“Allowing the Lord to ‘multiply loaves of blessings’ in our life, and to see with the eyes of faith, that such miracles take place daily in our life!”

(Based on 2 Kings 4:42-44, Eph 4:1-6 and Jn 6:1-15 – 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time)

The headmaster of the Catechism School was making a round across the corridors of the classes, when he heard the teacher asking her 2nd Standard (Grade) students:
“Children, what is the meaning of a miracle?”

Curious to know the response, the headmaster stood outside the class for a moment.

He was pleasantly surprised to see a little girl, raising her hand, and replying: “Teacher, a miracle is something that we cannot do, but Jesus can!”

The answer indeed pleased the headmaster.

And as he continued his rounds, he kept thinking to himself:
“So true! The many facts of my life…
… the blessings I enjoy
… the protection I experience
… the faith that I cherish

All these are indeed great miracles, that Jesus does in my life!

Miracle is indeed, something that I can’t do, but Jesus can!”

The Gospels give us many examples of great miracles worked by our Blessed Lord…
… that brought about transformations in the lives of people.

The Gospel of the Day is the beautiful presentation of the miracle of the Multiplication of Loaves.

This is the only miracle, besides the Resurrection of our Blessed Lord, that is mentioned in all the four Gospel accounts

Today we are presented with this account of the multiplication from the eyes of St John, the Evangelist.

The multiplication of the loaves fed a massive crowd.

“Five thousand men” could mean, that including women and children, it would have easily exceeded over twenty thousand people!

This easily was the miracle, according to the Gospels, that Jesus performed with the greatest number of witnesses and participants.

This miracle of the multiplication also reveals some of the finest qualities of Jesus, the Messiah…

1. His sensitivity to the needs of the people
   While the disciples were just eager to send the crowd away, Jesus reaches out to them in compassion and love.
2. His ability to effect changes in the mind-set and thinking-pattern
   The disciples could see no way, in that desert to feed the gigantic crowd. They had only question marks before them.
   But Jesus, sheds new light on their minds and helps them find a solution, even in the seemingly impossible situation
3. His perfect control in a situation of panic
   Though there would have been panic in the minds of the disciples, Jesus impresses upon them the fact, that He is in total charge and in complete control.
   As the Lord and Creator, He knows exactly what is to be done in the moment of crisis and calamity.
4. His attitude of raising His heart in thanksgiving at every situation
   We read that before the actual multiplication happened, Jesus “took the loaves, and gave thanks…” (Jn 6: 11)

It’s amazing to imagine that situation:
… Thousands and thousands of people, eagerly waiting, hungry and exhausted….
… Having just Five Loaves and the Two Fish – which was scarcely able to meet the hunger of a couple of people…
… Jesus still raises His Heart in thanksgiving and gratitude!

It is tremendous faith that allows a person to raise one’s mind in gratitude, even in the midst of utter poverty, deep need and barren nothingness!

5. His consciousness to gather the remaining pieces, after the miracle
   The Lord, “Who came save and seek the lost” is also highly mindful of gathering up the remaining broken pieces of the loaves.
   The disciples get trained to become aware of “what is often considered as wasteful” can also become resourceful!

The disciples are reminded that even things that are usually “discarded” and regarded as being “unwanted and useless”, can become sources of strength and nourishment!

This beautiful and unique miracle of the multiplication, is a reminder to each one of us also:

Am I able…
(1) … to be sensitive and responsive to the needs and desires of those around me?

(2) … to see the brighter side of life, with the Grace and strength from God, and rub the fragrance of this positivity onto others in my life?

(3) … to rise above the situations of panic and disturbances, and be calm, knowing that I have a God, who is ultimately in total and perfect control of every situation of turmoil?

(4)… to lift up my heart to the Lord, in thanksgiving, at every moment and situation of life, even when the chips are down or when I pass through the dark tunnels and the deep, despairing valleys life?

(5)… to be aware of the “unwanted” talents in me, the “excess” people of the society and the “discarded” peripherals of the world, and seek to make the best use of them and collect them to be part of the mainframe scene?

We are all invited to allow the Lord to “multiply loaves of blessings” in our life…
… and to see with the eyes of faith, that such miracles take place daily in our life!

Yes…
… the blessings we enjoy
… the protection we experience
… the faith that we cherish

All these are indeed great miracles, that Jesus does in our life!

Miracle is indeed, something that we can’t do, but Jesus can!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
CHRIST’S REDEMPTIVE DEATH IN GOD’S PLAN OF SALVATION

The Scriptures had foretold this divine plan of salvation through the putting to death of “the righteous one, my Servant” as a mystery of universal redemption, that is, as the ransom that would free men from the slavery of sin.
Citing a confession of faith that he himself had “received”, St. Paul professes that “Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures.”
In particular Jesus’ Redemptive Death fulfils Isaiah’s prophecy of the suffering Servant.
Indeed Jesus himself explained the meaning of his life and death in the light of God’s suffering Servant.
After His Resurrection, He gave this interpretation of the Scriptures to the disciples at Emmaus, and then to the apostles. (Cf. CCC # 601)

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“Learning to trust our God Who loves us immeasurably and works out everything in life, for our good!”

(Based on Exo 24:3-8 and Mt 13:24-30 – Saturday of the 16th Week in Ordinary Time)

A person who disdained religion was mocking at an elderly Christian, who was known for his staunch faith.

One day, while conversing, this man who mocked religion, said, “Don’t you think it’s absurd to believe and have faith in God, when you don’t have answers to so many questions of life…

Look at the evil happening all around us
Look at the sufferings that people go through
Do you still think it’s wise enough to have faith in God?”

The elderly person, placing his right hand on the shoulder of the person, with a calm tone replied:
“My Christian life has taught me that trusting in God’s Providence makes every event of the world – even unpleasant – to be seen as meaningful, and worth a lesson”

And he went on to say, “And well, you talk of having faith in God?

How about our own daily experience of trusting in the people around – most of them, whom we don’t even know!

So often we go to a doctor whose name we cannot pronounce and whose degrees we have never verified.

This doctor gives us a prescription which we cannot read.
We take it to a pharmacist we have never met.
He gives us a chemical compound which we do not understand.
Then we go home and take the pill according to the instructions on the bottle.

All this we do – with trust and with sincere faith!

If we can trust each other so much, can’t we trust our God Who loves us immeasurably and works out everything in life, for our good?”

The Gospel of the Day is this invitation by our Blessed Lord to “trust in the Lord” even when life dishes out a number of questions to which we fail to find an answer!

Yes, our Lord reveals His Mind about this baffling and mysterious aspect – the active & dynamic presence of evil in this world!

A couple of days back, we were with the Generous Sower, who was madly liberal in sowing on different types of soil and which had their corresponding results (Mt 13: 1-9)

Today, we are back to the field….

But our deliberation is not on the Sower or the Seeds…
… but on the presence of Weeds among the Wheat (Mt 13:24-30)

These weeds are also called Darnel or Tares.

They weeds have a characteristic of making one feel poisoned with drunkenness, when consumed.

They also have the deceptive characteristic of bearing a close resemblance to Wheat.

In fact, these weeds are also called as False Wheat!

So the enemy in the parable… is a Learned Deceiver!
He sows this deceptive and misleading weed among the innocent and harmless wheat!

But the Lord, the Ultimate Judge gives out a strong, yet strange command:
“Let the weeds not be pulled up, lest the wheat be uprooted with them; let them just grow together until harvest!” (Mt 13:29-30)

Some mysteries in life cannot be fully understood…
… but is to be boldly lived!

Some struggles in life cannot be totally eliminated…
… but is to be bravely challenged!

Some problems in life cannot be completely solved…
but is to be fearlessly encountered!

Here is another hard reality to be digested: “God uses the very wickedness and injustices of evildoers to perfect his Elect.”

The triumph and prosperity of the wicked are short-lived…
…whereas the reward of the Christian who suffers from their wickedness is everlasting.

That’s a hard and unpopular and even impractical statement, right?

But Facts remain facts – we consent or not!

This leads us to a vital aspect of our Practical Christian Living: To be Patient with ourselves and with others…
… in dealing with sin
… with evil tendencies
… with horrifying obsessions
… with unacceptable practices
… with unalterable addictions
… and with abominable disgraces.

Often…
… we bite our teeth in anger glaring at the inhumanness in our society and the world
… we lose our cool in finding ourselves to be imperfect and sinful even after years of trying
… we go mad in encountering silly disputes and indifferences in our families & communities
… we have our blood boiling seeing the various scandals and shameful incidents in the Church

But the Lord says: “Hold On”….

Surely, we have our emotions and feelings when we come across unjust situations..

But the Lord says:
“Do your best…and leave the rest to Me!
Aim for perfection….but give not into despair because of devastations!”

This certainly is no excuse for us to deny our duty and responsibility…
… and even the obligation to seek to avoid wickedness and dissuade evil practices.

But we may never find ourselves in PERFECT elimination of evil and sinful behaviours…
… either in our personal life, or societal life or even in the life of the Church.

The Ultimate Eliminator is the Lord Himself…

The Perfect Vanquisher is the Lord Himself!
The Supreme Conqueror is the Lord Himself!

Are all these too abstract, theoretical & impractical talks?
… NO!

St Paul gives an assurance in Romans 8:26-27:
The Spirit comes to our aid in our weaknesses. He Himself will intercede for us, when we co-operate with Him.”

God, who is all-powerful shares His Omnipotence with us…
… in the Holy Sacraments, in Prayer, in the Bible and in the Church.

Let us have recourse to this power of God, and be strengthened in our lives!

Let us try to do our utmost…
… but let us also permit to encounter disappointments…!

Let us strive for the finest…
… but let us fret not too much over failures and frustrations…!

The Lord knows all

HE sees all
HE has the perfect solution to all.

St Faustina says: “Our sins and weaknesses and miseries are like little sticks, before the burning furnace of the Love of God”.

Let us throw our little sticks into this burning furnace…

Let God be God in our Lives – the Ultimate Judge and Defeater of all evil!”

Let us learn to trust our God Who loves us immeasurably and works out everything in life, for our good!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
CHRIST’S REDEMPTIVE DEATH IN GOD’S PLAN OF SALVATION

Jesus’ violent death was not the result of chance in an unfortunate coincidence of circumstances, but is part of the mystery of God’s plan, as St. Peter explains to the Jews of Jerusalem in his first sermon on Pentecost: “This Jesus (was) delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God.”
This Biblical language does not mean that those who handed him over were merely passive players in a scenario written in advance by God.
To God, all moments of time are present in their immediacy.
When therefore He establishes His eternal plan of “predestination”, He includes in it each person’s free response to His Grace: “In this city, in fact, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.”
For the sake of accomplishing his plan of salvation, God permitted the acts that flowed from their blindness.
He died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures (Cf. CCC # 599-600)

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“Discovering the Bible as a mighty source, containing the immensity of God’s Power and encountering the Lord Himself, ‘Who is the Word – that became flesh and dwells among us?’”

(Based on Exo 20:1-17 and Mt 13:18-23 – Friday of the 16th Week in Ordinary Time)

One of the most famous persons who had been greatly impressed and influenced by the Holy Bible was Mahatma Gandhi.

He once made a statement, which would make all of us…
… to examine deeply our level of love for the scriptures
… to make relevant changes in order to match our lives with the teachings of the Bible

This statement goes thus:
“You Christians look after a document containing enough dynamite to blow all civilisation to pieces, turn the world upside down and bring peace to a battle-torn planet.
But you treat it as though it is nothing more than a piece of literature!”

Now, that indeed is a mightily powerful statement isn’t it?

That’s an intense statement of, on one side, our Sacred Scripture being acknowledged…
… as having tremendous power to transform
… as having remarkable force to bring about changes

And yet, on the other side, We, the caretakers and promoters of the Bible – the Christians – being people…
… who often are seen to be giving less respect and reverence
… who fail to find the worth of the treasure that is in possession!

Well, it is left to each one of us.. to examine, in the light of this statement, whether…
… the Holy Bible has become a constant and regular companion of my life
… the Sacred Scriptures have become a catalyst for effecting personal transformation

The Gospel of the Day is the beautiful explanation, by Jesus, of the Parable of the Sower…
… and through it, a reminder for us to revive our delight in and our dedication to, in living the Word of God.

The famous author Mark Twain once said:
“Most people are bothered by those passages of Scripture which they cannot understand;

But as for me, I have always noticed that the passages in Scripture which trouble me most, are those which I do understand.”

The passage in consideration – the explanation of the Parable of the Sower (Mt 13: 18-23) – is surely one which has come very often under our scanner of reflection and meditation.

We almost know each of its elements in detail:
• The Sower sowing the seed
• Some falling on the wayside and birds devouring them
• Some falling on the rock and after a quick sprouting, withering away
• Some falling among the thorns and failing to grow, suffocated by its choke
• Some falling on the good seed and yielding – a thirty, a sixty and a hundred fold

We also have understood its applications in our life

Yet, very often, its implications fail to take root in us and we remain indifferent or casual regarding the Seed – the Precious Word of God!

Today, therefore, the Lord once again seeks to awaken our minds and shake our lethargic minds, in seeking to revive our love and enthusiasm for His Word.

Here are some of the practical pointers for self-introspection, towards this objective…

1. What is my reading habit with respect to the Bible – God’s Word…?
2. Have I read the Bible fully, at least once?
   … If YES… why not make efforts to read “the beautiful expressions in God’s love-letters”, once again
   … If NO… why not make a bold step to try to read the Bible fully, at least once.

• One could perhaps, start with some of the easier books/sections of the Bible.. maybe, the New Testament, or the Psalms etc…

Sometimes we might feel too bored or disinterested to pick up the pages of the Old Testament – some passages might seem even disturbing or distressing.

Yet, when we understand that those were some of the societal manners that existed back then…
… and Scriptures were written by human authors, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, in concrete life-situations, we would be able to appreciate them much better

3. Can I set apart, daily, at least a few minutes to read the Bible?
4. Can I make genuine efforts to memorize at least a few verses from the Bible?
   • These verses can be invoked in our moments of prayer, in our moments of needing spiritual strength, in our moments of deepening the faith etc.
5. What is my effort and dedication in putting into practical effect the Bible – God’s Word…?
6. Am I a person who only simply reads the Bible – without making efforts to understand it, or one who fails to try to put into practice what I learn from God’s Word?
7. Is my love for the Word of God only finding expression in forwarding ‘Daily Bible Verses’ through social media sites/apps, emails or SMS’S or do I also try to apply and live those verses in my day-to-day activities?

These days, we have access to – especially through the internet and many magazines and books – an innumerable amount of Bible Study material, explanations on the Bible, sermons and reflections etc.

• Do these become a springboard for me to personally learn more and deepen my spiritual bond with the Lord of the Word; or do I only take these, without making any personal reflection and use it for giving sermons, talks etc.

8. Has the Word become a personal and intimate life-giver for me and do I have a deep thirst to know and grow more in the Word?

Through Prophet Jeremiah, the Lord reminds us to become ‘shepherds after His Own Heart’:
“And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding” (Jer 3:15)
… the Bible is the great source to grow in Knowledge and Understanding of the Lord!

As Christians, we are privileged and prized – to possess the Precious Book of God’s Salvific acts – in the Holy Bible.

As it is said, “The BIBLE contains B(asic) I(nstructions) B(efore) L(eaving) E(arth)”

The Bible…
… is a treasury of immense love
… is a source of unmatched transformative power
… is a supplier of unparalleled strength and grace towards salvation

Let us realise that we have a “Document containing enough dynamite…
… to bring peace to a battle-torn planet!”

Do I treat The Bible just an ordinary piece of literature, a lifeless object to be just decorated (or in some cases, dusted and dirtied) and a book of sacredness but still untouched and unexplored…
… or can I discover It to be the mighty source, containing the immensity of God’s Power and encountering the Lord Himself, “Who is the Word – that became flesh and dwells among us”?

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism

The historical complexity of Jesus’ trial is apparent in the Gospel accounts.
The personal sin of the participants (Judas, the Sanhedrin, Pilate) is known to God alone. Hence we cannot lay responsibility for the trial on the Jews in Jerusalem as a whole, despite the outcry of a manipulated crowd and the global reproaches contained in the apostles’ calls to conversion after Pentecost.
Jesus Himself, in forgiving them on the cross, and Peter in following suit, both accept “the ignorance” of the Jews of Jerusalem and even of their leaders.
Still less can we extend responsibility to other Jews of different times and places, based merely on the crowd’s cry: “His blood be on us and on our children!”, a formula for ratifying a judicial sentence.
As the Church declared at the Second Vatican Council: Neither all Jews indiscriminately at that time, nor Jews today, can be charged with the crimes committed during his Passion – the Jews should not be spoken of as rejected or accursed as if this followed from holy Scripture.
All sinners were the authors of Christ’s Passion
In her Magisterial teaching of the faith and in the witness of her saints, the Church has never forgotten that “sinners were the authors and the ministers of all the sufferings that the divine Redeemer endured.”
Taking into account the fact that our sins affect Christ Himself, the Church does not hesitate to impute to Christians the gravest responsibility for the torments inflicted upon Jesus, a responsibility with which they have all too often burdened the Jews alone
We must regard as guilty all those who continue to relapse into their sins. Since our sins made the Lord Christ suffer the torment of the cross, those who plunge themselves into disorders and crimes crucify the Son of God anew in their hearts (for he is in them) and hold him up to contempt.
It is you who have crucified him and crucify him still, when you delight in your vices and sins. (Cf. CCC # 597-598)

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“Being inspired by St Mary Magdalene to understand that ‘Love transforms everything!’”

(Based on the Feast of St Mary Magdalene)

A Dutch diamond collector was seeking for a very rare diamond.

A diamond dealer in New York heard of this inquiry and contacted him…
… letting him know that he believed he possessed the diamond he was looking for.

The diamond collector arrived…
… and the dealer had his salesman present the diamond.

The salesman described all the technical aspects of the diamond.

However within minutes, the diamond collector rose his hand and said: “I am sorry! This is not the diamond I am looking for”…
… and began to walk away.

Watching from a distance, the diamond dealer hurriedly intercepted him…
… and he asked him if he could present the diamond again.

Since he had travelled a long distance, the collector agreed to listen once again.

The dealer pulled out the same diamond and started describing his admiration for this particular diamond.

Within minutes they were signing papers, and the diamond was purchased.

As the gentleman was walking out, he asked, what just happened?

Why was it so easy for me to say no to your salesman a little while ago, while with you I purchased the diamond?

The dealer replied: “That salesman is the best in the business.

He knows more about diamonds than anyone, including myself, and I pay him a large salary for his knowledge and expertise.

But I would gladly pay him twice as much if I could put into him something I have which he lacks.

You see, he knows diamonds…
… but I love them!”

Love transforms everything!

Love adds passion in any activity we do.

Today we celebrate the Feast of one such person who deeply loved the Lord – St Mary Magdalene.

The Bible presents St Mary Magdalene as a woman who loved Jesus intensely and passionately.

She teaches us remarkable things for each one of us to Love the Lord deeper:

1. She Followed Him

Luke 8:2 presents Mary Magdalene as having been cured of seven demons.

Her experience of the Healing of the Lord, made her to Follow Jesus, in His ministry of preaching and healing.

Am I following the Lord?

All have us have, in our life, have experienced the power of the Lord.

But do I truly follow the Lord?

2. She was Persistent to seek Him

The Death of her Lord had rocked Mary Magdalene…
… and she seeks persistently, in the tomb where Jesus was laid.

Even though she witnessed an empty tomb, her heart longed to see the Saviour….” so she stayed outside the tomb weeping”(Jn 20:11).

Am I persistent to seek the Lord?

I have often had setbacks in my prayer life, work situations & aspirations.

But do I still persevere in looking for the Lord?

3. She was Single-hearted in her search for Him

In her search for Jesus, whom she misunderstood as a gardener, Mary Magdalene expresses her sincerity and frankness and single-mindedness – “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”

She sought no empty phrases or consolations…but the Lord alone!
Nothing and none else could suffice her… but the Lord alone!

Am I single-hearted in my search for the Lord?

I am sometimes content with fleeting pleasures, transitory consolation and momentary comforts in my spiritual life.

Do I rather be single-hearted in my longing for the Lord?

4. She was enthusiastic about Him

Once she recognized the ordinary gardener as her Precious Master, Mary Magdalene is enthusiastic and fervent about Him.

Nothing could stop her from proclaiming Him.

In the words of St Bernard, “she became an apostle to the Apostles”.

Am I enthusiastic in my life?

As a Christian, I have in me the influencing, the powerful and the salvific good news of the Lord.

Am I enthusiastic in sharing about the Lord to others?

Let us learn from St Mary Magdalene…
… her commitment in following of Jesus
… her persistence in waiting for Jesus, her single-heartedness in searching for Jesus, and her enthusiasm in telling others about Jesus.

St Mary Magdalene…
… is a beautiful model of being a Disciple
… is a wonderful example of being a Divine-Seeker
… is a classic illustration of being a Dispenser of the Good News

St. Mary Magdalene holds a unique place in the history of Jesus.

The One who rose from the grave of death, appeared first to her, who herself experienced a rising from the grave of sin!
She was the first (as per the Gospel accounts) to see Him alive and the first to hear His voice.
She became the first evangelist in Christian history.

She is the Mourner who turned into a Missionary!

Let us passionately love the Lord, like St Mary Magdalene,
… “’cos there isn’t an ocean too deep, a mountain so high it can keep…
… keep us away, away from His love!”

As Christians it is not enough that we “know about Christ”…
… it is more important “to know Christ” and to love Him!

May St Mary Magdalene help us to understand that “Love transforms everything!”

Love adds passion to any activity we do.

Happy Feast of St Mary Magdalene – the Disciple, the Divine-Seeker, the Dispenser of the Good News!

Happy Feast of Tender Love and Mercy to all!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
THE TRIAL OF JESUS

Among the religious authorities of Jerusalem, not only were the Pharisee Nicodemus and the prominent Joseph of Arimathea both secret disciples of Jesus, but there was also long-standing dissension about him, so much so that St. John says of these authorities on the very eve of Christ’s Passion, “many.. . believed in him”, though very imperfectly.
This is not surprising, if one recalls that on the day after Pentecost “a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith” and “some believers…belonged to the party of the Pharisees”, to the point that St. James could tell St. Paul, “How many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed; and they are all zealous for the Law.”
The religious authorities in Jerusalem were not unanimous about what stance to take towards Jesus.
The Pharisees threatened to excommunicate his followers.
To those who feared that “everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and destroy both our holy place and our nation”, the high priest Caiaphas replied by prophesying: “It is expedient for you that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation should not perish.”
The Sanhedrin, having declared Jesus deserving of death as a blasphemer but having lost the right to put anyone to death, hands him over to the Romans, accusing him of political revolt, a charge that puts him in the same category as Barabbas who had been accused of sedition.
The chief priests also threatened Pilate politically so that he would condemn Jesus to death.
Jews are not collectively responsible for Jesus’ death (Cf. CCC # 595-596)

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“Ready to harvest manifold blessings with the Seed of the Word of God!”

(Based on Exo 16:1-5,9-15 and Mt 13:1-9 – Wednesday of the 16th Week in Ordinary Time)

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step….

The construction of a magnificent building is initiated by the laying of a single brick or a stone…
The art of composing a lovely song starts with gathering of the first strains of melody & lyrics…
The discipline of writing a spectacular novel commences with penning down the first few words…

There is power in the first step!

There is magic in the first act!

There is much potential in the Sowing of a Little Seed…

We are encountering the familiar Parable of the Sower in today’s Gospel Reading
… The Master Sower is back in the Field, broadcasting the Seeds…

The Seed is the Word of God
… It is little.
… It is tiny.
… It is small.

But it can become big.
It can become powerful.
It can become very influential.

The Word of God is powerful… but it is in the form of a Seed

It however, contains within it, all the potentials of a new life and fruitfulness!

The Seed has a tremendous potential….

This Seed has the potential to be a Living Bread (Jn 6:51)
… to sustain life, and to strengthen the weak and fragile.

This Seed has the potential to be a Bubbling Fountain (Prov 13:14)
… issuing forth pure water that refreshes, cleanses and purifies the dirt of sinfulness.
This Seed has the potential to be a Powerful Hammer (Jer 23:29) – building and reconstructing broken and shattered lives.

This Seed has the potential to be a Thick Golden Honey (Ps 19:11)…
… sweet to the taste and satisfying the spirit in moments of distress and pain.

This Seed has the potential to be a Bright, Shining Lamp (Ps 119:105)
… exposing the darkness and releasing the light of His purity, holiness and righteousness upon humanity.

The Seed has the potential to be a Sharp Two-edged Sword (Heb 4:12)
… helping to discern between the good & bad, the holy & the profane and the pure & polluted!

The Seed has the potential to be a Mirror (Jam 1:23)
… challenging us to look into our interior and also reflecting the attributes of the Most High God in whose image we are created!

Yes, the Seed has a tremendous potential…

The Divine Sower invites us…
… to share in His Divine Work of broadcasting the Seed
… and helping it realize its full potentials.

The Prophet Jeremiah was called to this purpose… “to uproot and to pull down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant” (Jer 1:10)

Let all experience the Seed – God’s word – as
… the Living Bread and the Bubbling Fountain
… the Powerful Hammer and the Thick Golden Honey
… the Bright, Shining Lamp Sharp and Two-edged Sword
… or as the Mirror!

Be not afraid to Sow the Seed…
… though little & tiny, in our own situations & circumstances.

A harvest of manifold blessings, begins with a single Seed…

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism:
JESUS AND ISRAEL’S FAITH IN THE ONE GOD AND SAVIOUR

Only the Divine identity of Jesus’ person can justify so absolute a claim as “He who is not with me is against me”; and His saying that there was in Him “something greater than Jonah… greater than Solomon”, something “greater than the Temple”; His reminder that David had called the Messiah His Lord, and His affirmations, “Before Abraham was, I AM”, and even “I and the Father are one.”
Jesus asked the religious authorities of Jerusalem to believe in Him because of the Father’s works which He accomplished.
But such an act of faith must go through a mysterious death to self, for a new “birth from above” under the influence of divine grace.
Such a demand for conversion in the face of so surprising a fulfilment of the promises allows one to understand the Sanhedrin’s tragic misunderstanding of Jesus: they judged that He deserved the death sentence as a blasphemer.
The members of the Sanhedrin were thus acting at the same time out of “ignorance” and the “hardness” of their “unbelief (Cf. CCC # 590-591)

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“Being willing to positively respond to the invitation of the Lord to be a member of ‘His Family!’”

(Based on Exo 14:21-15:1 and Mt 12:46-50 – Tuesday of the 16th Week in Ordinary Time)

We sometimes find advertisements, in newspapers or magazines, that invite the readers to apply for a job or a task.

These ads…
… attract those who are interested by mentioning the various packages and privileges
… inform regarding various factors and parameters that makes one eligible for that post or duty.

The Gospel of the Day presents such an open-invitation – in a bid…
…. to attract all, to the Kingdom of God, by mentioning various packages and privileges
… to inform, regarding various factors and parameters that makes one eligible for the Kingdom of God

In the Gospel passage, we read that “The family of Jesus come to meet Him, while He was at ministry” (Mt 12: 46)
“Someone told Him, ‘Your Mother and Your brothers are standing outside, asking to speak with you” (Mt 12: 47)

But the Lord makes use of this context to put forward a very important truth:

Spiritual bonding with God, the Father takes higher precedence over blood bonding.
Spiritual relations are to be given a higher priority over the generational heritage and legacy.

A new and significant understanding is put forward by Jesus to define “His Family”
“… whoever does the Will of My Heavenly Father is My brother and sister and mother” (Mt 12: 50)

Thus, we see a wonderful ad that Jesus displays…

An ad…
…. to attract all, to the Kingdom of God by mentioning various packages and privileges
… to inform, regarding various factors and parameters that makes one eligible for the Kingdom of God

Here are the main aspects of this great ad…

1. The Offer: Being a member of the Family of God

Jesus makes a open and loving invitation for all to be part of His Family.

We are given a privilege to be called the brothers and sisters of our Blessed Lord!

What a great honour!

What a wonderful favour!

2. The Qualification: Seeking and doing the Will of God

The most essential and basic qualification to possess the offer of being a member of the Family of God, is to seek and do the Will of God.

Jn 1:12 says, “… to those who accept Him, He gave power to become children of God”

3. The Privileges: Divine Peace and Happiness on the earth and promise of life eternal

The One who is part of the Divine Family, also is privileged to share in the life and happiness of the Divine Family!

Jn 6:40 declares, “For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.”

4. Who can avail the offer?: Anyone, who is daring to sacrifice one’s personal agenda

The one who can apply for this “offer” of being a member of God’s Will is to possess a dare and courage: to let go of one’s personal desires in life, and seek to embrace what God wants of him/her.

Mt 16: 24 says, “Whoever wants to be My disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow Me.

5. When should it be applied?: At the earliest, in the first instance possible

The opportune time to take the initiative to participate in the Divine Family is “now”

In the parable of the ten virgins, in Mt 25: 1-13, the five virgins missed the opportunity to be part of the wedding feast, because of their delay and postponement.

2 Pet 3:9 says, “The Lord does not delay his promise, as some regard “delay,” but He is patient with you, not wishing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

Our Blessed Lord would be delighted to have us as part of His Divine Family.

For this, He also gives out His ad…
… attracting us to the Kingdom of God
… informing us of the various factors and parameters

Are we willing to positively respond to this invitation of the Lord?

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism:
JESUS AND ISRAEL’S FAITH IN THE ONE GOD AND SAVIOUR

If the Law and the Jerusalem Temple could be occasions of opposition to Jesus by Israel’s religious authorities, His role in the redemption of sins, the Divine Work par excellence, was the true stumbling-block for them.
Jesus scandalized the Pharisees by eating with tax collectors and sinners as familiarly as with themselves.
Against those among them “who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised others”, Jesus affirmed: “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
He went further by proclaiming before the Pharisees that, since sin is universal, those who pretend not to need salvation are blind to themselves.
Jesus gave scandal above all when He identified his merciful conduct toward sinners with God’s own attitude toward them.
He went so far as to hint that by sharing the table of sinners, He was admitting them to the Messianic Banquet.
But it was most especially by forgiving sins that Jesus placed the religious authorities of Israel on the horns of a dilemma.
By forgiving sins, Jesus either is blaspheming as a Man who made himself God’s equal, or is speaking the Truth and His Person really does make present and reveal God’s Name. (Cf. CCC # 583-584)

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“Being a Good Shepherd, like Jesus, to all!”

(Based on Jer 23:1-6, Eph 2:13-18 and Mk 6:30-34 – 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time)

The French have a proverb, which states: “A good meal ought to begin with hunger.”

It is usually pretty hard to enjoy a meal when one is not yet hungry.

But, when one is hungry…
… anything tastes good.

This hunger is of course, not only about physical hunger.
There are many other areas of life where we experience hunger…

Hunger for love…
Hunger for being wanted…
Hunger on emotional counts…
Hunger of the spiritual order…

These aspects of hunger…
… may never have a scientific statistic
… may never have flowcharts and pie diagrams to measure them

But these areas of hunger are a great reality and challenge, especially in our world today!

The Gospel of the Day presents Jesus who addresses not just “statistical” hunger but also such hunger of human needs which “may never get numerically counted”…
… with an invitation to always “hunger for God and to serve His people!”

“When He disembarked and saw the vast crowd, His Heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things” (Mk 6:34)

The Apostles, who were sent on the mission (Mk 6: 7-13) had returned back and reported all that they had done (Mk 6:30)

They had driven out many demons…
They had anointed many with oil who were sick and cured them… (Mk 6:13)

They would have rejoiced greatly, but they were also physically tired.

They would have been satisfied with their works, but they did not have even the time to eat (Mk 6:31)

The Apostles had done many works, but Jesus sensed that they were tired

The Apostles were happy with their ministry, but Jesus sensed that they were hungry.
And so the Good Shepherd invites them to come away to a deserted place and rest (Mk 6:31)

Like these Apostles, many times, this can be our case too…

We may be doing a lot of things…
… but are we still feeling spiritually tired?

We may be happy with what we are doing…
… but are we still hungry deep within?

The Good Shepherd invites us…
… to take some rest in Him
… to relax in His Holy Heart

As in the case of the Apostles, so is the case of the people…

The people had seen many miracles, but Jesus sensed that they were still not truly filled
The people had witnessed many wonders, but Jesus sensed that they were still lost and unguided.

And so the Good Shepherd, with a moved Heart, feels compassion on them (Mk 6:34)

Like these people, many times this can be our case too…

We may have witnessed God’s wonders…
… but are we still spiritually found wanting?

We may be glad to doing the minimum in our spiritual life…
… but are we still missing something?

The Good Shepherd encourages us…
… with His Divine Word
… by His Compassionate Love

There is indeed a great hunger in the world.

Saint Mother Teresa said: “Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty, than the person who has nothing to eat”

We may be people who hunger for love and acceptance…

Let us go to Jesus, the Supreme Lover of our lives

We may be people dejected and depressed in life…

Let us go to Jesus, the Ultimate Happiness of our lives

We may be people feeling unlucky and ill-fated in life…

Let us go to Jesus, the Absolute Destiny of our lives

In turn, we also meet people who go through such “hunger”…
…for love, for acceptance, for encouragement, for hope, for basics of life etc…

Do I recognise, in the first place, such requirements of needy people?

Does my heart move in loving compassion for them?

Can I be a Good Shepherd, like Jesus, to them?

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism:
JESUS AND THE TEMPLE

Like the prophets before Him, Jesus expressed the deepest respect for the Temple in Jerusalem. It was in the Temple that Joseph and Mary presented Him forty days after his birth.
At the age of twelve, He decided to remain in the Temple to remind His parents that He must be about His Father’s business.
He went there each year during His hidden life at least for Passover.
His public ministry itself was patterned by his pilgrimages to Jerusalem for the great Jewish feasts.
Jesus went up to the Temple as the privileged place of encounter with God.
For him, the Temple was the dwelling of His Father, a house of prayer, and He was angered that its outer court had become a place of commerce.
He drove merchants out of it because of jealous love for his Father: “You shall not make my Father’s house a house of trade.
After his Resurrection his apostles retained their reverence for the Temple (Cf. CCC # 583-584)

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“Being ready to ‘live our lives in hope’ even though we may often experience many evils that seek to submerge us!”

(Based on Exo 12:37-42 and Mt 12:14-21 – Saturday of the 15th Week in Ordinary Time)

“Pandora’s Box” is a phrase which means a process that once begun, generates many complicated problems.

There is a Greek mythological story about the origin of this phrase – the “Pandora’s Box”

According to the Greek legend, the first woman of the earth, named Pandora was sent to the earth, by the gods, with a casket (box) in her hand.

She was forbidden to open this box.

However, out of immense curiosity one day she lifted the cover of the box and looked in.

But there came forth from the box, every conceivable plague for man’s body and his mind, and immediately they scattered themselves far and wide throughout the earth.

Pandora hastened to replace the lid of the box, but there was only one thing left – Hope!

Often our life can resemble this mythological tale, in that, we face a whole set of evils and troubles unleashed at us.

The Pandora’s Box – of persecutions, of difficulties, of sadness, of daily tensions – gets opened often in our lives.

But Life still invites and challenges us to move on with Life, in HOPE, seeking to heal every negativity!

Our Blessed Lord is our model and perfect example for this.

While on the earth, He had to face the trial of many pandora boxes – of cruel plots, of hurtful betrayals, of painful rejections – being unleashed at Him.

Yet, He remained firm and defiant in His Zeal and Passion for His Mission – His Mission of being a “Hope to the Gentiles” ( Mt 12: 21)

The Gospel of the Day makes a vivid presentation of this struggle of our Blessed Lord was subjected to.

The Gospel passage begins with the verse, “But the Pharisees went out and took counsel to put Jesus to death” (Mt 12: 14)

There could be perhaps, quite a factors that prompted the religious elders of the time, to make this move

1. Jesus did not correspond to their idea of being a Messiah

The Pharisees and the religious leaders of the time, probably had a externally dominant visualization of the Messiah Who was to come…

Someone Who was politically powerful
Someone Who would be Restorer of their Religion
Someone Who would firmly establish the Jewish Empire

But none of these seemed to be evident in the ministry and life of Jesus.

2. Jesus seemed to be a thorn in their cosy structured and institutionalized pattern of life

The long wait for the Messiah had resulted…

In religion in being devoid of religiosity and instead being reduced to mere rituals
In Spirituality losing its sheen of sacredness and instead being sunken to mere static statutes

This had resulted in creation of classes…

Of the Ruling Class: consisting of the Pharisees, the Scribes and other religious leaders and elders,
Of the Ruled Class: consisting of the ordinary people, whose voices were often restrained, and had become mute followers of the tradition.

Jesus, however, by His Vibrant Teachings, His Mighty Deeds and His Uncompromising Life, disturbed all such cosy structures and comfortable religious life-style.

How often do we also turn anti against those who become a ‘Jesus’ to us…
• Those whose ideas do not correspond to our sinful or lethargic ways of life
• Those who become a thorn in our cosy and institutionalized pattern of life

We too may sometimes plot ways and means to end such forces…
… which trigger transformation in us
… which awaken our consciences to lead purer or holier lives

We are instead, invited to be like Jesus, our Blessed Lord.

He faced a mighty unleashing as from a Pandora’s box…
… deadly plots to end His Life and Mission
… uncharitable venoms of conspiracy to terminate His life

Yet, He remained firm and bold to remain “the Chosen Servant, the Beloved in Him God delighted, the One who proclaimed justice to the Gentiles and in Whose Name, the Gentiles hoped” (cf. Mt 12:18 -21)

Are we ready to “live our lives in hope” even though we may often experience the evils of the “pandora’s box” seeking to submerge us?

May Jesus, our Blessed Lord be our hope, our strength and our courage!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism:
JESUS AND LAW

The Jewish people and their spiritual leaders viewed Jesus as a rabbi.
He often argued within the framework of rabbinical interpretation of the Law.
Yet Jesus could not help but offend the teachers of the Law, for he was not content to propose his interpretation alongside theirs but taught the people “as one who had authority, and not as their scribes”
In Jesus, the same Word of God that had resounded on Mount Sinai to give the written Law to Moses, made itself heard anew on the Mount of the Beatitudes.
Jesus did not abolish the Law but fulfilled it by giving its ultimate interpretation in a divine way
With this same divine authority, he disavowed certain human traditions of the Pharisees that were “making void the word of God”.
Going even further, Jesus perfects the dietary law, so important in Jewish daily life, by revealing its pedagogical meaning through a divine interpretation
In presenting with divine authority the definitive interpretation of the Law, Jesus found himself confronted by certain teachers of the Law who did not accept his interpretation of the Law, guaranteed though it was by the divine signs that accompanied it.
This was the case especially with the Sabbath laws, for he recalls, often with rabbinical arguments, that the Sabbath rest is not violated by serving God and neighbour, which his own healings did. (Cf. CCC # 581-582)

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“Seeking the intercession of our Blessed Mother to publicly declare our Love for Christ and our readiness to ‘be a true follower of God’s Laws’”

(Based on Ex 11:10 – 12:14 and Mt 12:1-8 – Friday of the 15th Week in Ordinary Time – Feast of our Lady of Mount Carmel)

Most of us, at some point or the other, have given gifts to our loved ones, our friends or our relations.

Imagine, if the one who received the Gift, were to neatly…
… unwrap the Gift Wrapper…

And to your horror….
… throws the Gift inside the Dustbin, and keeps to oneself, only the Gift Wrapper?

That would too be sad and painful… right?

Well, something similar is the case, when we look into the Salvation History.

God Yahweh had presented a Gift to the People of Israelites: The Gift of the Law…
… so that He could be their Only God and they could always be His People (Jer 7:23)

But as time passed, this Gift of the Law was interpreted into several external practices…

So much so that the purpose of the law was forgotten…
… and only the external regulations were prevailing.

The Gospel of the Day is an exposition of how the Gift that God had given was being squandered…
… and just the externals – the wrapper of the gift – was being glorified…

And how, Jesus the Source of the Law seeks to restore the original spirit of the Law!

The Gospel passage begins with the Pharisees accusing the disciples of having transgressed the Sabbath Laws by plucking and eating on the Sabbath Day (Cf. Matthew 12:2).

The External actions were accorded primacy…
… the actual Law was slowly discarded!

The Body of the Commandment was insisted…
… the Spirit of the Law was diluted!

The Gift wrapper gained more importance than the Gift Itself!

The Law of Moses was glorified, but there was a failure to see the Glorious God of the Law!!

And so today, the Majestic Lord of the Sabbath seeks to capture our attention to see the Most Important Aspect of Law: Inner Disposition rather than External Practices!

True Righteousness and Holiness stems from the with’in’…
… and not from the with’outs’!!

The word Sabbath comes from the Hebrew word sabat… which means repose or rest.

Just a few verses before this Reading… Jesus invited us “to take REST in Him” (Mt 11:28)

The Real Rest is in Him!
The Real Sabbath is in Him!

We need to examine…

Do I tend to become more legalistic in my mentality and fail to see the Spirit of the Law?
Do I become rigid in my external practices and rituals, but fail to relish the Heart of Worship?

The Lord has gifted us His Commandments and Laws…
…so that HE can be our Only God and we can always be His Beloved People.
Do I cherish the inner dimensions of the Law and treasure this Gift?
… or am I giving more importance only to external factors, like the Gift Wrapper?

Let us scrape off the rust of legalism and ritualism…

Let us, instead, polish our lives with the virtues of mercy, empathy and compassion!

Today we also celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

On July 16th, 1251, Blessed Mother Mary appeared to St Simon Stock, who was the Superior-General of a Carmelite Order in London.

She gave him a brown scapular, with the words:
“Receive, my beloved son, this scapular of thy order

It is the special sign of my favour, which I have obtained for thee and for thy children of Mount Carmel.
He who dies clothed with this habit shall be preserved from eternal fire. It is the badge of salvation, a shield in time of danger, and a pledge of special peace and protection.”

This Feast is a reminder for us that just as on Mount Carmel, Prophet Elijah had called the people of Israel to abandon the worship of false gods…
… we too need to do away with all false sources of comfort, relaxation, pleasure and enjoyment
… and instead come to the realisation that the Lord alone can give us true comfort and rest!

The Scapular (from Latin scapulae, “shoulders”) – is both a sign of our belonging to Mary and pledge of her maternal protection in this life and the next.

It is also a sign of couple of elements:

1. A consecration to and trust in Mary
2. A declaration to imitate Our Lady’s virtues, especially Her humility, chastity, and prayerfulness.

The scapular is not…
… a magical charm to protect someone.
… a automatic guarantee of salvation.
… an excuse for not living up to the demands of the Christian life

It is instead, a sign…
… to follow Jesus like Mary
… to be open to God and to His Will.
… to be guided by Faith, Hope and Love.
… to pray at all times
… to discover and be aware of the Presence of God in all that happens around us.

As St. John of the Cross says:
“He who loves, is not ashamed before men of what he does for God…
… neither does he hide it through shame, though the whole world should condemn it.”

Let us seek the intercession of our Blessed Mother in our struggles and hardships of life…
… and may the Sacramental of the Scapular be a sign for us to publicly declare our Love for Christ and our Readiness to “be a true follower of God’s Laws”

Let us hold Mamma’s Hands…
… as She inspires, helps, challenges and intercedes for us!

Happy Feast of our Blessed Mother of Carmel!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism:
JESUS AND THE LAW

The Jewish people and their spiritual leaders viewed Jesus as a rabbi.
He often argued within the framework of rabbinical interpretation of the Law.
Yet Jesus could not help but offend the teachers of the Law…
… for he was not content to propose his interpretation alongside theirs but taught the people “as one who had authority, and not as their scribes”.
In Jesus, the same Word of God that had resounded on Mount Sinai to give the written Law to Moses, made itself heard anew on the Mount of the Beatitudes.
Jesus did not abolish the Law but fulfilled it by giving its ultimate interpretation in a Divine Way
With this same Divine Authority, He disavowed certain human traditions of the Pharisees that were “making void the word of God”
Going even further, Jesus perfects the dietary law, so important in Jewish daily life, by revealing its pedagogical meaning through a Divine interpretation
In presenting with divine authority the definitive interpretation of the Law, Jesus found himself confronted by certain teachers of the Law who did not accept his interpretation of the Law, guaranteed though it was by the divine signs that accompanied it.
This was the case especially with the Sabbath laws, for he recalls, often with rabbinical arguments, that the Sabbath rest is not violated by serving God and neighbour, which His Own healings did. (Cf. CCC # 581-582)

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“Responding to the thrilling and pleasant invitation by Jesus, the King of all Hearts!”

(Based on Exo 3:13-20 and Mt 11:28-30 – Thursday of the 15th Week in Ordinary Time)

Many of us would have come across the acronym “RSVP” in Invitations for marriage, baptism, birthdays, wedding anniversaries or some other social events.

RSVP stands for Répondez S’il Vous Plaît ( in French) which is translated as
Reply, If you please!

The purpose of this RSVP is that the person sending the invitation, wo¬uld like you to tell him or her, whether you accept or decline the invitation.

Today, Jesus, the King of all Hearts, presents a thrilling and a pleasant invitation…”Come to me all you who are weary and heavy laden…”(Mt 11:28)

Every invitation is to contain “By Whom”, “To Whom”, “What” and a “When”

Let’s analyse these aspects in the Invitation of the Lord

1. By Whom
   Jesus came into the world, primarily as a Saviour!

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

As a Beloved Lover, it is He who tugs at the strings of our hearts & beckons us to Himself.

2. To Whom
   He extends His cordial and warmest invitation to each one of us who is weary and heavy-burdened… personally!

The Greek word for Weary is Kopiao…which means to toil & become weary to the point of exhaustion!

Weary could refer to the internal exhaustion caused by seeking Divine Truth through mere Human Wisdom.
Heavy Laden could be the external burdens caused by futile peripheral efforts & works to seek the Divinity.

Many of us certainly, reach the point of exhaustion and fatigue in our everyday works and life and in our search for salvation.

Yes, You and I, each one of us, is today, an honoured and a privileged Invitee!
“Behold, I stand at the door and Knock!” (Rev 3:20).

3. What
   To rest in His Sacred Heart & to Learn from Him Gentleness and Humility.

A haughty heart robs the person of spiritual insights

Pride renders a person to look only to oneself…
… and the gaze on the Lord is considered meaningless.

This is where the Pharisaic Mentality went wrong.

They saw legalism as the vehicle to heaven.
They lost sight of God’s desire for the heart.

They glorified the Law of Moses, but failed to see the Glorious God of the Law!

The Kingdom belongs to the Gentle and Humble…
… and that’s what Jesus invites us to learn!

4. When
   “Why delay good things in life?”

The Yoke of the Lord is easy…
… because it is HE who takes up the burden… we are only sharers in His Divine Yoke!

He gives us a yoke which is made to fit our needs and abilities perfectly well!

And the Time is NOW!

The Invitation is already posted and the Master is waiting!

What is our Response…
RSVP… Répondez S’il Vous Plaît

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism:
JESUS AND THE LAW

At the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount Jesus issued a solemn warning in which he presented God’s law, given on Sinai during the first covenant, in light of the grace of the New Covenant:

Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets: I have come not to abolish but to fulfil.

Jesus, Israel’s Messiah and therefore the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, was to fulfil the Law by keeping it in its all-embracing detail – according to his own words, down to “the least of these commandments”.
He is in fact the only one who could keep it perfectly.
On their own admission, the Jews were never able to observe the Law in its entirety without violating the least of its precepts.
This is why every year on the Day of Atonement the children of Israel ask God’s forgiveness for their transgressions of the Law.
The Law indeed makes up one inseparable whole, and St. James recalls, “Whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.”
This principle of integral observance of the Law not only in letter but in spirit was dear to the Pharisees.
By giving Israel this principle they had led many Jews of Jesus’ time to an extreme religious zeal.
This zeal, were it not to lapse into “hypocritical” casuistry, could only prepare the People for the unprecedented intervention of God through the perfect fulfilment of the Law by the only Righteous One in place of all sinners.
The perfect fulfilment of the Law could be the work of none but the divine legislator, born subject to the Law in the person of the Son.
In Jesus, the Law no longer appears engraved on tables of stone but “upon the heart” of the Servant who becomes “a covenant to the people”, because he will “faithfully bring forth justice”
Jesus fulfils the Law to the point of taking upon himself “the curse of the Law” incurred by those who do not “abide by the things written in the book of the Law, and do them”…
… for his death took place to redeem them “from the transgressions under the first covenant” (Cf. CCC # 577-580)

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