“Being true and faithful, rather than trying to be popular!”

(Based on Exod 32:7-14 and Jn 5:31-47 – Thursday of the 4th Week of Lent)

On a winter’s evening in 1955, a 42-year-old African-American woman named Rosa Parks…
… tired after a long day of work as a seamstress
… boarded a bus in Montgomery, Alabama to get home.

She paid her fare and took an empty seat in the area of the bus

A law existed to segregate bus passengers by race…
… the front of the bus was reserved for white citizens
… the seats at the back for black citizens.

But it had also become a custom that bus drivers would instruct a black passenger to give up their seat…
… if there were no “white-only” seats.

As the bus filled up, the bus driver demanded that she give up her seat.

Rosa Parks could have stood up and walked away quietly.

She could have ‘chosen comfort over conflict.’
But instead, she gripped the seat, looked straight ahead, and simply said, “No.”

That one word cost her everything…
… her job, her safety, her peace.

But it also sparked a movement that changed history – The Civil Rights Movement

Later, she said, “I was just tired of giving in.”

Life often pressurises us ‘to conform – to give in” – to what is convenient rather than what is true.

Do we have the courage to remain steadfast in our convictions, even when the world pushes back?

Christian life is a constant challenge between two aspects: Being Popular or being Right!

Can we be Christians…
… who value one’s integrity for Christ’s sake, than to compromise one’s principles and turn popular?
… who give priority to being honest for the Lord’s honour, than to dilute one’s ethics and gain cheap fame?

The Gospel of the Day presents Jesus who stood firm and rock-solid, in his mission commitment, even in the face of opposition, indifference and apathy from the Jews.

The context of today’s Gospel Passage – Jn 5:31-47 – is the aftermath of the Healing of the Crippled Man by the pool of Bethesda, on the Sabbath Day (Jn 5:1-18)

This incident had sparked a rage of opposition against Jesus…

He was persecuted because the act of healing was done on the Sabbath (Jn 5: 16)
His defense caused the Jews to kill Him, because Jesus equated Himself with God (Jn 5:18)

There was a strong wave of antagonism and hostility, against Jesus…
… that was pressurizing Him to compromise His teachings
….that was coercing Him to dilute His principles

But Jesus stood firm and rock-solid, in his mission commitment, even in the face of opposition, indifference and apathy from the Jews.

Jesus therefore presents before the Jews, witnesses which would testify to Him, to His Divinity.

He uses the language of a courtroom – “witnesses” – to prove His credibility as the Divine Person

Our Christian Life is a constant challenge…
… to let go of our values and principles
… to compromise on our efforts and mission works

We find in the Book of Exodus, how the people of Israel abandoned the ways of the Lord…
… and “made for themselves a molten calf… worshiped it and sacrificed to it, and said, ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!’” (Cf. Exod 32:8)

So often, we also create “molten calves” of money, power, position, sinfulness…
… and worship and give our priority to them!

We are quick in forgetting the many blessings and mercies of God…
… and turn away from the commandments of God!

We need to imitate our Blessed Lord…
… Who was unwilling to let go of His Commitment and Dedication to the Mission

Let us seek the Grace to remain ever uncompromising in our Christian Life.
… to stand for God and His Kingdom
… to live to share His Love and Mercy

Written on the stone pavements of a street in a remote village are the following words:
“One of the evils of this modern day, is the scarcity of men and women in places of leadership who are willing to speak their convictions…
… at the risk of popularity!”

Yes… let us dare to show this “spirit of leadership” like Jesus our Master…
… by seeking to be true and faithful, rather than just be popular!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic through the Catechism
MAN’S VOCATION LIFE IN THE SPIRIT – GOD’S SALVATION: LAW AND GRACE – The Ten Commandments – The Fourth Commandment – The Family in God’s Plan

A man and a woman united in marriage, together with their children, form a family.
This institution is prior to any recognition by public authority, which has an obligation to recognize it.

It should be considered the normal reference point by which the different forms of family relationship are to be evaluated. (CCC # 2202)

“Imitating Christ and confidently facing the questions of the Kingdom of God!”

(Based on Isa 49:8-15 and Jn 5:17-30 – Wednesday of the 4th Week of Lent)

This unconfirmed incident is told about Albert Einstein.

He was frequently asked to deliver lectures on physics to the leading universities…
… and did so obligingly

Harry, his dedicated driver would faithfully attend each lecture of Einstein’s, while seated in the back row.

One day, after Einstein had finished a lecture, Harry requested him, ‘Professor Einstein, I’ve heard your lecture so many times now, that if you ever needed me to…
… I would be able to deliver it to perfection myself!’

And so, a few weeks later as they approached Brown University for a lecture, Einstein began to feel ill and asked, ‘Harry, I’m not feeling too well today. Since no one knows me at Brown…
… perhaps you could deliver the lecture as Einstein
.. and I could sit in the back row as Harry,’

‘Certainly, Professor,’ Harry eagerly replied.

Later that afternoon, Harry delivered the lecture to perfection…
… not a single word out of place,
… while Einstein sat in the back row playing the ‘driver’

At the conclusion of the lecture, a graduate student, however, intercepted him and began to ask a question…
… one that involved plenty of complex calculations and equations.

Ever quick on his feet, Harry replied:
‘The answer to that question is actually quite simple!

In fact, it’s so simple…
… that I am going to let my driver answer it!’

Truly… In the company of greatness, one can get influenced and imitiate greatness!

As a follower of Christ, we are expected to learn from our Master…
… be influenced by Him
… and imitiate His Life and Love

The Gospel of the Day is a powerful message of Jesus Who reflects the life and works of His Father…
… as each one of us are also called to do the same.

In this profound passage, Jesus sends across a powerful message about His close union with the Father.

He boldly asserts, “My Father is at work until now, so I am at work” (John 5:17)

The amazing union of the Son with the Father highlighting the depth of their connection…
… prompts us to reflect on the nature of our own union with God in our daily lives.

Elsewhere, Jesus says, “The Father and I are one!” (Jn 10:30)

We are called to assess if our deeds are in unison…
… with the mission of bringing life, healing, and redemption to others
… just like Jesus, our Master

How can we deepen our bond with the Lord…
… making it the guiding force and strengthening factor in our actions and decisions?

Jesus very categorically makes His claim as the Son of God…
… drawing a parallel with the continuous work of the Father.

Our attitudes and actions need to authentically reflect our Divine heritage.

As followers of Christ, how do we assert our identity as children of God in our daily lives?

Jesus also challenges the conventional views on the Sabbath…
… asserting the Father’s ongoing work.

The Sabbath is a memorial of Israel’s liberation from Egypt.
It’s a reminder of our own liberation from sin.
It’s a reminder to pursue holiness

The Sabbath is to be a day of genuine rest and engaging in life-giving activities.

We are made to reconsider the importance of the Sabbath in our life…
… and our approach to it.

As we go through these reflections, the call is clear: Imitate Christ as He reflects the life and works of His Father.

Let us embark on a journey of faith that mirrors the Divine love and redemption exemplified by Jesus!

Let us give our time to our God!
Let us spend time with the Eucharistic Lord
Let us spend time with the Divine Word of God

Yes… in the company of greatness, one can get influenced and imitiate greatness!

As a follower of Christ, we are expected to learn from our Master…
… be influenced by Him
… and imitiate His Life and Love

When the Kingdom of God faces questions, let our Master look at us confidently, and tell:
“The answer to that question is actually quite simple!

In fact, it’s so simple…
… that I am going to let my follower answer it!”

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 Fourth Commandment – The Family in God’s Plan

The love of the spouses and the begetting of children create among members of the same family personal relationships and primordial responsibilities. (CCC # 2201)

“Creating ‘beautiful paintings’ of God’s Love and Mercy in this world by the power of the Master!”

(Based on Ezek 47:1-9, 12 and Jn 5:1-16 – Tuesday of the 4th Week of Lent)

After the death of a great painter in a particular place, a young boy went to the painting studio and asked for the great artist’s brush.

The boy tried the brush (thinking that with this great painter’s brush, he could also create great masterpiece!)…
… but found he could not paint any better with it than with his own.

It was then he realized…
… the power of painting, was not in the brush

It was in the Master!

The boy lacked the master’s power.

It was the power of the Master that created the beautiful paintings.

Jesus, displayed immense strength and courage…
… as a result of His Powerful Union with His Father!

This Power led Him to create “beautiful paintings” of Mercy and Love in the world.

The Gospel of the Day is an amazing revelation by Jesus on His relationship with the Father.

This passage has its background in the healing that Jesus performed on a Sabbath day, of a man who had been ill for a very long time – thirty-eight years (Jn 5: 1-16).

When the Jews found out from the healed person, that it was Jesus who had done this work, they were extremely furious.

Their objection was that…
… Jesus had done this miracle on a Sabbath
… Jesus had made the person to perform a work – of carrying the mat – on the Sabbath day.

They, therefore, began to persecute Jesus (Jn 5: 16).

But Jesus brought out a fair logic in defending Himself, “My Father is at work until now, so I am at work” (Jn 5:17)

Jesus equates Himself to the Father….
Jesus establishes Himself as the Son of God…

And He draws the point, that just as, on the Sabbath Day, His Father….
… creates and sustains, so is He renewing and bringing life to the world!
… supplies life and maintains, so is He nourishing and refreshing the world!

Jesus, as the Son has every right and privilege to engage in life-saving works, just as His Father

Jesus, as the Son has every justification and claim to do life-redeeming works, just as His Father

As followers of Jesus, we are to be the extension of His life-saving and redeeming works in the world…
… Am I willing to become a person, filled the power of the Lord, in order to bring healing to the world, by my deeds of kindness and goodness?
… Am I willing to become an extension of the Lord, imbued with His spirit, in order to spread His love and mercy to our broken and struggling world?

As followers of Jesus, we need to have the proper and true understanding of the Sabbath…

The Sabbath is a day of solemn rest, holy to the Lord…
… Do I give it to the Lord, entirely, engaging only in deeds that help me come closer to Him?

The Sabbath is a memorial of Israel’s liberation from bondage in Egypt
… Do I remind myself of being a person to be liberated from the bondage of sin, and seeking to grow in holiness?

The Sabbath is sign of the irrevocable covenant between God and human beings…
… Do I renew the spirit of this pledge and promise to the Lord with salvific deeds of love?

Let us deepen our relationship and grow in our efforts to be more in union with the Lord…
… the One who guides the world, the One who sustains each of us and the One who fills life in all!

Jesus, displayed immense strength and courage…
… as a result of His Powerful Union with His Father!

This Power led Him to create “beautiful paintings” of Mercy and Love in the world.

As we enter into the new month of April…
… let us have a greater realisation that it is only by “the Power of the Master that we can create the ‘beautiful paintings’ of God’s Love and Mercy in this world”

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 Fourth Commandment – The Family in God’s Plan

The conjugal community is established upon the consent of the spouses.

Marriage and the family are ordered to the good of the spouses and to the procreation and education of children. (CCC # 2201)

“Staying calm and happy by having a simple and a little faith, in the Great and Big God!”

(Based on Isa 65:17-21 and Jn 4:43-54 – Monday of the 4th Week of Lent)

There was once a good woman who was well-known among her circle for her simple faith and her great calmness in the midst of many trials.

Another woman, living across the street, hearing of her, said, “I must go and see that woman, and learn the secret of her calm, happy life.”

She went, and, enquired the woman: “Are you the woman with the great faith?”

“No,” was the answer!

“I am not the woman with the great faith…
… but I am the woman with a little faith in the great God,” came the rest of the answer!

Yes, the secret of “staying calm and happy” is about having “a simple and a little faith, in the Great and Big God!”

The Gospel of the Day presents an incident of a “person who stayed calm and happy” by having “a simple and a little faith, in the Great and Big God!”

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

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

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

This royal official 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, mostly prompted only because of a need for a healing.

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 gave His word, “You may go; your son will live” (Jn 4:50), this royal official, with a mixed bag of faith…
… began to understand the secret of “staying calm and happy”
… by having “a simple and a little faith, in the Great and Big God!”

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

Moments of immense difficulties and crisis often cripple us.

But, the Lord constantly invites us “to stay calm and happy” by having “a simple and a little faith, in the Great and Big God!”

It’s His grace that strengthens us.
It’s His mercy that empowers us.

Life often feels overwhelming…
… but God reminds us that He is making everything new.

“See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.” (Cf. Isa 65:17-18)

Our Big God calls us not to dwell on the past…
… but to rejoice in what He is doing now
… and what He has planned ahead.

Faith isn’t about having all the answers…
… it’s about trusting the One who does!

Let us adopt and personalize this great secret…
… of “staying calm and happy” by having “a simple and a little faith, in the Great and Big 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 Fourth Commandment

Observing the fourth commandment brings its reward:

“Honour your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which the Lord your God gives you.” (CCC # 2200)

“Remembering that the ‘Lantern is always lit for us’ as a sign that ‘You are always welcome Home!'”

(Based on Josh 5:9a, 10-12, 2 Cor 5:17-21 and Lk 15:1-3, 11-32 – 4th Sunday of Lent, Cycle C)

There is an old tradition in some villages where a family would leave a lantern lit in the window…
… for a loved one who had gone away.

Whether it was a son who had left home in rebellion

Or a daughter who had wandered off in search of something more
… the lantern was a silent message: “You are always welcome home.”

One such story is told of a mother whose son had left the house.

Without fail, the old mother would light a lantern and place it in the window.

Neighbors whispered, “He’s gone. He’s not coming back.”

But she never listened.
She just kept the light burning.

Storms raged.
Years passed.
The lantern never wavered.

Then, one night – when hope itself seemed tired – a shadow appeared at the gate. >> Ragged, broken, trembling.

It was him.

He collapsed at the doorstep, tears mixing with the rain.

And as she rushed to embrace him, he choked out the words: “I saw the light…
… and I knew I could come home.”

Isn’t this the story of the ‘prodigal’ our own story?

The Gospel of the Day is the beautiful rendition of this classic: “The Prodigal Son(s)!”

The Parable of the Prodigal Son(s) 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 the Loving Father in patient waiting for the return of the son(s).

The son(s) had abandoned the love and protection of the Father.

It could have been because of some misunderstanding
It could have been because of some pride and arrogance
It could have been because of some selfishness and egoism
It could have been because of some immaturity or peer pressure

Whatever be the reason, a rupture had occurred in the beautiful relationship.

The younger son sought to find enjoyment in many worldly pleasures…
… while the Father was left with a seemingly never-ending wait for his beloved!

He drowned himself in the pleasurable waters of enjoyment and gratification…
… while 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.

Our Beloved Heavenly Father encourages all of us:
” All is forgiven. I accept you, as you are.

I love you!
Your Father!”
… and thus encourages us “to script the beautiful story of God’s Love and Mercy in our lives!”

Let us always remember, that the “Lantern is always lit for us” as a sign that “You are always welcome Home.”

The world may write you off…
… but Heaven still waits with open arms.

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 Fourth Commandment

The Fourth Commandment includes and presupposes the duties of parents, instructors, teachers, leaders, magistrates….

…. those who govern, all who exercise authority over others or over a community of persons. (CCC # 2199)