THE STRONGEST MUSCLE OF OUR BODY

*The Strongest Muscle in our Body…* 

–One of our bodies strongest muscle; if used thoughtlessly, can create a huge struggle in our lives. Biceps nor triceps; it’s our Tongues that can hurt or make amends.

–Words are very powerful. They can cut through our hearts and lungs. Remember, you may be great at eloquence and persuasiveness; but pause, think, speak, should be the sequence before you utter anything that comes to your tongue.

–Do not hurt another person, even if they have caused a grave upheaval in your life. Before you open your mouth to give him or her your choicest outbursts, just silence your mind and think whether it will serve any good to anyone.

–Let not anger, pride or ego take over your senses. The consequences are very dangerous. It can harm you for life and you can lose your family and friends forever.  The key is to learn to forgive and not carry any guilt whatsoever.

–It’s of utmost importance to use this muscle of our body, but one must use it with great care. Once your words are said, you can never take them back because they are like a bullet that you can compare them with.

Expand Love. Make watering your seeds of Happiness a daily practice. Feel a peaceful joy inside, your words will then only Reflect Love. The Universe is taking care of everything that is there.

WHAT IS LOVE?

*What Is Love..?* 

Love is when my mom kisses me, hugs me and says ‘My darling baby you are one in a million.’

Love is when you come back from work and your wife says, ‘You are looking very tired today. You must have a rough day. I have kept your bath of warm water and clothes ready. There is nice and hot food for you.’

Love is when your brother says, ‘Brother do not take any kind of tension, I am always there with you. Please  do confide in me and I will never leave you.’

Love is when you are moodless and your sister says, ‘Come brother, we will go and have a nice quiet walk or go out for a great time.’

Love is when your best friend hugs you and says, ‘You know friend, I cannot stay a minute without you. I am missing you so much. Everything seems to be very boring.’

Love is when your kids tell you when you go to wake them up, ‘We love you, mom and dad in between kissing us all over. You are the best parents in the world.’

Love is when you say a prayer to God, ‘Thank you God, for everything. Make us love you more and more, make others happy and find real happiness in caring and giving through selfless service.

These are some of the best moments of love, don’t miss them in life. Love is not only having a boyfriend or girlfriend. Love is for everyone and everything……

"Real love is not based on romance, candle light dinners, and walks along the beach. It is based on respect, compromise, care, and trust."

You are not everyone's favourite ringtone..

*Not Everyone Is Your Cup Of Tea!* 

Some people are not your blend or do not have the right taste.

–Some people are strong, while others are quite weak.

–Some are fruity, bubbly and friendly.

–Some are bitter, jealous or plain judgmental.

–Some are shy or fearful. They do not want to mix with anyone.

–Some may be brave and noble. They would go all out to assist many people who are wanting their help in times of difficulties.

–Some may be loving and kindhearted. These are the people one can rely on at all times.

–Some people are not grateful for what they have got in life. They always crib and cry for little, little things.

Everyone’s taste is different. No two people are similar to each other.

–If people are not your blend of tea, move on and wish them well.  Do not argue or feel hatred towards them.  It’s completely fine to leave them when you think it is a burden for your own good.

–Forgive and forget is the key to happiness.  So, forgive those who have hurt you.  It is best for your own peace of mind.

–Keep the ones you like and enjoy their company. Drop all your defenses with them and have a time of your life. They will understand your true feelings.

The right taste will keep you filling your cup every moment with joy and happiness every single day.

A good CUPPA is meant to make everything better, not bitter.

Let us all learn to blend together lovingly and joyfully leaving all differences and hostility forever in the CUPPA OF TEA.  Be kind and caring with each and every one we meet on our journey and remember all the wonderful memories and sweet people who have made our life so beautiful and attractive.

"You are not every one's cup of tea. Don't try to convince them to walk with you on your path. Just wave them along... Because you cannot be everyone's favourite ringtone.. That's ok.. " *Kahi Ankahi Bat*

3-8 August 2020, MASS REFLECTION

03 – 08 AUGUST 2020, HOLY MASS REFLECTIONS

03 AUGUST 2020: JEREMIAH 28. 1-17; MATTHEW 14. 22-36

Focus: Fear is nothing unnatural or uncommon, and one need not feel bad about fears in life. But what is important is to be aware of the kind of fears, detect the reasons for them, and try to face them

In life, there are different kinds of fears and no one is exempted from them. The reasons and causes can be many and varied. It is nothing unnatural and uncommon. It is not necessarily a sign of lack of strength or character. One should become aware of them and see how to confront and overcome them. But an exaggerated dose of fear easily slips into falsity, pretension and hypocrisy. Consequently, one may tend to please others, make a cover up to suppress and hide one’s legitimate fears, make a show before others of his greatness. This can eventually also distort the truth and nurture a false self. This is what happens in the case of the false prophet Hananiah in the first reading. His sole intention is to please the people with what is positive and promising. So he is totally blind to the will and plan of God. While God wants to chastise His people for their infidelity, the false prophet raises false hopes in the people that God is going to break the yoke of slavery and set the people free. This false prophet is afraid to acknowledge and communicate the truth of God’s plan and His displeasure with the sinfulness of the people. He is afraid to face the displeasure and annoyance of the people. In the gospel too, Peter is afraid of the waves. His confidence in Jesus and his supporting nearness is dominated by the immediate and temporary force of the strong winds. It is in this context, Jesus announces the most promising and consoling words: “Fear not; take heart, it is I”

Direction: Instead of pretending to appear free from any fears or disturbances in life, it is better to diagnose and remedy those fears and the best medicine is trusting and surrendering to God

04 AUGUST 2020: JEREMIAH 30. 1-2, 12-15, 18-22; MATTHEW 14. 22-36 OR 15. 1-2, 10-14, MEMORY OF ST JOHN MARY VIANNEY

Focus: Often people give too much importance to the mere externals and neglect the interior and the entirety of life. What is important is to live a whole and wholesome life

In the first reading, God makes it very clear that no sin, no unfaithfulness shall go unaccounted. Repeatedly, people are subjected to slavery or exile or calamity, different experiences of misery and affliction. But it is not a sign of God’s cruelty or hard heart. In fact, He never ceases to offer them chances for repentance and return. He never ceases to promise them of revived fortunes and restoration. People are often misled and carried away by the mere external factors and fail to look at the interior, the interior purity, the surrender of one’s heart to God. The Israelites in the OT and the Jews in Jesus’ time presumed that their mere external belonging to God as His chosen people and race, their external practice of some religious precepts and traditions would win them God’s favour. That is why, Jesus clarifies to them that nothing of these can substitute for the internal purity and hearty devotion to God. They are not substitutes but complements and propellers. It is in such a world that is bruised, affected by sin and desperation that John Mary Vianney comes as a ray of hope and a soothing remedy. His whole life was one of depth and interiority, fidelity and availability, devotion and dedication. He never ceased to draw the people closer to God, he was never tired of giving the people the taste of God’s forgiveness and reconciliation through his availability at the confessional round the clock, even 16 hours a day. He was never carried away by the external pressures of the world but always nurtured a profound sense of loyalty and surrender to God. He always sought God’s holy will and engaged himself to please Him alone. This is the right way of a priest of God and the timely need of our times.

Direction: As long as people allow their eyes to be so easily distracted and wander aimlessly by every little external appeal and gratification, they can never be healed of their wounds and be restored to perfect health and sanity. They need to be a little more focused and concentrated on the interior, the purity of heart

05 AUGUST 2020: JEREMIAH 31. 1-7; MATTHEW 15. 21-28

Focus: At times, the negative and unpleasant experiences in life may make us feel that God is not concerned and caring toward us, that He has abandoned us to our fate, that He is punishing us for our iniquities due to our human fragility. But it is not true

True it is that we annoy, pain and vex God so often. It is also true that time and again God seems to be fed up with us, and thus pronouncing His anger and condemnation. But what is notable is that He wants to destroy the sin in the sinner and not the sinner with sin. That is why, His mercy and compassion always overwhelm and surpass His judgment and justice. He never stops to own up His people. How heartening it is to hear: I will be your God and you will be my people. He never stops to rejuvenate the drooping spirits of His people with promise and assurance of abundant prosperity. Jesus’ benevolent healing of the daughter of the Canaanite woman in the gospel is a clear indicator of this whole drama of God’s justice and mercy. Initially he seems to be very indifferent and stern and even offensive in his remark that it is not proper to throw the children’s food to the dogs. This offence is not necessarily directed to the individual woman. This can be directed to any and all of us. He wants to feed us all as His own children at His royal table with His abundant graces. But we want to be satisfied only with the scraps that fall from the table like a dog. It can be symbolic of the quite natural feeling of God whether He is needlessly throwing away the children’s food to the dogs. He owns us up as His own, as His own children, but are we behaving like dogs without dignity and bonding? This hurting reaction can also be a test for her faith, whether she can persevere in her faith even amidst offence and disrespect. Our faith may be tested but never rejected. The woman’s faith is rewarded and her possessed daughter is freed from the demon.

Direction: When will we grow in such a humble and persevering faith that which trusts in Jesus’ mercy and not in our merit, that which remains firm even in discouraging moments?

06 AUGUST 2020: DANIEL 7. 9-10, 13-14; 2 PETER 1. 16-19; MATTHEW 17. 1-9: FEAST OF THE TRANSFIGURATION OF THE LORD

Focus: Glory is our destiny and transfiguration is the way. Let us not be upset at the fact of misery but always raise our hearts to the destiny of glory by constant transfigured life, transformed heart

1. Jesus is transfigured on Mount Tabor in the presence of 3 of his disciples. It is not a display of self-glory but a manifestation of his true identity. It is not to impress them but to confirm them in faith. His glory is not partial but total, both interior and exterior, as indicated by the glow of face and clothes respectively. The experience of divine glory is so relishing, as indicated by Peter’s exclamation: “it is nice to be here; let us make three tents”.

Jesus’ transfiguration points to our own transfiguration, being adorned with divine glory. This is possible through a constant integral transformation of our both interior and exterior, by attentive listening and adhering to the Lord.

2. The event of Jesus' transfiguration is a manifestation of his original divinity, identity and glory. The purpose is not to display his glory, not to impress upon the three disciples his greatness. It is not self-directed, seeking self-glory. Rather, it serves as a fount of hope that prepares and strengthens the disciples, in the face of the cross and death of Jesus ahead. The transfigured glory of Jesus illumines and assures the disciples that Jesus who meets the fate of cross, is not a helpless failure, forced to such a miserable end; rather he is the glorious Son of God, who willingly and freely accepts cross as God's will for salvation. It is not a fate of misery and damnation, but a destiny of glory and salvation. Thereby when faced with the ignominy of cross, let they not be shaken or shocked; let them not be dissipated or frustrated. Let them not be stuck with cross and death, but rather let their focus go beyond to the glory and eternity. Behind and beyond the disfigured crucified, one should see the transfigured resurrected Lord, re-vested with the original heavenly glory.

2. Thus that simple Jesus, who is walking along with them as an ordinary man, that suffering Jesus, who will be subjected to the humiliation of the cross, is not a disgraced and defeated man. Instead, he is the glorious "beloved Son of the Father", attested so by the Father Himself from heaven. So do not lose faith in him, when things go contrary, but continue to keep trust and hope in him.

3. Jesus' transfiguration is also an indicator, a forecast and foretaste of our own resurrection and the glory of resurrection. It is a prefiguration of our own future glory. The frequent disfiguration of life, with all the vicissitudes and adversities, is not the final or permanent reality. Transfiguration is the ultimate and definitive experience. Misery is not an absolute fate, but glory is our eternal destiny. Therefore, the transfiguring experience must trigger us to direct our focus, beyond the temporary upsets of the cross, to the eternal upheaval of resurrection.

 4. This is possible only through a constant  REINVIGORATION of our original identity of being God's image and likeness. This in turn is possible through a faithful CONFIGURATION with Jesus. The more we are tuned and communed to him, the more we live and grow like him, the more we adhere to him in "attentive listening to him", the more we shall experience and share the same transfiguring glory.

4. If sin disfigures us, depriving us of our original beauty and dignity of being God's images, grace through Jesus transfigures us, restoring to us that lost light and radiance. The shining light and brightened glow will indicate that our transfiguration is more a matter of illuminating and brightening our darkened selves and false lives. The more we are enlightened, breaking off the sheaths and layers of darkness that often block and blur our radiance, the more we re-discover our real identity, and radiate the light of that true image.

5. Thus real transfiguration lies in a daily process of brightening up our lives. Light up the life, daily on the "mountain" - of vicinity, proximity and intimacy with God, in a spirit and ambience of solitude and serenity, in the heights of our spirits, in the focused moments of prayer, in personal encounter with Moses and Elijah, signifying the Law and Prophets, i.e. the entire Scripture and Tradition. Transform and glorify the life, wholly and fully, by changing both the interior, indicated by the change of face, which is the index of the interior, and the exterior, indicated by the change in clothes.

6. Let our everyday be a continuous journey of removing the shades of darkness that reduce our glow. Let it be a vibrant march of regaining our lost radiance. Let the light of Christ make our heart, our life, more bright, with more hope and more renewal.

Direction: Often we want to see only glory and cling to such moments. But only the path of the cross and following Jesus will lead to glory.

 

07 AUGUST 2020: NAHUM 2. 1,3; 3. 1-3, 6-7; MATTHEW 16. 24-28

Focus: We can never truly follow Jesus without cross and loss, and it will be totally missing the point of following Jesus if we try to shun cross in life

It really looks ridiculous that many try to profess their loyalty to the crucified Saviour without really understanding and following his way. Can one follow the Crucified with no connection at all to his cross? Can one be a disciple without following the teachings of his Guru? Can one be a good servant without serving his master? Can one be a true companion without accompanying his partner? Can one be a genuine lover without loving his beloved even to the extent of death for the loved one? Often many are confused and misguided in following Jesus. It is not because of a lack of clarity on the part of Jesus. No, Jesus is crystal clear in his demands and promises. He never makes false promises, nor is he satisfied with half-measures and compromises. One can never be an authentic disciple of Jesus if he is not detached from his ego and self-interests, if he is not ready to bear the cross of suffering and unfavourable situations, if he is not wise to give priority to the spiritual concerns and is not carried away by the worldly concerns and gains. If one is not true to his call to follow and resemble Jesus, it is only because he is still too much attached to the world and there can be no other reason. “Deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me” – this summon of Jesus is ever vibrating and compelling! And the beauty of an authentic follower of Jesus is quite impressively contrasting as in the first reading: the whole world may be so much infected by “bad news”, in the infirmities and wounds of sin and evil and is without peace; but a follower of Jesus becomes the “bearer of good news and announces peace”.  

Direction: It is stupidity to claim to be so intelligent and competent, while one fails to discern and follow what is priority in life, and that is, follow Jesus, the model of real values of a good life, applicable to anyone

 

08 AUGUST 2020: HABAKKUK 1. 12 – 2.4; MATTHEW 17. 14-20; MEMORY OF ST DOMINIC

Focus: There is so much evil in the world and it is really overwhelming and overpowering. But all is not over; the flourishing of the evil is not enduring nor its fruits lasting

The world of today is rather similar to the lunatic son in the gospel, brought to Jesus for healing: “he suffers severely, and harms himself throwing himself into fire or water”. He needs to be cured. The world often seems to go out of senses, with insane acts of violence and selfishness. It is on a self-ruinous path, and suffers grievously. This is very much the similar situation depicted in the first reading as well. Evil dominates, evil doers ceaselessly torment and mercifully do injustice to the good and the innocent. In such a discouraging life-reality, it is quite natural that questions about faith arise and disturb: “Why do you (O God) gaze on the faithless in silence while the wicked man devours one more just than himself? How can He tolerate the immense exploitation and distorted autonomy of the evil doer who goes on “slaying peoples without mercy”? In the words of Jesus, this is a typically faithless and perverse generation. This demon-possession, this madness needs healing. Sometimes, people seek such healing from the so-called disciples, godmen, holy men, who are acclaimed to be powerful. But all that matters is Faith. Mere belonging to a religion, or being a religious figure, following certain religious activities, is no guarantee for the ability to heal. No power is intrinsic or inherent to any human being. All the powers are only transferred and transmitted from God and nothing is resident. Apart from the Master, one has no power, however great he is. Even a mustard-like faith can move the mountains. Here, the capacity to move the mountain and the effect of moving it, pertain only to God, while left to us, we are only so tiny like the mustard seed. Saint Dominic realised this immensity of God and our tininess on the other hand, and he relied on God totally. That is why, he could move the mountains and draw so many with his holiness and God’s gifts.

Direction: Faith will remain strong and deep, if only it grows more and more in humility. True faith should extricate itself from all the cheap show and popularity of concentrating on moving the mountains. Rather, it is better to continue to strive to climb the mountain of perfection, and remove mountains of self-righteousness!

 

 

 

MASS REFLECTION FROM 20-25 JULY 2020

20 – 25 JULY 2020, HOLY MASS REFLECTION

20 JULY 2020: MICAH 6. 1-4, 6-8; MATTHEW 12. 38-42

Focus: True love for God should in the first place realise the incurable anguish of God due to our sinfulness and infidelity and turn back to Him in deep repentance

Perhaps one great problem of our times is the dissociation between love and anguish. There is losing sight of the pain and anguish that love involves. Every true love certainly includes a lot of passion for the good of the loved one, a lot of sacrifice in pursuing that good, and also a lot of pain and anguish when such true love is not recognized, accepted, appreciated and responded. This is the pain of many a parent, many a partner, many a lover, many a friend. This is the same anguish that envelops the loving heart of God in the OT and the heart of Jesus in the gospel. God passionately loves His people, and does everything for them, liberating them, dignifying them, and prospering them. But the Israelites, His chosen people keep on going away from Him, rejecting His love and His ways. They keep on agonizing His love-flowing heart. That is why, God asks them with an anguished tone, “O my people, what have I done to you, how have I wearied you? In the gospel, Jesus too experiences the same anguish at the hard heart of the people. In spite of all the signs and miracles, all the teaching and preaching, still the people ask for some more sign to see God’s hand. In fact, is Jesus not the highest and the greatest sign of God’s love and power? Therefore, what is needed is not merely a dry religion or ritual devotion, limited to some offerings and spiritual practices. But God wants a heart that readily sees God’s grace at work in our lives, “to love goodness, to do the right and to walk humbly with God”.

Direction: It will be really foolish if we think that we can please God just with our external religious observances or spiritual activities. A changed heart and a renewed life is the need of the day!

21 JULY 2020: MICAH 7. 14-15, 18-20; MATTHEW 12. 46-50

Focus: Our greatest strength and source of assurance is not so much our goodness or merits, but God’s immeasurable clemency despite our recurrent infidelities

A repentant heart and a transformed life are solid foundations of a worthwhile life. These manifest themselves in a concrete adherence to God and benevolence to others. Whether one agrees or not, these alone are the abiding and lasting norms and principles for a healthy and happy life. In other words, in the words of Jesus in the gospel, this is the call to live the spirit of a family, a “new family of God” as children to Him and as brothers and sisters to one another.

But sadly, we live in a world which gets more and more narrowed, by factors like caste, country, race, region, religion, culture, status, power, money, etc. The irony is: distances are shortened by advanced means of transportation but hearts are getting distanced; means of communication have increased but the quality of relations has decreased. So much fragmentation, division, discrimination, favouritism, nepotism mark human interactions and pursuits. Church and faith communities are also no exception.

In such a context, the Lord’s assertion that it is only “doing God’s will make us his people, his family”, is a reminder and challenge. It is not the physical or material factors that matter the most but the spiritual affinity to God and others. As long as we do not rise above our physical and material attachments, we cannot belong to God’s family.

Direction: Division and discrimination will always lead to destruction and deterioration. Let us then be united in doing God’s will and not divided in guarding our own interests!

22 JULY 2020: SONG 3. 1-4B; JOHN 20. 1-2, 11-18, Feast of Mary Magdalene

Focus: What is important and what makes a person important and great is not so much the past history but the present story of change and consistency

We celebrate the feast of Mary Magdalene, a close disciple of the Lord. But Who is this Mary Magdalene? The repentant prostitute? Sister of Martha? Mary the disciple? One from whom seven demons were expelled? Are all these one and the same? There is no agreement or clarity. And there is no need to worry much about it because it is not necessary to have exactitude. But what is important to note is: she was touched and transformed by the Lord; she loved the Lord passionately and clung to him in intimacy. She was duly rewarded to see the risen Lord. She was committed to being his witness. Mary Magdalene is truly an epitome and an icon of Love and lover. Love leads to seeking and seeking leads to intimacy and intimacy leads to witness. True love cannot bear separation. It restlessly searches for the loved one. It weeps bitterly at the absence in profound anguish. How is our love for the Lord? How much touched and changed we are? How much craving and anguish for his presence? How much intimacy and surrender to him? How much witness to the Lord?

Direction: Help us, Lord, to love you passionately so that we cling to you always and seek you as our greatest priority.

23 JUNE 2020: JER 2. 1-3, 7-8, 12-13; MATTHEW 13. 10-17

Focus: Ingratitude and infidelity are two greatest evils that disfigure the beauty of human relationships, disrupt the joy of interaction and diminish the value of life

How vivid and impressing is the pain of God in the first reading in the voice of Jeremiah regarding the sin of His people: a total memory loss about the events of His mighty intervention and height of ingratitude; a wholesale rejection and rebellion against His will and ways; and further a deep-sinking alliance and fidelity to false gods and wrong ways. This is the same spirit of closedness and stubbornness, indifference and non-cooperation of the people that confronted Jesus as well and disturbed him so much. This is what the prophet Isaiah already prophesied: They look but do not see, they hear but do not listen, they know but do not understand. Today’s situation is also not much different or better. There is so much a non-committal mediocrity with regard to God and godly things. There is a steep selfishness and destructive harmfulness towards others. All this is because of the lack of a personal touch and relation with God. This results in a lack of wisdom that mistakes the priorities and pursues the falsities. This is precisely what God says through Jeremiah: “They have forsaken me, the source of living waters; they have dug for themselves broken cisterns that hold no water”.

Direction: It is high time that the so-called intelligent and competent modern man stop being foolish in mistaking and running after false cisterns, leaving the true and deep sources of living waters

24 JULY 2020: JER 3. 14-17; MATTHEW 13. 18-23

Focus: True love never dies, because it always keeps alive the trust and hope in the loved one, even amidst and despite all infidelity, and God’s love is such

One thing that is deeply striking in God is His undying hope about the return of His people, gone astray. True to His nature of eternity, His love, His mercy, His trust and His hope towards His people are eternal. He never ceases to love them. In this love, He never feels bad or tired to invite them to repent and return to Him and convert their life. He never stops to promise and assure them of His unfailing shepherding in care and guidance in various ways. He never feels exhausted to enthuse and elevate their spirits with the certainty of bounteous rewards and blessings. He ever provides the seeds of His grace and Word to plant in the soil of our hearts. He avails to us all the possible requirements that facilitate and nurture the growth of His seeds. From His part, he never deprives us of anything that enhances our growth and fruition.

But the question always remains on our part. The reason why often many do not bear good and abundant fruits is the lack of transparence, lack of perseverance and lack of diligence. This is what we see in the first 3 types of soil in the gospel parable of the sower, namely the roadside soil, rocky and thorny soils. Instead, what is needed is the fourth type of soil that is fertile and productive.

Direction: Meaningfulness of life lies in fruitfulness and this fruitfulness is not in terms of possessions or gratifications or worldly successes or accomplishments. It is only in bearing abundant fruits of devotion and goodness

25 July 2019: Feast, St. James, the apostle

Focus: Left to ourselves, we may be weak and our life may be bleak. But we offer ourselves in docility to God and remain close to him, then He will take over our life to make it a memorable record

The feast of St James the apostle that we celebrate today once again discloses to us the secret and seedbed of true discipleship. Our human fragility and imperfection is no matter at all. As we hear in Paul’s words to the Corinthians, though we are unworthy and ordinary as a clay vessel, yet God pours into us the precious treasure of His grace. Therefore, what matters is not our weakness but God’s power. It is enough that we entrust our fragility to the sanctity and solidity of God. This is what Saint James did. Willingly and joyfully, he submitted himself to the formation by the Lord. It is all a matter of journey, a transition, an evolution from self to Jesus. It leads to a transformation from self-centred interests to Christ-centred mission, from domination to submission, from gratification to martyrdom, from possession to detachment, from recognition to humiliation, from exaltation to persecution, from self-demarcated kingdom to expanded kingdom of God. James lived with the Lord in intimate bonding, loved him with such an intensity as to be the first martyr for the Lord. This is the life of a disciple: love the Lord, live with him, live for him and die for him. Discipleship is not a matter of a privilege or prestige but is an act of obedience and service. Service is not a favour done at one’s will but an obligation fulfilled at God’s will.

Direction: Lord, continue to mould us as true disciples, teaching us at your feet, purifying us from our self-vested interests and perfecting us in humility and benevolence.

16TH SUNDAY REFLECTION

16 SUNDAY REFLECTIONS....

HOLY SPIRIT OUR INTERCESSOR...

 

Today we reflect on the letter to the Romans (the second reading of the Sunday Mass) that presents the Holy Spirit as the Intercessor of the Saints. Here the phrase, ‘the Saints,’ stands for ‘Christians’ because all believers in Christ are made saints and holy by virtue of our baptismal consecration. The Holy Spirit as the intercessor prays to God for the saints (us) so that we fully understand the world and its transience. We accept the will of God with courage and confidence that eludes humanity. We consciously and willingly immerse ourselves into redemptive works of mercy. When we are tossed by the worldly values and hesitant to tread the path unravelled, the Holy Spirit prays for us. Moved by the Spirit’s prayer we are led to lead a counter-cultural and prophetical life. Often we become odd in our current milieu as the history bears testimony i.e., Saint Francis of Assisi and Saint Mother Teresa. When the Saints are led by the Spirit, the will of God becomes the basis, means and end of the completion of God’s project for the integral and sustainable wellbeing of the inhabitants of the universe. The Holy Spirit helps the saints in our weakness when our memory itself becomes a burden with our past failures. The Bible bears witness to the fact that the saints themselves suffered from their personal weaknesses while they were being led by the Holy Spirit. (Saint Peter and Saint Paul) The Spirit gifted them with the realization that God wins at the end. They were able to experience forgiveness and forgive themselves for their past personal failures. The Spirit prays for the saints when they do not know how to pray as they ought. The spirit’s prayer let our eyes see the greater plan God has for the planet and the universe. The spirit prays for us that our crisis turns into an opportunity. Our sinful life becomes a saintly one. When the spirit prays, God strikes at times hard at the penury of our value system. Then we are pruned in the school of purification as gold is melted in the fire so that our life is only about the glory of God, not about ourselves. When the saints are cowed down by their personal failures and get scattered by the loss of the presence of God, the Holy Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. Darkness in itself during our prayer turns into the presence of God who searches the heart and knows what is in the mind of the Spirit. Gradually the saints learn to befriend the darkness so much that the darkness itself becomes the light and presence of God. For example, Mother Teresa was guided by Father Neuner, sj (her spiritual guide) to accept that the darkness in her life is the presence of the Crucified Lord making her long for the Lord. When she accepted the darkness as the presence of God, it vanished. There was only light, the presence of God. The Holy Spirit, our Intercessor of Saints, never allows us to remain in our own comfortable zones experiencing self-fulfillment. He perennially invites to embrace and experience pastoral fulfillment and God-fulfillment built on God-reliance and God-providence.

Sunday REFLECTION....

Sunday Reflections.......

16th SUNDAY, Mt. 13. 24- 33, 19 July 2020

"RECOGNIZE OUR RESPONSIBILITY AND NOT PUT THE BLAME ON GOD"

I. 1. In today's Gospel, there are three parables that refer to the kingdom of God

The first parable of good seed and weed. The second, of mustard grain. And the third, of yeast and flour

2. How are these three related? The first indicates our human situation, and the difference between the action of God and of us. The second and third indicate how to respond and act on that situation

3. First of all, let's take into account the reality of our world. It's so bad. There's so much nastiness.

(Undoubtedly, things often go wrong, whether in personal or family life, or in the community or in society, or in the whole world, whether in the physical or emotional or intellectual or social or political or moral or spiritual realm)

II. 4. That is, in the words of the Gospel, there are not only good seeds but also weeds.

In fact, you often hear that weed dominates and suffocates good seeds. It often happens that the good suffer the most. The sincere struggle, while the insincere enjoy. The faithful lose, but the treacherous gain.

5. This is not right. So, Why does God who is all-powerful and beloved not intervene? Why is he not acting?

Why doesn't he stop evil? Why is He indifferent?

III. 6. The only reason is, because God loves us so much that he gives us freedom and respects it.

Therefore, He never forces and always leaves each of us free in our choice and in our action.

7. God is not helpless but patient. He is not indifferent but hopeful and confident of us.

In his patience he always offers ample opportunity to always know what is right and right, to evaluate the value of everything, to choose the best and to follow what is upright and positive.

8. So we cannot wait for God to intervene every now and then when something goes wrong.

Instead, we must take responsibility for our lives

Then do not be concerned with what God should do or how He should act.

But let's engage with what each of us needs to do and how we should act

Iv.        9. What to do and how to do it?

An answer is found in the other two parables.

In such a situation of the first parable, of the growth of weed together with the good seeds, each of us who is faithful to God, must be

Like a grain of mustard that is small but gets big, like a kindergarten tree for birds,

Like the yeast that is little but dissolving turns all the flour.

10. This is where the "miracle of smallness" consists:

It does not matter before the Lord, what is our position, or the degree of life or the level in society, or the importance of our work or the gains of our abilities.

11. Small or large, the only thing that matters is,

What do we do – good or evil? How do we do – with what attitude, how much goodness, kindness, patience, how much humility in everything we do in daily life

V. 12. Remember: we cannot criticize society that it is so and so, when it is we who make society.

13. (How can we criticize others of selfishness, indifference, envy, arrogance, aberrations, when we too carry and nurture the same, and act in the same way, with the same attitudes in our behaviours and works?

How can we criticize hunger and poverty when they throw away a lot of money on entertainment and seductions?

When there is so much licentious freedom, how can one criticize immorality or immodesty?

When there is too much arrogance and a sense of false dignity, how can we criticize the collapse of relations?

When family values are lowered, how can we complain about the deviations of young people?

When there is no respect for the human being, how can we criticize crime?

When there is no closeness and reliance on God, how can one complain of stress and anxiety and lack of peace and serenity? )

14. So, it takes a perspective that accepts life as a whole of good and evil, a whole of the positive and the negative, a set of good seeds and weeds

15. It takes a lot of patience, a lot of perseverance, and a lot of personal responsibility.

16. It takes a big heart that does even the little things with great dedication