“Allowing the Lord to walk into our ordinary lives and accepting His invitation to be partakers of the extraordinary and effervescent works of the Kingdom!”

(Based on Heb 1:1-6 and Mk 1:14-20 – Monday of the 1st Week in Ordinary Time, Cycle 1)

A story is said of a rich man – much attached to possessions and wealth – who heard a sermon which exhorted to “Let God” work in one’s life.

The example cited was of how, at the creation of the world, God commanded a word and things were created…
… let there be light
… let there be the firmament and the waters
… let there be the living creatures etc

“Letting God” to work would allow miracles to take place in one’s life

Even though this man was not a very practising Catholic, and instead was much attached to his wealth…
… these words “Let God”… “Let God”… kept ringing in his hears.

However, he was not sure, how to “Let God” in his life.

As he sat in the evening with his family, his 6 year old child came to him, telling him, “Pappa, our catechism teacher asked us to write the title of today’s sermon as a homework. Would you kindly check if what I have written is right…?”

And so saying, the little boy handed over the book

The man was surprised to see the title written as “LET GO”
… and there it flashed to him: The way to “Let God” was to “Let Go!”

Yes…
“Letting God” to work in life…
… begins with “Letting Go!”

Have we discovered this fundamental truth of Christian Discipleship?

The Gospel of the Day is this beautiful presentation of the first disciples of Jesus, who “let go”…
… in order to follow Jesus

We have entered into the 1st Week of the New Liturgical Year with the Feast of the Baptism.

The “expectant and hopeful purple colours of Advent” and the “golden and white festive colours of the Christmastide” are now kept aside…
… and its time to live the “sublime and green colours of the ordinary time”

The Gospel presents Jesus entering into the “ordinary situations” of the people…
… and inviting them to be partakers of the “Extraordinary and Effervescent Works of the Kingdom!”

The Gospel says:
“And passing along by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen.” (Mk 1:16)
“And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets.” (Mk 1:19)

Simon, Andrew, James and John – would have begun their day just like any other day…
… hoping for a good catch
… but also wary that they may end up without much to carry back home

But Divine Providence had a special day in store for them

Jesus encounters these people on a “regular and ordinary day”
… only to convert that day to a “very special day of blessing and grace!”

Each of us also most probably begin our day, just like any other regular days…
… with mundane tasks
… regular errands and similar schedules

But if we are open and willing to allow the Lord to enter into our lives…
… each day can become a “very special day of blessing and grace!”

Yes, each day can indeed become “the day that the Lord has made” (Ps 118:24 )…
… if we remain open to God’s Voice and cooperate with His Merciful Grace in our lives!

Simon, Andrew, James and John – the first disciples responded to the call of the Lord

And they would have their lives transformed.

The Lord wishes to work out the same transformation in our lives as well.

But for this, we need to “let go”

Yes, we need to “Let Go” in order “to let God” work beautiful miracles in our lives

“Let go” of our tendencies to be attached to material possessions and giving priorities only to worldly riches…
… instead to focus more on the spiritual and eternal realities of life!

“Let go” of our egoistic attitudes…
… instead to accommodate and extend God’s Love to people with the virtues of forgiveness, humility and acceptance!

“Let go” of our bad habits and sinful inclinations…
… instead, to put on the vestment of holiness and purity of life!

The Lord wishes to work mightily in our lives

As the Letter to the Hebrews testifies: “In many and various ways God spoke of old to our fathers by the prophets…
… but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom He appointed the heir of all things, through whom also He created the world!” (Heb 1:1-2)

Jesus, the Son – the culmination and fulfilment of all revelation….
… desires to walk into our ordinary lives offers us the invitation to be partakers of the “Extraordinary and Effervescent Works of the Kingdom!”

Shall we “let go”….?
… so that we can “let God….”

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

Tempting God consists in putting his goodness and almighty power to the test by word or deed.

Thus Satan tried to induce Jesus to throw himself down from the Temple and, by this gesture, force God to act. (CCC # 2118)

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

(Based on the Baptism of the Lord)

An incident is told about St Katherine of Alexandria.

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

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

This was the time of the persecution of Christians by Emperor Maxentius.

Christians were given only two options:

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

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

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

Katherine accepted the challenge.

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

But the plan backfired.

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

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

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

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

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

That’s the power of God’s Love!

And that’s the Power of Witnessing to God’s Love…
… which is initiated at Baptism!

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

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

Or has the fire been diminished and lessened?

Today, Holy Mother the Church celebrates the Feast of the Baptism of Jesus…
… the Lord, about Whom St John the Baptist proclaimed: “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Cf. Lk 3:16)
… with an invitation: To “fan into flames” (Cf. 2 Tim 1:6) the fire of God’s Love that has been kindled in us, at our Baptism

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Today is a day when we need to examine and renew our life, in the light of these two aspects:

… Have I embraced Jesus as the only Master of my life, and do I give priority to God’s Will in my life?
… Do I manifest Christ’s love in all my deeds, and thus draw many people to God’s Kingdom?

… What are the weak spots of sins in my life, and can I make a resolution today to give them up?
… Do I daily nurture my life of holiness, by consciously practising virtues that I need to grow in?

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

The water in the boiler can do nothing of and by itself, nor can the water on the head of a child.

But when the water in the boiler is united to the mind of an engineer, it can drive an engine across a continent or a ship across the sea.
… so too, when water is united to the Power of God, it can do more than change a crystal into life.
It can take a creature and convert him into a child of God!”

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

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

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

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

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

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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

God’s first commandment condemns the main sins of irreligion…

… tempting God, in words or deeds, sacrilege, and simony. (CCC # 2118)

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

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

Greek mythology has a character named Narcissus, who was renowned for his beauty.

He was exceptionally proud…
… so much that he even disdained those who loved him!

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

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

He failed to realize that it was only an image!

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

An obsessive love of his own-self drowned him!

A true appreciation and genuine love of oneself is highly important and needed.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

These disciples of John seem so resentful of Jesus that they don’t even mention His name!
There seemed anxiety in their voice…
There seemed anger in their tone!

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

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

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

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

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

But John the Baptist remains unperturbed and undisturbed.

He displays an angelic countenance of humility!

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

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

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

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

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

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

It is easy to bask in the glory of popularity and fame…
… and to enjoy the sunshine of reputations and recognitions.

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

Let us have the humility to accept that it is God’s power being manifested in our works…
… And it is by His Grace that we move forward every moment of our life

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

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

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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

Spiritism often implies divination or magical practices
… the Church for her part warns the faithful against it.
Recourse to so-called traditional cures does not justify either the invocation of evil powers…

… or the exploitation of another’s credulity. (CCC # 2117)