The onion is one of the most simple and commonly available vegetables.
>>It is widely used, especially in the preparation of a number of Indian dishes.

It’s interesting to notice the structure of an onion: it consists of several layers.

If one tries to peel off one layer after another, the result would be, that one would be left with nothing…just emptiness!

Our practice of Christian Faith can sometimes be likened to an onion…formed in layers.

Over the years, many layers may get formed …
>> layers of pride: feeling that I have achieved much in spiritual life
>>  layers of self-dependence: feeling that I can manage all things
>> layers of ‘only external piety’: feeling that external devotions would suffice
…and many others!

But, often, when we encounter difficulties, we find that these layers get “peeled off”…
… and we find ourselves “lacking in faith”
Often, when we face challenges, we find that these layers get “peeled off”..
… and we feel “empty in our faith”

Many times, such experiences of “being peeled off” is necessary…
… in order to not become self-reliant; instead to be God-reliant
… in order to not swell up in pride; instead to humble oneself to trust in God!
… in order to not have a mere external show of faith; instead to grow in interior holiness!

Yes, Christ peels our life like an onion to make us realize our emptiness…
… and recognize and realize His Power in our life!

The Gospel of the Day presents this experience of the disciples, in the presence of Jesus, their Master…
… an experience of being peeled, to find themselves in emptiness
…an experience of being unlayered, to find themselves in blankness

We have concluded a journey of fourteen weeks (nearly hundred days) of walking intimately with the Lord in His Passion, Death, Resurrection and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit…
… starting with the Ash Wednesday in the season of Lent
…  through the Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday
…  the Ascension and the Feast of the Holy Spirit – the Pentecost.

As we resume the Ordinary times of the Liturgical year, we are presented with the message to make an examination of the “quality of our life of faith”.

The Gospel passage in focus is that of some of the disciples of Jesus, who failed to heal a possessed boy, and the chiding that was followed by Jesus.

Jesus, was along with His “chosen within the chosen” disciples – Peter, James and John –  on the mount of Transfiguration (Mk 9: 2-13)

Meanwhile the other disciples were approached by a father, who brought his son – possessed by a demon –  to them for a healing.
>> They were however unable to heal.

The father expresses this to Jesus, Who had come down from the Mount of Transfiguration:
“I asked Your disciples to drive it out, but they were unable to do so!” (Mk 9: 18)

Why were the disciples unable to drive the demon?
>> Why did they fail in their task of healing the boy?

It was a moment of embarrassment and awkwardness for these disciples: being unable to cure the boy

In Mk 6: 7, we read: “Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out, two by two, and gave them authority over unclean spirits”
>> The power to cast out demons was delegated by Jesus to the disciples

Yet, they failed to heal the demon-possessed boy.

Why?

Jesus answers – through a cry of lament: “O faithless generation…!” (Mk 9: 19)
>> Jesus points to the lack of faith in the disciples

He drives home a very important dimension of Faith that we need examine constantly:
>> “Do you really believe in Me…? Or is your faith more in your own-self?”
>> ” Are you totally dependent on Me… ? Or are you being more self-reliant?”

The disciples had indeed found success in their ministry (Mk 6:30)
>> They also had witnessed the mighty powers of Jesus and were in astonishment (Mk 6: 34-51)

But somehow, perhaps, their faith had still not grown…their faith was still peripheral
>> Layers of self-dependence, pride, ‘only external piety’ etc could have been formed!

Therefore Jesus, their Master…
… peeled and “unlayered” those layers

This “peeling of layers” was a necessity for the disciples…
… to begin to depend more on the Lord and His Authority, rather than their power
… to be always humble to allow to the Lord to be given all glory, rather than self-exaltation

Have I formed such layers in my practise of the Christian faith?
… Layers of pride? Layers of self-reliance? Layers of “only external piety?

Then the Lord will often take us through situations of difficulties, awkwardness and even humiliations or embarrassment…
… in order to not become self-reliant; instead to be God-reliant
… in order to not swell up in pride; instead to humble oneself to trust in God!
… in order to not have a mere external show of faith; instead to grow in interior holiness!

The Lord wishes that we grow higher in our faith… that we love Him more deeply, for His sake alone.

Let us allow Him to strengthen our faith, by the “peeling of layers” which may cause us to remain stunted and stagnant in our faith…
>> And in all such experiences…
… May we cry out, in faith: “I do believe; help my unbelief” (Mk 9: 24)

God Bless! Live Jesus!

The Question-Answer column of a particular youth magazine, once had a query as follows:

“I’m puzzled about life, and I wonder if you could help me?

Am I different from everyone else of my age?

> Or do they wear false masks as I do?

 
I go to parties and dances and act as if I were enjoying myself like everyone else I know.

> But I am not enjoying myself at all!

I always feel that there is something missing, and I don’t know what it is. . .

 
Behind the laughing and the fun I think I look at life just a bit more seriously than most I know.

> I see more in life than just having a good time.

Do you think this is wrong at twenty?

In a few years will I see things differently?

> Or should I take off the false face now, and act the way I feel?”

The expressions of this young man, faced with a dilemma in life, resonates with the thoughts of many people in the world…including perhaps, ours…

 
>> We get a feel that there is certainly “more” to life…
… than just the peripherals that I daily engross  myself in…

>> We get an impression that there certainly is something “higher” in life…
… than just being limited to the external comforts of life…

An answer to this vital dilemma of our life is given expression by the Lord in today’s Gospel: We live in the world, but we do not belong to the world!

Jesus prays to the Father: “I do not pray that you should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them safe from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world” (Jn 17: 16)

 
The call of a Christian is to live as a people “set apart” for Christ.

The Lord wishes, desires, wants and makes it a must that the one who follows Him, must seek to follow Him fully, wholeheartedly and unreservedly.

>> But the Lord was also very much aware that this His desire for a people “totally set apart” would face a lot of challenges and crisis from the Evil One.

>> He knew that His followers would struggle much in living a pure life in the midst of many impurity, uncleanness and contamination.

>> He knew that His followers would find it hard to preserve holiness in the hub of wicked temptations, ensnaring enticements and luring persuasions

We often find ourselves lost in this strange maze of the world….
 
>> We immerse ourselves too much in worldly activities and works….
… But, somehow at the end of the day, when lying down on our beds, we, perhaps, feel ourselves lost and not having a true sense of satisfaction!
 
>> We plunge ourselves to enjoy a lot of worldly pleasures, comforts and luxuries…
… But, somehow, after having been sort of saturated with those externals, we, perhaps, find ourselves still unhappy or experiencing a void 

>> We engage ourselves in an excess use of the social media, networking sites, chatting applications and remain attached constantly to modern communication gadgets…
… But, somehow, though we are in contact with many people, we, perhaps, realize that there is a grave presence of loneliness and not having genuine relationships of love and true care!

 
And therefore, Jesus, the ever-practical, sensible and realistic Master…

… firstly, prays for His followers for strength and courage: “I pray for them…. Holy Father,  keep them in Your name… ” (Jn 17: 9a, 11b)

… secondly, reminds His followers on the need to set their hearts on Him because they belong not to the world: “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world” (Jn 17: 16)

This then ought to be our strength and hope, as we seek to live a Holy Christian Life in this world, often corrupted by sin and transgressions.

1. Knowing that Jesus has, and is praying for us….

>> In His prayer, we can find hope and blessings

>> In His prayer, we can find encouragement and support

2. Setting our heart entirely on the Lord and not being totally attached to the aspects of the world

>> In His Love, we find meaning in our relationships

>> In His Presence, we ought to engage all our activities

Light passes through pollution, but doesn’t get contaminated!

>> Every Christian, a reflection of the Light of Christ, ought to be such…

… focussed on the Lord, seeking to be pure and unsullied, in holiness and sanctity.

God Bless! Live Jesus!