All of us at sometime or the other, have come across Family pictures…

… the one bearing many generations of family members

>> The grandfather and grandmother…with their sons and daughters and their spouses and their little children etc. 

Perhaps, some of us, ourselves, have such family portraits or pictures with us. 
Every such Family Photo gives a nostalgic feel…. 

>> Those are not mere printed papers…. 

>> They contain legacies…. they are filled with memories…..
They give a glimpse of the past: struggles, disappointments, mistakes, events hard to acknowledge…. 

>> They give an inkling to the future: love, laughter, hope, blessings …. 

>> They are a witness to the present: unity, fellowship, brokenness, anger….

A Family Photo also reveals…the Presence of the Higher Power – God…

…  Who has worked in unknown yet amazing ways. 
His presence is very much seen in many of our family situations. 

>> Hard situations converted to moments of grace

>> Tough times transformed to strengthening situations
A Family Photo has it all…..

Today we gaze at the Family Photo of our Beloved Saviour.

>>We specially recall and cherish the Blessings of God, bestowed on the privileged Grandparents of Jesus & the Parents of Blessed Mother Mary…

… St Anne and St Joachim.

 

Hardly anything is known about Saint Ann and Saint Joachim. 

>> Their photos are blurred and hazy . 

>> They’re absent in the Bible. 

There are stories and legends that have come down to us through the ages and tradition.

Though we don’t know many details about the life of this couple, we can firmly assume a few things:

>> They were simple people of great hope looking for the Coming of the Messiah… 

>> Their faith in God was the guiding force of their lives ! 

The lives of Saints Joachim and Anne remain shrouded in mystery, lost to history. 

But one thing, we know with certainty:  The legacy of their daughter, Mary—the Woman entrusted by God the Father to become the Mother of God. 

>> It was their teaching that led Mamma Mary to say Her Fiat – Yes, to God. 

>> It was their upbringing that helped Mamma Mary to stand firm in the midst of unforeseen events. 

>> It was their example that helped Mamma Mary to be strong in the face of immense pain and sufferings !
Yes, God chose two very unlikely individuals – Anne & Joachim –  to help in His Plan for the Salvation of the world.
 

Is God looking at you and me at this moment…..? 

Like He chose this insignificant Couple….

… He looks at each of us – in hope and expectation

Let us look at our Family Photo…not just of the blood-related family, but the whole Human Family…

 

>> There are many faces dejected …

>> There are many hearts broken …

>> There are many souls in sin…

>>There are many lives shattered…

>> There are many minds confused …

>> There are many wills unrepentant …

>> There are many bodies abused …

>> There are many characters in filth… 

In the world, we find seeds of both types: good and bad (Mt 13:38)

As people of the Kingdom, we need to…

… Give heed to the Sower

… Be willing to grow, despite the evil around us

The Lord is calling us… like St Anne and Joachim to reach out to this human family…

… and to fill the world with hope and faith and love!

Pope Benedict XVI says: ” Often we are led to believe that sainthood – holiness – is reserved to a few chosen ones .

>> Saintliness, the fullness of Christian life, does not consist in the achievement of extraordinary feats, but in uniting oneself with Christ … in making his disposition … his behaviour … our own “!

Saints Ann and Joachim saw the mighty hand of God at work in their lives. 

>> They heard God’s voice yet wondered how God could possibly use them. 

>> They stepped forth in faith, not knowing where the journey led… 

But God rewarded them….. With the Beautiful and Precious Daughter…Mary! 

Today they gladly rejoice…in being blurred, yet significant characters in the Divine Family Portrait …. glittered and ‘halo’ed and dazzling…. 

… with the grandeur of  Jesus , the King of Kings, their precious grandchild….

… and the Loveliness of Mary, the Queen of all Hearts, their beloved daughter!

Happy Feast of Mamma’s parents to all.

>> May their Li’l Divine Prince bless us! Live Jesus!
– Fr Jijo Manjackal MSFS

 Bengaluru, India

Friends love to communicate often…

>> Close relationships always seek for intimacy and closeness.
This is our common understanding and experience with respect to Human Friendship. 

>> The same principle holds good for Divine Friendship too. 
The Lord loves us & seeks intimacy with us and we who love the Lord, also wish to be closer to Him! 

>> But do we really know what we are asking for, when we say, “ we want to be closer to Him”?
A mother ‘always’ (hopefully the word “always” still holds good in our society which is sadly losing many of the good-old values, with respect to traditional ideals and ethics) seeks for the good of her child. 
The Gospel of the Day, presents one such caring mother, who aspires and seeks the best for her children. 
The mother of Apostles James and John, requests the Lord to grant her children a privileged place in the Kingdom. 

>> In her tenderness and affection as a mother, she sought her children be always close to the Lord…
But the Lord replies…. “ You do not know what you are asking”!

Did she really know what it meant to be Close to the Lord? 

>> Do I really know what it means to be close to the Lord?

St James enjoyed a privileged place in the Band of the Apostles of Jesus. 

He was in the Core Group – one of the Three – Peter and John being the other two- who had the opportunity to be with the Lord in some of His special and extraordinary moments. 

>> Raising the dead daughter of Jairus… 

>> Transfiguration on the mountain top…. 

>> Moments of praying and agony in the Garden of Gethsemane…. 
James was indeed physically close to the Lord..

 

But the Lord today invites…

>> James and his brother John

>> Their mother

>> The disciples

>> and each one of us

… to really realize the meaning, of asking to be closer to Him

  

Being close to the Lord means: Making changes in our lifestyle and to be in accord with the Will of God!

>> Look at the lives of Mother Mary….St Joseph… St Paul… St  Peter…St Matthew
Being close to the Lord means: To get out of comfort zones & taking risks in life, for Christ’s sake! 

>> Look at the lives of the Good Samaritan…Nicodemus…Simon of Cyrene…
Being close to the Lord means: Giving up a sinful life and amending our ways to seek for holiness! 

>> Look at the lives of Zacchaeus… the Woman caught in adultery… the Samaritan Woman,… the Good Thief…
Being close to the Lord means: Embracing sufferings that come our way, seeing the Providence of God! 

>> Look at the lives of Mother Mary……St John the Baptist….St Stephen…. St Paul…
In asking to be close to the Lord, we also say that…

…  Yes Lord, I will share in your cup of suffering. 

… Yes Lord, I will join you on the way of the Cross 

… Yes Lord, I will unite with your death on the Cross!

The mother of John and James realised this…

>> That’s why we find her….at the Foot of the Cross (Mt 27:56) 
She understood. 

>> She got close to Jesus. 

>> She remained till the end. 

>> She drank the Cup!

 
John also realised this…

>> That’s we find him, according to tradition…suffering during the Roman Persecution 
He understood. 

>> He got close to Jesus. 

>> He remained till the end. 

>> _He drank the Cup!
James also realised this…

>> That’s why we find him, killed by the sword…in witness to Christ, His Master (Acts 12:2) 
He understood. 

>> He got close to Jesus. 

>> He remained till the end. 

>> _He drank the Cup!

The Lord also promises…

>> He who shares my cup…also shares my Glory! 

>>  He who shares my cross..also shares my Rising!

The Apostle James, went close to the Lord..drank the Cup…and he shares in the Joy of the Lord 

Today, he intercedes and invites and beckons us…

>> To come closer to the Lord…

… and share in the Lord’s Joy and Glory!

Are we willing to be close… really close…

… to our Jesus, our Beloved Friend?

Wish you a Happy Feast of the Apostle James!

God Bless! _Live Jesus_!
– Fr Jijo Manjackal MSFS

 Bengaluru, India

One day, a lady was giving some lessons to her little nephew. 
He was generally a good, attentive child.

>> But on this occasion he could not fix his mind on the lessons. 
The child had actually lost one of his favourite marbles and was disturbed by it. 

So after a little while of distraction, the little boy suddenly said: “Aunty, may I kneel down and ask God to help me find my marble?” 
His aunt gave her consent.

>> The little boy knelt by his chair, closed his eyes, and prayed silently. 

Then he rose and went on with his lessons contentedly. 

Next day, with fear that the child had not found his toy, and so might lose his simple faith, the lady gently asked him:  “Well, dear, have you found your marble?” 
“No, Aunty,” was the reply, “but God has made me not want to!”

What a beautiful reply, isn’t it?

God does not always answer our prayers in the way we wish or expect!
But if we are sincere in our prayers to Him… 

>> “He will take from us the desire for what is contrary to His Will…

… and give us faith and hope to leave all to His Holy Will!”

What is our understanding of Prayer?

The Gospel of the Day is a beautiful invitation…

… To understand Prayer

… And to grow in being a Person of Prayer

The Gospel passage begins with Jesus “praying in a certain place” (Lk 11: 1a)…

… and His disciples asking Him, “Lord, teach us to pray” (Lk 11: 1b)

Here is a interesting notion that is observed even in our daily lives: Emulation

Emulation is a quality prevalent in many areas of our life…

>> A child emulates the styles and mannerisms of the parents 

>> A student emulates the virtues of his/her teacher and forms an ideal

>> Lovers seek to emulate qualities in the other to be more and more like them

>> People emulate the style statements and lifestyles of their heroes (role models)

 

The disciples of every Jewish Rabbi also had a deep desire to emulate their Master.

>> This included how the Rabbi appeared, his eating styles, his Sabbath observational manners, what he liked and disliked, his mannerisms and his preferences. 

>> The Rabbi would also teach and emphasize certain aspects of the prayers that he considered most important, depending on his outlook and approach to God.

Thus, we see the disciples of Jesus, the Rabbi also come to Him… to emulate Him

>> They had seen their Master often resorting to long hours of prayer

>> They had observed their Master interceding to the Father on important occasions

>> They had experienced their Master as One Who was in communion with the Father through prayer
And so, seeing their Master in prayer – wanting to emulate Him – they ask Him, “Lord, teach us to pray…” (Lk 11: 1b)

Here is also an important lesson for us…

>> Do we want our children to pray?

… As parents, we must be rooted in prayer and children should see us praying
>> Do we want our parishes to be more vibrant and co-operative?

… The priests especially and the faithful should live as persons of prayer
>> Do we want our religious communities to be houses of peace and joy?

… The community members have a bounden duty to spend time in personal and community prayer

As Christians, we have a duty to be Persons of Prayer…

… being in communion with the Father

… seeking His Will at all times

… living joyfully, knowing that the Father cares for us

The relationship that Jesus emphasizes in prayer is that of God as a Father…

>> A Loving Father

…  Who cares and loves us much!
>> A Merciful Father

… Who never abandons us and always wants us to be close to Him!
>>  A Providential Father

…  Who knows the needs of His children and provides the best for them, always!
>> A Concerned Father

… Who is more concerned of us than we ourselves and thus will always…always protect us!

What is therefore needed in prayer, “is a raising of one’s heart to the Father in love”

 

Jesus in the Gospel, further teaches on prayer, through a parable:

 >> A friend who knocks at the door of his friend at an odd hour in the night, seeking for help  (Lk 11: 5-8)

 The man had an unforeseen guest, and so he went to his friend seeking for help

 

This man had the goodwill to serve his guest…

…but did not have the resources to help. 
 

Very often, we ourselves land up into such situations, isn’t it?

 

We have “guests” coming in different forms….

>> People with problems and difficulties who approach us for help and assistance 

>> Moments of uncertainty and insecurity that diverts our minds to it 

>> Situations of sicknesses or crisis which seek our attention
In all those situations, we ask ourselves: “What can I do?”
But we need to realise and be convinced: “The best thing a Christian can do… is to pray!” 

In all moments of hardships and difficulties…

… we need to rush to God, our Great Neighbour and cry out to Him, “A friend has come, and I have nothing to set before him.“

 
Such moments become occasions when we realise…

… Necessity for God and Dependence of God are two essential constituents of Prayer

We thus become Persons of Prayer…

… the more we sense the need for God in our life and the more we depend on Him

… the more we know that God is everything for us and the more we know He knows what’s best for us!

Of course, it does not mean that God, our Great neighbour, is sleeping and that He has to be awakened from his slumber… 

… or that He has to be forced to render us help.

The point of the parable is that: When we realise we have a Friend Who is most needed for me and on Whom I can depend on…

… Whatever be the time of my life, I will go to Him

… Whatever be the situation I face in life, I present myself to Him

Thus prayer becomes…

… not simply an exercise or an obligation to be fulfilled

… not simply a remedial measure in our moments of struggle

But prayer becomes…

… a time of sharing and presenting ourselves, always,  to the Lord seeking His Will 

 

… a moment when we love the Lord more and perceive His plan for us in our life

… a time of self-introspection to weed away anything unbecoming of His Love

The Lord is a Loving Father, Who loves our prayer not because of hard-heartedness..

… but because He thirsts that we spend more time with Him, in His presence!
God’s Love for us… is and ought to become the greatest reason for us to pray!
And so Jesus says, “Ask, Seek and Knock” (Lk 11: 9)

>> Ask… to come to know that we depend on God for everything

>> Seek… to continually declare that we wish His Will to be done in our lives

>> Knock… to surrender ourselves to Him knowing that He is always available for us!
Prayer, is thus, always influential and transformative…

… making us to bend our wills to His Will

… causing us to amend our ways, to have our lives resonant with His Will

Yes, if we are sincere in our prayers to Him… 

>> “He will take from us the desire for what is contrary to His Will…

… and give us Faith and Hope, to leave all to His Holy Will!”

Let us give to the words of St Teresa of Avila: 

“Provided that we don’t give up, the Lord will guide everything for our benefit…!

There is no other remedy for this evil of giving up prayer than to begin again!” 

May the Lord help us to grow in our understanding of prayer and to always be Persons of Prayer!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

One of the most baffling and mysterious aspect in our world…

… is the active & dynamic presence of evil in this world. 

Today the Lord Jesus ventures into opening His mind on this crucial Reality of our lives….
A couple of days back, we were with the Generous Sower, who was madly liberal in sowing on different types of soil and which had their corresponding results (Mt 13: 1-9)

 

Today, we are back to the field…. 

>> But our deliberation is not on the Sower or the Seeds…

… but on the presence of Weeds among the Wheat (Mt 13:24-30)
Let the botany in us, focus today on The Weeds…. the Irritable Weeds!

Botanically named Lolium temulentum, the weeds are also called Darnel or Tares.

>> These weeds have a characteristic of making one feel poisoned with drunkenness, when consumed.  
They also have the deceptive characteristic of bearing a close resemblance to Wheat.

>> In fact, these weeds are also called as False Wheat!
So the enemy in the parable…is a Learned Deceiver!
He sows this deceptive and misleading weed among the innocent and harmless wheat!
But the Lord, the Ultimate Judge gives out a strong, yet strange command:

“Let the weeds not be pulled up, lest the wheat be uprooted with them; let them just grow together until harvest!” (Mt 13:29-30) 

>> Some mysteries in life cannot  be fully understood…

… but is to be boldly lived!
>> Some struggles in life cannot be totally eliminated…

… but is to be bravely challenged!
>> Some problems in life cannot be completely solved…

but is to be fearlessly encountered!

Here is another hard reality to be digested: “God uses the very wickedness and injustices of evildoers to perfect his Elect.”

The triumph and prosperity of the wicked are short-lived…

…whereas the reward of the Christian who suffers from their wickedness is everlasting. 
That’s a hard and unpopular and even impractical statement, right? 

>> But Facts remain facts –  we consent or not!

 

This leads us to a vital aspect of our Practical Christian Living: To be Patient with ourselves and with others… 

… in dealing with sin

… with evil tendencies

… with horrifying obsessions

… with unacceptable practices

… with unalterable addictions

… and with abominable disgraces. 
Often…

… we bite our teeth in anger glaring at the inhumanness in our society and the world

… we lose our cool in finding ourselves to be imperfect and sinful even after years of trying 

… we go mad in encountering silly disputes and indifferences in our families & communities

… we have our blood boiling seeing the various scandals and shameful  incidents in the Church
But the Lord says.. “Hold On”…. 
Surely, we have our emotions and feelings when we come across unjust situations..
But the Lord says:

” Do your best…and leave the rest to Me!

 Aim for perfection….but give not into despair because of devastations!”

This certainly is no excuse for us to deny our duty and responsibility…

… and even the obligation to seek to avoid wickedness and dissuade evil practices.
But we may never find ourselves in PERFECT elimination of evil and sinful behaviours…

…either in our personal life, or societal life or even in the life of the Church. 
The Ultimate Eliminator is the Lord Himself…

>> The Perfect Vanquisher is the Lord Himself! 

>> The Supreme Conqueror is the Lord Himself!

 
Are all these too abstract, theoretical & impractical talks?

… NO! 

St Paul gives an assurance in Romans 8:26-27:

The Spirit comes to our aid in our weaknesses. He Himself will intercede for us, when we co-operate with Him.” 
God, who is all-powerful shares His Omnipotence with us…

… in the Holy Sacraments, in Prayer, in the Bible and in the Church.
Let us have recourse to this power of God, and be strengthened in our lives!
Let us try to do our utmost…

… but let us also permit to encounter disappointments…! 
Let us strive for the finest…

… but let us fret not too much over failures and frustrations…! 
The Lord knows all

>> HE sees all

>> HE has the perfect solution to all. 

St Faustina says: “Our sins and weaknesses and miseries are like little sticks, before the burning furnace of the Love of God”. 
Let us throw our little sticks into this burning furnace…

>> Let God be God in our Lives – the Ultimate Judge and Defeater of all Evil!” 

God Bless! Live Jesus!

– Fr Jijo Manjackal MSFS

  Bengaluru, India

And near Him I always will be, For nothing can keep me away…He is my destiny! 
I will follow Him…

Ever since He touched my heart, I knew 
There isn’t an ocean too deep, A mountain so high it can keep 

Keep me away, away from His love 

–  Lyrics from the song, “I will follow Him” from the movie “Sister-Act”
Love is a powerful force.

>> Love is stronger even than death! 
The Lord is the greatest lover of our hearts…and He seeks to be loved by us too….

>>He has touched our hearts in some way…and He longs for our response of love!
Today we celebrate the Feast of one such person who deeply loved the Lord – St Mary Magdalene. 

Mary Magdalene is probably most well-known for false details and unproven facts in her life. 
She is also often identified and confused with the other Marys in the Bible…

…. in being a former prostitute

… in being the sinful woman who wiped the feet of Jesus etc

We shall drop short of discussing these scholarly stuff…

>> Instead, let us simply reflect with St Mary Magdalene and seek to grow in Love of the Lover of our Hearts!

One of the unanimous aspects that all agree is the fact that the Bible presents St Mary Magdalene as a woman who loved Jesus intensely and passionately.
She teaches us remarkable things for each one of us to Love the Lord deeper:
1. St Mary Magdalene Followed Him

Luke 8:2 presents Mary Magdalene as having been cured of seven demons. 
Her experience of the Healing of the Lord, made her to Follow Jesus, in His ministry of preaching and healing. 
Am I following the Lord? 
I have experienced the power of the Lord…on many occasions, especially through the Sacraments in the Church 

>> But do I truly follow the Lord?

2. St Mary Magdalene was Persistent to seek Him

The Death of her Lord had rocked Mary Magdalene…

… and she persistently sought, in the tomb where Jesus was laid.
Even though she witnessed an empty tomb, her heart longed to see the Saviour…”so she stayed outside the tomb weeping”(Jn 20:11). 
Am I persistent to seek the Lord? 
I may often have setbacks in my prayer life, work situations & aspirations. 

>> But do I still persist in seeking the Lord? 

3. St Mary Magdalene was Single-hearted in her search for Him

In her search for Jesus, whom she misunderstood as a gardener, Mary Magdalene expresses her sincerity and frankness and single-mindedness :

“Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.” (Jn 20:15)

 

She seeks no empty phrases or consolations…but the Lord alone!  

>> Nothing and none else could suffice her… but the Lord alone!
Am I single-hearted in my search for the Lord? 

I am sometimes content with fleeting pleasures, transitory consolation and momentary comforts in my spiritual life. 

>> Do I rather be single-hearted in my longing for the Lord?

4. St Mary Magdalene was enthusiastic about Him

Once she recognized the ordinary gardener as her Precious Master, Mary Magdalene is enthusiastic and fervent about Him. 

>> Nothing can stop her from proclaiming Him.
In words of St Bernard, “she became an apostle to the Apostles”. 
Am I enthusiastic in my life? 

As a Christian, I have in me the influencing, the powerful and the salvific good news of the Lord. 

>> Am I enthusiastic in sharing about the Lord to others? 

St Mary Magdalene has much to teach us…

… in loving the Lord more honestly and giving ourselves to Him more faithfully!
Let us learn from…

… her committed following of Jesus,

… her persistence in waiting for Jesus

… her single-heartedness in searching for Jesus

… and her enthusiasm in telling others about Jesus. 
St. Mary Magdalene holds a unique place in the history of Jesus. 
The One who rose from the grave of death, appeared first to her…

…  who herself had experienced a rising from the grave of sin!
She was the first to see him alive and the first to hear his voice. 

>> She became the first evangelist in Christian history.
She is the Mourner who turned into a Missionary! 

Let us passionately love the Lord, like St Mary Magdalene… 

… ‘cos there isn’t an ocean too deep, a mountain so high it can keep 

keep us away, away from His love!

Happy Feast of Tender Love and Mercy to all! 

God Bless! Live Jesus!

– Fr Jijo Manjackal MSFS

  Bengaluru, India

Let’s begin our reflection today with one verse prior…
Jesus in Mt 13:9 says: “He who has ears, let him hear!”

>> Two ones are two… Two twos are four… Two threes are six… Two fours are eight… two fives are ten…. 
Remember having learnt the multiplication table by constant, loud repeating until you knew them by heart? 
>> When we hear what we say, it gets into our heart

.. It’s vital to hear well, so that it  gets drilled into our heart! 
It is interesting to notice how the Bible often uses some part of the human body to make an important spiritual observation or illustrate an principal Biblical truth – “He who has ears, let him hear!”
“God has given us two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we talk.” 

The Bible talks in many places about this very practical and crucial habit of listening. 
Jesus, the teacher-par-excellence, reminds His listeners to become aware of the Importance of hearing…and hearing it fully and well!

Jesus lived in times when technological advancements were still a distant reality. 

>> Memory Chips, Recording Devices, Video Capturing Units were nowhere in use. 
To Communicate a message and instill it in the memory of the people was not an easy task…. 

>> But Jesus is the great illustrator..the Master Story Teller!

He loved to use common and practical examples to get His point through…

>> He would see the field…

… and proclaim the Parable of the Sower and related parables…. 
>> He would see the sheep…

… and enlighten with the Parable of the Good Shepherd…
>> He would see the vineyard…

… and impart the Parable of the Vineyard…
>> He would see the many day-to-day items…

… and convey the Parables of the Mustard Seed, the Salt, the Light, the Leaven, the Hidden Treasure, the Lost Coin….etc….

 

Jesus painted pictures in the minds of His listeners…….A classical artist indeed!
But why Parables? 
Jesus says, “Because knowledge of the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven has been granted to you, but not to them!” and quotes Isaiah, “they look but they do not see and hear but do not listen or understand!”

Is Jesus wanting to keep the people away from believing?

>> Certainly No! 

Let us look to Prophet Isaiah to get clarity on this verse… 
Prophet Isaiah was ridiculed and mocked by his listeners for being too plain and simple in his message!

His critics in fact, even accuse him of talking childish language:

“Who is it he is trying to teach?

To whom is he explaining his message? 

To children weaned from their milk, to those just taken from the breast??” ( Is 28:9)
And despite this simple and plain talk, his listeners failed to listen…they became hard-hearted!
This was the kind of reaction that the Pharisees and Scribes also gave to Jesus and His Teachings.
It is in answer to their cold response, that Jesus quotes prophet Isaiah: “You shall indeed hear but not understand.. you shall indeed look, but never see!”
>> What a pity….when we hear…

… and yet pretend not to have heard! 
>> What a tragedy…when we see…

… and act as if we are blind!
It happens all too often in our lives too.

>> We know….

• Smoking is dangerous to health . .  .but people still puff up their lives in smoke!

• Drinking is harmful to good living… but people drink away their lives down the drain!

• Seat belts and helmets save lives… but people don’t use and risk their lives in accidents!
>> We know, yet we fail to act… 

>> We hear, yet we are deaf…

>> We see, yet we are blind…

Our Conscience acts similar…. 

 The first time we do something we know is wrong, we feel a stab, warning us… 

 The next time we do the same wrong thing, the stab becomes a little less intense…. 

 But if we continue in this way, our conscience becomes deadened and we no longer feel any guilt at all… 
As Jesus spoke Parables to unbelievers, they resisted His message and their hearts became more hardened!

  
>> To those who are open to the truth…to those who are spiritually eager…

… the Parables are a great teaching. 
>> But to those closed in their minds…to those inflated in pride… 

.. the Parables are mere kids stories to be discarded!

Jesus wants us to hear…and know..and discover Him! 
>> Are I really hearing? 

>> Am I really seeing? 

>> Am I really open to discover the Divine Truths?

God Bless! Live Jesus!

– Fr Jijo Manjackal MSFS

  Bengaluru, India

If variety is the spice of life…

… simplicity is the essence of life. 
If humour is the flavour of life…

… simplicity is the base of life.
If cheerfulness is the seasoning in life…

… simplicity is the spirit of life!
Simple things, always go a long way in life…, isn’t it?
Our God is the God of Simplicity.

>> He is the God of small things! 

The Lord of Simplicity and Smallness loves to expound His beautiful and profound teaching of the Kingdom of God through the simple and small objects of life…..

In today’s Gospel, a Mighty Teaching is delivered through the medium of..

… the Tiny seed

… the insignificant soil

…  and the unnoticed Sower!

Certain simple things of life remain in the background, until a strong gaze is fixed on them…

….to realize its worth and importance. 
Is this not true even in our day to day lives?

>> The simple acts of sacrifice and love done by the members of the family

>> The unseen efforts of a number of workers ensuring cleanliness and safety in society

>> The quiet acts of service rendered by those working in our institutions and places of work

… all these simple aspects of life often remain forgotten and unrecognized, unless we consciously make an effort to remember and thank them!

And so today’s Gospel begins with the verse…” A Sower went out to sow and as he sowed….”

… Full Stop! 
We don’t hear of this Sower anymore in the Parable.

>> There is much written on the type of soil…

>> There in enough written on seeds that are broadcasted…

>> There is a fair mention also of the produce… 

… But what about the  Sower? 
So, today, let’s focus the camera of our reflection today….on the generally unnoticed Sower…

 

This Sower has a stand out quality:

He is…

… lavish in His generosity

… extravagant in His big-heartedness 

… and sumptuous in His Kindness! 
Though seasoned in His profession of sowing the Seeds, the Sower, bountifully, broadcasts the Seeds on all sorts of soil… 
Look closer…. 

>> He doesn’t make an account of the number of seeds lost…

>> He doesn’t tally the wastage that will be incurred…

>> He doesn’t bill the produce that will result… 
He just does one thing… HE SOWS! 
Is HE mad??
Seems so!
A Mad Sower….!

… A Sower Who is mad in being extremely generous, lavish and extravagant!
Who is this Sower?

>> God
The Sower is God, Who is Mad …

… Mad for His children, by sowing the seeds of Mercy and Love, generously!

… Mad for His people, by sowing the seeds of Forgiveness and Acceptance, lavishly!

… Mad for His loved ones, by sowing the seeds of His Grace and His Spirit, extravagantly!

Now, how many of us can be like that? 
>> Do we sow…

… when a loss is bound to happen as per human calculations?
>> Do we sow honesty and truthfulness…

… even if birds of injustice devour all our good intentions? 
>> Do we sow good initiatives…

… even if there is no reward and all our endeavours are being choked? 
>> Do we sow a kind word…

…  even if we know that bad words will scorch our pure purpose?
>> Do we sow a loving action…

…  even though the reaction is always tepid and cold and even adverse?
>> Do we sow help and co-operation…

…  in spite of the fact that no one will appreciate our good works? 
>> Do we sow a forgiving smile & a reconciling gesture…

… though we are deeply hurt & even wounded?
>> Do we sow an attitude of deep trust & confidence…

… although things are totally topsy-turvy in life? 

The Sower, in the Parable, however, continued to Sow…..

>> He knows… “As the rains and the snow come down from the heavens and do not return, till they have watered the earth………the Seed will not return idle, but will accomplish the purpose for which it has been sown!” (Cf. Is 55:10-11)
Truly…

… Sowing is not a very easy task

…Sowing is not a rewarding enterprise!
But today, the Divine Sower, who is madly generous, dares us to join Him in Sowing!

Yes, it’s a Simple Spirituality… 

>>  Simply Sow, so as to Serve the Society, with Satisfaction and Serenity!

Are we willing to Simply Sow, with the Divine Sower, in his Mad Generosity? 
God Bless! Live Jesus! 
– Fr Jijo Manjackal MSFS

  Bengaluru, India

A lady once remarked to her spiritual guide, ” I am very afraid to pray, ‘Thy Will be done'”
“And why is that so?”, asked the guide.

 

“I am afraid…”, continued the lady, “… that God will bring some calamity to my only child or send me a heavy trial in life”
The spiritual guide, having patiently listened to her, replied: 

“Suppose if your beloved child comes to you and says, ‘Mummy, here after, I want to always do whatever you say and live as you will…’
Would you say to yourself…

 ‘Ah! Here is my chance!

>> I will make my child to do all the harsh things.

>> I will make use of his willingness to obey me, by cutting off all his pleasures

>> I will make sure he has a tough time because anyway he will do whatever I say”
“Oh no!” answered back the mother, ” I will give him the best possible things that I can. I will make sure that he is protected from every danger. 

>> I will do anything to ensure him true happiness!”
” And do you think…,” continued the spiritual guide, “Do you think that God is less loving than you?”

The will of every human parent is to ensure the best for their children, isn’t it?
>> How much more loving and caring is the Will of the Father!

“God’s Will” is best understood in the set-up of a family…
Even in a human family…

… Every member wishes that the other is taken care

… Every member seeks for the good of the other
How much more is the love and concern in the Family of God…

… to all those who seek to do the Will of the Father?!

 

Jesus, in today’s Gospel invites each of us to be part of the Family of God…

… by doing the Will of the Father.
Our Blessed Lord says, “For whoever does the Will of My Heavenly Father, is My brother and sister and mother” (Mt 12: 50)

The passage begins with the family of Jesus waiting to see Him…

“While Jesus was still speaking, behold, His Mother and His brothers stood outside, asking to speak to Him” ( Mt 12: 46) 
This is a passage that is often used to attack the position of the Catholic Church on Mary.
>> Many misinterpret this passage to mean that Mary was out of the Family of God

>> Many wrongly consider this passage to mean that Mary had other sons, referred to as ‘brothers’

We take a short apologetic approach to our Bible passage today….
1. Who are the brothers mentioned here?

There are about ten instances in the New Testament where “brothers” and “sisters” of the Lord are mentioned 
The term used for ‘brother’ in Greek is “adelphos”
“Adelphos”  can mean…

… a biological brother

… an extended relative

… or even a spiritual brother
The languages – Hebrew and Aramaic (the language spoken by Jesus) –  did not have a special word for “cousin”

>> The writers of the New Testament used the Aramaic equivalent of “brothers” to mean both cousins and sons of the same father—plus other relatives and even non-relatives. 
When the Old Testament was translated into Greek and the New Testament written in Greek, the word “Adelphos” was used to capture all of these meanings.

Further,  the Gospels are  clear that Mary was a virgin at the time she conceived Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit  (cf. Mt 1:18-25, Lk 1:26-38). 
After the birth of Jesus, no mention is made of Mary and Joseph ever having other children.

>>  Never does the Gospels refer to the “sons of Mary” or “a son of Mary,” but only “The Son of Mary.”
We also see that at the Crucifixion, Jesus entrusts His Blessed Mother to John, who was not his blood-brother  (Jn 19: 25-27)

>> According to Jewish law, the oldest son had the responsibility of caring for the widowed mother, and that responsibility would pass to the next oldest if anything happened to the first-born son

>> Since Jesus, “the first-born”, had no “blood brother,” He entrusted His Mother to the care of St John, His Beloved Disciple. 

 

Thus, the Catechism of the Catholic Church clarifies ” the brothers of Jesus”….

” The Church has always understood these passages as not referring to other children of the Virgin Mary.

In fact James and Joseph, “brothers of Jesus”, are the sons of another Mary, a disciple of Christ, whom St. Matthew significantly calls “the other Mary”.

>> They are close relations of Jesus, according to an Old Testament expression.” ( CCC #500)
2. Was Mary only the ‘biological’ Mother of Jesus?

Jesus said, “Whoever does the Will of My Father in Heaven, is my…. Mother!” (Mt 12: 50)

>> Did Mary fulfil this call of Jesus? 
When we scan through the pages of the New Testament, we find, that perhaps no other person fulfilled the Will of the Father as perfectly as Mary
Mary was Blessed indeed…

>> Not just because she gave a physical birth to Jesus…

… but also because She listened and lived the Will of the Father!
She is blessed…

… because She listened to God’s Word and accepted it wholeheartedly.

… because She chose to put Her faith in God, though the path ahead was dim 

… because She was obedient to God’s Will, though She did not understand many things”
>> As St. Irenaeus says:

 “Being obedient, She became the cause of salvation for Herself and for the whole human race.”

The knot of Eve’s disobedience was untied by Mary’s obedience

>> What Eve bound through her disbelief, Mary loosened by Her faith”
Mother Mary is the first Evangelizer and the first Disciple of Her own Son and Lord, Jesus the Christ!
Mother Mary is thus, not just the biological Mother of Jesus…

… by doing the Will of the Father perfectly, She is also His Spiritual Mother!

As St Maximilian Kolbe says, “If anyone does not wish to have Mary Immaculate for his Mother, he will not have Christ for his Brother!”

Yes, doing the Will of the Father…

… is the DNA that joins all the members of the Family of God

… is the sole and mandatory criteria to be part of the Family of God

We may have our fears in doing His Will….

 

But let us realise, that the Will of Father is wrapped with much love and affection…

… there is a tenderness in His Will, that ensures each of us, His children are protected!

… there is a warmth in His Will, that makes sure that we, His children are always given the best!
Jesus is our Supreme Model and Leader in listening and living the Will of the Father

>> Mother Mary is our Beloved Mother and Perfect Disciple, Who followed Her Son wholly, in obedience to the Will of the Father!

>> Many saints and holy people also show us, by their sanctified lives that it is worth, meaningful and salvific to do the Will of the Father!
All of them beckon us: 

“Come be part of the Family of God…

>> Listen always to what God wants of you in your life

>> Ask Him, at all times, what you should be doing in life

>> Put your trust in His Power and Providence, when you do His Will!”

Are we willing to be members of this Family of God?

… Then we need to be ready to do the Will of the Father!
God Bless! Live Jesus!

– Fr Jijo Manjackal MSFS

  Bengaluru, India

Thriller movies have a great audience…

>> Reality Shows have a wide range of popularity. 

>> Programmes with sensational appeal have a massive demand. 
Our generation loves to be tingled with breathtaking visuals and magnificent signs. 
Check out the number of videos and movies and songs we have on our gadgets… 

>> Look at the wide range of photos that we shoot and the selfies we click… 

 (most of them, which perhaps never we may see again!) 
The demand of our external senses is very high in our generation…
A fallout of this excess is also reflected in our Spirituality and our Religious Outlook: 

“We seek for greater external signs and wondrous miracles, even to believe in God!”

And the Lord thunders in today’s Gospel Reading, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks a sign…” (Mt 12: 39a)

Signs are not bad. 

>> Symbols are not without meaning. 

>> External expressions are not unwarranted. 
They certainly do have their proper place and a meaningful nature. 
In fact, the Bible is not alien to signs and wonders… 

 Moses’ rod became a serpent; 

 The Red Sea parted so that God’s people could cross. 

 Water flowed from a rock when Moses struck it. 

 Manna fell from the sky to feed God’s people. 

 Baalam’s ass spoke. 

 Aaron ‘s rod blossomed. 

 The sun stood still at Joshua’s command. 

 Gideon’s fleece became wet and dry according to his request to the Lord. 

 Elijah pronounced a drought upon the land… And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain … ” 
The examples are plenty more…….. 

 

But…

>> When outward signs fail to generate any positive emotions…

… they divorce from their intention
>> When signs stop being an aid to increase in faith…

… they lose their meaning 
>> When symbols cease to be a passage for inner understanding…

… they fail in their purpose

This is the reason that Jesus condemns the Pharisaic mentality of ‘Seeking for a Sign’!

 

>> They sought a sign … in order to test…

… but not to believe!
>> They asked a sign… in order to satisfy curiosity…

… but not to trust!
They demanded a sign… in order to scheme evil talks…

… but not to have faith!
Signs become mere external fancies. 

>> Miracles become mere magic shows

The Gospels are not alien to such false and untrue demands either… 

• At the Birth of Jesus, King Herod sought to see Baby Jesus…not to worship…but to kill Him! 

• At the Temptation, Satan tempted to change stones to bread….not to believe…but to lure Him! 

• At the Trial, King Herod Antipas hoped Him to perform a sign…not to save Him..but to mock Him!
Jesus condemns all such unnecessary demands for a sign and external phenomenon. 

“…but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah the Prophet!” (Mt 12: 39b)

>> The Prophets of Old, performed many miracles. 

… Jesus also did. 
>> The Prophets of Old, even performed the great miracles of raising the Dead.

… Jesus also did. 
>> The Prophets of Old, were never able to raise themselves from the dead. 

… But Jesus rose!

Jonah was three days and nights in the belly of the fish…

… so was Jesus in the belly of the earth! 

>> But Jesus rose…

… and that has become indeed, the Greatest Sign of all times!

The Pharisees demanded a sign…

….Jesus answered with a sign

>> The greatest of them all: His Resurrection!

And yet……yet, DID THEY BELIEVE? 

>> The answers can be speculated. 

But the question is: Am  I believing?

>> Am  I believing and living, the Power of the Resurrection in my life? 

Have I reduced the reality of Jesus being Alive, to a mere expression of the lips? 

>> Do I also display this Sign in my life, my activities, my words etc –  that Jesus is Risen?!

Let us not be carried away by mere External Glitz and Glamour… 

>> Let us open our eyes to see the many wonders and miracles the Lord has worked in our lives! 

>> Let us become aware to see that He is Risen, and Alive and Working…

… in amazing ways in our Life!

God Bless! Live Jesus!
– Fr Jijo Manjackal MSFS

  Bengaluru, India

Nine year old Bobby arrived late for the football match.

>> The game had already started. 
The coach, obviously upset as Bobby was a key player, shouted at him: “Why are you so late?”
“I had to decide”, replied Bobby, ” Today is a Sunday. And I had to decide between going to Church and going for this football game”
“Then what did you do” asked the coach curiously

> > “I tossed a coin to decide” said Bobby.
“Tossed a coin?” asked the surprised coach, “But that shouldn’t have taken too long.”
“Hmmm…” continued Bobby, “Well… I had to toss the coin 35 times!”
(Little Bobby kept on tossing the coin…till he got what he wanted – i.e. to go for the football match!!)

How often are we too like Li’l Bobby, when it comes to making choices and priorities, especially in our spiritual life…
We get confused in choosing the correct choices

>> We get puzzled in preferring the proper priorities
We sometimes even seek to justify our choices and argue to validate our priorities

>> We insist on having our way… mould situations to suit our needs!

>> As a result, we often end up….

… in complaining and cribbing

… in back biting and bickering

… in criticism and calumny

 

The Gospel of the Day is a lesson in making the proper priorities and the correct choices in life.
We have the familiar incident of Jesus as a guest in the house of Martha and Mary. 
Jesus came to a village and was welcomed in the house of Martha and Mary (Lk 10:38)
Martha demonstrated great hospitality by welcoming Jesus into the home (Lk 10: 40)

>> She got busy with the tasks of serving their honoured Guest.

Mary, on the other side, displayed great devotion and love, by sitting at the feet of Jesus (Lk 10: 39) 

>> She got immersed in spending time, with the revered Rabbi.
The character of Martha is vividly seen in this incident
Here is a lady…

… hospitable and welcoming

… engaging in works to make the stay of her Guest comfortable

… ready to struggle and do whatever she can, to bring happiness to the Other
Many of us could probably identify ourselves with Martha.
>> We are willing to let go of our self so that others may enjoy and feel contented

>> We engage ourselves into works so that the life of our loved ones are taken care

>> We are ready to struggle and do whatever we can, to bring joy and comfort to others
But despite doing all these hard works, like Martha, we often end up on the wrong side
When Martha complained to Jesus, ” Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving?” (Lk 10: 40)

… she was expressing her feelings of being over burdened

… she was giving vent to her emotions of not being acknowledged 
But Jesus calms her, and chides her mildly, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and anxious about many things…” (Lk 10: 41)

Something interesting is to be noted here…. “Martha, Martha!”

>> A double calling of the name!
The Scripture records only very few instances when such an occurrence took place – the name being called twice…

>>Abraham: (Gen 22:11): “But the angel of the Lord called to him out of heaven: ‘Abraham, Abraham.’ He answered, ‘Here I am.'”

>> Jacob (Gen 46:2): “In a vision at night God called to Israel, ‘Jacob, Jacob.’ He answered, ‘Here I am.'” 

>> Moses (Ex 3:4): “When the Lord saw that he had gone over to see, God called him from the middle of the bush, ‘Moses, Moses.’ He answered, ‘Here I am.'”

>> Samuel (1 Sam 3:10): “The Lord came and stood and spoke as at the other times: ‘Samuel, Samuel.’ and Samuel said, ‘Speak, your servant is listening.'”

 

>> Simon Peter (Lk 22:31) “Simon, Simon! Behold, Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, but I have prayed that your own faith may not fail.

>> Saul (Acts 9:4) “Falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?”
We also find another important instance: Jesus calling on God (Mt 27:46): “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani  – My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
What does the twice calling of the name in the Bible refer to?

1. Repeating a person’s name was a Hebrew expression of intimacy

2. In all the instances of the name being called twice, a major event/occasion/teaching was being referred to

Taking a cue from this…

…When Jesus calls “Martha, Martha” – the name being called twice:

>> Jesus is expressing a filial tenderness and love for Martha

>> Jesus is also referring to an important teaching:  “Giving importance to Jesus above all”

To each of us then, who find ourselves, struggling and complaining like Martha…

>> The Lord calls our name – “probably twice ” – and tells us:

“With much tenderness and love, I invite you my child, to give heed to an important teaching:

… Give priority to ME above all!”

Like Martha, maybe we are often distracted
Perhaps…

>>> We tell the Lord that we wish to follow Him wholeheartedly…

… but are sometimes unwilling to let go of our sinful behaviours
>> We promise God that we would spend more time in prayer…

… but often excuses like lack of time prevent us from fulfilling our promises
>> We resolve that we will let go our sinful habits and tendencies…

… but often we cling on to those pleasures and fail to be more determined in rooting them out

Today, let us give heed to this invitation of the Lord: “To give priority to HIM above all!”
Surely, all of us do have…

… our own works and responsibilities

… our own cares and concerns of life

… our own distractions and troubles
But in the midst of all this…. beyond all these aspects: Let us give priority to the Lord!

>> Let His presence reign…in our work and responsibilities

>> Let His Providence be trusted… in our cares and concerns of life

>> Let His Power prevail… in our distractions and troubles
Let the incident of Martha and Mary inspire us, to make personal resolutions…

… of daily spending time with the Lord in personal prayer

… of daily reading the Word of God and listening to His Voice

… of daily making an examination of conscience and amending our lives
The Lord loves us much…. 

… let us love Him too

… let Him reign over our homes and our lives

… let us give Him full attention as The Guest of our hearts

 
Situations in life will often put to us dilemma in making a choice…in picking out our priorities

 >> “Let us always give priority to the Lord”!

Are we going to toss a coin for this?

God Bless! Live Jesus!
– Fr Jijo Manjackal MSFS

  Bengaluru, India