அமைதியின் தெய்வமே ! இயேசுவே ! I 30.04.2024 - TUESDAY I REV. FR. AROKIA D...

ASK-SEARCH-KNOCK

Ordinary Time: Week 27 Readings I - Mal. 3: 13 - 4:2 II - Lk. 11: 5-13 ASK-SEARCH-KNOCK Prayer is all about A.S.K. that is Ask-Search-Knock incorporated with the theological virtues and in persistence. Ask with charity, search with faith and knock with hope and it shall be done. Ask God in love: love for God, self and neighbour so that we be selfless and right in addressing our petitions, invocations and intercessions to the Lord. Search for God with utmost faith even when all around is dark for the Bible says, “Even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you” (Ps. 139:12) so that we find him so closer to us than our very breath (Ps. 46: 1). Knock at the door of the paradise with a hope of a child towards his father and will be opened. Never cease to ASK with Charity, Faith and Hope and it will be done all for the good of the person and for the glory of God.

POPE SAINT JOHN XXIII

Ordinary Time: Week 27 Readings I - Jonah 4: 1-11 II - Lk. 11: 1-4 POPE SAINT JOHN XXIII From the Gospel passage today we infer that every rabbi taught his disciples to pray. Inspired by the prayer life of Jesus, the disciples insisted Jesus to teach them too to pray. May be because they realised that the power of his words and the passion for his mission was the fruit of his prayer life. The life was Jesus was a life of integrity. The credibility of the life of Jesus made the disciples to desire for learning how to pray. Prayer is the well spring and life stream of a happy, contented, joyful, peaceful and fruitful living. The happiness and contentment come from humble acceptance submission to the will of God in prayer. Prayer paves a hotline connect with God helping us courageously face all things is life with the serenity and tranquility. Today the Church celebrates the feast of Pope St. John XXIII. He was pope from October 28 1958 until June 3 1963 when he died at the age of 81 years in his Apostolic Palace in Vatican City. Instead of becoming a short-period pope who would do nothing, Pope John XXIII convened the Second Vatican Council on October 11 1962, the council that changed for the better, the face of Catholicism in matters of liturgy, ecumenism, approach to the world, and evangelization. He had been a humorous pope. He loved his flock so much that he was also termed as ‘people’s pope’. He went around Rome to visit the sick in hospitals, prisoners in the jail, reformatory schools for juvenile delinquents, and other institutions that take care of the least of the society. This kind gesture made many people to feel the presence of God in him. He toiled for the people and for the Church in an unassuming way. He actualized prayer in his life. May the life of the saint inspire us to live our lives unassumingly but with God.

CHOOSE THE BETTER PART

Ordinary Time: Week 27 Readings I - Jonah 3: 1-10 II - Lk. 10: 38-42 CHOOSE THE BETTER PART Martha welcomed Jesus into her home. The two sisters chose their own roles in expressing their hospitality and love to their beloved guest, Jesus: Martha, to serve the Lord and her sister Mary, to sit at the feet of the Lord and to listen to him. Mary was considered to have chosen the better part because she was totally present to the Lord in listening to him that she was neither distracted nor disturbed by anything or anyone. On the other hand, Martha was working for the Lord but she was worried about many things that she began to blame Mary and accuse Jesus for not caring about her when she was alone doing all works. Which is better? To choose and to be committed or to choose and to be distracted? Mary was committed in listening to the Lord, the lot that she chose therefore Mary had chosen the better part. In our expression of love and devotion to the Lord we do often compare and contrast ourselves with others. The expression and devotion to the Lord could be contained in our prayer life, in our listening to the Word of God, in helping the poor, in serving the needy, in rescuing the suffering, in relieving the oppressed and in loving the least in the society. In this process one need not compare and get distracted but to accomplish with utmost devotion, love, care and reverence. Otherwise all our works and efforts would go a waste in vain. Let us choose the better part like Mary in loving and serving the Lord with love

LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOUR

Ordinary Time: Week 27 Readings I - Jonah. 1: 1-17; 2: 1, 10 II - Lk. 10: 25-37 LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOUR In today’s Gospel passage Jesus prescribes only two conditions to inherit eternal life: one, to love God above all and two, to love the neighbour. From the parable of the Good Samaritan we infer that every fellow being in need of our help is our neighbour. The priest and the Levite who served the Lord, failed to serve the bleeding man who was in dire need of their help. The Samaritan, an outcast, was moved with compassion and helped him in saving his life. Jesus gives the Samaritan as model for them to imitate in their love for their neighbour. We flock to churches, take up pilgrimage and attend retreats to experience God and to reciprocate our love for God often failing to recognise his residence in every human persons as well. Every person is a temple of God. In the suffering of every person, God suffers; in the rejection of every person, God is rejected and in the neglect of every fellow being, God is neglected. Love of God and love of neighbour can never be separated, they are intertwined. Love of God implies love of neighbour and vice versa. Love God in neighbour and inherit the eternal reward.

LIVE BY GOD’S STANDARDS

Ordinary Time (Sunday): Week 27 Readings I - Is 5: 1-7 II - Phil. 4: 6-9 III - Mt. 21: 33-43 LIVE BY GOD’S STANDARDS The three readings of the day focus on fruitful living. In the first reading taken from Prophet Isaiah, Israel is symbolized as the finest vine planted by God’s own hands that yielded only wild grapes, disappointing God. In the Gospel reading Jesus uses the parable of the wicked tenants to describe his predilection for Israel, the people of God. In the parable, the master sends his servants to get his due from the tenants to whom he had leased out his vineyard but the tenants beat them and drove them off the vineyard. Finally the master sends his own son so that they respond to him. But, they threw him out and killed him. The Kingdom of God is the vineyard and the tenants are the people of God. Jesus came to his own and his own accepted him not. The Gospel passage ends saying that the Kingdom of Heaven will be given to people producing fruits. We are the New Israel, the Children of God, created in the likeness and image of God the Father Himself, redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus, His Son and our Lord and sanctified by the Holy Spirit. We will be able to yield good fruits if we fix our mind on what St. Paul in his letter to the Philippians says in the Second reading, “whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Therefore lift your heart unto the Lord, Listen to God’s voice and live a credible life to inherit eternal happiness.

OUR LADY OF ROSARY

Ordinary Time: Week 26 Readings I - Acts 1: 12-14 II - Lk. 1: 26-8 OUR LADY OF ROSARY Today the Church celebrates the feast of Our Lady of Rosary. The feast was instituted by Pope Pius V in 1953 as a thanksgiving for the victory of the Christians over the Turks in the battle of Lepanto. The Rosary is precisely a contemplative prayer. Pope Paul the VI had described it saying, “As a Gospel prayer, centered on the mystery of the redemptive incarnation, The Rosary is a prayer with a clearly Christological orientation”. Mother Mary, during her apparitions at Lourdes to Bernadette and in Fatima to Lucia, Jacinta and Francesco has exhorted to pray the Rosary. Pope John Paul II in his apostolic letter on the Rosary, ‘Rosarium Virginis Mariae’ says that Mother Mary is active on the soul that ponders or contemplates Jesus through the eyes of Mary in praying the Rosary. In praying the Rosary we are united to Christ her Divine Son. The Gospel passage of the day is on the ‘Angelus’. Every day we pray the angelus three times contemplating the incarnation of the Son of God, we recite and remember at least fifty three times the greetings of the angel Gabriel to Mother Mary while praying the Rosary. Rosary is the compendium of the Gospel. While praying the rosary we contemplate Jesus himself honoring his blessed mother Mary. If we wish to be united with God and with one another, all we have to do is to pray the Rosary. Rosary is a popular family devotion. As we are in the month of Rosary, let us devoutly pray every bead entrusting ourselves and all our intentions into the loving hand of our dear mother Mary who accompanies us in our life journey as she did the apostles in the first reading. May our Lady of Rosary help us, guide and support us in our every walk of life.

ACKNOWLEDGE GOD’S BLESSINGS

Ordinary Time: Week 26 Readings I - Bar. 1: 15-22 II - Lk. 10: 13-16 ACKNOWLEDGE GOD’S BLESSINGS In today’s Gospel passage Jesus condemns the cities that failed to repent even after witnessing the mighty works of Jesus. On the roads of Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum Jesus performed so many miracles and alas! The people in their stubbornness of heart they never relented to repent. The ruins found today bears testimony to the words of Jesus. Had these miracles been done in the pagan cities of Tyre, Sidon and Sodom, they would have turned from their wickedness, yielded to repentance and consequently to conversion of heart. Often we are like those cities, Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum. We may be receiving grace after grace and blessings after blessing. But in the moment of testing times we fail to place our trust in the Lord. It is at those moments we are called to assert our faith and trust in the Lord. Only stubborn people don’t. Be not stubborn like the people of Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum, instead, be open to the voice of God that comes especially through the Scripture.

ST. MARIA FAUSTINA KOWALSKA

Ordinary Time: Week 26 Readings I - Neh. 8: 1-4, 5-6, 7-12 II - Lk. 10: 1-12 ST. MARIA FAUSTINA KOWALSKA Today the Church celebrates the feast of St. Faustina Kowlaska to whom Jesus chose as his messenger to the modern world with his message of love and mercy. Jesus appeared as the King of Divine Mercy and insisted, “Humanity will not find peace until it turns trustfully to divine mercy”. Every time Jesus appeared to Faustina, he spoke of his unfathomable love and mercy for the all humankind especially the sinners. Even when the superiors, church authorities and the theologians doubted St. Faustina, she endured everything in obedience and with patience. This was the fruit of her prayer life of which Jesus himself was so much pleased. St. Faustina was canonised by St. Pope John Paul II. The picture of the divine mercy of Jesus is the one that was given to Faustina in her vision by Jesus including the short prayer, “Jesus, I trust in you”. Today’s Gospel passage is about the trust and tutoring of Jesus. With great trust in the seventy two, Jesus sends them ahead of him to all the towns and places he himself was to visit. To them he entrusts the mission of preaching about the Kingdom of God; and healing and curing of the sick. He does not send them just like that. He tutors them with instructions on their focus about the mission and provision for their livelihood. He gave them a purpose to their life and cared for their provisions as well. We are called to be the disciples of Jesus. May the saint of the day help us to be the credible witnesses of Jesus as she did.

ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI

Ordinary Time: Week 27 Readings I - Neh. 2: 1-8 II - Lk. 9: 57-62 ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI The expression of every love varies. Every expression is unique and beautiful if done with an undivided heart and absolute attention. Today the Church celebrates the feast of St. Francis of Assisi who chose to love the Lord in embracing poverty and serving poor and the sick especially the lepers. He was the founder of the order of the Franciscans. Francis of Assisi was from a Nobel and wealthy family. He was the son of a cloth merchant. Enamored by the love of God, he gave away everything and embraced poverty to the extent of stripping himself off his clothes. St. Francis of Assisi embraced the entire creation of God in love and friendship to the extent of calling God’s creation as brothers and sisters viz. Mother earth, brother sun, sister moon, brother fire and sister water in his ‘Canticle of creature’. He is the Church’s patron saint of animals and the environment. Taken up by the poverty of Jesus in the manger, he set up the first live nativity scene in honour of the birth of Jesus - the Christmas crib. He was so much taken up by the poverty of Jesus in the manger. During his last years he was completely blind but never a word of complaint was heard to be uttered from his mouth. He also had the gift of stigmata with an excruciating pain partaking in the suffering of the Lord. He died reciting Psalms 141 and 142. Unlike the men who gave silly reasons to the call of Jesus to follow him in the Gospel passage of the day, St. Francis of Assisi born of a wealthy family, gave up everything only to follow the Lord. Giving up everything for the Lord is gaining everything for life eternal. This is what St. Francis of Assisi did. May St. Assisi give the courage to let go and forego for the sake of Christ Jesus, Our Lord.

DO NOT REACT BUT RESPOND

Ordinary Time: Week 26 Readings I - Zech. 8: 20-23 II - Lk. 9: 51-56 DO NOT REACT BUT RESPOND Jesus was focused about his mission and ministry; and therefore set his face to go to Jerusalem when the days drew near for him to be taken up. Jesus and his disciples were on their way to Jerusalem through Samaria, the shortcut to Jerusalem. Though Jesus was already renowned and hailed by people as teacher, preacher and healer, the Samaritans did not receive him into their city because of the constant conflict between the Jews and the Samaritans. The Jews considered the Samaritans as outcasts and never associated with them. But to go to Jerusalem they always chose the shortcut through Samaria and this caused prejudice in the minds of the Samaritans and hence they refused to receive Jesus too into their city. The disciples of Jesus, James and John wanted Jesus to command them to bring down fire from heave to destroy them. But Jesus rebuked his disciples and went through another village to Jerusalem. We can draw two lessons from the Gospel passage of the day. First, the Samaritans in their prejudice received not Jesus, the promised one of God and the restorer (Deu. 18:15) whom they believed in and waited for. And Secondly, Jesus was so gentle and understanding enough to respect the freedom and feelings of the Samaritans that he went through another village to Jerusalem. Everyone has their own reason for their reaction. When we choose to go beyond and to respond, we will be sure to cease the chances, opportunities, prospects and possibilities ahead unlike the Samaritans. Let us also like Jesus, be gentle and respect the freedom of others than violating, coercing and trampling.

THE GUARDIAN ANGELS

Ordinary Time: Week 26 Readings I - Ex. 23: 20-23 II - Mt. 18: 1-5, 10 THE GUARDIAN ANGELS Today the Church celebrates the memorial of the Guardian angels. The feast originated in Spain during the sixteenth century. It was extended to the universal Church and made obligatory in 1670. Angels are messengers from God. They are with us to protect, guard and to lead towards eternal life. This is evinced by today’s Gospel passage where we read, “See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father”. In the Catechism of the Catholic Church we read, “Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life (336)”. The protection of angels continues right from our conception until we reach Heaven. In the first reading, God sends an angel before the Israelites to guard them and to bring them to the place he has prepared for them but all that they should do was to pay careful attention to him and obey him. Our life is a journey on earth till we reach our destination God. And this journey is assisted, guarded and guided by our guardian angels. All we have to do is to pay attention to him and to obey him in our journey towards the eternal life with God.

ADHERE TO GOD’S WORD

Ordinary Time: Week 26 Readings I - Ezek. 18: 25-28 II - Phil. 2: 1-11 III - Mt. 2: 1-11 ADHERE TO GOD’S WORD The three readings of the day converge at the conversion of mind and heart unto the words and ways of the Lord. The first reading says that when a righteous person turns from his righteousness and does injustice, he shall die and when the wicked person turns away from his wickedness and does what is just and right he shall live. A righteous persons turns from his righteousness may be because of his stubbornness as did the Pharisees and the Sadducees of Jesus’ time. The Gospel passage is about the parable of the two sons in which the first son objects to obey but finally does the work the father wanted but the second obliged to obey and finally failed to do what his father said. The tax collectors, sinners and the prostitutes though lived a sinful life, amended their lives listening to the Word of the Lord. In the second reading, St. Paul exhorts to have the mind and heart of Jesus Christ who obeyed the Father even to the point of giving up His life on the Cross. The Word of God comes to us in various ways, through the Scriptures, persons, events and above all through our conscience. If we accept and align our lives unto the Word of God we shall live and inherit eternal life. Listen to Him and live a purpose filled life.

DELIGHT IN DOING GOD’S WILL

Ordinary Time: Week 25 Readings I - Zec. 2: 1-5, 10-11 II - Lk. 9: 43 - 45 DELIGHT IN DOING GOD’S WILL Fame, name, pomp, glory, honour, praise or popularity can never disturb or disorient a determined, convinced, focused and highly goal oriented person. In today’s Gospel passage we read that people were astounded at the greatness of God and were amazed at all that Jesus was doing. The disciples would have been definitely dwelling in the heights of happiness and peak of pride about their master. Jesus in a way distracts and disrupts them by reminding them of the reality about his mission viz. suffering, passion, death and resurrection. Confidence in God, Clarity about his mission, focus on the goal and his great passion to accomplish the will of the Father, persuaded Jesus to proceed ahead in his ministry and mission remaining neutral to all circumstances. Almost all people in the world are mesmerized, delighted, influenced, enthralled, fascinated and captivated by praise, pride, applause, glory and honour. They are ready to do anything to attain the same. Christian living contradicts this and on the contrary calls for a commitment to God’s will. It exhorts us to change our focus from the transitory to fix our gaze on the transcendent. When we position our life centering around God, we can actualise the words of St. Paul in our own life, “…through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything” (2 Cor. 6: 8-10). Then, can we hear the voice of God calling us as “Beloved son/daughter”.

ST. MICHAEL, ST. GABRIEL, ST. RAPHAEL, ARCHANGELS

Ordinary Time: Week 25 Readings I - Dan. 7: 9-10, 13-14 II - Jn. 1: 47-51 ST. MICHAEL, ST. GABRIEL, ST. RAPHAEL, ARCHANGELS When Philip spoke about Jesus to Nathanael, in all his simplicity he asked, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” (Jn. 1: 46) and still with the openness of heart he went with Philip to verify for himself if Jesus was the Messiah and he indeed beheld the truth after meeting Jesus, the Messiah. We complicate our life that is so simple, create confusion to conceal reality, and willfully reject to accept the truth. Openness of heart can overtake prejudice, simplicity can surpass stubbornness and pave way to pursue all that is true, real and lasting. Let us with simplicity and openness of heart dare to behold the truth as it comes. Today the Church celebrates the feast of the Archangels St. Michael, St. Gabriel and St. Raphael. The work of St. Michael is to defeat Satan and its rebellious activities, that of St. Raphael is to be the guardian of the wayfarers and finally that of St. Gabriel is to be the messenger of God. May St. Michael help us to conquer the constant battle between the good and the evil in us defeating all that is not of/for God; St. Gabriel make us like himself the messenger of the Good News wherever we are and St. Raphael be our constant companion in our life journey until we reach our final destination, a blissful eternal life with God.

LIVE AND LET LIVE

Ordinary Time: Week 25 Readings I - Haggai 1: 1-8 II - Lk. 9: 7 - 9 LIVE AND LET LIVE An exemplary living has an extraordinary impact on the lives of people living around. In today’s Gospel passage, Herod was perplexed at the thought of Jesus who accomplished great things in Galilee on account of which a large crowd was always after him. The life and teaching of John the Baptist was a stumbling block to his sinful living and therefore under the pretext of keeping his promise, he had him beheaded. The life of Jesus disturbed him so much that he wished to see him; and towards the end, he also had his part in the crucifixion of Jesus. Right to live is the basic human right of every individual. Therefore allow everyone to live their life to the full and never trample or violate because of the stereo mindset or sheer jealousy. Accept, admit, respect, revere and allow the unique life style and life pattern of the other to make this earth a heaven and a pleasant land for all children of God to live.

STRIVE FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD

Ordinary Time: Week 25 Readings I - Ezra 9: 5-9 II - Lk. 9: 1 - 6 STRIVE FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD The Gospel passage of the day is on Jesus assigning the ministry of driving away the demons, curing of diseases, proclamation of the Kingdom of God and healing the sick. Jesus entrusted the ministry to the twelve and suggested them about their means of living as well. The Gospel passage enlivens the preaching of Jesus, “But seek first the Kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well” (Mt. 6:33); “Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into the barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not more valuable” (Mt. 6:26). Hence, Jesus exhorts his disciples to concentrate on the mission than on the means of living. To preach through words is easy to everyone but to preach through life is witnessing, demanding and credible. Dare to proclaim the Good News to the sick, depressed, discourages, distressed and the downtrodden that our God is ‘Immanuel’ - God with us. Commit to heal the world with your smile, kindness, cheerfulness, compassion, mercy, love, forgiveness and gentleness. In doing all these we become credible Christians and faithful followers of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Keep focused on the ministry and mission entrusted, and true to the promises of the Lord, the rest will fall in line, one blessing after another, all for the glory of the Lord. Today the Church celebrates the feast of St. Vincent de Paul, a French saint. He is the founder of the Congregation of the Missions. St. Vincent de Paul is recognised for his charity and compassion for the poor. May the saint help us to live by the Gospel of the day

WANNA TO BE THE KITH AND KIN OF JESUS

Ordinary Time: Week 25 Readings I - Ezra 8: 7-8, 12, 14-20 II - Lk. 8: 19-21 WANNA TO BE THE KITH AND KIN OF JESUS In today’s Gospel passage Jesus shows us the way to become a member of his family. When he was preaching, his mother and brothers waited outside, asking to speak to him. When the message was passed on to Jesus, Jesus stretched out his hand towards his disciples and said, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the Word of God and do it”. Jesus prescribes a higher way of relationship than mere physical one. In both the ways, Mary is his mother: in physical and in submitting herself to the will of the Father in heaven. If we adhere to the Word of God and submit to the same we too are his mother, brothers and sisters. It is challenge and a privilege. It is a challenge because the Word of God may demand us to go against our own wills, whims and fancies. It is privilege because we become a member of God’s family. Take us the challenge and inherit the privilege.

LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE

Ordinary Time: Week 25 Readings I - Ezra. 1: 1-8 II - Lk. 8: 16-18 LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE Today’s Gospel passage is an appeal to let our light shine. As the Gospel passage says, no one lights a lamp and puts it under a bed rather place it on the stand for a better lighting. We as Christians are bestowed with various gifts of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 12: 68) utilizing which we are called to bear fruit in this world for the glory of the Lord for we are accountable to the gifts given. We are called to lift our lights high so as to lift the world to its original order and this is what the Kingdom of God is. Let Jesus, our Master be our role model. He utilised all his power and energy in doing all good to others. He strove to lift up the world head up as children of God as an example to follow. Failing to use God’s gifts to serve each other is failing to be an ardent follower of Christ. Today the Church celebrates the feast of the parents of St. Theresa of Child Jesus. It was the faith, teaching and the exemplary life of these parents that made the children offer themselves to love the Lord all through their lives. Today we shall also pray for the parents that they may help their children to let their light shine as did the parents of St. Theresa of Child Jesus.

THE LAST SHALL BE THE FIRST

Ordinary Time: Week 25 Readings I - Is. 55: 6-9 II - Phil. 1: 20-24, 27 III - Mt. 20: 1-16 THE LAST SHALL BE THE FIRST Today’s Gospel passage is about the parable of the labourers in the vineyard. It is a subversive story of Jesus where all the labourers hired for the vineyard at various intervals of time are being paid equally with the message that the last shall be the first. The story epitomes the equality and justice that reign in the kingdom of God. The equality is that everyone was paid the same despite the number of labour hours they contributed; and justice is that every worker was given what was promised to him. The labourers of the early hours were unhappy about the equality and justice because they were envious that the other person who arrived later them too was paid equally. The parable of Jesus subverted the rule of the contemporary world order. The kingdom of God is the right of all persons and the one who walks on the way of the Lord inherits it from the very moment he/she decides to align his/her life to live by the law of the Lord. The parable is an invitation and encouragement to all those who are astray from the kingdom of God. It is an invitation for a deep spiritual conversion and an encouragement that it is never too late to amend our lives for inheriting the kingdom of God. Like those labourers of early hours do not become envious instead appreciate and welcome the rhythm of change in the other for the better because all are children of God and there is no one greater or smaller in God’s kingdom.

Bible Reflections I 23.09.2023 - SATURDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Ordinary Time: Week 24

Readings 

            I - 1Tim. 6: 13-16

           II - Lk. 8: 4-14

                  

BECOME DOERS OF THE WORD OF GOD

Today’s Gospel passage is about the parable of the sower and the seed.  It’s about the seed and the yield, highlighting the receptiveness of the soil it fell upon. Same sower and the same seed but the yield varied with the place where they were sowed.  Some fell on the path, while some on the rock, still others amidst the thorns and thistles and the seed that fell on the good soil produced a hundred fold.  

Based on the parable, people can be divided into four types: the hearers, the impetuous, the opportunists and the doers. Hearers can be compared to the seed that fell on the path.  This type of people just hear the Word of God and just leave it in the air without giving a second thought. They can be easily distracted.  The impetuous are quick to respond but without standing steadfast in the same.  These people can give up easily.  The opportunists understand well but waver in their steadfastness.  These people pick up what is pleasing and give up all that is demanding.  They follow the Word at their own convenience. The doers accomplish every Word of the Lord and bear witness to Him at all times. Today the Church celebrates the feast of St. Padre Pio.  He used to say that a person who meditates and turns his mind to God, the mirror of his soul, would seek to know his faults, correct them, moderate his impulses, and put his conscience in order.  This is exactly seed fallen on good soil.  Let us stand by the Word of God and bear witness to the same thereby making our life resolute, meaningful, and purposeful.

Bible Reflections I 22.09.2023 - FRIDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Ordinary Time: Week 24

Readings 

             I - 1Tim. 6: 2-12

           II - Lk. 8: 1-3

WE ARE ONE IN CHRIST JESUS

Jesus came to restore the relationship with God reflected in the establishment of an egalitarian society where, freedom, fraternity, equality and justice reign and this is the Kingdom of God. Jesus taught on the streets and the lanes, preached in the synagogue and on the shores, healed the deformed and the disabled, cured of evil spirits and infirmities as a sign of the blossoming of the Kingdom of God that was so immanent. Jesus gave a giant leap in the composition of his team that consisted of women as well, as we read in the Gospel passage today. The rabbis in Israel, holding on to the law, tradition and practices withdrew themselves from associating with women and valued them as ‘no persons’, secondary citizens and inferior to men. Unlike the Jewish rabbi, Jesus befriended women and had them too to be in the team of followers. He gave them a fitting place in his team and made them the partakers of his mission as well. This is the greatest sign of equality that reign in the Kingdom of God for: “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3:28).  

There are innumerable groups of activists who protest and fight for gender equality. Men and women are never equals they are complimentary. One gets completed in the other and also one cannot exist without the other. And hence, equality in dignity has to be insisted. We are the loving children of God the Father, created in His own likeness and image and hence there is no distinction in the dignity. Violating the dignity of the other is violating oneself. Trampling the other is tampering oneself. Let us imitate the legendry life of Jesus to restore the respect and human dignity of women keeping in mind that one cannot exist without the other and that one compliments the other, for we are all one in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Bible Reflections I 21.09.2023 - THURSDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Ordinary Time: Week 24

Readings 

           I - Eph. 4: 1 - 7, 11-13

           II - Mt. 9: 9 - 13

ST. MATTHEW, APOSTLE, EVANGELIST 

                  

Today the Church celebrates the feast of St. Matthew, the apostle of Jesus and the evangelist. Matthew was a tax collector for the Romans and therefore he was considered as a traitor by his countrymen. The tax collectors always earned the hatred of the common people because they always collected more than that was levied by the Romans and so there were financially rich. The tax collectors were considered as sinners, outcasts and scum of the Jewish society. The Jews seldom associated with them. To such a person Jesus extends his invitation to follow him. The intent look and the powerful invitation of Jesus, pierced the eyes and conquered the heart of Matthew that he gave up his profiteering profession as tax collector and followed the Lord. He has recorded the life of Jesus in his Gospel and has presented Jesus as the Promised One of God and the fulfillment of the Law and Prophesies. To the Pharisees who criticised Jesus for calling Matthew, Jesus reponded saying, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick……For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners”.  

The guilt feeling that arises on account of sin is the powerful weapon of the evil one that prevents us from approaching the throne of God. Today’s Gospel passage is a consolation and an encouragement, for Jesus says, “I have come to call not the righteous but the sinners”. From the life of Matthew we can hope for a new beginning and a new life in Jesus. Matthew was shrewd to capture the set look of Jesus and smart to respond to the appealing words of Jesus. Jesus had come to call the sinners not the righteous (Mt. 9:13). He is the Good Shepherd that leaves the ninety nine in search of the one that is lost (Lk. 15: 1-7). “God 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 knows that we are weak and fragile. Let us allow and yield ourselves unto the grace of God for a transformation and a new life in Jesus Christ our Lord. No more feeling of guilt or unworthiness but repentance and a will to change. May St. Matthew help us for repentance and transformation to capture the gaze and the words of Jesus.

Bible Reflections I 20.09.2023 - WEDNESDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Ordinary Time: Week 24

Readings 

            I - 1Tim. 3: 14-16

           II - Lk. 7: 31-35

                   

DO THE WILL OF GOD 

In today’s Gospel passage we read, God's wisdom, however, is shown to be true by all who accept it (Lk. 7:35). To yield ourselves unto the will of God, turning deaf to the comments, remarks, allegations, appreciations and criticism of all around is wisdom. Neither John the Baptist nor Jesus Christ was affected by the accusations of the Scribes and the Pharisees because they fixed their focus on the will of God and were passionate in accomplishing the same. Hence they became so prominent and vital in the history of salvation of mankind.

We are so prone to seek appreciation and praises from the lips of the people around us. None of us wish to risk our good name or reputation. We are ready to do anything on this account. This is utter foolishness and wasting of our life in vain. Our happiness must come from God alone and this is possible only when we resolve to live by the will of God. Take delight in yielding unto the will of God and have a joyful life.

Bible Reflections I 19.09.2023 - TUESDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Ordinary Time: Week 24

Readings 

            I - 1 Tim: 3: 1-13

           II - Lk. 7: 11-17

JESUS WIPES AWAY EVERY TEAR

Today’s Gospel passage is about Jesus, raising the dead son of the widow at Nain. He was the only son of the widow and the anguish of losing that only son moved Jesus to compassion and he voluntarily went to work a miracle for her. The empathy of Jesus enthused him to give the widow her son back alive. 

Empathy moves to compassion and compassionate heart works wonders.  The bible says, “He will wipe all tears from their eyes” (Rev. 21: 4).  Our God wishes for happiness, peace and happiness to everyone even unasked. Let us trust and hope with faith and this will be done to us.  Though delayed, it will for sure not denied.  Take heart. Trust in the Lord.