27 June - 02 July 2022: Holy Mass Reflections
27 JUNE 2022: AMOS 2. 6-10, 13-16; MATTHEW 8. 18-22
Thrust: Unfaithful and non-committal!
Indicative: "Follow me!" is an unceasing call of the Lord. It needs a positive response and a responsive way of life
1. In the gospel, there are two aspirants to follow the Lord. They have the desire to follow him. But they lack the sense of priority and the right motive. Jesus and his mission are not their priorities. The first one fails to follow Jesus because he is not ready to take up Jesus’ way of life without worldly securities and guarantees. The second one fails because he is still bound to his family attachments.
2. The first reading from the prophet Amos also makes it clear how Israel failed to follow the true God. They turned unmindful and ungrateful concerning the mighty works of God, especially in their difficult times. They became unfaithful by abandoning Him, the true God. They profaned His holy places and things. They went astray to the worship of false gods. Besides they were also engrossed in immorality and injustice.
3. The failure to follow the Lord’s way will have disastrous consequences. Human resources would fail. Human capacities would diminish. Frustration and destruction will be the end result. This is not to be seen as revenge or punishment. It is the fruit of one’s estrangement from God. Every failure to be responsive to God’s constant call and to be responsible to follow the right path of God will certainly bring forth unpleasant and painful effects.
Imperative: Here is an invitation for each one of us to examine our own response to the call of the Lord. Do we hearken to his call, “Follow me!”? Do we also become unmindful, ungrateful, and unfaithful toward the Lord?
(REFLECTION 2 FROM 2021, JUNE 28, ON THE GOSPEL)
Focus: The quality of faith is to be measured and tested, not by the abundance of blessings one enjoys, but by the abundance of blessings he brings to others
Many may wish to follow Jesus because truly his life is something different. But not many will be able to follow him because it is demanding and challenging. Many in the time of Jesus followed him as disciples. But all of these cannot be rated as serious-minded. They had varied motives. Some were fascinated by his wondrous powers. Some were excited to be in the company of such a popular figure. Some admired his impressive personality. Some expected some favours and so thought it profitable to follow him. Some sought recognition and a name for themselves, being counted among his associates. Some sought to be comforted by his comforting and assuring words. Some were amazed at his profound preaching. Some marvelled at his authoritative teaching. Some wanted to observe him from close and trap him in the wrong. Of course, Some really wanted to learn from him. Some were really touched by his life of holiness and they wanted to walk in God’s ways.
But Jesus is very clear about what he wants from his followers. He does not want half-hearted and ulteriorly motivated followers. He is not like many other leaders who want somehow to pull numbers and thus display their greatness. Jesus would not make false promises. He would not hide the hard realities for the sake of appeasing them.
That is why, in today’s gospel, to the one who wants to follow him, he declares quite bluntly, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of man has nowhere to lay his head”. This one affirms, “I will follow you wherever you go”. Quite straight, Jesus retorts, “he has nowhere”. Thereby. he asserts that following him would have no securities or guarantees. It would throw one into precarious, uncertain, and insecure situations. To the second one who says, “First let me go and bury my father”, he responds, “Follow me and leave the dead to bury their own dead”. This is not demeaning the duties toward the father. Rather, it is a call to set the priorities clear. Following Jesus and working to make the people live is the top priority and it is most urgent.
Following Jesus is offering oneself totally for God and for others. Intimacy with the Lord and benevolence toward others are its topmost norms.
Direction: Following Jesus should never be with any ulterior motives. The genuineness and depth of it are known by the intensity of intimacy with God and kindness toward others
28 JUNE 2022: AMOS 3. 1-8, 4. 1-12; MATTHEW 8. 23-27
Thrust: God is sleeping!
Indicative: It is not God who is indifferent or unbothered toward us. It is we who are indifferent and unbothered toward Him
1. The disciples in the boat are hit by a great storm. They are deadly frightened. They run to Jesus who was found sleeping in the boat. They awaken him and he calms the storm. He also rebukes them for their little faith.
2. This scene repeats every day in anyone and everyone’s case. The boat of our life is like sailing in the sea. And no seldom strong winds and storms attack us and frighten us. Do we easily lose sight of him present in our lifeboat? Do we so soon get frightened by their force? Do we also feel that the Lord is sleeping while we are about to perish?
3. It is their lack of strong faith that frightens them even when the Lord is with them in the same boat? Even if he is sleeping, do they not remember that he is present and with them? Will he allow them to perish? When the Lord of the sea himself is with them, what harm can betide them?
4. Often it is the lack of faith and faithfulness that makes one indifferent, indulgent, and unrepentant. This is what happens in the case of the Israelites again and again. God reminds them and cautions them constantly through His holy prophets. But they do not leave their waywardness. They do not return to the Lord.
5. So, certain chastisement and corrective measures were needed to bring them back to their senses. Where there is deep faith, there is no overpowering of sin and fear. Lack of faith leads us to sin and fear. Consequently, we feel that God is sleeping. Actually, it is we who are sleeping. We are not awake and aware of God’s presence, His protection, and guidance.
Imperative: A certain fear may be understandable in the face of difficulties. But we should not be over-frightened and worried. As long as the Lord is sailing in the same life-boat, no storms can make us perish
(REFLECTION 2 FROM 2020, JUNE 30)
Focus: Often there is so much resentment and resistance toward any discipline and correction. But one should remember that true love always includes certain restraint and control, oriented to growth
Not seldom God’s tone in the voice of His prophets looks stern, waiting to condemn and penalize, whenever people deviate from the right path, refuse to repent, and turn back to Him. What we should see is not this apparent wrath and chastisement of God. God is not a hard task master who keeps a track record of the misgivings of His people, nor a policeman who is waiting to exert a penal action. He is a loving and sensitive God who loves us passionately, and who commits Himself to us unconditionally. Therefore, it is His anguish that overwhelms Him, it is His holy and just frustration at the deliberate fall of His people embracing willingly the unhappy consequences.
In fact, He is always with us, accompanying us in our life sail. The problem is that many times we do not recognize His presence, or at times, we feel that he is “sleeping”, that is, unbothered and unconcerned about the storms and the struggles of our life. So, we are easily overtaken by the fears and adversities. We are afraid that we are lost, that we are perishing. It is in such times the Lord assures us not to be afraid because no harm can betide us as long as He is with us. He has power and control over everything. All that is needed is, never to lose sight of Him, never to move away from Him, never to defy His constant admonitions and correctives.
Direction: Our Life is like a boat that is on an unceasing sail in the sea of strong storms which never cease to frighten us to drown and destroy us. But we must also remember that the Lord is in our boats and that is enough!
29 JUNE 2022: ACTS 12. 1-11; 2 TIM 4. 6-8, 17-18; MATTHEW 16. 13-19; SAINTS PETER AND PAUL
(REFLECTION 1 FROM 2021)
Focus: The greatness of faith is not so much in what one does by oneself for the Lord, but in what one allows God to do in and through oneself, in surrender and dedication
1. Today we celebrate the solemnity of Sts Peter and Paul. In a way, they are the two prime craftsmen of the edifice of the Church, after the heart of Christ, the real Founder, and the Master Architect. They are the master servants of the Supreme Master and the servant leaders of the community of believers.
2. What is striking and awe-inspiring in both of them is their unbounded passion for Christ. It is this passionate love for him that makes them stand solid like a rock even in the face of terrible adversities and persecutions, leading to martyrdom as well. It is this passion that makes Peter announce with conviction, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Mt 16. 16). It is this passion that makes Peter affirm with indefectible loyalty, “To whom shall we go, Lord? You have the words of eternal life” (cf. Jn 6. 68). It is this passion that makes him confess his love with total heart, “Lord, you know that I love you” (cf. Jn 21. 15-19). It is the same passion that keeps his faith undaunted in spite of the imprisonments or other sufferings.
3. The same passion is amply manifest in Paul as well. See what a fire of love consumes him when he professes his love for Christ, “Who or what can separate us from the love of Christ?” Nothing and no one can ever work against us when Christ is with us and when we love him (cf. Rom 8. 35-39).
4. However, this passion is not merely sentimental or limited only to words. It is deeply actual and authentic in action. It shows itself in total detachment and sacrifice. That is why Peter left everything and followed the Lord at his call (cf. Luke 5. 8-11). He would also attest, “You see we have given up everything to follow you” (Mt 20. 27). That is why, Paul would exclaim in Phil 3. 7-8: “But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake, I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as refuse, in order that I may gain Christ”.
5. Further, this same passion would set them on fire in the same mission of Christ, charged with perseverance, loyalty, and commitment. It makes them selfless and fearless in carrying out the mission of Christ. Their passionate mission knew no bounds and so it cut across all boundaries. They remained true to their Master to the end. They testified their love and passion for their Lord by their blood. It is this authenticity of commitment that makes Paul declare in today’s second reading from 2 Timothy 4. 6-8, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith”.
6. Today, perhaps, this fiery passion of Peter and Paul may be covered under the ashes of fabrics of authority and administration in line with Peter, or under the garbs of eloquent preaching and supervision in line with Paul. We will be doing great injustice to Peter and Paul if we limit them to suit our rungs of power and word. Their passion, their loyalty, and their self-emptying commitment should be rediscovered and reactivated.
Direction: Passion for Christ should never diminish on account of the other worthless passions. Zeal for the mission of Christ should not be dominated by self-oriented ministries.
(REFLECTION 2 FROM 2020)
1. Saints Peter and Paul – two greatest saints, the two solid pillars, pilasters, and columns of the magnificent edifice of the Church of Christ, the two earliest proponents of the way of the Lord, the two wise and illumined guides and leaders of the believing communities. Our concern now is not so much the divergence of their background or appearance or temperament or mental frame or intellectual acumen or skill or recipients. It is very interesting that these two greatest saints are put together for one single feast day of 29 June, while one each other day is also marked for them, namely, 22 February as the day of Chair of St Peter, and 25 January as the day of the conversion of St Paul. This one common feast day celebration can be very indicative of the oneness and unity, the solidity and the vitality, the spread and the growth of the Church, irrespective of the diversities.
2. In the plan of God, in the journey of salvation, in the mystical body of Christ, in the community of believers, in the reign of God, what matters most is the communion and commitment, and nothing else. It is these two that put them together in one single frame, on the same plane. The lives of Peter and Paul are the tallest proclamations and testimonies of how God’s grace is unfathomable and immense and what abundant fruits it bears when responded with generosity.
3. What makes them alike is their deepest love and the craziest passion for Christ. This is what makes Peter declare unequivocally: “Lord, you know everything and you know that I love you” (Jn 21. 15-17); and makes Paul attest convincingly: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord “ (Rom 8. 35, 37-39).
4. This flows into an inseparable intimacy and indissoluble communion with the Lord. And this rootedness and bonding with the Lord soak them into depths of humility, docility, and surrender towards God’s will and plans (cf. Rom 9. 20-21: “But who are you, a man, to answer back to God? Will what is moulded say to its moulder, “Why have you made me thus?” Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for beauty and another for menial use?”; cf. Jn 6. 68: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life”).
5. This throws them into a radical shock and convulsion of conversion, thus rendering them totally self-effacing (cf. Mt 20. 27: “Then Peter spoke up and said, ‘You see we have given up everything to follow you’ “; Phil 3. 7-8: “But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed I count everything as a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake, I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as refuse, in order that I may gain Christ”). Love and surrender will never keep one at rest but will overpower one with a “divine restlessness”. Thus, they are led to the heights of fidelity and commitment to the Lord’s mission, overwhelmed by the power of the Holy Spirit. The spread of the faith and faith communities are the most concrete attestations of their abundant fruition and epitomes of their faith and charity.
6. In sum, it is their passionate love of Christ that takes their whole life by storm and makes it an unending story of humility, docility, fidelity, and charity. Today it is not fair to be content that we are in the same line as Peter and Paul, mostly in terms of authority of administration and power of eloquence. This will not suffice. We need to be imitators of them, not only in leadership and preaching but much more in their virtue. We need to be moulded in the same intensity of love, authenticity of humility, profundity of surrender, the credibility of detachment, the density of loyalty, the vibrancy of charity, and radicalism of missionary commitment.
30 JUNE 2022: AMOS 7. 10-17; MATTHEW 9. 1-8
Thrust: False promises to please!
Indicative: There are many false prophets who distort the truth and speak sweet promises and rewards in order to keep others in good spirits. But God detests such twisting of God’s ways
1. In the first reading from Amos, we find a certain Amaziah, the priest of Bethel. He becomes a false prophet. He blames and threatens Amos for his prophecy of doom and exile. He complains and slanders Amos before the king, raising fury in his heart to kill Amos. He also makes a false prophecy. He prophesies safety and prosperity for Israel.
2. But the reality is totally different. God’s will is contrary to his prophecy. The infidelity of Israel was so enormous that they deserve and await chastisement through exile. Amos was truly the voice of His will and plans.
3. Amaziah falsifies the truth, speaks against Amos, and prophesies against God’s will. All this was because he was full of jealousy against Amos and also self-interest to please the king and people and thus gain their favour.
4. In the gospel too, the Pharisees and scribes were like Amaziah. They were filled with jealousy against Jesus. They would not tolerate his authenticity, holiness, and compassion. They would falsify his divine power of healing and preaching as blasphemy. They would not rejoice at the healing of a paralytic in today’s gospel. Instead, they search for a reason to accuse him.
5. Jesus heals a paralytic. But in his act of healing, he says to the paralytic, “Your sins are forgiven”. This is something controversial and abominable in the sight of the Pharisees and scribes. Healing physically may be okay but forgiving is a prerogative of God and Jesus was usurping this authority of God.
6. But little did they realise that Jesus was not making himself equal to God. He was not grabbing something that was not his due. In fact, he is truly the Son of God, and forgiving is his due power. Jesus would thereby impel them to recognise his divine identity.
7. Besides, Jesus wants to make it clear that the spiritual paralysis, the sickness of sin is more grievous than the physical disease. Therefore, in forgiving sins along with physical healing, Jesus draws our attention to holistic healing and health. While the paralytic was healing holistically, the Pharisees and scribes remain spiritually paralysed.
Imperative: Failure in faith to see God’s will and hand working in our lives and failure in charity to act benevolently toward others is the real paralysis. We need healing from it much more than those physically sick
(REFLECTION 2 FROM 2021, JULY 01)
Focus: Though it may look and sound naive and old-fashioned, it is true that sin is always destructive
Jesus heals a paralytic. But it looks strange and interesting that in his act of healing, he pronounces the words of forgiving. He says, "Your sins are forgiven". In that context, what was needed was physical healing. He could say, “Be healed!” or. “Rise, take up your bed and go home”, which he says toward the end of the episode.
This forgiving of sins seems to be totally out of place. But, if we reflect a little deeper, it can have wider implications: every sin causes sickness and suffering though we do not say that every suffering is caused by sin only. This clearly means that every sinful way will reap its unpleasant consequences. No evil will go unaccounted and unpaid for, in the sight of God. Every evil will bring upon us only disastrous results.
This should guard us against taking pleasure in doing wrong and continuing adamantly in sinning after sin. We should grow more in faith. This means that we are able to see what is true, what is God's will, and what is the work of God. Like Amaziah, we cannot distort the truth of God's will for the sake of pleasing the people. Or, like the Pharisees and scribes, we cannot reject the truth of God's grace and power because of jealousy.
This should guard us against the spiritual paralysis that makes us numb and tepid toward God and good. We should become more vibrant and enthusiastic in our life of faith. We should get rid of that inner paralysis that infected the Pharisees and scribes. Their inner vision of goodness and their dynamism of optimism were paralysed by jealousy and obstinacy. Consequently, they lost the sensation of the touch of God's grace and power working in and through Jesus. They do not rejoice about the healing of a paralysed brother of them. They do not appreciate Jesus for the godly act of healing. Instead, they accuse Jesus of blasphemy.
Physical healing may be easier, quick relief, and visibly profiting. But what is more important is inner healing. This is difficult and we should work on it. Jesus does the physical healing which symbolizes the inner healing. In forgiving the sins first and then in healing from paralysis, Jesus makes this abundantly clear.
Direction: We shall seek to be healed from the prevailing paralysis of jealousy and seeking human favour. This would lead to distorting the truth of God's will and power and rejecting it
01 JULY 2022: AMOS 8. 4-6; 9-12; MATTHEW 9. 9-13
Thrust: Spirituality without righteousness!
Indicative: True religion and devotion should not be reduced only to some external ritual practices or rules or traditions. What is needed is a change of heart
1. Jesus in the gospel admonishes the Pharisees, “Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice’”. They failed exactly in this. They abounded in religious sacrifices and observances. But they lacked mercy toward others. They despised the tax collectors and many other strata of people as sinners but rated themselves as holy and righteous.
2. The same lack of mercy and justice infected the Israel people in the Old Testament as found in the first reading from Amos. They practiced rigorously the religious duties like the Sabbath. But they dealt deceitfully with the poor and needy. They pretended to be righteous but in truth were the real sinners. In reference to Jesus’ words, these are the really sick who are sick and have the need of a physician.
3. In such situations, God does not remain indifferent. He intervenes offering various possibilities for repentance and renewal. He will create a “famine not of bread or water but of hearing the words of the Lord”. He will cause them “seek the word of the Lord”.
4. God unceasingly calls anyone, “Follow me!” This has no discrimination or social tags and preferences. That is why we find Jesus calling Matthew, who was a tax collector and labeled as a sinner. In this call, the purpose is clear: a personal renewal and a mission to carry on. Blessed was Matthew who responded positively to the call! He fulfilled the purpose of his call by living as a disciple and working as an apostle.
Imperative: God’s incessant call, “Follow me!” needs a positive response. It calls for a radical change of life and a commitment to the mission of the Lord
(REFLECTION 2 FROM 2021, JULY 02)
Focus: God calls anybody and everybody irrespectively, and the purpose is not so much the individual benefit but the higher and larger good
For our reflection, we can pick up some simple pointers. First, Jesus calls Matthew, a tax collector usually looked down as a sinner by society. Thus, God calls anyone. There is no differentiation or discrimination on the part of God. He does not go by human labels or estimates as righteous or sinner, friend or foe, important or insignificant, rich or poor, etc. Why should we put restrictions and conditions on God’s grace when He Himself offers it to all? How can we be so selfish as to greedily own the whole of God’s grace? Why do we feel so jealous when someone is blessed by God? All the more, how can we judge that someone does not deserve God’s mercy because he is bad, as if we are so good and only we are good?
Second, Jesus calls Matthew while he was sitting at his tax office. This may denote that God calls us at any time. His call may come to us, not only when we are immersed in prayer, but also when engaged in our daily routine, in our duties. So let us not wait to catch the voice and message of Jesus not only in the quiet moments of prayer but all through our day, in everything we do.
Third, Jesus calls him, “Follow me”, and Matthew rose and followed him. This is very interesting. No conversation is reported. No discussion follows. No preparations are done. It is as if Matthew is just waiting for Jesus to call him and then immediately follows him. No details are given. The point is very clear: the promptness of Matthew’s response. Jesus’ call demands an immediate and unhesitating response. There are no calculations, no discussions, no sorting out the issues, no conditions, no assurances. No pre-plans or future ambitions. God’s call is without conditions, both on the part of God and on the part of the recipient.
Fourth, God calls not the righteous but the sinners. This is interesting because it makes being a sinner itself a qualification to be a follower of Christ. This does not however mean that only sinners become followers, or all the followers are sinners, or the good people will not be called. The point is, that our call is not on the basis of human merit. Even holiness is not a qualification! What one is before the call is not the matter, but what one becomes after the call, is the real matter. One who is called by the Lord will not complacently cling to sin but will strive to become righteous. A sinner becomes an apostle! A despised becomes venerated! A tax collector becomes a gatherer of souls and witness to the Lord! One who is sitting at the tax office sits at the table with the Lord!
Direction: Our call is a life to celebrate. Life becomes a celebration when the Lord is with us, and the Lord will be with us, when we respond to his daily call, “Follow me”, and take him to our house, so as to serve him and then follow him in his footsteps
02 JULY 2022: AMOS 9. 11-15; MATTHEW 9. 14-17
Thrust: True faith is not a patchwork!
Indicative: A person does not become holy and righteous just because he is faithful to practice some religious duties. It is only faithfulness to the Lord
1. Jesus addresses the question of fasting. He clarifies the need, the motive, and the effect of it. He answers the disciples of John who ask him why his disciples do not fast while they and those of the Pharisees fast. He indicates that he is the bridegroom and his disciples are the wedding guests. His presence is an occasion to celebrate, but they would fast in his absence.
2. Does it mean that his disciples need not fast as long as he is with them? Is fasting only an act of mourning and penance over his absence? Here the point is not just the issue of fasting, about the when and why of it. In no way, the value of fasting is compromised or minimised.
3. The Lord wants to teach us clearly about the whole purpose, motive, and direction of all our religious activities and observances. It is not just to fulfil a religious obligation. Rather, all our devotional practices must be oriented to the experience of the bridegroom. They should arouse in us a feeling of mourning and penance over our missing his presence.
4. Despite some disciplinary and restrictive character, every religious practice is essentially a positive experience. It is a celebration of the Lord’s presence. They help us to grow in closeness to him. They also lead us to a thorough change of life. This change is profound and holistic.
5. It is not shallow or superficial that has only some external and temporary effects. Our acts of devotion should not be like new patches on an old cloth or new wine into old wineskins. We should throw away the old cloth and old wineskins of sin and evil.
6. This is the perfect “changeover” that we see in the promise of God in the first reading. A truly renewed person would “repair the breaches of his booth”, “raise up and rebuild the ruined city (life) from its ruins”, and “plant and reap the crops in abundance”. Thus it is all a matter of “restoration”.
Imperative: All our enthusiasm to practice devotions and sacrifices must be directed ultimately to a change of heart and life. They should make us experience and enjoy the Lord’s intimacy and be renewed with new cloth and wineskin
(REFLECTION 2 FROM 2020, JULY 04)
Focus: The practice of all religion and religious observances is only to experience and commune with God and renew one's life
Certainly, adherence to religion involves certain religious practices and activities like fasting, etc. But all these are meant to draw us closer to the Lord. They should keep us alert not to move away from him but to be in his company and rejoice in his presence. They should also help us to check our old cloth of sin and old wineskin of sinful approaches and throw them away and get new garb of virtue and new wineskin of a new mindset. The new cloth of God's grace and the new wine of God's Spirit should not be put to the old sets. A life of faith cannot be a mere patchwork of some occasional spiritual or good acts to be shown. Rather, a truly faithful life should make one anew and renew. God is waiting just for such renewal. When there is such renewed spirit, then God's abundant mercy and benevolence will flow into exuberant blessings as God promises in the first reading.
Direction: Hypocrisy may bring one quick recognition and applause. It may do some temporary good and gain. But it is only ruinous in course of time
