Destiny is shaped by moments of decision!

It was the year 1673 in Portugal.
>> A young man of 26 was on the verge of taking a strong and serious decision.

He was just a little over a decade, as member, in the Congregation of the Society of Jesus.
>> His superiors deemed it right to send this vibrant and dynamic person to the missions in India

It was a dangerous mission…
…It was a difficult mission

>> A destiny was to be shaped
>> A decision had to be made

The mother of this young and fervent person, feared the life of her beloved son.

Years back, she had experienced the mighty healing touch of the Lord, in the recovery of her son, from the point of death.
>> She had then, vested her son for a year, in a dress worn by the Jesuit fathers.

But now, she was afraid of losing her son again…
>> She knew mission to India meant death…
>> She knew mission away from the native was fatal…

She tried her best to persuade and influence to prevent him from going to the land of death…

But her son was determined….
>> He had decided to give up His life entirely for the Lord – body, mind and spirit

With deep courage and conviction, he answered:
“God, who called me from the world into religious life, now calls me from Portugal to India”

>> He had set His eyes on the Kingdom of heaven…
… and not limited by earthly life…

>> He had set His heart on the designs of God’s Will…
… and not restricted by human desires…

He had made a decision…
…a decision to shape destiny…according to God’s Will!

Just two decades later, on 4th February, 1693, this brave and committed person was executed for the sake of Christ.

The name of the person is St John de Britto, whose feast we celebrate today.

He followed the footsteps of his Beloved Master who had echoed the words:
“Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it only remains a seed; but if it dies, it produces much fruit” (Jn 12:24)

To be a witness for the Kingdom of God is the call and duty of every Christian.
> It is a decision to be made…
>> It is a decision to be nurtured..
>>> It is a decision to be lived…

Christ made this decision of being entirely and wholly dedicated to His mission

Jesus had many occasions and chances to escape from this dedication…

He could have chosen to enjoy popularity and fame arising out of His mighty deeds…
>> But He made a “decision” to not compromise on the truths and convictions

He could have chosen to dilute some of His teachings and make life more “cosier”…
>> But He made a “decision” to remain firm and grounded on the fundamentals of eternity

He could have chosen to forego some of His values and have some “adjustments”…
>> But He made a “decision” to be faithful and loyal to the mission and duties entrusted to Him

Our life as a witness for Christ and His Kingdom is sometimes greatly influenced and prejudiced…
>> We sometimes don’t mind being a little relaxing on some Church teachings…
>> We sometimes don’t mind making some adjustments to remain popular and not have a bad name…
>> We sometimes don’t mind diluting some values in order to appear as secular and sociable…

The Church is often under tremendous pressure to change some of Her moral teachings…
>> The Church is often under blatant attacks to alter some of Her time-and-tested values..

Most often, the motive behind all such attacks are a ‘life of ease’, a ‘life of comfort’, a ‘life of personal satisfaction’ etc…

Christ today, however, needs witnesses who are willing to undergo pains and persecutions…

The Martyr St John de Britto gave up His native land…His personal desires.. His family ties… His very life itself…
… all for the sake of Christ and His Love
… all for the sake of the Kingdom and its values
… all for the sake of His Church and Her teachings

In his words, ““Not to answer the vocation as I ought, would be to provoke the justice of God”

Let us be true and faithful to the vocation we have received and the way of life we have chosen…

Christ needs martyrs who are willing to…
… live His teachings
… teach His teachings

Christ needs martyrs who are willing to give up their…
… physical life in the face of being persecuted for Him
… economic life and depend on Him as the true treasure
… social life to bear insults and humiliations to live His values

Yes, Destiny is shaped by moments of decision!

Are we – you and I – ready to shape our destiny as per God’s Holy and Perfect Will?

What is our decision?

Happy Feast of St John de Britto!
God Bless! Live Jesus!

It was the 19th century British essayist Mr. Charles Lamb and his wife Mary who moved the 17th century playwright William Shakespeare from his undeserved obscurity to the limelight of fame.

>> The two selected 20 of Shakespeare’s best-known plays and set out to make them accessible to children and to pay enthusiastic homage to the original works.

Together the Lambs distilled the powerful themes and unforgettable characterizations of Shakespeare’s plays into elegant narratives–classic tales in their own right.

All of the Lambs’ stories…
… with their clear, supple, and rhythmic prose
… reward any reader, whether encountering Shakespeare for the first time or revisiting his work.

This Charles Lamb was once involved in a discussion of the question:
“Who is the greatest literary genius of all time?”

Two names finally emerged: William Shakespeare and Jesus of Nazareth.

Charles Lamb put an end to the debate when he said:
“I’ll tell you the difference between these two men.

If Shakespeare walked into this room right now, we would all rise to greet him…
>> But if Jesus Christ came in, we would all fall down and worship Him!”

The greatness of men may make us rise in respect…
>> The greatness of Jesus would compel us to kneel in worship and adoration!

“Let’s talk about Jesus” is a popular English hymn.

Today, for our reflection, let us talk about Jesus…the most influential person ever, in history!

The Gospel of the day reveals the immensely charismatic personality of Jesus.

Jesus came to His own country (Mk 6:1).
>> On the Sabbath Day, Jesus began to teach in the synagogue…
….and many who heard Him were astonished! (Mk 6:2a)

The popularity and the fame of Jesus was on the rise…
>> He had healed many who were with various sicknesses and diseases.
>> He had cast out demons from many who were possessed and under bondages.

Jesus became a sought-after person…
… an attraction for many people!

>> His tremendous passion for the missions was admiring…
>> His spectacular urge to preach the Kingdom of God was amazing…

This unfazed commitment to the mission, caused feelings of astonishment!

And so the people began to question…
“Where did this man get all this?
What kind of wisdom has been given Him?
What mighty deeds are wrought by His Hand?” (Mk 6:2b)

The mighty charismatic personality of Jesus caused a dual effect…
… one positive and one negative
… one supportive and one obstructive

We need to examine our life and check:
“What is the effect that Jesus has on our life?”

Are we persons who are supportive of the plans of God in our life…
… or do we obstruct the workings of the Lord, especially when we don’t understand His ways?

Are we persons who are grateful to the Lord for His mighty works in us…
… or are we able to see only at the negativities of life and end up criticizing God?

As Christians, we are people who have said “Yes” to follow ‘this’ Jesus…
… He who wants us to follow Him in healing the world
… He wishes us to become agents of casting out demons and unclean spirits
… He who waits on us to preach and teach the Kingdom of God to all people anywhere

To be like Jesus, we need to imitate Him, not just in works… but above all in His Being!
… Totally committed to a life of prayer and union with God (Mk 1:35)
… Passionately zealous for the salvation of people (Mk 1: 32-33)
… Absolutely focused on the needs of the Kingdom of God (Mk 1:38)

>> Do I have my prayer life and communion with the Lord as the greatest thrust and push in all my activities, undertakings and ministries?
>> Do I have a deep desire and commitment to bring God’s love to all people and be passionate to share Him to all others?
>> Do I remain undistracted in the midst of all worldly attractions and forego personal pleasures by remaining focused on His Kingdom alon sus, while in this world….
… was misunderstood…. was contradicted… was criticized

While in the world, as Christians, we will also have to face a lot of oppositions, criticism and even persecutions…
…. Our own world may be filled with shattered hopes, unfulfilled dreams, meaningless miseries etc

But the Lord assures that I AM “the One who heals the broken-hearted”. (Ps 146:1)

Let us be filled with the power and spirit of Jesus, “the One whom we ought to preach by our lives” (1 Cor 9:16)

H. G. Wells, a prolific English writer, summed up the difference between Jesus and others:
“Christ,” he wrote, “is the most unique person of history.

No man can write a history of the human race without giving first and foremost place to the penniless teacher of Nazareth.
>> From poverty and obscurity to teacher to death on the cross, to ascended Lord – Jesus Christ is the growing figure of history.

He is unique – for while all others decrease, He increases!”

May the Lord have a positive and lasting effect on our life…
… and may we discover and be convinced of Jesus, to be the greatest in our lives.

Shall we fall in deep adoration, ardent worship and fervent submission to Him, so that we can become agents of Him, who transforms the world continually?

>>>Let us not have the woe of not preaching the Gospel! (1 Cor 9:16)
>> Let us share the blessings of the Gospel! (1 Cor 9:23)
> Let us become all things to all! (1 Cor 9:22)

God Bless! Live Jesus!

One of the most meaningful flowers is the Lotus.
This flower has been one of the most ancient and deepest symbols.

The Lotus flower has a number of unique properties….
… It grows in muddy water and rises above the surface to bloom with remarkable beauty.
… At night the flower closes and sinks underwater while at dawn it rises and opens again.
… It has a quality of self-cleaning and always remains free from dirty particles
… Its leaves are such that they remain always dry

Untouched by the impurity, the lotus symbolizes purity of heart and mind.
>> The Lotus becomes a metaphor for a person consecrated to the Lord.

Today is the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord…
On this day, we also celebrate the Consecrated Way of Life.

>> Consecration is giving oneself to the Lord wholly.
>> It is seeking to be pure, completely, in heart and mind.

The Gospel of the Day presents St Joseph and Mother Mary presenting Jesus in the Temple.
“When the days were completed for their purification, according to the Law of Moses, they took Him up to Jerusalem, to present Him to the Lord” (Lk 2:22)

We are on the 40th Day after Christmas, the Nativity of Jesus.

The Book of Exodus spoke of the need of this presentation and consecration of the first-born child…
“Consecrate to me every first-born that opens the womb…
If your son ask you later on, ‘What does this mean’, you shall tell him, ‘ With a strong hand, the Lord brought us out of Egypt, the land of slavery….’ ” ( Ex 12: 2, 14)
      

>> The act of presentation in the Temple represented fulfilling of God’s command..
>> The act of presentation in the Temple recalled God’s deed of deliverance from slavery…
>> The act of presentation in the Temple reminded the deep love of God for His people…

The presentation of the Lord in the Temple, is also another reminder of the “ordinariness” of the Lord, in His incarnation…

>> Jesus was known as the child of “ordinary” human parents!
>> Jesus took birth and grew up in “ordinary” conditions and circumstances!
>> Jesus lived His life in an “ordinary” family situation!

At Baptism, all of us are also consecrated to the Lord…
>> Some of us, have also made a deeper consecration by the profession of religious vows…

The meaning of this consecration, also, derives from the consecration of the Lord…
>> We are “ordinary” by our sinful nature…
… yet the Lord exalts us, to live a pure and holy life.

>> We are “ordinary” by our human nature…
… yet the Lord wishes to join us, with His Divine nature

>> We are “ordinary” in our deeds and works…
…. yet the Lord wants us,  to be His Kingdom partners

Our consecration is….
… a deep call and invitation to live a Holy Life
… is a loving obligation and sacred duty to be fully committed to Him
… is a binding and necessity in belonging to the Lord wholly and totally

This is a day of the Consecrated Life…
… a day to renew our commitment and zeal for the Lord
… a day to rekindle the fire of our love and faith in the Lord
… a day to restore our initial enthusiasm and interest for the Lord
… a day to revitalize our knowledge and comprehension of the Lord

Each of us…whether single or in family life…whether a priest or a religious…
..belongs to the Lord and to Him alone!
>> We are all consecrated and offered to the Lord.

The Lotus represents beautifully this our consecration and offering to the Lord…

We may grow in the muddy waters of evil, scandals, violence, corruption etc…
>> Yet, can we rise above all this, and bloom in beauty, with God’s strength?

In the night of our life, we may sink and feel dejected, broken, sad, depressed, worried etc…
>> Yet, can we open up again, and blossom in loveliness, with God’s graces?

In our worldly interactions, we may get spoilt with dirty particles of sin, evil, bad habits etc…
>> Yet, can we free ourselves from all these, by the redeeming power of God’s love?

In our material affairs, we may get wet and drenched with desires for pleasures and luxury…
>> Yet, can we remain dry and unsullied, by the tremendous saving force of God’s holiness?

Let us hold the hands of St Joseph and Mamma Mary, and renew our consecration to the Lord.

We belong to the Lord…
>> Let us live this consecration!
>> Let us give witness to this consecration!

Happy Feast of the Presentation of our Blessed Lord to all of us, His Consecrated People.

God Bless! Live Jesus!

One of the most painful words in perhaps the whole of dictionary is the word … “Rejection”

And this is perhaps one word, that has been experienced in life, by most of us.. if not all.
•       Most of us have felt the sting of rejection…
•       Most of us can recollect instances and situations of rejection even now…
•       Most of feel a twinge within ourselves when we hear this word ‘rejection’…

The Gospel of the Day presents Jesus, our Master undergoing the painful experience of ‘rejection’.

The background of the Gospel passage of the day is that Jesus is in the Synagogue at Nazareth at the beginning of His ministry.

Being handed over the Scripture from the book of Isaiah, Jesus spoke of the fulfillment of the text that was read:
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor….” (Lk 4:18)

The graciousness of His words and the eloquence of His speech attracted the audience to Himself.

The first impression was surely a wonderful impression…
… but as time would prove, it is not always the best and lasting impression.

When He began to teach the people of how God has brought His salvation and the message of hope to not just the Jews, but the Gentiles also, murmurs of rejection began to crop up.

•       The message of straight talk to the heart, which affected their inner lives, caused uneasiness to His listeners.
•       The delivery of the truth which had a direct bearing upon their lives and attitudes, caused edginess to arise among His listeners.

And so, there happened a conversion…
…. a conversion, not for the good, but for the bad!

•       They were converted from having a good opinion of Jesus to forming a detestable view on Him
•       They were converted from nodding their heads in approval to shaking their heads and clenching their fists in refutation and denial.

How true a picture is this of many a human nature….
>> We appreciate those persons who speak what we wish to speak…
… but deny those who speak against us, even if they speak the truth!

>> We encourage those people who harp the same tune that we wish to hear…
… but terribly denounce those who play the melody for a genuine transformation!

The Lord was rejected!
>> And He Himself testified to this naked reality:
“No prophet is accepted in his own native place” (Lk 4: 24)

The Gospel of John presents this reality in a more dramatic manner:
“He came to His own and His own rejected Him!” (Jn 1:11)

Rejection is a part of each of our lives…
>> And the rejection is much greater and true, when one stands for the truth and the values of the Gospel!

•       We get rejected by our friends who don’t approve when we seek to live a holier lives…
•       We get rejected by the society which is unable to appreciate those wanting a sanctified life…

But the Lord assures us.. “In all your rejection, look up to me!”

“There was no one who was rejected as I was…
>>> I was rejected when I was born….
>> I was rejected when I lived…
>> I was rejected when I died….”

“Are you also going to reject me… I, who have risen from the dead?”

Some of us who use the mobile phones, in the dictionary mode, would have experienced this simple fact…
When one types the word “rejected” in the dictionary mode, in a mobile phone, it appears as “selected”…

Try it if you wish….

The same is true when we type in the word “rejected” in the Divine mode…. before the Lord!
•       He converts every “reject” to a “select”…
•       He converts our “rejection” to a “selection” for grace and sanctification
•       He converts our “rejection” to a “selection” for purification and strengthening.

Let us seek the intercession of St Don Bosco, whose feast is celebrated on the 31st of January.
>> In his words, “Take up the shield of faith so that you can resist the assaults of the devil.”

Our lives have suffered much pain and our hearts are a canvas of much agony of rejection.
>> But the Lord today invites us to go to Him and seek solace, healing and consolation from Him.

He Who was rejected, is the Lord of acceptance!
>> He Who was rejected, is the Saviour of hope!
>>> He Who was rejected, is the God of healing!

Let us choose Him as the Lord and Love of our Life!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

The journey with the Lord is always an interesting one…

>> There are moments of tremendous joys and happiness…
>> There are times of fascinating delights and elations…

There are also however, moments of dryness and silence.

The Gospel of the Day is an account of the Disciples experiencing this dryness and silence, in their journey with the Lord.

Its a very late evening…nearing midnight…
>> The disciples along with Jesus, who have embarked on a boat, are caught in the midst of a heavy storm.

“A violent squall came up and the waves were breaking over the boat..” (Mk 4: 36)

Some of the disciples were fishermen.

They had been many many years at the sea.
>> They had often suffered the fury and vehemence of nature
>> They had been greatly used to many storms and tempests at sea.

But this storm seemed to be too fierce and too ferocious.

>> The disciples feared greatly!
>> The disciples panicked very much!

With death bells ringing in their ears, and a dreadful end before their eyes…
..the disciples were shocked to see Jesus, unmoved and unperturbed.

“Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion” (Mk 4:38)

In the moment of their deep anguish and helpless, the disciples cry out:
“Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” (Mk 4:38)

>> The boat could capsize anytime and all of them could be drowned soon…
>> The storms could lash brutally and the waves could overturn them any moment…

Time was fast running…

But Jesus seemed totally unfazed!
>> Jesus seemed totally disinterested!

And they cry out to Jesus… Lord, do you not care??!!

How many times have we screamed similar words to God:
“Lord, do you not care?!”

>> Lord, do you not care… that my family member is so sick?
>> Lord, do you not care that I feel totally alone and miserable in my life?
>> Lord, do you not care that my marriage is failing and my family is breaking up?
>> Lord, do you not care that am without a job now and the future ahead is so bleak?
>> Lord, do you not care that my life seems so meaningless and without any purpose?
>> Lord, do you not care that I am plunged to loneliness and abandoned by all my friends?
>> Lord, do you not care that I encounter only failures, dejection and rejection in my endevours?

When we look into the Gospel,  it is amazing to know whose plan it was, in the first place to make this boat journey…

When we re-read the Gospel passage, we find the answer…
Mk 4:35 says, “On that day, as evening drew near, Jesus said to them, ‘Let us cross over to the other side'”!

Ah…..
Shall we read that again?

… JESUS said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side”!

The idea to go in the boat was not that of the disciples…
>> The idea to go in the boat was that of JESUS!

The encounter with the storms was not some accident!
>> The stumbling into the violent waves was not some unlucky thing!

It had a purpose!
It had a meaning!
It had an intention!

For the disciples, it was a moment of terror…
… But the Lord used this terrorizing time to teach them to have faith in Him!

For the disciples, it was a time of immense crisis…
… But the Lord used this critical moment, to teach them to trust in Him!

For the disciples, it was a time of dreadful fear…
… But the Lord used this fearful circumstance, to teach them to believe in Him!

Our moments of struggle are a time of testing…
>> Our moments of struggle are a time of learning…

Testing of our genuine faith….learning of deeper trusting!
>> Testing of our real convictions…learning of  profound dependence!

Let us learn to grow deeper in trusting the Lord in crisis moments.
Then we too will be blessed to hear the Lord commanding the waves and storms of hardships,
“Quiet! Be Still!” (Mk 4: 39)

God Bless! Live Jesus!