In 1174, an Italian architect Bonnano Pisano began work on a bell tower for the Cathedral of the city of Pisa.

>> The tower was to be around 185 feet tall.

There was just one “little” problem:

The builders quickly discovered that the soil was much softer than they had anticipated…

>> And soon the whole structure had begun to tilt … and it continued to tilt … until finally the realized that nothing could be done to make the Leaning Tower of Pisa straight again!

 

The tower has stood for over 800 years but there are still problems!

What was the problem?

>> Was it bad design? Poor workmanship? An inferior grade of materials? No!!
The problem was what was underneath.

>> The sandy soil on which the city of Pisa was built was must not stable enough to support a monument of this size.

The problems all stem from a faulty foundation.

>> And the same holds good for our lives too…
 

Many problems in life emerge because of a very poor and shaky foundation…

>> One fails to do well in academic studies if one has a poor foundation in the fundamentals of the subject.

>> One fails to be emotionally stable if one has a poor foundation of not having received affection in the early years.

>> One fails to achieve expertise in a skill or an art if one has a poor foundation in the essentials and the basics.

The loftier the building, the deeper must the foundation be laid!
This is a message and an exhortation that is delivered by Jesus in today’s Gospel reading.
Jesus speaks of the Parable of the Two Foundations: One on sand; the other on the rock.

>> The one who has built one’s life on a sandy foundation fails to stand firm in the storms of life

>> The one who has built one’s life on a rock foundation remains strong and stable in the storms of life.
 

The laying of every foundation requires a process of Excavation….a Digging!
Do we want to build a strong foundation?

>> Then we need to undergo the Procedure of Digging…
Can we dig deeper…

…  into our lives and see what are the areas in which I need a healing and a touch of the Lord?

… into our minds and see what really are my motivations in life and what I really want in life?

… into our hearts and examine what are my desires and to what things I get attracted?

… into our relationships and check whether there is authenticity or are they just hollow?

… into our faith-lives and inspect whether my faith is based on a real experience or is it merely a peripheral occurrence?

This process of digging into the various areas of our life can be an experience of varied sorts…

>> We could have pain to dig out some of our evil tendencies and abandon them.

>> We could have uneasiness to dig out some of our luxurious likings and let go off them.

>> We could have agitation to dig out some of our unhealthy tendencies and discard them.

>> We could have discomfort to dig out some of our lazy inclinations in spiritual life and dispose them.
 

Perhaps some of us may we feel that we have already built up fine structures and can be proud to have a good career, a stable family life, a flourishing bank balance, an enjoyable lifestyle etc…

>> But the Lord invites us to check the Strength of each of these structures…
Is my Family Life able to withstand the storms of misunderstandings, constant quarrels and breakdowns?

>> Is my Spiritual Life able to withstand the storms of doubts, fears, discouragements and persecutions?

>> Is my Professional Life able to withstand the storms of failures, disappointments and collapses?

>> Is my Social Life able to withstand the storms of rejection, humiliation and indifferences?

We need the Lord Himself as the Firm Foundation of all the structures in our life!

>> With Him, all storms can be withstood and all winds and gales can be endured!
Let Jesus alone be the Firm Rock of our lives! 

>> Let Jesus alone be the Mighty Stronghold of our lives!
Let Jesus alone be the Supreme Basis of our lives!

>> Let Jesus alone be the Prized Asset of our lives!
 

Let Jesus alone be the Grand Forte of our lives!
 

The Tower of Pisa continues to lean due to a faulty foundation!

 

Let our lives not “lean” like this tower with a “Faulty Foundation”…

>> Rather, let it be secure and stable with “Jesus, the Firm Foundation”!
 

God Bless! Live Jesus!

A prayer meeting was on.
The participants were reciting the Rosary of the Seven Dolours (the seven sorrows of our Blessed Mother Mary).

It came to the fifth sorrow, which is “Jesus dies on the Cross”.

However, the one who was leading the prayer, by mistake said, “Mary dies on the Cross”.

A few participants, who heard this mistake, burst out into laughter.

But in hindsight, if we consider that statement, there is so much of truth and meaning in it – “Mary dies on the Cross!”

While on earth, there was no one who was closer to our Blessed Lord than His Own Beloved Mother.

> He received His body from Her.

> He received His training from Her
With Him, she rejoiced… With Him, she suffered.
And finally, in those deepest agonizing moments on the Cross, there was none who suffered more than Her!

Every pain of Her Little Child, was experienced by the Blessed Mother
> Mary was the Woman Who was most happy at the birth of the Lord

> Mary was also the Woman Who was most sorrowful at the death of the Lord! 

Today, Holy Mother the Church keeps the memorial of Mary, the Sorrowful Mother of Jesus. 

This feast is dedicated to the spiritual martyrdom of our Blessed Mother.
The title “Our Lady of Sorrows” focuses on Mother Mary’s intense suffering during the Passion and Death of Jesus.

The Gospel of day also presents the intense pain and heart-brokenness of a mother…. a widow….for her only son ( Lk 7: 11-17)
Jesus encounters the Widow of Nain who had lost her only son to harsh reality of death.

The Gospel says, “When the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, ‘Do not weep” (Lk 7: 13)

The woman was a widow… 

She had lost her only son.
Being a widow meant being subjected to a life of extreme insult, torture and hardships.

>> Now the loss of her only son, meant being subjected to further disgrace, humiliations and rejections!

When our Blessed Lord saw this painful scene, probably, His thoughts would have fast-forwarded to a similar scene that would occur in a short time… On Mount Calvary
The only Son of a Widow would be dead

….and the Widow would be rendered helpless!

> The widow of Nain would have her son restored back to life, by the power of Jesus.
> The widow of Nazareth also will have Her Son back to life…by the power of the Heavenly Father…

… and it would be a inauguration of a promise of a glorious life to all who place their trust in Him!

 

Suffering is an immense and an intense reality of our lives.
 Many times, sufferings hit our lives when…

… we least expect it

… we are least prepared for it 

Such moments of pain and agony…when encountered without any faith….

… can cause us to lose any meaning in life and renders our life to be shorn of hope

… can cause us to question God and His goodness and strips our faith of its strength

… can cause us to have recourse to “unbecoming” means to relieve ourselves from pain

 

However, such moments of suffering and difficulties…. when faced with deep faith and trust…

… will become occasions of God’s overflowing grace filling our lives and making us stronger 

… will become occasions for us to depend deeper on our Creator and to feel His power more strongly

… will become occasions for us to realise the value of life and become more compassionate towards others

This is what we learn from the life of our Blessed Mother Mary – the Mother of Sorrows and the Mother of Compassion.

She had every reason to complain and fight against God…

She had every reason to protest and abandon God and His Will…

She had every reason to murmur and let go of the plan of God for Her…
But, the “Yes” that she pronounced at the Annunciation was echoed all through her life.. at every step

.. be it in times of joy and calmness

.. be it in times of sadness and calamity
The “Yes” she said was the Final Profession she made…

… just as the Religious make on the Day of their Profession 

… just as the Priests make on the Day of their Ordination

… just as the Married make to each other, on their Day of Wedding
It was binding for life.. It was committed to, with conviction… It was lived in sincerity, with dedication.

The Feast of the Mother of Sorrows is a beautiful reminder and reflection on “Two Hearts that were united to each other, burning with love” – the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Blessed Mother Mary!

 

These two hearts have undergone immense pain and suffering… and still rejoiced in Love!
We are invited to live a life…

> free from sin

> filled with love

> firm in conviction

> fashioned in grace

… like our Beloved and Blessed Mother Mary!

May we be filled with a courage and grace to truly make it our prayer:

“Holy Mother, pierce me through

In my heart, each wound renew

Of my Saviour Crucified!”

Wish you a Happy Feast of our Compassionate Mother, who is ever with us in our every sorrow…

…. and helps us, to follow Her Crucified Son and Our Strengthening Saviour, Jesus!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

The first quarter of the year 1984 saw a lot of political unrest in Poland…

… with the government banning the display of crucifixes (= a Cross with the figure of Christ on it)  from factories, hospitals, schools and other public institutions.
No heed was paid to the strong waves of anger and resentment, all across the nation!

In a certain town in Eastern Poland – Garwolin –  a very zealous Communist administrator, one evening…

… removed seven large crucifixes from the classrooms of a school
 A few days later, some parents entered the school and hung more crosses

 >> But even those were taken down!

The following day, nearly 2/3rds of the school’s six hundred students staged a protest.

>> When heavily arm-laden police arrived, these students were forced into the streets.
Then they marched to a nearby Church…

… with crucifixes held high!
They were joined by 2,500 other students from nearby schools…

… for a prayer meet, in support of the protest.
 

Soldiers surrounded the Church..

… but the students remained undeterred, inside, and held on to the proclamation of the faith.

The following day, the world had taken notice of this bold protest…

… with many newspapers flashing the following headline:

“Clutching Crucifixes, students proclaim – There is no Poland without a Cross!”
 

Yes, this, indeed, is the truth of Christian life…

“Clutching Crucifixes, we need to proclaim – There is no Christianity without the Cross!”
 

This is the message being proclaimed by the Church – loud and clear and without any compromise – today, on this Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.

Every religion and every ideology has its own symbol.

>> Buddhism has the wheel.

>> Judaism has the Star of David.

>> Islam has the crescent.

>> Hinduism has the Om.

>> Communists have the hammer and the sickle.

>> Nazis have the reverse swastika.
But what makes the symbol of Christianity – the Cross – so unique is that…

… Its founder transformed this instrument of shame into the sign of salvation!

… Its founder not just preached about the symbol, but even embraced it , in obedience and love!
 

The Cross had cast its shadow on the life of Christ all through…
Wood (symbolic of the ‘Wood of the Cross’) was part of the life of Christ all through…

… the Babe Jesus was laid on the ‘wood of the manger’ by his beloved Parents

… the Boy Jesus worked with ‘wood in the workshop’ of His carpenter father, Joseph

… the Brave Jesus would use the ‘wood of the boat’, as His Pulpit to preach the Word of God

>> The Beloved Jesus would finally be laid on the “wood of the Cross” in total obedience to His Father!

This is what the Lord foretold Nicodemus…

… as we see in today’s Gospel Passage: ” And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” (Jn 3: 14)

Jesus makes a reference to the Old Testament incident as found in the Book of Numbers (Num 21: 4b-9)…

>> The people grew disinterested and dissipated by their journey and began to grumble

>> Their sin of disobedience and lack of trust in God’s Will  caused them to be punished
However, God in His mercy, offered a bronze serpent, mounted on a pole…

… for deliverance from the punishments of their sin

This bronze serpent would be a typography of the Cross of Christ!
Just as the bronze serpent came to the rescue of the people of Israel, the Cross of Christ comes to our rescue…

… but with a much greater reward – of salvation!

… with a much greater consolation – of the peace of Christ!

We too, often grow disinterested and dissipated in our journey of life and begin to grumble

>> Our sin of disobedience and lack of trust in God’s Will,  brings us punishments of various kinds
However, God in His mercy, offers us Christ Crucified, mounted on the Cross…

… for deliverance from the punishments of our sin!
All those who looked at the bronze serpent had lived…

>> All of us, who will look at Christ Crucified on the Cross, will live forever!
Our modernistic world has notoriously and pragmatically misuses the Cross:

>> Fashionists have the symbol of Christianity stylishly displayed all over themselves..

… as jewellery hanging round their necks, ears, wrists etc

… as tattoos imprinted on the various body parts

… as drawings on various objects of worldly use
 

The Cross is often found to be degraded and despised as merely…

… an ornament of show

… a pattern of beautification

… a statement of raging and crazy style
 

But the Cross of Christ transcends all these…

>> And, we Christians, today, need to be zealous, to restore the Cross, the Symbol of Christianity to its original sense…

… The Symbol of Hope and Salvation

… The Symbol of Unconditional Love

… The Symbol of Unfathomable Mercy
 

Yes, may this Feast Day of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross…

… remind and revive in us, its message: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him, should not perish, but have Eternal Life!” (Jn 3:16)
 

>> And may we hold firm to the truth of Christian life…

“Clutching Crucifixes, we need to proclaim – There is no Christianity without the Cross!”
 

Happy Feast of the Holy Cross of Christ!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

Dieticians and Nutritionists offer various advices and tips on how to have a healthy lifestyle
For eg…they point out diverse foods that can be either beneficial or be harmful for good health

• Too much of caffeine affects the body.

• Certain foods leads to cholesterol and may cause heart diseases.

• Fruits and vegetables with vitamins and other nutrients, anti-oxidants etc supply greater energy and vitality.

Many follow this routine and practice in their lifestyle…

> Some to reduce; some to maintain!

>> Some to stay fit; some forced due to their ill-health!

Whatever be the motive…there seems to be a principle behind this: “Your health is what you eat”
A similar principle can also be perhaps applied to the spiritual realm: “Your spiritual health is what you seek and feed your soul”
 

The Gospel of the Day says in Luke 6:21, “Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled”
We are given a challenge to inspect and  examine:

How is my Spiritual Appetite?

>> What is the craving that I have for God and His Kingdom?
Am I really hungering for what matters most in my life and what should take highest precedence in my life?

Perhaps, some of us have not known real hunger…

… or we have got quite used to getting our food…
>> Hunger to us may mean…

… waiting for an extra ten-fifteen minutes for food to be served

… not getting the food that I like or not being served the taste that I wish

… missing the food-time and then gulping down a meal from a roadside hotel etc..

>> And because we don’t realize much the importance of the word HUNGER, we perhaps fail to grasp the urgency and the importance when Jesus says, ” Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled”!
 

We tend to satisfy our hunger…

… through the food of amassing enormous wealth and money

… through the food of acquiring many titles and positions and power

… through the food of many unhealthy practices and habits and addictions
But the Lord says, ” Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled”
Filled with what?

>> Food?  Money? Long life? Promotions? A perfect family? A trouble-free life?
….No, no. no…!
 

Mt 11:28 says, “Come to me…”!

>> It’s in Jesus alone – GOD ALONE – that all our hunger can be satisfied and all our cravings be fulfilled!
 

>> If we are hungry, let us go and eat of the Bread of Life!

>> If we are thirsty, let us go and drink of the Water of Life!

>> If we are weary or heavy laden, let us go to His Heart and find rest!

>> If we are guilty, let us go to Him, the Saviour and be forgiven!

>> If we are far from God, let us go to Him and be reconciled in His arms!
 

Yes… in the Kingdom of God, everything begins with a hunger.. a craving.. a search..a seeking..!

>> This is what St Augustine said, “O God, you have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless until they find rest in you!”

Perhaps we need to reverse and turn upside the way we have been thinking and perceiving..
Maybe we have been thinking that riches and material prosperity is that which really matters in life…

>> But Jesus says, ” Blessed are the poor…the Kingdom of God is yours”
Have we discovered and experienced Him as the only One who is the True Richness and the Authentic Treasure of our lives?
 

Maybe we have been thinking that we are totally satisfied with great food and our every taste is fulfilled..

>> But Jesus says, “Blessed are you who are hungry…you will be filled”
Have we discovered and experienced Him as the only One who can truly satisfy the hunger and thirst of our lives?

Maybe we have been thinking that we are quite happy in life and all our leisure and entertainments give us so much joy

>> But Jesus says, “Blessed are you who weep…you will laugh”
Have we discovered and experienced Him as the only One who can bless us with true joy and genuine happiness in our lives?
 

Maybe we have been thinking that we are quite safe when all people praise and flatter us in life, especially when we gain popularity at the cost of some Gospel values or virtues of life

>> But Jesus says,” Blessed are you when people hate you because of Me…a great reward is kept for you”
Have we discovered and experienced Him as the only One who is worth facing all difficulties and problems in order to be standing up for our Christian values and principles?
 

Our spiritual health depends very much on what we really seek for and what we feed our souls.

>> Jesus, the Dietician and the Nutritionist of our Lives, today, wants to make us fit and fine and agile in our spiritual life.
 

Come, let us make the necessary changes in our life so that we may enjoy better health and life…in the Lord!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

There is “trial by jury” in  the British legal system.
The jury consists of 12 individuals chosen at random from an appropriate panel.

>> Anyone who is on the electoral register aged between 18 and 70, and who has been ordinarily resident in the UK for five years since the age of 13, is qualified to serve on the jury.
 

In his essay “The Twelve Men”, dealing with this British jury system, G. K. Chesterton wrote:

“Whenever our civilization wants a library to be catalogued, or a solar system discovered, or any other trifle of this kind, it uses up its specialists.
But when it wishes anything done which is really serious, it collects twelve of the ordinary men standing around…

>> The same thing was done, if I remember right, by the Founder of Christianity.”
 

And it’s true, right?
>> Jesus did choose twelve people of ordinary standing and average repute as His Chosen Apostles.
 

The Gospel of the Day presents this account of this choosing of the Twelve by Jesus, the Master.

>> Twelve persons of varied character…

… invited to be part of the ‘One Kingdom Mission’.
>> Twelve persons of different backgrounds…

… invited to be part of the ‘One Jesus Culture’.
>> Twelve persons of dissimilar emotions…

… invited to be part of the ‘One Love Civilization’.
 

Let these twelve persons today teach us something simple yet profound for our Spiritual Lives:
1. Simon, called as Peter: The one known for his wavering temperaments yet faithful and simple in his attitude.

>> Assets that can be learnt: To be humble enough to accept our mistakes and correct them
 

2. Andrew: The one who left fishing and at the multiplication of loaves, brought the five loaves and two fish to Jesus

>> Assets that can be learnt: To bring simple things before God who can work great wonders
 

3. James: The one who was zealous and who accompanied the Lord at many crucial events of His life

>> Assets that can be learnt: To be zealous for the Kingdom of God and be ready to be in close company with Jesus
 4. John: The one who was loyal and displayed tremendous love and faithfulness to His Master

>> Assets that can be learnt: To be faithful and loyal to the Crucified One even in the midst of all uncertainties.
5. Philip: The one, with a Greek name,  who told another disciple about Jesus & also helped the Greeks to come to Jesus

>> Assets that can be learnt: To be a person who brings other people to the saving presence of Jesus
6. Bartholomew: The one who was shocked that Jesus was from the lowly Nazareth but was quick to trounce this feeling

>> Assets that can be learnt: To let go of prejudices and preconception about persons and situations
7. Matthew: The one who was given an opportunity to reform his way of life and was generous to let go of his possessions

>> Assets that can be learnt: To be free from material attachments in order to follow Christ freely and fully
8. Thomas: The one who was highly daring and also frank and straightforward in his Faith and his attitude

>> Assets that can be learnt: To be bold about one’s faith even if it means to seek a clarification from God
9. James, son of Alpheus: The one who gets hardly any mention except being called by Jesus and being with the others in the Upper Room after the Ascension of Jesus

>> Assets that can be learnt: To remain in the backdrop, in serving the Lord and being unfazed even if not popular
10. Simon, the Zealot: The one who is also hardly mentioned but is identified with having a great religious zeal

>> Assets that can be learnt: To curb one’s personal instincts and likings in order to suit the style and spirit of Jesus
11. Judas Thaddeus: The one who wrote the Beautiful letter of Jude and exhorts to be faithful to Christ even in hardships

>> Assets that can be learnt: To learn to be faithful and strong even when persecuted for being a Christian
12. Judas Iscariot: The one who gave up his love of Jesus for the sake of the love of money

>> Assets that can be learnt: To avoid the subtle trap of materialism and rather remain focused on Jesus always
 

>> Twelve persons of simple nature…

… teach us many secrets and virtues to be powerful witnesses of the Kingdom
>> Twelve persons of ordinary calibre…

… teach us to become the extension of the love and mission of Christ Jesus

The Jury or the Panel of Twelve Ordinary Persons, chosen by Jesus, have contributed their mite in spreading the Gospel and making this world to experience and recognize God’s tremendous love!

>> The Master now seeks the same of us too..
 

Though ordinary or simple or little or weak we be…

… He still invites and calls…
 

Shall we say, Yes?
 
God Bless! Live Jesus!

A young priest was set for his first preaching.

>> He had chosen the theme, “Revival in Christian Life”.
 Filled with enthusiasm and zeal, he began his sermon and breaking the Word of God.

>> Within a few moments, the young preacher was able to attract the appeal and attention of the audience.
 

The reason was not just his eloquence in preaching, his depth in reflection and his conviction in speaking…

… it was also a mispronouncing that was drawing the attention of the audience.
His theme was “Revival in Christian Life”.

> But due to his slight speech impediment, it was heard as “Rebible in Christian Life”!
 

The audience did not mind that, as that was also a tremendous message being put across!

Yes, Revival in Christian Life emanates from having a “Rebible in Christian Life – “Re-Bible!”

>> How strong is my Christian Life centred around the Bible- God’s Word and its proper interpretation?

>> How interested am I in having a deeper understanding of His Word and applying it my daily living?

… Or am I a person who gets stuck with my own interpretations and understanding of Scriptures, which fails to evoke any effects in my personal life?
 

The Gospel of the Day is an encounter with a group of people, who got stuck in their own “comfortable zones” of interpreting and understanding the Scriptures…

… failing to be open to the True Author of the Scriptures

>> And thus failing to tread the path of mercy, compassion and charity.

The Gospel passage is another Sabbath Day controversy.
Jesus is in the synagogue, teaching and proclaiming God’s Word.

>> His words would bring strength and courage to those in despair

>> His teaching would fill with hope those who were stranded on the peripheries of life

>> His preaching would invigorate those who were sapped of energy and felt themselves rejected.

Among those who heard Him in the synagogue, was a “a man whose right hand was withered” (Lk 6: 6)

It’s not mentioned how did he began to have a withered hand…

… maybe he was born so

… maybe he met with an accident

… maybe he had a sickness which made it so
 

But having a withered right hand had its own implications and difficulties to pose.
Right hand in the Bible, usually refers to..

… being the hand of blessing

… being the hand of strength

… being the hand of labour

So this man with the withered right hand is portrayed as being…

… disfigured in his purpose and goals of life

… pitiable in being rendered weak and sort of helpless

But more than this man with the physical disability, there were also some others, who had a “withered mentality” – the Pharisees

>> They had God, the source and origin of the Law, as their “right hand”

>> They had the privilege of learning and knowing the Scriptures, as their “right hand”

But, unfortunately, we find them with “withered”…

… Their focus on God, the purpose and goal of the Law was “withered”!

… Their opportunity to interpret and understand the Scriptures properly was “withered”!
 

To the man who had the physically withered right hand, Jesus said, “Stretch out your hand” (Lk 6:10)
Probably these words were also directed or perhaps intended more for the Pharisees who were “withered” in their understanding and mentality regarding the Law and the Author of the Law Himself!
Jesus was asking them to “stretch out their hands” which were withered…

… because they failed to understand the basic purpose of God’s Law which was aimed at reflecting on God’s Goodness and to reflect the same in their lives

… because they were stuck to their own rigid and arrogant interpretation of God’s Word and failed to put into practise the real meaning of God’s Word which is to do good, show mercy and extend charity

 

Are those words, “stretch out your hand” being directed to us also?

… Are we failing to centre our lives on the Precious Gift that God has blessed us with – His Holy Word in the Holy Bible – and failing to make efforts to read, learn more and understand God’s Word properly and effectively
… Do we consciously cultivate practices which help us to set apart time (on a daily, regular basis) to read the Bible and reflect and shape our lives, in the light of the Holy Word of God?
… Do we remain rigid, obstinate and closed to the voice of the Holy Spirit, who speaks to us, through different sermons, write-ups, talks etc. on the Word of God and allow transformations to happen in my life?
… Do we be zealous to learn God’s Word more deeply, to know Him more and to cultivate a personal taste to understand the Scriptures better with self-reflection?
 

Our Blessed Lord invites and exhorts us to have a “Revival in our Christian Lives”

>> And this experience of “Revival” should spring forth from a practice of “Re-Bible”!

May our Blessed Lord help us to have a “Re-Bible” in our Christian Lives and experience “the sweetness of honey” (Ps 119:103) in His Holy Word!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

It’s a Friday…

… the scene over a small hillock
>> The mid-day sun shining bright and hot but preparing itself to slowly fade into darkness and tepidity…

A sparse number of people were around…

>> Some indifferent ones gazing from far…

>> Some proud ones standing on the ground…

>> Some broken ones on their knees…

Three were suspended on the Cross…

One of them…

… in Excruciating Pain, yet Majestic and Glorious in His Character and Nobility…

>> With a disposition of Graciousness and Goodness, spelled out into a loud, yet compassionate exclamation: “Father, forgive them…they know not what they do”
 

This cry of the Son of God – Jesus – from the Cross to His Father, on behalf of the sinful & strayed humanity…

… was a statement that summarized His life-long mission: To forgive, to bring back the lost & to give hope to the strayed ones!
 

The Gospel of the Day presents this teaching of the Lord, which He lived in His life and perfectly climaxed on the Cross: To forgive, to bring back the lost and to give hope to the strayed ones!

Last Sunday, the Gospel exhorted us to “deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Him” (Mt 16:24)

>> This exhortation is given a practical dimension in today’s Gospel…

… with a strong accent on the need to grow ourselves in the aspect of Active Forgiveness and to make eager and earnest efforts to bring back a lost person and to render hope and optimism to the wayward hearts.
 

Just a few verses before today’s passage, we have in Mt 18: 10-14, the Parable of the Lost Sheep.
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 doesn’t give up on the strayed.

>> He doesn’t desert the lost.

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

This attitude of “taking an extra pain” and “dripping an extra sweat” would seem weird and strange to a calculative, pragmatic and business-minded head of ours, in this modernistic period…

>> 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 sheep being lost, makes an extra effort in getting them back.
This same Shepherd today invites us, through the Gospel of the Day, to be partakers in restoring the lost ones.
A series of steps are enshrined to make this “seemingly not-so-pleasant” task happen!

1. Engaging in a mutual dialogue     

2. Engaging in a small-group interchange      

3. Engaging in a communitarian initiative
 

Why is it a “seemingly not-so-pleasant” task?
Mt 18:15 says,” If YOUR brother sins against YOU…“
 

Can we read it again…
… YOUR bro sins against YOU….

Now that sounds crazy, isn’t it?
>> Why should I…I be doing that?

Someone hurts me…should I go?

>> Someone wounds me…should I restore?

>> Someone harms me…should I reconcile?

>> Someone kills me mentally…should I patch up?

>> Someone spoils my name…should I take the lead?

Well.. the Gospel of the Day…simply says, ” If YOUR brother sins against YOU…”

…Then….YOU TAKE THE LEAD, TO GET THINGS RIGHT!

>> YES… You!
But we ask WHY?

>> WHY ME?!
 

This WHY may not get answered so easily or convincingly..
But the One who gave this exhortation, makes us to focus our attention back on the small hillock, on the Friday…

>> With the mid-day sun slowly fading into darkness…

… with hands stretched on the Cross with deep pain, crying: “Father, forgive them…they know not what they do!”

Tough words to hear on a relaxed Sunday, right?
Christianity is wonderful…

… but Christianity is also a task!

The Obligation of Sunday duties ought to get actualized and lived in all the other weekdays of our life!

 
Let’s embrace this task of the Lord…

… to forgive, to bring back the lost and to give hope to the strayed ones!

The Good Shepherd preached it…

>> The Good Shepherd lived it in His life…

>> The Good Shepherd perfected it on the Cross.

We, His little Sheep, are now exhorted the same…

Let us break the chains of our ego and pride…

… and in humility and gentleness, reach out to the lost ones!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

The story goes of a large castle which lay abandoned for a large number of years.

>> Being considered haunted or jinxed, it failed to have buyers.
 

But a young man, without giving heed to any of those fears, purchased it.
 

The castle had a large attic, with a huge number of things being dumped in it.

>> The man decided to take up the task of cleaning this attic.
 

While cleaning, the man found, in the corner of the attic, a very old vase, fully covered with dust!

>> Taking it in his hands, as he began to wipe it with a cloth, the man discovered that it was a priceless item that he was holding on!

It was a Diamond Vase!
 

Unnoticed, uncared  and undiscovered…

… the Diamond Vase, on being dusted, became a priceless “bonus” for that man.

How often in our lives, we too have many such “Diamond Vases” – unnoticed, uncared  and undiscovered.

>> It’s highly essential that time and again, we dust off the “unnoticed, uncared  and undiscovered” entities in life, to discover their preciousness!
 

One of such “Diamond Vases” are the precious and timeless truths that can be discovered from the Holy Bible.
 

Today we shall attempt to “wipe off” the dust from a precious teaching – the Sabbath  – to reveal its greater implications in our life and to discover its preciousness!
 

The Gospel of the day is another Sabbath controversy.
 

While going through the grain-fields, the disciples of Jesus plucked and ate some of the heads of grain (Lk 6: 1)

>> But this supposedly forbidden “act of work” was “caught” by the Law Policemen – the Pharisees.
 

Probably, the disciples had not thought of the fact that they were now enjoying the status of being “special celebrities” – since they were the close associates of the Rising mega-star – Jesus!

>> And mega-stars and special celebrities always get followed, isn’t it?
Each of their movement is followed… 

>> Each of their talk is taped!
 

Thus, Jesus and His disciples also found themselves being followed and observed, in all their actions and talks!
 

The point of contention was the Sabbath Rule – which as per the Pharisees, rendered the “work of the disciples” – plucking and eating the heads of grain – as being unlawful and therefore, culpable!
 

When we seek to trace the the original purpose of “Sabbath”, we could consider a couple of aspects:
1. The “Law” of Sabbath at Creation

If Sabbath can be considered as a “Law”, then it goes to say without doubt that the Law of Sabbath was a “principle of creation” itself.
Gen 2: 3: “So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it, He rested from all the work he had done in creation”

>> This “Law” of Sabbath therefore, even precedes the Mosaic Law!
It is very interesting to note the pattern of creation that is mentioned in the Book of Genesis.
The Creation is mentioned as happening on a 7-day format.

>> It can be observed that on all the 6 days, it is mentioned, “evening came and morning followed” (Gen 1:5b, 1: 8b, 1:13, 1: 19, 1: 23, 1: 21b)
>> The phrase or the usage, “Evening came and morning followed” refers to the completing of a day.
But the 7th day doesn’t have this mention!

What is this pointing towards…?
 The 7th day is not complete… it is being continued.

>> It is unending… i.e. Eternal!

Therefore, the 7th Day… the Day on which God “rested” is being continued…. into eternity!

>> So when God calls to “rest” on a Sabbath day, it could be a reference and a reminder to enter “a rest into eternity!”
 

That’s wonderful, isn’t it?
>> The Sabbath becomes a reminder that we are created to “enter into a rest with God” which is eternal and unending!

>> The Sabbath becomes a prefiguration of eternal life – the purpose of all our works and activities!

Can we cultivate this understanding so as to have a stricter observance of the Sabbath Rule? 
Every time we faithfully keep the Sabbath Law….

… we express our willingness to God saying: ” Yes Lord, I am readying myself for the Eternal Rest that you are promising me”!

… we display our eagerness to God saying: “Yes Lord, I am constantly preparing myself to enjoy an Eternal bliss with You!”
2. The Law of Sabbath in the Mosaic Law

The Book of Deuteronomy explicates this Sabbath Law:

“Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, as the Lord your God commanded you. Six days you shall labour and do all your work,  but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God….

…You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out from there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm.
 

Therefore the Lord your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day.” (Dt 5: 12-15)
The Sabbath Law in the Mosaic Law was a reminder that God was their Rescuer from the land of slavery and therefore, He was their God and they, His people.

Can we also cultivate this understanding so as to have a stricter observance of the Sabbath Rule?
Every time we faithfully keep the Sabbath Law….

… we are reminded that we were also once, slaves – to sin.

>> But our Blessed Lord, has rescued us from slavery and wishes that we deepen our love, commitment and faithfulness to Him, Our Saviour!
 

… we are exhorted that it is very much possible that we can become slaves again – maybe to sinful tendencies, to money, to power, to position, to various vices etc.

>> But with constant examination of oneself and a renewing of one’s dedication and pledge to God, we can remain as His own people.
 

Knowingly or unknowingly, we have sometimes failed to keep the Sabbath Law or perhaps, failed to attach any special importance to it…
The Sabbath Day, sometimes, becomes…

… just another “ordinary” day for us

… a day to indulge in laziness and lethargy

… a day to complete pending works and even ending up doing extra works!
 

But can we grow beyond such practices and seek to restore the original intents of the Sabbath.

>>  A faithful and dutiful keeping of the Sabbath Law is a vital expression of we, as Christians, being a distinct people – chosen to lead all others towards the Love of God!

May we seek the Grace to uncover many more “Diamond Vases” contained in the Holy Scripture, by wiping off the dusts of ignorance and indifference!
 

God Bless! Live Jesus!

A teacher in her classroom of Second Standard students, once explained and gave a lesson on the ‘magnet’ and its functions and uses.

The next day, the teacher conducted a written test.
One of the questions in this test was:

“My full name has six letters.

My name begins with ‘M’

>> One of my functions is to pick up things.

>> Another function is to attract things towards me.
Who am I?”
 

When the test papers were turned in, the teacher was astonished to see the answer that was given to this question by over half the class.

Any guesses as to what answer did the children write?
Hmmm….
They wrote the word – “Mother”!
 

The little children, with their own personal experience had seen and witnessed a Mother being the person..

… who would pick up things ( and especially the children!)

… who would attract to herself (especially the children themselves!)
 
 
>> The name “mother” evokes a lot of feelings and emotions…

… Love, affection, tenderness, self-giving, warmth, kind-heartedness etc…
>> The name “mother” also evokes a lot of characters and functions…

… A life-giver, a care-giver, a consoler, a strength, a forgiver, a refuge…
 

>> The name “mother” also evokes a long list of works and tasks that she undertakes…(from a modern perspective!)
(Hold your breath as we go through this lo…ong list!)
CEO of the Household, Chef, Cheerleader of a family, Housekeeper, Hair Stylist, Bed-wetting Patrol Squad, Keeper of Secrets, Food Tester, Family Therapist, Toddler Wrestling Coach, Laundry Machine, Teacher, Toy Repair Expert, Finance Manager, Art Director, Potty Trainer, Search and Rescue Manager, Champion Tickler,  Day-care Provider, Personal Assistant for the entire family, Wardrobe Stylist, Toothbrush Inspector, Birthday Events Director, Sleep Scientist, Dramatic Story Teller, Professional Singer, Kiss and Hugs Expert, Speech Specialist, Vacation Coordinator & Tour Guide, Mrs. Fix-It, Stain Removal Expert, Bodyguard, Pet Caretaker, Marketing Director….etc etc…..
 

Yes, the list is indeed long…very very long…and we can certainly think of many more perhaps!
 

A simple word – Mother – yet evokes so many powerful functions and feelings.
 

Today we celebrate the Birthday of the Most Beloved, the Most Loving and the Most Lovable Mother of all – Blessed Mother Mary!
 

Our world, in the modern trend, fluctuates between two contrasting approaches towards our Blessed Mother.
 

1. Minimal devotion to Mother Mary
On one side, there is a highly sad and deplorable ignoring of the honour and the status that is due to our Blessed Mother.

>> Many consider Her only as an “egg-shell”, whose role and relevance completely ceased, after having given birth to Jesus
>> Many consider Her as just any ordinary woman, who “happened” to be picked by God, so that He could “use” Her to fulfil His plan.
>> Many consider Her to be worthy of absolutely no extra honour and mock at He

2. Exaggerated devotion to Mother Mary
On the other side, there is a “comfortable” and dangerous trend towards exalting Mother Mary to such an extent that She is sometimes accorded the worship of a Goddess or a Deity!
 

>> Many consider devotion to Her being much more important, much more satisfying and much more easier than to God Himself!
>> Many consider expressing their actions of piety and affection to such an extent that even God is sometimes neglected (especially God in the Blessed Sacrament or in the Holy Word)!

But both these extreme understandings and approaches towards Blessed Mother Mary need to have a refinement, a filtering and a restoration towards the right perspectives!
Towards this end, the name “Mary” could be expanded, in the following manner, to help in having a truer appreciation, a genuine devotion and a deeper love for Her: 

>> MARY  – a Model, an Apostle, a Revolutionary, a Yeast
 

1. Mary – is the Model for every Christian
Her life becomes a wonderful example to every person who wishes to follow our Blessed Lord.

>> She remains the perfect Model of being attentive to the voice of God, being actively response to His call and being faithfully committed to every task entrusted to Her
 

2. Mary is the Apostle-par-excellance
As an Apostle of Her Son and Saviour, She always remained in His presence – either physically or in Her thoughts or through Her constant longing for Him

>> She is the Beloved Apostle who had offered Her whole body, mind and soul to the glory of God and fulfilling His every plan
 

3. Mary is the Revolutionary who dared to do God’s Will
Her Yes to the Plan of God, at the Annunciation and Her continual Yes to His Will, even in the moments of the most extreme suffering had the tenacity and the passion of a True Revolutionary.

>> It is hard to follow God’s Will, especially in some moments of crisis;
>> It requires extreme courage and unfailing commitment to be always walking in the path of God
She is the wonderful Revolutionary who dared to always seek and do God’s Will in Her life!
4. Mary is the Yeast who silently fulfilled Her role in the plan of salvation
In the Bible, the words of Mother Mary are fairly minimal; yet Her few words and above all, Her dedicated life speaks volumes of Her role in the Salvific Plan!
 >> She is the unseen Yeast through whom the mighty Grace of God wonderfully worked to raise up the Author of Salvation!

Blessed Mother Mary is our wonderful and beautiful mother, who deserves our greatest affection and love, in a way that draws us more and more towards Her Son, Jesus.
 

May we be encouraged by the words of St Maximilian Kolbe:

“Never be afraid of loving the Blessed Virgin too much. You can never love her more than Jesus did.”

May the celebration of the Nativity of our Blessed Mother, help us to deepen our love towards Her, and may we, holding Her Hands, walk in the path of God, more faithfully and strongly committed!
As Fulton J Sheen says:

“The less we think of Him, the less we think of Her.

>> The more we adore His divinity, the more we venerate Her motherhood.

>> The less we acknowledge His divinity, the less we have respect for Her.”
 

A wonderful Birthday to our Blessed Mother!

>> We Love you, Dearest Mamma!
 

Happy Feast day to all Her children!

>> May we deepen our love for Her Beloved Son and our Saviour, Jesus!
 

God Bless! Live Jesus!

A teacher in her classroom of Second Standard students, once explained and gave a lesson on the ‘magnet’ and its functions and uses.

The next day, the teacher conducted a written test.
One of the questions in this test was:

“My full name has six letters.

My name begins with ‘M’

>> One of my functions is to pick up things.

>> Another function is to attract things towards me.
Who am I?”
 

When the test papers were turned in, the teacher was astonished to see the answer that was given to this question by over half the class.

Any guesses as to what answer did the children write?
Hmmm….
They wrote the word – “Mother”!
 

The little children, with their own personal experience had seen and witnessed a Mother being the person..

… who would pick up things ( and especially the children!)

… who would attract to herself (especially the children themselves!)
 
 
>> The name “mother” evokes a lot of feelings and emotions…

… Love, affection, tenderness, self-giving, warmth, kind-heartedness etc…
>> The name “mother” also evokes a lot of characters and functions…

… A life-giver, a care-giver, a consoler, a strength, a forgiver, a refuge…
 

>> The name “mother” also evokes a long list of works and tasks that she undertakes…(from a modern perspective!)
(Hold your breath as we go through this lo…ong list!)
CEO of the Household, Chef, Cheerleader of a family, Housekeeper, Hair Stylist, Bed-wetting Patrol Squad, Keeper of Secrets, Food Tester, Family Therapist, Toddler Wrestling Coach, Laundry Machine, Teacher, Toy Repair Expert, Finance Manager, Art Director, Potty Trainer, Search and Rescue Manager, Champion Tickler,  Day-care Provider, Personal Assistant for the entire family, Wardrobe Stylist, Toothbrush Inspector, Birthday Events Director, Sleep Scientist, Dramatic Story Teller, Professional Singer, Kiss and Hugs Expert, Speech Specialist, Vacation Coordinator & Tour Guide, Mrs. Fix-It, Stain Removal Expert, Bodyguard, Pet Caretaker, Marketing Director….etc etc…..
 

Yes, the list is indeed long…very very long…and we can certainly think of many more perhaps!
 

A simple word – Mother – yet evokes so many powerful functions and feelings.
 

Today we celebrate the Birthday of the Most Beloved, the Most Loving and the Most Lovable Mother of all – Blessed Mother Mary!
 

Our world, in the modern trend, fluctuates between two contrasting approaches towards our Blessed Mother.
 

1. Minimal devotion to Mother Mary
On one side, there is a highly sad and deplorable ignoring of the honour and the status that is due to our Blessed Mother.

>> Many consider Her only as an “egg-shell”, whose role and relevance completely ceased, after having given birth to Jesus
>> Many consider Her as just any ordinary woman, who “happened” to be picked by God, so that He could “use” Her to fulfil His plan.
>> Many consider Her to be worthy of absolutely no extra honour and mock at He

2. Exaggerated devotion to Mother Mary
On the other side, there is a “comfortable” and dangerous trend towards exalting Mother Mary to such an extent that She is sometimes accorded the worship of a Goddess or a Deity!
 

>> Many consider devotion to Her being much more important, much more satisfying and much more easier than to God Himself!
>> Many consider expressing their actions of piety and affection to such an extent that even God is sometimes neglected (especially God in the Blessed Sacrament or in the Holy Word)!

But both these extreme understandings and approaches towards Blessed Mother Mary need to have a refinement, a filtering and a restoration towards the right perspectives!
Towards this end, the name “Mary” could be expanded, in the following manner, to help in having a truer appreciation, a genuine devotion and a deeper love for Her: 

>> MARY  – a Model, an Apostle, a Revolutionary, a Yeast
 

1. Mary – is the Model for every Christian
Her life becomes a wonderful example to every person who wishes to follow our Blessed Lord.

>> She remains the perfect Model of being attentive to the voice of God, being actively response to His call and being faithfully committed to every task entrusted to Her
 

2. Mary is the Apostle-par-excellance
As an Apostle of Her Son and Saviour, She always remained in His presence – either physically or in Her thoughts or through Her constant longing for Him

>> She is the Beloved Apostle who had offered Her whole body, mind and soul to the glory of God and fulfilling His every plan
 

3. Mary is the Revolutionary who dared to do God’s Will
Her Yes to the Plan of God, at the Annunciation and Her continual Yes to His Will, even in the moments of the most extreme suffering had the tenacity and the passion of a True Revolutionary.

>> It is hard to follow God’s Will, especially in some moments of crisis;
>> It requires extreme courage and unfailing commitment to be always walking in the path of God
She is the wonderful Revolutionary who dared to always seek and do God’s Will in Her life!
4. Mary is the Yeast who silently fulfilled Her role in the plan of salvation
In the Bible, the words of Mother Mary are fairly minimal; yet Her few words and above all, Her dedicated life speaks volumes of Her role in the Salvific Plan!
 >> She is the unseen Yeast through whom the mighty Grace of God wonderfully worked to raise up the Author of Salvation!

Blessed Mother Mary is our wonderful and beautiful mother, who deserves our greatest affection and love, in a way that draws us more and more towards Her Son, Jesus.
 

May we be encouraged by the words of St Maximilian Kolbe:

“Never be afraid of loving the Blessed Virgin too much. You can never love her more than Jesus did.”

May the celebration of the Nativity of our Blessed Mother, help us to deepen our love towards Her, and may we, holding Her Hands, walk in the path of God, more faithfully and strongly committed!
As Fulton J Sheen says:

“The less we think of Him, the less we think of Her.

>> The more we adore His divinity, the more we venerate Her motherhood.

>> The less we acknowledge His divinity, the less we have respect for Her.”
 

A wonderful Birthday to our Blessed Mother!

>> We Love you, Dearest Mamma!
 

Happy Feast day to all Her children!

>> May we deepen our love for Her Beloved Son and our Saviour, Jesus!
 

God Bless! Live Jesus!