13 - 18 JUNE 2022, HOLY MASS REFLECTION
13 JUNE 2022: 1 KINGS 21. 1-16; MATTHEW 5. 38-42, Memory of St Anthony of Padua
Poker: Breeding Greed?
Indicative: There is always a sharp contrast between the people of God and the people of the world. The former often seem to be losers and despised and the latter, winners and victors. But in God’s sight, it is the reverse!
1. Greed, deception, and harm to others mark the world of today. Greed drives many to deceive and destroy others so that they get what they desire. They are never satisfied with what they have; even the abundance they may possess will not content them. They become so deceitful and manipulative. They go to any extent even to eliminate others and achieve what they aspire to.
2. Ahab the king of Samaria and his wife Jezebel in the first reading stand as typical examples of this mentality of the world above-mentioned. Despite the abundance of their lands, they covet Naboth’s small vineyard. Naboth refuses to part with his land. They should have respected his decision. Instead, Jezebel plots and implicates Naboth in a false case of cursing God and the king. Consequently, Naboth gets stoned and killed and his land is confiscated by the king.
3. Against such a worldly mentality of false values, Jesus proposes a contrast-set of values. It is not the spirit of unforgiveness, grudge, and retaliation that seeks “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth". But it is Christ’s spirit of forbearance and forgiveness that offers the other cheek also to the one who slaps on one.
4. It is not the spirit of greed or profit or self-interest. But it is the new spirit of sensitivity and generosity that gives readily to those who beg or borrow. It is not the spirit of fighting for rights suing you to take away your tunic. But it is the contrast-spirit of giving up one’s legitimate rights and parting with the cloak as well. It is not the spirit of becoming so calculative and refusing to walk a mile with the other. But it is the generous spirit of walking an “extra mile”.
5. St Anthony of Padua who we venerate today is a glowing example of this new spirit of Christ. He preached the gospel in word and deed. He was ignited by love for God and souls.
Imperative: What are the values that are taking hold of me and guiding me? Is it greed or generosity? Is it retaliation or reconciliation? Whom do I resemble – Ahab and Jezebel or Christ and his true disciples?
(REFLECTION 2)
Focus: The ways of the world are always contrary to the ways of God and it really needs a change of heart to rise above the ways of the world
Clearly what Ahab and Jezebel do to Naboth is unjust and highly sinful. There is greed and avarice, there is the malice that leads to complot and murder. But that is the way of the world which is inclined to selfishness and is steeped into any evil for achieving those selfish gains. The sad thing is that many not only follow the wrong values and do the wrong but much more they justify and glorify those wrong ways as achieving the set targets and goals. In the first reading, all that mattered for Ahab and Jezebel was nothing but fulfilling their greedy desire for Naboth's land at any cost and nothing else.
In such a context, Jesus invites us to follow a new set of rules, a reversal of the values. It is no more grudge, revenge, and retaliation but forgiveness and reconciliation. It is no more avarice or profit-seeking, but concern for the need of the other even to the extent of forgoing one's own due and rightful gain. It is no more an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. Rather it is offering another cheek as well to the one who strikes on one cheek. Thus, it is to be generous enough to give away the cloak as well to the one who sues for a coat or to give readily to the one who begs or borrows.
Direction: The meaning and beauty of life can never be found in self-seeking and achieving self-vested interests, but only in letting go and putting aside the ego.
14 JUNE 2022: 1 KINGS 21. 17-29; MATTHEW 5. 43-48
Poker: Our perfection is so imperfect!
Indicative: God not only teaches us and demands from us a life of sound values. But He Himself follows them and sets an example for us. He is a God who does what He says
1. “You be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect”, exhorts Jesus in the gospel. He proposes God the Father Himself as the model of perfection. Perfection is a catchword and is the target and goal of many. Many aspire to and strive for perfection. But mostly it is a perfection concerning worldly matters and interests.
2. Mostly, people seek perfection in intelligence, competence, talent, and skill. Accordingly, perfection is equated with excellence and success. One is perfect when he excels and succeeds in a particular aspect or field of life. The problem with this kind of understanding of perfection is, that it is very partial, limited, and shallow.
3. For example, one may be perfect in his job, profession, business, art, or capacity. But he may be miserably imperfect and morally inadequate in the rest of his life. That is why they are not worth-imitable for a holistic life.
4. It is in this context, Jesus places before us the model par excellence – God Himself. In which way God is perfect and His perfection is the model? His perfection is holistic. It is a perfection of virtue and value. A concrete instance is seen in the first reading in the case of king Ahab. Ahab got an innocent Naboth murdered and grabbed his land. So according to the principle of justice, Ahab deserves to be punished.
5. But, when he repented, God’s mercy forgives him and spares him. This is the real perfection that harmonises justice and mercy. Jesus further clarifies this in the gospel. It is a perfection of love that loves even the enemies; that prays even for those who persecute us. It is a perfection that greets and is courteous even to strangers. It is a perfection that is equitable to all without any discrimination because He lets His sun shine and rain fall both on the just and unjust. It is a perfection that does good selflessly without expecting any return or reward.
Imperative: What is the type of perfection we are seeking? Where are the best of our efforts directed? Is it to perfect ourselves in some competence and skill only? How keen are we to become perfect in the path of virtue and character and commitment?
(REFLECTION 2)
Focus: The outstanding difference between God and man is the depth and extent of God’s mercy which forgives even the greatest sin when repented and which relents in punishing justly
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, the pursuit of 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”. Here comes the difference between God’s mindset and dealing and the human. In the first reading, the sin of avarice and murder of Naboth, committed by Ahab and Jezebel is highly abominable and punishable. But when God sees that Ahab repents and does penance, He shows mercy to him and reduces the gravity of punition. This is God’s style of functioning,
And this is what Jesus invites us for. It is to put on God’s own mindset: 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, just as “God sends His rain and sunshine upon all”, both the good and the evil. Our model is God Himself in His compassion, mercy, and perfection: “Be merciful AS your heavenly Father is merciful”.
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
15 JUNE 2022: 2 KINGS 2. 1, 6-14; MATTHEW 6. 1-6, 16-18
Poker: Devotion and charity on publicity!
Indicative: Goodness and holiness are matters of genuine devotion and dedication. They should be spontaneous outflows and expressions of authenticity and not tools for publicity
1. We are living in a culture of publicity and cheap popularity. The sale and the use of a commodity often depend not on its quality but on the knack of publicity. Thus often, a thing or a person is rated successful on how much that one is recognized, publicized, and popularized. That is why we find a lot of duplicity and a mad craze for cheap popularity.
2. Jesus cautions us against such a tendency of hypocrisy. He says very plainly, Do whatever you do, not for recognition, applause and reward; but do it spontaneously from a genuine and devout heart. The sole motive in doing any spiritual or fraternal act is pleasing God and being faithful to our religious duty.
3. Jesus discusses this referring to the three essential religious practices, namely, prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. We need to pray, not for the sake of impressing others that we are spiritual and prayerful. But we pray in order to experience, exercise, express, and enhance our intimate relationship with God.
4. We need to give alms to the needy, not for getting applauded for our generosity. But we do charity so that those who are in need are helped and bettered. It is out of our sensitivity and concern for the poor and not for a good certificate.
5. Similarly, we need to fast, not because we want to be praised for our sense of rigour and sacrifice. Rather, we fast so that we become more self-restrained and self-disciplined. It is out of our spirit to give priority to the spiritual over the material.
6. The spirit is very important. Prophet Elisha in the first reading can be an indicator for us in this right direction. He wanted to follow the prophet, Elijah. But it is not for fame and popularity by mighty power and miracles. Rather, it is to continue the legacy of Elijah by way of the same zeal and fidelity in God’s mission. He not only took up the material cloak of Elijah but he also carried “a double portion of Elijah’s spirit on him”, true to his plea to Elijah.
Imperative: There is no devaluing the importance of the religious practices like extra prayers, fasting, and alms. But we must constantly check on the motive and effect of them. Is it really to practice and foster devotion, discipline, and charity, or to make a show?
(REFLECTION 2)
Focus: Seeking recognition and reward for one’s goodness or good works may be natural to some extent, but an excess seeking would make even the good a shallow show
There may be some who are indifferent and are not much bothered to be engaged in doing good works or some spiritual practices. But there are some others who may do actively something good and spiritual, but with an impure motive of seeking recognition and applause. This takes away the merit and beauty of their good practice. Jesus in the gospel warns of such people, especially in reference to prayer, almsgiving, and fasting, which are the three fundamental pillars of the religion. The fault is not doing them because they are praiseworthy and highly recommendable, but doing them with an impure heart with a lot of negativities and without any desire and decision to change for the better. We must always remember that ultimately all our external practices must deepen our interior purity leading to a clean and selfless action and living. In this context, we must constantly check and see whether our prayers are helping us to grow in the spirit of closeness and communion with God, surrender, and loyalty to Him, in dedication and witness to Him; whether our almsgiving fosters in us a consistent spirit of sensitivity and charity towards the needs and difficulties of others; whether fasting enhances the spirit of self-discipline and restraint within us.
Direction: It is not proper to disregard and discard all religious practices, arguing that they are not bringing out any concrete change of life, or that the spirit and heart are more important than all the formal actions. It is better that both the interior purification and exterior transformation take place
16 JUNE 2022: SIR 48. 1-14; MATTHEW 6. 7-15
Poker: Efficacy of prayer is not multiplicity of words!
Indicative: Quantity is not always a guarantee of quality. There is no guarantee that the more words I use in my prayer, the more efficacious it is. It is the devout heart that qualifies a prayer
1. Often, many feel that the size of prayer shows its quality. Accordingly, the more words I am able to use, the better way I articulate them, and the longer I engage myself or others in prayer, the more I am rated as successful in praying. But this is wrong thinking.
2. We do not deny the need for words in prayer. Words can be very helpful as they can motivate and inspire others to pray better. The wrong choice of words or poor use of them can be very annoying and even distracting.
3. However, the point here is again about the motive and effect of the words in prayer. If words are used simply for the sake of impressing others with my capacity and skill of praying, then it fails to be effective. Words are only tools and channels that carry and transmit something deeper. They must be transmitters of a profound spirit and relationship. They must lead to a renewed way of living.
4. In this context, Jesus teaches us the sublime prayer, ‘Our Father’. It is the prayer of prayers. It is not one prayer like many others, but the real spirit and essence of all prayers. It shows us what it means to pray, when we pray what we do, and what we pray for. It is not a matter of reciting a particular prayer called ‘Our Father’. Rather, it is a matter of reminding ourselves of the spirit that must permeate us whenever we pray.
5. Accordingly, whenever we pray, we must be pervaded by a spirit of unity and family, We must remember that God is our one Father and we are all His children and brothers and sisters of one family. We sanctify His name not only by praising His name but much more by living up to His name. We do not bring disgrace or shame to His holy name.
6. We pray for His kingdom. It is not a personal matter of God but everyone’s duty to spread God’s reign of love, justice, and integrity. We commit ourselves to do His holy will. We realise our nature of dependence on Him and trust in His providential care. Very especially we make sure that we are open to forgiving and reconciling. We also become cautious and resistant to all evil assaults.
7. It is such a spirit of prayer, the interior spiritual power that empowered both the prophets Elijah and Elisha and transformed them into powerful and effective channels of God’s might and light. In the first reading from Sirach, many praises are accorded to Elijah mainly and also Elisha. But these are not actually individual glories. Rather, they indicate God’s own glory that worked in and through them.
Imperative: Praying is not only a matter of reciting some prayers, or uttering some words. Praying is essentially a matter of experiencing and deepening our spirit of family and unity, fidelity and surrender, dependence and contentment, spiritual rigour and valour, and forgiveness and reconciliation
(REFLECTION 2)
Focus: The quantity of words in prayer is not a necessary sign and guarantee of the quality of prayer. It is rather a matter of quality of heart
The book of Sirach heaps loads of praises on Elijah and also on Elisha. Particularly Elijah is acclaimed as a unique and privileged prophet. It is in fact not glorifying them but rather glorifying God. It is He who raises them to their noble vocation and mission, enabling them to work such miracles beyond normal human capacity. The secret of their power lies in their spiritual power, the power of prayer, and the power of belonging to God, which instills in them the spirit and empowers them.
In the gospel, Jesus directs our attention to such power-source, namely prayer. He outlines the quality of heart and not the number of words as the basic disposition of prayer. Besides, a spirit of forgiveness and not storing grudge becomes an essential prerequisite and condition for God to accept our prayer. In this context, Jesus offers us the sublime model prayer, 'Our Father'. It is not one prayer among many. It is in a way the quintessence of prayer. It recognizes and reminds us that we are one family of God's children, bound by filial devotion and fraternal concern. We need to abide by His holy will and establish His kingdom. We must inculcate a constant spirit of dependence on God and contentment with the necessary. We must earnestly resist all inclination to evil and especially all the rush for unforgiveness.
In fact, the prayer ‘Our Father’ evidently teaches us what to pray for. But in the same token, it also implicitly cautions us against the possible onslaughts of the evil one. One is the spirit of disunity and division that disrupts the spirit of one family of God’s children. Second is desecrating and disgracing God’s holy name by unholy lives, by not living up to His holy name. Third is promoting one’s own will and interests, that is, one’s petty kingdom, against the one kingdom of God and His holy will. Fourth is a sense of greed and accumulation leading to discontentment. Fifth is harbouring grudges and an unforgiving spirit. Sixth is easily falling prey to the temptations of the evil one.
Direction: The Our Father is not merely a well-articulated or condensed prayer. It synthesizes the whole spirit of a praying heart. It lays bare that spiritual concerns are the priority in life, which essentially includes primacy to God and the Propensity of fraternity.
17 JUNE 2022: 2 KINGS 11. 1-4,9-18, 20; MATTHEW 6. 19-23
Poker: Where pleasure is the treasure!
Indicative: The spirit of accumulating, hoarding, and treasuring material things is very prevalent. But all this is vanity and folly because all on earth is corruptible and nothing of these lasts. Therefore, discern what is a true treasure that is lasting
1. Often, the heart of many is deviated and distorted and eventually destructed. It is because it has become the hub of false or inadequate treasures. A treasure is something that one holds precious and intact. One remains clung to his treasure and never lets his treasure snatched away from him. Accordingly, a treasure demands one’s total attention. concentration and preoccupation. In the face of a treasure, all other things lose their importance.
2. Therefore, the quality and the nature of the treasure determine the quality of heart and also the quality of life. For example, if my treasure is only earthly and worldly, then my whole struggle and effort will be to acquire and accumulate as much money, possessions, power, and position as possible.
3. Consequently, my whole sight and vision will become so earth-bound and low. I will not be able to raise my eyes to heaven or the higher things of life. I will become disinterested and negligent toward the heavenly, the spiritual, and what is really lasting. I will become least bothered about the right ethics or relationships.
4. This is what happened in the case of Athaliah, the mother of Ahaziah in the first reading. Her treasure was the kingly throne and her heart coveted it so much. Her heart was fully possessed and corrupted by this wrong treasure. Consequently, her whole vision and pursuit of life become so evil. She kills all the royal family and enthrones herself.
5. On the other hand, Jehosheba, the sister of Ahaziah, protects his son Joash, brings him up, and eventually with the support of the priests and people, dethrones Athaliah and kills her, enthroning Joash. At the same time, they also destroy the false worship of Baal and re-enthrone their true God. This is because for these God-fearing people, God was their greatest treasure and their heart was constantly seeking fidelity to Him.
6. In this context, how to extricate ourselves from this web of false treasures and deviated hearts? Purify the perspective, and rectify the inner vision. Jesus indicates this by the metaphor, the image of the “eye”. He says, “the eye is the lamp of the body. If your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness”.
7. Here, the eye stands for our perspective, our outlook, and our inner vision. Therefore, what is needed to change our perspective, to brighten and heighten it. This happens when our perspective becomes wise. Wisdom is the light of our perspective that discerns between the earthly and the heavenly treasures and makes our heart seek the real treasure.
Imperative: What is my treasure in this life? Where is my heart set? What are the concerns and interests that consume most of my time and energies? How defective is my perspective, how deviated is my heart, and how shallow are my treasures?
(REFLECTION 2)
Focus: The eye is the lamp of the body. It directs the body. In the same way, the perspective or inner vision is that eye that directs one’s life. Wisdom is that sight that helps one to discern between what is worth-seeking and what is worth-discarding and to follow what is worth
In the gospel, Jesus directs our attention to one greatest temptation that strikes many. That is, seeking and accumulating treasures on earth. It is foolish because they are temporary and transient. They are unreliable and unstable, and liable to loss and ruin. If not careful, they will easily distort one’s clarity of vision and deviates his way of life. Those who place their trust in them are like those whose eyesight is blurred and stumble in darkness.
Therefore, we need the light of wisdom that gives us sound eye-sight. Wisdom is that sound eye that makes us see and realize that the treasures of heaven are far more worth than the treasures on earth, and they alone are worth-seeking. They are imperishable and permanent. Wisdom not only gives us the clarity of priorities but also enables us to pursue the treasures of heaven with perseverance to the end. It is this wisdom that overwhelmed St Paul so that he was maddened and possessed with a passion for Christ. Nothing could stop his undaunted spirit. No labours, no imprisonments, no beatings, no lashes, no stoning, no shipwreck, no dangers of all sorts, no sleepless nights, no toil and hardship, no hunger and thirst, no exposure to cold, no pressures, no anxiety for the churches, no weaknesses – nothing of these would discourage him or decrease his spirit of determination and dedication, conviction and commitment.
Direction: One who is wise will know clearly that the treasures of heaven are the greatest priority in life. It is very sad this inner sight of many is blurred because they are not rooted in God. Consequently, they are misled by the pursuit of the impermanent earthly riches
18 JUNE 2022: 2 CHRONICLES 24. 17-25; MATTHEW 6. 24-34
Poker: Worry is contagious and ruinous!
Indicative: Whenever man abandons God and His ways and breaks His commandments and runs after other things of the world, the modern ‘deities’, tension, and destruction await him
1. Double-mindedness is a dominant feature of modern society. In the light of Jesus’ teaching in the gospel, to be double-minded is to “serve two masters”, namely, God and money. Many try to do this; they try to stuff the same plate with both the spiritual and unspiritual and swallow both.
2. They say that they are prudent, discerning, adjusting, and judicious. But actually, they are only compromising. This is how Joash, the king of Israel acted. In course of time, he totally forgets how God brought him to the throne, and how He assisted him in his reign. He easily turns to the idols; abandons the house of the Lord; breaks the commandments of the Lord and forsakes Him. He puts to death Zechariah who rebukes him. Finally, he reaps the fruit of his evil by getting killed by his own servants in a conspiracy.
3. Therefore, what is clear is that God and the world cannot be put on the same level. Priority to God and spiritual concerns can never be compromised by any other interest or pursuit. Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and then all the rest.
4. We know that living on this earth, certainly there are different needs and difficulties. So, it is natural that every now and then, we become afraid, worried, and anxious. We understand this fact and we accept that no one can be totally free from all worry and anxiety. God also does not expect it. But what He wants us is not to be easily and too worried over even silly or worthless things.
5. Concerns like food, cloth, and shelter are needs but there is no need to be over-anxious. How do we check this excessive worry? First, deepen our trust in the unfailing providential care of the Lord. He who takes care of even the birds or the flowers will certainly take care of us, who are far more precious. Life is more valuable and important than all the needs and problems.
6. Secondly, it is no use to worry because it solves nothing and resolves nothing. In Jesus’ own words, “Which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to the span of life?” Thirdly, discern and clarify the scale of priorities. Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and then all the rest.
Imperative: Anxiety has become a great syndrome and disease of modern society. Along with the many blessings, this also comes as complementary in the same package. Am I also infected by the same virus? Is it because of my confusion about priorities? Is it because of the lack of primacy to God and the spiritual?
(REFLECTION 2)
Focus: Anxiety is a dominant human phenomenon that rules life. It is natural and understandable. But the real question is about what and to what extent this anxiety is
Life on this earth is often wrapped in much worry and anxiety. Perhaps there is no sphere of life that is exempted from this. As humans on this earth, surely there are many needs, concerns, and difficulties. In that sense, surely we feel anxious since everything is not totally in our hands and is subject to many factors. There are duties to fulfill, tasks to perform, troubles to confront, afflictions to bear, perplexities to make sense of, challenges to address, and problems to overcome.
But often the problem is, that this anxiety is about the secondary or even worthless and destructive things. And it is exaggerated. Often, many are anxious about physical and material things like food, drink, cloth, and money. Today the Lord is exhorting us that such anxiety is not right because it does no good. No one can change a situation or resolve a problem by being anxious about it. More than this reason, we need not excessively bother about anything because our God is a loving, caring, and providential Father. He knows what we need, He knows the struggles of this life, and He also knows the human cravings. Therefore, why be overanxious when God is there to take control of everything? Left to ourselves, we are weak, as St Paul admits in the first reading from 2 Cor 12. 1-10. But, our weakness is supplied with enormous strength from God. Our weakness is turned into strength because of the surpassing grace of God. It is not that we become complacent with our human weakness. Rather our fragility accepted in humility becomes an entrance and opportunity for God’s grace to work on our weakness. Thus, when we are weak, then we are strong.
Therefore, it is better to surrender everything to God. It is wise to clarify the scale of priorities. We need to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. The logic is simple: if we take care of God’s concerns, God will certainly take care of our valid concerns.
Direction: We never lack God’s grace. It is always available and abundant. It is never less but always more than enough. What is important is that we join our human fragility with His divine nobility and cooperate with His grace
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