“Being inspired and seeking the intercession of St Mathew, and imitating his example in surrendering ourselves totally to the Sovereignty of our Blessed Lord – and thus becoming people who tell ‘Turn this Way’ – to many people in our lives!”

(Based on the Feast of St Mathew – Apostle and Evangelist)

An interesting story is said of a Christian Missionary woman who had been doing the work of evangelization among a native group of tribals.

After she had been with them for a while, and after the natives had experienced the Power of the Lord…
… they gave her a new name: “Aim-day-co”

The Chief of the Tribe, in explaining the name, said: “In our tribe, when we see anyone taking a wrong route/road, we call out “Aim-day-co”

It means, “Turn this way!”

Our sister came from a far-away land and found us all on the wrong road.

She sensed that we were in great danger of losing our souls.

So she stood and said “Turn this Way”…
… and pointed to Jesus!

May God bless “Aim-day-co”!

Are we ready to be an “Aim-day-co” in the lives of people?

The Gospel of the Day (Mt 9:9-13) presents Jesus Who became an “AIM DAY CO” in the life of St Mathew…
… and today, on the Feast day of St Mathew, we celebrate, how, in turn, this Great Saint has become an “Aim-day-co” to all of us, by his Gospel!

One of the important and essential dimensions of an encounter with our Blessed Lord is the “transformation effect” on the person.

If one has had a genuine encounter with Him…
… one cannot be passive
… one cannot just remain the same

Either one shakes off the dust of sin and slackness and follows Him in sincerity
… or one tries to cast Him off from life and adamantly remains in one’s own desires!

Either one takes radical decisions in life and orients one’s conduct in accordance with His Will
… or one seeks to do away with all Divine inspirations and obstinately sticks firm to one’s personal interests!

In any case, an “encounter with the Lord” causes an effect in life – either for the good or towards rejecting the impulses of Divine Goodness.

Do I respond positively and emphatically to the call of the Lord…
… or do I sink into an attitude of grumbling, complaining and disinterestedness?

On this feast day of St Matthew, the Apostle, the Gospel of the day presents these two “contrasting reactions” in the encounter with Jesus…

Matthew…. who hears the call of the Lord – “Follow Me” (Mt 9: 9)
The Pharisees… who observe the lavishness of God’s mercy and react with grumbling and complaining (Mt 9: 11)

Jesus very emphatically declares, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick” (Mt 9:12)

This verse is the key to understand and gauge the style of reaction, when we encounter the Lord…
The one who needs Him – will relish Him!

The one who feels no need of Him- will reject Him!

The one who acknowledges that one is sick, weak and in need of God’s grace and mercy – will find in Him a Saviour!

The one who vehemently says that one is all fine, self-motivated and strong willed – will fail to find any consolation in Him!

Here then is a wonderful check-meter to test my passion, my longing and my intensity of love for the Lord…

Have I discovered that by myself I cannot achieve everything that life demands of me….?
… and in the Lord alone, I have the answer to my problem and a solution to the puzzles of my life!
Do I realise that as a human person, I often fall into the snares of sin and can get easily caught up in evil traps… ?
… and in the Lord alone, I have the antidote to sin and a remedy to overcome the pitfalls of wickedness!

St Mathew presents a beautiful picture, of embracing the Lord fully into life because He realised and discovered the intimate need of the Lord in his life.

He experienced Jesus as an “Aim-day-co” – the One Who told him “Turn this Way”…
… away from the ways of sin and Turn towards the Way of Salvation!
… away from the ways of corruption and Turn towards the Way of Christ!

May we be inspired by him and seek his intercession and imitate his example in surrendering ourselves totally to the Sovereignty of our Blessed Lord…

And thus be an “Aim-day-co” – the one who tells “Turn this Way”…
… to many people in our lives!

Happy Feast of St Matthew!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “Genuine devotion is consistent with every state
of life. Like liquid poured into a container…

… it adapts itself to any shape!”

“Avoiding ‘grumpy’ faces, ‘complaining’ tongues and ‘grumbling’ tones and recognising the immense wonders of God’s Grace at every step of our life, in order to have ‘joyful’ faces, ‘grateful’ tongues and ‘thankful’ tones!”

(Based on Is 55:6-9, Phil 1:20-24,27 and Mt 20:1-16 – 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time)

Grumbling and complaining had become a habit for old Mrs. Dolly.

She would find a point to be critical for anything and everything.

Finally, it so happened one day, that the parish priest felt he had found something about which she could make no complaint: the old lady had a very excellent produce in her vegetable garden – of the finest potatoes in that area.

“Oh, finally, I hope you must be well pleased” said the parish priest, with a gleaning smile, to Old Mrs Dolly, “Every one’s excitedly talking about how wonderful are the potatoes in your garden this year!”

However, with a frown, the old lady rumbled back, “Well, they are not so bad.

But where are the bad ones for the pigs??”

Well, the one who puts on the tinted spectacles of grumbling, invariably finds a reason to complain about anything in life, isn’t it?

As it is said, “it is usually not so much the greatness of our troubles, as the littleness of our spirit that makes us complain.”

The Gospel of the Day presents a group of people who find their way into grumbling even about, perhaps the most undeserved subject of complaining: the Free Gift of the Grace of the Generous God!

Jesus presents the parable of the Workers in the Vineyard liking it to the Kingdom of Heaven. (Mt 20: 1)

“It’s not fair” is a common phrase that we raise in our day-to-day activities.

Children, while playing games with each other, invariably raise a “It’s not fair” slogan, especially when they feel some cheating is done by the umpires or the opposite team players

Students quote the “It’s not fair” phrase when sometimes they get lesser marks than expected, and blame the professor or the system

Employees in a company chant “It’s not fair” when they feel that somehow they have been given lesser pay or treated unfairly with respect to promotions etc.

Family members or friends shout “It’s not fair” when there are impartialities or favouritism or ignorance discovered in relationships

A sense of dissatisfaction reigns in many circumstances of our daily life.

Such was the displeasure expressed by those workers, who had toiled the whole day and received just one denarius, in the Parable of Jesus of the Workers in the Vineyard: “It’s not fair!”

These workers felt… “It was not fair”…
… that the landowner had equated the wages of those who came in last to them, who had toiled the whole day!
… that there had been no consideration to the immense toil in the blazing sun that they had put in!
… that the principle of justice and impartiality had been badly violated and trampled upon!

But the Master of the Vineyard was quick to point out to them their fallacy in such a thinking…

He reminded them first of all, that the wages that they received, was something that they had already agreed upon

He also brought to their notice that the wages given to the others were simply out of his generosity and good-will

How often do we also raise the cry of complains and ring in the growls of grumbling when we see others finding pleasure in greater favours and happiness of life…

“I toil so much in life, and I don’t seem to be really growing prosperous or at least being freed from the pangs of daily life struggles…
… But someone else, has a relaxed and cosy life and still find themselves enjoying with the comforts and luxuries of life”

“I try my level best, with much hard-work and labour in order to excel in my talents and I don’t seem to reap its fruits…
… But someone else, maybe blessed by natural talents or sheer out of luck, seems to be doing much better and enjoying greater harvests of success”

The workers who grumbled did not complain because they did not get the “just” wage…
… but their complaint was because “they were made equal to the others”

It was a complaint arising out of…
… “unfair comparison”
… “jealousy in seeing others being rewarded more”
… “we being made small before others”

Perhaps, this is where we need to make a radical shift in our perspectives.

God’s Grace comes to human persons in different levels and measures.

Grace is defined as “favour – the free and undeserved help that God gives us to respond to His call to become children of God…partakers of the divine nature and of eternal life”.

Therefore to make bargains on Grace… to make it a “countable” entity…
… would be a clear violation of its very essential nature of being a “free gift”!

Hence, what is required is to make a shift in perspectives…
… from “complaining” to being “thankful”
… from “grumbling” to being “grateful”
… from saying “It’s not fair!” to saying “It’s Your Grace”

The Lord reminds us through Prophet Isaiah, “For My Thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My Ways, says the Lord.

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My Ways higher than your ways, and My Thoughts than your thoughts!” (Is 55:8-9)

St Paul invites as well as challenges us with his words: “… let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ…!” (Phil 1:27)

Life constantly pushes us into corners which make us to have “grumpy” faces, “complaining” tongues and “grumbling” tones.

But, can we recognise and realise the immense wonders of God’s Grace at every step of our life…
… and lead a life with “joyful” faces, “grateful” tongues and “thankful” tones?

Smile please??

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “It is good to mistrust ourselves, but how would that advantage us were we not to throw all our confidence on God and to wait on His mercy?

If you feel no such confidence, cease not on that account from making these acts and from saying to Our Lord:

‘Yet, O Lord, though I have no feeling of confidence in You, nevertheless, I know that You are my God, that I am all Yours, and that I have no hope but in Your goodness, so I abandon myself entirely into Your Hands!’”

“Making sure that we are in the range and network of God and giving heed to His Word!”

(Based on 1 Cor 15:35-37, 42-49 and Lk 8:4-15 – Saturday of the 24th Week in Ordinary Time)

“Hello… Hello? Are you there?”

Most of us use mobile phones…

One of the most common troubles that many of us face in the usage of mobiles is the problem of range (network).

There are many a times, especially, when one happens to frequent rural areas, that a message pops up on the mobile screen…
…”Network not found!”
…”Out of Range!”

We feel ourselves so much lost and becoming impatient when such situations arise.

This level of anxiety increases all the more when we have an urgent call to be made or in an emergency!

Sometimes, one person keeps muttering and talking…
… but the other one, having lost range, fails to hear anything!

All that remains perhaps is: “Hello… Hello? Are you there?”

Well… there is so much of tension and stress suffered when we miss our range or our network…

Isn’t it?

But have we ever given a thought to what will happen if God goes out of range, in dealing with us?

Perhaps many of us, might not even become aware that sometimes we are in a “no-network” zone with God!

Through the Gospel of the Day, the Lord invite us to examine the level of life that I am, in my spiritual life.

The Parable of the Sower broadcasting an uncounted number of seeds is very much familiar to us.

A great number of seeds are sown…and they fall on varieties of soil…and the reactions of each one is varied too.

A great number of words are spoken by God…and they fall on varieties of ears…and the response of each one is varied too..

1. Seeds falling on the way – an Attitude of “Paying no mind” to God’s words.
   The seeds that fell on the way were trampled upon….and the birds of the sky ate it up.

God’s words are often not given due consideration…
…we remain unaffected and unmoved by it.

God’s words are often not given due importance…
… we take for granted as being too common and familiar.

God’s words are often not given due respect…
… we fail to esteem the seriousness and gravity of the Word of God!

2. Seeds falling on the rocks – an Attitude of “Passing”
   The seed that fell on the rocks, when it grew, withered for lack of moisture.

The Word of God sometimes makes us very thrilled…
… but we soon become slack and sagging and lethargic.

The Word of God sometimes finds quick response…
… but we soon die out in the commitment and dedication.

The Word of God sometimes makes us take radical decisions…
… but we soon fade in our enthusiasm and passion!

3. Seed falling among the thorns – an Attitude of “Preoccupation”
   The seeds that fell among the thorns got choked by the thorns.

God’s words often gets strangled…
… in the midst of immoral living and corrupt practices.
… in the presence of many diluting and misleading spiritualities.
… with too many materialistic and worldly concerns and affairs.

4. Seed falling on the good soil – an Attitude of “Perception”
   The seed that fell on the good soil gave fruits of various measures.

The Word of God when received properly brings true joy and happiness to life.
The Word of God when received properly helps us to share the love and joy of the Lord.
The Word of God when received properly makes our life a source of blessings for others

God goes on speaking… He goes on sharing His Word…

Am I paying no attention to Him?
Am I taking His words just for passing?
Am I being too much preoccupied with many things and fail to listen to Him? Or…
Am I perceiving and understanding His word clearly and able to produce fruits for the Kingdom of God?

Let us be inspired by the valiant and heroic life of St Januarius – 4th century Martyr – whose feast we celebrate today
In defence of the Faith, Januarius and his companions were sentenced to be cast into the fiery furnace. >> The flames, however, caused him no harm and the following day, he was led into the Colosseum to be mauled by wild animals. The beasts, however, laid themselves down in tame submission at his feet.

Governor Timotheus, enraged and again pronouncing sentence of death, was struck with blindness at his sentencing, but Januarius healed him—a miracle which led to the miraculous conversion of nearly 5000 people.
The ungrateful judge, further inflamed with anger, ordered the saintly bishop beheaded, which occurred immediately.

His gallant life is a reminder for all of us to heroically Live the Word in our daily life!

We are reminded by St Paul to live a life modelled in line with the Lord – the New Adam: “As this earthly man was, so are we on earth; and as the Heavenly Man is, so are we in heaven. And we, who have been modelled on the earthly man, will be modelled on the Heavenly Man!” (1 Cor 15:49)
… This requires us to nurture and nourish the Word in our hearts!

Let us make sure that we are in the range and network of God…

He constantly keeps calling us and sends many SMSs.

Are we listening to Him?
“Hello… Hello? Are you there?”

God bless! Live Jesus!

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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “Accustom yourself to know how to pass…

… from prayer to all sorts of actions which your vocation justly and lawfully requires of you!”

“Reminding ourselves constantly that ‘Jesus Christ is precious and He loves us very much!’ and living this truth with deep piety, profound conviction and committed service to one another!”

(Based on 1 Cor 15:12-20 and Lk 8:1-3 – Friday of the 24th Week in Ordinary Time)

A story is said of an elderly priest who was known for his deep piety, committed service and profound conviction in preaching.

His old age had rendered him nearly blind and he even found it quite hard to breathe normally, and in fact, struggled to speak even in whispers!

However, despite his old age, he loved to visit prayer meetings to speak about the love of Christ.

He would take the help of the catechist to get his message delivered to the people

Once, while preaching, he repeated the sentence, “Jesus Christ is precious and He loves you very much!”

The catechist, thinking that the priest had made a mistake… reminded and whispered to him, “Father, you have already said that statement twice!”

The priest, turning to the catechist said in a strong tone, “Yes, I know I have said it twice, and I will say it once again!”

And so saying, with a firm and convinced voice, he told the people, “Jesus Christ is precious and He loves you very much!”

The priest re-iterated to the people of the Love of God, and How Precious He is!

Have we discovered and tasted the deep Love of God in our lives?

Do we treasure our Blessed Lord as Precious and follow Him with conviction and courage?

The Gospel of the Day is a beautiful narrative of a group of people – women, in particular – who experience the Love of the Lord, and considered Him as precious and worthy to be followed!

This passage is a strong narration by St Luke who presents Jesus, the true liberator, breaking some new ground in granting a new status to the discriminated and oppressed class of women.

“Accompanying Him were the Twelve and some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities…..and many others who provided them out of their resources” (Lk 8:1)

Women who had been healed and had experienced the Goodness of the Lord accompany Him in His mission…
… and supported Him with their resources.

We can take a couple of lessons from these few, yet significant words from the Gospel of St Luke:

1. Broken to Blossom
   Jesus broke some societal traditions to help people to blossom people and experience genuine freedom and liberty.

Women were generally kept out of public life…

They were forbidden from reading the Sacred Scriptures.
They were mainly reduced to mere onlookers, and not participants in the Sabbath worship.
They had a specially designated outer court at the synagogue, which was located beneath the court for men.
They weren’t allowed to divorce, for the most serious faults; men were allowed even for the most trivial ones.

But Jesus loved to break open…to let free…and to allow people to blossom!

Jesus permitted Mary of Bethany to sit at His feet (Lk 10: 39)
Jesus touched a little girl who was dead and restored her to life (Lk 8:54)
Jesus allowed Himself to be touched by a woman in hemorrhage (Lk 8:44)
Jesus engaged in a life-transforming conversation with the woman at the well (Jn 4:7-26)
Jesus let the sinful woman to wash his feet, and shower his feet with kisses of love (Lk 7: 38)
Jesus had strong words for the practice of divorce which had reduced women to mere objects (Mt 19:3-9)

The Lord showed Himself as being Precious and declared that He loved everyone very much – including the rejected and the oppressed!

Do I let unhealthy and inhuman practices or mentalities to govern my life, or do I break free and blossom?

Do I give in to societal pressures in following certain norms or thought-pattern even if they are harmful?
Do I fail to be bold and courageous to initiate a change in attitudes, in order to achieve genuine liberation?

2. Transformed to Tread!
   The women who were touched by the Lord, had found greater meaning in their life and they accompanied the Lord in His ministry and mission.

They were not people who only sought favours; they rather happily extended gratitude and thankfulness.

They were not people who wanted Jesus in order to get something from Him; they rather had much to give to the Lord in return.
They were not people who lived for mere material needs; they, in fact, focussed their attention on the higher values of life and of the Kingdom!

These women were willing to respond to the Precious Love of the Lord and prove with acts of service that even they loved the Lord very much!

What is my response to the Lord who has showered my life with many blessings at crucial moments of my life…

Do I tread in His path after having been transformed with His Grace?
Do I get stuck with seeking only material favours and fail to allow them to lead me to a deeper God-experience?
Do I only remain with the prayer of intercession and prayer of asking, but not grow higher to prayer of thanksgiving and prayer of praise?

We live in times when the cry for deeper respect and genuine esteem for women is on a high.

You and I can make a great change in our society, by our attitude and our determination, with the Grace of God!

Let us cast away barriers which reduce people to mere objects…which yokes people, especially women.

Let us imitate Jesus the liberator to Break open to Blossom…
… and also grow in our commitment to Tread after having been Transformed by Him!

St Joseph Cupertino – the Saint of the Day (The patron saint of air travelers, pilots, astronauts, and those with learning disabilities and often called as the ‘flying saint’ due to his miraculous gift of levitation and visions), inspires us with his words:
“Clearly, what God wants above all is our will which we received as a free gift from God in creation and possess as though our own…

When a man trains himself to acts of virtue, it is with the help of grace from God from whom all good things come that he does this!”

Let us never forget that “Jesus Christ is precious and He loves us very much!”

Let these words be repeated constantly in our life, with deep piety, profound conviction and committed service to one another!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “The Love of God is calm, peaceful, and tranquil, and so the work done for its sake, even in worldly things…

… is gentle, trustful, and quiet!”

“Learning the Grammar of Love and Mercy from the Lord and earning accolades in the University of God!

(Based on 1 Cor 15:1-11 and Lk 7:36-50 – Thursday of the 24th Week in Ordinary Time)

All of us have been school kids…

And as students, one of the most dreaded…avoided…boring… (or for the really good students…one of the most exciting…scoring…loved) topics in class was Grammar!

Grammar plays a vital function in every language!

And in grammar, Tenses play a key role…

Does the word, “Tenses” bring some tension on our face??!

Well, we are not going to reflect on any boring (or exciting…either way we consider) lesson on Grammar!

But for our surprise…
… the Gospel of the Day, presents to us Jesus, the teacher!
And He is out to teach us …well, you guessed it right… Grammar!

Welcome to the Class on Grammar…by the renowned Teacher, Jesus…

The class today is in a different setting…

It is taking place in a house, around a dinner table!

The participants in this session are many…

But the attention remains focused on three persons:

1. Simon, the Pharisee
   Unlike other Pharisees, this man is much more open to receive Jesus into his home.

We don’t know whether he was a die-hard fan of Jesus…but he certainly seemed not so opposed to Him!

How do we describe him?

Social Person….Diplomatic…Polished…Willing to be open…?

2. Jesus, the Guest
   The Lord seems to enjoy food…!

But more than food, He very certainly enjoys and values the people, He eats with!

He was happy to be a guest to Simon, the Pharisee…
… He would have been happy to sup with the class of people who were highly critical of His ways of teaching!

How do we describe Jesus?

Friendly… Welcoming… Open-hearted…Compassionate…Gentle…?

3. The Sinner Woman
   She was a prostitute lady, who lived selling her body to men.

She was a victim of the people’s duplicity & discrimination – misused as a source of pleasure yet despised & categorized as the scum of the society!

She however, feels privileged to have been able to come near Jesus, in whom she places her hope of receiving true acceptance and genuine love.

How do we describe her?

Penitent…Sorrowful…Hopeful…Courageous…Loving…?

The story is familiar to us…

Simon hosts the dinner for Jesus…

Meanwhile, the sinner woman approaches the Lord, and showers her love and affection.

The host Simon, gets irked by this gesture…
… and scandalized by his guest allowing her to do so!

What was Simon’s problem?
He thought he was better than the prostitute.

He thought he was more righteous than the lady who sold her body!

He thought he was far more worthy than the woman who had no moral groundings!

And this is where, the Master Teacher…steps in….and teaches The Grammar of Life – changing Tenses!

Simon said, “She IS a sinner.” … in the present tense!

Jesus replied, “No, she WAS a sinner.”…in the past tense!

Jesus changed the tenses in her life.

People considered her to be woman with loose morals…

Jesus considers her to be a woman of deep love!

People thought of her as a dirty and shameless creature…

Jesus thinks of her as a beautiful and precious child of God!

How often do we fall into this grave mistake of mixing up “tenses” in the lives of people…

There is a Simon, perhaps, in all of us!

A person WOULD have been known for some misdeeds…
… but we think he/she WILL always remain to be so!

A person WOULD have committed some grave faults…
… but we think he/she WILL continue to persist in them!

A person WOULD have done some wrongs in the past…
… but we think he/she WILL be always fixated in that!

A person WOULD have displayed some bad habits…
… but we think he/she WILL always have to be condemned!

We need to learn from the Master Teacher, that God can change the “tenses” in the life of people.

We need to be hopeful from the Master Teacher, that God can change the “tenses” in our own lives.

At the end of the incident, the Master Teacher blesses the sinner lady, again, in a grammatical style…

Jesus says to the sinner lady,
“Your SINS are forgiven”… The PAST is purified!
“Your faith has SAVED you”…the PRESENT is strengthened!
“GO in peace”…the FUTURE is blessed!

Simon deserves our empathy…
… perhaps, most of us also, would have reacted in a similar way, if we were to be in his place…

Imagine having the presence of a famous prostitute barging in during some family occasion!

We too would have been very scandalized
… we too would have been ashamed
… we too would have felt offended!

But the Lord invites us to weed off… slowly at least… the little SIMONness in us….
… the tendency to judge people based on their past life.
… the tendency to fail to give any room or chance for improvement.
… the tendency to not able to see the persons, however bad, as ultimately being children of God, our Father!

Let us depend on the Grace of the Lord for transformation in our life, just as St Paul testifies and declares: “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His Grace toward me was not in vain!” (1 Cor 15:10)

Jesus, the Master Teacher can change tenses in our lives, in the lives of others!

Let us learn this Grammar of Love and Mercy from the School of Jesus…
… and earn accolades in the University of God!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “”Do not generalize from a particular instance.
Do not say that a certain person is a drunkard, because you have seen him drunk once…

… A single act is not enough to justify such a label!”

“Giving heed to the call of the Lord, and doing away with all hypocritical aspects of our life; instead, having expressions of faith, that are real and genuine!

(Based on 1 Cor 12:31-13:13 and Lk 7:31-35 – Wednesday of the 24th Week in Ordinary Time)

After his victory over Mark Antony at the Battle of Actium, Augustus Caesar came back to Rome in triumph.

Among the huge crowd who greeted him, was a man (a bird seller) who had a bird that was taught to say, “Hail, Caesar, victorious!”

Augustus Caesar, the victorious king was greatly impressed that the bird was able to utter praises in honour of his victory…
… and bought the bird for a large sum.

Then someone got Caesar aside and whispered to him, that the man had another bird that was just as talented.

The man was summoned and Caesar asked for a demonstration of what the other bird could do.

The man selling the birds objected… and expressed reluctance…
… but Caesar insisted.

Finally the bird uttered: “Hail, Antony, victorious!”

(The second bird ended up uttering praises to the enemy who had been defeated by Augustus Caesar!)

The birds had been only trained to speak by rote!

Their expression was not something “that was really meant”…
Their expression was laden with tones of duplicity and lack of genuineness

The Gospel of the Day is a presentation on how people are also very often similar…
… failing to have expressions that are real and genuine!
… falling into the trap of duplicity and double-standardness!

The Gospel is an exposition on the attitudes of duplicity and being double-standard that can cram our Christian lives.

Jesus gives an illustration of how the attitudes of duplicity and being double-standard can cram our Christian lives.

He speaks of “children sitting in the market place and calling to one another, ‘We piped to you and you did not dance; we wailed and you did not weep'” (Lk 7: 32)

Two persons who had committed themselves totally to the cause of the Kingdom are under the scanner today – John the Baptist and Jesus.

John the Baptist lived in the wilderness and in preparation for the arrival of the Messiah.

John did not drink wine, and he and his followers fasted regularly.
He baptized people in the Jordan River.

But John also preached repentance and gave a clarion call to turn away from one sins!

And this irked the people…

The elders of the Jewish community dreaded him because he recognized the corruption of the priests, and publicly called them to repent and be baptized.
They refused, because they wanted to keep their power, their wealth, their full stomachs and their fine clothing!

Jesus went around the cities and towns healing the sick and curing the lepers and doing many mighty works.

Jesus shared in the table-fellowship of many people regularly.

He preached the Kingdom of God.

But Jesus also challenged people to let go off their sinful and corrupt lives and turn to God in penitence!

And this annoyed the leaders…

The Pharisees hated him because he preached with much authority and his new understanding of the law was highly challenging!
They rejected Him, because they wanted to stick to their traditions, empty hearts and their inhuman practices!

Jesus and John both would have hit high on the popularity charts if they had “played nice” or “would have allowed things to be little more easy”!

But both of Them did not budge…

This is what Jesus says, “We played the flute for you, you did not dance; We mourned to you, you did not weep.” (Lk 7:32)

Both of them refused to compromise on their convictions and principles of life

It was a tragedy of that generation…
… that two of the great leaders – John and Jesus – though came with apparent contrast – found themselves rejected!
… that these two great messengers of the Kingdom, met with a tragic end – one beheaded, the other crucified!

This shows an important philosophy that underlies many lives: an attitude of indifference to the truth and an attitude of rejection of those who challenge our lives!

This tragedy affects our generation too…

We often wrap ourselves often in the garment of hard-heartedness and arrogance…
… and fail to allow the message of the Truth to bring a transformation in our lives

We neatly hide ourselves in the dark shadows of indifference and apathy…
… and remain unconcerned with the workings of God’s Power and Grace in our hearts

But the Lord today renders a wake-up call to shake off the dusts of…
… apathy, hypocrisy and indifference from our lives!

Very often our faith is only a training to speak prayers and express articles of faith merely “by rote”

Very often, our faith expressions are not something “that is really meant from the heart”
Very often, our religious expressions are laden with tones of duplicity and lack of genuineness

Let us give heed to the call of the Lord and do away with all hypocritical aspects of our life, and instead…
… have expressions that are real and genuine!
… and thus become an authentic follower of God and an ardent missionary of the Kingdom!

Let us be encouraged by the lives of St Cornelius, Pope and St Cyprian, Bishop – martyrs – whose feast we celebrate today and “who encouraged each other to lead virtuous, self-sacrificing, and loving lives for God!”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “If you do not choose to be simple and honest as a little child…

… you will not win the child’s sweetmeats!”

“Holding the hands of our Compassionate Mother, who is ever with us in our every sorrow, as she helps us, to follow Her Crucified Son and Our Strengthening Saviour, Jesus!”

(Based on the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows)

A prayer meeting was on.

The participants were reciting the Rosary of the Seven Dolours (the seven sorrows of our Blessed Mother Mary).

It came to the fifth sorrow, which is “Jesus dies on the Cross”.

However, the one who was leading the prayer, by mistake said, “Mary dies on the Cross”.

A few participants, who heard this mistake, burst out into laughter, at the mistake!

But in hindsight, if we consider that statement, there is so much of truth and meaning in it – “Mary dies on the Cross!”

While on earth, there was no one who was closer to our Blessed Lord than His Own Beloved Mother.

He received His body from Her.
With Him, She rejoiced!
With Him, She suffered!
And finally, in those deepest agonizing moments on the Cross, there was none who suffered more than Her!

Every pain of Her Little Child, was experienced by the Blessed Mother

Mary was the Woman Who was most happy at the birth of the Lord
Mary was also the Woman Who was most sorrowful at the death of the Lord!

Today, Holy Mother the Church keeps the memorial of Mary, the Sorrowful Mother of Jesus.

This feast is dedicated to the spiritual martyrdom of our Blessed Mother.

The title “Our Lady of Sorrows” focuses on Mother Mary’s intense suffering during the Passion and Death of Jesus…
… and invites us to meditate especially through the Seven Sorrowful and Dolorous Moments in the life of our Blessed Mother.

1. The Prophecy of Simeon
2. The flight into Egypt
3. The Loss of Jesus in the Temple
4. Mary meets Jesus on the Way to Calvary
5. Jesus dies on the Cross
6. Mary receives the Dead Body of Jesus in Her arms
7. The Body of Jesus is placed in the Tomb

Suffering is an immense and an intense reality of our lives.

Many times, sufferings hit our lives when…
… we least expect it
… we are least prepared for it

Such moments of pain and agony…when encountered without any faith….
… can cause us to lose any meaning in life and renders our life to be shorn of hope
… can cause us to question God and His goodness and strips our faith of its strength
… can cause us to have recourse to “unbecoming” means to relieve ourselves from pain

However, such moments of suffering and difficulties…. when faced with deep faith and trust…
… will become occasions of God’s overflowing grace filling our lives and making us stronger
… will become occasions for us to depend deeper on our Creator and to feel His power more strongly
… will become occasions for us to realise the value of life, and become more compassionate towards others

This time of the pandemic has been extremely harsh and painful for the entire world.

However we need to ask ourselves…
… have we been able to increase our faith and trust in the Lord, and know the God is very much with us, even in this unexplained time of suffering?
… or has our faith wavered, and is our life cluttered with many uncertainties and questions of hopelessness?

Our Blessed Mother Mary – the Mother of Sorrows and the Mother of Compassion – teaches us many important and vital lessons for life

She had every reason to complain and fight against God…
She had every reason to protest and abandon God and His Will…
She had every reason to murmur and let go of the plan of God for Her…

But, the “Yes” that She pronounced at the Annunciation was echoed all through Her life… at every step
… be it in times of joy and calmness
… be it in times of sadness and calamity

The “Yes” She said was the Final Profession She made…
… just as the Religious make on the Day of their Profession
… just as the Priests make on the Day of their Ordination
… just as the Married make to each other and to God, on their Day of Wedding
… just as the Baptised make to the Lord and seek to live, from the time of Baptism

It was a binding for life…

It was a commitment to, with conviction…
It was to be lived in sincerity, with dedication…

The Feast of the Mother of Sorrows is a beautiful reminder and reflection on “Two Hearts that were united to each other, burning with love” – the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Blessed Mother Mary!

These two Hearts underwent immense pain and suffering…
… yet, rejoiced in Love!

We are invited to live a life…

free from sin
filled with love
firm in conviction
fashioned in grace
… like our Beloved and Blessed Mother Mary!

Mamma Mary invites all of us to live a life of joy, even when the clouds of sorrow paint the skies of our lives. Her Seven Special Moments of Joy…

1. The Annunciation
2. The Nativity of Jesus
3. The Adoration of the Magi
4. The Resurrection of Christ
5. The Ascension of Christ to Heaven
6. The Pentecost or Descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and Mary
7. The Coronation of the Virgin in Heaven
   … are a reminder to know that God reigns over every situation in life, and we need to “wave the Flag of Joy in our lives always!”

May we be filled with the courage and grace to truly make it our prayer:
“Holy Mother, pierce me through
In my heart, each wound renew
Of my Saviour Crucified!”

Wish you a Happy Feast of our Compassionate Mother, who is ever with us in our every sorrow…
…. as she helps us, to follow Her Crucified Son and Our Strengthening Saviour, Jesus!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “It is not joy I seek, it is Himself…
… and My Heart, full of love, makes Me seek always to be united to that Amiable Child, My Tenderly Beloved One.

In a word, the intention of the soul in this union is nothing, save to be with Her Lover!”

THE SEVENTH SORROW: THE BODY OF JESUS IS PLACED IN THE TOMB

REFLECTION
As the body of Jesus was placed inside the tomb, it seemed to be the end of the world for Mother Mary.

The life of the Old Testament Isaac was spared and Abraham had to joy of being reunited with his Son.

The life of the New Testament Isaac was however not spared!

Was it the end of Her life too?

Circumstances often drags us to give up in life…
… and to abandon our call to be soldiers of God’s Kingdom!

The Compassionate Mother Mary becomes the model for us: To reply to life’s harsh challenges with an even bolder face of courage!

(Reflect for some time and personalize the above-mentioned points)

PRAYER
Compassionate Mother Mary, intercede for me, that I may be able to reply to the hard and harsh challenges of life with greater courage by depending totally on the Power of the Lord, Amen!

VIRTUES TO BE PRACTISED

Facing life’s challenges with courage in the Power of the Lord

NOVENA PRAYER
Compassionate Mother, Immaculate Virgin, look upon us with mercy. Help us in our daily trials and sorrows. For You are the comforter of those in pain and sorrow. You are the refuge of the abandoned and shelterless. You are the hope of the depressed and the despairing. Have compassion on us and come to our help.

You have known anguish and the bitterness of suffering and pain. Standing at the foot of the Cross, You witnessed the agony and death of Your Beloved Son, Jesus Christ. In deep sorrow, You held His Dead Body in Your arms. As You had compassion for the sufferings of Jesus, and suffered with Him and for Him, remember Dearest Mother, these our particular trials and sufferings (silence for a moment, placing your intentions)

Strengthen us, comfort us, intercede for us and free us from every evil.

Jesus died for us in torments and thus redeemed us through His Death. Compassionate Mother, You had a great share in the mystery of the Incarnation. By the anguish of Your heart and by suffering with Jesus for the salvation of humankind, You are the co-Redemptrix of the human race.

Intercede for us that Your Divine Son may grant us pardon, grace, purity of body and soul and all the spiritual and temporal blessings we now stand in need of.

Hail Mary, Glory Be,
Mother of Compassion, Pray for us!
(7 times)

Let us pray
Grant we beseech Thee, O Lord, Jesus Christ, that the Most Blessed Virgin Mary, Your Mother, Whose most Holy Soul was transfixed with the sword of sorrows at the Hour of Your Own Passion, may intercede for us before Your Throne of Mercy, now and at the hour of our death, Amen!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

Fr Jijo Jose Manjackal MSFS
Bengaluru, India

THE SIXTH SORROW: MARY RECEIVES THE DEAD BODY OF JESUS IN HER ARMS

REFLECTION
“My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me,” was the cry of the Lord from the Cross.

With Her Dead Child in Her arms, perhaps, the Mother of God would have also echoed the same question!

No answer given!

Yet, the tears that dropped from Her lovely eyes, to the cheeks of Her Tender Baby, carried the power of Hope and Trust and Faith!

We too sometimes encounter situations and times, when life crushes us

The Compassionate Mother Mary becomes a Model for us: To remain submissive to God’s Providence and be hopeful in faith!

(Reflect for some time and personalize the above-mentioned points)

PRAYER
Compassionate Mother Mary, intercede for me, that remain open to the Providence of the Lord in my life and to be hopeful and faithful, Amen!

VIRTUES TO BE PRACTISED

Submitting to the Providence of the Lord!
Being hopeful in faith!

NOVENA PRAYER
Compassionate Mother, Immaculate Virgin, look upon us with mercy. Help us in our daily trials and sorrows. For You are the comforter of those in pain and sorrow. You are the refuge of the abandoned and shelterless. You are the hope of the depressed and the despairing. Have compassion on us and come to our help.

You have known anguish and the bitterness of suffering and pain. Standing at the foot of the Cross, You witnessed the agony and death of Your Beloved Son, Jesus Christ. In deep sorrow, You held His Dead Body in Your arms. As You had compassion for the sufferings of Jesus, and suffered with Him and for Him, remember Dearest Mother, these our particular trials and sufferings (silence for a moment, placing your intentions)

Strengthen us, comfort us, intercede for us and free us from every evil.

Jesus died for us in torments and thus redeemed us through His Death. Compassionate Mother, You had a great share in the mystery of the Incarnation. By the anguish of Your heart and by suffering with Jesus for the salvation of humankind, You are the co-Redemptrix of the human race.

Intercede for us that Your Divine Son may grant us pardon, grace, purity of body and soul and all the spiritual and temporal blessings we now stand in need of.

Hail Mary, Glory Be,
Mother of Compassion, Pray for us!
(7 times)

Let us pray
Grant we beseech Thee, O Lord, Jesus Christ, that the Most Blessed Virgin Mary, Your Mother, Whose most Holy Soul was transfixed with the sword of sorrows at the Hour of Your Own Passion, may intercede for us before Your Throne of Mercy, now and at the hour of our death, Amen!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

Fr Jijo Jose Manjackal MSFS
Bengaluru, India

“Reflecting deeper on the autobiography of our lives, written on the Cross of our Blessed Lord, and thus preserving, nurturing and beautifying our lives in holiness and love!”

(Based on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross – Jn 3:13-17)

Venerable Fulton J Sheen is undoubtedly one of the greatest proponents of Catholicism of the 20th Century. In his autobiography titled, “Treasure in Clay,” Bishop Sheen gives a beautiful and heart-rendering illustration of the Cross – the Crucifix:

“In the Crown of Thorns, I see my pride…
… my grasping for earthly toys, in the Pierced Hands,
… my flight from shepherding care, in the Pierced Feet
… my wasted love, in the Wounded Heart
… and my prurient desires, in the Flesh hanging from Him like Purple Rags!”

Yes…
… on the Most Holy Cross, we have the autobiography of all our lives!

On this Great and Blessed Feast of the Exaltation of the Most Holy Cross, we turn our gaze towards the Cross on which our Blessed Lord redeemed us…
… as we gratefully thank Him for His Awesome Sacrificial Love
… and pledge to live a life in expectation of this Great Sacrifice of our Crucified Lord!

In the Gospel (Jn 3: 13-17), Jesus tells to Nicodemus, “… as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life” (Jn 3: 14)

Centuries before Jesus was crucified, Divinity in its Immense Wisdom was already preparing for the plan of salvation!

Having been powerfully freed from the slavery in Egypt, the people of Israel were travelling to the Promised Land through the wilderness.

However, this difficult journey caused the people to lose their patience, and they murmured against God and His servant, Moses on the lack of comforts!

The result of this sin was the plague of poisonous serpents that caused suffering and death to them. (Num 21: 4-9)

However at the intercession of Moses, God had him lift up a bronze serpent on a pole, so that all who looked it would be healed!

This was the foreshadowing of the Cross of Christ!

(This method of Interpreting the Bible is also called “Biblical Typology”

“Biblical Typology” refers to a person, place or event in the Old Testament that has its own proper significance…
… but also prefigures a person, place or event, later in the New Testament

In the words of St Augustine: “The New Testament is hidden in the Old, and the Old Testament is made manifest in the New!”)

Like the people of Israel, our life is often a journey through the wilderness.

Sometimes there is a lack of comfort.
Sometimes there is an inflation of hardships
Sometimes there is an increase in uncertainty.
… And we begin to complain, grumble… falling into many sinful ways and habits!

But Divine Love, wanting to have us back to Him, provides us the means to be rescued from the deadly effects of such sins…
… The Holy Cross is the Symbol of this redemption and salvation that is won for us, by Christ!

Are we ready to take refuge in the shadows of this Holy Cross…
… and affirming our sincere acceptance of Christ in our lives, do we live a holy life, worthy of our salvation?

St John of the Cross would say, “The road is narrow. He who wishes to travel it more easily, must cast off all things and use the Cross as his cane.

In other words, he must be truly resolved to suffer willingly for the love of God in all things.”

Usually the heart is considered to be the great symbol of Love…

But, from a Christian perspective, probably, the Holy Cross is a greater and a more meaningful symbol of the Immense Love of God for each one of us.

The Cross demands sacrifice…

The Cross demands a self-emptying nature…
The Cross demands a complete commitment…
.. And this is indeed the true nature of Love – sacrificial, self-emptying and committed! (Phil 2: 6-11)

As we honour and venerate the Holy Cross, may we hear the words of our Crucified Lord, tenderly whispering to us, with deep love and affection:
“You are mine, forever…
… and you belong to Me and to Me alone!

Hold on to My Cross, always!”

Two thieves on either sides, died with Christ on the Cross

One mocked Jesus…
… the other sought Jesus

One took pride in himself…
… the other humbled himself

One continued to remain condemned…
… the other moved on to receive salvation

One lost a golden opportunity…
… the other, won the Prized Paradise!

The Cross – with Jesus hanging – beckons to each one of one of us today

We have a choice…
… like both the thieves

What choice are we going to make?

Are we going to lose a golden opportunity…
… or are we going to seek the Prized Paradise?

ESCAPE FROM THE CROSS…
… OR EMBRACE THE CROSS!!

EXIT THE CROSS…
… OR EXALT THE CROSS!!

May we reflect deeper on the autobiography of our lives, written on the Cross of our Blessed Lord…
… and thus preserve, nurture and beautify our lives – which is truly a “treasure in clay” – in holiness and love!

In the words of Ven Fulton Sheen, “The ideal is to reach a point in practice, where, like Our Lord on the Cross, we witness to God even amidst abandonment and the agony of a crucifixion!”

Wish you a very Happy Feast of the Holy Cross!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “St. Paul, the outstanding master and teacher of the newborn Church, discovered in the Crucified Christ…
… the blissful wellspring of his love
… the theme of his sermons
… the source of his boasting
… the goal of all his ambitions in this world

… and the anchor of all his hopes for the world to come!”