“In this world today while we’re living, some folks, say the worst of us they can

>> But when we are dead and in our caskets, they always slip some lilies in your hand…

 

Won’t you give me my flowers while I’m living and let me enjoy them while I can

>> Please don’t wait till I’m ready to be buried and then slip some lilies in my hand…
In this world is where we need the flowers a kind word to help us get along

>> If you can’t give me flowers while I’m living, Then please don’t throw ’em when I’m gone…

Won’t you give me my flowers…?”
 

        – Lyrics from the Song “Give me flowers while I’m living”
 

The words of this song is a living experience to many people in this world, including perhaps some of us.

We have many people in our life.
Many of them receive a lot of favours from us…

… but they fail to thank us.
>> We however, sometimes, do hear them backbiting us or spreading false rumours about us!
 

Many of them are helped in many ways…

… but they fail to acknowledge those favours.
>> We however, sometimes, do hear them talking ill of us or spoiling our name!
 

Many of them are rendered assistance in many ways…

… but they fall short of being grateful to us
>> We however, sometimes, do hear them being negatively critical about us and defaming us.
 

>> But at the grave, perhaps, all those people would talk highly about us.
After our death, perhaps, all those people might acclaim how wonderful a person he/she was!

We often become a people who…

… fail to appreciate when a person is alive, but shower praises after his/her death!

 ….fail to give a simple flower when alive, but spread garlands and bouquets after his/her death!

 …fail to say a good word when alive, but brag and boast highly, after his/her death!
 

Consciously or unconsciously, we cultivate a habit or a tendency to remain ungrateful and unkind to people when alive, but falsely praise and glorify, when they are dead or are no longer with us!
>> An attitude of ungratefulness while living…but false appreciation after death!
 >> A tendency of indifference while living…but vain glorification after death!
 >> An approach of passivity while living…but fake interest after death!
 

Jesus, in the Gospel of the Day speaks of a similar attitude and tendency among the Pharisees.

In His continued attacks on the hypocrisy and duplicity of the Pharisees, Jesus condemns them for building memorials of the Prophets who were killed and murdered by their ancestors.
The Prophets of the old, lived as the true men of God and constantly called the people to a life of repentance and being faithful to God Yawheh.
 

But these prophets were very often persecuted, attacked and even killed.
The Prophets, who were the voice of God, while living, had their voices silenced and drowned by the wicked people…

>> But after their death, they used to be quoted and cited in many scholarly and erudite circles.
An attitude of ungratefulness while living…but false appreciation after death!

The Prophets, who called the people to live as per their true conscience, had their lives terminated and ended by the wicked people…

>> But after their death, they had fine memorials and beautiful tombs built in their name
A tendency of indifference while living…but vain glorification after death!
 

The Prophets, who became the champion of justice and truth, had their efforts ceased and their labours aborted by the wicked people…

>> But after their death, they had many oratories and exquisite lectures in their name.
An approach of passivity while living…but fake interest after death!
 
Jesus condemns the Pharisees for their deception, as they too become sharers of the blood of the True Prophets and the Men of God!
 

Jesus’ attacks on this Pharisaic attitude is a strong reminder and warning to each one of us too..
To realize the worth and value of people, while they are alive..and not just heap up empty words of praise, after their death!
To realize the importance of recognizing the true spirit and teachings of people around us…and not become too late in realizing their significance!
 

>> Life is too short to miss appreciating people for their genuine efforts and contributions.
>> Life is too short to not give people the worth for all what they are in our lives.
 

A fresh flower given when alive is far worth and appreciable than a bouquet given at the grave!
> Appreciate people when they are around…

>> Enthuse people when situations are favourable…

>>> Encourage people when time and space permit us…
 

Let us shake of the Pharisaic tendency of duplicity and dishonesty and rather, clothe ourselves in genuineness and truthfulness, by really appreciating and realizing the value and worth of people in our lives.

God Bless! Live Jesus!

A poor woman had lost her husband and was going through a great deal of agony and distress.

One day, her neighbour brought her a small, worn-out pamphlet.
 

She gave it to the sorrowful woman and told her:

“I found this lying on the street. Somebody must have dropped it.
I read it.
There is a wonderful story of a Man Who helps those who are unhappy.
I thought of you. It might do you help!”
The sorrowful woman took it.

>> She not only read it, but also had her life transformed by it!

The pamphlet was a copy of the Gospel of St Luke!

This Gospel with its powerful themes of consolation and comfort had brought peace and relief to the woman in sorrow.
Today, on this Feast day of the Evangelist St Luke, let us meditate on this beautiful gift which he has penned – the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to St Luke.
St Jerome was of the opinion that, “among all the evangelists, St Luke was the most skilled writer of Greek.”

It is to St Luke that we owe some of the finest Gospel portraits…

>> The nostalgic infancy narratives of Jesus

… The Annunciation of Jesus (1: 26-38)

… The Birth of John the Baptist (1: 57-66)

… The visit of the shepherds at the Birth of Jesus (2: 15-20)

… The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple (2: 22-38)

… The Loss of Jesus in the Temple (2: 41-52)
>> The distinguished and daring ministries of Jesus

… The Programmatic Speech in Nazareth, His hometown (4: 16-30)

… The raising of widow’s son at Nain (7: 11-17)

… The story of Martha and Mary of Bethany (10: 38-42)

… The Samaritan Leper (17: 11-19)

… The transformation of Zacchaeus (19: 1-10)

… The conversion of the good thief (23: 39-43)

… The encounter with the two disciples on the way to Emmaus (24: 13-35)
>> The illustrious and much-loved parables

… The Good Samaritan (10: 29-37)

… The Prodigal Son (15: 11-32)

… Rich Man and Lazarus (16: 19-31)

… The Persevering Widow (18: 1-8)

… The Publican and the Tax Collector (18: 9-14)

The marvellous brush of the Physician St Luke has some unique thrusts as well…

… which are also great reminders to us, in our spiritual lifestyle.
1. A Gospel of Inclusive
St Luke’s Gospel has distinctive stories and incidents on how Jesus accepted and recognized the dignity of  those, who were otherwise, left out in the society…

… the Samaritans

… the tax-collectors

… the public sinners

… the women
>> Am I a person who is willing to accept those who are rejected, abandoned and pushed-out of the society?

>> Do I exhibit “exclusivist” mentality by sticking on to only “my” culture, language, race, class etc and fail to celebrate differences?
 

2. A Gospel of Prayer
St Luke’s Gospel presents greatly the aspect of the prayer, by presenting many instances…

… of Jesus praying

… of Jesus exhorting on prayer

… of many Temple scenes
>> Am I a person who enjoys the taste of prayer?

>> Do I fail to have a regular and consistent time to spend with the Lord and discover and implement the Father’s Will in my life?
3. A Gospel of the Poor

St Luke displays his special love for the poor…

… through his many parables on the poor

… and the denouncement of riches…

>> And thus exalts them as the “favoured ones of God” and restoring their dignity and honour

>> Do I make radical choices to grow in my “poverty” i.e. my total dependence on the Providence of God?

>> Do I share my gifts, my talents and my riches, with those in need and find joy in this sharing?
 

4. A Gospel of the meal
St Luke’s Gospel has an interesting presentation of Jesus as most of the time being “at meal or on the way to a meal”

>> There are nearly 19 references to food, with 13 of them being exclusive to this Gospel.
The meal is a reference to the communitarian dimension in spirituality!

>> Am I a person who cherishes the presence of the other and be willing to celebrate life?

>> Do I also become aware that the Lord constantly calls us to share in His Meal – the Holy Eucharist and make my life, in turn, a Eucharist to the other?
 
The Gospel of Luke has also many other features and names…which we can pick up for our personal reflection:

Ø  The Gospel of the Holy Spirit…

Ø  The Gospel of the Blessed Mother Mary…

Ø  The Gospel of Joy…

Ø  The Gospel of Women…

Ø  The Gospel of Universality…

Ø  The Gospel of Repentance…

Ø  The Gospel showing True Richness… etc…
 

St Luke has left us a masterpiece with His account of the Life of Jesus!
Some of the most pictorial, most classical, most loved,  most remembered and most cherished incidents and parables are from this Gospel…
The Gospel of St Luke, along with many more themes is a wonderful reminder of the Love and Mercy of God…

… calling us to live in joy and service.
 

May this Feast Day of this Great Evangelist…

… help us to grow in our love for the Word, by reading and reflecting daily

… and challenge us to live the Word, in all our daily activities of life!

Happy Feast of St Luke, the Evangelist!
God Bless! Live Jesus! 

“Braving the Lion in its own den” in a phrase that finds expression in various instances of our life.

>> It means encountering or confronting a stronger person or a stronger situation, in its own area of strength and force.
 

> Imagine the Indian Cricket Team trouncing the Pakistan team in a stadium in Pakistan itself.

> Imagine the Congress defeating the BJP in the political elections in Gujarat, which is one of latter’s greatest strongholds.
 

The Bible also has some typical examples of “Braving the Lion in its own den”…

>> The Israelites challenged the supremacy of the Egyptians while in slavery, and were able to script a wonderful exodus.
>> David, the shepherd boy defeated the mighty and proud Goliath in the Palestinian land and cut off his neck with the mighty warrior’s own sword.
>> Elijah, the prophet confronted the claim of the followers of Baal and made them realise the worthlessness of their deity in a challenge of their own style.
 

“Braving the Lion in its own den” requires much courage, conviction, strength and nerves!

The Gospel of the Day presents Jesus, the Master Challenger in such a situation of “Braving the Lion in its own den”!
 

A Pharisee invited Jesus to have a meal in his house.
We are unsure of the motives or the reason for this Pharisee to invite Jesus for the table sharing…

>> Maybe he just wanted to grow in his friendship with Jesus…

>> Maybe he wanted to check how this great preacher would conduct himself in his house…

>> Maybe he wanted to show off to his friends of having invited a great Rabbi to his house…

>> Maybe he wanted to break the ministry of Jesus and trap Him in doing some aberrations…
 

In any case, the Pharisee certainly expected Jesus to follow the rules and customs of the traditional Jewish meal.

>> But he notices that Jesus has failed to wash his hands before dinner.

This washing of the hands was a ritual purification process.

> The insistence on this act was not for the sake of hygiene, but for ritual purity!

This omission of the sacred tradition came as a big shocker for the host Pharisee.
He would have thought about Jesus:

“This Rabbi is doing it all wrong! 

Why can’t He follow our age-old customs?
He is insulting me before my other guests!

How dare He behaves so, in my own house!?”
 

But this is where Jesus in His unique style of courage & conviction comes into confrontation with the attitude of the Pharisee…
>> The Pharisee was surely His host.. yet Jesus dares to “Brave the Lion in its own den!”
>> The Pharisee was surely His invitee.. yet Jesus dares to “Brave the Lion in its own den!?

Standing up for convictions and principles was a value that Jesus always upheld.

>> Being bold to always promote and defend goodness was a virtue that Jesus always supported.
 

Jesus lashes out with a righteous anger, “So then, you Pharisees, you clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside yourselves, you are full of greed and evil. Fools…!…” (Lk 11: 39).

The Pharisee got offended because Jesus failed to wash his hands before meal.

>> But Jesus got offended because they failed to have a true cleansing of their hearts.
The Pharisee got upset because Jesus failed to uphold the sacred tradition.

>> But Jesus got upset because they failed to uphold the values of inner purity and holiness.
The Pharisee felt insulted because Jesus failed to honour their customs and practices.

>> But Jesus felt insulted because the table-meal failed to reflect true love and sharing.

Jesus was not afraid to encounter the Pharisee in his wrong thinking and mightily “Dared to Brave the Lion in his own den”!

This same Jesus today encounters us and wants to “dare to brave the Lion in us, in our own den”.
Maybe I am bold and strong in being relaxed in some of my comfort and pleasure zones..

>> But Jesus dares us, to come out of this den and renew ourselves with a life of holiness and purity.
Maybe I am quite okay with aspiring for many gadgets and objects of passing joys and desires

>> But Jesus dares us, to come out of our den and focus on the real necessities of a good life.
Maybe I am just satisfied to beautify our external life even if it means being greedy and selfish

>> But Jesus dares us, to come out of our den and repent by living a self-sacrificing and a self-controlling life.   

The ‘lion of Pharisaism’ is deep rooted in many of our personal lives, our family lives and in our community lives…

> Having the focus only on external factors…but neglecting the inner dimensions…
> Giving importance to only outer shows…but totally forgetting the internal aspects…
> Being obsessed with doing many things…but totally ignoring the necessity of being holy…
 
The Lord is today “Daring to Brave this Lion within us, in our own den”!

Let us allow the lion of greed, evil tendencies and false priorities, to be conquered and defeated by Jesus, the Lion of Judah, the Great Lion!
 

God Bless! Live Jesus!

Please note that Reflection Capsules will not be sent this week (Oct 8th – Oct 15th 2017) as I am making my Personal Retreat.
I pray for you, that the Good Lord may lead and guide us, with His Providence, and that we may grow in His Love!
 

Do pray for me too.

God Bless! Live Jesus!

An incident is said about a former American astronaut who took over as the President of a major airline.

He determined to make the airline’s service the best in the industry.

>> He sought ‘commitment to work’, by all the employees in all the departments.

One day, as the new president walked through a particular department, he saw an employee resting…

… with his feet on a desk, while the telephone on the desk rang continuously. .
 

“What are you doing? Aren’t you going to answer that phone?” the boss demanded.
“This isn’t my department, Am here, just to relax!” answered the employee, with a total indifference!
>> (He had not recognized his new boss, and so chose to answer with apathy!)
“I work in the maintenance department”, he went on to say.

 “Not anymore!” snapped the president, “You no longer will work in my company!”
 

The Master, with his liking for “committed work” and “achieving excellence”…

… made sure there was no room for “people with lack of commitment and zeal!”
 
As Christians, we are all co-workers of the Project Kingdom!

>> Do we work with commitment?

… or are we often found to be people of indifference, “lacking commitment and zeal?”
 

The Gospel of the Day is a strong message to examine one’s level of commitment to the Kingdom of God…

… exhorting to do away with any “personal agenda” or “selfish motives”

>> And seeks to impress the personality of Jesus…

… Who desires to be the ‘Centre of our Life’!
 

In the Gospel today, Jesus puts forward the parable of the tenants.
The tenants were entrusted with the vineyard by the Master, and were expected to provide the produce in due time.

>> They were entrusted fully with the taking care of the vineyard.

The Master places a lot of trust in the servants.
He gives the freedom… a responsible freedom…

…which could be meaningfully used and nurtured

…or which could be woefully misused and manipulated.
However, the tenants, who were trusted immensely…

… probably lost their focus on the real trust and diminished in their commitment and responsibility to their Master as well as their duty.
·       Their personal interests gained greater prominence over their entrusted duties.

·       Their selfish agenda gained the upper hand over the faithfulness to the Master.

This led to them to a total denial of all the emissaries and servants of the Master, who were sent to collect the produce.

>> This denial was extended even to the Master’s own Son!

This denial of the Son led to the letting loose of the anger and fury of the Just Master!
·       A squandering away of the responsible freedom, led to the downfall of the tenants!

·       A failure to give heed to the emissaries and servants caused them to face the Master’s rage!

·       A denial and rejection of the Master’s own Son, with a cruel intent, caused their destruction!

Are we also, as Christians, as tenants of the Heavenly Master failing in our responsibilities and duties?
 

The Lord presents Himself as the cornerstone…

… “the stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone..” (Mt 21:42)

In ancient practices of building, the cornerstone was 

the principal stone.

>> It was placed at the corner of the edifice or the building.

The cornerstone was usually one of the largest, the most solid, and the most carefully constructed of any in the whole building structure.

>> A cornerstone gives direction to the rest of the foundation.

>> It also is the support on which the rest of the building relies for strength and stability.

Jesus is the cornerstone…of Salvation… of the Church… of His People!

>> At the same time, Jesus can also be “a stumbling block”

As it is written in Romans 9:33, “Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense,

And whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame”
 

·       To those who believe, Jesus is the cornerstone of their faith and their life.

·       To those who do not believe, Jesus is the stumbling block in their faith!     

Who is Jesus in our life?

>> The cornerstone? or a stumbling block?
The cornerstone to build a wonderful life in God and grow in holiness…

>> Or a stumbling block which causes us to be proud in our own merits and not depend on Him?
The cornerstone to stand firm and strong in faith to withstand every storm of life…

>> Or a stumbling block which makes us uncertain, hesitant and cause a collapse in life?
 

As Christians, we are indeed co-workers of the Project Kingdom!
The Master has entrusted the vineyard to us

… our homes, our places of work, our neighbourhood, our families and communities…

…. the people we meet daily, the problems we encounter constantly, the situations we are challenged with…

>> These are “our vineyard!”
 

Do we work with commitment?

>> Or are we often found to be people of indifference, “lacking commitment and zeal?”

Let us never have to hear from Our Master, “Not anymore! You no longer will work in my company!”

>> Instead…

… let us do away with any “personal agenda” or “selfish motives” as the workers of the Vineyard…

>> And seek to be impressed by the personality of Jesus…

… making Him the Centre of our Lives!
 

God Bless! Live Jesus!

It was a one-day convention on inner-healing.
The people who were participating were given helium-filled balloons, and told to release them, at some point during the prayer service, when they felt like expressing the joy in their hearts.   

>> Through the day, there were some balloons that ascended.

But by the end of the day, it was found that more than forty percent of the balloons were unreleased.

The reason: Those people were unable to let go off their inner bitterness and sorrows.
 

What about us…

… Are we in a position to let go of our balloons, in order to witness our joy in the Lord?

The Gospel of the Day invites us to reflect on the theme of “Joy in the Lord”.. with two instances of rejoicing:

>> The Disciples rejoicing after their successful mission experience

>> Jesus rejoicing in the Holy Spirit and thanking His Father for His Infinite Wisdom

One of the essential hallmarks of a Christian is a Life of Joy.
This was the experience of the Disciples, when they returned back from the mission.

>> They had enjoyed success in their ministry…

>> They had a sense of satisfaction in the works that they had done…
They realised that it was the power of the Lord that enabled them to taste success and relish triumph.
 So they rejoiced greatly, saying: “Lord, even the demons are subject to us because of Your Name” (Lk 10: 17)

Do we also rejoice, by seeing the hand of the Lord in the success and achievements of our lives….?

 … knowing that whatever we achieve, is ultimately not just due to our hard-work and efforts; rather, was the result of our co-operation to the grace of God!

… recognising that all our talents and opportunities are gifted by God to exhibit His Glory and Honour!
 

Our Blessed Lord, however also tells the Disciples to go beyond the peripheral joys and happiness in life; instead to rejoice in the Spirit.
St Luke would testify this in the words: “At that very moment, Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, ‘I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth…'” (Lk 10: 21)
 

This then is what we too are expected to imitate from the Lord: Rejoicing in the Spirit.
St Paul would beautifully explicate this, when he says, “Rejoice in the Lord always; I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Phil 4: 4)
 

Our life is to be an inspiring exhibition of the Joy in the Lord and Rejoicing in the Spirit.
Do we radiate joy…

… in our encounter with one another, and spread the cheer of life?

… even in the midst of hardships, knowing that we have a God who is deeply caring for us?

… thanking the Lord for His blessing, above all, for the gift of Himself in the Word and the Sacraments?

There is, without doubt, many reasons for us to be grumpy, to complain and to feel resentment in life.
But can we allow the power of the Lord to enamour us, and realise that beyond all these, we have a reason to celebrate and to rejoice…

… knowing that God is with us, to ensure success in our journey of life, with our wholehearted co-operation

… knowing that God is the greatest reason to be happy and the treasure of life Who deserves every glory

Can we let go our balloons in order to display Christian joy and happiness in life?
 
Today Holy Mother the Church celebrates the Feast of our Lady of the Rosary.
This Feast of our Lady of the Rosary was instituted by Pope St. Pius V in the year 1570.

>> It was a sign of thanksgiving for a great naval victory over the Turks at the battle of Lepanto, obtained primarily by the recitation of the Rosary.

The Feast reminds us that that the Rosary is a Powerful Weapon.

 
The word Rosary means a “Crown of Roses”.
Our Lady has revealed to several people that each time one says a Hail Mary, one is giving her a beautiful rose and that completion of each Rosary makes her a beautiful crown of roses.

>> The rose is the queen of flowers, and so the Rosary is the rose of all devotions.

Like the exhibits in a museum, each mystery of the Rosary reveals much…

>> Each Mystery that we meditate upon, is a miniature theology of the mysteries of the life of
Jesus and the life of Mary, offered with a view to feeding the minds and the heart.
 

The awesome story of our salvation is encapsulated in the Holy Rosary.

>> The Rosary is the nutshell of our salvation history.
 

Let us truly pray the Rosary and live the mysteries of the Rosary in our everyday life.

>> The saying goes true…”No one can live continually in sin and continue to say the Rosary: either they will give up sin or they will give up the Rosary”
 

Happy Feast of our Lady of the Rosary!
 

God Bless! Live Jesus!

God is the Great Gift Giver!

>> He loves to lavish gifts on his creation…

… and especially on Human Beings, the Crown of His Creation!

Among the gifts that He has showered, one of the greatest gifts is…

… the Gift of Freedom!
 

God has bestowed this precious treasure of Freedom to each and every human being.

>> God regards the worth and value of this gift. God respects our yes or no, to this gift!

The Gospel of the day presents to us a classic example of Freedom being lavished, but sadly being squandered away.

The towns of Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum were given the freedom and the choice to become part of the Kingdom of God…

… but they chose to reject and refused the Saving Message.
 

The Gift of Freedom is a double-edge entity:

The gift of freedom can be used….to obtain life!

>> The gift of freedom can be misused…to obtain death!
 The gift of freedom can be abused…to receive troubles!

>> The gift of freedom can be utilized…to receive blessings!
The gift of freedom can be exploited destructively…to acquire sadness!

>> The gift of freedom can be employed constructively…to acquire happiness!
 

The triple cities of Bethsaida, Chorazin and Capernaum failed to use, utilize and employ constructively their freedom…

… rather, they misused, abused and exploited destructively their opportunity to find peace and salvation.
 

And Jesus has harsh words reserved for such kind of an attitude – “WOE TO YOU!“

The word “woe” in Greek is “oh-hoo-aai” or “ouvai”!

>> The figure of speech is onomatopoeia – it means what it sounds like.
It is a word of pain!

>> It is the sound someone makes when they are hurt or are grieved.

When the Lord proclaims a WOE over these cities, there’s a great deal of anguish amplified with a sense of pain.

The Lord was pained that these cities received wonderful opportunity to hear God’s saving message…

… but failed to turn to God in repentance.
The Lord was pained that these cities received great chances to see God’s miraculous deeds and wonders…

… but failed to turn to God in penance.
 The Lord was pained that these cities received exclusive occasions to receive God’s salvific graces…

… but failed to turn to God in humility.
 

The Lord today challenges us to make an examination of our lives:

God lavishes many graces on me through regular chances to hear God’s word through the Bible, retreats, recollections, talks, spiritual magazines etc…
Am I using these chances to grow in my spiritual life?

Or am I wasting away many of such chances?

>> Is freedom used?  Or misused?
 

God showers many opportunities for me to avoid sin…

… by giving me inspiring and holy thoughts

… by a constant urging to be good through my parents, superiors, family and community members and other people in my life…
Am I using these opportunities to foster my holiness?

Or am I frittering away much of such opportunities?

>> Is freedom used? Or Misused?
 

God bestows many occasions to become a powerful witness to His love and His Gospel through different means like…

… preaching the Word

… celebrating or participating in the Eucharist and in the other Sacraments

… helping others in their needs and difficulties

… praying for various people

…  living a integral life in the society based on the Gospel values etc.
Am I using these occasions to strengthen my Christian life?

Or am I throwing away many of such occasions?

>> Is freedom used? Or Misused?
 
The example of the three cities of Bethsaida, Chorazin and Capernaum is before us and the condemnation of Jesus, because of their lackluster response is also before us.
Freedom is the great gift of God…

… and God totally respects the use or the misuse of this precious gift.
 

Are we going to use this Gift to gain life, blessings and happiness?

>> Or are we going to misuse this Gift to receive death, troubles and sadness?

God Bless! Live Jesus!

Arabian horses are made to go through painstaking and meticulous training in the dry deserts of the Middle East.
 

One of the most important aspects that the trainers expect from the horses is of “absolute obedience”.

>> This final test to assess their level of obedience is quite extreme…
The trainers compel the horses to be without water for many days.

A few days later, they turn the horses loose towards a pool of water…

>> The highly thirsty, parched and dehydrated horses, of course start running towards it.
But just as they get to the edge, ready to plunge in and drink, the trainer blows his whistle.

>> Screech….!
 

The horses are to stop mid-way…

The horses who have been completely trained and who have learned perfect obedience, stop!

>> They turn around and come pacing back to the trainer.

>> They stand there trembling, wanting water… but they wait in perfect obedience.

When the trainer is sure that he has their obedience, he gives them a signal to go back to drink.

>> Complete obedience  from the horses is a sign of their being completely trained.
 

Well.. this sure sounds hard and severe…

>> But perhaps, we need to learn an important aspect: the need for trustful obedience to our Master!.
·       When we are in the dry deserts of life, we got to be totally obedient to God.

·       When we are in the parched phases of life, we ought to fully heed the voice of the Lord.

The Gospel of the Day is an exhortation by the Lord to listen to Him, to give heed to His Word and to be obedient to Him.
“Jesus appointed seventy (two), whom He sent ahead of Him, in pairs to every town and place He intended to visit” (Lk 10:1)
They were “chosen and appointed”.

>> Why were these chosen?

…and not others?
>> Well… we can only make some guess-works… because the bottom-line is:

“They were ‘chosen'”

Choice is always a gift, and not a merit!

>> This gift cannot be demanded…. it is given by the Lord, out of His Will
Therefore, it demands a sense of “gratitude” and a spirit of “responsibility”!

The choosing of the seventy (two) also reflects Jesus as the New Moses!
Moses had chosen seventy elders.
>> We read this in the Book of Numbers:

“The LORD said to Moses: “Bring me seventy of Israel’s elders who are known to you as leaders and officials among the people.” (Num 11:16)

The “seventy” were chosen from the elders of the tribes of Israel to assist Moses.

>> They were to become an extension of the work that was entrusted to Moses, by Lord Yahweh
 

In the Gospels, the seventy (two) disciples are also called, by Jesus, for the similar task:

>> They were to become an extension of the work that was entrusted to Jesus by the Heavenly Father.
 

In this task of “becoming an extension”, one of the most important essentials was that of “listening to the words of the Master”

>> Obedience to the Word is a necessary criteria to become a true extension of the Lord!
 

Jesus very specifically lays downs rules and regulations to be followed in their mission journey and task:

“Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and salute no one on the road….” (Lk 10:4)
These exhortations by the Master would cause…

… a sense of insecurity for the disciples

… a feeling a being stranded in the problems that they could encounter.

 

Yet, the disciples were strongly urged to…

… Listen to His Exhortation

… to Trust in His Providence

… and to be obedient to His Word

·       The disciples were to listen to Jesus, the Beloved Son and grasp His teachings for life

·       The disciples were to listen to Jesus, Beloved Son’s commitment in the path of suffering

·       The disciples were to listen to the Beloved Son’s trust in God’s Will at every moment

Each one of us is called and chosen, as Christians, to be a disciple of Christ – “an extension of the Lord’s tasks in this world” …

… “You did not choose me, but I chose you; and appointed you to go and bear fruit; fruit that will last” (Jn 15:16)

·       Life will take us through many deserts and desolations of difficulties.

·       Life will put us through various storms and hurricanes of hardships.
But in all such moments, are we ready and open to listen to the Voice of the Lord?
 

Yes, when we are in the dry deserts of life, we better be totally obedient to God.

>> When we are in the parched phases of life, we ought to fully heed the voice of the Lord.
The Lord will take us through…

… every crisis

… every desert

… every darkness

“If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Rom 8: 31)
 

May we seek the special intercession of St Maria Faustina- the Great Saint of Mercy – on her Feast Day.
Let us give heed to the words of our Blessed and Merciful Lord, as mentioned in her Diary:

>> ” My daughter, know that you give Me greater glory by a single act of obedience than by long prayers and mortifications.”
>> “Yes.. when you are obedient I take away your weakness and replace it with My strength. I am very surprised that souls do not want to make that exchange with Me.”
 

 Let us grow in our efforts to be completely obedient to our Master!

>> Let us pray for His grace to be truly listening and following the voice of our Master!
Are we ready to listen and obey the voice of the Lord?
 

God Bless! Live Jesus!

There is a non-fictional self-help book by Napoleon Hill named ‘Think and grow rich’.
There is a lovely story in this book, which goes thus….
 

A long while ago, a great warrior faced a situation which made it necessary for him to make a decision which insured his success on the battlefield.

>> He was about to send his armies against a powerful foe, whose men outnumbered his own.
He loaded his soldiers into boats, sailed to the enemy’s country, unloaded soldiers and equipment…

… then gave the order to “burn the ships” that had carried them.
 

Addressing his men before the first battle, he said, “You see the boats going up in smoke! That means that we cannot leave these shores alive unless we win!

>> We now have no choice – we win, or we perish!”

History says that they won the battle!
 

Any person who wishes to find success in any undertaking much be willing to “burn his ships” and to cut off all sources of turning back…

>> Only thus, can one be sure of maintaining a “burning desire” to win!

The Gospel of the Day highlights on this aspect of making a complete commitment to the cause of the Kingdom of God…

… and being prepared to face any challenges in being faithful to this dedication!

Jesus says, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the Kingdom of God” (Lk 9: 62)

Our Blessed Lord speaks of three areas of “giving-up” in our Christian life…
1. The “Giving-Up” of personal security
The Lord says, “Foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head” (Lk 9: 58)

The life of Jesus was characterized by a lack of personal security.
>> It is to this life of “poverty” that our Blessed Lord invites each one of us too….

… in the sense of knowing that our Loving Father will provide for us, with our genuine co-operation

… in the sense of not being anxious or over-worried over the concerns of life

… in the sense of depending on the Lord for the necessities of life
 

2. The “Giving-Up” of personal gains
The Lord says, “Let the dead bury the dead” (Lk 9: 60)
This was in response to the man who said, “let me go first and bury my father”.
This statement was a common way of saying, “Let me wait until I receive my inheritance from my father!”
It was an excuse of “economics and finance” that the man was trying to furnish, to evade the Kingdom responsibility!
 

>> Jesus calls us to a life of “obedience” to his Will…

… in the sense of letting go of personal gains and profits for His sake

… in the sense of curbing our selfish wantings and cravings
 

3.  The “Giving-Up” of personal relationships
The Lord says, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the Kingdom of God” (Lk 9: 62)
This was in response to the man who said, “I will follow you Lord, but first let me say farewell to my home”

>> Jesus calls us to a life of being “chaste” to His Divine Love…

… in the sense of prioritizing Him above all other relations

… in the sense of giving the Lord the first place in life
 

We ought to have a “burning desire” as the missionaries of the Kingdom, to spread God’s Word and make Him loved more!
Martin Luther King Jr. said:

“Consider that people are like tea bags.

They don’t know their own strength until they get into hot water”

It is essential, therefore that we “burn our ships” of comfort and personal wishes…

… so that we can be better imitators of Him, Who demands that we be zealous in our journey towards perfection.
 

Let’s give heed to the words of St Jerome:

“Good, better, best.

 Never let it rest.

‘Til your good is better and your better is best.”

Let us today specially seek the Intercession of St Francis of Assisi – the Wonderful Saint – on his Feast Day.

>> May we seek to be an instrument of joy & peace, as we sing with the mystical saint the chorus: “Make me Lord, a channel of your peace…”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I?   

I took the one less travelled by,   

>> And that has made all the difference.”   
These well-acclaimed and much-celebrated lyrical words from the poem “The Road not taken” by Robert Frost highlight the importance of making critical choices in life.
 

It is our choices that show who we are, far more than our abilities.

>> It is our choices that determines our success in life, far more than our talents.
The attitude of our life determines the altitude of our life!

 
The Gospel of Day takes pride in presenting a determined Jesus, who has made a choice-for-life in moving towards the mission of His life.
“When the days for His being taken up were fulfilled, He resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem” (Lk 9:51)

The Gospel of St Luke presents the whole ministry of Jesus as a linear journey…

… a movement from Galilee to Jerusalem.

>> All the events and actions of Jesus are oriented towards Jerusalem.
 

This verse – Luke 9:51 – signifies a mega shift in the earthly ministry of Jesus.
Jesus leaves the northern area of Israel called as Galilee and moves ahead to the southern area of Israel called as Judea.

Just as the Israelites had the Exodus Event, which marked the beginning of their salvation as a nation…

… Jesus too will have the Exodus Event which culminates in Jerusalem, which will mark the beginning of the salvation of the whole world!
This verse – Luke 9:51 – marks the beginning of the Exodus Event in the life of Jesus.
The verse reads, “… He RESOLUTELY determined to journey to Jerusalem”
The Greek word used for “resolutely” is Sterizo.

>> Sterizo is a strong word, which means…

… to strengthen and to establish

… to stand firm with one’s decision.
Jesus makes this strong resolution  – Sterizo – To embrace the vision and plan of God.

>> Jesus makes this strong resolution  – Sterizo – To be 

obedient to the Will of His Father.

Jerusalem was the place where he was to suffer and die.

>> He was fully determined to go and would not be dissuaded;

>> He went cheerfully and courageously though He knew the things that should befall Him.

The Road to Jerusalem was to be marched resolutely by Jesus!

All of us walk the Road to Jerusalem…
Life…

… with its hard challenges and unexpected troubles

… with its spiritual difficulties and luring temptations

… with its doses of unforgiveness and bad temperaments

… with its continual showers of unpleasantness and irritations

… with its allurements to bad habits and hard-to-give up pleasures

>> Is indeed a Road to Jerusalem!
But unless we make a strong resolute decision to walk through this Jerusalem Road, salvation and victory and happiness can never be ours!

When Jesus decided to go ahead with resoluteness in His decision, He met with rejection!

“…they would not welcome Him because the destination of his journey was Jerusalem” (Lk 9:53)
 

The Jews and the Samaritans were much at loggerheads with each other.
As we see in Jn 4:20, the great controversy between the Jews and the Samaritans was about the place of worship – whether it was Jerusalem or whether it was Mount Gerizim.

>> So bitter was the altercation between them that the Jews would have no dealings with the Samaritans, nor they with them (Jn. 4:9).
 

This is the reality of the world.
When one makes a determined decision for life, one is faced with many challenges.

>> When one makes a strong resolution for life, one is faced with many oppositions.

Like the disciples, James and John, very often, the answer to this rejection is sought in the form of vengeance and violence and wrath.

>> It is the easier way.

>> It is the more simpler way.

… but it is a destructive way!
 

Jesus answers this rejection with a better and a powerful weapon: self-sacrifice.
The Son of Man came not to destroy, but to save through a call to repentance.

>> It is the hard way.

>> It is a the more tough way.

… but it is a saving way!
 

The answer to life’s problems is not in reacting, but in being pro-active!
Jesus in the Gospel today invites each one of us to have a resolute determination in walking the Road to Jerusalem.
It’s easy to pick up shortcuts and easy roads to find success in life.

>> But it takes a resolute decision to walk the hard way…

 
The grace of God will strengthen and boost us in this hard path…
The Holy Bible is a witness to this great saga of great people who have walked this hard path…

… including Jesus.

Two roads diverge at every moment in our life

>> A road of the easy…and the road of the hard…
Which one shall we travel by?

God Bless! Live Jesus!