“The seven habits of highly effective people” by Stephen Covey is one of the most popular best-selling book in the world.
The book speaks of seven prime qualities to tap success in life and to achieve one’s objectives and aims.
The first among these seven habits of highly effective people is  “to be proactive” in life.
·   Problems beset every person in this world.

·   Difficulties surround all of us, in every society.
But, the one who is “proactive” in life, is able to get over these “paralyzing” factors of life.
 

The Gospel of the Day is a beautiful presentation of this aspect:  

On how to have our heads raised up, in hope and trust, despite many crushing and crippling causes in life.
 

Jesus is in Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover.

·   As he passed through the town, he came near a pool, named Bethzatha.

Jesus encounters a person there, who has been ill for a very long period… thirty eight years! (Jn 5:5)

We are not exactly told what illness was it…

·   Probably a paralyzing illness… a cripple of the legs… or even a combination of many other sicknesses.

But one thing is known: this sickness made the person to not walk!
 

The sickness had immobilized him.
But more than his physical body, it seems, that the sickness had crippled also his mind:

·   His way of thinking seemed jammed in having hope in life…

·   His outlook to life seemed blurred to see optimism and hope…

·   His perspective of people seemed to distort his confidence and trust…

When Jesus questions the man, “Do you want to be well?”, the man answers not with a positive affirmation or an optimistic assertion.

Instead he begins to get into a complaining and a pitiable mode, ” Sir, I have no one…. ” (Jn 5: 7)

 

·   A ray of hope was offered to him…

.. but instead the man continued to see only the dark clouds.
·   A glimpse of joy was revealed to him…

… but instead the man persisted on the sad aspects alone.

The long period of sickness had blotted his vision and faded his hopes.
 

But the Lord.. the ever-challenging God, does not allow the man to remain in this unfortunate and “look-on-me-with-sympathy-please” mode…

·   Instead, Jesus charges him, “Rise, take up your mat and walk” (Jn 5:8)
 

And immediately the man became well, took up his mat and walked!

·   The presence of the Lord vanished away the man’s doubts and lame excuses…

·   The mighty word of the Lord purged away the man’s feelings of looking at life negatively…

The man became proactive…

… casting away his attitude of complaining to become a person of courage

… dropping off his crippling attitude of “none-to-help” and picking up the mat of power and grace

·   Problems beset each of us in this world.

·   Difficulties surround all of us, at various times and situations
But, the one who is “proactive” in life, is able to get over these “paralyzing” factors of life!

Jesus gives us this courage and the hope to be “proactive” in life, with His grace and mercy.
·   Pro-activity is not a mere human attitude of determination…

… it is an action spurred by the mighty love and mercy of the Lord.
·   Pro-activity is not a mere individual display of willpower and resolve…

… it is an approach, impelled by a tremendous faith and hope in the Lord.
 

You and I, very often may find ourselves in crippling situations of life.

·   We may keep on lying down…

·   We may keep on being a “complaint-box”

·   We may keep on blaming people and situations…

 

Or…
·   We may raise up our heads to see the Lord challenging us to walk…

·   We may garner strength and courage and be bold to pick up our mats of suffering…

·   We may imbue ourselves with the Lord’s power to never let anything cripple our minds..

Shall we be ready, “to rise, take up our mats, and walk?”
The choice is ours…

God Bless! Live Jesus!

Heard of Impalas? 

Impalas are medium-sized antelopes (animals like deer, with smooth hair and upward pointing horns) that roam the African Savannas (large plains with hills and forests).

 

They have a great speciality:

• Impalas are fleet runners, able to leap distances of up to 33 feet (10 meters)!

 

They use this technique to escape predators and sometimes, apparently, simply to amuse themselves.

 

The impala can also clear bushes and other obstacles by soaring some 10 feet (3 meters) in the air.

• Typically, a running impala will simply jump over anything in its path!

 
But there’s a catch…

These extremely versatile animals can, however, be kept in a zoo with only a 3-foot tall wall surrounding them!

 
How is that possible?

 How is just a 3-foot wall enough, to enclosure an animal that can leap upto 33 feet and soar around 10 feet in the air?

 
It’s easy to explain…..

• The impala will not jump if they are unable to see the spot where their feet will land!

 

So, even though they can jump several feet higher than the wall surrounding them in a zoo, they 

do not jump, because the 3-foot wall obstructs their sight of the outside, where they would land!

 

Since they cannot see where they land, they do not jump … even though they could.

 They can, but they remain limited!

 They are able to, but they remain restricted!

 

How often are we too caught up with this mentality in life?

 Small enclosures block our view…and therefore we fail to jump…even though we can!

 Mini problems restrict us in our lives…and we fail to leap…even though we can!

 
The Gospel of the Day presents an incident of a “leap in faith”…

… of a person who fails to get bogged down by enclosures surrounding him, and instead trusting in the power of Lord, “jumps”…and is blessed!

 

Jesus is in the land of Galilee…away from his hometown. (Jn 4:43)

• His own people in the hometown have rejected Him.

• The known persons of His native place have failed to give heed to His mighty deeds.

 

And so He arrives, yet again, at a Gentile place… where they welcome Him wholeheartedly!

 
How true is this of many a human situation…

 Those familiar to oneself, fail to understand…but those outside, are able to give better respect!

 Those known to a person, fail to see the value of the person…but those who are unknown, recognise the speciality of the person!

 

Familiarity, very often, breeds contempt!

 

 

In this gentile land, a royal official whose son was ill – nearing death -approached Jesus, seeking for a healing.

 

He travels a far distance – nearly 25 miles, from Capernaum to Galilee – and coming to Jesus, he asks, “Sir, come down, before my child dies” (Jn 4: 49)

 

The request of this official would perhaps, remind some of us of another person, who came with a similar problem….

… The centurion – in Mt 8: 5-13 – whose servant was at home, paralyzed.

 

This centurion had showed tremendous faith and was even greatly praised by Jesus.

 

But the royal official, in today’s Gospel, had a mixed bag of faith…

• He had faith in Jesus, which made him to come a long distance to meet Jesus.

… his faith was however, prompted mainly only because of a need for a healing.

 

• He had faith in Jesus, which made him to request the Lord for a healing.

… his faith, was however, limited by physical distance (since he asked the Lord to come to his house, unlike the Centurion (Mt 8:8)

 
Often our faith resembles this royal official…

… turning to the Lord only in times of afflictions and troubles

… having our own doubts on whether the Lord can really work miracle in the way I want

 

But we must also remember…

… hard and difficult situations, are willed by God, to allow for miracles and healings, which ought to become the springboard for a deeper and committed life of faith!

… the Lord has His own ways and means of working powerfully in our lives, and we need to have the openness and humility to receive them in His way and in His time!

 

 

When the Lord gives His word, ” You may go; your son will live” (Jn4:50), this royal official, with a mixed bag of faith…. makes a tremendous “leap and jump” in faith.

 

The Gospel says, “… the man believed what Jesus said to him and left” (Jn 4: 50b)

 

 

There were many enclosures – of pain, doubt, uncertainty- surrounding the royal official…

… but he makes a giant “leap” trusting in the Lord.

 

Perhaps, he was not sure, where he would land, but he still “jumped” in faith!

 

Our lives, very often necessitate this “jumping” in faith, trusting in the mighty power of the Lord.

 Unlike the Impalas which do not jump, when they can’t see where they are landing, this royal official, trusted in the Lord, and takes the “leap” of faith.

 

We too are called to do the same…

… Not be afraid, where we will be landing, but trusting in the goodness of the Lord, we make a “leap” of faith.

 

• Barriers of immense difficulties and crisis often surround us.

• Walls of tremendous hardships and pains often block our lives.

But, the Lord has empowered us with graces to jump and leap over them all!

 

• It’s His grace that strengthens us.

• It’s His mercy that empowers us.

 
Are we going to get enclosed by the walls of discouragements, despair and depression?

… or shall we, with faith, “leap” over these walls and experience the joy and thrill in the Lord?

 

God Bless! Live Jesus!

Plato was a Greek philosopher, who along with Aristotle, is considered to have laid the foundations of Western Philosophy.
In his work, “Republic”, he writes about the famous “Allegory of the Cave.” 

The Allegory begins with an imagination of a cave, where people have been imprisoned from birth.

>> These prisoners are chained so that their legs and necks are fixed, forcing them to gaze at the wall in front of them and not look around at the cave, each other, or themselves.

Behind the prisoners is a fire, and between the fire and the prisoners is a raised walkway with a low wall…

… behind which people walk carrying objects or puppets “of men and other living things”.

The prisoners are only able to see the shadows cast upon the cave wall in front of them. 

>> The sounds of the people talking echo off the walls, and the prisoners believe these sounds come from the shadows.

For the prisoners, the shadows are reality, because they have never seen anything else.

>> They do not realize that what they see are shadows of objects in front of a fire, much less that these objects are inspired by real things outside the cave.

The allegory then invites us to suppose that one prisoner is freed. 

>> This “freed” prisoner would look around and see the fire. 
The light would hurt his eyes and make it difficult for him to see the objects casting the shadows. 

>> He would escape from this struggle by turning away to the things which he was able to look at…

… and these he would believe to be clearer than what was being shown to him.

Now suppose that someone should drag him…the steep way up, into the light of the sun.

>> The prisoner would be angry and in pain.
However, slowly, his eyes would adjust to the light of the sun.

>> First he sees only the shadows. 

>> Gradually he sees the reflections of people and things in water and then later see the people and things themselves.

>> Eventually, he is able to look at the stars and moon at night until finally he can look upon the sun itself.
He would make an Upward movement – towards faith and trust! 

The allegory goes on to say that the freed prisoner “would feel blessed for the change”, and pity the other prisoners…

… and would want to bring his fellow cave dwellers out of the cave and into the sunlight.

The returning prisoner, whose eyes have become accustomed to the sunlight, would be blind when he re-enters the cave…

… just as he was when he was first exposed to the sun. 
The prisoners, inside however, would infer from the returning man’s blindness, that the journey out of the cave had harmed him and that they should not undertake a similar journey. 

>> These chained prisoners would be “filled with anger and antagonism” and resist the truth! 
In fact, if they, were able, would even reach out and kill anyone who attempted to take them out of the cave.
They would make a Downward movement – towards scepticism and unbelief!

This allegory very beautifully speaks of a similar situation in the Gospel of the Day…

… a man – who was imprisoned by blindness – “feeling blessed” in having encountered Jesus, the Sun

… other men – who remained chained in ignorance and darkness – “filled with anger and antagonism” – resisting the Truth!

Chapter 9 of the Gospel of St John is a story of “blindness” encountering Light- with contrasting effects:

>> A man who is “born blind”, touched by the Light of the World, experiences healing

>> Other people “remain blind”, by opposing the Light of the World, emitting hostility.

We thus see, in this long yet beautiful passage contrasting movements:

>> An Upward movement – towards faith and trust – of the man who was born blind

>> A Downward movement – towards scepticism and unbelief – of the people who clung to prejudices

1. The Upward movement – towards faith and trust – of the man who was born blind
Jesus declares that the blindness of the man was an occasion for “the glory of God to be revealed” (Jn 9: 3)
This revelation of the Glory of God comes about with Jesus doing a unique action…

… “spitting on the ground, making clay with the saliva and smearing the clay in the eyes” of the man born blind (Jn:6)

>> This action of the Son would remind us of the action done by His Father, who at the beginning of creation, would reveal His Glory, by “forming man out of the clay of the ground, and blowing in his nostrils, the breath of life!” (Gen2:7)

This act of the revelation of God would trigger the upward movement- of faith and trust- of the blind man…

a. Initially he on being asked about Jesus, he would say, “I don’t know” (Jn 9:12)

b. Then, he would say how Jesus is “a prophet” (Jn 9: 17)

c. Then, he would get defensive about Jesus and say that “if He is not from God, He would not be able to do anything” (Jn 9: 33)

d. Finally, after realising that Jesus is the Son of God, he would worship Him and say, “I do believe, Lord!” (Jn 9: 38)
 

2. A Downward movement – towards scepticism and unbelief – of the people who clung to prejudices
An act of goodness always gathers detractors and critics…

… and Jesus, the Perfection of Goodness greatly experienced it. 
a. Initially, the Pharisees pointed to the violation of the Sabbath Law, to prove that He is not from God: “This man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath” (Jn 9: 16)

b. Then, they would question the parents of the man, because they thought, he had not been blind from birth: “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How does he now see?” (Jn 9: 19)

c. Then, they would defend their arguments basing on their loyalty to the authenticity of Moses, the law-giver: “We know that God spoke to Moses, but we do not know where this One is from” (Jn 9: 29)

d. Finally, they would engage into a direct dispute with the Lord Himself: “Surely, we are not also blind, are we?” (Jn 9: 40)

Jesus perfectly sums up…

>> The Upward Movement- towards faith and trust

>> The Downward Movement – towards scepticism and unbelief…

… by saying: ” I came into this world, for judgment, so that those who DO NOT SEE MIGHT SEE… and those WHO DO SEE MIGHT BECOME BLIND” (Jn 9: 39)

We need to ask ourselves:

“What is the direction of my Spiritual Life…

… is it having an Upward Movement, towards Faith and trust?

… or is it having a Downward Movement, towards, Scepticism and Unbelief?”

St Paul says, that we need to “live as children of Light, for Light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth” (Eph 5: 8-9)

The Lord, in our every day of life, uses a number of occasions – pleasant and unpleasant situations – to “reveal His glory”

>> Do we remain open to His Light in order to have an upward movement into deeper faith and trust?

>> Or do we get closed in darkness and thus make a downward movement into deeper scepticism and unbelief?

As in the “Allegory of the Cave”…

… let us not remain chained in ignorance and darkness – “filled with anger and antagonism” – resisting the Truth

>> Instead, allow ourselves to be led into the light and thus “feel blessed” in having encountered Jesus, the Sun!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

>> “Will she?”

>> “Won’t she?”

>> “Psst… Did God make a mistake by endowing human beings with so much freedom, that they can even reject the Word of God in their lives?”

 

These were probably some of the conversations that were on among the angels.

 

One among them.. an Archangel… had been sent by God to the earth, on a very crucial mission.

 

The name of the Archangel was Gabriel… whose name means God is my strength.

>> He was sent to a young girl named Mary.. whose name probably means cherished or beloved.

 
The heavens were waiting with eagerness as to what would be the outcome of that mission.

>> The Archangel, had approached the woman with much devotion and reverence

 

With deep piety, the Angel asked, “Would you be the Mother of the Child of God?”

 

Heaven had taken a massive decision…

>> A decision to seek the consent of a human person in the plan of salvation.

>> A decision to respect the gift of freedom and involve human beings in the design of redemption

 

The angels were waiting with eagerness what would be the answer…

>> Perhaps even nature was still for a moment as it awaited the reply…

 

With gentleness and serenity, the young girl replied, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. Be it done to me according to Your Will!”
And immediately, there were pleasant faces that lit up…

>> Nature also began to smile and brighten up further…

 

Mary…

… had said Yes to do the Will of God.

… had consented to be the Mother of His Beloved Son.

… had made a responsible use of her freedom and chosen for Love.

 

The script had begun… the journey had started…

>> The history of salvation had begun to take human shape!

 
This announcement of the Good News of the beginning of salvation history, with the encounter of Blessed Virgin Mary with Angel Gabriel, is the Feast of the Annunciation of the Lord.

 
This Feast of the Annunciation is a reminder to us on various counts…

 

1. Human Beings are to make a responsible use of the freedom, that is bestowed by God Almighty.

 

The first parents sinned in the Garden of Eden as a result of misusing the liberty.

 

They had a choice:

… to enjoy the holy presence of the Lord by being faithful and obedient…

… or to forfeit this glory by being disobedient.

 

They chose the one which made them lose their honour and splendour.

 

But Blessed Mary sets right this fault, by making a deliberate choice…in true freedom, for love and to express humankind’s desire to gel along with God’s Will, once again!

 

2. The Choice for God’s Will is an act of tremendous faith and hope.

When Mary said yes to the Will of God… though She was aware of the greatness of this call and the duty she was to undertake, all the implications of the future life, were still not clear to her.

 

Many things would get clear only when she begins living the Will of the Lord in Her life.

 

Yet, she took the bold step…towards responsibility, towards pain and suffering, towards sacrificing her comforts and personal wishes…. for the sake of the Lord. .. in faith and trust!

 

The Feast of the Annunciation is an invitation for us…

>> To grow deeper into embracing the Will of God in our lives.

>> To give consent to the inspirations of the Lord that comes constantly to us.

>> To be open to march forward in faith and hope, in our life of faith in the Lord.

 

The Lord is wishing to find a place in a willing heart, even today…

>> Just as Mary, our Loving Mother, who said Yes to the Will of the Lord, let us also, say Yes to God’s Will…

… and allow the Lord to find a place to be born, in our world today.

 
Happy Feast of the Annunciation.

>> Let us continue to hold on to our Blessed Mamma

>> Let us continue to seek to grow in the Love of Her Beloved Son.

 
God bless! Live Jesus!

A simple humorous story, known to many of us, goes thus…

 

A man, known for his constant habit to smoke cigarettes, came up to an old monk – a sage – and queried to him, “Holy sir, am I allowed to smoke, while I am praying?”

>> The monk was shocked and in much dismay answered, “Most certainly no, young man! How can you ever think of doing so?!”

 

A few moments later, the man came up again… seeking to justify his habit…and queried once again, “Holy sir, am I allowed to pray, when I am smoking?”

 

The monk, a bit absent-minded, gave a grin and beamed up to answer, “Most certainly, young man! That is such a noble thing to do!!”

 
Well…

>> When one seeks to justify something in life, one finds any ways and means to get it done!

>> When one wishes to stick to one’s own attitude and agenda, one will find any crooked paths to get them accomplished!

 
We are often, good in making compromises to let our wishes to slide through…

>> We are often, good in framing excuses to let our desires to be fulfilled…

>> We are often, good in devising justifications to let our inclinations be satisfied…

 
The Gospel of the Day, however, makes a strong demand in our Christian Life… to do just the opposite…

… avoid making compromises in loving

… avoid creating excuses to escape situations of loving

 

Instead…

… being on the forefront, always and at all moments, to render love

… taking the lead, at all places and situations, to live a life of love

 
The passage begins with the mention of a scribe, who had been watching his fellow-scribes in an argument with the Lord, and feeling impressed with Jesus, coming up to Him with a question…”Which commandment is the first of all” (Mk 12:28)

 
We are not too sure the motive and the aim of this scribe.

>> As per the versions of the same incident, in St Matthew (Mt 22:35)and St Luke (Lk 10:25), the person posed this question to Jesus, in order to “test him”.

The Markan version is however, silent on this aspect.

 
But whatever the intention, the scribe most certainly was reflecting a common query that was widespread among the teachers and scholars of the law:

>> Which was the greatest commandment or law?

 

God had issued the ten commandments to the people of Israel.

>> These laws were intended for the people of Israel to be “distinguished” as the nation of the Lord – chosen from among all other nations of the world.

 
These laws – simple and direct in nature – were aimed towards demanding a total commitment and loyalty from the part of the people , to the Lord.

 

However, over time, these uncomplicated laws by which the people of Israel were to live, began to be expanded and extended and expounded.

 

It resulted in 613 commandments or stipulations:

>> 365 (corresponding to the number of days in a year) of them were negative commandments, as in ” you shall not…”

>> And 248 (corresponding to the number of bones and major organs in the body, as per the Jewish understanding) of them were positive commandments, as in “you shall…”

 
When the Lord was asked to mention the First of all these commandments, He puts forward the basis and the foundation of all these various laws and stipulations and commandments:

>> ” You shall love the Lord your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength” (Mk 12: 30)

And ” You shall love your neighbour as yourself” (Mk 12: 31)

 

Note the insistence on the word “all”….

… “all” your heart… feelings, emotions, desires

… “all” your soul… will, choices, decisions

… “all” your mind… reason, knowledge, memory

… “all” your strength… talents, abilities, capacities

 
The Lord commands and demands a “total” and “complete” loving!

>> He does not permit compromises to let our wishes to slide through…

>> He does not allow framing excuses to let our desires to be fulfilled…

>> He does not consent devising justifications to let our inclinations be satisfied…

 

He demands an “absolute” and “unadulterated” love!

 
As Christians, we often…

… seek to find “loopholes” in laws of loving the Lord and our neighbour…

… try to spot “gaps” in commandments which ask to love the Lord and our neighbour…

>> Our selfishness often crops in…

>> Our personal desires often spoil it…

>> Our sinful tendencies often gain an upper hand…

 
But the insistence of the Lord is clear:

“Love Fully”

“Love Totally”

“Love Completely”

 

This is the ideal to which we, as Christians are called!

 

>> If not for this highest ideal, our life as a Christian would cease to have a uniqueness!

>> If not for this loftiest ideal, our life as a Christian would fail to be different from others!

 

Each of us as Christians are called “to be holy”… “to be set apart”… “to be different”

>> This holiness comes when we seek for the highest ideal…loving God totally and expressing this love wholly to our neighbour.

>> This setting apart comes to fruiting when we seek for the premier ideal…giving to God entirely and articulating this self-giving in humble service of others.

 

The call is indeed great and very lofty…

>> Are we going to make silly excuses to have our own ways fulfilled?

… or shall we take up the challenge, with the grace of the Lord, to aim for the highest ideal?

 
God bless! Live Jesus!

 One of the interesting sports that is played across many places and in many cultures is the “tug-of-war”.

 

The “Tug-of-war” is a sport that directly puts two or more teams against each other in a test of strength: teams pull on opposite ends of a rope, with the goal being to bring the rope a certain distance in one direction against the force of the opposing team’s pull.

 
The phrase “tug of war” originally meant “the decisive contest; the real struggle or tussle; a severe contest for supremacy”.

 

Such a “tug-of-war” is seen not just seen or played on the sports field… it is also often witnessed in life.

 

Our Christian especially witnesses this “tug-of-war”…

>> A constant struggle between the forces of evil and the power of goodness…

>> A relentless warfare between the coercion of sin and the strength of holiness…

 
The Gospel of the Day presents a “tug-of-war” between…

… Jesus and the Pharisees

… the Holy One and the evil forces

… the Kingdom of Heaven and the kingdom of Satan

 
The Lord came to the world to usher in the Kingdom of God.

>> Bringing to forefront the Kingdom of Power and Holiness, the Lord casts out a demon from a person who is dumb. (Lk 11: 14)

 

This mighty action of healing and deliverance had a tremendous effect…

… the dumb man spoke

… and the people marvelled.

 

But, this wondrous act of power and authority also triggered a volley of struggles…

… a struggle of words between the Pharisees and Jesus

… a teaching on the struggle between the Kingdom of God and the forces of evil

 
The Lord lashes out in authority and conviction, on being accused of siding with evil powers to cast out demons: “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste and a divided household falls” ( Lk 11: 17)

 

>> Jesus makes it clear that one cannot be siding with negative forces in order to perform deeds of goodness and salvation!

>> Jesus makes it clear that one cannot be on the side of evil and sin and yet be authentic and genuine in doing works of true deliverance and righteousness!

 
This brings us to an important dimension that needs our honest and critical consideration:

 >> Am I a person truly on the side of God when I engage in works and ministries of the Lord…

… but still continuing to be on the side of the Evil One by living a life of sin?

 

>> Am I a person imbued with the Spirit of the Holy Lord in professing to be a Christian…

… or am I living a dual-life by failing to give up immoral tendencies and obliging the evil spirit?

 

>> Am I a person who may be performing a lot of good works in the name of God…

… but failing to have an intimate relationship and union with the God of all power and glory?

 

 

Venerable Fr Peter Marie Mermier, the founder of the Congregation of the Missionaries of St Francis de Sales puts it beautifully:

 “The ministry of a priest without prayer, is a barren ministry, without any effect, even harmful; it is a ministry of death!

>> Instead of enlightening, it blinds; instead of healing, it kills!
But the ministry of the one who prays, is a ministry of life!”

 
>> Christian life is not to be just defined by external works of piety and works…

…but is to be a reflection of the inner intimacy and relation with the Lord.

 

>> Christian Life is not to be merely characterised by many deeds of charity and devotion…

… but is to be a manifestation of one’s true faith and closeness to the Divine Master.

 

>> A true inner disposition and authority is a must to be effective and credible in our life.

>> A proper grounding is an absolute requirement to be engaged in the works of the Lord.

 
I may find myself often in the “tug-of-war” of faith and unbelief…

>> But am I clear in taking the side of the Lord and Him alone?

 

I may find myself often in the “tug-of-war” of actions of goodness and temptations of the evil…

>> But am I convinced of taking the side of the Kingdom of God alone?

 
Christian Life will be a constant “tug-of-war”

… between the evil and good

… between the Devil and Jesus

… between the Kingdom of God and the powers of wickedness

>> Which side are we on?
 

God Bless! Live Jesus!

The Hebrew alphabet contains twenty-two letters.

>> Every letter in the Hebrew alphabet caries many special meanings.

 

The Tenth Letter of the Hebrew Alphabet is called as “Yod”.

>> It is represented as ‘

>> It has the sound of “Y” as in “Yes”.

 

There is an interesting Jewish legend about this letter “yod”.

 

In the book of Genesis 17:15, we read that God changed the name of Sarai to Sarah.

>> In Hebrew language, this was done by removing the ‘ (yod) from the end of her name.

 

However, the letter “Yod”, created a stir in heaven for having been dropped from Sarai’s name

>> It was continually fluttering around the throne of God, in restlessness!

 

So God decided to calm the letter “yod” by putting it at the beginning of Hoshea’s name.

>> This changed Hoshea to Joshua as we read in the book of Numbers 13:16.

 

(Interestingly, Joshua is the also the root word of Jehoshoa, from where the name “Jesus” comes)

 

 

But why are we discussing so much about this letter “Yod” in today’s reflection?

 

Jesus mentions about it, in today’s Gospel…

Jesus says, ” Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the SMALLEST LETTER or the SMALLEST PART OF THE LETTER will pass from the Law, until all things have taken place. ” (Mt 5: 18)

 

The SMALLEST LETTER refers to Hebrew letter “Yod”

>> It is the smallest letter of the Hebrew Alphabet.

 

The SMALLEST PART OF THE LETTER refers to the “thorn of the Yod”

>> It is just a small curve at the top of the letter, a light decoration on the letter “Yod”

 

 

Why was Jesus being so specific and particular in speaking about the Law?

>> What was Jesus meaning, by referring to the “tiniest” elements of the alphabet?

 

 

Jesus refers to the prime sanctity of God’s Word to His People.

>> This Word had now taken flesh (Jn 1: 14)

>> Jesus, the Word Incarnate, came to bring the Law to its fulfilment…not to undermine them.

>> Jesus, the Law personified, came to bring it to its perfection…not to do away with it.

 

While the Old Law could only show the mistake of the person…

…Jesus, the New Law would grant forgiveness and grace to the one who atones!

 

While the Old Law could only make the person to realise one’s faults…

…Jesus, the New Law would confer life and salvation to the one who repents!

 

 

When we consider the Gospel of St Matthew, we can consider the shift in emphasis:

Stage 1: In the initial part of the Gospel

>> Jesus says, “UNTIL HEAVEN AND EARTH PASS AWAY, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of the letter will pass from the LAW, until all things have taken place” (Mt 5: 18)

 

Stage 2: At the end of the Gospel

>> Jesus says, ” HEAVEN AND EARTH WILL PASS AWAY, but MY WORDS will not pass away” (Mt 24: 35)

 

There is a progressive shift in emphasis…

… from the LAW to the WORDS OF JESUS.

>> He is the perfection and the fulfilment of the Law!

 

This is the Divine Process of the unfolding of the plan of God’s Salvation for the world…

… finding its fulfilment and perfection in Jesus!

 

 

But this was not at the expense of the Old Law!

>> The Old Law is to be read, understood and practised, in the light of the New!

>> The New Law casts its illumining light on the Old, revealing life-giving messages!

 

As the classical saying goes:

” The New Testament is in the Old, concealed; the Old Testament is in the New, revealed”

 

 

What is the message for us, in this reflection?

>> The Great Power in the Promises of God in our life!

 

The Lord assures us, that none of His Promises will go unfulfilled in our life!

>> He guarantees that, He will bring His Word of Salvation to fulfilment in our life!

 

What is needed however…

… Our openness to trust and believe in His Word!

… Our willingness to make necessary changes, in the light of His Word!

… Our zeal and passion to make others to come to life, by sharing His Word!

 

The Lord assures us, with much emphasis:

“… GIVE HEED to the statutes and ordinances which I teach you, and do them; that YOU MAY LIVE…

KEEP THEM and DO THEM; for that will be YOUR WISDOM and YOUR UNDERSTANDING” ( Dt 4: 1, 6)

 

May we not be afraid to seek perfection in obeying the Law of the Lord and keeping His commandments…

 

>> Let us take courage to the fact that the Lord is with us, as a Loving Parent, gently encouraging us and patiently cheering us…

… to listen and obey, to even the “smallest” and the “tiniest” commands of His Holy Will!

 

God Bless! Live Jesus!

The March 9, 2015 issue of the New York Magazine reports an interesting article on “Forgiveness”.

 

According to this article, the animal kingdom has been the subject of studying the patterns of forgiveness and reconciliation for many scientists.

 

 

Much of the research has involved gorillas and chimps.

 

 

It is found that they often enter into fights with each other…

… only later to embrace and continue their companionship.

 

Similar traits of behaviour has also been noticed among goats and hyenas.

 

 

However, the researchers have found that one species of animal doesn’t seem to forgive (atleast externally)

 

 

They are domestic cats.

 

 

(Well, there might be many of us, who will out rightly reject this theory, especially those who really like cats.

 

But let’s just take this as a ‘research finding’ and not the ultimate truth.

 

>> Researches findings, of course, are subject to exceptions and limited by conditions and interpretations!)

 

 

Human beings too have our moments of grappling with the aspect of ‘forgiveness’.

 

>> For some people, it’s easy to forgive…

 

>> But some others struggle hard in serving out pardon…

 

 

The Gospel of the Day is a teaching by Jesus on this necessary virtue of “forgiveness”.

 

 

To the query of Peter:

“Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him” ( Mt 18: 21), Jesus illustrates His reply with the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant.

 

 

One of the principles in this virtue of forgiveness is the avoiding of a “mathematical accounting policy” in granting pardon.

 

 

As human beings, there is sometimes an avoidable tendency in us to “keep counts” in our relationships…

 

We make a count or keep a rough numerical impression…

… of how many times a person has done good to me

… of when was the last time a person behaved badly with me

… of how many times a person has hurt or caused harm to me

… of how often has a person offended me or spoken ill about me

 

 

Relationships…

… sometimes get reduced to mere mathematical entities

… sometimes find themselves entangled in the web of calculative units

 

 

It’s in such situations that “forgiving” the one who has erred against us becomes a ‘calculative’ affair.

 

 

Thus, we find that Peter in the Gospel asks Jesus, “How often must I forgive the brother who has sinned against me?”

 

 

We maintain, sometimes, a sort of an imaginary “fault-account” book.

 

And our thought-process takes the following pattern:

 

>> “This person, on so and so date, committed this mistake

And on so and so date, I had forgiven him”

 

>> “This person, on this particular day, had behaved in a very indifferent manner to me

And a particular number of days later, I had extended my pardon”

 

 

But Jesus today warns us to stop looking at life and relationships from a “mathematical” or “calculative” perspective.

 

 

What is the basis for Jesus to say this?

 

It is simply the fact that all of us – without any exception – are the beneficiaries of the mercy and forgiveness of God.

 

� God abandons all mathematical calculations in extending His forgiveness to us

 

� God lets go of every measure of computation in allowing us to receive His mercy

 

 

 

Rom 3:23 says that “all have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God. They are justified freely by His grace thorough the redemption in Jesus Christ”

 

 

>> Each of us finds ourselves sinking in the “boats of sinfulness and guilt”

But it is the Mercy of God that still keeps us ashore.

 

>> Each of us pass through the “deserts of shame and culpability”

But it is the Forgiveness of God that nourishes us with the oasis of blessings

 

 

This “free and underserved” reception of the Forgiveness of God places an undeniable responsibility on us to extend His pardon to all.

 

 

 

The prayer “Our Father” gets recited so often by us, during the day or in our prayers.

 

 

But do we realise that it contains a clause, whose condition, if not fulfilled, brings upon a self-inflicted consequence.

 

 

We pray, “Forgive us our sins.. as we forgive those who sin against us”

 

Even though the mercy of God is always made available for us, it can be truly received only if one is willing, generous and humble enough to “forgive” the faults of others.

 

 

 

Forgiveness is a powerful weapon that, of course won’t change the past, but will sure transform the future.

 

 

 

Even the animal kingdom in general, displays traits of forgiveness and reconciliation.

>> How much more are we, as human beings, who are created in the image and likeness of God, bound to forgive one another?

 

 

 

Perhaps, some of us have a feline flavour in us to “avoiding granting pardon” and “nurturing the grudge”

 

But can we let go of our “pride and arrogance” and “put on Christ” (Rom 13: 14) to become that “flower which perfumes the hand that crushes it”

 

 

May the Gospel of the Day strongly cause us to take realistic resolutions to cherish our relationships with the freedom it deserves and to generously sow the seeds of forgiveness and mercy in the hardened fields of broken and damaged!

 

 

God Bless! Live Jesus!

St Pope John XXIII is one of the most popular Pope of the 20th century. 

>> He was the one who convoked the historical Vatican Council II, which paved the way for “throwing open the windows of the church, to let the fresh air of the Spirit blow through.”

When he was chosen as pope, John XXIII announced that his motto would be “obedientia et pax,” which is Latin for “obedience and peace.”

>> This was because St Joseph was his favourite saint.
The new Pope sought to follow the path of St Joseph, a model of obedience, because he believed…

… that “obedience to God, to His commandments, His will, and His inspirations, is the highway to true interior peace.”

Today we celebrate the Feast of this Great Model of Obedience – St Joseph.
Traditionally, the feast is celebrated on March 19th.

>> But when it falls on a Sunday, the feast is either anticipated or postponed by one day

(It depends on each Regional Episcopal Conference)

What lessons does St Joseph, the Patron of the Universal Church teach us?

1. St Joseph was ever attentive and obedient to the voice of God

One of the standout qualities that we observe in St Joseph is his prompt obedience to the voice of God
He listened to the Angel…

… in moments of dilemma, and obediently took Mary as his wife (Mt 1:20-24)

… in moments of danger, and obediently took the Mother and Child to Egypt (Mt 1:13-15)

… in moments of doubt, and obediently settled the Holy Family in Nazareth (Mt 1: 20, 22b)
St Joseph was able to let go of his personal choices and his desired comforts and give top priority to do what God wanted him to do.

St Joseph teaches us that “holiness consists in doing what God wants – when and where He wants.”

2. St Joseph teaches us the love for Jesus and Mary

Ever since he recognised the plan of God in his life, St Joseph displayed unflinched commitment and love to Jesus and Mary
He had many occasions of choices to let go of them…

… to leave Mary when she was found with Child, even before the marriage

… to leave his pregnant Wife when they found no place in the inn

… to abandon the Child and Mother when a life-danger against them was sensed
But, nothing could deter St Joseph from leaving or abandoning them. He knew that in God’s plan, They belonged to him, and he would safeguard them – treasuring Them close to his heart.

>> Our faith has blessed us with love for Jesus and Mother Mary.
St Joseph invites us to also have “Jesus and Mary close to our hearts.”

3. Humility is a virtue radiated by St Joseph

St Joseph had to face many moments of humiliation, disappointment and uncertainty.

>> But in his humility, he remained true to God in all those moments
Life sometimes drags us into situations of sadness and even shame.

>> Many times we let go of God’s Hands, saying that “He is not fair” or “He doesn’t understand me”!
St Joseph teaches us that “there is much value in humbling oneself, before the mighty power of the Almighty.”

4. St Joseph was content to be the “silent worker” in the awesome work of Salvation

St Joseph, was honoured to be sharing the most intimate physical presence with the two holiest persons of this world – Jesus, the Son of God and Mary, the Immaculate Mother.

>> And yet, he contented himself to be the “silent hard-worker”.
He is a mighty challenge to our world, where seeking for honour, position, fame and reputation become cheap motives, in doing works of charity or even, sadly to say, in ministries of the Church.

 

St Joseph exhorts us to become “a yeast, that works silent wonders, in the history of salvation.”

5. St Joseph is the model of chastity

Mary is the New Ark of Covenant, bearing Divinity in Her.

>> St Jerome, says that St Joseph, the son of David, shared his royal ancestor’s fear of coming into overly close contact with the Tabernacle of the Lord: “Who am I,” asked King David, “that the Ark of the Lord should come to me?” (2 Sam. 6:9)
That is why, St Joseph is often depicted with a White Lily in his hand, to depict purity and holiness
Chastity is the virtue that moderates the desire for sexual pleasure according to the principles of faith and right reason.

>> In married people, chastity moderates the desire in conformity with their state of life

>> In unmarried people who wish to marry, the desire is moderated by abstention or unless they get married

>> In those who resolve not to marry, the desire is sacrificed entirely.
St Joseph teaches us to “preserve the purity of life, and thus be a witness of the Kingdom of God.”

6. St Joseph was prefigured in Joseph of the Old Testament

In the Old Testament, we read Joseph, the son of Jacob, had stored up, in Egypt, grain to provide bread for the preservation of the People of Israel (Gen 42)

>> In the New Testament, St Joseph, safeguarded, in Egypt, the Bread of Life, for the salvation of the People of God. (Mt 1: 14)
St Joseph shows us the way “to be a protector and safeguard to the needy and the distressed.”

7. St Joseph is a model leader

>> True to being a Father, St Joseph displayed many leadership qualities, which needs to be imitated by us, in our practical life

>> Defender of the community/team members: St Joseph preserved Mother Mary from idle talks of gossip and malicious speculation

>> Protection of those in care: St Joseph did not give up in the face of hostile situations, when it was time for the Birth of the Child

>> Needful and prompt action: St Joseph acted quickly and promptly, in response to situations of danger and of need.
St Joseph teaches us “to shoulder up responsibilities, depending solely on the Power and Grace of God”

The solemnity of St Joseph comes us a reminder to us to learn many things from the life of this Great Saint.

>> Let us constantly seek the help of St Joseph, and recognize his loving and fatherly protection in our lives. 

May St Joseph, the model of obedience, help us to choose “obedientia et pax – obedience and peace” as a motto for our lives, so that we may realise…

… … that “obedience to God, to His commandments, His will, and His inspirations, is the highway to true interior peace.”

Happy Feast of St Joseph!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

 One of the very simplest moral stories that all of us have heard is that of the thirsty crow.

 

One warm day, a thirsty crow flew all over, looking for water.

>> For a long time, he could not find any.

He felt weak, and lost all hope.

 
Suddenly, he saw a water jug below the tree. He flew straight down, and was delighted to see some water inside it!

 

Sadly, he found that the neck of the jug was too narrow and it was impossible for him to access the water.

>> He tried to push the jug to tilt, for the water to flow out but the jug was too heavy.

 

The crow thought hard for a while.

>> Then looking around it, he saw some pebbles and an idea struck him.

 

He started picking up the pebbles one by one, dropping each into the jug.

> As more and more pebbles filled the jug, the water level kept rising.

 

Soon it was high enough for the crow to drink.

>> His plan had worked.. His thirst had been quenched!  

      
The moral of this story is to “Think and work hard, you may find solution to any problem”.

 
But when we consider this story from another perspective, we notice that it also shows the deep craving inside every creature, to satisfy one’s thirst.

>> One is restless till this thirst is fulfilled…

>> One is impatient till this craving is satisfied…

 

This agitated thirst is also innate in every human being…

… a thirst for the Divine, for the Transcendental.

 

And this thirst, compels humans…

… to search… to seek…

… for the source of satisfaction

… for the fountain of fulfilment

 

But how wonderful it would be to be knowing and to be convinced that this “thirst” can find its fulfilment only in God.

>> And how wonderful it would be, if all human beings could be properly guided and correctly directed on this path of finding true contentment.

 
The Gospel of the Day presents the beautiful incident of a “thirsty” Jesus who quenches a “thirsty” woman

>> The “thirsty” woman – Samaritan woman – expresses her desire for water…

… “Sir, give me this water, so that I may not be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water” (Jn 4: 15)
>> The “thirsty” Jesus promises fulfilment and contentment to all those who come to Him and believe in Him – the source of Divine Waters of Life….

… “Whoever drinks the water I shall give, will never thirst; the water I shall give, will become in him, a spring of water welling up to eternal life (Jn 4:14)
 

The Samaritan Woman in her encounter with the Lord is led, from a lower level to the higher level…

1. Talks on material concerns

(>> “How can you, a Jew, ask a Samaritan woman for a drink?”)

(>> “Sir, you don’t even have a bucket…where then can you get this living water?”)

(>> “Sir, give me this water that I may not be thirsty or have to keep coming to draw water”)

2. Talks on spiritual matters

(>> “Our ancestors worshipped on this mountain, but you people say that the place to worship is Jerusalem”)
3. Talks that would lead to a complete life transformation.

(>> “Go call your husband and come back”)

(>> “I am He, the One Who is speaking to you”)
This is the story of our experience with religion and spirituality.

>> Many times, many of us perform religious practices…

… only for material concerns

>> Some of us, practise faith and spirituality…

… to merely engage in spiritual talks and reflections
But the higher level is the one…

… which leads to life transformation.

The Samaritan woman was led by Jesus, in having this life transformation…

… and she would go on to lead an entire town to believe in Jesus (Jn 4: 39-42)

 This entire incident is built around that simple premise: A desire

… a desire that is expressed in the form of “thirst”

The desire of the Samaritan woman – to receive water, so that one may not be thirsty again – is the innate desire and longing within each human being…

In the Old Testament, the people of Israel had murmured and complained against God, in the wilderness for the struggle in food and water…

… “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children, and our cattle with thirst?” (Ex 17:3)

>> They longed to have their thirst quenched and their desires fulfilled…
 

Each of us, deep within, are thirsty and hungry….wanting to drink water that will quench the longing, forever.

 

It is this search that makes people to go out and seek the various sources of satisfaction.

 
>> Some feel to have found this fulfilment…

… through worldly pleasures and bad habits like smoking, drinking, obsession with sex, drugs etc, which only lead to momentary external satisfaction and short-lived bursts of thrill.

 

>> Some claim to have found this fulfilment…

… in the various philosophies, new-age patterns of life and naturalistic means of spirituality etc, which may have traces of truth, but fail to provide authentic and fullness of life.

 

But Jesus, today, boldly and unambiguously declares that its only in HIM that true and complete fulfilment of life can be found: 

… “Whoever drinks the water I shall give, will never thirst; the water I shall give, will become in him, a spring of water welling up to eternal life (Jn 4:14)
Elsewhere Jesus will also tell…

… “He who comes to me shall not hunger and he who believes in me shall never thirst” (Jn 6: 35)

 

Are we convinced of this fact, that its only in Jesus, that I can achieve true and complete happiness…?

 
>> Like the Samaritan Woman (Jn 4: 16-18)…

 >> Like the Prodigal Son (Lk 15: 11-32)…

>> Like St Paul (Acts 8:3)…

… we may have strayed away from this path of truth, to seek our own means and ways to find happiness and satisfaction.

 
But the Lord, today, calls us back to Him..

… to His Heart

… to His Church

… to His Eucharist

>> To experience Him fully.

 

>> To those who have strayed…

… the call of the Gospel, is to come back to the paths of truth

>> To those who are holding on to Him…

… the call of the Gospel, is to deepen the conviction, that in Him alone, can the hunger of my soul and the thirst of my heart be fulfilled.

 

>> To those who have strayed…

… the Lord invites to build the virtues of humility, docility and openness to the Spirit.

>> To those who are holding on to Him…

… the Lord invites to build the virtues of patience, firm trust and a passionate longing.

 
May Jesus, the Source of Life-giving Waters, always be the source and summit of our Christian living.

 

God Bless! Live Jesus!