Many hunters use their abilities with bow and arrows, guns and spears to kill monkeys.

But some native people have another simple yet effective style to trap them.

The hunter searches the jungles for a large-sized, wild gourd (= a fleshy, typically large fruit/vegetable with a hard skin).

After the gourd had dried for several weeks, the hunter would cut a two-inch hole in the side. >> The insides of the gourd would then be taken out, leaving an empty hard-shelled trap…

After finding the right place in the jungle, where there were plenty of monkeys, the hunter would hang the trap from a tree.

>> In the centre of the gourd-trap, several handfuls of peanuts would be placed…

In a short time, the curious monkeys would scamper over to see what the man had left behind.

>> A short glance and a long sniff would reveal to the monkeys that one of their favourite items was conveniently close by – and easy to get!

One monkey would venture first.

>> He would look the gourd over well.

The gourd was a common sight and would not rouse many questions, and inside he would discover wonderful, plump peanuts.

What more could a monkey ask for?

Into the gourd, went the monkey’s hand, grasping a few peanuts, and then slowly, he would ease out his hand.

Easy pickings!

>> He got a handful and they were so good!

In would go again his little hand, and not wanting to miss out on this free offer!

But his hand , with many peanuts, was now too big, to get back out of the hole.

When he tried to pull back his hand, it would not come out through the gourd’s hole.

>> He would pull and pull but to no avail.

>> He was caught!

It would never dawn on him to let go of the peanuts!

There he would be captured until the hunter would return and easily kill the monkey.

His own selfishness had bound him to the trap.

Temptations in our life, is also, so often similar…

>> We get trapped in our own selfishness!

>> We get ensnared in our own greediness!

The Gospel of the Day, on this first Sunday of Lent, is an account, from the Gospel of St Mark, of how Jesus resisted temptations…

… and emerged victorious by the power of the Spirit, to proclaim the Gospel of God!

“At once, the Spirit drove Him out into the desert, and He remained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan” (Mk 1:12)

• In Jesus, we encounter a God who has a very human face – sharing in sufferings, partaking in miseries and participating in hardships.

• In Jesus, we have a God who understands us in our weak moments, consoles us in our painful situations and who empathizes with us in our trials and temptations.

Jesus knows what it is like to struggle with temptations and enticements…

Because He Himself was tempted!

Jesus knows what it is like to ward off the beasts of our vices and evil tendencies…

Because He Himself was among wild beasts!

Yet, in all His trials, He emerged victorious and triumphant!

Ø He did not succumb to the allurements of Satan…

Ø He did not fall for the traps of the Evil One…

Ø He did not yield to the inducements of the Devil…

The reason?

>> He had a tremendous infilling of the Holy Spirit!

>> He had a unshaken determination to be focused on doing God’s Will!

>> He had an indomitable resolve of being faithful and true to His mission and commitment!

And these reasons of Jesus are also the techniques for us to overcome the power of temptations….

>> Can we grow continually in the infilling of the Holy Spirit?

>> Can we learn to, despite any hardships, constantly seek and do only God’s Will?

v Can I cultivate the steadfastness to be singly focussed on the mission of His Kingdom?

We live in a world which is often, like a wilderness…

.. dry in spiritual fervour… heated up with material desires…arid in religious enthusiasm

We live in a world where there are often, many wild beasts…

…ferociously corrupt and unhealthy practices…menacingly abusive evil lifestyles

We need to resist the temptations arising from such situations and stand firm in our focus and commitment to the Lord and His Kingdom.

Let us not get caught up in the snares of temptation…instead be victorious and triumphant in the Grace and Power of Jesus, our Saviour, Model and Master!

Selfish desires can trap us….but being selfless in the Spirit will help us!

Greedy longings can confine us….but Godly leanings can strengthen us!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

Been to a general physician for a check-up?

>> Well, I guess, most of us have been.

One of the simple techniques that a physician employs, to assess whether the person is sick, is by checking the person’s tongue.

The colour of the tongue, its size and shape, the colour and thickness of its coating, locations of abnormalities and moistness/ dryness of the tongue…

… all these could give some indications of the overall health and any disharmonies.

St Francis de Sales, mentions about this aspect, in his book, ‘Introduction to the Devout Life’…

“Doctors get a good knowledge of the health or the illness of a man by examining his tongue.

>> Our words are signs of the qualities of our souls”

Yes, the state of the tongue reveals the state of the health of the person.

>> The condition of the tongue gives an indication of the well-being or illness in a person.

Similarly, the words, which the tongue speaks, reveal the state of our inner life.

>> Our speech, which the tongue utters, reveal the condition of our spiritual life.

The Gospel of the Day is an account of Jesus, the Great Physician of Galilee, in His rounds of healing sick patients…

… and who is encountered by some critical persons who reveal a dark side of human life by their “slanderous and harsh” tongues!

Levi, the tax-collector heeds the call of the Lord “to follow Him” ( Lk 5:27)

In his great happiness of being accepted and the joy of following his new-found love, Levi hosts a grand party.

>> This feast is a wonderful time of sharing for various other tax collectors as well.

But this time of joy and happiness, becomes an occasion for some people to “wag their tongues” in negative talks and remarks!

As the saying goes…where two or three are gathered with a vicious and malicious mind…

… there is the assassination of the character of few people!

The Pharisees and Scribes, seeing Jesus sharing the joyful companionship of the tax collectors, began to murmur and grumble:

>> “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” (Lk 5: 30)

Jesus clarifies His mission of coming to the world to heal the sick and to cure the ill. (Lk 5:31)

He is the Great Physician of Galilee.

This Great Physician, clearly examines the “tongues” of the Pharisees and the Scribes and identifies their sickness…

Ø Their tongues spoke ill of people who were being saved.

Ø Their tongues criticized the people who were given a redeeming status in the society.

Ø Their tongues lashed at out the Lord who came to bring acceptance and love to the outcast.

• The words that their tongues uttered revealed the low-state of their life.

• The words that their tongues spoke revealed the negativity that was widespread in their life.

The Great Physician today wishes to examine our own tongues: our words and our speech.

>> Are we also persons whose tongues lash out in harsh criticism and rash judgments?

>> Are we also persons whose tongues hit out in negative comments and unkind criticism?

The Great Physician is here to heal us…

… Our tongues easily reveal our sicknesses to Him.

This time of the Lent is a great opportunity for us, to improve in this area of our life.

The Great Physician has His prescriptions ready….

Ø His Holy Word, which can sweeten our tongues with patience and charity.

Ø His Holy Eucharist, which can cleanse our tongues in sanctity and holiness.

Let us be healed and cleansed by the Divine Touch of the Great Physician!

God bless! Live Jesus!

Two wives were sharing their experiences about their husbands.

The first wife shared:

“My husband is a very good man.

>> But the only trouble is he does not understand my weaknesses.

He comes home every evening and bombards me with a barrage of questions:

>> ‘Did you do what I told you?’

>> ‘Did you waste any time today?’

>> ‘Did you complete all the works on your to-do-list?’

He always demands. He always expects.

>> As much as I try, I cannot satisfy him.

The worst thing is, he is always right!

I cannot meet his expectation, because I am not able to!”

The second wife shared:

“My husband is a very good man. And the advantage is, he understands my weaknesses.

He comes home very evening and engages in dialogue-questions with me:

>> ‘Hope you had a good day today’

>> ‘I wish that you got some rest today’

>> ‘I hope you did not strain yourself much, completing all the works’

He always understands. He always encourages.

>> As much as I put in the effort, he appreciates me.

The best thing is, he is always right!

I can meet his expectation, because he makes me able!”

Do we want to know the name of the two husbands?

Well…

The name of the first husband is….Mr Rigid!

>> And the name of the second is….Mr. Compassionate!

What about us?

How are we in our Christian lives…?

>> Mr Rigid?

OR

>> Mr Compassion?

The Gospel of the Day presents this contrasting attitude of human tendencies in the Person of Jesus and the Pharisees…

… over the stagnant practice of an important devotion: Fasting!

The disciples of John the Baptist came to Jesus with an important query: “Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not?” (Lk 9:14)

The Mosaic Law commanded only one day of fasting – the day of Atonement.

The Book of Leviticus prescribes this fast: “On the tenth day of the seventh month…you are to enter into a solemn fast and refrain from all work, because on this day atonement will be made for you, to cleanse you. In the presence of God you will be made clean of all your sins. It is a Sabbath of all Sabbaths. You must fast. It is a perpetual ordinance” (Lev 16:29-31)

But it is to be noted that the Pharisees and apparently, the disciples of John had also adopted another tradition: that of fasting two days a week.

>> This was considered to be a very pious and pride action among this group.

In Luke 18:12, we find the Pharisee who boasts of fasting twice a week, as he makes his prayer, in contempt of the tax collector.

It is to this fasting, that the disciples of John refer to, when they counter Jesus with the question: “Why don’t your disciples fast?”

But Jesus opens their eyes to see the rigidity in their thought and practice.

>> The practice of fasting was…

… for atonement of one’s sins.

… a time of mourning in seeking for the restoration of Israel.

… a period of waiting for the Messiah who would redeem their nation.

But somehow all these basic aspects of fasting were forgotten and apparently, lost.

>> Their practice of fasting had grown stagnant.

>> Their mindset in skipping meals had become sluggish.

>> They failed to realize the reason and meaning for their fasting.

The Lord declares Himself as the Bridegroom, who has come to restore the glory of Israel. (Mt 9:15)

>> The time of mourning is over.

>> The period of fasting is no longer.

It’s time to rejoice with Him, who is the Bridegroom and Saviour – Jesus!

Yes, when one loses sight of the original purpose, the actions become mere lifeless customs.

>> When one fails to know the actual motive, the conduct becomes a mere obsolete ritual.

A custom, devoid of its purpose and real intention is dead and decayed.

>> A tradition, conducted without the true motivation is irrelevant and trivial.

>> A ritual, performed without knowledge of true meaning is an immaterial routine.

The Season of Lent calls for us to make extra sacrifices, especially through the form of fasting.

What is my attitude to fasting and penance?

Has it become rigid…

… devoid of its original purpose of sanctification and growing in closeness to God?

Has it become stagnant…

… becoming a mere yearly custom and tradition with no effect on one’s life?

Am I ready to undertake the powerful style of fasting as presented in Isaiah 58: 6-7:

A fasting…

… to lose the bonds of wickedness and to undo the thongs of the yoke

… to let the oppressed go free and to share the bread with the hungry

… to bring homeless poor into the house and to cover the naked

Our fasting, penances and sacrifices are to be a joyful one… because we have Jesus, the bridegroom with us.

>> His presence with us, is a matter of joy

… yet we fast and do penance, to share joyfully in His suffering and pain.

>> His presence with us, is an occasion of rejoicing…

… yet we make sacrifices and discipline ourselves, to find deeper meaning in His Cross.

>> His presence with us, is a period of celebration…

… yet we have self-control and abstain oneself, to be united closer to His redeeming action.

Let us not get “rigid”.

>>Instead, with “compassion”, let us open our eyes to the real purpose meaning of our fasting and our acts of penance.

Yes, let us examine:

How are we in our Christian lives…?

>> Mr Rigid?

OR

>> Mr Compassion?

God Bless! Live Jesus!

A story is told of a young woman who wanted to join a particular college, with a reputed fame.

As she filled the application form, her heart sank, when she read the question that read: “Are you a leader?”

Sticking to her principle of being honest in life, she wrote “No”…

… and submitted her application…

… expecting the worst!

She knew, that this question would be the stumbling block for her admission to college.

But to her great surprise, she received the following letter from college:

“Dear Applicant,

A study of all our application forms this year reveals, that we will have 1, 547 new leaders in college.

So we are accepting you as our student, because we feel that it is necessary that all those ‘so-called leaders’, have at least one follower!”

Well, that pretty much sums up human tendencies isn’t it?

… a tendency whereby people would dilute their ideals for seeking a position or favour!

… a tendency whereby people would want to be only leaders, but fail to be a follower!

Is our Christian life also characterized by these tendencies…?

… to dilute Christian Values for the sake of one’s favour?

… to project our personal merits and crave to be a power-monger rather than a follower?

The Gospel of the Day presents the mighty challenge of Jesus, to those who wish to follow Him…

… being uncompromising in one’s commitment

… being willing to be a follower of Him, the Sole Leader!

Jesus says: “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Lk 9:23)

One of the key aspects, when we analyze the ministry of Jesus is that Cross would be an integral aspect of His life and ministry.

The Lord never shied away from the Cross.

>> And the Lord never shied away from teaching about the Cross.

He doesn’t use attractive advertisements to allure more followers…

He doesn’t preach an easy life to gather in more disciples…

>> But He instead preaches and proclaims the Cross!

The Cross is a symbol…

… of total self-giving

… of total commitment

We are in the season of Lent.

It’s a time of getting back to the basics of our life…

… to re-dedicate our love and consecration to the Lord

… to review our life more closely in relation to our faith

The Lord sets before us choices continually in life.. (Deut 30:15)

… the choice of life and death

… the choice of good and evil

… the choice of blessings and curses

But all these promises of the Lord are valid, only if we are seeking and are eager to follow His commandments and to walk according to His paths.

Our Christian lives today are often found to be characterized by…

… Pragmatism: following Christ and His Ideals only for our personal gains and desires!

… Comfortability: following Christ and His Ideals only when it is easy and undemanding!

… Dilution: following Christ and His Ideals without sincerity and watering down as per convenience!

… power-mongerism: following Christ and His Ideals only to gain power and popularity!

The Cross comes as a huge blow to all such “easy philosophies!”

The Cross was the choice of the Lord…

… a result of deep obedience and total commitment.

The Cross needs to be our choice too…and this requires…

… deep obedience to the Will of the Lord.

… total commitment to our call and consecration as a Christian.

The Lord promises much happiness and joy…

… but these will be delivered only if we make the determination and resolution to follow Him closer and to live as per His commands!

Let us be bold and courageous to embrace a Life of the Cross…

… without pragmatism, without comfortability, without dilution, without power-mongerism!

>> And stick on to the Christian Principles…

… even it means, rejection from the world and its ways!

Yes, shall we be ready…

… to embrace this call and exhortation of the Lord?

… to get attracted to a life of the Cross – total discipline and deep dedication?

God Bless! Live Jesus!

In 1867 on a farm in South Africa, 15-year-old Erasmus Jacobs saw a stone – shining brightly in the sun.

The shining rock was reported to a neighbor, who wanted to buy it from the family.

>> Not knowing its value, Erasmus’ mother told the neighbor, “You can keep the stone, if you want it.”

Eventually, a mineralogist determined the stone to be a 21.25 carat diamond and worth a great sum.

>> It became known as the “Eureka Diamond.”

Soon the fields near the soared in value and led to led to the “Kimberley Diamond Rush”

>> This also marked the beginning of the Mineral Revolution.

Underneath the land was one of the richest diamond deposits ever discovered.

>> “Discovering the Diamonds” was a EUREKA experience.

EUREKA is a Greek Word for “I found it!”

Archimedes, the mathematician and philosopher, (c.250 BC) had his EUREKA moment in a bathtub, when he saw the solution to the question his king had raised…

… and ran into the street naked shouting “Eureka,” (“I have found it”)!

The Bible testifies to people having a “Eureka” Experience

>> Moses at the Burning Bush, Discovered God (EUREKA), and His life would thereafter be transformed!

>> Jeremiah would have his mouth touched and would Discover God (EUREKA) to be the strength of His life!

>> Peter would Discover God (EUREKA) by the Sea of Galilee, and he would be made a “fisher of men”!

>> Paul would be thrown down, to Discover God (EUREKA), for Whom he would passionately work, all his life!

God calls all of us to have a EUREKA experience – DISCOVERING GOD!

The Catholic Church has been a Mighty Treasury of such experiences of EUREKA – Discovering God!

These experiences have been particularly enshrined in the Catholic Literature…

… Apostolic Exhortations (Papal documents to define with respect to faith and morals)

… Encyclicals (= a ‘circular’ letter sent by the Pope to all the Faithful, with a pastoral concern on a topic)

… Classic writings and books by various saints and holy people

Such Catholic Literature has always been available…

… through the centuries

… across the ages

But we do find that many of us, have failed to “Discover” the existence and beauty of such a magnanimous Treasure.

Time and again we have lots of doubts of faith, of our existence etc…

>> We run helter-skelter, in panic and desperation and looking for answers

But we often fail to realize, that the answer and solution to many of our “existential problems and questions” are to be found in the Writings and Teachings of the Church!

>> We have only been ignorant to seek!

>> We have only… “failed to discover!”

This Season of Lent, we shall make an attempt to very briefly get introduced a selected set of such Priceless Treasure of Catholic Literature.

This series is titled as “EUREKA: Discovering Catholic Treasury – through a Lenten lens!”

Every day- over the next 40 days – till the start of the Holy Week – we shall briefly familiarize ourselves with one Catholic Literature…

… learn a little about its historical context

… outline the major thrusts of the content

… and pick up a couple of Lenten Learnings for practise

This little attempt is an endevour for each one of us to Discover the Priceless Treasure that is enshrined in the Catholic Church.

So, let’s offer this undertaking into the safe intercession of Blessed Mary, our Beloved Mother and St Joseph, the Patron of the Universal Church, and seek the help of all the Angels and Saints…

… so that, this Season of Lent, we may more and more “Discover the Catholic Treasury” and thus Experiencing God, we may shout “EUREKA!”

Welcome to all of you to “EUREKA: Discovering Catholic Treasury – through a Lenten lens!”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

2018 would be remembered, for date-lovers, as a year, when Ash Wednesday coincides with Valentine’s Day…

… and further Easter Sunday coinciding with April’s Fools Day (April 1st)!

A common joke is doing the rounds these days on social media, goes thus:

Someone asked: “What is the specialty of Feb 14?”

Another guy asks back: “Are you having a wife or a girlfriend?”

“A wife”, comes the reply.

>> “Oh…

… then, its Ash Wednesday for you!”

Well… jokes apart, it’s interesting to reflect on this dimension of the two days – Ash Wednesday and Valentine’s Day – falling together.

Valentine’s Day is, of course, a day when a there is a “sudden” wave of expression of love and care and affections to the ones whom we love.

When taken in the right spirit and when celebrated in a meaningful way, this Day becomes a Day…

… of “specially” recognizing the worth of the one(s) we love

… of showing our love and affection to the one(s) dear to the our heart

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

>> “Love” is highly commercialized and “sold”

>> External affections are unduly given greater importance, forgetting the prime duties involved with love

>> Advertisers and commercialists rake in massive profits with a number of external objects portraying “love”

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

>> Or whether it is more, a day of “externalities of ‘love-feelings’ taking the upper-hand…

… is a matter of debate, as well as a matter of one’s own personal choice and view.

But as a Christian, this day – Feb 14 – celebrated as Ash Wednesday…

… is a day for us to remind ourselves to grow in the Immensity of God’s Love

… is a day for us to revive our basic duty of caring and being responsible to one another

… is a day for us to rediscover the worthiness of our lives and commit to grow in holiness

Today, with Ash Wednesday, we begin the Holy Season of Lent.

Ashes are an important element of this Ash Wednesday’s Liturgy.

The ashes are made from the Blessed Palms used at the Palm Sunday celebration of the previous year…

… and blessed with Holy Water.

The priest says the words:

>> “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”

>> (or) “Repent and believe in the Gospel”

These ashes remind us of…

… the littleness of our earthly life, and the need to give greater priority to our Spiritual Life

… the need to repent of our sins and express our willingness to live in holiness and sanctity

… the graciousness of God’s Mercy which is always available to those who turn towards Him

The Gospel of the Day emphasizes on the “Virtue of Humility” that needs to embellish the life of every Christian.

>> Ashes are an external form of “we being willing, to learn in the School of Humility!”

The Gospel of the Day (Mt 6: 1-6, 16-18) is a teaching by Jesus on the prime importance of doing away with pride and instead, beautifying one’s life with sincere humility .

Jesus speaks of the three core practices that were essential pious practices of His time: ALMSGIVING, PRAYER and FASTING (PENANCE).

>> And how these ought to be done with sincere humility and not in pride!

1. With respect to almsgiving, Jesus says…

… “sound no trumpet” (Mt 6:2)

2. With respect to prayer, Jesus says…

… “shut the door and pray to your Father” (Mt 6:6)

3. With respect to fasting, Jesus says…

…”anoint your head and wash your face” (Mt 6:17)

It is also interesting to note that these 3 practices also refers to the 3 dimensions of Love: towards God, towards others, towards oneself

1. Prayer: Reminding ourselves to grow in the Immensity of God’s Love

2. Almsgiving: Reviving our basic duty of caring and being responsible to one another

3. Fasting (Penance): Rediscovering the worthiness of our lives and commit to grow in holiness

Yes, this Ash Wednesday is a Great Day for all of us, to begin this Season of Holiness, to Grow in Love…

… Love of God

… Responsibility and Care of others

… Respect and Reverence of our own life

A few practical tips could help us to make this Season of Lent, more meaningful:

1. It is said that habits – to make a new one or to break an old one – generally take around 21 days

>> These 40+ days of Lent are a chance for us to “double” our efforts towards…

… positively growing in a “good virtuous habit”

… negatively rooting out a “not-so-good vicious habit”

(A few examples:

… Reading a portion of the Bible daily

… Learn by heart, some verses of the Bible and make it a personal prayer

… Identify the “root vice” of life, and practice the opposite – “the root virtue”

… Try to frequent Holy Mass / spend time with the Eucharistic Lord, as much as possible

… 40 simple acts of kindness

… Abstain from something that is “dear” and offer it is a sacrifice for someone in need

… Revive personal/family prayer

… Reduce time spent on the internet/social media

… Visit a home of charity or those in our vicinity who needs a help

… Abstain from gossiping/back biting/ irritable words

… Bring a person(s) closer to Christ/Church)

Can we choose, on this day, a habit in our personal life, which we need to “make or break”…

… for these days of Lent?

2. The Season of Lent covers a period of 7 weeks

>> 7 – a number of fullness and completeness is a call for us to grow in the Virtue of Charity.

We could identify 7 people – corresponding to the 7 weeks of Lent, who need our help.

>> This help may be any of the following:

… spiritual help

… social acceptance

… materialistic needs

… emotional assistance

Let this 14th of February be a day for us, to re-discover Jesus, the True Lover Who displays the real meaning of love!

>> The Lord…holds our hands, and in deep love and affection asks us, “Will you be My valentine forever?”

Let’s not blush….let’s not be shy…

>> May this Season of Lent help us – in deep faith and true commitment – to pledge forever, our love to the Lover of all Hearts!

Wish you all a Very Happy and Blessed Season of Lent.

>> May our Blessed Mother of Compassion lead us and may all the Saints intercede for us!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

The onion is one of the most simple and commonly available vegetables.

>> It is widely used, especially in the preparation of a number of Indian dishes.

It’s interesting to notice the structure of an onion: it is formed as a result of several layers.

>> If one tries to peel off one layer after another, the result would be, that one would be left with nothing…

… just emptiness!

Our Christian life sometimes is represented by an onion…formed in layers.

>> Christ peels our life like an onion to make us realize our emptiness.

The Gospel of the Day presents this experience of the disciples, in the presence of Jesus, their Master…

… an experience of being peeled to find themselves in emptiness

…an experience of being unlayered to find themselves in blankness

Jesus is off on the boat again, with His disciples, to travel to the other shore (Mk 8:13)

>> The disciples had forgotten to bring bread along with them, and they had only one loaf with them. (Mk 8:14).

Jesus, meanwhile, began to make use of the time of journey, for rendering a teaching on True Discipleship.

Incidentally, He spoke on the need to be aware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of Herod…

… the leaven of malice and wickedness (1 Cor 5:8)

… the leaven of deception and misleading (Gal 5:8-9)

The disciples, however, got it all wrong.

Their minds were still focused on the bread.

>> They were still figuring how out, how they missed to get bread.

>> They were still trying to see how they could all adjust, with one bread.

And so, when Jesus spoke of leaven, one of the main ingredients in bread, they thought that Jesus was chastising them, for not having taken bread.

But Jesus now shows the disciples what is to be the main focus…

He makes them realize what was more important and needed.

The disciples were more concerned with food and security.

The disciples were more interested in material needs and concerns.

But the Lord, now, begins to peel these layers, in the Disciples, as that in an onion!

… the layers of only material concerns

… the layers of only worldly needs

… the layers of only earthly apprehensions.

The disciples are concerned that they have only one bread…

But they fail to see that they have the One and Only Bread of Life!

The disciples are concerned that their food may not be sufficient…

>> But they failed to see that they have the One who multiplied bread for four thousands and five thousands!

They failed to understand!

>> They failed to look beyond!

In our life journey, we too sometimes fall short of material and earthly needs.

• Do we also get perplexed and anxious like the disciples?

• Do we also fail to see beyond and realize the more important needs of life?

• Do we also fail to understand that the presence of the Lord matters much more than any other earthly aspect?

We too need to be peeled of our layers of only material concerns.

>> We too need to be peeled of our layers of only worldly matters.

Let us fill the emptiness of our lives with the Love and Spirit of the Lord.

>> Let us fill the vacuum within us, with the Peace and Passion for the Lord.

God bless! Live Jesus!

The Song of Bernadette is a 1943 film which dramatizes the story of Saint Bernadette Soubirous.

St Bernadette, reported eighteen visions of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in Lourdes, France, from February to July 1858.

This movie begins with a prologue-dialogue, which goes thus…

“For those who believe in God, no explanation is necessary.

>> For those who do not believe, no explanation is possible”

This statement casts light on an important aspect of the nature of faith and belief:

To those who believe, miracles are an aid…

>> To those choose not to believe, no miracles can come to aid!

The Gospel of the Day is clear example of this aspect of the nature of faith and belief…

… the constant refusal of the Pharisees to believe in Jesus

… the adamant denial of the Pharisees to accept Jesus

We are in the eighth chapter of the Gospel of St Mark.

Jesus performed an amazing miracle of the multiplication of the loaves…for about four thousand people (Mk 8:1-9)

From there, Jesus proceeds to the region of Dalmanutha (Mk 8:10)

On reaching this place, the religious leaders namely the Pharisees, came forward and began to argue with Jesus, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test Him (Mk 8:11).

But the Lord responded with a “sigh, from the depth of His spirit” (Mk 8:12)

What made Jesus to respond so strongly?

Is Jesus against asking signs?

>> Is Jesus against lack of faith?

>> Is Jesus against having doubts?

The answer to perhaps all the three questions above is…

… not in the affirmative!

Jesus is NOT necessarily against asking signs…

The Bible is a witness to many people asking for signs from God…

• Gideon asked for a sign from God (Judg 6:17)

• Moses asked God what sign would prove to Pharaoh that he was sent by God ( Ex 4:1)

• Elijah promises what Elisha had asked for, on the condition of a sign (2 Kg 2:10)

Jesus is NOT out rightly against lack of belief or unbelief…

• The unbelieving Thomas, was chided, but not condemned by Jesus, after His resurrection (Jn 20:27-28)

• The lack of faith of the disciples is saddening for Jesus, but He does not reject them (Mk 4:40)

• The father, whose boy was possessed with a demon was blessed with a healing, on his acknowledgment of littleness in faith (Mk 9:24)

• The emotionally unsettled and wavering Peter is given another chance to prove his loyalty despite his rejection and denial of faith in Jesus (Jn 21:15-17)

Then what is Jesus against?

Ø Jesus is terribly against those people…

… who reject faith, despite many signs and wonders that are plainly presented

… who demand for greater miracles for merely curiosity and excitement

… who make use of the powers of God for personal satisfaction and gratification

… who remain stone-hearted, unmoved and indifferent despite clear indications and signals from God.

The Pharisees represented this class of people, whom the Lord had a terrible dislike and aversion…

… because of their attitude of indifference

… because of their mentality of coldness

… because of their outlook of rejection

Am I also a person who constantly rejects signs and wonders from the Lord, and fail to grow in faith?

>> Am I also a person who remains obstinate and indifferent to God’s powers, and fail to be open to God’s movements in my life?

The Lord is constantly speaking to us through various miracles.

>> The Lord is constantly moving our hearts through many blessings.

>> The Lord is constantly inspiring our lives through immense wonders.

Let us be open and docile to Him!

Yesterday – Feb 11 – we celebrated the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes.

May our Blessed Mother Mary be an inspiration for all of us, to grow in our trust and confidence in the Lord.

Yes, let us realize, that…

“To those who believe, miracles are an aid…

>> To those choose not to believe, no miracles can come to aid!”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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 souls 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!

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

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

This is what 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)

Jesus now identifies Himself with the isolation that the leper himself had undergone

>> Jesus now undergoes Himself the staying away from society, that the leper had undergone.

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

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

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 seek to imitate Christ in His deep commitment and dedication.

>> Let us seek to imitate Christ who came to bring healing to all in this world.

>> Let us seek to imitate Christ who shared in sufferings to bring redemption and joy.

God bless! Live Jesus!

One common tendency that is noticed among many of us is the ‘tendency of limitation’.

We tend to think in a limited and restricted manner.
>> We tend to limit ourselves to our inadequacies and narrowness.

But God, always, loves to challenge us to move beyond such boundaries and borders!

Yes, human beings tend to think in a limited fashion…
… but God loves to expand our possibilities.
>> Human beings tend to get bogged down by boundaries…
… but God loves to throw open our horizons.

The Gospel of the day is a clear illustration of this expansion of human horizons and possibilities, through the miracle of the feeding of loaves.

Jesus is with His disciples and huge crowd.
>> They are once again in a situation of having a want of feeding this huge multitude.

It’s interesting to highlight the patterns in the attitudes of Jesus and the disciples.

Jesus sees the hungry crowd and His heart moved in compassion…
>> The disciples saw the hungry crowd and probably their minds were moved in tension!

Jesus expresses His concern and care to feed the hungry crowd…
>> The disciples express their frustration and urgency to send the crowd away at the earliest!

Jesus foresaw the possibility of immense fulfilment and satisfaction in the deserted area…
>> The disciples got stuck with seeing only barrenness and emptiness in the deserted area!

Jesus moved in action, to enquire about the possibilities of feeding the people…
>> The disciples groaned in inaction at the plight of having to feed the people!

The disciples concluded impossibility by their mathematical calculations…
>> Jesus concluded possibility by His Divine calculations!

The disciples saw only the desert…
>> Jesus looked beyond to find an oasis in the desert!

How often are we too like the disciples…
… limited in our thinking
… restricted by our inabilities
… stuck by our mental calculations

But Jesus invites us, like He did to His disciples…to look beyond…
.. to look at Him who can shatter every obstacle and barrier!
… to look to Him who can expand every horizon and possibility!
… to look to Him who can turn deserts into pools and hills into highways!

Let’s positively respond to this challenge of the Lord and  moving beyond the ‘tendency of limitation’…
… seek to, instead, build a “trend of deeper faith and trust”

God Bless! Live Jesus!