FIRST WEEK OF EASTER 23

10 – 15 APRIL 2023: HOLY MASS REFLECTIONS 10 APRIL 2023: ACTS 2. 14, 22-33; MATTHEW 28. 8-15 Pivot: Be witnesses! Indicative: God is life. No one can defeat or kill the God of life. Those who trust in Him will experience and promote life Today’s word of God themes around witness. Christ bore witness to the salvific plan of God. God bore witness to Jesus in accomplishing His mission. Now as believers and followers of Christ, it is our turn to bear witness to him. Peter does this in the first reading and the holy women in the gospel. Jesus is the God-sent Saviour. He came to defeat sin and give life to those dead by sin. But the evil people killed him, wrongly thinking that they had terminated him. But they are wrong. Jesus is the Lord of life. Powers of evil and death cannot kill him or finish him off. God raised him up. He who was humiliated is exalted to the right hand of God. He whose life-spirit was breathed out, pours forth the promise of the Holy Spirit. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary bear witness to the resurrection of the Lord. The effects of such a mighty event are fear and joy. These are understandable because such a mystery causes holy reverence. Besides, it causes immense joy because it fulfils their hopes and the Lord’s promise of rising to life. However, on the other hand, we have also false witnesses in the form of chief priests, elders and soldiers. All try to bury the truth. They contend that the tomb is empty not because the Lord has risen in power but because the dead body was stolen by his disciples. Sad and detestable are these false witnesses. At least after the resurrection, they could see the truth and rectify their failures. Instead, they try hard to shield their wrongdoing with another false fabrication. The soldiers too are culpable. They sell themselves for money and distort the truth. All these represent the innumerable corrupt people that falsify the truth and suppress life. Imperative: Despite the powerful signs of God’s intervention, many continue to act against truth and life. We are called to stand with courage as powerful witnesses REFLECTION 2 FROM 2022, 18 APRIL) Indicator: All happens according to God’s will and plan   The life and death of Jesus and everything happen in conformity to the will and plans of God. Christ has conquered the power of Satan and death. He remains the victor, deathless and sinless. Peter boldly proclaims this. He bears testimony to this declaring that they are the witnesses to all these. The risen Lord is the giver of peace and blessings. He gives blessings to the women who see him. This blessing dispels all fears and instils joy. It leads to adoration. We, being endowed with this spirit of fearlessness, joyfulness, and worship, need to become witnesses of the Lord. We need to make others also know about him. We need to share the same experience that we ourselves have tasted. In the second part of the gospel, we see a series of contrasts between these positive experiences and witnesses. There are soldiers in contrast to the women, chief priests and elders in contrast to the disciples, the false propaganda that they had stolen away Jesus’ body in contrast to the truth that he has risen, and the lure of money in contrast to the power of Christ.   Pointer: Today the call of the Lord is clear: Trust the Lord deeply. See him clearly. Remove fear and anxiety. Be filled with his power. And bear testimony to him. Are you ready?   (REFLECTION 3 FROM 2021, 05 APRIL)   Focus: The greatest effect and sign of resurrection is Witness. For sure, obstacles will arise and resist it, but no evil force or power can overpower it   We see a clear contrast between the disciples and the people of the world. Peter in the first reading and holy women in the gospel represent the first category; the chief priests, elders, and soldiers in the gospel represent the second category. The true disciples are convinced that the Lord is the Lord of life and that no powers of evil or death can defeat him or suppress him. They are not afraid, because they see the Lord always before them. They know that He is at their right hand, and He will never abandon them to the sway of evil. They remain unshaken in their faith and conviction. They are filled by the Holy Spirit. They take hold of his feet and worship him in total surrender. They are shown the ways of life. They are filled with streams of gladness and they rejoice. They dwell in hope. Consequently, they stand up. They raise their voice. They proclaim the Lord. And they bear witness to him. On the other hand, the people of the world are filled with a worldly spirit. They are driven by money interests. They twist the truth and stoop down to falsity. They spread false stories and are counter-witnesses. Are we witnesses like the disciples or counter-witnesses like the elders and soldiers? Now, let us turn our attention to ourselves for a while. Directly and explicitly we may not falsify the truth, or may not bear false witness. But whenever we are shaken in our faith and conviction, whenever we fall to easy compromises and monetary allurements, whenever we fail to know and follow the ways of life, fail in surrender, and lack that deep joy of the Spirit, whenever we are tepid and lethargic in our testimony to God in word and deed, we too are counter-witnesses.   Direction: A true disciple is one who experiences the power of the risen Lord, and so fearlessly and joyfully bears witness to the Lord 11 APRIL 2023: ACTS 2. 36-41; JOHN 20. 11-18 Pivot: No more to weep! Indicative: We are called to experience the presence and power of the risen Lord in our life. That is possible only when we are deeply stirred within and moved to the core Peter dared to speak the truth. He would point out to the Jews that they crucified the Lord of life. This courage was because of his conviction. This conviction was because of his passion for the Lord. This passion was from his deep personal experience with Jesus. This experience was from his unceasing intimacy with Jesus. Now what he personally lived with and experienced, he would testify before them and exhort them to repent. We clearly see some concrete ingredients of this repentance. They were “cut to heart”. This means they were deeply touched, moved and stirred within, with a radical sense of anguish. They realise the wrong they did and they are eager to make up for it. So they want to know what they should do. They humbly follow the directive of Peter. They repent and receive baptism. They believe in the Lord. This repentance and faith would be rewarded. Their sins will be forgiven. They will receive the Holy Spirit. They will become the children of God. The greatest reward for this repentance and conversion is the vision of the risen Lord. Those who repent, believe and turn to the Lord will see the Lord. Mary Magdalene is one such great example. She believed in and loved the Lord. So she could encounter the risen Lord. Her love was so passionate that her anguish was inconsolable. She would go on weeping. She would not leave the Lord even after death. So she would be hanging around the tomb of Jesus. Her faithful love was richly rewarded with the Lord’s vision. But she cannot be content with it and remain confined within her personal experience. Vision entails a mission. That is to spread the same message of the Lord’s rising to others. Imperative: We are called for a personal encounter with Jesus. This must enable us to affirm like Mary Magdalene, “I have seen the Lord”. How many can confidently and honestly make such a personal confession? (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2021, 19 APRIL) Indicator: The greatest test for our faith is testimony to the Lord. If we experience the risen Lord, we cannot stop from sharing it with others   Peter encounters and experiences the power of the risen Lord. As a consequence, he begins to bear witness to him. He is filled and inspired by the Holy Spirit. He begins to proclaim Jesus as the Lord and Saviour of all. People feel anguished and “cut to the heart” in response to that witness. From that deep repentance springs a sincere spirit of search and longing, asking, “What shall we do?” The consequences of this response are conversion, baptism in the Lord’s name, separation from the Gentiles, and life in contrast. The fruits and rewards for this are the forgiveness of sins and the reception of the gift of the Holy Spirit. Mary Magdalene in the gospel stands as an example of this graced life. She loved the Lord passionately. That is why she could not bear his physical separation. So she goes to his tomb. She weeps bitterly. She could not recognise him even though he stands beside her. Perhaps, two reasons may be given why she would not recognise him: one is the changed glorified body of the risen Lord. The second is her own sorrow that veils her sight. But the Lord calls her by name. With his calling itself, he unveils her inner vision. She asks her, “Why do you weep?” Yes, there is no room for sadness in the encounter and intimacy with the Lord. Joy and peace will be abundant. From then begins her duty and mission: to share the same experience with the other disciples.   Pointer: How much is our craving for the Lord? With what anguish and eagerness do we search for him? Do we recognise him? Do we listen to his call and be converted? Do we experience his joy and peace that dispel our sadness? Do we share the same experience with others? Do we try to live a life of contrast and witness?   (REFLECTION 3 FROM 2021, 06 APRIL)   Focus: True repentance is not a mere passing feeling of sorry for the wrong, but deep anguish that "cuts the heart" and converts the life to God   The Lord died for us and is risen, to live with us. He ceaselessly offers us his boundless life. But, when and how can we experience his risen presence and life?  Look at Mary Magdalene in the gospel and look at the people converted in the first reading. In the light of their example, we learn that we profoundly experience the presence and life of the risen Lord, if only we crave for his presence like Mary Magdalene, deeply weep over his absence and separation and passionately search for him. Thus, we see Mary Magdalene’s passionate love for the Lord, in which she weeps over his absence. She sets out in search of him. She clings to the risen Lord, as she did always cling to him because she does not want to let him go and be separated from him. Here, we need not spend much time speculating over why Mary Magdalene did not recognize the Lord immediately the resurrected Lord. If she was so close to him, how could she miss him? We need not discuss psychological or spiritual explanations, saying that her agonizing sadness or the glorious risen body of Jesus would not allow her to identify Jesus immediately. For us, what is enough to note is that she was veiled. At times, due to adverse life- situations, we may not recognize the Lord and may continue weeping. But the Lord calls us by name, makes us recognize him, and comforts us. When the Lord is with us, there is no need to weep. It is enough to encounter him, enjoy his nearness and testify to him as Mary Magdalene did. And this presupposes genuine repentance like that of the people at Peter’s preaching. They truly repent which is deep sorrow over their past life of sinfulness. They are cut to the heart. They are radically converted whereby they turn away from a life of unbelief and turn to believe in the Lord and adhere to him. They receive God’s word and are baptized.  Thereby, to put it in the words of Peter, they save themselves from the prevalent crooked generation and stand assured to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.   Direction: True it is that there are some situations in life that sadden us, but we need not lose heart because the Lord himself offers us comfort and courage   12 APRIL 2023: ACTS 3. 1-10; LUKE 24. 13-35   Pivot: Hearts burn! Indicative: When the Lord is with us, when he walks with us, and when he speaks to us, surely our hearts shall be set ablaze and we shall recognise him We all are crippled. Today’s word of God gives us instances of being crippled. They are two kinds. One is physical as in the case of the crippled beggar in the first reading. The power of the risen Lord through Peter heals him. Three concrete effects of healing are seen. They are namely, gratitude to God, as he starts praising God. He gets closer to God, as he went into the temple. And he was full of enthusiasm as he jumps and walks around. The crippled beggar receives far more than what he expected. He wanted just some material help. But he was granted healing itself. It is not just a temporary help. But it was a life-long change and life-changing change. His whole life changes. He gains not only health but much more, his lost dignity itself. Therefore it was not just a physical healing but holistic. The gospel presents us with another kind of crippling. It is spiritual crippling. It is the “crippled faith”. This is seen in the case of the two disciples on the way to Emmaus. Their faith was truly crippled. The Lord himself indicates this spiritual crippling as he rebukes them, saying, “How foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe what was already foretold!” The effects of this spiritual crippling are clear: They were prevented from recognising the Lord. They were overpowered by the human ream and human factors like sorrow and disappointment. They too needed healing to cure this spiritual crippling. This consists of listening to the Lord, staying with him, and sharing the (Eucharistic) table with him. Imperative: Constantly we are called to be healed and heal others from various forms of crippling. This is possible only with the power of the Lord (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2022, 20 APRIL) Indicator: If only we have deep faith in the Lord, we can receive his great power and give it freely and abundantly to others   “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” This is what Peter tells the lame beggar at the Temple gate. Thereby, it is clear that the spiritual wealth that is the power of the risen Lord is more valuable than the material riches and power. For, such spiritual power heals and gives a new life and dignity. Today, as the disciples of the risen Lord, this is our greatest mission. We shall not be satisfied with giving mere material help. Surely this is also very important because there is so much poverty and misery all around. But that will not suffice. Alms to the beggar could only satisfy his temporary needs. But healing would cater to the need of his entire life. Peter spoke the healing words. But he did not stop with mere words. He took the lame man by the hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. And leaping up he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. In what Peter did and what the healed man did, there are some directions for our own mission. Our mission should be of both word and deed: not only speak healing words but also assist them concretely to raise up and make their walking strong and straight. Help the people become strong and steady. What a difference between the first leaping which was limping and the second leaping which was free jumping! We must try to make our mission more holistic and not merely material. Restore the lost human dignity and joy of life. Bring the people closer to God so that they “enter the temple” and not only remain outside at the gate. Empower them spiritually so that they “praise God”. For this, what is needed is to rise above our moments of disappointment and loss of hope. The two disciples on the way to Emmaus experienced this low condition. But they were rejuvenated once they allowed the Lord to accompany them.   Pointer: In the light of the word of God, allow the Lord to stay and share with us, speak to us, let our hearts burn within us, open our eyes and recognise him, and heal us   (REFLECTION 3 FROM 2021, 07 APRIL)   Focus: What the world primarily needs is not so many material possessions, but the healing touch of the risen Lord In the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles, we have a dramatic scene of the healing power of the risen Lord through his apostles. A lame man is sitting at the temple gate, begging. As usual, he asks for alms from Peter and John who were about to go into the temple. Peter and John certainly give him alms. But this is not some money but the power of the risen Lord that heals him. This is the greatest alms. Like this crippled man, the world of today is desperately in need of a healing touch. We all need to stand straight and walk steadily. Like him, we too must beg constantly, not so much for physical healing but much more for spiritual healing, for a total change of life. Like him, we must fix our attention on Peter who speaks the words of God that are assured to heal. In effect, he experiences genuine healing: he is raised up; his feet and ankles are made strong; he leaps up to stand; he enters the temple along with them; he walks, leaps and praises God. He sits no more to beg for alms; he no more depends on others’ mercy; he is no more deprived of God’s intimate presence in the temple. He is healed and his life radically changes. He is a totally different person. Peter and John attest that they have no silver or gold but only the power of the risen Lord. But on the contrary, how sad it is that many modern disciples have gold and silver and not the power of the Lord! Monetary interests dominate spiritual concerns. Or, like the two disciples on the way to Emmaus, we too may be totally disappointed and dejected. We may be so confused and disturbed. Our hopes and expectations may be shattered. Our faith may be shaken. We may not even recognize Jesus walking with us. But we must not lose our faith. We need to keep it awake and alive. We need to foster that spiritual power of the risen Lord. For this, what is needed is to listen attentively to the words of Jesus who constantly walks along with us, and to recognize his presence in the Holy Eucharist. Our eyes should be opened and our hearts should be inflamed. Thus, we must ourselves be touched and reconfirmed by the risen Lord.   Direction: It is a simple principle that we cannot give others what we ourselves do not have. If we fail to give the world the healing touch that it needs, is it because we ourselves lack it?   13 APRIL 2023: ACTS 3. 11-26; LUKE 24. 35-48 Pivot: Peace that tranquilises! Indicative: As long as the Lord does not enter into our hearts and lives, there is fear and incredulity. But once the Lord enters, there is faith and peace The greatest gift of Easter is peace. It is not like the peace of the world which is often the evasion and absence of troubles. The peace of the Lord is one that dispels all fear, misapprehension, lack of recognition, trouble, doubt and incredulity. It is a peace that brings a personal encounter with the risen Lord. Some ingredients of this encounter are: the Lord once again reveals and confirms his identity. He tranquilises their troubled hearts. He gladdens them with joy. He shares a meal with them. He opens their minds to understand God’s ways. And he commissions them with the mission of bearing witness. The effects of this encounter and faith in the risen Lord are concretely seen in Peter. Peter becomes empowered and a powerful witness. Thereby, his whole focus was God’s glory and his mission. He was concerned only with bringing all to God and not to himself. Accordingly, after the healing of the crippled beggar, even though all glorify him and thus there was every possibility of shooting into fame, still he would humble himself. He would not seek cheap popularity. Rather he would attribute all credit to God alone. Further, Peter would become forgiving and magnanimous like his master. He does not nurture any self-righteous attitude. He does not condemn the Jews for what they had done to Jesus. Rather, he would condone and absolve them of their iniquity. He says, “You acted out of ignorance”. He generates faith in the crippled man and leads him to the Lord. This is indicated by the fact that the healed crippled man began to “cling” to Peter and John. It was not clinging to two individuals. It was clinging to “faith” in the Lord. The effects of the risen Lord continue in and through Peter. He calls all for repentance and conversion. He motivates them with the strength of hope. He assures them that if they repent and are transformed, their sins will be wiped away and they will be granted times of refreshment. Imperative: The power of the risen Lord is testified in deep humility, committed mission and bearing witness (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2022, 21 APRIL) Indicator: Our ignorance or arrogance often may prevent us from repenting, turning to the Lord, converting our life, and bearing witness to him   To the apostles who were frightened and shaken in their faith, the risen Jesus appears and says, “Peace to you!” He asks them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?” He also shows them the way to tranquilise all our fears and doubts. First, he showed his hands and feet that were wounded and bruised for our sake. Second, he shared meals with them. Third, he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures and all the happenings according to the Scriptures. Jesus utters the same blessing even now to all of us, “Peace be to you!” He is asking us especially when disturbed and wavering, “Why are you troubled and doubting?’ The same remedies are relevant and effective even now. We need to see and experience him personally and clearly. Touch and see his love that suffered and died for us. Allow him to sit with us and share a meal with us. Allow him to open our minds to understand the Scriptures and see all that happens in the light of God’s holy will and plans. As Moses said, cited in the first reading, “You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you”. And as Peter exhorted, “Repent and turn again” to the Lord. Finally, be witnesses to him. This is what Jesus mandates, “You are witnesses of these things”, and Peter affirms, “We are witnesses to this”. Another important condition for such a personal experience of tranquillity and peace is humility. How humble Peter was! People began to glorify him after he healed the lame man. But immediately he attributes all credit to God. He questions, “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this … as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk?” He admits quite candidly that it is due to the power of the same Jesus whom they killed. What a difference from many modern followers of Christ who are seekers of self-glory!   Pointer: If only we repent and turn to God, our sins will be blotted out, times of refreshing will come from the presence of the Lord, and all the families will be blessed   (REFLECTION 3 FROM 2021, 08 APRIL)   Focus: The purpose and the end of any healing must be a change of heart and of life. This alone is the greatest testimony and witness and nothing else can be an alternative to it   The healing of the lame man makes Peter very popular. But here is seen the true character of Peter and for that matter, the character of any true man of God. How appreciable is the humility and magnanimity of Peter! He does not take credit for himself, he does not seek popularity for the healing that he wrought. He does not steal the show. He does not exploit the simple faith of the people. He does not take advantage of the situation to consolidate his self-glory. He rightly acknowledges Jesus' power. What a gigantic difference between Peter and many disciples of today! How self-seeking and self-glory people many are, stealing the show from Jesus himself! If we are really the disciples of Christ, we too must enshrine such humility and magnanimity like Peter. But when will this be possible? If only we are open to receiving the Lord, if only we remain intimate with him, and if only we are empowered by his peace even amidst fear and anxiety. At times, adversities and unfavourable situations may frighten and trouble us. We may hide in the shells of ourselves or inaction. We may lose our focus and will to persist and go ahead. We may fall into moments of doubt and uncertainty. It is in such moments that the assuring words of Jesus must ring in and stir our hearts: “Why are you troubled? Why do questionings rise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet; it is I. Touch me and see”. If only we surrender ourselves, he will eat with us and will open our minds to understand and believe.   Direction: The more we experience the Lord's power, the more we are obligated to repent and to be converted. And then, we can authentically bear witness to him, as mandated by him   14 APRIL 2023: ACTS 4. 1-12;  JOHN 21. 1-14 Pivot: Faith troubles! Indicative: Life is not always smooth-sailing. Especially, when it comes to God and faith, a virtuous and holylife will surely meet with much opposition The risen Lord continues to appear to his disciples and tries to confirm their faith for a future mission. However, they are not yet confirmed. That’s why instead of believing and immediately plunging into the Lord’s mission. they would fall back to their old profession of fishing. Did they forget that the Lord specially called them and pulled them out, so that they are no more mere fishers of men, but fishers of souls? But when the Lord is not with them, all their efforts and expertise would go to waste. Peter would admit, “Lord, we toiled the whole night, but caught nothing”. But once the Lord enters the scene, once he takes control of the situation, it would be a miracle. A miracle occurs as soon as they follow the Lord’s direction, “Cast your net over the right side of the boat”. It is a miraculous catch of 153 kinds. When we confide in the risen Lord, we will be filled with the Spirit and courage. Mission becomes unstoppable and undaunted. The more opposition increases, the more faith increases. The more confrontations increase, the more conversion increases. The leaders, elders and scribes laid hands on Peter and John and put them into custody. But ironically, the more the opponents try to restrict or suppress, the faith explodes and the number increases to five thousand. The authorites threaten and intimidate the apostles. But nothing could deter or frighten them. Peter continues to proclaim the gospel boldly. He tries to make them realise that they are accountable. Imperative: When we meet hurdles and adversities on account of our faith, do we continue to be courageous and witnessing (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2022, 22 APRIL) Indicator: If we are really touched by the risen Lord, then we cannot remain the same. We will be convinced and committed. Our life too will not be futile but productive   The death of Jesus cast a dull shadow over the apostles. An air of gloom overshadowed them. They became like travellers without a sense of direction and destination. They lost their focus. That is why they turn back to their original profession of fishing. They who were round the clock engaged for the kingdom, they who had no time even to eat, now do not know what to do. So they fall back to their first condition. But how strange it is! They fail totally. They catch nothing even toiling the whole night. All their long experience and expertise would not help them. But Jesus enters the scene. He directs them to cast the net on the right side of the boat. As they obey and cast, they have a huge catch with a net full of fish. This is what happens when the Lord enters and intervenes in our life situations. He would turn scarcity into abundance and futility into effectivity. He would turn sadness into joy. He would change fear into courage. The apostles encounter and experience the risen Lord. Thereafter, nothing could resist or stop them. The arrest and custody by the authorities would not frighten their spirits. They would firmly announce their faith in the Lord that there is salvation in no one else; and also point to their culpability in “rejecting Jesus, the cornerstone”   Pointer: Often because of the prick of conscience many try to arrest and suppress true faith and witness to the truth like the Jewish authorities. But nothing can resist the power of God    (REFLECTION 3 FROM 2021, 09 APRIL)   Focus: The greatest testimony of having been touched by the risen Lord is the conviction and courage to bear testimony to the Lord   Once touched and overwhelmed by the power of the Lord, no force or pressure can intimidate or deter a follower of Christ. The Lord always comes to our rescue whenever we feel lost and defeated. When he is not with us, we will catch nothing despite all our talent and expertise. But when he enters into our life- situations, there will be the success of efforts and an abundance of results. This is the truth that the Word of God drives home to us. Peter and the other apostles received the noblest vocation: a transition from mere fishermen to fishers of souls. But, at the death of Jesus, in disillusionment, they fall back to the same old profession of fishing. But, strangely, they catch nothing. But at the entry of Jesus into the scene and at his direction, they gather an abundant catch. The point is very clear: without Jesus and apart from him, we can do nothing, and all our talent and expertise will amount to nothing. It is the presence and the power of the risen Lord that gives us conviction, direction, light, and strength. It is this that fills Peter and others to be courageous to proclaim boldly about Jesus, to risk arrest and imprisonment, and thus suffer for the sake of the Lord. Our faith and loyalty may often put us through testing and trying times. We may feel like falling back into our old ways. We may tend to place our trust in our own abilities and resources. But, we must remember that the Lord never abandons us and leaves us to our fate.   Direction: Talent and skill, intelligence and competence, experience and expertise are good but they will fall short without the Lord's power and direction 15 APRIL: ACTS 4. 13-21; MARK 16. 9-15   Pivot: The power of Jesus changes! Indicative: If one is open to believe in the Lord and cooperates with the power of the risen Lord, his life will change and he would work for the change of others as well The apostles were uneducated and ordinary. But they became bold, wise and wonder-working. This was all because of the company of Jesus. The presence and the power of Jesus is transforming. The apostles were fully convinced and clear of their choice for God. It is better to obey God and not humans. They were not frightened by the strict warning or threats of the human authorities. The authorities found themselves helpless and actionless. They could not deny the power of Jesus working through the apostles because the witness of the healed crippled was right before them. Neither could they punish the apostles because there was no valid ground to do so and people believed in them. This power of changes when there is a personal experience. This is what happens in the case of the apostles as well. They did not believe Mary Magdalene or the two others on the way to Emmaus when they told them that the Lord is risen and seen. They believed only when the Lord appeared to all the Eleven while they were at the table. However, once they were strengthened in their faith, they commit themselves to carry out the mission mandate of the Lord: “Go out into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature". It is a mission to all, without boundaries or restrictions. We have no excuse or exemption from this. Besides, it is not a favour that we do but a bounden duty. Imperative: We need to put aside our unbelief and hardness of heart. We need to be humble and receptive to believe in the presence and power of the Lord (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2022, 23 APRIL) Indicator: A life of faith is not always a linear journey. There will be low tides and high tides. There will be moments of unbelief. But when personal experience comes in, all these shadows will vanish   Many times the faith of many depends on others’ faith or tradition. They believe it because it has been said or practised so. That is why their faith will not be strong, deep, and durable. This is what happened in the case of the apostles. They did not believe when Mary Magdalene told them that Jesus is alive and had been seen by her. So Jesus would rebuke them for their unbelief and hardness of heart because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. Jesus had to further teach and solidify them in their faith. He does this patiently and compassionately. But once they experience him personally, there was no looking or turning back. They were no more the same. Simple, uneducated, and common men become fluent and wise preachers. Their life changes. They get empowered by him. They become courageous witnesses to him. That is why, even when the authorities charged and threatened them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus, they would boldly defy, saying, “We cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard”. Peter’s question to the authorities was this: “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God”. This should be our norm of life: It is better to obey God rather than please men. This must be a question of self-check for every follower of Christ. They must examine their priorities and loyalties. Are they trying to be loyal to both God and humans? Are they pleasing God or the world?   Pointer: If only obedience to God’s will is the guiding principle of the followers of Christ, then why often there are divided and conflicting interests? Why do many compromise with false values and fail to bear witness to the Lord?    (REFLECTION 3 FROM 2021, 10 APRIL)   Focus: One who has seen and heard the Lord, cannot be frightened or stopped in his mission. Because, all that matters is - the mission mandate of the Lord, to preach and to be his witnesses, and his greatest assurance that he will be with them   The bold statement of Peter and John when warned by the authorities not to preach Jesus anymore is awe-inspiring and normative for all: " Which is better, whether to obey God or obey the humans? Which is right in the sight of God: to listen to God or to listen to you? Judge for yourselves" "We cannot restrain ourselves from proclaiming what we have seen and heard". Such firmness and boldness show their decisiveness and unshakable resolve to be committed to their mission of witnessing. Such courage and commitment clearly are not from human capacity or intelligence, for they were uneducated in worldly standards. Such an unflinching zeal and unswerving loyalty can come only from a profound personal encounter and relationship with Jesus. The other disciples did not believe Mary Magdalene and the testimony of two of their companions about the resurrection of the Lord. They were convinced and confirmed only when the Lord personally appeared to them. Similarly, many times, no amount of knowledge or the testimonies of others’ experiences may really convince us, unless we personally experience it. Our eloquence and competence in our mission should be matters of conviction, confidence, courage, enlightenment, and commitment. They should never be matters of mere intelligence, knowledge, talent, or earthly resources. Our life and mission can be on the right track, and they can be truly qualitative, if only we give priority to obeying God, listening to Him, being loyal to Him, and pleasing Him, rather than mere human or worldly considerations. Like the apostles, bearing witness to the Lord must become our irresistible passion: we cannot but proclaim what we have seen and heard.   Direction: The faith and witness of many a disciple are shallow and inconsistent because they are not rooted in a personal experience and communion with Jesus