“Encompassed by a deep love for the Lord and remaining loyal and faithful to Christ, our Powerful and Mighty King!”

(Based on Acts 9:31-42 and Jn 6:60-69 – Saturday of the 3rd Week in Ordinary Time)

“Tom Brown’s School Days” is an 1857 novel by Thomas Hughes.

The story is set in the 1830s at Rugby School, a public school for boys.

Much of the novel is based on the author’s experiences in the school.

There is a fine passage in Tom Brown’s School Days which tells of a boy who had the courage to stand up against ridicule.

A new boy – a Christian – had come to the school.

On his first night, in a room where there were twelve beds and boys, he knelt down to say his prayers.

But the boy became the object of ridicule and fun…
… others began to make poking comments
… some others began to laugh and giggle, humiliating him and his faith.

Tom Brown had been observing all the while.

It was at that time, that Tom also saw a heavy slipper flying through the air toward the head of the kneeling boy.

But the boy remained unperturbed and finished his prayers.

When the lights went out a little later, Tom Brown thought of his own mother, and the prayers that she had taught him to say, but which he had never said since he came to Rugby.

Then and there he made a decision that the next time he went to bed, he, too, would say his prayers.

When that next night came, the other boys in the room, ready to laugh and scoff at this newcomer who said his prayers…
… were amazed to see Tom Brown, whom they all respected and feared, kneel down at the side of his bed and pray.

The courageous prayer of the boy, in spite of the ridicule, won the respect of all his companions!

Yes, Christianity demands…

And only the ones who are willing to respond to these demands are worthy of being the Followers of the Lord.

It pays to be a Christian!

It costs much to be a Follower of Christ!

In the Gospel of the Day, the Lord is pretty straight-forward and candid in His challenging requirements and would even ask us, as He asks His disciples, “Do you also wish to go away?” (Jn 6: 67)

We are at the concluding portion of the 6th Chapter of the Gospel of St John – known as the chapter on the Discourse of the Bread of Life.

The hearers of Jesus, from the beginning of this Chapter have been taken through a very intriguing path…

It began with the fragrance of compassion and mercy being radiated by the Lord in the multiplication of the loaves (Jn 6: 1-15)
This fragrance developed into an aura of authority and power that was displayed in the incident of the walking on the water (Jn 6: 16-21)
This aura began to radiate more gloriously through His teachings on He being the Bread of Life (Jn 6: 22-59)
This glorious splendour was further revealed and explained when He declared Himself as the Son of Man who would ascend to where He was (Jn 6: 61-62)

The Chapter, as it’s nears the conclusion, finds many of the hearers abandoning Christ.

Therefore we read, “As a result of this, many of His disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied Him” (Jn 6:66)

It seemed nice and wonderful to be the followers of Christ, when He provided food to their satisfaction
… But when there was a demand made by Christ, the “goody-goody” feelings disappeared and they began to reject Him!

Is this not the attitude that is prevalent among many of the Christians… including we, perhaps?!

As long as the ground of our lives, receives the continual showers of favours being granted and prayers being instantly heard, we feel nice with the Lord.
… But in the times when the ground has to experience the drought of delays in prayers and absence of the rains of consolation, we feel to do away with the ways of the Lord!

As long as the garden of my life, is blessed with the flowers of prosperity, security and comforts, we remain happy to be with the Lord
… But in the circumstances when the garden goes dry and the weeds of misery begin to crop up, we feel to abandon the presence of the Lord and tread our own wills!

And therefore the Lord asks us, “Do you also wish to go away?” (Jn 6: 67)

Faith in the Lord is no cheap thing!

It indeed costs to be faithful!

The History of the Bible is replete with examples for this fact…

It cost Abraham in giving up Isaac, his beloved, in order to prove his faith in the Lord
It cost Moses to let go off his weaknesses and frailties, in order to become the leader of a vast multitude
It cost Daniel to be cast into the den of lions in being a faithful warrior of the Lord
It cost Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego to pass through the ordeals of the fiery furnace in proving to be loyal to the Lord
It cost Stephen a painful death by being stoned in order to witness his daring courage in the Lord
It cost Peter to be nailed upside down to stand firm as the rock of faithfulness and commitment

Yes, Christianity demands…

And only the ones who are willing to respond to these demands are worthy of being the Followers of the Lord.

What is it costing us to be faithful to our Lord and King?

Often times, our practice of Christian faith enters, tiptoed and slyly, into the halls of comfort and cosiness…

A Baptism received long ago…

Some Sacraments obtained now and then…

A few Church obligations completed once in a way…

Some occasionally unavoidable practise of piety and devotion…

This is all that sometimes it “costs” us in being a Christian!

But the Lord today powerfully seeks to shake off the dusts of lethargy and casualness and confronts us, “Do you also wish to go away?”

Our remaining with the Lord, ought not to be in mere words, but also in deeds and actions

Being with the Lord demands…
… that we grow in our zeal and love for the Lord
… that we become an extension of Christ to the needy
… that we strive to be passionate proponents of His love and mercy

Yes, let us be fervent in the stipulations of being a Christian…
… and be willing to respond to those demands that make us worthy of being the Followers of the Lord.

May our Christian lives be encompassed by a deep love for the Lord and may we rise up to the challenge…
… to remain loyal and faithful to the demands placed on us by Christ, our Powerful and Mighty King!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
THE SACRAMENT OF MATRIMONY – Marriage under the regime of sin

Nevertheless, the order of creation persists, though seriously disturbed.
To heal the wounds of sin, man and woman need the help of the grace that God in his infinite mercy never refuses them.

Without his help man and woman cannot achieve the union of their lives for which God created them “in the beginning.” (CCC #1608)

“Growing in the Love for the Holy Eucharist and deepening our faith and conviction in Him!”

(Based on Acts 9:1-20 and Jn 6:52-59- Friday of the 3rd Week in Ordinary Time)

A person once came to a Catholic Priest, wanting to make fun of his faith and beliefs.

He especially wanted to take a dig at the Church’s understanding of the Holy Eucharist.

And so he asked, “How can ordinary bread and wine turn into the Body and Blood of Christ?”

The Priest answered, “Well, it’s simple to understand… The food that you eat daily, does it not change into your body and blood? Then how much more is it not possible for Christ to do the same?”

But the person did not give up.

He asked, “But how can the entire body of Christ be in such a small host? It sounds so kiddish to me!”

“Does not the whole vast landscape fit into your little eye?”, replied the priest.

The answer made a lot of sense…
But the person still persisted and said,”How can the same Christ be present in all your churches, at the same time?”

The priest then took a mirror and let the person look into it.

He then let the mirror fall to the ground and break and said “There is only one of you and yet you can find your face reflected in each piece of that broken mirror at the same time.”

These were some of the simple yet practical applications that were offered to let the Great Mystery of the Holy Eucharist be understood.

The Holy Eucharist – the Body and Blood of Jesus – is the greatest treasure that the Church offers to Her children…

Yet, the Holy Eucharist sometimes, also becomes the great barrier for people to misunderstand and misinterpret the Church.

The same was true even in the time of Jesus.

The mention of His Body and Blood caused great division, misunderstanding and led to the misinterpretation of Jesus.

The Gospel of the Day is an account of the Lord declaring the necessity of being partakers of His Body and Blood to be having a share in eternal life.

Jesus continues His discourse on He being the “Bread of Life”.

The Lord surprises His hearers by saying that He is “the bread that came down from heaven” (Jn 6:51a)

He shocks them even further by saying that “the bread that I give is my flesh for the world” (Jn 6:51b)

This caused a dispute among the people, ” How can this man give us His flesh to eat?” (Jn 6:52)

The bold declaration of the Lord that He would give His Flesh and His Blood as food and drink, caused a huge scandal among His listeners and it cause deep divisions and disputes.

The same is so much true in our own world, when the Church declares the Holy Eucharist to be the True and Real Body and Blood of the Lord, there is so much dispute and division caused.

Not many are able to accept this understanding
Not many are convinced of this teaching
Not many even believe this to be true
Not many are passionate either

The Catechism of the Church declares that “the mode of Christ’s presence under the Eucharistic species is unique”
“In the Most Blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist ‘the body and blood, together with the soul and divinity, of our Lord Jesus Christ and, therefore, the whole Christ is truly, really, and substantially contained.”

The questions now arise before us…

My belief and understanding of this most Precious and Treasured Gift of the Holy Eucharist – “the source and summit of Christian Life”
… Do I believe with conviction that Jesus is truly present in the Blessed Eucharist?
… Do I celebrate and participate in the Holy Mass with this Divine Fervour?

What is the effect that this Sacrament of Total Self-giving on me?
… Does the reception of Jesus, the Love Incarnate, make me in turn to be more loving towards others and do I make deliberate choices to extend love to all?
… Does the sacrifice of the Holy Eucharist impel me also to make sacrifices – even tiny, insignificant, unnoticed – for the cause and good of others?

My contribution to spread the good news of the Holy Eucharist to others
… Am I being a person who radiates the love of the Eucharist to others, by my conscious efforts to be respectful, reverent and devoted in the Chapel or Church and also become aware of the Lord’s Presence, when passing by Churches or handling Sacred objects?
… Do I tell to other people about this exciting, real presence of God in the Holy Eucharist, to other people, especially the sick, the suffering and those in distress, that they may experience the Real and True healing presence of the Lord?

Let us grow in the Love for the Holy Eucharist and deepen our faith and conviction in Him.

As St Francis de Sales tells us…
“When the bee has gathered the dew of heaven and the earth’s sweetest nectar from the flowers, it turns it into honey and hastens to its hive…
… In the same way, the priest, having taken from the altar, the Son of God (who is as the dew from heaven, and true son of Mary, flower of our humanity), gives him to you as delicious food.

When you have received Him, stir up your heart to do Him homage; speak to Him about your spiritual life, gazing upon Him in your soul where He is present for your happiness…
… Welcome Him as warmly as possible, and behave outwardly in such a way that your actions may give proof to all of His Presence.”

May Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist always be praised…
… and may our Blessed Mother Mary, the Mother of the Eucharist, intercede for us!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
THE SACRAMENT OF MATRIMONY – Marriage under the regime of sin

Nevertheless, the order of creation persists, though seriously disturbed.
To heal the wounds of sin, man and woman need the help of the grace that God in his infinite mercy never refuses them.

Without his help man and woman cannot achieve the union of their lives for which God created them “in the beginning.” (CCC #1607)

“Growing in our love for Jesus in the Most Holy Eucharist – the Bread of Life!”

(Based on Acts 8:26-40 and Jn 6:44-51 – Thursday of the 3rd Week in Ordinary Time)

Saint Mother Teresa was known for her immense devotion to the Blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist.

She found her strength for her services of mercy, by being united and spending time with the Eucharistic Lord…
… everyday!

She has spoken very beautifully about the Holy Eucharist:

She says: “When Jesus came into the world, he loved it so much that he gave His Life for it.

He wanted to satisfy our hunger for God.

And what did He do?

He made himself the ‘Bread of Life.’

He became small, fragile and defenseless for us.

Bits of bread can be so small that…
… even a small child can chew it!
… even a dying person can eat it!”

Have we discovered our Love for this “Precious Bread of Life?”

The Sixth Chapter of the Gospel of St John can be called as “the great discourse on the Bread of Life”

Jesus declares Himself as the “Bread of Life” (Jn 6:35), Who came down from heaven.

On hearing this statement of the Lord, the Jews “murmured” about Him (Jn 6:41)

They knew that Jesus was only the son of Joseph.

They knew the father and mother of Jesus.
They were very familiar with His human origins

Therefore, the statement of Jesus that “He was the bread, Who came down from heaven” caused a great deal of “murmur”.

The Greek word that is used here for murmur is a word, “gogguzo”…

This “gogguzo” means…
… any low, continuous sound as of a brook, the wind, trees etc or low indistinct voices
… a mumbled or private expression of discontent
… to show “smouldering discontent”, droning on in a low, constant murmur

A similar “gogguzo” was also expressed by the Israelites, in their long journey in the desert.

When Moses led the large multitude of the Israelites through the desert, the impatient crowd, raised their voices in complaint against Moses and Aaron:
“Would that we had died at the Lord’s hand in the land of Egypt, as we sat by our fleshpots and ate our fill of bread” (Ex 16:3)

The Israelites also “murmured!”

In response to this “murmuring” of the people, God Yahweh provided them with the “flesh of the quail” and the “bread of the Manna” (Ex 16: 4-15)

In the Gospel, when the Jews “murmured”, Jesus provides them with a reply of the “flesh of His body” and the “bread of His Life”

Jesus tells – as we see in today’s Gospel also – “Stop murmuring among yourselves… I am the Bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that a man may eat of it and not die.” (Jn 6: 43, 48-50)

The Israelites were given perishable flesh of the quails and they who ate the Manna, died.

But Jesus, now gives His imperishable flesh of His Own Body and offers the Eternal Manna as the Bread of our life!

It is in the Holy Eucharist, that the Lord offers this imperishable food and salvation to each of us.

What is our perception and passion towards this True Life that Jesus offers in the Holy Eucharist?

The Israelites in the Old Testament as well as the Jews in Jesus’ time, “murmured”…

Do I also “murmur” and remain indifferent to believing in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist?

Do I also “murmur” and fail to prepare myself well to receive Jesus, in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass?

Do I also “murmur” and become unmindful or even disrespectful to the Presence of the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, in the Chapels and in the Churches?

May this lengthened meditation on John 6 – the “the great discourse on the Bread of Life” – help us to deepen our faith and zeal for Jesus, in the Most Holy Eucharist.

It is this devotion and union with the Lord, alone, that can make us also, in turn, a Eucharistic people – breaking and giving ourselves – for the welfare and salvation of the world!

In the book of the Acts of the Apostles, Philip…
… inspired by an Angel of the Lord reaches out to a royal official – an Ethiopian eunach – and delivers the Word of God and the Salvific Message of the Risen Lord.

When we have a deep passion for the Lord in our hearts, we too will reach out the Message of God’s Love and Mercy to the world around us.

Let the words of St Francis de Sales inspire us:
“When the bee has gathered the dew of heaven and the earth’s sweetest nectar from the flowers, it turns it into honey, then hastens to its hive.

In the same way, the priest, having taken from the Altar, the Son of God (who is as the dew from heaven, and true son of Mary, flower of our humanity)…
… gives Him to you as Delicious Food!”

Let us seek to satisfy our hunger for God…
… by growing in our love for Jesus in the Most Holy Eucharist – the Bread of Life!”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
THE SACRAMENT OF MATRIMONY – Marriage under the regime of sin

According to faith the disorder we notice so painfully does not stem from the nature of man and woman, nor from the nature of their relations, but from sin.
As a break with God, the first sin had for its first consequence the rupture of the original communion between man and woman.
Their relations were distorted by mutual recriminations; their mutual attraction, the Creator’s own gift, changed into a relationship of domination and lust…

… and the beautiful vocation of man and woman to be fruitful, multiply, and subdue the earth was burdened by the pain of childbirth and the toil of work. (CCC #1607)

“May Jesus, the Bread of Life, always be the source, strength and summit of our Christian living!”

(Based on Acts 8:1b-8 and Jn 6:35-40 – Wednesday of the 3rd Week in Ordinary Time)

A story is told about a pilot who always looked down intently on a certain valley…
… when the plane passed overhead.

One day his co-pilot asked, “What’s so interesting about that spot?”

The pilot replied: “See that stream?
Well, when I was a kid I used to sit down there on a log and fish.

Every time an airplane flew over, I would look up and wish I were flying…
… now I look down and wish I were fishing.”

There is a deep craving for satisfaction and fulfilment, inside every creature,

One is restless till this thirst is fulfilled…
One is impatient till this craving is satisfied…

This ‘longing’ is innate in every human being…
… a thirst for the Divine, for the Transcendental.

This ‘longing’ 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.

The Gospel of the Day presents Jesus promising this fulfilment and contentment to all those who come to Him and believe in Him – the Bread of Life.

Jesus declares, “I am the Bread of Life; He who comes to me shall not hunger and he who believes in me shall never thirst” (Jn 6: 35)

The crowds who had been fed by Jesus, by the miracle of the multiplication of loaves, came in search of Jesus… probably expecting more…

They wanted still more…and they express this to Jesus, “Sir, give us this bread always” (Jn 6:34)

In John Chapter 4, we read the story of the Samaritan woman, by the well of Jacob, who had also expressed a similar desire.

She said to Jesus “Sir, give me this water, so that I may not be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water” (Jn 4: 15)

Each of us, deep within, are ‘longing’…
… to drink water and eat food 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 feel 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.

The Book of the Acts of the Apostles records one such notable example of Saul.

Saul (who is also called Paul) failed to understand and grasp “The Truth” and persecuted all those who followed “The Way!”
“But Saul was ravaging the church by entering house after house; dragging off both men and women, he committed them to prison.” (Acts 8:3)

But Jesus, today, boldly and unambiguously declares that it’s only in HIM that true and complete fulfilment of life can be found: “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 it’s only in Jesus, that I can achieve true and complete happiness…?

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 Bread of Life, always be the source, strength and summit of our Christian living!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
THE SACRAMENT OF MATRIMONY – Marriage under the regime of sin

Every man experiences evil around him and within himself.
This experience makes itself felt in the relationships between man and woman.
Their union has always been threatened by discord, a spirit of domination, infidelity, jealousy, and conflicts that can escalate into hatred and separation.

This disorder can manifest itself more or less acutely, and can be more or less overcome according to the circumstances of cultures, eras, and individuals, but it does seem to have a universal character. (CCC #1606)

“Living the Will of the Father faithfully and making our lives the ‘Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God’”

(Based on the Feast of St Mark, the Evangelist)

It was a place named Bokalia, which means the place of cows, on the east of Alexandria in Egypt.

The Great Feast of Resurrection, that year, 68 A.D., coincided with the great pagan celebration of god Syrabis.

A huge multitude of the pagans, assembled and attacked the Church at Bokalia and forced their way in…
These targeted their chief enemy in that church…
… seized him
… bound him with a thick rope
… dragged him in the roads and streets

And they cried out, “Drag the dragon to the place of cows!”

They continued dragging him with severe cruelty.
His flesh was torn and scattered everywhere…
… the ground of the city was covered with his blood.

They cast him that night into a dark prison.
The next morning, the pagans were back to take him from the prison.

They tied his neck with a thick rope and did the same as the day before – dragging him over the rocks and stones.

Finally, this great warrior of God delivered up his pure soul in the hand of God…
… and received the crown of martyrdom…
… the Apostolic Crown, the Crown of Evangelism, and the Crown of Virginity.

Nevertheless, his death did not satisfy the rage of the pagans and their hatred.
They gathered much firewood and prepared an inferno to burn him.

However, a severe storm blew and heavy rains fell.
This frightened the pagans, and they fled away in fear.

The believers came and took the body, carried it to the church that they had built at Bokalia, wrapped it up, prayed over it, and placed in a coffin.

They laid the coffin in a secret place in this Church.

This is the heroic account of the martyrdom of St Mark, the Evangelist, whose feast we celebrate today.

It is to St Mark, the Evangelist, that we owe, historically speaking, the first of the four Gospels.

Some of the distinct features and highlighting aspects of the Gospel of St Mark calls for our attention and reflection…

1. The Gospel of St Mark is the shortest among all the four Gospel accounts.
   It probably also has the highest tempo, in terms of the language used and the pace at which the whole Gospel account moves.

a. This invites us to reflect on the urgency of the Kingdom in our lives. The time and place of the coming of the Lord is unknown. (Mk 13: 35-37). Therefore, it places on us, the need to be ever watchful, on the guard and ready for action against the evil, with lives sanctified and purified.

b. This also invites to reflect on the shortness of our lives, and how each day and each moment of our life (like each chapter and verse of the Gospel), is to be lived solely for the sake of the Lord…
… and making our lives a “true Gospel”, giving witness to Jesus Christ, the Crucified Risen Lord, the Son of God (Mk 15:39)

2. The Gospel of St Mark was most probably addressed originally to the persecuted and suffering Christians, of the early Church.

This meant to present Jesus, in the light of how He was able to withstand all pains, pressures and persecutions…
… in order to remain faithful to the Will of His Father and to the Kingdom Mission.

a. This invites us to fully embrace Jesus as the True Model for our lives. He is the Lord, who suffered immensely, took up every pain and bore every temptation, in order to remain faithful to His Father (Mk 14:36).

b. This also invites us to not be afraid of pains and sufferings in life and not to be bogged down by the illogicality of why things go absolutely haywire in our personal and societal lives.

Instead, we need to look up to Jesus, who was crucified, and even from the Cross, the final act of His obedience, cried out, “Eli, Eli, Lama Sabachthani – My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mk 15:34)

3. The Gospel of St Mark is, traditionally, greatly associated with the life of St Peter.
   The Gospel of St Mark attempts at revealing some of the crucial events, feelings and character of Peter.

It is an attempt, not to merely glorify Peter’s role; rather, it is also an account of how Peter, with all his failures and ‘foolishness’ was still accepted and moulded by Jesus, His patient Master

a. This invites us to face our own weaknesses and limitations of life boldly. Like St Peter, we too very often fall away, oppose the plans of God, be overly-zealous yet lazily lethargic and even betray the Lord. Yet, the Good Shepherd does not abandon us; instead goes ahead of us (Mk 16:7), to invite us “to make our life a beautiful one for Him”

b. This also invites us to not give up in life because of constant failures or be ashamed of our brokenness in life (Mk 14:72b). The Gospel of Mark is a parallel drama of the Glorifying Act of Jesus Christ and the Constantly Wavering Life of St Peter. The Gospel testifies that we are to glory not in our merits or prowess, rather to seek refuge in the wounds of Christ and to be totally dependent on the One who alone is to be our strength and guide.

Just like a lion, the Gospel of Mark brings out powerfully the life and teachings of Jesus, the Mighty Lion of Judah…
… mighty and bold
… fast and powerful,
… demanding and challenging.

The author, St Mark, himself was able to live up to be the witness and shed his blood for sake of the Great Lion of Judah!

Let us read this Gospel of St Mark…
… meditate on it..
… be challenged by it..

And strive to live the Will of the Father faithfully – making our lives…
… the “Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God” (Mk 1:1)
… and be faithful to the missionary mandate of the Lord, as St Mark writes: “And they went out and proclaimed the good news everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that accompanied it!” (Mk 16:20)

Happy Feast of St Mark, the Evangelist

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
THE SACRAMENT OF MATRIMONY – Marriage in the order of creation

Holy Scripture affirms that man and woman were created for one another: “It is not good that the man should be alone.”
The woman, “flesh of his flesh,” i.e., his counterpart, his equal, his nearest in all things, is given to him by God as a “helpmate”; she thus represents God from whom comes our help.

“Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and cleaves to his wife, and they become one flesh.”
The Lord himself shows that this signifies an unbreakable union of their two lives by recalling what the plan of the Creator had been “in the beginning”

“So they are no longer two, but one flesh. (CCC #1605)

“Transcending and rising up higher, to live our lives in the grandeur of Jesus and His Everlasting Kingdom, instead of merely being fixated in slimy earthly pleasures!”

(Based on Acts 6:8-15 and Jn 6:22-29 – Monday of the 3rd Week of Easter)

There is an old legend of a swan and a crane.

A beautiful swan alighted by the banks of the water, in which a crane was wading about, seeking snails.

For a few moments the crane viewed the swan in incredulous wonder and then inquired: “Where do you come from?”

“I come from heaven!” replied the swan.
“And where is heaven?” asked the curious crane.

“Heaven!” said the swan, “Heaven! Have you never heard of heaven?”

And the beautiful bird went on to describe the grandeur of the Eternal City…
She told of streets of gold, and the gates and walls made of precious stones; of the river of life, pure as crystal, upon whose banks is the tree whose leaves shall be for the healing of the nations.

With eloquence, the swan described the beauty of the other world…
… but none of it, strangely, seemed to arouse the slightest interest of the crane.

Finally the crane asked: “Are there any snails there?”
“Snails??” repeated the swan; “No! Of course there are not!”

“Then,” said the crane, as it continued its search along the slimy banks of the pool, “you can have your heaven. I only want snails!”

The crane was satisfied with the lowly earthly “snails” and failed to have any interest for the divine “heavens”

How often we are also like this crane….
… interested only in earthly affairs, and least attracted to the heavenly realms
… busy only with gathering earthly pleasures but rejecting offers for heavenly happiness

The Gospel of the Day presents Jesus chiding the people for following Him, just for the sake of earthly desires, and instead, invites and exhorts them to seek for higher and heavenly longings in life…

“Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you” (Jn 6: 27)

The people had witnessed Jesus’ great miracle of the multiplication of loaves.

• Their hunger had been satisfied.
• Their appetites had been gratified.

In Jesus, they found a person who was able to answer the bodily needs.

The people desired to crown Him as their King!

Is this not a trend in our society as well?

How often are the bread-givers and money-makers held in high esteem, even in our days…
… at the expense of people who are unable contribute much or do much work.

Think of the aged, the sick, the invalids in our own houses, communities and societies, who are unable to work or contribute anything materially…

How often do we neglect them!
How often do we put them down!
How often do we call them as useless!

We sometimes glorify people based only their work, their position and their activities…

The “being” of a person is often neglected
… only the “doing” of a person is exalted!

The “essence” of a person is often not given value
… only the “work” of a person is given credit!

But Jesus refrains from being a victim to this mentality of the society.

• He refuses to be their “Bread-Boss!”
• He rejects to being their “Materialistic-Messiah!”

And so when people, come to Him, Jesus recognizes their motive in seeking Him…
… and He chides them saying: “Amen, Amen, I say to you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs but you ate the loaves and were filled.

Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you” (Jn 6: 26-27)

The Lord seeks to lead the people to desire and long for the higher realities of life.

And this is the wish of the Lord for each one of us too, that we…
… be interested not only in worldly affairs; rather, we be more attracted to the heavenly realms
… be busy not only with gathering earthly satisfactions; but, we accept and embrace more of heavenly happiness

It is true that “to the hungry one, food and other material wants demand higher urgency”

But having said this… one must also be willing to accept, that beyond these material aspects, the human person has greater needs – on a spiritual sense – towards the transcendental realities!

What is needed therefore, is a proper prioritizing…

• Does God and the Heavenly realities mean more to me, than earthly desires?
• Does Jesus and His Virtues occupy primal position in my life, than the worldly values?

A true prioritizing and firm conviction alone can help us to be the true witnesses of Jesus, the Messiah.

Jesus is our model and example, Who, in His life, accorded the first and primal place to God and His Will.

The lives of the saints and the martyrs are also proof for this fact.

In the Acts of the Apostles, 6:8-15, we read of how St Stephen, the first Martyr of the Church, “was filled with grace and power, and could withstand any persecution”, because he had a made a choice for Jesus and His Kingdom, above all!

He rejected all worldly promises and desires that blocked his view of the Kingdom!

Are we going to be a people, merely fixed in searching, through the slimy banks, for ‘snails’ of earthly pleasures?
… or can we become people, who transcend and rise up higher, to live our lives in the grandeur of Jesus and His Everlasting Kingdom?

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
THE CELEBRATION OF THE CHRISTIAN MYSTERY – THE SACRAMENT OF MATRIMONY – Marriage in the order of creation

Since God created him man and woman, their mutual love becomes an image of the absolute and unfailing love with which God loves man.
It is good, very good, in the Creator’s eyes.

And this love which God blesses is intended to be fruitful and to be realized in the common work of watching over creation: “And God blessed them, and God said to them: ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it.'” (CCC # 1604)

“Overcoming our ‘lethargic and uninterested walk’ in spiritual life and instead, being filled with a robust enthusiasm to ‘run in His presence’ and announce the Good News of His Saving Love to the world!”

(Based on Acts 2:14, 22-33, 1 Pt 1:17-21 and Lk 24:13-35 – 3rd Sunday of Easter)

A common phrase that is often heard or read is…
“Most children walk to school…. but come back home running!”

Reasonably true, in most cases, right?

It takes a long walk to reach school
… as its often considered as “the not so interesting” part for a child
… to study, to be under various rules, to be restricted to a classroom etc

But it takes a very short run to reach back home
… as it is often considered as “the thrilling” part for a child – to play, to enjoy, to have fun etc.

Our interest influences our attitudes toward activities in life.

The greater the interest…
… the higher is the enthusiasm in an activity
The lower the interest…
… the lower will be the keenness for a particular work.

The Gospel of the Day presents two disciples who “walk away from home” in disinterest and dejection
… but later “who run towards home” with enthusiasm and passion!

The walk away…
… was a dull tale of being filled with disappointment and confusion
The walk towards…
… is an exciting story of being filled with immense joy and happiness

The encounter of Jesus to the two disciples on the way to Emmaus is one of the classic Resurrection encounters.

This incident appears only in the Gospel of St Luke.

The unnamed disciples have been shaken up very badly over the incidents over the last week in Jerusalem.

Like the Apostles, these disciples also would have been severely affected

Their Master, Jesus, in whom they had trusted, and they had followed, underwent a shameful death – that of a criminal.

It was humiliating…
… to be called as followers of a Criminal
It was abasing…
… to be called to as followers of a Blasphemer

Added to that, the accounts of some women who had seen the Empty Tomb of the Lord, added to greater confusion.

Life seemed to be dealing harshly with them

Gloom had descended into their hearts
Grim had taken over their lives.

And so they “walked” disappointed and dejected
… away from “home” – Jerusalem – to a village named Emmaus.

But this “walk” in sadness and gloom, was soon to become a life-transforming event!

Moments of hardships often become moments to encounter the deep love of the Lord!
Situations of dejections often become situations to experience the immense mercy of God!

Jesus met them, explained the Scriptures to them and finally in the house, broke the bread
… “and their eyes were opened!” (Lk 24: 30-31)

Their gloom was taken away
Their mourning was converted
Their sadness was chased away

This experience “had to be shared”
… This experience “had to be recounted”

And so these disciples, who had “encountered” the Lord
… now “ran!”

The walk away…
… was a dull tale of being filled with disappointment and confusion

The walk towards…
… is an exciting story of being filled with immense joy and happiness

How is our life?

Are we merely “walking” through activities and works in life, in dissipation
… or are we “running” through our duties and responsibilities filled with joy and hope?

Are we merely “walking” passively in our spiritual life and our Christian witnessing…
… or are we “running” boldly and enthusiastically, overflowing with happiness and love?

The Lord walks with us…
… on our every journey, in our every activity

But seldom do we see Him
… seldom do we “feel” His presence!

Those disciples realised this “feeling” of the Lord being with them at the Breaking of the Bread…

There lies the key
… there lies the open secret

The realization of the Presence of the Lord is guaranteed and facilitated by a meaningful participation in the Lord’s Body and Blood – at the Holy Eucharist!

The Lord in the Holy Eucharist, calls and invites us – to experience Him, to encounter Him…
… to be transformed by Him!

May the Lord help us to overcome our “lethargic and uninterested walking” in spiritual life…
… and instead, help us to be filled with a robust enthusiasm to “run” in His presence and announcing the Good News of His Saving Love to the world!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
THE CELEBRATION OF THE CHRISTIAN MYSTERY – THE SACRAMENT OF MATRIMONY – Marriage in the order of creation

God who created man out of love also calls him to love the fundamental and innate vocation of every human being.
For man is created in the image and likeness of God who is himself love.
Since God created him man and woman, their mutual love becomes an image of the absolute and unfailing love with which God loves man.
It is good, very good, in the Creator’s eyes.

And this love which God blesses is intended to be fruitful and to be realized in the common work of watching over creation: “And God blessed them, and God said to them: ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it.'” (CCC # 1604)

“Ready to be led by Jesus, the ‘Compass’ and True Guide of our lives!”

(Based on Acts 6:1-7 and Jn 6:16-21 – Saturday of the 2nd Week of Easter)

A compass is an instrument used for navigation and orientation that shows direction.

It is used to find the right direction to get one to where one wants to go.

A compass helps to guide through unknown terrains.
A compass helps to direct well, without being lost.
A compass helps to keep right the focus.

A compass in life is a requirement in order to be constantly having the right target and aim.

The Gospel of the Day presents Jesus, as a person, in perfect control of His life; as a result of being in union with His Father – the Compass of His life..
… and He, becomes the Compass in the life of His disciples – to guide and direct them to safety!

The Gospel is the incident of Jesus walking on the waters, as the disciples travel in the boat, caught up in the midst of a strong sea wind.

This incident follows the “miraculous” event of the multiplication of five loaves and two fish, to feed a “massive” number of people. ( Jn 6: 1-15)

The people were greatly amazed and excited about this “super-miracle”.

This is evident in their words, “This is truly the Prophet, the One Who is to come into the world” (Jn 6: 14)

The people had seen an astonishing miracle.

The people had witnessed Someone who was able to provide them food.
The people had experienced Someone who could provide them security and strength.

But Jesus realized that all such excitement and exhilaration, would lead the people to make Him a King…

He knew that they would….
… be stuck to only material satisfaction and physical contentment
… not understand the heavenly and transcendental meaning of the miracle

And so Jesus withdrew to the mountain (Jn 6:15) to be with His Heavenly Father, alone.

His Beloved Father was the “Compass” of His life – the One who led Him….
…. to guide through unknown terrains
… to direct well, without being lost
…. to keep right the focus.

United with His Father, Jesus reaches out as a “Compass” to His struggling disciples…

They were being tossed up by the mighty waves and their boats were lashed by the mighty winds. (Jn 6:18)

But Jesus enters this “chaotic” scene….and ensures His peace and calm.

The disciples were lost…
They had missed sight of their direction…>> They were disoriented in their focus and sight…

Fear had seized them
Anxiety was drowning them.

But the Lord, the “Compass” of Life restores back their calm and focus and direction.

Nothing is lost, when we have the Lord as the compass of our lives.
Nothing will be drowned, if we hold on to Jesus, as the compass of our lives.

The disciples realized this…
… and they experienced the calming effect in their lives.

Are we also ready to have God as the “Compass” of our lives?

In prayer… In faithfulness.. In trust…
… let us be ready and open to be led by the True Guide of our lives!

God bless! Live Jesus!

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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
THE CELEBRATION OF THE CHRISTIAN MYSTERY – THE SACRAMENT OF MATRIMONY – Marriage in the order of creation

“The intimate community of life and love which constitutes the married state has been established by the Creator and endowed by him with its own proper laws. . . . God himself is the author of marriage.”
The vocation to marriage is written in the very nature of man and woman as they came from the hand of the Creator. Marriage is not a purely human institution despite the many variations it may have undergone through the centuries in different cultures, social structures, and spiritual attitudes.

These differences should not cause us to forget its common and permanent characteristics. (CCC # 1603)

“Offering the littleness of our lives to the Lord and reaching out in compassion to all those in need!”

(Based on Acts 5:34-42 and Jn 6:1-15 – Friday of the 2nd Week of Easter)

Here’s a simple question from the world of the Gospels…

Which is the only miracle, besides the Resurrection of our Blessed Lord that is mentioned in all the four Gospel accounts?

Well, it should not be too difficult to answer this one…
… or, is it a tough one?…

Well, the answer is…

Yes
…. it IS the miracle of the Multiplication of the Loaves.

The feeding of the people, by the mighty deed of multiplication of the loaves, in the only miracle, besides the miracle of the Resurrection of Jesus, that finds a mention in all the four Gospels.

And each of these Gospels also have something unique to speak of this incident:

Mt 14: 13-21: mentions about five thousand men being fed, “without counting women and children”
Mk 6: 31-4: mentions of making the people to be seated in “groups and clusters of hundreds and fifties”
Lk 9: 10-17: also mentions of five thousand men and being seated in clusters of fifty and also mentions Jesus, “looking up to the heavens”.
Jn 6: 5-15: mentions of a “little boy”, who is the provider of the five loaves and two fish and also that “the Lord gave thanks for it”, before distributing it to the people.

The Gospel of the Day presents this account of the multiplication from the eyes of St John, the Evangelist.

This miracle of the multiplication reveals some of the finest qualities of Jesus, the Messiah…

1. His sensitivity to the needs of the people
   While the disciples were just eager to send the crowd away, Jesus reaches out to them in compassion and love.
2. His ability to effect changes in the mind-set and thinking-pattern
   The disciples could see no way, in that desert to feed the gigantic crowd. They had only question marks before them.
   But Jesus, sheds new light on their minds and helps them find a solution, even in the seemingly impossible situation
3. His perfect control in a situation of panic
   Though there would have been panic in the minds of the disciples, Jesus impresses upon them the fact, that He is in total charge and in complete control.

The multiplication of the loaves fed a massive crowd.

Five thousand men could mean, that including women and children, it would have easily exceeded over twenty thousand people!
This easily was the miracle that Jesus performed with the greatest number of witnesses and participants.

As the Lord and Creator, He knows exactly what is to be done in the moment of crisis and calamity.

4. His attitude of raising His heart in thanksgiving at every situation
   We read that before the actual multiplication happened, Jesus “took the loaves, and gave thanks…” (Jn 6: 11)

It’s amazing to imagine that situation:
… Thousands and thousands of people, eagerly waiting, hungry and exhausted….
… Having just Five Loaves and the Two Fish – which was scarcely able to meet the hunger of a couple of people…
… Jesus still raises His Heart in thanksgiving and gratitude!

It is tremendous faith that allows a person to raise one’s mind in gratitude, even in the midst of utter poverty, deep need and barren nothingness!

5. His consciousness to gather the remaining pieces, after the miracle
   The Lord, “Who came save and seek the lost” is also highly mindful of gathering up the remaining broken pieces of the loaves.
   The disciples get trained to become aware of “what is often considered as wasteful” can also become resourceful!

The disciples are reminded that even things that are usually “discarded” and regarded as being “unwanted and useless”, can become sources of strength and nourishment!

This beautiful and unique miracle of the multiplication, is a reminder to each one of us also:

Am I able…
(1) … to be sensitive and responsive to the needs and desires of those around me?

(2) … to see the brighter side of life, with the Grace and strength from God, and rub the fragrance of this positivity onto others in my life?

(3) … to rise above the situations of panic and disturbances, and be calm, knowing that I have a God, who is ultimately in total and perfect control of every situation of turmoil?

(4)… to lift up my heart to the Lord, in thanksgiving, at every moment and situation of life, even when the chips are down or when I pass through the dark tunnels and the deep, despairing valleys life?

(5)… to be aware of the “unwanted” talents in me, the “excess” people of the society and the “discarded” peripherals of the world, and seek to make the best use of them and collect them to be part of the mainframe scene?

Let this amazing miracle of the multiplication be an inspiration to “offer the littleness of our lives” to the Lord …
… and to reach out in compassion to all those in need!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
THE CELEBRATION OF THE CHRISTIAN MYSTERY – THE SACRAMENT OF MATRIMONY – MARRIAGE IN GOD’S PLAN

Sacred Scripture begins with the creation of man and woman in the image and likeness of God and concludes with a vision of “the wedding-feast of the Lamb.”

Scripture speaks throughout of marriage and its “mystery,” its institution and the meaning God has given it, its origin and its end, its various realizations throughout the history of salvation, the difficulties arising from sin and its renewal “in the Lord” in the New Covenant of Christ and the Church. (CCC # 1602)

“Installing the Lord as the Alpha and Omega of all our activities and of our life itself!”

(Based on Acts 5:27-33 and Jn 3:31-36 – Thursday of the Second Week of Easter)

A few days back we celebrated the Easter Vigil.

The Easter Vigil is called as the mother of all vigils.

In the liturgy of the Easter Vigil, a Paschal Candle is prepared.

The priest marks the candle, in the shape of the Cross, Alpha and Omega – the first and the last Greek letters and the present Year, 2023

He uses the following words:
… Christ yesterday and today (on the vertical arm of the cross)
… the Beginning and the End (horizontal arm of the cross)
… the Alpha (alpha above the cross)
… and the Omega (omega below the cross)
… All time belongs to him (numeral 2 in upper left corner of cross)
… and all the ages (numeral 0 in upper right corner of cross)
… To him be glory and power (numeral 2 in lower left corner)
… through every age and for ever. Amen (numeral 3 in lower right corner)

These words declare the Supreme authority and Heavenly glory of Jesus, the Son of God.

However, it can happen so, that at times, in our life…
… such fundamental factors of faith are taken for granted…
… such basic truths of our spiritual life are presumed as known…

Therefore, it is sometimes good take a pause in our spiritual life, and ask ourselves, this fundamental question,

“Am I really trusting and believing in Jesus, as the True Son of God, the One who is all-powerful and Holy?”

“Is my faith and spirituality truly built on the great foundation, that the Lord is the ultimate beginning (Alpha) and the end (Omega) of everything?”

The Gospel of the day is an invitation to make this examination of the basics of our faith and spirituality and to renew our belief and trust in the Lord.

The Gospel passage begins with the verse, “The One who comes from heaven is above all” (Jn 3: 31)

This verse refers to the Divine origin of the Lord.

At the Annunciation, Angel Gabriel had announced to Mother Mary that Her child “will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High” (Lk 1: 32)

This Divinity of the Lord was affirmed by Him through the various works of wonders and great deeds…
… of healing many in afflictions and sicknesses
… of accepting many of the rejected and unwanted
… of strengthening many of the oppressed and the abused
… of preaching many on the need for repentance and striving to enter the Kingdom

His personality shone with Divinity….
His character radiated with Holiness…

He sought to become the Way-revealer, the Truth-instiller and the Life-giver.

He is the One “Whom the Father loves” and “to Whom the Father has given everything” (Jn 3:35)

Have we given our lives entirely to Him, who is above all things?

Have we entrusted ourselves entirely to Him, who has been entrusted everything by the Father?

When we totally surrender and entrust our loves to the Lord, we are filled with courage to be powerful witnesses of the Lord in the world – just as Early Christian Community.

Even when there were questioned and warned of not giving public witness, they had the courage to be fearless in their proclamation of Jesus and the Kingdom: “But Peter and the apostles answered, ‘We must obey God rather than any human authority!’”

Doing God’s Will becomes the priority for the one who offers one’s life to the Lord!

At the Holy Mass, one of the most beautiful prayers is called as the “Doxology”.
In this, we render all the praise to the Father, through the Son, in the Holy Spirit.

“Through Him, With Him, In Him…. O God Almighty Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all Glory and Honour is Yours, forever and ever, Amen!”

It would be good, to make the words of this prayer of the Doxology, our own, in our works and activities.

• This could be a conscious way of acknowledging the Divinity of the Lord in all our activities.
• This could be a meaningful way of saying that the Lord reigns in all our works and deeds.

Let us revive our hearts to firmly install the Lord as the Alpha (the beginning) and the True Omega (the end) of all our activities
… and of our life itself!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
THE SACRAMENTS AT THE SERVICE OF COMMUNION – THE SACRAMENT OF MATRIMONY

“The matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life…
… is by its nature ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring

This covenant between baptized persons has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament. (CCC # 1601)