After the death of a great painter a young Italian boy went to the painting studio and asked for the great artist’s brush.

The boy tried the brush…

… but found he could not paint any better with it than with his own.

It was then he realized…

… the power of painting, was not in the brush

>> It was in the Master!

The boy lacked the master’s power.

It was the Power of the Master that created the beautiful paintings.

Jesus, displayed immense strength and courage…

… as a result of His Powerful Union with His Father!

>> This Power led Him to create “beautiful paintings” of Mercy and Love in the world.

The Gospel of the Day is an amazing revelation by Jesus on His relationship with the Father.

This passage has its background in the healing that Jesus performed on a Sabbath day, of a man who had been ill for a very long time – thirty-eight years (Jn 5: 1-16).

When the Jews found out from the healed person, that it was Jesus who had done this work, they were extremely furious.

Their objection was that…

… Jesus had done this miracle on a Sabbath

… Jesus had made the person to perform a work – of carrying the mat – on the Sabbath day.

They, therefore, began to persecute Jesus (Jn 5: 16).

But Jesus brought out a fair logic in defending Himself, “My Father is at work until now, so I am at work” (Jn 5:17)

Here is an interesting statement… “My Father is at work until now”

This could brings us to an interesting doubt:

• Did God, keep the Sabbath Law, that He had given to the people of Israel?

The Law required the people to refrain from work on the Sabbath Day.

>> Did God do so?

>> Did God refrain from work on the Sabbath?

>> Did the Law-giver follow the Law that was given?

Well.. Gen 2:2 says that “God rested on the seventh day”….

But the Jews soon found out, that if God continued to do so… i.e. resting on the Sabbath day… then by Friday evening, at the start of the Sabbath…

…. the world would soon start collapsing!

… the universe would come to a standstill!

Therefore, when the commandment of Sabbath was expanded and expounded to specific do’s and don’ts, in order to sort of accommodate God, it was exhorted that…

…one could move something from one place to another in the house but not from one house to another.

For eg: a basket of fruits could be taken from one room to another, but not from one house to another…

And since, for God, the whole universe is His House, it is justified, that He can work inside His house!

Thus it was lawful for God to do the maintenance and sustenance of the world, even on the Sabbath day!

Drawing from this logic (or illogic!), Jesus now puts forward the truth and justification for His act of healing on the Sabbath, “My Father is at work until now, so I am at work!” (Jn 5: 17)

• Jesus equates Himself to the Father….

• Jesus establishes Himself as the Son of God…

And He draws the point, that just as, on the Sabbath Day, His Father….

… creates and sustains, so is He renewing and bringing life to the world!

… supplies life and maintains, so is He nourishing and refreshing the world!

• Jesus, as the Son has every right and privilege to engage in life-saving works, just as His Father

• Jesus, as the Son has every justification and claim to do life-redeeming works, just as His Father

As followers of Jesus, we are to be the extension of His life-saving and redeeming works in the world…

… Am I willing to become a person, filled the power of the Lord, in order to bring healing to the world, by my deeds of kindness and goodness?

… Am I willing to become an extension of the Lord, imbued with His spirit, in order to spread His love and mercy to our broken and struggling world?

As followers of Jesus, we need to have the proper and true understanding of the Sabbath…

• The Sabbath is a day of solemn rest, holy to the Lord…

… Do I give it to the Lord, entirely, engaging only in deeds that help me come closer to Him?

• The Sabbath is a memorial of Israel’s liberation from bondage in Egypt

… Do I remind myself of being a person to be liberated from the bondage of sin, and seeking to grow in holiness?

• The Sabbath is sign of the irrevocable covenant between God and human beings…

… Do I renew the spirit of this pledge and promise to the Lord with salvific deeds of love?

Let us deepen our relationship and grow in our efforts to be more in union with the Lord…

… the One who guides the world, the One who sustains each of us and the One who fills life in all!

Jesus, displayed immense strength and courage…

… as a result of His Powerful Union with His Father!

>> This Power led Him to create “beautiful paintings” of Mercy and Love in the world.

Let us also realize that it is only by “the Power of the Master that we can create the ‘beautiful paintings’ of God’s Love and Mercy in this world”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

The entrance of a particular church once had a large banner that had large, bold letters printed on it.

The words in this banner, read thus: Those people who expect salvation at the eleventh hour…

… often die at 10:30!

Postponement in spiritual matters, is indeed a perilous matter!

Procrastination – the tendency to postpone/delay – is an inclination that is to be greatly avoided in our spiritual journey.

Life often takes us through paralyzing and crippling situations

>> And this may cause us to often “delay or postpone”

But the Gospel of the Day is a mighty reminder on how we ought to not postpone…

… rather be “proactive” in our spiritual life.

The Gospel passage is a beautiful presentation of this aspect:  On how to have our heads raised up, in hope and trust, despite many crushing and crippling causes in life.

Jesus is in Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover.

>> As he passed through the town, he came near a pool, named Bethzatha.

Jesus encounters a person there, who has been ill for a very long period… thirty eight years! (Jn 5:5)

We are not exactly told what illness was it…

Probably a paralyzing illness… a cripple of the legs… or even a combination of many other sicknesses.

>> But one thing is known: this sickness made the person to not walk!

The sickness had immobilized him.

But more than his physical body, it seems, that the sickness had crippled also his mind:

·      His way of thinking seemed jammed in having hope in life…

·      His outlook to life seemed blurred to see optimism and hope…

·      His perspective of people seemed to distort his confidence and trust…

When Jesus questions the man, “Do you want to be well?”, the man answers not with a positive affirmation or an optimistic assertion.

Instead he begins to get into a complaining and a pitiable mode, ” Sir, I have no one…” (Jn 5: 7)

>> A ray of hope was offered to him…

… but instead the man continued to see only the dark clouds.

>> A glimpse of joy was revealed to him…

… but instead the man persisted on the sad aspects alone.

The long period of sickness had blotted his vision and faded his hopes.

But the Lord.. the ever-challenging God, does not allow the man to remain in this unfortunate and “look-on-me-with-sympathy-please” mode…

>> Instead, Jesus charges him, “Rise, take up your mat and walk” (Jn 5:8)

And immediately the man became well, took up his mat and walked!

>> The presence of the Lord vanished away the man’s doubts and lame excuses…

>> The mighty word of the Lord purged away the man’s feelings of looking at life negatively…

The man who had the tendency to probably “procrastinate – delay and postone”…

… now becomes “proactive!”

The man became proactive…

… casting away his attitude of complaining to become a person of courage

… dropping off his crippling attitude of “none-to-help” and picking up the mat of power and grace

Problems beset each of us in this world.

>>  Difficulties surround all of us, at various times and situations

But, the one who is “proactive” in life, is able to get over these “paralyzing” factors of life!

Jesus gives us this courage and the hope to “not postpone or delay” matters connected to our spiritual life

>> Such a pro-active action is spurred by the mighty love and mercy of the Lord.

>> Such a pro-active move is an approach, impelled by a tremendous faith and hope in the Lord.

You and I, very often may find ourselves in crippling situations of life.

·      We may keep on lying down…

·      We may keep on being a “complaint-box”

·      We may keep on postponing our good and only blame people and situations…

Or…

·      We may raise up our heads to see the Lord challenging us to walk…

·      We may garner strength and courage and be bold to pick up our mats of suffering…

·      We may imbue ourselves with the Lord’s power to never let anything cripple our minds..

Yes, Postponement in spiritual matters, is indeed a perilous matter!

>> Let’s remember: Those people who expect salvation at the eleventh hour…

… often die at 10:30!

Shall we be ready, “to rise, take up our mats, and walk?”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

There was once a good woman who was well-known among her circle for her simple faith and her great calmness in the midst of many trials.

Another woman, living across the street, hearing of her, said, “I must go and see that woman, and learn the secret of her calm, happy life.”

She went, and, enquired the woman: “Are you the woman with the great faith?”

“No,” was the answer!

“I am not the woman with the great faith, but I am the woman with the little faith in the great God,” came the rest of the answer!

Yes, the secret of “staying calm and happy” is about having “a simple and a little faith, in the Great and Big God!”

The Gospel of the Day presents an incident of a “person who stayed calm and happy” by having “a simple and a little faith, in the Great and Big God!”

Jesus is in the land of Galilee…away from his hometown. (Jn 4:43)

>> His own people in the hometown had rejected Him.

>> The known persons of His native place had failed to give heed to His mighty deeds.

And so He arrives, yet again, at a Gentile place… where they welcome Him wholeheartedly!

How true is this of many a human situation…

>> Those familiar to oneself, often fail to understand…

… but those outside, are able to give better respect!

>> Those known to a person, often, fail to see the value of the person…

… but those who are unknown, recognize the specialty of the person!

Familiarity, very often, breeds contempt!

In this Gentile land, a royal official whose son was ill – nearing death – approached Jesus, seeking for a healing.

He travelled a far distance – nearly 25 miles, from Capernaum to Galilee – and coming to Jesus, he asked, “Sir, come down, before my child dies” (Jn 4: 49)

The request of this official would perhaps, remind some of us of another person, who came with a similar problem….

.. The centurion, in Mt 8: 5-13…whose servant was at home, paralyzed.

This centurion had showed tremendous faith and was even greatly praised by Jesus.

But the royal official, in today’s Gospel, had a mixed bag of faith…

>> He had faith in Jesus, which made him to come a long distance to meet Jesus.

… his faith was however, prompted mainly only because of a need for a healing.

>> He had faith in Jesus, which made him to request the Lord for a healing.

… his faith, was however, limited by physical distance (since he asked the Lord to come to his house, unlike the Centurion (Mt 8:8)

Often our faith resembles this royal official…

… turning to the Lord only in times of afflictions and troubles

… having our own doubts on whether the Lord can really work miracle in the way I want

But we must also remember…

… hard and difficult situations, are willed by God, to allow for miracles and healings, which ought to become the springboard for a deeper and committed life of faith!

… the Lord has His own ways and means of working powerfully in our lives, and we need to have the openness and humility to receive them in His way and in His time!

When the Lord gave His word, ” You may go; your son will live” (Jn 4:50), this royal official, with a mixed bag of faith…

… began to understand the secret of “staying calm and happy” by having “a simple and a little faith, in the Great and Big God!”

The Gospel says, “… the man believed what Jesus said to him and left” (Jn 4: 50b)

>> Moments of immense difficulties and crisis often cripple us.

>> Times of tremendous hardships and pains often cause worries to us.

But, the Lord constantly invites us “to stay calm and happy” by having “a simple and a little faith, in the Great and Big God!”

>> It’s His grace that strengthens us.

>> It’s His mercy that empowers us.

Shall we also adopt and personalize this great secret?

… of “staying calm and happy” by having “a simple and a little faith, in the Great and Big God!”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

Here is probably, a well-known incident…

A motivational session was on…

The speaker began the seminar by holding up a 2000 rupee note.

With the audience curiously looking at the crisp-note, the speaker asked, “Who among you would like to have this 2000 Rupee note?”

>> Needless to say, all the hands in that seminar-hall went up.

The speaker was not surprised.

He then said, ” I will surely give this note to a lucky one among you.. but first, let me do this….”

>> He then proceeded, to crumble up the note.

Oh… there it was.. the note – now badly crumbled and no longer appearing crisp or appealing…

He then asked, “How many still want this note?”

>> No reduction in the number of hands that went up!

The speaker proceeded, to further disfigure the note… and asked, “How many still want it?”

The number of hands that went up, still remained the same…

… and in fact, there was a greater excitement among the audience, to get the note!

The note was badly crumbled and out of shape…yet all wanted that valuable note!

Does it sound strange?

>> Or was that just normal?

The note was badly crushed, but all still wanted it…

>> The note was greatly disfigured, yet all sought for it…

For a moment, lets replace that ‘note’ with a human person, who is much more priceless.

>> Do we have the same acceptance for a person who has been disfigured or is in a bad shape?

>> Do we have the same longing for a person who has been badly battered or hurt in life?

We already seem to be having some second thoughts, unlike in the case of the multi-rupee note!

It’s here the Gospel of the day brings home the message, that whatever happens in our life, there will be One Person who will always accept us, long for us and love us: God!

>> Life may many times crumble us and ground us, to alter us…

>> Sin may many times cause us to be disfigured and stained and blemished…

But in all this… we have a great assurance: God accepts and loves us!

The proof: The Crucified Lord, who stripped Himself of all glory and honour, took upon our sins on Himself, and died a shameless death – punished, agonized and abandoned!

It is His painful death on the Cross that has won eternal life for us: “as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life” ( Jn 3:14-15)

One of the inherent tendencies, perhaps, in humanity is to “forget good deeds”.

This is so true when one considers the relation between the people of Israel and God Yahweh.

Israelites found themselves very often in trouble, under persecution and being oppressed.

Every time, however, God would deliver them from danger.

This would be followed by a brief period of faithfulness and commitment by the Israelites, before lapsing again…

>> Again the Lord would rescue…

But the people would again “forget the good deeds” of the Lord.

>> They would forsake His commandments

>> They would forego His instructions

>> They would lose sight of His laws.

Yet, God never abandoned His people.

>> They continued to be precious to Him…always!

Our lives are so often patterned as that of the people of Israel.

>> Many times we fall into sin and get grounded by our many evil tendencies….

>> Many times we forsake God’s ways to follow our own interests and selfishness…

>> Many times we dirty ourselves with impure thoughts, uncharitable deeds and indifferences…

Yet, we remain priceless and precious to the Lord, always

>> We remain valuable and worthwhile to the Lord, always

God offers His beautiful gift of salvation and redemption through means of the Holy Cross.

In the Cross, we have the powerful proof and demonstration…

… that in all our sufferings, we have a God who shares in our pain and misery

… that in all our sinful tendencies, we have a God who has borne the pain of abandonment

… that in all our hopeless situations, we have a God who Himself suffered discouragement

The Cross proves that we are always precious to the Lord and that He deeply desires and longs for us, just as we are!

Let us hold our heads higher in firm faith and trust, knowing that we have a God who is deeply in love with us.

>> May we be impelled by His love to let go of our sinful inclination.

>> May we be motivated by His bountiful mercy to cast away our erring tendencies.

Yes, God so loved each of us – You and Me – that He sent His only Son…

…. so that each of us – You and Me – may not perish,

… but may have eternal life!

God bless! Live Jesus!

Let’s begin with a simple question today….

Which is the only disease in the world, which can affect everyone else, except the person himself/herself?

Is the answer too hard to guess?

…

…

Hmm..

Well.. the answer is pretty simple…

It is…

Pride!

>> Pride is the disease that can affect everyone else, except the person himself/herself!

>> Pride is the sickness that can cause harm to all others, except the one who possess it!

>> Pride can be a snare to the other, while one enjoys oneself in the false pleasure it gives!

>> Pride can be a spirit-dampener for the other, while it is an ego-inflator for oneself!

The Gospel of the Day exhorts a strong message on this deadly vice of Pride.

Chapter 18 of the Gospel of St Luke begins with two parables, that teach on the aspect of Prayer.

• The parable of the Widow who was persistent (Lk 18: 1-8)

• The parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Lk 18: 9-14)

The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector have interesting comparisons with respect to the various gestures and actions that they take:

Both go up to the Temple area to pray…

>> The Pharisee took up his position… the tax collector stood off at a distance

The Pharisee spoke the prayer to himself… the tax collector would not even raise his eyes to heaven

>> The Pharisee spoke of his personal glories…the tax collector acknowledged being a sinner, in need of mercy.

Though the Gospel doesn’t speak of it, it seems that both, the Pharisee and the tax collector had taken a mirror with themselves, when they went to pray….

>> A mirror.. yeah!

But, the strange fact is that, both of them used the mirror in contrasting manners!

The Pharisee used the mirror and saw his many achievements and accomplishments…

… being unlike the rest of the sinful humanity like the greedy, dishonest or adulterous

… fasting twice a week

… pay tithes on his whole income

The tax collector, also used a mirror… but saw in it, his many failures and shortcomings…

… the moments when he had cheated others to have greater financial gains

… the times he had subjected himself to be a traitor by working against his own people

… the need to seek for God’s mercy acknowledging his sinfulness

Prayer is like a mirror…but it depends on one’s attitude and disposition what one sees…

>> If one is filled with pride and self-conceit, one sees only one’s accomplishments…

… and thus pushes out God and replaces oneself as the source of all good works!

>> If one is truly humble and modest, one sees one’s weaknesses and limitations…

… and thus acknowledge the dependence on God and on His grace in life!

Prayer could be made into a time of reciting the litany of one’s great achievements…

…or prayer could be made into a moment of seeking God’s mercy and compassion.

Prayer could be made into an occasion to boast of oneself and put down others…

… or prayer could be made into a moment to see the glittering light of God guiding us.

What is our attitude and disposition?

>> Am I afflicted with the sickness of pride which makes me to flaunt only myself at the expense of the other?

>> Am I distressed with the disease of arrogance which makes me to see myself as the greatest person in the world, casting aside all people and even God?

There is something of “this” Pharisee, perhaps, in all of us which needs to be shun…

There is something of “this” tax collector, which needs to be cultivated…

>> The need to cast away pride and the need to embrace humility and dependence on God!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

A heart-touching incident is told of a man who was travelling in a train.

Sitting opposite him was a mother and a little girl.

>> He talked to the little girl and told her stories and showed her his penknife – how it opened and closed.

>> He even sang to her, and she loved her new companion.

As the train reached the destination, the little girl looked up to the man and asked: “Do you love Jesus?”

He didn’t understand her at first…

… but she repeated the question.

The man stammered and blushed as he said good-bye to her and her mother…

>> But he couldn’t forget the question; “Do you love Jesus?”

He went to bed that night and that question didn’t go away, “Do you love Jesus?”

>> When he woke up the next morning, it was still there.

The question was planted by the Spirit in his heart and it put down its roots.

>> It demanded an answer.

Five years later he was walking through the city, when he bumped into a lady coming out of her house.

>> He recognized her as the mother of the little girl.

“Hello!” he said to her warmly, “I don’t suppose you remember me. About five years ago I travelled in the same train coach as you and your daughter.”

“I remember it well,” she said, “come in.”

So he went into her house.

“Do you remember that your daughter asked me a question as we were getting out of the train?” >> “How is she? Can I see her?” he asked.

The woman looked away.

>> Tears were in her eyes.

“I’m sorry” she said…

… “She is in heaven!”

She took him to her room and there were her Bible, and her dolls, and prize books, and some toys. “That’s all that’s left of my sweet Lettie,” her mother said.

“No,” said the man – who was shocked and dazed – quite vehemently. “That is not all that is left of her.

>> I am left. I am left. I owe her my faith in God!

I was an unbeliever when she asked me that question.

>> I loved the world and I lived badly, but she asked me that question and I never could forget it, and since that time I have changed.

I am not the man I was. I am now God’s.

>> I can answer the question now!”

What about us?

>> Can we answer that question: “Do YOU love Jesus?”

The Gospel of the Day is an exhortation by the Lord, to Love God with our “ALL”…

… All our heart

… All our soul

… All our mind

… All our strength

The Gospel begins with a member of the scribe, approaching Jesus with a question:

“Which is the greatest of all commandments?”(Mk 12: 28)

This man, who questioned Jesus was a scribe

>> Some translations would put it as “a Lawyer”

>> The Gospel of St Matthew describes him as a “Scholar of the Law” (Mt 22: 35)

He was an expert in the Mosaic Law.

…someone who studied the law, interpreted the law and taught the law!

Jesus responded him, with something immensely special:

“The Lord our God, is Lord alone. Love the Lord your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength”(Mk 12:29- 30)…

>> “Love your neighbour as yourself” (Mk 12: 31)

Note the insistence on the word “all”….

… “all” your heart… feelings, emotions, desires

… “all” your soul… will, choices, decisions

… “all” your mind… reason, knowledge, memory

… “all” your strength… talents, abilities, capacities

The Lord commands and demands a “total” and “complete” loving!

>>He demands an “absolute” and “unadulterated” love!

Love, as Jesus defines, is not simply about feelings and emotions, as is the popular and the ‘commercial’ understanding.

Undoubtedly, Love has the dimensions of being a tender feeling and an expressive emotion.

>> But beyond that, Love is…

… a commitment

… a dedication

… a decision

…. that one makes to be faithful – to a person or a duty or a situation!

>> Life sometimes can be quite harsh to us – making us feel totally lost out, abandoned even by God and even causing us to question the presence and existence of a Just and Loving God…

… But, can we still dare to “love God”?

>> Life sometimes hits very hard at us – in the form of others not accepting us, others ridiculing, criticizing us and we finding ourselves as the subject of hatred and injustice.

… But, can we still dare to “love our neighbours”?

>> Life sometimes is very unfair to us, we feel – by not rewarding us with rewards, that we consider, we deserve, in answer to the hard-work we put in.. or by not allowing us to enjoy the joys of life and instead bombards us with tensions and worries

… Can we still go out of the way and live a life “In Love and For Love”?

When one’s life is truly centered on love for God, one also begins to express this love to one’s neighbours , in concrete and certain acts of love.

As Christians, we often…

… seek to find “loopholes” in laws of loving the Lord and our neighbour…

… try to spot “gaps” in commandments which ask to love the Lord and our neighbour…

But the insistence of the Lord is clear:

“Love Fully”

“Love Totally”

“Love Completely”

This is the ideal to which we, as Christians are called!

If not for this highest ideal, our life as a Christian would cease to have a uniqueness!

As we make our journey, in the “train of life”, we are constantly faced with this fundamental question of our faith: “Do YOU love Jesus?”

This question is planted by the Spirit in our hearts and it put down its roots.

>> It demands an answer.

What is our answer?

God Bless! Live Jesus!

A group of two brothers were roaming in the forest, when they found a couple of tiny birds of the family of linnets.

When the boys got the birds home, they put the linnets in a cage, opposite the canary bird, which was tied in another cage.

(Canary birds are known to be “Singing Birds”)

They explained to their mother that they hoped the linnets – being so young – would learn to imitate the singing canary…

… Instead of cheeping as normally birds do, they expected them to sing (like the canary)

The next day the boys entered the room, and exclaimed:

“Mother, come here, look what has happened!

>> Our canary is cheeping like a linnet!”

The mother came in.. and found it so!

>> Instead of the linnets learning to sing, the Canary bird forgot its ability to sing!

Thus, the canary had to be separated from the wild birds of the wood and kept under cover for a time before regaining the singing ability.

Such is the case with Christians who allow themselves to “influenced and altered” by the ways of the world!

>> We may end up losing the “Song of our Faith!”

Yes, Christian life requires that we be constantly “on the watch and guard”, because it is…

… a constant struggle between the forces of evil and the power of goodness…

… a relentless warfare between the coercion of sin and the strength of holiness…

The Gospel of the Day presents this struggle between…

… Jesus and the Pharisees

… the Holy One and the evil forces

… the Kingdom of Heaven and the kingdom of Satan

The Lord came to the world to usher in the Kingdom of God.

>> Bringing to forefront the Kingdom of Power and Holiness, the Lord casts out a demon from a person who is dumb. (Lk 11:14)

This mighty action of healing and deliverance had a tremendous effect…

… the dumb man spoke

… and the people marvelled.

But, this wondrous act of power and authority also triggered a volley of struggles…

… a struggle of words between the Pharisees and Jesus

… a teaching on the struggle between the Kingdom of God and the forces of evil

The Lord lashes out in authority and conviction, on being accused of siding with evil powers to cast out demons: “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste and a divided household falls” ( Lk 11: 17)

>> Jesus makes it clear that one cannot be siding with negative forces in order to perform deeds of goodness and salvation!

>> Jesus makes it clear that one cannot be on the side of evil and sin and yet be authentic and genuine in doing works of true deliverance and righteousness!

This brings us to an important dimension that needs our honest and critical consideration:

Am I a person truly on the side of God when I engage in works and ministries of the Lord…

… but still continuing to be on the side of the Evil One by living a life of sin?

Am I a person imbued with the Spirit of the Holy Lord in professing to be a Christian…

… or am I living a dual-life by failing to give up immoral tendencies and obliging the evil spirit?

Am I a person who may be performing a lot of good works in the name of God…

… but failing to have an intimate relationship and union with the God of all power and glory?

Venerable Fr Peter Marie Mermier, the founder of the Congregation of the Missionaries of St Francis de Sales puts it beautifully:

“The ministry of a priest without prayer, is a barren ministry, without any effect, even harmful; it is a ministry of death!

>> Instead of enlightening, it blinds; instead of healing, it kills!

But the ministry of the one who prays, is a ministry of life!”

Christian life is not to be just defined by external works of piety and works…

…but is to be a reflection of the inner intimacy and relation with the Lord.

Christian Life is not to be merely characterized by many deeds of charity and devotion…

… but is to be a manifestation of one’s true faith and closeness to the Divine Master.

• A true inner disposition and authority is a must to be effective and credible in our life.

• A proper grounding is an absolute requirement to be engaged in the works of the Lord.

I may find myself often in the “cage” of faith and unbelief…

>> But am I clear in taking the side of the Lord and Him alone?

I may find myself often in the “cage” of actions of goodness and temptations of the evil…

>> But am I convinced of taking the side of the Kingdom of God alone?

Christian Life is a constant struggle

… between the evil and good

… between the Devil and Jesus

… between the Kingdom of God and the powers of wickedness

Which side are we on?

Let us be careful not to allow ourselves to “influenced and altered” by the ways of the world…

… so that we may not end up losing the “Song of our Faith!”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

Here is an interesting read….

First dentistry became painless;

Then bicycles chainless

The latest steel rustless,

And probably laws, enforceless.

Next, cookery became fireless,

Telegraphy wireless,

Cigars nicotineless

And tennis courts, grassless

Soon oranges were seedless,

The proper diet, fatless,

The motor roads dustless,

And coffee, caffeineless.

Our times are such that there are many advancements made as a result of great technology.

However a danger has also appeared in rendering things to be made “¬¬¬____less”

Our prayers seem to be devotionless

Charity heartless

Preaching depthless

And religiosity, faithless!.

While it’s wonderful to allow technology and modern techniques to make our life ‘easier and relaxing’, it’s a grave danger to allow the same “relaxing and easing” tendency to overpower our spiritual endeavours!

The Gospel of the day is a warning by the Lord to be wary of this inclination to “relax” and “loosen” things which are pertaining to God and thus be exposed to the risk of being “lowered” in the eyes of God.

“Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven… ” (Mt 5: 19)

The Lord addresses Himself as the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets (Mt 5:18)

God, in the Old Testament, while delivering the commandments to the people of Israel, had strictly enjoined on them to keep His decrees and laws close to their hearts and to follow them carefully:

“But take care, as you value your lives! Do not forget the things which you yourselves have seen, or let them slip from your heart as long as you live; teach them, rather, to your children and to your children’s children.” (Dt 4:9)

But as time passed on and generations went by, the intensity in the following of these commandments drastically reduced.

• The laws began to lose their original spirit and motive.

• The instructions of the Lord were abandoned for their spiritual value

• The commandments began to be followed more from a social perspective

There began a “loosing” and “relaxing” of the commandments and the laws of the Lord!

The Greek word for “relaxing”, that Jesus speaks of in referring to the commandments of God is a word – “luo”.

This word “luo” can imply different meanings:

• It could be to break up or to demolish or to destroy that which is bound up firmly.

• It could be the loosening of the bond of matrimony between a husband and wife

• It could be to loosen any person or thing, that is tied or fastened to something

• It could be the undoing or dissolving of anything or any thought or idea.

• It could be to annul or subvert something especially laws or authority.

This “luo” is a grave danger to which all of us are also exposed to…

The danger to allow lethargy to troop in, in the name of “easiness”

The danger to allow lukewarmness to creep in, in the name of “convenience”

The danger to allow sluggishness to dominate, in the name of “broadmindedness”

The Lord today invites us to examine and probe into areas of our life that needs a real “tightening” and “intensification”

Has my prayer life become relaxed and casual…

>> Can I “tighten” it up, to grow in deeper communion with the Lord?

Has my participation in the Holy Eucharist become too monotonous and more “ritualistic”…

>> Can I “intensify” my preparation and participation in this most sacred act of the world?

Has my reading of the Word of God taken a backseat or lost its significance in my daily life…

>> Can I “tighten” it up, in order to draw strength from the mighty sword of God’s Word?

Has my relationship with my fellow people and the needy ones, devoid charity and kindness…

>> Can I “intensify” with a truer interest in their concerns and making a difference in their lives?

Let us seek to have and live…

A life that is sinless…

A faith that is fearless…

An enthusiasm that is limitless…

A joy that is deceitless

And a hope that is endless!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

A common observation that is noticed among many children, is the fear and apprehensions of some subjects in the school or college.

>> Among these subjects, one which would top the list of subjects which causes tension and undue worry, is certainly, Mathematics!

>> Many have a fear of this subject which deals with figures and numbers.

>> Many have an aversion to this subject which deals with digits and numerals.

Well, it’s not known or certain whether Our Lord had any such aversion or fear or apprehension or even dislike for this subject, Mathematics!

But one thing is for certain…

… that the Lord sure loved to keep out Mathematics when dealing with important spiritual dimensions.

… that the Lord indeed would transgress the norms of Mathematics when engaged in vital spiritual aspects.

The Gospel of the Day is an exhibition of this aspect of the Lord going beyond mathematical boundaries in dealing with the beautiful virtue of forgiveness.

The passage begins with the Lord’s chief and one-of-the-first apostles Peter, raising a query to his Master, ” Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times? ” ( Mt 18: 21)

It was probably a genuine doubt of Peter, which arose from his own personal experiences.

He must have had some difficulties in forgiving, out of his wavering temperament, perhaps!

But he now puts forward to Jesus a doubt as to what should be the limit of one’s forgiveness.

>> Peter sought to know what are the exact boundaries that one must limit oneself, while forgiving.

>> He wanted clear-cut rules to define the maximum threshold and frontiers of generosity in pardoning.

But the Lord replies firmly, “I say to you, not seven times, but seventy seven times” (Mt 18:22)

>> The Lord does away with the mathematical rules in forgiveness!

>> The Lord does not confine to the mathematical stipulations in forgiveness!

“Seventy seven times” would refer a number, unlimited and uncountable!

>> The frontiers for how many times to forgive are done away with…

>> The boundaries for how many times to forgive do not hold good…

As the Lord spoke these words to Peter, the apostle would himself have recalled…

“Once beside the sea of Galilee, when I encountered the Holy Master, I realized that I was drowning in the waters of sin… and I had asked pardon from the Lord.

>> Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man (Lk 5:8)”

These words of the Lord would have again echoed in the ears of Peter, later on, after the resurrection of Jesus….

>> Once again, beside a Sea… this time, the Sea of Tiberius, Peter experienced the forgiving power of the Lord in accepting back, though he had betrayed Him three times (Jn 21: 15-18)

Many times Peter…

… had sinned against the Lord…

… had caused pain and ache to the Lord…

… had abandoned and betrayed the Lord…

>> But every time, the Lord forgave, wholeheartedly!

The Lord was truly the Master, “who practised what He preached”

The Lord was truly the Master, “who forgave unconditionally and without any limits”

This Lord, today seeks to impress on us too, this same attitude of forgiveness.

The teaching on forgiveness, is most certainly easy said than done!

>> To forgive….especially to forgive repeatedly, is certainly no easy task…

But it would require a deeper experience of the Unconditional Love of the Lord and our own determination, along with His grace, to reach out in forgiveness and pardon to our constantly erring brothers and sisters!

>> Are we ready to cast away mathematical limitations in forgiving, and extend the mercy of the Lord to others?

>> Are we ready to do away with mathematical countings in pardoning others, knowing that we ourselves have received this favour from the Lord?

God Bless! Live Jesus!

One of the most painful words in perhaps the whole of dictionary is the word … “Rejection”

And this is perhaps one word, that has been experienced in life, by most of us…( if not by all).

>> Most of us have felt the sting of rejection…

>> Most of us can recollect instances and situations of rejection even now…

>> Most of feel a twinge within ourselves when we hear this word ‘rejection’…

The Gospel of the Day presents Jesus, our Master undergoing the painful experience of ‘rejection’.

The background of the Gospel passage of the day is that Jesus is in the Synagogue at Nazareth at the beginning of His ministry.

Being handed over the Scripture from the book of Isaiah, Jesus spoke of the fulfillment of the text that was read:

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor….” (Lk 4:18)

The Graciousness of His words and the Eloquence of His speech attracted the audience to Himself.

The first impression was surely a wonderful impression…

… but as time would prove, it is not always the best and lasting impression.

When He began to teach the people of how God has brought His salvation and the message of hope to not just the Jews, but the Gentiles also, murmurs of rejection began to crop up.

>> The message of straight talk to the heart, which affected their inner lives, caused uneasiness to His listeners.

>> The delivery of the truth which had a direct bearing upon their lives and attitudes, caused edginess to arise among His listeners.

And so, there happened a “conversion”…

…. a conversion, not for the good, but for the bad!

They were converted from having a good opinion of Jesus to forming a detestable view on Him

>> They were converted from nodding their heads in approval to shaking their heads and clenching their fists in refutation and denial.

How true a picture is this of many a human nature….

>> We appreciate those persons who speak what I wish to speak…

… but deny those who speak against us, even if they speak the truth!

>> We encourage those people who harp the same tune that we wish to hear…

… but terribly denounce those who play the melody for a genuine transformation!

The Lord was rejected!

>> And He Himself testified to this naked reality, “No prophet is accepted in his own native place” (Lk 4: 24)

The Gospel of John presents this reality in a more dramatic manner, “He came to His own and His own rejected Him!” (Jn 1:11)

Rejection is a part of each of our lives…

>> And the rejection is much greater and true, when one stands for the Truth and the Virtues of the Gospel!

We get rejected…

… by our friends who don’t approve when we seek to live a holier lives…

… by the society which is unable to appreciate those wanting a sanctified life…

But the Lord assures us.. “In all your rejection, look up to me!”

“There was no one who was rejected as I was…

I was rejected when I was born….

I was rejected when I lived…

I was rejected when I died….”

“Are you also going to reject me… I, who have risen from the dead?”

Some of us who use the mobile phones in the dictionary mode, (especially the older version – and not the smartphones), would have experienced this simple fact…

When one types the word “rejected” in the dictionary mode, in a mobile phone, it appears as “selected”…

Try it if you wish….

The same is true when we type in the word “rejected” in the Divine mode…. before the Lord!

He converts every “reject” to a “select”…

>> He converts our rejection to a selection for grace and sanctification

>> He converts our rejection to a selection for purification and strengthening.

Our lives have suffered much pain and our hearts are a canvas of much agony of rejection.

>> But the Lord today invites us to go to Him and seek solace, healing and consolation from Him.

He who was rejected, is the Lord of acceptance!

>> He who was rejected, is the Saviour of hope!

>> He who was rejected, is the God of healing!

God Bless! Live Jesus!