“Papa, do you love Jesus?” asked a little child to her father.

 

The father was an extremely irreligious man – even hating and condemning all religious practices.

 

So, with a sense of irritation, the father replied, “Jesus is dead, my dear, long, long ago. He was crucified, and that was the end of Him.” 

 

“But Jesus rose again, and did what no other man could do”, continued the innocent child, “and if Jesus was not living now, we could not be living either, as He gives us life and everything else, Papa.” 

 

But the father questioned back, “But how can I love whom I have never seen, my child? Tell me that, my dear!”

 
The child, at first didn’t know what to reply.

>> The father was extremely happy that his question had puzzled the daughter and hoped that now she would stop the topic.

 

 

But the little girl put forth another question, “Papa, how old was I when Mamma died?” 

 

“Hmm…six months, my child”, replied the father.

 

 

“Then I can say”, said the child, “that I never saw her, for I don’t remember her at all.

But you have always tried to make me love Mummy, by telling me how good and kind she was; and I do love her!”,

 

And then with a deeper sense of affection, she continued, “Even though I don’t remember having seen her, I still do love her, Papa!”

 

 

By this time the tears were running down the father’s cheeks.

 

He kissed his beloved child and said, “God has spoken to me by you, my dear! I realize I do need to love God, even though I have not seen Him!

And now you must pray for me, and ask God to give me a new heart, with which I shall love Jesus.”

 

(Undoubtedly, the prayer of the innocent child was soon answered!)

 

 

What about me….

Do I love God?

>> Do I really love God?

 

Even though sometimes I am am not able to experience His presence…

Even though at times, I go through the hardships and grinds of life…

>> DO I LOVE GOD?

 

 

The Gospel of the Day is a mighty invitation and reminder by the Lord, to Love God with our “ALL”…

… All our heart

… All our soul

… All our mind

… All our strength

 

 

The passage 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 no ordinary man or any ignorant person. 

 

 

He 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!

 

 

Just prior to the questioning by this scribe, Jesus had silenced six groups of people…

1. The Chief Priests 2. The Scribes 3. The Elders

“As Jesus was walking in the temple area, the chief priests, the scribes and the elders approached Him, and said….” (Mk 11:27)

 

4. The Pharisees 5. The Herodians

“They sent some Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to ensnare him in his speech” (Mk 12:13)

 

6. The Sadducees

“Some Sadducees who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus….” (Mk 12: 18)

 

 

Most of them had approached and questioned Jesus…

 … not to know or learn more about the Law, but to question Him and trap Him!

… not with genuineness in their heart, but with malice and viciousness!

 

 

However, Jesus, aware of all this background… 

>>> the wicked conspiracy that was brewing against Him

>>> the plot of testing that was hanging in the air

 

… responds with something immensely marvellous and spectacular:

“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) and

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

 

 

Here was a classic answer…

 

>> The background in which the question was put forth quite “hateful” and “repulsive”

… but Jesus dares to answer with the sublime answer of “Love”!

 

>> The Lord was being targeted badly with stones of “hatred, jealousy, aversion and hostility”

… but He gently, but firmly showers back the flowers of “Love, Tenderness and Commitment”!

 

 

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!

 

“Agape” is the Love to which we are called… 

… a self-giving love

… a self-sacrificing love

… an other-centered love

 

 

>> 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 centred on love for God, one also begins to express this love to one’s neighbours , in concrete and certain acts of love

>> When one’s life is drawn into real service for humankind, one slowly but surely has to realise that the source of these charitable deeds is God and thereby one is to draw closer to the Lord.

 

 

May our life be a constant check to see if we are living under the banner of these two fundamental commands of Christian life – Love of God and Love of neighbour!

 

And thus, in the depths of our hearts…

>> even with all the troubles, problems and uncertainties clouding our lives

>> even if we are unable to see the power of God leading us

… we can still whisper and even shout: “I REALLY LOVE YOU, MY GOD!

 

 

God Bless! Live Jesus!

An old man and his wife, who had spent their life, in the villages, were taken to the railway station by their son, who had a job in the city.

 

It was for the first time in their life that this old couple was seeing a train!

 

The husband was highly d at the sight of that large locomotive.

>> He looked the engine over very carefully, and shook his head.

 

“Well, what do you think of it, father?” asked the son with eagerness

 

“She’ll never start,” was the firm answer by the disbelieving father: “she’ll never start.”

 

However, in a few minutes, the conductor waved, the bell rang, the locomotive puffed, the train moved slowly at first, then faster.

 

 It was disappearing in the distance when the son inquired slyly: “”Well…what do you think of it now?”

 

The old man shook his head more violently than before and blurted out with greater assertion:

“She’ll never stop,” he affirmed; “she’ll never stop!!”

 

 

How often is this true of many people…

… Pre-Conceptions often close the mind; and one is unwilling to open anything new

… Prejudices often shut one’s understanding; and one becomes adamant in refusing to learn!

 

Truth is received and understood only by the one who is open and willing to accept it!

>> Truth can never be forced upon..

>> Truth can never be thrust on anyone…

Rather, Truth with the freedom it allows, is taken in only by the one docile to it!

 

The Gospel of the Day presents another group of opponents -characterised by rigidity to accept the truth and blocked in mentality to be docile – who try to put down and prod our Blessed Lord in His teachings. 

 

Yet, Jesus, who is source and perfection of all wisdom, fails to get bogged down – instead traps them in their own arguments and leaves them faced with a mighty challenge to change!

 

The Sadducees came to Jesus to put forward a hypothetical riddle regarding the question of the Resurrection.

 

The Sadducees were the top people in the nation, the elite group of aristocrats who owned a lot of land, wealth and rank.

 

They were the power brokers in Israel’s supreme court, the Sanhedrin.

Even the high priests came from the families of the Sadducees.

 

They were selective in what they accepted from the Scriptures.

>> They rejected all the historical books.

>> They also rejected all the psalms and the other ‘writings’ like Job and Ecclesiastes.

>> Not one of the books of the prophets would they accept.

They were left with just the first five books of Moses.

 

Moses was their person of authority.

That is why when they come to Jesus, they characteristically begin, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us…” ( Mk 12:19)

 

They also rejected the resurrection of the dead.

>> “Men stay dead,” they said; human beings only have this life here and now.

That is what they believed; no judgment; with death, the soul perishes with the body.

 

We live in a world where we also encounter many of the “modern” Sadducees.

>> People who live as though there is no Resurrection..

>> People who deny giving any significance for life after this life

>> People who fail to uphold any teachings or thoughts that support a life after death

 

For such “modern” Sadducees,

… Life consists in basically enjoying the pleasures of this present life to the maximum!

… Life is not to be drowned in “boring” piety and “dull” devotions with a hope for the future!

 

Perhaps, some of us, may also share such thought-patterns of the Sadducees.

 

Yet, the Lord addresses us, just as He did to the Sadducees, “Are you not misled because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God?” (Mk 12: 24)

 

>> The Scriptures clearly testify to the various references that are made to the fact of the “dead” not really being dead… rather, alive in the Lord

>> The power of God clearly testifies that God as the one who created creation out of nothing, also has the power to grant new life to those who are dead

 

The Gospel passage ends with the statement by Jesus, “You are greatly misled” (Mk 12: 27b).

>> Another translation would read, “You are quite wrong”

 

The Lord was not afraid to clearly and bluntly tell the Sadducees that they were wrong and misled in their understandings.

 

And perhaps, if we are in the category of being a “modern” Sadducee, the Lord uncompromisingly tells us also, “You are greatly misled”

 

 

We need to be open to the voice of the Lord, calling us to trust deeper, in the presence of a life after this life.

>> Let not our prejudices shut our understanding; and we becomes adamant in refusing to learn!

 

Truth is received and understood only by the one who is open and willing to accept it!

 

 

May we grow to be more docile to the voice of the Lord, so that we may mould our present lives in perfect tune to God’s Will, and thus be able to enjoy a life of Resurrection – true happiness in eternity!

 

 

 

God Bless! Live Jesus!

The statement, “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” is a common phrase known to many of us.

 

Considered generally to be Arabic, this ancient proverb means that solely because two parties have a common enemy, they are friends.

 

There is also an identical Chinese proverb that says, “It is good to strike the serpent’s head with your enemy’s hand!”

 

• A good example of this comes from World War II. The US and Great Britain were allied with the Soviet Union. Neither country was friendly with the USSR before the war and they would be enemies again soon afterwards. But during WWII, they were both enemies of Nazi Germany. Because the Soviets were the enemy of Hitler (an enemy of Britain and the US), they were considered friends of the US and Britain!

 

• In business, this example is seen in the speculated purchase of Yahoo! by Microsoft, in an attempt to gain the market-share from Google, in the online search engine market.

 

• Even in nature, we have an example for this…

The Pilot fish, which are smaller fish, cleans parasites off larger predators like sharks. These smaller fish swim freely around the sharks and even inside the mouths of the sharks that could easily eat the small fish. Since the shark’s enemy is the parasite and the parasite’s enemy is the smaller fish, the shark considers the Pilot fish a friend and accommodates an otherwise potential food source.

 

The Gospel of the day presents a classical example of this canny ingenuity in human nature…

… and seeks to put Jesus, to the shame!

But the Lord of all wisdom and knowledge overcomes all such shrewd tactics and comes out a winner…with flying colours.

 

The passage begins with the statement, “They sent some Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to ensnare Him in His speech” (Mk 12:13)

 

The “they” in the verse refers to the chief priests, the scribes and the elders (Mk 11: 27b)

 

This group had already been silenced by the Lord…

• In questioning Jesus of His authority, they found themselves facing a tougher question from Jesus. (Mk 11: 27-33)

• Jesus also told a parable of the Tenants in the vineyard, which alluded to their closed attitude to accept Him as the Messiah of their lives (Mk 12: 1-12)

 

 

This group of chief priests, scribes and the elders, went away…

… with hatred in their against Jesus

… with a mind to plot further against Jesus

 

So, they got together two opposing parties, in their scheme to oppose Jesus.

 

These two opposing parties were the Pharisees and the Herodians (Mk 12: 13)

 

 

Who are the Pharisees?

• The Pharisees were primarily not a political party but a group of scholars and pious people. They enjoyed a large popular following, and in the Gospels, they appear as spokesmen for the majority of the population.

• They hated the pagan Roman occupation of Israel.

• Their hope was for a new Judas Maccabee who would arise and throw off the Roman empire.

• Many of the common people embraced their patriotic message.

 

 

Who are the Herodians?

• Their name came from King Herod, who was a half Jew and had made a made a political deal with the Romans.

• The Herodians held political power, and supported King Herod Antipas, the Roman Empire’s ruler over much of the land of the Jews from 4 B.C. to A.D. 39.

• The Herodians favoured submitting to the Herods, and therefore to Rome, for political pragmatism.

 

The Pharisees were obsessed with their religious traditions, while the Herodians had little religion at all.

 

Yet, when Jesus spoke and opposed both formalism and love of worldliness, these two groups came together in their opposition to Him!

 

 

And they trap Jesus with a very cunning question, “Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?” (Mk 12: 14c)

 

• If Jesus had said:

No, you should not pay taxes….

… that no true Israelite who loves God should willingly pay the tax as the Roman Coin with the image of Caesar and all of his titles claiming to be divine is blasphemous…

 

All of the common people would have said, “How godly man is He!”

 

But Jesus would have been arrested for sedition and treason.

 

• On the other side, if Jesus had said:

Yes, you should pay taxes….

… that it is not bad since the Roman empire brings stability and economic prosperity…

 

All of the common people would have abandoned Him saying, “He is a betrayer of God’s law!”

 

Jesus would have been badly persecuted for misleading them from the path of God.

 

 

It was trouble either way…

 

But Jesus, the Lord of all wisdom and knowledge, found His way through the maze of human shrewdness by answering, “Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God” (Mk 12: 17)

 

Jesus said that what is most important in life is one’s supreme allegiance to God!

• Political demands, social commitments, familial duties, communitarian stipulations all have their place and position…

But above all, what needs to be given the prime importance in one’s life is: Allegiance to God!

 

We live in times and situations wherein there are many forces and philosophies and thought-patterns, that join hands in opposing the teachings of Jesus and the Church.

• Jesus is still an enemy to many of the truth-denying realities in the world.

• The Church is still opposed by many of the immoral entities of the world.

 

It is our duty to remain firm in our faith and render absolute allegiance to the Lord, in order to oppose and fight against such adverse and opposing factors in the world.

 

God Bless! Live Jesus!

A commonly known story goes thus…
An Arab sheikh, once gave a banquet for his son.

>> He invited his friends to share his hospitality. 
His one request was that each guest bring a small skin of wine as his contribution to the feast. 
On the appointed day, the skins were emptied.

>> However, the further discovery caused immense embarrassment for the host as well as the like: most of them contained water! 

Each guest had reasoned that, since everyone else would bring wine, he might be able to make a substitution and not be detected.

>> But finally most of them ended up bringing water, that finally the whole content was “more watery” than “being wine!”

The price of enjoyment always comes at a price: of responsibility.
It is “freedom with responsibility” that ensures valid enjoyment and proper satisfaction.
Human tendency, however, it is, to often want…

… To enjoy, without having worked

… To reap fruits, without having harvested 

… To take credit for oneself, even for things/people not belonging to oneself.

The Gospel of the Day is a powerful reminder by Jesus, through the Parable of the Tenants…

… that we are only stewards in this beautiful world of ours, which is owned by God

… that we are to be caretakers of the many duties entrusted to us, by the Almighty

 

We have concluded a journey of fourteen weeks (nearly hundred days) of walking intimately with the Lord in His Passion, Death, Resurrection and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit…

… starting with the Ash Wednesday in the season of Lent

… through the Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday

… the Ascension and the Feast of the Holy Spirit – the Pentecost.

 
As we resume the Ordinary times of the Liturgical year, we are presented with the message to make an examination of the “quality of our life of faith”, through 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 placed a lot of trust in the servants.

 

He gave 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 has entrusted us with many responsibilities…

>> To promote and grow in our faith…

… by a faithful prayer-life, co-operation with the graces of God, keeping away from a life of sin etc.
>> To be faithful to the vocation and works we are called to do…

… by constantly renewing our resolve in the works we do, remaining focussed on our calling etc.
>> To encourage others to increase in faith and in love of life…

… by being interested In their well-being, supporting them, teaching them etc.

 

The Lord presents Himself as the cornerstone…

… “the stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone..” (Mk 12: 10)

 

 

Jesus is the cornerstone…of Salvation…of the Church…of His People!
>> We need to find strength and support in this Cornerstone…

… the cornerstone to build a wonderful life in God and grow in holiness…

… the cornerstone to stand firm and strong in faith to withstand every storm of life…
 

Let us come to understand that the price of enjoyment always comes at a price: of responsibility.

>> And it is “freedom with responsibility” that ensures valid enjoyment and proper satisfaction.

God Bless! Live Jesus!

Dear Friends in Christ, 

Here is a short video message on the Holy Spirit!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAi37OAr-9I&feature=youtu.be

An incident is told of a great ship that was stranded off the coast of South America. 

 

Week after week, the ship lay there, in the still ocean waters with not a hint of a breeze. 

 

The captain was desperate; the crew was dying of thirst. 

>> The salty ocean waters stared at the members of the ship.

 
Finally, one day, on the far horizon, a steamship appeared.

 

As this tiny boat, approached them, the captain of the great ship called out:

“We need water. Give us water!”

 

The steamship replied: “Lower yourselves, and life will be yours!”

 
The captain – an experienced person, and who knew that it was impossible to get potable water from the oceans – was infuriated.

 

But the steamship gave the same reply, “Lower yourselves, and life will be yours!”, and sailed away.

 
The captain was all by himself – feeling angry and desperate!

 
But a little later, when no one was looking, a cleaner boy of the ship, lowered a bucket into the sea and then tasted what he brought up: It was perfectly sweet, fresh water! 

 
How was that possible?

 

The ship had been stranded, just out of the oceans, into the mouth of the River Amazon (Amazon makes up for nearly 1/5th of the earth’s fresh waters!)

 

For weeks together, they had been sitting on top of all the fresh water that they needed.

>> But it remained undiscovered!

 
So it is, often, with our Christian Lives as well!

What we are really seeking, is already inside us: Waiting to be discovered!

>> The Holy Spirit, Who has been dwelling within us, from our Baptism, gently whispers to us: “Lower yourselves, and life will be yours!”

 

Today, on this Great Day of Pentecost, we are invited to open our hearts to recognize the Power of the Holy Spirit…

… and to become aware of the inherent greatness in our vocation as Christians.

 
On the day of Pentecost, in the Upper Room, as the disciples were gathered in prayer, along with Blessed Mother Mary, “the Holy Spirit filled the entire house in which they were” (Acts 2:2)

 
It is to be noted that the word used to describe the coming of the Holy Spirit is the Greek word “aphno” which means “suddenly”

>> “And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind…” (Acts 2: 2)

 
The coming of the Holy Spirit was “sudden”.

>> This energetic entry of the Holy Spirit is a glimpse to one important characteristic of the person of the Holy Spirit: Vitality!

 

The Holy Spirit is a spirit of life… of energy… of vivacity… of animation… of dynamism!

>> Where the Holy Spirit is, there is the great movement of the will, the mind and the heart!

 

It was this “sudden” coming of the Holy Spirit, that transformed the small group of Jesus’ disciples into mighty warriors of the Kingdom of God.

Fear was transformed into power…

> Timidity was changed into boldness…

>> Uncertainty was converted into conviction…

 

 
Our own lives need an encounter of this “life-transforming” experience.

>> Is my Christian life, dull and slow – merely laced with routine actions of prayers and sacraments?

>> Is my life of faith, lethargic and tepid – simply being pulled on, without any particular awareness or lived without any enthusiasm?

… then, we need the mighty movement of the Holy Spirit to impress life and vitality to our life and our faith!

 

 

The Holy Spirit is undoubtedly one of the most shy person of the Blessed Trinity and therefore, also often, neglected in our daily prayers or devotion

>> The study and awareness of the Holy Spirit is certainly, in general, given lesser priority and importance in comparison to the other Persons of the Trinity

>> The Feast of the Pentecost is very often not accorded the “solemn” tone in comparison to other feasts like Christmas or Easter

 

But let us realize, that in the Holy Spirit and in the celebration of this Feast, we have a great treasure to cherish and enjoy.

>> Each Christian ought to build an intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit.

>> Each Christian must become more aware of the role of the Holy Spirit in daily living

 

How wonderful it would be if we could inculcate a few practical resolutions to grow in our intimacy and union with this Powerful and Dynamic Personality of the Blessed Trinity:

… wishing “Good Morning, Holy Spirit ” to Him as we begin the day, thanking for His protection and seeking His help through the day

… invoking a tiny chaplet, “Come Holy Spirit, fill our hearts and minds” as we begin a particular activity or work

… making a short examination of conscience at the end of the day, introspecting our lives in overcoming sin, being grateful for His guidance and seeking to grow spiritually in holiness, with the power of the Holy Spirit

… co-operating with the Holy Spirit to become effective agents of unity in our homes, our communities, our places of work and our churches.

… purposely creating a few seconds of silence in the schedule of our works or our activity or through the course of the day, and talking to the Holy Spirit, as a friend, in the cave of our heart

… listening to the still, gentle voice of the Holy Spirit in the depths of our being, speaking to us to be more active to read God’s Word in the Bible and to partake of the Sacraments more frequently especially Confession and Holy Eucharist.

 
The Lord has blessed our lives with the gift of the Holy Spirit.

> He longs to be empower our lives…

>> He earnestly wants to be in total control of our lives…

 
But for this, He needs our permission…

 

A permission in the form of…

… longing for Him

… making sincere efforts to live a life casting away sin

 
Let us realize that by our Christian Vocation, we are constantly in touch with “Fresh Waters” of Grace.

 

>> May we be aware of the worth of the “source of life” that is with us, and live a life worthy of it…

Are we ready to constantly give heed to the call: “Lower yourselves, and life will be yours”…?

 
Wish you a very Happy Feast of the Holy Spirit – the Pentecost!
Happy Birthday to our Mother Church!

> May we cherish the life offered by our Mother, in the Sacraments, and especially receive the sweetness of the Holy Eucharist more worthily and enthusiastically!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

The experience of teachers in a school with the students is pretty interesting.

 

Each student is unique in their character and nature.

>> The relationship with each student is also unique

 
Undoubtedly…

… some students tend to be more in the limelight… due to their high vibrancy and level of enthusiasm

… some students remain in the shadows… due to their soft and timid nature

 

But the teacher shares a unique relationship with all.. with some more close, with some just normal, with some just casual…

… Sometimes the most naughty one, or the mischievous one gets special attention

…sometimes, the most silent one gets a special favour of affection and care

 
The Greatest Teacher, Jesus also had his class of students… his chosen twelve.. the Apostles.

 

He shared a unique relationship with all of them, undoubtedly.

>> Yet, among the twelve, there were some with whom Jesus had a special bonding

 
• One among them was very vocal, emotional and actively in the limelight… 

• The other was more silent, affectionate and passively in the backgrounds…

 
The Gospel of the Day presents Jesus, the teacher in conversation with these two of His students, with whom He had a special bonding – Peter and John.

 

• Peter was the one, very vocal, emotional and being active in the limelight…

• John was the more silent, affectionate and remained passively in the backgrounds…

 

 
We are the end of the Gospel of St John.

 

Jesus had engaged Peter in a one-to-one conversation reviving His commitment to Him and the Kingdom by asking him, three times, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”

 

Peter was also entrusted to be the Shepherd of His Church on the earth

 
However, Peter was also curious what would be the future of the other disciple.

 

 

His curiosity is a common human trait: a keen desire to know the future and the prospects of other people.

• Sometimes this trait can also degenerate into jealousy…

• Sometimes this trait can also be reduced to envy…

 

1. In the parable of the workers in the vineyard… those who came at the end received the same one denarii as the first.

 

The complaint of those who toiled the whole day was not just that they received a less pay; but more so, that why did the last ones get a higher pay!

 

The generosity towards the others, made them to feel envious

 
2. In the parable of the Prodigal Son, the prodigal son was given a grand reception on his arrival back.

 

The complaint of the elder son was not just that he never had enjoyed a luxurious time with his friends; but more so, that the younger sin who had committed many sins, was given a special welcome.

 

The generosity towards the younger son, made him to feel jealous.

 

 
Realizing the possibility of this common human trait, Jesus chides Peter who was over-curious to know of the future of John; instead He re-focusses Peter’s attention on what is most important: Following Him.

 
Therefore Jesus tells to Peter: “What concern is it of yours? You follow me” (Jn 21: 22)

 
The same advice is rendered to us also…

• We sometimes tend to be too anxious about the life of the other… but fail to have a proper control in our personal lives!

• We sometimes tend to be over-curious about the future of others… but fail to live our lives worthily!

 

 

The Lord advises us the same too, “You follow me!”

 
The vocation and life of Jesus, the teacher’s two special students – Peter and John is also a reminder of two ways or levels of Christian holiness…

• The Life of Peter… lived in witness to Christ by a life of martyrdom

• The Life of John… lived in witness to Christ by a life of loving sacrifices in life

 

Each one of us are to…

… live in holiness, filled with love, like St John

… live in commitment, willing to give up even our lives, like St Peter

 

 
On this eve of the Great Feast of the Pentecost, let us prepare our hearts to receive the fire of the Holy Spirit.

 

May we be animated and constantly live in the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, so that we too may be Christ’s faithful and dynamic witnesses…

… and like St Peter and St John, become “special students” of our Great Teacher, Jesus!

 

God Bless! Live Jesus!

A young man was supposedly crazy about his girlfriend.

 

He spent an entire evening telling the girl how much he loved her.

 

He said that he couldn’t live without her…

… that he would go to the ends of the earth for her

… yes, go through fire for her, or die for her.

 

But as he was leaving he told her,

“I’ll see you tomorrow night dear…

…. if it doesn’t rain!!”

 

A whole evening was spent on lavishing sweet words of love…

But as he left her…

…. he made conditions in his expression of love

… he put forward clauses in his demonstration of love

 

How often is our love also such..

>> We tell to people in our live that we love them… but fail to show it in actions

>> We tell to others that we care for them a lot… but do not show them in deeds

 

And how much more true is this in the case of our love of God…

We profess our sentiments of love, but fall short of living it up in our commitment

 

The Gospel of the day presents St Peter grappling with his weaknesses in expressing his love for his Master… and Jesus, knowing very well the frailties of his chosen one, entrusting great responsibilities on him.

 

Jesus in His post-resurrection appearances to the Apostles, engages in a special one-to-one conversation with the Peter, the leader of the chosen ones…

 

It’s interesting to see the choice of the Lord for Peter as the leader of His chosen ones.   

                                                                                                                                                                                 

Peter was a fisherman by profession…

>> Like the waves, his faith and trust in the Lord would also often waver…

>> Like the winds blowing heavily, his zeal for the Lord would also often vacillate…

 

Yet, the Lord chooses him to be a “fisher of man” for His Kingdom…. expecting him…

… to be like the fish – finding life and vibrancy only by being in the waters of grace and mercy

… to be like the net – gathering up the children of God and keeping them together

… to be like the boat – not being stuck on the shores, but ready to launch into the deep waters of evangelisation

 

Peter had undoubtedly a lot of interest and zeal in the Lord… and in His Mission.

>> Yet by nature, he tended to be more emotional… indecisive…fluttering

 

And this caused him to deny the Lord three times, during the passion of the Lord..

 

But the Lord, in His infinite mercy, restores the brokenness in the relationship, with His healing love.

 

Our lives too, so often, resembles that of Peter.

>> We fluctuate in our commitments to the Lord…

>> We easily break many of the resolutions made to the Lord…

>> We very often go astray, despite having experienced much love from the Lord…

 

 

Yet, Jesus does not abandon us.

> Like the Shepherd, who comes after His lost sheep…

>> Like a Potter, who remoulds His work when dis-shaped…

>>> Like a Physician, who attends with patience for His ailing patient…

The Lord comes to us…

 

And with much hope puts forward the same question, that He asked Peter:

“Do You love Me?”

 
The Lord awaits an answer…

 

It will be easy to jump in and say “Yes, Lord, I do love you”.

But…

>> Let our answer, not just be triggered by emotional feelings…

>> Let our answer, not be simply impelled by a ritualistic custom…

 

Rather, from the depth of our inner-being…

… acknowledging our sinfulness and failures…

… realising our weaknesses and shortcomings…

 

Yet….

              …trusting in the goodness of the Lord…

              … hopeful in the mercy of the Lord…

             

Let us, as tell the Lord…

              “Yes, Lord, You know everything….. You know, I love you!!”

 
 

God Bless! Live Jesus!

A cute story of a little boy, who loved fruits.

 

This little boy fellow was once, tempted to pluck some cherries from a tree, which his father had strictly forbidden him to touch.

 

“You need not be afraid,” said his notorious companion, “for if your father should find out that you have taken them, he is too kind to hurt you.”

 

“Ah,” said the brave little fellow, “that is the very reason why I would not touch them;

>> For I know that my father would not hurt me. So I should not hurt him by my disobedience!”

 

The little boy knew the love of his Father towards him… and so he dared not hurt his Father.

>> He was not afraid of the punishment of the Father.

>> He was instead afraid of the hurt that would cause pain to the Father.

 

True love causes a holy and pious concern of not wanting to cause any offence to the one who is loved.

• True Love casts away all fear!

• True Love drives away every anxiety!

 

It is this True Love of the Father that was made known by Jesus to all of us.

 
The Gospel of the Day presents Jesus shedding greater light on His intimate relation with the Father and revealing deeper, the love of the Father for each one of us.

 

Jesus prays, “… so that they may be one, as we are one. I in them and You in Me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me.” (Jn 17: 22b, 23)

 
The high priestly prayer of Jesus in the Seventeenth Chapter is another insight into the intimate relation that Jesus had with His Father.

 

>> All His life, He sought to do only the Father’s Will

>> All His life, He sought to reveal the love of the Father to the world.

This was driven by the fact that Jesus was in intimate union with the Father.

 
To His disciples, Jesus wishes to leave this same legacy – the legacy of loving the Father intimately.

 

>> Jesus wishes to tell us that we have a Father who is deeply interested and caring for us.

>> Jesus wishes to convince us that our lives are secure in the Providential care of the Father.

 
However, our lives sometimes fails to display this trust and confidence in the providential care of the Father

>> Some of us may have a wrong notion of God being interested only in finding my wrongdoings and punishing me for the same…

>> Some of us may have the wrong notion of God being too holy and majestic that makes Him unapproachable, unavailable and inaccessible!

 

But Jesus seeks to drive away all such false impressions.

 
He tells us that the Father…

… is surely the keeper of justice, and may take us through a time of trials and difficulties.

But those are not to be seen as cruel punishments, but loving acts for improvements towards a holier life!

 

He tells us that the Father…

…. is surely the Lord and Master of the Universe, and is totally aware of even the calamities or hardships that befall our lives

But in all those hard moments, the loving Father keeps us safely in the palm of His hand, not allowing us, His beloved children to get hurt or harmed!

 
When we are convinced of this deep love that the Father has towards us, we would be able to orient our lives in a way that is worthy of our call as witnesses of Christ.

 

 

Jesus by His unity with the Father, enjoyed perfect freedom.

He invites us to also deepen our union with the Father and enjoy greater freedom of happiness and joy.

As we move from the month of May to the new month of June…

… let us recollect and thank the Lord for all His blessings 

>> And pray that this new month, becomes another opportunity for us to grow in the Love of the Father, and live, “always trusting in Divine Providence!”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

 One of the greatest violinists of all time was Niccolo Paganini.

 

He had his first performance at the age of 11.

>> It is said that his great technical ability revolutionised violin techniques across Europe.

 

When he died in 1840, he had willed his violin to Genoa, Italy – the place of his birth.

 

But he had it done on a condition: that no artist ever plays his instrument again.

 

Glad to have the violin come into their possession, the people in the city of Genoa agreed to the request, and they put it in a beautiful case for everyone to see.

 

But, unfortunately, wooden violins have a certain peculiarity:

>> As long as they are handled, they show no wear…

… But if it remains unused, it begins to decay!

 

 

This is what happened to Paganini’s violin.

>> His once-exquisite instrument became worm-eaten and useless.

 

Wooden violins of other artists have been handed down from one gifted musician to another…

…. and they continue to bring great music to audiences.

>> But Paganini’s violin is a crumbling relic of what it once was!

 

 

Such will also be the case with a Christian…

… If one does not spend one’s life in service!

 

A Christian’s “unwillingness to serve” may soon destroy one’s capacity for usefulness!

 

 

Today, is the Feast of the Visitation…

… A beautiful incident of how Blessed Mother Mary became a person, who rendered Her life “in service” to God and others – and thus gave full bloom to the graces of God within Her!

 

 

This Feast of the Visitation of our Blessed Mother has its origin in the medieval times.

>>It was observed by the Franciscan Order before 1263, and soon its practise spread throughout the entire Church.

>> Previously it was celebrated on July 2….

… now it is celebrated on 31st May – between the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord ( Mar 25) and the Birth of St. John the Baptist (Jun 24) , in conformity with the Gospel accounts.

 

 

One of the interesting term used by St Luke in his description of this incident (Lk 1: 39-56) is the word “HASTE”.

St Luke says: “In those days, Mary arose and went with HASTE…..” (Lk 1: 39)

                                                                                                                                                          

The Angel Gabriel had appeared to Mary and announced the Good News that She was to be the Mother of the “Son of the Most High” (Lk 1: 31)

>> Mary was “overshadowed by the Power of the Most High” (Lk 1: 35)

>> The Angel had also pointed to the mighty work that was done in the life of her cousin Elizabeth (Lk 1: 36)

 

 

The Annunciation became the turning point in the life of Mary!

 

She was no longer the same…

… The simple girl had been exalted and chosen to be the Mother of the Most High God!

… She would no longer be seeking to do her desires; She would seek to God’s Will at all times!

… Her life would no longer be carried by her plans; Her life would be impelled by what God wanted!

 

The Child in Her, would now make Her to be “always in haste”!

… In haste: to serve others

… In haste: to follow perfectly the Will of God

… In haste: to have Jesus as the centre of Her life

 

The Holy Spirit completely possessed the Virgin Daughter of Nazareth and impelled her to act.

 

The beautiful incident of the Visitation of Mother Mary teaches us this beautiful lesson:

When Christ grows inside of us, we will be in HASTE….

… to reach out to others in service

… to spare no efforts to get out of our own comfort zones of pleasure, relaxing and lethargy

… to forget one’s own needs and be totally other-centred and radiate joy and hope to others

 

Mother Mary becomes the “Woman on the move” – on a continual and constant journey:

… She would embark on an hard trip to Bethlehem, while pregnant (Lk 2:4)

… She would again move – after the birth of the Child – along with Joseph, and flee to Egypt (Mt 2:14)

… She would return back to Nazareth, under the instruction of the Angel of God (Mt 2:23)

… She would further travel to Jerusalem for the Passover Feast and there would go in search of Her Beloved Child, when He was lost (Lk 2: 45)

.. She would be travelling with Jesus in His ministry – may not be physically, but Her Heart and Soul completely accompanying Her Son

… She would, finally, even accompany physically, with Her Innocent Child on the Way of the Cross (Jn 19: 25)

 

 

Mother Mary lived the words of the poem which centuries later would be formulated by another great Saint – St Francis of Assisi:

“It is in giving that we receive…

It is in dying that we are born to eternal life…”

 
The Feast of the Visitation is a reminder for us examine some of the important aspects of our life…

… Am I a person allowing the Holy Spirit to fill me and take complete possession of me – my words, my thoughts, my actions?

 

… Am I a person, having Jesus in me, impelled to reach out to the other in service? As St Paul says: “The love of Christ impels me” (2 Cor 5:14)

 

… Am I a person, who is daring to be a “person on the move” – moving out of my safe comfortable zones, moving out of conditioned and prejudiced mindsets, moving out to make my life of praise and honour to God?

 

 

St Ambrose says: “Delayed efforts are foreign to the grace of the Holy Spirit”

 

Charity is never idle!

>> Charity is always on the move …

… Sensitive to the needy

… Seeking to do good

 

 

May the graces of God in us, not get stagnant, or decayed or rusted …

… instead may they be extended in loving service to God and His people…

>> And thus our life be a beautiful Magnificat: “My Soul magnifies the Lord my God, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour!”

 

 

Happy Feast of our Blessed Mother Mary – the Mother Who moves us, constantly…towards Jesus!

 
God Bless! Live Jesus!