“Avoid ‘standing on two boats;’ instead, being firm and resolute’ to stand on Christian principles!”

(Based on 1 Kings 19:19-21 and Mt 5:33-37: Feast of St Anthony of Padua – Saturday of the 10th Week of Ordinary Time)

A Chinese proverb goes thus: “Do not have each foot on a different boat.”

“Standing on two boats” is a trend that we find in our modern world.
… people taking double standards in their life in the society outside and life at home inside
… friends changing their loyalties to one another depending on the circumstance and situation, for their own favour
… spouses cheating on one another, for their own selfish and sinful pleasures
… business partners entering into secretive contracts with other companies, for unaccounted gains

Many such examples of people not being “true to their words” makes today’s Gospel extremely relevant in our context.

In the Gospel, Jesus says: “Let what you say, simply be ‘Yes’ or “No’” (Mt 5:38)

Continuing the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gives His instructions to His disciples, on how one should remain “focused in one’s faith”.

The Sermon on the Mount can be also termed as a “Teaching on Challenging Mediocre Lifestyles”.

Jesus, all through the Sermon on the Mount, picks up various topics…
… anger
… adultery
… divorce
… vows
… love for enemies etc…

And raises the level of their understanding for a Christian.

Today’s Gospel presents Jesus speaking on the topic of “vows and promises”…
… emphasizing on the aspect of remaining focused and clear, in one’s words and deeds.

Jesus categorically declares that for a Christian, there ought to be no “double standards”
… a Yes, ought to be a Sincere Yes
… a No, ought to be a Firm No

A Sincere Yes to God… a Firm No to Satan
A Sincere Yes to Holiness… a Firm No to Sin
A Sincere Yes to the Kingdom of God… a Firm No to the ways of the world

The reason to have this conviction is our Faith and Confidence in the Lord.

He is the Lord Who remains the same always: “Jesus Christ, yesterday, today and forever!” (Heb 13:8)

We need to therefore ask ourselves:

Am I focusing on sincerity and honesty, in my daily actions and words…
… or do I sometimes take “double-standards”?

Am I having the proper balance in living the Christian life even though I face many pressures…
… or do I lose the balance and fall into the pits of lethargy, disappointments and laxity?

Am I having the confidence and the trust in the Lord and bank on Him at every turn of life…
… or do I experience perplexities of anxiety, despair and despondency?

The world today clearly promotes and propagates insincerity, unfaithfulness and duplicity.

Glamour and popularity are the motivations
Business-orientations and short-term gains are the catchwords in relationships

In such a “tricky and trying” situation, a Christian is called forth to avoid “standing on two boats”…
… and instead, “be firm and resolute” to stand on Christian Principles.

We are invited to be encouraged by the lives of Prophets Elijah and Elisha…
… who were highly zealous and staunch for the ways of God

The call of Elisha – wherein he turns away completely from his former way of life – and offers himself wholeheartedly to God, is a great inspiration for all of us (1 Kings 19:19-21)

Our Master Jesus reminds us:
“I prepared for 30 years in silent contemplation of the Christian Virtues…
… 3 years in preaching them
… and 3 hours – on the Cross – in standing firmly in defence of them!

What about you?”

Today we celebrate the Feast of St Antony of Padua…
… one of the most loved Saints, all over the world.

He is popularly invoked by those who have trouble finding lost objects.

But in own day, he was more popular as the “Hammer of Heretics”…
… due to the powerful witness of his life and preaching.

An account in the life of St Antony tells of an Ordination of some Franciscan and Dominican friars both…
… and the superiors desired that someone be designated to preach.

With no one prepared to speak, St Antony was pressed by the other friars in attendance (both Franciscans and Dominicans) to take on the unprepared task.

He hesitated…
… but was encouraged by the others to speak “whatever the Spirit of God gave him to say.”

Anthony proceeded to preach with great brilliance, to the shock of all those in attendance!

His zeal, oratory skill, and many conversions won him the title “Hammer of Heretics.”

His brilliance made him the foremost preacher in his day.

May the Powerful Intercession of the “Hammer of Heretics” – St Antony of Padua…
…. help us to always be firm and resolute in our Christian Living!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “Ask nothing, refuse nothing!”

(A): THE COMMUNION RITE

Our Christian Prayers are oriented towards assimilating more and more, the Spirit of Christ, till we slowly bear more and more the Image of Christ… and we become Alter Christus – another Christ!

In this transformation, we seek to imitate Christ in all things. Christ, when he lived on earth, formed a filial and affectionate relationship with His Father, and invited us to experience the same bond. Giving heed to this call, we begin the Immediate Preparation for Communion, in the Liturgy, with the recital of the Our Father- the model of all prayers.

The Our Father leads into the exchange of peace. The prayer that we prayed in the Our Father…”forgive us…..as we forgive those who trespass against us”, is symbolically actualized in our exchanging of the peace with our neighbours.

The Priest then breaks the Blessed Host, signifying the broken body of Christ. Meanwhile the Lamb of God is recited, proclaiming, Jesus as the Sacrificial Lamb who takes away our sins.

A small piece of the host is mingled with the Sacred Wine signifying the unity of the Body and Blood of the Lord, and also the Unity of the Body of Christ, the Church.

The Lord is then presented as the Lamb of God who takes away the Sin of the World and we are invited to this Sacred Feast. We express our unworthiness to receive the Most Holy of Holies.

These are precious and sacred moments as we make an immediate preparation for the majestic entry of the Lord into our hearts….

TO REFLECT

Do I Recite the Our Father, slowly, devoutly and meaningfully?
Do I really seek to do His Will in my life….pray for His Kingdom to come…forgive the trespasses of others?
Does the exchange of sign of peace, really symbolise that I have forgiven ALL people in my life?
Do I prepare earnestly, while reciting the Lamb of God, to be prepared to receive the Sacred Body of Christ?

PRAYER
Jesus, the Lamb of God, Our Saviour, help us to also acclaim, God as our Father and experience His filial affection. Help us as we prepare our hearts to receive You, that we may truly cleanse our hearts from all stains. May your grace which makes us worthy to receive you, constantly increase our longing and desire to be united with you forever, Amen!

(B): THE HOLY COMMUNION

Silence. Tranquillity. Peace. Serenity. Calm. Ecstasy. Bliss. Union. Delight. Relaxation. Quietness.

Hmmm… We are not enlisting a family of synonyms… Rather, we are entering the most blessed moments of the Liturgy…
… when the Lord enters into our hearts, as His own Body and Blood
… and we are given an opportunity to experience all those above-mentioned emotions and sentiments and much more…

Heaven is a grand experience of joy and bliss and harmonious acclamations….
… but there comes a split moment
… when heaven stands still
… the Angels rejoice in silence
… Blessed Mamma contemplates in beauty
… the Saints gaze in happiness

… It’s the moment of Divine Silence and Serenity
… when……the Body and Blood of Jesus is received in the Holy Communion!

A moment when heaven touches the earth…when the Divine lowers itself to embrace the fallen Humanity, to raise it up to Divine status…

These are blessed and divine moments.

TO REFLECT

The Holy Communion is a Graceful time. Am I able to calm my external disturbances, and really focus and give my full attention to the Lord, who is in me?

He is a jealous God…a passionate lover…a demanding King. He has given Himself wholly. Can I also not spend meaningful moments with Him, in this Divine Exchange?
The time of Communion sometimes gets distracting because of some external factors of people lining up, benches or chairs being moved, choir and mike settings, and inappropriate selection of hymns or music etc…but besides all these… Am I just able to focus more on the Jesus, who is present in the Blessed Host…?

The Lord who is present in me, deserves my highest praise and honour. We may of course, have our mind filled with many concerns, worries, petitions etc….but in the midst of all that, Can I make this time of Communion, a time of inner praise and worship and thanksgiving and adoration?

The Lord says… BE still and know, that I am God. He is our creator. He is our Saviour. He is our Everything. Nothing in this world happens beyond His knowledge and beyond His power.
… Yes… everything in life, happens for good… So let’s, make it a time of wonderful praise and adoration…in the sanctuary of our hearts!

PRAYER
Loving Jesus, who make yourself present within me in the Most Holy Eucharist, help me to experience your gentle love and peaceful presence. Give me the grace, to make the time of the Holy Communion, as a sacred time of renewal, transformation, rejuvenation and revitalization. May I grow in your love, that I too may be able to break my body and shed my blood, in service of humanity and Your Kingdom, Amen!

“Freeing ourselves from the ‘imprisonment of our appetites’ and experiencing the ‘glorious liberty’ of the children of God!”

(Based on 1 Kings 19:9, 11-16 and Mt 5:27-32 – Friday of the 10th Week of Ordinary Time)

The Canadian author, Thomas Costain in his historical novel “The Three Edwards” speaks of the life of a 14th century Duke named Raynald Ill.

Raynald was extremely overweight and was commonly called by his Latin nickname “Crassus” which meant ‘fat’!

This Duke Raynald, after a violent quarrel, suffered defeat in a revolt by his younger brother Edward.

Edward captured Raynald, but did not kill him.

Instead he imprisoned Raynald in a room in the castle…
… and promised that he could regain his title and property, if he was able to escape from the room.

This task – to escape from the room – would have been pretty simple for most people, since the room had several windows and a door; none of which was locked!

But Raynald had a problem…. His size… His uncontrolled appetite!

Edward knew his elder brother…
… and He very well knew this weakness as well!

Each day, therefore, Edward send him a variety of delicious foods!

Instead of dieting his way out of the room, he began to relish on the grand food served to him…
… and Raynald grew fatter!!

When Edward was questioned by the people on his cruelty for having captured his elder brother, he would reply, without any qualms:
“My brother is not a prisoner. He may leave when he so wills.”

The story goes on to say that Raynald stayed in that room for ten years and wasn’t released until after Edward died in battle.

But by then his health was so ruined, that he died within a year!

Raynald died…
… as a prisoner of his own appetite!

How often is this a reality in our spiritual lives as well!

Sin sometimes captures our hearts so much…
.. that we are unwilling to let go, and thus wither in our sinful state
Immorality and transgressions take over our lives so much…
… that we become slaves, and remain much bound to them.

The Gospel of the Day is a powerful call by Jesus to make an honest examination of our state of life, and check whether we are imprisoned by sin…
… especially from the perspective of immorality and decadence in our ethical system.

Our modern society is often a rude and mute witness to many inhuman atrocities and abuses, especially against women.

The world seems to be more and more losing, the sense of sin!

In this context, it’s shocking to read the words of Jesus in today’s Gospel reading:
“Anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has committed adultery in his heart”! (Mt 5:28)

Jesus’ words pierces through the heart!

He gives no space for lame excuses and silly explanations…
… he hits straight at the target!

SIN consists not in some external actions alone…
…..but SIN is conceived and given birth in one’s heart!

When we consider the society in which we live in, we find that…
Immorality is on the rise….

We pass through cities and towns..
We look through newspapers and magazines…
We scan across websites, swanky apps and fancy shops…
.. and we find that… Immorality is, indeed, on the rise!

Immoral pictures, sensual visuals, inhuman portrayal of persons, double-meaning talks have somehow become the order of the day!

We are very often surrounded by filth and lewdness in our society.

Satan, the father of deception scatters the seeds of immorality and lust everywhere!

It’s here, that a Christian needs to be on the watch.

It is our duty as Christians, to preserve our hearts from this dangerous contagion.

The beatitudes tell us, “Blessed are the pure in heart, they shall see God” (Mt 5: 8)

We have a duty…
… to preserve ourselves from impurity!
… to protect others in their dignity and honour!
…to awaken the society which is often, deadened in immorality and perversion!

The Lord reveals Himself in the stillness and tranquillity of our hearts and lives…
… just as Elijah experiences the Voice of the Lord – not in the strong wind, or earthquake or the fire… but in a still small voice (1 Kings 19:11-13)

Let us examine our lives and check… “Am I becoming a prisoner of my own appetite?”
… being a slave to lustful thoughts or immoral patterns of attitudes
… being indifferent to a society which strips itself of all dignity in the name of liberty and freedom

The Lord very powerfully challenges us to be totally intolerant to casting away sin and sinful tendencies from our life…

” If your right eye causes you to sin… tear it out and throw it away” (Mt 5: 29)
” If your hand causes you to sin… cut it off and throw it away” (Mt 5: 30)

Sin has no place in a world of mercy and love!

Mercy places an obligation that all sin be rid off!
Love demands that all wrongdoing be cast away!

Let the words of St Antony of Padua be given heed to:
“Anyone, then, who desires to live chastely in Christ Jesus, must flee not only the mouse of lust, but even from its very scent.”

Let’s awake, Dear Christians…
… Purify our World and live in Sanctity and Holiness…

Let us free ourselves from the “imprisonment of our appetites” and experience the “glorious liberty” of the Children of God!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “The soul which rises from out of sin to a devout life has been compared to the dawn…
… which does not banish darkness suddenly, but by degrees.

That cure which is gradually effected is always the surest!”

(A): THE PREFACE

Gratitude is an attitude of the heart that makes life a beatitude! Our whole life is meant to be a continual act of praising and thanking the Lord.

Eucharist comes from the word, “Eucharistia”, which means thanksgiving. The whole Liturgy is oriented towards praising, adoring and thanking the Lord. After having offered the petitions and gifts to the Lord, we now come in humble thanksgiving to the Lord.

Have we ever tried to make a list of the blessings and gifts, we have received from the Lord? Right from our birth, to the present moment….? This list will be too long, isn’t it? This analogy will help us to understand this part of the Mass called the Preface.

The Church enlists (as per the Liturgical Season or the theme) the various and manifold ways in which the Lord has worked in human history. In this Holy Act, we find that the list is endless, and so we also call upon the Angels and Saints.

Thus We (the Church Militant), seeking intercession for the Faithful Departed (the Church Suffering) join the beautiful choir of the saints (Church Triumphant) and angels, in a wonderful communion, singing Holy Holy, Holy to the Most High God! Yes, its a moment of intense praise and Divine worship!

Let’s grow in understanding the various phases of this Beautiful Preface:

1. The Lord be with you: The Priest invokes the Lord’s presence, and the people of God, in fellowship, pray for the Priest
2. Lift up your hearts: Our minds and hearts need to transcend our human worries, concerns and troubles, and be raised in heavenly contemplation.
3. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God: An ancient prayer, which renders the highest praise and thanks to God, who is the source of all things in our life!

TO REFLECT

The long prayer of the Preface often goes unnoticed and without attention; and yet, it is a treasure of deep meditation and worship. Is it possible for me to try to reflect or meditate on any of the Prefaces, which can be found in the Holy Missal? This can make the Liturgy more meaningful and personal.

Do I really lift up my heart to the Lord and render Him my thanks, or is it mere lip-service that I engage myself in?

Can I become more aware of the heavenly Angels and Saints, along with Blessed Mamma, as we approach the crescendo of our Eucharistic Celebration?

PRAYER
Most Glorious Lord, we delight in the manifold graces you bestow on us. You give us the privilege to have a foretaste of Your Heavenly Glory, during the moments of the Preface. Stir our hearts in devotion, that your spectacular magnificence, that we celebrate in these moments of the Liturgy, may spur us on to live a committed Christian Life, Amen!

(B): THE CONSECRATION

The Consecration during the Liturgy, is the most solemn and intense moment of the Sacrifice.

Phil 2:6 says, “Though He was in the form of God, He emptied Himself….” The Lord, now empties Himself, and takes the form of the Bread and Wine…really, wholly and substantially present!

This is the Eucharist.

The Sacrifice of the Last Supper.

And to understand, appreciate and grow deeper in this intense action, we need to get united with the Spirit at the Last Supper and the Redeeming Moments of Mount Calvary!

Let’s dwell on the parts of these beautiful moments:

1. Epiclesis: The portion where the power of the Holy Spirit is invoked, so that the gifts of bread and wine, may be transformed into Divine Species.
2. The Words of the Institution: The words of Christ Himself, wherein the bread and wine, are transformed to His Body and Blood.
3. The Proclamation: The Church joyfully proclaims the wonders and providence of the Lord’s works of Salvation, in the mystery of the Faith.
4. Anamnesis and Offering to the Father. : The Church recalls the memory of Christ, especially His Blessed Passion, Death and Resurrection. Christ, the Spotless Victim, is offered to the Father, and the people also pledge their lives, in union with the Redeemer.
5. Intercessions: The Priest offers the prayers of Intercession for the entire Church Militant and the Church Suffering and for, in union with the Church Triumphant – our Blessed Mamma and all the saints
6. Doxology: A solemn moment of praise and adoration to the Triune God, concluded by a triumphant and affirming shout of Amen – so let it be!

TO REFLECT

Am I able to unite myself with the Spirit of the Last Supper and join with the suffering and agony that Jesus – the priest and victim, underwent, through the moments from the Garden of Gethsemane to the Mount Calvary?

Do I pray during the Epiclesis, that the Holy Spirit may fill my mind and heart and life, that I too may be transformed, like the bread and wine, into the life and likeness of Jesus, our Saviour?

Am I able to unite myself more intensely with the Words of the Consecration… “This is my body”, and “This is my blood”, and be willing to pledge my life too, in sacrifice & in love?

Do I, while reciting the Mystery of Faith, proclaim with conviction God’s saving mystery?

The time after the proclamation, when the Priest says the words of Anamnesis and Intercessions, is often lost in our thoughts and concerns. Am I able to keep up the spirit of intense prayer and offering ourselves entirely to God’s loving hands?

Do I pray the Doxology and Amen with a deep sense of certainty, passion and fervour, with a sense of deep joy and elation in the heart?

PRAYER
O Awesome God, who make yourself present on human altars, give us the grace, to prepare our hearts more fervently for the moments of Consecration. Help us to pledge our lives, with the host and the wine, that we too may be transformed into a living Eucharist, giving life and love to our brothers and sisters, Amen.

“Becoming persons who encourage, console and strengthen them, ‘by one by one, putting back the stars’ in their life!”

(Based on the Feast of St Barnabas)

A story is said of a man who lived a very fine life.

Being a carpenter, he had helped in the construction works of the church.
He was also very benevolent in helping people who needed his counselling and guiding skills

However, at a particular phase in his life, many things went wrong…

His wife had a sudden death and the man found himself at a deep loss
There was also a financial crisis that he faced, with a few people exploiting his simple innocence

These and many other experiences left him quite broken, dejected and defeated.

It was at this time, that attending a Sunday Mass, he heard the priest preaching on the Love and Providence of God.

The sermon touched him much… the Word of God moved him greatly.

After the Mass, he approached the priest to have a talk with him

The priest welcomed him cordially, and the two spoke for a long time.

After his sharing, the man felt extremely relieved and coming back home, he told his neighbour:
“What a man he is…!
“When I went into his office, all the stars had fallen out of my skies – but one by one he put them back again…
I feel so much stronger and hopeful, now…!

Experiences in life are often such…
… unfair and unjust
… partial and discriminatory

We therefore are in need of encouragements in life…
… to lift our sagging spirits
… to raise our deadened hopes
… to boost our depressed minds

In situations where “the stars fall out of our skies”…
… we need encouragements and support to have them ” one by one, be put back again!”

Today, Holy Mother the Church celebrates the Feast of St Barnabas – who was an immense source of encouragement…
… and invites us to also become persons of encouragement to others.

In the Bible, there are many characters and personalities, who assume great importance and are in the highlight, by virtue of their words and deeds.

But there are also a few, who remain in the background, and yet are strong and powerful characters…
… St Barnabas, whose feast we celebrate today, is one such personality.

The word “Barnabas” in Greek means… “the Son of Encouragement”.

And true to his name, St Barnabas lived a life, “encouraging” the Christian Faith.

It’s amazing to see the very many practical ways in which St Barnabas can be a model and example for our Christian lives

Let’s pick up a few areas in which St Barnabas was a source of encouragement…for our practical Christian life.

1. Religiously:
   Barnabas was of the tribe of Levi (Acts 4:36)

The tribe of Levi served particular religious duties for the Israelites and had political responsibilities as well.

The spirit of a strict Jewish System was much strong in Levites.
Yet, Barnabas breaks away from that strict religious system, to embrace Christianity – all for the Love of Jesus and His Church.

Am I willing to let go of my many faith-prejudices and false religious-notions and embrace Christ and His Church, for the love of Jesus and His Kingdom?

2. Cultural
   Barnabas was from Cyprus, in Turkey (Acts 4:36)
   … and yet, he becomes a missionary to work in Jerusalem and other far-away places.

He transcends cultures and places, and moves beyond his own cultural, linguistic and ethnic boundaries – all for the Love of Jesus and His Church.

Am I willing to let go beyond my cultural, linguistic and ethnic barriers, for the love of Jesus and His Kingdom?

3. Financially
   When the Early Church was in need, Barnabas sold his field, and gave the money to the Apostles (Acts 4:37)

He was sensitive to the needs of the Church and was willing to be self-giving – all for the love of Jesus and His Church.

Am I willing to let go of my richness, possessions and attachments, for the Love of Jesus and His Kingdom?

4. Psychologically
   St Paul, after his dramatic conversion, was not easily accepted by the Early Church because of his ignominious past (Acts 9:26).

But Barnabas took the lead in helping Paul to be part of the preaching ministry, as Scripture testifies:
“But Barnabas took him (Paul) and brought him to the Apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus” (Acts 9:27)

It was St Barnabas who supported and encouraged St Paul, in his initial days of struggle – all for the Love of Jesus and His Church.

Am I willing to accept and encourage people who are misunderstood and are mistreated, for the love of Jesus and His Kingdom?

e. Spiritually
St Barnabas was a person mightily filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 11:24)

Yet, he was happy and content to ‘play second fiddle’ – playing the minor and supportive role to St Paul, in his missionary endeavours.

He was willing to remain humble and meek – all for the Love of Jesus and His Church.

Am I willing to let go of my tendencies of spiritual pride, and instead remain humble and meek, for the love of Jesus and His Kingdom?

St Barnabas, remains a humble yet powerful challenge to our Christian lives.

He is one of the many unsung heroes of Christianity.

In life, we come across many who are broken and dejected, sad and hopeless…

We find many who “have the stars fallen out of their skies”

Can we become persons who encourage, console and strengthen them, “by one by one, putting back the stars” in their life?

St Barnabas invites and exhorts us…
… Are we willing to be a “Child of Encouragement?”

Happy Feast of the “Apostle of Encouragement”!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “Never confuse your mistakes with your value as a human being.
You are perfectly valuable, creative, worthwhile person simply because you exist.

And no amount of triumphs or tribulations can ever change that!”

(A): THE LITURGY OF THE WORD

Many of us, at some time or the other, would have received love letters – letters from our parents, siblings, relatives, friends etc. A love letter carries some unique specialties – there is much eagerness to read it…there is much joy while reading it…and there is much contentment after having read it…

Hmmm….here is a well-known secret….shhh… the Lord is a great “lover”, though sometimes He is too shy a lover!

He loves to talk to us through love-letters.

The Word of God is God’s love letter to each one of us…
… and the Liturgy of the Word, during the Holy Mass, celebrates this loving conversation.

Let’s give a better attention as God speaks to us, In His Word. Often, the time of sitting, while listening to the Readings, is when we gaze around the Church/Chapel, looking at others, being distracted with our thoughts etc. Let’s seek to focus our attention greater, on the Lord, who talks to us…IN HIS WORD!

Let’s be aware of the greatness of this Liturgy of the Word:

1. The 1st, 2nd and the Gospel Readings: God’s mysterious works of Salvation and Love are proclaimed. Let’s seek to strike a chord of these readings with our own lives. On Sundays, in particular, the 1st Reading and the Gospel are directly intimately. On other major feasts too, a single thematic string unites all the readings.
2. The Responsorial: We give an affirmation to the Reading, we heard, and express our gratitude and petition to our Life-Giver.
3. The Alleluia: Praising the Lord, we welcome Him with joyful shouts and signing ourselves on the forehead, lips and the chest, we seek His Help to cleanse our minds, lips & hearts, that we may worthily receive Jesus, the Word into our lives!
4. The Sermon: Often considered to be the boring part, the avoidable section, the relaxing phase, the Sermon should, in fact, seek to connect the hearts of the Faithful, with Jesus- the Divine Word, and strengthen our Christian living in this world.

TO REFLECT

Do I give enough attention while listening to the Readings?
Do I make the sign of the Cross, with awareness, and welcome the Lord, by seeking to cleanse our minds, our lips and our hearts?
Do I prepare devoutly to preach the sermon/ to listen to the sermon, and seek the assistance of the Holy Spirit, who is the Author of the Word of God?
Am I able to recall the Readings, during the course of the Day, and make the Word of God, a real and practical dimension of my life?

PRAYER
Oh Divine Word, who became flesh and dwelt amidst us, give us the grace and the wisdom to understand You, in the Holy Word. May the Liturgy of the Word, that we celebrate in the Eucharist, become a dynamic inspiration and force in our everyday lives, and may we in turn, become a Gospel- the good news, to the poor, the oppressed and all peoples in our lives, Amen!

(B): THE OFFERTORY

After having been nourished by His Word, we profess our Faith in the Holy Catholic Church, and we offer our petitions and gifts to the Lord.

The Lord has blessed our lives with innumerable gifts and graces. As the Psalmist says, “If I were to count your blessings, I would have to be eternal like You, O Lord!”

The Eucharist is a thanksgiving meal… When we come to the Mass, we are not to come empty-handed. Rather, we give ourselves, wholly to the Lord. All what we are and all what we have belongs to the Lord, who is the Source and End of all. And to Him, we offer everything – our blessings, our plans, our feelings, our concerns, our heart and our lives!

Along with ourselves, we also offer all the people in our lives – our family, community, our nation, our world… The Eucharist is a moment of healing and grace for the entire creation…and we bring all to His feet.

Let’s bring to consciousness the various dimensions in this part of the Mass:

1. The Creed: With much devotion and deep love, we express and affirm the teachings and faith of our Holy Mother, the Church
2. The Prayer of the Faithful: The Community as a family, offer petitions, and thus, the entire creation becomes part of this Divine Action of the Holy Mass
3. The Offering of Bread and Wine: The Gifts, which soon, will become the Body and Blood of Christ, represent fruits of our labour. As the gifts, we pray, that we too be changed into His Body and Blood
4. The mingling of a drop of water in the wine by the Priest: The water represents, our littleness, which is totally mingled with the wine, signifying our intention to be one with the Divine Lord
5. The washing of the hands: The Priest – the representative of the People of God, cleanses himself and prepares, for the Most Holy Sacrifice of Calvary.

TO REFLECT

Am I fervent and zealous in expressing my love for my mother, the Church, as I recite the Creed?
Do I offer everything to the Lord, and be ready to accept His will in my life?

PRAYER
Most Merciful Lord, I come to you, in humble praise, to offer you myself. All what I have is given by you, and to you, I offer everything. Make the offerings that I make, be for me, a channel to accept your Holy Will in my life, and thus, I may be able to truly experience the power of Your Body and Blood, Amen.

“Being bold and daring to rise up to the occasion, and ‘standing up for God!’”

(Based on 1 Kings 18:20-39 and Mt 5:17-19 – Wednesday of the 10th Week of Ordinary Time)

Great incidents and heroic stories can inspire and challenge us greatly.

The Bible is most certainly a power-filled storehouse of such great incidents and heroic stories…
… which inspire us to be more zealous in serving the Lord
… which challenge us to be more enthusiastic in our following of the Lord

One of the most powerful incidents, which has this dual dimension of “inspiring and challenging” is the one found in the First Book of the Kings, Chapter 18, verses 20-39.

This incident is known by many titles …

The Challenge of Elijah, the Prophet
Elijah v/s Baal
Elijah and the prophets of Baal
… and many more.

The incident is familiar to most of us…

After a drought of three years, the prophet Elijah presented himself to Ahab, the king of Israel, with the promise that the Lord would provide rain.

Elijah, then went on to challenge 450 prophets of the pagan god named Baal and 400 prophets of another pagan god, Asherah to a contest on Mount Carmel.

His words of challenge to them were powerful:
“How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” (1 Kings 18:21).

The game of challenge began:

Each side (The numerous prophets of Baal v/s Elijah, the solitary prophet) made sacrifices to their God without building a fire…
… and the lighting of the fire was to be performed by the strongest god (God!)!

Baal was silent.

The confident prophet Elijah began to even mock the prophets of Baal:
“Cry aloud, for he is a god; either he is meditating, or he is busy, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened” (1 Kings 18:27).

The time then can for Elijah to intercede for the revealing of the Glory of God…

He poured a large amount of water over his sacrifice and asked Jehovah to reveal Himself by consuming the sacrifice.

“Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench” (1 Kings 18:38)

When the people saw the clear victory of Jehovah, they fell on their faces and said:
“The Lord, He is God!
The Lord, He is God!”

Elijah then commanded the people to seize the prophets of Baal and to not let one of them escape.

God then sent the rain he had promised and the drought ended (1 Kings 18:41-46).

One of the most powerful messages derived from this incident is that…
…” When we stand for God, God stands by us!”
… “When we seek to uphold the Lord, the Lord reveals His Glory through us!”

The Prophet Elijah, who stood for the Lord and was bold to proclaim His Power…
… became the mighty instrument through whom God would reveal His glory!

Elijah, the prophet , through whom God manifested His Glory…
… would foreshadow the Great Prophet, Jesus, Who would be the fullness of God’s Glory! (Col 1: 19)

Jesus is not just the Great Prophet, Who is the Voice and Word of God
Jesus is not just the Supreme Law-Giver, through Whom everything came into being
… Jesus would be the fulfilment and the completion of the Law and the Prophets (Mt 5: 17)!

This Jesus goes on to present a mighty challenge to His followers:
“Whoever relaxes one of the least of the commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven;
But he who does them, and teaches them shall be called great in the Kingdom of heaven” (Mt 5:18-19)

This is a powerful invitation that the Lord presents before us:

“Are you willing to stand up for me?”
“Are you willing to uphold my virtues and the Kingdom values by your life?”

Just as Prophet Elijah, in his days, found challenged by paganism, our world today is faced with innumerable challenges…

A spirit of materialism, that seeks to devour all people into a life of comfort and cosiness…
… at the loss of dependence on God and faithfulness to Divine Providence

A spirit of relativism, that does away with even fundamental truths and basic institutions…
… by seeking to dilute the virtues for which the Church champions and makes void Christ’s teachings

A spirit of division, that slays communities and societies on peripheral grounds like colour, language, caste, region etc…
… and causes people to even divert from essential elements like faith, worship, communion etc

A spirit of indifference, that makes people to behave as strangers to one another…
… and making one to be insensitive to the needy and hurting the Triune Image of God within oneself

As Christians, more than ever before, the challenge is before us…

To stand up for God…
… and know for sure, that He will stand by us!

To uphold the Lord…
… and experience truly the Glory of God revealed through us!

May the great incidents and the heroic stories of the Bible continue to always “inspire and challenge” us…

And may we be bold and daring… to rise up to the occasion…
.. and Stand up for God!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “Truly it is a blessed thing to love on earth as we hope to love in Heaven…

… and to begin that friendship here which is to endure for ever there!”

Our Christian Life celebrates God, who is Emmanuel – With us, God!

And this Emmanuel God, fulfils His promise, by dwelling in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist.

On June 14, 2020, we celebrate the Feast of the Corpus Christi; and it is apt and meaningful, that we take some time, to prepare ourselves for this Great Feast…
… and to realize the worth and greatness of this Most Beautiful Treasure that God is gifting to Humanity.

The Year 2020 has been, in particular, a time of great trial with respect to our faith, in the midst of the pandemic. We have been physically distant from the celebration of the Eucharist.

This Feast, therefore, this Year in particular, is given to us, to deepen our devotion to the Lord in the Eucharist and intensify our longing and thirst for Him!

We begin today… a 5- day series of Mini Reflections, to help us to become spiritually more oriented to the Blessed Eucharist and in the understanding of the Holy Mass.

This orientation, in turn, will help us, to become a Eucharist to others.

So let us begin…. a tiny attempt to mingle into the heart of the Mystery of all Mysteries – the Most Holy Eucharist.

Let’s delight in this love story….as Bishop Fulton Sheen says, “The greatest love story of all time is contained in a tiny white Host”!

“LIFE ‘n LOVE LYRICS” – Reflection in preparation for the Feast of Corpus Christi – The Body and Blood of Jesus! – DAY ONE

(A): PREPARATION FOR THE HOLY MASS

As human beings, we all engage ourselves in many social gatherings, events, occasions etc. And for all of that, we do make a lot of planning, preparations and arrangements.

The Holy Mass is the re-enactment of the Sacrifice of Jesus on Calvary, in memory of the Holy Institution at the Last Supper.

It is a momentous and splendid Divine Occasion and Event!

But often, this event, is accorded very little preparation. No wonder, for some people, the Mass often seems boring and sadly, considered as a useless ritual!

Very often, we engage our bodies and our minds in talks, in making fun, in being filled with worldly attractions and many external distractions. But is my heart and mind, really ready to embrace the Awesome Moments of the Lord’s Life- His Passion, His Death and His Resurrection, which is celebrated at Mass!

The Lord of the Universe, descends on the Altar and is ready to dwell in our little hearts! I need to realize the gravity of this Moment and prepare my heart to receive this Divine Saviour!

Do I take time to read and reflect on the Readings of the Mass beforehand?
• Do I make a genuine examination of Conscience and truly repent, in order to receive God’s Mercy?
• Do I become aware that, at Holy Mass, I am at Mount Calvary, along with our Blessed Mother, and ready to offer my life, along with Jesus, for the Salvation of the world?

Prayer: O Divine Trinity, give me the grace to prepare myself better, in participating at the Holy Mass. In the past, I have often engaged myself, in external disturbances and failed to really know the importance of the Mass and the preparation required for this Divine Occasion. Help me, to give myself wholly to you, so that every Eucharist becomes a life-transforming experience for me, and I may become a Living Sacrament of Your love to the world, AMEN.

(B): THE INTRODUCTORY RITE

The Holy Eucharist is basically oriented towards four aspects
(a) Adoration and Worship of God
(b) To give thanks for His gifts and graces
(c) To ask remission of our sins
(d) To offer our petitions to the Lord.

As we begin the Holy Eucharist, we need to become aware of these aspects.

Let’s also become aware of the Importance of the various parts of the Introductory Rite:

1. The Entrance Hymn: The Community of people, which has come together as a family, express their joy through the entrance hymn.
2. The Welcome Greeting: The celebration begins in the name of the God – the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, who is One in Three persons. We are welcomed into the Celebration in the Name of the Trinity.
3. The Penitential Rite: We bring to focus our sinfulness and unworthiness, before the Holy and Awesome God, and seek His mercy and pardon.
4. The Gloria: We unite with all the peoples of the world, with our Blessed Mother, the Angels and Saints in singing our praises and honour to our Triune God, whose glory reigns on high.
5. The Opening Prayer: Called as the Collect, this prayer, gathers together all the intentions of the participants, and is united with the prayer of the High Priest, Jesus Himself!

To Reflect

Do I become aware of the importance and significance of some of the Sacramentals and Holy Actions like the Holy Water, the Incense, Bowing before the Altar?
Do I pay attention to the words of the Entrance Hymn, and make it a real prayer, rather than just a routine affair?
Do I begin the Holy Mass in a Spirit of Reverence and Recollection, becoming aware of the greatness of the Sign of the Cross?
Do I recollect my sinful state and truly repent of them, in order to receive God’s Mercy?
Do I, seek to render my praise and worship to the Lord, with all my heart, with all my mind and with all the strength, as I join in singing the Gloria?
Do I bring before the Lord, my petitions and the intentions of those who are in need of prayers?

Prayer
Most Loving Lord, as I enter into the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, inspire me to become aware of the greatness and solemnity of this Sacrifice of Calvary. Let the offering of the Mass not be a mere ritual, but become a real and living energy in me. Help me, to live and practice the spirit of considering each Eucharistic Celebration, as the First, the Last and the Only Mass ever celebrated… Amen!

“Being Salt of the earth and Light to the world by being communion with the Lord!”

(Based on 1 Kings 17:7-16 and Mt 5:13-16 – Tuesday of the 10th Week of Ordinary Time)

Let’s do a short-visualization based on today’s Gospel Reading….

There are over seven billion people in the world…
… spread over seven continents and around 195 countries…

There are people belonging to thousands of tribes, ethnicity, languages etc…
… and again hundreds of temperaments, personalities, outlooks and characters.

Among all these various people… the Lord, the Creator of the whole universe…
… through today’s Gospel reading tells YOU…
.. Yes, YOU, His beloved creation, and the one whom He loves deeply….
… “You are the salt of the earth!“

Now hearing this, you look up in surprise to God!

You look up to His face and tell Him bluntly:
“You must be kidding, Lord!
I mean…. Look at the vast expanse of the world….
… millions of people in here, variety of languages, behaviours, temperaments, personalities…
… and amidst, all this, You expect, Me…
… Me? To be the Salt of the Earth?!

I am just nothing, in this vast ocean of people!
Do you expect Me, a puny little thing, to really be the Salt to the Earth?
I am just a Nobody!”

But the Lord thunders back and says:
“Do not say, you are a nobody!

But I am precise in calling You…!
You have been Baptized in Me, and you have My Spirit dwelling in You.

Long back some of my servants also expressed their inability in a similar fashion…
… Abraham
… Jeremiah
… Peter

But they were raised… by My Grace and their co-operation.

Remember the beautiful example of Elijah who obeyed my voice – and how during the drought, He was taken care…
… and his words to the widow at Zarephath: “The jar of meal shall not be spent, and the cruse of oil shall not fail, until the day that the Lord sends rain upon the earth!”(1 Kings 17:14)

You too, have a responsibility towards Me and My Kingdom…
… and You will do much in doing little, when and as I wish!”

But I, with a long face, again highlighted my helplessness:
“But Lord, the challenge is just too great!
I do have some talents and capabilities, that You have bestowed on me.
But will those be enough?

I just feel that I am too small and insignificant, to be making a real difference in the world!”

But the Lord, was unwilling to budge and said:
“Of course, I don’t deny that it is going to be easy for you to be the Salt of the Earth!

You will struggle…
… You will have to walk the hard path, as did even my Beloved Son on His Way of the Cross.

Some of you might perhaps think that as in the modern days, salt may never lose its taste.

But the salt that I spoke of in the Gospel, was not the pure, refined type that is available today.

The salt of the olden days, when exposed to moisture, could easily become insipid.

It could become tasteless and useless… good only to be thrown and trampled down!

In the same way, you, as the Salt of the Earth, need to be highly careful.

If you expose yourself, too much to the worldly and material affairs, you will lose your saltiness!
If you pollute yourself by the many vain pleasures in the world, you will end up being ineffective!
And then you will be useless…only to be trampled upon!

Your life is like… as my servant St Paul had once written in his Second Letter to the Corinthians… ‘Treasure in Clay’!

When preserved and careful utilized, you will remain precious

If not handled carefully, you will end up spoiling a wonderful fortune!

You are to be the Salt of the Earth…
… in whichever state of life you are
… to whichever vocation you are called to
… in whichever works or activities you engage in

You are to be the salt…
… that gives taste, to those who have lost meaning and hope in life
… that preserves the virtues of the Gospel and teachings of the Church in a world of decay
… that symbolizes purity even though the world around you plunges into immorality and sin
… that makes you part of the Sacrifice that is offered to God as described in the Law (Lev 2:13)

Remember…
You have a great calling… to be the Salt…
… to give taste to the world
… to preserve the Gospel values
… to be a symbol of purity
… to offer your life as a sacrifice.

Yes, You are Precious!

Never let yourself, be diluted with the waters of worldly pleasures and thus become insipid!

Do not be contaminated by the World… rather, preserve your saltiness, by being in Communion with Me!

So, my Child…
… Are You ready to be the Salt of the Earth…?”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “There are virtues of universal account, which must not only be called into occasional action, but ought to spread their influence over everything.

We do not very often come across opportunities for exercising strength, magnanimity, or magnificence; but… … gentleness, temperance, modesty, and humility, are graces which ought to colour everything we do.

Sugar is better than salt, but we use salt more generally and oftener.

Consequently, it is well to have a good and ready stock in hand of those general virtues of which we stand in so perpetual a need!”

“Going beyond materialistic tendencies and becoming a person of being truly Blessed!”

(Based on 1 Kings 17:1-6 and Mt 5:1-12 – Monday of the 10th Week of Ordinary Time)

There is an eating disorder named ‘Pica’.

Pica is the craving to eat what is not edible.
It is characterized by an appetite for substances that are non-nutritive such as paper, clay, metal, chalk, soil, glass, sand etc.

There are different variations of pica, as it can be from a cultural tradition, acquired taste, or a neurological mechanism such as an iron deficiency or a chemical imbalance.

‘Pica’ can lead to intoxication in children, which can result in an impairment in both physical and mental development.

Now in the spiritual realm, many of us could be affected by a ‘Spiritual Pica’.

A Spiritual Pica would refer to a craving to enjoy what is non-spiritual.
A Spiritual Pica would mean a strong desire to enjoy what is unholy.

The Gospel of the Day presents Jesus giving an antidote to this tendency by presenting the Beatitudes.

The Beatitudes are a beautiful proclamation and an exhortation…
… to set one’s hearts on the higher and nobler things of life
… to be delighting in the true and heavenly aspects in life.

Jesus, the Teacher went up the mountain, and after He had sat down, began to teach (Mt 5: 1-2)

When we go through the list of the Beatitudes, one of the standout aspects that we notice is the ‘tone’ and the ‘mood’ that is expressed by Jesus…

There is a lot of joy that is expressed…
There is a lot of peace that is radiated…

When seen from a worldly perspective, the Beatitudes present a grim and gloomy picture…

They speak of…

People who are poor… people who are mourning…
People who are too modest… people who are in want…
People who are merciful…people who are clean at heart…
People who are peacemakers…people who are persecuted…

From the worldly eyes, these are not people who are “great” or “happening” or “cool”

Instead, they are usually categories of people who are put down or who rarely come to the limelight or those who considered weak and fragile.

But, the Lord reverses this notion, and places these sections of persons in the category of being Blessed!

What is the reason?

Blessedness for the Lord is an attribute that is solely associated with God and dependence on Him
Blessedness for the Lord is a virtue that is directly a result of one’s faith in the Lord and reliance on His providence.

This is the greatness and paradox in Christian Life.

One is invited to live a life of immense happiness and joy…
…but the result is not an achievement of one’s own merit, but is a fruit of one’s dependence and trust in the Lord.

One is encouraged to enjoy a life of peace and delight…
… but the outcome is a not an accomplishment proceeding from sheer hard-work or personal efforts, but is a grace obtained because of one’s faith, love and commitment to the Lord.

However, many of us, fail to look upwards and gaze higher…
… instead our aims remain sometimes peripheral and stuck to being worldly.

We get afflicted by a ‘Spiritual Pica’….
… craving to enjoy what is non-spiritual.
… a strong desire to enjoy what is unholy.

The Lord today challenges and invites us to go beyond such materialistic tendencies and instead become a person of being truly Blessed!

Let the example of Elijah, the Prophet be an inspiration for us.

He listened to the Word of the Lord…
… and was “blessed” by the Lord – being fed by ravens, in the time of drought:
“And the ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening; and he drank from the brook.” (1 Kings 17:6)

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “True progress quietly and persistently moves along without notice!”