“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!

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

 

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

 

 

Much of the research has involved gorillas and chimps.

 

 

It is found that they often enter into fights with each other…

… only later to embrace and continue their companionship.

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

They are domestic cats.

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

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

 

>> For some people, it’s easy to forgive…

>> But some others struggle hard in serving out pardon…

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

We make a count or keep a rough numerical impression…

… of how many times a person has done good to me

… of when was the last time a person behaved badly with me

… of how many times a person has hurt or caused harm to me

… of how often has a person offended me or spoken ill about me

 

 

Relationships…

… sometimes get reduced to mere mathematical entities

… sometimes find themselves entangled in the web of calculative units

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

And our thought-process takes the following pattern:

 

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

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

 

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

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

 

 

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

 

 

What is the basis for Jesus to say this?

 

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

 

• God abandons all mathematical calculations in extending His forgiveness to us

• God lets go of every measure of computation in allowing us to receive His mercy
 

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

 

 

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

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

 

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

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

 

 

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

 

 

 

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

 

 

But do we realize that it contains a clause, whose condition, if not fulfilled, does not help us to receive the “unconditional forgiveness of God”?

 

 

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

 

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

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

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

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

 

 

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

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

 

 

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

 

 

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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.”

 

 

 God Bless! Live Jesus!

 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!

There is an incident mentioned in the life of King Richard I, who ruled England in the late 12th century.

>> He was known as Richard the Lion Heart for being a great military warrior and leader. 
However, once, while returning after the Third Crusade, he was captured by Leopold V, the Duke of Austria.

>> He was handed over to Henry VI, the Roman Emperor. 
This king demanded a very huge amount for his release

The price of ransom was 1,50, 000 Marks…

… equivalent of nearly three tons of silver. 
This was an enormous demand.
But the people of England spared no efforts in getting their king released. 

>> Extra taxation was imposed

>> Huge contributions were obtained
Finally, after many months, the money was raised…

… and the king returned to England.
A huge “ransom” was paid to get the King released

( This is probably also the origin of the English phrase – “A king’s ransom” – which means “a large amount of money”)

Centuries ago, however, on the face of the earth, this act was reversed…

… One Man – The King of Kings – paid 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 to 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 to His commands Who ransomed His life for us!

Today we celebrate the Feast of St Maxmilian 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:

 “Let us remember that love lives through sacrifice and is nourished by giving.

 >> Let’s remember that not everything which is good and beautiful pertains to genuine, essential love…

 

Without sacrifice there is no love.

 >> Sacrifice the senses, taste, hearing, and above all, the mind and the will in holy obedience.”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

 A young man went to a sage, whom he had often seen going to a forest.
Curious to know what the sage did in the forest, he asked him:

“I wonder what do you do in the noise of that forest, everyday!”
The sage replied: “Have you any time tried to hear the voice of the forest?”
“Voice?” queried the young man in surprise, “I never hear voice. 

I only hear noise.

>> And the only noise I hear in the forest is when the woodcutter crashes the wood, or the leaves and the fallen branches break beneath his foot.”

“Ah, that’s the difference between you and me”, said the sage, as he continued:

“I still myself in silence, in the forest, and I hear clearly the voice…

… of one limb of a branch grinding against another

… of the fall of a nut

… of the flutter of the wings of birds

… of the scamper of a rabbit

…. of the gentle stirring of the wind!
That’s the difference between you and me…

… You run away from silence by wanting noise always!

>> I seek for silence, by moving away from noise!”

What about us?
Do we also run away from silence by wanting noise always…

… or do we seek for silence, by moving away from noise?

We live in a world of noises. 
Noise is everywhere.

>> Music. Talks. Discussions. Commentaries. Arguments….

Apparently, much of life’s beauty is drowned in this sea of noises.

>> The word “noise” apparently comes from the Latin root word of “nausea” which means a sensation of vomiting and uneasiness….
Are we surrounding ourselves with too much noise – too much of an uneasy environment….

…that we even fail to listen to the Voice of the Spirit of the Lord?

>> We need to quieten ourselves. 

>> We need to hear… the still, soft, gentle voice of the Lord!

The first reading of the Day presents the remarkable experience of Prophet Elijah encountering the Lord in a tiny, whispering voice (1 Kings 19: 11-13)

>> The Gospel of the Day begins with Jesus spending quiet moments with His Heavenly Father (Mt 14:23)

What is our attitude to Prayer?
1. Shopping-list Attitude

>> We reduce our prayer time to mere presenting to God all our various wants and demands and desires and requirements. Much of time is spent is considering God as a mere giver and granter of gifts and objects.
2. Complaint-Box Attitude

>> We spend much of our prayer time in whining and cribbing about the various disturbances affecting our life. Prayer gets reduced to a time of only grumbling and protesting and raising many grievances.
3. Character-Assassination Attitude

>> Though not much acknowledged, we may spend our prayer time in speaking the ill of others, in making comparisons to the lives of others and even wishing the negative of other people for our advantage. 
Pleasure is found much in speaking of the faults and negatives of other people and prayer acquires an “other-centeredness”, but in a very negative sense!
4. Recitation-competition Attitude

>> Prayer becomes reduced to a mere recitation of a fixed set of prayers, holy invocations and muttering of words. Sometimes, much of this mumbling of expressions go without any concentration, or even knowing and meaning the value of the words.
It’s not necessary to get critical & too self-conscious of our style of prayer. 

>> But we also need to know: Prayer is more of a relationship…

…Prayer is spending time with our Heavenly God…

…Prayer is just “being” with Him!
Prayer is more…

… of giving myself as I am to the Lord… than mere receiving!

… of experiencing the silence of the Lord….than mere babbling words!

… of a communion with the Lover of our Souls…than mere external expressions!

The readings of the day invite us to a Life of Prayer..

… to a Life of Discovering the Power of Silence

… to a Life of finding quiet moments with the Lord.
Am I able to discover silent moments in my working activities?

>> Am I able to feel God’s presence in the things and objects that I use and handle?

>> Am I able to realize the gentle charisma of the Lord in the din and noise of the day?
>> Storms in life are bound to happen…

>> Waves of hardships are sure to hit our boats of life…

… but if we are rooted in a true spirit of prayer &communion with the Lord, we will be firm & strong.

In true silence and serenity, we will be hear the words of the Lord:

“Take courage, it is I! 

>> Do not be afraid!” (Mt 14: 27)
Let us seek the Lord…

… in true prayer

…in serene silence

… in the midst of life’s noises and clamour and clatters!!

Yes, may we amend our attitude of “running away from silence by wanting noise always…

… and instead seek for silence, by moving away from noise

>> And thus experiencing the Presence of the Divine!”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

 Raphael is the famous Italian painter – the architect of the High Renaissance.

 

Together with Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, he forms the traditional trinity of great masters of that period.

 

There is a famous painting of the Transfiguration of our Blessed Lord by Raphael.

>> This painting was done in Rome in 1520.

 

Raphael had his health deteriorating at this time, as soon he was to die at the age of 37.

>> With the life-energy draining out of him, he chose to apply his mastery strokes on the painting of the Transfiguration.

 

 

 

In the upper centre part of the painting is seen a flat, rock mountain top.

>> The three disciples – Peter, James and John – are shielding their eyes from the glory.

>> Just above them, in the air, are Elijah and Moses and Jesus.

>> Jesus is glisteningly white, as scripture says, “no fuller on earth could bleach”

 

At the bottom of the mountain, is the crowd of the other disciples.

>> They are being unable to heal a boy, who is possessed by a demon.

>> The boy, an epileptic is seen in a fit of seizure, and flanked by his helpless father

 

 

These two contrasting images in the same picture are drawn from the 17th Chapter of the Gospel of St Matthew.

· The Transfiguration of the Lord (Mt 17: 1- 13)

· The inability of the disciples to heal the epileptic boy (Mt 17: 14ff)

 

The Gospel of the day is the second incident: of how the disciples fail to heal the boy and how Jesus intervenes to cure and teaches the importance of possessing strong faith.

 

These two incidents that are depicted in the Painting of the Transfiguration by Raphael, shows contrasting dimensions…

>> On one side, immense glory being revealed and the Divine splendour being manifested

>> On the other, lack of faith being exposed and the failure in the Kingdom ministry

 

>> On one side, the three disciples basking in the light of heightened faith and devotion

>> On the other, the other disciples being lost in the darkness of inability to put the faith to effectiveness

.

 

And how often is this the painting of our own lives too…

 

· There are some moments when we experience the loftiness of God’s glory and power

· There are other moments when we fail miserably to evoke His presence and are unable to feel His

 

· There are some times when faith makes us to feel that everything is so glorious and wonderful

· There are other times when our faith hits rock-bottom and our spiritual life loses its sheen and all seems so miserable

 

 

This is the reality of our lives – contrasting experiences of glorious faith at some instants and miserable lack of trust at other

 

But the Gospel of the day ends with an encouraging exhortation by Jesus to have a strong and sturdy faith – the faith the size of a mustard seed

 

“If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you” (Mt 17:20)

 

 

When the disciples were unable to bring about a healing to the epileptic boy, the Lord sure did rebuke them for their “lack of faith”.

 

But after having healed the child, He does not linger with the reproaching or admonishing attitude… instead as a loving friend and a caring master, gently but firmly encourages them to be stronger in their faith.

 

This is the approach that He has towards us too…

>> He knows that we have our weak moments and situations of disbelief and doubts

>> He knows that there are periods when our faith is merely on the lips and not really from the depths of our hearts

>> He knows that there are times when annoying circumstances encroach our faith-life and all our efforts in devotion meet with bitter conclusions

 

Yet, with firmness and fondness, Jesus invites us to keep seeking to grow in our trust in Him and have faith of the size of the mustard seed.

 

 

God Bless! Live Jesus!

Dayton Ohio in America has an elevated railway.

 

One of the stations of this railway was near a great Roman Catholic burial ground named Calvary Cemetery.

>> The name of this station was Calvary Station.
 

The unique aspect of this station was that the trains did not stop at this station, except on request.

 

The reason?

For several years, in that part of the town, there were many more dead than living people.

 

Therefore, just after leaving the nearest station, the train guard would open the door and shout:

“Next station is Calvary! Train stops on request only…

Anybody for Calvary?”

 

 

Perhaps this a parable of life’s train!

 

At all other stations, life’s train stops – market-street station, school-street station, church-street station, home-avenue station etc…

 

But only at one station, there is a stop only when someone chooses to: the Station of Calvary!

 

 

The Gospel of the Day has Jesus, the Guard of our Life’s Train echoing the invitatory words, “Anybody for Calvary?”

 

Jesus tells His disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after Me, must deny Himself, take up His cross and follow Me” (Mt 16:24)

 

 

One of the finest aspects about Jesus, as a Person and as a Teacher, is the clarity and precision that He maintained in all His words and deeds.

>> He was clear and precise of what was His Mission on the earth

>> He is clear and precise also, of what is expected of His followers.

 

• There is no pretence or deception in His talks.

• There are no loopholes or strings attached in His demands

 

He makes it precisely clear that the one who follows Him must fulfil the three basic conditions:

1. Denying Oneself

2. Taking up the Cross

3. Following Him

 

 

• Denying Oneself – demands that one is willing to entrust the reins of one’s life totally to the Master.

 

>> It means a priority of the highest order that is reserved for the Lord and His Kingdom

>> It means a constant rejection of desires that cause the self to be greater than the Lord

 

 

• Taking Up the Cross – demands that one is wholeheartedly and readily willing to do one’s duty as a Christian, joyfully and steadily

 

>> It means an availability to be at the service of the Lord and His Kingdom at all times

>> It means a seeking and an acceptance of the Will of God at every moment of life

 

 

• Following Him – demands that one keeps a steadfast focus on the Lord alone and keeping away anything that would cause a distraction

 

>> It means a faithful and an unflinched commitment to walk only on the path that the Lord demands

>> It means a radical letting go of anything that can be contrary to the Gospel ways and the Kingdom values.

 

 

But very often we find that these things are easier said, than done…

 

• We wish to deny ourselves.

But too often….

>> Our selfish desires dominate over us and we get disillusioned

>> We give in to making excuses or dilute the seriousness of our call

 

 

• We wish to take up our cross

But too often…

>> We feel ourselves overburdened with responsibilities

>> We fear the hardships of disciplining ourselves and shy away from it

 

• We wish to follow Him

But too often…

>> Worldly distractions and human affairs preoccupy us and our hearts get divided in our loyalty to the Lord

>> Our enthusiastic hearts get weighed down by scandals or lack of motivations or even opposing forces

 

 

But the Lord, through today’s Gospel gives a call once again – to embrace a life of the Cross!

 

The way of the Cross is the only true path for a Christian.

• That was the way of the Lord.

• That is to be the way of each follower too.

 

As Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German theologian says, “To endure the cross is not tragedy; it is the suffering which is the fruit of an exclusive allegiance to Jesus Christ”.

 

A life embracing the cross is the hallmark of a Christian – in self-denial, in total commitment and with complete sincerity.

 

 

As our life-train chugs on, Jesus, the Guard echoes the call, “Anybody for Calvary?”

 

Calvary is “the offence of the cross”

>> None stops there except the one who chooses to

>> It’s a stumbling block for the Jews and foolishness to the Greeks ( 1 Cor 1:23)

>> But to those who believe, it is the power and wisdom of God ( 1 Cor 1: 24)

 

Are we willing to request for a stop at Calvary – to embrace the Cross of Christ?

 

God Bless! Live Jesus!

 The year 258 AD saw a massive killing campaign unleashed against the Christians by the Roman Emperor Valerian.

 

Popular lore has it that a young Deacon had been placed in charge of the Church’s riches.

>> These treasures included the Holy Grail which was supposed to be the cup used by Christ at the Last Supper.
 

 

Emperor Valerian, who had just killed the Pope had set his eyes also on finishing off this young Deacon.

 

Having a good knowledge of the Church’s riches, the cruel Emperor commanded the Deacon to hand over all the “treasures of the Church” to him or that he too would suffer a dreadful death.

 

The deacon requested for a few days to collect together the vast amount of wealth.

 

Three days later, the Deacon, mustering immense courage, threw open the palace doors to deliver the “treasures”.

 

His hands were all empty – no silver nor gold nor any other precious ornaments.

>> Instead, flaunting behind him were the poor, the blind and the crippled of the town.
 

When he reached the throne, the Deacon daringly announced, “These are the true treasures of the Church”!

 

 

The Emperor was mightily enraged.

He sentenced the young fellow to a death by torturous grilling!

 

Literally, the executioners followed the command – barbecuing the Deacon to death on a gridiron.

 

However, the valour and the dare displayed by the faithful soldier of Christ was so great that, after a few minutes of being roasted, he said to his executioners, “This side is done… Turn me over on the other side!!”

 

 

That could be the height of boldness and courage, right?

 

 

And what’s more.. call it Divine humour, the Church has named this Deacon as the Patron Saint of comedians, butchers, chefs and roasters!

 

Classic one, isn’t it?

 

 

The name of the Deacon is St Lawrence, whose feast we celebrate today.

 

 

His daring life goes on to prove…

… that a passionate love for Christ can overcome any pain and persecution – including death!

… that the worth of being a true disciple is total fidelity to the person of Christ and to His Kingdom, even if it means bearing hardships and difficulties

 

 

We are invited, as the Gospel of the day says, “to be the grain of wheat that falls into the earth and dies” ( Jn 12: 24-26)

 

 

Our Blessed Lord expounds one of the most basic principles in nature:

>> New life emerges only when there is a sacrifice

>> Transformation in life happens only when a sacrifice is involved.

 

 

The vegetables, before being served at table…

… needs to be pulled up from the heart of the earth

… and passed through the torment of fire in being cooked

 

The meat, that comes with its tasty appeal, at the food table..

… needs to be first submitted to the slaying by the knife

… and passed through the flaming ordeal, in being rendered edible

 

 

Sacrifice, therefore, is nature’s way of passage to experience new life!

 

The Lord takes an appeal to this basic principle in saying that “unless a grain of wheat dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit” (Jn 12: 24)

 

 

At the time of Jesus, farmers would drop one grain of wheat at a time, in its cultivation

• The soil would be ploughed and shallow trenches dug out to create the bed for the seeds.

• The wheat grains, one at a time, were dropped into the trench and covered with loosened soil

 

A little sneak into the wheat yielding statistics (roughly – since it varies from place to place, depending on the soil, seed variety and other factors) reveals the point that Jesus explicated about “a grain of wheat which dies, yields much fruit”

 

 

If we consider an acre of land…

>> Two bushels of grain would yield around 40 bushels of wheat

>> That translates to, around 150 kg of grain yielding around 3000 kg of wheat!

 

• Simplifying it, gives an equation (very roughly): 1 kg of grain sown would yield around 20 kg of wheat!

 

That’s enormous, isn’t it?

 

 

This is the power of sacrifice, that Jesus alludes to, with an example from nature.

 

As Christians, we are challenged to live a life of Sacrifice, in order to yield the harvest of God’s Kingdom.

 

 

Greater our sacrifice, greater would be the fruits that are yielded for the glory of God and His Kingdom!

 

The Gospel passage refers to two ways of making this sacrifice…

1. Dying to the world

“He who hates his love in this world, will keep it for eternal life” (Jn 12: 25)

 

2. Serving the Lord wholeheartedly by following Him

 “If anyone serves me, the Father will honour me” (Jn 12: 26)

 

 

Can we personalise these two dimensions of sacrifice….?

 

• Dying to the worldly values which glorify the self – power, positions and honour- and instead seek to live in humility, self-discipline and selflessness!

• Constantly making efforts to serve the Lord in every aspect of our life – words, deeds, thoughts – and leading a life that brings glory to God and serving His people in every little way possible

 

 

• Giving up sins – both personal and social – and constantly rejecting alluring temptations to remain fixated by worldly standards; instead focussing on the transcendental dimensions of life

• Prioritising the Lord and His Kingdom in every aspect of our life and remaining focussed on Him alone – even amidst persecutions or hardships to give up the Gospel Lifestyle

 

 

The courageous and bold Deacon, St Lawrence is a powerful model for us to lead a life of Christian Sacrifice.

 

May our Crucified Lord, who is the greatest embodiment of Sacrifice, fill us with the grace and courage to live a committed Christian life!

 

 

God Bless! Live Jesus!

 Years back, in the late 1900’s, engineers were asked to give their opinions on a possible railroad through the Andes Mountains

 

(Andes is the longest continental mountain range in the world; it passes through seven South American countries: Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina)

 

They concluded that the job would be an impossible one.

 

However, as a last resort, an engineer from Poland named Ernest Malinowski was called in.

 

Malinowski’s reputation as an engineer was famous, but he was in the aging sixtieth year of his life at that time.

The authorities feared to impose such a rigorous task on the old man.

 

 

Malinowski, however, assured the representatives that the job could be done.

 

 

The railway began to worm its way across the Andes from Peru with sixty-two tunnels and thirty bridges along its way.

• One tunnel ran up to 4,000 feet in length, 15,000 feet above the level of the sea.

• On two occasions, revolutions in some of the countries through which the railroad passed, held up construction.

• Once Malinowski had to even flee to Peru and remain in exile for a time

 

But nothing could prevent the old man in completing the engineering feat.

 

By 1880, work was completed on what, till recent times (2006), was the highest railroad in the world.

 

Malinowski had many barriers towards the achievement of this grand feat…

… The problems arising out of old age

… The challenging mountainous terrains

… The impossibility expressed by many other engineers

 

However, nothing of it could deter his determination in achieving what he wanted!

 

 

Life rewards abundantly, those who are willing to challenge the barriers and be persistent in overcoming them!

 

 

The Gospel of the Day presents the beautiful story of a mother who dared to “break through” the mountainous terrains of religious prejudices, social ignominy and personal misery to bridge blessings from God for her precious daughter.

 

 

Jesus had withdrawn to the district of Tyre and Sidon (Mt 15:21)

 

 

In the Old Testament times, this region was better known as the area of the tribes of the Canaanites.

• Over the years, the land had grown in paganism as well as corruption.

 

Their presence was a strong threat to the purity of Israel’s religion and morality.

 

Therefore, there was a long history of spiritual and military clashes between the Israelites and Canaanites.

 

It was in this place that Jesus meets one of them – a woman, whose daughter had been “severely possessed by a demon” (Mt 15:22b)

 

 

The presence of “that” woman, however, made the disciples of Jesus, to complain to their Master, “Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us” (Mt 15: 23b)

 

 

At this juncture, we hear two cries…

ü One – the cry of the woman

ü The other – the cry of the disciples

 

>> The woman cried out of helplessness and out of deep misery – for the “unclean” demon to be cast away from her daughter
>> The disciples cried out in wretchedness and disgust – for the “unclean” woman to be cast away from their presence

 
It’s interesting to note the wordplay in Greek, in the words of the disciples and those of the woman…

 

>> The disciples uttered, “APOLYSON – send her away”

>> The woman cried, “KYRIE ELEISON – have mercy, Lord”

 
These two similar-sounding yet contradicting choruses were ringing in the air – “Apolyson – Kyrie Eleison… Apolyson – Kyrie Eleison”

 

 

The Master then stepped in to say, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel… It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs” (Mt 15: 24, 26)

 

 

Perhaps the addressing of Jesus as a “dog” would have come as no surprise to the Canaanite woman.

 

It was a reminder of the sharp distinction that existed, historically, between the Blessed Israelites and the Cursed Canaanites.

>> The Jews “were” considered as the “children” and the Canaanites (Gentiles) “were” considered as “dogs”

 

And in every house, the children get fed first… not the dogs!

 
But the figurative tone set forth by Jesus, found its amazing reply in the words of the Canaanite woman, “Yes, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters” (Mt 15: 27)

 

Here was a glorious acknowledgement by the woman…

“Yes, I am a Canaanite, and considered to be a dog.

I do acknowledge that Israelites have a special privilege in the order of God’s grace.

 

But we too, deserve the Grace of God that is due to all people, in general!”

 

I demand not the privileged bread that is reserved to the mighty….

But, just the crumbs of Your grace will suffice in healing my ailing daughter!”

 

That was an amazing reply of persistent faith!

 

 

The mountainous terrains had been broken!

>> No religious prejudices, no social ignominy or no personal misery could prevent the bold faith of the woman to bridge the blessings of God’s healing!

 

 

Yes, life rewards abundantly, those who are willing to challenge the barriers and be persistent in overcoming them!

 

With immense pride, the Lord proclaimed, “O Woman, great is your faith” (Mt 15: 28)

 

 

Do we also seek to possess such kind of a tremendous faith and unperturbed persistence?

• Sometimes we hear – like the cries of the disciples – discouraging voices and refraining chants…

• Sometimes we have to encounter the agonizingly painful and silent response of the Lord…

• Sometimes we have to bear humiliating challenges to our prayers and even disturbing answers from the Divine..

 
Yet, like this wonderful mother, who was determined to break down every “mountain” of barrier, for the sake of a miracle for her daughter…

… do we remain courageous, firm and bold in our faith and trust in the Lord?

 

 

St Francis de Sales says, “when you encounter difficulties and contradictions, do not try to break them; try to bend them with gentleness and time.”
Let us today seek the intercession of St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross also known as Edith Stein.

>> She was a German Jewish philosopher who converted to Catholicism and became a Carmelite nun, finally becoming a martyr in the Nazi concentration camp.
Let her words inspire us: 

” And when night comes, and you look back over the day and see how fragmentary everything has been, and how much you planned that has gone undone…

… and all the reasons you have to be embarrassed and ashamed: 

>> Just take everything exactly as it is, put it in God’s hands and leave it with Him.”

May Our Blessed Lord – the God of all peoples – bless us with a firmness in our faith, perseverance in our piety and courage in our convictions!
 

God Bless! Live Jesus!