FOURTH WEEK OF LENT 23

20 - 25 MARCH 2023, HOLY MASS REFLECTIONS 20 MARCH 2023 (ST JOSEPH): 2 SAM 7. 4-5a, 12-14a, 16; ROM 4. 13, 16-18, 22; MATTHEW 1. 16, 18-21 Pivot: Faithful Steward! Indicative: God values human persons. He assigns them a very significant role and function in His eternal plans and designs. He seeks their cooperation and assistance in carrying out these plans 1. We rejoice today as we solemnise our great father St Joseph. Before we meditate on his figure, in the first place, we are drawn to realise God’s own nature. How magnanimous and benevolent He is! God never undervalues the dignity and the scope of human participation and contribution. It is not because He cannot do without us. It is only because He loves us and wants to show it concretely. True love always values loved ones, safeguards their dignity, elevates it, and puts it into play 3 2. Thus, we see how God interacts with the two pillars of his incarnate human family. Through his angel, He discloses his redemptive plan to Joseph and Mary, takes them into confidence, gains their consent, and thus sets out to implement his plan. Mary and Joseph understood God’s will and so unconditionally submitted and committed themselves to follow and fulfill his sacred designs 3. We have the figure of Joseph who plays a key role in God’s plan of incarnation. It is precisely to be the spouse of Mary and the foster-father of Jesus. Today’s gospel focuses on the person of Joseph. It narrates the famous dream of Joseph. In fact, it is the “Annunciation” to Joseph. 4. There is only one attribute that is applied to him. That is, being “just”. The gospel episode demonstrates how he was just. He was just because he acted magnanimously toward Mary. Even though he knew nothing of the divine intervention for Mary’s pregnancy, he did not want to publicly denounce Mary. He was so concerned for Mary’s self-dignity that he decides to divorce her quietly 5. True justice always carries charity. He had perfectly the right of a husband to avenge his honour by exposing her in the public. But for him, the right of Mary to public honour was more than his own legal honour 6. The second aspect of how he was just is seen in his total docility and surrender to God’s will. Even though he was already totally decided to divorce Mary quietly, still as soon as he knew it was God’s plan, he instantly submitted to it. There were no hurt feelings, no arguing, no challenging, no contesting God’s plans, no lamenting, and no annoyance about why God did not first reveal His plan to him before he underwent so much mental struggle. It was God’s plan and he just needs to submit to it. That was all that6 mattered to him 7. Those who claim today to be just and project themselves as justice-fighters must take some lessons from St Joseph. True justice never does harm to others and it is very submissive to God’s will Imperative: St Joseph teaches us that our call is to be humble and faithful stewards who are conscious and responsible about their God-given tasks and carry them out with commitment (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2022, 19 MARCH) Focus: What is frightening in our present society is a steep injustice in various spheres. And what is all the more saddening is all this injustice goes on in the disguise of justice 1. Today we celebrate the solemnity of St Joseph. Just in December 2021, we had concluded the year of St Joseph. Certainly, a lot of reflections were offered about St Joseph. He received more attention and appreciation. Some might have grown in their devotion to St Joseph too. But the question always remains how many are touched, affected and changed by his life? 2. Concretely, two terms or adjectives are alternatively used to describe the character of St Joseph. He was a “just” man or a “righteous” man. In the light of the Bible, to be just and righteous means to be a morally integral person; to be a person of character and values; to be correct and upright in his dealings with others; not to act wrongly toward anyone 3. In other words, it means to be blameless and clean before God and also right and benevolent toward others. In biblical terms, it is one who is turned away from evil and one who is ever loyal to God’s statutes and commandments. A just and righteous person is one who obeys the voice of the Lord, walks in His ways, and is intensely merciful and generous toward others 4. Joseph was exactly that. He was always docile to the voice of the Lord. That is why as soon as he realised God’s plan in Mary’s virginal conception, he promptly obeyed God’s will and gave up his decision. And even when Mary’s infidelity was so evident in human sight and thus she deserved to be denounced, he respected Mary and safeguarded her honour. He was more concerned for her right to a woman’s dignity and not a husband’s prestige 5. How often our justice is so unjust because it bothers only about individual rights and self-interests? How often our righteousness is unrighteous because it is nothing but self-righteousness? How often we may appear to be moral and just in the sight of the world but not really interiorly clean and pure in the sight of God? Direction: St Joseph the just and righteous man must be a challenge for all of us who clamour for justice and claim to be just. Often it is a sham and shallow because it is without the essence of charity and benevolence (REFLECTION 3 FROM 2021, 19 MARCH) Focus: A true believer sees with his optic of faith that in his life, things do not happen by chance but by choice of God in accord with His eternal plans 1. St Joseph! What a great, simple, humble, noble, and faithful saint he is! Spouse of Blessed Virgin Mary, Foster father of the Saviour, Head of the Holy Family, patron of the universal churc 2. Some main features of St Joseph: 1) Purity of heart (lily) 2) Intimacy with Jesus (child Jesus on the bosom) 3) Longing and searching for the Lord (Jesus, lost and found in the Jerusalem temple)ò 4) Protecting and guarding Jesus (fleeing to Egypt to escape from Herod's cruelty) 5) Responsible, diligent, and dedicated toward his work and care for the family (carpenter) 6) Docile and recollective (silent worker; no single word spoken by him; doing everything silently without any show or seeking recognition) 3. In the light of the OT: Joseph is a just man. Who is a just man? One who fears God, one who turns away from evil, one who is blameless, and one who is upright 4. In the light of the gospel, and in contrast to the world's mentality: Joseph is characterised by a single quality as a "just" man. In a world where being just and standing for justice are very often understood and presented in a very shallow way, Joseph stands as a model, example, inspiration, and challenge for true and perfect justice 6. Justice is not a mere concern and fight for rights, of one's own or of an interested group. It is not crushing or suppressing others' rights. To be really just also means to be conscious of duties as well, to be conscious of the rights of others 7. Joseph was just because he did not think of his rights as a husband (to denounce Mary publicly for her divine conception) but thought of Mary's right (as a woman of dignity and honour not to be subject to public shame) 8. Joseph was just because he did not think of what is right for him but for Mary. He did not stick to his own opinion, idea, reason, and judgment. Rather he gives room for what can be the thinking and situation of Mary 9. He was just because he did not cling to his own plan and decision to denounce Mary but surrendered to God's will and accepted Mary back as his spouse. Blessed are we to venerate him with devotion! But still blessed shall we be if we imitate him as well with dedication! Direction: True justice is not a mere clamour for individual rights or a group's, leading to conflict and suppression of some others. Justice is dry when is devoid of charity 21 MARCH 2023: EZEK 47. 1-9, 12; JOHN 5. 1-16 Pivot: Water that heals! Indicative: The waters of God’s grace are ever-flowing. They enliven, refresh, nourish and fructify life 1. Today’s word of God in both readings focuses on water. In the first reading, it is the water around the Temple, and in the gospel, it is the pool of Bethesda. Both are the sources and causes of life, freshness, growth and fruitfulness in abundance. This water nourishes and heals, and thus leads to health and strength 2. What is notable is that it is not any water. This water has power and this power comes from its association with the divine – the temple, and the stirring by an angel respectively. This indicates that ordinary and natural things are sanctified and empowered by the divine touch. It is not magical or purely human but divine 3. Any healing and miracle is not automatic. It needs a fundamental disposition of faith. It is not the water of the pool as such but the divine power behind it that heals. Often, consciously or unconsciously, we attach too much importance to the symbols and make them automatic means and transmitters of power and healing. It is where the holy objects are made to be “power-transmitting talismans”. Thus our holy ritual celebrations which are symbolic can become mechanical 4. Perhaps, this can be a strong indicator in Jesus’ healing of the ill man in the gospel. All our various ways and means of seeking divine favours shall not become substitutes for the personal encounter with Jesus. All our holy symbols and activities should be complements and indicators of a deeper experience of him 5. Do you want to be well?” looks apparently foolish because the desire for healing is quite natural and self-evident and so why ask again? But this can be a call to express the ill man’s explicit desire for healing which is essential for any healing. It evokes a response. With this fundamental disposition, Jesus heals him directly. It is no more the water but the personal intervention of Jesus 6. The ill-man answers, “There is no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am on my way, someone else gets down before me”. It is unfair, I believe, to interpret this as a defence about his prolonged stay, or protest and blame others. It is simply an elaborate and implicit answer of the man that he does really want but could not get healed due to situations 7. Jesus’ words of healing, “Rise, take up your mat and walk!” indicates what is real healing. Healing is to rise from sin, take up our lost strength, and walk steadily in grace. Jesus’ words of admonition after healing, “Do not sin anymore!” need not presume that he was sinning and his illness was because of sin. This can be indicative of a new, renewed life, healed from sin Imperative: Every sin makes us sick, lying on our beds of tepidity and inaction, and forfeits the beauty and vigour of life. It is high time that we rise up and walk (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2022, 29 MARCH) Focus: When we allow God’s grace to encounter us and flow upon us, we will not remain sick or invalid. We will be healed and start walking with vigour 1. In both the readings, from Ezekiel and John’s gospel, we have the mention of water. In the former, it is a temple river and in the gospel, it is a pool. What is common is that the water is resurging and healing. Where the river flows, everything lives, remains fresh, grows, and bears fruits. And the pool heals every invalid that gets into it 2. This water symbolises God’s grace. It is always flowing and available. But, many do not get to it because they are invalid. This invalidity is no more physical but spiritual. It is by sin. That is why, Jesus tells the healed invalid, “Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you” 3. We need not infer that he was invalid because he sinned. It is a possibility. But what is more important here to note is Sin makes us invalid. It makes us immobile and tepid toward God’s grace. Sin sickens and invalidates us 4. We need to seek healing by throwing ourselves into the waters of grace. The length of 38 years of invalidity is shocking. The man had been there by the side of the healing pool for 38 years and still could not get a healing 5. This length of duration shows the insensitivity of the people who did not help him into the pool. The invalid man lost in this heavy competition for healing. On the other hand, we must also appreciate his persistence and undying hope. He never gives up hope and never stops trying 6. The question of Jesus, “Do you want to be healed?” looks silly because who does not want to be healed? Here the point is we need to personally desire to be healed. We need to feel the need to be healed. We must desire to get up from our beds and start walking. We need to shake off our lethargy to glue to our beds of negligence, indifference, and sloth Direction: Am I too long accustomed to sin that I do not want to move from my bed of comfort zone and convenience? Do I realise that I am invalid in so many ways, failing in my fervour for God and others? (REFLECTION 3 FROM 2021, 16 MARCH) Focus: When the streams of God's grace flow over us, life will be enlivened, refreshed, and renewed 1. In the first reading from the prophet Ezekiel, there is a vivid and beautiful description of the river that flows from the temple. This symbolises the streams of God's grace and the gracious effects of it. Wherever the river flows, there is life, freshness, growth, healing, nourishment, fruitfulness, and abundance. Thus, when God's grace flows upon a person, life becomes revived, refreshed, strengthened, and abundantly fruitful 2. This is what happens in the gospel in the case of the person immobilised for 38 long years. On one hand, the length of his illness shows the height of human indifference. What a sad story of insensitivity and selfish competition: Within 38 years, nobody gave any priority to getting him healed. None helped him to get into the healing pool. Everyone was bothered about his own health and wellbeing 3. On the other hand, we also see the steadfastness and perseverance of the sick man. He never gives up his desire or hope. He never stops trying to get into the pool to get healed. He does not get despaired or dissipated 4. In such a context, Jesus enters into his life. He understands his situation. Even without being asked for his intervention, Jesus takes initiative and heals him. The same will happen in our lives as well. Jesus is1 ever waiting to heal us. He knows that we need healing. But he wants us to know that we need healing. He wants us to desire it and seek it 5. It is very interesting that after healing the invalid, Jesus orders him not to sin anymore. Does Jesus imply that his invalidity is because of his sin? The point here is not that all those who are sick must have committed some sin. Rather, all those who sin will certainly be sick in some or other way 6. Sin itself is sickness. It will immobilise us and make us invalid. Sin takes away our movement, our activeness, and our enthusiasm for God and good. It will make us “lie down on the bed” for years and years. We need to “get up from our bed and walk ahead”. This is the real healing Direction: All others may disappoint us and fail us, but God never fails us and it is enough that we trust him 22 MARCH 2023: ISAIAH 49. 8-15; JOHN 5. 17-30 Pivot: Never forsaken! Indicative: Often life seems to be a time of discomfort and desolation. In such moments, God comforts us that He loves us immeasurably 1. One great sense that pulls down our spirits is the sense of not being loved but being abandoned. This sense of lack of love and remembrance can be very depressing and devastating. Nothing else can compensate for the love 2. God knows this human predicament. That is why He gives us the greatest assurance of His love for us. We have in today’s first reading from Isaiah one of the few most profound love-statements: “Can a mother forget her infant, be without tenderness for the child of her womb? Even should she forget, I will never forget you” 3. How consoling and soothing words are these words! God loves us unceasingly. He never forgets us nor forsakes us. His love is unsurpassable; it surpasses even the superlative love of a mother. God leads and guides on levelled paths. He feeds His people in the nourishing pastures and beside the springs of water. He is ever at work for the sake of His loved ones 4. In fact, Jesus came to show this most visibly and concretely. It is not only that the Father loves him and he loves the Father. He is the reflection of the Father Himself because he is the Son of the Father. He is one with Him, in identity, in love and mission 5. But unfortunately, the Jews in their stubbornness are not open to seeing his identity. So his communion with the Father. Hence his attestation of oneness with the Father is misunderstood as blasphemy. Hence they begin to persecute and plot to kill him Imperative: This is the right and appropriate time – a time of favour when God will answer us, and a time of salvation when He will help us (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2022, 30 MARCH) Focus: The first duty of any true love is the recognition of the love of the other. If we really love God, then our first duty is to be deeply aware of His love for us 1. Often we hear so much about love. But at the same time, there is a great lack of love. Love is misunderstood, falsified, and abused. That is why we find so much egoism, animosity and aggression even in the name of love. This only shows that love is not rightly understood and exercised 2. In such a context, today’s word of God gives us the best sample of true love. God’s love is the best and truest love. God Himself is the greatest lover. In Him, we find true love, its features, its functions, and its effects 3. In the first reading from the prophet Isaiah, God compares Himself to a mother and us to His nursing children 4. Just as a mother can never forget her nursing child, God too can never forget us. His love surpasses even this: even if a mother may forget, He will never forget you 5 His love never ceases and so He never ceases to work for us. This is the very mission of God, to constantly manifest His love in manifold ways. He gives His own life to us; liberates us from our imprisonments; brings us to light from our darkness; quenches our hunger and thirst; guides and leads us in the right paths; comforts the afflicted 6. God wants to show and shower this abundant love upon us directly and concretely. For this, He has sent His only Son, Jesus Christ. Thereby, Jesus is the embodiment of the Father’s love and its living vehicle and channel. Through Jesus, God powerfully testifies His caring and guiding love 7.All that Jesus is and does is rooted in His inseparable communion with the Father. And his mission becomes unfailing obedience and loyalty to do the Father’s will. As the Father loves the Son, He empowers the Son with His own life, light, and power to give life, to guide and empower and to judge and reward eternal life. Similarly, as the Son loves the Father, he is united with Him and does ever His will Direction: True love is passionate, selfless, and committed. It is testified in concrete actions. God shows His love in a ceaseless outpour of His grace and works of benevolence. How do we show our love for God? (REFLECTION 3 FROM 2021, 17 MARCH) Focus: Who can measure the love of God? What can one compare it with? He never forsakes us. He never ceases working for our good, growth, and happiness. Blessed are those who realise and experience this! 1. The greatest beauty and the most beautiful greatness of our God is He is ceaselessly at work. It is the work of love. It is a relentless mission and project of transforming our lives into something beautiful and great. What does this imply? 2. It means, God will nourish us, and we shall not hunger or thirst. He will lead us and we shall not be harmed or misguided. He will comfort us and we shall not remain afflicted. He will lift our spirits and we shall not lie desolate. 3. It is a love that is incomparable and immeasurable. It is like a mother’s love for her nursing child. A mother never forgets her nursing child. But even if such a thing happens, even if a mother forgets her nursing child, even if her love fails, God’s love for us never fails. He never forgets us or abandons us 4. Jesus’ coming to us and living with us is the greatest sign of this love and work of God for us. Jesus tries hard to make the people understand this. He wants to draw their attention to God who loves them and works for them ceaselessly. He never rests, because His love never rests or halts 5. Throughout his whole life and mission, and through his preaching and healing, what Jesus wants to reveal and show to the people is just this: God loves us and works for us. It is beyond times and seasons, beyond any conditions or restrictions 6. It is in this spirit and with this mind, Jesus speaks of his communion and oneness with God, his likeness to Him, and his power and judgment. But instead, people understand the wrong side. They misunderstand as competition with God all of Jesus’ doing God’s will. 7. They misunderstand as claiming equality with God all the closeness, likeness, and oneness of Jesus. They misunderstand as blasphemy all his deepest God-consciousness of seeing everything in reference to God. They misunderstand as disrespecting and violating Sabbath his timeless love-work like God’s. Hence blaming and persecuting Jesus. Direction: If only one lifts his eyes and realizes the unstoppable and untiring love of God and His working for us, we will be eternally grateful and passionately committed to doing God’s work! 23 MARCH 2023: EX 32. 7-14; JOHN 5. 31-47 Pivot: Testimony trustworthy! Indicative: God constantly testifies to us of His abiding love and mercy. If only we are open, we can see and experience 1. There are so many testimonies that bear witness to Jesus as the Son of God and Messiah. They attest that he is one with the Father and does the works of the Father. They are namely John the Baptist, Jesus’ own works, the Father Himself, the Scriptures and Moses 2. But the Jews fail to recognise and accept Jesus’ identity. They refuse to believe in him despite all the testimonies. The reasons are plenty. Their ancestors too were no different. They became depraved 3. They were ungrateful. They turned aside from the way pointed out by God. They became stiff-necked. They would not heed God’s cautions and admonitions. They would not mind His counsel and guidance. They turn disloyal, falling to false gods. They substitute the worship of true God with the idol-worship 4. Similarly, the unbelieving Jews of Jesus’ time too were totally closed and stubborn in their hardness of heart. They had no love of God in them. They sought human praise and not from God. They sought their own glory and not God’s 5. It is really sad that the Jews who claim to revere, believe and follow Moses do not follow him in reality. If only they believe him, then they should remember how magnanimously he pleaded on their behalf for God’s mercy, lest His wrath would kindle against them and destroy them Imperative: There are numerous witnesses that constantly testify to us God’s unfailing love and mercy and benevolence for us, and His unceasing mighty interventions in our life. Let us not be obstinate. Let us see and live (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2022, 31 MARCH) Focus: Authenticity comes from reliable evidence and testimony. But even authenticity will be rejected when there is obstinacy and rigidity of the heart 1. The confrontation between Jesus and the Jews continues. The Jews vehemently oppose him, refuse to believe in him, and reject him. Jesus persistently tries to convince them. He draws their attention to various solid witnesses that authenticate him. One is John the Baptist, who was like a burning and shining lamp that bore witness to Jesus, the true light 2. Another witness is Jesus’ own works which are always altruistic and oriented to the good of others. There is absolutely no trace of evil or harm in his works. They all proceed from the Father and conform to His holy will 3. The third witness is God the Father Himself. The Father consistently bears witness to His only Son about His total communion and intimacy with the Son; about the Son being sent by Him and doing always His holy will; about empowering His Son to guide and judge; about Himself being so pleased with His Son; about glorifying His Son; and about owning, guarding, guiding and strengthening the disciples as well 4. The fourth witness is the Scriptures. They contain eternal life and bear witness about Jesus, the Messiah. But despite such valid and authentic witnesses, the Jews do not believe in Jesus and do not accept him 5. The reasons are given very clearly in both readings. According to the first reading from Exodus, one main reason for unbelief is the stiff-necked mentality of the people. Because of this adamancy, they corrupt themselves; turn aside quickly out of the Lord’s way; desecrate themselves by worshipping a golden calf 6. In the light of the gospel, one reason for failing in a faith response is the lack of love of God within them; another reason is seeking their own human glory from the humans and not seeking the glory of God. Direction: Failing in our faith in God is self-responsibility and so it will bring also self-judgment and condemnation. We need not blame God for punishing us; it is we ourselves who do the auto-condemnation (REFLECTION 3 FROM 2021, 17 MARCH) Focus: How true it is that we vex God often with our stiff-neckedness! But thanks to the same God who is so flexible to relent and be benevolent yet again! 1. Really it is a sad thing that no seldom many people test God's patience and benevolence with a spirit of obstinacy and closedness toward God. How painfully God laments over the people of Israel 2. For, so easily they forget the marvels that God has worked in their lives. They forget the mighty liberation. They become ungrateful and attribute all the credit to a mere idol. They turned aside from the way of the true God. They corrupt themselves. They are truly stiff-necked 3. But, Moses is deeply concerned for them. He makes an enormous effort to tone down God's wrath. He tries to evoke sympathy in their favour. It is not playing down their wrongdoings and infidelity but elevating God's fidelity 4. In simple, he attests that God's fidelity is not conditioned or reversed by people's infidelity. He is stable and steadfast. What a nobility and power of intercession! 5. The same stubbornness of the Jews confronts and torments Jesus. He takes the role of Moses: on one hand, he constantly speaks the truth; he urges the people to accept and follow it. He challenges their lack of transparency 6. On the other hand, he bears testimony to God's love and fidelity. He calls them earnestly to believe him by calling different sources as his testimonies. These are Moses and his teachings, the sacred Scripture, John the Baptist, the Father Himself, and Jesus' own works 7. These are authentic witnesses to his divine identity and divine mission. But, sadly no witness can convince them. Because they are so closed and blind and hard. We are invited and summoned to believe and change. Direction: God goes on speaking to us, enlightening and calling us to know God and to get closer to Him. Let us believe Him and live with and for Him 24 MARCH 2023: WIS 2. 1a, 12-22; JOHN 7. 1-2, 10, 25-30 Pivot: Just one, obnoxious! Indicative: The Jews of Jesus’ time rejected Jesus and constantly persecuted him and tried to kill him because they really did not “know” his divine identity 1. It is really strange that already from John chapter 5th itself, the Jews decide and plan to kill Jesus. He just began his first sign in chapter 2 with the wedding at Cana. Thereby already he began to manifest his divine power. But immediately we have the cleansing of the temple whereby he begins to get into a confrontation 2. This clearly indicates that Jesus was not inhibited or intimidated by human forces or pressures. He did not want to waste his time in a skill-gathering, well-equipping preparation. With no delay, he plunges deep into his mission 3. He knew very well that the Jews were trying to kill him. But that does not deter him from teaching openly at the Jewish feast of the Tabernacles. He does not budge from declaring that he is sent by the Father and he came from Him 4. He is not afraid to expose their shallow knowledge of him. He openly affirms that they neither know him nor the Father. What they know is only his earthly origin, like Where? When? How? 5. Jesus really fits into the figure of the Just one in the first reading, against whom the wicked plot because he was a “thorn in the flesh” for them. He was different from others and not like others 6. He would cause so much discomfort and annoyance for them. He is a hardship for them. But who is this just one? What does he do? We gather various elements in the first reading. A just man is obnoxious to the wicked. He sets himself against their doings. He judges them debased, and holds their ways as impure. Thereby, he keeps himself aloof from their company. He reproaches them for their transgressions of the law and violations of their training 7. He conducts himself as a child of God and possesses knowledge of God. He stands firm amid their numerous tests. 8. On the other hand, the enemies of Jesus quite rightly resemble the enemies of the true prophet. They are wicked. They plan to put him to the test, whether God will come to his rescue and whether he would persevere when he is tested. They try his patience with revilement and torture. They plot to condemn him to a shameless death. But they err in their thinking. They are blinded by their wickedness. They fail to know God’s counsels and discern the holy souls’ reward Imperative: On which side are we – the Just or the Wicked? Are we like the just man, remaining faithful to God in faith and perseverance? Or do we behave like the wicked with no depth and fidelity? (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2022, 01 APRIL) Focus: There is always so much opposition to good and persecution of good people. The reason is quite simple: in their lack of wisdom, they are led astray; in their wickedness, they are blinded 1. The hostile spirit between Jesus and the Jews keeps mounting. They seek to kill him. Once again Jesus in the gospel and Wisdom in the first reading clarify to us the real reasons for this mounting antagonism. In Jesus’ own words, it is because they know neither the Father nor His Son. They do not know the Father, the true God who sent His only Son; neither do they know the Son who came only from the Father and not of his own accord 2. Instead, the Jews were caught up only with the superficial and secondary details like his human birth, the place and conditions of his birth, and his human parents. Now the words of the first reading apply exactly to the case of Jesus. They are hostile to Jesus because they are ungodly 3. All the ingredients of this ungodliness are perfectly found in the case of the Jews toward Jesus. They reason out unsoundly. They think he is inconvenient to them as he opposes their actions. He reproaches them for their sins, their base, and their unclean ways. He becomes a reproof of their thoughts. The very sight of him becomes a burden to them 4. Further, his ways are strange and his life is unlike that of others. He professes to have knowledge of God and boasts that God is his father and he calls himself a child of the Lord. He claims that God will protect the righteous, and recompense the holy and blameless with the prize of happiness and life 5. Therefore, they want to test and see whether his words are true. They want to subject him to insult and torture to the extent of a shameful death. Their reasoning is simple: if he is truly righteous and God’s son, he will be protected and delivered from the hands of his adversaries; he will remain gentle and forbearing Direction: Many may think like the ungodly in the word of God that is to test and see the authenticity of the goodness and holiness of good and God-fearing people. But do they realize that they are making themselves liable to God’s judgment? Who are we to put others to the test? 25 MARCH 2023: ANNUNCIATION OF THE LORD: ISAIAH 7. 10-14; 8.10; HEBREWS 10. 4-10; LUKE 1. 26-38 Pivot: Salvation Announced! Indicative: Annunciation is the threshold of the unrepeatable miracle of Incarnation. 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. He “announces” 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 honour 2. How much noble and magnanimous we are, being His children? How much do we see all others as persons of dignity and respectability? How much do we treat others with respect? How often and how easily 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 labelled immoral and unfaithful. For her, what mattered the most was God’s plan and salvation of all, and not her human thinking and reputation 5. Then what 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 6. 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 7. 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 - and how easily do 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? 8. 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? 9. 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. 10. 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 dishonourable, and 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, honourable, virtuous, and beneficial. We must put into practice what we have learned, received, heard, and seen. Imperative: 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. (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2022, 25 MARCH) Focus: The Feast of Annunciation is truly the enunciation of salvation. It is not only the one-time event of the angel announcing to Mary the good news of incarnation but God Himself announcing to the whole of humanity His incarnate love 1. The feast of Annunciation is in fact the dawn of salvation. It is a concrete instance of God’s Encounter with the human. It is a vivid act of God’s intervention in human life. But this encounter and intervention are totally unique and distinct from all the rest of the encounters and interventions 2. For the first time, God encounters the whole of humanity and intervenes in the entirety of human history. They are no more limited only to a particular nation, or to a chosen people. They are meant for all. The whole of humanity is taken into this story and history 3. Further, these encounters and interventions are not confined only to a specific time period. As instances and events, they may be history-bound. But their effect and fruit is salvation and this is beyond time and space. It is eternal. It is the kingdom of eternity 4. Still further, the encounter and intervention that are marked by the event of annunciation are direct and personal. The fact and act of announcing may be indirect as it involves the angel. But at that very moment, the Son of God directly and personally encounters and intervenes in human life. He inserts and immerses himself into their life through the virginal conception in Mary’s womb 5. It is no more an encounter and intervention through this or that event or person. It is God Himself totally becoming one with the humans. He mingles Himself not only in some happenings but into her own blood, her own flesh, her own humanity. He is no more a God who acts “from heaven” only but also directly “from the earth”. Earth becomes his “home address” on missions and sojourns 6. Thus, annunciation is crucial as the inception of incarnation. The event of the annunciation rightly marks the significance of Mary in our salvation. Her positive response to God’s plan, her obedience, surrender, and total cooperation to the mission of salvation are exemplary. Her all-time “fiat’, the Yes of all times, announcing, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done unto me according to your word” is a turning point. Direction: Annunciation is a two-fold history-making event. It is God announcing His plan of salvation to humanity. And it is Mary on our behalf announcing our cooperation with His plan. Both these give a complete picture of a real salvation (REFLECTION 3 FROM 2022, 20 DECEMBER) 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 about. 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

FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT 23

4TH LENT SUNDAY, 19 MARCH 2023, 1 SAM 16:1, 6-7, 10-13; EPH 5. 8-14; JOHN 9. 1-41 Pivot: Light sees, and darkness blinds! Indicative: Inner blindness is much more serious than physical blindness because it blinds the whole person and the entire life 1. Last Sunday, to the Samaritan woman, Jesus announces and reveals himself as the Living Water. He is the Living Water of the new life of God, and eternal life. He quenches perennially the crucial and deeper thirst. This is symbolised by the Samaritan woman along with her villagers “believing” in Jesus 2. This Sunday Jesus heals a blind man. He announces and reveals himself to be the Light of the world. Light removes darkness, gives visibility and sight, and enables one to walk and do works. Accordingly, he gives the blind man not only the physical sight but also the inner sight of faith. He is enabled to see him, believe him and worship him as the Lord 3. There is a dramatic and progressive contrast between the Pharisees and the blind man. The Pharisees suffer from inner blindness while the physically blind man is restored with total sight. The Pharisees are able to see physically but fail spiritually. They do not see the divine identity of Jesus. They also fail fraternally to see in the blind man a brother of the same family of God. They fail to rejoice in his healing 4. They are blinded by the blind following of the laws. Consequently, they fail to see and appreciate the immense good done to the man born blind. They are blinded by jealousy against Jesus. They are also blinded by their intellectual and spiritual arrogance against the blind man. 5. They are presumptuous that they know better than him and they are holier than him. That is why when the blind man speaks favourably about Jesus, attesting that Jesus cannot be a sinner because a sinner cannot open the eyes of a blind man, the Pharisees protest and despise him, saying, “you were born totally in sin, and are you trying to teach us?” 6. Their inner blindness and the blind man's recovery of sight are also very progressive and in sharp contrast. They progressively accuse Jesus as a violator of the law, as a man not from God and finally as a sinner as well 7. On the contrary, the blind man progressively opens his inner eyes of faith: initially, Jesus was an unknown and an unfamiliar person; then, he addresses him as a prophet; then, he sees in Jesus a man from God; and finally he accepts him and worships him as the Son of man and Messiah. He commits himself to Jesus so much so that he willingly bears witness to Jesus and risks being thrown out by the Pharisees 8. The story of the blind man, his cure, his faith and his witness on one hand, and the Pharisees' malicious and incredulous acting, on the other hand, are a clear call for all of us to check upon our own blindness of various sorts 9. All of us suffer from this inner blindness. Whenever we fail to see the heart and are influenced and guided by mere externals and appearances, we are acting blindly. This is exactly in line with what God cautions us in the first reading, “Not as man sees God does see because man sees the appearance but the Lord looks into the heart” 10. Further, whenever we fail to see and accept Jesus who is the Light of the world, whenever we do the fruitless works of darkness in terms of integrity and immorality, whenever we fail to do the works of light, namely of goodness, righteousness and truth, we too are blind 11. Like the Pharisees we too will become blameworthy and culpable, when we have the physical sight but lack the inner sight of faith and benevolence. This is what Jesus conveys to the Pharisees, when he says, “If you were blind, you would have no sin, but now you are saying, ‘We see’, so your sin remains”. Very clearly, the blindness that Jesus is referring to is inner blindness, that is the lack of faith 12. Today, the same reference of Jesus can apply to us as well. We who claim to be capable of seeing so many things with our intellectual and social sight, how much we suffer from the blindness that is fraternal, moral and spiritual? We need to constantly seek Jesus' healing to recover our sight and vision. Imperative: Let us not be blinded by our presumptuous knowledge and pretentious holiness and peripheral appearances. Rather let us try to put on God's mindset

THIRD WEEK OF LENT 23

13 - 18 MARCH 2023, HOLY MASS REFLECTIONS 13 MARCH 2023: 2KGS 5. 1-15a; LUKE 4. 24-30 Pivot: Displeasure reacts! Indicative: In life, all that we hear and come across may not be always pleasant. All the more, when some indicator and corrective is given concerning our behaviour, how do we react? 1. In the gospels, often we find sudden fluctuations in moods and temperaments of people toward Jesus. Sometimes, they praise him so much but some other times, they blame him so much. Sometimes, they demonstrate so much loyalty to them but some other times, they turn so hostile to him 2. What is striking is that these variations are rather abrupt. There is so much inconsistency and non-committal attitude in their behaviour. One main reason for this inconsistency is their displeasure and annoyance at anything that questions their way of life 3. Especially they would not tolerate when he exposed and challenged their shallow practices and hypocrisy. They would not be happy when he questioned their lack of openness and stubbornness. They would be annoyed and furious when he urged them for self-awareness and repentance 4. Their ego is hurt when their false pride and self-righteousness are put into question. The scene in today’s gospel is one instance of such resentment and resistance. Jesus indirectly rebukes his people for their failure to be receptive to God’s grace 5. What irks them all the more is a kind of humiliation belittling their so-called “great” faith. He states, “No prophet is accepted and honoured in his own place”. It is not just stating a general fact that “familiarity breeds contempt” 6. He implicitly pokes them that a pagan Naaman accepted God’s power in Elisha and came to him for healing, and a pagan widow in Zarephath accepted God’s power in Elijah and received blessing from him. But even though they are God’s chosen people, they fail to accept Jesus, who is their own prophet 7. Hence, they turn furious and violent, drive him out of the town, led him to the brow of the hill, hurl him down headlong and finish him off. Such was the height of their frustration with him. All because he challenged their closed hearts Imperative: Many times, in our life God’s grace does not work, not because it cannot. It is only because it does not find a heart that is humble, open and receptive (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2022, 21 MARCH) Focus: Faith is not necessarily a matter of how long a person belongs to a particular religion or how well he follows its rules and traditions. It is a matter of belonging to God and following His will and precepts 1. In today’s word of God, the central theme is faith. The faith of a certain Naaman, a Syrian army chief with leprosy brings him healing through the prophet Elisha. In contrast, the lack of faith of the chosen Jews of Jesus’ time brings them God’s judgment. 2. The contrast is striking: Naaman listens even to the advice of his servant girl to approach Elisha for his healing; but the Jews would not listen even to Jesus, the Son of God himself who invites them for inner healing. Naaman goes all the way to meet Elisha. Jesus comes all the way from heaven to meet his people. 3. At Elisha’s direction, Naaman dips himself seven times in the waters of Jordan and gets completely healed. He becomes a new man. It was not the waters that restored health to him. But it was the power of God through Elisha. And Naaman’s humble faith became an opening to receive this grace. 4. The people of Jesus too were dipped in Jordan in Baptism. But they did not become new. Their self-righteous unfaith closed them to reject God’s grace through Jesus. The miracle leads the pagan Naaman to faith in Yahweh and he confesses, “Behold, I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel”. On the contrary, numerous miracles by Jesus would not strengthen the faith of Jesus’ people. 5. Jesus tries to make the people aware of this contrast so that they would repent and return to God in faith. In fact, God enters into human lives so as to raise them up to heaven and to eternal life. But they become all the more stubborn and hostile; they drive him out and try to kill him, by throwing him down the cliff. Direction: Faith is not merely believing some doctrines and observing some religious practices. True faith is being humble and trustful to go near to the Lord, being close to him, and getting healed (REFLECTION 3 FROM 2021, 08 MARCH) Focus: God's grace has no boundaries or barriers. Miracles always happen, if only one has faith 1. What an interesting contrast between Naaman, a leper in the first reading, and Jesus' own people in the gospel! The pagan believes in the power of God through Elisha. He was an important man ranked as an army commander. He was also a man of great valour. 2. But he had the humility to listen to his maidservant. He follows her advice to approach the Israel prophet Elisha for his healing from leprosy. Later, once again, he showed the same humility to follow Elisha’s instruction to dip seven times in Jordan, though it appeared silly and nonsensical. His humility and faith bring him the cure for his leprosy. In fact, it is not the Jordan water that cures him, but his faith in the words of the prophet. 3. But, on the other hand, God's own chosen people, the Jews do not believe in Jesus. Though Son of God, he became one of them. They had a long history and tradition of God’s mighty interventions and wonders. But, they refuse to listen to his message, believe in him, and change their life. They reject him, even to the extent of attempting to kill him 4. Thereby once again it is made very clear that faith is not merely a matter of tradition or inheritance. It calls for a personal choice and decision, and it involves a personal experience. Naaman believes even though what the prophet tells him to do, looks baseless. His openness and trust are rewarded 5. In contrast, sadly Jesus' own people take him for granted due to their familiarity. Their perspective is so shallow and superficial that their faith cannot go deeper and beyond the externals like the place, lineage, etc. of Jesus. In consequence, they lose the gift of grace and salvation through Jesus. They deprive themselves of the immense treasure at their own hand. Direction: God may work miracles to reward and perfect faith. But true faith cannot base itself on miracles. It needs a fundamental choice, openness, orientation, and cooperation. 14 MARCH 2023: DAN 3.25, 34-43; MATTHEW 18. 21-35 Pivot: Forgive because forgiven! Indicative: Life is never completely free from hurts and harms. It is a reality that we are hurt and harmed. What should be our response and reaction in such situations? Forgive! 1. In life, many carry many burdens that are quite unnecessary. Refusal to forgive and harbouring negativity is one such big burden. How to be relieved of this burden? The answer comes in today’s word of God 2. Forgive! The call for forgiveness is very strong. Seek forgiveness from God and give forgiveness to others. Be forgiven and forgive! In fact, these two do not exclude each other. In the prayer, “Our Father”, we pray, “Forgive us our sins as we forgive others their sins”. in this sense, forgiving others becomes the condition or pre-requisite to being forgiven by God. In other words, we will be forgiven in proportion to our forgiving others 3. In today’s gospel, we have another aspect of this integration of being forgiven and forgiving. Forgiving others is the effect and outflow of being forgiven by God. Being forgiven by God becomes the cause for forgiving others. If we truly receive forgiveness from God, then we must forgive others. Thus, forgiving others becomes the testimony of being forgiven by God 4. The first reading focuses on God forgiving us, and the gospel focuses on us forgiving others. God forgives us because He is merciful. But on our part, what is needed is repentance with a contrite heart and humble spirit 5. If we receive abundant mercy and forgiveness, then we are also bound to forgive others in the same measure. It will be totally unfair to refuse to forgive others even for a little while receiving forgiveness in much 6. Such incongruence will be totally displeasing to God and will make us liable to God’s judgment and justice. This is what is indicated by the story of the king and his servant in the gospel. The king out of his mercy cancels out all the huge debt of his servant. But this servant does not show the same mercy toward his fellow servant even for a little Imperative: Certainly, God is so merciful that He keeps no account of our sins, and readily cancels out all our debts. But this makes us more accountable to be merciful toward others as well (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2022, 22 MARCH) Focus: Forgiveness is a golden virtue. One who learns to forgive obtains an immense treasure of God’s mercy and serenity of soul. Forgiveness is never a loss 1. We live in a world where revenge and retaliation are glorified. They are regarded as signs of manliness and guts. Consequently, we find so much negativity and animosity leading to violence and destruction. On the other hand, forgiveness and reconciliation are considered as signs of weakness and timidity 2. In such a context, Jesus teaches us the need and value of forgiveness. To forgive is divine because it forms the very nature of God. God’s essence is mercy and forgiveness. He is merciful to us beyond conditions and measures. That is why the first reading from Daniel says, “Do not withdraw your mercy from us”; “Deal with us in your forbearance and in your abundant mercy”. 3. As the children of a merciful God and as disciples of a forgiving Master, we must imitate and resemble them in forgiving others. Forgiving others is the essential trait and way of belonging to God and sharing in His own nature. It also becomes the condition to receive God’s forgiveness to us. 4. This means that we experience the effects of God’s forgiveness only to the extent that we forgive others. Our forgiving others should be without measures like God’s forgiving us. That is why Jesus tells Peter, “Forgive, not seven times, but seventy times seven”. We forgive others not because they deserve it but because we must give it. The king in the gospel parable forgives the servant who owes a huge sum not because he deserved it but because he needed it. 5. Seeking forgiveness from God and others requires humility and repentance. That is why, the people pray, “With a contrite heart and a humble spirit may we be accepted”. Giving forgiveness to others requires fraternity and nobility. Direction: Spirit of forgiveness in humility and nobility will open to us streams of God’s mercy and serenity. It can be a great embalming balm to heal many wounds and restore relationships (REFLECTION 3, FROM 2021, 09 MARCH) Focus: God readily forgives even a multitude of sins, if only one repents with a contrite heart and humble spirit. He keeps no account or count of our wrongs because his mercies are uncountable 1. God is abundant in His mercy and prompt in His forgiveness. He does not see the magnitude of sin but the depth of repentance. He forgives us, not because we are worthy of it, but only because we need it. There is no measure for his forgiveness because His mercy is immeasurable. 2. This is what Jesus implies when he tells Peter to “forgive the other not only seven times but seventy times seven”. The matter is not the number or the frequency of forgiveness, that is, how many times or how often to forgive. Rather, the point is the immensity of it, that is, how willingly, promptly, and unreservedly to forgive. 3. God’s forgiveness is unconditioned and incalculable. This is what Azariah (Abednego) makes clear in his prayer in the book of Daniel. He pleads for God’s mercy to forgive His people’s sins, not on the basis of their merit, but only on the basis of His mercy and the fidelity of their forefathers. All that they have is a contrite heart and a humble spirit to seek His forgiveness. 4. But once forgiven, we must try to become worthy of it. How? By seeking earnestly to follow His ways. Concretely, it demands showing the same spirit of forgiveness towards others. Further, it also should be like God's forgiveness, which is abundant and uncalculating. 5. It is not fair and also highly detestable before God if we refuse to forgive others while we receive immensely God's forgiveness. To forgive is not an option at our convenience, but it is a bounden duty. As we give, we must give, lest our fate too will be the same as the servant in the gospel who is forgiven much but refuses to forgo a little. Direction: Repentance in humility is the compulsory prerequisite for receiving God's forgiveness. And forgiving others in charity becomes the compulsory sign and testimony of the effect of that grace 15 MARCH 2023: DEUT 4. 1-9; MATTHEW 5. 17-19 Pivot: Follow and Live! Indicative: Often laws and statutes are seen in a legalistic and moralistic sense. Accordingly, there is a pressing sense of fear and coercion 1. Today we can focus our reflection on the attitude and approach toward laws and rules. As such, they indicate a restrictive and binding nature and role. So, often the issue is whether one follows them or violates them. Fidelity thus is measured in terms of adherence to their observance. 2. This is rather a deficient approach. This kind of perspective short-sights our vision. It also dilutes the essence of the laws and rules. Today’s word of God resurges the positive response of the laws. We need to revisit them. Though they are binding, they are meant to liberate. Though they are restrictive, they are purposed to be constructive 3. Laws are never for their own sake. They are always directed and destined for something higher. They are meant for a greater end. They can never be absolutised. But at the same time, they should not be minimised as well 4. In the light of the first reading, the noble purpose of the statutes and decrees is to “live and take possession of the destined land”. They are also evidence and testimonies of the wisdom and intelligence of those who observe 5. In the light of the gospel, they are conditions, criteria and “gate passes” for meriting God’s kingdom. We are earnestly called to remember them and “not let them slip from our memory”. We must obey them and also teach and lead others to follow the same Imperative: We need to rise above dry obedience to laws to a “fecund” surrender to the spirit of the laws, which is God’s will. In this sense, there is no scope for any leverage (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2022, 23 MARCH) Focus: Fidelity to law means to understand the spirit of the law, its purpose and the goal of it, and do actions according to it 1. There is always a desire and pursuit for greatness both individually and collectively as nations and people. This is something common and natural. But real greatness is often reduced only to the material and social aspects, in terms of possessions and positions. 2. It is here that the first reading from Deuteronomy clarifies that true greatness is in being wise and understanding, saying, “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people”. Now, this greatness as wisdom and understanding is further elaborated. 3. It is having God so near and close. It is having statutes and rules that are righteous. It is keeping our souls diligently lest they depart from our hearts. It is keeping them and doing them faithfully. Further, it is teaching others also and making them follow the same 4. This is real greatness and wisdom. Greatness is not throwing away the laws and rules but rather wisely understanding their spirit and fulfilling them. Thus, we become great not by the abolition of the law but by its perfection of it. Jesus announces clearly: “I have come not to abolish the law but to fulfill and perfect it”. “Whoever follows the least of the commandments and teaches others to do so, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven” 5. Many have a wrong perspective toward laws and rules. Often greatness and freedom are equated with despisal of the laws. Following the law is not servitude to laws. Fidelity to law is not always the same as legalism. In the same way, lawlessness is not freedom. 6. A law is good when it takes and keeps us closer to God, when it helps us for a righteous living, when it makes us follow God’s commandments and ways and when it helps us to teach and guide others the right way. Decision: The mindset of the people must change with regard to the idea of greatness. It must be removed from its material and worldly sense. It must be understood as a wise and righteous way of living (REFLECTION 3 FROM 2021, 10 MARCH) Focus: True Freedom is not lawlessness. In fact, true freedom lies in lawful obedience, i.e. adherence to the spirit of the law 1. Many have a wrong concept and exercise of freedom, and accordingly, they think that to be free means to be free from any and all the laws. They mistake that law is necessarily negative, and subversive, depriving a person of what is his due and rightful. 2. But this is not correct. Laws are meant to regulate, channel, guide, and orient persons on the right path. For this, they apply a certain extent of restraint and restriction, certain control and limit. The purpose is certainly positive, that is to avoid and guard against all possible deviations and distortions. 3. Therefore, we must go beyond the mere letter of the law, to the spirit of it, its purpose, and the end of it. In this sense, every good law intends responsible and constructive freedom. The greatest law is love for God and love for others. This is manifested in a profound devotion to God and dedication to the other’s good. 4. Thus, a good law aims at the integrated growth of the person. This is what Jesus calls the perfection of the law, the perfect law. To be free does not mean to do away with the laws and rules, but to follow them in the right spirit. In the name of being flexible, one cannot be over-indulgent. True freedom is not to be undisciplined, irresponsible, or licentious. 5. This is what Moses teaches the people in Deuteronomy fidelity to follow God’s statutes and ordinances is a sign of their fidelity to God. They are means of growing in righteousness. Following God’s commandments shows that they are wise and understanding people of God, amidst lawless immorality. This enlightenment is very much needed for the present society, which wrongly equates freedom with rule-free indiscipline. Direction: There is unnecessary and even harmful thinking of freedom as lawlessness. But to be truly free is to be law-abiding. The need is not to throw away all rules and regulations but to inculcate a positive and joyful adherence to them 16 MARCH 2023: JER 7. 23-28; LUKE 11. 14-23 Pivot: Walk and prosper! Indicative: There is still an abundance of good. This is truly the divine presence. But it needs openness and readiness to see, accept and experience 1. God constantly invites us to keep our eyes wide open so that we see God’s love and power. We need to listen to His voice. We must pay heed, obey and walk in His ways. But instead, very often the opposite happens as in the case of the Israel 2. We may walk in the hardness of our evil hearts, and turn our backs to God. We may stiffen our necks and not pay heed and obey God’s messages and messengers. We may refuse to take correction. Faithfulness may disappear and the word itself may be banished from our speech 3. This is truly evil pervasion. This is what we see in the gospel. A mute man’s speech is restored. This is clearly a mighty sign of God’s holiness and power of God, resident in Jesus. But the unbelieving Jews stuck to the hardness and stubbornness of their evil hearts 4. They refused to see God’s mighty intervention. They refuse to accept God’s power. As said in the first reading, the word of God which is truth was banished from their speech. They allege him of a secret pact, a coalition with Satan. They attribute his divine power to Beelzebul, the prince of demons 5. They did not have even a single word of appreciation for Jesus. Instead, they would only speak evil against him. They not only take away the credit of God’s work but also want to push Jesus into defence 6. In fact, these are the real mute people. The mute man got healed by Jesus. But it is these that need healing. Their tongues need to be released. Their speech needs to be rectified and restored. These are the people who are not with him but against him Imperative: If we listen and obey Him, we will belong totally to Him, as God Himself assures: “Then, I will be your God and you shall be my people” (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2022, 24 MARCH) Focus: Stubbornness is one big block that hinders openness to truth and acceptance of it. Ignorant people can be taught and wise people as well. But the stiff-necked people are hard to teach, correct and guide 1. Struggle between God’s unfailing fidelity and people’s recurrent infidelity characterizes the whole salvation history. God was abundantly merciful toward them; works mighty works in their lives; and blesses them with prosperity and victory. He teaches and guides them through prophets. But repeatedly people become ungrateful, stubborn, disobedient, and unfaithful 2. This infidelity of people is so vividly described in the first reading from Jeremiah. They did not obey or incline their ear. They stiffened their neck. They did not accept discipline. Truth has perished; it is cut off from their lips. They walked in their own counsels and in the stubbornness of their evil hearts. They were so fluctuating and regressing, going backwards and not forwards 3. The same stiff-necked and defiant mentality continues in Jesus’ time too. All his teaching and preaching fell on the deaf ears of his people. His mighty miracles fail to evoke in them a positive response. They not only refuse to believe him; further, they constantly trouble and persecute him. They make wrong attributions. They attribute his miracles to a coalition with Satan. They accuse him that he casts out demons by Beezebul, the prince of demons 4. The people of his time are no different from their predecessors. Little do they realize that good and faith cannot come from Satan who is all evil. They are blind to the truth that every harm and destruction belongs to evil. All that is good, healing, and constructive can come only from God 5. Jesus cannot expel demons with the help of their leader. Jesus is able to heal not because he works in tie-up with the evil but because he is more powerful than the evil one. Jesus is that stronger one in the gospel. He attacks and overcomes the strong man who is Satan. He takes away his armour and wins back those under the evil’s siege. The healing of the possessed mute man is a clear indicator of this surpassing power of Jesus. Direction: Let us not repeat history. Let us not become the descendants of those still-necked people who were so adamant, defiant, and disobedient. Let us hearken to God’s call: “Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people”. (REFLECTION 3 FROM 2021, 11 MARCH) Focus: It is not that God is not active or His grace is not working. God is ever in action and miracles continue to abound. It is only our inability to see Him at work 1. God’s grace never ceases. He ceaselessly invites the people to come to Him promptly, to relate with Him closely, to listen to Him attentively, and obey His precepts and directives faithfully. However, the purpose is not to subjugate them to servile obedience. God has no self-interest. It is all for the well-being and progress of the people. 2. But unfortunately, often He meets with stubbornness in which people refuse to listen, understand and walk God’s ways. They become stiff-necked and stiffly resist God’s call to repent and mend their ways. This is the experience of God all through the history of salvation, be it Yahweh in the Old Testament or Jesus in the New Testament. 3. Thus, God laments with anguish through the prophet Jeremiah over their fault: They do not obey the voice of the Lord, they do not incline their ear, they do not accept discipline, they walk their own ways, and with stubborn and evil hearts, they go backwards but not forward. 4. In the gospel too, Jesus meets with the same mentality. Jesus drives out a demon from a dumb man and restores his speech. But instead of recognizing the power of God in Jesus, some people attribute the healing to the power of demons. They accuse him that he is taking the help of the Evil One. 5. How absurd it is that evil power is defeated by evil power! They demand further signs from heaven. When one is not prepared to see the truth, then which signs or proofs can convince them? This is exactly what God remarks toward the end of the first reading: truth has perished; it is cut off from their lips. They are so hard-hearted and closed. Consequently, they fail to see the “finger of God at work” and the coming of the kingdom of God in Jesus. Direction: Stubbornness, defiance, and disobedience blind one to truth and divine action; they lead one to a spirit of division – divided within oneself, divided against God, and divided against others. They are sure to fall prey to the evil 17 MARCH 2023: HOSEA 14. 2-10; MARK 12. 28-34 Pivot: The best offering! Indicative: God’s love is everlasting and abounding. In response to this, we need to repent and return. Then we will experience the immensity of His blessings 1. Offerings and sacrifices are part of the worship of every religion. The purpose is not to appease or placate God. It is not a barter system where there is an exchange between prayers-offerings and favours-blessings 2. Today the gospel makes it clear that there is something more worth than burnt offerings and sacrifices. It is love, which is twofold, for God and others. This does not mean that rituals and offerings are not important or not needed 3. This only means that this two-pronged love is the highest priority. This is the greatest and first commandment. Nothing else can dominate or substitute this priority. Further, this also implies that all our offerings and ceremonies must be oriented to manifest and foster this double path of love 4. The more our religious practices become channels of love for God and others, the more they become worth. Loving God is not just following a commandment. It is a fitting response to God’s own loving us. God loves us so much and cares for us so much. Even though we defect from Him and collapse, He does not reject or abandon us 5. As soon as we repent and return to Him, He forgives all our iniquities. Not only that. He will bless us doubly with prosperity and joy. If our loving God becomes an act of gratitude and response to God loving us, our loving others is the expression and effect of loving God 6. In fact, these two are not separate or opposites. Love for God is the foundation and spring for love for others. Love for others is the outflow and authentication of love for God Imperative: We will be wise to integrate love for God and love for others. Faith and charity are two sides of the same coin. One cannot be complete without the other 18 MARCH 2023: HOSEA 6. 1-6; LUKE 18. 9-14 Pivot: Cannot swallow the shallow! Indicative: Two real and ever-present dangers for any religion and devotion are shallowness and inconsistency. True piety must be steady and deep 1. Piety is essentially a matter of the relationship between God and humans. There is a profound contrast between the two. Depth and steadfastness mark God, while superficiality and disloyalty mark humans 2. God is a loving, forgiving, healing and giving God. In love, at times He disciplines and chastises His people. He heals what He has rent. He binds the wounds that were struck. He revives and raises us up soon. His judgment shines forth like the light of the day. He will come to us like the spring rain that waters the earth 3. But on the contrary, the piety of the people is so passing and unsteady like a morning cloud and the dew. These shallow people substitute love with mere sacrifices and the knowledge of God with burnt offerings 4. Further, shallow piety is marked by self-righteousness. This is typified by the Pharisee in the gospel parable of Pharisee and a tax collector. The Pharisees failed on all counts. He failed before God because there was no gratitude, dependence, or closeness or surrender. He failed toward others because he labelled, despised and condemned others. He also failed concerning his own self because he had a false image of himself, lacking in humility 5. On the other hand, the tax collector’s prayer was humble. It won God’s mercy. He may not stand near the altar like the Pharisee. He may not have eloquent words to pray. He may not know any formal techniques or steps of prayer. But he was close to God by heart. He had the best of words to pray in humility and repentance. He knew the best technique of prayer, and that is prayer of heart Imperative: There is a subtle demarcation between righteousness and self-righteousness. We would do well to guard against self-righteousness. Humility and surrender are the best remedies (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2022, 26 MARCH) Focus: Humility is not just one of the many virtues but is the base and bottom line of all the other virtues. One who fails in humility fails in all 1. “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled and whoever humbles himself will be exalted”, so declares Jesus. Clearly, Jesus is teaching us the greatness of humility. He teaches us that only in humility do we find real greatness. Only those who are humble will be great in the sight of God and will be exalted 2. The parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector is a vivid description of this contrast between lack of humility and humility. The Pharisee represents the lack of humility and the tax collector, humility. The Pharisee is so self-righteous and haughty. Consequently, he fails to recognize his own human sinfulness and unworthiness before a holy God 3. There is a total unawareness of the holiness of God that must make us humble in His presence. Instead, he glorifies himself before God; he enlists some religious practices as proof of his holiness. Instead of surrendering Himself to God’s mercy, he elevates himself as if there is nothing to correct and change 4. Though he appears to thank God it is in fact an indirect thanking himself. He is presumptuous and self-complacent. He is so self-conceited that he becomes blind to his defects. He is covered by layers of the false self that rates itself as perfect and all better, holier, and greater than others 5. True to the teaching of Jesus elsewhere, he is a real hypocrite who sees the speck in the other’s eye but does not see the log in his own eye. To the extent he labels, degrades, and despises others as thieves, rogues, adulterers, and good for nothing, he fails thoroughly in charity and benevolence toward others. He does not recognize and respect others’ dignity 6. The end results are clear: the Pharisee is rejected by God who is displeased with him. But the tax collector is accepted and blessed and rewarded by God who is highly pleased with his humble heart. God does not look at what position we stand on but with what heart we stand before Him. Direction: Self-pride and self-glory are the root causes of all evils. They make us blind to our imperfections and contemptuous toward others. Humility and charity are the antidotes (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2021, 13 MARCH) Focus: Humility to repent and steadfastness to be loyal will always win God's favour; Instead, a self-motivated and self-gratifying spirituality is not pleasing to God 1. God desires love and not mere sacrifices; He is more pleased with the growth in His knowledge rather than the multitude of empty offerings. He wants a devotion that is steadfast and not unstable. He wants a love that is profound and not shallow. He wants a love that is totally God-oriented and self-oriented. He wants a love that seeks to glorify God and not gratify the self 2. This is what God declares in crystal clear terms in the first reading from prophet Hosea. He is unhappy that people are so opportunist as to seek Him in their times of trouble. They turn to Him so as to take advantage of His indulgent benevolence. They are not steady, because their love is like a morning cloud and like the fast-vanishing dew. This becomes clear all throughout the Salvation history 3. The Pharisee's prayer in the gospel is not pleasing to God and not accepted by Him, because it is full of self, self-righteousness, self-complacency, and self-glory. There is no humble admission of his own unworthiness. There is no sense of gratitude to God, dependence on Him, and closeness with Him. There is no submission to God. There is no fraternal feeling toward the other in respect and benevolence. 4. Instead, the tax collector's prayer is readily accepted by God, because it springs from a contrite heart and humble spirit. He deeply acknowledges his sinfulness and freely surrenders to God. The Pharisee informs God about how great he is. But the tax collector is aware of how great God is, and how small and unworthy he is. By physical position, the Pharisee stands so close to the altar, but actually, he is far away from God’s mercy. Instead, the publican stands so far off the altar, but really, he is so close to God by heart. Direction: We go to God and pray, not to inform or give Him new knowledge about our greatness or judge others on how bad they are. No prayer is heard when it lacks charity and is prejudiced despising others

THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT 2023

3RD SUNDAY LENT, 12 MARCH 2023: EXODUS 17. 3-7; ROMANS 5. 1-2, 5-8; JOHN 4. 5-42: "LIVING WATER": SAMARITAN WOMAN   Pivot: Thirst for the Living water! Indicative: The real value of life and faith is in travelling constantly from the natural and superficial thirst to crucial and spiritual thirst   1.  There is an elaborate episode of a Samaritan woman in John chapter 04. It is a dramatic interplay and interaction between Jesus and the Samaritan woman. It is a beautiful description and depiction of the encounter between the unquenchable natural "thirst for water" and the quenching supernatural "living water", Jesus. 2.  Jesus takes the initiative to approach the woman and gradually and steadily leads and raises her from the level and realm of the natural to the spiritual: from Jacob's well To the Well of God's own grace, from the natural water To the water of the Holy Spirit 3.  It is a transition from the natural thirst To the spiritual thirst, from worshipping God in some places like Jerusalem or elsewhere To worshipping Him in Spirit and truth, from a temporary satisfaction of quenching the thirst To the perpetual fulfillment of quenching the eternal thirst for salvation and eternal life. 4.  It is a decisive leap from a simple respect toward Jesus as a man of God To the profound realisation and homage toward him as the Messiah and Son of God, from a humble openness through an honest acknowledgement of one's own sinful situation To a profound acceptance of the Saviour, from an ordinary struggle for the worldly needs and interests To the noble striving for God's will, which becomes the "food and drink". 5.  Once again, in Jesus we witness God's unquenchable thirst to grace and uplift the fragile and low human condition. Jesus initiates the Samaritan woman on a progressive journey of realisation of self and God. This is a touching journey of harmony of self-discovery and self-realisation and God-discovery and God- realisation. 6.   This encounter between Jesus and the Samaritan woman is not merely an encounter between two individuals. Rather it is a constant encounter between the divine and the human, between the divine initiative and the human acceptance, between the divine gift and the human reception, and between the divine operation and human cooperation. 7.  One who is humble and transparent to be with Jesus, to enter into dialogue with him, to listen to Him and to follow his direction, will surely be led to discover one's own sinfulness and thereby discover and adhere to God's holiness and goodness. 8.   The woman who begins with a mere concern for water, climbs up to the deepest desire for living water. She is led to surrender her life to the Messiah and to become an earnest evangeliser bringing others as well to Jesus. 9.  Docility to God, awareness of one's sinfulness, awareness of God's sanctity and might, bearing witness and mission to others - these are the essential ingredients of the journey of faith.   Imperative: Only an unquenchable thirst for God and for His grace can quench the deeper thirst of the human spirit  

HAPPY WOMEN'S DAY

My sweet and treasured woman, Love you and salute you! 08 March 2023 - BLESSED WOMEN'S DAY!  Our sacred Scriptures teach us, "Angels walk on that land where women are respected". The quality and greatness of a culture can be measured on the basis of the value and progress of women in that society. Thanks to God and some dedicated souls, we are certainly moving away from a culture of violence and discrimination against women. Let us continue to march ahead in promoting more dignity, and more opportunities for women. A true women's day is not undue liberality, but due liberation and liberty. A real women's day is not a fight for rights, but a rightful sharing of responsibilities for the good of the family and society.  The true liberty of a woman is when a woman becomes the "wow" of man, the "awe" for man, the wonder factor, blessing for society, and not the "woe" for man or society.  Being a woman is not womanism or feminism or liberalism in undue modernism or exhibitionism. It is a matter of "feminality ", where tenderness, patience, care and joyful self-giving reign supreme. Let us salute our hallowed women. Let us seek pardon for our sacrileges in violating their godly dignity. Let us rededicate ourselves to journey together as genuine men and women.  A true celebration of women's day is that we gratefully recognise, devotedly respect, heartfully appreciate, humbly venerate, ardently promote and committedly emulate the nobility of "feminality", the inviolable and irreplaceable role and value of a woman. Today is Women's Day, and I salute you will all love and veneration, for being a beautiful woman. Thank you for entering my life and adding more meaning, cheer and energy. Thank you for affecting the lives of many with your touch of comfort, guidance and benevolence. Continue to be a great woman, in resemblance to our own most Beautiful Mother, who is the greatest of all women.

Second Week of Lent 2023

06 - 11 MARCH 2023, HOLY MASS REFLECTIONS 06 MARCH 2023: DANIEL 9. 4b-10; LUKE 6. 36-38 Pivot: Be merciful! Indicative: Our God is a merciful God. As His children, we are called to be like Him. He is our greatest model to be merciful 1. Mercy is rapidly diminishing in the world of today. Instead, many harbour so much negativity, grudge, and resentment. This leads to a steep lack of understanding and forgiveness on one hand, and on the other hand, the increase of revenge and retaliation resulting in violence and destruction 2. It is in this context, Jesus exhorts us to be merciful. The model is God the Father Himself. Despite the repeated infidelity and failures, He has been ever merciful and forgiving toward His chosen people Israel. 3. Whenever they return to Him repenting and seeking forgiveness, He readily forgives them, reconciles with them, and blesses them again with abundance. We have a testimony to this in today’s first reading. People realise their infidelity and sinfulness. They repent over them. They plead for His mercy with humble and contrite hearts. They attest, “Yours, O Lord, our God, are compassion and forgiveness” 4. Now, how to inculcate the spirit of mercy? We must be humble enough to see and admit our sinfulness. We must repent and seek God’s forgiveness. We must avoid our frequent judgmental attitude that eagerly and hastily judges and condemns others. We must also guard against our double standards, remembering that “the measure with which we measure will be the measure that we get back” 5. We must forgive others with all magnanimity and empathy. For this, we must remember that we too receive so much mercy and we receive God’s mercy only in proportion to our mercy toward others Imperative: Instead of running after false and defective models, let us seek and imitate God as our model, especially for mercy (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2022, 14 MARCH) Focus: As the children of God and as the disciples of Christ, we are called to imitate and resemble them. This is the only way to testify to our belonging to them 1. All seek models and we need them. But the question is whether they are right and truly imitable or wrong and detestable. And the irony in society is often wrong models are followed more. And models are often associated with excellence in some fields and not necessarily with virtue and character. In other words, the models are not always virtuous or character-people. 2. Thus, we live in a context where there is the influence of wrong models and disconnection between models and virtue. In such a context, today Jesus is proposing to us the greatest and best model to follow. That is God the Father Himself. Jesus specifies also what we must imitate. It is mercy. He admonishes us, “Be merciful as your heavenly Father is merciful”. The first reading from Daniel also highlights this, saying, “To the Lord, our God belong mercy and forgiveness”. 3. Jesus further clarifies what this mercy is. It is a mercy that does not judge, does not condemn. He keeps covenant and steadfast love. He only chastises the people when they go astray. He is never keen on destroying them. He is enormously patient and so gives ample opportunities to His people to repent and return to Him. He is ever generous in His forgiveness and reward. 4. If God is so merciful and forgiving, then what is our duty? The first reading is amply clear about these details. First of all, realize our sinfulness and unworthiness; repent for not obeying the voice of the Lord; for not listening to His servants, the prophets; for rebelling and turning aside from His commandments and rules; for not walking in His laws; for doing wrong and acting wickedly. Realizing and repenting for our infidelity, then seeking His forgiveness. 5. Secondly, live what you experience; give what you yourself receive. If we are not judged and condemned, and if we do not want to be judged and condemned, then do not judge and condemn others. If we are forgiven, then forgive others as well. If God and others are so generous toward us, then we too must be generous to them. Direction: Let us always bear in mind that we receive as we give; we will get back as we do. Therefore, let us be always just and fair in our measurements toward others. The measure we apply will be the measure that will be applied to us (REFLECTION 3 FROM 2021, 01 MARCH) Focus: True repentance is healing because it removes the weight of sin and the shame of guilt. It is not lowering of dignity but regaining the true dignity The people of Israel plead for God's mercy with true repentant hearts. They recall God's recurrent mercy despite their recurrent infidelity. They are conscious of the stark contrast between God’s righteousness and human treachery, between God’s grace and human sinfulness, between God’s fidelity and human disobedience, and between God’s forgiveness and human wrongdoing. This awareness is very crucial because it can make us humble and surrendered on one hand, and repentant and determined to change on the other hand. This humble consciousness leads us to focus on God as the source to derive strength and a model to imitate. In the gospel, Jesus urges us to inculcate and practice the same spirit of the mercy of God towards others: Be merciful as your heavenly Father is merciful. What a lofty model we have to emulate! It is nothing less than God the Father Himself. This can indicate to us that our standard and dignity are high, as our target is high. What does this imitation or resemblance with God mean? Four simple practical implications: do not judge others; do not condemn others; forgive others; be abundantly generous towards others. This is in fact the life of witness by contrast, in a world that is judgmental, condemnatory, retaliating, and greedy. Such a merciful way will obtain for us God's own abundant mercies. And it will also spare us from God's just judgment without mercy, because the measure we apply to others, will be the same measure that will be applied to us by God. Direction: What a pity it is that many unnecessarily carry the burden of resentment, revenge, and retaliation, not realizing that it is self-ruinous! 07 MARCH 2023: ISAIAH 1. 1, 16-20; MATTHEW 23. 1-12 Pivot: Wash and walk! Indicative: Repentance is the recurrent clarion call for all of us always and especially in this holy season of Lent. Let us hearken to this call 1. God urges us through His prophet Isaiah to listen to His instruction, repent, return to Him, cleanse ourselves and live integrally. He says, “Listen to the instruction of the Lord. Wash yourselves clean. Cease doing evil and learn to do good” 2. Concretely it implies avoiding hypocrisy in the light of the gospel. Jesus explicitly refers to the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and scribes and admonishes the people not to fall into the same evil. They do not practise what they teach and preach to others. They make heavy demands on others but do not assist them in any way 3. They do a lot of religious activities not out of the genuine intention of devotion and fidelity to God. Rather it is all for recognition and applause. They lack interiority and depth. What is all the more deplorable is their lack of humility 4. They seek places of honour, titles, and salutations like ‘Rabbi’. All their actions are pretentious and self-directed for self-glory. They easily forget the truth that all of us are only brethren, disciples, and servants. There is only one Father, Supreme Teacher, and Master, the Christ 5. The same danger of hypocrisy is very real in our times as well. There are many traces of hypocrisy and inauthenticity among the present followers of Christ. We must bear in mind that God condones our weaknesses if we are humble and repentant. But He detests our lack of humility and integrity 6. The Lord is ready to cleanse us and restore us to an abundance of blessings if we return to him. Our sins may be grievous like scarlet and crimson red. But He will purify and whiten us as snow and wool. If we are willing and obey, He will bless us 7. But, if we refuse and resist, we will be consumed. If we humble ourselves, we will be exalted. But if we exalt ourselves, we will be humbled. Let us keep aside our pride and hypocrisy. Let us learn to be humble and authentic. Let us grow in righteousness Imperative: Let us combat our self-righteousness so as to become righteous. Let us strive to live what we believe and learn, teach, and demand from others (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2022, 15 MARCH) Focus: God is so merciful that He does not abandon us or condemn us for our sins. Rather He is so lenient and waits upon us to repent and renew our lives 1. God never ceases to call us for repentance and renewal. All the more during this holy season of lent, this call is strong and straight. Thus we hear in the first reading from Isaiah, saying, “Hear the word of the Lord… Give ear to the teaching of our God! Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean”. 2. Now what does this mean and imply? We need to remove the evil of our deeds from before His eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause. 3. In the light of the gospel, this repentance and renewal would mean removing all the traces of hypocrisy. Jesus cautions us against the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and scribes. Its forms are manifold: Preaching but not practising; demanding too much from others but doing very little themselves; making a show to impress others and not out of genuine conviction or devotion; seeking recognition and honour. 4. The greatest antidote is humility, for “the greatest among you shall be your servant”. In simple details, it is to have the mind of a disciple and learner and not a teacher or rabbi; it is to be a brother to others and not to be revered as a father, for we all have only one Father; it is to be an instructee under the one instructor, the Christ, and not projecting oneself as a great instructor. 5. If one cultivates this humility and strives to renew life, then the fruits are enormously great: the Lord will completely wipe away all the stains and weight of sin. The Lord himself assures: even though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. 6. This means that the Lord will thoroughly cleanse us and make us pure. Further, if you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; you shall be exalted to the heights, for “whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted”. Direction: Let us be aware that pride and hypocrisy are the two biggest blocks against repentance and renewal. Let us then cultivate the spirit of humility and of a servant (REFLECTION 3 FROM 2021, 02 MARCH) Focus: God is exceedingly patient and merciful and He is never tired of offering us opportunities to repent and be converted What a consolation and comforting note it is to hear again and again how infinitely God is patient with us and is boundlessly hopeful about our transformation. God never closes the doors of His love in benevolence and mercy. He is never stuck with our aberrant past but is very hopeful and interested in our sincere present for a reformed future. He never stops offering us numberless possibilities and opportunities to repair our damages, to re-gather what has been scattered, to regain what has been lost, and to recuperate what has been missing. He is so open and flexible, even to the extent of exuberant lenience. He ceaselessly invites us as He did through Isaiah to wash ourselves clean, to turn away from evil, to cease to do evil, and to hold on eagerly and ardently to good. If we heed His call and change our ways, then surely He will forgive us, cleanse us and remake us as sane and bright. If not, we ourselves will bring judgment upon ourselves and perish. For this repentance and change, the biggest block is hypocrisy, as that of the Pharisees. It is preaching but not practising. It is being rigid and stringent toward others but lenient and loose towards one's own self. It is seeking recognition and making a show of devotion without interior depth. In contrast, what is required is humility to acknowledge one's own weakness and unworthiness; and the docility to be totally open to God to receive His healing touch. Direction: God may readily forgive the weak but humble, but He will detest the hypocrites that pretend to be strong but self-conceited. 08 MARCH 2023: JER 18. 18-20; MATTHEW 20. 17- 28 Pivot: Life is a trial! Indicative: The fact of suffering is real in everyone’s life. All the more, it is true in the life of a true follower of Christ 1. Today’s word of God presents to us a clear contrast between the ways of God and the ways of the world. The world shuns every suffering and difficulty. It seeks shortcuts to go up, gain or achieve something. It evades every possible adversity or risk 2. Further, the world equates greatness with the power to dominate others, to dictate terms over others, and to be served. Accordingly, the world seeks greatness in power, position, prestige, fame, popularity, et cetera 3. Jesus shatters such wrong notions and pursuits. He makes it crystal clear that the way of following him is the way of suffering. This is so evident in both readings. In the first reading, the prophet Jeremiah goes through an intense ordeal of suffering. He suffers ingratitude, hostility, rejection, betrayal and persecution 4. Jesus himself was a victim of unjust suffering. But neither the prophet nor Jesus would run away from suffering. They would not be depressed. They would not blame God. Instead, they surrender themselves totally to God. They make it clear that there are no shortcuts to fulfilling our mission 5. Further, Jesus teaches that true greatness is not in domination but in submission, not in exterior power but in the interior power of the Spirit. One is great when he serves others. In fact, the very purpose of Jesus’ coming itself is this: to serve and not to be served Imperative: They are great, those who serve others and those who are served. This is a radical reversal. If only people follow this principle of greatness in humble service, all will be truly great! (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2022, 16 MARCH) Focus: We are living in such a world where often good is repaid with evil; sacrifice is repaid with ingratitude and harm. In the face of such experiences, what is needed is a spirit of surrender, sacrifice and service 1. The life of a disciple of Christ is for sacrifice and service. It is not something new or out of the way. It is the same with the master. Jesus too lived a life of sacrifice and service. He sacrificed many things in life and spent his whole time and energy serving others. He declares, “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many”. Yes, he had to pay a heavy price for his commitment. He had to face opposition, persecution, suffering, and even death. 2. The same was the fate of the prophet Jeremiah as we see in the first reading. The very people for whom he struggled hard and pleaded with God would turn against him and plot to kill him. The life of a disciple is not meant for comfort and convenience. 3. It does not go well that a disciple of Christ seeks power and position, honour and glory. A disciple does not lord or boss over others. Rather, he manifests an attitude of a servant: Whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave. 4. In the gospel the mother of the sons of Zebedee approaches Jesus to grant the two best seats beside him for her sons. This episode typically represents the situation of the church authorities of our own times. There is so much craving and fighting for power and position. Domination replaces humility. Lording over dominates obeying. Being served becomes a status-symbol in the place of serving others. Direction: Religious authority is also getting tainted by worldly authority. There is so much manipulation and domination. It is high time to do a thorough self-check and recapture the spirit of sacrifice and service (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2021, 03 MARCH) Focus: Standing for God and for good, will not exempt anyone from affliction and persecution, but it is inevitable Can one imagine the piercing anguish and legitimate frustration of Jeremiah at his people's acting toward him? His heart languished for them. He pleaded persistently with God on their behalf to spare them. Now it is these very people who denounce and calumniate against him, betray him and plot to kill him even. Apparently, evil seems to be the recompense for all his good, and this is really frustrating. The same is the case with Jesus in the gospel. The mental agony of Jesus too is not much different from Jeremiah's. What pains Jesus so much is not so much a physical lot of his passion and death. But, rather it is the infidelity and betrayal of the very people for whom he struggles. In simple psychology, his constant reference to his suffering is a simple way of preparing himself mentally to meet such eventuality. It is also a way of shattering the disciples' false ideas and illusions about his power and kingdom. The worldly ambition and the request of the mother of the sons of Zebedee is a clear sign of such a shallow understanding of Jesus' role and mission. Perhaps, we may get annoyed with such a false perspective of them. We may blame them for their worldliness. But what is better is to understand this instance as a corrective for all. It is not just the case of the sons of Zebedee. Anyone and every one of us is certainly infected by the same sting of worldly interests and temporary gains. All are prone to evade suffering and seek glory. All want to ride high and not bend low. In such a context, we should deeply bear in mind that suffering alone is the path to glory, and following Jesus necessarily involves the way of struggle. The kingdom of Jesus is not a domain of worldly power for domination and being served. It is a reign of serving others in humility. Direction: Many authorities of today seem to be busy with giving others many directives, forgetting the essential corrective that all power is for service in humility. 09 MARCH 2023: JER 17. 5-10; LUKE 16. 19-31 Pivot: Blessed or cursed! Indicative: Trust in God and sensitivity to others make one “blessed”. But trust in self and world and indifference to others 1. God distinguishes between the blessed and the cursed. It is not the worldly riches or abundance of human capacities or a variety of pleasures that make one’s life blessed. It is one’s trust in God that makes one blessed 2. Such a blessed man is like a plant beside the waters. His roots are deep into the streams of grace. No heat or inclemencies of weather or drought frighten or wither him. His life remains fresh and refreshed. He bears abundant fruit 3. On the other hand, cursed is he who relies excessively on his own self and worldly resources. He is like a barren bush in the desert. There is no freshness or growth or fruitfulness or usefulness. The rich man in the gospel is a vivid illustration of a cursed man 4. The rich man places excessive trust in his worldly resources. He seeks his own enjoyment. This becomes the rhythm of his life, as we are told that he “dined sumptuously each day”. What a striking contrast between the rich man and the poor Lazarus! 5. The rich man was dressed in purple garments and fine linen but the poor man was covered with sores. The rich man dined sumptuously but the poor man was in search of even the scraps from the rich table. The rich man was in a privileged company but the poor man was in the company of dogs that lick his sores 6. The greatest sin of the rich man was not so much enjoying his life but a total indifference toward the poor Lazarus. The height of his inattention was such that Lazarus was totally non-existent, a non-entity and an irrelevant object to him. Lazarus did not matter at all to him 7. In this context, we must bear in mind that God’s justice is a “perfectly balancing scale”. The scene reverses. After death and judgment, the rich man suffers while the poor man enjoys. The rich man laments while Lazarus praises God. The rich man is tormented while the poor man is comforted. The rich man descends to hell while Lazarus ascends to the bosom of Abraham Imperative: Life here on earth is not the end. It has an end. It has a judgment and life after death. Therefore, we must live with a sense of dignity and responsibility (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2022, 17 MARCH) Focus: There is always a contrast between being blessed and being cursed. This difference is on the basis of where we place our trust. Trusting in God makes one blessed while trusting in things makes one cursed 1. For sure, everyone wants to be blessed and not cursed. But the whole problem is how one understands blessedness and cursedness and how one pursues the path that leads to them. In fact, these are two modes of being and living, namely being blessed and being cursed. They are fundamental to human living and are mutually contrasting. They also determine the whole meaning and the direction of life. 2. Sadly, in spite of all intelligence, the world equates blessedness with worldly abundance, pleasure, and success; and cursedness with deprivation, failure, and misery. In simple words, those who have plenty of money and things, those who dictate others, and those who enjoy comforts and pleasures are considered blessed. 3. On the other hand, those who are poor, those who struggle in life, those who are low in status and are under some others, and those who cannot have even the minimum joys of life are rated cursed and despicable. 4. But today’s readings dismantle this thinking of the world. True blessedness is placing trust in God. And cursedness is placing trust in the world and its things. The blessed are like the tree planted by the water. It is deeply rooted, fresh, healthy, blooming, and fruit-bearing. The cursed are like a shrub in the desert. It is dry, barren, and fruitless. 5. The gospel elaborates on this contrast between being blessed and cursed by a touching parable of a rich man and poor Lazarus. In the sight of the world, the rich man is blessed because he lacks nothing and enjoys everything. 6. But in the true sense, he is cursed because he places excessive trust in his riches. He is like a dry and useless shrub. In the sight of the world, poor Lazarus is cursed because he is miserable. But he is truly blessed because he places his total trust in God. He is deeply rooted in God and blossoms with God’s own freshness. 7. The gospel adds another essential feature to this contrast, and that is sensitivity toward others. Accordingly blessed are those who are sensitive and generous toward others; cursed are those who are selfish and indifferent toward others. The rich man is cursed because he failed in his fraternal duty toward the poor man. 8. Their fates are also contrasting. The rich man is condemned to the fire of hell; the poor Lazarus is rewarded with heaven. While on earth, the rich man enjoyed but in heaven, he suffers. While on earth, the poor Lazarus suffered but in heaven, he enjoys heavenly bliss. 9. There is another interesting detail to note. The poor man has a name but the rich man’s name is not mentioned. This indicates something profound: the poor are “counted” in the sight of God. They have a special identity. Direction: Those who are worried only about worldly and temporary riches and enjoyments are certainly cursed. They will be liable to God’s judgment (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2021, 04 MARCH) Focus: Those who place their trust in worldly things and spend all their time and energies on temporal pursuits and interests will meet a fateful destiny The first reading from Jeremiah declares one of the most fundamental principles and contrasts of life: Trusting in one's own self and the world, and on the other hand, trusting in God. Trusting in self or the world and investing and consuming all the energies over self and worldly interests may bring temporary profit and satisfaction. But the end is disastrous. Not only the end but also the way towards the end: Those who vainly pursue human and earthly concerns, are like a bush in the desert, dry and barren and eventually drained and dead; but those who are oriented to God in trust and loyalty are like the plant by the streams, evergreen and fresh, ever flourishing and productive. The same theme of the fateful end of trust in one’s own self and the world is powerfully illustrated in the gospel by the parable of the rich man and poor Lazarus. The problem here is not the matter of having more riches. But, the real problem is placing too much trust in the things of the world. It is the neglect of God and a total lack of sensitivity and concrete concern toward the needy. The rich man was totally tied up with his own self, his self-comfort, and enjoyment. He could not rise up to God, or at least could not reach up to the poor Lazarus. Hence, the ends are reversed: the high rich man languishes in the bottoms and the low Lazarus enjoys in the heights. This parable is the clearest mirror of our own society. We live in a society that is steeped in abyssal indifference and selfishness. It is no more a story of a certain rich man in the gospel but is the replica of the live heights of unconcern and insensitivity. Direction: One reaps what one sows. We cannot expect to reap a rich harvest of real joy if we have planted a scanty crop of goodness, whether on earth or in heaven 10 MARCH 2023: GEN 37. 3-4, 12-13A, 17B- 28A; MATTHEW 21. 33-46 Pivot: Covetousness and jealousy kill! Indicative: God entrusted us with this life to take care of it, live it meaningfully and bear fruits. We will be punishable if we fail in this duty 1. The world is in the evil embrace of greed and envy. Many are not satisfied with what they have. They crave more. Desire in itself is not wrong. But what is wrong is they desire what is not their due. Greedy people want to usurp and appropriate what belongs to others. Further, they employ any wrong or deceptive means to get what they want 2. Envy is another malaise that devours many today. It cannot see and digest the good in others and their growth. Those who suffer from jealousy feel uncomfortable and unhappy when others do well. Both this avarice and envy lead to evil and destruction 3. This is illustrated by two stories in today’s word of God. The first reading describes jealousy and the gospel, greed. In the first reading, Joseph, the son of Israel became the victim of the jealousy of his own blood brothers because of their father’s special love for Joseph. In consequence, they sell him into slavery 4. The gospel depicts how greed turns wicked and destructive through the parable of the wicked tenants. They covet the owner’s vineyard and so maltreat some servants and kill some others and in the end kill his own son. These tenants point to the unbelieving Jews Imperative: Interestingly, both greed and jealousy are capital sins and all of us are gravely infected by them. They vitiate the heart as well as relationships. We must eradicate them (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2022, 18 MARCH) Focus: The world of today is torn apart by so much malice. At the root are greed and envy. One cannot see and tolerate the good of the other, and one cannot think and follow other than the good of one’s own self 1. There is so much evil and malice in our world. This causes enormous destruction. It destroys life in all its senses. People are killed; the beauty, value and dignity, the joy and peace of human life and the human person are destroyed because evil destroys the good. The two stories in both readings show this destructive effect of evil. 2. In the first reading from Genesis, the brothers of Joseph sell their own brother into slavery. In the gospel, the tenants of the vineyard maltreat and kill the master’s servants and finally his own son. Joseph’s brothers become malicious because of jealousy. The tenants become evil because of greed. Thus jealousy and greed lead to the heights of evil. 3. Both stories point to the evil conduct of the people of Israel. Particularly, Jesus is the Joseph and the son of the owner of the vineyard in the two stories respectively. He becomes the target of the evil and envy of the Jews. They cannot tolerate his rising popularity. They cannot accept him challenging their shallow legalism and hypocrisy. 4. All the more, they cannot bear that he challenges their authority, and undervalues their knowledge and credibility. They cannot digest the fact that he becomes the champion of the poor, the sinful, and the despicable in society. Much more, it is just intolerable when he exalts those low-class people over and above them. This reversal and subversion are highly inflammable. 5. This story of envy, greed, and evil is not only a thing of the past. It is a present reality. Immense harm is being done because of greed and envy. We too succumb often to their onslaughts. Therefore, we need to become more conscious and cautious about the sad fate they would bring upon us. All those who are envious and avaricious and act maliciously will incur God’s wrath. 6. “He will put those wretches to a miserable death and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons”. “The kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits”. Failures in fidelity and especially in the fraternity will not go light in God’s sight. Direction: One cannot obtain God’s grace by force. One cannot force one’s entry into the kingdom of God by mere allegiance to a religion or by mere observance of some laws and activities. Ultimately all depends on one’s openness and fruitfulness (REFLECTION 3 FROM 2021, 05 MARCH) Focus: The more we give in to evil inclinations and actions, the more we lose our humaneness and become liable to a strict divine justice Jealousy, greed, and malice destroy the goodness of the human soul, throw him into the abyss of evil intentions and finally lead to enormous damage to others. Human history from its very beginnings bears ample testimonies to this play of human perversions. The story of Joseph in the Genesis and the story of the wicked tenants in the gospel are vivid examples of the ugly heads of jealousy, greed and malice. The brothers of Joseph are consumed by the fire of jealousy; they totally forget their fraternal bond and responsibility toward Joseph. The tenants in the gospel are consumed by greed. They forget the fact that they are only tenants and not owners. They overstep! They completely lose sight of the benevolence of the owner toward them. They fail to be grateful. They fail in their duty of being accountable and rendering to the owner what is his due. They covet the master's property. They become so malicious to plot and kill all who are a threat to achieving what they desire. The world of today is no different from those times. Perhaps, it may be even worse. How deplorable it is that the heights of knowledge and progress have not cleansed man from the diseases of jealousy, greed and malice! What a sea of offence, violence, and destruction is created, because of malice, rooted in jealousy and avarice! Direction: Only a few realise that jealousy, greed, and malice are devilish and are self-destructive and utterly detestable before God 11 MARCH 2023: MICAH 7. 14-15, 18-20; LUKE 15. 1-3, 11-32 Pivot: Mercy without bounds! Indicative: God’s mercy is without measure and reserve. There are no conditions or restrictions. It is just enough to repent and return 1. The season of lent is not something negative but essentially positive. It is not a time of sadness and melancholy but joy. It should not evoke in us a sense of guilt and remorse or disturbing regret. Rather, it must ignite in us a sincere spirit of repentance and determined renewal 2. Lent is positive because our focus is not on our sins but on God’s mercy. It is a time of joy because God joyfully accepts and restores us to grace. Today’s readings impress upon us God’s boundless mercy. They give us tremendous assurance and comfort because God never rejects us when we repent and return to Him. 3. See how the people of Israel confide in God’s abiding mercy and pray for the same! They attest, “Who is there like you, the God who removes guilt and pardons sin…Who does not persist in anger forever, but rather delights in clemency… Will again have compassion on us, treading underfoot our guilt. You will cast into the depths of the sea all our sins… You will show faithfulness …and grace” 4. The gospel gives a touching illustration of this abounding mercy of God through the most popular parable of the prodigal son. Though often the focus is on the prodigal son, actually the central figure is the father. It is indeed the parable of the “prodigal father”, “who goes out of his way” 5. The father’s positive “prodigality” is seen in various factors: in his love, respect, freedom, anguish, hope, patience, waiting, forgiveness, reconciliation and restoration. He loves his son so much. He respects his freedom and leaves him free. He does not constrain or force him though he could 6. He suffers silently in anguish at the separation. But he never gives up hope or becomes desperate. he patiently awaits his son’s return. As soon as his son is on his way back, he wastes no time receiving him. He runs to him. There are no rebukes, no moral lecturing, no poking, no proving himself right and his son, wrong. He immediately reconciles his son with him. And he restores him to his original dignity of a son Imperative: The parable of the prodigal son is a strong summon for repenting and returning. We can return because we are absolutely sure that God will receive us, forgive us and reinstate us in our early dignity (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2022, 11 SEPTEMBER) 1. We have the famous parable of the Prodigal son in today’s gospel. What is conspicuous in this parable is the "lost" aspect, the"prodigality" on one hand, and on the other hand, the spirit of condescension, search and the joy of finding the lost and the celebration of the occasion 2. The fact of loss pertains to human nature and that of merciful search pertains to God. All of us are imperfect, vulnerable and prone to fall and being lost. The awareness of this fact teaches and instils in us a deep sense of inadequacy and humility. This guards us against an undue sense of self-sufficiency and arrogance. This dispels our false airs and keeps our feet on the ground 3. How sad it is that some are so blind to their human fragility, and do not accept their fallibility! They rate themselves to be perfect and infallible and behave very self-righteous and arrogantly. They become so hypocritical. 4. On the other hand, there is the indulgent mercy of God to overlook, condone and forgive our wayward tendency to be lost and to get deviated. How comforting and elevating it is to know that our God is so merciful to us that He does not abandon us to our fate, does not judge and condemn us for our human defectibility, and does not penalise us! 5. This sublime divine exuberance should not make us lenient and self-indulgent. Often this trust in God's mercy makes some take for granted His grace of forgiving mercy and become easy-going. But instead, it should make us more responsible to live up to the gift of His mercy. It should make us more determined and committed to merit His mercy, to keep up His trust in our docility to change, to deeply nurture a genuine sense of repentance, and to spare no efforts to be converted and live a renewed life.

SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT 2023

2ND SUNDAY LENT, 05 MARCH 2023, GENESIS 12. 1-4a; 2 TIMOTHY 1. 8b-10; MATTHEW 17. 1-9: TRANSFIGURATION 2ND SUNDAY LENT, 05 MARCH 2023, GENESIS 12. 1-4a; 2 TIMOTHY 1. 8b-10; MATTHEW 17. 1-9: TRANSFIGURATION Pivot: Configured and Transfigured! Indicative: The scene of the transfiguration of the Lord is a revelation and re-confirmation of the original identity of Jesus and a reminder and indicator of our own future glory 1. The Lord’s transfiguration in the first place is a call for confirming our faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour. We must believe that he incarnated himself and put on our human body and nature. That does not mean that he is merely human. He is the Son of God and has come to us on a mission of love for our salvation 2. Transfiguration is a call to reset our minds to understand and accept God’s will and God’s ways. God’s ways are not our ways. God wants to save us, not the way the world thinks and does. For the world, defeating the enemy and gaining victory is usually a big, pompous, and overturning way with a display of power and might 3. But God’s way is a totally contrasting way. It is a way of love, humility, mercy, and sacrifice. It is the way of the Cross. It is not through power and destruction but through humility and compassion. It is through inner power and renewal. It is not through domination but through submission and surrender 4. The Lord wants us to understand this mystery of salvation through suffering. This shall not distress us but make us prepared. God suffers, not because He is powerless and helpless. It is because He wants to atone for our sins so that our salvation becomes just and justified 5. The episode of the Lord’s transfiguration points to our whole journey of faith as God’s children and followers of Christ. It comprises a constant movement from disfiguration through configuration to transfiguration 6. Accordingly, in the first place, we must be sincerely aware of the manifold ways in which sin disfigures our divine image. With this awareness, we must be led to repentance. Then turn to Jesus and configure ourselves to him. Be conformed to him. Imitate and emulate him. Become more and more like him Imperative: Disfiguration can be countered effectively only through a steady configuration to the Lord. This transfigures us here and now and later, in eternal glory (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2020, 06 AUGUST) Pivot: Glory is our destiny! Indicative: Transfiguration is the way to our destiny of glory. Let us not be upset at the fact of misery but always raise our hearts to the destiny of glory by constant transfigured life, transformed heart 1. Jesus is transfigured on Mount Tabor in the presence of 3 of his disciples. It is not a display of self-glory but a manifestation of his true identity. It is not to impress them but to confirm them in faith. His glory is not partial but total, both interior and exterior, as indicated by the glow of his face and clothes respectively. The experience of divine glory is so relishing, as indicated by Peter’s exclamation: “it is nice to be here; let us make three tents” 2. Jesus’ transfiguration points to our own transfiguration, being adorned with divine glory. This is possible through a constant integral transformation of our both interior and exterior, by attentive listening and adhering to the Lord 3. The event of Jesus' transfiguration is a manifestation of his original divinity, identity, and glory. The purpose is not to display his glory, not to impress upon the three disciples his greatness. It is not self-directed, seeking self-glory 4. Rather, it serves as a fount of hope that prepares and strengthens the disciples, in the face of the cross and the death of Jesus ahead. The transfigured glory of Jesus illumines and assures the disciples that Jesus who meets the fate of the cross, is not a helpless failure, forced to such a miserable end; rather he is the glorious Son of God, who willingly and freely accepts the cross as God's will for salvation. 5. It is not a fate of misery and damnation, but a destiny of glory and salvation. Thereby when faced with the ignominy of the cross, let them not be shaken or shocked; let them not be dissipated or frustrated. Let them not be stuck with the cross and death, but rather let their focus go beyond the glory and eternity. Behind and beyond the disfigured crucified, one should see the transfigured resurrected Lord, re-vested with the original heavenly glory 6. Thus that simple Jesus, who is walking along with them as an ordinary man, that suffering Jesus, who will be subjected to the humiliation of the cross, is not a disgraced and defeated man. Instead, he is the glorious "beloved Son of the Father", attested so by the Father Himself from heaven. So do not lose faith in him, when things go contrary, but continue to keep trust and hope in him 7. Jesus' transfiguration is also an indicator, a forecast, and a foretaste of our own resurrection and the glory of the resurrection. It is a prefiguration of our own future glory. The frequent disfiguration of life, with all the vicissitudes and adversities, is not the final or permanent reality 8. Transfiguration is the ultimate and definitive experience. Misery is not an absolute fate, but glory is our eternal destiny. Therefore, the transfiguring experience must trigger us to direct our focus, beyond the temporary upsets of the cross, to the eternal upheaval of resurrection 9. This is possible only through a constant REINVIGORATION of our original identity of being God's image and likeness. This in turn is possible through a faithful CONFIGURATION with Jesus. The more we are tuned and communed to him, the more we live and grow like him, the more we adhere to him In "attentive listening to him", the more we shall experience and share the same transfiguring glory 10. If sin disfigures us, depriving us of our original beauty and dignity of being God's images, grace through Jesus transfigures us, restoring to us that lost light and radiance. The shining light and brightened glow will indicate that our transfiguration is more a matter of illuminating and brightening our darkened selves and false lives 11. The more we are enlightened, breaking off the sheaths and layers of darkness that often block and blur our radiance, the more we re-discover our real identity and radiate the light of that true image 12. Thus real transfiguration lies in the daily process of brightening up our lives. Light up the life, Daily on the "mountain" - of the vicinity, proximity, and intimacy with God, in a spirit and ambiance of solitude and serenity, in the heights of our spirits, in the focused moments of prayer, in a personal encounter with Moses and Elijah, signifying the Law and Prophets, i.e. the entire Scripture and Tradition 13. Transform and glorify life, wholly and fully, by changing both the interior, indicated by the change of face, which is the index of the interior, and the exterior, indicated by the change in clothes 14. Let our every day be a continuous journey of removing the shades of darkness that reduce our glow. Let it be a vibrant march of regaining our lost radiance. Let the light of Christ make our hearts, and our life, more bright, with more hope and more renewal. Imperative: Often we want to see only glory and cling to such moments. But only the path of the cross and following Jesus will lead to glory (REFLECTION 3 FROM 2023, 18 FEBRUARY) Pivot: Be transfigured! Indicative: God created us in His own image and likeness. He wants us to be like Him. Sin reduces this likeness and makes us unlike Him. We need then to recuperate what we have lost 1. We are living in a world where life is increasingly disfigured. Often, life is losing its beauty and charm. Thus many do not experience the joy and value of life. Dehumanisation in its various forms such as injustice, inequality, lack of respect and dignity, deception, dishonesty, selfishness, greed, and violence causes this disfiguration 2. Therefore, we need transfiguration so that the beauty and joy of life can be resurged. This transfiguration will be possible only with the help of the Lord because he himself is the Lord of transfiguration. Today’s gospel narrates the scene of the transfiguration of the Lord. 3. This episode occurred not so much to display his greatness or parade his glory before the poor disciples. It is not to prove himself or impress them. The main purpose is to make them aware of his original identity so that their faith will not be shaken in testing times. Rather they will remain firm looking back and drawing their courage and strength from this transfiguration of the Lord. 4. Thus the Lord transfigures himself with his heavenly glory before them so as to confirm them in their faith and re-commit them to him. His transfiguration is a prefiguration of our own transfiguration one day when we finish our earthly pilgrimage. 5. Now how will we be transfigured on the last day? We will be transfigured on the last day when we strive to be transfigured every day. What does this imply? The gospel gives us some pointers. We need to be led up a high mountain apart by ourselves. 6. That is we need to withdraw and raise ourselves from the earth, from the low and below interests. From time to time, we need to climb up from our ordinary preoccupations to be alone with God in silence and serenity. 7. We need to stay in intimacy with him and relish his presence. It is this ecstatic joy that made Peter acclaim, “Lord, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents”. It was so cherishable that Peter did not want to miss it. 8. We need to listen to Jesus because he is the beloved Son of the Father. We too will become the beloved sons and daughters of the Father if we listen to His Son. Listening to him implies that we accompany him always, encounter him and be in dialogue with him like Moses and Elijah. It also implies that we transfigure ourselves both interiorly and exteriorly. Imperative: There is an excessive concern about the external figure and its transfiguration. So much money and time are spent on beautifying the external body and material features. But what about the interior transfiguration, which is the beauty of the heart, and the worth of living? (REFLECTION 4 FROM 2022, 19 FEBRUARY) 1. In the gospel today, we have the transfiguration episode. This indicates that what is very important is to be deeply aware of the various “disfigurements” of our life. Then, strive sincerely for a “transfiguration” of it. For this, first of all, we need to participate and share the “transfiguration experience” of Jesus himself. We need to behold his heavenly glory and sanctity. We need to confirm our faith in his divinity despite the garbs of human fragilities 2. We need to relish the moments of being with him and desire to abide close to him again and again. Hear what Peter exclaims at the transfiguration experience of Jesus: It is good to be here. Let us make … tents”. We need to listen to the Lord as the beloved of the Father. 3. However, we cannot hide only in such ecstatic moments. Taking our courage and strength from such deepening and strengthening experiences, we need to come down the mountain of Tabor. We need to gird ourselves with the task of living the transfiguring experience in our daily living. We need to change both our ‘face’ and our ‘clothes’ that is the face of our interior life and the clothes of our exterior actions and behavior. Direction: Total transfiguration comes only with our resurrection. But we can commit ourselves to a daily transfiguration. This does happen when we constantly try to become more and more renewed and transformed persons