“Allowing ourselves not to be ‘influenced and altered’ by the ways of the world!”

(Based on Jer 7:23-28 and Lk 11:14-23 – Thursday of the 3rd Week of Lent)

A group of two brothers were roaming in the forest, when they found a couple of tiny birds of the family of linnets.

When the boys got the birds home, they put the linnets in a cage, opposite the canary bird, which was tied in another cage.
(Canary birds are known to be “Singing Birds”)

They explained to their mother that they hoped the linnets – being so young – would learn to imitate the singing canary…
… Instead of cheeping as normally birds do, they expected them to sing (like the canary)

The next day the boys entered the room, and exclaimed:
“Mother, come here, look what has happened!

Our canary is cheeping like a linnet!”

The mother came in… and found it so!

Instead of the linnets learning to sing, the canary bird forgot its ability to sing!

Thus, the canary had to be separated from the wild birds of the wood and kept under cover for a time before regaining the singing ability.

Such is the case with Christians who allow themselves to “influenced and altered” by the ways of the world!

We may end up losing the “song of our Faith!”

Yes, Christian life requires that we be constantly “on the watch and guard”, because it is…
… a constant struggle between the forces of evil and the power of goodness…
… a relentless warfare between the coercion of sin and the strength of holiness…

The Gospel of the Day presents this struggle between…
… Jesus and the Pharisees
… the Holy One and the evil forces
… the Kingdom of Heaven and the kingdom of Satan

The Lord came to the world to usher in the Kingdom of God.

Bringing to forefront the Kingdom of Power and Holiness, the Lord casts out a demon from a person who is dumb. (Lk 11:14)

This mighty action of healing and deliverance had a tremendous effect…
… the dumb man spoke
… and the people marvelled.

But, this wondrous act of power and authority also triggered a volley of struggles…
… a struggle of words between the Pharisees and Jesus
… a teaching on the struggle between the Kingdom of God and the forces of evil

The Lord lashes out in authority and conviction, on being accused of siding with evil powers to cast out demons: “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste and a divided household falls” (Lk 11: 17)

Jesus makes it clear that one cannot be siding with negative forces in order to perform deeds of goodness and salvation!

This brings us to an important dimension that needs our honest and critical consideration:

Am I a person truly on the side of God when I engage in works and ministries of the Lord…
… but still continuing to be on the side of the Evil One by living a life of sin?

Am I a person imbued with the Spirit of the Holy Lord in professing to be a Christian…
… or am I living a dual-life by failing to give up immoral tendencies and obliging the evil spirit?

Am I a person who may be performing a lot of good works in the name of God…
… but failing to have an intimate relationship and union with the God of all power and glory?

Venerable Fr Peter Marie Mermier, the founder of the Congregation of the Missionaries of St Francis de Sales puts it beautifully:
“The ministry of a priest without prayer, is a barren ministry, without any effect, even harmful; it is a ministry of death!

Instead of enlightening, it blinds; instead of healing, it kills!

But the ministry of the one who prays, is a ministry of life!”

Christian life is not to be just defined by external works of piety and works…
… but is to be a reflection of the inner intimacy and relation with the Lord.

A true inner disposition and authority is a must to be effective and credible in our life.

I may find myself often in the “cage” of faith and unbelief…

But am I clear in taking the side of the Lord and Him alone?

I may find myself often in the “cage” of actions of goodness and temptations of the evil…

But am I convinced of taking the side of the Kingdom of God alone?

Christian Life is a constant struggle
… between the evil and good
… between the Devil and Jesus
… between the Kingdom of God and the powers of wickedness

Which side are we on?

Let us be careful not to allow ourselves to be “influenced and altered” by the ways of the world…
… so that we may not end up losing the “song of our Faith!”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
MAN’S VOCATION LIFE IN THE SPIRIT – GOD’S SALVATION: LAW AND GRACE – The Ten Commandments – The Fourth Commandment

This commandment is expressed in positive terms of duties to be fulfilled.
It introduces the subsequent commandments which are concerned with particular respect for life, marriage, earthly goods, and speech.

It constitutes one of the foundations of the social doctrine of the Church. (CCC # 2198)

(Based on Deut 4:1, 5-9 and Mt 5:17-19 – Wednesday of the 3rd Week of Lent)

In the annals of legislative history…
… a seemingly trivial punctuation mark once wreaked havoc on the U.S. economy.

In 1872, Congress passed a tariff act intended to exempt “fruit-plants, tropical and semi-tropical, for the purpose of propagation or cultivation” from import duties.

However, a printer’s inadvertent insertion of a comma transformed the phrase into “fruit, plants, tropical and semi-tropical”
… (inadvertently adding a comma between the words: fruit and plants)
… And thus, granting all tropical fruits duty-free status!

Importers quickly took advantage…
… flooding the market with duty-free tropical fruits.

By the time the government realized the mistake, millions in revenue were lost.

(Source: Tariff Act of 1872, punctuation mishap; historical records of U.S. customs and tariffs.)

A single misplaced punctuation mark had rewritten the law and cost the nation dearly.

If one small comma could shake an entire economy, imagine how powerful is the smallest letter of God’s Word!

Jesus tells in today’s Gospel:
“Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of the letter will pass from the Law, until all things have taken place.” (Mt 5: 18)

The ‘smallest letter’ refers to Hebrew letter “Yod”

It is the smallest letter of the Hebrew Alphabet.

The ‘smallest part of the letter’ refers to the “thorn of the Yod”

It is just a small curve at the top of the letter, a light decoration on the letter “Yod”

Why was Jesus being so specific and particular in speaking about the Law?

What was Jesus meaning, by referring to the “tiniest” elements of the alphabet?

Jesus refers to the prime sanctity of God’s Word to His People.

This Word had now taken flesh (Jn 1: 14)
Jesus, the Word Incarnate, came to bring the Law to its fulfilment…
… not to undermine them.

While the Old Law could only show the mistake of the person…
… Jesus, the New Law would grant forgiveness and grace to the one who atones!

While the Old Law could only make the person to realise one’s faults…
… Jesus, the New Law would confer life and salvation to the one who repents!

When we consider the Gospel of St Matthew, we can consider the shift in emphasis:

Stage 1: In the initial part of the Gospel

Jesus says, “UNTIL HEAVEN AND EARTH PASS AWAY, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of the letter will pass from the LAW, until all things have taken place” (Mt 5: 18)

Stage 2: At the end of the Gospel

Jesus says, ” HEAVEN AND EARTH WILL PASS AWAY, but MY WORDS will not pass away” (Mt 24: 35)

There is a progressive shift in emphasis…
… from the LAW to the WORDS OF JESUS.

He is the perfection and the fulfilment of the Law!

This is the Divine Process of the unfolding of the plan of God’s Salvation for the world…
… finding its fulfilment and perfection in Jesus!

But this was not at the expense of the Old Law!

The Old Law is to be read, understood and practised, in the light of the New!
The New Law casts its illumining light on the Old, revealing life-giving messages!

As the classical saying goes:
“The New Testament is in the Old, concealed; the Old Testament is in the New, revealed”

What is the message for us, in this reflection?

The Great Power in the Promises of God in our life!

The Lord assures us, that none of His Promises will go unfulfilled in our life!

He guarantees that, He will bring His Word of Salvation to fulfilment in our life!

What is needed however…
… our openness to trust and believe in His Word!
… our willingness to make necessary changes, in the light of His Word!

The Lord assures us, with much emphasis:
“… Give heed to the statutes and ordinances which I teach you, and do them; that you may live…
… keep them and do them; for that will be your wisdom and your understanding” (Deut 4: 1, 6)

Let us not be afraid to seek perfection in obeying the Law of the Lord and keeping His commandments, remembering…
… that “the smallest details of God’s Word hold Great Power, because even a ‘Yod’ carries the weight of eternity!”

Let us know for sure: In God’s Word, there are no small details – only Divine precision!”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
MAN’S VOCATION LIFE IN THE SPIRIT – GOD’S SALVATION: LAW AND GRACE – The Ten Commandments – The Fourth Commandment

The Lord Jesus himself recalled the force of this “commandment of God.”
The Apostle teaches: “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ‘Honor your father and mother,’

… (This is the first commandment with a promise.) ‘that it may be well with you and that you may live long on the earth. (CCC # 2198)

“Allowing our Blessed Lord and Mamma Mary with St Joseph, to enter into the ‘train of our life’ and to have a journey of ‘joy and mirth!'”

(Based on the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord)

This simple and beautiful little story is told about a long, tedious train journey…
… made by some elderly residents of a nursing home who were on their way to a vacation spot.

At one station, a young mother with a small child entered the train.

The child smiled at all the grim faces around him and began moving from one lap to another…
… talking, shouting with joy and chatting with everyone.

Instantly, the grim and silent atmosphere in the train was changed to one of joy and happiness.

Today is the celebration of the day when our Blessed Lord and Mamma Mary entered into the “train of human life” to begin a journey of “joy and mirth!”

On this Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, we remember with joy and gratitude how Mary said: “Yes to the Divine Plan”….
… to pave the way for Her Divine Son Jesus to transform a hopeless, joyless and sinful world into a place of joy and happiness!

This Announcement of the Good News of the beginning of salvation history, with the encounter of the Blessed Virgin Mary with Angel Gabriel…
… is the Feast of the Annunciation of the Lord.

Mother Mary, at the Annunciation, teaches us many things…

1. Mother Mary teaches the supreme goodness of obedience

Heaven had chosen a simple girl, Mary to be the Mother of Jesus, the Saviour.

When Angel Gabriel was sent to seek Her consent, Mary, after the initial moments of fear, bowed Herself in obedience:
“Behold, I am the Handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to Me, according to Your Word” (Lk 1: 38)

This obedience to God’s Will would turn out to be Her fortress and strength – in moments of uncertainty, loneliness, dread and agony.

2. “Faithfulness, thy true Daughter is Mary!”

One of the most outstanding qualities to be admired and imitated from our Blessed Mother is “to be faithful”

In Mother Mary, we have a person, who remained faithful at all times…
… even when there were dark clouds of unwarranted humiliation looming over her
… even when unforeseen difficulties encountered Her during the birth of Jesus
… even when she encountered many situations which She did not understand
… even when life surrounded her with agonising moments and heartbreaking instances

The “Fiat” at the Annunciation would be lived all through Her life

This act of being “faithful forever” resulted from the constant choices that She made to always listen and obey God’s Will.

3. Mary was ready to be moulded and shaped by God

When Mary was entrusted with the greatness of the task, She gave Herself readily to the power of God

She didn’t hold back anything
She was complete in Her surrender

It is when we offer ourselves wholly and be ready to be moulded and shaped by the Lord, that He can perform wonders through us.

4. Mary held on to Jesus as the Greatest Treasure of Her life

The greatness and the eminence of Mother Mary came as a result of Her single-minded focus and love: Everything for Jesus and in Jesus.

When in the womb…
… Her sole attention was on Jesus
While in the manger…
… Her whole care was for Jesus
While in His ministry…
… Her thoughts were centred on Him
While on the Cross…
… Her entire self rested on Him

It is when Jesus becomes the Treasure of our life, that our lives get enshrined in Grace and Holiness

5. Mary is the New Ark of the Covenant, bearing Jesus.

The Scriptures easily point to the fact that Mother Mary is the New Ark of the Covenant

The ark in the OT travelled to the land of Judah and remained for 3 months (2 Sam: 6:1-11)

The Ark in the NT, Mary travels to Judah, to meet Her cousin Elizabeth and remained for 3 months (Lk 1:39, 56)

David danced and leapt, and shouted before the ark in the OT (2 Sam 6:14)

In the NT, John, the babe, leapt and Elizabeth exclaimed with a loud cry before Mary (Lk 1: 41, 43)

Inside the ark of the Old Covenant was the manna – the miraculous bread from heaven, the staff of Aaron, the Priest and the tablets of the covenant (Heb 9:4)

The NT Ark, Mother Mary had within Her Jesus, the Bread of Life, Jesus, the Eternal Priest and Jesus, the Law-giving Word!

As the New Ark of the Covenant, Mother Mary deserves our highest veneration and honour…
… which will lead us to a greater closeness and intimacy with the One, She derives all Her praise – Jesus, Her Son and our Brother!

(The last book of the Bible testifies to this greatness of the “Ark of the Covenant…
… now present in the temple of God, in heaven – “Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple..” [Rev 11:19])

Let us embrace Mary, the beautiful instrument chosen by God…
… and be led to love the Lord more!

The Feast of the Annunciation is an invitation for us:

To grow deeper into embracing the Will of God in our lives.
To give consent to the inspirations of the Lord that come constantly to us.
To be open to march forward in faith and hope, in our life of faith in the Lord.

The Lord is wishing to find a place in a willing heart, even today…

Just as Mary, our Loving Mother, who said Yes to the Will of the Lord, let us also say Yes to God’s Will…
… and allow our Blessed Lord and Mamma Mary with St Joseph, to enter into the “train of our life” and to have a journey of “joy and mirth!”

Happy Feast of the Annunciation.

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
MAN’S VOCATION LIFE IN THE SPIRIT – GOD’S SALVATION: LAW AND GRACE – The Ten Commandments – The Fourth Commandment

Jesus said to his disciples: “Love one another even as I have loved you.”
Honour your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which the Lord your God gives you.

He was obedient to them. (CCC # 2198)

“Surrendering ourselves to the Truth and falling to our knees and saying, ‘Lord, I believe in You!'”

(Based on 2 Kgs 5:1-15 ab and Lk 4:24-30 – Monday of the 3rd Week of Lent)

He was brilliant.

A scholar.
A man of reason.
He had built his entire life around logic and intellect…
… dismissing faith as nothing more than outdated superstition.

Whenever someone spoke about God, he would scoff…
… armed with arguments to tear their beliefs apart.

He was certain – absolutely certain – that Christianity was a fairy tale for the weak-minded.

But then, something began to happen.

Truth – relentless, unshakable truth – kept pressing in.

He found himself surrounded by great minds – writers, philosophers, professors – many of whom were deeply convinced of God’s existence.

This phenomenon baffled him: ‘How could such intelligent people believe in something he had always dismissed?’

And then, there was the person of Jesus.
The Gospels.

The undeniable weight of His words.
The historical reality of His life, death, and resurrection.

He resisted the naked Truth standing before him!

He fought and argued with himself.

Accepting this truth meant surrender.

It meant admitting he was wrong.
And that terrified him.

But the Truth would not let go.

One night, alone in his room, he felt it closing in, undeniable, inescapable.
And finally, he broke.

He later wrote: “I gave in, and admitted that God was God, and knelt and prayed…
… describing himself as “the most dejected and reluctant convert in all England”
… and admitted that he fought against faith until he could no longer deny the truth.

That man was C.S. Lewis.

(C.S. Lewis was one of the greatest minds of the 20th century – a brilliant Oxford professor, a master of logic – and a man whose writings would inspire millions in the defence of the Church)

Lewis would later write:
“The hardness of God is kinder than the softness of men, and His compulsion is our liberation.”

Yes, Truth doesn’t change to fit our pride…
… our pride must bow to the truth.”

Rejecting God doesn’t make Him less real…
… it just makes it harder for us to see!

A proud mind rejects the plans and workings of God in one’s life, and makes one to say:

“I can manage my life by myself!”
“I know what’s best for me! None need to teach me!”

How often do we do the same?

When God speaks to us and when He calls us beyond our comfort zones, do we resist?

The Gospel of the Day presents the rejection of Jesus, in the Synagogue at Nazareth, by the people, who displayed a proud mentality, a haughty spirit and an arrogant heart.

Jesus, is in His hometown.

He entered the synagogue and began to teach.

Though initially, there was a wave of excitement…
… the words of Jesus caused a major setback to the people.

This caused the people to reject Jesus…
… they even try to kill Him (Lk 4:29-30)

St Luke uses a very strong word to describe the feelings of the people…
“When the people in the synagogue heard, they were all ‘filled with fury'”

Or another translation… “… they were all ‘filled with wrath'”

When one’s pride is hurt…
…. One tends to become angry and hurt

When one is made to get out of one’s comfort zones…
… one tends to become restless and agitated.

This is what happened to the people in the Synagogue.

Their pride was hurt..
… because Jesus spoke to them on the need to be humble, and accept the “all-embracing” love of the Lord!

They were made to get out of the comfortable zones…
… because Jesus spoke to them on the need to change their closed ways of thought-pattern, and to accept the “all-merciful” invitation to the Kingdom of God!

This “instigation” can happen in our life too…

When we are challenged to move out of our “traditional” style of thinking…
…. and accept instead, the merciful and compassionate ways of God

When we are forced to change our crippling attitudes of rejecting people on the basis of caste, creed, colour, language etc…
… and accept instead, the “all-welcoming” style of the Kingdom of God

Human tendency it is, to sometimes “get used to” comfortable situations…
… even if they are fruitless or unproductive and useless

In 2 Kings 5:1-15, Naaman’s initial pride and resistance to Elisha’s simple solution reflects the human tendency…
… to “resist change and to move out of the comfort zone!”

The Lord today, invites and challenges us in our proud mentality, a haughty spirit and an arrogant heart.

There is a constant invitation by Jesus:
“Learn from Me… for I am gentle and humble in heart”

God’s truth will always challenge us.

The only question is: when it stands before us, will we fight it?
… or can we fall to our knees and say, “Lord, I believe in You!”

Let us learn from the Gentle and Humble ways of the Lord, and become persons, who are open to the workings of the Holy Spirit.

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
MAN’S VOCATION LIFE IN THE SPIRIT – GOD’S SALVATION: LAW AND GRACE – The Ten Commandments – The Fourth Commandment

God has willed that, after him, we should honor our parents…
… to whom we owe life and who have handed on to us the knowledge of God.

We are obliged to honor and respect all those whom God, for our good, has vested with his authority. (CCC # 2197)

Kindly ignore the previous post for Mar 23, 2025. This is the correct one.

“Having the Wellspring of Hope, even when life traps us in ‘the dark mines of difficulties and despair!'”

(Based on Exod 3:1-8a, 13-15, 1 Cor10:1-6, 10-12 and Lk 13:1-9 – 3rd Sunday of Lent, Cycle C)

August 5, 2010.

In the San José Mine of Chile, a sudden collapse trapped 33 miners under 2,300 feet of rock.

The world above had no way of knowing if they were alive.
Days passed.
No food. No water.
Just darkness, heat, and despair.

Seventeen days later, when all hope seemed lost, a drill finally broke through.

As it was pulled back up, a small note was attached: “Estamos bien en el refugio, los 33” – “We are well in the shelter, all 33 of us.”

The world erupted in joy!

The rescue mission intensified.
But there was one problem – getting them out would take time…
… the miners would have to survive 52 more days underground.

But down below, something remarkable was happening

Cut off from the world, these men turned to God.

Many of them had never thought about God before. But now?

Now they realized – no money, no success, no strength could save them.
Only God could.

Buried beneath the earth, they discovered that even in this “unfortunate situation,” God was very powerfully with them.

And later, when they were finally rescued—after 69 days in darkness, one of them testified:
“We were 33… but God made us 34.

He was with us the whole time.”

Life often traps us in ‘the dark mines of difficulties and despair!”

But we are reminded – especially in this Jubilee Year of Hope, that “Hope does not disappoint!” (Cf. Rom 5:5)

God is always with us!

The Gospel of the Day opens our eyes to consider the “Jesus” way of looking and understanding such “uneventful” mishaps and “tragic” calamities.

Humanity is a daily witness to calamities, catastrophes, adversities and disasters.

Tragedies occur in the life of every human being.

Every now and then, we hear of many reports of unpredictable or unimaginable misfortunes occurring in the lives of people – tsunamis, floods, earthquakes – or bomb blasts, mass killings, wars etc.

In our own personal lives too, we experience a lot of painful moments…
…. very often, unexpectedly.

In the face of all these horrors… we are faced with many doubts and questions:

Why do these things happen to the innocent?
Why doesn’t the Good and Loving God do anything about all this?

Sometimes, we even take on a critical and judgmental attitude and say, “Probably, God is punishing all these people for their sins or their misdeeds”

In today’s Gospel, Jesus is presented with a couple of human tragedies and made to react on them.

The first tragedy is about the Galileans who suffered at the hands of Pilate (Lk 13: 1-3)
The second is about the people who dies when the tower of Siloam fell on them (Lk 13: 4)

The first one is about a disaster brought about because of the cruel deeds of human beings

The second because of the misfortunes in nature.

In both these cases, however, the people who died, were mere subjects to death…

They had an unfortunate death, without perhaps really being guilty.

And so the natural reaction of the people of the times was that, the people who died would have been greater sins, and they are being punished by God.”

“These people deserved death because of their sins” was the popular slogan of those times.

Perhaps, when faced with calamities, we too often take upon this judgmental attitude,

But here Jesus points out the great reality…
These calamities and disasters are not to be another occasion for us to pass judgments

Rather, they become golden opportunities for us to make a self-reflection on our lives.

Like the tree which is given one more year – to be dug around, to be given manure and to produce… these tragedies and events in life, present us with more time to examine, how do we live our lives.

Do we take our lives for granted?

Perhaps, we have a tendency to often think there is plenty of time in life.

And complacency creeps into our life.

But these tragedies point to us the fact, that after all human life is very short.

And in this short-lived life, we need to make the best use of God’s graces to repent and to lead a Holy life.

In Rev 22.7, Jesus says “Behold, I am coming soon”
As Christians, we believe in the Coming of the Lord.
No one knows the hour
No one knows the day

But, being prepared, being vigilant always, is a must, is a necessity.

St Paul tells us: “we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ…” (Eph 4:15)

Human tragedies and personal misfortunes are to be understood as God’s manifestations of Love for us, to have our lives set clearly on our priorities for God and His Kingdom

They are not to evoke fear or elements of judging

Rather, should prompt us to take life more seriously, and to make Real Repentance and live a Holier lives.

Through the call narrative of Moses, God reminds all of us, that He is aware of our struggles, and He seeks to always save us:
“I have seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry…
… I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them…” (Cf. Exod 3:7-8)

To grow in our love and trust in the Lord, one of the practical tip that we all need to practice is the Daily Examination of Conscience.

When we daily examine our conscience, and make efforts to amend our lives with true repentance, we are able to live the graces that are showered on us.

Also, a meaningful Regular Confession helps us not only to be forgiven of our sins, but also gives grace to lead a more holy and unblemished life.

Live will often trap us in “the dark mines of difficulties and despair!”

Yet, even in the deepest darkness, there is a wellspring of hope.

Let us be vigilant and keep guard over the sanctity of our lives…
… and Be His, forever!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
MAN’S VOCATION LIFE IN THE SPIRIT – GOD’S SALVATION: LAW AND GRACE – The Ten Commandments – The Fourth Commandment

The fourth commandment opens the second table of the Decalogue.

It shows us the order of charity. (CCC # 2197)