26 SEPTEMBER – 01 OCTOBER 2022: HOLY MASS REFLECTIONS
26 SEPTEMBER 2022: JOB 1. 6-22; LUKE 9. 46-50
Thrust: To be truly great!
Indicative: The only way to be great is to be small and totally surrendered to God like a little child and to be magnanimous and accepting toward all
1. The desire and the pursuit for greatness is nothing new. It has been perennial. Everyone seeks to be great. There is nothing wrong with the desire itself. But what goes wrong is the way people understand greatness and the ways and means they employ to obtain it. Basically when the very concept and idea itself goes wrong, then the process of the means also will go wrong.
2. This is one big problem of today’s world. Many think wrongly of greatness. They reduce it to mere quantity and number and not quality. They equate it to mere having and doing. What does this mean? That is, to be great is to have lots of money, capabilities, possessions, comfort, power, position, and influence. It is to do lots of things, activities, and accomplishments.
3. This is a wrong conception of greatness. This is worldly and entirely contrary to the conception of true greatness. This is not compatible with the teaching of Jesus. Jesus teaches us today what is true greatness. He corrects the worldly thinking and craving for greatness of his disciples who were engaged in a serious argument about who was the greatest.
4. For this corrective, he sets a child as the reference point. First, he takes a child and puts him “by his side”. This indicates that to be great is to be “by the side” of Jesus and “on his side”. That is to be great is to be in company and closeness with Jesus. It also means to support and continue the mission of Jesus.
5. Then, to be great is to be able to “receive a child in Jesus’ name”. It implies that we should not go by external impressions or labels or calculations. For, a child usually does not commend much respect and honour. A child is not taken so seriously. But a truly great person respects even the small and insignificant and accepts such persons gladly because he does it in the Lord’s name and not from a human perspective.
6. Further, to be truly great is “to be least among all”. Humility is the greatest mark of true greatness. Greatness does not show off and does not dominate or override others. Greatness is not puffed up with haughty eyes and an arrogant heart. The more one is high, the more he lies low.
7. Still further, true greatness also implies not being jealous or negatively competitive, or suppressive of the growth of others. The disciples stop someone from casting demons in Jesus’ name because he did not belong to their group. But Jesus tells them not to stop him because after all he is not against Jesus and he is only doing good in his name.
8. The message of greatness becomes very strong and clear in the first reading in the example of Job. True greatness is faith and faithfulness. Job did not lose his faith or did not turn away from his faithfulness even when he was tested. He lost all his property and children as well. He was reduced to utter misery. Yet he persisted to be blameless and upright, fearing God and turning away from evil.
Imperative: Greatness does not come from possessions and positions. We become great by being childlike and humble, by becoming accommodative and benevolent toward others
(REFLECTION 2 FROM 2020, 28 SEPTEMBER)
Focus: Real greatness does not depend on having many things or doing many great things, but only in a spirit of humility and surrender
“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I go back again. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away” – These are the words of Job as he loses everything and becomes a despicable pauper. Words that reveal a most profound spirit of detachment and surrender. A spirit that is rare and imitable! He loses all his properties and possessions, he loses his own sons and daughters, the greatest of all his possessions. But he is not shattered, he is not shaken in his faith. As the Word of God in the first reading reminds us, Job was truly a righteous and just man, because he was “blameless and upright, fearing God and avoiding evil”. Riches or no riches, success or no success, comforts or no comforts of life, nothing would make a change in his faith and loyalty to God.
This was the greatness, which Jesus teaches in today’s gospel. Job’s greatness is not something worldly, based on material abundance. His greatness was truly his unshaken faith and a deep interior detachment even amidst all the prosperity. In Jesus’ words, this is the true greatness that is not based on worldly factors like money, power, position, fame, competence, etc. This is the greatness that humbles itself to be “the least among all”, which does not make a show or display one’s importance, which does not argue about being the greatest. This is the greatness that acknowledges the greatness of others and learns to treat everyone with due respect. This is irrespective of one’s age or state. This is what Jesus implies when he says, “Whoever receives a child in my name, receives me”, because normally no one thinks especially of respecting a child, and a child is taken rather lightly.
Direction: True greatness does not trumpet or impose one’s greatness on others. It consists in duly recognising others’ greatness and helping them to become great
(REFLECTION 3 FROM 2021, 27 SEPTEMBER)
Focus: Greatness in the sight of God is totally different from greatness in the sight of the world. God looks at the goodness and largeness of heart and life, while the world looks at the bigness of status and quantity of things
1. There arose an argument among the disciples of Jesus as to who is the greatest. Greatness is an issue and temptation that affects and infects everybody. The disciples too were no exception. They too had their human weaknesses and liabilities. In the first place, this clearly shows that just because we are followers of Christ, we are not exempted from the assaults of the evil one. There are no guarantees that we will not be tempted or will not fall. Therefore, we must always be humble and alert and avoid being complacent and arrogant. Our status or power is no foolproof or resistant against the evil one.
2. Greatness does not consist in overriding others to climb to the highest or overbeating them to be first in the race. It is to be the last and the least in terms of human recognition and honor. At times social obligations may obligate us to accept honor and applause. Here the point is that we do not unduly seek such worldly paddings. We should always cultivate a lowly disposition even amidst an elevated position.
3. A great position does not make one great. Rather, it is the greatness of his heart and dedication that adds greatness to his position. Note it is the heart and conduct that make a position great, and not the other way. External greatness without this inner greatness is shallow and a sham.
4. Further, true greatness also implies receptivity toward all, irrespective of their age or importance. In Jesus’ words, this is to receive a child in the Lord’s name. It means to be receptive and respectful toward all, making no difference or discrimination. A child is normally taken lightly and regarded as insignificant.
5. Most fundamentally, in the light of the first reading from Zechariah, true greatness consists in totally belonging to God. It is to trust wholeheartedly that God would save His people from all. It is to confide in Him even amidst all slavery and misery. It is to become “His people”, in faithfulness and righteousness. It is to do things in favor of him.
Direction: In a world where there is steep competition for greatness crushing over others, the followers of Christ are invited to make space for others to work together for the common good of humanity. Let us remember the words of Jesus: “Do not forbid him (he who casts out demons but
does not follow with us); for he that is not against you is for you”
27 SEPTEMBER 2022: JOB 3. 1-3, 11-17, 20-23; LUKE 9. 51-56
Thrust: Directed to destiny!
Indicative: In the face of our infidelity and failures, God is not hasty to condemn and destroy us. He waits patiently. But what is our attitude and how do we go about it?
1. Suffering and affliction is the lot of all. No one is exempt from it. The difference between humans is not about having or not having troubles and problems. The difference is in how we look at them, how we face them, and respond to them.
2. There can be different kinds of reactions. Some are easily upset when they come across some difficulty. They may become agitated and violent. They may begin to criticise or lament. They may become depressed or cynical. They may be shaken in their faith and may even give up. They may quit their journey of authenticity and commitment.
3. Some of these negative reactions are found in today’s gospel. A Samaritan village rejects Jesus because of the prejudice or jealousy against the Jews as Jesus was set toward Jerusalem. James and John become annoyed and furious and want to destroy them by fire from heaven.
4. But some others remain steadfast. The more they are tested, the more they remain rooted and loyal. The trials do not succeed to discourage them but challenge them and strengthen them. Jesus is emblematic of this positive mind. He does not condemn the non-receptive Samaritans and rebukes the disciples’ wish for their destruction.
5. Instead, he moves ahead on his journey toward Jerusalem. He is not disheartened nor is he deterred in his focus and mission. A similar example of perseverance is seen in Job in the first reading. The happy, prosperous and highly honoured Job becomes a man of despise and respite. He too laments intensely over his misery which is so vividly depicted in today’s text.
6. All this description shows us only the intensity of his deprivation and misery. It is not a sign of his hopelessness and wavering in faith. He persists in his faith and righteousness. St Vincent de Paul whom we commemorate today is a great example of this perseverance and fidelity. He dedicated his priestly life to preaching and founded the Congregation of the Priests of the Mission or Lazarists (Vincentians). He also spent his life in selfless service, especially to the slaves. He is renowned as the “Great Apostle of Charity”.
Imperative: Both Job and Jesus invite us to check our own reactions and response in the face of adversities and afflictions, especially for the sake of our faith and values. Do we persevere and continue our journey valiantly?
(REFLECTION 2 FROM 2021, 28 SEPTEMBER)
Focus: When our focus is clear and set on the goal, nothing can stop us on the way. It will be a forward march
1. In the gospel we find Jesus is turned, directed toward Jerusalem. Jerusalem was the destined place of his last phase. It is where his ill fate of suffering and death awaits him. But it is not merely a place of his final destiny on earth. It in fact symbolizes his whole sense of focus, direction, and determination. He was always conscious of his mission and he would never shirk from it.
2. He was also conscious of the challenge and the struggle of this mission. He never lost sight of the truth that this involves a lot of misunderstanding, rejection, persecution, and finally an ignominious death. An impending ill fate would be certainly frightening. But he never allowed himself to be frightened.
3. The rejection by the Samaritans would naturally bring ego hurt. Perhaps this was the case with Jesus' disciples. Their ego was hurt: such a popular master, such a holy teacher was rejected. They feel sad and angry at people's unbelief. They feel they should be punished. Therefore, they wish to bid fire from heaven and consume them.
4. Apparently, it is zeal for their master, to safeguard his honor. It is also a corrective and just measure, to make people more conscious and responsible. Their punishment would be a lesson to all others about destruction as an effect of rejection.
5. But they did not realize that suffering and death are inevitable for salvation. It is part of God's plans and purposes. Therefore, any attempt that thwarts such a journey of destiny would be indeed against God's mission itself. Jesus would never allow it. That is why Jesus rebukes his disciples.
6. What God wants is not the destruction of the sinners but the destruction of their sin. He wants their repentance and conversion. In the light of the first reading, God wants His people to recognize that He is their God and is with them, just as the other nations acclaim it.
Direction: God always offers His message of salvation and also the needed grace to receive and follow it. But sin rejects it. What about us – do we receive and follow or reject it?
28 SEPTEMBER 2022: JOB 9. 1-12, 14-16; LUKE 9. 57-62
Thrust: Surrender and follow!
Indicative: Whatever may happen in our life, good things or bad things, right things or wrong things, positive or negative, there is only one right thing that should guide us and that is priority to God
1. Today’s word of God places before us three essential features or conditions of a true follower of God, a disciple of Christ. They are namely, focus, detachment, and commitment. To begin with, we see all these three in Job and how he proves himself to be a true man of God. Despite and amidst the total misery that struck him, he remains focused on God, on His sovereignty and holy will. He is deeply detached from any worldly allurements and attachments. He is fully committed to surrendering his life to Him and remaining loyal come what may.
2. The gospel text presents before us three men at the threshold of discipleship. All three encounter the invitation to follow Jesus but all three fail because they lack the three essential prerequisites. They were not focused, not detached, and committed. Hence no discipleship.
3. Now let us test this first man in the light of the three conditions and features of discipleship. He fails in all three: he was not focused on the goal of being with the Lord. He was not clear on the priorities, namely following the Lord and proclamation of the kingdom. There was no detachment, as he is not ready to detach/part from securities. He was not committed to the following of the Lord and the life, the work/mission of the Lord. He declines the call, is not ready to follow the demands of Jesus, and thus fails to be a disciple.
4. Now let us also test this second man in the light of the three conditions and features of discipleship. He too fails in all three: he was not focused on the goal of being with the Lord. He was not clear of the priorities, namely following the Lord and proclamation of the kingdom. He was not prompt in his acceptance of the call. There was no detachment, as he is not ready to leave the family attachments and obligations. He was not committed to following the Lord, readily living with him, and working for his kingdom. He declines the call, the demands of Jesus, and fails to become a disciple.
5. Now here too, we shall test this third man in the light of the three conditions and features of discipleship. He too fails in all three: he was not focused on the goal of being with the Lord. He was not clear of the priorities, namely following the Lord and proclamation of the kingdom. Laying hands on the plough and looking behind shows there is no focus but is attached to what was left behind (the past). He did not give the first place to follow the Lord, did not see the urgency in it. He was not prompt in his acceptance of the call. There was no detachment, as he is not ready to leave the family ties or attachments. He was not committed to following the Lord, belonging to the spiritual family, and working for his kingdom. He declines the call, the demands of Jesus, and fails to become a disciple, and Jesus too declares him to be “not fit” for the kingdom.
Imperative: Following the Lord is not a part-time job. It is not one option among many others. It demands a clear and wholehearted priority to Jesus and his mission
29 SEPTEMBER 2022: FEAST, ARCHANGELS, DANIEL 7. 9-10, 13-14; JOHN 1. 47-51
Thrust: The angelic love of God!
Indicative: God always loves us and works for us. Angels become His holy heavenly assistants to channel this love and work and bring them to completion
1. We celebrate today the feast of the three archangels, namely Sts Michael, Raphael, and Gabriel. We owe deep gratitude and veneration to them. They are not only in the heavenly court, in God’s most holy presence, ever in His worship. They are also so actively involved in our life and salvation.
2. All three work on our behalf. All the three man three key functions: Confirming, curing, and communicating. St Michael confirms us, that is, makes us firm against Satan. St Michael is the army chief who is unceasingly engaged in the battle against Satan. Like a true warrior, he wages a fearless war against evil. He also encourages, sustains, and strengthens us in our constant battle against evil.
3. St Raphael heads the health department. He cures us from our sicknesses and infirmities. He renders a healing touch to our sick and wounded spirits. He enables us to live sane and healthy lives. This healing is not only and not necessarily concerning physical unwellness but much more the holistic well-being.
4. St Gabriel is in charge of the communication wing. He transmits the messages and the directions from God to the destined persons or communities. He gives clarity regarding God’s will and ways and helps in the process of discernment of God’s plans and their implementation.
5. In fact, all these three are not three separate and independent wings of individual functions. They go together. Only then, our life will be one integrated whole. Our life is meaningful and joyful only when there is constant resistance and fight against evil, only when we recover from our infirmities and regain health, and only when we receive and understand God’s will and plans.
6. Further, these three are actually symbolic and indicative of three essential aspects of God’s own powers and interventions in our life. The three archangels and their duties are significative that God is ever “combative”, “curative” and “communicative” in favour of the humans.
Imperative: The festivity of the archangels is a summon for us to be ever grateful toward God for His unceasing care and concern for us to lead an integrated life. It also calls us in turn to become warriors, healers, and communicators toward others
(REFLECTION 2 FROM 2021)
Focus: God is ever-caring and ever-providing. He is ever alert and prompt in His attention and cares for us
The feast of the three archangels is a clear confirmation of God’s own unfailing concern and providential care toward us. God’s benevolence is not something sporadic that is shown in occasional miracles and isolated favours. His love and compassion are consistent and incessant. Accordingly, the veneration of the archangels is not so much the veneration of 3 individual heavenly beings. Rather it is the veneration of 3 aspects of God’s own benevolence toward us: St Michael stands for the spirit and power of God against evil, St Raphael, the healing power of God, and St Gabriel, the collaborative communication of God’s plans for human wellbeing.
Thus, in St Michael, we see that God is always in battle with evil. This indicates that we too must never side with evil, but resist and fight against it. The whole struggle of our life must be “against” evil and “for” good and God. Whenever we fight against evil, it would mean that we are on the side of God. Every effort against evil is divine and collaboration with God.
Then, in St Raphael, we see that God is on a relentless mission of healing. He knows that we are constantly wounded and bruised. He knows that we need healing. So, He offers us healing through the archangel Raphael. We are also reminded that we who receive healing, must also extend the same healing to others, who are always under the infective effect of sin and evil.
Then, in St Gabriel, we see that God is ever in communion and communication with us. He helps us to receive, understand and follow His messages.
Further, the three archangels also remind us of the “participatory” and “delegating” functioning of God: Even though God is all-powerful and all-efficient, He does not absolutize or monopolize power. Rather He makes others partners and participants with Him. This can be a corrective directive for all of us, especially against our frequent tendencies for domination and monopoly over others.
Direction: The three C’s of archangels, namely Combatting, Curing, and Communicating are symbols of the big C which is the Care of God.
30 SEPTEMBER 2022: JOB 38. 1, 12-21; 40. 3-5; LUKE 10. 13-16
Thrust: Repent and relive!
Indicative: To believe is to repent, repair and renovate life. Lack of faith is not only a matter of beliefs and doctrines but is a matter of trusting in God and entrusting wholly to Him
1. Self-pride and self-glory are two ugly trends that are reigning high in the present society. These are affecting adversely both the individual life and the collective life. The quality of life is declining and also the beauty and depth of inter-relationships are also at a lower ebb. This results in a heightened spirit of selfishness and self-righteousness.
2. Consequently, people become dominant and despise others, oversizing themselves and minimising others. They become blind to the good in others and the good of others. They also become blind to their imperfections and defects.
3. This is exactly a culture of unbelief and lack of faith. When a man becomes full of himself, there is no space for God and others. This is what is affecting our world. Many do not realise the indispensable need for God in our lives. Many do not value and respect the human dignity of others.
4. This is what happened in the case of the cities of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum in the time of Jesus. God’s own love and power were quite vivid before their eyes in and through the life and mission of Jesus. Jesus’ preaching and healing ministry and his authentic living were the strongest proofs urging them to believe and follow Jesus.
5. But they were so stubborn and closed. They felt sufficient by themselves. They contented themselves with their traditions and blind observance of laws. They rejected Jesus and refused his invitation to repent. Thus they forfeit the grace abundantly offered by God through Jesus. Hence, they incur Jesus’ rebuke.
6. In contrast, we find a profound spirit of humility and surrender in Job in the first reading. In the mighty presence of God, Job humbly admits his incapacity to comprehend the incomprehensible mysteries of God. He promptly surrenders himself totally to God. St Jerome whom we commemorate today was also such a soul who was totally surrendered to God in all humility and committed to God’s work in all fervour.
Imperative: God readily accepts and tolerates and condones any weakness and failure. But He detests arrogance and obstinacy. They block repentance and faith
(REFLECTION 2 FROM 2022, 12 JULY, in the light of the parallel MATTHEW 11. 20-24)
Thrust: Unbelief is arrogance!
Indicative: The sad thing with many is not that they only do 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. 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.
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 despite 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, a 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, despite 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
(SEPTEMBER 30: MSFS FOUNDER’S DAY, SERVANT OF GOD, PETER MERMIER)
Focus: Every celebration is a sacred occasion for a renewed loyalty to the Lord
Today the MSFS (Missionaries of St Francis de Sales) celebrate their Founder’s Day. At the outset itself, let us get it clear that the purpose is not merely admiration but imitation, not merely veneration but emulation. Let us have a quick look at a few of his statements which reveal to us his person and life. These quotations must teach us, touch us, inspire us, stir us, affect us, challenge us and change us.
1) “I want missions” – this resolve is rooted in deep conviction and passion. It should make us question our own deficient and wrong motivations, shallow and fluctuating compromises and disorientations, and declining dedication. This should charge us to be more motivated, determined, re-oriented, and re-dedicated in our missionary zeal.
2) “The heart of education is the education of the heart” – this calls us to check up on the very quality of us as educated persons, and not merely the ministry of education. Real education is a commitment to values, to holistic growth, it is a cultivation of virtues, it is the promotion and formation of character. Education is a more sacred duty of liberation and transformation of human persons.
3) “You do a thing well when you do it according to God’s will” – the norm or the criterion or the test of performance and excellence of a work does not depend on one’s talent or capacity or competence but on one’s surrender to God’s will.
Direction: Quotations of great people are not only to quote and preach eloquently but to inspire us and transform us.
01 OCTOBER 2022: ISAIAH 66. 10-14c; MATTHEW 18. 1-5, ST THERESA OF CHILD JESUS
Thrust: The only way - Loing surrender!
Indicative: One becomes great not by holding big offices or positions but by nurturing a big heart even to do small, insignificant, and ordinary things. Real greatness is a matter of the heart
1. On October 01, we venerate St Therese of child Jesus. In India, this day is celebrated as a grand feast because she is venerated as the patroness of missions. This looks odd because we know that she never stepped out of her convent to work in the missions. She was just doing the normal duties of her house and community.
2. But why this privileged honour to her, placing her above many missionaries who worked and work tirelessly in the missions? The reason is quite simple: she lived the spirit of mission. The church makes it very clear that mission is not necessarily the place or location of our work; a missionary is not necessarily one who works only in some village conditions, may be remote, without much convenience or facility or connectivity or advantages of modernity.
3. It is not merely the place of work but the spirit of doing that work and way of living. Therese of the child Jesus was truly a missionary on the mission of love. It was a mission of love for God in prayer and surrender. It was a mission of cheer and charity toward her sisters. It was a mission of immense patience and forbearance toward all especially those who were unkind to her.
4. It was a mission of benevolence and sacrifice, magnanimity and generosity. It was a mission of gentleness and tenderness even toward those who would be rude and hurtful toward her. It was a mission of humility and self-abnegation even toward those who would be arrogant and highhanded toward her.
5. She would give only a smile even to those who would frown at her. She would do good even to those who may hurt and harm her. She would be extra kind, especially toward those who were unkind and uncharitable toward her. She would speak more graciously and appreciatively of those who criticise and blame her.
6. Rightly, as she herself exclaimed, her “vocation was to love”. It was that unconditional, intense, unbounded, and selfless love for Jesus that overflowed into an incessant chain of good gestures and actions in charity and holy acts of devotion and sanctity.
7. This was her “little way”. It was little because it was nothing extraordinary, nothing showy, nothing that drew any special attention and applause. It was the little way of doing only little things like a little child with innocence and purity, love and surrender. She perfectly became a little child, given as a model for all to follow.
Imperative: God does not expect from us big and spectacular performances or actions. All that He wants from us is a loving and surrendered heart that does everything as pursuit of holiness and goodness
(REFLECTION 2 FROM 2021)
Focus: The greatness of life is not in the greatness of position but in the greatness of disposition and littleness of heart
Saint Therese of Child Jesus is popularly known as “the Little Flower”. A little flower, fragrant and beautiful, can beautify the whole garland. She is known for her “little way” which is the “way of love” and “way of little virtues”. She did not do extraordinary things but embedded all her way with simple acts of sacrifice, patience, cheerfulness, humility, and forgiveness. Her surrender to Jesus was so childlike and total that she joyfully disposed of herself like a little toy in the hands of child Jesus and let him totally free to do with her whatever he likes. Her death at the young age of 24 testifies to the fact that sanctity and sainthood are not so much matters of age or longevity of life but rather matters of spiritual maturity and depth of life. It is this love for the Lord and benevolence toward others that raised her to be the patroness of missions, even though she never worked in any mission outside the convent.
Today we are reminded that not only the missionaries by the title of their vocation are missionaries, but all of us without exception. Each one called by the Lord to follow His ways is a missionary irrespective of the walk of life. The modes of carrying out this mission may vary depending on whether one is a clergy, religious, or layperson, and depending on the different ministries. But the basic and common factor is: every disciple shares the same mission of the Lord. It is to bring everyone closer to the kingdom of God and to bring God’s kingdom closer to everyone. The mission is to grow in the vicinity and intimacy, in loyalty and commitment to God’s reign. This is a strenuous task, like “lambs among wolves”. It involves risk and challenge and even failure and no worldly securities and supports like a purse, bag, etc. count. But nothing to worry. Everything is in God’s purview and He will sustain and steer everything to its destined end. Evil may threaten to devour the good like wolves devour the lambs. But we, the lambs follow the Lamb of God and have nothing to lose.
Direction: The more we surrender ourselves to Jesus, the more we will experience and exercise true freedom. Accordingly, our preaching becomes convincing when our life is convinced and committed.
