“Being moved by the Magnificent Miracles wrought by our Marvellous God!”

(Based on Gen 49:2, 8-10 and Mt 1:1-17 – Wednesday of the 3rd Week of Advent)

A genealogist is a person who records/tables the descent of a person, family, or group from an ancestor or ancestors.

He/She draws the family tree.

Once a person asked a genealogist:
“Why do you think that your duty is very great?”

The genealogist, with a gentle smile replied:
“Remember that when a family member passes away, they take a library of memories with them.

It’s a genealogist’s duty to record them all, for the good of the future generations!”

True indeed!

A genealogy gives a memorable library of memories…
… and helps us to be moved by the Magnificent Miracles wrought by our Marvellous God!

The Gospel of the Day presents the marvellous work of St Mathew, the genealogist…
… the Genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of God!

This passage of the Gospel is something that we hear and read very rarely…
… and much less meditated upon.

What are the different aspects that the Genealogy of Christ makes us to reflect on?

1. The Genealogy of Jesus is one of the finest treasures of God’s Grace and Providence

St Matthew (1: 1-17) and St Luke (3: 23-38) present the Genealogy of Jesus Christ.

They could be called as the “forgotten passages of the Christmas Story”.
The names in it sound too obscure, their pronunciation beyond comprehension, their purpose highly hazy.

Perhaps, these are some of the common excuses we find, in avoiding to read or reflect on the accounts of the Genealogy.

But we must realise that in the account of the Genealogy, is buried the marvellous working of God’s Grace and His Amazing Providence…
… the manner in which the “streams of God’s Grace flows
… through the ordinary and the great, the mighty and simple people”

The Genealogy teaches us open our eyes to see the ways of God working in our lives- hidden yet awesome; silent yet splendid

2. The two accounts of Genealogy are not contradictory; rather they are two perspectives to show Jesus as the Son of David

There are two accounts of Genealogy in the Gospels: St Matthew, which starts with Abraham; St Luke, which starts with Adam

Apparently, the two accounts look to be contradicting each other

But on closer look, we find…
… St Matthew traced the family line through Joseph, whereas St Luke traced it through Mary.

This was because Gospel of Matthew, being written to the Jews, had a legal requirement to show Jesus descending from the father,ppppp who belonged to the line of King David.

This account also made sure it kept the prophecy in Jer 22:24-30 (“For none of his sons will succeed in occupying the throne of David or ever succeed in ruling over Judah.?)

St Luke’s version also shows Jesus as the Son of David, coming through his son Nathan.

Thus, both the accounts show that Jesus, as the Son of David, had the right to the throne of Israel

3. The Genealogy mentions some notorious people – yet the Messiah was born in this family!

The Genealogy mentions 5 women

a. Tamar: Disguised herself as a prostitute and seduced her father-in-law Judah (Gen 38)

b. Rahab: A Gentile, prostitute; she helped the Jewish spies to hide and to escape from the enemies ( Josh 2)

c. Ruth: A Gentile, with the background of a family who offered themselves to pagan gods

d. The wife of Uriah: The Gospel doesn’t even mention her name; suffered abuse by David, the great King of Israel.

e. Mary: A simple woman from Nazareth, who was found to be with child, before the marriage.

All these five women were considered dis”graced” – some gentiles, some involved in sexual immorality, some finding themselves in situations of family disgrace.

Yet the Messiah is born in this family – to show that God’s “Grace” can wash away every dis”grace!”

It shows that God can write straight, with crooked lines!

4. The Genealogy is also a lesson to the self-righteous people

Besides the mention of the apparently “not-pleasant women’, the list also mentions of kings, many of whom were unfaithful, of idolaters, of people without morals etc.

The Family Tree of Jesus is really not a pretty picture; it looks to be “very unclean”

Yet, St Matthew’s Gospel, written to the Jews, gives a message that it is not self-righteousness that wins salvation (as thought by many Pharisees, Scribes and Jewish leaders)…
… it is God’s grace and mercy, along with our co-operation to His Will.

5. The Genealogy gives us the great message of hope

We may have…
… a past that is hurting us – either due to our biological family or due to our own experiences of life
… a past that is sinful and we wish to forget
… a past that is painful or abused
… a past that has experienced humiliations and rejection

Yet, the Genealogy teaches us the big lesson that all our past can be cleansed and healed, by the mighty presence of Jesus.

Cardinal Van Thuan says in his book ‘The Testimony of Hope’:
“The river of history, full of sinners and criminals, becomes a source of pure water, as we approach the fullness of time.

With Mary, the Mother and Jesus, the Messiah, all generations will be renewed again”

The Genealogy of our Blessed Lord teaches that Jesus was very much historical…
… and shared our world.

In Jesus, we have God, who is not distant or away from us – but Someone, Who is deeply intimate with us, involved in our lives and sharing our joys and pains of life.

May a deeper meditation on the Genealogy of Jesus enable us to explore the memorable library of memories…
… and helps us to be moved by the Magnificent Miracles wrought by our Marvellous God!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

“Amending our lives in a way that we not only preach, but much more, practise in life!”

(Based on Zeph 3:1-2, 9-13 and Mt 21:28-32 – Tuesday of the 3rd Week in Advent)

In a certain village, a parishioner – a Catholic for many years – was having a conversation with his parish priest.

He said: “Father, if I had fifty acres of land, I would have gladly donated half of it – twenty-five acres – to the Lord and His church”

The priest replied: “Ah! That’s so nice and generous of you. And what if you had only 20 acres?”

The man replied: “Oh! Yes, I would have given 10 of it!”

“And”, continued the priest, “what if you had only 10 acres?” Will you spare five for the Lord?”

“Sure, I would”, said the man.

Finally, the priest said, “And what if you had only two acres? Would you give one to the Lord?”

“Oh!”, snapped the man, “Now don’t ask me that!

You know, that I have only two acres!”

Well…
… that’s how it is often in our lives as well, isn’t it?

We promise many big things to the Lord…
… but when it comes to “actually doing something for the Lord”, we tend to back out!

Are we just preachers?
… or can we also be people who practise?

Life judges us, on the basis of how well does our preaching and practising co-ordinate & complement each other.

Life challenges us to bridge the gap between the two essentials of life – one’s talking and one’s walking the talk!

The Gospel of the Day presents to us an interesting parable of two Sons who are asked to work by their Father.
One SAYS YES…but DOES NOT!

The other SAYS NO…BUT DOES!

One consents initially… but refuses finally!

The other refuses initially… but consents finally!

How often does this situation arise in our own lives and situations too…

We pledge ourselves at trendy events, for the cause of the poor…
… but we fail to help

Many others remain quite unnoticed…
… but become forerunners for the cause of the poor!

We make a big show and be popular as a helpful person…
… but we fail in some genuine needs

Many others remain quite unnoticed…
… but are present with their full force to render help!

We make many resolutions on new year days or birthdays…
… but fail to materialize them

Many others remain quite unnoticed…
… but are able to make many amendments and changes!

We make many promises to the Lord during feast days or novena times…
… but fail to live up

Many others remain quite unnoticed…
… but render much love to the Lord through the year!

We all experience this “I will do”…
… but “I did not do” experiences in life.

On the personal Faith Level, this trend is seen more distinctly and vividly…

People claim themselves to be Catholics…
… but appear in church only on grand feast days!

People appreciate the Catholic teaching…
… but support moral laws and practise morality which go directly against!

People assert having dedicated their lives to God…
… but fail to find time for God and prayer!

People declare loving God above all…
… but fail to reject pleasures which hurts and pains Him!

People profess and make vows to God…
… but neglect to even try to keep up those promises!

Like the second son, who said Yes…
… very often, we too become people who nod our heads in consent for anything and everything…
… but fail to live up to that YES!

The Lord says in Mt 7:21, “Not all who say Lord, Lord, will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but he does the Will of My Father”

Therefore, the proposition is clear:

It is not pompous words that will grant life, but carrying out the Will of the Father!
It is not fancy talk that will confer true happiness, but practising the Will of the Father!

It is not only good news “proclaimed” but good news “practised“…
… that will win others to the glorious freedom of forgiveness of sins!

Yes, let us examine…
… and if needed, amend our lives:

Are we the one who only preaches?
…or can we also be the one who practises?

God Bless! Live Jesus!

“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 in 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!

“Tapping the ‘river of graces’ in this Season of Advent, and preparing our hearts – meaningfully – to celebrate the ‘major blessings’ of Christmas!”

(Based on Isa 35:1-6a, 10, Jam 5:7-10 and Mt 11:2-11 – 3rd Sunday of Advent – The Gaudete Sunday)

In a particular village, a river was going to be used to generate electricity and to supply water for the people and their crops.

But near the source of the river, was a place called “valley of the blind.”
People who lived around this valley had trouble with their eyes – most of them were either blind or had some eye defect.

This trouble was caused by a particular species of flies, which lived in the shrubs along the river source.
… When a fly bit someone, it would inject a certain parasite into the blood, which would render the eyesight of the person to be severely affected.

On hearing that the people of the village had decided to tap the river for several uses, including electricity and supply of water, an elderly village man – who had lived his entire life in this village…
… called together the concerned authorities and developers.

He told them: “I am happy to hear that you are wanting to make progress, by using the river effectively.

But my children, remember…
… before you undertake any works of development, please make sure that you do something to get rid of the fly in the ‘valley of the blind!’

If not, your minor oversight may cause a major disaster!”

The wisdom of the old man reminded the people: Minor oversights can cause major disasters!

The Gospel of the Day is a bold reminder to make a thorough examination of our conscience…
… and check, if I am allowing “minor oversights” to cause “major disasters” in my lives!

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

The Gospel reading begins with John the Baptist – who is in prison –
… sending his disciples to Jesus and asking: “Are you he who is to come, or shall we look for another?” (Mt 11:3)

In the initial phase of the Gospel, we see John the Baptist, “in a preaching mode” – in the wilderness (Cf. Mt 3:1-12)

Today, he is in the “prison zone” – in captivity!

Here is an important lesson that John the Baptist teaches us:
… There will be times when you are in the limelight – preaching powerfully and being acknowledged with great power and might
… But there would also come times when you are banished to isolation – with only the four walls of loneliness for company!

In all such moments – in the ‘glory of the wilderness’ and the ‘isolation of the prison’…
… Can we still remain faithful and loyal to God’s Will?
… Can we still realise that God is pleased with my fidelity more than my performances?
… Can we still be zealous for the ways of God, knowing that He will turn everything for our good?

At the same time, the Gospel reading (Mt 11:2-11) powerfully reminds us: Do we have an “oversight – missing the point” of the ways of God, and do we thus remain stuck in our own attitudes and thought patterns?

Speaking of Himself, Jesus says: “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, and the lame walk… “(Cf. Mt 11:4-5)

Speaking of John the Baptist, Jesus says: “What did you go out into the wilderness to behold? A reed shaken by the wind? Why then did you go out? “(Cf. Mt 11:7-10)

Here were two cases of “oversights – missing the point”

John the Baptist had the understanding…
… that Jesus would be coming with fiery judgements and would be the Messiah Who would deal with the people, with blazing power and scorching verdicts.

But this turned out to be an “oversight – missing the point” as Jesus showed Himself as the Messiah Who would heal, teach and bring the Mercy of God!

The people had the understanding…
… that John the Baptist would be finely dressed and a people- friendly prophet – one who would be willing to “adjust” the norms of God to their lifestyle.

But this turned out to be an “oversight – missing the point” as John the Baptist turned out to be a prophet “who disturbed the comfortable and comforted the disturbed.”

In both cases, there was an “oversight – missing the point”…
Jesus was unwilling to let John the Baptist and the people remain under the cloud of these “oversights”…

And so He presents the facts before them…
… to avoid any future “major disasters!”

The same examination is put forth before us, by the Lord: to check minor oversights. Do we allow…
… “minor sins” – in the form of evil tendencies – to grow in us?
… “minor negligence” to develop into habitual practices?
… “minor indifferences” to take root in our relationships?

Prophet Isaiah reminds us to allow to God to work on our fear, discouragement, and weakness; which, if ignored as ‘minor issues,’ slowly paralyse the heart.

“Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who are of a fearful heart, “Be strong, do not fear!” (Isa 35:3-4)

Similarly, St James warns us that impatience, when tolerated as something minor, slowly erodes trust in God’s timing.

“Be patient… strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.” (Jas 5:7–8)

This Sunday of Advent – the Gaudete Sunday – is an invitation to help us experience the joy of the Lord, by making us realise…
If “minor oversights” are not corrected…
… then they would soon turn into “major disasters!”

And we would get afflicted by the “valley of the blind!”

Let us give heed to the strong reminder given by the Gospel, and amend our “minor oversights”…
… so that we can tap the “river of graces” in this Season of Advent, and prepare our hearts – meaningfully – to celebrate the “major blessings” of Christmas!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

“Recognizing and responding to the Lord, always active in our midst!”

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

Have you ever had one of those frantic moments when you’re searching for your keys?

You look under the cushions…
You check your pockets twice…
You dig through your bag like you’re in an archaeological expedition…

And frustration starts building, because you need to leave… now!

And then suddenly…
You freeze.

Because the keys…
were just on the table…
… underneath a sheet of paper, the whole time.
Not lost.
Not missing.
Just unnoticed… “somehow!”

You “had what you needed” …
… but because your mind was elsewhere, you somehow didn’t recognize it.

Well , this ‘regular phenomenon’ is not just about keys…
… It’s about life.

And more specifically, about God.

That little “lost keys” moment happens spiritually far more often than we admit.
God is present. God is speaking.
God is offering grace, guidance, comfort, and direction.

But our minds are often elsewhere…
… so we miss Him.

Today’s readings reveal this painful truth in the story of Israel.
God promised a Messiah.
God promised Elijah would return.
God prepared the people for centuries.

But when the promise was fulfilled, the people didn’t recognize it.

As Jesus says: “Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him.” (Mt 17:12)

John the Baptist stood right before them…
… dressed like Elijah
… preaching like Elijah
… calling hearts to repentance just like Elijah…

But expectations, preoccupations, and spiritual distraction made them ‘blind.’

How often does this become our story?

God speaks through His Word…
… but we skim through it, and the promise slips past our distracted hearts.

God invites us in the Sacraments…
… but we exit the confessional unchanged, or receive the Eucharist without the awe of encountering Him.

God sends us little many such “Elijah moments” each day…
… a prompting of repentance and mercy
… a nudge of reminder of His Presence
… a whisper of His tender love

But we’re often, too hurried to notice.

Advent is the time when the Church gently asks us: “Are you on the right track?

Or don’t you think you have gone far away…
… and you need to come back to the Lord and His Church?”

Let us not miss the Lord…
… not because He is hidden, but because our hearts are distracted.

As we move through this “season of waiting,” let us prepare our hearts not only to welcome Christ…
… but to notice Him
… to recognize Him,
… and to respond to Him, always active in our midst.

God Bless! Live Jesus!