“Investing wisely, the seeds of God’s Grace in order to derive its potential blessings!”

(Based on 1 Cor 1:26-31 and Mt 25:14-30 – Saturday of the 21st Week in Ordinary Time, Year 2)

A familiar story, in various versions goes thus…

A lady came up to a shop which had the name “Everything your heart desires, is available here”

The curious lady went to the shopkeeper and asked: “I want peace of mind and love and happiness and wisdom and freedom from fear”

The shopkeeper, in return, smiled and said: “Madam, thank you for expressing your desire. But please do note: I sell only seeds, not fruits!”

Such is the logic in our Christian Life as well.

God has gifted the “seeds” of good things to all of us….

But…
… do we “sow these seeds” to produce good fruits?
… do we “invest these seeds” in order to derive its potential blessings?

The Gospel of the Day – Mt 25:14-30 – presents before us a simple-to-understand and practical-to-follow Parable of the Lord: the Parable of the Talents!

One of the beauty of this Parable is that it is simple, clear and easy to understand.

And its lessons are hard to miss!!
This parable tells what to do while we live in this world and the need to be responsible and dutiful.

The Parable introduces the fact that the servants were judged by the way, they managed the master’s resources.

We learn a very crucial truth from this: All that we have belongs to God!

We need to underline and highlight the word “ALL”

All…
Fully…
Totally…
Everything…
Completely…
… Belongs to GOD!

We own nothing…
We hold no space…
We possess no one…
… All belongs to GOD!

He made them…
… He gave them to us

And one day… He will take them from us again.

Even our life itself is a gift from God!

If only our world and our generation were to grow more and more in this truth…!

How often we hold on to our possessions…
… and go bonkers in preserving and safeguarding them!

How often we seek twisted and distorted ways…
… to acquire more wealth and capture vital status and ranks!

How often we resort to disgraceful and shameful means…
… to win over positions and powers and authority!

How often we play dirty games and indulge in dreadful activities…
… to put down people and go up in dominance!

Another aspect that we find in the parable is the usage of the word “talents”.

Usually, when we hear the word “talents” in English, we tend to think of some natural abilities, like…
… playing the piano
… or being good at some sports
… or being skilled in painting or knowing how to handle computers etc….

In the time of Jesus, however…
… the ‘talent’ was referred to a huge amount of money.

One talent would represent approximately 16½ years of salary for a labourer.

To give a man two talents would equal around 33 years of salary….
To give a man five talents would be like giving him 80 years of salary to invest…

That’s indeed a huge amount, isn’t it?

Imagine, how rich would the Owner himself have been!
(This once again reminds us that the Owner – God – is the Source of ALL… everything in our life!)

What was the criteria in giving different people a particular amount of money?

Each one according to one’s ability

And who made this determination to allocate the amount of money?

The Master himself, according to His wish!

Here’s another truth: God is not obligated to treat us, like he treats anyone else.

He can give us more or He can give us less than others.

Some have more money and talent and opportunity and strength and health and relationships than others.

Others have less money and talent and opportunity and strength and health and relationships!

It’s not about being unlucky.

It’s not about our ill-fate.

The Master…
…has total sovereignty and freedom with what and how much HE wants to give to His people!

This leaves us with a choice:

1. We can either crib and complain, gripe and grumble about our situation and make excuses and just sit idle!
   OR…
2. We can accept the given situation we are in – with gratitude – and start from where we are, and do what we can… to the best!

Yes…

The Dynamics of Comparison is useless…
… the Tactic of Hard Work is amazing!

The Parable of the Talents is a very Practical Parable that the Lord has offered us!

Yesterday is past…
… tomorrow is the Future.

But Today is a GIFT…
… that’s why, it is called as The PRESENT!

Let’s make this PRESENT, a PLEASENT GIFT to the GREAT GIVER…
… by seeking His Grace and combining it with our hard works and determination!

Let us make the best use of the “seeds” of good things given to all of us and …
… sow these seeds” to produce good fruits!
… “invest these seeds” in order to derive its potential blessings!

We celebrate today the Feast of St Monica, that exemplary mother-saint, who was ever-vigilant in interceding for her child, to get back to the ways of the Lord.

She becomes an example for us to be always be focused on the Lord, be ready for His Graces always, and to wait in patience and hope!

St. Monica’s local bishop would often console her, saying:
“God’s time will come. It is not possible that the son of so many tears should perish.”

Her prayers, authentic Christian witness, and love for her husband and son ultimately triumphed.

Her prayers bore fruit in St Augustine, the Great Doctor of the Church

May her intercession and example inspire us to live authentic and sincere Christian lives!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

---

📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
THE EUCHARIST IN THE ECONOMY OF SALVATION – The signs of bread and wine

Jesus chose the time of Passover to fulfil what he had announced at Capernaum: giving his disciples his Body and his Blood
By celebrating the Last Supper with His apostles in the course of the Passover meal, Jesus gave the Jewish Passover its definitive meaning.

Jesus’ passing over to His Father by His death and Resurrection, the new Passover, is anticipated in the Supper and celebrated in the Eucharist, which fulfils the Jewish Passover and anticipates the final Passover of the Church in the glory of the kingdom. (CCC #1339-1340)

“Using every opportunity to receive God’s abundant favours!”

(Based on 1 Cor 1:17-25 and Mt 25:1-13 – Friday of the 21st Week in Ordinary Time, Year 2)

“Take time by the forelock” is a phrase that means ‘to act quickly and decisively” and “not let slip an opportunity”
(“Forelock” is the strand or cluster of hair, growing just above the forehead)

This phrase has an interesting origin…

A statue chiselled by Lysippus (one of the greatest sculptors of the Classical Greek Era in the 4th century BC) stood in one of the cities in Ancient Greece.

This statue…
… had wings
… a lock of hair on the forehead
… and was bald at the back of the head

Underneath this statue, was engraved the following conversation, in a question-answer format…
“Who made thee?”

“Lysippus made me.”

“What is thy name?”

“My name is Opportunity.”

“Why hast thou wings on thy feet?”

“That I may fly swiftly over the earth.”

“Why hast thou a forelock?”

“That men may seize me as I come.”

“Why art thou bald on the back of thy head?’?

“Because, when I am gone, none can lay hold of me.”

Opportunity is like this bald-headed man with only a patch of hair right in front.
One has to grab that hair, grasp the opportunity while it’s being confronted…
… else, one will be grasping a slick bald head!”

Is my Christian Life characterized by an enthusiastic response to the many opportunities for blessings that God offers me…?
… or do I ‘doze off’ in lethargy and laziness, letting away many wonderful opportunities and squandering many chances of God’s abundant favours?

The Gospel of the Day presents the Parable of the Ten Virgins, with a strong warning to “make use of every opportunity that life offers” and “to be ever-prepared” in receiving the coming of the Lord.

The parable of the Ten Virgins has its setting in a Jewish Wedding.

In the time of our Blessed Lord, the wedding was probably one of the greatest events in a typical Palestinian village or an Israeli town.

This was a time of great social celebration!
All got together…
… friends, relatives, villagers..

It was a time of great festivity, abounding happiness and overflowing celebrations.

The climax of the wedding festivity was when the bridegroom went to get his bride.

This was done in a grand procession through the village, so that all in the village could be part of this festivity.

The ten virgins (or bridesmaids) who are mentioned in the Gospel Passage, had the role of performing one of the acts of entertainment.

They would have to perform a wedding dance – “torch dance” around the bride and the groom, holding torches.
It would symbolize the light of their love, wishing them a luminous future.

Then the wedding party would go into the house, and the celebration would last for seven long days!

In the parable, it is mentioned that “since the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and
fell asleep” (Mt 25: 5)

It was only when the call that the Bridegroom had arrived was given, that five of the Virgins realized, that “they brought no oil with them” (Mt 25: 3)

It’s so ironical that the wedding which was such a well-prepared and a long-awaited event, had these five virgins who were so unprepared and so unequipped for the grand moment!

The story of these five virgins who were unprepared (whom our Blessed Lord calls as ‘foolish”) could well be our own stories too…

How often are we too unprepared and unequipped… missing out on opportunities….
… The Lord gives ample opportunities to get back our life on track, through various Biblical inspirations, talks, retreats, literatures etc.

… There are so many occasions that are provided for us to grow in our virtues, to learn deeper the mysteries of heaven and to illumine ourselves with holy knowledge

… We also get so many chances to build our relationship with one another, to grow in appreciation and praise of other and to discover and nurture the goodness in others

Do we make good use of all such opportunities or do we squander them away?

Let our Christian Life be characterized by an enthusiastic response to the many blessings that God offers me…
… and use every opportunity to receive God’s abundant favours!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

---

Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
THE EUCHARIST IN THE ECONOMY OF SALVATION – The signs of bread and wine

The three synoptic Gospels and St. Paul have handed on to us the account of the institution of the Eucharist
St. John, for his part, reports the words of Jesus in the synagogue of Capernaum that prepare for the institution of the Eucharist: Christ calls himself the bread of life, come down from heaven. (CCC #1338)

“Making ourselves worthy and prepared, to allow the Lord to enter into our hearts and homes!”

(Based on 1 Cor 1:1-9 and Mt 24:42-51 – Thursday of the 21st Week in Ordinary Time, Year 2)

Let’s get into some visual imagination to help today’s reflection process…

Imagine a Person comes into the room of your heart, this evening.
He is charming…
He is there with a purpose…
He is imposing with His charisma…

As this Fascinating Person approaches the door of your room, ready to step-in, some flash thoughts pass through your mind…

“The magazines and the books on my table…

Do I need to hide them or keep them away, so that He doesn’t feel shocked at the kind of materials I read?

The wallpaper on my laptop and mobile, and the pictures that are pasted in my room and stored in my phone…

Do I need to change them or dispose them off, so that He doesn’t realise the ‘visual food’ that is often fed to my mind?

The music that is blaring in my room, and to which I tap my feet…

Do I need to put it off and plunge the room into a silent mode, so that He doesn’t feel offended by the ‘audio junk’ that I dance to?

The websites that I browse through, the chats that I engage in and the jokes that I think of…

Do I need to forcefully shut-down my system or delete all the unnecessary files, so that He doesn’t come to know the ‘e-waste’ that I bombard my life with?”

Well, the time is too short…’cos He is fast approaching me!

Have I made a mess of my life…
… filling it with filth or unwanted aspects of life…?
… missing out on opportunities to do good or render service…?
… engaging in activities that are just not worth being exposed to…?

The Charismatic Person is all set to enter my room…
Have I made myself worthy and prepared, to allow Him to enter…?

Well, no prizes for guessing who this Mysterious Person is, that we are imagining about…
… Yes, JESUS – the Lord and Saviour, and the Judge who is coming into this world!

Is my heart ready to receive Him?

The Gospel of the Day is a powerful preaching by Jesus on the need to remain ready for His second coming.

Chapter 24 of the Gospel of St Matthew…
… begins with Jesus addressing His disciples on the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple(Mt 24: 1ff)
… and continues, with Jesus further explaining the forthcoming persecutions and calamities that were to befall

With this background, Jesus speaks of the need to be “watchful” at all times (Mt 24: 42) and explicates it, with the help of the Parable of the Unfaithful Servant (Mt 24: 45-51)

One of the important realities of human life is “unexpectedness”

“Unexpectedness” strikes at many turns of life…
… an unexpected sickness or disease which pushes people into the pit of anxiety and worry
… an unexpected misunderstanding which damages and crushes our relationship with one another
… an unexpected financial crisis which drowns individuals or families into the sea of hopelessness

This “unexpectedness” can also strike our spiritual life!

And this is the danger, that to which the Lord raises our attention towards, by means of the parable of the Unfaithful Servant.

In the parable, the servant was entrusted with the duties of the household, while his master was away.

But when the worm of wickedness crept into the mind of the servant, he said, “My Master is delayed” (Mt 24: 48)

This is very much possible and practically happening in many of our lives.

As Christians, our Blessed Lord, the Great Master has entrusted many responsibilities and duties, to us, His servants.

But often times, we tend to live in the comfort of telling ourselves that “My Master is delayed” or that “My Master is not watching me”

This feeling of the “Lord not being around me” makes us to somehow get into activities and engage in pastimes that are not worthy of our lives…
We let our moral lives be loosened..
We allow our prayer lives to be haywire…
We permit our sacramental life to be lethargic…
We enable our social life to be without the power of the Lord…

But the consequences of such “letting loose” can be disastrous, as the parable teaches us.

What is needed therefore….
… is a constant vigilance and a relentless perseverance in being faithful
… is an unfailing performance of our duties and being on the guard at all times

St Paul reminds us of the Faithfulness of the Lord, through his letter to the Church at Corinth: “God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord!” (1 Cor 1:9)

The Lord is knocking at the door of our hearts (Rev 3:20)

Is my life neat and clean enough to allow the Lord to enter in…?
… or do I need to make suitable alterations and necessary repentance so that the Lord may find me worthily waiting and He may dine with me?

God Bless! Live Jesus!

---

📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
THE EUCHARIST IN THE ECONOMY OF SALVATION – The signs of bread and wine

The Lord, having loved those who were his own, loved them to the end.
Knowing that the hour had come to leave this world and return to the Father, in the course of a meal he washed their feet and gave them the commandment of love.

In order to leave them a pledge of this love, in order never to depart from his own and to make them sharers in his Passover, he instituted the Eucharist as the memorial of his death and Resurrection, and commanded his apostles to celebrate it until his return; “thereby he constituted them priests of the New Testament. (CCC #1337)

“Letting go our life into the Hands of this Wise and Knowing God, the One who is aware of every moment of our life – our past, our present and our future!”

(Based on the Feast of St Bartholomew)

An elderly person sat under a mango tree in his garden in the noonday heat.

As he sat, he looked at the pumpkin vines that were growing nearby, and said to himself: “How foolish God is!

Here he puts a big heavy pumpkin on to a weak vine branch and so can’t do anything, but simply lie on the ground!

And then He hangs these small little mangoes on a huge tree which can actually hold very heavy objects!
If I were God, I think I could do better than that!”

Just then, a bit of breeze came up…
… and knocked a loose mango off the tree.

It fell right on the man’s head…
… causing a little bump on his head!

This made him sadder… but wiser, and he quipped:
“Oh! Suppose if that had been a pumpkin! Gosh!!”

And he went on to say:

“Never again will I try to plan the world for God.
Instead I shall be thankful to Him, for He has done so well…
… He knows what’s best for me, every time!”

The knowledge and wisdom of God is indeed incomprehensible…
… In His Wisdom, He has created all things good
… By His Knowledge, He has fashioned all things for the best use

Are we ready to let go our life into the Hands of this Wise and Knowing God…
… the One who is aware of every moment of our life – our past, our present and our future?

Today we celebrate the Feast of St Bartholomew…
… who experienced this great Knowledge and Wisdom of the Lord in his encounter with Jesus

And surrendered his life, to follow the Master, till the end – faithfully!

When we compare the Gospels, we notice something interesting…

Bartholomew is not mentioned in the Gospel of John – but Nathanael is!
Nathanael is not mentioned in the Synoptic Gospels (Mathew, Mark and Luke) – but Bartholomew is!

In the Gospel of John, Nathanael is mentioned in connection with Philip
In the Synoptic Gospels, Bartholomew is mentioned in connection with Philip

Thus, based on these aspects along with the ancient tradition of the Church, Bartholomew and Nathanael are identified as the same person.

The Gospel of the Day (Jn 1:45-51) on this Feast Day is the call of Nathanael from the Gospel of St John.

The Gospel says that when Jesus saw Nathanael coming, He said of him:
“Here is a true Israelite. There is no duplicity in him” (Jn 1: 47)

On hearing this, Nathanael said to Jesus: “How do You know me?” (Jn 1: 48a)

This question – How do You know me?” – is indeed worth reflecting on.

From a peripheral look, we observe…
… This was probably the first time Jesus was meeting him, so Nathanael naturally was wondering how he was known.
… Nathanael also did not have a very high opinion regarding Nazareth, the place where Jesus came from and so would have wondered how a Person from there, knew him.

On a deeper level, we also observe…
… Nathanael was probably feeling within himself, “Does He really know who I am and what are the thoughts and desires of my heart?”
… He perhaps, was also wondering, “Would He also be knowing my past and perhaps even have an idea about my future?”

“How do You know me?” – the question by Nathanael to Jesus is a query asked by us too…
… perhaps in various forms..

“How do you know my past?”
Do you really know, O Lord, my past…
… the struggling times that I have gone through?
… the bad childhood, perhaps, or the disturbing experiences as I grew up in life?
… the hurts and the wounds and the injuries that I still carry in my heart and causes me pain?

“How do you know my present?”
Do you really know, O Lord, my present…
… the manner in which I am not accepted by others?
… the ways in which success evades me, despite the hard efforts I put in?
… the daily grinds of life to which I often have no solution and thus totally discouraged?

“How do you know my future?”
Do you really know, O Lord, my future…
… the anxieties of my unclear future and the fear of which direction I need to go ahead?
… the feeling of “I am lost” while taking decisions and unsure if I am walking the right path?
… the tension I go through on what will happen to me and my loved ones in the days to come?

But the Lord, Who answered Nathanael…
… had the knowledge of his past… his present… and his future

The Present: “Here IS a true Israelite. There IS no duplicity in him” (Jn 1:47)
The Past: “Before Philip called you, I SAW you under the fig tree” (Jn 1:48b)
The Future: “Amen, Amen, I say to you, you WILL see the sky opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man” (Jn 1:51)

Turning His gaze on each one of us…
… with tenderness and love, the Lord tells us:
“I know you, My Child!
I know your past…your present… and your future”

Psalm 139 very beautifully speaks of how…
… the Lord intimately knows us!
… the Lord is clearly aware of all our thoughts and movements!
… the Lord is very personally with us in every situation of our life!

This Lord, Who knows our everything – beyond the borders of time – invites us…
… to trust in Him more
… to be aware of His Providence guiding us always!
… to give ourselves entirely to Him in love and obedience!

Many times, we might feel things are not okay with us…
… we might even complain against God and have an attitude: “If I were God, I think I could do better than that!”

But those could be moments, when we are given a gentle reminder by the Lord…
… through perhaps, some difficulties or troubles in life…
Which ought to make us realize:
“Never again will I try to plan the world for God.
Instead I shall be thankful to Him, for He has done so well…
… He knows what’s best for me, every time!”

May St Bartholomew (Nathanael) intercede and inspire us:

To let go our life into the Hands of this Wise and Knowing God…
… the One who is aware of every moment of our life – our past, our present and our future!

Happy Feast Day to you!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

---

📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
THE EUCHARIST IN THE ECONOMY OF SALVATION – The signs of bread and wine

The first announcement of the Eucharist divided the disciples, just as the announcement of the Passion scandalized them: “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?”
The Eucharist and the Cross are stumbling blocks.
It is the same mystery and it never ceases to be an occasion of division. “Will you also go away?”

The Lord’s question echoes through the ages, as a loving invitation to discover that only he has “the words of eternal life” and that to receive in faith the gift of his Eucharist is to receive the Lord himself. (CCC #1336)

“Seeking to live authentically and sincerely, realizing always “that only is important, which is eternal!”

(Based on 2 Thess 2:1-3A, 14-17 and Mt 23:23-26 – Tuesday of the 21st Week in Ordinary Time, Year 2)
In Milan, Italy stands a cathedral featuring a wonderful entrance, in which one has to pass through three doors, in succession.
Each of these doors has an arch, with an inscription.

Over the first door is carved a beautiful wreath of roses.
Underneath is written, “All that which pleases, is but for a moment”

Over the second door, is sculptured a cross.
Underneath is written, “All that which troubles, is but for a moment”

Over the third door – which is the great entrance to the main isle, is written:
“That only is important, which is eternal!”

Do thoughts of eternity, permeate us and cast its radical influence in our every belief and action?
… Or am I stuck to being busy with the affairs of external trifles and obsessed with being engaged in only the ‘peripherals’ of life?

Am I a person plagued with only the “external” fantasies of life…
… Or am I growing to be a person making the right ‘priorities’ in life and choosing to make choices for a hopeful eternity?

The Gospel of the Day presents our Blessed Lord lashing out at the Scribal and Pharisaic attitudes of “being obsessed with the mere unimportant aspects of life” and instead, invites us to “being interested in the real necessities and true essentials of life”

Jesus, in today’s Gospel passage makes a two-pronged attack on the religious leaders of His time:

1. “… tithing mint and dill and cumin and neglecting the weightier matters of the law – justice and mercy and faith” (Mt 23:23)

Mint was a garden herb which had a fragrant smell. It was used to sprinkle the floors of the houses and synagogues.
Dill, also known as Anise, was a plant used as a spice and in medicine
Cumin, was a plant with seeds that have a bitter warm taste and an aromatic flavour

The Jewish Law required that a “tenth of the produce of the earth” be given as tithe (Lev 27:30)

This ‘produce of the earth’ was generally considered only to be limited to the common grains and items like corn, oil, wine etc.

Tiny garden herbs were not considered part of it.

However, the religious leaders, in their over-zeal to keep the law, made it a point to include even the minutest herbs, in their ‘tithing custom’.

Unfortunately, this over-zeal for the “peripheral and externals” of the law, made them to completely neglect the more important requirements of the law…
… the fragrant ‘mint’ of “justice” was denied to those in need
… the spiced ‘dill’ of “mercy” was not offered to those suffering
… the aromatic ‘cumin’ of “faith” was not displayed in situations where it mattered most

Transient aspects of life had far-overtaken their priorities over the eternal truths required from life!

2. “… cleansing the outside of the cup and of the plate, but inside being full of extortion and rapacity” (Mt 23: 25)

The Jewish oral law gave rules and regulations with respect to washing and cleansing – of oneself and of the vessels used.

However, the religious leaders, in their “strict external observance” of the Law, completely missed in having also an internal purification…
… the washing of the ‘dirt’ on the outside failed to wash the ‘dirt’ of greed and avarice from their minds
… the cleaning of the ‘stains’ on the external were unable to cleanse the ‘stains’ of materialism and covetousness in their hearts

Transient aspects of life had far-overtaken their priorities over the eternal truths required from life!

And so the Lord charges them with “a vocabulary of strong condemnation” – ‘Hypocrites’ – in order to make them realize their mistake.

Theirs was a case of misplaced priorities of life

Theirs was a case of pursuance of wrong goals in life

Are we in the same boat as that of these Pharisees and Scribes?

Are we also people who invest a great deal on the “externals and peripherals of life”, but fail to give any priority or importance to the “true, real and eternal aspects of life?”

I may be a person who, perhaps, spends a lot of time on prayer, reading the Bible, engaging in devout activities etc.
…. But do these pious actions also make me to become a person of “humility, service and grow in genuine relationships with one another?”

I may be a person who likes to participate in Church Fests and engaging in a lot of works for the Church and even contributing materially much
…. But do these ‘great actions of charity’ also help me to grow in my love for the Lord, personally and also help me to reach out to the poor and needy, in their craving for love and acceptance?

I may be a person who treasures having the statues and relics of saints, garlanding holy statues and offering them flowers, collecting exquisite rosaries, medals and other religious articles etc
…. But do these ‘external objects’ help me to look deeper into myself so that I too may grow deeper in serving the Lord with a spirit of self-sacrifice and dependence on God?

The Lord does not object to any of our “external” actions of piety or devotions.

But He certainly challenges and indisputably impels us to ‘grow beyond the peripherals’ and to focus on the ‘weightier aspects of our faith in Him’

This ‘focus on the greater essentials’ will definitely…
… cause inconvenience in our comforts
… and challenge us to be humbler

It is, however, this “proper prioritizing” that our Blessed Lord demands of us!

Let us seek to live authentically and sincerely, realizing always…
… “That only is important, which is eternal!”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
THE EUCHARIST IN THE ECONOMY OF SALVATION – The signs of bread and wine

The miracles of the multiplication of the loaves, when the Lord says the blessing, breaks and distributes the loaves through his disciples to feed the multitude, prefigure the superabundance of this unique bread of his Eucharist.
The sign of water turned into wine at Cana already announces the Hour of Jesus’ glorification.

It makes manifest the fulfilment of the wedding feast in the Father’s kingdom, where the faithful will drink the new wine that has become the Blood of Christ. (CCC #1335)

“Raising an anthem of thanksgiving, love and affection, to our Beloved Mamma Mary, the Queen of the Heavens and the Earth… and of our hearts!”

(Based on the Feast of Our Lady: Mother and Queen)

“Saare jahaan mein acha!” (“Better than all in the entire world!”)

This was the chorus we sang in unison and love… The Holy Trinity, the Holy Angels and all people of faith on the earth… just seven days back…
… on the 15th of August – the Feast of the Assumption of our Blessed Mother Mary!


Today we are back to chanting the same chorus and the same refrain with a deeper enthusiasm and stronger gusto…
… as we celebrate with heaven, the Coronation of our Blessed Mamma as the Queen of Heaven and Earth!


This Feast of the Queenship of Mary was instituted by Pope Pius XII at the conclusion of the Marian Year in 1954.

It was not…
… a new policy
… a new doctrine.
… or a new teaching
.. or even a new understanding!

This declaration was merely an affirmation of the age-old faith that has been celebrated down through the ages!

St Ephrem referred to Mother Mary as the “Majestic and Heavenly Maid, Lady, Queen.”
>> St Gregory Nazianzen called her, “the Mother of the King of the Universe.”


On this Feast Day of the Queenship of Mary…
… we are presented with the Reading on the Annunciation (Lk 1:26-38)


Let us travel with Mary, our Mamma and Queen….through this life transforming event of Her life…

This incident will highlight the journey of Grace and Mercy that God worked, to raise Her to a glorious state!


1. The Simple Mary
Mary was a simple and unnoticed girl in the unpopular town of Nazareth.
>> She was an ordinary person betrothed to a man named Joseph.

She had…
… her dreams
… her wishes for a family life
… her desires for a peaceful life!

>> But God had bigger dreams for Her…
… a dream which would make Her the Blessed among all…

>> God had higher wishes for Her…
… a wish which would make the Nazareth Family a model for all…

>> God had bigger desires for Her…
… a desire which would fill her with Peace amidst every pain…


2. The Troubled Mary
Mary was deeply troubled when she encountered Angel Gabriel.
>> The greeting of the Divine Being made Her simple heart to be filled with feelings of concern and disturbance.

She had…
… her concerns
… her share of uneasy feelings
… her moments of worry!

>> But God had greater cares for Her…
… care which would make her a Mother to all those who have concerns…

>> God had finer feelings for Her…
… a feeling which would help her to Feel for those who go through life’s pains…

>> God had greater comforts for Her…
… a comfort which will lead Her to be a Comforter to the Uncomforted…


3. The confused Mary
It was a moment of great confusion and perhaps even total puzzlement as to how could the words of Angel Gabriel be believed.
>> There was great uncertainty as to how could a conception of this sort take place and what made Heaven grant Her this choice of being the Mother of the Son of God!

She had…
… Her confusions
… Her perplexity
… Her moments of inner turmoil.

>> But God had a deeper solution to Her confusion…
… He assured Her of the Presence of His Mighty Spirit…

>> God had an enhanced way out of Her perplexity…
… He calmed Her by opening Her eyes to His great works…

>> God had a deeper answer to Her turmoil…
… He relieved Her by reminding Her that all things are possible for Him…


4. The willing Mary
The Fiat Moment – the time when Mary said the Big Yes to God’s Plan of Salvation!
>> It was a sacred time when Mary consented and became willing to allow God’s Script to work in Her unadorned Life!

She had…
… Her mysterious moments
… Her ‘what-next’ moments
… Her moments of indefiniteness!

>> But God had His superior light beyond all mysteries…
… She was to be the Woman of the Mystery of God’s Salvation …

>> God had His clear plan beyond all doubts…
… She was to be the Perfect Executor of Heaven’s Plans for humanity…

>> God had his superior design across all indefiniteness…
… She was to be the Refuge of all in Uncertainty…


Today, Is my Life…
… just too simple and ordinary?
… just too troubled?
… just too confused?


Then Mother Mary is a model to us…
… a perfect example
… a shining witness
… a great challenge to us!

In all our ordinariness, troubles and confusions, let us trust and have faith in God…
… just like Mother Mary
>> And seek to always say to God, “FIAT – Yes, Be it done to me according to Your Will!”


Let us raise an anthem of thanksgiving, love and affection…
… to our Beloved Mamma, the Queen of the Heavens and the Earth… and of our hearts!”
>> And in harmony & accord, with deep joy, acclaim Her to be –
“Saare jahaan mein acha!” (“Better than all in the entire world!”)


Happy Feast of the Beloved Queen Mamma united with Her son, King Jesus, to all of us, Her little children!

God Bless! Live Jesus!
—————————————————-
Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
THE EUCHARIST IN THE ECONOMY OF SALVATION – The signs of bread and wine
>> In the Old Covenant bread and wine were offered in sacrifice among the first fruits of the earth as a sign of grateful acknowledgment to the Creator.
>> But they also received a new significance in the context of the Exodus…
… the unleavened bread that Israel eats every year at Passover commemorates the haste of the departure that liberated them from Egypt
… the remembrance of the manna in the desert will always recall to Israel that it lives by the bread of the Word of God
… their daily bread is the fruit of the promised land, the pledge of God’s faithfulness to his promises.
>> The “cup of blessing” at the end of the Jewish Passover meal adds to the festive joy of wine an eschatological dimension: the messianic expectation of the rebuilding of Jerusalem.
>> When Jesus instituted the Eucharist, he gave a new and definitive meaning to the blessing of the bread and the cup. (CCC #1334)
—————————————————-

“Responding to the invitation of the Lord to experience life with Him, in eternity, saying: ‘Plus Ultra – More Beyond’”

(Based on Isa 66:18-21, Heb 12:5-7, 11-13 and Lk 13:22-30 – 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C)

It is said that Hercules, the Greek mythological figure constructed two pillars near the Straits of Gibraltar…
… to mark the edge of the then known world.
>> These pillars had a warning on them: “Ne plus ultra – No More Beyond”.
This was a warning to sailors and navigators to go no farther!

Till the 1400s, this belief was so strong…
… that “Ne Plus ultra” was written on the edge of the maps
… that Spain even adopted that phrase as their national motto.

But in 1492, Christopher Columbus set sail into the unfamiliar areas of the world…
>> Unknown waters were explored
>> New lands were discovered
After his death in 1506 in Valladolid, Spain, a memorial was built in honour of Columbus.


A peculiar yet very interesting feature of this memorial is the statue of a lion, destroying one of those Latin words
>> The word being torn away by the lion is “ne”
Thus, the motto is made to read: “Plus Ultra – More Beyond!”


And this indeed is the truth of human life: There certainly is “More Beyond”
>> “More Beyond” this present materialistic life
>> “More Beyond” the transitory nature of this earthly life


Human beings, by nature, are inquisitive and curious.
>> There is a tendency to seek to know many things.

One of the prime aspects among all such seeking are the questions concerning the life after this life.
>> What will happen after I die?
>> Where will I go after my death?
>> Is there such thing called as a heaven or hell?
>> Will God really punish or will He lavish the license of heaven to all?

Such eschatological questions often disturb our minds & we become a bit perplexed over an uncertain future.


The Gospel of the Day presents such an eschatological question being posed to Jesus:
“Lord, will only a few be saved?” (Lk 13:23)


Jesus, has a very unique way of dealing with questions and doubts.

When we scan through some of such incidents, wherein Jesus has been asked a question or a doubt, we often find that He either doesn’t give a straight answer or sometimes even doesn’t give any answer…

>> A lawyer comes to Jesus and asks, “Who is my neighbour?” (Lk 10:29)
… Jesus doesn’t give a direct answer; instead responds with the Parable of the Good Samaritan.

>> Some people tell Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with the sacrifices, and expected Jesus to make some comments (Lk 13:1)
… Jesus doesn’t explicit a clear teaching; instead responds with the Parable of the Barren Fig Tree.


In today’s Gospel incident too, Jesus is asked about how many will be saved.
>> But Jesus chooses to respond with the Illustration of the Narrow Door.

Why does Jesus do so?
>> Why does He not respond directly to such questions, and instead answer in some other form?


One of the tendencies among many believers, including perhaps some of us, is that…
…we tend to miss the actual point, in the process of discussion.
…we fail to grasp the actual thing needed, in the course of many doubts.

We wonder about who all will be saved…
>> We wonder when this world will come to an end.
>> We wonder how many people will make to heaven
>> We wonder how many will get cast into hell.

These simple questions lead to complicated ones…
What about people who have never heard about God?
>> What about those souls in distant lands who never had a chance to know what is God?

These complicated questions further leads to some drastic conclusions (sadly!)…
What kind of God sends people to hell?!
>> If the God of the Bible is so cruel, then I don’t want to believe in Him!
>> I would better not believe in any God and rather live my life the way I want!


Well… this is the sad part!
>> It’s not that questionings or doubts are bad…or not that they are not encouraged…
But sometimes, such interrogations make us to miss the main point.

We get so entangled with doubts of the future, that we fail to prepare for the future.
>> We get so busy asking about eternal life, that we fail to live a life worthy of it!

But Jesus brings home to point…
What is needed utmost is an upright life…
… in faith and in repentance.

What is most needed is to live a life pleasing to God…
… and in seeking to do His Will.

This is the narrow way!
>> To live a life of faith, in the midst of challenges and crises, is hard!
>> To live in total repentance and brushing aside sin at every point of life, is hard!
>> To live a life seeking to live in tune with God’s Will, even if it is demanding, is hard!

This is the narrow way, to which the Lord invites us.


Let us not get too much webbed in the questions and doubts, and lose focus of what’s most needed…
… Faith, Repentance and Doing His Will.
>> Yes, we don’t live in a world which has a motto “Ne plus ultra – No More Beyond!”

Instead, Jesus, the Lion of Judah destroys that word “ne”…
>> And invites us to experience life with Him, in eternity, saying: “Plus Ultra – More Beyond”


God Bless! Live Jesus!

——————————–
📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
THE EUCHARIST IN THE ECONOMY OF SALVATION – The signs of bread and wine
>> At the heart of the Eucharistic celebration are the bread and wine that, by the words of Christ and the invocation of the Holy Spirit, become Christ’s Body and Blood.
>> Faithful to the Lord’s command the Church continues to do, in his memory and until his glorious return, what he did on the eve of his Passion:
“He took bread….” “He took the cup filled with wine….” the signs of bread and wine become, in a way surpassing understanding, the Body and Blood of Christ; they continue also to signify the goodness of creation.
>> Thus in the Offertory we give thanks to the Creator for bread and wine, fruit of the “work of human hands,” but above all as “fruit of the earth” and “of the vine” – gifts of the Creator.
>> The Church sees in the gesture of the king-priest Melchizedek, who “brought out bread and wine,” a prefiguring of her own offering. (CCC #1333)
———————————

“Daring to pick up the ‘towels’ of service and kindness and living a life ‘clothed in humility!’”

(Based on Ezek 43:1-7 and Mt 23:1-12 – Saturday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time, Year 2)

Maundy Thursday is associated with a customary practice that is followed in many of the Churches all around the world…

It consists of choosing of twelve persons from the Church – based on various parameters or criteria.

These twelve are given the “privilege” to have the feet washed by the Main Celebrant (usually the parish priest) during the Holy Mass.

This is a symbolic remembrance of the “washing of the feet” that Jesus had undertaken on the evening of the Last Supper.

Preaching on this custom, on a Holy Thursday, a priest once spoke the following in his sermon:
“There are twelve of us, who have been chosen from among us, whose feet will be washed this evening.

Perhaps, there were many others also who had a desire that their feet also be washed.
Probably, some of you, children, are dreaming of growing up faster in life, so that one day, you too may be chosen to have your feet washed.

But here is a point to be considered…
Most of us probably are thinking only about ‘having our feet washed’.

But I really do wonder, how many of us – be it those who have got a chance or those who have missed – think also of ‘being the one who washes the feet of others?’

We all probably are desiring and wishing only for the chair, to be seated, and have our feet washed.

But how many of us also wish and desire for the ‘towel’?”

It was his direct way of telling that there were very few who will to be the last, the least and the lowest in the Church, the Body of Christ.

Am I a person who is willing to lower myself in humility?

Jesus says in today’s Gospel, “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted” (Mt 23: 12)

The 23rd Chapter of the Gospel of St Matthew begins with Jesus turning the attention of His disciples and of the crowds, towards the Scribes and the Pharisees.

Focussing on the religious leaders and on their practices, Jesus launches a volley of critically true statements, a string of their hypocritical misconduct and a barrage of their wicked misdeeds!
The chapter ends with the “Painful Lament” by Jesus over Jerusalem – the city of the Lord!

One of the highlights in this highly volatile and strongly-worded Chapter is the number of times Jesus mentions the two groups of people – “Scribes and Pharisees”

There is, in total, 7 occurrences of the phrase, “Scribes and Pharisees” – a biblical number for totality!

This Chapter is a therefore, a full-blown critique and condemnation of the ways of the Scribes and Pharisees.

Why is Jesus so outright in His condemnation, so merciless in His usage of words and so blatant in His attacks on the Scribes and Pharisees?

[Meanwhile, when we go through these critical attacks of our Blessed Lord on this group, one must always remember the words of Jesus Himself: “I have come not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Lk 5:32)

There was deep pain in the heart of the Lord, in seeing the way religion was being manhandled, misused and misinterpreted by the religious leaders of His time

As the Son of His Beloved Father, it was hurting for the Son to see a section of people, trampling upon God’s precious and venerable truths, and twisting them for their own self-interests and self-agenda

A strong form of condemnation was reserved only to those who were hardened in heart – as a means for them to repent and turn back their ways to the Lord. The method of ‘sharp condemnation’ was reserved only to the proud and the arrogant; never to the poor sinners!]

The reason for Jesus making a scathing attack on the religious authorities of His times, could be summarized into one crucial point: Glorification of one’s own self at the expense of the Glory of God and the Mercy deserving for His people!

Therefore, Jesus goes on to point out the many occasions and circumstances when the self-interest of the Pharisees and Scribes took extreme priority over God Himself!

It is this self-centred and self-glorifying act that makes Jesus to tell, “For they preach, but they do not practise!” (Mt 23:3b)

How easily can this be our own state of affairs, in our life…!

We may be people…
… who “appear” to be very fine and kind – but perhaps, we are persons who find it too hard to let go of our pride, in reaching out to the needy, in humble service!
… who speak a lot on helping others and being generous – but perhaps, we go through grilling moments in lowering ourselves and adopting a lowly status to extend a helping hand!
… who desire happiness in communities and peace at homes – but perhaps, we discover ourselves to be persons who are unwilling to let go of my ego and allow a listening ear to the views and opinions of others!

The call, today, therefore is…
… “to work for a cause – not applause!”
… “to live life to express – and not simply to impress!”

Following the great example of Jesus, may we dare to pick up the “towels” of service and kindness and live a life “clothed in humility!”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

---

📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
THE EUCHARIST – What is This Sacrament Called?

Holy Communion, because by this sacrament we unite ourselves to Christ, who makes us sharers in his Body and Blood to form a single body.
We also call it: the holy things (ta hagia; sancta) – the first meaning of the phrase “communion of saints” in the Apostles’ Creed – the bread of angels, bread from heaven, medicine of immortality, viaticum.

Holy Mass (Missa), because the liturgy in which the mystery of salvation is accomplished concludes with the sending forth (missio) of the faithful, so that they may fulfil God’s will in their daily lives. (CCC #1331-1332)

“Becoming an Apostle and Agent and Ambassador of Love!”

(Based on Ezek 37:1-14 and Mt 22:34-40 – Friday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time, Year 2)

There once was a farmer who grew award-winning ‘corn’ (maize).

Each year he entered his corn in the fair-competition conducted at the state-level, where it won a prize.

One year a newspaper reporter interviewed him.

Among the many great practices that this farmer had adopted, the reporter also learned something highly interesting about how this farmer grew corn…
…and which made him to win a prize every year.

The reporter discovered that the farmer shared his seed corn… his best variety seed…
… with his neighbouring farmers!
“How can you afford to share your best seed corn with your neighbours…
… when they are also entering into competition with you?” enquired the bewildered reporter.

“Why sir,” replied back the farmer, “didn’t you know one of the important realities of life?

The wind picks up pollen from the ripening corn and swirls it from field to field.

If my neighbours grow inferior variety of corn, the cross-pollination will steadily degrade the quality of my corn as well.

If I am to grow good corn, I must help my neighbors grow good corn.

This is the reality of life that I have realized: In order to get the best out of life, I need to give my best to the other!”

Yes, the farmer was very much aware of the relatedness of life.

His corn could not improve unless his neighbor’s corn also improved.

Have we realized this reality of our lives?

In order to get the best out of life, I need to give my best to the other!”

Those who choose to live well, must help others to live well too.

The value of a life is measured by the lives it touches and the love we display

And those who choose to be happy must help others to find happiness…
… for the welfare of each is bound up with the welfare of all!

Yes, Love is the starting point, the end and the essence of a Christian Life.

The Gospel of the Day emphasizes and affirms this aspect of Love: Love of God and Love of neighbour.

The Pharisees come together to trap Jesus with a question from the Law: “Teacher, which is the most important commandment of the Law?” (Mt 22: 36).

The Lord of Love is sought to be trapped in a web of malice!

This was a complicated question that was put forward to Jesus.

The Jewish Law of the Torah comprised 613 precepts.

It was certainly a challenge to condense these codes into a single commandment.

Probably Jesus would’ve looked into the eyes of the one who asked this question and thought, “Why do you seek to put me to the test?”

There was malice and a corrupt intention in the one who questioned.

But the greatness of the Lord overwhelms the evil designs of humans.

Jesus answers the question which had an evil bent, with an answer filled with goodness…
… “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind….

Love your neighbour as yourself”! (Mt 22: 37)

Bingo..!

Two birds with one shot!

He not just answered His interrogators but He also proclaimed the summary of the Gospel.

He not just silenced His critics but He also won many followers for the Good News.

The Pharisee came asking which is “the” greatest commandment (Mt 22: 36)

He expected just one commandment.

But Jesus answers with two…and showed that those two commandments are nothing but one!

The Love of God and the Love of neighbour…

They were two dimensions of the same Love.

And this One Love, with two facets, formed the basis of all the other commandments of the Law!

The tragedy of our world and our spirituality very often, is the separation of these two dimensions…
One loves God….but fails to love one’s neighbour!

Another loves the neighbour…but fails to love God!

One loves to read and hear and understand God’s Word… but fails to apply it in real life.

Another loves to have a lot of social relations… but fails to build a strong spiritual basis.

One loves to preach deeply over virtues of the Gospel… but fails to live them in actuality.

Another loves to be in friendship with all… but fails in closeness with God, the source of Love.

One loves the Church and her teachings… but falls short to serve the society and its peoples.

Another serves people… but vehemently hates the Church, the ark of the Sacraments of Love!

Christian love is not just about emotions.

Christian love is not just about feelings.

Christian love, is…
… making a decision to serve, even if one does not feel so.
… being faithful, even if one is rejected or even shown indifference.
… being committed, even if one feels an aversion towards the other.

Easier said, than done….right?

This is where, we need to…
… depend on God, the Source of Love itself!
… draw strength from the Sacraments that the Church offers!
… display a Passionate love of God in order to share it with others!

Unless we are in Communion with the Lord, all this reflection remains merely a theory.

Unless we are joined to God, the Source of Love, all our meditations remain superficial.

We need to pray as the Psalmist says: “I love you, Lord, my strength” (Ps 18: 2).

He is the strength for us to love our neighbour.

He is the source for us to share our lives with our neighbour.
He is the supplier of hope for us to sustain in our difficulties to love.

The world is thirsting for Love…

Each one of us is called to radiate this Love: Love of God and Love of Neighbour.

Yes, let us deepen our realization: In order to get the best out of life, I need to give my best to the other!”

Let us become an Apostle and Agent and Ambassador of Love!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

---

📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
THE EUCHARIST – What is This Sacrament Called?

The memorial of the Lord’s Passion and Resurrection.
The Holy Sacrifice, because it makes present the one sacrifice of Christ the Savior and includes the Church’s offering. >> The terms holy sacrifice of the Mass, “sacrifice of praise,” spiritual sacrifice, pure and holy sacrifice are also used, since it completes and surpasses all the sacrifices of the Old Covenant.
The Holy and Divine Liturgy, because the Church’s whole liturgy finds its center and most intense expression in the celebration of this sacrament; in the same sense we also call its celebration the Sacred Mysteries.
We speak of the Most Blessed Sacrament because it is the Sacrament of sacraments.

The Eucharistic species reserved in the tabernacle are designated by this same name. (CCC #1330)

“Being willing to respond to the invitation and following the norms of Love, to be among the chosen ones!”

(Based on Ezek 36:23-28 and Mt 22:1-14 – Thursday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time, Year 2)

A story goes of a King in the olden days and of his “clown” or “jester”

This jester would sometimes say very foolish things whereas sometimes he would make some wise utterances.

One day, it so happened, that this jester said something so foolish that the King handed him a staff and mocked at him saying, “Take this, and keep it… till you find a bigger fool than yourself!”

Years later, the kind fell ill and was on his deathbed.
His favourite courtiers were summoned to him; his family and other friends were also around him.

The King, sick and pale, addressed them saying, “I am about to leave.

I am going on a very long journey and will never be returning to this place.
In deep sorrow, I wish all of you ‘goodbye'”

At that moment, the Jester stepped forward and said to the King, “Your Majesty, May I, please, ask a question?”

“When you journeyed abroad – visiting your people, or paying diplomatic visits to other Kingdoms, you have always made sure there is a great deal of preparation that is ensured.

May I kindly ask, what preparations has your Majesty made for this long journey that he is about to take?”

With tears and remorse and self-realization, the King replied, “Alas! I have made no preparation!”

‘Then,’ said the jester, here is this staff for you. For now I have found a bigger fool than myself.’

Is the state of the King – being unprepared for the journey towards heaven – finding resonance with our own lack of preparations, with respect to eternal life?

The Gospel of the Day presents the parable of the Wedding Feast with a mighty warning to “stay prepared” in our endeavors to be part of the Banquet of Eternal Joy in Heaven.

The Parable of the Wedding Feast, broadly speaking, presents two dangerous attitudes that can overpower a Christian:

1. The arrogant attitude of rejecting God’s omnipotence
2. The lethargic attitude of taking for granted God’s graciousness

In the first part of the parable, we come across the group of people, who turn down the offer of the King for the Wedding Banquet (Mt 22: 5-6)

They made several excuses…
… some ignored the invitation and went away
… one to his farm
… another to his business
… the rest manhandled the King’s servants

On display was their highly casual and lethargic attitude towards the King.

They were least bothered regarding the royal nature of the invitation
They cared little for the feelings and the sentiments of the King who had called them with much expectations

In the second part of the Gospel, we come across the guest, who failed to wear to the appropriate wedding garment (Mt 22: 11-12)

It was a sheer lack of failure to follow the customs of the land and was a betrayal of the host’s generosity…
… It was customary for the hosts to provide the suitable wedding apparel
… The “speechless” silence of the man, showed his inability to produce any valid reason for this act of disobedience and non-compliance

On display was his highly diminishing and disrespectful attitude towards the King.

He was overly adamant in keeping up the wedding protocols of his times
He was exceedingly proud to acknowledge the generosity of the King and chose to purposely insult the King

These two extremes, then, are fearful plagues that a Christian needs to be wary of…

1. A devastating tendency to be arrogantly proud towards the Mercies and Favours of God
2. A dissipated tendency to be lethargic towards the Graces and Blessings of God

Do I put down the power of God…
… by failing to give any response to His constant calls and inspirations to lead a more holy life?
… by busying myself in my worldly activities and failing to give any heed to the works of the Kingdom?
… by engaging constantly only for self-centered glory and side-line anything that promotes the Glory of God?

Do I make a mockery of the Grace of God…
… by professing to be a Christian and yet failing to wear the garments of doing God’s Will and in living His Gospel Virtues?
… by wanting to be proudly seen as a follower of Christ and yet unwilling to follow His teachings and commandments in daily life?
… by enjoying all the comforts that comes alone with being a ‘Christian’ but shamelessly failing to perform the duties associated with it?

The foretaste of the Heavenly Banquet is seen in the Holy Eucharistic Celebration.

The seriousness in our preparation for the Holy Mass is a clear indicator of our seriousness in preparation for the Heavenly Banquet.

Do I approach the wonderful foretaste of Heaven – the Holy Eucharist – with greater devotion and preparation…
… or do I adopt an attitude of arrogant denial of its Holiness or an attitude of lethargy and “taking for granted”?

The Lord adopts a tone of seriousness and strictness, when it comes to our question of preparation for Eternal Life.

There is only one life here on earth – and it deserves to be lived in its utmost fullness by responding to God’s Graces.

May we respond to this demanding call of the Lord – and make ourselves worthy of Life Eternal, to the best of our possibilities and capabilities.
“Many are invited and a few are chosen” (Mt 22:14)

Are we willing to respond to the invitation and follow the norms of Love, to be among the chosen ones?

God Bless! Live Jesus!

---

📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
THE EUCHARIST – What is This Sacrament Called?

The Lord’s Supper, because of its connection with the supper which the Lord took with his disciples on the eve of his Passion and because it anticipates the wedding feast of the Lamb in the heavenly Jerusalem.
The Breaking of Bread, because Jesus used this rite, part of a Jewish meat when as master of the table he blessed and distributed the bread, above all at the Last Supper.
It is by this action that his disciples will recognize him after his Resurrection, and it is this expression that the first Christians will use to designate their Eucharistic assemblies…
… by doing so they signified that all who eat the one broken bread, Christ, enter into communion with him and form but one body in him.

The Eucharistic assembly (synaxis), because the Eucharist is celebrated amid the assembly of the faithful, the visible expression of the Church. (CCC #1329)