“Being firm in doing the Will of the Lord and growing in the Divine Attitude to become more and more gentle, patient and simple!”

(Based on Heb 8:6-13 and Mk 3:13-19 – Friday of the 2nd Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1 – Feast of St Francis de Sales [SFS])

Three different incidents are a told of a person, who was known to struggle with impatience, anger and exasperation…
… yet would deal with it, with a lot of maturity and patience.

The first incident is of stray man who walked through the streets, and was trying to ‘do him in’ – trying to harm the person.
This person however, would tell him:
“I am told you wish me harm. I can promise you that even if you had put out one of my eyes, I would still look kindly upon you with the other!”

The second incident is when he would be insulted by a certain high official and he was asked, why he did not lose his temper. He would admit and say:
“At that time and many other times, I was seething with anger like water in a pot, boiling over the fire; but that by the Grace of God, even if the violent efforts to resist such passion endangered my life…
… I would not let myself go!”

The third incident would be when the person would be instigated to lose temper and to speak badly to a young man. This would be his reaction to the same:
“What did you want me to do in the matter?
… I did what I could to arm myself with an anger that was not sinful. I took my heart in my two hands, but I did not have the courage to dress him down.

To tell you the truth, I was afraid of losing in a quarter of an hour this little bit of liquid of gentleness…
… which I have attempted to gather for twenty-two years, drop by drop like dew in the vessel of my puny heart!”

All these three incidents would be occasions when a person – like any of us – in the normal circumstance would have got angry and lost patience.

However, this person, with the Grace of God remained calm and composed.

This person is St Francis de Sales – known as the Gentleman Saint…
… whose feast we celebrate today.

His life is a great inspiration to all of us…
… as he would allow himself to be moulded by the Grace of God and his honest efforts to grow in virtue and holiness.

Even though he had a disposition towards losing patience, St Francis de Sales would allow God’s Mighty Love to transform him towards gentleness and kindness…
… and “to repay evil not with evil, but to do good to people!”

He allowed the Mighty Presence of the Lord to “take possession of his heart” and was willing to “let go of everything” that prevented him from being a disciple of Christ!

What about our Christian Life?

Is it centered on seeking and doing the Will of God, at every moment, in every situation?

The Gospel of the Day (Mk 3:13-19) presents Jesus Who moves about with His Ministry of “failing to stop in the face of evil, and continuing to do good!”

Jesus, in the midst of a ministry, of people rejecting him, and failing to accept His words…
… refuses to give in to failure or to stop doing the good.

Instead, “He responds to evil, by doing good” and establishes a band of twelve chosen ones…
… who are to join Him and continue His Noble Mission

The twelve disciples who are chosen (Mk 3:13-19) would be schooled in the Discipleship of the Lord…
… to “leave everything and adopt the Divine Strategy of ‘doing good, even in the face of evil’”

We are invited to grow into Christians who display the Love and Mercy of God to people…
… by a life of gentleness and patience!

Jesus, remarkably responds to hostile and antagonistic situations in His Ministry by establishing a “group of people who would be invited to become agents of the Lord’s Mercy and Compassion!”
St Francis de Sales, wonderfully overcame his weaknesses in order to grow in the virtues of gentleness, kindness and love of God, and to be known as “the Gentleman Saint!”

Let the readings of the Day and the Saint of the Day – St Francis de Sales – inspire and help all of us to become “His Missionaries of Mercy and Compassion” in the world…
… by living the simple virtues of gentleness, humility, patience and simplicity!

May the popular quotes of the Gentleman Saint – St Francis de Sales – inspire and strengthen us:

“Bloom where you are planted”
“Be what you are and be at its best”
“I have made a pact with my tongue… not to speak, when my heart is troubled!”
“A spoonful of honey attracts more bees than a barrel of vinegar”
“Be patient with all things; but first of all, with yourself!”
“Praying daily for half an hour is essential, except when you are busy… in those times, an hour!”

Wish you all a very Happy Feast of St Francis de Sales (SFS)!

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 First Commandment

To acknowledge God is in no way to oppose the dignity of man, since such dignity is grounded and brought to perfection in God.

“For the Church knows full well that her message is in harmony with the most secret desires of the human heart.” (CCC # 2126)

“Becoming a magnetic Presence of the Lord to others by being touched by His Love!”

(Based on Heb 7:25-8:6 and Mk 3:7-12 – Thursday of the 2nd Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1)

A magnet is an object made of certain materials which creates a magnetic field around itself.

This magnetic field causes objects of certain properties to attract to itself…

The closer the objects are to the magnet, the stronger they are pulled to the attracting force.

Another interesting thing is that…
… objects attached to the magnet, over a certain period of time, themselves become magnetized
… and are able to attract other things to itself.

The Gospel of the Day is a wonderful exhibition of this Magnetic Presence of Jesus!

St Mark beautifully presents this attractive power of the Lord through the words:
“A large number of people followed from Galilee and from Judea.

Hearing what He was doing, a large number of people came to Him also from Jerusalem, from Idumea, from beyond the Jordan and from the neighbourhood of Tyre and Sidon” (Mk 3: 7-8)

The popularity of the Lord was spreading far and wide…

His power over sin had many to look up to Him…
His authoritative teaching was astonishing to many…

Like a magnet, the Lord was attracting many to Himself!

The magnetic and charming power of the Lord attracts us too..
… but are we remain willing to get attracted to this amazing force?

The Living Presence of the Lord in our midst is in the Holy Eucharist.

The Holy Eucharist is the powerful magnet that can pull and attract many!

The tragedy in our life is that very often, this “magnetic” Eucharistic presence remains abandoned and forsaken!

It’s a pity that the Living Lord is hardly visited in the Blessed Sacrament!

Chapels and Churches often remain empty and forlorn…
Very few to visit Jesus in the Eucharist!
Hardly any say ‘Hello’ to the Lord in the Eucharist!

We sometimes are reducing ourselves to a generation seeking only after mighty wonders!

We sometimes are making ourselves to be a people wanting only fascinating miracles…
… attracted only to external sensations!

But the Eucharist – the greatest wonder and miracle of the world often remains unnoticed!

There is nothing more sublime in this world than the Holy Eucharistic Presence!
There is nothing more beautiful than moments spent before the Eucharistic Lord!

Am I ready to get attracted and charmed by this magnetic presence of the Holy Eucharist?

The Lord waits for us
… every moment
… every day!

The Lord seeks for us
… every second
… every hour!

We may have different excuses to evade and avoid time before His presence…

Maybe too many works and occupations…
Maybe a feeling that it is too dry and boring to be with Him…
Maybe an attitude that social works suffice and go beyond all such pious devotions…

But no excuse and no theory can give justification to miss the Presence of the Lord!

He is the magnet who can infuse us with power and strength!

The closer we are, the more attracted we be!
The more we remain with Him, the more we become like Him!

May the Magnetic Power of the Holy Eucharist be sought more!

And may, we, in turn, become a magnetic Presence of the Lord to others!
… Seeking the Eucharist, to be a Eucharist to the other!
… Loving the Eucharist, to break and share oneself to the other!

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 First Commandment

Atheism is often based on a false conception of human autonomy…

… exaggerated to the point of refusing any dependence on God. (CCC # 2126)

“Drawing our light from Jesus, the Sun of our Life, irrespective of the circumstances and situations of life!”

(Based on Heb 6:10-20 and Mk 2:23-28 – Tuesday of the 2nd Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1)

A common story is told of a judge who had been frequently ridiculed by an arrogant lawyer.

When asked by a friend why he didn’t rebuke his assailant, the judge replied:
“In our town lives a widow who has a dog.
Whenever the moon shines, it goes outside and barks all night.”

Having said that, the magistrate shifted the conversation to another subject.

After sometime, someone asked, “But Judge, you did not complete saying about the dog and the moon…
… What happened thereafter?”

“Oh,” the judge quipped, “the moon went on shining – that’s all.”

In life, we often face situations when criticisms are thrown at us…
… and we come under the scanner of “people’s unfair observations and judgments!”

What is our attitude to such situations of life?

Do we react negatively and thus lose our peace of mind…
… or do we remain firm and patient – trusting in God’s Protection – and being convinced of standing for the truth?

The Gospel of the Day presents Jesus and His disciples coming under the “observant scanner of the Pharisees and the Scribes”…
… and Jesus responding to the situation with conviction in the Truth!

Jesus and His disciples were walking through a field of grain on the Sabbath.

The disciples were hungry and decided to pluck some of the grain. (Mk 2: 23)

The OT law of keeping of the Sabbath in no way prohibited picking a handful of grain to satisfy one’s immediate hunger

In Dt 23:25, God makes a wonderful provision for travellers:
“When you enter your neighbour’s standing grain, then you may pluck the head with your hand, but you shall not put a sickle in your neighbour’s standing grain”

The traditional law however added many rules and regulations.

These traditions were rigid concerning Sabbath observance.

The Talmud – the book of Jewish traditions – has 24 chapters listing various Sabbath laws.

A rabbi would sometimes spend 21/2 years studying one chapter to figure out all the details.

The safe guarders and protectors of these scrupulous laws were the Scribes and the Pharisees.

And today they are out, to catch hold of Jesus and His disciples.

Their detective eyes are keen to observe the mistakes committed by them.

Their probing eyes are on the look out to get hold of their Sabbath breakages!

Do I sometimes adopt this tendency of the Pharisees and the Scribes…

Being on the constant look out, solely, for mistakes of others…
Watching others behaviours, only, to probe faults and failures in them…

It’s interesting that the Scribes and the Pharisees failed to see that they also broke the Sabbath Law!

The Pharisees were following Jesus and His disciples….
This meant walking beyond the stipulated steps prescribed by the Sabbath Law!

But, they conveniently avoid in mentioning this!

They self-justified themselves but accused others of guilt!

Am I a person prone to only find faults and negativity in situations and in others…
… or can I make constructive criticisms and also be a person who genuinely appreciates?

Am I person who magnifies the weaknesses of others and defames others character…
… or can I be a person who understands others and encourages them to be stronger?

It’s human to chance upon the weaknesses of others…

It’s Divine to accept, understand and encourage them to be better instead!

The religious leaders failed to grasp the true meaning of the Sabbath…

Recalling the creation of the world (Exod 20:8-11)
… how God invites humanity to share in Divine Rest and Eternal Life
Recalling the redemption of Israel from slavery in Egypt (Deut 5:12-15).
… how God invites humanity to move from the bondage of sin to freedom of children of God

We are asked to give heed to the call of the Lord, as He reminds us: “The sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for the sabbath; so the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath.” (Mk 2:27)

Let us seek to have a deeper understanding of the life and ministry of Jesus…
… as we make efforts to set aside time to worship God, thank him, and enter into communion with him.

Yes… life and situations may often go on “barking criticisms” at us…

Let us continue to shine as the moon…
… drawing our light from Jesus, the Sun of our Life!

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 First Commandment

The name “atheism” covers many very different phenomena.
One common form is the practical materialism which restricts its needs and aspirations to space and time.
Atheistic humanism falsely considers man to be “an end to himself, and the sole maker, with supreme control, of his own history.”
Another form of contemporary atheism looks for the liberation of man through economic and social liberation.

“It holds that religion, of its very nature, thwarts such emancipation by raising man’s hopes in a future life, thus both deceiving him and discouraging him from working for a better form of life on earth.” (CCC # 2124)

“Trusting that our Divine Master knows what is best for us, and thus obeying His commands to enter into newness of life!”

(Based on Heb 5:1-10 and Mk 2:18-22 – Monday of the 2nd Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1)

A popular legend is told of a certain king who needed a faithful servant.

Two men were candidates for the office.

The king took both at fixed wages, and his first order was to fill a cane basket with water from a neighbouring well…
… saying that he would come in the evening and see their work.

After putting in one or two basketfuls, one man said:
“What is the good of doing this useless work?
As soon as we put the water in one side, it runs out the other.”

The other however, answered:
“But we have our wages, haven’t we?

The use is the master’s business, not ours.”

“I am not going to do such fool’s work,” replied the other.

Throwing down his basket, he went away.

The other man continued until he had exhausted the well.

Looking down into it he saw something shining – a diamond ring.
“Now I see the use of pouring water into a basket,” he cried, “If the basket had brought up the ring before the well was emptied, it would have been found in the basket.

Our work was not useless!”

The obedient servant understood the importance of trusting in the word of the master…
… and he would reap the benefits of gaining the approval of the master!

Christians must realise that their Divine Master knows what is best, and obey His commands…
… and in due time, they will know and understand the worth of the Master’s Word!

It is this trust and confidence that makes one to “enter in the newness of the Lord!”

The Gospel of the day is an invitation to “enter the new”
… by letting go of things of the past which block us from receiving God’s Grace
… by being open to the ways of the Lord and being docile to His Spirit.

In the Gospel, we have the Pharisees and the Scribes who question Jesus on the aspect of fasting (Mk 2:18-22)

The Pharisees and Scribes were stuck on following their own ways of understanding the ways of God…
… and failed to have an openness and docility to the Will of God!

This “closed mentality” caused them not to accept the teachings of Christ…

This “closed mentality” prevented them from experiencing the Salvific Love and Mercy of the Lord!

They felt that they “knew better”…
… and thus, failed to accept the Words of the Lord!

We are all called to have an “openness and docility” to the Word of the Lord.

Jesus, our Lord Himself displays this great example of openness and obedience, as we read in the Letter to the Hebrews:
“Son though He was, He learned obedience from what He suffered….
… and, once made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him!” (Heb 5:8-9)

When we are open to the Lord, “the old gets transformed and the new is ushered in!”

This is what the Lord puts proposes by the examples of the old & new cloak and the old & new wine

He uses two examples that would have been readily understood by his listeners:

No one sews a piece of unshrunken cloth on an old cloak. (Mk 1:21)
No one pours new wine into old wineskin (Mk 1: 22)

We are invited to allow the “New Wine of God’s Word” to be filled in the “new wineskin of our minds – in obedience and openness!”

We are also warned to not try to patch up the “old garment of our disobedience” with the “new garment of God’s Commandments and Instructions!”

It is important to remember that, “failure to obey the words and commands of the Lord will lead to our downfall!”

Today as we seek the intercession of St Sebastian, on his feast day, and be inspired by his faithfulness and courageous zeal…
… may we always trust that our Divine Master knows what is best for our life…
… and thus obeying His commands, may we be blessed to discover the “shining ring” of God’s Love!

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 First Commandment

Many of our contemporaries either do not at all perceive…
… or explicitly reject, this intimate and vital bond of man to God.

Atheism must therefore be regarded as one of the most serious problems of our time. (CCC # 2123)

“Preparing ourselves for the Great Wedding Feast by seeking the intercession of our Queen- Mother Mary, and being obedient to the commandments of the Lord!”

(Based on Isa 62:1-5, 1 Cor 12:4-11 and Jn 2:1-11 – 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C)

A man who had abandoned Christian practices came across a young boy who was polishing shoes on the street.

As the boy kept shining the shoes, the man noticed that there was a shining medal dancing around the neck of the boy.

With a sense of disdain, the man asked the boy, “What’s that hardware around your neck?”

“It’s a medal of Blessed Mother,” said the boy.

“Why her medal?” retorted the man (who had forsaken his Christian way of life)
“She is no different from your mother!”

The boy looked up at the man…
… smiled, as he continued to polish the shoes as he said, “But remember that there is a real big difference between Her Son and me!”

The man understood the tremendous faith and confidence of the boy in the Blessed Mother.

The story goes on to say that this incident helped the man to re-discover his Catholic Faith.

Mary is special because Her Son Jesus is special!

The greatness of Her Motherhood arises from the greatness of Her Son’s Divine Sonship.

And it is this privilege of being the Mother of Jesus…
… that makes Her a powerful intercessor of God’s Grace!

The Gospel of the Day presents this powerful intercessory role of our Blessed Mother, in the
Wedding at Cana.

The Wedding at Cana is the first of the “signs” that is reported in the Gospel of St John.

Weddings were probably the high point of the Jewish social life.

It was a time when there would be an abundance of celebration, extravagance of merriment and lavishness of fun.

.Weddings were some of the very few occasions when the common, working-class people could take time off to celebrate and enjoy themselves.

As a result, most weddings would include five to seven days of festivities.

Wine was an integral part of this important social custom.

Therefore when the Gospel says, “they ran short of wine”…
… it was a moment of immense embarrassment for the family.
… it was a time of utter shame and humiliation for the hosts

But in this time of crisis and trouble, Mother Mary realised the potential disaster.

She took the initiative to do something about it – to help avoid the great embarrassment that would have crashed upon the family

All of us have our own story to tell of the day or of the times, when the “wine ran out!”
… maybe the disappointing search for acceptance, care and understanding from others
… maybe our despairing hunt for meaning in life or the fear to encounter uncertainty of the future
… maybe moments of financial crunch or social abandonment or being a victim of gossip and ill-talk
… maybe at the death of our loved one or the loss of friendship
… maybe of disturbances in marriage and family life

The list goes on – of moments and situations – when the “wine ran out!”

The “wine”….
… of unity and fellowship in our family life
… of holiness and sanctity in our spiritual life
… of faith and perseverance in our prayer life
… of sensitiveness and responsiveness in our social life
… of joy and commitment in our religious and priestly life

And despite all our good intentions and hard efforts, we are unable to refill the jars!

Our lives only remain as ‘jars with water’…
… that is “filled up to the brim!” (Cf. Jn 2:7)

In all such occasions of “the wine running short,” Blessed Mother Mary is our intercessor to help us receive the “abundance of the best wine” from Jesus.

In Mother Mary, we can ‘send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this vale of tears”…
… and pray to Her, the most gracious advocate, “to turn Her eyes of mercy towards us!”

Yes, we need to offer all our concerns and uncertainties into the hands of our Blessed Mother!

As St Maximilian Kolbe says, “Never be afraid of loving the Blessed Virgin too much. You can never love her more than Jesus did!”

Have we invited Mother Mary in our life?
Have we given Her a place in our life?

She will take us to the Lord and help receive His blessings and graces!

Her beautiful words are a true revelation of Jesus being the clear focus of her life: “Do whatever He tells you” (Jn 2: 5)

Mother Mary not only helps us receive blessings from the Lord…
… She also directs us towards Him and exhorts us to follow Him closer!

Mother Mary not only takes our petitions, by Her intercessions to the Lord…
… She also shows us the way to Him and urges us to live a life of obedience to Him!

Mother Mary is special because Her Son Jesus is special!

And it is this privilege of being the Mother of Jesus, our God and Saviour…
… that makes Her a powerful intercessor of God’s Grace!

Let us prepare ourselves for the Great Wedding Feast which will take place on “The Third Day” (Cf Jn 2:1) – the Day of our Resurrection – by seeking the intercession of our Queen- Mother Mary, and being obedient to the commandments of the Lord!

The Best Wine is waiting…!

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 First Commandment

The competent authority determines these “offerings” in accordance with the principle…
… that the Christian people ought to contribute to the support of the Church’s ministers.

“The labourer deserves his food. (CCC # 2122)

“Meeting and experiencing the Lord, in our everyday – simple and ordinary – situations of life!”

(Based on Heb 4:12-16 and Mk 2:13-17 – Saturday of the 1st Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1)

An old lady loved visiting antique shops.

One day while browsing one, she came across a beautiful old Singer-style sewing machine…
… the manual kind, mounted on a table with a foot pedal.

When she saw it she whispered a simple prayer: ‘God, I’d love something like that for my place.’

A couple of days later, as she was walking out her front door on her way to work when she saw a pile of junk by the roadside.

She stopped, stunned!

There in the rubbish stood an old Singer-style sewing machine…
… the manual kind, mounted on a table with a foot pedal.

On it hung a sign that said: “In good condition— anyone can take.”

God is, indeed, a God of surprises!

He visits us even in the most ordinary situations of life.

Are we open to meet and experience the Lord, in our everyday – simple and ordinary – situations of life?

The Gospel of the Day presents a person who encounters the Call of the Lord in his “routine of life!”
… Levi, who would become an apostle of Christ.

The mission of Jesus – sent by His Father – was to search for “lost sheep” and “sick patients”

The Gospel today – Mk 2:13-17 – presents this aspect of Jesus, in search of His flock

Jesus says, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Mk 2:17)

This encounter of the Lord ‘searching for us’ can take place even in the ordinary and daily situations of life.

This was what Levi experienced.

He was “busy at table counting taxes”…
… with his own worldly interests and concerns
… surrounded by people who hated tax-collectors like him, and looked down on him, in contempt and rejection

But, even in a situation of “counting the taxes at table,” God can intervene in human lives!

Even though Levi was only looking for “taxes,” Jesus was in search of Levi!

How about us?
Do we find ourselves “busy at table counting taxes?”
… busy with many worldly concerns and worries?
… busy in being surrounded by people who reject and hate us?

Then let us know and understand that even in such ordinary situations of being “busy at table counting taxes”…
… can become moments when God wants to address you and tell you, “Follow me!” (Cf. Mk 2:14)

God is looking for us…
… even if we are not thinking much about Him!

Jesus wants us to follow Him closer…
… even if we are not ready for it, and busy with the affairs of the world!

Let us learn to remain open and docile to the voice of the Lord – the Word of the Lord – in the daily circumstances of our life.

The Word of the Lord has power…
… as we read in the Letter to the Hebrews, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

And before Him no creature is hidden, but all are open and laid bare to the eyes of him with whom we have to do.” (Heb 4:12-13)

Yes, God is a God of surprises!

He visits us even in the most ordinary situations of life.
His Word is addressed to us, in all the circumstances of our life.

Are we open to meet and experience the Lord, in our everyday – simple and ordinary – situations of life?

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 First Commandment

The minister should ask nothing for the administration of the sacraments beyond the offerings defined by the competent authority…

… always being careful that the needy are not deprived of the help of the sacraments because of their poverty.” (CCC # 2122)