“Called forth to ‘be the shining lamp, that lights up God’s House!'”

(Based on the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord)

In a certain mountain village in Europe several centuries ago, a nobleman wondered what legacy he should leave to his townspeople.

Finally, he decided to build a church for a legacy.

The complete plans for the church were kept secret until its completion.

When the people gathered, they marvelled at the church’s beauty and its completeness.

Following many comments of praise, an astute observer inquired,
“But where are the lamps? How will the church be lighted?”

Without answer, the nobleman pointed to some brackets in the wall; he then gave to each family a lamp to be carried to the prayer service and hung on the wall.

“Each time you are here, the area where you are seated will be lighted,” the nobleman explained.
“Each time you are not here, that area will be dark. Whenever you fail to come to church, some part of God’s house will be dark!”

The faithfulness of the people in coming for prayer would determine the intensity of light, in their particular spot in the Church.

As followers of Christ, all are called to be the “light of the world”…
… and all are expected to live in faithfulness and loyalty to the Kingdom – for the Glory of God!

Ascension Sunday is a beautiful day to renew our commitment to Jesus, the One Who has called and chosen us (Cf. Jn 15:16)…
… as He calls us to leave behind “legacies of light” and be His witnesses.

The Solemnity of the Ascension proclaims the day when Jesus ascended to the heavens, as a culmination of the glory of the Resurrection

We are also reminded today of the Mission mandate of preaching His Good News to everyone!

The Ascension of Jesus completes the Resurrection.

The Resurrection is victory over death.
The Ascension lifts humanity to heaven.

Acts 1:10-11 says, “And while they were gazing into heaven as He went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven?’”

While it is quite natural for us to seek Jesus, who apparently “has gone far away from us,” the reality is that Jesus is now closer to us – closer than we can ever imagine!

It is as if they are saying to us, “Don’t misunderstand this moment. Don’t deny yourselves the gift that is being given you.”

The Ascension of the Lord is not about His absence but about His Presence.

It is not about His leaving but about His Presence that is assured and promised to all of us
It is not about a location but about a relationship.

This Feast is the beautiful invitation to every Christian on the way to live – to look upward

To transcend the needs of this world, and to have our highest priorities on God.
To go beyond the pilgrim journey of this earth, and prepare meaningfully for eternity.

Before His Ascension, as we read in the Gospel of St Luke, Jesus pronounces two important declarations:

1. “You are witnesses of these things” (Lk 24:48)
2. “I am sending upon you what My Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with Power from on high.” (Lk 24:49)

These two declarations of the Lord was a call to constantly…
… ‘relive’ their experiences, as witnesses, with the Lord – and to know He is with them always
… ‘realise’ that they would be strengthened by the Holy Spirit in all aspects of life

It’s these two declarations that ought to become the motivation and strength for every disciple of Christ to evangelise the world…

1. My God is with me always, and I have nothing to be afraid of!
2. My God is all-knowing and all-powerful and He will protect me always!

We are assured that “great things happen, when God mixes with us” as we are reminded:
… He is “WITH YOU ALWAYS” (abiding and protecting)
… He is the great “I AM” (sovereign and powerful)

(Let us, therefore, never forget these 5 beautiful words that the Lord tells to all of us, at all moments: “I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS!”)

St Paul reminds us, “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God!” (Col 3:1)

Every moment, every hour and every day – Jesus tugs our hearts, and invites us to “look upward” and to have our focus on Him, Who was Crucified, but now is Risen and seated at God’s Right Hand!

The Psalmist states, “Blessed [are those]… in whose hearts are the highways to Zion!” (Ps 84:5)

We need to make an examination of our lives and make suitable changes for the good…

Is sin enslaving us? Let us ‘ascend’ with His Mercy – in holiness and purity of life!
Is regret and remorse discouraging us? Let us ‘ascend’ with His Healing – in joy and hope!
Is anger and jealousy pulling us down? Let us ‘ascend’ with His Grace – in gentleness and gratitude!

As we give heed to the Great Commission of Jesus – “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations (Cf. Mt 28:19) – to become fruitful evangelizers in the world, the words of St Teresa of Avila are a great inspiration:
“Christ has no body but yours!

No hands, no feet on earth but yours.
Yours are the eyes with which He looks compassion on this
world.
Yours are the feet with which He walks to do good.
Yours are the hands with which He blesses all the world.”

Each one of us is called forth to “be the shining lamp, that lights up God’s House!”

It is our faithfulness to God that would determine the intensity of this light
As followers of Christ, let us live in faithfulness and loyalty to the Kingdom – for the Glory of God!

Happy Feast of the Ascension!

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 Fourth Commandment – The Family and the society

Parents should initiate their children at an early age into the mysteries of the faith…
… of which they are the “first heralds” for their children.

They should associate them from their tenderest years with the life of the Church. (CCC # 2225)

“Making our life ‘a beautiful Magnificat’- like our Blessed Mamma Mary – and reaching out to others with ‘loving visitations!'”

(Based on the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary)

An elderly sacristan who had served in a particular church was shifting from the city parish, back to his village.

On his farewell day, as many of the parishioners were expressing their gratefulness to him…
… one of them asked this advice: “You have been with all of us for so long.

What advice or observation would you like to leave with us?”

The elderly person, after a thoughtful pause replied: “Most people here wish to serve God…
… but in an ‘advisory capacity’ only!

I would wish we had more people ‘in service’ than just people ‘in advising!”

Service ought to be the autograph of every Christian!

Today, is the Feast of the Visitation of our Blessed Mother Mary…
… a beautiful incident of how Mother Mary became a person, who rendered Her life “in service” to God and others – and thus gave full bloom to the graces of God within Her!
… it is, in that sense, the First Gospel Mission!

This Feast of the Visitation of our Blessed Mother has its origin in the medieval times.

It was observed by the Franciscan Order before 1263, and soon its practice spread throughout the entire Church.
Previously it was celebrated on July 2….
… now it is celebrated on 31st May – between the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord ( Mar 25) and the Birth of St. John the Baptist (Jun 24) , in conformity with the Gospel accounts.

One of the interesting term used by St Luke in his description of this incident (Lk 1:39-56) is the word “HASTE”.

St Luke says: “In those days, Mary arose and went with HASTE…..” (Lk 1: 39) The Angel Gabriel had appeared to Mary and announced the Good News that She was to be the Mother of the "Son of the Most High" (Lk 1: 31)

Mary was “overshadowed by the Power of the Most High” (Lk 1: 35)
The Angel had also pointed to the mighty work that was done in the life of her cousin Elizabeth (Lk 1: 36)

The Annunciation became the turning point in the life of Mary!

She was no longer the same…
… The simple girl had been exalted and chosen to be the Mother of the Most High God!
… She would no longer be seeking to do her desires; She would seek to God’s Will at all times!
… Her life would no longer be carried by her plans; Her life would be impelled by what God wanted!

The Child in Her, would now make Her to be “always in haste!”
… In haste: to serve others
… In haste: to follow perfectly the Will of God
… In haste: to have Jesus as the centre of Her life

The Holy Spirit completely possessed the Virgin Daughter of Nazareth and impelled her to act.

The beautiful incident of the Visitation of Mother Mary teaches us this beautiful lesson:
When Christ grows inside of us, we will be in HASTE….
… to reach out to others in service
… to spare no efforts to get out of our own comfort zones of pleasure, relaxing and lethargy
… to forget one’s own needs and be totally other-centred and radiate joy and hope to others

Mother Mary becomes the “Woman on the move” – on a continual and constant journey:
… She would embark on an hard trip to Bethlehem, while pregnant (Lk 2:4)
… She would again move – after the birth of the Child – along with Joseph, and flee to Egypt (Mt 2:14)
… She would return back to Nazareth, under the instruction of the Angel of God (Mt 2:23)
… She would further travel to Jerusalem for the Passover Feast and there would go in search of Her Beloved Child, when He was lost (Lk 2:45)
.. She would be travelling with Jesus in His ministry – may not be physically, but Her Heart and Soul completely accompanying Her Son
… She would, finally, even accompany physically, with Her Innocent Child on the Way of the Cross (Jn 19: 25)

Mother Mary lived the words of the poem which centuries later would be formulated by another great Saint – St Francis of Assisi:
“It is in giving that we receive…

It is in dying that we are born to eternal life…”

The Feast of the Visitation is a reminder for us to examine some of the important aspects of our life…
… Am I a person allowing the Holy Spirit to fill me and take complete possession of me – my words, my thoughts, my actions?

… Am I a person, having Jesus in me, impelled to reach out to the other in service? As St Paul says: “The love of Christ impels me” (2 Cor 5:14)

… Am I a person, who is daring to be a “person on the move” – moving out of my safe comfortable zones, moving out of conditioned and prejudiced mindsets, moving out to make my life of praise and honour to God?

St Ambrose says: “Delayed efforts are foreign to the grace of the Holy Spirit”

Charity is never idle!

Charity is always on the move …
… Sensitive to the needy
… Seeking to do good

May the graces of God in us, not get stagnant, or decayed or rusted …
… instead may they be extended in loving service to God and His people…

And thus our life be a beautiful Magnificat: “My soul magnifies the Lord my God, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour!”

It is not difficult to serve God in an advisory capacity!

But what is needed are more people ‘in service’ than just people ‘in advising!”

As we conclude the month of May, let’s be grateful to the Lord for all His blessings…
… especially the Gift of the Rosary

The Rosary is truly “a chain of visits from heaven!”

Let us not say, “I ‘may’ say the Rosary in the coming days”
… instead with love in our hearts, say, “I ‘will’ pray the Rosary everyday!”

Happy Feast of the Visitation of our Blessed Mother Mary – the Mother Who moves us, constantly…towards Jesus!

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 Fourth Commandment – The Family and the society

Through the grace of the sacrament of marriage, parents receive the responsibility and privilege of evangelizing their children. (CCC # 2225)

“Realising that pain is God’s megaphone to rouse a deaf world”

(Based on Acts 18:9-18 and Jn 16:20-23 – Friday of the 6th Week in Easter)

An elderly man was sharing his experiences to a group of youngsters.

Among the many things that he spoke, he also touched upon the topic of “pain and suffering”…
… and said: “My dear young people, I have gone through much pain in life

And these painful experiences – though hard initially – became sources of great blessing and grace, when I realised their value, and signs of God’s wonderful Presence”

And he went on to add, “Remember always…
God whispers to us in our pleasures
… speaks in our consciences
… but shouts in our pains.

Pain is God’s megaphone to rouse a deaf world!”

Yes, pain is to be understood as vital for the promotion, perseverance and progress of anyone wanting to lead a life…
… in deeper and closer union with the Lord!

The Gospel of the Day presents Jesus declaring the reality of the presence of pain, suffering and sorrows in spiritual life…
… and yet those factors being pathways and passages to experience deep joy and bliss!

Not negating the actuality of the difficult side of life, Jesus also mightily displays the large canvas of life which is enveloped in the light of happiness…
“Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy” (Jn 16: 20)

Jesus was making His Apostles aware of the realities of His passion and death.

He had came into the world to die!

Death was the goal and fulfilment of His life.

To the delicate and fragile minds of the Apostles, the Lord gives a very practical analogy: the pains and the bliss of motherhood…
“When a woman is in labour, she is in anguish, because her hour has arrived; but when she has given birth to a child…
… she no longer remembers the pain because of her joy that a child has been born into the world” (Jn 16: 21)

This analogy of the Lord sheds light and hope for our sufferings and pains in life too.

Mothers know the pain of giving birth to a child.

To others, this pain, though not experienced, can be vaguely understood as being a very painful experience.

The pain is too excruciating…

Jesus says that the hardships, sufferings and trials that we undergo in life are such.

But the moment, the child is delivered and the mother sees the innocent face of her tender babe, the whole scenario of emotions changes…

The excruciating pain is replaced by a thrilling excitement and exhilaration!
The nerve-wracking ache is replaced by a heavenly joy and happiness!

And Jesus says that, such will be our joy too, if we are also faithful and loyal to the Lord, in pains and sufferings!

This is indeed a higher spirituality…
… a higher level of holiness

To cherish joy, even in the midst of pain
To radiate happiness, even in the thick of sorrows.

It is to this elevated floor of sanctity that the Lord invites us.

He is with us to hold our hands to climb up to this floor.
He is wanting to embrace us in love, as He beckons us to come nearer to Him.

We hear the Lord assuring St Paul, even amid much pain and persecution:
“Do not be afraid.

Go on speaking, and do not be silent…
… for I am with you.” (Acts 18:9)

When life stings us with pain…
When problems beset us into agony…
… With hope, trust, faith and strength,

Let us realise: “Pain is God’s megaphone to rouse a deaf world”

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 Fourth Commandment – The Family and the society

The home is the natural environment for initiating a human being into solidarity and communal responsibilities.

Parents should teach children to avoid the compromising and degrading influences which threaten human societies. (CCC # 2224)

“Seeking earnestly for the gift of deeper trust and complete surrender to the Mighty Providence and Holy Will of the Lord!”

(Based on Acts 18:1-8 and Jn 16:16-20 – Thursday of the 6th Week in Easter)

“Just a minute, honey, and I will be ready…”
… thus goes the words of the wife, who is busy with her make-up, while her husband keeps waiting, impatiently looking at his watch.

He knows it’s getting late to go for the scheduled program.

He also knows that the phrase “just a minute” would last a much longer time!

“Oh, Yes, I will get the work done in the next ten minutes…”
… thus goes the words of the official, when asked to speed up the pending paperwork of the renewal of a contract by a perplexed client

But the client knows the work will take much longer to be completed

He knows that the phrase “in the next ten minutes” would last a much longer time!

“Yes, Mummy, we will clean up the room right now…”
… thus goes the words of kids, when asked to clean up their room, which is in a state of mess

But the Mother knows that this cleaning up would be further delayed and would need more reminders

She knows that the phrase, “right now” would last a much longer time!

These are some of our day-to-day experiences of not being able to come to terms with “delays and uncertainties” with respect to time.

Such delays and uncertainties, often put us through tensions or anxiety or an “uncomfortable” state of mind!

In the Gospel of the Day, the disciples also undergo this experience… of “delays and uncertainties” with respect to time.

Jesus tells His disciples, “A little while and you will see me no more; again a little while and you will see me” (Jn 16:16)

But these words of Jesus put the disciples into a state of dilemma

They failed to grasp the meaning of the words of Jesus and were confused!

They began to discuss the phrase of Jesus – “a little while”

“What does he mean by ‘a little while?'” (Jn 16: 18)
How long was this “little while” going to be?
How does He define the phrase ‘a little while?'”

If they knew exactly how long this “little while” would last…
…. then they would have been more courageous and patient
But now the disciples find themselves to be confused and in dilemma.

However, Jesus the Good Shepherd, knew the confusion of His little sheep

But He doesn’t define the phrase “a little while”

He doesn’t say that it is a particular moment of time, that can be considered as a countdown!

Instead, Jesus defines “a little while” in terms of an experience…
… an experience of weeping and lamenting turning into rejoicing
… an experience of sorrow turning into joy (Jn 16:20)

Is our life today…
… in a state of crisis and confusion?
… passing through waves of troubles and the deserts of anxiety?
… moving along the rough terrains of calamities and the valleys of brokenness?

Then the Lord assures us…
… “In a little while” and things will be fine!
… “In a little while” and the sunshine will appear again!

We might complain: How long is this “little while!”

This “little while” is being too agonising!

But the Lord invites and challenges us to look to Him, telling us:
“I too have had my painful and agonising moments… in My life, especially on the Cross

I too had My experience of feeling ‘how long is this little while going to last’…

But I stood firm and patient in trusting the Will of My Father…

I held on to the mighty Providence of my Father and knew that a bright morn awaited Me”

Yes, Jesus, through the Gospel wishes to encourage us and strengthen us…
… in sufferings, to love Him strongly!
… in hardships, to trust in Him deeper!
… in uncertainties, to depend on Him greater!

Surely, life will take us through many experiences… of “delays and uncertainties” with respect to time.
… We may tend to lose our patience!
… We may feel like giving up!
… We may want to quit!

But let us turn to the Lord for strength, grace and courage…
… and listen to Him whispering to us…
“Hold on my Child! I am with you…
… embracing you in my arms!

In Me, your weeping will be changed to rejoicing
In Me, your sorrow will be turned to joy!”

Let us seek earnestly for this gift of deeper trust and complete surrender to the Mighty Providence and Holy Will of 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 Fourth Commandment – The Family and the society

He who loves his son will not spare the rod.
He who disciplines his son will profit by him.

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. (CCC # 2223)

“Being assured of the promise of the Lord that He is with us, and that the answers to the examinations of life will be revealed to us, in and through the power of the Holy Spirit!”

(Based on Acts 17:15, 22-18:1 and Jn 16:12-15 – Wednesday of the 6th Week in Easter)

A law-school professor was telling his class what to expect of the final examination.

“The question paper will be nearly 14 pages long” he explained, “and it will take at least four hours to answer all the questions!”

Hearing that, the entire class groaned with murmuring.

As the class grumbled, the Professor added, with a tone of consolation:
“Don’t be worried.

In this tough exercise of the examination, all of you will be in the same boat!”

At this, one student, with a naughty grin spoke up: “Yeah, Sir… We all will be in the same boat.

Just that, the name of the boat would be Titanic!!”

(Titanic was the name of the boat that had a tragic end – sinking into the ocean after a crash with an iceberg and leading to the death of nearly 1500 people in the year 1912)

This little humorous incident (without being too critical or analytical), when looked from a global spiritual perspective…
… points out a grand and complex reality:
There are many examinations in life, which tends to drown our life!

To some questions of life, answers will be found.

But to many, there will be a mysterious silence.

Humanity does not have an answer to all questions in life.

Yet, life encourages us to walk ahead, with trust and hope.

As Christians, this trust and hope finds a greater meaning and strength, because we have the assurance and promise of the Lord that He is with us…
….and the Answers to the Examinations of Life will be revealed to us…
… in and through the power of the Holy Spirit.

The Gospel of the Day is this assurance of Jesus that even though many things are not understood in life…
… the Holy Spirit will reveal to us, in time and as needed, the mysteries of life and of our faith.

The Lord had been with the disciples for quite some time and had instructed them on many teachings.

Even at the final discourse, in the context of the Last Supper, Jesus teaches His chosen ones many things.

Yet, He still has many more things to tell and teach.

But…
… like a loving parent, who knows the grasping power of the child
… like an understanding teacher, who realises the comprehending capability of the student

Jesus knows, that the disciples would not be able to understand still further His teachings.

And so He says, “I have yet many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now” (Jn 16:12)

But He does not leave the disciples in this state of hanging in mid-air…

He assures them of the Might Power that will follow His going away from the disciples.
He promises them that the Holy Spirit will descend on them and they would realise, gradually, the power and depth of His teachings!

“But when He comes, the Spirit of Truth, He will guide you to all truth” (Jn 16: 13)

Our lives too remain a blank question-paper, with questions hurled at us, and answers found wanting!

Situations and circumstances put forward many uneasy, awkward and even unanswerable questions to us.
We look for answers.
We seek for solutions.

Sometimes we get.
But many times, we fail to obtain.

It may lead us to desperation.
It may even lead us to anxiety.

But the Lord assures us…
… that He has the answer to every question in the world
… that He has the solution to every problem of our life.

Of course, not all will be told to us, or revealed to us, at once.

They will be conveyed to us, at the appropriate time, in the appropriate situation.

From our part, what is simply needed is…
… an openness to His Spirit
… a trust in His Divine Providence
… a constant seeking to know His Will

The underlying principle for this simple, yet, seemingly hard to practise philosophy of life, is the fact that “God Loves Us” immeasurably, and that every moment of our life, is taken care by Him.

His glory fills the heavens and the earth.
His knowledge permeates in every event of life.

St Paul invited the people of Athens… to leave behind unknown objects of worship…
… and instead, to trust and believe in the Living God, Who has risen from the dead, and lives and moves in each one of us:

“The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by man
… nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything
… since He Himself gives to all men life and breath and everything.
And He made from one every nation of men to live on all the face of the earth
… having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their habitation, that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel after Him and find Him.
Yet he is not far from each one of us, for ‘In Him we live and move and have our being!’” (Acts 17:24-28)

The greater our trust in the Living God…
… the nearer will we be, to the answers of life!

Yes, Life will constantly place before us “tough exams”

We may sometimes complain and grumble

In frustration, we may sometimes even feel that “lives may turn out to be like the Titanic!”

But let’s not lose hope…

May we rather, seek to grow in faith and trust in 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 Fourth Commandment – The Family and the society

Parents should teach their children to subordinate the “material and instinctual dimensions to interior and spiritual ones.”
Parents have a grave responsibility to give good example to their children.

By knowing how to acknowledge their own failings to their children, parents will be better able to guide and correct them. (CCC # 2223)