Fourth week of Advent

19 – 24 DECEMBER 2022: HOLY MASS REFLECTIONS 19 DECEMBER 2022: JUDGES 13. 2-7, 24-25a; LUKE 1. 5-25 Thrust: When God blesses! Indicative: Our God is benevolent. He looks mercifully on the pitiable condition of those who trust in Him 1. “Barrenness” is a common theme in both the readings of the day. Barrenness is not just something physical. It was something despicable, It was a disgrace. It was considered a curse. The wife of Manoah in the first reading and Elizabeth in the gospel, were barren. 2. They pray earnestly to God. Interestingly, both women and their husbands were God-fearing and faithful. Specifically, we are told in the gospel that Elizabeth and her husband Zechariah “were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord”. 3. Then why did they have to suffer the disgrace? What wrong did they do? No answer. And there is no point in arguing. But we can pick up some lessons: Suffering is not necessarily a sign of God’s displeasure or punishment. 4. All the more, good people suffer. God has His own plans. Patience and perseverance are needed. Especially those who have higher roles in God’s plans, those who receive higher favours, need to suffer more. 5. Certainly, God would intervene and remove the disgrace. It will be then a superabundant glory. But from the human part, a total consecration is required. Now is the call to think of our own interior and spiritual barrenness, dry and indifferent and negligent toward God and spiritual duties; and also our fraternal barrenness which is unconcerned and uncharitable toward others. Imperative: A barren life that is unproductive and fruitless is not pleasing to God. So let us rise up from our barrenness and become a blessing to others and blessed in the sight of God 20 DECEMBER 2022: ISAIAH 7. 10-14; LUKE 1. 26-38 Thrust: Fear not, for God is with us! Indicative: God has wonderful plans for us. At times and often times, how he executes them may not be clear and even confounding. But no worry! 1. The other day, through His angel, God encountered Zechariah and revealed His plan for the birth of John the Baptist in the womb of the barren Elizabeth. Today, God through His angel encounters the virgin Mary and reveals His plan for the birth of Jesus, the Saviour in her virginal womb. 2. But if we analyse a little, the immediate consequences of such a happening, that is the birth of a child, are contrasting. In the case of Elizabeth, it is in fact, a great grace, a matter to rejoice. Her barrenness would be eliminated. But in the case of Mary, it is a matter of disgrace. Her dignity and integrity would come under suspicion. 3. Here comes the great depth of Mary’s faith. Once she knows that it is all God’s plan, there is no more question. No argument, no reluctance, no hesitation. No seeking concession. No request for making things clear to her husband and family. No worries at all about the future consequences of a suspect pregnancy. 4. Her faith comprises profound humility, wholehearted docility, and an unreserved surrender. She declares emphatically, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. Let it be to me according to your word”. 5. A little note on the Salutation of the Angel to Mary: “Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you”. Mary is worthy of the salutation by God Himself. She is full of grace. In a world where sometimes it is difficult to have even a fraction of grace, Mary stands as the fullness of grace. She is full of grace because the Lord is with her. Imperative: Like Mary, we are also called, not to be afraid when things go wrong or remain unclear. Being free is possible only when we find favour with God (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2021, 20 DECEMBER) Focus: Miracles happen when there is a combination of God’s grace and 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, He wants to involve us and wants us to be His collaborators and sharers. It is only because He loves us. True love values others, and respects each person’s dignity and honor. 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 do we despise others, showing false greatness and sticking to our own ideas, opinions, and prejudices? 3. Then from the part of Mary, what 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 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 labeled 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 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 surrender! She has no discussion, no conditions, and no suggestions. She does not clarify how God would safeguard her reputation, or how God would let others know about her virginity and innocence despite conception. 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 do we succumb to the 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, and admonishes many things, how much we can be obstinate and fixated, clinging to our own ideas and calculations? Do 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 do we lack the spirit of surrender? We try to convince God that it is not right and possible to do His will. We have a 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 our 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 inaffable, what is dishonorable, what is vice and harmful. Instead, as St Paul in his Philippians exhorts us, our focus and striving must be on what is true, noble, just, pure, affable, honorable, virtuous, and beneficial. We must put into practice what we have learned, received, heard, and seen. Direction: Today let us pray that we may become more and more humble, docile, and surrendered like Mary because only thus, we can receive the Savior and experience his saving touch. 21 DECEMBER 2022: SONG OF SOLOMON 2. 8-14; LUKE 1. 39-45 Thrust: Blessed is she! Indicative: Our God is one who contains everything and everyone. But He makes Himself contained in our small hearts and communities 1. There is a spirit of search and discovery in both readings. In the first reading, it is a passionate desire to meet the beloved. She craves to see his lovely face and hear his sweet voice. 2. It is all a matter of encounter – between two women of tremendous faith, between two historic mothers – Mary, the mother of Jesus the Saviour, and Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist. There is also another crucial encounter between the awaited Messiah and his precursor. 3. This encounter is certainly a work of the Holy Spirit, prompted by the power of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is not stagnant. One who is filled by the Spirit, cannot remain within the ego-demarcation. Spirit moves the person. 4. That is why Mary, already conceived by the Holy Spirit, goes with “haste” to Elizabeth. Mobility in charity is an essential sign and fruit of the Spirit. Lack of external movement toward the other is a sign of a lack of interior movement of the heart. 5. One who is moved by the Spirit cannot but move others. Mary was moved by the Spirit and so she was able to move with the Spirit both Elizabeth and her son in the womb. As a consequence, Elizabeth is led to words of blessing and appreciation. And the child in her womb leaps with joy, which is again an essential trait and fruit of the Spirit. Imperative: Mary is blessed because she believed in God and obeyed His will. We too will be blessed if we too believe in God’s words and obey (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2021, 21 DECEMBER) Focus: The presence of the beloved fills the lover with exceeding joy. God is our greatest beloved and His presence must gladden us beyond measure 1. Today’s readings depict the joy of the encounter with the beloved. In the first reading, the lover-bride is passionately craving for meeting the beloved. The beloved-bridegroom is also burning with passion for her. When both encounter each other, the joy is unsurpassable. 2. We have a similar picture of encounters in the gospel. Already Mary encounters God’s grace at the Annunciation. She is overshadowed by the Holy Spirit. She conceives the Son of God in her womb without any human intervention. If this is the work and the effect of the encounter from the part of God, from her part also Mary shows the fruits of this encounter. The immediate fruit is total surrender, saying, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word”. This faith flows out into charity. Thus Mary sets out to visit Elizabeth to serve her in her last months of pregnancy. 3. There takes place another encounter. It is an encounter between Mary and Elizabeth, the two greatest mothers. One is the mother of the Messiah himself and the other, the mother of the precursor of the Messiah. As a result of this encounter, there is an eruption of the Holy Spirit by which Elizabeth recognises the presence of the savior and the greatness of the vocation of Mary as the mother of the Saviour. 4. There is a further encounter between the two babes in the wombs, the two greatest. One is the Messiah himself and the other is his precursor. At this encounter, John the Baptist in Elizabeth’s womb leaps with joy. He already receives the grace of the encounter with the messiah. He is already anointed by the Holy Spirit. Direction: God encounters us unceasingly in numerous ways. He always reveals to us His will and plans. He is ever ready to transform our ordinary and dull situations into saving experiences and journeys. Are we ready to sense and cooperate? (REFLECTION 3 FROM 2020) Focus: True faith receives and enshrines Jesus within. And one who carries Jesus certainly spreads Holy Spirit and joy At the Annunciation, Mary in all docility consents to be the Mother of the Incarnate Saviour. In deep faith and surrender, she receives and enshrines Jesus within her. She is filled by the power of the Holy Spirit. This same Spirit moves her to Elizabeth in charity. Yes, if faith is the gift of the Holy Spirit, charity will be the real fruit of faith. Because true faith never keeps one sterile and stagnant. It will make one productive in a vibrant journey of charity. The scene of visitation clearly teaches us that true faith cannot simply remain confined to the self but flows out into charity. Mary’s faith leads her to sensitivity, magnanimity, and generosity towards Elizabeth. Mary does not fall into the presumption and false dignity of her motherhood. But in humility and nobility, goes to Elizabeth who was in need! Mary perfectly fits into the figure of the beloved in the Song of Songs in the first reading. God, the Supreme speaks to her, “Arise, my love, my beautiful one!” She listens to the voice of God, the Lover. She is filled with the fragrance and radiance of love and joy. With the same, she travels across the mountains and hills, to Elizabeth. Elizabeth sees her lovely face and hears the sweet voice. In fact, this loveliness and sweetness are not only hers but much more of Jesus that she is bearing within. Consequently, she would move both the mother and the child, Elizabeth and John the Baptist, with the Spirit and with joy. This is the simplest spirituality and mission of everyone: to give the Holy Spirit and joy to others. Direction: To radiate the Holy Spirit and joy is possible only when one carries Jesus within. True faith is ever contagious; it will affect and move the self with charity and will touch and vibrate others with the Holy Spirit and joy 22 DECEMBER 2022: 1 SAMUEL 1. 24-28; LUKE 1. 46-56 Thrust: My soul magnifies! Indicative: In a joy-hungry world, God wants to send us streams of joy to satisfy us to the full. Truly it is a “Joy-filling” mission 1. In today’s gospel, we have the famous Magnificat of Mary. At a first glance, Magnificat is a hymn of praise and joy. Mary bursts into an exuberant spirit of rejoicing. This joy is not ordinary happiness over some positive, pleasant experience. It is not because of some temporary, temporal gain. 2. The joy of Mary is something profound. It is deeply spiritual. It is an effect, an outflow of the Holy Spirit. There is nothing self-directed but singing God’s glory and power, benevolence and justice. 3. The expressions, “My soul… my spirit”, “all generations will call me ‘blessed’”, and “the Almighty has done great things for me” may look as if she is drawing our attention to her blessedness and greatness. 4. But it is all directed to God. The focus is not on how great she is but on how great God is. What is to be in the limelight is not she but God. “God is great and therefore He made her great”. 5. Her humble surrender leads to the joy of the Holy Spirit. The cause of this joy is not some individual favours. It is essentially God’s benevolence and justice. Mary sings joyfully because she sees and experiences God’s way of acting. He raises the lowly but lowers the mighty, He fills the hungry but sends the rich away empty. 6. Thus, true joy must be based on justice and mercy and not any other passing or peripheral satisfaction and gain. Any faith that does not contain faith and humility, mercy and justice, is not a true joy. Imperative: Our faith must lead us to true joy. And true joy is not being satisfied with some individual favours. Rather it should commit us to a life of justice and liberation. (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2021, 22 DECEMBER) Focus: When God intervenes and graces human situations, even the most deplorable and hopeless situations will turn into fruit-bearing and blessed experiences 1. All of us come across situations of success and praise. We achieve heights of greatness and bundles of laurels. In such situations, most of us fall into bouts of vanity, presumption, self-glory, and also pride. But Mary was different and a contrast. She was singularly graced to be the mother of the savior. She was recognized for this greatness by Elizabeth and was highly praised. 2. But Mary’s reaction and attitude were something remarkable. The more she was raised and praised, the more she becomes humble and Spirit-filled resulting in heavenly joy. The Magnificat, her song of praise is a concrete manifestation and testimony of this. There is no pride or seeking self-glory. She does not go around trumpeting her greatest dignity. 3. However, she does not also deny the greatness of the grace she is conferred with. This can be a case of false humility which some people fall into. Some in the name of practicing humility deny all the good that pertains to them. It is in a way denying God’s own goodness and greatness. 4. Mary shows us what is true greatness and humility. She attributes all her greatness to God’s goodness. Thus, all her greatness is actually not her own but belongs totally to God. Therefore, there is nothing to take credit for or to feel great. That is why, amidst all her new honor and glory, she remains humble. 5. The Magnificat is then not a song that sings her praises. It is deeply a song of God’s mercy and justice, His fidelity, and commitment. In mercy, He is benevolent to those who fear Him. He blesses and rewards the humble and does great things for them. In justice, he balances between the humble and arrogant: he gives strength to the humble but scatters the proud-hearted. He casts down the mighty from their thrones but raises the lowly. He fills the starving with good things but sends the rich away empty. In fidelity to His promises and covenants, He continues to assist His chosen people. Direction: When God is with us, then there is no need to be sad. He never forsakes those who confide in Him and entrust themselves to Him. In everyone’s life, there is plenty to sing magnificats! (REFLECTION 3 FROM 2020) Focus: When one encounters and experiences the boundless benevolence of God, one cannot but burst into a song of gratitude and joy Today’s gospel passage contains the marvelous Magnificat of Mary. It is truly an intense hymn of joy. It is a profound joy that springs from deep-seated humility and gratitude. Mary explodes into a song of joyful thankfulness because God had looked graciously upon her lowliness and elevated her. Magnificat reveals to us so beautifully the greatness of both God and Mary at the same time. Mary is great because she sees, accepts, and cooperates with God’s great plan of salvation. She is great because she humbly realizes that her greatness comes from God. Her humility is her greatness. Her nobility is her glory. True greatness never forgets the roots, never forgets that all is given by God and it is not one’s own exclusive merit or credit. The greatness that rides on pride and self-glory, the greatness that fails to be humble and noble in its attitude and approach, a greatness that is not grateful and does not attribute the due credit to God and others, is false and destructive greatness. In fact, such greatness is not greatness but only meanness. Thus, Magnificat teaches us true greatness: it is to humbly accept God’s will, gratefully exalt His greatness and generously cooperate with the same. On the other hand, Magnificat essentially discloses the marvels of God’s greatness. God is great because He is benevolent and just. In benevolence and compassion, He is abundantly generous toward the poor and the humble. And in justice and equity, He also levels the rich and the proud. Thus, Magnificat is also an indicator of social justice and liberation. It is truly a seedbed of true greatness wrapped in the gift pack of exuberant joy. Direction: The Magnificat is a great challenge against all tendencies of arrogance and self-glory on the basis of false greatness because it teaches that the more we are great, the more we must be humble because all greatness belongs to God 23 DECEMBER 2022: MALACHI 3. 1-4, 4. 5-6; LUKE 1. 57-66 Thrust: God’s special one! Indicative: The Lord has marvellous plans for us and our salvation. He specially chooses some to become powerful instruments in executing these plans. 1. The event of God’s incarnation is steadily and progressively unfolding. It is a beautiful embroidery with fine threads of annunciation, Joseph’s vision, visitation, Magnificat, the announcement of John the Baptist's birth, and today his birth and naming. 2. All through these episodes, what is very evident is God’s marvelous and meticulous planning and execution. But it is all for our good. In this mega project, besides Joseph and Mary, John the Baptist has a vital role. That is why his birth is very significant and is narrated with many details. 3. He is unique in many ways – a child of old age; an issue that eliminates the disgrace of the barrenness of his mother; a cousin of the Saviour; filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb; one who was totally consecrated to the Lord and so “he must not drink wine or strong drink (as per the angel’s directive to Zechariah); and one with whom was the hand of the Lord. 4. In fact, all the words spoken about him to his father Zechariah in his vision (Luke 1. 20-25) fit exactly the picture of the messenger in the first reading from Malachi. He is the messenger sent by the Lord. He will prepare the way of the Lord. “He will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers”. 5. We too are called like John the Baptist to be the precursors of the Lord, to prepare the way of the Lord. But it is not a status, position, or dignity. It calls for a true imitation of him, to be filled with the Holy Spirit, to be totally consecrated to Him without any drink or vice, to speak and stand for God, and accomplish the mission of repentance and renewal. Imperative: It is not enough that we admire John the Baptist for his austerity, authenticity, and courage. We need to be charged with the same spirit (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2021, 23 DECEMBER) Focus: Very many times we may not be able to grasp the will and ways of God. They can be disconcerting and upsetting in the sight of the world. But God has His own ways and all of them are purposeful 1. In the gospel, we have the dramatic scene of the birth of John the Baptist. His birth is a concrete example of how God acts graciously but often beyond human comprehension and logic. Elizabeth was barren for many years. But God grants her a son in her old age. Already while in the womb, he encounters his master at Mary’s visitation. His father Zechariah remains mute till his son’s birth, as a sign of the fulfillment of God’s grace. At his birth, his speech is restored and he blesses God. Unlike the custom, John the Baptist was not named after his father but a totally different name. It was clearly the inspiration of the Holy Spirit that both Elizabeth and Zechariah suggested the name of ‘John’. 2. John the Baptist was named ‘John’ which means “Yahweh is gracious”. True to his name, God has always been gracious to Him. That is why the gospel attests, “the hand of the Lord was with him”. The words of Micah in the first reading very much apply to him. John the Baptist is that messenger of the Lord sent before him to prepare the way for the Lord. He is the messenger of the covenant in whom the people delight. 3. He is like a refiner’s fire and like fuller’s soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like silver and gold, till they present the right offerings to the Lord, that will be pleasing to him. He is the Elijah, the prophet sent before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes. He will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers. Direction: Our vocation is exactly like the vocation of John the Baptist. All of us are called to be messengers of the Lord to prepare the ways before him. We need to be messengers of the covenant, especially restoring the lost unity and dignity between God and His people, and between parents and their children (REFLECTION 3 FROM 2020) Focus: God never abandons those who are humble and just. He changes their misery into glory, shame into honor, weakness into power The birth of John the Baptist is a clear pointer to how God manifests His compassion and power to those who are humble and just. Even in their old age, in a humanly impossible situation, God grants a son to Zachariah and Elizabeth. Yes, He never fails the trust of His faithful. He never forsakes them in their misery. He changes barrenness into fecundity, disgrace into dignity, grief into joy, helpless silence into rejoicing proclamation The birth of John the Baptist is also a clear indication of how God is deeply concerned for our good and salvation, and how He plans and implements this plan through the birth of John as the precursor of the Messiah. He is destined to prepare the way of the Lord. God is truly passionate about us. He is clear about His purpose. He is meticulous in His planning and execution. He is relentless in His measures. The birth of John the Baptist is also a reminder of our vocation, mission, and destiny as well. God has a plan for each one of us. He has destined us for salvation and eternal bliss and communion. We are called to experience and enhance this saving grace. We ought to strive constantly to retain it and remain graced. We must also radiate the same to others, like John the Baptist. He was humble and faithful to live up to his call and to carry out his mission. Direction: Blessed are those who never give up their hope but persevere to confide in God, and submit to His holy will! 24 DECEMBER 2022: 2 SAM 7. 1-5, 8-12, 14, 16; LUKE 1. 67-79 Thrust: Never forget God’s mercies! Indicative: In a world where ingratitude is becoming a norm, we are expected to be loud and clear voices of gratitude and praise for God’s infinite mercy and generosity 1. Today’s gospel contains the Benedictus of Zechariah. As we know, this has striking similarities with Mary’s Magnificat. The very fact that these both became integral parts of our Lauds and Vespers indicates their preeminence. 2. They are not mere praises by two individuals. The Benedictus in today’s gospel is not merely an exuberant vote of thanks. It is actually the fundamental gratitude that the whole owes to God. It is the voice of a humble soul that has experienced the magnitude of God’s mercy and proclaims it aloud. 3. The Benedictus is a rich container, manifestation, and acclamation of God’s saving nature, and actions. It underlies What God is to us, what He does, What happens to our life, and what we are expected to do. 4. God is the most “blessed” because He has visited and redeemed His people and has raised up a horn of salvation. He shows tender mercy and renews the covenant. He gives light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death. He would save us from our enemies. 5. This experience of God leads to a duty of a way of living and a mission of doing His will. That is, we are called to be prophets, to prepare his ways. We must serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness all our days. And we need to work to give knowledge of salvation to all in the forgiveness of their sins. Imperative: As we experience God’s immense mercy, we must be profoundly grateful. This gratitude must be translated into an authentic way of living and concrete actions of renewal (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2021, 24 DECEMBER) Focus: The Lord comes to us in tender mercy and that day shall dawn upon us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of the peace 1. The greatest message of Christmas is, “God wants to reside amidst us”. He wants to pitch his tent among us. But this residence is not a matter of place. He does not want to reside merely in places however glamorous and splendid they may be. That is why, when David proposes to build a temple for the Lord, the Lord refuses it. God makes his intentions clear. He wants to reside not in material places but in human hearts and communities. 2. The real house of the Lord is where He reigns, where His kingdom of love and justice is established. This is what is implied in the promise of God to David in the first reading from 2 Samuel: “Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me; your throne shall be established forever”. A perpetual and righteous kingdom would mean God’s own kingdom of righteousness and fidelity. 3. Wherever God resides, there is His residence and house. The house of the Lord is the presence of God. Accordingly, every human heart, human life, human family, and community, in fact, the whole of creation becomes the house of the Lord. 4. Therefore, building a house for the Lord primarily invites us to turn our own hearts, lives, and communities into fitting dwelling places for God. The words of Zechariah become valid guidelines in this direction. 5. Building a house, preparing a dwelling place for the Lord implies the following: we should be saved from our enemies; we should constantly remember his holy covenant; serve Him without fear, being delivered from the hands of our enemies, in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life; go before the Lord to prepare His ways; to gain knowledge of salvation; to obtain forgiveness of sins; to walk in the light and in the way of peace. Direction: The more we create a place for God in our heart, life, and community, the better place we are building for God. Really how foolish are those who invest crores on building temples for God but turn their hearts into dens and markets? (REFLECTION 3 FROM 2020) Focus: God wants to dwell with us, and He needs a dwelling. But this is not a man-made structure. Rather, it is the human heart and the human community. In true devotion and passion for God, David intends to build a magnificent temple for God. But God makes it clear that He prefers to reside not in material buildings and structures, but in the heart and community. He is a God who abides in hearts and in the believing community. He is more interested in and committed to building hearts and communities. He wants to reign over hearts. This is the mind and heart of God. And one who reflects and realises the heart of God cannot but rejoice and praise Him. This is what happens in the case of Zachariah. God does a super miracle in the life of Zachariah and Elizabeth. He grants them a son at their ripe age. Further, He also grants that son a unique and extraordinary role in the plan of salvation. But this is not just a family favor. This is the way of God's mercy towards the whole people of Israel and the whole of humanity itself. One who realizes this God's mercy in action through history, cannot but burst into a song of gratitude, wonder, and joy. Zachariah's canticle is not just a pious prayer or praise of devotion. It is an extolling of God's benevolent and powerful ways of intervention in the lives of humans. Like Zachariah, we also must constantly extol the marvels of God. But such exultation is not only in praise and worship, not only in some externals like activities or even structures. Rather, it should be manifested and testified in “building the heart”, one’s own heart, and the heart of communities. Direction: Any favour and blessing from God is not a private affair, but is a sign and indicator of the immensity and perpetuity of His care and mercy.

3SUNDAY OF ADVENT 22

3rd ADVENT SUNDAY, 11 DECEMBER 2022: ISAIAH 35. 1-6a, 10; JAMES 88. 7-10; MATTHEW 11. 2-11 Thrust: Rejoice! Indicative: Rejoice with joy and singing because the dry land of life shall blossom abundantly with the glory and majesty of the Lord. The only thing needed is patience 1. This 3rd Sunday of Advent is celebrated as the Sunday of Joy. The word of God breathes a profound air of joy. The prime reason for joy is quite clear: the Messiah comes and his coming heals and renews everything. There will be an abundance of life in renewed strength and gladness. The glory and the majesty of the Lord shall be resplendent on earth in new blossom and vigour. 2. But we need to see this reign of the Messiah. We need to see with the eyes of faith and hope. Often life looks bleak and dark with manifold vicissitudes. Like the disciples of John the Baptist, we too may ask Jesus, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” 3. Like many in the world, we too may be looking for many other alternatives like the world, the flesh, and the evil. It is in this context, Jesus replies, "Go and refer to John the Baptist what you hear and see: The blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cured, the dumb speak, the dead are raised, the poor receive the good news". 4. These are really the very same signs of the Messianic times as told in the OT, as heard in Isaiah, "the deserts and the dry land rejoice and blossom like the rose. He transforms everything by his healing and health, by restoring happiness and peace ". 5. Today the same Lord is telling us almost the same thing: "Go and refer to the world what you hear and see". This implies that we ourselves hear and see before we testify to others what God does in our world, and in our human lives. 6. Do we really hear God's voice, God's message constantly speaking to us? Do we hear his directions and counsels? Do we hear his cautions and warnings? Do we hear his appeal for conversion, for renewal? Do we hear his daily invitation to trust in him, to experience his love and mercy? 7. Do we see his hand working in our lives? Do we recognise his action, and intervention in our lives? Do we see his healing bandaging our wounds, his care protecting us, his love nurturing and strengthening us, his mercy forgiving us, his wisdom illumining and guiding us? 8. True it is that in our present times, there is so much blindness, deafness, numbness, lameness, aridity, sadness and death. These do not seem to be the Messianic times but the demonic times. Many cannot and do not see, do not hear, do not speak God and good. Many are paralysed with regard to moving for God and good. Many limp and stumble in the path of God and good, while they run in the road of evil and fun. 9. Further, many experience their life dry and sad. Life does not seem to be fair and happy. So it is difficult to believe and testify. But the truth is this: Our God is loving and caring and unfailingly He comes to save us. We need to be convinced of this. 10. We need to believe this against all incredulity, trust amidst all distrust, hope against all hopelessness, we need to be courageous against all discouragement, we need to be strong against all weaknesses, we need to be firm against all wavering, we need to be wise and clear amidst all confusion and deviations. 11. As Isaiah says, we need to strengthen our weak hands and confirm our feeble knees. Yes, strengthen our weak hands, cling tight to God in faith, and stretch out, to reach out to others in charity. We need to make steady our stumbling knees in prayer, in determination and in surrender. 12. We need to establish our hearts. We need to be patient as James exhorts us like a farmer and like all the prophets. Only like this, we can Live and testify like John the Baptist. God comes to save us, and He changes the quality and the tone of our life. Imperative: Only in joyful suffering and patient endurance, our advent, our Christmas become events of joy here and now, and not merely of the past. (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2020, 13 DECEMBER) Focus: It is quite natural that everyone seeks happiness. But true joy can be found only in God and good. Enjoyments and pleasures are not real joy, because they can never quench the deeper thirst for satisfaction and fulfilment 1. This 3rd Sunday of Advent is known as the Sunday of joy, and the readings radiate this joy. The Prophet Isaiah announces: "I rejoice heartily in the Lord, in my God is the joy of my soul". The second reading continues the same tone and mood of joy with the call to "be patient always" and not lose heart. The gospel too is permeated with the same spirit of joy, though not explicit. 2. Now, why should there be joy? Why should we rejoice? What is there to rejoice? True it is that the reality seems to be bleak and dark. There seem to be more reasons to grieve and lament, rather than to be glad and praise. But nothing of these should snatch away our spirit of joy, which is deep-seated in God and in our faith. Our joy is in God. Our joy comes from our unfailing faith and unswerving hope in the Lord’s promises and assurance. 3. Thus, the Word of God clearly outlines the reasons for joy, along with the call to be joyful. We must rejoice because God comes to save us as the Messiah. Thereby, there is healing to the brokenhearted, liberty to the captives, release to the prisoners, a year of favour and a day of vindication from the Lord. 4. Therefore, rejoice, because the Lord comes to us, the Lord intervenes into our life, the Lord changes our life. Should we not rejoice? God’s abiding presence, God’s caring providence, God’s tender closeness, God’s uplifting justice, God’s hearty compassion, God’s indulgent mercy, God’s mighty liberation, and God’s abundant generosity, God’s unfailing fidelity – Are these not enough reasons to rejoice? 5. Therefore, why feel distant, abandoned and alienated when God is near? Why feel uncared and anxious when he is provident? Why feel unwanted and unloved when he is so close? Why feel like a victim of injustice and deceit when the just God is with us? Why feel disheartened when God is so compassionate? Why feel depressed and let down under the weight of sin, when he is so merciful? Why feel bound and imprisoned, when God is liberating? Why feel lacking and deprived, when God is immensely generous? 6. All that is needed to experience this joy even amidst the multiple shades of sadness, is to trust him, with deep faith and unfailing prayer; trust in his promises, trust in his love and salvation. Entrust ourselves to him, in deep humility and surrender. And carry on his mission, with unflinching zeal, with the unquenchable Spirit, and in a spirit of testimony. 7. Prayer, humility, surrender and testimony – these alone are the ways to experience and promote that deep and lasting joy. Let us then be the containers and carriers of joy. Direction: Let joy be contagious! So that this positive and healthy contagion would displace and dispel the destructive virus of sadness and badness.

3 week of Advent season 22

12 - 17 DECEMBER 2022: HOLY MASS REFLECTIONS 12 DECEMBER 2022: NUMBERS 24. 2-7, 15-17a; MATTHEW 21. 23-27 Thrust: The greatest authority! Indicative: Where truth is falsified and denied, authority is abused and deteriorated. For truth is the greatest authority and fidelity to truth is the right exercise of authority 1. Jesus teaches and preaches, heals and exorcises, confronts, and challenges. The Pharisees and scribes and the Jewish authorities resent him but cannot resist him. They see the truth but cannot accept it due to self-righteousness. They see his greatness but reject it due to jealousy. They see God’s power but deny it due to their obstinacy. 2. So the best way to put him down and put a stop to his ministry is to question his credentials. Who is he? What authority does he have? From whom does he derive his authority? In fact, Jesus already answered and clarified these. He revealed his identity, the source of his authority, and the kind of his authority. He is the Son of God, the Incarnate Messiah. He is authorised and empowered by his Father. And his authority is spiritual. 3. But his opponents are not bothered about these truths. They are not at all interested to know the truth. They are stuck only with his earthly identity as the son of Mary. They seriously object that he has no legal or juridical authority. Thus, he is breaching his limits and acting extra-juridically. 4. Jesus poses a counter-question. He pushes them into a dilemma situation whereby either way they get trapped. By whose and what authority did John the Baptist baptise? Where did his authority come from: from heaven or man? 5. We need not see here Jesus’ way of evasion or even his shrewdness. he refuses to answer them directly, just because they do not deserve an answer. They were not open to see the truth and accept it. There is no point of disclosing the truth to those who are closed. 6. How often we too are closed to the higher truth and higher authority? How rightly Balaam in his oracle indicates that openness to truth gives real spiritual authority! Imperative: He is open to truth and exercises true authority “whose eye is opened, who hears the word of God, who sees the vision of the Almighty, falling down with his eyes uncovered.” (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2021, 13 DECEMBER) Focus: In a world that abuses power and authority, we, the Disciples of Christ have to rediscover and relive the right spirit of authority 1. Jesus was tirelessly committed to his mission of teaching, preaching, and healing. But the Jewish authorities question his authority. They confront him, asking “By what authority are you doing all these things, and who gave you this authority?” It is not a question seeking to know what they do not know. Rather, it is a questioning of his authority. It is an expression of their displeasure and resistance. 2. They just do not want him to do what he was doing because it was posing a direct challenge to their own authority. He had spiritual and moral authority, which was exposing their own shallow spirituality and moral disintegration. His authority was rooted in his communion with God and manifested in a life of integrity. 3. They just could not stomach it. Thereby they wanted to block his mission by warning him indirectly that he had no juridical or recognised authority like them. They were really foolish to attach doing good to having authority. Jesus brings them to their senses with a very shrewd counter-question, “Tell me, whence was the baptism of John the Baptist, from heaven or men?” They are cornered because either way they will be caught. If they say, ‘from heaven, then why did they not believe him? If they say, ‘from men’, then they would incur the wrath of the public who believes it to be from heaven. Hence they remain silent. 4. The point is clear: there is no need for any formal or official authority for doing good. Anybody and everybody can and also must do good. John the Baptist had no legal authority but he had divine authority. Similarly, Jesus’ authority too is divine. No one can question it. There can be a further question also: if one needs authority to do good, then how many who are in authority are really doing good? 5. Direction: All authority is meant for doing and promoting good. In that way, the purpose of all authority is good and godly. Thereby, any authority that obstructs good is only evil (REFLECTION 3 FROM 2020, 14 DECEMBER) Focus: Divine wisdom always prevails over human crookedness, even though men in their wickedness search for ways and means to demean and discard the divine power 1. The evil-mindedness of the Jewish leaders and elders is quite evident. They are not concerned about the depth and the power of Jesus' message and works. They are not happy about the immense good he is doing through His mission of comfort, healing, and conversion. They find him a thorn in the flesh. 2. They are afraid of losing their hold over the people. They are displeased with being exposed for their hypocrisy. Hence their whole and constant intention is to put him into trouble, to trap him, to catch him on the wrong foot. But Jesus will not be shaken. No human or diabolic force can surpass or defeat his wisdom, integrity, and fervour. 3. Two aspects can be reflected upon. One, what is our attitude and response toward the spiritual and good?? Are we also not like the Jewish authorities when we do not understand God’s power? Do we distrust and question God’s intervention and providence? 4. Do we also resent and resist spiritual authority, and why? Is it because of prejudice or threat to my own petty self-seeking authority? When some are sincerely doing good, do we appreciate, encourage and support them? Or, out of jealousy, do we try to put them down, and try to misinterpret and criticize them? 5. Secondly, when we too are often assailed and tormented by so many evil forces, what is our reaction and way out? Do we turn to God's wisdom and power? Or do we depend too much on our own capacities and resources? Or do we easily lose heart, react violently, and give up? 6. Perhaps, all that is needed is to be like Balaam, the seer in the first reading from the book of Numbers: to have the Spirit of God come upon us, to hear the words of God, to have the knowledge from the Most High, to see the vision of the Almighty with eyes unveiled. Direction: Divine wisdom is far better than human argumentation and confrontation. Let us not put ourselves against God’s authority or spiritual authority. It is better to humble ourselves and surrender 13 DECEMBER 2022: ZEPHANIAH 3. 1-2, 9-13; MATTHEW 21. 28-32 Thrust: No guarantees or privileges! Indicative: Often allegiance to a religion, adherence to a tradition, and practice of laws give a sense of privilege and guarantee for God’s grace and favours. But it is wrong 1. There is a theme of contrast in both readings. In the first reading, it is a contrast between two categories of people – the stubborn and unfaithful on one hand and the humble and faithful on the other hand. In the gospel, it is a contrast between two sons – one says no but then changes; the other says yes but does not follow. 2. The denotation of these contrasts is quite clear. These contrasts refer to the Jews and the non-Jews. God’s message and salvation are offered first to the chosen people. They said yes. They accepted by word of mouth. But they failed to show their fidelity in reality. 3. They become complacent and obstinate. They become rebellious, defiled, and oppressing. They are haughty. They listen to no voice and accept no correction. They do not trust in the Lord and do not draw near to their God. These are typified by the second son who says yes to God’s call but does not do His will. 4. On the contrary, the second category of people is typified by the first son who said no at first but then repents. These people repent and get converted to the true God. These are the people humble and lowly. They seek refuge in the name of the Lord. They do no injustice and speak no lies or deceit. They shall graze and lie down, and none shall make them afraid. 5. From this contrast, the lesson is quite clear: there cannot be presumptions or pretensions, privileges or prerogatives, guarantees, or absolute certitudes in obtaining God’s grace. One merits God’s grace only by fidelity. St Lucy whom we commemorate today stands great by her unswerving loyalty even to the extent of martyrdom. Imperative: Ultimately all our capacity and greatness is not our credit or merit. It is all God’s grace. Therefore, be humble and loyal (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2021, 14 DECEMBER) Focus: The quality of our faith is not to be measured in terms of sweet-sounding words, assurances, and promises but by concrete actions that live what we believe 1. Jesus constantly tries to show the Jews how superficial their faith is. They say ‘yes’ to God with their lips but live ‘no’ in their lives. Their words and actions do not correspond with each other. Jesus’ example of two sons makes this point quite clear. When asked by the father to go and work in the vineyard, the first one first says, ‘no’ but then repents and changes his mind and goes and does the work. The second son says, ‘yes’ but does not go to work. 2. Clearly, the first son represents the gentiles and other nations while the second son represents the chosen people of Israel. Israel makes promises and covenants with the Lord; they say ‘yes’ to God’s laws and statutes but they do not follow them. They say and believe one thing but they do and live just the opposite. In the words of the first reading from Zephaniah, these are “rebellious and defiled; they listen to no voice, accept no correction; they do not trust in the Lord or draw near to God”. 3. But the pagans understand the value of God’s grace. They repent for their refusal and turn back to God. They might have said ‘no’ initially but then their life proves ‘yes’ to God’s ways. In the words of Zephaniah, what he applies to the remnant of Israel, can validly apply to these as well. These are those “people humble and lowly, who seek refuge in the Lord; they shall do no wrong and utter no lies, and have no deceitful tongue”. 4. Therefore, what is very clear is no long traditions or religious affiliations can guarantee a faithful life that is a ‘yes’ to God; nor are they sureties to obtain God’s blessings. All that matters is only repentance and a changed life from ‘no’ to ‘yes’. Direction: Many in the present world believe that they can manage the show and manipulate the people with mere promises, tall words, and affirmations. But in God’s sight what matters the most is harmony between words and deeds (REFLECTION 3 FROM 2020, 15 DECEMBER) Focus: The quality of our faith and Christian living does not consist in mere words and promises, even fantastic; What is the use of a bundle of sweet-sounding "yes"s, when the concrete life is a series of "no"s, a negation of what we believe? 1. We live in a world of empty words and false promises. There is a constant tendency to impress, and please others with good-sounding affirmations and assurances. But it is only deception in disguise, because all words, not leading to concrete actions, are only inauthentic and hypocritical. 2. What is the use of repeating hundreds of times, “I love you”, but not understanding, not helping the other, and doing harm to the other? What is the use of promising that I will remove your difficulties, but doing nothing for that? What is the use of proclaiming that I follow God’s ways and values, but living a life of false values and compromises? 3. Jesus drives home this message very powerfully through his simple story of the two sons in the gospel. The first son says ‘no’ at first to the father’s command; but then he repents and goes to work; quite evidently, he stands for the gentiles: they repent as God offers His salvation, and turn to a new way of life through faith in Jesus. 4. These are exactly like those, described in the first reading from Zephaniah: the pagan nations, who call on the name of the Lord and serve him with zeal; poor and meek people who seek refuge in God. 5. But the second son, who says ‘yes’ but does not do, stands for the Jews: they were the first ones, to whom God offered salvation through His only Son, Jesus; but by rejecting to believe in him, they turn unfaithful. Their fault is exactly what the prophet Zephaniah describes in the first reading. They were rebellious, did not pay attention to God’s call for repentance, did not accept the correction, did not trust in the Lord, and did not approach their God. 6. Perhaps, a little sincere reflection may make it clear to us that we are very much similar to the second son in the gospel. God has been abundantly gracious to us, blessing us with the greatest gift of faith in Jesus, and enriching us with every spiritual blessing. 7. What is expected on our part is a life of authenticity and loyalty. This needs a deep and consistent conversion. How often do we deceive God with mere words and promises which are so tall and loud? How often do we say one thing and do exactly the opposite?! Direction: How often do we deliberately forfeit God’s grace, being presumptuous and complacent? It is a time to check and control 14 DECEMBER 2022: ISAIAH 45. 6-8b, 18, 21b-25; LUKE 7. 19-23 Thrust: Turn and Return! Indicative: There are many false images of God. God is reduced to be a “private property” of religion and is domesticated to be a violent defender of religion. This is truly a “godless” culture 1. It is so sad that people divide, discriminate, and fight in the name of God. But in the name of a righteous God, how can unrighteousness be promoted? In the name of the true God, how can truth be falsified? In the name of the holy God, how can unholiness be sanctified? All the more, in the name of a benevolent, magnanimous God, how can hatred, violence and destruction be propagated and perpetuated? 2. How little do people realise that it is folly and a mockery to fight over the names of God or religion or tradition or rituals? They are not equivalent to truth and loyalty. Our primary concern is godliness, holiness, faithfulness, and goodness. 3. It is in this context of the false and deceptive identity of God and religion, the word of God today reminds us of the true identity of God and His functions. God the Yahweh in the first reading declares, “I am the Lord and there is no other god. A righteous God and a Saviour… Only in the Lord are righteousness and strength… Turn to me and be saved.” 4. The above words need not be taken as exclusivism leading to intolerance, domination, and condemnation of other religions. The point here is not which God or religion is greater than others. The real issue is, any meaningful talk of God or adherence to religion should include and promote righteousness and strength, and not weakness and unrighteousness. Any loyalty to God must be saving and not destroying. 5. The gospel picture of God and the Saviour authenticates this right notion and identity of God. In God, we find healing, comfort, and strength: the blind see, the lame walk, the deaf hear, and the dead are raised. Therefore, any loyalty to God that does not foster these “life-signs” is only false and discardable. Imperative: It is high time that we stop being arrogant and making ourselves “defenders” and “protectors” of God. Instead, let us become humble to allow Him to “save” us (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2021, 15 DECEMBER) Focus: Often in life confusion and doubts arise. Instead of being disturbed and misguided, it is better to turn to the Lord, seek clarity and be clear and confirmed 1. In today’s gospel, John the Baptist sends two of his disciples to Jesus to clarify whether he is the awaited Messiah. This looks a little bit embarrassing and also intriguing. We are aware that John the Baptist was quite aware of Jesus’ identity as the awaited Messiah and of his own identity as the precursor of the Messiah. Then we may wonder why at all he wants again to know about Jesus’ identity. 2. There are some scholars who say that like any other human being, John the Baptist too was confused and doubtful about Jesus’ identity and so he wanted to get it clarified. But personally, I do not subscribe to this idea. Rather, a couple of other perspectives seem plausible to me. One is he wanted his disciples to be clear about Jesus as the real Messiah and thus prepare them to be Jesus’ followers. He directed his two disciples to Jesus so that they could have a firsthand experience of Jesus performing the works of Messiah toward the blind, the deaf, the lame, the leprous, the poor, and the dead. 3. A second possible explanation is that he wants to positively pressure Jesus to reveal himself as the awaited Messiah because he wants to vanish behind since Jesus has entered the scene. Jesus does not seem to make any self-revelation by himself. So by sending his disciples personally to Jesus, Jesus would be urged to make a self-attestation. 4. Seen either way, the purpose of John the Baptist can be more of creating an occasion for Jesus to make a self-revelation so that people would know him, believe him, and be drawn to him. Thus he can recede to the background while Jesus takes control of the course of action. 5. Whatever be the motive behind it, the end result is clarity on the identity of Jesus as the Messiah. He brings healing, newness, and life into the lives of many. Truly, the words of the prophet Isaiah in the first reading get fulfilled in him: “All the ends of the earth shall turn to him and be saved. To him, every knee shall bow and every tongue shall swear. It shall be said of him only in the Lord are strength and righteousness. All who were incensed against him shall be put to shame. In the Lord, all the offspring of Israel shall triumph and glory”. Direction: The coming of the Messiah is not merely a mega event of pomp and glory as in the case of many secular lords. His coming is a matter of transformation and salvation (REFLECTION 3 FROM 2020, 16 DECEMBER) Focus: The more we fail to know and discover God in our lives, the more there will be confusion and loss of meaning, and commitment 1. Many think that the issue of God is a mere matter of religion or spirituality or tradition. Consequently, God becomes more a matter of concept, and religion and spirituality become matters of the practice of some devotional activities. 2. But, God must become a living reality, a concrete personal experience, and a relationship. In other words, we must discover the real identity of God in our lives. This is the call that is so forceful in both the readings from Isaiah and Luke. He created everything, he is the Savior, a God of justice. 3. Yes, He is inseparably connected to us and involved in our lives. He is the one who is the author of all life and good. He is deeply interested in our lives, attentive and caring toward our struggles. In the gospel, to those who seek to know the identity of Jesus, Jesus reveals it. 4. He draws their attention to what he is doing with compassion and commitment to the good of all. He healed many people of their sicknesses and diseases. He freed them from the evil spirits. He gave sight to the blind. Thus, the blind see again, the lame walk, lepers are made clean, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the poor are given the good news. These are the authentic signs and testimonies of God’s identity. 5. Today, what then is our duty? Jesus tells those seekers of his identity, to go back and tell what they have seen and heard. We too need to open our eyes to see and hear what God is doing in our lives. we need to be a little more open and receptive. We need to become a little more attentive and sensitive. We need to become a little more positive and appreciative. We need to become a little more grateful and responsive. Direction: We are constantly called to realise the identity of God in our lives, in deep relationship and loyalty. The more we grow in his knowledge and experience, the more we discover and live our own identity. 15 DECEMBER 2022: ISAIAH 54. 1-10; LUKE 7. 24-30 Thrust: Prepare the way! Indicative: We are constantly called to prepare the way of the Lord. The best of the preparation is an attentive and diligent process of awareness-experience-repentance-reparation-witness 1. The theme of “preparation” is recurrent and forceful every day of advent. John the Baptist prepared the way. It is not the externals like his clothing or food or habitation that matter. It is his identity and mission. He was deeply conscious of his identity as a prophet, a precursor who prepares the way of the Lord. 2. Accordingly, he carried out his mission assiduously through the preaching of repentance and baptism. At the height of his fidelity to his mission, he embraced martyrdom and bore witness to his commitment to God. 3. We too have the same identity and mission. We too need to prepare the way of the Lord and bear witness to his kingdom. For this, we need to be confident, clear, convinced, and committed. The Lord says, “Fear not, be not confounded.” 4. Realise the deepest intimate relationship with God and His never-failing magnanimity. Be ever conscious and nurture within that God is not a super power, up in the heavens. Rather, He is our Creator, Maker, Redeemer, and our husband. All these are the highest expressions of love, dignity, and fidelity. 5. Realise that God’s love is everlasting. All unfavourable and adverse happenings in life are not vindictive punishments. They are chastisements and discipline for restoration and growth. Therefore, abandonment, anger, desolation, barrenness, affliction, shame, and disgrace – all these are passing phases. What is more abiding is everlasting love, compassion, dignity, and joy. Imperative: Therefore, “Enlarge your shrinking tents. Stretch out your shortened curtains.” Broaden your horizons. make your hearts spacious with renewed hope and joy (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2021, 16 DECEMBER) Focus: Blessed are those who realize their true identity, and the purpose of their lives and strive to live accordingly! It is only a purpose-driven and destiny-oriented life that becomes meaningful and fulfilling 1. Jesus praises John the Baptist as ‘more than a prophet’ and as ‘the greatest born of women. Now, what makes John the Baptist so great and praiseworthy? In the first place, it is his magnanimity that readily humbles himself to play a low profile even when popular. He never craved and strove for self-glory. 2. The second praiseworthy mark of John the Baptist was his singular focus and unflinching zeal toward his role as the precursor and witness to the Lord. He was fully clear about who he was and thus was fully committed to his mission. He truly and faithfully prepared the way for the Messiah. 3. He calls the people for repentance that would turn them to the Messiah. And the days of the Messiah will be truly hopeful and life-turning. For, “with great compassion he will gather his people. With everlasting love he will have compassion on them. His steadfast love shall not depart from them and his covenant of peace shall not be removed”. 4. But interestingly, Jesus states immediately “Yet who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he (John the Baptist). Does it not look contradictory? How is it that on one hand, John the Baptist is the greatest of all born women, and on other hand, even the least in the Kingdom of God is greater than him? 5. Thereby, one valid implication is ‘regeneration’ by Holy Spirit is far more superior to the ordinary ‘birth’. What makes John the Baptist is not his physical generation through his mother. But, it is his spiritual regeneration, being anointed by the Holy Spirit. Those who belong to the kingdom are thus spiritually generated and empowered. And this is certainly more than mere physical bonding. Direction: Let us always remain conscious of our own role as the ‘messengers’ like John the Baptist. Let us prepare the way for the Lord 16 DECEMBER 2022:ISAIAH 56. 1-3a, 6-8; JOHN 5. 33-36 Thrust: God of truth! Indicative: People need proofs. They seek evidences. But the proofs and evidences are not always indicators of doubt and skepticism. Rather they can authenticate the truth and the veracity of the matter at hand 1. God is truth and righteousness. There are no falsity and no injustice in Him. All those who believe in and follow God will also abide in truth and act righteously. Truth and righteousness are not mere attributes. They are the essentials of God, godly people, and godliness. 2. The world with all its intelligence and competence is reeling with incredulity and unproductive and harmful skepticism. The human mind in all its craving for rationality and certainty has lost “sensitivity” – intellectual, social, moral, and spiritual. 3. Thus, it is really a “culture of dialectic and conflict”. There is a constant conflict between certainty-uncertainty, truth-falsity, and veracity-distortion. In this context, Jesus indicates to us the best way to overcome these conflictual situations. 4. The solution to the conflict is “witness”. Bear witness to the truth. But, what is truth? God is truth. His life and presence, His light and guidance, His love and sustenance, His power and strengthening, His fidelity, forgiveness, and salvation are the greatest truth. 5. Therefore, we need to bear witness to these aspects of truth. This implies that we believe them, experience them and live them concretely. Thus it is not mere words or promises. It is not mere practices or traditions. It is not mere laws and precepts. It is a life example. That is why Jesus says, “the very works that I do bear witness to me.” Only this will be the authentic and effective testimony. Imperative: Fidelity to truth implies a life of fraternity and charity, benevolence and righteousness. There is no truth without works in action 17 DECEMBER 2022: GENESIS 49. 2, 8-10; MATTHEW 1. 1-17 Thrust: God’s grace embraces! Indicative: God’s mindset is different from the human mindset in different ways. One salient difference is, God does not seek to protect and promote His own dignity or interests. Rather He protects and promotes our dignity. 1. By and large, there is an overhauling ego-centrism in the ordinary human mentality. ‘I’ become the centre, norm, and measure of everything. But the great and noble souls rise above this ego-demarcation and set others’ good first. This is in fact God’s own nature. There is no self-seeking. He is always intent on human well-being. 2. In the OT salvation history, God enters into the life story of a small nation Israel and brings them up. Despite their recurrent infidelity and deviations, He remains faithful to them. There is absolutely no self-gain. It is all for their benefit. 3. In the NT, the genealogy that is narrated in the gospel, at a first glance may look like a mere list of names, just for chronological purpose and historical interest. But a deeper look into the genealogy reveals and authenticates what we saying above. 4. First of all, genealogy reveals that God descends amidst us on earth as a human so as to make us ascend to heaven as divine eternals. He lowers His dignity in order to raise our dignity. He shares in our human predicament so that we can share in the divine glory. 5. Further, the names in the list of genealogy are a variety of different characters – men and women, chosen and pagan, elite and ordinary, adulterers and murderers. Thus genealogy includes all irrespective of status and dignity. There is no exclusion or discrimination. This once again proves that God dignifies us and gives us a due place in His eternal plans and ways of salvation. Imperative: Let us be extremely happy that God graciously becomes one of us in our human family. It is a grace and privilege. Let us feel and live our human dignity (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2021, 18 DECEMBER) Focus: The incarnation of God is not that God ‘appears’ in human form. He truly ‘takes’ or ‘assumes’ the human form. Therefore, he ‘becomes’ one of us 1. Matthew begins his gospel with the genealogy of Jesus. The purpose of genealogy is not just to provide some historical details of the family tree of Jesus. It is also not to give an impression of historical accuracy and veracity regarding Jesus’ genealogy. Rather, the primal purpose is to show the total “immersion” of Jesus into human history. 2. Jesus inserts himself into the life struggle of human history. Genealogy of the Son of God testifies that Jesus became fully man and that he is genuinely part of our history. His humanity is not a mere ‘appearance’ as in the case of avatars. It is real and true. Genealogy authenticates that Jesus was fully of human nature, just as he is divine. He bore our sins; he faced our struggles. He became one of us so that we would become like him. Therefore, to celebrate God’s incarnation would be celebrating our own humanity which refers both to the human family and human nature. 3. There are a few other notable factors in Matthew’s genealogy. There are 5 women included in the whole genealogy, namely Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Mary. This is in sharp contrast to Matthew’s Jewish world where genealogies typically mentioned only men. 4. Even more surprisingly, all these women have somewhat spotty reputations. Tamar was Judah’s daughter-in-law who pretended to be a prostitute, Rahab was a Jericho prostitute, Ruth was the non-Israelite Moabite and a sexually forward widow, Bathsheba was a woman taken to adultery with David, and Mary was a suspect pregnancy (claimed by the Holy Spirit). 5. Their inclusion into genealogy is a clear indication that God will work through His servants, even the most unlikely of servants. Even the most unlikely life can be redeemed and honored by God. Each life can be part of God’s grand plan to bring light and truth and healing to the world. Direction: No matter what we are and how we do, we are all significant and pivotal in the holy designs of God. He wants to become part of our life. He wants to be in total solidarity with the whole of humanity indiscriminately (REFLECTION 3 FROM 2020, 19 DECEMBER) Focus: God's ways are always authentic and concrete. He always enters into human history and our own personal history to make our lives authentic and worth-living 1. We have the genealogy of Jesus in the gospel. Its interest or purpose is not mere history or chronology which is more of the human realm. Its purpose is of the divine realm, with a salvific orientation. Jesus is truly born of human descent. His incarnation is true and real. It is not a mere story or fiction or totally an exclusive matter of faith. 2. Rather, his birth is a verifiable and tangible historical reality. He truly inserts himself into our human history. He belongs to our human line of life. This is something crucial: God becomes part of our human history and shares our own life- predicaments. 3. This human face and the humaneness of God are very important. Especially in our own times, where the connectivity with God is more and more declining, where the personal touch with God is reducing, we need to recapture this lost link. Today, in the world of communication, we speak of links. We ask for links to get connected to a particular program and watch it. 4. How many are really serious about the link to God? How many eagerly search for entering the site of God? If only one understands, the immense significance and value of God entering into our human history, oh! What an unfathomable mystery of love! God becomes part of our human family. He is one of our family. He has a profound and lasting bonding with us. 5. But history is not a mere matter of a bygone past. His birth is not one event that took place once upon a time. His birth among us is a most authentic testimony that he has inserted himself into our life story. 6. Accordingly, the genealogy of Jesus for us must not be merely a historical concern, so as to prove his historicity. Rather, it is to confirm the beautiful immersion of God into our human reality. God became part of our history so that we can live beyond history, with a life that merits one eternity. Direction: To make us like him, God became like us. To elevate our personal and human history, God got inserted into our story.

Second week of Advent season 22

05 – 10 DECEMBER 2022, HOLY MASS REFLECTIONS 05 DECEMBER 2022: ISAIAH 35. 1-10; LUKE 5. 17-26 Thrust: Come to the Lord! Indicative: The coming of the Lord is transformative. It heals and renews everything. He will bring forth an abundance of joy and new vigour 1. As we move toward the holy Christmas, these days of Advent instill into us immense hope and comfort. Especially the first reading from Isaiah is full of promises for a glorious future with the advent of Messiah. We need not fear or feel weak because our Saviour comes to save and recompense us. 2. We shall see the glory and power of our God. These glory and power are not self-confined or self-seeking. They transform what is lowly and glorify what is miserable. They ignite new hope and joy in everything. The eyes of the blind, the ears of the deaf shall be opened. The lame shall leap like a deer and the mute sing for joy. 3. It is not merely physical healing. It is an integrated wholeness. The way of life shall change. It will be the “Way of holiness”, where people live clean, do not go astray, and are ransomed and redeemed. Further, it is not only limited to humans. It transforms the whole creation. For streams shall flow in the desert, wilderness, and barren ground, turning them into springs and pools. 4. Therefore, a healing and transforming touch leading to wholeness and holiness shall be the abiding sign and effect of the Messiah. Jesus embodies this. He infuses comfort and new hope into the dispirited hearts. He heals many sick. But his healing is not just physical. It is holistic. It transforms the whole person and life. 5. It restores the lost dignity and adds new joy. Sorrow and sighing flee away in his presence. This is concretely illustrated in the healing story of a paralysed man. He heals him with powered words, “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home”. But he does not stop there. He pronounces, “Man, your sins are forgiven you”. 6. This sounds blasphemous to the Pharisees and scribes. But Jesus wants to make clear to them two things: that he has the power to forgive sin; and that real healing is the release from sin. In fact, sin is the greatest sickness. It is from sin we must rise and walk in the way of the Lord. Imperative: Let the comforting words of Isaiah vibrate in our hearts: Be strong and fear not. Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. For your God is coming (REFLECTION FROM 2021, 06 DECEMBER) Focus: In a life that is tormented by so much infirmity and deformity, of various kinds, we all need healing; we need a new lease on life. That is possible only with God 1. Jesus heals a paralytic in the gospel. But in healing, he utters not only words of physical healing, but also words of forgiveness. He says, “Your sins are forgiven”. That invites a lot of criticism from his opponents and they blame him for blasphemy. Thereby, Jesus makes it very clear that what is more important is inner healing, spiritual healing, the healing from sin. 2. Sin paralyses us and so we need to be reactivated and rejuvenated from our passivity and tepidity. Jesus says, “Rise and walk; go home”. We need to rise from our spiritual paralysis. We need to walk actively in the path of the Lord. We need to go home – to be reconciled and reunited with the Father and also to be in affable and benevolent relationships with our brethren. 3. Thus, the healing that Jesus brings is not merely a physical act. It affects the whole life and person. It brings a new life. It restores the lost dignity, energy, and joy. This is exactly the messianic gift –holistic healing and renewed joy. Jesus in this way becomes the fulfillment of the messianic prophecy in the first reading from Isaiah: “The eyes of the blind are opened, the ears of the deaf are unstopped, the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the dumb sing for joy”. 4. Truly, Jesus, the Messiah “strengthens the weak hands, makes firm the feeble knees. Sorrow and sighing flee away, and joy and gladness shall flow”. The dry land and wilderness shall be glad, and the desert shall rejoice and blossom. They shall turn into springs and streams of water, and produce. Yes, Jesus makes a total difference in our lives, if only he is allowed to enter into our life, take control of it and direct it. With him in control, things will not be the same. Direction: Let us constantly listen to the assuring words of God, “Be strong, fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance against evil, with recompense. He will come and save you” (REFLECTION 3 FROM 2020, 07 DECEMBER) Focus: The Lord constantly comes into our lives to save us. He transforms our situations of sickness into health, aridity into springs, weakness into strength, and sadness into joy 1. The tone of comfort and renewal is very strong in all these days of holy Advent. Especially, the first readings from the prophets resound this spirit of assurance. God is coming to save us. He is entering into our lives. He sees our life, saddled with fear and dryness. There is sickness, weakness, deprivation, tiredness, and hopelessness. The charm and the joy of life are missing. 2. Consequently, the quotient of faith is deeply shaken and reduced. It is in such times the Lord is inviting us to rekindle our faith. This is the faith, seen in the friends of a paralytic and appreciated by Jesus in the gospel. Jesus is in a house in his teaching and healing ministry. There is a paralytic, carried by his friends. They find it not possible to approach Jesus due to the crowd. So they make a way through the roof and lower him straight in front of Jesus. 3. Jesus praises their faith and heals him. But what is strange here is, he declares, “Your sins are forgiven”.This is very objectionable because only God has the power to forgive sins. Does Jesus equate himself with God? This is blatant blasphemy, and it is a very good weapon for his opponents to accuse him and persecute him. 4. By this healing and forgiving, Jesus brings home a couple of significant truths: first, his communion with the Father and his divine authority to forgive sins. Second, spiritual health, and healing from sin is much more important than merely physical health, and Jesus is really concerned about it. Third, every sin certainly causes suffering, though every suffering is not necessarily because of sin. Therefore, we must approach the Lord with faith, so that we truly experience health and joy. Direction: Let you not lose your heart at the sight of the power of sin, and its pervasive evil effects. Have faith in him, present yourself to his merciful presence, and get healed. It is worth making space in the roof of our hearts and reaching directly in front of him! 06 DECEMBER 2022: ISAIAH 40. 1-11; MATTHEW 18. 12-14 Thrust: Comfort, comfort! Indicative: The mercy and forgiveness of God are unimaginable and incomparable. He never condemns us mercilessly. He waits for our return endlessly 1. The world of today is more and more steeped in negativity and unforgiveness. This leads to retaliation and violence. Sadly, this human spirit of hostility, condemnation, and destruction is projected on God also. Consequently, people can easily condemn and destroy others, all in the name of God as if they obtained a licence from God. 2. This is clearly a distorted image of God and a falsified way of religion. In such a context, the word of God presents a refreshing and empowering image of God. Our God is not a God who condemns and punishes. He is not a God who forsakes the strayed to their fate. He never takes delight in the destruction of even the greatest sinner. 3. He pardons the iniquities of the strayed. He is the true shepherd who goes in search of the lost sheep. He finds it and rejoins it to his fold. He is totally faithful to his Father’s will that wills no one to perish. He will tend the sheep tenderly and intimately. 4. Jesus is the perfect embodiment and fulfillment of this image of God. He came to seek and restore the lost. He came to give personally the taste of the abundant tenderness and mercy of God. He appeals to us to return in repentance. He assures us that God is patiently waiting to re-embrace us. He wants to forgive us, heal us and renew our lost dignity and joy. For he is the shepherd who carries us in his bosom and gently leads. 5. In response to such a merciful God, what must be our duty? First, confide deeply in this abiding mercy and tenderness of God. Develop a personal intimacy with him. Change the perspective from fear and dry duty to love and joyful loyalty. Realise the transience of human life and the earthly things: “All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower”. Imperative: The greatest call for each one of us is, “Prepare the way of the Lord” in the wilderness of the world. Make straight what is crooked, and level what is uneven. Live a changed life! (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2021, 07 DECEMBER) Focus: The operating principles of God are totally in contrast to those of the world. Judgment and condemnation, hardness, and unforgiveness are the ways of the world. But tenderness, forgiveness, and restoration are God’s ways and marks 1. Jesus presents himself as the good shepherd. But this shepherd is a totally different class. He does not abandon the strayed sheep to its fate, he does not condemn it for its fault. He abandons the nine-nine sheep, exposing them to risk from the wild animals. He goes in search of the lost sheep. When he finds it, he rejoices and carries it back. 2. The point here is not the logic or wisdom of leaving the nine-nine. The focus is on God’s forgiving and condescending mercy. There is no rejection or condemnation on the part of God. It is never the will of God that anyone should be lost or perish. 3. The vivid picture of God as a shepherd in the first reading from Isaiah comes very much alive and tangible in Jesus. “He feeds his flock like a shepherd, he will gather the lambs in his arms, he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young”. Truly he comforts his people. He pardons the iniquities of his people. He announces good tidings to them those who are afraid and afflicted. 4. It is this image of God that we need to transmit to a world that is sick with aggression and retaliation on one hand and fear and depression on the other hand. The world needs a healing God, a caring and self-giving God. The world desperately needs good tidings, the gospel of comfort and confidence. 5. Therefore, we as people of God should be the heralds and the emissaries of God. We need to prepare the way of the Lord in the wilderness, and make straight paths in the desert. Lift up the valleys, and lower the hills and mountains. Level the unleveled and smoothen the rough places. Direction: Convince the world which is accustomed to shallow promises that the word of our God will stand forever. The grass withers and the flower fades but God’s assurance abides 07 DECEMBER 2022: ISAIAH 40. 25-31; MATTHEW 11. 28-30, ST AMBROSE Thrust: Strong in the Lord’s strength! Indicative: Stress and strain are common to all. No one is exempted from them. But when we surrender them to God, we will find them bearable and find a new vigour to move ahead 1. No doubt that the world is under heavy loads, in the form of worry and misery. Many feel pressed under the burden and labour of life. Many feel restless and exhausted. It is in this context, Jesus invites, “Come to me, all who labour and heavy laden, and I will give you rest”. These words are really comforting and reinforcing. 2. Normally we see many who do not feel concerned at all. They evade listening to others. They do not have even a word of assurance or comfort. They do nothing to alleviate their pain. In such an indifferent culture, the concern and magnanimity of God toward us is something highly praiseworthy and imitable. 3. Jesus says, “Come to me, and I will give you rest”. From this, two fundamental things are clear: one is, rest is very important in life and it is very much lacking as well. Second is, it is only in coming to Jesus, one will experience the rest. Rest is not only relaxation or pause from work. Real rest is to be free from needless worry and tension and enjoy the serenity of life. 4. Words of Jesus make it clear that rest is not equal to laziness or evasion of duty. Rest is more a matter of attitude and approach. It is to be balanced and composed even amidst all the burdens. It is to nurture and carry a calm and serene frame of mind. In the thought of St Francis de Sales, rest is holy equanimity. Real rest is a spiritual strength. Hence Jesus’ words, “You will find rest for your souls”. 5. In that sense, to be restful means not to feel exhausted but be ever renewed in strength. It is because strength and energy come from the Lord. That is why we hear in the first reading from Isaiah: “He gives power to the faint and strength to those without might”. “Those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall run but not be weary. They shall walk but not faint”. 6. To experience such rest, what has to be done? Take the yoke of the Lord and carry it with gentleness and humility. Yoke is anything and everything, big or small that lays a holy burden upon us. To carry the yoke means to carry God’s commandments. They are not crushing burdens but liberating experiences. Imperative: The yoke of dutifulness and faithfulness is always put upon us. But it is not a burden that makes our life burdensome. It is a positive transformer that makes our burdens of life light and easy (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2022, 14 JULY) Thrust: Take the yoke and find the rest! Indicative: The world is under pressure. It is hard-pressed. It needs some remedy that relieves it from this pressing burden. God alone is that solace point! 1. “Come unto me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest”. This is the warm invitation of Jesus to everyone, especially who feel life is burdensome and laborious. The life of many is robbed of rest. This is not so much physical rest and relaxation. It is mental and spiritual. 2. Rest is a state of mind where all our worries and tensions, especially those not necessary and not worthwhile recede. Rest is a mental serenity and calm. It may not be a complete cessation of all worries and burdens. Rather it is a state of mental equilibrium, an inner equanimity. 3. It is this that many today lack. They have many relaxations but are not calm. They have many deviations, diversions, and distractions but not really a re-charging and refilling. Truly, in line with the words in the first reading, many are “like a pregnant woman who writhes and cries out in her pangs when she is near to giving birth”. 4. There is no wonder then that the welcoming words of Jesus to go to him in our times of burden are very soothing and uplifting. But how do we obtain this rest? It is by taking his yoke upon us and learning gentleness and humility from him. Yoke can simply mean anything, any burden, any task, any risk for the sake of the Lord. 5. This yoke of the Lord is smoothened and sweetened by gentleness and humility. But the world considers these sweeteners as signs of weakness and timidity, lack of self-dignity, and self-affirmation. This thinking is wrong. They are actually signs of strength and firmness. Only a strong and steady person can be gentle and humble. They ease one’s inner burdens and make him light-hearted. Imperative: To a world that is so rude, harsh, and hard, gentleness will be like a yoke hard to bear. And to a world that rides on pride and arrogance, humility is really a burden to carry. But it is only by carrying this noble yoke and burden, that we can experience true relief and comfort (REFLECTION 3 FROM 2020, 16 JULY) Focus: In a life of stress and strain, the best and lasting relaxation is found not in passing gratifications and shallow pleasures but only with the Lord and in learning from him and becoming like him 1. The world of today more than ever seems to be devoured by the monsters of stress and worry. Tiredness and exhaustion have become the trademark of modern man, without any exception. It is not necessarily the physical but rather the mental. Everyone seems to be under some weight and often feels life to be burdensome. The fact is everyone is busy and busy all the time, but many times many really do not know what they are busy with and why they are busy. 2. It is in such a context and moments, the words of Jesus, “Come unto me all those who are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest” are very consoling and elevating. But what is interesting is: he is promising rest, not in inaction, not in idling, not in discarding all work and duty. It is a positive struggle, a productive pain. 3. Rather, we will feel light and relaxed, by taking up his yoke, his burden. It is his gentleness and humility, which are certainly burdens in the sight of the world. To the extent we learn and grow to be gentle and humble, we will be light-hearted and spirited, despite all the exhausting burdens that beset us. Direction: Let us refrain from exhausting ourselves in unworthy pursuits. Let us rein our frenetic lives and steal some serene moments at the Lord’s feet. Let us experience life as light and pleasant by learning to be gentle and humble. 08 DECEMBER 2022: GEN 3. 9-15, 20; EPHES 1. 3-6. 11-12; LUKE 1. 26-38, IMMACULATE CONCEPTION Thrust: Stainless and spotless! Indicative: God in His benevolence kept Mary immaculate. It is quite valid because she was to be the abode of His incarnate Son and so it would be a worthy and sinless abode 1. On 08th December every year, we celebrate the immaculate conception of our sweetest Mother Mary and as her beloved children, we rejoice. It is a key dogma that we hold fast to. Thereby we believe that Mary was conceived immaculately and she remained sinless till the end of her life. 2. The immaculate conception of Mary is not a momentary happening, a one-time event limited only to that moment. It refers not only to the moment of conception in her mother’s womb. Rather it extends and embraces her whole life, from womb to tomb. Mary’s whole life was an unceasing act of immaculate conception. 3. She was already conceived immaculately in the eternal plan of God, and that continued at her birth and till her death. Mary’s immaculate conception points to God’s eternal plan of salvation. Things do not happen by chance. Everything has a place and purpose in God’s eternal will and designs. He destined Mary to be the Mother of His incarnate Son. 4. Mary’s immaculate conception blends God’s gift and human acceptance, God’s offer and human cooperation, privilege and responsibility, grace and duty. No doubt that it was God’s unique choice and gift. However, she was not a passive receiver or indifferent spectator to the divine show. 5. For her part, she actively cooperated with God’s gift. She offered no resistance to the fulfillment of God’s plan in and through her. She surrendered her whole life in unreserved commitment. What she received gratuitously, she strove to merit by her humility and fidelity. 6. Her immaculate conception was the starting point of an enormous duty. It was great to be conceived immaculately without the stain of sin. But that was no guarantee or shield against the attacks of sin. It did not exempt her from the perils of evil. She had to wage the battle for life. She had to work hard every moment to preserve and foster the grace of her immaculate conception. 7. Her immaculate conception points to Mary’s purity of heart. She was immaculate, pure, and guileless. No malice or evil could find a place in her. Like a lotus amid dirty water, she kept herself immaculate amid all the dirty and stained world. 8. She could be immaculate because her intentions and heart were totally free from any stain of egoism and self-seeking interests. She allowed no selfish motive to stain her heart or divert her focus. Her whole attention and orientation were doing God’s holy will. Her whole concern and striving was to cooperate with God’s plans and fulfilling the sacred role entrusted to her. Imperative: Mary’s immaculate conception points to the secret of her life. In surrender to God, with purity of heart, be committed to cooperating with God’s plan and accomplishing it (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2021) Focus: The sinless God incarnates himself through a stainless virgin so as to redeem the sinful humanity 1. Today we celebrate the great festivity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This is a dogma of faith that she was preserved from the stain of sin from the moment of her conception itself. God preserved her as immaculate as she was to be the mother of the incarnate Son of God. It is God’s unique grace and it is quite valid that the sinless Son abides in and lives with and is groomed by the sinless mother. 2. Immaculate Conception is both a gift and a task. It is a gift because it is a singular privilege bestowed on Mary on account of His Son. It is not something due to Mary by right. Rather, it is a gratuitous gift. However, it is also a task. That which she has received from God must be preserved intact lifelong. She always lived a life that is worthy of her honour. 3. If the reception of the grace of Immaculate Conception was a gift, preservation of it was a task. This is exactly like her divine Son. By his divine nature, he was sinless. But by his human nature as incarnate God, he had to ceaselessly struggle to remain sinless. Similarly, Mary too though gifted with this immaculateness, still was tasked with upholding it. 4. Mary’s Immaculate Conception is a clear indicator of the secret of Mary’s purity and holiness. She remained pure and immaculate because of her intense and inseparable intimacy and union with her divine Son. Thus, the picture is very clear: when one is holy, one will be pure and immaculate. But one can be holy only when one is profoundly united with the Lord. 5. We can also say in other words. Mary was immaculate because she was always the abode of Jesus. Till his birth, she bore him in her womb. After his birth, she bore his spirit into her life. Thus, she was a bearer of Jesus always. Therefore, those who bear Jesus will surely be immaculate. 6. Mary being pure, immaculate, and holy will be a sure guide, companion, and support for us in our journey too of immaculateness. In the words of the second reading, this is our very destiny: To be holy and blameless before him. Direction: God wants us to be holy and blameless. In other words, He wants us to be pure and immaculate without the stain of sin. This is possible only in deep intimacy and communion with God. A heart that is an abode of God will surely be immaculate! (REFLECTION 3 FROM 2020) Focus: To be immaculate is to consecrate oneself to God and to concentrate whole life on God 1. The doctrine of the Immaculate Conception was officially defined by Pope Pius IX in 1854. It refers, not to the immaculate conception of Jesus in Mary's womb, but refers to the "immaculate conception of Mary" in her mother's womb. 2. The Blessed Virgin Mary, from the first moment of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of Almighty God, and in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, Savior of the human race was preserved free from any stain of original sin, and was in the state of sanctifying grace. Therefore, the angel Gabriel said: "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you" (Luke 1:28) Even if all are thrown into the situation of sin, and all are exposed to sin, she has been preserved by God from its stain. 3. She is without sin, by the grace of Christ in a special way, by anticipation. A simple metaphor can clarify the point of her "rescue". All are saved by Christ from the deep pit of sin, having fallen into it; while Mary was saved by Christ from the same pit, but was prevented from falling into it. 4. Therefore, the Immaculate Conception of Mary provides us with some lessons: Even though Mary was preserved from sin, she still had to struggle constantly to preserve and bear witness to it. Immaculateness was a free gift, but she had to constantly strive to deserve it. 5. Therefore, the Immaculate Conception of Mary also calls us for constancy and consistency in our struggle against sin, in preserving ourselves from the stain of sin, and in the state of purity of grace. It is not for a moment, or some days, but for life, from the womb to the grave. 6. The Immaculate Conception of Mary reminds us and guides us in our destiny. It is God's will and plans that we live and stand before him as holy and blameless. God conceived us immaculately in his eternal destiny. The Immaculate Conception of Mary is a powerful sign that God is serious about His saving plan and has already begun it in Mary. 7. The Immaculate Conception of Mary is a powerful call of the hour, against impurity. It is a call for a struggle of life full of the grace of purity, against the overwhelming assaults of sin. Especially in our times when innocence or immaculateness are considered ignorance or madness or incompetence, where distortions and cunningness are exalted as the "craft of the day", and the norm of life, we are called children of the Immaculate Mother, to fight to keep us not polluted by sin and to preserve ourselves pure and immaculate. 8. The way of surrender is the way of being immaculate. Mary shows us the way to be holy and blameless with her way of surrender. Mary in her total abandonment to God, from the initial act of response to the end, throughout her life, fully lives the grace of the Immaculate Conception. 9. Mary in her immaculate conception is also a comforting assurance for us, who will be our guard and guide, companion, and collaborator in the same search for holiness and salvation. Of course, the power of sin and the forces of evil will never be dormant. But Mary instills in us trust and courage, hope, a resolution, comfort, and support that with her and in abandonment to God, we will never lose the battle. 10. The Immaculate Conception is a call for an integral holistic life: We do not love sin; We do not conceive sin; We do not accept sin; Let us not be deceived by sin; Let us not be enchanted by sin 11. Living without sin is possible only when we live with the Son. Being immaculate is only possible when we live in intimacy with God, cooperate with his plans, rejuvenate his life in us, lovingly associate with the Mother, and imitate the Son. Direction: Beauty of life consists only in purity of heart and propriety of action 09 DECEMBER 2022: ISAIAH 48. 17-19; MATTHEW 11. 16-19 Thrust: Dancing to one’s tunes! Indicative: Many suffer from prejudices and biases. This leads to stubbornness. Consequently, they fail to see and accept others as they are 1. The openness deficit is one serious deficit that leads to many other evils. Many are not open to see, accept, appreciate, and support the good in others. They also do not see, respect, and accept the validity of others’ opinions and ideas. They are clouded by various prejudices and cannot behold reality. Their ego, pride, and self-righteousness close their heart and vision. 2. Hence, they become intolerant, pessimistic, and negative toward others. They not only fail to see the good but even misinterpret it as bad. They twist the truth and present it according to their wrong perception and perspectives. 3. This is exactly what Jesus rebukes in the gospel. Jesus comes down heavily on the people of his time. They are like the above-mentioned. They are like children who demand others to dance or mourn according to their tunes. They expect all others to move as they want. They want all others to see as they see. 4. They are stuck with their own judgments and assessments. That is why they blame John the Baptist’s austerity as demon-possession, and Jesus’ solidarity and flexibility as looseness. They are perpetual fault-finders and nothing and no one can satisfy them. The reason is quite simple: they capsule all others in their own self-demarcated misconceptions. 5. However, their prejudiced judgments and reactions do not change the truth. For “wisdom is justified by her deeds”. The criticism against John the Baptist and Jesus does not take away the truth of their authenticity. The problem is not theirs but that of the wrong perception. 6. Therefore, the remedy for this “perspective-defect” is attention to listening to God’s commandments and striving to follow them. We should get rid of our erroneous perspectives. We should put on the mindset of God, adhering to his teachings and ways. Then the reward will be great. Peace and righteousness, posterity and longevity of life will be abundant. Imperative: If only we throw away the worthless baggage of our prejudices and misconceptions, and self-demarcated judgments; if only we are a little more open and accommodative to see, understand and appreciate the value of others, better wisdom and right judgment will prevail (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2021, 10 DECEMBER) Focus: Those who are self-centered and narrow-minded cannot understand and respect others. because the whole world is what they think and what is convenient for them 1. Accepting and respecting others, working and accomplishing together with others demands a minimum openness and flexibility, humility, and fraternity toward others. Very often such spirit is lacking. Consequently, we find a lot of prejudice, stubbornness, and negativity. This fails to recognize others’ worth and respect their freedom. 2. This kind of person expects all others to “dance according to their tunes”. They want the whole world to revolve around their ideas. They demand that all others must walk by their dictates. This is typical of the people of Jesus’ time. In Jesus’ own words, they are like the “children who say to others, “We piped to you, and you did not dance, we wailed, and you did not mourn”. 3. They were so stubborn and negative-minded and so neither the austerity of John the Baptist nor the flexibility of Jesus would satisfy them. They labelled John the Baptist as a possessed man and Jesus as a self-indulgent man. These people do not see the heart or the intention or the goodness or the situation of others. They just want others to think, feel and do what they like. 4. This is the same problem that God has faced in the Old Testament as well. See how God sighs with a pained tone of lament: “O that you had hearkened to my commandments!” It is the same anguish with which Jesus laments and weeps over Jerusalem in Matthew 23. 37-39 or Luke 13. 34-35: “How often have I ‘desired’ to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!”. This is the same agony of heart with which he weeps over Jerusalem in Luke 19. 441-44: “If you, even you, had only recognized on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes… you did not recognize the time of your visitation from God”. Direction: Why does grace fail to bring about any effect and fruit in us? Why does the required change and transformation not take place? It is not the failure or incapacity of God’s grace. It is our failure to be sensitive, receptive, and cooperative (REFLECTION 3 FROM 2020, 11 DECEMBER) Focus: Prejudice is like a veil that always clouds the vision, mars the way, and deviates one from the right track. The one who is prejudiced can never see or hear or speak or do rightly 1. Negative attitudes, prejudice, and obstinacy plague the world of today. Many nurture and carry so much negativity within. Their thought, desire, the intention is all negatively coloured. Consequently, they have the wrong way of looking, judging, and acting toward others. 2. They fail to understand others, and value and appreciate them for their worth. They suffer from the traps of their own attitude and perspective and they do not see the other side of reality, especially the positive side of others. They make absolute their own ideas and opinions and stubbornly stick to them. 3. These are so pessimistic and negative-minded that nothing can really satisfy them or win their approval and favour. These are exactly like the children mentioned in the gospel today. They sit in the marketplace, and are perpetual fault-finders and dissatisfied. No flute can gladden them, and no funeral song would arouse mourning solidarity in them. Even if others do the best and the right, they have no appreciation or sensitivity. 4. They always have something to find fault with and accuse. John the Baptist was so austere and he was labeled as a possessed man. Jesus was so free and mingling, and he was blamed to be an indulgent and loose man. It is not the fault of John or Jesus. The problem lies with them. It is their attitude and approach that is corrupt. 5. It is these people about whom God rightfully and painfully laments, “Had you paid attention to my commandments”, attention to the best that God teaches them, attention to the right way they must go. If done so, then surely streams of blessings would have flown. Direction: Often there is an excessive eagerness to change reality. It is nothing wrong, when it is wrong and when it is possible. But much more than that, one should try to change one’s own attitude and perspective, which are really corroding 10 DECEMBER 2022: SIRACH 48. 1-4, 9-11b; MATTHEW 17. 10-13 Thrust: Men on fire! Indicative: Those who love God and are loyal to Him, will be on fire. They live for God and do His will passionately and resolutely come what may 1. Prophet Elijah was an outstanding figure in the Old Testament. He performed wondrous deeds. He enjoys a glorious name and reverence in Israel. But apart from these factors, what makes him commendable is his passion for God and his focus on his mission. He would contest with the followers of false gods and defeat them. And he would turn back the wavering and strayed people to Yahweh, the true God. 2. Thus, his mission was precisely one of restoration. That is, restoring the lost relationship within the community, and with God. In the New Testament, John the Baptist would resemble Elijah, in his passion for God, and fierce defence of God’s ways. Nothing and no one would intimidate him or deter his commitment to his mission. 3. John the Baptist tried with conviction and courage to correct the wrong and restore the original sanctity and fidelity. But sadly, the people could not stomach his truthfulness. Their hypocrisy and shallow spirituality would not appreciate and support his authenticity and depth of spirituality. 4. That is why they did to him whatever they pleased and did away with him. The fate of Jesus too was no different. His integrity of living and zeal for God would challenge and expose the shallowness of their religion and spirituality. Therefore, they would also do away with Jesus as they do with John the Baptist. Imperative: A genuine seeker of truth would not hide his false layers. He would never suppress truth and adherents of truth. He would not succumb to the pressure of falsity. For what matters the most for him is fidelity to the Lord (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2021, 11 DECEMBER) Focus: God never ceases to come to us or act in our lives. But very often many do not recognise this. And so they complain or conclude that God is no more active or caring 1. Today’s readings highlight the figure of Elijah. Undoubtedly he was an outstanding prophet. Glorious was his mission and wondrous were his deeds. He stood for God against false gods. He did the work of God amidst all challenges. He was zealous amidst all mediocrity. His fire was burning the hearts. He was calmer of the wrath of God. He was a restorer of the estranged and strayed. He was the benefactor of God’s abundant blessings to the humble. 2. John the Baptist very much resembles Elijah. In fact, he is the Elijah of the New Testament. Like Elijah, he is fiery with his urge for repentance and conversion. Like Elijah, he is on the mission of restoring all things. But, sadly people did not accept his message. They also did away with him. 3. Similar would be the fate of Jesus as well. He came to restore the lost dignity and the lost relationship with God and with one another. But people did not recognise his divine identity. They were not pleased with his teaching and also his way of life. They felt challenged and questioned. He was a question mark to their hypocrisy and shallow authority. He posed a threat to their compromising and dichotomous life. 4. Therefore, they would reject him, persecute and kill him. What is our response and responsibility in the face of their fate and destiny? It is not only knowing about their mission and the eventual fate meted out to them. It is not only to feel sad about their sad end. It is not only to feel angry and condemn them. 5. Our duty will be to think about our own selves. How often do we too fail to know and recognize Jesus and also various other prophets? How often do we take for granted God working in and through them? How often do we neglect and even reject God’s invitation for repentance and transformation? Direction: Be restored! This can be one recurrent message of the holy Advent. Yes, it is the right time to restore our broken grace, broken virtue, a broken relationship with God, and our broken loyalty to Him.

SECOND SUNDAY OF THE ADVENT 22

2nd SUNDAY ADVENT: ISAIAH 11. 1-10; ROMANS 15. 4-9; MATTHEW 3. 1-12 Thrust: Repent and relent! Indicative: The Lord is coming. So how to meet him? How to stand worthy in his presence? How to ensure a happy encounter? How to obtain the blissful effects of this interaction? 1. Once again our focus is drawn to our destiny. This Destiny is the “kingdom of God”. In the words of the prophet Isaiah in the first reading, this kingdom of God is equivalent to the Messianic times. The kingdom of God is there where and when the Messiah comes and reigns. 2. It is the time of the Spirit. Many aspects of this Spirit are enumerated. It is the Spirit of the Lord, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. It will be also a time of peace and harmony where the wolf and the lamb, calf and the lion shall dwell together. There shall be no spirit of hurt or destruction. 3. The whole purpose of our life is in reference to this destiny. The whole life must be oriented to reach that destiny. Advent is the holy season that deeply reminds us that this kingdom of God is at hand. The times are coming. The king is arriving. His coming is imminent. This calls for urgency to be prepared for that coming. There is no time to waste or procrastinate. We cannot afford to be indifferent or negligent. 4. Life fulfills its purpose to the extent our preparation makes us fit and worthy. Thereby, we not only stand near the kingdom but also enter into it and experience the benefits of its reign. Now, what kind of preparation is this? What are some of the ingredients of this preparation that suits us to the kingdom? 5. First of all, it is not any other preparation. It is “preparing the way of the Lord.” We are called to prepare the Lord’s way and not any other way. And here we can wonder that many prepare so many other ways except the way of the Lord. So a first simple question to ask oneself is: Is my way of thinking, looking, judging, speaking, doing, and behaving preparing the way of the Lord? 6. Therefore, this preparation implies making “his paths straight.” Many things in our life are not straight. Many things are bent and twisted. Many things are crooked and insincere. There is so much compromise and double-dealing. Many things are unstable and inconsistent. We need to straighten them. We need to put the wrong things in their place. 7. This preparation summons us not to be “presumptuous.” This presumption is especially about our religious allegiance as the guarantee for our salvation. Just because we belong to a hallowed tradition, we cannot presume to merit God’s grace. That is why John the Baptist in his preaching cautions, “Do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father’, for I tell you, God is able to raise up children for Abraham even from these stones”. 8. Preparation implies that we must be aware of the imminence of God’s judgment. “Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” 9. We must also know and be cautious that His judgment is impartial and just. There is no possibility to manipulate as we may do on earth. For “He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear; with righteousness, he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; but with the breath of his mouth, he shall kill the wicked”. “His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but he will burn the chaff with unquenchable fire”. 10. But all this preparation requires Repentance. Repentance is the starting point and the driving force. The various components of the preparation are the process. The end and the goal is bearing fruits. These fruits are good actions that are in tune with the ways of the Messiah and the features of the messianic times. 11. Accordingly, with repentance, we set ourselves in the process of preparation. We strive to put on the mind of the Messiah, that is his Spirit. Thus, we shall continue to grow in the Spirit of the Lord, the Spirit of wisdom and fear of the Lord. Like the Messiah, “Righteousness shall be the belt of our waist, and faithfulness the belt of our loins”. Imperative: The holy Advent invites us to become the “voices crying in the wilderness”, like John the Baptist. In a wilderness-like world, we need to become witnesses that live and proclaim repentance that leads to a prepared life and bearing fruits of the messianic reign (REFLECTION 2) Focus: The greatness of a person is not in the greatness of the status or position but in the greatness of the depth of his humility and the radicality of his commitment 1. Today, in the light of the figure of John the Baptist, we are called once again to get rid of all our shallow criteria of greatness. As the gospel pivots around his image, he stands before us as a model and challenge. Let us highlight some of his traits. 2. Austerity and authenticity, humility and nobility, clarity and conviction, loyalty and stability, passion and dedication – it is these that characterise his person, life, and mission. His austere life in a spirit of asceticism, detachment, and simplicity poses question marks to the present lifestyle that is steeped in excess comfort, extravagance, enslaving attachment, and vain externalities. His authenticity and integrity of life is a disturbing caution against the modern culture of hypocrisy, dishonesty, and masking. 3. Humility of heart and nobility of character mark John the Baptist. He does not seek cheap popularity and self-glory. Even while riding on fame, he directs the whole attention and ascribes the whole greatness to Jesus. He minimises himself in reference to Jesus. All this is a clear contradiction to the present mad race for self-glory and shallow prestige. His statement “I am not worthy to untie even the straps of his sandals; he must increase and I must decrease” must be an axe that hits hard against our false humility and self-seeking, even marring the image of Jesus himself, placing oneself at the centre and pushing Jesus into the corners. 4. He was profoundly clear and convinced of the indispensable and irreplaceable identity and role of the Lord, and his own role and function as a precursor that prepares the way for the Lord. He was clear and convinced of his preaching and baptism of water, calling for repentance and conversion, and the mission of Jesus in the baptism by the Holy Spirit, lived in a life of faith and transformation. It is this clarity and conviction that makes him quite frank and candid, courageous and risking, without mincing words and without diluting the force of God’s call by compromising on the demands of the gospel. 5. What a sharp contrast to the numerous tendencies to be “smart and worldly wise” not to condemn the compromises and false values, but to play down the power of the gospel, and to tone down the exigency of the right values! Fears to lose popularity, lose support, lose favours, lose access to money, power and position disgracefully make many to be indifferent and noncommittal. 6. The loyalty and steadfastness of John the Baptist even in the face of risk, opposition, persecution, and eventual death, can be a death blow to the frequent defections from loyalty, falling to a life of wavering faith and shallow deviations. The passion of the Baptist for the Lord to love him deeply and to be totally surrendered to him, laughs in the face of our superficial relationship with the lord without depth and content, without “feeling and sentiment”, without “belonging and bonding”. His unswerving dedication to the mission of the Lord is a serious counter-pointer and accuser-advocate against commitment which is tepid, mediocre, and lacking teeth and vigour. Direction: Blessed are they who strive to become John the Baptist, and not Jesus himself! Blessed are they who clear and prepare the way of the Lord, and not who blur and block the way!