“Embracing the call and exhortation of the Lord to a life of the Cross!”

(Based on Deut 30:15-20 and Lk 9:22-25 – Thursday after Ash Wednesday)

A story is told of a young woman who wanted to join a particular college, with a reputed fame.

As she filled the application form, her heart sank, when she read the question that read: “Are you a leader?”

Sticking to her principle of being honest in life, she wrote “No”…
… and submitted her application…
… expecting the worst!

She knew, that this question would be the stumbling block for her admission to college.

But to her great surprise, she received the following letter from college:
“Dear Applicant,
A study of all our application forms this year reveals, that we will have 1,547 new leaders in college.

So we are accepting you as our student, because we feel that it is necessary that all those ‘so-called leaders’, have at least one follower!”

Well, that pretty much sums up human tendencies isn’t it?
… a tendency whereby people would dilute their ideals for seeking a position or favour!
… a tendency whereby people would want to be only leaders, but fail to be a follower!

Is our Christian life also characterized by these tendencies…?
… to dilute Christian Values for the sake of one’s favour?
… to project our personal merits and crave to be a power-monger rather than a follower?

The Gospel of the Day presents the mighty challenge of Jesus, to those who wish to follow Him…
… being uncompromising in one’s commitment
… being willing to be a follower of Him, the Sole Leader!

Jesus says: “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Lk 9:23)

One of the key aspects, when we analyze the ministry of Jesus is that Cross would be an integral aspect of His life and ministry.

The Lord never shied away from the Cross.

And the Lord never shied away from teaching about the Cross.

He doesn’t use attractive advertisements to allure more followers…
He doesn’t preach an easy life to gather in more disciples…
He instead preaches and proclaims the Cross!

The Cross is a symbol…
… of total self-giving
… of total commitment

We are in the season of Lent.

It’s a time of getting back to the basics of our life…
… to re-dedicate our love and consecration to the Lord
… to review our life more closely in relation to our faith

The Lord sets before us choices continually in life… (Deut 30:15)
… the choice of life and death
… the choice of good and evil
… the choice of blessings and curses

But all these promises of the Lord are valid, only if we are seeking and are eager to follow His commandments and to walk according to His paths.

Our Christian lives today are often found to be characterized by…
… pragmatism: following Christ and His Ideals only for our personal gains and desires!
… comfortability: following Christ and His Ideals only when it is easy and undemanding!
… dilution: following Christ and His Ideals without sincerity and watering down as per convenience!
… power-mongerism: following Christ and His Ideals only to gain power and popularity!

The Cross comes as a huge blow to all such “easy philosophies!”

The Cross was the choice of the Lord…
… a result of deep obedience and total commitment.

The Cross needs to be our choice too…
And this requires…
… faithful obedience to the Will of the Lord.
… total commitment to our call and consecration as a Christian.

The Lord promises much happiness and joy…
… but these will be delivered only if we make the determination and resolution to follow Him closer and to live as per His commands!

Let us be bold and courageous to embrace a Life of the Cross…
… without pragmatism, without comfortability, without dilution, without power-mongerism!

And stick on to the Christian Principles…
… even it means, rejection from the world and its ways!

Yes, shall we be ready…
… to embrace this call and exhortation of the Lord?
… to get attracted to a life of the Cross – total discipline and deep dedication?

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
HELL

The affirmations of Sacred Scripture and the teachings of the Church on the subject of hell are a call to the responsibility incumbent upon man to make use of his freedom in view of his eternal destiny.
They are at the same time an urgent call to conversion: “Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is easy, that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”
Since we know neither the day nor the hour, we should follow the advice of the Lord and watch constantly so that, when the single course of our earthly life is completed, we may merit to enter with him into the marriage feast and be numbered among the blessed…

… and not, like the wicked and slothful servants, be ordered to depart into the eternal fire, into the outer darkness where “men will weep and gnash their teeth. (CCC # 1036)

“Re-charging ourselves, this Lent, by doing God’s Will!”

(Based on Joel 2:12-18, 2 Cor 5:20-6:2 and Mk 6:1-6, 16-18 – Ash Wednesday)

An Italian newspaper carried a news story about a young couple in Milan who seemed particularly devoted in their worship.

The priest at a Cathedral reported that the pair spent an hour or more on a regular basis…
… sitting before a statue of the Virgin Mary.

But shockingly…
… it turned out, that they were not really praying!

This young couple was recharging their cell phone!

They had noticed a stray electric cable sticking out of the wall…
… behind the statue of the Virgin Mary.

Whenever their phone’s power supply dwindled, the young couple came to the church and re-charged it!

Well…
What looked like an act of piety, was actually a self-serving ploy!

Maybe, we are much shocked by this act…

But how about us? Do we indulge ourselves into similar acts?
… claiming to be praying – but without true devotion or only for “transient gains and desires”
… claiming to be abstaining – but without a sense of joy and reducing it to “an annual observance of an unconvinced pious act”
… claiming to be doing acts of piety – but perhaps, with selfish motives or as “popularity stunts”

Are we really re-charging ourselves?
… or are recharging the many “gadgets” of our self-will?

The Gospel of the Day is a teaching by Jesus on the prime importance of restoring the “true intention in the acts of praying, fasting and almsgiving”…
… with a need to put on the vestment of humility and sincerity!

The Gospel Passage – Mt 6: 1-6, 16-18 – presents to us Jesus speaking of the three core practices that were essential pious practices of His time: ALMSGIVING, PRAYER and FASTING (PENANCE).

And how these ought to be performed with a “holy and sincere devotion”

With respect to almsgiving, Jesus says…
… “sound no trumpet” (Mt 6:2)

With respect to prayer, Jesus says…
… “shut the door and pray to your Father” (Mt 6:6)

With respect to fasting, Jesus says…
…”anoint your head and wash your face” (Mt 6:17)

It is interesting to note that these 3 practices refers to 3 dimensions of Love:
… towards God
… towards others
… towards oneself

Prayer: Reminding ourselves to grow in the Immensity of God’s Love
Almsgiving: Reviving our basic duty of caring and being responsible to one another
Fasting (Penance): Rediscovering the worthiness of our lives and commit to grow in holiness

The Ash Wednesday is a Great Day for all of us – to begin a Season of Holiness in our lives… to Grow in Love…
… Love of God
… Responsibility and Care of others
… Respect and Reverence of our own life

A few practical tips could help us to make this Season of Lent, more meaningful:

It is said that habits – to make a new one or to break an old one – generally take around 21 days

These 40+ days of Lent are a chance for us to “double” our efforts towards…
… positively growing: in a “good virtuous habit”
… negatively rooting out: a “not-so-good vicious habit”

(A few examples:
… Reading a portion of the Bible daily
… Learn by heart, some verses of the Bible and make it a personal prayer
… Identify the “root vice” of life, and practice the opposite – “the root virtue”
… Try to frequent Holy Mass / spend time with the Eucharistic Lord, as much as possible
… 40 simple acts of kindness
… Abstain from something that is “dear” and offer it is a sacrifice for someone in need
… Revive personal/family prayer
… Reduce time spent on the internet/social media
… Visit a home of charity or those in our vicinity who needs a help
… Abstain from gossiping/back biting/ irritable words
… Bring a person(s) closer to Christ/Church)
… Having an “off time” or a “off day for social media

Can we choose, on this day, a habit in our personal life, which we need to “make or break”…
… for these days of Lent?

The Season of Lent covers a period of 7 weeks
7 – a number of fullness and completeness is a call for us to grow in the Virtue of Charity.

We could identify 7 people – corresponding to the 7 weeks of Lent, who need our help.

This help may be any of the following:
… spiritual help
… social acceptance
… materialistic needs
… emotional assistance

Lethargy, Duplicity and Hollowness…
… have very much characterised many of our Christian living.

This Season of Lent is a wonderful opportunity for all of us, to give greater attention to “return to the basics”…
… restoring the “true intention in all our activities!”

Can we stop making our acts of piety as merely self-serving ploys?

Shall we do away with the “gadgets of our self-wills”
… and begin to really re-charge ourselves with doing God’s Will?”

Wish you a Holy and Blessed Season of Lent!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
HELL

Jesus often speaks of “Gehenna” of “the unquenchable fire” reserved for those who to the end of their lives refuse to believe and be converted, where both soul and body can be lost.
Jesus solemnly proclaims that he “will send his angels, and they will gather… all evil doers, and throw them into the furnace of fire,” and that he will pronounce the condemnation: “Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire!”
The teaching of the Church affirms the existence of hell and its eternity.
Immediately after death the souls of those who die in a state of mortal sin descend into hell, where they suffer the punishments of hell, “eternal fire.”

The chief punishment of hell is eternal separation from God, in whom alone man can possess the life and happiness for which he was created and for which he longs. (CCC # 1032)

“Growing in the assurance that God is always holding us!”

(Based on 1 Pet 1:10-16 and Mk 10:28-31 – Tuesday of the 8th Week in Ordinary Time, Year II)

One day a person who was going through much spiritual and mental perplexity called up his friend.

He knew that his friend was able to remain sturdy and confident, even in the midst of troubles of life.

And so he desired to learn from him this secret to stay calm

“Tell me,” the anxious friend asked over the phone, “how is it that you can trust God so easily? How is it that you always got hold of God?”

For some time, the person was silent.
And then, taking a deep sigh, he replied, “It surely did take me a while to know and learn this.

But let me be honest with you.

Even now I have my moments when I don’t know if I have got hold of God…
… but one thing I have learnt over the years: ‘God always has a hold of me!”

It was this assurance that God was always holding him…
… that allowed this person to remain calm and confident in his journey of life.

Are we ready to grow deeper in this fact: That God is always having a hold of me…
… and this assurance that translates to a life of trust and confidence!

Our lives in the Lord, is a spiritual journey…

The greater assurance we have in the promises of the Lord, the more pleasant will be our journey
The stronger our assurances in the Word of the Lord, the swifter will be our progress in this journey towards the Lord

The Gospel of the Day presents Jesus declaring His assured promises to those who follow Him, sincerely and wholeheartedly.

Jesus tells to Peter and the other disciples:
“Amen, I say to you, there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for my sake and the sake of the Gospel, who will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age…
… and eternal life in the age to come” (Mk 10: 29)

This incident takes place right after the encounter of the rich young man with Jesus (Mk 10: 17-22)

This man was proposed by Jesus to sell all his possessions and then follow Him.

The man, however, found it hard, to let go off his attachments, and instead let go of the Lord.
He went away sad!

Peter, as the leader of the disciples, however, contrasts this “possessive and worldly” tendency of the rich young man by telling Jesus, “We have given up everything and followed you” (Mk 10: 28)

Perhaps, there was a growing concern among the disciples, as to whether their radical decision to commit themselves to the Master would go in vain!

Perhaps, there was an apparent fear within the disciples, as to whether their decisions to leave their professions, their families and their aspirations to follow the Lord would go fruitless!

And so the Lord, with a candid straight-forwardness replies that their sacrifices would surely assure them of rewards…
… of a much higher quality and eminence.

How often do our lives also sometimes sink in hopelessness, thinking whether our expressions of faith would end up in meaninglessness!

Sometimes even fearful thoughts and anxious emotions may cross our mind…
… will the various sacrifices and pains that I take up for the Lord, go in vain?
… will my unshed tears, my unspoken prayers and painful sighs, end up in futility?
… will the efforts I make to grow in love and nourish others in faith, lead to fruitlessness?

But the Lord assures us, that none of these efforts – small or great, noticed or unnoticed, seen or unseen – will escape the penetrating eyes of the Lord and go unrewarded.

All our actions, done in love, has an assured reward!

What is however, most essential, is our total focus on the Lord and unflinched commitment to Him.

The Lord most certainly assures us of rewards and gifts.

But, in this pursuit, let us not stray away, or lose focus of Him!

Our lives ought to be impelled by the love for the God of rewards…
… than merely the rewards of God!

Our lives must be lived in faithfulness to the God of gifts…
… than being fascinated only to the gifts of God!

As we begin this new month of March, let us seek to have the Lord Himself as our greatest reward…
… our finest gift!

When we grow in the assurance that God is always holding us…
… we can remain calm and confident in this journey of life.

Yes… GOD IS ALWAYS HAVING A HOLD OF ME!

Are we ready to grow deeper in this awareness?

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
HELL

We cannot be united with God unless we freely choose to love him.
But we cannot love God if we sin gravely against him, against our neighbour or against ourselves: “He who does not love remains in death. Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.”
Our Lord warns us that we shall be separated from him if we fail to meet the serious needs of the poor and the little ones who are his brethren.
To die in mortal sin without repenting and accepting God’s merciful love means remaining separated from Him for ever by our own free choice.

This state of definitive self-exclusion from communion with God and the blessed is called “hell.” (CCC # 1032)

Prioritising for the ‘true riches of our life!’”

(Based on 1 Pet 1:3-9 and Mk 10:17-27 – Monday of the 8th Week in Ordinary Time, Year II)

A story is told about Phythius, an ancient King of Lydia (Lydia – a place in the present day Turkey).

Phythius was very wealthy, but also very greedy, and he would spend as little as possible.

His wife – the Queen – was however, greatly determined to cure him of this “wealth mania!”

One day when he came home hungry from a long hunt, she told the slaves to place before him dishes that were filled with gold…
… gold that was fresh from the royal gold mines.

The King stared down at his gold-filled plates, admiring them for some time, and then he asked for some food.

“Food?” his wife asked, feigning surprise, “But surely they have brought you what you love best in the world, haven’t they?”

“What are you talking about?” the King replied, as he lost his temper, “Gold can’t satisfy my hunger.”

“No?” the Queen answered, “Is it not foolish then to have such love for something that cannot be useful so long as you hang on to it?

Believe me; gold is truly of service only to people who exchange it for the good and useful things of life.”

The rich man in the Gospel of the Day also faced a similar “wealth mania”…
… and was reminded that “riches come to have true value, only when given in service, to the needy”

Are we also facing a “wealth mania” in our lives?

The rich man in the Gospel of the Day, approaches Jesus to ask, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Mk 10: 17)

When Jesus gave him a list of commandments, that needed to be followed to help ensure a passage into eternal life, the man replied, “Teacher, all these I have observed from my youth” (Mk 10: 20)

We underline a few aspects of this young man…
… he did desire for a life of eternity and followed the commandments
… he did nurture a sense of being pious and devout, to please the Lord

However…
… he probably failed to live up to the intentions of the commandments
… he possibly got lost into only keeping the letters of the commandments; not the spirit!

He got attached to doing God’s commandment, but failed to break his attachments with the riches of the world.

He possessed the good will to follow God’s teachings, but failed to let go of the possessions of his life.

The Lord realized this “pitiable” condition of the young man.

He was wealthy in the world, but was unable to be rich before God
He was obedient to the laws, but was unable to be obedient to give up his attachments.

Therefore, the Lord, knowing this state of the young man – devout yet not properly focused…
… “looked at him, loved him, and said: ‘You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then, come, follow me'” (Mk 10: 21)

This young man could represent any one of us…

We seek to be pious but find it hard to let go of our possessions
We seek for holiness in life but go through a struggle to give up our attachments
We seek to follow the Lord wholly but stumble to give ourselves entirely to the Lord

Yet, the Lord does not give up on us…
He looks on us…
He loves us…

And He invites us, to have the proper focus in life!

It is not material possessions that ought to occupy our hearts; rather, our hearts needs to be possessed with the Love for the Lord.

It is not worldly treasures that should be our prime motto in life; rather, a life, dedicated to the Kingdom of God and helping the needy with the resources we have.

Our material life is totally in the control of the Lord.

Our material possessions will be of no avail, when we leave this world.
Our hands will not be able to hold any riches when we depart from this life.

Let us instead be possessed by the Lord, gather the precious stones of His grace and love by works of charity and hold on to Him…
… so that we may have a wonderful life of eternity with the Lord of all treasures!

Let us give heed to some of the wise and noble sayings of Holy People who have described the necessity to be detached from the riches of the world…

St Bede the Venerable: “He alone loves the Creator perfectly who manifests a pure love for his neighbor.”

St Alphonsus Liguori:”Those who desire nothing from this world are masters of the whole world.”

St Gregory the Great: “Be not anxious about what you have, but about what you are… Make use of temporal things, but set your heart on eternal things.”

Let us be faithful and witnessing members of the Church…
… by prioritising for the “true riches of our life!”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
THE FINAL PURIFICATION, OR PURGATORY

This teaching is also based on the practice of prayer for the dead, already mentioned in Sacred Scripture:
“Therefore [Judas Maccabeus] made atonement for the dead, that they might be delivered from their sin.”
From the beginning the Church has honoured the memory of the dead and offered prayers in suffrage for them…
… above all the Eucharistic sacrifice, so that, thus purified, they may attain the beatific vision of God
The Church also commends almsgiving, indulgences, and works of penance undertaken on behalf of the dead:
Let us help and commemorate them.
If Job’s sons were purified by their father’s sacrifice, why would we doubt that our offerings for the dead bring them some consolation?

Let us not hesitate to help those who have died and to offer our prayers for them (CCC # 1032)

“Improving the quality of our lives, and our credibility in being a leader, with the Grace of God and our sincere cooperation with the Lord!”

(Based on Sir 24:4-7, 1 Cor 15:54-58 and Lk 6:39-45 – 8th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C)

In a particular town, there lived a cobbler, who was unable to make a living by his trade.

Driven to despair by his poverty, he accommodated himself in another far-away town and began to practise medicine.
He sold a drug which he claimed to be an antidote for all sorts of poisons.

Towards this end, he also created a great popularity campaign through advertisements and boastful proclamations.

Unfortunately, in a short period, the cobbler himself happened to fall sick to a serious illness.

The ruler of the town sought this as a nice chance to test his medicine’s capability and the man’s genuineness.

For this, the ruler called for a cup, and filling it with water, pretended to mix poison with the cobbler’s antidote…
… commanding him to drink, with a promise of a handsome reward.

The sick cobbler, overcome with much fear and trembling, confessed that he had no knowledge of medicine!

The ruler then called the people of the town and addressed them: “Oh, how foolish are you! You have not hesitated to entrust your heads to a man, whom no one could employ even to make shoes for their feet!”

Often, perhaps, it so happens that we too…
… get fooled in life
… get led by incapable people
… get ourselves to be a slave to unbecoming things

We become blind and perhaps, we also lead others to stumble!

Our Blessed Lord in today’s Gospel invites us to a deep examination of the quality of our lives and our credibility in being a leader

Jesus says, “Can a blind man lead a blind person? Will they not both fall into a pit?” (Lk 6: 39)

This verse is a reference to two sets of people: one, the guide… second, the one who is led.

We could find ourselves in either of these categories or sometimes even both.

We could be a guide or one who is guided or both – a guide as well as one who is guided.

In any of the cases, one needs to examine one’s quality of life.

Am I shrouded in the darkness of being in ignorance and apathy…
… disinterested to learn and be willing to know more…?
… causing others to be misled and creating confusions and misunderstandings…?

Am I a person who is sunk into the dark abyss of being prejudiced and unforgiving….
… unwilling to be open to the truth and adamant in considering even to review or re-examine my viewpoints…?
… blinded to accept differences and failing to cherish diversity and thus constantly being at loggerheads with others…?

Am I veiled continuously under the dark shades of being unjustly critical and judgmental…
… full of pride and being unable to let go of my selfish interests and self-centred wants…?
… enamoured by pleasure in looking for opportunities and means to put down others or find faults with others…?

Our Blessed Lord invites us to make an honest review of our lives and to be always willing to ring in positive transformations.

The book of Sirach reminds us: “When a sieve is shaken, the husks appear; so do one’s faults when one speaks.

As the test of what the potter moulds is in the furnace, so in tribulation is the test of the just.” (Sir 27:4-5)

The level of honesty of our heart is reflected by our words and life

We need to nurture purity and holiness in our heart!

This Sunday is an invitation to all of us, to put into the practise the beautiful saying:

If you use the head with which you reprove others to reprove yourself, there will be fewer faults;
If you use the heart with which you forgive yourself to forgive others, there will be perfect friendship.

Let us improve the quality of our lives, and our credibility in being a leader…
… with the Grace of God and our sincere cooperation with the Lord!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
THE FINAL PURIFICATION, OR PURGATORY

All who die in God’s grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven.
The Church gives the name Purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned.
The Church formulated her doctrine of faith on Purgatory especially at the Councils of Florence and Trent.
The tradition of the Church, by reference to certain texts of Scripture, speaks of a cleansing fire:
As for certain lesser faults, we must believe that, before the Final Judgment, there is a purifying fire. >> He who is truth says that whoever utters blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will be pardoned neither in this age nor in the age to come.

From this sentence, we understand that certain offenses can be forgiven in this age, but certain others in the age to come. (CCC # 1030-1031)

“Being AT HOME with Jesus!”

(Based on Jas 5:13-20 and Mk 10:13-16 – Saturday of the 7th Week in Ordinary Time, Year II)

Home Sweet Home is a phrase that is often used in our parlance.

Home evokes a feeling of comfort, relaxation, wellbeing, ease and contentment.
>> “Feel at home” is a constant invitation that we extend to our guests and visitors and make them feel secure.

>> Some places are naturally able to give us this “homely-feeling”…
>> Some persons are also naturally able to render us this “homely-feeling”…
Jesus, is the one person, who is certainly & surely able to give the “best homely feeling!”

The Gospels are a testimony to this fact…
>> Sinners found a home…
… a solace in the Sanctifying Presence of the Lord!

>> Sick people found a home…
… a remedying cure in the Healing Presence of the Lord!

>> Broken souls found a home…
… a regrouping catalyst in the Restoring Presence of the Lord!

>> Outcast groups found a home…
… an accepting embrace in the Welcoming Presence of the Lord!

>> Hopeless persons found a home…
… an encouraging impetus in the Energetic Presence of the Lord!


In the Gospel of the Day, we encounter another set of Persons who sought to find a Home in the Lord and wanted to experience His comforting love – Little Children

Little children are brought to Jesus to be prayed over and to be blessed… (Mk 10:13)

These Little Children are brought to Jesus so that find a Home in Him- a Home of Blessing & Sanctity!
>> But unfortunately… the Disciples prevented the Little Ones from being brought to Jesus!


How often this happens in our world too: Little things in life often not being given the due importance and are discarded or pushed away…

The Disciples of Jesus fell prey to this sad and pitiable trend of the ‘frantic and frenzied’ world…
>> Perhaps they felt…these little children are a nuisance in the hectic & occupied schedule of Jesus…
>> Perhaps they considered…these little children are an unnecessary burden to an already overburdened Jesus…
>> Perhaps they thought.. these little children are a hindrance in the teaching, healing and preaching ministry of Jesus…


But Jesus, the Home-giver, the Care-provider…. reprimands & reproofs this attitude & approach.
>> He is a Home to the Homeless… He is a Shelter to the Shelterless… He is a Hope to the Hopeless…

He invites the Little Children to be brought to Him & help them feel His Homely Presence!
>> He bids the Little Ones to be brought to Him & let them be touched by His Healing Presence!


In our lives, we at times photocopy this attitude of the Disciples and fall short to approach the Lord: Avoiding the little things of life that give spiritual console and spiritual strength
>> In my work-dominated life…
… Do I fail to spend, a little time in the Homely Presence of the Lord?

>> In my high-styled life…
… Do I miss to realize & enjoy, the little joys in the Providence of the Lord?

>> In my passive life…
Do I take for granted, the favours that I obtain in the Mercy of the Lord?

>> In my tension-filled life…
Do I neglect the blessings, that I receive through the Bounty of the Lord?


People might prevent us…Situations might discourage us…Circumstances might dampen our spirit
>> But, the Lord has a Home for each one of us!

The Lord never gets tired of us… let us go to Him, to seek comfort and solace!
>> The Lord eagerly waits for us… let us run to Him and be blessed and graced in His embrace!
>>>> The Lord has enough time for us … let us approach Him & experience the true happiness of life!

Jesus, is the one person, who is certainly & surely able to give the “best homely feeling!”
>> Let us be AT HOME WITH JESUS!


God Bless! Live Jesus!


– Fr Jijo Jose Manjackal MSFS
📧 reflectioncapsules@gmail.com
Bengaluru, India

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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
>> Because of His transcendence, God cannot be seen as He is, unless He Himself opens up His mystery to man’s immediate contemplation and gives Him the capacity for it.
>> The Church calls this contemplation of God in His heavenly glory “the beatific vision”:

How great will your glory and happiness be, to be allowed to see God, to be honoured with sharing the joy of salvation and eternal light with Christ your Lord and God…
… to delight in the joy of immortality in the Kingdom of heaven with the righteous and God’s friends
>> In the glory of heaven, the blessed continue joyfully to fulfil God’s Will in relation to other men and to all creation.
>> Already they reign with Christ; with Him “they shall reign for ever and ever.” (CCC # 1028-29)
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“Growing in the understanding of ‘being faithful and committed’ in our relations, and ‘feeling at home’ – with God and with one another!”

(Based on Jas 5:9-12 and Mk 10:1-12 – Friday of the 7th Week in Ordinary Time, Year II)

An elderly couple narrates an incident in the life of their daughter.

A couple of weeks after the marriage of their daughter, they got a call from her.

The newly-weds had their first big fight.

After several tense moments over the phone, the mother gave the phone to the father and asked him to speak and console her daughter.

A few minutes later, the father came back to the mother, who had been sitting worriedly, in the living room.

“What happened? What did she say”, asked the tense mother.

“She wanted to come home” replied the father.

“Oh! Then what did you tell her?” enquired the worried mother

“I told her” said the father, “she was already home!”

Yes…
… once married, the husband and wife form one home, “leaving their father and mother!”

This was the truth that was explained by the father to her daughter.

Marriage is a sacred institution – a precious covenant – that demands a lifelong commitment and a faithful dedication, despite the ups and downs of life.

It is this message that is driven home by Jesus in today’s Gospel when He expounds His teaching on the sacredness of the Covenant of Marriage.

The passage begins with a testing interrogation by the Pharisees, “Is it lawful for a husband to divorce his wife?” (Mk 10: 2a)

St Mark clearly points the intention of the Pharisees in asking this question to Jesus: “To test Him” (Mk 10: 2b)

Jesus was in the district of Judea, across the Jordan (Mk 10:1)

Is there something specific in this particular detail being mentioned – “across the Jordan?”

“Across the Jordan” was the place where John the Baptist had been working (Jn 1: 28)

By mentioning the place, St Mark alludes to the outcome that had befallen on John the Baptist.

John the Baptist had got into great persecution because of his open-condemnation of the adulterous relationship of King Herod with Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip. (Mk 6:17)

By putting forward the “same question of divorce” before Jesus, the Pharisees were laying a much greater trap…
… If Jesus condemned divorce, it could amount to an act of treason against King Herod, the ruler of the land!

John the Baptist had lost his head due to the strong stance on the issue of divorce

Now Jesus, is also being snared into such a life-threatening trap!

But Jesus remains the Person that He is – uncompromising, unflinching, convinced, bold and daring!

A big lesson for us too, to learn from Jesus…

There will be situations in life when people get into our skin, trying to put us into confusion and even states of danger…
… Can we still remain undaunted and courageous to stand firm on our convictions and principles?

Jesus came to the world to demonstrate the magnanimity of God’s Love.

This magnanimity includes…
… His unconditional manner of loving us, irrespective of our worthiness
… His unreserved faithfulness to us, despite our many acts of betrayal and disloyalty

It is this model of God’s love that becomes the blueprint for us in loving others, and especially in a marriage relationship.

The partners, pledged in love to each other in marriage, ought to imitate the love that God has for us…

We have cheated and strayed away from what God wants of us…
… He still loves us and is faithful to us

We have, on innumerable occasions, spat at His face by our shameful deeds and defamed His name by our sinful acts…
… He still holds us close to Him and remains loyal to us

We have, despite many warnings, purposely hurt Him in thoughts, words and deeds and even rejected His graces by not co-operating with His Will for us…
… He still waits patiently for our return and constantly seeks to draw us to Him

We have failed Him many times, but He has always made efforts to try to win us
We have hurt and pained Him much, but He has still longs for us, with His soothing balm of acceptance

It is this “magnanimity of God’s Love” that becomes the basis, the inspiration and the ideal in every marriage relationship.

Therefore Jesus says, “What therefore God has joined, let not man put asunder” (Mt 19: 6b)

We live in a world where the quickest solution to many problems is found in “throwing it away!”

And the same mentality affects human relationships too… especially to those in marriage.

The challenge therefore is to dare to swim against these worldly currents and bring in the “Jesus Culture of Faithful Commitment” in human relationships, especially of marriage.

Theoretically speaking, this sounds quite good and wonderful.

But when it comes down to the actual practice… in married lives… it is undoubtedly a very hard effort.

“But what is impossible for humans is possible for God” (Lk 18: 27), is the assurance of Jesus.

When the going gets really hard and we want to call it ‘quits’ in our relationships…
… let us look to Jesus who said “Yes to the Will of God” in the painful agony at Gethsemane

There may seem no hope ahead…
There may appear only meaninglessness ahead…
Still, can we say Yes to God’s Will – to be faithful and committed?

When none of our efforts of restoration work out and we get ‘fed’ up and feel to have reached the ‘limit’ in relationships…
… let us look to Jesus Crucified, who was never ‘fed’ up with our misdeeds and our constant misunderstanding and misuse of His love

It may look like the end of the road…
It may seem that all the past was mere fantasy and the future appears to be non-existent…
Still, can we hold on to Hope in God – to be true to our promise and be loyal?

The promises made…

to our Faith in Baptism
to the spouse in Marriage
to the Lord in Consecrated and Priestly Life
… all demand an undissolved commitment, an undiluted faithfulness and an unmixed dedication.

Let us grow in the understanding of “being faithful and committed” in our relations…
… and to “feel at home” – with God and with one another.

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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By His death and Resurrection, Jesus Christ has “opened” heaven to us.
The life of the blessed consists in the full and perfect possession of the fruits of the redemption accomplished by Christ.
He makes partners in hIs heavenly glorification those who have believed in Him and remained faithful to His Will.
Heaven is the blessed community of all who are perfectly incorporated into Christ.
This mystery of blessed communion with God and all who are in Christ is beyond all understanding and description.

Scripture speaks of it in images: life, light, peace, wedding feast, wine of the kingdom, the Father’s house, the heavenly Jerusalem, paradise: “no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man conceived, what God has prepared for those who love Him (CCC # 1026-27)

“Living a saintly life and attracting many to Christ!”

(Based on Jas 5:1-6 and Mk 9:41-50 – Thursday of the 7th Week in Ordinary Time, Year II)

An experience is narrated of a family who went to visit the world-famous Niagara Falls.

It was spring, and ice was rushing down the river.

As the family members viewed the large blocks of ice flowing toward the falls, they could see that there were carcasses of dead fish embedded in the ice.

A large number of sea-gulls (= birds, which feed mainly on fish) were riding down the river, feeding on the fish.

As they came to the brink of the falls, their wings would go out, and they would escape from the falls.

However there was one particular sea-gull, which seemed to delay much in flying.

It was deeply engrossed in the carcass of a fish.

Finally, only when it came to the brink of the falls, did it “flap its wings”.
…But it was a moment too late!

The bird flapped and flapped and even lifted the ice out of the water.

But it had delayed too long so that its claws had frozen into the ice.

The weight of the ice was too great, and the gull plunged into the abyss!

Excessive attachment and attraction, at the expense of “letting go”, cost the sea-gull its life!

How true is the saying: “The finest attractions of this world become deadly when one becomes overly attached to them.”

The Gospel of the Day is the powerful exhortation of Jesus on the need to “cut-off and pluck-off” ANYTHING which causes us to sin…
…thus according the prime duty of every follower of Christ to meticulously and diligently pursue the paths of holiness!

Jesus uses an extreme language to convey this message across:
“If your hand causes you to sin… cut it off!
If your foot causes you to sin… cut it off!
If your eye causes you to sin… pluck it off!” (Mk 9: 43,45,47)

The hand….the foot… and the eye… are three faculties which are extremely vital for a person’s activities:
The hand: points to the things “that we do”
The foot: points to the places “that we go”
The eye: points to the things “that we see or desire”

Jesus, thus refers to ANYTHING, which causes sin, to be totally be dismembered.

We need to make an honest examination of our lives…

What are the areas of my life, which cause me to sin…
… and keeps me away, from pursuing holiness?

Who are the people in my life, who lead me to sin…
… or keep me away from becoming closer to the Lord?

Which are the activities, which instigates me to sin…
… and renders me a slave to the wiles of the devil?

As human beings, there could be a naturally tendency….
… to easily get attached to things which attract and allure us
… to find it hard to let go of situations which gives us momentary pleasure and vain gratification
… to be impelled to remain holding onto certain people, even though we know they cause us to sin

But the Lord calls for an honest examination of our life…
…and dares us to “let go” of anything that would cause us to be unworthy of His Love.

May we seek to not get “attached” or “stuck” to the peripheries of life…
…instead “flap our wings” in the proper time…
… and pursue the paths of holiness and sanctity!

Let our lives be a saintly one, attracting many to Christ…
… and not a scandalous one, repelling many from Christ!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
HEAVEN

This perfect life with the Most Holy Trinity – this communion of Life and Love with the Trinity, with the Virgin Mary, the angels and all the blessed – is called “heaven.”
Heaven is the ultimate end and fulfilment of the deepest human longings, the state of supreme, definitive happiness.

To live in heaven is “to be with Christ.”
The elect live “in Christ,” but they retain, or rather find, their true identity, their own name.

For life is to be with Christ; where Christ is, there is life, there is the kingdom (CCC # 1024-1025)

“Living in faith and love, conviction and commitment – and becoming worthy to be truly called as the children of our Heavenly Father”

(Based on Jas 4:13-17 and Mk 9:38-40 – Wednesday of the 7th Week in Ordinary Time, Year II)

A man possessed a ring set with wonderful diamonds.

This ring was a charm – whoever wore it, became so sweet and true in character that all people loved him.

It was always passed down from father to son, and always it did its work.

As time went on, it came to a father who had three sons whom he loved with an equal love.

What was he to do when the time came to pass on the ring?

The father had an idea…
… He made two other rings made precisely the same way – so that none could tell the difference.

On his death-bed he called each of his sons in, spoke some words of love … and without telling the other, gave to each a ring.

When the three sons discovered that each had a ring, a great dispute arose as to which was the true ring.

The case was taken to a wise judge.

He examined the case, and then spoke:
“If the true ring gives sweetness to the character of the man who wears it,” said the judge, “then I and all people will know the man who possesses the true ring by the goodness of his life.

So, go your ways -Be kind, Be truthful, Be brave, Be just in your dealings.

He who does these things will be the owner of the true ring.”

The owner of the original ring was to be found by the life that they lived!

Am I a possessor of the “Ring” of Christian Faith?

Then it needs to be displayed by a life of faith and love

Am I wearing the “Ring” of being a follower of Christ?

Then it needs to be exhibited by a life of conviction and commitment

The incident in today’s Gospel focuses on how Jesus opens the minds of His disciples to “not get limited” by peripherals of religion…
… Instead to focus on the power of God and to live a life worthy of our Christian Calling!

One of the disciples – John – told Jesus: “Teacher, we saw a man casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him, because he was not following Us” (Mk 9:38)

An act of demoniac-healing was being conducted by one who was “not in Jesus’ group”

The disciples were alarmed by it…
… they felt it their duty to forbid it, since that man was outside their “boundary”
… they would have felt within themselves, “How can he who is not with us, do such things?”
… there might perhaps even been a tinge of jealousy, since sometime back, they themselves couldn’t heal a possessed-boy (Mk 9:18)

This incident of the Gospel has a marked parallel in the Book of Numbers 11: 25-29

The Lord had spoken to Moses and bestowed the spirit on seventy chosen elders
Among them, two named Eldad and Medad were not in the gathering, but left in the camp
Joshua, came rushing to Moses and complained, “Stop them… they are prophesying in the camp”
To that, Moses replied sternly, “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the people of the LORD were prophets!” (Num 11: 29)

Many times, among the “chosen people”, there could be such a tendency to “monopolize” Divine gifts

There could be occasions when “selected persons” feel themselves to be having a special right and privilege, to which no others can lay claim!

But the Lord seeks to break such fake boundaries and false borders, by telling:
“Whoever is not against us, is for us” (Mk 9:40)

The quality of our Christian Life will be not assessed, simply by the vocation to which we are called…
…but by our life of faithfulness and fidelity

The Christian Vocation is not merely a “title” to be hung around in pride…
… it is a responsible duty that is to be carried out with sincerity and earnestness

The Call to be a member of God’s Kingdom is not merely a “plaque” to be carried around for gratification…
… it is an accountable task that is to be performed with dedication and perseverance

Yes…

We need to let go of our “restricted, narrow and prejudiced” mindsets and be open to the working of God’s Spirit, in any people

As Christians, we all are blest with the “ring” of being called the followers of Christ

Let us live with faith and love, conviction and commitment – and become to worthy to be truly called as the “Children of our Heavenly Father”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
HEAVEN

Those who die in God’s grace and friendship and are perfectly purified live for ever with Christ. They are like God for ever, for they “see him as He is,” face to face
By virtue of our apostolic authority, we define the following: According to the general disposition of God, the souls of all the saints and other faithful who died after receiving Christ’s holy Baptism (provided they were not in need of purification when they died, or, if they then did need or will need some purification, when they have been purified after death) already before they take up their bodies again and before the general judgment…
… and this since the Ascension of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ into heaven – have been, are and will be in heaven, in the heavenly Kingdom and celestial paradise with Christ, joined to the company of the holy angels.

Since the Passion and death of our Lord Jesus Christ, these souls have seen and do see the divine essence with an intuitive vision, and even face to face, without the mediation of any creature. (CCC # 1023)

“Drawing closer to Jesus, the Great Rock Who will help us to stand firm and become passionate in service of the Church!”

(Based on the Feast of the Chair of St Peter, the Apostle)

A soldier working in the army – who was known for his bravery and never-give-up attitude – was asked by a journalist:
“What is the motivation for you to be so valiant and strong in your service?”

To that, the soldier replied: “Well, we have a saying in our army…
… and I try to follow that.

The saying is this: ‘If someone says, he is not afraid of death…
… then he is either lying
… or he is in the army!’

I have lived in this way of life… living this truth!”

As Christians, we are all soldiers of Christ!

Are we ready to have the courage to face any situation of difficulty, including death…
… and seek to be ever faithful to the Lord and His Church?

Today, we are invited to renew our love and commitment to the Church as we celebrate the Feast of the “See of St Peter” (Chair of St Peter).

This Feast celebrates Christ choosing St Peter to “sit” in authority as the visible leader of the Church on earth.

The “See of St Peter” or the “Chair of St Peter” in the words of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI is “a symbol of the special mission of Peter and his Successors…
… to tend Christ’s flock, keeping it united in faith and in charity!”

This feast brings to mind the mission conferred by Christ on St Peter, the First Pope, and continued in an unbroken line down to the present Pope.

We celebrate the unity of the Church, founded upon the Apostle, and renew our assent to the Magisterium of the Roman Pontiff!

The Gospel of the Day presents to us the Faith Statement of Peter, the leader of the band of the Apostles, and Jesus declaring to him:
“…on this rock, I will build my Church; and never will the powers of death overcome it!” (Mt 16:18)

Jesus – the Great Rock entrusts to Peter, the rock and assures Him that the Church will always stay rock-grounded!

The Lord had…
… and still has great Faith and Trust in His Church

But, personally, we need to ask: Am I sometimes doubtful, uncertain and hesitant with respect to the Church?

This Feast is a good opportunity for us to get to some of the Basics of the Church.

The word “Church”….in Greek… is Ekklesia.

Ekklesia can be split to two words… “ek” = out of + “kaleo” = to call

This gives us an important meaning of EKKLESIA – THE CHURCH…. TO BE CALLED OUT OF….

The Church is a body
…to be called out of the world
… into being a Family and Fellowship in God!

The Church is a body…to be called out of materialistic and worldly gains…
… and be a sign of hope and salvation!

This gives us a clue to many aspects of the Church
…and which will help our own understanding

The Church is not a mere building…
… the Church is the People of God.

We often reduce the Church – especially in our everyday vocabulary – to a mere building made of stones and cement…

But, we need to realise and remember that the Church is made of living stones (1 Pet 2:5)
… and all of us need to contribute our mite in keeping alive this Church of God.

Do I…
… give my share of talents and gifts to the Church is keeping it effective and relevant for our modern times?
… make sacrifices and offer prayers for the Church so that she may stand strong in the midst of struggles?
… promote and encourage the teachings of the Church and find beauty and wisdom in them?

Perhaps one reason we find ourselves in a cribbing position, with respect to the Church is because of our failure to understand its nature…
… and also have our own misunderstandings and prejudices.

When Jesus asked His disciples, “Who am I” (Mt 16: 13) he got varied answers…

The Mystery of Jesus was so great…
… people failed to grasp who actually He was…

The Mystery of the Church is also great…
… that people fail to understand her and even form opposing opinions!

We may feel that the Church is too traditional and too conservative and too authoritarian…

But we fail to see that she has preserved much morals…
… kept safe human values
… and promoted holiness

We may feel that the Church is all too mistaken in many areas and has committed many blunders…

But we ought to know that the Church has a human dimension and despite it, the Spirit of the Lord leads

We may feel that the Church is just too bad with scandals and has lost all credibility…

But we need to realize that the evil one attacks those who strive for sanctity and tries to disrupt God’s plans

The Church undergoes the pain of many misunderstandings…
… Christ too underwent the same.

The Church suffers the bad name of being called by many names….
… Christ too underwent the same.

From a negative aspect, what is a Hospital?

Diseases, Blood, Pus, Screaming, Pains, Twisted bodies, Suffering..

But from a Positive Aspect, what is a Hospital?

Care, Healing, Love, Solace, Relief, Aid, Selfless Service….

Our Church can be understood in similar tones…

Weaknesses are plenty…
… yet, when seen from a Divine perspective, she is Holy!

All of us are concerned about the growing confutation of the Church and Christian values in our society…

But we who are Baptized, and who seek the good of the Church…
… ought to join our hands and seek to revive the relevance and importance of the Church.

The Church has its weaknesses…
But the Church needs…
… Powerful Persons… in You and Me!
… Passionate Lovers of God… in You and Me!
… Committed Preachers of the Word… in You and Me!

The Body of Christ while hanging on the Cross was weak
… but “No bone of His, was broken” (Jn 19:36)

The Church of Christ while living in the world maybe weak
… but No bone shall be broken!
“…on this rock, I will build my Church; and never will the powers of death overcome it!”

St Peter, after having personally experienced the Presence and Power of Jesus in his life, could write with deep conviction:
“When the Chief Shepherd is manifested, you will obtain the unfading crown of glory!” (1 Pet 5:4)

Let us draw closer to Jesus, the Great Rock Who will help us to stand firm and become passionate in service of the Church…

And being ready to face any challenge or problem, let it be said of us:
“If someone says, he is not afraid of death or problems in life…
… then he is either lying
… or he is a Christian!”

Happy Feast Day!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
THE PARTICULAR JUDGMENT

Death puts an end to human life as the time open to either accepting or rejecting the Divine Grace manifested in Christ.
The New Testament speaks of judgment primarily in its aspect of the final encounter with Christ in his second coming…
… but also repeatedly affirms that each will be rewarded immediately after death in accordance with his works and faith.
The parable of the poor man Lazarus and the words of Christ on the cross to the good thief, as well as other New Testament texts speak of a final destiny of the soul – a destiny which can be different for some and for others.
Each man receives his eternal retribution in his immortal soul at the very moment of his death, in a particular judgment that refers his life to Christ: either entrance into the blessedness of heaven-through a purification or immediately…
… or immediate and everlasting damnation.

At the evening of life, we shall be judged on our love (CCC # 1021-1022)