“Having an attitude of surrender to the Divine and Loving Plan of God in all our prayers and petitions!”

(Based on 1 Sam 1:9-20 and Mk 1:21-28 – Tuesday of the 1st Week in Ordinary Time, Year II)

A young man, scanning across some books of the Parish library came across an interesting prayer card in one of the books.

The Prayer card read thus:
“If the request is wrong, God says, “No.”

If the timing is wrong, God says, “Slow.”
If you are wrong, God says, “Grow.”
But if the request is right, the timing is right and you are right, God says, “Go!”

This simple illustration on Prayer teaches an important dimension of prayer: An attitude of surrender to the Divine and Loving Plan of God in all our prayers and petitions!

Today’s reading from 1 Sam 1:9-20 gives us a beautiful insights about Prayer…
… through the person of Hannah.

Hannah stands along with the other great women of the Bible…
… who also faced barrenness in their life – but later would experience a great intervention from the Lord, in His time

Abraham’s wife Sarah who bore Isaac
Isaac’s wife Rebekah, who bore Jacob
Jacob’s wife Rachel, who bore Joseph
Manoah’s wife, who bore Samson
Zechariah’s wife Elizabeth, who bore John the Baptist

Child bearing was considered to be a blessing from God…
… while barrenness was considered as a disgrace (Cf. Gen 30:1, 22,23)

Even in this situation of disgrace and humiliation that she faced in the society, Hannah displays a great sense of faithfulness and trust in God.

Hannah’s prayerful attitude is a big challenge to all of us:

Do I remain faithful to God even when things don’t seem to be working out the way I wish in life?
Am I able to see the Providential Hand of God even in the midst of humiliations and rejections that I face in life?

Hannah teaches us Five Important attitudes that we can adopt in our Life of Prayer

1. Come before God, just as you are!
   “Hannah rose and presented herself before the Lord. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of the temple of the Lord. She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord, and wept bitterly!” (1 Sam 1:9-10)

Hannah makes no show or pretense of herself while coming to God in prayer.

She comes to God, just as she is – in all her honesty – with all her emotions and feelings.
She knows that Her God will accept her, love her and listen to her, just as she is

2. Be fervent and totally immersed in prayer
   Hannah offers her prayers to the Lord being “deeply distressed and weeping bitterly” (Cf. 1 Sam 1: 10).

In fact, seeing Hannah, with all her emotions, Eli, the priest even gets confused thinking she is drunk

“As she continued praying before the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. Hannah was praying silently; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard; therefore Eli thought she was drunk.” (1 Sam 1:12-13)

Hannah was totally focussed on the Lord and totally immersed in prayer…
… a prayer of the heart
… a prayer that emerged from the depths of her being

3. Be willing to offer your life and to make a commitment
   Hannah’s prayer would not be just a request to the Lord

She was ready to also make an offering of Her life to the Lord

And so she makes a promise:
“She made this vow: “O Lord of hosts, if only you will look on the misery of your servant, and remember me, and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a male child, then I will set him before you as a Nazirite until the day of his death. He shall drink neither wine nor intoxicants, and no razor shall touch his head!” (1 Sam 1:11)

It was a prayer that contained the dimension of self-offering and giving oneself in the service of the Lord

4. Be ready to humble yourself and prepare your heart to receive God’s Blessing
   Seeing her honest prayer, the priest Eli, makes a priestly pronouncement of blessing on Hannah.

Hannah receives this blessing with much humility, praying: “Let your servant find favour in your sight!” (1 Sam 1:18)

“Hannah” whose name meant “favour or grace”…
… humbles herself before God’s Power in the person of the priest and pleads to ‘find favour in His sight!’

5. Allow prayer to change yourself
   After the time in prayer, Hannah – having offered herself to the Lord and willing to accept His Will in life – allows herself to be changed, renewed and refreshed…
   …. “and her countenance was sad no longer!” (1 Sam 1:18b)

Prayer had brought about an attitudinal change in Hannah!

Does spending time with God in prayer bring about transformation and change in me – in my attitude?

Hannah – with all her disgraces and humiliations – showed great faithfulness and teaches us these five important attitudes for prayer:

1. Come before God, just as you are!
2. Be fervent and totally immersed in prayer
3. Be willing to offer your life and to make a commitment
4. Be ready to humble yourself and prepare your heart to receive God’s Blessing
5. Allow prayer to change yourself

Jesus was able to display much authority and certainty in His Ministry because He was a person immersed in prayer…
… intently focussed on doing the Will of His Father

As Christians, let us realize that our strength and confidence in life, ought to derive…
… from an authentic prayer life
… and an unflinching desire to seek and do the Will of the Father!

Let we have an attitude of surrender to the Divine and Loving Plan of God in all our prayers and petitions…
… and thus allow “our hearts to always exult in the Lord!” (Cf 1 Sam 2:1)

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism

In the Church, which is like the sacrament – the sign and instrument – of God’s own life, the consecrated life is seen as a special sign of the mystery of redemption.
To follow and imitate Christ more nearly and to manifest more clearly his self-emptying is to be more deeply present to one’s contemporaries, in the heart of Christ. For those who are on this “narrower” path encourage their brethren by their example, and bear striking witness “that the world cannot be transfigured and offered to God without the spirit of the beatitudes.”
Whether their witness is public, as in the religious state, or less public, or even secret, Christ’s coming remains for all those consecrated both the origin and rising sun of their life:

For the People of God has here no lasting city, . . . [and this state] reveals more clearly to all believers the heavenly goods which are already present in this age…

… witnessing to the new and eternal life which we have acquired through the redemptive work of Christ and preluding our future resurrection and the glory of the heavenly kingdom (CCC # 931)

“Offering our complete trust to the One Who is fully able to comprehend the big beautiful picture of our life!”

(Based on 1 Sam 1:1-8 and Mk 1:14-20 – Monday of the 1st Week in Ordinary Time, Year II)

Reinhold Messner was a skilled mountain climber who was recognized as one of the best in the world. >> He was one of two men who first climbed Mount Everest without using bottled oxygen.

When asked, why mountain climbing was a great passion, Messner replied: “Because at the top, all the lines converge!”

Life is beautiful when all the lines converge!

But life becomes faithful, when we are able to trust in God, for Whom every line of life converges!

As a Christian, all of us are called to a life of faithfulness and trust!

We are invited to realise that even though we may not always have the “view from the top”…
… God does!
And because He sees the “overall picture,” He is worthy of our trust!

Are we ready to offer our complete trust to the One Who is fully able to comprehend the big beautiful picture of our life?

Today onwards we are back to the Ordinary times of the Liturgical Season in the Church.

The Liturgical colours shifts from the solemn and majestic ‘golden and white’ colours to the ordinary, yet unassuming ‘green’.

It’s a time…
… to live the solemn celebrations in our regular affairs of life.
… to give witness to the majestic splendour of God’s love in our everyday activities.

The Lord, indeed, comes to meet and encounter us in the ordinary situations of our life.

The First Reading is taken from the Old Testament – from The First Book of Samuel

This book is a fascinating journey of faith in the context of hopelessness, lack of encouragements, battles, deceptions and undue demands!

We are introduced with some characters as we start this book:
“There was a certain man of Ramathaim, a Zuphite[a] from the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah… He had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.

Now this man used to go up year by year from his town to worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of hosts at Shiloh, where the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests of the Lord.” (1 Sam 1:1-3)

Who are some of these characters and what do they teach us?

1. Elkanah: A Levite – whose roots probably stretched back to Bethlehem –who is a God-fearing man and a loving husband. His human circumstance however caused him to have a divided love and he failed to keep the family together.

“Am I a God-fearing person and do I fulfil the duties of my family?
Do I sometimes fail to preserve the unity in my family, by bowing to the circumstances of my life, instead of giving priority to the needs of my family?”

2. Hannah: Elkanah’s first wife, who was barren. She had to face a lot of humiliation and unjust criticism.

“Am I willing to trust in God even in times when I am unjustly criticized or made to go through the muddy waters of humiliation?”

3. Peninnah: Elkanah’s second wife, who had both sons and daughters. She is a person who mocks and derides at the unfortunateness in people, without being grateful to the Mercy of God!

“Do I swell up with pride and put down other people, without having any feelings of care and sensitivity?”

4. Eli: He is the priest of the Lord with his duties to take care of the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord that was at a place called Shiloh (the structure at Shiloh was often called a temple because of the presence of the Ark)

“Do I remain faithful to all the duties entrusted to me, and do I have a passion for the Lord and His Kingdom?”

5. Hophni and Phinehas: The sons of Eli, who, as we read the book, will be found to be people who failed to live their faithfulness to the Lord

“Do I hold on to the Traditions of the Church and remain ever faithful to the Lord in serving Him – even when externally, situations don’t seem to nurture my faith?”

The reading of the day (1 Sam 1:1-8) focusses on Hannah who was barren.

The annual feast in particular was a time of harsh treatment for Hannah

As part of the ceremony of apportioning the meat out to the family, Elkanah, the husband, would give multiple portions of meat to Peninnah with all her sons and daughters…
…. but Hannah would normally only receive one portion for herself.
Out of the goodness of his heart, Elkanah tried to compensate by giving her a double portion…
… but it didn’t really help.

All such “happy occasions” became in fact, bitter reminders to Hannah!

Life sometimes is apparently quite harsh and humiliating…
… just like it was to Hannah!

In all such moments of our life, can we remain faithful and loyal to the Lord?

In times when we become victims of jealousy or are side-lined and not given our due worth…
… can we still hold on to the Lord “as the Pride and Pearl of our Life?”

We are invited, in our most desperate and painful situations, to trust that God is in control…
… and to find comfort in prayer!

This is what our Blessed Lord tells the first disciples, when He would invite them, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” (Mk 1:17)

The Lord, indeed, comes to meet and encounter us in the ordinary situations of our life.

The disciples were to leave their boats and nets…
… their strengths and assets
… their worries and concerns

And completely depend on the Lord Who fully comprehends the big beautiful picture of life!

As a Christian, we are invited to realise that even though we may not always have the “view from the top”…
… God does!

And because He sees the “overall picture,” He is worthy of our trust!

Let us offer our complete trust to the One Who is fully able to comprehend the big beautiful picture of our life!

As St Paul says, “I can do all things through Him Who strengthens me!”…
… Let us join with the Psalmist to offer our life to the Lord and tell: “I will offer to you a thanksgiving sacrifice and call on the name of the Lord!” (Ps 116:17)

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
CONSECRATION AND MISSION: PROCLAIMING THE KING WHO IS CORNING

Already dedicated to him through Baptism, the person who surrenders himself to the God he loves above all else thereby consecrates himself more intimately to God’s service and to the good of the Church.
By this state of life consecrated to God, the Church manifests Christ and shows us how the Holy Spirit acts so wonderfully in her.
And so the first mission of those who profess the evangelical counsels is to live out their consecration.

Moreover, “since members of institutes of consecrated life dedicate themselves through their consecration to the service of the Church they are obliged in a special manner to engage in missionary work, in accord with the character of the institute” (CCC # 931)

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“Allowing the fire of God’s Love that has been kindled in us at Baptism, to blaze in us, setting many other souls on fire for love of God!”

(Based on the Baptism of the Lord)

An incident is told about St Katherine of Alexandria.

Katherine was a noble and learned young woman in this cultural hub of the ancient world of the 4th century.

She was a Christian.
She had attained a lot of popularity in the town of Alexandria.

This was the time of the persecution of Christians by Emperor Maxentius.
Christians were given only two options:

Worshipping the emperor (which would violate the First Commandment)…
… or being put to death

The Governor of Alexandria also came up with another plan to humiliate and discourage the Christians.

He invited Katherine to debate a group of fifteen (some say 50) of the best pagan philosophers and orators…
… hoping that this dispute would refute all her pro-Christian arguments and thus morally discourage other Christians as well!

Katherine accepted the challenge.
They gathered in the governor’s palace and the discussion began.

But the plan backfired.
Instead of Katherine being converted, several members of the panel (some sources say all members)
were converted!

They asked for baptism immediately, so as to receive God’s Grace into their souls.

But the governor was furious and condemned them all to immediate death.

To that, Katherine with concern and care assured all the new converts that since they so sincerely desired to receive the sacrament…
… their own blood would take the place of water, and their own martyrdoms would take the place of baptism.

Those men were willing to give up everything else, for their life and friendship with Jesus Christ!

That’s the power of God’s Love!

And that’s the Power of Witnessing to God’s Love!

The fire of God’s Love that was kindled in St Katherine of Alexandria, at Baptism…
… continued to blaze in her, setting many other souls on fire for love of God!

Does the Fire of Love, that had been kindled in us, at our Baptism…
… continue to blaze powerfully in us?

Or has the fire been diminished and lessened?

Today, Holy Mother the Church celebrates the Feast of the Baptism of Jesus…
… with an invitation: To “fan into flames” (Cf. 2 Tim 1:6) the fire of God’s Love that has been kindled in us, at our Baptism!

The event of the Baptism of the Lord is narrated in all the Synoptic Gospels…
… and the Gospel of St John mentions the experience of St John the Baptist at the Baptism of Jesus.

One important aspect that the Baptism of Jesus teaches us is that, it is the first public manifestation of Christ…
… and is a foreshadowing of the Saving Action that would be fully accomplished on the Cross.

On the Cross, our Blessed Lord will totally identify Himself with sinners…
… by embracing the enormous weight of humanity’s sinfulness

At Baptism, by submersion into the waters of River Jordan, Jesus identifies Himself with sinners, and embraces everyone to a New Life in Him!
… the immersion into the waters of Jordan symbolises His Death!
… the rising from the deep waters symbolise His Resurrection!

St Ambrose reminds us: “The Lord was Baptized, not to be cleansed Himself, but to cleanse the waters…
… so that those waters, cleansed by the flesh of Christ which knew no sin, might have the power of Baptism!”

The Baptism of Jesus, then, is the great reminder to all humanity:

1. We are all sinners, and we can find Mercy only in Jesus, the Saviour of the world
2. We are all bestowed with the gift of being a child of God, and called to live in holiness

Today is a day when we need to examine and renew our life, in the light of these two aspects…
… What are the weak spots of sins in my life, and can I make a resolution today to give them up?
… Do I daily nurture my life of holiness, by consciously practising virtues that I need to grow in?
… Have I embraced Jesus as the only Master of my life, and do I give priority to God’s Will in my life?
… Do I manifest Christ’s love in all my deeds, and thus draw many people to God’s Kingdom?

Venerable Fulton Sheen wonderfully illustrates the importance of the Rite of Baptism: “It may be objected, what good does a little water do, when poured upon the head of a child?

The water in the boiler can do nothing of and by itself, nor can the water on the head of a child.
But when the water in the boiler is united to the mind of an engineer, it can drive an engine across a continent or a ship across the sea.
… so too, when water is united to the Power of God, it can do more than change a crystal into life. It can take a creature and convert him into a child of God!”

The Baptism of Jesus is a reminder to all of us of our Mission to live as “Alter Christus – Another Christ!”

His deeds of compassion and love, ought to be imitated by all of us, in our works
His words of transformation and love, ought to be echoed by all of us, in our interactions
His acts of self-giving and forgiveness, ought to be emulated, in our relationships with one another

St John’s Gospel would beautifully recount: “But to all who received Him, who believed in His Name, He gave power to become children of God; who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God!” (Jn 1:12-13)

Yes, the fire of God’s Love that has been kindled in us at Baptism…
… ought to continue to blaze in us, setting many other souls on fire for love of God!

Happy Feast to all of us, baptized with our Dearest Lord!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
SOCIETIES OF APOSTOLIC LIFE
Alongside the different forms of consecrated life are “societies of apostolic life whose members without religious vows pursue the particular apostolic purpose of their society…
… and lead a life as brothers or sisters in common according to a particular manner of life, strive for the perfection of charity through the observance of the constitutions.

Among these there are societies in which the members embrace the evangelical counsels” according to their constitutions (CCC # 930)

“Sailing together with the Lord over the clean waters of humility and meekness!”

(Based on 1 Jn 5:14-21 and Jn 3:22-30 – Saturday after Epiphany)

Greek mythology has a character named Narcissus, who was renowned for his beauty.
He was exceptionally proud; so much that he even disdained those who loved him!

One day, Narcissus was attracted to a pool of water.

He saw his reflection in the water and fell in love with it.

He failed to realize that it was only an image!

Unable to leave the beauty of his reflection, he fell and drowned in the waters!

An obsessive love of his own-self drowned him!
A true appreciation and genuine love of oneself is highly important and needed.

But when this self-directed love crosses the boundary, it can lead to obsession and fixation!

Are we in any way getting drowned, as a result of excessive love for our self?

The Gospel of the day invites and challenges us to ponder over this aspect by presenting the dramatically humble personality of John the Baptist!

One of the most supreme and vital messages that we learn from the life of John the Baptist is Humility – a virtue in direct contrast to the dangerous vice of Pride!

This is what we learn from the life of St John the Baptist.

He sought not his own way, but the way of the One who sent him.
He wanted not his light to shine, but the Light of Him who sent him.

The Gospel of the day has a scene of a dispute arising. John the Baptist, by his bold preaching and his radical life-style, had attracted many disciples.

Some of these disciples come and told John: “Rabbi, the One who was with you across the Jordan, to Whom you testified, here He is baptizing, and everyone is coming to Him” (Jn 3:26)

These disciples of John seem so resentful of Jesus that they don’t even mention His name!

These disciples of John are distressed that Jesus and His disciples are more successful!
These disciples of John are irritated that their Master has not come up with any remedy yet!

There seemed anxiety in their voice…

There seemed anger in their tone!

John had preached about repentance… baptized… and had pointed to the coming Messiah.

This should have been a time for John’s disciples to celebrate, now that Jesus was coming to the forefront!

But they forgot an important aspect of ministry… that we are doing all for HIM!

The disciples of John, perhaps, sought “narcissistic” attention to their own ministry…

They, perhaps, adopted a “narcissistic” style in their works and activities…
… looking into just themselves and their interests
… seeking to fulfil only their objectives and motives

But John the Baptist remains unperturbed and undisturbed.

He displays an angelic countenance of humility!

As St Augustine says: “It was pride that changed angels into devils; it is humility that makes men as angels.”

Like a good coach, who drills discipline and restraint into “his men”, John tells his disciples: “Let’s get back to the basics!”

John reminds His disciples that His ministry is not of his own, but received from God!
John reminds that He is not to take centre-stage, but only the One greater than him!
John reminds that He was not to be the Messiah, but only the forerunner of the Messiah!

John reminds His disciples that He is only the friend of the bridegroom… (Jn 3:29)

In our life, it is easy for us to lose our focus from the Lord and have a “narcissistic” style of preferences for ourselves…

In our works, we forget the blessings that the Lord has showered on us, and instead attribute all successes to our own talents and abilities.
In our ministry, we lose sight of the Lord, the real purposes of our vocation and the mission, and instead seek to fulfil our personal agenda and motives.

It is easy to bask in the glory of popularity and fame.

It is satisfying to enjoy the sunshine of reputations and recognitions.

But let them never lead us to have a “narcissistic” approach of just “looking into” ourselves.

Let us have the humility to accept that it is God’s power being manifested in our works.
Let us have the acceptance that it is God’s graces that has lifted us to a high position.

Yes, “drown” not in the murky waters of pride, egoism and selfishness…

Rather “sail” together with the Lord over the clean waters of humility and meekness!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
SECULAR INSTITUTES

“A secular institute is an institute of consecrated life in which the Christian faithful living in the world strive for the perfection of charity and work for the sanctification of the world especially from within.”
By a “life perfectly and entirely consecrated to [such] sanctification,” the members of these institutes share in the Church’s task of evangelization, “in the world and from within the world,” where their presence acts as “leaven in the world.”
“Their witness of a Christian life” aims “to order temporal things according to God and inform the world with the power of the gospel.”

They commit themselves to the evangelical counsels by sacred bonds and observe among themselves the communion and fellowship appropriate to their “particular secular way of life” (CCC # 928-929)

“Extending to the Lord our hands… our hearts… our lives…!

(Based on 1 Jn 5:5-13 and Lk 5:12-16 – Friday after Epiphany)

Life sometimes is quite strange!

Often, when things go all well, and it seems that everything is fine
… disasters strike in life.

This is the experience of many of us in our lives.

Think of a man who is in his early thirties…
He has a wonderful wife, with two lovely children.

It’s a home with a lot of joy and happiness.

One day, the man comes back home after work – he is a mason.
On coming back, he informs his wife of a tiny sore that has been nagging him for sometime

This sore had turned a bit reddish after the heavy day’s of work.

With much insistence and persuasion by the wife, the man agrees to show it to a doctor.

After the initial check-up, the doctor tells them: “Well, the sore certainly has grown a bit. I have some of my initial observations, but I need to work on them still.

Why don’t you stay up here in the hospital for a few days, so that I can further examine?”

And so he agrees.

As days pass, the sore gets more infectious.
The doctor now is ready with his well-studied and examined decision… “I am sorry to inform you… but you are infected with… Leprosy!”

Hearing this, the man is terrified. Leprosy, he knew, was not just an ordinary sickness.

It was a slow death sentence – distanced from family, distanced from society, distanced from self!

Imagine that situation of the happy living family!
The man is now to leave his wife and children; his land and work…
… He is to go and live with people who were afflicted with a similar disease.

This was the law of the land.
This was the regulation practised in this area.

The Law required the lepers to keep as far away as possible from all healthy people.

Whenever someone drew near who did not have leprosy, the leper was supposed to shout,
“Unclean! Unclean!”

So, with a heavy heart and a crushed spirit, the man leaves his loving wife and two children.

He goes off alone… to rot!
He goes off alone… to die!

He couldn’t even have an animal for a companion.

If he touched even a dog, the dog had to be killed so that it did not carry the disease back into the city.

Life as a leper was just too horrible and miserable.

Life sometimes is indeed quite strange!

The Gospel of the Day presents one such leper… A man who was “full of leprosy” (Lk 5:12)

One fine day, however, this leper looks up and sees a small group of people following a Man.

That Man, the leader, he comes to know… is Jesus.

The leper has heard about Jesus.

He would wish to hear Him.
But the Law did not permit to go close!

As the group passes their way, this leper remembers what the Law taught Him.

And he begins to shout, “Unclean! Unclean! I have leprosy! Stay away from me! Unclean!”

But then a strange thing happens! Jesus keeps coming closer to him.

His shout increases… louder goes his cries…”Unclean, Unclean!”

But Jesus keeps coming closer and closer… till He has reached the leper!

The leper has now been afflicted for many years. He misses his family very deeply.

He knows he is at the edge of life
… undergoing a slow death!

But…
… Before him, now stands, someone, Who he has heard, has tremendous power!
… Before him, now stands, someone, Who he has heard, can unshackle any bondage!

And so, with tears filling his eyes and dread filling his shocked face, he asks, “Lord, if you will,
you can make me clean!” (Lk 5:12)

It was a cry of agony.

It was a wail of immense anguish.

He had suffered much.

He had been separated from loved ones for long.
Now he wanted a deliverance.
He wanted freedom from the captivity.

He wanted a wholesome life in his loathsome existence!

And then comes the spectacular words of Jesus, “I will. Be clean!” (Lk 5:13)

The Lord touches him!

His body was touched! His heart was healed! His soul was cleansed!

Life was restored! Happiness was returned!

Do you and I also feel sometimes like a leper?

Situations of happiness being snatched away
Moments of love and affection being afflicted
Times of joy, serenity and calmness being affected
Unloved? Rejected? Despised? Abused? Helpless? Hopeless? Dying?

We may be going through hard times

We may feel that life is unfair to us
We may feel that existence is meaningless

But…
… The Lord wants to restore us!
… He wants to make us whole again!

Life is strange…
… but the Power of the Lord is more strong!

Life is complicated…
… but the Grace of the Lord is more compelling!

The Lord is here to touch us!
Let’s extend to Him our hands… our hearts… our lives…!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
RELIGIOUS LIFE

Religious life was born in the East during the first centuries of Christianity.
Lived within institutes canonically erected by the Church, it is distinguished from other forms of consecrated life by its liturgical character, public profession of the evangelical counsels, fraternal life led in common, and witness given to the union of Christ with the Church.
Religious life derives from the mystery of the Church. It is a gift she has received from her Lord, a gift she offers as a stable way of life to the faithful called by God to profess the counsels. Thus, the Church can both show forth Christ and acknowledge herself to be the Saviour’s bride. Religious life in its various forms is called to signify the very charity of God in the language of our time.
All religious, whether exempt or not, take their place among the collaborators of the diocesan bishop in his pastoral duty.
From the outset of the work of evangelization, the missionary “planting” and expansion of the Church require the presence of the religious life in all its forms.

“History witnesses to the outstanding service rendered by religious families in the propagation of the faith and in the formation of new Churches: from the ancient monastic institutions to the medieval orders, all the way to the more recent congregations. (CCC # 925-927)

“Entrusting our lives into the care of the Great Carpenter of Nazareth…!”

(Based on 1 Jn 4:19-5:4 and Lk 4:14-22 – Thursday after Epiphany)

A carpenter is a person who works with wood.

The carpenter uses various tools and implements to shape, chisel, carve and cut into the pieces of wood.
… gives new shapes
… repairs the broken ones
… polishes the rough edges etc.

The Gospel of the Day is an encounter with such a Carpenter.
… He is no ordinary one
… He is the Great Carpenter of Nazareth: JESUS!

Jesus is in His hometown of Nazareth.

He walks into the synagogue, as was His custom.
He is handed over the book of prophet Isaiah and reads a prophetic passage.

All were amazed at His gracious words, and they began to ask each other, “Is not this Joseph’s son” (Lk 4:22)

Yeah, Jesus was the Son of Joseph, the carpenter!

And this Child of Joseph was also a carpenter!

The people…
… would have murmured this statement to belittle Jesus.
… would have referred Him so, because of their bias and prejudice.
… perhaps called Him that way to show that He was just ordinary – one of them.

But what the people murmured or muttered or grumbled was indeed true…

Even, later on, the people would say, “Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary…” (Mk 6: 3)

Truly, Jesus is the Carpenter

Not just an ordinary one, but the Great Carpenter of Nazareth!

The Jewish people were in great expectation of a Messiah.

Their concept of a Messiah would have been of one who is very powerful, kingly, majestic etc.

But Jesus, the Messiah doesn’t ornament Himself with all such expected grandeur.

He doesn’t robe Himself with a showy magnificence or armour Himself with majestic works.

He takes the role of a Carpenter.

He identified Himself with the common people
He became one with humanity with hard labour and gritty toil.

On one of the tombstones, in Great Britain, there is an epitaph written for a man named Thomas Cobb.

It says, “Here lies Thomas Cobb, who mended shoes to the glory of God, for 40 years.”

Yes, glory and honour can be rendered to God in any activity – small or great, menial or expert!

What is my understanding of the duties and responsibilities entrusted to me?

Am I aware that in all works – small and great – I can give glory to God?
Do I perform all my tasks, with a Sacred Sense that it’s an extension of God’s creative works?

A carpenter’s work is to fashion new things from ordinary wood and also to repair things that have been damaged.

The Great Carpenter of Nazareth is wanting to do the same in our lives

He wants to create us anew and refashion our lives.
He wants to give new shape and utility to our brokenness and damaged parts of life.

Are we ready to let the Great Carpenter of Nazareth to work in our lives?

Hammer in some of the nails of discipline and virtues?
Chisel away sin and other unwanted portions of our life?
Polish some places of life that have lost its sheen and shine?
Drill in some screws to tighten the lethargic and sluggish areas of life?
Level some habits in us that can restore the balance of our spirituality?
Measure some of our activities to determine how much exactly is needed?

In Mt 12:20, we read, “… he will not break a bruised reed…”

We, all of us have our brokenness in life… damages in relations… bruises in thoughts.
But the Great Carpenter assures that He will not let our bruised reeds be broken!
He wants to mend us

He wants to repair us

He wants to fashion us anew!

As a stanza in one of the lesser-known carol titled, “Behold a little Child” goes…
Christ, Master Carpenter, We come rough-hewn to thee;
At last, through wood and nails, Thou mad’st us whole and free;
In this thy world remake us, planned, To truer beauty of thine hand.

Yes, the Spirit of the Lord is upon this Great Carpenter of Galilee, “… to bring glad tidings to the poor; Liberty to the captives; Recovery of sight to the blind; Let the oppressed go free; To proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord’’ (Lk 4: 18-19)

Knock… Knock… The Carpenter is already here…

Let’s open the door to Him…
… no matter, even if the door itself is also damaged!

Let us entrust our lives into the care of the Great Carpenter of Nazareth…!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
CONSECRATED VIRGINS

From apostolic times, Christian virgins, called by the Lord to cling only to Him with greater freedom of heart, body, and spirit, have decided with the Church’s approval to live in a state of virginity “for the sake of the Kingdom of heaven.”
Virgins who, committed to the holy plan of following Christ more closely, are consecrated to God by the diocesan bishop according to the approved liturgical rite, are betrothed mystically to Christ, the Son of God, and are dedicated to the service of the Church.”
By this solemn rite (consecratio virginum), the virgin is “constituted… a sacred person, a transcendent sign of the Church’s love for Christ, and an eschatological image of this heavenly Bride of Christ and of the life to come.”
“As with other forms of consecrated life, “the order of virgins establishes the woman living in the world (or the nun) in prayer, penance, service of her brethren, and apostolic activity, according to the state of life and spiritual gifts given to her.”

Consecrated virgins can form themselves into associations to observe their commitment more faithfully. (CCC # 922-924)

“Lifting up our sagging and weary spirits, opening our hearts and lives to Him and hearing Him say, ‘Take courage, it is I… Do not be afraid!’”

(Based on 1 Jn 4:7-10 and Mk 6:34-44 – Wednesday after Epiphany)

Played with li’l children?

When elders play some game, with little children, we usually change some rules of the game.

It could be a game of cricket, or football or just passing the ball etc…

We relax some of the rules to make it easy for the child to enjoy the game a little more.

Sometimes for fun, we even, play badly, so that the child may win…
Sometimes, we even make some adjustments and act as if we don’t know how to play well
Sometimes, we even play, as if we are losing very badly so that the child may enjoy more

We do a bit of “acting” and do some pretence, to see the reaction of the children.

Well… for the Lord, we are li’l Children

And no doubt, He too loves to play some tricks with us, His Kids!

The Gospel of the Day is an example of how the Lord loves having “some fun” with us, His Little Kids…

The Lord has performed a stupendous multiplication of the five loaves and two fish among the five thousand men (Mk 6: 34-44). He then makes His disciples get onto a boat, while He retires to enjoy His precious moments with His Abba Father on the mountains, to pray. (Mk 6:45-46)

It’s at that time, the disciples, who are out in the sea, traveling on the boat, face a great storm.

As the disciples are struggling against the waves that hit them and the gushes of wind lashing against their boat, Jesus comes walking on the sea, towards them.

Mark’s Gospel is very particular in mentioning a strangely overlooked statement: “He meant to pass by them” (Mk 6: 48b)

Another translation of this sentence would read, “He intended to pass them by!”

Now, that’s strange, right?

The disciples are struggling for life and are in deep danger
… And does the Lord wish to just pass them by?

The boat is to capsize, and it’s a terrible resistance against the forces of nature
… And does the Lord just want to pass them by?

Did He not see them?

Or does He not care?

Well… this is where we introduce the aspect of the Lord having some “fun” with His children!

On another occasion, also, Jesus would do something similar…

On the road to Emmaus, with the two disciples, as they reach closer to their destination, Jesus does a similar “prank.” “As they approached the village to which they were going,

Jesus gave the impression that he was going on further” (Lk 24:28)

Yet, on both occasions
…when Jesus is called up, He responds positively.

In the boat, when the disciples saw Jesus intended to pass them by, they cried out in fear.

And this prayer – of fear and worry – was heard by the Lord, and He responds!
On the way to Emmaus, when the two saw that Jesus was going away, they requested His Presence.
And this prayer – of earnestness and desire – was heard by the Lord, and He responds!

Similar situations here…

The Lord in a sort of a “prank”
… intends to pass by.

It seems apparently, that He is not so interested in their concerns…

Yet, when they call out to Him… He responds!

Just like elders, while playing with children, who “act” for some time….
Jesus’ “acting” of being disinterested or “not knowing what to do” pays off…

The disciples reach out to Him in earnest prayer
… and a miracle is performed!

The Lord seems to pass by, not because He is not interested in us.

The Lord acts as if He is passing by, not because He does not care for us.
It is rather just His way of making us to also reach out to Him in prayer.

Divine disposition does not do away with human actions

Divine help does not rule out human initiatives.

We are not to sit back and wait in passivity for God’s help

We are to call out on Him, in prayer, in faith, in love!

Our lives sometimes have to face the consequence of this “prank” or “acting” of the Lord.

We struggle in the boats of our life, against dreadful storms of problems
We row hard with all our might, and sometimes feel that it’s going to be the end of our life

We get frightened and are afraid that somehow the waves will have the better of ourselves.

We row hard with all our might
We get frightened and are afraid

And the Lord, just “seems” to pass by.

But when we cry out in deep anguish and fear
… the Lord hears!

Our anxiety and fears itself become a prayer in the Presence of the Lord!

Is our life passing through deadly storms of faithlessness and isolation?

Are the dreadful waves of hardships and miseries assaulting us?

Does it seem that the Lord is “just passing by?”

Lift up the sagging and weary spirits…

The Lord is very much with us!

Let’s open our hearts and lives to Him
… and hear Him say, “Take courage, it is I… Do not be afraid!” (Mk 6:50)

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
THE EREMITIC LIFE

Without always professing the three evangelical counsels publicly, hermits “devote their life to the praise of God and salvation of the world through a stricter separation from the world, the silence of solitude and assiduous prayer and penance.”
They manifest to everyone the interior aspect of the mystery of the Church, that is, personal intimacy with Christ. Hidden from the eyes of men, the life of the hermit is a silent preaching of the Lord, to whom he has surrendered his life simply because he is everything to him.

Here is a particular call to find in the desert, in the thick of spiritual battle, the glory of the Crucified One. (CCC # 920-921)

“Throwing ourselves entirely into the care of our Divine Compassionate Shepherd!”

(Based on 1 Jn 4:7-10 and Mk 6:34-44 – Tuesday after Epiphany)

One of the easiest doubts that crop up in our daily life is the “doubt in our abilities.”

How can I do the job?
How can I be expected to study so much?
How can I ever succeed in such a situation?
… etc.

Such a doubting of our abilities can leave many of our plans and aspirations to be at a standstill…

The Gospel of the Day brings us face-to-face with such kind of a situation – a situation of “doubts in abilities.”

It was a late evening…
The Lord had finished preaching the Word of God to a large crowd of people.

The disciples sensed that it had got too late and requested the Lord to send the people away so that they could fetch some food for themselves.

“This is a deserted place, and the hour is now very late; send them away so that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy something for themselves to eat.” (Mk 6: 36)

But the Lord had different plans… as always!

The Lord loves to challenge us in our comforts
The Lord loves to let loose our lethargic leanings
The Lord loves to instigate our insipid inhibitions

He tells the disciples, “You give them something to eat” (Mk 6: 37)

This statement came as a shocker for the disciples. “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread, and give it to them to eat?” (Mk 6:37)

The disciples were not prepared to accept the challenge of the Lord

They perhaps thought from a financial point of view…
It would be too expensive to feed so many!
… And doubting their ability, they thought – “How can it be possible?”

They perhaps thought from a sociological point of view…
It would be too impractical to handle so many!
… And doubting their ability, they thought – “How can it be possible?”

They perhaps thought from a comfort point of view…
It would be a botheration for us to look after so many!
… And doubting their ability, they thought – “How can it be possible?”

Logic sometimes tells us that some things are too hard.

Reason sometimes prompts us that some situations are too bad.
Brain sometimes puts forward that some circumstances are beyond our control.

But the Lord invites them to look at the strength of their ability… which is He Himself!

When problems come, we often “doubt our abilities” because we look only into ourselves…

We fail to look to the Lord, Who is the solution to our problems.

When difficulties encompass us, we often “doubt our abilities” because we think that we are the master of everything…
We fall short of recognizing the power of God, which is, in fact, our true strength.
When crisis befalls us, we often “doubt our abilities,” because we get totally tensed and worried within ourselves…

We do not look up and see the hand of God, waiting to lead and guide us.

The Disciples, who were “doubting their abilities”, finally let themselves into the ways of the Lord…

And then the miracle happened!

When we entrust everything into God’s hands, miracles occur

When we have faith in the mighty Providence of the Lord, wonders take place

Before the Lord… logic can dissolve!

Before the Lord… reason can be floored!
Before the Lord… brains can be put to shame!

Yes…
… Life will continue to challenge us with problems, wherein we “doubt our abilities.”
… Life will always ambush us with painful difficulties, wherein we “doubt our abilities.”

Let all those moments, be a chance for us to allow the Lord to multiply His blessings in us.
Let all those occasions, be an opportunity for us to let the Lord increase His grace in us.

As St Paul of the Cross tells us, “Let us throw ourselves into the ocean of His goodness, where every failing will be cancelled, and every anxiety turned into love.”

Let us throw ourselves entirely into the care of our Divine Compassionate Shepherd!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
ONE GREAT TREE, WITH MANY BRANCHES

“From the God-given seed of the counsels a wonderful and wide-spreading tree has grown up in the field of the Lord, branching out into various forms of the religious life lived in solitude or in community.
Different religious families have come into existence in which spiritual resources are multiplied for the progress in holiness of their members and for the good of the entire Body of Christ.”
From the very beginning of the Church there were men and women who set out to follow Christ with greater liberty, and to imitate him more closely, by practicing the evangelical counsels.
They led lives dedicated to God, each in his own way.
Many of them, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, became hermits or founded religious families. These the Church, by virtue of her authority, gladly accepted and approved.

Bishops will always strive to discern new gifts of consecrated life granted to the Church by the Holy Spirit; the approval of new forms of consecrated life is reserved to the Apostolic See (CCC # 917-919)

“Becoming a powerful witness of Jesus, the Light of the Nations!”

(Based on 1 Jn 3:22-4:6 and Mt 4:12-17, 23-25 – Monday after Epiphany)

One of the subtle, taken-for-granted, yet successful techniques in life, is “withdrawal.”

(This “withdrawal” is NOT in the psychological sense of alienating oneself or going into an isolated state of mind)

This technique of “withdrawal” is seen in many areas of life…

While playing chess, as part of a smart strategy, one “withdraws” some of the pieces, to have better control over the game.

This withdrawal is to alter the line of attack…
This withdrawal is to plan a new approach to win the game…

While driving a bike through heavy traffic, one “withdraws” one’s vehicle for some time, by slowing down…

This withdrawal is to allow a little more space ahead so that we can overtake faster
This withdrawal, by slowing down for few seconds, helps to find more empty spaces to go ahead faster

Withdrawal, as a technique, is not a sign of weakness or surrender

Rather, it’s a tactic to plan better and enhance organizing.

Withdrawal, as a technique, is not an indication of admitting defeat or submissiveness

Rather, it’s a method to make more progress and find better ways out.

The Gospel of the Day begins with a mention of ‘withdrawal’ by Jesus…
“When He heard that John had been arrested, [Jesus] withdrew to Galilee” (Mt 4:12)

John the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus was preaching about the message of repentance.

King Herod, in Jerusalem, had to also face the “naked truths” of the preaching of John.

Living in immorality, King Herod had been strongly condemned for his actions, by John
Practising adultery, King Herod had been angered greatly by the bold exhortation of John

And so, King Herod had John the Baptist arrested.

The “Voice” had been stifled!
The “Voice” was suppressed!

St Matthew, however, says, that on hearing of John’s arrest, “Jesus withdrew!”

Was it a withdrawal out of fear?
Was it a withdrawal because Jesus got intimidated by King Herod?

Surely No!

Why was it not an act of fear? Because…
… Galilee, the place where Jesus withdrew, was equally a dangerous place since it was also under King Herod’s rule
… Jesus would display a far greater exhibition of courage, bravery and boldness than even John, by His ministry of Authentic Preaching and Awe-inspiring wondrous deeds.
… God in His Divine plan wanted Jesus to perform much of His ministry in the Gentile region of Galilee.
Galilee was certainly not the most obvious place for the Messiah to begin His ministry

Galilee was part of the Northern Kingdom of the nation, which was ruled by ungodly kings
The population was mixed in race and looked down upon by the Jews of Judah and Jerusalem.
The people of Galilee were considered to be somewhat pagan in their spiritual life.

Yet, as part of His Divine strategy, Jesus “withdraws” to this most improbable place of Galilee to launch His ministry of Spiritual Revolution of the world.

Life sometimes makes us to “withdraw”…

In a situation of trouble and crisis, we need to sometimes “withdraw” and find time with the Lord, in order to assess and evaluate our circumstances.
In our dealings with others, we need to sometimes “withdraw” some of our words, expressions and feelings, to preserve and strengthen our relationships.
In our careers or future planning, we need to sometimes “withdraw” so that we can give some time for ourselves and thus be able to perform better.

Life is not always rosy, and life is not always a cakewalk.

Difficulties and struggles are ready to very often pounce on us.
Crisis and situations of terror are waiting to grab us by the neck.

Just like our Dear Lord, who is the perfect strategist and the ideal planner, we too need to take control of our lives, by giving time for “ourselves” even if needed to “withdraw”

This withdrawal is not a retreat into depression…
… rather a time of preparation with the Lord.
This withdrawal is not falling into anxieties…
… rather a time of charging with the power of God

Let us become a powerful witness of Jesus, the Light of the Nations!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
EVANGELICAL COUNSELS, CONSECRATED LIFE

Christ proposes the evangelical counsels, in their great variety, to every disciple.
The perfection of charity, to which all the faithful are called, entails for those who freely follow the call to consecrated life the obligation of practicing chastity in celibacy for the sake of the Kingdom, poverty and obedience.
It is the profession of these counsels, within a permanent state of life recognized by the Church, that characterizes the life consecrated to God.
The religious state is thus one way of experiencing a “more intimate” consecration, rooted in Baptism and dedicated totally to God.
In the consecrated life, Christ’s faithful, moved by the Holy Spirit, propose to follow Christ more nearly, to give themselves to God who is loved above all…

… and, pursuing the perfection of charity in the service of the Kingdom, to signify and proclaim in the Church the glory of the world to come (CCC # 915-916)