“Being wary of the menaces to be adamantly self-righteous and being proud with our own knowledge!”

(Based on Num 21:4-9 and Jn 8:21-30 – Tuesday of the 5th Week of Lent)

Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one’s own death.

Though it has many and wide range of reasons and factors, the cause is frequently attributed to mental disorders…
… such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, borderline personality disorder, alcoholism, or drug abuse.

Stress factors such as financial difficulties or troubles with interpersonal relationships also often play a key role.

In this fast-paced world, where indifference has grown in a humongous manner, suicide is certainly one great tendency and trend.

This suicide is, mainly, of the physical order.

How many of us have, however, thought of the threat of suicide occurring, even with respect to our spiritual life?

How many of us, have considered, that there is a danger of suicide happening, even with respect to our life of faith?

The Gospel of the Day is a warning to be aware of the danger of “suicide” from a spiritual angle that can occur in the soul of each person.

Jesus continues His revelation to the people, of He, being the ambassador of God, His Father.

He tells the people that “I am going away and you will look for me, but you will die in your sin” (Jn 8: 21)

The Lord refers to “dying in one’s sin”

This aspect of “dying in one’s sin”, which would be equivalent to a person committing suicide in the spiritual sense, could consist of various ways:

1. A person dangers oneself to “suicide” in the spiritual sense, when one is too self-righteous – an attitude of “I know everything – even more than God!”

When Jesus told that He is going away, the Jews said, “He is not going to kill Himself, is He, because He said, “Where I am going, you cannot come?” (Jn 8:22)

The Jews failed to understand the words of the Lord, because they were filled with pride of their knowledge, and considered themselves to know everything.

They were filled with a certain obstinacy in being open to the words of the Lord…
… and failed to see that there could be also other possibilities of looking at the words of Jesus.

2. A person risks the danger of “suicide” with respect to one’s faith, when one fails to set one’s eyes heavenward, and instead gets fixated with earthly things.

Jesus said to the Jews, ”You belong to what is below. I belong to what is above. You belong to this world, but I do not belong to this world” (Jn 8: 23)

The Jews had their thoughts and deeds centred only on the things of this world and failed to transcend their minds heavenward.

They were filled with a certain worldliness that made their concerns to be limited.
They were unable to understand the heavenly realities that the Lord presented before them, and even shut their eyes to make an attempt to understand them

3. A person exposes oneself to the perils of “suicide” from the spiritual point of view, when one is wilfully ignorant of the Truth.

Though Jesus had spoken much, performed much, the Jews still ask Him,” Who are you?” Jesus then said to them, “What I told you from the beginning” (Jn 8: 25)

The Jews had great many opportunities to discover faith in the Lord, as He had exposed them to many great wonders, taught several teachings and performed many deeds to show His divinity.

Though, they were learned in their scripture and laws, they failed to recognise the Source of the Scripture and the Giver of the Law.

Their minds were adamantly closed to the Reality.
Their hearts were purposely shut to the Truth.

The Lord moaned that these Jews were risking the danger of “committing suicide” spiritually…
… of “dying in one’s sins”.

This warning is addressed to us also….

Am I exposing myself to the risk of “losing my life, in sin?”
Am I endangering myself to the peril of “forfeiting my soul, in sin?”

Let us be wary of these menaces…
… to be adamantly self-righteous and being proud with our own knowledge and failing to trust in the mighty wisdom and power of the Lord.
… to be engrossed only in the affairs of this world and failing to raise our hearts to “seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness”.

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic through the Catechism
MAN’S VOCATION LIFE IN THE SPIRIT – GOD’S SALVATION: LAW AND GRACE – The Ten Commandments – The Fourth Commandment – The Family in God’s Plan

Daily prayer and the reading of the Word of God strengthen it in charity.

The Christian family has an evangelizing and missionary task. (CCC # 2205)

“’Making a choice’ to allow the Lord to reveal ‘the light of His love and grace’ in our hearts!”

(Based on Dan 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62 and Jn 8:12-20 – Monday of the 5th Week of Lent)

During the height of apartheid in South Africa…
… Archbishop Desmond Tutu emerged as a voice of reason and justice in a time of intense division.

In the midst of a society where hatred and fear divided people by race, Archbishop Tutu – making a conscious choice for goodness – became a beacon of reconciliation.

His unwavering commitment to nonviolent resistance and truth-seeking helped bring the nation toward healing and reconciliation.

In one of his famous quotes, the courageous Archbishop said:
“If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.

Do your little bit of good where you are
… it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.”

To behold the Divine and be an ambassador of goodness…
… one must first choose to open the eyes of the heart
… for only then can we truly see the light that guides us.”

However, if one decides to remain closed to the light of Divinity…
… then one continues to remain in the darkness of life!

The Gospel of the Day is the account of Jesus presenting Himself as the Light of the World…
… and his debate with the Pharisees, who chose to remain in the darkness of error and ignorance.

Jesus is at the Feast of the Tabernacles (Jn 7: 10)

It’s a festival of going up to Jerusalem and join in the festivities with many of the other farmers and vineyard-keepers…
… being grateful and expressing one’s thankfulness to God Yahweh, Who has blessed with a good harvest.

In the evening of the Feast day, everyone gets together in the Court of the Women at the Temple to dance and praise God for His goodness.

There is an elaborate ceremony involving the pouring out of the water from great pitchers, and then the lamps are lit.

Four huge oil lamps are positioned around the courtyard, and the priests’ assistants pour enormous quantities of oil into the bases of them.

Massive wicks are created from the worn-out clothing of the priests and stuffed into the necks.
Darkness falls quickly with very little twilight between the intense sunlight and the rising of the moon, which follows very rapidly at this time of year.

Suddenly the lamps are lit, and the whole courtyard is bathed in their light.

A cheer goes up from the revellers and from around the city, as the light can be seen from every part of Jerusalem.

Using the contrast between…
… the glowing exuberance of the brightly lit courtyard
… and the growing darkness in the atmosphere

Jesus makes a loud and bold proclamation: “I am the light of the world. He who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (Jn 8:12)

But the Pharisees objected and spoke in retort: “You are bearing witness to yourself; your testimony is not true.” (Jn 8:13)

There was a contrast-play, on here

The Temple was lit brightly… Jesus declared Himself as the Light of the World
The evening had set, and the surroundings were growing darker
… The Pharisees, by rejecting the person of Jesus, chose to remain in darkness!

Jesus was continually giving witness to the fact that He was the “light of the world.”

He brought the light…
… of healing – to those sick and in distress
… of salvation – to those in sin and guilt
… of power and grace – by His words and teachings

But the Pharisees and many of the “creamy class” of the Jewish society, chose to dwell in “darkness.”

They remained in the darkness…
… of ignorance – by not being open to the teachings and works of Jesus
… of death – by continuing a life of sin and error and refusing the offer of grace from Jesus.

Susanna in the Old Testament allowed the “light of God’s Grace and Mercy” to shine forth in her life, through Daniel. (Dan 13:41-62)

When we remain open, truthful and faithful, God shines in our life!

Jesus wishes to be the “light of our life!”

Do we open our hearts to allow His light to shine through us?
… or do we get stagnant in darkness, and choose to reject His teaching in our life…?

Do we seek the Lord in honesty, to cause His light to shine in our minds?
… or do we remain indifferent in darkness and get stuck to our proud mentality and
lifestyle…?

One of the most tragic statements in the Bible reads thus:
“He came to His own, and His own people received Him not” (Jn 1:11)

The Lord comes to us today…
… proclaiming Himself as the “light of the world.”

Let us open our hearts, in repentance and contrition…
… and ‘make a choice’ to allow Him to reveal “the light” of His love and grace in our hearts!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic through the Catechism
MAN’S VOCATION LIFE IN THE SPIRIT – GOD’S SALVATION: LAW AND GRACE – The Ten Commandments – The Fourth Commandment – The Family in God’s Plan

In the procreation and education of children it reflects the Father’s work of creation.

It is called to partake of the prayer and sacrifice of Christ. (CCC # 2205)

“Picking up the broken pieces of our life, filling the spaces in our emptiness and starting, all over again!”

(Based on Isa 43:16-21, Phil 3:8-14 and Jn 8:1-11 – 5th Sunday of Lent)

It was a quiet Sunday afternoon when a young boy – seven years of age – was playing in the backyard, pretending to be a knight.

In his hand, he held his mother’s old hand mirror…
… imagining it to be a shining sword.

But as he dashed across the garden path, his foot caught on a root.

He tripped.
The mirror slipped.
And shattered – face-first into the mud.

The boy stared at the broken pieces, horrified.

This wasn’t just any mirror – it was a cherished heirloom, passed down through generations.
One of the favourites of his mother.
Now it was cracked… dirt-stained… ruined!

Tears began to fall.

Slowly, he picked up the fragments and walked into the house, bracing for punishment.

His mother looked up… saw the mud, the cracked mirror, the guilt in his eyes.
She didn’t shout.
She didn’t scold.

Instead, she knelt beside him, gently took the pieces from his hands, wiped away the dirt…
… and with a soft smile said: “It’s still a mirror. Cracked, yes – but it still reflects light.”

“And so do you!”

Then she added, as she held him close,
“Sometimes, the best things in life are born through what’s been broken.”

Isn’t that what our faith is all about?

Our God, Who doesn’t discard the broken…
… but redeems it.

Yes… Grace doesn’t fear the cracks – it fills them!

Even when life shatters us into pieces, God doesn’t throw us away.

He stoops down…
… lifts us up
… and says: ‘Let’s begin again!’

The Gospel of the Day is a beautiful testimony of a person who…
… found herself at the lowest ebbs of her life
… when everything seemed all over
… in total tatters and brokenness

Yet…
… was able to pick up the broken pieces of her life
… fill the spaces in her emptiness
… and start it all over again

All by the Mercy of the Lord, Who intervened, and instilled a new hope in her.

The incident in focus is the ‘infamous’ occurrence of the woman who was “caught” in adultery.

There are many things to be pondered and reflected on, through this incident…

Think of the “mean” and “disgraceful” attitude of the people who “caught” this woman “in the act” (Jn 8:3)
… Were they fitted with “special probing and lusty” eyes, that devilishly gazed into “intimate exchanges,” that too on an early morning?

Think of the “self-appointed” role of these “moralists” who sought to restore the innocence of the land, without realising that, perhaps, their own eyes were filled with lust, their hearts drenched in obscenity and their lives soaked in vulgarity.
… How was it that their “clean” consciences and “true” intentions caught hold of only the woman, “caught in the act”, whereas, the man involved, was left, scot-free?

Think of the “deadly” trap that they were laying before the Lord, in seeking to find his opinion on the accused woman
… How neatly they had trapped the Lord in a “most vicious” dilemma:

If the Lord permitted death, it would be going against the Law of the land – of the Romans – since only the Romans were permitted to take the life of a person

If the Lord did not allow to stone, He would be going against the Law of the Lord, which had ordered the stoning of the convicted adulterer to death.

If the Lord permitted killing, He would be going against His own teaching of mercy, and His fundamental mission of “coming to seek and save the lost”

If the Lord forgave her, He would be going against the principle of Justice, and that would be infringing the rights and duties of a Just God.

It was a near-perfect scene, for the religious leaders to dreadfully trap the Lord.

The woman had been caught “in the act” of adultery…

Jesus was now to be trapped “in the act” of breaking the Law…

The woman had been shamefully paraded and stripped of all her dignity…

Jesus was now to be gloriously humiliated and disrobed of His glory and majesty…

But all these were “mere” human thinking and wile wishes…

The wisdom of God is much greater than all human craftiness and cunningness

In their wickedness, they failed to see, that they were testing the law with the Law-Giver Himself!

And so, the Benevolent Law-giver, bent down, and wrote with His finger… (Jn 8:6)
… just as He had, centuries back, written the Law on the tablet and given to Moses: “… tablets that were made by God, having inscriptions on them that were engraved by God Himself” (Ex 32:16)

He wrote, not a new law, but He wrote to make the law perfectly understood..
“Let the one who is without sin, be the first to throw a stone at her” (Jn 8:7)

This statement shattered all those accusers who heard it!

The accusers came armed with stones of certainty, hiding behind a cloak of righteousness.

But now, one by one, the stones fell…
… not in violence, but in shame!

In fact, those who came to cast the stone had themselves been stoned brutally…
… by the guilt of their sin!
Justice had triumphed!
Mercy had excelled!
Love had won!

All had left, save the one accused and the One who was Love and Compassion!

In fact, the Only One Who could actually throw a stone…
… as the Sinless and Guiltness One!

The one accused, stood in fear and trembling before the One Who recreates and renews!

And so she was given another chance…
…. to pick up the broken pieces of her life
… and to start anew!

In the book of Daniel, an innocent lady, Susanna would undergo a similar experience…
… of being condemned and doomed to death!

But the Wisdom of the Lord would shine through the young boy Daniel…
… and innocent life was saved!

Susanna trusted in the mighty Providence of God…
… and her hopes would not be disappointed; she would not be left in desolation.

Yes, in life, we may find ourselves crushed… broken… accused… abandoned… shamed!

But the Lord, still gives us a chance!

He is closest when we are most vulnerable.

Let’s always remember… God doesn’t discard the broken mirror of our lives

He restores it – because He knows it can still reflect His light!

In the stillness of life – beside the rivers of Mercy – God whispers to us:
“You are not your past.

You are not your shame.
You are mine.
Let’s begin again!”

Shall we….?

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic through the Catechism
MAN’S VOCATION LIFE IN THE SPIRIT – GOD’S SALVATION: LAW AND GRACE – The Ten Commandments – The Fourth Commandment – The Family in God’s Plan

The Christian family is a communion of persons…

… a sign and image of the communion of the Father and the Son in the Holy Spirit. (CCC # 2205)

“Realising that a genuine search for the Truth would always lead to Christianity… and to the Catholic Church!”

(Based on Jer 11:18-20 and Jn 7:40-53 – Saturday of the 4th Week of Lent)

Christianity and the teachings of the Catholic Church have baffled and amazed many people.

Some have even tried – even violently – to find alternatives for the same…
… only to realise, that a genuine search for the Truth would lead them to Christianity and the Catholic Church!

One such person who rejected Christianity for the sake of “finding the truth” was G.K. Chesterton.

Chesterton sought to formulate the one blanket philosophy that could explain everything as everything is…
… because he did not believe Christianity or any other modern worldview to be completely it.

He was after the “master key of philosophies,” for he was certain no one had yet found it.

Eventually he knitted together a philosophy that appeared to be wholly true and sane and sensible…
… only to discover that his ‘discovered philosophy of sanity’ was, in fact, not his – it was the Truth already taught by the Church!

In his own words, “I tried to be some ten minutes in advance of the truth.

And I found that I was eighteen hundred years behind it!”

G.K. Chesterton would later say, “The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and left untried.”

The Christian Ideal indeed demands living with convictions…
… in the midst of opposing views and interpretations.

Jesus, the Master – the Truth Incarnate – lived this life of conviction…
… and in the face of oppositions and worldly thought-patterns, He became a sign of “contradictions and paradox!”

And therefore Christ had to undergo varied responses from those who encountered Him…
… very few understood Him, a little
… many of them failed to understand Him
… many of them even badly misunderstood Him

He remains The Truth – yet, the sign of contradiction.

The Gospel of the Day presents this deep contradiction that was experienced by the people of His time – including the religious leaders.

The passage records two conversations:

The first one among the crowd
The second one among the chief priests and the Pharisees

Both have a similar subject: Jesus.
Both have a similar dilemma: Confusion about Jesus.

The people in the crowd were confused in recognizing who really Jesus was.

The words of the Lord were so authoritative and astonishing that some considered Him as a prophet revisited, and some even seeing Him as the Messiah (Jn 7:41).

However, others were not convinced and they began to debate on the origin of the Messiah.

The second conversation, between the chief priests and Pharisees, was not just about some personal opinions, but involved the proper following of the Law as well.

Nicodemus, the one who had met Jesus, one night, however, began to defend Jesus.

It was to him, that Jesus, on that night, had told, one of the most loved verses, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son; that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life” (Jn 3:16)

After his encounter with the Truth-Incarnate, Nicodemus….
… the genuine seeker of truth, had the spark in his heart, kindled by the Lord of Love.
… the honest searcher of reality, had the longing within, nourished by the Lord of Holiness.

And so he stood firm and bold, to defend the One whom he perceived as the Truth!

But here, one also gets to see the deep hatred that was grooming in the minds of the leaders…

Nicodemus told that, in judging Jesus, it was necessary to follow the Law properly: “Does our law condemn a person, before it first hears him and finds out what he is doing?” (Jn 7:51)

He did not say that he agreed with Jesus…
He did not say that he denied Jesus could be a criminal…

All he said was to follow the law – to be just and fair!

But that statement provoked the anger of the other blinded-and-obstinate religious leaders!

The forces of confusion and dilemma watered him down, and contradictions reigned galore!

Where truth is proclaimed…
… many false voices seek to drown it hard!

Where truth is defended…
… many evil forces defiantly try to do away with it!

Jeremiah, the Prophet foretold this “opposition to the Truth” that Jesus would encounter:
“But I was like a gentle lamb, led to the slaughter. I did not know it was against me, they devised schemes, saying, ‘Let us destroy the tree with its fruit, let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name be remembered no more!’” (Jer 11:18)

Jesus is a sign of contractions.

He is The Truth.
In His presence, no lie can stand.
In His presence, no evil can withstand.

But it is this confusion, that can lead a person to understand the reality…
… if one is open and honest!

Yes, it’s pretty strange that sometimes contradictions that can actually help us to recognize The Truth!

Georges Bataille, a French intellectual and literary figure writes, “I believe that truth has only one face: that of a violent contradiction”

The Lord – the Truth Incarnate is ready to reveal Himself to those open at heart and honest in seeking Him.

Are we ready…
… to learn more from Him and to know Him more?
… to draw the waters of Holiness from the Fountain of Truth?

Let us not be…
… confused by the Lord who was the sign of contradiction.
… puzzled by the Lord who was the sign of paradoxes.

Instead, let us be…
… convinced in the Lord of Truth!
… passionate for the Lord of Truth!

Let us reminded of the fact that a genuine search for the Truth would always lead to Christianity…
… and the Catholic Church!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic through the Catechism
MAN’S VOCATION LIFE IN THE SPIRIT – GOD’S SALVATION: LAW AND GRACE – The Ten Commandments – The Fourth Commandment – The Family in God’s Plan

The Christian family constitutes a specific revelation and realization of ecclesial communion…
… and for this reason it can and should be called a domestic church.”

It is a community of faith, hope, and charity; it assumes singular importance in the Church, as is evident in the New Testament. (CCC # 2204)

“Living ‘convinced Christian lives’ to attract many more to the Love of Christ and to His Holy Church!”

(Based on Wisd 2:1a, 12-22 and Jn 7:1-2, 10, 25-30 – Friday of the 4th Week of Lent)

There is an incident about David Hume, 18th century British philosopher.

He was a person who had rejected historic Christianity.

Once his friend met him, hurrying along the streets of London.

He was enquired, “Where are you off to, in such a hurry, Mr Hume?”

The philosopher answered, “To hear George Whitfield preach”
(George Whitfield was an Anglican Cleric, famous for his preaching and especially in the revival movement termed as the “Great awakening”.

He would draw great crowds and was known as one of the best-known preachers in Great Britain and North America.)

This friend was surprised to hear that, since David Hume was a non-believer and queried back, “But surely you don’t believe what Whitfield preaches do you?”

With a playful smile, he replied “No, I don’t!

But he does believe!”

The philosopher did not believe…
… but the convictions of the preacher made him to listen!

The philosopher rejected what was spoken…
… but the ‘certainty’ of the preacher made him to give heed!

Life is like a roller coaster.

There are mountains to climb and hills to coast
It is convictions in life that will help to experience true serenity and happiness.
It is convictions in life that will help to tide across the various storms encountered.

We need to ask ourselves…
… Am I living a life of deep convictions in faith, which makes people to take notice of the Lord and help them come closer to Him?
… Am I filled with a deep passion for the Lord, which makes others to be attracted and fascinated to the Kingdom of the Lord?

The Gospel of the Day presents Jesus, boldly facing and withstanding the various storms of difficulties…
… and thus emerging as an Epitome of passion and conviction.

Jesus is progressing in His ministry.

On one side, there has been an increase in His popularity ratings…
… many sick being healed, many oppressed finding solace, many rejected finding consolation.

On the other side, however, there has also been an augmentation in opposition to Him…
… many being offended by His radical call of transformation, many finding Him blaspheming, many snubbed at His uncompromising authority.

But Jesus remains unperturbed!

He continues to preach the Word of God
He continues to openly declare His relation with the Father
He continues to publicly affirm His mission and purpose on the earth

Jesus is the Epitome of convictions and passion!

Nothing could make Him to compromise His convictions…
Nothing could make Him to lay down His principles of life…

Neither threats, nor adulations…
… neither opposition, nor exaltation!

Can I also…
… seek to grow in my life of conviction in my faith?
… try to deepen my passion for the Lord and His Kingdom?

One of the very popular and yet, good-to-remind quote is:
“My life may be the only Gospel…
… that people may ever encounter
… that people may ever read
… that people may ever experience”
Will it truly be an “Evangelion – The Good News?”

Yes, let our lives radiate convincingly the message of the Gospel…
… and thus attract many more to the Love of Christ and to His Holy Church!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic through the Catechism
MAN’S VOCATION LIFE IN THE SPIRIT – GOD’S SALVATION: LAW AND GRACE – The Ten Commandments – The Fourth Commandment – The Family in God’s Plan

In creating man and woman, God instituted the human family and endowed it with its fundamental constitution.
Its members are persons equal in dignity.

For the common good of its members and of society, the family necessarily has manifold responsibilities, rights, and duties. (CCC # 2203)