“Making right choices, that will help us to preserve and enhance, the greatness of ‘the film of our life!'”

(Based on Lev 19:1-2, 11-18 and Mt 25:31-46 – Monday of the 1st Week of Lent)

Ward Kimball was an animator for the Walt Disney Studios in the 1930’s.

He was on the team for the first full-length animated feature by the Disney studio, “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.” (Year: 1937)

He spent 240 days…
… working on a single four-and-a-half-minute scene.

In that scene, the dwarfs were cooking a meal for Snow White, and he covered every detail.

When the time came, to review the film, Walt Disney personally reviewed the scene…
… and commented: “That scene is hilarious. It’s terrific.”

Then, he added, “But, I think it interrupts the flow of the movie…
… so we need to cut it out!”

So off went that scene – 240 days of immense work, scrapped…
… in order to preserve and enhance, the greatness of the film!

A hard choice indeed…
… but a choice that would be proved right, later, when the film was released and became a runaway success!

When “the film of our lives” is shown…
… will it be as great as it ought to be?

A lot will depend on the multitude of “choices” that we make!

The choices that we make, make or break our life!

The Gospel of the Day presents the Son of Man seated in His majestic and awesome glory…
… and all the nations awaiting His judgement, based on the choices that they have made in life!

The sheep, placed on the right side, are the chosen ones to enjoy the bliss of the Kingdom.

The goats, placed on the left side, are the condemned ones to suffer the fire of punishment.

An important aspect to be observed in this passage of the scene of the Last Judgement is the manner in which the Lord looks at human actions…

The Bible says, “Humans look on the outward appearance but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Sam 16:7)

One of the common question that was posed to both the groups – the sheep and the goats – was: “When did we know…”

The sheep were taken by surprise, at the occasions which the Lord found them doing good…

They remained unaware of those situations, though they did the good in God’s sight.

The goats are taken by surprise, at the occasions, which the Lord found them missing to do good…

They remained unaware of those situations, where they failed to do the good in God’s sight.

We may not realise the occasions of doing good…

We may not realise the occasions of having missed doing good…

We may externally engage in many good works…
… but it may fail to find approval in the Lord’s sight.

This calls for cultivation of an inner disposition to do good

From the abundance of goodness within, good actions flow!

It’s this inner disposition to do good, that will prompt us to make the right choices in life…
… choices that will help us to preserve goodness
… choices that will help us to nurture greatness

Let this season of Lent be a time of forming a character of goodness and kindness.

The “film of our life” is continually being recorded!

We are called to make it great, as it ought to be

Let’s therefore make right choices (even if they are tough!)…
… that will help us to preserve and enhance, the greatness of “the film of our life!”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
MAN’S VOCATION LIFE IN THE SPIRIT – GOD’S SALVATION: LAW AND GRACE – The Ten Commandments – The Third Commandment

God’s action is the model for human action.
If God “rested and was refreshed” on the seventh day, man too ought to “rest”…

… and should let others, especially the poor, “be refreshed.” (CCC # 2172)

“Being responsible, especially with the use of our words, to avoid many ignominies of life!”

(Based on Isa 58:9b-14 and Lk 5:27-32 – Saturday after Ash Wednesday)

A young man was browsing through a huge library.

As he was admiring the various titles of the publications, he came across a small pamphlet on which were written the following words:

“‘I am responsible.’

I am responsible for a number of haunting experiences in the world…
… pillows being wet by sobs
… noble hearts broken in the silence of a dark corner
… cruel misunderstandings that make life look dark and dirty
… gentle and sensitive natures, seared and smeared with stains
… old-time friends splitting apart and turning their backs on one another
… and many many more!

Use me, therefore, responsibly…
… Else, I would continue to be responsible for many such ignominies!

Yes, ‘I am responsible!’

Wanna know my name?

I am the Tongue!

And all these my works are called: The crimes of the tongue!”

Yes, the “crimes of the tongue” are a major source of a number of haunting experiences in the world.

Are we also promoters of such “crimes of the tongue?”

The Gospel of the Day is an account of Jesus, the Great Physician of Galilee, in His rounds of healing sick patients…
… and encountering some critical persons who reveal a dark side of human life by their “slanderous and harsh” tongues and committing the “crimes of the tongue!”

Levi, the tax-collector heeds the call of the Lord “to follow Him” ( Lk 5:27)

In his great happiness of being accepted and the joy of following his new-found love, Levi hosts a grand party.

This feast is a wonderful time of sharing for various other tax collectors as well.

But this time of joy and happiness, becomes an occasion for some people to “wag their tongues” in negative talks and remarks!

As the saying goes, where two or three are gathered with a vicious and malicious mind…
… there is the assassination of the character of few people!

The Pharisees and their scribes, seeing Jesus sharing the joyful companionship of the tax collectors, began to murmur and grumble: “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” (Lk 5: 30)

Jesus clarifies His mission of coming to the world to heal the sick and to cure the ill. (Lk 5:31)

He is the Great Physician of Galilee.

This Great Physician, clearly examines the “tongues” of the Pharisees and the Scribes and identifies their sickness…

Their tongues spoke ill of people who were being saved.
Their tongues criticized the people who were given a redeeming status in the society.
Their tongues lashed at out the Lord who came to bring acceptance and love to the outcast.

The words that their tongues uttered …
… revealed the low-state of their life.
… revealed the negativity that was widespread in their life.

The Great Physician today wishes to examine our tongues: our words and our speech.

Are we also persons whose tongues lash out in harsh criticism and rash judgements?
Are we also persons whose tongues hit out in negative comments and unkind criticism?

The Great Physician is here to heal us…

Our tongues easily reveal our sicknesses to Him.

St Francis de Sales, mentions about this aspect, in his book, ‘Introduction to the Devout Life’…

“Doctors get a good knowledge of the health or the illness of a man by examining his tongue.

Our words are signs of the qualities of our souls”

The state of the tongue reveals the state of the health of the person.

The condition of the tongue gives an indication of the well-being or illness in a person.

Similarly, the words, which the tongue speaks, reveal the state of our inner life.

Our speech, which the tongue utters, reveal the condition of our spiritual life.

This time of the Lent is a great opportunity for us, to improve in this area of our life.

The Great Physician has His prescriptions ready…

His Holy Word, which can sweeten our tongues with patience and charity.
His Holy Eucharist, which can cleanse our tongues in sanctity and holiness.

Let us use the tongue, responsibly…
… else, it would continue to be responsible for many ignominies of life!

Being healed and cleansed by the Divine Touch of the Great Physician…
… let us avoid “crimes of the tongue!”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
MAN’S VOCATION LIFE IN THE SPIRIT – GOD’S SALVATION: LAW AND GRACE – The Ten Commandments – The Third Commandment

Scripture also reveals in the Lord’s day a memorial of Israel’s liberation from bondage in Egypt:
“You shall remember that you were a servant in the land of Egypt…
… and the LORD your God brought you out thence with mighty hand and outstretched arm

… therefore the LORD your God commanded you to keep the sabbath day. (CCC # 2170)

“Realizing that ‘Jesus is knocking at the door of my heart!'”

(Based on Isa 58:1-9a and Mt 9:14-15 – Friday after Ash Wednesday)

A nurse in a pediatric ward, before listening to the little ones’ chests…
… would plug the stethoscope into their ears
… and let them listen to their own heart.

Their eyes would always light up with amazement…
… but she never got a response equal to four-year-old David’s comment.

Gently she tucked the stethoscope into his ears…
… and placed the disk over his heart.

“Listen,” she said, “What do you suppose that is?”

He drew his eyebrows together in a puzzled line…
… and looked up as if lost in the mystery of the strange tap
… tap, tapping deep in his chest.

Then his face broke out in a wondrous grin and he asked: “Is that Jesus knocking?”

Lent is the beautiful season when we are called to turn inward and realise: “Is Jesus knocking at the door of my heart?”

The readings of the day are strong reminders – heavy knockings on the door of our hearts…
… Jesus, our Blessed Lord and Prophet Isaiah exhorting us to realise the true meaning of fasting!

The disciples of John the Baptist came to Jesus with an important query: “Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not?” (Lk 9:14)

The Mosaic Law commanded only one day of fasting – the day of Atonement.

The Book of Leviticus prescribes this fast: “On the tenth day of the seventh month…you are to enter into a solemn fast and refrain from all work, because on this day atonement will be made for you, to cleanse you.

In the presence of God, you will be made clean of all your sins. It is a Sabbath of all Sabbaths.
You must fast. It is a perpetual ordinance” (Lev 16:29-31)

But it is to be noted that the Pharisees and apparently, the disciples of John, had also adopted another tradition…
… that of fasting two days a week.

This was considered to be a very pious act among this group.

In Luke 18:12, we find the Pharisee who boasts of fasting twice a week, as he makes his prayer, in contempt of the tax collector.

It is to this fasting, that the disciples of John refer to when they counter Jesus with the question: “Why don’t your disciples fast?”

But Jesus opens their eyes to see the stagnancy in their thought and practice.

The practice of fasting was for the atonement of one’s sins.

It was a time of mourning in seeking the restoration of Israel…
… a time of waiting for the Messiah who would redeem their nation.

But somehow for many of the people, these basic aspects of fasting were forgotten and apparently, lost.

Very often, their practice of fasting had grown stagnant….
… and they failed to realise the reason and meaning of their fasting.

When one loses sight of the original purpose, actions become mere lifeless customs.

A custom, devoid of its purpose and real intention is dead and decayed!
A tradition, performed without knowing its’ true meaning is an obsolete ritual!

Does this not happen to us as well?

The Season of Lent calls for us to make extra sacrifices, especially through the form of fasting.

What is my attitude to fasting and penance?

Am I ready to undertake the powerful style of fasting as presented in Isaiah 58: 6-7: A fasting…
… to lose the bonds of wickedness and to undo the thongs of the yoke
… to let the oppressed go free and to share the bread with the hungry
… to bring the homeless poor into the house and to cover the naked

The Lord declares Himself as the Bridegroom, Who has come to restore the glory of Israel. (Mt 9:15)

The time of mourning is over.
The period of fasting is no longer.

It’s time to rejoice with Him, Who is the Bridegroom and Saviour – Jesus!

Our fasting, penances and sacrifices are to be joyful…
… because we have Jesus, the bridegroom with us.

His presence with us, is a matter of joy
… yet we fast and do penance, to share joyfully in His suffering and pain.

His presence with us, is an occasion of rejoicing
… yet we make sacrifices and discipline ourselves, to find deeper meaning in His Cross.

Lent is the season to “slow down and turn inward!”

Do we realise that “Jesus is knocking at the door of my heart?”

Let us, be willing, to “listen to the voice of the Lord, inviting us, closer to His Heart”…
… and open our eyes to the real purpose of our fasting and acts of penance.

“Knock… knock…
… Are you going to fast on Friday?”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
MAN’S VOCATION LIFE IN THE SPIRIT – GOD’S SALVATION: LAW AND GRACE – The Ten Commandments – The Third Commandment

In speaking of the sabbath Scripture recalls creation:
“For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day…

… therefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and hallowed it!” (CCC # 2169)