Jan 27 (Mk 4:1-20)

Fr Jijo Manjackal MSFS1 Comment

Mr. Bhola was getting late to office…

As he was getting ready and keeping his file and office bag ready… he called out to his wife, who was inside the kitchen, preparing breakfast:
” Please get me my tie!”

He continued to get ready and as he began to tie his shoes, he called out, little more loudly,  to his wife who had not responded to him yet:
” Would you please get me my tie?!”

Bhola was by now dressed up, but his wife had not responded yet…

Irritated, he went into the kitchen and screamed at her:
“Can’t you hear what I said? Please get me my tie!!”

His wife, turned around, and in a louder voice, shouted back:
“And for the third time, I am also telling you… Your tie is ready on the table!!”

Feeling embarassed, Bhola realised his mistake…

>> It was not his wife who did not hear…
… it was he, who did not hear!

It was not his wife who was short of listening…
… it was he, who was short of listening!

>> Very often, listening becomes a problem for us…
>> Very often, we get short of hearing properly…

Does the same happen in our life, with respect to God’s voice?

The Gospel of the Day is a call to hear properly God’s Word and receive His message into our hearts.

The Lord is beside the Sea of Galilee…
>> A very large crowd of people have gathered around Him…

Jesus, during the course of His instructions and teachings said, “Listen!” (Mk 4:3)

The people have a gathered together in a big crowd…
>> There were probably some, who were not able to get a proper sitting place…
>> There were probably many children and mothers who had to take care of their kids…
>> There were probably many sick eagerly waiting for the gracious words of the Lord…

The atmosphere would have been a bit chaotic.
>> The situation would have been a bit restless.
>> The circumstance would have been a bit noisy.

It’s in this muddled, disordered and disorganized setting, that the Lord thunders: “LISTEN!”

The voice of the Lord addresses to us at very many moments in life.
>> His sweet gentle tone speaks to us occasionally…
>> His melodious pleasant expression converses to us many times…

But am I really listening?
>> Am I giving heed to His voice?

Our ‘listening mentality’ could be classified similar to the four types of soil that Jesus mentions in the Parable of the Sower…

•       Like the soil on the wayside, we could be a “passive and unprepared listener”…
… disinterested and uncaring for God’s Words
… unmindful of any consequence or loss of God’s inspirations
… lethargic and careless about many of God’s graces and favours

•       Like the soil on the rock, we could be an “overenthusiastic yet foundationless listener”…
… showing immediate but highly temporary reaction to Godly experiences
… finding only instant gratification and satisfaction in being a devotee of God
… making great plans and resolutions, but hardly translated to real actions

•       Like the soil among thorns, we could be a “distracted and unconvinced” listener…
… confused with many pleasurable activities and diverting matters
… easily wavered by contrasting Gospel messages and inauthentic teachings
… unable to discern between true and false exhortations of faith and beliefs

•       Like the soil in a good place, we could be an “attentive and focused” listener…
… eager to act upon God’s word and make them practical in life
… keen and excited to share the saving message of Christ to other people
… passionate and zealous to become sharers of the Good News of the Lord

The Lord today invites us to become active, attentive, focused and alert listeners.

>> Let us not be short to hear…
>> Let us not be hard of listening…

Instead…

>> Let us seek to listen…
… to the Lord with a deeper longing and interest.
… to His Will with an intensified love and affection.

God Bless! Live Jesus!

Jan 26 ( Lk 10:1-9)

Fr Jijo Manjackal MSFSLeave a comment

Arabian horses are made to go through painstaking and meticulous training in the dry deserts of the Middle East.

One of the most important aspects that the trainers expect from the horses is of “absolute obedience”.

The final test to assess their level of obedience is quite extreme…

The trainers compel the horses to be without water for many days.

A few days later, they turn the horses loose towards a pool of water…
>> The highly thirsty, parched and dehydrated horses, of course start running towards it.

But just as they get to the edge, ready to plunge in and drink, the trainer blows his whistle.
>> Screech….!

The horses are to stop mid-way…

The horses who have been completely trained and who have learned perfect obedience, stop!
>> They turn around and come pacing back to the trainer.
>> They stand there trembling, wanting water… but they wait in perfect obedience.

When the trainer is sure that he has their obedience, he gives them a signal to go back to drink.

>> Complete obedience  from the horses is a sign of their being completely trained.

Well.. this sure sounds hard and severe…
>> But perhaps, we need to learn an important aspect: the need for trustful obedience to our Master!.

•       When we are in the dry deserts of life, we got to be totally obedient to God.
•       When we are in the parched phases of life, we ought to fully heed the voice of the Lord.

The Gospel of the Day is an exhortation by the Lord to listen to Him, to give heed to His Word and to be obedient to Him.

“Jesus appointed seventy (two), whom He sent ahead of Him, in pairs to every town and place He intended to visit” (Lk 10:1)

They were “chosen and appointed”.

>> Why were these chosen?
…and not others?

>> Well… we can only make some guess-works… because the bottom-line is:
“They were ‘chosen'”
Choice is always a gift, and not a merit!
>> This gift cannot be demanded…. it is given by the Lord, out of His Will

Therefore, it demands a sense of “gratitude” and a spirit of “responsibility”!

The choosing of the seventy (two) also reflects Jesus as the New Moses!

Moses had chosen seventy elders.

We read this in the Book of Numbers:
“The LORD said to Moses: “Bring me seventy of Israel’s elders who are known to you as leaders and officials among the people.” (Num 11:16)

The “seventy” were chosen from the elders of the tribes of Israel to assist Moses.
>> They were to become an extension of the work that was entrusted to Moses, by Lord Yahweh

In the Gospels, the seventy (two) disciples are also called, by Jesus, for the similar task:
>> They were to become an extension of the work that was entrusted to Jesus by the Heavenly Father.

In this task of “becoming an extension”, one of the most important essentials was that of “listening to the words of the Master”
>> Obedience to the Word is a necessary criteria to become a true extension of the Lord!

Jesus very specifically lays downs rules and regulations to be followed in their mission journey and task:
“Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and salute no one on the road….” (Lk 10:4)

These exhortations by the Master would cause…
… a sense of insecurity for the disciples
… a feeling a being stranded in the problems that they could encounter.

Yet, the disciples were strongly urged to…
… Listen to His Exhortation
… to Trust in His Providence
… and to be obedient to His Word

•       The disciples were to listen to Jesus, the Beloved Son and grasp His teachings for life
•       The disciples were to listen to Jesus, Beloved Son’s commitment in the path of suffering
•       The disciples were to listen to the Beloved Son’s trust in God’s Will at every moment

Each one of us is called and chosen, as Christians, to be a disciple of Christ – “an extension of the Lord’s tasks in this world” …
… “You did not choose me, but I chose you; and appointed you to go and bear fruit; fruit that will last” (Jn 15:16)

•       Life will take us through many deserts and desolations of difficulties.
•       Life will put us through various storms and hurricanes of hardships.
But in all such moments, are we ready and open to listen to the Voice of the Lord?

Yes, when we are in the dry deserts of life, we better be totally obedient to God.
>> When we are in the parched phases of life, we ought to fully heed the voice of the Lord.

The Lord will take us through…
… every crisis
… every desert
… every darkness
“If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Rom 8: 31)

>> Let us grow in our efforts to be completely obedient to our Master!
>> Let us pray for His grace to be truly listening and following the voice of our Master!

Are we ready to listen and obey the voice of the Lord?

God Bless! Live Jesus!

Jan 24 (Lk 1:1-4, 4:14-21)

Fr Jijo Manjackal MSFSLeave a comment

Tear down this wall!
– These  were the words of Ronald Reagan, President of the USA at a challenging speech, for the reunification of East and West Germany.

November 1989. A historic period in the Life of Germany.
>> For twenty-eight years, a wall had separated East and West Germany…

But finally on November 1989, the wall came down…THE BERLIN WALL!

It was a new beginning… a fresh start…a bright onset!

“Tear down the Walls”… is the cry that emerges from today’s Gospel as well!
>> A new beginning is sought… a fresh start is expected…a bright onset is welcomed!

The Gospel of the day is the inaugural Public Act of Jesus, in the Gospel of St Luke.

The Gospel of the Day from Luke 4:14-21 is a dramatic one..with different actions and expressions of Jesus.
>> These different actions also have its personal implications for us…

1. The Entry of Jesus into the Synagogue.
>> Do I allow the Lord into my life and do I welcome Him?

2. The Rising of Jesus to read
>> Do I enthrone the Lord in my activities and allow Him to be in charge of my works and deeds?

3. The Unscrolling of the book
>> Do I open my heart to the Lord and be totally open to His Word in my life?

4. The Reading of the Passage
>> Do I listen to God’s words and be attentive to the various inspirations and insights He renders me?

5. The Rolling up of the Scroll
>> Do I preserve the Word of God deep in my heart and ponder over it, in the light of my life experiences?

6. The Announcement of Jesus
>> Do I let the Lord to govern in my life by the power of His revelation and give heed to His exhortations?

These dramatic and significant actions of the Lord left the people in the synagogue with a Great Challenge: “To tear down the walls”!

>> Tear down the walls…
… which failed to bring good news to the Poor and liberty to the captives!

>>> Tear down the walls…
… which were preventing to give freedom to the oppressed and sight to the blind!

>>> Tear down the walls…
… which blocked the passage to access to God’s Mercy and Redemption!

>>> Tear down the walls…
… which kept away the Gentiles from receiving the rights and privileges of the saved people!

The dramatic and significant actions of the Lord present before each one of us also with this Great Challenge: “To tear down the walls”!

>> Tear down the walls… of Sin…
… that divide the relationship between God and me!

>>Tear down the walls…of Hatred…
… that divide the members of the society and of a community!

>> Tear down the walls…of Unforgiveness…
… that divide the relationship between my fellow beings and me!

>> Tear down the walls…of Discrimination…
… that divides human beings on the basis of colour, caste and race!

>> Tear down the walls… of Immorality…
… that divides the interior being of a person and leaves one discontented!

>> Tear down the walls…of Indifference…
… that divides the world with a sense of hopelessness and lack of empathy!

>>> Building of walls and division is sometimes a natural offshoot of our egoistic minds and sinful pride …

>>> Building of walls and partitions is sometimes a likely possibility of our individualistic tendencies…

But with the Grace of God combined with our efforts, we can pursue every attempt to Tear down these Walls!

We need a new beginning… a fresh start…a bright onset…

Let us not Reject the Lord..
>>> Rather let us permit Him to Enter..to Rise..to Unscroll..to Read..to Roll..& to Announce His Gospel in our Lives!

May we allow the Lord… to take possession of our lives…and in the process, “Tear Down many Walls”!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

Jan 23 (Mk 3:20-21)

Fr Jijo Manjackal MSFS2 Comments

It was a tense afternoon in the September of the year 1594.

The Bishop of Geneva in France, had convoked a meeting of all his clergy.
>> There was an urgent need for priests to go to a place named Chablais.

Chablais was a territory in Geneva, which had been under political and religious siege.
>> Around fifty priests in this place had been banished.
>> Many churches had been burnt and devastated.

Chablais had become a place of terror for the Catholic Church.
>> This city became infamous for its terrible persecution of the Catholic Faith.

In this horrifying situation, the Bishop of the place had called for a meeting…
… to ask for volunteers to go to this place and renew the faith.

But none came forward…
>> None were willing to risk their lives…

It’s at this point, that there came a gentle yet firm voice:
“My Lord, if you think that I am capable of it, command me, I am ready!”

The voice was of St Francis de Sales.

His own father considered this decision as “utter madness”
>> Perhaps, the other priests and clergy would have also felt this decision as a “crazy one”

The risk of being driven out, failing in his undertaking and of becoming a laughing stock of the world was great indeed.
>> But St Francis de Sales stood firm to His decision.

It was a decision which perhaps…
… defied reasons
… seemed out of senses…

But this decision was to become the turning point of a spiritual revolution!

>> The one who has eyes fixed on one’s goals is indeed a mad person!
>> The one who is filled with God’s love is indeed an obsessed person!
Mad for one’s aim … obsessed in love……passionate about one’s goals!

The Gospel of the Day is also a narrative of the “Mad and Insane” Jesus!

St Mark’s Gospel is pretty straightforward – to the point and blunt in its nature.

The Lord was out to preach and proclaim the Kingdom of Love and Mercy…
•       Broken lives were mended by the balm of His Holiness
•       Ruined minds were revived by the power of His teachings
•       Shattered destinies were made whole by the cure of His touch
•       Hardened hearts were touched by the softness of His presence
•       Ruptured consciences were restored by the gentleness of His love

The crowd following had increased…the popularity ratings had soared!

This however causes a great disturbance and distress in the family of Jesus…
“Again the crowds gathered, making it impossible for them, even to eat.
When His relatives heard of this, they set out to seize Him, for they said, ‘He is out of His mind’ ” (Mk 3: 20-21)

Jesus was labelled as being “out of mind!”
>> Jesus was tagged as being “insane and mad”
>>> Jesus was branded as being “crazy and odd”

The one who is filled with God’s love is indeed an obsessed person!
>> The one who has eyes fixed on one’s goals is indeed a mad person!
Obsessed in love…mad for one’s aim…passionate about one’s goals!

And Jesus was indeed passionate and highly zealous for His mission…
So much so, that even His own relatives misunderstood and mistook Him.
      

The Bible and the Church is a gigantic collection of deeds and acts of such people who were “mad” and who took “crazy” decisions in life…

>>  Abraham  was “crazy” to have faith in God, to have children, even at the ripe old age of hundred!
>> Moses was “mad” to trust God to lead a tiny nation from the clutches of the imposing Egyptian empire!
>>  Mother Mary  was “crazy” to give up her promising life and instead consent to an Angel to become the Mother of God!
>>  St Peter was “mad” to abandon his career and family to follow Jesus for a ministry of unknown and uncertain future!
>> St Paul was “crazy” to undergo tremendous sufferings and agonizing troubles for the sake of the spread of the Gospel!
>>  St Francis De Sales was “crazy” and “mad” to undertake risk of going to the Chablais mission and renew the faith of the people!

When one is really passionate towards one’s mission, there is an element of “craziness”!
>> When one is really zealous about one’s purposes, there is an element of “madness”!

Do I have and reflect this “mad” passion and zeal for God’s love?
… by seeking Him in all our works, activities and plans
… by reaching out His love to the needy and the disadvantaged
… by spreading hope, courage and optimism in this broken world

Let us dare to walk and live the path of the Crucified Lord…
..the One who was called mad and insane
…the One who was misunderstood and unaccepted
Because He chose to live and die for His convictions of Love!

Let us not be worried… let us not be anxious…but trust in our Loving God!

In the words of St Francis De Sales, whose feast we celebrate on the 24th of January:
“God takes pleasure to see you take your little steps; and like a good father who holds his child by the hand, He will accommodate His steps to yours and will be content to go no faster than you.

Why do you worry?”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

Jan 22 (Mk 3:13-19)

Fr Jijo Manjackal MSFS1 Comment

The role of judges in a competition or a contest is known to everybody.

The judge is to make a choice of the outstanding performers.
>> This choice is based on a number of criteria…
>> This choosing is dependent on a number of factors…

The ones who are selected are considered to be the best among the lot!
>> The ones who are chosen are considered to be the finest among them all!

But it’s quite interesting and sometimes even strange, that in the Divine realm, this principle is not followed!

Yes, God’s ways are truly far different from the way of human beings!
>> God’s style is exceedingly distinct from the style of human beings!

>>> God makes His choice…
… on the Single Principle of Love!
… on the Sole Rule of Love!

The Gospel of the Day is a testimony to this fact, when Jesus makes a choice of His disciples.
“Jesus went up to the mountain, and called to Him those whom He desired, and they came to Him” (Mk 3:13)

Another translation would read, “…and summoned to Him those whom He wanted…”

>> The disciples were called because Jesus desired them!
>> The disciples were summoned because Jesus wanted them!

This style of choice is indeed strange and queer, isn’t it?

>> Judges usually select the best and the outstanding…
>> Judges usually choose the finest and the exceptional…
But Jesus, the Judge, seems to be doing it all wrong!

Here is “Project Kingdom” at hand…and Jesus chooses not the best, but the ordinary!

Jesus is out to usher in a Kingdom of healing and many divine works…
>> But Jesus chooses some mundane fishermen for this task!

Jesus is out to usher in a Kingdom of love and detachment…
>> But Jesus chooses some doubtful personalities like tax collectors and lover of money!

Jesus is out to usher in a Kingdom of Divine love and peace…
>> But Jesus chooses some nationalists and zealots!

Yes, God’s ways are truly far different from the way of human beings!
>> God’s style is exceedingly distinct from the style of human beings!

You and Me – as Christians, are also called and chosen!

What was the reason for it?
>>> What was the criteria for God choosing us?

>> Nothing exceptional in us…
>> Nothing spectacular in us…

But simply and purely, His exceptional and spectacular love has chosen us!
>> He chose us simply because He wanted to choose us!
>> He selected us simply because He wanted to select us!

Sounds crazy? Sounds weird?

Well… God’s love and choices are indeed crazy and weird!
>> But they are also full of wisdom and Divine Providence!

Yes, we are called into existence in love, by the One who loves us deeply!

This sole factor can and should be the impelling and encouraging force in our lives!

In moments, when we feel that we are unwanted and unloved…
>> Know and realise, that God has chosen us…in love!

In moments when we feel unequipped and disarmed to undertake some duties and tasks…
>> Know and realise, that God has chosen us…in love!

In moments, when we are broken into despair and rejected into helplessness and loneliness…
>> Know and realise, that God has chosen us…in love!

In moments, when meaning to life is found missing and the future looks too hazy and clouded…
>> Know and realise, that God has chosen us…in love!

>> It may be easy for us to write reflections on God’s love…
>> It may be not too hard a task for us to preach on God’s love…
But deep within… can we know and experience, for sure.. that God’s Love encompasses us!

He simply loves us!
>> He simply loves to lavish His affections on us!

There can be no greater personal revelation for us than to know and experience that We are loved and chosen by God!
There can be no greater personal satisfaction and happiness for us, than to live for and be passionate about this deep, personal and intimate love and choice of God!

Today, let us renew our commitment and zeal to this Love of the Lord!

He is calling us once again… in love..
…to be His disciples
…to be close to Him
…to be part of His Project Kingdom
…to be partakers of His mission in this world

God Bless! Live Jesus!

Jan 21 (Mk 3:7-12)

Fr Jijo Manjackal MSFS2 Comments

      
A magnet is an object made of certain materials which creates a magnetic field around itself.
>> This magnetic field causes objects of certain properties to attract to itself…

The closer the objects are to the magnet, the stronger they are pulled to the attracting force.

Another interesting thing is that…
…  objects attached to the magnet, over a certain period of time, themselves become magnetized and are able to attract other things to itself.

The Gospel of the Day is a wonderful exhibition of this Magnetic Presence of Jesus!

St Mark beautifully presents this attractive power of the Lord through the words:
“A large number of people followed from Galilee and from Judea.
Hearing what He was doing, a large number of people came to Him also from Jerusalem, from Idumea, from beyond the Jordan and from the neighbourhood of Tyre and Sidon” (Mk 3: 7-8)

The popularity of the Lord was spreading far and wide…
>> His power over sin had many to look up to Him…
>> His authoritative teaching was astonishing to many…
>> His dominance over evil spirits was awe-inspiring for many…
>> His amazing healing power had caused a stir among people…

Like a magnet, the Lord was attracting many to Himself!
>> Like a magnet, the Lord was pulling variety of people to Himself!

The magnetic and charming power of the Lord attracts us too..
… But do we remain willing to get attracted to this amazing force?

The Living Presence of the Lord in our midst is in the Holy Eucharist.
>> The Holy Eucharist is the powerful magnet that can pull and attract many!

The tragedy in our life is that very often, this “magnetic” Eucharistic presence remains abandoned and forsaken!

It’s a pity that the Living Lord is hardly visited in the Blessed Sacrament!

>> Chapels and Churches often remain empty and forlorn…
>> Very few to visit Jesus in the Eucharist!
>> Hardly any say Hello to the Lord in the Eucharist!

We sometimes are reducing ourselves to a generation seeking only after mighty wonders!
>> We sometimes are making ourselves to be a people wanting only fascinating miracles!
>> We sometimes are forming ourselves to be ones who are attracted only to external sensations!

But Eucharist – the greatest wonder and miracle of the world often remains unnoticed!

There is nothing more sublime in this world than the Holy Eucharistic Presence!
>> There is nothing more beautiful than moments spent before the Eucharistic Lord!
>> There is nothing more awesome than an experience of love in the Holy Eucharist!

Am I ready to get attracted and charmed by this magnetic presence of the Holy Eucharist?

>> The Lord waits for us…every moment…every day!
>> The Lord seeks for us…every second…every hour!

We may have different excuses to evade and avoid time before His presence…
>> Maybe too many works and occupations…
>> Maybe a feeling that it is too dry and boring to be with Him…
>> Maybe an attitude that social works suffice and go beyond all such pious devotions…

But no excuse and no theory can give justification to miss the Presence of the Lord!
He is the magnet who can infuse us with power and strength!
>> The more closer we are, the more attracted we be!
>> The more we remain with Him, the more we become like Him!

>> May the Magnetic Power of the Holy Eucharist be sought more!
>> May the Magnetic Love of the Holy Eucharist be longed more!

And may, we, in turn, become a  magnetic Presence of the Lord to others!
… Seeking the Eucharist, to be a Eucharist to the other!
… Loving the Eucharist, to break and share oneself to the other!

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

May we be inspired to follow Christ, more closely, by her example and words:
“Christ made my soul beautiful, with the jewels if grace and virtue. I belong to Him, Whom the angels serve”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

Jan 20 (Mk 3:1-6)

Fr Jijo Manjackal MSFS2 Comments

Kindly note that the reflection dated Jan 20 sent out earlier was incorrect. Apologies. Here is the reflection for Jan 20…

The Christian tradition has for a long time, associated the four evangelists (Gospel writers) with the four living creatures that surround God’s throne as described in the book of Revelation.

Rev 4:7, “The first creature resembled a lion, the second was like a calf (ox), the third had a face like that of a human being and the fourth looked like an eagle in flight…”

These associations are made as follows:
>> Matthew – Human being/Angel;
>> Mark – Lion;
>> Luke – Ox (Calf);
>> John – Eagle.

The Gospel of the Day is a passage from the Gospel of St Mark.

And today the Lion, associated with Mark’s Gospel is set to “roar”!
Yes, Jesus, the Marcan Lion is out to “roar” in the Synagogue!!

It’s another Sabbath day…
>> And Jesus is in the synagogue where there is a man who has a withered hand.

St Mark is particular to mention that the Pharisees were watching him keenly, to observe what Jesus, the healer would do (Mk 3:2)

>> They did not look, to praise God…they observed in order to pinpoint faults!
>> They did not seek, to glorify God’s name…they scrutinized in order to defame the Lord!

What a pity when…
…. religious leaders become only harsh law-enforcing personnel and fail to administer compassion and love!
… when protectors of the law become too rigid and stubborn to keep the rules that they become perpetuators of a perpetual hypocrisy!

As the Pharisees keep watching what He is going to do, Jesus throws the ball in their court.
>> The Lord knows the secrets of human hearts!
>> The Lord gauges the depths of human hypocrisy!

And so Jesus, the Marcan Lion roars and asks:
” Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?” ( Mk 3:4)

A basic and a fundamental question was staring on the faces of the Pharisees…
>> They were people who were staunch to uphold the laws and the rules.
>> They were people who would strive to maintain faithfulness to the minutest regulations
>> They were people who would raise their voice at any violation of God’s commandments.

Was it love that drove them to do God’s commandments?
>> Was it pure motives that made them to be zealous for God’s law?
>>> Was it a striving for God’s glory that impelled them to be strict keepers of the rules?

>> Here was a moment for them to express their intention behind all these things…
>> Here was a chance to tell the world what was their aim in doing all the obligations…

“But they remained silent” (Mk 3:4b)
What an anti-climax it turned out to be!
>> They gave the worst possible reply to the life-convicting question: Silence!

>> It was a deafening silence that was brutally wounding and viciously hurting!
>> It was a booming silence of their cruel disapproval of Jesus’ healing ministry!
>> It was a crashing silence exposing their wickedness of heart and duplicity of minds!

And so Jesus, the Lion roars…
“Looking around at them with anger and grieved at their hardness of hearts…” (Mk 3:5)

>> The inhuman silence of the Pharisees provokes Jesus, the Lion to anger!
>> The hypocritical hush of the Pharisees instigates Jesus, the Lion to fury!
>> The dreadful stillness of the Pharisees wounds Jesus, the Lion to grief!

How many of us are similar to this attitude of the Pharisees….?!

We see people withered in misery and abjection…
>> And we assume a dignified silence of inaction and apathy!

We see others withered in sinful situations and evil circumstances…
>> And we take refuge in a silence of not doing anything to help them, come out of this condition!

We see families, societies and communities withering in disunity and discord…
>> And we maintain a “clean-image” of silence, instead of doing the unpleasant task of unifying!

We see ourselves withered in corrupt inclinations and errant behaviour…
>> And we uphold a silence of indifference and lethargy and avoid reformation and renewal!

But the Lord, the great Lion, roars in all such “unfair and debasing” moments of silence!
> It angers Him…
>> It grieves Him…
>>> It provokes Him…
>>>> It pains Him…

ROOARRR!!
The Lion of Judah is “roaring” for a positive and active response from us….
>> The Lord “roars” for a change in our attitude and mentality!
>> The Lord “roars” for a radical transformation in our misery of indifference!

Let the “roar” of Jesus, the Lion instil in us the urgency to take necessary actions in our life.

God Bless! Live Jesus!
 

Jan 19 (Mk 2:23-28)

Fr Jijo Manjackal MSFS1 Comment

“You are under CCTV surveillance!
>>  This is one common notice that is increasingly seen, these days.

Institutions, offices, public places…. are getting scanned under the CCTV (Closed Circuit TeleVision) camera.

The CCTV seeks to capture…Every movement that occurs, in order to trace any untoward incident.

The CCTV is mainly placed…
>> In order to identify possible mishaps and troublesome occurrences.
>> In order to find out people who involve in pranks, harmful actions and terrors.
>> In order to trace any untoward incidents by capturing every movement that occurs

Well.. though the gadget named CCTV is a modern technology…
… we have its human version already existing centuries back…
And the Gospel of the Day is proof of this aspect!

Check out the CCTV – which was sponsored and used by the Pharisees and the Scribes.
>> And in today’s Gospel, Jesus and His disciples are under the surveillance of this CCTV!

Jesus and His disciples were walking through a field of grain on the Sabbath.
>> The disciples were hungry and decided to pluck some of the grain.

The OT law of keeping of the Sabbath in no way prohibited picking a handful of grain to satisfy one’s immediate hunger

In Dt 23:25, God makes a wonderful provision for travellers:
“When you enter your neighbour’s standing grain, then you may pluck the head with your hand, but you shall not put a sickle in your neighbour’s standing grain”

The traditional law however added many rules and regulations.
>> These traditions were extremely rigid, and concerned the Sabbath observance.

The Talmud, the book of Jewish traditions has 24 chapters listing various Sabbath laws.
A rabbi would sometimes spend 21/2 years studying one chapter to figure out all the details.

>> No burden could be carried that weighed more than a dried fig, or half a fig carried two times.

>> If you threw an object in the air and caught it with the other hand, it was a sin.
…  If you caught it in the same hand, it wasn’t!

>> A tailor couldn’t carry his needle…. The scribe couldn’t carry his pen… A pupil couldn’t carry his books.

>> No clothing could be examined lest somehow you find a lice and inadvertently kill it.

>> Nothing could be sold. Nothing could be bought. Nothing could be washed.

>> Cold water could be poured on warm, but warm couldn’t be poured on cold.

>> You could not bathe, for fear when the water fell off of you it might wash the floor.

>> If a candle was lit, you couldn’t put it out. If it wasn’t lit, you couldn’t light it.

>> Women couldn’t look in a glass or they might find a white hair and be tempted to pull it out.

>> Women couldn’t wear jewellery because jewellery weighs more than a dried fig!!

It goes on an on…!!

The system had become mercilessly oppressive, horribly ungodly and brutally unkind.

The safe guarders and protectors of these scrupulous laws were the Scribes and the Pharisees.
>> And today they are out, to catch hold of Jesus and His disciples.

>>> Their detective eyes are keen to observe the mistakes committed by them.
>>> Their probing eyes are on the look out to get hold of their Sabbath breakages!

>> It’s like a CCTV…
… that is capturing minute-by-minute movements
… that keeps a constant watch for any untoward happenings…

Do I sometimes adopt this tendency of the Pharisees and the Scribes…?
>> Being on the constant look out for mistakes of others…
>> Watching others’ behaviours to probe faults and failures in them…

It’s interesting that the Scribes and the Pharisees fail to see that they also broke the Sabbath Law!

The Pharisees are following Jesus and His disciples….
>>This meant walking beyond the stipulated steps prescribed by the Sabbath Law!

But, they conveniently don’t mention this!

They self-justified themselves…
… but accused others of guilt!
They self-approved themselves…
… but blamed others of faults!

Am I a person prone to only find faults and negativity in situations and in others…
>> Or do I make constructive criticisms and also be a person who genuinely appreciates?

Am I a person constantly bickering about what is lacking and missing in my life…
>> Or do I rather be a person who is delightful and content with all what God has blessed me?

Am I person who magnifies the weaknesses of others and defames others character…
>> Or do I be a person who understands others and encourages them to be stronger?

Its human to chance upon the weaknesses of others…
… but its Divine to accept, understand and encourage them to be better instead!

Its human to always look into the negative dimensions in a person…
… but its Divine to have a magnanimous heart to look to positives in life!

Let’s seek the grace of the Lord…
… to avoid the snare of being pessimistic…being judgemental…being critically evil!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

Jan 18 (Mk 2:18-22)

Fr Jijo Manjackal MSFS1 Comment

Most of us are familiar, with the story of that person who bought large new, exquisite flower vase from the market.           
>> This person was excited in possessing this big and wonderful flower vase.

He came home and placed this flower vase in the centre table of the main hall.

He looked at the vase and admired saying, “Wow! This vase looks so pretty”.

But as he kept admiring the beauty of the vase, he realized, that somehow the torn and the rugged carpet beneath, was not matching with this newly bought vase.

So he decided to change the carpet…

Once he did the changing of the carpet, and as he admired the flower vase, he realised, the painting on the walls of the house also did not match with the flower vase, and the new purchased carpet..

So there.. he decided to paint anew the walls as well!

Well.. the entry of the single vase…. brought about effective changes in the surrounding!
>> The love for the beautiful vase prompted the person to make additional changes.
>> The admiration for the charming vase made the person to bring in extra alterations.

Something similar is to happen, when the Beautiful and Precious Jesus enters into our lives…

The old is to get transformed.. the new is to be ushered in!
>> The former is to undergo an alteration…the changes have to be welcomed in!

This is what the Lord puts forward in the Gospel of the Day by the examples of the old & new cloak and old & new wine

Our Lord often used examples from daily life to illustrate his parables.

Today, He uses two concepts that would have been readily understood by his listeners:

>> No one sews a piece of unshrunken cloth on an old cloak. (Mk 1:21)
>> No one pours new wine into old wineskin (Mk 1: 22)

It was a known fact as to what would happen if an unshrunk (new) patch was sewn onto an old garment. When it was washed, the new patch would shrink and pull away from the garment leaving a bigger tear than before.

In ancient Israel, the grapes were pressed in the winepress and left in the collection vats for a few days.

Fermentation starts immediately on pressing, and this allows the first “tumultuous” (gassy) phase to pass.
>> Then the fermenting juice was put in clay jars to be stored, or into wineskins if it was to be transported some distance.

When this new wine was placed into a wineskin, it continued to ferment;
>> So it was essential to put it into a new, flexible, skin that would expand, as the carbon dioxide gas (a by-product of fermentation) was given off.

Historically, these examples illustrate the incompatibility of the old with the new.

The new is Jesus’ message of the Kingdom of God.
>> The old is the present status of Judaism.

Contextually, what do these examples mean to us today?

We have professed and declared ourselves to be Christians, following the path of Jesus.

>> Is there a newness and a novelty that I experience and live in my daily life?
>> Does Jesus Christ really effect any difference in my attitudes and my actions?

For long, perhaps, we have been proud to carry the tag of being a Christian.
>> But is it not time that Christ really begins to become “REAL” and “LIVING” in my life?

We use Christianity as a bait to obtain concessions, quotas, easy entries for jobs etc…
>> But does Christianity make me to live the values of the Gospel to root out corruption from the society & within ourselves?

>> Does being a Christian…
…  impel me to forego a sinful life and seek after holiness?
… encourage me to stand for the values of truth and honesty?
… make me to be less materialistic and more focussed on things eternal?
… make me shun peer & societal pressures & stand for moral convictions?
… propel me to defy evil tendencies of the world and be firm to the Kingdom values?
                        

The one who is truly living in the Lord, cannot, but alter his/her sinful way of life.
>> The one who is really professing to be a Christian, cannot, but seek after holiness.

Let Jesus, as a beautiful vase, occupy the greatest presence and authority in my life!

>> This would certainly mean changing the old carpet of sinfulness and evil habits.
>>This would certainly mean painting the soiled walls with the new shade of holiness.

May the newness and the novelty of the Lord sparkle and glitter in our everyday Christian Life!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

Jan 17 ( Jn 2:1-12)

Fr Jijo Manjackal MSFS1 Comment

There is a story of a poor farmer.
>> The only possession he had was a plantain grove.

Once, his only son fell seriously sick.
>> He did not have the required money to treat his son.

Desperation grew stronger, and hopes were getting diminished!

His wife advised him:
“Why don’t we try to approach our King and seek for his financial assistance?
Hopefully, he will help!”

“Hmm.. that is a good suggestion” said the farmer, “but what shall we present him, when we go to meet him? We surely can’t go empty-handed!”

They both went to their plantain grove.
>> Unfortunately, there were only three plantains!

“How can we give this cheap present to the King” sadly exclaimed the wife.

“He may even get angry with us”, commented the farmer.

Finally, faced with no choice, they thought about another idea – “they would meet the Queen-Mother of the King”

So they went, in fear, yet with hope, approaching the mother of the King.
>> They presented her the three plantains as a gift to the King and informed of their serious problem.

That night, the mother, placed the three plantains, in a golden plate, full of precious stones.

When the King saw the three plantains, that were placed in the midst of the fine jewels, he was impressed.
>> He enquired who gave it – and the problem of the farmer and his sick child was informed to the King.

The King called the farmer, and being pleased with him, gave him much wealth and land!

Similar is the work of our Blessed Mother, the Queen-Mother of our Blessed Lord.
>> She presents our problems and difficulties to the Lord, and provides consolation and strength in our moments of troubles.

The Gospel of the Day presents this powerful intercessory role of our Blessed Mother, in the Wedding at Cana.

The Wedding at Cana is the first of the “signs” that is reported in the Gospel of St John.

Weddings were probably the high point of the Jewish Social life.

>> It was a time when there would be an abundance of celebration, extravagance of merriment and lavishness of fun.

Weddings were some of the very few occasions, when the common, working class people could take time off to celebrate and enjoy themselves.
>> As a result, most weddings would include five to seven days of festivities.

Wine was an integral part of this important social custom.

Therefore when the Gospel says, “they ran short of wine”…
… it was a moment of immense embarrassment for the family.
… it was a time of utter shame and humiliation for the hosts

But in this time of crisis and trouble, Mother Mary realised the potential disaster.
>> She took the initiative to do something about it – to help avoid the great embarrassment  that would have crashed upon the family.

How often do we face such situations of “the wine running short” in our life!

The “wine”….
… of unity and fellowship, often, “runs short” in our family life….
… of unity and fellowship, often, “runs short” in our family life….
… of holiness and sanctity, often, “runs short” in our spiritual life….
… of faith and perseverance, often, “runs short” in our prayer life….
… of sensitiveness and responsiveness, often, “runs short” in our social life….
… of joy and commitment, often, “runs short” in our religious and priestly life….

In all such occasions of “the wine running short”, Blessed Mother Mary is our intercessor to help us receive the “abundance of the best wine” from Jesus.

But…
>> Have we invited Mother Mary in our life?
>> Have we given Her a place in our life?

She will take us to the Lord and help receive His blessings and graces!

Therefore, we also ought to follow Her words, “Do whatever He tells you” (Jn 2: 5)

>> Mother Mary not only helps us receive blessings from the Lord…
… She also directs us towards Him and exhorts us to follow Him closer!

>> Mother Mary not only takes our petitions, by Her intercessions to the Lord…
… She also shows us the way to Him and urges us to live a life of obedience to Him!

On tasting the water that was changed to wine, the headwaiter said:
“Everyone serves good wine first and then when people have drunk freely, an inferior one.
But you have kept the good wine, until now” (Jn 2: 10)

Yes, there are often situations, when “we run short of wine” in our lives.
But, in all such moments of worry, despair and trouble, Mother Mary takes us closer to Jesus…
… Who longs to provide us with the “best wine” – the wine of true joy and eternal salvation!

Are we ready to feast, by seeking the intercession of our Queen-Mother Mary and being obedient to the commandments of the Lord?

The best wine is waiting…!

God Bless! Live Jesus!