III WEEK DAYS OF LENT 24

04 - 09 MARCH 2024, HOLY MASS REFLECTIONS 04 MARCH 2024: 2KGS 5. 1-15a; LUKE 4. 24-30   Focus: Not mere allegiance! Indicative: Faith is not necessarily a matter of how long a person belongs to a particular religion or how well he follows its rules and traditions. It is a matter of belonging to God and following His will and precepts   1.      In today’s word of God, the central theme is faith. The faith of a certain Naaman, a Syrian army chief with leprosy brings him healing through the prophet Elisha. In contrast, the lack of faith of the chosen Jews of Jesus’ time brings them God’s judgment 2.        The contrast is striking: Naaman listens even to the advice of his servant girl to approach Elisha for his healing; but the Jews would not listen even to Jesus, the Son of God himself who invites them for inner healing. Naaman goes all the way to meet Elisha. Jesus comes all the way from heaven to meet his people. 3.       At Elisha’s direction, Naaman dips himself seven times in the waters of Jordan and gets completely healed. He becomes a new man. It was not the waters that restored health to him. But it was the power of God through Elisha. And Naaman’s humble faith became an opening to receive this grace 4.       The people of Jesus too were dipped in Jordan in Baptism. But they did not become new. Their self-righteous unfaith closed them to reject God’s grace through Jesus. The miracle leads the pagan Naaman to faith in Yahweh and he confesses, “Behold, I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel”. On the contrary, numerous miracles by Jesus would not strengthen the faith of Jesus’ people 5.       Jesus tries to make the people aware of this contrast so that they would repent and return to God in faith. In fact, God enters into human lives so as to raise them up to heaven and to eternal life. 6.       But they become all the more stubborn and hostile; they drive him out and try to kill him, by throwing him down the cliff.   Imperative: Faith is not merely believing some doctrines and observing some religious practices. True faith is being humble and trustful to go near to the Lord, being close to him, and getting healed   (Reflection 2)   Focus: God's grace has no boundaries or barriers. Miracles always happen, if only one has faith   What an interesting contrast between Naaman, a leper in the first reading, and Jesus' own people in the gospel! The pagan believes in the power of God through Elisha. He was an important man ranking as an army commander. He was also a man of great valour.   But he had the humility to listen to his maidservant. He follows her advice to approach the Israel prophet Elisha for his healing from leprosy. Later, once again, he showed the same humility to follow Elisha’s instruction to dip seven times in Jordan, though it appeared silly and nonsensical. His humility and faith bring him the cure for his leprosy. In fact, it is not the Jordan water that cures him, but rather his faith in the words of the prophet.   But, on the other hand, God's own chosen people, the Jews do not believe in Jesus. Though Son of God, he became one of them. They had a long history and tradition of God’s mighty interventions and wonders. But, they refuse to listen to his message, to believe in him, and to change their life. They reject him, even to the extent of attempting to kill him.   Thereby once again it is made very clear that faith is not merely a matter of tradition or inheritance. It calls for a personal choice and decision, and it involves a personal experience. Naaman believes even though what the prophet tells him to do looks baseless.   His openness and trust are rewarded. In contrast, sadly Jesus' own people take him for granted due to their familiarity.  Their perspective is so shallow and superficial that their faith cannot go deeper and beyond the externals like the place, lineage, etc. of Jesus. In consequence, they lose the gift of grace and salvation through Jesus. They deprive themselves of the immense treasure at their own hand.   Direction: God may work miracles to reward and perfect faith. But true faith cannot base itself on miracles. It needs a fundamental choice, openness, orientation, and cooperation.   05 MARCH 2024: DAN 3.25, 34-43; MATTHEW 18. 21-35   Focus: Limitless limit! Indicative: Forgiveness is a golden virtue. One who learns to forgive obtains an immense treasure of God’s mercy and serenity of soul. Forgiveness is never a loss   1.      We live in a world where revenge and retaliation are glorified. They are regarded as signs of manliness and guts. Consequently, we find so much negativity and animosity leading to violence and destruction. On the other hand, forgiveness and reconciliation are considered signs of weakness and timidity 2.       In such a context, Jesus teaches us the need and value of forgiveness. To forgive is divine because it forms the very nature of God. God’s essence is mercy and forgiveness. He is merciful to us beyond conditions and measures. That is why the first reading from Daniel says, “Do not withdraw your mercy from us”; “Deal with us in your forbearance and in your abundant mercy” 3.       As the children of a merciful God and as disciples of a forgiving Master, we must imitate and resemble them in forgiving others. Forgiving others is the essential trait and way of belonging to God and sharing in His own nature. It also becomes the condition to receive God’s forgiveness to us 4.       This means that we experience the effects of God’s forgiveness only to the extent that we forgive others. Our forgiving others should be without measures like God’s forgiving us. That is why Jesus tells Peter, “Forgive, not seven times, but seventy times seven”. 5.       We forgive others not because they deserve it but because we must give it. The king in the gospel parable forgives the servant who owes a huge sum not because he deserved it but because he needed it. 6.       Seeking forgiveness from God and others requires humility and repentance. That is why, the people pray, “With a contrite heart and a humble spirit may we be accepted”. Giving forgiveness to others requires fraternity and nobility.   Imperative: The spirit of forgiveness in humility and nobility will open to us streams of God’s mercy and serenity. It can be a great embalming balm to heal many wounds and restore relationships   (Reflection 2)   Focus: God readily forgives even a multitude of sins, if only one repents with a contrite heart and humble spirit. He keeps no account or count of our wrongs because his mercies are uncountable   God is abundant in His mercy and prompt in His forgiveness. He does not see the magnitude of sin but the depth of repentance. He forgives us, not because we are worthy of it, but only because we need it. There is no measure for his forgiveness because His mercy is immeasurable.   This is what Jesus implies when he tells Peter to “forgive the other not only seven times but seventy times seven”. The matter is not the number or the frequency of forgiveness, that is, how many times or how often to forgive.   Rather, the point is the immensity of it, that is, how willingly, promptly, and unreservedly to forgive. God’s forgiveness is unconditioned and incalculable. This is what Azariah (Abednego) makes clear in his prayer in the book of Daniel.   He pleads for God’s mercy to forgive His people’s sins, not on the basis of their merit, but only on the basis of His mercy and the fidelity of their forefathers. All that they have is a contrite heart and a humble spirit to seek His forgiveness.   But once forgiven, we must try to become worthy of it. How? By seeking earnestly to follow His ways. Concretely, it demands to show the same spirit of forgiveness towards others. Further, it also should be like God's forgiveness, which is abundant and uncalculating.   It is not fair and also highly detestable before God if we refuse to forgive others while we receive immensely God's forgiveness. To forgive is not an option at our convenience, but it is a bounden duty. As we give, we must give, lest our fate too will be the same as the servant in the gospel who is forgiven much but refuses to forgo a little.   Direction: Repentance in humility is the compulsory prerequisite for receiving God's forgiveness. And forgiving others in charity becomes the compulsory sign and testimony of the effect of that grace 06 MARCH 2024: DEUT 4. 1, 5-9; MATTHEW 5. 17-19   Focus: Not the letter but the spirit! Indicative: Fidelity to law means to understand the spirit of the law, its purpose and the goal of it, and do the actions according to it   1.      There is always a desire and pursuit for greatness both individually and collectively as nations and people. This is something common and natural. But real greatness is often reduced only to the material and social aspects, in terms of possessions and positions. 2.       It is here that the first reading from Deuteronomy clarifies that true greatness is in being wise and understanding, saying, “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people”. Now, this greatness as wisdom and understanding is further elaborated. 3.       It is having God so near and close. It is having statutes and rules that are righteous. It is keeping our souls diligently lest they depart from our hearts. It is keeping them and doing them faithfully. Further, it is teaching others also and making them follow the same 4.       This is real greatness and wisdom. Greatness is not throwing away the laws and rules but rather wisely understanding their spirit and fulfilling them. Thus, we become great not by the abolition of the law but by the perfection of it. 5.       Jesus announces clearly: “I have come not to abolish the law but to fulfil and perfect it”. “Whoever follows the least of the commandments and teaches others to do so, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven” 6.       Many have a wrong perspective toward laws and rules. Often greatness and freedom are equated with despisal of the laws. Following the law is not servitude to laws. Fidelity to law is not always the same as legalism. In the same way, lawlessness is not freedom. 7.       A law is good when it takes and keeps us closer to God, when it helps us for a righteous living, when it makes us follow God’s commandments and ways and when it helps us to teach and guide others the right way.   Imperative: The mindset of the people must change concerning the idea of greatness. It must be removed from its material and worldly sense. It must be understood as a wise and righteous way of living   (Reflection 2)                              Focus: True Freedom is not lawlessness. In fact, true freedom lies in lawful obedience, i.e. adherence to the spirit of the law   Many have a wrong concept and exercise of freedom, and accordingly, they think that to be free means to be free from any and all the laws. They mistake that law is necessarily negative, and subversive, depriving a person of what is his due and rightful.   But this is not correct. Laws are meant to regulate, channel, guide, and orient persons on the right path. For this, they apply a certain extent of restraint and restriction, certain control and limit. The purpose is certainly positive, that is to avoid and guard against all the possible deviations and distortions. Therefore, we must go beyond the mere letter of the law, to the spirit of it, the purpose, and the end of it. In this sense, every good law intends responsible and constructive freedom. The greatest law is love for God and love for the other.   This is manifested in a profound devotion to God and dedication to the other’s good. Thus, a good law aims at an integrated growth of the person. This is what Jesus calls the perfection of the law, the perfect law. To be free does not mean to do away with the laws and rules, but to follow them in the right spirit.   In the name of being flexible, one cannot be over-indulgent. True freedom is not to be undisciplined, irresponsible, or licentious. This is what Moses teaches the people in Deuteronomy that fidelity to follow God’s statutes and ordinances is a sign of their fidelity to God.   They are means of growing in righteousness. Following God’s commandments shows that they are wise and understanding people of God, amidst lawless immorality. This enlightenment is very much needed for the present society, which wrongly equates freedom with rule-free indiscipline.   Direction: There is a harmful thinking of freedom as lawlessness.  But to be truly free is to be law-abiding. The need is not to throw away all rules and regulations, but to inculcate a positive and joyful adherence to them   07 MARCH 2024: JER 7. 23-28; LUKE 11. 14-23   Focus: Stiffened hearts! Indicative: Stubbornness is one big block that hinders openness to truth and acceptance of it. Ignorant people can be taught and wise people as well. But the stiff-necked people are hard to teach, correct and guide   1.      The struggle between God’s unfailing fidelity and people’s recurrent infidelity characterizes the whole salvation history. God was abundantly merciful toward them; worked mighty works in their lives; and blessed them with prosperity and victory. He teaches and guides them through prophets. But repeatedly people become ungrateful, stubborn, disobedient, and unfaithful 2.       This infidelity of people is so vividly described in the first reading from Jeremiah. They did not obey or incline their ear. They stiffened their neck. They did not accept discipline. Truth has perished; it is cut off from their lips. They walked in their own counsels and in the stubbornness of their evil hearts. They were so fluctuating and regressing, going backwards and not forwards 3.       The same stiff-necked and defiant mentality continues in Jesus’ time too. All his teaching and preaching fell on the deaf ears of his people. His mighty miracles fail to evoke in them a positive response. 4.       They not only refuse to believe him, but also constantly trouble and persecute him. They make wrong attributions. They attribute his miracles to a coalition with Satan. They accuse him that he casts out demons by Beezebul, the prince of demons 5.       The people of his time are no different from their predecessors. Little do they realize that good and faith cannot come from Satan who is all evil. They are blind to the truth that every harm and destruction belongs to evil. All that is good, healing, and constructive can come only from God 6.       Jesus cannot expel demons with the help of their leader. Jesus is able to heal not because he works in tie-up with the evil but because he is more powerful than the evil one. Jesus is that stronger one in the gospel 7.       He attacks and overcomes the strong man who is Satan. He takes away his armour and wins back those under the evil’s siege. The healing of the possessed mute man is a clear indicator of this surpassing power of Jesus.   Imperative: Let us not repeat history. Let us not become the descendants of those still-necked people who were so adamant, defiant, and disobedient. Let us hearken to God’s call: “Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people”.   (Reflection 2)   Focus: It is not that God is not active or His grace is not working. God is ever in action and miracles continue to abound. It is only our inability to see Him at work   God’s grace never ceases. He ceaselessly invites the people to come to Him promptly, to relate with Him closely, to listen to Him attentively, and to obey His precepts and directives faithfully. However, the purpose is not to subjugate them in servile obedience. God has no self-interest.   It is all for the well-being and progress of the people. But unfortunately, often He meets with stubbornness in which people refuse to listen, understand and walk God’s ways. They become stiff-necked and stiffly resist God’s call to repent and mend their ways.   This is the experience of God all through the history of salvation, be it Yahweh in the Old Testament or Jesus in the New Testament. Thus, God laments with anguish through the prophet Jeremiah over their fault: They do not obey the voice of the Lord, they do not incline their ear, they do not accept discipline, they walk their own ways, and with stubborn and evil hearts, they go backwards but not forward.   In the gospel too, Jesus meets with the same mentality. Jesus drives out a demon from a dumb man and restores his speech. But instead of recognizing the power of God in Jesus, some people attribute the healing to the power of demons. They accuse him that he is taking the help of the Evil One.   How absurd it is that evil power is defeated by evil power! They demand further signs from heaven. When one is not prepared to see the truth, then which signs or proofs can convince them? This is exactly what God remarks toward the end of the first reading:   Truth has perished; it is cut off from their lips. They are so hard-hearted and closed. Consequently, they fail to see the “finger of God at work” and the coming of the kingdom of God in Jesus.   Direction: Stubbornness, defiance, and disobedience blind one to truth and divine action; they lead one to a spirit of division – divided within oneself, divided against God, and divided against others. They are sure to fall prey to the evil   08 MARCH 2024: HOS 14. 1-9; MARK 12. 28b-34 Focus: From iniquity to Fidelity! Indicative: God's purpose is not to punish us for our wrongdoings however big and frequent they are. Rather He wants our renovation and restoration through repentance and reparation   1.      God constantly invites us to return from our path of iniquity to a consistent practice of fidelity. Once we turn away from evil and return to God, surely He will restore us to renewed dignity and prosperity. 2.      A life of such return is steered by the sole and supreme norm of love: love for God and love for the other. It is a love for God that is total and holistic. It includes all our faculties, energies and capacities. It is a love that is total and entire, “with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our mind and with all our strength”. 3.      There are no fractions or portions, no conditions or concessions. Further, it is a love for others which is like a pure love for the self. All other rules and directives are submerged into this twofold love 4.      The merit of this love-teaching of Jesus is that they are not just put together in one packing, but they are presented as one unified whole. It is a single love that is two-pronged. Thereby it is very clear that both are inseparable: one cannot pretend to practise one and fail in the other. 5.      A heart that loves God wholly would also make space for the other. Similarly, one who loves others cannot but be founded on God and be directed to Him. Now, the fundamental norm for loving God is totality, and no half-measures. 6.      And the norm for loving the other is the measure of self-love, because Jesus exhorts: love your neighbour AS yourself. Here, we need to remember that this self-love is not a self-centred or self-directed love. It is a healthy love for the self 7.      In so far our true self is created in the image and likeness of God, we need to love that real self and strive to rediscover and recapture it. Therefore, this self-love must not be equated with selfish love or self-gratification. It is a pure and productive love 8.      Even in the basic sense also, to love others as one’s own self can mean not to do evil or harm to others, not to lower the due esteem and respect. This twofold love surpasses everything else, even the merely spiritual activities.   Imperative: Love for God and love for others are not mutually exclusive. They are intertwined with each other so much so that each becomes an expression and testimony of the other   (Reflection 2)   Pivot: The best offering! Indicative: God’s love is everlasting and abounding. In response to this, we need to repent and return. Then we will experience the immensity of His blessings   1.      Offerings and sacrifices are part of the worship of every religion. The purpose is not to appease or placate God. It is not a barter system where there is an exchange between prayers-offerings and favours-blessings 2.       Today the gospel makes it clear that there is something more worth than burnt offerings and sacrifices. It is love, which is twofold, for God and others. This does not mean that rituals and offerings are not important or not needed 3.       This only means that this two-pronged love is the highest priority. This is the greatest and first commandment. Nothing else can dominate or substitute this priority. Further, this also implies that all our offerings and ceremonies must be oriented to manifest and foster this double path of love 4.       The more our religious practices become channels of love for God and others, the more they become worth. Loving God is not just following a commandment. It is a fitting response to God’s own loving us. God loves us so much and cares for us so much. 5.       Even though we defect from Him and collapse, He does not reject or abandon us. As soon as we repent and return to Him, He forgives all our iniquities. Not only that. He will bless us doubly with prosperity and joy. 6.       If our loving God becomes an act of gratitude and response to God loving us, our loving others is the expression and effect of loving God. In fact, these two are not separate or opposites. Love for God is the foundation and spring for love for others. Love for others is the outflow and authentication of love for God   Imperative: We will be wise to integrate love for God and love for others. Faith and charity are two sides of the same coin. One cannot be complete without the other   09 MARCH 2024: HOS 6. 1-6; LUKE 18. 9-14   Focus: The bottom line!  Indicative: Humility is not just one of the many virtues but is the base and bottom line of all the other virtues. One who fails in humility fails in all   1.       “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled and whoever humbles himself will be exalted”, so declares Jesus. Clearly, Jesus is teaching us the greatness of humility. He teaches us that only in humility do we find real greatness. Only those who are humble will be great in the sight of God and will be exalted 2.       The parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector is a vivid description of this contrast between lack of humility and humility. The Pharisee represents the lack of humility and the tax collector, humility. The Pharisee is so self-righteous and haughty. Consequently, he fails to recognize his own human sinfulness and unworthiness before a holy God 3.       There is a total unawareness of the holiness of God that must make us humble in His presence. Instead, he glorifies himself before God; he enlists some religious practices as proof of his holiness. Instead of surrendering Himself to God’s mercy, he elevates himself as if there is nothing to correct and change 4.       Though he appears to thank God, it is in fact an indirect thanking himself. He is presumptuous and complacent. He is so self-conceited that he becomes blind to his defects. He is covered by layers of the false self that rates itself as perfect and all better, holier, and greater than others 5.       True to the teaching of Jesus elsewhere, he is a real hypocrite who sees the speck in the other’s eye but does not see the log in his own eye. To the extent he labels, degrades, and despises others as thieves, rogues, adulterers, and good for nothing, he fails thoroughly in charity and benevolence toward others. He does not recognize and respect others’ dignity 6.       The end results are clear: the Pharisee is rejected by God who is displeased with him. But the tax collector is accepted and blessed and rewarded by God who is highly pleased with his humble heart. God does not look at what position we stand on but with what heart we stand before Him.   Imperative: Self-pride and self-glory are the root causes of all evils. They make us blind to our imperfections and contemptuous toward others. Humility and charity are the antidotes   (Reflection 2)   Focus: Humility to repent and steadfastness to be loyal will always win God's favour; Instead, a self-motivated and self-gratifying spirituality is not pleasing to God   God desires love and not mere sacrifices; He is more pleased with the growth in His knowledge rather than the multitude of empty offerings. He wants a devotion that is steadfast and not unstable. He wants a love that is profound and not shallow. He wants a love that is totally God-oriented and not self-oriented.   He wants a love that seeks to glorify God and not to gratify the self. This is what God declares in crystal clear terms in the first reading from prophet Hosea. He is unhappy that people are so opportunist as to seek Him in their time of trouble.   They turn to Him so as to take advantage of His indulgent benevolence. They are not steady, because their love is like a morning cloud and like the fast vanishing dew. This becomes clear all through the Salvation history.   The Pharisee's prayer in the gospel is not pleasing to God and not accepted by Him, because it is full of self, self-righteousness, self-complacency, and self-glory. There is no humble admission of his own unworthiness. There is no sense of gratitude to God, dependence on Him, and closeness with Him. There is no submission to God. There is no fraternal feeling toward the other in respect and benevolence   Instead, the tax collector's prayer is readily accepted by God, because it springs from a contrite heart and humble spirit. He deeply acknowledges his sinfulness and freely surrenders to God   The Pharisee informs God about how great he is. But the tax collector is aware of how great God is, and how small and unworthy he is. By physical position, the Pharisee stands so close to the altar, but actually, he is far away from God’s mercy. Instead, the publican stands so far off the altar, but really, he is so close to God by heart.   Direction: We go to God and we pray, not to inform or give Him new knowledge about our greatness or judge others how bad they are. No prayer is heard when it lacks charity and is prejudiced despising others