“Staying calm and happy by having a simple and a little faith, in the Great and Big God!”

(Based on Isa 65:17-21 and Jn 4:43-54 – Monday of the 4th Week of Lent)

There was once a good woman who was well-known among her circle for her simple faith and her great calmness in the midst of many trials.

Another woman, living across the street, hearing of her, said, “I must go and see that woman, and learn the secret of her calm, happy life.”

She went, and, enquired the woman: “Are you the woman with the great faith?”

“No,” was the answer!

“I am not the woman with the great faith…
… but I am the woman with a little faith in the great God,” came the rest of the answer!

Yes, the secret of “staying calm and happy” is about having “a simple and a little faith, in the Great and Big God!”

The Gospel of the Day presents an incident of a “person who stayed calm and happy” by having “a simple and a little faith, in the Great and Big God!”

Jesus is in the land of Galilee… away from his hometown. (Jn 4:43)

In this Gentile land, a royal official whose son was ill – nearing death – approached Jesus, seeking for a healing.

He travelled a far distance – nearly 20 miles, from Capernaum to Galilee – and coming to Jesus, he asked, “Sir, come down, before my child dies” (Jn 4: 49)

This royal official had a mixed bag of faith:
He had faith in Jesus, which made him to come a long distance to meet Jesus.
… his faith, was probably, mostly prompted only because of a need for a healing.

Often our faith resembles this royal official…
… turning to the Lord only in times of afflictions and troubles
… having our own doubts on whether the Lord can really work miracle in the way I want

But we must also remember that hard and difficult situations, are willed by God…
… to allow for miracles and healings, which ought to become the springboard for a deeper and committed life of faith!

The Lord has His own ways and means of working powerfully in our lives…
… and we need to have the openness and humility to receive them in His way and in His time!

When the Lord gave His word, “You may go; your son will live” (Jn 4:50), this royal official, with a mixed bag of faith…
… began to understand the secret of “staying calm and happy”
… by having “a simple and a little faith, in the Great and Big God!”

The Gospel says, “… the man believed what Jesus said to him and left” (Jn 4: 50b)

Moments of immense difficulties and crisis often cripple us.

But, the Lord constantly invites us “to stay calm and happy” by having “a simple and a little faith, in the Great and Big God!”
It’s His grace that strengthens us.
It’s His mercy that empowers us.

Life often feels overwhelming…
… but God reminds us that He is making everything new.

“See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.” (Cf. Isa 65:17-18)

Our Big God calls us not to dwell in the past…
… but to rejoice in what He is doing now
… and what He has planned ahead.

Faith isn’t about having all the answers…
… it’s about trusting the One Who does!

Let us adopt and personalize this great secret…
… of “staying calm and happy” by having “a simple and a little faith, in the Great and Big God!”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

“Allowing ourselves to be led into the Light and thus ‘feeling blessed’ in encountering Jesus, the Sun (the Son!)!”

(Based on 1 Samuel 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a, Eph 5:8-14 and Jn 9:1-41 – 4th Sunday of Lent, Cycle A – Laetare Sunday)

In 1728, the English surgeon William Cheselden performed a remarkable surgery on a 13-year-old boy who had been blind from birth.

After the cataract surgery, the boy could suddenly see.

But the doctors discovered something astonishing.

The boy said that everything looked as if it was touching his eyes.
He could not judge distance. He could not recognise shapes.
He did not even know the difference between a cube and a sphere…
… although he could recognise them perfectly with his hands.

He had eyes…
… but he still had to learn how to truly see.

Indeed, every encounter with the Light leads to an important question: Do we accept the “Beauty of Light” with faith and trust…
… or do we tend to shun the “Brilliance of the Light” and sink deeper into darkness and disbelief?

The Gospel of the Day shows a man born blind who encounters Jesus, the Light of the World.

This incident becames a time of teaching to recognise that one must learn to see…
… not just with eyes, but with the heart.

Because “the real miracle is not opening of the the eyes – it’s the opening of the heart!”

And here lies the choice: do we allow this Light to guide us upward, into faith…
… or do we remain in darkness, resisting what God wants to reveal?”

The Gospel speaks of…
… a man – who was imprisoned by blindness – “feeling blessed” in having encountered Jesus, the Sun
… other men – who remained chained in ignorance and darkness – “filled with anger and antagonism” – resisting the Truth!

Chapter 9 of the Gospel of St John is a story of “blindness” encountering Light – with contrasting effects:

A man who is “born blind”, touched by the Light of the World, experiences healing
Other people “remain blind”, by opposing the Light of the World, emitting hostility.

We thus see, in this long yet beautiful passage contrasting movements:

An upward movement – towards faith and trust – of the man who was born blind
A downward movement – towards scepticism and unbelief – of the people who clung to prejudices

1) The upward movement – towards faith and trust – of the man who was born blind

Jesus declares that the blindness of the man was an occasion for “the glory of God to be revealed” (Jn 9: 3)

This revelation of the Glory of God comes about with Jesus doing a unique action…
… “spitting on the ground, making clay with the saliva and smearing the clay in the eyes” of the man born blind (Jn:6)

This action of the Son would remind us of the action done by His Father, who at the beginning of creation, would reveal His Glory, by “forming man out of the clay of the ground, and blowing in his nostrils, the breath of life!” (Gen 2:7)

This act of the revelation of God would trigger the upward movement- of faith and trust- of the blind man…
a. Initially he on being asked about Jesus, he would say, “I don’t know” (Jn 9:12)
b. Then, he would say how Jesus is “a prophet” (Jn 9: 17)
c. Then, he would get defensive about Jesus and say that “if He is not from God, He would not be able to do anything” (Jn 9: 33)
d. Finally, after realising that Jesus is the Son of God, he would worship Him and say, “I do believe, Lord!” (Jn 9: 38)

2) A downward movement – towards scepticism and unbelief – of the people who clung to prejudices

An act of goodness always gathers detractors and critics…
… and Jesus, the Perfection of Goodness greatly experienced it.

a. Initially, the Pharisees pointed to the violation of the Sabbath Law, to prove that He is not from God: “This man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath” (Jn 9: 16)
b. Then, they would question the parents of the man, because they thought, he had not been blind from birth: “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How does he now see?” (Jn 9: 19)
c. Then, they would defend their arguments basing on their loyalty to the authenticity of Moses, the law-giver: “We know that God spoke to Moses, but we do not know where this One is from” (Jn 9: 29)
d. Finally, they would engage into a direct dispute with the Lord Himself: “Surely, we are not also blind, are we?” (Jn 9: 40)

Jesus perfectly sums up…

The upward Movement- towards faith and trust
The downward Movement – towards scepticism and unbelief…
… by saying: ” I came into this world, for judgment, so that those who DO NOT SEE MIGHT SEE… and those WHO DO SEE MIGHT BECOME BLIND” (Jn 9: 39)

We need to ask ourselves:
“What is the direction of my Spiritual Life…
… is it having an upward movement, towards faith and trust?
… or is it having a downward movement, towards, scepticism and unbelief?”

St Paul says, that we need to “live as children of Light, for Light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth” (Eph 5:8-9)

We need to also remind ourselves of the mind of the Lord, as revealed in 1st Book of Samuel: “The Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart!”(1 Sam 16:7)

The Lord, in our every day of life, uses a number of occasions – pleasant and unpleasant situations – to “reveal His glory”

Do we remain open to His Light in order to have an upward movement into deeper faith and trust?
… or do we get closed in darkness and thus make a downward movement into deeper scepticism and unbelief?

Today is Laetare Sunday, the fourth Sunday of Lent

Laetare in Latin, means “To rejoice!”

This Sunday is a liturgical pause of joy (‘Rejoice!’) amid our penitential journey…

Its rose-colored vestments, lighter tone, and readings of hope signal…
… that even in Lent, the Church calls us to rejoice in the coming salvation of Christ
… and to prepare, with greater zeal, the Light breaking into our darkness.

On this Laetare Sunday, as we once again renew our Lenten commitment and resolutions…
… let us not remain chained in ignorance and darkness, resisting the Truth.

Instead, allow ourselves to be led into the light and thus “feel blessed” in having encountered Jesus, the Sun!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

“Casting away pride and embracing humility and dependence on God!”

(Based on Hos 6:1-6 and Lk 18:9-14 – Saturday of the 3rd Week of Lent)

In the summer of 1986, two ships collided in the Black Sea off the coast of Russia.

Hundreds of passengers died as they were hurled into the icy waters below.

This news of the disaster was further darkened when an investigation revealed the real cause of the accident.
… it wasn’t a technology problem like radar malfunction
… it wasn’t a climate-related issue like thick fog.

The real cause was human stubbornness and pride!

Each captain was well aware of the other ship’s presence nearby.

Both could have steered clear…
… but according to news reports, neither captain wanted to give way to the other.

Each was too proud to yield first.

By the time they came to their senses, it was too late!

This is what stubbornness and pride can do…
… harm lives
… break hearts
… destroy reputations

The Gospel of the Day exhorts a strong message on this deadly vice of “being full of ourselves”
… in a single word – “Pride”.

Chapter 18 of the Gospel of St Luke begins with two parables, that teach on the aspect of Prayer.

The parable of the Widow who was persistent (Lk 18: 1-8)
The parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Lk 18: 9-14)

The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector have interesting comparisons…
… with respect to the various gestures and actions that they take:

Both go up to the Temple area to pray…

The Pharisee took up his position…
… the tax collector stood off at a distance
The Pharisee spoke the prayer to himself…
… the tax collector would not even raise his eyes to heaven
The Pharisee spoke of his personal glories…
… the tax collector acknowledged being a sinner, in need of mercy.

Though the Gospel doesn’t speak of it, it seems that both, the Pharisee and the tax collector…
… had “taken a mirror” with themselves, when they went to pray!

A mirror… yeah!

But, the strange fact is that, both of them used the mirror in contrasting manners!

The Pharisee used the mirror and saw his many achievements and accomplishments…
… being unlike the rest of the sinful humanity like the greedy, dishonest or adulterous
… fasting twice a week
… pay tithes on his whole income

The tax collector, also used a mirror, but saw in it, his many failures and shortcomings…
… the moments when he had cheated others to have greater financial gains
… the times he had subjected himself to be a traitor by working against his own people
… the need to seek for God’s mercy acknowledging his sinfulness

Prayer is like a mirror…
… but it depends on one’s attitude and disposition what one sees

If one is filled with pride and self-conceit, one sees only one’s accomplishments…
… and thus pushes out God and replaces oneself as the source of all good works!

If one is truly humble and modest, one sees one’s weaknesses and limitations…
… and thus acknowledge the dependence on God and on His grace in life!

Prayer could be made into a time of reciting the litany of one’s great achievements…
…or prayer could be made into a moment of seeking God’s mercy and compassion.

Prayer could be made into an occasion to boast of oneself and put down others…
… or prayer could be made into a moment to see the glittering light of God guiding us.

Prophet Hosea strongly reminds us: “For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.” (Hos 6:6)

What is our attitude and disposition?

Am I afflicted with the sickness of pride…
… which makes me to flaunt myself, at the expense of the other?
… which makes me to see myself as the greatest person in the world, casting aside all people and even God?

There is something of “this” Pharisee, perhaps, in all of us which needs to be shun…

There is something of “this” tax collector, which needs to be cultivated…

This “this”…
… is the need to cast away pride and the need to embrace humility and dependence on God!

Let us be willing to “give way to the other”
… so that we can avoid collision of lives
… and thus prevent harming lives, breaking hearts and destroying reputations!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

‘Choosing to respond in ‘holiness and faithfulness’ – with much love of God and neighbour – even in ‘harsh and fiery’ situations of life!”

(Based on Hos 14:2-10 and Mk 12:28-34 – Friday of the 3rd Week in Lent)

A missionary in a particular place came across a man who had bandaged and scarred hands.

When asked what had happened, he said, “My neighbour’s straw roof was on fire.

I helped him to put it out and that’s how my hands were burned.”

It was only later that the whole story was known.

The neighbour hated him and had in anger, set his roof on fire…
… while his wife and children were asleep in the hut.
They were in great danger.
Providentially, the Christian was able to put out the fire in his house on time.

But sparks flew over to the roof of the man who had set the house on fire…
… and his house started to burn.

There was no hate in the heart of this Christian!

There was only love for his enemy
And so, he did everything he could to put out the fire in his neighbour’s house.

That is how his own hands were burned!

Life was being pretty ‘harsh and fiery’ to him…
… but he chose to respond in ‘holiness and faithfulness!’

Am I ready to live a “life of love?”
… love that reaches out to the other in selflessness
… love that stems forth from a passionate love for God

The Gospel of the Day, is a challenging invitation to reflect on this fundamental aspect of our Christian Life.

The incident mentions a scribe, who had been watching his fellow-scribes in an argument with the Lord…
… and feeling impressed with Jesus, comes up to Him with a question:
“Which commandment is the first of all” (Mk 12:28)

We are not too sure of the motive of this scribe.

As per the versions of the same incident, in St Matthew (Mt 22:35) and St Luke (Lk 10:25), the person posed this question to Jesus, in order to “test him.”

The Markan version is however, silent on this aspect.

Whatever be the intention, the scribe most certainly was reflecting a common query…
… that was widespread among the teachers and scholars of the Law: Which is the first of all the commandments?

God had issued the Ten Commandments to the people of Israel.

These laws were intended for the people of Israel to be “distinguished” as the chosen nation of the Lord – chosen from among all others in the world.

These laws – simple and direct in nature – were aimed towards demanding a total loyalty from the people, to the Lord.

However, over time, these uncomplicated laws by which the people of Israel were to live…
… began to be expanded and extended and expounded.

From a rabbinic tradition (codified by Maimonides in the 12th century), there were 613 commandments or stipulations:

365 of them (corresponding to the number of days in a year) were negative commandments, as in ” You shall not…”
And 248 of them (corresponding to the number of bones and major organs in the body, as per the Jewish understanding) were positive commandments, as in “You shall…”

When the Lord was asked to mention the First of all these Commandments…
… He puts forward the basis and the foundation of all these various laws, stipulations and commandments:
“You shall love the Lord your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength” (Mk 12: 30)

And “You shall love your neighbour as yourself” (Mk 12: 31)

Note the insistence on the word “all”….
… “all” your heart… feelings, emotions, desires
… “all” your soul… will, choices, decisions
… “all” your mind… reason, knowledge, memory
… “all” your strength… talents, abilities, capacities

The Lord commands a “total” and “complete” loving!

He does not permit compromises to let our wishes to slide through…
He demands an “absolute” and “unadulterated” love!

As Christians, we often…
… seek to find “loopholes” in laws of loving the Lord and our neighbour

Our selfishness often creeps in…
Our personal desires often spoil it…
Our sinful tendencies often gain an upper hand…
But the insistence of the Lord is clear:
“Love Fully”
“Love Totally”
“Love Completely”

This is the ideal to which we, as Christians are called!

If not for this loftiest ideal, our life as a Christian would fail to be different from others!

Prophet Hosea reminds, “For the ways of the Lord are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them.” (Hos 14:9)

God promises life and flourishing to those who seek Him sincerely.

Even in our failures or tough moments of life, His steadfast love restores hope and joy.

Each of us as Christians are called…
… “to be holy”
… “to be set apart”
… “to be different”

This holiness comes when we seek for the highest ideal…
… loving God totally and expressing this love wholly to our neighbour.

Life will often be ‘harsh and fiery’…

Let us choose to respond in ‘holiness and faithfulness!’

The call is indeed great and very lofty!

The Lord is knocking at the door of our hearts.
Let us, at this moment, place our hands on our heart, and answer Him:
“I LOVE YOU, LORD!”…
… and reach out this passionate love in service to one another!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

“Allowing ourselves not to be ‘influenced and altered’ by the ways of the world!”

(Based on Jer 7:23-28 and Lk 11:14-23 – Thursday of the 3rd Week in Lent)

A group of two brothers were roaming in the forest, when they found a couple of tiny birds of the family of linnets.

When the boys got the birds home, they put the linnets in a cage, opposite the canary bird, which was tied in another cage.
(Canary birds are known to be “Singing Birds”)

They explained to their mother that they hoped the linnets – being so young – would learn to imitate the singing canary…
… Instead of cheeping as normally birds do, they expected them to sing (like the canary)

The next day the boys entered the room, and exclaimed:
“Mother, come here, look what has happened!

Our canary is cheeping like a linnet!”

The mother came in… and found it so!

Instead of the linnets learning to sing, the canary bird forgot its ability to sing!

Thus, the canary had to be separated from the wild birds of the wood and kept under cover for a time before regaining the singing ability.

Such is the case with Christians who allow themselves to “influenced and altered” by the ways of the world!

We may end up losing the “Song of our Faith!”

Yes, Christian life requires that we be constantly “on the watch and guard”, because it is…
… a constant struggle between the forces of evil and the power of goodness…
… a relentless warfare between the coercion of sin and the strength of holiness…

The Gospel of the Day presents this struggle between…
… Jesus and the Pharisees
… the Holy One and the evil forces
… the Kingdom of Heaven and the kingdom of Satan

The Lord came to the world to usher in the Kingdom of God.

Bringing to forefront the Kingdom of Power and Holiness, the Lord casts out a demon from a person who is dumb. (Lk 11:14)

This mighty action of healing and deliverance had a tremendous effect…
… the dumb man spoke
… and the people marvelled.

But, this wondrous act of power and authority also triggered a volley of struggles…
… a struggle of words between the Pharisees and Jesus
… a teaching on the struggle between the Kingdom of God and the forces of evil

The Lord lashes out in authority and conviction, on being accused of siding with evil powers to cast out demons: “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste and a divided household falls” (Lk 11: 17)

Jesus makes it clear that one cannot be siding with negative forces in order to perform deeds of goodness and salvation!

Jesus makes it clear that one cannot be on the side of evil and sin and yet be authentic and genuine in doing works of true deliverance and righteousness!

This brings us to an important dimension that needs our honest and critical consideration:

Am I a person truly on the side of God when I engage in works and ministries of the Lord…
… but still continuing to be on the side of the Evil One by living a life of sin?

Am I a person imbued with the Spirit of the Holy Lord in professing to be a Christian…
… or am I living a dual-life by failing to give up immoral tendencies and obliging the evil spirit?

Am I a person who may be performing a lot of good works in the name of God…
… but failing to have an intimate relationship and union with the God of all power and glory?

Venerable Fr Peter Marie Mermier, the founder of the Congregation of the Missionaries of St Francis de Sales puts it beautifully:
“The ministry of a priest without prayer, is a barren ministry, without any effect, even harmful; it is a ministry of death!

Instead of enlightening, it blinds; instead of healing, it kills!
But the ministry of the one who prays, is a ministry of life!”

Christian life is not to be just defined by external works of piety and works…
… but is to be a reflection of the inner intimacy and relation with the Lord.

Christian Life is not to be merely characterized by many deeds of charity and devotion…
… but is to be a manifestation of one’s true faith and closeness to the Divine Master.

A true inner disposition and authority is a must to be effective and credible in our life.

I may find myself often in the “cage” of faith and unbelief…

But am I clear in taking the side of the Lord and Him alone?

I may find myself often in the “cage” of actions of goodness and temptations of the evil…

But am I convinced of taking the side of the Kingdom of God alone?

Christian Life is a constant struggle
… between the evil and good
… between the Devil and Jesus
… between the Kingdom of God and the powers of wickedness

Which side are we on?

Let us be careful not to allow ourselves to be “influenced and altered” by the ways of the world…
… so that we may not end up losing the “song of our Faith!”

God Bless! Live Jesus!