19 – 24 OCTOBER 2020, HOLY MASS REFLECTIONS
19 OCTOBER 2020: EPHESIANS 2. 1-10; LUKE 12. 13-21
Focus: The value of life depends not on the abundance of things but on the abundance of heart and the radiance of goodness
The gospel of the day presents before us the parable of the rich fool. It is a familiar lesson and is a clear indicator of today's society. It is a society which sets the material aspect as the most important priority of life. The value, importance, greatness, happiness, success and fulfilment - all these are measured in terms of material wellbeing. In consequence, the value of the human person, the human dignity and respect, human relations and the primary place for God and spirituality - all these take a back seat. Man becomes more earth- bound, selfish and perpetually dissatisfied and interiorly restless.
It is in this context, Jesus cautions against such a folly and calls for wisdom. Wisdom is a God-given gift that enables us to discern between what is primary and what is secondary in life. It is better to be rich in God's sight, rather than in the world's sight. It is better to gather riches of faith and kindness for heaven, rather than material riches. It is better to be free and generous of heart, rather than to be enslaved to greed and self-interests.
Apparently, the rich man in the gospel seems to be with no fault: he worked hard, he amassed wealth, he desires to enjoy the fruit of his hard work, he makes plans for the future. But if we reflect a little deeply, we can discover many traces of folly in him. He went totally opposite to the admonition in the first reading from the letter to the Ephesians: He did not realize that all his prosperity is “God’s gift, and not the result of his own work. What we are, is God’s work. So we are not to feel proud. God has created us in Christ Jesus for the good works he has prepared, and we should devote ourselves to them”. He totally neglected all these rules of a good life.
Direction: Better to be spiritual and benevolent and thus be worthy to stand upright in the sight of God, rather than to be worldly and self-centered and stand the severe judgment of God.
20 OCTOBER 2020: EPHESIANS 2. 12-22; LUKE 12. 35-38
Focus: We are noble people with dignity. We are God’s own household. Therefore, be alert and prepared so that We are found worthy and faithful by the Master.
We are living in a world where everyone wants to be a master, on the top of the world. There is also a great increase of dishonesty, deception and infidelity. To such a world, Jesus proposes the model of a servant who is humble and docile to the Master, and who serves the Master honestly and faithfully. He is not so entangled with the worldly affairs, so as to lose sight of the Master. He is always conscious of the likes and needs of his master. He is ever patient and consistent to wait on his master, and is prompt to attend to him in wholehearted service. How lamentable it is that today we have an increasing breed of pseudo and shallow masters! We have acclaimed and professed professional servants who bother the least to be attentive, alert, prepared and prompt to serve the Master. God touch and transform these self-swollen masters in the disguise of servants!
Such a true spirit of a humble and faithful servant is possible, only when we remain deeply conscious of the nobility of our call. This implies in the light of the first reading from the letter to the Ephesians, to be intensely grateful to God for the marvel of salvation through Christ. In Christ, we are made God’s own household, God’s own people. We are no longer strangers or aliens, but fellow citizens of the holy people. Christ has united us together as one people, as one holy temple, the spiritual sanctuary of God. In Christ, we rediscover and regain our peace. That means, to live in a spirit and bond of unity, humility and loyalty like a true servant, being obedient to the Master and benevolent toward other fellow-servants.
Direction: A faithful servant is one who is dressed for the Master's service and not addressed for power and self- service
21 OCTOBER 2020: EPHESIANS 3. 2-12; LUKE 12. 39-48
Focus: Power and authority must always go together with fervor and charity. Power without humility and surrender, authority without devotion and dedication, are heinous and ruinous.
In a world where there is so much abuse of power and authority, Jesus once again strikes hard on the image of a servant and steward. First of all, we should completely expel the arrogant idea of being owners and proprietors. A position which is invested with power and authority, is not a means of dominating and subjugating others. It is not a launching pad for self- projection and self- promotion. A stable sense of focus on the Master and our destiny, can work as a counter-check and antidote. It can make us more responsible and keep us ever ready and prepared to meet the Master any time. On the other hand, loss of focus, and engagement into worthless deviations and enjoyments, loss of responsibility, loss of dutifulness and loss of fraternal concern towards others, will be highly displeasing to the Master. Such a failed servant will be condemned by the Master.
Praiseworthy and imitable is the spirit of humility and service of Paul in the letter to the Ephesians! The abundance of his capacity and competence, the great degree of success and spiritual authority, in no way make him puffed up or arrogant. He never forgets his roots. He never grabs the credit for himself. He is profoundly conscious that all is God’s free gift. For him, all that mattered was Christ, passion for him and unflinching commitment to his way.
Direction: Certainly, more is given to us. It may be in terms of the material abundance or power and position. But it is never for abuse and self- interest but for more good. Every bit given is accountable.
22 OCTOBER 2020: EPHESIANS 3. 14-21; LUKE 12. 49-53
Focus: It is only the energy and vitality of the Lord that can rejuvenate a world, steeped into tepidity and lethargy
The Lord declares, “I have come to bring fire on earth; I have come to bring division and not peace”. A surface reading of these words can surprise and disturb one. We adore Jesus as the king of unity and peace. But now, Jesus affirms the opposite. What does it mean? A burning fire will surely bring about division and disturbed peace. It is the fire of love for Christ, so marvelously extolled in the first reading from the letter to the Ephesians. It is to be rooted and founded in love. It is to understand and embrace the width, the length, the height and the depth of the love of Christ that surpasses all knowledge. It is the fire of love and compassion, light and guidance, justice and dignity, joy and contentment, empowerment and fulfillment. He offers the light of clarity and direction, certainty and solidity to a world which is shrouded in the dark traces of confusion, uncertainty, insecurity and misguidance. He enlivens and revitalizes a world wounded by hatred and violence with the balm of love and forbearance. He elevates a world that has lost charm by misery and hopelessness, with the remedy of God’s own comfort and hope.
But this is a “contrast mission” and certainly triggers displeasure and opposition and division. But this division is not a negative division, caused by the clashes of ego and self-interests. It is a “holy division” for the sake of God and good. It is a division which is the result of refusal to compromise. It is a division in virtue of a fundamental option for the Lord. It is a division because of the uncompromising priority and loyalty to God, beyond and above the worldly pressures and human relations.
Direction: What the world desperately needs is not heaps of ashes but sparks of fire. A world which is becoming more and more rootless and uprooted, more and more shaken in foundations and unfounded, one needs to be rooted and founded in the love of God
23 OCTOBER 2020: EPHESIANS 4. 1-6; LUKE 12. 54-59
Focus: Human intelligence and knowledge should be raised and oriented to a higher level beyond the earth and mere secular concerns
Certainly commendable is the human intelligence which acts brightly from simple common sense to the great scientific and technological progress. In his intelligence, man is able to read and ascertain seasons and times, assess many practical situations and dissolve many complexities. He is able to regulate and master many conditions to his advantage and ease of life. But how much this great sense and intelligence is used for something higher and loftier? Most of the considerations and efforts are often earth-bound and are driven by worldly motives and gains. How is it that man who acts cautiously and judiciously in earthly and transient matters, fails to act wisely and diligently toward the spiritual and eternal concerns? Devoid of focus, foresight and heaven-directedness, man runs the risk of eternal judgment and condemnation. In the gospel, Jesus very strongly objects to such a shallow human enterprise. This is truly the shallowness and superficiality of the present times as well. They are able to read, understand, interpret and assess, and thus control the seasons and times. But how sadly they fail to recognize the signs of the times and learn and grow from them! They gain mastery over the forces of nature, but they become slaves to the pressures of their own nature. They claim and pretend to be masters and freemen. But little they realize that they lose the true interior freedom in the name of the very freedom they seek. The freedom which they glorify is nothing but a disguised yoke of slavery to sin and evil. In the light of the first reading, to truly read the signs of the times is “to live the vocation we have received. It is to be humble, kind, patient and to bear one another in love”.
Direction: We live often in a world of shallow intelligence and superficial knowledge because they are so short-sighted and so badly limited to the material concerns
24 OCTOBER 2020: EPHESIANS 4. 7-16; LUKE 13. 1-9
Focus: God is immensely patient and hopeful, waiting for us to be converted, to change our ways, and thus become productive and bear abundant fruits
God created us in His own image. He sent us into this world to bear witness to this divine identity in commitment and fruitfulness. As humans with fragility, at times we succumb to sin and we disfigure this image and rupture this communion. Therefore, we need to repent and be converted. In the gospel, Jesus minces no words. He bluntly states: You will all perish unless you change your ways. According to the first reading, we cannot continue to be like children, tossed about by any wave, or wind of doctrine; and deceived by the cunning of people who drag them along into error. Rather, we must grow in a deeper sense of responsibility. We must realize our own particular duty and task in the one body of Christ. We must try hard to become the Perfect Man reaching the maturity in the fullness of Christ. We shall not take for granted God’s immense grace. Neither shall we remain complacent, thinking that God has spared us or evil is not striking us. There are no exceptions with regard to the consequences of sin. No evil shall go unaccounted. It is not a matter of God keeping strict accounts of life. Rather, it is a matter of us becoming more accountable and answerable. It shows itself in a changed life. A changed life consists of receptivity to God’s grace and productivity to bear fruits of good actions. Fruitfulness is incumbent upon us and unproductivity stands condemnable.
Direction: Certainly, God is immensely benevolent and patient and He never denies us chances to change for the better. But His patience shall not be a cause for mediocrity and easy-going.
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