Eighth Sunday in ordinary time

EIGHTH SUNDAY: SIRACH 27. 4-7; 1 COR 15. 54-58; LUKE 6. 39-45

Focus: The life of a follower of Christ is a life that has to be different from the life of the world. It is a difference in the quality of character and way of living

1.      Today’s word of God places before us a number of contrast pairs. Thereby, we are directed on how to live a life worthy of a disciple. These contrast pairs are perishable – imperishable, mortal – immortal, death – life, defeat – victory, blindness - sight, log – speck, bad tree – good tree, bad fruit – good fruit, evil person – good person. The message is simple and straight: Follow the positive and right set of contrasts and you will live well and gain victory and reward.

2.      First, Focus on the imperishable: We are destined for the imperishable. Therefore, amidst all the perishable that surrounds and deviates us, we need to keep our focus on the imperishable. We should always be clear and not confused, wisely discerning and not unwisely messing up, well-oriented and not disoriented. In a world that is transient, all that belongs to the earth is perishable. Only God and His grace manifested in fidelity and goodness are imperishable.

3.      Be steered by immortality: While the contrast pair, perishable –imperishable may refer in general to the earth and world, the contrast pair mortal – immortal refers specifically to our human reality. As humans, we are mortal. This body is subject to death and decay. But we are destined for immortality. This reminds us of our immortal spiritual existence. It is not a dichotomy between the mortal body and the immortal soul. Rather, it is a call to make a harmonious blend. It is a blend where the spiritual sublimates, regulates, and dignifies the merely physical. We are “spiritual” and meant for immortality.

4.      Strive for victory and life: With our focus on the imperishable and immortal, we fight against all forces of death. We shall be determined to defeat the enemy and gain victory. The enemy is strong. The forces of death show up without pause in the forms of hatred, aggression, and violence. But nothing shall obstruct our march for life in eternity!

5.      Purify and magnify your perspective: God detests a judgmental attitude but blesses the understanding and empathetic. Many suffer from double standards, one for oneself and the other, for the other. They are so eager to accuse others of the speck in their eye, while they ignore the big log in their own eye.

6.      Bear good and share good: We are called to be good persons and not evil. This implies that we grow as good trees that bear good fruits, and not the bad trees that bear bad fruits. A good tree must bear good fruit!

7.      Be clear-sighted guides! We are called to guide others in the Lord’s way. But for this, first of all, we must ourselves know the way, see the way, and walk the way. Otherwise, we will be like guides who guide the other blind people.

Direction: Faithfulness and fruitfulness make us worthy disciples. And these are the ways to become like the master, to resemble him. One who does not follow the master, cannot resemble him!

 

7th week days Holy Mass reflection

 21 - 26 FEBRUARY 2022: HOLY MASS REFLECTIONS

21 FEBRUARY 2022: JAMES 3. 13-18; MARK 9. 14-29

Focus: Wisdom is not merely a matter of intelligence, knowledge, and capacity. Rather it is a matter of a clean heart and a virtuous living.

 

1.      In the first reading, James makes it very clear that what the world thinks wisdom is not really wisdom. The world mistakes wisdom with mere intellectual capacity. But true wisdom is never unclean, unspiritual, and devious living. True wisdom is never dissociated from a sane and virtuous living.

2.      In true wisdom, there is no jealousy or selfish ambition, and no disorder or any vile practice. True wisdom comes from above. It is pure, sincere, gentle, reasonable, impartial, merciful, and benevolent in good fruits.

3.      In the gospel, Jesus shows that such wisdom comes only from a clean spirit. This needs healing from the unclean spirit. Accordingly, Jesus heals a deaf and mute boy with an unclean spirit. The details of this unclean spirit are indicative of a lack of true wisdom. He who harbors jealousy and selfish ambition lacks wisdom. He becomes mute and deaf to the promptings of the Spirit.  He becomes unsteady. He is thrown down. He falls into frequent convulsions, foaming at the mouth, and grinding the teeth. He becomes rigid. All these are but signs of evil.

4.      Then, what are the conditions to drive away the evil spirit? The most essential is prayer and faith in the power of Jesus. The disciples could not do the healing because of the lack of the spirit of prayer. The boy’s father could obtain his son’s healing because of faith.

5.      What is faith? Faith is turning to Jesus in humility and prayer. What is prayer? Prayer is turning to Jesus in humility and faith. The boy’s father trusted in Jesus in his need with deep humility, saying, “I believe; help my unbelief”. On the other hand, the disciples fell inadequate in this spirit of humility and faith.

6.      Here we do not debate the disciples’ faith in Jesus. We do not also contend that they wanted to sideline Jesus. We may not attribute any wrong intention to their attempt to heal. Perhaps, they sincerely intended not to “disturb” their master. They might have thought that they can “manage” the thing by themselves. They might have also sought some self-recognition. However, all these factors are not so important for us.

7.      What is important to note is that the disciples did not turn to Jesus. They did not direct the boy’s father to their master. They did not approach him for his intervention. They lacked the humility to refer the matter to their Lord. They fail to be aware that their power comes from the Lord. This is the failure in prayer!

 

Direction: True wisdom leads us to seek to nurture a clean heart, a devout spirit that fears God, to get healed by the Lord, and to live a life of true spirituality and integrity. 

 

22 FEBRUARY 2022: 1 PETER 5. 1-4; MATTHEW 16. 13-19, FEAST of the Chair of St Peter

 

Focus: In a world that constantly plays a musical “chair’, fighting for power and authority by hook or crook, the holy Catholic Church must recapture the true spirit of Christian power and authority

1.      Today we feast on the Chair of St Peter. This implies the authority of the papacy over the Universal Catholic Church. We accept the pope’s authority by the principle of succession to St Peter. Thereby, in the first place, on this feast day, we must remind ourselves that we all belong to one church and we all owe our allegiance and subscribe our loyalty to the one church. Thus, it is a call for unity, adherence, and obedience

2.      Therefore, any division and discrimination, any dissension and disparity, any rivalry and conflicts is nothing but a counter-witness to the very nature of the church. In this context, the church on various levels, be it the divergent countries, rites, dioceses, or the religious congregations must do a humble self-critique about their spirit of unity and equity and fraternity

3.      This feast is not a celebration of authority but of responsibility because Peter’s authority is not his own. It came from the Lord. He was invested with power by the Lord. Thus, the papal authority or the hierarchical authority is not a self-acquisition. It is due to God. Besides, it is not an authority for subjugation or domination.

4.      Thus, St Peter in his first letter in the first reading exhorts us: “Tend the flock that is entrusted to you, not forcefully or indifferently or selfishly, but willingly, eagerly and authentically”. All authority is but a sacred responsibility for animation, coordination, and rejuvenation of Christian life

5.      The purpose of all power and authority is the following of the Lord. It is never self-directed but God-centered, God-directed, and other-oriented. The exercise of all authority is meant to bring the people closer to God, to give them the taste of faith, to groom them in love.

6.      This in fact is the very crux of the Great Commission, the parting mandate of the Lord: Go and make disciples of all the nations … teach them to obey everything that I commanded you (cf. Matthew 28. 19-20). It is also to “love the Lord passionately and follow him in feeding and tending the flock” (cf. John 21. 15-19)

7.      But this duty of the authorities to guide and lead others also essentially implies that they themselves are guided and led by the Lord. Those who demand others to obey them must also obey the Lord. Those who make others follow the Lord must themselves follow him. They need to “walk the talk”!

 

Direction: The church can really suffer when the spirit of authority degenerates into power-mongering and self-seeking. The purpose of authority is lost when division and manipulation become the rule of authority

 

(REFLECTION 2)

 

Focus: The Church is not a mere human association or a structure and system of power. And authority is not a medium of self-projection or instrument of dominance

 

Today we celebrate the feast of the Chair of Peter. In the first place, this feast reminds us that the Church is one and must be a symbol of unity. A church that is divided, saddled with dissensions and rivalry, is a contradiction to its very nature. Such a divided church is deep displeasure to God and a blatant counter-witness to the world. This celebration is also a strong recall to check upon our ideas of church and power and authority. Subsequently, it is also a summon to recapture the lost clarity and spirit. The church is not just an organization of structures, doctrines, and traditions. It is a living and dynamic reality. It is deeply personal. It is the living body of the person of Christ. It is the community of believers. Strictly speaking, the Church is “she”. Yes, she is the bride of Christ, the sole bridegroom. She is the sacrament of salvation. She is the living testimony of God’s own love and mission.

Surely there is a hierarchy of authority. Some in the line of St Peter are placed "over" others. But it is not to rule or lord over them, it is not to subjugate them by constraint and coercion. The real authority is a matter of shepherding and witnessing by one's life- example. How rightly Peter reminds us in his first letter: Tend the flock that is entrusted to you, not forcefully or indifferently or selfishly, but willingly, eagerly and authentically.

Authority is a gift from God, and so it is very sacred. This demands a constant spirit of reverence, humility, and responsibility towards the power one wields and the authority one exercises. God has vested the authorities with power, not for manipulation or self-assertion and self-promotion. It will be a sacrilege if someone abuses it. It is so sad that today, a good number seem to lose sight of this sacredness of power and authority. More and more, it is tainted with worldly standards and interests. The image of shepherd-servant leadership that cares, guides, and serves, seems to be a mirage!

 

Direction: If only the message of today on authority is a little louder to some of those in authority, if only they are a little more attentive to follow it, how blessed will be faith and the church!

 

23 FEBRUARY 2022: JAMES 4. 13-17; MARK 9. 38-40

Focus: Life is not a story of unhealthy competition but healthy cooperation and collaboration. All the more the work for God and good is a matter of working together and supporting one another

1.      When John sees someone casting out demons, he objects to it before Jesus because he does not belong to their group. We need not blame him for jealousy. It can be a simple zeal for his master. But his reaction is quite indicative of our own attitudes of jealousy and ‘privatization’. Often in the life of many, jealousy plays havoc. They cannot tolerate any others doing good and great.

2.      This is because they monopolize and privatize everything. They think all the good belongs to them; only they have a right; only they must possess everything or at least the major portion. The same tendency affects the spiritual ambit as well. They feel that God’s grace must be only for them.

3.      This in turn springs from the attitude of self-centrism. ‘I’ becomes the norm and measure of everything. This is similar to what St James reproves as arrogance. It is arrogance that tries to program one’s life pushing God outside the territory of one’s life. It is arrogance that depends too much on one’s own will and plans to ignore God’s will and plans. It is arrogance that forgets the transience and uncertainty of earthly life. It is arrogance that boasts of one’s greatness and success.

4.      Thus, this chain of egoism, monopoly, arrogance, and jealousy leads to a lot of resentment, resistance, slander, and explicit harm against others. Therefore, we should persistently guard and fight against these evil pressures. We must bear in mind that grace and good works are no one’s privileges or prerogatives. We have no right to resist any good in the name of allegiance. Whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, is sinning. Also whoever resists the right thing, is sinning

Direction: All our competence, talents and abilities are God’s gifts. And all these are meant for God and good. God’s work is always a collaborative project that invites all to be involved and accomplish collectively. No one has a right to block anyone doing good!

 

24 FEBRUARY 2022: JAMES 5. 1-6; MARK 9. 41-50

Focus: Living a scandalous life and giving a bad example will certainly invite God’s wrath and judgment. For it is not only self-ruin but also ruining others through misguidance

1.      Jesus comes heavily on scandals and bad examples. Those who cause scandals and influence and lead others to sin deserve to be killed. He bluntly declares: Whoever causes others to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.

2.      In this context, St James in the first reading gives us one dominant cause of scandal and that is lust for riches. Men in their riches become unwise and arrogant, indifferent to God and unconcerned and unjust toward others, and deceptive and corrupt. God will condemn them.

3.      Therefore, whoever gives scandals to others, whoever lives a deviated life, whoever misguides others to wrong ways, whoever deceives and manipulates others with cunningness and falsity, whoever creates, justifies, and promotes evil, instead of avoiding it, is liable to God’s displeasure and death

4.      But alas how many are least bothered about setting a bad example to others! How many politicians, famous and influential people, religious leaders, parents, elders continue to give bad example to others? That indifference to God, that lack of prayer, those quarrels, that anger, that needless anxiety, that irresponsibility, that negligence in faith matters, that deception, that greed, that selfishness, that failure to guide, to counsel, to correct, to inspire, that lack of tenderness, understanding, and kindness, whether in the families or in the parish or in the neighborhood or in the places of work – all these, are they not scandals which we give to our dear ones, to our neighbors or colleagues?

5.      One great antidote to this disease is awareness of the gravity of sin. Sin is not fun. It is something serious. Its consequences are grave. Losing our limbs is preferable to committing sin. It is better to go to heaven handicapped rather than going to hell with all the limbs.

6.      Another remedy is to help and support those who belong to and work for Christ. Jesus says, “Whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward”.

7.      Further, another way to counter the pull toward scandals is to be more responsible for our role of being salt. Just as salt preserves things from decay and deterioration and adds flavor, so also with our saltiness of a good example, we can salten life.

 

Direction: Time and again we are surrounded and shocked by scandals and bad examples. In such a context, on one hand, we need to increase our immunity to resist their negative influence; on the other hand, we need to enhance our strength for positive influence and a good example

 

(REFLECTION 2)

 

Focus: Bad example is detestable in the sight of God and is liable to God’s judgment

1.       One major defect of today’s society is the increase of bad examples and scandals. More and more people get accustomed and tuned to wrong and evil. The pity all the more is, they are least bothered. Many give more importance to their self-gain and pleasure rather than setting a good example. Many do not feel any social and moral obligation to walk a good life and help others to walk the same.

2.       This bad example is mainly failing - to trust in the Lord, to seek Him with sincerity of heart, and to love and live uprightness. It is the perversity of thinking. It is cultivating a deceitful soul. It is a body enslaved to sin.

3.       The attitude of many who set a bad example is: ‘This is my life and I want it to be happy and undisturbed’. Why should I bother about giving a good example to others? It is their freedom and choice. Let them not be easily influenced by bad example.’

4.       There is certainly some truth in their argument. But they cannot simply evade their culpability. In fact, the gravity of their wrong is so great that it invites severe punishment. The Lord pronounces ‘woe’ on them and attests: it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea.

 

 

25 FEBRUARY 2022: JAMES 5. 9-12; MARK 10. 1-12

 

Focus: In any relationship, selfishness is very damaging. It leads to closed-mindedness and stubbornness. These shut the doors to understanding and kindness

 

1.      Today, especially the walls of married and family life are shaking and crumbling. Excessive ego and cheating are two reasons for this. People are carried away by self-pride in the name of self-dignity. Self-interests are promoted in the name of self-making. Deceiving and manipulating are justified as tools for success and happiness.

2.      This is really the corrosion of the dignity and sanctity of married life. This is visibly reflected in the increasing number of divorces. It is sad that sometimes divorces are sought even for silly reasons. Jesus today addresses this issue. He makes it very clear that marriage union is divine and sacred and so indissoluble. Any breach of this bond is never His will.

3.      In this context, humility, and fidelity can be the two greatest pillars on which the edifice of married life can be rebuilt. The efforts of both the partners should be to safeguard the bond rather than being hasty to break it at the slightest pretext.

4.      A healthy family life requires more humility to acknowledge and admit one’s own weaknesses and failures instead of defending and justifying them. It calls for reducing our sense of false ego, which is inflated and blown up. It also calls for making more space for the weaknesses of the other and accepting him or her.

5.      Further, it needs more fidelity. As long as there is no trust and trustworthiness in each other, as long as there is no openness and transparency to each other, as long as there is no honesty and truthfulness, but instead there is hiding, lying, and cheating, then surely that family life will collapse. The counsel of St James in the first reading can be relevant here. He urges us to be steadfast with patience in suffering like Job.

 

Direction: There can be sometimes some valid reasons for divorce and separation. However, we cannot glorify it or legitimize it. The fact remains that family life today requires more steadfastness and fidelity

 

26 FEBRUARY 2022: JAMES 5. 13-20; MARK 10. 13-16

 

Focus: Openness to God’s grace is crucial for the working of it. God can work freely and abundantly when there is humble receptivity and cooperation

 

1.      In today’s gospel, the whole scene pivots around children. Jesus rebukes his disciples who hinder children from being brought to him to be touched and blessed. He wants children to come to him, be close to him, be touched and blessed by him. He also makes it crystal clear that only to such belongs the kingdom of God.

2.      We can reflect now on what it means to be children and to be childlike. Before that, some simple questions can be asked. Today how many parents take their children closer to Jesus, to the church, to the sacraments, to the spiritual animation? How many parents initiate, motivate, guide, and foster their children in matters of faith and morals? How many of them instill and ignite in their children love for God and enthusiasm for spirituality?

3.      In the name of giving the children freedom, and respecting their personal responsibility, are the elders not failing in their responsibility? Are we ourselves not hindering them from Jesus? What a loss it is that our children miss the nearness, the touch, and the blessing of Jesus!

4.      We may also reflect on the attitude of the children of today. How many children have this longing to go to Jesus, to receive his touch and blessing? How many prefer to spend long hours watching TV, playing video games, or with their friends? How many children become so irregular to the church, especially to the Holy Eucharist and the holy confession?

5.      We can further reflect on being childlike. Essentially it means a heart that bubbles with tender affection, a guileless heart that harbors nothing negative, with humility to realize their smallness, deep trust to depend totally on God, and wholehearted surrender to Him.

6.      In the light of the first reading from the letter of St James, all this means a “praying” heart that surrenders all to God, be it suffering, sickness, or weakness. Such a praying heart is also benevolent toward others, in praying for them, healing them, and bringing them back to God.

 

Direction: Care should be taken that our prayers do not become self-oriented. We need to realize the efficacy of the prayer of intercession for others. Thus our prayers must become more altruistic and benevolent

 

 

 

SEVENTH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME- YEAR C

7^TH SUNDAY, 20 FEB 2022: 1 SAM 26. 2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23; 1 COR 15. 45-49; LUKE 6. 27-38

 

Focus: The world of today is desperately missing mercy. It is languishing in overdose of mercilessness and grudge and retaliation. Only mercy out of love is the healing remedy!

 

1.      “Be merciful as your heavenly Father is merciful!” Our society is in dire need of mercy. Jesus is placing before us God the Father Himself as our model par excellence for mercy and compassion. In a world where there is always a great craze for great models, and craving to imitate them, often the problem is the danger of wrong models. Consequently, there is every possibility for deviation and distortion.

2.      All the more, this is a clarion call for fostering a culture of mercy and compassion. And this is very exigent and urgent for our times. We live in a culture where resentment and animosity, revenge and retaliation, aggression and violence have become so rampant and the norm of the day. How sad it is that often “Mercy is abandoned and devalued mercilessly”!

3.      Insensitivity and indifference, egoism, and unconcern dominate everyday life so much so that sympathy and feeling for the other have become vanishing points. In fact, many think that sensitivity is tantamount to vulnerability; for many to have concern is to be gullible to be easily manipulated. Kindness is taken as weakness. Forgiveness is regarded as a lack of manliness. Reconciliation is mistaken as timidity.

4.      Many a time People refrain from compassion because they think that it disturbs their security and peace as well. It is because Compassion for sure demands going out of one’s way for the good of the other. Compassion always demands a certain extent of giving, giving up, and sacrificing. And every giving is painful unless motivated by a higher motive. It is only a higher benevolent drive that h embalms and sweetens the bitterness of parting with what is dear and losing.

5.      It is in our precise context of a rapidly increasing culture of violence and animosity, there is a desperate need for a culture of mercy and compassion. Only a culture of mercy and compassion can be a redeeming remedy for a world, infected so much. In the first place, we must humbly and profoundly realize how ignominiously we are infected by the virulent diseases of division and discrimination, self-centrism, and self-vested interests.

6.      However, mercy and compassion are not mere fleeting feelings or passing sentiments. Mercy and compassion are a whole way of being, an entire mode of living. We need such a culture, a way of living that forms and grooms us in an unending mission of mercy, and compassion. Thus, it is a whole mode of being. It is being rooted in a God of mercy and compassion; it is being groomed in a consistent atmosphere of love and fidelity; it is being molded into a character of listening, patience, and empathy; it is being transformed in Christ-likeness in terms of his virtues and values.

7. It is to be fully imbued with the spirit of love. But, it is not the love in our present times, so shallow and so stooping to gratifying pleasures. Rather it is a love that is so magnanimous like that of David who spared even his enemy Saul even though he had the best chance to kill him.

9.      It is a love that is magnanimous like Jesus’ that loves, blesses, forgives, and saves even the enemies who hate him, curse him and persecute him. Further, it is a love that is equitable and benevolent toward all without discrimination like that of the Father who rains and shines the sun upon all whether just or unjust, good or bad irrespectively.

10.  It is indeed nurturing and fostering a new culture. That is why Jesus questions, “if you love only those who love you and do good only to those who do good to you, then what is your difference and what is your greatness in reference to the non-believers?” It is a new culture, different and radical. It is a contrast and challenging culture.

11.  It is a counter-culture, a powerful stroke against indifference and unforgiveness, a noble antidote to the infections of retaliation and self-centredness. Accordingly, a life of mercy and compassion urges us to strip ourselves of our comfort-seeking and ‘play safe’ attitudes.

12.  Such a contrast culture makes an about-turn from our high profile, impersonal, secure, and ‘play big’ ministries, and to commit ourselves convincingly and courageously to those ministries that make us more sensitive and vulnerable to be affected, to be wounded, to be pained by the afflicted, both by sin and suffering.

 

Direction: A culture of mercy and compassion summons us personally and also our communities to become the “tilling grounds” of belongingness and loyalty, oneness and fraternal bonding, tenderness, and touching concern.

 

(REFLECTION 2 FROM 2021, 09 SEPTEMBER)

 

Focus: In a world where we have many false models which are deviant and not worth- imitable, God is the model par excellence 

 

1.      As the disciples of Christ, our call is always clear to follow the teaching of Jesus, to imitate him, and to follow in his footsteps. Now, what does he teach? How does he live that is to be imitated and followed? First of all, he follows the example of the Father Himself. Thereby, he resembles Him and proposes the Father Himself as our greatest model. But in what and in which way the Father becomes the supreme model? It is Love that manifests itself in magnanimity and mercy.

2.      It is a love that is magnanimous because it loves even the enemies, blesses those who curse, prays for those who abuse, and does good to those who hate and do harm. It is a love that forgives so mercifully. It does not judge or condemn but condones generously. It is a love that is equitable toward all without any discrimination. It lets rainfall and sunshine on all, be it the good or the bad.

3.      Jesus does not simply speak or teach about these things. He lives them. He also summons us to follow the same. He admonishes us: "Be merciful as your heavenly Father is merciful". He also challenges us to live this way that is his way and the Father's way also. Because this is the only way that we make a difference, a contrast to others. That is why he poses the question, "If you love only those who love you, and if you do good to only those who are good to you, then what difference, what greatness is there apart from the non-believers?"

 

Direction: The only way to show that we are followers of Christ is to follow his way, especially the way of love and mercy

 

( REFLECTION 3 FROM PARALLEL MATTHEW 5. 43-48, 15^th June 2021)

Focus: The outstanding difference between God and man is the depth and extent of God’s mercy which forgives, loves, and helps even the greatest enemy

 

We are living in a world of three dominant trends, namely, comparison, competition, and imitation. These prevail even from very childhood itself. It can be with regard to anything, be it a simple dress, education, opportunities, skill and talent, intelligence and competence, social status, earning money, power, position, popularity, etc. And everyone tries for excellence and perfection. But this is mostly to outsmart and out-beat others. Thus, unfortunately, these tendencies to compare, compete, and imitate are mostly with regard to worldly things and self-interests. Accordingly, pursuit for perfection often degenerates into selfishness, jealousy, greed, deception, and corruption.

It is in such a context, Jesus is proposing today the best and perfect model to compare with, compete with, and imitate. It is God the Father Himself. “Be merciful AS your heavenly Father is merciful”. “Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect”. God has a contrasting and disconcerting style of functioning. He loves and forgives even the most destructive enemy. He is benevolent and equitable to “let His rain and sunshine upon all, both the good and the bad”. Therefore, our model is God Himself in His compassion, mercy, and perfection. We are thereby invited to put on God’s own mindset. That is, to cultivate a selfless love even to embrace the enemy, to bless them, to pray for them, to be courteous to all and to help all, to show equity toward all without any discrimination.

 

Direction: It is good to be just in following and demanding what is lawful, rightful, and reasonable. But it is better to be loving in being merciful and compassionate. A “dry justice” condemns, while a “fertile charity” condones

 

 

6 th week days Holy Mass reflection

14- 19 FEBRUARY 2022: HOLY MASS REFLECTIONS

 

14 FEBRUARY 2022: JAMES 1. 1-11; MARK 8. 1-13

 

Focus: Many times the problem in faith-life is not the absence of God’s grace but the openness to see it, receive it and cooperate with it; it also requires a humble and trusting heart to understand God’s ways of acting

 

1.      In the gospel, the Pharisees demand Jesus for a sign from heaven. The purpose is not to strengthen their faith but only to test his power. Surely there were enough and more signs in the form of his teaching, preaching, and healing. His miracles were powerful signs of God’s mercy and power through him. In fact, he himself was the greatest sign of God’s presence, guidance, and power.

2.      They see all these signs but they refuse to accept them. What is the reason? We get the answer from the letter of St James in the first reading. It is because they lacked wisdom. They lacked that wisdom that makes them steadfast in their faith. Instead, they were doubting and double-minded, and unstable in their ways. They were like the waves of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. Their faith was so shallow like a flower of the grass that withers and passes away.

3.      How many today are like these Pharisees? Signs of God’s love, goodness, and holiness abound. His care, His light, and power are abundant. But many just reject them because they are devoid of wisdom. They are double-minded and shallow. Like the waves, they are constantly driven and tossed by the winds of worldly allurements. Like the flowers of the grass, their beauty and joy are perishable and passing.

4.      Therefore, what are we to do? “Trust God and not test God”. We need not test God’s power and fidelity. We shall not test His concern by the mere granting of favors to us. We shall not test His power by the mere removal of all difficulties from our life. We shall not test His mercy by the mere healing of us always. Rather, we need to trust and surrender wholeheartedly. Let us trust Him even when things go wrong, even when we do not receive what we want.

5.      “See the signs and follow what they signify”. If only we are a little more open and humble, there are plenty of signs of God’s grace all around us. Signs are not necessarily miracles and healings alone. A sign is anything that signifies to us the ways of God. A sign is anything that indicates God’s grace and teaches us to be responsive and effective. In that way, even the negative experiences like Corona, sickness, failure, persecution, et cetera also are signs.

6.      “Test your faith and bear testimony to it”. Our faith is tested by trials and adversities. Through our perseverance, we bear testimony to the depth of our faith. True faith does not seek exemption from afflictions as a sign of the power of faith. Rather, it accepts them and endures through them as a sign of its genuineness.

 

Direction: In the name of the power of faith, let us not continue to put God to the test. Let us not reduce the quality of faith merely to the quantity and the number of favors received. Let us check and see whether we too are making the Lord sigh with a sense of disappointment and helplessness over our lack of receptivity

 

 

 

(REFLECTION 2 FROM 2021)

 

Focus: External signs such as miracles and grand interventions may help faith but cannot generate faith or prove God's power.

 

As humans we are, many times our faith depends on seeing and experiencing concretely God's action and intervention. Accordingly, we wish that our intercessions for various needs are granted immediately. In other words, miracles favors become the proof for the efficacy of our prayer, and also for the attention and care of God. In a way, we are unconsciously putting God to test, to prove His goodness and power by granting what we plead for. This is in fact the same mentality of people of Jesus' own time, who demanded signs from heaven. How foolish and unbelieving they were! There were already many miracles, so much preaching the gospel of God's love and mercy, comfort, and consolation. And more than all these, Jesus himself is the biggest sign. Therefore, what is needed is not to test God but trust; not asking God to prove His power but to prove our fidelity to Him by our perseverance.

If we sincerely examine, many of us are no different from those Pharisees who demanded signs from heaven. It is not because they wanted to believe and confirm their belief, but rather they wanted to justify and disguise their unbelief. Are there not enough and more signs in our own times? Why do we want signs at all? What are actually signs meant for? Do we realize that primarily signs are meant to direct our focus and attention in the right direction? They are meant to comfort and strengthen us in the wrong times and ignite us with renewed courage and commitment. They are not to substitute but only to complement our responsibility. Many times, signs are demanded to shirk away from our responsibility. Like Cain from Genesis, why do wrong and then have the countenance fall? If we do well, surely God will accept and bless us. We will not need special signs. The greatest sign of God’s presence is charity, that is, to be a “keeper, a custodian of the other” as a brother and sister. Jealousy, violence, and destruction are countersigns.  

 

Direction: If in every prayer, we only ask God to fulfill our desires and grant us favors, then why at all pray especially for God's will to be done?

 

15 FEBRUARY 2022: JAMES 1. 12-18; MARK 8. 14-21

 

Focus: Temptations and deceptions often torment us and all the time we are not able to surmount them. Therefore we must be ever conscious, cautious, and judicious

 

1.      The word of God today cautions us against the power and pressure of negative influences. In the first reading, St James warns us not to be tempted and deceived by the lures and enticements of our own desires. A gift is good and perfect if it comes from above, from God, and is stable and consistent. So whatever leads to evil, sin, and death, whatever rises merely from the desires, whatever comes only from below, and whatever is fluctuating and unstable, is dubious and evil.

2.      In the gospel, Jesus cautions his disciples about the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod. The leaven of the Pharisees indicates their self-righteousness and hypocrisy. The leaven of Herod signifies his ruthless worldliness and power-seeking. Just as the leaven can ferment the whole dough, so also the wrong ways of the Pharisees and Herod can strongly exert a negative influence on his disciples.

3.      Therefore, the disciples of Jesus must be deeply alert and attentive to sense any such evil influences that try to lure them and lead them astray. They must be conscious to discern such deceptive forces. In the light of Jesus’ warning, they must try to perceive and understand, have the eyes to see, have the ears to hear. They shall not harden their hearts. Instead, they will keep them ever flexible and open to God’s power.

4.      Particularly, they shall constantly remind themselves of the many wonders that God has been doing and continues to do in their lives. Jesus asks them to remember the miraculous feeding of thousands with few loaves and fish. In the same way, he is asking all his present disciples never to lose sight of God’s blessings and favors received without ceasing. They must always bear in mind that whenever God takes control of our life situations, there is full satisfaction and even surplus.

 

Direction: Often the evil influences are too strong to counter. A strong evil influence can be fittingly countered only by a stronger good influence and that is from God. Therefore, allow yourself to be influenced and led by God and not by the evil

 

 

(REFLECTION 2 FROM 2021)

 

 Focus: Negative influences assail us any time and all the time, and we need to be cautious about them.

This is our human predicament that is being constantly exposed to evil. All the more, in our own times, evil seems to be on a rampage. Exactly as in the time of Noah, we see that the wickedness of man is great on earth and all the thoughts seem to be thoroughly evil-oriented. In Jesus’ time too, there were the negative examples and the false influence of the Pharisees and scribes that shake true faith and misguide others. This is exactly the leaven of Pharisees and that of Herod. We will never lack these wrong-footed influences, deviations, and distortions. Many are under false influences. Consequently, as Jesus reproaches in the gospel, hearts are hardened. Having eyes, many do not see and having ears, they do not hear. They easily forget the immense good that happens in their life. The disciples had already seen the miraculous power of Jesus when he fed the multitude with few loaves and fish. Yet, they were much worried about lacking enough bread. In these aspects, they too fall into the same category of faithless Pharisees and Jews.

What then is the remedy? We should constantly lean on Jesus and remember his miracles which are powerful manifestations of his love for us. In the face of wrong influences and pressures against faith, we must cultivate the spirit of turning to God in surrender and perseverance. Like Noah in Genesis, we must keep ourselves uncontaminated and righteous even amidst evil and misguided generations, with false leaders like the Pharisees and Herod.

 

Direction: What we must try is not so much avoiding all the negative influences, which is not at all possible. But rather, to resist them, and to persevere till the end, resting on Jesus

 

16 FEBRUARY 2022: JAMES 1. 19-27; MARK 8. 22-26

Focus: The religion of many is false and shallow because they reduce their religion only to some practices and traditions, but their hearts are far from God; their hearts are impure and contaminated by the world, and they miserably fail in the supreme principle of charity

 

1.      Today religious fanaticism and conflicts are increasing. This is because many do not understand what is true religion. They dilute the essence of it, making it equivalent to religious arrogance and violence. They wreck the very supreme principles of holiness and goodness. What is religion if it does not manifest and foster sanctity and fraternity?

2.      In this context, the words of St James in the first reading are very illuminating and challenging as well. True religion must keep one pure and undefiled before God. It should put away all filthiness, anger, and wickedness. It must enable one to bridle one’s tongue. It should also keep oneself uncontaminated by worldliness It should receive the word of God with meekness and produce the righteousness of God. It should not be self-conceiting. Further, it should be aglow with charity toward the needy, especially those in affliction like widows and orphans.

3.      In other words, true religion is the authenticity of life, where there is harmony between hearing the word of God and doing it. It is to be an integral person who is both a hearer and doer. And for this one needs to see clearly God, others, and his own self. In the light of the gospel, it is to be healed of one’s blindness.

4.      In the case of the blind man in the gospel, we see three phases or stages: one is his first condition of total blindness. Second is his partial healing and partial sight when he has a blurred vision of seeing people as trees, walking. The third is his total recovery of sight when he saw everything clearly.

5.      To which of the three phases do I belong? Am I completely blind? Am I so indifferent and distant from God, failing to see His love and His will? Do I fail to look into the perfect law, the law of liberty? Do I fail to see that a dichotomy between hearing and doing God’s word is nothing but a false religion? Am I partially blind? Do I look at others through prejudice and narrow sight, not as humans but as trees, walking? Or am really a healed person, able to see everything clearly?

 

Direction: “Do you see anything?” is the question of Jesus to the blind man in the process of healing. Our recovery of sight need not be always sudden and whole. It can be progressive. But what is important is that we constantly approach Jesus and beg him to touch us, so that we can see clearly the true religion and follow it

 

(REFLECTION 2)

 

Focus: True religion is not a bundle of religious practices but an integrated life of devotion and goodness with a humble and good heart in works of faith and charity.

 

How beautifully and rightly St James defines an authentic religion! It is certainly a matter of faith in God, loyalty to Him, faithful observance of religious precepts. But that does not stop there. It essentially includes and involves a self-disciplined and virtuous life. It concretely implies a restraint of one's anger, a spirit of retrenchment from the falsities of the world so as not to be contaminated by it, and sensitivity and benevolence towards the poor and the needy. 

But many do not have this right vision and continue to live blindly. We too are affected by the same blindness. We need to approach Jesus to have our sight restored. It may not be instantaneous healing. It is steady progress. But steadily we need to be fully clear-sighted. We need to grow from complete blindness of egoism and greed through a partial sight of mediocrity and negligence to the perfect sight of fraternity and generous charity.

 

Direction: Let us be healed from our total blindness of anger and lack of charity to the perfect sight of patience and benevolence.

 

 

17 FEBRUARY 2022: JAMES 2. 1-9; MARK 8. 27-33

 

Focus: Learning and knowing more and more about Jesus is very good and needed. But it will not suffice. All our knowledge must lead to a personal experience of Jesus

 

1.      “Who do you say that I am?” was the question of Jesus to his disciples. This is not a question for self-knowledge or self-boost. This is also not a search for the discovery of self-identity. The purpose is to make them aware of his true identity. It is to make them aware of who he is to them.

2.      The question, “Who do you say I am?” becomes more important than the question, “Who do people say I am?” Personal encounter with Jesus, personal experience of him, and relationship with him are greater priorities than all the knowledge about him from others and various sources.

3.      The purpose of knowing the identity of Jesus is not intellectual but experiential and relational and thus personal. I will try to know who Jesus is because I want to experience who he is to me personally. I will discover his identity so that I can discover my own identity and live it. I will realize that my identity is only in relation to his identity. My identity ceases if it loses its essential connectivity to the Lord’s identity. I will not be who I am if I do not experience who he is.

4.      If I really know and experience him, then I must become like him. I must put on his mindset. In the light of James’ epistle in the first reading, this implies avoiding all partiality and discrimination and cultivating a fraternal and fair mind and approach toward all. For the teaching of Christ is, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself”.

5.      Further, I must set my mind on the things of God, and not on the things of the world. Like Christ, my core identity of belonging to him as his disciple must be seen and shown in doing the same mission. And this mission essentially includes suffering and the way of the cross. Anything that contradicts and resists this way of the Lord is satanic.

 

Direction: All our increase in the knowledge of Christ and familiarity with the Bible is something praiseworthy. However, all this is worth if only it leads us to a deeper experience of the Lord and commitment to him

 

(REFLECTION 2)

 

Focus: Faith is essentially a personal love and experience of Jesus and a personal imitation of him

 

"Who do people say I am?", and who do you say I am?" These questions of Jesus are not so much questions of curiosity or self-check or indirect eagerness to hear good about him. They are fundamental indicators for true and profound faith. True faith cannot depend only on the knowledge or the experience of others. It is ultimately a matter of personal encounter, a personal experience, and a relationship with Jesus. My faith should make him "live" and "living to me". My life should be a testimony that "he is the Son of the living God, the Messiah". Such faith should make me rise from the ordinary and false perspectives and standards of the world. This is seen in Peter's objection that the Messiah should not suffer, as he too succumbs to a cozy and pompous picture of the Messiah. Concretely, such a genuine and personal faith makes us rise above the worldly spirit of discrimination on the basis of external factors like money and status. One who has faith is faithful to God and charitable indiscriminately to others.

 

Direction: We need to go on praying and striving for the gift of such wisdom that cultivates and fosters a sense and bond of equality and fairness toward every human person.

 

(REFLECTION 3)

 

Focus: Following Jesus is a call for a deeply personal God experience, and nothing else can substitute for it. It essentially involves struggle and sacrifice

1.      Discipleship is essentially a call to be rooted in God, in the intimacy of His experience, and nothing else can substitute for it. And this has to be something very personal, though it will certainly have wider implications in collective experience and commitment.

2.      The crucial question is who is Jesus for me? What is my personal experience of Jesus? What counts most is the personal experience of Jesus, and not merely what is heard or learned from others. What others say, what we learn from others, what we receive from them, comes only to a certain point of the journey of encounter with the Lord. But ultimately it is each one personally that has to make the journey with the Lord.

3.      “Who do people say I am?”, “Who do you say I am?”, a question posed by Jesus to his disciples. The same is today addressed to each of us personally. Is the question of Jesus, “Who am I?” (for the people / for you), a sign of identity crisis? A sign of a psychological process of self-realization and self-discovery? A sign of natural human curiosity or inquisitiveness to know what others say about oneself? A sign of a natural, ordinary human seeking recognition and affirmation? The answer is a definitive NO.

4.      The question of Jesus, who am I? is a question that invites and challenges us for a sincere and authentic self-discovery, and for a profound and core identity. We can discover our true self, realize our core identity, only in relation to Jesus, only in bonding with him, in intimacy and communion with him.

5.      “What Jesus is to us, makes us what we are”. It is not a mere matter of saying who Jesus is but experiencing and living who he is. Not enough that words and expressions about Jesus do abound unless experience does abound. All our acclamations and assertions, professions, and proclamations should not be mere collections of formulations, but rather expressions, extensions, and expansions of deeper and consistent experience and love of the Lord.

Direction: We the followers of the Lord can become more credible if our external proclamation is really rooted in a profound personal experience of the Lord and the spirit of surrender to the will and ways of God

 

18 FEBRUARY 2022: JAMES 2. 14-24, 26; MARK 8.34 – 9.1

 

Focus: Today there are some staunch so-called “religious” people. They claim themselves to be faithful followers and adherents of religion. But they hopeless lack the spirit of holiness and human goodness

 

1.      In the present times, we are going through a new type of religious crisis. What does this imply? We see a religion devoid of fraternity and charity. We watch a spirituality without the integrity of character. We witness a religious fidelity without sanctity. We observe a religious adherence without coherence of life and benevolence to others. We have many who loudly declare to follow God but never follow His ways of sacrifice and love.

2.      This is the malaise that corrodes many religions today. Religious allegiance and adherence are equated with religious fanaticism. Religious passion and dedication are equated with hate and aggression toward other religious followers. This is really a false practice of religion. What religiosity it is, what spirituality it is, what fidelity it is if there is no holiness and no goodness?

3.      That is why, St James in the first reading categorically states: faith without works is dead, just like the body without the spirit is dead. There is no use of bundles of prayers or good wishes or empty blessings while not bothering to help one in need. True faith must be testified in good works.

4.      Jesus presents the same theme of harmony between faith and works in the light of discipleship. True discipleship fulfills three essential conditions: self-denial, cross-bearing, and following the Lord. Self-denial is not self-hate or self-despisal. It is giving up of the ego, a denial, and restraint of all selfish interests, a spirit of renunciation and retrenchment

5.      Carrying the cross implies the spirit of humble acceptance of the afflictions and adversities of life, and patience and forbearance amidst them. It also means that there is no grumbling or lamenting or despair in the face of the difficulties. It is a holy resignation and joyful surrender to everything that befalls us. Good or bad, positive or negative, everything becomes an occasion for self-offering to the Lord.

6.      Following the Lord implies walking in his footsteps, imitating his example, to resemble his life, and to be loyal and committed to his mission, come what may. Unbounded zeal and undaunted commitment mark a true disciple of Christ. There is no lethargy or sluggishness in the case of a true follower.

 

Direction: In our society and times, there are many who are rated super brains with high intelligence and competence. But what is so much lacking is wisdom; it is a wisdom that realizes that “it is no use to gain the whole world but lose one’s own soul”

 

 

(REFLECTION 2)

Focus: True faith is not merely a matter of believing in Jesus but much more a matter of following him in a concrete way of living.

 

St James' words that faith without works is useless and dead are a serious question to the faith of many believers, whose faith tends to be very shallow and inadequate. Their faith is mostly limited to pious practices and abundant religious activities but does not flow out into concrete behavior of fraternity and acts of charity. Such faith is like a tree without fruits but with only leaves and branches.

In the gospel too, Jesus makes this very clear that faith is following him concretely in the real details of life. And they are A spirit of self-sacrifice in giving up ego, a spirit of patience and perseverance in carrying the cross of one's own burdens and vicissitudes of life, and also the cross of trouble, discomfort, and deprivation for the sake of God and good, and a spirit of indefectible loyalty and commitment in walking his path in imitating his footsteps.

 

Direction: Following Jesus may demand a lot but it is worth it because it alone gives meaning and fulfillment to our life. One who does not realize the value of this is really foolish because he loses the precious treasure of salvation in preference to a few superfluous things.

 

 

(REFLECTION 2)

 

Focus: True faith is always authentic and concrete. It always shows itself in concrete works of charity and helps to others. To be truly faithful to God is to be charitable to others

 

1.      In our present times, faith is becoming very expressive and acclamative. People want to demonstrate their faith and their religious allegiance. Consequently, we find the performance of many religious activities, organization of many religious programs, conduction of many spiritual sessions and conventions.

2.      All this is very good. They can help toward manifesting as well as deepening our faith. But what is missing and what is essential is that our experience and concrete life of witness must go together. Our faith must be seen and shown in the quality of life of good actions. It is in this sense we can understand the admonition of James in the first reading about harmony between faith and works. Faith without works, a faith that is limited only to lip service, is shallow and worthless.

3.      Therefore, it is not enough to say ‘Lord, Lord’, but is also needed to surrender to him. It is not enough to call Jesus ‘Master’, but is also needed to be loyal to him and to follow in his footsteps. It is not enough to acclaim him as ‘Savior’, but is also needed to be saved and liberated, to experience and live that touch and power of salvation and liberation. It is not enough to praise him as ‘Healer’, but is also needed to be healed, to show the effects and signs of healing. It is not enough to proclaim his as ‘guide’, but is also needed to be rightly guided and to avoid all tendencies to be wrongly influenced and misguided. It is not enough to attest him as ‘Light’, but is needed to be illumined, to be enlightened. It is not enough to sing him as ‘Love’, but is also needed to love him totally and passionately. It is not enough to claim him as our strength and power but is also needed to be strengthened and empowered by him. It is not enough to believe him as our nourishment but is also needed to be nurtured by him.

Direction:  We must go beyond our contradictory tendencies and live a more harmonious living of grace. We must integrate faith and works. We must be ready to lose ourselves so as to gain it for eternity

 

19 FEBRUARY 2022: JAMES 3. 1-10; MARK 9. 2-13

Focus: The irony and absurdity of human life is gaining control over many things but failing in the control of one’s own self. All the external control minus self-control is no great thing

1.      Often human life seems to be a bundle of absurdities and contradictions. Through his intelligence and competence, man is able to conquer many things, accomplish many things, and control so much. But how much and how many are able to control and conquer their own self? How many are able to accomplish their real self, real life?

2.      One essential thing that must be under restraint and control is our words and speech. It is in this context, the exhortation of St James in the first reading is very relevant. He speaks candidly about the power of the tongue, the immense evil it can erupt and the crucial need to restrain and tame it. He uses different metaphors to convey the point. The tongue is like the bridle of a horse; just as a rider holds the bridle in his control in order to control the whole movement of the horse, so also we must bridle the tongue to control the whole person.

3.      Further, the tongue is like a rudder of a ship; just as a pilot directs the ship with skillful use of the rudder, so also we must use the rudder of our tongue so as to direct the ship of our life. Still, further, the tongue is like a small fire that can set ablaze the whole forest; so also, the tongue can set on fire the whole body and life and burn them away if not arrested and controlled.

4.      Therefore what is very important is to be deeply aware of the various “disfigurements” of our life. Then, strive sincerely for a “transfiguration” of it. For this, first of all, we need to participate and share the “transfiguration experience” of Jesus himself. We need to behold his heavenly glory and sanctity. We need to confirm our faith in his divinity in spite of the garbs of human fragilities.

5.      We need to relish the moments of being with him and desire to abide close to him again and again. Hear what Peter exclaims at the transfiguration experience of Jesus: It is good to be here. Let us make … tents”. We need to listen to the Lord as the beloved of the Father.

6.      However, we cannot hide ourselves only in such ecstatic moments. Taking our courage and strength from such deepening and strengthening experiences, we need to come down the mountain of Tabor. We need to gird ourselves with the task of living the transfiguring experience in our daily living. We need to change both our ‘face’ and our ‘clothes’ that is the face of our interior life and the clothes of our exterior actions and behavior.

Direction: Total transfiguration comes only with our resurrection. But we can commit ourselves to a daily transfiguration. This does happen when we constantly try to become more and more renewed and transformed persons

 

(REFLECTION 2 ON TRANSFIGURATION)

Focus: Glory is our destiny and transfiguration is the way. Let us not be upset at the fact of misery but always raise our hearts to the destiny of glory by constant transfigured life, transformed heart

 

1.      Jesus is transfigured on Mount Tabor in the presence of 3 of his disciples. It is not a display of self-glory but a manifestation of his true identity. It is not to impress them but to confirm them in faith. His glory is not partial but total, both interior and exterior, as indicated by the glow of face and clothes respectively. The experience of divine glory is so relishing, as indicated by Peter’s exclamation: “it is nice to be here; let us make three tents”.

2.      Jesus’ transfiguration points to our own transfiguration, being adorned with divine glory. This is possible through a constant integral transformation of our both interior and exterior, by attentive listening and adhering to the Lord.

3.      The event of Jesus' transfiguration is a manifestation of his original divinity, identity, and glory. The purpose is not to display his glory, not to impress upon the three disciples his greatness. It is not self-directed, seeking self-glory. Rather, it serves as a fount of hope that prepares and strengthens the disciples, in the face of the cross and death of Jesus ahead. The transfigured glory of Jesus illumines and assures the disciples that Jesus who meets the fate of the cross, is not a helpless failure, forced to such a miserable end; rather he is the glorious Son of God, who willingly and freely accepts cross as God's will for salvation. It is not a fate of misery and damnation,  but a destiny of glory and salvation. Thereby when faced with the ignominy of cross, let them not be shaken or shocked; let them not be dissipated or frustrated. Let them not be stuck with cross and death, but rather let their focus go beyond the glory and eternity. Behind and beyond the disfigured crucified, one should see the transfigured resurrected Lord, re-vested with the original heavenly glory.

4.      Thus that simple Jesus, who is walking along with them as an ordinary man, that suffering Jesus, who will be subjected to the humiliation of the cross, is not a disgraced and defeated man. Instead, he is the glorious "beloved Son of the Father", attested so by the Father Himself from heaven. So do not lose faith in him, when things go contrary, but continue to keep trust and hope in him.

5.      Jesus' transfiguration is also an indicator, a forecast, and foretaste of our own resurrection and the glory of the resurrection. It is a prefiguration of our own future glory. The frequent disfiguration of life, with all the vicissitudes and adversities, is not the final or permanent reality. Transfiguration is the ultimate and definitive experience. Misery is not an absolute fate, but glory is our eternal destiny. Therefore, the transfiguring experience must trigger us to direct our focus, beyond the temporary upsets of the cross, to the eternal upheaval of resurrection.

6.      This is possible only through a constant  REINVIGORATION of our original identity of being God's image and likeness. This in turn is possible through a faithful CONFIGURATION with Jesus. The more we are tuned and communed to him, the more we live and grow like him, the more we adhere to him In "attentive listening to him",  the more we shall experience and share the same transfiguring glory.

7.      If sin disfigures us, depriving us of our original beauty and dignity of being God's images, grace through Jesus transfigures us, restoring to us that lost light and radiance. The shining light and brightened glow will indicate that our transfiguration is more a matter of illuminating and brightening our darkened selves and false lives. The more we are enlightened, breaking off the sheaths and layers of darkness that often block and blur our radiance, the more we re-discover our real identity and radiate the light of that true image.

8.      Thus real transfiguration lies in a daily process of brightening up our lives. Light up the life, Daily on the "mountain" - of the vicinity, proximity, and intimacy with God, in a spirit and ambiance of solitude and serenity, in the heights of our spirits, in the focused moments of prayer, in a personal encounter with Moses and Elijah, signifying the Law and Prophets, i.e. the entire Scripture and Tradition. Transform and glorify life, wholly and fully, by changing both the interior,  indicated by the change of face, which is the index of the interior, and the exterior, indicated by the change in clothes.

9.      Let our every day be a continuous journey of removing the shades of darkness that reduce our glow. Let it be a vibrant march of regaining our lost radiance. Let the light of Christ make our heart, our life, more bright, with more hope and more renewal.

 

Direction: Often we want to see only glory and cling to such moments. But only the path of the cross and following Jesus will lead to glory.