“Shine forth, in brightness and holiness, radiating the Authoritative Presence of Christ to all!”

(Based on 1 Cor 2:10b-16 and Lk 4:31-37 – Tuesday of the 22nd Week in Ordinary Time, Year 2)

Napoleon Bonaparte was a French military and political leader who rose into prominence during the French Revolution.

In a short span of time, he had gained prominent control of the Continental Europe.

Once, while discussing and planning his strategies, with his staff officers, he spread a large map of the world on the table before him.

Then he put his finger on a kingdom which was coloured red and told them, “If it were not for this red spot, I could conquer the whole world!”

That red spot was the British Isles.

(The British Isles were identified with the colour ‘red’ derived from its prominence in their flag.

They were the only force, which Napolean felt, was preventing his plans to capture the entire world)

Probably, Satan, while discussing and planning his strategies, would spread the large map of the universe.

Then, He would put his finger on a place which was coloured red and told them, “If it were not for this red spot, I could conquer the whole universe!”

That red spot is the Blood of our Blessed Saviour, shed on the Cross at Calvary!

Yes, Satan trembles at the glorious presence of our Blessed Lord.

Evil cannot stand Holiness!
Wickedness cannot tolerate Goodness!

The Gospel of the Day presents this expression and dread of the evil one, who is unable to bear the presence of the Divine Saviour.

The Gospel Passage is the incident of the curing of the demoniac (Lk 4: 31-37).

The preceding passage (Lk 4: 1-30) described the dramatic inauguration of the public ministry of Jesus in His home-town, Nazareth.
… Initially, there was a lot of amazement, wonder and awe that was expressed by the people
… But when the Lord, began to explicate His Mission, especially of being a Saviour of all the nations, there was a change in attitude of the people
… The shift from a “goody-goody” expectation of the Messiah to a “challenging” presence, caused them discomfort, and they began to express their anger and infuriation, by seeking to even kill the Lord

But the Spirit-filled Jesus had no stopping…

Nothing could stop Him from continuing the Mission and the Duty entrusted to Him

And so, the Gospel says, “He went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee. And He was teaching on the Sabbath” (Lk 4: 31)

As the quote goes, “This is the kind of stuff, champions are made of!”

He was…
… determined in His dedication
… committed to His cause
… purposeful in His programme

Can we also imitate our Blessed Lord in this unswerving fidelity…

Oppositions may rock our life…
Crises may strangle our hopes…

But can I still continue to hold on to being Faithful to the Gospel and to the ways of the Lord?

This requires the tremendous infilling and a constant seeking and doing of God’s Will in our lives.

It was this purposiveness that enabled Jesus to be a person of authority and evoke astonishment and amazement from His hearers: “They were astonished at His teaching, for His Word was with authority” (Lk 31b-32)

Therefore, when the man who was possessed by the evil spirit, encountered Jesus, “he cried out with a loud voice, ‘Ah! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us?” (Lk 4: 34)

Yes, Satan trembles at the glorious presence of our Blessed Lord.

Evil cannot stand Holiness!
Wickedness cannot tolerate Goodness!

As followers of our Blessed Lord, we too are called upon to become “people of authority and holiness”

Can I seek to grow deeper in my relationship with the Lord…
… so that my Spirit-filled presence will cause the demons of “filthiness, lust, corruption and injustice” to tremble and be cast away?

Can I make efforts to co-operate still more with the Grace of the Lord…
… so that my life-in-Jesus, will cause the demons of “wickedness, indifference, hatred and pride” to shiver and be chased away?

There is a beautiful hymn, known to many of us, “Are you washed, in the blood of the Lamb?”

When we are washed clean by the blood of the Lamb, we have the power to stand before the forces of evil.
When we are purified by the cleansing might of the blood of Christ, we have the grace to challenge the pressures of Satan

May our lives, washed in the Blood of our Blessed Lord, be a “red spot” which would distort every wicked plan of Satan to conquer this world…
… and may we shine forth, in brightness and holiness, radiating the Authoritative Presence of Christ to all!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

“Being a ‘powerful dynamite’ of God’s Compassionate Love and Mercy!”

(Based on 1 Cor 2:1-5 and Lk 4:16-30 – Monday of the 22nd Week in Ordinary Time, Year 2)

The Dynamite was one of the most powerful invention known to humans at that time.

It was invented by Alfred Nobel.

When Nobel had invented it, he asked his friend – a Greek scholar- for a word in Greek, for ‘explosive power’.

The Greek word that was given was ‘dunamis’ – an explosive power!

By itself, a dynamite is fairly stable.

But once combined with an ‘igniter’ it becomes extremely powerful.
(An igniter is something like a firecracker placed inside a stick of TNT to set it off)

It is interesting that the “Power” of the Holy Spirit also has the same Greek word, “dunamis!”

As Christians, at our Baptism and in the further Sacraments, we have received this “dunamis” – Power!

We all have the potential within us to be a “Dynamite” – of God’s Love, Mercy and Power!

But the question is…

Do I give witness to this mighty power of the Holy Spirit- ‘dunamis’ – in my life…?
… Or have I been rendered powerless and ineffective, lacking the force of an ‘igniter’?

The Gospel of the Day is a powerful display of the Power of the Holy Spirit, by Jesus, as He inaugurates His public ministry at Nazareth.

The public ministry of our Blessed Lord begins with the reading and proclamation of the prophetic words: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me…” (Lk 4:18)

The Jewish world had been eagerly waiting and longing for the coming of the Messiah.

But Divine irony had it that when the Messiah did arrive, it was not with a mighty bang, but with a sweet gentleness and calm!

He came from a place, that was perhaps, least expected – Nazareth

He announced His coming to the public not with any grand show or spectacle – but by just declaring the Word of God with authority

But this humble beginning, that Divine Wisdom planned it so beautifully, would slowly unleash its mighty power – its “dunamis!”

The mighty words and proclamation by Jesus caused an immediate stir and buzz among the people who listened to Him.

The Gospel would testify to this fact, in the words: “And all spoke highly of Him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from His mouth” (Lk 4:22)

However, as the Spirit of God continued to display its mighty power, in the Person of Jesus, there also arose the spirit of division and opposition.

The “all-hailing” and “all -praising” crowd, on realizing the demands placed by the Word of God…
… got converted to “being enraged” and “being infuriated!”

So much was the antagonism that had brewed up that “all in the synagogue were filled with wrath, and they rose to put Him out of the city…” (Lk 4: 28-29)

This then is the “mighty dynamite of God’s Mighty Spirit”: A Power that arrests the attention of all and causes amazement and wonder…
… yet, a Power that also mightily challenges and confronts!

Each of us, as Christians, possessing the Mighty Power of the Holy Spirit is called to be a “Spiritual Dynamite”…
… One which arrests the attention of the people by our witnessing and faithful life
… One which causes people to make an introspection into their lives to turn towards God, even if it results in persecutions

Our Blessed Lord, with the mighty power of the Anointing of the Holy Spirit, became a life-transforming and a society-challenging Dynamite!

The unflinching focus and the faithful commitment was His Igniter
The deep desire to fulfil His Father’s Will was His Igniter
The intense love for His people was His Igniter.

Am I, as a Christian, somehow failing to be a powerful witness and give a mighty testimony to the Gospel?

Can I reinforce the ‘igniters’ of…
… being focused and faithfully committed
having a deep desire to seek and do God’s Will
… cultivating an intense love and compassion for His people
… so that my life can be a “powerful dynamite” of God’s Compassionate Love and Mercy!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

“Remaining fresh in the Grace and Peace of the Lord, by finding strength for difficult times, in the ‘school of hardship!’”

(Based on Jer 20:7-9, Rom 12:1-2 and Mt 16:21-27 – 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A)

A story is narrated of a group of students who were taken around different places of a village.

They came upon an orange orchard, where an irrigation pump had broken down.
The climate was unusually dry and many of the trees were beginning to dry and die, for lack of water.

The man who was guiding the tour – himself a farmer – then took the students to his own orchard.

The students were surprised to see the green trees in this particular fruit garden.

To know the reason, one of the students enquired the guide: “How is it that trees in your orchard are so fresh and green; you are not even using irrigation!

Whereas, most of the trees in this vicinity are dying!”

“These trees could go without rain, even for another two weeks!” answered the guide…
…” You see, when these trees were young, I frequently and systematically, kept them away from water for some time.

This hardship, caused them to send their roots, deeper into the soil, in search of moisture.
Now my trees are the deepest-rooted trees in this area!

While others are being scorched by the sun…
… mine are finding moisture at great depth

And thus, they remain fresh and green!”

The early schooling in hardship…
… helped the trees to find strength in difficult times

And thus remained fresh and green!

Christian Life makes us students of this particular school – whose term lasts life-long…
… and seeks to strengthen us, in difficult times.

This school… is the School of Suffering!

Wait a minute….

Do we already see some people telling in their minds and whispering a thought on their lips…

“Oh, Come on… not again a reflection on pain and suffering”..
“Give us something pleasant for a Sunday”…
“We know God is with us in suffering, but we are tired of listening to the same old groans and tales of pain!”

It’s a tough school, right?

But it’s a reality…

As Christians… we are all enrolled in this Grace-filled “School of Suffering!”

The Gospel of the Day is a reminder by our Blessed Lord on how every Christian has a duty to joyfully be a student of the “school of suffering!”

The Gospel of this Sunday is a continuation of last Sunday’s passage (Mt 16:13-20)

Jesus had conducted an opinion-poll to know what people felt about Him

And the World declared its opinion…

… Jesus was a great person like one of the prophets and was acclaimed as a Wonderful Man! (Mt 16: 13-14)

Then, Jesus sought an opinion to know how His disciples felt about Him

And the Heavens proclaimed…
… Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the Living God and was acclaimed as an Awesome God! (Mt 16: 16)

Many of us are satisfied and contented with these two understandings of Jesus:
Jesus as a Wonderful Person…
… and Jesus as an Awesome God!

But the Gospel of the Day presents the opinion and the understanding of Jesus Himself:

He would be the Lord and Saviour, who would suffer many things and be killed and raised on the third day! (Mt 16: 20b-21)

He is not just a wonderful person: an exemplary human…a compassionate individual…a good personality…
He is not just the marvellous God…the astounding Lord… the Merciful Saviour… the benevolent Master…
But He is also the Suffering Servant: The Persecuted Preacher… the Crucified Consoler… the Rejected Redeemer!

This, however, was a great scandal for Peter (Mt 16: 22)

He never expected nor wanted nor accepted that His Beloved Master would go through the “School of Suffering!”

But Jesus rebukes His prime disciple…
… with a very harsh reprimand, ” Get behind Me, Satan!” (Mt 16: 23)

That was a very strong statement made to Cephas – Peter, the rock of the group of Disciples!

But Jesus was clear and crisp in His convictions: “You are not thinking as God does, but as humans do!” (Mt 16: 23b)

Jesus wanted Peter and the other disciples…
… and each one of us to know and digest this seemingly “bitter” truth: Lukewarmness and slackness might help you slid through to win you certificates in the “school of comforts”…

But, patient endurance and unreserved commitment alone win will laurels in the “school of suffering!”

Cheating and shortcuts might ease you through to gain many trophies in the “School of Comforts”…

But, authentic dedication and staunch loyalty only will succeed in the “School of Suffering!”

This is what the Three Readings in today’s liturgy teaches us:

The true follower of Christ…
… will have to deny oneself and take up the Cross. (Gospel: Mt 16: 24)
The true follower of Christ…
… will seek to be transformed by the renewal of one’s mind. (2nd Reading: Rom 12:2)
The true follower of Christ…
… will bear all insults & mockery & yet have the Fire of His Word within! (1st Reading: Jer 20:7-9)

Every School seeks to achieve a great deal of perfection and quality…

The “School of Suffering” too – which is the Christian Way of Life – too seeks to make us perfect and valuable…

The “School of Suffering” is a tough school, but there is…
… much joy and satisfaction!
… immense value and treasure stored!
… plenty of grace and blessings within!

Let us win the great prizes of holiness, saintliness, happiness and eternal life…
… by becoming the wonderful students of this School of Suffering!

Our Great Mentor and Master and Teacher and Tutor – Jesus – is in perfect charge of this “School of Suffering.”

Let us be encouraged, because this “schooling in hardship” alone will help us to find strength in difficult times…
… and thus remain fresh and green always, in the Grace and Peace of the Lord!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

“Constantly seeking to have the ‘beautiful ring’ of our conscience in tune with God’s Will!”

(Based on 1 Cor 1:26-31 and Mk 6:17-29 – The Memorial of the Passion of Saint John the Baptist)

There was a certain king who possessed a magic ring.

This ring, looked like any of the other rings that the King wore, except the fact that this ring had some influential powers.

Whenever some evil thought would cross across his mind, or if he was tempted to do some wrong thing, this ring would press painfully on the finger!

This would make the King realize that he was on the wrong track, and would quickly become aware of the paths of danger.

Perhaps, many of us – especially with the ease with which we often slip into the slush of sin – would wish that we too could possess such a ring…
… a ring that would prick us painfully, so that we become aware of the wrong we do
… a ring that would act as a reminder to prevent us from treading on the thorny tracks of sin

But how many of us do realize, that all of us have been blessed and adorned with this beautiful ring?

Perhaps…
… some of us are ignorant of it
… some of us have lost touch with it
… some of us have forgotten its presence

This ring is nothing else but our ‘Conscience!’

Am I aware of the voice of the Conscience prompting me with its timely warnings and admonishing…?
… or have I lost awareness of the Conscience, by my constant rejection and frequent refusal of its still, gentle voice…?

The Gospel of the Day (Mk 6:17-29) is the dramatic re-telling of the story of the Martyrdom of St John the Baptist – a victim of a “Deadened Conscience!”

One of the important focus subject of this “soul-stirring and heart-gripping” incident is the aspect of Conscience.

Conscience is the inner guide to determine the right from wrong.

The Catholic Church, in her teaching on the Conscience says: “Deep within his conscience, man discovers a law which he has not laid upon himself but which he must obey.

Its voice, ever calling him to love and to do what is good and to avoid evil, sounds in his heart at the right moment.
For man has in his heart a law inscribed by God
His conscience is man’s most secret core and his sanctuary.
There he is alone with God whose voice echoes in his depths. (CCC #1776)

The education of the conscience is a life-long task.

However, as a person grows up – going through various experiences in life – there can be…
… errors that creep into the conscience
… areas in the conscience that are never informed

Hence, the formation of the Conscience is to be of utmost importance in the moral life of a person – a formation that has the Word of God as the light for our path!

In the Gospel, we encounter King Herod, who failed to give heed to the Word of God, prophetically spoken by John the Baptist.

The Word of God was directly addressed to him…
… but he chose to reject it.

The Result: His conscience became subdued and the voice of his own personal desires grew louder in the depths of his heart!

The Word of God was put forward to him and challenged his moral integrity and his lustful life…
… but he failed to give any heed to the call to repent or change.

The Result: His conscience was stifled and its gentle voice was drowned in the ocean of adulterous appetite and carnal cravings.

This danger is a possibility in so many of our lives too…

We hear God’s Word telling us not to do certain things, or forbids us from following a particular lifestyle…
… but often, we don’t give any consideration to it, and live life “bindaas” – without any fear!

We are informed by people who care for us, on the need to mend our ways or to live a life which is more disciplined or oriented towards our faith…
… but sometimes, we just don’t bother about it, or pretend as if “We know to live our lives, without anyone’s advices”

We come to know of the many wrongs that we indulge ourselves in, or are made aware of the sinful paths that we may be treading across…
… but quite often, we sink into the waters of lethargy or indifference or climb up the mountain of pride and arrogance

The Result?

Our conscience becomes weakened…
… fails to become a forceful power in our lives
… and slowly, stutters towards a crippling death!

The powerfully intense story of the Beheading of John the Baptist is a mighty call for us to give greater heed to the formation of our conscience.

Can we take some practical resolutions (just to mention a few) to help towards the same…

Making a daily examination of conscience (ideally twice a day – noon and night – or at least at the end of the day)
… consciously going through each activity of the day
… thanking the Lord for all His blessings at every step of the day
… discovering the moments when we have strayed away from His paths and failed to do His Will
… make deliberate and practical decisions to amend them, and to foster actions of goodness

Reading the Word of God – seeking to assimilate and moulding one’s lives as per the Sacred Will of God
… setting apart, strictly, at least a few minutes of the day ( Let’s not forget that “a day consists of 1440 minutes… 86,400 seconds!!) to spend time with the Word of God

Seeking to spend more time in personal prayer (ideally and whenever possible, before the Most Blessed Sacrament)
… The conscience derives strength, clarity and cleansing, when presented before its Creator!

Strengthening our Sacramental life especially in the Sacraments of the Holy Eucharist and Holy Confession
… making it a point to participate in the Holy Eucharist more often (with wholehearted preparation and due reverence)
… resolving to make a Confession at very regular times (probably, once in a month), realizing that Confession is not only for “forgiveness of sins” but also “for grace to be stronger and courageous in one’s spiritual life)

Let us constantly seek to have the ‘beautiful ring” of our conscience in tune with God’s Will…
… and thus help us to live a life of complete commitment and courageous passion, like St John the Baptist.

God Bless! Live Jesus!

“Ensuring that our lives, burning with the Lamp of Christ, becomes a constant melody that sings, ‘keep me burning till the end of day…’”

(Based on 1 Cor 1:17-25 and Mt 25:1-13 – Friday of the 21st Week in Ordinary Time, Year 2)

One of the common songs that many of us know is…
“Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning… Keep me burning till the end of day…”

Every Christian is called to become a beacon of light in the darkness…
…. and to be a shining star in the ambience of every night.

The Gospel of the Day teaches this aspect and reminds the aspect of being watchful for the Coming of the Lord.

The Lord presents the parable of the ten virgins…
… with five of them being wise in keeping the lamps ready, with sufficient oils
… and the other five being foolish, in failing to make any efforts to have the lamp lit `

The parable of the Ten Virgins has its setting in a Jewish Wedding.

In the time of our Blessed Lord, the wedding was probably one of the greatest events in a typical Palestinian village or an Israeli town.

This was a time of great social celebration!
All got together…
… friends, relatives, villagers..
It was a time of great festivity, abounding happiness and overflowing celebrations.

A Jewish marriage consisted of three parts or elements:

1) Engagement
It was sort of an official contract between the two fathers, who would be giving their son and daughter to each other.

2) Betrothal
This second element consisted of the friends and family members coming together and the couple making vows and promises that were binding.

This phase onwards, they would be officially considered as husband and wife.

3) Marriage
The time after Betrothal lasted up to a year, which was for the bridegroom to prepare a place for his bride – either an addition to his father’s house or to have his own

It was to be his concrete expression of showing his love to her – preparing a home for her and preparing his heart and life for her!

At the end of the time that he needed to get it prepared, he would go to take her and bring her to his place – and they would thereafter, live together.

This third phase, therefore was the fulfilment of the eager longing of the bridegroom and bride, in being together for the rest of their life!

The Wedding set-up that is mentioned in today’s Gospel is this scene of the third phase of the wedding.

This is the climax of the wedding festivity where the bridegroom goes to get his bride.

This was done in a grand procession through the village, so that all in the village could be part of this festivity.

The Ten Virgins (or bridesmaids) who are mentioned in the Gospel Passage, had the role of performing one of the acts of entertainment.

They would have to perform a wedding dance – “torch dance” around the bride and the groom, holding torches.

It would symbolize the light of their love, wishing them a luminous future.
Then the wedding party would go into the house, and the celebration would last for seven long days!

In the parable, it is mentioned that “since the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep” (Mt 25:5)

It was only when the call that the Bridegroom had arrived was given, that five of the virgins realised, that “they brought no oil with them” (Mt 25:3)

It’s so ironical that the wedding which was such a well-prepared and a long-awaited event, had these five virgins who were so unprepared and so unequipped for the grand moment!

The story of these five virgins who were unprepared (whom our Blessed Lord calls as ‘foolish”) could well be our own stories too…

In Lk 12:35, we read: “Be ready, dressed for service, AND KEEP YOUR LAMPS LIT…”

To keep our lamps lit – is the reminder and challenge of the Gospel to all of us.

At our Baptism, we all have received the Light of Christ.
This light, is not just to be preserved, but is to be nurtured and fostered daily.

But we live in a world when there are many winds seeking to put off this light in us.

We live in a world, where there is a strong engulfing of the darkness trying to drown the light in us.

Let’s examine our own lives…
Am I allowing the wind…
… of “losing the focus from God” to put off the light in us?
… of “being focused on one’s own selfish interests” to put off the light in us?
… of “false principles and ideologies” to put off the light in us?

As the saying goes, “We can’t prevent birds from flying over our heads…
… but we can certainly prevent them from laying a nest on our heads!”

We cannot prevent these winds to rage and hit our lives…
… but we can certainly prevent them from blowing off the Light of Christ in us!

This strength comes from our determination, perseverance and commitment…

But above all, being united with Jesus, the Source of Light…
…. in daily prayer
…. frequent sacraments,
… constant nourishment with the Word of God
… and faithfulness to our daily duties of our vocation and life!

St Paul powerfully reminds us of God’s Amazing Power and Providence, as he tells:
“For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom…
… and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength!” (1 Cor 1:25)

The Saint of the Day – St Augustine – discovered that His life was lacking the “burning Light of Christ.”

But He was touched by the Lord, and was transformed!
Today his life, is indeed a Blazing Beacon of God’s Wisdom…
… not just externally, but also wonderful in the eyes of God and His people!
Let us seek his intercession…
Let us be inspired with his example
Let us be hopeful with his life!

May our lives, burning with the lamp of Christ, become a constant melody of “keep me burning till the end of day…”

God Bless! Live Jesus!