TWENTY FOURTH WEEK DAYS MASS REFLECTION 23

18 - 23 SEPTEMBER 2023, HOLY MASS REFLECTIONS   18 SEPTEMBER 2023: 1 TIM 2. 1-8; LUKE 7. 1-10 Punch line: Humble faith wins God’s heart! Guideline: True faith includes humility and deep trust as its essential prerequisites. Such faith will never go unrewarded   1.   In the gospel, Jesus presents a pagan centurion as a great model of faith. He praises him with an unparalleled compliment, “Not even in Israel have I found such faith”. Thereby Jesus makes it clear that true faith is not merely adhering to a faithful fold, but more adhering to the hold of faith. 2.   Faith is not a mere theoretical matter of holding on to certain traditions or faith matters, but a personal matter of holding on to Jesus. What matters most is adherence to Jesus in deep trust and humility. 3.   The first reading from 1 Timothy 2. 1-8 asserts, “God desires all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth”. And Jesus becomes the realization of this divine will. Therefore, the centurion approaching Jesus is symbolic of all without exclusion approaching the source of salvation. He is the one mediator between God and man. In the healing of the context, Jesus concretely mediates God’s grace. 4.   The centurion on his part responds to this grace. He makes a fitting response through his deep trust as he tells Jesus, “Lord, do not trouble yourself… But say the word and let my servant be healed”. He is totally convinced that Jesus has the power to heal his sick servant even in such a desperate situation as near to death, and even by the mere power of his word over distance. 5.   His humility is commendable because he readily recognizes that Jesus’ authority transcends his own. He entertains no false dignity because he conscientiously lowers himself before Jesus. His humility is not out of low self-esteem and not out of self-deprecation. 6.   He is quite aware of his own authority and the dignity of his position. But in humility, he realizes and admits that his power and authority are nothing compared to the immensity of Jesus’ power, holiness, and worth. 7.   Further, this greatness of his faith is still furthered by his benevolence toward all without any discrimination, be it toward his servant irrespective of status, toward Jews irrespective of religion or toward the Jews irrespective of the nation. When humility, trust, and benevolence go together, there is no wonder that miracles do happen.   Lifeline: Those who trust in God may go through times of test, but God will never fail them. While humility leads one to trust, benevolence flows out from the trust   (Reflection 2) Thrust: Commendable faith! Indicative: Faith becomes commendable when it is blended with trust, humility, and benevolence 1.  In the gospel, Jesus highly appreciates a pagan centurion with the compliment, “Not even in Israel have I found such faith”. Thereby, one point is very clear: in the sight of God, faith is not a matter of mere allegiance to a religion or a nation or the performance of certain religious activities. 2.  God’s grace goes beyond the human confines of race or religion. Now how is his faith so great even beyond the faith of the Jews, the chosen people of God? What is the uniqueness of his faith? It is a faith that is coupled with trust, humility, and benevolence. 3.  The centurion’s trust is profound. He trusts in the power of Jesus to heal his servant even on the death-bed. He trusts in Jesus’ power even over distance. He trusts in the power of Jesus’ word of command over sickness. That is why he says to Jesus, “Lord, do not trouble yourself to come under my roof… But say the word, and let my servant be healed”. 4.  The centurion’s humility is extremely genuine. His humility is not out of low self-esteem. His humility is not an act of self-despisal. He is quite conscious of his own authority that can command those under him to obey. 5.  But, he humbly admits that Jesus’ authority far surpasses his own. He is aware that Jesus’ authority is profoundly divine, spiritual, and holy. He confesses his unworthiness before such a holy presence of the divine. Hence his words, “I am not worthy to have you come under my roof”. His words are in contrast to what the elders of the Jews say to Jesus about him: “He is worthy to have you do this for him”. This is the true humility that he seeks Jesus’ healing not due to his merit but only due to his mercy. 6.  Finally, his faith is not limited to seeking God’s favour. It is a faith soaked into active benevolence. It is benevolence that feels so much concern for a mere servant and pleads with Jesus on his behalf. It is benevolence that loves even the Jewish nation and builds a synagogue for them. 7.  In contrast, we find a shallow faith in the first reading from I Corinthians 11. They are the newly chosen people, the Christians. But their faith is tainted by division, discrimination, arrogance, and lack of holiness. They make themselves unworthy by their unworthy interactions and Eucharistic celebrations. Imperative: Anyone who approaches God in true faith will never go disappointed. It only requires deep trust, humility, and benevolence   19 SEPTEMBER 2023: 1 TIM 3. 1-13; LUKE 7. 11-17 Focus: We need eyes to see the pain of others, a heart to feel it and a spirit to ease it 1.  Jesus restores to life the only son of a widow of Nain. He has the sensitivity to see her irreplaceable loss and feels compassion for her pain and plight. But this is not a mere passing feeling which is limited only to a sense of pity and dozens of tears. 2.  It is something profound. It realizes what the other needs the most in such a painful situation. Accordingly, he promptly acts to fulfil that need. He does not wait for the widow’s plea to him. He takes the initiative. 3.  He consoles her in her inconsolable grief, saying, “Do not cry”. He encounters the death procession. He intervenes and touches the death-stretcher. He orders the dead young man to “get up” from the stretch of death. He restores life to the dead man and restores him to his mother. 4.  Our life too is at times like a death procession with an utter sense of loss and grief. No seldom with hopes exasperated, do we feel placed on a death-stretcher, destined to misery and doom. 5.  It is in such moments Jesus encounters us, intervenes, and changes our destiny, by restoring life with renewed hope and energy. All that is needed is to heed Jesus’ voice, “Do not cry” and “Wake up”. 6.  When one is touched by the Lord and arises from the deathbed of sin and evil, the effects are quite clear and authentic. This rising will show itself in a totally changed life in a dignified and irreproachable character and nobility of vocation, be it the bishops or deacons or women, as enlisted in the first reading. Direction: Even death cannot kill our hope, as long as we believe the Lord is with us (Reflection 2) Thrust: A heart to feel! Indicative: The misery of the world is not so much the excess of misery but the lack of sensitivity to have access to that misery and to try to alleviate it 1.  The world suffers. There are various suffering situations. Death is one such deeply suffering situation. It is very painful because it is a definitive breakage and loss of bonding with the loved one. In today’s gospel, we find one instance of the death of the only son of a widow of Nain. 2.  There were many in the death procession to show solidarity and console. But Jesus was not satisfied with merely accompanying the widow or saying a word of consolation. He goes beyond. He had compassion for her. He touches the dead son and brings him back to life. 3.  Jesus shows us how to respond in our own similar situations of loss and pain. His response and action were a path of sensitivity, compassion, and action. In sensitivity, Jesus takes the initiative to intervene and do something for the widow. He feels one with her, in her anguish, and this is the true com-passion. And he does the action of life-restoration. 4.  In fact, it was not just one individual act of a miracle. It was truly a life-giving act on different counts. He restores life to the dead man, and he also restores life to his mother who was also almost dead. Further, he also restores a new life and instils new hope in the people as well that there is always a compassionate God beside us. 5.  This miracle should impel us to imitate Jesus in his heart of sensitivity and action of compassion. First of all, we should feel concerned about accompanying those in pain. We need to take part in the procession of the suffering of others. We need to be able to cry along with those who cry. We should be able to say like Jesus, “Do not weep”. 6.  But it is not enough. We should come up and touch the death-stretcher. We should be able to say to many who lie on the death stretcher, “Young man, I say to you, arise”. Imperative: We can be sensitive, and compassionate and touch those in different death situations or suffering, only when we ourselves are touched by the Lord. Like the young man, raised to life, we must “rise up” at Jesus’ command 20 SEPTEMBER 2023: 1 TIM 3. 14-16; LUKE 7. 31-35 Focus: Often the real problem is not the reality but the perspective toward the reality. Put on the perspective of Love and then you will see everything with a world of difference   1.  It is natural that everyone wishes that the realities change as they wish and prefer. But nature and life have their own rhythm and rules and it does not change according to our likes and dislikes. 2.  In fact, it is our optic that must change. As we see the reality, we will speak and act. Perspective and mindset are very important. A negative outlook negativises everything even the best positive. 3.  There are many who are so stubborn and do not accept others’ opinions or ideas. They want all others to play and dance to their own tunes. They understand and interpret things according to their convenience and for their advantage. They have always something to blame and nothing can really satisfy them. 4.  This was precisely the case with the Pharisees and scribes. They rejected John the Baptist because he was too austere and exigent with a demanding message of repentance and conversion. 5.  They rejected Jesus too because he was too flexible and compassionate especially the despised and condemned lot, with a disconcerting and forgiving mission of love and reconciliation, faith and a transformed life. 6.  The problem was neither John the Baptist nor Jesus but it was themselves. They were not open to see and accept the truth and the call for conversion. Their obstinacy barricaded them within their own prejudiced perspectives. They lacked the wisdom of God to discern rightly and to change humbly. In our times too such closed people are numerous! 7.  It is in this context, as the first reading exhorts us, we must constantly remind ourselves that we are the Church of the living God who is the pillar and foundation of truth. Therefore, we must behave fittingly.   Direction: Our negative perspectives often blind and constrict us to be responsive and responsible. Love endows us with a positive perspective and makes us joyfully charitable   21 SEPTEMBER 2021: EPH 4. 1-7, 11-13; MATTHEW 9.9-13, ST MATTHEW Focus: Oh, how beautiful and precious is the gift of vocation! If only we are a little more conscious and contemplate it more often, we will appreciate it, and we will also strive to live it well   1.  21 September marks the feast of St Matthew, one of the Twelve Apostles, and one of the four evangelists. We had already elaborately meditated on a couple of occasions on his call and mission. However, we shall try to encapsulate the pivotal theme. 2.       The call of Matthew once again evidences God’s initiative and gratuitous offer in every call. It is Jesus who calls. It is he who chooses. One may say, I have consulted, I have prayed, and discerned. I have opted for this life, et cetera. 3.       Apparently, it looks like it is the personal choice of the concerned person. But, essentially, it is God’s Spirit that moves, inspires, and helps to discern. No one can choose to follow God’s call unless God wills to choose! 4.       Thus, we must always be deeply conscious that our call is not due to our merit but due to His mercy. In calling us, he is not led by any human considerations or calculations or labels or prejudices. Jesus was least bothered about Matthew’s label as a sinner due to his tax collection. 5.       This is a great reason for assurance and confidence for us. Our sinful past, our humble backgrounds, and our incapacities need not bog us down or discourage us. God looks at us as we are. He accepts us with all our limitations. In fact, he sees not so much what we are but what we can become. 6.       Let us also venerate and admire Matthew for his response to this offer. It was a prompt and generous acceptance of Jesus’ invitation, “Come, follow me!” Certainly, it needed real courage to give up the security and abundance of his job and follow Jesus who had no such stable stay or security. 7.       There was no hesitation. He was quick and prompt. God’s call always carries a sense and tone of urgency. There is no time to waste or delay. At once we need to set ourselves to follow him and serve him. 8.       Therefore, all that is needed is: to be alert to listen to his daily call to follow him, willing and prompt to renounce everything and follow him. The real worth of this call is when we constantly strive to live worthy of our call and thus merit it. 9.       This is what the first reading from the letter to Ephesians 4. 1-7, 11-13 exhorts us: “to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all lowliness and meekness, with patience, forbearing one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace”.   Direction: What we were (sinners) before the call, is not the matter. But what we become after the call is the matter.   (Reflection 2) Thrust: Called and graced!   Indicative: To be called is no one’s merit but after being called how one makes oneself deserving is more meritorious   1.  God’s grace is no one’s private prerogative but is open to all who respond. And once responded in docility and surrender, life changes into a new dignity. As we celebrate the feast of St Matthew, one of the Twelve, his call is an indicator and pathway for all of us in our own journey of discipleship. 2.       God’s call and grace are gratuitous and not conditioned by our merit or demerit. No one can claim that he deserves God’s grace. It is a free gift and God chooses anyone and equips them with His own power. 3.       God does not necessarily call the bright but He brightens those called; He does not necessarily call the strong, but strengthens those called; does not necessarily call the able but enables those called; does not necessarily call the noble, but ennobles those called; does not necessarily call the perfect, but perfects those called; does not necessarily call the holy, but sanctifies those called; does not necessarily call the powerful, but empowers those called; does not necessarily call the great, but makes great those called. 4.       He stands by those called, accompanies them always, purifies them from their old self and old ways, dignifies them with a new status, and sanctifies them with His own Spirit. He entrusts them with His own mission which is to liberate and integrate the dehumanised humanity. He sustains all their efforts with His light and strength and brings their life to fulfilment. 5.        However, all this is not God’s work alone. His call requires our response. His giving requires our receptivity. His action requires our cooperation. God’s call always demands prompt listening, obedience to His summon, detachment from worldly gains, and a total commitment to Christ. And the greatest testimony of the quality of discipleship is an authentic life witness.   Direction: We can be happy disciples if God never regrets having called us to follow Him. The greatest fulfilment and accomplishment of our consecrated life is that God is happy with us   (Reflection 3)   Focus: 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 narration of the call of Matthew. We can pick up some simple pointers. First, Jesus calls Matthew, a tax collector usually looked down on as a sinner by society. 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, etc. 2.       Why should we put restrictions and conditions on God’s grace when He Himself offers it to all? How can we be so selfish as to greedily own all 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? 3.       Second, Jesus called 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, and in our duties. So let us not wait to catch the voice and message of Jesus not only in the quiet moments of prayer but all through our day, in everything we do. 4.       Third, Jesus called 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. 5.       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. 6.       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. 7.       The point is, that 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. 8.       A sinner becomes an apostle! A despised person becomes venerated! A tax collector becomes a gatherer of souls and a witness to the Lord! One who was sitting at the tax office sits at a table with the Lord!   Direction: 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, so as to serve him and then follow him in his footsteps     22 SEPTEMBER 2023: 1 TIM 6. 2c-12; LUKE 8. 1-3   Pivot: Kingdom for all! Focus: The Kingdom of God is not a confined territory, reserved only for a few. It is a domain open to all. Anyone can walk in there. It is also the mission of all who received the gift of faith   1.  In the gospel, we find Jesus on his mission which is establishing the kingdom of God through preaching and healing. But mission for him was never a private affair or personal agenda. It was always the “Father’s affairs” and common and altruistic benefit. He never monopolized all doing as a solo performance. It was teamwork, a collaborative enterprise. His Twelve were always beside him. 2.  Besides, as per today’s gospel, we also find some women disciples accompanying him and sustaining his team and his work with their means. What is praiseworthy is Jesus respected all, accepted all, and involved others in their due scope. 3.  This participatory nature of Jesus’ mission can be a great indicator and corrective for our own times. This must make us check honestly the way we go about our ministries, our administration, and our style of functioning. 4.  Why do we often find ministries becoming self-centred, saddled with self-interests and ulterior motives? Why does mission become a private enterprise with no scope for others? Why there is so much domination and manipulation? Why there are often divisions, discriminations, and conflicts, all in the name of doing one and the same mission? 5.  How much mutual respect, acceptance, and collaboration is there in our working for God? Why still there is gender inequality and disparity, treating women with suspicion and prejudice? 6.  It is one church and one mission. All have their due right and duty as well to be part of this one-believing community and work for the kingdom. But often we find so much gap between the “privileged and less privileged”, between those “closer to the church and distant from the church”, between those “gifted and capable and the ordinary and incompetent”, between “the important and the other insignificant”. 7.  It is not that all would be given the same or equal roles and functions. The charisms are different, the needs are different, and the capacities are different. We understand this factual differentiation. 8.  But what is blameworthy is discrimination in terms of importance and honour. In the house of God, in the mission of the kingdom, there is no disparity like ‘higher level or lower level’, ‘more important or less important. All are important and respectable.   Direction: The church will be more faithful and effective in its mission of spreading the kingdom of God if it consciously works against and eliminates the steep categories of division, and discrimination and learns to work in more unity and collaboration   (Reflection 2)   Thrust: Service without disparity! Indicative: There is absolutely no inequality and discrimination in following the Lord or serving His people 1.  The kingdom of God is for all and is open to all. It is not for only a privileged few. All that is needed is faith that believes in the Lord and follows him. This is the only qualification and requirement to be a member of the kingdom. All these members receive and carry out the same mission of fostering the kingdom of love, equality, and justice. 2.  Different types of disciples followed Jesus. There were apostles and also some women. This shows that the mission of Jesus embraces all irrespective of any differences like status or gender. His mission is a mission of equality. There is no room for any disparity or discrimination in the kingdom of God or the mission of the Lord. 3.  Thus, the mission of the kingdom is participatory and not monopolising. It assigns different roles and functions to different persons and groups. There is no question of exclusion or domination. It is different ways of serving the Lord through different gifts and charisms. Whenever and wherever there are tendencies of overpowering and overriding and sidelining others, whenever there are ego-projections and ego-promotions, it is a clear sign that they are not working for the kingdom. 4.  In particular, gender equality is a sensitive issue, and women should be respected and given their due role. It is a fact that many of our faith communities are active and vibrant because of a good number of women. They do immense work by way of catechism and other assistance services like altar decoration, arranging for the holy mass, singing animation, etc. 5.  All these services are very good and needed so much for a lively community, steady faith formation, and meaningful liturgical celebrations. But women should be also given roles and participation in the decision-making bodies. They should have a say in the administration and animation of the church affairs on various levels. Imperative: Even centuries before, Jesus had the spirit of synodality in faith matters. Women should be empowered so that they can animate and support the faith communities for an effective Christian living 23 SEPTEMBER 2023: 1 TIM 6. 13-16; LUKE 8. 4-15   Pivot: Receptivity is pivotal! Focus: God’s grace is never lacking or scarce. It is abundant and constant. All that is needed is receptivity and cooperation to toil and bear fruit   1.  The parable of the sower in the gospel is a very familiar one and already we have reflected on it a couple of times. However, we can always reiterate the core message, even if we may not offer a totally new message. The message that can be life-steering is: Life becomes fruitful by being receptive and productive. 2.  Life is meaningful when it is truly fruitful. Many live meaninglessly because they fail to live that meaning and worth of life in bearing fruits. Unfortunately many seek the value and fulfillment of life in false and shallow things like sex, comfort, power, etc. Many mistake success as the fruitfulness of life. Some others consider pleasure and gratification as fruitfulness. 3.  This is in contrast to what St Paul exhorts in 1 Timothy 6. 13-16 in the first reading: “I charge you to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ”. 4.  It is in this context Jesus proves this worldly thinking wrong. Fruitfulness has nothing to do with one’s possession or gratification. Real fruitfulness is a matter of spiritual fecundity. It is one’s total receptivity to the seed of God’s Word and abundant productivity in fruits of good character and actions. 5.  Fruitfulness requires docility that is humble and prompt (unlike the roadside soil), a depth that remains rooted and firm in God (unlike the rocky ground), resistance and perseverance to grow amidst bushes and thorns (unlike the thorny soil), and assiduity to cultivate and produce an abundant harvest (like the fertile soil). 6.  At this point, it is also good to bear in mind the magnanimity of God. He is never tired of supplying seeds in abundance irrespective of the type of response. However, there is not much use in extolling the greatness of God’s Word which is the seed. It is more useful to examine and improve the quality of the soil of our hearts and lives.   Direction: Let us be abundant in fruits and not merely in seeds of good desires, intentions, and words. Let us toil diligently, cultivate responsibly and bear fruits of good actions abundantly   (Reflection 2)   Thrust: Productivity is a matter of receptivity! Indicative: God’s grace is open to all. He is ever eager to allocate His graces to all. But the quantity of the effect and fruit depends on the extent of receptivity 1.  Both the readings seem to focus on the theme of production and bearing fruits. At times, the crop may not be good because the seeds are not good and healthy. But in the case of God, He himself is the sower. He goes on distributing His seeds of gifts and blessings without discrimination. 2.  As in the gospel, God spreads his seeds on different types of soil, namely the soil by the road, rocky soil, bushy soil, and fertile soil. The receptivity of each soil decides the quantity of the produce. The wayside soil is totally unreceptive. The seeds do not find even an entry as they are either trampled underfoot or snatched away by the birds. This soil represents all those who are totally indifferent and disinterested in God or spiritual concerns. These do not matter at all to them. 3.  The rocky soil receives the seeds but they cannot send their roots deeper. There is no depth and the seeds are exposed to the scorching heat. Consequently, they wither away. These are the people who are initially enthusiastic. But they are shallow and superficial. They are not deep-rooted. Their enthusiasm fades away so fast. 4.  The seeds grow in the thorny and bushy soil. They begin to grow. But their growth is very much controlled and even choked by the thorns and bushes. This soil represents those who show some signs of devotion. They do some religious activities. They are regarded as “religious” people. But their religiosity and spirituality are very much suffocated by their worldliness. The worldly pleasures and preoccupations overpower and stifle the growth of God’s graces. 5.  Finally, the seeds find conducive conditions in the fertile soil. They grow healthily. They produce abundant fruits. Imperative: God wants us to be productive and fruit-bearing. He also provides all the necessary conditions for proper growth. Ultimately the fruitfulness depends on how receptive and cooperative we are to God’s action