week days mass reflection of 6th week in ordinary time and Ashwednesday

 15 – 20 FEBRUARY 2021, HOLY MASS REFLECTIONS

 

15 FEBRUARY 2021: GEN 4. 1-15, 25; MARK 8. 11-13

 

Focus: External signs such as miracles and grand interventions may help faith but cannot generate faith or prove God's power.

 

As humans we are, many times our faith depends on seeing and experiencing concretely God's action and intervention. Accordingly, we wish that our intercessions for various needs are granted immediately. In other words, miracles, favours become the proof for the efficacy of our prayer, and also for the attention and care of God. In a way, we are unconsciously putting God to test, to prove His goodness and power by granting what we plead for. This is in fact the same mentality of people of Jesus' own time, who demanded signs from heaven. How foolish and unbelieving they were! There were already many miracles, so much preaching the gospel of God's love and mercy, comfort and consolation. And more than all these, Jesus himself is the biggest sign. Therefore, what is needed is not to test God but trust; not asking God to prove His power but to prove our fidelity to Him by our perseverance.

If we sincerely examine, many of us are no different from those Pharisees who demanded signs from heaven. It is not because they wanted to believe and confirm their belief, but rather they wanted to justify and disguise their unbelief. Are there not enough and more signs in our own times? Why do we want signs at all? What are actually signs meant for? Do we realize that primarily signs are meant to direct our focus and attention in the right direction? They are meant to comfort and strengthen us in the wrong times, and ignite us with renewed courage and commitment. They are not to substitute but only to complement our responsibility. Many times, signs are demanded to shirk away our responsibility. Like Cain in the first reading from Genesis, why to do wrong and then have the countenance fall? If we do well, surely God will accept and bless us. We will not need special signs. The greatest sign of God’s presence is charity, that is, to be a “keeper, a custodian of the other” as a brother and sister. Jealousy, violence and destruction are counter signs.  

 

Direction: If in every prayer, we only ask God to fulfil our desires and grant us favours, then why at all to pray specially for God's will to be done?

 

16 FEBRUARY 2021: GEN 6. 5-8; 7. 1-5, 10; MARK 8. 14-21

 

 Focus: Negative influences assail us any time and all the time, and we need to be cautious about them.

This is our human predicament, that is, being constantly exposed to evil. All the more, in our own times, evil seems to be on rampage. Exactly as in the time of Noah, we see that the wickedness of man is great on earth and all the thoughts seem to be thoroughly evil-oriented. In Jesus’ time too, there were the negative examples and the false influence of the Pharisees and scribes that shake true faith and misguide others. This is exactly the leaven of Pharisees and that of Herod. We will never lack these wrong-footed influences, the deviations and distortions. Many are under the false influences. Consequently, as Jesus reproaches in the gospel, hearts are hardened. Having eyes, many do not see, and having ears, they do not hear. They easily forget the immense good that happens in their life. The disciples had already seen the miraculous power of Jesus when he fed the multitude with few loaves and fish. Yet, they were much worried about lacking enough bread. In these aspects, they too fall into the same category of faithless Pharisees and Jews.

What then is the remedy? We should constantly lean on Jesus and remember his miracles which are powerful manifestations of his love for us. In the face of wrong influences and pressures against faith, we must cultivate the spirit of turning to God in surrender and perseverance. Like Noah in Genesis, we must keep ourselves uncontaminated and righteous even amidst an evil and misguided generation, with false leaders like the Pharisees and Herod.

 

Direction: What we must try is not so much avoiding all the negative influences, which is not at all possible. But rather, to resist them, and to persevere till the end, resting on Jesus

 

17 FEBRUARY 2021: JOEL 2. 12-18; 2 COR 5. 20 – 6.2; MAT 6. 1-6, 16-18: ASH WEDNESDAY 

Focus: Lent is a God-gifted time to be bent on God, to repent for the evil and to be intent on good.

1. We step into the holy season of Lent. Let us entrust our whole journey of Lent to the loving guidance of the Lord, that this time may be truly a duration of renewal.

2. This is Ash Wednesday! What does this day of ashes signify? What do the ashes denote? In the practical sense, ashes indicate total annihilation and nothingness. Hence the expression: "gone / reduced to ashes".

3. In the ordinary common religious sense, ashes denote sacrifice, renunciation and detachment. Hence the expression: "I have nothing but ashes".

4. In the biblical spiritual sense, ashes denote repentance and penance. We find in the Bible, applying ashes to atone, to repent and to do penance.

5. The day of the ashes, with the call, from dust you are come, and unto dust, you shall return", or "repent and believe in the gospel", reminds us the temporariness and transience of our earthly existence, and also our origin from God and our destiny to Him. Life is a temporary transit, we are due to God, we are his due, destined to reach him and be with him.

6. Therefore, in this temporary and impermanent sojourn, toward our eternal destination, how to conduct our life? With the spirit and lessons of the ashes positively. That is, in surrender to God, with a sense of nothingness; in attachment to God, with a sense of detachment; and in renewal and transformation, with a sense of repentance and penance. 

7. In the light of the gospel, to conduct and travel this journey, 3 acts are proposed as effective means: prayer, fasting and almsgiving. However, the insistence is not so much on the activity itself, i.e. prayer, fasting and almsgiving, but rather on their purpose and end

They are namely, love and intimacy with God; self-discipline and self-restraint; and concern and charity.

8. Therefore, in love, let us grow close and surrendered to God; in renunciation, let us grow more disciplined and charitable; in renewal, let us grow more and more transformed!

 

Direction: Prayer, fasting and almsgiving are not merely religious practices, but are true means and testimonies of religious spirit and living.

 

18 FEBRUARY 2021, DEUT 30. 15-20; LUKE 9. 22-25

 

Focus: To live a worthy life is to live in the spirit of wisdom; true wisdom consists in essential choice between two sets of values.

 

The essence of a right and happy living is growing in wisdom. This wisdom shows us clearly how foolish it is to bother so much to gain the whole world but lose one's own precious soul, that is, lose the spiritual wealth and depth and the authentic happiness. Wisdom also realizes that it is more worthwhile and beneficial to choose God, life, blessing and holistic prosperity, in contrast to the world, death, curse and doom. Then wisdom consistently pursues the path of these right choices. This is the way of wise choices that is laid down in concrete details in Deuteronomy: Love God, listen to Him, be loyal to Him, follow His commandments and walk His way. In the words of Jesus in the gospel, it is: deny self, take up the cross, and follow him. “Denying the self” is not self-rejection, but self-injection. This implies on one hand, ejecting out all that is false self, ego-swelling, self-interests, and on the other hand, injecting into the self, the positive attitudes and pursuit of self-emptying and self-giving. “Take up the cross” does not mean to go about as burdened and crushed people under the weight of the cross of suffering. Rather, it means to accept our daily crosses of unfavourable and unpleasant situations, to bear patiently, lovingly and trustingly the loads of difficulties and challenges. And “follow Jesus” means to walk constantly in his footsteps, to imitate his life and mission in the practice of virtues and values. In the words of Deuteronomy from the first reading, all these conditions of discipleship would mean: to obey the voice and commandments of God, by loving Him, by cleaving to Him, by walking in His ways, by keeping His commandments, statutes and ordinances. But all this struggle and fidelity is not a futile project. It is highly rewarding: God will bless abundantly.

 

Direction: There is no use of claiming and boasting about one's intelligence unless one makes the right choices and follows them.

 

19 FEBRUARY 2021, ISAIAH 58. 1-9; MATTHEW 9. 14-15

 

Focus: All our religious practices gain their full meaning and merit when they are blended with good works.

 

Insistently, the Word of God makes it clear to us that our spiritual life and actual life should go together. They are not two separate and dissociated domains. Religious disciplines like Fasting become more pleasing to God and meritorious when they take us more close to God and to others. The purpose and end of all our spiritual observances is twofold: one is, to enjoy the presence and closeness of Jesus, "the bridegroom"; the other is, to overflow the spirit of the religious practice into the practice of concrete duties of fraternity and acts of charity. Isaiah details some of these: act justly, set free the oppressed, feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, clothe the naked, etc.

Therefore, there is no use of doing all religious practices without changing the concrete life. Why to fast without giving up self-pleasure? Why to fast, if we do not abstain from oppressing others? Why to fast, if we do not refrain from quarrelling and fighting? Why to fast, if one does not turn away from his wickedness? Why to fast, if one does not grow humble? The point is not only concerning the particular practice of fasting. This applies to all our religious observances. God wants that all our religious practices lead us to a good living. They become means as well as expressions of a life of righteousness before God and toward others. Thus, when piety and fraternity, when devotion and justice, when religiosity and integrity blend together, they will find God closer and pleased.

 

Direction: It is a mistake that some think the Word of God is downplaying and even substituting the practice of fasting with practice of charitable acts. No. They are not substitutions but restitutions of the true spirit, extensions, completion and perfection of the same.

 

20 FEBRUARY 2021, ISAIAH 58. 9B-14; LUKE 5. 27-32

 

Focus: " Follow me!" - this call of the Lord never ceases. He calls us at any time, in any situation, especially when we are immersed into our ordinary works!

 

Often we may pay heed to the voice and call of the Lord, when we are free or in prayer and reflection. But the Lord's call continues to resound also in our busy moments, in those times when we are caught up with our preoccupations or duties. We need to reset and re-tune our ears to listen to Him. We need to repent and be healed, because it is for this he came, to call us to repentance and to transform us with his healing touch. In the light of the first reading, His call to follow him implies that we turn away from evil ways, we do not seek self-interests, abstain from oppression and malice, cling on to him and abound in charity. Once we are loyal, then it is a totally different life: light will shine and spread in darkness, he will guide us, renew our strength with never-drying and ever-gushing springs of energy and vitality. The call and life of Levi (Matthew) is a vivid testimony of the Lord's working. It is very interesting that the Lord speaks of our sickness or sinfulness as a pre-condition or requirement for his call and mercy. He declares: It is not the healthy but the sick who need a doctor; I came to call the sinners and not the righteous. What does it tell us? First of all, we need not feel upset or lost because of our human fragility. It is not a matter of despising by the Lord. Rather, it becomes a kind of qualification to be graced by the Lord! Not that we feel happy in being sinners and so continue like that; rather, it only means that we need not despair and be depressed. This also makes us humble to accept our own sinful condition, and thus throw away all our false layers and disguises to appear righteous. Further, it instils in us a new hope to rise up to repent and to become a follower of the Lord. What we were before being called is not the matter. But, what we become after being called is the real and the only matter.

 

Direction: Our God is a God who resists and detests all labels and prejudices. He defends and dignifies Matthew. Can we too follow his footsteps, rising above all disparities and discriminations?

 

6th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME. YEAR B

 6^TH SUNDAY, 14 FEBRUARY 2021, LEV13. 1-2, 45-46; 1 COR 10. 31 – 11.1; MARK 1. 40-45

Focus: Our ultimate motto is to glorify God through a life of goodness and holiness, in bearing abundant fruits

1.    We live in a prevalent situation of sickness, not only the physical, but much more the emotional, moral and spiritual. In the biblical context, in reference to today’s Word of God, this is the “leprosy”. There are always traces of woundedness, uncleanness, corroding of values and estrangement from others – the typical leprous situation.

In the light of the leper in the gospel, we can draw some lessons for our life:

2.    Realize: realize that we are lepers, unclean. This is the first thing in the process of healing. Realize that we are unworthy, undeserving, and we do not really merit God’s grace and mercy. That is why, the leper addresses Jesus, “If you will, you can make me clean”.

3.    Desire: Nurture a genuine desire to be healed. Be genuinely motivated to get rid of the interior leprosy. Desire or motivation is the driving force toward healing, and often the lack of it obstructs the process of healing.

4.    Surrender: With awareness and motivation, one needs to surrender oneself totally to God. surrender is not a sense of helplessness or a passive resigning to overhauling situations. True surrender implies a profound trust in God and readily and eagerly approaching the Lord. Trusting is also not something propositional, which is merely believing some truths and doctrines. Trusting is more a matter of deep conviction in the power and goodness of God. Trusting involves a warm and intimate relation with the Lord.

5.    Bear witness: Once healed and cleaned, what next? Bear witness! In the light of the second reading from the first letter to the Corinthians, we can easily pool together certain features of this bearing witness.

1)    One ingredient is: “All for God’s glory”. There is no self-seeking, no seeking self-glory. Self is not at the centre but God alone. Whatever one does, in all that one does, whether big or small, and whatever be the domain of action, whether spiritual or material, one does everything for God’s glory.

2)    Another component of witness is “Imitate Christ”. Paul confidently exhorts others to imitate him just as he imitates Christ. Let one not blame Paul for being self-complacent or self-righteous. Rather, such a statement only shows the depth of his conviction and authenticity. One can declare so, only when one is sincere about it, only when one’s imitation of Christ is not debatable or spurious. Today, some gifted or highly competent followers of Christ may claim that they are imitators of Christ. May be! But one has to constantly check and see whether such claims are ugly heads of overbearing of the self and self-projection. The only criterion for one’s imitating Jesus is the quality of life. The simplest test is whether one’s life is inconformity with Jesus’ own person, life and mission.

3)    Another feature is “No offence to anyone”. If one is a healed person, one becomes highly respectful toward others. He will take utmost care that he does not become offensive to anyone. In the present times, this hurting and offensive trend is increasing. In the name of fighting for justice or rights or standing for truth or opposing injustice and demanding for good governance, or promoting right values, many become so ruthlessly offensive and condemnatory. One should remember that charity is the supreme principle, and no one has a right to offend another, whatever be the issue.

4)    The other features that can be assembled together are: “No self-advantage”, “But the advantage of many”, and “Pleasing all”. In contrast to a virulent search for self-interests, self-advantage and self-pleasing, we are called to set aside our selfish gains and pleasures. Always be focused on how to help and benefit others, how to promote the larger good.

Direction: As humans, we may be often thrown into situations of sickness and sinfulness; what is needed is not to simply lament or blame, but to work upon remedying those situations, in humility, surrender and commitment.

Week days of 5 week in ordinary time.Daily mass reflection

08 – 13 FEBRUARY 2021, HOLY MASS REFLECTIONS

08 FEBRUARY 2021, GENESIS 1. 1-19; MARK 6. 53-56

Focus: Healing is not an automatic thing; it is not a passive reception of God’s grace; it needs faith, and true faith is an active orientation to God’s grace and cooperation to it. This implies a constant process of recognizing Jesus, seeking, running to him, touching him and thus getting healed.

 

In the first reading from Genesis, we see the narration of the first creation. God creates everything. This means that God is the author of all life. We owe our existence to Him. Everything that is created is good. Thus, reflection on creation should stir in us a sense of gratitude, a sense of dependence, a sense of beauty and dignity and goodness. In the gospel, we see Jesus on a “new creation” or “re-creation”. He is restoring the creation to its original beauty through his ministry of healing the sick. Evil and sickness are signs of imperfection, disruption of the goodness and beauty of the creation. Jesus is ever ready and available. He is already here and now. In fact, it is always God who takes the initiative all through the story of creation and salvation. The very presence and ministry of Jesus is a clearest sign and testimony of God’s commitment to the task of restoration and re-creation. The treasure is laid open before us. It is seen, it is shown, it is offered. It remains then how one approaches Jesus for this healing. For this, what is needed is to know about him, to recognise his presence, go near him wherever he is, to dispose oneself to be touched by him, and thus get healed. We can marvel at the depth of people's faith in Jesus. They believe that even a touch of his garment can transmit his power to heal their sickness. God is on this unceasing mission and project of healing the sicknesses. But, how many are aware that they are sick? How many realize the need to be healed? How many desire to be healed? How many approach Jesus? Instead, how many seek wrong means to overcome the sickness!

 

Direction: Let us remember that unless we feel the need of being healed from our sickness, we can never approach Jesus and receive healing.

 

09 FEBRUARY 2021, GENESIS 1. 20 – 2.4; MARK 7. 1-13

 

Focus: The external traditions and activities alone do not guarantee the authenticity of a person. The externals should help one to become more authentic, and also should express one’s being authentic

 

God created us in His own image and likeness. This shows our human beauty, dignity as well as sanctity. This interiority is the most important aspect of human person and society. No externals should mar or breach this. Rather, every external activity or tradition should help to live and foster this interior greatness. An exterior is sound when it corresponds to the interior and channels a clean and good interior. Whenever there is no such harmony between the interior and the exterior, whenever a good exterior becomes only a cover-up or substitute for a defective and unclean interior, then clearly it is hypocrisy. Unfortunately, hypocrisy is so prevalent always and everywhere. In the gospel, Jesus clearly exposes once again the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and scribes. Following the traditions, rules and religious obligations is good. But all these should make one more authentic and benevolent. They alone cannot decide the quality of a person. This hypocrisy lies in these following aspects: 1) giving more importance to the human traditions and observances and neglecting the more essential divine spirit and moral precepts, 2) twisting the explanation of the religious matters to suit one's convenience and interests, 3) ignoring inner purity and using the external purifications and purity as a cover up and substitute for the internal purity. Human person will be true to his image and dignity, if there is harmony and not dichotomy between his inner self and outer acts. Life will be beautiful when there is a blend of a good exterior and a good interior, and not a conflict. Therefore, we should guard against the two possible dangers: one is, a bad interior and a show-off exterior; the other is, a good interior but not shown in a good exterior. Both are defective!

 

Direction: True integrity is an integration of both interior purity and external purity, being religious-minded and charity-directed.

 

10 FEBRUARY 2021: GENESIS 2. 4a-9, 15-17; MARK 7. 14-23, Memory of St Scholastica

 

Focus: Inner pollution is more dangerous and destructive than the external pollution. The life of a person or society degenerates when a person’s interior degenerates

 

We are living in a world which is concerned and worried about pollution of various sorts. It is anxious about ecological cleanliness. Thus, it also comes up on many diet regulations and restrictions. The whole purpose behind is sanity and sanitation. Such a concern is reasonable and helpful. But the problem is an excessive concern for the externals and an overriding neglect of the internal sanity and sobriety. How many are really aware that there is one another pollution that is more dangerous and alarming, and that is the inner pollution, the pollution by sin and evil? How many really bother to keep their hearts clean? How many sincerely check their inner health, that is, the quality of their thoughts, the quality of their words, their actions and their whole character and behaviour? How many take upon a course of inner diet, with certain self- regulation and self- restraint? Concretely in the light of the first reading from Genesis, how many consciously think of the dignity and duty of their vocation? How many seek always the tree of life and not the tree of death? How many are able to distinguish between good and evil? How many resist the temptation to try out what is hidden? How many defy God’s constant warning to avoid what leads to a culture of death? How many knowingly disobey God’s explicit commands, warnings and admonitions? How many give excessive importance to the features of their bodies while disfiguring their heart and soul? How many keep their external so clean and tidy while they defile their interior? How many invest so much of their money, time, energies and capacities on what is temporary and worldly but spend very little on what is eternal and heavenly? St Scholastica whom we commemorate today, the sister of St Benedict, always preserved this interior purity totally consecrating herself to monastic life.

 

Direction: The profile of a person will be good when he guards his file of life from what does defile his interior and negatively compile his heart.

 

11 FEBRUARY 2021, GENESIS 2. 18-25; MARK 7. 24-30, Memory of Our Lady of Lourdes

 

Focus: True faith is always humble and surrendered and it is rewarding. At times, faith may be challenged and tested, but those who persevere will reap the fruits

 

True faith does not cancel all the problems. It means that if one has faith, it does not mean that there will not be any problems. Faith does not guarantee absence of problem or suffering. In fact, true faith proves itself only in the face of challenges and adversities. Faith shows us the way to do when faced with a problem. It gives the confidence and courage. It fills one with undying hope even in hopeless and desperate situations. It makes one deeply humble and totally surrendered to God. Humility and surrender are not against self-dignity or honour of a human being. In fact, the account of creation of woman in Genesis reminds us that it is God who creates both man and woman, unites them together, and bestows on them a singular dignity. Their dignity consists in their humility. Their freedom consists in their surrender. Their continued beauty consists in their recalling and reliving their original beauty of communion. This is indeed the possession by the Holy Spirit. But at times, this is thwarted and distorted by the possession by the evil spirit. In such moments, what to do? Turn to Jesus for healing. The pagan woman in the gospel turns to Jesus. The pagan woman with her deep faith, wins Jesus' mercy and thus the healing of her possessed daughter. Her humility makes her not to retort when Jesus speaks derogatively, almost equalling her to a dog. Her perseverance makes her answer with a firm trust that even the dogs eat scraps fallen from the children's table. The memory of Our Lady of Lourdes that we celebrate today reminds us once again that God always blesses and rewards the simple and the humble. Our Mother reveals herself as the Immaculate Conception to a simple village girl Bernadette of 14 years. She appeals for rekindling of faith and conversion. She does not promise cessation of difficulties but the power of God to face them. A faith that is testified in a life of conversion is what God wants from us.

 

Direction: The more we are blessed and gone higher, the more we must remain humble and steadfast in our faith and loyalty. Let us not seek false dignity and greatness in false status and arrogance, but in humility and surrender

 

12 FEBRUARY 2021: GENESIS 3. 1-8; MARK 7. 31-37

 

Focus: Sin is not merely a cluster of evil acts, but it is more a fundamental disposition and orientation; It is a fundamental alienation from God, a grievous rupture of the intimate relationship with Him

 

There is a dramatic description of first sin in the first reading from Genesis. The Satan, represented by serpent, cunningly tempts and entices the first parents, Adam and Eve. The devil knows where to strike and how to appeal. It can present even the worst as the best. The offer is something very attractive and fantastic: equality with God Himself, to become like Him, to know like Him. This is one temptation that is perennial, and that is, seeking self-glory, elevating oneself to the level of God, assuming total independence and self-sufficiency. The biggest temptation is man’s desperate search to organize his life without God, and thus to do away with God. In other words, this is a closure to God’s grace. As long as man is closed to God’s action, he cannot experience the fullness and fulfilment of life. Without openness to God, man will experience insufficiency and inability in many ways. Therefore, what is needed is “to be opened”. Precisely, it is to be opened to God’s grace. In fact, the whole fault of the first parents was that they were opened to the Evil one, and not to God. They hide themselves from God, while they happily engage themselves in lively dialogue with Satan. But Jesus in the gospel reverses the situation. Jesus heals a deaf and dumb man. His actions like putting his finger into the man's ears, spitting and touching his tongue and pronouncing the healing command, "ephphatha" - all these show his personal concern and trouble for us. Today, the same invitation and command is addressed to each one of us: "Ephphata" (be opened). You who are deaf to God's voice and message, you who are deaf to the cries of the needy and struggling, be opened to your inner listening. You who are dumb not speaking God's word and good word, be opened of inner speaking. For this, we need our hearts to be opened. Only when there is an opening to God’s grace, only when we are open to His touch and healing, we will be set free from our inner bondages, and our inner energies will overflow into streams of health and wholeness.

 

Direction: This is the high time that we sharpen our listening to become more attentive and clear our speaking to become more responsive and concerned.

 

13 FEBRUARY 2021: GENESIS 3. 9-24; MARK 8. 1-10

 

Focus: Sin may bring quick results, temporary benefits and shallow pleasures, but eventually it lands one into misery and destruction

 

Sin alienates the humans from God. They lose that intimacy and freedom with God. They lose their sense of worth and dignity. They lose the sense of confidence and joy. The expulsion of the first parents from paradise is very symbolic of this essential loss. It is not merely being driven away from a place, but it is a basic being driven away from their original dignity, intimacy, beauty and joy. In consequence, guilt and shame, hunger and thirst, struggle and toil, want and dissatisfaction become their lot. But, the Saviour averts this sin situation by his offer of salvation. In the gospel, in Jesus we see this contrasting situation. We see a contrast in how Jesus draws the people to himself and thus turns them to God. He understands our situations of struggle and want. He does not want to leave us to struggle with our desert of dryness and hunger. He feels compassion for us. He attends to our want. He alleviates our hunger. He satisfies our needs. Those who approach Jesus will never be disappointed or turned down. They will never be allowed to collapse on their way. They will have their fill and full. They will have, not only enough but abundance (7 baskets still left over). As humans we are, living on this earth, we cannot wish to be totally free from situations and experiences of dryness, want and worry. The fact is, struggle and toil is part of our human life. But, we can always find ways and means to address these concerns. We can have the direction and strength to resolve them appropriately. And the best means is to confide in Jesus and to turn to him. Also, from our part, offer to him all the little we have, the seven loaves and few fish, to join to his mighty abundance. He will surely multiply them to feed the multitude.

 

Direction: When we hunger and thirst for God, when we sacrifice something in preference to his presence and word, surely God will take care of our needs. 

 

5th Sunday of ordinary time

5^TH ORDINARY SUNDAY: JOB 7. 1-4, 6-7; 1 COR 9. 16-19, 22-23; MARK 1. 29-39

 

Focus: Life is short; it passes away swiftly; this fact must not dissipate us or push us to quick and instant enjoyments. Rather this brevity must make us be more responsible for every bit of life and time

1.     Today, one main focus of the Word of God is our mission on this earth and as the disciples of Christ. We are given some essential ingredients of this mission. They are Sensitivity and solidarity, sense of urgency, obligation and dedication, and spirit of unattachment to the world and the earth. These are seen in three figures, namely Job, Paul and Jesus himself, respectively in the three readings.

2.     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.

3.     Our reflection on the mission and its components is not merely to know about it, but to do it, because now it is our mission. The baton is passed on to us. It is the very same mission of preaching the good news and healing. Our mission can be effective and fruit-bearing, if only it is driven by the same components that mark the mission of Jesus and Paul. In a world that is drowning in whirlwinds of bad news from all the directions, we are called to be missionaries of good news of comfort, assurance, positive energy, enthusiasm, and hopefulness. The world needs to hear something positive, something healthy, something uplifting, something noble. We have bundles of trash that are bombarded around us. We need some refreshing and relieving bash of good tidings.

4.     The world needs healing from various evil forces. Much more than the physical illnesses which never cease, what is alarming is the infection of mind, heart and spirit. There is so much mental-intellectual virus, emotional- psychological virus, social-moral virus, and spiritual-religious virus. Prejudices and biases, resentments and negativities, closedness and stubbornness, arrogance and haughtiness, deception and selfishness are highly infecting and sickening the world of today. The ugly effects of these viruses and infection are hatred, indifference, violence, corruption and destruction.

5.     Therefore, the Lord is sending us on his behalf in his name, with his own mission. He is trusting us and is counting on us. What must be our response and duty? First of all, we ourselves must receive the gospel and the healing. Because we too are so engulfed in the grip of negative vibrations. We need the fresh waves of good news to drench us. We too must open ourselves to the Lord’s healing touch.

6.     But what next? 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.

7.     But to fulfil this noble mission and task, what are our requirements and equipment? They are Sensitivity and solidarity, sense of urgency, obligation and dedication, and spirit of unattachment to the world and the earth. We need to be both spiritually and fraternally sensitive. We need to be eager and prompt to throw ourselves in solidarity with those who suffer and struggle in different ways. We must know its urgency, because it is already high time and there is no time left; we cannot afford to neglect it or postpone it. We must feel obligated and mandated; it is not an option but an obligation. We must totally commit ourselves to this great mission. For this, as Job exhorts us, we must be conscious of the impermanence of life and the futility and vanity of placing our trust in the world and worthlessly running in worthless pursuits. This must lead us to a spirit of distancing ourselves from undue clinging to the world.

 

Direction: 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.

4th week in ordinary time mass reflection

 01 – 06 FEBRUARY 2021, HOLY MASS REFLECTIONS

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01 FEBRUARY 2021, HEB 11. 32-40; MARK 5. 1-20

 

Focus: Faith puts a clean spirit into us, strengthens us and makes us worthy in God’s sight; But the unclean cannot stand the presence of the Holy one, and cannot resist the power of grace as well

 

The Word of God presents before us two kinds of spirits, and two kinds of people, led by them. In the first reading from the letter to Hebrews, we have a list of people of faith, like David, Samuel and so on. They were men of deepest faith, who stood the tests. They were unswerving and persevering, even amidst trials and adversities. They were truly men filled by the clean spirit. But, in the gospel, Jesus encounters and confronts a man with unclean spirit. There are very precise details regarding the possessed man's condition. These are very indicative. They indicate what are some of the clear signs of being evil-possessed. Living among the tombs indicates living aloof, cut off and estranged from others. Shouting and crying indicates the spirit of grumbling, lamenting, arguing. Bound in chains indicates being bound in the fetters of sin and evil. Not being controlled and subdued indicates an undisciplined and unreined freedom. Bruising himself and others as well indicates all the acts and habits of self-ruin and harm to others. Legion indicates that evil is not a single isolated act but is always a bundle, a pack and series of wrongs. All these unclean forces always surmount and torment us also. All of us need healing, and need to be made clean. But many a time, like the possessed man, we do not want to be healed. And like the people, we do not value and appreciate the healing, because we are more concerned about the material interests (loss of swine), rather than the persons. Only faith makes us approach Jesus, seek his healing touch and be clean.

 

Direction: Let us come out of our wandering aimlessly among the tombs of our estrangement from God and others, and run to God to be restored to sanity and integrity.

 

02 FEBRUARY 2021, MAL 3. 1-4; HEB 2.14 – 3.1; LUKE 2. 22-40: PRESENTATION OF THE LORD

 

Focus: To offer oneself totally for one's own good is good but not great or out of the way. But to offer oneself for others' good is great and noble

 

1. Today we celebrate the festivity of the presentation of the Lord in the temple. This is clearly symbolic and indicative of the nature and purpose of Jesus' life and mission. His human earthly life is an offering of the Father to humanity and for humanity for their salvation and redemption.

2. Thus his life is sacrificial and his mission is redemptive. The ritual presentation of the Lord symbolizes his actual presentation by his death and resurrection. What a destiny and mystery! He came to die, but it is not to remain under the shackles of death to disappear completely. It is only to rise gloriously and thus make us live again.

3. In his presentation is seen in one scene the whole story of his life and the culmination of it. In his presentation, we witness a totally different God, not a God who waits and appeases himself by various presentations and offerings by the humans but a God who offers his own self. He does not offer merely some gifts and boons, but offers his most precious Son.

4. Thereby God reveals and reminds us of His very nature and of the nature of true love and also of the essence of salvation. Our God is a self-offering God; true love is self-offering and salvation consists in self-offering for others.

5. Jesus' presentation in the temple is not merely a ritual fulfilment, not merely a chronological event in the history of his life, not merely a part of his natural human growth. It is already an integral part of the redemptive process.

6. His presentation is also a representation and invitation for our own presentation. Just as he is presented by the Father through his parents for the whole humanity, so too we must present and offer ourselves to God for the sake of others. It is only in self-giving and surrender that we obtain our salvation. And It is only in this life of offering that we fulfil our mission of salvation of others.

7. As long as we refuse to offer and surrender ourselves to God and for the good of others, our life will have no meaning and no destiny. All the forces of self- centeredness, self-closure, defiance and unreined freedom are clear contradictions to the very essence of our life and mission!

 

Direction: Undue self-clinging and self-indulgence, losing sight of surrender to God and commitment to others' good are self- destructive!

 

03 FEBRUARY 2021: HEB 12. 4-7, 11-15; MARK 6. 1-6

 

Focus: Faith opens up to the action of God's grace while lack of faith closes one's receptivity and forfeits the free gift of grace

 

In the gospel, we see what lack of faith does not and cannot do. It is seen in Jesus' own people, in his own place. Those people are not able to rise above their narrow confines of territory and blood relationship. They see Jesus just as one of them and nothing more. They do not recognize the divinity in him. They cannot think of something beyond their human considerations and judgments. They are caught up within their human and cultural prejudices. Thus, his own people fail to believe in him and fail to accept him. Jesus is truly grieved over their unbelief. Consequently, they fail to obtain the grace of God offered through Jesus. This is in contrast to the exhortation in the first reading from the letter to the Hebrews, which says: “See to it that no one fail to obtain the grace of God; that no ‘root of bitterness’ springs up and causes trouble, and by it many may be defiled”. Jesus’ people defy this summon. They are defiled by their own root of bitterness and prejudice against Jesus. They “regard lightly the discipline of the Lord”. They lose sight of the fact that God disciplines those whom He loves. They fail to see that God wants to discipline them through His Son Jesus. They forget the simple truth that “though discipline looks painful for a moment, yet later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it”. The same danger of unbelief is ever real in our case as well. We too may grow so familiar with God’s grace that we take it for granted. We may lose the sense of the sacred. Therefore, it is high time that we “lift our drooping hands and strengthen our weak knees, and make straight paths for our feet”. It is the right time that we strive for peace with all and for holiness.

 

Direction: God is ever ready and eager to shower His grace upon us, but He wants our faith to be open to it, to receive it and to cooperate with it.

 

04 FEBRUARY 2021: 1 COR 9. 19-27; JOHN 12. 20-32, FEAST OF ST JOHN DE BRITTO

 

Focus: It is really the metal of a saint to live totally for the Lord, and also to die for him; one who is not ready to die for him, would not also live with him and for him

 

Today we celebrate the feast of saint John de Britto. He was born in Lisbon and worked and martyred in Tamilnadu, India. He is the patron saint of the diocese of Sivagangai, India. Today’s both readings are very much applicable to saint Britto. Like Paul, he “became all things to all, that by all means he might save some”. He made himself a slave to all, that he might win the more. Quite true to Jesus’ teaching, Britto makes himself like the grain of wheat that falls into the earth and dies, and bears much fruit. He willingly loses his life in temporality, so as to gain life in eternity. He is convinced that like Paul he does it all for the sake of the gospel, so that he may share in its blessings. Like a committed runner, he ran the race of faith that he may obtain the eternal prize. He is deeply clear that his faith, his struggles for faith are never a waste. He does not run aimlessly. He does not box as one beating in the air. He passionately loved the Lord and so lost his life for Jesus’ sake. Like Jesus, Britto always sought to glorify the Father through his very life of abundant fruits. He runs the race of faith, not for a perishable prize or wreathe, but for an imperishable. He qualifies himself by pommeling and subduing his body. That is why he truly deserves the reward promised by Jesus. Jesus says, “If any one serves me, he must follow me, and where I am, there shall my servant be also; if any one serves me, the Father will honour him”. Accordingly, Britto in his martyrdom glorifies the Father; and the Father in turn glorifies him with eternal life. Like Britto, we too must follow Jesus’ path of paradoxes by losing our life for his sake, so as to gain it for eternity.

 

Direction: When one’s love for the Lord is intense, then he will not retain anything for himself, even his very life. But this giving up will be richly rewarded by receiving the eternal life

 

05 FEBRUARY 2021: HEB 13. 1-8; MARK 6. 14-29, Memorial of St Agatha

 

Focus: True greatness does not come from one's own capacities or world's resources but from God and His mercy and power

 

In the gospel, we have contrasting figures: on one hand, on the side of the right, there is John the Baptist, and on the other side of the wrong, we have Herod, Herodias and her daughter. John the Baptist was a righteous and holy man; he stands as a tower of truth, justice and courage. But the others crumble as broken pieces, as persons of deviated passions, unholy and ungodly, self- interested and self-seeking, justifying and supporting the wrong, and harming and destroying others. In the light of the first reading from the letter to Hebrews, John the Baptist was the one, who could confidently acclaim, “The Lord is my helper, he will not be afraid; what man can do to me?” On the other hand, Herod, Herodias and her daughter were shallow, evil-minded, and harmful. Truly, Herod and Herodias breached the admonition of the letter to the Hebrews, which insists: “Let marriage be held in honour, and let the marriage bed be undefiled”. Each of these has their own defective orientation.  Herod stands for the man, immoral, money-bound and discontented. He shows such a weak character that he easily succumbs to the destructive request of Herodias to kill John the Baptist. That is why he does not contest or revoke the evil plan of Herodias. He is a man who carries a false status and dignity. He makes a false promise to Herodias’ daughter to give away even half of his kingdom. In his false fidelity and remaining true to his promise, he commits a grievous sin. Herodias stands for a woman off the track, a woman of immorality, grudge and cruelty. Herodias’ daughter stands for a weakling who has no backbone to judge, discern and decide and do - all by herself. She blindly obeys her mother, and gets John the Baptist beheaded at her mother’s instruction. She is so gullible that she is simply misguided by her evil mother. Certainly, all these negative qualities are present in all of us. In contrast, St Agatha whom we commemorate stands as a glowing example of purity of heart and integrity of life.

 

Direction: Doing the wrong is certainly deplorable, but trying to cover it up, defending it and destroying all those who are right and opposed to the wrong is more heinous.

 

05 FEBRUARY 2021: HEBREWS 13. 15-21; MARK 6. 30-34

 

Focus: In life, the priced things are not so much possessions and positions, but wisdom, integrity, compassion and dedication

 

In the gospel, once again we see the deep compassion of Jesus towards his disciples and the people. He does not bother about himself, but thinks of the tiredness and hunger of his disciples and the need for food and relaxation. He is concerned about the lack of guidance and of inner sustenance of the people, and their need to quench their spiritual hunger. That's why he teaches them, boosts up and elevates their spirits.

And one concern that is impelling and challenging is the situation of “sheep without a shepherd”. What a profound and realistic observation and evaluation of Jesus on the people of his time! Our times are no different from those. Truly, many people today are like sheep without shepherds. It is true that many are without direction and due care. Many are like sheep without proper guidance and sufficient nourishment, be it spiritual, psychological, or moral. They need good shepherds. In fact, strictly speaking there is only one supreme shepherd and that is Jesus. And all those who are entrusted with the task of shepherding the sheep, are actually the herdsmen, the caretakers. Today, a serious reflection and self-check must be on the quality of these herdsmen. Their main failure in their shepherding is not following the sole shepherd Jesus. The first reading from the letter to the Hebrews is both a direction and orientation, as well as a reminder and admonition. It is both for the sheep and shepherds. Particularly, these herdsmen ought to keep watch over the souls. They need to be conscious that one day they must give account. They must do their duty joyfully, and not reluctantly or sadly. And all, both the sheep and the shepherds must have a clear conscience. Their desire must be to act honourably in all things. The constant striving must be to equip themselves with everything good, so as to do his will, and whatever is pleasing in his sight. This is what St Paul Miki and his companions always did.

 

Direction: Passion for God and compassion for others should always make our life tireless and our mission relentless. If we bother about God's work and others' good, God will bother about what we need.