“Chalta Hain”  (pronounced as “chal-ta hay”) is a common phrase in Hindi that is uttered in many of our circles.

In its general use, Chalta Hain (meaning: It’s ok!)…
… refers to an attitude of just being casual in important aspects of life
… refers to an attitude of not taking life too seriously and just float through

>> A Chalta Hain attitude allows lethargy, sluggishness and disinterestedness to creep in…

>> A Chalta Hain attitude dampens enthusiastic hearts and excited spirits…

There is a great danger that such a Chalta Hain Attitude can move stealthily into our spiritual lives and corrode it.

Am I weighed down by this casual and dispirited attitude of Chalta Hain?
>> Or Am I filled with a great zeal and passion and a spirit of resolute determination in my life?

The Gospel of the Day is a Parable of a person who was filled with a great amount of courage, preparedness and zeal for a secure future…The Parable of the Unjust Steward.

The Steward, who was working under a rich man, has been reported for deceitful service.

He realizes that the writing is on the wall…
>> He needs to produce his accounts.
>> He is to be terminated from his job.
It’s a tense situation for him…

But this steward is a wise and shrewd fella!

He doesn’t allow the tense and apprehensive situation to overpower him!
>> Rather, he takes stock of the situation and becomes a manager of the entire crisis-situation…

His brain worked super-fast…his shrewdness gained momentum!
He called his master’s debtors..and his pen was set to work…

>> The debt of one hundred jars of olive oil, was manipulated to fifty…
>> The debt of hundred measures of wheat was reduced to eighty…

It’s interesting to know how business was done in the first century…

In those days, the amount charged to a customer who purchased on credit would include three things:
1. The price of the product
2. The interest charged by the owner
3. The commission to be earned by the steward.

The steward could add whatever commission he thought he could collect.
>> That was his profit.

In this case, the shrewd steward probably reduced his commission, and perhaps some of the interest added to the loan.

>> The rich master lost no money as he made sufficient profit…. The customers gained happiness as their debt was reduced.

>> The steward lost some of his profit…but he gained much more: an enhanced reputation, some friends, and lots of security.

It was a win-win situation for all – the Master, the Customers and the Steward!

Well.. so far, so good, with this shrewd steward and his crafty style of management.

But what is the message in for us?

The Steward never went into a lethargic or casual mode…

>> He never allowed the “Chalta Hain Attitude” to conquer him.
>> He never let the “Chalta Hain Attitude” to control his life.

> He was pro-active.
>> He was courageous.
>>> He was bold.

Here is the challenge…
>> If this is what the Steward could do, to earn those things that are temporary, how much more should we be doing for those things that count for eternity?

>> If this is what the Steward could do, to please his boss & for a secure future life, should we not be doing much more, to please God?

Sometimes, it’s incredible to see the great efforts undertaken by people to gain expertise and mastery in the skills of the world…

>> Sportspersons slug it hard and exercise and practise for many many hours to become adept in their sporting skills…

>> Singers and musicians put in many many continuous hours of practise and performance to gain proficiency in their fields…

>> Students preparing for competitive exams spend nights & days into varied studies & preparatory techniques to crack the tests…

Do we put that same kind of love, energy and creativity into building up the Church, the Kingdom of God and into the things that are to serve God?

We can’t afford to get lethargic in matters related to God, to eternal life, to spirituality etc.

However, most of the times, this is our attitude….”Chalta Hain…”

>> Chalta Hain…when we skip a prayer time or two… (We are tired!)

>> Chalta Hain…when we fail to read sometime of Word of God…(There are so many other works!)

>> Chalta Hain… when we skip a Sunday Holy Eucharist…(It’s the only day I get to relax more!)

>> Chalta Hain…when we fail to go for confessions… (God will understand me!)

>> Chalta Hain…when we don’t care much about our spiritual life…(God is after all, lenient and nice!)

The Parable of the Shrewd Steward has some negative shades…
>> But still it has a very powerful and challenging tone to shake us off from our “Chalta Hain Attitude” to Life.

Let us have a deeper conviction about our faith and the importance of serving God, so that we would put as much heart and soul into our faith as we do into the many other things that we do!

Its time to say ta-ta, bye-bye to the listless and slothful “Chalta Hain Attitude” in life!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

One of the fast grown trends in many restaurants is the Buffet System.

A buffet is a system of serving meals in which food is placed in a public area where the diners generally serve themselves.
Buffet restaurants typically offer all-you-can-eat food for a set price.

Buffets make it possible to choose the item one likes, in the quantity one likes and to serve in the style or combination that one likes.

In our modern society, such a Buffet System, is however, extended beyond the taste buds..
>> The trend, today, is also to have a Buffet Style for our Souls!

Spirituality and religion is also, today, under the great influence of being enclosed in a buffet system!

Too often religious aspects, spirituality, the Church and our Christian Faith are treated like a big buffet.

We take as much of what we like and want, but leave behind what we do not like.

We skip off what’s too hard to swallow, what we disagree with, or what does not fit our personal opinions and beliefs.

The Gospel of the Day, however, warns against opting such a “Pick-n-Choose” Buffet System in our Spiritual Life.

The Passage begins with the verse, “Great crowds were travelling with Jesus and He turned and addressed them…” (Lk 14:25)

Crowds gather where there is something new and exciting happening…

The crowds looked at Jesus as a great wonder-worker.
>> Jesus was the new buffet for them…
>> Jesus had a great variety in His menu…

> He offered healing for those in sicknesses and in distress…

> He offered exorcisms for those in bondage and captivity…

> He offered teaching to those lost in life and inspired a renewed zest for life…

He had…
… bread for the hungry
… wine for the saddened
… hope for the crushed ones
… freedom for the oppressed
… new vision for the wayward
… and new energy for the lifeless

>> Some followed Jesus for His mighty healing works…

>> Some for His power as a prophet and preacher…

>> Some for His bread-multiplying abilities and nature-arresting potentials…

>> Some for His power to arouse curiosity and generate excitement…

He had what they wanted.
>> And they gathered around, surrounded, and pressed on him.

But the Lord was clear in His intents…

>> He chose neither popularity nor quick fame nor cashed in on reputation and recognition…

>> He would not let the crowds to adopt a Buffet Spirituality in following Him.

>> He would make sure that the crowds realized that a such a spirituality would not win His approval.

And so, He clearly proclaims, “If anyone comes to me, without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple” (Lk 14: 26-27)

Jesus wants a clear priority from the part of His followers.
>> He demands a radical choice for Him.

This choice would mean a love and a priority for Jesus, which goes beyond one’s blood kindred, one’s emotional relations,  one’s attachments to various entities and even one’s own very self!

We need to have a hard look into ourselves…

>> We sacrifice many years to study and gain education

>> We sacrifice many sleeps and many weekends to have a successful career

>> We sacrifice much time, money and energy to gain many skills and improve talents

>> We sacrifice desserts and tempting food to have a healthy and wholesome lifestyle

All these are great and important aspects of our life.

But what costs are willing to pay, to follow Jesus wholly?
>> What sacrifices are we willing to make, as the disciples of Jesus?

Very often, we are content with a Buffet Style of Spirituality…
… Serve ourselves a tiny measure of occasional petitions and time with God in our needs
… Serve ourselves a few morsels of forwarding some Bible verses and messages
… Serve ourselves a little bit of the Gospel values and teachings
… Serve ourselves a handful of prayers and devout practices

And we feel that our Life as a Christian is “pretty tasty” with this Buffet Serving.

The Lord, is perhaps telling us…”It is not enough!“

>> Unless you take a few more steps in self-renunciation, you can’t be my disciple.

>> Unless you seek to give the first priority to me in all aspects, you can’t be my disciple.

>> Unless you involve yourself more deeply into spiritual matters, you can’t be my disciple.

The Buffet Meal is more cheap, but a Buffet Spirituality will certainly deprive us in becoming His authentic disciples.

>> Let us cease the “pick-n-choose” method in our spirituality.

>> Let’s prioritize Jesus in all the dimensions of our life.

Let us give heed to the words of St Charles Borromeo, the saint of the Day: “If a tiny spark of God’s love already burns within you, do not expose it to the wind, for it may get blown out…!”
        
                                      
God Bless! Live Jesus!

“Excuses are the nails that are used to build the house of failure”

We often, run our lives, basing ourselves on many excuses and justifications…

>> Politicians sometimes make excuses for failure to undertake developmental works blaming their opposition parties.

>> Citizens sometimes make excuses for their inability towards nation-building by purely blaming the corruption among politicians.

>>  Motorists or car-drivers sometimes make some excuses and jump signals and violate traffic rules.

>> Traffic inspectors sometimes make some excuses and escape from duties and dump it on someone else.

>> Students sometimes make excuses for their poor performance by blaming the education system.

>> Teachers sometimes make excuses for their loopholes in work by blaming the students and parents for non co-operation.

Are we becoming a Generation of Excuse-givers?

The Gospel of the Day brings our attention to this grave and urgent issue that we need to tackle: The Issue of making Excuses for Escapism.

We have the Parable of the Great Wedding Feast in today’s Gospel.
“A man once gave a great feast and invited many guests” (Lk 14:16)

Here was a big and great feast being organized and invitations were sent out to many guests.

>> This was no simple feast.
>> This was no ordinary event.

It’s similar to someone today, being invited to a lavish and a grand party by the President of the Nation or some highly dignified person.

It was kind of a once-in-a -lifetime opportunity.
>> The people waited with eagerness to get such a chance.

In those days, it was the custom to send two invitations.

The first invitation was to tell everyone that the event was being planned.
Those were the days when Time was a lavish commodity.

Clocks were scarce and time management techniques were still unheard of.

The actual day and the actual time of the event were left open.

It would depend a lot on the preparation time for the killing of animals, their cleaning and cooking….getting all the vegetables and everything needed to get the meal ready.

And so there was a need for a second invitation…

The second invitation was to tell everyone that everything was ready and about to begin.
>> This second reminder was for to those who had been given the first invitation and had indicated that they would attend.

                                                                                                                                                                                                      
But the Gospel says, that when the second invitation was sent to the pre-invited guests, they began to make excuses!

Making excuses is nothing new!
It has existed right from the first days…

>> Adam and Eve made excuses before God in trying to hide the sin of disobedience.

>> Cain made excuses before God in trying to hide the sin of killing his brother Abel.

>> Moses gave excuses before God in trying to escape from the task being entrusted to him.

>> Jeremiah gave excuses before God that he was only a small boy to take up the responsibility

Those who were able to overcome the excuses, found true meaning and joy.
>>> But those who got stuck with their excuses, lost out on discovering greatness!

The guests who had been invited for the grand feast, gave silly excuses….

One said, “I have purchased a field and must go and examine it”…
>> Silly excuse, isn’t it?

Does anyone enter into land dealings without having seen it in prior?
>> And even if one has not, was it so urgent, so as to miss the grand feast?

Another said, “I have purchased five oxen and am on my way to evaluate them”…
>> Silly excuse, isn’t it?

Does anyone purchase land animals, without having examined them?
>> And even if one has not, was it so immediate a need, so as to skip the great feast?

Another said, “I have just married a woman, and I cannot come”…
>> Silly excuse, isn’t it?

Was the Jewish husband so henpecked and subjugated to the wife’s orders?
>> Or was this couple so much exclusive, that they failed to have any social contacts, so as to avoid the fine feast?

> Here was an invitation so grand.
>> Here was a generosity so lavish.
>>> Here was a preparation so extensive.

But unfortunately, it was responded with excuses which were baseless, childish, illogical and quite ridiculous!

We might sometimes laugh at those excuses made by the people.

But perhaps, we are also no different, or if not, worse.

We are in a trend of being a Generation of Excuse-givers….

>> We make excuses of physical tiredness, to avoid saying our personal prayers, our family prayers and being faithful to our spiritual activities.

>> We make excuses of  saying that “it’s impossible to live an honest life” and give into many corrupt malpractices, which go against the Gospel values.

>> We make excuses of being too busy to find time to participate in the Holy Eucharist with greater devotion and preparedness.

>> We make excuses to reach out to the needy ones in their necessities by citing our own hardships to get out of our comfort areas.

We have a strong exhortation from the Lord today, to get rid of our Excuse-giving Tendency.

It’s easy to escape from responsibilities by giving excuses.
>> But by doing so, we end up missing out on many graces from God…
… causing much pain to God who expects much from us…
… and also disturb the plan and purpose of God for our lives.

We have a duty to overcome this tendency of making Excuses for Escapism.

The Lord gives us many opportunities to grow in holiness and grace.
>> Let us not make silly and baseless excuses and throw them away.

God Bless! Live Jesus!

“No…..don’t leave me!”…
A cry of a helpless one!

A set of twins were growing inside the womb of the mother.

For around nine months, these little ones have known each other.
>> They have eaten together, played together, sometimes even fought with each other…and above all, shared a lot of love and happy moments.

But now it is the time of delivery.
>> Little do these infants know the concept of delivery.

As the first one is ready to be delivered, the second twin holds on to it tight….crying:
“No…..don’t leave me….!
No…..don’t leave me….!”

It’s a heart-breaking cry…a soul-wrenching wail!

To see its partner, being taken away, seems the end of the world for this second twin.
>> To realize that they can no longer play or live together in the same place, is indeed too sad a moment for this second twin.

Is it all over for this second twin?
>> Will it see its partner no more?
>> Why is such a cruelty being inflicted on this second twin?

However…to those on the other side of the delivery…who are awaiting the delivery….these are precious and highly joyful moments.

> What seemed death for the second twin…was life for those outside.
> What seemed the end of the world for the second twin…was the start of life for those outside.

In a few moments, even the second twin will be taken out, and will be reunited to the first…

>> The wail of tears will be transformed to a well of joy!
>> The cry of sadness will be changed to a stream of happiness!

This could be a reasonable analogy for our life here on this world.

We are like this second twin…
>> We fall in love with our close ones

We live with them, share our life, sometimes even fight…
… yet we love them much!

And finally, one day, mostly unexpectedly, they are taken away from us… They die!

We cry, “No…..don’t leave me!”
… but nothing brings them back!

Death seems to be an end for us!

But look up…

The Lord who was crucified and was dead for three days and rose to life, with an assuring smile tells us, “No!  All is not over.
>> What seems death for you, is the beginning of life in me.
>> What seems immense sadness for you, is the start of a real joy in me.

Fear not…cry not… I am the Life and the Resurrection”

This is what St Paul echoed in his First Letter to the Corinthians 15:5:
“Where, O Death, is your victory?
Where, O Death, is your sting?”

Today is the Commemoration of all the Faithful Departed….the All Souls Day.

In the Apostles Creed, we recite, “I believe….in the Communion of Saints”.

The term “communion of saints” has two closely-linked meanings: communion in holy things and communion among holy persons.

The Communion of Saints is the three states of the Church:
>> The Church Militant ( the Pilgrim Church on earth),
>> The Church Suffering (the Faithful Departed),
>> The Church Triumphant (the Saints in Glory)

“… at the present time, some of His disciples are pilgrims on earth. Others have died and are being purified, while still others are in glory, contemplating ‘in full light, God himself triune and one, exactly as He is'” (Catechism of the Catholic Church #954)

On this day, we (the Church Militant), in union with the prayers of the saints in glory (the Church Triumphant), reach out our prayers, intercessions and love in a very special manner for our suffering brothers and sisters (the Church Suffering).

What makes us to pray for the dead…the faithful departed?

It is necessarily in the co-relationship that all human beings share with each other.

>> We do pray for the people who are in need, when they live on this earth.
>> We do seek intercessions on their behalf to God, when they are with us.

When a person dies, his/her existence ceases only in our sight.

They still continue to live in God’s sight.
>> The dead are not dead for God.

This is what Jesus says in Luke 20:38, “…he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for to him, all are alive”

Therefore, it is logical and reasonable that we pray for the faithful departed.

“All who die in God’s grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven. (Catechism of the Catholic Church #1030)

Therefore, it is a duty on our part that we pray for the purification of these Faithful Departed.

This Commemoration is also a reminder of our own Death and the death of our close ones.

True, that as frail humans, we may have a natural fear and even a sort of phobia of death.
>> But our Christian Love, Faith and Hope must gain the upper-hand in us.

> Death is frightening for the faithless…
… but for the faithful, it is the doorway to the Fountain of Faith!

> Death is horrifying for the loveless…
… but for those who love, it is the passage to the Fullness of Love!

> Death is devastating for the hopeless..
… but for those who hope, it is the entry to the Spring of Hope!

Death is a reality.
>> No amount of reflection or sermons  can substitute the pain of this reality.

Sometimes, in such situations, silence is the only answer that we can provide.
>> But this silence ought to be a silence of hope, a silence of trust and a silence of faith.

> When we love God deeper, the fear of death decreases.
>> When we have a stronger faith in God, the pain of death reduces.
>> When we have an unshakeable hope in God, the anguish of death subsides.

Death is hard.
> And our lips may only cry, “No…..don’t leave me….”

But, the Lord has conquered this death!

Let us look on to Him, on the Cross, and find greater meaning and hope in life.

May our Blessed Mother Mary who bore the pain of the death of Her Beloved Child be our refuge and strength.

>> May the prayers and example of the Church Triumphant be our inspiration and courage.

May the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace, Amen.

God Bless! Live Jesus!

The Greek mythology has a character named Narcissus who was renowned for his beauty.

He was exceptionally proud; so much that he even disdained those who loved him!

One day, Narcissus was attracted to a pool of water.

He saw his own reflection in the water and fell in love with it. He failed to realize that it was only an image!

Unable to leave the beauty of his reflection, he drowned in the waters!

An obsessive love of his own-self drowned him!

No doubt that true appreciation, real honoring and genuine love of oneself is highly important & needed…
… but when this self-directed love crosses the boundary, it can lead to obsession and fixation!

Are we in anyway getting drowned, knowingly or unknowingly, as a result of an excessive love for our self?

The Gospel of the Day challenges us to ponder over this aspect by inviting us to examine our life with respect to the virtue of humility.

Jesus says, “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” (Lk 14:11)

One of the most supreme and vital messages that we learn from the life and teachings of Jesus is that of Humility – a virtue in direct contrast to the dangerous vice of Pride!

There are two kinds of pride: good and bad.

>> ‘Good pride’ is our dignity & self-respect
>> ‘Bad pride’ is the deadly sin of superiority that reeks of conceit and arrogance.

What is pride, as a vice?
>> In simple words, it could defined as “wanting our own way!”

Therefore, what is humility as a virtue?
>> In simple words, it could be defined as “wanting God’s Will!”

This is what Jesus teaches through the parable of “how a person sought the highest place, but got humiliated in accepting the lowest place!” (Lk 14: 7-9)

In our life, it is easy for us to lose our focus from the Lord and have a “narcisstic” style of preferences for our own selves…

>> Many times in our works, we forget the blessings that the Lord has showered on us…
… and instead attribute all successes to our own talents and abilities.

>> Many times in our ministry, we lose sight of the Lord, the real purposes of our vocation and the mission…
… and instead seek to fulfill our personal agenda and motives.

> It is easy to bask in the glory of popularity and fame.
> It is satisfying to enjoy the sunshine of reputations and recognitions.
… But let them never lead us to have a “narcisstic” approach of just “looking into” ourselves.

>> Let us have the humility to acknowledge that it is God’s power being manifested in our works.
>> Let us have the acceptance that it is God’s graces that has lifted us to a high position.

St Augustine says:
“It was pride that changed angels into devils;
It is humility that makes men as angels”

Yes, we need to take care not to “drown” in the murky waters of pride, egoism and selfishness…
… Instead, we need to “sail” together with the Lord through the clean waters of humility and meekness!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

For our reflection today, we shall make a verse by verse analysis of the Gospel Passage…

The passage under consideration is the Healing of the man with dropsy on the Sabbath Day.

Let us carefully reflect on this amazingly dramatic incident…

The passage begins with the statement, “On a Sabbath, Jesus went to dine at the home of one of the leading Pharisees…” (Lk 14:1a)

Here was an invitation of a high and elite nature…

A leading Pharisee of the Jewish society had called Jesus to his home.
> He was joined by many other scholars of the Law and the Pharisees.

>> Maybe it was a show of one’s status and pride and dignity as a great Pharisee…
>> Maybe it was another chance for the critics of Jesus to find something to crib about him…

“…and the people there were observing Him carefully…” (Lk 14:1b)

To be invited for a dinner was something nice and pleasant…
>> But to be invited to become an object of observation and scanning was bad enough.

“The people were observing  Him carefully” suggested a suspicious action…
> It was as if, some thieves were waiting eagerly to strike on their target…
> It was as if, some fierce lions, were stealthily preparing to pounce upon their prey…

And then comes the bait…”In front of him, there was a man suffering from dropsy” (Lk 14:2)

What’s dropsy?
>> Dropsy was a condition in which there was an unnatural collection of serous (pale yellow and transparent) fluid in any cavity of the body.

Dropsy was water retention in the body. 
>> Dropsy itself was not a disease, but a symptom of a disease.

It could be a number of things – complications of the liver or kidney or the heart or all three!

In the Jewish understanding, someone who had this condition of dropsy, was seen as a great sinner, even related to being a sexual sinner.

This sickness was a pointer to the man’s condition of being highly unclean!

But to bring back our attention to the Gospel…
Was this not a setting of a dinner?

Was not Jesus called for a meal… and that too, a dinner with the elite and leading religious people… …and that too, on a Sabbath day?!

Then what was a man with dropsy, a serious condition of uncleanness, doing there?

The plot of the drama seems to be thickening…

The setup was clear…
>> The Pharisees have invited Jesus for a meal, yes…but with a hidden and a mean agenda…

Drop a man with dropsy in front of Jesus…and observe what he does!

>> They know Jesus has the power to heal…but they also know that it will lead to violation of the Sabbath!
>> They know Jesus would feel compassion on the man…but they also know that it will give them a chance to go up in arms!

They wanted Jesus to violate the Sabbath to give proof that He was not from God!

The Rabbanical rule was that one could only be doctored if one was going to die immediately on the Sabbath.
>> But if death is not imminent, wait till the Sabbath is over.

But Jesus had time & again proved, that he had no regard for that silliness or for that lack of compassion or for the folly of that legalism.

>> In Lk 6:6-11, Jesus healed a withered man, on the Sabbath…
>> In Lk 13: 10-17, Jesus healed a woman, crippled for eighteen years, on the Sabbath…

So, He asks the guests gathered around, “Is it lawful to cure on the Sabbath or not?” (Lk 14:3)

>> Jesus knew their answer.
>> Jesus knew their perspective of things.
Yet He wanted them to tell.

“..but they kept silent” (Lk 14:4a)…
>> They knew the answer too.
>> They knew it was unlawful.
Still they did not tell Him.

>> Sheer hypocrisy!
>> Absolute malicious trapping!
>> Horrifying trick of deception!

And then Jesus does something astonishing…
“..he took the man, and after he had healed him, dismissed him” (Lk 14:4b)

The Greek word used for “took” is a very very strong verb….”Epilombano”

Epilombano literally means to lay hold of or to seize upon anything with the hands

It is the same word used in…
… Lk 23:26, when the soldiers seized Simon of Cyrene to carry the cross
…  Acts 16:19 to say that Paul and Silas were seized and dragged by their persecutors..)

The cruel silence of the crowd provokes Jesus, to strongly seize the afflicted man!

He doesn’t work the miracle in hiding or quietly or from a distance!

Rather, with much force, He just grabs the man, seizes him, crushes him in His arms as if to squeeze the fluid out and give him a new heart, a new liver, and a new self and creates in the man a whole new set of internal organs.

And finally Jesus justifies His action with another thundering question, “Who among you, if your son or ox falls into a cistern, would not immediately pull him out on a Sabbath?” (Lk 14:6)

A beautiful picture indeed…

Jesus asks them, “None of you would have allowed your son or ox to drown in the waters, isn’t it?

>> Then why don’t you see, that I have also saved from drowning… this man with dropsy, drowning in his own fluid!”

Another total silence by the onlookers!

Am I also silent now?

There is much to learn from this dramatic incident, isn’t it?

May this dramatic Gospel incident, become…

… a wonderful inspiration, for us… who need the touch of the Lord, from being drowned in the troubled waters of life!

… a hard warning, for us… who malign other’s lives by seeking to find ways and means to trap them in the works of goodness!

… a tremendous booster, for us.. who often get bogged down by troubles of life & instead to be bold to the hard & gritty challenges of life!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

As children, we have often heard short stories…
One of the famous stories we have heard is about the Fox and the Hen.

The Fox tries his level best to kill the hen & it almost succeeds, until, the hen, by its cleverness, escapes through the clutches of the fox!

The fox is described with dominative and oppressive characters.
>> The hen is described with a defenseless and subjugated character.

Yet, the hen with its cleverness and adeptness manages to escape through its grasp.

The Gospel of the day presents such similar images of the Hen and the Fox to deliver a powerful message for our spiritual lives.

The passage begins with some Pharisees giving a warning to Jesus to leave that place since Herod wanted to kill Him.

Firstly, we encounter an unusual image of the Pharisees…

Usually, they are a group who present a very opposing and critical attitude.

The thought of a Pharisee, usually, brings an image of people who are knowledgeable, yet judgemental & disapproving in their behaviour.

But here is a welcome distinction…
>> These Pharisees display a concern towards Jesus and warn Him of the dangers posed by King Herod.

Why did these Pharisees do so ?
… Was it in malice – to further trap Jesus?
…Was it out of jealousy – to keep Jesus away from the crowds?
…Was it out of concern – to help in His mission?

>We can’t say for sure.
>> We can’t ascertain what really was their motive behind warning Jesus.

But it does allows us space to think that all people cannot be judged as wrong all the time!

Atleast an inkling of goodness exists in all, even in the midst of thick evil!

The answer of the Lord to the warning is a strong one…”Go and tell that fox…!” (Lk 13:32)

The image of the fox appears….King Herod.

Why does Jesus call King Herod as a fox?

The fox was an unclean animal for a Jew.
>> More than the slyness of the animal, Jesus was perhaps referring more to its uncleanness.

Herod always had issues with respect to being a clean and credible Jew…

After the death of his father, King Herod the Great (the one who had killed the many innocent male children at the birth of Jesus), this Herod Antipas had been put in power by Caesar Augustus, the Roman Emperor, in 4 BC.

History tells that in 17 AD, to honour his Roman rulers, he build a grand new capital city named Tiberius, after the current emperor, only to discover that it was built on top of an old Jewish cemetery.

No pious Jew ever entered it, & was occupied exclusively by the pagans.

Herod also had his moral issues…

He divorced his first wife, in order to marry Herodias, the wife of his brother, Philip.

John the Baptist had been a persistent critic of Herod for this dubious marriage.
>> Herod had John killed because he had promised his daughter anything she wanted if she danced for him, and John’s head on a platter is what she wanted.

True, that King Herod Antipas was a powerful man and a person of great influence.
>> But Jesus, the King of Kings and the God of all, does not fear him and instead calls him “a fox”!

>> When one is filled with the mighty Spirit of God, no earthly forces can cause fright or scare!

>> When one fully trusts in the strength of God, no worldly might can cause anxiety or dread!

>> When one is committed to one’s convictions and missions, no power can deter away from it!

This leads Jesus to give another image…
“Jerusalem, Jerusalem…how many times, I yearned to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings…“

The image of a mother Hen appears…Jesus Christ

It is one of the most overtly feminine references to God in all of scripture.
>> Jesus will be the mother hen who stands between the chicks and those who mean to harm.

She has no pointed fangs or rippling muscles.
>> But all she has, is her willingness to shield her babies with her own body.

If the fox wants them, he will have to kill Her first.

This is the image that Jesus for Himself… a Hen.
>> It lays bare God’s vulnerability.  

Here is the contrast…
> King Herod, presented as a Fox…powerful, rude, forceful.
>> Jesus, presented as a mother Hen…protective, sacrificial, shielding.

This mother Hen, Jesus, invites each of us, His chicks, to find shelter under His wings.
>> Am I willing to take shelter under the wings of Jesus, the mother Hen?

The Gospel  has a sad note : When the mother hen tried to gather her chicks underneath her wings, “they were unwilling” (Lk 13:34b)

The chicks are unwilling to remain under the shade of the hen’s wings…
>> Maybe they wanted more freedom…
>> Maybe they just wanted to have their own way of living life…
>> Maybe they did not find the mother hen too exciting, whereas the active fox attracted them…

We too are sometimes so…
>> We fail to come under the shade of God’s wings…
>> We become unwilling.

The story of the fox and the hen continues even today…

Do I get attracted more to the energetic and tempting fox…
>> Or do I find rest, shelter and protection under the wings of the Mother Hen?

The choice is before us…

God Bless! Live Jesus!

A garden of flowers delights most people!

A garden consists of a variety of flowers, with varied colours, sizes, shapes.

Some flowers tend to capture our attention more…some escape the gaze of our eyes.
>> However, this in no way, reduces or increases their relevance and importance.

>>> Each flower has its own specialty.
>>> Each flower has its own attraction.

Jesus in His garden of ministry, chose twelve apostles.
>> Some apostles tend to capture our attention more…some escape the gaze of our eyes.

However, this in no way, reduces or increases their relevance and importance.
>> Each apostle has his own specialty
>> Each apostle has his own attraction.

Today Holy Mother the Church celebrates the feast of two apostles: St Jude and St Simon.

These are apostles, who in most probability escape the gaze of our eyes.
>> These two saints are usually known as the “unknown apostles”.

Yet, they have their own greatness before God and their own importance to inspire us in our lives!

The scarcity of their appearance in the New Testament is so vivid that except in the list of the names of the apostles, the name of Simon never appears elsewhere whereas the name of  Jude makes only a single appearance in the discourse of Jesus after the last supper (Jn 14: 22).

In the Gospel of Matthew & Mark, the apostle Simon is given the title of a Canaanaean, while Luke mentions him as “Zealot”.

This apostle Simon must have belonged to the Zealot Party.
>> The Zealot Party was a first-century political movement among Judean Jews who sought to overthrow the occupying Roman government.

According to the Jewish historian Josephus, four main Jewish groups existed at the time of Christ—the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the Essenes and the Zealots.

The Zealots were known for their aggression and violent behaviour.
>> They advocated that no one, but Yahweh alone should rule over Israel and hence, obedience to the Roman government should be refused.

•       The selection of Simon, the Zealot  as an Apostle, is a great insight into the workings of Jesus, in His Kingdom Ministry…

The Lord accepts us with our hard instincts.
>> The Lord takes into account our various mentalities and mindsets.

In His Divine Love, He squashes all such factors and patterns us into people fit for His Kingdom.

>> He doesn’t reject us in our over-zeal.
>> He doesn’t cast us away because of our impulses.

All that He expects is an openness to follow Him fully and allow ourselves to be moulded!

The Apostle Jude is given another title by St Matthew and St Mark: Thaddeus.
>> Thaddeus means “the courageous heart”

St Jude is one of the most popular saints in our world today, considering the fact that he is called as “The Miraculous Saint”. 
>> St Jude is the one whose aid is often sought when all hope is lost, especially in grave illness & life-&-death situations.

There is a story that since his name is identical with Judas Iscariot, who had betrayed Jesus, St Jude would hardly be interceded too, except in the most desperate situations!
>>  And hence, perhaps, he got identified as the Patron in Helpless Causes!

St Bridget of Sweden & St Bernard had visions from God asking each to accept St Jude as ‘Patron Saint of the Impossible’.

•       The Apostle Jude teaches us a few insights for our spiritual growth:

>>  Like the name – Jude Thaddeus – we are invited too, to have a “heart full of courage”.

The Kingdom of God requires brave soldiers and people of immense valour.

The Lord needs followers who are imbued with the might of His Holy Spirit and who boldly proclaim the Gospel and witness its values by their lives.

No situation of discouragement or setbacks will hinder the march of a “Courageous Heart”!

>>  St Jude, as the Patron of Desperate Cases, inspires us to have a deeper faith and trust in the Providence and Mercy of God.

The Lord is all-knowing.
> He wills what is best for us.

However, in our human frailty, we often tend to lose our hope and become highly desperate.

But this Saint teaches to grow deeper in our faith & know that “behind every dark cloud is a silver lining of the sun…(Son!)”!

>> St Jude also teaches the powerful role of Intercessory Prayer.

We are all created in the Image and Likeness of God, and each of us have a bounden duty to the other…to take care, to love each other and to pray for one another.

When we pray for others and bring others to the presence of God, we help them in their difficulties and join with them in solidarity and compassion.

There are many hidden flowers in a garden.
>> Yet, each one has its own beauty and fragrance and value.

These two apostles – St Simon and St Jude – are fairly hidden in the Gospels, and yet we can learn and be inspired much by them.

May the life and intercession of these two hidden, yet Great Apostles of the Lord…
… impel us further, to love God and His people…
… and spread the Gospel of God to many more!

Happy Feast of the Apostles St Jude and St Simon.

God Bless! Live Jesus!