Oct 7 (Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary)

A museum is an institution that cares for and conserves a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance…

… and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary.

A museum…

… brings alive the past to the present and becomes a inspiration for the future!

… showcases the heritage and history and awakens many emotions and feelings!

A regular visit to a museum can be an enriching, informative and an encouraging experience.

>> A regular visit to a Christian Museum can be a still further enriching, nourishing and fulfilling experience for our material and our spiritual life!

Most of us have a very ready access to one of the best Christian Museums…

Most of us have a very regular opportunity to visit one of the finest Christian Museums…

Most of us have a very repeated chance to frequent one of the premium Christian Museums…

What is the Christian museum we are talking about?

>> It is the ROSARY.

The Rosary is the Christian museum…

… which  brings alive the past of the salvation history, to the present and becomes a inspiration for the future!

… which showcases the heritage and history of our faith and awakens many emotions and feelings!

Today Holy Mother the Church celebrates the Feast of our Lady of the Rosary.

This Feast of our Lady of the Rosary was instituted by Pope St. Pius V in the year 1570.

>> It was a sign of thanksgiving for a great naval victory over the Turks at the battle of Lepanto, obtained primarily by the recitation of the Rosary.

The Feast reminds us that that the Rosary is a Powerful Weapon.

The Rosary is a Powerful Weapon of victory and conquest.

>> In our struggle with the forces of sin and evil tendencies…

… the Rosary is the weapon of devotion.

>> In our battle with the forces of discouragements in life…

… the Rosary is the weapon of hope and courage.

>> In our war with the terrors of temptations to purity…

… the Rosary is the weapon of holiness and sanctity.

The Rosary is a beautiful presentation of the Life of Jesus, through the eyes of our Blessed Mother.

>> It is a wonderful way of learning the lessons of our faith and recollecting the beauty of our salvation.

The celebration of this Feast day and the whole month of October as the Rosary Month induces in us some aspects for our personal reflection and thought…

The mysteries contained and celebrated in the Rosary refer to the mysteries in the lives of Jesus and Mary.

>> Have I discovered the beauty and the joy of contemplating with Mother Mary on the life of Jesus through the Rosary?

The Rosary is a repetitive vocal prayer and involves one’s movements of the hands, lips and heart in its exercise.

>> What care and preparation do I take to allow the Rosary to be recited with a greater involvement and a deeper participation?

The Rosary is very often considered by many as a sleep-inducer or even a boring practice

>> Do I deliberately make efforts to check what is the time and the state of mind when I am praying the Rosary?

There are times, perhaps, when we fail to be interested in praying the Rosary.

>> Am I knowingly and unknowingly falling into the trap of making the Rosary as a mere routine or a ritual?

The Feast today invites us to re-awaken or re-start or re-invigorate our interest and commitment to Praying the Holy Rosary…

… daily!

The word Rosary means a “Crown of Roses”.

Our Lady has revealed to several people that each time one says a Hail Mary, one is giving her a beautiful rose and that completion of each Rosary, makes her a beautiful crown of roses.

>> The rose is the queen of flowers, and so the Rosary is the rose of all devotions.

Like the exhibits in a museum, each mystery of the Rosary reveals much…

>> Each Mystery that we meditate upon, is a miniature theology of the mysteries of the life of

Jesus and the life of Mary, offered with a view to feeding the minds and the heart.

The awesome story of our salvation is encapsulated in the Holy Rosary.

>> The Rosary is the nutshell of our salvation history.

Let us truly pray the Rosary and live the mysteries of the Rosary in our everyday life.

The saying goes true…”No one can live continually in sin and continue to say the Rosary: either they will give up sin or they will give up the Rosary”

Happy Feast of the Holy Rosary!

God Bless! Live Jesus! 

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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “The greatest method of praying…

… is to pray the Rosary!”

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Oct 6 (Lk 17:5-10)

It was the time of World War II.

There was an urgency for England to increase its coal production.

The Prime Minister, Winston Churchill exhorted the labour leaders to extend their support towards this requirement.

At the end of his exhortation, he asked them to visualize (picture in their mind)…

… a victory parade that would be held at the end of the war.

He said that, first in the parade would come…

>>The sailors…who had managed the tensions at sea, with great courage.

>> Next would come the soldiers… who had proven their mettle by their bravery.

>> Then would come the pilots… who had displayed immense aerial skills.

All of these would be welcomed and acknowledged with great cheer and applause.

Last of all, would come along, the long line of…

… sweat-soaked and soot-smeared men in their miner’s caps.

Seeing them, someone from the crowd would ask, “Hey! Where were all of you, during the tense days of our struggle?”

And from the hoarse ten thousands of throats would come the answer: “We were deep in the earth, with our faces to the coal!”

The sailors, the soldiers and the pilots had glamour and glory attached to their work…

… but the miners, working deep in the coal mines, were always hidden and away from the limelight.

>> But very often, it is the work of such people who have their “faces to the coal”…

… which become the foundation and support in accomplishments of mission!

As Christians, are we willing to be the people who have our “faces to the coal”…

… in accomplishing the mission of the Kingdom of God.

The Gospel of the day, is this invitation to have our “faces to the coal”…

… by becoming “servants” in the service of the Kingdom!

Servanthood is an important dimension in being a follower of Jesus Christ.

The Lord narrates the Parable of the Unprofitable Servant.

In this parable, Jesus tells about a servant who works all day long out in the field, or out taking care of the flock.

>> And after he works all day long, he comes into the house…

Is he expected to sit down and rest and eat his own meal? No

>> Rather, he is required to serve his master by providing him the meal first.

And after doing all that work – all day long – there’s no word of thanks, no gratitude.

Jesus closes out this parable by saying that the servant was unprofitable because he only did what he was told to do.

Is it something practical?

>> Is it something easy?

Our modern-day psychology would speak of the concept of a “positive stroke” that is to be given to those working or those who undertake some labour.

It’s important that…

>> employers in a company

>> servants in a house

>> workers in a firm or factory

… are given a “positive stroke”…

>> by appreciating their good works

>> by encouraging with good words and a cheerful countenance

>> by acknowledging their worth and constantly boosting their confidence level

But the Gospel of the Day seems to be demanding much more from a Servant…

A servant…

… who works whole day long ploughing in the field or tending the sheep…

… who delays his needs and instead prepares and serves meals for his master…

… who after all his works, doesn’t expect words of gratitude…

The Parable is surely a tough one!

But, the One who preached this Parable is not a mere preacher, but is the One Who practised!

Jesus, the one who preached this Parable, practised perfectly, this life of being a servant.

>> He is the Servant, Who works in the field ploughing…

…sowing the seed of the Word of God, ploughing the Gospel in the hearts of people and toiling in the hot sun of oppositions and mockery

>> He is the Servant, Who tends the sheep in the field…

…providing pasture for His people, protecting them from the wolves of the evil and going after any of the sheep which are lost in the wilderness

>> He is the Servant, who prepares a meal and serves at table…

…nourishing those at table with His own body, strengthening them with His own blood and constantly reinforcing in the journey of life

How are we to be such a Servant of the Lord?

1. Having a mind of being a Servant of God:

The world of a servant centres not around himself, but around the Master.

>> Whatever pleases the Master, the servant does.

If we truly acknowledge God as our Master, then we too…

…will do the works which please Him

…will think and seek to do His Will

…will speak the words which are worthy of His grace

2. Being committed in this task of being His servant

The world of a servant centres around total availability and openness to the needs of the Master.

>> Whatever is the Will of the Master, the servant is docile and alert.

If we truly accept God as our Master, then we too…

…will give ourselves to Him totally at all times

…will place His priorities over ours

…will avoid anything that blocks my complete service of Him

The Call is to be a Servant…who is dedicated and selfless.

>> Jesus is our model and example in being a Servant.

It’s a demand placed on us.

In working for the Kingdom of God, there are different roles which have glamour and glory attached to their work…

… but we always need to be willing to be like the ‘miners’ – working deep in the mines – hidden and away from the limelight.

It is the work of such people who have their “faces to the coal”…

… which become the foundation and support in accomplishments of mission!

As Christians, let us be willing to be the people who have our “faces to the coal”…

… in accomplishing the mission of the Kingdom of God.

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “The King of Glory doesn’t reward His servants according to the dignity of their office…

…. but according to the humility and love with which they have exercised it!”

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Oct 5 ( Lk 10:17-24)

It was a one-day convention on inner-healing.

The people who were participating were given helium-filled balloons, and told to release them, at some point during the prayer service, when they felt like expressing the joy in their hearts.   

>> Through the day, there were some balloons that ascended.

But by the end of the day, it was found that more than forty percent of the balloons were unreleased.

The reason: Those people were unable to let go off their inner bitterness and sorrows.

What about us…

… Are we in a position to let go of our balloons, in order to witness our joy in the Lord?

The Gospel of the Day invites us to reflect on the theme of “Joy in the Lord”…

… with two instances of rejoicing:

>> The Disciples rejoicing after their successful mission experience

>> Jesus rejoicing in the Holy Spirit and thanking His Father for His Infinite Wisdom

One of the essential hallmarks of a Christian is a ‘Life of Joy’.

This was the experience of the Disciples, when they returned back from the mission.

>> They had enjoyed success in their ministry…

>> They had a sense of satisfaction in the works that they had done…

They realized that it was the Power of the Lord that enabled them to taste success and relish triumph.

So they rejoiced greatly, saying: “Lord, even the demons are subject to us because of Your Name” (Lk 10: 17)

Do we also rejoice, by seeing the hand of the Lord in the success and achievements of our lives….?

… knowing that whatever we achieve, is ultimately not just due to our hard-work and efforts; rather, was the result of our co-operation to the grace of God!

… recognizing that all our talents and opportunities are gifted by God to exhibit His Glory and Honour!

Our Blessed Lord, however also tells the Disciples to go beyond the peripheral joys and happiness in life; instead to rejoice in the Spirit.

St Luke would testify this in the words: “At that very moment, Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, ‘I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth…'” (Lk 10: 21)

This then is what we too are expected to imitate from the Lord: Rejoicing in the Spirit.

St Paul would beautifully explicate this, when he says, “Rejoice in the Lord always; I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Phil 4: 4)

Our life is to be an inspiring exhibition of the Joy in the Lord and Rejoicing in the Spirit.

Do we radiate joy…

… in our encounter with one another, and spread the cheer of life?

… even in the midst of hardships, knowing that we have a God who is deeply caring for us?

… thanking the Lord for His blessing, above all, for the gift of Himself in the Word and the Sacraments?

There is, without doubt, many reasons for us to be grumpy, to complain and to feel resentment in life.

But can we allow the Power of the Lord to enamour us, and realise that beyond all these, we have a reason to celebrate and to rejoice…

… knowing that ‘God is with us’, to ensure success in our journey of life, with our wholehearted co-operation

… knowing that God is the greatest reason to be happy and the treasure of life Who deserves every glory.

Can we let go our ‘balloons of sorrow and worry’ in order to display Christian joy and happiness in life?

Today let us seek the special intercession of St Maria Faustina- the Great Saint of Mercy – on her Feast Day.

Let us give heed to the words of our Blessed and Merciful Lord, as mentioned in her Diary:

>> “God never violates our free will.

>> It is up to us whether we want to receive God’s grace or not.

>> It is up to us whether we will co-operate with it or waste it”

May we always make the proper and responsible use of our freedom, and thus experience the Joy promised by the Lord in the diary of St Faustina…

>> “… when you are obedient I take away your weakness and replace it with My strength.”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “If fear takes hold of you, cry out strongly, ‘O Lord, save me!’

>> He will hold out a hand to you.

>> Hold on tight…

… and go forward with joy!”

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Oct 4 (Lk 10:13-16)

God is the Great Gift Giver!

>> He loves to lavish gifts on his creation…and especially on Human Beings, the Crown of His Creation!

Among the gifts that He has showered, one of the greatest gifts is..the Gift of Freedom!

God has bestowed this precious treasure of Freedom to each and every human being.

>> God regards the worth and value of this gift.

>> God respects our yes or no, to this gift!

The Gospel of the day presents to us a classic example of Freedom being lavished, but sadly being squandered away.

>> The towns of Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum were given the freedom and the choice to become part of the Kingdom of God…

… but they chose to reject and refused the Saving Message.

The Gift of Freedom is a double-edge entity:

The gift of freedom can be used….to obtain life!

>> The gift of freedom can be misused…to obtain death!

The gift of freedom can be abused well…to receive curses!

>> The gift of freedom can be utilized well…to receive blessings!

The gift of freedom can be exploited destructively…to acquire sadness!

>> The gift of freedom can be employed constructively…to acquire happiness!

The triple cities of Bethsaida, Chorazin and Capernaum failed to use, utilize and employ constructively their freedom…

… rather, they misused, abused and exploited destructively their opportunity to find peace and salvation.

And Jesus has harsh words reserved for such kind of an attitude – “WOE TO YOU!“

The word “woe” in Greek is “oh-hoo-aai” or “ouvai”!

The figure of speech is onomatopoeia – it means what it sounds like.

>> It is a word of pain!

>> It is the sound someone makes when they are hurt or are grieved.

When the Lord proclaims a WOE over these cities, there’s a great deal of anguish amplified with a sense of pain.

>> The Lord was pained that these cities received wonderful opportunity to hear God’s saving message…

… but failed to turn to God in repentance.

>> The Lord was pained that these cities received great chances to see God’s miraculous deeds and wonders…

… but failed to turn to God in penance.

>> The Lord was pained that these cities received exclusive occasions to receive God’s salvific graces…

… but failed to turn to God in humility.

The Lord today challenges us to make an examination of our lives:

God lavishes many graces on me through regular chances to hear God’s word through the Bible, retreats, recollections, talks, spiritual magazines etc…

>> Am I using these chances to grow in my spiritual life?

… or am I wasting away many of such chances?

Is freedom used?

>> Or misused?

God showers many opportunities for me to avoid sin…

…. by giving me inspiring and holy thoughts

… by a constant urging to be good through my parents, superiors, family and community members and other people in my life…

>> Am I using these opportunities to foster my holiness?

… or am I frittering away much of such opportunities?

Is freedom used…?

… or misused?      

God bestows many occasions to become a powerful witness to His love and His Gospel through different means like…

… preaching the Word

… celebrating or participating in the Eucharist and in the other Sacraments

… helping others in their needs and difficulties, praying for various people

… living a integral life in the society based on the Gospel values etc.

>> Am I using these occasions to strengthen my Christian life?

… or am I throwing away many of such occasions?

Is freedom used…?

… or Misused?

The example of the three cities of Bethsaida, Chorazin and Capernaum is before us and the condemnation of Jesus, because of their lackluster response is also before us.

>> Freedom is the great gift of God…

… and God totally respects the use or the misuse of this precious gift.

Are we going to use this Gift to gain life, blessings and happiness…?

… or are we going to misuse this Gift to receive death, curses and sadness?

Today we celebrate the Feast day of a peaceful and powerful saint – St Francis of Assisi…

… who is a beautiful example of a person who fruitfully and faithfully used the freedom that was bestowed on him!

St Francis of Assisi probably is one of the most popular saints in the entire world.

>> The name of this saint invokes so many pictures and words to our minds –  nature, animals, poverty, renunciation, cross, stigmata, surrender, trust, another Christ, etc.

On this First Friday of the month, let us seek the Intercession of this Wonderful Saint in being an instrument of joy and peace, praying:

“Make me, Lord, a channel of your peace…”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “We have freedom to do good or evil; yet to make choice of evil, is not to use…

… but to abuse our freedom!”

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Oct 3 (Lk 10:1-12)

Arabian horses are made to go through painstaking and meticulous training in the dry deserts of the Middle East.

One of the most important aspects that the trainers expect from the horses is of “absolute obedience”.

>> This final test to assess their level of obedience is quite extreme…

The trainers compel the horses to be without water for many days.

A few days later, they turn the horses loose towards a pool of water…

>> The highly thirsty, parched and dehydrated horses, of course start running towards it.

But just as they get to the edge, ready to plunge in and drink, the trainer blows his whistle.

>> Screech….!

The horses are to stop mid-way…

The horses who have been completely trained and who have learned perfect obedience, stop!

>> They turn around and come pacing back to the trainer.

>> They stand there trembling, wanting water… but they wait in perfect obedience.

When the trainer is sure that he has their obedience, he gives them a signal to go back to drink.

>> Complete obedience  from the horses is a sign of their being completely trained.

Well.. this sure sounds hard and severe…

>> But perhaps, we need to learn an important aspect: the need for trustful obedience to our Master!

·       When we are in the dry deserts of life, we got to be totally obedient to God.

·       When we are in the parched phases of life, we ought to fully heed the voice of the Lord.

The Gospel of the Day is an exhortation by the Lord to listen to Him, to give heed to His Word and to be obedient to Him.

“Jesus appointed seventy (two), whom He sent ahead of Him, in pairs to every town and place He intended to visit” (Lk 10:1)

They were “chosen and appointed”.

>> Why were these chosen?

…and not others?

>> Well… we can only make some guess-works… because the bottom-line is:

“They were ‘chosen'”

Choice is always a gift, and not a merit!

>> This gift cannot be demanded…. it is given by the Lord, out of His Will.

Therefore, it demands a sense of “gratitude” and a spirit of “responsibility”!

The choosing of the seventy (two) also reflects Jesus as the New Moses!

Moses had chosen seventy elders.

>> We read this in the Book of Numbers:

“The LORD said to Moses: “Bring me seventy of Israel’s elders who are known to you as leaders and officials among the people.” (Num 11:16)

The “seventy” were chosen from the elders of the tribes of Israel to assist Moses.

>> They were to become an extension of the work that was entrusted to Moses, by Lord Yahweh

In the Gospels, the seventy (two) disciples are also called, by Jesus, for the similar task:

>> They were to become an extension of the work that was entrusted to Jesus by the Heavenly Father.

In this task of “becoming an extension”, one of the most important essentials was that of “listening to the words of the Master”

>> Obedience to the Word is a necessary criteria to become a true extension of the Lord!

Jesus very specifically lays downs rules and regulations to be followed in their mission journey and task:

“Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and salute no one on the road….” (Lk 10:4)

These exhortations by the Master would cause…

… a sense of insecurity for the disciples

… a feeling a being stranded in the problems that they could encounter.

Yet, the disciples were strongly urged to…

… Listen to His Exhortation

… to Trust in His Providence

… and to be obedient to His Word

·       The disciples were to listen to Jesus, the Beloved Son and grasp His teachings for life

·       The disciples were to listen to Jesus, Beloved Son’s commitment in the path of suffering

·       The disciples were to listen to the Beloved Son’s trust in God’s Will at every moment

Each one of us is called and chosen, as Christians, to be a disciple of Christ – “an extension of the Lord’s tasks in this world” …

… “You did not choose me, but I chose you; and appointed you to go and bear fruit; fruit that will last” (Jn 15:16)

·       Life will take us through many deserts and desolations of difficulties.

·       Life will put us through various storms and hurricanes of hardships.

But in all such moments, are we ready and open to listen to the Voice of the Lord?

Yes, when we are in the dry deserts of life, we better be totally obedient to God.

>> When we are in the parched phases of life, we ought to fully heed the voice of the Lord.

The Lord will take us through…

… every crisis

… every desert

… every darkness

“If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Rom 8: 31)

Let us grow in our efforts to be completely obedient to our Master!

>> Let us pray for His grace to be truly listening and following the voice of our Master!

Are we ready to listen and obey the voice of the Lord?

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “There are many who say to the Lord, “I give myself wholly to Thee, without any reserve.

>> But there are few who embrace the practice of this abandonment…

… which consists in receiving with a certain indifference every sort of event, as it happens in conformity with Divine Providence

… as well afflictions as consolations, contempt and reproaches as honor and glory!”

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Oct 2 (Feast of the Guardian Angels)

“A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out.”

All love to have friends who make life more interesting and joyful by their presence.

>> The journey of life gets more easy and exciting with the presence of friends.

Our spiritual journey too follows this concept…

God, the author of life, in His all-powerful Wisdom, has blessed each of us with a friend.

>> A friend who accompanies us.

>> A friend who strengthens us.

>> A friend who helps us….

This friend is known as “The Guardian Angel“

Today, Holy Mother the Church celebrates the Feast of “The Guardian Angel“

The Church in her teachings affirms and assures that “from its beginning until death, human life is surrounded by watchful care and intercession of the angels. Beside each believer, stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church # 336)

From the first moments of our existence, the Guardian Angel has been with us…

>> At our birth, the Guardian Angel was elated at the dawn of a new life…

>> At our Baptism, the Guardian Angel was pleased to have us join God’s Family…

>> At our Confession, the Guardian Angel was delighted to have us back to God’s holiness…

>> At our Holy Communion, the Guardian Angel rejoiced in us, receiving the Loving Lord…

>> At our Confirmation, the Guardian Angel was joyful in us, being strengthened in the Spirit…

>> At our Marriage, Profession/Ordination, the Guardian Angel was happy with our way of life…

>> At our final moments, the Guardian Angel will be with us to strengthen and console us…

At every stage and step of our life, God has blessed us with this beautiful companion to ” to guide and protect us through life and to lead us safely to our Eternal Home.“

The Lord wants each one of us to be walking in His presence and be safe from the snares of the Evil.

>> And for this purpose, He has blessed us with a the beautiful image of the Guardian Angel…

An Angel is a being, a person  – one who has an intelligence and a free will.

>> An Angel thinks…but clearer than we do….

>> An Angel loves..but dearly than we do…

How does a Guardian Angel guard us?

By gentle inspirations…

In the hard moments of doubts and confusion…

>> The Guardian Angel gently inspires us with words of clarity and understanding.

In the dark situations of hopelessness and resignations…

>> The Guardian Angel gently inspires us with the light of God’s hope and strength.

In the narrow tunnels of losing faith and giving up…

>> The Guardian Angel gently inspires us with comforting words and counsels.

In the unfaithful times of going away from doing God’s will through sin…

>> The Guardian Angel gently inspires us with strong urges to come back to God’s ways.

In the daily moments of facing a choice of doing good or bad…

>> The Guardian Angel gently inspires us with showing what is more beneficial and valuable.

The Guardian Angels do not force us.

The Guardian Angels do respect our free wills.

>> But the Guardian Angels do long for us to always walk in God’s power and presence.

The Feast of the Guardian Angels is an opportunity for us to increase in our devotion and fondness for this “friend” whom God has blessed each one of us with.

>> The Feast of the Guardian Angels is also an opportunity for us to increase in our duty and responsibility of becoming a guardian, a friend and a guide to one another.

There are many whom we know who struggle with difficulties…problems…

>> faith-issues…financial difficulties…

>> mental problems..emotional breakdowns…

The Feast is a reminder to each one of us, to become a Guardian to all…

Jesus, through the Gospel of the day on this Feast day says… “See that YOU DO NOT DESPISE one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father” (Mt 18:10).

“Not despising” someone not only includes avoiding putting down or humiliating or causing scandal to others etc…

… but on a positive sense, means to encourage, promote and strengthen one another.

A true friend is the one who really cares…when the whole world despises.

>> We have a responsibility to be a True Guardian to each other in our life on the earth.

God has also blessed each one of us, with a True Friend, in our Guardian Angel.

>> Let us grow in reverence and love for our Dear Spiritual Friend.

Let us invoke the assistance of this friend in our works, on meeting people, on going to different places etc.

Let us grow in our awareness, as St John Vianney would say, ” When we are walking in the streets, let us fix our eyes on Our Lord bearing his Cross before us…

… on the Blessed Virgin who is looking at us

… on our Guardian Angel who is by our side.“

Happy Feast to our Dear Friend, the Guardian Angel…

.. and to each one of us!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “Make yourself familiar with the Angels, and behold them frequently in spirit.

>> Without being seen…

… they are present with you!”

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Oct 1 (Lk 9:51-56)

A classic riddle, known to most of us, goes thus….

There were 5 frogs sitting on a fence, at the edge of the river.

3 of them, decided to jump.

How many are left on the fence?

Well, the answer (without any twists or catch…) is simple…

…. 5

Why 5?

Simply, because,  of the 5 frogs, the 3 of them only DECIDED to jump!

>> It is not mentioned whether they actually jumped!

Every decision need not have to be actually materialised!

>> It is not necessary that every decision is really actualised!

This aspect is very true and often found in our lives, isn’t it?

>> Many of us at the start of the new year, would have “decided” many resolutions…

… How many of us are fulfilling them? (Hopefully, some of us, atleast remember what were they!)

>> At the end of a good retreat, perhaps many of us “decided” to cultivate some good spiritual practices…

… How many of are able to still say that, “yes, I am faithfully following them?”

>> Having made a meaningful confession, we would have “decided” to part ways with some sinful habits…

… How many of us are zealously resistant in yielding to those former ways?

We constantly find ourselves, at a loss in translating…

… our decisions into practise

… our determinations into realistic actions.

This is where, we need to look up to our Blessed Lord, Who not just “decided and was determined”…

… but also lived them – with zeal and passion!

The Gospel of the Day is this crucial moment in the life of Jesus, as described in the Gospel of Luke…

… when “he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem” (Lk 9: 51)

Jerusalem is an important dimension in the theology of the Gospel of St Luke.

>> All the events in the life of Jesus are oriented towards this city – the city of His ancestor David

The whole Gospel begins and ends in Jerusalem…

… begins in the Jerusalem Temple (Zechariah meeting Angel – Lk 1: 5ff)

… ends in the Jerusalem Temple (Apostles continually in the Temple – Lk 24:53)

The infancy story of Jesus in the Gospel, also begins and ends in Jerusalem…

… begins in the Jerusalem Temple (Zechariah meeting Angel – Lk 1: 5ff)

… ends with Joseph and Mary finding Jesus in the Temple ( Lk 2:42-52)

Further…

>> The Temptations of Jesus in this Gospel (unlike in St Matthew) ends in Jerusalem (Lk 4: 9-13)

The whole public ministry of Jesus, in this Gospel, is a “journey towards Jerusalem”…

… culminating in His passion, death and resurrection!

Why is ‘Jerusalem’ so central to St Luke?

One of the reasons, was because, this Gospel was primarily written for the Gentile Christians (non-Jews).

>> (Historically, it was a time of persecution, with the Jerusalem Temple being destroyed)

Jerusalem was the centre of the Jewish religion!

>> God had promised many blessings to the Jewish nation.

But now, even the centre of the religion – Jerusalem –  had been under persecution!

What message where the Gentile Christians drawing from this “unfortunate” incident of Jerusalem being captured?

>> Has God forgotten His promises to the people of Israel?

>> Were the people of Israel abandoned by the Lord Yahweh?

It is in this context, that St Luke places “Jerusalem” at the centre of his message.

>> And tells the people…

… that God has not abandoned His people

… that God’s ways though not understood, are always for our good!

And thus, we see Jesus marching, with “determination and decisiveness” towards Jerusalem!

His “determination and decisiveness” was not merely in words…

… instead, was lived out with zeal and passion!

The message of the Gospel is powerful and vivid before us….

Just like the city of “Jerusalem”, we may often find ourselves to feel…

… that my life is full of suffering and struggles

… that my life has no future or is hopeless

… that I am abandoned by everyone, even perhaps by God, in my difficult moments

But the Lord, invites and challenges us, to move…

… with “determination and decisiveness” towards this “Jerusalem” of our life!

Jesus did not shy away from the hard way of life…

… and He expects, all of us, His followers to also imitate Him!

It’s easy to take decisions….

… but we need to translate them into concrete expressions!

Let us seek to be the Followers of the Zealous and Passionate Lord….

… and be determined to have our every decision, in the spiritual realm, to be actually materialised!

As we thank the Lord for the gift of all the blessings in the month of September, let us offer the new month of October into His Safe and Caring Hands…

… especially seeking the help of our Blessed Mother by praying the Rosary daily, in this Month of the Rosary – October!

Today we also tenderly beseech the help of the Little Flower – St Therese of Child Jesus – on her feast day and give heed to her words:

“Holiness consists simply in doing God’s will, and being just what God wants us to be.”

Happy Feast of the Little Flower!

God bless! Live Jesus!

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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “Great occasions for serving God come seldom…

… but little ones surround us daily!”

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