THIRTEENTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR A 23

13th SUNDAY, 02 JULY 2023, 2 KINGS 4. 8-11, 14-16A; ROMANS 6. 3-4, 8-11; MATTHEW 10. 37-42 Punch line: God - The highest priority! Guideline: It is a simple natural law and principle that we receive back as what we give, we reap as we sow. Therefore, if we do good, it will certainly be accounted and rewarded by God 1. The Lord constantly invites us to be his disciples because that alone is the meaning and fulfillment of our life, our vocation and mission. But this is not an easy task. This is very demanding, especially in a world that is inclined to false values and wrong ways. 2. Now, what it means to be a follower of Christ? What are some essential conditions or salient features of an authentic follower of Christ? In the light of the Word of God, we can enumerate some of these conditions and features. 3. They are namely: Priority to God and highest love for Him, sacrifice and detachment, holy resignation and surrender, perseverance and commitment and finally sensitivity and generosity toward other disciples. This is what Jesus pronounces in the gospel with a tone that is clear, strong, absolute and uncompromising. 4. God should be our topmost priority and love for Him should be the first, best and the highest. It should surpass even the love for one’s own family like for mother or father, for son or daughter: “Whoever loves father or mother, son or daughter is not worthy of me”. 5. One may wonder and argue, ‘but these are the ties and relationships that are quite natural, valid and recommendable’! True. That is why, let us understand this demand in the right perspective. 6. Let us not take this demand of Jesus as unrealistic or unfair or going against the very natural and healthy principle of love and bonding within the family. This in no way means that we should not love our families. Also in no way, it should make one neglect one’s responsibility toward the family. 7. Rather, we should focus on the central point and issue: nothing and no one should be more than God, should come before God, or should stand on the way of God. This invites us to seriously and sincerely check and see whether we give priority and first place to God in our heart and in our life. 8. Whether our love for God and service to Him are at times conditioned, hindered and even abandoned because of our other loves and commitments? Whether we are into undue attachments to our families to the extent of being negligent and unfair in our spiritual and fraternal obligations. 9. It is from this priority and love that all the rest proceed. Be ready and willing to sacrifice everything, even legitimate and natural, even the very life that is so precious to all. 10. In a world where ego and self-interests are central to life, where a spirit of greed, grabbing and accumulation is rampant, where undue attachments and deviations reign high, where there is every tendency for comfort-seeking and thus to avoid and escape from all what is inconvenient and discomforting, especially when it is something for God and good, where complacency and undue autonomy are the order of the day, where disloyalty and mediocrity become more frequent and normal, 11. Jesus urges us quite emphatically to detach and to sacrifice, to suffer and to surrender, to persevere and to commit, and to support and encourage those who are journeying as good disciples. 12. In other words, in the words of Paul to Romans, it means, “to live the newness of life, being dead to sin and alive for God”. Certainly this journey is a hard struggle. But it is not futile. It is enormously rewarding. 13. The woman of Shunem was so hospitable and caring toward Elisha and so she would be richly rewarded with a child. And those who follow the Lord despite and amidst all the challenges and adversities too will be abundantly rewarded here on earth itself with the firmest strength, clearest light, deepest joy and irremovable peace, and then eternal life, after death. Life line: Following the way of God, in being disciples of the Master, in being good and doing good may be a hard road often, while the way of evil and world seems gratifying and rewarding. But the lasting joy and fulfillment of life come only from good life rooted in God

TWELFTH WEEK DAYS MASS REFLECTION 23

26 JUNE - 01 JULY 2023,7 HOLY MASS REFLECTIONS   26 JUNE 2023:  GEN 12. 1-9; MATTHEW 7. 1-5   Highlight: Bless and not judge! Focus: A life that pleases God will be blessed by Him. Thereby the person himself becomes a blessing and a source of blessings for others   1.      We are living in a world where humility and sincerity, fairness and goodness toward others are becoming rarities. That is why, when some people show these qualities, it becomes big news as if it is something out of the way. Instead, arrogance and duplicity, injustice and wickedness are aggressively prevalent. In other words, it is truly a culture of evil and curse. 2.      It is in such a context, the Word of God shows us a surer way to foster a culture of blessing. In the first reading from Genesis, God blesses Abram and makes him a blessing himself and a source of blessing for others. God is pleased with his humility and sincerity, his piety and obedience to God’s ways, and his sense of fairness and kindness toward others. 3.      In the gospel, Jesus addresses one big block against such a culture of blessing. It is the malaise of self-righteousness. This is accompanied by rash and uncharitable judgment of others. Jesus confronts the self-righteous attitude of the Pharisees and scribes. 4.      This attitude refuses to do any self-check. It rates itself better than others. Consequently, it judges and condemns them. It is blind to the weakness of oneself or diminishes their faults. But on the other hand, it magnifies and exaggerates the wrongs of others. It is clearly applying double standards. 5.      St Francis de Sales has something wise said about this. He says, many are eager to accuse others even for the slightest mistake, while they excuse themselves even for the greatest blunder. People clamour for justice in the neighbour’s house while they plead for mercy in their own house. 6.      So, it is better to place oneself in the place of the other and see and feel from their perspective. Jesus too insists that it is better to "see the log in one's own eye instead of making noise about the speck in other's eye".   Direction: In a virulent atmosphere of judgment and condemnation, of which criticism and slander are the offshoots, we must cultivate a humble spirit of self-examination and self-realization   (Reflection 2 from 2022, 20 June)   Thrust: Liable to judgment! 8Indicative: Failure in fidelity to God and charity toward others makes one culpable and liable to God’s judgment and punishment   1.      We see in the history of salvation that Israel becomes liable to God’s judgment and subsequent punishment in the form of foreign invasions, exile, and slavery. This is because of their sinfulness and infidelity to their true God. 2.       They forget God’s mighty intervention and works in their history. They turn ungrateful and highly unfaithful. They abandon the true God and go after false gods. Despite the warnings from many prophets, they would not listen; they were stubborn. 3.       They despised His statutes, His warnings, and His covenant. They would not turn from their evil ways and keep His commandments. Thus obstinacy and infidelity were their greatest sins that invited God’s judgment. 4.       Similar was the case of the Pharisees and scribes in the time of Jesus. They were stubborn and self-righteous. They would not listen to Jesus. They would judge themselves as merited and meritorious. But they would judge others as unrighteous. 5.       They would find fault with others even concerning the smallest matters while they would ignore their own bigger lapses. They see eagerly even the “speck” in the other’s eye while they close their eyes even to the big “log” in their own eye. And they readily make themselves as saviours over others, saying to them, “Let me take the speck out of your eye”. 6.       Therefore, stop this judgmental attitude toward others in which we judge them hastily, wrongly, and uncharitably. Let us remember that the more we are judgmental, the more we will become judgment-liable before God. So, instead of judging others, it is better that we judge ourselves.   Imperative: Let us always remember the famous saying, “You get back what you give”. Every action will have its due consequences. Be benevolent and merciful to others so that we can at least plead for God’s mercy for us   27 JUNE 2023: GEN 13. 2, 5-18; MATTHEW 7. 12-14   Highlight: The Golden Rule! Focus: It needs deep faith to choose the right path of God and walk it steadily. This includes a benevolent approach toward others   1.      Faith and benevolence are the most effective powers of a true follower of God. The Word of God reiterates this today. It is a faith that is unswerving and wisely discerning. And it is a benevolence that is empathetic and generous. 2.      It is this faith which Jesus speaks as something holy and pearl. This should be preserved without throwing to dogs or swine that indicate evil and worldly forces. We should be judicious not to expose and submit our faith to the endangering nature and ways of the world. 3.      The world does not realize the value of the sacredness and preciousness of faith. The world may trample it underfoot as something useless. It may wrongly show us that faith is not worth it. The world will choose the broader way of ease and pleasure, and will falsely make us think that it is the best way. 4.      It is in such situations we should preserve and safeguard our faith. We must wisely discern and choose the narrow way against the broader way. We must persistently walk the narrow way. It is difficult but it alone leads to salvation. 5.      This narrow way of faith involves a life of benevolence. It is a kindness that empathetically understands and thinks of the good of others. In Jesus’ own words, it does to others what it wishes for itself from others. 6.      In simple details, true benevolence is marked by empathy and altruism. It gives others that understanding, respect, concern, love, encouragement, appreciation and support, which it expects from others. And it is generous as well. 7.      In the first reading from Genesis, we have Abram as a concrete example of this empathetic and generous benevolence. He gives preference to his nephew Lot when it comes to the choice of land to occupy. This is rewarded abundantly by God.   Direction: Realizing the worth of faith, clarity of priorities and walking the right way - these are the fundamental norms of a good and godly life   (Reflection 2 from 2022, 21 June)   Thrust: Wisdom to discern! Indicative: Many fail in taking the right decisions and implementing them into the right actions. It is because they fail in discerning between right and wrong. Further, this is because they lack wisdom   1.      One dominant theme in today’s word of God is divine discernment. In the gospel, 3 cases call for discernment: not throwing what is holy to the dogs, and pearls before the pigs; doing to others what we want them to do to you; entering through the narrow gate and way and not the broader. 2.       What is holy and precious like a pearl may be our faith, our life. They are so sacred and valuable. So we must always safeguard and preserve them intact. We should not tamper with them or taint them. 3.       We should not expose them to dogs and pigs, meaning evil forces or pressures. We should not deal with our faith and life thoughtlessly and carelessly. This is also a caution against the evil to be careful and not being taken for a ride. 4.       The second aspect of discernment is to opt for altruism. In Jesus’ words, it is to “do to others what you want them to do to you”. Accordingly, it would mean that we always think, feel, speak and do only what is good and positive toward others. No one would wish bad or harm for one’s own self. This in fact is the “Golden Rule”. 5.       The third aspect of discernment is between the narrow gate and way and the broader gate and way. The former is difficult but leads to salvation. But the latter, the broader is easier but leads to destruction.   Imperative: The man of today lacks this power of discernment. That is why he easily falls to the fierce attacks of evil, the dogs and pigs. He is not able to preserve intact his life and faith. He fails in altruism. He is prone and eager to walk the broader way and meets with discernment   28 JUNE 2023: GEN 15. 1-18; MATTHEW 7. 15-20   Highlight: God, our shield and reward! Focus: Those who trust in God even in seemingly impossible situations and live righteously will please God and be blessed by God beyond measures   1.      Falsity is always detestable in the sight of God because He knows humans through and through. Those who are false may disguise themselves in the garbs of holiness. They may be able to fool and deceive others. 2.      But they cannot fool God. God will certainly take them to task. This is how Jesus warns in the gospel about the false people in the holy garb of prophets. These are inwardly violent wolves but outwardly meek sheep. 3.      They are bad trees that appear to bear good fruits. But they bear only bad fruits. And they are judged by their bad fruits. Accordingly, just like the bad trees they will be cut down and thrown into the fire. 4.      Therefore, what is important is that we are sincere and authentic with no false disguises. We must grow and live like good trees that bear good fruits. We must prove ourselves by the quality of our fruits. 5.      Then surely God will bless us and reward us abundantly. This is what we see in the case of Abram in Genesis. Abram is obedient to God. With utter faith, he believes in God’s promises and8 assurances, even though they seem humanly impossible. 6.      If not for his faith, how would he believe God’s promise of making him the father of a multitude of descendants, when he is already advanced in age and without an heir? Abram is truly a good tree that bears the abundant fruits of faith and righteousness. That is why, he is rewarded with an heir, numerous descendants and spacious land. 7.      We find thus a contrast between Abram, a pagan and the false prophets of the race of believers. Though pagan, Abram won God’s favour because of his faith in God and the righteousness of life. On the contrary, the Pharisees and the scribes proved themselves to be false prophets and incurred God’s judgment because of their falsity and lack of fruits.   Direction: In our life, ultimately what matters is not mere exterior allegiance like race or nation, but the interior spirit of faith that authenticates itself in good fruits   (Reflection 2 from 2022, 22 June)   Thrust: Wickedness in disguise? Indicative: Mere external appearances cannot prove the real quality of something or someone. They can be clever devices and deceptive disguises. Only authentic actions matter   1.      There is a rampant “mask” culture. The real character often is under pretensions and disguises. Many go about with a lot of duplicities, giving an appearance and colouring of being good and holy. But in truth, they are only hiding their bad nature under a good cover. This is what Jesus calls, “wolves in sheep’s clothing”. 2.       Quite true to Jesus’ warning, there are many false prophets all around us who wear sheep’s clothing but are inwardly ravenous wolves. These project themselves as meek, humble, and pure like sheep. They appear to be harmless. But inside they are full of aggressiveness, and destructive nature. 3.       They wait for every little chance to pounce on others and harm them grievously. But how do we find them out? Is there any criterion, any test to uncover their real colour? It is by looking at their fruits. 4.       As Jesus cautions, these are the bad or diseased trees. They pretend to bear good fruit. But they bear only bad fruit. A bad tree cannot bear good fruit. These are the thorn bushes and they cannot produce grapes or figs. Their end will only be destruction, just as every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 5.       The falsity, deceptiveness, and failing the test of the authenticity of these false prophets should serve as a caution, warning, and challenge for all of us not to fall into the same trap. Instead of bad or diseased trees, we must be good trees that bear good fruits. We must not be wolves in sheep’s clothing. Rather we must be sheep in sheep’s clothing.   Imperative: Claiming to be good and healthy trees but bearing bad fruits is a contradiction. Let us try to be good trees not only in appearance but in truth by bearing good fruits   29 JUNE 2023: ACTS 12. 1-11; 2 TIM 4. 6-8, 17-18; MT 16. 13-19; STS PETER AND PAUL   Highlight: Loyal to the Royal Master! Focus: The greatness of faith is not so much in what one does by oneself for the Lord, but in what one allows God to do in and through oneself, in surrender and dedication   1.      Today we celebrate the solemnity of Sts Peter and Paul. In a way, they are the two prime craftsmen of the edifice of the Church,  after the heart of Christ, the real Founder, and the Master Architect. They are the master servants of the Supreme Master and the servant leaders of the community of believers. 2.      What is striking and awe-inspiring in both of them is their unbounded passion for Christ. It is this passionate love for him that makes them stand solid like a rock even in the face of terrible adversities and persecutions, leading to martyrdom as well. 3.      It is this passion that makes Peter announce with conviction, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Mt 16. 16). It is this passion that makes Peter affirm with indefectible loyalty, “To whom shall we go, Lord? You have the words of eternal life” (cf. Jn 6. 68). 4.      It is this passion that makes him confess his love with total heart, “Lord, you know that I love you” (cf. Jn 21. 15-19). It is the same passion that keeps his faith undaunted despite the imprisonments or other sufferings. 5.      The same passion is amply manifest in Paul as well. See what a fire of love consumes him when he professes his love for Christ, “Who or what can separate us from the love of Christ?” Nothing and no one can ever work against us when Christ is with us and when we love him (cf. Rom 8. 35-39). 6.      However, this passion is not merely sentimental or limited only to words. It is deeply actual and authentic in action. It shows itself in total detachment and sacrifice. That is why Peter left everything and followed the Lord at his call (cf. Luke 5. 8-11). He would also attest, “You see we have given up everything to follow you” (Mt 20. 27). 7.      That is why, Paul would exclaim in Phil 3. 7-8: “But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake, I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as refuse, in order that I may gain Christ”. 8.      Further, this same passion would set them on fire in the same mission of Christ, charged with perseverance, loyalty, and commitment. It makes them selfless and fearless in carrying out the mission of Christ. Their passionate mission knew no bounds and so it cut across all boundaries. 9.      They remained true to their Master to the end. They testified their love and passion for their Lord by their blood. It is this authenticity of commitment that makes Paul declare in today’s second reading from 2 Timothy 4. 6-8, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith”. 6.      Today, perhaps, this fiery passion of Peter and Paul may be covered under the ashes of fabrics of authority and administration in line with Peter, or under the garbs of eloquent preaching and supervision in line with Paul. 7.      We will be doing great injustice to Peter and Paul if we limit them to suit our rungs of power and word. Their passion, their loyalty, and their self-emptying commitment should be rediscovered and reactivated.   Direction: Passion for Christ should never diminish on account of other worthless passions. Zeal for the mission of Christ should not be dominated by self-oriented ministries.   (Reflection 2)   1.      Saints Peter and Paul – two greatest saints, the two solid pillars, pilasters, and columns of the magnificent edifice of the Church of Christ, the two earliest proponents of the way of the Lord, the two wise and illumined guides and leaders of the believing communities. 2.      Our concern now is not so much the divergence of their background or appearance or temperament or mental frame or intellectual acumen or skill or recipients. It is very interesting that these two greatest saints are put together for one single feast day of 29 June, while one each other day is also marked for them, namely, 22 February as the day of Chair of St Peter, and 25 January as the day of the conversion of St Paul. 3.      This one common feast day celebration can be very indicative of the oneness and unity, the solidity and the vitality, the spread and the growth of the Church, irrespective of the diversities. In the plan of God, in the journey of salvation, in the mystical body of Christ, in the community of believers, in the reign of God, what matters most is communion and commitment, and nothing else. 4.      It is these two that put them together in one single frame, on the same plane. The lives of Peter and Paul are the tallest proclamations and testimonies of how God’s grace is unfathomable and immense and what abundant fruits it bears when responded with generosity. 5.      What makes them alike is their deepest love and the craziest passion for Christ. This is what makes Peter declare unequivocally: “Lord, you know everything and you know that I love you” (Jn 21. 15-17). 6.      It is this that makes Paul attest convincingly: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord “ (Rom 8. 35, 37-39). 7.      This flows into an inseparable intimacy and indissoluble communion with the Lord. And this rootedness and bonding with the Lord soak them into depths of humility, docility, and surrender towards God’s will and plans. 8.      (cf. Rom 9. 20-21: “But who are you, a man, to answer back to God? Will what is moulded say to its moulder, “Why have you made me thus?” Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for beauty and another for menial use?”; cf. Jn 6. 68: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life”). 9.      This throws them into a radical shock and convulsion of conversion, thus rendering them totally self-effacing (cf. Mt 20. 27: “Then Peter spoke up and said, ‘You see we have given up everything to follow you’ “; Phil 3. 7-8: “But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed I count everything as a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake, I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as refuse, in order that I may gain Christ”). 10.  Love and surrender will never keep one at rest but will overpower one with a “divine restlessness”. Thus, they are led to the heights of fidelity and commitment to the Lord’s mission, overwhelmed by the power of the Holy Spirit. The spread of the faith and faith communities are the most concrete attestations of their abundant fruition and the epitomes of their faith and charity. 11.  In sum, it is their passionate love of Christ that takes their whole life by storm and makes it an unending story of humility, docility, fidelity, and charity. Today it is not fair to be content that we are on the same line as Peter and Paul, mostly in terms of authority of administration and power of eloquence. 12.  This will not suffice. We need to be imitators of them, not only in leadership and preaching but much more in their virtue. We need to be moulded in the same intensity of love, authenticity of humility, profundity of surrender, credibility of detachment, density of loyalty, vibrancy of charity, and the radicalism of missionary commitment.     30 JUNE 2023: GEN 17. 1-10, 15-22; MATTHEW 8. 1-4   Highlight: Covenant with a radical change! Focus: Everyone stands in need of healing and for this, one should be aware of his unhealthy condition, deeply feel the desire for health and the need for healing, and in faith approach the Lord   1.      God enters into a covenant with Abram. But this is not like any other covenants or contracts that are usually for mutual benefit. This is a covenant that is totally for the benefit of Abram and his descendants. His life changes completely. 2.      This is symbolized explicitly by the change of his name from Abram to Abraham. He would become exceedingly fruitful and the father of many nations. They would inherit Canaan as an everlasting possession. 3.      Even at their ripe age of hundred and ninety respectively, Abraham and Sarah would get a son, Isaac. This is a covenant that is not time-bound but everlasting that extends to Isaac and the descendants thereafter. 4.      In return, what is expected from Abraham and his descendants is fidelity and consecration, symbolized by circumcision. They shall consecrate themselves to God as His people and possession. 5.      They shall walk before him and be blameless. One need not object that this is a disguised condition. It is not a condition but a natural outflow and expression of their fidelity to the covenant. 6.      If one really loves God, he would respect his sacred covenant with God. He would keep away all that infects this relationship, and foster all that helps him to live it. Every covenanted person would seek to be clean, healthy and whole. 7.      In the light of the gospel, it is to be healed of leprosy that corrodes a person and alienates him from society. One should get rid of the interior and spiritual leprosy that eats away the sanity and wholeness of the person. 8.      All of us need healing and restoration of our lost health. For this, like the leper, we need an earnest desire to approach the Lord, and to get cleaned and healed by God. We must humbly plead to the Lord, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean”. 9.      And the Lord is always ready to heal us, saying, “I will; be clean”. Many a time, many continue unhealed and unclean because they lack this deep desire and fail to turn to God.   Direction: In a world that becomes more and more health-conscious and beauty-conscious, one should aim at and strive for interior and holistic health and beautification   01 JULY 2023: GEN 18. 1-15; MATTHEW 8. 5-17   Highlight: Goodness, never a waste! Focus: Faith is not so much a matter of one's greatness but rather total trust in God's greatness and the height of one's littleness   1.      Pride is one infection that is attacking many. There are different kinds of pride, such as material, physical, intellectual, social, etc. But there is also another kind of pride, more subtle but more harmful. That is spiritual pride. 2.      It is when one feels great and proud of one's spiritual gifts and abilities. It is in this context, one should remember that faith is never a matter of one's credit or merit. The more we are gifted and able, the more we should be humble. 3.      See the humility of the centurion in the gospel. He himself is a man in authority. But in all humility, he realizes his littleness before Jesus' divine and spiritual authority. He realizes that Jesus’ authority is such that can subjugate and expel the evil powers even with a single simple word even over a distance. 4.      In that same humility, he admits his unworthiness and sinfulness. At the same time, he readily acknowledges the holiness and greatness of Jesus. Thus, his humility blended with deep trust in Jesus’ power and mercy brings him the reward of his servant’s healing. This is real faith which comprises humility and trust. 5.      The same faith is seen in Peter’s mother-in-law and many others sick and possessed. Jesus heals them. This healing spree is very much indicative of the nature of his mission. His mission is vicarious. 6.      This is to suffer for our sake, to become expiation on our behalf. He bears the burden of our sins in order to release us from the bondage of sin. He takes our infirmities and bears our diseases. 7.      One who experiences God’s blessing and healing will certainly put himself into good action, into serving. This is what is seen in the instance of Peter’s mother-in-law. No sooner was she cured of her fever, but she immediately rose and served Jesus. 8.      This is what Abraham does in the first reading from Genesis. Abraham experiences God’s blessing in God’s intimate covenantal relationship, in a steady gradual fulfilment of His promises. 9.      He shows this blessedness in a hearty spirit of hospitality and service to three guests who are actually God-sent angels. Again, this service is rewarded by the confirmation of the birth of an heir.   Direction: The world of today can be healthy and happy only when it realizes its sickness and turn to the Lord and gets healing

12th SUNDAY OF THE YEAR A 23

TWELFTH SUNDAY, 25 JUNE  2023, JER 20:10-13; ROM 5. 12-15; MATTHEW 10. 26-33 Highlight: No fear when God is near! Thrust: Difficulties and afflictions will never leave us, especially when we are on God's mission and good mission. The whole difference is whether we go ahead with fear or without fear 1.      No one's life is free from problems and adverse situations. So it will be unrealistic and foolish to wish and expect a total absence of any difficulty and displeasure. 2.      All the more, when one is convinced and committed, determined and dedicated concerning God's work and good work, when one sincerely tries to live a life in tune with God's will and for others' good, surely one will face opposing forces and discouraging experiences. 3.      The life of Jeremiah is a vivid instance of this suffering on behalf of God and good. Jesus too never hides this fact from his followers. He is quite aware of their plight for his sake. He also understands that such opposing forces frighten them and can dispirit them from their focus and striving in fulfilling their task. 4.      That is why, in the first place, Jesus encourages them, instilling in them new courage and hope. He exhorts them: Fear not; Do not be afraid. 5.      But why? Because God Himself will be their strength and shield. Because He is more powerful than all other forces ("which can kill only body and not body and soul"; "Sin abounds but grace super-abounds"). 6.      Because He has complete control and sway over all the situations, everyone and everything. Because, God values us so much; we are precious in His sight ("You are far more worth than the sparrows, of which also God takes care even if they are so small and insignificant; Even your hair is counted and guarded"); He cares for us and takes care of us. 7.      Because, He feels a special and singular love and duty toward the humble, those who trust in Him and rely on Him, to go to their rescue. 8.      Therefore, in the case and face of suffering and struggle in our way of living God's ways, the fundamental spirit should be, not fear, discouragement and giving up. Rather it should be a spirit of total trust in God and surrender to Him. 9.      We need not bother much about how to tackle the adversaries or how to attack the adversities, how to defeat them or how to overpower them or how to strike them down. 10.  Instead, all our concern must be to place our complete trust in God; not to feel intimidated or sceptical or shaken. It is to "entrust our cause" to God, to totally abandon our case to Him. 11.  This is what Jeremiah did. Humanly speaking, it was a situation of the height of misery: totally misunderstood, blamed and persecuted; abandoned to the extent of being killed. But what a spirit of fortitude and abandonment to God's holy intervention! He does not want to fight the battle against his opponents. Rather, He submits his case to God. 12.  It is this spirit of trust and entrustment, courage and perseverance, loyalty and unswerving commitment that is diminishing in many a disciple today. 13.  A good number, first of all, are not clear and focused, they are not convinced and resolved; they are not courageous and steadfast; they are not loyal and committed. 14.  Let us muster up our confidence and courage, our resolve and strength from the Lord, from the example of Jeremiah, Paul and the Lord himself. Practice: Let our special prayer be, to deepen our love for God and trust in Him. For love dispels fear and trust dissolves doubt, uncertainty and wavering  

NATIVITY OF JOHN THE BAPTIST

NATIVITY OF JOHN THE BAPTIST 24 June 2023 (Reflection 2) 1.     On 24 June we celebrate the birthday of John the Baptist. In fact, besides the birthdays of our Lord and Mother Mary, it is only the birthday of John the Baptist that is specially celebrated, and that shows his singularity. Rightly Jesus has declared of him in Luke 7:28 to be the greatest man to have ever lived: "I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John ..." 2.     In the recent times, there is a tendency among some to claim themselves to be prophets, like John the Baptist. They make this claim mainly to defend and justify their uncontrolled sickness of uncharitable criticism and negative judgments about others. Their simple comparison is: See, John the Baptist too was very fearless and ferocious; he was boldly rebuking the Pharisees and scribes, and even accusing Herod and Herodias. But these are false prophets and are never on par with the Baptist. They are so much devoid of his features and are miles apart from his life of witness. This necessitates having a quick look at the person of John the Baptist. 3.     His birth is very unique because it was with a definitive purpose in the plan of salvation. He had a key role to play in the divine design of Messiah. He was destined to be “the precursor of the Saviour” - that voice crying in the wilderness preparing the way for the coming Messiah (Is 40. 3; Mt 3. 3; Mk 1. 2-3; Lk 3. 3-6). He was sent to proclaim a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins (Lk 3. 3; Mk 1. 4), as a preparation for baptism by fire and Holy Spirit (Lk 3. 16). He was profoundly conscious of this purpose of his birth, and the thrust of his mission, and he was totally committed to fulfill this. 4.     He was an epitome of humility. Even at the height of his fame and popularity, he never clung to self-glory or self-promotion. He made no false promises. He categorically denied that he is the expected Messiah (Jn 1. 20; 3. 28). He humbly declared: “I am only the friend of the bridegroom (Jn 3. 29); I am not the Light but only a little lamp, witness and pointer to the Light (Jn 1. 6-8); I am not worthy even to untie the strap of his sandal (Lk 3. 16; Jn 1. 23); he must increase and I must decrease (Jn 3. 30). 5.     John's lifestyle was as austere as his message (Mt 3. 4; Mk 1. 6).  John was no "crowd pleaser." He confronted the hypocrisy of the religious establishment (Mt 3. 7; Lk 3. 7 ). Even at the cost of his life, he stood for truth. He did not hesitate to expose the immorality of Herod and chose to die a martyr's death rather than compromise his convictions (Mt 14. 3-12; Mk 6. 17-29 ). 6.     Where are we in comparison to John the Baptist? It is not enough to simply claim that like him, we too are prophets, standing for truth and fearlessly denouncing the unjust structures or authorities. How much we are conscious of the purpose of our birth and the destiny of our call? How much we are loyal to accomplish our mission as disciples and consecrated persons? How much we are humble, resisting self-promotion, shunning self-glory and cheap popularity and false dignity? How much are we honest and authentic, that is, standing in truth, before standing for truth? Is our concern for justice and authenticity, or for judging and condemning others, so that others are shown in a bad light, and we can bask in shallow light? 

11th WEEK DAYS MASS REFLECTION 23

19 - 24 JUNE 2023, HOLY MASS REFLECTIONS 19 JUNE 2023: 2 COR 6. 1-10; MATTHEW 5. 38-42 Highlight: Witness by Contrast! Thrust: The ways of the world are always contrary to the ways of God. It needs a change of heart to rise above the ways of the world. It needs the courage of the Spirit to be loyal to the ways of God 1. The ways of the world are always in contrast to the ways of God. In such a context, Jesus invites us to follow a new set of rules, a reversal of the values. 2. It is no more grudge, revenge, and retaliation but forgiveness and reconciliation. It is no more an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. Rather it is offering another cheek as well to the one who strikes on one cheek. It is no more avarice or profit-seeking, but concern for the need of the other. 3. It goes even to the extent of forgoing one's own due and rightful gain. Thus, it is to be generous enough to give away the cloak as well to the one who sues for a coat, or to give readily to the one who begs or borrows. 4. This is exactly what Paul and the other apostles lived: they suffered but they always rejoiced in the Lord. They were persecuted but remained strong and loyal. They were slandered but stood truthful. They were despised as poor but they were so rich spiritually and enriched others. 5. As Paul enumerates in the first reading from his 2nd letter to the Corinthians (6. 1-10), what they faced was a series of afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, tumults, labours, watching and hunger. 6. But what they showed was great endurance by the Holy Spirit, the power of God, genuine love, knowledge, forbearance, kindness and truthful speech. They fought and conquered the forces of evil, not by revenge and retaliation but with the weapons of righteousness. 7. They put no obstacle in anyone’s way. They never conducted themselves blameworthy in their ministry. But they presented themselves as commendable servants of God. This indeed is a life of witness by contrast. Practice: The value and meaning of life and all the more the life of a disciple of Christ is not in aggression and retaliation but in forbearance, reconciliation and condescendence (Reflection 2 from 2022, 13 June) Indicative: There is always a sharp contrast between the people of God and the people of the world. The former often seem to be losers and despised and the latter, winners and victors. But in God’s sight, it is the reverse! 1. There is a devastating prevalence of false values. Against such a worldly mentality of false values, Jesus proposes a contrast-set of values. It is not the spirit of unforgiveness, grudge, and retaliation that seeks “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth". But it is Christ’s spirit of forbearance and forgiveness that offers the other cheek also to the one who slaps on one. 2. It is not the spirit of greed or profit or self-interest. But it is the new spirit of sensitivity and generosity that gives readily to those who beg or borrow. It is not the spirit of fighting for rights suing you to take away your tunic. 3. But it is the contrast-spirit of giving up one’s legitimate rights and parting with the cloak as well. It is not the spirit of becoming so calculative and refusing to walk a mile with the other. But it is the generous spirit of walking an “extra mile”. Imperative: What are the values that are taking hold of me and guiding me? Is it greed or generosity? Is it retaliation or reconciliation? Do I resemble Christ and his true disciples? 20 JUNE 2023: 2 COR 8. 1-9; MATTHEW 5. 43-48 Highlight: Be perfect! Thrust: The outstanding difference between God and man is the depth and extent of God’s mercy which forgives, loves and helps even the greatest enemy 1. We are living in a world of three dominant trends, namely, comparison, competition and imitation. These prevail even from very childhood itself. It can be concerning anything, be it a simple dress, education, opportunities, skill and talent, intelligence and competence, social status, earning money, power, position, popularity, et cetera. 2. Everyone tries for excellence and perfection. But this is mostly to outsmart and out-beat others. Thus, unfortunately, these tendencies to compare, compete and imitate are mostly concerning worldly things and self-interests. Accordingly, the pursuit of perfection often degenerates into selfishness, jealousy, greed, deception and corruption. 3. It is in such a context, Jesus is proposing today the best and perfect model to compare with, compete with and imitate. It is God the Father Himself. “Be merciful AS your heavenly Father is merciful”. “Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect”. 4. God has a contrasting and disconcerting style of functioning. He loves and forgives even the most destructive enemy. He is benevolent and equitable to “let His rain and sunshine upon all, both the good and the bad”. 5. Therefore, our model is God Himself in His compassion, mercy, and perfection. We are thereby invited to put on God’s own mindset. 6. That is, to cultivate a selfless love even to embrace the enemy, to bless them, to pray for them, to be courteous to all and to help all, to show equity toward all without any discrimination. 7. This is the excellence for which St Paul praises the churches of Macedonia, where he refers to their generosity to support others. Practice: It is good to be just in following and demanding what is lawful, rightful, and reasonable. But it is better to be loving in being merciful and compassionate. A “dry justice” condemns, while a “fertile charity” condones (Reflection 2 from 2022, 14 June) Poker: Our perfection is so imperfect! Indicative: God not only teaches us and demands from us a life of sound values. But He Himself follows them and sets an example for us. He is a God who does what He says 1. “You be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect”, exhorts Jesus in the gospel. He proposes God the Father Himself as the model of perfection. 2. Perfection is a catchword and is the target and goal of many. Many aspire to and strive for perfection. But mostly it is a perfection concerning worldly matters and interests. Mostly, people seek perfection in intelligence, competence, talent, and skill. 3. Accordingly, perfection is equated with excellence and success. One is perfect when he excels and succeeds in a particular aspect or field of life. The problem with this kind of understanding of perfection is, that it is very partial, limited, and shallow. 4. For example, one may be perfect in his job, profession, business, art, or capacity. But he may be miserably imperfect and morally inadequate in all the other things of his life. That is why they are not worth-imitable for a holistic life. 5. It is in this context, Jesus places before us the model par excellence – God Himself. In which way God is perfect and His perfection is the model? His perfection is holistic. It is a perfection of virtue and value. 6. Jesus clarifies this in the gospel. It is a perfection of love that loves even the enemies; that prays even for those who persecute us. It is a perfection that greets and is courteous even to strangers. It is a perfection that is equitable to all without any discrimination because He lets His sun shine and rain fall both on the just and unjust. It is a perfection that does good selflessly without expecting any return or reward. Imperative: What is the type of perfection we are seeking? Where are the best of our efforts directed? Is it to perfect ourselves in some competence and skill only? How keen are we to become perfect in the path of virtue and character and commitment? 21 JUNE 2023: 2 COR 9. 6-11; MATTHEW 6. 1-6, 16-18, St Aloysius of Gonzaga Highlight: Not for a show but follow! Thrust: Seeking recognition and reward for one’s goodness or good works may be natural to some extent, but excess seeking would make even the good a shallow show 1. There may be some who are indifferent and not much bothered to be engaged in doing good works or spiritual practices. But there are some others who may do actively something good and spiritual but with an impure motive of seeking recognition and applause. This takes away the merit and beauty of their good practice. 2. Jesus in the gospel warns of such people, especially about prayer, almsgiving, and fasting, which are the three fundamental pillars of the religion. The fault is not doing them because they are praiseworthy and highly recommendable. 3. The fault is doing them with an impure heart with a lot of negativities and without any desire and decision to change for the better. We must always remember that ultimately all our external practices must deepen our interior purity leading to clean and selfless action and living. 4. In this context, we must constantly check and see whether our prayers are helping us to grow in the spirit of closeness and communion with God, surrender, and loyalty to Him, in dedication and witness to Him. 5. We must examine whether our almsgiving fosters in us a consistent spirit of sensitivity and charity towards the needs and difficulties of others; whether our fasting enhances the spirit of self-discipline and restraint within us. 6. Therefore, all our spiritual or good activities must proceed from a heart that is genuine and gives generously and cheerfully. They must be produces of an abundant harvest of righteousness. We must bear in mind that we receive as we give. 7. If we give generously, we will also receive abundantly. If we give only little and that too reluctantly, we will also receive little. That is why, St Paul affirms: he who sows sparingly, will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. God loves a cheerful giver and He will enrich in every way every great generosity. Direction: It is not proper to disregard and discard all religious practices, arguing that they are not bringing out any concrete change in life, or that the spirit and heart are more important than all formal actions. It is better that both the interior purification and exterior transformation take place (Reflection 2 from 2022, 15 June) Poker: Devotion and charity on publicity! Indicative: Goodness and holiness are matters of genuine devotion and dedication. They should be spontaneous outflows and expressions of authenticity and not tools for publicity 1. We are living in a culture of publicity and cheap popularity. The sale and the use of a commodity often depend not on its quality but on the knack of publicity. Thus often, a thing or a person is rated successful on how much that one is recognized, publicized, and popularized. That is why we find a lot of duplicity and a mad craze for cheap popularity. 2. Jesus cautions us against such a tendency of hypocrisy. He says very plainly, Do whatever you do, not for recognition, applause and reward; but do it spontaneously from a genuine and devout heart. The sole motive in doing any spiritual or fraternal act is pleasing God and being faithful to our religious duty. 3. Jesus discusses this referring to the three essential religious practices, namely, prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. We need to pray, not for the sake of impressing others that we are spiritual and prayerful. But we pray in order to experience, exercise, express, and enhance our intimate relationship with God. 4. We need to give alms to the needy, not for getting applauded for our generosity. But we do charity so that those who are in need are helped and bettered. It is out of our sensitivity and concern for the poor and not for a good certificate. 5. Similarly, we need to fast, not because we want to be praised for our sense of rigour and sacrifice. Rather, we fast so that we become more self-restrained and self-disciplined. It is out of our spirit to give priority to the spiritual over the material. Imperative: There is no devaluing the importance of religious practices like extra prayers, fasting, and alms. But we must constantly check on the motive and effect of them. Is it really to practise and foster devotion, discipline, and charity, or to make a show? 22 JUNE 2023: 2 COR 11. 1-11; MATTHEW 6. 7-15 Highlight: Quality and not mere quantity! Thrust: The quantity of words in prayer is not a necessary sign and guarantee of the quality of prayer. What matters is the quality of the heart 1. In the gospel, Jesus directs our attention to our power-source, namely prayer. What decides the quality of prayer is not the quantity of words but the quality of heart. It is the disposition of the heart with the right spirit. 2. Accordingly, a spirit of forgiveness and not storing grudge is the right disposition and quality of heart. It becomes an essential pre-requisite and condition for God to accept our prayer. In this context, Jesus offers us the sublime model prayer, 'Our Father'. 3. It is not one prayer among many. It is in a way the quintessence of prayer. It recognizes and reminds us that we are one family of God's children, bound by filial devotion and fraternal concern. We need to abide by His holy will and establish His kingdom. 4. We must inculcate a constant spirit of dependence on God and contentment with the minimum. We must earnestly resist all inclination to evil and especially all the rush for unforgiveness. 5. In fact, the prayer ‘Our Father’ evidently teaches us what to pray for. But in the same token, it also implicitly cautions us against the possible onslaughts of the evil one. One is the spirit of disunity and division that disrupts the spirit of one family of God’s children. 6. Second is desecrating and disgracing God’s holy name by unholy lives, by not living up to His holy name. Third is promoting one’s own will and interests, that is, one’s petty kingdom, against the one kingdom of God and His holy will. 7. Fourth is a sense of greed and accumulation leading to discontentment. Fifth is harbouring grudges and an unforgiving spirit. Sixth is easily falling prey to the temptations of the evil one. This is similar to what the serpent did to Eve and Adam. 8. This is what St Paul warns the Corinthians about being led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. As he attests, we must constantly be conscious that we are “betrothed to Christ to present ourselves as a pure bride to her one husband”. Practice: The Our Father is not merely a well-articulated or condensed prayer. It synthesizes the whole spirit of a praying heart. It lays bare that spiritual concerns are the priority in life. This essentially includes primacy to God and the Propensity of fraternity. (Reflection 2 from 2022, 16 June) Poker: Efficacy of prayer is not a multiplicity of words! Indicative: Quantity is not always a guarantee of quality. There is no guarantee that the more words I use in my prayer, the more efficacious it is. It is the devout heart that qualifies a prayer 1. Often, many feel that the size of prayer shows its quality. Accordingly, the more words I am able to use, the better way I articulate them, and the longer I engage myself or others in prayer, the more I am rated as successful in praying. But this is wrong thinking. 2. We do not deny the need for words in prayer. Words can be very helpful as they can motivate and inspire others to pray better. The wrong choice of words or poor use of them can be very annoying and even distracting. 3. However, the point here is again about the motive and effect of the words in prayer. If words are used simply for the sake of impressing others with my capacity and skill of praying, then it fails to be effective. 4. Words are only tools and channels that carry and transmit something deeper. They must be transmitters of a profound spirit and relationship. They must lead to a renewed way of living. 5. In this context, Jesus teaches us the sublime prayer, ‘Our Father’. It is the prayer of prayers. It is not one prayer like many others, but the real spirit and essence of all prayers. It shows us what it means to pray, when we pray what we do, and what we pray for. 6. It is not a matter of reciting a particular prayer called ‘Our Father’. Rather, it is a matter of reminding ourselves of the spirit that must permeate us whenever we pray. 7. Accordingly, whenever we pray, we must be pervaded by a spirit of unity and family, We must remember that God is our one Father and we are all His children and brothers and sisters of one family. 8. We sanctify His name not only by praising His name but much more by living up to His name. We do not bring disgrace or shame to His holy name. 9. We pray for His kingdom. It is everyone’s duty to spread God’s reign of love, justice, and integrity. We commit ourselves to do His holy will. We realise our nature of dependence on Him and trust in His providential care. Very especially we make sure that we are open to forgiving and reconciling. We also become cautious and resistant to all evil assaults. Imperative: Praying is not only a matter of reciting some prayers, or uttering some words. Praying is essentially a matter of experiencing and deepening our spirit of family and unity, fidelity and surrender, dependence and contentment, spiritual rigour and valour, and forgiveness and reconciliation 23 JUNE 2023: 2 COR 11. 18, 21-30; MATTHEW 6. 19-23 Highlight: Treasure to store up! Thrust: The eye is the lamp of the body. It directs the body. In the same way, the perspective or inner vision is that eye that directs one’s life. Wisdom is that sight that helps one to discern between what is worth-seeking and what is worth-discarding and to follow what is worth 1. In the gospel, Jesus directs our attention to one greatest temptation that strikes many. That is, seeking and accumulating treasures on earth. It is foolish because they are temporary and transient. 2. The earthly treasures are unreliable and unstable and liable to loss and ruin. If not careful, they will easily distort one’s clarity of vision and deviates from his way of life. Those who place their trust in them are like those whose eyesight is blurred and who stumble in darkness. 3. Therefore, we need the light of wisdom that gives us sound eyesight. Wisdom is that sound eye that makes us see and realize that the treasures of heaven are far more worth than the treasures on earth, and they alone are worth-seeking. They are imperishable and permanent. 4. Wisdom not only gives us clarity of priorities but also enables us to pursue the treasures of heaven with perseverance to the end. It is this wisdom that overwhelmed St Paul so that he was maddened and possessed with a passion for Christ. 5. Nothing could stop his undaunted spirit. No labours, no imprisonments, no beatings, no lashes, no stoning, no shipwreck, no dangers of all sorts, no sleepless nights, no toil and hardship, no hunger and thirst, no exposure to cold, no pressures, no anxiety for the churches, no weaknesses – nothing of these would discourage him or decrease his spirit of determination and dedication, conviction and commitment. Practice: One who is wise will know clearly that the treasures of heaven are the greatest priority in life. It is very sad the inner sight of many is blurred because they are not rooted in God. Consequently, they are misled by the pursuit of the impermanent earthly riches (Reflection 2 from 2022, 17 June) Poker: Where pleasure is the treasure! Indicative: The spirit of accumulating, hoarding, and treasuring material things is very prevalent. But all this is vanity and folly because all on earth is corruptible and nothing of these lasts. Therefore, discern what is a true treasure that is lasting 1. Often, the heart of many is deviated and distorted and eventually destructed. It is because it has become the hub of false or inadequate treasures. A treasure is something that one holds precious and intact. One remains clung to his treasure and never lets his treasure snatched away from him. 2. Accordingly, a treasure demands one’s total attention. concentration and preoccupation. In the face of a treasure, all other things lose their importance. Therefore, the quality and the nature of the treasure determine the quality of the heart and also the quality of life. 3. For example, if my treasure is only earthly and worldly, then my whole struggle and effort will be to acquire and accumulate as much money, possessions, power, and position as possible. Consequently, my whole sight and vision will become so earth-bound and low. 4. I will not be able to raise my eyes to heaven or the higher things of life. I will become disinterested and negligent toward the heavenly, the spiritual, and what is really lasting. I will become least bothered about the right ethics or relationships. 5. In this context, how to extricate ourselves from this web of false treasures and deviated hearts? Purify the perspective, and rectify the inner vision. Jesus indicates this by the metaphor, the image of the “eye”. He says, “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness”. 6. Here, the eye stands for our perspective, our outlook, and our inner vision. Therefore, what is needed is to change our perspective, to brighten and heighten it. 7. This happens when our perspective becomes wise. Wisdom is the light of our perspective that discerns between the earthly and the heavenly treasures and makes our hearts seek the real treasure. Imperative: What is my treasure in this life? Where is my heart set? What are the concerns and interests that consume most of my time and energy? How defective is my perspective, how deviated is my heart, and how shallow are my treasures? 24 JUNE 2023: ISAIAH 49. 1-6; ACTS 13. 22-26; LUKE 1. 57-66, 80, Nativity of John the Baptist Highlight: Destined for Eternity from eternity! Thrust: Our life is not a haphazard or fortuitous existence without a goal and direction. It is a gratuitous and gracious gift of God 1. Today we celebrate the birth of John the Baptist. His is the only birth we celebrate besides the birthdays of the Lord and the Mother. That alone shows the singular importance that is accorded to him. 2. The words of prophets Jeremiah 1. 4-10 and Isaiah 49. 1-6 are true and applicable to his birth and mission. 3. He has been eternally destined by God to be his precursor, who prepares the way for the Messiah, who preaches repentance and converts many to the way of the Lord. He was called and named by the Lord from the mother’s womb. He was made like a sharp sword and like a polished arrow. He was the chosen servant of God. He was made as a light to the nations. In him, God is glorified. 4. The second reading from Acts 13. 22-26 also indicates that John is a man after God’s own heart who will do all his will like David. God Himself would be his shield and guide. He would hide him in the shadow of His hand and in His quiver. Hence no fear! 5. The birth of John the Baptist recalls and reminds us of our own Christian vocation and mission. This can be summarized in three essential aspects: destiny, consecration, and empowerment. 6. We are destined for eternity, destined to be heirs of heaven. In the pursuit of this destiny, we are consecrated to be His own, to be the disciples of Christ on his mission. In carrying out this mission and living out of the life of grace, we are empowered with His own power that emboldens us and illumines us amidst all fears and evil forces. 7. John the Baptist lived and accomplished his destiny, consecration, and empowerment by his undistracted focus, humble surrender, and unflinching loyalty. Practice: Life will be joyful and fulfilling to the extent we are profoundly aware and live our project of destiny, consecration, and empowerment in focus, surrender, and commitment

11th SUNDAY OF THE YEAR 23

11TH SUNDAY, 18 JUNE 2023, HOLY MASS REFLECTION EXODUS 19. 2-6a; ROMANS 5. 6-11; MATTHEW 9. 36 – 10.8   (Aspect 1)   Pivot: Equipped and sent on a mission!   Indicative: Our mission is the Lord’s and our power is also his. Blessed are they who are aware of this and do everything in the spirit of surrender and loyalty   1.      It is the Lord’s mission: Today once again, great clarity is given about our mission. First of all, it is the mission of the Lord, and not our personal enterprise or self-made mission. However, this does not go against owning up the mission or assuming personal responsibility.   2.      It is a committed mission: A sense of indifference and non-committal outlook is detrimental to the mission. The fact of being sent by the Lord on his own mission would act as a check on various counts: against undue tendencies to privatize and monopolize different ministries; against being puffed up by the successes and accomplishments in the mission, and against seeking self-gratification and self-glory. Instead, it would foster a diligent spirit of stewardship, with a spirit of holy detachment.   3.      It is an integral mission: this mission is twofold: to preach and to heal, a mission in word and deed. This indicates that it is an integral and holistic mission, because a true mission would be a matter of example by whole life. Any disintegration or dichotomy between one’s faith and concrete actions would be a clear failure and infidelity to the mission.   4.      It is an empowered mission: Further, the Lord does not send us empty-handed but empowers and equips us with his own power. Therefore, there is no need at all to depend at all on worldly securities like “staff, bag, bread, clothes or money”. We have nothing to lack or fear because the Lord’s own power sustains us. As long as God is with us, all the other concerns and pursuits become secondary.   5.      It is a never-tiring mission: God is never tired of loving us. He never ceases to invite us to turn and return to Him, to realise and to repent for our obstinacy, mediocrity and infidelity. He feels compassionate and anguished at our situations of sickness, trouble, abandonment and loss of direction and guidance. He wants to illumine and guide us with His teaching. 6.      It is a healing mission: He wants to heal us and make us healthy integrally. He wants to expel all the demons and evil forces that possess us, which make us deaf and dumb and which take away our spiritual and fraternal sensitivity and agility. He assures us that He never abandons us and so there is no need to feel abandoned. We need to be the healers and promoters of God’s reign for our times. 7.      It is a recuperating mission: “To the lost”: Today, we find an engulfing reign of evil, where prevail unclean spirits, disease and illness, which are not only the physical. This exactly is the situation of being the “lost sheep” that Jesus mentions in the gospel. There is an urgent need to retrace our lost way. to be dispossessed of the evil, to be cleansed of our moral and spiritual sickness. 8.      It is a personal mission: This task is entrusted to each one of us, in line with the Twelve. God calls each one by name, so personal and so important in God’s design and work. The fact that the names of the twelve apostles are mentioned indicates that our vocation and mission are very personal and personally significant. It is not only a collective, community mission of the church but also of each disciple. Imperative: If God has given you broad shoulders, then shoulder his mission with responsibility and fidelity   (Aspect 2) Pivot: The passionate Lord is compassionate! Indicative: God never leaves us in our stress and distress to fight a lone battle. All that is needed is to turn and cling to Him even in our struggle 1.      In the gospel, Jesus saw the crowd and felt compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Today too, God sees all of us and certainly feels compassion for all, because we are truly harassed and helpless, exactly like sheep without a shepherd. 2.      How many fears and anxieties, how much violence and selfishness, how much misery snatch away the beauty and joy of life! In how many numberless ways humanity is harassed and helpless? Without doubt, many are like sheep without a shepherd. 3.      Yes, many lack the true shepherding that comprises protection, care and guidance. Many are unprotected, exposed to the assaults of evil. They are not properly cared for and not nurtured, and thus not receive the proper nourishment and strength. 4.      Many are also prone to be misguided and led astray. Therefore, we must turn to our only shepherd, the only one who can heal our situation. In his time, Jesus healed many of their sicknesses and evil-possession. 5.      He taught them the right path and directed them on the same. He would never give up, despite being falsely blamed and accused. No doubt he never stops this never-ending mission. 6.      But, he wants to involve us in this holy mission, which is like cultivating a crop and reaping a rich harvest. He wants us to be fully committed labourers. We need to uproot the roots of evil, which is the true infirmity and demon-possession. 7.      We need to transplant God’s comfort and strength. We need to continue the same mission with undaunted zeal and unshaken faith in God. Only a persevering clinging to God would enable us to be sheep that belong to the shepherd. It will also make us collaborate with the shepherd, working hard and reaping an abundant harvest of sheep with the shepherd. Imperative: True passion must lead to compassion. True compassion cannot be sustained for long without deep passion for the Lord and mission. We need to be transmitters of passion with compassion   (Aspect 3) Pivot: Mission with power! Indicative: In a power-crazy and power-abusing world, Jesus shows us real power. Real power is a means and tool for doing good, for establishing the kingdom of God 1.      In the gospel today, Jesus gives authority to his Twelve. He empowers them with his own power and authorizes them to carry on his own mission. But this power and authority is not to subjugate and manipulate others. It is not for seeking and promoting self-interests. 2.      The real power and authority is divinely sanctioned. It comes from God. It is therefore something divine and sacred. It is also meant to be kingdom-oriented and other-oriented. That is why Jesus orders his disciples, to preach that “The kingdom of God is at hand”. 3.      That is why, as he endows them with authority, the purpose too is clearly mentioned. It is to “cast out the unclean spirits, and to heal every disease and every infirmity”. 4.      The Kingdom of God is not so much a place up in the heavens, out there after death. It is also not merely a spiritual domain, with lots of spirituality and religious activities. It is where and when God reigns. It is the situation and experience of God being near to us, taking control of our life. It is where the godly values of love, justice and peace prevail. 5.      Therefore, in this context, any power and authority that does not promote God’s reign, that is not benevolent and beneficial to others, is not a true authority. Any authority that reels on the heels of human manipulation is a degenerated one. 6.      Any authority that does not preserve its sanctity but is so much tainted by worldliness is already a corroded one. Further, any authority that is ego-centred, ego-projecting and ego-promoting is a mean authority. 7.      Further, the mission entrusted to the disciples is primarily directed to “the lost sheep”. That is, first of all, it is a “mission within”, a mission to repair, and rejuvenate our own selves, our own lives, our own hearts, our own communities and families, our relatives, friends and surroundings. Direction: It is good that we are concerned about changing the whole world. But let us not neglect our own “small worlds” that we live and interact with day in and day out  

10th week days mass reflection 23

12 - 17 JUNE 2023, HOLY MASS REFLECTIONS 12 JUNE 2023: 2 COR 1. 1-7; MATTHEW 5. 1-12   Pivot: God who encourages! Indicative: It is true that in our life we have situations that discourage us. But today we are encouraged by the fact that our God is always a God of encouragement   1.      In our present times, disappointment and discouragement are quite rampant. No one is exempt from this, whether poor or rich, clever or uneducated, high status or low. Many lose a sense of meaning and happiness in life because of discouragement. 2.      What can be the causes and reasons for this sense of discouragement? Discouragement is due to the experience of failure, especially failure in getting what is expected or due. Thus this failure is often connected to material or intellectual inadequacy or social standing concerning power and position. 3.      But as people of faith and depth, the root cause for all discouragement is a lack of deep faith in God. This may look simply spiritualizing. But this is the fact. When we are not strong in faith, we will be easily discouraged. 4.      This is very clear in the convinced words of St Paul: Our God is a God of encouragement who always encourages us, especially in every affliction. 5.      The beatitudes in the gospel are the most concrete and authentic means and expressions of encouragement. All these mandates or norms are demanding and certainly, lead to situations of affliction in the world because the world has a different set of norms and means. 6.      But those who follow the beatitudes obtain God’s greatest encouragement in the form of blessedness and eternal life itself. They are not just self-confined individual gains. They become integrally altruistic. 7.      The encouragement of God that encourages those who follow his beatitudes overflows to others to encourage them in their afflictions.   Imperative: The world of today that suffers under the yoke of discouragement needs the relieving and healing touch of Christ. And we are to be those channels through the beatitudes   (Reflection 2 from 2021, 07 June)   Focus: We are destined for blessedness and the only way to obtain such bliss is to follow the way of the Lord. A life of happiness is a way of godliness and goodness   1.      In today's gospel, we have the famous Sermon on the Mount of Jesus with the solemn Beatitudes. They are beatitudes because their end is bliss and happiness. They are the confirmed means to attain such bliss. 2.      They are not merely some religious teaching or spiritual doctrine but they are fundamental human principles to follow. They are not only some guidelines to apply or some useful ways of doing, but much more essential modes of being. 3.      They are in fact a total contrast to the standards and ways of the world. They are considered as "devalues", "inabilities" and "inadequacies" in the sight of the world. So, certainly, they are a "difficult lot" to follow. Those who follow them will certainly face suffering and affliction, as St Paul reminds us in the first reading from 2 Corinthians. 4.      But they alone are the royal and noble means to be happy and blessed: be poor - humble of spirit, be sensitive to others' pain, be patient during suffering, be gentle, be meek, be merciful, be guileless and pure of heart, be peace-loving and peace-promoting, be hungry and thirsty for good and righteousness, be loyal, persevering and committed to God. 5.      Follow this mode of being and surely you will experience a bliss that is profound, authentic and lasting. This is what Paul attests: our God is a God of comfort, and He will surely comfort us in our affliction. And being comforted by God, we need to comfort those who are in any affliction.   Direction: True happiness is not the absence of suffering. It does not come from mere avoidance and escape from affliction. Rather, true happiness comes from standing and suffering for God and good, through the path of beatitudes   13 JUNE 2023: 2 COR 1. 18-22; MATTHEW 5. 13-16   Pivot: Faith is a “Yes” always! Indicative: God is not a wavering, unclear and indecisive God. He is clear, firm and faithful. Christ is the greatest sign of God’s Yes   1.      Human life oscillates between ‘yes’ and ‘no’ depending on the nature and demands of situations. There is no permanent ‘yes’ in the normal sense. ‘No’ may indicate various factors. It may be a result of assessment and a decision not to do a thing. 2.      But in a deeper spiritual sense, “no” indicates an inability, unwillingness, failure, or an act of unfaithfulness. When I say ‘no’ to God, it means I am not able to obey His commandments, I am not willing to follow His will, I fail to be right and righteous before Him, and thus I turn unfaithful to Him. 3.      This happens often in our spiritual life. Often we are caught between “Yes” and “No’. We waver. We are so unsteady in our decisions in favour of God. Since “Yes” to God demands a lot, we easily tend to say “No” to Him. 4.      But the life and mission of Christ have always been an unfailing “yes” to God. God’s will always finds in him a prompt, willing, radical and positive response and fulfilment. Faith is nothing but a wholehearted “Yes” to God. This is manifested in a life of purpose and fidelity to one’s own identity. 5.      In the words of Jesus, it is to be salt and light. Jesus does not say, Be like salt and the light. He demands to “be” salt and light. So it means to live according to what we are by our essence and identity. 6.      It is a ‘yes’ to the very purpose of our life. It is to add taste to life, like salt, and brighten life, like light. St Antony of Padua, a very popular saint, whose memory we celebrate today was a symbol of this “yes” to God. In his life, there was never a “no” to God’s will and ways. That ‘yes’ to God also showed itself in “yes” to others through charity.   Imperative: The ultimate purpose of our life is to glorify God. This is possible only through a witnessing life of abundant good works   (Reflection 2 from 2021, 08 June)   Focus: Our life is fulfilling when it is lived with a sense of purpose. And this purpose is lived and achieved when we realize and live our true identity   1.      Our life fulfils its purposiveness when we are constantly conscious of our true identity. This consists in being benevolent children of God. Jesus explains this, in terms of two simple metaphors of salt and light. 2.      They are not only useful examples and comparisons to imitate. They are in fact marks of our very identity. That is why, Jesus does not say, “You are like salt or light”. But he says, “You are salt and light”. They show us not only what we must do, but also what we are and how we must be. 3.      The two simple metaphors of salt and light are embodiments and testifiers of this benevolence and altruism. Both are never self-centred but other-oriented. They are self-giving for the benefit of others: one gives taste and the other gives light. 4.      But today there is so much bitterness and darkness in human life. This is because of so much selfishness and wickedness. Now, how to increase our being tasty and lighted? St Paul gives us the way in the first reading: 5.      It is by being faithful and bearing testimony to Jesus Christ, the greatest Yes to God. This means that he was ever positive, affirmative and faithful to God. There is never a No, a negation on his part. Therefore, fidelity and testimony to him mean that we also become a constant Yes to God. 6.       Now, to the extent this benevolent identity is lived and exercised, to that extent God Himself is glorified, because He is the source of super-benevolence. The fruit of this Yes and identity through benevolence is the abundance of God's grace.   Direction: The more we strive faithfully to live our identity, the more God is glorified and the more He will glorify us, in the abundance of taste and brightness   (Reflection 3 from 2022, 07 June) Indicative: The more we realise and live our true identity, the more our life will be authentic and our mission will be effective. The crisis in vocation and mission is basically a crisis in identity 1.      Today we hear about “identity crisis” in many circles of life. Things go wrong, relationships go wrong because people are either not conscious of who they are or not faithful to who they are. This is what is a failure or crisis in identity. Often in our materialistic, activist, and pragmatic world, identity is equated with status or function. Accordingly, people identify themselves with their post and position or action and function. 2.      But I am not merely what I do. My activity does not completely determine my identity. This is like answering the question, “Who/What are you?” with “I am a teacher or doctor et cetera”. It is not that our doing is not important. In fact, being and doing are not contradictory but complementary. The main point is, that our “being” must be more important than our mere “doing”. All our doing must authenticate a genuine being. All our activities and functions must flow from an authentic identity. 3.      Otherwise, there is always the danger that people wrongly seek their identity in their roles, functions, offices, positions, talents, or affinity-groups. It is in this context that Jesus reminds us of our identity through two simple metaphors, salt, and light. He says, “You ‘are’ the salt of the earth”; “You ‘are’ the light of the world”. 4.      In both salt and light, we can identify two aspects: their identity and their effectivity. There is saltiness in salt and it is useful in giving taste. There is radiance in the light and it is useful in lighting and brightening. Salt and light are no good when they lose their identity and are not available for use.   Imperative: To speak figuratively, our identity is to be “jars of God’s blessings” in abundance, which will not run dry or empty. Do we try to be so? Good works from good identity are the best glory to God   14 JUNE 2023: 2 COR 3. 4-11; MATTHEW 5. 17-19   Pivot: Qualified by God! Indicative: Our destiny is to live in the kingdom of heaven in eternity. Our greatest qualification is following God’s commandments   1.      There are different goals in different spheres of life. We do not discuss here the good or bad quality of those goals. Whatever their nature, every goal prescribes certain rules, conditions and procedures to follow. In other words, certain qualifications are required for achieving the desired goals. 2.      For us believers, the greatest goal is to be members of the kingdom of heaven. In human terms, our striving must be to top the list, to be the “greatest” in the kingdom. It is not only to be in the kingdom later in eternity but already here and now while we live on earth. 3.      The qualification for a great ranking in the kingdom is to follow the commandments faithfully. But this is not a legalistic, formal observance of laws and traditions. It is much more than that. They are not mere letters inscribed in writing, but spirit, carved on the tablets of hearts. 4.      It is a matter of relationship. It is fidelity to God. It is obedience to God’s will. It is the “ministry of the Spirit”. It is the “ministry of righteousness”. It is to be faithful ministers of a new covenant. 5.      And what is essential to note is: our qualification is not our acquisition or our merit or credit. Our qualification comes from God. It is God who has qualified us.   Imperative: The greatness of freedom is not ignoring or discarding the commandments. It is to fulfil them with a spirit of fidelity to God     (Reflection 2 from 2021, 09 June)   Focus: True humility realizes that all our competence is from God. Therefore, no one can claim to be competent through human codes or traditions, but only in the Spirit   1.      Greatness is what everyone aspires and strives for. To desire and seek to be great in itself is not wrong. But, how one wants to be great, and what means are employed to acquire that greatness – this is the real issue. 2.      Many seek greatness by recourse to worldly things such as money, power, position etc. But, Jesus in the gospel teaches us what real greatness is and how to attain it. To be great is to be rated great not in the sight of the world but in the sight of God. 3.      The way to such greatness is to follow the commandments of God and also to teach and guide others to follow the same. Thus, following the commandments alone is the criterion that decides whether we are great or not. 4.      To follow the law does not mean to be legalistic and rigid. It is to understand and assimilate the spirit of the law. It is to be faithful to the spirit of the law. It is to act according to the Spirit. It is to seek all our competence from God. It is to be His competent ministers of a new covenant. 5.      When one goes beyond the mere letter of the law and performs actions according to the spirit of the law, it is not breaching the law but perfecting and fulfilling it. This is what Jesus always did: he was only perfecting and accomplishing the law, which apparently was violating the law. 6.      Seen from the perspective of fidelity to God's love and adherence to God's will, all the Laws and directives will no more be burdensome restrictions or curtailing retrenchments. Rather, they become facilitators toward perfection.   Direction: Freedom of the Spirit is not equivalent to lawlessness or callousness or indulgence but is the perfect following of God's precepts.   (Reflection 3 from 2022, 08 June) Indicative: Ultimately true faith is not merely a matter of having and knowing great laws and traditions. It is not just belonging to religion but being religious and obeying God’s will 1.      Very many times, faith is identified with allegiance to a religious group and adherence to a code of laws and religious observances. In this process, many are easily caught up with the mere externals and carried away by shallow passions, prejudices, and hateful actions toward others. 2.       That is why in the name of the very God who is always kind and never harmful, many religious followers become fanatical and destructive. This is a contradiction! 3.       It is here that Jesus makes it clear what true faith and religious adherence are. It is not blind allegiance or stubborn subscription to the laws and tradition. It is not ill-directed fanatical zeal. It is not a Puritan or policing attitude toward others. It is also not an arrogant self-projection as the “saviours” of God himself. 4.       True faith is faithfulness. But mind! Faithfulness is not merely to some rules and regulations, distorted to suit human convenience. It is faithfulness to God, a God who is never violent or condemnatory or revengeful toward anyone. It is faithfulness to the true spirit of religion, the kingdom of God. 5.       Jesus cautions that “whoever relaxes/twists even one of the least of the commandments and misleads others also will be the least in the kingdom of heaven”.   Imperative: Many do not realise that the hatred and violence that they instigate and propagate in the name of safeguarding and honouring God is in fact dishonouring God and defeating His sacred designs. No religion is religious if it is harmful to others!   15 JUNE 2023: 2 COR 3. 15 – 4. 1, 3-6; MATTHEW 5. 20-26   Pivot: Let light shine in our hearts! Indicative: God is God of righteousness. In order to belong to His righteous kingdom, we need to pass from and surpass the ordinary and minimum   1.      God’s holiness is so glorious and radiant that it blinds our gaze. So often a veil is laid over our hearts. There is always a distance, a certain unease and a lack of freedom. 2.      But when we are open to the Spirit of the Lord, when we are close to God, there is freedom and there is no more a veil on the face. There is no more hiding or evading the radiance of God’s light. This spiritual freedom enables us to stand unveiled and authentic in God’s sight. 3.      Our precise ministry is to let the light shine out of darkness, let God shine in our hearts, and see the light of the gospel of the glory of God and bring it to light. In other words, we do not preach ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord. 4.      This implies a radical and transformed way of life of righteousness. It does not content itself with the bare minimum. It surpasses the normal. Thus an unveiled, free and surpassing righteousness is not satisfied with avoiding physical killing. Much more, it is concerned with avoiding every kind of angry, disrespecting and insulting word. 5.      Surpassing righteousness is not satisfied only with peace offering with a sense of sin. Rather, it is more concerned about making peace and reconciliation, along with the offering. 6.      This reminds us that our spirituality cannot be separated from our fraternity. Every failure in fraternal responsibility with stand for God’s judgment. This cautions us that we cannot light our failures in fraternal duties and charity.   Imperative: Let us remove all our veils of hypocrisy and double face. Let us stand before God with unveiled hearts and see the light of his knowledge and glory     (Reflection 2 from 2021, 10 June)   Focus: To be committed means to be deeply convinced of what is right and to put in the best and the maximum   1.      "Unless your virtue surpasses that of the Pharisees and scribes, you shall not enter the kingdom of God", so clearly announces Jesus. The virtue of the Pharisees and scribes was skin-deep, very shallow and peripheral. 2.      It was not going beyond the written rules and traditions. It was not penetrating into the depth of heart and sincerity of devotion. They were satisfied with mere meticulous observance of the precepts. They were not bothered about the living of their purpose. Their main botheration was to follow the letter and not the spirit. 3.      Accordingly, they may not kill physically but kill psychologically with mental harassment, character assassination, angry outbursts, and offensive and insulting words. They may offer great sacrifices to God but with hearts filled with grudges and retaliatory spirit. Such devotion and life are not pleasing to God. 4.      Instead, a true follower of Christ is expected to look for the maximum, going beyond the minimum. They are called to nurture constantly a respectful and non-judgmental attitude, a spirit of gentleness and patience, and an approach of peace and reconciliation. 5.      This is possible only when we keep our faces “unveiled”. This implies that we turn to the Lord. He alone removes our veil that blinds us not to see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ. We do not lose heart but are being changed into his likeness.   Direction: In a culture of bare minimums and dry obligations, the followers of Christ are summoned to do the maximums, and to be passionately committed. It is to see and walk with unveiled faces, radiating the light of Christ   (Reflection 3 from 2022, 09 June)   Indicative: The test of fidelity is not a show of strength of faith. In other words, fidelity does not consist in the number of religious rules or miracles but in humble surrender and obedience to God’s will 1.      Anyone who is a little religious-minded will surely aspire to enter the kingdom of heaven. And today Jesus clarifies once again how to enter there. It is not by a show and display of the greatness of faith through some activities or practices. It is only through a humble surrender and obedience to God’s will and ways. 2.       God is not pleased with an attitude of pomp and great bearing. What pleases Him is only a humble attitude that goes beyond the mere letter of the law to the spirit of it. It goes deep beyond the skin-deep. It goes to the essential beyond the superficial. It goes to the centre beyond the peripheral. It goes to the maximum beyond the bare minimum. 3.       That is why Jesus states, “Unless your virtue and righteousness exceeds that of the Pharisees and scribes, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven”. He also explains in simple contrasts. One may avoid physical murder but psychological killing through anger, insult, and hurt is much more grievous. One may offer great gifts but they will be futile when there is no self-offering, no heart of peace and reconciliation.   Imperative: It is not enough to follow the external rules and rubrics. The rituals and offerings that we do must bring about an interior change and renewal. To be truly religious is to be deeply righteous   16 JUNE 2023: DEUT 7. 6-11; 1 JOHN 4. 7-16; MATTHEW 11. 25-30, SOLEMNITY, SACRED HEART OF JESUS   Pivot: Love that never ceases but seizes hearts! Indicative: In a culture where advanced culture equals to lack of heartiness and sensitivity, the festivity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus is a challenge to foster a culture of heart   1.      This feast of the most sacred heart of Jesus reveals and confirms to us that our God is a God of heart. That is, a God who values us so much, who loves us without end, always radiating upon us the rays of His care, a God whose heart burns with the flame, the fire of passion. It never gets cold, it never becomes lukewarm, but always passionate, always zealous. 2.       Even if we are weak and fragile, even if we fall often, even if we make so many mistakes, even if we fail in our fidelity and sincerity, even if we lack in our responsibilities and duties, even if we do not deeply believe, live and witness how we must like the believers, like the children of God and disciples of Christ, even if we often wound that beloved heart of Jesus - still despite all our weaknesses, faults, unfaithfulness, and unworthiness, God loves us. Jesus never fails to love us. 3.       This fact of the love of God, so faithful and persevering, is today a matter of great comfort and encouragement. Especially in our times, in our society, where and when, unfortunately, the ambience and the culture of love, of loving, of the warmth of heart, of tenderness, of sensitivity, is diminishing, but instead an air, a culture of hatred, rancour, indifference, violence, evil is increasing, this celebration of the heart, of love is a confirmation, a call, a challenge, and a guide for a way of living of love. 4.       Today the Lord comforts us that he always pours his love over us. Never doubt, even if sometimes we are surmounted by difficulties, upset by afflictions, beset by unfavourable situations, God loves us. Trust in God. Trust in his love. Feel the warmth of his heart. Experience the passion, the fire of his love. Be open and docile to the marvel of his love. 5.       Not only this but also we are called to nurture and foster a deep love for him. Love God. Let us be gripped with a passionate feeling, a powerful bonding with the Lord. Many times we feel a lot of interest, enthusiasm, anxiety, and concern for many things. 6.       But how much intensity and depth for the Lord are there? How do we cooperate with God's commitment as He promises: "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you. I will remove your heart of stone and put back a heart of flesh "(Ezek 36. 26). That is a heart that is warm, tender, sensitive, and caring, a heart that is open, which understands, accepts, forgives, and helps. Imperative: Let us grow such a heart towards God and others. Let us open our hearts to God and our sisters and brothers. Let us widen our hearts. Let us guard them, heal, enrich, and transform our hearts so that our hearts also become like the sacred heart of Jesus   17 JUNE 2023: 2 COR 5. 14-21; LUKE 2. 41-51, IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY Pivot: To be holy is to be immaculate! Indicative: The immaculate heart of Mary is not only a matter of purity of heart or purity of life, the integrity of the person. It is to be clear-sighted and to be passionately and lovingly committed 1.      The second Saturday after Pentecost Sunday, we celebrate the immaculate heart of Mary. How beautiful it is that on Friday we celebrate the sacred heart of the Son and on the following day the immaculate heart of the Mother! It is not coincidental or merely sequential, but very meaningful and significative. 2.      What is sacred reflects itself in what is immaculate. What is immaculate contains and embodies what is sacred. The sacred Son reflects the immaculate mother, and the immaculate mother embodies the sacred Son. Holiness and Immaculateness are integrated and inseparable. 3.      To be holy is to be pure. The more we conduct ourselves unstained and uncontaminated with an immaculate heart, the more we grow in holiness. The more we are holy, the more we grow pure and maliceless. To be holy and not to be immaculate is a contradiction. 4.      In fact, sacredness and Immaculateness are not something accidental or additional to us. It is essential and integral to our very identity as God's redeemed children. "To be holy and blameless" is God's purpose for us, and destined us for such bliss (cf. Eph 1. 4). Our sanctification is God's will (1 Thes 4. 3)). So to grow sacred and immaculate should be our priority and perennial pursuit. 5.      Certainly, it is God's gratuitous grace and not our merit. But this does not take away our role, our responsibility, our cooperation and our effort. We should work hard to merit what we are graced with. 6.      This is what Mary did: if her immaculate conception shows predominantly the singular grace and privilege, accorded to her by God, her immaculate heart shows preeminently her humble cooperation with that grace. She constantly preserved her heart and life from sin, and fostered sanctity, thanks to God's grace. 7.      Mary's immaculate heart is not only a pointer to her personal holiness and purity but much more, also a strong inspiration and pathway to be pure and immaculate ourselves. 8.      In our times, where hearts are getting so much polluted by sin and malice, where to have a heart comes to be taken as fragility and vulnerability, where hearts crooked, hard and indifferent seem to be the order of the day, where hearts get entangled into many aberrations and deviation in the name of modernity, the immaculate heart of Mary is a consolation and remedy!   Imperative: The celebration of the Immaculate Heart of Mary is a pointer that true purity leads to joy and serenity because there is nothing that disturbs or distracts. The purity of heart is the propriety of life      

CORPUS CHRISTI 23

BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST, 11 JUNE 2023 Thrust: Life, possible because united! Indicative: The FEAST of Corpus Christi that we celebrate today is truly a feast of life and oneness. It is a call to live in communion and commitment 1. This Sunday we celebrate the FESTIVITY of the Body and Blood of Christ. One may ask why to speak in this separatist language. Why can't we speak more holistically and personally as "the person" of Christ? 2. Here the point is not language or technicality. We are not speaking of two separate items, body and blood. 3. Rather, it is in specific reference to the sacramentality of the person of Christ. The reference is to the sacrament of the holy Eucharist. It is the Sacramental mode of the Eucharistic presence of the Lord. 4. It signifies the eternal nourishment by the Eucharistic Lord. It points to the marvellous transformation of bread as his own body and the wine as his own blood to feed us and nourish us. 5. Thus Body and blood of Christ are not merely physical or biological components. They are the essence of Christ and his sacramental presence and wholeness. 6. Jesus declares, “I am the bread of life; whoever eats of my flesh and drinks my blood, will not die, but will live forever” (Jn 6. 35-58). It will be simplistic and even foolish to mistake it literally and mock it as cannibalism, as some do. 7. Such a protest is not worth our reflection now. Here very clearly the whole concern of Jesus is “Life”, the kind of life that he offers to us, the quality of life that we must live. 8. Our God is God of life, a living and life-giving God. We are His children. We are destined for eternal life. We are meant to live our life fully (Jn 10. 10: “I came to give life and life in its full measures”) and joyfully (Jn 15. 11: “so that my joy be in you and that be complete”). 9. Therefore, we are people of a culture of life. We need to live this life of God, the divine and the spiritual life, and not merely the earthly, the material and the worldly life. We are called to live more than the "natural" existence. It is a call to live the "supernatural" life, the life of grace. 10. So, any attempts and actions against such a culture of life are counter- productive and counter- witnessing. Sadly, in our times a culture of death is virulent in its diabolic forms of aggression, violence, hatred, retaliation and destruction. 11. In our present times, a culture of death is viral. The beauty, value and the power of life are reduced and despised. Consequently many live without the inner vitality, without the dynamism and the direction of life. 12. Life in the case of a good number appears to be empty, weak and aimless. It is in such a context, the feast of the most holy body and blood of Christ, the feast of the Holy Eucharist, is a timely and perennial recall and recharge. 13. This devilish culture is a blatant contradiction to the very nature of life, our existence as human beings, our identity as God’s children and our destiny as heirs of eternal life. 14. Apart from these explicit forms of death, there are also other passive aggressive forms of death in the form of excessive fear and tension, depression and emptiness. These forms take away the beauty and charm, the worth and value of life. They make life a dry, barren, burdensome and joyless enterprise. 15. It is in this context, Jesus assures us of the abundance and beauty of life. He also shows us how to obtain it and live it so. “Live interiorly, with the inner power; Live vibrantly and rightly, by the guidance and strength of this inner power; Live high and above with a sense of orientation for the eternity”. 16. This is what Jesus means in Jn 6. 56-58, disclosing the three fundamental signs and effects of the Holy Eucharist: “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever”. 17. Therefore, an intimate mutual interior dwelling, vigorous process of living and focused orientation to eternity – this is what the whole life is about. In other words, interiority (of divine presence), dynamism and vigor (of the way of life), and the focus and direction (towards eternity) are the hallmarks of a culture of life, the new life that Jesus offers us. 18. Seen in this wider perspective of life, we must constantly deepen and enhance our reverence and devotion to the holy Eucharist. We must desire to receive it regularly and frequently. We must avoid the danger to reduce the Holy Eucharist only to a pious practice, a thing to be venerated and worshipped. 19. The holy Eucharist is much more than that. It is the person of Christ himself. It is the fount of life. It is the link of bonding. It is the source of communion. It is the interior power. It is the energy of living. It is the direction to an eternal destiny. 20. How sad it is that venerating and receiving the holy Eucharist, we do not experience the presence of Jesus, his abiding in us! Why do we not feel the bond of communion with him and with others in our believing community? 21. Why do we live so shallow lives, without depth and interiority? Why do we often feel weak and under-nourished, in spite of this greatest nourishment? Why do we often let ourselves misguided and controlled by other forces of evil and the world? Why are we often without any higher goals, without a sense of purpose and destiny? Imperative: The Body and Blood of Christ should remind us that we are all one Body of Christ and we all have the same blood of God's own Spirit flowing in each of us. Sharing the same body, we cannot rupture it. Sharing the same blood, we cannot shed blood of others.