“Being bolstered by the Powerful Personality of Jesus, to be all determined and full of convictions”

(Based on 2 Pet 3:12-15a, 17-18 and Mk 12:13-17 – Tuesday of the 9th Week in Ordinary Time, Year 2)

A little boy was pulling on some weeds with long deep roots…
… trying to get it out of the ground.

He pulled and pulled again…
… then decided to give one last jerk

And when he did…
… it came out – but he went tumbling over backwards!

Someone watching this said: “That was a tough fight, wasn’t it?”

The little boy – recovering himself and trying to get up, feeling a bit exhausted – replied: “Ah yes! It should have been!

After all…
… the whole world was pulling against me!”

How often does it happen that it seems the entire world is pulling against us…
… against our convictions and principles of life
… against our values and virtues of life

De we remain firm and determined, even it means undergoing some falling back and setbacks…
… or do we yield in to those forces – and quit and give up in life?

The Gospel of the Day presents Jesus – who is all determined and full of convictions – boldly encountering the “deadly trap” being laid before him by the leaders of his time…
… and how He remains unscathed and uncompromising in presenting the full force of the Truth!

The Gospel passage begins with the verse: “Then they sent to Jesus some Pharisees and some Herodians to trap him in what he said.” (Mk 12:13)

The “they” in this verse refers to the chief priests, the scribes and the elders (Mk 11: 27b)

This group had already been silenced by the Lord…

In questioning Jesus of His authority, they found themselves facing a tougher question from Jesus. (Mk 11: 27-33)
Jesus also told a parable of the Tenants in the vineyard, which alluded to their closed attitude to accept Him as the Messiah of their lives (Mk 12: 1-12)

This group of chief priests, scribes and the elders, went away…
… with hatred in their against Jesus
… with a mind to plot further against Jesus

So, they got together two opposing parties, in their scheme to oppose Jesus.

These two opposing parties were the Pharisees and the Herodians (Mk 12: 13)

Who are the Pharisees?

The Pharisees were primarily not a political party but a group of scholars and pious people.

They enjoyed a large popular following, and in the Gospels, they appear as spokesmen for the majority of the population.
They hated the pagan Roman occupation of Israel.

Their hope was for a new Judas Maccabee who would arise and throw off the Roman empire.

Many of the common people embraced their patriotic message.

Who are the Herodians?

Their name came from King Herod, who was a half Jew and had made a made a political deal with the Romans.

The Herodians held political power, and supported King Herod Antipas, the Roman Empire’s ruler over much of the land of the Jews from 4 B.C. to A.D. 39.
The Herodians favoured submitting to the Herods, and therefore to Rome, for political pragmatism.

The Pharisees were obsessed with their religious traditions…
… while the Herodians had little religion at all.

Yet, when Jesus spoke and opposed both formalism and love of worldliness…
… these two groups came together in their opposition to Him!

And they trap Jesus with a very cunning question, “Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?” (Mk 12: 14c)

If Jesus had said:
No, you should not pay taxes….
… that no true Israelite who loves God should willingly pay the tax as the Roman Coin with the image of Caesar and all of his titles claiming to be divine is blasphemous…

All of the common people would have said, “How godly man is He!”
But Jesus would have been arrested for sedition and treason.

On the other side, if Jesus had said:
Yes, you should pay taxes….
… that it is not bad since the Roman empire brings stability and economic prosperity…

All of the common people would have abandoned Him saying, “He is a betrayer of God’s law!”
Jesus would have been badly persecuted for misleading them from the path of God.

It was trouble either way…

But Jesus, the Lord of all wisdom and knowledge, found His way through the maze of human shrewdness by answering:
“Give to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” (Mk 12: 17)

Jesus said that what is most important in life is one’s supreme allegiance to God!

Political demands, social commitments, familial duties, communitarian stipulations all have their place and position…

But above all, what needs to be given the prime importance in one’s life is: Allegiance to God!

We live in times and situations wherein there are many forces, philosophies and thought-patterns…
… that join hands in opposing the teachings of Jesus and the Church.

Jesus is still an enemy to many of the truth-denying realities in the world.

The Church is still opposed by many of the immoral entities of the world.

It is our duty to remain firm in our faith and render absolute allegiance to the Lord…
… in order to oppose and fight against such adverse and opposing factors in the world.

Even when it seems that the entire world is pulling against us…
… against our convictions and principles of life
… against our values and virtues of life

We are called to remain firm and determined, even it means undergoing some apparent falling back and setbacks!

Let us be bolstered by the Powerful Personality of Jesus, to be all determined and full of convictions…
… boldly encountering the “deadly traps” being laid before us by the forces of our times
… and with His Grace, remain, unscathed and uncompromising in presenting the full force of Jesus, the Truth!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

“Living with ‘freedom with responsibility’ to ensure true success and proper satisfaction!”

(Based on 2 Pet 1:2-7 and Mk 12:1-12 – Monday of the 9th Week in Ordinary Time, Year 2)

A catechism teacher was explaining the story of David and Goliath to the children.

And the end of the teaching, a boy stood up to ask a doubt.

“Why did David,” asked the boy, “take five smooth stones with him? Could he not have taken only one small pebble?

Did he doubt the Power of God?”

The teacher, impressed with the student’s doubt…
… after some thoughtful moments replied:
“Firstly your doubt about the 5 stones…

If you read 2 Sam 21:15-22, you can find that there were at least 4 giants that are mentioned – similar to Goliath!

Perhaps, David thought that if Goliath is attacked, these 4 other giants could also come forth.
And so he probably prepared himself to fight against them as well!

And with respect to the “smooth” stones…

Well…

You can shoot much more accurately with the proper ammunition.
He had faith, but he also used sanctified common sense. He didn’t simply say, “The Lord is going to do it anyway, so I’ll just pick up any old jagged rocks.”

No, he recognized human responsibility as well as Divine Providence and selected shiny, round stones that would speed straight to the mark!”

Well…
… it’s not known, how many of us would accept this explanation of the Catechism teacher.

But one thing is for sure: David not only depended on God’s Power…
… he also made sure, he executed his human responsibilities, by making use of his God-given talents, potentials and wisdom.

It is always “freedom with responsibility” that ensures true success and proper satisfaction.

Human tendency, however, it is, to often want…
… to enjoy, without having worked
… to reap fruits, without having harvested
… to take credit for oneself, even for things/people not belonging to oneself.

The Gospel of the Day is a powerful reminder by Jesus, through the Parable of the Tenants…
… that we are only stewards in this beautiful world of ours, which is owned by God
… that we are to be caretakers of the many duties entrusted to us, by the Almighty

Jesus puts forward the Parable of the Tenants.

The tenants were entrusted with the vineyard by the Master and were expected to provide the produce in due time.

They were entrusted fully with the taking care of the vineyard.

The Master placed a lot of trust in the servants.

He gave the freedom…
A responsible freedom…
…which could be meaningfully used and nurtured
…or which could be woefully misused and manipulated.

However, the tenants, who were trusted immensely…
… probably lost their focus on the real trust and diminished in their commitment and responsibility to their Master as well as their duty.

Their personal interests gained greater prominence over their entrusted duties.
Their selfish agenda gained the upper hand over the faithfulness to the Master.

This led to them to a total denial of all the emissaries and servants of the Master, who were sent to collect the produce.

This denial was extended even to the Master’s own Son!

This denial of the Son led to the letting loose of the anger and fury of the Just Master!

A squandering away of the responsible freedom, led to the downfall of the tenants!

A failure to give heed to the emissaries and servants caused them to face the Master’s rage!
A denial and rejection of the Master’s own Son, with a cruel intent, caused their destruction!

Are we also, as Christians, as tenants of the Heavenly Master failing in our responsibilities and duties?

The Lord has entrusted us with many responsibilities…

To promote and grow in our faith…
… by a faithful prayer-life, co-operation with the graces of God, keeping away from a life of sin etc.

To be faithful to the vocation and works we are called to do…
… by constantly renewing our resolve in the works we do, remaining focused on our calling etc.

To encourage others to increase in faith and in love of life…
… by being interested In their well-being, supporting them, teaching them etc.

The Lord presents Himself as the cornerstone…
… “the stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone..” (Mk 12: 10)

Jesus is the cornerstone…
… of Salvation
… of the Church
… of His People

We need to find strength and support in this Cornerstone…
… the cornerstone to build a wonderful life in God and grow in holiness
… the cornerstone to stand firm and strong in faith to withstand every storm of life

Being inspired by the intercession of St Justin the Martyr, on his Feast Day, let us come to understand that in all our works and activities, we not only depend on God’s Power…
… but also execute our human responsibilities, by making use of his God-given talents, potentials and wisdom.

Yes, it is always “freedom with responsibility” that ensures true success and proper satisfaction.

God Bless! Live Jesus!

“Joyfully exclaiming the Awesomeness of our Triune God and His Splendour!”

(Based on the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity)

A family was visiting an art museum.

As they went around with much amazement, excitement and wonder, they came to a famous painting titled “Wheatfield under the clouded sky”

This painting was by Vincent van Gogh – a Dutch painter – a very influential personality in the history of Western art.

As the children gazed in admiration at this classical painting, the mother of the family, exclaimed: “If this work of art, that portrays the beauty of nature, makes us acclaim so much…
… how much more is the Beauty, Power and Goodness of the God Who has created all of this nature!”

And with a great sense of gratitude and appreciation to the Awesomeness of God, she went on to say:
“God writes with a pen that never blots…
… speaks with a tongue that never slips
… and acts with a hand that never fails!”

Yes, our God is an awesome God!

And the entire world – all of nature – beautifully sings forth the glory and splendour of God, Who is in total charge!

The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity is a beautiful day to dwell on the Awesomeness of God and the Mystery of His Splendour…
… and to live this mystery by doing everything for God’s Glory and being united as one family of God!

At the heart of the Mystery of the Trinity are three fundamental truths:

The Oneness of God: God is One
The Distinctiveness of the Three Persons: The Father is not the Son and the Spirit; the Son is not the Father and the Spirit; the Spirit is not the Son and the Father.
The Equality of the Three Persons: The Father is God, the Son is God, the Spirit is God

The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches: “The mystery of the Most Holy Trinity is the central mystery of Christian faith and life.

It is the mystery of God in himself.
It is therefore the source of all the other mysteries of faith, the light that enlightens them.
It is the most fundamental and essential teaching in the “hierarchy of the truths of faith” (CCC, #234)

This Feast is an invitation to understand that at the core and depth of everything in our life – is the mystery of the Trinity!

The history of the world… salvation history… our personal history…

The Liturgy… the Sacraments…our prayers…
… all of them are encompassed by the life and mystery of the Trinity!

This points to the tremendous fact that our Triune God is in total charge and control of everything in our life
… that God is in perfect sovereignty and power!

We are sometimes prone to a lot of strategies and planning.

When things don’t turn out the way we
have planned, we get worried and anxious.
When situations don’t fall in line with what we envisaged, we get tensed and upset!

But, today our Triune God tells: “I am in total control!”

When my life seems to be in a complete mess and nothing is understood by us, God says, “I am in total control”

When circumstances around me go haywire and I lose control of things, God says, “I am in total control”

St Paul tells us: “So we are always of good courage; we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord…
… for we walk by faith, not by sight!” (2 Cor 5:6-7)

This is not to say that we need to be passive or lethargic in life

It is not even to say that we should not have plans and strategies

But this is a great reminder to know and realise that our Triune God is the Ultimate Master of our lives, and His providence protects us!!

There are no “by chance” happenings for a believer!

Everything finds its place, in the Permissive Will of the Lord!

Do I trust in Him…
… to lead me from darkness to light?
Do I believe in Him…
… to lead me from depressing moments to joy?
Do I have faith in Him…
… to lead me from confusing moments to clarity?

The Life of the Trinity is also a call…
… to build our families and communities in love
… to reach out to the other, through self-giving and self-emptying

As we gaze at the “large canvas of miracles” that we experience every day and every moment of our life…
… let us joyfully exclaim the Awesomeness of our Triune God and His Splendour, by confessing: “God writes with a pen that never blots…
… speaks with a tongue that never slips
… and acts with a hand that never fails!”

Yes, in all what we think, in all what we say, and in all what we do…
… let all Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, Amen!

Happy Feast of the Most Blessed Trinity!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

“Rooting out pessimistic mind-sets and focussing instead on self-growth in holiness and humility!”

(Based on 1 Pet 2:2-5, 9-12 and Mk 10:46-52 – Saturday of the 8th Week in Ordinary Time, Year 2)

Once, a preacher was speaking the Word of God to a great crowd.

As was his practice, he was concentrating more on the content of his message and of its effect upon the hearts of people, for transformation…
… rather than the precise literary form of it.

Among his audience, was seated a certain fussy gentleman.

He had been known for making extremely critical remarks and comments.
At the end of the prayer service, this person went up to the preacher and said:
“By the way, I noticed that you made eleven mistakes of grammar in your sermon.”

“Very likely,” replied the preacher, very coolly, “I don’t doubt it for a minute.

My early education was faulty. I often wished that I had received more schooling.

But I am using all the grammar I know in the service of Christ.

How is it with you?”

Well, we don’t know how did the fussy gentleman react to this bold and true reply of the preacher.

(Hopefully, he went home and read a chapter of the Bible and prayed for a humbler heart rather than just revising his skills of grammar!)

When the heart is closed to God’s spirit, the focus dwells only external and peripheral factors…

The heart gets closed to spiritual appreciation…
The mind remains curious only for rhetorical arguments!

The Gospel of the Day presents such a critically harsh and uncharitably closed attitude…
… of the chief priests and scribes and elders towards the person and ministry of Jesus.

This is expressed in their volatile question to Jesus: “By what authority are you doing these things? Or who gave you this authority to do them?” (Mk 11: 28)

The context of today’s Gospel is the presence of Jesus in the city of Jerusalem.

Chapter 11 of St Mark’s Gospel has a progressive sequence…

1. The entry into Jerusalem (Mk 11: 1-10)
2. The entry to Bethany and cursing of the fig tree (Mk 11: 11-14)
3. The re-entry to Jerusalem and cleansing of the Temple (Mk 11: 15-18)
4. The re-entry to Bethany, observation of withered tree and teaching on faith (Mk 11: 19-26)
5. The third entry into Jerusalem and questioning of Jesus’ authority (Mk 11: 27-33)

The popularity of Jesus was on the rise…
… He had a rousing welcome to the city of Jerusalem

The impact of Jesus was also on the rise…
… He had performed a daring cleansing of the Jerusalem Temple

These factors had greatly disturbed the religious leaders.

In Jesus, they perceived a threat.
… a threat to their attitude of subjugating people to their yoke, than to service of God

In Jesus, they sensed a danger.
… a danger to their personal wishes and agenda of having a monopoly over religion

In Jesus, they identified a menace.
… a menace to their comfort-rendering style of spirituality and way of life.

And so, they – the chief priests and scribes and the elders – sought to put Jesus to the task…
… and questioned His authority on doing such deeds and performing such actions.

Their eyes were closed to see the goodness of the Lord

Their hearts become clogged to examine their own maligned conscience
Their lives were rendered blocked to be willing to make necessary changes for the good.

Instead…
… they only found fault with the Lord
… they only become critical of the ways of the Lord

When the heart is closed to God’s spirit, the focus dwells only external and peripheral factors…

The heart gets closed to spiritual appreciation…
The mind remains curious only for rhetorical arguments!

Is such an attitude prevalent among us also…

A mentality of harshly criticising…?
A tendency to inhumanly condemn…?
… without any consideration to humanness or acceptance or self-examination etc.

May we be able to root out all such pessimistic mind-sets…
… and focus instead on self-growth in holiness and humility.

God Bless! Live Jesus!

“Giving heed to the warnings and exhortations of the Lord, and building our lives by co-operating with the Grace of God!”

(Based on 1 Pet 4:7-13 and Mk 11-11-26- Thursday of the 8th Week in Ordinary Time, Year 2)

The Gospel of St Mark has many “sandwich” passages.

“Sandwich” stories are a literary technique in which the narration of one story begins…
… but is interrupted by another story, before finishing the first one.

Some of the examples of these “sandwich stories” are…

In Mk 3: 20-35, we have…

Mk 3:20-22: Jesus’ family members set out to seize Him
Mk 3: 23-30: Jesus speaks to the Pharisees on their accusation of Him
Mk 3: 31-35: Jesus family comes to meet Him

In Mk 5: 21-43, we have…

Mk 5: 21-24: Jesus is pleaded by Jairus to heal his daughter
Mk 5: 25-34: The woman suffering from haemorrhage is healed
Mk 5: 35-43: Jesus heals the daughter of Jairus

In Mk 6: 7-33, we have…

Mk 6: 7-13: The disciples sent on a mission
Mk 6: 14-29: Herod’s opinion on John the Baptist and the narrative of the beheading.
Mk 6: 30-33: The disciples return from the mission

In Mk 14: 1-11, we have…

Mk 14: 1-2: The Conspiracy against Jesus
Mk 14: 3-9: The anointing of Jesus at Bethany
Mk 14: 10-11: The conspiracy plan by Judas to betray Jesus

Such kind of “sandwich” layers illustrates points for reflection by showing ..
… similarities and contrasts between the outside and the inside layers.
… the first and the last as “the bread”‘ and the centre one as the “filling” of the sandwich!

Today’s Gospel also follows this “sandwich-story” structure: Mk 11: 12-25

Mk 11: 12-14: Jesus cursing the fig tree
Mk 11: 15-19: Jesus cleansing the Temple
Mk 11: 20-24: Jesus’ teaching on the withered fig tree

There are many similarities and contrasts between the “bread” – the outside layers and the “filling” – the inside layers in this ‘sandwich’ passage…

Symbols

The fig tree represents the people of Israel
The Temple was the symbol of the worship and faith of the people of Israel

Reaction of Jesus is “at the entry”

The fig tree was cursed when “Jesus was nearing”… on His way to Jerusalem
The Temple was cleansed as Jesus “entered” the temple

“Leaves seen, but no fruit”

The fig tree bore only leaves, but no fruits were found on it
The Temple had many activities (leaves) but no faith or religiosity was seen (fruits)

Jesus performs an action of fury and rage

The fig tree is cursed and it withers
The Temple is cursed and cleansed

Some of the key messages of both these stories invite us to reflect on our own life…

1) God’s demand to be fruit-bearing
The fig tree as well as the Temple failed to bear fruits…

As Christians, we are expected and demanded by God to bear fruits and be co-operative to the graces that God has blessed us with

2) Importance of repentance and cleansing
The fig tree is judged for its fruitlessness while the Temple is cleansed due to its uncleanness

As Christians, we are to repent and cleanse our hearts of all defilements, lethargy and sluggishness and become relevant and effective people of God

3) Harsh consequences are in store for the unfaithful and unfruitful
The fig tree is cursed while the Temple undergoes the wrath of the Zealous Jesus

As Christians, we are to realise that strong consequences are for sure, if we fail in our duties and responsibilities

The Gospel of the Day is a strong exhortation by Jesus…
… to become aware of our Christian duties
… the need to be faithful and ever watchful
… and become zealous in bearing fruits for the Kingdom of God.

Let us give heed to the warnings and exhortations of the Lord, and build our lives by co-operating with the Grace of God…
…so that we become persons of “Faith and Fruitfulness!”

God Bless! Live Jesus!