“Quenching our thirst in the unconditional love of the Lord!”

(Based on Ex 17:3-7, Rom 5:1-2, 5-8 and Jn 4:5-42)

One of the very simplest moral stories that all of us have heard is that of the thirsty crow.

One warm day, a thirsty crow flew all over, looking for water.

For a long time, he could not find any.

He felt weak, and lost all hope.

Suddenly, he saw a water jug below the tree. He flew straight down, and was delighted to see some water inside it!

Sadly, he found that the neck of the jug was too narrow and it was impossible for him to access the water.

He tried to push the jug to tilt, for the water to flow out but the jug was too heavy

The crow thought hard for a while.

Then looking around it, he saw some pebbles and an idea struck him.

He started picking up the pebbles one by one, dropping each into the jug.

As more and more pebbles filled the jug, the water level kept rising.

Soon it was high enough for the crow to drink.

His plan had worked.. His thirst had been quenched! 

The moral of this story is to “Think and work hard, you may find solution to any problem”.

But when we consider this story from another perspective, we notice that it also shows the deep craving inside every creature, to satisfy one’s thirst.

One is restless till this thirst is fulfilled…
One is impatient till this craving is satisfied…

This agitated thirst is also innate in every human being…
… a thirst for the Divine, for the Transcendental.

And this thirst, compels humans…
… to search… to seek…
… for the source of satisfaction
… for the fountain of fulfilment

But how wonderful it would be to be knowing and to be convinced that this “thirst” can find its fulfilment only in God.

And how wonderful it would be, if all human beings could be properly guided and correctly directed on this path of finding true contentment.

The Gospel of the Day presents the beautiful incident of a “thirsty” Jesus who quenches a “thirsty” woman

The “thirsty” woman – Samaritan woman – expresses her desire for water…
… “Sir, give me this water, so that I may not be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water” (Jn 4: 15)

The “thirsty” Jesus promises fulfilment and contentment to all those who come to Him and believe in Him – the source of Divine Waters of Life….
… “Whoever drinks the water I shall give, will never thirst; the water I shall give, will become in him, a spring of water welling up to eternal life (Jn 4:14)

The Samaritan Woman in her encounter with the Lord is led, from a lower level to the higher level…

1. Talks on material concerns
   (>> “How can you, a Jew, ask a Samaritan woman for a drink?”)
   (>> “Sir, you don’t even have a bucket…where then can you get this living water?”)
   (>> “Sir, give me this water that I may not be thirsty or have to keep coming to draw water”)
2. Talks on spiritual matters
   (>> “Our ancestors worshipped on this mountain, but you people say that the place to worship is Jerusalem”)
3. Talks that would lead to a complete life transformation.
   (>> “Go call your husband and come back”)
   (>> “I am He, the One Who is speaking to you”)

This is the story of our experience with religion and spirituality.

Many times, many of us perform religious practices…
… only for material concerns

Some of us, practise faith and spirituality…
… to merely engage in spiritual talks and reflections

But the higher level is the one…
… which leads to life transformation.

The Samaritan woman was led by Jesus, in having this life transformation…
… and she would go on to lead an entire town to believe in Jesus (Jn 4: 39-42)

This entire incident is built around that simple premise: A desire
… a desire that is expressed in the form of “thirst”

The desire of the Samaritan woman – to receive water, so that one may not be thirsty again – is the innate desire and longing within each human being…

In the Old Testament, the people of Israel had murmured and complained against God, in the wilderness for the struggle in food and water…
… “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children, and our cattle with thirst?” (Ex 17:3)

They longed to have their thirst quenched and their desires fulfilled…

Each of us, deep within, are thirsty and hungry….wanting to drink water that will quench the longing, forever.

It is this search that makes people to go out and seek the various sources of satisfaction.

Some feel to have found this fulfilment…
… through worldly pleasures and bad habits like smoking, drinking, obsession with sex, drugs etc, which only lead to momentary external satisfaction and short-lived bursts of thrill.

Some claim to have found this fulfilment…
… in the various philosophies,  new-age patterns of life and naturalistic means of spirituality etc, which may have traces of truth, but fail to provide authentic and fullness of life.

But Jesus, today, boldly and unambiguously declares that its only in HIM that true and complete fulfilment of life can be found:
… “Whoever drinks the water I shall give, will never thirst; the water I shall give, will become in him, a spring of water welling up to eternal life (Jn 4:14)

Elsewhere Jesus will also tell…
… “He who comes to me shall not hunger and he who believes in me shall never thirst” (Jn 6: 35)

Are we convinced of this fact, that its only in Jesus, that I can achieve true and complete happiness…?

Like the Samaritan Woman (Jn 4: 16-18)…
Like the Prodigal Son (Lk 15: 11-32)…
Like St Paul (Acts 8:3)…
… we may have strayed away from this path of truth, to seek our own means and ways to find happiness and satisfaction.

But the Lord, today, calls us back to Him..
… to His Heart
… to His Church
… to His Eucharist

To experience Him fully.

To those who have strayed…
… the call of the Gospel, is to come back to the paths of truth

To those who are holding on to Him…
… the call of the Gospel, is to deepen the conviction, that in Him alone, can the hunger of my soul and the thirst of my heart be fulfilled.

To those who have strayed…
… the Lord invites to build the virtues of humility, docility and openness to the Spirit.

To those who are holding on to  Him…
… the Lord invites to build the virtues of patience, firm trust and a passionate longing.

He has displayed His unconditional and unparalleled love for each one of us, by offering His Life on the Cross for all of us, sinners…

“God shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us!” (Rom 5:8)

May Jesus, the Source of Life-giving Waters…
… the One Who alone can quench our thirst
… the One Who loves us unconditionally
… always be the source and summit of our Christian living!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “If I want only pure water, what does it matter to me whether it be brought in a vase of gold or of glass?

What is it to me whether the will of God be presented to me in tribulation or consolation, since I desire and seek only the Divine will?”

“Receiving the embrace of our Father’s Love even in the messy and dirty situations of life!”

(Based on Mic 7:14-15, 18-20 and Lk 15:1-3, 11-32)

Six-year old Johny planned to secretly give a surprise to his father, on his birthday.

He decided that he would secretly bake a cake for his father and that would turn out to be a beautiful gift.

He was aware that that his father had told him not to put on the oven without his permission
He was also not really sure how a cake is to be baked

Yet, he decided to give it a try…

So on the previous night, after he made sure, his father had slept, Johny quietly crept into the kitchen.

He had a manual with him which would guide him to bake the cake.

He found a big bowl and spoon, pulled a chair to the counter, opened the cupboard and pulled out the heavy flour can, spilling it on the floor.

He scooped some of the flour into the bowl with his hands, mixed in most of a cup of milk and added some sugar, leaving a floury trail on the floor.

Meanwhile, his kitten, had joined him, and was busy enjoying the bits and pieces fallen on the ground.

Johny, was all covered with flour and he was also getting a bit frustrated as the mixing was taking much longer than expected.

But he wanted to do something for his Dad!

He didn’t know what to do next, whether to put it all into the oven or on the stove, (and he didn’t know how the oven worked)!

Suddenly he saw his kitten licking from the bowl of the cake dough.

He tried to push her away.

But in the frantic act, he knocked the egg-tray on to the floor.

In desperation, he tried to clean the floor..
… but unfortunately he slipped!

Just then, he raised his eyes and saw his gigantic Daddy standing before him.

He just remained on the floor….
…. All messed up and dirty…

Large tears swelled up in his little eyes!

The father kept watching him.

Johny was sure that he was going to receive a big spanking and a scolding was on the way.

But to his surprise, making his way through the mess, Daddy reached out to him.

He picked up his crying son hugged him…. And loved him!

In the process, Daddy also dirtied his clothes!

But here was a beautiful picture of a Father who displayed a tremendous love and acceptance…
… even if it meant to dirty himself!

True love knows no bounds!

The Gospel of the Day  – the Parable of the Prodigal Son(s) – is the beautiful exposition of the Unconditionally True Love of the Heavenly Father to each of His beloved children!

The Parable of the Prodigal Son(s) is surely one of the most popular, the most loved and the most touching parables of Jesus.

This parable has three main characters and we could view any of them as playing the main role in the story:

1. The Prodigal Son – Younger son

He went away from the love of his father

Inheritance was given to children only after the death of the father

In asking the inheritance, therefore, alluded to the fact that the Prodigal  son considered his father to be dead!

But having spent his life in useless living, he realised the emptiness and vacuum that filled his heart.

And so he decided to turn back.. and go to his father

2. The Prodigal Son – Elder Son

He remained the faithful “servant” of the house

But when he saw, that his brother – who had wasted away the inheritance, was received with so much warmth, his temper rose!

He couldn’t digest the fact that his brother who lived a “wasted life” was honoured….
… whereas he was never given the chance to “enjoy with his friends”

The context of the parable is Jesus speaking to the “Pharisees and scribes” who were “complaining that Jesus always accepted sinners” (Lk 15: 1-2)

In this context, the character of the Elder Son portrayed the attitude of the Pharisees and Scribes.

But beyond these two characters towers high the Image of the Father – the Father who loved and accepted his lost son!

He suffered a deep pain when his younger son went away
He underwent immense pain waiting for the son to come back
He went through moments of dilemma when his elder son was opposing the welcome of the younger one

Yet through all this, the Character of the Father towers high!

He is the Father of Mercies –  Who accepts all, just as they are
He is the Father of Love – Who loves everyone, unconditionally
He is the Father of Compassion – Who receives all to His loving embrace

In our life, often as children  – like the Prodigal Son(s) – we go away.

We try to do something good…
… but our life turns into a mess!

Our student life gets messed up with lack of commitment and failures

Our marriage hits the rocks with misunderstandings and lack of acceptance

Our family life gets into a crisis with lack of unity and peace of mind

We feel our life is all in a mess…

We find ourselves lost, frustrated and upset!

But in all such situations, we need to look up…
… and see how the Loving Father is waiting to embrace us…. And love us!

As Prophet Micah very beautifully reminds us:
“Who is a God like thee, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance?

He does not retain his anger for ever because he delights in steadfast love.
He will again have compassion upon us, he will tread our iniquities under foot.
… Thou wilt cast all our sins into the depths of the sea!” (Mic 5:18-19)

Yes, the Merciful Father is waiting for each one of us…
… Whatever be the mess, that my life may be in!

Let us run into His embrace of Love… with a  sincere repentance and contrition of heart…

And pledge to live for Him, and with Him…
… forever!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “ God is merciful to those who want to love Him…

… and who have placed their hopes in Him!”

“Working for Project Kingdom with commitment!”

(Based on Gen 37:3-4, 12-13, 17-28 and Mt 21:33-43, 45-46)

An incident is said about a former American astronaut who took over as the President of a major airline.

He determined to make the airline’s service the best in the industry.

He sought ‘commitment to work’, by all the employees in all the departments.

One day, as the new president walked through a particular department, he saw an employee resting…
… with his feet on a desk, while the telephone on the desk rang continuously. .

“What are you doing? Aren’t you going to answer that phone?” the boss demanded.

“This isn’t my department, Am here, just to relax!” answered the employee, with a total indifference!

(He had not recognized his new boss, and so chose to answer with apathy!)
“I work in the maintenance department”, he went on to say.

“Not anymore!” snapped the president, “You no longer will work in my company!”

The President, with his liking for “committed work” and “achieving excellence”…
… made sure there was no room for “people with lack of commitment and zeal!”

As Christians, we are all co-workers of the Project Kingdom!

Do we work with commitment?
… or are we often found to be people of indifference, “lacking commitment and zeal?”

The Gospel of the Day is a strong message to examine one’s level of commitment to the Kingdom of God…
… exhorting to do away with any “personal agenda” or “selfish motives”

And seeks to impress the personality of Jesus…
… Who desires to be the ‘Centre of our Life’!

In the Gospel today, Jesus puts forward the parable of the tenants.

The tenants were entrusted with the vineyard by the Master, and were expected to provide the produce in due time.

They were entrusted fully with the taking care of the vineyard.

The Master places a lot of trust in the servants.

He gives the freedom… a responsible freedom…
…which could be meaningfully used and nurtured
…or which could be woefully misused and manipulated.

However, the tenants, who were trusted immensely…
… probably lost their focus on the real trust and diminished in their commitment and responsibility to their Master as well as their duty.

Their personal interests gained greater prominence over their entrusted duties.
Their selfish agenda gained the upper hand over the faithfulness to the Master.

This led to them to a total denial of all the emissaries and servants of the Master, who were sent to collect the produce.

This denial was extended even to the Master’s own Son!

This denial of the Son led to the letting loose of the anger and fury of the Just Master!
•       A squandering away of the responsible freedom, led to the downfall of the tenants!
•       A failure to give heed to the emissaries and servants caused them to face the Master’s rage!
•       A denial and rejection of the Master’s own Son, with a cruel intent, caused their destruction!

Are we also, as Christians, as tenants of the Heavenly Master failing in our responsibilities and duties?

The Lord presents Himself as the cornerstone…
… “the stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone..” (Mt 21:42)

In ancient practices of building, the cornerstone was the principal stone.

It was placed at the corner of the edifice or the building.

The cornerstone was usually one of the largest, the most solid, and the most carefully constructed of any in the whole building structure.

A cornerstone gives direction to the rest of the foundation.
It also is the support on which the rest of the building relies for strength and stability.

Jesus is the cornerstone…of Salvation… of the Church… of His People!

At the same time, Jesus can also be “a stumbling block”

As it is written in Romans 9:33, “Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense,
And whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame”

•       To those who believe, Jesus is the cornerstone of their faith and their life.
•       To those who do not believe, Jesus is the stumbling block in their faith!    

In the Old Testament, the sons of Israel rejected Joseph, their “dreamer brother”

Yet, God, in His Divine Providence, would redeem Joseph, the “rejected one”
Joseph prefigures Jesus, the “rejected cornerstone but a stumbling block to many”, Who would redeem the entire world!

Who is the Lord in our life?

The cornerstone? or a stumbling block?

The cornerstone to build a wonderful life in God and grow in holiness…

Or a stumbling block which causes us to be proud in our own merits and not depend on Him?

The cornerstone to stand firm and strong in faith to withstand every storm of life…

Or a stumbling block which makes us uncertain, hesitant and cause a collapse in life?

As Christians, we are indeed co-workers of the Project Kingdom!

The Master has entrusted the vineyard to us
… our homes, our places of work, our neighbourhood, our families and communities…
…. the people we meet daily, the problems we encounter constantly, the situations we are challenged with…

These are “our vineyard!”

Do we work with commitment?

Or are we often found to be people of indifference, “lacking commitment and zeal?”

Let us never have to hear from Our Master, “Not anymore! You no longer will work in my company!”

Instead…
… let us do away with any “personal agenda” or “selfish motives” as the workers of the Vineyard…
And seek to be impressed by the personality of Jesus…
… making Him the Centre of our Lives!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “Holiness is found in a path opened to us in our daily lives…

… the duties of our daily lives are offered to us with unequal attractiveness!”

“Making our life a ‘Good News of Comfort and Consolation’ in a world of contrasts!”

(Based on Jer 17:5-10 and Lk 16:19-31)

Schindler’s List is a 1993 American epic historical period drama film, which received 7 Oscar awards.

This movie is based in the true story of a Catholic businessman, Oskar Schindler, who lived in Poland during the 2nd world war.

After a life of initial notoriety, in which he made a lot of money, by betraying his own people…
… Schindler, later realized the horrors of the Nazi rule.

He began to use his wealth and influence…
… in order to save his fellow Jews from the holocaust.

By the end of the war, he was reduced to having very little money

But in the process, had managed to save hundreds of Jews from being killed.

The last scene of the movie depicts, Schindler being thanked by the people whom he had saved.

But suddenly, Schindler began to weep!

Looking around at the people who were rescued, he exclaimed: “I could have done so much more!”

Holding up his gold watch, he moaned, “This could have bought someone’s freedom!”

He wished that he could have started sooner in helping people, so that many more could have been rescued!
His self-centredness had caused failure in saving many more people!

It was an agonizing experience of the negative effects of “indifference in life” and the “sin of omission”!

We need to examine our life and check:

Am I a person who misses out on doing the good we can?
Do I fail to reach out the needy, even though I am able?
Has self-centredness became a way of life for me?

The Gospel of the Day is a powerful message to look deeper into these aspects of our life…
… and seek to be more other-centred and heaven-oriented!

The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus is set out as a play… a two-act play.

The plays takes place on two stages:
… the stage of this world
… and the stage of the other-world.

1. This parable could be perhaps called as a “parable of contrasts”!

The contrasts are plenty:
In the First Act (Lk 16: 19-22)….

A rich man – a poor man
The man is rich but unnamed – the man is poor but is named, Lazarus (meaning ‘God Helps’)
The rich man clothed in purple – Lazarus clothed fully with sores
The rich man caressed with fine linen – Lazarus licked by the dogs
The rich man feasted sumptuously – Lazarus desired to be fed by what fell from the table.
The rich man died and was buried – Lazarus died but was carried by the angels.

In the Second Act (Lk 16: 22-31)…

Lazarus is in Abraham’s bosom – the rich man is in Hades.
Lazarus receives good things – the rich man was in torment.
Lazarus was comforted – the rich man was in anguish

2. This parable could be perhaps also be called as a “parable of comfort and consolation”!
   It’s a “parable of comfort and consolation” because….
   … Lazarus, who had undergone great misery and suffering was blessed with the presence of joy of the Lord.

It gives comfort and consolation to us, who need to be strengthened in our moments of trials and hardships, knowing that the Lord will surely look with mercy on His needy ones.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Mt 5: 3)

3. This parable could be perhaps also be called as a “parable of challenge and confrontation”!
   It’s a “parable of challenge and confrontation” because…
   … the rich man, who had a luxurious life, was condemned to torments, and had to endure the flames of suffering.

It presents a great challenge and a confrontation before us, who need to realize that “indifference in life” and the “sin of omission” are extremely punishable.

It tells that the attitude of closing one’s eyes to the pain and misery of the other is disastrous!

“He who shuts his ears to the cries of the poor will be ignored in his own time of need.” (Prov. 21:13)

We live in a world of contrasts…
… the rich gaining much and the poor losing much day by day!
… the corrupt enjoying worldly success while the honest often helpless on the losing side!
… the powerful lording over all others while the simple of heart crushed in oppression and misery!

This “world of contrasts” needs a “Gospel of Comfort and Consolation”, and towards this, we are “challenged and confronted”…

Challenged to get rid of our attitudes of indifference and lethargy to help the needy ones.
Confronted to overcome our tendencies to remain satisfied in our comforts and close our eyes conveniently to the necessities of the other.

The ways of the world constantly allure us…
… to be “dressed in purple linen and fine clothes” (Lk 16:19) and to be self-centred: “Just go about with our business and don’t consider other’s needs”
… to be “dining sumptuously” (Lk 16:19) and to look to only one’s own comforts and needs: “Live and let live. I don’t need to care about others, when I have my own cares to be attended to!”

But the Christian way of life is a challenge to this “rich man’s style of living”

There can be no excuse given to us…
… if we miss out on doing the good we can!
… if we fail to reach out the needy, even though we are able!
… if self-centredness has become a way of life for us!

Time is short…
… and our life is limited!

Let us begin today, with no further delay…

To do the good we can…
… in the best way we can!
… to all the people we are able!
… in every situation that is possible!

Let our lives be totally offered to the Lord, Who alone is the source of every goodness and mercy.

In the words of Prophet Jeremiah:
“Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD.

He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green…
… and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit!” (Jer 17:7-8)

Let us seek to be more other-centred and heaven-oriented…
… and in this world of contrasts, make our life a ‘Good News of Comfort and Consolation’.

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “Holiness is found in a path opened to us in our daily lives…

… the duties of our daily lives are offered to us with unequal attractiveness!”

“Prioritising God and His Kingdom above all else!”

(Based on Jer 18:18-20 and Mt 20:17-28)

It was the place known as the Place of the Skulls…

A Man had died…
… a cruel death
… an unjust death!

Nature had witnessed the excruciating suffering of this Man.

And nature, silent and speechless, yet responded in its own manner:
Darkness enveloped over the whole land…
The earth quaked in anger and desperation…
The rocks split wide and many tombs opened up…

A few people had also witnessed the terrifying suffering of this Man.

And these people, though had voice and power, responded in their own manner:

Some were sadistically and treacherously ‘feasting’ their senses with the agony of the Man…
Some were appallingly indifferent and shockingly lukewarm…

Very few were enormously heartbroken and shattered..

Among these were a few men….

One by name, John… who was a Beloved of the One who died

Another was Nicodemus… who a secret follower of the One who died
Yet another was Joseph… who was from Arimathea, another disciple of the One who died

Among these were also a few women…

Most notably, the Mother of the One who had died!
Among others, a Mary of Magdalene… a Mary, who was the mother of James and Joseph

There was also another woman…

The last few hours had been extremely terrible for her.

She had witnessed the horrible suffering and death of a Man…
… and also experienced the pain of the Man’s Mother.

This woman herself had two sons.

And she knew the agony and pain of a mother seeing the suffering of her precious children.

And through those dreadful moments, this woman remembered an incident that had happened in her life…

Some weeks back, she had approached this Man with a favour for her children (Mt 20:20)

Her children, were the disciples of the One who had died.

She had requested, “Command that these two sons of mine may sit, one at your right hand, and one at your left, in your kingdom” (Mt 20:21)

But the Master had responded, “You do not know what you are asking.

Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?”  (Mt 20:22)

She had not really understood the meaning of the Cup, back then.

She was more interested in securing a good place for her children, as it the case for every mother.

But, now….
…standing before that same Master…who had died a horrible death… she understood what was meant by the “Cup”
… standing before the same Master’s Mother… who had borne immense pain of Her Little Child’s death… she understood what was meant by “drinking the cup of suffering”.

She realised…
… the path to glory is only by treading the way of the Cross.
… that more than asking for places of honour, a true commitment to do God’s Will was needed
… that her request was triggered by a ordinary human concern and not tuned to seeking what was more needed by the Lord.

And standing before the Cross, she would have wished and prayed..
“Lord, not a place of honour, but grant that my children would follow you passionately!

Lord, not a seat of glory, but grant that my children may be faithful to you for life!”

This woman – the mother of the two sons, who are also called as Sons of Zebedee: James and John – invites each of us also…
… to put our focus totally on the Kingdom values and not on transient material concerns.
… to live in absolute commitment to God’s Mission and leave rewards to the mercy of God

Are we ready to put into place “first things first”…
… God’s Kingdom over every other materialistic wanting…? (Mt 6:33)

Are we ready to prioritize our concerns and focus…
… seek holiness and salvation over other transitory aspirations…? (1 Pet 1:16, Mt 6:21)

Let us be firm in doing the works of the Kingdom, despite the fact that like Prophet Jeremiah we too will have to face a lot of persecution and rejection (Jer 18:18-20)

Let us look to the Cross to draw greater inspiration to prioritize our needs and wants.
Let us look to our Blessed Mother who sought God’s Will for Her Child above all else.

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “In the midst of all the occupations of the day, see to it that you do not become too absorbed in material things. Keep a tight grasp of Christ’s Hand!”

“Living our Christian life in Faithfulness, Integrity and Honesty!”

(Based on Is 1:10, 16-20 and Mt 23:1-12)

There is an interesting story that appears in the 12th Chapter of the 2nd Book of Kings.

Joash was the King of Judah.

He observed that Temple of the Lord was in need of repair.

So he raised a fund-raising program…

“Jehoiada, the priest took a chest and bored a hole in its lid and put it beside the altar, on the right side as one comes into the house of the LORD” (2 Kings 12:10)

The amount thus realised, was given to the master workmen of the Temple.

These master workmen in turn…
… gave it to the carpenters and builders
… to the lumbermen and stone cutters
… and for the purchase of wood and hewn stone used for repairing

There is a fascinating verse that then appears…
… It says, “They did not require an accounting from the men, into whose hand they gave the money to pay to those who did the work, for they dealt FAITHFULLY.” (2 Kgs 12: 16)

Other Bible translations read…
… they worked with INTEGRITY
… they acted with complete HONESTY

Faithfulness, integrity and honesty are qualities that are expected of everyone…
… who engage themselves in the works of the Lord

And naturally so, for all of us as Christians – the followers of Jesus, the Faithful, the Integral and the Honest One!

Do I live my Christian life in Faithfulness, Integrity and Honesty?

The Gospel of the Day presents a Challenging Jesus..
… who seeks to expose the duplicity in the life of the Teachers of the Law
… and exhorts, instead, to lead An Authentic way of Life!

Chapter 23 of the Gospel of Matthew is an extremely emotion filled and volatile passage.

The Great Master Jesus, is in a confronting mode and minces no words in exposing the duplicity of the Teachers of the Law.

Chapter 23 almost speaks of Jesus reaching a sort of boiling point…

Let’s think of a pan of water on the stove…

You turn the burner on high and slowly the water becomes warmer and warmer …

And then, there are a few bubbles in that water and those few bubbles come to the fore…

And pretty soon the water in the pan is furious with bubbles because the water has come to its boiling point…!

The words of Jesus in Chapter 23 come to a boiling point!

(23: 1-12): Denunciation of the attitude of the Scribes and Pharisees
(23: 13-36): Pronouncement of 7 woes on the Scribes and Pharisees
(23: 37-39): Lamentation over the city of Jerusalem

Today’s Gospel Passage deals with some of the crucial areas of the Teachers of the Law…
… which very often have a similarity in our lives too

1: They preach, but do not practice! (Mt 23:3)

How often are we in the habit of telling virtues to others…
… but fail to practise them ourselves?

How often do we love to advise goodness to others…
… but fall short of trying to be good ourselves?

How often do we want the whole world to be changed…
… but reach nowhere in trying to improve our own selves?

2: They lay burdens on others..but lift not a finger to help (Mt 23: 4)

How often do we expect others to achieve perfection…
… but fail to do our own activities with zeal and passion?

How often do we want others to fulfil their duties well…
… but miserably unaware of our own obligations and tasks?

How often do we impose others to be good and holy..
… but indulge our selves in deeds of corruption and sin?

3: They Practice deeds of Religiosity to be seen by others (Mt 23: 5)

How often do we parade our acts of charity before others…
… in order to boost our index of popularity?

How often do we want our deeds of assistance be noticed by others…
… in order to win admiration and acclaim?

How often do we go vocal in boasting of our own achievements…
… in order to become great and famous?

4: They love places and titles of honour and respect (Mt 23: 6-7)

How often do we seek the best places in society and the Church…
… and try to make a peripheral show of our status?

How often do we grow attached to places and titles of glory…
…  and develop an unconscious love for vain glory?

How often do we get disturbed and even troubled easily…
… when others fail to acknowledge our positions and repute?

The list of questions is too long…. the record of queries is too extensive…

But we need to make this check.. a reality check of our own lives!

It is not very difficult to live under the garb of a well-polished and neat looking title of a “Christian”.

It is not very hard to move forward with our Christian lives being peripherally good and “appearing” pious.

But we need to realise?

In our life here, some day or the other, our hollowness will get exposed if were are not true to our inner selves.

A false life does not befit a person who seeks to follow the Authentic Christ.

Yes, on Judgment Day, none of our ‘external packing and wrapping’ will come to our rescue!

To live an authentic and true life is certainly hard…
… and is a treading through paths of difficulties.

But…
… in difficulties, grace abounds
… in hardships, blessings increase
… in adversities, mercy flourishes

May we seek knowledge in order to serve, by growing in the virtues of faithfulness, integrity and honesty…
… and thus be true followers of Jesus, the Faithful, the Integral and the Honest One!

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!”

“Giving our lives in generosity to the Lord!”

(Based on Dan 9:4-10 and Lk 6:36-38)

A little boy started to Sunday-school with two five-rupee coins – one for the Lord, and one for himself.

On the way to church he lost one of them – as it went inside a drain, on the way

“There goes the Lord’s coin!” he said.

What the boy uttered concerning his loss…
… is a reflection of the mind of many grown-ups.

It is always the Lord’s money that is lost.

We tend to be extremely “rigid/unyielding/scrupulous” when it comes to giving to God or to others!

The Gospel of the Day calls for an open mind and generosity in heart in giving to God and offering our lives to Him.

The Lord, continuing His teachings on a practical Christian life, exhorts, “…give and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For the measure you give, is the measure you get back” (Lk 6:38)

Jesus brings a very concrete example from the market scene, to drive home his point of generously giving.

The context of Jesus is the market in Israel, the middle-east part of the world.

As in many places today, this area witnessed markets that had buyers and sellers engaged in bargaining and negotiating over prices, quality and the amount of things and goods.

There would be many of the open-air markets, where the farmers would bring their grain—wheat, corn, barley—and spread it on a mat on the ground.

Potential customers would examine the grain, make an offer, and the bargaining would start….

When a price was finally set, the customer would offer his container—usually a large bowl or pot or an open vessel—and the seller would use a scoop (measuring spoon) to fill the container.

There would be some interesting steps in this process of measuring the grain for a customer and which Jesus quotes in His approach to giving:

Firstly, the seller would fill the container to the top.
Secondly, he would press the grain down and fill some more.
Thirdly, he would shake the container so the grain would settle and then fill in some more.
Finally, he would fill the container until it overflowed!

The contents of this overflowing container would then be transferred to a pouch or a bag so that the buyer could bring home the contents from the market.

Well, this process could sound a bit strange and weird to us in the modern world.

We live in times, when contents are sold by the weight, and not the volume..
We live in times, when manipulations are done to give as less as possible…

But this is where, Jesus, bringing in the example of the market, invites generosity in giving…

Our giving ought to be measured not by weight, but by volume…and that refers to a far-greater amount of giving!
Our giving ought to, not be curtailed down by clever manipulations…rather is to be done very generously and lavishly!

St Paul in 2 Cor 9:6 would say, “Whoever sows sparingly, will also reap sparingly; whoever reaps bountifully will also reap bountifully”

Our giving ought not to be a calculated effort
… rather should be a overflow from the heart!

When we engage is such a lavish and generous giving, God too will shower His abundance, in a similar and much better fashion!
“For the measure you give, will be the measure you get back” (Lk 6:38)

Of course, that is not to say that we are limiting God’s power of giving…

God’s surely showers His gifts lavishly!

God surely pours His blessings overwhelmingly!

But the Lord invites us to be less “rigid/unyielding/scrupulous” when it comes to giving to God or to others!

Give to God, who deserves all, so that we may be worthy to receive His blessings.
Give to God, who is worthy of all, so that we may be blessed to receive His graces.

In the Divine methodology of exchange, the advantage is that, we get much more than what we give
… we obtain far greater than what we offer!

God’s giving is not to be seen just from material or physical aspects…

In fact, that would just be a very limited and low level of understanding.

God’s gifts are to be understood more from a spiritual perspective:
… Gift of His mercy to live a life in union with Him.
… Gift of His grace to be faithful and more committed.
… Gift of His love to be better human beings and be more charitable.
… Gift of His salvation to enjoy eternal bliss and happiness with Him .

All these gifts will be surely lavished  and given… “good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be poured out into our laps!”

The greatest exchange…
… is seen and experienced in the Holy Eucharist
… at every Holy Mass.

Let us give ourselves entirely to the Lord
… especially at Holy Mass and through the Mass, at all times of the day
… to all persons in our life.

Then, in the words of Fulton Sheen, we will be graced to hear the words of the Divine Lord telling us…

You give me your humanity, and I will give you my Divinity!
You give me your time, and I will give you My eternity!
You give me your broken heart, and I will give you Love!
You give me your nothingness, and I will give you My all!

God bless! Live Jesus!

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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “ Frequently give up some of your property by giving it with a generous heart to the poor. It is true that God will repay us, not only in the next world…

… but even in this!”

“Throwing ourselves into the Hands of God and experiencing His Transfiguring and Transforming Power in our lives!”

(Based on Gen 12:1-4, 2 Tim1:8-10 and Mt 17:1-9)

A five year old boy was playing in the front yard of his house, by throwing a ball up in the air.

An elderly priest, who was passing that way, asked the boy what he was doing.

The little boy, with innocence answered:
“I am playing a game of ‘catching the ball’ with God!

I throw the ball up in the air…
… and He throws it back to me!”

The senior priest was pretty amused at the simple answer.

And as he moved ahead, he thought in his mind…
“Although, the boy in his innocence just said his experience of a law of nature…
… in that simple statement, he also expressed a religious reality:

Divine experience is this: Throwing of ourselves into the Hands of God…
… and receiving what He gives to us”

That’s very true isn’t it?

Divine experience is ” throwing of ourselves into the Hands of God…
… and receiving what He gives to us”

When we throw ourselves into the Hands of God, and receive what He gives us…
… that is the experience of Transfiguration!

The Gospel of the Day presents before us the Lord undergoing the Transfiguration.

The Disciples shared in this joy.

We are invited today!

The Scene of the Transfiguration is one of the most captivating and thrilling scenes of the Gospels.

  We shall look into this account of the Transfiguration through the eyes of St Matthew’s Gospel.

It’s interesting to see that this scene takes place on a high mountain.

Mountains play a key role in the Gospel of St Matthew.

Mountains, of course, dot the landscape of the Biblical regions.

They are a great part of the physical reality of the Biblical world.
They are a symbolic of “being closer to God”.

St Matthew’s Gospel has a particular love for this “lofty symbol of God’s presence”

Jesus underwent a temptation by Satan on the Mount…
… the Mount of Temptations (Mt 4:8)

Jesus delivers His Sermon and Teachings on a Mount…
… the Mount of the Sermon (Mt 5:1)

Jesus performs many deeds of healings on a Mount…
… the Mount by the Sea of Galilee (Mt 15:29)

Jesus is transfigured on a Mount…
… the Mount of Transfiguration (Mt 17:1)

Jesus gives His final teaching and discourse on a Mount…
… the Mount of Olives (Mt 24:3)

Jesus gives up His life on a Mount…
… the Mount of Calvary (Mt 27:33)

Jesus delivers His Final Mission mandate on a Mount …
… the Mount of Galilee (Mt 28:16)

So in this Lofty and High Place of the Presence of God – a Mountain – Jesus undergoes His Transfiguration…
… and is joined by the presence of two other “Mountain” Figures – Moses and Elijah!

Moses is the Man of the Mount of Sinai and Mount Nebo – representing the Law of God!
Elijah is the Man of the Mount of Carmel – representing the Prophets of God!

Jesus is the God and Man of all the Mountains – the Fulfillment of all the Laws and the Prophets!

What is the purpose of the “many mountain settings” of the Transfiguration Scene?

To look further….to imagine deeper…to hear beyond.
To see the way God sees us.
To imagine the way God perceives us.
To hear the way God wants of us.

We all need a Transfiguration Moment in our lives…
… a Transfiguration Experience in our lives!

Vision that needs to be transfigured…
… into God’s representation!
Imagination that needs to be transfigured…
… into God’s resemblance!
Hearing that needs to be transfigured…
… into God’s resonance!

Let us take courage….and accompany the Lord….

Beyond the peripheral problems of life…away from the hardships and difficulties of our physical, mental, spiritual, emotional worries…
…to climb the Mountain of Spiritual Closeness and Presence of the Lord, and share in the joy of the Transfiguration!

In the Old Testament, Abraham underwent this “Transfiguration Experience” by throwing himself into the Hands of God and following His words:
“Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house, to the land that I will show you!” (Gen 12:1)

St Paul invites us to not feel ashamed of boldly witnessing to the Lord, and exhorts us to accept our share of suffering for the Gospel:
“Do not be ashamed then of testifying to our Lord… but share in suffering for the gospel in the power of God, Who saved us and called us with a holy call…” (2 Tim 1:8-9)

Life has much more to offer.

Life has much more to be expected…
Life has much more to hope for…

Let us “throw” our lives into the Hands of God…
… and receive what He gives to us

And thus…
… Be transfigured!
… Be transformed!
… Be transcending!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “Prayer, united with the Divine Sacrifice of the Holy Mass, has an indescribable force…

… therefore by this means celestial favors united to the Beloved abound in the soul!”

“Overcoming our short-sightedness and instead, adopting the Divine Vision!”

(Based on Deut 26:16-19 and Mt 5:43-48)

Myopia is a commonly found eye condition.

Popularly, it is also called as “near-sightednessa” or “short-sightedness”.

It is a state of the eye that causes distant objects to appear blurred, while close objects can be seen clearly.

Coming from the greek word, “muōpia”, which literally means “trying to see like a mole”…
… myopia is a condition of the eye that causes the image that one sees, when looking at a distant object, to be out of focus, but in focus when looking at a close object.

Well, this short-sightedness or myopia is limited to not just the physical eye…

It can also easily be applicable to our general outlook of life or our spiritual life.

Yes, it is often found that one becomes short-sighted in life – seeing things only as they appear at the moment, and unable to take the long view of matters.

This is “spiritual myopia”
This is “spiritual short-sightedness”

The Gospel of the day presents Jesus inviting us to become aware of the presence of a possible “spiritual myopia” in our lives and to take measures to get rid of this condition.

The passage begins with the statement.. “You have heard that it was said….. But I say to you”

It must be borne in mind that the region in and around the ministry of Jesus, was multicultural and multilingual.
Under the Roman Empire, there was an infusion of languages… Latin, Greek, Aramaic, Hebrew…

Many of the common people of Israel usually spoke in Aramaic or Greek and perhaps Latin.

In this multi-linguistic situation, the reading and understanding and interpretation of the Scriptures (which was in Hebrew) was mainly by the religious leaders of the time – the Pharisees and the Scribes.

This therefore gave them the chance to interpret the Scriptures in a manner that reflected their own personal and biased teachings.

As time passed, this style of interpretation finally led to the situation that just observing the Law in an outward allegiance was sufficient in fulfilling God’s demands.

The fulfilment of following the Law was reduced to a mere external practise.
The spirit of the law was sacrificed for the letter of the law!
The inner dimensions and requirements were abandoned.

A “spiritual myopia” had crept in…
A “spiritual short-sightedness” had overpowered them…
·       They were fixed only to doing the stipulations, but failed to live the spirit of the Law
·       They were limited to a vision of doing only the externals, but got blind to the internals.

And therefore, Jesus warns the people to be aware of this “spiritual myopia” and to see beyond..
…to the real requirements of the law
…to the core of God’s commandments

                                                                                     
Jesus attacks the method of interpreting Scripture with a limited vision and perspective…

He contrasts the Pharisees’ interpretation of the law with the law’s real meaning, by using the formula : “You have heard that it was said to those of old. . . . But I say to you . . .”

Six times in the second half of Matthew 5, Jesus uses this formula…speaking about…
… anger (Mt 5: 21-22)
… adultery (Mt 5: 27-28)
… divorce (Mt 5: 31-32)
… oaths (Mt 5: 33-34)
… retaliation (Mt 5: 38-39)
… loving enemies (Mt 5: 43-44)

·       Each time Jesus described the “limited” interpretation of the law…and each time He “broadened” the vision of the law.
·       Each time Jesus put forth the “myopic” explanation of the law…and each time, He “enlarged” the understanding of the law.

Am I also in a condition of a “spiritual myopia”?
… limited in my vision of the love of God and failing to extend His charitable love to all
… limited in my vision of the law of God and being stuck to my egoistic interpretations
… limited in my vision of the mercy of God and blocking it from reaching our enemies.

Am I also in a condition of a “spiritual short-sightedness”?
… having eyes fixed only on materialistic aspects and failing to see heavenly realities
… having eyes fixed only on what happens externally and failing to understand inner facts
…having eyes fixed only on being pious outside and failing to have a genuine intimacy within

The book of Deuteronomy reminds us of the call to walk in the paths of the Lord:
“This day the LORD your God commands you to do these statutes and ordinances; you shall therefore be careful to do them with all your heart and with all your soul!” (Deut 26:16)

In the Nazareth Manifesto, at the beginning of His public ministry, Jesus declared that He has been sent, “to proclaim…recovery of sight to the blind…” (Lk 4:18)

Let us seek the grace of the Lord, to touch our eyes, and help us be healed of our spiritual “myopia”

God Bless ! Live Jesus!

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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “Retire at various times into the solitude of your own heart, even while outwardly engaged in discussions or transactions with others…… and talk to God.”

“Ceasing to react, learning to respond!”

(Based on Ezek 18:21-28 and Mt 5:20-26)

Sinbad the Sailor is a fictional character.

His tales are mostly voyage stories – fantastic adventure stories through the seas of Africa and South Asia.

One of the tales narrates of how Sinbad and his sailors landed on an island.

On arriving, they saw coconuts, high up on the trees; which could very well quench their thirst and satisfy their hunger.

But these coconuts were far beyond their reach.

However, they noticed a large number of monkeys on the branches of the trees.

Soon enough, Sinbad and his men,  began to throw stones and sticks up at the apes.

This enraged the monkeys and they began to seize the coconuts…
… and hurl them down at the men on the ground.

This was exactly what Sinbad and his men wanted!

They got the monkeys so angry…
… that they gave in to satisfy the needs of those who made them angry!

This is exactly what anger does…
… we play ourselves, into the hands of those who cause us to lose our temper!

We end up “reacting”…
… than “responding”!

The Gospel of the day is a teaching by Jesus on this very important concern of Christian Life: Anger.

Killing is considered to be a serious evil in every society and every religion.

Killing in its basic form is usually considered only in the sense of the physical body.

But the Lord today presents a higher perspective in the understanding of killing…
“You have heard that it was said to the men of old, ‘You shall not kill’; and whoever kills shall be liable to judgment’.

But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be liable to the judgment….” (Mt 5: 21)

The Lord expands the understanding of killing beyond the physical body…

A person engages in an act of killing… if, by anger…
…the emotional state of the other person is injured
…the spiritual balance of the other person is wounded    

We could understand anger from various perspectives…

1. Anger as Quick temper
   Prov 15:18 says, “An ill-tempered man stirs up strife…”
   It is said that if you speak when you are angry, one makes the best speech that would be regretted much!

Quick temper sometimes…
… forms part of our temperament
… comes even unknowingly
… is instigated by other’s actions

Yet, in all this, one ought to…
… rise quickly from remaining in the state of anger.
… become conscious of the occasions which can excite anger
… see that the temper is not fed or nurtured or intensified

2. Anger which leads to stubbornness
   Eph 4:26: “…. do not let the sun to set on your anger”

Sometimes, the anger within is allowed to grow so much…
…that we get habituated to getting angry for even tiny and trivial matters
…that we lose our peace of mind, and sometimes even become indifferent
…that we choose not to budge from our position or viewpoint and remain adamant

Yet, we need to make efforts…
… to try to overcome our ego and self mentality and seek to make amends with the person
… to lower oneself in humility (even if we are right) and ease the situation of annoyance

Anger needs to be sanctified…channelled in the proper way!

One may feel a ‘just’ anger at….
… the immense corruption in the world and even in religious circles
… the forces of evil that seem to root away even faint traces of hope
… the indifferent and unchanging attitudes and temperaments of people which is sickening.

Yet… even these ought to get channelled properly
…even these ought to be routed in the right manner

Yes… even our just anger needs to be sanctified and purified in the burning furnace of God’s Love.

Anger is indeed a major tendency that is a cause of distress for many of us.
Anger is indeed a prime inclination that is a root of sin for many of us.

There are moments, when anger captures us and we throw ourselves into people…
… throw words which are not appropriate
… throw emotions that would cause shame and guilt later
… throw actions and deeds that would cause pain and injury

Let us seek to make genuine, practical and realistic efforts in the fight to sanctify and purify our anger.

Undoubtedly…
… it is painstaking
… it requires deeper attempts
… it requires committed determination!

But the Lord assures His grace to help us and His Love to encourage us!

Through the Prophet Ezekiel, God reminds us of His Mercy to those who honestly repent and turn back to Him:
“If a wicked man turns away from all his sins which he has committed and keeps all my statutes…
… And does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die!” (Ezek 18:21)

Let us make efforts to be people, who not simply “react”…
… instead, in patience and gentleness, seek to “respond”!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “I state absolutely and make no exception, do not be angry at all…
… if that is possible.

Do not accept any pretext whatever for opening your heart’s door to anger.”