“Joining the Lord in painting the ‘Great Mural of Salvation’ and in turn, offering the ‘brush of goodness’ to people around us!”

(Based on Sir 17:1-15 and Mk 10:13-16 – Saturday of the 7th Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1)

In a grand cathedral, an acclaimed artist stood before his massive mural (= painting or other work of art executed directly on a wall/ceiling)…
… his brush gliding across the wall with effortless grace.

The townspeople watched in admiration, speaking about how this masterpiece would be remembered for generations.

A young boy, barefoot and covered in dust, watched from the shadows, mesmerized.

His small fingers mimicked the strokes in the air…
… as if painting along with the artist.

Finally, gathering his courage, he stepped forward and whispered, “Sir… can I help you paint?”

The artist barely turned, too immersed in his work.

His first instinct was to dismiss the boy.

This is no child’s game.
This is art.
This is history in the making.
But something in the boy’s eager eyes made him pause.

He sighed, dipped a small brush into the paint…
… and handed it to the child.

“Just a small corner. Don’t ruin it!”

The boy’s heart pounded.

With shaky hands, he made a single, careful stroke…
… then another.
For a moment, time seemed to freeze.
The colors blended under his touch.
He felt something stir within him—something powerful, something alive.

Years passed.
The grand mural became famous!

But another name rose to prominence…
… the boy, now a master artist himself, whose paintings graced the greatest halls.

When asked about his journey to greatness, this boy would always smile and say: “I became an artist…
… the moment someone let me hold the brush!”

Do we sometimes hold back the brush from someone who longs to create?

Do we sometimes turn away the small, the weak, the unnoticed…
… assuming that they don’t matter?

The Gospel of the Day presents little children who are brought to Jesus

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

But sadly, the disciples prevented the little ones from being brought to Jesus!

The disciples of Jesus perhaps felt…
… these little children were a disturbance in the hectic and occupied schedule of Jesus!
… these little children were an unnecessary burden to an already overburdened Jesus!

But Jesus, the Care-provider, reprimands and reproofs this attitude and approach.

He reminds everyone that…
… He is the Home to the homeless
… He is the Shelter to the shelterless
… He is the Hope to the hopeless

He invites the little children to be brought to Him and to help them feel His Homely Presence!
… to be touched by His Healing Presence!

How often this sad trend happens in our ‘frantic and frenzied’ world: Little things in life often not being given the due importance…
… and are discarded or pushed away.
A kind word withheld.
A talent ignored.
A chance denied.

We may never know what greatness we are preventing.

At the same time, let us also realise that we ourselves may have such ‘rejected’ experiences: People might prevent us and situations might discourage us.

But, let’s realise that the Lord has a Home for each one of us!

The Gospels are a testimony to this fact…

Sinners found their solace in the Sanctifying Presence of the Lord!

Sick people found their remedying cure in the Healing Presence of the Lord!

Broken souls found their a regrouping catalyst in the Restoring Presence of the Lord!

Outcasts groups found their accepting embrace in the Welcoming Presence of the Lord!

But the question is very often also: Do we go to the Lord….?

We often ignore the ‘small’ things – prayer, gratitude, acts of kindness…
… only to realize later that they were the biggest things all along.

In my work-dominated life…
… Do I fail to spend, a little time in the Homely Presence of the Lord?

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

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

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

Let’s have this in mind: Even if the world pushes us aside, Jesus always has space for us.

The Lord never gets tired of us

Let us go to Him…
… to seek comfort and solace!

As we “march” into a new month, the Lord invites us to join Him in painting the “Great Mural of Salvation”…
… and in turn, let us offer the “brush of goodness” to people around 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 – The Ten Commandments – The Second Commandment

The Christian begins his day, his prayers, and his activities with the Sign of the Cross: “In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen!” (CCC # 2157)

“Being faithful and committed in our relations by mirroring the magnanimous, unshaken love of God!”

(Based on Sir 6:5-17 and Mk 10:1-12 – Friday of the 7th Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1)

In a small town in France, Louis and Zélie Martin began their married life with love and hope.

But life soon tested them.

Financial struggles.
The pain of burying four of their nine children.
The slow agony of Zélie’s battle with cancer.

Any of these could have broken them.

But they held on.
Not because it was easy…
… but because they chose to!

They believed love wasn’t just about emotions.

It was a promise.
A sacred bond.
They didn’t let suffering weaken their commitment.

They stood together…
… through every storm
… through every tear
… through every silent prayer whispered in the night.

Years later, their love bore a lasting fruit: One of their children would be known to the world as St. Thérèse of Lisieux (The Little Flower)

Before she was a saint…
… she was a little girl who watched her parents love with courage, sacrifice, and unwavering faithfulness.

And then, the world learned something even more powerful.

The parents who raised a saint…
… became saints themselves.

Louis and Zélie Martin were canonized together – the first married couple in history to be declared saints.

Their love was not just beautiful.
It was holy.
It was heroic.
It is eternal!

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

The life-love-story Sts Louis and Zélie Martin, beloved parents of St. Thérèse of Lisieux reminds us…
… true love does not give up.

It fights.
It stays.

It finds strength in faith

The greatest love stories are not written in words, but in sacrifice.

And this is the love Jesus calls us to – a love that mirrors the magnanimous, unshaken love of God…
… when He expounds His teaching on the sacredness of the Covenant of Marriage.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Therefore Jesus says, “What therefore God has joined, let not man put asunder” (Mk 10:9)

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

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

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

Theoretically speaking, this sounds quite good and wonderful.

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

“But what is impossible for humans is possible for God” (Mk 10:27b), is the assurance of Jesus.

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

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

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

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

The promises made…

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

Let us grow in the understanding of “being faithful and committed” in our relations…
… and mirror the magnanimous, unshaken love of God!

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 Second Commandment

This can be the name of a saint, that is, of a disciple who has lived a life of exemplary fidelity to the Lord.
The patron saint provides a model of charity; we are assured of his intercession.
The “baptismal name” can also express a Christian mystery or Christian virtue.

“Parents, sponsors, and the pastor are to see that a name is not given which is foreign to Christian sentiment. (CCC # 2156)

“Letting go of the ‘peripheral and sinful branches of life;’ instead, pursuing the paths of holiness and sanctity!”

(Based on Sir 5:1-8 and Mk 9:41-50 – Thursday of the 7th Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1)

A man was climbing a steep mountain when suddenly – he slipped!

He tumbled down, rocks crumbling beneath him.

At the last moment, his hand grasped a thick branch.
His heart pounded!

Below him, a sheer drop.
Above, safety – just out of reach.

He held on tightly.

But as minutes passed, his grip weakened. His fingers ached.
His strength faded.

Then, he saw it – a thick, sturdy vine swaying nearby.
That was his way out.
That was his chance to survive.

But to grab it, he had to make a terrifying choice – he had to let go of the thick branch!

Doubt filled his mind.

What if I fall?
What if I miss?
Fear whispered, “Hold on to what you have. Don’t take the risk.”

But the truth was clear: if he kept clinging to the branch, he wouldn’t last much longer.

With a deep breath…
… he made his choice.

He let go.
His fingers released the branch.

For a moment, he felt himself falling.

Then – he caught the vine!
He pulled himself up, climbed higher…
… and found solid ground again!

Are we not also often the same?
… hanging onto things that are pulling us down…
… Bad habits.
… Sinful comforts.
.. Attachments we refuse to release.

The climber had to let go to live.

Because in the end, ‘the breaking branch’ what we refuse to release…
… may be the very thing that makes us fall.

Yes, we need to remember: “What we refuse to cut off today…
… might be the very thing that cuts us off from God tomorrow!”

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

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

Jesus uses an extreme language to convey this message across:

“If your hand causes you to sin… cut it off!
“If your foot causes you to sin… cut it off!”
“If your eye causes you to sin… pluck it off!” (Mk 9:43,45,47)

The hand… the foot… and the eye… are three faculties which are extremely vital for a person’s activities:

The hand: points to the things “that we do”
The foot: points to the places “that we go”
The eye: points to the things “that we see or desire”

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

We need to make an honest examination of our lives…

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

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

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

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

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

A false grip on the world will make us fall…
… but a firm grip on Christ will lift us up!

Let us not “keep holding on” to the peripheral “branches” of life…
… instead pursue the paths of holiness and sanctity!

The Book of Sirach powerfully warns us: “Do not rely on your wealth, or say, ‘I have enough.’ Do not follow your own desires or strength in pursuing the passions of your heart.” (Sir 5:1-2)

Holding on to sin may feel secure…
… but it leads to ruin.

The time to let go is…
… today – not tomorrow!
… now – not later!
Because the longer we hold on…
… the harder it is to be free!

“Do not delay turning back to the Lord, do not put it off day after day” (Sir 5:7).

Let our lives be a saintly one – attracting many towards Christ…
… and not a scandalous one – repelling many away from Christ!

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 Second Commandment

The sacrament of Baptism is conferred “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

In Baptism, the Lord’s name sanctifies man, and the Christian receives his name in the Church. (CCC # 2156)

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

(Based on Sir 4:11-19 and Mk 9:38-40 – Wednesday of the 7th Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1)

The year was 1952.

The Boston Symphony Orchestra was holding auditions.

The judges sat at a long table, their scoresheets ready.

One by one, musicians walked in – violinists, cellists, flutists – each trying to earn a place in one of the world’s most prestigious orchestras.

But there was an unspoken rule: Women almost never got selected!

Not because they lacked talent…
… but because the judges believed that only men could truly master orchestral music.

And then, something changed.

The orchestra introduced a radical experiment.

They placed a large curtain between the judges and the ‘auditioning’ musicians.

Now, the panel could only hear the music – they didn’t know if it was a man or a woman playing the musical instrument

And this transformed the entire scenario!

Suddenly women started getting selected.

For the first time, the judges realized their mistake.

They weren’t choosing the best musicians before…
… they were selecting based on their own bias!

How often do we do the same in our own lives?

How often do we think that God’s power is limited to our way of doing things?

Let’s understand that in God’s eyes, it’s not about who holds the title – it’s about who plays the music.

Not the name… but the mission.
Not the group… but the grace.

Are we listening to the music of God’s work – even when it comes from unexpected people and situations?
… or are we too busy checking ‘who’s playing the instrument?’

The incident in today’s Gospel focuses on how Jesus opens the minds of His disciples to “not get limited” by peripherals and externalities…
… instead to realise that God is not bound by our labels; rather, He is limitless in His love!

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

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

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

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

The Lord had spoken to Moses and bestowed the spirit on seventy chosen elders

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

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

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

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

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

The vocation of being a Christian is not merely a “title” to be hung around in pride or a “plaque” to be carried around for gratification…
… it is a responsible duty that is to be carried out with sincerity and earnestness

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

The Book of Sirach (Sir 4:11-19) highlights that Wisdom is not found in worldly status or grandeurs

It’s found in humility, perseverance and trust…
… often overlooked, but powerful!

Like a symphony, its beauty is revealed when we listen with discerning hearts!

Yes, greatness is often hidden in unexpected places and situations

Let’s pray for God’s Holy Wisdom to discern and understand!

Indeed… the Spirit moves where it wills…

Are we open to hearing its music?

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 Second Commandment

When an oath is required by illegitimate civil authorities, it may be refused.

It must be refused when it is required for purposes contrary to the dignity of persons or to ecclesial communion. (CCC # 2155)

“Humbling ourselves before the Immense Presence of God – like a Child – and entrusting our cares to the Lord!”

(Based on Sir 2:1-11 and Mk 9:30-37 – Tuesday of the 7th Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1)

A young American student, on a visit to the Beethoven museum in Bonn…
… became fascinated by the piano on which Beethoven had composed some of his greatest works.

(Beethoven is one of the most famous and influential music composers of all-time)

She asked the museum guard if she could play a few musical pieces on it.

She accompanied the request with a lavish tip (a gift/money)…
… and the guard agreed!

The girl, excitedly went to the piano and tinkled out the opening of the Moonlight Sonata (a famous musical composition of Beethoven).

She was greatly thrilled that she could play on the same piano as that of the music legend.

As she was leaving she said to the guard, with a great sense of exhilaration: “I suppose all the great pianists who come here, want to play on that piano.”

The guard shook his head.

Then he gave a reply which shocked the girl: “Padarewski [the famed Polish pianist] was here a few years ago and he said he wasn’t worthy to touch it.”

The great Polish pianist felt himself unworthy to play on the piano, which was played the Legendary Beethoven…
… whereas the girl (a novice in piano), took false pride and gratified her vanity!

Great people realise the significance and prominence of others…
… and in humility, lower themselves in rightful acknowledgement!

How many of us dare to humble ourselves, especially before the immensity of God?

How many of us choose to walk the path of humility, and be willing to follow the Ways of God?

The Gospel of the Day is an exhortatory teaching of Jesus on the importance of His Followers to be immersed into a life of humility.

Jesus was walking with His disciples, teaching them on the way….

He began to speak to them of how, He – the Son of Man “would be delivered into the hands of men, and they would kill Him…” (Mk 9:31)

Jesus was the epitome of self-emptiness and total self-giving

He expected His disciples to also learn from Him (Mt 11:29) and follow His lifestyle

St Paul in his letter to the Philippians speaks of this self-emptying (“kenosis”) of the Lord:
“He emptied Himself, taking the form of a slave….He humbled Himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross” (Phil 2: 7-8)

And so Jesus tells His disciples of how He would be handed over to human hands and suffer death

He was teaching them…
… how He had to enter into the waters of Humility – in being handed over to human hands
.. how He had to pass through the valleys of Humbleness – in suffering death on the Cross

But, sadly, the disciples were able to give little heed to these “Acts of Humility” of the Lord
… They were busy discussing who would be the greatest among them
… They were occupied in arguing who would be the first among them (Mk 9:34)

And so the Lord gives them the thumb rule to be His Follower: Humility of Heart

• “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all” (Mk 9:35)

Humility…
… was to be the sole stepping-stone to greatness in the Kingdom of God
… was to be the lone way to be considered worthy in the Divine Way of Life

We need to examine our lives: Am I living a life of humility?

Do I try to always have it “my way” and insist solely on feeding my ego and my pride?
Am I willing to let go of my crave for position and fame, and embrace a life of service?

Ralph Emerson, an essayist and poet once said, “A great man is always willing to be little”

Every Christian is expected to Follow the Way of Humility – which was the Way of Christ!

He humbled Himself – and expects each of us to live in humilty
He came to serve, and not to be served – and challenges us too, to be so
He let go of His personal glory and self desires – and dares us to “let go” and “allow God!”

Let us humble ourselves before the Immense Presence of God… like a Child…
… and entrusting our cares to the Lord, truly experience the words of the Psalmist, “Commit your life to the Lord, and He will help you!” (Psa 37:5)

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 Second Commandment

The holiness of the Divine Name demands that we neither use it for trivial matters…
… nor take an oath which on the basis of the circumstances could be interpreted as approval of an authority unjustly requiring it.

(CCC # 2155)