TWENTY THIRD WEEK DAYS MASS REFLECTION 23

11 - 16 SEPTEMBER 2023, HOLY MASS REFLECTIONS   11 SEPTEMBER 2023: COL1.24 - 2.3; LUKE 6. 6-11   Punch line: Kindness, above every rule! Guideline: Benevolence is the supreme principle that has no restrictions or apprehensions   1.      "Which is good, to do good or to do harm, to save life or destroy it?" This is the question Jesus poses to the scribes and Pharisees. The context is healing on a Sabbath. Thereby Jesus makes it crystal clear that no law, no other factor can prohibit or prevent one from doing good and to save life. Doing good and saving life have no particular times or places. Benevolence is not space and time-bound. It must happen always and everywhere. 2.      Jesus heals a man with a withered hand. What is notable is Jesus is aware that it is Sabbath and that the scribes and the Pharisees are just waiting to accuse and persecute him for the violation of the Sabbath. Yet, he goes ahead. No fear of impending trouble could stop him. For him,  what matters most is the good of the other. He is not afraid of the consequences of doing good. He is ready and prepared to meet them. He is courageous and undeterred. 3.      Now such courage comes from his profound benevolence. Benevolence is his nature and his mission as well. God is Love and He cannot but be benevolent. Jesus, the incarnate God concretizes this in his compassion for the sick man. One who is passionate for good cannot but be compassionate toward others. 4.      Again going a little further and deeper, such compassion, benevolence and courage are possible only because of Jesus' intimate love and passionate commitment to God. This is the passion for God and compassion for humanity. 5.      This is the same passion and compassion that charged Paul with such a relentless mission of being a minister of God. He toils, striving with all the God-instilled energy. He rejoices in suffering for the benefit of the people. All this is with the deepest concern for them that they "may be encouraged as knit together in love, to have all the riches of the knowledge and wisdom of Christ". 6.      Now, coming back to the gospel scene, Jesus pronounces two sentences to the withered man, "Come and stand here", and also "Stretch out your hand". Both are very significant. It is God who takes the initiative inviting us to come and stand before Him to be healed. And he wants us to stretch out all that is withered - our hands, our feet, our mouth, our ears, our eyes, and much more our hearts and souls. 7.      In fact, it was the Pharisees and scribes that were more withered. The man had only a withered hand. But the Pharisees and scribes were fully withered. They were full of jealousy, fury and malice.   Lifeline: Knowledge and position are no guarantees of benevolence, just as in the case of the Pharisees and scribes. Real withering is the lack of benevolence to others and love for God.   (Reflection 2) Thrust: A withered reality! Indicative: God wants us to live a life that is blossoming and flourishing and bears fruits in concrete kindness toward others. But this growth is stifled in the case of many 1.      In the gospel, there is a healing of a man with a withered hand. Jesus does this on a Sabbath day. The Pharisees and scribes accuse him of violation of the Sabbath law. In fact, it is they who are withered. Their faith, sensitivity, their concern, and charity toward the needy are withered. It is they who need healing more than the physically withered-handed man. 2.      Jesus is not frightened or intimidated by the possible attack of the Pharisees and scribes. His compassion for the sick man is stronger than the fear of criticism. The spirit of benevolence drives him to be determined and undeterred to do the healing. For him, doing good and saving life is more important than a heartless practice of law. 3.      What is the use of keeping the law faithfully but doing harm and destroying life? What is more important – faithfulness to the secondary laws like the Sabbath or faithfulness to the supreme law of charity? That is why Jesus poses the question, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it?” 4.      Their jealousy, self-righteousness, and hypocrisy wither their hearts. Consequently, they fail to vibrate toward Jesus or the sick man. Their sense of optimism and appreciation toward Jesus is withered. Their fraternal sensitivity toward the sick man’s need for healing is withered. Similarly, in the first reading, we have another list of withering causes. They are namely immorality, boastful arrogance, and sinful influence symbolized by ‘old leaven’. 5.      We also find a clear contrast between the interaction between Jesus and the Pharisees and scribes on one hand and the interaction between Jesus and the withered man on the other hand. Before the healing, the Pharisees and scribes are on the watch out to accuse him and after the healing, they become furious and plot against him. 6.      But, the man with the withered hand readily responds and obeys Jesus: When Jesus tells him, ‘Come and stand here’, he rises and stands there; when Jesus asks him, ‘Stretch out your hand’, he does so. Imperative: Many suffer from withered hands, feet, mouths, ears, eyes, minds, hearts, and souls! In brief, this is a loss of spiritual and fraternal sensitivity. Physical soundness is not enough. Holistic healing is needed 12 SEPTEMBER 2023: COL 2. 6-15; LUKE 6. 12-19   Punch line: Power that calls and heals! Guideline: Jesus is the Power of God that empowers all our weaknesses; he is the forgiveness of God that cancels all our trespasses. He is the expiation that reconciles us to God   1.      Jesus lives an integrated life: he prays, he preaches and he heals. It is a life perfectly balanced and harmonious. Rooted in God in prayer, flourishes in announcing about God and bears fruits in concrete actions of healing of infirmities and demons. His preaching and healing were filled with a power that made people believe and also be healed. 2.      All his ministry was always springing from the spring of prayer. It was his source and fountain of light and energy. It is not just reciting some prayers. Rather, it was a deep intimate bonding and communion with the Father. 3.      This spring becomes the springboard for plunging into the ministry. And his ministry is not a single-man or monopoly ministry. He makes it participative and collaborative. That is why he chose twelve apostles out of his numerous disciples. This shows the nature of God itself. He never wants to do things all by Himself although He is absolutely capable of it. He wants to involve us as sharers and partakers in the same mission of Christ. 4.      The choosing of the disciples, each by name shows that it is all according to God's plan and each one is significant. No decision and no action of Jesus would be a mere private enterprise. It is always within the spectrum of God's will, the realm of the Spirit and oriented to human salvation.   Lifeline: In a world that lacks integrity and authenticity of life, one clear remedy will be to strive for the integration of heart, word and deed   (Reflection 2)   Thrust: Subject to God and submit! Indicative: Worldliness is a blatant contrast to the spirit of God. Those who are conformed to the ways of the world will be devoid of God’s grace. They will be judged unfit to enter God’s kingdom   1.      Many came to listen to Jesus and be healed of their diseases. All those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. All tried to touch him because a curative power came out from him and healed them all. 2.      In the present times, how many willingly and eagerly go to Jesus? How many attentively listen to him? How many confide in the healing power of Jesus? How many seek his powerful and curative touch?  Today too many suffer from many unclean spirits. But they do not desire to get rid of them. They do not make an effort to approach Jesus. Therefore, they do not experience any healing. They continue sick and troubled. 3.      We are called not only to get healing from the Lord but to remain content. We are also specially chosen to be his apostles to share the same healing touch with others. Being healed, we need to become apostles of healing and health. We need to restore the lost sanity to the wounded and sick world. 4.      In the light of the first reading, this would mean that we belong totally to God, and follow the ways of God and not the ways and standards of the Lord. We strive to live worthy of our special choice by God so that we will receive admittance into the kingdom. 5.      We must persevere in righteousness even in times of affliction and unjust treatment by the world. For this, we need to be ever conscious of our privileged call and the immense mercy of God in which we were washed, sanctified, and justified by God through the Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit.   Imperative: It is a world that tries to defy and resist the power of any divine and spiritual touch. It prefers to remain untouched so that it does not need to go through the painful process of healing. We must be healed and become healers    13 SEPTEMBER 2023: COL 3. 1-11; LUKE 6. 20-26 Punch line: Beatitudes – sharp contrasts! Guideline: In our life, constantly two options are placed before us: bliss and curse. It is left to us what to choose. But each choice will have its own results and consequences 1.      The Word of God of today encounters us with a radical contrast between being blessed and being cursed. It sheds clear light on both the modes of being, on how one becomes blessed or cursed. It places before us the ways and means how one attains bliss and also how one forfeits the same and falls to curse. Subsequently,  it also challenges us to make a choice between the two. 2.      This contrast between bliss and curse is furthered in the gospel in the light of the beatitudes. Poverty, hunger, weeping and suffering make one blessed, while riches, fullness, laughter, and self-glory make one cursed. As evident, there is a clear contrast between the two polarities: Poverty is in contrast to riches. Hunger is in contrast to having full, weeping is in contrast to laughter, and suffering is in contrast to self-glory. 3.      But these need more clarity and cannot be understood at their face and surface level. Accordingly, “poverty” is not merely material poverty. It is poverty in spirit. This implies a profound spirit of humility, self-insufficiency, and total dependence on God and surrender to Him. On the contrary, “being rich” signifies feeling self-sufficient, complacent, arrogant, materialistic, and money-minded. 4.      “Hunger” is not merely the material hunger for food but much more. It signifies a deep hunger and thirst for God, higher things, spiritual concerns, righteousness, and justice. On the contrary, “having full” signifies a lack of this inner craving but being filled with the things and interests of the world. It is “satisfaction” in indifference and unjust “oppression”. In other words, it is to “be drunk” with worldliness. 5.      “Weeping” is not merely a matter of feeling sad and shedding some tears. It implies a deep sensitivity, tenderness, and compassion, a positive vulnerability to be moved and even wounded by the plight of others. It would also mean the ability and the willingness to be empathetic and in solidarity with those who are suffering. On the contrary, “laughter” would signify seeking temporary gratifications, unhealthy pleasures, unlawful fun, and prohibited deviations. It would also imply deriving happiness at the cost of others, through ridicule, mockery, and making fun. 6.      “Suffering” is not merely physical suffering. It would include insult, persecution, and calumny. It is the spirit of self-abnegation and self-resignation. It is rejoicing to suffer something for Christ considering it an honor. This is in contrast to the applause, flattery, and pleasantries of the world; this is seeking cheap popularity, self-projection, and self-promotion. In short, it is all undue craving for self-glory. 7.      Thus, the positive thrust of the blessedness of discipleship in Luke (vv. 20-23) is very much similar to that in Mt 5. 3-12, there are some noteworthy differences. There is an addition of a strong tone of curse and condemnation against the non-disciples (vv. 24-26). 8.      A disciple will be blessed with immense recompense on account of his fidelity. The ingredients of this rewarded bliss will be: becoming rich gaining the kingdom of heaven itself, being satiated and filled by God Himself, being consoled and comforted, and being honoured and credited in God’s sight. 9.      But on the other hand, misery awaits those who follow the world and not the Lord: desolation and discomfort for the rich, hunger and deprivation for those who are full, sorrow and pain for those who enjoy and have fun about, discredit and misery for those who ride in self-glory and cheap popularity and fame Lifeline: Let us not be so short-sighted being caught up with what is present and temporary. Let us wisely steer ourselves to be focused on and oriented to the eternal future (Reflection 2) Thrust: Blessed are you! Indicative: We will be blessed if we follow the beatitudes. We will be cursed if we go against them. This blessedness demands a singular focus and undivided heart toward God 1.      Today’s word of God invites us to be kingdom-oriented and heaven-directed and not world-engrossed and earth-bound. In the first reading from 1 Corinthians, St Paul exhorts them to be singularly focused on the life to come, whether it is the virgins unmarried or the married. Each one, according to their state of life and duties must conduct themselves not to be too much entangled with worldly affairs. 2.      In the gospel, again it is a call to be kingdom-oriented. We must strive to live by the values of the kingdom and thus obtain it. It means following the beatitudes. These are the norms of the kingdom of God. Thereby one becomes blessed. But it does not exempt one from affliction or persecution.  But they will surely receive the heavenly reward if they persevere in their fidelity. 3.      The ways of the blessed are a sharp contrast to the ways of the world. The former is marked by poverty, hunger, mourning, and persecution, all for God’s sake and His kingdom. These are something despicable and undesirable according to the world. Instead, the ways of the world are marked by riches, fullness, and a great reputation. 4.      But their fate and result will be reversed in the sight and judgment of God. The poor for God will be made rich with the possession of God’s kingdom itself. The hungry will be satisfied. The weeping shall be gladdened and the hated, excluded, calumniated, and persecuted will be rewarded beyond measure. 5.      On the other hand, those who are totally immersed in the needless anxieties of the world will have an ignominious fate and judgment by God. Desolation, hunger, mourning, and disgrace will be their end result. Their riches will not save them from desolation. They are truly cursed. Imperative: Let us not be easily deceived by the apparent and temporary pleasures and gratifications of the world. Let us assess everything and live according to the parameters of the kingdom 16 SEPTEMBER 2023: 1 TIM 1. 15-17; LUKE 6. 43-49   Punch line: Tree, known by its fruits! Guideline: Good words are good but they will fall shallow and inadequate when they do not become good actions   1.      We are living in a world where many people try to impress others with very fine words. But these words are not implemented in good actions. These may sound nice. They also loudly call out, "Lord, Lord". But they do not do what say or hear. 2.      In fact, these are like those who build their house on the ground without a foundation. When the floods, rains and winds hit it, it will collapse because its standing is very weak and peripheral. On the other hand, those who hear the word and follow it are like those who build the house on a firm foundation of rock. Whatever the fierce force of floods, rains or winds, the house remains steady. 3.      Therefore, words alone do not suffice. They must be testified in actions. It is like a tree bearing good fruits. Every tree is known and judged by its fruits. A good tree must bear good fruits. No good tree can bear bad fruits, nor a bad tree bear good fruit. If a good tree fails to bear fruits, then it has failed in its very nature of abundant fruitfulness. Similarly, if a bad tree claims to bear good fruits, then there is falsity and hypocrisy. 4.      Now, the important point is, whether we are built on a deep foundation of rock, or without a foundation simply on the ground. Do we remain deep and well-rooted in God? Do we build ourselves on the solid foundation of faith? Do we stand strong and persevering when adversities and unfavourable situations assail us? 5.      Further, referring to the image of tree and fruits, we ought to be good trees and bear abundant fruits. We can prove ourselves as good trees only when we bear the abundant fruits of good actions. If so, why do we not grow as good trees? Are we really striking our roots in the Lord? Do we diligently take care of the tree of our life to grow well and become fruitful?   Lifeline: The mere beauty or space of a building does not make it lasting and durable. It is the firmness of its foundation. A tree is good or bad depending on whether it produces an abundance of good fruits. Are we productive and fruit-bearing?   (Reflection 2)   Thrust: Build strong and bear good fruits! Indicative: We are not idolators but the worshippers of true God. If so, then our life should be built on Him. And we must be doers of God’s will and thus produce abundant good fruits 1.      We are children of God and disciples of Christ. But how to prove it? This must be shown in our life. Mere words of prayer and praise, calling Him ‘Lord, Lord’ will not suffice. What we hear and say must be translated into concrete actions. There are many who say and hear many things about God and spirituality but they do not follow them in their real life. 2.      These are like the one who builds his house simply on the ground without a foundation. It cannot stand strong and long. When a little difficulty strikes against it, they easily stumble and fall. Instead, we must be true disciples who not only hear the Word but also practice it. They are like the one who builds his house on a foundation of rock. No amount of floods and streams of difficulties shall shake it. 3.      Our foundation is the true God. Being well-founded on a rock-like faith in God, we should build our life resistant and strong against all the possible counter-forces. We must remain firm and unshaken. Further, like good trees, we should bear abundantly good fruits. Claiming to be good trees, we cannot fail to bear good fruits, and neither can we bear bad fruits.   Imperative: The authenticity of our life and faith is ultimately a matter of steadfastness and fruitfulness. The more we remain firm and bear fruits in abundance, the more we are authentic and effective.