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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(A): PREPARATION FOR THE HOLY MASS

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

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

It is a momentous and splendid Divine Occasion and Event!

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

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

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

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

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

(B): THE INTRODUCTORY RITE

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

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

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

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

To Reflect

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

When preserved and careful utilized, you will remain precious

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

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

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

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

Yes, You are Precious!

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

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

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

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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

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

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

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

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

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

There is an eating disorder named ‘Pica’.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

They speak of…

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

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

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

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

What is the reason?

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

This is the greatness and paradox in Christian Life.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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

“May the Blessed Trinity – the Father, Son and Holy Spirit- helps us to grow in our intimacy and union and in turn, help to reflect His image to all people in our lives!”

(Based on Solemnity of the Holy Trinity)

When some guests came home, a little child was once asked to make the sign of the Cross, invoking the name of the Blessed Trinity.

This little girl, with a gleaming smile and innocently looking at her parents, made the sign of the Cross with the words, “In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of St Anthony, Amen!!”

(The child had probably heard much more about St Antony than about the Holy Spirit)

Another child, during the time of Christmas, was asked, “Who are the three persons of the Blessed Trinity”

Looking at the beautiful crib that was made at home, the child answered, “God the Father, Mary our Mother and Baby Jesus, our Saviour!”

In another incident, a child, after attending a prayer service, with various invocations especially to the Infilling of the Holy Ghost, had this doubt: “I don’t understand why the West Coast isn’t included too!”

When inquired what she meant, she added, “You know, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the whole East Coast.”
(The Holy Ghost had been misunderstood by the little child as Whole East Coast!)

Well, such simple misunderstandings are commonly seen among little children.

The truth, however, is that, when it comes to the Dogma of the Blessed Trinity, even elders are not spared of possibilities of similar misunderstandings.

The Dogma of the Blessed Trinity is indeed the most fundamental, yet the most baffling and confusing mystery of the Christian Faith.

However, we are encouraged by a great truth about this mystery…
• The mystery of the Trinity is more to be lived, than merely be understood
• The mystery of the Trinity is more to be encountered, than merely be grasped
• The mystery of the Trinity is more to be experienced, than merely be comprehended

Today we celebrate the Great Solemnity of the Holy Trinity.

This feast is celebrated on the Sunday, following the Feast of the Pentecost.

The encounter of the Holy Spirit, was a life-transforming experience for the Disciples.
• It brought about a huge upliftment in courage for their sagging and fearful spirits.
• It brought about a massive alteration of mind, to being bold and dynamic in their faith.

Along with this, it also brought in the tremendous experience of the Holy Spirit as a God!

This was something very new, strange and heart-experiential.

The disciples, as we know, were Jews.

Jews believed in strict monotheism – One God.

They professed this belief in One God, daily, by the ‘Shema Israel’, “Hear O Israel, the Lord your God is one God….” (Deut 6:4)

However, in Jesus, the disciples encountered a deep Divine experience.

On Pentecost Day, they also encountered a deep Divine experience in the Holy Spirit.

This tremendous experience, along with the grace of God, helped them to reflect on the many words and sayings of Jesus that pointed to the dimension of Three Persons in the One nature of God.

Thus, with gradual and deeper reflection on the words of the Lord, and the power of the Holy Spirit, the disciples – strict monotheists – began to understand the mystery of God in a new light…
• God is One
• There are three Persons – the Father is God, the Son is God, the Spirit is God
• The Father is not the Son and the Spirit; the Son is not the Father and the Spirit; the Spirit is not the Son and the Father.

This Triune invocation was the way the Lord exhorted to Baptize disciples in all the nations, “Go therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Mt 28: 19)

The Dogma of the Blessed Trinity has explanations, rationalization and details in the Holy Scripture and the Teachings of the Church.

However, with all that, the Dogma continues to remain a mystery…

And this is the beauty of the Mystery of the Triune God…
… It is something to grow in, daily
… It is something to develop a deeper relationship, daily
… It something to be lived and experienced in practical life, daily

As Evagrius of Pontus, a Greek monk of the 4th century said: “God cannot be grasped by the mind. If God could be grasped, God would not be God!”

This is our Blessed Triune God…
… He escapes being subjugated to the prisons of the mind; instead, invites to forge a powerful bond with the heart!
… He gets away from being trapped in the intriguing theological explanations and philosophical reasoning; instead calls forth to form an everlasting covenant of love!

Are we willing to grow in cultivating an intimate and close bond with the Triune God – the God of Love and Holiness?

Are we willing to live the beautiful virtues of the Blessed Trinity – unity, self-giving, in our personal relationships with one another ?

Our whole world reflects the Triune nature of the Blessed Trinity…

Water exists in three forms – solid as ice, liquid as water, gaseous as steam
(In physics, it is also proved that theoretically, water exists as solid, liquid and gas at the same time at something called the triple point – a temperature of 0oC or 273.16 K and at a pressure of 611.2 Pa)

Sunlight displays a triune dimension – the substance of the sun, the heat, the light

The universe consists of three things: matter, space, and time.
(Each one of those is itself a trinity.
Matter = mass + energy + motion.
Space = length + height + breadth.
Time = past + present + future)

Human beings have a triple dimension, consisting of the body, the mind and the soul

Even though these are mere worldly realities and examples, and in no way can seek to explain
the Mystery of the Trinity…
… they help us to understand an important aspect of life: The Trinity is everywhere

Everything created thing in nature reflects the Life of the Trinity
The most important factor that is needed is that we need to grow in this awareness and
deepen our love for Him!

May the Blessed Trinity – the Father, Son and Holy Spirit- helps us to grow in our intimacy and union and in turn, help to reflect His image to all people in our lives!

Happy Feast of the Blessed Trinity!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “[When we make the Sign of the Cross]… with our right hand, we use either three fingers to represent the Trinity or five fingers to represent Jesus’ five wounds.

We begin the prayer by placing our right hand on our forehead to acknowledge that God the Father is the one from whom all things originate.
Next, we move our hand down to our stomach as a sign that Jesus proceeded from the Father.

Lastly, we cross ourselves from left shoulder to right shoulder to show that the Holy Spirit proceeds from both the Father and the Son and that He is the bond of love between Father and Son!”

“May the Blessed Mother Mary, Who gave Herself entirely to the Lord, and Jesus, who like the poor widow, gave Himself entirely to His people and in doing God’s Will, be our inspiration, our strength and our hope!”

(Based on 2 Tim 4:1-8 and Mk 12:38-44 – Saturday of the 9th Week of Ordinary Time)

A money-collection drive was being been conducted in a particular Church for a particular intention.

The people were free to put in as much contribution as they wanted for the noble cause.

One gentleman stood up and announced a rather large contribution, and the people applauded greatly.

A few moments later, an old lady stood up and announced her donation.
But it was greeted with silence.

The priest, however, in reply to the cold response of the people, stood up and said emphatically, “Ladies and gentleman, I believe I hear the applause of the nail-scarred Hands!”

The people understood what the priest meant, and slowly but surely applauded the old lady’s generosity.

The Gospel of the Day presents such a similar act of appreciation by Jesus over the apparently “tiny” yet really “great” contribution by a widow to the Temple Treasury.

The passage of the day is the culmination of the 12th Chapter of the Gospel of St Mark.

This has been a volatile passage…

1. Jesus tells the parable of the Tenants (Mk 12: 1-12)
   … thereby giving out a sharp message to the Jews to accept the Messiah and not forfeit the many graces and blessings that they had been blessed with.
2. Jesus gives a fitting response to the question of paying taxes (Mk 12: 13-17)
   … thereby exhorting the concerned people to not get stuck to earthly obligations and instead gear one’s life in total allegiance to the Lord Creator
3. Jesus corrects the false notion regarding the teaching on Resurrection (Mk 12: 18-27)
   … thereby challenging to live a life in worthiness of eternity and to have the correct and deeper faith in the Living God and His Teachings
4. Jesus makes clear the greatest commandments (Mk 12: 28-34)
   … thereby inviting all to understand that there is only one true God and He deserves all the love and affection of our being and this love ought to be expressed in love of neighbour.
5. Jesus points out from Scripture that He is the Messiah, the Lord (Mk 12: 35-37)
   … thereby opening the eyes of the people to read Scripture with greater openness to the Spirit and an invitation to accept Him as the Lord of their lives.

These five pronouncements finally concludes with Jesus denouncing the action of the scribes especially in devouring the lives of the poor widows.

Jesus says, “The scribes devour the houses of widows, and as a pretext, recite lengthy prayers” (Mk 12: 40)
• Widows were an easy trap to be cheated…
• Widows were easy pickings to be exploited…

However, the chapter ends with a beautiful counteract…
A widow – symbol of all the other widows, who have been cheated, or oppressed or facing humiliations – comes in to the Temple and drops in her ‘everything’ in the treasure!

This is indeed a powerful symbol of faithfulness and duty…
• She is a symbol of being oppressed – yet she is heartily generous
• She is an object of being condemned – yet she is mightily liberal
And she becomes a symbol of self-giving and total-emptiness.

This poor widow becomes a great challenge for us in our lives…
• Life may bite us hard with cruel luck and bad destiny…
• Life may oppress us through various elements in the society…
• Life may cheat us in the form of many people or circumstances…

Yet, through all this…
Like this poor widow,
• Can I be firm to still give to God in gratitude?
• Can I be faithful to do my responsibilities even if unrewarded?

St Paul beautifully inspires us by his life of commitment, as we hear him proclaim the words of hope:
“For I am already on the point of being sacrificed; the time of my departure has come.

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing!” (2 Tim 4:6-8)

May the Blessed Mother Mary, who Herself was a poor widow, and gave Herself entirely to the Lord…

And Jesus, who like the poor widow, gave Himself entirely to His people and in doing God’s Will…
… be our inspiration, our strength and our hope!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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

“Growing in our passion for God’s Holy Word and being committed to His Kingdom, so that our lives may mightily proclaim, ‘Jesus is Lord!’”

(Based on 2 Tim 3:10-17 and Mk 12:35-37 – Thursday of the 9th Week of Ordinary Time)

“Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ” are the famous words of exhortation of St Jerome, the doctor of the Church.

St Jerome himself was well-versed in Scripture
He is best known for his translation of the Bible into Latin (the translation that became known as the Vulgate), and his commentaries on the Scriptures.

The Scriptures talk to us of God and of His love and providence

The Scriptures tell of us people who experienced God’s mercy and lived in His presence
The Scriptures help us to experience His care… to grow in His love.

Are we genuinely making efforts to grow in knowing and understanding the Scriptures so that we can know and understand and love our God, more deeply?

The Gospel of the Day presents Jesus exhorting the people to have a closer look into the Scriptures and thereby, discovering Him in a deeper manner!

Over the last few days, we have seen Jesus facing various sorts of groups and quizzed over different aspects…

The Chief priests, Scribes and elders questioned Jesus on His authority
The Pharisees and Herodians interrogated Jesus on the subject of paying taxes to Caesar
The Sadducees confronted Jesus on the topic of the Resurrection
Another scribe enquired Jesus on the first of all the commandments

After this long round of being questioned, Jesus now puts a question to His listeners, “How do the Scribes claim that the Messiah is the Son of David?… David calls Him ‘Lord’; so how is He his Son?” (Mk 12: 35,37)

The nation of Israel had King David as her greatest King.

And it was through the line of David, that the Jews knew the future Messiah would be coming.

They eagerly awaited this ‘Son of David’.

Thus was written in the Scriptures.
Thus was taught from the Scriptures.
And Jesus was aware of this aspect.

However, the Lord invites and challenges His listeners to look at Scripture in a deeper manner and to understand its greater implications.

Therefore, Jesus quotes King David from Psalm 102 which presents David calling the Messiah as the Lord.

And then He puts forward this very simple query… “How can the Son of David also be Lord of David”?

Implied in this question was the powerful claim by Jesus, that…
… He Himself was the Messiah – the Son of David and the Lord of David

Implied in this question was also the powerful answer to the previous questions that were put forward to Him by the various groups:

To the query on the greatest commandment…
… Jesus declares that He is the Lord, who is to be loved with one’s whole heart, and one’s whole soul and with one’s whole mind and with one’s whole strength

To the confrontation on the topic of Resurrection…
… Jesus declares that He is the Lord of the Resurrection and the One Who grants eternal life

To the interrogation on the subject of paying taxes to Caesar
… Jesus declares that He is the Lord who is above all earthly kingdoms and to whom absolute allegiance is to be rendered

To the questioning on His authority
… Jesus declares that He is the Lord who is the source of all authority and requires no one’s permission or authorization!

The Jews were familiar with the Scriptures…

They were familiar with the Psalms particularly…
They were familiar notable with the passages especially concerning David and the Messiah..

Yet, they had seldom considered Scriptures in the way that Jesus was presenting to them!

Jesus had cast new light on the reading of the Scriptures!
Jesus had opened a new way of looking at the Scriptures!

Our own lives can parallel the lives of these Jews, with respect to the Scriptures.

How eager and zealous are we regarding the Word of God?

How faithful and committed are we…
… to reading the Scriptures daily?
… to spend some time regularly in studying the Bible?
… to understand the person of Jesus and grow in Him through His Word?
… to inculcate the light of His Wisdom and to practice it in our daily activities and life?

We are to seek the grace of the Holy Spirit to grow in our understanding and love of the Lord and to live a life in Him!

Maybe we could take a simple resolution of spending at least a few minutes, daily, without fail, in reading the Holy Bible.

We need to read His Word
We need to learn His Word
We need to practise His Word

Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ!

Let us grow in our passion for His Holy Word and be committed to His Kingdom, so that our lives may mightily proclaim, “Jesus is Lord!”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “Cultivate a special devotion to God’s Word, whether studied privately or in public.

Always listen to it with attention and reverence, strive to profit by it, and do not let it fall to the ground…

… but receive it within your heart as a precious balm, thereby imitating the Blessed Virgin, who ‘kept all these sayings in Her Heart!’”

“Giving an affirmative answer to the fundamental question of our faith: ‘Do YOU love Jesus?’ as we make our journey, in the ‘train of life!’”

(Based on 2 Tim 2:8-15 and Mk 12:28-34 – Wednesday of the 9th Week of Ordinary Time)

A heart-touching incident is told of a man who was travelling in a train.

Sitting opposite him was a mother and a little girl.

He talked to the little girl and told her stories and showed her his penknife – how it opened and closed.
He even sang to her, and she loved her new companion.

As the train reached the destination, the little girl looked up to the man and asked: “Do you love Jesus?”

He didn’t understand her at first…
… but she repeated the question.

The man stammered and blushed as he said good-bye to her and her mother…

But he couldn’t forget the question; “Do you love Jesus?”

He went to bed that night and that question didn’t go away, “Do you love Jesus?”

When he woke up the next morning, it was still there.

The question was planted by the Spirit in his heart and it put down its roots.

It demanded an answer.

Five years later he was walking through the city, when he bumped into a lady coming out of her house.

He recognized her as the mother of the little girl.

“Hello!” he said to her warmly, “I don’t suppose you remember me. About five years ago I travelled in the same train coach as you and your daughter.”

“I remember it well,” she said, “come in.”
So he went into her house.

“Do you remember that your daughter asked me a question as we were getting out of the train?”

“How is she? Can I see her?” he asked.

The woman looked away…
… tears were in her eyes.

“I’m sorry” she said…
… “She is in heaven!”

She took him to her room and there were her Bible, and her dolls, and prize books, and some toys. “That’s all that’s left of my sweet Lettie,” her mother said.

“No,” said the man – who was shocked and dazed – quite vehemently. “That is not all that is left of her.

I am left. I am left. I owe her my faith in God!

I was an unbeliever when she asked me that question.

I loved the world and I lived badly, but she asked me that question and I never could forget it, and since that time I have changed.

I am not the man I was. I am now God’s.

I can answer the question now!”

What about us?

Can we answer that question: “Do YOU love Jesus?”

The Gospel of the Day is an exhortation by the Lord, to Love God with our “ALL”…
… All our heart
… All our soul
… All our mind
… All our strength

The Gospel begins with a member of the scribe, approaching Jesus with a question:
“Which is the greatest of all commandments?”(Mk 12: 28)

This man, who questioned Jesus was a scribe

Some translations would put it as “a Lawyer”
The Gospel of St Matthew describes him as a “Scholar of the Law” (Mt 22: 35)

He was an expert in the Mosaic Law.
…someone who studied the law, interpreted the law and taught the law!

Jesus responded him, with something immensely special:
“The Lord our God, is Lord alone. Love the Lord your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength”(Mk 12:29- 30)…

“Love your neighbour as yourself” (Mk 12: 31)

Note the insistence on the word “all”….
… “all” your heart… feelings, emotions, desires
… “all” your soul… will, choices, decisions
… “all” your mind… reason, knowledge, memory
… “all” your strength… talents, abilities, capacities

The Lord commands and demands a “total” and “complete” loving!

He demands an “absolute” and “unadulterated” love!

Love, as Jesus defines, is not simply about feelings and emotions, as is the popular and the ‘commercial’ understanding.

Undoubtedly, Love has the dimensions of being a tender feeling and an expressive emotion.

But beyond that, Love is…
… a commitment
… a dedication
… a decision
…. that one makes to be faithful – to a person or a duty or a situation!

Life sometimes can be quite harsh to us – making us feel totally lost out, abandoned even by God and even causing us to question the presence and existence of a Just and Loving God…
… But, can we still dare to “love God”?

Life sometimes hits very hard at us – in the form of others not accepting us, others ridiculing, criticizing us and we finding ourselves as the subject of hatred and injustice.
… But, can we still dare to “love our neighbours”?

Life sometimes is very unfair to us, we feel – by not rewarding us with rewards, that we consider, we deserve, in answer to the hard-work we put in… or by not allowing us to enjoy the joys of life and instead bombards us with tensions and worries
… Can we still go out of the way and live a life “In Love and For Love”?

When one’s life is truly centred on love for God, one also begins to express this love to one’s neighbours, in concrete and certain acts of love.

St Paul reminds us: “If we have died with Him, we shall also live with Him; if we endure, we shall also reign with him; if we deny Him, He also will deny us; if we are faithless, He remains faithful – for He cannot deny Himself!” (2 Tim 2:11-13)

As Christians, we often…
… seek to find “loopholes” in laws of loving the Lord and our neighbour…
… try to spot “gaps” in commandments which ask to love the Lord and our neighbour…

But the insistence of the Lord is clear:
“Love Fully”
“Love Totally”
“Love Completely”

This is the ideal to which we, as Christians are called!

If not for this highest ideal, our life as a Christian would cease to have a uniqueness!

In the words of St Paul, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth!” (2 Tim 2: 15)

As we make our journey, in the “train of life”, we are constantly faced with this fundamental question of our faith: “Do YOU love Jesus?”

This question is planted by the Spirit in our hearts and it put down its roots.

It demands an answer.

What is our answer?

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “Our longing to gaining God’s Love causes us to meditate…
… Love, when gained, leads to contemplation.

Love renders the charm of what we love so pleasing…

… our minds never tire of reflecting on it!”

“Being more docile to the voice of the Lord, so that we may mould our present lives in perfect tune to God’s Will, and thus be able to enjoy a life of Resurrection – true happiness in eternity!”

(Based on 2 Tim 1:1-3, 6-12 and Mk 12: 18-27 – Wednesday of the 9th Week of Ordinary Time)

An old man and his wife, who had spent their life, in the villages, were taken to the railway station by their son, who had a job in the city.

It was for the first time in their life that this old couple was seeing a train!

The husband was highly d at the sight of that large locomotive.

He looked the engine over very carefully, and shook his head.

“Well, what do you think of it, father?” asked the son with eagerness

“She’ll never start,” was the firm answer by the disbelieving father: “she’ll never start.”

However, in a few minutes, the conductor waved, the bell rang, the locomotive puffed, the train moved slowly at first, then faster.

It was disappearing in the distance when the son inquired slyly: “”Well…what do you think of it now?”

The old man shook his head more violently than before and blurted out with greater assertion:
“She’ll never stop,” he affirmed; “she’ll never stop!!”

How often is this true of many people…
… Pre-Conceptions often close the mind; and one is unwilling to open anything new
… Prejudices often shut one’s understanding; and one becomes adamant in refusing to learn!

Truth is received and understood only by the one who is open and willing to accept it!

Truth can never be forced upon..
Truth can never be thrust on anyone…
Rather, Truth with the freedom it allows, is taken in only by the one docile to it!

The Gospel of the Day presents another group of opponents -characterised by rigidity to accept the truth and blocked in mentality to be docile – who try to put down and prod our Blessed Lord in His teachings.

Yet, Jesus, who is source and perfection of all wisdom, fails to get bogged down – instead traps them in their own arguments and leaves them faced with a mighty challenge to change!

The Sadducees came to Jesus to put forward a hypothetical riddle regarding the question of the Resurrection.

The Sadducees were the top people in the nation, the elite group of aristocrats who owned a lot of land, wealth and rank.

They were the power brokers in Israel’s supreme court, the Sanhedrin.
Even the high priests came from the families of the Sadducees.

They were selective in what they accepted from the Scriptures.

They rejected all the historical books.
They also rejected all the psalms and the other ‘writings’ like Job and Ecclesiastes.
Not one of the books of the prophets would they accept.
They were left with just the first five books of Moses.

Moses was their person of authority.
That is why when they come to Jesus, they characteristically begin, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us…” (Mk 12:19)

They also rejected the resurrection of the dead.

“Men stay dead,” they said; human beings only have this life here and now.
That is what they believed; no judgment; with death, the soul perishes with the body.

We live in a world where we also encounter many of the “modern” Sadducees.

People who live as though there is no Resurrection…
People who deny giving any significance for life after this life
People who fail to uphold any teachings or thoughts that support a life after death

For such “modern” Sadducees,
… Life consists in basically enjoying the pleasures of this present life to the maximum!
… Life is not to be drowned in “boring” piety and “dull” devotions with a hope for the future!

Perhaps, some of us, may also share such thought-patterns of the Sadducees.

Yet, the Lord addresses us, just as He did to the Sadducees, “Are you not misled because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God?” (Mk 12: 24)

The Scriptures clearly testify to the various references that are made to the fact of the “dead” not really being dead… rather, alive in the Lord
The power of God clearly testifies that God as the one who created creation out of nothing, also has the power to grant new life to those who are dead

The Gospel passage ends with the statement by Jesus, “You are greatly misled” (Mk 12: 27b).

Another translation would read, “You are quite wrong”

The Lord was not afraid to clearly and bluntly tell the Sadducees that they were wrong and misled in their understandings.

And perhaps, if we are in the category of being a “modern” Sadducee, the Lord uncompromisingly tells us also, “You are greatly misled”

We need to be open to the voice of the Lord, calling us to trust deeper, in the presence of a life after this life.

Let not our prejudices shut our understanding; and we become adamant in refusing to learn!

Truth is received and understood only by the one who is open and willing to accept it!

St Paul reminds us of the need to remain open to the Spirit of the Lord and to constantly bear witness to the Lord and His Kingdom:
“Hence I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands; for God did not give us a spirit of timidity but a spirit of power and love and self-control.

Do not be ashamed then of testifying to our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but take your share of suffering for the gospel in the power of God, who saved us and called us with a holy calling…” (2 Tim 1:6-9)

May we grow to be more docile to the voice of the Lord, so that we may mould our present lives in perfect tune to God’s Will, and thus be able to enjoy a life of Resurrection – true happiness in eternity!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “Make friends with the angels, who though invisible are always with you.

Often invoke them, constantly praise them…

… and make good use of their help and assistance in all your temporal and spiritual affairs!”

“Remaining firm in our faith and rendering absolute allegiance to the Lord, in order to oppose and fight against adverse and opposing factors in the world!”

(Based on 2 Pet 3:11-15, 17-18 and Mk 12:13-17)

The statement, “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” is a common phrase known to many of us.

Considered generally to be Arabic, this ancient proverb means that solely because two parties have a common enemy, they are friends.

There is also an identical Chinese proverb that says, “It is good to strike the serpent’s head with your enemy’s hand!”

A good example of this comes from World War II. The US and Great Britain were allied with the Soviet Union. Neither country was friendly with the USSR before the war and they would be enemies again soon afterwards. But during WWII, they were both enemies of Nazi Germany. Because the Soviets were the enemy of Hitler (an enemy of Britain and the US), they were considered friends of the US and Britain!

Even in nature, we have an example for this…
The Pilot fish, which are smaller fish, cleans parasites off larger predators like sharks. These smaller fish swim freely around the sharks and even inside the mouths of the sharks that could easily eat the small fish. Since the shark’s enemy is the parasite and the parasite’s enemy is the smaller fish, the shark considers the Pilot fish a friend and accommodates an otherwise potential food source.

The Gospel of the day presents a classical example of this canny ingenuity in human nature…
… and seeks to put Jesus, to the shame!

But the Lord of all wisdom and knowledge overcomes all such shrewd tactics and comes out a winner
…with flying colours.

The passage begins with the statement, “They sent some Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to ensnare Him in His speech” (Mk 12:13)

The “they” in the verse refers to the chief priests, the scribes and the elders (Mk 11: 27b)

This group had already been silenced by the Lord…

In questioning Jesus of His authority, they found themselves facing a tougher question from Jesus. (Mk 11: 27-33)
Jesus also told a parable of the Tenants in the vineyard, which alluded to their closed attitude to accept Him as the Messiah of their lives (Mk 12: 1-12)

This group of chief priests, scribes and the elders, went away…
… with hatred in their against Jesus
… with a mind to plot further against Jesus

So, they got together two opposing parties, in their scheme to oppose Jesus.

These two opposing parties were the Pharisees and the Herodians (Mk 12: 13)

Who are the Pharisees?

The Pharisees were primarily not a political party but a group of scholars and pious people. They enjoyed a large popular following, and in the Gospels, they appear as spokesmen for the majority of the population.
They hated the pagan Roman occupation of Israel.
Their hope was for a new Judas Maccabee who would arise and throw off the Roman empire.
Many of the common people embraced their patriotic message.

Who are the Herodians?

Their name came from King Herod, who was a half Jew and had made a made a political deal with the Romans.
The Herodians held political power, and supported King Herod Antipas, the Roman Empire’s ruler over much of the land of the Jews from 4 B.C. to A.D. 39.
The Herodians favoured submitting to the Herods, and therefore to Rome, for political pragmatism.

The Pharisees were obsessed with their religious traditions, while the Herodians had little religion at all.

Yet, when Jesus spoke and opposed both formalism and love of worldliness, these two groups came together in their opposition to Him!

And they trap Jesus with a very cunning question, “Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?” (Mk 12: 14c)

If Jesus had said:
No, you should not pay taxes….
… that no true Israelite who loves God should willingly pay the tax as the Roman Coin with the image of Caesar and all of his titles claiming to be divine is blasphemous…

All of the common people would have said, “How godly man is He!”
… but Jesus would have been arrested for sedition and treason.

On the other side, if Jesus had said:
Yes, you should pay taxes….
… that it is not bad since the Roman empire brings stability and economic prosperity…

All of the common people would have abandoned Him saying, “He is a betrayer of God’s law!”
… Jesus would have been badly persecuted for misleading them from the path of God.

It was trouble either way…

But Jesus, the Lord of all wisdom and knowledge, found His way through the maze of human shrewdness by answering, “Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God” (Mk 12: 17)

Jesus said that what is most important in life is one’s supreme allegiance to God!

Political demands, social commitments, familial duties, communitarian stipulations all have their place and position…
But above all, what needs to be given the prime importance in one’s life is: Allegiance to God!

We live in times and situations wherein there are many forces and philosophies and thought-patterns, that join hands in opposing the teachings of Jesus and the Church.

Jesus is still an enemy to many of the truth-denying realities in the world.
The Church is still opposed by many of the immoral entities of the world.

Let us give heed to the words of St Peter who exhorts us:
“Therefore, beloved, since you wait for these, be zealous to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace….
… beware, lest you be carried away with the error of lawless men and lose your own stability.

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” (2 Pet 3:14, 17-18)

It is our duty to remain firm in our faith and render absolute allegiance to the Lord, in order to oppose and fight against such adverse and opposing factors in the world.

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “God requires a faithful fulfilment of the merest trifle given us to do…

… rather than the most ardent aspiration to things to which we are not called!”

“May Mary, the Mother of the Church – our Beloved Mother and the Perfect Disciple – Who followed Her Son wholly, in obedience to the Will of the Father, intercede and inspire us, to use our freedom with responsibility!”

(Based on the Feast of Mary, Mother of the Church – 2 Pet 1:2-7 and Mk 12:1-12 – Monday of the 1st Week)

A lady once remarked to her spiritual guide, “I am very afraid to pray, ‘Thy Will be done'”
“And why is that so?”, asked the guide.

“I am afraid…” continued the lady, “… that God will bring some calamity to my only child or send me a heavy trial in life”

The spiritual guide, having patiently listened to her, replied:
“Suppose if your beloved child comes to you and says, ‘Mummy, here after, I want to always do whatever you say and live as you will…’

Would you say to yourself… Ah! Here is my chance!

I will make my child to do all the harsh things.
I will make use of his willingness to obey me, by cutting off all his pleasures
I will make sure he has a tough time because anyway he will do whatever I say”

“Oh no!” answered back the mother, ” I will give him the best possible things that I can.

I will make sure that he is protected from every danger.
I will do anything to ensure him true happiness!”

“And do you think…,” continued the spiritual guide, “Do you think that God is less loving than you?”

The will of every human parent is to ensure the best for their children, isn’t it?

How much more loving and caring is the Will of the Father!

“God’s Will” is best understood in the set-up of a family…
In a human family…
… Every member wishes that the other is taken care
… Every member seeks for the good of the other

How much more is the love and concern in the Family of God…
… to all those who seek to do the Will of the Father!

The Church is this Communion of those who “bind upon themselves to do the Will of the Father”

Today we celebrate the Feast of Mary, the Mother of the Church.

Mother Mary is the model for all in the Church to “always say YES to God’s Will!”

This feast which has been promulgated in the Year 2018…
… is celebrated every year on the Monday after Pentecost.

We have concluded a journey of fourteen weeks (nearly hundred days) of walking intimately with the Lord in His Passion, Death, Resurrection and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit…
… starting with the Ash Wednesday in the season of Lent
… through the Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday
… the Ascension and the Feast of the Holy Spirit – the Pentecost.

This liturgical journey, this year in particular will be remembered, as most of us remained in lockdown…
… and had these celebrations without being able to “physically go to a common place of worship”

As we resume the Ordinary times of the Liturgical year, we are presented today…
… with the beautiful example of Mary, the Mother of the Church, Who is the role model for all of us to “use freedom with responsibility”
… and with a message to make an examination of the “quality of our life of faith”, through the Parable of the Tenants.

One of the primary reasons for the celebration of the Feast of Mary, Mother of the Church is “to foster Marian piety and the Maternal sense of the Church.”

Pope Francis says that, “this celebration will help us to remember that growth in the Christian life must be anchored…
… to the Mystery of the Cross
… to the oblation of Christ in the Eucharistic Banquet
… and to the Mother of the Redeemer and Mother of the Redeemed!”

The Marian title of “Mother of the Church,” was given to the Blessed Mother by Pope Paul VI at the Second Vatican Council.

Jesus said, “Whoever does the Will of My Father in Heaven, is my…. Mother!” (Mt 12: 50)

When we scan through the pages of the New Testament, we find, that perhaps no other person fulfilled the Will of the Father as perfectly as Mary

Mary, the Mother of the Church, always said “YES to God’s Will”

Mary was Blessed not just because she gave a physical birth to Jesus…
… but also because She listened and lived the Will of the Father!

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

As St. Irenaeus says: “Being obedient, She became the cause of salvation for Herself and for the whole human race.”

The knot of Eve’s disobedience was untied by Mary’s obedience

What Eve bound through her disbelief, Mary loosened by Her faith”

Mary used the freedom bestowed on her, with a great sense of responsibility.

We are reminded that it is “freedom with responsibility” that ensures valid enjoyment and proper satisfaction.

The Gospel of the Day is a powerful reminder by Jesus, through the Parable of the Tenants…
… that we are to be caretakers of the many duties entrusted to us, by the Almighty

The tenants were entrusted with the vineyard by the Master, and were expected to provide the produce in due time.

However, the tenants, who were trusted immensely probably lost their focus and diminished in their commitment to their Master

Their personal interests gained greater prominence over their entrusted duties.

This led to them to a total denial of all the emissaries and servants of the Master, who were sent to collect the produce.

This denial was extended even to the Master’s own Son!

This denial of the Son led to the letting loose of the anger and fury of the Just Master!

A squandering away of the responsible freedom, led to the downfall of the tenants!
A denial and rejection of the Master’s own Son, with a cruel intent, caused their destruction!

Are we also, as Christians, as tenants of the Heavenly Master failing in our responsibilities and duties?

The Lord has entrusted us with many responsibilities…

To promote and grow in our faith…
… by a faithful prayer-life, co-operation with the graces of God, keeping away from a life of sin etc.

To be faithful to the vocation and works we are called to do…
… by constantly renewing our resolve in the works we do, remaining focussed on our calling etc.

To encourage others to increase in faith and in love of life…
… by being interested in their well-being, supporting them, teaching them etc.

St Peter beautifully reminds us: “Make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue…
… and virtue with knowledge
… and knowledge with self-control
… and self-control with steadfastness
… and steadfastness with godliness
… and godliness with brotherly affection
… and brotherly affection with love!” (2 Pet 1:5-7)

Mother Mary is the model for all of us to discharge all our duties with a great sense of responsibility.

She is the first Evangelizer and the first Disciple of Her own Son and Lord, Jesus the Christ!
She is not just the biological Mother of Jesus…
… but, by doing the Will of the Father perfectly, She is also His Spiritual Mother!
Thus Mary is the Mother of the Church!
As St Maximilian Kolbe says, “If anyone does not wish to have Mary Immaculate for his Mother, he will not have Christ for his Brother!”

Yes, doing the Will of the Father and using our freedom with responsibility…
… is the DNA that joins all the members of the Family of God

We may perhaps, have our fears in doing His Will….
But let us realize, that the Will of Father is wrapped with much love and affection…
… there is a tenderness in His Will, that ensures each of us, His children are protected!

Jesus is our Supreme Model and Leader in listening and living the Will of the Father

Mother Mary is our Beloved Mother and Perfect Disciple, Who followed Her Son wholly, in obedience to the Will of the Father!

Many saints and holy people also show us, by their sanctified lives that it is worth, meaningful and salvific to do the Will of the Father!
All of them beckon us:
“Come be part of the Family of God…
Listen always to what God wants of you in your life
Ask Him, at all times, what you should be doing in life
Put your trust in His Power and Providence, when you do His Will!”

Are we willing to be members of this Family of God?
… Then we need to be ready to do the Will of the Father!

As we begin the new month of June, let us ask our Blessed Mother Mary, the Mother of the Church to intercede and pray for all of us…
… to be faithful and witnessing members of the Church.

Happy Feast Day of Mary, the Mother of the Church…
… to all Her Little Children of God!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “Let us run to Mary, and, as her little children, cast ourselves into her arms with a perfect confidence.”