“Making a choice to be a Disciple of Christ – and to be ever-faithful and a committed Christian!”

(Based on Amos 2:6-10, 13-16 and Mt 8:18-22 – Monday of the 13th Week in Ordinary Time, Year 2)

A motivational speaker was addressing a group of youngsters…
… and was insisting on the importance of “making the right choices in life”

She quoted Ann Voskamp, a Canadian Author and said:
“Remember…
Busy is a choice!
Stress is a choice!
Joy is a choice!
Choose well….!”

Our choices go a long way, in determining the quality of our life!

Christianity requires us to make choices…
… choices for the Kingdom
… choices of Kingdom virtues over worldly ways

In a world where there is an insistent inclination to the “Instant”….

Instant Coffees…
Instant Food…
Instant Juices…
Instant Pleasures…
Instant Solutions to problems…
Instant end to difficulties…

And sadly… even an inclination for Instant Christianity!
… we are called forth to make choices that enhance our commitment to the Kingdom.

The Gospel of the Day is a call to re-look at some of the motives and intentions in our following of Christ…
… and to make the right choices.

The Gospel of the Day begins with the verse:
Mt 8:18 – “When He saw the crowd press around Him, Jesus gave orders to cross to the other shore”

The preceding verses in Chapter 8 of the Gospel of St Matthew present Jesus performing many miracles and healings…
… and a “Crowd” being attracted to the Lord.

Where there is a miraculous event, a crowd gathers….
But the Lord, wished to sift this Crowd.

He says, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His Head” (Mt 8: 20)

Jesus does away with any promise of security and comfort

He discourages people from following Him for having a better material life!

It was not that He didn’t want many people…
… but He wished to purify their motives & make them authentic in their following Him!

He sifts and sieves and strains the “Crowd”…
… to get together the “Disciples”.

Where there is a miraculous event, a crowd gathers…

But when there is an exhortation in being committed to that miraculous event…
… the crowd is filtered
… and only the Disciples remain back!

The Lord is asking us today…
Are we just a part of the CROWD…?
… or are we ready to be filtered, and be a DISCIPLE?

Christianity sometimes gets reduced to…
… Going to Church once in a while especially on a Sunday or a Feast day
… Saying a few prayers time to time
… Reading a few verses from the Bible.. etc…

And then expecting Instant blessings and favours!

But is this all that Christ intended with Christianity?

We are exhorted to move from the tendency reduce Christianity as just a part time affair, or in terms of some contract or promises, or in order to achieve some wants and desires…
… and instead to be Christian as a full timer!

It is easy to be part of a Crowd….

We can enjoy the occasional miracles
We can relish hearing the Word of God

But it is not easy to be a Disciple…

The experience of external miracles would be few
The Word of God would not just be heard, but also be expected to be lived and practised in life!
There would be no guarantee of any security in life
Many of the personal desires would have to be left behind…

To be a Disciple is hard…
… undoubtedly painful…and certainly, demanding

But to be a Disciple is also joyful…
… undoubtedly satisfying…and certainly, exciting!!

The Crowd is Casual…
… the Disciple is Dedicated!

The Crowd is Dichotomous…
… the Disciple is Committed!

What are we going to choose?
To be part of the “Crowd”- as an easy-going Christian?
… or to be a “Disciple” – as an ever-faithful and committed Christian?

Your answer please?…
… Instantly!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
MAN’S VOCATION LIFE IN THE SPIRIT – GOD’S SALVATION: LAW AND GRACE – GRACE AND JUSTIFICATION

It is the opinion of St. Augustine that “the justification of the wicked…
… is a greater work than the creation of heaven and earth,”

… because “heaven and earth will pass away but the salvation and justification of the elect will not pass away! (CCC # 1994)

“Offering our world of burdens to Jesus, telling Him, ‘Here I am Lord; here’s my life. I give you my world, the whole world’ and thus feel energetic and enthusiastic!”

(Based on Wis 1:13-15; 2:23-24, 2 Cor 8:7, 9, 13-15 and Mk 5:21-43 – 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B)

A person came to a spiritual counsellor to share his difficulties and problems of life.

During the break of the counselling session, as the two took a walk in the garden area, the person who was had come to share the difficulties, noticed a large statue of the Atlas.

(The Statue of Atlas is of a well-built man, who with all his muscles straining…
… is holding the world upon his shoulders)

Seeing that statue of Atlas who was struggling to hold the world, the man told the counsellor:
“Do you see that man struggling to hold the world on his shoulders?

That’s exactly how I feel in my life as well!
The burden of the whole world seems to be on my shoulders and I feel exasperated!”

The counsellor gave a gentle smile to the man and asked him to have his eyes on the other side of the street.
“Look at that statue,” said the counsellor.

The man noticed, at a distance, the statue of Infant Jesus…
… Who was holding the world(globe) in His Hands.

And the counsellor continued:
“We have a choice in life!

We can either follow Atlas and feel as if the entire world of burden is placed on my shoulders…
… and thus feel exasperated and exhausted!
Or we can follow Jesus and offer our world of burdens to Him, Who will hold it in His Hands…
… and thus feel energetic and enthusiastic!

The Gospel of the Day recounts two people who had an encounter with Jesus, and offered their world of burdens to Him…
… and thus felt energetic and enthusiastic!

Sicknesses and diseases are great interrupters in life…
.. they enter into the house of life, without knocking at the doors
… they disrupt many plans and aspirations
… they reduce the hope for the future

The Gospel is a narration of two persons who encountered this interruption in life…

1. Jairus’ daughter – on the death bed – would have dashed many hopes of their family
2. The long suffering of the woman – with hemorrhage – would have crushed her aspirations

Both these persons – Jairus and the woman with the hemorrhage underwent similar struggles….

One had tremendous mental agony as a result of worry for his beloved child…

The other had also tremendous physical agony along with her mental and social stigmas…

Both their sufferings had reached a saturation point of tolerance…

Both of them were struggling immensely to swim across the ocean of agony and pain…

But both these persons also displayed a similar sort of faith in the Lord….
“Seeing Jesus, Jairus fell at His feet and pleaded earnestly with Him…” (Mk 5:22)

“…realizing what had happened to her, the woman approached Jesus in fear and trembling; fell down before Jesus and told Him the whole truth” (Mk5: 33)

They both “offered their world of burdens” to Jesus…
… in deep faith and trust…
… with much love and devotion
… with great expectations and hopes

The “offering of their burdens” was a sign of total submission and surrender

Jairus offered himself to the power and mercy of the Lord…
The woman with haemorrhage offered herself to the compassion and love of the Lord…
This made them to experience the power of the Lord.

When we offer ourselves fully to the holy and precious Will of the Lord…
… we come in contact with His Divine Providence and Wonder

When we submit ourselves to the mighty power and providence of God…
…we experience His Divine Strength and Courage

When we surrender ourselves to the dominion and sovereignty of God…
… we encounter His marvelous presence and guidance

Our Christian Life – with all its challenges – places before us choices:

We can either feel that the entire world of burden is placed on our shoulders…
… and thus feel exasperated and exhausted!

Or we can offer our world of burdens to Jesus, telling Him, “’Here I am Lord; here’s my life. I give you my world, the whole world’…
… and thus feel energetic and enthusiastic!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
MAN’S VOCATION LIFE IN THE SPIRIT – GOD’S SALVATION: LAW AND GRACE – GRACE AND JUSTIFICATION

Justification is the most excellent work of God’s love…

… made manifest in Christ Jesus and granted by the Holy Spirit. (CCC # 1994)

“Entrusting our lives into the hands of God, the Great and Amazing Script-Writer!”

(Based on the Solemnity of St Peter and St Paul)

It is said that World History is a victorious story written by the winners…
… through the lives of proud emperors, famous rulers, triumphant troops

But Salvation History is written by God…
… through the lives of humble saints, repentant sinners and passionate lovers of the Lord!

God is an amazing script writer!

His Divine Wisdom, beautifully pens lives…

But often, we fail to understand this script.

Failures, disappointments, tragedies…are mostly, considered by us, as the end of our lives.

Today, Holy Mother, the Church invites our attention to two persons: St Peter and St Paul…
… who faced failures, disappointments and tragedies…

But remarkably, through the Divine Plan, their lives were scripted to a classic story….!

Yes…
… It’s a day to celebrate the Solemnity of the two Great Saints of the Church – St Peter and St Paul.

St Peter was overwhelmed by the Great Fishermen of Hearts!

All through his life, we see St Peter, varying between many emotions – over-zealous, impatient, bold, courageous, simple, daring etc

St Paul was overpowered by the tremendous power of the Risen Lord!

All through his life, we see St Paul, displaying many characteristics – zealous and passionate, fervent and ardent, bold and courageous.

God, the Great Script Writer, knew exactly well, these two personalities!

Their life is a paradox.

Both had their moments of rejecting, persecuting, betraying and doubting the Lord…
Both had their moments of a “turning point”…
… St Peter’s call to be a Fisher of People & the Lord once again accepting him, in love, after Resurrection
… St Paul on his way to Damascus, being prevailed over by the Majestic Power of the Risen Lord!

Both had their moments of being misunderstood and facing tough moments from the people, especially, the close people, with whom, they lived with, and to whom they ministered.
Both had their moments of sharing in the Cross of Christ, in His Chalice of Suffering and in the Baptism of a Holy Death!

Today, both are honoured & venerated as Stalwarts of our Faith & the Pillars of the Church.

Peter was also known as Simon…
… Paul was also known as Saul.

Peter was the fisherman, the small-town Galilean Jew…
… Paul was the Pharisee, the scholar of the Law.

Peter was conscious of the Faith’s Old Testament roots…
… Paul had found in Christ, “all things new.”

Peter had lived and walked with Jesus…
… Paul had encountered the Risen Jesus.

Peter was crucified on an inverted cross…
… Paul was martyred by the sword.

Two very different persons… Two different temperaments.

But ONE in their Zeal, Passion, Love, Mission, Enthusiasm, Fervour…
… All for the Lord!

It’s also interesting to note they choice of the Lord for the ministries entrusted to them.

1. Peter – a fisherman, an illiterate and a simple person…
   … would have been suited to go to the simple Gentile people for evangelisation

But Peter would be sent to the highly educated and great-profiled Jews!

2. Paul – a highly learned man, well-versed in scripture and himself a Pharisee, trained under Gamaliel, the great teacher…
   … would have been ideal to be sent to the sophisticated Jews

But Paul would sent to the simple Gentiles!

God’s Ways are indeed strange and wierd, isn’t it?

But that’s where these two great saints teach us the way to greatness and holiness: Humility and Obedience!

Be Humble: to accept any given task – big or small – knowing that the Grace of God will keep you safe!
Be Obedient: to wholeheartedly and joyfully do everything that comes as the Will of God – knowing that the Power of the Lord will keep you protected!

These saints have much to teach us…and much to be imitated…!

Is the story of our life, suffering from a bad-script, at the moment?

There is Hope… in the Lord!

Are there areas in our life, where there is persecution?

There is Salvation… in the Lord!

Are there moments in our life when we feel betrayed or cheated?

There is Love… in the Lord!

Are there situations of rejection and loneliness in our life?

There is Acceptance… in the Lord!

Are there times of doubt or tears or pain in the depth of our heart?

There is Healing… in the Lord!

The Lord, the Mighty Rock… declared St Peter to be the Rock!

The Lord, the Good News… declared St Paul to be the Evangelizer!

Today He invites us to imitate & follow the example of these Humble yet Great Saints of the Church.

Like St Peter, may we grow in faith, to declare, “Jesus, You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God” (Mt 16:16)

Like St Paul, may we advance in holiness, to declare, “I now no longer live; Christ lives in me!” (Gal 2:20)

Let us grow in Obedience, in Love and in Dependence… like St Peter

Let us grow in Passion, in Courage and in Openness… like St Paul!

Let us entrust our lives into the hands of God, the Great and Amazing Script-Writer…
… The One Who can draw straight, with crooked lines!

Happy Feast to the Pillars of the Church….
… and to us, the Seekers of their Intercession and Zeal!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
MAN’S VOCATION LIFE IN THE SPIRIT – GOD’S SALVATION: LAW AND GRACE – GRACE AND JUSTIFICATION

When God touches man’s heart through the illumination of the Holy Spirit…
… man himself is not inactive while receiving that inspiration…
…. since he could reject it
And yet, without God’s grace…

… he cannot by his own free will move himself toward justice in God’s sight. (CCC # 1993)

“Showing the world that we are redeemed, so that they will believe in our Redeemer!”

(Based on 2 Kings 25:1-12 and Mt 8:1-4 – Friday of the 12th Week in Ordinary Time, Year 2)

A missionary who stepped into a village for the first time had an interaction with the village headman.

After knowing that the missionary was there to speak about the Gospel, the village headman, who was open to the truth, stood up…
… and asked the missionary: “Do you want us to know about Jesus Christ?
Then prove it also by your life!”

He went on to say, “As I welcome you to this village, I also appeal to you:

Not only tell us about Christ, but show us Christ!

Show us that you are redeemed, and we will believe in your Redeemer!”

Yes, so true is the saying: “Christianity refuses to be proved first and practiced afterwards…
… its practice and its proof go hand in hand!”

Theoretical knowledge shows the whole forest – builds the context and helps to set strategy.
Practical knowledge shows a single tree – puts forth the situation and challenges to act.

The Gospel of the Day is the narrative of the ‘first in the series’ of practical applications of the theoretical knowledge…
… that Jesus has expounded through the Sermon on the Mount

The Gospel is a great challenge to all of us who are expected to “Not only tell about Christ, but also show Christ!”

The incident of the cleansing of the Leper in Mt 8: 1-4 is placed immediately after the Great Sermon on the Mount (Mt 5:1- 7:29)

The Sermon on the Mount was the theoretical knowledge that Jesus expounded

The cleansing of the leper is the theoretical application of some of those principles

At the start of the Sermon on the Mount, we read “When Jesus saw the CROWDS, He went up to the mountain…..” (Mt 5:1)

At the end of the Sermon on the Mount, we read, “When Jesus came down from the mountain, great CROWDS followed Him” (Mt 8:1)

Many people in the crowd have listened and marvelled at the teachings of Jesus.
Many of them now follow Him…

Perhaps to see how He would apply those lofty teachings in real life
Perhaps to see whether all those high ideas were really liveable in actual life

And what is the scene that they encounter?

A leper who approaches Jesus!

“A leper!!”… Ooops!!

“Stay away, all” would have been the united chorus of that multitude of crowd!

Leprosy was one of the most feared and dreaded disease of the ancient world.

The Hebrew word for leprosy (Tsara’ath) comes from a root word which means “to scourge or to strike.”

Leprosy was very often, considered a curse.

It was incurable and highly deadly – blatantly evident on the body and an ugly sight!

Leprosy was almost a ‘living death’, with many sweeping implications.

A person would be declared a leper after tests were performed (Lev. 13).

Once declared a leper by the priest, the leper had to be cut-off from contact with society.

He had to display marks of mourning, as if for the dead (thus, to touch him would defile oneself)
When someone drew near, he had to call out, “Unclean! Unclean!”

He had to remain outside the camp with no access to the temple or perform any worship.
Leprosy was, indeed, a living death!

The crowd who saw this leper approach and worship Jesus would have had mixed feelings – shock… anger… unpleasantness…

They would have been also very curious what would Jesus do…
“He preached so much… let’s see what He does now”

“Is He really going to touch and get defiled by that dirty leper?”

But the Lord was not just well-versed in theoretical knowledge; He was also the perfect executioner of applied knowledge!

Theoretically He had said…
“Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the Pharisees and the Scribes, you shall not enter the Kingdom of heaven” (Mt 5:20)

Practically…
He now goes beyond the ceremonial stipulations of the Law and ‘touches’ and heals the leper (Mt 8:3)

Theoretically He had said…
“… take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them” (Mt 6:1)

Practically…
He tells the leper not to make a publicized show of his cure; instead to ‘show himself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded’ (Mt 8:4)

Theoretically He had said…
“Judge not, that, you may not be judged” (Mt 7:1)

Practically…
He doesn’t condemn or despise or mock the leper who comes close to him and instead expresses his whole-hearted willingness to shower mercy on him by saying, “I am willing; be clean” (Mt 8:3)

Theoretically He had said…
“Not everyone who says Lord, Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the Will of the Father in heaven” (7:21)

Practically…
He puts into effect His teachings, ‘walking the talk’ and fulfilling the Will of the Father to be a Healer and Saviour to people.

The Lord was not just an eloquent and effective preacher but also a committed and convinced practiser of what He spoke.

His deeds matched His wonderful words!
His words produced dazzling deeds!
This then is the invitation to us too:
To have an integral Christian Life by being…
.. a Preacher of the Word (in whichever little or insignificant way possible)
… and a Practiser of the Word (through a witnessing and charitable life)

May the touch of the Lord take away any ‘leprous’ tendencies in our mind and life and free us from any bondage in order to live a firm and committed Christian Life!

Let us all become a zealous missionary with a clear awareness that we “not only need tell about Christ, but we also need to show Christ to the world!”

Yes, “let us show the world that we are redeemed, so that they will believe in our Redeemer!”

Today let us specially seek the intercession of St Irenaeus, the 2nd century Church Father and Apologist.

Let us give great heed to his words of warning, and thus seek to Love Christ and His Church more fervently and faithfully…
… “Error, indeed is never set forth in its naked deformity, lest, being thus exposed, it should at once be detected.

But it is craftily decked out in an attractive dress, so as, by its outward form…
… to make it appear to the inexperienced more true than truth itself!”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
MAN’S VOCATION LIFE IN THE SPIRIT – GOD’S SALVATION: LAW AND GRACE – GRACE AND JUSTIFICATION

Justification establishes cooperation between God’s grace and man’s freedom.
On man’s part it is expressed by the assent of faith to the Word of God…
… which invites him to conversion, and in the cooperation of charity

… with the prompting of the Holy Spirit who precedes and preserves his assent. (CCC # 1993)

“Having Jesus alone as the Firm Rock and the Grand Forte of our lives!”

(Based on 2 Kgs 24:8-17 and Mt 7:21-29 – Thursday of the 12th Week in Ordinary Time, Year 2)

In 1174, an Italian architect Bonnano Pisano began work on a bell tower for the Cathedral of the city of Pisa.
>> The tower was to be around 185 feet tall.

There was just one “little” problem:
The builders quickly discovered that the soil was much softer than they had anticipated…
>> And soon the whole structure had begun to tilt…
… and it continued to tilt…
… until finally the realized that nothing could be done to make the Leaning Tower of Pisa straight again!

(Quite interestingly, the word “Pisa” means “Marshy Land,” which gives some clue as to why the tower began to lean even before it was completed!)

The tower has stood for over 800 years but there are still problems!

What was the problem?
>> Was it bad design?
>> Poor workmanship?
>> An inferior grade of materials?
… No!!

The problem was what was underneath.
>> The sandy soil on which the city of Pisa was built was must not stable enough to support a monument of this size.


The problems all stem from a faulty foundation!
>> And the same holds good for our lives too!

Many problems in life emerge because of a very poor and shaky foundation…

>> One fails to do well in academic studies…
… if one has a poor foundation in the fundamentals of the subject.

>> One fails to be emotionally stable…
… if one has a poor foundation of not having received affection in the early years.

>> One fails to achieve expertise in a skill or an art…
…  if one has a poor foundation in the essentials and the basics.

The higher the aims and achievements, the greater must be the basics!
>> The loftier the building, the deeper must the foundation be laid!

This is a message and an exhortation that is delivered by Jesus in today’s Gospel reading.


We have been with the Lord, over the last few days, listening to His teaching named as the ‘Sermon on the Mount’, which is a call to perfect discipleship.

St Matthew’s Gospel, today, concludes this amazing teaching with the fundamental requirement of a True Disciple: “Listening & Obeying God’s Will in One’s life”.

Jesus says: “Not everyone who says to me ‘Lord, Lord’, shall enter the Kingdom of heaven, but he who does the Will of My Father in heaven” (Mt 7:21)

                                                                                                               

Too often in life, we are surrounded by people, who misuse and abuse the forum of Religion, for their own selfish desires and gains…

>> Religion, in oft ways, is today, the platform for gaining cheap popularity and loathsome recognition and fame and fulfilling one’s personal agenda and goals!!

But the Lord, the powerful-challenger, comes down heavily on such an attitude : A liking to be Spiritual just on the External…
… but unwilling to perform deeds in accord with God’s Will…!


It’s all too easy…
… to just listen to the teachings of Jesus
… be in awe of them
… get mesmerized by them
… and proclaiming oneself to be a Servant and Follower of Jesus!

(There is a great crowd of people in this category!)


But when it comes to actual situations of fulfilling the Will of Jesus, in our lives…
… it’s a real pain and suffering!

( And no wonder, the number of people in this category, very often, is too little!)


The Lord, today….. invites us to examine the Foundation of our lives…
>> Have we built our Lives on Shaky Sand?
… or on The Resolute Rock?


Jesus speaks of the Parable of the Two Foundations: One on sand; the other on the rock.
>> The one who has built one’s life on a sandy foundation fails to stand firm in the storms of life
>> The one who has built one’s life on a rock foundation remains strong and stable in the storms of life.


The laying of every foundation requires a process of Excavation….a Digging!

Do we want to build a strong foundation?
… then we need to undergo the Procedure of Digging!

>> Can we dig deeper into our lives…
… and see what are the areas in which I need a healing and a touch of the Lord?

>> Can we dig deeper into our minds…
… and see what really are my motivations in life and what I really want in life?

>> Can we dig deeper into our hearts…
… and examine what are my desires and to what things I get attracted?

>> Can we dig deeper into our relationships…
… and check whether there is authenticity or are they just hollow?


This process of digging into the various areas of our life can be an experience of varied sorts…

>> We could have pain to dig out some of our evil tendencies and abandon them.

>> We could have uneasiness to dig out some of our luxurious likings and let go off them.

>> We could have agitation to dig out some of our unhealthy tendencies and discard them.

>> We could have discomfort to dig out some of our lazy inclinations in spiritual life and dispose them.


Perhaps some of us may we feel that we have already built up fine structures and can be proud to have a good career, a stable family life, a flourishing bank balance, an enjoyable lifestyle etc…
… but the Lord invites us to check the Strength of each of these structures…

>> Is my Family Life able to withstand the storms of misunderstandings, constant quarrels and breakdowns?

>> Is my Spiritual Life able to withstand the storms of doubts, fears, discouragements and persecutions?

>> Is my Professional Life able to withstand the storms of failures, disappointments and collapses?

>> Is my Social Life able to withstand the storms of rejection, humiliation and indifferences?


Fame, Money, Prestige, Pleasures, doing things just for the sake of it or out of force,…these are SANDS, on which the Structure of Life, will be instable & shaky!

>> Honesty, Truthfulness, Seeking to do God’s will at all times, suffering patiently for the sake of the good..these constitute THE ROCK, on which the Edifice of Life, will be stable and firm!


We need the Lord Himself as the Firm Foundation of all the structures in our life!
>> With Him, all storms can be withstood and all winds and gales can be endured!


The Leaning Tower of Pisa, is famous as a wonder of the world.

But, if not for the repair & renovation works, that was undertaken later…
… it would have long back, collapsed to the ground!


Let our lives not “lean” like this tower with a “Faulty Foundation”…
>> Rather, let it be secure and stable with “Jesus, the Firm Foundation!”!

Let Jesus alone be the Firm Rock and the Grand Forte of our lives!


God Bless! Live Jesus!

—————————–
📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
MAN’S VOCATION LIFE IN THE SPIRIT – GOD’S SALVATION: LAW AND GRACE – GRACE AND JUSTIFICATION
>> This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins…
… it was to prove at the present time that he himself is righteous
… and that he justifies him who has faith in Jesus. (CCC # 1992)
————————-

“Being aware as well as being on our guard, and keeping alight our light of faith!”

(Based on 2 Kings 22:8-13; 23:1-3 and Mt 7:15-20 – Wednesday of the 12th Week in Ordinary Time, Year 2)

An interesting story is told of man who was looking for a job.

He was a man with bulging muscles.

However, he was somehow, unable to obtain a job for himself.

One day he saw an ad on the gate of a zoo for a man to play the part of a monkey!

He found this job quite strange…
… but his helpless situation forced him to take it up.

He was to put on an outfit of a monkey in the morning…

Get into the cage
Pensively walk up and down
Eat peanuts and bananas all through the day
And to jump from one tree to the other in the cage.

One day he was very exhausted and lost his balance as he was jumping from one tree to the other in the far corner of the cage.

He accidently fell into the cage of a lion which came charging on him.

With immense fear and trepidation, he cried aloud: “Help, help!”

The lion, however, in a calm voice, looking at him in his face, uttered:
“If you don’t shut up, we will both lose our jobs!!”

Both – the monkey and the lion – were actually real men…
… but disguise and pretence made them to appear and be perceived differently!

This humorous story, however, does cause us to reflect on an important trend that is often seen in our society…
… putting on a deceptive appearance, to achieve one’s aims and agenda
… donning a mask, to realise one’s goals – good or bad

The Gospel of the Day is a stern admonition by Jesus on the need “to become aware of spiritual deception and pretence” that can ruin our Christian Faith.

The world is fraught with a lot of dangers.

There are physical, social, emotional, environmental, intellectual , occupational dangers etc.

Most of the time, we are aware of these dangers

And we take means and measures…
… to be protected from them
… and to keep ourselves free from harm.

But there is also another very important area to which, many of us…
… either remain ignorant
… or don’t pay much attention
… or take it very lightly

They are “Spiritual Dangers”

Today, the Gospel discusses one of the most powerful Spiritual Dangers: DECEPTION!

The power of this danger lies in the fact that it is…
… very “subtle”
… very “tricky”
… and apparently appears to be highly “good!”

Jesus cautions: “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves” (Mt 7:15)

The Lord begins today’s Gospel with the word, “BEWARE!”

This is a strong word that is used in Greek – “prosecho”

“pros” means ‘before’
“echo” means ‘hold’

Thus, “prosecho” means “hold before!”

BEWARE – Prosecho – means…
… to hold one’s mind back from
… never to expose one’s mind

Jesus in the previous verses had given an invitation to walk along the narrow gate…

“Enter through the narrow gate…” (Mt 7:13)

In this striving to “enter through” to the gate of life…
… Jesus issues a strict warning to be aware of the false prophets who would misguide and lead astray

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing…” ( Mt 7: 15)

In Palestine, the most dangerous enemy of the sheep was the wolf!

It was a natural enemy, roaming the hills…

It would wait for a flock of sheep
At the precise moment, it would come out of its place of hiding
And snatch the sheep and rip it to shreds!

The sheep would be totally defenceless against such prowling wolves!

The Lord presents this imagery to His followers – His sheep: Of being aware of such “sheep-clothed” wolves!

We have in the world, today…

Many religious philosophies
Varied spiritual methods
A number of attractive theological views
… which present religion in a very alluring, charming and pleasant way!
… which make Christianity as a bed of roses – cosy, comfy and casual!

But let us give heed to the Cry of the Lord: BEWARE!

Let us not bleed away our precious spiritual life and our Christian Faith!

Are we a seeking a Life…
… without the Cross and the Crucified Lord?

Are we fascinated to a Prosperity Gospel which glorifies richness & success & good social life…
… but nothing on repentance, virtuous life & inner holiness?

Are we attracted to “fiery preachers” and “awesome praise and worship” which appears good…
… but are deprived of the Real Sacramental Presence found only in the Catholic Church?

Let us also BEWARE and examine…

The books we read…
The talks we engage in…
The jokes we indulge in…
The habits we occupy ourselves with…
The music and the songs we delight in…

Are they all worthy of being “Christian”…
… or are they deceptively and subtly leading us away from the innocence and honesty of Christian Life?

Are they in sheep’s clothing, but underneath are ravenous wolves?

Yes, we need to Beware!!

We need to examine:

Am I really on the watch, with respect to my spiritual life…
… or I am, exposing myself to the Deceptive techniques of Satan?

Jesus said: “By their fruits, you will know them..”! (Mt 7:16)

Gal 5:22, “The fruit of the Holy Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control!”

In all our actions…
… and with respect to all peoples
… let us weigh their truthfulness in the light of these “Fruits of the Holy Spirit”
… let us check their reliability by the yardstick of these “Fruits of the Holy Spirit”

The world will often resort to “deception and pretence” to suit its needs and wants…

The world will often take recourse to “deception and pretence” to rob spiritual resources…
… But, as Christians, we need to be aware, as well as be on our guard, constantly…
… preserving our innocence
… and keeping alight our light of faith!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
MAN’S VOCATION LIFE IN THE SPIRIT – GOD’S SALVATION: LAW AND GRACE – GRACE AND JUSTIFICATION

But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from law…
… although the law and the prophets bear witness to it
… the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.
For there is no distinction: since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…
… they are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus

… whom God put forward as an expiation by his blood, to be received by faith. (CCC # 1992)

“Making a choice – remembering that it’s only the Divine that can sustain us!”

(Based on 2 Kings 19:9B-11, 14-21, 31-35A, 36 and Mt 7:6, 12-14 – Tuesday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time, Year 2)

A man once came to a crossroad, which had a church on one side, and a golf-park on the other.

At the crossroad was an interesting sign board.

It read…
>> MAKE A CHOICE!
Would you – like Lot – look at the greenery and be attracted to spend time there?
… or would you, like Abraham, be ready to walk in, to have an encounter with the Divine?

The greens may attract you, allure you and entertain you
… but remember, its only the Divine that can sustain you!


Life indeed attracts us with many things that can allure and entertain us

But Christian Life demands that we make a choice – for God and His Virtues
… a choice to enter by the “narrow gate”

Jesus says, “Enter by the narrow gate… for the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few” (Mt 7:13-14)


The Sermon on the Mount continues with Jesus presenting the wonderful message of the Kingdom of God and its radical requirements.


One of the key aspects in the Sermon on the Mount is the demand made on the part of the disciple to “make a choice”
• One has to radically “make a choice” for the Kingdom of God.
• One has to stay committed to this “choice” that is taken and live it to the fullness.

It is this “choice” that will determine whether our entry to eternity…
… eternal condemnation – is through the “wide gate” or
… eternal life – is through the “narrow gate”.


Jesus says that it is easy to pass through the wide gate…
• All those who choose not to live in accordance to the Gospel values
• All those who are content to make life “merry” and just “live life to the max”
• All those who fail to respond to God’s Grace and deny having a life in Him

But this will lead to doom and condemnation!


To pass through the narrow gate is hard…
• All those who make a choice to live according to the teachings of the Lord
• All those who boldly seek to proclaim the Kingdom by their faithful and holy lives
• All those who constantly hold on to the Lord despite hardships and difficulties in life

But this will lead to joy and eternal life!


As we stand at the crossroads of our life, let’s make a choice, remembering:
The “greens of worldly pleasures” may attract us,allure us and entertain us..
… but, it’s only the Divine that can sustain us!
>> MAKE A CHOICE!


God Bless! Live Jesus!

—————————–
📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
MAN’S VOCATION LIFE IN THE SPIRIT – GOD’S SALVATION: LAW AND GRACE – GRACE AND JUSTIFICATION
>> Justification has been merited for us by the Passion of Christ who offered himself on the cross as a living victim, holy and pleasing to God…
… and whose blood has become the instrument of atonement for the sins of all men.
>> Justification is conferred in Baptism, the sacrament of faith.
>> It conforms us to the righteousness of God, who makes us inwardly just by the power of his mercy. Its purpose is the glory of God and of Christ, and the gift of eternal life: (CCC # 1992)
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“Reinforcing hope and courage to everyone!”

(Based on the Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist)

There was a school system in a large city that had a program, to help children keep up with their school assignments…
… during the time when the children were admitted for sicknesses.

One day a teacher who was assigned to this program, received a call asking her to visit a particular child.

She took the child’s name and room number and had a short talk with the child’s regular class teacher.
“We’re studying about words in his class now – nouns and adverbs,” the class teacher said, “and I’d be grateful if you could help him understand them so he doesn’t fall too far behind.”

The hospital-program teacher went to see the boy that afternoon.

The boy had met with a bad accident, been badly burnt and was in great pain.

Upset at the sight of the boy, she stammered as she told him, “I’ve been sent by your school to help you with nouns and adverbs.”

When she left after teaching, she felt she hadn’t accomplished much.

But the next day, a nurse asked her, “What did you do to that boy?”

The teacher felt she must have done something wrong and began to apologize.

“No, no,” said the nurse. “You don’t know what I mean. We’ve been worried about that little boy, but ever since yesterday, you met him, his whole attitude has changed.

He’s fighting back, responding to treatment…

It’s as though he’s decided to live!”

Two weeks later, the boy explained that he had completely given up hope until the teacher arrived.

Everything changed when he came to a simple realization which he expressed it this way:
“They wouldn’t send a teacher to teach about words, and work on ‘nouns and adverbs’ with a dying boy, would they?”

The gesture of teaching about “words” reinforced hope and courage to that dying boy!

Hope is important because it can make the present moment less difficult to bear.

If we believe that tomorrow will be better, we can bear a hardship today!

The Feast of the Nativity of St John the Baptist comes with this great message of “hope!”

The Gospel presents the beautiful incident of the birth and naming of St John the Baptist.

The birth of John the Baptist is the pivot around which the history of our faith turns.

He was the last prophet of the Old Covenant…
… and the first of the New Covenant.

One of the highlighting aspects of the birth of John the Baptist is the message that “hope is not to be lost, even in the midst of extreme barrenness!”

The Gospel of St Luke says that “Elizabeth and Zechariah, both were advanced in years”, but they had no child; Elizabeth was barren” (Lk 1: 7)

Elizabeth’s barrenness was also symbolic of the barrenness of the land, of the world and of the entire humanity…

Wickedness had caused creation to be incapable of nurturing and sustaining life
Sin had rendered human beings infertile, to bear God’s grace and live in holiness

But God…
… is the God of hope
… the God of fulfilling every promise
… and the God of surprises!

From the barrenness of Elizabeth emerged the forerunner of the One who is Life!

From the barrenness of the world, God gave rise to the Fountain of hope and trust!

The entire life of St John – through the key events – is a spectacular reminder of this great virtue of “hope”…

A. The conception of John
Even when there is barrenness all around, we need to “hope” in God who is able to work miracles and give us life and joy!

B. The naming of John
Even when there are many worldly voices that seek to distract us from the ways that God wishes for us, we need to “hope” in God and follow whatever He wills, so as to find glory and joy in Him!

C. The life of John in the desert
Even when life takes us through the deserts of emptiness, dangers, hardships and misery, we need to “hope” in God who has a definite plan and purpose for our life!

D. The beheading of John
Even when we become victims of cruelty, exploitation, wickedness and inhumanness, we need to “hope” in God by living a life of truth, courage, convictions and valour!

The Church celebrates the Nativity of only three persons, in her liturgical calendar…

Jesus -“Hope” Himself
Mother Mary – the Mother of “Hope”
John the Baptist – the symbol of “Hope”

We are invited to have our lives truly rooted in “hope” and become beacons of spreading this “hope and trust” to others.

There are many who are sick in our world.

There are many who are burnt by the fires of afflictions and at the point of death
There are many who have lost all faith in life and give themselves up to despair and dejection.

Our gestures of teaching about “The Word – Jesus” can reinforce hope and courage to those dying…
… in sin, in affliction, in depression, in loneliness.

Wish you a Happy Feast of the Nativity of the “symbol of Hope” – St John the Baptist.

May Jesus our “Hope” and Blessed Mamma, our “Mother of Hope” strengthen us!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
MAN’S VOCATION LIFE IN THE SPIRIT – GOD’S SALVATION: LAW AND GRACE – GRACE AND JUSTIFICATION

Justification is at the same time the acceptance of God’s righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ.
Righteousness (or “justice”) here means the rectitude of divine love.
With justification, faith, hope, and charity are poured into our hearts…

… and obedience to the divine will is granted us. (CCC # 1991)

“Avoiding the plank of transient assurances, and ’embracing the Rock of Everlasting Refuge!'”

(Based on Job 38:1, 8-11, 2 Cor 5:14-17 and Mk 4:35-41 – 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B)

A captain of a ship – quite deeply rooted in his faith and love for Christ – was addressing a group of teenage boys and girls.

He told them, “My dear young ones! Do not get swayed by your emotions and feelings, in your life of faith.

When you are struggling in the waters of sin, and you try to get closer to holding the hands of Jesus, you know what the devil does?

He holds out a plank of ‘false feelings and assurances’ and says – ‘Get on to this… and you will feel better!

And when you lose focus from Jesus and step onto that ‘plank,’ he pulls it out…
… and your state of life will be worse than before!

Therefore my friends, remember always…
… Depend not on false feelings. Depend on Your Faith!
… Lose not your focus from Jesus. Allow His Hands to uphold you!

Avoid the plank of transient assurances.
Embrace the Rock of Everlasting Refuge!”

The Gospel of the Day is a beautiful encounter of the disciples experiencing “the waves of struggles”…
… and being reminded to “Embrace the Rock of Everlasting Refuge!”

It’s a very late evening… nearing midnight…

The disciples along with Jesus, who have embarked on a boat, are caught amid a heavy storm.
“A violent squall came up and the waves were breaking over the boat…” (Mk 4: 36)

Some of the disciples were fishermen.

They had been at the sea many years.
They had often suffered the fury and vehemence of nature
They had been greatly used to many storms and tempests at sea.

But this storm seemed to be too fierce and too ferocious.

The disciples feared greatly!
The disciples panicked very much!

With death bells ringing in their ears, and a dreadful end before their eyes…
… the disciples were shocked to see Jesus, unmoved and unperturbed.

The Gospel says that “Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion” (Mk 4:38)

In the moment of their deep anguish and helplessness, the disciples cry out:
“Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” (Mk 4:38)

The boat could capsize anytime and all of them could be drowned soon…
The storms could lash brutally and the waves could overturn them any moment…
Time was fast running…

But Jesus seemed totally unfazed!
Jesus seemed totally disinterested!

So they cried out to Jesus… Lord, do you not care?!

How many times have we screamed similar words to God:
“Lord, do you not care?”

Lord, do you not care… that my family member is so sick?
Lord, do you not care… that I feel totally alone and miserable in my life?
Lord, do you not care… that my marriage is failing and my family is breaking up?
Lord, do you not care… that am without a job now and the future ahead is so bleak?
Lord, do you not care… that my life seems so meaningless and without any purpose?
Lord, do you not care… that I am plunged into loneliness and abandoned by all my friends?
Lord, do you not care that I encounter only failures, dejection and rejection in my endeavours?

When we look into the Gospel, it is amazing to know whose plan it was, in the first place to make this boat journey…

When we re-read the Gospel passage, we find the answer…

Mk 4:35 says, “On that day, as evening drew near, Jesus said to them, ‘Let us cross over to the other side!’”

Ah…..
Shall we read that again?

… JESUS said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side!”

The idea to go in the boat was not that of the disciples…

The idea of going on the boat was that of JESUS!

The encounter with the storms was not some accident!
The stumbling into the violent waves was not some unlucky thing!

It had a purpose!
It had a meaning!
It had an intention!

For the disciples, it was a moment of terror…
… But the Lord used this terrorizing time to teach them to have faith in Him!

For the disciples, it was a time of immense crisis…
… But the Lord used this critical moment, to teach them to trust in Him!

For the disciples, it was a time of dreadful fear…
… But the Lord used this fearful circumstance, to teach them to believe in Him!

The disciples – who had stepped on the “plank of fear”- were given a lesson: Lose not your focus on Jesus. His Hands will uphold you always!

Our moments of struggle are a time of testing…
Our moments of struggle are a time of learning…

Testing of our genuine faith… learning of deeper trusting!
Testing of our real convictions… learning of profound dependence!

The Lord reminds us of His Sovereignty, as he asked Job, who was going through the sea of sufferings: “Who shut in the sea with doors when it burst out from the womb?

When I made the clouds its garment, and thick darkness its swaddling band, and prescribed bounds for it, and set bars and doors…” (Job 38: 8-10)

When life takes us through the “waves of sin and struggle,” let us not get fascinated by the devil’s allurement to step on the plank of “false feelings and assurances”

Instead, let us avoid the plank of transient assurances…
… and “embrace the Rock of Everlasting Refuge!”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
MAN’S VOCATION LIFE IN THE SPIRIT – GOD’S SALVATION: LAW AND GRACE – GRACE AND JUSTIFICATION

Justification detaches man from sin which contradicts the love of God, and purifies his heart of sin.
Justification follows upon God’s merciful initiative of offering forgiveness.
It reconciles man with God.

It frees from the enslavement to sin, and it heals. (CCC # 1990)

“Firmly pledging loyalty and allegiance to our Loving God and trusting Him at all times!”

(Based on 2 Chr 24:17-25 and Mt 6:24-34 – Saturday of the 11th Week in Ordinary Time, Year 2)

A top ranked official, was extremely efficient and skilled in all his works.

However, he suffered from constant bouts of ulcer in the mouth, stomach upset and headaches.

Several medications couldn’t solve this problem.

Finally, a close friend of his, who had been away abroad for some years, met him…
… and knowing of his problems, suggested:
“I have the solution for all your physical troubles.

With all your works and responsibilities, you daily take up a lot of tension and worry.

So all that you need to do is…
Choose any one particular day of the week.

Whenever you get a problem that causes you anxiety…
Write it on a piece of paper….
Drop it inside a ‘Worry Box’…
… and then completely forget about it.

This ‘worry box’ is to be opened on that particular day of the week.”

The official tried this method of “writing the anxieties and problems on a paper, dropping it into a ‘worry box’ and opening it only on a Sunday.”

To his surprise, he found that most of the things that had disturbed him over the past six days were already settled.

It would have been useless to have worried about them.

That’s when he realised, his foolishness in being anxious and worried about a lot of things in life…
… things that deserved no attention for worry or anxiety!

And behold, in doing so, he also found his health to be regaining to full force.

Is that not pretty similar in our lives as well?

We often fret and worry about a lot of things in life…
… only to realise, that most of them, do not actually deserve the “anxiety attention and the worry weightage.”

The Gospel of the Day is a beautiful reflection given by Jesus on this nagging factor in our life – anxiety and worry.

The Lord firstly invites us to have a clear conviction regarding our loyalty: to God or to mammon.

He says, “No one can serve two masters… You cannot serve God and mammon” (Mt 6: 24)

We can be faithful and committed to only one of them.

To whom have we pledged our loyalty and allegiance…?

To the True and Living God who alone is worthy of every honour and who alone is able to bless our lives with true joy and happiness….?
… or to false and make-believe effigies of money, wealth and possessions which may give momentary satisfactions but fail miserably in rendering true peace of mind…?

When we have made this pledge and commitment to the Lord, He invites us to “live” this commitment.

One of the strongest signs of “living” this commitment is to “trust” in Him!

And the external sign of “trusting” in Him is to not get into the vice of “anxiety”

Jesus asks this very practical and logical question:
“Can any of you, by worrying, add a single moment to your life-span?” (Mt 6: 27)

All of us…
… surely, as we live our lives have our quota of tensions and troubles.
… without doubt, as we discharge our duties, will have our share of pressures.

But do we let these tensions and troubles and pressures to get converted to needless “worries” and undue “anxieties?”

It is said that “worry is wasting today’s time, to clutter up tomorrow’s opportunities with yesterday’s troubles.”

Worries and anxieties cause us…
… to miss the beautiful gift of the present – Today
… causing blockage in the golden chances awaiting ahead – Tomorrow
… as a result of the cloud of undue pressures and fears of the past – Yesterday

Humans, as we are, stresses and strains are sure to come our way…
… but, does my Christian Faith help me to convert such circumstances to occasions to trust in God deeper and build our faith stronger?

For a person on deep faith, situations of tension are made into moments of seeking God deeper and experiencing His providence.

For a person of higher trust, circumstances of worries are transformed to occasions of cherishing God’s presence and developing an approach of stronger reliance and dependence.

There is no doubt that life will constantly hurl ‘bricks of worry and anxiety’ on us

Discouragements are an easy trap for us to stumble in our life of faith
Anxieties are easy snares to corner us with fretfulness and fear.

But as Christians, we need to be courageous to use these ‘bricks of worry and anxiety’ into castles of “confidence and success!”

The evil one…
… seeks to hamper our desire to seek the Lord and work for His Kingdom
… attempts to tarnish our good intentions to be a messenger of His Kingdom

Do we succumb to those attacks of “anxiety” and “worry”?
… or do we stand firm, in faith and trust, placing our faith in the Lord, entirely?

Worries and anxieties often eat up our life…
… and many of us even suffer physically, spiritually and socially.

The Lord, our best friend, advises us today:
“Write down your worries and anxieties on a piece of paper… (i.e. speak to me in Prayer!)
… put them into the “worry box”… (i.e. Offer them to My Heart!)
… and open it once a week… (i.e. On a Sunday – the Sabbath Day, set apart for the Lord!)

And you will realise, most of the things that had disturbed over the past six days, were already settled.”

Yes, let us firmly pledge loyalty and allegiance to our Loving God…
… and trusting Him at all times, boldly declare, with hope:
“I seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness!”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
MAN’S VOCATION LIFE IN THE SPIRIT – GOD’S SALVATION: LAW AND GRACE – GRACE AND JUSTIFICATION

The first work of the grace of the Holy Spirit is conversion…
… effecting justification in accordance with Jesus’ proclamation at the beginning of the Gospel:

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (CCC # 1989)