“Understanding that true integrity and authority can work tremendous wonders, conversions of heart and transformations of life!”

(Based on Heb 11:32-40 and Mk 5:1-20 – Monday of the 4th Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1)

It was a healing and deliverance session in a praise and worship music concert.

The music was in full blow…

The praises were ringing high…

The atmosphere was electrified….

In that high and spirited ambience, the choir began to sing the hymn,
“In the name of Jesus, In the name of Jesus, we have the victory….
In the name of Jesus, In the name of Jesus, demons will have to flee…”

As this hymn of mighty power and deliverance was being sung…
… some of the people who were standing in front, and were reportedly demon-possessed, also began to sing and dance joyfully!

Now that was something surprising and shocking for the people who were singing on the stage…

It was a song for deliverance…
… but instead, these possessed people were also enjoying…

It was a song for liberation…
… but instead, these possessed people were also rejoicing…

On asking them as to how could they be also happy and rejoicing, these people answered:
“Well, although most of you are singing, ‘In the name of Jesus, demons will flee’, none of you seem to be singing it with any conviction or belief.

You seem to be enjoying the music more..
… and so therefore, we too are happy to enjoy the music and sing along!”

The hymn lost its power and value…
… because it was sung merely as a fast number!

The prayer lost its sanctity and sacredness…
… because it was sung merely as a jumping song!

There was no authority in the singing.

There was no credibility in the prayer.

There was no sincerity in the faith.

When authority and integrity are lacking in a spiritual endeavour, there is very less spiritual growth and nourishment!

When authority and integrity are present in a spiritual endeavour, there is much 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!

Jesus had come to the other side of the sea, to the country of Gerasenes.

When He came to this place, Jesus encountered the man with an unclean spirit…
…. powerful and strong
… commanding and terrifying

But the Majestic Presence of the Lord, overwhelmed this spirit-possessed person.

The Gospel says, “And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshipped Him…” (Mk 5:6)

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

Authoritative does not mean arrogance…

Credibility does not mean over-confidence…

Integrity does not mean super-importance…

Authority, 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?

As we enter into this new month of February and as we offer our lives to the Providence of the Lord, let us seek to ensure, that:

Our prayers become a true raising of hearts to God…
Our reception of the Sacraments become an honest transformation for life…
Our 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!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism:
TRANSMISSION OF DIVINE REVELATION

God “desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” – that is, of Christ Jesus.
Christ must be proclaimed to all nations and individuals, so that this Revelation may reach to the ends of the earth
God graciously arranged that the things He had once revealed for the salvation of all peoples…

… should remain in their entirety, throughout the ages, and be transmitted to all generations! (CCC #74)

“Holding on to the Lord and trusting that victory will be ours, by being faithful to the Powerful and Awe-Inspiring Lord, Who always assures His Presence with us!”

(Based on Deut 18:15-20, 1 Cor 7:32-35 and Mk 1:21-28 – 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B)

One of the very beautiful descriptions of a “Prophet” goes thus:

A prophet is someone…
… who comforts the disturbed
… and disturbs the comforted!

This description finds its expression in the lives of Prophets in the Bible

They were people…
… who offered great comfort and consolation to those in difficulty and distress
… who reached out to the ones who needed a word of hope and happiness

At the same time, they were people…
… who out rightly condemned those who led a comfortable life – away from God and His Commandments
… who vehemently opposed the ways of those who oppressed the poor and constantly disrupted the lethargic lives of people.

Jesus is the “Prophet of all prophets!”

The perfection and the fullness of all prophets!

As God spoke in the book of Deuteronomy, through Prophet Moses: “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people…
… you shall heed such a prophet.” (Deut 18:15)

And so, undoubtedly, Jesus, by His Prophetic Ministry also greatly upheld the principle of being the One…
… who comforts the disturbed
… and disturbs the comforted!

The Gospel of the Day presents such an action of encounter…

On one side a group of people, who listen to Jesus, and are comforted
… while on the other side, some who are extremely disturbed by the Prophetic Presence of Jesus!

Between the Kingdom of Satan and the Kingdom of God
… between the shackles of captivity and bondage and the power of release and liberation

Jesus is in the synagogue on the Sabbath Day and addressing the people. (Mk 1:21)

His prophetic teaching is full of power and conviction…

His prophetic teaching is filled with passion and fervour…

When one is deeply convinced of one’s beliefs, it overflows into one’s words and actions

When one is highly passionate about one’s faith, it overwhelms one’s deeds and life.

As He taught the people, Jesus encounters a man with an unclean spirit, who cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?” (Mk 1: 24)

Where there is light, darkness cannot stand too long…

Where there is immense holiness, filth cannot remain for long…
When there is the Word of God being proclaimed, the powers of Satan begin to tremble…

Imagine this situation…

Jesus had been preaching for a while in the synagogue.

All people were in rapt attention & awe, listening to His gracious words.

But in the midst of them…
… was this man, with an unclean spirit.

He also was patiently hearing…

But as the bold words flowed from Jesus, the spirit within this man began to disturb.

The Lord’s Voice…
… began to reverberate his heart and mind…
… began to pierce into the depths of his soul…

He began to get agitated.

He began to get restless.
He began to get frantic.

And finally, he could no longer tolerate and with a massive and shrieking voice, he cried, “What have you got to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?!”

The cry of the man is not something in isolation….

The cry of the man is not something which is unique….

This cry is often repeated by all of us too…

“What have you got to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?”

When we are living a life of coziness and comforts…

And we are encountered with situations of misery and helpless of other people..
We hear the words of the Lord to reach out to them in compassion and love.
But, often we cry out, “What have you got to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?”

When we are living a life in sin, bad habits and without even a sense of guilt…

And we are encountered by caring people who remind us of our need to give up such things…
We hear the words of the Lord to renew and mend our lives in purity and holiness.
But, often we cry out, “What have you got to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?”

When we are going through our life without proper sacraments and religious practices…

And we are encountered by constant exhortations to deepen our spiritual life…
We hear the words of the Lord to return to Him in humility and repentance.
But, often we cry out, “What have you got to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?”

Often, we are happy to remain with the spirit of luxury, the spirit of casualness, the spirit of indifference, the spirit of lukewarmness, the spirit of pleasures etc…

We don’t like being disturbed.

We don’t like being questioned.
We don’t like being shaken up.

If we are, we get agitated and irritated… we resist and we get wild.

We even shout out: “What have you got to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?”

But, in all such situations, the Lord wants to empower us with His powerful & bold words, “QUIET! Come out of him” (Mk 1: 25)

Yes, Jesus the Prophet, mightily challenges all of us!

He is the Great Prophet
… who comforts the disturbed
… and disturbs the comforted!

Our life is a constant warfare with the forces of the evil and the spirit of darkness.

It’s a battle that rages strongly…

It’s a combat that is highly engrossing.

But let us not be afraid…
The Powerful and Awe-Inspiring Lord is on our side!

Let us hold on to Him… and victory will be ours!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism:
IN CHRIST, DIVINE REVELATION IS COMPLETE

The Christian economy – the new and definitive Covenant – will never pass away…
… and no new public revelation is to be expected before the glorious manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Yet even if Revelation is already complete, it has not been made completely explicit; it remains for Christian faith gradually to grasp its full significance over the course of the centuries.
Throughout the ages, there have been so-called “private” revelations, some of which have been recognized by the authority of the Church.
They do not belong, however, to the deposit of faith.
… it is not their role to improve or complete Christ’s definitive Revelation, but to help live more fully by it in a certain period of history.
Guided by the Magisterium of the Church, the ‘sensus fidelium’ knows how to discern and welcome in these revelations…
… whatever constitutes an authentic Call of Christ or His saints to the Church.
Christian faith cannot accept “revelations” that claim to surpass or correct the Revelation of which Christ is the fulfilment…

… as is the case in certain non-Christian religions and also in certain recent sects which base themselves on such “revelations” (CCC #66,67)

“Resigning ourselves to the complete Power and Providence of the Lord!”

(Based on Heb 11:1-2, 8-19 and Mk 4:35-41 – Saturday of the 3rd Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1)

A visitor was once walking along a high part of the shore of the Dead Sea.

As he casually was strolling across and relaxingly enjoying, he lost his balance and fell into the water.

Swimming was an activity he had never learnt!
Desperation was a weakness that hastened to him quickly!

He could not swim and, in extreme anxiety, lest he should sink and be drowned, he began to fling his arms about frantically!

Was his life going to be terminated?

Was his enjoyable walk awaiting an anti-climax end?

At last, exhausted by wildly moving his arms for help, he felt he could do no more.

Then he found something strange happening…

The waters bore him up!

The water of the Dead Sea is so heavy with salt and other minerals that when he lay still in it he found he floated on the surface!

When he frantically moved his arms, in despair, there was immense fear of drowning..

But when he became still, he experienced the calm of support and strength!

Drowning was an impossibility so long as he resigned himself to the power of the deep!

The Gospel of the Day is this powerful lesson to trust deeper in the power of the Lord, when we encounter the storms of life!

The Gospel narrates the incident of Jesus and His disciples travelling in the boat, encountering the fierce storms and how the Lord brings in calm and serenity in that situation of turmoil and turbulence.

All the three synoptic Gospels – Mathew, Mark and Luke – not only report this incident of Jesus calming the boat, but also mention a simple yet significant detail – “Jesus slept!”

St Matthew says, “Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping.” (Mt 8:24)
St Luke says “As they sailed, he fell asleep.” (Lk 8:23)
St Mark says, “A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion.” (Mk 4:38)

It’s amazing to imagine this situation:
The storms are raging high…

The waters are probably hitting hard on the boat…
The disciples are anxiously rowing, struggling to balance…
There is terror around… there is a sense of fear… there is growing apprehension.

Yet, in the midst of all this, the Gospels say that “the Lord is sleeping!”

Wow!

That really must be a good and sound sleep, isn’t it?

The Psalmist says, “I will lie down in peace and sleep comes at once for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety” (Ps 4:8)

To be able to sleep in the midst of severe storms, is a sign of tremendous peace of mind!

Isaiah 43:2 promises: “When you go through deep waters, I will be with you.
When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown”

The One who has immense faith and trust in God has absolutely nothing to worry…even in the midst of any storm or squall

The One who has great confidence and belief in Divine Providence has just nothing to fear…even in the midst of any horror or terror.

Jesus was in communion with His Father.

This bonding made Him to be assured of every protection and care!
This union made Him to be rest assured of every safety and security!

Here is an important spiritual principle that Jesus teaches us:

The greater one is in communion with God, the greater and easier is one’s trust in Divine Providence.
The higher one is in union with God, the lesser will be the anxiety and worry factor in life.

Even when Jesus faced the greatest storm of His life – His passion and death – He was able to go through the crisis in peace and serenity.

In fact, before being arrested and taken for being crucified, Jesus assures peace and joy even for his disciples:

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (Jn 14: 27)

The Lord today invites us to have this same kind of a faith and trust in Him and His Divine Providence.

Life will, undoubtedly, bring with it many storms and tempests in life.

We may experience lots of fear…
We may feel the end is near…

But the one who trusts in Him, is assured of safety and security!

The more we are close to the Lord, the deeper would be this faith and confidence!

Drowning in life is an impossibility…
… when we resign ourselves to the complete power and providence of the Lord.

The power of the Lord is with us and beneath us…
… waiting to bear us up!

Do we trust?

• Fr Jijo Jose Manjackal MSFS
  Bengaluru, India

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Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism:
In many and various ways God spoke of old to our fathers by the prophets…
… but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son.”

Christ, the Son of God made Man, is the Father’s one, Perfect and Unsurpassable Word.
In Him, He has said everything; there will be no other Word than this One.
St. John of the Cross says: “Any person questioning God or desiring some vision or revelation would be guilty not only of foolish behaviour…

… but also of offending him, by not fixing his eyes entirely upon Christ and by living with the desire for some other novelty!

“Nurturing and growing in the task that is entrusted to us – in the little or big way that God graces us – and thus bring glory and honour to our Supremely Glorious and Omnipotent God!”

(Based on Heb 10:32-39 and Mk 4:26-34 – Friday of the 3rd Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1)

The Indian folklores of Akbar-Birbal are popular.

Here is one…

Once King Akbar asked his prime minister, Birbal, “Who is greater, me or God?”

This minister Birbal was very clever and prudent person.

Without hesitation, he answered, “You are, Your Majesty.”

Though the king was flattered, he asked, “How can that be?”

“Well, you see, Your Majesty”, replied the smart minister, “If you do not like someone, you can banish him from your kingdom very easily.

However, how can God banish anyone from His Kingdom?

Where can He send him?
The whole universe is God’s Kingdom!”

With one answer, the minister had apparently achieved two goals:

Pleased his King – by affirming his greatness by telling of the ‘power’ to banish
Told the truth – by acknowledging God’s total sovereignty

This little incident speaks to us of the supreme Glory and Omnipotence of God and His Kingdom.

The Gospel of the Day presents Jesus teaching to us on the nature and characteristics of the Kingdom of God, with the help of parables.

One aspect that we need to note here is the usage of parables in the teaching ministry of Jesus.

It could be said that if Jesus had a grammar teacher, then, probably the teacher would have been extremely proud of this Student!

Jesus used a lot of metaphors, similes, illustrations and parables in His teachings.

Therefore we need to be aware and careful when we read and understand this ‘technique’ of the Lord:

Such parables and examples were not to be taken in the literal sense, but in its figurative sense
Such metaphors were presented by Jesus to emphasise on a particular aspect of a teaching
Such illustrations were not meant to be closed-reflections; rather, they were to be means of allowing a person to explore and delve deeper into the mystery that was being explained.

The teachings connected to God and His Kingdom are mysteries…. divine and lofty.

Metaphors and parables are the meaningful expressions of these mysteries.
They are never complete by themselves… Yet, they are rich and meaningful.

They induce emotions.
They help to situate culturally.
They unite people together in a common search.

And this is the essence of true religiosity: fostering one’s search and longing for the Divine.

By presenting the parables, Jesus triggers our minds to open up to the vastness of the reality of God and to foster our desire to seek Him more, in our everyday living and circumstances.

For a true seeker of God, every situation of life becomes a parable from God, revealing His Supreme Providence.

For a genuine searcher of the Divine, every circumstance and person in life, becomes an illustration from the Lord, to know His Presence and Will

Do I consider my life as a “beautiful parable” from God, and seek to find the Divine elements in it?

Do I reflect on the circumstances of my life – joyful, painful, sorrowful, sinful – as a “wonderful illustration” from the Lord, inviting me to see His Presence and fostering my own relationship with Him?

The two parables of the Day present to us, figuratively, some aspects of the Kingdom of God:

1. The Parable of the Kingdom of God as the seed that is sown, sprouted and giving a rich harvest, without being in the grasp of the awareness of the one who sows

What does this parable teach?

a. The duty of the one who sows, even if one is unaware how the growth-process happens

Am I active and energetic in being an agent of the Kingdom of God – by speaking of Christ, by living His Gospel values, by freeing our lives from sin – even if I fail to understand ‘how’ would this help in the growth process of the Kingdom?

b. The glory of the growth of the seed, taking its own time and conveying the message of patience and persistence

Do I be patient when success doesn’t come to me immediately and do I continue to be persevering in my efforts – of prayer, of duty, of my responsibilities – even if it takes a longer time than I expect?

c. The assurance that the growth of the seed, fostered by earthly elements, nevertheless, given by the power and grace of God.

Do I be faithful to the duties that I need to do and then totally depend on the mighty hand of God in order to experience success and see the fruits of my labour? As the Psalmist says, “Unless the Lord builds the house, they labour in vain, who build” (Ps 127: 1)

2. The Parable of the mustard Seed as the Seed that is the smallest when sown, yet grows on to be the greatest of all shrubs, and becomes a shelter for the birds of the air

What does this parable teach?

a. The little things of life also have the potency to develop to give the greatest results, since God is the Author of such successes and accomplishments

Am I convinced that even if my resources – be it talents or time or income or personnel or anything else – are too small or insignificant, they can still become powerful means for the growth of God’s Kingdom, if we are faithful and depend totally on His grace?

b. The external growth and triumphs that are achieved, in turn, ought to become a source of help and solace for the others (as the birds of the air take nest in the huge mustard shrubs)

Do the achievements of my life – small or big- help me to become a person who reaches out in support and solace, to the needy ones?

c. An element of surprise and wonder is present in every act of nature – the little mustard seed, which would otherwise have been trampled upon as something too ordinary, amazes by its extraordinary growth

Am I able to trust in the “surprising and astonishing” wonders that the Lord can perform in ‘any’ situation of my life?

All of us are part of the Project ‘Kingdom of God’.

May we nurture and grow in this task that is entrusted to us, in the little or big way that God graces us, and thus bring glory and honour to our Supremely Glorious and Omnipotent God!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism:
GOD FORMS HIS PEOPLE ISRAEL
After the patriarchs, God formed Israel as his people by freeing them from slavery in Egypt.

He established with them the covenant of Mount Sinai and, through Moses, gave them His law…
… so that they would recognize Him and serve Him as the One Living and True God, the Provident Father and Just Judge, and so that they would look for the Promised Saviour.
Israel is the priestly people of God, “called by the name of the LORD,” and “the first to hear the word of God.”
Through the prophets, God formed His people in the hope of salvation, in the expectation of a new and everlasting Covenant intended for all, to be written on their hearts.
The prophets proclaimed a radical redemption of the People of God, purification from all their infidelities – a salvation which will include all the nations.

Above all, the poor and humble of the Lord will bear this hope. Such holy women as Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, Miriam, Deborah, Hannah, Judith and Esther kept alive the hope of Israel’s salvation. The purest figure among them is Mary (Cf. CCC #62,63,64)

“Letting the ‘light of God’s Love’ shine through our life of simplicity and passionate tenderness!”

(Based on Heb 10:19-25 and Mk 4:21-25 –Thursday of the 3rd Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1 – Feast of St Thomas Aquinas)

An incident is narrated in the life of St Thomas Aquinas.

One day when St Thomas Aquinas was preaching to the local people on the love of God, he observed an old woman listening attentively to his every word.

The old woman impressed the great saint by her simplicity, attentiveness and keenness.

Inspired by her eagerness to learn more about God whom she loved so dearly, he said to the people:
“It is better to be this unlearned woman, loving God with all her heart…
… than the most learned theologian lacking love!”

The lady was able to let the “light of God’s Love” shine through her life of simplicity and passionate tenderness.

We are all invited to lead a saintly life – filled with love – and allow others to experience the Light of God’s love!

Our Christian life exhorts us to be glowing with a holy life, to let others to see the Radiance of God’s Peace!

The Gospel of the Day is an exhortation and a reminder by Jesus to become a “light to the other”

Jesus presents a simple parable, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under a bushel or under a bed and not on a stand?” (Mk 4: 21)

In the ancient world, people did not have electricity like we have today.

Most homes would contain several oil lamps because olive oil was in abundance and therefore not expensive.

Oil lamps were the main source of light in every home.

These ancient lamps were usually oval shaped, and flat on top.
They were normally made of clay, but the more expensive lamps were made of bronze and sometimes even of gold.
Olive oil was available in abundance and therefore lamps were left on for long periods of time, and also gave off a sweet scent.

The Lord presents this common example of the Lamp to highlight…
… that Christian lives also ought to shine and glow
… that Gospel values cannot remain hidden and concealed
… that the power of light, however, little, can dispel the gloominess of darkness

The world we live in is often in darkness and in obscurity.

As Christians, we have a duty and an obligation to hold alight the lamp.

The world often runs into the darkness of sin and evil practices…
… Can I be a lamp, bringing them to Christ’s light by my holy and sanctified life?

Many people are often forced to remain in the shadows of guilt, shame and abuse…
… Can I be a lamp, bringing them to Christ’s light by my prayers, sacrifices and good works?

Today we celebrate the Feast of St Thomas Aquinas – the great Doctor and Theologian…
… let us learn to humble ourselves before the Almighty Power of God

Towards the end of his life – this great learned person who had written much on the Lord – during prayer, Christ is said to have told him, “You have written well of me, Thomas. What reward would you have for your labour?” Thomas replied, “Nothing but you, Lord.”

He humbled himself before the Great God to allow God’s Light to always shine through!

When we humble ourselves before the mighty power of God, we allow His light to shine through us.

Our lives become “a glowing and fragrant lamp of God’s Light” when we acknowledge His Great Presence in our lives and allow ourselves to be totally dependent on Him!

The Lord invites us…
…. to let His light to pass through our actions, deeds and activities.
… to let His light illumine our thoughts, visions and mentalities.

Let us understand that, “it is better to be an unlearned person, loving God with all her heart…
… than to be the most learned theologian lacking love!”

And thus, may we let the “light of God’s Love” shine through our life of simplicity and passionate tenderness!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
GOD CHOOSES ABRAHAM

In order to gather together scattered humanity God called Abram from his country, his kindred and his father’s house, and made him Abraham – “the father of a multitude of nations”.
The people descended from Abraham would be the trustee of the promise made to the patriarchs, the chosen people…
… called to prepare for that day when God would gather all his children into the unity of the Church.
They would be the root on to which the Gentiles would be grafted, once they came to believe.19
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 #59-61)

“Making our lives to be a ‘museum, showcasing God’s Graces’ and thus always following the motto of: ‘Following Christ. Faithfulness to Christ. Fruitfulness in Christ!’”

(Based on Heb 10:11-18 and Mk 4:1-20 – Wednesday of the 3rd Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1)

In a Bible museum, there were various artefacts that were displayed…
… depicting various themes and incidents of the Bible.

In the tableau that displayed the Parable of the Sower, was written a caption, which read:
“The Parable of the Sower: Following Christ. Faithfulness to Christ. Fruitfulness in Christ

FOLLOW Christ fully
Be FAITHFUL to Christ
Be FRUITFUL by the Grace of Christ!”

This indeed gives a quick summary of the Parable of the Sower…
… expounded by Jesus in the Gospel of the Day

The Gospel begins with St Mark mentioning that “a very large crowd gathered around him…” (Mk 4:1)

The people were growing in excitement to know and experience the person of Jesus
… His miraculous works and welcoming attitude had generated much hope and expectation

The Lord however, doesn’t allow Himself to be captivated by mere peripheral knowledge and trifle expectations!

He sows the “seeds of truth” and invites them to purify their intentions in being His follower!

And so, with the crowds swelling around, He exhorts his “large followers” with a pertinent term: “LISTEN!” (Cf Mk 4:3)

LISTEN to the voice of the Lord and examine what type of a follower are you…

Are you someone who only casually listens to the Word – like the seed that fell on the path
… failing to give any space for the Lord to work in your life or allowing the birds of the evil one to devour the graces of the Lord?

Are you someone who is only emotionally attracted to the Word – like the seed that fell on rocky ground…
… failing to allow the Word to take deeper roots in life or getting scorched when the sun of struggles and difficulties blaze brightly?

Are you someone who fails to give priority to the Word – like the seed that fell among the thorns…
… failing to give the first place to the Kingdom of God and allowing the thorny desires and fleeting pleasures of the world to take control of life?

OR
Can we be the one who receives the Word with much devotion and preparation – like the seed that fell into good soil…
… and allowing His Word to take total possession of life and allowing His Word to bear much fruit?

Yes, each one of us needs to…
… FOLLOW Christ fully: Giving Him the highest and greatest priority in one’s life
… Be FAITHFUL to Christ: Holding on to the Lord, despite the various struggles that may come across
… Be FRUITFUL by the Grace of Christ! Bear the fruits of the Holy Spirit and being open to His Grace

May the Word of God always have a transformative effect in our lives…
… and may our lives truly be a “museum, showcasing God’s Graces” and thus always follow the motto of: Following Christ. Faithfulness to Christ. Fruitfulness in Christ!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism:
GOD’S COVENANT WITH NOAH
After the unity of the human race was shattered by sin, God at once sought to save humanity part by part.

The covenant with Noah after the flood gives expression to the principle of the divine economy toward the “nations”
This state of division into many nations is at once cosmic, social and religious. It is intended to limit the pride of fallen humanity, united only in its perverse ambition to forge its own unity as at Babel.
But, because of sin, both polytheism and the idolatry of the nation and of its rulers constantly threaten this provisional economy with the perversion of paganism.
The Bible venerates several great figures among the Gentiles: Abel the just, the king-priest Melchizedek – a figure of Christ – and the upright “Noah, Daniel, and Job”…

… Scripture thus expresses the heights of sanctity that can be reached by those who live according to the covenant of Noah, waiting for Christ to “gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad” (Cf. CCC #56, 57,58)

“Avoiding all ‘lame’ excuses and wholeheartedly accepting the Mission Mandate of the Lord, inspired by the example of St Timothy and St Titus!”

(Based on 2 Tim 1:1-8 and Lk 10:1-9 – Feast of St Timothy and St Titus)

A lady – affected much with polio – and able to walk with just one leg approached a visa desk to go to the missions in the land of Africa.

She had been greatly influenced by the call of the Lord in the Gospels, to “be a missionary” and so decided to give her life totally for the missions.

The visa officer – himself a Christian – after reviewing and verifying her documents, had one last question to be ask, before giving the approval: “Can you give me a convincing answer as to why, with just one leg, you are taking up this risky mission journey?”

The lady, with a grin replied: “Well, I don’t find those with two legs going!”

The visa request was immediately granted!

Zeal for missions… zeal for reaching out in help and service
… is a task entrusted to every Christian.

Do we wholeheartedly accept this responsibility…
… or do we make ‘lame’ excuses and avoid this mandate?

Today, the Church celebrates the Feast of St Timothy and St Titus…
… Bishops in the early Church and close companions of St Paul

St Timothy…
… (came from Lystra in present-day Turkey) was the son of a Jewish mother and a non-Jewish father

After St. Paul’s visit to Timothy’s home region of Lycaonia, around the year 51, the young man joined the apostle and accompanied him in his travels.
St Paul later sent him to Thessalonica to help the Church during a period of persecution.
Later, they came together in Corinth, and Timothy accompanied Paul on many of his missionary travels.

Around the year 64, Timothy became the first bishop of the Church of Ephesus.

In the year 93 AD, during his leadership of the Church in Ephesus, he took a stand against the worship of idols and was consequently killed by a mob.

St. John retreated to Ephesus before eventually dying on the island of Patmos, and that the Virgin Mary followed John to Ephesus, living in a house above the town.

It is also quite possible, that St. Timothy – being the Bishop of Ephesus – also had interactions with Mother Mary and St John, who had (as many scholars say and many writings testify) spent their last years in Ephesus.

St Timothy therefore would have drunk from the deepest wells of the Christian tradition – hearing about the life of Christ from the lips of the most important witnesses of His Life and Death!

St Titus…
… was born into a pagan family – is said to have studied Greek philosophy and poetry in his early years. >> He pursued a life of virtue, and purportedly had a prophetic dream that caused him to begin reading the Hebrew Scriptures.

According to tradition, Titus journeyed to Jerusalem and witnessed the preaching of Christ during the Lord’s ministry on earth….
… only later, however – after the conversion of St. Paul and the beginning of his ministry – did Titus receive baptism from the apostle, who called the pagan convert his “true child in our common faith.”

St Titus accompanied Paul to the Apostolic Council of Jerusalem during the year 51, and was later sent to the Corinthian Church on two occasions.
After the end of Paul’s first imprisonment in Rome, the apostle ordained Titus as the Bishop of Crete…
… He is credited with leading the Church of Crete, overturning paganism and promoting the faith through his prayers and preaching.

These two great saints teach us important lessons on living as a follower of Christ…
… Christ reminds and exhorts every one of us: “The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest. Go on your way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves…” (Lk 10:2-3)

1. Being ready to face any challenge or opposition in being a witness to the Gospel

St Timothy and St Titus had to face innumerable opposition – from within community, from the persecutors around, in their mission journeys etc
… yet to remained firm and faithful to their mission mandate

Are we ready to brave every challenge to be a Courageous witness of the Gospel in our own life situations?

2. Readiness to depend on the Lord for everything

Giving heed to the words of the Lord to his missionary apostles, “Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road.” (Lk 10:4)…
… we are reminded on the need to avoid reliance on material dimensions of life; instead to have our dependence totally on the Lord!
St Timothy and St Titus experienced the fruits of this “total dependence” in their ministries!

Can we let go of our various attachments and trust deeper in the Providence of the Lord?

3. Untiring zeal and passion for the Kingdom

St Timothy and St Titus accompanied St Paul in his missionary journeys…
… and learnt the “art of passionate zeal for missions” in imitation of Christ

Are we ready to be enrolled into the school of Jesus, the Greatest Missionary and learn from him the “art of passionate zeal for missions?”

Zeal for missions… zeal for reaching out in help and service
… is indeed a task entrusted to every Christian.

God has blessed us immensely with many good things…
… and it is our duty to put all these blessings and graces for the Glory of the Lord

Do we wholeheartedly accept this responsibility…
… or do we make ‘lame’ excuses and avoid this mandate?

May the missionary zeal of St Timothy and St Titus inspire us…
… and help us to “rekindle the gift of God that is within…” (Cf. 2 Tim 1:6)

Happy Feast of St Timothy and St Titus!
God Bless! Live Jesus!

---

Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism:
GOD’S GRADUAL REVELATION – CALLING TO COMMUNION WITH HIM
God, Who creates and conserves all things by his Word, provides men with constant evidence of himself in created realities.

Wishing to open up the way to heavenly salvation – He manifested himself to our first parents from the very beginning.”
He invited them to intimate communion with Himself and clothed them with resplendent grace and justice.
“After the fall, [God] buoyed them up with the hope of salvation, by promising redemption; and He has never ceased to show his solicitude for the human race…
… for he wishes to give eternal life to all those who seek salvation by patience in well-doing!”

(Cf. CCC #54, 55)

“Avoiding all ‘lame’ excuses and wholeheartedly accepting the Mission Mandate of the Lord, inspired by the example of St Timothy and St Titus!”

(Based on 2 Tim 1:1-8 and Lk 10:1-9 – Feast of St Timothy and St Titus)

A lady – affected much with polio – and able to walk with just one leg approached a visa desk to go to the missions in the land of Africa.

She had been greatly influenced by the call of the Lord in the Gospels, to “be a missionary” and so decided to give her life totally for the missions.

The visa officer – himself a Christian – after reviewing and verifying her documents, had one last question to be ask, before giving the approval: “Can you give me a convincing answer as to why, with just one leg, you are taking up this risky mission journey?”


The lady, with a grin replied: “Well, I don’t find those with two legs going!”


The visa request was immediately granted!


Zeal for missions… zeal for reaching out in help and service
… is a task entrusted to every Christian.


Do we wholeheartedly accept this responsibility…
… or do we make ‘lame’ excuses and avoid this mandate?


Today, the Church celebrates the Feast of St Timothy and St Titus…
… Bishops in the early Church and close companions of St Paul


St Timothy…
… (came from Lystra in present-day Turkey) was the son of a Jewish mother and a non-Jewish father
>> After St. Paul’s visit to Timothy’s home region of Lycaonia, around the year 51, the young man joined the apostle and accompanied him in his travels.
>> St Paul later sent him to Thessalonica to help the Church during a period of persecution.
>> Later, they came together in Corinth, and Timothy accompanied Paul on many of his missionary travels.

Around the year 64, Timothy became the first bishop of the Church of Ephesus.
>> In the year 93 AD, during his leadership of the Church in Ephesus, he took a stand against the worship of idols and was consequently killed by a mob.

St. John retreated to Ephesus before eventually dying on the island of Patmos, and that the Virgin Mary followed John to Ephesus, living in a house above the town.

It is also quite possible, that St. Timothy – being the Bishop of Ephesus – also had interactions with Mother Mary and St John, who had (as many scholars say and many writings testify) spent their last years in Ephesus.
>> St Timothy therefore would have drunk from the deepest wells of the Christian tradition – hearing about the life of Christ from the lips of the most important witnesses of His Life and Death!


St Titus…
… was born into a pagan family – is said to have studied Greek philosophy and poetry in his early years. >> He pursued a life of virtue, and purportedly had a prophetic dream that caused him to begin reading the Hebrew Scriptures.
>> According to tradition, Titus journeyed to Jerusalem and witnessed the preaching of Christ during the Lord’s ministry on earth….
… only later, however – after the conversion of St. Paul and the beginning of his ministry – did Titus receive baptism from the apostle, who called the pagan convert his “true child in our common faith.”

>> St Titus accompanied Paul to the Apostolic Council of Jerusalem during the year 51, and was later sent to the Corinthian Church on two occasions.
>> After the end of Paul’s first imprisonment in Rome, the apostle ordained Titus as the Bishop of Crete…
… He is credited with leading the Church of Crete, overturning paganism and promoting the faith through his prayers and preaching.


These two great saints teach us important lessons on living as a follower of Christ…
… Christ reminds and exhorts every one of us: “The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest. Go on your way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves…” (Lk 10:2-3)

1. Being ready to face any challenge or opposition in being a witness to the Gospel
>> St Timothy and St Titus had to face innumerable opposition – from within community, from the persecutors around, in their mission journeys etc
… yet to remained firm and faithful to their mission mandate

Are we ready to brave every challenge to be a Courageous witness of the Gospel in our own life situations?


2. Readiness to depend on the Lord for everything
>> Giving heed to the words of the Lord to his missionary apostles, “Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road.” (Lk 10:4)…
… we are reminded on the need to avoid reliance on material dimensions of life; instead to have our dependence totally on the Lord!
>> St Timothy and St Titus experienced the fruits of this “total dependence” in their ministries!

Can we let go of our various attachments and trust deeper in the Providence of the Lord?


3. Untiring zeal and passion for the Kingdom
>> St Timothy and St Titus accompanied St Paul in his missionary journeys…
… and learnt the “art of passionate zeal for missions” in imitation of Christ

Are we ready to be enrolled into the school of Jesus, the Greatest Missionary and learn from him the “art of passionate zeal for missions?”


Zeal for missions… zeal for reaching out in help and service
… is indeed a task entrusted to every Christian.

God has blessed us immensely with many good things…
… and it is our duty to put all these blessings and graces for the Glory of the Lord
>> Do we wholeheartedly accept this responsibility…
… or do we make ‘lame’ excuses and avoid this mandate?


May the missionary zeal of St Timothy and St Titus inspire us…
… and help us to “rekindle the gift of God that is within…” (Cf. 2 Tim 1:6)


Happy Feast of St Timothy and St Titus!
God Bless! Live Jesus!

——————————–
Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism:
GOD’S GRADUAL REVELATION – CALLING TO COMMUNION WITH HIM
God, Who creates and conserves all things by his Word, provides men with constant evidence of himself in created realities.
>> Wishing to open up the way to heavenly salvation – He manifested himself to our first parents from the very beginning.”
>> He invited them to intimate communion with Himself and clothed them with resplendent grace and justice.
>> “After the fall, [God] buoyed them up with the hope of salvation, by promising redemption; and He has never ceased to show his solicitude for the human race…
… for he wishes to give eternal life to all those who seek salvation by patience in well-doing!”
(Cf. CCC #54, 55)
——————————–

“May the zeal and passion of St Paul inspire all of us to live in total dependency on the Lord!”

(Based on the Feast of the Conversion of St Paul)

A 7 year old boy came to his grandfather after his catechism classes and asked him:
“Grandpa, today our teacher taught us about St Paul. Let me therefore ask you a question…

From which animal did St Paul fall down on the way to Damascus? I will give you 3 options: Camel or Donkey or Horse?”

The grandfather, looked at the boy: “Oh my boy! I am not sure which animal he fell from, because I doubt if the Bible says that.

But in my opinion he fell from the ‘height of self-righteousness!’”

Quite true, isn’t it?

St Paul indeed had a fall…
… a fall from his “self-righteous” attitude…
… and rose up to a new lifestyle: “Total dependence on the Lord!”

This is the beautiful story of the conversion of St Paul…
… arguably one of the greatest missionaries of the Church!

[[The Bible, in fact, doesn’t mention any animal. The incident, however does highlight that it was noon time.

Catholic author Dr. Taylor Marshall refers in his book: “The Catholic Perspective on Paul” on the view that every day at noon, pious Jewish men recited prayers while standing on their feet and facing toward Jerusalem (cf. Dan. 6:10-11). It could be possible that Saul, the zealous Pharisee that he was, observed midday prayer on that day as he travelled along the road to Damascus. This would have meant that he was likely standing erect and facing south to Jerusalem when he was blinded by the light of Christ and fell to the ground!)]]

On this Feast of the Conversion of St Paul, there are several factors that we can meditate on, and learn from.

One of the very striking aspects is that of the Passion and Zeal of St Paul.

This passion was greatly reflected in all aspects of his life…
… in his preaching and his writings!
… in his dealing with the Gentiles and their cause of faith
… in his aggressiveness against anything that caused scandal and harm to the Church
… in his uncompromising attitude towards anything that endangered his relationship with the Lord!

Some of his writings in the letters reflect this aspect of Passion and Zeal:

“Woe to me, if I don’t preach the Gospel” (1 Cor 9:16)
“I count everything as a loss for Christ…” (Phil 3:8)
“My preaching… was a demonstration of the Spirit and power” (1 Cor 2:4)

We need to ask of ourselves:

Is my Christian life, filled with passion and zeal?
Do I burn with love for God and His Kingdom?
Does the Lord and His Will come first, in my life?

It’s easy to often remain on the “theoretical” dimension of Christian life!

Many times we have many discussions and deliberations about faith
… but don’t involve ourselves in spending time in prayer daily or living a life in the Holy Spirit and being guided by His Presence

Many times we hear many Christian talks or read many books on Christian life
… but hardly make efforts to grow in the Christian virtues or to improve our Sacramental Life

Many times we nurture doubts about Christianity, to “know more”…
… but fail to humble ourselves, to grow in our relationship with the Lord and loving Him more

The Feast of the Conversion of St Paul is a mighty reminder to all of us…
… to live our Christian lives “passionately and zealously!”

And this passion and zeal can come only if we allow ourselves, to be thrown down from the ‘height of self-righteousness’

St Paul had to experience this “falling down”

His self-righteousness had caused him…
… to persecute everyone who professed Christ and to eliminate them!
… to be blinded to Jesus, the Way, the Truth and the Life!

Therefore, “a fall from the height of self-righteousness” was necessary…
… so that he could rise to a new lifestyle: “Total dependence on the Lord!”

And so, with much confidence, he would declare later in his life: “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Phil 1:21)

In our lives, we also will experience many moments of “falls”…
… troubles, hardships, rejection, misunderstandings, humiliations

But let us not be discouraged
… Rather, “rise up” in all such situations to “totally depend on the Lord!”

May the zeal and passion of St Paul inspire all of us to live in total dependency on the Lord.

May we give deeper heed to his words of exhortation to each one of us:
“If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy…
… make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. >> Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others.
Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus!” (Phil 2:1-5)

---

Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism:
JESUS CHRIST AS THE CULMINATION OF THE DIVINE PEDAGOGY OF REVELATION
The divine plan of Revelation is realized simultaneously “by deeds and words which are intrinsically bound up with each other” and shed light on each another.

It involves a specific divine pedagogy: God communicates himself to man gradually.
He prepares him to welcome by stages the supernatural Revelation…

… that is to culminate in the person and mission of the incarnate Word, Jesus Christ!” (CCC #53)