The Canadian author, Thomas Costain in his historical novel “The Three Edwards” speaks of the life of a 14th century Duke named Raynald Ill.
>> Raynald was extremely overweight and was commonly called by his Latin nickname “Crassus” which meant ‘fat’!
This Duke Raynald, after a violent quarrel, suffered defeat in a revolt by his younger brother Edward.
Edward captured Raynald, but did not kill him.
Instead he imprisoned Raynald in a room in the castle…
… and promised that he could regain his title and property, if he was able to escape from the room.
This task – to escape from the room – would have been pretty simple for most people, since the room had several windows and a door; none of which was locked!
But Raynald had a problem…. His size… His uncontrolled appetite!
Edward knew his elder brother…
… and He very well knew this weakness as well!
Each day, therefore, Edward send him a variety of delicious foods!
>> Instead of dieting his way out of the room, he began to relish on the grand food served to him…
… and Raynald grew fatter!!
When Edward was questioned by the people on his cruelty for having captured his elder brother, he would reply, without any qualms:
“My brother is not a prisoner. He may leave when he so wills.”
The story goes on to say that Raynald stayed in that room for ten years and wasn’t released until after Edward died in battle.
>> But by then his health was so ruined, that he died within a year!
Raynald died…
… as a prisoner of his own appetite!
How often is this a reality in our spiritual lives as well!
>> Sin sometimes captures our hearts so much…
.. that we are unwilling to let go, and thus wither in our sinful state
>> Immorality and transgressions take over our lives so much…
… that we become slaves, and remain much bound to them.
The Gospel of the Day is a powerful call by Jesus to make an honest examination of our state of life, and check whether we are imprisoned by sin…
… especially from the perspective of immorality and decadence in our ethical system.
Our modern society is often a rude and mute witness to many inhuman atrocities and abuses, especially against women.
>> The world seems to be more and more losing, the sense of sin!
In this context, it’s shocking to read the words of Jesus in today’s Gospel reading:
“Anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has committed adultery in his heart”! (Mt 5:28)
Jesus’ words pierces through the heart!
>> He gives no space for lame excuses and silly explanations…
… he hits straight at the target!
SIN consists not in some external actions alone…
…..but SIN is conceived and given birth in one’s heart!
When we consider the society in which we live in, we find that…
Immorality is on the rise….
>> We pass through cities and towns..
>> We look through newspapers and magazines…
>> We scan across websites, swanky apps and fancy shops…
.. and we find that… Immorality is, indeed, on the rise!
Immoral pictures, sensual visuals, inhuman portrayal of persons, double-meaning talks have somehow become the order of the day!
>> We are very often surrounded by filth and lewdness in our society.
Satan, the father of deception scatters the seeds of immorality and lust everywhere!
It’s here, that a Christian needs to be on the watch.
>> It is our duty as Christians, to preserve our hearts from this dangerous contagion.
The beatitudes tell us, “Blessed are the pure in heart, they shall see God” (Mt 5: 8)
We have a duty…
… to preserve ourselves from Impurity!
… to protect others in their dignity and honour!
…to awaken the society which is often, deadened in immorality & perversion!
Let us examine our lives and check.. “Am I becoming a prisoner of my own appetite?”
… being a slave to lustful thoughts or immoral patterns of attitudes
… being indifferent to a society which strips itself of all dignity in the name of liberty and freedom
The Lord very powerfully challenges us to be totally intolerant to casting away sin and sinful tendencies from our life…
>> ” If your right eye causes you to sin… tear it out and throw it away” (Mt 5: 29)
>> ” If your hand causes you to sin… cut it off and throw it away” (Mt 5: 30)
Sin has no place in a world of mercy and love!
>> Mercy places an obligation that all sin be rid off!
>> Love demands that all wrongdoing be cast away!
Let the words of St Antony of Padua be given heed to:
“Anyone, then, who desires to live chastely in Christ Jesus, must flee not only the mouse of lust, but even from its very scent.”
Let’s awake, Dear Christians…
… Purify our World and live in Sanctity and Holiness…
Let us free ourselves from the “imprisonment of our appetites” and experience the “glorious liberty” of the Children of God!
God Bless! Live Jesus!
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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – ” The soul which rises from out of sin to a devout life has been compared to the dawn…
… which does not banish darkness suddenly, but by degrees.
>> That cure which is gradually effected is always the surest!”
>> His tales are mostly voyage stories – fantastic adventure stories through the seas of Africa and South Asia.
One of the tales narrates of how Sinbad and his sailors landed on an island.
On arriving, they saw coconuts, high up on the trees; which could very well quench their thirst and satisfy their hunger.
>> But these coconuts were far beyond their reach.
However, they noticed a large number of monkeys on the branches of the trees.
>> Soon enough, Sinbad and his men, began to throw stones and sticks up at the apes.
This enraged the monkeys and they began to seize the coconuts…
… and hurl them down at the men on the ground.
This was exactly what Sinbad and his men wanted!
They got the monkeys so angry…
… that they gave in to satisfy the needs of those who made them angry!
This is exactly what anger does…
… we play ourselves, into the hands of those who cause us to lose our temper!
We end up “reacting”…
.. than “responding”!
The Gospel of the day is a teaching by Jesus on this very important concern of Christian Life: Anger.
Killing is considered to be a serious evil in every society and every religion.
>> Killing in its basic form is usually considered only in the sense of the physical body.
But the Lord today presents a higher perspective in the understanding of killing…
“You have heard that it was said to the men of old, ‘You shall not kill’; and whoever kills shall be liable to judgment’.
>> But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be liable to the judgment….” (Mt 5: 21)
The Lord expands the understanding of killing beyond the physical body…
A person engages in an act of killing… if, by anger…
…the emotional state of the other person is injured
…the spiritual balance of the other person is wounded
We could understand anger from various perspectives…
1. Anger as Quick temper
Prov 15:18 says, “An ill-tempered man stirs up strife…”
It is said that speak when one is angry, one makes the best speech that would be regretted much!
Quick temper sometimes…
… forms part of our temperament
… comes even unknowingly
… is instigated by other’s actions
Yet, in all this, one ought to…
… rise quickly from remaining in the state of anger.
… become conscious of the occasions which can excite anger
… see that the temper is not fed or nurtured or intensified
2. Anger which leads to stubbornness
Eph 4:26: “…. do not let the sun to set on your anger”
Sometimes, the anger within is allowed to grow so much…
…that we get habituated to getting angry for even tiny and trivial matters
…that we lose our peace of mind, and sometimes even become indifferent
…that we choose not to budge from our position or viewpoint and remain adamant
Yet, we need to make efforts…
… to try to overcome our ego and self mentality and seek to make amends with the person
… to lower oneself in humility (even if we are right) and ease the situation of annoyance
Anger needs to be sanctified…channelled in the proper way!
One may feel a ‘just’ anger at….
… the immense corruption in the world and even in religious circles
… the forces of evil that seem to root away even faint traces of hope
… the indifferent and unchanging attitudes and temperaments of people which is sickening.
Yet… even these ought to get channelled properly
…even these ought to be routed in the right manner
Yes… even our just anger needs to be sanctified and purified in the burning furnace of God’s Love.
>> Anger is indeed a major tendency that is a cause of distress for many of us.
>> Anger is indeed a prime inclination that is a root of sin for many of us.
There are moments, when anger captures us and we throw ourselves into people…
… throw words which are not appropriate
… throw emotions that would cause shame and guilt later
… throw actions and deeds that would cause pain and injury
Let us seek to make genuine, practical and realistic efforts in the fight to sanctify and purify our anger.
Undoubtedly…
… it is painstaking
… it requires deeper attempts
… it requires committed determination!
But the Lord assures His grace to help us and His Love to encourage us!
Let us make efforts to be people, who not simply “react”…
… instead, in patience and gentleness, seek to “respond”!
Today we celebrate the Feast of St Antony of Padua…
… one of the most loved Saints, all over the world.
He is popularly invoked by those who have trouble finding lost objects.
But in own day, he was more popular as the “Hammer of Heretics”…
… due to the powerful witness of his life and preaching.
An account in the life of St Antony tells of an Ordination of some Franciscan and Dominican friars both…
… and the superiors desired that someone be designated to preach.
With no one prepared to speak, St Antony was pressed by the other friars in attendance (both Franciscans and Dominicans) to take on the unprepared task.
He hesitated…
… but was encouraged by the others to speak “whatever the Spirit of God gave him to say.”
Anthony proceeded to preach with great brilliance, to the shock of all those in attendance!
His zeal, oratory skill, and many conversions won him the title “Hammer of Heretics.”
>> His brilliance made him the foremost preacher in his day.
May the Powerful Intercession of the “Hammer of Heretics” – St Antony of Padua…
…. help us to live “the lifestyle of peace and gentleness” which is sometimes “lost” in our world of temper and anger.
God Bless! Live Jesus!
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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “I state absolutely and make no exception, do not be angry at all…
… if that is possible.
>> Do not accept any pretext whatever for opening your heart’s door to anger.”
Our times are such that there are many advancements made as a result of great technology.
However a danger has also appeared in rendering things to be made “____less”
Our prayers seem to be devotionless
Charity heartless
Preaching depthless
And religiosity, faithless!
While it’s wonderful to allow technology and modern techniques to make our life ‘easier and relaxing’…
… it’s a grave danger to allow the same “relaxing and easing” tendency to overpower our spiritual endeavours!
The Gospel of the day is a warning by the Lord to be wary of this inclination to “relax” and “loosen” things which are pertaining to God and thus be exposed to the risk of being “lowered” in the eyes of God.
“Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven… “(Mt 5: 19)
The Lord addresses Himself as the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets (Mt 5:18)
God, in the Old Testament, while delivering the commandments to the people of Israel, had strictly enjoined on them to keep His decrees and laws close to their hearts and to follow them carefully:
“But take care, as you value your lives! Do not forget the things which you yourselves have seen, or let them slip from your heart as long as you live; teach them, rather, to your children and to your children’s children.” (Dt 4:9)
But as time passed on and generations went by, the intensity in the following of these commandments drastically reduced.
· The laws began to lose their original spirit and motive.
· The instructions of the Lord were abandoned for their spiritual value
· The commandments began to be followed more from a social perspective
There began a “loosing” and “relaxing” of the commandments and the laws of the Lord!
The Greek word for “relaxing”, that Jesus speaks of in referring to the commandments of God is a word – “luo”.
This word “luo” can imply different meanings:
· It could be to break up or to demolish or to destroy that which is bound up firmly.
· It could be the loosening of the bond of matrimony between a husband and wife
· It could be to loosen any person or thing that is tied or fastened to something
· It could be the undoing or dissolving of anything or any thought or idea.
· It could be to annul or subvert something especially laws or authority.
This “luo” is a grave danger to which all of us are also exposed to…
>> The danger to allow lethargy to troop in, in the name of “easiness”
>> The danger to allow lukewarmness to creep in, in the name of “convenience”
>> The danger to allow sluggishness to dominate, in the name of “broadmindedness”
The Lord today invites us to examine and probe into areas of our life that needs a real “tightening” and “intensification”
Has my prayer life become relaxed and casual…
>> Can I “tighten” it up, to grow in deeper communion with the Lord?
Has my participation in the Holy Eucharist become too monotonous and more “ritualistic”…
>> Can I “intensify” my preparation and participation in this most sacred act of the world?
Has my reading of the Word of God taken a backseat or lost its significance in my daily life…
>> Can I “tighten” it up, in order to draw strength from the mighty sword of God’s Word?
Has my relationship with my fellow people and the needy ones, devoid charity and kindness…
>> Can I “intensify” with a truer interest in their concerns and making a difference in their lives?
Let us seek to have and live…
A life that is sinless…
A faith that is fearless…
An enthusiasm that is limitless…
A joy that is deceitless…
And a hope that is endless!
God Bless! Live Jesus!
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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “It is not those who commit the least faults who are the most holy
>> But those who have the greatest courage…
… the greatest generosity
… the greatest love
… who make the boldest efforts to overcome themselves, and are not immediately apprehensive about tripping.”
A story is said of a man who lived a very fine life.
>> Being a carpenter, he had helped in the construction works of the church.
>> He was also very benevolent in helping people who needed his counselling and guiding skills
However, at a particular phase in his life, many things went wrong…
>> His wife had a sudden death and the man found himself at a deep loss
>> There was also a financial crisis that he faced, with a few people exploiting his simple innocence
These and many other experiences left him quite broken, dejected and defeated.
It was at this time, that attending a Sunday Mass, he heard the priest preaching on the Love and Providence of God.
>> The sermon touched him much… the Word of God moved him greatly.
After the Mass, he approached the priest to have a talk with him
>> The priest welcomed him cordially, and the two spoke for a long time.
After his sharing, the man felt extremely relieved and coming back home, he told his neighbour:
“What a man he is…!
“When I went into his office, all the stars had fallen out of my skies – but one by one he put them back again…
I feel so much stronger and hopeful, now…!
Experiences in life are often such…
… unfair and unjust
… partial and discriminatory
We therefore are in need of encouragements in life…
… to lift our sagging spirits
… to raise our deadened hopes
… to boost our depressed minds
In situations where “the stars fall out of our skies”…
… we need encouragements and support to have them ” one by one, be put back again!”
Today, Holy Mother the Church celebrates the Feast of St Barnabas – who was an immense source of encouragement…
… and invites us to also become persons of encouragement to others.
In the Bible, there are many characters and personalities, who assume great importance and are in the highlight, by virtue of their words and deeds.
>> But there are also a few, who remain in the background, and yet are strong and powerful characters…
… St Barnabas, whose feast we celebrate today, is one such personality.
The word “Barnabas” in Greek means… “the Son of Encouragement”.
>> And true to his name, St Barnabas lived a life, “encouraging” the Christian Faith.
It’s amazing to see the very many practical ways in which St Barnabas can be a model and example for our Christian lives
>> Let’s pick up a few areas in which St Barnabas was a source of encouragement…for our practical Christian life.
1. Religiously:
Barnabas was of the tribe of Levi (Acts 4:36)
>> The tribe of Levi served particular religious duties for the Israelites and had political responsibilities as well.
The spirit of a strict Jewish System was much strong in Levites.
Yet, Barnabas breaks away from that strict religious system, to embrace Christianity – all for the Love of Jesus and His Church.
>> Am I willing to let go of my many faith-prejudices and false religious-notions and embrace Christ and His Church, for the love of Jesus and His Kingdom?
2. Cultural
Barnabas was from Cyprus, in Turkey (Acts 4:36)
… and yet, he becomes a missionary to work in Jerusalem and other far-away places.
He transcends cultures and places, and moves beyond his own cultural, linguistic and ethnic boundaries – all for the Love of Jesus and His Church.
>> Am I willing to let go beyond my cultural, linguistic and ethnic barriers, for the love of Jesus and His Kingdom?
3. Financially
When the Early Church was in need, Barnabas sold his field, and gave the money to the Apostles (Acts 4:37)
He was sensitive to the needs of the Church and was willing to be self-giving – all for the love of Jesus and His Church.
>> Am I willing to let go of my richness, possessions and attachments, for the Love of Jesus and His Kingdom?
4. Psychologically
St Paul, after his dramatic conversion, was not easily accepted by the Early Church because of his ignominious past (Acts 9:26).
But Barnabas took the lead in helping Paul to be part of the preaching ministry, as Scripture testifies:
“But Barnabas took him (Paul) and brought him to the Apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus” (Acts 9:27)
It was St Barnabas who supported and encouraged St Paul, in his initial days of struggle – all for the Love of Jesus and His Church.
>> Am I willing to accept and encourage people who are misunderstood and are mistreated, for the love of Jesus and His Kingdom?
e. Spiritually
St Barnabas was a person mightily filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 11:24)
>> Yet, he was happy and content to ‘play second fiddle’ – playing the minor and supportive role to St Paul, in his missionary endeavours.
He was willing to remain humble and meek – all for the Love of Jesus and His Church.
>> Am I willing to let go of my tendencies of spiritual pride, and instead remain humble and meek, for the love of Jesus and His Kingdom?
St Barnabas, remains a humble yet powerful challenge to our Christian lives.
>> He is one of the many unsung heroes of Christianity.
In life, we come across many who are broken and dejected, sad and hopeless…
>> We find many who “have the stars fallen out of their skies”
Can we become persons who encourage, console and strengthen them, “by one by one, putting back the stars” in their life?
St Barnabas invites and exhorts us…
… Are we willing to be a “Child of Encouragement?”
Happy Feast of the “Apostle of Encouragement”!
God Bless! Live Jesus!
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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “Never confuse your mistakes with your value as a human being.
You are perfectly valuable, creative, worthwhile person simply because you exist.
>> And no amount of triumphs or tribulations can ever change that!”
An elderly person was given a latest model of a mobile phone, on his birthday by his son, who lived abroad.
Seeing the phone, the man exclaimed:
“Oh son! This piece of technology is just of no use for me!
I do not belong to your generation. This gadget is too complicated for me!”
But as he made this comment, he also saw a little letter attached.
>> It was a letter from his son.
It read thus:
“Dear Father, Wish you a very Happy Birthday!
On this special day, I am presenting this latest phone for your use.
I know that you will react by saying it is of no use for me
But knowing you, I have also attached a simple-to-use manual…
… a booklet, that I myself have prepared so that you can use the phone without any hassles.
Wish you a happy time using the phone and hope to hear you soon!”
The man was pleasantly surprised, and saw another booklet which read “Manual for use” with its table of contents:
1. Usage instructions,
2. Safety instructions
3. Assembly and Installation instructions
4. Maintenance instructions.
5. Troubleshooting instructions
6. Service locations
7. Product technical specifications.
8. Warranty information
These 8 instructions were to help the man to make the best use of the product and get the maximum out of it.
Seeing the 8 instructions, the man immediately exclaimed:
“Oh this is so wonderful!
These 8 instructions are just like the 8 beatitudes that Jesus had given, for make the best use of our life here on earth and get the maximum out of it!”
Yes…
>> Just as Instructional Manuals become guidelines for better usage, greater effectiveness and higher appreciation…
… Our Christian spiritual life also needs an Instructional Manual…
… for better fruitfulness
… for greater effectiveness
We have concluded a journey of fourteen weeks (nearly 100 days) of walking intimately with the Lord in His Passion, Death, Resurrection and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit…
… starting with the Ash Wednesday in the season of Lent
… through the Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday
… the Ascension and the Feast of the Holy Spirit – the Pentecost.
As we resume the Ordinary times of the Liturgical year, we are presented with the message to make an examination of the “quality of our life of faith”, through the Eight Beatitudes.
The Gospel of the Day – the 8 Beatitudes: one of the most beautiful passages of the B.I.B.L.E. (sometimes expanded as being “Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth!”
Or “Behold I Bring Life Eternal!”)…
…. presents to us a ready reference Instruction Manual with 8 instructions, on how to live as a True Follower of Christ.
The passage begins with the sentence, “Jesus went up to the mountain and SAT DOWN…and HE BEGAN TO TEACH them” (Mt 5:1)
In the Jewish Tradition, the Rabbi (teacher) would sit and teach.
>> The Hebrew word ‘Rabbi’ is derived from “rav”, which means ‘Great One’.
When St Matthew specifically mentions that “Jesus sat down and taught”, Jesus is presented as the Rabbi: The Great One – The Teacher – Who speaks with great authority.
Jesus is the New Moses, who presents the “New Law- the law of Absolute Love!“
What is this teaching of such great authority?
>> It’s a teaching which calls for a reversal of the worldly values!
>> It’s a teaching that turns the worldly standards of greatness upside down!
The world holds in high esteem the aspects of power, prestige, richness and prosperity.
>> The yardstick of greatness of people is very often measured in terms of these external achievements.
But Jesus, the teacher-par-excellence, reverses this false notion of the world…
… And pronounces BLESSEDNESS to the poor, the mourning, the meek, the hungry and thirsty, the merciful, the clean of heart, the peacemakers and the persecuted ones!
High jumpers while competing with each other, keep raising the bar higher and higher, to achieve victory.
>> Similarly, the Beatitudes that are pronounced by Jesus raises the bar – the standards of Christian life are raised to a great proportion.
All the beatitudes, focus on one aspect: The need to lower oneself and instead to understand that “God alone suffices!”
Very often many questions pop up in our minds…
…. “Why is my life full of suffering, though I seek to live a genuine life?”,
… “Why do the unjust prosper, and the people who pursue for justice fail to receive rewards?“
… “Why does success elude me whereas those who adopt wrong means bask in achievements?”
It’s hard to give a downright answer to such questions…
… but the Beatitudes gives us a glimpse into the mind of Jesus: That in all such occasions, our attitude ought to be, ” God alone suffices!”.
“God alone suffices” ought to be our mantra…
… when we find ourselves at the receiving end, even though after having worked hard, we don’t find the expected success
… when we are still subject to persecutions and hardships even though we live in honesty and truthfulness
Of course, this teaching is hard to follow…may even seem impractical…!
>> Yet, we are not alone..
… Jesus the teacher, Himself is our Model and Example.. He walked the talk!
Hanging on the Cross, Jesus became the epitome of the Beatitudes that He Proclaimed…
… He was the One Who was Poor, Mourning, Meek, Hungry and Thirsty, Merciful, Clean of Heart, Peacemaker and the Persecuted One!
Today let us look to Jesus, the Teacher and the One who lived out the Beatitudes, and make our Christian life more meaningful!
>> In the words of Fulton Sheen, “It’s hard to be a Christian… but it’s harder not to be one!”
May the Divine Instructional Manual given by Jesus on the Mount became the pattern for us to lead a Committed Christian Life!
Today we also celebrate the Feast of Mary, the Mother of the Church.
>> Mother Mary is the Model for all in the Church to “always say YES to God’s Will and live a Committed Life as a Follower of Christ!”
Mosaic of Mother of the Church, St Peters Square, Vatican City
This feast which has been brought promulgated from last Year…
… is to be celebrated every year on the Monday after Pentecost.
One of the primary reasons for the celebration of this Feast is “to foster Marian piety and the Maternal sense of the Church.”
Pope Francis says that, “this celebration will help us to remember that growth in the Christian life must be anchored…
… to the Mystery of the Cross
… to the oblation of Christ in the Eucharistic Banquet
… and to the Mother of the Redeemer and Mother of the Redeemed!”
The Marian title of “Mother of the Church,” was given to the Blessed Mother by Pope Paul VI at the Second Vatican Council.
The Gospel Passage – Jn 19: 25-34 – presents the “Model of the Church”
>> Jesus, the Head of the Church
>> Mary, the Mother of all the children in the Church
>> The Beloved Disciple, who stands for all the members of the Church
This “Model Church” stands as a witness and an example for the Church, to “always seek and do God’s Will!”
Mother Mary is the first Evangelizer and the first Disciple of Her own Son and Lord, Jesus the Christ!
Mother Mary is not just the biological Mother of Jesus…
… but, by doing the Will of the Father perfectly, She is also His Spiritual Mother!
>> Thus Mary is the Mother of the Church!
As St Maximilian Kolbe says, “If anyone does not wish to have Mary Immaculate for his Mother, he will not have Christ for his Brother!”
Yes, doing the Will of the Father…
… is the DNA that joins all the members of the Family of God
May our Blessed Mother Mary, the Mother of the Church intercede and pray for all of us…
… to be faithful and witnessing members of the Church.
Happy Feast Day of Mary, the Mother of the Church…
… to all Her Little Children of God!
God Bless! Live Jesus!
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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “Let us run to her, and, as her little children…
… cast ourselves into her arms with a perfect confidence
An incident is told of a great ship that was stranded off the coast of South America.
Week after week, the ship lay there, in the still ocean waters with not a hint of a breeze.
The captain was desperate; the crew was dying of thirst.
>> The salty ocean waters stared at the members of the ship.
Finally, one day, on the far horizon, a steamship appeared.
As this tiny boat, approached them, the captain of the great ship called out:
“We need water. Give us water!”
The steamship replied: “Lower yourselves, and life will be yours!”
The captain – an experienced person, and who knew that it was impossible to get potable water from the oceans – was infuriated.
But the steamship gave the same reply, “Lower yourselves, and life will be yours!”, and sailed away.
The captain was all by himself – feeling angry and desperate!
But a little later, when no one was looking, a cleaner boy of the ship, lowered a bucket into the sea and then tasted what he brought up: It was perfectly sweet, fresh water!
How was that possible?
The ship had been stranded, just out of the oceans, into the mouth of the River Amazon (Amazon makes up for nearly 1/5th of the earth’s fresh waters!)
For weeks together, they had been sitting on top of all the fresh water that they needed.
>> But it remained undiscovered!
So it is, often, with our Christian Lives as well!
What we are really seeking, is already inside us: Waiting to be discovered!
>> The Holy Spirit, Who has been dwelling within us, from our Baptism, gently whispers to us: “Lower yourselves, and life will be yours!”
Today, on this Great Day of Pentecost, we are invited to open our hearts to recognize the Power of the Holy Spirit…
… and to become aware of the inherent greatness in our vocation as Christians.
Pentecost (detail), El Greco, 1600, Museo del Prado, Madrid
On the day of Pentecost, in the Upper Room, as the disciples were gathered in prayer, along with Blessed Mother Mary, “the Holy Spirit filled the entire house in which they were” (Acts 2:2)
It is to be noted that the word used to describe the coming of the Holy Spirit is the Greek word “aphno” which means “suddenly”
>> “And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind…” (Acts 2: 2)
The coming of the Holy Spirit was “sudden”.
>> This energetic entry of the Holy Spirit is a glimpse to one important characteristic of the person of the Holy Spirit: Vitality!
The Holy Spirit is a spirit of life… of energy… of vivacity… of animation… of dynamism!
>> Where the Holy Spirit is, there is the great movement of the will, the mind and the heart!
It was this “sudden” coming of the Holy Spirit that transformed the small group of Jesus’ disciples into mighty warriors of the Kingdom of God.
Fear was transformed into power…
> Timidity was changed into boldness…
>> Uncertainty was converted into conviction…
Our own lives need an encounter of this “life-transforming” experience.
>> Is my Christian life, dull and slow – merely laced with routine actions of prayers and sacraments?
>> Is my life of faith, lethargic and tepid – simply being pulled on, without any particular awareness or lived without any enthusiasm?
… then, we need the mighty movement of the Holy Spirit to impress life and vitality to our life and our faith!
The Holy Spirit is undoubtedly one of the most shy person of the Blessed Trinity and therefore, also often, neglected in our daily prayers or devotion
>> The study and awareness of the Holy Spirit is certainly, in general, given lesser priority and importance in comparison to the other Persons of the Trinity
>> The Feast of the Pentecost is very often not accorded the “solemn” tone in comparison to other feasts like Christmas or Easter
But let us realize, that in the Holy Spirit and in the celebration of this Feast, we have a great treasure to cherish and enjoy.
>> Each Christian ought to build an intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit.
>> Each Christian must become more aware of the role of the Holy Spirit in daily living
How wonderful it would be if we could inculcate a few practical resolutions to grow in our intimacy and union with this Powerful and Dynamic Personality of the Blessed Trinity:
1. Wishing “Good Morning, Holy Spirit ” to Him as we begin the day, thanking for His protection and seeking His help through the day
2. Invoking a tiny chaplet, “Come Holy Spirit, fill our hearts and minds” as we begin a particular activity or work
3. Making a short examination of conscience at the end of the day, introspecting our lives in overcoming sin, being grateful for His guidance and seeking to grow spiritually in holiness, with the power of the Holy Spirit
4. Co-operating with the Holy Spirit to become effective agents of unity in our homes, our communities, our places of work and our churches.
5. Purposely creating a few seconds of silence in the schedule of our works or our activity or through the course of the day, and talking to the Holy Spirit, as a friend, in the cave of our heart
6. Listening to the still, gentle voice of the Holy Spirit in the depths of our being, speaking to us to be more active to read God’s Word in the Bible and to partake of the Sacraments more frequently especially Confession and Holy Eucharist.
The Lord has blessed our lives with the gift of the Holy Spirit.
> He longs to be empower our lives…
>> He earnestly wants to be in total control of our lives…
But for this, He needs our permission…
A permission in the form of…
… longing for Him
… making sincere efforts to live a life casting away sin
Let us realize that by our Christian Vocation, we are constantly in touch with “Fresh Waters” of Grace.
>> May we be aware of the worth of the “source of life” that is with us, and live a life worthy of it…
… by constantly giving heed to the call: “Lower yourselves, and life will be yours!”
Wish you a very Happy Feast of the Holy Spirit – the Pentecost!
Happy Birthday to our Mother Church!
> May we cherish the life offered by our Mother, in the Sacraments, and especially receive the sweetness of the Holy Eucharist more worthily and enthusiastically!
God Bless! Live Jesus!
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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “May it please the Divine Majesty to grant us…
1. The gift of Fear: to we may serve Him filially
2. The gift of Piety: to revere Him as our most loving Father
3. The gift of Knowledge: to know the good we ought to do and the evil we ought to avoid
4. The gift of Fortitude: to overcome courageously all difficulties in the practice of virtue
5. The gift of Counsel: to discern and to choose the true way of perfection
6. The gift of Understanding: to realize the beauty and benefit of the mysteries of faith and of the truths of the Gospel
7. The gift of Wisdom: to taste how good God is, to savor and experience the sweetness of His incomprehensible benignity.
>> Oh! How happy shall we be, if we receive these priceless gifts, for doubtless, they will lead us to the summit of this mystical ladder…
… where we shall be received by our Divine Savior who awaits us there with open arms, to make us participants of His glory and felicity!”
The experience of teachers in a school with the students is pretty interesting.
Each student is unique in their character and nature.
>> The relationship with each student is also unique
Undoubtedly…
… some students tend to be more in the limelight… due to their high vibrancy and level of enthusiasm
… some students remain in the shadows… due to their soft and timid nature
But the teacher shares a unique relationship with all..
… with some more close, with some just normal, with some just casual
>> Sometimes the most naughty one, or the mischievous one gets special attention
>> Sometimes, the most silent one gets a special favour of affection and care
The Greatest Teacher, Jesus also had his class of students… his chosen twelve.. the Apostles.
He shared a unique relationship with all of them, undoubtedly.
>> Yet, among the twelve, there were some with whom Jesus had a special bonding
· One among them was very vocal, emotional and actively in the limelight…
· The other was more silent, affectionate and passively in the backgrounds…
The Gospel of the Day presents Jesus, the teacher in conversation with these two of His students, with whom He had a special bonding – Peter and John.
· Peter was the one, very vocal, emotional and being active in the limelight…
· John was the more silent, affectionate and remained passively in the backgrounds…
We are the end of the Gospel of St John.
Jesus had engaged Peter in a one-to-one conversation reviving His commitment to Him and the Kingdom by asking him, three times, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was also entrusted to be the Shepherd of His Church on the earth
However, Peter was also curious what would be the future of the other disciple.
His curiosity is a common human trait: a keen desire to know the future and the prospects of other people.
· Sometimes this trait can also degenerate into jealousy…
· Sometimes this trait can also be reduced to envy…
1. In the parable of the workers in the vineyard… those who came at the end received the same one denarii as the first.
The complaint of those who toiled the whole day was not just that they received a less pay; but more so, that why did the last ones…
… get a higher pay!
The generosity towards the others, made them to feel envious
2. In the parable of the Prodigal Son, the prodigal son was given a grand reception on his arrival back.
The complaint of the elder son was not just that he never had enjoyed a luxurious time with his friends; but more so, that the younger sin who had committed many sins…
… was given a special welcome.
The generosity towards the younger son, made him to feel jealous.
Realizing the possibility of this common human trait, Jesus chides Peter who was over-curious to know of the future of John; instead He re-focusses Peter’s attention on what is most important: Following Him.
Therefore Jesus tells to Peter: “What concern is it of yours? You follow me” (Jn 21: 22)
The same advice is rendered to us also…
· We sometimes tend to be too anxious about the life of the other… but fail to have a proper control in our personal lives!
· We sometimes tend to be over-curious about the future of others… but fail to live our lives worthily!
The Lord advises us the same too, “You follow me!”
The vocation and life of Jesus, the teacher’s two special students – Peter and John is also a reminder of two ways or levels of Christian holiness…
· The Life of Peter… lived in witness to Christ by a life of martyrdom
· The Life of John… lived in witness to Christ by a life of loving sacrifices in life
Each one of us are to…
… live in holiness, filled with love, like St John
… live in commitment, willing to give up even our lives, like St Peter
On this eve of the Great Feast of the Pentecost, let us prepare our hearts to receive the fire of the Holy Spirit.
May we be animated and constantly live in the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, so that we too may be Christ’s faithful and dynamic witnesses…
… and like St Peter and St John, become “special students” of our Great Teacher, Jesus!
God Bless! Live Jesus!
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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS)– ” Be what you are…
A young man was supposedly crazy about his girlfriend.
He spent an entire evening telling the girl how much he loved her.
He said that he couldn’t live without her…
… that he would go to the ends of the earth for her
… yes, go through fire for her, or die for her.
But as he was leaving he told her,
“I’ll see you tomorrow night dear…
…. if it doesn’t rain!!”
A whole evening was spent on lavishing sweet words of love…
But as he left her…
…. he made conditions in his expression of love
… he put forward clauses in his demonstration of love
How often is our love also such…
>> We tell to people in our live that we love them… but fail to show it in actions
>> We tell to others that we care for them a lot… but do not show them in deeds
And how much more true is this in the case of our love of God…
We profess our sentiments of love, but fall short of living it up in our commitment
The Gospel of the day presents St Peter grappling with his weaknesses in expressing his love for his Master… and Jesus, knowing very well the frailties of his chosen one, entrusting great responsibilities on him.
Jesus in His post-resurrection appearances to the Apostles, engages in a special one-to-one conversation with the Peter, the leader of the chosen ones…
It’s interesting to see the choice of the Lord for Peter as the leader of His chosen ones.
Peter was a fisherman by profession…
>> Like the waves, his faith and trust in the Lord would also often waver…
>> Like the winds blowing heavily, his zeal for the Lord would also often vacillate…
Yet, the Lord chooses him to be a “fisher of man” for His Kingdom…. expecting him…
… to be like the fish – finding life and vibrancy only by being in the waters of grace and mercy
… to be like the net – gathering up the children of God and keeping them together
… to be like the boat – not being stuck on the shores, but ready to launch into the deep waters of evangelisation
Peter had undoubtedly a lot of interest and zeal in the Lord… and in His Mission.
>> Yet by nature, he tended to be more emotional… indecisive…fluttering
And this caused him to deny the Lord three times, during the passion of the Lord..
But the Lord, in His infinite mercy, restores the brokenness in the relationship, with His healing love.
Our lives too, so often, resembles that of Peter.
>> We fluctuate in our commitments to the Lord…
>> We easily break many of the resolutions made to the Lord…
>> We very often go astray, despite having experienced much love from the Lord…
Yet, Jesus does not abandon us.
> Like the Shepherd, who comes after His lost sheep…
>> Like a Potter, who remoulds His work when dis-shaped…
>>> Like a Physician, who attends with patience for His ailing patient…
The Lord comes to us…
And with much hope puts forward the same question, that He asked Peter:
“Do You love Me?”
The Lord awaits an answer…
It will be easy to jump in and say “Yes, Lord, I do love you”.
But…
>> Let our answer, not just be triggered by emotional feelings…
>> Let our answer, not be simply impelled by a ritualistic custom…
Rather, from the depth of our inner-being…
… acknowledging our sinfulness and failures…
… realising our weaknesses and shortcomings…
Yet….
…trusting in the goodness of the Lord
… hopeful in the mercy of the Lord
Let us, as tell the Lord…
“Yes, Lord, I love you!!”
God Bless! Live Jesus!
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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “The measure of love is to love without measure!”
This little boy fellow was once, tempted to pluck some cherries from a tree, which his father had strictly forbidden him to touch.
“You need not be afraid,” said his notorious companion, “for if your father should find out that you have taken them, he is too kind to hurt you.”
“Ah,” said the brave little fellow, “that is the very reason why I would not touch them;
For I know that my father would not hurt me. So I should not hurt him by my disobedience!”
The little boy knew the love of his Father towards him… and so he dared not hurt his Father.
· He was not afraid of the punishment of the Father.
· He was instead afraid of the hurt that would cause pain to the Father.
True love causes a holy and pious concern of not wanting to cause any offence to the one who is loved.
· True Love casts away all fear!
· True Love drives away every anxiety!
It is this True Love of the Father that was made known by Jesus to all of us.
The Gospel of the Day presents Jesus shedding greater light on His intimate relation with the Father and revealing deeper, the love of the Father for each one of us.
Jesus prays, “… so that they may be one, as we are one. I in them and You in Me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me.” (Jn 17: 22b, 23)
The High Priestly Prayer of Jesus in the Seventeenth Chapter of St John, is another insight into the intimate relation that Jesus had with His Father.
· All His life, He sought to do only the Father’s Will
· All His life, He sought to reveal the love of the Father to the world.
This was driven by the fact that Jesus was in intimate union with the Father.
To His disciples, Jesus wishes to leave this same legacy – the legacy of loving the Father intimately.
· Jesus wishes to tell us that we have a Father who is deeply interested and caring for us.
· Jesus wishes to convince us that our lives are secure in the Providential care of the Father.
However, our lives sometimes fails to display this trust and confidence in the providential care of the Father
· Some of us may have a wrong notion of God being interested only in finding my wrongdoings and punishing me for the same…
· Some of us may have the wrong notion of God being too holy and majestic that makes Him unapproachable, unavailable and inaccessible!
But Jesus seeks to drive away all such false impressions.
He tells us that the Father…
… is surely the keeper of justice, and may take us through a time of trials and difficulties.
But those are not to be seen as cruel punishments, but loving acts for improvements towards a holier life!
He tells us that the Father…
…. is surely the Lord and Master of the Universe, and is totally aware of even the calamities or hardships that befall our lives
But in all those hard moments, the loving Father keeps us safely in the palm of His hand, not allowing us, His beloved children to get hurt or harmed!
When we are convinced of this deep love that the Father has towards us, we would be able to orient our lives in a way that is worthy of our call as witnesses of Christ.
Jesus by His unity with the Father, enjoyed perfect freedom.
>> He invites us to also deepen our union with the Father and enjoy greater freedom of happiness and joy.
God Bless! Live Jesus!
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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “Do everything by love…
Reflection Capsules 