“Facing the challenges of life with a strong and sturdy faith!”

(Based on Sir 1:1-10 and Mk 9:14-29 – Monday of the 7th Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1)

Raphael is the famous Italian painter – the architect of the High Renaissance.

Together with Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, he forms the traditional trinity of great masters of that period.

There is a famous painting of the Transfiguration of our Blessed Lord by Raphael.

This painting was done in Rome in 1520.
Raphael had his health deteriorating at this time, as soon he was to die at the age of 37.
With the life-energy draining out of him, he chose to apply his mastery strokes on the painting of the Transfiguration.

In the upper centre part of the painting is seen a flat, rock mountain top.

The three disciples – Peter, James and John – are shielding their eyes from the glory.
Just above them, in the air, are Elijah and Moses and Jesus.
Jesus is glisteningly white, as scripture says, “no fuller on earth could bleach”

At the bottom of the mountain, is the crowd of the other disciples.

They are being unable to heal a boy, who is possessed by a demon.
The boy, an epileptic is seen in a fit of seizure, and flanked by his helpless father

These two contrasting images in the same picture are drawn from the 9th Chapter of the Gospel of St Mark

The Transfiguration of the Lord (Mk 9:2-8)
The inability of the disciples to heal the epileptic boy (Mk 9:14-29)

The Gospel of the day is the second incident: of how the disciples fail to heal the boy and how Jesus intervenes to cure and teaches the importance of possessing strong faith.

These two incidents that are depicted in the painting of the Transfiguration by Raphael, shows contrasting dimensions…

On one side, immense glory being revealed and the Divine splendour being manifested
On the other, lack of faith being exposed and the failure in the Kingdom ministry

On one side, the three disciples basking in the light of heightened faith and devotion

On the other, the other disciples being lost in the darkness of inability to put the faith to effectiveness

And how often is this the painting of our own lives too…

There are some moments when we experience the loftiness of God’s glory and power
There are other moments when we fail miserably to evoke His presence and are unable to feel His

There are some times when faith makes us to feel that everything is so glorious and wonderful

There are other times when our faith hits rock-bottom and our spiritual life loses its sheen and all seems so miserable
This is the reality of our lives – contrasting experiences of glorious faith at some instants and miserable lack of trust at other

But the Gospel of the day gives an encouraging exhortation by Jesus to have a strong and sturdy faith…
… “All things are possible to him who believes!” (Mk 9:23)

When the disciples were unable to bring about a healing to the epileptic boy, the Lord sure did rebuke them for their “lack of faith”

But after having healed the child, He does not linger with the reproaching or admonishing attitude … Instead, as a loving friend and a caring master…
… gently but firmly encourages them to be stronger in their faith: “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer and fasting.” (Mk 9:29)

This is the approach that He has towards us too…
He knows that we have our weak moments and situations of disbelief and doubts

He knows that there are times when our faith is merely on the lips and not really from the depths of our hearts
He knows that there are occasions when annoying circumstances encroach our faith-life and all our efforts in devotion meet with bitter conclusions
Yet, with firmness and fondness, Jesus invites us to keep seeking to grow in our trust in Him!

The Book of Sirach (Sir 1:1-10) reminds us that:

1. God is the Source of All Wisdom and Strength
   “All wisdom comes from the Lord and is with him forever.” (Sir 1:1)

When we feel weak, uncertain, or lacking faith – like the disciples who could not heal the boy – we must turn to God, Who alone is the Source of every strength and wisdom.

2. Faith and Wisdom Go Hand in Hand
   “The root of wisdom—to whom has it been revealed?” (Sir 1:6)

In moment’s of life’s contrasts, we are reminded that true wisdom is revealed to those who sincerely seek Go

3. Trust in God Leads to Strength and Victory
   “To fear the Lord is the fullness of wisdom.” (Sir 1:16)

Those who revere and trust in God will be filled with wisdom, leading to perseverance in challenges. No matter the struggles we face, faith makes all things possible (Mk 9:23)

The painting of our lives often carry contrasting experiences…
… of glorious faith at some instants
… and miserable lack of trust at other

Let us not get discouraged!

Instead, with trust in the Lord, let us face the challenges of our life with a strong and sturdy faith…
… knowing that, “All things are possible to him who believes!”

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

Following St. Paul, the tradition of the Church has understood Jesus’ words as not excluding oaths made for grave and right reasons (for example, in court).

“An oath, that is the invocation of the divine name as a witness to truth, cannot be taken unless in truth, in judgment, and in justice.” (CCC # 2154)

“Freeing ourselves from the ‘imprisonment of the past’ and, with God’s Grace, to live in love and holiness!”

(Based on 1 Sam 26:2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23, 1 Cor 15:45-49 and Lk 6:27-38 – 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C)

A nine year old girl was walking through the fields, a little away from her home…
… when two persons, appearing to befriend her, asked her to help collect fruits from the forest.

Brought up with the good habit of showing courtesy to elders, the girl hurried to obey.

But soon she realised that it was a trick to kidnap her!

“I saw two persons behind me,” she would recall later…
… “One of them briskly grabbed me with one hand, while the other one pulled out a knife and held it to my side.

He told me, ‘If you cry, you’ll die!
Follow us!’”

After a forced march, the girl was sold as a slave.

The captors gave her a name, in Arabic, which meant (ironically) “The Lucky One!”

Though this title was intended to be a sarcastic one…
… it came about to express the girl’s approach towards life.

In the coming years, she gladly accepted the name.

After her release, she amazingly, even thanked God for the good that had come, from her suffering.
“If I were to meet those who kidnapped me, and even those who tortured me,” she wrote, “I would kneel and kiss their hands.

For if these things had not happened, I would not have been a Christian and a religious today!”

The name of the girl is St Bakhita – a Saint for those who are “prisoners of the past!”

(We celebrated her Feast Day on February 08)

She was able to heroically display the Christian virtue of forgiveness…
… especially to enemies – those who had persecuted her and had cause irreparable damages to her life!

In life, so often we get “imprisoned by our past!”

This is true especially from the perspective of relationships…

There are many who cause hurts and pains to us
There are many with whom we find it difficult to relate and extremely hard to forgive

The past clings to us in a mighty way…

“Enemies” are, undoubtedly, a reality in most of our lives!

What is our attitude and approach to these “enemies” in our life?

The Gospel of the Day is a bold challenge by Jesus to “love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you!” (Lk 6:27)

One of the sayings goes thus, “Divinity cannot be confined to one’s pockets or be contained in one’s purse!”

So vivid is this saying in the life of Jesus, the Fullness of Divinity.

Jesus does not permit to be limited to the finite purses of our expectations
He goes much beyond….
His teachings reach a new level…

This is what we come across when we challenge ourselves with the words of the Lord: “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you!” (Lk 6: 27)

There are four explicit commands that are given:

Love
Do Good
Bless
Pray

All these four exhortations are very often in direct contrast to what we expect or what we wish

1. Love your enemies
   Our natural tendency towards our “enemies” is that of animosity or grudge or at the best, indifference

But Jesus says to go beyond… Love them!

Love them…
… in a way, that they are able to experience the Mighty Love that God has for each one of us!
Love them…
… in a way, that no hateful feelings get sown or nurtured in our hearts and we be free in our minds!

2. Do good to those who hate
   Our common inclination to those who hate is to say, “Why should I have anything to do with someone who is least interested in me and only keeps hurting me?”

But Jesus says to go beyond – Do good to them!

Do good to them…
… in a way, that our good actions – little or big, seen or unseen – become actions that evoke repentance and contrition!
Do good to them…
… in a way, that gestures of charity is a way to crush our own ego and pride feelings and makes us to be humbler, in imitation of Christ who totally humbled Himself!

3. Bless those who curse you
   Our first instinct to those who curse us to “give back still strongly” in return and wish the worst for the concerned person.

But Jesus says to go beyond – Bless them!

Bless them…
… in a way, that our holy wishes may move the heart of the one who offends us and we become a channel and active instrument to allow God’s forgiveness to flow
Bless them…
… in a way, that our words of grace may heal the vibrations of negativity and hatred and evokes the mighty power of God against the dark forces of Satan

4. Pray for those who abuse you
   Our immediate reaction to those who abuse is to abuse in return or to let out a volley of unfit phrases or violent actions and gestures

But Jesus says to go beyond – Pray for them!

Pray for them…
… in a way, that the grace of God’s mercy and compassion may descend into the relationship
Pray for them…
… in a way, that the words of abuse may fizzle out in the blazing power of prayer and holiness

David, in the Old Testament, goes beyond the lures of the people around, and refuses to take revenge on Saul – even though he had the possibility to terminate his life

He chose to “not get imprisoned by the past”…
… and instead, gave priority to the Lord and His Will, by recognising the ‘Grace of Anointing bestowed on Saul’ (Cf. 1 Sam 26:8-9)

As St Paul reminds us, “Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we will also bear the image of the man of heaven.” (1 Cor 15:49)…
… let us imitiate our Blessed Lord Who “is kind and merciful!” (Ps 103:8a)

Life constantly seeks to “imprison us in our past”

But God’s Grace coupled with our willingness to co-operate with His grace…
… will allow us to “live in love and holiness”

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

Jesus teaches that every oath involves a reference to God…
… and that God’s presence and His truth must be honoured in all speech.
Discretion in calling upon God is allied with a respectful awareness of His presence…

… which all our assertions either witness to or mock. (CCC # 2153)

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

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

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

To that, the soldier replied: “Well, we have a saying in our army…
… and I try to follow that.
The saying is this: ‘If someone says, he is not afraid of death…
… then he is either lying
… or he is in the army!’

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

As Christians, we are all soldiers of Christ!

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

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

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

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

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

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

We also pray very specially, on this day for our Holy Father Pope Francis…
… for His good health
… and to lead the Church in holiness – in total accordance with the Will of God.

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

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

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

But, personally, we need to ask: Am I sometimes shaky regarding the Church?

Today, let’s get to some of the basics of the Church.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

We reduce the Church in our everyday vocabulary to a mere building made of stones and cement..

But, the Church is made of living stones (1 Pet 2:5)

And all of us need to contribute our mite in keeping alive this Church of God.

Do I give my share of talents and gifts to the Church…
… and do my best to promote the Church as being relevant for our modern times?

Do I make sacrifices and offer prayers for the Churc…
… so that she may stand strong amid many challenges?

Do I study, promote and encourage the teachings of the Church..
… and find beauty and wisdom in them?

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

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

The Mystery of Jesus was so great…
… people failed to grasp who actually He was (He Is!)!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

From a negative aspect, what is a hospital?

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

But from a positive Aspect, what is a hospital?

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

Our Church can be understood in similar tones…

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

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

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

The Church has its weaknesses…
… but the Church needs committed preachers of the Word… in You and Me!
The Church has its moments of negativity…
… but the Church needs passionate lovers of God… in You and Me!

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

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

Let the Great Rock help us to stand firm and become passionate in service of the Church!

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

Happy Feast Day!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus explained the second commandment: “You have heard that it was said to the men of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’

But I say to you, Do not swear at all. … Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from the evil one. (CCC # 2153)

“Remaining committed to the Cross of Christ and celebrating Christianity with conviction!”

(Based on Gen 11:1-9 and Mk 8:34-9:1 – Friday of the 6th Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1)

There is a beautiful legend of a thorn bird.

It is said that the thorn bird sings only once in its life.

Leaving its nest, it searches for a bush…
… a bush with long and sharp thorns.

On finding such a thorny bush, the thorn bird pierces itself on the biggest thorn.

It is at that point, that it begins to sing.

And this sweet and beautiful singing, outmatches the lark or the nightingale or any other singing bird.

The world pauses in silence and wonder…
… as they hear the melodious voice, from the wounded and dying bird!

The legend clearly gives the message…
… that the most satisfying moments of life, can be purchased only at the price of great pain

Christian suffering and struggling – and triumph – is represented by the Cross.

The Gospel of the Day is a presentation of the Message of the Cross…
… an invitation to follow the Crucified Christ
… a challenge to faithfully carry the crosses of our life.

Jesus says, “Whoever wishes to come after me, must deny himself, take up his cross and follow Me!” (Mk 8:34)

Our Blessed Lord loves to jolt static minds and the inert understandings…

He doesn’t promise cushy comforts…
… He demands Commitment to the Cross!

Those who choose Christianity as a Life Style, ought to be:
Losers of oneself
Be carriers of the Cross
And then Follow Him!

Christianity, as a Life Style, has the Cross as its Basic Rule and it demands Commitment!

But the very mention of the word “Cross”, sometimes puts people off…

“Not again the Cross”
“Enough of pain and suffering”
“We go to Church to relax and be comforted; not simply to hear of the Passion and anguish of the Suffering Jesus on the Cross”
“We only prefer the glorious & victorious Christ!”
“Stop being pessimistic with sin & repentance… just be optimistic with joy and salvation!”

These are often, the “happening” buzz phrases and popular opinions
… even in our religious environs.

We like to be saved…
… but we fear the Cross of repentance of our Sins

We like to receive blessings…
… but we fear the Cross of living an honest life

We like to live a peaceful life…
… but we Fear the Cross of trusting in God’s Providence

We like to be called good..
… but we Fear the Cross of being Faithful to the teachings of Christ

We like to have joy…
… but we Fear the Cross of giving up attachments and belong totally to God

Yes, we often, Fear the Cross…

But Christ – Crucified on the Cross – promises His Choicest Rewards to the ones, who dare to take up the Cross…
They will find Life…
They will be rewarded…
They will find true joy and peace…
… says the Lord.

Have we really accepted Christianity as our Life Style?

Then let us embrace the Cross.

One important element of Embracing the Cross is translating our faith into a actual works of service.

In the words of St James:
“Faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead!” (Jas 2:17)

This requires us to permit the Grace of God to work in us, by our constant response and consent to the Will of the Lord…
… this will surely make us encounter struggles and difficulties.

But let’s always trust in the Grace of the Lord to strengthen us.

Life will often push us to thorn situations – painful and agonizing

But like the thorn bird…
… let us dare to embrace this struggle, and yet sing the most beautiful song!
… let us be courageous to go through the time of difficulty, knowing that the Lord wishes to play a beautiful melody through my life!

Let us remain committed to the Cross of Christ and celebrate Christianity with conviction!

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

A person commits perjury when he makes a promise under oath with no intention of keeping it…
… or when after promising on oath he does not keep it.
Perjury is a grave lack of respect for the Lord of all speech.

Pledging oneself by oath to commit an evil deed is contrary to the holiness of the Divine Name. (CCC # 2152)

“Opening our hearts to listen and do what God wants of us!”

(Based on Gen 9:1-13 and Mk 8:27-33 – Thursday of the 6th Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1)

The famous incident of President Abraham Lincoln during the US civil war goes thus…

The President met a group of church leaders for a prayer-cum-breakfast.

At one point during the breakfast, one of the leaders remarked: “Mr President, let us pray, that in this time of the Civil War, God is on our side”

But Abraham Lincoln, replied with a much-greater insight…
… “No gentlemen. Let us pray that we are on God’s side!”

It was a reminder by the President that religion ought not to be a tool to get God to do what we want…
… but a way of life, to open our hearts to listen and do what God wants of us!

Are we on the side of God?
… or are we on the other side, and expecting God to bend Himself to our ways and styles of life?

The Gospel of the Day is a beautiful reminder of the Lord to examine our lives…
… and check, “if we are on the side of God!”

On reaching the villages of Caesarea Philippi, Jesus put forth the two-question examination to His disciples:

“Who do people say that I am?” (Mk 8:27)
“Who do you say that I am?” (Mk 8: 29)

After having given various views of what the people felt, Peter, the leader, gives the answer: “You are the Christ” (Mk 8:29b)

Although, Peter had given the right answer, the following statements by Jesus on His Passion, Death and Resurrection, scandalized Peter!

Peter had a set and standard understanding of a Messiah – as did the Jews of his time…
… a leader who would wield power and Icontrol
… a liberator who would exercise supremacy and command.

So when Jesus spoke of a “Servant-Leader” (Mk 8:31)…
… One Who would suffer
… One Who would subjected to the mercy of the other

Peter could no longer stand himself!

He began to rebuke Jesus (Mk 8:32b).

But Jesus had to set things right…
… and so He would rebuke Him back strongly: “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not on the side of God, but of men!” (Mk 8:33)

Though Peter had made a correct statement about Jesus…
… it was still only a partial sight!

He still needed a “second intervention”, in order to see fully.

This was just as it was in the Healing of the Blind Man in the previous passage (Mk 8:22-25)

The blind man initially could only see “people walking, like trees” (Mk 8:24)

But after the “second touch” from Jesus, he was able to see fully.

Jesus was reminding Peter, by the strong rebuke…
… that Christian Life is not about “we wanting our way; it is about we seeking and doing God’s Will in life!”

Yes, Christianity is a Way of Life, that constantly asks us: “Are we on the side of God?

In our everyday life, we come across plenty of opportunities, when we need to make this discernment:

Either to be on the side of God…
… or to go against Him!

We need to examine seriously our prayer life…
“Do we seek God’s Will in prayer…
… or do we seek to impose our will on Him?”

“Do we place our worries and problems before our God (Who knows all!)…
… or do we also command Him, on how and when these problems ought to be solved?”

Sometimes, we do have tendencies, to pull God into our boundary…
… instead of we moving to God’s side!

Today, the Lord clearly reminds us, as He rebuked Peter…
… to constantly be on the “side of God”.

Like Peter…
… we may have our own justifications to think the way we do
… we may have our own fears in encountering a Suffering God

The Lord, is clear and constant in His presentation of Christianity: “Seek to be on the side of God”

Yes, let us allow the Lord to mellow our hearts…

So that we can understand that religion ought not to be a tool to get God to do what we want…
… but a way of life, to open our hearts to listen and do what God wants of 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

When it is truthful and legitimate, an oath highlights the relationship of human speech with God’s truth.

A false oath calls on God to be witness to a lie. (CCC # 2151)