1st week mass reflection from 10-15 January 22

 10 – 15 JANUARY 2022: HOLY MASS

 REFLECTIONS

10 JANUARY 2022: 1 SAMUEL 1. 1-8; MARK 1. 14-20

Focus: The good and humble people may be regarded as miserable and insignificant in the sight of the world, but they will merit God’s special grace because of their humility

1.      The perspective of God and the perspective of the world are always in contrast. People whom the world considers disadvantaged and weightless are blessed and privileged by God. This is what we see all through the history of God’s intervention and action in human salvation.

2.      God always chose what was ordinary and small in the sight of the world but made it great (cf. 1 Corinthians 1. 26-31). Today’s readings testify to this way of God’s acting. He chose Hannah, the second wife of Elkanah. She was persistently despised and persecuted by his first wife because of her barrenness. In the gospel too, Jesus chooses Simon and Andrew, John and James to be his disciples and apostles. They were mere ordinary fishermen.

3.      But, God raises them to heights. Hannah becomes the mother of Samuel, one of the greatest prophets. The mere fishermen become the greatest fishers of souls. God graces them and raises their dignity to new heights. This is what happens when God’s grace touches upon the human ordinariness and misery: disgrace turns into grace; misery changes to glory; ordinary becomes extraordinary; insignificant becomes most significant; tears turn into joy.

4.      All that is needed to obtain this mercy of God is openness to receive God’s call and surrender to depend on Him and follow His ways. Hannah prayed in tears and fasting. She surrendered her misery to God. The first disciples accepted Jesus’ call and immediately left everything and followed him.

5.      They truly responded to the first proclamation of Jesus, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel”. It was the right and appropriate time for them. They entered into the kingdom that was near in and through the person of Jesus. They changed their way of life and believed in Jesus.

Direction: When we suffer, being despised and humiliated, let us not feel miserable or depressed. As long as we are right in the sight of God, we can still be strong and happy

(REFLECTION 2 ON MARK 1. 14-20 FROM 2021)

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

 

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

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

 

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

 

11 JANUARY 2022: 1 SAMUEL 1. 9-20; MARK 1. 21-28

Focus: In a time of degenerating authority, we need to rediscover and recapture the right spirit of authority and learn to exercise the same type

1.      It is not a sweeping judgment to say that today authority is getting corrupted. It is becoming synonymous with manipulation, discrimination, and domination. The real spirit of authority which is nobility and dignity of character is corroding. The real purpose of authority which is service and benefit of others is sidelined.

2.      It is in this context the word of God is resurging the true authority. True authority is to be seen in terms of spiritual tenacity, moral credibility, and authenticity of life. This is what we see in Hannah in the first reading from 1 Samuel and in Jesus in the gospel from Mark. Hannah was persistent in her prayer. She was spiritually so profound and totally surrendered to God.

3.      Jesus was totally united with his Father, spiritually vibrant. He was integral and credible. He was so authentic without any trace of duplicity. This was his real authority and not merely the divine power to work some miracles. This was the authority that made him different and distinct from others in authority.

4.      Jesus’ authority was thus holistic, both in words and deeds. That is why he could teach and preach powerfully and also could heal and exorcise authoritatively. This type of authority is a serious warning and challenge to those in authority in our present times. How sadly the authority of today is mostly devoid of spirituality, morality, and authenticity! How many today turn their authority into a tool for self-projection, self-promotion, and self-glory! How much does authority degenerate into a means for subjugating and overpowering others!

Direction: Unless the present authority regains that lost touch of spiritual fervor and moral authenticity, it will not be powerful to demolish evil and establish good

(REFLECTION 2 ON MARK 1. 21-28 FROM 2021)

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

 

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

 

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

 

12 JANUARY 2022: 1 SAMUEL 3. 1-10, 19-20; MARK 1. 29-39

 

Focus: When we remain close to God, for sure God will touch and transform us; He will speak to us and empower us to be a prophet in His name, as He did with Samuel

1.      In the first reading from 1 Samuel, we have a dramatic scene of the call of Samuel. Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was. The Lord called him by name twice. But, he had not yet known the Lord. Yet, he shows his prompt readiness in his words, “Here I am!” But once he discerns the Lord’s call through the help of his guru Eli, he throws himself before the Lord in total docility saying, “Speak, for your servant hears”.

2.      This is the whole purpose and content of all our vocation and mission: To stay intimately with the Lord, to listen to him attentively, and to be a prophet of the Lord, set on his mission. This is what Jesus did. The gospel text of today places before us one day in the life of Jesus. This in fact gives us a beautiful summary of all the days of his life. It was one whole of praying, preaching, and healing. These were the essential ingredients of his life and ministry. They were a perfect blend and never at conflict.

3.      There was no neglecting one or excluding one because of the other two. They were complementing and supporting each other. In fact, there was no conflict at all between his personal life and public ministry. One flows into the other. It was a mission-oriented life and life-permeated mission.

4.      This harmonious life and mission of Jesus is a great lesson for today where often there is a great tug of war between life and ministry. Often, there is excellence in ministry but indifference, indulgence, and incongruence in life. There is so much activity in ministry but without authenticity in real life. Thus, often the spirit and fact do not correspond with each other. Thus, often there is so much neglect of prayer and moral values in preference to the bundles of activities of the ministry.

Direction: Life and ministry are not contradictory but complementary. What we are and what we do must go together. Otherwise, people may appreciate us for the works we do but blame us for the life we live

(REFLECTION 2 ON MARK 1. 29-39 FROM 2021)

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

 

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

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

 

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

 

13 JANUARY 2022: 1 SAMUEL 4. 1-11; MARK 1. 40-45

 

Focus: Many times in our life, things happen against our expectations and calculations. Instead of questioning God’s ways, it is better to be humble and surrender ourselves to His holy will

1.      In the first reading from 1 Samuel 4. 1-11, we have a very interesting episode. The Israelites were defeated by the Philistines. Then, they bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord to the battle camp and fight again being dead sure of their victory. But again they are defeated worse than before. Even the ark of the covenant was captured and the two sons of Eli, the priest were also killed

2.      This looks very strange and even very discouraging. They trusted in the presence of God through the ark of the covenant and they expected that God’s mighty power would defeat their enemies. But not only did they lose the battle but also the ark itself was captured. Does it mean that the Lord is not powerful? Does it mean that He is indifferent? Does it mean that the presence of God makes no difference in our life battles against evil?

3.      Nothing of these. Perhaps, the point here is the need for humility, trust, and surrender. They trusted in the ark of the Lord; but did they really trust in the Lord of the ark? They thought that the very physical placement of the ark in the camp would ensure their victory, while there was no place for God in their hearts or camp.

4.      They expected a magical display of God’s power but did not allow Him to personally take control of the situation. They were not humble enough to plead God. They did not surrender themselves to God for His protection. Rather they surrendered themselves to the ark. They gave more importance to the symbol and ignored the Lord symbolized.

5.      In contrast, in the gospel, we have a leper who stands as an example of humility, trust, and surrender. He was humble to realize his misery of leprosy and the need for healing. He was humble to implore Jesus and kneel before him. He was humble to respect Jesus’ freedom, saying, “If you will…”

6.      He trusted in Jesus’ power as well as mercy. That is why, he says, “If you will, you can make me clean”. He totally surrendered himself to Jesus’ will. Hence, he was rewarded with healing. Jesus was personally moved with compassion, stretched out his hand, touched him, said to him, “I will; be clean” and thus healed him.

Direction: How much of my life is directed by humility, trust, and surrender? How often do I too expect a magical intervention of God into my life? Am I stuck only to images and devotions, without a personal relationship with God? We must remember that having holy things in our possession and dealing habitually with them is no guarantee for protection and success

(REFLECTION 2 ON MARK 1. 40-45 FROM 2021)

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

 

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

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

 

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

 

14 JANUARY 2022: 1 SAMUEL 8. 4-7, 10-22; MARK 2. 1-12

 

Focus: True healing is holistic because it changes the whole person and makes him whole. Those who are only physically healed but are not changed in their life are only partially healed

 

1.      One greatest malaise of our present society is a rapid and steep decline of faith. This pertains not only to the religious domain but also to all the fields and spheres of life. There is a lack of faith in families, in religious circles, in politics, business, and what not. The immediate consequence is interior unhealthiness. Those who lack faith and are not faithful can never be happy and healthy in the full sense.

2.      The people of Israel in the first reading lacked this faith in God. They are fascinated by the concept and the rule of earthly kings of their neighborhood. They completely forget the fact that God is the greatest king, the king of kings. No other king can replace God for His might and benevolence.

3.      They also totally lose sight of the enormous mercy of God toward them in their history. Even the wise warning of Samuel about the perils of an evil king that will befall them like slavery, suppression, extortion would not dissuade them. They are obstinate in their demand. Consequently, they not only reject Samuel’s advice but God Himself.

4.      In the gospel too we have an example of faith and lack of faith respectively. The friends of a paralytic, brought to Jesus through the roof exemplify this faith. The scribes who blame Jesus for blasphemy embody this lack of faith. The four friends of the paralytic realizing the almost impossibility of reaching Jesus through the crowd make an opening in the roofing and let down their friend on the bed straight in front of Jesus. On the other hand, the scribes harp on Jesus’ healing words, “Your sins are forgiven” and accuse him of blasphemy.

 

Direction: True faith is essentially making an opening in the heart and opening the heart to the Lord; lack of faith is closing the heart to the Lord. Faith heals while unfaith sickens

 

(REFLECTION 2 ON MARK 2. 1-12 FROM 2021)

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

 

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

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

 

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

15 JANUARY 2022: 1 SAMUEL 9. 1-4, 17-19, 10.1; MARK 2. 13-17

 

Focus: God’s ways and choices are not always comprehensible. Many times His designs are upsetting and unconventional but no one can question the wisdom in them

 

1.      God chooses Saul as the king of Israel at the adamant request of the people. But why does He choose him? Is it just because he was very handsome and well-built and strong? Certainly not; because God is least bothered about the externals. Does not God know that later on, Saul would turn malevolent going against God’s heart?

2.      In the gospel too Jesus chooses Levi, a tax collector as one of his twelve apostles. Certainly, it was not a bright choice, nor a right one. Levi was labeled as a sinner due to his job as a tax collector. He was despised by society. But Jesus calls him to follow him to be his disciple. What are his criteria?

3.      We are not fully clear of Jesus’ criteria. But we can be sure that the criteria of Jesus are not at all in tune with the criteria of the world. It is not social status or dignity. It is not a high level of the family. It is not the person’s good looks. It is not intelligence. It is not competence. If these were to be the criteria, many of the clergy and religious will not stand the test.

4.      It is ultimately God’s benevolent choice. It is His selfless love that wants to be in solidarity with us. It is His sharing love that wants to make us His companions and friends. That is why he freely and happily eats with tax collectors and sinners. He calls the sick, and not the healthy. He chooses the sinners and not the righteous.

5.      He has also a purpose, a goal. He entrusts us his own mission. It is to spread His kingdom of love, justice, joy, and peace. For belonging to him, for following him, there are no conditions or criteria. All are welcome! What we are before the call is not the matter. What we will become in his following is what matters the most.

 

Direction: Instead of wasting time in reasoning out the criteria for God’s choices and actions, it is better to understand His will and expectations in calling us and strive to live worthy of His call

 

(REFLECTION 2 ON MARK 2. 13-17 FROM 2021)

 

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

 

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

The call of Levi must make us re-reflect on our own vocation. We must become deeply aware of its immense value and grow in humble gratitude. We must also rededicate ourselves to strive to live worthy of our call. We need honesty and openness to realize what we are and to become what we must be.

 

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

 

 

 

 

BAPTISM OF THE LORD 2022

 BAPTISM OF THE LORD, 

09 JANUARY 2022

REFLECTION 1

The Baptism of the Lord outlines four aspects:

1)     Indicates the radical mission of Jesus

2)    Such a mission is rooted in his communion with the Father

3)    Initiates his mission

4)    Reminds our own baptismal consecration and mission

1.     The event of the baptism of Jesus indicates his “radical mission”, which is a mission of salvation or redemption. Originally, in the Biblical context, savior or redeemer connotes the idea of one who acts on behalf of or in favour of someone in slavery or in debt, or who is a victim of injustice. Accordingly a redeemer renders justice by winning over the opponent, or relieves or liberates, by a ransom. In fact, the English term “redeem” evidently means to “make one deemed again”, or to restore the lost dignity. Thus, Jesus undertakes this mission of salvation or redemption from a situation of misery and bondage.

2.     So, Jesus’ mission implies an unending story of God’s mercy and compassion toward the humanity, which is a victim and slave of sin, his condescending forgiveness of their sins, and liberation of them by means of his identification with them, his solidarity with them, and expiation for them by self-immolation.

3.     Now, how this mission is denoted by his baptism? Baptism was needed for those who are beset by sin, standing in need of conversion, forgiveness and purification. But, Jesus, the Son of God, had absolutely no need to be baptized, because he is sinless. But still, he allows himself to be baptized, because he keeps himself in our place, he carries our burden of sin, he shares our human weakness, he gets into solidarity with us in our human situation of fragility.

4.     His baptism confirms his communion with the Father, in which his mission is rooted. The obvious signs and testimonies of this communion are: the descent of the Holy Spirit, and the attestation of the Father from heaven, “You are my Son, in whom I am well pleased”.

5.     Jesus’ baptism initiates his “concrete mission”, which manifests itself in preaching and healing. This is a holistic mission, viz. of heart, word and deed, namely, conversion of heart, announcing the good news in word, and healing in deed. His baptism marks the beginning of his ministry, that is, on receiving baptism, Jesus immediately plunges into his relentless Kingdom-mission.

6.     Jesus’ baptism reminds us of our own baptism, and challenges us to renew and live our baptismal consecration. Our baptism is not merely a ritual or a tradition. It is an insertion into the very life of Jesus. It is incorporation into the mystical body of Christ, the community of the Church. It is imitation and resemblance of Christ. It is consecration to God. This can imply four aspects: We belong to God; we are totally owned / possessed by God; we remain loyal to God and His kingdom; we bear witness to Jesus and his values, through sharing in his own mission

7.     What does the baptism of Jesus mean for us today? Is it only a commemoration of a past event in the life of Jesus or in the history of the church? Is it only an instance that marks the starting of Jesus’ mission? How does this feast summon us to “be daily baptized”, i.e. be charged and animated by the Holy Spirit and fire? How do we constantly strive to grow into the person and life of our Master? How do we grow into the spiritual and fraternal communion with the community of the Church? How are we loyal and committed partakers and perpetuators of the same mission of Jesus, which is liberation and integration?

BAPTISM OF THE LORD

 REFLECTION 2

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

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

2. The Lord is baptized.

First of all, does He need baptism?

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

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

4. Still why?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

that we are generated by God himself as his children,

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

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

that we share the same life as Christ, that we are anointed by the power and holiness of the Holy Spirit, 

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

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

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

EPIPHANY OF THE LORD 2022

 

EPIPHANY SUNDAY, 02 JANUARY 2022

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2) They yearn profoundly to see him directly

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

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

5) They allow themselves to be guided by the star

6) They travel far and difficult

7) They reach the Saviour

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

3-8th January mass reflection

 

03 – 08 JANUARY 2022: HOLY MASS REFLECTIONS

03 JANUARY 2022: 1 JOHN 3.22 – 4. 6; MATTHEW 4. 12-17, 23-25

Focus: To believe God is not merely a matter of beliefs and doctrines but is a matter of living in God, loving him, and loving others as a concrete sign of it

1.      “Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand”. This is how Jesus began his public ministry. Truly the kingdom was brought near through his incarnation. His birth is a concrete manifestation that the kingdom of God is once again made open to us. God himself takes the initiative to re-insert and restore us into the kingdom that was closed and became far on account of sin.

2.      Jesus manifests this presence of the kingdom through his teaching, preaching, and healing ministry. Every physical healing symbolizes the need for inner healing. And this inner or holistic healing is nothing but repentance and change of life. It is a constant invitation to belong to his kingdom, to experience the wholeness and joy of it, and also to spread it around.

3.      In terms of light, this is to come out of the shades of darkness into the sphere of light. And in terms of faith, it is to believe in him, to abide in him, and to love others. In terms of the Spirit, it is to confide in the humanity of Jesus and in his ever-abiding presence with us. In terms of truth, it is to testify to the Spirit of truth, to stand against every spirit of error, to be a contrast to the false prophets and antichrists.

4.      Thus, this is how we show that we belong to the kingdom, by showing that we are from God and not from the world. We know God, and we listen to him. We keep his commandments and do what pleases him. We abide in him and he abides in us. We love one another.

Direction: In a world that is becoming more and more a domain of the antichrist, the evil one, we are called to turn it into a kingdom of God where love and truth reign.

(REFLECTION 2)

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

 

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

 

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

 

04 JANUARY 2022: 1 JOHN 4. 7-10; MARK 6. 34-44

Focus: The world of today has become so dry and desolate because it lacks the tenderness and warmth of compassion. The human hearts are to be re-irrigated by the streams of compassion

1.      God is love. This love is manifested not merely in words but in action. This action is done in sending his only Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Thus Jesus is the embodiment and concrete reflection of God’s own love. This love in action or active love manifests itself in compassion. This is compassion at our plight. We are truly like sheep without a shepherd. We are directionless and helpless. Just like sheep without a shepherd, we are constantly exposed to all dangerous attacks. The wild animals of evil forces always threaten and frighten us. We are surrounded by all possible risks.

2.      Further, like sheep without a shepherd, we find ourselves thrown into situations of lack of care, lack of nourishment, and lack of guidance. There is every possibility to go astray and to get stranded. There is every possibility to go unnourished and hungry and thus to become weak and without energy.

3.      But our loving and compassionate God does not leave us to our fate. He comes to our rescue. He feeds us even when it is a desolate situation, even when the hour is late. He fed a five thousand even in a desolate place and when the hour was late. He feeds us even with the least resources, just as he fed a five thousand even with five loaves and two fish. Similarly, even when our problems are numerous like the five thousand, but our resources and capacities are few like the 5 loaves and 2 fish, yet he will bless and multiply our little.

4.      Not only will he satisfy us with what is sufficient, but he will also give us even reserve. There were 12 baskets full of leftovers. His grace is never insufficient. He always supplies us more than what is needed.

Direction: No situation of our life will be so desolate and forsaken for God. No hour will be too late for him to act. He can abound our scarcities. He can remove our hunger and fill us with satisfaction.

 

(REFLECTION 2)

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

 

05 JANUARY 2022: 1 JOHN 4. 11-18; MARK 6. 45-52

Focus: Loving God is tested and testified by our loving others. Love for others is a natural outflow of love for God since the love of God essentially carries this other-dimension of love for others

1.      “Take heart; it is I; Do not be afraid” These are the words of Jesus to his disciples in the boat struggling against strong winds. They were frightened by the winds. They were also frightened by the blurred and mistaken vision of Jesus as a ghost. Fear blinds our vision. Fear reduces our confidence levels. Fear also reduces the intensity of intimacy and the depth of the relationship.

2.      Thus, the presence of fear indicates that love is not perfect. Where there is deep and perfect love, there is no fear. Therefore, the more we are free from fear, the more we are being perfected in love. That is why, St John in his first letter in the first reading states quite rightly: “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear”.

3.      Fear often implies a sense of guilt over wrongdoing and a possible punishment. Thus, fear also disturbs a person and reduces his peace and serenity. A person under fear is not at peace because his wrong haunts him and looms over the consequent punishment.

4.      All this shows inadequacy and imperfection in love. Where there is a deep love and intimate relationship, there is confidence; there is clarity; there is openness; there is freedom. The practice of religion in the case of many is imperfect because their relationship with God is more conditioned and guided by fear-principle. One does some things or avoids some other things out of fear of either losing the favors or incurring God’s displeasure and punishment.

Direction: Our faith and devotion, our goodness and charity must be propelled by love for God and love for others, and not by fear; fear is a negative principle and one cannot operate positively on something negative. I do the right things not because I am afraid of God’s punishment but because I am in love with him

(REFLECTION 2)

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

 

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

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

 

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

 

06 JANUARY 2022: 1 JOHN 419 – 5.4; LUKE 4. 14-22a

 

Focus: To be born of God, that is to be the children of God is to love God; and to love God is to keep his commandments, and to keep his commandments is to love the other as his brother

1.      In a world where evil is increasing and the reign of Satan is spreading, we are called to live and bear witness as the children of God. If we are really children of God, then we must overcome the evil of the world. This is, in other words, to be a person of faith. We remain as children of God if we love him and obey his commandments.

2.      Now, his greatest commandment is to love others as brothers and sisters. If we are really children of God, then we must also realize and recognize others as children of the same Father. Being the children of the Father but not loving the other children of the Father is a contradiction and a falsity.

3.      This is what St John strongly attests: If anyone says, ‘I love God’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother who sees cannot love God whom he does not see. Therefore, whoever loves God must also love his brother.

4.      Ultimately, the fundamental and simplest duty of every child of God is to love God in faith and to obey his commandment of fraternal love for the other in charity. If one loves God, he is endowed with the gift of faith. He will be anointed and guided by the Holy Spirit. This in turn will lead him to a concrete mission of loving and serving others.

5.      This is the mission that we witness in Jesus. The mission manifesto declared by Jesus makes this very clear. Jesus is anointed by the Holy Spirit and he brings good news to the poor, liberty to the captives and the oppressed, sight to the blind, and the year of the Lord’s favor to all.

Direction: Every vocation brings with it a mission as well. Every privilege carries with it a duty. By our call, we are the children of God, loved so much by him and anointed by the power of the Holy Spirit. This is lived out and borne out in the mission of altruistic service

 

(REFLECTION 2)

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

 

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

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

 

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

 

07 JANUARY 2022: 1 JOHN 5. 5-13; LUKE 5. 12-16

Focus: True faith is holistic in the sense that it believes in God and also lives the life according to God; it comes to God and also overcomes the world

1.      Our faith constantly invites us to believe in Jesus the Son of God. He possesses eternal life and also gives us the same. The duty of our faith is to bear testimony to this truth of eternal life. That is, that God gives us eternal life in his Son. This eternal life is not only the life after death. It is already anticipated and foretasted. Such a graced life on earth is whole and wholesome.

2.      Such a healthy and perfect life is sickened and imperfected both by sickness and sin. Therefore all of us need healing. Healing is not merely individual acts of regaining health. True healing is regaining the lost wholesomeness and perfection.

3.      The healing of a leper in the gospel can be very symbolic and educative to all of us. The leper’s falling on his face before Jesus is an expression of utter humility and surrender. His one simple request, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean” contains so richly s a few fundamentals. His address, ‘Lord’ shows his total reverence. His conditional clause, ‘if you will’ recognizes and respects God’s freedom and wisdom and leaves God free. His other clause, ‘you can make me clean’ shows the leper’s unshaken trust in Jesus’ power and compassion.

4.      On his part, the prompt care and abounding compassion of Jesus is testified in his response, ‘I will; be clean. It becomes very clear that God always wants us to be cleansed and clean. Jesus’ concern is seen in his gestures of stretching out his hand and touching the leprous. It was not only a physical act of healing but much more holistic. Jesus restores him the lost dignity as a person of honor and as a re-integrated social and religious member. That is why Jesus asks him, ‘Go and show yourself to the priest and make an offering for your cleansing.

Direction: Every true healing realizes one’s fragility and inadequacy; then, it has recourse to the Lord; then regains the lost dignity and honorability. This it re-integrates one into the world of God and into the society

(REFLECTION 2)

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

 

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

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

 

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

08 JANUARY 2022: 1 JOHN 5. 14-21; JOHN 3. 22-30

 

Focus: If we belong to God, then the evil one cannot touch us, cannot suppress us under the yoke of his power, and force us to commit sin. We will be attacked but remain protected

1.      Those who are of God, those who belong to him, will not remain under the influence of the evil one. They will not succumb to his pressures. They will not commit sin. They keep God at the center of their life. They will cling to him as their Lord and eternal life. Especially, they will keep themselves from all idols.

2.      In our own times, these idols are not necessarily the false gods but are any false values and ways of living. Things such as money, power, position, sex, comfort, and popularity are today’s modern idols. Our vices such as jealousy, pride, greed are the false guides and the power-steering behind these modern idols. Many are falling into this type of subtle and deceptive idolatry.

3.      The disciples of John the Baptist were also pressured by this undercurrent idolatry. They were moved by jealousy at Jesus’ increasing popularity. They were afraid that Jesus would eclipse their master. They forget that it is Jesus who must be at the center and none else. They do not realize that all others only point to him.

4.      In this context, John the Baptist corrects their thinking and perspective. He clarifies to them that he is only the friend of the bridegroom and not the bridegroom himself. He is only the precursor and not the Messiah. Jesus must increase and he must decrease. So, we must rejoice that he comes to the central focus and not to get jealous and complain and resent.

5.      The humility and magnanimity of John the Baptist are praiseworthy. Even though he himself was riding on popularity, yet he is ready to vanish into the background once Jesus enters upon the scene.

Direction: How arrogant and jealous many a disciple of Jesus can be today! They cannot tolerate the growth and rise of others. They even steal the show from the Lord himself, trying to idolize themselves as objects of veneration

(REFLECTION 2)

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

 

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

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

 

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