“Not letting anxieties of our life dishearten us; instead responding to the Invitation of the Lord and being at peace in life!”

(Based on Isa 40:25-31 and Mt 11:28-30 – Wednesday of the 2nd Week of Advent)

An old lady was sitting in the park – all alone and dejected.

A young boy – who was sitting on the opposite bench – and was doing some writing work, had been constantly watching this lady who was brooding over some worry.

Finally, after a while, he stopped writing and enquired:
“Madam, I have been observing you. From morning, you have been quite worried.
What’s the matter? Maybe there is some way I can help you

The old lady looked at him and replied: “You know, my son, in life, I have been worried about so many things in life… but most of them never happened!”

The young man was surprised to hear that – “troubled about things, that never really happened!”

So he asked again, “Then why are you troubled now?”

She replied, with a tinge of remorse: “I am worried as to why did I unnecessarily worry so much in my
life!”

Funny, isn’t it?

But, are we sometimes like this old lady?

Too much worried and disturbed in life…
… sometimes (or perhaps, very often) even about things that have not happened in life!

The call of the Gospel is an invitation by Jesus to “cast all our worries and burdens” on Him.

We read in the Gospel today, the assuring words of Jesus: “Come to me, all you who are weary and are burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Mt 11: 28)

Jesus came into the world, primarily as a Saviour!

He is in deep love with us!
“… You are precious in my eyes and I love You!” (Is 43:4).

The meaning of the name “Jesus” Itself is that…
… GOD SAVES!

As a Beloved Lover, He constantly tugs the strings of our hearts and beckons us to Himself – wanting us to experience His Saving Love!

He extends His cordial and warmest invitation to each one of us who are weary and heavy-burdened!

The Greek word for WEARY is “Kopiao”…
… which means to toil and become weary to the point of exhaustion! .

WEARY not only refers to the daily physical strains and struggles we undergo in life, but is also…
… the internal exhaustion caused by seeking Divine Truth through mere Human Wisdom.
… the external burden caused by futile peripheral efforts to seek the Divinity.

Many of us, very often, reach the point of exhaustion and fatigue by our everyday works and in our striving for salvation.

However, today, the Lord calls all of us – to experience His Resting Presence!

“Behold, I stand at the door and Knock! If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will enter his house and dine with him, and he with me”” (Rev 3:20).

“Experiencing His Resting Presence” also means “to learn from Him”…
… especially learning to be Humble and Gentle like Him! (Mt 11: 29)

A proud heart robs the person of spiritual insights

It renders a person to look only to oneself; the dependence on the Lord is lost!

A harsh (violent/tough/annoyed/wrathful) heart steals the person of “being at peace”

It renders a person to look only at the negativities of life; the attitude of being grateful to God is lost!

Today, let us give heed to the call of the Lord…
… to “Rest in His Presence”

And thus to learn to be more “gentle and humble”

Many of us might question: How can I “rest in His Presence?”

Many of us might counter: Is it really possible to learn to be more “gentle and humble?”

“Rest in His Presence” can be…
… by making a time for the Lord, in prayer, every day of our life – an act, which we shall never compromise!
… by “becoming aware” of the Presence of the Lord in the activities that we engage in
… by recognizing the goodness in other people and situations of life, and thus being, consciously, grateful to God

Learning to be more “gentle and humble” can be…
… by picking up any of those virtues, and (purposely) doing an act towards growing in the virtue
… by daily examining the conscience, in the practice of that particular virtue, and making amends to try again, even if failed (Let’s remember the Lord Who always rose again, even when He fell many times, on the Way of the Cross!)
… by praying specially to the Holy Spirit for those virtues, and never being discouraged, even when faced with the opposite vice
… by being inspired by the many saints, who went through the phases of vices, but were ultimately able to conquer, and live the virtues

Tensions, worries and problems of life constantly disappoint us!

Even our striving to improve our spiritual lives (and the feeling of failure to do so) discourage us!

But the Lord constantly tells us… “Come to Me!”

“Never, ever get discouraged, My Child!”

Prophet Isaiah strongly reminds us: “The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.

He gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless.
Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted; but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength…
… they shall mount up with wings like eagles
… they shall run and not be weary
… they shall walk and not faint!” (Is 40:28-31)

Let not the anxieties of our life dishearten us…

Instead may the Invitation of the Lord – “to Rest in His Presence and to learn from Him”…
… help us to always be at peace in life!

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 – The Ten Commandments – The First Commandment

It is right to offer sacrifice to God as a sign of adoration and gratitude, supplication and communion:

“Every action done so as to cling to God in communion of holiness, and thus achieve blessedness, is a true sacrifice.” (CCC # 2099)

“Being be willing to ‘go out of the way’ and doing things that are very beautiful!”

(Based on Isa 40:1-11 and Mt 18:12-14- Tuesday of the 2nd Week of Advent)

A mother took her three children to a fine restaurant for a dinner.

It was a crowded Sunday and they could only get separate seats.

As food was served, the youngest daughter – 6 year old Mary – who was seated at the far corner of the restaurant…
… loudly enquired from her mother: “Mother, don’t people say grace before meals in this place?”

A wave of silence wrapped the entire restaurant!

The mother did not know how to react.

But soon enough, the manager of the hotel, who was at the counter, said in an assuring voice to the child: “Yes we do. You may start!”

All the people bowed their head in silence

Little Mary closed her eyes, joined her hands and bowing her head…
… in a loud and crystal voice prayed: “Bless us O Lord, and these your gifts, which we are going to receive from your goodness, through Christ our Lord… Amen!”

The child found it strange to observe that none of the elders were praying…
… So she went “out of the way”

And did something that was very beautiful

And taught others an action to be imitated

A child “goes out of the way”…
… in expressing love and affection by trying to imitate the kind acts of the elders
… in trying to help others – giving a hand at the household chores, or doing little works

The Gospel of the Day is an invitation by the Lord to re-discover this “forgotten” child-like dimension of our lives: “To go out of the way!”

Jesus, speaking of this worthwhile quality…
… presents to us the image of a Shepherd who goes “out of the way”, in search of the lost sheep.

Jesus says: “If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray…
… will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills, and go in search of the stray?” (Mt 18: 12)

The shepherd loves all his hundred sheep…
… yet, when one gets strayed, he makes “an out-of-the-way effort” to get the lost one back.

He does not give up on the strayed.

He doesn’t desert the lost.
He doesn’t abandon the one, gone from his circle.

This attitude of going “out of the way”…
“taking an extra pain”
“dripping an extra sweat”
… would seem weird and strange to the calculative, pragmatic and business-minded head of ours, in this modern period!

We might question:
Is it not a waste of time to go after the “lost sheep”…
… of an obsessed drug-addict or a habitual drunkard or a consistent smoker?

Is it just too futile to awaken a “lost sheep”…
… of a soul in slumber, where there is no focus on spiritual life, where there is slackness of prayer and sacraments and where worldliness and materialism have crept and conquered?

Is it of any use to go after the “lost sheep”…
… of a couple who are constantly bickering and a family which is broken up with regular fights and misunderstandings?

Is there any sense in trying to restore the “lost sheep”…
… of a community whose members seem disinterested, who are lethargic, who have their own personal and hidden agenda and who always back-talk and back-bite?

Is it just not meaningless to revive the “lost sheep”…
… of a society or a nation where corruption has taken deep-roots in hearts of people and all sincere efforts of transformation often gets dumped into the bin?

The True Shepherd however, in all such situations, of the “lost sheep” …
… “goes out of the way”

The Good Shepherd makes an extra effort in getting them back!

He invites us to be partakers in restoring the lost ones.

A critical danger in the process of “growing- up” is the tendency to lose our “natural child-like” qualities.

As a child, we were free to express our emotions…
… but when we “grow up”, we tend to hold them up all within (only to burst out one day!)

As a child, we were easily dependant on those who cared for us…
… but when we “grow up”, we become arrogant towards them and seek ‘independence’

As a child, we were able to enjoy and relax in the present moment…
… but when we “grow up”, we get caught up in the snare of the past and shrink with fear of the future.

The Lord invites us to get back the “lost” child-like faith and trust.

We need to realise that we are always little children to our Heavenly Father…

He loves to care for us!
He longs that we depend on Him entirely!

Yes, children sometimes teach elders great lessons, isn’t it?

Let us be willing to “go out of the way”…

And do things that are very beautiful
And teach others actions, that can be imitated!

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 – The Ten Commandments – The First Commandment

It is right to offer sacrifice to God as a sign of adoration and gratitude, supplication and communion:
“Every action done so as to cling to God in communion of holiness…

… and thus achieve blessedness, is a true sacrifice. (CCC # 2098)

“Being fervent and zealous to lead a holier and immaculate life, pleasing to God – like Mamma Mary!”

(Based on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary)

A priest went to visit a violent criminal who was condemned to death…
… hoping to prepare his soul to die well.

But the man wouldn’t even talk to him.

The priest pleaded with him to get reconciled with God…
… but the man’s heart was highly closed!

Finally, as a last resort, the priest entrusted himself to the Blessed Virgin Mary and said to the criminal, “Before I leave, will you grant me one little favour?”

To get rid of the bothersome priest, the man said he would.
“Let us then,” the priest responded, “Say one Hail Mary.”

So, together they began to pray that simple prayer…
… “Hail Mary, full of Grace, the Lord is with You…”

They hadn’t even got through the first sentence when the criminal turned pale…
… and his voice started to shake.

The priest continued the Hail Mary…
… and as he finished tears started to flow from the man’s face, and he fell on his knees at the priest’s feet.

As soon as the prayer was done, the man asked to make confession.

He then confessed his sins with a great sense of repentance!

The words, “Hail Mary, full of Grace, the Lord is with you…”
… had ignited the spark of repentance in him!

Yes, that’s the power of the intercession of Mother Mary!

She is the refuge of sinners

Her life of Faithfulness to God’s Grace, is an inspiration to all of us…
… to live an Immaculate and Holy Life!

Today, we celebrate the Solemn Feast of the beginning of the faithful life of the Most Beautiful and Loved Creation of God: The Feast of the Immaculate Conception of our Blessed Mother.

Sin is part of every human life.

St Paul testifies to this fact when he says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23)

By themselves, human beings are incapable of freeing themselves from sin.

Therefore…
… Everyone needs a Saviour
… Everyone needs a Redeemer

But God, in His infinite wisdom had thought of the most excellent way of redeeming humanity.

Salvation was to be accomplished not through any magical power
Salvation was to be brought about not through some superhuman force
Rather, the salvation of humanity was to be won by a Human Himself – the most perfect Human.

This perfect Human deserved and required the most sinless of all wombs to be born

This perfect Human demanded and necessitated the most immaculate of all lives to be nurtured

Thus, God in His perfect wisdom, applied the Grace of Redemption and Salvation to the One He had chosen – Mary of Nazareth.

Therefore…

Mary is the first recipient of the Redemption of Christ!
Mary is the first fruit of the Salvation, won by Christ!
This is the story of the Immaculate Conception of Mother Mary.

The Holy Scripture testifies to this Immaculate nature of our Blessed Mother through the words of Angel Gabriel to Her, “Hail, FULL of Grace!” (Lk 1:28)

The Immaculate Conception of our Blessed Mother points to…
… Her sinlessness
….Her being full of Grace
… Her perfection in holiness
… and Her absolute adherence to the Will of God.

“Yes, Lord… Thy Will be done” (Lk 1:38)…
… was a chorus that She sang in all the moments of life!

Today, on this Feast day, our Blessed Mother invites and exhorts us, also…
… to choose God, always, and lead a sinless life
… to always opt for God alone, at all times, and being immaculate in life
… to unswervingly be faithful to God’s Will, and thus seek to be perfect in life

The challenge is great and the efforts required are radical.

But we are not left alone in this “pursuit of holiness” (1 Cor 9:24)

Our Blessed Mamma – the Beautiful Lady in blue and white – grace in holiness and immaculate in love – holds our hands and tells us:
“My Little Child, I am with you!
I love you, and together, we shall walk in this exciting path of Holiness…
… towards My Son and Your Brother…
… towards Our Saviour Jesus!”

Yes, let us give heed to the loving call of our Blessed Mother

And be fervent and zealous to lead a holier and immaculate life, pleasing to God…
… as we pray, “Hail Mary, Full of Grace, the Lord is with You…!”

Happy Feast of our Immaculate Mamma!

ALL GLORY AND HONOUR TO HER ETERNAL SON AND OUR SAVIOUR, JESUS!

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 – The Ten Commandments – The First Commandment

Lifting up the mind toward God is an expression of our adoration of God…
… prayer of praise and thanksgiving, intercession and petition.

Prayer is an indispensable condition for being able to obey God’s commandments. (CCC # 2098)

“‘Repairing and preparing’ our lives, so that ‘God can mix in our lives!'”

(Based on Bar 5:1-9, Phil 1:4-6, 8-11 and Lk 3:1-6 – 2nd Sunday of Advent)

A man sat down to supper with his family and said the Grace before meals…
… thanking God for the food, for the hands which prepared it, and for the source of all life.

But as the meal started, began to complain…
… he complained about the freshness of the bread…
… the bitterness of the coffee
… and the sharpness of the cheese.

He also began to criticize about some of his work-mates as well as his relatives, who were not very understanding, he felt.

After some time, the young daughter questioned him, “Dad, do you think God heard the Prayer of Grace today?”

The father answered confidently, “Of course.”

Then she asked, “And do you think God heard what you said about the coffee, the cheese, and the bread…
… and also about the people you mentioned?”

Not so confidently, yet since he couldn’t deny, he answered, “Why, yes, I believe so.”

The little girl then concluded, “Then which do you think God believed, Dad?”

The man was suddenly aware that his mealtime prayer had become a routine…
… a thoughtless habit rather than an attentive and honest conversation with God.

By not concentrating to be charitable during the conversation at the meal, he had left the door open to let hypocrisy sneak in!

The Season of Advent is a time to look into all such areas of our life…
… which needs a change
… which needs a transformation!

The Gospel of the Day reminds and exhorts us to become aware of this aspect: making a true preparation to realize and receive God…
… who wants to be intimately involved in our lives.

The Gospel begins with the mention of a series of names: political and religious leaders, which formed the context of the birth of Christ.

“In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas?” (Lk 3: 1-2)

What do these names of the political and religious figures point to?

1. It shows extent of the religious decay of the Israelites.

The Chosen People, who were to have God alone as their King and Ruler, are now ruled by pagan and foreign rulers
The Chosen People, who were to have God’s selected persons as Priests and Religious, are now guided by people who had been illegally appointed by the Roman Government

What do we learn?

When we fail to listen to God’s commandments and adamantly choose the path of sin, we are bringing upon the wrath of God’s justice on us
When we do not give heed to what God wants of us in our lives, we give the governing authority in our lives to Satan and his party, and thus give in to misery and slavery.

2. It also shows that Jesus is not any abstract entity, but One Who was part of our real, historical world

The mention of the religious and the political leaders is a clear proof offered by St Luke that Jesus truly, came in flesh and blood, in our history.
He is unlike any other godly figure whose historicity can be questioned. He, the God of History, chose to be born, live and be part of our real world – the world we live in.

What do we learn?

Jesus, as a historical person means that He can identify with our real problems and difficulties of life. In Him, there is truly Someone who understands us and has experienced what we ourselves undergo in life
Jesus, shows that God is not some philosophical abstract or a “creation of the mind” or some utopian idea; rather, Jesus is a God, Who became Emmanuel (= With us, God)

To welcome the birth of our loving God Who wishes to involve in our lives, the messenger, John the Baptist, is sent ahead of Him.

The Gospel says, “John the Baptist went throughout the whole region of the Jordan, proclaiming a Baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” (Lk 3: 3)

He also echoed what Isaiah the prophet had spoken, “Every valley shall be filled and every mount and hill made low” (Lk 3:5 & Is 40: 3-5)

Thus, we see, the message of John the Baptist can be shortly summarised into a short refrain: Repair and Prepare!

This then, ought to be a message that we carry for our lives…
… as we are exhorted to make ready a place for the Birth of the God, Who wants to be intimately involved in our lives – Repairing and Preparing!

Repair: the dark areas of our life, where sin and evil reigns…
… Prepare: a place, where holiness and God’s sanctity can dwell!

Repair: the broken relationships which suffer for lack of forgiveness…
… Prepare: a heart, which accepts the failures of people and gives them more space!

Repair: the bad inclinations and addictions, to which we cling on and find it hard to let go…
… Prepare: a mind, which is focussed on having Jesus alone as the Lord of one’s life!

Yes, the Lord wishes to come to us.. with His comforting presence and His forgiving love.

All that He wishes is that, we be ready to receive Him worthily.
He braves much difficulties…
He humbles Himself immensely…
Are we ready to bow and accept this magnanimous love of the Divine?

As the words of a popular hymn goes, “Great things happen, when God mixes with us?”
… Let us ‘repair & prepare’ our lives, so that “God can mix in our lives” and we can truly experience His Greatness in our lives!

Let us have the courage to overcome and set-right all routines and activities of our life of faith…
… any thoughtless habits that fail to have an attentive and honest conversation with God.

Let this Season of Advent be a time to look into all such areas of our life…
… which needs a change
… which needs a transformation!

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 – The Ten Commandments – The First Commandment

The acts of faith, hope, and charity enjoined by the first commandment are accomplished in prayer. (CCC # 2098)

“Being fervent and zealous to lead a holier and immaculate life, pleasing to God – like Mamma Mary!”

(Based on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary)

A priest went to visit a violent criminal who was condemned to death…
… hoping to prepare his soul to die well.

But the man wouldn’t even talk to him.

The priest pleaded with him to get reconciled with God…
… but the man’s heart was highly closed!

Finally, as a last resort, the priest entrusted himself to the Blessed Virgin Mary and said to the criminal, “Before I leave, will you grant me one little favour?”

To get rid of the bothersome priest, the man said he would.
“Let us then,” the priest responded, “Say one Hail Mary.”

So, together they began to pray that simple prayer…
… “Hail Mary, full of Grace, the Lord is with You…”

They hadn’t even got through the first sentence when the criminal turned pale…
… and his voice started to shake.

The priest continued the Hail Mary…
… and as he finished tears started to flow from the man’s face, and he fell on his knees at the priest’s feet.

As soon as the prayer was done, the man asked to make confession.

He then confessed his sins with a great sense of repentance!

The words, “Hail Mary, full of Grace, the Lord is with you…”
… had ignited the spark of repentance in him!

Yes, that’s the power of the intercession of Mother Mary!

She is the refuge of sinners

Her life of Faithfulness to God’s Grace, is an inspiration to all of us…
… to live an Immaculate and Holy Life!

Today, we celebrate the Solemn Feast of the beginning of the faithful life of the Most Beautiful and Loved Creation of God: The Feast of the Immaculate Conception of our Blessed Mother.

Sin is part of every human life.

St Paul testifies to this fact when he says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23)

By themselves, human beings are incapable of freeing themselves from sin.

Therefore…
… Everyone needs a Saviour
… Everyone needs a Redeemer

But God, in His infinite wisdom had thought of the most excellent way of redeeming humanity.

Salvation was to be accomplished not through any magical power
Salvation was to be brought about not through some superhuman force
Rather, the salvation of humanity was to be won by a Human Himself – the most perfect Human.

This perfect Human deserved and required the most sinless of all wombs to be born

This perfect Human demanded and necessitated the most immaculate of all lives to be nurtured

Thus, God in His perfect wisdom, applied the Grace of Redemption and Salvation to the One He had chosen – Mary of Nazareth.

Therefore…

Mary is the first recipient of the Redemption of Christ!
Mary is the first fruit of the Salvation, won by Christ!
This is the story of the Immaculate Conception of Mother Mary.

The Holy Scripture testifies to this Immaculate nature of our Blessed Mother through the words of Angel Gabriel to Her, “Hail, FULL of Grace!” (Lk 1:28)

The Immaculate Conception of our Blessed Mother points to…
… Her sinlessness
….Her being full of Grace
… Her perfection in holiness
… and Her absolute adherence to the Will of God.

“Yes, Lord… Thy Will be done” (Lk 1:38)…
… was a chorus that She sang in all the moments of life!

Today, on this Feast day, our Blessed Mother invites and exhorts us, also…
… to choose God, always, and lead a sinless life
… to always opt for God alone, at all times, and being immaculate in life
… to unswervingly be faithful to God’s Will, and thus seek to be perfect in life

The challenge is great and the efforts required are radical.

But we are not left alone in this “pursuit of holiness” (1 Cor 9:24)

Our Blessed Mamma – the Beautiful Lady in blue and white – grace in holiness and immaculate in love – holds our hands and tells us:
“My Little Child, I am with you!
I love you, and together, we shall walk in this exciting path of Holiness…
… towards My Son and Your Brother…
… towards Our Saviour Jesus!”

Yes, let us give heed to the loving call of our Blessed Mother

And be fervent and zealous to lead a holier and immaculate life, pleasing to God…
… as we pray, “Hail Mary, Full of Grace, the Lord is with You…!”

Happy Feast of our Immaculate Mamma!

ALL GLORY AND HONOUR TO HER ETERNAL SON AND OUR SAVIOUR, JESUS!

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 – The Ten Commandments – The First Commandment

The acts of faith, hope, and charity enjoined by the first commandment…

… are accomplished in prayer. (CCC # 2098)

“Cycling our way, with our Heavenly Father, in the exciting art of Mission!”

(Based on Isa 30:19-21, 23-26 and Mt 9:35–10:1, 5a, 6-8 – Saturday of the First Week of Advent)

One of the exciting things in life, which many of us have gone through, is learning a bicycle.

These days, bicycles come with a special set of training wheels that are attached to the back wheels.

The two little wheels attached to the back wheel are there to help provide balance and confidence to the rider.

But many of us, would have also learnt the bicycle in the old-fashioned way…the parent or a friend who ran alongside the one learning, until the rider got under way.

This person, who would be accompanying, would most often say three things, while learning this art of cycling…

1. Always keep the eye on the road…
   …to keep the focus
2. Don’t lean to the left or the right side…
   … to have proper balance
3. Remember, I am always there with you…
   … to feel the confidence and trust

These three principles would help the person to learn quick this art of cycling.

The Gospel of the Day presents Jesus sending out the Twelve…
… to learn the Art of Mission…

Like the art of cycling, the Apostles are also given some basic principles…
… the principle to keep focus
… the principle to have a proper balance
… the principle of confidence and trust

The ministry of Jesus had gained a lot of popularity.

There were crowds of people following Him…
There were multitudes of persons attracted to Him…

The Heart of the Lord is moved in empathy for these people.

The Gospel says, “When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (Mt 9:36)

The ministry of Jesus had also gained a lot of opposition.

Many of the religious leaders were greatly taken aback by the raw authoritative power of Jesus
Many of the Scribes and Pharisees were greatly offended by the blunt and open challenges by Jesus
Many of the local and family people were greatly scandalized by the boldness and courage of Jesus

But as the saying goes… “Challenges are what makes life interesting, and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful!”

Though opposition and challenges were raging hard against the ministry of Jesus…
… He remained courageous and determined.

And so, He chose the Twelve…
… who would be with Him and to be sent out (Mk 3:14)

The Twelve were to be His extension – of His Teachings, of His Works

And so, He not only chooses the Twelve…but He also sends them on a mission

A mission…
… with an authority over unclean spirits
… to proclaim the Kingdom of God
… to preach repentance and peace

In this art of mission, the Lord gives a few instructions and principles…
… and “also gave authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness” (Mt 10:1)

The Twelve were to learn…
… to keep focus on the preaching of repentance and bringing healing to people
… to have a proper balance by not getting discouraged in the face of any sort of rejection
… to have confidence and trust in the Lord Who was with them to provide what they needed

Each of us, by virtue of our following Christ, is a missionary…

Am I focussing on preaching only His Gospel and living only His life….
… or do I get distracted with other agenda and motives?

Am I having the proper balance in living the Christian life even though I face many pressures…
… or do I lose the balance and fall into the pits of lethargy, disappointments and laxity?

Am I having the confidence and the trust in the Lord and bank on Him at every turn of life…
… or do I experience perplexities of anxiety, despair and despondency?

The art of missions is exciting.

We may feel a little afraid at times…
We may sometimes even fall..

But we only need to follow some of the basic principles, coupled with His Grace…
… to be focussed on the Lord alone
… to be balanced in prayer and faithfulness
… to be trusting and being confident in His awesome power

And when we embark on this art of mission, just like a caring parent, who is happy to see one’s child cycling confidently…
… our Heavenly Father will also look at us with much happiness and joy and be proud of us!

Are we ready to cycle our way, with our Heavenly Father, in this exciting art of Mission?

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 – The Ten Commandments – The First Commandment

To adore God is to praise and exalt him and to humble oneself…
… as Mary did in the Magnificat, confessing with gratitude that he has done great things and holy is his name.
The worship of the one God sets man free from turning in on himself…

… from the slavery of sin and the idolatry of the world. (CCC # 2097)

“Harkening to the Words of the Lord, ‘just have faith in Me and obey My Words!'”

(Based on Isa 29:17-24 and Mt 9:27-31 – Friday of the First Week of Advent)

A little child, during a forest expedition, was asked by his father to get across a letter urgently to the village.

The father pointed over a trail, over which the boy had never gone.

“But Father” protested the child, “I have never been through this way.

I do not even see the path that will reach our village.
Will it be reasonable for me to travel along this path? “

“Do you see the trail” replied the father, “as far as that big tree down there?”

The boy replied, “Oh, yes, I do see that far”

“Well” continued the father, “when you get there by the tree…
… you will see the trail a little further ahead
… and so on, until you get within sight of the houses of our village.

Just have faith in me and obey my words!”

This is the journey of our Christian life…
… where the element of faith has to take over the aspect of seeing!
… where the element of obedience has to take over the aspect of rationality!

The Gospel of the Day is a beautiful exposition into these insights, which are highly essential for our life as a Disciple of Christ and a Missionary of His Kingdom.

The Gospel passage under consideration is the healing of the two blind men in the Gospel of St Matthew (Mt 9: 27-31)

One of the strange aspects that we could notice in this incident is what happens after the healing has taken place.

St Matthew says that, after their eyes were opened, “Jesus sternly charged them, ‘See that no one knows it'” (Mt 9:30)

He forbids the two men from making his fame known to others.

The Greek word that is used here for “sternly charged” is very interesting and revealing.

St Mathew uses the word, “embrimaomai”.

“Embri-mao-mai” literally means to snort with anger/displeasure (like a horse)!

In other words, Jesus “roared with rage” when He ordered the men to not proclaim about Him.

Why did Jesus adopt such an “angry stance?”

The Jewish people were longing for a Messiah who would save them from the pagan Roman Rulers.

Their understanding of the Messiah was purely from a temporal perspective – a prince who would wage a war and destroy the Roman enemies

If it was known outside that the Messiah, the much-awaited King had arrived, many Jews would undoubtedly seek to enthrone Him.

They would make efforts to usher in a physical kingdom with a violent expulsion of the Roman rulers!

We see such a tendency on many occasions in the Gospels, but more explicitly after the multiplication of the loaves in the Gospel of St John

“Since Jesus knew that they were going to come and carry Him off to make Him King, He withdrew to the mountain alone” (Jn 6:15)

But, such a move would have jeopardized the Mission of the Lord!

He came not to be a king as any other king…
… rather He, the King of kings, came to reign over the hearts and lives of people!

He came not to be someone who would merely rescue from material oppression…
… rather, He came to be the Saviour who would free the world from sin and every bondage!

It is also to be seen that the two blind men addressed Jesus as “the Son of David” (Mt 9:27b)

This was the first time, in the Gospel of St Matthew, that Jesus was proclaimed by someone as “Son of David”

“Son of David” clearly pointed that Jesus was the Messiah.

The two blind men were confessing that Jesus is the Messiah!

Therefore, if the two men, excited and overjoyed as they were, with their miraculous healing, had gone around proclaiming Jesus as the Messiah…
… there was a grave danger, that the people would be instigated to a rebellion against the Romans

(Such an explanation is also supported by the fact that while healing or performing wonders among the Gentiles, Jesus did not forbid them.

The Gentiles, unlike the Jews, did not have any Messianic expectation as such.

For eg: After healing the Gerasene demoniac, Jesus tells him, “Go home to your family and announce to them, all that the Lord in His pity has done for you” – Mk 5:19)

There is also another point of consideration…

Jesus was the Perfect Physician.

He knew that the blind, when healed, cannot be exposed to the light, all on a sudden.

The exposure to the Light has to be gradual.

Jesus, the doctor-par-excellance and the Light of the World (Jn 9:5) knew, that there was great danger…
… if these spiritually blind would try to immediately go and spread about their experience with the Light

The Light would only end up harming them and also those to whom they preached!

And therefore, “Jesus sternly charged them, ‘See that no one knows it'” (Mt 9:30)

What do these things entail for us?

A very important principle as Missionary of Christ and His Kingdom is implied here:

“Go only when we are sent to and to whom we are sent to”

This is one of the important basics of any publicly ministry of the Kingdom!

We need to know and realize…

The Mission belongs not to me…
… the Mission belongs to the Lord
The works and ministry are not my initiatives…
… they are solely entrusted to me by the Lord

It is His Work

It is His Mission!
We are to be His active instruments
We are to be His lively tools

This realization is highly essential for an effective and faithful Missionary life.

Such a realization, therefore, directly implies the necessity of Faith and Obedience!

Yes, our life as a missionary ought to be one..
… where the element of faith has to take over the aspect of seeing!
… where the element of obedience has to take over the aspect of rationality!

May our Blessed Lord touch and open our eyes, to “see the trail” that is on ahead of us, in our journey of faith…
… and may hearken to His Words, “Just have faith in Me and obey My words!”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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MAN’S VOCATION LIFE IN THE SPIRIT – GOD’S SALVATION: LAW AND GRACE – The Ten Commandments – The First Commandment

To adore God is to acknowledge, in respect and absolute submission…

… the “nothingness of the creature” who would not exist but for God. (CCC # 2097)

“Having the courage to ensure that we ‘walk the talk!'”

(Based on Isa 26:1-6 and Mt 7:21, 24-27 – Thursday of the First Week of Advent)

A Christian who was converted from Judaism was sharing his testimony.

As he shared his views on various preachers whom he had met during the course of conversion, he made a comment:
“The sermons of some preachers used to be magnificent…
… but their life would be so inconsistent and incompatible to what they spoke from the pulpit!

This would make me think about these preachers in my mind in the following way:
‘When they were at the pulpit, I wished they would never leave it!

But when they were out of the pulpit, I wished they would never enter it again!”

That’s why, when I decided to become a Christian, I took a resolution:
‘My Halakah (Jewish term to describe one’s way of “walking”) should always follow my Haggadah (Jewish term to describe ‘the teaching”)!

What about us?

“Does our Halakah follow our Haggadah?”

Life judges us, on the basis of how well does our preaching and practicing co-ordinate & complement each other.

Life challenges us to bridge the gap between the two essentials of life – one’s talking and one’s walking the talk!

The Gospel of the Day is an invitation to reflect on the words of Jesus:
“Not everyone who calls me Lord, Lord, shall enter the Kingdom of heaven, but he who does the Will of My Father, Who is in heaven” (Mt 7:21)

Our Christian Life is often an experience…
… where we find many professing the faith, but failing to practise!

How often does this situation arise in our own lives and situations too…

We pledge ourselves at trendy events, for the cause of the poor…but we fail to help

Many other people remain quite unnoticed…but become forerunners for the cause of the poor!

We make a big show and be popular as a helpful person… but we fail in some genuine needs

Many other people remain quite unnoticed… but are present with their full force to render help!

We make many resolutions on new year days or birthdays… but fail to materialize them…

Many other people remain quite unnoticed… but are able to make many amendments and changes!

We make many promises to the Lord during feast days or novena times… but fail to live up

Many other people remain quite unnoticed… but render much love to the Lord through the year!

We all experience this “I will do”…
… but “I did not do” experiences in life.

Am I also part of this category of “Nominal” Christians?

On the personal Faith Level, this trend is seen more distinctly and vividly…

People claim themselves to be Catholics…
… but appear in church only on grand feast days!

People appreciate the Catholic teaching…
… but support moral laws which go directly against!

People assert having dedicated their lives to God…
… but fail to find time for God and prayer!

People declare loving God above all…
… but fail to reject pleasures which hurts and pains Him!

People profess and make vows to God…
… but neglect to even try to keep up those promises!

But the Lord clearly declares, on Who will enter the Kingdom of Heaven: “he does the Will of my Father“

Therefore, the proposition is clear:

It is not pompous words that will grant life, but carrying out the Will of the Father!

How are we to observe the Will of the Father?

St. Paul explains how we should set about trying to do the Father’s will:
“Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 2:5)

Like Christ…
… when we dare to be merciful and compassionate, we can do the Father’s Will
… when we prioritize other’s interests over selfish ones, we can do the Father’s Will
… when we empty ourselves and became obedient, we can do the Father’s Will

It is not only good news “proclaimed” but good news “practiced”…
… that will win others to the glorious freedom of forgiveness of sins!

Let us examine sincerely in this Season of Advent…
… and wherever needed, amend our lives

May we have the courage to take and practise the resolution:
‘My Halakah (one’s way of “walking”) should always follow my Haggadah (“the teaching”)

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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MAN’S VOCATION LIFE IN THE SPIRIT – GOD’S SALVATION: LAW AND GRACE – The Ten Commandments – The First Commandment

Adoration is the first act of the virtue of religion.
To adore God is to acknowledge him as God, as the Creator and Savior…
… the Lord and Master of everything that exists, as infinite and merciful Love.

“You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve,” says Jesus, citing Deuteronomy. (CCC # 2096)

“Daring to know the Lord more and to help each other more!”

(Based on Is 25:6-10a and Mt 15:29-37 – Wednesday of the First Week of Advent)

Picnics are a time of great fun and enjoyment.

They enrich relationships, nurture relaxation and foster a spirit of joy and peace.

Most of us have been part of picnics…
… either from schools/parishes / as a family / as a community / as a group of friends.

A picnic becomes an occasion to share… to care…
… and to also dare to know each other more.

The Gospel of the Day is a lovely occasion of a Picnic…
… A picnic with Jesus.

A picnic basically has some essential elements…

1. A nice location
2. Joyful interactions
3. Good food
4. A sense of satisfaction and contentment

Our picnic with Jesus in today’s Gospel passage has all these elements.

Come… let’s join Jesus…
… in this wonderful time of a picnic.

1. A nice location
   The mood of a picnic is very often regulated by the choice of the place we make.

It should be something exciting, something scenic and something to involve ourselves in.

The location that Jesus chooses for this picnic is a Mountain (Mt 15:29)

A mountain is certainly an exciting place…
… a scenic location and moves our hearts to get involved in its beauty.

The mountain was one of the favourite places of the Lord.

This high altitude place was where Jesus could strengthen His attitude towards His mission.
He would spend hours of the night in communion with His Father on the mountains.

And so, He invites us to join with Him on the mountains…
… To relax in His love and to experience the coolness of His presence.
… To raise our thoughts to higher levels and overcome the worldly concerns.

2. Joyful interactions
   Great crowds came to Him, having with them the lame, the blind, the deformed, the mute and many others. They placed them at His feet and He cured them (Mt 15:30)

The picnic with Jesus, on the mountain, becomes an occasion of cure and restoration.

On the mountain, Jesus becomes a fountain of healing and the source of joy.

3. Good food
   Food is one of the best parts of a picnic.

And the Lord lavishes abundant food to all those who were there with Him on the mountain.

Then, He took the seven loaves and the fish, gave thanks, broke the loaves and gave them to His disciples, who in turn, gave them to the crowds (Mt 15:36)

It seemed to be a situation of starvation and hunger.

But the Lord converts this grim situation into an occasion of contentment and blessing.
His compassionate love overflows into a lavish multiplication of the loaves and the fish!

4. A sense of satisfaction and contentment:
   Every picnic ideally should end on a note of great fulfilment and bliss.

The picnic with Jesus on the mountain, where >> He healed a lot of people, spoke His Life-giving words and blessed them with abundant food, becomes moments of happiness.
“They all ate and were satisfied…” (Lk 15:37)

It had been a lovely time for the people in this picnic with the Lord.

They had the picnic…
… in a nice scenic location of the mountain
… with many joyful interactions with Jesus, who healed and cured many.
… with good food, in lavishness, provided by the Lord Himself.
… with a great sense of satisfaction and deep fulfilment.

Prophet Isaiah foretold: “On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples, a feast of rich food…
… then the Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces, and the disgrace of his people he will take away from all the earth!” (Cf. Is 25:6-8)

The Lord invites us to join with Him in a picnic with Him…

To go to the mountain of prayer and intimacy
To have joyful interactions with Him and receive His spiritual, emotional and physical healings.
To be blessed with the good food of His Holy Eucharist and His nourishing Word.
To have a great satisfaction in being filled with immense peace and serenity.

Let us enjoy the picnic with the Lord & make our lives a beautiful one…
… to share… to care

And to also dare to know the Lord more and to help each other more.

Today we celebrate St. John Damascene, a 7th-century priest and monk…
… known as the “Golden Speaker” for his profound writings and hymns.

A staunch defender of the faith, he taught that honoring sacred images draws us closer to Christ.
His life inspires us to know the Lord more deeply and reflect His love boldly.
As he said: “I do not worship matter, but the Creator who became matter for my sake.”

May his example move us to live with unwavering faith and courage!

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 – The Ten Commandments – The First Commandment

The theological virtues of faith, hope, and charity inform and give life to the moral virtues.
Thus charity leads us to render to God what we as creatures owe him in all justice.

The virtue of religion disposes us to have this attitude. (CCC # 2095)

“Inspired by St Francis Xavier, making a conscious choice to rise above our depressive and anxiety-filled situations, and making our lives, a truly joyful one!”

(Based on Is 11:1-10 and Lk 10:21-24 – Feast of St Francis Xavier, Patron Saint of Missions)

A lady, who was known to be a devout Christian, was undergoing a long time of suffering.

As she was visited by some of her friends who came to console here, she was heard to be commenting:
“I have a beautiful robin that sings outside my window.

This bird strengthens me.”

Then with a bigger smile, she continued:
“I like him, because he sings in the rain!
When the storm has silenced almost, all other birds…
… the robin sings on!
And that’s how my life is!”

The lady – who herself was suffering and going through the storms of life – found great inspiration in the robin…
… the one which sings, even in any storm or rain!

That’s the life of a Christian!

Anyone can sing, when its sunshine…
… but when the clouds of hardships pour out the rain, can we sing?

The Gospel of the Day, presents Jesus Who is rejoicing in the Spirit…
… “In the same hour, Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, ‘I thank you Father, Lord of Heaven and Earth..’” (Lk 10: 21)

Jesus always displayed a great sense of joy and enthusiasm

He was a picture of calmness and serenity.
This was owing to His intimate relationship with His Father – His Abba!

He, of course, had His Own struggles…
… Rejection by His own people at Nazareth (Lk 4: 28-29)
… Very often facing the criticism of the people (Lk 5:30)
… Constantly being put under the scanner with questions (Lk 5:33)
… Facing the wrath of many religious leaders (Lk 6: 7, 11)

But none of these “storms” or “rains” prevented the Lord from singing the praises of His Father…
… and rejoicing in the Spirit

And He invites His disciples to also understand the great privilege they have received to experience the Love of the Father:
“Blessed are the eyes which see what you see…” (Lk 10: 23)

As followers of Jesus, we are also given the privilege to always be “people, who rejoice in the Spirit”…
… “people who can sing, even when it’s raining or in the midst of a storm!”

Are we often spending our days in sadness and complaint?
… or can we also become conscious of the many blessings, God showers on us… and thus rejoice!

Are we constantly looking for the negatives in our relationships?
… or can we also seek to treasure people, just for who they are, and begin to love them more!

Are we feeling that life is a burden and thus fail to have peace of mind and lightness of heart?
… or can we also begin to understand that as a Christian, we have the privilege to understand how God mightily works in our life, and is constantly showering His Love and Mercy on us!

Let us learn to imitate, Jesus, our Master, Who constantly “rejoiced in the Spirit”
… and thus make our Christian Life, a beautiful witness of God’s Love and Compassion.

Let’s listen to the words of St Mother Teresa of Kolkatta:
“Joy is a net of love by which we catch souls!”

Yes…
Anyone can sing, when its sunshine…
… but can we still sing when the clouds of hardships pours down it’s rains?

This is what was epitomized by St Francis Xavier, whose feast we celebrate today.

This Patron of the Missions was filled with a tremendous joy and zeal for salvation of souls…
… and displayed a contagious enthusiasm of giving Christ to all.

One of his testimonial statement, while undertaking missionary activity in Japan, goes thus:
“Sometimes I have lost my voice and strength altogether with repeating again and again the Credo and the other forms.”

The following quotes of this dynamic ‘Patron Saint of Missions’ is also an inspiration for all of us…

“It is not the actual physical exertion that counts towards a one’s progress, nor the nature of the task, but by the spirit of faith with which it is undertaken”

“It is impossible to find a saint who did not take the two P’s seriously: prayer and penance”
… and seek to grow deeper in our missionary commitment!

As we continue to nourish our spiritual lives in this Season of Advent, let us make a conscious choice to rise above our depressive and anxiety-filled situations…
… and to make our lives, a truly joyful one!

Happy Feast of St Francis Xavier!

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 – The Ten Commandments – The First Commandment
One can sin against God’s love in various ways:

Acedia or spiritual sloth goes so far as to refuse the joy that comes from God and to be repelled by divine goodness

Hatred of God comes from pride. It is contrary to love of God, whose goodness it denies, and whom it presumes to curse as the one who forbids sins and inflicts punishments. (CCC # 2094)