EIGHTEENTH WEEK DAYS MASS REFLECTION 23

07 - 12 AUGUST 2023, HOLY MASS REFLECTIONS   07 AUGUST 2023: NUM 11. 4b-15; MATTHEW 14. 13-21 Punch line: Little into abundance! Guideline: In life, often the vicissitudes of life or the demand of duties frighten us. We may feel the burdens are too heavy to carry. But do not worry, because God is with us 1.      Walking in the way of the Lord is not smooth. It is very challenging. There will be moments of hunger and thirst, weakness and fatigue, uncertainty and insecurity, scarcity and insufficiency, discouragement and frustration. 2.       All the more, the old inclinations and attachments will be strongly pulling us back. This is exactly what the people of Israel experienced on their way to the promised land. It was happy to be liberated from the slavery of Egypt. 3.       But the story does not end there. Inheriting and enjoying the destined land of bliss would not happen smoothly. They had to travel a long journey through the red sea, through the wilderness, desert, etc. where they experienced all that mentioned above. 4.       In such moments, they would easily fall back to their old life and habits. They would fondly recollect and weep for that meat, fish, onions, and garlic in Egypt. They would forget all the mighty intervention and benevolence of God. 5.       They would find fault with God and His servant Moses. Truly these were the testing times for Moses. He is pressed between the higher demands of fidelity to God, and the all-too-real needs of the people. He feels helpless. That is why, he cries out to God, “I am not able to carry all these people alone, the burden is too heavy for me”. 6.       In the gospel of Matthew 14. 13-21, the disciples too experience the same sense of helplessness at the hunger of the people. They feel concerned for the people. But at the same time, they are aware of the inadequacy of their resources. They tell Jesus, “We have only five loaves and two fish”. 7.       In our life too, we come across similar situations. Like those people, we may feel fragile and fatigued, lacking and discouraged. Or, like Moses and the disciples, we may feel helpless in the face of adverse situations. 8.       In such situations, we need to turn to the Lord. We need to confide in him. We need to entrust the case to him. Surely he will intervene and change the situation for the better.   Lifeline: We need not feel sad or bad about our littleness. All that is needed is to join our littleness to God’s mightiness. He would intervene, touch and transform our five loaves and two fish to feed five thousanķĺo0ì (Reflection 2) Thrust: God’s ways are not human’s! Indicative: The greatness of faith is not to go on thinking like mere humans, in limited ways, but to put on the mindset of God and feel, think and act like God 1.      As men and women of faith, we are called to see, feel, think, react, respond and act differently from others. Our faith must make us put on the perspective of God and act with his Heart. It is not that we are not realistic. It is not that we fly in the air with idealistic and unrealistic ideas. It only means that our realism should be charged by our faith and transported into another higher realm. 2.       The disciples in the gospel were certainly realistic like good common sense- persons. They knew that the people who came to Jesus in the desolate place were hungry. They knew the crowd was as large as more than five thousand. They also knew they had only five loaves and two fish. They knew that it will be impossible to feed them. 3.       So they tell the Lord to send away the people so that they would procure food themselves. Here we need not make too much of their intentions. Whether they wanted to get rid of the people? Whether they did not want to face the embarrassing and difficult situation? Whether they were positively concerned for the people? Whether they were practically wise and see an immediate solution? 4.       These are different possible intentions. But for us what is more important is that they were aware of the reality, assess it, and come up with a solution. This is nothing wrong. But it is here that Jesus wants them and us to think and act from a divine perspective and with God’s own heart. 5.       Jesus had compassion for the people and he healed the sick. The disciples had already seen both the goodness as well as the power of the Lord. So, why could they not request Jesus to do something by himself? They could have easily said, Lord, you are already doing many good things and wonders; you know their hunger; please do something to feed them. 6.       Even with their inadequate human resources, they could still tell Jesus, this is what we have – five loaves and two fish; we place7 them in your hands; now it is left to you. Not that they did not have faith in Jesus. But often, when we face problems, we get carried away by ordinary human thinking and acting. 7.      So what is needed is that we always sublimate our human ordinariness with the divine extraordinariness. We need to constantly blend our human littleness with divine mightiness. We need to put on God’s perspective and divinize our human actions in concrete situations. This is what St Alphonse Liguori did. He integrated the human and the divine into one whole of holiness and goodness.   Imperative: Being realistic should not be a kind of evading personal responsibility and commitment. Solving problems should not be avoiding challenges and risks. Ultimately our aim must be to distribute God’s grace to all and fill them with deeper contentment 08 AUGUST 2023: NUMBERS 12. 1-13; MATTHEW 14. 22-36 Punch line: Walk focused! Guideline: In the sea of life often strong winds blow against us and fear grips us with the danger of sinking. But as long as God is with us, He will not allow us to sink but lift us up from drowning 1.      In the gospel, Matthew 14. 22-36, the disciples of Jesus in a boat are hit by strong winds. Jesus was not with them. In our life also, many times our lifeboat is assaulted by the winds of problems and afflictions. The sail becomes difficult. 2.       We need to check and see whether we too left Jesus behind and went ahead without him. We may be so preoccupied with the winds that we may not even recognize Jesus and mistake him as a ghost, like the disciples. 3.       Or, we may be like Aaron and Miriam who were blinded by jealousy and self-pride and did not recognize the presence of God in Moses and speak ill of him. At times, we may be like Peter who walks on the waters with focus and trust in Jesus. 4.       But this may be only for a while. Sooner or later, we may shift our attention from him onto the winds. We will also begin to sink. As long as we are focused on Jesus, no winds can frighten us or drown us. They may be strong and make our moving difficult and tedious. But they cannot stop our march ahead. We will be able to walk on the waters. 5.       However, as humans we are, we too will experience moments of drowning and sinking. But there is nothing to be panicky about. We need to constantly tune our ears to the assuring words of Jesus, “It is I, take heart, do not be afraid!” We can also cry out to him, “Lord, save me!” We need to deepen our focus and trust in the Lordĺ 6.       This is possible only in a deep personal encounter, intimacy and communion with God. Moses was such a man who enjoyed this personal oneness with God. It is this that clothes him with meekness and magnanimity even amidst mounting slanders and defiance. 7.       Like Miriam and Aaron, we may feel great and proud about our blessings and gifts and act jealously and self-righteously. Let us learn to be humble to realize that we are so fragile as to sink any moment.   Lifeline: Like Peter, we must confide in the invitation of Jesus to go to him in the waters. We must be ready to get out of our boats of securities and things of clinging and throw ourselves into the waters 09 AUGUST 2023: NUMBERS 13. 1-2, 25 – 14. 1, 26a-29a, 34-35; MATTHEW 15. 21-28, St Teresa Benedicta (Edith Stein) Punch line: Perseverance is rewarded! Guideline: Faith may not always meet with favourable responses and positive results. We may feel that God is not concerned for us and does not understand our needs. Persevere in such moments! 1.      The Canaanite woman in the gospel Matthew 15. 21-28 stands before us as an example of a faith that is humble and persevering. There is nothing so special in her approaching Jesus for the sake of her possessed daughter. 2.       Anyone in need may approach Jesus. That does not guarantee true and deep faith. It can be a shallow faith which is merely a favour-seeking request. On the contrary, the Canaanite woman demonstrates to us a faith that is genuine and exemplary. In all humility and trust, she cries out, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David”. 3.       Strangely, she is met with a strange response and reaction from the part of Jesus. Three kinds of Jesus’ response are noted: first, there is silence (but he did not answer her a word) – this can indicate an attitude of indifference and unconcern. 4.       Then there is an indication of discrimination and exclusion (he answered, I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house Israel). But she does not lose heart. She went and knelt before him, saying, Lord, help me. 5.       Finally, a very harsh and derogatory remark from Jesus, “It is not fair to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs” – an attitude of resentment and rejection. 6.       But the Canaanite woman testifies to a commendable contrast response. In response to the silence of Jesus, she continues to cry after him. In response to exclusion by Jesus, she acknowledges him as the Lord of all, and the sure recourse for help. In response to the rejection by Jesus, she persists with utter humility, “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table”. 7.       Note that she would not murmur or retort as the people of Israel do in the first reading. Whenever any little thing goes wrong, people can easily grumble and give up.  But she would not murmur. Many may find fault with Jesus for his harshness. Perhaps such an insulting reply from Jesus was not warranted. Perhaps he wanted to test her faith. 8.      Whatever it be, she got tested and testified. Even in times of humiliation and loss of hope, true faith perseveres. St Edith Stein always strove for this divine greatness. Though a brilliant German Jewish philosopher, she converted to Catholicism and became a Carmelite nun. She was killed in the Nazi gas chambers at Auschwitz in 1942.   Lifeline: At times, in our life also God appears to be indifferent, excluding and rejecting us. We may feel offended and not understood and not accepted. What then is our response. (Reflection 2) Thrust: Faith wins and heals! Indicative: Every favour and every act of God’s grace is nothing but a concrete manifestation of God’s abiding love and unfailing mercy 1.      A pagan Canaanite woman approaches Jesus for the healing of her possessed daughter. She cries out to him from the depths of her heart, “Have mercy on me, o Lord; my daughter is severely possessed by a demon”. 2.       It is not a mere request for a favour. It is a profound act of faith. How? She was aware of her need and affliction; she was totally trustful of his power and kindness to heal. She was also utterly humble to plead for his mercy. 3.       Further, her faith was not an easy go. It had to go through apparent indifference, discrimination, humiliation, and rejection. For, initially Jesus uttered no word. He would discriminate and exclude her, saying that he was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel. He would apparently humiliate her, saying that “it is not fair to throw away children’s bread to the dogs”. 4.       Is she a dog, so despicable and undeserving? Is she a beggar at the mercy of the Jews, the chosen race? Does she not have dignity and honour, just because she is a non-Jew? Humanly speaking, this statement is very degrading and humiliating. 5.       But she is not carried away by hurt. Her faith is focused and determined. She knows what she wants from Jesus. And nothing, even the apparent despisal of Jesus would turn her aside from obtaining that grace from Jesus. 6.       We do not know exactly what is the intention and purpose of Jesus in pronouncing such separatist and derogative statements. Certainly, they are not out of a prejudiced and discriminative mind. He never intends to disrespect anyone because he came precisely to restore dignity and respectability. His grace and love know no bounds. 7.      There can be different possible purposes. Maybe Jesus wants to test her faith as he praises her faith at the end. Maybe, he wants to indirectly expose the shallowness of the faith of the so-called God’s own people. 8.       Thus, her faith is an indirect test, a poking, and a challenge for the faith of the Jews themselves. Maybe, Jesus wants to present her faith as a testimony of authentic faith. 9.       But amidst all these, what is most notable is her faith, a rock-like faith, persevering even amidst the odds. “Even dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table”. She is firm in her insistence and smart as well. 10.   She makes it clear that the children are not deprived of their legitimate share because what she gets is only what falls from their bread and is not robbed away from their mouths. And she is not receiving from the children but from the master’s table. Thereby, her concern is with the master and not so much with the children.   Imperative:  Just because we carry the tag of the people of God, there is no guarantee that we deserve God’s grace and healing. Ultimately what decides the issue is the depth and perseverance of our faith 10 AUGUST 2023: FEAST, ST LAWRENCE: 2 COR 9. 6-10; JOHN 12. 24-26 Punch line: Love that empties itself fills! Guideline: True love empties itself totally and gives totally to God and others. A love that does not lead one to piety and charity, is not true   1.      Today we venerate St Lawrence, one of the most popular martyrs of Rome of the first centuries. Both the readings very well fit him. Quite in tune with Jesus’ words, Lawrence did not love or preserve his life but sacrificed it for the sake of the Lord. 2.      Thus he kept it for eternal life. He served the Lord and so he followed him to the end till death. He trusted unswervingly in our God who can provide us with every blessing in abundance for every good work. Therefore, he abounded in every act of charity and generosity toward the poor. 3.      He cooperated joyfully with the God who supplies seed to the sower, multiplies the resources, and increases the harvest of righteousness. Therefore, he sowed bountifully and also reaped bountifully a rich harvest of holiness and goodness. 4.      He was a cheerful giver and so the Lord deeply loved him. Like a grain of wheat that loses itself to live with a new life and bear fruit, so also Lawrence abnegated himself to fill others. Death to egoism in self-denial and life to others in altruism marked his whole life. 5.      That is why, as Jesus assured, “Where I am, there shall my servant be also; if anyone serves me, the Father will honour him”, Lawrence the servant of the Lord remains in heaven where his master is, and he is honoured by the Father because he served the Son   Lifeline: Sacrifice and service are the hallmarks of a true disciple of Christ. One who refuses to sacrifice his self-interests and fails to place himself to serve others is an unworthy disciple   (Reflection 2)   Focus: Love for the Lord is all a matter of cultivation and fruition,0 and this consists in an abundance of sowing and reaping and thus testified in sacrifice and service   1.      We celebrate today the feast of St Lawrence. St Lawrence is a much-venerated martyr of Rome of the first century. The words of St Paul in the first reading (2 Cor 9. 6-10) are quite true in his life. He sows bountifully and reaps bountifully. 2.      He sows an abundant crop of virtue and value, devotion and charity. He reaps an abundant harvest of loyalty and commitment toward God and sensitivity and generosity toward others. 3.      He loved the Lord with passion and with the same passion, he loved the poor. The same burning love led him to offer himself joyfully and fearlessly to be burnt alive for the Lord. 4.      That is why he gives his whole life willingly and joyfully even to the extent of shedding his blood for his faith. He is that “grain of wheat” which dies to the self to sprout and produce abundant fruit. 5.      Every true disciple of Christ must be the grain which dies to self and sin, rises to new life, grows, and bears fruit in abundance. At no cost, one should be a thorny bush that overpowers the good plant, sucking off the nourishment due to the plant and destroying its growth. Avarice and domination are contrary to discipleship!   Direction: So long as one clings to one’s own self-will and self-interests, one cannot be close to the Lord and become productive. Sacrificing fidelity and joyful giving are hallmarks of a true lover of God   11 AUGUST 2023: DEUT 4. 32-40; MATTHEW 16. 24-28 Punch line: Losing is worth it!   Guideline: We can never truly follow Jesus without the cross and loss, and we will only miss the whole point if we try to shun the cross in life   1.      It really looks ridiculous that many try to profess their loyalty to the crucified Saviour without really understanding and following his way. Can one follow the Crucified with no connection at all to his cross? Can one be a disciple without following the teachings of his Guru? 2.      Can one be a good servant without serving his master? Can one be a true companion without accompanying his partner? Can one be a genuine lover without loving his beloved even to the extent of death for the loved one? 3.       Often many are confused and misguided in following Jesus. It is not because of a lack of clarity on the part of Jesus. No, Jesus is crystal clear in his demands and promises. He never makes false promises, nor is he satisfied with half-measures and compromises. 4.      One can never be an authentic disciple of Jesus if he is not detached from his ego and self-interests if he is not ready to bear the cross of suffering and unfavourable situations if he is not wise to give priority to spiritual concerns and is not carried away by the worldly concerns and gains. 5.      If one is not true to his call to follow and resemble Jesus, it is only because he is still too attached to the world and there can be no other reason. “Deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me” – this summon of Jesus is ever vibrating and compelling!   Lifeline: It is stupidity to claim to be so intelligent8 and competent, while one fails to discern and follow what is a priority in life, and that is, follow Jesus, the model of real values of a good life, applicable to anyone   (Reflection 2) Thrust: Lose so that you can gain! Indicative: To follow Christ is not merely a matter of allegiance by some label and profession. It is a matter of clear conviction and life-long commitment   1.      Following Jesus is not a matter of convenience and comfort, profit and use. It is an inseparable covenant and immeasurable commitment. It makes no room for compromises. It calls for total kenosis, forbearance, and unflinching zeal. It is loyalty to the crucified Saviour, carrying our own crosses. 2.      In the first place, following Jesus demands wholehearted self-denial, a total giving up of the ego. One who clings to self-interests, who is driven by egoism, and who is not ready to retrench all the ties and attachment to the layers of the false self, cannot be a true follower of Christ. 3.      This process of effacement and detachment necessarily involves suffering and obstacles. The weight of the cross of right values and afflictions will certainly press us down time and again. Like Jesus, we too may experience the “lost and abandoned” moments in our life. 4.      But the choice is clear and firm. It is an uncompromising choice for following the Lord and not the world. This choice is made because of wisdom. This is the wisdom that discerns between “gaining the whole world but losing one’s own soul on one hand, and gaining the priceless soul and losing the world on the other hand”. 5.      Come what may, there is no turning back. However, it is not a futile enterprise. It is not a worthless choice and project. For, “whoever loses his life for the sake of the Lord will find it”; “the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done”. 6.      Thus, following Jesus is worth and fulfilling though it may appear to be absurd. It shows our love for him, loyalty, and commitment to him. And there can never be a true following of Jesus without renouncing the ego and carrying the cross patiently. 7.      To such a world, St Clare whom we commemorate today stands as a fount of God’s mercy and compassion. She totally renounces the ways of the world and embraces the tenderness and magnanimity of God. And all this was possible only because of a singular love for God.   Imperative: It is really foolish that there are some followers of Jesus who wish and try to follow him without carrying the cross. Without a way of sacrifice, and perseverance that is smeared with love for the Lord, how can one follow him and arrive at the destiny of the glory of the resurrection?     12 AUGUST 2023: DEUT 6. 4-13; MATTHEW 17. 14-20   Punch line: Faith is not a capacity! Guideline: The greatness of faith is not in the display of great miracles or favours. But true faith certainly brings inner healing   1.       The gospel of the day, Matthew 17. 14-20 focuses on the power of faith. Jesus says faith is so powerful that it can move even the mountains and nothing will be impossible. In order to show how great it is, Jesus uses a simple contrast: even a little faith like a mustard seed can move even big mountains. 2.       A man with an epileptic son approaches the disciples but they fail to heal him. And Jesus makes it very clear that it is because of their little faith. True faith certainly heals. Of course, healing need not always be external or physical. Í 3.       But, one thing is sure: when there is genuine faith, inner healing is bound to happen. However, it is not one's capacity. It is God's own power mediated and channelled through the limited human beings. 4.       Now, what is this true faith? How does it manifest itself? The first reading from Deuteronomy gives us the answer. True faith is nothing but loving God totally and unconditionally. To have faith is to love God with whole heart, whole soul and whole might. 5.       There are no portions or concessions in this. Also it is not space-bound or time-bound. That is, this love should happen every time and everywhere.  This love shows itself in deep gratitude and unceasing remembrance of God's compassion and mercy. It leads to a reverential fear for the Lord and the fervour to serve Him.   Lifeline: Many have a wrong idea of faith and its power. They think the more faith is able to do big things like moving the mountains or obtain big favours, the more it is great and strong. But true faith is humble and loving obedience to God's commandments.