“Allowing the Lord to lead us out of blindness and blurredness into clarity of faith and trust!”

(Based on Gen 8:6-13, 20-22 and Mk 8:22-26 – Wednesday of the 6th Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1)

A sailor found himself in harsh and rough waters on the sea.

Survival seemed scanty…
… but he called on the Lord.

His prayers were heard, and he found himself washed up on a small, uninhabited island.

On the island, he again prayed intensely to God, to rescue him.

Every day he would scan the horizon for help…
… but none seemed forthcoming.

Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood (wood from the wreckage of the ship) to protect himself from the elements, and to store his few possessions.

One day, after having wandered all around for food, he arrived home..
… Only to find his little hut in flames, with smoke rising up to the skies.

He felt the worst had happened, and everything was lost.

Stuck with disbelief, grief, and anger, he cried out: “GOD! How could you do this to me?
You saved me from the shipwreck, but only to abandon me on this island!
And now you have taken away my only means of survival.”

Early next day, however, he was awakened by the sound of a ship approaching the island!

It was a rescue ship…
… they had come to rescue him!

“How did you know I was here?” asked the weary man of his rescuers.
“We saw your smoke signal,” they replied!

The burnt hut – which the man had considered as a tragedy and a cruel act from God…
… turned out to be the signal, by which people could come to rescue him.

Even though he had received a rescuing hand, the first time, from the shipwreck…
… he needed a “repeat” intervention, to realise and deepen the awareness of the Providential Presence of God in his life.

What about us?

Are we also in need of a “repeat” intervention from the Lord…
… for a greater commitment and dedication to our life of faith?

The Gospel of the Day is the beautiful and unique incident of a blind man, experiencing a “repeat” intervention from the Lord…
… and obtaining total healing and cure.

When Jesus arrived at Bethsaida, people brought to Him a blind man.

Jesus takes aside this blind man, and begins the process of healing…
… a process that takes place in two stages.

Jesus first places His Hands on him and enquiring whether he sees anything

The man replied: “I see people looking like trees and walking” (Mk 8: 23-24)

Then Jesus laid His Hands a second time…
… and he saw clearly, with his sight restored. (Mk 8: 25)

This two-step process of healing is a great reminder to us…
… that Jesus was in perfect control of the healing process
… that faith in Jesus is not a one-time event; rather a process that could extend to different stages

Jesus, the great Healer, Who had healed many, with His One Word, now also demonstrates…
… that when human beings go through a stage of “not seeing fully, but only men walking as trees,” He is still in perfect charge of the situation.
… that growing in faith in Him, is a gradual process.

The blind man, in the context of the Gospel of St Mark is also a figure of the disciples of Jesus…
… who were with the Lord for quite sometime
… and yet failed to understand Him and His ministry (Cf. Mk 8:14-21)
… and would gradually go through a process of growing in their faith in the Lord

Each of us in life go through such situations and moments in life…
… when we are blind
… when, even with a touch of the Lord, “we see people looking like trees and walking”

Problems and difficulties often clout our vision

Experiences of an encounter with the Lord do keep our faith alive, though feeble
… In all such moments, we need another “touch” from the Lord.

Yes, we are all in need of a “repeat” intervention from the Lord!

As Christians, who have been “in faith” for long time, there are possibilities…
… when our life of faith loses its charm and charisma
… when our resolutions and promises lose touch of its initial fervour and zeal
… when our commitment and dedication fail to have the required enthusiasm and passion

In all such moments of “blind moments” and “blurred vision”…
… we need a “repeat” intervention from the Lord!

Let us therefore, allow the Lord to touch us and experience His Healing Grace…
… to lead us out of blindness and blurredness into clarity of faith and trust.

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

Rejection of false oaths is a duty toward God.
As Creator and Lord, God is the norm of all truth.

Human speech is either in accord with or in opposition to God who is Truth itself. (CCC # 2151)

“Fixing our eyes on Jesus Christ!”

(Based on Gen 6:5-8, 7:1-5, 10 and Mk 8:14-21 – Tuesday of the 6th Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1)

Two boys were playing in the snow one day; when one said to the other, “Let us see who can make the straightest path in the snow.”

His companion readily accepted the proposition, and they started.

One boy fixed his eyes on a tree, and walked along….
… without taking his eyes off the object selected.

The other boy set his eyes on the tree also…
… and, when he had gone a short distance, he turned
… and looked back to see how true his course was.

He went a little distance farther…
… and again turned to look over his steps.

When they arrived at their stopping place, each halted and looked back.

One path was true as an arrow, while the other ran in a zigzag course.

“How did you get your path so true?” asked the boy who had made the crooked steps.

“Why,” said the other boy, “I just set my eyes on the tree…
… and kept them there until I got to the end

While you stopped and looked back and wandered out of your course!

Well… That’s how our Christian Life is too…
… we must fix the eyes of our hope, our trust, and our faith upon Jesus Christ.

As the Letter to the Hebrews teaches:
“… Look unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith…” (Heb 12:2)

The Gospel of the Day presents an experience of the disciples…
… of losing their focus from the Lord
… an experience of “feeling lost” despite the fact that Jesus was with them

Jesus is off on the boat again, with His disciples, to travel to the other shore (Mk 8:13)

The disciples had forgotten to bring bread along with them, and they had only one loaf with them. (Mk 8:14).

Our Blessed Lord, meanwhile, began to make use of the time of journey, for rendering a teaching on True Discipleship.

Incidentally, He spoke on the need to be aware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of Herod…
… the leaven of malice and wickedness (1 Cor 5:8)
… the leaven of deception and misleading (Gal 5:8-9)

The disciples, however, got it all wrong.

Their minds were still focussed on the bread.

They were still figuring how out, how they missed to get bread.
They were still trying to see how they could all adjust, with one bread.

And so, when Jesus spoke of leaven – one of the main ingredients in bread – they thought that Jesus was chastising them, for not having taken bread.

But Jesus now shows the disciples what is to be the main focus…

He makes them realise what was more important and needed.

The disciples were more concerned…
… with food and security.
… with material needs and concerns.

But the Lord reminds them to “become aware of the Power of His Presence”

He exhorts them to peel off…
… the layers of material anxieties
… the layers of earthly apprehensions.

The disciples were concerned that they had only one bread…

But they failed to see that they had the One and Only Bread of Life!

The disciples were concerned that their food may not be sufficient…

But they failed to see that they had the One who multiplied bread for four thousands and five thousands!

They failed to understand!

They failed to look beyond!

In our life journey, we too sometimes fall short of material and earthly needs.

Do we also get perplexed and anxious like the disciples?
Do we also fail to understand that the presence of the Lord matters much more than any other earthly aspect?

Let us realise and understand that even when things seem too alien or situations seem to be too unfamiliar…
… God and His Power is close to me!

In our Christian Life…
… we must fix the eyes of our hope, our trust, and our faith upon Jesus Christ, and realise…
… God is near me!

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

An oath engages the Lord’s Name.

“You shall fear the LORD your God; you shall serve Him, and swear by His Name. (CCC # 2150)

“Being open and docile to the presence of the Lord in our lives!”

(Based on Gen 4:1-15, 25 and Mk 8:11-13 – Monday of the 6th Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1)

The Song of Bernadette is a 1943 film which dramatizes the story of Saint Bernadette Soubirous.

St Bernadette, reported eighteen visions of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in Lourdes, France, from February to July 1858.

This movie begins with a prologue-dialogue, which goes thus…
“For those who believe in God, no explanation is necessary.

For those who do not believe, no explanation is possible”

This statement casts light on an important aspect of the nature of faith and belief:

To those who believe, miracles are an aid…
To those choose not to believe, no miracles can come to aid!

The Gospel of the Day is clear example of this aspect of the nature of faith and belief…
… the constant refusal and adamant denial of the Pharisees to believe in Jesus

We are in the eighth chapter of the Gospel of St Mark.

Jesus performed an amazing miracle of the multiplication of the loaves…
… for about four thousand people (Mk 8:1-9)

From there, Jesus proceeds to the region of Dalmanutha (Mk 8:10)

On reaching this place, the religious leaders namely the Pharisees, came forward and began to argue with Jesus, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test Him (Mk 8:11).

But the Lord responded with a “sigh, from the depth of His spirit” (Mk 8:12)

What made Jesus to respond so strongly?

Is Jesus against asking signs?
Is Jesus against having doubts?

The answer to all the questions above is…
… not in the affirmative!

Jesus is NOT necessarily against asking signs…

The Bible is in fact, a witness to many people asking for signs from God…

Gideon asked for a sign from God (Judg 6:17)
Moses asked God what sign would prove to Pharaoh that he was sent by God ( Ex 4:1)
Elijah promises what Elisha had asked for, on the condition of a sign (2 Kg 2:10)

Jesus is NOT out rightly against lack of belief or unbelief…

The unbelieving Thomas, was chided, but not condemned by Jesus, after His resurrection (Jn 20:27-28)
The lack of faith of the disciples is saddening for Jesus, but He does not reject them (Mk 4:40)
The father, whose boy was possessed with a demon was blessed with a healing, on his acknowledgment of littleness in faith (Mk 9:24)
The emotionally unsettled and wavering Peter is given another chance to prove his loyalty despite his rejection and denial of faith in Jesus (Jn 21:15-17)

Then what is Jesus against?

Jesus is terribly against those people…
… who reject faith, despite many signs and wonders that are plainly presented
… who demand for greater miracles for merely curiosity and excitement
… who make use of the powers of God for personal satisfaction and gratification
… who remain stone-hearted, unmoved and indifferent despite clear indications and signals from God.

The Pharisees represented this class of people, whom the Lord had a terrible dislike and aversion…
… because of their attitude of indifference
… because of their outlook of rejection

Am I a person who constantly rejects signs and wonders from the Lord, and fail to grow in faith?

Do I remain obstinate and indifferent to God’s powers, and fail to be open to God’s movements in my life?

The Lord is constantly speaking to us through various blessings and miracles

Let us be open and docile to Him!

Yes, let us realize, that…
“To those who believe, miracles are an aid…

To those choose not to believe, no miracles can come to aid!”

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 second commandment forbids false oaths.
Taking an oath or swearing is to take God as witness to what one affirms.
It is to invoke the divine truthfulness as a pledge of one’s own truthfulness.
An oath engages the Lord’s name.

“You shall fear the LORD your God; you shall serve Him, and swear by his Name. (CCC # 2150)

“Making an offering to the Lord so that our life-journey is assured to be in safe hands!”

(Based on Jer 17:5-8, 1 Cor 15:12, 16-20 and Lk 6:17, 20-26 – 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C)

A highly rich and influential person was privileged to be one of the special guests to undertake a 21-day cruise on a Majestic Battleship.

This ship belonged to the former Emperor of the land…
… and had been modernized with immense facilities and luxurious features.

The man was highly impressed with the comforts that were provided on board.

Among the many things that made a pleasant impact on him was also…
… the Sunday Morning Mass that was attended by all the sailors and attendants, who were not on duty.

It was more so, since the man himself was not so particular about the practise of faith.

At the conclusion of the celebration of the Holy Mass, the man asked one of the sailors:
“Are you obliged to attend these Sunday Morning services?”

“It’s not exactly about obligation, Sir!” replied the sailor…
… “but our journey is assured to be in safe hands, by this our offering to the Lord!”

Those sailors and attendants had made a conscious and deliberate choice to practise their faith…
… and to surrender themselves to the Higher Power for safety and protection.

Our lives are also similar to such cruises…
… sometimes going through calm and quiet waters
… sometimes struggling in disturbed and turbulent waters
… sometimes encountering even dangerous storms and violent gales

Do we make a constant choice for the Lord and live ourselves in surrender to Him?

The Gospel of the Day is the beautiful teaching of the Beatitudes in the Gospel of Luke…
… with a call to “hope and trust in the Lord always!”

The beatitudes are assurances of blessing and joy to all those who make a conscious choice for the Lord and His Kingdom!

Jesus says, “Blessed are you poor, for yours is the Kingdom of God” (Lk 6:20)

One of the great messages in this verse is the Message of Hope!

The Greek word used for “poor” is “ptochos”

Ptochos means…
… reduced to beggary or asking for alms
… destitute of wealth, influence, position, honour
… helpless, powerless to accomplish an end

It’s interesting to note that this word “Ptochos” has its origin in the word “ptosso” which means “to crouch”

Therefore, the “poor” literally means, “one who is crouching”…
… a position where the knees are bent and the upper body is brought forward and down

It’s a position that is very often defied and despised, in the worldly standards, which emphasizes on being proud and haughty!

Thus, when the Lord says, “Blessed are the poor,” it is a tremendous message of Hope…
… to those who find themselves at the peripheries of life
… to those lost in the miseries of life and find no hope – materially, spiritually, mentally, socially

Of course, the word “poor” does not mean…
… that one simply becomes timid and passive or be simply submissive to any social evils without any resistance
… that one adopts an attitude of being “always hands folded” in surrender or “faces cast down” in defeat

“Poor” instead refers to the fact that one has God has one’s greatest strength and treasure

Being “poor in the Lord,” contradictory as it may sound, is the greatest richness that one can have.

Being “poor in the Lord” gives the greatest confidence to a person, who realises that being in God, one can never fail!

How true is the saying, “One who kneels before God, can stand before anyone!”

One who is aware of one’s strengths and weaknesses and yet offers oneself entirely to the power of God…
… such a one, in the eyes of the world may be “poor”… but is “Blessed” in the sight of God!

Prophet Jeremiah assures us: “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord.

He is like a tree planted by water…
… that sends out its roots by the stream
… and does not fear when heat comes
… for its leaves remain green
… and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.” (Jer 17:7-8)

It takes courage to be a Christian who is committed and passionate!

Yes… “Blessed are they who hope in the Lord!” (Ps 40:5a)

Let us realise that our life in the Lord “is not about obligation…
… but our journey is assured to be in safe hands, by our offering to the 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 Second Commandment

God’s Name is great when spoken with respect for the greatness of His majesty.

God’s Name is holy when said with veneration and fear of offending Him. (CCC # 2149)

“Daring to move out of the ‘zone of limitation’ and knowing that God is always with us – caring, loving and providing!”

(Based on Gen 3:9-24 and Mk 8:1-10 – Saturday of the 5th Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1)

Two Christian friends were talking about their life experiences.

One of them said: “It is so very hard to trust God and to realize that His Hand is still leading us in the dark phases of our life!”

“Well”, said the other, ” if you cannot trust a person out of sight, then he/she is not worth much!
>> And if you cannot trust God in the dark, it simply shows… you don’t trust Him at all!”


That’s quite a point, isn’t it?

We find our Christian Faith often on an easy course, when things go on well.
>> But when difficulties come our way, our “trust” level is questioned.

It is in these “questionable moments of trust” that we tend to enter into a “zone of limitation”
>> We tend to think in a limited and restricted manner.
>> We tend to limit ourselves to our inadequacies and narrowness.


But God loves to challenge us to move beyond such boundaries and borders!

Yes, human beings tend to think in a limited fashion, but God loves to expand our possibilities.
>> Human beings tend to get bogged down by boundaries, but God loves to throw open our horizons.


The Gospel of the day is a clear illustration of this expansion of human horizons and possibilities, through the miracle of the feeding of loaves…
… and thus trusting Him deeper!


Jesus is with His disciples and huge crowd.
>> They are once again in a situation of having a want of feeding this huge multitude.


It’s interesting to highlight the patterns in the attitudes of Jesus and the disciples.

Jesus sees the hungry crowd and His heart moved in compassion…
>> The disciples saw the hungry crowd and probably their minds were moved in tension!

Jesus expresses His concern and care to feed the hungry crowd…
>> The disciples express their frustration and urgency to send the crowd away at the earliest!

Jesus foresaw the possibility of immense fulfilment and satisfaction in the deserted area…
>> The disciples got stuck with seeing only barrenness and emptiness in the deserted area!

Jesus moved in action, to enquire about the possibilities of feeding the people…
>> The disciples groaned in inaction at the plight of having to feed the people!


The disciples concluded impossibility by their mathematical calculations…
>> Jesus concluded possibility by His Divine calculations!

The disciples saw only the desert…
>> Jesus looked beyond – to find an oasis in the desert!


How often are we too like the disciples…
… limited in our thinking
… restricted by our inabilities
… stuck by our mental calculations

But Jesus invites us, like He did to His disciples – to look beyond…
… to look at Him who can shatter every obstacle and barrier!
… to look to Him who can expand every horizon and possibility!
… to look to Him who can turn deserts into pools and hills into highways!


Yes, we will have moments in our life which makes us to complain:
“It is so very hard to trust God and to realize that His Hand is still leading us in the dark phases of our life!”

But we are reminded by the Gospel of the Day:
“If you cannot trust a person out of sight, then he/she is not worth much!
>> And if you cannot trust God in the dark, it simply shows… you don’t trust Him at all!”


Let us dare to move out of the “zone of limitation” and trust the Lord…
… knowing He is always with us – caring, loving and providing!


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
>> Oaths which misuse God’s Name, though without the intention of blasphemy, show lack of respect for the Lord.
>> The second commandment also forbids magical use of the Divine Name. (CCC # 2149)
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