33rd Sunday of the year 22

33RD SUNDAY, 13 NOVEMBER 2022, HOLY MASS REFLECTION MALACHI 4. 1-2a; 2 THES 3. 7-12; LUKE 21. 5-19 Thrust: Beware of the times! Indicative: The end times are sure to come. We need to become aware of their nature and get prepared 1. All three readings focus on the theme of “time”, especially the end times, before-the end times, that is the present time, and after-the and times, that is the time of reckoning, judgment of reward, or punishment. End times are sure to come. But what kind? What will happen at the end times? How is it characterized? 2. First of all, the end times will be “testing” times. Those who are faithful to God will be put to test and trial. They will be hated, persecuted, and delivered to prison, even by their own families. The end time will be “chaotic and destructive” times. Divisions, wars and tumults, earthquakes, famines, and pestilences will increase. Human pride and glory especially in their mighty structures and achievements of splendour and pomp will be brought low. 3. The end times will be “misleading” times. These are times that falsify things, distort the truth, and deceive and lead astray. The Lord himself warns: “For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he’, and ‘the time is at hand!’. It is deception concerning self-claims of self-glory and future predictions. 4. How should we respond to these times? What should be our response concerning these end times? First of all, a sense of “Awareness”: We must be aware that there will be end times. Be aware that the end is bound to happen. Do not take things and life for granted. 5. Awareness of the end times would also imply “Preparedness.” The fact that there is an end must make us alert to prepare ourselves fittingly to encounter the destined days. Let us not be caught unawares. 6. To be rightly prepared calls us to guard against an “idling”, callous attitude. Some may think, “in any case, there will be end times; so why simply toil and work? If nothing is going to last, then why struggle?”Thus they simply waste their time in eating and drinking, not busy at work but only busybodies. Thus there is a neglect of responsibilities and duties. 7. Then, “do not be led astray.” Do not go after false promises, assurances, and predictions. Do not be deceived by empty rewards. Do not confide in the earthly glories and successes and do not be carried away by them. Do not lose sight of the perishability of earthly and human prides. 8. “Do not be terrified” and lose heart at the adversities and afflictions. Rather confide in God’s protection and care, guidance, and power. For Jesus assures: “I will give you a mouth and wisdom which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict… Not a hair of your head will perish.” Therefore trust in God and not the fear of evil must steer us. 9. “Persevere to the end.” Go on working quietly and be productive. Do not be overdependent and a burden to others. But earn your own living. Give a good example for others to imitate. Bear witness to our faith in times of trial and temptation. 10. Then what will be after the end times? There will be a time of divine judgment and reckoning. It will be a day burning like an oven when all the arrogant and evildoers will be stubble. The day will leave them neither root nor branch. But those who fear God’s name, those who stand for his name’s sake will gain their lives. “The sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings.” Imperative: If only we become wise not to place our excessive trust in material glories and not to be led astray but confide in God and live a life of witness, we will be truly rewarded with eternity REFLECTION 2 Focus: Human glories will fail and fall sooner or later. It is only God’s glory that will last forever 1. Jerusalem temple was the pride of the Jews for its splendor and grandeur. But Jesus forecasts its destruction. Thereby he makes it clear that man cannot place his absolute trust in anything human or earthly because everything of this world is impermanent and perishable. 2. These are truly end times, marked by violence, deception, and persecution. These are not only tolerated but also justified, defended and promoted. Especially for those who believe in God and seek to follow God’s way of goodness, honesty, and peace, the times are really hard. There is every possibility to get frightened, discouraged and to give up. 3. But the Lord is exhorting and encouraging us today: Do not be frightened, do not lose heart, do not lose hope, do not be worried. For as long as we firmly adhere to the Lord, as long as we are convinced of God’s power over all the evil, as long as we confide in His love and care for us, as long as we surrender our entire lives to Him, as long as we patiently persevere in our faith, as long as we are loyal and committed to the way of the Lord, nothing can defeat or destroy us. 4. Our sole hope and strength is God whose love never fails. It is a love that does “not allow even a single hair to perish”. It is a love that provides the wisdom which bewilders and defeats the opponents. It is a love that strengthens and dares one against all the persecution. It is a love that sustains and confirms us amidst all hatred and betrayal even by our own. 5. Therefore, all these negative and unfavorable happenings and situations should not lead us to fear or discouragement or quitting. These are taken as opportunities to test and prove our faith and to “bear witness to the Lord”. These are the pathways to salvation and glory. Direction: Difficulties for the sake of God and good should not discourage us or shake us but should challenge us to be more convinced, focused and committed

32 week days mass reflection of the year 22

07 – 12 NOVEMBER 2022: HOLY MASS REFLECTION 07 NOVEMBER 2022: TITUS 1. 1-9; LUKE 17. 1-6 Thrust: Bad example is abominable! Indicative: No one has a right to give a bad example to others and it is punishable 1. We can highlight three main points for our reflection. One is the duty to avoid bad example. The second is the duty to give a good example. The third is the duty to do fraternal correction. First of all, the Lord is very serious and stern about setting bad example and scandal. It is not a silly thing and cannot be taken lightly. It is grave and so incurs a grave punishment, even to the extent of throwing the culpable person with a millstone into the sea. 2. It is so sad that day by day we are assaulted by scandals and bad examples. No sphere, no sector is an exception to this. What is all the more saddening is that those who cause them don't have even a bit of a prick of conscience. They even feel great and happy about it and justify it as a way of the world. Such a situation is deplorable. 3. In such a context, what should be the course of action? From the part of those who cause scandal, realisation, repentance, and change of life are required. They should be conscious of the gravity of their sin. They should realise that it cannot be justified as a mere individual weakness and fault. They should know that it has a pervasive effect and a wider negative influence. They should realise that it is against our very faith in God and our vocation as God’s children. It is also a failure in our fraternal duty not to mislead others but set a good example. 4. Then from the part of all, it is a threefold duty: to avoid any scandal, to give a good example, and to do fraternal correction. We must guard against any situation or instance of scandal. As the first reading from the letter to Titus directs us, we must strive to be above reproach. We must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain. But we must conduct ourselves as faithful stewards. We need to be hospitable, lovers of good, self-controlled, holy, and disciplined. We must hold firm to the Word and sound doctrine. 5. Then, our approach toward those who are scandalous should not be judgmental or condemnatory. Rather we should be compassionate and forgiving. We should not disgrace them or put them to public shame by slander. Our purpose is not to show others in the wrong and feel great above them. It is to arrest the scandal and transform them and win back our brethren. 6. Such fraternity and a good example are possible only by faith. It is so powerful that even a little faith like the mustard seed can move even trees. That's why the apostles plead to increase faith. Direction: True faith is a matter of faithfulness and a good example (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2021, 08 NOVEMBER) Focus: Bad example is detestable in the sight of God and is liable to God’s judgment 1. One major defect of today’s society is the increase in bad examples and scandals. More and more people get accustomed and tuned to wrong and evil. The pity all the more is, they are least bothered. Many give more importance to their self-gain and pleasure rather than setting a good example. Many do not feel any social and moral obligation to walk a good life and help others to walk the same. 2. This bad example is mainly failing - to trust in the Lord, to seek Him with sincerity of heart, and to love and live uprightness. It is the perversity of thinking. It is cultivating a deceitful soul. It is a body enslaved to sin. 3. The attitude of many who set a bad example is: ‘This is my life and I want it to be happy and undisturbed’. Why should I bother about giving a good example to others? It is their freedom and choice. Let them not be easily influenced by bad examples.’ 4. There is certainly some truth in their argument. But they cannot simply evade their culpability. In fact, the gravity of their wrong is so great that it invites severe punishment. The Lord pronounces ‘woe’ on them and attests: it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea. Their bad example and misleading influence convict them. 5. The cause of such a bad example is clearly the lack of wisdom. The response to those misled and who fall into sin is not to condemn them but to rebuke them, and forgive them generously if they repent. The strong power that works as resistant is deep faith. This will foster “a holy and disciplined spirit which will flee from deceit, from foolish thoughts and unrighteousness.” Direction: In a world that is increasingly steeped in unrighteous and deceitful living, there is so much scandal and negative influence. We need rock-like faith to stand firm not fall into temptation. 08 NOVEMBER 2022: TITUS 2. 1-8, 11-14; LUKE 17. 7-10 Thrust: No individual merit! Indicative: Our faith is God’s grace. All the blessings that we enjoy are God’s gratuitous benevolence. No one can claim rights! 1. Seeking recognition and applause, desire to create impressions and making a show of one's goodness and greatness, boasting and blowing one's trumpet before others - all these are clearly the trademarks of today's society. This malaise has so much infected our world that a person's quality is rated on the basis of publicity. 2. More importance is given to the tactics for marketing the product rather than the sincere efforts to ensure its quality and use of it. In such a context, doing good has become a rare commodity, and doing it without any ulterior motive has become a rare happening. 3. But Jesus makes it crystal clear that doing good and serving is essential to our human nature and our Christian vocation. Service is not a favour but a binding duty. Good is to be done not at one's choice and convenience but as devoted dutifulness. Dutifulness is a master check for our faith and faithfulness. That is why Jesus declares, “When you have done all, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’” 4. This dutifulness is essentially a matter of bearing witness to our call as the children of God and the followers of Christ. As we see in the first reading, our ages and stages may be different. It may be older men or older women or young women or younger men. But a life of witness is a bounden duty. 5. Such a duty-bound, faithful, and witnessing life trains us to renounce ungodliness, lawlessness, and worldly passions. We are summoned to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives. We should be zealous models of good works. That is the most fitting way to put evil opponents to shame and defeat them. Direction: Only the spirit of a humble servant and dutiful service can heal the widespread sickness of domination and manipulation 09 NOVEMBER 2022: EZEK 47. 1-2, 8-9, 12; 1 COR 3. 9c-11, 16-17; JOHN 2. 13-22, Dedication of the Lateran Basilica Thrust: Sense of the holy! Indicative: Temple is a holy ambience of God’s special presence and grace. It is different from other places and times by its sense of holiness and serenity 1. Today we are living in a dominant culture of externality and pomposity. There is a decline of the sense of interiority and simplicity. Consequently, we see huge churches with so much decoration and beauty. No doubt that the holy place of God must be splendid and elegant because the God of glory dwells there. 2. But what is essential is not the beauty or decoration or splendor or pomp. All these externals must help for creating an ambience of devotion and prayer. Temple should evoke in those present a sense of the holy, the nearness of God, God’s assurance and comfort, His light and guidance, His nourishment and strength, His direction and serenity, and also unity and fraternity. 3. The prophet Ezekiel indicates this divine presence and action through the symbolism of the temple water. It has the efficacious power to refresh, enliven, nourish and heal. Therefore, our temples should be not only magnificent structures and huge spaces for the animation of some ceremonies and organisation of some events and celebrations. Much more they should be abodes of unity, surrender, and serenity, and springs of strength and renewal of souls and relationships. 4. A serious question tag hangs around us about the sacredness of our churches and temples. It is not untruth that at times our churches become “houses of trade”. There is a lot of noise and commotion. Market values and Business spirit seem to reign there. Many go to church and go away without even an ounce of difference and change. They just mechanically go through the motions. They take care that nothing touches them. 5. Perhaps the reason is given in the first reading. We have lost the sense of interiority and personal sanctity. Many have lost sight of the truth that “we are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in us.” Many fail to look into this interior castle of God and abode of sanctity. It is these personal temples that make the one community of God’s temple. Imperative: We need to reawaken this triple sanctity of the temple, the community, and the human person. When our communities and each of us become more holy, our temples become truly houses of God (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2021) Focus: In a modern culture that is intensely ridden by secularity and profanity, we need to resurge the sense of the sacred 1. 09 November marks the anniversary of the dedication of the Lateran Basilica, the Mother and Head of all churches. This holy occasion calls us to turn our attention to the temple and holiness. All three readings point to this aspect. The temple of God is a holy place and we should conduct ourselves with reverence and dignity. 2. The first reading from Ezekiel through the symbolism of temple water indicates the greatness of the temple. It is the source of the water of God’s grace that enlivens, refreshes, nourishes, and heals everything it comes across. Thus, the temple is not merely a place of worship, a place where we perform some religious ceremonies and activities. It is much more than that. It is the ambience of divine presence, guidance, and empowerment. 3. The temple is primarily where God reigns in all His holiness and greatness. Therefore, every time we are in the temple, we must experience this atmosphere of sacredness. Today, in the name of socialisation or involvement, our churches seem to be reduced to gathering halls, function halls, cultural centers, stage management shows, et cetera. 4. Any such move that reduces the sense of holy displeases God. It may invite the same wrath of God as in the case of Jesus cleansing the temple. The temple also signifies our own person, in the light of the second reading from 1 Corinthians 3. 9-11, 16-17. We must be always conscious that we ourselves are the holy temples of God because we carry His own image and the Holy Spirit dwells within us. 5. Therefore, all the traces of impurity and unholiness, wickedness, and negativities are nothing but desecration of the human temple of God. And all commotion and noise, all acts of commercialisation, and mere socialisation of our churches are turning the house of prayer into centres of trade. Direction: Loss of the sense of the sacred is not only a matter that pertains to religion. It leads to the loss of the basic sense of dignity and reverence toward life and human persons themselves. (REFLECTION 3 FROM 2020) Focus: God wants us to live a life consecrated and not desecrated, and this requires that we keep our hearts consecrated and not defiled and also demonstrate a true sense of the sacred 1. Today we celebrate the Feast of the anniversary of Lateran Basilica's dedication. This festivity in the first place reminds us of the holiness of a temple of God. It also urges us to nurture, demonstrate and foster a sense of the sacred towards the temple. 2. Rightly, this brings into question the various modern tendencies that are diluting this holy atmosphere and conduct and turning the churches into function halls, show theatres, stages, and platforms of events and programs. The assembly of God does not mean an assembly of secular sessions and transactions. 3. Certainly, the church is the locus of the faithful and a sphere of their animation and renewal and thus involves participation, communication, and interaction. In this sense, certain modes and elements of the practical organisation are understandable. But at any cost, a spiritual ambience must be maintained. A church is primarily a house of God's presence and nothing should turn it into a place of commotion and other interests. 4. In the second place, in the light of the second reading from Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, ‘temple’ can signify not only the holy temple of God as the sacred place of worship. The temple stands for three other aspects as well: the community of believers, our own person, and our own heart, as God’s children and disciples of Christ. 5. This idea is attested in Paul’s words, as he declares: “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit abides within you? If anyone destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him. God’s temple is holy, and you are this temple.” 6. Therefore, we must honestly and humbly reflect on our sense of reverence and sanctity with regard to our own faith communities, our own persons, and our own hearts. How often do we tend to disrespect and desecrate all these? Direction: It is not enough that we have beautiful and palatial temples, but the spirit of God and the holy must reign there. It will not be a wonder that today too Jesus may need a whip to cleanse our temples! 10 NOVEMBER 2022: PHILEMON 7-20; LUKE 17. 20-25 Thrust: Kingdom is within! Indicative: God’s kingdom is not to be equated with a religious domain or domination. God’s kingdom is not the suppression and intimidation of others in the name of religiosity and pure religion 1. The Pharisees ask Jesus ‘when’ the kingdom of God will come. But interestingly Jesus’ answer concerns ‘where’ the kingdom of God is. But this is not unreasonable because, in the case of the kingdom of God, the ‘when’ (time factor) and the ‘where’ (space factor) merge. The kingdom of God comes when and where God reigns. 2. Accordingly, God’s kingdom is there in the midst of us when God’s Spirit reigns within us, in our hearts. It is said that God is so clever that He hides Himself inside the human heart. For, He is very sure that often many seek Him everywhere else and in everything else except in their own hearts, in the caves of their being. 3. The kingdom of God in the first place is inside reality, a matter of the heart. Unless the heart changes, the kingdom does not come and reign. This is evident in the often-repeated caution of Jesus: ‘Unless you repent and change, you shall not enter the kingdom of God.’ It is actually not so much we entering into a territory of the kingdom. Rather, it is the kingdom that enters into our hearts. 4. It is foolish that people search and fight to establish God’s kingdom by imposing particular religions or traditions. Little do they realise that God’s kingdom is not to be equated with a religion or a place or a culture. It is a way of life. It is a culture of heart. It is the reign of godliness. 5. This is the spirit of the kingdom that reigns in the heart and life of Paul. He not only worked for the spread of the kingdom through his preaching and animation. But also he allowed God’s kingdom to reign within him. That is why he could regard even Onesimus, a mere slave, and one who was unfaithful as his own brother and son in faith. He would humble himself and plead with Philemon on his behalf. Imperative: The kingdom of God is really there when “our goodness is not by compulsion but of our own accord when we refresh each other’s heart in Christ” (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2021, 11 NOVEMBER) Focus: Often people are easily carried away by external displays and shows. Appearances arrest and block their vision and they fail to see the real and the interior 1. People of Jesus’ time were expecting God’s kingdom to come in all pomp and glory. They expected an irresistible intervention of God that would overthrow the Roman empire and re-establish the Judaic reign as in the OT. That is why they would ask Jesus when would it come. But Jesus quite candidly dispels their wrong notions. 2. The kingdom of God is not a place with fixed boundaries and demarcations. It is a situation, an ambience where God reigns. It is not material or social or political. It is essentially spiritual. It is profoundly interior. That is why, Jesus declares, “The Kingdom of God is within you, amidst you”. 3. In the light of Wisdom 7.22 -8.1, the kingdom of God is exactly where wisdom reigns in its full splendour. All the features of wisdom perfectly match God’s kingdom. God’s kingdom is when and where the power of God pervades, when and where the glory of the Almighty purely emanates. It is when and where there is a reflection of eternal light, when and where there is a spotless mirror of the working of God and an image of his goodness. The Kingdom of God is there when evil does not prevail against God and good. 4. We will belong to God’s kingdom to the extent we put on wisdom, clothing ourselves with her lofty qualities like holy, clear, unpolluted, invulnerable, loving the good, keen, irresistible, beneficent, humane, steadfast, free from anxiety, et cetera. We will experience God’s reign within and amidst us when we allow wisdom to penetrate into us and make us friends of God. Direction: It is really foolish to hear eagerly false prophets and adhere to their false teachings about God’s kingdom. They are for sure false because they tie God’s kingdom to mere places and times. Little do they realise that God’s kingdom is reigning within and amidst us! (REFLECTION 3 FROM 2020, 12 NOVEMBER) Focus: The kingdom of God is not a matter of glow and show but it consists of simple details. The real kingdom is where God and His Spirit reigns A famous thinker has rightly said that this world is a big stage and all are actors, trying to outbeat one another. Show and display, pomp and splendour are the order of the day. People go by appearances and impressive externals. That is why we see often mega-events and huge organisations to demonstrate one's greatness and power. One who is able to pull large crowds, one who grants immediate and temporary benefits, is deemed great and is applauded. Sadly, the same tendency of excess importance to mere externals and quick impressions and results has crept into the spiritual realm as well. Consequently, it is no wonder that not infrequently spirituality is reduced to the level of displays and mega shows. Many false prophets present the kingdom in terms of material and social and wrongly strip it of its essential content of the spiritual and interior. The kingdom of God is within us! It is a treasure to be discovered, nurtured, strengthened, and shared. And this is the spirit and the reign of the kingdom we see in the person of Paul. How human, tender and affectionate he is! How respectful and noble he is! How forgiving and compassionate he is! Even though Onesimus is a slave, he treats him with respect and dignity, making him equal to him as a brother in faith. Even though Onesimus once did wrong, he forgives him, does not retain it but recommends it to Philemon on his behalf. Even though he could just command Philemon to do what he asks, because of his moral authority as the spiritual father, he only requests him to do him the favour. This is the real kingdom: the reign of unity, respect, equity, compassion, humility, nobility, fraternity, and charity. We must strive for the spread of such a kingdom, power within, and a life concrete. Direction: False are those prophets who reduce the whole kingdom to mere places and times and instant material subsidies! 11 NOVEMBER 2022: 2 JOHN 4-9; LUKE 17. 26-37 Thrust: Be ready! Indicative: Procrastination and unpreparedness are very prevalent. Many take for granted even the essentials. And for sure they will be caught unawares and shocked with unfavourable judgment 1. As we are running toward the closure of the ordinary time in the liturgical year, and soon will step into the holy Advent, the Liturgy of the Word draws our attention to the end times. The Word impresses upon us the sudden, unexpected nature of such end times. The choice is ours: whether to be alert, attentive, prompt and prepared or to be confronted and surprised unprepared. 2. The people in the time of Noah and Lot were totally immersed in worldly affairs and pleasures. They were not mindful and prepared for the impending flood and fire respectively. So all of them perished. Similarly, many people of our times are so much entangled with many needless and worthless pursuits. 3. They do not mind the reminders and cautions given by God in different ways. They wrongly think that they are ‘preserving’ and ‘saving’ their life. This is seen in their mad craving, and accumulation concerning money, possessions, power, position, fame, and sensual gratifications and pleasures. And the guiding principles are deception and manipulation. The goal is self-gain and self-glory. 4. The only remedy is a complete change of perspective and direction. It is to “walk in the truth” and not falsity and conceit. It is to live a life of authenticity and integrity. It is to “walk in love.” To walk in love is to “walk according to God’s commandments,” and to “abide in the teaching of Christ.” Imperative: All those who do not walk in the truth, in love, and in the way of commandments are deceivers and antichrists. Their end is clear and severe, and that is destruction. (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2021, 12 NOVEMBER) Focus: Quality of life depends on the propriety of our focus and orientation. If we are rightly focused and oriented, certainly life also becomes qualitative 1. As our perspectives are, so will our direction of life, our interests, pursuits, and accomplishments. When our perspectives are short-sighted and earth-bound, what we strive for and accomplish will also be short-sighted and earth-bound. This is the problem with many today. They are so much caught up with the things of this world. Their interests and pursuits revolve around mundane matters like money, possessions, power, position, name, popularity, temporary pleasures, instant gratifications, etc. 2. In simple terms, the meaning and direction of life are reduced to be earth-bound. They do not rise beyond and above the world and the earthly life. This is the same problem that happened in the OT in the time of Noah and Lot. People were totally immersed in worldly preoccupations and peripheral affairs. They lost sight of the spiritual and higher concerns. They busied themselves with eating, drinking, making merry, pursuing mundane interests, and seeking worldly gains. They were totally unprepared for the flood or the fire respectively. 3. This is what the author of Wisdom (13. 1-9) observes and implicates as the grave fault of the worldly people. They are intelligent but are deliberately ignorant and arrogant and deviant. Because they ignore the presence and the power of God that is so evident in His created nature. They are arrogant depending on their own human capacities or worldly resources. They totally deviate because they go astray “as they live among his works they keep searching, and they trust in what they see because the things that are seen are beautiful.” 4. This is what Jesus cautions about in the gospel. He reminds us about the suddenness and unexpectedness of the coming of the Lord. Therefore, let us not be engrossed in merely worldly matters, temporary and temporal interests. Let us raise ourselves to the higher realm, what is more, lasting and nobler. Direction: Let these words of Jesus constantly ring within us: “Whoever seeks to gain his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life (for my sake) will preserve it” (REFLECTION 3 FROM 2020, 13 NOVEMBER) Focus: Life becomes qualitative when it transcends the ensnarements and enslavements to what is merely worldly and physically gratifying Loss of focus and loss of concentration is one of the biggest miseries of the present society. Its immediate consequences are loss of direction and lack of preparation. The life of many has become a constant story of distraction, deviation, distortion, and eventual destruction. Many fail to discern what is primary and essential in their life and run after what is instantly pleasurable and easily available. Consequently, they get engrossed in material pursuits like food and drink, comfort and luxury, and sex and gratification. They become defocused and unaware and unprepared. They waste away their time and energies on these secondary or less worthy concerns. They are very much like those people in the time of Noah or Lot, those who were caught unexpectedly and unprepared by God's wrath. It is better to be awakened and prepared before it is too late. But all this happens because all such people wrongly think that they are “saving” their life, that they are “gaining” the beauty and happiness of life. All these are imposters, deceivers, and antichrists as St John terms them in his second letter in the first reading. It is because they are blind to the truth and they do not live according to the truth. They do not live by the teaching of Christ, which is to love one another. And to love means to walk according to his commandments. Therefore, whoever does not believe in God, whoever does not follow the ways of God, and whoever does not live in love for others, is rejecting the truth. They are under the spell of falsity and evil. The affirmation of Jesus in the gospel makes sense in this context. He says, “Whoever tries to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will gain it”. Direction: Only one life and only once it is given. So better to be wise to live it worthwhile and prepared to meet our final destiny. It will be sad that we lose an immensity for a triviality 12 NOVEMBER 2022: 3 JOHN 5-8; LUKE 18. 1-8 Thrust: Pray lest you become prey! Indicative: We can never emphasise enough the value and need of prayer in our life. It is only prayer that makes us stand erect and withstand all the possible assaults 1. Lack of patience and perseverance is one great defect and drawback of the present society. Many start well and big with great enthusiasm. But as time passes and when difficulties and adversities come on their way, they easily get discouraged and give up. The fact is not the closure of the road but the closure of their heart to see the road or seek a new one. 2. People seek quick results and are easily drawn to them. Not many have the patience to wait for the fruits. That is why we see people tampering with the natural process of growth and maturing, by injecting medicines and chemicals into chicks, animals, vegetables, fruits, and even humans. This becomes hazardous. 3. The same mentality is reflected in many youngsters who want to get to the top, who want to achieve many things within no time. Having no patience to wait and work hard, they resort to shortcuts and easy means. This leads to a lack of ethics. For what is important is not how a person gets something but that he gets it in whichever way possible. 4. The same mentality of impatience and lack of perseverance has crept into the religious sphere as well. People pray and they want immediate results. They make petitions and intercessions and they want God’s favours immediately at their doorsteps. 5. Many mistake this kind of expectation as a deep trust in things to happen. They may claim, “I prayed with deep faith and God immediately heard my prayer.” Subsequently, they feel that their faith is great and efficacious. On the other hand, when things do not happen as prayed for or do not happen when expected, there is disappointment and the possibility to give up. 6. It is in this context, Jesus teaches us perseverance in our prayer. He sets before us a simple practical example of a widow who persists to plead with an unjust judge for justice till she gets justice. She does not lose her heart and give up her effort. She goes on approaching the judge to the extent of pestering him. 7. Jesus’ assurance that God will not delay long and will give justice speedily does not mean that things happen as soon as we pray. It also will not mean that all things will happen according to our prayer. It only means that God listens to our prayers, understands our needs, and grants them when and how needed. Imperative: True prayer is not pressuring God to do things as and when we want but surrendering to God to do things as and when He wants. Why we leave everything to Him is because He knows and can do the best (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2020, 14 NOVEMBER) Focus: True faith is not a quick relief or instant painkiller or speed gain. Favours are not guarantors of the power of prayer or the good mood or good heart of God 1. The problem of many with regard to prayer is their perspective towards it. They consider it as a readymade tool and solution for their problems. They want things to happen as soon as they ask for them and as they want them. Unconsciously their needs and interests become the centre of their prayer and the whole act revolves around those needs. 2. Accordingly, the quality and efficacy of prayer are understood in terms of the favours received. It means your prayer is good and powerful when you get what you want. Further, the consolation and joy of praying are also measured in the same way. That is, people feel comforted and happy when they receive what they ask for. On the contrary, when their desires and intentions are not fulfilled by God, easily many become annoyed and impatient. They give up. 3. But a genuine prayer must be persevering, like that of the widow in the gospel. Refusal and rejection by the judge do not deter her from pleading with him. Only perseverance bears lasting fruit. The quickness of getting a favor is not a guarantee of the efficacy of prayer, and slowness is not a sign of a lack of efficacy. 4. In the same way, receiving what we want is not a necessary sign that God is good and favourable to us; and not receiving what we want is not a sign that He is not answering our prayers. Justice delayed is not justice denied. 5. Suffering and continued injustice can be testing and trying times. They can purify us, solidify us and sanctify us. They can brighten and strengthen our faith. They can make us better human persons, more humble and good-hearted. 6. Therefore, the focus of our prayer must be shifted from the answer and favor. Instead, we must focus more on God, on faith in Him, and our relationship with Him. Direction: There are no deadlines or failures in true prayer because it is a matter of relationship and not a favor bank; it is a loving interaction and a motivated transaction (REFLECTION 3 FROM 2021, 13 NOVEMBER) Focus: Patience and perseverance are the keys to success and the hallmarks of any successful person. Wavering and impatience will never do any good in any pursuit 1. We are living in a fast-track world. It seeks instant results and quick gains. Speed has become one main determinant of the mentality of today’s world. That is why, it is said that those who do not run the race fast, will not stand in the race. Delay often causes annoyance and impatience. The same thing happens in our prayer life as well. Many pray and do many spiritual activities. But they expect immediate answers and favors from God. 2. There is nothing wrong with making supplications to God. There is also nothing wrong with expecting God to receive our requests and grant favors. But the real problem is what happens when we are not granted what we ask for. What happens when things do not happen when we expect them to happen? 3. What happens when I ask for good health, a good job, good education, a good match, good business, good prospects, success, good understanding, and good changes in others in families or communities, but they do not happen? What happens when I continue to struggle with my sickness or with my failures, or with negative pressures? How long to wait? Why does God not respond and grant favors as and when I request him so trustingly? 4. In such times, the usual and immediate tendency is to be discouraged, to be shaken in our faith, and to give up our praying. It is then that the poor widow in the gospel stands before us as a great ignition to persevere till the end. She approaches an obstinate and unjust judge for justice. He is in no mood to render justice to her. He continued to refuse her. But as she persisted, he had to yield to her request. At least to get rid of her botheration, he renders her justice. Perseverance pays! Direction: Perseverance in prayer does not mean that we go on pestering God and make him weary. It means that we should not expect quick favors from God. Rather we must learn to wait!

32 SUNDAY OF THE YEAR 22

32ND SUNDAY, 06 NOV 2022: 2 MACCABEES 7. 1-2, 9-14; 2 THES 2.16 – 3.5; LUKE 20. 27-38 (REFLECTION 1) Thrust: A life for Life! Indicative: Even though we are on this earth, we cannot be earth-bound because we are heaven-destined and heaven-bound. Resurrection is our destiny 1. God is living! This is profoundly consoling. God is not dead, though many events and situations force us to believe so. Though many try to kill the godly spirit and bury him in the coffin of evil, He is not dead. Though many deaden His presence and action in their lives, He is not dead. 2. Though He does not matter to many, His spirit never ceases. He lives on. His power cannot be subdued by all other powers put together. Though many do not recognise His intervention because they are too busy, He continues to intervene in human lives and situations. 3. Therefore Foster faith in God’s presence. Foster hope in His action and intervention. See the faith and hope of the seven brothers in the first reading from Maccabees. Even under persecution, even when they were in the jaws of death, they did not give up their faith. They did not become hopeless. They were not intimidated. They were stirred by indomitable courage. 4. If He is a living God, We must feel Him coming alive in our lives. We must feel His presence and power. In other words, we must become alive to Him. We must live with Him and for Him. For the seven brothers, God was very much alive. He was so close to them. That is why they kept their faith and hope in Him alive and ardent. 5. We are reminded today once again that this earth is only a land of duty, a transit port for us. Heaven and eternity are our destination and destination. So we cannot be earth-bound. We cannot restrict our thinking to earthly interests. We cannot be caught up in worldly perspectives. The Sadducees in the gospel indicate this earthliness. They do not go beyond mundane concerns. They even attribute to and impose earthly and human perspectives on the divine realities. They apply the limited human categories to the divine as well. 6. We need to Raise ourselves to be the sons of resurrection and not restriction and constriction. We must not be the children of this age but of heaven. We are equal to angels. It implies being “in the presence of God”, “in closeness with him”, “ever at His service in obedience”, and “spiritual and pure” before His holiness. It also implies, “not bound by body and the physical or the material”, but “free and prompt to live and act in a higher, spiritual, divine realm.” 7. Thus, to be the sons of God and resurrection would mean that we are not bound by earthly ties and attachments. We constantly raise ourselves both in terms of attention and action. We have no ulterior motives to deceive or trap others. We do not give up our sacred traditions and laws that are life-promoting values. We remain loyal to them, even in the face of death, like the seven brothers. 8. In the light of the second reading, the children of resurrection are those who trust and experience God’s own comfort even amidst all tribulation. And they continue firm in every good work and word. They shall experience God’s power that guards them against the evil one. They constantly strive to speed ahead and honour the word of the Lord. Imperative: We cannot afford to get stuck to the earth. We cannot demean ourselves with earthly and evil passions and pursuits. We cannot debase ourselves from being the children of a living God (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2021, 20 NOVEMBER) Focus: We are given this life so that we can live it well. This earthly life is only a temporary duration and we should never lose sight of what lies after 1. We often experience and witness a dominant culture of death. A lot of fear, violence, and destruction surrounds us. Respect for life and human dignity, values, and relationships too is fast declining. The idea of God, as well as their approach to Him, is shallow and defective. God is seen as a God of stop-gaps, one who is sought in times of need and use. Further, there is a heavy tendency to “privatise” God also, confining Him to the boundaries of religion or class. 2. All these are nothing but tendencies of making God dead. Perhaps this is the re-rising of the negative philosophy of Nietzsche, “God is dead”. When people do not live and promote the life that is given by God, they deaden God. When God does not live within and amidst the humans, they deaden Him. When His kingdom of love, justice, and peace does not reign among the humans, they make Him dead. 3. It is in this context, the declaration of Jesus that “God is not God of the dead, but of the living; because all live to Him” makes tremendous sense. Death is not our end or destiny. Life and that too, eternal life is our end and destiny. Physical death is closure only to earthly life. But it is an opening upon a new life, an everlasting life. 4. This life in eternity is a life above and beyond the earthly life. This means that we are raised to a higher level where we do not operate merely on the basis of earthly ties or human attachments. We will also not be carried away by earthly pursuits or interests. We become fully spiritual and heavenly. In the words of Jesus, we “are equal to angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.” 5. Therefore, to attain that life of eternity, we need to recommit ourselves to making God live in us and among us. We must be alive to God. We must foster a culture of life that reflects God, for all life belongs to Him. God must re-enter and live more intimately in human hearts, lives, societies, and nations. For this, one essential condition is the realization and repentance over our sinfulness, like Antiochus in the first reading from 1 Maccabees. He reflects, realizes, and repents over his wickedness against Israel and God Himself. Direction: The reality of death must constantly remind us that we must look beyond death. Our faith makes us focused on eternity; our hope must make us directed to heaven, and our charity must make us committed to earth (REFLECTION 3 FROM 2020, 21 NOVEMBER) Focus: This earthly life is not an end by itself but resurrection and eternal life is our destiny. Therefore, let this life now be a worthy passage to the life then 1. Jesus declares: “God is the God of living and not of the dead, for to Him everyone is alive”. Thereby, two fundamental truths are affirmed. God is God of eternity, and we too are destined for the same eternity. Our God is a living God; He is the God of life and He shares this same life, His own life with us. If this is so, then we will live with Him in eternity. 2. This earthly human life is only temporary duration, a transit in preparation for that life without end. Therefore, death is not a permanent closure or cessation of life but is only a door that opens upon resurrection and risen life in heaven. But this destiny after death commits us to life before death to live it with a spirit of focus and direction, detachment and soaring high. Our life on earth should be in such a way qualitative that it qualifies us for life in heaven. 3. Unfortunately, many lose sight of this fundamental nature of nurturing and orientation to life in eternity. Consequently, they tend to live a culture of death. They tend to be heavily conditioned and stuck with only the temporary and transient. They fail to value and appreciate life. They fail to realise that life is precious and sacred because it is a share of God’s own life. That is why often it is so much abused and destroyed. 4. Further, the loss of the sense of eternity also makes people lose their sense of purpose and direction. They become excessively earth-bound. They do not raise themselves to what is above, what is high and lofty. It is ironic that people who claim to be foresighted and far-sighted fail to see the horizons of eternity. Direction: Certainly, all of us are alive to God because He is ever-living. But how much He is alive to us and how much we make Him live in and through us? (REFLECTION 4 FROM 02 JUNE 2021, (Parallel) MARK 12. 18-27) Focus: To be faithful is to be full of faith, that is, to be filled with the power of the Spirit to remain in faith and trustworthiness Our God is a God of the living and not of the dead. As long as we live in Him, we have life. But when we live in sin, we are dead though physically alive. We as faithful people are called to carry this life within us. It is a call to live by the power of this life, to nurture it, and to bear witness to it. How to live and witness this godly life? It is by not being intimidated by the pressures and assaults of evil, or not being weighed down by the unjust reproaches of the people, as in the case of Jesus whom the Sadducees tried to corner with the question on the resurrection. Jesus indicates who are the resurrected people. They are not bound by mere earthly restrictions or attachments. They rise higher and operate in a higher realm, like the angels in heaven. These always do God’s will and obey His commands. Obviously, the criteria of heaven are different from those of the world! Direction: The life of resurrection can already be anticipated and foretasted here on earth itself, provided that we live like angels. That is, with detachment from all the binding ties of the earth and with singular attachment to God

31 week days mass reflection of the year 22

31 OCTOBER - 05 NOVEMBER 2022, HOLY MASS REFLECTIONS 31 OCTOBER 2022: PHIL 2. 1-4; LUKE 14. 12-14 Thrust: Give without return! Indicative: There is an overriding spirit of receiving, grabbing, and profiting. The spirit of giving and sharing is declining 1. We are dominated by a culture of calculation, accumulation, and manipulation. Behind every move and action in life, there is a pre-thought of estimating and evaluating the gain and the loss. Against such a mentality, today Jesus advocates the spirit of giving without expecting a return and repayment. 2. He uses the simple metaphor of a dinner or banquet. It is quite normal that we invite our friends or relatives or who are important to us in terms of position or usefulness. There is always an element of expectation. It may not be always a material benefit but at least in terms of maintaining goodwill, and receiving recognition and appreciation. 3. Here the point is not about whom to invite or not to invite. It is also not a directive to stop inviting all our near and dear ones. Rather, it is a call to purify our spirit of giving. Give selflessly without any self-interest. Give with real concern for the needs of others. Give with a genuine spirit of generosity and sharing. 4. The reason for giving is not self-interest or self-orientation but other-orientedness. The first reading makes this very clear. St Paul exhorts us: “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit… Let each of you look not only to his own interests but also to the interests of others.” 5. At times we may also give or organise something in order to display our greatness, make a show, and good impressions. There can be an implicit feeling to show our importance. That is why St Paul reminds us, “in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” Imperative: Let every action of ours proceed from a sincere love for Christ, and a fraternal spirit of accord and benevolence 01 NOVEMBER 2022: ALL SAINTS DAY, REV 7. 2-4, 9-14; 1 JOHN 3. 1-3; MATTHEW 5. 1-12 Thrust: Blessed are you! Indicative: Blessedness is our destiny and beatitudes are our royal means 1. What a celestial joy it is to celebrate the solemn festivity of all saints! Explicitly on this one day, we are united with the whole band of saints. We are reminded of our bond and communion with them. Through them, we are reminded of our destiny as well, that is, to be with them in heaven. 2. All saints remind us of our own call like theirs – called to holiness. Holiness is our call and sanctification is God’s will for us. Holiness is not a privilege, reserved only to some. It is grace and gracious possibility laid open to all. 3. But it is not a gift by chance. It should not be a gift, taken for granted and left unmerited. God does not create readymade saints. There are no predetermined, predestined saints. One becomes a saint by living. Thus, saintliness on one hand is a gratuitous gift of God and on the other hand, is an assiduous task. 4. It is a bounden duty of everyone to strive for sanctity. God has destined us “to be holy and blameless” in His sight for eternity. These saints encourage us that it is possible to become saints, despite our weaknesses and pressures. They inspire us to become like them, in patience and perseverance. They challenge us to guard and fight against all forces that are unholy. 5. Beatitudes lay open before us the “golden path” of holiness that leads to blessedness. Clearly, they are stark contradictions to the standards and ways of the world. The beatitudes exalt and advocate 1) “poverty” – humility, detachment, moderation, and contentment, against all greed and accumulation; 2) “mourning” – being sensitive, attentive, tender, empathetic and caring, against indifference and unfeeling; 3) “gentleness and meekness – being polite, courteous, composed and serene, against being rude, impatient, hot-tempered, aggressive and hurting; 4) “hunger and thirst” for righteousness – being passionate and relentless for justice and fairness, against all tepidity and feeding on unfairness; 5) “mercy” – being compassionate, forgiving and reconciling, against resentment, revenge, and retaliation; 6) “purity of heart” – being clear-sighted, single-minded and clean of heart, against being contaminated and polluted, cunning and deceitful; 7) “peacefulness” – loving peace and promoting peace, against all violence and mindless agitation and anxiety; 8) “persecution and insult” – bearing all misunderstanding, opposition, slander, calumny, and affliction for the sake of God and good, against seeking comfort, praise, and popularity for the sake of self. 6. Such a way of beatitudes subjects one to tremendous struggle and suffering. But one need not lose heart because the end fruit is eternal bliss. Nevertheless, this bliss will be already foretasted here on earth, in obtaining and relishing God’s own comfort, satisfaction, mercy, an abundance of fortitude, joy, and peace. Imperative: Sanctity is a project that is worth pursuing because its fruits are everlasting. It is always more worth to strive and suffer for something higher (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2021) Focus: All are called to be saints; all may not be raised to sainthood but all can rise to saintliness. All may not receive the honor of official veneration but all can strive for the honor of actual imitation 1. Every November 01st is a great celebration. It is in fact the earthly celebration of the feast day of the heavenly saints. What a grand celebration it is because it puts together all the feast days of all the saints! Today we are reminded of our inseparable communion with them. They stand before us as references and icons of holiness, sources of encouragement, beacons of hope, flashes of inspiration, pointers of challenge, and urges for change. 2. They lived on the same earth beset with the same struggles. They were not born saints. They strove, struggled, and grew and became saints. They fill us with confidence, courage, and hope that we too can become saints. They inspire, guide, and challenge us and assist us to change. Status or capacity, time, or space do not matter. To be holy and saintly is the call and possibility for everybody, everywhere and every time. 3. In them, we see what we must become, what we can become and how to become. Sainthood may be a special honor granted by God to a few. But saintliness is an honor open and possible for all. They understood and followed the beatitudes as the authentic and effective means to become saints. They became saints because they followed the beatitudes. 4. The beatitudes indicate that we are destined people and not people without a destiny. We are people by God’s choice and not by chance. We live and move by God’s gratuitous gift and not by a fortuitous drift. We are destined for bliss and blessedness. The Beatitudes are the pathways and roadmaps to travel the journey and pursue that path. 5. The saints through their life by beatitudes show us that we need to lead a heaven-directed and heaven-driven life in contrast to an earth-bound and earth-pressured life. The beatitudes are contradictory values to the false values of the world. 6. They summon us to be humble and surrendered to God, contrary to being proud and unruly complacent. This is the way of being poor in the sight of the world but rich in God’s sight. They call us to be sensitive and caring toward others, contrary to being indifferent and self-centered. This is the way to mourn with others and for others. 7. They call us to be gentle, meek, and patient contrary to being rude, harsh, and aggressive. They call us to hunger and thirst, to passionately crave to be righteous and fair. They call us to be merciful and forgiving, contrary to being stern and grudgeful. They call us to be pure of heart, uncontaminated by guile and malice contrary to all impurity, deception, and evil-mindedness. They call us to be peace-lovers, peace-makers, peace-givers, and peace-promoters contrary to all aggression and disharmony. They call us to joyfully suffer for God and good. 8. There is no doubt that such a life according to the beatitudes is very strenuous and demanding. But we need not be frightened or discouraged. The Lord will himself be our rescue and refuge. And our reward is great beyond compare. It is to enjoy the abundance of the Spirit in his light and power, already here on earth and the measureless eternity thereafter. Saints are our assurances! Direction: Holiness is wholeness. The more we try to live as holistic and integrated persons, the more we become holy and saintly. Whoever strives to sanctify himself is a saint of sanctity! (REFLECTION 3 FROM 2020) 1. All Saints day is a special and specified day that recalls and reminds us of our universal call to holiness. All are called to be holy. It is a privilege and responsibility of all, a right and duty as well. It is not reserved only to a privileged few, but the patrimony and destiny of all. Everyone, irrespective of their state of life and affairs, in their own walk of living, can strive for sanctity. 2. All Saints day shows this bonding with them in sanctity and binding for sanctity. The feelings that should arise in us, are those of admiration, inspiration, and imitation. Saints were not superhumans or extraordinary aliens. They are like us, surrounded and surmounted by the same pressures and challenges, constraints, and problems. But they were focused on their destiny and they walked toward it and reached it. They deserve our admiration. 3. The saints are inspiring. Their spirit and spirituality, their depth and interiority, their passion and assiduity, their consistency and perseverance, their warmth and vigor in the practice of virtue, Impel us for the same. 4. The saints are imitable. They evoke in us not only a sense of admiration and inspiration but also emulation. They invite us and challenge us to walk the way, they have traveled. They show us the way, accompany us on the way as our guides and mentors, and also strengthen us. 5. They indicate to us the answers to fundamental questions like How to live life? How to walk the way? How to nurture sanctity and attain perfection? We should be imbued with a sense of destination, direction, determination, devotion, and dedication. 6. In a world that has lost sense of destiny and destination, and thus gratifies itself with shorter destinations and lesser ideals, lower goals, and cheaper targets, like money, comfort, physical pleasure, status, and power, we are called, in line with the saints, to live as people of higher destiny and eternal destination. 7. In a world that is often confused and misguided by lesser interests and unworthy motives, losing its focus, clarity, and vision, and thus oscillates and stumbles aimless and directionless, we are called to instill in them a sense of direction, against being disoriented and deviated and distorted. 8. In a world where the motivation for what is good and right, is at its low ebbs, and thus determination is very fragile, we in line with the saints, are called to ignite the people with the positive drive and force of resolve and determination. Often the reason for failure to grow steadily is not so much the lack of capacity or resources, but only the lack of will and resolve. As long as we do not will strong, we will not go strong and well. 9. We live in a world where devotion acquires more and more secular connotations. It is equated with undying interest and pursuit of temporary and temporal goals, like devotion to career, wealth, power, position, pleasure, and gratification. Subsequently, devotion to God and higher ideals loses its charm and appeal. Many remain indifferent to God and spiritual concerns. 10. There are also others, who are externally counted "devout", but are only shallow and superficial. Their devotion really does not bring them closer to God in a personal intimacy, nor does their devotion change their concrete life. In such a world, we need to bear witness to a genuine and deep devotion to God, and witness to a higher spiritual power and realm. 11. Further, we are in a world where dedication has two main aspects: either, dedication is declining, as convenience and comfort override it. Or, dedication is wrongly directed and charged, in the pursuit of wrong things. 12. In such a world, we, along with the band of saints, are urged to be people on fire of passion and enthusiasm for God and good, and also to set the people on fire, motivating, animating, enthusing, and empowering the people, in and through our lives and ministries, charged with sanctity. May the saints illumine, guide, and strengthen us! May we walk more and more the path of holiness! Long live the saints! 02 NOVEMBER 2022: ALL SOULS DAY, WISDOM 3. 1-9c; MATTHEW 25. 31-46 Thrust: Awaiting heaven! Indicative: Earth is the launching ground, purgatory is the transit and heaven is the landing destination 1. Every November 02 we commemorate all souls. It teaches and indicates many truths of our Christian life. First of all, life does not end with death but continues in another form. The physical body is perishable and physical, earthly human existence is temporary. There is a spiritual body and existence that are imperishable and eternal. 2. Whether in or without body, we are bound together in fraternal and spiritual communion, and the cessation of physicality or earthliness does not disrupt or cancel this communion. Death is a moment, a door of passage, a transition from earth to heaven, from temporary to eternal life. 3. Heaven is our homeland proper and all are destined to reach back there. This human physical earthly existence is then a limited duration during which real preparation must be done to take us to heaven. 4. However, as humans we are, our fragilities do not fully leave us. Our imperfections accompany us to the grave. But nothing unholy or unclean can stand before God or be with Him who is the Holy of holies. 5. Therefore, purification, and purgation must continue and be complete. We believe that purgatory is that “purgative”, “transit” and “probative” period that cleanses us perfectly to “fit us to the heavenly mansions”. Where it will be, how long, and how, such questions are beyond our human comprehension and are irrelevant as well. 6. What is important to note is that our fraternal and spiritual bonding and obligation do not cease with death. We continue to belong to God and each other, whether alive or dead. Therefore, we continue to love the departed and be concerned for them. 7. We continue to pray for them, recommending them to God to purge them and receive them into heaven. The prayers, holy masses, and the good works we offer on behalf of the dead should not be seen as “compensations” or “installed payments” to appease and relent God’s wrath and punishment. 8. They are also not a “barter system” where heaven is given in exchange for what we offer on their behalf. Neither is it an “interested investment” where we buy a heaven ticket to the souls and send them to heaven so that they can be our benefactors later on. 9. Rather the whole reality of all souls must be seen from the optic of communion and solidarity in faith and fraternity. They are clear expressions of our solidarity with them and concern for their salvation. They are also our supplication to God’s mercy to make good for what might have lacked in their earthly life. 10. There is nothing wrong to believe that we help the souls in purgatory because by themselves they remain helpless to help themselves. While on earth, we are able to help them, and once relieved from purgatory and received into heaven, they will be able to help us. 11. Besides, this commemoration is an alarm bell for all of us that one day all must reach the same end of death. No one is permanent on earth. And death is not a permanent closure. Eternity awaits us. 12. But there is the last judgment that decides the face of our eternity, whether damnation or salvation. And this differentiation is solely on the basis of one’s life on earth. Life before death determines life after death. Only a life of charity rooted in faith can qualify us for heaven. Imperative: A life rooted in spiritual and fraternal communion and which flourishes in charity will purge us and gain us eternal victory. (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2021) Focus: Our God is holy and our destiny is holy heaven. Nothing unholy or impure can live with Him eternally. Therefore, real purification is a must 1. Every 02 November marks the special commemoration of the departed. We believe that everyone in God’s mercy is destined for eternal life and not damnation. Thus, our destiny is heaven and not hell. However, we being fragile are not worthy to be in eternity with all our sinfulness. Therefore, all need cleansing and purification. Purgatory is that condition of purgation 2. Where? How? How long? Such questions regarding purgatory are not within our grasp and perhaps are not crucial as well. All that is needed to know is that we have a time and situation of cleansing. Purgatory is not a place of punition but purification. It is not a punishment but chastisement. It is not harassing but cleansing. It is probation for insertion into the heavenly abode. The emphasis should be on the bliss of eternity and not so much on the misery of purgatory. 3. Purgatory is like waiting on the right platform. A life that is not properly led is like remaining on the wrong platform. The right train arrives at the station. But the problem is that people are not on the right platform to get into the right train. God’s grace and mercy is the right train. A life of virtue is the right platform. Often in life, we get on to the wrong platforms or wrong trains. All Souls day is a call to place our life rightly and travel rightly. 4. Purgatory is then an extended “grace period”, an additional “mercy time” for reparation. It does not indicate God’s rigidity to delay our eternity. Rather it indicates His extra benevolence to grant us further chance. It is in fact not a forced imposition by God. Rather, it is a needed self-preparation. It is a time of “refitting” ourselves, “re-equipping” ourselves to enter heaven. We need not argue how God can punish eternally for the sins committed temporarily. Rather, we can feel happy that in exchange for a short good life, He generously grants one whole eternity, and He is so concerned that He takes care to make us fit during purgatory for one whole eternity. 5. Once again, like All Saints’ day, on this All Souls’ day too, we are reminded of our spiritual and fraternal communion and solidarity as God’s children and as brothers and sisters, in faith and fraternity. It is this bonding that makes us bound to pray for them, for their release from probation and raising to new life. Direction: Let the commemoration of the departed remind us that we need to depart one day and stand before God for His judgment. If so, it is better that we continue to judge ourselves and cleanse ourselves to fit into the heavenly mansions (REFLECTION 3 FROM 2020) All Souls day - A day that uniquely teaches us some fundamental lessons of our Christian living. 1. We are all destined for eternity. This earthly human life is only a temporary dwelling and duration, and death is inevitable. It is through the door and passage of death that we are at the entrance of eternal life. Therefore, our sight should be raised beyond death, on to eternity, and not be stuck with and dissipated by the encounter with death 2. To be in such an eternal abode, in the presence of the Holy God, we fall short and fail, due to our sinfulness and unholiness. We need to be purified so as to be holy. God in His infinite mercy, provides the departed souls, such a purifying time in purgatory. 3. We all Belong to one God, as His children, be it the saints of the Triumphant Church, be it we, the pilgrims on earth of the militant Church, or be it the departed souls in purgatory. It is this belonging to God and one another, in faith and fraternity, that obligates us toward the souls of departed 4. Our essential bonding in faith and fraternity puts on us a binding obligation to continue to be concerned for the departed, in remembrance of them and prayer for them. 5. In other words, our spiritual and fraternal communion leads to an obligation for oration, affection, and perpetuation. Obligation for oration implies that we pray for the departed, for their repose. Obligation for affection implies that we continue to love them and care for them. Obligation for perpetuation implies that we think of them not only sentimentally and spiritually, but also perpetuate their memory, through living their ideals and virtues, bringing them honor, by our life and example. May the souls departed find eternal repose! 03 NOVEMBER 2022: PHIL 3: 3-8a; LUKE 15. 1-10 Thrust: The Uncountable treasure! Indicative: God’s mercy is the greatest treasure and repentance is the fitting way and condition to experience it 1. The experience of loss is a natural human experience. It is common for everybody. It can refer to any aspect – material, physical, intellectual, psychological, social, moral, or spiritual. It is in terms of money, things, health, relationship, knowledge, success, profit, values, faith, opportunities, et cetera. Whenever something is lost, there is certainly anxiety, tension, and sadness. And also one begins to reflect on the causes and consequences of the loss. 2. There will be also efforts to search for what is lost and to regain it. Jesus brings our awareness to this fact of loss, through two metaphors of a lost sheep and a lost coin. We are the lost sheep and lost coin. We are lost many times due to sin. We are lost to God in faith and fidelity and lost to others in goodness and kindness. 3. What is consoling is that God is deeply concerned about us being lost. He is in a ceaseless search for us to regain us. He wants to restore us to our lost dignity and sanctity. He rejoices over us when we are found. 4. Often we easily get lost. We deliberately lose God – His love, intimacy, instruction, and values. We lose him in preference to lesser things of the world. We wrongly think that the rest are greater gains. 5. In fact, we lack wisdom. So we fail to distinguish and discern between what is more important and precious and what is less important and valuable. But Paul had this wisdom. That is why he was able to choose Christ and his way in preference to all the rest of the things. He would confess with conviction: “Whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” Imperative: In life, we need to sincerely check and see what are our priorities. What do I lose and what do I gain? Do I lose the essential for the sake of the trivial? Do I repent over losing my love for the Lord and goodness to others? (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2020, 05 NOVEMBER) Focus: Being lost is not something condemnable as long as there is a readiness to set on the search and return One of the greatest differences between God's mindset and that of humans is the sense of judgment and condemnation. God who has the power and authority and the capacity to judge and condemn, is patient, merciful, and exuberant in forgiving and receiving back. But a man who is not competent and prone to falter is eager to judge and despise others. Jesus makes it very clear that God is not at all interested in exercising his power to condemn the lost ones but is concerned to search and to regain them, so as to stand them among the "gained". No one needs to be dissipated about "losing the way" and getting stranded at times. What is important is one has the humility and surrender to allow oneself to be found by the Lord and to be restored to the right fold and path. Direction: When God Himself wants to absolve, forgive and reinstate the repentant ones, who are we to continue to label, despise and estrange them? (REFLECTION 3 FROM 2021, 04 NOVEMBER) Focus: The beauty and greatness of our God are, He is ever merciful and surplus generous. He wants our conversion and not the damnation 1. One greatest consoling thought is God never wants us to die in sin. He does not want us to deserve judgment and condemnation. He understands that time and again we “are lost” like the lost sheep. We deviate from the right path. We get stranded. We go away from Him. We also estrange ourselves from the fold. At times, we are also lost like the lost coin. We slip away from the hold and possession of God, like the coin lost from the woman. 2. What bothers and anguishes God is not so much that we are lost at times. He understands our human fragility and waywardness. So, He is benevolent and patient toward us. He is ceaselessly in search of us. He wants us to repent. He wants us to rediscover and regain our lost way, our lost spirit, and our lost belongingness. 3. He wants to re-embrace us to His loving bosom. He wants to continue to lead us and feed us like the shepherd. He wants us that we remain always as His priced coins, His valuable wealth with value, dignity, and usefulness. 4. Now, how does one repent, and how does one manifest his repentance? Paul’s letter to Romans 14. 7-12 gives us some concrete cues. First of all, realise that we essentially belong to Him: whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. 5. Secondly, realize that He is our Lord: he bought us from the slavery of sin and ruin of death and offers us new life by his own death and rising; every knee shall bow to him, and every tongue shall give praise to God. Therefore, grow in the spirit of dependence on Him and surrender to Him. 6. Thirdly, remember always that we are all subject to God’s judgment: we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God, and each of us shall give an account of himself to God. Therefore, we must be more accountable. We must also avoid all judgmental and despising tendencies toward others. Direction: Let us grow more conscious and confident of God’s mercy and forgiveness. Let His patient benevolence be our opportunity to repent and turn back to Him. Let us become more accountable and merciful toward others. 04 NOVEMBER 2022: PHIL 3.17 – 4. 1; LUKE 16. 1-8, St Charles Borromeo Thrust: Lay up treasures! Indicative: Often short-sightedness in life leads to short-term goals and shortcuts. The remedy is to be far-sighted and strive for what is more lasting 1. Many suffer from short sight. They do not have a long-term vision and higher goals. Even if some have goals, they may be worldly, in terms of material progress or social upcoming. Thus, there is no guarantee for the quality of the goals. Accordingly, many do not also bother much about the fairness of the means they employ to achieve their goals. They easily follow shortcuts and are guided by deceit and manipulation. 2. Rightly the words of Paul apply to them: They walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their belly is their god and they glory in shameful things. Their minds are set on earthly things. In this context, through the example of a dishonest steward, Jesus drives home to us the need for foresight, and focus on our eternal destiny. 3. Apparently what is praised is the dishonesty of the steward. He was dismissed because of his mismanagement. But he ensures a secure future by manipulating and reducing accounts of the debtors in their favour and winning their favour. But actually what is praised is his shrewdness and farsightedness. 4. This foresight includes certain components. They are namely, promptness to jump into action without being bogged down by his ousting; his focus and concern for a secure future; awareness of his own inability to work hard or to beg; sharp thinking and planning to meet the uncertain and insecure future. 5. If the dishonest manager was so focused and prepared regarding his temporal future, how much more we should be focused and prepared concerning our eternal destiny? How easily do we neglect the essential and eternal in preference to the secondary or unworthy interests and pursuits? 6. St Charles Borromeo whom we commemorate today, stands tall for this focus and commitment. He was an outstanding reformer during the counter-reformation, especially the founding of seminaries for the education of priests. Imperative: Apart from the foresight of the manager, do we also succumb to false means and manipulative methods to ensure our safety and security? (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2021, 05 NOVEMBER) Focus: Our earthly existence is temporary and so it has limited durability. There is destiny and the destination of eternal life. Therefore, there is a compulsory moment of departure from the earth and a day of reckoning and judgment 1. In the gospel, Jesus speaks of a dishonest steward who gets dismissed from his stewardship because of his mismanaging. On his dismissal, he manipulates the accounts of the debtors, reducing the measures of what they owe to pay. He favours them so that he can be favoured by them in his bad time. Strangely, the master praises this steward. 2. Here let one not pick up the wrong message that dishonesty, deception, and manipulation are justified and appreciated. Not at all! One cannot expect that from Jesus. He may condone weakness and incompetence but never fraud and unaccountability. What is complimented and made imitable is not his dishonesty but his foresightedness. He is so well-prepared to meet his future. He does not sit back to lament and curse over his dismissal and the consequent misery. Immediately, he jumps into action. He has a vision and plans about how to face his impending difficult situations. 3. If that steward is so far-sighted, foresighted, and well-prepared for a temporary future, how much more we must be clear-sighted and well-prepared to encounter our eternal future? If he is so shrewd about mere earthly riches, how much more we must be wise and discerning regarding our heavenly riches? If he is so judicious in dealing with material goods and accumulating them for a short future, how much more we should be assiduous in piling up spiritual goods for an unending eternity? If he made use of the temporal goods to do favour to others and to win their favor, how much do we make use of our various resources to do good to others? 4. In contrast to this dishonest steward in the gospel, we have an honest steward in the person of Paul. He is an authentic, faithful, and committed steward. He is ever conscious of his special vocation and mission, gifted by God. That is to be “a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God”. Unlike the dishonest steward, Paul feels every reason “to be proud of his work for God”. Direction: In a world where there is so much dishonesty and manipulation concerning material things, we need to recapture the spirit of a responsible and accountable steward. We shall not have reason to face disgrace from the master (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2020) Focus: A life without vision will go without direction and will land in eventual destruction In the gospel, the dishonest steward is praised. One shall not mistake it as a license for dishonesty and deception. By no means! In fact, his dishonesty wins him his master's displeasure and dismissal. Therefore, no one can justify or promote dishonesty and fraud. What is commended is his foresightedness to prepare himself fittingly for his future. His future looks very bleak and at loss without enough means and resources. Therefore, he makes wise moves to ensure a tensionless and comfortable future. We know that an eternal future awaits us and how fittingly do we prepare ourselves? How do we equip ourselves to meet our destiny? Does our way of life qualify us and keep us worthy in God's sight? Direction: Knowing fully well that one day we must pass to a future for eternity, how foolishly we will face it unprepared and unworthy? 05 NOVEMBER 2022: PHIL 4. 10-19; LUKE 16.9-15 Thrust: Win friends! Indicative: Fidelity is a value that is on the decline. Not many take it seriously. The simple reason is that it brings no visible or practical gains 1. Greed is one root cause of many evils. It leads to dishonesty, deception, and corrosion of all right values and relationships. Money and material well-being are good. But the excessive craving for them and attachment to them is pernicious. They rupture the goodness of the heart and the genuineness and beauty of relationships. 2. One who is greedy becomes a slave to the very things for which he is the master. Wealth and material things are kept at our disposal so that we make use of them for good purposes. They are meant to serve and help others. They are never for self-interests or wrong pleasures. 3. Our main focus is God, spirituality, and eternity. Our binding values must be honesty and fidelity. Jesus clearly cautions us to guard ourselves against the spirit of avarice and accumulation. Greed is an untold slavery and undignified servitude. It breaches our holy servantship to God. It makes us neglect our striving for true, spiritual, heavenly riches. 4. The material riches and possessions in themselves are not wrong. Having them in itself is not sinful. But the way they are acquired, the purpose for which they are used, and the effect of them where they lead us – these are very important. If deceptive means are employed to acquire them, if they are used for unworthy pleasures, self-glory, and suppression of others, and if they make one arrogant and manipulative, then they are very destructive. 5. As St Paul testifies in his letter to the Phillippians, we must always cultivate a spirit of contentment and moderation in all situations. How convincingly he attests: “I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.” Imperative: Let us constantly nurture the spirit and culture of honesty and fidelity, contentment, and moderation. It will make us increase our heavenly riches and acceptable in God’s sight (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2021, 06 NOVEMBER) Focus: Dishonesty may bring quick gains but it is ruinous and abominable in the sight of God. Honesty and fidelity alone are the hallmarks of a true follower of Christ 1. We are living in a world where dishonesty and deception, greed and accumulation, manipulation and corruption have become the norms of life and order of the day. These false values are not only tolerated and accepted, but even justified and glorified. On the other hand, honesty, moderation, and generosity are looked down upon as signs of incompetence and lack of worldly wisdom. 2. It is in such a context Jesus once again insists on fidelity. It is not merely adherence to certain religious precepts or practices. True fidelity comprises the whole life and affects the whole person. A man of fidelity is essentially an honest person. He is honest in whatever is entrusted to him. He does not fail the trust of his master. Whether big thing or small thing, his only concern is to be transparent and accountable before his master. 3. Fidelity implies wisdom and discernment. A man of fidelity discerns wisely the value and use of earthly and material things and riches. He makes use of them for doing good and for gaining heavenly riches. The material things do not blur his vision but help him to see their positive worth. This is what is implied when Jesus says, “Make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous mammon”. By no means it means that we should acquire money unrighteously and use it to win friends. The point here is that we should use even worldly things for the sake of doing good to others. 4. Further, our attitude toward money is never that of love and slavery. Money and things are never to be loved. They are to be used for need and good. There is no question of serving them. Rather, they should serve our good purposes. When we begin to love and serve money and material things, we become lovers and servants of them. But we are lovers and servants of God. Therefore, our love and service pertain only to Him and the good of others. In the name of being intelligent and tactful, many serve both God and money. They fall to compromises. It is nothing but infidelity and doublemindedness. Direction: The lovers of money may justify themselves before men; they may please and win them by a deceptive use of it. But God knows their hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.

31st SUNDAY OF THE YEAR 22

31ST SUNDAY, 30 OCTOBER 2022, WISDOM 11.22 – 12.2; 2 THES 1.11 – 2.2; LUKE 19. 1-10 Thrust: Roads meet! Indicative: Small efforts count to encounter God’s grace. When there is an encounter between God’s grace and human reception, miracles happen 1. “God changes His route and schedule for our sake.” This is our dictum. This is what is so evident in the case of God, right from creation all through salvation history. He makes space and time for us to grace us and saves us. Salvation is about how God changes His route and schedule. 2. God’s mighty interventions in the OT in the life of Israel, and in the NT the incarnation of Christ itself are the greatest testimonies of this. And the purpose is very clear: He wants to meet us on our way in our own time. What an “accommodative” and condescending God He is! He adjusts His place and time according to our needs and convenience. 3. When people needed Him, He intervenes through His leaders and prophets. When people got infected by sin, He descended to earth in the person of Jesus. This Jesus, God-on-earth lives amidst us in our times of struggle. 4. The story of Zacchaeus is a vivid example of how God changes His route and schedule for our sake. For the sake of Zacchaeus, a sinner, he changes his route to Zacchaeus’ house. He changes his schedule to be his guest in his house. He stops on his way at Zacchaeus. He takes time to have a word with him. He goes to his house. He spends his valued time with him even amidst his busiest schedule. 5. Why all these? The reason is quite clear in the first reading. For He loves all things ---merciful to all, and overlooks people’s sins, that they may repent. Further, immense was his courage: he would not hesitate to meet Zacchaeus, speak with him and go to the house of a sinner. He would not mind risking his popularity and incurring a lot of criticism. He would not bother to risk his career and prospects as well. At the height of all this, he would dare to elevate a sinner to the status of a son of Abraham. How shocking and provoking it must have been to include a despised sinner into the prestigious fold of the chosen people of God! 6. All this loving mercy must make us repent so as to be “freed from wickedness and put our trust in God.” It must “make us worthy of our calling and may fulfil by his power every resolve for good and every work of faith.” 7. In Zacchaeus, we see the abundant effect and fruits of God’s intervention and encounter. Already there were seeds of faith and the working of grace. He nurtures a deep desire to see Jesus. He is not deterred by the two obstacles of his shortness and crowd. Immediately, he makes effort to overcome these obstacles. He runs ahead and climbs a sycamore tree. 8. His trouble bears fruit. He encounters not only the individual Jesus but also the divine abundance. He is flooded by God’s mercy. The one who just wanted to catch a passing glimpse is granted the wonder of meeting the Saviour, speaking with him, and having the joy of celebrating his reassuring and transforming presence. 9. His perspectives change. His priorities change. His vision and mission change. Thus it is a total transformation. This shows itself in selfless generosity and a sense of justice. He distributes half of his property to the poor and repays fourfold to those cheated. Salvation enters his house! Imperative: True conversion is not merely a matter of best intentions and words. It is concrete and manifest in a total transformation REFLECTION 2 FROM 2021, 16 NOVEMBER) Focus: Faith is not merely believing some doctrines and following certain laws and traditions. Faith is essentially a matter of faithfulness come what may 1. In the gospel, in the person of Zacchaeus, we have an example of faith. Zacchaeus received new faith. He made a total about-turn. He turned to Jesus with a passionate heart, and he tuned his whole life to the person and following of Jesus. 2. He truly made a journey of faith. This is seen in his transition from a deep desire to encounter Jesus to a total conversion and transformation of life. From the extortion of a tax collector, there is a big leap of distributing half of his property to the poor and fourfold repay to those defrauded. Thereby, he is counted as a son of Abraham from being labeled as an ostracised sinner. He is blessed with salvation, being liberated from the curse of sin. Direction: We are constantly reminded about how we should traverse the journey of faith. We need to constantly transit from imperfect faith to perfect faith. We must safeguard and preserve the gift and treasure of faith in the faithfulness (REFLECTION 3 FROM 2020, 17 NOVEMBER) Arrow: Am I neither cold nor hot, but lukewarm? Focus: All that matters to God is not status or position, but a humble and honest heart. Every sincere and committed effort on behalf of God will win His abundant grace The story of Zacchaeus is a great source of consolation and encouragement for all. For God's grace accepts and graces us despite our unworthiness and failures. Zacchaeus being a tax collector was labeled as a sinner and was despised. Yet Jesus was not conditioned by these human considerations, calculations, or labels. He is not prejudiced. He is not resentful or judgmental. He does not condemn him but readily offers his mercy and salvation. For his part, Zacchaeus does his homework. He nurtures a profound desire and motivation to see Jesus. He is not discouraged by the obstacles of his shortness and crowd; he takes the trouble to surpass these blocks by placing himself on high climbing a sycamore tree. He encounters Jesus. He responds to Jesus' invitation to be his guest and celebrates his presence with a banquet. He undergoes a deep conversion. He testifies his conversion by a concrete and abundantly generous act of renouncing and sharing: half of his property with the poor, and fourfold repay to all those defrauded. Thus, he truly deserves the blessing and salvation of God. Jesus pronounces the heart-soothing words: “Today, salvation has come to this house. He too is a son of Abraham”. It is not just a blessing and a compliment. It is the greatest gift that one can expect: He is given a new dignity. He is raised from the low level of being a sinner to the noble status of being a son of Abraham, that is, one of the chosen people. He is blessed with salvation, being saved from the curse of sin. What is our journey? Do we desire and set out to encounter Jesus, to be touched and transformed by him? How concrete and authentic is our conversion? Very truly, the biggest block in this journey is our tepidity and lukewarmness. God does vehemently detest it as we hear in Revelation: “You are lukewarm, neither cold nor hot. So I will spit you out of my mouth”. Direction: When one discovers Jesus, the greatest treasure, one will not still be possessed by the possessions. One will not continue unconverted and untransformed

30th week days mass reflection of the year 22

24 - 29 OCTOBER 2022, HOLY MASS REFLECTIONS 24 OCTOBER 2022: EPH 4.32 – 5.8; LUKE 13. 10-17 Thrust: Be straight! Indicative: The world of today is truly crippled in many ways. It needs the healing touch of God 1. We are familiar with one old famous hymn, “The world stands in need of liberation, Lord.” This is exactly the urgent need of our world. It is bound by various bonds. These comprise immorality, impurity, covetousness, filthiness, foolishness, deception, disobedience, and emptiness – in the light of the first reading. 2. The gospel denotes these enslaving bonds as disabling spirits, being bent over, and not being able to straighten up. All these are the signs and effects of evil, the influence of Satan. This bounded and unfree situation is clearly indicated in the gospel by a disabled woman for eighteen years. 3. She was bent over and could not walk straight. This is contrary to the followers of Christ. Those who follow him will not walk in darkness, will not stumble but will walk in the light, and walk steadily. It is because Christ is the true light of the world. Those who follow him are the children of light and walk in the light. 4. To walk in the light is to walk in love in imitation of Christ who loved us and gave himself up for us. Concretely this will mean being kind to one another, tender-hearted, and forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave us. 5. Just as the disabled woman gets healing from the Lord, we too need healing. Sin has bent us and we are not able to walk straight and steady. We need to be loosed and freed from our different bonds, enumerated above. 6. Our greatest confidence and consolation is God’s abiding mercy. He himself takes the initiative, sees our plight, calls us over, lays his hands upon us, and says the same words that he uttered to the disabled woman, “My sister, my brother, you are freed from your disability.” All that is needed is to allow the Lord to touch us and heal us. Imperative: For healing, for freedom from the bonds that bound us, there is no fixed time. Any time is a good and appropriate time. Let us not bind God too with our human bonds. God is beyond all Sabbath and He is the Lord of the Sabbath (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2021, 25 OCTOBER) Focus: True freedom is not really the possibility to have one’s own way of likes and pleasures. True freedom is to be released from slavery to sin 1. Freedom is a priced gift in human life. Nothing can match it. Slavery is always resented and resisted. The reason is it reduces human dignity and respectability. It restricts and restrains one’s scope to pursue what one likes and prefers. Slavery and bondage make the person bound and burdened. Therefore, there is always the struggle to extricate oneself from all the forces and pressures that try to subdue a person’s free spirit. 2. The desire to be free is for sure natural and needed. But the problem with many is a wrong understanding of freedom and false ways and means to gain it. For many, freedom is just the license to do whatever one prefers and prefers. Accordingly, freedom is equated with the unbridled seeking of comfort, pleasure, and gratification. In concrete, it will amount to indiscipline, irresponsibility, disorder, self-gain, and self-pleasure. Thus, in the name of freedom, there is so much disrespect, defiance, and rebellion, so much violence and destruction. But this is all false freedom. 3. It is in this context, God’s word, and Jesus clarifies to us what is true freedom. True freedom is liberation from sin and evil. In Paul’s words in Romans 8. 12-17, it is freedom from slavery to the flesh; it is to put to death the deeds of the body. It is to live according to the Spirit. It is to be the children and heirs of God. It is to be led by the Spirit of God. 4. This is what Jesus indicates in the healing of a woman who had had a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years. Both the cause and effect of this infirmity are explicitly mentioned. The cause is Satan. This becomes clear in Jesus’ healing words: “Ought not this woman whom Satan bound for 18 years be loosed from this bond?” The effect is: she was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. 5. This is very true. Sin sickens us. It bends us to be curved and crooked. It takes away the true freedom to enjoy the health and the joy of life. We need to be freed from our longstanding sicknesses, mainly the moral and the spiritual. We need to become straight and upright in our walking. Direction: Sin and evil are the greatest infirmities. They make us bent and stumble. We need healing. Jesus is ever willing. Are we ready to receive his healing touch? (REFLECTION 3 FROM 2020, 26 OCTOBER) Focus: The world is truly under the infirmity and the attack of sin and evil, and it needs healing and liberation, and for this, it must turn to God In the gospel, Jesus heals a woman crippled for 18 years. We are clearly told about what is her infirmity and also the reason for it. She was bent and could not straighten up at all. This is because of an evil spirit. The scene is quite simple but touching. This shows very vividly the personal attention and care of Jesus: he sees the handicapped woman, calls her to him, pronounces words of healing, lays his hands upon her, and heals her. It is very clear that it is Jesus who takes the initiative. He anticipates her need. He does not feel restricted by the Sabbath prohibition. Another notable point is, in healing her, Jesus does not say, I heal you or be healed. Rather, he says, “Woman, you are freed from your infirmity”. He also says to his opponents that Satan had bound her, and she should be freed from her bonds. Thereby, very clearly infirmity or sickness is presented as bondage under evil and true healing is freedom and liberation from that boundedness. The concrete effect of this bondage is to remain bent and not be able to straighten up. Yes, one who is under the influence and the power of evil, is not able to walk steadily in the path of God and good. Instead, to be a healed and freed person implies imitating Christ, to follow his way of love. It calls us to be good, understanding, and forgiving. Direction: We are children of light and therefore we must put aside the works of darkness and learn to walk straight and steady, as most beloved children of God, children of light and imitators of Christ 25 OCTOBER 2022: EPH 5. 21-33; LUKE 13. 18-21 Thrust: Little is big! Indicative: Often people are carried away by what is big and greatness is equated with the bigness of things. But today we are reminded that small things matter 1. St Francis de Sales said, “Perfection is not a little thing but it consists in little things.” There is an often tendency to take for granted small things in life and neglect them. In the process of seeking bigger and greater things, people lose sight of the smaller details of life and let them go off the hand. 2. It is in this context, Jesus draws our attention to the truth that the kingdom of God consists in small little things. Its growth and spread depend not on extraordinary matters but on small ones. Two metaphors of a mustard seed and a little yeast illustrate this point. Both are little. But they have a greater effect. The small mustard seed grows into a big tree and shelters many birds. The little yeast leavens a larger portion of flour. 3. Many of us are accustomed to the culture of the big and mighty. We need to learn to recognise the value of the small things. This applies also to the persons. We need to realise, value and appreciate every person for their basic human dignity. We need to get rid of our materialistic mentality. This treats others only on the basis of what and how much they have, in terms of money, possessions, power, position, name, talent, et cetera. 4. Two such crucial domains where we must cultivate this mystery and value of the little are our faith life and family life. In our life of faith, let us not wait for big opportunities to manifest our spirit of devotion. Every little activity and every little practice of virtue counts a lot. Similarly, in family life too, both husband and wife should be conscious of the fact that the little is big. 5. Love, submission, and fidelity are the essential components that make our little things great, both in our faith and family. In the present times, there is a dominant atmosphere of hatred, resentment, defiance, obstinacy, and infidelity. This is deteriorating the quality, beauty, and joy of our faith life and family life. Imperative: If only a little more love, mutual humility and submission, and fidelity and commitment increase in the practice of religion and the life of family, things will change drastically. The kingdom of God with love, justice, and peace will flourish (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2021, 26 OCTOBER) Focus: Often people misjudge the quality and value by the size and quantity. But they are not always the right criteria. It is on the basis of the quality of the potential to grow and become beneficial 1. In the gospel of Luke 13. 18-21, Jesus gives two similitudes for the Kingdom. They are namely a mustard seed and leaven. Two special characteristics mark them. One is their smallness and the other is their propensity to grow and have a larger effect. The mustard seed is small in its size. But it grows into a big tree and shelters birds. Leaven is also little in its quantity. But when mixed with, it leavens the whole flour. 2. Similarly, the kingdom of God may initially look small and insignificant. It may not make a big impression. But it gradually grows and spreads its branches in all its directions, inviting, including, and involving all irrespectively. It offers shelter and comfort to many. It has a steady and pervasive influence like a small portion of leaven. 3. Thereby, what implications are placed before us? First, do not go by mere appearances, by size or quantity, or status. Do not judge the quality and value of things or persons by their roots and beginnings. Beginnings may be humble but they can grow big. Let us not always be stuck by what appears at the moment but let us also open our eyes wide, look beyond, and envision the hidden potency and propensity. 4. In specific reference to the kingdom, let us not wait only for big factors or opportunities to spread the kingdom of God. Let us begin small. Let us live and promote the kingdom in small little things. Let us not be impatient to expect results quickly and big. What is important is how much we are progressively and steadily growing, and how much we become more and more beneficial to many. Like the little yeast, let us also try to exert a positive influence in whichever situation we are in. As children of God and followers of Christ, we must constructively influence others’ life. 5. In the light of Romans 8. 18-25, this implies a couple of guidelines. One is, to live in undying hope and eagerness waiting for our eternal destiny. The second is, to bear everything with patience with a deep conviction and faith that the sufferings of the present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. The third is, to constantly cooperate with God’s Spirit who wants to set us free from our bondage to decay and obtain the glorious liberty of the children of God. Direction: God wants us to spread His kingdom and for sure He does not expect sudden and spectacular miracles from us. All He wants is that we do our little part with a positive and beneficial heart (REFLECTION 3 FROM 2020, 27 OCTOBER) Focus: It is quality that gives meaning and worth to any quantity, whether big or small. Therefore, what is more important in life is the quality of life and not the quantity of things As God’s children, our primary duty is to seek and spread God’s kingdom. It is a demanding task. But we need not worry much about the vastness or the challenges that beset it. It is enough that we do our part, however little it is. It can be like a tiny mustard seed or a little yeast. The mustard seed is small, but it grows into a tree to shelter many birds. The little yeast leavens a lot of flour. In the same way, our small efforts, blessed by God, become big and great to shelter and help many and to change much. Our actions may seem insignificant and unnoticed. But the effect of them can be very fruit-bearing, tested, and durable in time. It is God who gives growth and fruition and we are only to cooperate. This is in fact how we belong to God and spread it. Direction: The Kingdom of God is not a matter of pomp and show. It is a gradual invisible pervasive influence. It is not a location but a situation of love and faithful relationships, beginning with the family 26 OCTOBER 2022: EPH 6. 1-9; LUKE 13. 22-30 Thrust: Admission rules! Indicative: Heaven is not anyone’s prerogative or privilege. There are no guarantees or shortcuts. The only way and means is to follow the way of the Lord 1. We see a lot of “guarantee” mentality in our society. People go by the strength of guarantees. To some extent, a guarantee may provide some certainty and assurance. But there is also every possibility that one may blindly trust and go ahead, without any reality check. Sometimes, seeking a guarantee may lead to over-expectation and overconfidence and thus to a mentality of negligence and take-for-granted. 2. Today, in the gospel Jesus is cautioning us against this guarantee mentality. He teaches very clearly that acceptance by God and entry into God’s kingdom do not depend merely on religious allegiance or the performance of some activities. They are no guarantees! 3. Mere religious celebrations together (‘we ate and drank in your presence’), or mere common prayer sessions (‘you taught in our streets’) will not guarantee an entrance-pass into the house of heaven. All such guarantees will be upset as Jesus says, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last. 4. The only assurance is “entering through the narrow door.” What does this mean? We derive some implications in the light of the readings. First of all, entering through the narrow door implies shedding off the guarantee mentality. This means that we realise that we do not merit salvation merely on our merits. 5. I do this or I accomplish that and therefore I will be saved or should be blessed. I perform some religious activity or practise some devotion and therefore I will receive God’s favour. Trust in God’s benevolence to grant me what I seek, is good but we cannot forget the fact that all blessing and favour is God’s gratuitous grace and mercy and not our credit. 6. Further, in the light of the first reading, entering through the narrow door implies a sense of responsibility and dutifulness according to each stage and state of life. Children, parents, servants and masters – each category has its own set of duties and principles. It is difficult to be loyal to them. But it is by entering through the narrow door of dutifulness and faithfulness that one will be saved and enter the kingdom. Imperative: The norms for the bondservants in the first reading hold good for us: Obey God, with a sincere heart, not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2021, 27 OCTOBER) Focus: There are no absolute guarantees that assure us of entering into the kingdom of God. There are no firsts and lasts. It is not a matter of the length of the tradition or allegiance to the religion. It is the depth of devotion and adherence to the Lord 1. Who will be saved? How many will be saved? How to enter the kingdom of God? These are always interesting and intriguing questions. To a query by someone, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?”, Jesus addresses these issues. First of all, entering the kingdom of God is not a matter of merely participating in some common religious activities like common meals or common talks. It is a matter of an entire life. It is a consistent walking toward the heavenly Jerusalem. It calls us to enter by the narrow door. 2. What does entering by the narrow door signify? It means not to be men of iniquity. It means that we are not satisfied merely with some common programs. It is to be more and more conformed to the image of Christ. It is to love God in tune with our call and purpose. It is to allow God to justify and glorify ourselves with a life that is just and renders glory to God. 3. Certainly, walking by the narrow door is difficult. By ourselves we are weak. We do not know even how to pray. That is why God Himself comes to our support. For in everything God works for good with those who love Him. The Spirit will help us in our weaknesses. The Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words. He intercedes according to the will of God. 4. Therefore, we can enter the kingdom of God only when we enter through the narrow door. This prompts us to really struggle to fit ourselves to push through the narrow door. God does not want us to go through easy and compromising ways, broad and devouring doors. We also need the humility to realize that it is not the merit of our activities or organizational capacities. It is to walk through the narrow door and constantly knock at the door of the Lord to enter inside. Direction: Are we also among those who begin to stand outside and knock at the door of the master? How can I close my heart to God’s voice and command and go on pleading, “Lord oven to us!”. 27 OCTOBER 2022: EPH 6. 10-20; LUKE 13. 31-35 Thrust: Guts to stand! Indicative: Challenges will never cease. problems will never vanish. But we need to persevere with the strength of the Lord 1. Tremendous was the courage of Jesus. He was warned by some Pharisees that his life was in danger because Herod wants to kill him. But Jesus continues his mission. He does not go into hiding. He does not suspend his ministry for a while till a safe time arrives. He is not intimidated by Herod. That is why he outrightly dares to call Herod a fox, saying, “Go and tell that fox.’ 2. This courage, determination, and perseverance were possible because he was deeply conscious of the purpose of his coming. He knew that he is given a special mission and a specific duration. He knew he has to accomplish the task. He also knew that it would involve suffering and death. But he does not run away from it or evade it. That is why Jesus remarks: “I cast out demons today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course.” 3. He was always focused on his mission. He never allowed any worldly or human factor to distract or deviate him from this singular purpose. With tender love, he feels anguished over the stubbornness and rejection of the people. He laments, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing.” 4. God was his greatest strength and support. He would not budge. True to the words in the first reading, he put on the whole armour of God so that he was able to stand against the schemes of the devil. The truth was his belt; righteousness, the breastplate; prompt readiness, his shoes; faith, his shield; salvation, the helmet; the word of God is the sword of the Spirit Imperative: To live a faithful life is like waging a fierce battle. The battle is tough and the enemy, the devil is very strong. Therefore take up the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day and stand firm 28 OCTOBER 2022: EPH 2. 19-22; LUKE 6. 12-19, SAINTS SIMON AND JUDE Thrust: Well-founded and firm! Indicative: We all belong to the one house of God whose cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. Apostles are the foundation on whose faith this dwelling place is built 1. Saints Simon and Jude are celebrated on 28 October. These are two among the Twelve Apostles. Simon was an ex-zealot and Jude was a cousin of the Lord. The first thing to note is that among many disciples the twelve apostles were specially chosen and named as apostles. Thereupon, the apostles lived with him, were taught by him, and accompanied him. 2. In sum, they shared their entire life with him. They enjoyed personal intimacy with him. They were specially trained by him in wisdom and faith. They listened to him attentively. They were enlightened and guided. They were nourished and strengthened. 3. What marks them is while their master was alive with them physically, they witnessed his life and mission personally. After his death, they became witnesses to the same life and mission of their Lord. They were so touched by their master and empowered by the Holy Spirit that they bore witness to him even by their martyrdom. 4. Their faith and mission are our rich heritage. We are well built on the foundation of their faith. We are reminded that we are all fellow citizens in the same household of God. Jesus himself is the cornerstone. We can be sure that this spiritual structure will not crumble or collapse because it is God’s own structure built on the apostles. 5. Their life of faith and mission also indicates to us that we are also sharers of the rich legacy. We also shoulder the same mission of proclaiming God’s word and healing sicknesses, both the exterior and the interior. Imperative: We are also called and sent to continue the same mission of the apostles. We need to be powerful proclaimers and healers like the master and his apostles. But does power come out from us whenever we are on his mission? (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2021) Focus: Our vocation always carries with it a profound sense of sacredness because it is the Lord’s choice. It is always his gratuitous grace that we must constantly strive to live up 1. Today we celebrate the feast of two of the Twelve Apostles of the Lord, namely Saints Simon and Jude. Simon was a zealot, an anti-Roman nationalist group member. Jude was a cousin of the Lord and author of the epistle of Jude. They preached in Mesopotamia and Persia. They were chosen from among many disciples and named apostles. 2. This is the first thing to note. We are chosen by the Lord. This implies that it is God’s initiative, his free gift. It is not like the other professions where one qualifies himself by fulfilling the requirements. But our vocation is not due to our qualifications or competence. It is not because we deserve it. Rather he qualifies us by choosing us lovingly. 3. He calls us by name. This implies that our vocation is something deeply personal. Each one is related personally to the Lord. Every called person is intimately united with the Lord by an authentic life and is fervently committed to him by an effective mission. 4. Unity is our identity mark as disciples at his feet and apostles on our feet. Being his disciples in prayer and being apostles on his mission must always go together. That was what Jesus did: In communion with the Father and in Commitment to His will. Our constant striving is to be joined to the Lord as the cornerstone and grow into a holy temple in the dwelling place of God in the Spirit. 5. However, this spiritual communion is not enough. Fraternal communion is also a must. We are no longer strangers and sojourners, not only toward God but also toward one another. We are fellow citizens and members of one and the same household. Direction: Our life and mission can become more credible and effective if there is more spiritual communion and fraternal communion. We must constantly remind ourselves that we are his disciples in intimacy and his apostles in vibrancy (REFLECTION FROM 2020) Focus: Loving the Lord leads to living with him and that leads to living for him, to the extent of dying for him We celebrate the feast of Saints Simon and Jude, two among the twelve apostles of the Lord. Simon was a zealot, a member of the nationalist party of zealots who were resistant to Roman rule. Jude was a cousin of the Lord, the son of Joseph’s brother, Cleophas. Jude authored an epistle. Jude is also the patron of desperate causes, the saint of last resort. Whatever be these details, what is important for us to note is, they were chosen by the Lord to be his disciples. They lived with him. They experienced his love, power, and wisdom in intimacy with him. They drew their light, direction, and strength from him. And they set out as apostles to share what they themselves had experienced in Mesopotamia and Persia. Today as we venerate them for their life and mission, we are called to reflect on our own vocation and mission. Backgrounds do not matter. What we were before being called, is not important. But what we become, how we live, and what we do, are most important. So, like these apostles, we too are called to be his disciples, to live constantly in his proximity, in humility to learn, in intimacy to love, and in guidance to walk. We are also called to be his apostles on his mission, to take him and his message to the world through word and action. Can we learn something from these saints? Direction: The value of our vocation does not depend on our past backgrounds or present status or achievements. But it mainly consists in being close to the Lord and working for him on his mission 29 OCTOBER 2022: PHIL 1. 18-26; LUKE 14, 7-11 Thrust: Honours or honour? Indicative: It is a wrong idea that honours and positions are considered marks of honour and dignity. Real honour does not come from honours but from an honourable character 1. God chose us before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless. But what a contrast it is that people of the world choose to be unholy and blameworthy! God chose us for heaven but people choose the world. God chose us for eternal life but many seek temporal life and its fulfillment. This is certainly a spirit of low and lowered choices. 2. This contrasting and lowered choice can be indicated by the invitees to a pharisee’s house in the gospel. They were crazily seeking places of honour. This is because of the common misconception that a person’s greatness and honour are seen by the place or position he occupies. 3. In such a context, Jesus makes it clear that positing and seeking honour in places or ranks or titles or posts is wrong. Real honour must come not from the place but character. What is important is not the place of the person but the person who occupies that place. 4. A person should not be adjudged or rated high or low on the basis of honours. The only criterion must be his honourability. We become honourable when we try to live honourable lives. We will be honoured by God himself when we seek to honour him. And we can bring honour to God only when we humble ourselves in humility and exalt God in surrender and loyalty. 5. This positive honouring is seen in St Paul. He always chose not to do honour to him but to God. He accepted all his suffering and persecution as a way of honouring God in his body. He never chose what was self-oriented but always God-oriented. He had no preferences except the preferences of God. 6. Whether he lives or dies, his only choice and effort is to do God’s will, to please Him, and bring glory to Him through bringing many to God (REFLECTION 2 FROM 2021, 30 OCTOBER) Focus: Everyone seeks to be honourable and honoured. But real honour does not come from places of honour. Rather real honour comes from character. Thus, one who is with an honourable character is always humble 1. “Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he humbles himself will be exalted”, this is one of the outstanding and popular teachings of Jesus. He brings our attention to humility. Humility is not just one of the many virtues. It is the link for all the virtues. It is the bottom line, the base, the foundation on which all the other virtues are built. Without humility, all the other virtues lose their charm and credibility 2. Jesus, being a guest of honour at a leading Pharisee’s house, watches them seeking places of honour. He seizes upon the opportunity to offer a lesson on humility. Jesus makes it clear that the more one is high in power and position, the more he must be humble. 3. In fact, a person does not become honourable by his honourable place or position but by his honourable character. Powers and positions are external and they do not replace a person’s internal character. They can be concrete means of expressing a good character. 4. In fact, true honour comes not from position to person. Rather, it must go from the person to the position. In that sense, it is the person that gives honour to the chair and not so much the chair that gives honour to the person. External honours must complement the inner honour of the person and not substitute or cover up for what is lacking internally. 5. True humility can come only from a genuine awareness and repentance over one’s fragility and unworthiness. It also has an overwhelming acceptance of God’s holiness. This double awareness is corroborated by the ready recognition of others’ goodness and greatness. When this threefold humility is present, then surely a person becomes pleasing in God’s sight and God exalts him. Direction: It is high time that the church learns to stop the malicious musical chair for power and position, seeking a false dignity and honour in them. They should realize that real honour comes from a sound character and not from honours (REFLECTION 3 FROM 2020, 31 OCTOBER) Focus: Being good is mandatory and Doing good is obligatory. So it must be always with a genuine spirit of humility and responsibility, and not make a show Jesus never misses a chance to put things in the right perspective. Today, he goes as a guest of a leading Pharisee. He notices how people seek places of honour. He uses this occasion to teach about humility. He declares one of the outstanding teachings, “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted”. Humility adds value and splendour to the whole character and greatness of a person. All the capacities and talents of a person can fall short if they lack humility. Humility does not mean that one debases himself, or resigns himself only to poor grades. Humility does not mean that one despises one’s worth. It also does not mean that one goes around professing and proclaiming his weaknesses. This is all a defective and deficient humility. True humility is essentially truthfulness, being true to oneself. It recognises the overwhelming greatness and holiness of God, and before him our own fundamental unworthiness. It also recognises the due dignity and respectability of others irrespectively. More importantly, humility deeply knows that real worth does not depend on external powers, positions, and honours. The true worth of a person consists in one’s pure heart, sound character, humble surrender to God, and committed benevolence. This is the same humility that adorned and guided Paul. He always sought to exalt Christ through his person and ministry. He always strove for the progress and happiness of others. Direction: It is not the places and chairs of power and honour that make one great, but the sincerity of heart, integrity of life, and magnanimity of relationships