“Remain open to the Presence of the Lord and do what is right always!”

(Based on 1 Sam 8:4-7, 10-22a and Mk 2:1-12 – Friday of the 1st Week in Ordinary Time, Year 2)

A social worker, known for his many deeds of selfless service, was being honoured at a public function.

On being asked, what was his philosophy that made him to reach out to the needy, despite the many challenges, persecutions and oppositions, he answered:
“My philosophy is simple!

I have always trusted in the maxim: ‘What is right need not be popular always…
… and what is popular need not be right always!

Holding onto this philosophy has always helped me…
… not to waver in my decisions with wrong influences – even when there was immense pressure
… not to be discouraged when I know it was right – even when the whole world did not agree!”

Do we hold on to doing what is right…
… even if we those are not popular?

The people of Israel in the Old Testament chose popularity over doing what was right…
… and thus would go against the Mind of God!

The First reading is this account of the people of Israel demanding for a “king”…
… in order to ‘identify themselves with all the surrounding nations’ and thus gaining in popularity and reputation
“… Now appoint for us a king to govern us like all the nations.” (1 Sam 8:5)

Israel was called “to be holy!”

“You shall be holy to me; for I the Lord am holy, and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be mine.” (Lev 20:26)

The word for “Holy” in Hebrew is “Qadosh”

One of the meanings of “Qadosh” literally means “to be set apart for a special purpose!”

Thus, the people of Israel were to have a distinct identity among all the nations of Israel, with the Lord God as their Only King (“The Lord will reign for ever and ever” – Exo 15:18)…
… and they His Chosen People – set apart to walk in His Paths!

“And I will take you for my people, and I will be your God; and you shall know that I am the Lord your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians” (Exo 6:7)

But the people failed to hold on this “right” perspective of their calling…
… and sought after “popularity” and identification as the other nations!

“No! but we will have a king over us, that we also may be like all the nations…
… and that our king may govern us and go out before us and fight our battles!” (1 Sam 8:19-20)

What about our lives?

Do we allow “right things and right deeds” to have priority…
… do we give greater preference to the “popular ones” even if they are not right?

As Christians, we are called “to be different from the world” and not allow ourselves to be diluted and corrupted by the wrong influences of the world
… “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world” (Jn 17:16)

Do we allow the Lord to be the Sole and Sovereign King of our lives?

The Israelites by demanding for a king were rejecting God – “…they have rejected me from being king over them.” (1 Sam 8:7)

Every time, we run after things which may be popular, but not right in the eyes of the Lord…
… we are rejecting the Kingship of God!

Every time, we go against the Virtues of the Kingdom in order to “please others or to fulfil our selfish desires”…
.. we fail to allow God to reign over us!

Every time, we disobey the commands and wishes of the Lord in order “to remain in good stead and in the well-liked and trendy books of others”…
… we end up dethroning God, as the King of our lives!

The Gospel of the Day (Mk 2:1-12) presents some of the Scribes who remained closed to the “right things” that Jesus did – healing of the paralytic: spiritually and physically…
… and were unwilling to usher in the Reign of God in their lives!

When hearts are closed, one fails to see the Presence of God – just like the people of Israel and the Scribes

When minds are unwilling to learn, one becomes rebellious and agitated – just like the people of Israel and the Scribes.

Let us hold on – firmly and with conviction – to the philosophy: ‘What is right need not be popular always, and what is popular need not be right always!’…
… and allow the Lord to always be the King of kings of our hearts, so that “we can sing forever of the Love of the Lord!” (Ps 89:1)

On the feast of St Marcellus I (†309), Pope during the persecutions of Emperor Diocletian, we remember a shepherd who remained open to the presence of the Lord even in danger.

He reorganized the Christian community in Rome, guided the faithful, and upheld discipline, always doing what was right despite exile and suffering.
His courage reminds us that openness to God’s guidance gives the strength to act faithfully, to serve others…
… and to stand firm in truth no matter the cost.

God Bless! Live Jesus!

“Imitating Christ in His deep commitment and dedication!

(Based on 1 Sam 4:1-11 and Mk 1:40-45 – Thursday of the 1st Week in Ordinary Time, Year 2)

Kalaupapa was a remote peninsula, surrounded by the roaring Pacific Ocean, on three sides on an island named Molokai.

This tiny place had become the prison for those forcibly banished…
… as a result of being afflicted with Hansen’s Disease (Leprosy).

The people outcast here became prisoners in their own land, harshly kicked from boats, washing onto shore without adequate supplies, infrastructure, medicine, or tools.

Families on surrounding islands, powerless to help…
… mourned for the cruel fate of their loved ones.

In this situation, a priest named Damien, volunteered to move to this place…
… and serve the people who are afflicted by this dreaded disease.

Fr Damien was greeted with devastation.

He walked among the living dead.
Everywhere he looked…
… there was only bleeding and oozing sores
… rampant diseases of various kinds
… and perhaps worst of all, hopelessness and endless misery

Choosing to make this place as his home for life, Fr Damien began his first sermon, addressing the people in the leper colony: “We lepers….”

Fr Damien did not yet have a sign of the leprous infection…
… but he already identified himself with the afflicted ones, by including himself as “We lepers…”

But within fifteen years, he too would be afflicted with the same disease and die!

When one is committed to a cause, one identifies totally with the cause, even to the point of death!

When one is faithful to a mission, one equates with its demands, even to the point of being afflicted!

This is what Damien – St Damien – would teach from his life…

And this is what we learn, as St Damien did, from the life of Jesus: a total identification with the afflicted ones, in order to redeem and save them!

The Gospel of the Day presents Jesus who effects a healing for a leper…
… but in the process, undergoes the isolation and separation that was the lot of the lepers.

Jesus is in the land of Galilee.

A leper comes to Him seeking for a cleansing: “If you wish, you can make me clean” (Mk 1: 40)

Looking at the leper, Jesus knew and understood the immense agony and dread that the man had undergone…

The ancient times had leprosy as one of the most feared diseases.

The book of Leviticus required that all those found unclean with leprosy “shall dwell apart, making his abode outside the camp” (Lev 13:46)

Jesus knew that to come into contact with a leper was to make oneself unclean.

Jesus knew that to touch a leper was to also share in the affliction and misery.

Yet, the Lord, who is the One who cleanses (Eze 36:25) and the One who refines (Is 48:10) decides to touch the leper…
… and bring about a healing!
“Jesus stretched out His hand, touched him and said to him, ‘ I do will it. Be made clean'” (Mk 1:41)

The leper was immediately made clean.

The leper had to also get it confirmed from the priest.

But Jesus, who cleansed and freed the leper, now Himself, undergoes the pain as that of a leper…

The Gospel says that, “… it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly. He remained outside in deserted places…” (Mk 1:45)

Just as in the Incarnation, He took on our flesh, here Jesus takes upon Himself the consequence of being excluded, like a leper…
… standing outside, so the outcast may return within.

Yes, when one is faithful to a mission, one equates with its demands, even to the point of being afflicted!

Each of us is called with a specific mission and purpose in life…
It requires a deep commitment.
It requires an identification with the people and situation.
It requires a complete giving of oneself to the cause and mission.

Am I ready to embrace such a dedication?

St Paul invites us to be “… imitators of Christ” just as he imitated Christ (1 Cor 11:1)

Let us imitate Christ in His deep commitment and dedication.
… Who came to bring healing to all in this world
… Who shared in our sufferings to bring redemption and joy.

God Bless! Live Jesus!

“Not merely running after ‘by-products;’ rather, seeking Jesus, Who is the Essence!”

(Based on 1 Sam 3:1-10, 19-20 and Mk 1:29-39 – Wednesday of the 1st Week in Ordinary Time, Year 2)

A young boy went to his Uncle’s house for a few days of vacation.

His uncle was a scientist.

One day, the scientist-uncle told the boy, “Today we are going the method of obtaining petrol”
The boy was super-excited
He enjoyed fast cars and racing games.

And so, he was pretty curious to know how petrol was obtained.

They went to a place where oil was dug.

The boy looked in amazement at all the works being done – the digging into the earth, the huge pipes making their way into the depths, the extraction process!

After quite a while, the boy, pretty dejected approached his uncle and asked:
“I thought, you told me, we are going to see petrol being obtained.

But all that I find here, is that they are extracting oil!
Where is the petrol?”

At that time, the scientist-uncle began to explain to the boy:
“Son! Remember, you never dig petrol!
You only dig for oil…
… and petrol is later, extracted from it, through a process of distillation!

Search not for petrol – which is a by-product…
… Look rather for the oil, which is the essence!

Is our Christian life sometimes similar?

Are we looking often only for the material goods and products from the Lord…
… or do we seek primarily for Jesus and His Kingdom?

We need to check and examine: Have we discovered the “Real” Jesus in our life?

The Gospel of the Day presents before us this great challenge: To identify the real Jesus!

The Gospel reading is a description of the Lord’s ministry as per St Mark’s account.

Jesus is engaged in His proclamation of the Kingdom of God.

He is manifesting Himself to be a person who is of the supernatural and the extraordinary realm.

He teaches the Scriptures with deep authority and conviction…
… People hear God speaking in their lives!
He silences and expels the forces of evil and influences the nature…
… People experience the Divine force in their lives!
He infuses life into the dead and proclaims his great power…
… People come across the marvellous works of the Lord!
He exercises His healing over the sick and the suffering…
… People witness His glorious control and supremacy!

People are…
… swayed over His mighty works
… super-excited by His amazing wonders
… overwhelmed with His wonderful deeds

But such occasions are the times of great testing and trial for anyone..

The easiest moments of losing oneself is in the midst of immense success!

The most tempting times of losing one’s focus is when there are widespread victories!

The Lord was surrounded by immense recognition and successes.

The crowds were thronging around Him and His popularity ratings were soaring.

But, just as the tree of success must be deeply grounded & rooted in the soil of stability and firmness…

So also, the Lord was fully aware of His goals and mission.

And so the Gospel of St Mark would explicitly point out the actions of the Lord…
‘Rising very early before dawn, He left and went off to a deserted place, where He prayed’ (Mk 1:35)

‘He told them, “Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also. For this purpose I have come”‘ (Mk 1:38)

The Lord points out to the people and to His disciples the priorities of His Life – Being in communion with His Heavenly Father and Spreading the Kingdom of God!

He doesn’t get over-awed with success!
He doesn’t get carried away by reputations!

He reminds His disciples and His people to seek the “real” Jesus!

It’s a moment for us to check and examine our own lives: Am I following the “Real” Jesus?

Is Jesus merely a source of healings and remedies in my moments of physical sicknesses…
… or has He also become the true balm and consolation in my spiritual health and well-being?

Is Jesus only like a call-centre agent whom I seek in order to fix some problems of life…
… or Has He also become genuinely the treasure and the priceless fortune of my Life?

Is Jesus simply a solution and answer when crisis hits my life and things go badly…
… or has He also become authentically the greatest powerhouse and thrust of my Life?

Am I following the “Real” Jesus?

Or is it merely…
… a Jesus of quick-fix solutions?
… a Jesus who is a problem-solver?
… a Jesus who is remembered in times of trials alone?
… a Jesus who is expected to give all answers to my confusions?

The people and the disciples, as we see in the Gospel, seemed happy and satisfied to seek Jesus who performs wonders.

Of course, wonders and sensational deeds are good.

But they are not to be an end in itself….
They are not to be made the primary motto.
Miracles and marvels ought to become a launching pad…
… for a deeper relationship with the Lord.

Let us not reduce the greatness of Jesus to just miracled or seeking just material needs.

Let us rather, seek…
… the True and Living Lord for a wholesome & integral growth for eternity.
… the Compassionate and Powerful Lord to grow in holiness & sanctity.

Just like digging is done for oil…
… and petrol is later, extracted from it, through a process of distillation!

We need to search first for Jesus and His Kingdom (Mt 6:33)
… and all other things – which are a by-product – will be given to us

Yes, let’s not merely run after ‘by-products’…
… Let us rather seek for Jesus, Who is the Essence!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

“Hold on to the Lord, and victory will be ours!”

(Based on 1 Sam 1:9-20 and Mk 1:21-28 – Tuesday of the 1st Week in Ordinary Time, Year 2)

One of the very beautiful descriptions of a “Prophet” goes thus:
A prophet is someone…
… who comforts the disturbed
… and disturbs the comforted!

This description finds its expression in the lives of Prophets in the Bible

They were people…
… who offered great comfort and consolation to those in difficulty and distress

At the same time, they were people…
… who outrightly condemned those who led a comfortable life – away from God and His Commandments
… who vehemently opposed the ways of those who oppressed the poor

Jesus is the “Prophet of all prophets!”

The perfection and the fullness of all prophets!

And so, undoubtedly, Jesus, by His Prophetic Ministry also greatly upheld the principle of being the one…
… who comforts the disturbed
… and disturbs the comforted!

The Gospel of the Day presents such an action of encounter…
… where on side a group of people, who are listening to Jesus, are comforted
… while on the other side, some are extremely disturbed by the Prophetic Presence of Jesus!

An encounter between the Kingdom of Satan and the Kingdom of God

Jesus is in the synagogue on the Sabbath Day and addressing the people (Mk 1:21)

His prophetic teaching is full of power and conviction!

When one is deeply convinced of one’s beliefs, it overflows into one’s words and actions

As He taught the people, Jesus encounters a man with an unclean spirit, who cried out,” What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?” (Mk 1: 24)

Where there is light, darkness cannot stand too long…

Imagine this situation…
Jesus had been preaching for a while in the synagogue.
All people were in rapt attention & awe, listening to His gracious words.

But in the midst of them.. was this man, with an unclean spirit.
He also was patiently hearing…

But as the bold words flowed from Jesus, the spirit within this man began to disturb.

The Lord’s Voice…
… began to reverberate his heart and mind…
He began to get agitated.

And finally, he could no longer tolerate and with a massive and shrieking voice, he cried, “What have you got to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?!”

The cry of the man is not something in isolation….

This cry is often repeated by all of us too: “What have you got to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?”

When we are living a life of coziness and comforts…
And we are encountered with situations of misery of people…

We hear the words of the Lord to reach out to them in compassion and love.
But, often we cry out, “What have you got to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?”

When we are living a life in sin, bad habits and without even a sense of guilt…
And we are encountered by caring people who remind us of our need to give up such things…

We hear the words of the Lord to renew and mend our lives in purity and holiness.
But, often we cry out, “What have you got to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?”

When we are going through our life without proper sacraments and religious practices…
And we are encountered by constant exhortations to deepen our spiritual life…

We hear the words of the Lord to return to Him in humility and repentance.
But, often we cry out, “What have you got to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?”

Often, we are happy to remain with the spirit of luxury, the spirit of casualness, the spirit of indifference, the spirit of lukewarmness, the spirit of pleasures etc…
We don’t like being disturbed.
We don’t like being questioned.
We don’t like being shaken up.

If we are, we get agitated and irritated… we resist and we get wild.
We even shout out: “What have you got to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?”

But, in all such situations, the Lord wants to empower us with His powerful & bold words, “QUIET! Come out of him” (Mk 1: 25)

Yes, Jesus the Prophet, mightily challenges all of us!

He is the Great Prophet
… who comforts the disturbed
… and disturbs the comforted!

Our life is a constant warfare with the forces of the evil and the spirit of darkness.
It’s a battle that rages strongly

But let us not be afraid…
The powerful and awe-inspiring Lord is on our side!
Let us hold on to Him, and victory will be ours!

Today we seek the intercession of St. Hilary of Poitiers, a 4th-century bishop and Doctor of the Church…
… who lived during a time of deep division and confusion in the Church.

Known as the “Athanasius of the West,” he courageously defended the divinity of Christ against Arianism, even suffering exile for the truth.

May his faith, wisdom, and perseverance inspire us to remain rooted in truth and charity amid the challenges of our own time.

God Bless! Live Jesus!

“Allowing the Lord to walk into our ordinary lives and accepting His invitation to be partakers of the extraordinary and effervescent works of the Kingdom!”

(Based on 1 Sam 1:1-8 and Mk 1:14-20 -n Monday of the 1st Week in Ordinary Time, Year 2)

A story is said of a rich man – much attached to possessions and wealth – who heard a sermon which exhorted to “Let God” work in one’s life.

The example cited was of how, at the creation of the world, God commanded a word and things were created…
… let there be light
… let there be the firmament and the waters
… let there be the living creatures etc

“Letting God” to work would allow miracles to take place in one’s life

Even though this man was not a very practising Catholic, and instead was much attached to his wealth…
… these words “Let God”… “Let God”… kept ringing in his hears.

However, he was not sure, how “to Let God” in his life.

As he sat in the evening with his family, his six year old child came to him, telling him, “Pappa, our catechism teacher asked us to write the title of today’s sermon as a homework. Would you kindly check if what I have written is right…?”

And so saying, the little boy handed over the book

The man was surprised to see the title written as “LET GO”
… and there it flashed to him: The way to “Let God” was to “Let Go!”

Yes…
“Letting God” to work in life…
… begins with “Letting Go!”

Have we discovered this fundamental truth of Christian Discipleship?

The Gospel of the Day is this beautiful presentation of the first disciples of Jesus, who “let go”…
… in order to follow Jesus

We have entered into the 1st Week of the Ordinary Times of the Liturgical Year with the Feast of the Baptism.

The “expectant and hopeful purple colours of Advent” and the “golden and white festive colours of the Christmastide” are now kept aside…
… and its time to live the “sublime and green colours of the Ordinary Time”

The Gospel presents Jesus entering into the “ordinary situations” of the people…
… and inviting them to be partakers of the “extraordinary and effervescent works of the Kingdom!”

The Gospel says:
“And passing along by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen.” (Mk 1:16)

“And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets.” (Mk 1:19)

Simon, Andrew, James and John – would have begun their day just like any other day…
… hoping for a good catch
… but also wary that they may end up without much to carry back home

But Divine Providence had a special day in store for them

Jesus encounters these people on a “regular and ordinary day”
… only to convert that day to a “very special day of blessing and grace!”

Each of us also, most probably, begin our day, just like any other regular days…
… with mundane tasks
… regular errands and similar schedules

But if we are open and willing to allow the Lord to enter into our lives…
… each day can become a “very special day of blessing and grace!”

Yes, each day can indeed become “the day that the Lord has made” (Ps 118:24)…
… if we remain open to God’s Voice and cooperate with His Merciful Grace in our lives!

Simon, Andrew, James and John, the first disciples, responded to the call of the Lord

And they had their lives transformed.

The Lord wishes to work the same transformation in our lives as well.

But for this, we need to “let go”

Yes, we need to “Let Go” in order “to Let God” work beautiful miracles in our lives

“Let go” of our tendencies to be attached to material possessions and giving priorities only to worldly riches…
… instead, focus more on the spiritual and eternal realities of life!

“Let go” of our egoistic attitudes…
… instead, accommodate and extend God’s Love to people with the virtues of forgiveness, humility and acceptance!

“Let go” of our bad habits and sinful inclinations…
… instead, put on the vestment of holiness and purity of life!

Life, of course, is sometimes apparently quite harsh and humiliating…
… just like it was to Hannah, as we see in the First Reading of the day (1 Sam 1:1-8)

Yet, in the very ordinary and painful situation of her life, the Lord was silently at work.

By trusting and remaining faithful, Hannah allowed the Lord to walk into her wounded ordinariness.
And there, God began His extraordinary and life-giving work of the Kingdom.

The Lord desires to walk into our ordinary lives…
… and offers us the invitation to be partakers of the “extraordinary and effervescent works of the Kingdom!”

Shall we “let go”….?
… so that we can “let God….”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

“Allowing the fire of God’s Love that has been kindled in us at Baptism, to blaze in us, setting many other souls on fire for love of God!”

(Based on the Baptism of the Lord)

An incident is told about St Katherine of Alexandria.

Katherine was a noble and learned young woman in this cultural hub of the ancient world of the 4th century.

She was a Christian.
She had attained a lot of popularity in the town of Alexandria.

This was the time of the persecution of Christians by Emperor Maxentius.

Christians were given only two options:
Worshipping the emperor (which would violate the First Commandment)…
… or being put to death

The Governor of Alexandria also came up with another plan to humiliate and discourage the Christians.

He invited Katherine to debate a group of fifteen (some say 50) of the best pagan philosophers and orators…
… hoping that this dispute would refute all her pro-Christian arguments and thus morally discourage other Christians as well!

Katherine accepted the challenge.

They gathered in the governor’s palace and the discussion began.
But the plan backfired.

Instead of Katherine being converted, several members of the panel (some sources say all members were converted!)

They asked for baptism immediately, so as to receive God’s Grace into their souls.
But the governor was furious and condemned them all to immediate death.

To that, Katherine with concern and care assured all the new converts that since they so sincerely desired to receive the sacrament…
… their own blood would take the place of water, and their own martyrdoms would take the place of baptism.

Those men were willing to give up everything else, for their life and friendship with Jesus Christ!

That’s the power of God’s Love!
And that’s the Power of Witnessing to God’s Love…
… which is initiated at Baptism!

The fire of God’s Love that was kindled in St Katherine of Alexandria, at Baptism…
… continued to blaze in her, setting many other souls on fire for love of God!

Does the Fire of Love, that had been kindled in us, at our Baptism…
… continue to blaze powerfully in us?

Or has the fire been diminished and lessened?

Today, Holy Mother the Church celebrates the Feast of the Baptism of Jesus…
… with an invitation: “Fan into flames” (Cf. 2 Tim 1:6) the fire of God’s Love that has been kindled in us, at our Baptism

The event of the Baptism of the Lord is narrated in all the Synoptic Gospels…
… and the Gospel of St John mentions the experience of St John the Baptist at the Baptism of Jesus.

One important aspect that the Baptism of Jesus teaches us is that, it is the first public manifestation of Christ…
… and is a foreshadowing of the saving action that would be fully accomplished on the Cross.

On the Cross, our Blessed Lord identifies Himself with sinners…
… by embracing the enormous weight of humanity’s sinfulness

At Baptism, by submersion into the waters of River Jordan, Jesus identifies Himself with sinners, and embraces everyone to a New Life in Him!
… the immersion into the waters of Jordan symbolises His Death!
… the rising from the deep waters symbolise His Resurrection!

St Ambrose reminds us: “The Lord was Baptized, not to be cleansed Himself, but to cleanse the waters…
… so that those waters, cleansed by the flesh of Christ which knew no sin, might have the power of Baptism!”

The Baptism of Jesus, then, is the great reminder to all humanity:
1) We are all sinners, and we can find Mercy only in Jesus, the Saviour of the world
2) We are all bestowed with the gift of being a child of God, and called to live in holiness

Today is a day when we need to examine and renew our life:
… Have I embraced Jesus as the only Master of my life, and do I give priority to God’s Will in my life?
… Do I manifest Christ’s love in all my deeds, and thus draw many people to God’s Kingdom?
… What are the weak spots of sins in my life, and can I make a resolution today to give them up?
… Do I daily nurture my life of holiness, by consciously practising virtues that I need to grow in?

Venerable Fulton Sheen wonderfully illustrates the importance of the Rite of Baptism: “It may be objected, what good does a little water do, when poured upon the head of a child?

The water in the boiler can do nothing of and by itself, nor can the water on the head of a child.

But when the water in the boiler is united to the mind of an engineer, it can drive an engine across a continent or a ship across the sea.
… so too, when water is united to the Power of God, it can do more than change a crystal into life.
It can take a creature and convert him into a child of God!”

The Baptism of Jesus is a reminder to all of us of our Mission to live as “Alter Christus – Another Christ!”

His deeds of compassion and love, ought to be imitated by all of us, in our works
His words of transformation and love, ought to be echoed by all of us, in our interactions
His acts of self-giving and forgiveness, ought to be emulated, in our relationships with one another

Yes, the fire of God’s Love that has been kindled in us at Baptism…
… ought to continue to blaze in us, setting many other souls on fire for love of God!

Happy Feast to all of us, baptized with our Dearest Lord!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

“Sailing together with the Lord over the clean waters of humility and meekness!”

(Based on 1 John 5:14-21 and Jn 3:22-30 – Saturday after Epiphany)

Imagine a theatre on opening night.

The hall is packed.
The lights dim.
The curtain rises.
Behind the scenes is a stagehand.

(A stagehand is a person who works behind the scenes in a theatre, to manage the technical and physical aspects of a production.

He is responsible for ensuring that sets, lighting, sound, and props are ready for performances)

The stageman quietly goes about his work….
… adjusting lights, moving props, opening curtains etc.

Every scene runs perfectly…
The actors shine…
The story unfolds beautifully.

At no point does the stagehand step onto the stage.
He is unseen. He is unheard. He is unnoticed.
The final curtain falls.
The applause roars.

Afterward, one curious spectator approaches him and asks:
“All this time… you were here…
Why didn’t you come on stage?
Why didn’t you let people see you?”

The stagehand smiles and answers:
“If they see me, they will not see the story.

My work is not to be noticed…
… it is to let the story shine.”

This is so beautiful an example for our Christian living: Humility is working behind the scenes…
… so that Christ takes the spotlight!

This was the hallmark of the ministry of John the Baptist
He prepared the way.
He baptized.
He called people to repentance.

And then he stepped aside…
… so that Jesus alone could be seen as the Light.

The Gospel of the day invites and challenges us to ponder over this aspect…
… by presenting the dramatically humble personality of John the Baptist!

One of the most supreme and vital messages that we learn from the life of John the Baptist is Humility – a virtue in direct contrast to the dangerous vice of Pride!

This is what we learn from the life of St John the Baptist.

He sought not his own way, but the way of the One who sent him.
He wanted not his light to shine, but the Light of Him who sent him.

The Gospel of the day has a scene of a dispute arising.

John the Baptist, by his bold preaching and his radical life-style, had attracted many disciples.

Some of these disciples come and told John: “Rabbi, the One who was with you across the Jordan, to Whom you testified, here He is baptizing, and everyone is coming to Him” (Jn 3:26)

Think of the confusion of these disciples of John…

Their teacher who baptized, is now being overshadowed.

John had preached about repentance, had baptized and had pointed to the coming Messiah.

This should have been a time for John’s disciples to celebrate, now that Jesus was coming to the forefront!

But they forgot an important aspect of ministry…
… that we are doing all for HIM!

But John the Baptist remained unperturbed and undisturbed.

He stood firm…
… because his eyes were fixed on “the One greater than himself.”

He displayed an angelic countenance of humility!

As St Augustine says: “It was pride that changed angels into devils; it is humility that makes men as angels.”

Like a good coach, who drills discipline and restraint into “his men”…
… John tells his disciples: “Let’s get back to the basics!”

John reminds His disciples that He is only the friend of the bridegroom… (Jn 3:29)

“The friend of the bridegroom” was a term used in Jewish weddings of the time.
This friend would:

Stand by the bridegroom, assisting him in ceremonial preparations and serving as witness
Encouraging joy and overseeing the celebration
Standing as an advocate and protector

John reminds His disciples that his ministry is not of his own, but received from God!
… that He is not to take centre-stage, but only the One greater than him!
… that He was not to be the Messiah, but only the forerunner of the Messiah!

In our life, it is easy for us to lose our focus from the Lord and have a selfish preferences for ourselves…

In our works, we often forget the blessings that the Lord has showered on us…
… and instead tend to attribute all successes to our own talents and abilities.

In our ministry, we lose sight of the Lord, the
real purposes of our vocation and the mission…
… and instead seek to fulfil our personal agenda and motives.

It is easy to bask in the glory of popularity and fame…
… and to enjoy the sunshine of reputations and recognitions.

But let them never lead us to have a “self-centred” approach of just “looking into” ourselves.

Let us have the humility to accept that it is God’s power being manifested in our works…
… And it is by His Grace that we move forward every moment of our life

Yes, “drown” not in the murky waters of pride, egoism and selfishness…

Rather “sail” together with the Lord over the clean waters of humility and meekness!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

“Extending to the Lord our hands… our hearts… our lives…!

(Based on 1 John 5:5-13 and Lk 5:12-16 – Friday after Epiphany)

Life sometimes is quite strange!

Often, when things go all well, and it seems that everything is fine
… disasters strike in life.

This is the experience of many of us in our lives.

Think of a man who is in his early thirties…

He has a wonderful wife, with two lovely children.
It’s a home with a lot of joy and happiness.

One day, the man comes back home after work – he is a mason.

On coming back, he informs his wife of a tiny sore that has been nagging him for sometime
This sore had turned a bit reddish after the heavy day’s of work.

With much insistence and persuasion by the wife, the man agrees to show it to a doctor.

After the initial check-up, the doctor tells them: “Well, the sore certainly has grown a bit. I have some of my initial observations, but I need to work on them still.
Why don’t you stay up here in the hospital for a few days, so that I can further examine?”
And so he agrees.

As days pass, the sore gets more infectious.
The doctor now is ready with his well-studied and examined decision:

“I am sorry to inform you… but you are infected with… Leprosy!”

Hearing this, the man is terrified.
Leprosy, he knew, was not just an ordinary sickness.

It was a slow death sentence – distanced from family, distanced from society, distanced from self!

Imagine that situation of the happy living family!

The man is now to leave his wife and children; his land and work…
… He is to go and live with people who were afflicted with a similar disease.
This was the law of the land.
This was the regulation practised in this area.

The Law required the lepers to keep as far away as possible from all healthy people.

Whenever someone drew near who did not have leprosy, the leper was supposed to shout, “Unclean! Unclean!”

So, with a heavy heart and a crushed spirit, the man leaves his loving wife and two children.
He goes off alone… to die!

He couldn’t even have an animal for a companion.

If he touched even a dog, the dog had to be killed so that it did not carry the disease back into the city.

Life as a leper was just too horrible and miserable.

Life sometimes is indeed quite strange!

The Gospel of the Day presents one such leper… A man who was “full of leprosy” (Lk 5:12)

One fine day, however, this leper looks up and sees a small group of people following a Man.

That Man – the leader – he comes to know… is Jesus.

The leper has heard about Jesus.

He wished to hear Him.
But the Law did not permit to go close!

As the group passes their way, this leper remembers what the Law taught Him.

And he begins to shout, “Unclean! Unclean! I have leprosy! Stay away from me! Unclean!”

But then a strange thing happens! Jesus keeps coming closer to him.

His shout increases… louder goes his cries…”Unclean, Unclean!”

But Jesus keeps coming closer and closer… till He has reached the leper!

The leper has now been afflicted probably for many years. He misses his family very deeply.

He knows he is at the edge of life
… undergoing a slow death!

But…
… Before him, now stands, someone, Who he has heard, has tremendous power!
… Before him, now stands, someone, Who he has heard, can unshackle any bondage!

And so, with tears filling his eyes and dread filling his shocked face, he asks, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean!” (Lk 5:12)

It was a cry of agony.
It was a wail of immense anguish.

He had suffered much.
He had been separated from loved ones for long.
Now he wanted a deliverance.
He wanted freedom from the captivity.
He wanted a wholesome life in his loathsome existence!

And then comes the spectacular words of Jesus, “I will. Be clean!” (Lk 5:13)

The Lord touches him!

His body was touched!
His heart was healed!
His soul was cleansed!
Life was restored! Happiness was returned!

Do you and I also feel sometimes like a leper?

Situations of happiness being snatched away
Moments of love and affection being afflicted
Times of joy, serenity and calmness being affected
Unloved? Rejected? Despised? Abused?
Helpless? Hopeless? Dying?

We may be going through hard times
We may feel that life is unfair to us
We may feel that existence is meaningless

But…
… The Lord wants to restore us!
… He wants to make us whole again!

Life is strange…
… but the Power of the Lord is more strong!

Life is complicated…
… but the Grace of the Lord is more compelling!

The Lord is here to touch us!

Let’s extend to Him our hands… our hearts… our lives…!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

“Entrusting our lives into the care of the Great Carpenter of Nazareth…!

(Based on 1 John 4:19-5:4 and Lk 4:14-22 – Thursday after Epiphany)

A carpenter is a person who works with wood.

The carpenter uses various tools and implements in order to cut, shape, chisel, carve and cut into the pieces of wood.

Gives new shapes… repairs the broken ones… polishes the rough edges etc…

The Gospel of the Day is an encounter with such a Carpenter.

Well… He is no ordinary one….

He is the Great Carpenter of Nazareth.. JESUS!

Jesus is in His hometown of Nazareth.

He walks into the synagogue, as was His custom.

He is handed over the book of prophet Isaiah and reads a prophetic passage.

All were amazed at His gracious words and they began to ask each other, “Isn’t this the Son of Joseph” (Lk 4:22)

Yeah, Jesus was the Son of Joseph, the carpenter!

And this Child of Joseph, was Himself also a carpenter!

The people would have murmured this statement to belittle Jesus.

The people would have referred Him so, because of their bias and prejudice.
The people perhaps called Him that way to show that He was just ordinary – one of them.

But what the people murmured or muttered or grumbled was indeed true…

Even later on, the people would refer, “Is He not the carpenter, the son of Mary…” (Mk 6:3)

Truly, Jesus is the Carpenter…

Not just an ordinary one, but the Great Carpenter of Nazareth!

The Jews were in great expectation of a Messiah.

Their concept of a Messiah would have been one who is very powerful, kingly, majestic etc.

But Jesus, the Messiah doesn’t ornament Himself with all such expected grandeur.
He doesn’t robe Himself with a showy magnificence or armour Himself with majestic works.

He takes the role of a Carpenter.

He identified Himself with the common people…
He became one with humanity with hard labour and gritty toil.

On one of the tombstones, in Great Britain, there is an epitaph written for a man named Thomas Cobb.

It says, “Here lies Thomas Cobb, who mended shoes to the glory of God, for 40 years.”

Yes, glory and honour can be rendered to God in any activity – small or great, menial or expert!

What is my understanding about the duties and responsibilities entrusted to me?

Am I aware that in all works – small and great, I can be giving glory to God?

Do I perform all my tasks, with a Sacred Sense that it’s an extension of God’s creative works?

A carpenter’s work is to fashion new things from ordinary wood and also to repair things that have been damaged.

The Great Carpenter of Nazareth is wanting to do the same in our lives…

He wants to create us anew and refashion our lives.

He wants to give new shape and utility to our brokenness and damaged parts of life.

Are we ready to let the Great Carpenter of Nazareth to work in our lives?

Hammer in some of the nails of discipline and virtues?
Chisel away sin and other unwanted portions of our life?
Polish some places of life that have lost its sheen and shine?
Drill in some screws to tighten the lethargic and sluggish areas of life?
Level some habits in us that can hamper the balance of our spirituality?
Measure some of our activities to determine how much exactly is needed?

In Mt 12:20 we read, “… a bruised reed, He will not break..”

We all of us have our brokenness in life… damages in relations… bruises in thoughts..

But the Great Carpenter assures that He will not let our bruised reeds be broken!
He wants to mend us..
He wants to repair us…
He wants to fashion us anew!

As a stanza in one of the lesser-known carol titled, “Behold a little Child” goes…
“Christ, Master Carpenter,
We come rough-hewn to Thee;
At last, through wood and nails,
Thou mad’st us whole and free;
In this thy world remake us, planned,
To truer beauty of Thine Hand.”

Knock… Knock… The Carpenter is already here…

Let’s open the door to Him…
… no matter, even if the door is also damaged!!

Let us entrust our lives into the care of the Great Carpenter of Nazareth… !

God Bless! Live Jesus!

“Trusting that the Lord is with us and hears our cry of deep anguish and fear!”

(Based on 1 John 4:11-18 and Mk 6:45-52 – Wednesday after Epiphany)

Played with li’l children?

When elders play some game, with little children, we usually change some rules of the game.

It could be a game of cricket, or football or just passing the ball etc…

We relax some of the rules to make it easy for the child to enjoy the game a little more.

Sometimes for fun, we even, play badly, so that the child may win…
Sometimes, we even make some adjustments and act as if we don’t know how to play well..
Sometimes, we even play, as if we are losing very badly so that the child may enjoy more…

We do a bit of “acting” to see the reaction of the children.

Well…
… for the Lord, we are li’l Children…

And no doubt, He too loves to play some tricks with us, His kids!

The Gospel of the Day is an example of how the Lord loves having “some fun” with us, His Little Kids…

The Lord has performed a stupendous multiplication of the five loaves & two fish among the five thousand men. (Mk 6: 34-44)

He then makes His disciples to get onto a boat, while He retires to enjoy His precious moments with His Abba Father on the mountains, to pray. (Mk 6: 45-46)

It’s at that time, the disciples, who are out in the sea, travelling on the boat, face a great storm.

As the disciples are struggling against the waves that hit them and the gushes of wind lashing against their boat, Jesus comes walking on the sea, towards them.

St Mark’s Gospel is very particular in mentioning a strangely overlooked statement: “He meant to pass them by” (Mk 6:48b)

Another translation of this sentence would read, “He intended to pass them by!”

Now, that’s strange, right?

The disciples are struggling for life and are in deep danger…

And does the Lord wish to just pass them by?

The boat is to capsize and it’s a terrible resistance against the forces of nature…

And does the Lord just want to pass them by?

Did He not see them?

Or does He not care?

Well… this is where we introduce the aspect of the Lord having some “fun” with His children!

On another occasion also, Jesus would do something similar…

On the road to Emmaus, with the two disciples, when they reach close to their destination, Jesus does a similar “prank”
“As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus gave the impression that he was going on further” (Lk 24:28)

Yet, on both occasions…
… when Jesus is called up, He responds positively.

In the boat, when the disciples saw the Jesus intended to pass them by, they cried out in fear.

And this prayer… of fear and worry… was heard by the Lord, and He responds!

On the way to Emmaus, when the two saw that Jesus was going away, they requested his presence.

And this prayer… of earnestness and desire…was heard by the Lord, and He responds!

Similar situations here…

The Lord in a sort of a “prank”
… intends to pass by.

It seems that He is not so interested in their concerns…

Yet, when they call out to Him
… He responds!

Just like elders while playing with children, who “act” for some time….

Jesus’ “acting” of being disinterested or “not knowing what to do” pays off…

The disciples reach out to Him in earnest prayer…and a miracle is performed!

The Lord seems to pass by, not because He is not interested in us.

It is rather just His way of making us to also reach out to Him in prayer

Divine disposition does not do away with human actions….

Divine help does not rule out human initiatives.

We are not to sit back and wait in passivity for God’s help…

We are to call out on Him, in prayer, in faith, in love!

Our lives sometimes have to face the consequence of this “prank” or “acting” of the Lord.

We struggle in the boats of our life, against dreadful storms of problems…
We row hard with all our might, and sometimes feel that it’s going to be the end of our life…

We get frightened and are afraid that somehow the waves will have the better of ourselves…

And the Lord, just “seems” to pass by

But when we cry out in deep anguish and fear… the Lord hears!

Our anxiety and fears itself becomes a prayer in the Presence of the Lord!

Is our life passing through deadly storms of faithlessness and isolation?

Are the dreadful waves of hardships and miseries assaulting us?
Does it seem that the Lord is “just passing by”?

Lift up the sagging and weary spirits…

The Lord is very much with us!

Let’s open our hearts and lives to Him…and hear Him say, “Take courage, it is I… Do not be afraid!” (Mk 6:50)

God Bless! Live Jesus!