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!
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