5th week of Lent

 

22 – 27 MARCH 2021, HOLY MASS REFLECTIONS

 

22 MARCH 2021, DANIEL 13. 41-62; JOHN 8. 1-11

 

Focus: The innocent may go through testing and troubled times for a while, but God never forsakes them. Those who trust in God will not fail

 

Today’s Word of God invites our attention on God’s merciful intervention in human life. Especially in situations of accusation, judgement and condemnation, in situations of ‘no other way’, in situations when we feel that we are lost and no one can save me, in such situations, God enters and reverses the whole course of things.

This is what happens in both the readings. In the first reading from the Book of Daniel, an innocent Susanna is accused, judged and condemned, and in the gospel, an adulterous woman too is accused, judged and condemned. The case of both is adultery, and both are condemned to death. But, the difference is: Susanna was innocent and the adulterous woman was culpable.

However, the main issue is not so much innocence or wrong. The whole focus is on God intervening in our difficult and desperate times. He never allows an innocent to perish in disgrace. That is why, through Daniel, God rescues Susanna from the false accusation and condemnation. And he is always merciful and never condemns anyone however sinful one is. That is why, in the gospel Jesus rescues the adulterous woman from stoning by the crowd. He forgives her and changes her life.

The question is not the sin of the woman to be punished, but each one's sin to be realised and judged. The end is not condemnation but transformation. The purpose is not termination of the sinner, but the elimination of sin.

Jesus says, "Let one without sin, cast the first stone on the woman". This is a clear call for this self-focus and self-discovery. This will lead to a genuine repentance and conversion, and this leads also to an empathetic forgiveness and charity. It is not a leniency or compromise concerning sin and wrong, it is not minimising it or justifying or defending it. He does not tell them, not to stone her; and this implies that sin is certainly culpable and punishable. He sends her away, commanding her not to sin anymore. This indicates clearly that sin is certainly grave and detestable, and therefore must be avoided and overcome.

 

Direction: Let us keep aside our hypocrisy to project ourselves as just and to blame others as sinful. We must remember that righteousness is different from self-righteousness. Ultimately it is God who judges us

 

23 MARCH 2021, NUM 21. 4-9; JN 8. 21-30

 

Focus: To sin may be part of human frailty. But repentance and focus on God will certainly win God's forgiveness and healing

 

Jesus is United with the Father. He is sent from the Father, he listens to Him and does what pleases Him. But the people do not believe in him and they reject him. The reason is a total contrast between him and the people: he is from above but they are from below; he belongs to God but they belong to the world.

This is the same case with regard to the Israelites. They are so earth-bound. Their main botheration in the desert was food and drink, and that too rich and variety. They forget all their misery of slavery in Egypt. They forget the mighty works of God. They even lose sight of the greatest act of liberation, the Exodus. They don’t realize how benevolently God provides them food from heaven even in the desert. They don’t value and appreciate God’s manifold blessings. They turn ungrateful, grumbling and blaming. They blame Moses and God as if they liberated the people from Egypt for dying in the wilderness. They call manna as a loathsome worthless food.

This is all because their perspective, their concerns were in contrast to God’s. Thus, those who are caught up with the world and remain immersed into it, will fail in their faith and goodness. They become blind to God and to others. Further, they will die in their own sin. However, if they repent and seek God’s mercy, they would be forgiven and saved, like the Israelites. Yes, those who raise themselves out of the grip of the world, and remain focused on the Lord, will gain eternal life.

 

Direction: As long as one does not realize one's sinfulness and refuses to accept it and repent for it, will not receive God's forgiveness and will not change their lives

 

24 MARCH 2021: DANIEL 3. 14-20,24-25, 28; JOHN 8. 31-42

 

Focus: Good will always be assaulted by evil and will be forced to default and defect. But faith, perseverance and fidelity will sustain the good.

 

In the first reading from Daniel, the three youngsters Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego defy the order of the king to worship the false god. They remain faithful to the true God. They know the truth and they continue free to serve the true God. They prefer to obey God rather than to please the king. They prefer temporary persecution to eternal damnation. They remain as obedient but free children of God rather than as the enslaved children of sin. They prefer to die so that they can gain eternal life. No threat, no fear, no force, no pressure can shake their faith.

On the contrary, in the gospel, the Jews fail to know the Truth, Jesus himself. They become blind to recognize his identity, by their shallow following of the laws and traditions. They become slaves of sin They reject Jesus, the supreme giver and perfecter of all law. They lose the precious gift of freedom, offered by him.

This is what happens in the case of anyone who is blind to truth and led by false ways of the world and shallow practices. Any rejection of truth is falsity. Any falsity is sin and every sin is an enslavement. And every enslavement takes away the real freedom. But we know freedom is the deepest craving and priced treasure of every human, and every one seeks it. Nothing of the world can substitute true freedom. When there is no true freedom, there will be no meaning, no value, no dignity and no deep joy of life.

Faith alone gives that inner sight to see and follow truth. What the three young men had was this faith, and what the Jews lacked was this same faith. Consequently, the three young men were rescued and freed. They become worthy of eternal life. But the unbelieving Jews continue enslaved. They stand condemned and lose eternal life.

 

Direction: Many are externally free, in the sense that they are free to do anything of their choice and preference. But little they realize that any slavery to sin is only false freedom

 

25 MARCH 2021: ISAIAH 7. 10-14; HEB 10. 04-10; LUKE 1. 26-38 SOLEMNITY OF ANNUNCIATION

 

Focus: Miracles happen when there is a combination of God’s action and human reception and cooperation

 

1.       God sends His angel to Mary with His plan of incarnation for salvation. He seeks and awaits her approval. This is precisely the nobility and magnanimity of God: Even though He can do very well without us, yet He wants to involve us, wants us to be His collaborators and sharers. It is only because He loves us. True love values others, respects each person’s dignity and honour.

2.       How much noble and magnanimous we are, being His children? How much do we see all others as persons of dignity and respectability? How much do we treat others with respect? How often and how easily we despise others, showing a false greatness and sticking to our own ideas, opinions and prejudices?

3.       Then from the part of Mary, what a humility, docility and surrender to God’s grace and plan! What humility! She does not get puffed up that God Himself is standing at His door for her approval. She does not forget her finitude as a creature before God’s infinity. In all humility, she is aware that the offer of her divine maternity is not her merit or greatness but God’s love and care.

4.       What a docility! She does not contest or argue or reject or doubt God’s plan. Even her question, “how it is possible to bear a son without rapport with her spouse” is a quite normal and legitimate question expected from a simple teenage girl, brought up in faith and morals. Perhaps bearing children outside the marital bond may not be a big issue for many in our modern society. But for her society and tradition, certainly it was a matter of immorality and infidelity. But in her docility, she risked being labelled immoral and unfaithful. For her, what mattered the most was God’s plan and salvation of all, and not her human thinking and reputation.

 

5.       Then what a surrender: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord! Be it done unto me according to your word!” Often we are so accustomed to these words of Mary that we take for granted and take light the immensity of Mary’s act of acceptance. It needed the guts of the spirit to utter such words of total surrender. What a surrender! She has no discussion, no conditions, no suggestions. She does not clarify how God would safeguard her reputation, or how God would let others know about her virginity and innocence in spite of conception, or how God would her family and Joseph take it. She does not request God at least to convince her spouse. She is not much worried about the myriads of uncertainties and risks that await her. Her only concern was to do God’s will and an unconditional ‘Yes’ to God’s will.

 

6.       Now it is not enough to admire Mary for her humility, docility and surrender. What about our humility, docility and surrender? A little talent, a little capacity, a little money, a little position, how much we become arrogant? Even with regard to spiritual gifts, how easily we succumb to feeling that I am better than others, I am greater than others?

 

7.       How docile we are? Even though many times God proposes, inspires, advises, admonishes many things, how much we can be obstinate and fixated, clinging to our own ideas and calculations? We give more importance to our human intelligence, reasoning and decisions, rather than God’s wisdom and promptings? Do we know better than God? Can we do better than God?

 

8.       How often we lack the spirit of surrender? We try to convince God that it is not right and possible to do His will. We have hundred and one reasons to explain and justify why we cannot surrender to God’s ways. We fail to surrender only because I and self-interests become the centre of my whole thinking and not God’s will and the good of others. We may allow ourselves to be carried away by what is false, what is ignominious, what is unjust, what is impure, what is ineffable, what is dishonourable, what is vice and harmful. Instead, as St Paul to Philippians (4.8) exhorts us, our focus and striving must be on what is true, noble, just, pure, affable, honourable, virtuous and beneficial. We must put into practice what we have learned, received, heard and seen.

 

Direction: We shall desire and pray that we may become more and more humble, docile and surrendered like Mary, because only thus, we can receive the Saviour and experience his saving touch.

 

26 MARCH 2021: JER 20. 10-13; JOHN 10. 31-42

 

Focus: Good and good people will always face adversities and will suffer a lot at the hands of evil. But those who confide in God and are convinced of good, will stand firm like rock

 

Today’s Word of God in both the readings lays accent on the rock-like conviction and courage of prophet Jeremiah and Jesus. Jeremiah is haunted and persecuted by his own people. But he does not give up. He does not lose heart or courage. He does not also give in to negative and angry feelings of revenge and retaliation. Whether it is reward for him for his perseverance or judgement on his enemies for their wickedness, everything he leaves into the hands of God. He surrenders everything into God’s mighty hands and just dealing, by professing “to you. O God, I have committed my cause”.

Jesus too suffers at the hands of his own people. Often they enter into argument and dispute with him. They contest and challenge him, they accuse and criticize him, they counter and defy him. They are totally closed and do not see his divine identity and do not accept him. They try to trap him and trouble him. They refuse to listen to him and reject him. In a spirit of an earnest search, they could analyse and discover the truth in Jesus’ claims about his oneness with the Father. But instead, they take offence at his words, labelling them as blasphemy.

Jesus challenges their lack of discernment and grounds for finding fault with him. On what grounds, they blame him? On what grounds they disbelieve Jesus’ intimacy and unique relationship with the Father? How can they close their eyes not to see the mighty works of God through Jesus? How can they refuse to accept the testimony of his own works, done under the purview of God’s light and power? His own works bear testimony to his communion with the Father, and to his mission of salvation. But nothing of these – opposition, falsification, persecution could deter his spirit. He continues his mission undaunted.

 

Direction: Jesus said, if you do not believe me, it is okay. But at least believe the works I do, because they themselves become the testimonies for Jesus’ unity with the Father, and his total loyalty to do what the Father tells him and to please him doing His will.

 

 

27 MARCH 2021, EZK 37. 21-28; JN 11. 45-57

 

Focus: Life becomes a blessing when there is a profound belonging to God, when God becomes our own God and we become God's own people

 

Holiness and mission are the hallmarks of a man of God, and all the more, of Jesus. Such a life is vividly described in the first reading from Ezekiel. It is a life totally related to God - rooted in God, flourishing on God and bearing fruits by God. It is a life that is cleansed from all defilement of false idols, a life that lives by a faithful observance of God's statutes, a life of abundance in the promised and blessed land of God.

Jesus lives such a life and offers such a godly and abundant life to those who turn to God. He donated such new life to Lazarus in the passage that precedes today's passage. In giving life to Lazarus, Jesus runs the risk of death. What a paradox of our faith: he gives life to Lazarus, but as a result he embraces death. But it is not a helpless twist of fate. It is a willing fulfilment of God's plan of salvation.

Trust deeply trust in God’s love, mercy and power. Purify ourselves and preserve ourselves pure. Understand and value God owning us up, who says, I am your God and you are my own people. Never forget our inseparable bonding, both spiritual and fraternal.

– life will not be the same. It will change. Let us also believe in the promises and assurances of God. God assures that he will make a covenant of peace and everlasting. He will bless and multiply them.

 

Direction: Those who are faithful to God, live a life in conformity with His holy will. They will persevere to the end and accomplish the mission, come what may

 

 

 

 

5th Sunday of Lent

 

5^th LENT SUNDAY, 21 MARCH 2021: JER 31. 31-34; HEB 5. 7-9; JOHN 12. 20-33

Focus: True life of following Christ is not a matter of the convenient, but is a commitment. This means to enter into a new covenant with Him and serving Him in fidelity

1.      The whole story of humanity is an unceasing saga of God’s love. It is a love that is marked by intimacy, mercy and fidelity. It is a love that sustains an inseparable bonding, like that between husband and spouse. It is a love that nurtures the deepest belonging which assures untiringly: I am Your God and You are My people. It is a love that enters into a new covenant that puts His law within them, writes it upon their hearts and deepens their knowledge and experience of it.

2.      It is a love that mercifully forgives and forgets all their iniquities. It is a love that is ever faithful in spite of all our infidelities. It is in this same intimate, merciful and faithful love that God sends His only Son to be the incarnate Saviour.

3.      This love shows itself in solidarity with humanity stung by sin and misery. It suffers for our sake. And finally, it climaxes in obedience to God’s will and salvific plan, even by dying on the cross.

4.      In response to such a love of God, what is our duty? We are called to serve Him and follow Him. In the light of the gospel imagery, it is to be like a grain of wheat. A grain falls into the ground, undergoes a dying process of struggle of change, sprouts up and grows and finally bears abundant fruit.

5.      This implies a whole life of sacrifice and service, a death to self and life and fruit for others. It is a covenantal and committed life of self-emptying and self-giving. In a world where the spirit of sacrifice and service is rapidly diminishing, and a culture of greed and grabbing, domination and subjugation is flourishing, the only remedy is a love that empties itself and gives itself generously and selflessly to others.

6.      True it is, such a sacrificing and serving love is very challenging and testing. But, it is not a vain battle. The Lord clearly assures us that God will honour and glorify us. We will share the same heavenly glory and eternal communion with God. However, it is not a diplomatic baiting or wooing the followers. Rather, it is instilling a new confidence, infusing a new courage, inducing a new hope and impelling a new energy.

Direction: Our life is worth living, when it is lived out with more humility, nobility and fidelity. All these become possible when they are soaked into the single spring, and that is a humble and loyal love.

 

4th week of Lent

 

15 - 20 MARCH 2021, HOLY MASS REFLECTION

15 MARCH 2021, ISAIAH 65. 17-21; JOHN 4. 43-54

 

Focus: Things may go wrong so hopelessly at times. But do not lose heart. Because, as long as God is with us, life can never be hopeless. So, let us firmly confide in Him.

 

What an assurance! What a consolation! What an encouragement! What a rejuvenation of the drooping spirits! The words of God through the prophet Isaiah in the first reading are indeed springs of hope and courage. God promises: "I shall create new heavens and new earth; no more cries will be heard; there will be all rejoicing and happiness; the old things will not be remembered". These words are intensely timely and comforting, especially in our own present times. We are still in the fearful grip of the Coronavirus. It has thrown the whole world into chaos, dread and death! It has subdued every power before it! It has upset the whole rhythm and order of life, has taken away the beauty and worth of life! Yes, evil can be powerful and frightening, but God is more powerful and assuring. He is a God who can work miracles, just with the power of word even at distance.

This is what is testified in the gospel episode. Jesus heals and revives a royal official's son at death's bed. All that is needed is a deep faith like the faith of that official. He requests Jesus to come personally to his house and heal his dying son. He urges Jesus to come soon and urgently before he dies. But Jesus just says, “Go, your son will live”. Here is seen the utter faith of the official. He does not ask Jesus how. He does not argue with Jesus that his faith is sincere and he is not just looking for signs and wonders. He does not go on explaining to Jesus about how deep his faith is. He does not even insist that Jesus should go personally with him. The master says ‘go’. The healer assures that his son would live. That was enough for him. No more questions or doubts. Enough that we have faith like that official, and surely God is ever ready to remedy and heal even the worst situation.

 

Direction: As long as we still hope against hope, we will surely experience the power and intervention of God. What is needed is a faith that totally surrenders its misery to God

 

16 MARCH 2021, EZ 47. 1-9, 12; JOHN 5. 1-19

 

Focus: When the streams of God's grace flow over us, life will be enlivened, refreshed and renewed

 

In the first reading from the prophet Ezekiel, there is a vivid and beautiful description of the river that flows from the temple. This symbolizes the streams of God's grace and the gracious effects of it. Wherever the river flows, there is life, freshness, growth, healing, nourishment, fruitfulness and abundance. Thus, when God's grace flows upon a person, life becomes revived, refreshed, strengthened and abundantly fruitful.

This is what happens in the gospel in the case of the person immobilized for 38 long years. On one hand, the length of his illness shows the height of human indifference. What a sad story of insensitivity and selfish competition: Within 38 years, nobody gave any priority to get him healed. None helped him to get into the healing pool. Everyone was bothered about his own health and wellbeing. On the other hand, we also see the steadfastness and perseverance of the sick man. He never gives up his desire or hope. He never stops trying to get into the pool to get healed. He does not get despaired or dissipated. In such a context, Jesus enters into his life. He understands his situation. Even without being asked for his intervention, Jesus takes initiative and heals him. The same will happen in our lives as well. Jesus is ever waiting to heal us. He knows that we need healing. But he wants us to know that we need healing. He wants us to desire it and seek it. It is very interesting that after healing the invalid, Jesus orders him not to sin any more. Does Jesus imply that his invalidity is because of his sin? The point here is not that all those who are sick must have committed some sin. Rather, all those who sin will certainly be sick in some or other way. In fact, sin itself is sickness. It will immobilize us and make us invalid. Sin takes away our movement, our activeness, our enthusiasm for God and good. It will make us “lie down on bed” for years and years. We need to “get up from our bed and walk ahead”. This is the real healing.

 

Direction: All others may disappoint us and fail us, but God never fails us and it is enough that we trust him

 

17 MARCH 2021, ISAIAH 49. 8-15; JOHN 5. 17-30

 

Focus: Who can measure the love of God! What can one compare it with! He never forsakes us. He never ceases working for our good, growth and happiness. Blessed are those who realize and experience this!

 

The greatest beauty and the most beautiful greatness of our God is He is ceaselessly at work. It is the work of loving. It is a relentless mission and project of transforming our lives into something beautiful and great. What does this imply? It means, God will nourish us, and we shall not hunger or thirst. He will lead us and we shall not be harmed or misguided. He will comfort us and we shall not remain afflicted. He will lift up our spirits and we shall not lie desolate. It is a love that is incomparable and immeasurable. It is like a mother’s love for her nursing child. A mother never forgets her nursing child. But even if such a thing happens, even if a mother forgets her nursing child, even if her love fails, yet God’s love for us never fails. He never forgets us or abandons us.

Jesus’ coming to us and living with us is the greatest sign of this love and work of God for us. Jesus tries hard to make the people understand this. He wants to draw their attention on to God who loves them and works for them ceaselessly. He never rests, because His love never rests or halts. Throughout his whole life and mission, and through his preaching and healing, what Jesus wants to reveal and show to the people is just this: God loves us and works for us. It is beyond times and seasons, beyond any conditions or restrictions.

It is in this spirit and with this mind, Jesus speaks of his communion and oneness with God, his likeness to Him, and his power and judgment. But instead, people understand the wrong side. They misunderstand as competition with God all of Jesus’ doing God’s will. They misunderstand as claiming equality with God all the closeness, likeness and oneness of Jesus with God. They misunderstand as blasphemy all his deepest God-consciousness of seeing everything in reference to God as blasphemy. They misunderstand as disrespecting and violating Sabbath his timeless love-work like God’s. Hence blaming and persecuting Jesus.

 

Direction: If only one lifts up his eyes and realizes the unstoppable and untiring love of God and His working for us, we will be eternally grateful and passionately committed to do God’s work!

 

18 MARCH 2021, EX 32. 7-14;  JOHN 5. 31-47

 

Focus: How true it is that we vex God often with our stiff-neckedness! But thanks to the same God who is so flexible to relent and be benevolent yet again!

 

Really it is a sad thing that no seldom many people test God's patience and benevolence with a spirit of obstinacy and closedness toward God. How painfully God laments over the people of Israel. For, so easily they forget the marvels that God has worked in their lives. They forget the mighty liberation. They become ungrateful and attribute all the credit to mere idols. They turned aside from the way of the true God. They corrupt themselves. They are truly stiff-necked. But, Moses is deeply concerned for them. He makes enormous effort to tone down God's wrath. He tries to evoke sympathy in their favour. It is not playing down their wrongdoings and infidelity, but elevating God's fidelity. In simple, he clearly attests that God's fidelity is not conditioned or reversed by the people's infidelity. He is stable and steadfast. What a nobility and power of intercession!

The same stubbornness of the Jews confronts and torments Jesus. He takes the role of Moses: on one hand, he constantly speaks the truth; he urges the people to accept and follow it. He challenges their lack of transparency. On the other hand, he bears testimony to God's love and fidelity. He calls them earnestly to believe him by calling different sources as his testimonies. These are Moses and his teachings, the sacred Scripture, John the Baptist, the Father Himself and Jesus' own works. These are authentic witnesses to his divine identity and divine mission. But, sadly no witness can convince them. Because they are so closed and blind and hard.

We are invited and summoned to believe and change.

 

Direction: God goes on speaking to us, enlightening and calling us to know God and to get closer to Him. Let us believe Him and live with and for Him

 

19  MARCH 2021, SOLEMNITY OF ST JOSEPH

 

Focus: A true believer sees with his optic of faith that in his life, things do not happen by chance but by choice of God in accord with His eternal plans

 

1. St Joseph! What a great, simple, humble, noble and faithful saint he is! Spouse of Blessed Virgin Mary, Foster father of the Saviour, Head of the Holy Family, patron of the universal church.

2. Some main features of st Joseph:

1) Purity of heart (lily)

2) Intimacy with Jesus (child Jesus on the bosom)

3) Longing and searching for the Lord (Jesus, lost and found in the Jerusalem temple)

4) Protecting and guarding Jesus (flee to Egypt to escape from Herod's cruelty)

5) Responsible, diligent and dedicated toward his work and care for the family (carpenter)

6) Docile and recollective (silent worker; no single word spoken by him; doing everything silently without any show or seeking recognition)

3. In the light of the OT: Joseph is a just man. Who is a just man? One who fears God, one who turns away from evil, one who is blameless, and one who is upright

4. In the light of the gospel, and in contrast to the world's mentality:

Joseph is characterised by a single quality as "just" man. In a world where being just and standing for justice are very often understood and presented in a very shallow way, Joseph stands as a model, example, inspiration and challenge for true and perfect justice. 5. Justice is not a mere concern and fight for rights, of one's own or of an interested group. It is not crushing or suppressing others' rights. To be really just also means to be conscious of duties as well, to be conscious of the rights of others.

6. Joseph was just, because he did not think of his rights as a husband (to denounce Mary publicly for her divine conception) but thought of Mary's right (as a woman of dignity and honour not to be subject to public shame)

6. Joseph was just, because he did not think of what is right for him but for Mary. He did not stick to his own opinion, idea, reason and judgment. Rather he gives room for what can be the thinking and situation of Mary.

7. He was just because he did not cling on to his win plan and decision to denounce Mary but surrendered to God's will and accepted Mary back as his spouse.

 

Blessed are we to venerate him with devotion! But still blessed shall we be if we imitate him as well with dedication!

 

Direction: True justice is not a mere clamour for individual rights or a group's, leading to conflict and suppression of some others. Justice is dry when is devoid of charity

 

20 MARCH 2021, JER 11. 18-20;  JOHN 7. 40-53

 

Focus: Good persons suffer on behalf of God and good, but they never give up and abandon the right path

 

The prophet suffers. This is so much and humanly unbearable. He suffers ingratitude, deception and betrayal at the hands of his own people. He faces persecution and even to the point of death. This is all the more excruciatingly painful because it is his own people for whom he did so much, for whom he pleaded so fervently to God not to punish or destroy them for their iniquities but to be merciful. And so, humanly speaking, he should seek revenge. But he is really a God-fearing and God-trusting man. So he entrusts his case and cause to God.

This is the same spirit that Jesus manifests in the face of undeserving and unjust suffering. His own people refuse to believe in him. No amount of miracles, no amount of powerful and godly teachings, no amount of witness from the sincere messengers, and no amount of wise advice from leaders like Nicodemus, would melt their stubbornness. Their jealousy makes them prejudiced. Their prejudice leads to hatred. Hatred blinds them to truth. Their blindness leads them to unbelief. Unbelief leads to rejection, and rejection to evil plotting, and conspiracy finally ends in murder.

But, just see Jesus. No amount of affliction and problem makes him be shaken in his loyalty to God's will, in his compassion towards his people. At no point, Jesus backtracks from God's will or doubts the rightness of God's ways. And at no point, Jesus feels retaliation towards those hostile to him and never he wishes bad for them. So instead of feeling furious toward those who did wrong to Jesus, it is better that we get more convinced by looking at the prophet and Jesus. 

 

Direction: Often it is a wonder for me, why and how the leaders and the people as well could not get more correct details about Jesus' birth and lineage. That only shows that when faith is shallow, knowledge too becomes shallow and deviated.

 

 

 

 

 

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IN WHOSE HANDS...

 *In Whose Hands…* 

It all depends in whose hand it is. Let it do good in your hands too:

A tennis racket is useless in my hands but a tennis racket in Serena Williams hands is a Championship Winner and it is worth Millions.

A rod in my hand will almost scare and keep an angry dog away but a rod in Moses hands parted the mighty Red Sea and allowed his people to go to a land chosen by God.

Songs sung by ordinary people have no rhythm but songs sung by Michael Jackson from the heart, gives an internal pleasure and only song lovers can understand its beauty.

A sling shot in my hand is simply an unwanted toy and not of much use but a sling shot in David’s hand was a mighty weapon.

Two fish and five loaves of bread in my hand is just enough for breakfast in my house where I can feed only my family but in Jesus hands he fed thousands and made each and everyone happy.

Knowledge is like a new born baby and practice is the Key in my hand but in the hands of Saints and Sages it is a Treasure full of Wisdom.

Nails in my hands by mistake might just cause me a temporary injury but in Jesus' hands they produced salvation for the entire world.

As you can see now, it all depends on whose hand it is, so put your concerns, worries, fears, hopes, dreams, families and your relationships in God’s hands because it all depends in whose hands they are.

Put all your Trust, Faith and Responsibilities in His hands and watch the amazing transformation that will take place in your life and how great you will become.

BE THE ONE

 *Be That One Today!* 

One gifted tree can start a gigantic forest.

One sparkling smile can bring a friendship to blossom.

One helpful hand can lift a soul out of misery.

One constructive word can frame the goal of life.

One word of cheeriness can bring so much joy.

One candle lit with an intent that can wipe out darkness.

One uproarious laughter can conquer gloom.

One gentle touch can show you care.

One look of compassion can relax the weary traveler.

One honest deed can dissolve years of mistrust.

One life can make a difference to someone. 

One loving gesture can work wonder.

One happy moment can wipe out all your pains. 

Be that one noble person today who can bring so much pleasure and cheerfulness to a hungry, confused Soul who is in need of loving-kindness, care and compassion.  

Let us put Love in everything that we do.  Serve others with a Grateful Heart and always Believe that a bit of Miracle is waiting for us somewhere behind the radiant Sunlight.

Be grateful for every second of every day that you get to spend with the people you love. Life is so very precious.

 *REAL HAPPINESS LIES IN MAKING OTHERS HAPPY.*

3rd week of Lent

 

08 – 13 MARCH 2021, HOLY MASS REFLECTIONS

 

08 – 13 MARCH 2021, HOLY MASS REFLECTIONS

 

08 MARCH 2021, 2KGS 5. 1-15 AB; LUKE 4. 24-30

 

Focus: God's grace has no boundaries or barriers. Miracles always happen, if only one has faith

 

What an interesting contrast between Naaman, a leper in the first reading and Jesus' own people in the gospel! The pagan believes in the power of God through Elisha. He was an important man ranking as an army commander. He was also a man of great valour. But he had the humility to listen to his maid servant. He follows her advice to approach the Israel prophet Elisha for his healing from leprosy. Later, once again, he showed the same humility to follow Elisha’s instruction to dip seven times in Jordan, though it appeared silly and nonsensical. His humility and faith bring him cure from his leprosy. In fact, it is not the Jordan water that cures him, but rather his faith in the words of the prophet.

But, on the other hand, God's own chosen people, the Jews do not believe in Jesus. Though Son of God, he became one of them. They had a long history and tradition of God’s mighty interventions and wonders. But, they refuse to listen to his message, to believe in him and to change their life. They reject him, even to the extent of attempting to kill him.

Thereby once again it is made very clear that faith is not merely a matter of tradition or inheritance. It calls for a personal choice and decision, and it involves a personal experience. Naaman believes even though what the prophet tells him to do looks baseless. His openness and trust is rewarded. In contrast, sadly Jesus' own people take him for granted due to their familiarity.  Their perspective is so shallow and superficial that their faith cannot go deeper and beyond the externals like place, lineage etc. of Jesus. In consequence, they lose the gift of grace and salvation through Jesus. They deprive themselves of the immense treasure at their own hand.

 

Direction: God may work miracles to reward and perfect faith. But true faith cannot base itself on miracles. It needs a fundamental choice, openness, orientation and cooperation.

 

09 MARCH 2021, DAN 3. 2, 11-20; MATTHEW 18. 21-35

 

Focus: God readily forgives even a multitude of sins, if only one repents with a contrite heart and humble spirit. He keeps no account or count of our wrongs, because his mercies are uncountable

 

God is abundant in His mercy and prompt in His forgiveness. He does not see the magnitude of sin but the depth of repentance. He forgives us, not because we are worthy of it, but only because we need it. There is no measure for his forgiveness because His mercy is immeasurable. This is what Jesus implies when he tells Peter to “forgive the other not only seven times, but seventy times seven”. The matter is not the number or the frequency of forgiveness, that is, how many times or how often to forgive. Rather, the point is the immensity of it, that is, how willingly, promptly and unreservedly to forgive. God’s forgiveness is unconditioned and incalculable. This is what Azariah (Abednego) makes clear in his prayer in the book of Daniel. He pleads for God’s mercy to forgive His people’s sins, not on the basis of their merit, but only on the basis of His mercy and the fidelity of their forefathers. All that they have is a contrite heart and a humble spirit to seek His forgiveness. But once forgiven, we must try to become worthy of it. How? By seeking earnestly to follow His ways. Concretely, it demands to show the same spirit of forgiveness towards others. Further it also should be like God's forgiveness, which is abundant and uncalculating. It is not fair and also highly detestable before God, if we refuse to forgive others while we receive immensely God's forgiveness. To forgive is not an option at our convenience, but it is a bounden duty. As we give, we must give, lest our fate too will be the same as the servant in the gospel who is forgiven much but refuses to forgo a little.

 

Direction: Repentance in humility is the compulsory prerequisite for receiving God's forgiveness. And forgiving others in charity becomes the compulsory sign and testimony of the effect of that grace

 

10 MARCH 2021, DEUT 4. 1-9; MATTHEW 5. 17-19

 

Focus: True Freedom is not lawlessness. In fact, true freedom lies in lawful obedience, i.e. adherence to the spirit of the law

 

Many have a wrong concept and exercise of freedom, and accordingly they think that to be free means to be free from any and all the laws. They mistake that law is necessarily negative, and subversive, depriving a person of what is his due and rightful. But this is not correct. Laws are meant to regulate, channel, guide and orient the persons in the right path. For this they apply a certain extent of restraint and restriction, a certain control and limit. The purpose is certainly positive, that is to avoid and guard against all the possible deviations and distortions. Therefore, we must go beyond the mere letter of the law, to the spirit of it, the purpose and the end of it. In this sense, every good law intends a responsible and constructive freedom. The greatest law is love for God and love for the other. This is manifested in a profound devotion to God and dedication to the other’s good. Thus, a good law aims at an integrated growth of the person. It is this what Jesus calls the perfection of the law, the perfect law. To be free does not mean to do away with the laws and rules, but to follow them in the right spirit. In the name of being flexible, one cannot be over-indulgent. True freedom is not to be undisciplined, or irresponsible or licentious. This is what Moses teaches the people in Deuteronomy that fidelity to follow God’s statutes and ordinances is a sign of their fidelity to God. They are means of growing in righteousness. Following God’s commandments shows that they are wise and understanding people of God, amidst a lawless immorality. This enlightenment is very much needed for the present society, which wrongly equates freedom with a rule-free indiscipline.

 

Direction: There is an unnecessary and even harmful thinking of freedom as lawlessness.  But to be truly free is to be law-abiding. The need is not to throw away all rules and regulations, but to inculcate a positive and joyful adherence to them.

 

11 MARCH 2021, JER 7. 23-28; LUKE 11. 14-23

 

Focus: It is not that God is not active or His grace is not working. God is ever in action and miracles continue to abound. It is only our inability to see Him at work

 

God’s grace never ceases. He ceaselessly invites the people to come to Him promptly, to relate with Him closely, to listen to Him attentively, to obey His precepts and directives faithfully. However, the purpose is not to subjugate them in servile obedience. God has no self-interest. It is all for the wellbeing and progress of the people. But unfortunately, often He meets with stubbornness in which people refuse to listen, understand and walk God’s ways. They become stiff-necked and stiffly resist God’s call to repent and mend their ways. This is the experience of God all through the history of salvation, be it Yahweh in the Old Testament or Jesus in the New Testament. Thus, God laments with anguish through the prophet Jeremiah over their fault: They do not obey the voice of the Lord, they do not incline their ear, they do not accept discipline, they walk their own ways, and with stubborn and evil hearts, they go backward but not forward. In the gospel too, Jesus meets with the same mentality. Jesus drives out a demon from a dumb man and restores his speech. But instead of recognizing the power of God in Jesus, some people attribute the healing to the power of demons. They accuse him that he is taking the help of the Evil one. How absurd it is that evil power is defeated by evil power! They demand for further signs from heaven. When one is not prepared to see the truth, then which signs or proofs can convince them? This is exactly what God remarks toward the end of the first reading: truth has perished; it is cut off from their lips. They are so hard-hearted and closed. Consequently, they fail to see the “finger of God at work” and the coming of the kingdom of God in Jesus.

 

Direction: Stubbornness, defiance, and disobedience blind one to truth and divine action; they lead one to a spirit of division – divided within oneself, divided against God and divided against others. They are sure to fall a prey to the evil

 

12 MARCH 2021, HOS 14. 1-9; MARK 12. 28-34

 

Focus: God's purpose is not punishing us for our wrongdoings however big and frequent they are. Rather He wants our renovation and restoration through repentance and reparation

 

God constantly invites us to return from our path of iniquity to a consistent practice of fidelity. Once we turn away from evil and return to God, surely He will restore us to a renewed dignity and prosperity. A life of such return is steered by the sole and supreme norm of love: love for God and love for the other. It is a love for God that is total and holistic. It includes all our faculties and energies and capacities. It is a love that is total and entire, “with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our mind and with all our strength”. There are no fractions or portions, no conditions or concessions. Further, it is a love for others which is like a pure love for the self. All other rules and directives are submerged into this twofold love.

The merit of this love-teaching of Jesus is that they are not just put together in one packing, but they are presented as one unified whole. It is a single love that is two-pronged. Thereby it is very clear that both are inseparable: one cannot pretend to practise one and fail in the other. A heart that loves God wholly would also make space for the other. Similarly, one who loves others cannot but be founded on God and be directed to Him. Now, the fundamental norm for loving God is totality, and no half-measures. And the norm for loving the other is the measure of self-love, because Jesus exhorts: love your neighbour AS yourself. Here, we need to remember that this self-love is not a self-centred or self-directed love. It is a healthy love for the self. In so far our true self is created in the image and likeness of God, we need to love that real self and strive to rediscover and recapture it. Therefore, this self-love must not be equated with selfish love or self-gratification. It is a pure and productive love. Even in the basic sense also, to love others as one’s own self can mean not to do evil or harm to others, not to lower the due esteem and respect. This twofold love surpasses everything else, even the merely spiritual activities.

 

Direction: Love for God and love for others are not mutually exclusive. They are intertwined with each other so much so that each becomes expression and testimony of the other

 

13 MARCH 2021, HOS 5. 15- 6. 1-6; LUKE 18. 9-14

 

Focus: Humility to repent and steadfastness to be loyal will always win God's favour; Instead, a self-motivated and self-gratifying spirituality is not pleasing to God

 

God desires love and not mere sacrifices; He is more pleased with growth in His knowledge rather than multitude of empty offerings. He wants a devotion that is steadfast and not unstable. He wants a love that is profound and not shallow. He wants a love that is totally God-oriented and self-oriented. He wants a love that seeks to glorify God and not to gratify the self. This is what God declares in crystal clear terms in the first reading from prophet Hosea. He is unhappy that people are so opportunist as to seek Him in their time of trouble. They turn to Him so as to take advantage of His indulgent benevolence. They are not steady, because their love is like a morning cloud and like the fast vanishing dew. This becomes clear all through the Salvation history.

The Pharisee' s prayer in the gospel is not pleasing to God and not accepted by Him, because it is full of self, self- righteousness, self- complacency and self- glory. There is no humble admission of his own unworthiness. There is no sense of gratitude to God, dependence on Him, and closeness with Him. There is no submission to God. There is no fraternal feeling toward the other in respect and benevolence.

Instead, the tax collector's prayer is readily accepted by God, because it springs from a contrite heart and humble spirit. He deeply acknowledges his sinfulness and freely surrenders to God.

The Pharisee informs God about how great he is. But the tax collector is aware of how great God is, and how small and unworthy he is. By physical position, the Pharisee stands so close to the altar, but actually he is far away from God’s mercy. Instead, the publican stands so far off the altar, but really, he is so close to God by heart.

 

Direction: We go to God and we pray, not to inform or give Him new knowledge about our greatness or judge others how bad they are. No prayer is heard when it lacks charity, and is prejudiced despising others

 

3rd Sunday of Lent

 

3RD LENT SUNDAY, 07 MARCH 2021, EXODUS 20. 1-17; 1 COR 1. 22-25; JOHN 2. 13-25

Focus: It is not enough to keep the temple splendid and elegant, but what is more important is to keep it holy. It is not enough to go to the temple neat and well-maintained, but what is more important is to be clean of heart.

1. Jesus admonishes us quite strongly: “Stop turning my Father’s house into a marketplace!” (Jn 2. 16); “My house will be called a House of Prayer for all the nations? But you have turned it into a den of thieves” (Mk 11. 17); “My house shall be called a house of prayer. But you have turned it into a den of thieves” (Mt 21. 13); “My house shall be a house of prayer: but you have turned it into a den of robbers” (Lk 19. 46).

2. The first lesson for our reflection is the Contrast between the temple values and the market values. The spirit and values of a market or a den are: selfishness, self-interests, self-gain at the cost of other’s good, dishonesty, cheating, domination, manipulation, aggression, intimidation, commotion, noise, tension, restlessness, fear, pride, insecurity, uncertainty, etc. In contrast, the spirit and the values of the temple are: divine presence, holiness, peace, serenity, humility, sincerity, enlightenment, clarity, surrender to God’s will, fraternal communion, concern, sharing, charity, readiness to sacrifice for the good of others, etc.

3. An obvious and marked difference is Divine presence and holiness

The first obvious and marked difference between a temple and a marketplace or den is the very ambience that pervades – the holiness and focus in the temple, and the profanity, the worldliness and the chaotic situation in a market. One cannot turn the temple into a market place where there is so much chaos and dominance of business and self-serving values.

4. In this context, it is good to bear in mind three nuances of temple: church, heart and community or family.  Whatever be the sense or the nuance, one thing is sure and clear: there should be a deep sense of the holy, the spirit and attitude of the sacred and the divine.

5. Taking the first understanding of the temple as referring to a place of worship, the church, some simple questions to pose are: how much there is a sense of the holy, the spirit of the divine in our places of worship? Are we really aware of God’s presence? Do we really feel and experience closeness and communion with God? Do we really pray? Do we really concentrate and focus on God? Are we really filled by the spirit and values of the temple – is there that peace, that humility, that honesty, that charity, that sacrifice, that surrender? Do we really carry back with us that healing, that light, that strength? How often our worship, our attendance to the spiritual activities is so routine, so mechanical, so superficial, so shallow, without touching the heart, without making any little impact and effect? How sad it is that a good number remain so indifferent, lukewarm, inattentive, just waiting for the show and obligation to get over? While hours and hours can be spent on worthless parties, chatting, yapping, outings, how the same people become so calculative about every extra minute they spend with God?

6. Referring to the aspect of temple as human person, his heart. This can be better understood in the light of 2 Cor 6. 14-17: "For you are the temple of the living God; as God has said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people". Also, Jesus’ incessant insistence on interior purity can go in this direction: “It is what comes out from within that makes unclean” (Mk 7. 15). “What comes out of a person is what defiles, for evil designs come out of the heart: theft, murder, adultery, jealousy, greed, maliciousness, deceit, indecency, slander, pride and folly. All these evil things come from within and make a person unclean” (Mk 7. 20-23).

7. How often our own hearts are crowded, congested and suffocated with the market or den values? What a selfishness, arrogance, insincerity, crookedness, greed and needless anxiety?

8. Referring to the aspect of temple as Christian family or religious community:

How often our own families or communities are like markets and dens! – No peace, no love, no adjustment, no humility, no forgiveness, no understanding, no sacrifice, no priority to God’s will and plans. Then how can there be happiness and beauty of living together? How can there be mental health, emotional balance and the strength to face the difficulties?

Direction: Are our temples abodes of God? Are our hearts chambers of goodness and holiness? Are our families and communities ambience of love and faith? Check!