“Seeking for the grace of growing in the Service of the Lord!”

(Based on Wis 2:23-3:9 and Lk 17:7-10- Tuesday of the 32nd Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1)

The Pope is the Head of the Universal Church.

He is recognized by many titles…
… Bishop of Rome, Vicar of Jesus Christ, Successor of the Prince of the Apostles, Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church etc.

Another prominent title among these is: the Servant of the servants of God.

Servanthood is an important dimension in being a follower of Jesus Christ.

The Gospel of the Day is an invitation and reminder to this great aspect of our Christian Lives: Being a Servant.

The Lord narrates the Parable of the Unprofitable Servant.

In this parable, Jesus tells about a servant who works all day long out in the field, or out taking care of the flock.

And after he works all day long, he comes into the house…

Is he expected to sit down and rest and eat his own meal?
No!
Rather, he is required to serve his master by providing him the meal first.

And after doing all that work – all day long – there’s no word of thanks, no gratitude.

Jesus closes out this parable by saying that the servant was unprofitable because he only did what he was told to do.

Is it something practical?

Is it something easy?

Our modern-day psychology would speak of the concept of a “positive stroke” that is to be given to those working or those who undertake some labour.

It’s important that the employers in a company are given a “positive stroke” by appreciating their good works…
It’s important that the servants in a house are given a “positive stroke” by encouraging with good words and a cheerful countenance…
It’s important that the workers in a firm or factory are given a “positive stroke” by acknowledging their worth and constantly boosting their confidence level…

And of course, it rightly is needed and important!

We are called to be encouraging and appreciative with all those with whom we work and serve…
… even those “functionally” lower than us.

However, when it comes to “our duty as a Christian”….
… the Gospel of the Day demands much more from a Servant…

A servant who works whole day long ploughing in the field or tending the sheep…
A servant who delays his needs and instead prepares and serves meals for his master…
A servant, who after all his works, doesn’t expect words of gratitude…

The Parable is surely a tough one!

But, the One who preached this Parable is not a mere preacher, but is a practitioner!

Jesus, the one who preached this Parable, practised perfectly, this life of being a servant.

He is the Servant, who works in the field ploughing…
… sowing the seed of the Word of God, ploughing the Gospel in the hearts of people and toiling in the hot sun of oppositions and mockery

He is the Servant, who tends the sheep in the field…
… providing pasture for His people, protecting them from the wolves of the evil and going after any of the sheep which are lost in the wilderness

He is the Servant, who prepares a meal and serves at table…
… nourishing those at table with His own body, strengthening them with His own blood and constantly reinforcing in the journey of life

How are we to be such a Servant of the Lord?

1. Having a mind of being a Servant of God:
   The world of a servant centers not around himself, but around the Master.

Whatever pleases the Master, the servant does.

If we truly acknowledge God as our Master, then we too…
… will do the works which please Him
… will think and seek to do His Will
… will speak the words which are worthy of His grace

2. Being Faithful in this task of being His servant
   The world of a servant centers around total availability and openness to the needs of the Master.

If we truly accept God as our Master, then we too…
… will give ourselves to Him totally at all times
… will place His priorities over ours
… will avoid anything that blocks my complete service of Him

The Call is to be a Servant… who is dedicated and selfless.

Jesus is our model and example in being a Servant.
It’s a demand placed on us.

Servanthood is an important dimension in being a follower of Jesus Christ.

Let us seek for this grace of growing in the Service of the Lord.

Today we seek the intercession of St. Martin of Tours, once a Roman soldier…
… who laid down his sword to follow Christ, became a beacon of mercy and faith.

May his life of compassion inspire us to seek the grace to grow each day…
… in loving and faithful service 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 Sixth Commandment – You shall not commit adultery – Male and Female He created them

All the baptized are called to chastity.
The Christian has “put on Christ,” the model for all chastity.
All Christ’s faithful are called to lead a chaste life in keeping with their particular states of life.

At the moment of his Baptism, the Christian is pledged to lead his affective life in chastity. (CCC # 2348)

“Seeking God’s Grace to reach out to others in forgiveness!”

(Based on Wis 1:1-7 and Lk 17:1-6 – Monday of the 32nd Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1)

There is a famous incident associated with Thomas Alva Edison, the renowned scientist.

Edison and his team had undertaken the tedious task of inventing the “light bulb”.
It took the team 24 hours to put one bulb together.

When it was ready, Edison gave the bulb to a young helper boy, to carry up to the steps.

Nervously, this young boy climbed the stairs…
… step by step, with extreme caution and fright – lest the priceless piece of work be dropped!

But the extremely anxious steps of the boy, caused the “unwanted” to happen…
… the bulb fell out of his hands… smashed to pieces!

Naturally, there was great disappointment and even annoyance at the boy.

The entire team worked for another 24 hours to make another bulb.

Finally it was ready… to be taken up the stairs…

Well, no points for guessing, to whom Edison gave this second bulb!

Yes, to the same boy, who had dropped and broken it the first time.

That’s true forgiveness, isn’t it?

The Gospel of the Day deals with the aspect of Forgiveness (Lk 17: 3-4)…
… which is the key for a harmonious living together.

Jesus says: “If your brother wrongs you seven times in one day and returns to you, seven times saying, ‘I am sorry’, you should forgive him” (Lk 17:4)

The example given by the Lord is an experience, which many of us, perhaps, have had in our personal lives….

A person does a wrong to me and I forgive him.

The same person hurts me once again and I forgive him
He does it again, causing a deeper wound to me and I forgive him again.
He does it again and offends me harder and I forgive him again….
… but this time I am losing my patience!

Don’t I have a limit for myself to bear?

Should I go on bearing hurts?
Don’t I have feelings which are sensitive?

So we perhaps ask this question to the Lord:
“Lord, how many times must I forgive the offenses of my brother?”

We are eager to know when to quit turning the other cheek to the one who hits you on one cheek!

The Old Testament Law suggested to forgive three times (Amos 1:3-13).

But the Lord, Who loves to keep challenging…
…. throws out a bigger number.

Now is this demand of the Lord something really practical and viable?
… or is Jesus turning out to be “one of those many idealistic teachers who love to talk in the air…
… but nothing which is practical or really feasible and doable!”

The Lord invites us to look into the aspect of God’s Forgiveness, to obtain a solution and an insight to this perennial question of “how often should I forgive my fellow brother?”…
… If God were to forgive us only a limited number of times, how many days would we have survived?
… If God were to withdraw His Grace after an “x” number of times, how many situations would we have endured?
… If God were to stop granting us pardon after a period of time, how many blessings would we have been denied?
… If God were to keep an account of all our sins and transgressions, how many of us would have been alive today?

Of course, Forgiveness does not mean…
… justifying the bad behaviours of people!
… supporting the evil deeds of our fellow beings!
… encouraging the faults or situations of wrongdoing or hurts!
… not correcting and reproving the misdeeds and carrying out our duties of rectifying!

But Forgiveness does mean…
… liberating the people from guilt and condemnation in our hearts!
… to have no ill feelings and grudging emotions against the ones who have hurt us!
… seeking to love them, praying for them and avoiding occasions of putting them down!
… to refuse to harbor their mistakes deep in our hearts, though we are wounded & hurt!

Life is an opportunity and a challenge:

An oppportunity to become more Divine…
… to become more forgiving!
… to become more Loving!
A Challenge to let go of our ego…
… to cast away our hurtful feelings!
… to go beyond our aches!

Let us seek God’s Grace to live up to this challenge and to grab this opportunity!

The “light bulb” of God’s Grace has often been entrusted to us by the Lord

Many are the times when we have “dropped it” and broken it into pieces!
… Yet, the Lord entrusts it, again and again – forgiving us, and trusting in us.

Are we ready to do the same with others?

Today we seek the intercession of St Leo the Great, the Pope and Doctor.

In an age of confusion, Pope Leo stood firm, not by power but by clarity of faith.

Let his words inspire us:
“No one, however weak, is denied a share in the victory of the cross.

No one is beyond the help of the prayer of Christ!”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
MAN’S VOCATION LIFE IN THE SPIRIT – GOD’S SALVATION: LAW AND GRACE – The Sixth Commandment – You shall not commit adultery – Male and Female He created them

Chastity is expressed notably in friendship with one’s neighbor.
Whether it develops between persons of the same or opposite sex, friendship represents a great good for all.

It leads to spiritual communion. (CCC # 2347)

“With the Grace of God, seeking to renew our love for the Lord and growing in our duty, ‘to hold up the Church!’”

(Based on Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome)

An interesting story is told by a tourist who was visiting the Basilica of St John Lateran in Rome, Italy.

Just across the street of the Basilica, at a square, is a statue of St Francis of Assisi…
… with his arms outstretched.

This statue commemorates an important moment in Church history:

It was at this place – the Lateran Basilica – that the Great Saint went to ask the Pope for permission to start a religious order.

This was in the light of the Great Inspiration that he had received, when he heard the words of the Lord: “Rebuild my Church!”

The tourist says that recollecting this incident, as he stepped back, to have a better look at the statue…
… from a particular angle, he could see the Lateran Basilica between St. Francis’s outstretched arms

St Francis appeared to be holding the Church with his hands!

The tourist says: “That’s a great image!
That’s a great lesson!

A church building is brick and mortar, wood and glass.
But – ultimately, it is supported by the arms and the labour of those who love it.

The Church is held up by the people who are in love with Christ!”

Yes, the Church is indeed “held up by the people who are in love with Christ!”

We, the children of the Church are today invited, to renew our love for the Lord and grow in our duty, “to hold up the Church”…
… on this Feast Day of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica

The Gospel of the Day also vividly and dramatically displays the zeal and passion of the Lord….
for the House of God through the incident of the Cleansing of the Jerusalem Temple.

Today, Holy Mother the Church celebrates the Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica

This Basilica is the oldest Christian churcbuilding in the world.

It is the first permanent, public place of worship for Christians in the world.

Christianity, in its infancy, suffered a great deal at the hands of her persecutors.

The Roman Empire sought to extend its domination over the entire world.
The power and might of the Roman Empire was determined to utterly destroy the Christian religion.

Christians, with a staunch belief in Jesus Christ, refused to worship the Roman pagan gods.

This led the Christians to be labelled as the enemies of the state and thus were sought to be eliminated.
Christians were arrested, imprisoned, tortured, and even cruelly executed!

This wave of violent persecution crashed against the Rock, the Church for three centuries!

It was only in 312, when the Emperor Constantine legalized Christianity that these persecutions ceased.

In gratitude to Christ, the new Emperor Constantine sponsored the construction of Christian churches, the first of which was the Church of the Most Holy Saviour, known today as the Basilica of St John Lateran…
… or simply called as the Lateran Basilica.

On this Feast day of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica, the call of the Gospel is towards examining our relationship with God in the Church.

In the Old Testament, we read that the Lord had established a covenant with His people, Israel.

This covenant had its physical symbol in the Temple of Jerusalem.

The majestic and glorious Jerusalem Temple was an external symbol of God’s love-relationship with His people.

Jesus cleansing this Jerusalem Temple, was a strong message to the people, that He had come to revive and revamp the strained relationship between God and His people.

It was also symbolic of the need of the people to realize that the Jerusalem Temple which was to be destroyed in a few decades…
… was only a temporary symbol.

Jesus, Himself is the real and everlasting Temple…
… the permanent symbol of God’s eternal covenant with His people.

And so, He showcases tremendous zeal and passion, in cleansing the Temple, of all the corruption and filth and fraud!

The Commemoration of this Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica and the Cleansing of the Jerusalem Temple is a call for each of us, to examine our own lives…

Is my relationship with God corrupted by many evil tendencies and pleasurable sins?

My heart needs a cleansing drive by the Lord…

Is my relationship with the other, who is also a Temple of the Holy Spirit, badly tainted with anger, jealousy, calumnious thoughts etc…

My relationships needs a cleansing drive by the Lord…

Is my relationship with the Church, strained by negative feelings of her dogmas and teachings, and stained by angry-feelings due to many scandals by her responsible authorities?

My mentality towards the Church needs a cleansing drive by the Lord…

This Feast is a call to revive our zeal and passion for the Lord, His Mission and His Church.

The Lord’s ways are sometimes very hard to follow and difficult to tread in this highly materialistic and sensational world.

But the Lord promises to be with us, in all our trials and hardships.

The Mission of the Lord to spread His Kingdom is a very challenging one and at times, they seem too very impossible and our efforts meaningless.

But the Lord assures His ever-abiding presence and love to those committed and faithful.

The Church of the Lord is very often found to wrench in corrupt practices, discouraging scandals, heart-crushing and shameful incidents.

But the Lord assures that His might Spirit will guide the Church through any storms and “He will surely write straight… with crooked lines!”

The invitation is strong…
To be filled with a deeper love and zeal for the Lord, His Mission and His Church!

Undoubtedly, the challenges are deep…
… the trials seem too discouraging.

Yet, with the Grace of God, let us seek to renew our love for the Lord…
… and grow in our duty, “to hold up the Church!”

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 Sixth Commandment – You shall not commit adultery – Male and Female He created them

The virtue of chastity blossoms in friendship.
It shows the disciple how to follow and imitate him who has chosen us as his friends…

… who has given himself totally to us and allows us to participate in his divine estate. Chastity is a promise of immortality. (CCC # 2347)

“Making clear-cut and distinct choices in our Christian life!”

(Based on Rom 16:3-9, 16, 22-27 and Lk 16:9-15 – Saturday of the 31st Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1)

Picture this scene.

It’s a bright morning at Niagara Falls, 1859.

The mist is rising, the roar of the waters is deafening…
… and thousands of people are holding their breath.
A rope – just two inches thick – stretches across the mighty falls.

And then he appears: Charles Blondin, the greatest tightrope walker of his time.

He steps onto that rope…
… one careful step at a time.
The crowd gasps – some turn their faces away.
Step after step…inch after inch…
… and finally, he reaches the other side!
The people explode in cheers and applause.

Blondin turns around and shouts,

“Do you believe I can walk back again?”
“Yes!” they roar.
He smiles. “Do you believe I can do it pushing a wheelbarrow?”
“Yes!”

Then he points to the crowd and asks,
“Who will get into the wheelbarrow?”
Silence.

No one moved!

Everyone believed…
… but no one committed!

Everyone cheered…
… but no one chose!

In our Christian life, it’s time to stop cheering from the sidelines…
… and start choosing!

Faith is not a feeling to admire…
.. it is a choice to commit.

The Gospel of the Day presents this Call of the Lord to make a clear-cut and distinct choice.

Jesus says: “No servant can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other or, be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon” (Lk 16:13)

Probably, more than any time before, the world faces this deep-rooted problem of a “divided heart”

There is a constant dialectic (tension) between serving God and serving mammon!

We say we obey God…
… but we fail to abide by His commandments and teachings in the Church!

We say we love God…
… but we fail to express this love in a faithful lifestyle of prayers and devotions.

We say we serve God…
… but we fail to extend His love and compassion to our people in need.

We say we honour God…
… but we fail to witness to His Gospel values and dilute them to serve our petty interests.

Let’s not be afraid to look at the naked face of reality staring at us today…

Most people today serve something besides God…
… sin?
… music?
… sports?
… money?
… themselves?
… my own will?
… power and positions?
… cravings of their bodies ?

Am I also serving something else instead of God?

In the Old Testament, one of the greatest accusations made against the people of Israel was: the sin of idolatry…
… abandoning the Living and True God and rendering worship and honour to some non-living thing as a god.

Though, as Christians, we may not be explicitly worshipping some idol or running after some gods or crazy over some magical mantras…
… it is not a bad idea to examine our conscience and check whether we really have formed some gods in our lives and thus entering into “practical” idolatry….

Maybe I am too much attached to my electronic gadgets like the phones, TV, music players, cameras…and use them way beyond my “need!”

The idol of gadgets?

Maybe I am too much obsessed with my looks, my styles, my clothing and food habits, my make-up styles… and “over-conscious” than the minimal requirements!

The idol of the self?

Maybe I am crazy about gaining over-popularity through an “n” number of picture displays and posts on many social networking sites… and “get totally upset” when I fail to receive the expected appreciations and “likes!”

The idol of attention-seeking?

Maybe I am too much occupied with my work, business and other undertakings, that I fail to give attention to my family, my community, the needs of my own spiritual self etc… and lose out on the little joys and happiness of life!

The idol of money and work?

There could be many more idols in our life..
The idol of laziness…
The idol of bad habits…
The idol of procrastination…
The idol of power-obsession…
The idol of immoral lifestyles…
The idol of losing a sense of sin…
The idol of criticizing and judging…

In the Gospel, when Jesus said, “Make friends with dishonest wealth”… (Lk 16:9)
… The Greek word is “mamōnas” meaning wealth or possessions
… but already carrying a moral warning: “it is that, which can easily enslave you.”

In the Greco-Roman world, wealth was used to buy patronage and status.

Jesus now flips it…
… wealth should now “gain you” mercy and solidarity.

It’s saying: “Take that very thing which the world misuses – wealth – and redeem its purpose.

Use it to build relationships of mercy and generosity…
… so that your giving becomes your gateway to eternal dwellings.

This is the choice we are called to make!

It’s a rejection of worldly temptations…
… it’s an acceptance of Divine Intention!

The Gospel of the day places a great choice before us…

Choose to be with God or to follow other idols?
Choose to obey His laws and commandments or to stray away from His paths?

We cannot serve both God and other things…

One leads to life… the other to death.

Which side are we on?

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 Sixth Commandment – You shall not commit adultery – Male and Female He created them

Charity is the form of all the virtues.
Under its influence, chastity appears as a school of the gift of the person.
Self-mastery is ordered to the gift of self.

Chastity leads him who practices it to become a witness to his neighbor of God’s fidelity and loving kindness. (CCC # 2346)

“Being ready to be Christians with an ‘excellent spine!'”

(Based on Rom 15:14-21 and Lk 16:1-8 – Friday of the 31st Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1)

It was a Bible study class.

The group was doing a study on the Book of Prophet Daniel.

As was the custom, one of the members would start the Bible study by reading the passage of the day, to the group, aloud.

The selected passage for the day was Chapter 6 of the Book of Daniel.

An elderly person, stood up to read.

He, however had some struggle with his sight and was finding it a bit difficult to read.

When he came to verse 3 (which actually says: “an excellent spirit was in Daniel”)…
… adjusting his thick glasses, the man read: “… an excellent spine was in Daniel!”

(The word ‘spirit’ was mistakenly read as ‘spine’!)

Well… that was bad reading…
… but nevertheless, it was wonderful theology
… because Prophet Daniel was indeed a man of excellent spine – a backbone that made him strong and courageous!

Are we Christians with an “excellent spine?”

The Gospel of the Day, with a worldly example placed before us – the Parable of the Unjust Steward – is a mighty challenge to us to examine whether we as Christians, are people…
… who really are bold and courageous to stand for the Gospel principles
… who really are zealous and prudent to preserve our holiness and sanctity!

The story of the unjust steward is an interesting as well as an eye-opener for us, in our spiritual and Christian life

This is also a parable that could be classified under the “controversial” or “what-was-He-really-meaning” category!

The summary of the parable would go thus…

A steward has been reported to the Master for squandering the property (Lk 16:1)

Dismissal is on the cards for the steward (Lk 16:2)
Taking stock of the possibilities for the future, he decides and acts on the principle: Manipulation is the best policy for a safer future (Lk 16:3-7)
The Master commends this unjust, yet prudent and craft act of the steward! (Lk 16: 8a)

The parable could cause some strange questions to crop up…

Why is Jesus – the Honest-Man-par-excellance – presenting this strangely negative example to His followers?

Does Jesus mean that we should follow the bad ways of the world, in order to win our salvation?
“Hook or Crook” – is that the policy that Jesus says for us Christians, to live in this world?

Well…

Without going deep into the theological debates of such questions…
… we shall look into the answer that Jesus Himself proposed for saying this parable:
“For the children of the world are more prudent in dealing with their own generation, than are the children of light” (Lk 16: 8b)

The purpose of Jesus to say this parable is put forth: Children of the this world are often more shrewd to make sure a good future…
… whereas, the children of the light, tend to be extremely relaxed concerning their salvation!

People of this worldly kingdom are willing to go to any extend to secure themselves…
… whereas those who supposedly wish to belong to God’s Kingdom, leisure themselves in lethargy!

This is a technique of “comparative imperative” that is proposed by Jesus…
… by emphasising on the opposite, a challenge is put forth!
… by highlighting a negative dimension, the positive aspect is enforced!

Such “comparative imperatives” can easily be observed in our lives…

We would make every effort to be in time to catch a bus/train/flight, so as not to miss it…
… but don’t mind, being late for our prayers or spiritual activities, including the Holy Mass!

We would ensure every day we have our food and get a good rest, so that our bodies don’t get weak…
… but give no regard to feed and give rest to our souls, by spending time with the Lord in personal prayer and growing in relationship with Him!

We would feel a dreadful sense of disgust if we do not have our daily bath (shower) and cleanse our bodies…
… but have sometimes no awareness to realise our souls are dirty and we need to cleanse them through a daily examination of conscience, and regularly through the Sacramental Confession.

We don’t mind wagging our tongues to say a bad word or a dirty joke or nasty words of criticism and condemnation..
… but think often, when we need to say something positive or appreciate someone or to say an occasional prayer to recall the presence of the Lord!

This “comparative imperative” proposed by the Lord in this parable makes us to reflect deeper:

Am I more enthusiastic about the affairs of this world, which gives only transient joy…
… at the cost of avoiding my spiritual life, which alone can ensure me eternal happiness?

Am I only concerned more about my materialistic concerns and my temporal duties…
… and end up neglecting the solemn duties of our Christian life and being more spiritually rooted?

Our Blessed Lord is extremely serious…
… that we take our Christian lives and faith, on a more serious note!
Salvation is at stake!
Eternal Life is at question!

The Lord is perhaps addressing us, and telling:
“For those who are working…
… you would try to make any sincere efforts to make sure you get a better salary, isn’t it?

For those who are studying…
… you would try to put in extra hard work to ensure you get the extra marks, isn’t it?

For those who are at home…
… you would spare no efforts, to ensure peace and harmony and a happy time, isn’t it?

For those in institutes or companies or in-charge of some establishment…
… you would take the extra mile to be the best and co-ordinate to the maximum, to give better performances, isn’t it?

Then why…
… Why sometimes, lethargy only for spiritual life?
… Why sometimes, indifference, only with respect to a life of faith?”

Are we ready to be Christians with an “excellent spine?”

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 Sixth Commandment – You shall not commit adultery – Male and Female He created them

Chastity is a moral virtue. It is also a gift from God, a grace, a fruit of spiritual effort.

The Holy Spirit enables one whom the water of Baptism has regenerated to imitate the purity of Christ. (CCC # 2345)