13 – 18 DECEMBER 2021: HOLY MASS REFLECTIONS
13 DECEMBER 2021: NUM 24. 2-7, 15-17; MATTHEW 21. 23-27
Focus: In a world that abuses power and authority, we, the Disciples of Christ have to rediscover and relive the right spirit of authority
1. Jesus was tirelessly committed to his mission of teaching, preaching, and healing. But the Jewish authorities question his authority. They confront him, asking “By what authority are you doing all these things, and who gave you this authority?” It is not a question seeking to know what they do not know. Rather, it is a questioning of his authority. It is an expression of their displeasure and resistance.
2. They just do not want him to do what he was doing because it was posing a direct challenge to their own authority. He had spiritual and moral authority, which was exposing their own shallow spirituality and moral disintegration. His authority was rooted in his communion with God and manifested in a life of integrity.
3. They just could not stomach it. Thereby they wanted to block his mission by warning him indirectly that he had no juridical or recognized authority like them. They were really foolish to condition good by authority
4. The point is clear: there is no need of any formal or official authority for doing good. Anybody and everybody can and also must do good. John the Baptist had no legal authority but he had divine authority. Similarly, Jesus’ authority too is divine. No one can question it. There can be a further question also: if one needs authority to do good, then how many who are in authority are really doing good?
Direction: All authority is meant for doing and promoting good. In that way, the purpose of all authority is good and godly. Thereby, any authority that obstructs good is only evil
(REFLECTION 2 FROM 2020)
Focus: Divine wisdom always prevails over human crookedness, even though men in their wickedness search for ways and means to demean and discard the divine power
The evil-mindedness of the Jewish leaders and elders is quite evident. They are not concerned about the depth and the power of Jesus' message and works. They are not happy about the immense good he is doing through His mission of comfort, healing, and conversion. They find him as a thorn in the flesh. They are afraid of losing their hold over the people. They are displeased with being exposed for their hypocrisy. Hence their whole and constant intention is to put him into trouble, to trap him, to catch him on the wrong foot. But Jesus will not be shaken. No human or diabolic force can surpass or defeat his wisdom, integrity, and fervor.
Two aspects can be reflected upon. One, what is our attitude and response toward the spiritual and good?? Are we also not like the Jewish authorities when we do not understand God’s power? Do we distrust and question God’s intervention and providence? Do we also resent and resist spiritual authority, and why? Is it because of prejudice or threat to my own petty self-seeking authority? When some are sincerely doing good, do we appreciate, encourage and support them? Or, out of jealousy, do we try to put them down, and try to misinterpret and criticize?
Secondly, when we too are often surmounted and tormented by so many evil forces, what is our reaction and way out? Do we turn to God's wisdom and power? Or do we depend too much on our own capacities and resources? Or do we easily lose heart, or react violently, and give up?
Perhaps, all that is needed is to be like Balaam, the seer in the first reading from the book of Numbers: to have the Spirit of God come upon us, to hear the words of God, to have the knowledge from the Most High, to see the vision of the Almighty with eyes unveiled.
Direction: Divine wisdom is far better than human argumentation and confrontation. Let us not put ourselves against God’s authority or spiritual authority. It is better to humble ourselves and surrender
14 DECEMBER 2021: ZEPH 3. 1-2, 9-13; MATTHEW 21. 28-32
Focus: The quality of our faith is not to be measured in terms of sweet-sounding words, assurances, and promises but by concrete actions that live what we believe
1. Jesus constantly tries to show the Jews how superficial their faith is. They say ‘yes’ to God with their lips but live ‘no’ in their lives. Their words and actions do not correspond with each other. Jesus’ example of two sons makes this point quite clear. When asked by the father to go and work in the vineyard, the first one first says, ‘no’ but then repents and changes his mind and goes and does the work. The second son says, ‘yes’ but does not go to work.
2. Clearly the first son represents the gentiles and other nations while the second son represents the chosen people of Israel. Israel makes promises and covenants with the Lord; they say ‘yes’ to God’s laws and statutes but they do not follow them. They say and believe one thing but they do and live just the opposite. In the words of the first reading from Zephaniah, these are “rebellious and defiled; they listen to no voice, accept no correction; they do not trust in the Lord or draw near to God”.
3. But the pagans understand the value of God’s grace. They repent for their refusal and turn back to God. They might have said ‘no’ initially but then their life proves ‘yes’ to God’s ways. In the words of Zephaniah, what he applies to the remnant of Israel, can validly apply to these as well. These are those “people humble and lowly, who seek refuge in the Lord; they shall do no wrong and utter no lies, and have no deceitful tongue”
4. Therefore, what is very clear is no long traditions or religious affiliations can guarantee a faithful life that is a ‘yes’ to God; nor are they sureties to obtain God’s blessings. All that matters is only repentance and a changed life from ‘no’ to ‘yes’.
Direction: Many in the present world believe that they can manage the show and manipulate the people by mere promises, tall words, and affirmations. But in God’s sight what matters the most is harmony between words and deeds
(REFLECTION 2 FROM 2020)
Focus: The quality of our faith and Christian living does not consist in mere words and promises, even fantastic; What is the use of a bundle of sweet-sounding "yes"s, when the concrete life is a series of "no"s, a negation of what we believe?
We live in a world of empty words and false promises. There is a constant tendency to impress, and please others with good-sounding affirmations and assurances. But it is only deception in disguise, because all words, not leading to concrete actions, are only inauthentic and hypocritical. What is the use of repeating hundreds of times, “I love you”, but not understanding, not helping the other, and is doing harm to the other? What is the use of promising that I will remove your difficulties, but doing nothing for that? What is the use of proclaiming that I follow God’s ways and values, but living a life of false values and compromises?
Jesus drives home this message very powerfully through his simple story of the two sons in the gospel. The first son who says ‘no’ at first to the father’s command; but then he repents and goes to work; quite evidently, he stands for the gentiles: they repent as God offers His salvation, and turn to a new way of life through faith in Jesus. These are exactly like those, described in the first reading from Zephaniah: the pagan nations, who call on the name of the Lord and serve him with zeal; poor and meek people who seek refuge in God. But the second son, who says ‘yes’ but does not do, stands for the Jews: they were the first ones, to whom God offered salvation through His only Son, Jesus; but by rejecting to believe in him, they turn unfaithful. Their fault is exactly what the prophet Zephaniah describes in the first reading. They were rebellious, did not pay attention to God’s call for repentance, did not accept the correction, did not trust in the Lord, did not approach their God.
Perhaps, a little sincere reflection may make it clear to us that we are very much similar to the second son in the gospel. God has been abundantly gracious to us, blessing us with the greatest gift of faith in Jesus, and enriching us with every spiritual blessing. What is expected on our part is a life of authenticity and loyalty. This needs a deep and consistent conversion. How often do we deceive God with mere words and promises which are so tall and loud? How often do we say one thing and do exactly the opposite?!
Direction: How often do we deliberately forfeit God’s grace, being presumptuous and self-complacent? It is a time to check and control
15 DECEMBER 2021: ISAIAH 45. 6-8, 18, 21-25; LUKE 7. 19-23
Focus: Often in life confusion and doubts arise. Instead of being disturbed and misguided, it is better to turn to the Lord, seek clarity and be clear and confirmed
1. In today’s gospel, John the Baptist sends two of his disciples to Jesus to clarify whether he is the awaited Messiah. This looks a little bit embarrassing and also intriguing. We are aware that John the Baptist was quite aware of Jesus’ identity as the awaited Messiah and of his own identity as the precursor of the Messiah. Then we may wonder why at all he wants again to know about Jesus’ identity.
2. There are some scholars who say that like any other human being, John the Baptist too was confused and doubtful about Jesus’ identity and so he wanted to get it clarified. But personally, I do not subscribe to this idea. Rather, a couple of other perspectives seem plausible for me. One is he wanted his disciples to be clear about Jesus as the real Messiah and thus prepare them to be Jesus’ followers. He directed his two disciples to Jesus so that they could have a firsthand experience of Jesus performing the works of Messiah toward the blind, the deaf, the lame, the leprous, the poor, and the dead.
3. A second possible explanation is that he wants to positively pressure Jesus to reveal himself as the awaited Messiah because he wants to vanish behind since Jesus has entered the scene. Jesus does not seem to make any self-revelation by himself. So by sending his disciples personally to Jesus, Jesus would be urged to make a self-attestation.
4. Seen either way, the purpose of John the Baptist can be more creating an occasion for Jesus to make a self-revelation so that people would know him, believe him, and be drawn to him. Thus he can recede to the background while Jesus takes control of the course of action.
5. Whatever be the motive behind it, the end result is the clarity on the identity of Jesus as the Messiah. He brings healing, newness, and life into the lives of many. Truly, the words of the prophet Isaiah in the first reading get fulfilled in him: “All the ends of the earth shall turn to him and be saved. To him, every knee shall bow and every tongue shall swear. It shall be said of him only in the Lord are strength and righteousness. All who were incensed against him shall be put to shame. In the Lord, all the offspring of Israel shall triumph and glory”.
Direction: The coming of the Messiah is not merely a mega event of pomp and glory as in the case of many secular lords. His coming is a matter of transformation and salvation
(REFLECTION 2 FROM 2020)
Focus: The more we fail to know and discover God in our lives, the more there will be confusion and loss of meaning and commitment
Many think that the issue of God is a mere matter of religion or spirituality or tradition. Consequently, God becomes more a matter of concept, and religion and spirituality become matters of practice of some devotional activities. But, God must become a living reality, a concrete personal experience, and a relationship. In other words, we must discover the real identity of God in our lives. This is the call that is so forceful in both the readings from Isaiah and Luke. He created everything, he is the Savior, a God of justice. Yes, He is one who is inseparably connected to us and involved in our lives. He is the one who is the author of all life and good. He is deeply interested in our lives, attentive and caring toward our struggles. In the gospel, to those who seek to know the identity of Jesus, Jesus reveals it. He draws their attention to what he is doing in compassion and commitment for the good of all. He healed many people of their sicknesses and diseases. He freed them from the evil spirits. He gave sight to the blind. Thus, the blind see again, the lame walk, lepers are made clean, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the poor are given the good news. These are the authentic signs and testimonies of God’s identity.
Today, what then is our duty? Jesus tells those seekers of his identity, to go back and tell what they have seen and heard. We too need to open our eyes to see and hear what God is doing in our lives. we need to be a little more open and receptive. We need to become a little more attentive and sensitive. We need to become a little more positive and appreciative. We need to become a little more grateful and responsive.
Direction: We are constantly called to realize the identity of God in our lives, in deep relationship and loyalty. The more we grow in his knowledge and experience, the more we discover and live our own identity.
16 DECEMBER 2021: ISAIAH 54. 1-10; LUKE 7. 24-30
Focus: Blessed are those who realize their true identity, the purpose of their lives and strive to live accordingly! It is only a purpose-driven and destiny-oriented life that becomes meaningful and fulfilling
1. Jesus praises John the Baptist as ‘more than a prophet’ and as ‘the greatest born of women. Now, what makes John the Baptist so great and praiseworthy? In the first place, it is his magnanimity that readily humbles himself to play a low profile even when popular. He never craved and strove for self-glory.
2. The second praiseworthy mark of John the Baptist was his singular focus and unflinching zeal toward his role as the precursor and witness to the Lord. He was fully clear of who he was and thus was fully committed to his mission. He truly and faithfully prepared the way for the Messiah.
3. He calls the people for repentance that would turn them to the Messiah. And the days of the Messiah will be truly hopeful and life-turning. For, “with great compassion he will gather his people. With everlasting love he will have compassion on them. His steadfast love shall not depart from them and his covenant of peace shall not be removed”.
4. But interestingly, Jesus states immediately “Yet who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he (John the Baptist). Does it not look contradictory? How is it that on one hand, John the Baptist is the greatest of all born women, and on other hand, even the least in the Kingdom of God is greater than him?
5. Thereby, one valid implication is ‘regeneration’ by Holy Spirit is far more superior to the ordinary ‘birth’. What makes John the Baptist is not his physical generation through his mother. But, it is his spiritual regeneration, being anointed by the Holy Spirit. Those who belong to the kingdom are thus spiritually generated and empowered. And this is certainly more than mere physical bonding.
Direction: Let us always remain conscious of our own role as the ‘messengers’ like the John the Baptist. Let us prepare the way for the Lord
17 DECEMBER 2021: GEN 49. 2, 8-12; MATTHEW 1. 1-17
Focus: The incarnation of God is not that God ‘appears’ in human form. He truly ‘takes’ or ‘assumes’ the human form. Therefore, he ‘becomes’ one of us
1. Matthew begins his gospel with the genealogy of Jesus. The purpose of genealogy is not just to provide some historical details of the family tree of Jesus. It is also not to give an impression of historical accuracy and veracity regarding Jesus’ genealogy. Rather, the primal purpose is to show the total “immersion” of Jesus into human history.
2. Jesus inserts himself into the life struggle of human history. Genealogy of the Son of God testifies that Jesus became fully man, that he is genuinely part of our history. His humanity is not a mere ‘appearance’ as in the case of avatars. It is real and true. Genealogy authenticates that Jesus was fully of human nature, just as he is divine. He bore our sins; he faced our struggles. He became one of us so that we would become like him. Therefore, to celebrate God’s incarnation would be celebrating our own humanity that refers both to the human family and human nature.
3. There are a few other notable factors in Matthew’s genealogy. There are 5 women included in the whole of genealogy, namely Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Mary. This is in sharp contrast to Matthew’s Jewish world where genealogies typically mentioned only men.
4. Even more surprisingly, all these women have somewhat spotty reputations. Tamar was Judah’s daughter-in-law who pretended to be a prostitute, Rahab was a Jericho prostitute, Ruth was the non-Israelite Moabite and a sexually forward widow, Bathsheba was a woman taken to adultery with David, and Mary was with a suspect pregnancy (claimed by the Holy Spirit).
5. Their inclusion into genealogy is a clear indication that God will work through His servants, even the most unlikely of servants. Even the most unlikely life can be redeemed and honored by God. Each life can be part of God’s grand plan to bring light and truth and healing to the world.
Direction: No matter what we are and how we do, we are all significant and pivotal in the holy designs of God. He wants to become part of our life. He wants to be in total solidarity with the whole of humanity indiscriminately
(REFLECTION 2 FROM 2020)
Focus: God's ways are always authentic and concrete. He always enters into human history and our own personal history to make our lives authentic and worth-living
We have the genealogy of Jesus in the gospel. Its interest or purpose is not mere history or chronology which is of more human realm. Its purpose is of the divine realm, with a salvific orientation. Jesus is truly born of human descent. His incarnation is true and real. It is not mere story or fiction or totally an exclusive matter of faith. Rather, his birth is a verifiable and tangible historical reality. He truly inserts himself into our human history. He belongs to our human line of life. This is something crucial: God becomes part of our human history and shares our own life- predicaments. This human face and humaneness of God is very important. Especially in our own times, where the connectivity with God is more and more declining, where the personal touch with God is reducing, we need to recapture this lost link. Today, in the world of communication, we speak of links. We ask for links to get connected to a particular program and watch it. How many are really serious about the link for God? How many eagerly search for entering into the site of God? If only one understands, the immense significance and value of God entering into our human history, oh! What an unfathomable mystery of love! God becomes part of our human family. He is one of our family. He has a profound and lasting bonding with us. But history is not a mere matter of a bygone past. His birth is not one event that took place once upon a time. His birth among us is a most authentic testimony that he has inserted himself into our life story. Accordingly, the genealogy of Jesus for us must not be merely a historical concern, so as to prove his historicity. Rather, it is to confirm the beautiful immersion of God into our human reality. God became part of our history so that we can live beyond history, with a life that merits one eternity.
Direction: To make us like him, God became like us. To elevate our personal and human history, God got inserted into our story.
18 DECEMBER 2021: JER 23. 5-8; MATTHEW 1. 18-24
Focus: God’s ways are not always clear and graspable. It needs real openness and surrender to understand and do God’s will
1. Today’s gospel focuses on the person of Joseph. There is only one attribute that is applied to him. That is, being “just”. The gospel episode demonstrates how he was just. He was just because he acted magnanimously toward Mary. Even though he knew nothing of the divine intervention for Mary’s pregnancy, yet he did not want to publicly denounce Mary. He was so concerned for Mary’s self-dignity that he decides to divorce her quietly.
2. True justice always carries charity. Humanly speaking, Joseph was obviously wronged because of the apparent infidelity of Mary by conceiving a child outside the marital bond. He had perfectly the right of a husband to avenge his honor by exposing her in the public. But for him, the right of Mary for public honor was more than his own legal honor.
3. The second aspect of how he was just is seen in his total docility and surrender to God’s will. Even though he was already totally decided to divorce Mary quietly, yet as soon as he knew it was God’s plan, he instantly submitted to it. There were no hurt feelings, no arguing, no challenging, no contesting God’s plans, no lamenting, no annoyance about why God did not first reveal His plan to him before he underwent so much mental struggle. It was God’s plan and he just needs to submit to it. That was all that mattered for him.
Direction: Those who claim today to be just and project themselves as justice-fighters must take some lessons from St Joseph. True justice never does harm to the other and it is every submissive to God’s will
(REFLECTION 2 FROM 2019)
Focus: God's plans always invite for a wholehearted human collaboration
The beauty of the style of functioning of God is, He always respects and involves the humans in his plan of salvation. Even though he has total power and control over everything, still he does not despise or ignore the human scope and contribution. Thus, we see how God interacts with the two pillars of his incarnate human family. Through his angel, he discloses his redemptive plan to Joseph and Mary, takes them into confidence, gains their consent, and thus sets out to implement his plan. That which God wills and plans may be unconventional and even embarrassing at times, but his will and plans are always oriented to our good and salvation. Mary and Joseph understood this and so unconditionally submitted and committed themselves to following and fulfilling his sacred designs.
Direction: Blessed are they who accept God's ways and surrender themselves to them.
(REFLECTION 3 FROM 2020)
Focus: God never ignores or despises human cooperation and contribution, even though He is all-powerful
1. How marvelous are the ways of God’s way of working with humans! This can be one point that can strike us deep and straight. Even though God in His omnipotence, has absolutely no need for any other collaboration and assistance, yet He always seeks to involve the human persons. Very often, it is simple and humble in the sight of the society, whom He chooses to be His partners and collaborators in His eternal plan of salvation and continued renewal of the world. It is very remarkable how figures like John the Baptist, Joseph, and Mary are given significant roles in the mission of incarnation and salvation.
2. God values human persons. He always gives them a profound sense of respect and treats them with the same spirit. He assigns them a very significant role and function in His eternal plans and designs. He seeks their cooperation and assistance in carrying out these plans. God never undervalues the dignity and the scope of human participation and contribution. It is not because He cannot do without us, but only because He loves us and wants to show it concretely. True love always values loved ones, safeguards their dignity, elevates it, and puts it in play. Thus, today we have the figure of Joseph who plays a key role in God’s plan of incarnation, precisely to be the spouse of Mary and the foster-father of Jesus.
3. Though the initiative and the driving force of every benevolent and salvific intervention and action is God’s, yet the human persons who are involved and who cooperate, are not undeserving. They are not indifferent or inactive, leaving everything to God’s botheration since it is His plan. Instead, they wholeheartedly play their part and thus merit and deserve their special grace and privilege.
4. Joseph proves himself worthy of this unique grace, conferred on him, by “being just”.
Even though he was already decided to leave Mary privately in the clearest conscience, yet when he knew it was all according to God’s plan, he immediately deserted his plan and readily submitted to God’s will.
Direction: True justice can never be devoid of charity toward others and of surrender to God’s will.
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