“Fireproof” is a 2008 Christian drama film.

It is an incredibly gripping, compelling and a transformational story about saving a marriage – of Catherine and Caleb – that had hit rock-bottom.

Catherine was a hospital administrator, married to fire captain Caleb Holt.

>> Caleb recruited young men under the dictum of never leaving one’s partner, ‘especially in a fire’.

But at home, the scenario was quite opposite; he and Catherine argued over almost everything.

>> Catherine accused Caleb of being selfish with time and money.

>> Caleb complained that Catherine was ungrateful for all he did to help others.

Both felt that the other didn’t care or appreciate each other

The constant bickering reached the high point, when Catherine demanded a divorce and an irritated Caleb agreed.

The two complained to their respective friends regarding this unpleasant phase of their life.

John, Caleb’s father convinced his son to delay the divorce proceedings in order to try “Love Dare”, a 40-day challenge for improving marriages by changing the way a spouse was treated.

Caleb’s friend Michael also persuaded Caleb to hold off on divorce and challenged the fire-captain with a bold statement:

>> “I’ve seen you run into a burning building to save people you don’t even know, but you’re going to let your own marriage burn to the ground?”

The acceptance of Christ into his life invigorated Caleb to ask God to help in defeating his demons and overcoming his addictions.

The movie proceeds, through many twists and turns, with Catherine finally realizing and acknowledging the many selfless acts done by her husband and enters into reconciliation with him.

The film ends with Caleb and Catherine renewing their wedding vows as a covenant with God.

Marriage is a sacred institution – a precious covenant – that demands a lifelong commitment and a faithful dedication, despite the ups and downs of life.

>> It is this message that is driven home by Jesus in today’s Gospel when He expounds His teaching on the sacredness of the Covenant of Marriage.

The passage begins with a testing interrogation by the Pharisees, ” Is it lawful to divorce one’s wife for any cause?” (Mt 19:3)

Jesus came to the world to demonstrate the magnanimity of God’s Love.

This magnanimity includes…

… His unconditional manner of loving us, irrespective of our worthiness

… His unfailing faithfulness to us, despite our many acts of betrayal and disloyalty

It is this model of God’s love that becomes the blueprint for us in loving others, and especially in a marriage relationship.

The partners, pledged in love to each other in marriage, ought to imitate the love that God has for us…

>> We have cheated and strayed away from what God wants of us…

… He still loves us and is faithful to us

>> We have, on innumerable occasions, spat at His face by our shameful deeds and defamed His name by our sinful acts…

… He still holds us close to Him and remains loyal to us

>> We have, despite many warnings, purposely hurt Him in thoughts, words and deeds and even rejected His graces by not co-operating with His Will for us…

… He still waits patiently for our return and constantly seeks to draw us to Him

We have failed Him many times, but He has always made efforts to try to win us

>> We have hurt and pained Him much, but He has still longs for us, with His soothing balm of acceptance

It is this “magnanimity of God’s Love” that becomes the basis, the inspiration and the ideal in every marriage relationship.

>> Therefore Jesus says, “What therefore God has joined, let not man put asunder” ( Mt 19: 6b)

We live in a world where the quickest solution to many problems is found in “throwing it away!”

>> And the same mentality affects human relationships too… especially to those in marriage.

The challenge therefore is to dare to swim against these worldly currents and bring in the “Jesus Culture of Faithful Commitment” in human relationships, especially of marriage.

Theoretically speaking, this sounds quite good and wonderful.

>> But when it comes down to the actual practice… in married lives… it is undoubtedly a very hard effort.

“But what is impossible for humans is possible for God” (Lk 18: 27), is the assurance of Jesus.

When the going gets really hard and we want to call it ‘quits’ in our relationships…

… let us look to Jesus who said Yes to the Will of God in the painful agony at Gethsemane

There may seem no hope ahead…

>> Still, can we say Yes to God’s Will – to be faithful and committed?

When none of our efforts of restoration work out and we get ‘fed’ up and feel to have reached the ‘limit’ in relationships…

… let us look to Jesus Crucified, who was never ‘fed’ up with our misdeeds and our constant misunderstanding and misuse of His love

It may seem that all the past was mere fantasy and the future appears to be non-existent…

>> Still, can we hold on to Hope in God – to be true to our promise and be loyal?

The promises made…

>> to our Faith in Baptism

>> to the spouse in Marriage

>> to the Lord in Consecrated and Priestly Life

… all demand an undissolved commitment and an undiluted faithfulness.

As the dialogues in the movie “Fireproof” says (in the scene where the ‘salt and pepper bottles’ are glued together):

“When two people get married, it’s for better or for worse, like these joined salt and pepper.

… For richer or for poorer.

… In sickness and in health.

If you pull them apart, you’ll break either one or both of them.

God made marriage to be for life.”

Yes, fireproof doesn’t mean that a fire will never come…

>> But it does mean, that when it comes, one will be able to withstand it!

May the Lord, the Lover of our souls be the assurance of “fireproof” in our relationships!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “The effect of marital love should be an inviolable fidelity to one another.

In olden times finger-rings were wont to be graven as seals.

>> We read of it in Holy Scripture, and this explains the meaning of the marriage ceremony, when the Church, by the hand of her priest, blesses a ring, and gives it first to the man…

… in token that she sets a seal on his heart by this Sacrament, so that no thought of any other woman may ever enter therein so long as she, who now is given to him, shall live.

>> Then the bridegroom places the ring on the bride’s hand…

… so that she in her turn may know that she must never conceive any affection in her heart for any other man so long as he shall live, who is now given to her by our Lord Himself!”

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The Feast of the Assumption of our Blessed Mother Mary is celebrated in variety of ways, all over the world .

In some of the small towns of Rome, there is a very symbolic custom.

It is called as L’Incinata – the Bowing Procession.

The people in the village carry a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary down the main street.

>> This is symbolic of Mother Mary on Her way to heaven

From the opposite direction comes another procession, carrying the statue of Jesus.

>> This is symbolic of Her Son Jesus coming to welcome Her

Under an arch that has been prepared with branches and thousands of flowers, the two processions meet.

The statues are then made to bow to each other, three times…

… It is symbolic of Jesus welcoming His Beloved Mother at the gates of heaven.

Then the combined procession continues, with the people carrying the statues side-by-side to the Church….

… Symbolically indicating, Jesus taking along His Mother to Her throne in heaven!

This ‘bowing procession’ so very beautifully and symbolically represents the wonderful event of the Assumption of our Blessed Mother Mary.

It celebrates the Son-King sharing His Glory with His Mother.

Human kingdoms have followed the tradition of the son who is the King of the Land, crowning his mother, as the Queen of the Kingdom.

The Old Testament bears witness to this fact:

King Solomon on assuming charge of the throne, after King David, raised his mother Bathsheba to his side, to be the royal queen (1 Kings 2: 19)

This was also a foretaste of what was to follow…

… Jesus, the King of Kings awarding the throne of glory to His Mother, Mary and raising Her to be the Queen of Heaven and Earth!

The feast of the Day – the Assumption of Mother Mary – is one of the four Marian Dogmas that the Catholic Church pronounces.

A dogma is a doctrine that is solemnly proposed by the Church as formally revealed in Scripture or Tradition.

The four Marian Dogmas are:

1. Mary as the Mother of God

2. The Perpetual Virginity of Mary

3. The Immaculate Conception of Mary

4. The Assumption of Mary into heaven

The declaration of the Dogma of the Assumption of Mary is as follows:

“By the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, of the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and by our own authority, we pronounce, declare, and define it to be a divinely revealed dogma: that the Immaculate Mother of God, the ever Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory.”

This Dogma of the Assumption was proclaimed on November 1, 1950, by Pope Pius XII in the Apostolic Constitution “Munificentissimus Deus”

This proclamation was not defining something new in the Church…

… rather it was an official recognition of the centuries-old belief on Christians about the Assumption of their Heavenly Mother.

The celebration of the Feast of the Assumption teaches us one important aspect: The Assumption of Mother Mary is the sure hope for us, for a life of eternal glory!

Our Blessed Lord came to this world to “die” and “win” salvation for human beings.

This act of salvation had its total co-operation in the Person that God had chosen as His Own in the Divine Plan – Mother Mary.

From the moment, She said “yes” to the messenger of the Lord to become the Mother of God’s Child…

… She placed Herself in a position of “constantly being under the scanner to say a Yes” to God’s Will!

Her Yes to God, meant a “No” to many things in Her personal life…

… her own individual desires

… her own undisclosed dreams

She would become the epitome of the one who lived the teaching that Jesus would later expound during His ministry, “No one who puts a hand to the plough and looks back is fit for service in the Kingdom of God” (Lk 9: 62)

Her echo of “Yes” reverberated and resonated all through Her life…

…. in times of loneliness

… in times of immense pain

… in times of utter hopelessness

It was this daring faithfulness that made God to bestow on Her the privilege to share in Her Son’s Glory!

This is wonderful story of the Assumption.

This then is one of the great promise and assurance that God gives to each one us through this Dogma of the Assumption of our Blessed Mother Mary.

>> Does life grind us, with its daily toils and do we undergo immense pain and suffering – sometimes even unbearable and agonizing?

>> Does life grill us, with many incidents of misunderstandings, exposition to calumnious talks and total absence of positive encouragements and unconditional acceptance by people?

>> Does life gnash us, with constant tensions and difficulties that never seem to leave us alone and paralyze us with innumerable jolts of depression and despair?

Then, the Assumption of our Blessed Mother comes to our rescue, with a hopeful answer to all such miserable questions!

We need to be reminded that Mary had exclaimed, “Behold, I am the Handmaid of the Lord” (Lk 1:38)

Mary was an ordinary human being.

>> She too had Her ordinary and humble beginnings.

>> She too went through common life’s struggles and strains.

But through these “ordinary” circumstances…

• God “raised” Her to the Heights

• God “assumed” Her into Glory

… simply because She “found favour with God” and lived a life worthy of that call

>> In total submission, humble obedience and loyally faithful!

This then is our call too…

>> As Baptized Christians, we too have “found favour” with God.

We dwell in “ordinary” circumstances of life – with hardships and pains.

But if we also…

• seek and live the Will of the Lord at all times

• constantly submit to what He wants

• and dutifully bow to His mercy and grace

… the glory which Jesus has “won” for us at Resurrection, can be ours!

God’s plans are indeed wonderful…

>> In the “Story of the Fall” a mother (Eve) had been involved intimately with a man (Adam) and humanity fell into the sea of sin!

>> In the “Story of the Rise”, a Mother (Mary) was involved intimately with a Man (Jesus) and humanity is promised to “assume” to the skies of glory!

Are we ready to co-operate with God’s plans in our lives, just as Mother Mary did…

… and thus receive the “Privilege of Assumption into Glory” just as Mother Mary received?

May we grow in our Love for the Lord and for the Blessed Woman who bore God in Her womb and was borne by God into heaven, and not left in the grave to turn back into dust!

Today , the Great Land of India celebrates her Independence Day.

>> May all Indians grow to understand the true meaning of freedom…

… and like Mother Mary, properly channelize the God-given Freedom towards excellence of life, blossoming of virtues and to the Glory of God!

Happy Feast to Jesus, Our Great King and to Mamma Mary, His Glorious Queen-Mother!

>> Happy Independence Day to all Indians, all over the world!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – ““When the Most Holy Soul of Our Lady left her Most pure Body, this Body was carried to the sepulcher and returned to the earth like that of her Son.

>> For it was most proper that the Mother should not have a greater privilege than the Son.

But just as Our Lord rose at the end of three day, so did She rise at the end of three days.

>> Yet in a different manner, inasmuch as the Saviour rose by His own power and authority and Our Lady rose by the almighty power of God Her Son…

… Who commanded the blessed Soul of His most Holy Mother to be reunited to Her Body.

Certainly it was very fitting that this most pure Body should in no way be tainted by any corruption, since that of Our Lord had been drawn from Her chaste Womb…

… and had reposed in it for nine months.”

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Facebook is the popular online social networking service, which has achieved immense levels of popularity and usage.

Many use it, on account of its…

… versatility in finding and maintaining contacts

… easy to use features and the availability of readily accessible tools

… resourcefulness which helps to gain a lot of information and entertainment

One of the features that is available on Facebook is the option to “unfriend” someone.

To “unfriend” means to remove someone from a list of friends or contacts on a social networking website.

The technique to do that is pretty simple:

>> Going to the person’s profile

>> Hover over the ‘Friends’ button at the top of the profile

>> Click on “Unfriend’

It’s as easy and straightforward as that to “throw” someone out of the friend list!

Real life too, sometimes falls into this “simplistic” technique to “unfriend” people from life – especially people who are close to us and who ought to deserve “repeated” chances before the ties are severed…

… Someone offends us – either out of ignorance or perhaps due to some reason – but we easily “break ties” with that person

… Someone speaks a bad word about us and we take so much offence that we lose all our peace of mind and devise schemes to terminate or harm that person – either physically or socially or mentally

… Someone acquires a bad name – out of false rumours or maybe even out of some true incident; but we make a mountain of the mole and go on to further critically damage the image of that person

Our life sometimes makes it so easy “to unfriend” someone…

… sometimes, even our own family members, or close friends or some other person who has played a deep role in our lives.

The Gospel of the Day invites us to reflect in depth on this our trend to “unfriend” people from our lives, without even giving them further chances or opportunities to remedy themselves.

Jesus says, “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone” (Mt 18: 15)

Jesus was a person who had an important principle in all His teachings: the need to strive towards perfection.

In Mt 5: 48, Jesus says, “Be perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect”

It’s this pursuit of perfection in human relationships that makes Jesus to invite us in being careful and cautious with respect to severing our relationships with one another.

“Friendship”, it is said, “is delicate as a glass – once broken it can be fixed but there will always be cracks”

Jesus, therefore warns us on the need to “handle with care” our relationships.

The “pursuit towards perfection” makes it inevitable for a Christian – a follower of Christ, to go beyond one’s own limitations and situations in maintaining relationships…

… by preserving and perfecting the fine ones

… by mending and restoring the broken ones.

• It is easy to say “I don’t like you any more” because of some bad experience

… but it takes Christian Gentleness to respect and accept a person, despite his/her faults or failures

• It is easy to show a person the exit-door in our relationship due to some misunderstanding or ego-clash

… but it takes Christian Humility to let go of one’s “proud and adamant mentality” and lower oneself to try to understand better the person in fault and his/her situation and background

• It is easy to harbour grudge and to nurture ill-feelings and to spread the contagion of malicious talks regarding a person whom we don’t like

… but it takes Christian Charity to allow the honey of Christ’s love to permeate our hearts and to be able to find goodness even in the midst of a slush of ‘apparent dirt’ in the person

Our lives, families, communities and societies are being plagued by a number of cancers with respect to relationships:

>> Backbiting and spreading false rumours about people and situations

>> Cooking up bogus stories and building up on some true incidents to fashion an “interesting and spicy” report regarding particular persons

>> Actively engaging in forming groups and cliques against a someone in order to satiate one’s own pleasures and get through one’s personal agenda for life

Are we ready to be bold to let go of all such tendencies to which we can be prone and instead engage ourselves in radical Christian charity and humility?

We shall specially seek the intercession of St Jane de Chantal, whose feast was celebrated on 12th August, in order to have greater strength in our personal relationships.

>> She is the patron saint of forgotten people, in-law problems, loss of parents, parents separated from children and widows.

May her words inspire us:

“If we truly love our neighbours, we refrain from saying anything prejudicial to them.

>> We support everyone as we would like to be supported.

>> We try to give the example that we would like to receive from others.

>> We excuse and forgive the blunders of others as we would like ours to be forgiven and excused.

>> We rejoice in the happiness of others and are sorrowful in their pains, just as we would like them to respond to us in ours.

>> We graciously help others in their needs both by prayer and actual service.

In this way we truly show our good-will and love.”

Today we celebrate the Feast of St Maximillian Kolbe, who was called by Pope St John Paul II as the “Patron Saint of our Difficult Century!”

May his words – the saint who volunteered to die in place of a stranger in the Nazi death camp of Auschwitz – be an inspiration for us:

“The most deadly poison of our times is indifference. And this happens, although the praise of God should know no limits.

>> Let us strive, therefore, to praise Him…

… to the greatest extent of our powers!”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “Charity never enters a heart without

bringing with it all the other virtues, empowering them and marshalling them as needed…

… just as a captain does his soldiers!”

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A mother took her three children to a fine restaurant for a dinner.

>> It was a crowded Sunday and they could only get separate seats.

As food was served, the youngest daughter – 6 year old Mary – who was seated at the far corner of the restaurant…

… loudly enquired from her mother: “Mother, don’t people say grace before meals in this place?”

A wave of silence wrapped the entire restaurant!

The mother did not know how to react.

But soon enough, the manager of the hotel, who was at the counter, said in an assuring voice to the child: “Yes we do. You may start?”

All the people bowed their head in silence

Little Mary closed her eyes, joined her hands and bowing her head…

… in a loud and crystal voice prayed: “Bless us O Lord, and these your gifts, which we are going to receive from your goodness, through Christ our Lord? Amen!”

The child found it strange to observe that none of the elders were praying…

… So she went “out of the way”

>> And did something that was very beautiful

>> And taught others an action to be imitated

The Gospel of the Day is an invitation by the Lord to re-discover this “forgotten” dimension of our lives: Having child-like qualities in our life of faith…

… especially to “go out of the way”!

The Gospel passage begins with disciples asking their Master: “Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?” (Mt 18: 1)

Taking a child, Jesus exclaims: “Truly I say to you, unless you turn and become like little children, you will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven” (Mt 18: 3)

One notable characteristic of a child is to do things “out of the way.”

A child “goes out of the way”…

… in expressing love and affection by trying to imitate the kind acts of the elders

… in trying to help others – giving a hand at the household chores, or doing little works

Jesus, speaking of this worthwhile quality of a child…

… presents to us the image of a Shepherd who goes “out of the way”, in search of the lost sheep.

Jesus says: “If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray…

… will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills, and go in search of the stray?” (Mt 18: 12)

The shepherd loves all his hundred sheep…

… yet, when one gets strayed, he makes “an out-of-the-way effort” to get the lost one back.

He does not give up on the strayed.

>> He doesn’t desert the lost.

>> He doesn’t abandon the one, gone from his circle.

This attitude of going “out of the way”…

>> “taking an extra pain”

>> “dripping an extra sweat”

… would seem weird and strange to the calculative, pragmatic and business-minded head of ours, in this modern period!

We might question:

>> Is it not a waste of time to go after the “lost sheep”…

… of an obsessed drug-addict or a habitual drunkard or a consistent smoker?

>> Is it just too futile to awaken a “lost sheep”…

… of a soul in slumber, where there is no focus on spiritual life, where there is slackness of prayer and sacraments and where worldliness and materialism have crept and conquered?

>> Is it of any use to go after the “lost sheep”…

… of a couple who are constantly bickering and a family which is broken up with regular fights and misunderstandings?

>> Is there any sense in trying to restore the “lost sheep”…

… of a community whose members seem disinterested, who are lethargic, who have their own personal and hidden agenda and who always back-talk and back-bite?

>> Is it just not meaningless to revive the “lost sheep”…

… of a society or a nation where corruption has taken deep-roots in hearts of people and all sincere efforts of transformation often gets dumped into the bin?

The True Shepherd however, in all such situations, of the “lost sheep” …

… “goes out of the way”

>> The Good Shepherd makes an extra effort in getting them back!

This Good Shepherd today invites us to be partakers in restoring the lost ones…

… by having a child-like attitude.

A critical danger in the process of ‘growing- up’ is the tendency to lose our ‘natural child-like’ qualities.

>> As a child, we were free to express our emotions…

… but when we “grow up”, we tend to hold them up all within (only to burst out one day!)

>> As a child, we were easily dependent on those who cared for us…

… but when we “grow up”, we become arrogant towards them and seek ‘independence’

>> As a child, we were able to enjoy and relax in the present moment…

… but when we “grow up”, we get caught up in the snare of the past and shrink with fear of the future.

The Lord invites us to get back the “lost” child-like faith and trust.

>> We need to realize that we are always little children to our Heavenly Father!

>> He loves to care for us… He longs that we depend on Him entirely!

Yes, children sometimes teach elders great lessons, isn’t it?

Many times we forget the basics of life, which the children remind us?

>> Sharing… Being fair… Enjoying the present moment

>> Curiosity to learn… Willingness to let go hurts… Having a sense of wonder

Let us be willing to “go out of the way”…

>> And do things that are very beautiful

>> And teach others actions, that can be imitated!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “God takes pleasure to see you take your little steps; and like a good father who holds his child by the hand, He will accommodate His steps to yours…

… and will be content to go no faster than you.

>> Why do you worry?

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A very wealthy and pious Christian lady was used to share God’s blessings to others…

… by giving bread and soup personally to the poor who came to her door.

Often people who had just received food from her would pretend to leave…

… go around the house

… and get back in line for more!

When asked why she let these people get away with this, the lady would reply:

“What if God turned me away when I came back to him again and again with the same request?”

This lady was Jane…

… St Jane Frances de Chantal – whose feast we celebrate today.

St Jane de Chantal is the Founder of the Visitation Congregation, along with St Francis de Sales, her spiritual friend and director.

St Jane de Chantal, with a personal experience, understood the generosity of God’s Sacrificial Love…

… and invited others to open their eyes to see the magnanimity of God’s Mercy.

The Lord displayed His Immense Generosity and Magnanimous Mercy by paying a “ransom” to save His people

>> He spared no efforts in getting His people released..

… by suffering on the Cross

… shedding His Blood

… giving up His life

… and rising from the dead

Have we fallen in love with this King Who gave Himself up for us?

>> Are we willing to live our life in obedience and in imitation of His commands Who ransomed His life for us?

The Gospel of the Day presents an interesting, yet a ‘not-too-familiar’ passage of Jesus and His disciples being asked to pay the Temple tax.

“When Jesus and His disciples came to Capernaum, the collectors of the Temple tax approached Peter and said, “Doesn’t your Teacher pay the Temple tax?” (Mt 17: 24)

What was this Temple tax?

The Temple tax was …

… a symbolic gesture in gratitude for what the people of Israel owed to God, for their redemption from slavery in the land of Egypt.

It was a Jewish tax with its origins seen in Ex 30: 12-16:

“Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: ‘This is what everyone among those who are numbered shall give: half a shekel… The half-shekel shall be an offering to the LORD.”

This offering was to be an “atonement money”, which would be used for the service of the meeting tent (Ex 12: 16)

In later centuries, this half-shekel was adopted as the amount of the Temple Tax – the one that all Jews were supposed to pay once a year for the upkeep and maintenance of the Jerusalem Temple.

The Temple Tax was thus an “atonement” money

>> It was a “ransom” money!

It is fascinating to note that the incident of this “ransom/atonement” money  is mentioned immediately after Jesus spoke of His Passion and Death.

Jesus told His disciples in Mt 17:22-23:

“The Son of Man is to be handed over to men, and they will kill Him, and He will be raised on the third day”

The incident of the Temple tax, which is the atonement/ransom money, is mentioned…

… immediately after Jesus speaks of His Passion, Death and Resurrection.

Is there any connection between these two incidents?

The Temple tax was in gratitude for the redemption of Israel from slavery

… Jesus would now free all people from the slavery of sin by His Death and Resurrection

The Temple Tax was paid as “ransom” money…

… The Blood of Jesus would now be the “ransom” that will be paid for redemption of humanity.

Jesus did not resist His disciples from paying the Temple Tax…

… as we would see in the incident of the miraculous catch of the fish with a coin in the mouth (Mt 17: 27)

But the perfect payment of the “tax”…

… would be done by Jesus Himself – by His Sufferings, Death and Resurrection!

Jesus would not just pay the tax…

… He would also give Himself in complete obedience to the Father

Thus, He would becoming the “tax” – the ransom and the atonement money!

>> 1 Tim 2:6 says, “Jesus gave Himself as a ‘ransom’ for all”

>> Mk 10:45 says “The Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ‘ransom’ for many”

It is interesting to also note that this incident of the Temple Tax brings reminds us of the former occupation (trade) of two of the disciples of Jesus:

1. Matthew… who was a tax collector (Mt 9:9)

(Probably that explains why this incident is mentioned only in the Gospel of St Matthew)

2. Peter… who was a fisherman (Mt 4:18)

(That’s why Jesus asks Peter to “go to the sea, take the first fish that comes up, and open the mouth to find a coin…”)

Matthew and Peter could represent any of us…

Maybe, like Mathew –  the Tax Collector…

>> We are collecting a lot of things in life…

… but still not finding peace in life!

>> We are occupied with material dimensions at our “own tables”…

… or find ourselves at the receiving end of not being accepted and being looked down by others.

Maybe, like Peter – the fisherman…

>> We are fishing in the waters of life for contentment and satisfaction…

.. but fail to have a catch!

>> We are putting in a lot of effort to fish for success, yet finding none…

… or find ourselves drowning in a sea of sin, hopelessness or despair

Whoever we are..

>> The Lord extends His loving invitation…

… to leave our “tables of collection” and follow Him!

… to cast away our “nets of fish” and follow Him!

He has become the “Ransom”…

… in Whom we can find the ‘collection’ of all joys and contentment of life!

… in Whom we can witness the ‘great catch’ of salvation and redemption!

By this great act, He gave the “Ransom”…

… for our freedom from captivity!

>> By His humbling sacrifice, He paid the “Atonement money”…

… for our salvation for eternal life!

Yes, let us fall in love with the Man Who gave Himself up for us!

>> Let us be willing to live our life in obedience and imitation of His commands Who ransomed His life for us!

Let us seek the intercession of St Jane Frances de Chantal in turning towards the Generous Sacrificial Love of Christ and His Mercy…

… and be inspired by her words:

“Should you fall even fifty times a day, never on any account should that surprise or worry you.

>> Instead, ever so gently set your heart back in the right direction and practice the opposite virtue, all the time speaking words of love and trust to our Lord…

… after you have committed a thousand faults, as much as if you had committed only one.

>> Once we have humbled ourselves for the faults God allows us to become aware of in ourselves, we must forget them and go forward!”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “The Lord would never exhort the faithful to persevere…

… if he were not ready to give them the power to do so!”

——————————–

One of the modern trends that we find in an increasingly urbanizing culture is the importance placed on Fitness.

A lot of emphasis is placed on being health-conscious and maintaining oneself to be fit and fine.

>> This aspect of being healthy is to be extended beyond the physical body to also the spiritual dimension of our lives.

> One needs to be not just physically fit, but also be spiritually strong.

> One needs to be not just bodily healthy, but also be spiritually tough.

It is this spiritual strength & toughness that will help us to be always ready to be prepared for the coming of the Lord.

The Gospel of the Day gives an exhortation to be prepared and arm ourselves for the coming of the Lord:

“You must be ready, for the Son of Man will come at an hour, you do not expect” (Lk 12:40)

The Greek word used for the term “ready” is “hetoimos”.. from a noun “heteos” which means to be fit….

>> It has a connotation of being prepared and seeking for fitness!

There are several factors which affect the Fitness of our Physical Bodies…

… and perhaps the similar factors could also be applied to the fitness for our spiritual lives.

1. Faulty Food affects the Fitness of our Physical Bodies

Proper food plays a vital role in having a healthy body.

>> It is very important to regulate the intake of our food and to have a check on the type of food.

We need to apply this same principle to our spiritual lives as well…

What is the type of food that I am feeding for my spiritual life?

>> Do I lavish myself on unhealthy thoughts of lust and desires, harmful words of indecency and lewdness and dangerous actions of immorality and wickedness?

>> Do I feed myself with the precious Word of God and nourish myself with His inspirations and wisdom?

>> Do I nourish myself with His Body and Blood in the Holy Eucharist?

2. Faulty lifestyle affects the Fitness of our Physical bodies.

It is important to have a disciplined and self-controlled lifestyle in order to maintain our fitness.

>> A regular habit of exercises and workouts coupled with moments for relaxation and leisure from tension-filled works is important.

>> One must also avoid various bad addictions which can hinder having a good physical shape.

We need to apply this same principle to our spiritual lives as well…

What is the type of lifestyle I am leading, with respect to my spiritual life?

>> Do I exercise myself with the daily and regular habits of prayer, Bible Reading, pious practises and devotions?

>> Do I spare time and energy to make some sacrifices and reparations for various causes, especially as a remorse for our sins?

>> Do I make constant efforts to give up on some of our bad cravings, obsessions or habits?

3. Faulty environment affects the Fitness of our Physical bodies.

It is also essential that one maintains a clean and good environment in order to prevent being affected by diseases or sicknesses.

>> One must also seek to avoid any harmful situations or surroundings which can adversely affect the health.

We need to apply this same principle to our spiritual lives as well…

What is the type of environment that I am providing and surrounding my spiritual life?

>> Do I keep myself away from occasions of sin and shield myself away from harmful possibilities like bad books, friends, movies or songs, jokes and other cheap entertainments?

>> Do I strengthen my spiritual life with the powerful grace that is bestowed in the Sacrament of the Confession by a regular acknowledgment of my sins?

>> Do I seek the company of good people, nurture spiritual friendships and also foster a childlike companionship with the holy saints and angels?

Christian Life is a battle and a warfare…against the forces of the Evil.

We need to arm our spiritual lives mightily with the power and strength from God.

>> It is easy to give up on fitness.

>> It is easy to live a relaxed life and take life too casually.

But such a careless life, will lead us to a tragic end as that of the Unfaithful Servant in the parable that the Lord tells in today’s Gospel (Lk 12: 45-46)

It has been recorded that a Greek commander, just before a coming battle is reported to have said: “The secret of victory is in ‘getting ready well!’”

Let us seek for faithfulness in our Christian Life and as ‘ready soldiers’, let us be constantly “on the watch”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “Even as birds on the wing meet the air continually, we, let us go where we will, meet with that Presence…

… always and everywhere!”

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The forests of northern Europe and Asia are home to a little animal called the Ermine.

>> It is characterized by its snow-white fur

Some countries have the state robes of the judges lined with this fur…

… the white fur being a symbol of honour and purity.

The Ermine would do anything to protect and safeguard its fur.

Fur hunters however, take undue advantage of this weakness of the Ermine.

They don’t keep a snare to catch the ermine

>> Instead the smear filth on the entrance and the interior of its house – usually in a cleft of a rock, or the hollow of a tree.

The dogs are then left behind the ermine…

… Frightened, the ermine runs towards its home, the only place of refuge.

However, it finds the entrance dirty and unclean.

>> It is unwilling to spoil the pure white fur coat.

And so, the ermine makes a choice…

>> To give in to the hungry and fierce dogs…

… than to spoil the purity of the white fur!

A choice is made – to preserve purity, even at the cost of one’s life!

Every Christian is expected to do the same…

… preserve the purity of one’s holiness, even at the cost of one’s life.

Today we celebrate the Feast of one such Daring Christian – St Lawrence…

… who yielded his life than to lose his pledge to Christ

… who let go of his earthly desires, to win the prize of heavenly salvation

St Lawrence lived the words of Christ who exhorted:

“He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world, will keep it for eternal life!” (Jn 12: 25)

The Gospel Passage of the day (Jn 12:24-26) is preceded by a very vital and crucial verse in the Gospel of St John…

>> Jesus says, “The Hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified” (Jn 12: 25)

The life of Jesus, as seen in the Johannine Gospel is a journey towards this climax aspect – The Hour!

What is “The Hour”?

>> “The Hour” is the Hour of Glorification

… the hour of His task as a Messiah, which is to be completed by His “lifting up” on the Cross!

It was “the Hour” when the Lord will conquer death, by submitting Himself totally to the Will of the Father!

Jesus never shied away from this Hour

>> He came into this world for this Hour

… Death was the goal of His Life, the gold that He was seeking.

He invites His followers to also make this choice…

… to lose one’s life, in order to gain life in Him!

… to die to oneself, in order to bear much fruit!

What are the implication of losing our life, in order to gain life in Him?

>> Letting go a life of sinful habits and tendencies…

… and making holiness and sanctity as our lifestyle

>> Seeking to put an end to our tendencies to self-boast or feed our pride…

… and instead, engaging in acts of humility and giving space for God’s Mercy

>> Letting go of our stubborn nature in reconciling with others…

… and trying to foster relationships based on self-giving and self-sacrifice

>> Seeking to avoid occasions of sin…

… and instead, creating opportunities for being consciously in the presence of God

By our Baptism, we have been blessed with the white robe of holiness and purity

>> Our Sacramental life keeps it unstained.

The world, on the other hand, constantly seeks to malign this pure robe…

… by its lures of impurity and filth

Like the ermine, we are faced to make a choice…

>> To die to the hungry and fierce world…

… than to spoil the purity of holiness!

Yes, we need to make a choice – constantly, at every moment…

>> A choice to preserve purity, even at the cost of one’s life!

Let us be inspired by the life and example of St Lawrence.

May his courage and valour help us also…

… to yield our life than to lose our pledge to Christ

… to let go of our earthly desires, to win the prize of heavenly salvation

Happy Feast of St Lawrence!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “There are some undertakings which God wishes to be begun indeed by us, but completed by others.

Thus David gathered together materials for the temple which his son Solomon built…

… St. Francis, St. Dominic, St. Ignatius Loyola, sighed for the grace of martyrdom, and sought for it by all possible means;

>> Yet God would not crown them with it, contenting Himself with the offering of their will.

To submit ourselves simply and cheerfully to the Will of God in the failure of undertakings which concern His glory is an act of no small resignation!”

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Some of us have been to amusement parks…

… filled with many jolly and amazing rides.

One of the common yet interesting rides in these parks are the Roller Coaster rides….

>>The ones, which are constructed at dizzying heights

>> The ones possessing several dangerous and heart-wrenching ups and dips

>> The sight of which fills many a weak-at-heart persons, to have giddy feelings!

To those, however, who take up this challenge…

… it’s a sheer ecstatic and thrilling experience!

Welcome to Christianity….a Real-Time Roller Coaster Ride!

The ride is not easy…

>> But the Thrill of the Ride…

… is truly a genuine experience of Remarkable Joy and Peace and Happiness!

Chapter 16 of St Matthew’s Gospel continues the Theme of True Discipleship.

After having revealed Himself as being the Heroic, Awesome and Suffering God-Man, Jesus spells out clearly the demands of being His True Disciple:

>> To deny oneself…to take up one’s cross..to follow Him! (Mt 16: 24)

To follow Christ, we need to follow His terms!

We need to…

>> Lay down something…

>>  Lift up something…

>> And then Follow the Lord

We need to…

>> Lay down our personal pleasures and comforts…

>> Lift up our daily duties…

>> And then Follow the Lord

The Lord demands.

>> The Lord expects.

Am I ready?

Am I a Christian who is zealous and devout and religious on a Sunday…

… but tepid and listless and impractical through the weekdays?

Am I a Christian who loves to wear religious articles around my body…

… but fail to adorn my actions and deeds with charitable and sanctifying works?

Am I a Christian who enjoys rattling off prayers and reciting many devout ejaculations…

… but fall short of translating those good words into a life of honesty and gentleness and humility?

Am I a Christian who takes the pleasure and benefit of being a member of the Church…

… but come to a sticky end in standing by the Church in Her moments of crisis and scandals?

Am I a Christian who relishes listening to Gospel Music, decorating houses with devout pictures and even spreading devotions to many saints…

… but not make the grade when it comes to living the Gospel values and morals?

Very often, our activities and works are centered only on acquiring the things of this world.

>> Surely, we have our own daily needs and wants

But beyond all these, a Christian ought to realize, that we are “pilgrims on this earth”

>> As St Paul says, “Our citizenship is in heaven” (Phil 3: 20)

>> As St Peter says, “… As aliens and sojourners… keep away from worldly desires” (1 Pet 2: 11)

Jesus says, “What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?” (Mt 16: 26)

>> Sometimes we hoard up only material wealth and riches…

… failing to seek for the God who blesses us with the needs of our life!

>> Sometimes our prayers become only petitions for transient things…

… failing to raise a word of thanks to the Lord Who always sustains us!

The Lord invites us to take up the challenges of being a Christian.

As Christian, our lives have to be qualitatively different from others!

>> Let those who see us – be it in our workplaces or in our friend’s circle or any other place – make remarks such as…

… “Ah! Here is a person who displays a lot of trust and hope in a living God!”

… “Here is somebody who remains firm even in difficulties, because he/she knows there is a Loving Father caring and protecting always”

Yes, Christianity is indeed a Real-Time Roller Coaster Ride

>> To those who take up this challenge…

… it’s a sheer ecstatic and thrilling experience!

At Baptism, we have signed a document…

… which entitles us to the Great Privilege of being the Child of God

But by Baptism, we also have agreed to many terms….

… which obliges us the Great Duties of being a Soldier of God!

Being a disciple and soldier of Christ is a demanding affair.

>> Let us brace ourselves up for this challenging, yet exciting ride with the Lord.

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “Let us walk joyously, dear souls, among the difficulties of this passing life…

>> These pains will have an end when our life ends, after which there will be only joy…

… only contentment, only eternal consolation!”

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One of the greatest weaknesses that we face in our lives is that of “misunderstanding”.

>> Personal relationships can undergo crisis due to misunderstandings.

>> Business affairs can prove disastrous due to misunderstandings.

>> Societal interactions can go haywire due to misunderstandings.

>> Community dealings can go wrong due to misunderstandings.

And the opposite is also true…

… Understandings can become the one of the greatest strengths of our lives too!

>> Personal relations can bloom when we understand well.

>> Business affairs can strike gold when there is good understanding.

>> Societal dealings can be peaceful when there is an amicable understanding.

>> Community interactions can be heavenly when there is mutual understanding.

Understandings and Misunderstandings play a vital role in our daily life and existence!

The Gospel of the Day invites each one of us, to examine what is our perspective of the Lord:

Am I understanding Him well….and thus, is He a strength to me?

>> Or am I misunderstanding Him….and this, is He proving a stumbling block to me?

Understanding or Misunderstanding  Jesus will play the pivotal role in our daily spiritual existence!

On reaching Caesarea Philippi (Mt 16:13), Jesus poses a dual question to His disciples…

Who do people say that He is …and Who do the Disciples say that He is.

This two-fold question of Christ…evokes two answers…

1. The Opinion of Jesus as being only Human

>>  The people understand Jesus as John the Baptist, or Elijah or Jeremiah or one of the prophets (Mt 16: 14)

2. The Opinion of Jesus as being only Divine

>> St Peter, as the Captain of the Group, with a heavenly revelation, declares Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of God! (Mt 16: 16)

It’s interesting that after this question-answer session, the Lord Himself chooses to give an answer on who He is!

And this answer of the Lord is a key to our understanding or misunderstanding Jesus.

Jesus declares that He would be a suffering God….

He would be the Man to undergo many persecutions! (Mt 16: 21)

>> He is not only Human.

>> He is not only Divine.

… He is the Suffering God-Man!

Am I able to accept this reality dimension of Jesus?

He is amazing in His Human teachings… He is wonderful in His Divine Deeds.

>> But He is also the Afflicted, the Maltreated, the Victimized and the Wronged.

He is classic in His Human examples.. He is awesome in His Divine miracles.

>> But He is also the Suffering, the Persecuted, the Sacrificied and the Tortured.

>> He is not only Human.

>> He is not only Divine.

… He is the Suffering God-Man!

And like Peter, perhaps some of us shy away from accepting this Painful Reality of the Lord…

… “God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you”  (Mt 16: 22)

We love to follow Him in His exhortations…

>> We love to be enamoured in His wondrous doings.

But we back off…at the mention of His pains, difficulties, persecutions and anguish.

>> We like a Sociable Christ…

… One Who gives equal status to all in the society and breaks sociological barriers

>> We like a political Christ…

… One Who is fearless to challenge the political corruption of the society

>> We like a Revolutionary Christ…

… One Who demands to go beyond the comfort zones of our life

But do we embrace the Suffering Christ?

>> Do we accept the “Saviour” Christ?

Do we consent to the Crucified Christ?

It’s easy to misunderstand Jesus as only a mere human hero.

>> It’s easy to misunderstand Jesus as only a awesome Divine entity.

But it’s not so to understand and accept Him as the Heroic and Awesome and Suffering God-Man!

Understanding or Misunderstanding  Jesus will play the pivotal role in our daily spiritual existence!

Today, let us seek for the grace to accept and understand truly the Person and Divinity of Jesus.

Let us make Him the true strength of our lives.

>> Let us behold Him in the Eucharist.

>> Let us encounter Him in prayer.

>> Let us recognize Him in the Word!

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!”

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There lived a good woman,  who was well-known among her circle for her simple faith and her great calm and composed attitude, in the midst of many trials.

Another woman, who came as her new neighbour, hearing of her, remarked:

“I must go and see that woman, and learn the secret of her calm, happy life.”

She went, and, enquired of the woman: “Are you the woman with the great faith?”

“I don’t know,” was the answer, “I don’t know if I am the woman with the great faith…

… but I do know that I am the woman with a little faith in the Great God!”

The Gospel of the Day in a similar way, presents before us a beautiful incident of faith…

… of a woman,  with a faith, in the Great God!

“You are beautiful… pleasant… delightful… Your love is like honey… Your presence is charming!

>> You are wonderful in your splendour and spectacular in your majesty and glory!”

These are some of the endearing and appealing and fascinating words that are addressed to Jesus.

This is the Jesus who is sweet, cuddly, lovable, adorable, amiable, agreeable and friendly!

>> We yearn for this Jesus.

>> We are happy with this Jesus.

We get settled, often for a sentimental faith.

>> We get fixated, often with a faith based on emotions and sweet words.

Perhaps, that’s how we also want our world to be – kind, caring, accommodating, considerate and gentle!

But we know..the reality is different.

>> The world that we wish is very often not the world that we experience.

>> The world  that we aspire is often in contrast with the world that we come in contact with.

>> We like a peaceful world…

… but we often encounter a world with missiles and innocent lives snatched away!

>> We like an equal society…

… but we often meet a society which discriminates and victimizes people!

>>  We like a just culture…

… but we often run into a culture which is corrupt and degrading and inhuman!

>> We like a respectful civilization…

… but we bump into a civilization which is debasing and merciless!

The world of our actual experience is very different from the world that we hope and desire for…

>> In this context, we need a Faith that can carry us through this tough life.

A faith based on mere sweet words, pious rituals and peripheral feelings doesn’t suffice…

>> A mere sentimental faith leaves us paralyzed and crippled with the hard-hitting realities of life!

We need a Faith that’s strong….

… a Faith that’s valiant

… a Faith that can battle life’s odds..

The Canaanite Woman in today’s Gospel Reading is a Person who possessed this Challenging and Brave Faith!

>> She is a big misfit in approaching Jesus and to be a bearer of Faith…

1. She is a Canaanite: An unaccepted pagan….a  denied heathen!

2. She is a Woman: A degraded status… a humiliated class!

3. She has a possessed child: A helpless situation…a miserable condition!

>> Yet she dares…

… to approach the Lord of the Universe: ” Lord, Son of David, have pity on me!!”

The First Reply from the Lord…?

>> Shhhh…. (the Word Perfect responds with a total hush…)

No answer from the Master…. the wait for the Woman increases…

>> It’s  trying time!

>> It’s a testing moment!

The probably irritated-disciples seek to chase her away, disturbed by the shoutings and the wailings…

The Second Reply from the Lord…?

>>  Hmmm… I am sent not for her category…I am sent only for the Chosen Race…

Agony from the Master… the hopes of the woman diminishes…

>> It’s a grilling time!

>> It’s a gruelling moment!

Yet she dares… to approach once more..kneeling before the Throne of Mercy…” Sir, help me!!”

The Third Reply from the Lord…?

>> Grrr… Children’s bread is not thrown to the dogs…

More anguish from the Master.. the expectations of the woman is crushed…

>> It’s a hard time!

>> It’s a harsh moment!

To hear being called a DOG…was humiliating and insulting and offensive…

Was this the height of rudeness??

But, the woman of Faith noticed that Jesus had used the word “kunariois” – the word for household pets…

>> She noticed that He had not used the word kuon – the word for other ordinary dogs…

Ah..there was the opening.. there was the possibility…there was the occasion…

>> A person of Deep Faith is able to wait patiently for a sparkle of sunshine even in the midst of the darkest clouds!

The Woman of Faith sneaked a chance in that seemingly degrading word…

>> The Woman of Faith found her prospect in that apparently disgusting expression…

She was a kunariois – a household pet…. She immediately matches her wit,  with the wit of Jesus..

Pets are not outsiders… they are insiders;

>>  Pets are not out of the family…they are part of the family…

Pets are not to have a seat at the Master’s table…

… but they enjoy an intimacy at the Master’s feet!

So she replies: “Yes Lord! But even the little dogs eat the crumbs that fall from the Master’s table”

>> It was a moment of Truth!

The Fourth Reply from the Master…?

>> “Woman, how great is your faith!!”

The Woman of Faith had triumphed!

>> The Lord of the Universe marvelled at her faith!

The God of Healings blessed the Woman of Faith with heart’s desire!

Life is definitely hard.

>> We are challenged however to have a harder and a stronger faith!

The Canaanite Woman, who is proclaimed, through all the churches today, is a shining model!

>> She, who was called a DOG….(!!)…is today praised and glorified by GOD…(!!)!

Sentimental Faith and Sugary Words are needed.

>> But it’s not enough!

We need to combine our Sweet Faith with a Tough Trust…

… our Pious Devotion with a Faithful Dedication!

Let us be a Person of Faith with the Heart of a Dove and the Skin of a Rhinoceros!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “Let us be firm in our intentions, unwavering in our decisions.

>> Our very perseverance will prove that in good earnest desire, we have sacrificed ourselves to God…

… and committed ourselves to the devout life!”

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