THIRTEENTH WEEK DAYS MASS REFLECTION 23

03 - 08 JULY 2023, HOLY MASS REFLECTIONS 03 JULY 2023: FEAST, ST THOMAS, EPH 2. 19-22; JOHN 20. 24-29 Punch line: My Lord, my God! Guideline: A sense of being excluded may be a natural experience. A believer is not exempt from it. It can cause pain and anguish but can lead to purify and solidify one’s faith 1. Today we venerate St Thomas, one of the Twelve Apostles, the Apostle of India. He is popularly known as “doubting Thomas”. Though it is usually mentioned in a lighter vein, yet such a label on him may not be so fair and deserving. 2. First of all, given all his faith and loving intimacy with the Lord, it cannot be really doubt, though apparently it is. Because what actually can he doubt? Does he doubt that Jesus is risen and appeared to the apostles? Does he doubt the power of Jesus? Does he doubt his companions’ truthfulness? Why should they tell him a lie? Surely, they will not play the fool with him in such a serious matter. 3. Therefore, there isn’t real scope for doubt. Instead, it is a kind of protest out of displeasure. A child may protest when his parents tell him that they went shopping when he was at school. He protests that he will not believe unless he sees something they shopped for. 4. Or, a child may protest when his parents tell him that his dearest uncle or aunt came home when he was away. He protests that he will not believe unless he sees some evidence of their visit. It is not doubt but an expression of dissatisfaction, a saddening feeling of missing something very important. 5. Similar must be the disappointment and frustration of Thomas. He comes home, still under the painful spell of the death and separation of his beloved Master. And behold, his companions excitedly report that the risen Lord appeared to them. 6. His sadness turns into annoyance. In all simple human thinking, he must have thought and felt, “This is not fair! The Lord knows me well. He knows how much I love him and feel the loss of him. How could he miss me? How would he exclude me from this joy of meeting him? Does he not care for me? Do I not count for him? 7. Therefore, behind the surface level doubt, there is deep down a profound belonging and longing for the Lord and anguish at separation from him. That is why, when the Lord appears again, his response was a wholehearted attestation of total belonging and surrender, “My Lord and my God!” It is an expression of inseparable intimacy and unreserved surrender. 8. This encounter of Jesus with Thomas also becomes an occasion of one of the greatest key tenets of faith. Jesus declares, “Blessed are those who do not see me and yet believe”. Thereby, it is clear that the inner experiences of seeing and experiencing Jesus are more important than the direct visible experiences. 9. The inner eye of faith enables us to believe that God’s grace never excludes us. He would never deprive us of His grace, as we see Cornelius in the first reading from Acts. God’s grace embraces Cornelius, a gentile as he too believes along with his family. Lifeline: In life, we may not always see God’s presence and His hands working in favour of us. It is in such moments, we need to open wide our inner eye of faith to see that He is always there to touch us, grace us and transform us. He never ceases to assure us, “Peace be with you!” (Reflection 2) Focus: To be a true believer is not a matter of name or tradition or convenience but a matter of total trust and loyalty 1. Thomas' attestation, "My Lord and my God!" reveals his excitement and passion. It is an expression of total belonging, loyalty, and surrender. His apparent doubt and protest, refusing to believe, can be a quite natural disappointment at missing Jesus' encounter, and can indicate his deep longing to meet him. 2. This passionate surrender leads him to cut across the boundaries to India, to bring many to the Lord, to make them blessed to believe seeing with the inner eyes of faith and to die a martyr's death. Thereby he would concretely give testimony to his love and loyalty. His life was a testimony of "life with Jesus" and his death was a testimony of "life for Jesus", to live a "life with Jesus forever". Resolve: Let us deepen our love for the Lord and loyalty and surrender to him. Thus we can be authentic disciples who live intimate with him, and effective apostles who work zealously for his kingdom. It is not enough to bear titles and labels of followers of the Lord, but to be credible witnesses, practising what we are professing and preaching. 04 JULY 2023: GEN 19. 15-29; MATTHEW 8. 23-27 Punch line: A caring and condoning God! Guideline: Often there is so much resentment and resistance toward any discipline and correction. But one should remember that true love always includes certain restraint and control, oriented to growth 1. We begin with the first reading where there is the destruction of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. In this context, some may wrongly understand and present God, as if God is just eager to punish. 2. But God is not a hard task master who keeps a track record of the misgivings of His people, nor a policeman who is waiting to exert a penal action. He is a loving and sensitive God who loves us passionately, and who commits Himself to us unconditionally. 3. It is His anguish that overwhelms Him, it is His holy and just frustration at the deliberate fall of His people who embrace willingly the unhappy consequences. Undoubtedly, He is a caring and compassionate God. 4. Otherwise, why would He spare Lot from impending destruction? Why should He send His angel to forcefully lead them away from the doom? Why would He even grant a concession to Lot to shelter in a small city Zoar and spare it? 5. In fact, He is always with us, accompanying us in our life sail. The problem is that many times we do not recognize His presence, or at times, we feel that he is “sleeping”, that is, unbothered and unconcerned about the storms and the struggles of our life. 6. So, we are easily overtaken by fears and adversities. We are afraid that we are lost, that we are perishing. It is in such times the Lord assures us not to be afraid because no harm can betide us as long as He is with us. 7. He has power and control over everything. All that is needed is, never to lose sight of Him, never to move away from Him, never to defy His constant admonitions and correctives. Lifeline: Our Life is like a boat that is on an unceasing sail in the sea of strong storms which never cease to frighten us and drown and destroy us. But we must also remember that the Lord is in our boats and that is enough! (Reflection 2 from 2022, 28 June) Thrust: God is sleeping! Indicative: It is not God who is indifferent or unbothered toward us. It is we who are indifferent and unbothered toward Him 1. The disciples in the boat are hit by a great storm. They are deadly frightened. They run to Jesus who was found sleeping in the boat. They awaken him and he calms the storm. He also rebukes them for their little faith. 2. This scene repeats every day in anyone and everyone’s case. The boat of our life is like sailing in the sea. And no seldom strong winds and storms attack us and frighten us. Do we easily lose sight of him present in our lifeboat? Do we so soon get frightened by their force? Do we also feel that the Lord is sleeping while we are about to perish? 3. It is their lack of strong faith that frightens them even when the Lord is with them in the same boat. Even if he is sleeping, do they not remember that he is present and with them? Will he allow them to perish? When the Lord of the Sea himself is with them, what harm can betide them? 4. Often it is the lack of faith and faithfulness that makes one indifferent, indulgent, and unrepentant. This is what happens in the case of the Israelites again and again. God reminds them and cautions them constantly through His holy prophets. But they do not leave their waywardness. They do not return to the Lord. 5. So, certain chastisement and corrective measures were needed to bring them back to their senses. Where there is deep faith, there is no overpowering of sin and fear. Lack of faith leads us to sin and fear. Consequently, we feel that God is sleeping. Actually, it is we who are sleeping. We are not awake and aware of God’s presence, protection, and guidance. Imperative: A certain fear may be understandable in the face of difficulties. But we should not be over-frightened and worried. As long as the Lord is sailing in the same life-boat, no storms can make us perish 05 JULY 2023: GEN 21. 5, 8-20; MATTHEW 8. 28-34 Punch line: Banishing God who banishes evil! Guideline: The greatest danger in our present society is an empty religion and shallow piety which does not correspond to a life of goodness towards others 1. In the gospel today we have two demoniacs. How true it is that the world of today is very much like them! Their situation very much indicates our own. The implications are striking: one is, ‘staying among the tombs’. This can indicate to be lifeless, to be dead to the life of God. It further indicates leading a life that is estranged and cut off from warm and concerned relationships with others. 2. Another detail is, ‘So savage that no one could pass that way’. This can indicate their aggressive and violent behaviour which intimidates others who walk the same road of life. This estrangement and aggression are the typical signs and symptoms of evil possession. 3. Jesus expels the demons and heals the two demoniacs. At the request of the demons, Jesus allows them to enter into a herd of swine. And the possessed swine rush into the sea and get drowned and die. 4. Perhaps, some may make wonder why Jesus acted that way. The point here is, whether the demons are in the persons or the swine, the eventuality is only destruction. One who has evil within, one whom the evil possesses and resides in, will surely be ruined. 5. As a result of the death of the swine, the people beg Jesus to leave their place. Again, this is interesting to note: the people of the city feel more worried about the loss of the swine. They do not rejoice about the healing of the demoniacs. 6. Their material loss weighs more than the spiritual gain. They want to get rid of this Jesus whose presence and intervention are more disturbing and disconcerting, incompatible with their materialistic and non-committal outlook. 7. Further, a little attention can be given to the first reading as well. Perhaps, some may object, how Sarah could mercilessly drive away her slave woman Hagar who bore a son Ishmael to Abraham? How could she be so jealous and discriminate between her son Isaac and Ishmael? 8. Again, the point is not so much about human imperfections. God is ever compassionate and so he protects Hagar and her son in the wilderness and also blesses Ishmael to make a great nation. Here there is a great lesson about freedom. 9. It is not so much the question of two individuals Sarah, the free woman and Hagar, the slave woman. It is also not so much about the posterity of individuals Isaac or Ishmael. Rather, it is about living and growing in freedom. God wants us to be children of freedom and not slaves of evil. The demoniacs in the gospel were slaves and not free. Jesus frees them. Lifeline: Very often, it is ironic that people are externally very healthy and sane but internally possessed by evil. They may walk into the temples but their life is amidst the tombs. They offer fat offerings but with so lean goodness and justice! 06 JULY 2023: GEN 22. 1-19; MATTHEW 9. 1-8 Punch line: Healing is integral! Guideline: Though it may look and sound naive and old-fashioned, it is true that sin is always destructive 1. Jesus heals a paralytic. But it looks strange that in his act of healing, he pronounces the words of forgiving. He says, "Your sins are forgiven". In that context, what was needed was physical healing. He could say, “Be healed!” or. “Rise, take up your bed and go home” which he says toward the end of the episode. 2. This forgiving of sins seems to be totally out of place. But, if we reflect a little deeper, it can have wider implications: every sin causes sickness and suffering though we do not say that every suffering is caused by sin only. 3. This clearly means that every sinful way will reap its unpleasant consequences. No evil will go unaccounted and unpaid for, in the sight of God. Every evil will bring upon us only disastrous results. 4. This should guard us against the spiritual paralysis that makes us numb and tepid toward God and good. We should become more vibrant and enthusiastic in our life of faith. We should get rid of that inner leprosy that infected the Pharisees and scribes. 5. Their inner vision of goodness, and their dynamism of optimism was paralysed by jealousy and obstinacy. Consequently, they lost the sensation of the touch of God's grace and power working in and through Jesus. They do not rejoice about the healing of a paralysed brother of them. They do not appreciate Jesus for the godly act of healing. Instead, they accuse Jesus of blasphemy. 6. Physical healing may be easier, quick relief and visibly profiting. But what is more important is the inner healing. This is difficult and we should work on it. Jesus does the physical healing which symbolizes the inner healing. In forgiving the sins first and then in healing from paralysis, Jesus makes this abundantly clear. 7. Abraham in the first reading stands as a contrast to this inner paralysis of sin. He had the vibrancy of faith in which he was ready to offer his only son, the heir of the promise. At God’s command to offer his only son, Isaac, there was no hesitation or argument or pleading. So promptly and immediately, he acts. Lifeline: We shall seek to be healed from the prevailing paralysis of jealousy and seeking human favour. Let us guard against distorting and rejecting the truth of God's will and power (Reflection 2 from 2022, 30 June) Thrust: False promises to please! Indicative: There are many false prophets who distort the truth and speak sweet promises and rewards in order to keep others in good spirits. But God detests such twisting of God’s ways 1. In the gospel, the Pharisees and scribes were filled with jealousy against Jesus. They would not tolerate his authenticity, holiness, and compassion. They would falsify his divine power of healing and preaching as blasphemy. They would not rejoice at the healing of a paralytic in today’s gospel. Instead, they search for a reason to accuse him. 2. Jesus heals a paralytic. But in his act of healing, he says to the paralytic, “Your sins are forgiven”. This is something controversial and abominable in the sight of the Pharisees and scribes. Healing physically may be okay but forgiving is a prerogative of God and Jesus was usurping this authority of God. 3. But little did they realise that Jesus was not making himself equal to God. He was not grabbing something that was not his due. In fact, he is truly the Son of God, and forgiving is his due power. Jesus would thereby impel them to recognise his divine identity. 4. Besides, Jesus wants to make it clear that spiritual paralysis, the sickness of sin is more grievous than the physical disease. Therefore, in forgiving sins along with physical healing, Jesus draws our attention to holistic healing and health. While the paralytic was healing holistically, the Pharisees and scribes remain spiritually paralysed. Imperative: Failure in faith to see God’s will and hand working in our lives and failure in charity to act benevolently toward others is the real paralysis. We need healing from it much more than those physically sick 07 JULY 2023: GEN 23. 1-4, 19; 24. 1-8, 62-67; MATTHEW 9. 9-13 Punch line: Mercy without bounds! Guideline: God calls anybody and everybody irrespectively, and the purpose is not so much the individual benefit but the higher and larger good 1. In the gospel, we have the call episode of Matthew. We shall reserve an elaborate meditation for 21 September, the feast day of St Matthew. But for our reflection today, we can pick up some simple pointers. First, Jesus calls Matthew, a tax collector usually looked down as a sinner by society. 2. Thus, God calls anyone. There is no differentiation or discrimination on the part of God. He does not go by human labels or estimates as righteous or sinner, friend or foe, important or insignificant, rich or poor, et cetera. 3. When God Himself offers His grace and call to anyone and everyone freely and irrespectively, why should we put restrictions and conditions on God’s grace? How can we be so selfish as to greedily own the whole of God’s grace? Why do we feel so jealous when someone is blessed by God? All the more, how can we judge that someone does not deserve God’s mercy because he is bad, as if we are so good and only we are good? 4. Second, Jesus calls Matthew while he was sitting at his tax office. This may denote that God calls us at any time. His call may come to us, not only when we are immersed in prayer, but also when engaged in our daily routine, in our duties. So let us not wait to catch the voice and message of Jesus, only in the quiet moments of prayer but all through our day, in everything we do. 5. Third, Jesus calls him, “Follow me”, and Matthew rose and followed him. This is very interesting. No conversation is reported. No discussion follows. No preparations are done. It is as if Matthew is just waiting for Jesus to call him and then immediately follows him. No details are given. 6. The point is very clear: the promptness of Matthew’s response. Jesus’ call demands an immediate and unhesitating response. There are no calculations, no discussions, no sorting out the issues, no conditions, no assurances. No pre-plans or future ambitions. God’s call is without conditions, both on the part of God and on the part of the recipient. 7. Fourth, God calls not the righteous but the sinners. This is interesting because it makes being a sinner itself a qualification to be a follower of Christ. This does not, however, mean that only sinners become followers, or all the followers are sinners, or the good people will not be called. 8. The point is, our call is not on the basis of human merit. Even holiness is not a qualification! What one is before the call is not the matter, but what one becomes after the call, is the real matter. One who is called by the Lord will not complacently cling to sin but will strive to become righteous. 9. A sinner becomes an apostle! A despised becomes venerated! A tax collector becomes a gatherer of souls and a witness to the Lord! One who is sitting at the tax office sits at the table with the Lord! Lifeline: Our call is a life to celebrate. Life becomes a celebration when the Lord is with us, and the Lord will be with us, when we respond to his daily call, “Follow me”, and take him to our house, to serve him and then follow him in his footsteps (Reflection 2 from 2022, 01 July) Thrust: Spirituality without righteousness! Indicative: True religion and devotion should not be reduced only to some external ritual practices or rules or traditions. What is needed is a change of heart 1. Jesus in the gospel admonishes the Pharisees, “Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice’”. They failed exactly in this. They abounded in religious sacrifices and observances. But they lacked mercy toward others. They despised the tax collectors and many other strata of people as sinners but rated themselves as holy and righteous. 2. The same lack of mercy and justice infected the Israel people in the Old Testament as found often in the books of prophets. The people of Israel practised rigorously religious duties like the Sabbath. But they dealt deceitfully with the poor and needy. They pretended to be righteous but in truth were the real sinners. In reference to Jesus’ words, these are the really sick who are sick and in need of a physician. 3. God unceasingly calls anyone, “Follow me!” This has no discrimination or social tags and preferences. That is why we find Jesus calling Matthew, who was a tax collector and labelled as a sinner. In this call, the purpose is clear: a personal renewal and a mission to carry on. Blessed was Matthew who responded positively to the call! He fulfilled the purpose of his call by living as a disciple and working as an apostle. Imperative: God’s incessant call, “Follow me!” needs a positive response. It calls for a radical change of life and a commitment to the mission of the Lord 08 JULY 2023: GEN 27. 1-5, 15-29; MATTHEW 9. 14-17 Punch line: Be authentic and renewed! Guideline: The practice of all religion and religious observances is only to experience and commune with God and renew one's life 1. Certainly, adherence to religion involves certain religious practices and activities like fasting, et cetera. Today once again Jesus draws our attention to the very purpose of all our spiritual practices like fasting. No religious activity is for its sake. They are not for showing or proving ourselves better and holier than others. Further, they are also no guarantees of one’s holiness or perfection. 2. But all these are meant to draw us closer to the Lord. They should keep us alert not to move away from him but to be in his company and rejoice in his presence. They should also help us to check our old cloth of sin and old wineskin of sinful approaches. 3. They should impel us to throw them away and get new garb of virtue and new wineskin of a new mindset. The new cloth of God's grace and the new wine of God's Spirit should not be put to the old sets. 4. A life of faith cannot be a patchwork of some occasional spiritual or good acts done. Rather, a truly faithful life should renew and make one anew. God is waiting just for such renewal. When there is such renewed spirit, then God's abundant mercy and benevolence will flow into exuberant blessings. 5. Ultimately what is important is that all our religious practices should help us to receive and enjoy the blessings of God and live a blessed life. Religiosity that springs from an authentic heart rooted in intimacy with the Lord, the real bridegroom, becomes the spring of blessings. 6. But in the first reading Jacob through his mother’s deception, steals away Isaac’s blessing due to Esau. This is clearly dishonesty. A question arises, how could God allow and tolerate such deception and yet blesses Jacob? 7. Here, let us not be bothered about this human defectivity. What we can focus on is, there are no guarantees for obtaining God’s blessing. It is not something that one can expect or demand by right or as something deserving. Receiving his father’s blessing as the elder son was the birthright of Esau. But Jacob receives it and he proves himself deserving by his life of fidelity. Lifeline: An authentic heart, Intimacy with the Lord and a changed life are more important than the mere shallow performance of religious activities (Reflection 2 from 2022, 02 July) Thrust: True faith is not a patchwork! Indicative: A person does not become holy and righteous just because he is faithful to practise some religious duties. It is only faithfulness to the Lord 1. Jesus addresses the question of fasting. He clarifies the need, the motive, and the effect of it. He answers the disciples of John the Baptist who ask him why his disciples do not fast while they and those of the Pharisees fast. He indicates that he is the bridegroom and his disciples are the wedding guests. His presence is an occasion to celebrate, but they would fast in his absence. 2. Does it mean that his disciples need not fast as long as he is with them? Is fasting only an act of mourning and penance over his absence? Here the point is not just the issue of fasting, about the when and why of it. In no way, the value of fasting is compromised or minimised. 3. The Lord wants to teach us clearly about the whole purpose, motive, and direction of all our religious activities and observances. It is not just to fulfil a religious obligation. Rather, all our devotional practices must be oriented to the experience of the bridegroom. They should arouse in us a feeling of mourning and penance over our missing his presence. 4. Despite some disciplinary and restrictive character, every religious practice is essentially a positive experience. It is a celebration of the Lord’s presence. They help us to grow in closeness to him. They also lead us to a thorough change of life. This change is profound and holistic. 5. It is not shallow or superficial that has only some external and temporary effects. Our acts of devotion should not be like new patches on an old cloth or new wine into old wineskins. We should throw away the old cloth and old wineskins of sin and evil.