There’s a story from the land of Spain about a father and son who had become estranged.

The son had run away as a result of some misunderstanding.

>> But the father set off to find him.

He searched for months and months… but to no avail!

He missed his son…

>> The name of his son was Paco.

He missed Paco…

Finally, in a last desperate effort to find him, the father put an advertisement in a national newspaper.

The ad read:

“Dear Paco, meet me in front of this newspaper office at noon on Saturday. All is forgiven. I accept you, as you are. I love you. Your Father”.

On Saturday, 800 Pacos showed up, looking for forgiveness and love from their fathers!

Paco was a very common name in Spain…and the ad appealed to many Pacos, who were estranged from their father…and sought to come back home!

>> The world is thirsty, seeking to be quenched from the fount of forgiveness.

>> The world is hungry, seeking to be satisfied from the storehouse of forgiveness.

The Gospel of the Day is a strong reminder by Jesus, to experience the forgiving love of the Lord and in turn to become “instruments of forgiveness”!

The Parable of the Prodigal Son is perhaps one of the most popular, the most loved, the most sentimental and the most meaningful of all the parables in the Gospel.

One of the lasting images that this beautiful parable impresses upon the readers is that of a Loving Father in patient waiting for the return of the son.

The Son had abandoned the love and protection of the Father.

It could have been…

… because of some misunderstanding…

… because of some pride and arrogance…

… because of some selfishness and egoism…

… because of some immaturity or peer pressure…

Whatever be the reason…

….  a rupture had occurred in the beautiful relationship!

>> The son sought to find enjoyment in many worldly pleasures…

…meanwhile the Father was left with a seemingly never-ending wait for his beloved!

>> The son drowned himself in the pleasurable waters of enjoyment and gratification…

… meanwhile the Father sought to keep floating on the waters of hope and optimism!

The Father kept waiting…and waiting…

>> Every evening as the sun set… and as the darkness would engulf the land…

… the hopes of the Father would have diminished and a gloom darkened in his mind!

>> Every morning as the sun arose….and as the bright rays enraptured the land…

…the expectations of the Father would have intensified and a glow lit his heart!

And thus the Father kept waiting and waiting for the son to return.

Finally, when the son returned, the long wait of the outstretched arms of the Father, waiting to embrace his beloved was over…

“… while he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him…”( Lk 15: 20)

The father’s joys knew no bounds!

The son was considered lost… the son was considered dead…

>> But now here he is… found…and alive!

What a beautiful picture!

>> A son who comes back in repentance, clasped in a deep affectionate hug with his father who longed for the return of his beloved!

Our heavenly Father wishes to have this same picture, with each of us….

We have often gone away from the Love of our Heavenly Father…

… by our sins and disobedience

… by our selfishness and egoism

… by our pride and worldly pleasures

… by our immaturity and misunderstanding

But He now waits in eager expectation and hope for our return to Him…

>> Shall we not run to the open and outstretched arms of our Blessed Father?

In turn, we are also invited, exhorted and challenged to become “an instrument of forgiveness and reconciliation”

May the forgiving love that we have received from our Heavenly Father be extended and widened to all the people in our life too.

Let the words of our Beloved Heavenly Father be a powerful invitation to us, ” All is forgiven. I accept you, as you are. I love you. Your Father.”

God bless! Live Jesus!

An enigma is a considered as a person or a thing that is mysterious or difficult to understand.
>> The word has its Greek and Latin roots, in words which mean “a riddle” or “a puzzle”.

•       An enigma has the tremendous capacity to attract followers or to detract the critics.
•       An enigma has the intriguing potential to captivate its fans or to puzzle its doubters.

When we analyze history and personalities down through the centuries, one can definitely come to a conclusion…
… that there has been no person who deserves a greater merit to being an “Enigma” than Jesus Christ.

The life of Jesus, historically speaking, was a journey from being a semi-skilled Jewish carpenter in a tiny village in northern Palestine…
… to an itinerant prophet, a wonder worker and a social revolutionary!
>> One who confronted the religious and social institutions of His times so radically that He was put to death for it.

The Gospel of the Day presents this “Enigmatic” Jesus confronting closed minds and blocked hearts, in recognizing Him as the Messiah and Saviour…
… and an invitation to make a radical choice for Him!

Jesus puts forward the parable of the tenants.

The tenants were entrusted with the vineyard by the Master, and were expected to provide the produce in due time.
>> They were entrusted fully with the taking care of the vineyard.

The Master places a lot of trust in the servants.

He gives the freedom… a responsible freedom…
…which could be meaningfully used and nurtured
…or which could be woefully misused and manipulated.

However, the tenants, who were trusted immensely, probably lost their focus on the real trust and diminished in their commitment and responsibility to their Master as well as their duty.
•       Their personal interests gained greater prominence over their entrusted duties.
•       Their selfish agenda gained the upper hand over the faithfulness to the Master.

This led to them to a total denial of all the emissaries and servants of the Master, who were sent to collect the produce.
>> This denial was extended even to the Master’s own Son!

This denial of the Son led to the letting loose of the anger and fury of the Just Master!
•       A squandering away of the responsible freedom, led to the downfall of the tenants!
•       A failure to give heed to the emissaries and servants caused them to face the Master’s rage!
•       A denial and rejection of the Master’s own Son, with a cruel intent, caused their destruction!

Are we also, as Christians, as tenants of the Heavenly Master failing in our responsibilities and duties?

The Lord presents Himself as the cornerstone…
… “the stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone..” (Mt 21:42)

In ancient practices of building, the cornerstone was the principal stone.
>> It was placed at the corner of the edifice or the building.

The cornerstone was usually one of the largest, the most solid, and the most carefully constructed of any in the whole building structure.
>> A cornerstone gives direction to the rest of the foundation.
>> It also is the support on which the rest of the building relies for strength and stability.

Jesus is the cornerstone…of Salvation.. of the Church.. of His People!
>> At the same time, Jesus can also be  “a stumbling block”

As it is written in Romans 9:33, “Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense,
And whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame”

•       To those who believe, Jesus is the cornerstone of their faith and their life.
•       To those who do not believe, Jesus is the stumbling block in their faith!     

Who is Jesus in our life?
>> The cornerstone? Or a stumbling block?

The cornerstone to build a wonderful life in God and grow in holiness…
… or a stumbling block which causes us to be proud in our own merits and not depend on Him?

The cornerstone to stand firm and strong in faith to withstand every storm of life…
… or a stumbling block which makes us uncertain, hesitant and cause a collapse in life?

Jesus is indeed the greatest “enigma”
>> This “enigmatic” Jesus has the tremendous capacity to attract followers or to detract the critics.
>> This “enigmatic” Jesus has the intriguing potential to captivate its fans or to puzzle its doubters.

Jesus can remain the “enigma” who will be forever misunderstood or mysterious…
… or He can be the “enigma” which becomes the guiding force for fullness in life!

Let us make Jesus the “cornerstone” of our life and faith!

Live Jesus! God Bless!

Schindler’s List is a 1993 American epic historical period drama film, which received 7 Oscar awards.

This movie is based in the true story of a Catholic businessman, Oskar Schindler, who lived in Poland during the 2nd world war.

After a life of initial notoriety, in which he made a lot of money, by betraying his own people…

… Schindler, later realised the horrors of the Nazi rule.

He began to use his wealth and influence…

… in order to save his fellow Jews from the holocaust.

By the end of the war, he was reduced to having very little money

>> But in the process, had managed to save hundreds of Jews from being killed.

The last scene of the movie depicts, Schindler being thanked by the people whom he had saved.

But suddenly, Schindler began to weep!

>> Looking around at the people who were rescued, he exclaimed: “I could have done so much more!”

Holding up his gold watch, he moaned, “This could have bought someone’s freedom!”

>> He wished that he could have started sooner in helping people, so that many more could have been rescued!

>> His self-centredness had caused failure in saving many more people!

It was a an agonizing experience of the negative effects of “indifference in life” and the “sin of omission”!

We need to examine our life and check:

>> Am I a person who misses out on doing the good we can?

>> Do I fail to reach out the needy, even though I am able?

>> Has self-centredness became a way of life for me?

The Gospel of the Day is a powerful message to look deeper into these aspects of our life…

… and seek to be more other-centred and heaven-oriented!

The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus is set out as a play… a two-act play.

>> The plays takes place on two stages:

… the stage of this world

… and the stage of the other-world.

1. This parable could be perhaps called as a “parable of contrasts”!

The contrasts are plenty:

In the First Act (Lk 16: 19-22)….

>> A rich man – a poor man

>> The man is rich but unnamed – the man is poor but is named, Lazarus (meaning ‘God Helps’)

>> The rich man clothed in purple – Lazarus clothed fully with sores

>> The rich man caressed with fine linen – Lazarus licked by the dogs

>> The rich man feasted sumptuously – Lazarus desired to be fed by what fell from the table.

>> The rich man died and was buried – Lazarus died but was carried by the angels.

In the Second Act (Lk 16: 22-31)…

>> Lazarus is in Abraham’s bosom – the rich man is in Hades.

>> Lazarus receives good things – the rich man was in torment.

>> Lazarus was comforted – the rich man was in anguish

2. This parable could be perhaps also be called as a “parable of comfort and consolation”!

It’s a “parable of comfort and consolation” because….

… Lazarus, who had undergone great misery and suffering was blessed with the presence of joy of the Lord.

It gives comfort and consolation to us, who need to be strengthened in our moments of trials and hardships, knowing that the Lord will surely look with mercy on His needy ones.

>> “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Mt 5: 3)

3. This parable could be perhaps also be called as a “parable of challenge and confrontation”!

It’s a “parable of challenge and confrontation” because…

… the rich man, who had a luxurious life, was condemned to torments, and had to endure the flames of suffering.

It presents a great challenge and a confrontation before us, who need to realise that “indifference in life” and the “sin of omission” are extremely punishable.

> It tells that the attitude of closing one’s eyes to the pain and misery of the other is disastrous!

>>>> “He who shuts his ears to the cries of the poor will be ignored in his own time of need.” (Prov. 21:13)

We live in a world of contrasts…

… the rich gaining much and the poor losing much day by day!

… the corrupt enjoying worldly success while the honest often helpless on the losing side!

… the powerful lording over all others while the simple of heart crushed in oppression and misery!

This “world of contrasts” needs a “Gospel of Comfort and Consolation”, and towards this, we are “challenged and confronted”…

>> Challenged to get rid of our attitudes of indifference and lethargy to help the needy ones.

>> Confronted to overcome our tendencies to remain satisfied in our comforts and close our eyes conveniently to the necessities of the other.

The ways of the world constantly allure us…

…To be “dressed in purple linen and fine clothes” (Lk 16:19) and to be self-centred: “Just go about with our business and don’t consider other’s needs”

… To be “dining sumptuously” (Lk 16:19) and to look to only one’s own comforts and needs: “Live and let live. I don’t need to care about others, when I have my own cares to be attended to!”

But the Christian way of life is a challenge to this “rich man’s style of living”

>> There can be no excuse given to us…

… if we miss out on doing the good we can!

… if we fail to reach out the needy, even though we are able!

… if self-centredness has become a way of life for us!

Time is short…

… and our life is limited!

Let us begin today, with no further delay…

>> To do the good we can…

… in the best way we can!

… to all the people we are able!

… in every situation that is possible!

Let us seek to be more other-centred and heaven-oriented…

… and in this world of contrasts, make our life a ‘Good News of Comfort and Consolation’.

God Bless! Live Jesus!

A. What is it?

>> “Story of a Soul” is the autobiography of St Thérèse of Lisieux- also called as The Little Flower.

>> It was first published on September 30, 1898 – one year after her death at the age of 24.

>> This book outlines the spirituality that was lived and exhorted by the St Therese – “The Little Way”

B. What does it speak of?

>> The ‘Story of a Soul’ is St. Therese’s autobiography.

>> The book is divided into 11 chapters:

… Beginning with her first memory, it traces her life, ending with her blissful death in the convent.

>> “Story of a Soul” tells of how the Way to Holiness was not great and noble deeds but the fulfillment of the smallest duties with great love and complete reliance upon God.

>> Desiring the lowest place in all things and fulfilling all the duties of the state in life, the Little Flower describes of how she offered many penances for the conversion of sinners, especially during her final illness and the dark night of the soul she suffered at that time.

C. Pointers for Reflections

1. Focuses on the “Little Way” of Holiness

>> It is a challenge to break the notion that “spirituality and holiness” consists primarily in heavy austerity and hard penances alone

>> It shows of the most important element needed towards holiness – perfect trust and holy love

2. Presents the method of “offering to God” all what we do in life

>> Every action of ours can become an “offering to God” and thus “an act of saving” others

D. What virtues/points can we pick up from the “Story of the Soul”” for this Season of Lent?

1. Doing everything with love

2. The virtue of Trusting in God

E. Tips to practice these virtues

1. Consciously make a prayer (or at least, become aware) – “I am doing this work/activity, for the Love of God and only for His Glory!”

2. Love God and give Him the First Priority and Place in life

May this Lent and the familiarity with the Classical Book of Spirituality “Story of a Soul” help us to grow in our acclamation: “Eureka – I have found the Lord”

(The Full Text of “Story of a Soul” can be found at:

http://www.catholicbible101.com/St.%20Therese%20Story%20of%20a%20soul.pdf)

God Bless! Live Jesus!

It was the place known as the Place of the Skulls…

>> A Man had died…

… a cruel death

… an unjust death!

Nature had witnessed the excruciating suffering of this Man.

>> And nature, silent and speechless, yet responded in its own manner:

>> Darkness enveloped over the whole land…

>> The earth quaked in anger and desperation…

>> The rocks split wide and many tombs opened up…

A few people had also witnessed the terrifying suffering of this Man.

And these people, though had voice and power, responded in their own manner:

>> Some were sadistically and treacherously ‘feasting’ their senses with the agony of the Man…

>> Some were appallingly indifferent and shockingly lukewarm…

Very few were enormously heartbroken and shattered..

Among these were a few men….

>> One by name, John… who was a Beloved of the One who died

>> Another was Nicodemus… who a secret follower of the One who died

>> Yet another was Joseph… who was from Arimathea, another disciple of the One who died

Among these were also a few women…

>> Most notably, the Mother of the One who had died!

>> Among others, a Mary of Magdalene… a Mary, who was the mother of James and Joseph

There was also another woman…

The last few hours had been extremely terrible for her.

>> She had witnessed the horrible suffering and death of a Man…

… and also experienced the pain of the Man’s Mother.

This woman herself had two sons.

>> And she knew the agony and pain of a mother seeing the suffering of her precious children.

And through those dreadful moments, this woman remembered an incident that had happened in her life…

Some weeks back, she had approached this Man with a favour for her children (Mt 20:20)

>> Her children, were the disciples of the One who had died.

She had requested, “Command that these two sons of mine may sit, one at your right hand, and one at your left, in your kingdom” (Mt 20:21)

But the Master had responded, “You do not know what you are asking.

>> Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?” (Mt 20:22)

She had not really understood the meaning of the Cup, back then.

>> She was more interested in securing a good place for her children, as it the case for every mother.

But, now….

…standing before that same Master…who had died a horrible death… she understood what was meant by the “Cup”

… standing before the same Master’s Mother… who had borne immense pain of Her Little Child’s death… she understood what was meant by “drinking the cup of suffering”.

She realised…

… the path to glory is only by treading the way of the Cross.

… that more than asking for places of honour, a true commitment to do God’s Will was needed

… that her request was triggered by a ordinary human concern and not tuned to seeking what was more needed by the Lord.

And standing before the Cross, she would have wished and prayed..

“Lord, not a place of honour, but grant that my children would follow you passionately!

>> Lord, not a seat of glory, but grant that my children may be faithful to you for life!”

This woman – the mother of the two sons, who are also called as Sons of Zebedee: James and John – invites each of us also…

… to put our focus totally on the Kingdom values and not on transient material concerns.

… to live in absolute commitment to God’s Mission and leave rewards to the mercy of God

>> Are we ready to put into place “first things first”…

… God’s Kingdom over every other materialistic wanting…? (Mt 6:33)

>> Are we ready to prioritize our concerns and focus…

… seek holiness and salvation over other transitory aspirations…? (1 Pet 1:16, Mt 6:21)

>> Let us look to the Cross to draw greater inspiration to prioritize our needs and wants.

>> Let us look to our Blessed Mother who sought God’s Will for Her Child above all else.

God Bless! Live Jesus!

Examine whether the given statement is true or false…

>> This looks like a familiar, age-old expression, isn’t it?

Well…

… This used to be one of the many questions which all of us would have faced, in our exams, in our school-days.

>> The statement had to be read…and then decided…whether it was TRUE or FALSE.

The Gospel of the Day today invites us to Make our Life a Statement…

… and Decide whether “I am True or False”…

>> Is my Christian Life a genuine and an authentic one…… TRUE or FALSE?!

The Gospel of the Day presents a Challenging Jesus who seeks to expose the duplicity and deceptive life of the Teachers of the Law and exhorts to lead An Authentic way of Life!

Chapter 23 of the Gospel of Matthew is an extremely emotion filled and volatile passage.

The Great Master Jesus, is in a confronting mode and minces no words in exposing the duplicity of the Teachers of the Law.

Chapter 23 almost speaks of Jesus reaching a sort of boiling point…

Let’s think of a pan of water on the stove…

You turn the burner on high and slowly the water becomes warmer and warmer …

>> And then, there are a few bubbles in that water and those few bubbles come to the fore…

>>> And pretty soon the water in the pan is furious with bubbles because the water has come to its boiling point…!

The words of Jesus in Chapter 23 come to a boiling point!

Today’s Gospel Passage deals with some of the crucial areas of the Teachers of the Law…which very often have a similarity in our lives too…

#1: They preach, but do not practice!

>> How often am I in the habit of telling virtues to others…

… but fail to practise them myself?

>> How often do I love to advice goodness to others…

… but fall short of trying to be good myself?

>> How often do I want the whole world to be changed…

… but reach nowhere in trying to improve my own self?

# 2: They lay burdens on others… but lift not a finger to help

>> How often do I expect others to achieve perfection…

… but fail to do my own activities with zeal and passion?

>> How often do I want others to fulfil their duties well…

… but miserably unaware of my own obligations and tasks?

>> How often do I cause others to be good and holy..

… but indulge myself in deeds of corruption and sin?

# 3: They Practice deeds of Religiosity to be seen by others

>> How often do I parade my acts of charity before others…

… in order to boost my index of popularity?

>> How often do I want my deeds of assistance be noticed by others…

… in order to win admiration and acclaim?

>> How often do I go vocal in boasting of my own achievements…

… in order to become great and famous?

# 4: They love places and titles of honour and respect

>> How often do I seek the best places in society and the Church…

… and try to make a peripheral show of my status?

>> How often do I grow attached to places and titles of glory…

… and develop an unconscious love for vain glory?

>> How often do I get disturbed and even troubled easily…

… when others fail to acknowledge my position and repute?

The list of questions is too long…. the record of queries is too extensive…

>> But we need to make this check.. a reality check of our own lives!

It is not very difficult to live under the garb of a well-polished and neat looking title of a Christian.

>> It is not very hard to move forward with our Christian lives being peripherally good and “appearing” pious.

But let’s stop fooling ourselves…

On Judgment Day, none of our external packing and wrapping will come to our rescue.

In our life here, some day or the other, our hollowness will get exposed if were are not true to our inner selves.

>> A false life does not befit a person who seeks to follow the Authentic Christ.

A duplicity in life is not appropriate to a person who wants to walk in the footsteps of the True Christ!

To live an authentic and true life.. is certainly hard…

… and is a treading through paths of difficulties.

But in difficulties, grace abounds…in hardships, blessings increases…

…. in adversities, mercy flourishes!

The question in the Examination Paper of our Lives is staring at us today:

>> Choose the correct alternative – Is my Christian Life a genuine and an authentic one…

… TRUE or FALSE?!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

A little boy started to Sunday-school with two five-rupee coins – one for the Lord, and one for himself.

On the way to church he lost one of them – as it went inside a drain, on the way

“There goes the Lord’s coin!” he said.

What the boy uttered concerning his loss…
… is a reflection of the mind of many grown-ups.

It is always the Lord’s money that is lost.

We tend to be extremely “rigid/unyielding/scrupulous” when it comes to giving to God or to others!

The Gospel of the Day calls for an open mind and generosity in heart, by…
•       Giving to God and obtaining His graces and favours.
•       Offering to God and receiving His blessings and mercy.

The Lord, continuing His teachings on a practical Christian life, exhorts, “…give and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For the measure you give, is the measure you get back” (Lk 6:38)

Jesus brings a very concrete example from the market scene, to drive home his point of generously giving.

The context of Jesus is the market in Israel, the middle-east part of the world.

As in many places today, this area witnessed markets that had buyers and sellers engaged in bargaining and negotiating over prices, quality and the amount of things and goods.

There would be many of the open-air markets, where the farmers would bring their grain—wheat, corn, barley—and spread it on a mat on the ground.

Potential customers would examine the grain, make an offer, and the bargaining would start….

When a price was finally set, the customer would offer his container—usually a large bowl or pot or an open vessel—and the seller would use a scoop (measuring spoon) to fill the container.

There would be some interesting steps in this process of measuring the grain for a customer and which Jesus quotes in His approach to giving:

•       First, the seller would fill the container to the top.
•       Secondly, he would press the grain down and fill some more.
•       Thirdly, he would shake the container so the grain would settle and then fill in some more.
•       Finally, he would fill the container until it overflowed!

The contents of this overflowing container would then be transferred to a pouch or a bag so that the buyer could bring home the contents from the market.

Well, this process could sound a bit strange and weird to us in the modern world.
•       We live in times, when contents are sold by the weight, and not the volume..
•       We live in times, when manipulations are done to give as less as possible…

But this is where, Jesus, bringing in the example of the market, invites generosity in giving…
•       Our giving ought to be measured not by weight, but by volume…and that refers to a far-greater amount of giving!
•       Our giving ought to, not be curtailed down by clever manipulations…rather is to be done very generously and lavishly!

St Paul in 2 Cor 9:6 would say, “Whoever sows sparingly, will also reap sparingly; whoever reaps bountifully will also reap bountifully”

Our giving ought not to be a calculated effort…rather should be a overflow from the heart!

When we engage is such a lavish and generous giving, God too will shower His abundance, in a similar and much better fashion!
“For the measure you give, will be the measure you get back” (Lk 6:38)

Of course, that is not to say that we are limiting God’s power of giving…
God’s surely showers His gifts lavishly!
>> God surely pours His blessings overwhelmingly!

But the Lord invites us to be less “rigid/unyielding/scrupulous” when it comes to giving to God or to others!
•       Give to God, who deserves all, so that we may be worthy to receive His blessings.
•       Give to God, who is worthy of all, so that we may be blessed to receive His graces.

In the Divine methodology of exchange, the advantage is that, we get much more than what we give… we obtain far greater than what we offer!

God’s giving is not to be seen just from material or physical aspects…
In fact, that would just be a very limited and low level of understanding.

God’s gifts are to be understood more from a spiritual perspective:
… Gift of His mercy to live a life in union with Him.
… Gift of His grace to be faithful and more committed.
… Gift of His love to be better human beings and be more charitable.
… Gift of His salvation to enjoy eternal bliss and happiness with Him .

All these gifts will be surely lavished  and given… “good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be poured out into our laps!”

The greatest exchange….. is seen and experienced in the Holy Eucharist.. at every Holy Mass.

Let us give ourselves entirely to the Lord… especially at Holy Mass and through the Mass, at all times of the day… to all persons in our life.

Then, in the words of Fulton Sheen, we will be graced to hear the words of the Divine Lord telling us…
•       You give me your humanity, and I will give you my Divinity!
•       You give me your time, and I will give you My eternity!
•       You give me your broken heart, and I will give you Love!
•       You give me your nothingness, and I will give you My all!

God bless! Live Jesus!