“Becoming aware of the Great Sign that Jesus is Risen, and Alive and Working – in amazing ways – in our lives!”

(Based on Gal 4:22-24, 26-27, 31 – 5:1 and Lk 11:29-32 – Monday of the 28th Week in Ordinary Time)

Thriller Movies have a great audience….

Reality Shows have a wide range of popularity…
Programmes with sensational appeal have a massive demand…

Our age loves to be tingled with breath-taking visuals and magnificent signs.

Check out the number of videos and movies and songs we have on our gadgets…

Look at the wide range of photos that we shoot and the selfies we click (which perhaps never we may see again!)

The demand of our external senses is very high in our generation…

A fallout of this excess is also reflected in our Spirituality and our Religious Outlook….
“We seek for greater external signs and wondrous miracles, even to believe in God!”

And the Lord thunders in today’s Gospel Reading, “This is a wicked generation… it is asking for a sign…”

Signs are not bad.

Symbols are not without meaning.

External expressions are not unwarranted.

They certainly do have their proper place and a meaningful nature.

In fact, the Bible is not alien to signs and wonders…

Moses’ rod became a serpent;
The Red Sea parted so that God’s people could cross.
Water flowed from a rock when Moses struck it.
Manna fell from the sky to feed God’s people.
Baalam’s ass spoke.
Aaron’s rod blossomed.
The sun stood still at Joshua’s command.
Gideon’s fleece became wet and dry according to his request to the Lord.
Elijah pronounced a drought upon the land… And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain…

The examples are many more…

But…
… when outward signs fail to generate any positive emotions, they divorce from their intention!
… when symbols cease to be a passage for inner understanding, they fail in their purpose!
… when signs stop being an aid to increase in faith, they lose their meaning!

And this is the reason that Jesus condemns the Pharisaic mentality of Seeking for a Sign…

They sought a sign – in order to test, but not to believe!
They asked a sign – in order to satisfy curiosity, but not to trust!
They demanded a sign – in order to scheme evil talks, but not to have faith!

Signs become mere external fancies.

Miracles become mere magic shows

The Gospels are not alien to such false and untrue demands…

At the Birth of Jesus, King Herod sought to see Baby Jesus…
… not to worship, but to kill Him!

At the Temptations, Satan tempted to change stones to bread…
… not to believe, but to lure Him!

At the Trial, King Herod Antipas hoped Him to perform a sign…
… not to save Him, but to mock Him!

Jesus condemns all such unnecessary demands for a sign and external phenomenon.
“… but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah the Prophet!”

The Prophets of Old, performed many miracles.
… Jesus also did.

The Prophets of Old, even performed the great miracles of raising the Dead.
… Jesus also did.

The Prophets of Old, were never able to raise themselves from the dead.
… But Jesus rose!

Jonah was three days and nights in the belly of the fish, so was Jesus in the belly of the earth!

But Jesus rose….and that has become indeed, the Greatest Sign of all times!

The Pharisees demanded a sign…

Jesus answered with a sign – the greatest of them all – His Resurrection!

And yet…
… DID THEY BELIEVE?

The answers can be speculated.

But the question is…
Am I believing?

Am I believing and living, the Power of the Resurrection in my life?
Have I reduced the reality of Jesus being alive, to a mere expression of the lips?
Do I display this Sign that Jesus is Risen, by my words, in all my activities and by a joyful life?

Let us not be carried away by mere External Glitz and Glamour…

Let us open our eyes to see the many wonders and miracles the Lord has worked in our lives!
Let us become aware to see that He is Risen, and Alive and Working… in amazing ways… in our Life!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “When we see a soul that has raptures
in prayer without ecstasy in life…

… these raptures are exceedingly doubtful and dangerous!”

“Responding to the Lord, by acknowledging and accepting His ability to transform our lives!”

(Based on Isaiah 25:6-10, Phil 4:12-14, 19-20 and Mt 22:1-14 – 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time)

A catechism class student in class 8 – known to give creative and clever answers – was asked by the teacher on “what is the meaning of responsibility”

The girl thought for a while, and then said, “Responsibility is made up of two words – Response and Ability!”
… and she went on to say, “Responsibility, is the Response of human beings to the Ability of God to transform us!”

That’s a neat description of Responsibility, isn’t it?

It is a response given by a person…
… by acknowledging and accepting the ability of God to transform oneself!

God is able… God is almighty!

But God requires that we take up “responsibility” on ourselves, by responding to His ability to work in our lives!

The Gospel of the Day is a teaching on this aspect of Responsibility in Life…
… the parable of the Wedding Feast, in which the King sends out invitation to his chosen guests, expecting them “to respond!”

The guests however refused to acknowledge and accept the invite….
… so the King sent out an invite to all those in the streets.

The parable has an interesting twist at this point…

Even those who were called and invited from the streets and roads to attend the wedding ceremony, were expected to have a distinguishing mark.

The distinguishing mark was the Wedding Garment.

When the King came into the hall to meet his guests, he found that one of them was without this distinguishing mark…
“But when the King came in to meet the guests, he saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment. He said, ‘My friend, how is it that you came in here without a wedding garment?'” (Mt 22:11)

A free and an open invitation was extended to all.

But once the people chose to be part of the wedding banquet, they were expected to follow certain norms and protocols…

This principle is followed in most of our daily lives too…

One is free to choose any school or educational institution…
… but once, one chooses to be part of it, one ought to abide by its uniform patterns, discipline styles, rules and regulations.

One is free to choose any company or work of place…but once, one chooses to be part of it, one ought to abide by its salary codes, work mechanisms and job culture.

One is free to choose any organization or charitable service centre etc…but once, one chooses to be part of it, one ought to abide by its style of functioning, its norms and working modes and rules.

The person without the wedding garment was also in a similar situation…

He had all the freedom to choose to go or not to go for the wedding.
But once he chose to go for the wedding, he had an obligation to abide by its norms, especially in wearing the wedding garment.

But this man refused to do so!

He probably was too proud to cast off his old clothes or his own clothes and don what the wedding occasion demanded.

He probably was too defiant to show the King that he could choose to have his own way and not get noticed.
He probably was too bold to show others that even if he flouts the norms, he got escape through.

But the King was sharp to notice this man who was proud, defiant and too bold.

Anyone of us could be “this man without the wedding garment”.

We voluntarily choose to follow Jesus as a Christian…
… and we are expected to wear the wedding garment of “His love and virtues”.

Are we without this garment and instead just happy to be wearing our own clothes of worldliness and attachments to sin?

We voluntarily choose to attend the Holy Sacrifice of the Eucharist…
… and we are expected to wear the wedding garment of “preparedness, holiness and purity”

Are we without this garment and instead just be satisfied to be wearing our own clothes of unrepentance and impurity and casualness in receiving the Holy Communion?

We voluntarily choose to profess ourselves to belonging to Jesus…
… and we are expected to wear the wedding garment of “being constantly striving towards holiness and building a stronger relation with Jesus”

Are we without this garment and instead just being okay to be wearing our own clothes of being lethargic, impassionate, negligent and a relaxed attitude with respect to our Christian commitment and consecration?

The Gospel of the Day is a strong reminder for each of us to be vigilant and careful in wearing the wedding garments demanded by Jesus our King.

We ourselves have chosen to be part of the banquet of Jesus.

Let us make ourselves worthy of this calling by putting on the garments of the Lord.

The man wanted the good food
… but did not want to comply with the norms.

The man wanted to be part of the celebration
… but didn’t want to a relationship with the King.

We too may want blessings from the Lord.
We too may want many of our wants to be fulfilled by the Lord.

But we fail to have a relationship with Him…
… we fail to comply with His norms and rules!

Prophet Isaiah speaks of the feast to which God calls of us: “On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of fat things, a feast of wine on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wine on the lees well refined!” (Is 25:6)

The Lord is inviting each one of us to His banquet… daily…

The Banquet of the Holy Eucharist. The Banquet of His Divine Word.
The Banquet of His Tender Love. The Banquet of His Immense Joy.
The Banquet of His Holy Spirit.

But we also ought to respond, by wearing the proper garments for the occasion.

If we respond, HE is always there as the strength of our life:
“I can do all things in him who strengthens me.
… and my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 4:13, 19)

Yes, God is able and almighty!

But it is important and vital that we take up “responsibility” on ourselves, by responding to His ability to work in our lives!

Let us “Respond” to the Lord by acknowledging and accepting His “ability” to transform our lives…
… and thus fulfill our Christian Responsibility!

Are we ready and willing?

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “To advance well, we must apply ourselves to make good way in the road nearest to us…
… and do the first day’s journey!”

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“Seeking to live in accordance with the blueprint in the Hands of God – the Great Engineer – by doing His Will always!”

(Based on Gal 3:22-29 and Lk 11:27-28 – Saturday of the 27th Week in Ordinary Time)

A highly skilled engineer had been confined to his bed due to a paralysis of the lower limbs.

So great was his reputation, that even though he was sickly, he was asked to draw the blueprints for a great suspension bridge.

With much determination, the engineer completed the blueprints and handed it over to those who were to carry out the work.

Months passed by…
… and the work of the bridge was completed.

Four men came to the engineer’s room and carried him, on the cot, to the place…
… from where he could see the bridge, suspending over a wide river

Tears filled his eyes as he gazed at the engineering marvel…
… and with the blueprints in his hands, he cried out:
“It’s just like the plan! It’s just like the plan!”

God, the Great Engineer, has his blueprints for each one of us, in our lives…
… His Holy Will!

Do we build our lives as per this blueprint?

The Gospel of the Day invites us to have our wills in harmony with this blueprint…
… the Will of God!

In today’s Gospel, a woman from the crowd calls out to Jesus, “Blessed is the one who bore you and nursed you” (Lk 11:27)

This woman had probably been following Jesus for some time or had observed some of His works or had heard about Him.

This greatness of the Man was attributed to His Mother.

The woman had probably a driving principle behind this thought, “Behind every successful man, there is a strong woman…constantly supporting and nourishing”.

Mother Mary was recognized and understood as this Woman behind the success of Jesus!

Let’s just visualize how Jesus would have felt when He heard these words…

Every child is proud and to hear good of one’s parent…
… especially about the mother.

Jesus too, would have been very proud and happy of His Mother.

He would have thought of the moments that His Mother…
… would have taught Him various prayers
… would have taught Him the scriptures.
… would have taught Him to love God

Jesus surely had many things to thank and praise His Mother.

But the Lord doesn’t remain fixated on the level of mere human praise and efforts…

The Lord loves things of the High….and His concerns are of the High!

And so, he invites and challenges the woman to look higher…

“Surely blessed are those who hear the Word of God and keep it as well” (Lk 11:28)

The Lord was probably telling the woman…
“Yes, surely my Mother is truly great for Her tender care of me.
She is indeed wonderful for Her amazing upbringing of me.

But My Mother is great, not just because of these earthly factors…

There is much more…

There are many more reasons which makes Her truly great.

She is blessed because…
… She listened to God’s Word and accepted it wholeheartedly.
… She was obedient to God though she did not understand many things
… She chose to put Her faith in God, though the path ahead was dim
… She lived and shared the love that she received from God.”

The Lord made the woman to not just be satisfied with transient, material aspect, but to have a higher perspective in life.

The same message is reached out to each one of us today….

Am I a person who is simply satisfied with only the concerns of the material world?
Am I a person who remains stunted on just listening to God’s word, but not practising it?
Am I a person who fails to fly higher, to also be concerned with the aspects of the Divine?
Am I a person who is excited to hear and listen to the Bible, but afraid to live it in my life?

God has his blueprints for each one of us, in our lives…
… His Holy Will!

Do we obediently carry out our works, as per His plan?

May this Great Engineer, seeing our lives…
… and with the blueprints in His hands, exclaim:
“It’s just like the plan! It’s just like the plan!”

God bless! Live Jesus!

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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “God’s Will is as much in sickness…

… as it is in health!”

“Being credible and authentic in order to have true spiritual growth and nourishment!

(Based on Gal 3:7-14 and Lk 11:15-26 – Friday of the 26th Week in Ordinary Time)

Michelangelo has been one of the greatest artists the world has ever seen.

His notable works of “Pieta”, “David”, “Moses” and “The Last Judgment” have been unparalleled in their beauty and perfection.

Another of his fantastic work has been the Frescoes on the Sistine Chapel Ceiling (in the Vatican)

It is said that as this great artist painted the magnificent frescoes on the ceiling of the Sistine chapel – lying on his back for endless hours to finish every detail with great care…
… A friend asked him why he took such pains with figures that would be viewed from a considerable distance.

“After all,” the friend said, “Who will notice whether it is perfect or not?”

The artist who was known for his perfection at all works replied…
… “I will!”

The motivation for perfection in all things, for Michelangelo, was not from outside…
… it was a based on his conviction that he should be “credible and authentic” in all what he does.

Our spiritual life also follows a similar principle: When credibility and authenticity are lacking in a spiritual endeavour, there is very less spiritual growth and nourishment!

It is credibility and authenticity that helps to gain spiritual progress and advancements!

The Gospel of the Day is an exhibition of how true integrity and authority can work tremendous wonders, conversions of heart and transformations of life…
… and how it can also cause some people to “oppose credibility and authenticity” by engaging in calumny and character-assassination!

The Gospel of the Day begins with the statement that…
… “the scribes who had come down from Jerusalem said, ‘He is possessed by Beelzebul and by the prince of demons , He casts out the demons” (Mk 3:22)

One of the reasons why the Scribes were irked by the personality of Jesus was because of the tremendous authority that was displayed by Jesus!

Yes, the amazing factor in the ministry of Jesus was His tremendous authority!

The wondrous aspect in the ministry of Jesus was His awesome integrity!

Elsewhere, in the Gospel of St Mark, we read…

The people “were astonished at his teaching, for He taught as one who had authority…” (Mk 1:22)
“… they were all amazed so that they questioned among themselves…. ‘…with authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him” (Mk 1: 27)

This authority and integrity came…
… through His deep union with His Heavenly Father.
… through His faithfulness to the commands of His heavenly Father
… through His undivided devotion to His Heavenly Father

How authentic, credible and integral are we in our life…
… as a Christian?
… in the family?
… as a consecrated person?

Authenticity does not mean arrogance…

Credibility does not mean over-confidence…

Integrity does not mean super-importance…

Authenticity, credibility and integrity in the Lord means…
… filled with the power and strength of God’s Spirit
… imbued with a deep passion for the Lord and His Church
… living an honest lifestyle in accordance to God’s Will and teachings

The Gospel of the Day calls us to check and examine…
… is my prayer life and devotion truly authentic and credible?
… is my preaching and spreading of God’s Word filled with His Holy Spirit?
… is my reception of the Sacraments helping me to make an honest effort to be a true Christian?

Let our prayers become a true raising of hearts to God…

Let the receiving of the Sacraments become an honest transformation for life…

Let the spreading of God’s Word become a credible witness to God’s Kingdom….

Jesus is our model and example to be true and honest in life!

Jesus is our ideal and standard to be faithful and committed to our mission!

Let the motivation in seeking for perfection in all things, be based not from outside…
… rather let it be based on the conviction that we should be “credible and authentic” in all what we do!

May our spiritual life follows the principle: Only when credibility and authenticity are pursued, we can have true spiritual growth and nourishment!

Today we also seek the intercession of Abraham, the Patriarch – on the Feast Day (Oct 09 – as mentioned in the Roman Martyrology)

(Even though customarily, we don’t call the Old Testament figures as Saints, nevertheless, the Church teaches that they are considered as Saints:
“The patriarchs, prophets and certain other Old Testament figures have been and always will be honoured as saints in all the Church’s liturgical traditions [CCC #61])

May Abraham – the Father of Faith – inspire us to live in total trust and surrender to the Will of God…
… and thus be faithful to walk in the ways of God – in credibility and authenticity!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “No matter where we are, we must aspire to a

perfect life!”

Remaining persevering and persistent in our life of prayer by ‘shaking off all shovels of struggles and stepping up in faith!’”

(Based on Gal 3:1-5 and Lk 11:5-13 – Thursday of the 27th Week in Ordinary Time)

The familiar story of the donkey falling into a deep pit is probably known to most of us.

The animal cried piteously for hours, as its farmer tried to pull out the donkey from the deep pit.

However the depth of the pit, caused all efforts of rescue to go in vain,

Finally giving up all hope, the man decided to bury the donkey.

He even called his neighbours to help him cover the donkey with dirt and mud.

But tough situations are always occasions for one to show one’s mettle!

Perseverance and determination are necessary companions in any endeavour of life!

The donkey initially felt extremely desperate as to what was happening…
… but in a short time – to everyone’s amazement – the donkey managed to come up

What it did was quite astonishing…
… with every shovel of mud that fell on its back, the donkey would shake it off, and step up on the mud!

Shake off and step up… shake off and step up…
… Continuing this process, pretty soon, the donkey was out of the pit!

Life often throws shovels of dirt and mud – in the form of struggles, hardships, rejections, disappointments

But it is left to us, to “shake off and step up!”

We need to remain persevering and persistent in all what we do…
… and this is very true especially in our life of faith, in our life of prayer!

The Gospel of the Day presents before us the theme of Prayer with a special emphasis on perseverance and determination in prayer life.

This aspect of persistence in prayer through a parable: A parable of a friend who knocked at the door of his friend at an odd midnight hour…seeking for some help.

Prayer invariably points to the notion of Necessity and Dependence in our lives: A necessity for various things…and a Dependence on God

A necessity of realizing our limitations…
… and a Dependence on the power of God

A necessity of moving out of our capabilities..
… and a Dependence on the strength of God

A necessity of knowing all things not possible for me…
… and a Dependence on the grace of God

For a moment, let us get into the shoes of this friend who faced this need of an unexpected traveller in his house…and thus forced to seek for help…

This man received an unexpected guest…

Probably, it was the end of all the chores of his day…and as he was retiring to bed, this traveller came to his house.

His condition was so pitiable that he did not even have some morsels of food to be given.

He had the good will…
… but did not have the resources to help.

He had the good intentions…
… but did not have the supplies to assist.

Very often, we ourselves land up into such situations…
Perhaps someone drops in for a coffee…and lays bare their problems…

But we feel totally helpless how to help…

Perhaps we get a letter or a message…informing of some serious crisis…

But we feel totally helpless how to help…

Perhaps our close ones undergo some pain…and life becomes hard…

But we feel totally helpless how to help…

Perhaps we see many in absolute suffering…and our heart reaches out to them..

But we feel totally helpless how to help…

We ask ourselves: “What can I do?”

There is a strange, sinking sensation… a sense of pressure, almost terror: “What shall I say?”

The best you can do is just hope for a quiet moment when you can rush to God, our Great Neighbour and cry out to him, “A friend has come, and I have nothing to set before him.“

This happens often, doesn’t it?

It is out of such moments of deep necessity that true prayer is born.

It is out of such moments of genuine dependence that true prayer is born.

But that does not mean, that God, our Great neighbour has to be awakened from his slumber or who has to forced to render us help.

The point of the parable is that as a Person who is in necessity and who is dependent, one ought to have a great level of patience & perseverance & determination.

In prayer, it often happens that we determine…
… the way
… the time
… the mode
… in which God should answer our requests!

But we often forget, that, the Great Neighbour, God…
… is also our loving Father.
… is also the One who cares deeply for us.
… is also Someone who wishes the best for us.

In Lk 11: 9, Jesus gives us the exciting verse, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”

ASK…SEEK…KNOCK…all these three verbs indicate a continual process and a constant action.
“Keep on asking…keep on seeking…keep on knocking”.

The Lord is a Loving Father…

He does not demand perseverance because of any hard-heartedness…

Rather, He expects consistence and perseverance because of His deep and tender Love for us and wanting us to not get bogged down by mere material concerns…
… rather to SEEK HIM above all in prayer and to make HIM the greatest need of our lives!

Pope St John XXIII said: “Prayer is the raising of the mind to God.

We must always remember this. The actual words matter less.”

Tough situations are always occasions for one to show one’s mettle!

Perseverance and determination are necessary companions in any endeavour of life – especially in journey of faith!

St. Teresa of Avila says:
“Provided that we don’t give up, the Lord will guide everything for our benefit…!

There is no other remedy for this evil of giving up prayer than to begin again!”

Yes, life often throws shovels of dirt and mud – in the form of struggles, hardships, rejections, disappointments

But it is left to us, to “shake off and step up!”

Let us remain persevering and persistent in our life of faith and our life of prayer!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “Prayer is a sovereign remedy; it lifts the mind to God, Who is our only Joy and Consolation!

When you pray, let your words and affections – whether interior or exterior – all tend to love and trust in God!”

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“Seeking God’s Kingdom and doing His Will in life, so that we can ‘love more, hate less and forgive quick!’”

(Based on Gal 2:1-2, 7-14 and Lk 11:1-4 – Wednesday of the 26th Week in Ordinary Time – Feast of the Most Holy Rosary)

A teacher in a school was being felicitated at her farewell program after serving for nearly 34 years.

She was a teacher who was much loved and much respected…
… all because of her gentle yet firm conduct with all
… all because of her kind-heartedness and amiable approach with all

As she was asked on what was the motto that helped her to be such a lovable and respected teacher, she replied:
“Well, I have just tried to follow my Master is an epitome of altruism on the Cross. I have also been greatly helped by the care of Mamma Mary as every day I make it a point to recite the Rosary.

And all, I tried to do was: ‘To love more, hate less and forgive quick!’”

That’s a nice dictum for life, isn’t it?

Love more!

Hate less!
Forgive quick!

The Gospel of the Day is a beautiful transcription by the author of the ‘Gospel of Prayer’ – St Luke – on a beautiful teaching on Prayer.

St Luke narrates this incident by stating that “Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when He ceased, one of His disciples said to Him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.’” (Lk 11:1)

This query presents the beautiful inherent thirst and desire in every human person – to seek to connect with the Divine.

And Jesus, the Master lays before His Disciples, the blueprint for every prayer – the Our Father!

In just a few words, the Lord taught His disciples that the thrust of every prayer is “to seek God’s Kingdom and do His Will in life”…
… so that one can “love more, hate less and forgive quick!”

In the light of this teaching, let’s examine our prayer life…
… Does my prayer help me to orient myself more in doing the Will of the Father in my life?
… Does my prayer help me to love God more and to reach out His love to my fellow beings?
… Does my prayer help me to reduce hatred or other vices that have taken root in my heart?
… Does my prayer help me to reflect God’s Mercy to the people, especially those who hurt me?

Today – Oct 07 – we are also specially invited to reflect, meditate and thank the Lord for the Gift of a powerful weapon of prayer – the Holy Rosary.

The Rosary is like a Christian museum…
… which brings alive the past of the salvation history, to the present and becomes an inspiration for the future!
… which showcases the heritage and history of our faith and awakens many emotions and feelings!

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

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

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

The Rosary is a Powerful Weapon of victory and conquest.

In our struggle with the forces of sin and evil tendencies…
… the Rosary is the weapon of devotion.

In our battle with the forces of discouragements in life…
… the Rosary is the weapon of hope and courage.

In our war with the terrors of temptations to purity…
… the Rosary is the weapon of holiness and sanctity.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The word Rosary means a “Crown of Roses”.

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

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

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

Each Mystery that we meditate upon, is a miniature theology of the mysteries of the life of Jesus and the life of Mary, offered with a view to feeding the minds and the heart.

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

The Rosary is the nutshell of our salvation history.

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

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

May the teaching of Jesus on prayer, narrated by St Luke in His ‘Gospel of Prayer,’ and the Feast of the Holy Rosary help us “to seek God’s Kingdom and do His Will in life”…
… so that we can “love more, hate less and forgive quick!”

Happy Feast of the Holy Rosary!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “The Rosary is a useful devotion, when rightly used…”

“Asking the grace to choose the ‘one thing that is needed’ – the one ‘chair’ – of being committed to the Lord and His Kingdom, so that we can enjoy true peace and joy in life!”

(Based on Gal 1:13-24 and Lk 10:38-42 – Tuesday of the 27th Week in Ordinary Time)

Luciano Pavarotti was an Italian operatic Tenor.
(A tenor is a type of classical male singing voice whose vocal range is one of the highest of the male voice types)

He made numerous recordings of complete operas and individual arias, gaining worldwide fame for the brilliance and beauty of his tone…
… and eventually established himself as one of the finest tenors of the 20th century.

Luciano relates:
“When I was a boy, my father, a baker, introduced me to the wonders of singing.

He urged me to work very hard to develop my voice.

Arrigo Pola, a professional tenor in my hometown of Modena, Italy, took me as a pupil.
I also enrolled in a teachers college.

On graduating, I asked my father, ‘Shall I be a teacher or a singer?’

“Luciano,” my father replied, ‘if you try to sit on two chairs, you will fall between them.
For life, you must choose one chair.’

“I chose one.

It took seven years of study and frustration before I made my first professional appearance.
It took another seven to reach the Metropolitan Opera.

And now I think whether it’s laying bricks, writing a book–whatever we choose–we should give ourselves to it.
Commitment, that’s the key.

Choose one chair!”

Often we try to find joy and satisfaction in life, by trying to adjust and fit into many “chairs”.

We end up in frustrations and irritation and bitterness.
Our life gets entangled into a lot of annoyance and resentment

The Result: We feel life is totally unfair to us… We complain… We argue!

The Gospel of the Day reflects this common trend of our lives through the incident of Jesus in the house of Martha and Mary.

During his journey of ministry, Jesus came to a village and was welcomed in the house of Martha and Mary. Martha demonstrates great hospitality by welcoming Jesus into the home.

She gets busy with the tasks of serving their honoured Guest.

Mary, on the other side, displays great devotion and love, by sitting at the feet of Jesus

She gets immersed into spending time, with the revered Rabbi.

This incident invites us to appreciate the courage and devotion of Mary

The position adopted by Mary was something contrary to the fixed norms for a Jewish woman.

She sat the feet of Jesus, just as a student would, while learning at the feet of a Rabbi.

This was, however, a role reserved for men.

Yet, Mary “chose the better part” (Lk 10: 42)

This incident also invites is to reflect on the words of Christ to Martha.

Jesus tells Martha, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her?” (10:41-42).

The Lord extends an invitation to Martha to examine her approach…

Jesus is not against her actions of service and of providing a comfortable hospitality.

But he is concerned that Martha is too” worried and distracted”

Very often…
… our best intentions in life can get spoilt due to our tendency to over-worry or be over-anxious.
… our noblest deeds of works can be marred due to our unnecessary outbursts of irritation and distractions

The Greek word used for “distracted” is “periespato”

“Periespato” means to be pulled or dragged in different directions

As a result of this high degree of distraction….

Martha fails to maintain an important and basic dimension of hospitality – giving due attention to the guest
Martha also seeks to cause a humiliation for her sister, Mary, in public
Martha even goes on to accuse Jesus of “not caring about her”

We live in a world where we are prone to get easily “distracted” – to be pulled or dragged in different directions – like Martha.

But can we seek to overcome this crippling tendency by “choosing the better part” of giving whole attention to the Lord and to His Kingdom.

St Paul shows us by his life of making the right choice and being willing to learn and correct oneself, in order to remain in the right choice…
… “For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it; and I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I, for the traditions of my fathers.

But when He who had set me apart before I was born, and had called me through His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not confer with flesh and blood…” (Gal 1:13-16)

Life offers us many “chairs” – choices – which can distract us, cause us irritation and take away our focus from what is most basic and most important.

May we ask the grace to choose the “one thing that is needed” – the one “chair” – of being committed to the Lord and His Kingdom…
… so that we can enjoy true peace and joy in life!

Let the words of St Bruno of Cologne, the founder of the Carthusian Order – whose feast we celebrate today – inspire us: “By your work you show what you love, and what you know!”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “The one who can preserve gentleness amid pains, and peace amid the worry and multitude of daily life…
… is almost perfect!”

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“Being a Christian who brightly shines forth – doing selfless acts and radiates Christ’s Presence!”

(Based on Gal 6:1-12 and Lk 10:25-37 – Monday of the 27th Week in Ordinary Time)

An important program was to be held in the Church Auditorium – the felicitation of all the members who had served for more than 10 years, on the occasion of the Decennial Jubilee Celebrations of the Parish.

The parish priest called for the auditorium in-charge to make a real-time check of the maintenance in the auditorium, “Since this is a major event, and it has been a long time that we have not had a program, I would like oversee the arrangements by myself”
(The auditorium had been unused for many months, due to the pandemic situation)

As they reached the auditorium, the priest asked all the lights to be put on, to make a check of the light system.

As the lights were put on…
… some of the lights were totally not working – blacked out completely
… a good number of them were blinking – on and off, on and off
… only a few were shining brightly – sparkling and dazzling

Seeing this, the priest made a comment: “Perhaps, this is how many Christians are today

Some don’t radiate Christ’s light at all – living selfish lives, thinking of themselves alone!
Some emit some light, occasionally – looking more to their comforts and situations!
And only a few brightly shine forth – doing selfless acts of making Christ’s Presence radiant!”

How about us?

Which category of light do we belong to?
… fully blacked out – in selfishness?
… occasionally glowing – as per situations and comfort levels?
… unconditionally shining forth – making a difference in the world around?

The Gospel of the Day is the narration of a very popular parable – the Parable of the Good Samaritan – that helps us reflect on these aspects of life.

The parables of Jesus leave a deep impression on the mind of its readers.

One such parable that makes a strong impact on the listeners and provides much food for thought is the one in the Gospel of the Day – the “Parable of the Good Samaritan”.

This is a parable familiar to most of us…
This is a parable, probably enacted by many of us…
This is a parable easily widely reflected by all of us…

We shall consider this parable of the Good Samaritan from the perspective of 3 Life-Philosophies that are reflected through 3 characters in the story…

1. The Philosophy of the Robber: “What you have is mine, and I will take it!”

In the story, we find that the man who was “going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, fell among the robbers, who stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead” (Lk 10: 30)

The robbers had been probably waiting, in hiding, for an innocent traveller – for a potential booty of money and treasure.

We do not know their background…who they were, why were they engaged in this sort of dishonesty…

But one thing is known…. They had an understanding that “What you have is mine, and I will take it!”

Are we sometimes like these robbers…?

Stealing from the fruits of other’s labours and trampling upon their rights, in order to have a comfortable life
Subtly discrimination others – especially the poor, the helpless, the voiceless – and furnishing our life with luxuries
Passively or actively ignoring the rights that are due to others – and making our lives more easy and relaxed and fun

2. The Philosophy of the Priest and the Levite: “What is mine is mine, and I will keep it”
   In the story, we find that the Priest and the Levite “passed by on the opposite side” (Lk 10: 31-32)

These religious leaders were probably more occupied with the requirements and duties of their office.

We do not know what exactly were these preoccupations…
… why they couldn’t translate the stipulations of the law into actual practise of mercy and compassion.

But one thing is known… They had an understanding that “What is mine is mine, and I will keep it”

Are we sometimes like these Priests and Levites…?

Overly busy with our own works and duties that leaves us too occupied to even make an attempt to extend an extra helping hand
Falsely understood notions of religion and piety which limits itself to the safe zones of worship but does not dare to step out into the challenging waters of service and compassionate actions.
Fearful of going against set-patterns and rigid-systems and being indifferent and casual in being a doer of God’s Word

3. The Philosophy of the Samaritan: “What is mine is also yours, and I will share it”

In the story, we find that the Samaritan goes out of his way – “approached the victim, poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged him. Then he lifted him up on his own animal, took him to an inn and cared for him” (Lk 10: 34)

This Samaritan was probably aware that he was greatly risking his life and also that he was engaging in helping his enemy (Since Jews considered Samaritans as enemies)

We do not know the way in which he calmed all his basic instincts of wanting to see his enemy in pain or the natural tendency of “running away” from a situation of risk and “unwanted troubles”

But one thing is known… He had an understanding that “What is mine is also yours, and I will share it”

Can I always try to be like this Samaritan…?

Taking upon the risk of one’s own life and one’s comforts and be willing to help and reach out persons in distress – be it physically, mentally or spiritually.
Going against my natural instincts of harming enemies or being indifferent, and instead displaying a tender heart of mercy and compassion to those who have none to care for.
Being willing to make a sacrifice of what belongs to me – my time, my possessions, my plans – in order to help another experience that there is still a “lot of goodness” in the good world that the Good God has created

Jesus endorsed the Philosophy of the Samaritan and said, “Go, and do thou likewise.” (Luke 10:37)

The onus is now on each one of us…

Do we have a destructive philosophy of “What you have is mine, and I will take it!”…
… and remain in the shadows of wickedness, corruption and cheating?

Do we have the indifferent philosophy of “What is mine is mine, and I will keep it”…
… and get decayed in the stagnant waters of ritualism, being over-busy and woefully uncharitable?

Or can we have the Divine Philosophy of “What is mine is also yours, and I will share it”…
… and be radiant in the brightness of love, compassion and mercy…
… and thus imitate the life of the Ultimate Good Samaritan – Jesus, our Saviour and Master!

St Paul reminds us in his letter to the Galatians: “And let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due season we shall reap, if we do not lose heart.

So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all men…” (Gal 6:9-10)

Let us honestly examine how is our Christian life…
… fully blacked out – in selfishness?
… occasionally glowing – as per situations and comfort levels?
… unconditionally shining forth – making a difference in the world around?

May the words of St Maria Faustina Kowalska, the great Saint who promoted the Devotion to the Divine Mercy of Jesus, whose feast we celebrate today, be an inspiration and a challenge to us:
“Every soul, and especially the soul of every religious, should reflect My mercy.

My Heart overflows with compassion and mercy for all.
The heart of My beloved must resemble Mine; from her heart must spring the fountain of My mercy for souls; otherwise I will not acknowledge her as Mine.”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “While we are busy and anxious to find
out what is the better…

… we unprofitably let slip the time for doing many good things!”

“Opening the door of our lives, to allow God’s Mercy and Goodness to come into us!”

(Based on Isa 5:1-7, Phil 4:6-9 and Mt 21:33-43 – 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time)

There is an interesting observation that can be made from the movie, “Passion of Christ” directed by Mel Gibson.

The movie tries to give a possible explanation as to why the Good Thief, hanging beside Jesus on the Cross, repented.

The Gospels remain silent though…

The Good Thief had been watching Jesus for a long time…

He was taken up by the serene patience and silent determination of Jesus.

With this build up, when he heard that Jesus, in the midst of his horrible agony, forgave His persecutors – – “Father, forgive them! They know not, what they are doing” – his heart opened up to God’s grace

That heroic, unimaginable act of forgiveness – after all that Jesus had suffered – powdered all his doubts about God’s Goodness, Wisdom, and Power.

He realized that God loves and forgives to the very end, without limits.

And so, without waiting or doubting or needlessly wrestling with his own unworthiness, he confidently entrusted his eternal salvation into Christ’s hands, “Remember me, Lord when you come into your Kingdom!”

It’s fascinating to note that in the film, Jesus actually says the line that converts the Good Thief (“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do…”) twice: once from the cross, and once while they were nailing Him to the Cross.

When the director of the movie was asked, why he had Jesus saying it twice when the Gospels mention it only once, he answered, “I thought that Jesus was probably saying it… the whole time.”

Yes, God’s mercy and goodness is ready to come into our lives, always…
… We just have to open the door!

The Gospel of the Day – the parable of the tenants in the vineyard – is a strong invitation to repentance, turning back to God’s mercy and reviving our commitment to responsibilities!

This parable of the tenants in the Vineyard has its resonant tunes with another parable told centuries ago…
… the Parable of the Vineyard Song… found in Chapter 5 of the Book of Isaiah (First Reading)

Both these readings have many things strikingly similar… one among them being that…
… God never gives up on His people!
… God constantly informs, invites and inspires people towards His Love!

The Patience of God is amazing!
The Mercy of God is fathomless!
The Love of God is incomparable!

God never gives up, on His people!

In the Gospel, when the tenants failed to send the produce, the owner of the Vineyard (God Himself) sends umpteen opportunities to make room for repentance.

The Owner could have destroyed the tenants in the first instance…

The Owner could have forcibly got his produce after the first incident…

But the Owner has a kind and a merciful heart!

He forgives… and forgives… and forgives…
… inviting constantly for a renewal and revival!

Today, let us examine the vineyard of our lives…

Do I guard, nurture and cultivate the various gifts and graces that God has showered in the Vineyard of my Life?

Do I repent and repair my faults and actions, and seek to be a person who can produce worthy fruits, as per the graces showered on me?

Do I oppose, resist, denounce, detest or even terrorize people who work and spread the Gospel of God?

Let us also never forget that it’s not enough to receive mercy…
… we also have a duty and obligation, once we receive the mercy of the Lord

This duty is a life of holiness!
Yes, “the duty of receiving mercy, is living in holiness!”

Failing to respond to this duty of mercy puts also in danger of the judgment of the Lord, as we are told by Prophet Isaiah:
“What more was there to do for my vineyard, that I have not done in it? When I looked for it to yield grapes, why did it yield wild grapes?

And now I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard. I will remove its hedge, and it shall be devoured;
I will break down its wall, and it shall be trampled down.
I will make it a waste; it shall not be pruned or hoed, and briers and thorns shall grow up; I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it!” (Is 5:4-6)

St Paul reminds us of the nobility of life – graced in mercy – that each of us are called to: “Have no anxiety about anything…
… but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus!” (Phil 4:6-7)

We are called to respond positively to the strong invitation by the Lord…
… to repentance
… to turn back to His mercy
… to revive our commitment to responsibilities!

The Lord is a fountain of mercy, and He awaits the return of each one of us.

The Good Thief on the Cross experienced this torrent of Love and Grace.
The Lord today calls us too…

Yes, God’s mercy and goodness is ready to come into our lives, always…
… We just have to open the door!

Shall we open the door?

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “Our misery is the throne of God’s mercy!”

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“Realising that it’s only in the Lord, that ‘one gets a never-fading smile and to remain cheerful – always – be it sunny or rainy!’”

(Based on Job 42:1-3, 5-6, 12-17 and Lk 10:17-24 – Saturday of the 26th Week in Ordinary Time)

A lady was crossing a street, when a man walked up to her and said, “Excuse me, Mam… I want to thank you for something!”

Not having recognized him, the lady exclaimed: “But who are you? And what do you have to thank me for?”

“I used to be the security guard,” continued the man, “I would stand at the side gate of your apartment and often notice that whenever you passed by someone, you would give a big cheerful smile.

You don’t know much that smile made a difference to me!

I used to wonder, what makes you to remain cheerful – always – be it sunny or rainy!
And I realised… this happiness came from within!

Then one morning, I saw you walking with a Bible in your hands and going inside a nearby Church…
… and I told myself, ‘Perhaps, that’s where she gets her never-fading smile from!’

And so, that night, I got myself a Bible, and read for some time, and went to the Church the following morning.

Now I can smile too…
… and I want to thank you for helping me to discover God – the source of true joy and happiness!”

The man realised that it’s only in the Lord, that “one gets a never-fading smile and to remain cheerful – always – be it sunny or rainy!”

Have we discovered this “Joy in the Lord?”

The Gospel of the Day invites us to reflect on the theme of “Joy in the Lord”…
… with two instances of rejoicing:

The Disciples rejoicing after their successful mission experience
Jesus rejoicing in the Holy Spirit and thanking His Father for His Infinite Wisdom

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

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

They had enjoyed success in their ministry…
They had a sense of satisfaction in the works that they had done…

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

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

Do we also rejoice, by seeing the hand of the Lord in the success and achievements of our lives….?
… knowing that whatever we achieve, is ultimately not just due to our hard-work and efforts; rather, was the result of our co-operation to the grace of God!
… recognizing that all our talents and opportunities are gifted by God to exhibit His Glory and Honour!

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

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

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

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

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

Do we radiate joy…
… in our encounter with one another, and spread the cheer of life?
… even in the midst of hardships, knowing that we have a God who is deeply caring for us?
… thanking the Lord for His blessing, above all, for the gift of Himself in the Word and the Sacraments?

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

But can we allow the Power of the Lord to enamour us, and realise that beyond all these, we have a reason to celebrate and to rejoice…
… knowing that ‘God is with us’, to ensure success in our journey of life, with our wholehearted co-operation
… knowing that God is the greatest reason to be happy and the treasure of life Who deserves every glory.

Job, of the Old Testament, allowed the Lord to enamour him with His Presence…
… and thus, even in the midst of immense suffering and hardship, humbling himself, Job could resign himself to the Power of the Lord and say:
“I know that You can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.

Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.
I had heard of thee by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees thee; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes!” (Job 2-6)

Let us hold fast to the Lord…
… through the faithful reading of the Word of God daily
… through a disciplined Prayer and Sacramental life
… through the intercession and inspiration of the Saints and Angels
… through living the virtues in our everyday affairs

On this first Saturday of the new month, let’s offer ourselves to the care and protection of our Blessed Mother and offer our concerns to Her Loving Immaculate Heart…
… and learn the secret of true joy from her: Treasuring God’s Word in the Heart and Doing God’s Will always!

Let us realise that it’s only in the Lord, that “one gets a never-fading smile and to remain cheerful – always – be it sunny or rainy!”

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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “Live joyously among your occupations!”