“Saying Yes to God’s Will, like our Blessed Mother, and allow the Lord to be born, in our hearts and in our world today!”

(Based on The Solemnity of the Annunication of the Lord – Lk 1: 26-38)

A little six-year-old boy had often heard his Catholic companions reciting the prayer “Hail Mary.”

He liked it so much that he copied it, memorized it and would recite it every day.

“Look, Mommy, what a beautiful prayer,” he said to his mother one day.

“Never again say it,” answered the mother who was against Catholic practices. “It is a superstitious prayer of Catholics who think Mary as a goddess. After all, she is a woman like any other. “

From that day on the little boy discontinued his daily “Hail Mary” and gave himself more time to reading the Bible instead.

One day, while reading the Gospel, he came across the passage about the Annunciation of the Angel to Our Lady.

Full of joy, the little boy ran to his mother and said: “Mommy, I have found the ‘Hail Mary’ in the Bible which says: ‘Hail full of grace, the Lord is with thee, blessed art thou amongst women.
‘Why do you call it a superstitious prayer?”

On another occasion he found that beautiful Salutation of St. Elizabeth to the Virgin Mary which said, “Blessed are You among women and blessed is the Fruit of Your Womb”

This little boy, as he grew up…
… made a serious study of both Protestantism and Catholicism.

He found the latter to be the only true religion and embraced it and became one of its most ardent apostles…
… going on to become a Priest!

Mother Mary is indeed the beautiful instrument chosen by God, to lead many more to His Love.

Today is the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord.

This announcement of the Good News of the beginning of salvation history, with the encounter of Blessed Virgin Mary with Angel Gabriel, is the Feast of the Annunciation of the Lord.

Mother Mary, at the Annunciation teaches us many things…

1. Mother Mary teaches the supreme goodness of obedience

Heaven had chosen a simple girl, Mary to be the Mother of Jesus, the Saviour.
When Angel Gabriel was sent to seek Her consent, Mary, after the initial moments of fear, bowed Herself in obedience: “Behold, I am the Handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to Me, according to Your Word” (Lk 1: 38)
This obedience to God’s Will would turn out to be Her fortress and strength – in moments of uncertainty, loneliness, dread and agony.

2. “Faithfulness, thy true Daughter is Mary!”

One of the most outstanding qualities to be admired and imitated from our Blessed Mother is “to be faithful”
In Mother Mary, we have a person, who remained faithful at all times…
… even when there were dark clouds of unwarranted humiliation looming over her
… even when unforeseen difficulties encountered Her during the birth of Jesus
… even when she encountered many situations which were not understood by Her
… even when life surrounded her with agonising moments and heartbreaking instances

The “Fiat” at the Annunciation would be lived all through Her life

This act of being “faithful forever” was a result of the constant choices that She made to listen and obey to God’s Will always.

3. Mary was ready to be moulded and shaped by God
   When Mary was entrusted with the greatness of the task, She gave Herself readily to the power of God

She didn’t hold back anything; She was complete in Her surrender

It is when we offer ourselves wholly and be ready to be moulded and shaped by the Lord, that He can perform wonders through us.

4. Mary held on to Jesus as the Greatest Treasure of Her life
   The greatness and the eminence of Mother Mary came as result of Her single-minded focus and love: Everything for Jesus and in Jesus.

When in womb…
… Her sole attention was on Jesus

While in the manger…
… Her whole care was for Jesus

While in His ministry…
… Her thoughts were centred on Him

While on the Cross…
… Her entire self rested on Him

It is when Jesus becomes the Treasure of our life, that our lives gets enshrined in Grace and Holiness

5. Mary is the New Ark of the Covenant, bearing Jesus.
   The Scriptures easily point to the fact that Mother Mary is the New Ark of the Covenant

The ark in the OT travelled to the land of Judah and remained for 3 months (2 Sam: 6:1-11)

The Ark in the NT, Mary travels to Judah, to meet Her cousin Elizabeth and remained for 3 months (Lk 1:39, 56)

David danced and leaped, and shouted before the ark in the OT (2 Sam 6:14)

In the NT, John, the babe, leaped and Elizabeth exclaimed with a loud cry before Mary (Lk 1: 41, 43)
Inside the ark of the Old Covenant was the manna – the miraculous bread from heaven, the staff of Aaron, the Priest and the tablets of the covenant (Heb 9:4)
The NT Ark, Mother Mary had within Her Jesus, the Bread of Life, Jesus, the Eternal Priest and Jesus, the Law-giving Word!

As the New Ark of the Covenant, Mother Mary deserves our highest veneration and honour, which will lead us to a greater closeness and intimacy with the One, She derives all Her praise – Jesus, Her Son and our Brother!

May we embrace Mary, the beautiful instrument chosen by God…
… and be led to love the Lord more!

The Feast of the Annunciation is an invitation for us…

To grow deeper into embracing the Will of God in our lives.
To give consent to the inspirations of the Lord that comes constantly to us.
To be open to march forward in faith and hope, in our life of faith in the Lord.

The Lord is wishing to find a place in a willing heart, even today…

Just as Mary, our Loving Mother, who said Yes to the Will of the Lord, let us also, say Yes to God’s Will…
… and allow the Lord to find a place to be born, in our world today.

Happy Feast of the Annunciation.

Let us continue to hold on to our Blessed Mamma
Let us continue to seek to grow in the Love of Her Beloved Son.

God bless! Live Jesus!

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Quotable-quote-for-the-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “The Sacred Virgin was a very perfect religious, and she is the special Protectress of souls who dedicate themselves which She practiced and manifested more excellently than all others on the day of Her glorious Annunciation…
… First, a virginity and purity, which has nothing like in all creation

… Secondly, a sovereign and profound humility joined and united inseparably to charity!”

“Delaying no more, in drawing closer to the Streams of Graces and Healing!”

(Based on Ez 47:1-9,12 and Jn 5:1-3, 5-16)

The entrance of a particular church once had a large banner that had large, bold letters printed on it.

The words in this banner, read thus: Those people who expect salvation at the eleventh hour…
… often die at 10:30!

Postponement in spiritual matters, is indeed a perilous matter!

Procrastination – the tendency to postpone/delay – is an inclination that is to be greatly avoided in our spiritual journey.

Life often takes us through paralyzing and crippling situations

And this may cause us to often “delay or postpone”

But the Gospel of the Day is a mighty reminder on how we ought to not postpone…
… rather be “proactive” in our spiritual life.

The Gospel passage is a beautiful presentation of this aspect:  On how to have our heads raised up, in hope and trust, despite many crushing and crippling causes in life.

Jesus is in Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover. As he passed through the town, he came near a pool, named Bethzatha.

Jesus encounters a person there, who has been ill for a very long period… thirty eight years! (Jn 5:5)

We are not exactly told what illness was it…

Probably a paralyzing illness…
… a cripple of the legs
… or even a combination of many other sicknesses.

But one thing is known: this sickness made the person to not walk!

The sickness had immobilized him.

But more than his physical body, it seems, that the sickness had crippled also his mind:

His way of thinking seemed jammed in having hope in life…
His outlook to life seemed blurred to see optimism and hope…
His perspective of people seemed to distort his confidence and trust…

When Jesus questions the man, “Do you want to be well?”, the man answers not with a positive affirmation or an optimistic assertion.

Instead he begins to get into a complaining and a pitiable mode, ” Sir, I have no one…” (Jn 5: 7)

A ray of hope was offered to him…
… but instead the man continued to see only the dark clouds.

A glimpse of joy was revealed to him…
… but instead the man persisted on the sad aspects alone.

The long period of sickness had blotted his vision and faded his hopes.

But the Lord.. the ever-challenging God, does not allow the man to remain in this unfortunate and “look-on-me-with-sympathy-please” mode…

Instead, Jesus charges him, “Rise, take up your mat and walk” (Jn 5:8)

And immediately the man became well, took up his mat and walked!

The presence of the Lord vanished away the man’s doubts and lame excuses…
The mighty word of the Lord purged away the man’s feelings of looking at life negatively…

The man who had the tendency to probably “procrastinate – delay and postone”…
… now becomes “proactive!”

The man became proactive…
… casting away his attitude of complaining to become a person of courage
… dropping off his crippling attitude of “none-to-help” and picking up the mat of power and grace

Problems beset each of us in this world.

  Difficulties surround all of us, at various times and situations

But, the one who is “proactive” in life, is able to get over these “paralyzing” factors of life!

Jesus gives us this courage and the hope to “not postpone or delay” matters connected to our spiritual life

Such a pro-active action is spurred by the mighty love and mercy of the Lord.
Such a pro-active move is an approach, impelled by a tremendous faith and hope in the Lord.

You and I, very often may find ourselves in crippling situations of life.

We may keep on lying down
We may keep on being a “complaint-box”
We may keep on postponing our good and only blame people and situations

Or…

We may raise up our heads to see the Lord challenging us to walk
We may garner strength and courage and be bold to pick up our mats of suffering
We may imbue ourselves with the Lord’s power to never let anything cripple our minds

We are invited to draw Power and Strength from the living streams of God’s Grace, offered to us, in the Sacraments…
…and in particular, in this time of immense struggle and challenge, through various acts of devotion especially the Rosary, Stations of the Cross, Devotional Reading of the Bible, Chaplet of the Divine Mercy etc.

Through Prophet Ezekiel, we are reminded and encouraged to understand that where the Waters of God’s Grace flows, there is life and healing:
“And wherever the river goes, every living creature which swarms will live, and there will be very many fish; for this water goes there, that the waters of the sea may become fresh…
… so everything will live where the river goes.

And on the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither nor their fruit fail, but they will bear fresh fruit every month…
… because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing.” (Ez 47:9,12)

Let us delay no more, in drawing closer to these Streams of Graces and Healing!

Yes, Postponement in spiritual matters, is indeed a perilous matter!

Let’s remember: Those people who expect salvation at the eleventh hour…
… often die at 10:30!

Shall we be ready, “to rise, take up our mats, and walk?”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “We all have a vocation.

We believe that God has called us to this state of life to fill a special need that no one else can accomplish!”

“Leaping over the walls of discouragement, and in faith and hope, experiencing the thrilling Love of the Lord!”

(Based on Is 65:17-21 and Jn 4:43-54)

Heard of Impalas?

Impalas are medium-sized antelopes (animals like deer, with smooth hair and upward pointing horns) that roam the African Savannas (large plains with hills and forests).

They have a great speciality:

 Impalas are fleet runners, able to leap distances of up to 33 feet (10 meters)!

They use this technique to escape predators and sometimes, apparently, simply to amuse themselves.

The impala can also clear bushes and other obstacles by soaring some 10 feet (3 meters) in the air.

Typically, a running impala will simply jump over anything in its path!

But there’s a catch…
These extremely versatile animals can, however,  be kept in a zoo with only a 3-foot tall wall surrounding them!

How is that possible?

How is just a 3-foot wall enough, to enclosure an animal that can leap upto 33 feet and soar around 10 feet in the air?

It’s easy to explain…..

The impala will not jump if they are unable to see the spot where their feet will land!

So, even though they can jump several feet higher than the wall surrounding them in a zoo, they do not jump, because the 3-foot wall obstructs their sight of the outside, where they would land!

Since they cannot see where they land, they do not jump … even though they could.

They can, but they remain limited!
They are able to, but they remain restricted!

How often are we too caught up with this mentality in life?

  Small enclosures block our view…and therefore we fail to jump…even though we can!
Mini problems restrict us in our lives…and we fail to leap…even though we can!

 
The Gospel of the Day presents an incident of a “leap in faith”…
… of a person who fails to get bogged down by enclosures surrounding him, and instead trusting in the power of Lord, “jumps”…and is blessed!

Jesus is in the land of Galilee…away from his hometown. (Jn 4:43)
·   His own people in the hometown have rejected Him.
·   The known persons of His native place have failed to give heed to His mighty deeds.

And so He arrives, yet again, at a Gentile place… where they welcome Him wholeheartedly!

 
How true is this of many a human situation…

Those familiar to oneself, fail to understand…but those outside, are able to give better respect!
Those known to a person, fail to see the value of the person…but those who are unknown, recognise the speciality of the person!

Familiarity, very often, breeds contempt!

In this gentile land, a royal official whose son was ill – nearing death -approached Jesus, seeking for a healing.

He travels a far distance – nearly 25 miles, from Capernaum to Galilee – and coming to Jesus, he asks, “Sir, come down, before my child dies” (Jn 4: 49)

The request of this official would perhaps, remind some of us of another person, who came with a similar problem….
… The centurion – in Mt 8: 5-13 – whose servant was at home, paralyzed.

This centurion had showed tremendous faith and was even greatly praised by Jesus.

But the royal official, in today’s Gospel, had a mixed bag of faith…
·   He had faith in Jesus, which made him to come a long distance to meet Jesus.
… his faith was however, prompted mainly only because of a need for a healing.

·   He had faith in Jesus, which made him to request the Lord for a healing.
… his faith, was however, limited by physical distance (since he asked the Lord to come to his house, unlike the Centurion (Mt 8:8)

Often our faith resembles this royal official…
… turning to the Lord only in times of afflictions and troubles
… having our own doubts on whether the Lord can really work miracle in the way I want

But we must also remember…
… hard and difficult situations, are willed by God, to allow for miracles and healings, which ought to become the springboard for a deeper and committed life of faith!

… the Lord has His own ways and means of working powerfully in our lives, and we need to have the openness and humility to receive them in His way and in His time!

 
When the Lord gives His word, ” You may go; your son will live” (Jn 4:50), this royal official, with a mixed bag of faith…. makes a tremendous “leap and jump” in faith.

The Gospel says, “… the man believed what Jesus said to him and left” (Jn 4: 50b)

There were many enclosures – of pain, doubt, uncertainty – surrounding the royal official…
… but he makes a giant “leap” trusting in the Lord.

Perhaps, he was not sure, where he would land, but he still “jumped” in faith!

Our lives, very often necessitate this “jumping” in faith, trusting in the mighty power of the Lord.

Unlike the Impalas which do not jump, when they can’t see where they are landing, this royal official, trusted in the Lord, and takes the “leap” of faith.

We too are called to do the same…
… Not be afraid, where we will be landing, but trusting in the goodness of the Lord, we make a “leap” of faith.
·   Barriers of immense difficulties and crisis often surround us.
·   Walls of tremendous hardships and pains often block our lives.

But, the Lord has empowered us with graces to jump and leap over them all!
·   It’s His grace that strengthens us.
·   It’s His mercy that empowers us.

It is this Grace and Mercy of the Lord that gives us the hope that the Lord is working in our lives…
… even in the midst of crisis and problems, including the present one that the entire world is encountering.

Through Prophet Isaiah, God assures us:
“For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind.

But be glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy!” (Is 65:7-8)
 

Are we going to get enclosed by the walls of discouragements, despair and depression?
… or shall we, with faith, “leap” over these walls and experience the joy and thrill in the Lord?

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “When you encounter difficulties and contradictions, do not try to break them…

… but bend them with gentleness and time!”

“Allowing our eyes to be opened to the Light of God’s Will in our lives!”

(Based on Jn 9:1-41)

Plato was a Greek philosopher, who along with Aristotle, is considered to have laid the foundations of Western Philosophy.

In his work, “Republic”, he writes about the famous “Allegory of the Cave.”

The Allegory begins with an imagination of a cave, where people have been imprisoned from birth.

These prisoners are chained so that their legs and necks are fixed, forcing them to gaze at the wall in front of them and not look around at the cave, each other, or themselves.

Behind the prisoners is a fire, and between the fire and the prisoners is a raised walkway with a low wall…
… behind which people walk carrying objects or puppets “of men and other living things”.

The prisoners are only able to see the shadows cast upon the cave wall in front of them.

The sounds of the people talking echo off the walls, and the prisoners believe these sounds come from the shadows.

For the prisoners, the shadows are reality, because they have never seen anything else.

They do not realize that what they see are shadows of objects in front of a fire, much less that these objects are inspired by real things outside the cave.

The allegory then invites us to suppose that one prisoner is freed.

This “freed” prisoner would look around and see the fire.

The light would hurt his eyes and make it difficult for him to see the objects casting the shadows.

He would escape from this struggle by turning away to the things which he was able to look at…
… and these he would believe to be clearer than what was being shown to him.

Now suppose that someone should drag him…the steep way up, into the light of the sun.

The prisoner would be angry and in pain.

However, slowly, his eyes would adjust to the light of the sun.

  First he sees only the shadows.
Gradually he sees the reflections of people and things in water and then later see the people and things themselves.
Eventually, he is able to look at the stars and moon at night until finally he can look upon the sun itself.

He would make an Upward movement – towards faith and trust!

The allegory goes on to say that the freed prisoner “would feel blessed for the change”, and pity the other prisoners…
… and would want to bring his fellow cave dwellers out of the cave and into the sunlight.

The returning prisoner, whose eyes have become accustomed to the sunlight, would be blind when he re-enters the cave…
… just as he was when he was first exposed to the sun.

The prisoners, inside however, would infer from the returning man’s blindness, that the journey out of the cave had harmed him and that they should not undertake a similar journey.

These chained prisoners would be “filled with anger and antagonism” and resist the truth!

In fact, if they, were able, would even reach out and kill anyone who attempted to take them out of the cave.

They would make a Downward movement – towards scepticism and unbelief!

This allegory very beautifully speaks of a similar situation in the Gospel of the Day…
… a man – who was imprisoned by blindness – “feeling blessed” in having encountered Jesus, the Sun
… other men – who remained chained in ignorance and darkness – “filled with anger and antagonism” – resisting the Truth!

Chapter 9 of the Gospel of St John is a story of “blindness” encountering Light- with contrasting effects:

A man who is “born blind”, touched by the Light of the World, experiences healing
Other people “remain blind”, by opposing the Light of the World, emitting hostility.

We thus see, in this long yet beautiful passage contrasting movements:

An Upward movement – towards faith and trust – of the man who was born blind

A Downward movement – towards scepticism and unbelief – of the people who clung to prejudices

1. The Upward movement – towards faith and trust – of the man who was born blind

Jesus declares that the blindness of the man was an occasion for “the glory of God to be revealed” (Jn 9: 3)

This revelation of the Glory of God comes about with Jesus doing a unique action…
… “spitting on the ground, making clay with the saliva and smearing the clay in the eyes” of the man born blind (Jn:6)

This action of the Son would remind us of the action done by His Father, who at the beginning of creation, would reveal His Glory, by “forming man out of the clay of the ground, and blowing in his nostrils, the breath of life!” (Gen2:7)

This act of the revelation of God would trigger the upward movement- of faith and trust- of the blind man…

a. Initially he on being asked about Jesus, he would say, “I don’t know” (Jn 9:12)

b. Then, he would say how Jesus is “a prophet” (Jn 9: 17)

c. Then, he would get defensive about Jesus and say that “if He is not from God, He would not be able to do anything” (Jn 9: 33)

d. Finally, after realising that Jesus is the Son of God, he would worship Him and say, “I do believe, Lord!” (Jn 9: 38)

2. A Downward movement – towards scepticism and unbelief – of the people who clung to prejudices

An act of goodness always gathers detractors and critics…
… and Jesus, the Perfection of Goodness greatly experienced it.

a. Initially, the Pharisees pointed to the violation of the Sabbath Law, to prove that He is not from God: “This man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath” (Jn 9: 16)

b. Then, they would question the parents of the man, because they thought, he had not been blind from birth: “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How does he now see?” (Jn 9: 19)

c. Then, they would defend their arguments basing on their loyalty to the authenticity of Moses, the law-giver: “We know that God spoke to Moses, but we do not know where this One is from” (Jn 9: 29)

d. Finally, they would engage into a direct dispute with the Lord Himself: “Surely, we are not also blind, are we?” (Jn 9: 40)

Jesus perfectly sums up…

The Upward Movement- towards faith and trust
The Downward Movement – towards scepticism and unbelief…
… by saying: ” I came into this world, for judgment, so that those who DO NOT SEE MIGHT SEE… and those WHO DO SEE MIGHT BECOME BLIND” (Jn 9: 39)

We need to ask ourselves:
“What is the direction of my Spiritual Life…
… is it having an Upward Movement, towards Faith and trust?
… or is it having a Downward Movement, towards, Scepticism and Unbelief?”

St Paul says, that we need to “live as children of  Light, for Light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth” (Eph 5: 8-9)

The Lord, in our every day of life, uses a number of occasions – pleasant and unpleasant situations –  to “reveal His glory”

Do we remain open to His Light in order to have an upward movement into deeper faith and trust?
Or do we get closed in darkness and thus make a downward movement into deeper scepticism and unbelief?

As in the “Allegory of the Cave”…
… let us not remain  chained in ignorance and darkness – “filled with anger and antagonism” – resisting the Truth

Instead, allow ourselves to be led into the light and thus “feel blessed” in having encountered Jesus, the Sun!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “Bloom where you are planted!”

“Casting away pride and embracing humility and dependence on God!”

(Based on Hos 5:15 – 6:6 and Lk 18:9-14)

In this time of grave concern, as we grapple with COVID-19, and as we offer the world to the Healing Providence of the Lord…
… we ask another question, to begin our Reflection for the day…

Which is the only disease in the world, which can  affect everyone else, except the person himself/herself?

Is the answer too hard to guess?

…

…

Hmm..

Well.. the answer is pretty simple…

It is…

Pride!

Pride is the disease that can affect everyone else, except the person himself/herself!
Pride is the sickness that can cause harm to all others, except the one who possess it!

Pride can be a snare to the other, while one enjoys oneself, in the false pleasure it gives!
Pride can be a spirit-dampener for the other, while it is an ego-inflator for oneself!

The Gospel of the Day exhorts a strong message on this deadly vice of Pride.

Chapter 18 of the Gospel of St Luke begins with two parables, that teach on the aspect of Prayer.

The parable of the Widow who was persistent (Lk 18: 1-8)
The parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Lk 18: 9-14)

The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector have interesting comparisons with respect to the various gestures and actions that they take:

Both go up to the Temple area to pray…

The Pharisee took up his position… the tax collector stood off at a distance

The Pharisee spoke the prayer to himself… the tax collector would not even raise his eyes to heaven

The Pharisee spoke of his personal glories…the tax collector acknowledged being a sinner, in need of mercy.

Though the Gospel doesn’t speak of it, it seems that both, the Pharisee and the tax collector had taken a mirror with themselves, when they went to pray….

A mirror.. yeah!

But, the strange fact is that, both of them used the mirror in contrasting manners!

The Pharisee used the mirror and saw his many achievements and accomplishments…
… being unlike the rest of the sinful humanity like the greedy, dishonest or adulterous
… fasting twice a week
… pay tithes on his whole income

The tax collector, also used a mirror… but saw in it, his many failures and shortcomings…
… the moments when he had cheated others to have greater financial gains
… the times he had subjected himself to be a traitor by working against his own people
… the need to seek for God’s mercy acknowledging his sinfulness

Prayer is like a mirror…but it depends on one’s attitude and disposition what one sees…

If one is filled with pride and self-conceit, one sees only one’s accomplishments…
… and thus pushes out God and replaces oneself as the source of all good works!

If one is truly humble and modest, one sees one’s weaknesses and limitations…
… and thus acknowledge the dependence on God and on His grace in life!

Prayer could be made into a time of reciting the litany of one’s great achievements…
…or prayer could be made into a moment of seeking God’s mercy and compassion.

Prayer could be made into an occasion to boast of oneself and put down others…
… or prayer could be made into a moment to see the glittering light of God guiding us.

What is our attitude and disposition?

Am I afflicted with the sickness of pride which makes me to flaunt only myself at the expense of the other?
Am I distressed with the disease of arrogance which makes me to see myself as the greatest person in the world, casting aside all people and even God?

There is something of “this” Pharisee, perhaps, in all of us which needs to be shun…

There is something of “this” tax collector, which needs to be cultivated…

The need to cast away pride and the need to embrace humility and dependence on God!

Let the words of the Lord through Prophet Hosea be a reminder to all of us:
“For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice…
… the knowledge of God, rather than burnt offerings!” (Hos 6:6)

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “The highest point of humility consists in not merely acknowledging one’s abjection…
… but in taking pleasure therein.

Not from any want of breadth or courage, but to give the more glory to God’s Divine Majesty…

… and to esteem one’s neighbour more highly than one’s self.

“Aiming for the highest ideal of loving God above all!”

(Based on Hos 14:1-9 and Mk 12:28-34)

A simple humorous story, known to many of us, goes thus…

A man, known for his constant habit to smoke cigarettes, came up to an old monk – a sage – and queried to him, “Holy sir, am I allowed to smoke, while I am praying?”

The monk was shocked and in much dismay answered, “Most certainly no, young man! How can you ever think of doing so?!”

A few moments later, the man came up again… seeking to justify his habit…and queried once again, “Holy sir, am I allowed to pray, when I am smoking?”

The monk, a bit absent-minded, gave a grin and beamed up to answer, “Most certainly, young man! That is such a noble thing to do!!”

Well…

When one seeks to justify something in life, one finds any ways and means to get it done!
When one wishes to stick to one’s own attitude and agenda, one will find any crooked paths to get them accomplished!

We are often, good in making compromises to let our wishes to slide through…

We are often, good in framing excuses to let our desires to be fulfilled…
We are often, good in devising justifications to let our inclinations be satisfied…

The Gospel of the Day, however, makes a strong demand in our Christian Life… to do just the opposite…
… avoid making compromises in loving
… avoid creating excuses to escape situations of loving

Instead…
… being on the forefront, always and at all moments, to render love
… taking the lead, at all places and situations, to live a life of love

The passage begins with the mention of a scribe, who had been watching his fellow-scribes in an argument with the Lord, and feeling impressed with Jesus, coming up to Him with a question…”Which commandment is the first of all” (Mk 12:28)

We are not too sure the motive and the aim of this scribe.

As per the versions of the same incident, in St Matthew (Mt 22:35)and St Luke (Lk 10:25), the person posed this question to Jesus, in order to “test him”.

The Markan version is however, silent on this aspect.

But whatever the intention, the scribe most certainly was reflecting a common query that was widespread among the teachers and scholars of the law:

Which was the greatest commandment or law?

God had issued the ten commandments to the people of Israel.

These laws were intended for the people of Israel to be “distinguished” as the nation of the Lord – chosen from among all other nations of the world.

These laws – simple and direct in nature – were aimed towards demanding a total commitment and loyalty from the part of the people , to the Lord.

However, over time, these uncomplicated laws by which the people of Israel were to live, began to be expanded and extended and expounded.

It resulted in 613 commandments or stipulations:

365 (corresponding to the number of days in a year) of them were negative commandments, as in ” you shall not…”
And 248 (corresponding to the number of bones and major organs in the body, as per the Jewish understanding) of them were positive commandments, as in “you shall…”

When the Lord was asked to mention the First of all these commandments, He puts forward the basis and the foundation of all these various laws and stipulations and commandments:

” You shall love the Lord your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength” (Mk 12: 30)
And ” You shall love your neighbour as yourself” (Mk 12: 31)

Note the insistence on the word “all”….
… “all” your heart… feelings, emotions, desires
… “all” your soul… will, choices, decisions
… “all” your mind… reason, knowledge, memory
… “all” your strength… talents, abilities, capacities

The Lord commands and demands a “total” and “complete” loving!

He does not permit compromises to let our wishes to slide through…
He does not allow framing excuses to let our desires to be fulfilled…
He does not consent devising justifications to let our inclinations be satisfied…

He demands an “absolute” and “unadulterated” love!

As Christians, we often…
… seek to find “loopholes” in laws of loving the Lord and our neighbour…
… try to spot “gaps” in commandments which ask to love the Lord and our neighbour…

Our selfishness often crops in…
Our personal desires often spoil it…
Our sinful tendencies often gain an upper hand…

But the insistence of the Lord is clear:
“Love Fully”
“Love Totally”
“Love Completely”

This is the ideal to which we, as Christians are called!

If not for this highest ideal, our life as a Christian would cease to have a uniqueness!
If not for this loftiest ideal, our life as a Christian would fail to be different from others!

Each of us as Christians are called “to be holy”… “to be set apart”… “to be different”

This holiness comes when we seek for the highest ideal…loving God totally and expressing this love wholly to our neighbour.

This setting apart comes to fruition when we seek for the premier ideal…giving to God entirely and articulating this self-giving in humble service of others.

Prophet Hosea invites us to trust in His immense love for us, as the Lord reminds us:
“I will heal their faithlessness; I will love them freely, for my anger has turned from them. I will be as the dew to Israel; he shall blossom as the lily!” (Hos 14:4-5)

The call is indeed great and very lofty…

Are we going to make silly excuses to have our own ways fulfilled?
… or shall we take up the challenge, with the grace of the Lord, to aim for the highest ideal?

God bless! Live Jesus!

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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “Our longing to gaining God’s Love causes us to meditate…
… Love, when gained, leads to contemplation.

Love renders the charm of what we love so pleasing…

… our minds never tire of reflecting on it!”

“Seeking the intercession and offering ourselves to the affectionate care of St Joseph, our protector and defender!”

The early American Indians had a unique ritual in their training of young boys to be brave and strong in their lives.

The evening of the boy’s thirteenth birthday, would consist of the final test, after having learnt hunting, exploration, fishing and other skills.

The boy was placed in a dense forest to spend the entire night all alone.

Until then, he had never been away from the security of the family and the tribe.

But on this night, he was blindfolded and taken several miles away.

When the blindfold was taken off, he would find himself in the midst of the thick woods.. and he would be terrified!

Every time a branch snapped or something fell, he visualized a wild animal ready to pounce.

His heart would pound with fear…
He would seek for some consolation, but would find none..
He would long to feel safe again, but the wait seemed to be an unending one…

After what seemed like an eternity, dawn broke and the first rays of sunlight entered the interior of the forest…

Looking around, the boy saw the wild flowers, lush trees, and the outline of the path.

Then, to his utter astonishment, he beheld the figure of a man standing just a few feet away, armed with a bow and arrow.

Guess who it was ?

It was his father!

He had been there all night long.

The boy had been unaware, but the father was always there, to make an intervention, in case of any eventuality of danger.

The protection of the father encircled the child, irrespective of whether the boy was aware or not.

Such is the tremendous protection and security of God, our Loving Father.

In the fullness of time, when God, the Father decided to send His Beloved Son to the earth, for the redemption of humankind, He had to entrust the care of His Precious Child to the protection and care of a human father…

And it was St Joseph who was chosen to be assigned this task and responsibility of being the caretaker and protector of Jesus, the Son of God!

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Faithful and Just Protector of Jesus – St Joseph.

Just as God had entrusted Him to be the protector of the body of Jesus while on earth, St Joseph is also the protector and patron of His Body on the earth today, the Holy Church.

St Joseph in fulfilling his task of being the protector of Jesus, teaches us a few lessons…

1. He was ever prompt to the voice of the Lord

In his moments of confusion, he was still open to the promptings of the Spirit.
“When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him…” (Mt 1:24)

Am I docile to the inspirations of the Lord, so as to be in greater tune with the Will of God?

2. His love was attentive to the needs of the Divine Child and the Mother

St Joseph was ready to make any sacrifice for the sake of protecting Jesus and Mary.

He was willing…
…to undergo societal humiliations
… to bear physical hardships of travelling, migration, lack of comforts etc
… to be prudent to the socio-political situations and make decisions in favour of the family

Does love prompt me to be attentive and sensitive to the needs of others, and cause me to make sacrifices towards the good of the other?

3. A willingness to be playing the “backdrop role” in the great drama of salvation

St Joseph, was privileged to be sharing the most intimate physical presence with the two holiest persons of this world – Jesus, the Son of God and Mary, the Immaculate Mother.

Yet, it also meant that Joseph had to stay away from the limelight of glory and be the “silent yet impactful” figure of the salvation history.

Do I have the courageous humility to take up any role that the Lord entrusts me, in His plan of salvation – be it shorn of fame, littleness in glamour or even subject to awkwardness, uncertainty or dislikeness?

4. He was ready to give up his personal decisions and doubts in obedience to the voice of God

St Joseph was not afraid to shed his own personal concerns, anxieties and even doubts, when asked to be part of the mysterious redemptive plan of God.

There were many things that were not understood by him…

There were a lot of factors that prompted him to question and confront..

Yet, He had the deep daring to keep them all aside – because he was convinced that God’s mighty hand was at work, in them all.

Am I willing to place my faith in God and follow my vocation faithfully…
… even though circumstances around me maybe uncertain, the future looks bleak
… and my own reasonable thinking may see situations and people as being illogical, unscientific and irrational?

As St. Alphonsus Liguori says, “We should, indeed, honour St. Joseph, since the Son of God Himself was graciously pleased to honour him by calling him father.

If the King of kings was pleased to raise Joseph to so high a dignity, it is right and obligatory on our part to endeavour to honour him as much as we can!”

The Lord protects us, no matter how fearful the external situations are…

St Joseph protected the Little Divine Babe and His Mother, despite hardships and trials…
Shall we also not trust in their Heavenly protection, and in turn, be a protector and defender to each other?

Happy Feast of St Joseph, the Just Worker in God’s Plan of Redemption.

Glorious Blessings of Jesus, his Precious Child – the Way, the Truth and the Life
Heavenly Intercessions of Mary – his loving Spouse and our affectionately protecting Mother

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “What more remains for us to say now, except that we cannot doubt at all that this glorious saint (St Joseph) has great influence in heaven…
… Oh how happy shall we be, if we can merit a share in his holy intercession!

He will obtain for us, if we have confidence in him, a holy growth in all kinds of virtues, but especially in those that we have found that he possessed in a higher degree than any others…

… which are most holy purity of body and mind, the most lovable virtue of humility, constancy, courage and perseverance!

“Growing into Convinced and Certain and Confident Christians!”

(Based on Deut 4:1-9 and Mt 5:17-19)

A university student was seen with a large “K” printed on his T- shirt.

When someone asked him what the “K” stood for, he said, “Confused.”

“But,” the questioner replied, “you don’t spell “confused” with a “K”!

The student answered, “Well, you don’t know how confused I am!”

The confused state of mind led to be boy to display a totally confused and puzzled look!

How often is this true in our own lives as a Christian…

We fail to have certain convictions in our faith…
… and the resultant life that is displayed outside, is one of confusion or uncertainty.

We fail to be sure of what our life of faith is…
… and as a result, we fail to bring people to experience God’s love and instead, sometimes even lead others astray.

The Gospel of the Day is a peek into the conviction that Jesus had in His life of preaching and mission…
… and a challenge for us to become persons who become fervent and convinced in teaching the commandments of the Kingdom of God.

The Gospel is a continuation of the Sermon on the Mount.

Jesus says, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfil” (Mt 5: 17)

One of the distinguishing features in the preaching and teaching ministry of Jesus was His deep conviction and certainty.

Jesus did not speak as if He was blabbering on some unknown topic.
Jesus did not mutter words as if He was whiling away time to talk on a strange issue.

Instead, Jesus was thoroughly convinced of what He spoke and taught.

It was this deep-seated conviction that made Him to say that He had “come not to abolish the law or the prophets”.

The message of Jesus contained newness and freshness.

However, it was not a preaching that was entirely new

It was a teaching that was born in deep certainty and delivered with utmost conviction.

He was the fullness of the teachings of all the Law.
He was the fulfilment of the prophecies of all the Prophets.

This gave it a fresh crispiness.

This gave it a refreshing perspective.

Do we also possess a similar conviction and certainty in our Life of Faith, just as Jesus displayed?

The Lord demands such a requirement.

Hence, He would say, that “whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so, will be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven” (Mt 5: 19)

Our Christian lives are sometimes marked by an unwanted uncertainty and confusing convictions.

We know a little bit about our faith
… but not deep enough.

We know a little bit concerning our teachings
… but not in its depth.

We know a little bit about the virtues we are to live
… but not fully convinced of it.

As a result of this ‘unsure’ attitude and ‘confused’ mentality, we are unable to
… (1) live a true and honest Christian lives
… (2) witness and teach others our genuine faith

Let’s deepen our conviction in the Commands and Truths of our Faith, for through them, the Lord blesses us with wisdom and understanding:

“Keep them and do them; for that will be your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people’!” (Deut 4:6)

May we not remain confused Christians; rather experience the love and mercy of the Lord…
… and make efforts to grow into Convinced and Certain and Confident Christians!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “It is not those who commit the least faults who are the most holy

But those who have the greatest courage…
… the greatest generosity
… the greatest love

… who make the boldest efforts to overcome themselves, and are not immediately apprehensive about tripping.”

“Sowing the seeds of Forgiveness and Mercy in the hardened fields of brokenness and damage!”

(Based on Dan 3:25, 34-43 and Mt 18:21-35)

The March 9, 2015 issue of the New York Magazine reports an interesting article on “Forgiveness”.

According to this article, the animal kingdom has been the subject of studying the patterns of forgiveness and reconciliation for many scientists.

Much of the research has involved gorillas and chimps.

It is found that they often enter into fights with each other…
… only later to embrace and continue their companionship.

Similar traits of behaviour has also been noticed among goats and hyenas.

However, the researchers have found that one species of animal doesn’t seem to forgive (atleast externally)

They are domestic cats.

(Well, there might be many of us, who will outrightly reject this theory, especially those who really like cats.

But let’s just take this as a ‘research finding’ and not the ultimate truth.

Researches findings, of course, are subject to exceptions and limited by conditions and interpretations!)

Human beings too have our moments of grappling with the aspect of ‘forgiveness’.

For some people, it’s easy to forgive…
But some others struggle hard in serving out  pardon…

The Gospel of the Day is a teaching by Jesus on this necessary virtue of “forgiveness”.

To the query of Peter:
“Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him” ( Mt 18: 21)…
… Jesus illustrates His reply with the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant.

One of the principles in this virtue of forgiveness is the avoiding of a “mathematical accounting policy” in granting pardon.

As human beings, there is sometimes an avoidable tendency in us to “keep counts” in our relationships…

We make a count or keep a rough numerical impression…
… of how many times a person has done good to me
… of when was the last time a person behaved badly with me
… of how many times a person has hurt or caused harm to me
… of how often has a person offended me or spoken ill about me

Relationships…
… sometimes get reduced to mere mathematical entities
… sometimes find themselves entangled in the web of calculative units

It’s in such situations that “forgiving” the one who has erred against us becomes a ‘calculative’ affair.

Thus, we find that Peter in the Gospel asks Jesus, “How often must I forgive the brother who has sinned against me?”

We maintain, sometimes, a sort of an imaginary “fault-account” book.

And our thought-process takes the following pattern:

“This person, on so and so date, committed this mistake

And on so and so date, I had forgiven him”

“This person, on this particular day, had behaved in a very indifferent manner to me

And a particular number of days later, I had extended my pardon”

But Jesus today warns us to stop looking at life and relationships from a “mathematical” or “calculative” perspective.

What is the basis for Jesus to say this?

It is simply the fact that all of us – without any exception – are the beneficiaries of the mercy and forgiveness of God.

God abandons all mathematical calculations in extending His forgiveness to us
God lets go of every measure of computation in allowing us to receive His mercy

Rom 3:23 says that “all have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God. They are justified freely by His grace thorough the redemption in Jesus Christ”

Azariah prayed earnestly to God – pleading for His Mercy and Compassion:
“Do not let us be put to shame, but deal with us in your kindness and great mercy.

Deliver us by your wonders, and bring glory to your name, O Lord!” (Dan 3:42-43)

Each of us find ourselves sinking in the “boats of sinfulness and guilt”

But it is the Mercy of God that still keeps us ashore.

Each of us pass through the “deserts of shame and culpability”

But it is the Forgiveness of God that nourishes us with the oasis of blessings

This “free and underserved” reception of the Forgiveness of God places an undeniable responsibility on us to extend His pardon to all.

The prayer “Our Father” gets recited so often by us, during the day or in our prayers.

But do we realise that it contains a clause, whose condition, if not fulfilled, brings upon a self-inflicted consequence.

We pray, “Forgive us our sins.. as we forgive those who sin against us”

Even though the mercy of God is always made available for us, it can be truly received only if one is willing, generous and humble enough to “forgive” the faults of others.

Forgiveness is a powerful weapon that, of course won’t change the past, but will sure transform the future.

Even the animal kingdom in general, displays traits of forgiveness and reconciliation.

How much more are we, as human beings, who are created in the image and likeness of God, bound to forgive one another?

Perhaps, some of us have a feline flavour in us to “avoiding granting pardon” and “nurturing the grudge”

But can we let go of our “pride and arrogance” and “put on Christ” (Rom 13: 14) to become that “flower which perfumes the hand that crushes it”

May the Gospel of the Day strongly cause us to take realistic resolutions to cherish our relationships with the freedom it deserves…
… and to generously sow the seeds of forgiveness and mercy in the hardened fields of broken and damaged!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “The priest at Confessional is the “angel whom God sends” to make forgiveness real…

… and enable Divine Reconciliation to be experienced.

“Being willing to overcome our arrogant and pride behaviour and humbling ourselves before the Magnanimous Power of the Lord!”

(Based on 2 Kings 5:1-15 and Lk 4:24-30)

An incident is told of a popular boxer who was infamous for bragging about himself.

Once, before the take-off on an airline flight, the stewardess reminded the boxer to fasten his seatbelt.

“Superman don’t need no seatbelt,” he told her with pride.

The stewardess was unwilling to compromise…

So she retorted, “Superman don’t need no airplane, either.”

The man was discomfited in his pride.

In shame, he fastened his seatbelt without saying an extra word.

Pride can block a person from being open to the views, trends and wavelengths of other people and situations.

This is much more true, when it comes to spiritual matters

A proud mind…
… rejects the plans and workings of God in one’s life…

And makes one to say, “I can manage my life by myself!”

A haughty spirit…
… opposes any movements  that causes one to get out of one’s comfort zones…

And makes one to say, “I know what’s best for me! None need to teach me!”

An arrogant heart…
… rejects any good inspirations or constructive feedbacks…

And makes one to say, “I don’t need anyone’s advices. Only I can advise myself!”

The Gospel of the Day presents the rejection of Jesus, in the Synagogue at Nazareth, by the people, who displayed a proud mentality, a haughty spirit and an arrogant heart.

Jesus, is in His hometown.

He entered the synagogue and began to teach.

Though initially, there was a wave of excitement…
… the words of Jesus caused a major setback to the people.

This caused the people to reject Jesus…
… they even try to kill Him ( Lk 4: 29-30)       

St Luke uses a very strong word to describe the feelings of the people…
“When the people in the synagogue heard, they were all FILLED WITH FURY”

Or another translation… “… they were all FILLED WITH WRATH”

When one’s pride is hurt…
…. One tends to become angry and hurt

When one is made to get out of one’s comfort zones…
… one tends to become restless and agitated.

This is what happened to the people in the Synagogue.

Their pride was hurt..
… because Jesus spoke to them on the need to be humble, and accept the “all-embracing” love of the Lord!

They were made to get out of the comfortable zones…
… because Jesus spoke to them on the need to change their closed ways of thought-pattern, and to accept the “all-merciful” invitation to the Kingdom of God!

This “instigation” can happen in our life too…

When we are challenged to move out of our “traditional” style of thinking…
….and accept instead, the merciful and compassionate ways of God

When we are forced to change our crippling attitudes of rejecting people on the basis of caste, creed, colour, language etc…
… and accept instead, the “all-welcoming” style of the Kingdom of God

Human tendency it is, to sometimes “get used to” comfortable situations…
… even if they are fruitless or unproductive and useless

Human tendency it is, to sometimes “remain fixated” in crippling mentalities…
…even if they cause harm to the other and are no longer effective.

In the 2nd Book of the Kings, Naaman had to overcome his “fixated mentality” and listen to the Word of the Lord that came through Prophet Elisha (2 Kings 5:1-15)

He would understand the importance of humbling himself before the Power of the Lord and experience the Lord’s Healing!

The Lord today, invites and challenges us in our proud mentality, a haughty spirit and an arrogant heart.

This is the constant invitation by Jesus:
“Learn from Me.. for I am gentle and humble in heart”

Let us learn from the Gentle and Humble ways of the Lord, and become persons, who are open to the workings of the Holy Spirit.

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections!”