Dec 7 (Lk 5:17-26)

Fr Jijo Manjackal MSFSLeave a comment

A young man went up from his home in the countryside to the city to join the University for a degree.

As a resident student, he had his own room in the hostel.

After he had settled in, his Mother, a godly, devoted Christian, decided to pay him a visit.

•      She was delighted to see the campus and felt good with the ambience.
•      She was also happy that her son was taking a keen interest in his studies.

However, when she went to his room, she was greatly shocked.

The kind of pictures that he had fixed to the walls of his room in the hostel made the mother feel embarrassed!

They were portraits of semi-dressed artistes, film stars, and suggested much that was sensual, and unbecoming a young man who had been devoutly trained at home, as he had.

The mother said not a word.

Instead of expressing her displeasure, she went home.

The following day, sent across a framed picture of the Divine Mercy of Jesus, with the request that he would hang it in his room.

A few weeks later she visited again him.

This time, however all the other pictures in the room were gone…
Only the picture of the Divine Mercy was there!

When she asked him about it, he replied, ‘You see, mother, I could not have those pictures along-side this Sacred picture. They would be out of place!’

Evil cannot exist beside the Sacred!
>> Where there is the presence of Holiness, evil finds itself disturbed and distances itself!

But human life often finds itself engaged and engrossed with evil things…
>> The pull to be bad constantly lurks in human minds…
>> The urge to be sinful often prowls in human hearts…

The Gospel of the Day is an exposition of this evil side of life that often endangers human hearts, and pops its head up, especially when encountered by goodness and holiness.

The Gospel is the healing of the paralytic, when Jesus comes into His own town.

Seeing the paralytic being brought on the stretcher, and admiring their faith, Jesus had said, “Courage child, your sins are forgiven” (Lk 5:20)

However, some of the scribes got irked hearing these words and said, “Who is this who speaks blasphemy?” (Lk 5:21)

But Jesus, who knows the hearts of people…. who reads the thoughts of all.. said:
“What are you thinking in your hearts?” (Lk 5: 22)

In the Gospel of Matthew, we read the parallel verse, in the following way:
“Why do you think evil in your hearts?” (Mt 9: 4)

Another translation of this verse would read:
“Why do you harbour evil in your hearts?”

“Harbour” is a place on the coast, where ships may moor in shelter, especially one protected from rough water by piers, jetties, and other artificial structures.
•      It is also to keep a thought or feeling, (typically a negative one) in one’s mind, especially secretly

The Lord exposes the evil intention of the Scribes in questioning His action of cleansing the paralytic.

For the paralytic, it was a great moment…
… of being cleansed from sin, and being restored to holiness
… of having a very personal encounter of the Saviour and receiving wholeness

It was a sacred time…a holy instant!

But where there is the presence of Holiness, evil finds itself disturbed and distances itself!
>> Evil cannot exist beside the Sacred!

Therefore, when the paralytic was encountering goodness and holiness, the evil side in the scribes popped its head up, and questioned and quizzed our Blessed Lord.

The same question that Jesus asked the scribes is now thrown to us:
“What are you thinking in your hearts?” or “Why do you think evil in your hearts?”  or “Why do you harbour evil in your hearts?”

•      Am I a person who is unable to tolerate the good things happening in other people’s life?
•      Am I someone who gets irked and irritated when the other person prospers in happiness?

We sometimes adorn the walls of our hearts with many filthy stuff -uncharitable thoughts, indecent words and jokes, hurtful views of people or crude perspectives of situations.

The Lord feels hurt and sad by this our “harbouring of evil in our hearts”

Are we ready to throw of all those unbecoming stuff from our hearts, and place the Divine Mercy of the Lord, enthroned in our hearts?

May we seek the intercession of St Ambrose, whose feast we celebrate.
>> This Saintly and Courageous Bishop of Milan had become instrumental in the conversion of St Augustine, who had been deeply influenced and touched by the latter’s spirited preaching.

>> May His words help us to reflect deeper and give ourselves, more and more, to the Lord:
“By Christ’s Passion our weakness was cured.
By His Resurrection death was conquered.
Still we have to be sorrowful for the world, as well as joyful in the Lord – sorrowful in penance, joyful in gratitude”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

Dec 6 (Lk 3:1-6)

Fr Jijo Manjackal MSFS2 Comments

St John Maria Vianney is the patron saint of priests.

As a model priest, he made it a point to help all the needy in his parish or in the region around him.

Once, word was sent to him that a very sick man of his parish was seeking to make confession.
>> However, this man was pretty far off from the place where the church was.

It was a time when vehicles were too sparse.
>> The climate was bitter cold and the rain storm was blowing in.

But the zeal in the heart of the Saintly Priest was still greater.

So, he picked up his cloak and started his walk to the sick man’s house.
>> The freezing cold pierced through his frail bones
>> The lashing winds wrenched his body in frosty pain

Yet, St John Vianney trekked on…

Finally he reached the house of the sick man.

By the time he arrived, St Vianney himself was shivering and wobbly with high fever.
.>> He fell so ill, that he had to hear the confession, lying down, beside the sick man’s bed.

Many in fact, even thought, that the priest was more sick than the penitent ill-man!

The determination and the willingness of the Saintly Priest made sure that the sick man would experience God’s immense mercy and forgiving love.

The Season of Advent is a time of preparation of this abundant mercy and forgiving love, that our Blessed Lord displays at Christmas.

The Lord is willing to brave any odds to extend His mercy and love to us…
… are we ready to receive it?
… do we prepare ourselves to accept it?

The Gospel of the Day reminds and exhorts us to become aware of this aspect: making a true preparation to realise and receive a God, who wants to be intimately involved in our lives.

The Gospel of the Day begins with the mention of a series of names: political and religious leaders, which formed the context of the birth of Christ.

” In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas…” (Lk 3: 1-2)

What do these names of the political and religious figures point to?

1. It shows extent of the religious decay of the Israelites.
>> The Chosen People, who were to have God alone as their King and Ruler, are now ruled by pagan and foreign rulers
>> The Chosen People, who were to have God’s selected persons as Priests and Religious, are now guided by people who had been illegally appointed by the Roman Government

What do we learn?
>> When we fail to listen to God’s commandments and adamantly choose the path of sin, we are bringing upon the wrath of God’s justice on us
>> When we do not give heed to what God wants of us in our lives, we give the governing authority in our lives to Satan and his party, and thus give in to misery and slavery.

2. It also shows that Jesus is not any abstract entity, but One Who was part of our real, historical world
>> The mention of the religious and the political leaders is a clear proof offered by St Luke that Jesus truly, came in flesh and blood, in our history.
>> He is unlike any other godly figure whose historicity can be questioned. He, the God of History, chose to be born, live and be part of our real world – the world we live in.

What do we learn?
>> Jesus, as a historical person means that He can identify with our real problems and difficulties of life. In Him, there is truly Someone who understands us and has experienced what we ourselves undergo in life
>> Jesus, shows that God is not some philosophical abstract or a “creation of the mind” or some utopian idea; rather, Jesus is a God, Who became Emmanuel (= With us, God)

To welcome the birth of this God who wishes to involve in our lives, the messenger, John the Baptist, is sent ahead of Him.

The Gospel says, “John the Baptist went throughout the whole region of the Jordan, proclaiming a Baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” (Lk 3: 3)

He also echoed what Isaiah the prophet had spoken, “Every valley shall be filled and every mount and hill made low” (Lk 3:5 & Is 40: 3-5)

Thus, we see, the message of John the Baptist can be shortly summarised into a short refrain: Repair and Prepare!

This then, ought to be a message that we carry for our lives…
… as we are exhorted to make ready a place for the Birth of the God, Who wants to be intimately involved in our lives – Repairing and Preparing!

>> Repair….the dark areas of our life, where sin and evil reigns…
… and Prepare… a place, where holiness and God’s sanctity can dwell!

>> Repair… the broken relationships which suffer for lack of forgiveness…
… and Prepare… a heart, which accepts the failures of people and gives them more space!

>> Repair… the bad inclinations and addictions, to which we cling on and find it hard to let go…
… and Prepare… a mind, which is focussed on having Jesus alone as the Lord of one’s life!

Yes, the Lord wishes to come to us.. with His comforting presence and His forgiving love.
>> All that He wishes is that, we be ready to receive Him worthily.

He braves much difficulties… He humbles Himself immensely…
>> Are we ready to bow and accept this magnanimous love of the Divine?

As the hymns goes, “Great things happen, when God mixes with us…”
… Let us Repair & Prepare our lives, so that “God can mix in our lives” and we can truly experience His Greatness in our lives!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

Dec 5 ( Mt 9:35 – 10:1, 5-8)

Fr Jijo Manjackal MSFS1 Comment

REFLECTION CAPSULE FOR THE DAY
( Based on Mt 9: 35 – 10:1, 5-8)

One of the exciting things in life, which many of us have gone through, is learning a bicycle.

These days, bicycles come with a special set of training wheels that are attached to the back wheels.
>> The two little wheels attached to the back wheel are there to help provide balance and confidence to the rider.

But many of us, would have also learnt the bicycle in the old-fashioned way…the parent or a friend who ran alongside the one learning, until the rider got under way.

This person, who would be accompanying, would most often say three things, while learning this art of cycling…

1. Always keep the eye on the road…
…to keep the focus

2. Don’t lean to the left or the right side…
… to have proper balance

3. Remember, I am always there with you…
… to feel the confidence and trust

These three principles would help the person to learn quick this art of cycling.

The Gospel of the Day presents Jesus sending out the Twelve…to learn the Art of Mission…

Like the art of cycling…the Apostles are also given some basic principles…
…the principle to keep focus
… the principle to have a proper balance
… the principle of confidence and trust

The ministry of Jesus had gained a lot of popularity.
>> There were crowds of people following Him…
>> There were multitudes of persons attracted to Him…

The Heart of the Lord is moved in empathy for these people.
>> The Gospel says, “When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (Mt 9:36)

The ministry of Jesus had also gained a lot of opposition.
> Many of the religious leaders were greatly taken aback by the raw authoritative power of Jesus
> Many of the Scribes and Pharisees were greatly offended by the blunt and open challenges by Jesus
> Many of the local and family people were greatly scandalized by the boldness and courage of Jesus

But as the saying goes… “Challenges are what makes life interesting, and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful!”

Though opposition and challenges were raging hard against the ministry of Jesus…
… He remained courageous and determined.

And so, He chose the Twelve…
… who would be with Him and to be sent out (Mk 3:14)

The Twelve were to be His extension – of His Teachings, of His Works

And so, He not only chooses the Twelve…but He also sends them on a mission

A mission…
…with an authority over unclean spirits
…to proclaim the Kingdom of God
… to preach repentance and peace

In this art of mission, the Lord gives a few instructions and principles…
… and “also gave authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness” (Mt 10:1)

The Twelve were to learn…
… to keep focus on the preaching of repentance and bringing healing to people
… to have a proper balance by not getting discouraged in the face of any sort of rejection
…  to have confidence and trust in the Lord Who was with them to provide what they needed

Each of us, by virtue of our following Christ, is a missionary…

>> Am I focussing on preaching only His Gospel and living only His life….
…or do I get distracted with other agenda and motives?

>> Am I having the proper balance in living the Christian life even though I face many pressures…
…or do I lose the balance and fall into the pits of lethargy, disappointments and laxity?

>> Am I having the confidence and the trust in the Lord and bank on Him at every turn of life…
… or do I experience perplexities of anxiety, despair and despondency?

The art of missions is exciting.
>> We may feel a little afraid at times…
>> We may sometimes even fall..

But we only need to follow some of the basic principles, coupled with His Grace…
… to be focussed on the Lord alone
… to be balanced in prayer and faithfulness
… to be trusting and being confident in His awesome power

And when we embark on this art of mission…
…Just like a caring parent, who is happy to see one’s child cycling confidently…
…our Heavenly Father will also look at us with much happiness and joy and be proud of us!

Are we ready to cycle our way, with our Heavenly Father, in this exciting art of Mission?

God Bless! Live Jesus!

Dec 4 (Mt 9:27-31)

Fr Jijo Manjackal MSFSLeave a comment

A little child, during a forest expedition, was asked by his father to get across a letter urgently to the village.

The father pointed over a trail, over which the boy had never gone.

“But Father” protested the child, “I have never been through this way.
I do not even see the path that will reach our village.
Will it be reasonable for me to travel along this path? ”

“Do you see the trail” replied the father, “as far as that big tree down there?”

The boy replied, “Oh, yes, I do see that far”

“Well” continued the father, “when you get there by the tree, you will see the trail a little further ahead; and so on, until you get within sight of the houses of our village.

Just have faith in me and obey my words!”

This is the journey of our Christian life…
… where the element of faith has to take over the aspect of seeing!
… where the element of obedience has to take over the aspect of rationality!

The Gospel of the Day is a beautiful exposition into these insights, which are highly essential for our life as a Disciple of Christ and a Missionary of His Kingdom.

The Gospel passage under consideration is the healing of the two blind men in the Gospel of St Matthew (Mt 9: 27-31)

One of the strange aspects that we could notice in this incident is what happens after the healing has taken place.

St Matthew says that, after their eyes were opened, “Jesus sternly charged them, ‘See that no one knows it'” (Mt 9:30)
>> He forbids the two men from making his fame known to others.

The Greek word that is used here for “sternly charged” is very interesting and revealing.

St Mathew uses the word, “embrimaomai”.
>> “Embri-mao-mai” literally means to snort with anger/displeasure(like a horse)!

In other words, Jesus “roared with rage” when He ordered the men to not proclaim about Him.

Why did Jesus adopt such an “angry stance”?

The Jewish people were longing for a Messiah who would save them from the pagan Roman Rulers.
>> Their understanding of the Messiah was purely from a temporal perspective – a prince who would wage a war and destroy the Roman enemies

If it was known outside that the Messiah, the much-awaited King had arrived, many Jews would undoubtedly seek to enthrone Him.
>> They would make efforts to usher in a physical kingdom with a violent expulsion of the Roman rulers!

We see such a tendency on many occasions in the Gospels, but more explicitly after the multiplication of the loaves in the Gospel of St John…

>> “Since Jesus knew that they were going to come and carry Him off to make Him King, He withdrew to the mountain alone” (Jn 6:15)

But, such a move would have jeopardized the Mission of the Lord!

>> He came not to be a king as any other king…
… rather He, the King of kings, came to reign over the hearts and lives of people!

>> He came not to be someone who would merely rescue from material oppression…
…rather, He came to be the Saviour who would free the world from sin and every bondage!

It is also to be seen that the two blind men addressed Jesus as “the Son of David” (Mt 9:27b)
>> This was the first time, in the Gospel of St Matthew, that Jesus was proclaimed by someone as “Son of David”

“Son of David” clearly pointed that Jesus was the Messiah.
>> The two blind men were confessing that Jesus is the Messiah!

Therefore, if the two men, excited and overjoyed as they were, with their miraculous healing, had gone around proclaiming Jesus as the Messiah…
… there was a grave danger, that the people would be instigated to a rebellion against the Romans

(Such an explanation is also supported by the fact that while healing or performing wonders among the Gentiles, Jesus did not forbid them.
>> The Gentiles, unlike the Jews, did not have any Messianic expectation as such.

For eg: After healing the Gerasene demoniac, Jesus tells him, “Go home to your family and announce to them, all that the Lord in His pity has done for you” –  Mk 5:19)

There is also another point of consideration…

Jesus was the Perfect Physician.

He knew that the blind, when healed, cannot be exposed to the light, all on a sudden.
>> The exposure to the Light has to be gradual.

Jesus, the doctor-par-excellance and the Light of the World (Jn 9:5) knew, that there was great danger, if these spiritually blind would try to immediately go and spread about their experience with the Light
>> The Light would only end up harming them and also those to whom they preached!

And therefore, “Jesus sternly charged them, ‘See that no one knows it'” (Mt 9:30)

What do these things entail for us?

A very important principle as Missionary of Christ and His Kingdom is implied here:
>> “Go only when we are sent to and to whom we are sent to”

This is one of the important basics of any publicly ministry of the Kingdom!

We need to know and realize…
>> The Mission belongs not to me…the Mission belongs to the Lord
>> The works and ministry are not my initiatives…they are solely entrusted to me by the Lord

It is His Work… It is His Ministry… it is His Mission!
>> We are to be His active instruments… We are to be His lively tools… We are to be His dynamic channels!

This realization is highly essential for an effective and faithful Missionary life.

Such a realization, therefore,  directly implies the necessity of Faith and Obedience!

Yes, our life as a missionary ought to be one..
… where the element of faith has to take over the aspect of seeing!
… where the element of obedience has to take over the aspect of rationality!

May our Blessed Lord touch and open our eyes, to “see the trail” that is on ahead of us, in our journey of faith…
… and may hearken to His Words, “Just have Faith in Me and Obey My words!”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

Dec 3 ( Lk 10:1-16 & Feast of St Francis Xavier)

Fr Jijo Manjackal MSFSLeave a comment

A story is told of a blind boy who was flying a kite.

He enjoyed this pastime along with others of his own age.

A passer-by, knowing him and wanting to mildly tease the blind-fellow, said:
‘Hey, boy! Do you know where is your kite?
You don’t know whether it is on the ground or up in the sky, do you?’

‘Oh yes,’ said the blind lad, ‘I do know! It is now quite a fair height up in the air.’

How do you know that?’ asked the passer-by, ‘you surely can’t see it.’

The boy replied, ‘I can’t see it, it is true, but I can feel the tug of the string!’

The ‘tug’ of the string help the boy to realise the presence of the kite and to sense its height in the air!

The awareness of the presence of the Divine power in our lives, is such…
>> One may not be able to always see the presence of the Divine, but the believer can surely experience its power and strength!

This experience of “the Divine tug of the string” keeps the life of the believer moving forward and helps to depend on the Divine Presence for strength in life.

The Gospel of the Day is an invitation by Jesus to grow deeper in this “awareness and dependence” on Jesus in our life as a missionary of the Kingdom of God.

After having summoned and authorized  the disciples, Jesus sends them ahead of Him, to the places of mission.

In the Gospel of Matthew, the same passage beings with the statement, “Preach, as you go…” (Mt 10:7)

Some other translations would read as “As you go, make a proclamation…”

This is such wonderfully practical, and yet at the same time, a phrase that is often overlooked: “Preach, as you go….” / “As you go… make a proclamation”

Preaching or Proclamation in our times, is often picturised with a limited understanding.

Preaching or proclamation is often understood as that which takes place…
… only from the pulpit or during a service in Church
… only in the form of speaking and explaining the Word of God

But the words of the Lord are worth noting:
“Preach, as you go….” / “As you go… make a proclamation”

•      Preach, as you go about doing your daily duties and activities
>> As you go about your responsibilities and works, make a proclamation

•      Preach as you go around meeting different people by sharing His love and joy to all
>>  As you go about engaging in numerous actions, make a proclamation by sharing His presence

The act of preaching and proclamation of the Kingdom of God is to be reflected in our every action and movement…
•      Whatever we do, may it become an act of proclaiming God’s abundant blessings!
•      Whatever work we take up, may it become a moment of preaching God’s amazing providence!

Such an act of Preaching and Proclamation makes it mandatory that one grows deeper in the “awareness and dependence” on Jesus in the life as a missionary of the Kingdom of God.

>>The act of proclamation needs the “awareness” that I am continuing the Great Mission work that has Jesus as the “Initiator”, the “Sustainer” and the “Finale”!

>> The act of preaching needs the “dependency” on the Lord to realise that the Lord alone can provide all the graces, strength and courage for the mission!

This is what was epitomized by St Francis, Xavier, whose feast we celebrate today.

>> This Patron of the Missions, was filled with a tremendous zeal for salvation of souls and contained in him a contagious enthusiasm of giving Christ to all.

One of his testimonial statement, while undertaking missionary activity in Japan, goes thus: “Sometimes I have lost my voice and strength altogether with repeating again and again the Credo and the other forms.”

May we give heed to the words of the Dynamic Missionary Saint…

>> “It is not the actual physical exertion that counts towards a one’s progress, nor the nature of the task, but by the spirit of faith with which it is undertaken”
>> “It is impossible to find a saint who did not take the “two P’s” seriously: prayer and penance”

…. and seek to grow deeper in our missionary commitment!

Yes, one needs to feel the “tug and the pull of the Divine Lord”…when one goes through
… hardships and difficulties in being a missionary of the Kingdom,  in hostile situations
… problems and challenges as we seek to live a true Christian life in the modern world
… meaninglessness or emptiness as we go through the ‘deserts’ and ‘darkness’ in life

And it is this experience of “the Divine tug of the string” that keeps the life of the believer moving forward and to depend on the Divine Presence for strength in life!

Happy Feast of St Francis Xavier!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

Dec 2 (Mt 15:29-37)

Fr Jijo Manjackal MSFSLeave a comment

Picnics are a time of great fun and enjoyment.

They enrich relationships, nurture relaxation and foster a spirit of joy and peace.

>> Most of us have been part of picnics…either from schools / parishes / as a family / as a community / as a group of friends.

A picnic becomes an occasion to share… to care…and to also dare to know each other more.

The Gospel of the Day is a lovely occasion of a Picnic…A picnic with Jesus.

A picnic basically has some essential elements…
1. A nice location
2. An accompaniment of joyful interactions
3. Good food
4. A sense of satisfaction and contentment

Our picnic with Jesus in today’s Gospel passage has all these elements.

Come…let’s join Jesus…in this wonderful time of a picnic…

1. A nice location:
The mood of a picnic is very often regulated by the choice of the place we make.

It should be something exciting, something scenic and something to involve ourselves in.

The location that Jesus chooses for this picnic is a Mountain (Lk 15:29)

A mountain is certainly an exciting place… a scenic location and moves our hearts to get involved in its beauty.

The mountain was one of the favourite places of the Lord.

This high altitude place was where Jesus could strengthen His attitude towards His mission.

He would spend hours of the night in communion with His Father on the mountains.

And so, He invites us to join with Him on the mountains…
… To relax in His love and to experience the coolness of His presence.
… To raise our thoughts to higher levels and overcome the worldly concerns.

2. An accompaniment of joyful interactions:

Great crowds came to Him, having with them the lame, the blind, the deformed, the mute and many others. They placed them at His feet and He cured them ( Mt 15:30)

The picnic with Jesus, on the mountain, becomes an occasion of cure and restoration.

On the mountain, Jesus becomes a fountain of healing and the source of joy.

3. Good food:
Food is one of the best parts of a picnic.

And the Lord lavishes abundant food to all those who were there with Him on the mountain.

Then, He took the seven loaves and the fish, gave thanks, broke the loaves and gave them to His disciples, who in turn, gave them to the crowds  (Mt 15:36)

It seemed to be a situation of starvation and hunger.
>> But the Lord converts this grim situation into an occasion of contentment and blessing.

His compassionate love overflows into a lavish multiplication of the loaves and the fish!

4. A sense of satisfaction and contentment:
Every picnic ideally should end on a note of great fulfillment and bliss.

The picnic with Jesus on the mountain, where He healed a lot of people, spoke His Life-giving words and blessed them with abundant food, becomes moments of happiness.

“They all ate and were satisfied…” (Lk 15:37)

It had been a lovely time for the people in this picnic with the Lord…

>> They had the picnic in a nice scenic location of the mountain
>> They had the picnic with many joyful interactions with Jesus, who healed and cured many.
>> They had the picnic with good food, in lavishness, provided by the Lord Himself.
>> They had the picnic with a great sense of satisfaction and deep fulfilment.

The Lord invites us to join with Him in a picnic with Him…
> To go to the mountain of prayer and intimacy with the Lord.
> To have joyful interactions with Him and receive His spiritual, emotional and physical healings.
> To be blessed with the good food of His Holy Eucharist and His nourishing Word.
> To have a great satisfaction in being filled with immense peace and serenity.

Let us enjoy the picnic with the Lord & make our lives a beautiful one…
… to share… to care…and to also dare to know the Lord more and  to help each other more.

God Bless! Live Jesus!

Dec 1 ( Lk 10:21-24)

Fr Jijo Manjackal MSFSLeave a comment

Some things in life are too beautiful to be forgotten…
Some things in life are too precious to be overlooked…
Some things in life are too meaningful to be avoided…

When one realizes the value of such things which are beautiful, precious & meaningful, life undergoes great transformation & conversion.

But the tragedy is that very often…
…such things fail to receive their due attention and honour
…such things fail to be accorded their deserving consideration and respect.

Among these things… the one which ranks as the best and the highest is the Holy Eucharist!

Today we shall consider the Gospel Passage from a Eucharistic perspective.

The Lord in today’s Gospel emphatically declares to His disciples,
“Blessed are the eyes, that see, what you see!” (Lk 10: 23)

When humanity sinned against God, He chose not to abandon the world; instead promised a Saviour and Redeemer.

This Messiah was awaited for many centuries.

>> Many righteous people were eagerly waiting for His coming…
>> Many Holy Prophets had prophesied His coming…

But when finally, He came, none recognized Him.

He was in the world and the world came to be through Him, but the world did not know Him.
He came to what was His own, but His own people did not accept Him (Jn 1: 10-11)

This was the most tragic of all twists…

God sought to write a perfect script for humanity.
>> But human beings, by their disobedience and pride, chose to malign this script.

And yet, God in His divine plan, sent a Hero to rescue the world.
>> But humans, once again, sought to tamper with God’s script, by not recognizing the Messiah!

The disciples were, however, given the special privilege to behold the Messiah!

This is why the Lord, in today’s Gospel, tells to His disciples, “Blessed are the eyes, that see, what you see!” (Lk 10: 23)

This Messiah is very much living and present in our world, in the Most Holy Eucharist.

Do we recognize and acknowledge this mighty and powerful presence of the Eucharistic Lord?

Our personal lives come into contact with daily struggles…

>> Family fights and disturbances…
>> Battling of sicknesses and diseases…
>> Rising Prices of essentials commodities…
>> Misunderstanding among relationships…
>> Cancers of alcoholism, drugs and smoking…
>> Tendency to give up the vocation to which we are called into…

> We have got our own battles to fight…
> We have got our own stories to tell….

In the midst of these daily scuffles and struggles of life, the Holy Eucharist ought to be the strength and support of our lives.

When we face financial crises and issues of economy and wealth…
>> Let us run to the Holy Eucharist, the supplier of every need and necessity.

When we face problems and cracks in our relationships…
>> Let us run to the Holy Eucharist, the unifier and connector of every bond.

When we face unacceptable behaviours and unhealthy habits…
>> Let us run to the Holy Eucharist, the One who can bring about true transformation.

When we face life-crippling sicknesses and paralyzing diseases…

>> Let us run to the Holy Eucharist, the healer and fountain of every consolation.

> The Holy Eucharist may not give us a perfect answers or solutions in the way we expect.
> The Holy Eucharist may not give us immediate responses and remedies in the manner we want.

But the Holy Eucharist will most certainly…

… strengthen us with grace and power to face the challenges with courage.

… infuse us with a deep and intense authority to defy any difficulties that we meet.

… empower us with immense joy and peace in order to withstand the storms of life.

The Lord waits for us day in and day out, in the Holy Eucharist.
>> Many turn to false philosophies in search of real joy.
>> Many turn to unhealthy spiritualities in search of true peace.
>> Many turn to unbecoming habits in search of lasting consolations.

We, however, are a chosen people… blessed with the grace to see, receive, worship and love the Eucharist.

> The Eucharist will give us real joy…
>> The Eucharist will give us true peace…
>>> The Eucharist will give us lasting consolation.

>> In the language of economics…
… It will be a big loss if we fail to tap on the mighty resource of the Holy Eucharist.

>> In the language of chemistry…
… It will be a big disaster if we fail to make use of the precious catalyst of the Holy Eucharist.

>> In the language of sociology…
… It will be a big tragedy if we fail to build on the valuable relationship with the Holy Eucharist.

>> In the language of physics…
… It will be a big failure if we fail to swing to our advantage the mechanism of the Holy Eucharist.

> The Holy Eucharist is a wonderful memorial that is too beautiful to be forgotten…

> The Holy Eucharist is a valuable gift that is too precious to be overlooked…

> The Holy Eucharist is a glorious treasure that is too meaningful to be avoided…

Let us the value of this beautiful, precious and meaningful Fortune and undergo a great transformation and conversion.

May we become a people who love and cherish the Holy Eucharist, and thus hear our Divine Lord telling us,
“Blessed are the eyes, that see, what you see!”

God Bless ! Live Jesus!

30 Nov ( Feast of St Andrew, the Apostle)

Fr Jijo Manjackal MSFS1 Comment

“I command you for the last time…. make your sacrifice to our gods” yelled Aegeas, the pagan judge.

“Certainly no!” was the reply back, “I sacrifice daily to The Almighty God, the one and true God.
Not the flesh of oxen and the blood of goats do I offer, but the unspotted Lamb upon the altar.

All the faithful partake of His flesh, yet the Lamb remains unharmed and living!”

Exceedingly angered by that adamant refusal, the judge commanded the rebel to be thrown into prison.

The supporters of the rebel, who stood outside the judging quarters, raised an uproar to free him.

But the one who was punished, personally calmed the mob, and earnestly pleaded with them to desist, as he was hastening towards an ardently desired crown of martyrdom.

When he was led to the place of martyrdom, on beholding the cross from far, he cried out:

“O Good Cross… so long desired and now set up for my longing soul, I confidently, with rejoicing come to you!

Exultingly receive me, a disciple of Him who hung on you.”

>> Within a few moments, he was tied to the cross – an X-shaped Cross!

For two days, he hung there.. alive… unceasingly proclaiming the Teachings of Christ, until he passed on to Him, whose likeness in death, he so ardently desired!

This brave martyr of Christ was St Andrew, the Apostle of Jesus, whose feast we celebrate today.

A few years back, this valiant martyr, St Andrew, had received the call of the Lord, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men” (Mt 4: 19)

The name “Andrew” in Greek means “manly” or “a person of valour”.

St Andrew was from Bethsaida, in Galilee.
>> He was a fisherman, by trade and a former disciple of John the Baptist.

St Andrew is said to have been martyred at Patras in southern Greece on a cross which was in the shape of an “X”.
>>This type of cross has long been known as “St.  Andrew’s cross.”
>> This St Andrew’s Cross, is depicted, on the national flag of Scotland.

One of the wonderful things that we learn from St Andrew is his wonderful quality of being a “Introducer to Christ”, as seen in the various instances of the Gospel

1. It was St Andrew who “introduced to Christ”, his brother Peter (Jn 1: 40-42)

>> “We have found the Messiah” (Jn 1:41) were the words with which he introduced Jesus to his brother

2. It was St Andrew who “introduced to Christ”, the little boy with the five loaves and two fish, which would be later, multiplied for five thousand men! (Jn 6: 5-13)

>> “There is a little boy, who has five barley loaves and two fish…” (Jn 6:9) were the words with which he introduced Jesus to the little boy

3. It was St Andrew who “introduced to Christ” the Greeks who had come up to worship at the feast, at the request of Philip (Jn 12: 20-23)

>> “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified” (Jn 12: 23) were the words with which Jesus reacted when he was introduced to the Greeks.

Thus, we see that St Andrew became an instrument and an active medium of “Introducing to Christ” many people.

As a Christian, this ought to be one great quality and duty that we ought to follow – “Introducing to Christ” many people…like St Andrew.

>> And this can be one of the beautiful practical resolutions, that we can, do, all the 25 days of this Advent Season, in preparation for the Birth of Christ, into our hearts and life – “Introducing to Christ”

How can I take up this task of “Introducing to Christ”?

Many around us long to hear a word of encouragement in their brokenness, receive a word of consolation in their struggles and encounter a smile of hope in their helplessness
>> Can I “Introduce them to Christ” – to His love, to His message of hope, to His treasury of providence?

Many around us have immersed themselves into the murky waters of sin, immorality, injustice and insensitivity to people and nature
>> Can I “Introduce them to Christ” – to His ocean of mercy, to His fountain of justice and to His abundance of warmth?

Many around us have separated themselves and live in isolation – from people in relationships, from the Church and Her teachings, from the responsibilities and duties of their works and the society.
>> Can I “Introduce them to Christ” – to His dimension of wholeness in relations, to His Life-giving Sacraments and to His instruction of being faithful?

St Andrew heard the call of the Lord – “to follow Him”
>> He was touched by His love and was filled with a passion for His Master
>> He was zealous to bring many more to the Love of Jesus
>> He was even willing, to lay down his life, in imitation of his Master, for love of Him

We too, have heard the call of the Lord  – “to follow Him”
>> Are we touched by His love and was filled with a passion for His Master
>> Are we zealous to bring many more to the Love of Jesus
>> Are we also, willing, to lay down our life, in imitation of our Master, for love of Him

May St Andrew intercede for us and inspire us, by his tremendous love for the Master…
…. And may we too, like him, become people who “Introduce many to Christ”!

Happy Feast of St Andrew, the zealous Apostle who “Introduced many to Christ”!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

Nov 29 ( Lk 21:25-28, 34-36)

Fr Jijo Manjackal MSFSLeave a comment

Legends are common and are important to a culture.

A legend is a semi-true story, which has been passed on from person-to-person and has important meaning or symbolism inherent in it.

It usually includes an element of truth, involve heroic characters or based on historic facts, but with ‘mythical qualities’.

One such famous legend is that of King Nero.

In AD 64, a great fire consumed the city of Rome.
>>  For six days & seven nights, the Romans watched helplessly as their city burned..

This historical fact is accompanied by a legend which says that while the city of Rome was burning, its Emperor Nero was very casually busy, playing the fiddle!

It’s from this legend (true or not) that we get the English phrase “To play the fiddle while Rome burns”

>> It means to “do nothing or something trivial while knowing that something disastrous is happening”.

>> It means “to spend time enjoying oneself or doing things that are not important when one should be dealing with a serious problem”

The Gospel of the Day is a strong warning to examine whether we too, as in the legend of Nero, are engaging ourselves “in playing the fiddle, while Rome burns”.

We are on the first day of the Season of Advent.

In the Church, there are six different liturgical seasons…

1. The Season of Advent is a time to become aware of God’s deep faithfulness and preparing our hearts to receive Him more deeply into our lives.

2. The Season of Christmas invites us to experience, thank and cherish the intervention of God in our lives and to grow deeper in the understanding of the ‘Emmanuel God’ – the God Who is with us!

3. The Season of Lent invites us to focus on the reality of sin and make repentance.

4. The Season of Holy Triduum  invites to focus and experience the passion, death and Resurrection of our Blessed Lord

5. The Season of Easter invites us to focus on the mighty power of God through His Resurrection and the New life He promises.

6. The Season of the Ordinary Times invites us to focus on daily life and teachings of Jesus and draw practical conclusions for our life.

>> Advent is a time to become more aware of the presence of the Lord in our lives.

>> Advent is a time to wake up from the slumber of sin to a life of grace and blessing.

>> Advent is a time to shake off the dust of sluggishness and become more zealous and fervent.

The central theme of reading of the Day is Jesus’ warning to each one of us to be alert, watchful and prepared because Christ’s Second Coming can occur at any time.

We are invited to examine ourselves in asking….
>> Am I casually wasting away my life, without giving enough attention to my spiritual life?

>> Am I spending my time enjoying in vain, without paying attention to the higher things of life?

>> Am I dozing off in lethargy and laziness and failing to carry out my Christian responsibilities?

The Gospel of the Day speaks of the various signs that would signal the coming of the Son of Man. (Lk 21: 25-28)

It also gives a strict warning and a hard reminder to be always on the alert and be on the watch.
>> “But take heed…lest that day come upon you suddenly like a snare” (Lk 21: 34-35)

The Greek word used for “snare” is “pagis”.

> ‘Pagis’ comes from the word ‘pegnumi’ which means “a set up or a fix”.

It is a trap (fixed or fastened by a noose or notch) which can fall suddenly  so that wild animals and birds are caught by surprise.
>> And when it is set off there is no time to withdraw and avoid getting caught.

As soon as the prey takes the first bite or the first step, the snare is set off— and before the prey knows what happened, they are caught.

The Lord describes His Second Coming to the World  as this ‘snare’…. giving no time or chance for escape.

Everyone who is caught up with the cares of this life –  the day will come on them like a snare!

This, therefore, calls for alertness and watchfulness at all times.
>>  Our whole life, ought to be drenched in preparation and  vigilance.

But often times, we tend to allow laxity and sloppiness to dominate our lives.

We tend to become people “who play the fiddle, while Rome burns…”
>> Though we sense the fire of sins and transgressions burning in our lives, we play the fiddle of making many excuses and postpone the need to repent.

>> Though we sense the fire of indifference and unconcern burning in our relationships, we play the fiddle of not taking the lead to improve our contacts and slip into more hatred.

>> Though we sense the fire of abuses and corruption burning in our society, we play the fiddle of passing the responsibility onto others and promote those evils by our apathy and lack of concern.

This Season of Advent is a wonderful time to renew our commitment and consecration to the Lord.

The Lord wishes to come into our hearts….
… God will fulfill His promise of coming into us, when we do our part of being watchful and prepared.

As St. Thomas Aquinas says:
“Without God, I can’t. 
Without me, He won’t.”

> Let us become more watchful.
> Let us become more prayerful.

Let us stop “playing the fiddle while Rome burns”;
…  instead let us “be enthusiastic and responsible while (our heavenly) Home calls!”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

28 Nov (Lk 21:34-36)

Fr Jijo Manjackal MSFSLeave a comment

All of us have had the experience of utilizing certain things or products which work quite fine for some time….but as time passes, becomes less effective or less efficient.

> A ceiling fan/ table fan, after few months or years, tends to be less forceful…
> A fast-processing computer after few months of years, tends to slow down…
> Colourful clothes after a few washes or usage, tends to lose their initial glean and shine…

A similar aspect could be visible in our spiritual lives as well!

The Gospel of the Day is a reminder to examine this aspect in our lives and to make amends, in order to revitalise and revive our lives.

The Gospel begins with the verse ” But take heed to yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation…”  (Lk 21:34)

Dissipation is strong word which could have several parallel understandings…

>> With respect to morality:
Dissipation refers to an overindulgence in sensual pleasures.

>> With respect to behaviour:
Dissipation refers to a conduct that shows one is interested only in pleasure, money, etc.

>> With respect to economics:
Dissipation refers to an act of using all or a lot of money, time, etc., in a foolish way.

>> With respect to physics:
Dissipation refers to a physical process by which energy becomes not only unavailable but irrecoverable in any form.

Dissipation is a tendency…
… to squander away enthusiasm because of allowing monotony to creep into life.
… to lose vitality as a result of being indulged in continuous immoral behaviours
… to leak-out the energy and vigor in oneself, in small amounts and thus become lifeless
… to become disinterested and dispirited due to constant exposure to luxury and comforts

Dissipation is a terrible malady that has badly affected many people in the Bible…

>> The people during Noah’s time were dissipated with eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage,  although God had sent out a warning of their destruction through Noah.

>> The citizens of Sodom and Gomorrah were dissipated with extremely immoral and corrupt practices, even though  the people were given a forewarning of their possible.

>> The people of Israel were dissipated with frustration and dissatisfaction while travelling in the desert and failed to understand the providential hand of God.

>> The disciples of Jesus were dissipated with sadness, shattering of hopes and brokenness after the death of Jesus and failed to believe and trust in His great promises.

We have a call to examine our lives and check whether we too have fallen into a state of “dissipation”…

>> Maybe my prayer life is “dissipated” due to various distractions, excuses of lack of time, complaints of being tired or just simply a lack of interest…

>> Maybe my personal intimacy with God is “dissipated” since I don’t experience any joyful or experiential feelings or because some of my expectations of God are not met…

>> Maybe my relationships with people is “dissipated” due to some friction or misunderstanding or an indifference that has sneaked in without any particular reason.

>> Maybe my family/community life is “dissipated” because I feel disinterested or not so enthusiastic in going beyond some of my personal comforts or I feel lonely in not feeling accepted or loved.

Dissipation can be a tendency that can steal into our lives very stealthily and can drain away much of our energy, eagerness and passion.

In the book of Revelations, the Lord has this complaint, ” ..I have this against you: you have lost the love you had at first. Realize how far you have fallen. Repent and do the works you did at first” (Rev 2:4-5)

>>> Let us seek to renew our initial fervour and zeal.
>>> Let us challenge ourselves to revive our zest and interest.

The Lord deserves not “dissipated” people, but “spirited” and “passionate” people!

God Bless! Live Jesus!