Some of us have been to a circus at some time or the other in our life.

One of the most important characters in a Circus is…undoubtedly…the Clown.

>> The Clown has the ability to make people laugh and see the lighter side of life.
>> The Clown usually always appears with a smiling countenance.

This amusing and humorous appearance of the Clown is a result of the Mask that is worn.

But the clown perhaps has an important lesson for us all of us to learn…
> The Clown says… “All people, in actuality, wear masks.. only mine is seen outside!”

Very true perhaps, isn’t it?
“All people, in actuality, wear masks.. only mine is seen outside!”

This mask that many of us wear is the Mask of Hypocrisy and Duplicity!

We are into a reflection of this aspect of Hypocrisy yet again, in today’s Gospel, with Jesus’ insistence on this evil tendency with a greater force & urgency.

>> Hypocrisy is a vice which is much hated by Jesus.
>> Hypocrisy is a vice which Jesus constantly asks to weed out.
>> Hypocrisy is a vice which often lurks its head in our lives, knowingly or unknowingly.

> Hypocrisy is duplicity.
> Hypocrisy is pretence.
> Hypocrisy is a facade.

It is…
…  trying to be someone, that one is not.
… deceiving others by presenting a false self.
… masking one’s real identity to show one to be someone else.

The word “hypocrisy” is a composite word in the Greek. It comes from the joining of two words ….
Hupo is the Greek word for “under.” … Krino, is the Greek  “to separate or judge.”
So Hupo + Krino = Hypocrisy means to “be under or stay under and separate or judge”!

This word was mainly used in Greek Theatres and Plays to describe those “actors who would speak their parts, behind a mask”!

Hypocrites in real life, extend this “acting” to their everyday life…

Hypocrites are people…
… who try to impress others, in order to hide their real lives!
… who act more spiritual and holy than they actually are!
… who behave to be too good before others, but a sham within!

Do I have any of such “hypocritic…acting” aspects in my life?

Our Lord calls this vice of hypocrisy as a Yeast…
>> Jesus speaks to His disciples, “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees which is hypocrisy” (Lk 12: 1b)

Why Yeast? 
Yeast or Leaven is something that is used in baking.

•        Yeast has the great property of Influence…
A little amount of yeast is enough to raise the dough or to leaven the batter.
It has a great characteristic of exercising a great amount of influence, though little in quantity!

Hypocrisy is such… though a little amount, it is highly Influential, like the yeast…

>> Hypocritical people are able to boast much about themselves and exert harmful controls!
>> Hypocritical people are able to make other people highly pessimistic and negative!
>> Hypocritical people are able to drain out the spirit and the enthusiasm in others!

•        Yeast starts slow, but grows very quickly…

Yeast starts its activity in a slow manner, but it spreads very quickly and rapidly.
>> It has the great characteristic of exercising its great influence in a timid manner, but rises very fast and swiftly.
 
Hypocrisy is such… though it starts slow, it spreads its influence speedily, like the yeast…

>> Hypocritical people appear subtle initially, but later it becomes almost a part of their nature!
>>Hypocritical people appear harmless initially, but later consume people by its strong effect!
>> Hypocritical people appear gentle initially, but later it becomes a dangerous influence!

How does Hypocrisy usually originate? 
Usually from a Fear…

>> Fear of the people makes one to adopt a totally different disposition and character.
>> Fear of the situations makes one to adjust with a duplicate personality and behaviour.
>> Fear of one’s weaknesses makes one to alter the style of life and tamper with one’s nature.

That’s why the Lord, in today’s Gospel would strongly exhort, “Fear Not!”

>> When we banish the fear of many factors, we are able to be our real self.
>> When we cast away the fear of our material worries, we are able to live our true identity.

God is our Loving Father… a Caring Person….He wants us to grow in Holiness and Sanctity.

>> But He also knows that our double standards in life and our pretence and dual-facedness in many areas of our life, is a block to His Grace in us.

We all wear masks, and the time sometimes comes when we cannot remove them without removing some of our own skin.

The Lord today invites us to peel away our mask of hypocrisy by casting away our fears, by throwing ourselves into the care of our Loving God, our Beloved Father in Heaven!

Let us not be a clown who has a plastic smile because of the mask…
… Rather become a people, who truly rejoice and radiate the joy and happiness of being the precious children of our loving Father in heaven!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

“In this world today while we’re living, some folks, say the worst of us they can
But when we are dead and in our caskets, they always slip some lilies in your hand…

Won’t you give me my flowers while I’m living and let me enjoy them while I can
Please don’t wait till I’m ready to be buried and then slip some lilies in my hand…

In this world is where we need the flowers a kind word to help us get along
If you can’t give me flowers while I’m living, Then please don’t throw ’em when I’m gone…

Won’t you give me my flowers…?”

        – Lyrics from the Song “Give me flowers while I’m living”

The words of this song is a living experience to many people in this world, including perhaps some of us.

We have many people in our life.

Many of them receive a lot of favours from us…but they fail to thank us.
>> We however, sometimes, do hear them backbiting us or spreading false rumours about us!

Many of them are helped in many ways…but they fail to acknowledge those favours.
>> We however, sometimes, do hear them talking ill of us or spoiling our name!

Many of them are rendered assistance in many ways…but they fall short of being grateful to us
>> We however, sometimes, do hear them being negatively critical about us and defaming us.

>> But at the grave, perhaps, all those people would talk highly about us.
After our death, perhaps, all those people might acclaim how wonderful a person he/she was!

We often become a people who…
… fail to appreciate when a person is alive, but shower praises after his/her death!
….fail to give a simple flower when alive, but spread garlands and bouquets after his/her death!
…fail to say a good word when alive, but brag and boast highly, after his/her death!

Consciously or unconsciously, we cultivate a habit or a tendency to remain ungrateful and unkind to people when alive, but falsely praise and glorify, when they are dead or are no longer with us!

>> An attitude of ungratefulness while living…but false appreciation after death!
>> A tendency of indifference while living…but vain glorification after death!
>> An approach of passivity while living…but fake interest after death!

Jesus, in the Gospel of the Day speaks of a similar attitude and tendency among the Pharisees.

In His continued attacks on the hypocrisy and duplicity of the Pharisees, Jesus condemns them for building memorials of the Prophets who were killed and murdered by their ancestors.

The Prophets of the old, lived as the true men of God and constantly called the people to a life of repentance and being faithful to God Yawheh.

But these prophets were very often persecuted, attacked and even killed.

The Prophets, who were the voice of God, while living, had their voices silenced and drowned by the wicked people…
>> But after their death, they used to be quoted and cited in many scholarly and erudite circles.

An attitude of ungratefulness while living…but false appreciation after death!

The Prophets, who called the people to live as per their true conscience, had their lives terminated and ended by the wicked people…
>> But after their death, they had fine memorials and beautiful tombs built in their name

A tendency of indifference while living…but vain glorification after death!

The Prophets, who became the champion of justice and truth, had their efforts ceased and their labours aborted by the wicked people…
>> But after their death, they had many oratories and exquisite lectures in their name.

An approach of passivity while living…but fake interest after death!

Jesus condemns the Pharisees for their deception, as they too become sharers of the blood of the True Prophets and the Men of God!

Jesus’ attacks on this Pharisaic attitude is a strong reminder and warning to each one of us too..

To realize the worth and value of people, while they are alive..and not just heap up empty words of praise, after their death!

To realize the importance of recognizing the true spirit and teachings of people around us…and not become too late in realizing their significance!

>> Life is too short to miss appreciating people for their genuine efforts and contributions.
>> Life is too short to not give people the worth for all what they are in our lives.

A fresh flower given when alive is far worth and appreciable than a bouquet given at the grave!

> Appreciate people when they are around…
>> Enthuse people when situations are favourable…
>>> Encourage people when time and space permit us…

Let us shake of the Pharisaic tendency of duplicity and dishonesty and rather, clothe ourselves in genuineness and truthfulness, by really appreciating and realizing the value and worth of people in our lives.

 

May we seek to make the prayer of St Teresa of Avila, whose feast we celebrate today, our own…

“Christ has no body now on earth but yours,
no hands but yours,
no feet but yours!

Yours are the eyes through which to look out
Christ’s compassion to the world

Yours are the feet with which He is to go about
doing good;

Yours are the hands with which He is to bless men now.”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

Heard of a slam-book?

A slam book is a notebook which is popular among the school and college students.
> This slam-book is also known as a friendship book or a profile book.

It is a book to know the friend better and to also pen some of the thoughts and feelings about a friend.

The book consists of a number of questions which gives various details and information. Some of the questions include, “What is your favourite food?”, “Which places have you visited”, “Who are your favourite friends?” etc.

Another question, quite common, in most slam-books is, “Which attitude or quality do you hate the most?”

If Jesus were to be handed a slam-book, and posed the question, “Which attitude or quality do you hate the most (about human beings)?”, probably, the answer that we would have received would be: Hypocrisy!

Hypocrisy in human beings is perhaps the most hated attitudes of Jesus.

Today’s Gospel has the condemnation of the hated-vice of Hypocrisy of the Pharisees:”Woe to you, Pharisees…” (Lk 11: 42, 43 46)

Religion ought to be a bridge that helps the people to have an easier access to God.
>> But the Pharisees fractured this bridge with an inconsistent insistence on rules on traditions!

Religion ought to be the network that makes the people to come closer to God.
>> But the Pharisees broke this network by an inhuman insistence on various practices!

Religion ought to be a link that makes the life of the people more free in God’s presence.
>> But the Pharisees ruptured this link by burdening the people with wrongly prioritized customs!

The people had to pay a tithe – a share of one’s produces or earnings, usually one tenth. (Lk 11: 42)

This tithe was extracted on all objects and things including the tiny and the minutest ones like mint, rue (a garden herb used for medicinal and cooking purposes) and every garden herb.

>> But there was no insistence or any obligation placed on the Love of God!

Religion for the Pharisees had been reduced to a fulfilling of doing certain practices and customs with the finest details and the minutest perfection, but completely overlooked the most basic aspect of Loving God!

The offering was much more important than the One to whom it was offered!
Strange indeed, isn’t it?

The Pharisees loved the good places of seating in the synagogue and being greeted in the marketplaces.

They loved to been seen in places of prominence and to be publicly acknowledged and appreciated. (Lk 11: 43)

>> But there was no insistence or obligation placed on giving the rightful place to God!

Religion for the Pharisees had been reduced to enjoying places of honour and relishing the public acclaim of the common people, but completely overlooked humbling oneself and giving the glory and honour to God!

The seat and the acclaim was much more important than the One to whom it all was fully due! Strange indeed, isn’t it?

The Pharisees are compared to an unseen grave over which people walk unknowingly. (Lk 11: 44).

It was a ritual impurity for the Jews to touch the graves, and Jesus compares the lives of the Pharisees as a source of causing impurity and defilement to the people who came in contact with them.

>> There was an insistence and an obligation on fulfilling their various inhuman customs.

Religion for the Pharisees had been reduced to many practices which was sharp in its display of duplicity and unjust weightage given to external fulfilling of the Law, at the cost of the inner dimensions.

The law was much more important than the One gave the Law!
Strange indeed, isn’t it?

The Scholars of the Law imposed many commands on the people and burdened their lives but failed to show any compassion to help them by their lives. (Lk 11: 46)

But there was no insistence or any obligation placed on the Compassion and Mercy of God!

Religion for the Pharisees had been reduced to merely carrying out some routines in the name of following God and was highly imposed though they were highly burdensome and impractical.

The practise of the commands was much more important than the One who commanded utmost honour!
Strange indeed, isn’t it?

These various dimensions of the Pharisaic attitude is very much possible to creep into our own lives.

>> We could be a people for whom the offering is much more important than the One to whom it is offered!

>> We could be a people for whom the places of honour seat and the acclaim is much more important than the One to whom it all is fully due!

>> We could be a people for whom the law is much more important than the One gives the Law!

>> We could be a people for whom the practise of the commands is much more important than the One who commands utmost respect and honour!

Let us seek to root out any of these Pharisaic tendencies from our lives!

The Lord loves to fill the slam-book of our lives.

>> May He not be made to write his most-hated virtue of Hypocrisy in this book;
instead be proud to fill the slam-book of our lives with his choicest words of love and affection!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

“Braving the Lion in its own den” in a phrase that finds expression in various instances of our life.
>> It means encountering or confronting a stronger person or a stronger situation, in its own area of strength and force.

> Imagine the Indian Cricket Team trouncing the Pakistan team in a stadium in Pakistan itself.
> Imagine the Congress defeating the BJP in the political elections in Gujarat, which is one of latter’s greatest strongholds.

The Bible also has some typical examples of “Braving the Lion in its own den”…

>> The Israelites challenged the supremacy of the Egyptians while in slavery, and were able to script a wonderful exodus.

>> David, the shepherd boy defeated the mighty and proud Goliath in the Palestinian land and cut off his neck with the mighty warrior’s own sword.

>> Elijah, the prophet confronted the claim of the followers of Baal and made them realise the worthlessness of their deity in a challenge of their own style.

“Braving the Lion in its own den” requires much courage, conviction, strength and nerves!

The Gospel of the Day presents Jesus, the Master Challenger in such a situation of “Braving the Lion in its own den”!

A Pharisee invited Jesus to have a meal in his house.

We are unsure of the motives or the reason for this Pharisee to invite Jesus for the table sharing…
>> Maybe he just wanted to grow in his friendship with Jesus…
>> Maybe he wanted to check how this great preacher would conduct himself in his house…
>> Maybe he wanted to show off to his friends of having invited a great Rabbi to his house…
>> Maybe he wanted to break the ministry of Jesus and trap Him in doing some aberrations…

In any case, the Pharisee certainly expected Jesus to follow the rules and customs of the traditional Jewish meal.
>> But he notices that Jesus has failed to wash his hands before dinner.

This washing of the hands was a ritual purification process.
> The insistence on this act was not for the sake of hygiene, but for ritual purity!

This omission of the sacred tradition came as a big shocker for the host Pharisee.

He would have thought about Jesus:
“This Rabbi is doing it all wrong!
Why can’t He follow our age-old customs?

He is insulting me before my other guests!
How dare He behaves so, in my own house!”

But this is where Jesus in His unique style of courage & conviction comes into confrontation with the attitude of the Pharisee…

>> The Pharisee was surely His host.. yet Jesus dares to “Brave the Lion in its own den!”
>> The Pharisee was surely His invitee.. yet Jesus dares to “Brave the Lion in its own den!”

Standing up for convictions and principles was a value that Jesus always upheld.
>> Being bold to always promote and defend goodness was a virtue that Jesus always supported.

Jesus lashes out with a righteous anger, “So then, you Pharisees, you clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside yourselves, you are full of greed and evil. Fools…!…” (Lk 11: 39).

The Pharisee got offended because Jesus failed to wash his hands before meal.
>> But Jesus got offended because they failed to have a true cleansing of their hearts.

The Pharisee got upset because Jesus failed to uphold the sacred tradition.
>> But Jesus got upset because they failed to uphold the values of inner purity and holiness.

The Pharisee felt insulted because Jesus failed to honour their customs and practices.
>> But Jesus felt insulted because the table-meal failed to reflect true love and sharing.

Jesus was not afraid to encounter the Pharisee in his wrong thinking and mightily “Dared to Brave the Lion in his own den”!

This same Jesus today encounters us and wants to “dare to brave the Lion in us, in our own den”.

Maybe I am bold and strong in being relaxed in some of my comfort and pleasure zones..
>> But Jesus dares us, to come out of this den and renew ourselves with a life of holiness and purity.

Maybe I am quite okay with aspiring for many gadgets and objects of passing joys and desires
>> But Jesus dares us, to come out of our den and focus on the real necessities of a good life.
 
Maybe I am just satisfied to beautify our external life even if it means being greedy and selfish
>> But Jesus dares us, to come out of our den and repent by living a self-sacrificing and a self-controlling life.  

                
The ‘lion of Pharisaism’ is deep rooted in many of our personal lives, our family lives and in our community lives…
> Having the focus only on external factors…but neglecting the inner dimensions…
> Giving importance to only outer shows…but totally forgetting the internal aspects…
> Being obsessed with doing many things…but totally ignoring the necessity of being holy…

The Lord is today “Daring to Brave this Lion within us, in our own den”!

Let us allow the lion of greed, evil tendencies and false priorities,
to be conquered and defeated by
Jesus, the Lion of Judah, the Great Lion!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

Remember the school-going days..when there was the (usually considered as) “terrorizing” subject called as Mathematics?

One of the questions that would frequent in a Mathematics question paper, would be questions of the type…”Prove that…”

So some examples of these theorems or statements to be proven would be…
>> “Prove that” the sum of two even integers is even.
>> “Prove that” the square root of two, is an irrational number.

Such examples of proof require a precision in the logic and methodology, so as to arrive at the proper conclusion of the facts.

The Gospel of the Day presents a similar question of “prove that” nature.

> The Examiners posing the question: The people in the crowd
> The student facing the question: Jesus
> The statement to be proved: Prove that You, Jesus, are the Messiah, the Son of God.
> The nature of proof required: Through signs and miracles.

This student, Jesus has faced such similar tests many times before.

>> Many times in His life, He has been worked up by many to prove His status…

>> Many times in His life, He has been demanded things to prove His authority…

He is an experienced student.

On the Mount of the Temptations… (Lk 4: 1-13)

Satan demanded Jesus to “prove that” He was the Son of God…
… by working a miracle
… by bowing to Him
… by jumping down

While at ministry…
… the Pharisees and teachers of the Law asked Jesus to “prove that” He had the authority to forgive sins. (Lk 5:21)

… the disciples of John asked Jesus to “prove that” He was indeed the One who was to come or whether they should look for another (Lk 7:19)

… some in the crowd asked Jesus “to prove that” He worked wonders and even drove out demons by His own power, by asking for a sign from heaven (Lk 11:16)

The Student, Jesus….has already faced many such “to prove that” situations!

Today’s Gospel once again puts the Student, Jesus to the test “to prove that” He is the Messiah by a demand for signs!

Am I also a person who is guilty of making Jesus a student, by putting Him “to the test” by asking Him “to prove” many things in life…?

>> In times of sicknesses and pains… maybe I demand signs from the Lord to “prove that” He is indeed a Healing God.

>> In times of financial difficulties… maybe I demand signs from the Lord to “prove that” He is indeed a Provider God.

>> In times of mental tensions and worries… maybe I demand signs from the Lord to “prove that” He is indeed a Caring God.

>> In times of spiritual aridity and emptiness… maybe I demand signs from the Lord to “prove that” He is indeed a Living God.

Of course, from a human perspective…owing to our limitations and weakness, we do sometimes ask some signs or miracles or some wonders.

>> But these demands for sign and miracles should not become THE criteria for proving God’s Existence or even His Presence…

>> These demands for some external manifestations and wonders should not become THE yardstick for proving the might and power of God…

> We should not be holding God at ransom, by demanding signs
> We should not be hijacking God and demand miracles.
                

We rather need to look back into our lives, and see the various moments and the times when…
…  He has caressed us with His affection
… He has nurtured us with His love
… He has filled us with His presence

The Lord gives to the people in the crowd, the signs and examples of the people of Nineveh and the Queen of Sheba.

The people of Nineveh and the Queen of Sheba…
… were gentiles
… were not the chosen people
… were not people who had a first-hand experience of God.

Yet, when they heard the preaching of Jonah and saw the glory of Solomon…they believed!

They did not demand miracles.. they did not demand signs….yet, they believed!

The Lord through today’s Gospel makes us to realize the worth and the value of the many wonders and the signs He has already worked in our lives.

> We sometimes might tend to take God’s blessings “for granted”
> We sometimes might tend to not consider God’s graces as “something big”
> We sometimes might tend to not able to even see something “special” in God’s favours .
 
Today is a chance for us to have a retrospective into our lives and see the many, maybe tiny and small, wonders and miracles the Lord has worked in our lives…

None can say, “I have no miracles in my life”!
>> From our birth, to our upbringing, our education, our formation, our works, our surroundings, our people…etc….. at every step, we have many miracles and signs of God!

The hand of the Lord is very much at large in our lives.

We don’t need to become a people which poses God  with “prove that” type questions!

Let us see… Let us realize.. and Let us thank!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

A little girl told an older friend that she was going to give her Father, a pair of slippers for his birthday.

“But where will you get your money?” asked the friend with concern.

The little girl opened her cute eyes wide and said, “Why, Father will give me the money.”

For a moment the friend was silent as she thought that the father would have rather bought his own birthday present.

But the Father loved and appreciated the gift, given by his little daughter…. even  though he paid for it himself!

> How many of us realise that “by ourselves we are nothing” and that everything is given by God – as a gift?
>>> How many of us, instead get “attached” to material things as our own possession – and drown ourselves into the sea of sadness and gloom, when we are made to part with it?

The Gospel of the day presents a teaching by Jesus on having the proper disposition towards wealth and riches and an exhortation to live a life of detachment, for the sake of the Kingdom of God.

We have the familiar passage of a young man, who approaches Jesus with a query, “… what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Mk 10:17)

Here is a man who had wonderful qualities, but probably had got some of his basics wrong…

He was a person interested in seeking the higher things of life… therefore he enquires about eternal life
>> But perhaps, he had a “calculative” notion of salvation – like a “check-list” which had things to be marked off – which assured and guaranteed him of salvation.
… Aspects of God’s mercy and His Will were, probably, forgotten!

He was a person, who paid attention and gave much value to the commandments of God, in his life
>> But perhaps, he had got into a ‘legalistic mode’ which made him to assiduously follow the letters of the Law
… Aspects of translating the laws into practical acts of setting one’s heart on the Lawgiver was, probably, forgotten!

He was a person, who was persistent in seeking an answer from the Lord and had a great deal of confidence in his personal convictions and beliefs
>> But perhaps, he had donned a “materialistic garb”, which caused him to find it difficult to part with his material possessions
… Aspects of giving the priority to the richness of the Kingdom of God was, probably, forgotten!

It’s interesting to note the observation made by St Luke, when the man sought to justify his life of righteousness…

St Luke says, “Jesus looking at him, loved him and said to him….” (Mk 10: 21a)

It was a look of immense love and compassion…
… The Creator looking on the marvel of His creation
… The Law Giver looking on the one who sought to follow the law closely
… The Father looking on the child who is deeply loved and cared for
… The Elder brother looking at the younger one with deep affection

With this deep look of love, Jesus makes another powerful statement to the one whom he loved, “You are lacking in one thing.  Go, sell, what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven” (Mk 10: 21b)

> True love makes a demand…
>> True love demands perfection…
>>> True love perfects the one who is loved…

Jesus, who loved the man much, wants him to be the best and perfect – in his love for God and in following Him.

But the young man had his countenance fallen… and he went away sorrowful (Mk 10: 22)

How often, we struggle when our Loving God demands perfection from us…
… by asking to “let go” of certain aspects in life, in order to have His Will fulfilled
… by demanding of us to be detached from material possessions, in order to let Him be the treasure of our lives

Our lives are nothing, but a gift from the Lord.

The wealth we enjoy…
The comforts we take pleasure in…
The talents with which we engage in many activities…
… are all a gift from God… to be utilised, nurtured and cherished,  for the glory of God!

> None of us have any right to be possessed by it…
> None of us will find true joy in being obsessed with it…

As the Psalmist says, “I said to the LORD,  ‘You are my Master! Every good thing I have comes from you.’ (Ps 16:2)

May we realise that “by ourselves we are nothing” and that everything is given by God – as a gift!
>>> May we earnestly seek and make efforts to get “detached” from material things – and enjoy the bliss and peace that comes from having the Lord alone, as our greatest treasure!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

The eagles are an amazing variety of birds.

They possess numerous qualities and traits which is praiseworthy and wonderful.
>> The eagles also have found much acclaim and applaud in the Holy Bible.

One of such quality is its quality of being a HIGH FLYER.

Eagles can fly up to an altitude of 10,000 feet, but they are able to swiftly land on the ground. 
>> When it rains, most birds head for shelter; the eagle is the only bird that, in order to avoid the rain, starts flying above the clouds…

The eagle has accomplished and achieved for itself a niche for being a Bird which goes HIGH!
Sees High…Thinks High…Flies High!

The Gospel of the Day invites us to possess a similar quality… To See High…. to Think High…To Fly High!

In today’s Gospel, a woman from the crowd calls out to Jesus, “Blessed is the one who bore you and nursed you”  (Lk 11:27)

This woman had probably been following Jesus for sometime or had observed some of His works or had heard about Him.
>> This greatness of the Man was attributed to His Mother.

The woman had probably a driving principle behind this thought, “Behind every successful man, there is a strong woman…constantly supporting and nourishing”.
>> Mother Mary was recognized and understood as this Woman behind the success of Jesus!

Let’s just visualize how Jesus would have felt when He heard these words…

> Every child is proud of one’s parent, especially the mother.
> Every child is happy to hear good about one’s parent, especially the mother.

Jesus too, would have been very proud and happy of His Mother.

> He would have thought of the moments His Mother would have taught Him various prayers
> He would have thought of the moments His Mother would have taught Him the scriptures.
> He would have thought of the moments His Mother would have taught Him to love God

Jesus surely had many things to thank and praise His Mother.
>> But the Lord doesn’t remain fixated on the level of mere human praise and efforts…

The Lord loves things of the High….and His concerns are of the High!

And so, he invites and challenges the woman to look higher…
“Surely blessed are those who hear the Word of God and keep it as well” (Lk 11:28)

The Lord was probably telling the woman…
“Yes, surely my Mother is truly great for Her tender care of me.
She is indeed wonderful for Her amazing upbringing of me.

But My Mother is great, not just because of these earthly factors…

> There is much more…
> There are many more reasons which makes Her truly great.

She is blessed…
… because She listened to God’s Word and accepted it wholeheartedly.
… because She was obedient to God though she did not understand many things
… because She chose to put Her faith in God, though the path ahead was dim
… because She lived and shared the love that she received from God.”

The Lord made the woman to not just be satisfied with transient, material aspect, but to have a higher perspective in life.

The same message is reached out to each one of us today….
> Am I a person who is simply satisfied with only the concerns of the material world?
> Am I a person who remains stunted on just listening to God’s word, but not practising it?
> Am I a person who fails to fly higher, to also be concerned with the aspects of the Divine?
> Am I a person who is excited to hear and listen to the Bible, but afraid to live it in my life?

We are all invited, like the Eagle, to fly above the clouds of materiality and worldliness……
To See High…. to Think High…To Fly High!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

A Christian preacher was once invited to preach in the court of a notorious and malicious King.

As he stood up to preach, he heard a voice – his mind telling him:
“Be careful, of what you speak. The King of the Land is here!”

In a few seconds, he heard another voice – of his conscience:
“Be careful of what you do not speak. Your conscience demands of you!”

In a confused state, he heard yet another voice – in the depth of his heart:
“Be not afraid of what you speak!
The King of kings is with you!”

Preaching the Gospel is a bold and a courageous task… and unless one is really passionate and fervent about it, one cannot do justice to the message and the person of the Gospel!

The Gospel of the Day gives a subtle yet strong message on the need to stand firm in being a Messenger of the Gospel…even if one faces criticism or mockery or rejection or indifference.

Our Master, Jesus Himself had to undergo this negative reaction.

The Gospel presents how some people, on seeing Jesus cast out demons, accused him falsely and sought to test him by asking for a sign from heaven.

In the Gospel of Luke 4: 18, in the Nazareth manifesto, Jesus declared that “He has come to bring glad tidings to the poor,  to proclaim liberty to the captives…”

In fulfilment of this program, Jesus went about bringing the message of joy and hope to the ones lost and the wretched.
>> He also went about casting many evil spirits and freeing many possessed people from the shackles of the evil.

> When goodness spreads, the power of evil also raises its ugly head more…
> When righteousness is proclaimed, the claims of the evil also keep increasing…
> When the Kingdom of God is announced, the realm of the devil gets more agitated…

Though the people saw the immense goodness and love being extended by Jesus, some of them purposely sought to find fault with the Lord.

Yet, Jesus remains…
… the reed unshaken.
… the power unconquered.
… the conviction unquaked.

> He was sure of His mission. 
> He was convinced of His goals in life.
> He was certain of the purpose of His ministry.

Though His ministry and His works were badly attacked, Jesus does not get bogged down..
… Rather, He finds the way out through the maze of tricky situations, unappealing factors and even discouraging circumstances.

The Lord today teaches us a very powerful lesson for our Christian Life in this world and for all our works and ministries that we engage in…

There will be times when many people accuse and insult us…
>> Can I remain firm and strong in my convictions and principles?

There will be times when, though we do much good, people fail to understand us…
>> Can I still be strong enough to render the good in the places it is required?

There will be times when we are totally misunderstood and blamed, though we are innocent…
>> Can I find the strength and the courage to not get disappointed or crumbled in sadness?

There will be times when we feel like discontinuing everything due to pressures and loads…
>> Can I push myself above all these situations which paralyze and cripple us?

The Lord today teaches us by His life and example and words that…
…Life has much to offer when we are strong.
…Life has much to be strong about.
…Life has much to rejoice in.

The Lord declares, “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me, scatters” (Lk 11:23)

As Christians, we have a duty and a responsibility to stand firm in our beliefs and faith in the Lord, despite any storms that crash against the boats of our life!

When we are truly filled with the power of the Spirit, like Jesus, we too are able to stand firm against the forces of discouragement and disappointments!

Let us grow deeper in the Lord… Let us be filled more with the Holy Spirit…

Life will throw bricks at us…but it depends on us…
… whether we choose to get bruised and wounded and crumble under it
… or whether we build a castle out of those same bricks!

Let us not be afraid… The King of kings is with us!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

 

Thud….thud….. ….went the hammer… fifty seven hits over…

Thud…thud…again…

 

A small crack appears… a tiny opening observed…

 

And again bangs the hammer…one last time…the sixtieth time…..and…. finally…. its happened!

The rock has been finally split…into pieces! 

The huge rock…had been cracked by the hammer.

 

The rock split into two at the 60th hit of the rock-cutter.

 

But, was it just the last bang of the hammer which cracked the rock? 

Was is the last hit of the hammer which broke the rock into pieces?

No! The hits that went before are also important!

 

Perseverance pays! 

Determination delivers!

 

The Gospel of the Day presents before us the theme of Prayer with a special emphasis on perseverance and determination in prayer life.

 

Prayer is like hitting  a rock with a hammer!

 

If it is a really big rock ,we will hit is for quite some time to just get a small crack.

>> We have to keep hitting, for the crack to  become big enough to break the rock in pieces.

It we stop hitting, we may have stopped when the crack  is just about  to split open and break.

 

In the Gospel today, Jesus speaks of this aspect of persistence in prayer through a parable…

 

A parable of a friend who knocked at the door of his friend at an odd midnight hour…seeking for some help.

 

Prayer invariably points to the notion of Necessity and Dependence in our lives…

 

>> A necessity for various things…and a Dependence on God

 

>> A necessity of realising our limitations…and a Dependence on the power of God

 

>> A necessity of moving out of our capabilities…and a Dependence on the strength of God

 

>> A necessity of knowing all things not possible for me…and a Dependence on the grace of God

 

For a moment, let us get into the shoes of this friend who faced this need of an unexpected traveler in his house…and thus forced to seek for help…

 

This man received an unexpected guest…

>> Probably, it was the end of all the chores of his day..and as he was retiring to bed, this traveler came to his house.

His condition was so pitiable that he did not even some morsels of food to be given.

 

He had the good will…but did not have the resources to help. He had the good intentions…but did not have the supplies to assist.

 

Very often, we ourselves land up into such situations…

 

Perhaps someone drops in for a coffee…and lays bare their problems…

> But we feel totally helpless how to help…

 

Perhaps we get a letter or a message…informing of some serious crisis…

> But we feel totally helpless how to help…

 

Perhaps our close ones undergo some pain…and life becomes hard…

> But we feel totally helpless how to help…

 

Perhaps we see many in absolute suffering…and our heart reaches out to them..

> But we feel totally helpless how to help…

 

We ask ourselves: “What can I do?”

There is a strange, sinking sensation… a sense of pressure, almost terror: “What shall I say?“

 

The best you can do is just hope for a quiet moment when you can rush to God, our Great Neighbour and cry out to him, “A friend has come, and I have nothing to set before him.“

 

This happens often, doesn’t it?

 

> It is out of such moments of deep necessity that true prayer is born.

> It is out of such moments of genuine dependence that true prayer is born.

 

But that does not mean, that God, our Great neighbour, is a sleeping fella who has to be awakened from his slumber or who has to forced to render us help.

The point of the parable is that as a Person who is in necessity and who is dependent, ought to have a great level of patience & perseverance & determination.

 

>> In prayer, sometimes, we determine the way God should answer our requests.

 

>> In prayer, sometimes, we determine the time God should answer our requests.

 

>> In prayer, sometimes, we determine the limit God should answer our requests.

 

>> In prayer, sometimes, we determine the mode God should answer our requests.

 

But the Parable reminds us… We are only a person in necessity and dependant.

> The Great Neighbour, God…is also our loving Father.

> The Great Neighbour, God…is also the One who cares deeply for us.

> The Great Neighbour, God…is also Someone who wishes the best for us.

 

In Lk 11: 9, Jesus gives us the exciting verse, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” 

 

ASK…SEEK…KNOCK…all these three verbs indicate a continual process and a constant action.

“Keep on asking…keep on seeking…keep on knocking”.

 

The Lord is a Loving Father…

He does not demand perseverance because of some hard-heartedness..

>> Rather, He expects consistence and perseverance because of His deep and tender Love for us and wanting us to not get bogged down by mere material concerns…rather to SEEK HIM above all in prayer and to make HIM the greatest need of our lives!

 

The rock-cutter determinately and constantly knocks at the rock…and his efforts are rewarded.

 

Let us grow in this perseverance and determination in prayer.

 

“Provided that we don’t give up, the Lord will guide everything for our benefit…!

There is no other remedy for this evil of giving up prayer than to begin again!” 

 – St. Teresa of Avila.

 

God Bless! Live Jesus!

Most of us have seen those advertisements or billboards which announce some bumper offer or sale.

For example…

>> Winter Sale on branded clothing: Up to 50%  off!*

>> Buy a new house, at just Rs 1000!*

>> Buy one pizza, get one free!*

But, a point to be noted is that most of these advertisements of offers and goodies also have a “tiny asterisk – * ” sign next to it.

What does the * refer to?
>> It has a catch in it…. Conditions Apply!

~ The offer is valid, only on the basis of some conditions.
~ The sale is applicable, only on the agreement of some special terms.

The Gospel of the Day is the prayer of the Our Father.

>> And one of the offer that is mentioned in the Our Father is that of Forgiveness.

However, this offer of Forgiveness has an “asterisk *” sign attached to it…

Yes… Conditions apply!

What is the offer?

>> The Forgiveness from God!

And what is the condition applied to receive this offer of forgiveness?

>> We, first need to forgive others!

The Eleventh Chapter of St Luke opens with a teaching on prayer.

This teaching begins with Jesus presenting the blueprint in praying- the beautiful prayer “The Our Father”.

The Lukan version of the Our Father has five petitions:
1. Hallowed be thy name
2. Thy Kingdom come
3. Give us today our daily bread
4. Forgive us our sins
5. Do not subject us to the final test

The fourth petition  – for forgiveness – is also accompanied with a clause – “…as we forgive”..
“…and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors” (Lk 11: 4)

..forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us!
…forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us!

Well, does this mean God’s forgiveness is conditional?

It needs to be understood, that God , in His infinite mercy and goodness, has always the store of forgiveness, unconditionally opened for us!

But..
~~ To receive this treasure of forgiveness, we need to first forgive others!

~~ To receive this grace of pardon, we need to first pardon others!

It means that…
>> If we harbour a wrong against other…
>> If we continue to nurture hatred against other…
>> If we wilfully fail to extend absolution to the other…
>> If we adamantly keep having repulsion against the other…
                ..then we are telling God to not forgive me either!
                …then we are telling God to not shower His blessing on me!
                …then we are telling God to withhold His unconditional mercy on me!
                ….then we are telling God to stop extending His unconditional compassion!

The prayer – “Our Father” is indeed one of the most easily learnt and widely used prayers.

>> But this clause of the prayer, which is often overlooked, also makes this prayer dangerous!

>> This clause of the prayer, which is often not thought of, also makes this prayer challenging!

·       Let the prayer ‘Our Father’ make us to make inroads into forgiving others!

·       Let the prayer ‘Our Father’ make us to march forward into extending pardon to others!

Let this beautiful prayer also become a really meaningful one!

October 7th is the Feast of “Our Lady of the Rosary”; also known by another title – “Our Lady of Victory”

Pope Leo XIII says:
“The devotion to the Rosary is, so great and so confident, to the august Queen of Heaven…
… and has never shone forth with such brilliancy as when the militant Church of God has seemed to be endangered by the violence of heresy… or by an intolerable moral corruption, or by the attacks of powerful enemies.”

Our world, today is greatly endangered by the evils of…
>> dilution of morals >> heretical powers to do away with God
>> venomous attacks to destroy and corrupt the Church.

>> May we pick up the Rosary as our weapon to pray and powerfully invoke the grace of God.

May the Motherly Intercession of our Mamma fill us with the Holy Spirit, to help us to truly love Jesus, our Brother deeply and to trust in the manifold grace of God, our Father!

God Bless! Live Jesus!