21 – 26 JUNE 2021, HOLY MASS REFLECTIONS
21 JUNE 2021: GEN 12. 1-9; MATTHEW 7. 1-5
Focus: A life that pleases God will be blessed by Him so that the person himself becomes a blessing and a source of blessings for others
We are living in a world where humility and sincerity, fairness and goodness toward others are becoming rarities. That is why, when some people show these qualities, it becomes big news as if it is something out of the way. Instead, arrogance and duplicity, injustice, and wickedness are aggressively prevalent. In other words, it is truly a culture of evil and curse.
It is in such a context, the Word of God shows us a surer way to foster a culture of blessing. In the first reading from Genesis, God blesses Abram and makes him a blessing himself and a source of blessing for others. God is pleased with his humility and sincerity, his piety and obedience to God’s ways, and his sense of fairness and kindness toward others.
In the gospel, Jesus addresses one big block against such a culture of blessing. It is the malaise of self-righteousness. This is accompanied by rash and uncharitable judgment of others. Jesus confronts the self-righteous attitude of the Pharisees and scribes. This attitude refuses to do any self-check. It rates themselves better than others. Consequently, it judges and condemns them. It is blind to the weakness of oneself or diminishes their faults. But on the other hand, it magnifies and exaggerates the wrongs of others. It is clearly applying double standards. St Francis de Sales has something wise said about this. He says, many are eager to accuse others even for the slightest mistake, while they excuse themselves even for the greatest blunder. People clamour for justice in the neighbour’s house while they plead for mercy in their own house. So, it is better to place oneself in the place of the other and see and feel from their perspective. Jesus too insists that it is better to "see the log in one's own eye instead of making noise about the speck in other's eye".
Direction: In a virulent atmosphere of judgment and condemnation, of which criticism and slander are the offshoots, we must cultivate a humble spirit of self-examination and self-realization
22 JUNE 2021, GEN 13. 2, 5-18; MATTHEW 7. 12-14
Focus: It needs a deep faith to choose the right path of God and walk it steadily. This includes a benevolent approach toward others
Faith and benevolence are the most effective powers of a true follower of God. This is what the Word of God reiterates today. It is a faith that is unswerving and wisely discerning. And it is a benevolence that is empathetic and generous. It is this faith that Jesus speaks as something holy and pearl. This should be preserved without throwing to dogs or swine that indicate the evil and worldly forces. We should be judicious not to expose and submit our faith to the endangering nature and ways of the world. The world does not realize the value of the sacredness and preciousness of faith. The world may trample it underfoot as something useless. It may wrongly show us that faith is not worth it. The world will choose the broader way of ease and pleasure, and will falsely make us think that it is the best way. It is in such situations we should preserve and safeguard our faith. We must wisely discern and choose the narrow way against the broader way. We must persistently walk the narrow way. It is difficult but it alone leads to salvation.
This narrow way of faith involves a life of benevolence. It is a kindness that empathetically understands and thinks of the good of others. In Jesus’ own words, it does to others what it wishes for itself from others. In simple details, true benevolence is marked by empathy and altruism. It gives to others that understanding, respect, concern, love, encouragement, appreciation, and support, which it expects from others. And it is generous as well. In the first reading from Genesis, we have Abram as a concrete example of this empathetic and generous benevolence. He gives preference to his nephew Lot when it comes to the choice of the land to occupy. This is rewarded abundantly by God
Direction: Realizing the worth of faith, clarity of priorities, and walking the right way - these are the fundamental norms of a good and godly life
23 JUNE 2021: GEN 15. 1-18; MATTHEW 7. 15-20
Focus: Those who trust in God even in seemingly impossible situations and live righteously will please God and be blessed by God beyond measures
Falsity is always detestable in the sight of God because He knows the humans through and through. Those who are false may disguise themselves in the garbs of holiness. They may be able to fool and deceive others. But they cannot fool God. God will certainly take them to the task. This is how Jesus warns in the gospel about the false people in the holy garb of prophets. These are inwardly violent wolves but outwardly meek sheep. They are bad trees that appear to bear good fruits. But they bear only bad fruits. And they are judged by their bad fruits. Accordingly, just like the bad trees they will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
Therefore, what is important is that we are sincere and authentic with no false disguises. We must grow and live like good trees that bear good fruits. We must prove ourselves by the quality of our fruits. Then surely God will bless us and reward us abundantly. This is what we see in the case of Abram in Genesis. Abram is totally obedient to God. With utter faith, he totally believes in God’s promises and assurances, even though they seem humanly impossible. If not for his faith, how would he believe God’s promise of making him the father of a multitude of descendants, when he is already advanced in age and without an heir? Abram is truly a good tree that bears the abundant fruits of faith and righteousness. That is why, he is rewarded with an heir, numerous descendants, and spacious land.
We find thus a contrast between Abram, a pagan, and the false prophets, of the race of believers. Though pagan, Abram won God’s favour because of his faith in God and the righteousness of life. On the contrary, the Pharisees and the scribes proved themselves to be false prophets, incurred God’s judgment because of their falsity and lack of fruits.
Direction: In our life, ultimately what matters is not mere exterior allegiance like race or nation, but the interior spirit of faith that authenticates itself in good fruits
24 JUNE 2020: ISIAH 49. 1-6; ACTS 13. 22-26; LUKE 1. 57-66: SOLEMNITY OF THE NATIVITY OF JOHN THE BAPTIST
Focus: Our life is not a haphazard or fortuitous existence without a goal and direction but it is the gratuitous and gracious gift of God
Today we celebrate the birth of John the Baptist. His is the only birth we celebrate besides the birthdays of the Lord and the Mother. That alone shows the singular importance that is accorded to him. The words of prophets Jeremiah 1. 4-10 and Isaiah 49. 1-6 are true and applicable to his birth and mission. He has been eternally destined by God to be his precursor, who prepares the way for the Messiah, who preaches repentance and converts many to the way of the Lord. He was called and named by the Lord from the mother’s womb. He was made like a sharp sword and like a polished arrow. He was the chosen servant of God, made as a light to the nations, in whom God is glorified. The second reading from Acts 13. 22-26 also indicates that John is a man after God’s own heart who will do all his will like David. God Himself would be his shield and guide. He would hide him in the shadow of His hand, and in His quiver. Hence no fear!
The birth of John the Baptist recalls and reminds us of our own Christian vocation and mission, which can be summarized in three essential aspects: destiny, consecration, and empowerment. We are destined for eternity, destined to be heirs of heaven. In the pursuit of this destiny, we are consecrated to be His own, to be the disciples of Christ on his mission. In carrying out this mission and living out of the life of grace, we are empowered with His own power that emboldens us and illumines us amidst all fears and evil forces. John the Baptist lived and accomplished his destiny, consecration, and empowerment by his undistracted focus, humble surrender, and unflinching loyalty
Direction: Life will be joyful and fulfilling to the extent we are profoundly aware and live our project of destiny, consecration, and empowerment in focus, surrender, and commitment
25 JUNE 2021, GEN 17. 1-10, 15-22; MATTHEW 8. 1-4
Focus: Everyone stands in need of healing and for this, one should be aware of his unhealthy condition, deeply feel the desire for health and the need for healing, and in faith approach the Lord
God enters into a covenant with Abram. But this is not like any other covenants or contracts that are usually for mutual benefit. This is a covenant that is totally for the benefit of Abram and his descendants. His life changes completely. This is symbolized explicitly by the change of his name from Abram to Abraham. He would become exceedingly fruitful and the father of many nations. They would inherit Canaan as an everlasting possession. Even at their ripe age of hundred and ninety respectively, Abraham and Sarah would get a son, Isaac. This is a covenant that is not time-bound but everlasting that extends to Isaac and the descendants thereafter.
In return, what is expected from Abraham and his descendants is fidelity and consecration, symbolized by circumcision. They shall consecrate themselves to God as His people and possession. They shall walk before him and be blameless. One need not object that this is a disguised condition. It is not a condition but a natural outflow and expression of their fidelity to the covenant.
If one really loves God, he would respect his sacred covenant with God. He would keep away all that infects this relationship, and foster all that helps him to live it. Every covenanted person would seek to be clean, healthy, and whole. In the light of the gospel, it is to be healed of leprosy that corrodes a person and alienates him from society. One should get rid of the interior and spiritual leprosy that eats away that sanity and wholeness of the person. All of us need healing and restoration of the lost health. For this, like the leper, we need an earnest desire to approach the Lord and to get cleaned and healed by God. We must humbly plead the Lord, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean”. And the Lord is always ready to heal us, saying, “I will; be clean”. Many a time, many continue unhealed and unclean because they lack this deep desire and turning to God.
Direction: In a world that becomes more and more health-conscious and beauty-conscious, one should aim at and strive for an interior and holistic health and beautification
26 JUNE 2021, GEN 18. 1-15; MATTHEW 8. 5-17
Focus: Faith is not so much a matter of one's greatness but rather total trust in God's greatness and the height of one's littleness
Pride is one infection that is attacking many. There are different kinds of pride, such as material, physical, intellectual, social, etc. But there is also another kind of pride, more subtle but more harmful. That is spiritual pride. It is when one feels great and proud of one's spiritual gifts and abilities. It is in this context, one should remember that faith is never a matter of one's credit or merit. The more we are gifted and able, the more we should be humble. See the humility of the centurion in the gospel. He himself is a man in authority. But in all humility, he realizes his littleness before Jesus' divine and spiritual authority. He realizes that Jesus’ authority is such that can subjugate and expel the evil powers even with a single simple word even over distance. In that same humility, he admits his unworthiness and sinfulness. At the same time, he readily acknowledges the holiness and greatness of Jesus. Thus, his humility blended with deep trust in Jesus’ power and mercy brings him the reward of his servant’s healing. This is the real faith which comprises humility and trust.
The same faith is seen in Peter’s mother-in-law and many others sick and possessed. Jesus heals them. This healing spree is very much indicative of the nature of his mission. His mission is vicarious. This is to suffer for our sake, to become expiation on our behalf. He bears the burden of our sins in order to release us from the bondage of sin. He takes our infirmities and bears our diseases.
One who experiences God’s blessing and healing will certainly put himself into good action, into serving. This is what is seen in the instance of Peter’s mother-in-law. No sooner she got cured of her fever, she immediately rose and served Jesus. This is what Abraham does in the first reading from Genesis. Abraham experiences God’s blessing in God’s intimate covenantal relationship, in a steady gradual fulfillment of His promises. He shows this blessedness in a hearty spirit of hospitality and service to three guests who are actually God-sent angels. Again, this service is rewarded by the confirmation of the birth of an heir.
Direction: The world of today can be healthy and happy only when it realizes its sickness and vulnerability and approaches God for His healing and renovation
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