The Greek mythology has a character named Narcissus who was renowned for his beauty.

He was exceptionally proud; so much that he even disdained those who loved him!

One day, Narcissus was attracted to a pool of water.
>> He saw his own reflection in the water and fell in love with it.

He failed to realize that it was only an image!

Unable to leave the beauty of his reflection, he drowned in the waters!

An obsessive love of his own-self drowned him!

A true appreciation, real honouring and genuine love of oneself is highly important & needed.
>> But when this self-directed love crosses the boundary, it can lead to obsession and fixation!

Are we in anyway getting drowned, knowingly or unknowingly, as a result of an excessive love for our self?

The Gospel of the Day will invite and challenge us to ponder over this aspect by presenting the dramatically humble personality of John the Baptist!

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

There are two kinds of pride: good and bad.

‘Good pride’ is our dignity & self-respect…
>> ‘Bad pride’ is the deadly sin of superiority that reeks of conceit and arrogance.

What is pride, as a vice?
>> In simple words, it could defined as “wanting our own way!”

Therefore, what is humility as a virtue?
>> In simple words, it could be defined as “wanting God’s Will!”

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

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

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

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

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

>> These disciples of John seem so resentful of Jesus that they don’t even mention His name!
>> These disciples of John are distressed that Jesus and His disciples are more successful than they are!
>> These disciples of John are irritated that their Master has not come up with any remedy yet!

There seemed anxiety in their voice…
>> There seemed anger in their tone!

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

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

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

The disciples of John, perhaps, sought a “narcisstic” attention to their own ministry…

>> They, perhaps, adopted a “narcisstic” style in their works and activities…
… looking into just themselves and their interests….
… seeking to fulfil only their objectives and motives…

But John the Baptist remain unperturbed and undisturbed.
>> He displays an angelic countenance of humility!

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

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

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

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

In our life, it is easy for us to lose our focus from the Lord and have a “narcisstic” style of preferences for our own selves…

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

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

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

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

>> Let us have the humility to acknowledge that it is God’s power being manifested in our works.
>> Let us have the acceptance that it is God’s graces that has lifted us to a high position.

Yes, “drown” not in the murky waters of pride, egoism and selfishness…
>> Rather “sail” together with the Lord over the clean waters of humility and meekness!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

Life sometimes is quite strange!
>> Often, when things go all well and it seems that everything is fine…disasters strike in life.

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

Think of a man who is in his early thirties…

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

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

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

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

After the initial check up, the doctor tells them:

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

And so they agree.

As days pass, the sore gets more infectious.

The doctor, now is ready with his well-studied and examined decision.. ” I am sorry to inform you… but you are infected with… Leprosy!!”

Hearing this, the man is terrified.

Leprosy, he knew, was not just an ordinary sickness.
>> It was a slow death sentence – distanced from family, distanced from society, distanced from self!

Imagine that situation of the happy living family!

The man is now to leave his wife and children; his land and work;
…  He is to go and live with people who were afflicted with a similar disease.

>> This was the law of the land.
>> This was the regulation practised in this area.

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

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

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

He couldn’t even have an animal for a companion.
>> If he touched even a dog, the dog had to be killed so that it did not carry the disease back into the city.

Life as a leper was just too horrible and miserable!

 
Life sometimes is indeed quite strange!

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

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

That man, the leader, he comes to know.. is Jesus.

The leper has heard about Jesus.
>> He would wish to hear Him.

 
But the Law did not permit to go close!
 

As the group passes their way, this leper man remembers what the Law taught Him..
>> And he begins to shout, “Unclean! Unclean! I have leprosy! Stay away from me! Unclean!”

But then a strange thing happens!!

Jesus keeps coming closer to him.

>> His shouts increases… louder goes his cries…”Unclean, Unclean!”

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

The leper man has now been afflicted for many years.

He misses his family very deeply.
>> He knows he is at the edge of life… undergoing a slow death!

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

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

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

He had suffered much.
>> He had been separated from loved ones for long.

 
> Now he wanted a deliverance.
>> He wanted freedom from the captivity.
>>> He wanted a wholesome life in his loathsome existence!

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

The Lord touches him!
>> His body was touched!
>> His heart was healed!
>> His soul was cleansed!

Life was restored! Happiness was returned!

Do you and me also feel sometimes like a leper?

 
>> Situations of happiness being snatched away?
>> Moments of love and affection being afflicted?
>> Times of joy, serenity and calmness being affected?

 
Unloved? Rejected? Despised? Abused? Helpless? Hopeless? Dying?

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

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

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

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

The Lord is here to touch us!

Lets extend to Him our hands.. our hearts.. our lives…!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

A carpenter is a person who works with wood.

The carpenter uses various tools and implements in order to cut, shape, chisel, carve and cut into the pieces of wood.
>> Gives new shapes… repairs the broken ones…polishes the rough edges etc…

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

Well… he is no ordinary one….
He is the Great Carpenter of Nazareth.. JESUS!

Jesus is in His hometown of Nazareth.

>> He walks into the synagogue, as was His custom.
>> He is handed over the book of prophet Isaiah and reads a prophetic passage.

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

Yeah, Jesus was the Son of Joseph, the carpenter!
>> And this Child of Joseph, was Himself also a carpenter!

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

But what the people murmured or muttered or grumbled was indeed true…
>> Even later on, the people would refer, “Is He not the carpenter, the son of Mary…” (Mk 6: 3)

Truly, Jesus is the Carpenter…
>> Not just an ordinary one, but the Great Carpenter of Nazareth!

The Jewish people were in great expectation of a Messiah.
>>Their concept of a Messiah would have been one who is very powerful, kingly, majestic etc.

But Jesus, the Messiah doesn’t ornament Himself with all such expected grandeur.

He doesn’t robe Himself with a showy magnificence or armour Himself with majestic works.

He takes the role of a Carpenter.

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

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

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

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

What is my understanding about the duties and responsibilities entrusted to me?
>> Am I aware that in all works – small and great, I can be giving glory to God?
>> Do I perform all my tasks, with a Sacred Sense that it’s an extension of God’s creative works?

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

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

>> He wants to create us anew and refashion our lives.
>> He wants to give new shape and utility to our brokenness and damaged parts of life.

Are we ready to let the Great Carpenter of Nazareth to work in our lives?
>> Hammer in some of the nails of discipline and virtues?
>> Chisel away sin and other unwanted portions of our life?

>> Polish some places of life that have lost its sheen and shine?
>> Drill in some screws to tighten the lethargic and sluggish areas of life?
>> Level some habits in us that can hamper the balance of our spirituality?
>> Measure some of our activities to determine how much exactly is needed?

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

We all of us have our brokenness in life… damages in relations… bruises in thoughts..
>> But the Great Carpenter assures that He will not let our bruised reeds be broken!

> He wants to mend us..
>> He wants to repair us…
>>> He wants to fashion us anew!

As a stanza in one of the lesser-known carol titled, “Behold a little Child” goes…

Christ, Master Carpenter,
We come rough-hewn to thee;

At last, through wood and nails,
Thou mad’st us whole and free;

In this thy world remake us, planned,
To truer beauty of thine hand.       

Yes, the Spirit of the Lord is upon this Great Carpenter of Galilee,  “…to bring glad tidings to the poor;
Liberty to the captives;  Recovery of sight to the blind;
Let the oppressed go free;
To proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord” (Lk 4: 18-19)”

Knock..Knock… The Carpenter is already here…

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

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

God bless! Live Jesus!

One of the subtle, taken-for-granted, yet successful techniques in life, is “withdrawal”.

(This “withdrawal” is NOT in the psychological sense of alienating oneself or going into an isolated state of mind)

This technique of “withdrawal” is seen in many areas of life….

While playing chess, as part of a clever strategy, one “withdraws” some of the pieces, in order to have a better control over the game.
>> This withdrawal is in order to alter the line of attack…
>> This withdrawal is to plan a new approach to win the game…

While driving a bike through heavy traffic (especially through the Indian roads), one “withdraws” one’s vehicle for some time, by slowing down…
>> This withdrawal is to allow a little more space ahead, so that we can overtake faster…
>> This withdrawal, by slowing down for few seconds, helps to find more empty spaces to go ahead faster…

Withdrawal, as a technique, is not a sign of weakness or surrender…
>> Rather, it’s a tactic to plan better and enhance organizing.

Withdrawal, as a technique, is not an indication of admitting defeat or submissiveness…
>> Rather, it’s a method to make more progress and find better ways out.

The Gospel of the Day begins with a mention of ‘withdrawal’ by Jesus…

“When He heard that John had been arrested, Jesus withdrew to Galilee” (Mt 4:12)

John the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus had already begun preaching about the message of repentance.

King Herod, in Jerusalem, had to also face the “naked truths” of the preaching of John.
>> Living in immorality, King Herod had been strongly condemned for his actions, by John
>> Practicing adultery, King Herod had been angered greatly by the bold exhortation of John

And so, King Herod had John the Baptist arrested.
>> The “Voice” had been stifled!
>> The “Voice” was suppressed!

St Matthew, however, says, that on hearing of John’s arrest, “Jesus withdrew”.

>> Was it a withdrawal out of fear?
>> Was it a withdrawal because Jesus got intimidated by King Herod?

Surely No!!

Why was it not an action of fear?

Because….

… Galilee, the place where Jesus withdrew, was equally a dangerous place since it was also under King Herod’s rule

… Jesus would display a far greater exhibition of courage, bravery and boldness than even John, by His ministry of Authentic Preaching and Awe-inspiring wondrous deeds.

… God in His Divine plan wanted Jesus to perform much of His ministry in the Gentile region of Galilee.

>> Galilee was certainly not the most obvious place for the Messiah to begin His ministry.
>> Galilee was part of the Northern Kingdom of the nation, which was ruled by ungodly kings…
 
The population was mixed in race and looked down upon by the Jews of Judah & Jerusalem.
> The people of Galilee were considered to be somewhat pagan in their spiritual life.

Yet, as part of His Divine strategy, Jesus “withdraws” to this most improbable place of Galilee to launch His ministry of Spiritual Revolution of the world.

Life sometimes makes us to “withdraw”…

>> In a situation of trouble and crisis, we need to sometimes “withdraw” into our selves and find time with the Lord, in order to assess and evaluate our circumstances.

>> In our dealings with others, we need to sometimes “withdraw” some of our words, expressions and feelings, in order to preserve and strengthen our relationships.

>> In our careers or future planning, we need to sometimes “withdraw” so that we can give sometime for ourselves and thus be able to perform better.

Life is not always rosy and life is not always a cakewalk.
>> Difficulties and struggles are ready to very often pounce on us.
>> Crisis and situations of terror are waiting to grab us by the neck.

Just like our Dear Lord, who is the perfect strategist and the ideal planner, we too need to take control of our lives, by giving time for “ourselves” even if needed to “withdraw” at certain times.

>> This withdrawal is not a retreat into depression…
…  rather a time of preparation with the Lord.

>> This withdrawal is not falling into anxieties…
… rather a time of charging with the power of God

Let us become a powerful witness to Jesus, the Light of the Nations!

God Bless! Live Jesus!