NEW YEAR 2023

THE NEW YEAR 2023 REFLECTION Thrust: Newness with new breath! Indicative: We enter another New Year. Anything new brings a lot of excitement and freshness. And we have every reason 1. At last, we made it. We could step into another New Year. We could sail over storms and strong winds. We could cut across mountain-like boundaries and barriers. We could walk ahead along the rugged and hindered road. We reached the new shore, the new station 2023. 2. The very fact that we have made it despite the fears, challenges, uncertainties, and vicissitudes, is a thing to rejoice about. That we are able to see the dawn of a new year in the history of our life, is something great and worth-celebrating. 3. At this point, I place before you a few indicators for our journey 2023: Gratitude, Certitude, Plenitude, Rectitude, and Beatitude. The entry into the new year must well up within us a deep sense of gratitude to God. It is only because of His love, care, mercy, light, and power that we are in 2023. 4. How right is the psalmist in psalm 227: If the Lord does not build the house, in vain the labourers labour. If the Lord does not guard, in vain the guards keep vigil. Yes, if the mercy of God does not flow on us, in vain will all our efforts and plans be. 5. So we shall thank God and we shall remain ever grateful to Him all through. Along with God, let us also be thankful to every person that accompanied us along the journey of 2022. There are so many that directly or indirectly supported us, sustained our steps, and strengthened our efforts in one way or another. 6. The more we nurture a grateful spirit, the more life will be joyful. Because gratitude is not merely a matter of listing the favours received or great things enjoyed. Real gratitude is a blend of faith, love, and hope. 7. One can be grateful to God because he believes in God, trusts in His goodness, and cultivates faith in good. A faithless heart can never be grateful because it does not see and recognise the good. 8. One becomes grateful because he sees with love. He sees the presence and action of love. He sees the power and effect of love. Experiences of love lead to real gratitude. Gratitude is nothing but rejoicing over the beauty of love. 9. A grateful heart is also deeply hopeful. Hope renews our aspirations and expectations, dreams and ambitions. Hope instills new vision, vistas, and horizons. Hope commits us to new efforts, new initiatives, and new challenges. Hope recharges us with new vigour and energies. 10. Thus, true hope is something divine and lofty. It is not merely wishing good and aspiring high. Hope is essentially a benevolent spirit that perseveres and travels ahead and beyond. So true gratitude arises only because of such hopefulness. 11. Then, the new year becomes new because of certitude. True it is that problems and difficulties will not totally disappear. Fears and worries will not completely leave us. But certitude leads us ahead. We are sure and certain that God will never abandon us. 12. In the light of today’s naming of Jesus and the motherhood of Mary, we are sealed in the most sacred name of Jesus. We are safe and secure in his powerful name. No harm or evil can befall us and knock us off because we are entrusted to the divine maternity of Mary. We are assured of God’s grace. 13. New Year is new because of the plenitude and plentitude of blessings. That is what the first reading from the book of Numbers proclaims and promises. Evil may abound but grace will superabound. Fears may assai but confidence will prevail. Failures may pull us down but successes will raise us up. 14. Disappointments may trouble us but reinforcements will console us. Darkness may surround us but rays of light will abound around us. Falsities may frighten us but truth will lighten and enlighten us. Confusions may blur us but clarity and insight of the Spirit will clear our path. resentments and hatred may distress us but love and compassion will redress and fortress us. 15. Aggression and violence may knock us down but meekness and tolerance will unlock the streams of peace and serenity. Selfishness may strike us hard but selfless generosity will hike us aboard. Pride and arrogance may throw us down but humility and magnanimity will row us up. Anger and fury may disturb our spirits but patience and gentleness will give us superb solace. 16. New year is a call for a new life of rectitude. Think right, speak night, act right. Then all will be alright. Then life will turn into a beatitude for others. We not only give blessings to others. Rather, we ourselves will become blessings to others. Imperative: With genuine gratitude, selfless surrender, and undying hopefulness, we shall walk ahead, sheltered under the wings of the sacred name of Jesus and the motherhood of Mary. (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2022) Focus: The New Year that we step in opens up for us new avenues with new hope and assurance, with renewed confidence and courage, for God is with us 1. We are stepping into another new year. At these first moments of the new year, let us first warm ourselves with a warm sentiment of gratitude for the whole of the last year. No doubt that it had its own woes and struggles. But it shall not blind us to the positive and the blessings. 2. There are very many things to thank God and others for. The experiences of God’s protection, care, love, guidance, nourishment, and power that gave us the taste of success, satisfaction, joy, and strength have been constant and deep. The experiences of the goodness of others through concern and support are too numerous. We have many reasons to be grateful. The very fact that we are able to celebrate this New Year is a clear sign of God’s blessing. 3. Of course, we want to be realistic. The New Year is not a magical rod that will vanquish all fears and problems. It will be foolish to think so. Most of the same old challenges and burdens will travel into the New Year as well. But, what makes the difference is when we carry God also into the New Year along with all these. 4. At the threshold of this New Year, we are assured of God’s company and blessing. We hear in the first reading from the book of Numbers, “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace”. 5. This blessing by God is symbolised by celebrating the naming of Jesus and the Motherhood of Mary. Thereby we are assured that the New Year will be blessed because we are sealed and shielded by the powerful name of Jesus. We shall march forward and surge ahead because we walk in his holy name and under his sacred tutelage. The name and the power of Jesus shall be our identity, our guide, and direction, our weapon, and our security. 6. Further, we are entrusted to the motherhood of Mary. All our New Year shall be specially mothered by her. She will take care of us with a mother’s tenderness. She will direct us closer to her divine Son. She will obtain forgiveness for our faults and wrongs. She will obtain for us the needed graces to live authentically and fruitfully. Direction: All that is needed to experience the newness of life in the New Year is to be constantly aware of the dignity of our vocation as the sons and daughters of God, to find him in the manger of our hearts, and surrender our lives to the holy name of Jesus and the sweet mothering of Mary (REFLECTION 3 FROM 2021) Focus: We begin the new year, filled with gratitude and geared by hope and vigor. Newness is not the absence and total vanishing of all the old problems but is a new way of looking at them, and approaching them 1. Another year! A new year, full of aspirations and visions. Lots of plans and programs on the slate. Certainly, we hope for the better and we must. The reason for our hope and confidence is God. As we venerate Mary as the Mother of God and celebrate her divine maternity, as we celebrate the naming of Jesus, we entrust ourselves to them. 2. We are assured of the maternal affection and guidance of Mary, and the security and power of Jesus. With the Mother holding the responsibility for us and entrusting us to the safest and most powerful name of Jesus, we can always hope against hope. We can always do better than before. 3. Perhaps the reality may not change much. Perhaps the same fears and problems will persist. But what can change and make difference is our attitude, our approach, and handling. Newness is all about a new heart, renewed attitude and values, and approach. What is old in the biblical sense must change. That old man, that old nature, that old garb, that old leaven must cease (cf. Eph 4. 19f). Our old spirit of ingratitude, of pride, of jealousy, of selfishness, of the loose tongue, of impatience, of insincerity, of crookedness, of revenge and grudge, of aggression and hurt, of greed, the indifference of unconcern – only to mention a few – these must change. 4. Therefore, naming the Lord, Motherhood of Mary, which we celebrate in these first moments of the new year, clearly gives us the greatest courage and hope. In the name of the Lord, accompanied by his powerful name and power, cared for and guided by the Mother’s love, we are safe, secure, and serene. Direction: Nothing can take away our hope as long as we are with God. The new year is the greatest assurance that God will never fail us. Safe, secure, and serene shall we be when we surrender ourselves to God (REFLECTION 4) Focus: Safe, secure, and serene shall we be when we surrender ourselves to God 1. Every New Year brings us new aspirations, new expectations, new hopes, and new plans. The previous year might have left back its own fears and challenges. But life can go ahead and become beautiful only when it is hopeful. The more one loses hope, the more life becomes tasteless, meaningless, miserable, and energyless. Of course, certainly, life has no guarantees, and it is full of uncertainties and adversities. 2. What is it that injects and instills new hope and energy into us, despite and in the midst of all perplexities? It is trust in God, surrendering to His holy name, and entrusting to the divine motherhood of the Blessed Mary. At this entry into the New Year on this first day, we are invited to trust in God and entrust to His care through Jesus' holy name and Mary's maternal affection and guidance. For sure we will be blessed and strengthened. Direction: We thank the Lord for His love and mercy, in which He has benevolently sailed us to another new year. We shall surrender and entrust ourselves and all that worries us as well as all that ignites us. With God beside us, no harm can betide us!

CHRISTMAS - MEANINGFUL REFLECTION

*✝️ REFLECTION CAPSULES FOR THE DAY – _Dec 25, 2022: Sunday_* *"Making our hearts a 'place of party' to celebrate God's love and mercy!"* *(Based on the Solemnity of Christmas - the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ, _Cycle A)_* Tony Campolo, an American author in his book, “The Kingdom of God is a party” narrates a heart-touching experience… One, very early morning, Tony sat in a cafe. >> As he was drinking coffee at the counter, a group of prostitutes walked in and took up the stools around him. One of the girls, Agnes, lamented the fact that not only was it her birthday tomorrow but that she never had a birthday party in life. >> Tony thought it would be a great idea to surprise Agnes with a birthday party! He got the necessary information from the café owner that the girls came in every morning around 3:30 am. >> They both agreed to set up the place for a party - a surprise birthday party for Agnes! Word somehow got out on the street, so that by 3:15 the next morning the place was packed with prostitutes, the cafe owner and his wife, and Tony. When Agnes walked in she saw… … banners and balloons; the Café Owner holding a birthday cake ... and everyone screaming out “Happy Birthday!” Agnes was overwhelmed with deep emotions! >> She was stunned and shaken >> Her friend grabbed her arm to steady her Tears poured down her face as the crowd continued to sing “Happy Birthday to you….” It was a party that was hard to believe… … a party that celebrated Love - inviting all to know that God wants everyone to come to His Heart of Love! … a party that celebrated Mercy - acceptance of human beings as images of the Loving God! Am I willing to make my heart a “place of party” to celebrate love and mercy… … by accepting the unwanted, the rejected and the lonely? … by sharing the precious gifts of God’s Mercy and Love to all? Christmas is the beautiful feast of God becoming man, and hosting “a Divine Party - celebrating His Love and Mercy!” Christmas is the holy and happy day when we celebrate the coming of God’s Son into the world - the incarnation of God (Cf. Jn 1:14)… … celebrating His intense and saving love for us (Cf. Jn 3:16) St Mathew presents the narration of the Birth of Christ with the account of the genealogy of Christ (Cf. Mt 1:1-17) This is one of the passages of the Bible that many of us tend to skim through or altogether skip it! >> The very long list of hard-to-pronounce names; the mention of some dubious personalities; the lack of awareness of the lives of many of those persons… … all of these may cause us to “omit the reading and reflection” of the Genealogy! But St Matthew very purposely introduces us to the Person of Jesus Christ - the Saviour of the world - by spelling out His genealogy! >> This is his way of saying, “What I’m going to tell you is something that has actually occurred in history - in time and space!” And this brings to us an important and distinguishing characteristic of Christianity: the core of Christianity is not a set of teachings, but it is about what God has done for us - our redemption from sins!   >> This is expressed in the very meaning of the name Jesus: JESUS means “God saves!” (The name JESUS, is the shortest and simplest prayer that we can make – as we call on the salvific power of God [Cf. Rom 10:13]) Christmas, therefore, comes with the strong message that “every external act of festivity ought to be accompanied by an internal surrender of one’s life to Christ, our Saviour!” >> The decorations that we do, find authentic meaning, when we allow Christ’s Love to glitter our life! >> The sweets, cakes and other food that we prepare, have real value, when we allow our faith in Christ to nourish and nurture us! >> The stars we put up and the carols we sing, find true importance, when we allow Christ’s Mercy to radiate and harmonise us! That is why, the greatest and the truest act in the celebration of Christmas is accepting Jesus as the Saviour of our lives! >> All other external expressions ought to flow forth or lead towards this sole requirement: Jesus is to be born in our hearts! We are also called to reflect on some other essential messages of the Solemnity of Christmas . 1. Christmas is the beautiful saga of God humbling Himself, and as the Good Shepherd (Cf. Jn 10:11) going to any extent to win us back to him >> Birth in the manger demonstrates the abasement of the Divine >> Baby Jesus, lying on the manger is also a prefiguration of Jesus dying on the Cross, fulfilling the act of humiliation signified in Incarnation! (Cf. Phil 2:6-8) 2. Christmas is the amazing story of hope and courage >> Joseph and Mary displayed tremendous hope and courage as they join hands with the Will of God (despite the many challenges and obstacles that came their way)! >> Zechariah and Elizabeth exhibited much hope and courage, as they held fast in faithfulness, to experience the miraculous birth of John, the precursor of Jesus >> The shepherds and the wise men showed much hope and courage, as they boldly trusted in the signs given to them, which culminated in their offering of service and worship. 3. Christmas rings in the good news that “the one who trusts in God” will always be blessed! (Cf. Ps 146:5) >> Mary, Joseph, Zechariah, Elizabeth, the shepherds, the wise men - everyone experienced tremendous blessings because they “chose to trust in God!” Life often takes us through crossroads and dangerous curves >> Are we ready to make a choice - of trusting in the Lord… … and thus experiencing His mighty blessings! Christmas is indeed history - HIS story … the fantastic story of Him Who loves us immensely … the fabulous event of Him Who is born for us - for our salvation This Christmas, let us make our hearts a “place of party” to celebrate love and mercy… … by accepting the unwanted, the rejected and the lonely! … by sharing the precious gifts of God’s Mercy and Love to all! >> With much faith and joy, let us celebrate God’s intense and saving love for us! *Merry Christmas to you all!* *

Christmastide

26 - 31 DECEMBER 2022 – HOLY MASS REFLECTION 26 DECEMBER 2022: ACTS 6. 8-10; 7. 54-59; MATTHEW 10. 17-22, FEAST OF ST STEPHEN Thrust: Love lives and dies for the beloved! Indicative: True love transforms the whole person and life. One who loves the Lord lives for him and dies for the sake of the same love 1. In the Christmas Octave, immediately after the holy Christmas, on 26th we celebrate the feast of St Stephen, the first Christian martyr. He was stoned to death. His confession of faith in the Lord was misconstrued as blasphemy. Consequently, he was killed according to Jewish law. 2. Does it not look odd that soon after the greatest birth of the Saviour, there is a death? It is perfectly right because for us believers, death for God is life to heaven. Death for the sake of faith and love is a birth in heaven. That is why we usually celebrate the death days of the saints as the feast days. 3. Stephen’s martyrdom is the logical consequence of his faith. It is the greatest sign of witness to his passionate love and unswerving loyalty to the Lord. His death bears testimony to the intensity of his commitment. His death shows how much he loved the Lord, and how he lived for him. 4. His death was not just a one-time happening. His death synthesises one whole life of witness. As we are told, he was already one of the seven deacons who shared the burden of the apostles in serving the community. He was “filled with faith and the Holy Spirit”. He was “full of grace and power”. He “was doing great wonders and signs among the people”. He was filled with the Wisdom of the Spirit that no one could “withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking”. 5. He was filled with the fortitude of the Spirit that nothing could frighten or intimidate his loyalty to the Lord. Even in the face of death, about to be stoned, he would gaze into heaven and see the glory of God”. He confided totally in the words of his Master, who said, “When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you”. 6. He was fully imbued with the Spirit of his Master and he imitates him even in death. He forgives his enemies during his dying moments, just like his Master and Lord. His love for the Lord fills him with wisdom and courage to face suffering and death as an honour and grace. Imperative: Passionate love for God is seen in a witnessing life. It is a life that lives wisely, courageously, and mercifully. 27 DECEMBER 2022: 1 JOHN 1. 1-4; JOHN 20. 2-8, FEAST OF ST JOHN Thrust: Long live Love! Indicative: The birth of Jesus is God’s visible testimony of His love for us in sensitivity and solidarity. Our fitting response is to receive and live this love 1. The Christmas mood still hovers over us during this Christmas Octave. The celebration of John’s feast once again strongly reminds us of Christmas as Love-feast. God loves us so much and so He gives His only Son as His most precious and incomparable gift to us. 2. Our birth is already a gift from God. The life that we enjoy is a share, an extension of His very life. But God is not satisfied with that. He wants to show it much more directly and intensely. That is why He incarnates His only Son. He takes our flesh. He is born as one of us. Thus, the birth of Christ is the “fullness of life”, a “heightening of our birth”. 3. His birth is the greatest testimony of his sensitivity toward our sinful life and his solidarity with us. When our life gets tainted by sin and loses the fullness of life, he becomes like us. Thereby he wants to remove those stains. He wants to restore us to our original beauty and dignity. 4. St John, the Apostle of love whose feast we celebrate today indicates how we must receive this “birthing love” of God amidst us and how we must respond to it. If you want to experience and relish this incarnate love of God, then incarnate the same love in and through us. 5. This implies a double duty and challenge: first of all, to experience personally his love and then share the same with others. How did John experience Jesus’ love personally? He stayed and lived with him in intimacy and inseparable communion. 6. This sense of intimacy is so deeply manifest in his intimate and personal expressions. He could say confidently and convincingly: “The life was made manifest, and we have heard it, we have seen with our eyes, and we have looked upon and touched with our hands”. 7. This personal experience of the Life of God leads to a duty to “testify to it and proclaim to others”. This implies it is a twofold mission: in word and life. The whole purpose is to promote and foster the same “fellowship with the Father and the Son” through the Spirit. 8. That is what St John did. He bore witness to that love that he himself experienced, by word, both proclaimed and written, and by his life example. He lived a life of love. Imperative: We can experience the abundant love of God only when we try to live in an intimate relationship with him and bear testimony to it in word and deed (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2021) Focus: True Love is so contagious that it touches and transforms all and whole. If only everyone tries to be a little more affected by this positive contagion, people will become more sane and healthy 1. The celebration of Christmas is a celebration of love. During this Christmas octave, we continue to be under its powerful spell. Joy is dancing around vibrating in the whole atmosphere. This love continues to surround us as we celebrate the feast of John, the beloved disciple. This is a dominant and significant qualification that is given to him. He is “the apostle of love”. And he is one who draws our focus on God as Love. 2. It is a love that is rooted in a very deep personal intimacy with the Lord. This is very evident in John’s words in his first letter in the first reading: “We have seen with our eyes, we have heard, we have looked upon and touched with our hands. Consequently, there is also a mission that is to proclaim to others the same Lord and word of life, and testify to it. 3. There is also a clear purpose: so that others too may have fellowship with us because we ourselves have fellowship with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And that our joy may be complete. 4. Thus, the picture is complete: there is an intensely passionate love for the Lord. This manifests in inseparable intimacy. This personal communion leads to a committed mission of bearing witness to him in word, both proclaimed and written, and life example. 5. In fact, this should be so for every believer and follower of the Lord. Love the Lord and be loved by him. This feeling, experience, and relationship of loving the Lord and being loved by him, foster the most profound warmth, confidence, vibrancy, joy, and commitment, leading to a life of love and witness. This is what is seen in St John. Direction: We need not do extraordinary things for God. Just love Him and love passionately and it will do the rest. 28 DECEMBER 2022: 1 JOHN 1.5 – 2.2; MATTHEW 2. 13-18, HOLY INNOCENTS Thrust: Love bears witness! Indicative: God loves us unconditionally and so He subjects himself to the limitations and vicissitudes of the human condition. Thereby our life should be an act of unconditional love for him 1. We remember today the death of the holy Innocents. King Herod kills all male children of two years or under. It was the height of his cruelty out of desperation and power-mongering. He perceived a potential threat to his throne in the newborn Messiah. He wanted to decimate the would-be king already at birth itself. 2. In fact, this shows the devastating inhumanity and wickedness of Herod. It is totally beyond bounds. First of all, there was no need to kill all the male children. It would be enough to identify the child Jesus and kill him only. Secondly, there was no need to kill all two-years or below because clearly Jesus just born would not be two-years old or just below. Thirdly, there was no need to be in such a mighty hurry to kill Jesus because he would not grab his throne immediately as an infant himself. 3. Finally, such cruelty was utterly senseless and purposeless. What is the use of killing all the other children just for the sake of one child? What does he gain from such a massive massacre? It was more an act out of frustration and fury. It was a repugnant reaction leading to violence and destruction. 4. We need not content and absolve ourselves with cursing Herod. There are many Herods today. They act like Herod whenever they give vent to heartless and merciless anger and fury, aggression and violence, harm and destruction. They are more than Herod when they act inhumanly and treacherously for the sake of power and position. 5. Perhaps, there are also Herods who kill the unborn babies for various reasons. One may argue and justify such acts in the garbs of modernity and unbridled freedom and choice. But in the heart of conscience, nothing can be a pretext for such inhuman cruelty. 6. We get the reason for this “herod-ness”. This “herodness” happens when one has no light of God in him, has no fellowship with God, no cleansing from sin, and thus walks in darkness. There are traces of “herodic” mentality in every one of us. 7. Today’s innocent children show us a contrast to Herod. Herod destroys life. These children ‘save’ and ‘sustain’ life by dying “in the place” and “for the sake” of Jesus. The point here is not why the innocent should die for Jesus for no fault of theirs. 8. The death of the holy innocents also indicates that we need not do great and extraordinary things to show our fidelity to the Lord. Even in our littleness, even in our silence, even in and through our unrecognised and insignificant lives, we can “protect” and “safeguard” the life and values of Christ. 9. This can be very indicative of our own reality. It is a fact that a numberless suffer and die innocently and unjustly. Perhaps at times unconsciously we ourselves may be the causes and agents of it. Are we aware of it? What do we do in the face of innocent suffering? What are our efforts to alleviate such pain and injustice? Imperative: The holy Innocents died so that the Saviour could escape death and live on so as to give life to many. What do I do to ‘shield’ the Lord and promote life (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2021) Focus: True love dies for the sake of the loved one. It is better to die for love rather than live in hatred 1. On 28th December we commemorate the death of the holy innocents. It looks strange that soon after the greatest birthday at Christmas we celebrate a series of deaths, of St Stephen on the 26th and today on the 28th, the holy innocents, on 29th, St Thomas Becket and on the 30th, St Anysia. Their death in fact is a birth to heaven. God came down from heaven so that we can go to heaven. He shared in our human life so that we can share in his eternal life. He became like us in our human misery so that we become like him in his divine glory. Every martyrdom for the sake of Christ is a new birth, a rebirth into heaven. 2. The children below two years of age get killed by Herod. It was a part of his desperate attempt to terminate the child Jesus. The newborn, the prophesied messiah would be a threat to his power and authority. His wrong understanding of the messiah and his clinging to power lead him to this merciless murderous act. The children become the helpless victims of his cruelty. 3. Why Herod acts so? The first reading from 1 John gives us the answer. It is because the light of God is not in him. He walks in darkness. He does not live according to the truth. He is steeped in a false life. He has no fellowship with God or with others. 4. On one hand, Herod stands before us as a negative example, and on the other hand, the innocent children as a positive example. Herod serves as a caution for us not to walk in the darkness of sin or falsity, not to go against our fellowship with God and others, and not to do harm to others. 5. The innocent children show us that life is meaningful and meritorious to live and even to die for the sake of Christ. Even though they did not die consciously and out of a free choice, yet what is important is that their life was offered on behalf of Christ. By their death in the place of Jesus, they in a way “saved” and “spared” the life of the Saviour, the giver of life himself. 6. This also indicates that any suffering in the name of Christ, for his sake and on his behalf, whether voluntary or forced, whether conscious or unconscious, is certainly meritorious and rewarding. God needs all of us and each one of us can help God in our own little way in fulfilling his holy designs. Direction: In life, the reasons for all the problems and sufferings may not be always clear and reasonable. But it is always better to live through them in a spirit of forbearance and courage (REFLECTION 3 FROM 2020) Focus: Love gives life to others, while hatred destroys life. We are constantly to make choice between life and death, between good and evil, between construction and destruction The small children below two years become the victims of the fury of Herod, in his attempt to kill the child Jesus. We get a better understanding of Herod in the light of the first reading from 1 John. He has no light of God in him, but darkness. He does not walk in the light. Therefore, he is not in fellowship with others, and has no human concern for others, not even for the little children. And what an irony and contrast: Jesus sheds his own blood, in order to purify us from our sins. But Herod sheds the blood of the innocent children, accumulating sin for himself. Now, one may argue why God allows such a tragedy. What is their fault? But this is not the main issue and it is not so necessary also. What is important to note is God's plans go ahead despite human cruelty and obstacles. No human powers or evil forces can deter God's ways, even though they may create some temporary blocks, and may appear to dominate God and good. In the process of accomplishing a higher good and God’s holy will, some may need to pay the price and suffer. This is what is seen in the case of the holy innocents. They die in the place of the child Jesus. They die on behalf of him. Apparently, these innocent children were the helpless victims, brutally murdered. But they were the "saviours" of the Saviour. In fact, they were not even aware of what was happening. This also shows another truth of God’s working. Everyone, even in innocence and silence can help the plan of God and can bear witness to the Lord. Though they are done away from the earth, from mortal life. But they obtain heaven and the eternal life. Yet again, there is a simple contrast between Herod and the small children: Herod, in full knowledge, kills the children, to kill Jesus; but the small children, even without any knowledge, die so as to save Jesus. Direction: It is meritorious to suffer something for God, even in silence and innocence. To die for Jesus, even if it be forced, is certainly great 29 DECEMBER 2022: 1 JOHN 2. 3-11; LUKE 2. 22-35 Thrust: Light in darkness! Indicative: The Lord is born for us and amidst us. He is the light that dispels darkness. He is the truth that disperses the shades of falsity. Those who believe him must live in light and truth 1. In today’s gospel, we have the purification ceremony of Jesus. This has two symbolic aspects: one is, the self-offering to God and the other is the purification of the offered. By offering the child in the temple to God, the child is symbolically offered and surrendered to God. And as offered to God, the child needs to be constantly purified and remain pure. Only thus, what is offered becomes a worthy offering. 2. In the case of Jesus, in no way he needs this ceremony. Because there is no need to offer him to God. His very birth is a great act of self-offering to God. He is already and always offered and surrendered to God. Besides, there is absolutely no need for purification because he is the purest and the holiest Son of God. 3. However, born as a human, he fulfills the human requirements. And this ceremony is necessary because it is symbolic and pre-figurative. This purification ritual shows that he came to us as an offering from God and his whole life will be a total offering and sacrifice to God. Further, through this self-offering and self-immolation, he will bring about the purification of all. 4. Now we will be purified and pure if we too make ourselves worthy offerings to God. How to do so? The first reading gives us some simple guidelines. They are namely, Know him. Love him. Live in him. Follow his commandments. That would mean: Abide in truth. Walk in his light. Love the other. 5. If we say that Christ is born for us and he is our Saviour but we do not allow him to live in us and save us, then we are lying. If we say that Christ is the light and our light and he dispels our darkness but walk and stumble in darkness, then we are not yet lighted. If we say that we love him but do not love the other, then his love does not abide in us. 6. Therefore, we need to become like Simeon who waits patiently for the encounter with the Lord. For this, he lives a whole life of preparation in being “righteous and devout”. Further, we need to become like our sweetest Mother Mary who allows a “sword to pierce through her soul” all through her life. That is, to live a life of surrender to God’s will which will surely bring forth a sword of suffering and affliction. Imperative: Knowing God is not something intellectual or conceptual. This is a knowing that is perfected in loving, experiencing, and living worthily (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2021) Focus: Truth is not merely a matter of intellect and the commandment is not merely a matter of legality. For us as the followers of Christ, knowing the truth and following commandments is a matter of faithful life 1. For many, knowing is only an intellectual capacity and exercise. There is no guarantee that such knowledge affects and changes the life of a person. But for us, the disciples of Christ, knowing is believing and living, abiding in him and following. That is why St John in the first reading attests that the test for knowing God is to follow his commandments. 2. Now, what are these commandments? Loving God and loving the other. This is the only way to know and follow the truth. One who does not follow this double-pronged love is not in truth and is a liar. Further, this is the only way to know the light and walk in the light. Jesus is the light and one who does not know and believe and follow him is not in the light. 3. If one is truly walking in the light, that is following Jesus, then it must be shown and testified by his love for his brother. Therefore, knowing, believing, abiding in the truth, and walking in the light are all essentially connected to loving God and loving the other. 4. The beauty of the Word of God is that concepts like truth and light are understood in terms of experience, relationship and loyalty, and commitment. They are not conceptual or abstract. They are always in reference to Christ. That is why Simeon, a righteous and devout person who encounters the child Jesus in the temple at his purification ceremony, blesses and declares Christ to be the light of all. 5. The purification and presentation of Jesus as per the Jewish custom is not merely a fulfillment of the custom, but much more a symbolic act. His presentation symbolizes his self-offering for the humanity. His purification indicates the purification of the sin-infected humanity. This purification in terms of truth and light would mean to abide in truth and walking in the light. In other words, it means to be faithful to Christ and to love the other. 6. Those who are with Christ and for Christ will certainly be pierced by a sword of sorrow like Mary. She became a sharer in the divine plan of salvation along with her Son. Therefore she becomes also a partaker of his own struggle against falsity and darkness. Direction: Christ is both the truth and the light. He calls for a truthful and authentic life. He also gives us the light to see the path and walk it. Such a life in concrete implies a life of devotion and righteousness like Simeon and a sword of suffering like Mary (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2020) Focus: Jesus is presented in the temple, symbolizing his own presentation, his self-offering for the salvation of the humanity. We have in today’s gospel passage the purification ceremony of the child Jesus in the temple, as per the Law. He undergoes the purification ceremony, signifying our own purification from sin. As a firstborn male, he is consecrated to God, again indicating his total consecration to God’s will for our sanctification. Now how to merit the fruits of this purification or presentation or consecration? See Simeon and follow his example. In the whole episode, Simeon remains a key figure. Both the first reading and the gospel depict his person: he is in the light because he loves his brothers and sisters, and awaits their salvation. He knows God and he is true because he fulfills God’s commands. The Holy Spirit was in him. He was upright and devout. That is why he is granted the unique grace of encountering the incarnate Savior. Indeed, what a grace and privilege it is: to see the Light of the nations, to see the light of salvation, to hold the Savior himself in his hands. Simeon today teaches all of us that the only way to see the light of salvation is to constantly dispel the shades of our darkness. The more we know Jesus and follow him, the more we allow him to illumine us and to touch us, the more we love him and live uprightly and devoutly, the more we too will be blessed like Simeon. Direction: In life, ultimately what counts is not intelligence or competence or worldly resources, but only a life of truthfulness and faithfulness 30 DECEMBER 2022: SIRACH 3. 2-6, 12-14; MATTHEW 2. 13-15, 19-23, HOLY FAMILY Thrust: Love needs a family! Indicative: Love that is born from heaven needs to be nurtured and fostered in a family. The health of an individual and society itself depends on the quality of a family 1. Today we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family, the family of Joseph, Mary, and Jesus. It comes during the Christmas Octave between Christmas and the New Year. It is usually the immediate Sunday after Christmas. But since this year the New Year falls on Sunday, the holy Family festivity is celebrated on the 30th. 2. This placement is very significative. The Saviour born is part of a family. God lives in the family and family becomes the abode of the Lord. The family is that nucleus, that locus, that ambience that shelters, sustains, nurtures, and grows God. It is this family that gives the identity to Jesus. It is where the Incarnate Saviour is loved and cared for. 3. The Holy Family is the model and guide for every family. Every family must be a sacred abode where God lives. Every family must become a point of reference and a sign of the identity of God. Every family must love, care for, nurture, and foster God. 4. For our practical reflection, we can think of 4 pillars on which the edifice of the Holy Family was built. They are namely: Communion, Compassion, Cooperation, and Commitment. It is precisely these which are most lacking in most families. 5. There was deep communion between Joseph, Mary, and Jesus. They were one in heart and spirit. They were knit together by the sense of oneness - belonging to one God, to each other, adhering to one holy will of God. It is this spiritual communion with God and fraternal communion with each other that bound them together always and guided them all through. 6. In contrast, how thin and brittle is the thread of oneness and unity in modern families! Alas, some families behave as if they are aliens and strangers, so separated and divided, living under the same roof, but so aloof and distant from each other! 7. There was genuine and profound compassion reigning in the Holy Family. They had concern, attention, and care for each other. They nurtured deep respect for each other. Every thought, word, and action was truly permeated by a profound sensitivity and tenderness for the other. They felt for each other. They experienced the struggle of the other as their own. They always guarded themselves against anything that is offensive and hurting. They had a keen sense of appreciation and encouragement toward each other. 8. In contrast, how less is the spirit of compassion in many modern families! What a height of resentment, hostility, and apathy, as if they are enemies and rivals to each other! What indifference and insensitivity as if they are strangers to each other! Often, there isn't even a single word of comfort and consolation, appreciation, and encouragement. Instead, often there are deliberate attacks of troubling, annoying, aggression, insults and humiliation, discouragement, and despising. 9. In the Holy Family, their communion and compassion led them to authentic and constant cooperation with each other. In fact, real cooperation means not only doing the same work, but much more working together in the same spirit, with one focus and zeal. They shared their struggles, they shared their duties and responsibilities. They worked together for one and the same will of God, for one and the same family. 10. In contrast, how less is the spirit of cooperation in many families! The way some families fight and block and damage each other's work gives the impression whether they forget that they are one family and must work for one family, to guard it, build it, and foster it. Whether they are trying to save and construct the family or destroy it, we must wonder. 11. And some families, forget about cooperation; at least even the minimum communication is not there. There are families where you can count the number of words that the members speak to each other. How can there be communion, compassion, and cooperation where there is no communication? Many speak hours and volumes with others outside the family, but they cannot speak at least a few alphabets with their own family members. 12. There was perfect commitment to each other in the Holy Family. Each was ready to struggle and sacrifice for the sake of the other. The good and the happiness of the other was the main concern of each of them. Imperative: The spirit of the human family based on hearty communion is the foundation for the spiritual family. One who is a family person can easily be a loving and effective member of the spiritual family as well (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2021, 26 DECEMBER) 1. The celebration of the Holy Family follows the celebration of the holy Christmas. Is it a clear indication that the Saviour who is born on earth, must be born in every family, and must be nurtured and taken care of by every family? Christ must grow day after day in every family. Christ must “live” in every family, and those greatest Christmas gifts of hope, light, and joy must continue to “incarnate” in every family. Every family takes the place of the holy family, and every family can be a holy family, in so far as it embodies the same values and disseminates the same ambience. 2. Our reflection on Holy Family is simple and focused: what does the Holy Family teach the families of today? First of all, how lovely it is to think that the Holy Family perfectly represents the holistic nature of God: paternity, maternity, and fraternity. Yes, God is fatherly, motherly, and brotherly, each represented by Joseph, Mary, and Jesus. The love between the Father and the Spirit “generates” and “nurtures” the Son, and so also the holy love between Joseph and Mary “regenerates” and “fosters” the son Jesus. 3. Thus, the Holy Family resembles this divine nature and represents the divine face. Accordingly, in Joseph, we see the fatherly care, guardianship, and owning of responsibility for the family, for Mary and Jesus. In Mary, we see the motherly tenderness, affection, and sense of support and standing together with the husband and son. In Jesus, we see the fraternal and filial devotion, openness, trust, belongingness, and loving submission. 4. Perhaps the greatest tragedy of many a family of today is the “loss of this divine and human face”, the loss of love with God, and the loss of love with the others in the family. When a family loses this “divine touch” and “human reach”, then there is no beauty, joy, and peace. 5. In our times, the life of many families is a story of tension, dissatisfaction, and unhappiness, because of the continuous replay of irresponsibility and strife. Why a family becomes a place to avoid or escape from, instead of a refuge to turn to? Why a family becomes a misery, instead of beauty? Why family life becomes a burden, instead of a lightening experience? It is not enough to glorify the Holy Family of Joseph, Mary, and Jesus. But it is more important to verify and rectify the quality of each family in the light of the Holy Family. 6. A husband’s duty is not over, just earning some money, and ensuring material well-being. A wife’s duty is not over, just managing the house chores or partnering in the financial concerns. What matters most is, how much they are loving companions and partners, in mutual love, respect, care, and forbearance. It is not a wonder that despite all increase in education and progress, the bonding between husband and wife is very much “thinning”, with no real vibrations of communication and communion. 7. A parent’s duty is not just over, by giving the children some money, a good dress, a good education, a good job, and a comfortable life. Much more than that, how many parents give their children sane values of life, give God, faith, and kindness? How many parents teach and make their children to be good human beings? Those parents who are responsible for their children to become irresponsible, without devotion and morals, are the biggest “failed parents”. 8. A son’s or daughter’s duty is not over, by just getting well-educated and well-settled in life. How sad it is that a good number of children turn so ungrateful, disrespectful, and even harmful toward their parents! A son or daughter who becomes the cause of sorrow of the parents, is a disgrace before God, even if is rated high before the world. Such children are a great “misery” and “failure”, even if they ride on glory and success. 9. An “about-turn” is then the need of the day: Turn to God, and turn to each other. Return to God’s heart, with faith; Return to each other’s heart, with love! See your partner’s face and heart. See your children’s faces and hearts. See your parents’ faces and hearts. Do it daily. Then surely, your face and heart, and the whole face of life and family, will change! 31 DECEMBER 2022: 1 JOHN 2. 18-21; JOHN 1. 1-18 Thrust: Last hour but not lost! Indicative: We are at the end of the current year and the threshold of a new year. This shall not be a time of remorse and regret, nor shall it be a time of fear and cynicality 1. We are on the last day of 2022 and toward the beginning of 2023. This is a contrast: the “last” and the “beginning”. In fact, we have this dialectic in today’s readings. In the first reading, we have the mention of the “last hour”, and then in the gospel, we have the mention of the “beginning". 2. This contrast can indicate to us what we should resolve in these last hours for the coming year. As the first reading states, surely in our times too, “many antichrists have come”. Many who have been with us, went out of us. It does not refer merely to human relationships and friendships. This is mainly a matter of clinging to a genuine relationship with God and others. It is a matter of being faithful to godly and humane values. 3. The last hour refers to a constant existential situation of struggle and battle between the godly and the ungodly, the spiritual and the unspiritual, and the new and the old. Therefore, end the old year with a sincere review and evaluation of our fidelity to Christ. Have we been on the side of Christ? Have we tended to fall among antichrists? 4. In the light of this healthy self-check, we need to resolve to “begin anew”. Start afresh. We remind ourselves that we start the new year with Christ born for us. We have his light that will illumine our whole journey, all our paths. 5. Let one thought continue to stir and guide us: Am I, are we - For Christ, or against Christ? In Christ or out of Christ? Near to Christ or Far from Christ? Lighted by Christ? Darkened without Christ? Born of Christ or dead, away from Christ? Anointed by Christ or tainted by the evil one? Knowing Christ or Ignorant of Christ? Experiencing Christ or being indifferent to Christ? Imperative: He was in the world but the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. He is in me and amid us. But do I know and receive him? (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2021) Focus: The graced life of Christmas is a constant invitation to live in a state of grace which is in contrast to a life of vice and evil. It is a call to be pro-Christ and for Christ and not antichrist 1. One more year is finishing and slipping into the past calendar. At the end of the outgoing year, many may be in the mood of recollection of the past and planning for the future. Yes, it is a double-edged mood: recollection leading to reconstruction, review leading to renew. We shall recollect the past memories and situations. It is not to regret or lament past lapses and mistakes or failures. It is to learn from past defects and deficiencies to grow into a better future. 2. It has been another hard year under the spell of the pandemic. We have not yet recovered from our bitter and painful, failed and deprived, frightening and worrisome experiences. The reasons to be sad and upset seem to be more than those to rejoice and be calm. The spirit of joy and peace that Christmas promises does not seem to make sense in the lives of many. 3. But, the ending of the old year and the beginning of a new year shall reignite our dulled spirits. Nothing, however sad or bad, painful or lamentable, unpleasant and unfavorable, shall strike down our energy and zest for life. Why? The sole reason is God. The birth of Christ is not a past, bygone event. Christ who was born on Christmas day continues to live in the new year. He walks into our journey of the new year. The Word who became flesh dwells among us, full of grace and truth. 4. We are reminded again that He gives us the power to become the children of God through the gift of faith. He is the Word of God, the communication of God with us, the medium through which God reveals himself to us. He is the life that becomes the light of all. He is the Light that enlightens everyone. This light shines in the darkness and the darkness cannot overcome it. He is the light that enlightens everyone. From his fullness have we all received, grace upon grace. We all know the truth. We have been anointed by the Holy One. 5. Therefore, we have better and more valid reasons to rejoice than to grumble and blame. The blessings and the spiritual success we experience count more than all the troubles and losses put together. Nothing shall keep low our soaring spirits. Let our review of the past help us to renew our present to build a better future. Direction: At the closure of the outgoing year 2021, let our prime focus be on guarding ourselves and witnessing to the Lord against antichrists. Accepting the truth and light and walking in their path shall be our fitting turning point in the year to come (REFLECTION 3 FROM 2020) Focus: God came down to us so that we can go up to him. Therefore, we can go up only when we raise ourselves up from being too much earth-bound As we are on the last day of the year, quite fittingly we have the Prologue of St John which summarizes the whole plan and action of salvation, the interplay between God and the

CHRISTMAS 2022

CHRISTMAS 2022 (REFLECTION 1): Christmas: A Culture of Giving Thrust: Give and love to give! Indicative: Christmas is not a matter of receiving but a matter of giving. It is not so much how many blessings, gifts, and happiness we receive at Christmas but how many blessings and happiness we give to others 1. Very often, the joy of life is seen and measured in terms of receiving. People feel happier when they receive more. Many are accustomed to such a culture of receiving and getting. This leads to a harmful spirit of greed and avarice, deception, and corruption. This further results in grabbing, profiting, and accumulating. To such a society and culture, Christmas comes as a strong contrast and challenge because it is all about giving. The birth of Christ is a matter of giving! 2. John 3. 16 very clearly affirms: “God so loved the world that He gave His only Son as a ransom for the salvation of the world”. The birth of Christ as one of us, as human person is the clearest sign of this spirit of love and giving. God loves us so much. That is why He gives His very self for our sake. That is why Phil 2.6 attests, “Even though Jesus is equal with God, yet he did not cling to his equality, as a thing to be grasped; rather he emptied himself”. 3. God gives us his presence, his solidarity, and his closeness. He gives our life the lost dignity, the lost vigour, the lost joy. He embraces our fragile human nature. Thereby God shows clearly that our human life is not something despicable and miserable. It is something beautiful and honourable. We may fail and fall to sin. But We can be raised. For this, by sharing our human life, he wants to give us back that divine life lost due to sin. 4. Through his birth on earth, he gives us the greatest assurance that he is Emmanuel, God-is-with us. He never abandons us however weak and imperfect we are. He gives us his light to dispel the shades of darkness. He gives us his energy to make us more vibrant. He gives us his healing to make us sane and healthy. He gives us his guidance to lead us on the right path. He gives us his comfort to boost our drooping spirits. He gives us his support to raise us up. He gives us his power to rejuvenate our dull hearts. He gives us his courage to cast away the tides of fear and discouragement. He gives us peace amidst all trouble and turmoil. He gives us his own joy to shatter the pangs of pain and sadness. 5. His whole life has been an unceasing act of giving. He gives sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, speech to the dumb, walking to the lame, healing to the leprous and paralysed, and life to the dead. He gives good news to the downcast. As the culmination of all this giving, he gives us his own life, his total self on the cross. He gives us himself totally to the extent of dying. He washes away our sinfulness through his own blood. Thereby, he gives us a mighty share in his own eternal life. 6. Therefore, Christmas becomes grand not only with our exchange of gifts, decorations, food, and drink celebrations. Such grandness will be only short-lived, limited to a few hours or days. But the joy of Christmas will be deep and last long if we imbibe the same spirit of Christmas. So relive the spirit of love and giving. Learn to give. Give your time, your love, your talents, your energies, your resources, your goodness, your patience, your gentleness, your tenderness, your warmth, your understanding, your forgiveness, your appreciation, and your encouragement. Give your very self. 7. Give generously! Give lovingly! Give trustingly! Give willingly! Give promptly! Give wholeheartedly! Give generously! Give joyfully! Give humbly! Give magnanimously! This will be real Christmas! Imperative: Our celebrations become meaningful only when we are truly imbued with the spirit of loving and giving. This is the only fitting remedy to the maladies of the world! (REFLECTION 2): Christmas: Celebrate Life Thrust: Celebrate Life! Indicative: Christmas celebration is not just a commemoration of a past event of the birth of Christ. It is the rebirth of divinity among the humanity 1. Christmas is indeed a feast of joy! But where is that spirit of Christmas? Battered by fears, shattered by afflictions, tormented by temptations, fragmented by divisions, intimidated by the power of Satan and dominated by the force of evil, tested by falsity and dishonesty and exhausted by the fierce struggle against sin, cowed down by corona - many have lost the spirit of Christmas. Precisely it is in this context that we should celebrate Christmas. We should rediscover, recapture and relive the lost spirit of Christmas. 2. First of all, it is a birthday celebration. Our Saviour Lord is born. It is the celebration of a new life: a new babe is born on earth. A new life has erupted. This is the very meaning and purpose of the birth of Christ. It is not merely the birth of another human. Rather it is the birth of a new humanity. In his birth, we see the “rebirth” of humanity tainted and fainted by sin. Therefore, Christ being born would firmly imply that we must be constantly reborn. 3. Usually, any birthday is a matter of that person born, what he should become, how he should grow, et cetera. But the birth of Christ is a matter totally different. If he is born, the question is: what must happen to others, how others should grow, what they should become. Thus, the birth of Christ is a challenge for the rebirth of all. 4. His birth is a call to live life to the full, to celebrate it with joy. This means we must foster a culture of life. We must insert into it a little more life-sap, energies and gifts, and enthusiasm and assiduity. It is not just remembering that God was born but reminding ourselves that we must be reborn. Christ's birth will be just another piece of history unless it makes a pass into my own story. 5. Sadly, we are surrounded and tormented by a viral and vicious circle of death. From day to night, we see and experience the evil effects of such a culture of death. This shows itself in all the forces that block, suffocate and harm the value, beauty, energy, and joy of living. The increasing spirit of grudge and revenge, hostility and hatred, aggression and violence, death and destruction makes life devalued, ugly, vulnerable, and burdensome. Life is dying! 6. Christ’s birth then is a new birth of beautification against all disfiguration, a resurgence of dignity and honour, recharging with new vigor and enthusiasm, a refilling of joy against all bouts of pain and suffering. His birth must breathe new life into a life that has lost its rhythm and charm. Therefore, the only way to celebrate Christ’s birth meaningfully and joyfully is to live reborn. The more we live lives with value, beauty, energy, and joy, the more the purpose of Christ’s birth is fulfilled. Imperative: The whole mystery of incarnation becomes relevant when it is not only a memory of the birth of Christ but the rebirth of everyone. It is the incarnation into our life of the same spirit of incarnate Christ.

Fourth week of Advent

19 – 24 DECEMBER 2022: HOLY MASS REFLECTIONS 19 DECEMBER 2022: JUDGES 13. 2-7, 24-25a; LUKE 1. 5-25 Thrust: When God blesses! Indicative: Our God is benevolent. He looks mercifully on the pitiable condition of those who trust in Him 1. “Barrenness” is a common theme in both the readings of the day. Barrenness is not just something physical. It was something despicable, It was a disgrace. It was considered a curse. The wife of Manoah in the first reading and Elizabeth in the gospel, were barren. 2. They pray earnestly to God. Interestingly, both women and their husbands were God-fearing and faithful. Specifically, we are told in the gospel that Elizabeth and her husband Zechariah “were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord”. 3. Then why did they have to suffer the disgrace? What wrong did they do? No answer. And there is no point in arguing. But we can pick up some lessons: Suffering is not necessarily a sign of God’s displeasure or punishment. 4. All the more, good people suffer. God has His own plans. Patience and perseverance are needed. Especially those who have higher roles in God’s plans, those who receive higher favours, need to suffer more. 5. Certainly, God would intervene and remove the disgrace. It will be then a superabundant glory. But from the human part, a total consecration is required. Now is the call to think of our own interior and spiritual barrenness, dry and indifferent and negligent toward God and spiritual duties; and also our fraternal barrenness which is unconcerned and uncharitable toward others. Imperative: A barren life that is unproductive and fruitless is not pleasing to God. So let us rise up from our barrenness and become a blessing to others and blessed in the sight of God 20 DECEMBER 2022: ISAIAH 7. 10-14; LUKE 1. 26-38 Thrust: Fear not, for God is with us! Indicative: God has wonderful plans for us. At times and often times, how he executes them may not be clear and even confounding. But no worry! 1. The other day, through His angel, God encountered Zechariah and revealed His plan for the birth of John the Baptist in the womb of the barren Elizabeth. Today, God through His angel encounters the virgin Mary and reveals His plan for the birth of Jesus, the Saviour in her virginal womb. 2. But if we analyse a little, the immediate consequences of such a happening, that is the birth of a child, are contrasting. In the case of Elizabeth, it is in fact, a great grace, a matter to rejoice. Her barrenness would be eliminated. But in the case of Mary, it is a matter of disgrace. Her dignity and integrity would come under suspicion. 3. Here comes the great depth of Mary’s faith. Once she knows that it is all God’s plan, there is no more question. No argument, no reluctance, no hesitation. No seeking concession. No request for making things clear to her husband and family. No worries at all about the future consequences of a suspect pregnancy. 4. Her faith comprises profound humility, wholehearted docility, and an unreserved surrender. She declares emphatically, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. Let it be to me according to your word”. 5. A little note on the Salutation of the Angel to Mary: “Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you”. Mary is worthy of the salutation by God Himself. She is full of grace. In a world where sometimes it is difficult to have even a fraction of grace, Mary stands as the fullness of grace. She is full of grace because the Lord is with her. Imperative: Like Mary, we are also called, not to be afraid when things go wrong or remain unclear. Being free is possible only when we find favour with God (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2021, 20 DECEMBER) Focus: Miracles happen when there is a combination of God’s grace and action and human reception and cooperation 1. God sends His angel to Mary with His plan of incarnation for salvation. He seeks and awaits her approval. This is precisely the nobility and magnanimity of God: Even though He can do very well without us, He wants to involve us and wants us to be His collaborators and sharers. It is only because He loves us. True love values others, and respects each person’s dignity and honor. 2. How much noble and magnanimous we are, being His children? How much do we see all others as persons of dignity and respectability? How much do we treat others with respect? How often and how easily do we despise others, showing false greatness and sticking to our own ideas, opinions, and prejudices? 3. Then from the part of Mary, what humility, docility, and surrender to God’s grace and plan! What humility! She does not get puffed up that God Himself is standing at His door for her approval. She does not forget her finitude as a creature before God’s infinity. In all humility, she is aware that the offer of her divine maternity is not her merit or greatness but God’s love and care. 4. What docility! She does not contest or argue or reject or doubt God’s plan. Even her question, “how it is possible to bear a son without rapport with her spouse” is a quite normal and legitimate question expected from a simple teenage girl, brought up in faith and morals. Perhaps bearing children outside the marital bond may not be a big issue for many in our modern society. But for her society and tradition, certainly, it was a matter of immorality and infidelity. But in her docility, she risked being labeled immoral and unfaithful. For her, what mattered the most was God’s plan and salvation of all, and not her human thinking and reputation. 5. Then what surrender!: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord! Be it done unto me according to your word!” Often we are so accustomed to these words of Mary that we take for granted and take light the immensity of Mary’s act of acceptance. It needed the guts of the spirit to utter such words of total surrender. What surrender! She has no discussion, no conditions, and no suggestions. She does not clarify how God would safeguard her reputation, or how God would let others know about her virginity and innocence despite conception. She does not request God at least to convince her spouse. She is not much worried about the myriads of uncertainties and risks that await her. Her only concern was to do God’s will and an unconditional ‘Yes’ to God’s will. 6. Now it is not enough to admire Mary for her humility, docility, and surrender. What about our humility, docility, and surrender? A little talent, a little capacity, a little money, a little position, how much we become arrogant? Even with regard to spiritual gifts, how easily do we succumb to the feeling that I am better than others, I am greater than others? 7. How docile we are? Even though many times God proposes, inspires, advises, and admonishes many things, how much we can be obstinate and fixated, clinging to our own ideas and calculations? Do we give more importance to our human intelligence, reasoning, and decisions, rather than God’s wisdom and promptings? Do we know better than God? Can we do better than God? 8. How often do we lack the spirit of surrender? We try to convince God that it is not right and possible to do His will. We have a hundred and one reasons to explain and justify why we cannot surrender to God’s ways. We fail to surrender only because I and self-interests become the centre of our whole thinking and not God’s will and the good of others. We may allow ourselves to be carried away by what is false, what is ignominious, what is unjust, what is impure, what is inaffable, what is dishonorable, what is vice and harmful. Instead, as St Paul in his Philippians exhorts us, our focus and striving must be on what is true, noble, just, pure, affable, honorable, virtuous, and beneficial. We must put into practice what we have learned, received, heard, and seen. Direction: Today let us pray that we may become more and more humble, docile, and surrendered like Mary because only thus, we can receive the Savior and experience his saving touch. 21 DECEMBER 2022: SONG OF SOLOMON 2. 8-14; LUKE 1. 39-45 Thrust: Blessed is she! Indicative: Our God is one who contains everything and everyone. But He makes Himself contained in our small hearts and communities 1. There is a spirit of search and discovery in both readings. In the first reading, it is a passionate desire to meet the beloved. She craves to see his lovely face and hear his sweet voice. 2. It is all a matter of encounter – between two women of tremendous faith, between two historic mothers – Mary, the mother of Jesus the Saviour, and Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist. There is also another crucial encounter between the awaited Messiah and his precursor. 3. This encounter is certainly a work of the Holy Spirit, prompted by the power of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is not stagnant. One who is filled by the Spirit, cannot remain within the ego-demarcation. Spirit moves the person. 4. That is why Mary, already conceived by the Holy Spirit, goes with “haste” to Elizabeth. Mobility in charity is an essential sign and fruit of the Spirit. Lack of external movement toward the other is a sign of a lack of interior movement of the heart. 5. One who is moved by the Spirit cannot but move others. Mary was moved by the Spirit and so she was able to move with the Spirit both Elizabeth and her son in the womb. As a consequence, Elizabeth is led to words of blessing and appreciation. And the child in her womb leaps with joy, which is again an essential trait and fruit of the Spirit. Imperative: Mary is blessed because she believed in God and obeyed His will. We too will be blessed if we too believe in God’s words and obey (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2021, 21 DECEMBER) Focus: The presence of the beloved fills the lover with exceeding joy. God is our greatest beloved and His presence must gladden us beyond measure 1. Today’s readings depict the joy of the encounter with the beloved. In the first reading, the lover-bride is passionately craving for meeting the beloved. The beloved-bridegroom is also burning with passion for her. When both encounter each other, the joy is unsurpassable. 2. We have a similar picture of encounters in the gospel. Already Mary encounters God’s grace at the Annunciation. She is overshadowed by the Holy Spirit. She conceives the Son of God in her womb without any human intervention. If this is the work and the effect of the encounter from the part of God, from her part also Mary shows the fruits of this encounter. The immediate fruit is total surrender, saying, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word”. This faith flows out into charity. Thus Mary sets out to visit Elizabeth to serve her in her last months of pregnancy. 3. There takes place another encounter. It is an encounter between Mary and Elizabeth, the two greatest mothers. One is the mother of the Messiah himself and the other, the mother of the precursor of the Messiah. As a result of this encounter, there is an eruption of the Holy Spirit by which Elizabeth recognises the presence of the savior and the greatness of the vocation of Mary as the mother of the Saviour. 4. There is a further encounter between the two babes in the wombs, the two greatest. One is the Messiah himself and the other is his precursor. At this encounter, John the Baptist in Elizabeth’s womb leaps with joy. He already receives the grace of the encounter with the messiah. He is already anointed by the Holy Spirit. Direction: God encounters us unceasingly in numerous ways. He always reveals to us His will and plans. He is ever ready to transform our ordinary and dull situations into saving experiences and journeys. Are we ready to sense and cooperate? (REFLECTION 3 FROM 2020) Focus: True faith receives and enshrines Jesus within. And one who carries Jesus certainly spreads Holy Spirit and joy At the Annunciation, Mary in all docility consents to be the Mother of the Incarnate Saviour. In deep faith and surrender, she receives and enshrines Jesus within her. She is filled by the power of the Holy Spirit. This same Spirit moves her to Elizabeth in charity. Yes, if faith is the gift of the Holy Spirit, charity will be the real fruit of faith. Because true faith never keeps one sterile and stagnant. It will make one productive in a vibrant journey of charity. The scene of visitation clearly teaches us that true faith cannot simply remain confined to the self but flows out into charity. Mary’s faith leads her to sensitivity, magnanimity, and generosity towards Elizabeth. Mary does not fall into the presumption and false dignity of her motherhood. But in humility and nobility, goes to Elizabeth who was in need! Mary perfectly fits into the figure of the beloved in the Song of Songs in the first reading. God, the Supreme speaks to her, “Arise, my love, my beautiful one!” She listens to the voice of God, the Lover. She is filled with the fragrance and radiance of love and joy. With the same, she travels across the mountains and hills, to Elizabeth. Elizabeth sees her lovely face and hears the sweet voice. In fact, this loveliness and sweetness are not only hers but much more of Jesus that she is bearing within. Consequently, she would move both the mother and the child, Elizabeth and John the Baptist, with the Spirit and with joy. This is the simplest spirituality and mission of everyone: to give the Holy Spirit and joy to others. Direction: To radiate the Holy Spirit and joy is possible only when one carries Jesus within. True faith is ever contagious; it will affect and move the self with charity and will touch and vibrate others with the Holy Spirit and joy 22 DECEMBER 2022: 1 SAMUEL 1. 24-28; LUKE 1. 46-56 Thrust: My soul magnifies! Indicative: In a joy-hungry world, God wants to send us streams of joy to satisfy us to the full. Truly it is a “Joy-filling” mission 1. In today’s gospel, we have the famous Magnificat of Mary. At a first glance, Magnificat is a hymn of praise and joy. Mary bursts into an exuberant spirit of rejoicing. This joy is not ordinary happiness over some positive, pleasant experience. It is not because of some temporary, temporal gain. 2. The joy of Mary is something profound. It is deeply spiritual. It is an effect, an outflow of the Holy Spirit. There is nothing self-directed but singing God’s glory and power, benevolence and justice. 3. The expressions, “My soul… my spirit”, “all generations will call me ‘blessed’”, and “the Almighty has done great things for me” may look as if she is drawing our attention to her blessedness and greatness. 4. But it is all directed to God. The focus is not on how great she is but on how great God is. What is to be in the limelight is not she but God. “God is great and therefore He made her great”. 5. Her humble surrender leads to the joy of the Holy Spirit. The cause of this joy is not some individual favours. It is essentially God’s benevolence and justice. Mary sings joyfully because she sees and experiences God’s way of acting. He raises the lowly but lowers the mighty, He fills the hungry but sends the rich away empty. 6. Thus, true joy must be based on justice and mercy and not any other passing or peripheral satisfaction and gain. Any faith that does not contain faith and humility, mercy and justice, is not a true joy. Imperative: Our faith must lead us to true joy. And true joy is not being satisfied with some individual favours. Rather it should commit us to a life of justice and liberation. (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2021, 22 DECEMBER) Focus: When God intervenes and graces human situations, even the most deplorable and hopeless situations will turn into fruit-bearing and blessed experiences 1. All of us come across situations of success and praise. We achieve heights of greatness and bundles of laurels. In such situations, most of us fall into bouts of vanity, presumption, self-glory, and also pride. But Mary was different and a contrast. She was singularly graced to be the mother of the savior. She was recognized for this greatness by Elizabeth and was highly praised. 2. But Mary’s reaction and attitude were something remarkable. The more she was raised and praised, the more she becomes humble and Spirit-filled resulting in heavenly joy. The Magnificat, her song of praise is a concrete manifestation and testimony of this. There is no pride or seeking self-glory. She does not go around trumpeting her greatest dignity. 3. However, she does not also deny the greatness of the grace she is conferred with. This can be a case of false humility which some people fall into. Some in the name of practicing humility deny all the good that pertains to them. It is in a way denying God’s own goodness and greatness. 4. Mary shows us what is true greatness and humility. She attributes all her greatness to God’s goodness. Thus, all her greatness is actually not her own but belongs totally to God. Therefore, there is nothing to take credit for or to feel great. That is why, amidst all her new honor and glory, she remains humble. 5. The Magnificat is then not a song that sings her praises. It is deeply a song of God’s mercy and justice, His fidelity, and commitment. In mercy, He is benevolent to those who fear Him. He blesses and rewards the humble and does great things for them. In justice, he balances between the humble and arrogant: he gives strength to the humble but scatters the proud-hearted. He casts down the mighty from their thrones but raises the lowly. He fills the starving with good things but sends the rich away empty. In fidelity to His promises and covenants, He continues to assist His chosen people. Direction: When God is with us, then there is no need to be sad. He never forsakes those who confide in Him and entrust themselves to Him. In everyone’s life, there is plenty to sing magnificats! (REFLECTION 3 FROM 2020) Focus: When one encounters and experiences the boundless benevolence of God, one cannot but burst into a song of gratitude and joy Today’s gospel passage contains the marvelous Magnificat of Mary. It is truly an intense hymn of joy. It is a profound joy that springs from deep-seated humility and gratitude. Mary explodes into a song of joyful thankfulness because God had looked graciously upon her lowliness and elevated her. Magnificat reveals to us so beautifully the greatness of both God and Mary at the same time. Mary is great because she sees, accepts, and cooperates with God’s great plan of salvation. She is great because she humbly realizes that her greatness comes from God. Her humility is her greatness. Her nobility is her glory. True greatness never forgets the roots, never forgets that all is given by God and it is not one’s own exclusive merit or credit. The greatness that rides on pride and self-glory, the greatness that fails to be humble and noble in its attitude and approach, a greatness that is not grateful and does not attribute the due credit to God and others, is false and destructive greatness. In fact, such greatness is not greatness but only meanness. Thus, Magnificat teaches us true greatness: it is to humbly accept God’s will, gratefully exalt His greatness and generously cooperate with the same. On the other hand, Magnificat essentially discloses the marvels of God’s greatness. God is great because He is benevolent and just. In benevolence and compassion, He is abundantly generous toward the poor and the humble. And in justice and equity, He also levels the rich and the proud. Thus, Magnificat is also an indicator of social justice and liberation. It is truly a seedbed of true greatness wrapped in the gift pack of exuberant joy. Direction: The Magnificat is a great challenge against all tendencies of arrogance and self-glory on the basis of false greatness because it teaches that the more we are great, the more we must be humble because all greatness belongs to God 23 DECEMBER 2022: MALACHI 3. 1-4, 4. 5-6; LUKE 1. 57-66 Thrust: God’s special one! Indicative: The Lord has marvellous plans for us and our salvation. He specially chooses some to become powerful instruments in executing these plans. 1. The event of God’s incarnation is steadily and progressively unfolding. It is a beautiful embroidery with fine threads of annunciation, Joseph’s vision, visitation, Magnificat, the announcement of John the Baptist's birth, and today his birth and naming. 2. All through these episodes, what is very evident is God’s marvelous and meticulous planning and execution. But it is all for our good. In this mega project, besides Joseph and Mary, John the Baptist has a vital role. That is why his birth is very significant and is narrated with many details. 3. He is unique in many ways – a child of old age; an issue that eliminates the disgrace of the barrenness of his mother; a cousin of the Saviour; filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb; one who was totally consecrated to the Lord and so “he must not drink wine or strong drink (as per the angel’s directive to Zechariah); and one with whom was the hand of the Lord. 4. In fact, all the words spoken about him to his father Zechariah in his vision (Luke 1. 20-25) fit exactly the picture of the messenger in the first reading from Malachi. He is the messenger sent by the Lord. He will prepare the way of the Lord. “He will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers”. 5. We too are called like John the Baptist to be the precursors of the Lord, to prepare the way of the Lord. But it is not a status, position, or dignity. It calls for a true imitation of him, to be filled with the Holy Spirit, to be totally consecrated to Him without any drink or vice, to speak and stand for God, and accomplish the mission of repentance and renewal. Imperative: It is not enough that we admire John the Baptist for his austerity, authenticity, and courage. We need to be charged with the same spirit (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2021, 23 DECEMBER) Focus: Very many times we may not be able to grasp the will and ways of God. They can be disconcerting and upsetting in the sight of the world. But God has His own ways and all of them are purposeful 1. In the gospel, we have the dramatic scene of the birth of John the Baptist. His birth is a concrete example of how God acts graciously but often beyond human comprehension and logic. Elizabeth was barren for many years. But God grants her a son in her old age. Already while in the womb, he encounters his master at Mary’s visitation. His father Zechariah remains mute till his son’s birth, as a sign of the fulfillment of God’s grace. At his birth, his speech is restored and he blesses God. Unlike the custom, John the Baptist was not named after his father but a totally different name. It was clearly the inspiration of the Holy Spirit that both Elizabeth and Zechariah suggested the name of ‘John’. 2. John the Baptist was named ‘John’ which means “Yahweh is gracious”. True to his name, God has always been gracious to Him. That is why the gospel attests, “the hand of the Lord was with him”. The words of Micah in the first reading very much apply to him. John the Baptist is that messenger of the Lord sent before him to prepare the way for the Lord. He is the messenger of the covenant in whom the people delight. 3. He is like a refiner’s fire and like fuller’s soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like silver and gold, till they present the right offerings to the Lord, that will be pleasing to him. He is the Elijah, the prophet sent before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes. He will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers. Direction: Our vocation is exactly like the vocation of John the Baptist. All of us are called to be messengers of the Lord to prepare the ways before him. We need to be messengers of the covenant, especially restoring the lost unity and dignity between God and His people, and between parents and their children (REFLECTION 3 FROM 2020) Focus: God never abandons those who are humble and just. He changes their misery into glory, shame into honor, weakness into power The birth of John the Baptist is a clear pointer to how God manifests His compassion and power to those who are humble and just. Even in their old age, in a humanly impossible situation, God grants a son to Zachariah and Elizabeth. Yes, He never fails the trust of His faithful. He never forsakes them in their misery. He changes barrenness into fecundity, disgrace into dignity, grief into joy, helpless silence into rejoicing proclamation The birth of John the Baptist is also a clear indication of how God is deeply concerned for our good and salvation, and how He plans and implements this plan through the birth of John as the precursor of the Messiah. He is destined to prepare the way of the Lord. God is truly passionate about us. He is clear about His purpose. He is meticulous in His planning and execution. He is relentless in His measures. The birth of John the Baptist is also a reminder of our vocation, mission, and destiny as well. God has a plan for each one of us. He has destined us for salvation and eternal bliss and communion. We are called to experience and enhance this saving grace. We ought to strive constantly to retain it and remain graced. We must also radiate the same to others, like John the Baptist. He was humble and faithful to live up to his call and to carry out his mission. Direction: Blessed are those who never give up their hope but persevere to confide in God, and submit to His holy will! 24 DECEMBER 2022: 2 SAM 7. 1-5, 8-12, 14, 16; LUKE 1. 67-79 Thrust: Never forget God’s mercies! Indicative: In a world where ingratitude is becoming a norm, we are expected to be loud and clear voices of gratitude and praise for God’s infinite mercy and generosity 1. Today’s gospel contains the Benedictus of Zechariah. As we know, this has striking similarities with Mary’s Magnificat. The very fact that these both became integral parts of our Lauds and Vespers indicates their preeminence. 2. They are not mere praises by two individuals. The Benedictus in today’s gospel is not merely an exuberant vote of thanks. It is actually the fundamental gratitude that the whole owes to God. It is the voice of a humble soul that has experienced the magnitude of God’s mercy and proclaims it aloud. 3. The Benedictus is a rich container, manifestation, and acclamation of God’s saving nature, and actions. It underlies What God is to us, what He does, What happens to our life, and what we are expected to do. 4. God is the most “blessed” because He has visited and redeemed His people and has raised up a horn of salvation. He shows tender mercy and renews the covenant. He gives light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death. He would save us from our enemies. 5. This experience of God leads to a duty of a way of living and a mission of doing His will. That is, we are called to be prophets, to prepare his ways. We must serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness all our days. And we need to work to give knowledge of salvation to all in the forgiveness of their sins. Imperative: As we experience God’s immense mercy, we must be profoundly grateful. This gratitude must be translated into an authentic way of living and concrete actions of renewal (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2021, 24 DECEMBER) Focus: The Lord comes to us in tender mercy and that day shall dawn upon us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of the peace 1. The greatest message of Christmas is, “God wants to reside amidst us”. He wants to pitch his tent among us. But this residence is not a matter of place. He does not want to reside merely in places however glamorous and splendid they may be. That is why, when David proposes to build a temple for the Lord, the Lord refuses it. God makes his intentions clear. He wants to reside not in material places but in human hearts and communities. 2. The real house of the Lord is where He reigns, where His kingdom of love and justice is established. This is what is implied in the promise of God to David in the first reading from 2 Samuel: “Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me; your throne shall be established forever”. A perpetual and righteous kingdom would mean God’s own kingdom of righteousness and fidelity. 3. Wherever God resides, there is His residence and house. The house of the Lord is the presence of God. Accordingly, every human heart, human life, human family, and community, in fact, the whole of creation becomes the house of the Lord. 4. Therefore, building a house for the Lord primarily invites us to turn our own hearts, lives, and communities into fitting dwelling places for God. The words of Zechariah become valid guidelines in this direction. 5. Building a house, preparing a dwelling place for the Lord implies the following: we should be saved from our enemies; we should constantly remember his holy covenant; serve Him without fear, being delivered from the hands of our enemies, in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life; go before the Lord to prepare His ways; to gain knowledge of salvation; to obtain forgiveness of sins; to walk in the light and in the way of peace. Direction: The more we create a place for God in our heart, life, and community, the better place we are building for God. Really how foolish are those who invest crores on building temples for God but turn their hearts into dens and markets? (REFLECTION 3 FROM 2020) Focus: God wants to dwell with us, and He needs a dwelling. But this is not a man-made structure. Rather, it is the human heart and the human community. In true devotion and passion for God, David intends to build a magnificent temple for God. But God makes it clear that He prefers to reside not in material buildings and structures, but in the heart and community. He is a God who abides in hearts and in the believing community. He is more interested in and committed to building hearts and communities. He wants to reign over hearts. This is the mind and heart of God. And one who reflects and realises the heart of God cannot but rejoice and praise Him. This is what happens in the case of Zachariah. God does a super miracle in the life of Zachariah and Elizabeth. He grants them a son at their ripe age. Further, He also grants that son a unique and extraordinary role in the plan of salvation. But this is not just a family favor. This is the way of God's mercy towards the whole people of Israel and the whole of humanity itself. One who realizes this God's mercy in action through history, cannot but burst into a song of gratitude, wonder, and joy. Zachariah's canticle is not just a pious prayer or praise of devotion. It is an extolling of God's benevolent and powerful ways of intervention in the lives of humans. Like Zachariah, we also must constantly extol the marvels of God. But such exultation is not only in praise and worship, not only in some externals like activities or even structures. Rather, it should be manifested and testified in “building the heart”, one’s own heart, and the heart of communities. Direction: Any favour and blessing from God is not a private affair, but is a sign and indicator of the immensity and perpetuity of His care and mercy.

3SUNDAY OF ADVENT 22

3rd ADVENT SUNDAY, 11 DECEMBER 2022: ISAIAH 35. 1-6a, 10; JAMES 88. 7-10; MATTHEW 11. 2-11 Thrust: Rejoice! Indicative: Rejoice with joy and singing because the dry land of life shall blossom abundantly with the glory and majesty of the Lord. The only thing needed is patience 1. This 3rd Sunday of Advent is celebrated as the Sunday of Joy. The word of God breathes a profound air of joy. The prime reason for joy is quite clear: the Messiah comes and his coming heals and renews everything. There will be an abundance of life in renewed strength and gladness. The glory and the majesty of the Lord shall be resplendent on earth in new blossom and vigour. 2. But we need to see this reign of the Messiah. We need to see with the eyes of faith and hope. Often life looks bleak and dark with manifold vicissitudes. Like the disciples of John the Baptist, we too may ask Jesus, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” 3. Like many in the world, we too may be looking for many other alternatives like the world, the flesh, and the evil. It is in this context, Jesus replies, "Go and refer to John the Baptist what you hear and see: The blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cured, the dumb speak, the dead are raised, the poor receive the good news". 4. These are really the very same signs of the Messianic times as told in the OT, as heard in Isaiah, "the deserts and the dry land rejoice and blossom like the rose. He transforms everything by his healing and health, by restoring happiness and peace ". 5. Today the same Lord is telling us almost the same thing: "Go and refer to the world what you hear and see". This implies that we ourselves hear and see before we testify to others what God does in our world, and in our human lives. 6. Do we really hear God's voice, God's message constantly speaking to us? Do we hear his directions and counsels? Do we hear his cautions and warnings? Do we hear his appeal for conversion, for renewal? Do we hear his daily invitation to trust in him, to experience his love and mercy? 7. Do we see his hand working in our lives? Do we recognise his action, and intervention in our lives? Do we see his healing bandaging our wounds, his care protecting us, his love nurturing and strengthening us, his mercy forgiving us, his wisdom illumining and guiding us? 8. True it is that in our present times, there is so much blindness, deafness, numbness, lameness, aridity, sadness and death. These do not seem to be the Messianic times but the demonic times. Many cannot and do not see, do not hear, do not speak God and good. Many are paralysed with regard to moving for God and good. Many limp and stumble in the path of God and good, while they run in the road of evil and fun. 9. Further, many experience their life dry and sad. Life does not seem to be fair and happy. So it is difficult to believe and testify. But the truth is this: Our God is loving and caring and unfailingly He comes to save us. We need to be convinced of this. 10. We need to believe this against all incredulity, trust amidst all distrust, hope against all hopelessness, we need to be courageous against all discouragement, we need to be strong against all weaknesses, we need to be firm against all wavering, we need to be wise and clear amidst all confusion and deviations. 11. As Isaiah says, we need to strengthen our weak hands and confirm our feeble knees. Yes, strengthen our weak hands, cling tight to God in faith, and stretch out, to reach out to others in charity. We need to make steady our stumbling knees in prayer, in determination and in surrender. 12. We need to establish our hearts. We need to be patient as James exhorts us like a farmer and like all the prophets. Only like this, we can Live and testify like John the Baptist. God comes to save us, and He changes the quality and the tone of our life. Imperative: Only in joyful suffering and patient endurance, our advent, our Christmas become events of joy here and now, and not merely of the past. (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2020, 13 DECEMBER) Focus: It is quite natural that everyone seeks happiness. But true joy can be found only in God and good. Enjoyments and pleasures are not real joy, because they can never quench the deeper thirst for satisfaction and fulfilment 1. This 3rd Sunday of Advent is known as the Sunday of joy, and the readings radiate this joy. The Prophet Isaiah announces: "I rejoice heartily in the Lord, in my God is the joy of my soul". The second reading continues the same tone and mood of joy with the call to "be patient always" and not lose heart. The gospel too is permeated with the same spirit of joy, though not explicit. 2. Now, why should there be joy? Why should we rejoice? What is there to rejoice? True it is that the reality seems to be bleak and dark. There seem to be more reasons to grieve and lament, rather than to be glad and praise. But nothing of these should snatch away our spirit of joy, which is deep-seated in God and in our faith. Our joy is in God. Our joy comes from our unfailing faith and unswerving hope in the Lord’s promises and assurance. 3. Thus, the Word of God clearly outlines the reasons for joy, along with the call to be joyful. We must rejoice because God comes to save us as the Messiah. Thereby, there is healing to the brokenhearted, liberty to the captives, release to the prisoners, a year of favour and a day of vindication from the Lord. 4. Therefore, rejoice, because the Lord comes to us, the Lord intervenes into our life, the Lord changes our life. Should we not rejoice? God’s abiding presence, God’s caring providence, God’s tender closeness, God’s uplifting justice, God’s hearty compassion, God’s indulgent mercy, God’s mighty liberation, and God’s abundant generosity, God’s unfailing fidelity – Are these not enough reasons to rejoice? 5. Therefore, why feel distant, abandoned and alienated when God is near? Why feel uncared and anxious when he is provident? Why feel unwanted and unloved when he is so close? Why feel like a victim of injustice and deceit when the just God is with us? Why feel disheartened when God is so compassionate? Why feel depressed and let down under the weight of sin, when he is so merciful? Why feel bound and imprisoned, when God is liberating? Why feel lacking and deprived, when God is immensely generous? 6. All that is needed to experience this joy even amidst the multiple shades of sadness, is to trust him, with deep faith and unfailing prayer; trust in his promises, trust in his love and salvation. Entrust ourselves to him, in deep humility and surrender. And carry on his mission, with unflinching zeal, with the unquenchable Spirit, and in a spirit of testimony. 7. Prayer, humility, surrender and testimony – these alone are the ways to experience and promote that deep and lasting joy. Let us then be the containers and carriers of joy. Direction: Let joy be contagious! So that this positive and healthy contagion would displace and dispel the destructive virus of sadness and badness.