There is a particular type of a caterpillar called as “Pine Processional Caterpillars”.

These “Processional Caterpillars” walks in long lines, each one following closely the next in front.

A noted French naturalist named Jean Henri Fabre, once conducted an experiment on them.

He took a flowerpot and placed of a number of these “Processional Caterpillars” in a single-file around the circumference of the rim of a flower-pot.
>> Each caterpillar’s head touched the one in front of it.

He then placed the caterpillar’s favourite food in the middle of the pot.

He was surprised to observe that each of the caterpillar followed the one ahead, thinking it was heading for the food.
>> Round and round went these insects – for several days!

Finally, after many days of this absurd activity, the caterpillars started to drop dead – because of exhaustion and starvation!

All that they had to avoid the snare of death was to stop the senseless rounding around the pot and head directly to the food, that was placed less than six-inches away from them!

However, these “Processional Caterpillars” were trapped in a lifestyle which made them to only follow the one ahead, and were unable to “disentangle” themselves from the habit of ‘blindly’ following others!

Am I turning out to be a “Processional Christian”?
> claiming to follow Christ, just because others are doing the same or I have got into the “rut” of a system?
> aimlessly following Christ, without any conviction or sometimes even awareness of why I am doing so?

The Gospel of the Day presents to us  a beautiful set of “Followers of Christ” who pursued Him in faith, in conviction and with a sense of clear purpose.

The Gospel of St Luke gives an interesting list of people (of course, there would also have been others), who followed Jesus closely and were part of His Kingdom Ministry (Lk 8: 1-3).

1. The Twelve Apostles
2. Mary Magdalene
3. Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward
4. Susanna and many others

Its edifying to learn some aspects from each of these sets of people…

1. The Twelve Apostles

> They were people of opposing temperaments, differing characters, conflicting backgrounds and divergent personalities.

Yet, the “glue” of ‘belonging to Christ’ kept them together

Can I learn the aspect of..
… going beyond my personal differences and accidental characteristics, to forge together beautiful and faithful relationships, in my family, my workplaces, my communities etc, in order to follow Christ closer?

2. Mary Magdalene

> She had personally experienced the power of Christ’s healing

This made her to keep her focus on the Lord, her God and to be intimately following Him for the rest of her life

Can I learn the aspect of…
… recognising, cherishing and sustaining the many ‘miraculous and wonderful’ encounters of the Lord’s healing and care, that I experience on a daily basis, in order to passionately follow the Lord?

3. Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward

> She was the wife of Chuza, who was the steward of King Herod Antipas.

To follow Jesus involved a high level of risk for her, as there was a danger from King Herod, who was wicked and had expressed his displeasure by the murder of John the Baptist.

Can I learn the aspect of…
…. being daring and courageous in following the Lord, even at the risk of my life, the risk of being exposed to humiliation and the risk of bearing discouragements, persecutions and indifference from others?

4. Susanna and many others

> There is not much information on their identity but they were part of a section of the society i.e. women who were terribly maltreated and were given an unfair, unequal and unrecognisable positions in the Jewish religious hierarchy.

Can I learn the aspect of…
… being ready to break the mental barriers and the paralysing thought-patterns in the society which cripple one’s freedom, in order to become an authentic follower of the Lord?

These followers of Christ teach us vital lessons…

> of making radical transformations
> of valuing God’s wonderful workings in life
> of being courageously bold
> of overcoming challenges and barriers

… in order to Follow Christ – with conviction, with commitment and with certainty!

We cannot simply remain as “Processional Christians” –  being trapped in a lifestyle which makes us to “claim to follow Christ” and being unable to “disentangle” ourselves from the habit of ‘blindly’ following others!

We instead need to become…
> “Practical Christians” – who put into practice the preachings of Christ!
> “Praiseworthy Christians” – who live our lives seeking to please the Lord in every act and deed!
> “Precious Christians” – who live with a deep conviction of belonging to the Lord and making efforts to share His love to all!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

One night, a little girl knelt for her bed-time prayer.

She was a good girl, who would do a lot of good deeds – helping her Mom in her works, keeping the newspapers tidy for her Dad, sharing her chocolates with her younger brother etc…

The mother went close to the child and suggested things to be thankful for.

The Mother also added, “Won’t you ask the Lord to help you love Him more?”

The child lifted up her large button-shaped eyes with a puzzled look.

“What is it, dear?” asked the mother.

“Did you tell me to ask Him to help me love Him more, Mamma?” said the little girl, innocently.

“Yes, my little dear”

“But how can I love Him more, Mamma?” replied the little child, ” I am just crazy about Him now!”

The little child had, very early on in life, grasped the meaning of “falling in love” with God!

Have I “fallen in love” with the Lord and remain faithful to the love-life in the Lord?

The Gospel of the Day presents a wonderful expression of love towards Jesus and the subsequent acknowledgement of this gesture of love, by the Lord of Love!

The incident of sinner woman, washing the feet of Jesus in the house of Simon the Pharisee, ends with a statement, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” (Lk 7: 49)

The answer of this statement is probably what is expressed by the woman in her gesture of love.

Jesus was a guest in the house of Simon, the Pharisee.

It was probably one of those meals whereby a respected and wise host would invite several of the socially elite to dine with an important guest.

>> At this meal, they would recline along the table, laying down on their sides, to eat.

The meal would also involve a series of debates and discussions, over many crucial issues, centred around the special guest.

However, suddenly, out of nowhere, a lady enters in the scene.

It was one of those highly embarrassing and highly disgusting moments for the Host!

The lady was a known sinner…
… In the society, she had earned a notorious reputation

> Her very presence was causing terrible insult.

Her ensuing action..
> wiping the feet with the ointment from the alabaster jar
> wiping them with her hairs
> kissing them with tenderness
… caused still further damage to the reputation and honour of the host and his Guest!

However, what followed later, was like adding salt to the wounds of the host…

Jesus publicly recognises, acknowledges and appreciates the action of the sinful woman.

He says, in solemn tones of approval of the action of the woman, “…She has shown great love! The one to whom little is forgiven, loves little” (Lk 7: 48)

Jesus had openly and publicly acknowledged the tremendous and daring love of the woman for Him!

And in doing so, she had given an answer to the question that would be put forth later, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?”

Her actions of love gave an answer…
… that He was the One worthy of receiving the highest and deepest love – one that counts no humiliation or hardships!
… that He was the One deserving the sweetest and the most priceless affections of our hearts – one that is limitless!
… that He was the One meritorious of every expression of endearment and fondness – one that is passionate and pure!

What is my level of love for the Lord?

>> Am I courageous to express my love for Him in actions that trespass humiliations or shame or guilt?
>> Am I bold to show that I truly love Him by living a life in accordance with the virtues of the Gospel?:
>> Am I credible enough to say that I really love Him by extending His care to all those who are in need?

May the words of the great Doctor and Saint of the Church, St Robert Bellarmine, who feast we celebrate today, be our inspiration and motivation to live a life of courageous and daring love of the Lord:

“The school of Christ is the school of love.

In the last day, when the general examination takes place…Love will be the whole syllabus”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

The General Electric Company is a multinational conglomerate company, which caters to the needs of home appliances, financial services, medical devices, life sciences, pharmaceutical etc.

>> Every year, this company uses more than one and a half million sapphires for bearings in meters and other delicate apparatus.

However, it is highly necessary that there should be a detection to separate the synthetic gems from the natural ones.

Towards this end, a cathode ray tube has been developed by a team of researchers.

>> If, in a dark room, the rays from this tube are thrown for a few seconds on a tray of stones, they all glow.

>> However, when the rays are turned off, the artificial sapphires continue to glow and may be picked out of the tray, while the natural sapphires cannot be seen.

This is an easy way of picking up the artificial ones from those which are natural.

Is not something similar that happens to our Christian lives?

The authenticity of our life is exposed and revealed when the rays of Christ’s teaching are made to fall on us!

> Some of us may be seen shining brightly and appearing to have dazzling lustre
> Some of us may be seen to be apparently very good and being seen to be externally righteous.

But when the rays of Christ’s teaching fall on us, will our hypocrisy and duplicity get exposed… ?
… or do I have the credibility and integrity, in my life, to be recognised as an authentic follower of God and an ardent missionary of the Kingdom?

The Gospel of the Day is an exposition on the attitudes of duplicity and being double-standard that can cram our Christian lives.

Jesus gives an illustration…  of “children sitting in the market place and calling to one another, ‘We piped to you and you did not dance; we wailed and you did not weep'” (Lk 7: 32) 

It was a tragedy of that generation…
… that two of the great leaders – John and Jesus – though came with apparently contrasting, found themselves rejected!
… that these two great messengers of the Kingdom, met with a tragic end – one beheaded, the other crucified!

And it shows an important philosophy that underlies many lives: an attitude of indifference to the truth and an attitude of rejection of those who challenge our lives!

This tragedy affects our generation too…
We wrap ourselves often in the garment of hard-heartedness and arrogance…
… and fail to allow the message of the Truth to bring a transformation in our lives

We neatly hide ourselves in the dark shadows of indifference and apathy…
… and remain unconcerned with the workings of God’s power and grace in our hearts

But the Lord today renders a wake-up call to shake off the dusts of apathy, hypocrisy and indifference from our lives.

In the power of the rays of Christ’s teaching,  our hypocrisy and duplicity will get exposed…
… But can I seek to mould my life to possess  credibility and integrity, in order to be recognised as an authentic follower of God and an ardent missionary of the Kingdom?

May we seek the intercession of St Cyprian and St Cornelius, whose feast we celebrate today.

>> They offered their lives in defence of their Faith in Christ and for the sake of the Kingdom.

May the words of St Cyprian inspire and ring the bells of true repentance and honest contrition in us:

“When once you have departed this life, there is no longer any place for repentance, no way of making satisfaction.

> Here, life is either lost or kept.
> Here, by the worship of God and by the fruit of faith, provision is made for eternal salvation.

Let no one be kept back either by his sins or by his years from coming to obtain salvation.
To him who still remains in this world, there is no repentance that is too late.”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

A prayer meeting was on.

The participants were reciting the Rosary of the Seven Dolours (the seven sorrows of our Blessed Mother Mary).

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

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

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

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

While on earth, there was no one who was closer to our Blessed Lord than His Own Beloved Mother.
> He received His body from Her.
> He received His training from Her

With Him, she rejoiced… With Him, she suffered.

And finally, in those deepest agonizing moments on the Cross, there was none who suffered more than Her!

Every pain of Her Little Child, was experienced by the Blessed Mother

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

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

This feast is dedicated to the spiritual martyrdom of our Blessed Mother.

The title “Our Lady of Sorrows” focuses on Mother Mary’s intense suffering during the Passion and Death of Jesus.

The Gospel of day also presents the intense pain and heart-brokenness of a mother…. a widow….for her only son ( Lk 7: 11-17)

Jesus encounters the Widow of Nain who had lost her only son to harsh reality of death.

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

The woman was a widow…
She had lost her only son.

Being a widow meant being subjected to a life of extreme insult, torture and hardships.
>> Now the loss of her only son, meant being subjected to further disgrace, humiliations and rejections!

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

The only Son of a Widow would be dead
….and the Widow would be rendered helpless!

> The widow of Nain would have her son restored back to life, by the power of Jesus.

> The widow of Nazareth also will have Her Son back to life…by the power of the Heavenly Father…
… and it would be a inauguration of a promise of a glorious life to all who place their trust in Him!

Suffering is an immense and an intense reality of our lives.

Many times, sufferings hit our lives when…
… we least expect it
… we are least prepared for it

Such moments of pain and agony…when encountered without any faith….
… can cause us to lose any meaning in life and renders our life to be shorn of hope
… can cause us to question God and His goodness and strips our faith of its strength
… can cause us to have recourse to “unbecoming” means to relieve ourselves from pain

However, such moments of suffering and difficulties…. when faced with deep faith and trust…
… will become occasions of God’s overflowing grace filling our lives and making us stronger
… will become occasions for us to depend deeper on our Creator and to feel His power more strongly
… will become occasions for us to realise the value of life and become more compassionate towards others

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

She had every reason to complain and fight against God…
She had every reason to protest and abandon God and His Will…
She had every reason to murmur and let go of the plan of God for Her…

But, the “Yes” that she pronounced at the Annunciation was echoed all through her life.. at every step
.. be it in times of joy and calmness
.. be it in times of sadness and calamity

The “Yes” she said was the Final Profession she made…
… just as the Religious make on the Day of their Profession
… just as the Priests make on the Day of their Ordination
… just as the Married make to each other, on their Day of Wedding

It was binding for life.. It was committed to, with conviction… It was lived in sincerity, with dedication.

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

These two hearts have undergone immense pain and suffering… and still rejoiced in Love!

We are invited to live a life…
> free from sin
> filled with love
> firm in conviction
> fashioned in grace
… like our Beloved and Blessed Mother Mary!

May we be filled with a courage and grace to truly make it our prayer:
“Holy Mother, pierce me through
In my heart, each wound renew
Of my Saviour Crucified!”

Wish you a Happy Feast of our Compassionate Mother, who is ever with us in our every sorrow…
…. and helps us, to follow Her Crucified Son and Our Strengthening Saviour, Jesus!

Bless! Live Jesus!

A small boy made a toy sail-boat.

He fashioned it with a great care.

With much pride and love, he admired his creation – with its fresh blue and white paint as he was ready to sail it in the nearby stream.

Unfortunately, as the toy boat set sailing, a strong wind rushed on, and the boat escaped from the little boy’s fingers and from his sight…
…. Down the stream went the boat from it’s grief-stricken owner!

The boy gazed in shock and dismay, but was unable to get it back.

A few weeks later, the boy happened to be walking down the street near his house, when his eyes chanced upon something blue and white in colour, that was displayed in a toy shop.

He went to look closer… and to his grand surprise, he recognised it as his own boat – his lovely creation!

He rushed inside the shop and demanded that the man give his boat.
> However, he was accorded a blunt refusal.

The shopkeeper claimed that he had paid for the little boat and if the boy wanted it, he would have to pay.

The boy was saddened.
> He knew that the shopkeeper was lying to him.
> He knew that it was his boat – the one he had shaped with his own hands, with much love.

“I have to get back my precious boat”, said the boy to himself.

With this determination, the boy went to join for work in a nearby shop, and in a few weeks time, managed to collect the required amount.

With money in his hands, the boy, once again, entered the toy shop and demanded his boat.

The shopkeeper had to accept the money and hand over the boat.

As the little boy, with a beaming face, left the shop, he made a tender statement to the little boat:
“You are mine, little boat..You are mine!
Twice mine; once because I made you, and twice because I bought you”

How beautiful is this an illustration of our own lives…..
> We have been bought by Christ…. at the price of His life and His blood!

Today we celebrate the Feast of the instrument that was employed by Divinity in buying our souls to Himself – the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.

In today’s Gospel (Jn 3: 13-17), Jesus tells to Nicodemus, “.. as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life” (Jn 3: 14)

Centuries before Jesus was crucified, Divinity in its Immense Wisdom was already preparing for the plan of salvation!

Having been powerfully freed from the slavery in Egypt, the people of Israel were travelling to the Promised Land through the wilderness.

>> However, this difficult journey cause the people to lose their patience, and they murmured against God and His servant, Moses on the lack of comforts!

The result of this sin was the plague of poisonous serpents, that caused suffering and death to them.

However at the intercession of Moses, God had him lift up a bronze serpent on a pole, so that all who looked it would be healed!

This was the foreshadowing of the Cross of Christ!

Like the people of Israel, our life is often a journey through the wilderness.
> Sometimes there is a lack of comfort.
> Sometimes there is an inflation of hardships
> Sometimes there is an increase in uncertainty.
… And we begin to complain, grumble… falling into many sinful ways and habits!

But Divine Love, wanting to have us back to Him, provides us the means to be rescued from the deadly effects of such sins…
… The Holy Cross is the Symbol of this redemption and salvation that is won for us, by Christ!

Are we ready to take refuge in the shadows of this Holy Cross, and affirming our sincere acceptance of Christ in our lives, do we live a holy life, worthy of our salvation?

Usually the heart is considered to be the symbol of Love..
>> But, from a Christian perspective, probably, the Holy Cross is the most beautiful and apt symbol of the Immense love of God for each one of us.

> The Cross demands sacrifice…
> The Cross demands an self-emptying nature…
> The Cross demands a complete commitment…
.. And this is indeed the true nature of love  – sacrificial, self-emptying and committed!

As we honour and venerate the Holy Cross, may we hear the words of our Crucified Lord, tenderly whispering to us, with deep love and affection:
“You are mine, little one… You are mine!
Twice mine; once because I made you, and twice because I bought you”

Wish you a very Happy Feast of the Holy Cross!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

We’ve all been to hotels or cafeterias.

Hotels or cafeterias provide a menu book or a menu card, which allows the customers to select and choose their choice of food or drink.

> This choice of food depends on various factors : The availability of food, the company of friends we have, the mood and feelings of our mind, the time and occasion of the meal etc…

The choice of food varies based on several changing factors!

This cafeteria mentality works out very well for our food taste and our appetite.

But sometimes, we adopt a similar attitude, even in our Christian Lives!

>> We like to pick and choose aspects and portions of Christ and Christianity to fit into our choice…

>> We like to prefer and select parts and segments of Christ and Christianity which are more comfortable…

We follow a “Cafeteria Spirituality” in Christianity!

The Gospel of the Day warns and cautions against choosing this attitude of a Cafeteria Spirituality in following Christ and instead demands a total commitment – “If anyone would follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow Me” (Mk 8: 34)

Today’s Gospel is the familiar passage of Jesus enquiring His disciples with the dual-query, “Who do people say that I am?” and “Who do you say that I am?” (Mk 7: 27b, 29)

The world may have innumerable answers when the question “Who do people say that I am?” is posed.

>> Many saw Jesus preaching zealously on repentance…and considered Him as John the Baptist

>> Many saw Jesus being mighty in deeds and wondrous acts…and considered Him as Elijah

>> Many saw Jesus powerfully authoritative in his words…and considered Him a Prophet

But most of them failed to see Jesus truly as the One He really was! The SON OF GOD!

This can easily happen to any one of us too.

> We may find Jesus as a source of many powers and many blessings and with many qualities.
… And we may tap this source for our various needs and wants.

> We may be deeply impressed with Jesus and His huge treasury of teachings
… And we may admire and appreciate Him as a Great Moral Teacher

> We may look at Jesus as being a wonderful person, like many other great people in the world
..  And we may engage ourselves in studying about Him, collecting quotes on Him and reading various books on Him

But with all these “varied” qualities and dimensions, sometimes, we tend to forget the fact that our Blessed Lord…

… came not merely to be a storehouse of blessings and favours to be delivered

… came not simply to give some teachings and bring some societal transforms with some philosophies

… came not simply to be called as a “great man” and become a subject of many books, articles, talks etc

He primarily came to be Our Saviour!
> He came to help us gain eternal life
> He came to save us from our sins
> He came to win us back to God

But sometimes, we adopt a “Cafeteria Spirituality” in our understanding and following of the Lord.

We choose the qualities we like but in the process, we might sometimes lose the very person Himself!

The Cafeteria Spirituality in our Spiritual Life may cater to many of our wants.
>> But it might be found short of answering our basic need of salvation and redemption!

Jesus is primarily our Messiah…the Anointed one..the Saviour of the World!

This is what Peter boldly expressed, “You are the Messiah of God”!

>> This understanding of the Real Jesus can be experienced only through our complete commitment to the cause of Christ and a faithful following by taking up our crosses.

The Lord encounters each one of us today personally and puts forward  the same question,
“Who do YOU say that I am?”

Am I going to adopt the “Cafeteria Spirituality” and answer vaguely, imprecisely and abstractedly
depending on my moods and likings and situations?

Or I am ready to give a bold and convinced answer to the Lord, from the depth of our hearts,
“Lord, you are truly the Messiah of God…You truly are my Saviour and Lord!”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

It is said that “Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment”.

Discipline, in general, ought to be based on four F’s:
> Firmness
> Fondness
> Frankness
> Fairness

The Book of Proverbs 13: 24 says, “Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them”.

Disciplining a person, with the principles of firmness, fondness, frankness and fairness, is an act of charity and an expression of genuine love.

The Gospel of the Day presents a verse of disciplining by the Lord – the One Who deeply yearns that we always walk in the right path and in the ways of perfection.

Jesus says, “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord’, and not do what I tell you?” (Lk 6: 46)

The test of true love consists in a faithful obedience to the one who is loved.
> The spouses may exchange gestures of love and affection…
… but do they also exhibit true love by caring for each other, respecting each others’ opinion and accepting one another as they are?

> Children may say that they truly love and care for their parents…
… but do they also exhibit it in action, by being obedient to them and taking practical heed of their advices?

> Students may express their concern and acknowledgement for their teachers…
… but do they also display it in their life, by faithful abiding to what is expected of them as students?

To say “I love you”, but failing to show it forth in actions of obedience, is mere farcical!

There is therefore, a great need to examine – in honesty and sincerity – when we say “I love you” to the Lord.

Our Blessed Lord raises a tone of pleading when He asks, “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord’, and not do what I tell you?”

It has tones similar to…
… a parent who tells the child, “Why do you say, you like me, when you constantly disobey me and fail to give heed to my words?”

… a teacher who tells the student, “Why do you say, I want to be a good student, when you fail to make efforts to learn and do your
works,in the proper time and in the right manner?”

… an elderly person who advises a young person, “Why do you say, I wish to lead a happy life, but still continue to walk in the paths of immorality, dishonesty and lethargy?”

The Lord is deeply interested in the well-being of our lives…
.. but somehow, we fail to understand this aspect, and continue to live a life, as per our own wishes and fancies!

And therefore, the Lord raises the rod of discipline, and makes it very clear – a stern warning – with the parable of the Two Foundations.

>> Unless you live a life, founded on the rock of obedience, the “house” of your life will not stand!

>> If you seek to base your life on the “sands” of disobedience, be assured, that soon it will have a tragic collapse!

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Most Holy name of Mary, the Mother of God.

> Mother Mary always points us to God, reminding us of infinite goodness of God
> She helps us to open our hearts to the ways of God, wherever those may lead.

May we seek the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary to give heed to the “disciplining call” of the Lord, and reform our lives, so that our love for the Lord may show forth in true obedience and sincere submission!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

In a particular town, there lived a cobbler, who was unable to make a living by his trade.

Driven to despair by his poverty, he accommodated himself in another far-away town, and began to practise medicine.

He sold a drug which he claimed to be an antidote for all sorts of poisons.
>> Towards this end, he also created a great popularity campaign through advertisements and boastful proclamations.

Unfortunately, in a short period of time, the cobbler himself happened to fall sick to a serious illness.

The ruler of the town sought this as a nice chance to test his medicine’s capability and the man’s genuineness.

For this, the ruler called for a cup, and filling it with water, pretended to mix poison with the cobbler’s antidote, commanding him to drink, with a promise of a handsome reward.

The sick cobbler, overcome with much fear and trembling, confessed that he had no knowledge of medicine!

The ruler then called the people of the town and addressed them:
” Oh how foolish are you!
You have not hesitated to entrust your heads to a man, whom no one could employ to even make shoes for their feet!”

Often times, perhaps, it so happens that we too…
… get fooled in life
… get led by people who are incapable
… get ourselves to be a slave to things which are unbecoming

We become blind…. and perhaps, we also lead others to stumble!

Our Blessed Lord in today’s Gospel invites us to deep examination of the quality of our lives and our credibility in being a leader.

Jesus says, “Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit?” (Lk 6: 39)

This verse is a reference to two sets of people: one, the guide.. second, the one who is led.

We could find ourselves in either of these categories or sometimes even both.

>> We could be a guide or one who is guided or both – a guide as well as one who is guided.

In any of the cases, one needs to examine one’s quality of life.

Am I shrouded in the darkness of being in ignorance and apathy…
> disinterested to learn and be willing to know more…?
> causing others to be misled and creating confusions and misunderstandings…?

Am I a person who is sunk into the dark abyss of being prejudiced and unforgiving….
> unwilling to be open to the truth and adamant in considering to even review or re-examine my own viewpoints…?
> blinded to accept differences and failing to cherish diversity and thus constantly being at loggerheads with others…?

Am I constantly veiled under the dark shades of being unjustly critical and judgemental…
> full of pride and being unable to let go of my own selfish interests and self-centred wants…?
> enamoured by a pleasure in looking for opportunities and means to put down others or find faults with others…?

Our Blessed Lord invites us to make an honest review of our lives and to be constantly willing to ring in positive transformations.

May we seek to put into the practise the beautiful saying:
” If you use the head with which you reprove others to reprove yourself, there will be fewer faults;
If you use the heart with which you forgive yourself to forgive others, there will be perfect friendship”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

A nine year old girl was walking through the fields, a little away from her home, when two persons, appearing to befriend her, asked her to help collect fruits from the forest.

Brought up with the good habit of showing courtesy to elders, the girl hurried to obey.
But soon she realised that it was a trick to kidnap her!

“I saw two persons behind me,” she would recall later. “One of them briskly grabbed me with one hand, while the other one pulled out a knife and held it to my side.
He told me, ‘If you cry, you’ll die! Follow us!’

After a forced march, the girl was sold as a slave.

The captors gave her a name, in Arabic, which meant (ironically) “The Lucky One!”

Though this title was intended to be a sarcastic one, it came about to express the girl’s approach towards life.

In the coming years, she gladly accepted the name.

After her release, she amazingly, even thanked God for the good that had come, from her suffering.

“If I were to meet those who kidnapped me, and even those who tortured me,” she wrote, “I would kneel and kiss their hands.

For if these things had not happened, I would not have been a Christian and a religious today.”

The name of the girl is St Bakhita –  a Saint for those who are “prisoners of the past”!

>> She was able to heroically display the Christian virtue of forgiveness.. especially to the enemies – those who had persecuted her and had cause irreparable damages to her life!

In life, so often we get “imprisoned by our past”!

This is true especially from the perspective of relationships…
>> There are many who cause hurts and pains to us
>> There are many against whom we have causes to hold grudge in the heart
>> There are many with whom we find it difficult to relate and extremely hard to forgive

The past clings to us in a mighty way…

“Enemies” are, undoubtedly, a reality in most of our lives!

What is our attitude and approach to these “enemies” in our life?

The Gospel of the Day is a bold challenge by Jesus to “love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you!” (Lk 6: 27)

One of the sayings goes thus, “Divinity cannot be confined to one’s pockets or be contained in one’s purse!”

So vivid is this saying in the life of Jesus, the Fullness of Divinity.

> Jesus does not allow to be confined to the tiny pockets of our mindsets
> Jesus does not permit to be limited to the finite purses of our expectations

He goes much beyond…. His teachings reach a new level…

This is what we come across when we challenge ourselves with the words of the Lord:
“Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you!” (Lk 6: 27)

There are four explicit commands that are given:
1. Love
2. Do Good
3. Bless
4. Pray

All these four exhortations are very often in direct contrast to what we expect or what we wish

1. Love your enemies

> Our natural tendency towards our “enemies” is that of animosity or grudge or at the best, indifference

But Jesus says to go beyond… Love them!

>>> Love them… in a way, that they are able to experience the Mighty Love that God has for each one of us!
>>> Love them… in a way, that no hateful feelings get sown or nurtured in our hearts and we be free in our minds!

2. Do good to those who hate

> Our common inclination to those who hate is to say, “Why should I have anything to do with someone who is least interested in me and only keeps hurting me?”

But Jesus says to go beyond – Do good to them!

>>> Do good to them… in a way, that our good actions – little or big, seen or unseen – become actions that evoke repentance and contrition!
>>>  Do good to them… in a way, that gestures of charity is a way to crush our own ego and pride feelings and makes us to be humbler, in imitation of Christ who totally humbled Himself!

3. Bless those who curse you

> Our first instinct to those who curse us to “give back still strongly” in return and wish the worst for the concerned person.

But Jesus says to go beyond – Bless them!

>>> Bless them… in a way, that our holy wishes may move the heart of the one who offends us and we become a channel and active instrument to allow God’s forgiveness to flow
>>> Bless them… in a way, that our words of grace may heal the vibrations of negativity and hatred and evokes the mighty power of God against the dark forces of Satan

4. Pray for those who abuse you

> Our immediate reaction to those who abuse is to abuse in return or to let out a volley of unfit phrases or violent actions and gestures

But Jesus says to go beyond –  Pray for them!

>>> Pray for them… in a way, that the grace of God’s mercy and compassion may descend into the relationship
>>> Pray for them… in a way, that the the words of abuse may fizzle out in the blazing power of prayer and holiness

Life constantly seeks to “imprison us in our past”
>>But God’s Grace coupled with our willingness to co-operate with His grace, will allow us to “live in love and holiness”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

A highly rich and influential person was privileged to be one of the special guests to undertake a 21-day cruise on a Majestic Battleship.

This ship belonged to the former Emperor of the land, and had been modernized with immense facilities and luxurious features.

The man was highly impressed with the comforts that were provided on board.

Among the many things that made a pleasant impact on him was also the Sunday Morning Mass that was attended by all the sailors and attendants, who were not on duty.

It was more so, since the man himself was not so particular about the practise of faith.

At the conclusion of the celebration of the Mass, the man asked one of the sailors:

“Are you obliged to attend these Sunday Morning services?”

“It’s not exactly about obligation, Sir!” replied the sailor, “but our journey is assured to be in safe hands, by this our offering to the Lord”!

Those sailors and attendants had made a conscious and deliberate choice to practise their faith and to surrender themselves to the Higher Power for safety and protection.

Our lives are also similar to such cruises…
… sometimes going through calm and quiet waters
… sometimes struggling in disturbed and turbulent waters
… sometimes encountering dangerous storms and violent gales

Do we make a constant choice for the Lord and live ourselves in surrender to Him?

The Gospel of the Day is the beautiful teaching of the Beatitudes in the Gospel of Luke.
>> The beatitudes are assurances of blessing and joy to all those who make a conscious choice for the Lord and His Kingdom!

Jesus says, “Blessed are you poor, for yours is the Kingdom of God” (Lk 6: 20)

One of the great messages in this verse is the Message of Hope!

The Greek word used for “poor” is “ptochos”

Ptochos means…
>> reduced to beggary or asking for alms
>> destitute of wealth, influence, position, honour
>> helpless, powerless to accomplish an end

It’s interesting to note that this word “Ptochos” has its origin in the word “ptosso” which means “to crouch”

Therefore, the “poor” literally means, “one who is crouching” –  a position where the knees are bent and the upper body is brought forward and down

>> It’s a position that is very often defied and despised, in the worldly standards, which emphasizes on being proud and haughty!
>> It’s a position that is very often made fun of and fooled, in the eyes of the world, which glorifies pomp and external show!

Thus, when the Lord says, “Blessed are the poor”, it is a tremendous message of Hope…
… To those who find themselves at the peripheries of life
… To those lost in the miseries of life and find no hope – materially, spiritually, mentally, socially

Of course, the word “poor” does not mean…
.. that one simply becomes timid and passive or be simply submissive to any social evils without any resistance
… that one adopts an attitude of being “always hands folded” in surrender or “faces cast down” in defeat

“Poor” instead refers to the fact that one has God has one’s greatest strength and treasure

>> Being “poor in the Lord”, contradictory as it may sound, is the greatest richness that one can have.

>> Being “poor in the Lord” gives the greatest confidence to a person, who realises that being in God, one can never fail!

How true is the saying, “One who kneels before God, can stand before anyone!”

>> One who is dependant on God and His Grace…
>> One who is willing to challenge the societies unjust norms with the mighty trust in God…
>> One who is aware of one’s strengths and weaknesses and yet offers oneself entirely to the power of God…
Such a one, in the eyes of the world may be “poor”… but is “Blessed” in the sight of God!

> It takes courage to be a Christian who is committed!
> It requires a conviction to be a follower of Christ who is passionate!

Tomorrow we celebrate the Feast of St Peter Claver, who is the patron of the African Missions and of inter-racial justice, due to his work with the slaves in Columbia.

May we seek his intercession to make a constant choice for the Lord and to live ourselves in surrender to Him, giving heed to the words of St Peter Claver:

“To love God as He ought to be loved, we must be detached from all temporal love.
We must love nothing but Him, or if we love anything else, we must love it only for His sake!”

God Bless! Live Jesus!