2nd week in ordinary time.... Year 1

 

18 - 23 JANUARY 2021: HOLY MASS REFLECTIONS

18 JANUARY 2021, HEBREWS 5. 1-10; MARK 2. 18-22

Focus: God is pleased, not so much with external offerings and spiritual activities, but with an obedient heart and a genuine life

External spiritual activities and devotional practices are good and needed. They manifest our love for God and loyalty to Him. They show how much we care for Him and are related to Him. They also help us to grow in our faith and closeness with God. Further, they also inspire, illuminate and strengthen us to change our life for the better, to live a renewed life in tune with our devotion and spirituality. In that way, no one can deny or reduce the importance of the spiritual concerns.

But, many times the problem with many is, there is no correspondence between the spiritual and actual life. One may be very fervent spiritually but indifferent toward others. One may praise and worship God actively, but may be very abusive and blaming toward others. One may be very humble and submissive before God, but arrogant and domineering toward others.

It is a shallow spirituality and a fake devotion. Jesus is always unhappy with such a spirituality. It is this hypocrisy that Jesus reproaches in today’s gospel as well. This is exactly putting a new patch on an old cloth, putting new wine into old wineskins. Without changing the old cloth and wineskins of sin and evil, there is no use of putting on new patches and new wine. Our devotion is not a substitution for dedication. Our spirituality is not a mask for the lack of integrity.

Therefore, what is most important in life and what really counts before God is not mere religious practices or offerings, but obedience to God's will and honesty of living. All our spiritual activities should be directed to abide close to the Lord and to renew life. The presence of the bridegroom is more important than all the other matters of marriage. A thorough renewal of life is more important than mere patch works and temporary adjustments.

Direction: The right and perfect spirituality is not merely a bundle of religious duties, but a humble obedience to God’s will, as Jesus did, though Son of God himself

19 JANUARY 2021, HEBREWS 6. 10-20; MARK 2. 23-28

Focus: There is no greater law and rule in life than the good and happiness of the fellow human being. A law which fails to do good, is no good law

Certainly, laws and rules are needed for the smooth running of any society. They provide order and direction. They check and control against anti-social or selfish tendencies and acts. They guard against indiscipline and irresponsible freedom. A lawless society or person will be chaotic. Thus, every law is meant ultimately for the welfare and progress of human persons. Any law and rule that threatens the dignity and happiness of the person, and subverts and oppresses his life, is not good. Therefore, the value of every rule and regulation should be judged, only on the basis of its usefulness. The true success of a law is not in a meticulous following of it, but in bringing progress and happiness. In simple, a law is good when it does good to the persons, and when it makes good persons. The heart of a rule is the rule of heart. The true efficacy of a rule is the ability to look into the heart, to look at the need of the other. In the words of the first reading, from the letter to the Hebrews, to be truly law-abiding is “not to be sluggish, but to serve others in all love and earnestness”. This is the perfect following of the law: to be steady “imitators of those who inherit the eternal promises, through faith and patience”.

The whole fault of the Pharisees and scribes was failing to see and go beyond the letter to this spirit and purpose of the laws. For them, Sabbath was a law, and that must be followed at any cost, even at the cost of neglect of good. Hence, they criticize Jesus’ disciples for breaking the Sabbath, instead of seeing their hunger.

But, on the contrary, Jesus looks at the heart of the disciples. He sees their deeper simplicity of heart beyond the apparent violation of Sabbath. He sees the need of their hunger beyond the heartless and uncharitable practice of law of the Pharisees. Hence his famous attestation: “Sabbath for man, and not man for Sabbath”.

Direction: Heart is more important than heartless reasoning. Good is more important than dry rule. Loving and helping the other is more important than keeping the law

20 JANUARY 2021, HEBREWS 7. 1-3, 15-17; MARK 3. 1-6, MEMORY, STS SEBASTIAN & FABIAN

Focus: Life is meant to bloom and glow, to blossom and grow, to nourish itself and to flourish in fruits. A withered life is a worthless life!

Gospel of the day presents Jesus healing a man with a withered hand on a Sabbath. The Pharisees and scribes accuse him heavily for violating the Sabbath. They even begin to plot to kill him. Every occasion of preaching and healing turns into an occasion of confrontation and accusation and antagonization. 

Now, what is wrong? Certainly Jesus was not wrong, because he was doing no wrong. He did good, did only good and always did good. For him, doing good always and everywhere is the greatest concern. No law, no force can condition it or restrict it. Therefore, the restrictions of the Sabbath law did not matter for him, since healing a withered hand was more beneficial and important. That is why he poses a challenge, with the question, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or kill?”. But the Pharisees and the scribes have no such concern and no such perspective. They were blinded by their own self-righteousness. They were prejudiced against Jesus, because of jealousy and hostility. In fact, these were the real withered people, more than the man with the withered hand. They were withered because for them observing the law of Sabbath is more important than doing good and saving life. That is why the healing of the withered man by Jesus, leads them to plot to kill him. One who does not see God's hand and does not confide in His power, is truly a withered person. But, in contrast, we see in St Sebastian and St Fabian, whose memory we keep today, persons full of vitality and selfless benevolence. Filled with passionate faith and fiery charity, they bear witness to Christ by their life and death as well.

Direction: Every perverted, arrogant and evil-minded heart is the real withering. This is more deplorable than the external withering.

21 JANUARY 2021, HEBREWS 7. 25 – 8.6; MARK 3. 7-12

Focus: God is ever ready to touch us and heal us; He is eager to drive out our evil spirits and put in His Spirit. How much are we ready and willing?

Down through the ages, God continues to intervene in the lives of humanity. The purpose is to liberate them, save them, and to give them renewed dignity and joy. But at the appointed time, He incarnates His divinity in human form in the person of Jesus Christ. He is our unique and supreme High priest. Unlike the other high priests, he no more offers other ordinary sacrifices. Rather he offers his own self. He makes himself one among the sinners, but separated from them. He is the high priest, holy, blameless and unstained. This is the excellent ministry of his expiation for our purification and sanctification. This is concretely seen in Jesus’ ministry.  Jesus sets himself on a relentless mission of healing and exorcism. The opposition, the jealousy and the evil of the Pharisees and scribes do not deter him or discourage him. Unconditioned benevolence steers him on a path of immense good. If God is ceaselessly announcing His good news, healing and exorcizing, then why still many continue discomforted and misguided, sick and weak, evil-possessed and evil-driven? See the irony: even the evil spirits acknowledge Jesus as the Son of God, but the humans do not. As long as one does not see and accept one’s sickness and evil, as long as one does not feel the need for healing, and as long as one refuses to approach Jesus for his touch, one will not change and become better. God’s grace and power is abundantly available, but the openness and eagerness to respond and cooperate is lacking!

Direction: Not realizing, not accepting, not diagnosing sickness is worse than the sickness itself. What is sad is preferring to be sick, throwing away the remedies of health!

22 JANUARY 2021: HEBREWS 8. 6-13; MARK 3. 13-19

Focus: Our relationship with God is not a matter of contract for a better transaction and profit, but is a covenant, built on fidelity and our integral benefit

“Called and sent” – this in simple is the whole essence of our vocation. We are specially and personally called by the Lord. We are identified and chosen by name. This shows that each one of us is unique and important for God. We are not just anyone among many. We are someone, special and close to the Lord. We are not just numbers or labels. We are persons, with particular names. A name is not a mere label or usage for practical convenience. It stands for a person’s identity and dignity. Therefore, in identifying and choosing his Twelve disciples by name, Jesus gives them their proper identity. They are no more what they were, identified by their lineage or profession. Rather, they are his disciples and apostles. They receive a new identity, a new dignity. They enter into a new realm of life, a new ambience of grace. This is exactly the new covenant that is spoken of in the first reading from the letter to the Hebrews: “I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah… This is the new covenant… I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people”. This new covenant is already set in motion in Jesus’ choice of the Twelve. They represent the new Israel. God through Jesus puts His laws into their minds, imprints them on their hearts, and makes them His own. But it does not stop there with them. Their call has a purpose and mission. The call of the Twelve is not only “to be with him” but also “to be sent on his mission”. The mission is nothing but to extend the same new covenant to all others, that is, to make all others the recipients, participants of the new covenant. In other words, their mission is to imprint God’s laws on their hearts and make them God’s own people. This is carried out concretely by the twofold channels of preaching and healing.

Direction: What do you and I belong to? Is it the new covenant of passion and fidelity, or the old covenant of sin and waywardness?

23 JANUARY 2021: HEBREWS 9. 2-3, 11-14; MARK 3. 19-21

Focus: Things may go wrong and may frighten and discourage us. But we never need to lose hope, because we have Jesus, the High priest who always pleads and works on our behalf

In today’s gospel, we have an instance of a very typical human experience. Jesus is considered to be out of his senses! He is mad, possessed, out of his mind! Why? What makes the people think so? The obvious reason is: he is totally committed. He is so selfless. He does not think of himself, of his comfort, of his leisure, of his privacy, of his free space and time. He is not organized, he is not planned, he has no control over his time. He does not spend even a little time at home, with his relatives. He finds no time even to have his meals. He is not so systematic as to display a schedule of his available timings. He does not behave big and great, making the people search and wait for him. He is not like the popular figures who make the people feel his importance and greatness. He does not create a comfort-zone and live in it. He does not put on airs. He is not puffed up. He does not ride on his glory. In short, he is passionate, and fully possessed by the Spirit of God. His only concern was God’s will and doing His mission. To do God’s will is his food and drink. This type of behaving and living is totally out of the way, quite contrary to the normal and ordinary. He was a total contrast to others. He was a question mark, a prick of conscience, a thorn in the flesh, a challenge to many others, who were comfort-seeking, self-confined, calculative and mediocre. Therefore, it is quite natural that he was considered off the mind. In fact, this is the way the good and committed people are often considered by the world. This is the price of commitment. What then is the remedy? The first reading from the letter to the Hebrews gives us the direction: Purify your conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

Direction: Our life can become more meaningful and beautiful when we constantly lay ourselves open to the touch of Jesus to purify us from the worldly and lead us on the way of sanctification

2nd Sunday of ordinary time

II ORDINARY SUNDAY, 17 JANUARY 2021,

1 SAMUEL 3.3-10, 19; 1 COR 6.13-15, 17-20; JOHN 1. 35-42

 

Progression of the journey of discipleship. There is a clear progression and maturation in Andrew’s discipleship.

 

1.    (Verse 35): “Already placed in an initial situation of discipleship”: Andrew was already introduced to the way of discipleship, by having been a disciple of John the Baptist.  He was being taught and guided in the conditions and principles of discipleship by John the Baptist. Similarly, a disciple need not always directly and immediately encounter Jesus, know him and follow him. He may be gradually led to Jesus. Discipleship is a progressive ascent, and one should not unduly desire for a sudden growth and full-scale following.

 

2.    (Verses 36-37): “Led by others, led to Jesus”: At the sight of Jesus passing by, John the Baptist declares, “Look, the Lamb of God!” This is both a simple vocative address of an invitation to draw attention to Jesus, and is also a confirmation of Jesus’ identity as the Lamb of God, who carries upon himself the burden of the sins of humanity, in their place and on their behalf. Therefore, an initial disciple is to fix his attention on Jesus who is the Lamb of God. John the Baptist, himself a noble disciple who walks the way of the Lord, like a true disciple does not let the focus be fixed on him; rather he shifts the attention of his disciples toward Jesus. This is the nature and the duty of a good disciple: never keeping himself as the centre of attraction or point of focus but with all self-detachment, lead all to Jesus, the real centre and goal of focus. Andrew too like a good well-disposed disciple, he “hears” the attestation of John the Baptist, “looks at Jesus” as asked by the Baptist, and “followed Jesus”.

 

In his discipleship, a disciple may need many to show him Jesus, teach the truth about him and to lead him to Jesus. There is nothing wrong to take the mediation, guidance and help of others in his knowing and getting closer to Jesus. At times it can happen that some initial disciples, in their self-complacency refuse to seek and accept the help of others, and at times even may not admit that they were helped by others in their following Jesus. However, this initial following is imperfect because still there is not yet any personal knowledge, experience, intimacy and commitment to Jesus. This is more a setting on the journey of discipleship in the spirit of searching to know the Lord personally. It is a search for a deeper way of discipleship.

 

3.    (Verse 38): “A spirit of searching to know where the Master stays”: Seeing the two disciples following him, Jesus asks them, “What are you looking for?” and they answer, “Where are you staying?” Jesus’ question and their question in answer indicate the true spirit of discipleship. A true disciple should be constantly in search, looking for the Master. When a disciple ceases to search and to explore, he ceases to progress and mature in his journey. Andrew and the other disciple were not sure and clear of Jesus’ abode, but they were clear and sure of one thing: they wanted to know it. The desire to know where Jesus stayed was not a mere matter of a location, a place of his stay. It is rather indicative of his life-situation. 

 

Therefore, the question of the disciples was rather a question to see at first hand the life condition, the ambience of Jesus’ way of life. How many disciples of today really know what they are looking for? First of all, is there that motivation, that spirit of search to know the Lord from close? How many disciples are really interested in getting more and more familiar with the way of life Jesus? Is it not true that the way some of the present disciples live, without a sense of purpose and direction, as if they are groping in the dark, shows that they do not really know what and who they are following?

 

4.    (Verse 39): “Go, see and stay with Jesus”: Jesus’ answer to the disciples’ query about his place of stay was, “Come and see”. As an instant response, they go, they see where he stayed and stayed with him. This is a fundamental requirement for any disciple’s progress in following Jesus. They should constantly hearken to the call of Jesus, “come and see”. One who goes and sees where Jesus is, cannot but stay with him. Every day, a disciple of Jesus must go to Jesus, see him intimately, and spend time with him. He must personally experience Jesus. He must share the same life-situation of Jesus. It is not a picnic for site-seeing. It is an invitation for a personal encounter and communion. How many pay heed to the ceaseless invitation of Jesus, “come and see”? How sad it is that this invitation is totally drained of its essential content and unceasing call, and is reduced only to the initial stages of formation, the so-called “come and see” program and stage? After that stage, where do the disciples go and what do they see? Is the staying in the formation house, or in the parish or convent, or for that matter even a family, really a staying with Jesus? Speaking in terms of regularity to the church-going or fidelity to prayer and spiritual devotions, how many followers of Jesus bother to go to the church, stay a while in the intimate presence of Jesus and participate in the spiritual moments of Word and Sacrament?

 

5.    (Verse 41): “Finding the Messiah, the Christ”: Having gone, seen and stayed with Jesus, Andrew declares to Simon Peter, his brother, “We have found the Messiah”. He experienced something profound and personal. Closeness with Jesus touched him. He was deeply affected by the person and life of Jesus. He could not keep it for himself. The power of Jesus’ experience was so overwhelming that he could not but share it with others. He would not wait or delay for long. That is why “early the next morning”, he found his brother and confessed to him his personal discovery. A disciple’s being with Jesus must lead him to a personal discovery of the Lord as the Saviour. It should deepen his knowledge and conviction about the Master. 

Years and years of frequenting the church or participating in different sacraments, and hours and hours of staying with the Lord, bundles and bundles of prayers and spiritual activities – whether all these have led us to find the Lord? Why is it that still many disciples are living lives which are clearly untouched by the Saviour, as if they have not yet met Christ, as if they are still strangers to him? How many disciples today can honestly and confidently say, “We have found the Messiah”?

 

6.    (Verse 42): Following Jesus personally and leading others too to Jesus”: Andrew “brought Simon” as well to Jesus. A true disciple who follows Jesus is not content with his own following the Lord, but is zealous to bring others as well to Jesus to follow him. Discipleship is a discovery of the immense treasure of the Lord, but is not limited only to the individual. The personal communion with the Lord is so intensive that it becomes so extensive, striving passionately to extend the embrace of the Lord far and wide, to one and many. There is something basically wrong when the devotion or the spiritual fervour of a disciple becomes more a private enterprise and does not seek to include and extend to others. A disciple who cares only to maintain and promote himself as a disciple and does not feel concerned to lead others and help them grow in their spiritual journey is rather dubious. In fact, this is the last mission mandate of Jesus at his departure from the earth: “Go therefore and make disciples from all nations” (Mt 28. 19). How many disciples of the Lord today bring others closer to Jesus? Whether they are leading others to the Lord, or misleading them away from the Lord?

 

FIRST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

 11 – 16 JANUARY 2021, HOLY MASS REFLECTIONS

 

11 JANUARY 2021, HEBREWS 1. 2-6; MARK 1. 14-20

 

Focus: Kingdom of God is not a location but a situation of a life of faith and conversion. It needs both members to be part of it and promoters to make others part of it

 

Jesus begins his ministry. Immediately he makes very clear the focus and essentials of this ministry.  The goal is the Kingdom of God and to get closer to it. The requirements and means are repentance and faith in the gospel. To repent means not merely feeling sorry for the wrong; rather, it arouses a profound anguish for failing and offending God. Further, it is also a genuine and radical turning away from all sin and evil. A true repentance not only abstains from particular acts of sin, but also cuts off one’s links and clinging to sin. Turning away from evil opens up to turning toward God. Anguish over offence to God opens up to passion and surrender to God. This is what faith is and what faith does. Thus, repentance and conversion on one hand, and love and surrender on the other hand are one whole of a true faith. This is truly belonging to the Kingdom. This is the mission of Jesus.

To carry out this mission, some ministers are needed. Hence he calls some disciples. The invitation to them is both a personal privilege and a mandated mission. That is, upgrading and elevating them from being mere fishermen to being fishers of souls. And their mission is to "fish" souls for God. What is needed from their part is to respond and receive the call, to renounce everything and to dedicate themselves totally to his following.

 

Direction: God's call is always elevating: it raises us to a new dignity. It is His grace to call us, dignify us and empower us. It is also our responsibility to respond and cooperate selflessly to His grace. This is our vocation and mission

 

12 JANUARY 2021, HEBREWS 2. 5-12; MARK 1. 21-28

 

Focus: Real authority is not a matter of some external power to dominate and subjugate others; but it is the experience and exercise of a deep interior and spiritual power

 

People find Jesus different from their authorities - the scribes and Pharisees. What distinguishes him from them is his authority in his teaching and acting. But, it is not a formal or juridical authority which derives from a certain office or position. For, Jesus had no such power and authority. But he had a tremendous spiritual authority and a moral authority. It is an authority that is rooted in his communion with the Father. It is also an authority that blossoms and manifests itself in a sound character and conduct. It is this authority that gives his teaching conviction and clarity, and his acting the power of healing. It is the power of God that is seen in holiness and goodness, in spirituality and integrity, in faith and charity, in devotion and dedication. It is the power that challenges and expels the evil powers. It is the power that changes one to God and impels and fosters the spiritual energies. Precisely it is this power and authority that was lacking in the Pharisees and scribes, but was abounding in Jesus. Hence the difference! It is this spiritual and moral authority which is badly needed today from every follower of Christ. A follower of Christ should be a deeply spiritual and moral person. All the more, those in authority must make sure that their role is not a power-wielding tool, but a grace-building channel.

 

Direction: Preaching eloquently and healing of evil spirits are not mere matters of special gifts of the Spirit but are to be marks of authenticity. Spiritual and moral authority are much more important than mere juridical authority

 

13 JANUARY 2021, HEBREWS 2. 14-18; MARK 1. 29-39

 

Focus: God became one of us and one like us in every respect except sin, so that he knows our fragility and struggle and come to our rescue

 

So touchingly, the letter to Hebrews draws our attention to the infinite sensitivity of God toward us. Being deeply sensitive to our misery of bondage, God sends His Son to be like us, to make expiation for our sins. He is able to help us, because he himself has suffered and been tempted. The whole ministry of Jesus shows this divine sensitivity and solidarity toward the suffering humanity. He preaches the good news, offering comfort and hope to the downcast. He heals the sick. He liberates those in bondage by driving out demons. He cures Peter's mother-in-law of her fever and cures many of their infirmities.

Receiving the gospel and the healing from the Lord, what next? What is our response and duty? When touched and cured by the Lord, we need to share it with others and serve them. This is what Peter's mother-in-law did and those who got healed by Jesus. The world of today needs so much the gospel of comfort and hope. It stands in need of liberation from many oppressing forces. It needs healing from many contagions. The world needs rediscovery, restoration and re-integration of the lost energies and the lost beauty and joy of life. Only that is the real effect of Jesus' redemptive mission.

 

Direction: It is not enough that we listen to God's call and are healed but we need to immediately share the same in constant sensitivity and service.

 

14 JANUARY 2021, HEBREWS 3. 7-14; MARK 1. 40-45

 

Focus: God never despises us because of our misery and despicability due to sin. He is ever compassionate toward us to stretch out his hand and to touch us

 

We need humility and surrender to receive and experience God's presence and power. The leper in the gospel had this humility and surrender. In humility he pleads with Jesus, "If you wish, you can make me clean", and he surrenders himself totally to his healing touch. Jesus too immediately responds in caring assurance, "I wish, be healed". While humility and surrender lead to healing, healing too leads to a duty of spreading the same powerful goodness of the Lord, far and wide, like the healed leper.

But, sadly on the contrary, there is so much hardness of heart and rebellion. This is what the first reading, the letter to Hebrews cautions us. Though the people of Israel abundantly witnessed God’s mercy and benevolence, yet they rebelled so stubbornly again and again. They hardened their hearts and fell away from the living God. The same danger is always very real in our case as well. There are always the forces of sin to deceive us and lead us astray. We may easily become hard-hearted and rebellious. We must ever take care to hold fast and firm to our faith.

 

Direction: There is no need to lose heart at our fragilities and failures. All that is needed is trust, humility and surrender to confide in God and be healed.

 

15 JANUARY 2021, HEBREWS 4. 1-11; MARK 2. 1-12

 

 

Focus: God always promises His abundant blessings, and the greatest is rest and serenity here and now and the eternal “rest” in heaven. It needs faith to believe and to live worthy of those promises

 

In today’s gospel, Jesus heals a paralytic. He not only heals him physically, but also pronounces, “Your sins are forgiven”. This becomes a moment of controversy. While the simple people glorify God, the scribes blame him for blasphemy.  They fail to see Jesus’ power and sinless heart. They do not see the authenticity and depth of his spirituality. They do not appreciate his integrity of life. They do not feel happy at his kindness and selfless service. They cannot tolerate his solidarity with all, in a spirit of equity and justice, rising above all prejudices and discriminations. They feel threatened. They boil with jealousy. They are totally at disease and at loss, because he becomes a question mark, a challenge against their own hypocrisy, shallow spirituality, self-righteousness and lack of sensitivity and charity. They cannot come up to his level. Therefore, the only way is to bring down his level. Consequently, they attribute wrong motives to him. They show him in the wrong light. They blame his intimacy with God as blasphemy, his compassion as breach of law, his mercy as social defiance. They make use of every opportunity to demonstrate their stiff resentment and resistance to him.

It is in this context, Jesus appreciates the friends of the paralytic who carry him and make an opening in the roof to reach Jesus, amidst the crowd. He hints at the lack of faith of the Jews. He also points to the sickening and harmful effect of sin, in declaring, "your sins are forgiven". He further indicates that the release from sin is more important than from any other sickness.

 

Direction: What God wants and aims at is not so much the physical health but much more the spiritual and the holistic health.

 

 

 

16 JANUARY 2021, HEBREWS 4. 12-16; MARK 2. 13-17

 

Focus: God's ways are always mysterious and incomprehensible. It is better to surrender to them. To understand God’s ways, we need to rise beyond the merely human thinking and reasoning

 

God chooses whom He wants, often quite contrary to the human expectations and calculations. Often, we are caught up within our mental frameworks and prejudices. We decide and insist that things should happen only that way, or that others must behave only that way. We apply the same human measurements and calculations to God as well. We tend to put conditions and restrictions even to God’s grace, deciding whom He should bless, how much, when and how. We feel jealous even with regard to God’s mercy and generosity. This is what happens in the case of Levi. The call of Levi, a tax collector is totally unexpected and rather disillusioning for many. When Jesus calls him and goes to feast at his house, the Pharisees and scribes rise on their feet and begin to criticise Jesus, questioning, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” But Jesus' choice is unconditioned and gratuitous. He does not go by human labels and categories, mental or social. He chooses not so much on the basis of what one has been and what one has been doing. But his choice is in view of what one will be and what one can be doing. One may be anything or nothing before being called but surely will be somebody and will do something. Jesus came, not to gather and entertain and elevate the righteous but to seek and transform the sinners into the righteous. He declares convincingly: “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners”.

The call of Levi must make us to re-reflect on our own vocation. We must become deeply aware of its immense value and grow in humble gratitude. We must also rededicate ourselves to strive to live worthy of our call. For this, we need to be always open to the reflecting and living of the Word of God, as the first reading from the letter to the Hebrews reminds us. The word of God is living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword, piercing to the soul and spirit. We need honesty and openness to realise what we are and to become what we must be.

 

Direction: The merit of one's vocation is nothing personal, not what one is, but what one will become and do for God. Left to ourselves, no one deserves to be called!

4TH-9TH JAN 2021 WEEKDAYS MASS REFLECTION

 04 – 09 JANUARY 2021, HOLY MASS REFLECTIONS

 

04 JANUARY 2021, 1 Jn 3. 22 - 4. 6; Mt 4. 12-17, 23-25

 

Focus: The real test of fidelity is to follow the commandment of God, and the real commandment is to believe him and follow what he commands, and that concretely in loving others

 

We are just after the Epiphany, the celebration of God’s revelation or manifestation. The visit of the three magi symbolically reveals God's salvation and glory is open to all, cutting across the boundaries. Jesus begins this mission of manifestation in word and deed, in preaching and healing. He preaches announcing the coming of the Kingdom and inviting to repent. "Repent and believe in the gospel, for the kingdom of God is near". This was the first proclamation of Jesus. This nearness of the kingdom is seen in Jesus' ministry of preaching and healing. Jesus ceaselessly preaches the good news of love and comfort of God, and tirelessly heals the sick of various sorts. Thus he confirms this nearness of the Kingdom and the sign of conversion in his healing ministry. From our part, we need to constantly manifest our belonging to God and His kingdom, through our listening, our contrast to the world, our repenting, our believing and our getting healed. To receive and experience such a vicinity of God's kingdom through God's Word and action, one must repent and believe. True repentance is when one deeply feels anguished at his sinfulness and turns away from it. True believing is to turn to God, to trust Him and be loyal to Him. This calls us to belong to God, to live as people of God and not of the world; to resist and reject the spirit of antichrist; to abide in him; to live and foster the truth; to keep his commandments and do what pleases him.

 

Direction: Repentance is the fundamental requisite of a true follower of Christ. This is manifested and authenticated in a twofold mission: to listen to God's word and to transmit the same; to be healed by the Lord and to heal others through devotion and benevolence

 

05 JANUARY 2021, 1 Jn 4. 7-10; Mk 6. 34-44

 

Focus: It is only Jesus that can give the real, deep and lasting satisfaction, because only his presence and action quench the deeper hunger and thirst, the thirst for fullness and fulfilment.

 

Jesus feeds the five thousand. It is not a mere charity action, done often by many a politician or a rich man or an activist as a duty or for publicity. It is an act moved out of genuine compassion and care. He cares for the hungry, he is attentive to their needs and difficulty. It is not merely a material satisfaction but is symbolic of the deep spiritual satisfaction. Only Jesus can satiate our deeper yearnings and needs. Only he can quench our thirst and satisfy our hunger. One who comes to him, one who spends time with him and for him, one who listens to him, one who gives priority to Jesus more than all other concerns, will never go hungry and dissatisfied. They will be filled to the full.

Further, this miracle of multiplication of loaves and fish is also a happy blend of human situation of little, deficiency and dissatisfaction, and the divine intervention of might, sufficiency and satisfaction. A miracle is nothing but an encounter between the divine abundance and human littleness, and miracles continue to happen.

When Grace and human effort combine together, situations will change and miracles will happen. Five loaves and two fish - very little to feed five thousand; but in God's hands, touched and blessed by God, the little gets transformed and multiplied.

Scarcity turns into abundance, deficiency into sufficiency, dissatisfaction into satisfaction, anxiety into serenity, and problem into celebration. This is truly the touch of the divine and grace.

In God's sight, nothing is little or insignificant. Everything counts. He wants to work with our little, and work on what is available. True faith does not exclude our human effort, i.e. not doing our part. It is well said, there is no use of leaving a candle to a blowing breeze and praying God to protect it from being blown off.

Further, a note on "collecting what is left over": Yes, nothing of Grace is wasted. It is a check against "wasting" our God-given resources or energies or talents or gifts, when they are abundant. Abundance can easily lead one to complacence and extravagance, arrogance and unaccountability. Everything is accountable. Basketfuls cannot neglect scraps!

Direction: Loving is not merely a matter of heart, and knowing is not merely a matter of mind. But both lead to the concrete action of benevolence. 

 

06 JANUARY 2021, 1 Jn 4. 11-18; Mk 6. 45-52

 

Focus: Problems never leave us, suffering never disappears completely, but there is no need of crushing our hope in God

 

Fear often blinds our vision not to recognize the presence of the Lord. How rightly John in his epistle remarks that there is no fear in love because perfect love drives out fear! Surely in our life often like the disciples in the gospel, we too are tossed about strong storms and fear grips us. We feel that we are sinking and perishing. What is more worrisome is that the Lord seems away and even his presence is mistaken to be that of a ghost. Sight gets blurred as fear grips and faith wavers. It is because our love for the Lord is not perfect. It is so weak and fragile, easy to be shaken and be wavering. What to do and how to counter such a situation? The solution is not to avoid all the storms and disturbances, because that is never possible since life will never be fully free from all the troubles. Rather what is better is to deepen and perfect our love for the Lord, so that it dispels all our fear. If we love him deeply, we will trust unshakably that the Lord will never abandon us. He would not allow us to sink. He will surely come to our rescue.

Therefore, enhance the sense of focus on the Lord. Love God and abide in intimacy with Him. Often, like disciples, one loses focus on the Lord, frightened and discouraged by the life- difficulties. The Lord never leaves us but comes to our rescue. He constantly assures us, "Do not be afraid. I am with you!". Hear constantly the assuring voice of the Lord, "Fear not, I am with you!"

 

Direction: Life is never free from storms and there is every possibility to be frightened. But never worry. The Lord is ever with us to come to us and to subside our fears and storms

 

07 JANUARY 2021, 1 Jn 4. 19- 5. 4; Lk 4. 14-22

 

Focus: Love is the only and greatest reason for all devotion and charity and love alone is the remedy for all the maladies in the society

 

Jesus declares his mission manifesto in the gospel. He makes clear the essential purpose and the tenets of his mission. He never loses sight of this focus and the direction of this mission. The components of this mission are very clear. The recipients or the target group of this mission are the poor, the captives, the oppressed, and the blind. The poor receive good news, the captives receive liberty, the oppressed gain freedom and the blind receive sight. Thus truly it is time acceptable to the Lord. All this mission is accomplished by the power of the Spirit, by being anointed by him. And this in turn is founded on Love. Obedience to the will of the Father for the salvation of humanity, and dedication to that mission of salvation in charity become the motivating and driving forces.

Now, two aspects of the message for us: one, we are the recipients; if so, how much in poor spirit we receive the good news? How much do we allow ourselves to be liberated from our captivity? How much we are freed from the oppression of sin? How much do we receive the sight from the Lord? The second aspect is, as givers and promoters: how much good news do we give to the poor? How much do we release the captives and the oppressed? How much do we give sight to the blind?

 

Direction: True mission is in fact a mission of love. It comprises love for God in communion and love for the other in compassion, and moves on the power of the Spirit

 

08 JANUARY 2021, 1 Jn 5. 5-13; Lk 5. 12-16

 

Focus: One who believes in God, will overcome the world, will bear testimony to God and will obtain eternal life

 

Being sick is understandable. This can happen in anyone's life. But what is deplorable is that one has no desire to come out of it. God's grace is always abundant and available to heal us. But its effect is concrete only when there is a proper disposition, reception and cooperation from the human side. Jesus heals a leper in the gospel. Appreciable is the leper’s humility. This humility realizes his sick situation. It realizes his need for healing. It nurtures a deep desire for healing. This confides in Jesus' power to heal, and also respects Jesus' freedom and kindness to heal. Thus the leper readily gets healed and happily gets reintegrated into his family and into the society. There is no wonder that Jesus appreciates such a humble and transparent disposition, willingly heals the leper and restores him his lost dignity. The leper stands as an example and inspiration for all of us.

How sad it is that many are leprous psychologically, morally and spiritually! Many are infected and have not diagnosed it. They have neither the interest nor the effort to get rid of it. Consequently, they do not approach the Lord for his healing touch.

 

Direction: In life, as humans we are, at times, we may suffer from the sickness of sin and evil. But what is more important is that in humility and faith, we get healed by the Lord and live a renewed life.

 

09 JANUARY 2021, 1 Jn 5. 14-21; Jn 3. 22-30

 

Focus: Those who are born of God, who are of God, will not commit sin. Further what they ask of God according to His holy will, will receive it

 

The disciples of John the Baptist act in a typical human way: they feel jealous and threatened at the rising popularity of Jesus; they feel worried that their own master may lose his following. They turn to their master. John the Baptist corrects their thinking and clarifies once again about himself and Jesus. In all humility, he is prepared to recede to the background as Jesus steps on to the centre stage. In all magnanimity, he reiterates his subsidiary role as the friend of the bridegroom and not the bridegroom. Jesus is the real bridegroom, and his duty as his friend is to rejoice in his presence and make sure that the focus is directed on to him. John the Baptist is an imitable example for us to emulate. He is not carried away by jealousy at the rising popularity of Jesus. He is not agitated and driven by ego-projection or ego-promotion. He is so authentic to be deeply conscious of his true identity as the precursor of the awaited Messiah who prepares the way for him. He is so humble to allow himself to decrease and promote Jesus to increase.

How often many present disciples can be bubbling and churning with jealousy! They feel so disturbed at the rising of others. The whole reason is the excessive tendency of self-seeking which falls short in humility and magnanimity.

 

Direction: We are only the servants and disciples and never the lords and the masters. Let us not dethrone God Himself to steal the show!

 

 

BAPTISM OF THE LORD. 10TH JAN 2021

 THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD, 10 january 2021

1. The baptism of the Lord reminds us of our own baptism

Let us reflect on the purpose and meaning of the baptism of the Lord, and in this light, reflect, re-know and renew the value of our baptism.

2. The Lord is baptized.

First of all, does He need baptism?

Certainly No. Because, for the Jews, baptism indicates that one recognizes and accepts one's sin, that one repents and asks for mercy to God, and that God forgives and purifies all sins

3. However, Jesus is the Son of God and without sin. Therefore no need for forgiveness and cleaning

4. Still why?

The baptism of Jesus has a purpose and a deeper reason. It is in accord with the divine plan of salvation

Yes. Even if sinless, Jesus becomes one of us, the sinful, in need of being saved,

Jesus, even if purely clean, becomes one of us, the impure ones, in need of being clean,

Jesus, even if fully intact, becomes one of us, the broken ones, in the need to be healed,

Jesus, even if totally one with the Father, becomes one of us, the alienated and separated from God, in need of being reconciled and reunited,

Jesus, even if in complete pleasure with God, becomes one of us, the displeasing to God, in need of being pleased.

5. Thus Jesus becomes the Lamb of God who bears our sins upon himself, that is in our place, and supports our burdens because of us.

Thus He lifts us from our burdens, frees us from our misery and our weaknesses, and strengthens us with the power and glory of God

6. Therefore the baptism of Jesus is not just a ritual or a traditional ceremony

It points towards our vocation, our consecration, and our salvation

In his baptism, Jesus officially and consciously begins the divine plan of salvation

At the point of his baptism, Jesus consecrates himself and dedicates himself to the mission of freeing us from the chains of evil, and of beautifying ourselves with the kingdom of grace.

It is for this reason, Jesus is anointed by the Spirit, and attested by the Father himself

7. This is the meaning and the goal of the baptism of Jesus, and from this also our baptism derives its value and direction

Our baptism manifests that we belong to God, and not to Satan,

that we are generated by God himself as his children,

that we are sealed like his peoples chosen by the seal of baptism,

that we become members of one and the same divine family as sisters and brothers,

that we share the same life as Christ,

that we are anointed by the power and holiness of the Holy Spirit,

that we are consecrated to being loyal and dedicated to God alone

8. Thus, every baptized person must experience, nurture, radiate and increase

Grace and not sin, virtue and not vice, the good and not the evil, holiness not impurity, the divine power and not human frailty, the light and not the darkness, the consecration and not the execration, unity not disunity, communion with God and not separation from God, the closeness with God and not the distance, abandonment to God and not self-glory, reconciliation not retaliation, humility not arrogance, pleasure to God and not displeasing God, to bear witness to love for the values of Christ and not to scandalize, to resemble Christ, and do not neglect.

9. Whether this is happening? How much are we true and faithful to our baptismal dedication?

Feast of Epiphany

03 JANUARY 2021, SUNDAY, EPIPHANY

1. Epiphany means “manifestation”. The Festivity of Epiphany, also popularly known as the Feast of three Kings (Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar), celebrates the revelation of God in His Son as human in Jesus Christ. The six Sundays which follow Epiphany are known as the time of manifestation.

God reveals His Son already to Mary and Joseph and the shepherds. But that manifestation is not limited only to them, or only to those moments or confined only to Bethlehem. Thus God born in a manger, manifests Himself to the three kings or wise men from far.

2. God who is beyond all space and time, God whom no space or time can confine or contain, Himself traversed from heaven to earth, not for a tiny place or for a short moment. 

His grace and salvation is universal, for all, for all times. Salvation embraces all and always. While Incarnation is the first instance of divine manifestation, the visitation of the three kings becomes the second instance of divine manifestation.

3. This is the first point to understand and believe on the day of Epiphany: God’s grace is unconditioned. It has no boundaries or discriminations. His grace is open and manifested to all. How unfortunate it is that some try to put blocks or restrictions even to God’s grace and salvation! What an irony it is, that we who are limited, try to limit the limitless grace of God! How often many try to choke, suffocate and stifle God’s grace, owing to money, power, position, status and prestige!

4. As God manifests His plan of salvation, in His Son, He awaits a response from the human part. The three kings by their visit, respond to this manifestation. This visit as response is marked by some essential features:

1) They earnestly obtain knowledge about him - his birth, his location, his nature, through all available sources, like science and scriptures

2) They yearn profoundly to see him directly

3) They set out on an engaging journey in search of him

4) They trust and reply on help from above, in the form of a star

5) They allow themselves to be guided by the star

6) They travel far and difficult

7) They reach the Saviour

8) They humble themselves before the mighty God, in surrender and adoration

9) They offer gifts, symbolic of his nature – Gold, representing Jesus’ royal standing (royalty), Frankincense, his divine birth (divinity), and Myrrh, his mortality (humanity)

5. Today, for us, who celebrate this Feast, the message and the invitation is too clear:

First of all, be convinced of the all-embrace of God’s grace. Never put boundaries to grace, neither for self nor for others. “The wind blows where it wills”. God wants to grace to all. And everyone needs God’s grace and salvation. Grace cannot be discriminated against or manipulated, on the basis of human divisions or calculations or prejudices. We have to go beyond the barriers of space and time, to meet the Lord who is beyond space and time. We have to enlarge our mental horizons to receive the salvation which is for all.

6. Then, follow the example of the three kings, and travel their same route of responding to God’s epiphany and encountering Him. Some simple reflection and questions:

1) How much do we try to know about Him, gaining more knowledge and familiarity, through science and scripture, through many sources that are readily available at our disposal? How little is the interest and knowledge of God, in contrast to the immense interest and knowledge of the secular world?

2) How shallow and thin-layered is our desire and longing to see Him directly and personally? Often it is due to lack of motivation that we fail to see and experience Him. As long as we are bound by indifference and tepidity, we cannot go beyond our self-bounds to the unbounded Lord who abounds in love and mercy.

3) Do we set out constantly in search of Him to find Him? Are we consistent and persistent in our efforts to discover His will, His plans, in action for our good?

4) Are we too confident, over-reliant and self-complacent, on account of our own human capacities and worldly resources, that we neglect to rely on the help and “signs from above” – the star?

5) Are we humble and docile enough to allow ourselves to be guided by God’s signs and ways?

6) How is our journey of faith and charity? Are we ready, prepared and persevering to continue our travel, though far and difficult?

7) How many occasions and experiences can we really count, to acclaim sincerely that we reached the Saviour, that we are in his presence, that we encounter him?

8) How often our pride and arrogance makes us “stiff and erect” that we are not able to bend before the Lord in surrender and adoration? A true adoration is not so much a bowed head, but a bent heart, not a lowered body, but a humble spirit.

9) What are our gifts to the Lord? – Is it the Gold of our loyalty to his royalty? Is it the Frankincense of our surrender to his divinity? Is it the Myrrh of our amiability before his ineffable affability of his humanity?