“Standing firm in our convictions and making efforts to live a True Christian life!”

(Based on Amos 7:12-15, Eph 1:3-14 and Mk 6:7-13 – 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time)

Ella Gunderson is teenage Catholic girl from Seattle, USA

In 2004, she went into a Nordstrom’s (an American fashion retailer) store to buy a pair of jeans.

However, none of the jeans were pleasing to her taste, lifestyle and liking…

Every style of jeans was either very loose that they would fall down…
… or so tight that she would have to wear them low and thus they would become provocative.

As a Christian, she knew that her body was the temple of the Holy Spirit and that God meant beauty to be pure, inspiring, and tasteful and not degrading and objectifying!

Instead of just whining about the situation, Ella decided to act…

She wrote a public letter of complaint to Nordstrom’s…
“Dear Nordstrom, I am an eleven-year-old girl who has tried shopping at your store for clothes (in particular jeans), but all of them ride way under my hips and the next size up, is too big and falls down.”

This experience of Ella Gunderson resonated with unvoiced concern of many teenagers and women across the country, who also believed it was possible to be ‘pretty, without being provocative’.

The letter caused a huge rage to be raised by the world of media…

The media firestorm motivated Nordstrom’s to create a new category of fashion wears for juniors called “Modern and Modest.”

A great Christian endevour was pursued and achieved – all because of the convictions of a Christian girl, who believed in being “pretty, without being provocative!”

To be a Christian in today’s world is a great task, a challenge and a responsibility.

The Gospel of the Day is a mighty invitation for each one of us to live as a True Christian, a True Missionary – just as the Twelve Apostles were sent by Jesus on the mission journey.

Jesus had become very popular by various deeds in His ministry…
… powerfully teaching the Word of God and authoritatively interpreting the Law
… mightily healing many of the sick and boldly accepting those rejected by the peoples
… intensely performing many wondrous actions and effectively transforming the society

A great band of people had also begun to follow Him…
…some from far, some closely
…. some with ulterior motives, some with genuine intentions.

In the midst of this rising popularity and increasing crowd-following, the Lord chose the Twelve – whom He named as Apostles (Mk 3:13)

These Twelve were to be with Him and to be sent out
These Twelve were to be an extension of His mission on the earth

To them, the Lord entrusts the great task of spreading His mission of the Kingdom of God.
“And He called to Him the Twelve, and began to send them out, two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits” (Mk 6:7)

One of the key issues that the Lord addresses when He sends out His disciples is to be aware of the fact that there will be great possibilities that they would be “rejected”.

However, the Apostles were not to get disheartened by it; rather to be bold and firm to stand against anything that would oppose their mission.

Jesus says to them: “Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you, leave there and shake the dust off your feet….” (Mk 6: 11)

Jesus warns them that their life as His follower and as a missionary of the Kingdom, would surely meet a lot of opposition…
… many would reject their teachings
… many would even, perhaps persecute them
… many would seek to make them compromise their values

However, in all this, the Apostles were to remain bold, firm and courageous.

They had to fill their hearts with two basic virtues: Dependence on God’s Providence and Firm Perseverance in His ways.

The message of the Gospel is always opposed to the ways and values of the world!

It was so… in the time of Jesus
It was so… also in the time of the Apostles
And it is so… in our own times and situations

To be a Christian, a Missionary in today’s world is indeed a great task, a challenge and a responsibility.

There are many aspects in the world that go against Christian values…
There are umpteen situations that challenge our Christian faith…

Christian virtues today are “rejected”, “trampled upon”, “compromised” and even “diluted!”

We can either…
…. give in to them
… or just complain about them
… or make efforts to change them

By virtue of our Baptism, we share…
… in the privilege of being called a follower of Christ
… also, in the responsibility and duty of being firm and faithful to our Christian values

Are we going to dilute, compromise, be lukewarm or adopt an ‘all-is-adjustable’ policy with respect to our Christian values?

Or are we ready to grow and stand firm in our convictions and make efforts to live a True Christian life?

Is the world transforming me…
… or am I, as a Christian, transforming the world?

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism:
A FORETASTE OF THE KINGDOM: THE TRANSFIGURATION

The mysterious episode of Jesus’ Transfiguration takes place on a high mountain, before three witnesses chosen by himself: Peter, James and John.
For a moment Jesus discloses his divine glory, confirming Peter’s confession. He also reveals that he will have to go by the way of the cross at Jerusalem in order to “enter into his glory”
Moses and Elijah had seen God’s glory on the Mountain; the Law and the Prophets had announced the Messiah’s sufferings.
Christ’s Passion is the will of the Father: the Son acts as God’s servant
The cloud indicates the presence of the Holy Spirit. “The whole Trinity appeared: the Father in the voice; the Son in the man; the Spirit in the shining cloud.”
On the threshold of the public life: the baptism; on the threshold of the Passover: the Transfiguration. Jesus’ baptism proclaimed “the mystery of the first regeneration”, namely, our Baptism; the Transfiguration “is the sacrament of the second regeneration”: our own Resurrection.
From now on we share in the Lord’s Resurrection through the Spirit who acts in the sacraments of the Body of Christ.
The Transfiguration gives us a foretaste of Christ’s glorious coming, when he “will change our lowly body to be like his glorious body.
“But it also recalls that “it is through many persecutions that we must enter the kingdom of God”(Cf. CCC # 554-556)

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“”Letting ‘fear’ to propel and boost our Christian Missionary lives!”

(Based on Gen 49:29-33,50:15-25 and Mt 10:24-33 – Saturday of the 14th Week in Ordinary Time)

Five-year old Jack was in the kitchen as his mother made supper.

She asked him to go into the store-room (the place where much of the provisions were stored) and get her a can of tomato soup.

But li’l Jack didn’t want to go in alone there.

“It’s dark in there and I’m scared, Mamma”

She asked again, and he persisted in his refusal.

Finally she said, “Jack, look… there is nothing to fear in going to that store-room. Jesus will be in there, with you…”

The constant request and this assurance made Jack to walk hesitantly to the door and slowly open it.

He peeked inside, saw it was dark, got all frightened and started to leave…
… when all at once an idea came, and he said:
“Jesus, if you’re in there, would you, please, hand me that can of tomato soup?!”

Well, this little anecdote highlights a common trend that is evident in many of our lives:

Fear takes an upper hand in many of our activities and renders us fragile…
Fear has a strong grip over our minds and hearts in many situations and makes us weak…

The Gospel of the Day is a clarion call by the Lord to ward off anxiety-causing fears and instead to be courageous in our life as a Christian.

Our Blessed Lord continues His instructions to His Apostles as they are being commissioned for the mission journey.

Today He touches upon one of the core emotions that can affect the Disciples in their mission endeavour: the emotion of Fear.

Jesus says, “Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows” (Mt 10:30)

Jesus seeks to cast off fear from His followers by showing them the preciousness and value of their lives…
… and how much of importance they are to Him.

For this, he presents the example of a sparrow.

Though quite strange, Jesus probably had a very pertinent reason for this choice of the common sparrow.

During the time of Jesus (unlike in many of our modern developed cities), sparrows were so common that they were practically worthless.

Two sparrows were sold for a ‘cent’

The word “cent” is the Greek word ‘assarion’.
• An assarion was worth only 1/16 of a denarius.
One denarius was the day’s wage for a rural worker.

So, by simple math, a single sparrow was worth only 1/32 of a day’s wage of a rural worker.

Our Blessed Lord uses this example of the sparrows to illustrate how much God values life.

He emphasizes that said that not even one sparrow is forgotten before God.
He takes immense interest even in an unappreciated bird!
Therefore, Jesus says, “Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows” (Mt 10:30)

When we have a firm conviction of precious we are to the Lord – who is all-powerful and all-mighty – our every fear will be banished away!

When we grow in our awareness that I am really very much worth to God – who is all-knowing and all-good – our every apprehension will be relaxed!

Fear is one of the core emotions that can affect our life as a Christian:

Fear takes an upper hand in many of our activities and renders us fragile…
Fear has a strong grip over our minds and hearts in many situations and makes us weak…

But the deeper we are convinced that I am precious and prized to the Lord, the lesser will be our fears!

“What need I fear, when thou art near, O King of night and day” is a refrain from a Christian hymn!

Yes…
Fear can either prevent or propel
… Prevent from moving forward, being afraid of what will happen
… Propel to have a stronger determination and rouse the enthusiasm levels

Fear can either be a barrier or a boost:
… Barrier that does not allow any initiative to be taken or any thought-process to progress
… Boost that accelerates the resolve and willpower and helps march towards the goal

Are we going to let “fear” to PREVENT and act as a BARRIER in our lives?
… or can we – convinced of the Lord’s mighty presence in our lives and our preciousness to Him – let “fear” to PROPEL AND BOOST our Christian Missionary lives!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism:

Simon Peter holds the first place in the college of the Twelve

Jesus entrusted a unique mission to him. Our Lord declared to him: “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.”
Christ, the “living Stone”, thus assures His Church, built on Peter, of victory over the powers of death.
Because of the faith he confessed, Peter will remain the unshakeable rock of the Church. His mission will be to keep this faith from every lapse and to strengthen his brothers in it.
Jesus entrusted a specific authority to Peter: “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
The “power of the keys” designates authority to govern the house of God, which is the Church. >> Jesus, the Good Shepherd, confirmed this mandate after his Resurrection: “Feed my sheep.”
The power to “bind and loose” connotes the authority to absolve sins, to pronounce doctrinal judgements, and to make disciplinary decisions in the Church.
Jesus entrusted this authority to the Church through the ministry of the apostles…

… and in particular through the ministry of Peter, the only one to whom he specifically entrusted the keys of the kingdom. (Cf. CCC # 551)

“Growing in our understanding, that a task entrusted by the Lord is always blessed by Him, with His assurance of courage and strength!”

(Based on Gen 46:1-30 and Mt 10:16-23 – Friday of the 14th Week in Ordinary Time)

A sunny day…

As the sun was casting its bright rays on the earth, a loud voice thundered – with might and power:
“Who gives a man speech and makes another deaf and dumb?
Or who gives sight to one and makes another blind?
Is it not, I….?
Go, then….
It is I who will assist you in speaking and will teach you what you are to say…”

Another sunny day…

As the sun was shining bright, the same loud voice thundered – yet again, with might and power:
“Say not, “I am too young…
To whomever I send, you shall go…
Whatever I command, you shall speak!
Have no fear… because I am with you, to deliver you!”

These two dialogues record two instances of “Great Assurances” that were offered to two Great People – Moses and Jeremiah – as seen in Ex 4: 11-12 and Jer 1: 7-8 – by the Great Yahweh!

These two persons – Moses and Jeremiah – one, the law-giver and the other a prophet – had some similarities…
…They were entrusted with great tasks…
… They both expressed their inability in speech…
… They both were, however, given assurances of strength and courage!

A task that is entrusted by the Lord is always blessed by Him, with His assurance of courage and strength!

The larger the responsibility… the greater would be the grace
The tougher the task… the bigger would be the blessing

The Gospel of the Day is a beautiful expression of this same assurance that Jesus offered to His Apostles and to each one of us, who are called to be a Missionaries and Proclaimers of the Kingdom of God.

The Lord sends His Apostles on the mission journey and gives them various instructions in this participation of the Divine Activity.

Jesus was a very practical and realistic person.

When He sends the Apostles on the mission journey…
… He doesn’t promise a comfortable and cozy time
… He doesn’t make fanciful securities and spectacular guarantees.

Instead…
… He presents the ground reality and the actual facts of the task.

He says that, “Behold I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves” (Mt 10:16)

This imagery of the “sheep and the wolves” that the Lord used for the Apostles would have probably filled them with panic and fright.

They were well aware of the condition of the sheep, when they encountered wolves…

The wolf – the predator is an expert in stealth and is rarely noticed by the sheep.

As the sheep graze, predator’s strategy is simple – it attacks the young or weak that are on the outer-edge of the flock.
This causes a sudden panic in the whole flock!

The sheep would cry… but their cry would hardly be heard!

Their voices after a loud shriek, would begin to choke!

The Apostles, who were well-familiar and had witnessed the sheep-grazing patterns in their land, were aware of this aspect, when the Lord said, “I send you as sheep among wolves…”

And perhaps, a jolt of fear would have run down their spine….
• Just like Moses had felt a sense of difficulty in taking up the task that Yahweh had entrusted…
• Just like Jeremiah had experienced a wave of fear when Yahweh appointed him as a prophet…

So the disciples could have also felt a sense of worry or even apprehension…

But just like Yahweh had assured them of His strength and grace, the Lord also assures His apostles in this state of fear:
“When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. For it will not be you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you” (Mt 10: 19-20)

How often do we also find ourselves in situations of hardships and difficulties, in our task of being a True Christian…
• We feel fearful to open our mouths when we witness incidents of corruption..
• We fear to let ourselves be heard when values of Christ are compromised…
• We find ourselves shut to speak when we encounter acts of injustice…

But in all such situations, the Lord assures us that we need to bank on His Strength and Grace for courage!

What is needed from our part…
… is a total dependence and trust in His power
… is a communion with His Spirit and faith in His Father
… is a willingness to act according to the Plans and Will of the Lord

The world today is growing to be menacingly fierce…
And as Christians, we are sometimes like “sheep among the wolves”

Let us learn, with the grace of the Lord, “to be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves” (Mt 10:16)

Let us grow in our understanding, that a task entrusted by the Lord is always blessed by Him, with His assurance of courage and strength!

The larger the responsibility… the greater would be the grace!
The tougher the task… the bigger would be the blessing!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism:
“THE KEYS OF THE KINGDOM”

From the beginning of His public life, Jesus chose certain men, twelve in number, to be with Him and to participate in his mission.
He gives the Twelve a share in His Authority and ‘sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal.”
They remain associated for ever with Christ’s kingdom, for through them He directs the Church…

… as my Father appointed a kingdom for Me, so do I appoint for you that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel! (Cf. CCC # 551)

“Engaging in works with a sense of Divine Love and Charity in order to build beautiful lives!”

(Based on Gen 44:18-45:5 and Mt 10:7-15 – Thursday of the 14th Week in Ordinary Time)

A young girl watched her mother washing dishes.

Thinking of how many times she did them, along with all the other housework…
… she said, “Mother, don’t you ever get tired of washing dishes?”

The mother looking at the child with a contagious smile, replied, “Child, I’m not doing dishes…
… I’m building a home!”

When one is completely engaged in one’s works with a sense of Divine Love and Charity…
… one is engaged in mission work and building beautiful lives!

It is to such a life of “mission work at all times” that the Gospel of the Day invites all of us to.

After having summoned, authorized and named His Twelve Apostles, Jesus sends them ahead of Him, to the places of mission.

The Gospel of the day begins with the phrase, “Preach, as you go…” (Mt 10:7)

Some other translations would read as “As you go, make a proclamation…”

This is such wonderfully practical, and yet at the same time, a phrase that is often overlooked: “Preach, as you go….” / “As you go… make a proclamation”

Preaching or Proclamation in our times, is often pictured with a limited understanding…

Preaching or proclamation that takes place…
… only from the pulpit or during a service in Church
… only in the form of speaking and explaining the Word of God

But the words of the Lord are worth noting:
“Preach, as you go….” / “As you go… make a proclamation”

Preach, as you go about doing your daily duties and activities

As you go about your responsibilities and works, make a proclamation

Preach as you go around meeting different people by sharing His love and joy to all

As you go about engaging in numerous actions, make a proclamation by sharing His presence

The act of preaching and proclamation of the Kingdom of God is to be reflected in our every action and movement…
• Whatever we do, may it become an act of proclaiming God’s abundant blessings!
• Whatever work we take up, may it become a moment of preaching God’s amazing providence!

Such preaching and proclamation makes it mandatory that one grows “deeper in dependence” on Jesus – in our life as a missionary of the Kingdom of God.

The act of proclamation needs the “awareness”…
… that I am continuing the Great Mission work that has Jesus as the “Initiator”, the “Sustainer” and the “Finale!”

To be a missionary, one needs to realise that the Lord alone can provide all the graces, strength and courage for the mission!

It is when we totally depend on the Lord, that we are able to boldly face…
… hardships and difficulties in being a missionary of the Kingdom, in hostile situations
… problems and challenges as we seek to live a true Christian life in the modern world
… meaninglessness or emptiness as we go through the ‘deserts’ and ‘darkness’ in life

Through the story of Joseph and his brothers in the book of Genesis, we are taught the beautiful lesson that God is in total control of our life…
… and like Joseph who acknowledged: “God sent me before you to preserve life.” (Gen 45:4)

We need to depend totally depend on the Providence of the Lord

God invites all of us to engage in mission work and to build beautiful lives

Let’s therefore completely engage in all our works with a sense of Divine Love and Charity…
… and thus do “mission work at all times!”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism:
THE SIGNS OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD

Jesus accompanies His words with many “mighty works and wonders and signs”, which manifest that the kingdom is present in Him and attest that He was the promised Messiah.
The signs worked by Jesus attest that the Father has sent Him. They invite belief in Him.
To those who turn to Him in faith, He grants what they ask. So miracles strengthen faith in the One Who does His Father’s works; they bear witness that He is the Son of God.
But his miracles can also be occasions for “offence”; they are not intended to satisfy people’s curiosity or desire for magic. Despite his evident miracles some people reject Jesus; he is even accused of acting by the power of demons.
By freeing some individuals from the earthly evils of hunger, injustice, illness and death, Jesus performed messianic signs. Nevertheless he did not come to abolish all evils here below, but to free men from the gravest slavery, sin, which thwarts them in their vocation as God’s sons and causes all forms of human bondage.
The coming of God’s kingdom means the defeat of Satan’s: “If it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.”
Jesus’ exorcisms free some individuals from the domination of demons.
They anticipate Jesus’ great victory over “the ruler of this world”.

The kingdom of God will be definitively established through Christ’s cross: “God reigned from the wood.” (Cf. CCC # 547-550)

“Co-operating with our ‘Strange Master,’ Who calls us to ‘Dare to be Different!’”

(Based on Gen 41:55-57, 42:5-7a,17-24a and Mt 10:1-7 – Wednesday of the 14th Week in Ordinary Time)

Jesus is strange!

And he loves to do strange things!

“Dare to be different” is a call which echoes very much through the corporate sector today, and also in many areas of our life!

And Jesus, certainly, is a model and an example for each one of us, in this ‘Daring to be Different’!

And this strange and daring Jesus – Who loves to do things differently –
…throws up a classic example for this, in today’s Gospel Reading, by choosing The Twelve…

Twelve strange persons to be His Daring disciples.

We could have a short litany of adjectives to describe or portray these Twelve…

Let’s get set with a mini-dictionary:

Ordinary, Mundane, Shy, Absent-minded, Introvert, Prejudiced, Inhibited…

Hated by society, Craver of power, Zealous in quick actions, Betraying Characters…
Sceptics, Unsteady Temperaments, Cynical….

The list is long, right?

Maybe, some of us, also very much possess these characters and traits!

Is it True?

But, with all these varied personalities and natures, Jesus, the Daring Master, chose His twelve, having these characters…!

The Lord loves to transform and change…

He changed the water into wine…

He transformed a few loaves of bread and fish as food for thousands…
He changed the raging sea to calmness and serenity…
He transformed sicknesses in people to good health and new vigour…
He changed the static and inhuman view of the Law to a dynamic and loving perception…

Yes, the Lord loves to transform and change…

And this Lord, who loves to transform and change, also worked wonders with the Twelve!

These Twelve, with their varied personalities and characters, were handed on the Charge to continue the Gigantic Task of their Daring Master: “To be the Ambassadors of the Kingdom of God”

To be with Him and to be sent out

To have authority over unclean spirits and drive them out
To cure every disease and illness and to preach!

These chosen lights were to cast their rays over the rest of humanity, in all nations.

Are we also hearing the Call of the Lord, to be the Ambassadors of His Kingdom, in the place where we are, in the state of life, that we are in?

Let us not be worried about our nature or temperament or character or weaknesses.

Yes, the Lord is strange…
… and He loves to do strange things

He is CRAZY over us!

The Lord also loves…
… to transform and to change

He is Willing to TRANSFORM us!

The only thing that He needs from us… is Our Consent.. Our Willingness…our Openness!

Let no negative feelings come in the way of this Deep Desire of the Lord…

Like the Israelites in Hosea 10:1…
… Let us not boast on our prosperity or our richness
… Let our hearts not remain divided in our loyalty

Let us instead plough a new ground…seeking the Lord…

The Kingdom of God is a vineyard…
… it needs labourers!

The Kingdom of God is a net…
… it needs fishermen!

The Kingdom of God is a field…
… it needs sowers and reapers!

The Kingdom of God is a flock…
… it needs shepherds!

Yes, the Lord is calling… the Lord is desiring… the Lord is wanting…

Are we hearing?

Let this not remain a Missed Call!

Let’s pick up, and answer…
… and Co-operate with the Strange Master, Who calls us to “Dare to be Different”!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism:
THE PROCLAMATION OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD

Everyone is called to enter the kingdom. This messianic kingdom is intended to accept people of all nations.
To enter it, one must first accept Jesus’ Word!
The kingdom belongs to the poor and lowly, which means those who have accepted it with humble hearts. Jesus is sent to “preach good news to the poor”
Jesus shares the life of the poor, from the cradle to the cross; He experiences hunger, thirst and privation.
Jesus identifies himself with the poor of every kind and makes active love toward them the condition for entering his kingdom.
Jesus invites sinners to the table of the kingdom: “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
He invites them to that conversion without which one cannot enter the kingdom, but shows them in word and deed his Father’s boundless mercy for them and the vast “joy in heaven over one sinner who repents”.
The supreme proof of his love will be the sacrifice of his own life “for the forgiveness of sins”.
Jesus’ invitation to enter his kingdom comes in the form of parables, a characteristic feature of his teaching.
Through his parables he invites people to the feast of the kingdom, but he also asks for a radical choice: to gain the kingdom, one must give everything.
Words are not enough, deeds are required.
The parables are like mirrors for man: will he be hard soil or good earth for the word?

Jesus and the presence of the kingdom in this world are secretly at the heart of the parables. One must enter the kingdom, that is, become a disciple of Christ, in order to “know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven”. For those who stay “outside”, everything remains enigmatic (Cf. CCC # 543-546)

(Based on Gen 32:22-32 and Mt 9:32-38 – Tuesday of the 14th Week in Ordinary Time)

Avid book-readers will testify to the fact that when some books are read – especially interesting novels or epic stories or even some real-life or dramatic stories – there is a tendency to identify oneself with one of the characters in the book.

Such character-identification can help one to examine one’s own personal life.

Such character-identification can help one to chalk out strategies to live life better.

The Bible is a Brilliant Book which offers many characters to help us to examine and evaluate our own lives.

Today’s Gospel offers us various groups of people and characters with whom we might have some identification.

We shall analyze and reflect on our lives in the light of these various characters and groups of people….

1. The demon-possessed mute man
   This person is a demoniac who was unable to speak

His condition has been miserable
… kept away from the society and his family
… unable to have a normal social or emotional or spiritual life

His own family would have missed him so much… so would his relatives and friends.

How often is my condition similar?

Evil forces keep me away from having a healthy social, emotional or a spiritual life…
Rejected, depressed in life and finding no meaning to live…

2. The people who brought this mute man to the Lord
   We have no idea what was the intention of the people who brought the person to Jesus.

Maybe, they were people…
… who were genuinely concerned for the well-being of the person
… who were fed up and disturbed by his threatening presence

But in any case… they bring the person to the Lord: either in faith or in desperation.

Problems beset many people…

Sometimes we feel compassion for them
Sometimes we feel sorry for them
Sometimes they become a disturbance for us

In any case, can we become an instrument of bringing the people – sick, suffering and in distress – to the Lord’s healing presence?

3. The Pharisees
   The healing action of Jesus becomes another occasion for them to criticize Jesus and to speak ill of Him.

They said, “He drives out demons by the prince of demons” (Mt 9:34)

It was as if complain and criticism had almost been firmly casted into their character!

Am I also like these Pharisees…

Unable to appreciate and encourage the good that is done to people?
Constantly looking for faults and failures of people and harping on those negative to others?

4. The crowds
   The crowds follow Jesus with a great desire and longing…

Some to meet the Lord, to hear His teaching and experience His love

Some to receive a cure and healing from the Lord
Some just out of curiosity or because others are following Him

What is my motive and intention in following the Lord?

Is my Christian Life, just remaining part of the crowd, or do I also seek and make efforts to move closer to Him?

5. The Disciples
   They stand witness to the misery of the people, on the one side, and the power of the Lord, on the other.

They are now entrusted with a task and duty to “ask the Master of the harvest to send out labourers for His harvest” and also to imitate the Good Shepherd in caring for the lost sheep.

Do I hear the call of the Lord to be a labourer for the Kingdom of God and to imitate the Master Shepherd in bringing back lost sheep to His fold?

Am I willing to take up the challenge that the Lord places before us to be a ‘consolation for the miserable’, ‘food for the hungry’, ‘joy to those in sadness’ and ‘hope for those sinful and lost’?

6. Jesus
   Jesus is the Epitome of Compassion.

He goes about His mission and duty, by bringing healing to those in misery and displaying His treasury of compassion and love to the needy.

Can we imitate our Blessed Lord in seeking to be sensitive to the needs of the people around, and showing forth His compassion?

Do I remain unafraid of “demoniac” and “mute” and “criticized” situations of life, trusting in the Great Power of the Lord..
… and being unfazed by any sort of oppositions or hardships in being the messenger of His Kingdom?

May the reflection on the characters of the Gospel help us to evaluate our own lives and form ourselves to be more and more worthy of our life as a Christian!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism:
THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS AT HAND

“Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying: ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent, and believe in the gospel.’”
“To carry out the will of the Father Christ inaugurated the kingdom of heaven on earth.”
Now the Father’s will is “to raise up men to share in his own divine life”.
He does this by gathering men around his Son Jesus Christ. This gathering is the Church, “on earth the seed and beginning of that kingdoms”.
Christ stands at the heart of this gathering of men into the “family of God”.
By his word, through signs that manifest the reign of God, and by sending out his disciples, Jesus calls all people to come together around him. But above all in the great Paschal mystery – his death on the cross and his Resurrection – he would accomplish the coming of his kingdom.

“And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.” Into this union with Christ all men are called (Cf. CCC # 538-540)

“Encountering the Living and Miraculous Touch of the Lord and thus becoming passionate proponents of the One who alone can restore life in dead situations!”

(Based on Gen 28:10-22 and Mt 9:18-26 – Monday of the 14th Week in Ordinary Time)

Here is an excerpt from an autobiography…

“My world had come crashing down!

The gush of tears would not stop despite the dams of consolation that were constructed for me…

The flow of grief could not be stilled despite the walls of comfort that were built for me…

I lost the one whom I considered so precious in my life.

She was the treasure of my heart… She was the crown of my life!

Her tender laughter would fill my life with mirth

Her innocent talks would imbibe my heart with happiness

But life is sometimes so cruel… so unjust… so nasty even!

It snatched away from my hands my beloved princess

She was only twelve… small and tender.

She was just about to begin her life.

But why did she have to die so soon?
Was it my mistake?

Did I care less for her?
Did I not provide the best facilities for her?

I look at life now… with my dead girl on the bed….and say:
‘I remained faithful in my duties and works, and this is the cruel way you are treating me!”

I look at the Divine now… with my sweet little child lifeless… and say:
‘I have sought to be honest, and this is the dreadful manner You deal with me!”

But then I heard of a person named Jesus…
.. Who was near the town.

I have heard of He being a mighty prophet… a powerful healer!

I did not believe in His God…
…but I have heard, ‘His God is the God of all nations, of all peoples!’

And so I ran to Him… and beseeched Him: ‘My daughter has just died. But come, lay Your Hand on her, and she will live!’

I did not know how did I get the courage to say those bold words.

But I believe, it was the charisma of that Person, which made me to say those words of immense faith.

I believe there was already a miracle happening in me, by the fact, that I could have that much boldness to say that ‘God could infuse life to a dead and lifeless situation!’

Indeed, possessing faith and having trust in God is itself a precious miracle of the Lord!

As that Divine Person was on His way to my home, I encountered another miracle…

A woman who had been suffering from haemorrhage for twelve years was healed of her sickness by just touching the tassel of His cloak!

The words of the Master to that suffering woman was amazing, ‘Courage daughter, Your faith has saved you!’

This incident was another miracle for me.

I felt….

If this woman who was suffering for twelve years could be healed, why not my daughter also who was twelve years…!
If this woman could be cured by just touching the fringe of his garment, why not my daughter too, if this Great Man lays His hand on her…!
If this woman could receive new life by placing her trust in Him, why not my daughter too, since I have also come with faith and hope in Him…!

Life, I found is sometimes too cruel…

But the more I was trusting in this Man… Who now for me was showing the Compassionate Face of God… the greater I was feeling strengthened.

I was reminded of what some people had told me, about what this Man had once declared, ‘Come to Me, all you who labour and are overburdened; and I will give you rest!’

I was giving my burdens to Him… I was giving my labours to Him…

And I was being more and more convinced, that He would take up my burden on Himself and make me light!

I also remembered about some of these people who believed in their Living God recounting about their forefather, Jacob – as written in a book called Genesis – who was promised by God:
“Know that I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you!”

We proceeded on our way… after that shower of consolation that I received on this path of suffering!

As we reached our house, my relatives and well-wishers raised up a mighty tumult….
Wailing for my daughter…. Crying and sharing in our deep grief.

But will I be a bit stupid if I say, that in those moments, though externally I was totally broken and shattered…
… within me, I could experience already, a certain sense of hope, that this Man – Whose Charism was so much Godly and Divine – would bring my daughter back to life.

I was sad outside… but His Presence made me hopeful inside

I was crying externally…. but His Charism made me encouraged within

And my thoughts got a deeper confirming sign, when I heard Him say to all those were weeping and bitterly crying, “Go away! The girl is not dead but is sleeping!”

We stepped in the room…

The sight of my dead princess was too overwhelming for me!

My grief once again overpowered me!
My tears of sadness once again began to drown me!

But I again realised, I had to fix my gaze on that Divine Man in that moment of pain, to find courage and consolation.

When I took of my eyes from Him, and stared at my situation of grief, I was shattered!

But when I took off my eyes from the problem, and fixed my eyes on Him, I was consoled!

And then came that moment of absolute wonder and ecstasy…

The best moment of my life!

This Divine Man placed His hand on my precious daughter….

And up she arose!!

Life was restored to a dead situation!

Happiness was reinstated in a grieving circumstance!
My daughter was alive… once again!

How great is the joy of those who place their trust entirely in this Divine Master!

How immense is the blessing experienced by those who have faith in this Charismatic Man!

I wish and hope that all peoples of the world may come to experience the great healing presence of this Man…

I also wish and hope that all those who have encountered His Living and Miraculous Touch may become passionate proponents of this Man who alone can restore life in dead situations!”

…. THIS EXCERPT IS TAKEN from an imaginary visualised autobiography titled, “He restores our life!” of the Official, seen in the Gospel of Mt 9: 18-22, whose girl was dead at the age of twelve and was restored back to life.

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism:
JESUS’ TEMPTATIONS

The Gospels speak of a time of solitude for Jesus in the desert immediately after his baptism by John.
At the end of this time Satan tempts him three times, seeking to compromise his filial attitude toward God. Jesus rebuffs these attacks, which recapitulate the temptations of Adam in Paradise and of Israel in the desert, and the devil leaves him “until an opportune time”.
The evangelists indicate the salvific meaning of this mysterious event: Jesus is the new Adam who remained faithful just where the first Adam had given in to temptation.
Jesus fulfils Israel’s vocation perfectly: in contrast to those who had once provoked God during forty years in the desert, Christ reveals himself as God’s Servant, totally obedient to the divine will. In this, Jesus is the devil’s conqueror: he “binds the strong man” to take back his plunder.
Jesus’ victory over the tempter in the desert anticipates victory at the Passion, the supreme act of obedience of his filial love for the Father.
540 Jesus’ temptation reveals the way in which the Son of God is Messiah, contrary to the way Satan proposes to him and the way men wish to attribute to him.
This is why Christ vanquished the Tempter for us: “For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sinning.”

By the solemn forty days of Lent the Church unites herself each year to the mystery of Jesus in the desert. (Cf. CCC # 538-540)

“Having a genuine and honest encounter with the Word of God!”

(Based on Ezek 2:2-5, 2 Cor 12:7-10 and Mk 6:1-6 – 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time)

When the first missionaries went to Japan, a young Japanese boy wanted to learn English.

The missionaries handed him a copy of the Gospels and asked him to translate into his native language.
(The boy – an avid reader – had never heard about Jesus and considered the book as being just one of the “many books that he had read”)

After a few pages of translation, the boy became very agitated and restless.

Approaching the missionaries, he said to them: “Who is this Man about Whom I have been reading in this book? This Jesus!

You call Him a Man… but to me, he appears as a God!”

The boy was under the impression that he was reading a book about a famous Man…
… only to discover that he was actually encountering The Great God in the Book!

Yes, a genuine and honest encounter with the Word of God always causes a great impact on people…

Some either feel greatly drawn by the Divine…
Some however, also feel a great sense of denial and refusal of God’s Ways

The Gospel of the Day presents this dual-reaction to Jesus, the Word of God…
… an initial sense of rejoicing and enthrallment
… and later, a purposeful rejection of the Divine Ways and Will

The Lord arrives in His hometown.

On the Sabbath, He taught in the synagogue.

The Gospel mentions a juxtaposition of feelings of the listeners…

First, there is a great expression of marvel and wonder:
“Where did this Man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been given to Him? What deeds of power are being by Him?” (Mk 6:2)

But this feeling quickly vanishes…

The feelings of wonder and amazement get distorted to feelings of contempt, condemnation and outright rejection:
“Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not His sisters here with us?” (Mk 6:2)

What was the cause of this sudden and dramatic change of mood of the listeners?

It was simply because Jesus was “just one of them!”
It was simply because Jesus was “too acquainted to them!”

Familiarity often breeds contempt!

When one is too close to the Divine, one has to be also aware that there are greater possibilities of losing the “sense of awe and wonder” and sink into the dangerous waters of “taking things for granted”

When one is constantly handling Divine objects, there is also the greater chance of losing the “awareness and thrill of the mystery” and get lost in the thickets of “being lethargic or unenthusiastic or even indifferent”

Prophet Ezekiel had this experience with the people of Israel, when God told him: “I am sending you to the people of Israel, to a nation of rebels who have rebelled against me; they and their ancestors have transgressed against me to this very day. The descendants are impudent and stubborn…” (Ezek 2:3-4)

How many of us are also prone to this danger….

Priests and the Religious constantly handle Divine objects and perform many spiritual exercises…

Daily Holy Mass… Frequent recital of the Psalms in the Divine Office Prayer… Regular Adorations and administering and receiving of the Sacraments… Recurrent handling of the Bible, liturgical articles, reading and hearing Church teachings and life of saints….

Do all these help one to deepen one’s relationship with the Lord…?

Or do these cause one to lose the “sense of awe and wonder” and sink into the dangerous waters of “taking things for granted”…?

Many Christians are engaged in a number of spiritual activities on a regular basis…

Holy Eucharistic celebration… novenas… recital of the Rosary and other pious prayers of devotion… forwarding of devotional messages, pictures and videos through emails and WhatsApp and social networking tools…

Do all these help one to grow in spiritual life….?

Or do these make one to lose the “awareness and thrill of the mystery” and get lost in the thickets of “being lethargic or unenthusiastic or even indifferent”…?

The people failed to recognize the worth and value of Jesus due to “too much familiarity”.

However this familiarity was only “external and peripheral”…

Such kind of a familiarity had, in fact, caused them to be ignorant, contemptuous and prejudiced…

Ignorant… of the fact that amidst them was the Promised Messiah who was to save the world!
Contemptuous… of the fact that “one of them” could actually possess so much of wisdom and power!
Prejudiced… of the fact that “this ordinary Son of a carpenter” could ever be the Son of God!

Yes, how often do we reject the precious and important people and aspects of life…
… due to our ignorance
… due to our contempt of things
… and due to our prejudiced mindsets!

We are invited today to “open our eyes” and to realize the worth and preciousness of God’s grace that we have been blessed with…

Each of us… personally… as a family… as a community… and as a Church, have been blessed and graced with immense favours and kindness from the Lord.

True that we have a lot of difficulties to face in our life…
True that we have much to complain in the maze of the many crisis we undergo..

Yet amidst all this…
Can we lift up our hearts in thanksgiving and gratitude for the Lord’s Guiding Presence with us, always… and learn to grow deeper in our love for Him?

With St Paul, let us also depend on the Power of God and exclaim: “…whenever I am weak, then I am strong!” (2 Cor 12:10)

A genuine and honest encounter with the Word of God always causes a great impact on people…

Some either feel greatly drawn by the Divine…
Some however, also feel a great sense of denial and refusal of God’s Ways

What is our Response to Jesus, the Word of God?

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism:
THE BAPTISM OF JESUS

The Baptism of Jesus is on His part the acceptance and inauguration of his mission as God’s suffering Servant.
He allows himself to be numbered among sinners; he is already “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world”.
Already He is anticipating the “baptism” of his bloody death.
Already He is coming to “fulfil all righteousness”, that is, He is submitting himself entirely to His Father’s Will: out of love He consents to this baptism of death for the remission of our sins.
The Father’s voice responds to the Son’s acceptance, proclaiming His entire delight in His Son.
The Spirit Whom Jesus possessed in fullness from His conception comes to “rest on Him”.
Jesus will be the source of the Spirit for all mankind.
At his baptism “the heavens were opened”- the heavens that Adam’s sin had closed – and the waters were sanctified by the descent of Jesus and the Spirit, a prelude to the new creation.
Through Baptism, the Christian is sacramentally assimilated to Jesus, who in His own Baptism anticipates His Death and Resurrection.
He Christian must enter into this mystery of humble self-abasement and repentance, go down into the water with Jesus in order to rise with Him, be reborn of water and the Spirit so as to become the Father’s beloved son in the Son and “walk in newness of life”
Let us be buried with Christ by Baptism to rise with him; let us go down with him to be raised with him; and let us rise with him to be glorified with him.

Everything that happened to Christ lets us know that, after the bath of water, the Holy Spirit swoops down upon us from high heaven and that, adopted by the Father’s voice, we become sons of God. (Cf. CCC # 536-537)

“May St Thomas help us, with his intercession and inspiration, to become Christians of Conviction and Certainty and to firmly cry out, in joyful acclamation, ‘My Lord and My God’”

(Based on the Solemnity of St Thomas – Apostle of India)

A young man joined the military service as a soldier.

One morning, he was ordered by the sergeant to report for duty at the canteen.

He, however refused.

The sergeant threatened to report him to the officer that day.
“All right,” said the young man, “go ahead. I did not enlist to be a bartender but a soldier, and I will not report at the canteen!”

His action of refusal was duly reported to the major who sent for him.

His companions taunted him as being “adamant” and “snobbish”

The young man went to the Major – with trembling knees but a steady heart – for he knew he was right.

The officer asked him, ‘Are you the young man who disobeyed orders this morning?’

“Yes, sir, I am.”

“Why did you do it?”

“Simply because I do not believe it is right to do what I was asked to do.
I enlisted to be a soldier and not a bartender.’

The officer arose quickly from his chair.

A trickle of fear went down the spine of the young man!

However, the officer extending his hand, said: “Young man, you are the kind of man we want.
I am glad to see a fellow who has the courage of his convictions.

You are not obliged to report at the canteen.
I am proud of your convictions!”

The young man was supposedly considered by others as being “adamant” and “proud”…

But the officer realized the worth of this young man – as having a courageous character of convictions!

True commitment and steadfast faithfulness in life requires the power of convictions and certainty!

Today we celebrate the Feast of St Thomas – who is popularly (or rather infamously) called as the “Doubting Apostle”.

He was probably considered by others as being “adamant” and “proud”…
• It was his search for convictions in life that made him seek for a proof for the Lord’s appearance
• It was his desire for certainty in life that caused him to doubt at the words of his companions over the Lord’s Resurrection.

The Lord realized the worth of this young man- as having a courageous character of convictions!

When we go through the life of St Thomas as seen in the Gospels, we encounter a person constantly displaying courage, expressing commitment and seeking for convictions.

St Thomas indeed stands out among the other apostles…

1. It was probably St Thomas who first expressed his desire to give up his life for the Lord and His Kingdom…
   “Let us also go, that we may die with Him” (Jn 11: 16)

St Thomas becomes a motivation for all those who follow Christ, to be bold and brave and even to give up one’s life for the Lord and His Kingdom

2. It was St Thomas who had the simplicity and the openness to ask Jesus when the Lord had declared that “Where I am going you know the way..” and the Lord had responded “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life”…
   “Master, we do not know where you are going, how can we know the way?” (Jn 14:5)

St Thomas becomes a consolation to all those who face genuine uncertainties in spiritual life and encourages to remain like a child – in openness, simplicity and frankness.

3. It was St Thomas who refused the trust the words of his companions on the issue of the Jesus’ Resurrection.

He knew that many of his companions had impulsive reactions and therefore, could not be believed for their words. Therefore, he insisted that his belief in Christ’s Resurrection would depend only on His personal experience with the Lord

“Unless I see the mark of the nails in His Hands and put my finger into His side, I will not believe” (Jn 20:25)

St Thomas becomes a refuge for all those who grapple with spiritual anxieties – lack of consolation in prayer life, deep longing to experience God and many confusions regarding spiritual teachings and faith experiences

In St Thomas we have a saint who is very human and with whom we – who are often prone to mistakes and frail in weaknesses – can easily connect.
• He was brave, but also had his moments of feeling lost
• He was courageous, but also had his moments of seeking answers for doubts
• He was enthusiastic, but also had his moments of staying away from the faith-community

St Thomas is a shining beacon of courage.

He had his doubts.
But once cleared, he became a person of immense conviction.

This conviction made him to travel across many lands to give witness to Jesus, His Lord and Master… and even to give up His life, in martyrdom!

Yes, True commitment and steadfast faithfulness in life requires the power of convictions and certainty!

May St Thomas help us, with his intercession and inspiration, to become Christians of Conviction and Certainty and to firmly cry out, in joyful acclamation, “My Lord and My God”

Happy Feast of St Thomas, the Convinced Disciple of Christ!

Happy Feast of Faith and Belief, Boldness and Courage to all!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism:
THE BAPTISM OF JESUS

Jesus’ public life begins with his baptism by John in the Jordan.
John preaches “a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins”.
A crowd of sinners – tax collectors and soldiers, Pharisees and Sadducees, and prostitutes – come to be baptized by him.
“Then Jesus appears.” the Baptist hesitates, but Jesus insists and receives baptism. Then the Holy Spirit, in the form of a dove, comes upon Jesus and a voice from heaven proclaims, “This is my beloved Son.”

This is the manifestation (“Epiphany”) of Jesus as Messiah of Israel and Son of God. (Cf. CCC # 535)

“Surrendering ourselves totally to the Sovereignty of our Blessed Lord and being an inspiration to others, to turn towards the Lord!”

(Based on Gen 23:1-4, 19; 24:1-8, 62-67 and Mt 9:9-13 – Friday of the 13th Week in Ordinary Time)

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

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

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

It means, “Turn this way!”

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

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

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

May God bless “Aim-day-co!”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Gospel of the day presents these two “contrasting reactions” in the encounter with Jesus…

Matthew…. who hears the call of the Lord – “Follow Me” (Mt 9: 9)

The Pharisees… who observe the lavishness of God’s mercy and react with grumbling and complaining (Mt 9: 11)

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

This verse is the key to understand and gauge the style of reaction, when we encounter the Lord…

The one who needs Him – will relish Him!

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

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

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

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

Have I discovered that by myself I cannot achieve everything that life demands of me….?
… and in the Lord alone, I have the answer to my problem and a solution to the puzzles of my life!

Do I realise that as a human person, I often fall into the snares of sin and can get easily caught up in evil traps… ?
… and in the Lord alone, I have the antidote to sin and a remedy to overcome the pitfalls of wickedness!

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

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

On this First Friday of the Month, as we offer ourselves to the Sacred Heart of our Blessed Lord…
… may we be inspired by St Mathew and imitate his example in surrendering ourselves totally to the Lord’s Sovereignty…
… and thus be an “Aim-day-co” – the one who tells “Turn this Way” to many people in our lives!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism:
THE MYSTERIES OF JESUS’ HIDDEN LIFE
The hidden life at Nazareth allows everyone to enter into fellowship with Jesus by the most ordinary events of daily life:

The home of Nazareth is the school where we begin to understand the life of Jesus – the school of the Gospel.
First, then, a lesson of silence. May esteem for silence, that admirable and indispensable condition of mind, revive in us
A lesson on family life: May Nazareth teach us what family life is, its communion of love, its austere and simple beauty, and its sacred and inviolable character
A lesson of work: Nazareth, home of the “Carpenter’s Son”, in you I would choose to understand and proclaim the severe and redeeming law of human work
The finding of Jesus in the temple is the only event that breaks the silence of the Gospels about the hidden years of Jesus.
Here Jesus lets us catch a glimpse of the mystery of his total consecration to a mission that flows from His Divine Sonship: “Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s work?”
Mary and Joseph did not understand these words, but they accepted them in faith.

Mary “kept all these things in her heart” during the years Jesus remained hidden in the silence of an ordinary life. (Cf. CCC # 533-534)