10 -15 AUGUST 2020, HOLY MASS REFLECTIONS
10 AUGUST 2020: 2 COR 9.6-10; JOHN 12. 24-26, FEAST OF ST LAWRENCE
Focus: Love for the Lord is all a matter of cultivation and fruition, and this consists in an abundance of sowing and reaping and thus testified in sacrifice and service
We celebrate today the feast of St Lawrence. St Lawrence is a much-venerated martyr of Rome of the first centuries. The words of St Paul in the first reading (2 Cor 9. 6-10) are quite true in his life. He sows bountifully and reaps bountifully. He sows an abundant crop of virtue and value, devotion and charity. He reaps an abundant harvest of loyalty and commitment toward God, and sensitivity and generosity toward others. He loved the Lord with passion and with the same passion, he loved the poor. The same burning love led him to offer himself joyfully and fearlessly to be burnt alive for the Lord. That is why, he gives his whole life willingly and joyfully even to the extent of shedding his blood for his faith. He is that “grain of wheat” which dies to itself to sprout and produce abundant fruit. Every true disciple of Christ must be the grain which dies to self and sin, rises to new life, grows and bears fruit in abundance. At no cost, one should be a thorny bush that overpowers the good plant, sucking off the nourishment due to the plant and destroying its growth. Avarice and domination are contrary to discipleship!
Direction: So long as one clings to one’s own self-will and self-interests, one cannot be close to the Lord and become productive. Sacrificing fidelity and joyful giving are hallmarks of a true lover of God
11 AUGUST 2020: EZEKIEL 2. 8 – 3.4; MATTHEW 18. 1-5,10, 12-14, MEMORY OF ST CLARE
Focus: Greatness is not a matter of status or stature but a state of heart in littleness and this is seen in obedience and surrender
The admonition of God to the prophet Ezekiel in the first reading is ever valid: “Obey me when I speak to you; be not rebellious like this house of rebellion, but open your mouth and eat what I shall give you”. The prophet obeys and eats the scroll given and then goes on his mission of giving God’s message to the people. The saint Clare whom we commemorate today too obeys God amidst a world of rebellion. In a world that swallows indiscriminately anything and everything even what is malicious and pernicious, she constantly feeds herself on the God’s grace of Word and Sacrament. In a world that aspires and perspires for what is big and great, she renounces everything, becomes small in the sight of the world and embraces a religious life of poverty and detachment, discipline and sacrifice, piety and absolute entrustment. Accompanied by the holy friendship, tutelage and guidance of St Francis of Francis, she leads her consecration in vigour and rigour. This is truly the greatness of the gospel, so pleasing in God’s sight. The world is driven by a false concept of greatness, and false objects and means of greatness as well. Greatness is often equated with being superior to others, being placed higher and better than others, being able to dominate and dictate over others. It is wrongly posited and sought in money, success, comfort, pleasure, power, and popularity. This is wrong. Jesus shows us that to be really great is to be humble like a little child. Real greatness consists not in becoming big in the sight of the world, but being small in the sight of God.
Direction: The more we assume to be great, the more we are small. The more we grow small, the more we are great.
12 AUGUST 2019: EZEKIEL 9. 1-7;10. 18-22; MATTHEW 18. 15-20
Focus: Insensitivity is so dangerous that it leads to tepidity and mediocrity, and this is the threshold for lack of repentance and renewal. Reconciliation is the key to reparation and restoration
The holy word of God again invites us to reflect a little more deeply and seriously on the ugly effects of sin and the immense anguish that it causes to God. And subsequently we are called to repent and renew. The gospel too carries a similar tone of the sin situation but goes further. It brings to us the need of fraternal correction and reconciliation. Perhaps, this can be one opportune and appropriate context to focus a little on the holy sacrament of reconciliation. In the present times, unfortunately, there is a lot of disinterest toward the sacrament of confession. In the case of many, it is becoming rather an annual obligation or a festive occasion. The loss of regularity to the Church, the loss of love and value of the sacraments, and the question about the holiness of the priest can be the main reasons for this abandoning. Oh if only the faithful recognize the invaluable treasure grace in this sacrament! It is the God-given “power to bind and to loose” the bondage of sin, the burden of remorse. It is not merely to enlist the sins, but a humble realization of our human fragility and falls. It is a fount of forgiveness and reconciliation in regard to God and others. It is God Himself who forgives and it would be a big mistake if we over-bother about the holiness of the individual priest. We believe and approach the priest to mediate blessings on us; why can’t we then believe him to mediate forgiveness as well?
Direction: We carry often many needless baggage and weights of sin and negativity. Let us get rid of them and make our journey light.
13 AUGUST 2020: EZEKIEL 12. 1-12; MATTHEW 18.21 – 19. 1
Focus: Forgiveness is not an option but an obligation; it is not a favour done to others at one’s convenience but the essence of a true follower of the Lord
We live in a world that is fragmented and tormented by resentment and animosity, revenge, retaliation and violence. It is torn apart by so many ruptures and discriminations. Various factors such as nation, race, class, colour, culture, caste, religion, region, language, status, development, etc. divide the world and the human community. Human relations are so sadly ruled by principles of hatred and unforgiveness. The religions which are supposed to guide their adherents in the path of love, tolerance and fraternal solidarity, seem to fail in this hallowed task. This very well corresponds to the depiction of the people in the first reading from Ezekiel. It is a rebellious house; they have eyes to see but do not see, and ears to hear but do not hear. They do not also mind the warning about the exile through the symbolic action of the prophet. Similarly, now also, there are many who are least bothered about the various signs which warn us of the dire consequences if one persists in evil. It is in this prevailing alarming context, a spirit as well as a life of love and forgiveness has to re-emerge.
To forgive is not an option or a favour, done at one’s will and pleasure, but an obligation and duty. Forgiveness is not a matter of single, isolated, scattered acts of forgiving, but more a matter of a stable, habitual manner of reconciling and re-harmonizing. It is a practice, a habit. In forgiveness, questions such as who to forgive, when to forgive, why, how many times to forgive, etc. do not arise. It is uncalculative and unconditioned. In forgiving, God has placed at our disposal a ready spring of healing and relieving of the self. Forgiveness and reconciliation are possible, only when there is a deeper spirit of gratitude, humility, contrition and fraternity.
Direction: How foolish we will be to refuse such a reviving fount of forgiveness and reconciliation, and prefer to be pressed down by, and carry on the weight of hurt and negativity!
14 AUGUST 2020: EZEK 16.1-15,60,63; MATTHEW 19. 3-12
Focus: Our vocation is not a contractual transaction or relation. Rather it is a fundamental Covenant which involves a perpetual Commitment. The dignity of vocation calls for Fidelity to live it.
Today we are clearly reminded that for us as God’s children and as Christ’s disciples, the beauty and value of our relationships consist in fidelity. This applies both to relationships with God and with others as well. How rightly in the first reading, God affirms that we are in the bond of a covenant! This is marked by His committed fidelity. Even if we are unfaithful, He shall never fail to be faithful. In the gospel too, Jesus drives our attention on to this covenantal bonding and the commitment thereupon. Jesus touches upon one of the crucial and disturbing factors in our modern families, and that is, divorce, separation, and remarriage. The society has become so permissible that divorces seem to be an accepted norm, and thus they are numerous and frequent. Surely we do not deny the difficulties and challenges in married life and agree that it is not always smooth-sailing. But what is very alarming is: marriages have become matters of convenience and self-interest. The sacredness of the sacrament of marriage, and the fidelity and commitment to each other as life-long life-mates, are getting blurred. Less of ego and personality clashes, more of humility to accept one’s defects, more of patience to forbear, to adjust and to persevere, and in sum, more love for the other – will be the healing remedy to restore dignity, stability, and fidelity. In the religious vocation too, fidelity to God (“eunuchs for God’s kingdom”) must be the sole motive and not any other ulterior motives.
Direction: Convenience and interest are the riding criteria, applied to things, and not to persons and relationships. Concern and commitment are to be the ever-abiding and guiding principles.
15 AUGUST 2019: ASSUMPTION OF OUR LADY
Focus: Assumption of Mary is not a mere dogmatic assumption to assume, but a living journey to resume
1. Blessed Mother Mary is assumed to heaven, body and soul, in her entirety of the person. God did not want that sacred body to decay, that which was the abode and gave physical life to His Incarnate Son. Therefore, in His gracious will and pleasure He privileged Mary to be taken to heaven, with an uncorrupted body along with her incorruptible soul.
2. There is nothing illogical about this. For, if sin imposed death and decay on the human body, Mary who was preserved sinless with Immaculate Conception, can be very well free from such imposition. In her assumption, we see the whole dynamics of salvation and a great project of the fullness of Glory itself.
3. There are four essential components: Liberation, Restoration, Communion, and Perfection. Mary was totally liberated from her earthly limitations, restored to her original divine dignity, eternally united with the heavenly God, and enjoys the perfection of bliss and glory.
4. We too are destined for the same glory, even though we may consign our body to the earth. To attain this destiny, we too must constantly liberate ourselves from our earthly bondages, regain our divine dignity and image, unite ourselves with God in intimacy and surrender, and thus mature and perfect ourselves in sanctity and charity.
5. (For those in India or Indians) Today we celebrate two great mothers, for the same reason, that is, their freedom. Mother India’s freedom, as she was released from the foreign bondage and gained her independence; Mother Mary’s freedom, as she was released from her earthly bondage and was assumed to heaven.
6. But this is hard-earned freedom. It involved a life-long struggle of immeasurable sacrifice and dedication. It called for an undaunted journey of courage, patience, hope, and perseverance. It is a marvellous story of combating evil and regaining the original dignity and honour.
7. The celebration of the freedom of these two mothers on the same day, can be a significant pointer to us that we are citizens of two worlds – the secular and the spiritual. Our nation is our motherland and heaven is our homeland. Thus our duty is twofold: towards our country, as united, responsible, law-abiding, honest and committed Indian sisters and brothers; and duty towards heaven, as united, faithful and committed God’s children.
8. This freedom that is attained is not a finished product. It is an ongoing task and should be a living experience. Therefore, we are called to constantly free ourselves from all the clutches of sin and evil, meaning all that binds us, enslaves us, reduces our human dignity, diminishes the value and quality of life and all that hinders a harmonious and happy human family.
9. Freedom is not our destiny nor is it our goal. It is our process, our means, it is our way, which should lead us to more and more good – a good heart of faith and charity; a good life of virtue and value; a good family, loving and supportive; a good society, just and peaceful. God and heavens is our destiny and goal.
Direction: So long as we are imprisoned in the cell of our body, we cannot enjoy the free spell of the soul. Let us then extricate ourselves.
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