FIFTH WEEK OF LENT 23

27 MARCH – 01 APRIL 2023: HOLY MASS REFLECTIONS 27 MARCH 2023: DAN 13. 41-62; JOHN 8. 1-11 Pivot: Justice and mercy meet! Indicative: In a world where justice and mercy are rapidly diminishing, God stands before us and for us as a model of justice and mercy 1.      Today’s word of God presents before us a God who is ever just and merciful, especially concerning the innocent and victims of injustice and discrimination. In the first reading, it is the innocent Susanna, and in the gospel, it is the condemned adulterous woman 2.      The innocent and the despised may go through suffering and adversity for a while. They may face insult and torture. Everything may look lost and gone. There may not appear any ray of hope and support 3.      It is in such moments God intervenes and acts at His appointed time. Both stories have touching lessons and assurance of God’s abiding compassion and mercy. We may be tested but never abandoned and left to be destroyed. God never despises even the worst sinner 4.      In the light of and in response to this ever-abiding justice and mercy of God, we can draw some directives for our life. They are namely, purity of intention, the principle of justice and fairness, the principle of honesty and self-critique and unfailing trust and surrender to God 5.      Purity of intention: this was what was lacking in the two corrupt judges who made false accusations against Susanna. Their intentions were polluted and perverted. They were led by sexual impulse. Similarly, the intentions of the Jews who caught the woman in adultery were very judgmental and condemnatory toward the sinful woman. They were also cunningly treacherous toward Jesus to trap him in a legal and religious controversy 6.      Principle of justice and fairness: the corrupt judges totally failed in justice and fairness. For the sake of their own gratifying desires, they would victimise so unfairly an innocent and God-fearing woman Susanna. The Jews too were so unjust. Their concern apparently was adherence to the law. But really it was to show themselves righteous. They were also highly discriminating, completely leaving out the man involved in adultery 7.      Principle of honesty and self-critique: The challenge of Jesus, “Let anyone who has no sin, throw the first stone,” is a strong call for self-critique. Why accuse others for a speck in their eye without bothering about the log in one’s own eye? 8.      Unfailing trust and surrender: despite all the odds and discouraging situations, we shall never lose our heart and hope. We must trust deeply in the unfailing love of God for us. We must also believe that He knows what is good for us, the best of it and when and how to do it. Therefore, the best thing is to surrender to him without reserve always and in everything Imperative: God never despises or rejects or condemns anyone, even the worst sinner. Let this assurance impel us to confide in His mercy with genuine repentance (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2022, 04 APRIL) Focus: Truth is often contested and condemned because of false witnesses and wrong judgments. We need to remember that God appreciates a truthful and witnessing life   1.      In today’s word of God, the theme of witness attracts our attention. In the first reading, the innocent Susanna is falsely accused of adultery by false witnesses; but Daniel being filled with the Holy Spirit stands in her cause and bears true witness. In the gospel, Jesus speaks of himself and the Father as the two authentic witnesses in his cause. 2.      It is good to ask, often why there is false witness and judgment. In the words of Jesus, it is because people are led by the flesh and not the Spirit. It is because they know not God, neither the Father nor the Son. It is because they do not have the light of life; they do not follow the light but prefer to walk in darkness. In the similar words of Daniel in the first reading, people witness falsely and judge falsely because beauty deceives them and lust perverts their hearts. 3.      When we too do not know God, do not have and follow the light and walk in darkness, when we too think, speak and act according to the perversions of the flesh, when we do not give abide in truth and do not mind about causing harm to the other, then we too succumb to the falsity of witness and judgment. 4.      What then is the remedy to bear true witness? Like Daniel, we must be open to being filled and led by the Holy Spirit. Thus, we too can stand courageously amidst and against all the falsities. He was just a young lad but stood up because he was with God. He did not feel intimidated to raise a lone voice against the judges, men in authority. He could challenge and rebuke their false judgment because he was led by God and by human power. 5.      Then, unlike the unbelieving Jews, we must personally know Jesus, we must know where he comes from and where he goes. We must know and believe that he came from the Father and goes back to the Father. We must believe that the Father and the Son are one; they bear witness to each other. Further, we must follow Jesus who is the light of the world.   Direction: In times of desperation and crisis, Susanna did not give up hope. She did not question God, nor was she shaken in her faith. She totally surrendered her cause to God. God intervened and vindicated her innocence   28 MARCH 2023: NUMBERS 21. 4-9; JOHN 8. 21-30   Pivot: If you repent, God will relent Indicative: It is typical human nature to waver in their faith and commitment in the face of any slight difficulty. But on God’s part, He is ever faithful and merciful   1.      Ficklemindedness characterises the Israelites. All their gratitude and fidelity shake and crumble at the very instance of any adversity. All the remembrance and praise of God vanish when met with some discomfort and inconvenience. They become annoyed and impatient and are led to grumbling, complaining and blaming God and His leaders 2.      The Jews in the gospel oppose Jesus and the cause is very clear. They belong to the world and what is below. They become blind to the kingdom and the above. This concretely leads them to blind themselves to the identity and mission of Jesus. They fail to see him as intrinsically united with the Father 3.      Jesus’ identity is the same as the Father’s. This is indicated by his twice-affirmation, “I am”. This term recalls the scene of the “burning bush” where God reveals His identity to Moses, “I am who am” 4.      This failure to recognise Jesus’ identity also leads them to the failure to recognise his mission. Jesus’ mission is nothing but doing God’s will and doing what is pleasing to the Father. In this sense, sin is not just something religious or moral. Sin is not merely failing to perform some religious duties and activities. Neither is sin merely a failure in moral adherence. Sin is deeper than this 5.      Sin is more fundamental. On one hand, sin is a fundamental failure to recognise Jesus’ identity and mission, a failure to belong to him, and a failure to belong to the above. On the other hand, it is belonging to the world and the below. It is not believing in the Lord but rejecting Him. Sin is being unstable and disloyal in faith in God. It is turning ungrateful and falling into a spirit of impatient blaming   Imperative: We will do well to “liberate” our concept of sin from a dominantly moralistic and legalistic vestige. Sin is essentially a matter of failure in faith in God, and faithfulness in living according to Him   (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2022, 05 APRIL)   Focus: Many consider faith only a matter of religion and spirituality. Consequently, they reduce it to the practice of some religious activities or believing some doctrines and traditions. But true faith is a matter of relationship and faithfulness to God   1.      “Unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins”, so says Jesus to the Jews in the gospel. This would mean that only faith in him will save them from their sins. But what is this faith that they lack? How is it seen? We see so many signs of lack of faith in both readings 2.       To lack faith is to forget God’s blessings and great favours in our life. The Hebrews, on their way to the Promised Land completely forget the mighty deeds of God during their Egyptian slavery. Subsequently, they become ungrateful and start blaming Moses and God 3.      They forget how God saved them from dying experiences and kept them alive. They conveniently forget how God led them through the Red sea, how He continued to sustain them with water from the rock and Manna from heaven. But they protest to Moses, “Why have you brought us out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food”. Ingratitude and the spirit of complaining and grumbling is another clear sign of a lack of faith 4.       Lack of faith also implies wrong judgment and valuation. The Hebrews regard manna which is God’s own food from heaven as loathsome and worthless food but crave those onions, garlic, and meat, the food of slavery as something desirable and delicious 5.       In the light of the gospel, lack of faith essentially means to be of this world and to be below. For Jesus tells the unbelieving Jews that they do not believe him because “you are from below, I am from above. You are of this world, I am not of this world” 6.       What to do then? How to grow from lack of faith to true faith? Realise our sinfulness and repent for our wrongdoing, as the Hebrews did. Look up to Jesus. Raise our sight and be focused on him, just as all those dead bitten by serpents looked up to the bronze serpent and came back to life. Rise from what is below and worldly. Do not belong and cling to the standards and ways of the world.   Direction: Our faith will be true only when we raise ourselves from this world and belong to God. This concretely manifests itself in doing always the things that are pleasing to God, as Jesus did   (REFLECTION 3 FROM 2021, 23 MARCH)   Focus: To sin may be part of human frailty. But repentance and focus on God will certainly win God's forgiveness and healing   1.       Jesus is united with the Father. He is sent from the Father, listens to Him, and does what pleases Him. But the people do not believe in him and they reject him. The reason is a total contrast between him and the people: he is from above but they are from below; he belongs to God but they belong to the world 2.       This is the same case with regard to the Israelites. They are so earth-bound. Their main botheration in the desert was food and drink, and that too rich and varied. They forget all their misery of slavery in Egypt. They forget the mighty works of God 3.       They even lose sight of the greatest act of liberation, the Exodus. They don’t realise how benevolently God provides them with food from heaven even in the desert. They don’t value and appreciate God’s manifold blessings. They turn ungrateful, grumbling, and blaming. They blame Moses and God as if they liberated the people from Egypt for dying in the wilderness. They call manna a loathsome worthless food 4.       This is all because their perspective, their concerns were in contrast to God’s. Thus, those who are caught up with the world and remain immersed in it will fail in their faith and goodness. They become blind to God and others 5.       So they will die in their own sin. However, if they repent and seek God’s mercy, they would be forgiven and saved, like the Israelites. Yes, those who raise themselves out of the grip of the world, and remain focused on the Lord, will gain eternal life.   Direction: As long as one does not realize one's sinfulness and refuses to accept it and repent for it, one will not receive God's forgiveness and will not change their lives   29 MARCH 2023: DANIEL 3. 14-20, 24-25, 28; JOHN 8. 31-42   Pivot: Trust during the test! Indicative: Tests and trials are bound to happen. We will be pressed by hardships and pressured to escape them and thus defect from truth and commitment. What should be our response?   1.      Freedom is everyone’s craving and search. In itself, it is not wrong. But the problem is often it is a false freedom. It is a false freedom because it is against truth. it shelters itself in sin. It is false also because its effects are slavery and ruin 2.      Ironically, freedom thus becomes slavery to sin. Today many mistake freedom with the licence for every pleasure and gratification. Accordingly, the licence to do whatever I like and prefer has become the criterion for freedom. And the criterion to decide good is temporary gratification and pleasure 3.      In this process and pursuit of false freedom with these wrong criteria, the whole spirit of morality and spirituality is despised and even discarded. It is in this context, the word of God “restores” the true sense of freedom 4.      In the light of the three young men, namely Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego who freely choose death over disloyalty to the true God, we are taught that true freedom is a choice in fidelity to what is right 5.      Even though they were “free” to denounce and renounce their true God, even though they were under the fear of death, still they persevered in their true faith. They preferred to suffer physical death but gain eternal life. They preferred to bear temporal punishment but receive an imperishable reward 6.      Jesus once again clarifies what true freedom is and the way to attain and experience it. “Know the truth and then you will be true”. This implies two aspects:  one, know and believe the Son and abide in his word and become his disciples 7.      Secondly, know also the truth about ourselves. The truth is that we are the children of God and not Satan. We cannot be slaves to sin   Imperative: Freedom cannot be divorced from truth. To be free is to be true and truthful. And to be truthful is to be faithful and authentic   (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2022, 06 APRIL)   Focus: Many seek freedom and it is natural and needed. But they should realise what true freedom is. They should know how to attain it. They should also follow the right means to get it   1.      Freedom is a strong theme for our reflection today. In the first reading from Daniel, three youngsters Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego lose their freedom. They are thrown into the fire because they refuse to worship false gods. They prefer death rather than disloyalty to their true God. They prefer to forfeit their temporary freedom rather than lose their dignity as God’s children. They prefer slavery for the sake of faith rather than slavery to sin 2.       Many think they are free because they have free access to many things and pleasures of the world. As they have the freedom to use or abuse as they like, they imagine themselves to be free beings. Thus, they equate licentiousness and self-indulgence with freedom. But actually, this is nothing but slavery to evil. This is what Jesus clearly teaches: Whoever commits sin is a slave to sin and is not free 3.       Any freedom to do wrong is only false freedom. Any freedom that does not lead and contribute to good and positive is not true freedom. Therefore, freedom is tested by truth. Freedom is true when it abides in truth and promotes truth. Any freedom that endangers truth and indulges in falsity is not freedom but only slavery 4.       That is why Jesus asserts: Know the truth and truth will make you free. The three youngsters knew the truth. They knew that only true God is the highest priority and only obedience to Him is the highest duty. They knew that serving the king or the false gods may bring temporary relief and freedom but it will cause eternal loss and damnation. They were ready to be burnt in the natural fire rather than the fire of hell. They were truthful and faithful to their faith. That is why God miraculously sets them free 5.       On the contrary, the Jews do not see the truth, do not accept it, and follow it. They do not recognise the truth of Jesus, his identity as the Son of God and the Messiah. They do not accept the truth proclaimed by Jesus. They do not realise the truth about their sinfulness and unfaithfulness. They do not realise that Jesus himself is the truth that sets us free. They fail to repent and believe. They fail to live truthful and authentic lives. Instead, they are steeped in hypocrisy.   Direction: We need to constantly reflect and see whether the freedom that we passionately seek and fight for is really making us free people who are not enslaved to sin. Freedom opposed to truth is only false.   (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2021, 24 MARCH)   Focus: Goodwill always is assaulted by evil and will be forced to default and defect. But faith, perseverance, and fidelity will sustain the good.   1.      In the first reading from Daniel, the three youngsters Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego defy the order of the king to worship the false god. They remain faithful to the true God. They know the truth and they continue free to serve the true God. They prefer to obey God rather than please the king. They prefer temporary persecution to eternal damnation. They remain as obedient but free children of God rather than enslaved children of sin. They prefer to die so that they can gain eternal life. No threat, no fear, no force, and no pressure can shake their faith 2.      On the contrary, in the gospel, the Jews fail to know the Truth, Jesus himself. They become blind to recognise his identity, by their shallow following of the laws and traditions. They become slaves of sin. They reject Jesus, the supreme giver, and perfecter of all law. They lose the precious gift of freedom, offered by him 3.      This is what happens in the case of anyone who is blind to the truth and led by false ways of the world and shallow practices. Any rejection of truth is falsity. Any falsity is sin and every sin is enslavement. And every enslavement takes away real freedom 4.      But we know freedom is the deepest craving and priced treasure of every human, and everyone seeks it. Nothing in the world can substitute true freedom. When there is no true freedom, there will be no meaning, no value, no dignity, and no deep joy in life 5.      Faith alone gives that inner sight to see and follow the truth. What the three young men had was this faith, and what the Jews lacked was this same faith. Consequently, the three young men were rescued and freed. They become worthy of eternal life. But the unbelieving Jews continue enslaved. They stand condemned and lose eternal life.   Direction: Many are externally free, in the sense that they are free to do anything of their choice and preference. But little do they realize that any slavery to sin is an only false freedom   30 MARCH 2023: GENESIS 17. 3-9; JOHN 8. 51-59   Pivot: Covenant with commitment! Indicative: The fact of our human existence and life is that we belong to God. We will live in full measures now and later forever to the extent we live in this relation of belongingness   1.      The beauty of our vocation is to belong always and entirely to God so that He is OUR God and we are HIS people. In fact, this is our identity as well. It is in this belonging to God, lies one’s vocation and identity, be it the Israelites, leaders, the prophets, the apostles and every disciple of Christ 2.      This identity and vocation find their concrete expression in a dynamic relationship with God. This dynamic process is termed a “covenant” in the biblical context. Some of the essential traits of this covenant are mentioned in both readings 3.      Covenant in the first place invites us to enter into a relationship with God. It is a loving and faithful relationship. This covenant brings radical changes in the one who enters into the covenant. Life changes and person changes. This is symbolised in the figure of Abraham 4.      First of all, the name changes, from Abram to Abraham. It is not something merely technical but change of identity itself. Abraham becomes the “father” of all nations. He no more remain as an individual of a particular tribe or nation but now he “fathers’ all. He cuts across the boundaries 5.      New criteria are set up. It is a universal family, for which only belonging and fidelity to God and his covenant becomes the fundamental norm. Thereby, he becomes “fertile”, as he begets many children. It is no more physical fertility and posterity. It is the spiritual fecundity   Imperative: Like Abraham, we too are invited to find our identity, meaning and fulfillment of life in a covenantal relationship with God. We are called to become more “productive” and “universal”   (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2022, 07 APRIL)   Focus: As long as we think only from a human and earthly perspective and run after worldly pursuits, we will not understand God’s ways and cannot be faithful to Him   1.      Abraham figures in both the readings of the day. In the first reading from Genesis, God encounters Abram and makes promises to him and a covenant with him. Thereby, his name changes his whole life changes. He becomes Abraham, the father of a son in old age, the father of many nations, and a blessing for many. He becomes a father and model of faith 2.       In the gospel, Jesus says that Abraham saw him and was glad because he is before Abraham was. This is something crazy about history because Abraham and Jesus belong to two epochs. Clearly, Jesus was referring to his pre-existence, his identity of eternity as the Son of God 3.       He was speaking from a divine perspective. Naturally, the Jews would not understand it because their perspective and realm of thinking are different. They think and see things and Jesus from a mere earthly and human perspective 4.       This is the same divine, eternal perspective with which Jesus declares, “If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death”. Clearly, he was not speaking of natural physical death. What he meant was that believing and following his word will bring eternal life. In other words, faith gives eternity. In this sense, Abraham lives eternally because he had faith in God 5.       This is the problem with many. They claim to have faith but their perspective and realm are merely earthly and human. They think in worldly terms. The only antidote for this is to imitate Jesus. Like Jesus, we should always try to glorify God and not ourselves. We must know Him and keep His word 6.       Such an imitation will prevent us from misunderstanding others acting wrongly towards them as the Jews did. They did not understand what Jesus meant. They mistake his union with the Father as blasphemy. They become furious. They pick up stones to throw at him. This cautions us that we must not easily resent and oppose others just because they think and act differently.   Direction: We must value and appreciate others, not on the basis of how much they fit into our thinking and judging. Rather it should be on the basis of their authenticity and integrity   31 MARCH 2023: JEREMIAH 20. 10-13; JOHN 10. 31-42   Pivot: God – my mighty champion! Indicative: When we sincerely try to be just and committed, surely we will face opposition and persecution. But we need to be deeply convinced and surrendered   1.      We find a lot of shallowness and non-committal attitude in the present world. In such a world, people who try to be deep and live faithful to the way of the Lord will certainly be resented, resisted and even persecuted 2.      This is what happened to both the prophet Jeremiah in the first reading and Jesus in the gospel. Both convincingly proclaimed their profound affinity to God. Jesus explicitly attests his divine identity and oneness with the Father: “Father is in me and I am in the Father; We are one” 3.      Further, both the prophet and Jesus confront, challenge and rebuke the unfaithful and obstinate leanings of the people. All the more, there was something more that was really pricking their opponents 4.      It was their authenticity of them that was indirectly poking the opponents and pricking their consciences. In the case of the prophet, it was his unflinching zeal and unswerving loyalty. In the case of Jesus, it was his own works of healing 5.      Hence the rejection and persecution. But what is remarkable is their spirit of total surrender and unshaken perseverance. They are neither dissipated nor do they give up their mission. They continue. They do not nurture animosity. They do not plan revenge and retaliation. Instead, they make an act of total surrender to God. They leave the entire course of action to God because He is the best God   Imperative: When we face adversities and afflictions, especially for the sake of God and good, what is our reaction and course of action? Do we persevere and surrender to God? Or do we become frustrated and agitated?   (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2022, 08 APRIL)   Focus: In everyone’s life suffering is bound to come. Especially, the life of a true believer in God and follower of Christ will have to face many problems for the sake of his faith. What will be his response and reaction?   1.      Good and godly people suffer. This is an obvious fact. In today’s readings, we find this in the case of prophet Jeremiah and Jesus. Both face opposition, rejection, persecution, and condemnation. Both stand in the face of death, becoming victims of plots to kill them 2.      It is not a punishment. It is the price they had to pay for their loyalty and commitment. It is the cost of their conviction and authenticity. Few things always stand out in them. One is their total communion with God. That is why Jesus would declare, “the Father is in me and I am in the Father” 3.      Second, even in their greatest desperation, they felt this total belonging to God. They do not lose heart. They are not shaken in their faith. Jesus was convinced that Father is always on his side and will never abandon him. The Father will be his guide and strength and surely will glorify him. Jeremiah too was convinced, saying, “The Lord is with me as a dread warrior” 4.      .Third, they deeply and perseveringly hoped for God’s vindication. Jesus says that everyone will be judged according to their faith or unfaith. The prophet affirms, “My persecutors will stumble; they will not overcome me. They will be greatly ashamed, for they will not succeed. They will be eternally dishonoured… The Lord will deliver the life of the needy from the hand of evildoers” 5.      They surrendered themselves totally to God. They accept their sufferings as tests and trials for righteousness. They do not seek vengeance by themselves. Rather they commit their cause to God. They remain totally focused on their mission. Come what may, they never swerved from their commitment to the mission entrusted to them by God.   Direction: Jesus could challenge the Jews, “For which of the good works I have shown you from the Father you are going to stone me?” He was convinced because he was authentic. How many are convincingly authentic?   (REFLECTION 3 FROM 2021, 26 MARCH 2022)   Focus: Good and good people will always face adversities and will suffer a lot at the hands of evil. But those who confide in God and are convinced of good will stand firm like a rock   1.      Today’s Word of God in both the readings lays accent on the rock-like conviction and courage of prophet Jeremiah and Jesus. Jeremiah is haunted and persecuted by his own people. But he does not give up. He does not lose heart or courage. He does not also give in to negative and angry feelings of revenge and retaliation. 2.      Whether it is the reward for him for his perseverance or judgment on his enemies for their wickedness, everything he leaves into the hands of God. He surrenders everything into God’s mighty hands and just dealing, by professing “to you. O God, I have committed my cause” 3.      Jesus too suffers at the hands of his own people. Often they enter into arguments and disputes with him. They contest and challenge him, they accuse and criticise him, counter and defy him. They are totally closed and do not see his divine identity and do not accept him. They try to trap him and trouble him 4.      They refuse to listen to him and reject him. In a spirit of an earnest search, they could analyse and discover the truth in Jesus’ claims about his oneness with the Father. But instead, they take offense at his words, labelling them as blasphemy 5.      Jesus challenges their lack of discernment and grounds for finding fault with him. On what grounds, do they blame him? On what grounds do they disbelieve Jesus’ intimacy and unique relationship with the Father? How can they close their eyes not to see the mighty works of God through Jesus? 6.      How can they refuse to accept the testimony of his own works, done under the purview of God’s light and power? His own works bear testimony to his communion with the Father, and to his mission of salvation. But nothing of these – opposition, falsification, persecution could deter his spirit. He continues his mission undaunted.   Direction: Jesus said, if you do not believe me, it is okay. But at least believe the works I do, because they themselves become the testimonies of Jesus’ unity with the Father and his total loyalty to do what the Father tells him and to please him by doing His will.   01 APRIL 2023: EZK 37. 21-28; JN 11. 45-56   Pivot: For God and for good! Indicative: When we stand for God and good, the evil forces cannot stand us. Hence they will try desperately to pull and out us down   1.      God’s promises in the Old Testament are by and large very exuberant and lavish. But we need not see them as exaggerated and empty promises like those of many politicians. Rather, we can see in those promises God’s boundless mercy and condescending generosity. It looks as if God suffers from “Short-time memory”, especially concerning the people’s sins 2.      He feels deeply sad and anguished when they become disloyal and go astray. But as soon as they repent and plead for mercy, He immediately relents and forgives them. Not only that. He promises to them much more prosperity than before 3.      There is exuberance and abundance, so much so a doubt arises, whether they will really happen, or whether there are only idealistic and wishful thinking. We need not take them as shallow non-realisable promises. Rather they indicate God’s holy design of “restoration” 4.      Some highlights of these promises are: the re-gathering and unifying of all the dispersed people of Israel. There will be no division, no conflict or fight but only unity and one nation, and one ruler. They shall be taken care by one shepherd 5.      They will be cleansed from all their defilement. That is by sin which is apostasy and idolatry. They will also be delivered from their exile and slavery, symbolised by sin. God will make an everlasting covenant of peace. He will multiply them. He will dwell among them and make them holy 6.      Now all these find their referent and fulfillment in Jesus. He gathers into one all the dispersed children of Israel. This dispersion is not geographical. It is spiritual. Those who sin are dispersed from God 7.      Jesus came on the mission of restoration and unification. In him all become one new nation, of new Israel. God will begin to  dwell them though the living sanctuary of Jesus Christ   Imperative: Let us constantly allow God to cleanse us, liberate, unify, sanctify and glorify us through a covenantal relationship of intimacy and fidelity   (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2022, 09 APRIL)   Focus: Unity is a sign of fidelity and sanctity. God always wants His children to be united as one family. Their communion with God and with others becomes an authentic sign of their faithfulness and holiness   1.      God always owns us up. He is a God who belongs to us and who makes us belong to Him. He is the God of covenant and intimacy. He is in a stable and everlasting relationship with His people. That is why today in the first reading from Ezekiel, God repeats twice: “They shall be my people and I will be their God” 2.       God promises that He will gather His people from all around, and bring them to their own land. He will make them one nation. One king shall be king over them all. They shall be no longer two nations, and no longer divided into two kingdoms. Historically, it may refer to the Jewish people and their kingdoms of Israel and Judah 3. But they allude very much to the new Israel, the Christian faithful, the followers of Christ. It is the one nation of the Church of faith. The one kingdom is the kingdom of heaven surpassing the kingdom of the world and evil. Christ is the one king that reigns over all. He is the one shepherd in line with David. As prophesied rightly by the high priest Caiaphas, Jesus would die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad

ANNUNCIATION OF THE LORD

25 MARCH 2023: ANNUNCIATION OF THE LORD Pivot: Direct action! Indicative: The annunciation of the Lord to Mary is a decisive moment, a turning point in the history of salvation. It is when God directly gets into action 1.      Liturgically, during the holy lent, only two feasts are celebrated as solemnities with the Lenten exemptions from fasting and abstinence and the liturgical solemnisation. They are, as we know, the feast of St Joseph on 19 March and the Annunciation of the Lord on 25 March 2.      They are so, not by chance but with a clear and valid purpose. Joseph and Mary are the two greatest pillars of the new history of salvation through Jesus Christ. They are the immediate and direct partners that were directly involved in the divine plan. Therefore, both of them and both encounters with them are very significant 3.      The Annunciation is the threshold of God’s new plan of salvation. It is new, not in the sense of a sudden or totally different, unprecedented, unexpected and unknown development. It is new in the sense of a “new turn” in the history of salvation 4.      As the Letter to Hebrews states: “Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son”. Thus, though God’s interventions and His manifestation of benevolence, mercy and power have always been there, still the decisive difference is “God becoming a man” 5.      Till then, it was all mediated through Law, leaders and prophets. But at God’s own appointed time, God directly gets into action, incarnates himself, and through the paschal mystery of his passion, death and resurrection, obtains salvation and redemption. This is truly the new era, new creation where God himself, is “walking among men”. 6.      It is new because it is no more limited to a particular nation or place or time. It includes the whole creation and the whole of humanity. It is also not just for a limited time or duration and for eternity. Thus, it is new because there is “inclusion” of the whole creation, in the sense that the entirety of creation becomes the recipient of the fruits of salvation 7.      But not only that. It is new because of the “involvement”, “participation”, and “collaboration” of humanity. Thus, Mary is not just an individual person with whom God enters into a negotiation, discussion, decision and a deal 8.      She “represents” the whole of humanity. She is “we’ in person. It is this “inclusive” and “representational” character of Mary that makes the event of Annunciation unique and Mary very singular 9.      Mary’s Fiat is incomparable because it is “the” difference in the whole economy of salvation. Thus, it was not a response and one moment of time. It was a response for eternity. In her docility, surrender and unreserved commitment, Mary elevates the dignity and honour of the whole of humanity. In fact, Mary already “saved” us because she “saved’ our face before God Imperative: Annunciation is a beautiful mirror that reflects both the magnanimous face of God and the humble, submissive collaboration of humans. Let us gratefully and resolutely submit to God’s plans

FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT 23

Reflection 2 5TH SUNDAY OF LENT EZEK 37. 12-14; ROM 8. 8-11; JOHN 11. 1-45 Pivot: Live and let live! Indicative: in a world that is dominated by a culture of death, we are called to live and promote a culture of life. Where and how to find it? 1.      Today’s word of God, in all three readings, focuses on the theme of life. God is the author of life. Jesus is the giver of life. Holy Spirit is the promoter of life. God wants us to live, live now with the divine life and later live in eternity. He wants to give us life and life in abundance (Jn 10.10). 2.      God promises life through the prophet Ezekiel: “I will open your graves, rise you from them and bring you back. I will put my spirit within you that you may live”. These words come true in Jesus Christ. He opens the grave of Lazarus, raises him from death and brings him back. He puts within him his life-giving spirit and he lives. 3.      Now how to receive and experience this life? We live when we do not die. Therefore, overcome the power of death in order to live. The death that we speak of, is obviously not physical death. It is spiritual death. Such a death is caused by sin. 4.      The effects of sin are concretely seen in the works of the flesh. The flesh is not to be equated with the body. The flesh is whatever is opposed to the Spirit and the spiritual. Flesh signifies all our sinful tendencies, inclinations and acts. As long as we live in the realm of the flesh, guided by the urges and pulls of the flesh, and indulge in the deviations and pleasures of the flesh, we will not be pleasing to God. We will be dead in the Spirit. 5.      Therefore, we will live when we rise from the graves of sin, flesh and death. It is not enough that we avoid flesh but need to foster the life of the Spirit. That is possible only when we live, not in the realm of the flesh but of the Spirit. 6.      Living in the realm of the Spirit is possible when we walk by the promptings and higher surging of the Spirit. We will walk by the Spirit when we allow the Spirit to dwell within us. The Spirit will dwell in us when Christ lives in us. And Christ lives in us when we constantly strive to belong to him. We belong to him when we follow his way and the ways of righteousness. Imperative: Our call for a culture of life simply means “to live and let others live”. Live in God and live in good. Let the forces of death, especially aggression, violence and destruction cease. Let the streams of respect and concern for life and person flourish

FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT 23

V LENT SUNDAY, 26 MARCH 2023, RAISING OF LAZARUS Reflection 1 Focus: Suffering is not  necessarily a sign of God's punishment , but is a testing and gracing occasion  1. The miracle of raising of Lazarus has different aspects of a life of faith. We will learn more lessons, if we move our focus from beyond the aspect of the miracle of restoring life. God is the author of life. It is He who gives life, sustains and nourishes life, strengthens it, guides and orients it, satisfies and accomplishes it, fills it and fulfills it. It is He who restores it as well. 2. Painful experiences such as death, suffering, separation are not to discourage and dissipate us, but are to be taken as testing and trusting experiences, testing the depth and quality of our faith, and trusting in God with perseverance. In Jesus' own words, time of affliction is a time that manifests God's glory. They are special occasions to witness God's intervention. 3. This is what is seen in the encounter and dialogue between Jesus and Martha and Mary. The anguishing moment of their brother Lazarus' death becomes a vital moment of attestation of faith in the Lord: "If you had been here, my brother would not have died only; but even now I know that God will grant whatever you ask". Jesus reveals, "I am the resurrection and the life" and asks, "Do you believe this?"  Martha responds, "Yes, Lord I believe that you are the Christ". 4. It is no more a faith in some truth or doctrine, but faith in the person of Jesus. It is a personal relationship and loyalty. True faith is deepening our love and intimacy with Jesus. 5. Seen in this light and perspective of faith, suffering and problem are no more saddening and draining experiences, but are strengthening, challenging and testifying experiences. They are occasions of glorifying God. 6. Restoration of life to Lazarus also indicates the very nature, mission and end of Jesus as the Saviour. He gives life to others, and thereby he risks his own life. In other words, he dies so as to give life to others. Direction: Life in eternity is our destiny and our earthly life in temporality must be an orientation and preparation to it

FOURTH WEEK OF LENT 23

20 - 25 MARCH 2023, HOLY MASS REFLECTIONS 20 MARCH 2023 (ST JOSEPH): 2 SAM 7. 4-5a, 12-14a, 16; ROM 4. 13, 16-18, 22; MATTHEW 1. 16, 18-21 Pivot: Faithful Steward! Indicative: God values human persons. He assigns them a very significant role and function in His eternal plans and designs. He seeks their cooperation and assistance in carrying out these plans 1. We rejoice today as we solemnise our great father St Joseph. Before we meditate on his figure, in the first place, we are drawn to realise God’s own nature. How magnanimous and benevolent He is! God never undervalues the dignity and the scope of human participation and contribution. It is not because He cannot do without us. It is only because He loves us and wants to show it concretely. True love always values loved ones, safeguards their dignity, elevates it, and puts it into play 3 2. Thus, we see how God interacts with the two pillars of his incarnate human family. Through his angel, He discloses his redemptive plan to Joseph and Mary, takes them into confidence, gains their consent, and thus sets out to implement his plan. Mary and Joseph understood God’s will and so unconditionally submitted and committed themselves to follow and fulfill his sacred designs 3. We have the figure of Joseph who plays a key role in God’s plan of incarnation. It is precisely to be the spouse of Mary and the foster-father of Jesus. Today’s gospel focuses on the person of Joseph. It narrates the famous dream of Joseph. In fact, it is the “Annunciation” to Joseph. 4. There is only one attribute that is applied to him. That is, being “just”. The gospel episode demonstrates how he was just. He was just because he acted magnanimously toward Mary. Even though he knew nothing of the divine intervention for Mary’s pregnancy, he did not want to publicly denounce Mary. He was so concerned for Mary’s self-dignity that he decides to divorce her quietly 5. True justice always carries charity. He had perfectly the right of a husband to avenge his honour by exposing her in the public. But for him, the right of Mary to public honour was more than his own legal honour 6. The second aspect of how he was just is seen in his total docility and surrender to God’s will. Even though he was already totally decided to divorce Mary quietly, still as soon as he knew it was God’s plan, he instantly submitted to it. There were no hurt feelings, no arguing, no challenging, no contesting God’s plans, no lamenting, and no annoyance about why God did not first reveal His plan to him before he underwent so much mental struggle. It was God’s plan and he just needs to submit to it. That was all that6 mattered to him 7. Those who claim today to be just and project themselves as justice-fighters must take some lessons from St Joseph. True justice never does harm to others and it is very submissive to God’s will Imperative: St Joseph teaches us that our call is to be humble and faithful stewards who are conscious and responsible about their God-given tasks and carry them out with commitment (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2022, 19 MARCH) Focus: What is frightening in our present society is a steep injustice in various spheres. And what is all the more saddening is all this injustice goes on in the disguise of justice 1. Today we celebrate the solemnity of St Joseph. Just in December 2021, we had concluded the year of St Joseph. Certainly, a lot of reflections were offered about St Joseph. He received more attention and appreciation. Some might have grown in their devotion to St Joseph too. But the question always remains how many are touched, affected and changed by his life? 2. Concretely, two terms or adjectives are alternatively used to describe the character of St Joseph. He was a “just” man or a “righteous” man. In the light of the Bible, to be just and righteous means to be a morally integral person; to be a person of character and values; to be correct and upright in his dealings with others; not to act wrongly toward anyone 3. In other words, it means to be blameless and clean before God and also right and benevolent toward others. In biblical terms, it is one who is turned away from evil and one who is ever loyal to God’s statutes and commandments. A just and righteous person is one who obeys the voice of the Lord, walks in His ways, and is intensely merciful and generous toward others 4. Joseph was exactly that. He was always docile to the voice of the Lord. That is why as soon as he realised God’s plan in Mary’s virginal conception, he promptly obeyed God’s will and gave up his decision. And even when Mary’s infidelity was so evident in human sight and thus she deserved to be denounced, he respected Mary and safeguarded her honour. He was more concerned for her right to a woman’s dignity and not a husband’s prestige 5. How often our justice is so unjust because it bothers only about individual rights and self-interests? How often our righteousness is unrighteous because it is nothing but self-righteousness? How often we may appear to be moral and just in the sight of the world but not really interiorly clean and pure in the sight of God? Direction: St Joseph the just and righteous man must be a challenge for all of us who clamour for justice and claim to be just. Often it is a sham and shallow because it is without the essence of charity and benevolence (REFLECTION 3 FROM 2021, 19 MARCH) Focus: A true believer sees with his optic of faith that in his life, things do not happen by chance but by choice of God in accord with His eternal plans 1. St Joseph! What a great, simple, humble, noble, and faithful saint he is! Spouse of Blessed Virgin Mary, Foster father of the Saviour, Head of the Holy Family, patron of the universal churc 2. Some main features of St Joseph: 1) Purity of heart (lily) 2) Intimacy with Jesus (child Jesus on the bosom) 3) Longing and searching for the Lord (Jesus, lost and found in the Jerusalem temple)ò 4) Protecting and guarding Jesus (fleeing to Egypt to escape from Herod's cruelty) 5) Responsible, diligent, and dedicated toward his work and care for the family (carpenter) 6) Docile and recollective (silent worker; no single word spoken by him; doing everything silently without any show or seeking recognition) 3. In the light of the OT: Joseph is a just man. Who is a just man? One who fears God, one who turns away from evil, one who is blameless, and one who is upright 4. In the light of the gospel, and in contrast to the world's mentality: Joseph is characterised by a single quality as a "just" man. In a world where being just and standing for justice are very often understood and presented in a very shallow way, Joseph stands as a model, example, inspiration, and challenge for true and perfect justice 6. Justice is not a mere concern and fight for rights, of one's own or of an interested group. It is not crushing or suppressing others' rights. To be really just also means to be conscious of duties as well, to be conscious of the rights of others 7. Joseph was just because he did not think of his rights as a husband (to denounce Mary publicly for her divine conception) but thought of Mary's right (as a woman of dignity and honour not to be subject to public shame) 8. Joseph was just because he did not think of what is right for him but for Mary. He did not stick to his own opinion, idea, reason, and judgment. Rather he gives room for what can be the thinking and situation of Mary 9. He was just because he did not cling to his own plan and decision to denounce Mary but surrendered to God's will and accepted Mary back as his spouse. Blessed are we to venerate him with devotion! But still blessed shall we be if we imitate him as well with dedication! Direction: True justice is not a mere clamour for individual rights or a group's, leading to conflict and suppression of some others. Justice is dry when is devoid of charity 21 MARCH 2023: EZEK 47. 1-9, 12; JOHN 5. 1-16 Pivot: Water that heals! Indicative: The waters of God’s grace are ever-flowing. They enliven, refresh, nourish and fructify life 1. Today’s word of God in both readings focuses on water. In the first reading, it is the water around the Temple, and in the gospel, it is the pool of Bethesda. Both are the sources and causes of life, freshness, growth and fruitfulness in abundance. This water nourishes and heals, and thus leads to health and strength 2. What is notable is that it is not any water. This water has power and this power comes from its association with the divine – the temple, and the stirring by an angel respectively. This indicates that ordinary and natural things are sanctified and empowered by the divine touch. It is not magical or purely human but divine 3. Any healing and miracle is not automatic. It needs a fundamental disposition of faith. It is not the water of the pool as such but the divine power behind it that heals. Often, consciously or unconsciously, we attach too much importance to the symbols and make them automatic means and transmitters of power and healing. It is where the holy objects are made to be “power-transmitting talismans”. Thus our holy ritual celebrations which are symbolic can become mechanical 4. Perhaps, this can be a strong indicator in Jesus’ healing of the ill man in the gospel. All our various ways and means of seeking divine favours shall not become substitutes for the personal encounter with Jesus. All our holy symbols and activities should be complements and indicators of a deeper experience of him 5. Do you want to be well?” looks apparently foolish because the desire for healing is quite natural and self-evident and so why ask again? But this can be a call to express the ill man’s explicit desire for healing which is essential for any healing. It evokes a response. With this fundamental disposition, Jesus heals him directly. It is no more the water but the personal intervention of Jesus 6. The ill-man answers, “There is no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am on my way, someone else gets down before me”. It is unfair, I believe, to interpret this as a defence about his prolonged stay, or protest and blame others. It is simply an elaborate and implicit answer of the man that he does really want but could not get healed due to situations 7. Jesus’ words of healing, “Rise, take up your mat and walk!” indicates what is real healing. Healing is to rise from sin, take up our lost strength, and walk steadily in grace. Jesus’ words of admonition after healing, “Do not sin anymore!” need not presume that he was sinning and his illness was because of sin. This can be indicative of a new, renewed life, healed from sin Imperative: Every sin makes us sick, lying on our beds of tepidity and inaction, and forfeits the beauty and vigour of life. It is high time that we rise up and walk (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2022, 29 MARCH) Focus: When we allow God’s grace to encounter us and flow upon us, we will not remain sick or invalid. We will be healed and start walking with vigour 1. In both the readings, from Ezekiel and John’s gospel, we have the mention of water. In the former, it is a temple river and in the gospel, it is a pool. What is common is that the water is resurging and healing. Where the river flows, everything lives, remains fresh, grows, and bears fruits. And the pool heals every invalid that gets into it 2. This water symbolises God’s grace. It is always flowing and available. But, many do not get to it because they are invalid. This invalidity is no more physical but spiritual. It is by sin. That is why, Jesus tells the healed invalid, “Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you” 3. We need not infer that he was invalid because he sinned. It is a possibility. But what is more important here to note is Sin makes us invalid. It makes us immobile and tepid toward God’s grace. Sin sickens and invalidates us 4. We need to seek healing by throwing ourselves into the waters of grace. The length of 38 years of invalidity is shocking. The man had been there by the side of the healing pool for 38 years and still could not get a healing 5. This length of duration shows the insensitivity of the people who did not help him into the pool. The invalid man lost in this heavy competition for healing. On the other hand, we must also appreciate his persistence and undying hope. He never gives up hope and never stops trying 6. The question of Jesus, “Do you want to be healed?” looks silly because who does not want to be healed? Here the point is we need to personally desire to be healed. We need to feel the need to be healed. We must desire to get up from our beds and start walking. We need to shake off our lethargy to glue to our beds of negligence, indifference, and sloth Direction: Am I too long accustomed to sin that I do not want to move from my bed of comfort zone and convenience? Do I realise that I am invalid in so many ways, failing in my fervour for God and others? (REFLECTION 3 FROM 2021, 16 MARCH) Focus: When the streams of God's grace flow over us, life will be enlivened, refreshed, and renewed 1. In the first reading from the prophet Ezekiel, there is a vivid and beautiful description of the river that flows from the temple. This symbolises the streams of God's grace and the gracious effects of it. Wherever the river flows, there is life, freshness, growth, healing, nourishment, fruitfulness, and abundance. Thus, when God's grace flows upon a person, life becomes revived, refreshed, strengthened, and abundantly fruitful 2. This is what happens in the gospel in the case of the person immobilised for 38 long years. On one hand, the length of his illness shows the height of human indifference. What a sad story of insensitivity and selfish competition: Within 38 years, nobody gave any priority to getting him healed. None helped him to get into the healing pool. Everyone was bothered about his own health and wellbeing 3. On the other hand, we also see the steadfastness and perseverance of the sick man. He never gives up his desire or hope. He never stops trying to get into the pool to get healed. He does not get despaired or dissipated 4. In such a context, Jesus enters into his life. He understands his situation. Even without being asked for his intervention, Jesus takes initiative and heals him. The same will happen in our lives as well. Jesus is1 ever waiting to heal us. He knows that we need healing. But he wants us to know that we need healing. He wants us to desire it and seek it 5. It is very interesting that after healing the invalid, Jesus orders him not to sin anymore. Does Jesus imply that his invalidity is because of his sin? The point here is not that all those who are sick must have committed some sin. Rather, all those who sin will certainly be sick in some or other way 6. Sin itself is sickness. It will immobilise us and make us invalid. Sin takes away our movement, our activeness, and our enthusiasm for God and good. It will make us “lie down on the bed” for years and years. We need to “get up from our bed and walk ahead”. This is the real healing Direction: All others may disappoint us and fail us, but God never fails us and it is enough that we trust him 22 MARCH 2023: ISAIAH 49. 8-15; JOHN 5. 17-30 Pivot: Never forsaken! Indicative: Often life seems to be a time of discomfort and desolation. In such moments, God comforts us that He loves us immeasurably 1. One great sense that pulls down our spirits is the sense of not being loved but being abandoned. This sense of lack of love and remembrance can be very depressing and devastating. Nothing else can compensate for the love 2. God knows this human predicament. That is why He gives us the greatest assurance of His love for us. We have in today’s first reading from Isaiah one of the few most profound love-statements: “Can a mother forget her infant, be without tenderness for the child of her womb? Even should she forget, I will never forget you” 3. How consoling and soothing words are these words! God loves us unceasingly. He never forgets us nor forsakes us. His love is unsurpassable; it surpasses even the superlative love of a mother. God leads and guides on levelled paths. He feeds His people in the nourishing pastures and beside the springs of water. He is ever at work for the sake of His loved ones 4. In fact, Jesus came to show this most visibly and concretely. It is not only that the Father loves him and he loves the Father. He is the reflection of the Father Himself because he is the Son of the Father. He is one with Him, in identity, in love and mission 5. But unfortunately, the Jews in their stubbornness are not open to seeing his identity. So his communion with the Father. Hence his attestation of oneness with the Father is misunderstood as blasphemy. Hence they begin to persecute and plot to kill him Imperative: This is the right and appropriate time – a time of favour when God will answer us, and a time of salvation when He will help us (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2022, 30 MARCH) Focus: The first duty of any true love is the recognition of the love of the other. If we really love God, then our first duty is to be deeply aware of His love for us 1. Often we hear so much about love. But at the same time, there is a great lack of love. Love is misunderstood, falsified, and abused. That is why we find so much egoism, animosity and aggression even in the name of love. This only shows that love is not rightly understood and exercised 2. In such a context, today’s word of God gives us the best sample of true love. God’s love is the best and truest love. God Himself is the greatest lover. In Him, we find true love, its features, its functions, and its effects 3. In the first reading from the prophet Isaiah, God compares Himself to a mother and us to His nursing children 4. Just as a mother can never forget her nursing child, God too can never forget us. His love surpasses even this: even if a mother may forget, He will never forget you 5 His love never ceases and so He never ceases to work for us. This is the very mission of God, to constantly manifest His love in manifold ways. He gives His own life to us; liberates us from our imprisonments; brings us to light from our darkness; quenches our hunger and thirst; guides and leads us in the right paths; comforts the afflicted 6. God wants to show and shower this abundant love upon us directly and concretely. For this, He has sent His only Son, Jesus Christ. Thereby, Jesus is the embodiment of the Father’s love and its living vehicle and channel. Through Jesus, God powerfully testifies His caring and guiding love 7.All that Jesus is and does is rooted in His inseparable communion with the Father. And his mission becomes unfailing obedience and loyalty to do the Father’s will. As the Father loves the Son, He empowers the Son with His own life, light, and power to give life, to guide and empower and to judge and reward eternal life. Similarly, as the Son loves the Father, he is united with Him and does ever His will Direction: True love is passionate, selfless, and committed. It is testified in concrete actions. God shows His love in a ceaseless outpour of His grace and works of benevolence. How do we show our love for God? (REFLECTION 3 FROM 2021, 17 MARCH) Focus: Who can measure the love of God? What can one compare it with? He never forsakes us. He never ceases working for our good, growth, and happiness. Blessed are those who realise and experience this! 1. The greatest beauty and the most beautiful greatness of our God is He is ceaselessly at work. It is the work of love. It is a relentless mission and project of transforming our lives into something beautiful and great. What does this imply? 2. It means, God will nourish us, and we shall not hunger or thirst. He will lead us and we shall not be harmed or misguided. He will comfort us and we shall not remain afflicted. He will lift our spirits and we shall not lie desolate. 3. It is a love that is incomparable and immeasurable. It is like a mother’s love for her nursing child. A mother never forgets her nursing child. But even if such a thing happens, even if a mother forgets her nursing child, even if her love fails, God’s love for us never fails. He never forgets us or abandons us 4. Jesus’ coming to us and living with us is the greatest sign of this love and work of God for us. Jesus tries hard to make the people understand this. He wants to draw their attention to God who loves them and works for them ceaselessly. He never rests, because His love never rests or halts 5. Throughout his whole life and mission, and through his preaching and healing, what Jesus wants to reveal and show to the people is just this: God loves us and works for us. It is beyond times and seasons, beyond any conditions or restrictions 6. It is in this spirit and with this mind, Jesus speaks of his communion and oneness with God, his likeness to Him, and his power and judgment. But instead, people understand the wrong side. They misunderstand as competition with God all of Jesus’ doing God’s will. 7. They misunderstand as claiming equality with God all the closeness, likeness, and oneness of Jesus. They misunderstand as blasphemy all his deepest God-consciousness of seeing everything in reference to God. They misunderstand as disrespecting and violating Sabbath his timeless love-work like God’s. Hence blaming and persecuting Jesus. Direction: If only one lifts his eyes and realizes the unstoppable and untiring love of God and His working for us, we will be eternally grateful and passionately committed to doing God’s work! 23 MARCH 2023: EX 32. 7-14; JOHN 5. 31-47 Pivot: Testimony trustworthy! Indicative: God constantly testifies to us of His abiding love and mercy. If only we are open, we can see and experience 1. There are so many testimonies that bear witness to Jesus as the Son of God and Messiah. They attest that he is one with the Father and does the works of the Father. They are namely John the Baptist, Jesus’ own works, the Father Himself, the Scriptures and Moses 2. But the Jews fail to recognise and accept Jesus’ identity. They refuse to believe in him despite all the testimonies. The reasons are plenty. Their ancestors too were no different. They became depraved 3. They were ungrateful. They turned aside from the way pointed out by God. They became stiff-necked. They would not heed God’s cautions and admonitions. They would not mind His counsel and guidance. They turn disloyal, falling to false gods. They substitute the worship of true God with the idol-worship 4. Similarly, the unbelieving Jews of Jesus’ time too were totally closed and stubborn in their hardness of heart. They had no love of God in them. They sought human praise and not from God. They sought their own glory and not God’s 5. It is really sad that the Jews who claim to revere, believe and follow Moses do not follow him in reality. If only they believe him, then they should remember how magnanimously he pleaded on their behalf for God’s mercy, lest His wrath would kindle against them and destroy them Imperative: There are numerous witnesses that constantly testify to us God’s unfailing love and mercy and benevolence for us, and His unceasing mighty interventions in our life. Let us not be obstinate. Let us see and live (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2022, 31 MARCH) Focus: Authenticity comes from reliable evidence and testimony. But even authenticity will be rejected when there is obstinacy and rigidity of the heart 1. The confrontation between Jesus and the Jews continues. The Jews vehemently oppose him, refuse to believe in him, and reject him. Jesus persistently tries to convince them. He draws their attention to various solid witnesses that authenticate him. One is John the Baptist, who was like a burning and shining lamp that bore witness to Jesus, the true light 2. Another witness is Jesus’ own works which are always altruistic and oriented to the good of others. There is absolutely no trace of evil or harm in his works. They all proceed from the Father and conform to His holy will 3. The third witness is God the Father Himself. The Father consistently bears witness to His only Son about His total communion and intimacy with the Son; about the Son being sent by Him and doing always His holy will; about empowering His Son to guide and judge; about Himself being so pleased with His Son; about glorifying His Son; and about owning, guarding, guiding and strengthening the disciples as well 4. The fourth witness is the Scriptures. They contain eternal life and bear witness about Jesus, the Messiah. But despite such valid and authentic witnesses, the Jews do not believe in Jesus and do not accept him 5. The reasons are given very clearly in both readings. According to the first reading from Exodus, one main reason for unbelief is the stiff-necked mentality of the people. Because of this adamancy, they corrupt themselves; turn aside quickly out of the Lord’s way; desecrate themselves by worshipping a golden calf 6. In the light of the gospel, one reason for failing in a faith response is the lack of love of God within them; another reason is seeking their own human glory from the humans and not seeking the glory of God. Direction: Failing in our faith in God is self-responsibility and so it will bring also self-judgment and condemnation. We need not blame God for punishing us; it is we ourselves who do the auto-condemnation (REFLECTION 3 FROM 2021, 17 MARCH) Focus: How true it is that we vex God often with our stiff-neckedness! But thanks to the same God who is so flexible to relent and be benevolent yet again! 1. Really it is a sad thing that no seldom many people test God's patience and benevolence with a spirit of obstinacy and closedness toward God. How painfully God laments over the people of Israel 2. For, so easily they forget the marvels that God has worked in their lives. They forget the mighty liberation. They become ungrateful and attribute all the credit to a mere idol. They turned aside from the way of the true God. They corrupt themselves. They are truly stiff-necked 3. But, Moses is deeply concerned for them. He makes an enormous effort to tone down God's wrath. He tries to evoke sympathy in their favour. It is not playing down their wrongdoings and infidelity but elevating God's fidelity 4. In simple, he attests that God's fidelity is not conditioned or reversed by people's infidelity. He is stable and steadfast. What a nobility and power of intercession! 5. The same stubbornness of the Jews confronts and torments Jesus. He takes the role of Moses: on one hand, he constantly speaks the truth; he urges the people to accept and follow it. He challenges their lack of transparency 6. On the other hand, he bears testimony to God's love and fidelity. He calls them earnestly to believe him by calling different sources as his testimonies. These are Moses and his teachings, the sacred Scripture, John the Baptist, the Father Himself, and Jesus' own works 7. These are authentic witnesses to his divine identity and divine mission. But, sadly no witness can convince them. Because they are so closed and blind and hard. We are invited and summoned to believe and change. Direction: God goes on speaking to us, enlightening and calling us to know God and to get closer to Him. Let us believe Him and live with and for Him 24 MARCH 2023: WIS 2. 1a, 12-22; JOHN 7. 1-2, 10, 25-30 Pivot: Just one, obnoxious! Indicative: The Jews of Jesus’ time rejected Jesus and constantly persecuted him and tried to kill him because they really did not “know” his divine identity 1. It is really strange that already from John chapter 5th itself, the Jews decide and plan to kill Jesus. He just began his first sign in chapter 2 with the wedding at Cana. Thereby already he began to manifest his divine power. But immediately we have the cleansing of the temple whereby he begins to get into a confrontation 2. This clearly indicates that Jesus was not inhibited or intimidated by human forces or pressures. He did not want to waste his time in a skill-gathering, well-equipping preparation. With no delay, he plunges deep into his mission 3. He knew very well that the Jews were trying to kill him. But that does not deter him from teaching openly at the Jewish feast of the Tabernacles. He does not budge from declaring that he is sent by the Father and he came from Him 4. He is not afraid to expose their shallow knowledge of him. He openly affirms that they neither know him nor the Father. What they know is only his earthly origin, like Where? When? How? 5. Jesus really fits into the figure of the Just one in the first reading, against whom the wicked plot because he was a “thorn in the flesh” for them. He was different from others and not like others 6. He would cause so much discomfort and annoyance for them. He is a hardship for them. But who is this just one? What does he do? We gather various elements in the first reading. A just man is obnoxious to the wicked. He sets himself against their doings. He judges them debased, and holds their ways as impure. Thereby, he keeps himself aloof from their company. He reproaches them for their transgressions of the law and violations of their training 7. He conducts himself as a child of God and possesses knowledge of God. He stands firm amid their numerous tests. 8. On the other hand, the enemies of Jesus quite rightly resemble the enemies of the true prophet. They are wicked. They plan to put him to the test, whether God will come to his rescue and whether he would persevere when he is tested. They try his patience with revilement and torture. They plot to condemn him to a shameless death. But they err in their thinking. They are blinded by their wickedness. They fail to know God’s counsels and discern the holy souls’ reward Imperative: On which side are we – the Just or the Wicked? Are we like the just man, remaining faithful to God in faith and perseverance? Or do we behave like the wicked with no depth and fidelity? (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2022, 01 APRIL) Focus: There is always so much opposition to good and persecution of good people. The reason is quite simple: in their lack of wisdom, they are led astray; in their wickedness, they are blinded 1. The hostile spirit between Jesus and the Jews keeps mounting. They seek to kill him. Once again Jesus in the gospel and Wisdom in the first reading clarify to us the real reasons for this mounting antagonism. In Jesus’ own words, it is because they know neither the Father nor His Son. They do not know the Father, the true God who sent His only Son; neither do they know the Son who came only from the Father and not of his own accord 2. Instead, the Jews were caught up only with the superficial and secondary details like his human birth, the place and conditions of his birth, and his human parents. Now the words of the first reading apply exactly to the case of Jesus. They are hostile to Jesus because they are ungodly 3. All the ingredients of this ungodliness are perfectly found in the case of the Jews toward Jesus. They reason out unsoundly. They think he is inconvenient to them as he opposes their actions. He reproaches them for their sins, their base, and their unclean ways. He becomes a reproof of their thoughts. The very sight of him becomes a burden to them 4. Further, his ways are strange and his life is unlike that of others. He professes to have knowledge of God and boasts that God is his father and he calls himself a child of the Lord. He claims that God will protect the righteous, and recompense the holy and blameless with the prize of happiness and life 5. Therefore, they want to test and see whether his words are true. They want to subject him to insult and torture to the extent of a shameful death. Their reasoning is simple: if he is truly righteous and God’s son, he will be protected and delivered from the hands of his adversaries; he will remain gentle and forbearing Direction: Many may think like the ungodly in the word of God that is to test and see the authenticity of the goodness and holiness of good and God-fearing people. But do they realize that they are making themselves liable to God’s judgment? Who are we to put others to the test? 25 MARCH 2023: ANNUNCIATION OF THE LORD: ISAIAH 7. 10-14; 8.10; HEBREWS 10. 4-10; LUKE 1. 26-38 Pivot: Salvation Announced! Indicative: Annunciation is the threshold of the unrepeatable miracle of Incarnation. Miracles happen when there is a combination of God’s grace and action and human reception and cooperation 1. God sends His angel to Mary. He “announces” His plan of incarnation for salvation. He seeks and awaits her approval. This is precisely the nobility and magnanimity of God: Even though He can do very well without us, He wants to involve us and wants us to be His collaborators and sharers. It is only because He loves us. True love values others, and respects each person’s dignity and honour 2. How much noble and magnanimous we are, being His children? How much do we see all others as persons of dignity and respectability? How much do we treat others with respect? How often and how easily do we despise others, showing false greatness and sticking to our own ideas, opinions, and prejudices? 3. Then from the part of Mary, what humility, docility, and surrender to God’s grace and plan! What humility! She does not get puffed up that God Himself is standing at His door for her approval. She does not forget her finitude as a creature before God’s infinity. In all humility, she is aware that the offer of her divine maternity is not her merit or greatness but God’s love and care 4. What docility! She does not contest or argue or reject or doubt God’s plan. Even her question, “how it is possible to bear a son without rapport with her spouse” is a quite normal and legitimate question expected from a simple teenage girl, brought up in faith and morals. Perhaps bearing children outside the marital bond may not be a big issue for many in our modern society. But for her society and tradition, certainly, it was a matter of immorality and infidelity. But in her docility, she risked being labelled immoral and unfaithful. For her, what mattered the most was God’s plan and salvation of all, and not her human thinking and reputation 5. Then what surrender!: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord! Be it done unto me according to your word!” Often we are so accustomed to these words of Mary that we take for granted and take light the immensity of Mary’s act of acceptance. It needed the guts of the spirit to utter such words of total surrender 6. What surrender! She has no discussion, no conditions, and no suggestions. She does not clarify how God would safeguard her reputation, or how God would let others know about her virginity and innocence despite conception. She does not request God at least to convince her spouse. She is not much worried about the myriads of uncertainties and risks that await her. Her only concern was to do God’s will and an unconditional ‘Yes’ to God’s will 7. Now it is not enough to admire Mary for her humility, docility, and surrender. What about our humility, docility, and surrender? A little talent, a little capacity, a little money, a little position - and how easily do we become arrogant? Even with regard to spiritual gifts, how easily do we succumb to the feeling that I am better than others, I am greater than others? 8. How docile we are? Even though many times God proposes, inspires, advises, and admonishes many things, how much we can be obstinate and fixated, clinging to our own ideas and calculations? Do we give more importance to our human intelligence, reasoning, and decisions, rather than God’s wisdom and promptings? Do we know better than God? Can we do better than God? 9. How often do we lack the spirit of surrender? We try to convince God that it is not right and possible to do His will. We have a hundred and one reasons to explain and justify why we cannot surrender to God’s ways. We fail to surrender only because I and self-interests become the centre of our whole thinking and not God’s will and the good of others. 10. We may allow ourselves to be carried away by what is false, what is ignominious, what is unjust, what is impure, what is inaffable, what is dishonourable, and what is vice and harmful. Instead, as St Paul in his Philippians exhorts us, our focus and striving must be on what is true, noble, just, pure, affable, honourable, virtuous, and beneficial. We must put into practice what we have learned, received, heard, and seen. Imperative: Today let us pray that we may become more and more humble, docile, and surrendered like Mary because only thus, we can receive the Savior and experience his saving touch. (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2022, 25 MARCH) Focus: The Feast of Annunciation is truly the enunciation of salvation. It is not only the one-time event of the angel announcing to Mary the good news of incarnation but God Himself announcing to the whole of humanity His incarnate love 1. The feast of Annunciation is in fact the dawn of salvation. It is a concrete instance of God’s Encounter with the human. It is a vivid act of God’s intervention in human life. But this encounter and intervention are totally unique and distinct from all the rest of the encounters and interventions 2. For the first time, God encounters the whole of humanity and intervenes in the entirety of human history. They are no more limited only to a particular nation, or to a chosen people. They are meant for all. The whole of humanity is taken into this story and history 3. Further, these encounters and interventions are not confined only to a specific time period. As instances and events, they may be history-bound. But their effect and fruit is salvation and this is beyond time and space. It is eternal. It is the kingdom of eternity 4. Still further, the encounter and intervention that are marked by the event of annunciation are direct and personal. The fact and act of announcing may be indirect as it involves the angel. But at that very moment, the Son of God directly and personally encounters and intervenes in human life. He inserts and immerses himself into their life through the virginal conception in Mary’s womb 5. It is no more an encounter and intervention through this or that event or person. It is God Himself totally becoming one with the humans. He mingles Himself not only in some happenings but into her own blood, her own flesh, her own humanity. He is no more a God who acts “from heaven” only but also directly “from the earth”. Earth becomes his “home address” on missions and sojourns 6. Thus, annunciation is crucial as the inception of incarnation. The event of the annunciation rightly marks the significance of Mary in our salvation. Her positive response to God’s plan, her obedience, surrender, and total cooperation to the mission of salvation are exemplary. Her all-time “fiat’, the Yes of all times, announcing, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done unto me according to your word” is a turning point. Direction: Annunciation is a two-fold history-making event. It is God announcing His plan of salvation to humanity. And it is Mary on our behalf announcing our cooperation with His plan. Both these give a complete picture of a real salvation (REFLECTION 3 FROM 2022, 20 DECEMBER) Thrust: Fear not, for God is with us! Indicative: God has wonderful plans for us. At times and often times, how he executes them may not be clear and even confounding. But no worry! 1. The other day, through His angel, God encountered Zechariah and revealed His plan for the birth of John the Baptist in the womb of the barren Elizabeth. Today, God through His angel encounters the virgin Mary and reveals His plan for the birth of Jesus, the Saviour in her virginal womb 2. But if we analyse a little, the immediate consequences of such a happening, that is the birth of a child, are contrasting. In the case of Elizabeth, it is in fact, a great grace, a matter to rejoice about. Her barrenness would be eliminated. But in the case of Mary, it is a matter of disgrace. Her dignity and integrity would come under suspicion. 3. Here comes the great depth of Mary’s faith. Once she knows that it is all God’s plan, there is no more question. No argument, no reluctance, no hesitation. No seeking concession. No request for making things clear to her husband and family. No worries at all about the future consequences of a suspect pregnancy 4. Her faith comprises profound humility, wholehearted docility, and an unreserved surrender. She declares emphatically, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. Let it be to me according to your word” 5. A little note on the Salutation of the Angel to Mary: “Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you”. Mary is worthy of the salutation by God Himself. She is full of grace. In a world where sometimes it is difficult to have even a fraction of grace, Mary stands as the fullness of grace. She is full of grace because the Lord is with her Imperative: Like Mary, we are also called, not to be afraid when things go wrong or remain unclear. Being free is possible only when we find favour with God

FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT 23

4TH LENT SUNDAY, 19 MARCH 2023, 1 SAM 16:1, 6-7, 10-13; EPH 5. 8-14; JOHN 9. 1-41 Pivot: Light sees, and darkness blinds! Indicative: Inner blindness is much more serious than physical blindness because it blinds the whole person and the entire life 1. Last Sunday, to the Samaritan woman, Jesus announces and reveals himself as the Living Water. He is the Living Water of the new life of God, and eternal life. He quenches perennially the crucial and deeper thirst. This is symbolised by the Samaritan woman along with her villagers “believing” in Jesus 2. This Sunday Jesus heals a blind man. He announces and reveals himself to be the Light of the world. Light removes darkness, gives visibility and sight, and enables one to walk and do works. Accordingly, he gives the blind man not only the physical sight but also the inner sight of faith. He is enabled to see him, believe him and worship him as the Lord 3. There is a dramatic and progressive contrast between the Pharisees and the blind man. The Pharisees suffer from inner blindness while the physically blind man is restored with total sight. The Pharisees are able to see physically but fail spiritually. They do not see the divine identity of Jesus. They also fail fraternally to see in the blind man a brother of the same family of God. They fail to rejoice in his healing 4. They are blinded by the blind following of the laws. Consequently, they fail to see and appreciate the immense good done to the man born blind. They are blinded by jealousy against Jesus. They are also blinded by their intellectual and spiritual arrogance against the blind man. 5. They are presumptuous that they know better than him and they are holier than him. That is why when the blind man speaks favourably about Jesus, attesting that Jesus cannot be a sinner because a sinner cannot open the eyes of a blind man, the Pharisees protest and despise him, saying, “you were born totally in sin, and are you trying to teach us?” 6. Their inner blindness and the blind man's recovery of sight are also very progressive and in sharp contrast. They progressively accuse Jesus as a violator of the law, as a man not from God and finally as a sinner as well 7. On the contrary, the blind man progressively opens his inner eyes of faith: initially, Jesus was an unknown and an unfamiliar person; then, he addresses him as a prophet; then, he sees in Jesus a man from God; and finally he accepts him and worships him as the Son of man and Messiah. He commits himself to Jesus so much so that he willingly bears witness to Jesus and risks being thrown out by the Pharisees 8. The story of the blind man, his cure, his faith and his witness on one hand, and the Pharisees' malicious and incredulous acting, on the other hand, are a clear call for all of us to check upon our own blindness of various sorts 9. All of us suffer from this inner blindness. Whenever we fail to see the heart and are influenced and guided by mere externals and appearances, we are acting blindly. This is exactly in line with what God cautions us in the first reading, “Not as man sees God does see because man sees the appearance but the Lord looks into the heart” 10. Further, whenever we fail to see and accept Jesus who is the Light of the world, whenever we do the fruitless works of darkness in terms of integrity and immorality, whenever we fail to do the works of light, namely of goodness, righteousness and truth, we too are blind 11. Like the Pharisees we too will become blameworthy and culpable, when we have the physical sight but lack the inner sight of faith and benevolence. This is what Jesus conveys to the Pharisees, when he says, “If you were blind, you would have no sin, but now you are saying, ‘We see’, so your sin remains”. Very clearly, the blindness that Jesus is referring to is inner blindness, that is the lack of faith 12. Today, the same reference of Jesus can apply to us as well. We who claim to be capable of seeing so many things with our intellectual and social sight, how much we suffer from the blindness that is fraternal, moral and spiritual? We need to constantly seek Jesus' healing to recover our sight and vision. Imperative: Let us not be blinded by our presumptuous knowledge and pretentious holiness and peripheral appearances. Rather let us try to put on God's mindset

THIRD WEEK OF LENT 23

13 - 18 MARCH 2023, HOLY MASS REFLECTIONS 13 MARCH 2023: 2KGS 5. 1-15a; LUKE 4. 24-30 Pivot: Displeasure reacts! Indicative: In life, all that we hear and come across may not be always pleasant. All the more, when some indicator and corrective is given concerning our behaviour, how do we react? 1. In the gospels, often we find sudden fluctuations in moods and temperaments of people toward Jesus. Sometimes, they praise him so much but some other times, they blame him so much. Sometimes, they demonstrate so much loyalty to them but some other times, they turn so hostile to him 2. What is striking is that these variations are rather abrupt. There is so much inconsistency and non-committal attitude in their behaviour. One main reason for this inconsistency is their displeasure and annoyance at anything that questions their way of life 3. Especially they would not tolerate when he exposed and challenged their shallow practices and hypocrisy. They would not be happy when he questioned their lack of openness and stubbornness. They would be annoyed and furious when he urged them for self-awareness and repentance 4. Their ego is hurt when their false pride and self-righteousness are put into question. The scene in today’s gospel is one instance of such resentment and resistance. Jesus indirectly rebukes his people for their failure to be receptive to God’s grace 5. What irks them all the more is a kind of humiliation belittling their so-called “great” faith. He states, “No prophet is accepted and honoured in his own place”. It is not just stating a general fact that “familiarity breeds contempt” 6. He implicitly pokes them that a pagan Naaman accepted God’s power in Elisha and came to him for healing, and a pagan widow in Zarephath accepted God’s power in Elijah and received blessing from him. But even though they are God’s chosen people, they fail to accept Jesus, who is their own prophet 7. Hence, they turn furious and violent, drive him out of the town, led him to the brow of the hill, hurl him down headlong and finish him off. Such was the height of their frustration with him. All because he challenged their closed hearts Imperative: Many times, in our life God’s grace does not work, not because it cannot. It is only because it does not find a heart that is humble, open and receptive (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2022, 21 MARCH) Focus: Faith is not necessarily a matter of how long a person belongs to a particular religion or how well he follows its rules and traditions. It is a matter of belonging to God and following His will and precepts 1. In today’s word of God, the central theme is faith. The faith of a certain Naaman, a Syrian army chief with leprosy brings him healing through the prophet Elisha. In contrast, the lack of faith of the chosen Jews of Jesus’ time brings them God’s judgment. 2. The contrast is striking: Naaman listens even to the advice of his servant girl to approach Elisha for his healing; but the Jews would not listen even to Jesus, the Son of God himself who invites them for inner healing. Naaman goes all the way to meet Elisha. Jesus comes all the way from heaven to meet his people. 3. At Elisha’s direction, Naaman dips himself seven times in the waters of Jordan and gets completely healed. He becomes a new man. It was not the waters that restored health to him. But it was the power of God through Elisha. And Naaman’s humble faith became an opening to receive this grace. 4. The people of Jesus too were dipped in Jordan in Baptism. But they did not become new. Their self-righteous unfaith closed them to reject God’s grace through Jesus. The miracle leads the pagan Naaman to faith in Yahweh and he confesses, “Behold, I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel”. On the contrary, numerous miracles by Jesus would not strengthen the faith of Jesus’ people. 5. Jesus tries to make the people aware of this contrast so that they would repent and return to God in faith. In fact, God enters into human lives so as to raise them up to heaven and to eternal life. But they become all the more stubborn and hostile; they drive him out and try to kill him, by throwing him down the cliff. Direction: Faith is not merely believing some doctrines and observing some religious practices. True faith is being humble and trustful to go near to the Lord, being close to him, and getting healed (REFLECTION 3 FROM 2021, 08 MARCH) Focus: God's grace has no boundaries or barriers. Miracles always happen, if only one has faith 1. What an interesting contrast between Naaman, a leper in the first reading, and Jesus' own people in the gospel! The pagan believes in the power of God through Elisha. He was an important man ranked as an army commander. He was also a man of great valour. 2. But he had the humility to listen to his maidservant. He follows her advice to approach the Israel prophet Elisha for his healing from leprosy. Later, once again, he showed the same humility to follow Elisha’s instruction to dip seven times in Jordan, though it appeared silly and nonsensical. His humility and faith bring him the cure for his leprosy. In fact, it is not the Jordan water that cures him, but his faith in the words of the prophet. 3. But, on the other hand, God's own chosen people, the Jews do not believe in Jesus. Though Son of God, he became one of them. They had a long history and tradition of God’s mighty interventions and wonders. But, they refuse to listen to his message, believe in him, and change their life. They reject him, even to the extent of attempting to kill him 4. Thereby once again it is made very clear that faith is not merely a matter of tradition or inheritance. It calls for a personal choice and decision, and it involves a personal experience. Naaman believes even though what the prophet tells him to do, looks baseless. His openness and trust are rewarded 5. In contrast, sadly Jesus' own people take him for granted due to their familiarity. Their perspective is so shallow and superficial that their faith cannot go deeper and beyond the externals like the place, lineage, etc. of Jesus. In consequence, they lose the gift of grace and salvation through Jesus. They deprive themselves of the immense treasure at their own hand. Direction: God may work miracles to reward and perfect faith. But true faith cannot base itself on miracles. It needs a fundamental choice, openness, orientation, and cooperation. 14 MARCH 2023: DAN 3.25, 34-43; MATTHEW 18. 21-35 Pivot: Forgive because forgiven! Indicative: Life is never completely free from hurts and harms. It is a reality that we are hurt and harmed. What should be our response and reaction in such situations? Forgive! 1. In life, many carry many burdens that are quite unnecessary. Refusal to forgive and harbouring negativity is one such big burden. How to be relieved of this burden? The answer comes in today’s word of God 2. Forgive! The call for forgiveness is very strong. Seek forgiveness from God and give forgiveness to others. Be forgiven and forgive! In fact, these two do not exclude each other. In the prayer, “Our Father”, we pray, “Forgive us our sins as we forgive others their sins”. in this sense, forgiving others becomes the condition or pre-requisite to being forgiven by God. In other words, we will be forgiven in proportion to our forgiving others 3. In today’s gospel, we have another aspect of this integration of being forgiven and forgiving. Forgiving others is the effect and outflow of being forgiven by God. Being forgiven by God becomes the cause for forgiving others. If we truly receive forgiveness from God, then we must forgive others. Thus, forgiving others becomes the testimony of being forgiven by God 4. The first reading focuses on God forgiving us, and the gospel focuses on us forgiving others. God forgives us because He is merciful. But on our part, what is needed is repentance with a contrite heart and humble spirit 5. If we receive abundant mercy and forgiveness, then we are also bound to forgive others in the same measure. It will be totally unfair to refuse to forgive others even for a little while receiving forgiveness in much 6. Such incongruence will be totally displeasing to God and will make us liable to God’s judgment and justice. This is what is indicated by the story of the king and his servant in the gospel. The king out of his mercy cancels out all the huge debt of his servant. But this servant does not show the same mercy toward his fellow servant even for a little Imperative: Certainly, God is so merciful that He keeps no account of our sins, and readily cancels out all our debts. But this makes us more accountable to be merciful toward others as well (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2022, 22 MARCH) Focus: Forgiveness is a golden virtue. One who learns to forgive obtains an immense treasure of God’s mercy and serenity of soul. Forgiveness is never a loss 1. We live in a world where revenge and retaliation are glorified. They are regarded as signs of manliness and guts. Consequently, we find so much negativity and animosity leading to violence and destruction. On the other hand, forgiveness and reconciliation are considered as signs of weakness and timidity 2. In such a context, Jesus teaches us the need and value of forgiveness. To forgive is divine because it forms the very nature of God. God’s essence is mercy and forgiveness. He is merciful to us beyond conditions and measures. That is why the first reading from Daniel says, “Do not withdraw your mercy from us”; “Deal with us in your forbearance and in your abundant mercy”. 3. As the children of a merciful God and as disciples of a forgiving Master, we must imitate and resemble them in forgiving others. Forgiving others is the essential trait and way of belonging to God and sharing in His own nature. It also becomes the condition to receive God’s forgiveness to us. 4. This means that we experience the effects of God’s forgiveness only to the extent that we forgive others. Our forgiving others should be without measures like God’s forgiving us. That is why Jesus tells Peter, “Forgive, not seven times, but seventy times seven”. We forgive others not because they deserve it but because we must give it. The king in the gospel parable forgives the servant who owes a huge sum not because he deserved it but because he needed it. 5. Seeking forgiveness from God and others requires humility and repentance. That is why, the people pray, “With a contrite heart and a humble spirit may we be accepted”. Giving forgiveness to others requires fraternity and nobility. Direction: Spirit of forgiveness in humility and nobility will open to us streams of God’s mercy and serenity. It can be a great embalming balm to heal many wounds and restore relationships (REFLECTION 3, FROM 2021, 09 MARCH) Focus: God readily forgives even a multitude of sins, if only one repents with a contrite heart and humble spirit. He keeps no account or count of our wrongs because his mercies are uncountable 1. God is abundant in His mercy and prompt in His forgiveness. He does not see the magnitude of sin but the depth of repentance. He forgives us, not because we are worthy of it, but only because we need it. There is no measure for his forgiveness because His mercy is immeasurable. 2. This is what Jesus implies when he tells Peter to “forgive the other not only seven times but seventy times seven”. The matter is not the number or the frequency of forgiveness, that is, how many times or how often to forgive. Rather, the point is the immensity of it, that is, how willingly, promptly, and unreservedly to forgive. 3. God’s forgiveness is unconditioned and incalculable. This is what Azariah (Abednego) makes clear in his prayer in the book of Daniel. He pleads for God’s mercy to forgive His people’s sins, not on the basis of their merit, but only on the basis of His mercy and the fidelity of their forefathers. All that they have is a contrite heart and a humble spirit to seek His forgiveness. 4. But once forgiven, we must try to become worthy of it. How? By seeking earnestly to follow His ways. Concretely, it demands showing the same spirit of forgiveness towards others. Further, it also should be like God's forgiveness, which is abundant and uncalculating. 5. It is not fair and also highly detestable before God if we refuse to forgive others while we receive immensely God's forgiveness. To forgive is not an option at our convenience, but it is a bounden duty. As we give, we must give, lest our fate too will be the same as the servant in the gospel who is forgiven much but refuses to forgo a little. Direction: Repentance in humility is the compulsory prerequisite for receiving God's forgiveness. And forgiving others in charity becomes the compulsory sign and testimony of the effect of that grace 15 MARCH 2023: DEUT 4. 1-9; MATTHEW 5. 17-19 Pivot: Follow and Live! Indicative: Often laws and statutes are seen in a legalistic and moralistic sense. Accordingly, there is a pressing sense of fear and coercion 1. Today we can focus our reflection on the attitude and approach toward laws and rules. As such, they indicate a restrictive and binding nature and role. So, often the issue is whether one follows them or violates them. Fidelity thus is measured in terms of adherence to their observance. 2. This is rather a deficient approach. This kind of perspective short-sights our vision. It also dilutes the essence of the laws and rules. Today’s word of God resurges the positive response of the laws. We need to revisit them. Though they are binding, they are meant to liberate. Though they are restrictive, they are purposed to be constructive 3. Laws are never for their own sake. They are always directed and destined for something higher. They are meant for a greater end. They can never be absolutised. But at the same time, they should not be minimised as well 4. In the light of the first reading, the noble purpose of the statutes and decrees is to “live and take possession of the destined land”. They are also evidence and testimonies of the wisdom and intelligence of those who observe 5. In the light of the gospel, they are conditions, criteria and “gate passes” for meriting God’s kingdom. We are earnestly called to remember them and “not let them slip from our memory”. We must obey them and also teach and lead others to follow the same Imperative: We need to rise above dry obedience to laws to a “fecund” surrender to the spirit of the laws, which is God’s will. In this sense, there is no scope for any leverage (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2022, 23 MARCH) Focus: Fidelity to law means to understand the spirit of the law, its purpose and the goal of it, and do actions according to it 1. There is always a desire and pursuit for greatness both individually and collectively as nations and people. This is something common and natural. But real greatness is often reduced only to the material and social aspects, in terms of possessions and positions. 2. It is here that the first reading from Deuteronomy clarifies that true greatness is in being wise and understanding, saying, “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people”. Now, this greatness as wisdom and understanding is further elaborated. 3. It is having God so near and close. It is having statutes and rules that are righteous. It is keeping our souls diligently lest they depart from our hearts. It is keeping them and doing them faithfully. Further, it is teaching others also and making them follow the same 4. This is real greatness and wisdom. Greatness is not throwing away the laws and rules but rather wisely understanding their spirit and fulfilling them. Thus, we become great not by the abolition of the law but by its perfection of it. Jesus announces clearly: “I have come not to abolish the law but to fulfill and perfect it”. “Whoever follows the least of the commandments and teaches others to do so, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven” 5. Many have a wrong perspective toward laws and rules. Often greatness and freedom are equated with despisal of the laws. Following the law is not servitude to laws. Fidelity to law is not always the same as legalism. In the same way, lawlessness is not freedom. 6. A law is good when it takes and keeps us closer to God, when it helps us for a righteous living, when it makes us follow God’s commandments and ways and when it helps us to teach and guide others the right way. Decision: The mindset of the people must change with regard to the idea of greatness. It must be removed from its material and worldly sense. It must be understood as a wise and righteous way of living (REFLECTION 3 FROM 2021, 10 MARCH) Focus: True Freedom is not lawlessness. In fact, true freedom lies in lawful obedience, i.e. adherence to the spirit of the law 1. Many have a wrong concept and exercise of freedom, and accordingly, they think that to be free means to be free from any and all the laws. They mistake that law is necessarily negative, and subversive, depriving a person of what is his due and rightful. 2. But this is not correct. Laws are meant to regulate, channel, guide, and orient persons on the right path. For this, they apply a certain extent of restraint and restriction, certain control and limit. The purpose is certainly positive, that is to avoid and guard against all possible deviations and distortions. 3. Therefore, we must go beyond the mere letter of the law, to the spirit of it, its purpose, and the end of it. In this sense, every good law intends responsible and constructive freedom. The greatest law is love for God and love for others. This is manifested in a profound devotion to God and dedication to the other’s good. 4. Thus, a good law aims at the integrated growth of the person. This is what Jesus calls the perfection of the law, the perfect law. To be free does not mean to do away with the laws and rules, but to follow them in the right spirit. In the name of being flexible, one cannot be over-indulgent. True freedom is not to be undisciplined, irresponsible, or licentious. 5. This is what Moses teaches the people in Deuteronomy fidelity to follow God’s statutes and ordinances is a sign of their fidelity to God. They are means of growing in righteousness. Following God’s commandments shows that they are wise and understanding people of God, amidst lawless immorality. This enlightenment is very much needed for the present society, which wrongly equates freedom with rule-free indiscipline. Direction: There is unnecessary and even harmful thinking of freedom as lawlessness. But to be truly free is to be law-abiding. The need is not to throw away all rules and regulations but to inculcate a positive and joyful adherence to them 16 MARCH 2023: JER 7. 23-28; LUKE 11. 14-23 Pivot: Walk and prosper! Indicative: There is still an abundance of good. This is truly the divine presence. But it needs openness and readiness to see, accept and experience 1. God constantly invites us to keep our eyes wide open so that we see God’s love and power. We need to listen to His voice. We must pay heed, obey and walk in His ways. But instead, very often the opposite happens as in the case of the Israel 2. We may walk in the hardness of our evil hearts, and turn our backs to God. We may stiffen our necks and not pay heed and obey God’s messages and messengers. We may refuse to take correction. Faithfulness may disappear and the word itself may be banished from our speech 3. This is truly evil pervasion. This is what we see in the gospel. A mute man’s speech is restored. This is clearly a mighty sign of God’s holiness and power of God, resident in Jesus. But the unbelieving Jews stuck to the hardness and stubbornness of their evil hearts 4. They refused to see God’s mighty intervention. They refuse to accept God’s power. As said in the first reading, the word of God which is truth was banished from their speech. They allege him of a secret pact, a coalition with Satan. They attribute his divine power to Beelzebul, the prince of demons 5. They did not have even a single word of appreciation for Jesus. Instead, they would only speak evil against him. They not only take away the credit of God’s work but also want to push Jesus into defence 6. In fact, these are the real mute people. The mute man got healed by Jesus. But it is these that need healing. Their tongues need to be released. Their speech needs to be rectified and restored. These are the people who are not with him but against him Imperative: If we listen and obey Him, we will belong totally to Him, as God Himself assures: “Then, I will be your God and you shall be my people” (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2022, 24 MARCH) Focus: Stubbornness is one big block that hinders openness to truth and acceptance of it. Ignorant people can be taught and wise people as well. But the stiff-necked people are hard to teach, correct and guide 1. Struggle between God’s unfailing fidelity and people’s recurrent infidelity characterizes the whole salvation history. God was abundantly merciful toward them; works mighty works in their lives; and blesses them with prosperity and victory. He teaches and guides them through prophets. But repeatedly people become ungrateful, stubborn, disobedient, and unfaithful 2. This infidelity of people is so vividly described in the first reading from Jeremiah. They did not obey or incline their ear. They stiffened their neck. They did not accept discipline. Truth has perished; it is cut off from their lips. They walked in their own counsels and in the stubbornness of their evil hearts. They were so fluctuating and regressing, going backwards and not forwards 3. The same stiff-necked and defiant mentality continues in Jesus’ time too. All his teaching and preaching fell on the deaf ears of his people. His mighty miracles fail to evoke in them a positive response. They not only refuse to believe him; further, they constantly trouble and persecute him. They make wrong attributions. They attribute his miracles to a coalition with Satan. They accuse him that he casts out demons by Beezebul, the prince of demons 4. The people of his time are no different from their predecessors. Little do they realize that good and faith cannot come from Satan who is all evil. They are blind to the truth that every harm and destruction belongs to evil. All that is good, healing, and constructive can come only from God 5. Jesus cannot expel demons with the help of their leader. Jesus is able to heal not because he works in tie-up with the evil but because he is more powerful than the evil one. Jesus is that stronger one in the gospel. He attacks and overcomes the strong man who is Satan. He takes away his armour and wins back those under the evil’s siege. The healing of the possessed mute man is a clear indicator of this surpassing power of Jesus. Direction: Let us not repeat history. Let us not become the descendants of those still-necked people who were so adamant, defiant, and disobedient. Let us hearken to God’s call: “Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people”. (REFLECTION 3 FROM 2021, 11 MARCH) Focus: It is not that God is not active or His grace is not working. God is ever in action and miracles continue to abound. It is only our inability to see Him at work 1. God’s grace never ceases. He ceaselessly invites the people to come to Him promptly, to relate with Him closely, to listen to Him attentively, and obey His precepts and directives faithfully. However, the purpose is not to subjugate them to servile obedience. God has no self-interest. It is all for the well-being and progress of the people. 2. But unfortunately, often He meets with stubbornness in which people refuse to listen, understand and walk God’s ways. They become stiff-necked and stiffly resist God’s call to repent and mend their ways. This is the experience of God all through the history of salvation, be it Yahweh in the Old Testament or Jesus in the New Testament. 3. Thus, God laments with anguish through the prophet Jeremiah over their fault: They do not obey the voice of the Lord, they do not incline their ear, they do not accept discipline, they walk their own ways, and with stubborn and evil hearts, they go backwards but not forward. 4. In the gospel too, Jesus meets with the same mentality. Jesus drives out a demon from a dumb man and restores his speech. But instead of recognizing the power of God in Jesus, some people attribute the healing to the power of demons. They accuse him that he is taking the help of the Evil One. 5. How absurd it is that evil power is defeated by evil power! They demand further signs from heaven. When one is not prepared to see the truth, then which signs or proofs can convince them? This is exactly what God remarks toward the end of the first reading: truth has perished; it is cut off from their lips. They are so hard-hearted and closed. Consequently, they fail to see the “finger of God at work” and the coming of the kingdom of God in Jesus. Direction: Stubbornness, defiance, and disobedience blind one to truth and divine action; they lead one to a spirit of division – divided within oneself, divided against God, and divided against others. They are sure to fall prey to the evil 17 MARCH 2023: HOSEA 14. 2-10; MARK 12. 28-34 Pivot: The best offering! Indicative: God’s love is everlasting and abounding. In response to this, we need to repent and return. Then we will experience the immensity of His blessings 1. Offerings and sacrifices are part of the worship of every religion. The purpose is not to appease or placate God. It is not a barter system where there is an exchange between prayers-offerings and favours-blessings 2. Today the gospel makes it clear that there is something more worth than burnt offerings and sacrifices. It is love, which is twofold, for God and others. This does not mean that rituals and offerings are not important or not needed 3. This only means that this two-pronged love is the highest priority. This is the greatest and first commandment. Nothing else can dominate or substitute this priority. Further, this also implies that all our offerings and ceremonies must be oriented to manifest and foster this double path of love 4. The more our religious practices become channels of love for God and others, the more they become worth. Loving God is not just following a commandment. It is a fitting response to God’s own loving us. God loves us so much and cares for us so much. Even though we defect from Him and collapse, He does not reject or abandon us 5. As soon as we repent and return to Him, He forgives all our iniquities. Not only that. He will bless us doubly with prosperity and joy. If our loving God becomes an act of gratitude and response to God loving us, our loving others is the expression and effect of loving God 6. In fact, these two are not separate or opposites. Love for God is the foundation and spring for love for others. Love for others is the outflow and authentication of love for God Imperative: We will be wise to integrate love for God and love for others. Faith and charity are two sides of the same coin. One cannot be complete without the other 18 MARCH 2023: HOSEA 6. 1-6; LUKE 18. 9-14 Pivot: Cannot swallow the shallow! Indicative: Two real and ever-present dangers for any religion and devotion are shallowness and inconsistency. True piety must be steady and deep 1. Piety is essentially a matter of the relationship between God and humans. There is a profound contrast between the two. Depth and steadfastness mark God, while superficiality and disloyalty mark humans 2. God is a loving, forgiving, healing and giving God. In love, at times He disciplines and chastises His people. He heals what He has rent. He binds the wounds that were struck. He revives and raises us up soon. His judgment shines forth like the light of the day. He will come to us like the spring rain that waters the earth 3. But on the contrary, the piety of the people is so passing and unsteady like a morning cloud and the dew. These shallow people substitute love with mere sacrifices and the knowledge of God with burnt offerings 4. Further, shallow piety is marked by self-righteousness. This is typified by the Pharisee in the gospel parable of Pharisee and a tax collector. The Pharisees failed on all counts. He failed before God because there was no gratitude, dependence, or closeness or surrender. He failed toward others because he labelled, despised and condemned others. He also failed concerning his own self because he had a false image of himself, lacking in humility 5. On the other hand, the tax collector’s prayer was humble. It won God’s mercy. He may not stand near the altar like the Pharisee. He may not have eloquent words to pray. He may not know any formal techniques or steps of prayer. But he was close to God by heart. He had the best of words to pray in humility and repentance. He knew the best technique of prayer, and that is prayer of heart Imperative: There is a subtle demarcation between righteousness and self-righteousness. We would do well to guard against self-righteousness. Humility and surrender are the best remedies (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2022, 26 MARCH) Focus: Humility is not just one of the many virtues but is the base and bottom line of all the other virtues. One who fails in humility fails in all 1. “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled and whoever humbles himself will be exalted”, so declares Jesus. Clearly, Jesus is teaching us the greatness of humility. He teaches us that only in humility do we find real greatness. Only those who are humble will be great in the sight of God and will be exalted 2. The parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector is a vivid description of this contrast between lack of humility and humility. The Pharisee represents the lack of humility and the tax collector, humility. The Pharisee is so self-righteous and haughty. Consequently, he fails to recognize his own human sinfulness and unworthiness before a holy God 3. There is a total unawareness of the holiness of God that must make us humble in His presence. Instead, he glorifies himself before God; he enlists some religious practices as proof of his holiness. Instead of surrendering Himself to God’s mercy, he elevates himself as if there is nothing to correct and change 4. Though he appears to thank God it is in fact an indirect thanking himself. He is presumptuous and self-complacent. He is so self-conceited that he becomes blind to his defects. He is covered by layers of the false self that rates itself as perfect and all better, holier, and greater than others 5. True to the teaching of Jesus elsewhere, he is a real hypocrite who sees the speck in the other’s eye but does not see the log in his own eye. To the extent he labels, degrades, and despises others as thieves, rogues, adulterers, and good for nothing, he fails thoroughly in charity and benevolence toward others. He does not recognize and respect others’ dignity 6. The end results are clear: the Pharisee is rejected by God who is displeased with him. But the tax collector is accepted and blessed and rewarded by God who is highly pleased with his humble heart. God does not look at what position we stand on but with what heart we stand before Him. Direction: Self-pride and self-glory are the root causes of all evils. They make us blind to our imperfections and contemptuous toward others. Humility and charity are the antidotes (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2021, 13 MARCH) Focus: Humility to repent and steadfastness to be loyal will always win God's favour; Instead, a self-motivated and self-gratifying spirituality is not pleasing to God 1. God desires love and not mere sacrifices; He is more pleased with the growth in His knowledge rather than the multitude of empty offerings. He wants a devotion that is steadfast and not unstable. He wants a love that is profound and not shallow. He wants a love that is totally God-oriented and self-oriented. He wants a love that seeks to glorify God and not gratify the self 2. This is what God declares in crystal clear terms in the first reading from prophet Hosea. He is unhappy that people are so opportunist as to seek Him in their times of trouble. They turn to Him so as to take advantage of His indulgent benevolence. They are not steady, because their love is like a morning cloud and like the fast-vanishing dew. This becomes clear all throughout the Salvation history 3. The Pharisee's prayer in the gospel is not pleasing to God and not accepted by Him, because it is full of self, self-righteousness, self-complacency, and self-glory. There is no humble admission of his own unworthiness. There is no sense of gratitude to God, dependence on Him, and closeness with Him. There is no submission to God. There is no fraternal feeling toward the other in respect and benevolence. 4. Instead, the tax collector's prayer is readily accepted by God, because it springs from a contrite heart and humble spirit. He deeply acknowledges his sinfulness and freely surrenders to God. The Pharisee informs God about how great he is. But the tax collector is aware of how great God is, and how small and unworthy he is. By physical position, the Pharisee stands so close to the altar, but actually, he is far away from God’s mercy. Instead, the publican stands so far off the altar, but really, he is so close to God by heart. Direction: We go to God and pray, not to inform or give Him new knowledge about our greatness or judge others on how bad they are. No prayer is heard when it lacks charity and is prejudiced despising others