“Living with the conviction that all our works and activities ought to be always oriented solely towards the Glory of God’s Greatness!”

(Based on Eph 2:1-10 and Lk 12:13-21 – Monday of the 29th Week in Ordinary Time, Year 2)

King Louis IV was, from 1643-1715, the King of France – 72 years – which is the longest in modern European history.

He boasted himself as “The Great” and even took great pride in calling himself “I am the state”.

The “Great” king had even planned his own funeral to be just as spectacular.

He had instructed Bishop Massillon that upon his death…

He was to be laid in a golden coffin at the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris.
At his funeral service the entire cathedral was to be completely dark…
… lit dimly by only one candle positioned above the coffin.
This was to be done so that all would be awed by the “Great” king’s presence, even in death.

When he died, Bishop Massillon did exactly as the King had instructed.

At the funeral, thousands of people gazed at the exquisite casket that had the mortal remains of their monarch…
… illuminated by a single flickering candle.

However, as the funeral service began, the Bishop slowly bent down…

And to the surprise of all…
… he blew out the candle which represented the late king’s greatness!

Then in the darkness, the Bishop proclaimed to all: “Dieu seul est grand – Only God is Great!”

It was a rebellious cry to both – the late king and to those who were attending the funeral who had called him “Louis XIV the Great!”

The world very often considers richness in terms of wealth, power and position, isn’t it?

But not God!

The world very often greatness in terms of worldly success and accomplishments., isn’t it?

But not God!

How about us?

Are we rich and great only in the eyes of the world..?
… or can we instead aspire and seek to be rich and great in the eyes of God?

The Gospel of the Day is a powerful reminder from the Lord on the need to understand the real meaning of “being rich”…
… and an invitation to be constantly on the guard against greed and avarice.

Chapter 12 of St Luke begins with the statement: “Meanwhile, so many people were crowding together that they were trampling one another underfoot” (Lk 12: 1)

Jesus had become a Phenomenon!

There were hundreds and thousands of people who were following Him

It’s from among these thousands (the Greek word used is “myriads”) of people, that the voice of one person catches the attention of Jesus.

And so we read, “Someone in the crowd said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, tell my brother to share the inheritance with me'” (Lk 12: 13)

We could imagine this situation…

Thousands of people crowding…
One man manages to shout above others… probably pushing others and comes in front, and puts forward a petition…

It is before the whole crowd (and probably before his brother), that this man wants Jesus to pronounce a favour for him…
… a favour for getting the inheritance and help to get riches

How often is our prayer to Jesus also similar to this man’s request…!

We want Jesus to answer our petitions in the way “we want” – to have favours granted in the manner and time that “we want”

The Will of God is often not consulted.

And when such “prayers of demand” and “claims of requirements” are not fulfilled or delayed…
… we get into despair and depression
… we accuse that none of our prayers are heard
… we blame that probably God is deaf to us and that our devotions are worthless

The man who made his “prayer of demand” and “claim of requirement” was probably…
… influenced by a greed to be rich and wealthy
… disposed by the vices of avarice and greed

He was wanting to have God’s approval for the same!

But Jesus refuses to be dragged into such a controversy…

Centuries back, Moses had been embroiled in an argument and was questioned back:
“Who has appointed you ruler and judge over us?” (Ex 2:14a)

Jesus, aware of this, quoted in a similar fashion, “Friend, who appointed Me as your judge and arbitrator?” (Lk 12:14)

Jesus had guessed the intentions of this man who put forward the petition…

And so He uses the occasion to teach him… and His disciples…
… and to each one of us: On the dangers of holding on to riches – things which are temporary and transient.

Jesus gives the Parable of the Rich Fool, and teaches us…
… It is not bad to work hard and to put in efforts to produce bountiful harvests

However, it is also very essential to examine our attitudes towards prosperity and our attachments towards riches!

It is wrong…
… when we amass earthly wealth and riches without any care for heavenly treasures and spiritual gifts
… when the pleasures of the body are given higher priority over the demands of the Kingdom of God

The parable teaches us on the dangers of being attached to wealth and riches

And challenges us to “Hold lightly, to what God has given us!”

In the light of this parable, we need to check…

… In my personal life
Does God have the first place in my life or are there other attachments that are given higher priority, attention and time?

… In our family life
Do we thank God for all our blessings and continually depend on Him by cultivating a spiritual culture or are other modern gadgets and social amusements that are given greater precedence?

… in our parish, community and religious life
Do we orient all our activities and ministries, solely for the glory of God and the service of the needy, and seek His intervention at every decision or do we play around with Christian values and even dilute or compromise them?

The Scripture constantly calls us to become aware of the worthlessness of earthly riches and calls to aspire for things which are higher in nature:

We are faced with this choice, at every moment….

Are we rich and great only in the eyes of the world..?
… or can we instead aspire and seek to be rich and great in the Eyes of God?

Let us always remember: “Only God is great!”
… and that all our works and activities ought to be always oriented solely towards the Glory of His Greatness!

Today we seek the intercesssion and inspiration of Sts. John de Brébeuf and Isaac Jogues.

They were fearless Jesuit missionaries…
… who shed their blood for the Huron people
… sowing seeds of faith that blossomed into the vibrant Church in North America.

May their courage and conviction embolden us to share Christ’s love with conviction, humility, and love.

God Bless! Live Jesus!

“Rekindling the fire and zeal of being a Missionary of Jesus, our King and Leader!”

(Based on Isa 45:1, 4-6, 1 Thess 1:1-5b and Mt 22:15-21 – 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A)

A familiar incident is told of a particular dog.

One fine afternoon, as the whole locality was silent, the dog began barking….Bow wow….bow wow…

Hearing this dog bark, on went the dogs in the neighbouring house…bow wow….
The resonant barking of these two dogs, was enough to excite the other dogs in the other houses…
… and even on the streets…

The whole neighbourhood became a pandemonium of barking and woofing.

But in a while… the dogs on the street waned down… probably getting tired…
So did the dogs in the neighbouring houses…

But the first dog, who began it all, was still strong and vocal in its barking…bow wow…

All other dogs, had more or less quietened…but this dog continued…

Why?

This dog had seen a dangerous and poisonous snake, lurking close to the house…

And so it barked….and never stopped…because it had a reason!

The other dogs also had barked, not with a reason, but simply because they heard one barking.

But the first dog? Had a reason!

It had a reason…a purpose…and a goal, which made it to raise its voice and be excited.

When one has a clear purpose and a goal in life, one remains excited and enthusiastic about it, and pursues the aims with a great determination and enthusiasm.

Have I discovered the true sense of purpose and aim in my life as a Christian and do I pursue in that path, with much enthusiasm and excitement?

Today, Holy Mother, the Church celebrates Mission Sunday.

Every Mission Sunday is an occasion to re-discover & re-kindle the purpose in one’s life as a Follower of Christ.

The Gospel of the Day helps us to rejuvenate our spirit of following Christ, who Himself was convinced of His Mission in life.

We have today the incident of a group of people, seeking to trap the Lord with a query on whether or not to pay taxes to Caesar. (Mt 22: 15-21)

The query on “should taxes be paid to Caesar or not” was asked by two groups: the Pharisees and the Herodians.

It is interesting to note that forces with evil and crooked intentions often work in tandem.
These two groups, normally opposed to each other, join hands, to oppose Christ.

The Pharisees resented and opposed the payment of tax to Caesar…
… because they considered Israel as a sovereign state under God’s rule and therefore should not pay taxes to another king.

The Herodians, on the other hand, accepted and supported the payment of tax to Caesar…
…because they belonged to the political party of Herod, the king of Galilee, who owed his power to the Romans.

Saying a NO would bring Christ before the Roman government for treason.
Saying a YES would bring Christ before the Jewish authorities for blasphemy.

The forces of evil had posed a severe danger to the Mission of Christ.

The answer by Christ would be very vital and important to the continuity of His Mission.

But the Missionary Jesus… Who was convinced of His purpose and aim in life, had the best answer…
“Render to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God!” (Mt 22:21)

He did not deny paying to Caesar.

But He neither advocated it.

He rather, raised the level to one’s relationship with God, who is the sole authority of life & the giver of all things and goods.

The answer baffled and amazed the ones who had come to interrogate Him.

The Mission had not only been saved… the Mission received a greater boost.

The Lord was convinced of His Mission in life.

He was convinced that He belonged to His Father and that all authority comes from Him.
He was totally sure that His purpose and aim in life was not earthly, but of the divine realm.
He was fully certain of His mission in life, to live a life dedicated to His Heavenly Father.

We too, in our Christian lives, will often face such situations of dilemma and trouble…

In a world getting addicted to consumerism, materialism, relativism and sensationalism, the challenges to live our Mission, as an Authentic Christian is especially great indeed.

Situations may force us to give in to abandon faith, and follow only what reason teaches…
… and to loosen our hold on true traditions to pave way for a “modern” lifestyle…

The challenges to our Mission as a Christian and as a Catholic are much.

But like our Lord Jesus, the First Missionary and our Leader in Missions, we ought to stay convinced and remain enthusiastic to spread the Mission of the Lord.

The Prophetic words through Isaiah are an inspirational reminder to us all: “I am the Lord, and there is no other, besides me there is no God; I gird you, though you do not know me, that men may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none besides me; I am the Lord, and there is no other!”

St Paul reminds us through his letter to the Church at Thesselonica, that we are His beloved and called and chosen by Him… “beloved by God, that he has chosen you..” (1 Thess 1:4)

Each of us – in any way of life – is a Missionary…

We have a Mission to belong to the Lord and to Him completely.
We have a Mission to spread the Love of the Lord to the whole humanity.
We have a Mission to orient our lives to the values of the Gospel and to travel heavenward.

Let’s rekindle the fire and zeal of being a Missionary of Jesus, our King and Leader!

Happy Mission Sunday!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

“Joyfully and courageously proclaiming the Lord to others, and bringing many more to experience the Love of Christ!”

(Based on Eph 1:15-23 and Lk 12:8-12 – Saturday of the 28th Week in Ordinary Time, Year 2)

One day as a woman was crossing a street in a busy city railway station, an old man stopped her and said, “Excuse me, Ma’am, but I want to thank you.”

“Thank me?” she exclaimed.

“Yes Ma’m. I used to be a ticket collector, and whenever you went by, you always gave me a cheerful smile and a good morning.

I knew that smile must have come from inside somewhere.”

He continued: “Then one morning I saw a little Bible in your hand.
I realised the source of your joy!

And so I bought one too…
… and I found Jesus!”

The joyful witness of the woman, brought about a conversion in the life of that ticket collector.

What about us?

Are we also joyful and courageous, in giving witness to Christ and His Gospel Values in our modern society?

The Gospel of the Day is an exhortation by our Blessed Lord with a challenging tone, to be powerful and bold, in acknowledging His Presence.

Jesus says: “I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God;
But he who denies me before men, will be denied before the angels of God” (Lk 12: 8-9)

Christian Life is a life seeking to profess and proclaim the Lord…
… by word and deed
… with lips and actions
… through happy moments and struggles of life!

Do we do that?

Or are we sometimes…
… shy?
… afraid?
… reluctant?
… uncertain?
… or even negated?

We could reflect on some aspects of our life, whereby we examine, how much we acknowledge the Lord in our life

1) The Blessings of the Lord
God has gifted each one of us with immense Graces and blessings.

Do we acknowledge ‘the blessings of the Lord’ in our Life?
… with a word of thanks and gratitude, everyday?
… by seeking to be, in turn, a blessing to others, by a life of service?

2) The Providence of the Lord
Providence refers to the Protective care of the Lord, at all times, in every situation.
When we look back into our life, we see how beautifully, God constantly leads us.

True, there are times when we have felt the “absence” of God or the Lord being “at a distance” from us, especially in situations of struggles and suffering

But, when look back later, we do find, “God had been joining all those ‘dots of loneliness’ and making a beautiful picture!”

Do we acknowledge ‘the Providence of the Lord’ in our life…
… by being more optimistic, knowing that our God will surely have His way, and make “rivers to flow, even in the deserts?”
… by not falling into anxiety or extreme worry; instead allowing ourselves to rest on His Caring Heart, knowing, that He is holding us tenderly in His Arms, as a Shepherd holds the tender lamb?

3) The Love and Mercy of the Lord
Each of our life is a beautiful saga of God’s Love and Mercy

We have been created in love, we have been initiated to Salvation in His Mercy
We have been constantly encouraged by His Love, we have been continually lifted by, by His Mercy

Do we acknowledge ‘the Love and Mercy of the Lord’ in our life…
… by seeking to always do His Will in our Life and letting go of our own ego and selfish desires?
… by turning to Him in repentance, when we go away from His Love?
… by infusing more love into every action that we do, and thus witnessing His Face of Mercy to all around us?

4) The Authority of the Lord
The Lord is the Supreme Authority of this entire universe.

It is His Power and Wisdom that sustains everything.

The presence of evil and sufferings around us, may sometimes, make us question His Power and Glory.

Sometimes, the presence of pains and miseries in our life, may also make us doubt His Power and Authority
But can we recognize, that God, in His infinite Goodness and Wisdom, works out everything for our good (Rom 8:28)

Do we acknowledge ‘the Authority of the Lord’ in our life…
… by offering our lives to His Supreme Wisdom, and marching forward with Hope, knowing that “the One Who has begun His Good Work in us, will bring it to completion” (Phil 1:6)
… by seeking His Permission in all the activities that we engage in, so that His Grace will inform us, in the best and right path?

5) The Presence of the Lord
The Presence of the Lord surrounds and encompasses us at every moment, at every step of our life.

This Presence is especially cherished and celebrated in the Sacraments, that the Church offers.

Do we acknowledge ‘the Presence of the Lord” in our life…
… by turning our hearts, in conscious awareness, to the Presence of the Lord, in the midst of our work and activities?
… by longing for and meaningfully celebrating the Sacraments that the Church offers?

As a Christian, surely, it is not easy, in today’s modern society, to profess and proclaim Christ publicly

But the Lord invites each one of us, gently and tenderly, to acknowledge Him in our lives.
… as St Ignatius of Antioch, the Saint of the Day, did it so heroically!

It is when we grow in these “areas of acknowledgement” that we can joyfully and courageously proclaim the Lord to others…
… and thus bring many more to experience the Love of Christ!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

“Ensuring that we set our internal life right, so that our externals display the truth!”

(Based on Eph 1:11-14 and Lk 12:1-7 – Friday of the 28th Week in Ordinary Time, Year 2)

A group of people visiting a magnificent church, came across a large clock next to the bell tower.

What attracted the visitors, more than the clock, was the caption written beneath the large clock!

It seems that the clock was habitually too fast or too slow.

And so, a good old-sacristan realising that it was beyond repair, decided to write a caption on the placard.

The caption read: “Neither believe nor blame what my hands show!

The trouble lies deeper!
Therefore, even in life, ensure that you set your interior right, so that your externals display the truth!”

The hands of the clock displayed wrong timings…
… because the interior parts had some trouble!

So often are our external actions such in life!

We seem to be putting on a show outside…
… but the truth of the action can be known, only if the interior intention is true!
We seem to be good at displaying a clean image…
… but the sincerity of our deeds will be known, if we truly ensure purity from within!

We are into a reflection of this aspect of Hypocrisy yet again with Jesus’ insists on this evil tendency with a greater force & urgency.

Hypocrisy is a vice which is much hated by Jesus.

It is a vice which Jesus constantly asks to weed out.
Hypocrisy is duplicity.
Hypocrisy is pretence.

It is trying to be someone, that one is not.
It is masking one’s real identity to show one to be someone else.

The word “hypocrisy” is a composite word in the Greek.

It comes from the joining of two words:

“Hupo” is the Greek word for ‘under.’
… “Krino” means ‘to judge’ or ‘to decide.’

The noun “hypokrisis” meant ‘acting’ or ‘playing a role.’

This word was mainly used in Greek theatres and plays to describe those “actors who would speak their parts, behind a mask!”

Hypocrites in real life, extend this “acting” to their everyday life…

People who try to impress others, in order to hide their real lives!
People who behave to be too good before others, but a sham within!

Do I have any of such aspects of “hypocritical… acting” in my life?

Our Lord calls this vice of hypocrisy as a Yeast…

Jesus speaks to His disciples, “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees which is hypocrisy” (Lk 12: 1b)

Why Yeast?

Yeast or Leaven is something that is used in baking.

Yeast has the great property of Influence…

A little amount of yeast is enough to raise the dough or to leaven the batter.
It has a great characteristic of exercising a great amount of influence, though little in quantity!

Hypocrisy is such…
… though a little amount, it is highly influential, like the yeast!

Hypocritical people are able…
… to boast much about themselves and exert harmful controls!
… to make other people highly pessimistic and negative!
… to drain out the spirit and the enthusiasm in others!

Yeast starts slow, but grows very quickly…

It has the great characteristic of exercising its great influence in a timid manner, but rises very fast and swiftly.

Hypocrisy is such…
… though it starts slow, it spreads its influence speedily, like the yeast…

How does Hypocrisy usually originate?

Usually from a Fear…

Fear of people makes one to adopt a totally different disposition and character.
Fear of situations makes one to adjust with a duplicate personality and behaviour.
Fear of one’s weaknesses makes one to alter the style of life and tamper with one’s nature.

That’s why the Lord, in today’s Gospel would strongly exhort, “Fear Not!”

When we banish the fear of many factors, we are able to be our real self.

When we cast away the fear of our material worries, we are able to live our true identity.

God is our Loving Father
… He wants us to grow in Holiness and Sanctity.

But He also knows that our double standards in life and our pretence in many areas of our life…
… is a block to His Grace in us.

We all wear masks, and the time sometimes comes when we cannot remove them without removing some of our own skin.

The Lord today invites us to peel away our mask of hypocrisy by casting away our fears…
… by throwing ourselves into the care of our Loving God, our Beloved Father in Heaven!

Today we seek the intercession of St Margaret Mary Alacoque, who promoted the Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Let us “ensure that we set our interior right…
… so that our externals display the truth!”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

“Clothing ourselves in genuineness and truthfulness, by appreciating and realizing the value of people in our lives!”

(Based on Eph 1:1-10 and Lk 11:47-54 – Thursday of the 28th Week in Ordinary Time, Year 2)

“In this world today while we’re living, some folks, say the worst of us they can

But when we are dead and in our caskets, they always slip some lilies in your hand…

Won’t you give me my flowers while I’m living, and let me enjoy them while I can?

Please don’t wait, till I’m ready to be buried, and then slip some lilies in my hand…
In this world is where we need the flowers…
… a kind word to help us get along

If you can’t give me flowers while I’m living, then please don’t throw ’em when I’m gone…

Won’t you give me my flowers…?”

— Lyrics from the Song “Give me flowers while I’m living”

The words of this song is a living experience to many people in this world, including perhaps some of us.

We have many people in our life.

Many of them receive a lot of favours from us…
… but they fail to thank us.

We also, sometimes, do hear them backbiting us or spreading false rumours about us!

Many of them are helped in many ways…
… but they fail to acknowledge those favours.

We also, sometimes, do hear them talking ill of us or spoiling our name!

Many of them are rendered assistance in many ways…
… but they fall short of being grateful to us

We also, sometimes, do hear them being negatively critical about us and defaming us.

But at the grave, perhaps, all those people might talk highly about us and acclaim how wonderful a person he/she was!

We often become a people who…
… fail to appreciate when a person is alive, but shower praises after his/her death!
… fail to give a simple flower when alive, but spread garlands and bouquets after his/her death!
… fail to say a good word when alive, but brag and boast highly, after his/her death!

Consciously or unconsciously, we cultivate a habit or a tendency to remain ungrateful and unkind to people when alive…
… but falsely praise and glorify them, when they are dead or are no longer with us!

An attitude of ungratefulness while living, but false appreciation after death!
A tendency of indifference while living…but vain glorification after death!

Jesus, in the Gospel of the Day speaks of a similar attitude and tendency among the Pharisees.

In His continued attacks on the hypocrisy and duplicity of the Pharisees…
… Jesus condemns them for building memorials of the Prophets who were killed and murdered by their ancestors.

The Prophets of the old, lived as the true men of God and constantly called the people to a life of repentance and being faithful to God Yawheh.

But these prophets were very often persecuted, attacked and even killed.

The Prophets, who were the voice of God, while living, had their voices silenced and drowned by the wicked people…

But after their death, they used to be quoted and cited in many scholarly and erudite circles.

An attitude of ungratefulness while living…
… but false appreciation after death!

The Prophets, who called the people to live as per their true conscience, had their lives terminated and ended by the wicked people…

But after their death, they had fine memorials and beautiful tombs built in their name

A tendency of indifference while living…
… but vain glorification after death!

The Prophets, who became the champion of justice and truth, had their efforts ceased and their labours aborted by the wicked people…

But after their death, they had many oratories and exquisite lectures in their name.

An approach of passivity while living…
… but fake interest after death!

Jesus condemns the Pharisees for their deception, as they too become sharers of the blood of the True Prophets and the Men of God!

Jesus’ attacks on this Pharisaic attitude is a strong reminder and warning to each one of us too…
… to realize the worth and value of people, while they are alive, and not just heap up empty words of praise, after their death!
… to realize the importance of recognizing the true spirit and teachings of people around us, and not become too late in realizing their significance!

Life is too short to miss appreciating people for their genuine efforts and contributions.

A fresh flower given when alive is far worth and appreciable…
… than a bouquet given at the grave!

Appreciate people when they are around!
Enthuse people when situations are favourable!
Encourage people when time and space permit!

With the example and intercession of St Teresa of Avila, whose feast we celebrate today, let us shake of the tendency of duplicity and dishonesty; instead, clothe ourselves in genuineness and truthfulness…
… by really appreciating and realizing the value and worth of people in our lives!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

“Rooting out Pharisaic tendencies from our lives and ‘stop fooling God!'”

(Based on Gal 5:18-25 and Lk 11:42-46 – Wednesday of the 28th Week in Ordinary Time, Year 2)

“You can fool the hapless public,
You can be a subtle fraud,
You can hide your little meanness,
But you can’t fool God!

You can advertise your virtues,
You can self-achievement laud,
You can load yourself with riches,
But you can’t fool God!

You can criticize the Bible,
You can be a selfish clod,
You can lie, swear, drink, and gamble,
But you can’t fool God!

You can magnify your talent,
You can hear the world applaud,
You can boast yourself somebody,
But you can’t fool God!”

• This is thought-provoking poem by Grenville Kleiser. (From Knight’s Treasury of Illustrations, Walter Knight).

It beautifully points out to our deep rooted tendency to be “showy and hypocritical.”

Hypocrisy in human beings is perhaps one of the most disliked attitudes of Jesus.

Today’s Gospel has the condemnation of the hated-vice of Hypocrisy of the Pharisees: “Woe to you, Pharisees…” (Lk 11: 42, 43 46)

Religion ought to be a bridge that helps people to have an easier access to God.

But the Pharisees often fractured this bridge with an inconsistent insistence on rules on traditions!

Religion ought to be a link that makes the life of people more free in God’s presence.

But the Pharisees often ruptured this link by burdening the people with wrongly prioritized customs!

The people had to pay a tithe – a share of one’s produces or earnings, usually one tenth. (Lk 11: 42)

This tithe was extracted on all objects and things including the tiny and the minutest ones like mint, rue (a garden herb used for medicinal and cooking purposes) and every garden herb.
But there was no insistence or any obligation placed on the Love of God!

Religion for them, had been reduced to a fulfilling of doing certain practices and customs with the finest details and the minutest perfection…
… but completely overlooked the most basic aspect of Loving God!

The offering was much more important than the One to whom it was offered!

Strange indeed, isn’t it?

The Pharisees loved the good places of seating in the synagogue and being greeted in the marketplaces.

They loved to been seen in places of prominence and to be publicly acknowledged and appreciated. (Lk 11: 43)
But there was no insistence or obligation placed on giving the rightful place to God!

Religion for them had been reduced to enjoying places of honour and relishing the public acclaim of the common people…
… but completely overlooked humbling oneself and giving the glory and honour to God!

The seat and the acclaim was much more important than the One to whom it all was fully due!

Strange indeed, isn’t it?

The Pharisees are compared to an unseen grave over which people walk unknowingly. (Lk 11: 44).

It was a ritual impurity for the Jews to touch the graves, and Jesus compares the lives of the Pharisees as a source of causing impurity and defilement to the people who came in contact with them.
There was an insistence and an obligation on fulfilling their various inhuman customs.

Religion for them had been reduced to many practices which was sharp in its display of duplicity and unjust weightage given to external fulfilling of the Law…
… at the cost of the inner dimensions.

The law was much more important than the One gave the Law!

Strange indeed, isn’t it?

The Scholars of the Law imposed many commands on the people and burdened their lives but failed to show any compassion to help them by their lives. (Lk 11: 46)

But there was no insistence or any obligation placed on the Compassion and Mercy of God!

Religion for them had been reduced to merely carrying out some routines in the name of following God…
… and was highly imposed though they were highly burdensome and impractical.

The practise of the commands was much more important than the One who commanded utmost honour!

Strange indeed, isn’t it?

These various dimensions of the Pharisaic attitude is very much possible to creep into our own lives.

We could be a people for whom the offering is much more important than the One to whom it is offered!
We could be a people for whom the places of honour seat and the acclaim is much more important than the One to whom it all is fully due!
We could be a people for whom the law is much more important than the One gives the Law!
We could be a people for whom the practise of the commands is much more important than the One who commands utmost respect and honour!

Let us seek to root out any of these Pharisaic tendencies from our lives…
… and “stop fooling God!”

Let’s always remember:
“You can magnify your talent,
You can hear the world applaud,
You can boast yourself somebody,
But you can’t fool God!”

God Bless! Live Jesus!