FIFTEENTH WEEK DAYS MASS REFLECTION 23

17 - 22 JULY 2023, HOLY MASS RELFECTIONS 17 JULY 2023: EXODUS 1. 8-14, 22; MATTHEW 10. 34 – 11.1 Punch line: Following, tested! Guideline: Following Jesus calls for a radical and fundamental option for him. This involves an uncompromising fidelity to him 1.      There are many followers of Jesus. But all are not worthy followers because they do not follow their Master’s way. Who then is a worthy disciple? What are some of the essential criteria? Two of the features are highlighted. 2.      One is the highest love for Jesus. It surpasses even the natural and valid family love-ties. Jesus very clearly announces: “Whoever loves father or mother more than me, is not worthy of me; whoever loves son or daughter more than me, is not worthy of me”. 3.      Here the point is not about not loving one’s own family. The real issue is no family love should be more than our love for God and love for the new spiritual family. This is a real pointer and poker to many followers of Jesus. 4.      This applies both to the consecrated as well as the lay faithful. We must humbly realize that in the case of a good number of clergy and religious and family people, family attachments, family interests, and family benefits count more than the duties toward God and God’s people. 5.      The second requisite for a true disciple is, to walk the way of the cross. There is no room for compromises, shortcuts, self-interests, easy gains, escape from the demands of discipleship, and fear of adversities. There is no other way than “taking up the cross and following the Lord”. 6.      Following Jesus certainly leads to opposition and persecution. This is what the Israelites experienced in the land of Egypt. Their loyalty to the true God, Yahweh brought them opposition and hatred. This pushed them into slavery and persecution. 7.      This is also the same thing which Jesus means when he says, “I have come not to bring peace but sword”. The sword symbolizes suffering and affliction. Following Jesus disturbs and shatters false peace that lingers in compromise. It is a peace that does not take a clear stand for the Lord. It is a peace that pleases humans at the cost of disloyalty to God. Lifeline: Following Jesus demands paying a heavy price. But it is worth it. All who follow Jesus and support those who follow him, will for sure receive a great reward (Reflection 2) Thrust: Authentic religion! Indicative: An authentic religion does not consist of bundles of religious practices. Religion becomes authentic only when it gives the highest priority to God and lives a life of benevolence and justice 1.      In the present times, unfortunately, we see a lot of religious fanaticism and violence. In the name of God and religion, there is a viral culture of hatred, enmity, and destruction. This is not an authentic religion or devotion. Today’s word of God clarifies to us what is a true religion and who is a true follower. 2.      True worship of God is not just a multitude of sacrifices or offerings or celebrations of feasts and traditions. All these become vain, burdensome, wearisome, and detestable in God’s sight when they lack a life of integrity and goodness. God will not accept them. Our religious observances become acceptable and meaningful only when there is a genuine change of life. 3.      In the words of Jesus in the gospel, this kind of true religion and devotion implies a certain way of life. In the first place, it calls for an uncompromising priority to God. Love for God and loyalty to Him come first, and nothing should come in its way, not even one’s own family. That is why Jesus says, “Whoever loves father or mother, son or daughter more than me, is not worthy of me”. 4.      This is being ready to be hated and opposed even by one’s own family for the sake of the Lord. This is taking one’s cross and following Jesus. This is losing one’s life for his sake. And this is exactly bringing sword and not peace, like the Master. Standing for God and good will certainly throw one into situations of opposition and suffering.   Imperative: A true follower of Christ must be prepared to rise above the binding family ties and attachments. He must not be comfort-seeking, trying to shelter himself in false peace and compromises 18 JULY 2023: EXODUS 2. 1-15; MATTHEW 11. 20-24 Punch line: Faith, barren and arrogant! Guideline: The greatness of faith is not measured by the quality of religious knowledge or the number of favours received. Only the quality of receptivity and change of life is the deciding factor 1.      In the gospel, Jesus sternly denounces the cities of Corazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum. He pronounces woe to them. Interestingly it is in these cities where he worked most of his mighty works. But they failed to be receptive and cooperative to God’s grace. 2.      They are reproachable and culpable because they remained unrepentant, self-righteous, arrogant and seeking self-glory. They rejected Jesus’ earnest call for repentance. In their pride and self-righteousness, they refused to see and accept their wrongdoing and infidelity. 3.      They failed to seek God’s glory. Instead, they pride and glorify themselves in their history, tradition, religion, Scripture, Law, knowledge, progress, et cetera. They fail to be conscious of God’s ways and mighty intervention in their history through the prophets as well as their present story through Jesus. 4.      The story in the first reading from Exodus of Moses whom they venerate so much, is a clear example of God’s benevolent inception into their life. God’s plan of salvation and His way of execution is beyond human comprehension but is always marvellous. 5.      Baby Moses was protected despite Pharaoh’s law of casting into the Nile every male Hebrew child. He was saved and adopted by Pharaoh’s daughter herself. Boy’s mother herself was called to nurse the growing child. He grew up in the palace. 6.      But he killed an Egyptian who wronged a Hebrew. As Pharaoh who knew this murder sought to kill Moses, he had to flee. Later his story would continue, a story that shows the incomprehensible ways of God’s working. 7.      No doubt that the Jews had a great history of godly stalwarts like Moses. But the problem with them was their great sacred history made no impact and change on their present story. 8.      The same is true in our case as well. We may claim to believe in Jesus but is often shallow, because we refuse to humble ourselves, refuse to repent and be converted, despite his unceasing signs and invitations. Lifeline: It is not the greatness of religion or history that makes a believer great. Rather it is how one lives what he believes and inherits (Reflection 2) Thrust: Unbelief is arrogance! Indicative: The sad thing with many is not that they only do mistakes and others do not do them. The whole pity is they do not realise, repent and convert themselves 1.      We find in the present times a growing religious indifference and mediocrity. Many either do not have faith in God or have a very shallow faith. In the life of many, God does not matter at all. In the case of others, their faith is limited to certain rituals, traditions, and activities. In any case, in truth, this is a godless and faithless culture. 2.      This is what is typified in the gospel by the cities of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum. Jesus denounces them because they refused to see and accept God’s grace, manifested through mighty miracles. They were full of themselves and refused to turn to God. They were so arrogant that they would not see their iniquities and would not repent. 3.      Like the cities of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum, there are many who are full of self-pride and seek self-glory. They are adamant, resistant, unrepentant, and thus unconverted. They refuse to repent. They do not nurture deep anguish for forfeiting God’s incessant grace, thwarting His loving plans and paining God’s tender compassion. Thus it is a total wholesale failure to convert from sin to God’s mercy. Imperative: Intelligence and competence without humility, fear of God, and repentance will land up in arrogance and self-glory. And that is the doorstep for destruction   19 JULY 2023: EXODUS 3. 1-6, 9-12; MATTHEW 11. 25-27 Punch line: A Burning Love! Guideline: Great things happen through humans. It is not the greatness of them but that of God.  He works great things even through simple and small people 1.      God’s love for us is like the burning bush in the first reading from Exodus 3. 1-6, 9-12. The bush is burning but is not consumed. Similarly, God’s love burns for us eternally but is never exhausted and annihilated. 2.      His love is faithful from generation to generation. He is a personal God who enters into personal encounter and covenant. That is why, He always reveals Himself as the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. 3.      His love is so sensitive because it hears the cries of the suffering Israelites in slavery in Egypt. He sees their oppression by the Egyptians. He chooses Moses to liberate them and lead them out to their promised land. 4.      This choice is not on the basis of the merit of Moses. It is rather the gracious will of the Father. This is made manifest in the gospel text. Jesus thanks the Father because He hides the divine mysteries to those intelligent and competent in the sight of the world. 5.      But He reveals them to “mere babes”. That is, to the small, insignificant and ignorable people. Thereby it is very clear that vocation is always a gratuitous gift of God. He chooses us. It appears as if we are choosing the way of life. 6.      But actually, we only respond to His call. It is again God who helps our response. Often, the response may be very reluctant. It can be due to a sense of personal inadequacy; or, it can also be on account of the enormity of the task entrusted. 7.      From the human standpoint, we will fall short. Thus, Moses declines God’s offer to liberate the Israelites from slavery. He protests, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and bring the Israelites out of Egypt”. 8.      But God teaches him to see from the divine standpoint. It is not the individual Moses but God Himself who works through him. God assures him: “I will be with you”. Therefore, vocation and mission are never one’s own merit or credit. God’s presence, guidance and power sustain and accomplish a call. Lifeline: Human capacities do not become the deciding factors for God’s call. Neither are they the cause for the excellence and effectiveness of the call. Utmost they are supplements and never substitutes (Reflection 2) Thrust: Nothing surpasses the unsurpassable God! Indicative: Human intelligence and strength can assist a person up to some point. But ultimately nothing human or earthly can save a person 1.      There is an increasing sense of self-sufficiency and complacency in modern society. Many get puffed up on account of progress and technology in general, and competence and success in particular. However, at the same time, there is also a gripping sense of dissatisfaction and emptiness. 2.      It is in this context, we must admit our own limitedness before the unsurpassable power of God. We cannot boast of any greatness of ours before the immeasurable might of God. We must be humble enough to see this indomitable hold of God. 3.      In the gospel, Jesus makes clear this disconcerting and contrasting way of God: He has hidden the heavenly mysteries from the wise and understanding in the sight of the world. But He revealed them to little children. This means the simple, humble, insignificant, and negligible lot in the sight of the world. 4.      Therefore, the best response and course of action is to be “childlike”. That is, to trust totally in God that everything is in His “hand over”, under His sway and control. Surrender ourselves humbly and wholeheartedly and depend fully on Him. 5.      Thereby He will turn our deficiency into efficiency, and turn the difficulties into opportunities for growth and for good. He will turn our being small children into recipients of the great intervention of God. Imperative: It is really foolish that a goat goes to fight against a mountain and tries to overpower it by hitting it. In the same way, it will be absurd that the weak limited man rises against God and tries to overpower Him   20 JULY 2023: EXODUS 3. 13-20; MATTHEW 11. 28-30 Punch line: Identity restored! Guideline: The identity of our God is not a cluster of many attributes. It is His very essence. It is rather in His relationship with us, soaked into compassion and mercy 1.      In the present times, often there is an identity crisis. Many do not know who and what they are. They mistakenly equate their identity with their functions, roles, titles, places or cultures, etc. Or, they glorify their identity with their talents and capacities. 2.      That is why, when asked about who are they, the usual answer is, “I am a doctor, engineer, teacher, leader, servant, or I am an Indian, foreigner, etc.” Practically, it may inform about one’s state of life or area of one’s activity. 3.      It may also convey the scope of one’s ability and greatness. But, we must bear in mind that identity cannot be reduced to any one of them. They may express one’s identity, and help to live one’s identity. An ability, an activity is not identity. 4.      True identity is essential connectivity to divinity. It is living one’s human existence in the realm of the divine existence. It is sharing in the all-comprising and all-enveloping Presence of God. 5.      In the words of Exodus 3. 13-20, it is experiencing and extending the identity of God, which is “I AM”. When Moses asked for the name of God, God answers, “I AM WHO AM”. God’s identity is not qualified by any other attribute. 6.      In God, there is no dichotomy between what He is and what He does. In fact, God’s “Who He is?” is a blend of what He is and what He does. He is a God of power, love, compassion and mercy. 7.      He manifests this nature and identity in His mighty acts and works. He intervenes and rescues them mightily. He loves them tenderly and passionately. He cares for them compassionately. He also forgives their sins mercifully. Thus God’s identity is not something static but dynamic. 8.      Unfortunately, often there is so much contradiction and incongruence between what we are originally and what we do actually. We move away from our real identity and do actions contrary to this. This results in burdens that weigh us down heavily. 9.      Jesus, true to his dynamic identity invites us in today’s gospel, “Come unto me all those who are heavily burdened and I will give you rest”. For this, we need to put on the same nature, share the same identity, and that is, “being gentle and humble”. Lifeline: Let us refrain from exhausting ourselves in unworthy pursuits. Let us rein our frenetic lives and steal some serene moments at the Lord’s feet. Let us experience life as light and pleasant by learning to be gentle and humble.   (Reflection 2) Thrust: Take the yoke and find the rest! Indicative: The world is so much under pressure. It is hard-pressed. It needs some remedy that relieves it from this pressing burden. God alone is that solace point! 1.      “Come unto me, all who labour and are heavily laden, and I will give you rest”. This is the warm invitation of Jesus to everyone, especially who feel life is burdensome and laborious. The life of many is robbed of rest. This is not so much physical rest and relaxation. It is mental and spiritual. 2.      Rest is a state of mind where all our worries and tensions, especially those not necessary and not worthwhile recede. Rest is a mental serenity and calm. It may not be a complete cessation of all worries and burdens. Rather it is a state of mental equilibrium, an inner equanimity. 3.      It is this that many today lack. They have many relaxations but are not calm. They have many deviations, diversions, and distractions but not really a re-charging and refilling. There is no wonder then that the welcoming words of Jesus to go to him in our times of burden are very soothing and uplifting. 4.      But how do we obtain this rest? It is by taking his yoke upon us and learning gentleness and humility from him. Yoke can simply mean anything, any burden, any task, any risk for the sake of the Lord. 5.      This yoke of the Lord is smoothened and sweetened by gentleness and humility. But the world considers these sweeteners as signs of weakness and timidity, lack of self-dignity, and self-affirmation. 6.      This thinking is wrong. They are actually signs of strength and firmness. Only a strong and steady person can be gentle and humble. They ease one’s inner burdens and make him light-hearted. Imperative: To a world that is so rude, harsh, and hard, gentleness will be like a yoke hard to bear. And to a world that rides on pride and arrogance, humility is really a burden to carry. But it is only by carrying this noble yoke and burden, that we can experience true relief and comfort 21 JULY 2023: EXODUS 11. 10 – 12. 14; MATTHEW 12. 1-8 Punch line: Piety without charity? Guideline: True fidelity to the laws of religion should not be blocks against charity, because there is no other law greater than the law of charity 1.      Ages and times may change but the evil in the human mentality remains. What is really evil is a lack of kindness and concern toward others. Benevolence and help to others is the greatest norm of life and the law of any worthwhile religion. 2.      All the rules and traditions should ultimately lead to this supreme principle of life. Devoid of such fraternity and goodness, everything else will become empty and imperfect. 3.      In the gospel today, Jesus questions such practice of religion that neglects the need and good of others. The disciples of Jesus are hungry. They plucked some heads of grain and began to eat. The Pharisees who wait for any slightest occasion to find fault with Jesus, seize this opportunity. 4.      They blame Jesus and his disciples for breaking the Sabbath rule. The rule is that no one does any work on Sabbath day because it is holy. Is plucking the heads of grain considered as harvesting? What a height of religious crankiness and superfluity! 5.      What about their hunger? What about their need and plight at that time? Jesus retorts that even David and his companions ate even the Bread of the Presence from the temple, that even the priests by their activities in the temple profane the Sabbath. 6.      Sabbath or any religious law is meant for devotion to God and to nurture the spirit of human concern. Any law, any tradition, any religious activity that hampers good to the other and harms the other, is not praiseworthy. 7.      The whole piety is geared to the increase of charity. Otherwise, it will only become a heartless show, a shallow pretension. It is this spirit that Jesus attests, saying, “I desire mercy and not sacrifice”. 8.      Is it not a shallow religion that people donate huge amounts in the temples of pilgrimage but are least bothered about their starving immediate neighbours? Is it not a heartless devotion when people venerate the Sacred Heart or Divine Mercy of Jesus but have no heart or mercy toward others? Is it not a worthless religion when people preach eloquently but breathe hatred and venom on other followers? Lifeline: Let our following of rules not be a disguise for self-righteousness or self-projection. Let us be law-abiding citizens and faithful, submitting ourselves to the supreme law of charity. Let our whole concern be good conduct that pleases God and does good to others   (Reflection 2) Thrust: True religion is not only a matter of devotions and traditions but much more about doing good to those in need. Any religious practice that goes against helping others is not a sound one 1.      Religious practices and traditions, rules, and injunctions are good and needed. They manifest the spirit of piety and devotion. They show in concrete how much we care about God. They open us to insights and inspirations. They act as balms for consolation, guidance, and strength. They discipline us and guard us against possible aberrations. 2.      However, their fruit and effect cannot be limited only to the spiritual domain. Any true devotion must eventually lead one to a concrete life of fraternity in acts of charity. Acts of devotion without acts of benevolence are deficient and incomplete. Piety without fraternity is shallow. Adherence to the rules is important but not at the cost of neglecting the need of others. 3.      This shallow religion is seen in the Pharisees. The hungry disciples of Jesus pluck grain and eat on a Sabbath day. The Pharisees vehemently blame them for breaking the Sabbath. They interpret plucking the ears of corn as part of harvesting, a work forbidden on the Sabbath. How narrow-minded and perverted they were! 4.      They do not bother about the hunger of their fellow humans; rather they over-bother about the law. They forget the fact that human well-being is more important than the mere keeping of the law. 5.      Jesus then had to remind them two things: that the “Son of Man is lord of Sabbath” and this means that all the laws are subservient to him and no law is above him. Second, “God desires mercy and not sacrifice”. 6.      God desires mercy because He Himself is a God of mercy. God expects the same from us. The rigidity of our religious observances must be tempered by the tenderness of mercy. Imperative: The value of our religious duties and devotions is seen in the concrete acts of fraternity and charity. Claiming to be faithful to God but failing to be merciful is a contradiction and a farce!   22 JULY 2023: SONG 3. 1-4B; JOHN 20. 1-2, 11-18, Feast of Mary Magdalene   Punch line: Love and Live! Guideline: Seek and you will find. But you can seek if only you love what you seek. And you can love what you seek, if only you realize the value of what you love. And you can know the value of what you love, if only you personally experience the value of it 1.      Today we celebrate the feast day of St Mary Magdalene. She stands as an icon of the lover, depicted in the Song of Songs. She loves the beloved. And she seeks him. Mary Magdalene too loves the Lord passionately as her most beloved. 2.      She feels totally united with him and intimate with him. She cannot bear any separation from him. But with Jesus’ death, there was an irredeemable distancing. She misses him terribly. So she suffers excruciating pain and anguish. She weeps bitterly. 3.      She begins to search for him. She finds him. She is consoled. She is strengthened. She is renewed because she is charged with a new mission. She shares her personal experience with others. She becomes a live and convincing witness for the Lord. 4.      Mary Magdalene can be a great teacher and guide for all of us. The greatest lesson for us is: Love him and seek him. This is the power charge of our whole life. Then, find him and bear witness to him. This is the power discharging through our mission. 5.      Those who love and seek him will surely find and witness him. But, there is a process and this does not happen all of a sudden. That is, healing by the Lord, turning to him, keeping close to him, and following him in his footsteps. 6.      This continues further by serving him in ministry, accompanying and walking with him on the way of the cross, standing near the cross, sharing in his agony and abandonment, and nurturing an undying love even after death. In fact, these are the concrete ways and expressions of our loving him and seeking him. 7.      Do I love and seek him? Then do I also allow the Lord to expel the seven demons from me like Mary Magdalene, maybe, symbolizing the seven capital sins? Do I make an about-turn, a changeover, a shift in my life to the Lord, away from evil? 8.      Do I keep close to him? Do I follow him in his footsteps? Do I serve him in ministry here and now through small little acts of service and support to the community and others as Mary Magdalene did? 9.      Do I have the courage and the loyalty to walk the way of the cross? Do I persevere till the end to stand near the cross on Calvary? Can I share the same anguish and thirst of the Lord? Do I miss him deeply? Do I seek him anxiously? 10.   Can I weep for him because I cannot bear the separation from him? Can I also encounter the risen and living Jesus even among the tomb experiences? Do I also shoulder the responsibility of bearing witness to the Lord? Can I say “I have seen the Lord” like Mary Magdalene? Lifeline: The whole journey and project of our life may be synthesized into four words: Love, seek, find and witness the Lord. And two vital questions can help us in this direction: “Why am I weeping?” and “What and whom do I seek?” (Reflection 2) Thrust: Love and Seek what you love! Indicative: We find always many seek many things. But seeking can be intense and persevering only when there is a passionate love for what is sought   1.      Today’s feast of Mary Magdalene shows us who is a true lover of Christ, and what happens when one loves the Lord. Her life is a consistent journey of love. What are the ingredients of this love? 2.      Transparency and Docility: She is docile to his healing touch and she is healed of seven spirits. Passion and Thirst: her love is like a fire that burns ablaze; she loves him passionately and intensely. It is like an unquenchable thirst. 3.      Intimacy and Communion: she remains ever so close to him; she is in a deep encounter and personal experience with the Lord. She feels ever united with him. It is an inseparable union like the body and its limbs, like the vine and its branches, like the fire and its flames, like the candle and its light. Her intimacy is such that she cannot bear his separation. She misses him terribly. She weeps for him. She is around his tomb. She clings to him as soon as she recognizes him. 4.      Fellowship and Accompaniment: She accompanies him all through her life. She accompanies him in his ministry. She accompanies him on his way to the cross. She stands with him at the foot of his cross. She is present at his death, at his burial, at his resurrection, and during his resurrected formative period. 5.      Service and Sharing: She serves him and thus shares in his ministry. She is a true servant who follows in the footsteps of her master. She is an active and generous disciple who serves her Lord and supports and enhances his mission. 6.      Fidelity and Perseverance: She is faithful to the end and till the end. She does not abandon him and run away from him in times of trials and trouble. She does not shy away from embarrassing or unpleasant and unfavourable situations. She follows him to the death on the cross. She follows him to his tomb. 7.      Witness and Mission: Her love is not a private affair or personal experience. It is missionary love. She undertakes the mission of bearing witness to the presence and power of the risen Lord. What she has seen and heard, she would proclaim to others. The new life, the love, the light, the power that she has personally discovered and experienced, she would transmit to others. She becomes a herald and channel of God’s grace.   Lifeline: We can summarise the whole life of Mary Magdalene in three aspects: Love, seek, and witness. What about our love, seeking, and witnessing? Is our love intense? Is our seeking constant and ardent? Is our witness integral and authentic?