frame from my storehouse, to fill the empty space on my wall!!”

The picture that was hung on the wall failed to acquire its deserved status and recognition …

• due to the ignorance of the actor

• due to his contempt for and prejudice towards old guys

How often do we reject the precious and important people and aspects of life…

… due to our ignorance…. our contempt of things… and our prejudiced mindsets!

The Gospel of the Day is presentation of this “rejection” experience of the Lord in His hometown.

The Lord arrives in His hometown.

On the Sabbath, He taught in the synagogue.

The Gospel mentions a juxtaposition of feelings of the listeners…

First, there is a great expression of marvel and wonder:

“Where did this Man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been given to Him? What deeds of power are being by Him?” (Mk 6:2)

But this feeling quickly vanishes…

The feelings of wonder and amazement get distorted to feelings of contempt, condemnation and outright rejection:

“Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not His sisters here with us?” (Mk 6:2)

What was the cause of this sudden and dramatic change of mood of the listeners?

• It was simply because Jesus was “just one of them!”

• It was simply because Jesus was “too acquainted to them!”

Familiarity often breeds contempt!

• When one is too close to the Divine, one has to be also aware that there are greater possibilities of losing the “sense of awe and wonder” and sink into the dangerous waters of “taking things for granted”

• When one is constantly handling Divine objects, there is also the greater chance of losing the “awareness and thrill of the mystery” and get lost in the thickets of “being lethargic or unenthusiastic or even indifferent”

How many of us are prone to this danger….

>> Priests and the Religious constantly handle Divine objects and perform many spiritual exercises…

• Daily Holy Mass… Frequent recital of the Psalms in the Divine Office Prayer… Regular Adorations and administering and receiving of the Sacraments… Recurrent handling of the Bible, liturgical articles, reading and hearing Church teachings and life of saints….

>> Do all these help one to deepen one’s relationship with the Lord…?

… or do these cause one to lose the “sense of awe and wonder” and sink into the dangerous waters of “taking things for granted”… ?

>> Many Christians are engaged in a number of spiritual activities on a regular basis…

• Holy Eucharistic celebration… novenas… recital of the Rosary and other pious prayers of devotion… forwarding of devotional messages, pictures and videos through emails and Whatsapp and social networking tools…

>> Do all these help one to grow in spiritual life….?

… or do these make one to lose the “awareness and thrill of the mystery” and get lost in the thickets of “being lethargic or unenthusiastic or even indifferent” … ?

The people failed to recognize the worth and value of Jesus due to “too much familiarity”.

However this familiarity was only “external and peripheral”…

Such kind of a familiarity had, in fact, caused them to be ignorant, contemptuous and prejudiced…

>> Ignorant…

… of the fact that amidst them was the Promised Messiah who was to save the world!

>> Contemptuous…

… of the fact that “one of them” could actually possess so much of wisdom and power!

>> Prejudiced…

… of the fact that “this ordinary Son of a carpenter” could ever be the Son of God!

Yes, how often do we reject the precious and important people and aspects of life…

… due to our ignorance…. our contempt of things… and our prejudiced mindsets!

We are invited today to “open our eyes” and to realize the worth and preciousness of God’s grace that we have been blessed with…

Each of us… personally… as a family… as a community… and as a Church, have been blessed and graced with immense favours and kindness from the Lord.

• True that we have a lot of difficulties to face in our life…

• True that we have much to complain in the maze of the many crisis we undergo..

Yet amidst all this…

>> Can we lift up our hearts in thanksgiving and gratitude for the Lord’s Guiding Presence with us, always…

… and learn to grow deeper in our love for Him?

Can we accord the deserving status and recognition to the Lord’s presence in our lives?

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “ It is the occupation of an idle person to be busy with scrutinizing the life of another!”

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“Hands up” is a sign of surrender and submission.

When the police catches a thief, “hands up” is the word used to indicate giving up…

>> When a militant admits defeat, “hands up” is a sign of submitting.

The weak one, in the face of the stronger one, has “hands up” in surrender…

>> The fragile ones, before the mighty ones, have “hands up” in submission….

But in the Divine Realm, it’s not just “hands up”….

… we also have “falling at the feet”

>> Before the Divine power, “falling of the feet” is a still greater sign of submission

The Gospel of the Day recounts two incidents of this encounter with the Divine, and a “falling at the feet”

Sicknesses and diseases are great interrupters in life…

… they enter into the house of life, without knocking at the doors

… they disrupt many plans and aspirations

… they reduce the hope for the future

The Gospel is a narration of two persons who encountered this interruption in life…

1. Jairus’ daughter on the death bed – dashing many dreams of the family

2. The woman with haemorrhage for long years – crushing many of her aspirations

Both these two persons – Jairus and the Woman with the haemorrhage underwent similar struggles….

>> One had tremendous mental agony as a result of worry for his beloved child…

>> The other had also tremendous physical agony along with her mental and social stigmas…

Both their sufferings had reached a saturation point of tolerance…

>> Both of them were struggling immensely to swim across the ocean of agony and pain…

But both these persons also displayed a similar sort of faith in the Lord….

” Seeing Jesus, Jairus fell at His feet and pleaded earnestly with Him…” ( Mk 5:22)

“…realizing what had happened to her, the woman approached Jesus in fear and trembling; fell down before Jesus and told Him the whole truth” (Mk 5: 33)

They both “fell at the feet of Jesus” in deep faith and trust…

They both “fell at the feet of Jesus” with much love and devotion…

They both “fell at the feet of Jesus” with great expectations and hopes…

The “falling at the feet” was a sign of total submission and surrender

>> Jairus surrendered himself to the power and mercy of the Lord…

>> The woman with haemorrhage submitted herself to the compassion and love of the Lord…

This made them to experience the power of the Lord.

When we submit ourselves to the mighty power and providence of God…

…we experience His Divine Strength and Courage

When we offer ourselves fully to the holy and precious Will of the Lord…

… we come in contact with His Divine Providence and Wonder

When we surrender ourselves to the dominion and sovereignty of God…

… we encounter His marvellous presence and guidance

Are we ready to submit and surrender…

>> with “Hands up”

>> and “falling at the feet”

… to God’s mighty power…?

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “ Although dear Lord, I have no feeling of confidence in Thee, I know all the same, that though art my God…

… that I am wholly Thine and that I have no hope but in Thy Goodness.

>> Therefore, I abandon myself entirely into Thy Hands!”

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Destiny is shaped by moments of decision!

It was the year 1673 in Portugal.

>> A young man of 26 was on the verge of taking a strong and serious decision.

He was just a little over a decade, as member, in the Congregation of the Society of Jesus.

>> His superiors deemed it right to send this vibrant and dynamic person to the missions in India

It was a dangerous mission…

…It was a difficult mission

>> A destiny was to be shaped

>> A decision had to be made

mother of this young and fervent person, feared the life of her beloved son.

Years back, she had experienced the mighty healing touch of the Lord, in the recovery of her son, from the point of death.

>> She had then, vested her son for a year, in a dress worn by the Jesuit fathers.

But now, she was afraid of losing her son again…

>> She knew mission to India meant death…

>> She knew mission away from the native was fatal…

She tried her best to persuade and influence to prevent him from going to the land of death…

But her son was determined….

>> He had decided to give up His life entirely for the Lord – body, mind and spirit

With deep courage and conviction, he answered:

“God, who called me from the world into religious life, now calls me from Portugal to India”

>> He had set His eyes on the Kingdom of heaven…

… and not limited by earthly life…

>> He had set His heart on the designs of God’s Will…

… and not restricted by human desires…

He had made a decision…

…a decision to shape destiny…according to God’s Will!

Just two decades later, on 4th February, 1693, this brave and committed person was executed for the sake of Christ.

>> The name of the person is St John de Britto, whose feast we celebrate today.

He followed the footsteps of his Beloved Master who had echoed the words:

“Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it only remains a seed; but if it dies, it produces much fruit” (Jn 12:24)

To be a witness for the Kingdom of God is the call and duty of every Christian.

> It is a decision to be made…

>> It is a decision to be nurtured..

>>> It is a decision to be lived…

Christ made this decision of being entirely and wholly dedicated to His mission

Jesus had many occasions and chances to escape from this dedication…

He could have chosen to enjoy popularity and fame arising out of His mighty deeds…

>> But He made a “decision” to not compromise on the truths and convictions

He could have chosen to dilute some of His teachings and make life more “cosier”…

>> But He made a “decision” to remain firm and grounded on the fundamentals of eternity

He could have chosen to forego some of His values and have some “adjustments”…

>> But He made a “decision” to be faithful and loyal to the mission and duties entrusted to Him

Our life as a witness for Christ and His Kingdom is sometimes greatly influenced and prejudiced…

>> We sometimes don’t mind…

… being a little relaxing on some Church teachings…

… making some adjustments to remain popular and not have a bad name…

… diluting some values in order to appear as secular and sociable…

The Church is often under tremendous pressure to change some of Her moral teachings…

>> The Church is often under blatant attacks to alter some of Her time-and-tested values..

Most often, the motive behind all such attacks are a ‘life of ease’, a ‘life of comfort’, a ‘life of personal satisfaction’ etc…

Christ today, however, needs witnesses who are willing to undergo pains and persecutions…

The Martyr St John de Britto gave up His native land…His personal desires.. His family ties… His very life itself…

… all for the sake of Christ and His Love

… all for the sake of the Kingdom and its values

… all for the sake of His Church and Her teachings

In his words, ““Not to answer the vocation as I ought, would be to provoke the justice of God”

Let us be true and faithful to the vocation we have received and the way of life we have chosen…

Christ needs martyrs who are willing to…

… live His teachings

… teach His teachings

Christ needs martyrs who are willing to give up their…

… physical life in the face of being persecuted for Him

… economic life and depend on Him as the true treasure

… social life to bear insults and humiliations to live His values

Yes, Destiny is shaped by moments of decision!

Are we – you and I – ready to shape our destiny as per God’s Holy and Perfect Will?

> > What is our decision?

Happy Feast of St John de Britto!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “ We should take up the task of becoming perfect not just for our satisfaction…

… but to please our Spouse Who wants us to become so!”

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Mobile phones come with various features

> One of the feature – especially in the older versions of phones – is the dictionary mode.

In this dictionary mode, if one types the word, “rejected”…

… it appears as “selected!”

Try it if you wish…

Well… the same is true when we type in the word “rejected” in the Divine mode…

… before the Lord!

• He converts every “reject” to a “select”…

• He converts our “rejection” to a “selection” for grace and sanctification

• He converts our “rejection” to a “selection” for purification and strengthening.

Are we ready to offer all our “rejection” to the Lord…

… so that He can convert them into a “selection” unto Him?

One of the most painful words in perhaps the whole of dictionary is the word … “Rejection”

>> And this is perhaps one word, that has been experienced in life, by most of us.. if not all.

• Most of us have felt the sting of rejection…

• Most of us can recollect instances and situations of rejection even now…

• Most of feel a twinge within ourselves when we hear this word ‘rejection’…

The Gospel of the Day presents Jesus, our Master undergoing the painful experience of ‘rejection’.

The background of the Gospel passage of the day is that Jesus is in the Synagogue at Nazareth at the beginning of His ministry.

Being handed over the Scripture from the book of Isaiah, Jesus spoke of the fulfillment of the text that was read:

>> “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor….” (Lk 4:18)

The graciousness of His words and the eloquence of His speech attracted the audience to Himself.

The first impression was surely a wonderful impression…

… but as time would prove, it is not always the best and lasting impression.

When He began to teach the people of how God has brought His salvation and the message of hope to not just the Jews, but the Gentiles also, murmurs of rejection began to crop up.

• The message of straight talk to the heart, which affected their inner lives, caused uneasiness to His listeners.

• The delivery of the truth which had a direct bearing upon their lives and attitudes, caused edginess to arise among His listeners.

And so, there happened a conversion…

…. a conversion, not for the good, but for the bad!

• They were converted from having a good opinion of Jesus to forming a detestable view on Him

• They were converted from nodding their heads in approval to shaking their heads and clenching their fists in refutation and denial.

How true a picture is this of many a human nature….

>> We appreciate those persons who speak what we wish to speak…

… but deny those who speak against us, even if they speak the truth!

>> We encourage those people who harp the same tune that we wish to hear…

… but terribly denounce those who play the melody for a genuine transformation!

The Lord was rejected!

>> And He Himself testified to this naked reality:

“No prophet is accepted in his own native place” (Lk 4: 24)

The Gospel of John presents this reality in a more dramatic manner:

“He came to His own and His own rejected Him!” (Jn 1:11)

Rejection is a part of each of our lives…

>> And the rejection is much greater and true, when one stands for the truth and the values of the Gospel!

• We get rejected by our friends who don’t approve when we seek to live a holier lives…

• We get rejected by the society which is unable to appreciate those wanting a sanctified life…

But the Lord assures us.. “In all your rejection, look up to me!”

“There was no one who was rejected as I was…

>> I was rejected when I was born…

>> I was rejected when I lived…

>> I was rejected when I died….”

Our hearts – with the experiences of life – may perhaps be a canvas of much agony of rejection.

>> But the Lord today invites us to go to Him and seek solace, healing and consolation from Him.

Let us always remember that in the Divine Mode…

… every “rejected” turns into a “selected!”

He Who was rejected, is the Lord of acceptance!

>> He Who was rejected, is the Saviour of hope!

>>> He Who was rejected, is the God of healing!

Let us choose Him as the Lord and Love of our Life!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “ Go courageously to do whatever you are called to do. If you have any fears, say to your soul: ‘The Lord will provide for us.’

>> If your weakness troubles you, cast yourselves on God and trust in Him…

… Trust in Him, Depend on His Providence; fear nothing!”

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A politician, campaigning for an election, was giving a speech…

“Ladies and Gentlemen… give heed to what I say

I am a Catholic

>> As far as possible, I go for Holy Mass every day.

(Holding a rosary in the hand, he said…)

This is a rosary.

>> As far as possible, I kneel down and tell these beads every day.

If you reject me on account of my religion, I shall thank God that He has spared me the indignity of being your representative!”

The politician was convinced of his “belongingness” to the Lord…

… and was fearless and courageous in giving “external expression to his Faith!”

Today on this Feast of the Presentation of the Lord…

>> As Christians, we are reminded to grow in our “conviction of belonging to the Lord”…

… and to be fearless and courageous in witnessing to our Faith.

Today is also a day when we celebrate the ‘Consecrated Way of Life.’

Consecration is giving oneself to the Lord wholly.

>> Consecration is seeking to be pure, completely, in heart and mind.

The Gospel of the Day presents St Joseph and Mother Mary presenting Jesus in the Temple.

>> “When the days were completed for their purification, according to the Law of Moses, they took Him up to Jerusalem, to present Him to the Lord” (Lk 2:22)

We are on the 40th Day after Christmas, the Nativity of Jesus.

The Book of Exodus spoke of the need of this presentation and consecration of the first-born child…

“Consecrate to me every first-born that opens the womb…

If your son ask you later on, ‘What does this mean’, you shall tell him, ‘ With a strong hand, the Lord brought us out of Egypt, the land of slavery….’ ” ( Ex 12: 2, 14)

The act of presentation in the Temple…

… represented fulfilling of God’s command..

… recalled God’s deed of deliverance from slavery…

… reminded the deep love of God for His people…

The presentation of the Lord in the Temple, is also another reminder of the “ordinariness” of the Lord, in His incarnation…

>> Jesus was known as the child of “ordinary” human parents!

>> Jesus took birth and grew up in “ordinary” conditions and circumstances!

>> Jesus lived His life in an “ordinary” family situation!

By Baptism, all of us are also consecrated to the Lord…

>> Some of us, have also made a deeper consecration by the profession of vows…

The meaning of this consecration, also, derives from the consecration of the Lord…

>> We are “ordinary” by our sinful nature…

… yet the Lord exalts us to live a pure and holy life.

>> We are “ordinary” by our human nature…

… yet the Lord wishes to join with His Divine nature

>> We are “ordinary” in our deeds and works…

… yet the Lord wants to be His Kingdom partners

Our consecration…

… is a deep call and invitation to live a Holy Life

… is a loving obligation and sacred duty to be fully committed to Him

Each of us – whether single or in family life, whether a priest or a religious –

… ought to BELONG TO THE LORD AND TO HIM ALONE!

>> We are all consecrated and offered to the Lord.

Let us hold the hands of St Joseph and Mamma Mary, and renew our consecration to the Lord.

This is a day…

… to renew our commitment and zeal for the Lord

… to rekindle the fire of our love and faith in the Lord

… to restore our initial enthusiasm and interest for the Lord

… to revitalize our knowledge and comprehension of the Lord

Life will constantly take us to situations where we are called to give “public witness” to our Faith…

Let us grow in our conviction of our “belongingness” to the Lord…

… and be fearless and courageous in giving “external expression to our Faith!”

Happy Feast to all us, who are consecrated to the Lord, by our Baptism…

… specially to the Consecrated, by virtue of the evangelical vows!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “ Devotion must be exercised in different ways by the gentleman, the worker, the prince, the widow, the young girl and the married woman.

>> The practice of devotion must also be adapted to the strengths, activities and duties of each particular person!”

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