“Having a genuine and honest encounter with the Word of God!”

(Based on Ezek 2:2-5, 2 Cor 12:7-10 and Mk 6:1-6 – 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time)

When the first missionaries went to Japan, a young Japanese boy wanted to learn English.

The missionaries handed him a copy of the Gospels and asked him to translate into his native language.
(The boy – an avid reader – had never heard about Jesus and considered the book as being just one of the “many books that he had read”)

After a few pages of translation, the boy became very agitated and restless.

Approaching the missionaries, he said to them: “Who is this Man about Whom I have been reading in this book? This Jesus!

You call Him a Man… but to me, he appears as a God!”

The boy was under the impression that he was reading a book about a famous Man…
… only to discover that he was actually encountering The Great God in the Book!

Yes, a genuine and honest encounter with the Word of God always causes a great impact on people…

Some either feel greatly drawn by the Divine…
Some however, also feel a great sense of denial and refusal of God’s Ways

The Gospel of the Day presents this dual-reaction to Jesus, the Word of God…
… an initial sense of rejoicing and enthrallment
… and later, a purposeful rejection of the Divine Ways and Will

The Lord arrives in His hometown.

On the Sabbath, He taught in the synagogue.

The Gospel mentions a juxtaposition of feelings of the listeners…

First, there is a great expression of marvel and wonder:
“Where did this Man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been given to Him? What deeds of power are being by Him?” (Mk 6:2)

But this feeling quickly vanishes…

The feelings of wonder and amazement get distorted to feelings of contempt, condemnation and outright rejection:
“Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not His sisters here with us?” (Mk 6:2)

What was the cause of this sudden and dramatic change of mood of the listeners?

It was simply because Jesus was “just one of them!”
It was simply because Jesus was “too acquainted to them!”

Familiarity often breeds contempt!

When one is too close to the Divine, one has to be also aware that there are greater possibilities of losing the “sense of awe and wonder” and sink into the dangerous waters of “taking things for granted”

When one is constantly handling Divine objects, there is also the greater chance of losing the “awareness and thrill of the mystery” and get lost in the thickets of “being lethargic or unenthusiastic or even indifferent”

Prophet Ezekiel had this experience with the people of Israel, when God told him: “I am sending you to the people of Israel, to a nation of rebels who have rebelled against me; they and their ancestors have transgressed against me to this very day. The descendants are impudent and stubborn…” (Ezek 2:3-4)

How many of us are also prone to this danger….

Priests and the Religious constantly handle Divine objects and perform many spiritual exercises…

Daily Holy Mass… Frequent recital of the Psalms in the Divine Office Prayer… Regular Adorations and administering and receiving of the Sacraments… Recurrent handling of the Bible, liturgical articles, reading and hearing Church teachings and life of saints….

Do all these help one to deepen one’s relationship with the Lord…?

Or do these cause one to lose the “sense of awe and wonder” and sink into the dangerous waters of “taking things for granted”…?

Many Christians are engaged in a number of spiritual activities on a regular basis…

Holy Eucharistic celebration… novenas… recital of the Rosary and other pious prayers of devotion… forwarding of devotional messages, pictures and videos through emails and WhatsApp and social networking tools…

Do all these help one to grow in spiritual life….?

Or do these make one to lose the “awareness and thrill of the mystery” and get lost in the thickets of “being lethargic or unenthusiastic or even indifferent”…?

The people failed to recognize the worth and value of Jesus due to “too much familiarity”.

However this familiarity was only “external and peripheral”…

Such kind of a familiarity had, in fact, caused them to be ignorant, contemptuous and prejudiced…

Ignorant… of the fact that amidst them was the Promised Messiah who was to save the world!
Contemptuous… of the fact that “one of them” could actually possess so much of wisdom and power!
Prejudiced… of the fact that “this ordinary Son of a carpenter” could ever be the Son of God!

Yes, how often do we reject the precious and important people and aspects of life…
… due to our ignorance
… due to our contempt of things
… and due to our prejudiced mindsets!

We are invited today to “open our eyes” and to realize the worth and preciousness of God’s grace that we have been blessed with…

Each of us… personally… as a family… as a community… and as a Church, have been blessed and graced with immense favours and kindness from the Lord.

True that we have a lot of difficulties to face in our life…
True that we have much to complain in the maze of the many crisis we undergo..

Yet amidst all this…
Can we lift up our hearts in thanksgiving and gratitude for the Lord’s Guiding Presence with us, always… and learn to grow deeper in our love for Him?

With St Paul, let us also depend on the Power of God and exclaim: “…whenever I am weak, then I am strong!” (2 Cor 12:10)

A genuine and honest encounter with the Word of God always causes a great impact on people…

Some either feel greatly drawn by the Divine…
Some however, also feel a great sense of denial and refusal of God’s Ways

What is our Response to Jesus, the Word of God?

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism:
THE BAPTISM OF JESUS

The Baptism of Jesus is on His part the acceptance and inauguration of his mission as God’s suffering Servant.
He allows himself to be numbered among sinners; he is already “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world”.
Already He is anticipating the “baptism” of his bloody death.
Already He is coming to “fulfil all righteousness”, that is, He is submitting himself entirely to His Father’s Will: out of love He consents to this baptism of death for the remission of our sins.
The Father’s voice responds to the Son’s acceptance, proclaiming His entire delight in His Son.
The Spirit Whom Jesus possessed in fullness from His conception comes to “rest on Him”.
Jesus will be the source of the Spirit for all mankind.
At his baptism “the heavens were opened”- the heavens that Adam’s sin had closed – and the waters were sanctified by the descent of Jesus and the Spirit, a prelude to the new creation.
Through Baptism, the Christian is sacramentally assimilated to Jesus, who in His own Baptism anticipates His Death and Resurrection.
He Christian must enter into this mystery of humble self-abasement and repentance, go down into the water with Jesus in order to rise with Him, be reborn of water and the Spirit so as to become the Father’s beloved son in the Son and “walk in newness of life”
Let us be buried with Christ by Baptism to rise with him; let us go down with him to be raised with him; and let us rise with him to be glorified with him.

Everything that happened to Christ lets us know that, after the bath of water, the Holy Spirit swoops down upon us from high heaven and that, adopted by the Father’s voice, we become sons of God. (Cf. CCC # 536-537)

“May St Thomas help us, with his intercession and inspiration, to become Christians of Conviction and Certainty and to firmly cry out, in joyful acclamation, ‘My Lord and My God’”

(Based on the Solemnity of St Thomas – Apostle of India)

A young man joined the military service as a soldier.

One morning, he was ordered by the sergeant to report for duty at the canteen.

He, however refused.

The sergeant threatened to report him to the officer that day.
“All right,” said the young man, “go ahead. I did not enlist to be a bartender but a soldier, and I will not report at the canteen!”

His action of refusal was duly reported to the major who sent for him.

His companions taunted him as being “adamant” and “snobbish”

The young man went to the Major – with trembling knees but a steady heart – for he knew he was right.

The officer asked him, ‘Are you the young man who disobeyed orders this morning?’

“Yes, sir, I am.”

“Why did you do it?”

“Simply because I do not believe it is right to do what I was asked to do.
I enlisted to be a soldier and not a bartender.’

The officer arose quickly from his chair.

A trickle of fear went down the spine of the young man!

However, the officer extending his hand, said: “Young man, you are the kind of man we want.
I am glad to see a fellow who has the courage of his convictions.

You are not obliged to report at the canteen.
I am proud of your convictions!”

The young man was supposedly considered by others as being “adamant” and “proud”…

But the officer realized the worth of this young man – as having a courageous character of convictions!

True commitment and steadfast faithfulness in life requires the power of convictions and certainty!

Today we celebrate the Feast of St Thomas – who is popularly (or rather infamously) called as the “Doubting Apostle”.

He was probably considered by others as being “adamant” and “proud”…
• It was his search for convictions in life that made him seek for a proof for the Lord’s appearance
• It was his desire for certainty in life that caused him to doubt at the words of his companions over the Lord’s Resurrection.

The Lord realized the worth of this young man- as having a courageous character of convictions!

When we go through the life of St Thomas as seen in the Gospels, we encounter a person constantly displaying courage, expressing commitment and seeking for convictions.

St Thomas indeed stands out among the other apostles…

1. It was probably St Thomas who first expressed his desire to give up his life for the Lord and His Kingdom…
   “Let us also go, that we may die with Him” (Jn 11: 16)

St Thomas becomes a motivation for all those who follow Christ, to be bold and brave and even to give up one’s life for the Lord and His Kingdom

2. It was St Thomas who had the simplicity and the openness to ask Jesus when the Lord had declared that “Where I am going you know the way..” and the Lord had responded “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life”…
   “Master, we do not know where you are going, how can we know the way?” (Jn 14:5)

St Thomas becomes a consolation to all those who face genuine uncertainties in spiritual life and encourages to remain like a child – in openness, simplicity and frankness.

3. It was St Thomas who refused the trust the words of his companions on the issue of the Jesus’ Resurrection.

He knew that many of his companions had impulsive reactions and therefore, could not be believed for their words. Therefore, he insisted that his belief in Christ’s Resurrection would depend only on His personal experience with the Lord

“Unless I see the mark of the nails in His Hands and put my finger into His side, I will not believe” (Jn 20:25)

St Thomas becomes a refuge for all those who grapple with spiritual anxieties – lack of consolation in prayer life, deep longing to experience God and many confusions regarding spiritual teachings and faith experiences

In St Thomas we have a saint who is very human and with whom we – who are often prone to mistakes and frail in weaknesses – can easily connect.
• He was brave, but also had his moments of feeling lost
• He was courageous, but also had his moments of seeking answers for doubts
• He was enthusiastic, but also had his moments of staying away from the faith-community

St Thomas is a shining beacon of courage.

He had his doubts.
But once cleared, he became a person of immense conviction.

This conviction made him to travel across many lands to give witness to Jesus, His Lord and Master… and even to give up His life, in martyrdom!

Yes, True commitment and steadfast faithfulness in life requires the power of convictions and certainty!

May St Thomas help us, with his intercession and inspiration, to become Christians of Conviction and Certainty and to firmly cry out, in joyful acclamation, “My Lord and My God”

Happy Feast of St Thomas, the Convinced Disciple of Christ!

Happy Feast of Faith and Belief, Boldness and Courage to all!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism:
THE BAPTISM OF JESUS

Jesus’ public life begins with his baptism by John in the Jordan.
John preaches “a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins”.
A crowd of sinners – tax collectors and soldiers, Pharisees and Sadducees, and prostitutes – come to be baptized by him.
“Then Jesus appears.” the Baptist hesitates, but Jesus insists and receives baptism. Then the Holy Spirit, in the form of a dove, comes upon Jesus and a voice from heaven proclaims, “This is my beloved Son.”

This is the manifestation (“Epiphany”) of Jesus as Messiah of Israel and Son of God. (Cf. CCC # 535)

“Surrendering ourselves totally to the Sovereignty of our Blessed Lord and being an inspiration to others, to turn towards the Lord!”

(Based on Gen 23:1-4, 19; 24:1-8, 62-67 and Mt 9:9-13 – Friday of the 13th Week in Ordinary Time)

An interesting story is said of a Christian Missionary woman who had been doing the work of evangelization among a native group of tribals.

After she had been with them for a while, and after the natives had experienced the Power of the Lord…
… they gave her a new name: “Aim-day-co”

The Chief of the Tribe, in explaining the name, said: “In our tribe, when we see anyone taking a wrong route/road, we call out “Aim-day-co”

It means, “Turn this way!”

Our sister came from a far-away land and found us all on the wrong road.

She sensed that we were in great danger of losing our souls.

So she stood and said “Turn this Way”…
… and pointed to Jesus!

May God bless “Aim-day-co!”

Are we ready to be an “Aim-day-co” in the lives of people?

The Gospel of the Day (Mt 9:9-13) presents Jesus Who became an “AIM DAY CO” in the life of St Mathew…
… and today, on the Feast day of St Mathew, we celebrate, how, in turn, this Great Saint has become an “Aim-day-co” to all of us, by his Gospel!

One of the important and essential dimensions of an encounter with our Blessed Lord is the “transformation effect” on the person.

If one has had a genuine encounter with Him…
… one cannot be passive
… one cannot just remain the same

Either one shakes off the dust of sin and slackness and follows Him in sincerity
… or one tries to cast Him off from life and adamantly remains in one’s own desires!

Either one takes radical decisions in life and orients one’s conduct in accordance with His Will
… or one seeks to do away with all Divine inspirations and obstinately sticks firm to one’s personal interests!

In any case, an “encounter with the Lord” causes an effect in life – either for the good or towards rejecting the impulses of Divine Goodness.

Do I respond positively and emphatically to the call of the Lord…
… or do I sink into an attitude of grumbling, complaining and disinterestedness?

The Gospel of the day presents these two “contrasting reactions” in the encounter with Jesus…

Matthew…. who hears the call of the Lord – “Follow Me” (Mt 9: 9)

The Pharisees… who observe the lavishness of God’s mercy and react with grumbling and complaining (Mt 9: 11)

Jesus very emphatically declares, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick” (Mt 9:12)

This verse is the key to understand and gauge the style of reaction, when we encounter the Lord…

The one who needs Him – will relish Him!

The one who feels no need of Him- will reject Him!

The one who acknowledges that one is sick, weak and in need of God’s grace and mercy – will find in Him a Saviour!

The one who vehemently says that one is all fine, self-motivated and strong willed – will fail to find any consolation in Him!

Here then is a wonderful check-meter to test my passion, my longing and my intensity of love for the Lord…

Have I discovered that by myself I cannot achieve everything that life demands of me….?
… and in the Lord alone, I have the answer to my problem and a solution to the puzzles of my life!

Do I realise that as a human person, I often fall into the snares of sin and can get easily caught up in evil traps… ?
… and in the Lord alone, I have the antidote to sin and a remedy to overcome the pitfalls of wickedness!

St Mathew presents a beautiful picture, of embracing the Lord fully into life because He realised and discovered the intimate need of the Lord in his life.

He experienced Jesus as an “Aim-day-co” – the One Who told him “Turn this Way”…
… away from the ways of sin and Turn towards the Way of Salvation!
… away from the ways of corruption and Turn towards the Way of Christ!

On this First Friday of the Month, as we offer ourselves to the Sacred Heart of our Blessed Lord…
… may we be inspired by St Mathew and imitate his example in surrendering ourselves totally to the Lord’s Sovereignty…
… and thus be an “Aim-day-co” – the one who tells “Turn this Way” to many people in our lives!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism:
THE MYSTERIES OF JESUS’ HIDDEN LIFE
The hidden life at Nazareth allows everyone to enter into fellowship with Jesus by the most ordinary events of daily life:

The home of Nazareth is the school where we begin to understand the life of Jesus – the school of the Gospel.
First, then, a lesson of silence. May esteem for silence, that admirable and indispensable condition of mind, revive in us
A lesson on family life: May Nazareth teach us what family life is, its communion of love, its austere and simple beauty, and its sacred and inviolable character
A lesson of work: Nazareth, home of the “Carpenter’s Son”, in you I would choose to understand and proclaim the severe and redeeming law of human work
The finding of Jesus in the temple is the only event that breaks the silence of the Gospels about the hidden years of Jesus.
Here Jesus lets us catch a glimpse of the mystery of his total consecration to a mission that flows from His Divine Sonship: “Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s work?”
Mary and Joseph did not understand these words, but they accepted them in faith.

Mary “kept all these things in her heart” during the years Jesus remained hidden in the silence of an ordinary life. (Cf. CCC # 533-534)

“Realising the need to be humble in order to be admitted to the Presence of the Lord!”

(Based on Gen 22:1-19 and Mt 9:1-8 – Thursday of the 13th Week in Ordinary Time)

There is a funeral custom of a particular Austrian Royal Family.

This is in a church in which the Hapsburgs, the former ruling family of Austria are buried.

It is called the “Knocking Ceremony”

The custom takes place at the burial of every member of the Imperial Family before the entrance of the Capuchin cloister church.

When the coffin arrives at the entrance, the Grand Chamberlain knocks three times with a silver cane on the door of the Church which contains the Imperial crypt.

The guard inside asks: “Who is there?”

The Grand Chamberlain proclaims the name and titles of the deceased Hapsburg Emperor: “I am (Name) … Emperor of Austria, Apostolic King of Hungary, King of Bohemia, Dalmatia, Croatia, Slavonia, Galicia…..etc….”

Upon hearing this, the porter refuses to open the door and says: “I do not know you.”

The Grand Chamberlain knocks on the door again and in answer to the porter’s question ‘Who is there?’ gives just the name of the deceased Emperor: “I am (Name) … His Majesty, the Emperor and the King ”

The guard inside, again refuses admission: “I do not know you.”

For a third time, the Grand Chamberlain knocks on the door and the guard asks: “Who is there?”

This time, the Grand Chamberlain simply says: “I am (Name)… a poor mortal and a sinner.”

To this, comes the response: “Come in.”

The progression in the questions and answers shows a progression towards humility.

It is only the humble who can be admitted to the Presence of the Lord!

Where there is humility, there is forgiveness of sin and celebration of mercy

Where there is only pride, there is criticism of sinners and condemnation of generosity!

The Gospel of the Day is a beautiful incident of a contrast of experiences:

The humble being received into the forgiving love of God
The pride being reprimanded to acknowledge the mercy of God!

The Gospel is the forgiveness and healing of the paralytic, when Jesus comes to His own city (Mt 9:1)

Seeing the paralytic being brought on the stretcher, and admiring their faith, Jesus had said:
“Courage child, your sins are forgiven” (Mt 9: 2)

However, some of the scribes got annoyed and commented: “This man is blaspheming” (Mt 9:3)

But Jesus, who reads the hearts of all people said:
“But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins, He then said to the paralytic,’Rise, pick up your stretcher and go home” (Mt 9:6)

Jesus was seeking to establish an important aspect…

Every sin has its evil consequences on a person

It is not that every sickness/evil/ill-happening is a result of sin…
…but the reverse is always true: That Sin always has a negative influence on a person!

The paralytic man was brought on a stretcher by the people (Mt 9:2) for a physical healing

But Jesus demonstrates to the man, his friends as well as to all around…
… that more than physical healing, one needs a spiritual cleansing
… that it is only a spiritual empowerment that can lead to integral material health

This spiritual empowerment…. This spiritual cleansing…
… needs the element of Humility!

Humility is expressed in this incident by the man who “was brought on the stretcher”

The paralytic lay in utter helplessness and misery
The paralytic was totally vulnerable and powerless

These elements constitute humility…
… acknowledging one’s helplessness and depending totally on the power of God
… accepting that one is vulnerable and weak and needs God’s strength to be empowered

The scribes who were criticising Jesus failed to have these elements…

They instead swelled up in pride and false knowledge

Only where there is humility, can there be forgiveness of sin and a celebration of mercy

Where there is only pride, there is criticism of sinners and condemnation of generosity!

Are we sick and paralysed today?

Maybe our family and community lives are paralysed by attitudes of indifference, uncaring attitude, arguments and financial difficulties
Maybe our personal lives are paralysed by uncertainties, lack of hope and shortage of inspiration and motivation
Maybe our societal lives are paralysed by rejection from others, misunderstandings and unhealthy experiences of corruption and injustice.

We need the healing touch of the Lord… We need an empowerment

This healing has to primarily begin from the spiritual dimension
This empowerment needs to start first from the spiritual perspective

When we go to the Lord in humility, we will be touched from within
… a spiritual cleansing happens and a spiritual empowerment is kindled!

The Lord came into the world, primarily as a Saviour…
… to save us!

And He intends that all of us seek Him with this prime motive above all…
… spiritual graces above material blessings
… growth in holiness over prosperity of earthly riches

One of the most important means that the Lord provides this opportunity to receive His Mercy and Healing is the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession)

Just as Jesus forgave the sins of the paralytic and restored him to bodily health…
… so too Jesus wants the Church, through the Holy Spirit, to continue his work of healing and salvation especially through the Sacrament of Reconciliation

The Sacrament of Reconciliation is a Sacrament of Healing!

We need to examine ourselves…

Has examination of conscience become part of our daily Christian lifestyle?
Do I frequent the Sacrament of Reconciliation more often and thus receive forgiveness of sins and strength for our spiritual life?
Do I make sufficient preparation for the Sacrament, and also seek to hold on to the promises and resolutions made at the Confessional?

Every Confession is to become a life-changing experience!

Confession is not a license to do more sins
Confession is not a permit to living in sin, thinking that “God will anyway forgive!”

The Sacrament of Reconciliation is a great privilege…
… It is also a Sacred Duty and places a moral obligation to seek to grow in holiness!

Of course the of the pandemic, with its restrictions, has kept many of us away from the Sacrament. However, lets, call on the Mercy of the Lord, everyday…
… and thus to receive healing from Him!

Yes, let us realise…
… that it is only the humble who can be admitted to the Presence of the Lord!

As we stand at the half-yearly marks of this Year 2021, let us thank the Lord for all His protective blessings…
… and as we enter the second half – with the month of July – lower ourselves, in total dependence on the Lord!

May we knock at the “Door of the Lord’s presence”, acknowledging in humility, that “we are mortals and sinners”…
… seeking to be healed of all the “paralysis” in our life…

And thus, hear the Saviour Lord telling us:
“Take heart, my child, your sins are forgiven!
Rise, take up your stretcher and go home!”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism:
THE MYSTERIES OF JESUS’ HIDDEN LIFE

During the greater part of his life Jesus shared the condition of the vast majority of human beings: a daily life spent without evident greatness, a life of manual labour. His religious life was that of a Jew obedient to the law of God, a life in the community.
From this whole period it is revealed to us that Jesus was “obedient” to his parents and that he “increased in wisdom and in stature, and in favour with God and man.”
Jesus’ obedience to his mother and legal father fulfils the fourth commandment perfectly and was the temporal image of his filial obedience to his Father in heaven.
The everyday obedience of Jesus to Joseph and Mary both announced and anticipated the obedience of Holy Thursday: “Not my will…”

The obedience of Christ in the daily routine of his hidden life was already inaugurating his work of restoring what the disobedience of Adam had destroyed (Cf. CCC # 531-532)

“Growing deeper in our relation with the Lord, and with Him, being strong and bold against the storms of the evil one!”

(Based on Gen 21:5,8-20 and Mt 8:28-34 – Wednesday of the 13th Week in Ordinary Time)

Four boys were on an expedition – through the rivers and valleys and the mountain ranges.

At the end of the day, they camped – with supper by a campfire – in a lonely ravine.

However, at midnight a terrific thunderstorm encountered them.

The boys were forced to take refuge from the storm in the barn of a farmer.

They felt safe from the stormy rain and lay on the hay…
… when suddenly they heard loud noises…

This time not that of nature… but of a human voice – loud and wild.

All through the night they heard that terrible shouting.

Somehow, in fear and trembling, they managed to through the night.

When dawn appeared, they come down from the barn, and realised the reason for the noise…
The farmer’s father was mentally unstable… mad
… locked up in one of the rooms of the house!

The expedition of the boys ended up with a dual-storm-experience!
… the storm of nature’s fury – in the thunderstorm and heavy rainfall
… the storm of human anger

• unleashed by that poor man who was hysteric

The Gospel of the Day along with the previous passage, presents two storms that are encountered by Jesus and His Disciples…
… the storm of nature’s fury – as They got caught in the heavy tempest while in the boat (Mt 8: 23-27)
… the storm of human anger – as They met the two demoniacs coming out of the tombs (Mt 8: 28-34)

In both the “stormy” and “turbulent” encounters, Jesus calms the “violence” and displays His supremacy as the Lord of all storms and turbulence.

The Gospel of the Day is the incident of the healing of the two demoniacs.

The word “demons” might immediately put off many a people… including perhaps some of us…

“Modern and learned” sceptics of the Bible dismiss demon-possession as rubbish!

Some might say that it was just a primitive manner that people had, to describe psychic or social disorders.

Some might say that it was just a superstitious belief and practice.

But when we consider the Bible in its totality and especially the ministry of Jesus, it is very evidently seen that there is not much accommodation to superstitious beliefs or practices.

Any false or fanciful superstitious stuff was in fact, corrected or rectified!

The Church teaches that the Devil is real, and not just a mythical personification of evil.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that Satan “acts in the world out of hatred for God and his kingdom in Christ Jesus, and … his action causes grave injuries” (CCC #395).

Pope Francis, in his first homily quoted: ‘He who does not pray to the Lord, prays to the Devil.’

This then is an important aspect that we see in today’s Gospel… Jesus performing this miracle of exorcism, showing His supreme power and authority over the satanic forces.

What is my understanding of Satan and the evil forces?

I need to realise that this real force opposes anything that is spiritual and holy.

This also means that wherever there is a spiritual action taking place, there is an opposition by the Devil and his evil power.

Do I arm myself with deeper faith, courage and conviction in God’s power?

Do I equip myself with greater holiness and sanctity to withstand evil influences?

The “Our Father” is a powerful prayer which invokes the power of God against the evil: “… and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from Evil”

Another important and interesting dimension that we see in today’s Gospel passage is the repulsion and disgust for Jesus…

This repulsion is displayed by two groups:

The two demoniacs
The people of the town
And this repulsion is characterised by a singular word – “begging”

The demoniacs BEGGED Him, “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of swine” (Mt 8: 31)

Thereupon the whole town came to meet Jesus, and when they say Him, they BEGGED Him to leave their district” (Mt 8: 34)

The demoniacs couldn’t stand the Holiness and Power of the Lord and so they “begged” Him to cast them into the swine

The people of the town – we are not very sure, what exactly were their reasons – too had a repulsion to the Lord and “begged” Him to leave their district.

In both the cases, one thing is clear: Holiness was opposed and was found repulsive by evil forces!

Where there is Holiness, evil cannot stand!
Where there is Sanctity, satan finds it unbearable!

This then, makes it imperative on our part, as Christians, to embrace ourselves closer into holiness and immerse ourselves deeper into the power of God!

Evil is a reality…

But the power of God, is a much stronger force!

Jesus says, “Fear not, I have conquered the world”

May we grow deeper in our relation with the Lord, and with Him, be strong and bold against the “storms” of the evil one!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism:
THE MYSTERIES OF JESUS’ INFANCY

Jesus’ circumcision, on the eighth day after His Birth, is the sign of His incorporation into Abraham’s descendants, into the people of the covenant.
It is the sign of His submission to the Law and His deputation to Israel’s worship, in which He will participate throughout His Life.
This sign prefigures that “circumcision of Christ” which is Baptism.
The Epiphany is the manifestation of Jesus as Messiah of Israel, Son of God and Saviour of the world.
The great feast of Epiphany celebrates the adoration of Jesus by the wise men (magi) from the East, together with his baptism in the Jordan and the wedding feast at Cana in Galilee.
In the magi, representatives of the neighbouring pagan religions, the Gospel sees the first-fruits of the nations, who welcome the good news of salvation through the Incarnation.
The magi’s coming to Jerusalem in order to pay homage to the king of the Jews shows that they seek in Israel, in the messianic light of the star of David, the One who will be King of the nations.
Their coming means that pagans can discover Jesus and worship him as Son of God and Saviour of the world only by turning towards the Jews and receiving from them the messianic promise as contained in the Old Testament.
The Epiphany shows that “the full number of the nations” now takes its “place in the family of the patriarchs”, and acquires Israelitica dignitas (is made “worthy of the heritage of Israel”).
The presentation of Jesus in the temple shows him to be the firstborn Son who belongs to the Lord.
With Simeon and Anna, all Israel awaits its encounter with the Saviour – the name given to this event in the Byzantine tradition. Jesus is recognized as the long-expected Messiah, the “light to the nations” and the “glory of Israel”, but also “a sign that is spoken against”.
The sword of sorrow predicted for Mary announces Christ’s perfect and unique oblation on the cross that will impart the salvation God had “prepared in the presence of all peoples”.
The flight into Egypt and the massacre of the innocents make manifest the opposition of darkness to the light: “He came to his own home, and his own people received him not.”
Christ’s whole life was lived under the sign of persecution. His own share it with Him.

Jesus’ departure from Egypt recalls the exodus and presents him as the definitive liberator of God’s people (Cf. CCC # 527-530)

“Imitating and following the example of St Peter and St Paul – Humble and Great Saints of the Church!”

(Based on Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul)

It is said that World History is a victorious story written by the winners, through the lives of proud emperors, famous rulers, triumphant troops…
… but Salvation History is written by God, through the lives of humble saints, repentant sinners and passionate lovers of the Lord!

God is an amazing script writer!

His Divine Wisdom, beautifully pens lives.

But often, we fail to understand this script

Failures, disappointments, tragedies…
… are mostly, considered by us, as the end of our lives….

Today, Holy Mother, the Church invites our attention to Two Persons – St Peter and St Paul…
… who faced failures, disappointments and tragedies

But remarkably, through the Divine Plan, their lives were scripted to a classic story….

St Peter was overwhelmed by the Great Fishermen of Hearts

All through the life of Jesus, we see St Peter, varying between many emotions: over-zealous, impatient, bold, courageous, simple, daring

St Paul was overpowered by the tremendous power of the Risen Lord

All through his life, we see St Paul zealous and passionate, fervent and ardent, bold and courageous.

God, the Great Script writer, knew exactly well, these two personalities…
… Their life is a paradox.

Both had their moments of rejecting, persecuting, betraying and doubting the Lord…

Both had their moments of a “turning point”
… St Peter’s call to be a Fisher of People & the Lord once again accepting him, in love, after Resurrection
… St Paul on his way to Damascus, being prevailed over by the Majestic Power of the Risen Lord!

Both had their moments of being misunderstood and facing tough moments from the people, especially, the close people, with whom, they lived with, and to whom they ministered.

Both had their moments of sharing in the Cross of Christ, in His Chalice of Suffering and in the Baptism of a Holy Death!

Today, both are honoured & venerated as Stalwarts of our Faith & the Pillars of the Church.

Peter who had been Simon; Paul who had been Saul.

Peter the fisherman, the small-town Galilean Jew; Paul the Pharisee, the scholar of the Law.

Peter always conscious of the Faith’s Old Testament roots; Paul who found in Christ, “all things new.”

Peter who had lived and walked with Jesus; Paul who encountered the Risen Jesus.

Peter crucified on an inverted Cross; Paul martyred by the Sword.

Two very different persons.
Two different temperaments.
But ONE in their Zeal, Passion, Love, Mission, Enthusiasm, Fervour…All for the Lord!

These saints have much to teach us…
… and much to be imitated!

Is the story of our life, suffering from a ‘bad-script,’ at the moment?

There is Hope… in the Lord!

Are there areas in our life, where there is persecution?

There is Salvation…in the Lord!

Are there moments in our life when we feel betrayed or cheated?

There is Love… in the Lord!

Are there situations of rejection and loneliness in our life?

There is Acceptance… in the Lord!

Are there times of doubt or tears or pain in the depth of our heart?

There is Healing… in the Lord!

The Lord, the Mighty Rock… promised and declared St Peter to be the Rock!

The Lord, the Good News… promised and declared St Paul to be the Evangelizer!

Today He invites us to imitate & follow the example of these Humble and Great Saints of the Church.

Let us grow in Obedience, in Love and in Dependence… like St Peter

Let us grow in Passion, in Courage and in Openness… like St Paul!

Happy Feast of St Peter and St Paul, the Pillars of the Church to all of us, the Seekers of their Intercession and Zeal!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism:
THE CHRISTMAS MYSTERY

Jesus was born in a humble stable, into a poor family.
Simple shepherds were the first witnesses to this event. In this poverty heaven’s glory was made manifest.
The Church never tires of singing the glory of this night: The Virgin today brings into the world the Eternal and the earth offers a cave to the Inaccessible. The angels and shepherds praise him and the magi advance with the star, For you are born for us, Little Child, God eternal!
To become a child in relation to God is the condition for entering the kingdom.
For this, we must humble ourselves and become little.
Even more: to become “children of God” we must be “born from above” or “born of God”.
Only when Christ is formed in us will the mystery of Christmas be fulfilled in us.

Christmas is the mystery of this “marvellous exchange”: O marvellous exchange! Man’s Creator has become man, born of the Virgin. We have been made sharers in the divinity of Christ who humbled himself to share our humanity (Cf. CCC # 525-526)

“Being a ‘Disciple’ – an ever-faithful and committed Christian!”

(Based on Gen 18:16-33 and Mt 8:18-22 – Monday of the 13th Week in Ordinary Time)

We are living in an age of an insistent inclination to the “Instant”….

We seek for…

Instant Coffees…
Instant Food…
Instant Juices…
Instant Pleasures…
Instant Solutions to problems…
Instant end to difficulties…
And sadly… even an inclination for Instant Christianity!

Christianity sometimes gets reduced to…
… Going to Church once in a while especially on a Sunday or a Feast day
… Saying a few prayers time to time
… Reading a few verses from the Bible.. etc…

And then expecting Instant blessings and favours!

But is this all that Christ intended with Christianity?

What does it mean to be a Follower of Christ?

There are various categories or classifications in the job sector.

Some do a full time job
Some do it part time
Some do it on a contract basis
Some do it to achieve a target.

Am I a Christian, as a full timer…?

Or have I reduced it to a part time affair, or in terms of some contract or promises, or in order to achieve some wants and desires?

The Gospel of the Day is a call to re-look at some of the motives and intentions in our following of Christ.

The Gospel of the Day begins with the verse:
Mt 8:18 – “When He saw the crowd press around Him, Jesus gave orders to cross to the other shore”
The preceding verses in Chapter 8 of the Gospel of St Matthew present Jesus performing many miracles and healings…
… and a “Crowd” being attracted to the Lord.

Where there is a miraculous event, a crowd gathers….

But the Lord, wished to sift this Crowd.

He says, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His Head” (Mt 8: 20)

Jesus does away with any promise of security and comfort

He discourages people from following Him for having a better material life!

It was not that He didn’t want many people…
… but He wished to purify their motives & make them authentic in their following Him!

He sifts and sieves and strains the “Crowd”…to get together the “Disciples”.

Where there is a miraculous event, a crowd gathers…

But when there is an exhortation in being committed to that miraculous event…
… the crowd is filtered…and only the Disciples remain back!

The Lord is asking us today…
Are we just a part of the CROWD…?
… or are we ready to be filtered, and be a DISCIPLE?

It is easy to be part of a Crowd….

We can enjoy the occasional miracles
We can relish hearing the Word of God

But it is not easy to be a Disciple…

The experience of external miracles would be few
The Word of God would not just be heard, but also be expected to be lived and practised in life!
There would be no guarantee of any security in life
Many of the personal desires would have to be left behind…

To be a Disciple is hard…
… undoubtedly painful…and certainly, demanding

But to be a Disciple is also joyful…
… undoubtedly satisfying…and certainly, exciting!!

The Crowd is Casual…
… the Disciple is Dedicated!

The Crowd is Dichotomous…
… the Disciple is Committed!

What are we going to choose?

To be part of the “Crowd” – an Instant and easy-going Christian?
… or to be a “Disciple” – an Ever-faithful and committed Christian?

Your answer please?
… Instantly!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism:
THE MYSTERIES OF JESUS’ INFANCY AND HIDDEN LIFE

The coming of God’s Son to earth is an event of such immensity that God willed to prepare for it over centuries.
He makes everything converge on Christ: all the rituals and sacrifices, figures and symbols of the “First Covenant”.
He announces Him through the mouths of the prophets who succeeded one another in Israel. Moreover, He awakens in the hearts of the pagans a dim expectation of this coming.
St. John the Baptist is the Lord’s immediate precursor or forerunner, sent to prepare His way.
“Prophet of the Most High” John surpasses all the prophets, of whom he is the last.
He inaugurates the Gospel, already from his mother’s womb welcomes the coming of Christ, and rejoices in being “the friend of the bridegroom”, whom he points out as “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world”.
Going before Jesus “in the spirit and power of Elijah,” John bears witness to Christ in his preaching, by his baptism of conversion, and through his martyrdom.
When the Church celebrates the liturgy of Advent each year, she makes present this ancient expectancy of the Messiah, for by sharing in the long preparation for the Saviour’s first coming…
… the faithful renew their ardent desire for his second coming.

By celebrating the precursor’s birth and martyrdom, the Church unites herself to his desire: “He must increase, but I must decrease” (Cf. CCC # 522-524)

“Offering our world of burdens to Jesus, telling Him, ‘Here I am Lord; here’s my life. I give you my world, the whole world’ and thus feel energetic and enthusiastic!”

(Based on Wis 1:13-15, 2:23-24, 2 Cor 8:7, 9, 13-15 and Mk 5:21-43 – 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time)

A person came to a spiritual counsellor to share his difficulties and problems of life.

During the break of the counselling session, as the two took a walk in the garden area, the person who was had come to share the difficulties, noticed a large statue of the Atlas.

(The Statue of Atlas is of a well-built man, who with all his muscles straining…
… is holding the world upon his shoulders)

Seeing that statue of Atlas who was struggling to hold the world, the man told the counsellor:
“Do you see that man struggling to hold the world on his shoulders?

That’s exactly how I feel in my life as well!
The burden of the whole world seems to be on my shoulders and I feel exasperated!”

The counsellor gave a gentle smile to the man and asked him to have his eyes on the other side of the street.
“Look at that statue,” said the counsellor.

The man noticed, at a distance, the statue of Infant Jesus…
… Who was holding the world(globe) in His Hands.

And the counsellor continued:
“We have a choice in life!

We can either follow Atlas and feel as if the entire world of burden is placed on my shoulders…
… and thus feel exasperated and exhausted!

Or we can follow Jesus and offer our world of burdens to Him, Who will hold it in His Hands…
… and thus feel energetic and enthusiastic!

The Gospel of the Day recounts two people who had an encounter with Jesus, and offered their world of burdens to Him…
… and thus felt energetic and enthusiastic!

Sicknesses and diseases are great interrupters in life…
.. they enter into the house of life, without knocking at the doors
… they disrupt many plans and aspirations
… they reduce the hope for the future

The Gospel is a narration of two persons who encountered this interruption in life…

1. Jairus’ daughter – on the death bed – would have dashed many hopes of their family
2. The long suffering of the woman – with hemorrhage – would have crushed her aspirations

Both these persons – Jairus and the woman with the hemorrhage underwent similar struggles….

One had tremendous mental agony as a result of worry for his beloved child…
The other had also tremendous physical agony along with her mental and social stigmas…

Both their sufferings had reached a saturation point of tolerance…

Both of them were struggling immensely to swim across the ocean of agony and pain…

But both these persons also displayed a similar sort of faith in the Lord….
“Seeing Jesus, Jairus fell at His feet and pleaded earnestly with Him…” (Mk 5:22)

“…realizing what had happened to her, the woman approached Jesus in fear and trembling; fell down before Jesus and told Him the whole truth” (Mk5: 33)

They both “offered their world of burdens” to Jesus…
… in deep faith and trust…
… with much love and devotion
… with great expectations and hopes

The “offering of their burdens” was a sign of total submission and surrender

Jairus offered himself to the power and mercy of the Lord…
The woman with haemorrhage offered herself to the compassion and love of the Lord…

This made them to experience the power of the Lord.

When we offer ourselves fully to the holy and precious Will of the Lord…
… we come in contact with His Divine Providence and Wonder

When we submit ourselves to the mighty power and providence of God…
…we experience His Divine Strength and Courage
When we surrender ourselves to the dominion and sovereignty of God…
… we encounter His marvelous presence and guidance

Our Christian Life – with all its challenges – places before us choices:

We can either feel that the entire world of burden is placed on our shoulders…
… and thus feel exasperated and exhausted!

Or we can offer our world of burdens to Jesus, telling Him, “’Here I am Lord; here’s my life. I give you my world, the whole world’…
… and thus feel energetic and enthusiastic!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism:
OUR COMMUNION IN THE MYSTERIES OF JESUS

All Christ’s riches “are for every individual and are everybody’s property.”
Christ did not live his life for himself but for us, from his Incarnation “for us men and for our salvation” to his death “for our sins” and Resurrection “for our justification”.
He is still “our advocate with the Father”, who “always lives to make intercession” for us.
He remains ever “in the presence of God on our behalf, bringing before him all that he lived and suffered for us.”
In all of his life, Jesus presents himself as our model. He is “the perfect man,” who invites us to become his disciples and follow him. In humbling himself, he has given us an example to imitate, through his prayer he draws us to pray, and by his poverty he calls us to accept freely the privation and persecutions that may come our way.
Christ enables us to live in him all that he himself lived, and he lives it in us. “By his Incarnation, he, the Son of God, has in a certain way united himself with each man.”

We are called only to become one with him, for he enables us as the members of his Body to share in what he lived for us in his flesh as our model: We must continue to accomplish in ourselves the stages of Jesus’ life and his mysteries and often to beg him to perfect and realize them in us and in his whole Church… For it is the plan of the Son of God to make us and the whole Church partake in his mysteries and to extend them to and continue them in us and in his whole Church. This is his plan for fulfilling his mysteries in us (Cf. CCC # 519-521)

“Having a strong faith that prevents any blocks in the ‘horizon of our faith’”

(Based on Gen 18:1-15 and Mt 8:5-17 – Saturday of the 12th Week in Ordinary Time)

Robert Louis Stevenson (1850 -1894) was a Scottish novelist, poet, essayist, and travel writer.

He was a literary celebrity during his lifetime.
He ranks among the 26 most translated authors in the world!

He was also a great optimist and had a very strong positive outlook towards life.

But he was also often sick and would not keep well.

Once he was bedridden with tuberculosis.

His wife, sick of his extreme positivity, made fun of him and said: “I expect you still believe that it is a wonderful day!”

Lying on the bed, with a series of medicine bottles on his table, Stevenson looked out of the window, with the sunshine blazing down, and said: “Oh yes, I do!

I will never let a row of medicine bottles block my horizon!”

What about us?

Do the problems of life block the horizon of our faith?

The Gospel of the Day is a wonderful exhibition of a powerful faith, which refused to get limited by the problems of life.

The passage begins with a centurion approaching Jesus with a request:
“Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, in terrible distress” (Mt 8:6)

Here is a beautiful example worth admiring and imitating….

A high placed military officer approaches Jesus for a healing of his servant

A wonderful illustration of humility, a striking example of concern for people in the lower position.

We need to ask ourselves…
… What is my attitude to those who are inferior to me?
… How do I treat and behave with those who work for us, in our houses, institutions etc – our servants, our cooks, our drivers, our watchmen etc…?

All of them deserve…
… an act of concern!
… a word of appreciation
… a push of encouragement

When Jesus expresses His willingness to come to his house, the Centurion manifests yet another admiring act…
… a Faith that dares the challenges all problems
… A Faith that defies the shocks of troubles!

He responds to Jesus saying: “Lord, I am not worthy to have you under my roof; only say the Word and my servant will be healed” (Mt 8:8)

Who is a centurion?

A centurion was a professional officer of the powerful army of the Roman Empire.

Although, theoretically, this word has its roots in the Latin word ‘centum’ which means one hundred…
… a Centurion in the Roman Army was one who commanded 80 men.

What was the position of the Centurion in the Roman Army?

Above the centurion was a senior centurion… (a total of 80 men for a Centurion)
Above this senior centurion were sixty centurions… (a total of 4800 men)
Above the sixty centurions were six tribunes… (each tribune had 3000 men.. so total 18, 000)
Above the six tribunes were the two consuls.
Above the consuls was the Emperor!

It was such a “man of immense authority” who stood before Jesus…
… and requested for a healing for his servant.

This mighty centurion looked at Jesus, the Commanding Emperor of a mighty army!

In Jesus, he saw a man…
… of immense authority!
… of mighty strength!
… of great power!

And so He tells Jesus, “… only say a word, and my servant will be healed” (Mt 8: 8b)

The man had a deep concern for his servant

He had a tenderness that caused him to identify with the sufferings of his slave

But he also had a deep faith that refused to be limited by problems and difficulties

His faith was strong and refused the challenges of life to hamper his belief in Jesus!

The centurion did not allow the problems of life to block the “horizon of his faith!”

How about us?

Do our hardships in life, sometimes cause a mist in the horizon of our faith?
Do the concerns of our family and community, sometimes hinder our horizon of our faith?
Do the problems of our future, our plans and our works, cause blocks in the horizon of our faith?

Let us we respond positively to the challenge and invitation of the Centurion in today’s Gospel…
… to have a deeper humility that causes us to reach out to others in concern and care
… to have a stronger faith that prevents any blocks in the “horizon of our faith”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism:
CHARACTERISTICS COMMON TO JESUS’ MYSTERIES

Christ’s whole earthly life – His words and deeds, His silences and sufferings, indeed His manner of being and speaking – is Revelation of the Father.
Jesus can say: “Whoever has seen Me has seen the Father”, and the Father can say: “This is My Son, My Chosen; listen to Him!”
Because our Lord became man in order to do His Father’s Will, even the least characteristics of His mysteries manifest “God’s love… among us”
Christ’s whole life is a mystery of redemption.
Redemption comes to us above all through the blood of his cross, but this mystery is at work throughout Christ’s entire life
… already in His Incarnation through which by becoming poor He enriches us with His poverty
… in His hidden life which by His submission atones for our disobedience
… in His Word which purifies its hearers
… in His healings and exorcisms by which “He took our infirmities and bore our diseases”
… and in His Resurrection by which He justifies us
Christ’s whole life is a mystery of recapitulation. All Jesus did, said and suffered had for its aim restoring fallen man to his original vocation
When Christ became incarnate and was made man, he recapitulated in himself the long history of mankind and procured for us a “short cut” to salvation, so that what we had lost in Adam, that is, being in the image and likeness of God, we might recover in Christ Jesus.

For this reason Christ experienced all the stages of life, thereby giving communion with God to all men (Cf. CCC # 514-515)

“Showing the world that we are redeemed, so that they will believe in our Redeemer!”

(Based on Gen 17:1-10, 15-22 and Mt 8:1-4 – Friday of the 12th Week in Ordinary Time)

A missionary who stepped into a village for the first time had an interaction with the village headman.

After knowing that the missionary was there to speak about the Gospel, the village headman, who was open to the truth, stood up…
… and asked the missionary: “Do you want us to know about Jesus Christ?
Then prove it also by your life!”

He went on to say, “As I welcome you to this village, I also appeal to you:
Not only tell us about Christ, but show us Christ!

Show us that you are redeemed, and we will believe in your Redeemer!”

Yes, so true is the saying: “Christianity refuses to be proved first and practiced afterwards…
… its practice and its proof go hand in hand!”

• Theoretical knowledge shows the whole forest – builds the context and helps to set strategy.
• Practical knowledge shows a single tree – puts forth the situation and challenges to act.

The Gospel of the Day is the narrative of the ‘first in the series’ of practical applications of the theoretical knowledge that Jesus has expounded through the Sermon on the Mount

The Gospel is a great challenge to all of us who are expected to “Not only tell about Christ, but also show Christ!”

The incident of the cleansing of the Leper in Mt 8: 1-4 is placed immediately after the Great Sermon on the Mount (Mt 5:1- 7:29)
• The Sermon on the Mount was the theoretical knowledge that Jesus expounded
• The cleansing of the leper was the theoretical application of some of those principles

At the start of the Sermon on the Mount, we read “When Jesus saw the CROWDS, He went up to the mountain…..” (Mt 5:1)

At the end of the Sermon on the Mount, we read, “When Jesus came down from the mountain, great CROWDS followed Him” (Mt 8:1)

• Many people in the crowd have listened and marvelled at the teachings of Jesus.
• Many of them now follow Him…

Perhaps to see how He would apply those lofty teachings in real life
Perhaps to see whether all those high ideas were really liveable in actual life

And what is the scene that they encounter?

A leper who approaches Jesus!

“A leper!!”… Ooops!!

“Stay away, all” would have been the united chorus of that multitude of crowd!

Leprosy was one of the most feared and dreaded disease of the ancient world.

The Hebrew word for leprosy (Tsara’ath) comes from a root word which means “to scourge or to strike.”

Leprosy was very often, considered a curse.

It was incurable and highly deadly – blatantly evident on the body and an ugly sight!

Leprosy was almost a ‘living death’, with many sweeping implications.

A person would be declared a leper after tests were performed (Lev. 13).
Once declared a leper by the priest, the leper had to be cut-off from contact with society.

• He had to display marks of mourning, as if for the dead (thus, to touch him would defile oneself)
• When someone drew near, he had to call out, “Unclean! Unclean!”
• He had to remain outside the camp with no access to the temple or perform any worship.

Leprosy was, indeed, a living death!

The crowd who saw this leper approach and worship Jesus would have had mixed feelings – shock… anger… unpleasantness…

They would have been also very curious what would Jesus do…
“He preached so much… let’s see what He does now”
“Is He really going to touch and get defiled by that dirty leper?”

But the Lord was not just well-versed in theoretical knowledge; He was also the perfect executioner of applied knowledge!

Theoretically He had said…
“Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the Pharisees and the Scribes, you shall not enter the Kingdom of heaven” (Mt 5:20)

Practically…
He now goes beyond the ceremonial stipulations of the Law and ‘touches’ and heals the leper (Mt 8:3)

Theoretically He had said…
“… take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them” (Mt 6:1)

Practically…
He tells the leper not to make a publicized show of his cure; instead to ‘show himself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded’ (Mt 8:4)

Theoretically He had said…
“Judge not, that, you may not be judged” (Mt 7:1)

Practically…
He doesn’t condemn or despise or mock the leper who comes close to him and instead expresses his whole-hearted willingness to shower mercy on him by saying, “I am willing; be clean” (Mt 8:3)

Theoretically He had said…
“Not everyone who says Lord, Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the Will of the Father in heaven” (7:21)

Practically…
He puts into effect His teachings, ‘walking the talk’ and fulfilling the Will of the Father to be a Healer and Saviour to people.

The Lord was not just an eloquent and effective preacher but also a committed and convinced practiser of what He spoke.
• His deeds matched His wonderful words!
• His words produced dazzling deeds!

This then is the invitation to us too:
To have an integral Christian Life by being a Preacher of the Word (in whichever little or insignificant way possible) and a Practiser of the Word (through a witnessing and charitable life)

May the touch of the Lord take away any ‘leprous’ tendencies in our mind and life and free us from any bondage in order to live a firm and committed Christian Life!

Let us all become a zealous missionary with a clear awareness that we “not only need tell about Christ, but we also need to show Christ to the world!”

Yes, “let us show the world that we are redeemed, so that they will believe in our Redeemer!”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism:
CHRIST’S WHOLE LIFE IS MYSTERY

Many things about Jesus of interest to human curiosity do not figure in the Gospels.
Almost nothing is said about his hidden life at Nazareth, and even a great part of his public life is not recounted.
What is written in the Gospels was set down there “so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.”
The Gospels were written by men who were among the first to have the faith…
… and wanted to share it with others.
Having known in faith who Jesus is, they could see and make others see the traces of his mystery in all his earthly life.
From the swaddling clothes of his birth to the vinegar of his Passion and the shroud of his Resurrection, everything in Jesus’ life was a sign of his mystery.
His deeds, miracles and words all revealed that “in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily.”
His humanity appeared as “sacrament”, that is, the sign and instrument, of His Divinity and of the Salvation He brings: what was visible in His earthly life…

… leads to the invisible mystery of His Divine Sonship and Redemptive Mission! (Cf. CCC # 514-515)