30th week days mass reflection of the year 22

24 - 29 OCTOBER 2022, HOLY MASS REFLECTIONS 24 OCTOBER 2022: EPH 4.32 – 5.8; LUKE 13. 10-17 Thrust: Be straight! Indicative: The world of today is truly crippled in many ways. It needs the healing touch of God 1. We are familiar with one old famous hymn, “The world stands in need of liberation, Lord.” This is exactly the urgent need of our world. It is bound by various bonds. These comprise immorality, impurity, covetousness, filthiness, foolishness, deception, disobedience, and emptiness – in the light of the first reading. 2. The gospel denotes these enslaving bonds as disabling spirits, being bent over, and not being able to straighten up. All these are the signs and effects of evil, the influence of Satan. This bounded and unfree situation is clearly indicated in the gospel by a disabled woman for eighteen years. 3. She was bent over and could not walk straight. This is contrary to the followers of Christ. Those who follow him will not walk in darkness, will not stumble but will walk in the light, and walk steadily. It is because Christ is the true light of the world. Those who follow him are the children of light and walk in the light. 4. To walk in the light is to walk in love in imitation of Christ who loved us and gave himself up for us. Concretely this will mean being kind to one another, tender-hearted, and forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave us. 5. Just as the disabled woman gets healing from the Lord, we too need healing. Sin has bent us and we are not able to walk straight and steady. We need to be loosed and freed from our different bonds, enumerated above. 6. Our greatest confidence and consolation is God’s abiding mercy. He himself takes the initiative, sees our plight, calls us over, lays his hands upon us, and says the same words that he uttered to the disabled woman, “My sister, my brother, you are freed from your disability.” All that is needed is to allow the Lord to touch us and heal us. Imperative: For healing, for freedom from the bonds that bound us, there is no fixed time. Any time is a good and appropriate time. Let us not bind God too with our human bonds. God is beyond all Sabbath and He is the Lord of the Sabbath (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2021, 25 OCTOBER) Focus: True freedom is not really the possibility to have one’s own way of likes and pleasures. True freedom is to be released from slavery to sin 1. Freedom is a priced gift in human life. Nothing can match it. Slavery is always resented and resisted. The reason is it reduces human dignity and respectability. It restricts and restrains one’s scope to pursue what one likes and prefers. Slavery and bondage make the person bound and burdened. Therefore, there is always the struggle to extricate oneself from all the forces and pressures that try to subdue a person’s free spirit. 2. The desire to be free is for sure natural and needed. But the problem with many is a wrong understanding of freedom and false ways and means to gain it. For many, freedom is just the license to do whatever one prefers and prefers. Accordingly, freedom is equated with the unbridled seeking of comfort, pleasure, and gratification. In concrete, it will amount to indiscipline, irresponsibility, disorder, self-gain, and self-pleasure. Thus, in the name of freedom, there is so much disrespect, defiance, and rebellion, so much violence and destruction. But this is all false freedom. 3. It is in this context, God’s word, and Jesus clarifies to us what is true freedom. True freedom is liberation from sin and evil. In Paul’s words in Romans 8. 12-17, it is freedom from slavery to the flesh; it is to put to death the deeds of the body. It is to live according to the Spirit. It is to be the children and heirs of God. It is to be led by the Spirit of God. 4. This is what Jesus indicates in the healing of a woman who had had a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years. Both the cause and effect of this infirmity are explicitly mentioned. The cause is Satan. This becomes clear in Jesus’ healing words: “Ought not this woman whom Satan bound for 18 years be loosed from this bond?” The effect is: she was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. 5. This is very true. Sin sickens us. It bends us to be curved and crooked. It takes away the true freedom to enjoy the health and the joy of life. We need to be freed from our longstanding sicknesses, mainly the moral and the spiritual. We need to become straight and upright in our walking. Direction: Sin and evil are the greatest infirmities. They make us bent and stumble. We need healing. Jesus is ever willing. Are we ready to receive his healing touch? (REFLECTION 3 FROM 2020, 26 OCTOBER) Focus: The world is truly under the infirmity and the attack of sin and evil, and it needs healing and liberation, and for this, it must turn to God In the gospel, Jesus heals a woman crippled for 18 years. We are clearly told about what is her infirmity and also the reason for it. She was bent and could not straighten up at all. This is because of an evil spirit. The scene is quite simple but touching. This shows very vividly the personal attention and care of Jesus: he sees the handicapped woman, calls her to him, pronounces words of healing, lays his hands upon her, and heals her. It is very clear that it is Jesus who takes the initiative. He anticipates her need. He does not feel restricted by the Sabbath prohibition. Another notable point is, in healing her, Jesus does not say, I heal you or be healed. Rather, he says, “Woman, you are freed from your infirmity”. He also says to his opponents that Satan had bound her, and she should be freed from her bonds. Thereby, very clearly infirmity or sickness is presented as bondage under evil and true healing is freedom and liberation from that boundedness. The concrete effect of this bondage is to remain bent and not be able to straighten up. Yes, one who is under the influence and the power of evil, is not able to walk steadily in the path of God and good. Instead, to be a healed and freed person implies imitating Christ, to follow his way of love. It calls us to be good, understanding, and forgiving. Direction: We are children of light and therefore we must put aside the works of darkness and learn to walk straight and steady, as most beloved children of God, children of light and imitators of Christ 25 OCTOBER 2022: EPH 5. 21-33; LUKE 13. 18-21 Thrust: Little is big! Indicative: Often people are carried away by what is big and greatness is equated with the bigness of things. But today we are reminded that small things matter 1. St Francis de Sales said, “Perfection is not a little thing but it consists in little things.” There is an often tendency to take for granted small things in life and neglect them. In the process of seeking bigger and greater things, people lose sight of the smaller details of life and let them go off the hand. 2. It is in this context, Jesus draws our attention to the truth that the kingdom of God consists in small little things. Its growth and spread depend not on extraordinary matters but on small ones. Two metaphors of a mustard seed and a little yeast illustrate this point. Both are little. But they have a greater effect. The small mustard seed grows into a big tree and shelters many birds. The little yeast leavens a larger portion of flour. 3. Many of us are accustomed to the culture of the big and mighty. We need to learn to recognise the value of the small things. This applies also to the persons. We need to realise, value and appreciate every person for their basic human dignity. We need to get rid of our materialistic mentality. This treats others only on the basis of what and how much they have, in terms of money, possessions, power, position, name, talent, et cetera. 4. Two such crucial domains where we must cultivate this mystery and value of the little are our faith life and family life. In our life of faith, let us not wait for big opportunities to manifest our spirit of devotion. Every little activity and every little practice of virtue counts a lot. Similarly, in family life too, both husband and wife should be conscious of the fact that the little is big. 5. Love, submission, and fidelity are the essential components that make our little things great, both in our faith and family. In the present times, there is a dominant atmosphere of hatred, resentment, defiance, obstinacy, and infidelity. This is deteriorating the quality, beauty, and joy of our faith life and family life. Imperative: If only a little more love, mutual humility and submission, and fidelity and commitment increase in the practice of religion and the life of family, things will change drastically. The kingdom of God with love, justice, and peace will flourish (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2021, 26 OCTOBER) Focus: Often people misjudge the quality and value by the size and quantity. But they are not always the right criteria. It is on the basis of the quality of the potential to grow and become beneficial 1. In the gospel of Luke 13. 18-21, Jesus gives two similitudes for the Kingdom. They are namely a mustard seed and leaven. Two special characteristics mark them. One is their smallness and the other is their propensity to grow and have a larger effect. The mustard seed is small in its size. But it grows into a big tree and shelters birds. Leaven is also little in its quantity. But when mixed with, it leavens the whole flour. 2. Similarly, the kingdom of God may initially look small and insignificant. It may not make a big impression. But it gradually grows and spreads its branches in all its directions, inviting, including, and involving all irrespectively. It offers shelter and comfort to many. It has a steady and pervasive influence like a small portion of leaven. 3. Thereby, what implications are placed before us? First, do not go by mere appearances, by size or quantity, or status. Do not judge the quality and value of things or persons by their roots and beginnings. Beginnings may be humble but they can grow big. Let us not always be stuck by what appears at the moment but let us also open our eyes wide, look beyond, and envision the hidden potency and propensity. 4. In specific reference to the kingdom, let us not wait only for big factors or opportunities to spread the kingdom of God. Let us begin small. Let us live and promote the kingdom in small little things. Let us not be impatient to expect results quickly and big. What is important is how much we are progressively and steadily growing, and how much we become more and more beneficial to many. Like the little yeast, let us also try to exert a positive influence in whichever situation we are in. As children of God and followers of Christ, we must constructively influence others’ life. 5. In the light of Romans 8. 18-25, this implies a couple of guidelines. One is, to live in undying hope and eagerness waiting for our eternal destiny. The second is, to bear everything with patience with a deep conviction and faith that the sufferings of the present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. The third is, to constantly cooperate with God’s Spirit who wants to set us free from our bondage to decay and obtain the glorious liberty of the children of God. Direction: God wants us to spread His kingdom and for sure He does not expect sudden and spectacular miracles from us. All He wants is that we do our little part with a positive and beneficial heart (REFLECTION 3 FROM 2020, 27 OCTOBER) Focus: It is quality that gives meaning and worth to any quantity, whether big or small. Therefore, what is more important in life is the quality of life and not the quantity of things As God’s children, our primary duty is to seek and spread God’s kingdom. It is a demanding task. But we need not worry much about the vastness or the challenges that beset it. It is enough that we do our part, however little it is. It can be like a tiny mustard seed or a little yeast. The mustard seed is small, but it grows into a tree to shelter many birds. The little yeast leavens a lot of flour. In the same way, our small efforts, blessed by God, become big and great to shelter and help many and to change much. Our actions may seem insignificant and unnoticed. But the effect of them can be very fruit-bearing, tested, and durable in time. It is God who gives growth and fruition and we are only to cooperate. This is in fact how we belong to God and spread it. Direction: The Kingdom of God is not a matter of pomp and show. It is a gradual invisible pervasive influence. It is not a location but a situation of love and faithful relationships, beginning with the family 26 OCTOBER 2022: EPH 6. 1-9; LUKE 13. 22-30 Thrust: Admission rules! Indicative: Heaven is not anyone’s prerogative or privilege. There are no guarantees or shortcuts. The only way and means is to follow the way of the Lord 1. We see a lot of “guarantee” mentality in our society. People go by the strength of guarantees. To some extent, a guarantee may provide some certainty and assurance. But there is also every possibility that one may blindly trust and go ahead, without any reality check. Sometimes, seeking a guarantee may lead to over-expectation and overconfidence and thus to a mentality of negligence and take-for-granted. 2. Today, in the gospel Jesus is cautioning us against this guarantee mentality. He teaches very clearly that acceptance by God and entry into God’s kingdom do not depend merely on religious allegiance or the performance of some activities. They are no guarantees! 3. Mere religious celebrations together (‘we ate and drank in your presence’), or mere common prayer sessions (‘you taught in our streets’) will not guarantee an entrance-pass into the house of heaven. All such guarantees will be upset as Jesus says, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last. 4. The only assurance is “entering through the narrow door.” What does this mean? We derive some implications in the light of the readings. First of all, entering through the narrow door implies shedding off the guarantee mentality. This means that we realise that we do not merit salvation merely on our merits. 5. I do this or I accomplish that and therefore I will be saved or should be blessed. I perform some religious activity or practise some devotion and therefore I will receive God’s favour. Trust in God’s benevolence to grant me what I seek, is good but we cannot forget the fact that all blessing and favour is God’s gratuitous grace and mercy and not our credit. 6. Further, in the light of the first reading, entering through the narrow door implies a sense of responsibility and dutifulness according to each stage and state of life. Children, parents, servants and masters – each category has its own set of duties and principles. It is difficult to be loyal to them. But it is by entering through the narrow door of dutifulness and faithfulness that one will be saved and enter the kingdom. Imperative: The norms for the bondservants in the first reading hold good for us: Obey God, with a sincere heart, not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2021, 27 OCTOBER) Focus: There are no absolute guarantees that assure us of entering into the kingdom of God. There are no firsts and lasts. It is not a matter of the length of the tradition or allegiance to the religion. It is the depth of devotion and adherence to the Lord 1. Who will be saved? How many will be saved? How to enter the kingdom of God? These are always interesting and intriguing questions. To a query by someone, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?”, Jesus addresses these issues. First of all, entering the kingdom of God is not a matter of merely participating in some common religious activities like common meals or common talks. It is a matter of an entire life. It is a consistent walking toward the heavenly Jerusalem. It calls us to enter by the narrow door. 2. What does entering by the narrow door signify? It means not to be men of iniquity. It means that we are not satisfied merely with some common programs. It is to be more and more conformed to the image of Christ. It is to love God in tune with our call and purpose. It is to allow God to justify and glorify ourselves with a life that is just and renders glory to God. 3. Certainly, walking by the narrow door is difficult. By ourselves we are weak. We do not know even how to pray. That is why God Himself comes to our support. For in everything God works for good with those who love Him. The Spirit will help us in our weaknesses. The Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words. He intercedes according to the will of God. 4. Therefore, we can enter the kingdom of God only when we enter through the narrow door. This prompts us to really struggle to fit ourselves to push through the narrow door. God does not want us to go through easy and compromising ways, broad and devouring doors. We also need the humility to realize that it is not the merit of our activities or organizational capacities. It is to walk through the narrow door and constantly knock at the door of the Lord to enter inside. Direction: Are we also among those who begin to stand outside and knock at the door of the master? How can I close my heart to God’s voice and command and go on pleading, “Lord oven to us!”. 27 OCTOBER 2022: EPH 6. 10-20; LUKE 13. 31-35 Thrust: Guts to stand! Indicative: Challenges will never cease. problems will never vanish. But we need to persevere with the strength of the Lord 1. Tremendous was the courage of Jesus. He was warned by some Pharisees that his life was in danger because Herod wants to kill him. But Jesus continues his mission. He does not go into hiding. He does not suspend his ministry for a while till a safe time arrives. He is not intimidated by Herod. That is why he outrightly dares to call Herod a fox, saying, “Go and tell that fox.’ 2. This courage, determination, and perseverance were possible because he was deeply conscious of the purpose of his coming. He knew that he is given a special mission and a specific duration. He knew he has to accomplish the task. He also knew that it would involve suffering and death. But he does not run away from it or evade it. That is why Jesus remarks: “I cast out demons today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course.” 3. He was always focused on his mission. He never allowed any worldly or human factor to distract or deviate him from this singular purpose. With tender love, he feels anguished over the stubbornness and rejection of the people. He laments, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing.” 4. God was his greatest strength and support. He would not budge. True to the words in the first reading, he put on the whole armour of God so that he was able to stand against the schemes of the devil. The truth was his belt; righteousness, the breastplate; prompt readiness, his shoes; faith, his shield; salvation, the helmet; the word of God is the sword of the Spirit Imperative: To live a faithful life is like waging a fierce battle. The battle is tough and the enemy, the devil is very strong. Therefore take up the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day and stand firm 28 OCTOBER 2022: EPH 2. 19-22; LUKE 6. 12-19, SAINTS SIMON AND JUDE Thrust: Well-founded and firm! Indicative: We all belong to the one house of God whose cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. Apostles are the foundation on whose faith this dwelling place is built 1. Saints Simon and Jude are celebrated on 28 October. These are two among the Twelve Apostles. Simon was an ex-zealot and Jude was a cousin of the Lord. The first thing to note is that among many disciples the twelve apostles were specially chosen and named as apostles. Thereupon, the apostles lived with him, were taught by him, and accompanied him. 2. In sum, they shared their entire life with him. They enjoyed personal intimacy with him. They were specially trained by him in wisdom and faith. They listened to him attentively. They were enlightened and guided. They were nourished and strengthened. 3. What marks them is while their master was alive with them physically, they witnessed his life and mission personally. After his death, they became witnesses to the same life and mission of their Lord. They were so touched by their master and empowered by the Holy Spirit that they bore witness to him even by their martyrdom. 4. Their faith and mission are our rich heritage. We are well built on the foundation of their faith. We are reminded that we are all fellow citizens in the same household of God. Jesus himself is the cornerstone. We can be sure that this spiritual structure will not crumble or collapse because it is God’s own structure built on the apostles. 5. Their life of faith and mission also indicates to us that we are also sharers of the rich legacy. We also shoulder the same mission of proclaiming God’s word and healing sicknesses, both the exterior and the interior. Imperative: We are also called and sent to continue the same mission of the apostles. We need to be powerful proclaimers and healers like the master and his apostles. But does power come out from us whenever we are on his mission? (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2021) Focus: Our vocation always carries with it a profound sense of sacredness because it is the Lord’s choice. It is always his gratuitous grace that we must constantly strive to live up 1. Today we celebrate the feast of two of the Twelve Apostles of the Lord, namely Saints Simon and Jude. Simon was a zealot, an anti-Roman nationalist group member. Jude was a cousin of the Lord and author of the epistle of Jude. They preached in Mesopotamia and Persia. They were chosen from among many disciples and named apostles. 2. This is the first thing to note. We are chosen by the Lord. This implies that it is God’s initiative, his free gift. It is not like the other professions where one qualifies himself by fulfilling the requirements. But our vocation is not due to our qualifications or competence. It is not because we deserve it. Rather he qualifies us by choosing us lovingly. 3. He calls us by name. This implies that our vocation is something deeply personal. Each one is related personally to the Lord. Every called person is intimately united with the Lord by an authentic life and is fervently committed to him by an effective mission. 4. Unity is our identity mark as disciples at his feet and apostles on our feet. Being his disciples in prayer and being apostles on his mission must always go together. That was what Jesus did: In communion with the Father and in Commitment to His will. Our constant striving is to be joined to the Lord as the cornerstone and grow into a holy temple in the dwelling place of God in the Spirit. 5. However, this spiritual communion is not enough. Fraternal communion is also a must. We are no longer strangers and sojourners, not only toward God but also toward one another. We are fellow citizens and members of one and the same household. Direction: Our life and mission can become more credible and effective if there is more spiritual communion and fraternal communion. We must constantly remind ourselves that we are his disciples in intimacy and his apostles in vibrancy (REFLECTION FROM 2020) Focus: Loving the Lord leads to living with him and that leads to living for him, to the extent of dying for him We celebrate the feast of Saints Simon and Jude, two among the twelve apostles of the Lord. Simon was a zealot, a member of the nationalist party of zealots who were resistant to Roman rule. Jude was a cousin of the Lord, the son of Joseph’s brother, Cleophas. Jude authored an epistle. Jude is also the patron of desperate causes, the saint of last resort. Whatever be these details, what is important for us to note is, they were chosen by the Lord to be his disciples. They lived with him. They experienced his love, power, and wisdom in intimacy with him. They drew their light, direction, and strength from him. And they set out as apostles to share what they themselves had experienced in Mesopotamia and Persia. Today as we venerate them for their life and mission, we are called to reflect on our own vocation and mission. Backgrounds do not matter. What we were before being called, is not important. But what we become, how we live, and what we do, are most important. So, like these apostles, we too are called to be his disciples, to live constantly in his proximity, in humility to learn, in intimacy to love, and in guidance to walk. We are also called to be his apostles on his mission, to take him and his message to the world through word and action. Can we learn something from these saints? Direction: The value of our vocation does not depend on our past backgrounds or present status or achievements. But it mainly consists in being close to the Lord and working for him on his mission 29 OCTOBER 2022: PHIL 1. 18-26; LUKE 14, 7-11 Thrust: Honours or honour? Indicative: It is a wrong idea that honours and positions are considered marks of honour and dignity. Real honour does not come from honours but from an honourable character 1. God chose us before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless. But what a contrast it is that people of the world choose to be unholy and blameworthy! God chose us for heaven but people choose the world. God chose us for eternal life but many seek temporal life and its fulfillment. This is certainly a spirit of low and lowered choices. 2. This contrasting and lowered choice can be indicated by the invitees to a pharisee’s house in the gospel. They were crazily seeking places of honour. This is because of the common misconception that a person’s greatness and honour are seen by the place or position he occupies. 3. In such a context, Jesus makes it clear that positing and seeking honour in places or ranks or titles or posts is wrong. Real honour must come not from the place but character. What is important is not the place of the person but the person who occupies that place. 4. A person should not be adjudged or rated high or low on the basis of honours. The only criterion must be his honourability. We become honourable when we try to live honourable lives. We will be honoured by God himself when we seek to honour him. And we can bring honour to God only when we humble ourselves in humility and exalt God in surrender and loyalty. 5. This positive honouring is seen in St Paul. He always chose not to do honour to him but to God. He accepted all his suffering and persecution as a way of honouring God in his body. He never chose what was self-oriented but always God-oriented. He had no preferences except the preferences of God. 6. Whether he lives or dies, his only choice and effort is to do God’s will, to please Him, and bring glory to Him through bringing many to God (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2021, 30 OCTOBER) Focus: Everyone seeks to be honourable and honoured. But real honour does not come from places of honour. Rather real honour comes from character. Thus, one who is with an honourable character is always humble 1. “Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he humbles himself will be exalted”, this is one of the outstanding and popular teachings of Jesus. He brings our attention to humility. Humility is not just one of the many virtues. It is the link for all the virtues. It is the bottom line, the base, the foundation on which all the other virtues are built. Without humility, all the other virtues lose their charm and credibility 2. Jesus, being a guest of honour at a leading Pharisee’s house, watches them seeking places of honour. He seizes upon the opportunity to offer a lesson on humility. Jesus makes it clear that the more one is high in power and position, the more he must be humble. 3. In fact, a person does not become honourable by his honourable place or position but by his honourable character. Powers and positions are external and they do not replace a person’s internal character. They can be concrete means of expressing a good character. 4. In fact, true honour comes not from position to person. Rather, it must go from the person to the position. In that sense, it is the person that gives honour to the chair and not so much the chair that gives honour to the person. External honours must complement the inner honour of the person and not substitute or cover up for what is lacking internally. 5. True humility can come only from a genuine awareness and repentance over one’s fragility and unworthiness. It also has an overwhelming acceptance of God’s holiness. This double awareness is corroborated by the ready recognition of others’ goodness and greatness. When this threefold humility is present, then surely a person becomes pleasing in God’s sight and God exalts him. Direction: It is high time that the church learns to stop the malicious musical chair for power and position, seeking a false dignity and honour in them. They should realize that real honour comes from a sound character and not from honours (REFLECTION 3 FROM 2020, 31 OCTOBER) Focus: Being good is mandatory and Doing good is obligatory. So it must be always with a genuine spirit of humility and responsibility, and not make a show Jesus never misses a chance to put things in the right perspective. Today, he goes as a guest of a leading Pharisee. He notices how people seek places of honour. He uses this occasion to teach about humility. He declares one of the outstanding teachings, “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted”. Humility adds value and splendour to the whole character and greatness of a person. All the capacities and talents of a person can fall short if they lack humility. Humility does not mean that one debases himself, or resigns himself only to poor grades. Humility does not mean that one despises one’s worth. It also does not mean that one goes around professing and proclaiming his weaknesses. This is all a defective and deficient humility. True humility is essentially truthfulness, being true to oneself. It recognises the overwhelming greatness and holiness of God, and before him our own fundamental unworthiness. It also recognises the due dignity and respectability of others irrespectively. More importantly, humility deeply knows that real worth does not depend on external powers, positions, and honours. The true worth of a person consists in one’s pure heart, sound character, humble surrender to God, and committed benevolence. This is the same humility that adorned and guided Paul. He always sought to exalt Christ through his person and ministry. He always strove for the progress and happiness of others. Direction: It is not the places and chairs of power and honour that make one great, but the sincerity of heart, integrity of life, and magnanimity of relationships