“’Sticking our necks out’ to progress in the ways of God!”

(Based on 2 Macc 7:1,20-31 and Lk 19:11-28 – Wednesday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time)

A little tortoise was constantly facing a complex of feeling too low in life.

Seeing the various other animals, moving swiftly and speedily…
… the tortoise would very often hide itself in its shell.

It felt that it could never progress in life!

One day, it came across a wise person and sought an advice of how to get the best from life.

The sage – a wise person – replied:
“My little tortoise, always remember that you have been created specifically.
So never feel low or bad about yourself.

And as far as progressing is concerned…
… Always remember: ‘Unless you stick your neck out, you can never progress!”

That was a simple, yet effective piece of advice, isn’t it
Unless the tortoise “stuck its neck out, it could never progress!”

Sticking the neck out of course, meant “taking a risk”…
… but unless that was done, progress was not going to happen.

The same is true for us in our life as well:

Unless we take risks… Unless we “stick out our necks”
… we can never progress!

The Gospel of the Day is a parable of a person who refused “to stick out his neck”…
… and thus not only failed to progress, but ended up on the losing side!

Jesus presents the very-practical “Parable of the Productive Servants”

A nobleman who, before going to a faraway country, entrusts money to his servants with an instruction, “Engage in trade with these, until I return” (Lk 19: 13)

The money given was a “mina”

A mina was a Greek coin.

The lowest level of the Greek Coinage System was the drachma…
…. equal to one day’s wages. (1 Drachma = 1 day’s wages)

One hundred drachmas equaled one Mina (100 Drachmas = 1 Mina).

Therefore, One Mina equaled nearly 100 days of wages (1 Mina = 100 days wages; i.e. nearly 3 months)

With this (fairly huge) amount of money, the Master instructs the servants to “invest”

Investment always means a “sense of risk!”

The parable goes on to say that…
… one of them made another ten (Lk 19: 16)
… the other made another five (Lk 19:18)

These two are greatly rewarded.

The one “who is willing to take risks” always finds life more rewarding and satisfying!

But, its over here, the parable presents the third servant, who decided to be “Mr. Keep it Safe!”
He came back to his master, with an excuse: “Sir, here is your coin” (Lk 19: 20)

He failed to make any investment

He failed to take “any risk”
He refused to “stick out his neck!”

Sticking the neck out of course, meant “taking a risk”…
… but unless that was done, progress was not going to happen.

And that would make him to end up on the losing side!

The Bible is replete with personalities, who would take “risks”…
… and thus emerge successful!

Noah would “take the risk” of listening to God and build the Ark for rescue from the deluge
Abraham would “take the risk” by obeying God and leaving His country and people
Moses would “take the risk” and trust in God to lead the people out of slavery
Jeremiah would “take the risk” of being a prophet despite of several oppositions to his life
Peter would “take the risk” of leaving his fishing profession to be ‘fishers of men’
… and many many more!

They “risked their life” for God – His Will and His Kingdom!

They would “stick our their neck” in progressing in the ways of God!

How about us?

Do we “take risks”?
… the “risk” to trust in God, in spite of the uncertainties of life
… the “risk” to know God has the best plan for us, despite the many hardships we face in life
… the “risk” to believe that God always walks with us, even though we go through the ‘deserts of life’

Let us always realize:
Unless we take risks… Unless we “stick out our necks”
… we can never progress!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism

By canonizing some of the faithful, i.e., by solemnly proclaiming that they practiced heroic virtue and lived in fidelity to God’s grace, the Church recognizes the power of the Spirit of holiness within her…
… and sustains the hope of believers by proposing the saints to them as models and intercessors.
“The saints have always been the source and origin of renewal in the most difficult moments in the Church’s history.”
Indeed, “Holiness is the hidden source and infallible measure of her apostolic activity and missionary zeal.”
But while in the most Blessed Virgin, the Church has already reached that perfection whereby she exists without spot or wrinkle, the faithful still strive to conquer sin and increase in holiness.

And so they turn their eyes to Mary”: in her, the Church is already the “all-holy.” (CCC # 828-829)

“Making significant changes in our life, to experience the magnanimous wonders and graces from our Big God!”

(Based on 2 Macc 6:18-31 and Lk 19:1-10 – Tuesday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time)

Biblical stories are interesting and motivating.

One of the Biblical story which is not just interesting & motivating, but also greatly popular is of the little man – Zacchaeus.

The Gospel of the Day takes us through this life-changing incident of this Little Man.

Thought little, this person teaches us big things
Though small, the story tells many great lessons.

The story begins with Jesus coming to Jericho and intending to pass through the town (Lk 19:1)

Jericho has a long history, especially seen in the Old Testament.

Jericho was the first city to be conquered by the Israelites under Joshua. (Josh 6:1-27)

It was surrounded by a huge wall. However, with directives from God & under the leadership of Joshua, the city was laid siege.

On the appointed day, Joshua ordered the people to shout & the walls of the city collapsed and the Israelites destroyed it.

Joshua laid a curse on the one who would rebuild this city.

Thus, Jericho bore the brunt of a curse.

It is to this ‘place of curse’ that Jesus makes his entry.

As Jesus makes his entry to this cursed place, a little man named Zacchaeus climbs & hides himself behind the leaves of a sycamore tree.

Zacchaeus was a rejected man.

This rejection was on two levels:

1. A personal level
2. A societal level

The Gospel mentions that Zacchaeus was “short in stature” (Lk 19:3)

It is interesting to note that “Zacchaeus” in Greek means…
… the pure – a just one

However when St Luke speaks of him as being “short in stature”, it was a pointer…
… that he was perhaps living a life contradictory to what his own name suggested.

His being short was probably referring to the fact…
… that as a tax collector, he was living a life of corruption
… that as a rich man, he was still quite unsatisfied in life

Being short, he faced a sense of rejection…
… in his own self!

At the same time, Zacchaeus was also rejected by the society.

The Gospel describes him as being a tax collector.

Under the Roman system, tax collecting jobs were outsourced to people…
… who bought the right to collect taxes.

Tax collectors paid a fixed amount of tax to Rome

After that, they enriched themselves by forcing the public to pay far more than what Rome required.

Zacchaeus thus became a tax collector for the hated Roman government

He was probably treated as a heathen…
… isolated from all social life
… equated with the Gentiles at a distance when he went to the temple!

Thus, being a tax-collector, he faced a sense of rejection…
… in his own society and among his own people!

Besides, Zacchaeus was a “chief” tax collector…
… so his rejection was still more “chief” – greater and graver.

Do we also find ourselves to be rejected – just as Zacchaeus was?

Despising ourselves because of our own weaknesses and shortcomings?
… Being despised by the society, when we take a conviction that is opposed to the worldly and materialistic ways?

Despising ourselves, because of the weight of habitual sins and prolonged bad habits?
… Being despised by the society, when we fail to abide by the unholy trends of the modern world?

Zacchaeus, however, stands as an example and challenge to us…
… to not get dejected by such rejections!

Instead to “deeply desire” for the Lord and be ready to climb the sycamore tree of “sadness, rejection, disappointment and dejection” in our lives!

The Lord is gazing, addressing and seeking for us.

Am I ready to encounter, to listen and to be found by Him?

A Yes to the question, will also mean taking some radical decisions in our life, just like Zacchaeus did…

Giving up of possessions…
Letting go of my undue desire for money, cheap popularity, the riches in my life etc.
Repaying those whom I have cheated…
Forgiving and accepting those whom I hurt, whom I don’t like, whom I am not in good terms etc.

Zacchaeus was a despised man.

He was despised because of his short stature.
He was despised because as a tax collector, he worked for the enemy-government and would cheat and defraud people.
He was despised because Jesus came to his house – a house of a sinner.

But the encounter with Jesus made him a transformed person

The encounter with Jesus made him to go beyond all complexes and filled him with deep joy!

This same transformation is at hand for us…

Let, us, learn from the Little Man and make significant changes in our life, in order to experience the magnanimous wonders and graces from our Big God!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism

Christ, ‘holy, innocent, and undefiled,’ knew nothing of sin, but came only to expiate the sins of the people.
The Church, however, clasping sinners to her bosom, at once holy and always in need of purification, follows constantly the path of penance and renewal.”
All members of the Church, including her ministers, must acknowledge that they are sinners.
In everyone, the weeds of sin will still be mixed with the good wheat of the Gospel until the end of time.
Hence the Church gathers sinners already caught up in Christ’s salvation but still on the way to holiness: The Church is therefore holy, though having sinners in her midst, because she herself has no other life but the life of grace. If they live her life, her members are sanctified; if they move away from her life, they fall into sins and disorders that prevent the radiation of her sanctity.

This is why she suffers and does penance for those offenses, of which she has the power to free her children through the blood of Christ and the gift of the Holy Spirit (CCC # 827)

“Seeking the Lord of Light in our moments of darkness and blindness!”

(Based on 1 Macc 1:10-15, 41-43, 54-57, 62-64 and Lk 18:35-43 – Monday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time)

Every person in the world faces a moment of darkness.

Some of us get encompassed by it.
Some of us get dejected by it.

The Gospel of Day presents the healing of a blind man.

The blind man, faced immense darkness, but did not allow to get encompassed or dejected by it.

Let us travel with him through this exciting journey of moving from “Tamas”(darkness) to “Jyothi”(light)…

These blind man takes us through four stages of a spiritual life:

1. A State of Blindness

The man was stuck with blindness.
There is no idea as to when or how or why he became blind.

Maybe he was blind from birth.
Maybe he was blind due to some sickness as he grew up
Maybe he was blind as a result of some accident or calamity

The reasons for his blindness is unknown

Perhaps, many of us are in a state of blindness….

Blindness of being rejected and not accepted…
Blindness of inferiority complexes…
Blindness of inner brokenness…
Blindness of family crisis…

Some of us maybe experiencing this darkness from the time of our birth.

Some of us maybe experiencing this darkness due to calamities striking our lives as we grew

2. A State of Seeking

A life of blindness meant a life of total dependence on others…
…at times facing the ire of the people…at times facing the rejection of the people.

The blind man could have become dejected and totally depressed.
He could have given up in life and cursed their destiny.

But the blind man, did not allow the darkness to cloud his lives.

He probably would have heard about Jesus and the wonders He had done.
He sought with hope, the One who could banish his darkness.
His sought with faith, the One who could heal his gloominess.

Our state of blindness should not become a hindrance to seek the Lord.

We need to seek the Lord with our entire being…
We need to seek the plan of God and His providential care in our shadows..
We need to seek the road ahead with Hope and Faith in His Divine plans…

3. The State of Faith

The blind man, after making a deliberate choice to seek the Lord, expressed his deep faith in the healing power of the Lord.

The Lord makes a test of his trust and hope in Him.

“What do you want me to do for you?”
He said, “Lord, let me receive my sight” (Lk 18:41)

Our seeking for the Lord, needs to be supplemented greatly with the vitamin of Faith!

Delays in our prayer requests, should become an incentive to grow deeper in faith.
Addition of more problems in life, ought to be a moment to have more faith in Him

4. The Stage of Proclamation

The blind man, who was healed by Jesus, now, was filled with tremendous joy and enthusiasm.

His happiness is so much overflowing, that he goes beyond the words of Jesus, and proclaims His wonderful miracle to the peoples.

“And immediately, he received his sight and followed Jesus, glorifying God” (Lk 18: 43)

Once we are touched by the Lord, our happiness would know no bounds.
Once we are healed by the Lord, our enthusiasm would get highly contagious.

The Blind man in the Gospel take us through these four stages…
The Stage of Blindness… The Stage of Seeking…the Stage of Faith…the Stage of Proclamation.

Let us be inspired and challenged by him

Let us seek the Lord of Light in our darkness.
Let us seek the Lord of healing in our sicknesses.
Let us seek the Lord of holiness in our blindness.

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
THE CHURCH IS HOLY

The Church on earth is endowed already with a sanctity that is real though imperfect.”
In her members perfect holiness is something yet to be acquired: “Strengthened by so many and such great means of salvation, all the faithful, whatever their condition or state – though each in his own way – are called by the Lord to that perfection of sanctity by which the Father himself is perfect.
Charity is the soul of the holiness to which all are called: it “governs, shapes, and perfects all the means of sanctification.”
St Therese of Child Jesus said, “If the Church was a body composed of different members, it couldn’t lack the noblest of all; it must have a Heart, and a Heart BURNING WITH LOVE.

This love alone was the true motive force which enabled the other members of the Church to act; if it ceased to function, the Apostles would forget to preach the gospel, the Martyrs would refuse to shed their blood. LOVE, IN FACT, IS THE VOCATION WHICH INCLUDES ALL OTHERS; IT’S A UNIVERSE OF ITS OWN, COMPRISING ALL TIME AND SPACE – IT’S ETERNAL!” (CCC # 822)

“Seeking and thirsting for the One whom our souls are searching, and being constantly on ‘watch and vigilance’ preparing for the Coming of our Blessed Lord!”

(Based on Dan 12:1-3, Heb 10:11-14, 18 and Mk 13:24-32 – 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time)

There is an incident from the American Revolution which beautifully illustrates the tragedy that can follow from procrastination – the habit of postponing or delaying something.

It is reported that a Colonel who was the commander of the British troops in Trenton, New Jersey, was playing cards…
… when a courier brought an urgent message stating that General George Washington was crossing the Delaware River.

The Colonel put the letter in his pocket and didn’t bother to read it until the game was finished.

Later, realizing the seriousness of the situation, he hurriedly tried to rally his men to meet the coming attack, but his procrastination was his undoing.

He and many of his men were killed and the rest of the regiment were captured.

Just a “few minutes of delay” cost him his life, his honour, and the liberty of his soldiers!

Any profession… any activity… to achieve its goal in the best manner possible…
… requires a tough preparation, unabated determination, a constant movement and an unwavering vigilance!

The Gospel of the Day, speaking of the Second Coming of the Son of Man, is a strong exhortation to be “constantly on the watch”, being vigilant and ready, to receive the Lord in His glory.

Our Blessed Lord draws the illustration of the Fig Tree to point to the fact that “one must become aware of the signs of the times” and be constantly “on the watch”.

Jesus says, “From the fig tree, learn the lesson!” (Mk 13:28)

When we look into our lives, we find that we are “highly disciplined and well-prepared” with respect to professional disciplines and careers…

Sportspersons sweat it out and slog their bodies through a strict routine…
Army personnel undergo a hard grilling and a grinding through tough situations…
Musicians train their voices and are extremely cautious in avoiding bad food habits…
But very often, it is seen, that such an attitude and such a principle is not applied to Spirituality or our Christian Life?!

There seems to be a tendency to take our Christian Life as a routine and for granted….
There seems to be a feeling to live our Spiritual Lives in relaxation and lethargy and sluggishness…
There seems to be a trend to give least botheration to the aspects of God, Soul, Sin, Grace, Salvation etc…..

Why does Spirituality most often find the least place in our lives?

Why do thoughts of Holiness be entertained least in our minds?
Why do talks of God, figure so little in our daily chats?

It’s time to wake up from our sleep…
“… know what hour it is, how it is full time now for you to wake from sleep.
For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed; the night is far gone, the day is at hand…” (Rom 13: 11-12a)

These words from the Letter to the Romans, which had awakened St Augustine from his slumber of paganism, sexual immorality and loose living into the freedom of Holiness and Sanctity… is addressed also to each one of us….

In Mt 24: 42-44, Jesus says, “Stay Awake……and Be Alert!”
With respect to the coming of the Son of Man…
… No one knows the time or the hour
… No one knows the context or situation

Therefore…. we need to be alert and watchful at all times – Any time, Any Context!

When Abraham was prepared to give up his Beloved Isaac… he encountered the glory of God!
When Moses was ready to follow God and trust Him completely… he encountered the power of God!
When Israelites were ready to cleanse themselves and prepare…they encountered the Majesty of God!
When the Apostles were eager to wait in humility and prayer….they encountered the Spirit of God!

Yes, when we are willing to be prepared and be ready, we will experience the mighty touch and presence of God!

One of the biggest reasons why a Christian fails to take one’s faith seriously is because of Procrastination…

We mould ourselves to thinking that there is time for all this later…
… we still have years ahead to repent and atone!

And this certainly is one of Satan’s most successful strategies in today’s world: To show there is still time!

Satan doesn’t prevent us from having thoughts of prayer…
… but he says: not now, do it a little later.

Satan doesn’t prevent us from having aspirations of fasting and other pious devotions…
… but he says: not now, do it later

Satan doesn’t prevent us from engaging in works of charity….
… but he says: not now, do it later

And we, busy with our daily schedules – like ignorant fools – find that suggestion, practical and feasible!

Today the Lord gets serious in His tone… and warns us: “Watch! Be alert!”

As someone said, “those who hope to repent and amend at the eleventh hour, may perhaps, die at ten-thirty!”

We give the best in our workplaces… in areas of sports and music… army people & scientists slog to be the best…

But why are we slackening when it comes to our Faith and our Christian Life?

We invest our time and money and energy, often only for materialistic and passing things of the world!

But today, let us seek to invest of ourselves in service of the Kingdom and to prepare for the Lord’s coming

Our souls are searching…

Our bodies are agitated and distressed…

Money, positions, power, sex, drugs, alcohol, pleasures, films, criticism… none of these will satisfy or gratify us!
Let us seek and thirst for the One whom our souls are searching….
… and be constantly on “watch and vigilance” preparing for the Coming of our Blessed Lord!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
THE CHURCH IS HOLY

“The Church… is held, as a matter of faith, to be unfailingly holy.
This is because Christ, the Son of God, who with the Father and the Spirit is hailed as ‘alone holy,’ loved the Church as His Bride, giving Himself up for her so as to sanctify her;
He joined her to Himself as His Body and endowed her with the gift of the Holy Spirit for the glory of God.”
The Church, then, is “the holy People of God,” and her members are called “saints.”
United with Christ, the Church is sanctified by Him; through Him and with Him, she becomes sanctifying. “All the activities of the Church are directed, as toward their end, to the sanctification of men in Christ and the glorification of God.”
It is in the Church that “the fullness of the means of salvation” has been deposited.

It is in her that “by the grace of God we acquire holiness.” (CCC # 821)

“Remaining firm and perseverant in our prayer life and reaching out in justice and giving comfort and consolation to the needy!”

(Based on Wis 18:14-16, 16:6-9 and Lk 18:1-8 – Saturday of the 32nd Week in Ordinary Time)

An interesting incident is mentioned in the life of Jan Paderewski

He was a famous Polish pianist and a pioneer of the solo recital at music concerts.

It is said that when Paderewski was to leave his native Poland to play his first recital in London…
… he asked an influential compatriot to give him a letter of introduction, to a leading figure in Britain’s musical world

This was for any assistance, should anything go amiss.

The letter was handed to him in a sealed envelope.
Paderewski hoped that everything would proceed smoothly and he would not have to use the letter.

Well…
… he did not have to use the letter.

His debut was a great success and he soon began to climb the ladder of success.

Some years later, while going through his papers, he came upon the ‘letter of introduction’ and opened it.

He was surprised to read the content:
“This will introduce Jan Paderewski, who plays the piano, for which he demonstrates no conspicuous (visible/noticeable) talent.”

Life… is often such!

Discouragements lure everywhere! Rejections prowl all around

Do we get bogged down by such discouragements and rejections?
Are we people who bring about discouragement and rejection to people?

The Gospel of the Day is the Parable of the Persistent Widow.

The Parable speaks of a judge and a widow.

The judge is characterized by some features:
He did not fear God.
He did not fear humans.
He was initially adamant in his refusal.

The Widow is characterized by some features:
She had a genuine need.
She was denied justice.
She remained persistent till the end.

We often have many and true needs.

But we do sometimes find ourselves, a bit depressed at the delays in receiving the answers to our prayers.

The parable encourages and exhorts us to remain persistent in our prayer life and not to get discouraged by God’s delays, which apparently appears as God’s denials.

Yes, God’s delays are certainly not His denials!

God’s pauses are certainly not His refuses!

At the same time, this parable invites us to switch roles:

To see ourselves as the Judge…
… and God as the Widow.

Widows in the first century found themselves at a very sad state.

They were quite literally unprotected. Many became homeless and destitute after the death of their husbands.
Often they were at mercy of cunning men, including some religious leaders who would “devour widows houses” (Mark 12:40)

A widow couldn’t count on anyone to come to her aid.

She represents the hopeless….the unaided…the oppressed.

In Mt 25:35, Jesus identifies Himself with the one who was hungry, thirsty, naked, stranger and the imprisoned.

Jesus in the poor, the hungry, the thirsty, the naked, the stranger and the imprisoned…
… is the hopeless one …the unaided one …the oppressed one.

Jesus, like the widow in the Parable… comes knocking at our door:
Behold I stand at the door, and knock… (Rev 3:20)

As the oppressed and justice-deprived Widow, Jesus, knocks at our door – we, the judges.

What is our reaction and response to the voice of the needy and the helpless?

The cry of the one in pain and suffering reaches our hears…

Do I reach out my heart to them and seek to ease their troubles and hardships?

The moaning of a broken family or a lost teenager or a spoilt child comes to us…

Do I pray for them and help them, in ways possible for me?

The sad tear of the abused or oppressed people with whom we work is seen by us…

Do I get out of my comfort-shell to make them feel comforted and consoled?

The disturbing reports of violence, corruption, injustice in society falls on our senses…

Do I remain indifferent to them and become saturated with such atrocities?

Yes… the widow – the hopeless, the unaided and the oppressed one… keeps knocking at our doors…
As a Judge…
… do I keep refusing?
… do I keep getting irritated?
… do I feel life as a botheration?

Life often has discouragements luring everywhere and rejections prowling all around

Do we get bogged down by such discouragements and rejections?
Are we people who bring about discouragement and rejection to people?

The Parable of the Persistent Widow is certainly a big lesson to remain firm and perseverant in our prayer life.

And when looked from another perspective is also a big challenge to become a people who reach out in justice and give comfort and consolation to the needy.

Knock….knock…

Do we hear the knock, seeking for help?

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
TOWARD UNITY
Concern for achieving unity “involves the whole Church, faithful and clergy alike.”

But we must realize “that this holy objective – the reconciliation of all Christians in the unity of the one and only Church of Christ – transcends human powers and gifts.”

That is why we place all our hope “in the prayer of Christ for the Church, in the love of the Father for us, and in the power of the Holy Spirit (CCC # 822)

“Getting our priorities right, and in humility, seeking to protect ‘the suitcases of our souls!’

(Based on Wis 13:1-9 and Lk 17:26-37 – Friday of the 32nd Week in Ordinary Time)

A humorous story is told of a heavy-weight boxer who would greatly brag about his prowess…
… and speak of how he would “he would conquer the world!”

It is said that one day, he came to a big city with two huge suitcases.
As he got down the bus, putting the suitcases down, he looked up to the tall building tower and exclaimed: “I will conquer this city!”

When he looked down, however…
… the suitcases were gone!

Very often, our lives are such…

We dream of conquering the entire world…
… but often fail to even have a control on ourselves!

We become “so worldly” that we fail to give heed “to the world to come!”
We become so occupied with the concerns of our earthly existence that sometimes we “forget about our Heavenly priorities!”

The Gospel of the Day presents Jesus highlighting this essential element of Christian living: Being in the world, but living out of the world, with eyes firmly set on heavenly realms.

Jesus says, “Whoever seeks to gain his life, will lose it, but whoever loses his life, will preserve it” (Lk 17:33)

Very often our lives get too attached to material riches and attachments.

We fall prey to seeking great honour and fame in being a Christian…
… but are unable to grasp the fact that ‘to be a Christian is to be living a life of simplicity’.

We yield to temptations of being obsessed to seek power and positions of futile vanity…
… and fail time and again to live up to the Christian virtues of humility and modesty

We often become victims of engaging in dirty politics and authority-grabbing games…
… and become an anti-witness to the Lord who ‘came to serve, rather than be served’

We need to give heed to the words of the Lord who prayed that “we are in the world, but do not belong to this world” (Jn 17: 15)

A Christian life ought to be hallmarked by detachment and separation…
… detachment from too much of worldly distractions and vain glory
… separation from sinful ways and evil tendencies

It ought to be radiated with total focus and complete dedication…
… total focus on the Lord who ‘walked the talk’ by giving up His life in service
… complete dedication to the Kingdom of God which calls for a humble way of life

The world today is being ‘gripped in sin’, “as it was in the days of Noah” (Lk 17:26)

We need to open our eyes to realize the warning given by the Lord and be ‘on the watch’…
… after the example of the destruction of the sinful city of Sodom.

Perhaps our own life… or our family… or our community… our society…
… is resembling the city of Sodom

There is much drunkenness in worldly pleasures!
There is much ‘eating and consumption’ of corrupt practices!
There is much neglect of honest ways and of truthful conduct!
There is much enjoyment of bad, inhuman and cruel behaviours!

Let us deepen…
… our faith in the Lord
… our love for the Kingdom
… and our detachment from riches

St John prompts us: “Look to yourselves, that you may not lose what you have worked for, but may win a full reward!” (2 Jn 4:8)

We are reminded today that as Christians, we are people…
… who live in the world, yet are called to be out of the world.
… who live amidst possibilities of wealth, yet are called to be detached from them.
… who live with the prospect of gaining immense power, yet are exhorted to not be attached

We may be often tempted “to conquer the world and the city”…
… but let’s get our priorities right, and in humility, seek to first protect “the suitcases of our souls!”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
TOWARD UNITY IN CHURCH

Concern for achieving unity “involves the whole Church, faithful and clergy alike.”
But we must realize “that this holy objective – the reconciliation of all Christians in the unity of the one and only Church of Christ – transcends human powers and gifts.”

That is why we place all our hope “in the prayer of Christ for the Church, in the love of the Father for us, and in the power of the Holy Spirit. (CCC # 821)

“Looking into the ‘wells of our lives and of others,’ and seeing the Presence of the Lord, to become a ‘Kingdom People’”

(Based on Wis 7:22-8:1 and Lk 17:20-25 – Thursday of the 32nd Week in Ordinary Time)

A simple story is told of a little girl who accompanied her grandfather to fetch water from the well.

After having drawn water, as the bucket was lowered and kept on the ground, the little girl asked her grandfather: “Grandpa, where does God live?”

The old man, lifted up the girl, and held her over the open well and asked: “What do you see?”

The excited girl, looked deep into the well and seeing her reflection exclaimed: “I see myself”
“That’s where God lives,” said the wise grandfather “God lives in you!”

Are we aware that each of one of us is an abode of the “Presence of the Lord?”

Do we mend our lives accordingly…
… and seek to live holier and saintly lives?

Our Christian lives must be lived eagerly and enthusiastically to nurture and promote the Kingdom of God…
… and live as citizens, worthy of a King Who is all-holy and all-honest!

Are we ready to collaborate with Jesus, to infuse a greater spirit of the Kingdom of God in this world…
… and to promote the reach and spread of the Kingdom of God?

The Gospel of the Day is a teaching on the Kingdom of God.

The Pharisees ask “when” the kingdom will come (Lk 17:20)

Jesus however explains “how” the Kingdom will come (17:22-35)

Jesus does not give an answer to the question of the Pharisees.

Rather, He makes to realize what should be the proper question.

It’s the style and technique of the Lord to get right the priorities and focus in life!

The people searched for Jesus after the miracle of the multiplication of loaves…
Jesus sets right their intentions by speaking of the need to hunger for the bread of life (Jn 6)

The disciples of John came to clarify whether Jesus was indeed the Messiah to come…
Jesus sets right their focus by turning their attention to all His signs and deeds (Lk 7:19ff)

The two disciples, James and John, sought for privileged places in Jesus’ future reign…
Jesus sets right their priorities by exhorting them to grow rather in humility and service (Mk 10: 35-45)

Nicodemus, in his encounter with Jesus, remained on peripheral questions and doubts…

Jesus sets right his doubts by calling his attention on living a life in the Spirit and being born anew spiritually (Jn 3: 1-21)

The Lord loves to challenge our doubts, theories and even convictions…in order to be in harmony with the priorities of the Kingdom.

Am I willing to allow the Lord to work in me to change some of my thinking patterns, that would be in accord to His Will?
Am I flexible to let the Lord to mould and shape my lifestyle and thus be in tune with the focus of His Kingdom?

The “Kingdom of God” is an oft-repeated phrase in the New Testament and especially in the Gospels.

What is the Kingdom of God?

A kingdom normally brings to picture a geographical territory, with its clear-cut boundaries and its rulers and citizens.

The Kingdom of God, is however, quite different!

The Kingdom of God is not a geographical dominion like worldly kingdoms!

The Kingdom of God is a spiritual reality where God’s Will is done.
It is a person; it is He – Jesus!
“Jesus leads people to realize the overwhelming fact that in Him, God is present among them and that He is God’s presence…” (from the book, “Jesus of Nazareth – Part I” by Pope Benedict XVI)

The Pharisees who asked Jesus on “when” the Kingdom would come, were probably expecting an external sort of a Kingdom.

They probably expected a Kingdom which would overturn and overthrow the Roman Government.

But Jesus clarifies the nature of this Kingdom…

He speaks of a Kingdom which is much more internal & spiritual, and whose impact would be felt and experienced in the external world.

One experiences the Kingdom of Heaven first in one’s inner life…
… and this is manifested in one’s external lifestyles…

The Samaritan Woman experienced the power of the Kingdom of God within herself, when she spoke to Jesus, the fountain of life…

And this experience of the Kingdom led her to proclaim the name of Jesus to all her villagers & bring many to the saving fold of the Lord.

The Disciples experienced the power of the Kingdom of God within them, when the Holy Spirit descended on them…

And this experience of the Kingdom was manifested in their bold and powerful witnessing life!

St Paul experienced the force of the Kingdom of God within him, when he encountered the Risen Lord on the way to Damascus…

And this experience of the Kingdom was displayed by him through his passionate life of preaching and missionary works.

In the Prayer, the Our Father, we pray:
“Thy Kingdom Come,
Thy Will be Done…”

The Kingdom of God is, where the Will of God is fulfilled.

The question arises before us: Is the Kingdom of God here?

Or is the Kingdom yet to come?

This is where we speak of the concept of “Already and not yet”
The Kingdom of God is already here, but not yet!

The Kingdom of God already reigns now, but not yet, in its fullness!

As St Paul says in 1 Cor 13: 12, “At present, we see indistinctly, as in a mirror, but then face to face. At present, I know partially; then I shall know fully, as I am fully known”.

Do I experience the Kingdom of God in my life?

The Kingdom of God is not a matter of food and drink, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Rom 14:17)

I need to experience the joy and the peace of the Lord in my life…
I need to place the priorities of God over all else in my life…
That’s the Kingdom of God.

That’s the Reign of God.

We are invited today “to radiate heaven on our faces!”

May our Christian lives be lived eagerly and enthusiastically to nurture and promote the Kingdom of God…
… and thus live as citizens, worthy of a King Who is all-holy and all-honest!

Looking into the “wells of our lives and of others,” let us see the Presence of the Lord…
… and thus may we become a “Kingdom People!”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
TOWARD UNITY IN THE CHURCH

Certain things are required:

• a permanent renewal of the Church in greater fidelity to her vocation; such renewal is the driving-force of the movement toward unity
• conversion of heart as the faithful “try to live holier lives according to the Gospel”; for it is the unfaithfulness of the members to Christ’s gift which causes divisions
• prayer in common, because “change of heart and holiness of life, along with public and private prayer for the unity of Christians, should be regarded as the soul of the whole ecumenical movement, and merits the name ‘spiritual ecumenism’
• fraternal knowledge of each other
• ecumenical formation of the faithful and especially of priests
• dialogue among theologians and meetings among Christians of the different churches and communities
• collaboration among Christians in various areas of service to mankind.

“Human service” is the idiomatic phrase. (CCC # 821)

“Having a thankful heart, by making a conscious choice to not forget what God has done for us!”

(Based on Wis 6:1-11 and Lk 17:11-19 – Wednesday of the 32nd Week in Ordinary Time)

A catechism teacher conducted a small exercise in her 5th standard class on the Gospel Passage found in Lk 17:11-19 – the healing of the ten lepers.

She asked the students to imagine and tell what could be some of the reasons as to why the lepers did not return back to thank Jesus.

The following were some of the reasons that emerged:

One waited to see if the cure was real.
One waited to see if the healing would last.
One said that actually, I was already fairly okay and it was just a matter of few days, to be fine!
One said that he would see Jesus later as he wanted to meet his family first
One began to contend that he never really had leprosy and it was only a minor patch
One was so excited that he began to tell to everyone on the way of the miracle, but forgot Jesus

Well…
… we really do not know what were the actual reasons…

But the question is placed before all of us:
“Are we going to be like the nine who found some excuses and failed to thank the Lord?
Or can we be like the one who came back to thank the Lord?

The Gospel of the Day presents this interesting incident before us…
… reminding us to become persons of gratitude, to our Grateful and Generous God!

The story of the Healing of the Ten Lepers is a very familiar and popular incident.

In the Biblical days, leprosy, was one of the most dreaded diseases.

Leprosy finds its mention in the Bible in over 40 places.

One of the reason why leprosy is talked about so much in the Bible is that it is a graphic illustration of sin’s destructive power.

Incurable by man, many believed that God inflicted the curse of leprosy upon people for the sins they committed.

Leprosy became a disease that was so despised and loathed that those afflicted were not allowed to live in any community with their own people (Numbers 5:2).

A leper wasn’t allowed to come within six feet of any other human, including one’s own family.

The disease was considered so revolting that the leper wasn’t permitted to come within 150 feet of anyone when the wind was blowing.

Lepers lived in a community with other lepers until they either got better or died.

This was the only way the people knew to contain the spread of the contagious forms of this dreaded sickness.

When the Lord travelled through the region of Samaria and Galilee, He encountered the group of ten lepers.
… singing their melodious chorus in loud exaltation, “Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!” (Lk 17:13)

The chorus reached the ears of the Divine Choir-Master, Jesus!

Their pitiful cry… their pleading voice, echoed in the ears of the Divine Healer!
“Go, show yourselves to the Priest” (Lk 17: 14) were the words of the Divine Lord.

Lev 14:1-9 states that the priest must authenticate any cure from leprosy.

This was to allow the afflicted person to re-enter the society.

But as the lepers were on their way to show to the priest, they were cured!

Miracles occur, when one chooses to put one’s trust in God!
Wonders happen, when one obeys the words of the Lord, in faith and hope!

But one of them realized that He had been healed.

And so he returned and glorified God in a loud voice and fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked Him (Lk 17: 15)

Here is a big lesson for us all…

All the ten lepers sought for a free blessing from the Lord.
All the ten lepers expected a free miracle from the Healer.

Jesus, in His graciousness, did bless all of them with a free miracle.

Jesus, in His compassion, did shower all of them with a free blessing.

But just one among them, acknowledged the worth and value of that free gift

The rest of the nine, probably completely forgot the source of that free blessing.

Let us be reminded of this great reality: Every free gift in the spiritual world, is a call to cultivate greater, the spirit of Thankfulness!

But perhaps, this is a reality that we very often forget in our lives.

We take for granted the many many free gifts and blessings that are showered upon us.

Like the free offers, available at shopping malls and super markets, we gladly receive God’s blessings…
… but unfortunately, often, fail to acknowledge them and be grateful for it.

St Paul reminds us that it is not our merit, but the gracious mercy that always rescues us:
“For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by men and hating one another
… but when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Saviour appeared, He saved us
… not because of deeds done by us in righteousness, but in virtue of his own mercy…!” (Tit 3:3-5)

The one who returned back to thank the Lord, received not just physical healing, but also was doubly blessed with the gift of being saved!

The Lord showers His gifts on us…

Do I return back to thank God for His marvellous blessings?
Do I reduce my life to being a clatter of complaints or do I adorn my life with a litany of praises and thanksgiving?
Do I take all my blessings for granted and merely groan about my duties?

Ten people were healed that day, but only one came back to give thanks.

The one who returned to give thanks chose not to forget what Jesus had done for him.
Are we living as this grateful one or as the other nine?

Perhaps, we also end up giving a lot of excuses for not saying thanks…
… even to the extent of justifying our own selves and not acknowledging God’s Grace!

Many are the times, when our thanksgivings are like those of the nine …
… We receive, but fail to express thanks
… We are happy to get favours, but are miserly in saying thanks!

The secret of a thankful heart is a conscious choice not to forget what God has done for us.

Shall we also possess this Secret?
(Psst… once again… this too is a FREE offer…)

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
TOWARD UNITY OF THE CHURCH

“Christ bestowed unity on his Church from the beginning.
This unity, we believe, subsists in the Catholic Church as something she can never lose, and we hope that it will continue to increase until the end of time.”
Christ always gives his Church the gift of unity, but the Church must always pray and work to maintain, reinforce, and perfect the unity that Christ wills for her.
This is why Jesus himself prayed at the hour of his Passion, and does not cease praying to his Father, for the unity of his disciples: “That they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be one in us… so that the world may know that you have sent me.”

The desire to recover the unity of all Christians is a gift of Christ and a call of the Holy Spirit! (CCC # 815-816)

“With the Grace of God, seeking to renew our love for the Lord, and growing in our duty, ‘to hold up the Church!’”

(Based on the Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica)

An interesting story is told by a tourist who was visiting the Basilica of St John Lateran in Rome, Italy.

Just across the street of the Basilica, at a square, is a statue of St Francis of Assisi…
… with his arms outstretched.

This statue commemorates an important moment in Church history:

It was at this place – the Lateran Basilica – that the Great Saint went to ask the Pope for permission to start a religious order.

This was in the light of the Great Inspiration that he had received, when he heard the words of the Lord: “Rebuild my Church!”

The tourist says that recollecting this incident, as he stepped back, to have a better look at the statue…
… from a particular angle, he could see the Lateran Basilica between St. Francis’s outstretched arms

St Francis appeared to be holding the Church with his hands!

The tourist says:
“That’s a great image!

That’s a great lesson!

A church building is brick and mortar, wood and glass.

But – ultimately, it is supported by the arms and the labour of those who love it.
The Church is held up by the people who are in love with Christ!”

Yes, the Church is indeed “held up by the people who are in love with Christ!”

We, the children of the Church are today invited, to renew our love for the Lord and grow in our duty, “to hold up the Church”…
… on this Feast Day of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica

The Gospel of the Day also vividly and dramatically displays the zeal and passion of the Lord, for the House of God through the incident of the Cleansing of the Jerusalem Temple.

Today, Holy Mother the Church celebrates the Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica

This Basilica is the oldest Christian church building in the world.
It is the first permanent, public place of worship for Christians in the world.

Christianity, in its infancy, suffered a great deal at the hands of her persecutors.

The Roman Empire sought to extend its domination over the entire world.

The power and might of the Roman Empire was determined to utterly destroy the Christian religion.

Christians, with a staunch belief in Jesus Christ, refused to worship the Roman pagan gods.

This led the Christians to be labelled as the enemies of the state and thus were sought to be eliminated.

Christians were arrested, imprisoned, tortured, and even cruelly executed!

This wave of violent persecution crashed against the Rock, the Church for three centuries!

It was only in 312, when the Emperor Constantine legalized Christianity that these persecutions ceased.

In gratitude to Christ, the new Emperor Constantine sponsored the construction of Christian churches, the first of which was the Church of the Most Holy Saviour, known today as the Basilica of St John Lateran…
… or simply called as the Lateran Basilica.

On this Feast day of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica, the call of the Gospel is towards examining our relationship with God in the Church.

In the Old Testament, we read that the Lord had established a covenant with His people, Israel.

This covenant had its physical symbol in the Temple of Jerusalem.

The majestic and glorious Jerusalem Temple was an external symbol of God’s love-relationship with His people.

Jesus cleansing this Jerusalem Temple, was a strong message to the people, that He had come to revive and revamp the strained relationship between God and His people.

It was also symbolic of the need of the people to realize that the Jerusalem Temple which was to be destroyed in a few decades, was only a temporary symbol.

Jesus, Himself is the real and everlasting Temple…
… the permanent symbol of God’s eternal covenant with His people.

And so, He showcases an tremendous zeal and passion, in cleansing the Temple, of all the corruption and filth and fraud!

The Commemoration of this Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica and the Cleansing of the Jerusalem Temple is a call for each of us, to examine our own lives…

Is my relationship with God corrupted by many evil tendencies and pleasurable sins?

My heart needs a cleansing drive by the Lord…

Is my relationship with the other, who is also a Temple of the Holy Spirit, badly tainted with anger, jealousy, calumnious thoughts etc…

My relationships needs a cleansing drive by the Lord…

Is my relationship with the Church, strained by negative feelings of her dogmas and teachings, and stained by angry-feelings due to many scandals by her responsible authorities?

My mentality towards the Church needs a cleansing drive by the Lord…

This Feast is a call to revive our zeal and passion for the Lord, His Mission and His Church.

The Lord’s ways are sometimes very hard to follow and difficult to tread in this highly materialistic and sensational world.

But the Lord promises to be with us, in all our trials and hardships.

The Mission of the Lord to spread His Kingdom is a very challenging one and at times, they seem too very impossible and our efforts meaningless.

But the Lord assures His ever-abiding presence and love to those committed and faithful.

The Church of the Lord is sometimes often found to wrench in corrupt practices, discouraging scandals, heart-crushing and shameful incidents.

But the Lord assures that His might Spirit will guide the Church through any storms and “He will surely write straight… with crooked lines!”

The invitation is strong…

To be filled with a deeper love and zeal for the Lord, His Mission and His Church!

Undoubtedly, the challenges are deep…
… the trials seem too discouraging.

Yet, with the Grace of God, let us seek to renew our love for the Lord…
… and grow in our duty, “to hold up the Church!”

Happy Feast Day!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
Wounds to unity
However, one cannot charge with the sin of the separation those who at present are born into these communities [that resulted from such separation] and in them are brought up in the faith of Christ, and the Catholic Church accepts them with respect and affection as brothers

All who have been justified by faith in Baptism are incorporated into Christ; they therefore have a right to be called Christians, and with good reason are accepted as brothers in the Lord by the children of the Catholic Church.”
“Furthermore, many elements of sanctification and of truth” are found outside the visible confines of the Catholic Church: “the written Word of God; the life of grace; faith, hope, and charity, with the other interior gifts of the Holy Spirit, as well as visible elements.”
Christ’s Spirit uses these Churches and ecclesial communities as means of salvation, whose power derives from the fullness of grace and truth that Christ has entrusted to the Catholic Church.

All these blessings come from Christ and lead to Him, and are in themselves calls to “Catholic unity” (CCC # 818-819)

“Seeking God’s Grace to live a life of forgiveness and trust!”

(Based on Wis 1:1-7 and Lk 17:1-6 – Monday of the 32nd Week in Ordinary Time)

There is a famous incident associated with Thomas Alva Edison, the renowned scientist.

Edison and his team had undertaken the tedious task of inventing the “light bulb”.

It took the team 24 hours to put one bulb together.

When it was ready, Edison gave the bulb to a young helper boy, to carry up to the steps.

Nervously, this young boy climbed the stairs…
… step by step, with extreme caution and fright – lest the priceless piece of work be dropped!

But the extremely anxious steps of the boy, caused the “unwanted” to happen…
… the bulb fell out of his hands… smashed to pieces!

Naturally, there was great disappointment and even annoyance at the boy.

The entire team worked for another 24 hours to make another bulb.
Finally it was ready… to be taken up the stairs..

Well, no points for guessing, to whom Edison gave this second bulb!

Yes, to the same boy, who had dropped and broken it the first time.

That’s true forgiveness, isn’t it?

The Gospel of the Day deals with the aspect of Forgiveness (Lk 17: 3-4)…
… which is the key for a harmonious living together.

Jesus says: “If your brother wrongs you seven times in one day and returns to you, seven times saying, ‘I am sorry’, you should forgive him” (Lk 17: 4)

The example given by the Lord is an experience, which many of us, perhaps, have had in our personal lives….
A person does a wrong to me and I forgive him.

The same person hurts me once again and I forgive him

He does it again, causing a deeper wound to me and I forgive him again.

He does it again and offends me harder and I forgive him again….but this time I am losing my patience!

Don’t I have a limit for myself to bear?

Should I go on bearing hurts?
Don’t I have feelings which are sensitive?

So we perhaps ask this question to the Lord:
“Lord, how many times must I forgive the offenses of my brother?”

We are eager to know when to quit turning the other cheek to the one who hits you on one cheek!

The Old Testament Law suggested to forgive three times (Amos 1:3-13).
But the Lord, Who loves to keep challenging… throws out a bigger number.

Now is this demand of the Lord something really practical and viable?

Or is Jesus turning out to be “one of those many idealistic teachers who love to talk in the air….but nothing which is practical or really feasible and doable!”

The Lord invites us to look into the Aspect of God’s Forgiveness, to obtain a solution and an insight to this perennial question of “how often should I forgive my fellow brother?”…
… If God were to forgive us only a limited number of times, how many days would we have survived?
… If God were to withdraw His Grace after an “x” number of times, how many situations would we have endured?
… If God were to stop granting us pardon after a period of time, how many blessings would we have been denied?
… If God were to keep an account of all our sins and transgressions, how many of us would have been alive today?

Of course, Forgiveness does not mean…
… justifying the bad behaviours of people!
… supporting the evil deeds of our fellow beings!
… encouraging the faults or situations of wrongdoing or hurts!
… not correcting and reproving the misdeeds and carrying out our duties of rectifying!

But Forgiveness does mean…
… liberating the people from guilt and condemnation in our hearts!
… to have no ill feelings and grudging emotions against the ones who have hurt us!
… seeking to love them, praying for them and avoiding occasions of putting them down!
… to refuse to harbor their mistakes deep in our hearts, though we are wounded & hurt!

Life is an opportunity and a challenge….
An Opportunity to become more Divine…
… to become more forgiving… to become more Loving…!

A Challenge to let go of our ego…
… to cast away our hurtful and wounded feelings… to go beyond our aches!

Let us seek God’s Grace to Live Up to this Challenge and to Grab this opportunity!

The “light bulb” of God’s Grace has often been entrusted to us by the Lord

Many are the times when, have “dropped it” and broken it into pieces!
… Yet, the Lord entrusts it, again and again – forgiving us, and trusting in us.
Are we ready to do the same with others?

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
WOUNDS TO UNITY

In fact, “in this one and only Church of God from its very beginnings there arose certain rifts, which the Apostle strongly censures as damnable. But in subsequent centuries much more serious dissensions appeared and large communities became separated from full communion with the Catholic Church – for which, often enough, men of both sides were to blame.”
The ruptures that wound the unity of Christ’s Body – here we must distinguish heresy, apostasy, and schism – do not occur without human sin:

Where there are sins, there are also divisions, schisms, heresies, and disputes. Where there is virtue, however, there also are harmony and unity, from which arise the one heart and one soul of all believer (CCC # 817)