“Humbling ourselves before the Immense Presence of God – like a Child – and entrusting our cares to the Lord!”

(Based on Sir 2:1-11 and Mk 9:30-37 – Tuesday of the 7th Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1)

A young American student, on a visit to the Beethoven museum in Bonn…
… became fascinated by the piano on which Beethoven had composed some of his greatest works.

(Beethoven is one of the most famous and influential music composers of all-time)

She asked the museum guard if she could play a few musical pieces on it.

She accompanied the request with a lavish tip (a gift/money)…
… and the guard agreed!

The girl, excitedly went to the piano and tinkled out the opening of the Moonlight Sonata (a famous musical composition of Beethoven).

She was greatly thrilled that she could play on the same piano as that of the music legend.

As she was leaving she said to the guard, with a great sense of exhilaration: “I suppose all the great pianists who come here, want to play on that piano.”

The guard shook his head.

Then he gave a reply which shocked the girl: “Padarewski [the famed Polish pianist] was here a few years ago and he said he wasn’t worthy to touch it.”

The great Polish pianist felt himself unworthy to play on the piano, which was played the Legendary Beethoven…
… whereas the girl (a novice in piano), took false pride and gratified her vanity!

Great people realise the significance and prominence of others…
… and in humility, lower themselves in rightful acknowledgement!

How many of us dare to humble ourselves, especially before the immensity of God?

How many of us choose to walk the path of humility, and be willing to follow the Ways of God?

The Gospel of the Day is an exhortatory teaching of Jesus on the importance of His Followers to be immersed into a life of humility.

Jesus was walking with His disciples, teaching them on the way….

He began to speak to them of how, He – the Son of Man “would be delivered into the hands of men, and they would kill Him…” (Mk 9:31)

Jesus was the epitome of self-emptiness and total self-giving

He expected His disciples to also learn from Him (Mt 11:29) and follow His lifestyle

St Paul in his letter to the Philippians speaks of this self-emptying (“kenosis”) of the Lord:
“He emptied Himself, taking the form of a slave….He humbled Himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross” (Phil 2: 7-8)

And so Jesus tells His disciples of how He would be handed over to human hands and suffer death

He was teaching them…
… how He had to enter into the waters of Humility – in being handed over to human hands
.. how He had to pass through the valleys of Humbleness – in suffering death on the Cross

But, sadly, the disciples were able to give little heed to these “Acts of Humility” of the Lord
… They were busy discussing who would be the greatest among them
… They were occupied in arguing who would be the first among them (Mk 9:34)

And so the Lord gives them the thumb rule to be His Follower: Humility of Heart

• “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all” (Mk 9:35)

Humility…
… was to be the sole stepping-stone to greatness in the Kingdom of God
… was to be the lone way to be considered worthy in the Divine Way of Life

We need to examine our lives: Am I living a life of humility?

Do I try to always have it “my way” and insist solely on feeding my ego and my pride?
Am I willing to let go of my crave for position and fame, and embrace a life of service?

Ralph Emerson, an essayist and poet once said, “A great man is always willing to be little”

Every Christian is expected to Follow the Way of Humility – which was the Way of Christ!

He humbled Himself – and expects each of us to live in humilty
He came to serve, and not to be served – and challenges us too, to be so
He let go of His personal glory and self desires – and dares us to “let go” and “allow God!”

Let us humble ourselves before the Immense Presence of God… like a Child…
… and entrusting our cares to the Lord, truly experience the words of the Psalmist, “Commit your life to the Lord, and He will help you!” (Psa 37:5)

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

The holiness of the Divine Name demands that we neither use it for trivial matters…
… nor take an oath which on the basis of the circumstances could be interpreted as approval of an authority unjustly requiring it.

(CCC # 2155)

“Facing the challenges of life with a strong and sturdy faith!”

(Based on Sir 1:1-10 and Mk 9:14-29 – Monday of the 7th Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1)

Raphael is the famous Italian painter – the architect of the High Renaissance.

Together with Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, he forms the traditional trinity of great masters of that period.

There is a famous painting of the Transfiguration of our Blessed Lord by Raphael.

This painting was done in Rome in 1520.
Raphael had his health deteriorating at this time, as soon he was to die at the age of 37.
With the life-energy draining out of him, he chose to apply his mastery strokes on the painting of the Transfiguration.

In the upper centre part of the painting is seen a flat, rock mountain top.

The three disciples – Peter, James and John – are shielding their eyes from the glory.
Just above them, in the air, are Elijah and Moses and Jesus.
Jesus is glisteningly white, as scripture says, “no fuller on earth could bleach”

At the bottom of the mountain, is the crowd of the other disciples.

They are being unable to heal a boy, who is possessed by a demon.
The boy, an epileptic is seen in a fit of seizure, and flanked by his helpless father

These two contrasting images in the same picture are drawn from the 9th Chapter of the Gospel of St Mark

The Transfiguration of the Lord (Mk 9:2-8)
The inability of the disciples to heal the epileptic boy (Mk 9:14-29)

The Gospel of the day is the second incident: of how the disciples fail to heal the boy and how Jesus intervenes to cure and teaches the importance of possessing strong faith.

These two incidents that are depicted in the painting of the Transfiguration by Raphael, shows contrasting dimensions…

On one side, immense glory being revealed and the Divine splendour being manifested
On the other, lack of faith being exposed and the failure in the Kingdom ministry

On one side, the three disciples basking in the light of heightened faith and devotion

On the other, the other disciples being lost in the darkness of inability to put the faith to effectiveness

And how often is this the painting of our own lives too…

There are some moments when we experience the loftiness of God’s glory and power
There are other moments when we fail miserably to evoke His presence and are unable to feel His

There are some times when faith makes us to feel that everything is so glorious and wonderful

There are other times when our faith hits rock-bottom and our spiritual life loses its sheen and all seems so miserable
This is the reality of our lives – contrasting experiences of glorious faith at some instants and miserable lack of trust at other

But the Gospel of the day gives an encouraging exhortation by Jesus to have a strong and sturdy faith…
… “All things are possible to him who believes!” (Mk 9:23)

When the disciples were unable to bring about a healing to the epileptic boy, the Lord sure did rebuke them for their “lack of faith”

But after having healed the child, He does not linger with the reproaching or admonishing attitude … Instead, as a loving friend and a caring master…
… gently but firmly encourages them to be stronger in their faith: “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer and fasting.” (Mk 9:29)

This is the approach that He has towards us too…
He knows that we have our weak moments and situations of disbelief and doubts

He knows that there are times when our faith is merely on the lips and not really from the depths of our hearts
He knows that there are occasions when annoying circumstances encroach our faith-life and all our efforts in devotion meet with bitter conclusions
Yet, with firmness and fondness, Jesus invites us to keep seeking to grow in our trust in Him!

The Book of Sirach (Sir 1:1-10) reminds us that:

1. God is the Source of All Wisdom and Strength
   “All wisdom comes from the Lord and is with him forever.” (Sir 1:1)

When we feel weak, uncertain, or lacking faith – like the disciples who could not heal the boy – we must turn to God, Who alone is the Source of every strength and wisdom.

2. Faith and Wisdom Go Hand in Hand
   “The root of wisdom—to whom has it been revealed?” (Sir 1:6)

In moment’s of life’s contrasts, we are reminded that true wisdom is revealed to those who sincerely seek Go

3. Trust in God Leads to Strength and Victory
   “To fear the Lord is the fullness of wisdom.” (Sir 1:16)

Those who revere and trust in God will be filled with wisdom, leading to perseverance in challenges. No matter the struggles we face, faith makes all things possible (Mk 9:23)

The painting of our lives often carry contrasting experiences…
… of glorious faith at some instants
… and miserable lack of trust at other

Let us not get discouraged!

Instead, with trust in the Lord, let us face the challenges of our life with a strong and sturdy faith…
… knowing that, “All things are possible to him who believes!”

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

Following St. Paul, the tradition of the Church has understood Jesus’ words as not excluding oaths made for grave and right reasons (for example, in court).

“An oath, that is the invocation of the divine name as a witness to truth, cannot be taken unless in truth, in judgment, and in justice.” (CCC # 2154)