11 – 16 JULY 2022: HOLY MASS REFLECTIONS
11 JULY 2022: ISAIAH 1. 10-17; MATTHEW 10. 34 – 11.1
Thrust: Authentic religion!
Indicative: An authentic religion does not consist of bundles of religious practices. Religion becomes authentic only when it gives the highest priority to God and lives a life of benevolence and justice
1. In the present times, unfortunately, we see a lot of religious fanaticism and violence. In the name of God and religion, there is a viral culture of hatred, enmity, and destruction. This is not an authentic religion or devotion. Today’s word of God clarifies to us what is a true religion and who is a true follower.
2. True worship of God is not just a multitude of sacrifices or offerings or celebrations of feasts and traditions. All these become vain, burdensome, wearisome, and detestable in God’s sight when they lack a life of integrity and goodness. God will not accept them. Our religious observances become acceptable and meaningful only when there is a genuine change of life.
3. That is why God summons us: “Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause”.
4. In the words of Jesus in the gospel, this kind of true religion and devotion implies a certain way of life. In the first place, it calls for an uncompromising priority to God. Love for God and loyalty to Him come first, and nothing should come in its way, not even one’s own family. That is why Jesus says, “Whoever loves father or mother, son or daughter more than me, is not worthy of me”.
5. This is being ready to be hated and opposed even by one’s own family for the sake of the Lord. This is taking one’s cross and following Jesus. This is losing one’s life for his sake. And this is exactly bringing sword and not peace, like the Master. Standing for God and for good will certainly throw one into situations of opposition and suffering.
Imperative: A true follower of Christ must be prepared to rise above the binding family ties and attachments. He must not be comfort-seeking, trying to shelter himself in false peace and compromises
(REFLECTION 2 FROM 2021, JULY 12)
Focus: Following Jesus calls for a radical and fundamental option for him. This involves an uncompromising fidelity to him
There are many followers of Jesus. But all are not worthy followers because they do not follow their Master’s way. Who then is a worthy disciple? What are some of the essential criteria? Two of the features are highlighted. One is the highest love for Jesus. It surpasses even the natural and valid family love-ties. Jesus very clearly announces: “Whoever loves father or mother more than me, is not worthy of me; whoever loves son or daughter more than me, is not worthy of me”.
Here the point is not about not loving one’s own family. The real issue is no family love should be more than our love for God and love for the new spiritual family. This is a real pointer and poker to many followers of Jesus. This applies both to the consecrated as well as the lay faithful. We must humbly realize that in the case of a good number of clergy and religious and family people, family attachments, family interests, and family benefits count more than the duties toward God and God’s people.
The second requisite for a true disciple is, to walk the way of the cross. There is no room for compromises, shortcuts, self-interests, easy gains, escape from the demands of discipleship, and fear of adversities. Following Jesus certainly leads to opposition and persecution. This is what Jesus means when he says, “I have come not to bring peace but sword”. The sword symbolizes suffering and affliction. Following Jesus disturbs and shatters false peace that lingers in compromise. It is a peace that does not take a clear stand for the Lord. It is a peace that pleases humans even at the cost of disloyalty to God.
Direction: Following Jesus demands paying a heavy price. But it is worth it. All who follow Jesus and support those who follow him, will for sure receive a great reward
(REFLECTION 3 FROM 2020, JULY 13)
Focus: Sacrifices and offerings in the name of religion and spiritual devotion are good and praiseworthy but should include heart and life
Often there is a wrong idea and practice of religion and spirituality. It is a spirituality, limited only to some religious observances, spiritual activities, or fulfilling some faith obligations. Such spirituality is deficient and inadequate, shallow and superficial. True spirituality must be seated in a trusting and surrendering heart, and spring from a humble and honest heart. It must also lead to a changed and renewed life in the concrete acts of goodness and justice. No religious action should be a cover-up or substitute for an authentic life. Such a genuine spirituality demands an uncompromising priority to God, loving Him more than anything and everyone, even one’s own family, even one’s own life. True spirituality also calls for being prepared to face any opposition, division, or persecution for the sake of our faith and commitment
Direction: To love God is not merely something emotional or sentimental, confined only to some spiritual moments. Rather it is a clear and fundamental option to set and serve God above and beyond all
12 JULY 2022: ISAIAH 7. 1-9; MATTHEW 11. 20-24
Thrust: Unbelief is arrogance!
Indicative: The sad thing with many is not that they only do the mistakes and others do not do them. The whole pity is they do not realise, repent and convert themselves
1. We find in the present times a growing religious indifference and mediocrity. Many either do not have faith in God or have a very shallow faith. In the life of many, God does not matter at all. In the case of others, their faith is limited to certain rituals, traditions, and activities. In any case, in truth, this is a godless and faithless culture.
2. This is what is typified in the gospel by the cities of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum. Jesus denounces them because they refused to see and accept God’s grace, manifested through mighty miracles. They were full of themselves and refused to turn to God. They were so arrogant that they would not see their iniquities and would not repent.
3. We find a semblance of this in the first reading in the enemies of Judah, like Syria and Ephraim. They have an unholy alliance against the king of Judah to conquer it and establish their own power. The situation of our times is no different from those situations.
4. Like the cities of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum, there are many who are full of self-pride and seek self-glory. They are adamant, resistant, unrepentant, and thus unconverted. Like Syria and Ephraim, there are many who constantly plot against others to subjugate them and reign over them.
5. In the face of such evil forces, one is either frightened and disillusioned or negatively influenced and carried away. In such moments, God exhorts us not to lose heart or not to join the evil ways. God Himself assures: “Be careful, be quiet, do not fear, and do not let your heart be faint… If you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all”
Imperative: Intelligence and competence without humility, fear of God, and repentance will land up in arrogance and self-glory. And that is the doorstep for destruction
(REFLECTION 2 FROM 2021, JULY 13)
Focus: The greatness of faith is not measured by the quality of religious knowledge or the number of favours received. Only the quality of receptivity and change of life is the deciding factor
In the gospel, Jesus sternly denounces the cities of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum. He pronounces woe to them. Interestingly it is in these cities where he worked most of his mighty works. But they failed to be receptive and cooperative to God’s grace. They are reproachable and culpable because they remained unrepentant, self-righteous, arrogant, and seeking self-glory. Yes, they rejected Jesus’ earnest call for repentance. In their pride and self-righteousness, they refused to see and accept their wrongdoing and infidelity. They failed to seek God’s glory. Instead, they pride and glorify themselves in their history, tradition, religion, Scripture, Law, knowledge, progress, etc. They fail to be conscious of God’s ways and mighty intervention in their past history through the prophets as well as their present story through Jesus. The problem with the Jews was their great sacred history made no impact and change on their present story.
Direction: It is not the greatness of religion or history that makes a believer great. Rather it is how one lives what he believes and inherits
(REFLECTION 3 FROM 2020, JULY 14)
Focus: Truth faith essentially means not to lose heart and courage even in seemingly losing and hopeless situations
Jesus is very stern in his rebuke against the cities of Bethsaida, Chorazin, and Capernaum. This is obviously for their unbelief in spite of his mighty miracles. But this unbelief is not a simple refusal to recognize and accept Jesus as the Son of God and Messiah. It is much more. It is a heightened arrogance and self-exaltation, a lack of humility to see one’s own imperfections and wrongdoings, lack of repentance to nurture deep anguish in forfeiting God’s incessant grace, in thwarting His loving plans and paining God’s tender compassion. Thus it is a total wholesale failure to convert from sin to God’s mercy.
The same is true in our case as well. We may claim to believe in Jesus but is often shallow, because we refuse to humble ourselves, refuse to repent and be converted, in spite of his unceasing signs and invitations. True it is that the forces of evil and the pressures of the world may often frighten and corner us as in the first reading. But we need a deep faith to confide in God and tune our lives to Him.
Direction: It is not that God has stopped or become slow in working in our lives. It is we who have neither the time nor the heart to see Him. God never fails us. But we fail Him numberless times by falling unduly to the worldly concerns and individual merits and gains
13 JULY 2022: ISAIAH 10. 5-7, 13-16; MATTHEW 11. 25-27
Thrust: Nothing surpasses the unsurpassable God!
Indicative: Human intelligence and strength can assist a person up to some point. But ultimately nothing of the human or earthly can save a person
1. There is an increasing sense of self-sufficiency and self-complacency in modern society. Many get puffed up on account of progress and technology in general, and competence and success in particular. However, at the same time, there is also a gripping sense of dissatisfaction and emptiness.
2. It is in this context, we must admit our own limitedness before the unsurpassable power of God. We cannot boast of any greatness of ours before the immeasurable might of God. We cannot raise arms against God with a false sense of pride. That is why we hear in the first reading from Isaiah: “Shall the axe boast over him who hews with it, or the saw magnify itself against him who wields it? As if a rod should wield him who lifts it, or as if a staff should lift him who is not wood!”
3. We must be humble enough to see this indomitable hold of God. It is God who makes and unmakes everything. “There was none that moved a wing or opened the mouth or chirped”. By His strength and wisdom, He does everything. “He removes the boundaries of the peoples, and plunders their treasures. Like a bull He brings down those who sit on thrones”. “The Lord God of hosts will send wasting sickness among his stout warriors”.
4. In the gospel too, Jesus makes clear this disconcerting and contrasting way of God: He has hidden the heavenly mysteries from the wise and understanding in the sight of the world. But He revealed them to little children. This means the simple, humble, insignificant, and negligible lot in the sight of the world.
Imperative: It is really foolish that a goat goes to fight against a mountain and tries to overpower it by hitting against it. In the same way, it will be absurd that the weak limited man rises against God and tries to overpower Him
(REFLECTION 2 FROM 2021, JULY 14)
Focus: Great things happen through humans. It is not the greatness of them but that of God. He works great things even through simple and small people
Jesus thanks the Father because He hides the divine mysteries to those intelligent and competent in the sight of the world. But He reveals them to “mere babes”. That is, to the small, insignificant, and ignorable people. Thereby it is very clear that vocation is always a gratuitous gift of God. He chooses us. It appears as if we are choosing the way of life. But actually, we only respond to His call. It is again God who helps our response. Therefore, vocation and mission are never one’s own merit or credit. God’s presence, guidance, and power sustain and accomplish a call.
Direction: Human capacities do not become the deciding factors for God’s call. Neither are they the cause for the excellence and effectiveness of the call. Utmost they are supplements and never substitutes
(REFLECTION 3 FROM 2020, JULY 15)
Focus: The eyes of God are all-pervading and all-penetrating and life becomes tranquil and well-guided when we keep ourselves under His purview
All through their history, the people of Israel were repeatedly exposed to the attacks of the enemies. Our situation too is no different from theirs. Evil always surrounds us and threatens to strike us down. In such moments, the best response and course of action is to be “childlike”. That is, to trust totally in God that everything is in His “hand over”, under His sway and control. Surrender ourselves humbly and wholeheartedly and depend fully on Him. We should be aware and convinced that God’s love and power are ever surpassing, and nothing else can overpower Him, for “an axe cannot boast against Him who hews with it, a saw cannot exalt itself above him who wields it or a staff cannot sway him who lifts it”. He will turn our deficiency into efficiency, and turn the difficulties into opportunities for growth and for good. He will turn our being small children into recipients of the great intervention of God.
Direction: As long as we look from our perspective, our weaknesses and adversities will look enormous and insurmountable. But let us surrender to God’s perspective, like the little children, and then nothing can stand so big as to worry us.
14 JULY 2022: ISAIAH 26. 7-9, 12, 16-19; MATTHEW 11. 28-30
Thrust: Take the yoke and find the rest!
Indicative: The world is so much under pressure. It is hard-pressed. It needs some remedy that relieves it from this pressing burden. God alone is that solace point!
1. “Come unto me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest”. This is the warm invitation of Jesus to everyone, especially who feel life burdensome and laborious. The life of many is robbed of rest. This is not so much physical rest and relaxation. It is mental and spiritual.
2. Rest is a state of mind where all our worries and tensions, especially those not necessary and not worthwhile recede. Rest is a mental serenity and calm. It may not be a complete cessation of all worries and burdens. Rather it is a state of mental equilibrium, an inner equanimity.
3. It is this that many today lack. They have many relaxations but are not calm. They have many deviations, diversions, and distractions but not really a re-charging and refilling. Truly, in line with the words in the first reading, many are “like a pregnant woman who writhes and cries out in her pangs when she is near to giving birth”.
4. There is no wonder then that the welcoming words of Jesus to go to him in our times of burden are very soothing and uplifting. But how do we obtain this rest? It is by taking his yoke upon us and learning gentleness and humility from him. Yoke can simply mean anything, any burden, any task, any risk for the sake of the Lord.
5. This yoke of the Lord is smoothened and sweetened by gentleness and humility. But the world considers these sweeteners as signs of weakness and timidity, lack of self-dignity, and self-affirmation. This thinking is wrong. They are actually signs of strength and firmness. Only a strong and steady person can be gentle and humble. They ease one’s inner burdens and make him light-hearted.
Imperative: To a world that is so rude, harsh, and hard, gentleness will be like a yoke hard to bear. And to a world that rides on pride and arrogance, humility is really a burden to carry. But it is only by carrying this noble yoke and burden, that we can experience true relief and comfort
(REFLECTION 2 FROM 2020, JULY 16)
Focus: In a life of stress and strain, the best and lasting relaxation is found not in passing gratifications and shallow pleasures but only with the Lord and in learning from him and becoming like him
The world of today more than ever seems to be devoured by the monsters of stress and worry. Tiredness and exhaustion have become the trademark of modern man, without any exception. It is not necessarily the physical but rather the mental. Everyone seems to be under some weight and often feels life to be burdensome. The fact is everyone is busy and busy all the time, but many times many really do not know what they are busy with and why they are busy.
It is in such a context and moments, that the words of Jesus, “Come unto me all those who are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest” are very consoling and elevating. But what is interesting is: that he is promising rest, not in inaction, not in idling, not in discarding all work and duty. It is a positive struggle, a productive pain in the light of the first reading like that of a woman in travail. Rather, we will feel light and relaxed, by taking up his yoke, his burden. It is his gentleness and humility, which are certainly burdens in the sight of the world. To the extent we learn and grow to be gentle and humble, we will be light-hearted and spirited, in spite of all the exhausting burdens that beset us.
Direction: Let us refrain from exhausting ourselves in unworthy pursuits. Let us rein our frenetic lives and steal some serene moments at the Lord’s feet. Let us experience life as light and pleasant by learning to be gentle and humble.
15 JULY 2022: ISAIAH 38. 1-6, 21-22, 7-8; MATTHEW 12. 1-8
Thrust: True religion is not only a matter of devotions and traditions but much more about doing good to those in need. Any religious practice that goes against helping others is not a sound one
1. Religious practices and traditions, rules, and injunctions are good and needed. They manifest the spirit of piety and devotion. They show in concrete how much we care about God. They open us to insights and inspirations. They act as balms for consolation, guidance, and strength. They discipline us and guard us against possible aberrations.
2. However, their fruit and effect cannot be limited only to the spiritual domain. Any true devotion must eventually lead one to a concrete life of fraternity in acts of charity. Acts of devotion without acts of benevolence are deficient and incomplete. Piety without fraternity is shallow. Adherence to the rules is important but not at the cost of neglecting the need of the other.
3. This shallow religion is seen in the Pharisees. The hungry disciples of Jesus pluck grain and eat on a Sabbath day. The Pharisees vehemently blame them for breaking the Sabbath. They interpret plucking the ears of corn as part of harvesting, a work forbidden on the Sabbath. How narrow-minded and perverted they were!
4. They do not bother about the hunger of their fellow humans; rather they over-bother about the law. They forget the fact that human well-being is more important than the mere keeping of the law. Jesus then had to remind them two things: that the “Son of Man is lord of Sabbath” and this means that all the laws are subservient to him and no law is above him. Second, “God desires mercy and not sacrifice”.
5. God desires mercy because He Himself is a God of mercy. We see an instance of this in the first reading from Isaiah. It is God’s mercy that takes into account the faithfulness of Hezekiah; looks mercifully on him in his time of terminal sickness; heals him and prolongs his life. God expects the same from us. The rigidity of our religious observances must be tempered by the tenderness of mercy.
Imperative: The value of our religious duties and devotions is seen in the concrete acts of fraternity and charity. Claiming to be faithful to God but failing to be merciful is a contradiction and a farce!
(REFLECTION 2 FROM 2021, JULY 16)
Focus: True fidelity to the laws of religion should not be blocks against charity, because there is no other law greater than the law of charity
Ages and times may change but the evil in the human mentality remains. What is really evil is a lack of kindness and concern toward others. Benevolence and help to others is the greatest norm of life and law of any worthwhile religion. All the rules and traditions should ultimately lead to this supreme principle of life. Devoid of such fraternity and goodness, everything else will become empty and imperfect.
In the gospel today, Jesus questions such practice of religion that totally neglects the need and good of others. The disciples of Jesus are hungry. They plucked some heads of grain and began to eat. The Pharisees who wait for any slightest occasion to find fault with Jesus, seize this opportunity. They blame Jesus and his disciples for breaking the Sabbath rule. The rule is that no one does any work on Sabbath day because it is holy. Is plucking the heads of grain considered harvesting? What a height of religious crankiness and superfluity! What about their hunger? What about their need and plight at that time? Jesus retorts that even David and his companions ate even the Bread of the Presence from the temple, that even the priests by their activities in the temple profane the Sabbath. Sabbath or any religious law is meant for devotion to God and to nurture the spirit of human concern. Any law, any tradition, any religious activity that hampers good to the other and harms the other, is not praiseworthy.
The whole piety is geared to the increase of charity. Otherwise, it will only become a heartless show, a shallow pretension. It is this spirit that Jesus attests to, saying, “I desire mercy and not sacrifice”. Is it not a shallow religion that people donate huge amounts to the temples of pilgrimage but are least bothered about their starving immediate neighbours? Is it not a heartless devotion when people venerate the Sacred Heart or Divine Mercy of Jesus but have no heart or mercy toward others? Is it not a worthless religion when people preach eloquently but breathe hatred and venom on other followers?
(REFLECTION 3 FROM 2020, JULY 17)
Focus: In true faith, there is never a point of desperation or a stage where one feels “now no more; it is finished” but there is ever a never-dying hope of revival and renewal
Laws and rules are good and needed because they bring discipline, and order and thus contribute to responsibility and the common good. But the danger is always there: one may be caught up only with the letter of the law, but forget the essential spirit, purpose, and direction of the law. In the light of the first reading from the example of the king Hezekiah, we understand this essential spirit and end of all law is to help one “to conduct oneself faithfully and wholeheartedly in God’s presence and do what is pleasing to God”. Further, in the light of the gospel, we are reminded that all laws are meant for good, for the good of oneself and of others. No law is good if it goes against the good of the other. No other law is greater than the supreme law of charity. This is not a hint or an excuse or a defence for being lawless. In fact, a violation of a law is a violation of the collective good. To be truly lawful is to be responsible and charitable. We must then constantly check and see whether all our rules and regulations, traditions, and practices are oriented to promote good. Or at times are we becoming legalistic and rigid, neglecting and failing in concern and charity?
Direction: Let our following of rules not be a disguise for self-righteousness or self-projection. Let us be law-abiding citizens and faithful, submitting ourselves to the supreme law of charity. Let our whole concern be good conduct that pleases God and does good to others
16 JULY 2022: MICAH 2. 1-5; MATTHEW 12. 14-21
Thrust: Wickedness is the offshoot of evil-mindedness!
Indicative: Mind is the seedbed of all wickedness. It devises all evil designs and works upon them. Evil thoughts will result in the destruction
1. “Conspiracy” or “devising wickedness” is one common thread that runs in both the readings. In the first reading, we are told about the wicked who are evil-minded. They devise wickedness and work evil on their beds and perform it when the morning dawns. Their wickedness includes greed and covetousness, coercion and grabbing, oppression and injustice.
2. Similarly in the gospel, the Pharisees conspired against Jesus how to destroy him. He was day by day becoming for them a thorn in the flesh. Their self-righteousness, stubbornness, and self-glory led them to heights of jealousy against Jesus. There was no way to stop his authenticity and popularity. Therefore the only way left for them was to finish him off.
3. Being aware of their evil plotting, Jesus withdrew from their sight. His withdrawal however was in no way an act of cowardice or compromise. It was just an act of prudence and patience waiting for his appointed “hour”. He had so much to do and complete. Merely opposing or confronting the Pharisees was not his main agenda. It was only a part of his larger mission of authentic living.
4. If he were to be a coward or escapist, he would have gone into hiding. He would have stopped all his ministry. But he continues his mission. Many continue to follow him and he healed them all. He was totally faithful to fulfilling His Father’s will.
5. His Father’s will is not to fight or make noise, not instigate the crowds, or intimidate the authorities. It was not to a mission of destruction but reconstruction of new hearts and lives. It was a mission of justice coupled with charity. His whole focus was to remain as God’s “servant whom He had chosen, God’s beloved with whom His soul is well pleased”.
Imperative: When opposition and afflictions come on our way, when evil forces join together to trouble us and put us down, what is our attitude and reaction? Do we persevere undauntedly or do we succumb to the pressure and give up?
(REFLECTION 2 FROM 2021, JULY 17)
Focus: Good will always meet with resentment and resistance. The reason is that it creates a bad taste in the bad flock and remains as not palpable and digestible
We wonder whether there was any single day left during the ministry of Jesus when he had no trouble from the Pharisees and scribes. As the Lord was ever active with God’s work, they were super active with the evil work. As Jesus was vibrantly preaching the gospel, they were vehemently spreading evil, plotting against him. As he was tirelessly engaged in healing, they were ceaselessly engrossed in sickening minds and hearts. As he was expelling the demons, they were more and more demon-possessed. He was offering sight to the blind, but they were getting more and more blinded interiorly. He was offering new life to many, but they were immersed in the old life of stubbornness, self-righteousness, jealousy, hatred, and wickedness. That is why, we see in today’s gospel that the Pharisees went out and took counsel against him, on how to destroy him.
But it is impressive to note! This makes no difference in the mission of Jesus. He was not in panic. He does not sit with his disciples and plan out the strategies. His focus does not change. His determination does not shake. His courage does not waver. His enthusiasm does not dwindle. Many continue to follow him. He heals all. But he orders all his beneficiaries not to make him known. He needs no human publicity or recommendations to win the favour of the Pharisees or to gain popularity. His whole focus is to accomplish the mission entrusted to him by the Father like a true suffering servant in the Old Testament. His sole intention is to remain always as the beloved of God with whom God’s soul is well pleased. Amidst all opposition and evil, Jesus too continued his “nights of watching” to liberate the people from the bondage of sin.
(REFLECTION 3 FROM 2020, JULY 18)
Focus: Evil will never remain at rest and thus Faith and goodness are always challenged and assaulted, but they should go undeterred and undaunted because God is on the side of the just
Support or opposition, praise or blame, belief or unbelief, following or blocking, benevolent or destructive – nothing of these mattered much for Jesus. His sole intention and focus was God’s will and doing good to the people, through his preaching and healing. He was totally clear about the meaning and destiny of his life. The purpose and the value of life do not consist in fighting for oneself, defending, proving, and establishing oneself. Rather it is to fight evil, to sustain, and foster faith and good. In this process surely some damage will happen to the self and personal preferences. Ego hurts will be there and even undeserving suffering will follow. But all these should not deter one from his focus on the Lord and loyalty to his mission. Jesus never allowed himself to be cowed down by the negativity that constantly confronted him. His spirit of mercy and zeal was undaunted, and nothing could reduce it or restrict it. In fact, on one hand, we need to be thoroughly aware that evil is very strong and prevalent. This is what we hear from prophet Malachi, of those who “plan iniquity, who work out and do evil, who cheat and grab from others”. But on the other hand, we need not be perturbed much because God Himself would intervene and settle the scores with them, in judgment and justice.
Direction: Many times we spend and consume most of our energies in fighting against the negative, and very little time and energy for promoting the positive. Let us be intent on being positive and productive.
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