10th WEEK DAYS MASS REFLECTION OF THE YEAR 24

10 - 15 JUNE 2024, HOLY MASS REFLECTIONS 10 JUNE 2024: 1 KINGS 17. 1-6; MATTHEW 5. 1-12 Focus: We are destined for blessedness and the only way to obtain such bliss is to follow the way of the Lord. A life of happiness is a way of godliness and goodness 1. In today's gospel, we have the famous Sermon on the Mount of Jesus with the solemn Beatitudes. They are beatitudes because their end is bliss and happiness. They are the confirmed means to attain such bliss. 2. They are not merely some religious teaching or spiritual doctrine but they are fundamental human principles to follow. They are not only some guidelines to apply or some useful ways of doing, but much more essential modes of being. 3. They are in fact a total contrast to the standards and ways of the world. They are considered as "devalues", "inabilities" and "inadequacies" in the sight of the world. So, certainly, they are a "difficult lot" to follow. 4. But they alone are the royal and noble means to be happy and blessed: be poor - humble of spirit, be sensitive to others' pain, be patient during suffering, be gentle, be meek, be merciful, be guileless and pure of heart, be peace-loving and peace-promoting, be hungry and thirsty for good and righteousness, be loyal, persevering and committed to God. 5. Follow this mode of being and surely you will experience a bliss that is profound, authentic and lasting. In the first reading, Elijah lived this “blessed” mode of being a man, a prophet of God, obeying God’s voice and doing His will. That is why he was fed miraculously and later became a blessing of abundance for the widow of Zarephath. “The jar of flour was not spent and the jug of oil did not become empty”. Direction: True happiness is not the absence of suffering. It does not come from mere avoidance and escape from affliction. Rather, true happiness comes from standing and suffering for God and good, through the path of beatitudes (Reflection 2) Pivot: God who encourages! Indicative: It is true that in our life we have situations that discourage us. But today we are encouraged by the fact that our God is always a God of encouragement 1. In our present times, disappointment and discouragement are quite rampant. No one is exempt from this, whether poor or rich, clever or uneducated, high status or low. Many lose a sense of meaning and happiness in life because of discouragement. 2. What are the causes and reasons for this sense of discouragement? Discouragement is due to the experience of failure, especially failure in getting what is expected or due. Thus this failure is often connected to material or intellectual inadequacy or social standing concerning power and position. 3. But as people of faith and depth, the root cause for all discouragement is a lack of deep faith in God. This may look simply spiritualizing. But this is the fact. When we are not strong in faith, we will be easily discouraged. 5. The beatitudes in the gospel are the most concrete and authentic means and expressions of encouragement. All these mandates or norms are demanding and certainly, lead to situations of affliction in the world because the world has a different set of norms and means. 6. But those who follow the beatitudes obtain God’s greatest encouragement in the form of blessedness and eternal life itself. They are not just self-confined individual gains. They become integrally altruistic. 7. The encouragement of God that encourages those who follow his beatitudes overflows to others to encourage them in their afflictions. Imperative: The world of today that suffers under the yoke of discouragement needs the relieving and healing touch of Christ. And we are to be those channels through the beatitudes 11 JUNE 2024: ACTS 11. 21b-26; 13.1-3; MATTHEW 10- 7-13, ST BARNABAS Indicative: The kingdom of God is at hand. So we need to join our hands to promote it. It is not an option but an obligation. We are sent and are on a mission 1. Today we keep the memory of Saint Barnabas. He was so prominent in the early church in the spread of the faith, at times almost on par with the apostles. He is reported as a "good man, full of Holy Spirit and faith", "set apart by the Holy Spirit" for specific missions, and who "rejoiced over the working of God's grace and encouraged others to remain steadfast in the firmness of heart". 2. Quite rightly, he receives the mission mandate of Jesus in the gospel and accomplishes it. He does not acquire gold, silver or copper. He carries no bag. Neither does he hold two tunics or sandals or staff. This implies that he is not attached to worldly possessions. He is not greedy and does not accumulate worldly things. He does not depend on them as a means of security and guarantee. 3. In season and out of season, he went on proclaiming the gospel of Christ. He was undaunted and undeterred even amidst all trials and persecutions. As in the case of the other Apostles, nothing could intimidate him or reduce his spirit and dedication. 4. Steered by the power of the risen Lord and the light of the Holy Spirit, he went on “healing the sick, raising the dead, cleansing the lepers, and casting out demons”. Perhaps, special miracles by him may not be reported. But certainly, he was transmitting inner, spiritual healing; he was cleansing the hearts with repentance; driving out the evil forces and thus raising others to a new life of Christ, a renewed being in the mould of Christ. 5. This is the same portrait of any true disciple and apostle of Christ. We need to be personally close to the Lord and passionately love him. We need to be full of the Holy Spirit. We too should be docile to be set apart by the Holy Spirit for the mission of the Lord. We must be aglow with zeal and charity to encourage and strengthen others as well in the love and service of the Master. Imperative: The life of many has become very dishonest and inauthentic. The mission too has become cold and lethargic. The only reason is that the fire of love and loyalty for God and the flames of fraternity and charity are dwindling. 12 JUNE 2024: 1 KINGS 18. 20-39; MATTHEW 5. 17-19 Indicative: Ultimately true faith is not merely a matter of having and knowing great laws and traditions. It is not just belonging to religion but being religious and obeying God’s will 1. Very many times, faith is identified with allegiance to a religious group and adherence to a code of laws and religious observances. In this process, many are easily caught up with the mere externals and carried away by shallow passions, prejudices, and hateful actions toward others. That is why in the name of the very God who is always kind and never harmful, many religious followers become fanatical and destructive. This is a contradiction! 2. It is here that Jesus makes it clear what true faith and religious adherence are. It is not blind allegiance or stubborn subscription to the laws and tradition. It is not ill-directed fanatical zeal. It is not a puritan or policing attitude toward others. It is also not an arrogant self-projection as the “saviours” of God himself. 3. True faith is faithfulness. But mind! Faithfulness is not merely to some rules and regulations, distorted to suit human convenience. It is faithfulness to God, a God who is never violent or condemnatory or revengeful toward anyone. It is faithfulness to the true spirit of religion, the kingdom of God. 4. Jesus clearly cautions that “whoever relaxes/twists even one of the least of the commandments and misleads others also will be the least in the kingdom of heaven”. It is this fidelity to the true God that filled the prophet Elijah in the first reading with a passion to challenge the priests of Baal and call them for a contest. 5. The contest between Elijah and Baal’s prophets should not be understood as a “test of true religion” or a fight between religions. In no way, Elijah can be wrongly interpreted in line with the fanatics. Defeating the false prophets and the false god Baal and eventually killing them is not a justification for the so-called “just killings” for God. 6. The contest is a clear call to leave the false ways and immorality in the name of religion and to return to the true God. It is a call to avoid our wavering and unsteady nature. Elijah speaks of this as “the limping between two different opinions”, referring to Israel’s oscillating between true God and false images. Imperative: Many do not realise that the hatred and violence that they instigate and propagate in the name of safeguarding and honouring God is in fact dishonouring God and defeating His sacred designs. No religion is religious if it is harmful to others! (Reflection 2) Focus: True humility realizes that all our competence is from God. Therefore, no one can claim to be competent through human codes or traditions, but only in the Spirit Greatness is what everyone aspires and strives for. To desire and seek to be great in itself is not wrong. But, how one wants to be great, and what means are employed to acquire that greatness – this is the real issue. Many seek greatness by recourse to worldly things such as money, power, position etc. But, Jesus in the gospel teaches us what real greatness is and how to attain it. To be really great is to be rated great not in the sight of the world but in the sight of God. The way to such greatness is to follow the commandments of God and also to teach and guide others to follow the same. Thus, following the commandments alone is the criterion that decides whether we are great or not. To follow the law does not mean to be legalistic and rigid. It is to understand and assimilate the spirit of the law. It is to be faithful to the spirit of the law. It is to act according to the Spirit. It is to seek all our competence from God. It is to be His competent ministers of a new covenant. When one goes beyond the mere letter of the law and performs actions according to the spirit of the law, it is not breaching the law but perfecting and fulfilling it. This is what Jesus always did: he was only perfecting and accomplishing the law, which apparently was violating the law. Seen from the perspective of fidelity to God's love and adherence to God's will, all the Laws and directives will no longer be burdensome restrictions or curtailing retrenchments. Rather, they become facilitators toward perfection. Direction: Freedom of the Spirit is not equivalent to lawlessness, callousness or indulgence but is the perfect following of God's precepts. 13 JUNE 2024: 1 KINGS 18. 41-46; MATTHEW 5. 20-26, ST ANTHONY OF PADUA Indicative: The test of fidelity is not the show of strength of faith. In other words, fidelity does not consist in the number of religious rules or miracles but in humble surrender and obedience to God’s will 1. Anyone who is a little religious-minded will surely aspire to enter the kingdom of heaven. And today Jesus clarifies once again how to enter there. It is not by a show and display of the greatness of faith through some activities or practices. It is only through a humble surrender and obedience to God’s will and ways. 2. Elijah can be indicative of this spirit. Certainly, he was well-acclaimed and a “powerful” man of God, demonstrating the awesome power of God. He defeated and terminated the priests of false Baal. He shut up the skies from rain causing drought and again he opens up the heavens to rain. 3. But, all through he remains open and obedient to God’s directions. We read, “Elijah went up to the top of Mount Carmel”. This indicates the meeting with God, going into His presence. “And he bowed himself down on the earth and put his face between his knees”. This shows his humility and surrender. 4. God is not pleased with an attitude of pomp and great bearing. What pleases Him is only a humble attitude that goes beyond the mere letter of the law to the spirit of it. It goes deep beyond the skin-deep. It goes to the essential beyond the superficial. It goes to the centre beyond the peripheral. It goes to the maximum beyond the bare minimums. 5. That is why Jesus states, “Unless your virtue and righteousness exceeds that of the Pharisees and scribes, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven”. He also explains in simple contrasts. One may avoid physical murder but psychological killing through anger, insult, and hurt is much more grievous. One may offer great gifts but they will be futile when there is no self-offering, no heart of peace and reconciliation. 6. St Anthony was such a humble and noble soul. He remained intimate with Jesus. He always obeyed and did God’s will. He was passionately committed to God’s mission by his sanctity and fidelity. Let us not only seek favours from him, but also imbibe something of his spirit, especially something of his intimacy with the Lord, something of zeal and depth for sharing God's Word and good word from his eloquent and powerful preaching and something of regaining and recuperating our lost spirit from his special gift for restoring the lost. Imperative: It is not enough to follow the external rules and rubrics. The rituals and offerings that we do must bring about an interior change and renewal. To be truly religious is to be deeply righteous (Reflection 2) Focus: To be really committed means to be deeply convinced of what is right and to put in the best and the maximum "Unless your virtue surpasses that of the Pharisees and scribes, you shall not enter the kingdom of God", so clearly announces Jesus. The virtue of the Pharisees and scribes was skin-deep, very shallow, and peripheral. It was not going beyond the written rules and traditions. It was not penetrating into the depth of heart and sincerity of devotion. They were satisfied with mere meticulous observance of the precepts. They were not bothered about the living of their purpose. Their main botheration was to follow the letter and not the spirit. Accordingly, they may not kill physically but kill psychologically with mental harassment, character assassination, angry outbursts, and offensive and insulting words. They may offer great sacrifices to God but with hearts filled with grudges and retaliatory spirit. Such devotion and life are not pleasing to God. Instead, a true follower of Christ is expected to look for the maximum, going beyond the minimums. They are called to nurture constantly a respectful and non-judgmental attitude, a spirit of gentleness and patience, and an approach to peace and reconciliation. This was truly the spirit and culture of St Anthony of Padua! Direction: In a culture of bare minimums and dry obligations, the followers of Christ are summoned to do the maximums, and to be passionately committed. It is to see and walk with unveiled faces, radiating the light of Christ 14 JUNE 2024: 1 KINGS 19. 9, 11-16; MATTHEW 5. 27-32 Indicative: God's presence is not necessarily in the spectacular display or extraordinary show of might, but can be in small little things of life 1. Elijah discovers God's Presence not in heavy wind, nor in the earthquake nor in a fire but in a gentle whisper. We need to get accustomed to this way of God's presence and intervention in our life. Usually, we expect Him to display His power in a mighty impressive way. We want God to come to our rescue as soon as we make a prayer. We want “fast reliefs”, and “magical results”. 2. Success and effectiveness are mostly linked with big impressions, mighty displays, and lots of recognition and applause. This is truly a “show culture”, seeking publicity and cheap popularity. The same mentality is reflected toward God as well. We want Him to show His power in a mighty way by “heavy wind or earthquake or fire”. 3. What is needed is to cultivate a sensitive spirit that is susceptible to even simple details of life. God comes to us, in simple ways, through ordinary details. Often, He walks amidst us unnoticed, He speaks to us unattended, and He accompanies us unobserved. 4. Like Elijah, we too may shelter ourselves in our “caves” of either depressed or bloated selves. The Lord tells us as He told him, “Go, return on your way”. He has to continue his mission! We cannot evade our simple tasks expecting always big interventions. 5. This sensitivity and attendance to the simpleness of life imply that we be conscious and cautious about the gravity of sin. The gravity of sin is not so much in terms of big sin or small sin. It is also not simply whether you keep or don’t keep the law. For instance, one may perfectly keep the law by not committing the act of adultery. But he may be so lustful. 6. Therefore, sin is more a matter of interior purity and a holy desire and resolve not to displease God. It is a matter of spiritual wholeness. It is in this context we must understand Jesus' words: a lustful eye is as grievous as physical adultery; divorce is abominable because it is infidelity to the marital inseparability; losing physical limbs is better than subjecting them to sin and being liable to judgment. Imperative: In life, often the problem is the lack of clarity of priorities. It is foolish to worry about physical fitness or wholeness, while one loses "spiritual fitness" and heavenly bliss 15 JUNE 2024: 1 KINGS 19. 19-21; MATTHEW 5. 33-37 Focus: God calls us in our own given situations, but once called, both our situation and also the situation of others will change 1. Truthfulness and faithfulness are the hallworks of a true follower of Christ. The custom of Swearing must be seen in this context. Apparently, swearing seems quite useful in convincing the other and providing a sense of assurance. 2. Thus it appears as an expression of firmness and trust. But if we reflect a little deep, we see that it can convey the contrary. It implies a lack of honesty, truthfulness and credibility. We are not so sure that we cannot be counted as reliable by our own selves. 3. Therefore, we call upon other factors like God God or God's grace, temple or altar etc. Swearing indirectly implies there is inadequate self-responsibility and the weightage of persuasion is shifted onto these other reliables. The concern is not so much keeping the oath or breaking it, but rather fostering a consistent sense of self-responsibility, reliability, and truthfulness 4. It is better to develop this sense of self-responsibility and truthfulness. These increase trustworthiness. These are essential for any mission. Elisha is bestowed with the grace of succession after Elijah because God finds him trustworthy to continue His mission. Direction: It is only truthfulness and trustworthiness that can stand us countable and reliable in the sight of God and others.