03 – 08 AUGUST 2020, HOLY MASS REFLECTIONS
03 AUGUST 2020: JEREMIAH 28. 1-17; MATTHEW 14. 22-36
Focus: Fear is nothing unnatural or uncommon, and one need not feel bad about fears in life. But what is important is to be aware of the kind of fears, detect the reasons for them, and try to face them
In life, there are different kinds of fears and no one is exempted from them. The reasons and causes can be many and varied. It is nothing unnatural and uncommon. It is not necessarily a sign of lack of strength or character. One should become aware of them and see how to confront and overcome them. But an exaggerated dose of fear easily slips into falsity, pretension and hypocrisy. Consequently, one may tend to please others, make a cover up to suppress and hide one’s legitimate fears, make a show before others of his greatness. This can eventually also distort the truth and nurture a false self. This is what happens in the case of the false prophet Hananiah in the first reading. His sole intention is to please the people with what is positive and promising. So he is totally blind to the will and plan of God. While God wants to chastise His people for their infidelity, the false prophet raises false hopes in the people that God is going to break the yoke of slavery and set the people free. This false prophet is afraid to acknowledge and communicate the truth of God’s plan and His displeasure with the sinfulness of the people. He is afraid to face the displeasure and annoyance of the people. In the gospel too, Peter is afraid of the waves. His confidence in Jesus and his supporting nearness is dominated by the immediate and temporary force of the strong winds. It is in this context, Jesus announces the most promising and consoling words: “Fear not; take heart, it is I”
Direction: Instead of pretending to appear free from any fears or disturbances in life, it is better to diagnose and remedy those fears and the best medicine is trusting and surrendering to God
04 AUGUST 2020: JEREMIAH 30. 1-2, 12-15, 18-22; MATTHEW 14. 22-36 OR 15. 1-2, 10-14, MEMORY OF ST JOHN MARY VIANNEY
Focus: Often people give too much importance to the mere externals and neglect the interior and the entirety of life. What is important is to live a whole and wholesome life
In the first reading, God makes it very clear that no sin, no unfaithfulness shall go unaccounted. Repeatedly, people are subjected to slavery or exile or calamity, different experiences of misery and affliction. But it is not a sign of God’s cruelty or hard heart. In fact, He never ceases to offer them chances for repentance and return. He never ceases to promise them of revived fortunes and restoration. People are often misled and carried away by the mere external factors and fail to look at the interior, the interior purity, the surrender of one’s heart to God. The Israelites in the OT and the Jews in Jesus’ time presumed that their mere external belonging to God as His chosen people and race, their external practice of some religious precepts and traditions would win them God’s favour. That is why, Jesus clarifies to them that nothing of these can substitute for the internal purity and hearty devotion to God. They are not substitutes but complements and propellers. It is in such a world that is bruised, affected by sin and desperation that John Mary Vianney comes as a ray of hope and a soothing remedy. His whole life was one of depth and interiority, fidelity and availability, devotion and dedication. He never ceased to draw the people closer to God, he was never tired of giving the people the taste of God’s forgiveness and reconciliation through his availability at the confessional round the clock, even 16 hours a day. He was never carried away by the external pressures of the world but always nurtured a profound sense of loyalty and surrender to God. He always sought God’s holy will and engaged himself to please Him alone. This is the right way of a priest of God and the timely need of our times.
Direction: As long as people allow their eyes to be so easily distracted and wander aimlessly by every little external appeal and gratification, they can never be healed of their wounds and be restored to perfect health and sanity. They need to be a little more focused and concentrated on the interior, the purity of heart
05 AUGUST 2020: JEREMIAH 31. 1-7; MATTHEW 15. 21-28
Focus: At times, the negative and unpleasant experiences in life may make us feel that God is not concerned and caring toward us, that He has abandoned us to our fate, that He is punishing us for our iniquities due to our human fragility. But it is not true
True it is that we annoy, pain and vex God so often. It is also true that time and again God seems to be fed up with us, and thus pronouncing His anger and condemnation. But what is notable is that He wants to destroy the sin in the sinner and not the sinner with sin. That is why, His mercy and compassion always overwhelm and surpass His judgment and justice. He never stops to own up His people. How heartening it is to hear: I will be your God and you will be my people. He never stops to rejuvenate the drooping spirits of His people with promise and assurance of abundant prosperity. Jesus’ benevolent healing of the daughter of the Canaanite woman in the gospel is a clear indicator of this whole drama of God’s justice and mercy. Initially he seems to be very indifferent and stern and even offensive in his remark that it is not proper to throw the children’s food to the dogs. This offence is not necessarily directed to the individual woman. This can be directed to any and all of us. He wants to feed us all as His own children at His royal table with His abundant graces. But we want to be satisfied only with the scraps that fall from the table like a dog. It can be symbolic of the quite natural feeling of God whether He is needlessly throwing away the children’s food to the dogs. He owns us up as His own, as His own children, but are we behaving like dogs without dignity and bonding? This hurting reaction can also be a test for her faith, whether she can persevere in her faith even amidst offence and disrespect. Our faith may be tested but never rejected. The woman’s faith is rewarded and her possessed daughter is freed from the demon.
Direction: When will we grow in such a humble and persevering faith that which trusts in Jesus’ mercy and not in our merit, that which remains firm even in discouraging moments?
06 AUGUST 2020: DANIEL 7. 9-10, 13-14; 2 PETER 1. 16-19; MATTHEW 17. 1-9: FEAST OF THE TRANSFIGURATION OF THE LORD
Focus: Glory is our destiny and transfiguration is the way. Let us not be upset at the fact of misery but always raise our hearts to the destiny of glory by constant transfigured life, transformed heart
1. Jesus is transfigured on Mount Tabor in the presence of 3 of his disciples. It is not a display of self-glory but a manifestation of his true identity. It is not to impress them but to confirm them in faith. His glory is not partial but total, both interior and exterior, as indicated by the glow of face and clothes respectively. The experience of divine glory is so relishing, as indicated by Peter’s exclamation: “it is nice to be here; let us make three tents”.
Jesus’ transfiguration points to our own transfiguration, being adorned with divine glory. This is possible through a constant integral transformation of our both interior and exterior, by attentive listening and adhering to the Lord.
2. The event of Jesus' transfiguration is a manifestation of his original divinity, identity and glory. The purpose is not to display his glory, not to impress upon the three disciples his greatness. It is not self-directed, seeking self-glory. Rather, it serves as a fount of hope that prepares and strengthens the disciples, in the face of the cross and death of Jesus ahead. The transfigured glory of Jesus illumines and assures the disciples that Jesus who meets the fate of cross, is not a helpless failure, forced to such a miserable end; rather he is the glorious Son of God, who willingly and freely accepts cross as God's will for salvation. It is not a fate of misery and damnation, but a destiny of glory and salvation. Thereby when faced with the ignominy of cross, let they not be shaken or shocked; let them not be dissipated or frustrated. Let them not be stuck with cross and death, but rather let their focus go beyond to the glory and eternity. Behind and beyond the disfigured crucified, one should see the transfigured resurrected Lord, re-vested with the original heavenly glory.
2. Thus that simple Jesus, who is walking along with them as an ordinary man, that suffering Jesus, who will be subjected to the humiliation of the cross, is not a disgraced and defeated man. Instead, he is the glorious "beloved Son of the Father", attested so by the Father Himself from heaven. So do not lose faith in him, when things go contrary, but continue to keep trust and hope in him.
3. Jesus' transfiguration is also an indicator, a forecast and foretaste of our own resurrection and the glory of resurrection. It is a prefiguration of our own future glory. The frequent disfiguration of life, with all the vicissitudes and adversities, is not the final or permanent reality. Transfiguration is the ultimate and definitive experience. Misery is not an absolute fate, but glory is our eternal destiny. Therefore, the transfiguring experience must trigger us to direct our focus, beyond the temporary upsets of the cross, to the eternal upheaval of resurrection.
4. This is possible only through a constant REINVIGORATION of our original identity of being God's image and likeness. This in turn is possible through a faithful CONFIGURATION with Jesus. The more we are tuned and communed to him, the more we live and grow like him, the more we adhere to him in "attentive listening to him", the more we shall experience and share the same transfiguring glory.
4. If sin disfigures us, depriving us of our original beauty and dignity of being God's images, grace through Jesus transfigures us, restoring to us that lost light and radiance. The shining light and brightened glow will indicate that our transfiguration is more a matter of illuminating and brightening our darkened selves and false lives. The more we are enlightened, breaking off the sheaths and layers of darkness that often block and blur our radiance, the more we re-discover our real identity, and radiate the light of that true image.
5. Thus real transfiguration lies in a daily process of brightening up our lives. Light up the life, daily on the "mountain" - of vicinity, proximity and intimacy with God, in a spirit and ambience of solitude and serenity, in the heights of our spirits, in the focused moments of prayer, in personal encounter with Moses and Elijah, signifying the Law and Prophets, i.e. the entire Scripture and Tradition. Transform and glorify the life, wholly and fully, by changing both the interior, indicated by the change of face, which is the index of the interior, and the exterior, indicated by the change in clothes.
6. Let our everyday be a continuous journey of removing the shades of darkness that reduce our glow. Let it be a vibrant march of regaining our lost radiance. Let the light of Christ make our heart, our life, more bright, with more hope and more renewal.
Direction: Often we want to see only glory and cling to such moments. But only the path of the cross and following Jesus will lead to glory.
07 AUGUST 2020: NAHUM 2. 1,3; 3. 1-3, 6-7; MATTHEW 16. 24-28
Focus: We can never truly follow Jesus without cross and loss, and it will be totally missing the point of following Jesus if we try to shun cross in life
It really looks ridiculous that many try to profess their loyalty to the crucified Saviour without really understanding and following his way. Can one follow the Crucified with no connection at all to his cross? Can one be a disciple without following the teachings of his Guru? Can one be a good servant without serving his master? Can one be a true companion without accompanying his partner? Can one be a genuine lover without loving his beloved even to the extent of death for the loved one? Often many are confused and misguided in following Jesus. It is not because of a lack of clarity on the part of Jesus. No, Jesus is crystal clear in his demands and promises. He never makes false promises, nor is he satisfied with half-measures and compromises. One can never be an authentic disciple of Jesus if he is not detached from his ego and self-interests, if he is not ready to bear the cross of suffering and unfavourable situations, if he is not wise to give priority to the spiritual concerns and is not carried away by the worldly concerns and gains. If one is not true to his call to follow and resemble Jesus, it is only because he is still too much attached to the world and there can be no other reason. “Deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me” – this summon of Jesus is ever vibrating and compelling! And the beauty of an authentic follower of Jesus is quite impressively contrasting as in the first reading: the whole world may be so much infected by “bad news”, in the infirmities and wounds of sin and evil and is without peace; but a follower of Jesus becomes the “bearer of good news and announces peace”.
Direction: It is stupidity to claim to be so intelligent and competent, while one fails to discern and follow what is priority in life, and that is, follow Jesus, the model of real values of a good life, applicable to anyone
08 AUGUST 2020: HABAKKUK 1. 12 – 2.4; MATTHEW 17. 14-20; MEMORY OF ST DOMINIC
Focus: There is so much evil in the world and it is really overwhelming and overpowering. But all is not over; the flourishing of the evil is not enduring nor its fruits lasting
The world of today is rather similar to the lunatic son in the gospel, brought to Jesus for healing: “he suffers severely, and harms himself throwing himself into fire or water”. He needs to be cured. The world often seems to go out of senses, with insane acts of violence and selfishness. It is on a self-ruinous path, and suffers grievously. This is very much the similar situation depicted in the first reading as well. Evil dominates, evil doers ceaselessly torment and mercifully do injustice to the good and the innocent. In such a discouraging life-reality, it is quite natural that questions about faith arise and disturb: “Why do you (O God) gaze on the faithless in silence while the wicked man devours one more just than himself? How can He tolerate the immense exploitation and distorted autonomy of the evil doer who goes on “slaying peoples without mercy”? In the words of Jesus, this is a typically faithless and perverse generation. This demon-possession, this madness needs healing. Sometimes, people seek such healing from the so-called disciples, godmen, holy men, who are acclaimed to be powerful. But all that matters is Faith. Mere belonging to a religion, or being a religious figure, following certain religious activities, is no guarantee for the ability to heal. No power is intrinsic or inherent to any human being. All the powers are only transferred and transmitted from God and nothing is resident. Apart from the Master, one has no power, however great he is. Even a mustard-like faith can move the mountains. Here, the capacity to move the mountain and the effect of moving it, pertain only to God, while left to us, we are only so tiny like the mustard seed. Saint Dominic realised this immensity of God and our tininess on the other hand, and he relied on God totally. That is why, he could move the mountains and draw so many with his holiness and God’s gifts.
Direction: Faith will remain strong and deep, if only it grows more and more in humility. True faith should extricate itself from all the cheap show and popularity of concentrating on moving the mountains. Rather, it is better to continue to strive to climb the mountain of perfection, and remove mountains of self-righteousness!
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