Second week of advent

07 - 12 DECEMBER 2020, HOLY Mass Reflection

07 DECEMBER 2020, ISAIAH 35. 1-10; LUKE 5. 17-26

 

Focus: The Lord constantly comes into our life to save us. He transforms our situations of sickness into health, aridity into springs, weakness into strength and sadness into joy

 

The tone of comfort and renewal is very strong in all these days of holy Advent. Especially, the first readings from the prophets resound this spirit of assurance. God is coming to save us. He is entering into our lives. He sees our life, saddled with fear and dryness. There is sickness, weakness, deprivation, tiredness and hopelessness. The charm and the joy of life is missing. Consequently, the quotient of faith is deeply shaken and reduced. It is in such times the Lord is inviting us to rekindle our faith. This is the faith, seen in the friends of a paralytic and appreciated by Jesus in the gospel. Jesus is in a house on his teaching and healing ministry. There is a paralytic, carried by his friends. They find it not possible to approach Jesus due to the crowd. So they make a way through the roof and lower him straight in front of Jesus. Jesus praises their faith and heals him. But what is strange here is, he declares, “Your sins are forgiven”. This is very objectionable, because only God has the power to forgive sins. Does Jesus equate himself with God? This is a blatant blasphemy, and it is a very good weapon for his opponents to accuse him and persecute him. By this healing and forgiving, Jesus brings home a couple of significant truths: first, his communion with the Father and his divine authority to forgive sins. Second, spiritual health, healing from sin is much more important than mere physical health, and Jesus is really concerned about it. Third, every sin certainly causes suffering, though every suffering is not necessarily because of sin. Therefore, we must approach the Lord with faith, so that we truly experience health and joy.

 

Direction: Let you not lose your heart at the sight of the power of sin, and its pervasive evil effects. Have faith in him, present yourself to his merciful presence and get healed. It is worth making space in the roof of our hearts and reach directly in front of him!

 

08 DECEMBER 2020, IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

 

Focus: To be immaculate is to consecrate oneself to God and to concentrate whole life on God

 

1. The doctrine of the Immaculate Conception was officially defined by Pope Pius IX in 1854. It refers, not to the immaculate conception of Jesus in Mary's womb, but refers to the "immaculate conception of Mary" in her mother's womb.

2. The Blessed Virgin Mary, from the first moment of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of Almighty God, and in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, Savior of the human race, was preserved free from any stain of original sin, and was in the state of sanctifying grace. Therefore, the angel Gabriel said: "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you" (Luke 1:28)

3. Even if all are thrown into the situation of sin, and all are exposed to sin, yet she has been preserved by God from its stain.

4. She is without sin, by the grace of Christ in a special way, by anticipation. A simple metaphor can clarify the point of her "rescue". All are saved by Christ from the deep pit of sin, having fallen into it; while Mary was saved by Christ from the same pit, but was prevented from falling into it.

5. Therefore, the Immaculate Conception of Mary provides us with some lessons:

1) Even though Mary was preserved from sin, she still had to struggle constantly to preserve and bear witness to it. Immaculateness was a free gift, but she had to constantly strive to deserve it. Therefore, the Immaculate Conception of Mary also calls us for constancy and consistency in our struggle against sin, in preserving ourselves from the stain of sin and in the state of purity of grace. It is not for a moment, or for some days, but for life, from the womb to the grave.

2) The Immaculate Conception of Mary reminds us and guides us in our destiny. It is God's will and plan that we live and stand before him as holy and blameless. God conceived us immaculately in his eternal destiny. The Immaculate Conception of Mary is a powerful sign that God is serious about His saving plan and already begins it in Mary.

3) The Immaculate Conception of Mary is a powerful call of the hour, against impurity. It is a call for a struggle of life full of grace of purity, against the overwhelming assaults of sin. Especially in our times when innocence or immaculateness is considered ignorance or madness or incompetence, where distortions and cunningness are exalted as the "craft of the day", and the norm of life, we are called as children of the Immaculate Mother, to fight to keep us not polluted by sin and to preserve ourselves pure and immaculate.

4) The way of surrender is the way of being immaculate. Mary shows us the way to be holy and blameless with her way of surrender. Mary in her total abandonment to God, from the initial act of response to the end, throughout her life, she fully lives the grace of the Immaculate Conception.

5) Mary in her immaculate conception is also a comforting assurance for us, who will be our guard and guide, companion and collaborator in the same search for holiness and salvation. Of course, the power of sin and the forces of evil will never be dormant. But Mary instills in us a trust and a courage, a hope, and a resolution, a comfort and support that with her and in abandonment to God, we will never lose the battle.

6) The Immaculate Conception is a call for an integral holistic life: We do not love sin; We do not conceive sin; We do not accept sin; Let us not be deceived by sin; Let us not be enchanted by sin

7) Living without sin is possible only when we live with the Son.

Being immaculate is only possible when we live in intimacy with God, cooperate with his plans, rejuvenate his life in us, lovingly associate with the Mother and imitate the Son.

 

Direction: Beauty of life consists only in purity of heart and propriety of action.

 

09 DECEMBER 2020, ISAIAH 40. 25-31; MATTHEW 11. 28-30

 

Focus: God is never tired of loving us and is never tired of calling us to taste His love for us.

 

True love never gets tired of loving loved ones. God is love and His nature is to love and He cannot but love, for not to love is against his nature. His is true love because it is selfless and not self-motivated. He gains nothing by loving us. In fact, very many times, what He receives in return is only anguish and disappointment, because of our ingratitude and lack of response. Yet, He never ceases to invite us, “Come unto me”. He finds inexpressible joy in relieving us of our burdens, in strengthening us in our weakness, in refreshing and recharging us in our tiredness and exhaustion. He wants to make our life light. In fact, this is the marked difference between those who confide in God and cling to Him, and those who are away from God. Both the sections face the same reality and situations. God never makes false promises that faith in Him will absent all the problems. It is the way they approach them, tackle them, and come out. The way of going through the troubles and the end point, mark the contrast. This is implied in the first reading from Isaiah: Youth may grow tired and faint, they may stumble and fall. But those who confide in God will not be wearied or tired; rather, they will be ever renewed. And, to experience this renewed vigour, what is needed? First, put aside our yoke and load of needless weight of sin and worry. Then, take upon his yoke and load of gentleness and humility. This is not a load that suppresses us but that which relieves and rejuvenates our energies.

 

Direction: Gentleness and humility are two greatest arms with which we can conquer a whole world of joy and serenity, energy and strength.

 

10 DECEMBER 2020, ISAIAH 41. 13-20; MATTHEW 11. 11-15

 

Focus: For those who trust in God, life is never a loss or misery, but is ever a rediscovery of hope and joy

 

Listen then if you have ears, so ends Jesus today’s gospel passage. Yes, we need the inner ear of faith to constantly listen to what God ceaselessly repeats into our ears. Endlessly he drills into our hearts how much he loves and cares for us, how much he assures us and instills confidence and courage into us. The very same words that he pronounces through his prophet Isaiah to his people, are repeated today to all of us as well: “I am the Lord, your God. I strengthen you and tell you, do not be afraid; I will help you”. He knows that we are small and weak. He knows that our enemies, the evil forces are strong, violent and oppressing and frightening. But it is not our strength that will be in act. It is his unsurpassable power that will prevail over all the hostile forces. He will change dry land into flowing springs, and deserts into pools of water, and barren land into forest. These are God’s promises. They are never empty or shallow or unreliable like those of men or many leaders. He says to the people of Israel: Fear not, I am your assistance. I will make you a thresher, new and with sharp double teeth. You will thresh hills and mountains, crushing them and reducing them to chaff. You will winnow them.  These words apply exactly to John the Baptist. Like Elijah, he lives as a true prophet, passionate, courageous and faithful. He urges people to repent and to be converted. But from our part, what is needed is to understand this and do our part in humility, courage and dutifulness like him.

 

Direction: We are really blessed that we are rated even greater than John the Baptist himself, the greatest born of women, if only we strive sincerely on behalf of the kingdom of God.

 

11 DECEMBER 2020, ISAIAH 48. 17-19; MATTHEW 11. 16-19

 

 Focus: Prejudice is like a veil that always clouds the vision, mars the way and deviates one from the right track, so that the one who is prejudiced can never see or hear or speak or do rightly

 

Negative attitude, prejudice and obstinacy plague the world of today. Many nurture and carry so much negativity within. Their thought, desire, intention is all negatively coloured. Consequently, they have the wrong way of looking, judging and acting toward others. They fail to understand others, value and appreciate them for their worth. They suffer from the traps of their own attitude and perspective and they do not see the other side of the reality, especially the positive side of others. They make absolute their own ideas and opinions, and stubbornly stick to them. These are so pessimistic and negative-minded that nothing can really satisfy them or win their approval and favour. These are exactly like the children mentioned in the gospel today. They sit in the market places, who are perpetual fault-finders and dissatisfied. No flute can gladden them, and no funeral song would arouse a mourning solidarity in them. Even if others do the best and the right, they have no appreciation or sensitivity. They always have something to find fault and accuse. John the Baptist was so austere and he was labelled as a possessed man. Jesus was so free and mingling, and he was blamed to be an indulgent and loose man. It is not the fault of John or Jesus. The problem lies with them. It is their attitude and approach that is corrupt. It is these people about whom God rightfully and painfully laments, “Had you paid attention to my commandments”, attention to the best that God teaches them, attention to the right way they must go. If done so, then surely streams of blessings would have flown.

 

Direction: Often there is an excessive eagerness to change the reality. It is nothing wrong, when it is wrong and when it is possible. But much more than that, one should try to change one’s own attitude and perspective, which are really corroding

 

12 DECEMBER 2020, ZEC 2. 14-17; LUKE 1. 39-47, memory of Our Lady of Guadalupe

 

Focus: When God dwells in a place or a heart, He renders it holy. And this holiness radiates an immense joy all around

 

In the OT, God chooses Israel as His own nation and Jerusalem as His own city. He dwells in them. They become blessed and holy. They in turn become streams of blessings to many others. In the NT, Mary becomes the new dwelling place of God. Her womb becomes the sacred abode for the incarnate Saviour. She is overshadowed by the power of the Holy Spirit, as promised at annunciation. She demonstrates the greatest faith in her fiat, an act of total surrender. Her faith does not leave her stagnant at her home. The Spirit in faith moves her with charity to visit Elizabeth. This charity is so holistic and overwhelming. It is so sensitive, to realise, feel and anticipate the need of Elizabeth. This charity is so humble that does not put on airs as the mother of the Saviour. It is so noble that she lowers herself and treats Elizabeth with respect and concern. It is so magnanimous that she cuts across the boundaries and to travel to Elizabeth. A magnanimous heart is spacious, makes space for others and traverses beyond the spaces. Moved by the Spirit in faith, Mary moves in charity to Elizabeth, and meeting Elizabeth, she moves her and her babe with the Spirit and joy. At the encounter with Mary, Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit, and the babe in her womb leaps with joy. In other words, Mary could give and move others with the Holy Spirit and joy. This was possible, only because she was bearing Jesus within her. One who carries Jesus will certainly transmit to others the waves of the Holy Spirit and joy. From Mary, we learn that our whole life may be summarized as a move: be moved through faith and by the Spirit, move to others in charity and move others with the Spirit and joy.

 

Direction: God visits Mary in His condescending mercy for humanity and in loving benevolence toward Mary. He graces her with the greatest gift of His own incarnate Son. In turn, Mary visits Elizabeth and shares the same grace with her.