1st week of advent

30 NOVEMBER - 05 DECEMBER 2020, HOLY MASS RELFECTIONS

30 NOVEMBER 2020, ROMANS 10. 9-18; MATTHEW 4. 18-22, FEAST of ST ANDREW

 

Focus: Vocation is not just a state of life or a profession but is a sacred way of life of God and is consecration to Him and concentration on good

 

Today, we celebrate the feast of St Andrew, one of the Twelve apostles. His call is also a roadmap for every disciple, for his own personal journey of discipleship. As a true disciple, Andrew “listens” to the invitation of Jesus to follow him. There is no second thought, no hesitation, no calculations, no weighing pros and cons. His response is instant and prompt. “At once”, he “gives up” everything. This is indicated by his ‘leaving the nets’, which were the means of his livelihood, a source of life security. And then he “follows” Jesus. We are not sure whether he really understood the meaning and the implications of Jesus’ call. Perhaps, he might have not even given a thought to the deeper significance of “becoming fishers of people”, or “fish for people”. What he understood might be that his life is going to be different from its old way and style. Jesus calls him and he follows him – this is all that mattered for him.

Today his feast and his call is a timely call and caution for all of us. For we are truly living times that are losing the sense of vocation. It is just reduced to the worldly terms like any other secular affair. And we see the sad consequences of this " stripping" of its essential content of the holy. For a Christian, be it the call to priesthood or religious life or lay life, it is always sacred. It is God who calls. The same Lord who called Andrew and others to be with him, to follow him and to bear witness to Him, continues to call each one of us. His call invites us constantly amidst our ordinary and usual preoccupations and engrossing activities and to "step out" of them, just as he called Andrew and his companions. It is not a loss but a huge gain, a grand "elevation" of life, to a matchless dignity of "being fishermen of souls" from the mere being fishermen of fish. From our part, what is expected is to "detach ourselves from everything and to follow him", like Andrew. Unless one is ready to renounce and follow the Lord, the value of vocation cannot be lived out.

 

Direction: The charm, the value and joy of vocation is being lost because the sense of the sacred, detachment and commitment is being lost

01 DECEMBER 2020, ISAIAH 11. 1-10; LUKE 10. 21-24

 

Focus: We are blessed because we can see what many others cannot see, and hear what many others cannot hear, enjoy what many others cannot enjoy

 

The sad thing in the life of many is that life appears a curse. They feel cursed and they transmit the same sense of curse to others also. The reason is, the difficulties, fears and failures take away the beauty and charm of life. It is in this context, the words of Jesus in today’s gospel can be very comforting and encouraging. He affirms, “Blessed are you!” This is our joy and grace that we are blessed in the sight of God. In fact, this is the very purpose of the coming of the Messiah. It is to bring into our cursed life the bliss, the abundance and harmony of messianic times. This, in the first place, invites us to be conscious of our blessedness. We are noble, we are of great dignity. Many forget this, they take it for granted, and thus tend to live against nobility, in a cheap way. In the second place, we are invited to be deeply grateful, because what we have received is not something small, but of immense value. Many have desired for it but have not received it. In the third place, we are invited to realize what this blessedness is. It does not consist in something physical or material or intellectual or social – nothing of the external appearances, possessions, riches, positions, powers, intelligence, status, social level etc. This is very clear as Jesus says in the gospel that God hides the godly things from the so called intelligent and the learned, but reveals them to little ones. Therefore, the real blessedness consists in seeing, hearing and grasping with heart the Son of God, our Lord. To the extent we can see, hear and receive the Lord, to that extent, we are blessed.

This then places upon us a great responsibility to live as blessed people, and to spread around an ambience of blessedness. This is very urgent and relevant in our times, where life seems more and more accursed, because of a culture of shallowness, selfishness, indifference and violence.

 

Direction: You are blessed! Why do you then curse yourself and your life, and live a cursed life and bring curse all around?

 

02 DECEMBER 2020, ISAIAH 25. 6-10a; MATTHEW 15. 29-37

 

Focus: Life is not a saga of desolation and dissatisfaction. Allow God to enter into your life, and you will see the miracle of abundance and satisfaction

 

Scarcity and deprivation, dissipation and sadness often cast their pall over the life of humanity. Consequently, many lose the taste and joy of living. In such times, today’s word of God, both from prophet Isaiah and Matthew breathes in an air of relief and joy. God Himself promises that He will feed His people with a rich and abundant banquet. He will remove their sadness and humiliation. He will restore them dignity and joy. In the gospel, Jesus becomes the fulfilment of this assurance. He heals the sick. He restores them not only physical health, but much more their lost dignity, the lost confidence and hope, the lost beauty and joy of living. He feeds the hungry thousands through a miracle of multiplying seven loaves and fish. He satisfies them. He breathes in happiness and tranquillity in a situation of tension and sadness. He transforms scarcity into abundance, emptiness into fullness, sadness into joy.

True it is that often we find ourselves in the same gospel situation – away from homes, in the wilderness, with nothing to eat, in want and hunger, with no means to meet the need, being exhausted and at the danger of fainting. Such desperate situations confront us and frighten us. We find ourselves helpless and abandoned. But we are not lost. We are not left alone. The Lord is there, who is full of compassion. He understands our needs. He knows what to do. All that is needed is to sit with him, to sit at his feet. It is enough that we hand over the little we have – the seven loaves and small fish.

 

Direction: If we follow the Lord even into wilderness, listening to him and relishing his presence, he will not let you go away hungry and dissatisfied. He will feed you with abundance

 

03 DECEMBER 2020, ISAIAH 26. 1-6; MATTHEW 7. 21, 24-27, FEAST OF ST FRANCIS XAVIER

 

We venerate today St Francis Xavier on his feast day. The word of God indicates the secret and source of his greatness. He was a man of true faith. True faith is not limited just to words. It is not happy with mere lip service, acclaiming loudly, “Lord, Lord!”. His faith was authentic, shown in action. He was passionate and committed to “do God’s will” always and everywhere. Passion and commitment mark his whole life and mission. He was passionate for God, for God’s work and for God’s people. He was committed to God’s will and plans, in every particle of his being, without any reserve. His commitment was so generous, so selfless, so free, so joyous and prompt. His passion and commitment make him totally surrender his life to serve the Lord, even to the extent of dying for him. No fears, no adversities, nothing and no one could stop or restrict his unflagging zeal. The focus of Francis was ever on the Lord who called him and the mission entrusted to Him. Therefore, nothing could frighten him or intimidate him or discourage him or disturb him or distort him. Distance or vicinity, success or failure, support or hostility, nothing would matter for him, but only a passionate zeal for the Lord to live for the Lord and to die for him. True to the words of the prophet Isaiah in the first reading, he trusted in the Lord forever, made him his everlasting Rock. He was of steadfast mind. That is why, God led him and kept him in perfect peace. True to Jesus’ words in the gospel, unlike the fool who builds his house on sand, Francis Xavier was the wise man who built his house on the solid rocky foundation of faith and service. Therefore, he stood firm and led many to God. His passion for God and his ardour for the mission are really challenging and inspiring for us.  

 

Direction: Good intentions, right decisions, great words and promises are very good. But that is not enough. True faith demands that we are people who integrate words with actions. Faith must be seen in fidelity and sacrifice.

 

04 DECEMBER 2020, ISAIAH 29. 17-24; MATTHEW 9. 27-31

 

Focus: When we allow God to enter into our life and intervene in the course of our situations, the face and tone of life will not be the same

 

As the Word of God speaks, situations of deafness and blindness, disgrace and shame constantly surround our life and abound as well. There are moments and conditions where we ourselves indifferently remain deaf and blind, when we throw ourselves into situations of disgrace and shame. There are also times when we are forced not to hear, not to see, not to be honourable and gracious. Certainly both kinds of situations are not desirable. In such times, how comforting it is to be assured that there is someone by our side in our times of struggle and sorrow! We must remember that we have a God who never neglects us. He thinks of us even before we think of ourselves. He understands our needs and struggles even before we realize them and cry for help. He will brighten our dark shades. He will knock away our disgrace and shame. He will strike hard against all the injustice and deceit. He will remove the cloud of sorrow, wipe away our tears, change our lives into springs of joy and happiness. He will heal all the blind and the deaf. He will stand by the side of the poor and the simple. He will fill the saddened hearts with a renewed joy. All that is needed is to trust Him. We need to open our eyes and see the love and might of God working in our lives. We need to get rid of our blindness. Yes, we need healing. We need to realize that we need healing. We need to affirm our trust in God's healing of us. God is ever ready to render us healed. We need to run behind Him persistently, crying out to Him to help us. Not that He is unaware or indifferent. If it is our need, we must feel it and seek him to attend to it. We must approach him in trust and submit to his touch. And once healed, we must also bear witness to him.

Direction: As long as we are blind to God, we are blind to our own selves, failing to see our person and life which are certainly in need of healing. Regain the sight and then we will see the marvels of God and life

 

05 DECEMBER 2020, ISAIAH 30. 19-21, 23-26; MATTHEW 9. 35 - 10. 1, 6-8

 

Focus: An authentic life is always integrated in word and action, as seen in Jesus himself. When there is dichotomy between what one believes and what one lives, it is only a fake faith, and against our very call itself

 

Jesus was always united with the Father, experiencing intimacy in serene moments of prayer. No amount of work, however busy and plenty it is, would rob this precious time. He was relentless in his preaching the good news. He was tireless and selfless in his healing ministry. Thus, communion with the Father, compassion for the people and passion for the mission - these characterized his whole life. At times, God may allow us to go through hard times, but not so much to penalize us, but only to teach us, so as to correct and solidify us. He bandages and heals the wounds that we have incurred. He will end our times of weeping. And he will give us fruition and that too in abundance. Certainly, the harvest of His grace is abundant in our life. But it is not to limit grace to ourselves. We need to radiate the same to others. We need to help others as well to reap a rich harvest of God’s goodness. Therefore, his love for us also includes a mission. In other words, it is the mission of establishing and spreading the horizons of his kingdom. We are sent on the same mission through proclaiming and healing. This is a tough task. But he empowers us with his own light and power. In a world that is often without direction, without committed labourers and without sanity, we are called to show the purpose and direction, to work committedly and to heal the infirmities.

 

Direction: The realization that we are often like "sheep without shepherd" because of our precarious and misleading situations should not make us confused, misguided and deviated. Rather it should be to seek the only shepherd.

 

 

1st Sunday of advent

 

I SUNDAY ADVENT, 29 NOVEMBER 2020

Focus:  We are called by a worthy God to live a worthy life. Let us then neither belittle ourselves nor God who wants to elevate us.

1. Once again, we step into the holy season of Advent.  It is the time towards the advent of the Saviour amidst us. It is the advent of the incarnate Son of God as one of us. It is a time of the coming of God's own grace in flesh and blood, in the person of Jesus Christ. Down through the centuries, God has spoken and acted through many prophets and leaders. But this is the appointed time when God speaks, interacts and acts with the humans through His own Son.

2. Advent is not merely a series of days that precede the birth of Jesus, the Saviour. It is first of all a recalling and reassuring of the ceaseless love and mercy of God for the erring and sinning humanity. It is a reawakening of our hope that the Saviour is born among us. It is a reinstilling of our trust that God comes to live with us and will never abandon us. It is a reinstalling of the broken bond and covenant between God and us. It is the season of the greatest comfort that "God is ever benevolent and merciful us".

3. Our sin, our evil, our wrongdoings, our weaknesses and imperfections - nothing of these can mar or deter the love of God that never fails us.The holy Advent encourages us that ultimately it is God who takes control of the whole course of our life and no forces, however powerful and dominant they are, can really overpower it.

4. The holy Advent immerses us into the unfathomable depths of God's saving love. It encourages and revives us with new hope to continue to confide in him even when we are beset with adverse situations. It urges us to "wait on him" who comes to visit us and change our life. This would concretely mean that we do not get "engrossed and entangled" with needless affairs and excessive worldly activities, as in the times of Noah.

5. To the one who comes to us in love, mercy and solidarity, we must go in eagerness, readiness and preparation. The one who comes to us to be with us, should not find us in indifference, tepidity and unpreparedness. We must "Wake up from our sleep" of sin and mediocrity. We must solidify our steps, so that we do not stumble and falter in darkness, but walk steadily in the light.

6. How then do we prepare ourselves to meet him who is coming? There can be different attitudes and responses toward his coming:

He is coming - so what? Let Him come! This is an attitude of indifference, carelessness and lethargy

He is coming - oh my God! An attitude of fear and unhappiness

He is coming - why should he come? An attitude of unwelcome, stubbornness, resistance and rejection

He is coming - very good! Please come. An attitude of welcome, openness, receptivity, prompt acceptance and personal experience

What is our response? What is our preparation?

Direction: Let us wait for the Lord attentively and lovingly, so that he will not find and catch us unawares. Let us be fully awake and be focused on him and not lose sight  of him.

34th week days mass reflection

23 – 28 NOVEMBER 2020, HOLY MASS REFLECTIONS

 

23 NOVEMBER 2020: REV 14. 1-3, 4B-5; LUKE 21.1-4

 

Focus: The humble and the generous are specially loved, blessed and recompensed by God. It is better to win God’s favour rather than the human’s

 

The world may consider the humble and the benevolent people as foolish and imbeciles who do not understand the ways of the world, who do not keep pace with the times, who are not smart enough to make a prosperous life. The reason is simple: they are a contrast to those of the world, and their values are quite contrast to those of the world. They are a contradiction, a question mark and a stumbling block by their culture of giving, sacrificing and altruism, to a world steeped in a culture of grabbing, hoarding and self-profiting. But only such people are pleasing to God and they are truly appreciated by Him. The poor widow in the gospel is one such. She is a great testimony of a culture of giving – giving lovingly, trustingly, willingly, promptly, totally, generously, cheerfully, magnanimously and humbly. With simplest love for God, and deep trust in His providential care, she gives away the whole of what she has. She does not keep back anything. She gives in full measures, and gives so joyfully. She gives without making a show. Can she prick us a little bit to awaken from our deep-rooted selfishness and indifference? Can she inspire us a little bit to resist our greed and grabbing nature and become a little more generous and sharing?

In fact, she is like one among the 144 thousand people in the first reading from Revelation. They surround the Lamb, they have his name and the Father’s name on their foreheads. They rejoice in his company singing his praises. They are faultless and deceitless. They are specially chosen from among the rest of the humankind on earth. Truly they are blessed and rewarded by God.

 

Direction: It is not the quantity or the position of giving that matters but the disposition and quality of heart.

 

24 NOVEMBER 2020: REV 14. 14-19; LUKE 21.5-11

 

Focus: Trust in the material and external things of the world will only lead to a deeper disappointment and eventual destruction

 

Deception and deviation are clearly dominating the human life now. Many are heavily tainted and captured by the world.  They are self-conceited, self-seeking and are highly deviant and manipulative. They also mislead others by exerting a false influence on them.  These are exactly the deceivers of whom Jesus cautions us. They project themselves as the saviours, as those who know the ways and times of God. The Pharisees and the scribes, the legitimate teachers and guides, are only false prophets. They had placed their false hopes in their credentials as the chosen people, as the people of the temple. They pride themselves in the splendour and glory of the Jerusalem temple. But it was destroyed. Jesus makes it clear to the Jews that human glories, worldly achievements, false popularity are only temporarily rewarding and they do not last long. Those who place their trust in them and pursue them, will only be frustrated and ruined. The main concern should be not so much to predict the things with accuracy. Rather, it should be to read the signs of the times, to understand the warnings on the wall, to correct the faulty and faltering ways. What is the use of knowing the times and the events with a mathematical precision, but failing to take care to face those moments? What is the use of predicting the end times with exactitude, but not prepared well for the end? We may not know when and how it will be the end. But one thing is sure: we will all stand for God’s judgment. We need to submit a strict account of the life lived. Therefore, it is better to remain alert and keep oneself prepared. One should neither be frightened nor indifferent, but be sober and accountable.

 

Direction: The end times are not so much a chronological matter but an existential concern. It is a situation, surmounted by violence and persecution. It is the fate of those who are injected with worldly poison of greed and self- glory. But for those who are loyal to God, the end times are salvation. 

 

25 NOVEMBER 2020: REV 15. 1-4; LUKE 21. 12-19

 

Focus: When God is with us, what can be against us? When we are for God, who can resist us? When we stand with God and for God, who can strike us down and shatter us?

 

These are really hard times especially for those who are sincere and loyal to the right values. Fidelity to God's ways in faith and charity is always a great challenge. This readily throws one into adverse and suffering situations. History repeatedly proves this to us. Those who are uncompromising pay a heavy price. Persecution and even death become their lot. Infidelity and betrayal are quite real facts to be expected. Such situations are really painful, frightening and discouraging. But Jesus is assuring us "Do not fear", "Every hair of your head is counted".  "My Spirit will give you the wisdom to overcome the adversaries". Therefore, in the face of negative experiences, what is needed is not fear or depression but trust in God's unfailing love and power. We need not fear because God Himself is with us. We need not lose heart because God takes a deeply personal care of each one of us. We need not worry about how to counter the opponents, because God’s own wisdom will confound them. Further, our suffering receives a greater motive and merit: they are authentic means of bearing testimony to the Lord. Patience and perseverance in adversities will testify how convinced we are in our faith and how loyal we are to the Lord.

 

Direction: Struggle and suffering for God and for good is always meritorious. Therefore, we must develop a culture of positive acceptance and joyful atmosphere. A fearful over-concern and tact to avoid and escape from any worthwhile challenge, is actually not in tune with our witnessing value.

 

26 NOVEMBER 2020: REV 18. 1-2, 21-23; 19.1-3, 9a; LUKE 21. 20-28

 

Focus: Faith is tested and testified through trying times for its depth and loyalty. It shines bright and firm when it passes through the crucible of suffering

 

As we are at the threshold of the holy Advent, the liturgy of Word of God is insistently pressing upon us the gravity and the perplexity of the end times. We are reminded that true faith is not a guarantee and a shield against the brunt of the problems and painful consequences of violence and calamities. Faith does not exempt one to be spared from them, which are bound to happen. They are in fact part of the human lot and also part of testing and testifying to our faith. Even the spiritual glory like the Jerusalem temple was destroyed. Evil will strike hard against even the spiritual treasures and powers which we hold so sacred and precious. But it is not a sign of the domination of evil over good and God. It is the process of salvation and re-creation. It is the nearing of our redemption. Therefore, two lessons can be very valid for our own times for both the categories of people. For those who indulge in evil: they may feel that theirs is the day, that there is no stop for their evil, that they are prospering. Let them become aware that the reign of evil is not enduring and permanent; that their apparent control of the world is only passing; that they will be taken to task on the appointed day; that they are accountable for every single action of their evil. This is very clearly depicted in the first reading from Revelation: all those who were indulging in evil, will receive a severe judgment and punishment. Then, for those who are honest and loyal to God: they need not lose heart at the domination of evil; they need not be frightened at the devastating effects of evil; they also should not expect that their faith and goodness will be foolproof from any difficulty.  

 

Direction: Therefore, we shall not lie down with drooping spirits when adversities and afflictions assault us. Rather "we shall stand erect, look up and raise our heads in hope and assurance"

 

27 NOVEMBER 2020:  REV 20. 1-4, 11 – 21. 2; LUKE 21. 29-33

 

Focus: Destruction and pain are not necessarily negative and life-choking but are also challenging and life-promoting. New life can sprout up when the old things cease

 

No doubt that in human life, there is a lot of element of destruction and the consequent pain. And usually they are resented and resisted. It is because of their negative effects of deprivation and struggle in different ways. For example, when a family life is destroyed, when a business is destroyed, when life- prospects are destroyed, when reputation is destroyed, when material securities like houses etc. are destroyed, it is really painful. However, struggle and destruction are also part of growth and fruition as well. A seed struggles and dies to give rise to a new life. People get enlightened, strengthened, courageous and renewed, going through tough times. Therefore, in the face of the adverse situations, what is needed is to see beyond them - the glory that awaits us. The sad and unfavourable situations should not push us into despair. It is not the pleasantness or unpleasantness of the experiences that necessarily decide their quality. There is no guarantee that what is pleasant is good, and that what is unpleasant is bad. Often, what is pleasurable can be bad also. As the first reading from the Revelation reminds us, all will be judged according to their works. The first heaven and the first earth would pass away. Surely, there would be a new heaven and a new earth. God will bring newness into our life. If we remain faithful to him, we too will be like the new Jerusalem, adorned as a bride prepared for her husband. All that is needed is to persist to trust in the Lord, in spite of all the adverse happenings. Let us confide in his assurance: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away”.

 

Direction: The difficult times that we face should not push us into gloom and doom. They should rather ignite us with renewed hope. It is the hope that they are the days of the " nearness of God's kingdom"

 

28 NOVEMBER 2020: REV 22. 1-7; LUKE 21. 34-36

 

Focus: The more one is immersed into unworthy, unhealthy and deviated interests and pursuits, the more life becomes debased and cursed

 

“Man is born free but is in chains everywhere”, is a famous philosophical statement. That is very true. Man craves so much for freedom, but often unconsciously loses the same freedom because of his various inclinations and preoccupations of life. Sadly, he mistakes licentiousness with freedom, self-indulgence with self-promotion, self-gratification with self-fulfilment. In the name of modernity, immorality is glorified; perverted passion becomes fashion; vulgarity is defended as self-determination; exhibitionism is promoted as public imaging. Man confuses mindless activity as being enterprising and productive. Real joy is reduced to short-lived pleasures and enjoyments. This is exactly the situation of a defocused and harmful “immersion” of which Jesus warns us in the gospel. He cautions: Don’t immerse yourselves in a life of pleasure, drunkenness and worldly cares. The danger and the undesirable consequence is that we will be caught unawares like a trap, before God on the day of judgment. To counteract this destructive immersion, what is needed is a constructive “inversion” into God. This implies to be ever attentive and on guard, to be ever watchful and praying. In the light of the first reading from Revelation, it means to be focused on our eternal destiny and on the immense bliss and joy of it. Those who remain loyal to God, will live in his eternal presence, will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. God Himself will be their light, and they will reign forever.

 

Direction: What a foolishness it is that man loses one whole eternity for the sake of a fraction of temporality, that he loses the immensity of bliss in exchange for a shallow pleasure!

 

 

 

CHRIST THE KING

 

34th SUNDAY: SOLEMNITY OF CHRIST THE KING, 22 NOVEMBER 2020

Still the Celebration of a King, in our times where king, kingship and kingdom are rather outdated or at least not a common phenomenon! This brings us to a first reflection that Jesus Christ is a King for all ages, beyond times and spaces. Times and places, cultures and customs may change. But He remains a King for ever.

2. What kind of king, kingship and kingdom? Quite in contrast to the rest, that of the world. A king with a difference, a King who makes a difference, a King who wants difference from his subjects.

3. He is a king who is not violent or aggressive. Not self-seeking or self-serving. Not self-promoting or self-gloried. Not dominating or subjugating. Not oppressing or intimidating. Not greedy or avaricious. Not hypocritical and deceptive. Not manipulative or corrupt. Not divisive or discriminative. Not biased or partial.

4. His is a kingship that believes and promotes healthy and progressive relationship and genuine friendship, that which puts no one to any hardship. A kingship that is not a rod of power, not a tool of lording over, but a way of fervour for Good, and a channel to guard and care for. His kingship is not one of enslaving coercion, but of willing and joyful submission.

5. His Kingdom is a kingdom that is not a domain of pomp and glory, but a reign of fraternal communion and service. A kingdom whose boundaries are magnanimity without boundaries. His kingdom is not one of serfdom of members treated as objects; but a kingdom of dignified and responsible freedom, where everyone is treated as subjects with respect and honour.

6. His royalty is not one of status or position, privilege or prestige. His royalty is that of loyalty to the core. His dignity is that of character. His nobility is not that of birth or cadre, but that of heart and dealing.

7. He is a King who reigns in the hearts and reigns over them. That is why recurrently Jesus affirms, The Kingdom of God is near you, the Kingdom is amidst you, the Kingdom is within you. It is reign of grace, with passion for God and compassion for others. It is where love reigns, where peace and harmony are the most delicious fruits, where equality and justice are priced norms, where prosperity and growth are the plans of action, where happiness and fulfilment of each one are the highest goals to nurture and achieve.

8. What a difference now between this eternal King, and his followers and specially his representatives who profess to carry his kingship? Christ the King is a challenge against all the tendencies to be "chota" kings and mini lords, against all self-glory and manipulation, against all power-wielding and deifying. His Kingdom is a rebuke against all unchristian forces of building up petty kingdoms, and narrowly demarcated territories, based on contingent and needless factors like caste, region, language, culture, rite etc. How can one pray daily, “may your Kingdom come”, but live and do all that makes the Kingdom go? How can we profess to work for his Kingdom, to nurture, foster and expand it, while we tend to suffocate its growth, and narrow down its confines and embrace?

9. Let us always bear in mind that no one is above the King, the Master and the Lord, who is one and sole. One may be great, high-positioned, efficient, popular or powerful, but always remains only a disciple, a follower, a servant. There are no more kings and masters, no more saviours and lords. No other teaching can be higher or more important than the teaching of the Master. Kingdom of God is spacious, unbound and unconfined, and no single human institution or religious structure can domesticate the Kingdom which is the Reign of the Spirit. Even the Church is only an Agent at the service of the Kingdom, the Reign of God, and it cannot make itself its equivalent or substitute. The Church even as the Mystical Body and Bride of Christ, must always remain docile and adherent to her Lord.

10. The King of heart and love, the Ruler of truth and integrity is inviting us, to give Him our hearts to reign within, and to give our lives to reign over, so that his Kingdom of faith and benevolence prevails.

33rd week days mass reflection

 

16 – 21 NOVEMBER 2020, HOLY MASS REFLECTIONS

 

16 NOVEMBER 2020, REVELATION 1. 1-4, 2. 1-5; LUKE 18. 35-43

 

Arrow: Have you lost your first love?

Focus: Awareness and admission of blindness is the primary step in the recovery of sight

 

In the gospel, Jesus restores sight to a blind man. In this miracle, what is striking is the depth and persistence of his desire to receive sight. He is already aware of Jesus' power and mercy. He waits for the right occasion and jumps upon the first opportunity. He does not feel annoyed or discouraged by the people's scolding and preventing him. He does not give up his desire. He realizes his need and also dependence on Jesus. He shouts out for Jesus' mercy. He encounters Jesus and explicates his desire and need. Accordingly, Jesus rewards his faith by granting sight to him. Jesus is always ready and willing to heal us. But for this healing, in the first place, what Jesus wants from us is to realize our own blindness, and to deeply desire to be cured of it. This is what he implies in his question to the blind man, “What do you want me to do for you?”. This is not a question of ignorance of the need of the blind man. Surely, Jesus knows very well what the blind man needs. What can a blind man ask for, if not the sight? But, what Jesus wants from us, is that we sincerely realize what we lack and deeply feel what we need.

All of us are blind, because often we fail to see clearly what we essentially lack and need. Wrongly, many see only shallow lacks and needs, and not the deep and essential. This real blindness is explained in the first reading from Revelation. It is the “loss of the first love”. It is being blind to the first love with God. It is the loss of the original fidelity and passion. It is the lack of enthusiasm of faith.

 

Direction: One cannot be restored sight so long as one pretends not to be blind. Many think that they are clear-sighted and far-sighted, and that is why they continue to be blindfolded and stumbling.

 

17 NOVEMBER 2020, REVELATION 3. 1-6, 14-22; LUKE 19. 1-10

 

Arrow: Am I neither cold nor hot, but lukewarm?

Focus: All that matters for God is not the status or position, but a humble and honest heart. Every sincere and committed effort on behalf of God will win His abundant grace

 

The story of Zacchaeus is a great source of consolation and encouragement for all. For God's grace accepts and graces us in spite of our unworthiness and failures. Zacchaeus being a tax collector was labelled as a sinner and was despised. Yet Jesus was not conditioned by these human considerations, calculations or labels. He is not prejudiced. He is not resentful or judgmental. He does not condemn him but readily offers his mercy and salvation.  From his part, Zacchaeus does his homework. He nurtures a profound desire and motivation to see Jesus. He is not discouraged by the obstacles of his shortness and crowd; he takes the trouble to surpass these blocks by placing himself on high climbing a sycamore tree. He encounters Jesus. He responds to Jesus' invitation to be his guest and celebrates his presence with a banquet. He undergoes a deep conversion. He testifies his conversion by a concrete and abundantly generous act of renouncing and sharing: half of his property to the poor, and fourfold repayment to all those defrauded. Thus, he truly deserves the blessing and salvation of God. Jesus pronounces the heart-soothing words: “Today, salvation has come to this house. He too is a son of Abraham”. It is not just a blessing and a compliment. It is the greatest gift that one can expect: He is given a new dignity. He is raised from the low level of being a sinner to the noble status of being a son of Abraham, i.e. one of the chosen people. He is blessed with salvation, being saved from the curse of sin. What is our journey? Do we desire and set out to encounter Jesus, to be touched and transformed by him? How concrete and authentic is our conversion? Very truly, the biggest block in this journey is our tepidity and lukewarmness. God does vehemently detest it as we hear in Revelation: “You are lukewarm, neither cold nor hot. So I will spit you out of my mouth”.

 

Direction: When one discovers Jesus, the greatest treasure, one will not still be possessed by the possessions. One will not continue unconverted and untransformed

 

18 NOVEMBER 2020, REVELATION 4. 1-11; LUKE 19. 11-28

 

Arrow: Gifts and talents – laid waste or put to use?

Focus: What is important is not how much we receive but how much we give in return. God does not see how much we have but He sees what we do with what we have

 

The parable of talents is not a question of the difference of talents given. It is a difference but not discrimination. One need not make an issue out of it justifying disparities and inequalities. The fact is we are born different. Here, it may help us to think of two levels of talents: the secondary and the primary. The secondary level comprises various skills and competencies, like singing, dancing, art, drawing, intelligence, eloquence, socializing, organizing, etc. And there may be variance in regard to this secondary level of talents. Thus, there is also a possibility for comparisons. But one should not be too caught up with this secondary level. Because, that will lead to unhealthy competitions, feelings of disparity and discrimination. Subsequently, it can also lead to jealousies and arrogance. Rather, it is wise to focus on the primary level of talents, and no one is deprived of the primary level of talents. These are more fundamental and essential. They are namely the gift to love, to give, to be virtuous, to be benevolent to others. Here, there is no question of discrimination. No one is given less than needed to become a fine human person with humane qualities. What is important is how each one searches out all the possibilities to put in the best and to develop himself, without negative and jealous comparison and competition. Each one is accountable for what he has received and how he made the best use of his gifts. There is no use of receiving more but giving back little.

 

Direction: The real matter is not how many talents we have or how talented we are but how receptive and productive we are, how responsible and fruitful we are

 

19 NOVEMBER 2020, REVELATION 5. 1-10; LUKE 19. 41-44

 

Arrow: If only you know the ways of God?

Focus: No amount of external glory or worldly accomplishments can substitute for openness to God and His grace

 

Jesus weeps over Jerusalem. No doubt that the city and temple of Jerusalem are icons of glory and pride for their people. But this glory and greatness cannot save them, they fail to be receptive and cooperative to God’s grace. All the exterior splendour, pomp and name cannot condone and make good for their lack of receptivity and cooperation. God in His mercy has come to visit His people and save them through His only Son Jesus. In the words of Revelation, he is the lion of Judah, who alone is worthy to open the book of life, read it, break open its seals and thus throw open the treasures of salvation. He shows them the ways of peace and urges them to walk these ways. He immolates himself for their sake. He bails himself out as ransom in order to purchase them back. But they do not recognize God's visitation. They become obstinate and refuse to adhere to Jesus. This deeply anguishes the loving heart of Jesus that cries out bitter tears.

God continues to weep over us and the whole humanity. His heart languishes looking at how man prides himself in the external displays and glories. He is deeply pained how man seeks vain pleasures. He is agonized at how man willingly renders himself into the hands of the enemies. True to Jesus’ words in the gospel passage, the “enemies surround him with barricades, shut him in and press on him on every side. And they will dash him and his children to the ground. They will not leave stone upon stone within his manmade kingdom”. How truly today’s man is bound in manifold ways!

 

Direction: It is better to weep over making Jesus weep for us, instead of priding ourselves in vain and shallow glories

 

20 NOVEMBER 2020, REVELATION 10. 8-11; LUKE 19. 45-48

 

Arrow: Honey in the mouth and bitter in the stomach?

Focus: Sense of the sacred and fear of God alone will lead to order and harmony in life

Jesus does a sort of temple cleansing. He appears rather violent and drives out all the marketing and shopping in the temple area. The driving motive behind this just anger is his passion for the sanctity of God’s holy house. How could the most Holy One of God compromise on desecrating what is consecrated? The same can be the situation in the present times. One of the major tragedies of today's society is temples which are consecrated are getting desecrated. This happens in both the senses and aspects of the temple. First, temples refer to the churches, the holy places of worship. Second, the temple refers to the human person himself. We read in 1 Corinthians 3. 16: "Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?". Churches are houses of prayer, the unique place of God's personal presence. But sadly no seldom they are turned into centres and domains of secondary and shallow interests and transactions like the "den of robbers". They become auditoriums for organizational activities. They become stages for displays, platforms for socialization, and launching grounds for self-deliveries. The spiritual ambience which is crucial to a church is often missing. Further, day by day the human person is increasingly getting desecrated and polluted by many deviated and aberrant, destructive and harmful thoughts, words and actions. We need a thorough cleansing.

 

Direction: We need to recapture our sense and culture of communion with God in humble devotion and surrender. We need to regain our lost innocence and purity of heart and human person

 

21 NOVEMBER 2020, REVELATION 11. 4-12; LUKE 20. 27-40, Memorial of Presentation of Mary

 

Arrow: Alive forever to God?

Focus: This earthly life is not an end by itself but resurrection and eternal life is our destiny. Therefore, let this life now be a worthy passage to the life then

 

Jesus declares: “God is the God of living and not of the dead, for to Him everyone is alive”. Thereby, two fundamental truths are affirmed. God is God of eternity, and we too are destined for the same eternity. Our God is a living God; He is God of life and He shares this same life, His own life with us. If this is so, then we will live with Him in eternity. This earthly human life is only temporary duration, a transit in preparation for that life without end. Therefore, death is not a permanent closure or cessation of life but is only a door that opens upon resurrection and risen life in heaven. But this destiny after death commits us to life before death to live it with a spirit of focus and direction, detachment and soaring high. Our life on earth should be such a way qualitative that it qualifies us for life in heaven. Unfortunately, many lose sight of this fundamental nature of nurturing and orientation to life in eternity. Consequently, they tend to live a culture of death. They tend to be heavily conditioned and stuck with only the temporary and transient. They fail to value and appreciate life. They fail to realize that life is precious and sacred, because it is a share of God’s own life. That is why, often it is so much abused and destroyed. Further, loss of the sense of eternity also makes people lose their sense of purpose and direction. They become excessively earth-bound. They do not raise themselves to what is above, what is high and lofty. It is ironic that people who claim to be foresighted and far-sighted fail to see the horizons of eternity.

Mary, our Mother was a person who lived totally this culture of life and eternity. Today we commemorate her presentation in the temple. The tradition holds that already at three, her parents offered her to God in the temple. This shows how Mary nurtured God’s life and oriented herself to eternity, from childhood onwards.

 

Direction: Certainly all of us are alive to God because He is evea