“Being open and docile to God, the greatest lover of our life!”

(Based on Jas 1:1-11 and Mk 8:11-13 – Monday of the 6th Week in Ordinary Time, Year II)

This popular story is told of a woman who woke up one morning, turned to her husband and said, “Honey, I just had a dream that you bought me a new gold necklace. What do you think it means?”

He answered, “I don’t know, but Valentine’s Day is coming soon. Then you’ll know.”

A few nights later, she again woke up after having a dream. She said, “This time, I dreamed you gave me a pearl necklace. What do you think it means?”

“You’ll know on Valentines’ Day,” he replied.

The morning of Valentine’s Day, she again woke up telling him about her dream: “This time I dreamed that you brought me a diamond necklace. What do you think it means?”

“Please, be patient,” he said. “You’ll know tonight.”

That evening, the husband came home with a package – neatly covered with a shining golden wrapper – and gave it to his wife.

Delighted and with much expectation, she opened it…
… and found a book titled “The Meaning of Dreams!”

This humorous incident tells us that each of us have our own expectations of life…
… and each of us have our own way of fulfilling the expectations of others!

In our life of faith, God – the One Who loves us the most – expects us to be people who are always open and docile to His working in our life.

However, sometimes, we tend to become resistant and stubborn.

The Gospel of the Day, presents to us a group a people who remained stubborn and resistant…
… to the ways of the Lord
… to the workings of the Lord

The Gospel passage begins with the statement: “The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, asking him for a sign from heaven, to test him.” (Mk 8:11)

This single statement presents to us the repulsive attitude of the Pharisees towards Jesus and His ministry.

The statement tells us…

1. Their method of dealing with Jesus: “to argue with Him”

They sought to pick up and interpret the deeds of the Lord only from a negative dimension
They tended to destructively magnify, minute peripheral “apparent changes” that the Lord introduced

2. Their demand from Jesus: “Asking for a sign from heaven”

They failed to see the glorious signs that were offered by the Lord in healing and touching the lives of many people
They rejected the magnanimous sign that was presented by Jesus, in the multiplication of the loaves for thousands of people

3. Their purpose to check with Jesus: “to test Him”
   They showed a great lack of “sincerity to learn” and put forth interrogations without any intent of openness to the truth
   They remained totally closed to the Lord and came up with questions only to condemn and find faults with the Lord!

Resistance and lack of docility to the Will of God, along with stubbornness to their own way of thinking…
… made them not to experience the Transformative and Wonderful Presence of the Lord

And this is so true in our lives…

So often we miss the providential signs of the Lord
So often we fail to perceive the miracles that God works in our lives
So often we remain unenthusiastic in life because we don’t see His hand at work in us
… all this because, we fail to be open to the Will of God and remain stuck with our mentalities.

The Gospel of the Day reminds us of the expectation of God, the Greatest Lover of our life: Rely solely on the Lord!

Though not easy, it can bring forth much fruits in our lives!

Let us be open and docile to Him!

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 and when celebrated in a meaningful way, this Day becomes a Day…
… of “specially” recognizing the worth of the one(s) we love
… of showing our love and affection to the one(s) dear to the our heart

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

“Love” is highly commercialized and “sold”
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”

Whether this day truly becomes a day of “expressing genuine love and care”

Or whether it is more, a day of “externalities of ‘love-feelings’ taking the upper-hand…
… is a matter of debate, as well as a matter of one’s own personal choice and view.

But as a Christian, this day – 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 illustrates the real meaning of love…
… by leading us out of ignorance to true knowledge
… by inviting us to move from earthly riches to truly heavenly treasures

This is real and true love…
… a heart that makes one to move out of ignorance
…a heart that prompts in action to reach out to those in need of God’s true Word

Jesus, our True Lover… invites and challenges us to grow in this love!

Holding our hand, and with deep love and affection, He asks us:
“Will you be My valentine forever?”

Let’s not blush….let’s not be shy…

Instead in 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
DEATH

“It is in regard to death that man’s condition is most shrouded in doubt.”
In a sense bodily death is natural, but for faith it is in fact “the wages of sin.”
For those who die in Christ’s Grace, it is a participation in the death of the Lord…

… so that they can also share His Resurrection. (CCC # 1006)

“Making an offering to the Lord so that our life-journey is assured to be in safe hands!”

(Based on Jer 17:5-8, 1 Cor 15:12, 16-20 and Lk 6:17, 20-26 – 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C)

A highly rich and influential person was privileged to be one of the special guests to undertake a 21-day cruise on a Majestic Battleship.

This ship belonged to the former Emperor of the land, and had been modernized with immense facilities and luxurious features.

The man was highly impressed with the comforts that were provided on board.

Among the many things that made a pleasant impact on him was also the Sunday Morning Mass that was attended by all the sailors and attendants, who were not on duty.

It was more so, since the man himself was not so particular about the practise of faith.

At the conclusion of the celebration of the Mass, the man asked one of the sailors:
“Are you obliged to attend these Sunday Morning services?”

“It’s not exactly about obligation, Sir!” replied the sailor, “but our journey is assured to be in safe hands, by this our offering to the Lord!”

Those sailors and attendants had made a conscious and deliberate choice to practise their faith and to surrender themselves to the Higher Power for safety and protection.

Our lives are also similar to such cruises…
… sometimes going through calm and quiet waters
… sometimes struggling in disturbed and turbulent waters
… sometimes encountering dangerous storms and violent gales

Do we make a constant choice for the Lord and live ourselves in surrender to Him?

The Gospel of the Day is the beautiful teaching of the Beatitudes in the Gospel of Luke.

The beatitudes are assurances of blessing and joy to all those who make a conscious choice for the Lord and His Kingdom!

Jesus says, “Blessed are you poor, for yours is the Kingdom of God” (Lk 6: 20)

One of the great messages in this verse is the Message of Hope!

The Greek word used for “poor” is “ptochos”

Ptochos means…

Reduced to beggary or asking for alms
Destitute of wealth, influence, position, honour
Helpless, powerless to accomplish an end

It’s interesting to note that this word “Ptochos” has its origin in the word “ptosso” which means “to crouch”

Therefore, the “poor” literally means, “one who is crouching” – a position where the knees are bent and the upper body is brought forward and down

It’s a position that is very often defied and despised, in the worldly standards, which emphasizes on being proud and haughty!
It’s a position that is very often made fun of and fooled, in the eyes of the world, which glorifies pomp and external show!

Thus, when the Lord says, “Blessed are the poor”, it is a tremendous message of Hope…
… To those who find themselves at the peripheries of life
… To those lost in the miseries of life and find no hope – materially, spiritually, mentally, socially

Of course, the word “poor” does not mean…
.. that one simply becomes timid and passive or be simply submissive to any social evils without any resistance
… that one adopts an attitude of being “always hands folded” in surrender or “faces cast down” in defeat

“Poor” instead refers to the fact that one has God has one’s greatest strength and treasure

Being “poor in the Lord”, contradictory as it may sound, is the greatest richness that one can have.
Being “poor in the Lord” gives the greatest confidence to a person, who realises that being in God, one can never fail!

How true is the saying, “One who kneels before God, can stand before anyone!”

One who is dependant on God and His Grace…
One who is willing to challenge the societies unjust norms with the mighty trust in God…
One who is aware of one’s strengths and weaknesses and yet offers oneself entirely to the power of God…

Such a one, in the eyes of the world may be “poor”… but is “Blessed” in the sight of God!

Prophet Jeremiah assures us: “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord.

He is like a tree planted by water…
… that sends out its roots by the stream
… and does not fear when heat comes
… for its leaves remain green
… and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.” (Jer 17:7-8)

It takes courage to be a Christian who is committed!

It requires a conviction to be a follower of Christ who is passionate!

Let us realise that our life in the Lord “is not about obligation…
… but our journey is assured to be in safe hands, by our offering to the Lord!”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
DYING IN CHRIST JESUS

To rise with Christ, we must die with Christ: we must “be away from the body and at home with the Lord.”
In that “departure” which is death, the soul is separated from the body.

It will be reunited with the body on the day of resurrection of the dead (CCC # 1005)

“Moving out of the ‘zone of our limitations’ and trusting the Lord!”

(Based on 1 Kgs 12:26-32; 13:33-34 and Mk 8:1-10 – Saturday of the 5th Week in Ordinary Time, Year II)

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”

The Gospel presents to us the very familiar passage of the multiplication of loaves…
… the multiplication of seven loaves and a few small fish for about four thousand people, as recounted by St Mark.

A great crowd was with the Lord…
… and seeing the massive crowd, the Lord had compassion on them, and asked the disciples to give them something to eat…

“I have compassion for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way – and some of them have come from a great distance.” (Mk 8:2-3)

These words reveal the tender and compassionate Heart of our Blessed Lord…
… His great care and concern for everyone
… His sensitivity to the needs and hunger of all

It’s this compassionate Heart of the Lord that also challenged the disciples to, in turn, become compassionate to the crowds.

But as is the case often in life… “Challenges are usually met with opposition, resistance… and even grumbling!”

The disciples began to question and put forth their difficulty to the Lord: “How can one feed these people with bread here in the desert?” (Mk 8:4)

“How can we”… is a question that we often ask…
… in times of struggles and strains
… in moments of troubles and toils

It’s here that the Lord teaches us the beautiful and powerful lesson for every Christian: “If you cannot trust a person out of sight, then he/she is not worth much!”

With immense faith and authority… the Lord “ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground; and He took the seven loaves, and after giving thanks, He broke them and gave them to his disciples to distribute; and they distributed them to the crowd.

They had also a few small fish; and after blessing them, he ordered that these too should be distributed” (Mk 8:6-7)

Jesus is a picture of perfect calm and in total control of the situation!

And this IS Faith!
This IS Trust!

All of us are invited to have this faith and trust… in the Lord!

All of us are invited to have this dependence and reliance… on the Lord!

Jesus – our Compassionate Lord and the Epitome of Faith exhorts and challenges all of us:
Be a compassionate and merciful person, being sensitive to the needs of the other and translating your good thoughts into noble actions

Depend and Trust on the Lord at all times – even when the “bread and the fish” of life seem to be too minimal before the “crowd” of difficulties and challenges!

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…
… and thus sing with the Psalmist: “O Lord, You have been our refuge, from one generation to the next” (Ps 90:1)

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism

United with Christ by Baptism, believers already truly participate in the heavenly life of the risen Christ, but this life remains “hidden with Christ in God.”
The Father has already “raised us up with him, and made us sit with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”
Nourished with His Body in the Eucharist, we already belong to the Body of Christ. When we rise on the last day we “also will appear with Him in glory.”
In expectation of that day, the believer’s body and soul already participate in the dignity of belonging to Christ. This dignity entails the demand that he should treat with respect his own body, but also the body of every other person, especially the suffering:
The body [is meant] for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power.
Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ?

You are not your own… So glorify God in your body! (CCC # 1003-1004)

“Doing away with our monotonous life and living an enthusiastic life – with convictions and passions!”

(Based on 1 Kgs 11:29-32, 12:19 and Mk 7:31-37 – Friday of the 5th Week in Ordinary Time, Year II)

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 who had been possessed with demons 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 marveled!” (Mk 5:18-20)

This man went around to proclaim the Good News that he had experienced and that had healed him!

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!”

A real experience of the Lord can indeed be a source for many to believe in the Lord!

A true encounter with the Lord can indeed turn one to be a tremendous missionary!

And 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.

Jesus 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 mouth maybe often mute to speak the power of the Lord to others.
Our ears maybe closed very often to the cries of the poor and the needy,
Our mouth maybe often mute to speak for justice for the cause of 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!

On this Feast Day of our Lady of Lourdes, we seek the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary…
… to do away with our monotonous life – with mere opinions and fashions…
… and live an enthusiastic life – with convictions and passions!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
RISEN WITH CHRIST

Christ will raise us up “on the last day”; but it is also true that, in a certain way, we have already risen with Christ.
For, by virtue of the Holy Spirit, Christian life is already now on earth a participation in the death and Resurrection of Christ:
And you were buried with him in Baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead…

… If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. (CCC # 1002)

“Being ready to overcome the contagion of ‘blaming’”

(Based on 1 Kgs 11:4-13 and Mk 7:24-30 – Thursday of the 5th Week in Ordinary Time)

Many of us have grown up with an extra kid in the house!
We didn’t know it…
… but he was there at certain times!

His name was “Not Me.”

He always appeared when something wrong or bad happened.

Like when your mom asked:

“Who has messed up the front room and made this floor dirty?” (This unseen kid would answer, “NOT ME!”)

“Who has applied mud on the walls of the house?” (This unseen kid would answer, “NOT ME!”)

“Who has kept the tap water on and caused the water-tank to be almost emptied?” (This unseen kid would answer, “NOT ME!”)

“Who has broken the glass windows of our neighbours?” (This unseen kid would answer, “NOT ME!”)

This “unseen kid” often continues to accompany us…
… and shouts loud, when things don’t go well in life!

Our problems, often, find a scapegoat in this excuse called: “blaming”
Our defeats, often, find a cause in this contagion named: “blaming”

But the Gospel of the day presents an amazing personality who silences this “unseen kid of blaming” and wins for herself the favour of the Lord.

The Gospel passage is the incident of Jesus’ encounter with a Gentile woman who comes seeking for a cure for her daughter, from a demon.
“…a woman whose daughter had an unclean spirit, heard about Jesus. She came and fell at His feet” (Mk 7:25)

This person who came to Jesus went through a string of ignominies and exploitations…

1. She had to face humiliations because she was a woman…
   The Jewish society accorded a lowly and highly subjugated status to women
2. She had to face disgraces because she was a Greek…
   The Greeks, who were considered pagans by the Jews, were treated with inferiority.
3. She had to face dishonour because she was a Syrophoenician…
   A Syrophoenician denoted a mixed race – half Syrians and half Phoenician; thus denoting also a crisis in cultural and linguistic identity.
4. She had to face scandal because she had to approach Jesus who was a pure Jew…
   Greeks and especially Greek woman had no interaction at all with Jewish men
5. She had to face crisis because her child was possessed with an unclean spirit…
   A demon-possession in her beloved daughter would have chased away all her peace of mind.
6. She had to face challenge to her faith when the Lord addressed to her in an apparently disrespectful manner…
   Being called as a “dog” would have put off the mind of a weak and frail person

Well… this Syrophoenician Greek woman, had many things to complain in life…

She had a number of reasons to “blame” and get defeated in life…

She could have just “blamed” the society for their inhuman attitudes…
She could have just “blamed” the citizens for their class divisions…
She could have just “blamed” the civilization for their cruel outlooks…
She could have just “blamed” her stars and fate for what happened to her daughter…
She could have just “blamed” Jesus for His challenging and apparently resistant answer…

She could have just kept “blaming” anybody and anything….and get bogged down totally!

But this woman decides to silence this “unseen kid of blaming”

She decides to close her eyes to all humiliations and yet stand strong with a bold face!
She decides to overlook all setbacks and defy the odds with her deep convictions and trust!

As a result, the Lord rewards her immensely and her daughter was delivered of the demon!

Are we people who get easily afflicted by the contagion of “blaming?”
Are we people who are easily paralysed by the virus of “blaming?”

The Syrophoenician woman…
… by her tremendous faith and bold trust is a challenge to us.
… by her amazing determination and resolve is an inspiration for us.

Our society, our families, our own individual selves are often under the grip and possession of this contagion of “blaming”.

Let us approach the Lord for a deliverance…
Let us approach the Lord for a liberation…

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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CHRIST’S RESURRECTION AND OURS – HOW DO THE DEAD RISE?

This “how” exceeds our imagination and understanding; it is accessible only to faith.
Yet our participation in the Eucharist already gives us a foretaste of Christ’s transfiguration of our bodies: Just as bread that comes from the earth, after God’s blessing has been invoked upon it, is no longer ordinary bread, but Eucharist, formed of two things, the one earthly and the other heavenly…
… so too our bodies, which partake of the Eucharist, are no longer corruptible, but possess the hope of resurrection.
When? Definitively “at the last day,” “at the end of the world.”
Indeed, the resurrection of the dead is closely associated with Christ’s Parousia:
For the Lord himself will descend from heaven, with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call, and with the sound of the trumpet of God…

… and the dead in Christ will rise first (CCC # 997-998)

“Realizing the need to advance spiritually and socially – a holistic growth”

(Based on 1 Kgs 10:1-10 and Mk 7:14-23 – Wednesday of the 5th Week in Ordinary Time, Year II)

An elderly rehabilitation counsellor was sharing his knowledge…
… and inviting his students to learn from some of the experiences he had in life.

He spoke of how, early in his career, he found a young boy with several birth defects.

He arranged financial and medical help.
Skilled surgeons restored the child’s facial appearance.
Trained therapists taught him to speak and walk.
By his teens, the boy was able to take part in all the activities of other young people.

“What do you think has become of this young man?” the counsellor asked the students.

One guessed he was a great athlete;

Another, a skilled surgeon.
Another, that he also went on to became a counsellor

“No, none of these,” the retired counsellor said sadly.

“The young man today is a prisoner, serving a life sentence for murder.”

And he went on to tell: “We were able to restore his physical features and his ability to walk and act…
… but we failed to teach him where to walk, and how to act.

I was successful in helping the boy physically, but I failed to help him spiritually and socially!”

Are we growing only physically and externally?

Or are we also advancing spiritually and socially?

Are we having a holistic growth?

The Gospel of the Day is a strong act of Jesus reminding the Scribes and Pharisees to undergo the process towards holistic growth…
… and to do away with every trace 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 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 used to stamp the importance of rituals and traditions, which were meant to…
… only emphasize 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 impurity 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?

In the Old Testament, we read of how Queen Sheba travelled from far to behold the richness and the wisdom of King Solomon (1 Kgs 10:1-10)

As long as Solomon co-operated with the Grace of God, the blessings of the Lord filled his life
The greater He depended on the Wisdom of the Lord, the greater was the Lord’s Goodness that he experienced in life.

However, there could be certain times, when we fail to depend on the Lord…
… fail to do things in the right way

We fail to make the journey towards a holistic growth!

Let us realise that it’s not enough to have a physical or external growth…
… rather we need to advance spiritually and socially!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
Christ’s Resurrection and Ours – How do the dead rise?

How? Christ is raised with his own body: “See My hands and My feet, that it is I myself”; but He did not return to an earthly life. So, in Him, “all of them will rise again with their own bodies which they now bear,” but Christ “will change our lowly body to be like his glorious body,” into a “spiritual body”
But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?”
You foolish man! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies… and what you sow is not the body which is to be, but a bare kernel…

What is sown is perishable, what is raised is imperishable…. the dead will be raised imperishable…. For this perishable nature must put on the imperishable, and this mortal nature must put on immortality (CCC # 998-999)

“Having joyful countenances and radiating the Love and Mercy of Christ!”

(Based on 1 Kgs 8:22-23, 27-30 and Mk 7:1-13 – Tuesday of the 5th Week in Ordinary Time)

An elderly lady was known to always have a very pleasant countenance.

Anyone, who came in contact with her, would experience a sense of positivity.

They had never heard her criticizing or finding faults with people.

She was once asked by some of her neighbouring children on the secret of her joy.

She replied:
“I have always believed in avoiding to talk negative about people.

We need to be always good with the good.

But let us never be bad with the bad…

Because…
… we can shape a diamond with diamond

But we can’t wash mud with mud…!”

As human beings, we are constantly in the mode of “judging”

Judging in the sense of “choosing” or “making a selection” or “taking a decision”

But the Lord clearly warns us to be wary and careful in this act of “judging and criticising”

The Gospel of the Day presents Jesus “focussing” His view on this very critical and crucial topic: of judging others and of pinpointing mistakes of others, without considering one’s own negative dimensions.

The Gospel reading describes a group of Pharisees who criticize the disciples of Jesus for not following the “external traditions” and rituals.

They pinpointed the mistakes of the disciples…
… and exalted themselves

Jesus however reminds the Pharisees on an important aspect: Before judging and criticizing others…
… one ought to first examine one’s own behaviour and actions

Jesus reminded them that “true devotion consists not of mere external purity and rituals…
… rather is a way of life, with consistent and committed focos on the Spirit of laws, rules and regulations.

With this fundamental principle in mind, Jesus teaches us to avoid the tendency to “rashly judge and criticize others”

The Lord reminds us that our judging…
… should not be rash
… should not a final opinion on a person or situation
… should not be a means to putting down other persons
… should not be an unfair ruling on someone’s external behaviours

Maybe a simple list could help us check our areas of “judging”

Do I…
… enlarge the negatives of others – their faults, mistakes and petty ways?
… come to hasty and negative conclusions of situations or persons?
… get involved unnecessarily in situations where I should not?
… gossip critical stories and uncharitable tales regarding others?
… have a strong prejudice to find others guilty?
… be overly harsh and even ruthless, even when speaking the truth?
… add “spicy” remarks and “sensational” jingles when telling a real-story or event?
… do away with an unkind comment by simply saying, “I was just kidding!”
… speak something critical and then try to cover it up?
… be unkind and hurtful and then quickly change the subject, to impress the hurtful feeling?
… have pleasure in condemning others?
… recount the truth in order to hurt and not to help?
… put down others with an intention to let ourselves be seen better?

The Lord strongly warns to keep away from all these and many more acts of such “judgement”.

It is also good to consider judging from another perspective:
When somebody does an act, which we consider that it can be “judged”, there are two areas which we may not really know…

1. How hard the person has tried “not to do” that particular action

itr can be a sin, or a mistake or a failure or a blunder etc…

2. How strong were the external forces or the circumstances that “made the person to do” that particular action…

The Lord is serious on making us walk the “path of perfection”

Making efforts to become “less judgmental” is an essential part of this process.

Many of us may have perhaps have a tendency to find the faults and failures of others.

Let us make a conscious and consistent effort to avoid negative talk about people.

Let us realise that “we need to be always good with the good.

But let us never be bad with the bad…

Because, we can shape a diamond with diamond

But we can’t wash mud with mud…!”

We also seek the intercession of St Bakhita, whose feast we celebrate today.

This saint from Sudan – canonised in the year 2000 – is a powerful symbol of love and forgiveness.
She rose above the “blaming” characters in her society and displayed the fruits of love and forgiveness.

Concentrating more on the “positives”, the “brighter” and the “affirmative” areas of people and situations…
… let us also, always have joyful countenances, radiating the Love and Mercy of Christ!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism*
CHRIST’S RESURRECTION AND OURS – HOW DO THE DEAD RISE?

What is “rising”?
In death, the separation of the soul from the body, the human body decays and the soul goes to meet God, while awaiting its reunion with its glorified body. God, in his almighty power, will definitively grant incorruptible life to our bodies by reuniting them with our souls, through the power of Jesus’ Resurrection.

Who will rise? All the dead will rise, “those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment.” (CCC # 997-998)

“Allowing our lives to truly reflect the Paradise of God’s Reign!”

(Based on 1 Kgs 8:1-7, 9-13 and Mk 6:53-56 – Monday of the 5th Week in Ordinary Time, Year II)

A pious religious traveller once found a precious stone…
… a precious jewel.
>> A short time later, this religious person met another traveller, who said he was hungry and asked the monk if he would share some of his provisions.

When the pious man opened his bag, the traveller saw the precious stone and, without much thought asked him if he could have it.
>> To his surprise, the man gave the traveller the expensive stone.

The traveller departed quickly, overjoyed with his new possession.


However, a few days later, he came back, searching for the religious person.
>> He returned the stone to him and made a request:
“I request you to kindly give me something more valuable…
… more precious than this stone.

Please give me THAT which enabled you to give me this precious stone!”


Life may often bless us with many external riches and outer treasures.
>> But unless one finds a contentment within, none of these will ever satisfy or suffice.

What is needed in life, is not an external show…
… but rather, an internal glow!


The Gospel of the Day presents the importance of humbling oneself…
… in order to discover the true riches of life.


St Mark tells us that Jesus came to a place named Gennesaret…
“And when they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret… (Mk 6:53)


“Gennesaret” meaning a “Garden of a Prince” or the “Garden of riches”…
… was a fertile crescent-shaped plain on the western shore of the lake of Galilee.

It was an area where the “soil was so fruitful that all sorts of trees could grow upon it. The walnut, the palm, the olive and the fig, which usually require diverse conditions, flourished together here.”

The land was known for its riches and prosperity.


Yet, with all its riches and glory, Gennesaret, had also many struggles and sufferings

Though the people of Gennesaret had many riches, there were still many who were “in need” and “suffering and struggling”


And so, as soon as Jesus reached their land, the people of Gennesaret “scurried about the surrounding and country and began to bring in the sick on mats to wherever they heard He was” (Mk 6:55)


The people of Gennesaret
… rich in many aspects – financially, talent wise, relationally
… fertile in many aspects – having great visions and plans for future, systematic, disciplined
… fruitful in many aspects – popular, acceptable, having name and fame
Yet, recognised their “lack of many things”

And sought the help and touch of Jesus – the One Who alone could bring true contentment and joy.


Each of us need to look into our own lives and examine…

There are times when apparently things may be going on well
There are times when externally we engage in many happy and frolic moments

But…
… deep within, perhaps, there is a void and vacuum that we feel
… deep within, perhaps, we don’t feel much peace of mind and joy at heart


The people of Gennesaret teach us today on the need to “humble ourselves and replenish ourselves” in the Presence of the Lord – Who alone can bring us true joy and lasting peace!

Let us make our life a true “Gennesaret”…
… a Garden of Jesus, the Prince of Peace, Joy and salvation!
… a Garden of Riches of holiness, sanctity and grace!


Life may often bless us with many external riches and outer treasures.
>> But unless one finds a contentment within, none of these will ever satisfy or suffice.

May our lives…
… truly reflect the Paradise of God’s Reign!


God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
CHRIST’S RESURRECTION AND OURS – THE PROGRESSIVE REVELATION OF THE RESURRECTION
>> Jesus links faith in the resurrection to His own Person: “I am the Resurrection and the life.”
>> It is Jesus himself Who on the last day will raise up those who have believed in Him, who have eaten His Body and drunk His Blood.
>> Already now in this present life He gives a sign and pledge of this by restoring some of the dead to life, announcing thereby His own Resurrection, though it was to be of another order.
>> He speaks of this unique event as the “sign of Jonah,” The sign of the temple: he announces that He will be put to death but rise thereafter on the third day.
>> To be a witness to Christ is to be a “witness to His Resurrection,” to “[have eaten and drunk] with Him after He rose from the dead.”
>> Encounters with the Risen Christ characterize the Christian hope of resurrection. We shall rise like Christ, with Him, and through Him.
>> From the beginning, Christian Faith in the Resurrection has met with incomprehension and opposition.
>> “On no point does the Christian faith encounter more opposition than on the resurrection of the body.”
>> It is very commonly accepted that the life of the human person continues in a spiritual fashion after death. But how can we believe that this body, so clearly mortal, could rise to everlasting life? (CCC # 994-996)
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“Letting go of our fears, apprehensions, preconceptions and pride, in order to ‘fully trust’ in the Mighty Power of God’s Providence and experiencing His Awesome and Amazing Care for us!”

(Based on Isa 6:1-8, 1 Cor 15:1-11 and Lk 5:1-11 – 5th Sunday of the Year, Year C)

The town of Feldkirch, Austria in 1799 was faced with the prospects of being attacked by the armies of Napoleon.

It was an Easter Day and the sun shone brightly, letting the soldiers of the enemy being spotted.

The Town Council was called together, in haste, to consult what had to be done.

It was a situation of tension.
It was a time of immense distress.

After a long period of discussion, the dean of the Church made a proclamation:
“My brothers it is Easter Day!

We have been reckoning our own strength, and that fails.

Let us turn to God.

Ring the bells and have service as usual, and leave the matter in God’s hands?

It was a hard and (humanly speaking) a risky decision, but they agreed to do as he said.

Thus from the Church towers of Feldkirch, rang the boisterous and joyous peals of the bells, in honour of the Resurrection of the Lord.

The streets began to be filled with worshippers, hastening to the Church.

The enemy army, on hearing the sudden ringing of the bells, were taken aback with surprise and shock.

They came to a conclusion that the Austrian Army had arrived in order to relieve the place.
So they fled hastily!

The town of Feldkirch were saved from the possibilities of destruction and ruin!

Divine Providence had rescued a tiny town, who placed their trust in Him, from the deathly clutches of a mighty army!

Is my life of faith, characterized by a “Deep Trust in Divine Providence?”

The Gospel of the Day is a wonderful presentation of the marvels that can be witnessed when one place’s one’s complete trust in the Lord and surrenders one’s life – in action and deeds – to the Providence of the Lord.

Our Blessed Lord is fully into His ministry of preaching and proclaiming God’s Word (Lk 5:1)

The Word was transforming people…
… and in sometime, a wonderful transformation was to happen to a person, who would become a close follower of the Transforming Lord!

The crowds were thronging together, to hear the words of Jesus.

But, “standing by the lake, Jesus saw two boats by the lake” (Lk 5: 2)

The Gospel says that, “the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets” (Lk 5: 2b)

This verse, though little and appears insignificant carries a mighty message: the message of the Power of God’s Providence.

The fishermen, as we would later read, were Simon and James and John and others.

They had toiled the whole night… caught no fish, and were now, dejectedly, washing their nets.

The boat was empty – bereft of any fish!

But Divine Providence had a mighty plan in this “barrenness”

The emptiness of the boat allowed our Blessed Lord to enter it, and make it His Pulpit for preaching God’s Word!
The vacancy in the boat prompted our Blessed Lord to enthrone it, and make it His platform for calling His First Disciples!

Had there been fish in the boat…
… in all probability, the fishermen would be in it, sorting and cleaning the fish..
… and would have left no space for the Blessed Lord to preach from it

Had there been a mighty catch that night…
… in all probability, the boat, filled with the fish, would not have been there
… and the vehicle of “catching fish” would have missed the chance to be a “podium for proclaiming God’s Word”

Is my life, at this point, empty and barren… like this boat?

Maybe its been a long time I have been watching and expecting, patiently and faithfully, for my boat to be filled.
Maybe its being a horrible wait, sometimes even leading to frustration and hopelessness, for my boat to be filled

But can I trust Divine Providence, in having a purposive plan for this “emptiness and barrenness”?

Later on, Simon would be asked by our Lord to “put out into the deep and let the nets down for a catch” (Lk 5: 4)

It seemed illogical, pointless and hardly reasonable to Simon.

It seemed as a confronting questioning of Simon’s skills and abilities in his field of expertise

But Simon “let go” of his own prejudices, tiredness and (possible) humiliation…
… and trusted in the Mighty Providence of the One, who would be His Life and Master!

And this Trust did not fail him!

The net was filled with fish…

His mind was filled with feelings of awe…

His eyes were filled with tears of repentance…

His heart was filled with the joy of surrendering…

Here is a beautiful story of how…
A competent fisherman failed utterly in his field of competence…
… but is initiated into being a competent fisher of people, for the Kingdom of God!

As Christians, we do claim to be people of faith and belief.

But does this “faith” translate itself into real “trust”?

When hardships come in life, I may proclaim my faith with my lips
… But do I “trust” Him to take me through?

When emptiness fills my life, I may perform external works of faith
… But do I “trust” Him to utilize my barrenness, in the way He wants?

When toils of life yield no results… I may persist in saying that I have faith… But do I “trust” Him to grant me the fruits of labour, in His own time and in His own measure?

And if I really “trust” in the Lord…
… I would be a person of joy, going about my works without anxieties and radiating serenity and calm…

even when walking through the valleys of sufferings
even when sinking in the deluge of pain
even when surrounded by the clouds of uncertainty!

Yes, let us “let go” of our fears, apprehensions, preconceptions and pride in order to “fully trust” in the mighty power of God’s Providence…
… and experience His Awesome and Amazing Care for us!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
CHRIST’S RESURRECTION AND OURS – THE PROGRESSIVE REVELATION OF THE RESURRECTION

The Pharisees and many of the Lord’s contemporaries hoped for the resurrection.
Jesus teaches it firmly.
To the Sadducees who deny it, He answers, “Is not this why you are wrong, that you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God?”

Faith in the resurrection rests on faith in God who “is not God of the dead, but of the living!” (CCC # 993)

“Being filled with Wisdom, let us be a true shepherd according to the Heart of the Good Shepherd!”

(Based on 1 Kgs 3:4-13 and Mk 6:30-34 – Saturday of the 4th Week in Ordinary Time)

The French have a proverb, which states: “A good meal ought to begin with hunger.”

It is usually pretty hard to to enjoy a meal when one is not yet hungry.

But, when one is hungry…
… anything tastes good.

This hunger is of course, not only about physical hunger.

There are many other areas of life where we experience hunger…

Hunger for love…
Hunger for being wanted…
Hunger on emotional counts…
Hunger of the spiritual order…

These aspects of hunger…
… may never have a scientific statistic
… may never have flowcharts and pie diagrams to measure them

But these areas of hunger are a great reality and challenge, especially in our world today!

The Gospel of the Day presents Jesus who addresses not just “statistical” hunger but also such hunger of human needs which “may never get numerically counted”…
… with an invitation to always “hunger for God and to serve His people!”
“When He disembarked and saw the vast crowd, His Heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things” (Mk 6:34)

The Apostles, who were sent on the mission (Mk 6: 7-13) had returned back and reported all that they had done (Mk 6:30)

They had driven out many demons…
They had anointed many with oil who were sick and cured them… (Mk 6:13)

They would have rejoiced greatly, but they were also physically tired.

They would have been satisfied with their works, but they did not have even the time to eat (Mk 6:31)

The Apostles had done many works, but Jesus sensed that they were tired

The Apostles were happy with their ministry, but Jesus sensed that they were hungry.

And so the Good Shepherd invites them to come away to a deserted place and rest (Mk 6:31)

Like these Apostles, many times, this can be our case too…

We may be doing a lot of things…
… but are we still feeling spiritually tired?

We may be happy with what we are doing…
… but are we still hungry deep within?

The Good Shepherd invites us…
… to take some rest in Him
… to relax in His Holy Heart

As in the case of the Apostles, so is the case of the people…
The people had seen many miracles, but Jesus sensed that they were still not truly filled
The people had witnessed many wonders, but Jesus sensed that they were still lost and unguided.

And so the Good Shepherd, with a moved Heart, feels compassion on them (Mk 6:34)

Like these people, many times this can be our case too…

We may have witnessed God’s wonders…
… but are we still spiritually found wanting?

We may be glad to doing the minimum in our spiritual life…
… but are we still missing something?

The Good Shepherd encourages us…
… with His Divine Word
… by His Compassionate Love

There is indeed a great hunger in the world.

Saint Mother Teresa said: “Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty, than the person who has nothing to eat”

We may be people who hunger for love and acceptance…

Let us go to Jesus, the Supreme Lover of our lives

We may be people dejected and depressed in life…

Let us go to Jesus, the Ultimate Happiness of our lives

We may be people feeling unlucky and ill-fated in life…

Let us go to Jesus, the Absolute Destiny of our lives

In turn, we also meet people who go through such “hunger”…
…for love, for acceptance, for encouragement, for hope, for basics of life etc…

Do I recognise, in the first place, such requirements of needy people?

Does my heart move in loving compassion for them?

Can I be a Good Shepherd, like Jesus, to them?

Let’s pray like Solomon, who asked the Lord, not for “long life, or riches or the life of enemies” (Cf. 1 Kgs 3:11)…
… But for Wisdom

We also seek the intercession of St Agatha, a brave girl who suffered martyrdom in the 3rd century Roman persecution, on her feast day

This fragile girl was able to challenge the domination of the might Roman Empire, only because, she made her little heart, “a rich garden of virtues” and Jesus could reign there as King!

Let us be filled with His Wisdom…
… and making our hearts “a rich garden of virtues,” let us be a true shepherd according to the Heart of the Good Shepherd!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism*
CHRIST’S RESURRECTION AND OURS – The progressive revelation of the Resurrection

God revealed the Resurrection of the dead to His people progressively.
Hope in the bodily resurrection of the dead established itself as a consequence intrinsic to faith in God as creator of the whole man, soul and body.
The creator of heaven and earth is also the one who faithfully maintains His covenant with Abraham and his posterity.
It was in this double perspective that faith in the resurrection came to be expressed.

In their trials, the Maccabean martyrs confessed: The King of the universe will raise us up to an everlasting renewal of life, because we have died for his laws. One cannot but choose to die at the hands of men and to cherish the hope that God gives of being raised again by him (CCC # 992)