“Daring to move out of the ‘zone of limitation’ and knowing that God is always with us – caring, loving and providing!”

(Based on Gen 3:9-24 and Mk 8:1-10 – Saturday of the 5th Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1)

Two Christian friends were talking about their life experiences.

One of them said: “It is so very hard to trust God and to realize that His Hand is still leading us in the dark phases of our life!”

“Well”, said the other, ” if you cannot trust a person out of sight, then he/she is not worth much!
>> And if you cannot trust God in the dark, it simply shows… you don’t trust Him at all!”


That’s quite a point, isn’t it?

We find our Christian Faith often on an easy course, when things go on well.
>> But when difficulties come our way, our “trust” level is questioned.

It is in these “questionable moments of trust” that we tend to enter into a “zone of limitation”
>> We tend to think in a limited and restricted manner.
>> We tend to limit ourselves to our inadequacies and narrowness.


But God loves to challenge us to move beyond such boundaries and borders!

Yes, human beings tend to think in a limited fashion, but God loves to expand our possibilities.
>> Human beings tend to get bogged down by boundaries, but God loves to throw open our horizons.


The Gospel of the day is a clear illustration of this expansion of human horizons and possibilities, through the miracle of the feeding of loaves…
… and thus trusting Him deeper!


Jesus is with His disciples and huge crowd.
>> They are once again in a situation of having a want of feeding this huge multitude.


It’s interesting to highlight the patterns in the attitudes of Jesus and the disciples.

Jesus sees the hungry crowd and His heart moved in compassion…
>> The disciples saw the hungry crowd and probably their minds were moved in tension!

Jesus expresses His concern and care to feed the hungry crowd…
>> The disciples express their frustration and urgency to send the crowd away at the earliest!

Jesus foresaw the possibility of immense fulfilment and satisfaction in the deserted area…
>> The disciples got stuck with seeing only barrenness and emptiness in the deserted area!

Jesus moved in action, to enquire about the possibilities of feeding the people…
>> The disciples groaned in inaction at the plight of having to feed the people!


The disciples concluded impossibility by their mathematical calculations…
>> Jesus concluded possibility by His Divine calculations!

The disciples saw only the desert…
>> Jesus looked beyond – to find an oasis in the desert!


How often are we too like the disciples…
… limited in our thinking
… restricted by our inabilities
… stuck by our mental calculations

But Jesus invites us, like He did to His disciples – to look beyond…
… to look at Him who can shatter every obstacle and barrier!
… to look to Him who can expand every horizon and possibility!
… to look to Him who can turn deserts into pools and hills into highways!


Yes, we will have moments in our life which makes us to complain:
“It is so very hard to trust God and to realize that His Hand is still leading us in the dark phases of our life!”

But we are reminded by the Gospel of the Day:
“If you cannot trust a person out of sight, then he/she is not worth much!
>> And if you cannot trust God in the dark, it simply shows… you don’t trust Him at all!”


Let us dare to move out of the “zone of limitation” and trust the Lord…
… knowing He is always with us – caring, loving and providing!


God Bless! Live Jesus!

—————————–
📖 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 Second Commandment
>> Oaths which misuse God’s Name, though without the intention of blasphemy, show lack of respect for the Lord.
>> The second commandment also forbids magical use of the Divine Name. (CCC # 2149)
—————————–

“Building our lives into a beautiful edifice of His Love and Mercy!”

(Based on Gen 3:1-8 and Mk 7:31-37 – Friday of the 5th Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1)

A group of people were standing outside a very large and ornate Cathedral…
… admiring and marvelling at the fine craftsmanship
… the detail work
… the care and the love that seemed evident in building such a fine place to worship a loving God.

One of the men turned to the other in the group and asked:
“Why can’t we build so today?

Why can’t we build with such pride, such craftsmanship today?
After all, we now have better technology than back then!”

The other man gazing at the glorious edifice, replied: “Well…

They had convictions; we, mostly, only opinions!
They had passion; we, mostly, only fashion!”

How is our life of faith?

Enthusiastic… with convictions and passions?
Or monotonous… with only opinions and fashions?

The Gospel of the day presents the fruits of a convinced and passionate follower of Christ…
… with an invitation, to allow the Lord to open our hearts and lives to His Saving Love!

Jesus is back to the district of the Decapolis.

It was in this region that Jesus had healed the man who was possessed by a legion of demons (Mk 5: 1-20)

When Jesus had performed the miracle then, the people had requested Him to leave the place.
“Then they began to beg Jesus to leave their district” (Mk 5:17)

But today’s Gospel gives a contrasting picture of this people who had opposed Jesus.

The Gospel says that the people of this area, were begging Jesus to lay His hands on the deaf and dumb person! (Mk 7:32)

What had caused this dramatic change?

The people who were begging Jesus to leave their place…
… were now begging Jesus to perform a miracle!

Probably, the great witness of the man who was delivered from the legion of demons had caused about this transformation!

We hear at the end of that incident…
“And as he was getting into the boat, the man… begged Jesus that he might be with Him.

But He refused, and said to him, ‘Go home to your friends, and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how He has had mercy on you.’

And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him; and all men marvelled!” (Mk 5:18-20)

Yes, when the Good News becomes a personal experience and a transformative healing encounter…
.. one is filled with a “passionate zeal” to reach it to others!

As it is said, “a spark can become a flame; a flame a fire”
… the spark of the experience of the Lord’s Power became a fire in his heart, to bring God’s Healing to many!”

This missionary endeavor of the man…
… led the people of the area to reach out to Jesus
… resulting in the healing of another man – a deaf and dumb person

Jesus in healing this deaf and dumb person, has a very peculiar style of going about.

He takes the person away from the crowd, put His fingers into the man’s ears, spitting, touched his tongue…
… lifted up His eyes to heaven, groaned and said “Ephphatha, Be Opened!” (Mk 7:33-34)

There is a very personal and intimate touch in this healing process!

It is interesting to note that in the book of Genesis, when God formed human beings…
… there was a very personal involvement from the part of God to create humans – the crown of creation.

“God formed man, out of the clay and blew into his nostrils the breath of life, and so man became a living being.” (Gen 2:7)

Jesus also does something similar in the healing of the deaf and dumb person….

He very personally involves Himself.
He uses His own touch to heal and recreate the person!

Jesus is the Lord of the New Creation!

God created the world good.

Human beings spoiled it through sin.

But Jesus restores and renews the goodness!

Our ears maybe closed very often to the voice of the Spirit of the Lord

Our mouths maybe often mute to speak the power of the Lord to others.

But the Lord is ready to touch us… and renew and recreate us.

Are we ready to receive this renewing and recreating touch from the Lord?
“Ephphatha… Be Opened!”

This “Ephphatha experience” ought to help us to also reach out His care, mercy and love to many people!

The Lord wishes that we build our lives into a beautiful edifice of His Love and Mercy

But this requires us to move from opinions to convictions in faith!
It requires us to journey from mere fashions to passions in life!

14th February is popularly celebrated as Valentine’s Day.

Valentine’s Day is, of course, a day when a there is a “sudden” wave of expression of love and care and affections to the ones whom we love.

When taken in the right spirit, it becomes a day…
… of “specially” recognizing the worth of the one(s) we love, and expressing our love and affection

But our modern society unfortunately and tragically, sometimes tends to “rob” this day to be celebrated in meaningfully

External affections are unduly given greater importance, forgetting the prime duties – of commitment and faithfulness – involved with love
Advertisers and commercialists rake in massive profits with a number of external objects portraying “love”

As a Christian, Feb 14…
… is a day for us to remind ourselves to grow in the Immensity of God’s Love
… is a day for us to revive our basic duty of caring and being responsible to one another
… is a day for us to rediscover the worthiness of our lives and commit to grow in holiness

Jesus, the True Lover holds our hand, and with deep love and affection, asks us:
“Will you be My valentine forever?”

Let’s not blush… let’s not be shy…

Instead, let us, with deep faith and true commitment, pledge forever, our love to the Lover of all Hearts!

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 Second Commandment

St. James condemns those “who blaspheme that honorable name [of Jesus] by which you are called.”

The prohibition of blasphemy extends to language against Christ’s Church, the saints, and sacred things. (CCC # 2148)

“Finding help in God by hungering for God, humbling before God and hoping in God!”

(Based on Gen 2:18-25 and Mk 7:24-30 – Thursday of the 5th Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1)

A youngster was reading the Gospel story found in Mk 7:24-30
… the story of the Syro-Phoenician woman who approaches Jesus for a healing
… and how the Lord seemed to totally discourage her, by saying: “…it is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs”
… and how the woman responded: “Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs”

After reading this Bible passage, the young man was pretty much disturbed and spoke to an elderly priest:
“I am so very much disturbed after reading this passage!

How can the Lord call someone as ‘dog?’
It sounds so discouraging and disheartening!”

To that the priest, with an assuring and calm tone replied:
“I understand, son, regarding the apparent confusion on the usage of that word.

Without going into any scholarly explanation…
… I want you to understand this passage with the help of 4 simple words: ‘Hunger… Humble… Hope… Help’”

The young person thought for a while, and replied with relief:
“Yes, that’s so true Father.

Many times, I get so disturbed by Bible passages that I don’t understand…
… instead of living my life, in accordance with what I do understand!

Thank you for teaching me today…
… to HUNGER for God
… to HUMBLE before God
… to HOPE in God
… and thus to find HELP in God!”

Yes, the confusion in the mind of the young man could well be our own…
… as we reflect today on this very powerful Gospel passage of the day.

This Gospel presents the exceedingly deep and determined faith of the woman – who had many reasons to play the blame-game…
… but triumphed in making a deep impression on Jesus, the Lord and Healer!

The woman could consider many reasons to blame…
… Being a woman: She was given a very low status in the Jewish society
… Being a Greek: She was treated as pagans by the Jews, and thus inferior
… Being a Syro-Phoencian: She, being of a mixed race – half Syrian and half Phoenician – had her crisis of cultural and linguistic identity.
… Having a daughter who was possessed with an unclean spirit: She, as a mother, had her deep emotional struggles of seeing the suffering and misery of her beloved child

And to top it all…
… Being called as a dog: She was apparently being discouraged by ‘God’ (Jesus) who called her ‘dog’

But the woman was in no way discouraged and dispirited, despite these ‘natural reasons and occasions to blame!’ (as would many of us!)
… She had a deep and determined faith!

As it is said, “this is the kind of stuff, champions are made of!”

She understood the meaning of the words of the Lord: “… it is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs” (Mk 7:27)

In fact, the addressing of Jesus as a “dog” would have come as no surprise to the Canaanite woman.

It was a reminder of the sharp distinction that existed, historically, between the Blessed Israelites and the Cursed Canaanites.

The Jews ‘were’ considered as the ‘children: and the Canaanites (Gentiles) ‘were’ considered as ‘dogs!’

And in every house, the children get fed first… not the dogs!

But, the woman of faith noticed that Jesus had used the word “kunarios” – the word for household pets (puppies)…

She recognised that He had not used the word “kuon” – the word for other ordinary bigger dogs…

And so the figurative tone set forth by Jesus, found its amazing reply in the words of the Canaanite woman, “Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs” (Mk 7:28)

Here was a glorious acknowledgement by the woman…
“Yes, I am a Canaanite, and considered to be a dog.

I do acknowledge that Israelites have a special privilege in the order of God’s grace.
But we too, deserve the Grace of God that is due to all people, in general!

I demand not the privileged bread that is reserved to the mighty….

But, as a household pet dog (a puppy), just the crumbs of Your grace will suffice in healing my ailing daughter!”

That was indeed, an amazing reply of a deep and determined faith!

Yes, life often gives us many many reasons to play the blame-game
… and we can live being depressed, discouraged and dispirited!

But if we nurture a deep and determined faith…
… we can surely live with much joy and peace, totally depending on Jesus, our Lord and Healer!

Let us…
… HUNGER for God
… HUMBLE before God
… HOPE in God

And thus always find HELP in God!

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 Second Commandment

Blasphemy consists in uttering against God – inwardly or outwardly – words of hatred, reproach, or defiance; in speaking ill of God; in failing in respect toward him in one’s speech; in misusing God’s Name. (CCC # 2148)

“Being willing to have a nice dip in the ‘hot waters of correction,’ to emerge clean!”

(Based on Gen 2:4b-9, 15-17 and Mk 7:14-23 – Wednesday of the 5th Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1)

“Mamma,” said the child, feeling quite disturbed, “I feel very upset today, because my teacher corrected me!”

The mother – who was washing dishes – looked at the child, who was feeling quite low because of the correction…
… and told him, “Look at what I am doing…”

The child looked at the mother, washing the dishes

Pointing to a set of vessels that had been left unwashed overnight – she said:
“Look at these vessels

It is very hard to scrub these – because the dirt is stuck for a long time

So the easy method, is…
… to dip them in hot water
… keep it soaked for sometime
… and then wash!”

Then taking the child close to her, she said, “That’s how it is in life as well!

Sometimes when we are stuck with things that are not good…
We need a nice dip in the “hot waters of correction”
… remain soaked in the “feel of contrition”

So that we can “emerge clean!”

Always remain, therefore, open to corrections!”

Are we persons who remain open to corrections…
… so that feeling contrite, we can emerge clean?

The Gospel of the Day is a strong act of Jesus reminding the Scribes and Pharisees to undergo the process of “being washed”…
… and to be “scrubbed off” the long stuck dirt of duplicity and hypocrisy.

The Gospel begins with the statement, “Jesus called to Him the people and said to them…” (Mk 7:14)

Jesus calls together the multitude to Himself to speak something…

Jesus brings aside the people to Himself to address to them something…

The background to this action of Jesus, is the context of the unfair remarks of the Pharisees and Scribes about Jesus and His disciples, in Mk 7:1-14.

The scribes and the Pharisees had objected that Jesus’ disciples failed to keep up the tradition of the Elders to have the ritual washing before eating.

This exercise of ritual washing was more a ceremonial one.

They attached greater importance to external cleanliness over internal purity.
They accorded higher priority to hygiene outside than to transparency within.

They would not bother, hearts being corrupted, but they would not tolerate dirty hands!

They would despise unwashed hands, but they would bypass filthy hearts!

But Jesus is in prime opposition to all such deceitful and corrupt human practices.

He flays the Scribes and Pharisees for their misplaced priorities.
He slams the Scribes and Pharisees for their misleading interpretation of purity.

And so, Jesus summoned the crowd and explained what is the meaning of real cleanliness and purity:
“Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile” (Mk 7: 16)

Indeed, a remarkable statement from Jesus, the Purest and the Holiest One!

It is not just our hands alone that matter; it is our hearts that matter most!

It is not just our medical hygiene that counts; it is our lives that needs consideration the most!

The Pharisees and the Scribes for a long time, had enforced importance only to external purity and outside cleanliness.

Their authority was to used to stamp the importance of rituals and traditions, which were meant to…
… only emphasise bodily cleaning, but avoiding transparency in life
… only highlight cleansing of external parts, but overlooking sanctity of heart and mind

But, Jesus comes in great opposition and places things in the right perspective.

He reminds them of the “need for correction!”

Perhaps, we are also in “need of a correction”…
… let us therefore make a self-introspection:

I may be appearing to be clean outside…
… but is my heart pure and holy?

I may be appearing to be an angel to the world…
… but am I a barn of devilish actions within?

I may be appearing to be very good to all…
… but am I full of anger, jealousy and greed inside?

I may be appearing to be successful…
… but am I decaying interiorly with unchastity and deceit?

Is it not time to cleanse my heart and life, which is perhaps…
… defiled with sin?
… impure with unhealthy thoughts?
… and sullied with evil intentions?

Yes… Sometimes when we are stuck with things that are not good…

We need a nice dip in the “hot waters of correction”
… remain soaked in the “feel of contrition”

So that we can be be “washed clean!”

We may feel sad for sometime…
… upset for a few moments

But let us always remain open to corrections…
… and co-operate with the Lord in “being washed” of every bit of corruption and malice from our hearts!

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 Second Commandment

Blasphemy is contrary to the respect due God and his holy name.

It is in itself a grave sin. (CCC # 2148)