“Rooting out all pessimistic mind-sets, and focussing instead on growth in holiness and humility!”

(Based on Num 24:2-7, 15-17a and Mt 21:23-27 – Monday of the 3rd Week of Advent)

Once, a preacher was speaking the Word of God to a great crowd.

As was his practice, he was concentrating more on the content of his message and of its effect upon the hearts of people, for transformation…
… rather than the precise literary form of it.

Among his audience, was seated a certain fussy gentleman.

He had been known for making extremely critical remarks and comments.

At the end of the prayer service, this person went up to the preacher and said:
“By the way, I noticed that you made eleven mistakes of grammar in your sermon.”

“Very likely,” replied the preacher, very coolly, “I don’t doubt it for a minute.

My early education was faulty. I often wished that I had received more schooling.

But I am using all the grammar I know in the service of Christ.

How is it with you?”

Well, we don’t know how the fussy gentleman reacted to this bold and true reply of the preacher.
(Hopefully, he went home and read a chapter of the Bible and prayed for a humbler heart…
… rather than just revising his skills of grammar!)

When the heart is closed to God’s spirit, the focus dwells only external and peripheral factors…

The heart gets closed to spiritual appreciation…
The mind remains curious only for rhetorical arguments!

The Gospel of the Day presents such a critically harsh and uncharitably closed attitude of the chief priests and scribes and elders…
… towards the person and ministry of Jesus.

This is expressed in their volatile question to Jesus: “By what authority are you doing these things and who gave you this authority?” (Mt 21: 23)

The context of today’s Gospel is the presence of Jesus in the city of Jerusalem.

Chapter 21 of St Mathew’s Gospel has a progressive sequence…

The entry into Jerusalem (Mt 21: 1-11)
The ‘re-storation’ in the Temple at Jerusalem and indignant behaviour of authorities(Mt 21:12-16)
The entry to Bethany and cursing of the fig tree (Mt 21: 17-22)
The ‘re-entry’ to the Temple at Jerusalem and questioning of Jesus by the authorities (Mt 21: 23-27)

The popularity of Jesus was on the rise…
… He had a rousing welcome to the city of Jerusalem

The impact of Jesus was also on the rise…
… He had performed a daring cleansing of the Jerusalem Temple

These factors had greatly disturbed the religious leaders.

In Jesus, they perceived a threat.
… a threat to their attitude of subjugating people to their yoke than to service of God
… a threat to their personal wishes and agenda of having a monopoly over religion

And so, they – the chief priests and scribes and the elders – sought to put Jesus to the task…
… and questioned His authority on doing such deeds and performing such actions.

Their eyes were closed to see the goodness of the Lord…
… and their hearts had become clogged to examine their own maligned conscience

Instead…
… they only found fault with the Lord
… they only become critical of the ways of the Lord

When the heart is closed to God’s spirit, the focus dwells only external and peripheral factors…

Is such an attitude prevalent among us also?

A mentality of harshly criticising…
A tendency to inhumanly condemn…
… without any consideration to humanness or acceptance or self-examination etc.

Let us root out all such pessimistic mind-sets and focus instead on growth in holiness and humility!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
MAN’S VOCATION LIFE IN THE SPIRIT – GOD’S SALVATION: LAW AND GRACE – The Ten Commandments – The First Commandment

In many circumstances, the Christian is called to make promises to God. Baptism and Confirmation, Matrimony and Holy Orders always entail promises.
Out of personal devotion, the Christian may also promise to God this action, that prayer, this alms-giving, that pilgrimage, and so forth.

Fidelity to promises made to God is a sign of the respect owed to the divine majesty and of love for a faithful God. (CCC # 2101)

“Marching forward with a deep conviction and prayer: ‘Lord, I belong to You, and to You alone!'”

(Based on Zep 3:14-18a, Phil 4:4-7 and Lk 3:10-18 – 3rd Sunday of Advent)

A youngster was laid-off…
… after the company decided to part ways with him.

Despite having good performances, the young man fell culprit…
… at the hands of jealous
workmates and nepostitic influences.

However, nothing deterred this young Christian.

On being asked how he felt at this unjust treatment, he cooly replied:

People can make any number of accusations
People can put me down as much as they want
But, I know who I am!”

And he added, “Everyday I look to the Lord and inspired by St Francis de Sales, I tell Him, ‘Lord, I belong to You, and to You alone!”

When we have a deep conviction that our being draws it’s origin and strength from the Lord…
… we are able to live with conviction and joy.

Today, as Christians – who live in a society, that tends to move away from the Gospel virtues – we are challenged and demanded by our Blessed Lord:
“Are you willing to stand up for me?”

But we often find ourselves lost, and ask the Lord, “What shall we do?”

The Gospel of the Day throws light on this aspect – “What shall we do?”

We are on the third Sunday of the Season of Advent.

This is called the Gaudete Sunday – the Sunday of Joy.

We are more than halfway through the season in preparation for Christ.

Sometimes, like runners, in a marathon…
… we may feel tired of this preparation
… or we may think, when is the destination going to reach?

And so we may get wearied… tired… or feel exhausted.

But the Church, our caring Mother, knows Her children, and tells us…
“Just a few more days… and it will be Christmas!

Do not give up hope… Instead, continue to prepare…
In joy… in happiness… in expectancy…”

Thus, this Third Sunday of Advent, we celebrate as Gaudete (= Rejoice, in Latin) Sunday.

On this Joyful Sunday, “What shall we do?” is the constant refrain that we encounter in the Gospel.

The crowds asked John the Baptist, “What then shall we do?” (Lk 3:10)

The tax-collectors asked John the Baptist, “Teacher, what shall we do?” (Lk 3:12)
The soldiers asked John the Baptist, “And we, what shall we do?” (Lk 3:14)

This then is what we also ask our Blessed Lord, as we come before Him, this 3rd Sunday of Advent – “What shall we do?”

And both – John the Baptist, the fore-runner and Jesus, the Messiah – are telling us:
“Repent of your sins”
… especially those to whom you have been clinging on for a long time

“Depend more on God’s Power”
… especially to many of us, who rely more on our own power and strength

“Take the Word of God more seriously
… especially by picking up the Bible more often, reading, meditating and living more in It

“Be more faithful to the Church”
… especially in times when there is a lot of criticism of the Church and there is a demand for loyalty and passion from the members themselves.

“Receive the Sacraments more frequently”
… especially to grow deeper in the love of God and become a God’s mighty witnesses in a world that often challenges the faith and dilutes the Gospel values

The Gospel makes an amazing presentation of John the Baptist, who lived with much conviction and passion.

A deep conviction of “who he was” guided all the actions of John the Baptist.

Do I possess such kind of a deep and “anchored” conviction in my Christian Life?

When we are anchored in the Lord, we can “stand up for Jesus” amid any difficulties and worries of life!

Yes, let us keep on cleansing our hearts so that our Blessed Lord can be born in us!

On this Gaudete Sunday (“Rejoice Sunday”), let us give heed to the call of St John the Baptist and the love of Jesus…
… so that our preparation for Christmas, may truly become more meaningful and more worthy!

St Paul reminds and exhorts us, “The Lord is near. Have no anxiety at all…” (cf. Phil 4:5,6)

Let us march forward…
… with faith and love
… through the valleys and mountains
… and wilderness and oasis
… through these days of the Season of Advent, preparing for the Coming of Jesus

With a deep conviction and prayer: “Lord, I belong to You, and to You alone!”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
MAN’S VOCATION LIFE IN THE SPIRIT – GOD’S SALVATION: LAW AND GRACE – The Ten Commandments – The First Commandment

The only perfect sacrifice is the one that Christ offered on the cross…
… as a total offering to the Father’s love and for our salvation.

By uniting ourselves with his sacrifice we can make our lives a sacrifice to God. (CCC # 2100)

“Preparing our hearts to receive God’s Word as He wishes, and seeking to live, in total accordance with Him!”

(Based on Sir 48:1-4, 9-11 and Mt 17:9a, 10-13 – Saturday of the 2nd Week of Advent)

It was December in the year 1903.

After several attempts, the Wright brothers – achieved success in getting their “flying machine” off the land.

They were very much thrilled!

They telegraphed this message Katherine, their sister, informing her of the great invention:
“We have actually flown 120 feet! Will be home for Christmas”

The sister was also super-excited.

She rushed to the editor of the local newspaper, to share the great news and showed him the telegraph message.

The editor glanced at the message and said:
“How nice! So the boys will be home for Christmas!”

Oh! The Editor had completely missed the big news – that man had flown for the first time in history!

How often is this our experience too in life – Missing the Important Points and settling for lower ones!

We fail to give attention to the most important things of life

Instead, we get carried away by some other less priorities of life!

This is so true, especially with respect to the Word of God

The Lord promises so many wonderful things in His Holy Word..
… but often, we miss the point.

Something similar had happened to the people of Israel as well…

God had promised them of the coming of the Messiah…
… but they missed the point..
… and thus, failed to recognise the Saviour He came!

God had promised that Prophet Elijah of old would return…
… but they missed the point…
… and thus, failed to recognize the Prophet when he came!

This is what Jesus points out to His disciples in today’s Gospel, when He says:
“I tell you, Elijah has already come and they did not recognise him; but did to him, whatever they pleased” (Mt 17: 12)

John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ, had come, preaching the message of repentance and conversion of heart (Mt 3:1)

The Gospel says that John the Baptist…
… wore a clothing made of camel’s hair
… had a leather belt around his waist
… had food of locusts and wild honey (Mt 4: 4)

This appearance was very similar to that of Elijah, the Prophet (2 Kings 1:8)

But in their encounter with John the Baptist, the people failed to recognise him as the “Elijah who was to come”

And thus John the Baptist came to be …
… rejected
… derided
… finally killed!

Many times in our life, we too “miss the point” in our encounter with the Lord…

He gives His Beautiful Word to us…
… but we fail to be encouraged by It and live by It

He makes many wonderful promises of assurance and guidance…
… but we fail to live a life of trust and confidence

He offers Himself wonderfully in the Sacraments, especially Confession and Holy Eucharist…
… but we fail to derive the necessary fruits from Them

Today, the Gospel invites us, to look at God’s Promises, God’s Word’s and God’s Will…
… and discover the true purpose of it in our lives.

This is more true as we prepare for Christmas…
Jesus is the BIG POINT of the Christmas

Let us dare not “miss Him!”

Let us prepare our hearts to receive His Word as He wishes, in our life…
… and seek to live, in total accord with Him!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
MAN’S VOCATION LIFE IN THE SPIRIT – GOD’S SALVATION: LAW AND GRACE – The Ten Commandments – The First Commandment

The prophets of the Old Covenant often denounced sacrifices that were not from the heart or not coupled with love of neighbour.

Jesus recalls the words of the prophet Hosea: “I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.” (CCC # 2100)

“Being aware of the dangers ‘subtle and sly’ vice – CHILDISHNESS and seeking the grace of God to be CHILD-LIKE in the Presence of God!”

(Based on Isa 48:17-19 and Mt 11:16-19 – Friday of the 2nd Week of Advent)

Children are an interesting lot!

They love to play, to quarrel, to engage in arguments, to tease, to show love and affection etc…

Children indeed amaze us…
… with their simplicity, innocence, curiosity and their power of wonder.

Jesus in the Gospels time and again invites us to grow in our spirit and spirituality of being like a Child!

The famous artist, Picasso, once said:
“All children are artists.
The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up..”

Many of us, as we age in years, tend to lose many good qualities of a child.

We tend to fritter away the precious pearls of simplicity and openness of a child
We tend to paint our inner innocence with many external shades of duplicity.

But the Gospel of the Day shows us another dimension or rather, warns of a distortion in this striving to be a child…

One can easily stray away from the path of being child-like and transgress into the danger of being Childish!

Child-likeness is a beautiful virtue which is to be cultivated and nurtured to grow in our love of God!

Childishness is an ugly vice which is to be weeded and cast away to grow in our relationship with God!

What is child-likeness?

To be like a child is to possess a kitty of trust, faith, innocence and straightforwardness.

To be like a child is living in the present moment with a deep sense of wonder and admiration over life.
To be like a child is to have a faith which is matchless and a great amount of dependence on the One who cares!

But what is childishness?

Childishness is a child-like behaviour which has grown sore and strays away from honest qualities of life.

Childishness is having selfishness at its core: a vice that wants the world around to always dance to its tune!
Childishness is sticking on to ignorance and unwillingness to learn from people and situations

This danger of Childishness can sometimes creep into our spiritual life…
… and can hamper and cause havoc in many areas of our Christian life.

How can childishness in spirituality become a dangerous ploy?

Childishness in spirituality…
… can make people to suit teachings for one’s own desire, at the cost of the Truth.
… can prevent people from being open to receive new insights from the Divine.
… can cause people to remain obstinate and block the moving of the Spirit.
… can prohibit people from recognizing the providential care of God.

And this is what we come across in today’s Gospel Passage: the exposition of the Childishness of the people!

Our Blessed Lord says:
“To what shall I compare this generation? It is like children…” (Mt 11:16)

Two persons who had committed themselves totally to the cause of the Kingdom are under the scanner today – John the Baptist and Jesus.

John the Baptist lived in the wilderness and in preparation for the arrival of the Messiah.

John did not drink wine, and he and his followers fasted regularly.
He baptized people in the Jordan River.

But John also preached repentance and gave a clarion call to turn away from one sins!

And this irked the people…

The elders of the Jewish community dreaded him because he recognized the corruption of the priests, and publicly called them to repent and be baptized.

They refused, because they wanted to keep their power, their wealth, their full stomachs and their fine clothing!

Jesus went around the cities and towns healing the sick and curing the lepers and doing many mighty works.

Jesus shared in the table-fellowship of many people regularly.
Jesus preached the Kingdom of God.

But Jesus also challenged people to let go off their sinful and corrupt lives and turn to God in penitence!

And this annoyed the leaders…

The Pharisees hated him because he preached with much authority and his new understanding of the law was highly challenging!

They rejected Him, because they wanted to stick to their traditions, empty hearts and their inhuman practices!

Jesus and John both would have hit high on the popularity charts if they had “lightened up” or “played nice” or “would have allowed things to be little more easy!”

But both of Them did not budge…

This is what Jesus says:
“We played the flute for you, you did not dance;

We mourned to you, you did not weep.” (Mt 11: 17)

This reaction by the people to Them was a song of derision… a tune of mockery…a melody of ridicule!

John the Baptist and Jesus, both, failed to let this Spiritual Childishness to overpower Them and to give in to silly demands!

We all can fall victims to spiritual childishness or we ourselves can fall into the trap of being spiritually childish!

Let us beware of the dangers of this ‘subtle and sly’ vice – CHILDISHNESS …
… and seek the grace of God to make efforts to rather be CHILD-LIKE in the Presence of God!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
MAN’S VOCATION LIFE IN THE SPIRIT – GOD’S SALVATION: LAW AND GRACE – The Ten Commandments – The First Commandment

Jesus recalls the words of the prophet Hosea: “I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.”
The only perfect sacrifice is the one that Christ offered on the cross…
… as a total offering to the Father’s love and for our salvation.

By uniting ourselves with his sacrifice we can make our lives a sacrifice to God. (CCC # 2100)

“Igniting our lives with a blazing passion and a fiery enthusiasm!”

(Based on Isa 41:13-20 and Mt 11:11-15 – Thursday of the 2nd Week of Advent)

There is an interesting legend of how a mother was cleaning the house in preparation for Christmas.

Not a speck of dust was left and even all the spiders were banished from their cozy homes in the ceiling.

It was Christmas eve and the Christmas Tree and the Crib was also decorated.

But, at the farthest end of the attic, the spiders, after having been chased away and taken refuge in that corner, were feeling miserable.

They too wished to see the Christmas Tree and especially have an encounter with Baby Jesus.

But they were afraid, since the mother of the house would chase them away.

The oldest spider among them, however came up with a proposal, that they could perhaps peep across the side door and have a glimpse of Baby Jesus.

So, the spiders, silently crept out of the attic, down the stairs, across the floor and waited in the crack in the side door.

But suddenly the door opened was opened by someone, and the spiders, in fear, ran to the room.

But all them still desired to see the Christmas Tree from close.

So they decided to make a bold attempt…
… They quietly crept over the whole Christmas tree.. over every branch and twig, till their desire to see its beauty was fulfilled.

But to their dismay, each of them had left their webs behind.

When Child Jesus saw the Christmas Tree marred by the spider webs, He was in a dilemma.

On one side, he was impressed by the simple desire of the spiders..
… on the other side, he did not want the mother of the house to be offended.

So He touched the spider webs, and they all turned to sparkling and shimmering, silver and gold!

(This is probably the origin of hanging colourful tinsels on our Christmas Trees, and sometimes even including a spider!)

One of the important dimension seen in this legendary story is the intense desire of the spiders and their willingness to take the chance, be bold in their attempts…
… and even be ready to risk their lives to have their Divine longing fulfilled.

Such is to be the readiness of every Christian…
Having an intense desire
Being willing to take chances
Being bold
Ready to even risk their lives
… in defence of faith and in growing to be a Disciple – in the likeness of Christ.

This is reflected in the words that Jesus says in today’s Gospel, “The Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence and the violent are taking it by force” (Mt 11: 12)

This verse is one of the most mysterious and thought-provoking in the entire Bible.

What was this violence that Jesus was referring to?

The Greek word for the word “violence” is “biazo”.

This word “biazo” is described as “using power to forcibly seize” i.e. “laying hold of something with a positive aggressiveness”.

In the context of the Kingdom of God, it refers to the fact that ” share in the heavenly kingdom is sought for, with the most ardent zeal and the most intent exertion”.

Historically, the “violence” refers to the manner in which the Kingdom was rejected by the Jews – the chosen race, and the Gentiles gained access.

In our own times, the “violence” refers to the manner in which the entry to the Kingdom causes the people to suffer, undergo hardships and even bear hostility.

That’s why Jesus says in the Sermon of the Mount, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs” (Mt 5: 10)

St Ambrose beautifully describes the meaning of this violence:
“We do violence to the Lord…

Not by compelling Him, but by weeping before Him
Not by provoking by injuries, but by entreating with tears
Not by blaspheming through pride, but by sorrowing through humility.

We attack him, not with swords, nor staves, nor stones…
… but with meekness, good works, chastity.
These are the weapons of our faith, by which we strive in our contest.

But in order that we may be able to make use of these arms in doing violence…

Let us first use a certain violence to our own bodies
Let us carry by storm the vices of our members
… that we may obtain the rewards of valour.
For to seize the Saviour’s kingdom we must first reign in ourselves”

St Francis de Sales speaks of a similar “violence” when, filled with a deep zeal to conquer back Geneva from the clutches of Protestantism, he says:
“We will breach the walls of Geneva with our ardent prayers and storm the city with mutual charity”

This then is the zeal and the passion – the fire – that we need to carry in our hearts…

A powerful zeal that makes no compromise in the values of the Kingdom…
… and makes it willing to suffer any hardship or difficulty for the sake of the Lord!

An aggressive passion that is willing to let go of any attachment or sinful desire…
… that comes in the way of being worthy of the Kingdom!

A blazing fire that rages across every wicked and evil action…
… and seeks to restore holiness and sanctity of life!

Yes, Christian Life is a warfare…
… against the forces of evil
… against our own worldly desires

That is why the Church on earth who are living – who struggle against sin and devil and…”the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Eph 6:12)…
… is called as the “Church Militant” (“Ecclesia Militans”)

May our Blessed Lord ignite our “often tired, dreary and weary” lives with a blazing passion and a fiery enthusiasm…
… so that we may energetically prepare for His coming into our lives!

The Lord will surely bless our every attempt and every desire to seek Him
We will have to leave behind…
… our webs of vain desires
… our webs of sinful pleasures
… our webs of undue attachments

But our Master will touch all those webs and turn them to sparkling and shimmering blessings and graces!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
MAN’S VOCATION LIFE IN THE SPIRIT – GOD’S SALVATION: LAW AND GRACE – The Ten Commandments – The First Commandment

Outward sacrifice, to be genuine, must be the expression of spiritual sacrifice:
“The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit.”

The prophets of the Old Covenant often denounced sacrifices that were not from the heart or not coupled with love of neighbour. (CCC # 2100)

“Not letting anxieties of our life dishearten us; instead responding to the Invitation of the Lord and being at peace in life!”

(Based on Isa 40:25-31 and Mt 11:28-30 – Wednesday of the 2nd Week of Advent)

An old lady was sitting in the park – all alone and dejected.

A young boy – who was sitting on the opposite bench – and was doing some writing work, had been constantly watching this lady who was brooding over some worry.

Finally, after a while, he stopped writing and enquired:
“Madam, I have been observing you. From morning, you have been quite worried.
What’s the matter? Maybe there is some way I can help you

The old lady looked at him and replied: “You know, my son, in life, I have been worried about so many things in life… but most of them never happened!”

The young man was surprised to hear that – “troubled about things, that never really happened!”

So he asked again, “Then why are you troubled now?”

She replied, with a tinge of remorse: “I am worried as to why did I unnecessarily worry so much in my
life!”

Funny, isn’t it?

But, are we sometimes like this old lady?

Too much worried and disturbed in life…
… sometimes (or perhaps, very often) even about things that have not happened in life!

The call of the Gospel is an invitation by Jesus to “cast all our worries and burdens” on Him.

We read in the Gospel today, the assuring words of Jesus: “Come to me, all you who are weary and are burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Mt 11: 28)

Jesus came into the world, primarily as a Saviour!

He is in deep love with us!
“… You are precious in my eyes and I love You!” (Is 43:4).

The meaning of the name “Jesus” Itself is that…
… GOD SAVES!

As a Beloved Lover, He constantly tugs the strings of our hearts and beckons us to Himself – wanting us to experience His Saving Love!

He extends His cordial and warmest invitation to each one of us who are weary and heavy-burdened!

The Greek word for WEARY is “Kopiao”…
… which means to toil and become weary to the point of exhaustion! .

WEARY not only refers to the daily physical strains and struggles we undergo in life, but is also…
… the internal exhaustion caused by seeking Divine Truth through mere Human Wisdom.
… the external burden caused by futile peripheral efforts to seek the Divinity.

Many of us, very often, reach the point of exhaustion and fatigue by our everyday works and in our striving for salvation.

However, today, the Lord calls all of us – to experience His Resting Presence!

“Behold, I stand at the door and Knock! If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will enter his house and dine with him, and he with me”” (Rev 3:20).

“Experiencing His Resting Presence” also means “to learn from Him”…
… especially learning to be Humble and Gentle like Him! (Mt 11: 29)

A proud heart robs the person of spiritual insights

It renders a person to look only to oneself; the dependence on the Lord is lost!

A harsh (violent/tough/annoyed/wrathful) heart steals the person of “being at peace”

It renders a person to look only at the negativities of life; the attitude of being grateful to God is lost!

Today, let us give heed to the call of the Lord…
… to “Rest in His Presence”

And thus to learn to be more “gentle and humble”

Many of us might question: How can I “rest in His Presence?”

Many of us might counter: Is it really possible to learn to be more “gentle and humble?”

“Rest in His Presence” can be…
… by making a time for the Lord, in prayer, every day of our life – an act, which we shall never compromise!
… by “becoming aware” of the Presence of the Lord in the activities that we engage in
… by recognizing the goodness in other people and situations of life, and thus being, consciously, grateful to God

Learning to be more “gentle and humble” can be…
… by picking up any of those virtues, and (purposely) doing an act towards growing in the virtue
… by daily examining the conscience, in the practice of that particular virtue, and making amends to try again, even if failed (Let’s remember the Lord Who always rose again, even when He fell many times, on the Way of the Cross!)
… by praying specially to the Holy Spirit for those virtues, and never being discouraged, even when faced with the opposite vice
… by being inspired by the many saints, who went through the phases of vices, but were ultimately able to conquer, and live the virtues

Tensions, worries and problems of life constantly disappoint us!

Even our striving to improve our spiritual lives (and the feeling of failure to do so) discourage us!

But the Lord constantly tells us… “Come to Me!”

“Never, ever get discouraged, My Child!”

Prophet Isaiah strongly reminds us: “The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.

He gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless.
Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted; but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength…
… they shall mount up with wings like eagles
… they shall run and not be weary
… they shall walk and not faint!” (Is 40:28-31)

Let not the anxieties of our life dishearten us…

Instead may the Invitation of the Lord – “to Rest in His Presence and to learn from Him”…
… help us to always be at peace in life!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
MAN’S VOCATION LIFE IN THE SPIRIT – GOD’S SALVATION: LAW AND GRACE – The Ten Commandments – The First Commandment

It is right to offer sacrifice to God as a sign of adoration and gratitude, supplication and communion:

“Every action done so as to cling to God in communion of holiness, and thus achieve blessedness, is a true sacrifice.” (CCC # 2099)

“Being be willing to ‘go out of the way’ and doing things that are very beautiful!”

(Based on Isa 40:1-11 and Mt 18:12-14- Tuesday of the 2nd Week of Advent)

A mother took her three children to a fine restaurant for a dinner.

It was a crowded Sunday and they could only get separate seats.

As food was served, the youngest daughter – 6 year old Mary – who was seated at the far corner of the restaurant…
… loudly enquired from her mother: “Mother, don’t people say grace before meals in this place?”

A wave of silence wrapped the entire restaurant!

The mother did not know how to react.

But soon enough, the manager of the hotel, who was at the counter, said in an assuring voice to the child: “Yes we do. You may start!”

All the people bowed their head in silence

Little Mary closed her eyes, joined her hands and bowing her head…
… in a loud and crystal voice prayed: “Bless us O Lord, and these your gifts, which we are going to receive from your goodness, through Christ our Lord… Amen!”

The child found it strange to observe that none of the elders were praying…
… So she went “out of the way”

And did something that was very beautiful

And taught others an action to be imitated

A child “goes out of the way”…
… in expressing love and affection by trying to imitate the kind acts of the elders
… in trying to help others – giving a hand at the household chores, or doing little works

The Gospel of the Day is an invitation by the Lord to re-discover this “forgotten” child-like dimension of our lives: “To go out of the way!”

Jesus, speaking of this worthwhile quality…
… presents to us the image of a Shepherd who goes “out of the way”, in search of the lost sheep.

Jesus says: “If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray…
… will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills, and go in search of the stray?” (Mt 18: 12)

The shepherd loves all his hundred sheep…
… yet, when one gets strayed, he makes “an out-of-the-way effort” to get the lost one back.

He does not give up on the strayed.

He doesn’t desert the lost.
He doesn’t abandon the one, gone from his circle.

This attitude of going “out of the way”…
“taking an extra pain”
“dripping an extra sweat”
… would seem weird and strange to the calculative, pragmatic and business-minded head of ours, in this modern period!

We might question:
Is it not a waste of time to go after the “lost sheep”…
… of an obsessed drug-addict or a habitual drunkard or a consistent smoker?

Is it just too futile to awaken a “lost sheep”…
… of a soul in slumber, where there is no focus on spiritual life, where there is slackness of prayer and sacraments and where worldliness and materialism have crept and conquered?

Is it of any use to go after the “lost sheep”…
… of a couple who are constantly bickering and a family which is broken up with regular fights and misunderstandings?

Is there any sense in trying to restore the “lost sheep”…
… of a community whose members seem disinterested, who are lethargic, who have their own personal and hidden agenda and who always back-talk and back-bite?

Is it just not meaningless to revive the “lost sheep”…
… of a society or a nation where corruption has taken deep-roots in hearts of people and all sincere efforts of transformation often gets dumped into the bin?

The True Shepherd however, in all such situations, of the “lost sheep” …
… “goes out of the way”

The Good Shepherd makes an extra effort in getting them back!

He invites us to be partakers in restoring the lost ones.

A critical danger in the process of “growing- up” is the tendency to lose our “natural child-like” qualities.

As a child, we were free to express our emotions…
… but when we “grow up”, we tend to hold them up all within (only to burst out one day!)

As a child, we were easily dependant on those who cared for us…
… but when we “grow up”, we become arrogant towards them and seek ‘independence’

As a child, we were able to enjoy and relax in the present moment…
… but when we “grow up”, we get caught up in the snare of the past and shrink with fear of the future.

The Lord invites us to get back the “lost” child-like faith and trust.

We need to realise that we are always little children to our Heavenly Father…

He loves to care for us!
He longs that we depend on Him entirely!

Yes, children sometimes teach elders great lessons, isn’t it?

Let us be willing to “go out of the way”…

And do things that are very beautiful
And teach others actions, that can be imitated!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

---

📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
MAN’S VOCATION LIFE IN THE SPIRIT – GOD’S SALVATION: LAW AND GRACE – The Ten Commandments – The First Commandment

It is right to offer sacrifice to God as a sign of adoration and gratitude, supplication and communion:
“Every action done so as to cling to God in communion of holiness…

… and thus achieve blessedness, is a true sacrifice. (CCC # 2098)

“Being fervent and zealous to lead a holier and immaculate life, pleasing to God – like Mamma Mary!”

(Based on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary)

A priest went to visit a violent criminal who was condemned to death…
… hoping to prepare his soul to die well.

But the man wouldn’t even talk to him.

The priest pleaded with him to get reconciled with God…
… but the man’s heart was highly closed!

Finally, as a last resort, the priest entrusted himself to the Blessed Virgin Mary and said to the criminal, “Before I leave, will you grant me one little favour?”

To get rid of the bothersome priest, the man said he would.
“Let us then,” the priest responded, “Say one Hail Mary.”

So, together they began to pray that simple prayer…
… “Hail Mary, full of Grace, the Lord is with You…”

They hadn’t even got through the first sentence when the criminal turned pale…
… and his voice started to shake.

The priest continued the Hail Mary…
… and as he finished tears started to flow from the man’s face, and he fell on his knees at the priest’s feet.

As soon as the prayer was done, the man asked to make confession.

He then confessed his sins with a great sense of repentance!

The words, “Hail Mary, full of Grace, the Lord is with you…”
… had ignited the spark of repentance in him!

Yes, that’s the power of the intercession of Mother Mary!

She is the refuge of sinners

Her life of Faithfulness to God’s Grace, is an inspiration to all of us…
… to live an Immaculate and Holy Life!

Today, we celebrate the Solemn Feast of the beginning of the faithful life of the Most Beautiful and Loved Creation of God: The Feast of the Immaculate Conception of our Blessed Mother.

Sin is part of every human life.

St Paul testifies to this fact when he says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23)

By themselves, human beings are incapable of freeing themselves from sin.

Therefore…
… Everyone needs a Saviour
… Everyone needs a Redeemer

But God, in His infinite wisdom had thought of the most excellent way of redeeming humanity.

Salvation was to be accomplished not through any magical power
Salvation was to be brought about not through some superhuman force
Rather, the salvation of humanity was to be won by a Human Himself – the most perfect Human.

This perfect Human deserved and required the most sinless of all wombs to be born

This perfect Human demanded and necessitated the most immaculate of all lives to be nurtured

Thus, God in His perfect wisdom, applied the Grace of Redemption and Salvation to the One He had chosen – Mary of Nazareth.

Therefore…

Mary is the first recipient of the Redemption of Christ!
Mary is the first fruit of the Salvation, won by Christ!
This is the story of the Immaculate Conception of Mother Mary.

The Holy Scripture testifies to this Immaculate nature of our Blessed Mother through the words of Angel Gabriel to Her, “Hail, FULL of Grace!” (Lk 1:28)

The Immaculate Conception of our Blessed Mother points to…
… Her sinlessness
….Her being full of Grace
… Her perfection in holiness
… and Her absolute adherence to the Will of God.

“Yes, Lord… Thy Will be done” (Lk 1:38)…
… was a chorus that She sang in all the moments of life!

Today, on this Feast day, our Blessed Mother invites and exhorts us, also…
… to choose God, always, and lead a sinless life
… to always opt for God alone, at all times, and being immaculate in life
… to unswervingly be faithful to God’s Will, and thus seek to be perfect in life

The challenge is great and the efforts required are radical.

But we are not left alone in this “pursuit of holiness” (1 Cor 9:24)

Our Blessed Mamma – the Beautiful Lady in blue and white – grace in holiness and immaculate in love – holds our hands and tells us:
“My Little Child, I am with you!
I love you, and together, we shall walk in this exciting path of Holiness…
… towards My Son and Your Brother…
… towards Our Saviour Jesus!”

Yes, let us give heed to the loving call of our Blessed Mother

And be fervent and zealous to lead a holier and immaculate life, pleasing to God…
… as we pray, “Hail Mary, Full of Grace, the Lord is with You…!”

Happy Feast of our Immaculate Mamma!

ALL GLORY AND HONOUR TO HER ETERNAL SON AND OUR SAVIOUR, JESUS!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

---

📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
MAN’S VOCATION LIFE IN THE SPIRIT – GOD’S SALVATION: LAW AND GRACE – The Ten Commandments – The First Commandment

Lifting up the mind toward God is an expression of our adoration of God…
… prayer of praise and thanksgiving, intercession and petition.

Prayer is an indispensable condition for being able to obey God’s commandments. (CCC # 2098)

“‘Repairing and preparing’ our lives, so that ‘God can mix in our lives!'”

(Based on Bar 5:1-9, Phil 1:4-6, 8-11 and Lk 3:1-6 – 2nd Sunday of Advent)

A man sat down to supper with his family and said the Grace before meals…
… thanking God for the food, for the hands which prepared it, and for the source of all life.

But as the meal started, began to complain…
… he complained about the freshness of the bread…
… the bitterness of the coffee
… and the sharpness of the cheese.

He also began to criticize about some of his work-mates as well as his relatives, who were not very understanding, he felt.

After some time, the young daughter questioned him, “Dad, do you think God heard the Prayer of Grace today?”

The father answered confidently, “Of course.”

Then she asked, “And do you think God heard what you said about the coffee, the cheese, and the bread…
… and also about the people you mentioned?”

Not so confidently, yet since he couldn’t deny, he answered, “Why, yes, I believe so.”

The little girl then concluded, “Then which do you think God believed, Dad?”

The man was suddenly aware that his mealtime prayer had become a routine…
… a thoughtless habit rather than an attentive and honest conversation with God.

By not concentrating to be charitable during the conversation at the meal, he had left the door open to let hypocrisy sneak in!

The Season of Advent is a time to look into all such areas of our life…
… which needs a change
… which needs a transformation!

The Gospel of the Day reminds and exhorts us to become aware of this aspect: making a true preparation to realize and receive God…
… who wants to be intimately involved in our lives.

The Gospel begins with the mention of a series of names: political and religious leaders, which formed the context of the birth of Christ.

“In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas?” (Lk 3: 1-2)

What do these names of the political and religious figures point to?

1. It shows extent of the religious decay of the Israelites.

The Chosen People, who were to have God alone as their King and Ruler, are now ruled by pagan and foreign rulers
The Chosen People, who were to have God’s selected persons as Priests and Religious, are now guided by people who had been illegally appointed by the Roman Government

What do we learn?

When we fail to listen to God’s commandments and adamantly choose the path of sin, we are bringing upon the wrath of God’s justice on us
When we do not give heed to what God wants of us in our lives, we give the governing authority in our lives to Satan and his party, and thus give in to misery and slavery.

2. It also shows that Jesus is not any abstract entity, but One Who was part of our real, historical world

The mention of the religious and the political leaders is a clear proof offered by St Luke that Jesus truly, came in flesh and blood, in our history.
He is unlike any other godly figure whose historicity can be questioned. He, the God of History, chose to be born, live and be part of our real world – the world we live in.

What do we learn?

Jesus, as a historical person means that He can identify with our real problems and difficulties of life. In Him, there is truly Someone who understands us and has experienced what we ourselves undergo in life
Jesus, shows that God is not some philosophical abstract or a “creation of the mind” or some utopian idea; rather, Jesus is a God, Who became Emmanuel (= With us, God)

To welcome the birth of our loving God Who wishes to involve in our lives, the messenger, John the Baptist, is sent ahead of Him.

The Gospel says, “John the Baptist went throughout the whole region of the Jordan, proclaiming a Baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” (Lk 3: 3)

He also echoed what Isaiah the prophet had spoken, “Every valley shall be filled and every mount and hill made low” (Lk 3:5 & Is 40: 3-5)

Thus, we see, the message of John the Baptist can be shortly summarised into a short refrain: Repair and Prepare!

This then, ought to be a message that we carry for our lives…
… as we are exhorted to make ready a place for the Birth of the God, Who wants to be intimately involved in our lives – Repairing and Preparing!

Repair: the dark areas of our life, where sin and evil reigns…
… Prepare: a place, where holiness and God’s sanctity can dwell!

Repair: the broken relationships which suffer for lack of forgiveness…
… Prepare: a heart, which accepts the failures of people and gives them more space!

Repair: the bad inclinations and addictions, to which we cling on and find it hard to let go…
… Prepare: a mind, which is focussed on having Jesus alone as the Lord of one’s life!

Yes, the Lord wishes to come to us.. with His comforting presence and His forgiving love.

All that He wishes is that, we be ready to receive Him worthily.
He braves much difficulties…
He humbles Himself immensely…
Are we ready to bow and accept this magnanimous love of the Divine?

As the words of a popular hymn goes, “Great things happen, when God mixes with us?”
… Let us ‘repair & prepare’ our lives, so that “God can mix in our lives” and we can truly experience His Greatness in our lives!

Let us have the courage to overcome and set-right all routines and activities of our life of faith…
… any thoughtless habits that fail to have an attentive and honest conversation with God.

Let this Season of Advent be a time to look into all such areas of our life…
… which needs a change
… which needs a transformation!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

---

📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
MAN’S VOCATION LIFE IN THE SPIRIT – GOD’S SALVATION: LAW AND GRACE – The Ten Commandments – The First Commandment

The acts of faith, hope, and charity enjoined by the first commandment are accomplished in prayer. (CCC # 2098)

“Being fervent and zealous to lead a holier and immaculate life, pleasing to God – like Mamma Mary!”

(Based on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary)

A priest went to visit a violent criminal who was condemned to death…
… hoping to prepare his soul to die well.

But the man wouldn’t even talk to him.

The priest pleaded with him to get reconciled with God…
… but the man’s heart was highly closed!

Finally, as a last resort, the priest entrusted himself to the Blessed Virgin Mary and said to the criminal, “Before I leave, will you grant me one little favour?”

To get rid of the bothersome priest, the man said he would.
“Let us then,” the priest responded, “Say one Hail Mary.”

So, together they began to pray that simple prayer…
… “Hail Mary, full of Grace, the Lord is with You…”

They hadn’t even got through the first sentence when the criminal turned pale…
… and his voice started to shake.

The priest continued the Hail Mary…
… and as he finished tears started to flow from the man’s face, and he fell on his knees at the priest’s feet.

As soon as the prayer was done, the man asked to make confession.

He then confessed his sins with a great sense of repentance!

The words, “Hail Mary, full of Grace, the Lord is with you…”
… had ignited the spark of repentance in him!

Yes, that’s the power of the intercession of Mother Mary!

She is the refuge of sinners

Her life of Faithfulness to God’s Grace, is an inspiration to all of us…
… to live an Immaculate and Holy Life!

Today, we celebrate the Solemn Feast of the beginning of the faithful life of the Most Beautiful and Loved Creation of God: The Feast of the Immaculate Conception of our Blessed Mother.

Sin is part of every human life.

St Paul testifies to this fact when he says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23)

By themselves, human beings are incapable of freeing themselves from sin.

Therefore…
… Everyone needs a Saviour
… Everyone needs a Redeemer

But God, in His infinite wisdom had thought of the most excellent way of redeeming humanity.

Salvation was to be accomplished not through any magical power
Salvation was to be brought about not through some superhuman force
Rather, the salvation of humanity was to be won by a Human Himself – the most perfect Human.

This perfect Human deserved and required the most sinless of all wombs to be born

This perfect Human demanded and necessitated the most immaculate of all lives to be nurtured

Thus, God in His perfect wisdom, applied the Grace of Redemption and Salvation to the One He had chosen – Mary of Nazareth.

Therefore…

Mary is the first recipient of the Redemption of Christ!
Mary is the first fruit of the Salvation, won by Christ!
This is the story of the Immaculate Conception of Mother Mary.

The Holy Scripture testifies to this Immaculate nature of our Blessed Mother through the words of Angel Gabriel to Her, “Hail, FULL of Grace!” (Lk 1:28)

The Immaculate Conception of our Blessed Mother points to…
… Her sinlessness
….Her being full of Grace
… Her perfection in holiness
… and Her absolute adherence to the Will of God.

“Yes, Lord… Thy Will be done” (Lk 1:38)…
… was a chorus that She sang in all the moments of life!

Today, on this Feast day, our Blessed Mother invites and exhorts us, also…
… to choose God, always, and lead a sinless life
… to always opt for God alone, at all times, and being immaculate in life
… to unswervingly be faithful to God’s Will, and thus seek to be perfect in life

The challenge is great and the efforts required are radical.

But we are not left alone in this “pursuit of holiness” (1 Cor 9:24)

Our Blessed Mamma – the Beautiful Lady in blue and white – grace in holiness and immaculate in love – holds our hands and tells us:
“My Little Child, I am with you!
I love you, and together, we shall walk in this exciting path of Holiness…
… towards My Son and Your Brother…
… towards Our Saviour Jesus!”

Yes, let us give heed to the loving call of our Blessed Mother

And be fervent and zealous to lead a holier and immaculate life, pleasing to God…
… as we pray, “Hail Mary, Full of Grace, the Lord is with You…!”

Happy Feast of our Immaculate Mamma!

ALL GLORY AND HONOUR TO HER ETERNAL SON AND OUR SAVIOUR, JESUS!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

---

📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
MAN’S VOCATION LIFE IN THE SPIRIT – GOD’S SALVATION: LAW AND GRACE – The Ten Commandments – The First Commandment

The acts of faith, hope, and charity enjoined by the first commandment…

… are accomplished in prayer. (CCC # 2098)