“Realising that living away from God – the Fire of Life – will always cause tepidity and apathy to sneak in!”

(Based on 1 Macc 2:15-29 and Lk 19:41-44 – Thursday of the 32nd Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1)

A priest was once persuading a church member to be more active and enthusiastic in his Christian life…
… and to give a little more priority to his spiritual life.

They were sitting inside the man’s parlour

It was winter time, and the coal was burning in the fireplace.

The man objected saying, “I can be a good person, even without doing all the spiritual activities and the requirements of the Church.”

The priest kept silent.

But stepped to the fireplace

Took the tongs, and picked a blazing coal from the fire…
… and kept it away from the fire.

In silence, both of them watched the blazing coal – which was far from the fire – lose its heat…
… and going off.

“I see” said the man…
… as he realised the importance of staying near God.

Living a life away from God – the Fire of Life…
… will always cause tepidity and apathy to sneak in…
… leading to a slow but sure loss of life.

The Gospel of the Day is the dramatic incident of Jesus crying over the City of Jerusalem…
… who had failed to understand the coming of the Messiah

And thus lost opportunity to truly be the “Jerusalem – the City of Peace!”

The heart of a parent is broken, when the child strays away from the ways of truth and honesty.

If this is the experience of our earthly parents, how much more will be the pain and suffering of our God…
… if we stray away from Him, who loves each one of us deeply with a tender affection?

It is this sorrow and grief that is strongly expressed by Jesus in the Gospel of the day.

Jesus laments over the City of Jerusalem.

St Luke records this lamentation of the Lord with a powerfully sentimental verse:
“As Jesus drew near, he saw the city and wept over it” (Lk 19: 41)

Jesus is usually an epitome of great joy and rejoicing.

Jesus, therefore, being made to shed tears shows the gravity of situation.

What made Jesus to shed tears?

The pain and the hurt He experienced because of the ill-response and harsh reaction of His chosen people, Israel, represented by the city of Jerusalem.

God had chosen Israel as His people.

Out of all the civilizations on the earth, He chose them as His beloved.

Through them He promised that the Saviour of the human race would come.

This promise ignited the hearts of the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

God wiped out their enemies even in the most extreme of circumstances!

Time and again, God blessed them with judges, kings and prophets. He even provided them a place to worship.

But as the quote goes, “Familiarity breeds contempt!”

Israel, God’s own people no longer delighted in being His distinctive people.

For them, He became routine.
They began to consider Him of little value.

They allowed their hearts to grow hard, over and over, again and again.

Finally, Jesus, the long-promised Messiah came, the One whom God the Father had sent.

But most of the Jews by then, had grown stubborn and complacent in their ways.
They had no room for One who came to fulfil their Law and the Prophets.

They maltreated the Saviour of the World.
They rejected the Chosen One of God.
They abused the Anointed One of the Lord.
And this led, Jesus to shed tears.

This story of Jerusalem could well be our own life-story.

We have been specially chosen and loved by the Lord.

He has taken us through many dangers, sicknesses and accidents.

In times when everything seem lost, He has been our refuge.

In moments when all seemed totally blank and dark, He has been the glowing light.

On occasions we felt like quitting life and escaping from realities, He held us in good stead.

But we tend to easily forget all these good deeds and wonders of the Lord.

Yes, it’s a sad thing, but a sure reality: “For many of us, God is often, just a routine!”

We fail to be grateful and thankful to the Lord….
… by living a holy and virtuous life.
… by deepening our bond of love and affection with Him
… by translating His graces into deeds of charity and concern for our people.

We instead persecute and torture Him…
… by living a lethargic or unholy or even scandalous life
… by abandoning many of His commandments and the teachings of the Church
… by harming our brothers and sisters and being highly indifferent in situations.

God’s Heart – like that of a broken parent weeping for the child – is crying out for us…

He is telling us, “I am wounded!”

We have strayed much…
… it’s time to come back to Him
He calls us.
He longs to have us with Him always.
He wants us back in His loving embrace.

As little children, let us run, in sincere repentance and honest contrition, to the welcoming Heart of our Beloved God.

Let us not boast or brag saying that, “I can be a good person, even without doing all the spiritual activities and the requirements of the Church.”

Rather, let’s realize that “away from the fire”…
… even a blazing coal will slowly but surely lose its heat and go off!

May we be reminded that living away from God – the Fire of Life…
… will always cause tepidity and apathy to sneak in…
… leading to a slow but sure loss of 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 – THE DIGNITY OF THE HUMAN PERSON – THE THEOLOGICAL VIRTUES

The virtue of hope responds to the aspiration to happiness which God has placed in the heart of every man…
… it takes up the hopes that inspire men’s activities and purifies them so as to order them to the Kingdom of heaven
… it keeps man from discouragement
… it sustains him during times of abandonment; it opens up his heart in expectation of eternal beatitude.

Buoyed up by hope, he is preserved from selfishness and led to the happiness that flows from charity. (CCC # 1818)

“Being prepared to take risks in order to make progress in life!”

(Based on 2 Macc 7:1, 20-31 and Lk 19:11-28 – Wednesday of the 32nd Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1)

A little tortoise was constantly facing a complex of feeling too low in life.

Seeing the various other animals, moving swiftly and speedily…
… the tortoise would very often hide itself in its shell.

It felt that it could never progress in life!

One day, it came across a wise person and sought an advice of how to get the best from life.

The sage – a wise person – replied:
“My little tortoise, always remember that you have been created specifically.
So never feel low or bad about yourself.

And as far as progressing is concerned…
… Always remember: ‘Unless you stick your neck out, you can never progress!”

That was a simple, yet effective piece of advice, isn’t it

Unless the tortoise “stuck its neck out, it could never progress!”

Sticking the neck out of course, meant “taking a risk”…
… but unless that was done, progress was not going to happen.

The same is true for us in our life as well:

Unless we take risks… Unless we “stick out our necks”
… we can never progress!

The Gospel of the Day is a parable of a person who refused “to stick out his neck”…
… and thus not only failed to progress, but ended up on the losing side!

Jesus presents the very-practical “Parable of the Productive Servants”

A nobleman who, before going to a faraway country, entrusts money to his servants with an instruction, “Engage in trade with these, until I return” (Lk 19: 13)

The money given was a “mina”

A mina was a Greek coin.

The lowest level of the Greek Coinage System was the drachma…
…. equal to one day’s wages. (1 Drachma = 1 day’s wages)

One hundred drachmas equalled one Mina (100 Drachmas = 1 Mina).

Therefore, One Mina equalled nearly 100 days of wages (1 Mina = 100 days wages; i.e. nearly 3 months)

With this (fairly huge) amount of money, the Master instructs the servants to “invest”

Investment always means a “sense of risk!”

The parable goes on to say that…
… one of them made another ten (Lk 19: 16)
… the other made another five (Lk 19:18)

These two are greatly rewarded.

The one “who is willing to take risks” always finds life more rewarding and satisfying!

But, its over here, the parable presents the third servant, who decided to be “Mr. Keep it Safe!”

He came back to his master, with an excuse: “Sir, here is your coin” (Lk 19: 20)

He failed to make any investment
He failed to take “any risk”

He refused to “stick out his neck!”

Sticking the neck out of course, meant “taking a risk”…
… but unless that was done, progress was not going to happen.

And that would make him to end up on the losing side!

The Bible is replete with personalities, who would take “risks”…
… and thus emerge successful!

Noah would “take the risk” of listening to God and build the Ark for rescue from the deluge
Abraham would “take the risk” by obeying God and leaving His country and people
Moses would “take the risk” and trust in God to lead the people out of slavery
Jeremiah would “take the risk” of being a prophet despite of several oppositions to his life
Peter would “take the risk” of leaving his fishing profession to be ‘fishers of men’
… and many many more!

They “risked their life” for God – His Will and His Kingdom!

They would “stick out their neck” in progressing in the ways of God!

How about us?

Do we “take risks?”
… the “risk” to trust in God, in spite of the uncertainties of life
… the “risk” to know God has the best plan for us, despite the many hardships we face in life
… the “risk” to believe that God always walks with us, even though we go through the ‘deserts of life’

Let us always realize: Unless we take risks…

Unless we “stick out our necks”
… we can never progress!

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 – THE DIGNITY OF THE HUMAN PERSON – THE THEOLOGICAL VIRTUES

Hope is the theological virtue by which we desire the kingdom of heaven and eternal life as our happiness…
… placing our trust in Christ’s promises and relying not on our own strength

… but on the help of the grace of the Holy Spirit. (CCC # 1817)

“As little children, let us hold the Hands of our Blessed Mother as we cry to the Lord – ‘For You, Forever!'”

(Based on the Feast of the Presentation of Blessed Mother Mary)

A priest, while visiting and catechising in the shanty slums of a city, asked the poor children before him:
“Can any of you tell me what is holiness?”

Thereupon, a poor little, in torn clothes and muddy hands and feet, with a bright smile said, “Father, it is to be clean inside!”

Can anything be truer than the answered offered by that innocent child?

Holiness consists not in grand actions of externality.
Holiness is made up not of mere pious words and devout liturgies.

Holiness, instead is a way of life…
… a life which seeks for inner purity
… a life which is oriented in doing God’s Will
.. a life which is constantly pledged towards perfection

Such a life of holiness was lived and exemplified by our Blessed Mother Mary.

Today we celebrate the initiation of our Blessed Mother into this way of holiness, in Her Presentation.

The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a pious belief from tradition, though strictly speaking, not a defined matter of the faith.

The Presentation of Mary is not found in the Holy Scriptures but comes from the apocryphal Infancy Narrative of James.

Mary’s parents, Joachim and Anne, who had been childless, received the good news from an angel that they would have a child.

In thanksgiving for the gift of their daughter they brought her when she was around the age of three to the Temple in Jerusalem to consecrate her to God.

The Feast of the Presentation of our Blessed Mother is a reminder and a challenge to us, on different counts:

Like our Blessed Mother Mary, most of us, were perhaps initiated into a life of holiness, in our younger days.. at Baptism, at Confirmation…

Have we sought to increase in our level of holiness?

What efforts do we make towards that?

So many times, in life, we are faced with choices…
… for holiness or against holiness
… for sin or against sin

Have I strengthened my heart and will in choosing the paths of Holiness?

The Feast of the Presentation of our Blessed Mother is also a constant reminder for us to “offer ourselves” to the Lord.

We can offer many things to the Lord…
… our talents for His glory
… our possessions for His service

But the greater and the better sacrifice, that the Lord not just wishes… but also demands, is the Offering of our Lives.

St Paul would tell, in the letter to the Romans: “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship”. (Rom 12:1)

Technically speaking, we can’t ‘offer’ anything to God because He is the source of everything.

All what we are and what we have is His.

But we can surely make a pledge of our lives to Him and live a life united with Him.

This is the offering that is demanded of us…
… an offering of a faithful life
… an offering of a holy life

Today, as we celebrate the Feast of our Blessed Mamma’s Presentation, may we “give ourselves” wholly to the Lord.

We shall also seek the intercession of our Beautiful Mamma, so that, like Her, we too can be wholly belonging to the Lord!

Let us join our Blessed Mamma, in praying:
“Dear God, Your will be done in my life;
Nothing more, nothing less, nothing else.
Amen!”

Yes, as little children, holding the Hands of our Blessed Mother, may we cry to the Lord – “For You, Forever!”

Happy Feast of the Presentation of our Blessed Mamma!

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 – THE DIGNITY OF THE HUMAN PERSON – THE THEOLOGICAL VIRTUES

Service of and witness to the faith are necessary for salvation:
“So every one who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven…

… but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.” (CCC # 1816)

“Seeking the Lord of Light in our darkness!”

(Based on 1 Mc 1:10-15, 41-43, 54-57, 62-63 and Lk 18:35-43 – Monday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1)

Every person in the world faces a moment of darkness.

Some of us get encompassed by it.
Some of us get dejected by it.

The Gospel of Day presents the healing of a blind man.

The blind man, faced immense darkness, but did not allow to get encompassed or dejected by it.

Let us travel with him through this exciting journey of moving from “Tamas”(darkness) to “Jyothi”(light)…

These blind man takes us through four stages of a spiritual life:

1. A State of Blindness

The man was stuck with blindness.

There is no idea as to when or how or why he became blind.

Maybe he was blind from birth.
Maybe he was blind due to some sickness as he grew up
Maybe he was blind as a result of some accident or calamity

The reasons for his blindness is unknown

Perhaps, many of us are in a state of blindness….

Blindness of being rejected and not accepted…
Blindness of inferiority complexes…
Blindness of inner brokenness…
Blindness of family crisis…

Some of us maybe experiencing this darkness from the time of our birth.
Some of us maybe experiencing this darkness due to calamities striking our lives as we grew

2. A State of Seeking

A life of blindness meant a life of total dependence on others…
… at times facing the ire of the people…at times facing the rejection of the people.

The blind man could have become dejected and totally depressed.
He could have given up in life and cursed their destiny.

But the blind man, did not allow the darkness to cloud his lives.

He probably would have heard about Jesus and the wonders He had done.
He sought with hope, the One who could banish his darkness.
His sought with faith, the One who could heal his gloominess.

Our state of blindness should not become a hindrance to seek the Lord.

We need to seek the Lord with our entire being…
We need to seek the plan of God and His providential care in our shadows..
We need to seek the road ahead with Hope and Faith in His Divine plans…

3. The State of Faith

The blind man, after making a deliberate choice to seek the Lord, expressed his deep faith in the healing power of the Lord.

The Lord makes a test of his trust and hope in Him.
“What do you want me to do for you?”
He said, “Lord, let me receive my sight” (Lk 18:41)

Our seeking for the Lord, needs to be supplemented greatly with the vitamin of Faith!

Delays in our prayer requests, should become an incentive to grow deeper in faith.
Addition of more problems in life, ought to be a moment to have more faith in Him

4. The Stage of Proclamation

The blind man, who was healed by Jesus, now, was filled with tremendous joy and enthusiasm.

His happiness is so much overflowing, that he goes beyond the words of Jesus, and proclaims His wonderful miracle to the peoples.

“And immediately, he received his sight and followed Jesus, glorifying God” (Lk 18: 43)

Once we are touched by the Lord, our happiness would know no bounds.
Once we are healed by the Lord, our enthusiasm would get highly contagious.

The Blind man in the Gospel take us through these four stages…

The Stage of Blindness…
The Stage of Seeking…
The Stage of Faith…
The Stage of Proclamation…

Let us be inspired and challenged by him

Let us seek the Lord of Light in our darkness.
Let us seek the Lord of healing in our sicknesses.
Let us seek the Lord of holiness in our blindness.

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 – THE DIGNITY OF THE HUMAN PERSON – THE THEOLOGICAL VIRTUES

The disciple of Christ must not only keep the faith and live on it, but also profess it, confidently bear witness to it, and spread it: >> “All however must be prepared to confess Christ before men and to follow him along the way of the Cross, amidst the persecutions which the Church never lacks. (CCC # 1815)

“Investing wisely, the seeds of God’s Grace in order to derive its potential blessings!”

(Based on Prv 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31, 1 Thes 5:1-6 and Mt 25:14-30 – 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A)

A familiar story, in various versions goes thus…

A lady came up to a shop which had the name “Everything your heart desires, is available here”

The curious lady went to the shopkeeper and asked: “I want peace of mind and love and happiness and wisdom and freedom from fear”

The shopkeeper, in return, smiled and said: “Madam, thank you for expressing your desire. But please do note: I sell only seeds, not fruits!”

Such is the logic in our Christian Life as well.

God has gifted the “seeds” of good things to all of us….

But…
… do we “sow these seeds” to produce good fruits?
… do we “invest these seeds” in order to derive its potential blessings?

The Gospel of the Day – Mt 25:14-30 – presents before us a simple-to-understand and practical-to-follow Parable of the Lord: the Parable of the Talents!

One of the beauty of this Parable is that it is simple, clear and easy to understand.

And its lessons are hard to miss!!

This parable tells what to do while we live in this world and the need to be responsible and dutiful.

The Parable introduces the fact that the servants were judged by the way, they managed the master’s resources.

We learn a very crucial truth from this: All that we have belongs to God!

We need to underline and highlight the word “ALL”
All…
Fully…
Totally…
Everything…
Completely…
… Belongs to GOD!

We own nothing…
We hold no space…
We possess no one…
… All belongs to GOD!

He made them…
… He gave them to us

And one day… He will take them from us again.

Even our life itself is a gift from God!

If only our world and our generation were to grow more and more in this truth…!

How often we hold on to our possessions…
… and go bonkers in preserving and safeguarding them!

How often we seek twisted and distorted ways…
… to acquire more wealth and capture vital status and ranks!

How often we resort to disgraceful and shameful means…
… to win over positions and powers and authority!

How often we play dirty games and indulge in dreadful activities…
… to put down people and go up in dominance!

Another aspect that we find in the parable is the usage of the word “talents”.

Usually, when we hear the word “talents” in English, we tend to think of some natural abilities, like…
… playing the piano
… or being good at some sports
… or being skilled in painting or knowing how to handle computers etc….

In the time of Jesus, however…
… the ‘talent’ was referred to a huge amount of money.

One talent would represent approximately 16½ years of salary for a labourer.

To give a man two talents would equal around 33 years of salary….
To give a man five talents would be like giving him 80 years of salary to invest…

That’s indeed a huge amount, isn’t it?

Imagine, how rich would the Owner himself have been!
(This once again reminds us that the Owner – God – is the Source of ALL… everything in our life!)

What was the criteria in giving different people a particular amount of money?

Each one according to one’s ability

And who made this determination to allocate the amount of money?

The Master Himself, according to His wish!

Here’s another truth: God is not obligated to treat us, like he treats anyone else.

He can give us more or He can give us less than others.

Some have more money and talent and opportunity and strength and health and relationships than others.

Others have less money and talent and opportunity and strength and health and relationships!

It’s not about being unlucky.
It’s not about our ill-fate.

The Master…
… has total sovereignty and freedom with what and how much HE wants to give to His people!

This leaves us with a choice:

We can either crib and complain, gripe and grumble about our situation and make excuses and just sit idle!
OR…
We can accept the given situation we are in – with gratitude – and start from where we are, and do what we can… to the best!

Yes…
The Dynamics of Comparison is useless…
… the Tactic of Hard Work is amazing!

The Parable of the Talents is a very Practical Parable that the Lord has offered us!

Yesterday is past…
… tomorrow is the Future.

But Today is a GIFT…
… that’s why, it is called as The PRESENT!

Let’s make this PRESENT, a PLEASENT GIFT to the GREAT GIVER…
… by seeking His Grace and combining it with our hard works and determination!

Let us make the best use of the “seeds” of good things given to all of us and …
… sow these seeds” to produce good fruits!
… “invest these seeds” in order to derive its potential blessings!

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 – THE DIGNITY OF THE HUMAN PERSON – THE THEOLOGICAL VIRTUES

The gift of faith remains in one who has not sinned against it.
But “faith apart from works is dead”: when it is deprived of hope and love…

… faith does not fully unite the believer to Christ and does not make him a living member of his Body. (CCC # 1815)

“Remaining firm and perseverant in our prayer life and reaching out in justice and giving comfort and consolation to the needy!”

(Based on Wis 18:14-16; 19:6-9 and Lk 18:1-8 – Saturday of the 32nd Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1)

An interesting incident is mentioned in the life of Jan Paderewski

He was a famous Polish pianist and a pioneer of the solo recital at music concerts.

It is said that when Paderewski was to leave his native Poland to play his first recital in London…
… he asked an influential compatriot to give him a letter of introduction, to a leading figure in Britain’s musical world

This was for any assistance, should anything go amiss.

The letter was handed to him in a sealed envelope.
Paderewski hoped that everything would proceed smoothly and he would not have to use the letter.

Well…
… he did not have to use the letter.

His debut was a great success and he soon began to climb the ladder of success.

Some years later, while going through his papers, he came upon the ‘letter of introduction’ and opened it.

He was surprised to read the content:
“This will introduce Jan Paderewski, who plays the piano, for which he demonstrates no conspicuous (visible/noticeable) talent.”

Life… is often such!

Discouragements lure everywhere!
Rejections prowl all around

Do we get bogged down by such discouragements and rejections?
Are we people who bring about discouragement and rejection to people?

The Gospel of the Day is the Parable of the Persistent Widow.

The Parable speaks of a judge and a widow.

The judge is characterized by some features:

He did not fear God.
He did not fear humans.
He was initially adamant in his refusal.

The Widow is characterized by some features:

She had a genuine need.
She was denied justice.
She remained persistent till the end.

We often have many and true needs.

But we do sometimes find ourselves, a bit depressed at the delays in receiving the answers to our prayers.

The parable encourages and exhorts us to remain persistent in our prayer life and not to get discouraged by God’s delays, which apparently appears as God’s denials.

Yes, God’s delays are certainly not His denials!

God’s pauses are certainly not His refuses!

At the same time, this parable invites us to switch roles:

To see ourselves as the Judge…
… and God as the Widow.

Widows in the first century found themselves at a very sad state.

They were quite literally unprotected.
Many became homeless and destitute after the death of their husbands.

Often they were at mercy of cunning men, including some religious leaders who would “devour widows’ houses” (Mk 12:40)

A widow couldn’t count on anyone to come to her aid.

She represents the hopeless….the unaided…the oppressed.

In Mt 25:35, Jesus identifies Himself with the one who was hungry, thirsty, naked, stranger and the imprisoned.

Jesus in the poor, the hungry, the thirsty, the naked, the stranger and the imprisoned…
… is the hopeless one …the unaided one …the oppressed one.

Jesus, like the widow in the Parable… comes knocking at our door:

Behold I stand at the door, and knock… (Rev 3:20)

As the oppressed and justice-deprived Widow, Jesus, knocks at our door – we, the judges.

What is our reaction and response to the voice of the needy and the helpless?

The cry of the one in pain and suffering reaches our ears…

Do I reach out my heart to them and seek to ease their troubles and hardships?

The moaning of a broken family or a lost teenager or a spoilt child comes to us…

Do I pray for them and help them, in ways possible for me?

The sad tear of the abused or oppressed people with whom we work is seen by us…

Do I get out of my comfort-shell to make them feel comforted and consoled?

The disturbing reports of violence, corruption, injustice in society falls on our senses…

Do I remain indifferent to them and become saturated with such atrocities?

Yes… the widow – the hopeless, the unaided and the oppressed one… keeps knocking at our doors…
As a Judge…
… do I keep refusing?
… do I keep getting irritated?
… do I feel life as a botheration?

Life often has discouragements luring everywhere and rejections prowling all around

Do we get bogged down by such discouragements and rejections?
Are we people who bring about discouragement and rejection to people?

The Parable of the Persistent Widow is certainly a big lesson to remain firm and perseverant in our prayer life.

And when looked from another perspective is also a big challenge to become a people who reach out in justice and give comfort and consolation to the needy.

Knock….knock…

Do we hear the knock, seeking for help?

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 – THE DIGNITY OF THE HUMAN PERSON – THE THEOLOGICAL VIRTUES

Faith is the theological virtue by which we believe in God and believe all that he has said and revealed to us, and that Holy Church proposes for our belief, because he is truth itself.
By faith “man freely commits his entire self to God.”
For this reason the believer seeks to know and do God’s will.
“The righteous shall live by faith.”

Living faith “work[s] through charity.” (CCC # 1814)

“Getting our priorities right, and in humility, protecting our souls!”

(Based on Wis 13:1-9 and Lk 17:26-37 – Friday of the 32nd Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1)

A humorous story is told of a heavy-weight boxer who would greatly brag about his prowess…
… and speak of how he would “he would conquer the world!”

It is said that one day, he came to a big city with two huge suitcases.

As he got down the bus, putting the suitcases down, he looked up to the tall building tower and exclaimed: “I will conquer this city!”

When he looked down, however…
… the suitcases were gone!

Very often, our lives are such…

We dream of conquering the entire world…
… but often fail to even have a control on ourselves!

We become “so worldly” that we fail to give heed “to the world to come!”

We become so occupied with the concerns of our earthly existence that sometimes we “forget about our Heavenly priorities!”

The Gospel of the Day presents Jesus highlighting this essential element of Christian living: Being in the world, but living out of the world, with eyes firmly set on heavenly realms.

Jesus says, “Whoever seeks to gain his life, will lose it, but whoever loses his life, will preserve it” (Lk 17:33)

Very often our lives get too attached to material riches and attachments.

We fall prey to seeking great honour and fame in being a Christian…
… but are unable to grasp the fact that ‘to be a Christian is to be living a life of simplicity’.

We yield to temptations of being obsessed to seek power and positions of futile vanity…
… and fail time and again to live up to the Christian virtues of humility and modesty

We often become victims of engaging in dirty politics and authority-grabbing games…
… and become an anti-witness to the Lord who ‘came to serve, rather than be served’

We need to give heed to the words of the Lord who prayed that “we are in the world, but do not belong to this world” (Jn 17: 15)

A Christian life ought to be hallmarked by detachment and separation…
… detachment from too much of worldly distractions and vain glory
… separation from sinful ways and evil tendencies

It ought to be radiated with total focus and complete dedication…
… total focus on the Lord who ‘walked the talk’ by giving up His life in service
… complete dedication to the Kingdom of God which calls for a humble way of life

The world today is being ‘gripped in sin’, “as it was in the days of Noah” (Lk 17:26)

We need to open our eyes to realize the warning given by the Lord and be ‘on the watch’…
… after the example of the destruction of the sinful city of Sodom.

Perhaps our own life… or our family… or our community… our society…
… is resembling the city of Sodom

There is much drunkenness in worldly pleasures!
There is much ‘eating and consumption’ of corrupt practices!
There is much neglect of honest ways and of truthful conduct!
There is much enjoyment of bad, inhuman and cruel behaviours!

Let us deepen…
… our faith in the Lord
… our love for the Kingdom
… and our detachment from riches

St John prompts us: “Look to yourselves, that you may not lose what you have worked for, but may win a full reward!” (2 Jn 4:8)

We are reminded today that as Christians, we are people…
… who live in the world, yet are called to be out of the world.
… who live amidst possibilities of wealth, yet are called to be detached from them.
… who live with the prospect of gaining immense power, yet are exhorted to not be attached

We may be often tempted “to conquer the world and the city”…
… but let’s get our priorities right, and in humility, seek to first protect “the suitcases of our souls!”

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 – THE DIGNITY OF THE HUMAN PERSON – HUMAN VIRTUES – THE THEOLOGICAL VIRTUES

They are infused by God into the souls of the faithful to make them capable of acting as his children and of meriting eternal life.
They are the pledge of the presence and action of the Holy Spirit in the faculties of the human being.

There are three theological virtues: faith, hope, and charity. (CCC # 1813)

“Looking into the ‘wells of our lives and of others,’ seeing the Presence of the Lord and becoming a ‘Kingdom People’”

(Based on Wis 7:22b–8:1 and Lk 17:20-25 – Thursday of the 32nd Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1)

A simple story is told of a little girl who accompanied her grandfather to fetch water from the well.

After having drawn water, as the bucket was lowered and kept on the ground, the little girl asked her grandfather: “Grandpa, where does God live?”

The old man, lifted up the girl, and held her over the open well and asked: “What do you see?”

The excited girl, looked deep into the well and seeing her reflection exclaimed: “I see myself”
“That’s where God lives,” said the wise grandfather “God lives in you!”

Are we aware that each of one of us is an abode of the “Presence of the Lord?”

Do we mend our lives accordingly…
… and seek to live holier and saintly lives?

Our Christian lives must be lived eagerly and enthusiastically to nurture and promote the Kingdom of God…
… and live as citizens, worthy of a King Who is all-holy and all-honest!

Are we ready to collaborate with Jesus, to infuse a greater spirit of the Kingdom of God in this world …
… and to promote the reach and spread of the Kingdom of God?

The Gospel of the Day is a teaching on the Kingdom of God.

The Pharisees ask “when” the kingdom will come (Lk 17:20)

Jesus however explains “how” the Kingdom will come (17:22-35)

Jesus does not give an answer to the question of the Pharisees.

Rather, He makes to realize what should be the proper question.

It’s the style and technique of the Lord to get right the priorities and focus in life!

The people searched for Jesus after the miracle of the multiplication of loaves…

Jesus sets right their intentions by speaking of the need to hunger for the bread of life (Jn 6)

The disciples of John came to clarify whether Jesus was indeed the Messiah to come…

Jesus sets right their focus by turning their attention to all His signs and deeds (Lk 7:19ff)

The two disciples, James and John, sought for privileged places in Jesus’ future reign…

Jesus sets right their priorities by exhorting them to grow rather in humility and service (Mk 10: 35-45)

Nicodemus, in his encounter with Jesus, remained on peripheral questions and doubts…

Jesus sets right his doubts by calling his attention on living a life in the Spirit and being born anew spiritually (Jn 3: 1-21)

The Lord loves to challenge our doubts, theories & even convictions…
… in order to be in harmony with the priorities of the Kingdom.

Am I willing to allow the Lord to work in me to change some of my thinking patterns, that would be in accord to His Will?
Am I flexible to let the Lord to mould and shape my lifestyle and thus be in tune with the focus of His Kingdom?

The “Kingdom of God” is an oft-repeated phrase in the New Testament and especially in the Gospels.

What is the Kingdom of God?
A kingdom normally brings to picture a geographical territory, with its clear-cut boundaries and its rulers and citizens.

The Kingdom of God, is however, quite different!
The Kingdom of God is not a geographical dominion like worldly kingdoms!

The Kingdom of God is a spiritual reality where God’s Will is done.

It is a person; it is He – Jesus!

“Jesus leads people to realize the overwhelming fact that in Him, God is present among them and that He is God’s presence…” (from the book, “Jesus of Nazareth – Part I” by Pope Benedict XVI)

The Pharisees who asked Jesus on “when” the Kingdom would come, were probably expecting an external sort of a Kingdom.

They probably expected a Kingdom which would overturn and overthrow the Roman Government.

But Jesus clarifies the nature of this Kingdom…

He speaks of a Kingdom which is much more internal & spiritual, and whose impact would be felt and experienced in the external world.

One experiences the Kingdom of Heaven first in one’s inner life…and this is manifested in one’s external lifestyles…

The Samaritan Woman experienced the power of the Kingdom of God within herself, when she spoke to Jesus, the fountain of life…

And this experience of the Kingdom led her to proclaim the name of Jesus to all her villagers & bring many to the saving fold of the Lord.

The Disciples experienced the power of the Kingdom of God within them, when the Holy Spirit descended on them…

And this experience of the Kingdom was manifested in their bold and powerful witnessing life!

St Paul experienced the force of the Kingdom of God within him, when he encountered the Risen Lord on the way to Damascus…

And this experience of the Kingdom was displayed by him through his passionate life of preaching and missionary works.

In the Prayer, the Our Father, we pray:
“Thy Kingdom Come,
Thy Will be Done…”

The Kingdom of God is, where the Will of God is fulfilled.

The question arises before us:
Is the Kingdom of God here?
Or is the Kingdom yet to come?

This is where we speak of the concept of “Already and not yet”
The Kingdom of God is already here, but not yet!

The Kingdom of God already reigns now, but not yet, in its fullness!

As St Paul says in 1 Cor 13: 12, “At present, we see indistinctly, as in a mirror, but then face to face. At present, I know partially; then I shall know fully, as I am fully known”.

Do I experience the Kingdom of God in my life?

The Kingdom of God is not a matter of food and drink, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Rom 14:17)

I need to experience the joy and the peace of the Lord in my life…

I need to place the priorities of God over all else in my life…

That’s the Kingdom of God.
That’s the Reign of God.

We are invited today “to radiate heaven on our faces!”

May our Christian lives be lived eagerly and enthusiastically to nurture and promote the Kingdom of God…
… and thus live as citizens, worthy of a King Who is all-holy and all-honest!

Looking into the “wells of our lives and of others,” may we see the Presence of the Lord…
… and thus may we become a “Kingdom People!!

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 – THE DIGNITY OF THE HUMAN PERSON – HUMAN VIRTUES – THE THEOLOGICAL VIRTUES

The theological virtues are the foundation of Christian moral activity.
They animate it and give it its special character.

They inform and give life to all the moral virtues. (CCC # 1813)

“Responding positively and with gratitude to God – acknowledging His Mercy – and raising our hearts to say, ‘Thank you, Lord!’”

(Based on Wis 6:1-11 and Lk 17:11-19 – Wednesday of the 32nd Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1)

A catechism teacher conducted a small exercise in her 5th standard class on the Gospel Passage found in Lk 17:11-19 – the healing of the ten lepers.

She asked the students to tell what could be some of the reasons as to why the lepers did not return to thank Jesus.

The following were some of the reasons that emerged:

One waited to see if the cure was real
One waited to see if the healing would last
One said that actually, I was already fairly okay and it was just a matter of a few days, to be fine
One said that he would see Jesus later as he wanted to meet his family first
One began to contend that he never really had leprosy and it was only a minor patch
One was so excited that he began to tell to everyone on the way about the miracle, but forgot Jesus!

And one child, with all innocence replied: “Just like I usually forget to thank my Dad and Mom for all the beautiful things they do for me, these lepers also forgot!”

Well, we really do not know what the actual reasons were…

But the question is placed before all of us: “Are we going to be like the nine who found some excuses, and failed to thank the Lord?
… or can we be like the one who came back to thank the Lord?

The Gospel of the Day presents this interesting incident before us…
… reminding us to become persons of gratitude, to our Grateful and Generous God!

The healing of the ten lepers is a unique incident found only in the Gospel of St Luke.

This healing incident once again shows the Power of God’s Word – which goes beyond space and touch

When the lepers cried out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us,” the Lord just says to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” (Cf. Lk 17:13-14)

There is no stretching of the hand, no touch, no discussion about faith.

This teaches us an important lesson that God Heals in the way, He Wills!

Therefore, when we come to Him with our prayer of petitions, let us allow His Will to be done!

The Greek word, “Eleison” meaning “Have Mercy” is a cry of anguish beseeching for God’s Help!

It’s a word we use at the start of the Holy Mass – pointing to our cry and longing for God’s Mercy!

The question of the Lord, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine?”(Lk 17:17) is not just a question to know the physical presence of those who were healed…
… It is a cry of the Heart of God Who longs for human beings

In the book of Genesis, we read God asking, “Where are you?” (Gen 3:9)

From the Cross, our Blessed Lord cried out, “I thirst!” (Jn 19:28)
In the last book of the Bible, the Lord, tells, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock” (Rev 3:20)

Yes…
… the Lord longs to have our presence with Him!
… the Lord misses us much, when we fail to go to Him!

God, in His Benevolence, blesses us with so many good things in our life… so many Graces!

We have a duty to respond by offering our heart filled with gratitude and a life of thankful service

As the beautiful hymn goes, “Count your blessings, name them one by one, and it will surprise what the Lord has done!”

In the Old Testament, we read about Naaman, the Syrian (Cf. 2 Kings 5:14-17), who marvellously experienced the power of God in his life…
… and who returns back in gratitude to Elisha, through whom God had worked mightily!

Yes… in life, we often face many “leprous situations” of sicknesses, tragedies, tensions etc

Amidst all these uncertainties of life, can we still “raise our hearts to God in gratitude” and tell Him, “Thank you Lord for everything!”

It is beautifully said, “It is not too difficult to praise the Lord when all goes on well.

But amid hardships and difficulties, can we still raise our hands and say, ‘Praise the Lord, Hallelujah!’”

St Francis de Sales, the Doctor of Love, teaches us:
“If it is God’s Will that the remedies overcome the sickness…
… return to God with thanks and humility

If it be God’s Will that the sickness overcome the remedies…
… bless God with patience!”

Let us respond positively and with gratitude to God …
… Acknowledging His Mercy, let us raise our hearts and say,
“Thank you, Lord!”

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 – THE DIGNITY OF THE HUMAN PERSON – HUMAN VIRTUES – THE THEOLOGICAL VIRTUES

The Theological virtues dispose Christians to live in a relationship with the Holy Trinity.

They have the One and Triune God for their origin, motive, and object. (CCC # 1812)

“Being willing to have our ‘faces to the coal’ in accomplishing the mission of the Kingdom of God!”

(Based on Wis 2:23–3:9 and Lk 17:7-10 – Monday of the 32nd Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1)

It was the time of World War II.

There was an urgency for England to increase its coal production.
The Prime Minister, Winston Churchill exhorted the labour leaders to extend their support towards this requirement.

At the end of his exhortation, he asked them to visualize (picture in their mind)…
… a victory parade that would be held at the end of the war.

He said that, first in the parade would come…

The sailors… who had managed the tensions at sea, with great courage.
Next would come the soldiers… who had proven their mettle by their bravery.
Then would come the pilots… who had displayed immense aerial skills.

All of these would be welcomed and acknowledged with great cheer and applause.

Last of all, would come along, the long line of…
… sweat-soaked and soot-smeared men in their miner’s caps.

Seeing them, someone from the crowd would ask, “Hey! Where were all of you, during the tense days of our struggle?”

And from the hoarse ten thousands of throats would come the answer: “We were deep in the earth, with our faces to the coal!”

The sailors, the soldiers and the pilots had glamour and glory attached to their work…
… but the miners, working deep in the coal mines, were always hidden and away from the limelight.

But very often, it is the work of such people who have their “faces to the coal”…
… which become the foundation and support in accomplishments of mission!

As Christians, are we willing to be the people who have our “faces to the coal”…
… in accomplishing the mission of the Kingdom of God.

The Gospel of the day, is this invitation to have our “faces to the coal”…
… by becoming “servants” in the service of the Kingdom!

Servanthood is an important dimension in being a follower of Jesus Christ.

The Lord narrates the Parable of the Unprofitable Servant.

In this parable, Jesus tells about a servant who works all day long out in the field, or out taking care of the flock.

And after he works all day long, he comes into the house…

Is he expected to sit down and rest and eat his own meal? No

Rather, he is required to serve his master by providing him the meal first.

And after doing all that work – all day long – there’s no word of thanks, no gratitude.

Jesus closes out this parable by saying that the servant was unprofitable because he only did what he was told to do.

Is it something practical?
Is it something easy?

Our modern-day psychology would speak of the concept of a “positive stroke” that is to be given to those working or those who undertake some labour.

It’s indeed important that…
employers in a company
servants in a house
workers in a firm or factory
… are given a “positive stroke”…

by appreciating their good works
by encouraging with good words and a cheerful countenance
by acknowledging their worth and constantly boosting their confidence level

But the Gospel of the Day presents a “servanthood attitude” that needs to be inculcated – of ‘going beyond emotional gestures to committed efforts!”

A servant…
… who works whole day long ploughing in the field or tending the sheep…
… who delays his needs and instead prepares and serves meals for his master…
… who after all his works, doesn’t expect words of gratitude…

The Parable is surely a tough one!

But, the One who preached this Parable is not a mere preacher, but is a practiser!

Jesus, the one who preached this Parable, practised perfectly, this life of being a servant.

He is the Servant, Who works in the field ploughing…
… sowing the seed of the Word of God, ploughing the Gospel in the hearts of people and toiling in the hot sun of oppositions and mockery

He is the Servant, Who tends the sheep in the field…
… providing pasture for His people, protecting them from the wolves of the evil and going after any of the sheep which are lost in the wilderness

He is the Servant, Who prepares a meal and serves at table…
… nourishing those at table with His own body, strengthening them with His own blood and constantly reinforcing in the journey of life

How are we to be such a Servant of the Lord?

1. Having a mind of being a Servant of God:
   The world of a servant centres not around himself, but around the Master.
   Whatever pleases the Master, the servant does.

If we truly acknowledge God as our Master, then we too…
…will do the works which please Him
…will think and seek to do His Will
…will speak the words which are worthy of His grace

2. Being Committed in this task of being His servant

The world of a servant centres around total availability and openness to the needs of the Master.
Whatever is the Will of the Master, the servant is docile and alert.

If we truly accept God as our Master, then we too…
…will give ourselves to Him totally at all times
…will place His priorities over ours
…will avoid anything that blocks my complete service of Him

The Call is to be a Servant, who is dedicated and selfless.

Jesus is our model and example in being a Servant.

Let our lives, as St Paul exhorted in his letter to Titus, “adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour!” (Titus 2:10)

It’s a demand placed on us.

In working for the Kingdom of God, there are different roles which have glamour and glory attached to their work…
… but we always need to be willing to be like the ‘miners’ – working deep in the mines – hidden and away from the limelight.

It is the work of such people who have their “faces to the coal”…
… which become the foundation and support in accomplishments of mission!

As Christians, let us be willing to be the people who have our “faces to the coal”…
… in accomplishing the mission of the Kingdom 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 – THE DIGNITY OF THE HUMAN PERSON – HUMAN VIRTUES – THE THEOLOGICAL VIRTUES

The human virtues are rooted in the theological virtues, which adapt man’s faculties for participation in the divine nature…

… for the theological virtues relate directly to God. (CCC # 1812)