SEVENTEENTH WEEK DAYS MASS REFLECTION 23

31 JULY – 05 AUGUST 2023, HOLY MASS REFLECTIONS   31 JULY 2023: EXODUS 32. 15-24, 30-34; MATTHEW 13. 31-35 Punch line: Small is not despicable!   Guideline: The greatness of something cannot be determined in reference to its origins or beginnings alone, but rather in reference to the potentialities and the prospects that are possible and the results it can produce   1.       The perspective and the estimation of Jesus and his gospel are always in contrast to the perspective and the estimation of the world. The world looks down upon whatever is small and little and despises them as of no value. This is true whether it is with regard to things or persons. 2.       It is in this context, Jesus presents before us a small seed like mustard and a small portion like yeast. Both are small and insignificant at their start, but they become big and great, by the measure of their action and function, their result and effect. 3.       The small mustard seed grows into a big tree and provides shelter to birds, while a little yeast leavens the whole flour and bakes the bread. The message of Jesus can have some significant implications: Never despise anything or anyone just because they are small, or just because they have humble beginnings or low origins. Let you not get stuck by what is immediately at hand but see farther to what they are capable of. 4.       Approach and treat every person and everything in life with respect and trust. Open wide your eyes beyond the layers of prejudice and discrimination to discover the hidden good in others. Let us not lose heart or get upset looking at our smallness. 5.       Greatness depends on goodness, on the good we can do, and on the good effect we can bring forth. Let us not be upset when life lacks many big things which we see being or happening in some people’s life and so which we also wish. 6. Israel in the first reading did not realize this simple truth of their littleness in unfaithfulness in contrast to God’s greatness in faithfulness. They easily turn away from the true God and fall to the worship of the idol of a golden calf. 7.       Moses was great in pleading for God’s mercy on people’s behalf and his magnanimity to be punished in their place. God too shows His greatness by not destroying them immediately but waiting patiently. 8.       Saint Ignatius of Loyola whom we commemorate today discerned this true greatness and so he renounces all the shallow aspects of greatness in the sight of the world. He made a decisive journey from the service to the world to the service of God, from allegiance to the nation as a soldier to loyalty to heaven our homeland, from the earthly gains to the eternal reward. He made a total about-turn of his life and turned the lives of numberless as well.   Lifeline: Many can be tension-free and happy if only they learn to see and appreciate the “power of the little” and be satisfied. The quantity of happiness is not proportionate to the quantity of things but proportionate only to the quality of life   01 AUGUST 2023: EXODUS 33. 7-11, 34. 5-9, 28; MATTHEW 13. 36-43   Punch line: God’s mercy, not in hasteGuideline: Those who seek the Lord, and remain intimate and faithful to Him, are truly the sons of the kingdom and they make it grow and become fruitful   1.       In the gospel of the day from Matthew 13. 36-43, Jesus explains the parable of the weeds and seeds, mentioned in Matthew 13. 24-30. Jesus explains the parable at the request of his disciples. 2.       From this immediately we can pick up a simple cue for our life. This can indicate to us the depth and the vastness of the word of God. Mere human intelligence and capacity cannot grasp it fully. It always needs “explanation” by the Lord through his Spirit. 3.       Our attitude should always be that of the disciples: Lord, explain to us. Those who feel that they are masters over the word of God, that the bible verses are at their fingertips, and that they are the expert interpreters need to halt for a while. They must remember that ultimately it is God’s word and we must always seek explanation and inspiration from him. 4.       The parable presents to us the actual reality of life. Jesus is very realistic. It is very true that there are weeds among the seeds. And their growth is very wild and widespread. There are certainly children of the kingdom and children of the evil. We must take note of this. 5.       Otherwise, it can make us idealists who live in a dreamland; or it can make us intolerant and annoyed toward anything negative. Both are wrong because both categories do not accept reality. Both are also useless because they do not contribute anything to better things. 6.       Realistically speaking, it may not always be possible to uproot the weeds totally. Because reality depends not exclusively on us alone but on various other factors. However, at least we are bound to restrain the spread of the weeds. 7.       For this, we need not always be on battle lines. It is much better and wiser to increase the growth and strength of the seeds. It is enough that we nurture good seeds and plants. The more the positive flourishes, the negative can diminish. 8.       Moses in the first reading from Exodus was truly one such son of the kingdom. He was intimate and faithful to God. He also transmitted the same grace, radiance, and benevolence to others.   Lifeline: In a world that tries to tone down the dominance of evil and sin because it is disturbing and challenging, we need to be the voices and messages for virtue and value by word and life   (Reflection 2) Focus: Evil may be justified but does not make one just; evil may seem to reign high and gain more, but that is only shallow and short-lived; because it is only God and good that have the authentic victory, and their fruits last long   1.       The parable of weeds and good seeds very much symbolizes our own life situation. There is evil and it is obviously prevalent and dominant. Often evil is practically so profitable while good proves to be disadvantageous and troublesome. In such a context, quite naturally one will be discouraged and tempted to give up the just path and follow the wrong one. 2.       But the reign of evil is not ultimate. Temporary profits and worldly gains cannot decide the rightness of life and promote evil. God sees, probes, judges, and gives each one what is due. Weeds will have wild growth but at the right time, will be destroyed. The growth and the prosperity of evil is no sign that evil is all-powerful and irresistible. It also means in no way that God is indifferent or powerless. 3.       He is not in a hurry or in a rush or overenthusiastic to immediately judge, condemn and terminate all the evil-doers at once with one blow. Therefore, the patience and the benevolent lenience of God are not a reason for evil to feast or to have sway over everything. Neither should it be a cause for the good to give up hope and duty. 4.       On one hand, for those who are on the evil side, it is a duration and occasion to repent and return to God as in the first reading. On the other hand, for those who are on God and good side, it is the opportune and testing time to persevere and prove their faith and good life.   Direction: The sun is under clouds for a while or not seen at night. But the Lord will make the just shine like the sun. Justice seems to be denied but it is only delayed; Evil seems to be unreined but it will certainly be accounted for.   02 AUGUST 2023: EXODUS 34. 29-35; MATTHEW 13. 44-46   Punch line: Aglow with intimacy! Focus: What makes our life meaningful and joyful is not mere knowledge but the Wisdom to discern the priorities   1.       We live in a world where there is a “knowledge boom”. This leads to a soaring capacity and adds to life ease and comfort. But at the same time, the tragedy is the decline of wisdom which gives one clarity of priorities to pursue and attain. 2.       Many times people unwisely neglect the “treasure” and “pearl” in preference to less worthy things. The man and the merchant in the gospel in wisdom discover and obtain the treasure and pearl. It is because they discern their incomparable value in preference to all the rest. 3.       How many so foolishly stick to secondary and worthless things, and discard and lose the treasure and pearl of God’s love and His kingdom! 4.       But how to have such wisdom? First of all, wisdom is not something that one acquires by sheer effort. If so, many rich, intelligent, and influential would be rated wise. But often the case is the opposite. 5.       Many of these fail to be wise because they do not follow a clear scale of priorities. Moses in the first reading from Exodus 34. 29-35 shows us the way to attain wisdom. It is through profound intimacy with God. 6.       We are told that he spoke face-to-face with God. He always listened to God’s voice and totally obeyed His word. The power of this intimacy with God showed itself in the shine of his face. This shine was such that the people could not see Moses directly. He had to put a veil on his face in order to conceal the irresistible glow on his face.  7.       But it is interesting to note that whenever he was before God, he removed the veil. This can indicate that there was no veil between God and himself. There was nothing blocking or hidden. Moses was fully open and honest before God. Those who are authentic before God will be without veils. They will shine with the glow of wisdom and holiness!   Lifeline: Lord, you are our priceless and incomparable treasure and your love and charity are the pearl. Help us to seek them always!   (Reflection 2)   Thrust: Wisdom to discern, decide, discover, and act! Indicative: In life, many think that knowledge and capacities make one successful. But it is not true. Many have bundles of knowledge and are highly capable but are not really successful   1.       Today the word of God teaches us about wisdom. Many have intelligence and competence. But these are not guarantees for wisdom. Wisdom is not a matter of intellect alone. It is not merely a matter of worldly cleverness to tackle the issues. Wisdom is holistic. It affects the whole person and all aspects of life. 2.       In this way, wisdom is essentially connected with spirituality and moral integrity. One cannot claim to be wise but fail to be spiritual and moral. In the light of the Bible, wisdom always refers to a God-fearing, righteous person and a virtuous life. In simple words, there is no true wisdom without piety, virtue, and righteousness. 3.       This is the wisdom that is exemplified in the person and life of Moses. Being in profound intimacy with God, Moses obtains the gift of wisdom from God. So he was able to keep on guiding and grooming Israel despite their obstinacy. 4.       Thus, Wisdom is essentially the power and gift of God that endows one with a clarity of priorities. This enables one to distinguish and discern between the value of different things and to gain what is the right and better option. 5.       This is the wisdom seen in the case of the treasure and the pearl in the gospel. Both the man who finds the treasure in the field and the merchant who finds a fine pearl sells all that they have and acquire the treasure and the pearl. It is because they know clearly that they are far more precious than all the rest. It is worth losing all else for the sake of gaining them.   Imperative: Many being self-complacent make wrong choices and actions. Decisions devoid of wisdom are faulty and actions without wisdom are endangering   03 AUGUST 2023: EX 40. 16-21, 34-38; MATTHEW 13. 47-53   Punch line: Wisdom to sift! Guideline: Life is like a fishing net that catches all sorts of fish, but it needs a spirit of discernment to distinguish between the good and the bad fish and to retain the good and discard the bad   1.       A good fisherman knows to sift between good fish and bad fish, which to retain and which to throw away. A good householder knows to produce from his store both new and old things. Similarly, we are also exposed to good and bad, new and old. Like true disciples, we should distinguish between them and discern what to retain and what to refrain from. 2.       We cannot confuse ourselves and fail to make the right choices at the right time. Often lack of clarity of priorities and lack of the will to act upon them makes life a mess and loss. Every bright choice is not the right choice. A right choice is not necessarily what brings success or profit but which wins God’s benevolent judgment. 3.       Many are devoid of this gift of wisdom and consequently make an unnecessary accumulation of all the stuff, even the trash, and rubbish that is harmful. And some others, so much misled, accept and swallow eagerly whatever is detestable and despise whatever is honourable. This can happen in the name of modernism and freedom. 4.       One should realize that all that is modern need not be right and beneficial, and freedom is not self-indulgence and arrogance. Such wise discernment requires humble docility like the clay to surrender itself totally to the touch and working of the potter. It is like Moses who always did what the Lord commanded in complete surrender.   Lifeline: Many a time the modern age suffers from a heightened spirit of greed and freedom, which leads to an undiscerning accumulation and arrogance, and licentiousness. Only a spirit of docility and surrender can be the right remedy.   04 AUGUST 2023: LEV 23. 1, 4-11, 15-16, 27, 34-37; MATTHEW 13. 54-58   Punch line: Content or contempt?   Guideline: We are living in a “show world” where the quality of a person or thing is judged by what is shown, by what appears, and not by what that really is   1.       Life of today has become like a public stage where everyone wants to play the key role and show that they are the best and the vital figures. It has become a display board where everyone wants to present a thing of his own so that all are drawn to them and acclaim their greatness. 2.       Accordingly, in life often people look and judge, based on what is visible, perceptible, and apparent. Consequently, perspectives, judgments, decisions, and actions are very superficial and biased. 3.       They are led by external factors like colour, caste, race, region, religion, language, culture, position, power, money, intelligence, relation, etc. Many do not have the heart nor patience or goodness to go deeper and discover and savour the goodness and worth of persons. 4.       Jesus too was subjected to contempt because of his humble origins and familiar surroundings. His own people despise Jesus because they think that they know all about him. They know his family, his parents, his brothers and sisters. They know his father’s profession of carpentry. They know the status and the standard of his family. They know none of them were outstanding. 5.       Therefore, their whole problem was, how could he become so great, powerful, and outstanding? How could he outsmart them? They thought they knew everything. But what they actually knew was the outer layers and covers and not the inner lining. 6.       They knew only his earthly human origins, but not his heavenly origin. They knew only his blood affinities but not the Spirit's identity. They knew his earthly father Joseph but not the real heavenly Father. 7.       They knew his secular profession as carpentry but not his substantial mission of interior, spiritual carpentry of hearts and souls. They thought only about academic education but lost sight of his eternal wisdom. Their realm and perspective were totally low and below. 8.       The listing of various feasts of Israel in the first reading, Leviticus 23 such as the Passover, the feast of the Unleavened Bread, the feast of Booths, etc. also points to this getting stuck to the mere externals. All the traditions and laws were meant to make the people close to God and holy. 9.       But in the course of time, the people simply fall to legalism, rigidity, and collective biases. How sad it is that the worth of a book is judged by its cover, which is often deceptive! Our relationships are often at the “rut level” (ruin), because our hearts are at the “nut level” (crank and foolish).   Lifeline: Let us become more receptive to God’s grace, so as not to be misled by what is merely perceptual or conceptual because it makes us very fragmentary and defective     (Reflection 2)   Focus: Often familiarity and externality reduce life to shallowness and superficiality and consequently people fail to discover and appreciate the good in the other   1.       Often, God and good meet with anti-climax. What does this mean? When God and good people do so much good with all concern and expect a positive response and a good effect in the life of others, exactly the opposite reaction and effect take place. 2.       For example, one gives sincere advice for the betterment of the other. But the other can easily misunderstand and misinterpret it as an act of jealousy or pessimism. This is what happens in the case of God in the OT and in the case of Jesus in the NT. 3.       God invites His straying and unfaithful people to repent and return to Him through his chosen prophets. But instead, people turn hostile to them. In the gospel, Jesus invites the people to understand and experience the love and mercy of God and return to him in faith in His Only Son. 4.       But the people despise him, contending that he is just one among them, and they know him thoroughly. This is because basically, people are not ready to accept what is not convenient and not pleasing to their hearing and living. Especially when it is a demand for a review and renewal of life, when they are confronted with challenges, they resent and resist.   Direction: As long as one remains presumptuous and pretentious on the basis of intelligence and knowledge, on the basis of status and prestige, and on the basis of talent and capacity, he cannot experience the grace for conversion and ennoblement of life.   (Reflection 3) On St John Mary Vianney   Thrust: Jesus is my all and he changes my whole! Indicative: What counts to accomplish God’s mission is not bundles of talents but a fount of surrender, fervour, and commitment 1.       In a world that is infected and tormented by sin and hopelessness, St John Mary Vianney stands as a beacon of grace and hope. He shows clearly that what qualifies and beautifies a person’s life is not just intelligence and competence but transparence to God and benevolence to others 2.       John Mary Vianney was not outstanding or noteworthy in his academic career. He would not be rated as a quick grasper. But, God Himself teaches him through His only Son. He was fully open and docile to the working of the Spirit. That is why God will reveal His only Son whom He has chosen. “It is not flesh and blood that has revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven”. 3.       He would daily grapple with the fundamental question of “Who am I?” He would make God someone personal and precious. His quench for God gets satiated with the daily nourishment by the Eucharistic Lord. 4.       It is not mere expressions about God as Saviour, liberator, healer, Lord, friend, guide, and so on. But he profoundly experiences being saved, liberated, healed, surrendered, guided, intimate, and committed in response to what the Lord is. It is not merely saying what the Lord is, but relating with him. 5.       That is why he would sit in the confessional every day for about 16 hours. He could read the minds of the penitents. He could see their inner struggle. He could come up with consoling and transformative solutions. Truly this is how he could stir and touch the tepid hearts of the faithful of his small parish Ars. 6.       St John Mary Vianney bears witness to a faith that is humble, persevering, toiling, and fruit-bearing. His lack of brilliance or talent, or the tepidity and the spiritual lethargy of the people did not deter him. He persisted and his hard-labouring faith was rewarded with a radical transformation of all the people around him. What an imitable priest as the patron of all priests! 7.       In a world that is bruised, affected by sin and desperation John Mary Vianney comes as a ray of hope and a soothing remedy. His whole life was one of depth and interiority, fidelity and availability, devotion and dedication. 8.       He never ceased to draw the people closer to God, he was never tired of giving the people the taste of God’s forgiveness and reconciliation through his availability at the confessional round the clock, even 16 hours a day. 9.       He was never carried away by the external pressures of the world but always nurtured a profound sense of loyalty and surrender to God. He sought always God’s holy will and engaged himself to please Him alone. This is the right way of a priest of God and the timely need of our times.   Direction: As long as people allow their eyes to be so easily distracted and wander aimlessly by every little external appeal and gratification, they can never be healed of their wounds and be restored to perfect health and sanity. They need to be a little more focused and concentrated on the interior, the purity of the heart 05 AUGUST 2023: LEV 25. 1, 8-17; MATTHEW 14. 1-12   Punch line: Truth is not timid! Guideline: Courage and justice are oft- proclaimed slogans but least followed principles. We must guard against reducing them to the disguises for mere pursuit of self-interests 1.       The theme of justice is very prominent in both readings of the day. In the first reading from Leviticus 25. 1-17, obviously the central topic is the celebration of the (fiftieth) jubilee year. But, a closer look reveals to us that the jubilee theme pivots around the issue of justice. 2.       It is a celebration of holiness (“you shall hallow the fiftieth year”. “it shall be holy to you”, “you shall fear your God”). It is a celebration of liberty (“proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants”), a celebration of a return to the family (“each of you shall return to his family”), a celebration of the regain of the property (“each of you shall return to his property”), and a celebration of just transactions (“you shall not wrong one another). 3.       In the gospel, Matthew 14. 1-12, the central figure is John the Baptist. He was beheaded by Herod the tetrarch because he was a man of justice. He condemned the adulterous act of Herod living with Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife. This infuriated Herodias and she plotted to kill him. On Herod’s birthday, she gets him beheaded, as per the promise of Herod to Herodias’ daughter as a reward for her appeasing dance. 4.       Obviously, the direct and visible villain is Herodias, because she is the brain behind the whole murder. But this does not mitigate the fault of Herod or Herodias’ daughter or the other dignitaries present at the party. All are condemnable. 5.       It is not only those who commit a wrong but all those who are prompted to do it. All through the pages of human history, the just suffer at the hands of the unjust. They just always have to pay a heavy price for their convictions and fight for truth and justice. But that is not a waste battle or a lost one. God rewards them. Lifeline: Many may feel happy and great to glorify and idolize the martyrs after their death. How ironic it is that people speak of “living saints” after their death! It would be better that people support and follow the example of these just men while alive rather than organizing a “cult” and cultic activities after their death.   (Reflection 2)   Focus: The rightness and wrongness of a thing cannot be determined always by the pleasantness of its appeal or the profitable result it brings forth   1.       Human society often has its own criteria to decide whether something is right or wrong. The immediate criterion is whether something sounds positive and promising. Who likes when suddenly someone raises their voice against dishonesty and corruption? Who appreciates when someone cries for repentance and renewal? Who will support when someone clearly pronounces judgment on a life that is unfaithful and disintegrated? 2.       It is in this vein of thought that the gospel episode focuses on the figure of John the Baptist. In the spirit of truth, he did not tolerate the wrong of Herod; in the spirit of justice, he denounced it; in the spirit of courage, he was prepared to be imprisoned; and in the spirit of loyalty, he embraced martyrdom. 3.       Conviction, truth, justice, and courage are often wrongly understood, wrongly interpreted, and wrongly followed in our times. Offensiveness and obstinacy are promoted in the name of conviction; criticism and slander, in the name of truth; self-interests, power-mongering, rebellion, and retaliation, in the name of justice and courage. 4.       But conviction is firmness of values; truth is truthfulness and faithfulness; justice is to be fair and charitable; courage is loyalty and perseverance for God and good.In fact, a true commitment to truth and justice is this: a consistent journey of moving beyond 5.       Unless one tries to traverse beyond what is merely easy and apparent, to what is difficult and deeper, to that which makes life transformed and qualitative, one can never experience change. Faith is this travel from the peripheral to the deeper, from the easy to the difficult, from the convenient to the commitment.   Direction: Let our simple prayer be: Lord, help us not to wrongly identify ourselves with John the Baptist for our every frustration and self-pursuit. Make us more faithful!   (Reflection 3) Thrust: Truth is unpleasant! Indicative: It is good to have Conviction and commitment. But by themselves, they do not show or guarantee that they are right. It is only the actions and their consequences that prove them either right or wrong   1.       We are living in a world where often popularity is taken as acceptability and acceptability is taken for the legitimacy or greatness of something. But this is not always correct. Often the wrong thing appeals to and gets approval while the right thing annoys and gets disapproved. Therefore popularity and approval do not always make a thing right. 2.       More explicitly, truth is not always liked and appreciated, and approved. It may even lead to unfavourable reactions and consequences. This is what we concretely see in the case of John the Baptist. 3.       John the Baptist condemned the adulterous cohabitation of Herod with Herodias, his brother’s wife. The pronouncement of John the Baptist was very unpleasant and hard to hear and approve. Hence he incurs the wrath of the opponents. But he stood his ground. His concern was not to please the hearers or twist the truth or escape the risk. 4.       His only concern was God’s will and truth. His whole aim was to be faithful and truthful, come what may. He was convinced of doing the right thing and he was prepared to pay the price. He stands before us as a real prophet. He also exposes before us the false prophets. 5.       Who are these false prophets who abound in our times? The false prophets are self-seeking and self-promoting. They have their vested interests but they present them as the right values. They project themselves as justice warriors, but they crush the dignity and rights of others in the name of fighting for their own so-called rights which are actually self-interests or group interests. 6.       At times, these fake prophets twist the whole truth because they want to please others. Thus they are not truthful. On the contrary, true prophets are always truthful. They seek only God’s will and ways. They are concerned only about the good of others. They are convinced of the right values and they courageously go to any extent even death for the sake of God and His mission.     Imperative: Am I truthful and just? How true is my truthfulness and how just is my justice? Is my truthfulness only a disguise of slander? Is my justice only a garb for self-interests or clique interests?