In 1867 on a farm in South Africa, 15-year-old Erasmus Jacobs saw a stone – shining brightly in the sun.

The shining rock was reported to a neighbor, who wanted to buy it from the family.

>> Not knowing its value, Erasmus’ mother told the neighbor, “You can keep the stone, if you want it.”

Eventually, a mineralogist determined the stone to be a 21.25 carat diamond and worth a great sum.

>> It became known as the “Eureka Diamond.”

Soon the fields near the soared in value and led to led to the “Kimberley Diamond Rush”

>> This also marked the beginning of the Mineral Revolution.

Underneath the land was one of the richest diamond deposits ever discovered.

>> “Discovering the Diamonds” was a EUREKA experience.

EUREKA is a Greek Word for “I found it!”

Archimedes, the mathematician and philosopher, (c.250 BC) had his EUREKA moment in a bathtub, when he saw the solution to the question his king had raised…

… and ran into the street naked shouting “Eureka,” (“I have found it”)!

The Bible testifies to people having a “Eureka” Experience

>> Moses at the Burning Bush, Discovered God (EUREKA), and His life would thereafter be transformed!

>> Jeremiah would have his mouth touched and would Discover God (EUREKA) to be the strength of His life!

>> Peter would Discover God (EUREKA) by the Sea of Galilee, and he would be made a “fisher of men”!

>> Paul would be thrown down, to Discover God (EUREKA), for Whom he would passionately work, all his life!

God calls all of us to have a EUREKA experience – DISCOVERING GOD!

The Catholic Church has been a Mighty Treasury of such experiences of EUREKA – Discovering God!

These experiences have been particularly enshrined in the Catholic Literature…

… Apostolic Exhortations (Papal documents to define with respect to faith and morals)

… Encyclicals (= a ‘circular’ letter sent by the Pope to all the Faithful, with a pastoral concern on a topic)

… Classic writings and books by various saints and holy people

Such Catholic Literature has always been available…

… through the centuries

… across the ages

But we do find that many of us, have failed to “Discover” the existence and beauty of such a magnanimous Treasure.

Time and again we have lots of doubts of faith, of our existence etc…

>> We run helter-skelter, in panic and desperation and looking for answers

But we often fail to realize, that the answer and solution to many of our “existential problems and questions” are to be found in the Writings and Teachings of the Church!

>> We have only been ignorant to seek!

>> We have only… “failed to discover!”

This Season of Lent, we shall make an attempt to very briefly get introduced a selected set of such Priceless Treasure of Catholic Literature.

This series is titled as “EUREKA: Discovering Catholic Treasury – through a Lenten lens!”

Every day- over the next 40 days – till the start of the Holy Week – we shall briefly familiarize ourselves with one Catholic Literature…

… learn a little about its historical context

… outline the major thrusts of the content

… and pick up a couple of Lenten Learnings for practise

This little attempt is an endevour for each one of us to Discover the Priceless Treasure that is enshrined in the Catholic Church.

So, let’s offer this undertaking into the safe intercession of Blessed Mary, our Beloved Mother and St Joseph, the Patron of the Universal Church, and seek the help of all the Angels and Saints…

… so that, this Season of Lent, we may more and more “Discover the Catholic Treasury” and thus Experiencing God, we may shout “EUREKA!”

Welcome to all of you to “EUREKA: Discovering Catholic Treasury – through a Lenten lens!”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

2018 would be remembered, for date-lovers, as a year, when Ash Wednesday coincides with Valentine’s Day…

… and further Easter Sunday coinciding with April’s Fools Day (April 1st)!

A common joke is doing the rounds these days on social media, goes thus:

Someone asked: “What is the specialty of Feb 14?”

Another guy asks back: “Are you having a wife or a girlfriend?”

“A wife”, comes the reply.

>> “Oh…

… then, its Ash Wednesday for you!”

Well… jokes apart, it’s interesting to reflect on this dimension of the two days – Ash Wednesday and Valentine’s Day – falling together.

Valentine’s Day is, of course, a day when a there is a “sudden” wave of expression of love and care and affections to the ones whom we love.

When taken in the right spirit and when celebrated in a meaningful way, this Day becomes a Day…

… of “specially” recognizing the worth of the one(s) we love

… of showing our love and affection to the one(s) dear to the our heart

But our modern society unfortunately and tragically, sometimes tends to “rob” this day to be celebrated in a meaningful.

>> “Love” is highly commercialized and “sold”

>> External affections are unduly given greater importance, forgetting the prime duties involved with love

>> Advertisers and commercialists rake in massive profits with a number of external objects portraying “love”

Whether this day truly becomes a day of “expressing genuine love and care”

>> Or whether it is more, a day of “externalities of ‘love-feelings’ taking the upper-hand…

… is a matter of debate, as well as a matter of one’s own personal choice and view.

But as a Christian, this day – Feb 14 – celebrated as Ash Wednesday…

… is a day for us to remind ourselves to grow in the Immensity of God’s Love

… is a day for us to revive our basic duty of caring and being responsible to one another

… is a day for us to rediscover the worthiness of our lives and commit to grow in holiness

Today, with Ash Wednesday, we begin the Holy Season of Lent.

Ashes are an important element of this Ash Wednesday’s Liturgy.

The ashes are made from the Blessed Palms used at the Palm Sunday celebration of the previous year…

… and blessed with Holy Water.

The priest says the words:

>> “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”

>> (or) “Repent and believe in the Gospel”

These ashes remind us of…

… the littleness of our earthly life, and the need to give greater priority to our Spiritual Life

… the need to repent of our sins and express our willingness to live in holiness and sanctity

… the graciousness of God’s Mercy which is always available to those who turn towards Him

The Gospel of the Day emphasizes on the “Virtue of Humility” that needs to embellish the life of every Christian.

>> Ashes are an external form of “we being willing, to learn in the School of Humility!”

The Gospel of the Day (Mt 6: 1-6, 16-18) is a teaching by Jesus on the prime importance of doing away with pride and instead, beautifying one’s life with sincere humility .

Jesus speaks of the three core practices that were essential pious practices of His time: ALMSGIVING, PRAYER and FASTING (PENANCE).

>> And how these ought to be done with sincere humility and not in pride!

1. With respect to almsgiving, Jesus says…

… “sound no trumpet” (Mt 6:2)

2. With respect to prayer, Jesus says…

… “shut the door and pray to your Father” (Mt 6:6)

3. With respect to fasting, Jesus says…

…”anoint your head and wash your face” (Mt 6:17)

It is also interesting to note that these 3 practices also refers to the 3 dimensions of Love: towards God, towards others, towards oneself

1. Prayer: Reminding ourselves to grow in the Immensity of God’s Love

2. Almsgiving: Reviving our basic duty of caring and being responsible to one another

3. Fasting (Penance): Rediscovering the worthiness of our lives and commit to grow in holiness

Yes, this Ash Wednesday is a Great Day for all of us, to begin this Season of Holiness, to Grow in Love…

… Love of God

… Responsibility and Care of others

… Respect and Reverence of our own life

A few practical tips could help us to make this Season of Lent, more meaningful:

1. It is said that habits – to make a new one or to break an old one – generally take around 21 days

>> These 40+ days of Lent are a chance for us to “double” our efforts towards…

… positively growing in a “good virtuous habit”

… negatively rooting out a “not-so-good vicious habit”

(A few examples:

… Reading a portion of the Bible daily

… Learn by heart, some verses of the Bible and make it a personal prayer

… Identify the “root vice” of life, and practice the opposite – “the root virtue”

… Try to frequent Holy Mass / spend time with the Eucharistic Lord, as much as possible

… 40 simple acts of kindness

… Abstain from something that is “dear” and offer it is a sacrifice for someone in need

… Revive personal/family prayer

… Reduce time spent on the internet/social media

… Visit a home of charity or those in our vicinity who needs a help

… Abstain from gossiping/back biting/ irritable words

… Bring a person(s) closer to Christ/Church)

Can we choose, on this day, a habit in our personal life, which we need to “make or break”…

… for these days of Lent?

2. The Season of Lent covers a period of 7 weeks

>> 7 – a number of fullness and completeness is a call for us to grow in the Virtue of Charity.

We could identify 7 people – corresponding to the 7 weeks of Lent, who need our help.

>> This help may be any of the following:

… spiritual help

… social acceptance

… materialistic needs

… emotional assistance

Let this 14th of February be a day for us, to re-discover Jesus, the True Lover Who displays the real meaning of love!

>> The Lord…holds our hands, and in deep love and affection asks us, “Will you be My valentine forever?”

Let’s not blush….let’s not be shy…

>> May this Season of Lent help us – in deep faith and true commitment – to pledge forever, our love to the Lover of all Hearts!

Wish you all a Very Happy and Blessed Season of Lent.

>> May our Blessed Mother of Compassion lead us and may all the Saints intercede for us!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

The onion is one of the most simple and commonly available vegetables.

>> It is widely used, especially in the preparation of a number of Indian dishes.

It’s interesting to notice the structure of an onion: it is formed as a result of several layers.

>> If one tries to peel off one layer after another, the result would be, that one would be left with nothing…

… just emptiness!

Our Christian life sometimes is represented by an onion…formed in layers.

>> Christ peels our life like an onion to make us realize our emptiness.

The Gospel of the Day presents this experience of the disciples, in the presence of Jesus, their Master…

… an experience of being peeled to find themselves in emptiness

…an experience of being unlayered to find themselves in blankness

Jesus is off on the boat again, with His disciples, to travel to the other shore (Mk 8:13)

>> The disciples had forgotten to bring bread along with them, and they had only one loaf with them. (Mk 8:14).

Jesus, meanwhile, began to make use of the time of journey, for rendering a teaching on True Discipleship.

Incidentally, He spoke on the need to be aware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of Herod…

… the leaven of malice and wickedness (1 Cor 5:8)

… the leaven of deception and misleading (Gal 5:8-9)

The disciples, however, got it all wrong.

Their minds were still focused on the bread.

>> They were still figuring how out, how they missed to get bread.

>> They were still trying to see how they could all adjust, with one bread.

And so, when Jesus spoke of leaven, one of the main ingredients in bread, they thought that Jesus was chastising them, for not having taken bread.

But Jesus now shows the disciples what is to be the main focus…

He makes them realize what was more important and needed.

The disciples were more concerned with food and security.

The disciples were more interested in material needs and concerns.

But the Lord, now, begins to peel these layers, in the Disciples, as that in an onion!

… the layers of only material concerns

… the layers of only worldly needs

… the layers of only earthly apprehensions.

The disciples are concerned that they have only one bread…

But they fail to see that they have the One and Only Bread of Life!

The disciples are concerned that their food may not be sufficient…

>> But they failed to see that they have the One who multiplied bread for four thousands and five thousands!

They failed to understand!

>> They failed to look beyond!

In our life journey, we too sometimes fall short of material and earthly needs.

• Do we also get perplexed and anxious like the disciples?

• Do we also fail to see beyond and realize the more important needs of life?

• Do we also fail to understand that the presence of the Lord matters much more than any other earthly aspect?

We too need to be peeled of our layers of only material concerns.

>> We too need to be peeled of our layers of only worldly matters.

Let us fill the emptiness of our lives with the Love and Spirit of the Lord.

>> Let us fill the vacuum within us, with the Peace and Passion for the Lord.

God bless! Live Jesus!

The Song of Bernadette is a 1943 film which dramatizes the story of Saint Bernadette Soubirous.

St Bernadette, reported eighteen visions of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in Lourdes, France, from February to July 1858.

This movie begins with a prologue-dialogue, which goes thus…

“For those who believe in God, no explanation is necessary.

>> For those who do not believe, no explanation is possible”

This statement casts light on an important aspect of the nature of faith and belief:

To those who believe, miracles are an aid…

>> To those choose not to believe, no miracles can come to aid!

The Gospel of the Day is clear example of this aspect of the nature of faith and belief…

… the constant refusal of the Pharisees to believe in Jesus

… the adamant denial of the Pharisees to accept Jesus

We are in the eighth chapter of the Gospel of St Mark.

Jesus performed an amazing miracle of the multiplication of the loaves…for about four thousand people (Mk 8:1-9)

From there, Jesus proceeds to the region of Dalmanutha (Mk 8:10)

On reaching this place, the religious leaders namely the Pharisees, came forward and began to argue with Jesus, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test Him (Mk 8:11).

But the Lord responded with a “sigh, from the depth of His spirit” (Mk 8:12)

What made Jesus to respond so strongly?

Is Jesus against asking signs?

>> Is Jesus against lack of faith?

>> Is Jesus against having doubts?

The answer to perhaps all the three questions above is…

… not in the affirmative!

Jesus is NOT necessarily against asking signs…

The Bible is a witness to many people asking for signs from God…

• Gideon asked for a sign from God (Judg 6:17)

• Moses asked God what sign would prove to Pharaoh that he was sent by God ( Ex 4:1)

• Elijah promises what Elisha had asked for, on the condition of a sign (2 Kg 2:10)

Jesus is NOT out rightly against lack of belief or unbelief…

• The unbelieving Thomas, was chided, but not condemned by Jesus, after His resurrection (Jn 20:27-28)

• The lack of faith of the disciples is saddening for Jesus, but He does not reject them (Mk 4:40)

• The father, whose boy was possessed with a demon was blessed with a healing, on his acknowledgment of littleness in faith (Mk 9:24)

• The emotionally unsettled and wavering Peter is given another chance to prove his loyalty despite his rejection and denial of faith in Jesus (Jn 21:15-17)

Then what is Jesus against?

Ø Jesus is terribly against those people…

… who reject faith, despite many signs and wonders that are plainly presented

… who demand for greater miracles for merely curiosity and excitement

… who make use of the powers of God for personal satisfaction and gratification

… who remain stone-hearted, unmoved and indifferent despite clear indications and signals from God.

The Pharisees represented this class of people, whom the Lord had a terrible dislike and aversion…

… because of their attitude of indifference

… because of their mentality of coldness

… because of their outlook of rejection

Am I also a person who constantly rejects signs and wonders from the Lord, and fail to grow in faith?

>> Am I also a person who remains obstinate and indifferent to God’s powers, and fail to be open to God’s movements in my life?

The Lord is constantly speaking to us through various miracles.

>> The Lord is constantly moving our hearts through many blessings.

>> The Lord is constantly inspiring our lives through immense wonders.

Let us be open and docile to Him!

Yesterday – Feb 11 – we celebrated the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes.

May our Blessed Mother Mary be an inspiration for all of us, to grow in our trust and confidence in the Lord.

Yes, let us realize, that…

“To those who believe, miracles are an aid…

>> To those choose not to believe, no miracles can come to aid!”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

Kalaupapa was a remote peninsula, surrounded by the roaring Pacific Ocean, on three sides on an island named Molokai.

This tiny place had become the prison for those forcibly banished as a result of being afflicted with Hansen’s Disease (Leprosy).

The souls outcast here became prisoners in their own land, harshly kicked from boats, washing onto shore without adequate supplies, infrastructure, medicine, or tools.

>> Families on surrounding islands, powerless to help, mourned for the cruel fate of their loved ones.

In this situation, a priest named Damien, volunteered to move to this place and serve the people who are afflicted by this dreaded disease.

Fr Damien was greeted with devastation.

>> He walked among the living dead.

Everywhere he looked…

… there was only bleeding and oozing sores

… rampant diseases of various kinds

… and perhaps worst of all, hopelessness and endless misery

Choosing to make this place as his home for life, Fr Damien began his first sermon, addressing the people in the leper colony: “We lepers….”

Fr Damien did not yet have a sign of the leprous infection, but he already identified himself with the afflicted ones, by including himself as “We lepers…”

>> But within fifteen years, he too would be afflicted with the same disease and die!

Ø When one is committed to a cause, one identifies totally with the cause, even to the point of death!

Ø When one is faithful to a mission, one equates with its demands, even to the point of being afflicted!

This is what St Damien would teach from his life…

And this is what we learn, as St Damien did, from the life of Jesus: a total identification with the afflicted ones, in order to redeem and save them!

The Gospel of the Day presents Jesus who effects a healing for a leper…

… but in the process, undergoes the isolation and separation that was the lot of the lepers.

Jesus is in the land of Galilee.

>> A leper comes to Him seeking for a cleansing: “If you wish, you can make me clean” (Mk 1: 40)

Looking at the leper, Jesus knew and understood the immense agony and dread that the man had undergone…

The ancient times had leprosy as one of the most feared diseases.

The book of Leviticus required that all those found unclean with leprosy “shall dwell apart, making his abode outside the camp” (Lev 13:46)

Jesus knew that to come into contact with a leper was to make oneself unclean.

>> Jesus knew that to touch a leper was to also share in the affliction and misery.

Yet, the Lord, who is the One who cleanses (Eze 36:25) and the One who refines (Is 48:10) decides to touch the leper…and bring about a healing!

>> “Jesus stretched out His hand, touched him and said to him, ‘ I do will it. Be made clean'” (Mk 1:41)

The leper was immediately made clean.

>> The leper had to also get it confirmed from the priest.

But Jesus, who cleansed and freed the leper, now Himself, undergoes the pain as that of a leper…

The Gospel says that, “…it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly. He remained outside in deserted places…” (Mk 1:45)

Jesus now identifies Himself with the isolation that the leper himself had undergone

>> Jesus now undergoes Himself the staying away from society, that the leper had undergone.

Yes, when one is faithful to a mission, one equates with its demands, even to the point of being afflicted!

>> When one is committed to a cause, one identifies totally with the cause, even to the point of death!

Each of us is called with a specific mission and purpose in life…

>> It requires a deep commitment.

>> It requires an identification with the people and situation.

>> It requires a complete giving of oneself to the cause and mission.

Am I ready to embrace such a dedication?

St Paul invites us to be “… imitators of Christ” just as he imitated Christ (1 Cor 11:1)

Let us seek to imitate Christ in His deep commitment and dedication.

>> Let us seek to imitate Christ who came to bring healing to all in this world.

>> Let us seek to imitate Christ who shared in sufferings to bring redemption and joy.

God bless! Live Jesus!

One common tendency that is noticed among many of us is the ‘tendency of limitation’.

We tend to think in a limited and restricted manner.
>> We tend to limit ourselves to our inadequacies and narrowness.

But God, always, loves to challenge us to move beyond such boundaries and borders!

Yes, human beings tend to think in a limited fashion…
… but God loves to expand our possibilities.
>> Human beings tend to get bogged down by boundaries…
… but God loves to throw open our horizons.

The Gospel of the day is a clear illustration of this expansion of human horizons and possibilities, through the miracle of the feeding of loaves.

Jesus is with His disciples and huge crowd.
>> They are once again in a situation of having a want of feeding this huge multitude.

It’s interesting to highlight the patterns in the attitudes of Jesus and the disciples.

Jesus sees the hungry crowd and His heart moved in compassion…
>> The disciples saw the hungry crowd and probably their minds were moved in tension!

Jesus expresses His concern and care to feed the hungry crowd…
>> The disciples express their frustration and urgency to send the crowd away at the earliest!

Jesus foresaw the possibility of immense fulfilment and satisfaction in the deserted area…
>> The disciples got stuck with seeing only barrenness and emptiness in the deserted area!

Jesus moved in action, to enquire about the possibilities of feeding the people…
>> The disciples groaned in inaction at the plight of having to feed the people!

The disciples concluded impossibility by their mathematical calculations…
>> Jesus concluded possibility by His Divine calculations!

The disciples saw only the desert…
>> Jesus looked beyond to find an oasis in the desert!

How often are we too like the disciples…
… limited in our thinking
… restricted by our inabilities
… stuck by our mental calculations

But Jesus invites us, like He did to His disciples…to look beyond…
.. to look at Him who can shatter every obstacle and barrier!
… to look to Him who can expand every horizon and possibility!
… to look to Him who can turn deserts into pools and hills into highways!

Let’s positively respond to this challenge of the Lord and  moving beyond the ‘tendency of limitation’…
… seek to, instead, build a “trend of deeper faith and trust”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

“And behold He saw that everything was good”

This is a recurrent refrain that is observed in the first chapter of the first book of the Bible, the Genesis. (Gen 1: 1-31)

God, after each days’ work of creation…

… looked around at the marvellous works and exclaimed with great exultation and thrill… “Everything is indeed good”

He made the light and separated it from darkness…

And God saw that it was good (Gen 1:4)

He made the waters and separated the dry land and called it earth…

And God saw that it was good (Gen 1:10)

He made all sorts of vegetation and every kind of plant and fruit…

And God saw that it was good (Gen 1:12)

He made the great lights and the stars to shed light in the day and the night…

And God saw that it was good (Gen 1: 18)

He made all the various living creatures – animals, birds, reptiles etc…

And God saw that it was good (Gen 1:25)

He finally crowned creation with His masterpiece- the human being….

And God saw that it was very good (Gen 1:31)

The process of creation was “something that was very good” indeed!

But sin came into the world, and brought about disharmony and disunity.

>> The original goodness was lost…

>> The fundamental equanimity had vanished.

But Jesus came into the world to re-establish goodness and integrity.

His ministry on the earth was a mission of restoration….

… to restore complete dignity and honour

… to restore holiness and wholeness

… to restore sanctity and completeness

The Gospel of the Day is an exhibition of Jesus restoring and renewing the Creation…

… through the healing of a person who had a hearing and speaking impediment.

And as in the creation process, so also, in this renewed act of creation by Jesus, the words are proclaimed, “Everything is indeed good”

>> “He has done all things well” (Mk 7:37)…

…. are the words of the people, exclaiming Jesus after His wondrous miracle of recreation and renewal of the deaf and dumb person.

Jesus is back to the district of the Decapolis.

>> It was in this region that Jesus had healed the man who was possessed by a legion of demons (Mk 5: 1-20)

When Jesus had performed the miracle then, the people had requested Him to leave the place.

“Then they began to beg Jesus to leave their district” (Mk 5:17)

But today’s Gospel says that these people, were begging Jesus to lay His hands on the deaf and dumb person! (Mk 7:32)

What had caused this dramatic change?

People who were begging Jesus to leave their place…

… were now begging Jesus to perform a miracle!

Probably, the great witness of the man who has delivered from the legion of demons had caused about this transformation! (Mk 5: 18-20)

>> He would have spread the good news about Jesus.

A real experience of the Lord can indeed be a source of many to believe in the Lord!

>> A true encounter with the Lord can indeed turn one to be a tremendous missionary!

Jesus, while healing this deaf and dumb person, has a very peculiar style of going about.

Jesus takes the person away from the crowd, put His fingers into the man’s ears, spitting, touched his tongue, lifted up His eyes to heaven, groaned and said “Ephphatha, Be Opened!” (Mk 7:33-34)

There is a very personal and intimate touch in this healing process!

It is interesting to note that in the book of Genesis, when God formed human beings…

… there was a very personal involvement from the part of God to create humans – the crown of creation.

>> “God formed man, out of the clay and blew into his nostrils the breath of life, and so man became a living being.” (Gen 2:7)

Jesus also does something similar in the healing of the deaf and dumb person….

>> He very personally involves Himself.

>> He uses His own touch to heal and recreate the person!

A New Creation indeed!

>> A renewal indeed!

Yes, Jesus is the Lord of the New Creation!

God created the world good…

… Human beings spoiled it through sin.

>> But Jesus restores and renews the goodness!

Our ears maybe closed very often to the voice of the Spirit of the Lord

>> Our mouth maybe often mute to speak the power of the Lord to others.

Our ears maybe closed very often to the cries of the poor and the needy,

>> Our mouth maybe often mute to speak for justice for the cause of others.

But the Lord is ready to touch us…

…and renew and recreate us.

Are we ready to receive this renewing and recreating touch from the Lord?

>> ” Ephphatha… Be Opened!”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

A highly contagious virus has affected human life, down through many centuries – societies, communities and families.

This contagion is not some strand of flu that affects the body

This contagion is not even a digital malware spreading from computer to computer.

This contagion is the virus named “blaming”.

This virus – “blaming” – is perhaps the easiest culprit for many of the problems that we face in our lives.

Whenever our plans fail… we “blame” other people.

>> Whenever things don’t go the way it is expected… we “blame” our luck or the stars

>> Whenever we face personal problems and crisis…we “blame” our situations and surroundings

Often…

… our problems find a scapegoat in this virus named “blaming”

… our defeats find a cause in this contagion named “blaming”

But the Gospel of the day presents an amazing personality who overcomes and overpowers this virus of “blaming” and wins for herself the favour of the Lord.

The Gospel passage is the incident of Jesus’ encounter with a Gentile woman who comes seeking for a cure for her daughter, from a demon.

“…a woman whose daughter had an unclean spirit, heard about Jesus. She came and fell at His feet” (Mk 7:25)

This person who came to Jesus went through a string of ignominies and exploitations…

>> She had to face humiliations because she was a woman…

The Jewish society accorded a lowly and highly subjugated status to women

>> She had to face disgraces because she was a Greek…

The Greeks, who were considered pagans by the Jews, were treated with inferiority.

>> She had to face dishonour because she was a Syrophoenician…

A Syrophoenician denoted a mixed race – half Syrians and half Phoenician; thus denoting also a crisis in cultural and linguistic identity.

>> She had to face scandal because she had to approach Jesus who was a pure Jew…

Greeks and especially Greek woman had no interaction at all with Jewish men

>> She had to face crisis because her child was possessed with an unclean spirit…

A demon-possession in her beloved daughter would have chased away all her peace of mind.

>> She had to face challenge to her faith when the Lord addressed to her in an apparently disrespectful manner…

Being called as a “dog” would have put off the mind of a weak and frail person

Well.. this Syrophoenician Greek woman, had many things to complain in life…

She had a number of reasons to “blame” and get defeated in life.

She could have just “blamed”…

… the society for their inhuman attitudes

… the citizens for their class divisions

… the civilization for their cruel outlooks

… her stars and fate for what happened to her daughter…

… Jesus for His challenging and apparently resistant answer…

She could have just kept “blaming” anybody and anything….and get bogged down totally!

>> But this woman decides to overpower and overcome this “virus” of blaming.

She decides to close her eyes to all humiliations and yet stand strong with a bold face!

>> She decides to overlook all setbacks and defy the odds with her deep convictions and trust!

As a result, the Lord rewards her immensely and her daughter was delivered of the demon!

Are we people who get easily afflicted by the contagion of “blaming”?

>> Are we people who are easily paralysed by the virus of “blaming”?

The Syrophoenician woman…

… by her tremendous faith and bold trust is a challenge to us.

… by her amazing determination and resolve is an inspiration for us.

Our society, our families, our own individual selves are often under the grip and possession of this contagion of “blaming”.

Let us approach the Lord for a deliverance and liberation!

Let us seek the intercession of St Bakhita whose feast we celebrate today.

>> This saint from Sudan, was canonised in the year 2000, is a powerful symbol of love and forgiveness.

>> She rose above the “blaming” characters in her society and displayed the fruits of love and forgiveness.

Yes…

… let us join our Lord in opposing every bit of corruption and malice from our hearts!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

One of the key issues that every society faces is that of “corruption”!

How many are the times when we hear comments as…
>> “We wish for a corruption-free society”
>> If corruption were to be rooted away, our country would sprint towards development”
>> “Corruption is the greatest menace that our society faces today”

Every good leader, therefore, seeks to do away with this menace of “corruption”

Yes…
… every corruption of power and authority warrant a strong opposition
… every failure and misuse of laws, traditions and customs gives rise to strong opposition.

The Gospel of the Day is a strong opposition by Jesus to the corrupt and at times, inhuman and oppressive authority of the leaders of His time – the Scribes and the Pharisees.

The Gospel begins with the statement, ” Jesus called to Him the people and said to them…” (Mk 7:14)

Jesus calls together the multitude to Himself to speak something…
>> Jesus brings aside the people to Himself to address to them something…

The background to this action of Jesus, is the context of the unfair remarks of the Pharisees and Scribes about Jesus and His disciples, in Mk 7: 1-14.

The scribes and the Pharisees had objected that Jesus’ disciples failed to keep up the tradition of the Elders to have the ritual washing before eating.

This exercise of ritual washing was more a ceremonial one.

They attached greater importance to external cleanliness over internal purity.
>> They accorded higher priority to hygiene outside than to transparency within.

They would not bother, hearts being corrupted…
… but they would not tolerate dirty hands!

They would despise unwashed hands, but they would bypass filthy hearts!

But Jesus is in prime opposition to all such deceitful and corrupt human practices.
>> He flays the Scribes and Pharisees for their misplaced priorities.
>> He slams the Scribes and Pharisees for their misleading interpretation of purity.

And so, Jesus summoned the crowd and explained what is the meaning of real cleanliness and purity:
“Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile” (Mk 7: 16)

Indeed, a remarkable statement from Jesus, the Purest and the Holiest One!

The Pharisees and the Scribes for a long time, had enforced importance only to external purity and outside cleanliness.

Their authority was used to stamp the importance of rituals and traditions, which were meant to…
… only emphasize bodily cleaning, but avoiding transparency in life
… only highlight cleansing of external parts, but overlooking sanctity of heart and mind

But, Jesus comes in great opposition and places things in the right perspective.

It is not just our hands alone that matter; it is our hearts that matter most!
>> It is not just our medical hygiene that counts; it is our lives that needs consideration the most!

Shall we make a self-introspection….
>> I may be appearing to be clean outside…
… but is my heart pure and holy?

>> I may be appearing to be an angel to the world…
… but am I a barn of devilish actions within?

>> I may be appearing to be very good to all…
… but am I full of anger, jealousy and greed inside?

>> I may be appearing to be successful…
… but am I decaying interiorly with unchastity and deceit?

Is it not time to cleanse my heart and life, which is perhaps…
… defiled with sin?
…  impure with unhealthy thoughts?
… sullied with evil intentions?

Yes…
… let us join our Lord in opposing every bit of corruption and malice from our hearts!

God Bless! Live Jesus!