A little boy had to walk around 2 kms to his school, through the congested and bustling city.

His mother had arranged a servant to accompany the child – while going and coming back from school – to ensure the child’s safety.

>> For this the servant was paid 30 rupees a day.

But when the child reached Third Standard (Grade 3) of school, he rebelled and told his mother:

” I’ll walk myself to school!

And if you give me 10 rupees a day, I will be extra careful. The rest of the money we can save and we all will be better off!”

After sometime of pleading and begging, the little boy finally got his way.

>> For the next three years, he walked himself – back and forth from school.

Years later, at a family party, the boy bragged about his independence and boasted to his family about how he had taken care of himself as a little boy, travelling alone to school.

His mother, on hearing the story, laughed and said:

“Did you really think you were alone?

>> “Every morning when you left for school, I left with you. I walked behind you all the way.

>> Every evening when you got out of school, I was there. I set my eyes on you and protected you.

I always kept myself hidden; but I was there and I followed you all the way home.

>> I was always there for you, especially when you needed me!”

Similar is the case of God as well, in our spiritual walk…

…. We are never left alone

… We are always followed by the Lord!

>> There are moments when we think we can manage alone

>> There are other times when we feel there is none with me, in our journey

But the Lord always walks with us…!

He is the “God who accompanies us, in our journey of life!”

>> He is the God Who is “Kind and Full of Compassion!”

The Gospel of the Day is the beautiful incident of God walking with His people, especially in their moments of pain, loneliness and helplessness…

>> A God who accompanies…

… the official whose daughter had died: by bringing life and smile to his family (Mt 9: 18-19, 23-26)

… the woman with haemorrhage: by cleansing and restoring her to health (Mt 9: 20-22)

The Gospel focuses our attention on the “walk” of two persons:

1. The official whose daughter had died:

“An official CAME FORWARD, knelt down before Jesus…” (Mt 9: 18)

2. The woman with haemorrhage:

“A woman suffering haemorrhages CAME UP BEHIND Jesus….” (Mt 9: 20)

The official came walking ‘forward’

>> The woman came walking ‘from behind’

Both were persons in distress and despair

>> Both were suffering physical agony and mental anguish

Human life is characterised in these two persons…

>> The way “forward” is often an uncertain and blurred path, filled with distress and despair

>> The way “from behind” had often been an experience of physical agony and mental anguish

Loneliness plagues us in this walk of life… Hopelessness often overtakes our walk of life!

This arduous walk of life, sometimes causes…

… some of us to give up and call it quits

… some of us to drown ourselves into addictions and unhealthy habits

Some even wish to make it “all alone” in life, thinking I can manage everything by myself

… abandoning even God!

But the official and the woman in the Gospel today show us the way:

>> When the path of life becomes tough with distress and despair…

>> When the journey of life is filled with physical agony and mental anguish…

… “walk forward” towards Jesus – surrendering the future – and plead for help and mercy: like the official!

… “walk from behind” towards Jesus – leaving the past – and touch Him: like the woman!

It is then that we experience and feel the power of the “God who accompanies us, in our journey of life!”

>> The “forward step” of the official towards Jesus, surrendering his future…

… helped him to experience the mighty touch of the Lord in the life of his daughter (Mt 9:25)

… Life was restored; smiles were brought back; good news was spread all over!

>> The “behind” approach of the woman towards Jesus, letting go her past…

… helped her to experience the healing and sanctifying touch of the Lord (Mt 9: 22)

… Bleeding was ceased; courage was praised; faith was blessed!

The incidents in today’s Gospel passage, invite us…

… to surrender our future to the Lord: knowing that He will render all things for our good, if we trust and co-operate with Him

… to let go of our past to the Lord: knowing that He will touch and heal us, of all our former wounds, if we seek Him with deep desire and longing

Yes, in our walk of life, the Lord tells us:

“Do you really think you are alone?

>> “Every morning when you rise, I am with you. I walk behind you all the way.

>> Every evening when you rest, I am there. I set my eyes on you and protect you

I sometimes seem hidden; but I am there and I follow you all the way.

>> I am always there for you, especially when you need me!”

Let us grow in our trust and faith in the Lord and “walk” with Him!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

When the first missionaries went to Japan, a young Japanese boy wanted to learn English.

The missionaries handed him a copy of the Gospels and asked him to translate to his native language.

(The boy – an avid reader – had never heard about Jesus and considered the book as being just one of the “many books that he had read”)

After a few pages of translation, the boy became very agitated and restless.

Approaching the missionaries, he said to them: “Who is this Man about Whom I have been reading in this book? This Jesus!

>> You call Him a Man… but to me, he appears as a God!”

The boy was under the impression that he was reading a book about a famous Man…

… only to discover that he was actually encountering The Great God in the Book!

Yes, a genuine and honest encounter with the Word of God always causes a great impact on people…

>> Some either feel greatly drawn by the Divine…

>> Some however, also feel a great sense of denial and refusal of God’s Ways

The Gospel of the Day presents this dual-reaction to Jesus, the Word of God…

… an initial sense of rejoicing and enthrallment

… and later, a purposeful rejection of the Divine Ways and Will

The Lord arrives in His hometown.

>> On the Sabbath, He taught in the synagogue.

The Gospel mentions a juxtaposition of feelings of the listeners…

First, there is a great expression of marvel and wonder:

“Where did this Man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been given to Him? What deeds of power are being by Him?” (Mk 6:2)

But this feeling quickly vanishes…

The feelings of wonder and amazement get distorted to feelings of contempt, condemnation and outright rejection:

“Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not His sisters here with us?” (Mk 6:2)

What was the cause of this sudden and dramatic change of mood of the listeners?

• It was simply because Jesus was “just one of them!”

• It was simply because Jesus was “too acquainted to them!”

Familiarity often breeds contempt!

• When one is too close to the Divine, one has to be also aware that there are greater possibilities of losing the “sense of awe and wonder” and sink into the dangerous waters of “taking things for granted”

• When one is constantly handling Divine objects, there is also the greater chance of losing the “awareness and thrill of the mystery” and get lost in the thickets of “being lethargic or unenthusiastic or even indifferent”

How many of us are prone to this danger….

Priests and the Religious constantly handle Divine objects and perform many spiritual exercises…

• Daily Holy Mass… Frequent recital of the Psalms in the Divine Office Prayer… Regular Adorations and administering and receiving of the Sacraments… Recurrent handling of the Bible, liturgical articles, reading and hearing Church teachings and life of saints….

Do all these help one to deepen one’s relationship with the Lord…?

>> Or do these cause one to lose the “sense of awe and wonder” and sink into the dangerous waters of “taking things for granted”… ?

Many Christians are engaged in a number of spiritual activities on a regular basis…

• Holy Eucharistic celebration… novenas… recital of the Rosary and other pious prayers of devotion… forwarding of devotional messages, pictures and videos through emails and WhatsApp and social networking tools…

Do all these help one to grow in spiritual life….?

>> Or do these make one to lose the “awareness and thrill of the mystery” and get lost in the thickets of “being lethargic or unenthusiastic or even indifferent” … ?

The people failed to recognize the worth and value of Jesus due to “too much familiarity”.

However this familiarity was only “external and peripheral”…

Such kind of a familiarity had, in fact, caused them to be ignorant, contemptuous and prejudiced…

>> Ignorant… of the fact that amidst them was the Promised Messiah who was to save the world!

>> Contemptuous… of the fact that “one of them” could actually possess so much of wisdom and power!

>> Prejudiced… of the fact that “this ordinary Son of a carpenter” could ever be the Son of God!

Yes, how often do we reject the precious and important people and aspects of life…

… due to our ignorance

… due to our contempt of things

… and due to our prejudiced mindsets!

We are invited today to “open our eyes” and to realize the worth and preciousness of God’s grace that we have been blessed with…

Each of us… personally… as a family… as a community… and as a Church, have been blessed and graced with immense favours and kindness from the Lord.

• True that we have a lot of difficulties to face in our life…

• True that we have much to complain in the maze of the many crisis we undergo..

Yet amidst all this…

Can we lift up our hearts in thanksgiving and gratitude for the Lord’s Guiding Presence with us, always… and learn to grow deeper in our love for Him?

A genuine and honest encounter with the Word of God always causes a great impact on people…

>> Some either feel greatly drawn by the Divine…

>> Some however, also feel a great sense of denial and refusal of God’s Ways

What is our Reaction and Response to Jesus, the Word of God?

God Bless! Live Jesus!

A man, occupying an important and influential position in the society was often criticized for his honest and just way of dealing things.

Once his friend enquired of him: “Why don’t you give fitting replies to your critics?”

To that the person replied:

“In my native town lives a widow who has a dog.

Whenever the moon shines, it goes outside and barks all night.”

The friend, confused on that example, asked: “ I didn’t get you…

… what is it about the dog and the moon?”

“Oh,” the man continued, “the moon went on shining — that’s all.”

Our lives our often marked by a number of criticisms and condemnations.

>> People often make “their own” yardsticks, to measure others actions, and to find a way of criticizing others!

People make “their own” measuring tapes, to determine the deeds of other people, and thus find ways to put down other people!

Are we also sometimes in the category of those who “criticize and condemn” others?

The Gospel of the day is an invitation to examine this common human tendency of assessing others’ manners and conduct based on “standards and measurements” that are set by ourselves.

• Do I evaluate the action of another person based on my own “prejudiced” mindset… or do I measure it with the yardstick that God uses?

• Do I critically analyse other people’s attitudes from my own “biased” perspective… or do I gauge it with the benchmark that God proposes?

In the Gospel, we see the disciples of John who come to Jesus with a critical query:

“Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” (Mt 9:14)

It is interesting to note the reason that the disciples of John use here, in order to ask put forward their question…

It would be something like this…

“We, the disciples of John… we follow our Master in leading an ascetic and hard life.

We fast often times during the week… we live a hard life.

Look at the Pharisees too.. they fast twice a week, which is more than the stipulated requirement of the Law.

We engage ourselves in so much of fasting.

But look at your disciples…

They are only found to be enjoying life!

Who don’t they fast… like we do… ??”

>> They had perhaps made “their own” yardsticks to measure the actions of the disciples and found a way of criticising them!

>> They had perhaps made “their own” measuring tapes to determine the deeds of the disciples, and thus found ways to put them down!

But the Lord asks them to change this their “yardstick” and “measuring scale” of judging other people.

Jesus gives an example of the bridegroom and the context of a marriage.

Marriage is the time of joy and celebration… not of mourning or being sad.

It is a time of feasting.. and not fasting!

>> A time of feasting on God’s tremendous Providence and Grace!

>> A time of feasting on the Love and Compassion shown by the Lord!

The Lord makes a challenge….

… consider and evaluate situations from the “eyes of God” – in the way that God sees.

… assess and measure people in the “manner of God” – with the approach that God takes.

It is said that when God measures a person, He puts the tape around the heart, and not the head!

The attitude of “criticizing and complaining” is a constant temptation.

We may perhaps, also be victims of the same.

>> But let us always remain “true to ourselves, and honest in what we do”

Let the Charity of God always radiate in us and thus know for sure…

… “the moon of God’s Love always goes on shining!”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

An elderly man was having a celebration of his 90th birthday.

The man, who lived a life of integrity, was looked up by many, as a good Catholic.

At the birthday celebration, one of the youngsters asked him: “What message would you like to leave to the Christian Youth?”

The elderly person – with some struggle to speak – spoke the following three phrases:

“Look to Jesus!

Listen to Jesus!

Learn of Jesus!”

These three simple phrases are important keys for us to be Faithful Followers of Christ.

The Gospel of the Day – the Call of Mathew to follow Jesus – is a presentation, of Mathew beginning this journey of Faithfully Following Christ, by…

… “Looking to Jesus, Listening to Jesus and Learning of Jesus”

The Gospel today begins with the verse:

“…Jesus saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post.

He said to him, “Follow me!” (Mt 9:9)

For the religious elite of the Society, this calling of Matthew, the tax collector was a shocking experience!

>> Tax Collectors were among the most hated people in the Jewish Society.

Tax collectors were generally despised and tainted and stained on three different aspects:

1. Nationally Traitors

A tax collector, “sold himself”, to the foreign Roman government, and was a betrayer of the Nation.

>> One of the top-most nation-betrayers!

2. Morally Corrupt

Each tax collector had the right from the Roman government to gather taxes.

The more he gathered, the more he could keep!

>> One of the top-most dishonest people!

c. Religiously Unclean:

The constant contact of the tax collectors with the Gentiles made them religiously suspect.

>> One of the top-most impure class!

And it is this Matthew, a tax collector…

… that Jesus invites to “Follow Him”!

The Journey of ‘Faithful Following’ had begun for Mathew…

>> He began to ‘look to Jesus, listen to Jesus and learn from Jesus’

Mathew would open himself to the Love of the Lord….

1. He opened His heart:

Matthew became a new person.

Accepting Jesus, meant…

… turning away from his old-ways

… forsaking a good deal of income

… rejecting some of his corrupt business people

2. He Opened His Home:

Matthew was excited to share his new-found Love, with others too.

The transformation in one person, became an opportunity, for many others…

… to experience God’s enterprising love

…. and be challenged to undergo a change!

3. He opened his hands:

Matthew also opened his hands & worked for the Lord.

“It could be said, that when Jesus called Matthew, he left his job to follow Christ, but he took along with him, his pen!”

>> And this would later help him to pen the Gospel…the Gospel according to St Matthew!

The call to be a Christian is not an easy one.

Like Mathew, we too have to…

… constantly seek to listen to the voice of the Lord, in the midst of our “busy schedules”

… have the courage to “leave our tables” and begin to depend on the Lord

… continually “face criticisms and comments” from others, and yet be faithful

As Pope Benedict XVI says:

“If you follow the will of God, in spite of all the terrible things that happen to you, you will never lose a final refuge…!

>> Go on, trusting, in the One that loves you.”

Yes, we all can find…

… rest in His Heart

… welcome in His Home

… and strength in His Hands!

May we constantly seek to ‘Faithfully Follow Jesus’, by always:

>> “Looking to Jesus…

Listening to Jesus…

and Learning of Jesus”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

“Harbour” is a place on the coast, where ships may moor in shelter, especially one protected from rough water by piers, jetties, and other artificial structures.

The word “harbor” is also used to speak about a keep a thought or feeling, (typically a negative one) in one’s mind, especially secretly

The Gospel of the Day is an expose by Jesus, on how a group of people “harbour” wrong thoughts in the mind.

>> It is an exposition of this evil side of life that often empowers human hearts, and pops its head up, especially when encountered by goodness and holiness.

The Gospel is the healing of the paralytic, when Jesus comes into His own town.

Seeing the paralytic being brought on the stretcher, and admiring their faith, Jesus had said, “Courage child, your sins are forgiven” (Mt 9: 2)

However, some of the scribes got irked hearing these words and said, “This man is blaspheming”

But Jesus, who knows the hearts of people…. who reads the thoughts of all.. said:

“Why do you think evil in your hearts?” (Mt 9: 4)

Another translation of this verse would read:

“Why do you harbour evil in your hearts?”

The Lord exposes the evil intention of the Scribes in questioning His action of cleansing the paralytic.

For the paralytic, it was a great moment…

… of being cleansed from sin, and being restored to holiness

… of having a very personal encounter of the Saviour and receiving wholeness

It was a sacred time…a holy instant!

But where there is the presence of Holiness, evil finds itself disturbed and distances itself!

>> Evil cannot exist beside the Sacred!

Human life often finds itself engaged and engrossed with evil things…

>> The pull to be bad constantly lurks in human minds…

>> The urge to be sinful often prowls in human hearts…

Therefore, when the paralytic was encountering goodness and holiness, the evil side in the scribes popped its head up, and questioned and quizzed our Blessed Lord.

The same question that Jesus asked the scribes is now thrown to us:

“Why do you think evil in your hearts?” or “Why do you harbour evil in your hearts?”

• Am I a person who is unable to tolerate the good things happening in other people’s life?

• Am I someone who gets irked and irritated when the other person prospers in happiness?

We sometimes adorn the walls of our hearts with many filthy stuff – uncharitable thoughts, indecent words and jokes, hurtful views of people or crude perspectives of situations.

The Lord feels hurt and sad by this our “harbouring of evil in our hearts”

Are we ready to throw of all those unbecoming stuff from our hearts, and place the Divine Mercy of the Lord, enthroned in our hearts?

God Bless! Live Jesus!

There are many dramatic incidents mentioned in the Bible, and especially in the Gospels.

Today’s reading in one such highly dramatic and gripping episode.

>> Jesus, liberates two persons from the power of the demons and banishes the band of demons into a herd of pigs!

The demoniacs in today’s Gospel, lived among the tombs, and were extremely fierce and ruthless! The demons had taken great possession of them, and were totally bound to these satanic forces!

There are several aspects we could consider in this gripping scene:

a. Denial of the Presence of the Evil:

One of the simple strategies that Satan is succeeding today, is in the aspect, that many seek to underplay his power or even deny his existence.

Psychological Advancements and Reasonable Thinking would probably dilute the fact of the existence of Satan or Demoniac Powers or Evil forces!

To negate the very existence of evil itself, is an acknowledgement of the presence of Satan!

>> But the Gospels are clear in telling the fact that evil forces, Satan and the Devil do tamper with human lives &situations, and are on the spree to capture human beings into sinful ways of living!

We pray in the Our Father.. ” but deliver us from evil…”

The Catechism of the Catholic Church is clear, (#2851) “In this petition (of the Our Father), evil is not an abstraction, but refers to a person, Satan, the Evil One, the angel who opposes God. The devil (dia-bolos) is the one who “throws himself across” God’s plan and his work of salvation accomplished in Christ.”

b. Jesus is shown to be in total control over Demoniac and Satanic powers!

The Gospel of Matthew clearly demonstrates, the various ways in which Jesus is powerful.

He liberates people from leprosy, he heals sicknesses, he calms the storms…

… and now, He casts out demons and frees the captives from their chains!

c. Sin has a power to keep people clinging to it

The people of the town, though having, witnessed the mighty deliverance by Jesus, now request and plead Him to leave their area.

Usually, those who encounter the Might of Jesus, seek for more of His presence. But these people, happy with their life, now find a disturbance in Jesus!

>> They probably realize that they’d have to make amendments in their life, to accommodate the Liberating Presence of Jesus in their lives!

Now let’s come to us…

1. Do I downplay the power & techniques & tactics of Satan and evil forces, and rather seek to offer human and natural solutions for supernatural problems?

Pope Francis would say, “Maybe Satan’s greatest achievement in these times, has been to make us believe that he does not exist, and that all can be fixed on a purely human level.”

Yes, “The presence of the devil is on the first page of the Bible & the Bible ends as well with the presence of the devil, with the victory of God over the devil.”

2. Am I able to trust in the Mighty Liberating Force of the Lord, who has complete control over all satanic and demoniac forces?

3. Do I seek to run away from the Lord & His teachings, especially, since it forces me to change my old pattern of lifestyle?

>> Do I seek comfort & pleasure, in living a sinful life & even make justifications & adjustments, in spiritual life, so that the Lord only remains a passive force in me?!

The World is a witness to many satanic and evil forces…

>> Sinful ways of living, Loose immoral lives, Injustice, Corruption, Hypocritical practices, Inhuman abuses etc….

It’s time to renew the Spiritual Combat

…in our personal lives, our family lives, in our communities, our societies and in the whole world!

Let the Lord of all Liberation and Power, be our strength and courage!

Amos 5:14 says, “Seek good…and shun evil…that you may live!”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

It takes years to build a character, but a moment to lose it…

>> It takes hundreds of efforts to build a relationship, but a moment to lose it…

>> It takes manifold of words to be known as a good speaker, but a couple of words to doom that title…

People cash on one bad remark…

… but thousands of consoling and good words are forgotten!

>> People talk bad on one negative incident…

… but forget many good deeds and honourable moments!

This is our experience. This is our real life.

Something similar was and is experienced by an Apostle too.. St Thomas.

He made one remark of doubt….

… and ever since, has been branded, “The Doubting Thomas!“

Often when some raise doubts or make queries, they are remarked, “Don’t be a Thomas!”

Am I too judgmental and Critical of People?

This is more often the Human Way.

But God’s ways are spectacular!

Humans remain judgmental, knowing just external factors!

>> God remains merciful even after being fully aware of internal factors!!

But if St Thomas doubted…

… He has also gifted the Church, with one of the Most Explicit Statements of Faith, and has given us all…a Simple yet powerful Prayer: “My Lord and My God!” (John 20:28).

When we see the Life of St Thomas, he also had his share of weaknesses, just like all the other apostles!

But let’s not exaggerate the weakness of a person…

>> Rather, let’s focus on Christ and His Mercy and Power. “Christ chose the foolish of the world to shame the wise, and God chose the weak of the world, to shame the Strong!”(1 Cor 1:27-28)

Human weakness becomes the channel for God’s Grace and Holiness to flow…

>> Holiness is not a human effort…but is God’s grace…

>> Holiness is a gift!

A Gift is given, not earned…but once received, one must live a life worthy of that Gift!

It is God who gradually transforms the weak and lowly, into His Image and Likeness, more and more, when we co-operate with His Grace!

St Thomas…surely doubted…

… but more than the Resurrection of His Lord, he probably doubted the words of his companions.

He knew them well.

>> He knew how most of them were shallow in their faith, and how easily they would get excited at some flashy events!

And therefore.. St Thomas doubts..

>> He doubts the words of his companions… he chooses to trust none, but the Lord Himself!

And the Lord…who sees the hearts of all…is Himself eager to clarify Thomas’s doubt, perhaps more than the Apostle himself!

>> As he greets the group of Apostles, Jesus addresses Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands….do not be unbelieving, but believe!” (Jn 20:27)

What would have been going on, through the mind of Jesus, at that point?

Probably, the Lord was having a naughty smile & was only glad to oblige Thomas’s stubborn request!

>> Doubtless, He was not offended by the Thomas’ suspicion, but only wanted to get back his faith in Him!

Did Thomas touch the Lord?

The Gospels do not specifically mention about this touching…(though many of the popular pictures of the Saint do so!)..

>> But the Lord surely did touch Thomas!

Thomas was deeply touched by the Lord’s gesture!

>> Thomas was humbled by the Lord’s humility

>> Thomas was overwhelmed by the Lord’s magnanimous presence and sparkling gaze!

The Shadows of Doubts were cast away….the Glorious Light of Faith and Belief was shining bright…

… “My Lord and My God!!“

Doubt is not the opposite of Faith…

… it is an element of Faith!

I am not alone in my doubts and fears…

>> There are Apostles and Saints and Great Holy People, who have gone through this crisis.

“Lord, I do believe…help my unbelief – let this be our genuine prayer!

May we always pray, that we grow in our faith, to live & even to Die for the Faith…

… just like St Thomas, the Great Apostle of Faith proclaimed not just with his lips but also with his life & death, “My Lord and My God!”

Happy Feast of Faith and Belief, Boldness and Courage to all!

God bless! Live Jesus!

We are living in an age of an insistent inclination to the “Instant”….

We seek for…

>> Instant Coffees…

>> Instant Food…

>> Instant Juices…

>> Instant Pleasures…

>> Instant Solutions to problems…

>> Instant end to difficulties…

And sadly…even an inclination for Instant Christianity!

Christianity sometimes gets reduced to…

…. Going to Church once in a while especially on a Sunday or a Feast day

… Saying a few prayers time to time

…. Reading a few verses from the Bible.. etc…

>>> And then expecting Instant blessings and favours!

But is this all that Christ intended with Christianity?

>> What does it mean to be a Follower of Christ?

There are various categories or classifications in the job sector.

>> Some do a full time job

>> Some do it part time

>> Some do it on a contract basis

>> Some do it to achieve a target.

Am I a Christian, as a full timer…?

>> Or have I reduced it to a part time affair, or in terms of some contract or promises, or in order to achieve some wants and desires?

The Gospel of the Day is a call to re-look at some of the motives and intentions in our following of Christ.

The Gospel of the Day begins with the verse:

Mt 8:18 – “When He saw the crowd press around Him, Jesus gave orders to cross to the other shore”

The preceding verses in Chapter 8 of the Gospel of St Matthew present Jesus performing many miracles and healings…

… and a “Crowd” being attracted to the Lord.

Where there is a miraculous event, a crowd gathers….

But the Lord, wished to sift this Crowd.

>> He says, ” Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His Head” (Mt 8: 20)

Jesus does away with any promise of security and comfort

>> He discourages people from following Him for having a better material life!

It was not that He didn’t want many people…

… but He wished to purify their motives & make them authentic in their following Him!

He sifts and sieves and strains the “Crowd”…to get together the “Disciples”.

Where there is a miraculous event, a crowd gathers…

>> But when there is an exhortation in being committed to that miraculous event…

… the crowd is filtered…and only the Disciples remain back!

The Lord is asking us today…

Are we just a part of the CROWD…?

… or are we ready to be filtered, and be a DISCIPLE?

It is easy to be part of a Crowd….

>> We can enjoy the occasional miracles

>> We can relish hearing the Word of God

But it is not easy to be a Disciple…

>> The experience of external miracles would be few

>> The Word of God would not just be heard, but also be expected to be lived and practised in life!

>> There would be no guarantee of any security in life

>> Many of the personal desires would have to be left behind…

To be a Disciple is hard…undoubtedly painful…and certainly, demanding

>> But to be a Disciple is also joyful…undoubtedly satisfying…and certainly, exciting!!

The Crowd is Casual…

… the Disciple is Dedicated!

The Crowd is Dichotomous…

… the Disciple is Committed!

What are we going to choose?

To be part of the “Crowd” ?… an Instant and easy-going Christianity?

… or to be a “Disciple” – an Ever-faithful and committed Christianity?

Your answer please?…

… Instantly!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

A person came to a spiritual counselor to share his difficulties and problems of life.

During the break of the counselling session, as the two took a walk in the garden area, the person who was had come to share the difficulties, noticed a large statue of the Atlas.

(The Statue of Atlas is of a well-built man, who with all his muscles straining…

… is holding the world upon his shoulders)

Seeing that statue of Atlas who was struggling to hold the world, the man told the counsellor:

“Do you see that man struggling to hold the world on his shoulders?

>> That’s exactly how I feel in my life as well!

The burden of the whole world seems to be on my shoulders and I feel exasperated!”

The counsellor gave a gentle smile to the man and asked him to have his eyes on the other side of the street.

“Look at that statue,” said the counsellor.

The man noticed, at a distance, the statue of Infant Jesus…

… Who was holding the world(globe) in His Hands.

And the counsellor continued:

“We have a choice in life!

We can either follow Atlas and feel as if the entire world of burden is placed on my shoulders…

.. and thus feel exasperated and exhausted!

Or we can follow Jesus and offer our world of burdens to Him, Who will hold it in His Hands…

… and thus feel energetic and enthusiastic!

The Gospel of the Day recounts two people who had an encounter with Jesus, and offered their world of burdens to Him…

…and thus felt energetic and enthusiastic!

Sicknesses and diseases are great interrupters in life…

.. they enter into the house of life, without knocking at the doors

… they disrupt many plans and aspirations

… they reduce the hope for the future

The Gospel is a narration of two persons who encountered this interruption in life…

1. Jairus’ daughter – on the death bed – would have dashed many hopes of their family

2. The long suffering of the woman – with hemorrhage – would have crushed her aspirations

Both these two persons – Jairus and the Woman with the hemorrhage underwent similar struggles….

>> One had tremendous mental agony as a result of worry for his beloved child…

>> The other had also tremendous physical agony along with her mental and social stigmas…

Both their sufferings had reached a saturation point of tolerance…

>> Both of them were struggling immensely to swim across the ocean of agony and pain…

But both these persons also displayed a similar sort of faith in the Lord….

” Seeing Jesus, Jairus fell at His feet and pleaded earnestly with Him…” ( Mk 5:22)

“…realizing what had happened to her, the woman approached Jesus in fear and trembling; fell down before Jesus and told Him the whole truth” (Mk5: 33)

They both “offered their world of burdens” to Jesus…

… in deep faith and trust…

… with much love and devotion

… with great expectations and hopes

The “offering of their burdens” was a sign of total submission and surrender

>> Jairus offered himself to the power and mercy of the Lord…

>> The woman with haemorrhage offered herself to the compassion and love of the Lord…

This made them experience the power of the Lord.

When we offer ourselves fully to the holy and precious Will of the Lord…

… we come in contact with His Divine Providence and Wonder

When we submit ourselves to the mighty power and providence of God…

…we experience His Divine Strength and Courage

When we surrender ourselves to the dominion and sovereignty of God…

… we encounter His marvelous presence and guidance

As we complete 6 months of this Year 2018, let us recollect and be grateful to the Lord for all His Blessings…

… and as we enter into the second half of 2018 – on this day, July 01 – offer and surrender our lives to the Providence of God!

Our Christian Life – with all its challenges – places before us choices:

>> We can either feel that the entire world of burden is placed on our shoulders…

… and thus feel exasperated and exhausted!

Or we can offer our world of burdens to Jesus, telling Him, “’Here I am Lord; here’s my life. I give you my world, the whole world’…

… and thus feel energetic and enthusiastic!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

The Roman military was one of the most successful and powerful in world history.

>> It dominated the Western world for over a thousand years.

• The Romans believed themselves to be descendants of Mars- literally, the sons of the war god.

• They were a proud and uncompromising people who, above all else, excelled at the art of warfare.

The core of Rome’s military strength lay in the professionalism of their heavy infantry.

The Gospel of the Day begins with a beautiful narrative of a healing encounter that an officer of this mighty Roman Empire had…

… with Jesus, the greatest Emperor of the Everlasting Empire of God!

The Gospel begins with the verse, “As Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to Him, beseeching Him and saying, ‘Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, in terrible distress” (Mt 8: 5-6)

A centurion was a professional officer of the mighty army of the Roman Empire.

Even though, theoretically, this word traces its roots to the Latin word ‘centum’ which means one hundred, a Centurion in the Roman Army was one who commanded 80 men.

When the Centurion made his request to Jesus, our Blessed Lord answered him, “I will come and cure him” (Mt 8: 7)

It is very remarkable to note what the Centurion answered in reply.

He says, “… For I too am a person UNDER authority” (Mt 8: 9)

Some other translations would read, “… For I too am a person SUBJECT TO authority”

Though he was a ‘Centurion’ – a person with 80 people under his ‘beck and call’, it is fascinating to see that he doesn’t say, “I am a person WITH authority” or “I am a person FULL OF authority”

>> Instead he says, “I too am UNDER authority”.

What was the authority that he was UNDER?

To know this, it would be good to see what was the position of the Centurion in the Roman Army.

>> Above the centurion was a senior centurion… (a total of 80 men for a Centurion)

>> Above this senior centurion, were sixty centurions… ( a total of 4800 men)

>> Above the sixty centurions were six tribunes… (each tribune had 3000 men.. so total 18, 000)

>> Above the six tribunes, were the two consuls.

>> Above the consuls, was the Emperor!

It was in this very long line of delegated authority that the Centurion of our Gospel passage stands.

The Centurions were also chosen from the best of the best.

A Roman soldier did not become a centurion overnight.

>> It took years!

The special ‘cohorts’ within each legion made up of veterans of sixteen years or more, were the normal source for men to be promoted as centurions.

The historian Polybius wrote:

“In choosing their centurions, the Romans look not so much for the daring or fire-eating type, but rather for men who are natural leaders and possess a stable and imperturbable temperament;

>> Not men who will open the battle and launch attacks, but those who will stand their ground even when worsted or hard-pressed, and will die in defense of their posts.”

It was such kind of a man who stood before Jesus, requesting for a healing for his servant.

We usually look at Jesus as a soft, gentle and affectionate person.

>> But this Centurion saw Jesus as the Commanding Emperor of a mighty army!

In Jesus, he saw a man of strength… a man of power… a man of immense authority!

And so He tells Jesus, “… only say a Word, and my servant will be healed” (Mt 8: 8b)

The Centurion looked at Jesus as the head and person-in-charge of the mighty army of God.

>> He believed that the Lord had immense power and strength

>> He trusted that the Lord vested tremendous authority and influence

It was not necessary for Jesus to come to his house.

>> Instead, all it needed was a “Word” from Him….

… a command as in a military set-up

… an order as in the armed forces

Jesus is marvelled at this tremendous faith of the centurion and lavishes His praise on him, “Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith” (Mt 8: 10b)

Is my faith comparable to the faith of this Centurion and can I be inspired by his marvelous belief?

>> Do I look on the Lord and have confidence in Him, as the One infested with all power and glory – able to overcome every crippling force of the world?

>> Do I consider and trust in the Lord as the Mighty Emperor with all supremacy and dominance – able to conquer every problem that I face and triumph over any sinful situation?

The Lord is the great healer.

>> He is the One who takes away our every infirmity and disease.

May we be inspired by the deep faith of the Centurion, and grow in our trust and belief in the Lord, knowing that…

… We need to be bold soldiers, because we have a Powerful and Authoritative Commander!

… We need to be courageous citizens, because we have a Mighty and Awesome Emperor!

God Bless! Live Jesus!