Bible Reflections I 01.07.2023 - SATURDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Ordinary Time: Week 12

Readings

          I - Gen. 18: 1-15

      II - Mt. 8: 5-17

THE POWER OF WORDS

Power of words and power of faith surpasses proximity of time and place is the central theme of the Gospel message today. The centurion though was a gentile was convinced that the word of the Lord has absolute authority of command to accomplish its purpose and would heal his servant - the power of word. He recognizes that Jesus was someone great and calls Him “Lord” which also means master while the learned and the cleaver of Israel failed to recognise this identity of Jesus - power of faith. The power of the words of Jesus and the power of the faith of the centurion finally heals the servant.  

Words spoken can be a prayer, a blessing, a curse, an appreciation, a deterrence, a praise, a gossip, a truth or a lie. Words can heal, hurt, build, break, confront, console, frustrate and encourage. Words have such power and would definitely have their own effect and impact. The words of Jesus was always life giving, life promoting and life enhancing. In this light let us examine the quality of our words. St. James in his epistle says, “The tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great exploits” (Jas. 3:5). Let our tongues be trained to testify that we are children of God in the words that we use and utter for every word we utter has a great power.

Bible Reflections I 30.06.2023 - FRIDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Ordinary Time: Week 12

Readings  

         I - Gen. 17:1, 9-10, 15-22

      II - Mt. 8:1-4

HEAL ME JESUS 

The Gospel passage of the day is about the cleansing of a leper. The lepers were considered as sinners and outcasts in the Jewish society. They lived in the outskirts of the town. They were forbidden to have any contact with the people who had no leprosy. As Jesus was accompanied by great crowds, a leper accosted Jesus with great courage saying, “Lord if you choose, you can make me clean”. Jesus with great compassion touched him and said, “I do choose. Be made clean”. The courage of the leper and the compassion of Jesus restored the leper back to his normal life.   

In the Letter to the Hebrews we read, “Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted” (Heb. 2:18). But, there are times when the burden of the problems block us completely from raising our hearts and minds to God. We get drowned in a thimble of water and struggle, instead let us have courage to place all our trust and hope in the Lord for he can wipe away every tear from our eyes (Rev. 21:4). God in His compassion wishes that we be healed and relieved from all sin, sickness, problems, worries, anxieties, guilt, fear and be restored to our identity as children of God.

Bible Reflections I 29.06.2023 - THURSDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Ordinary Time: Week 12

Readings

         I - Acts. 12:1-11

      II - 2Tim. 4:6-8, 17-18

     III - Mt. 16:13 -19              

ST. PETER AND ST. PAUL 

Today the Church solemnises the feast of St. Peter and St. Paul, the giants of Christianity and the great pillars of the Church. Simon Peter was an unlearned fisherman and Saul Paul was a learned and a Jewish fanatic who persecuted the Christians. Simon encountered the Lord and became Peter, the rock and the leader of the Church. Saul encountered the Lord and became Paul, the ‘apostle of the gentiles’. Both of them accepted Jesus as their Lord and Messiah and proclaimed Him vehemently through their words and deeds. Many convinced of their emphatic preaching and became Christians. Their life and preaching infuriated the higher authority of the Government resulting in the martyrdom of the apostles. St. Peter was crucified upside down and St. Paul was beheaded. Both endured the same with a hope of eternal crown of glory that awaited them in the Paradise. 

We too have accepted Jesus as our Lord in Baptism. Mere acceptance will not suffice. We are commanded to proclaim Jesus not in mere words but in our deeds of love, “By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one to another” (Jn.13:35). In our giving, sharing, forgiving, compassion, kindness, love, generosity and self-giving people must identify that we are Christians. In our effort to live for the Lord, we would be swimming against the current, and fall a prey to the wrath of the world. Let us not loose heart instead as St. Paul would say let us “always be sober, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, carry out your ministry fully” (2Tim. 4:5). When we are faced with suffering and opposition, let us rejuvenate our mind and heart with the assuring promise of Our Lord Jesus Christ, “Behold I am always with you until the end of times” (Mt. 28:20).

Bible Reflections I 28.06.2023 - WEDNESDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Ordinary Time: Week 12

Readings  

         I - Gen. 15: 1-12; 17-18

        II - Mt. 7: 15-20              

LET YOUR LIFE PREACH

In today’s Gospel Jesus cautions us not to be deceived by impressing gestures and appealing words of the hypocritical people around us. He also gives us a clue to discover their hypocrisy with the simple metaphor, “a good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree good fruit”. Integrity of the people testify their quality and credibility while disintegrity cause incredibility and bad reputation.  

St. Francis of Assisi would say, “Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words”. Preaching Gospel at all times is nothing but to walk the talk, make it a way of living and that is spirituality. Mere preachers of a religion are not more than a ‘salesperson’; for a salesperson promote a product while the preacher promote a religion if he does not live by the same. As Christians with an obligation to preach the gospel, it is easy to speak about God’s love, mercy, forgiveness and benevolence. We are good trees and cannot but yield only good fruits.

Bible Reflections I 27.06.2023 - TUESDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Ordinary Time: Week 12

Readings  

         I - Gen. 13: 2, 5-18

      II - Mt. 7: 6 , 12-14              

CHOOSE THE NARROW GATE

  

To treat the other like as we treat ourselves is a challenging narrow path. It is difficult but not impossible. We care for our name, fame, reputation, respect and honour but do we wish the same for the other? The ‘I’ in us is so predominant that we promulgate and pamper it at the cost of negative criticism, cutting remarks, false accusation, rash judgment and ridiculous rumors towards others making their precious life a difficult and impossible one to live. This is what Jesus calls as ‘broad path’, easy but leads to destruction.  

Jesus through the Gospel passage invites us to travel through the ‘road less travelled’, by overcoming our jealousy, selfishness, pride and arrogance. Encouraging words, wishing the good of the other, a bit of appreciation and praise, prioritizing others needs to our own, positive outlook on others and generous forgiveness especially to those whom we don’t love enough or don’t love at all is difficult. This is narrow path that requires courage and a large heart. Dare to tread it with grace, prayer and above all with a bit of love for a bit of love can set all things right. In the silence of our hearts let us pray: “Lord Jesus fill my heart with your love”.

Bible Reflections I 26.06.2023 - MONDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Ordinary Time: Week 12

Readings 

         I - Gen. 12: 1-9

      II - Mt. 7: 1-5

               

JUDGE NOT AND YOU WILL NOT BE JUDGED

According to the teachings of the Jewish tradition the Jewish people believed that God used two measures to judge His people viz. measure of justice and measure of mercy. Whichever measure is used on people would be measure that God will use upon. This is what Jesus says in today’s Gospel: “For the judgment you make you will be judged”. All of us are imperfect with wrongdoings and shortcomings therefore unworthy to pass any judgment. As the Psalmist would say, “If you O Lord should mark our guilt, who will survive?” (Ps. 130:3). In the letter of St. James we read, “There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when He judges. The One who is all perfect and has the right to judge restrains his judgement as the scripture says,”The Lord is slow to anger and abounding in mercy”. (Ps. 145:8) 

When we are prone to pass judgment on anybody, let us hold on reverse it upon ourselves and examine, if the judgment befits us we have no right to make judgment. This is the teaching par excellence of Jesus. Jesus said to the ravaging crowd that brought the woman caught in the very act of committing to kill her, “Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her”. While Jesus was hanging on the cross amidst the murderers said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing” (Lk. 23:34). When we are pushed to pass judgment upon others we have two options: Either to examine ourselves or to forgive, modelled after the example of Jesus our Lord. As Jesus exhorts let us “be merciful even as the Heavenly Father is merciful”. (Lk.6:36)

Bible Reflections I 25.06.2023 - SUNDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Ordinary Time: Week 12

Readings:  

              I - Jer. 20: 10-13

      II - Rom. 5: 12-15

     III - Mt. 10: 26-33              

STAND FOR THE LORD

The one who proclaim God’s words always beget sufferings, troubles and persecutions because, His words contradict the worldly values that are compromising, convincing and comforting, centered around one self. The first and the Gospel reading of the day comes as courage and consolation to those who proclaim God’s Words and stand by the same as well. The Lord comes as warrior to protect and defend; stumbling the persecutors because we are so precious and dear to the Lord that even the hairs of our head are numbered.

As St. Paul says in the second reading, we are saved by the precious blood of Jesus. Our life is redeemed from sin by the life of Jesus. Courage! Stand up for the One who loves so much, defends all times and sides when suppressed. Dare to do the will of God and suffer the consequences with the confidence that we are the children of God and that He will never let us perish.

Bible Reflections I 24.06.2023 - SATURDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Ordinary Time: Week 11

Readings:  

              I - Is. 49: 1-6

     II - Acts. 13: 22-26

    III - Lk. 1: 57-66; 80             

NATIVITY OF JOHN THE BAPTIST 

The Church celebrates only three birthdays: the birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the birthday of St. John the Baptist and the nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ.  It is because the three had a significant and specific role in the history of Salvation.  Blessed Virgin Mary, to be the mother of our Lord Jesus Christ, St. John the Baptist to be the forerunner of Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ the redeemer of the world.   Today we celebrate the feast of the solemnity of the nativity of St. John the Baptist. God calls us by name even before we were formed in the mother’s womb and sets us apart for a particular purpose with the promise of this assured assistance and predominant protection is the main stream of all three readings today. Zachariah’s son is named as ‘John’, a name given by God Himself. He comes to the world with the mission of preparing the way of the Lord, the Messiah and the promised one.  His life will be tough but as in the first reading, he would reap his reward from the God who sent him with a purpose.  

God has a master and mighty plan for every child right from its knitting in the mother’s womb (Ps. 139:13).  He calls and choses us even before we were formed in the mother’s womb (Jer. 1:5) for a specific purpose. And this purpose is very, unique, different and original for every person. The purpose might be challenging, for to live for God is to live in the hatred of the people of the world. If we analyse in the light of the lives of the legends in the Bible, the saints and the people of our time who had opted to live as per the teachings of the Lord, have left us with one common message: to serve the Lord is to suffer for the Lord.  Take Courage. Dare to live and suffer for the Lord because we have the assurance of the Lord with us, “Behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age” (Mt. 28:20).

Bible Reflections I 23.06.2023 - FRIDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Ordinary Time: Week 11

Readings

            I - 2 Cor. 11:18, 21-30

            II - Mt. 6: 19-23

                

SOUND EYE FOR THE SOUND MIND

Jesus in today’s Gospel says that the eye is the lamp of the body. Eye is the most powerful input and output organ of the body system comparatively. What enters the eye, fill our body, mind and heart and we conduct ourselves accordingly. When the eye is filled with all that is true, noble, right, pure, lovely and admirable (Phil. 4:8), we will be aglow, transmitting the grace, mercy, love and compassion of God and help all around us to walk in our light leading them to the light of God. For example, when Jesus looked up (Lk. 19:5) the sycamore tree to look into the eyes of Zacchaeus, the life of Zacchaeus, the tax collector was transformed. It is better to guard our eyes than to let our whole life go a waste and disgrace.   

Constant trimming and kindling is required for a lamp to shine bright. Similarly, if we wish to be sparkling with the grace and spirit of God, we must be vigilant about what we see and perceive. What we see defines and describes our life. Therefore, be vigilant and on the guard to carry the light of God in our eyes to radiate the lives of people around us.

Bible Reflections I 22.06.2023 - THURSDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Ordinary Time: Week 11

Readings 

            I - 2 Cor. 11:1-11

            II - Mt. 6: 7-15

                

THE PRAYER OF JESUS

Jesus subverts the relationship between God and the people of Israel “we are your people and you are our God” to a relationship of sonship by calling God, “Our Father”. A paradigm shift from ‘God’ to ‘Father’. Through His prayer “Our Father” Jesus teaches us how to be God’s responsible children in realising the Kingdom of God here on earth. “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need” (Mt. 6:33) is the central theme of the Gospel passage today.

To understand the prayer better let us reflect on the last three invocations of the prayer. The first of the last three is about forgiveness. There is no choice but to forgive if we wish to be forgiven. Forgiveness liberates. With forgiveness we become free children of God. As free children of God we are called to choose between the good and apparently good, the worldly values and the Gospel values. In the second invocation, Jesus teach us to pray to the Father not to lead us to this temptation but to stand steadfast in His values of love, peace, generosity, humility, honesty, hope, joy and foster fraternity. In every temptation we have three choices viz. to compromise, to yield to the world and to yield to God. In the last invocation we plead for God’s grace to resist these temptations and yield to God alone so that there reigns justice and order in the world. Our striving for freedom, fraternity and justice can actualize the dream of Jesus, the Kingdom of God, where His name is honoured and His will prioritized. This is a warfare for which we are strengthened and supported by God’s the Word of God, the daily bread that sustains in our daily journey and we plead to God for this bread to fight the battle in bringing up God’s reign here on earth.

Bible Reflections I 21.06.2023 - WEDNESDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Ordinary Time: Week 11

Readings

              I - 2Cor. 9:6-11

             II - Mt. 6: 1-6, 16-18

                

ST. ALOYSIUS GONZAGA 

Through today’s Gospel passage Jesus tries to alter the human focus from earthly reward to heavenly reward in the matters pertaining to the acts of piety. Since these acts of piety viz. almsgiving, prayer and fasting are attributed to God, they must be accomplished with an undivided attention and utmost concentration solely with the intention of pleasing God alone unlike the hypocrites and the Pharisees who sort for human appreciation and applause.

When once St. John of the Cross was praying, Jesus asked him, “What would you like to have from me for all you have done and all you have suffered?” John replied, “Lord, to suffer and be despised for you”. Today the Church remembers St. Aloysius Gonzaga who says, “It is better to be the child of God than king of the whole world”. Like these saints, dare to have courage to forego the praises, glory and honour of this world and seek after the glory of the Lord. This is the wisdom of heart and grace of God. May the Lord give us the grace to choose God in all our thoughts, words and deeds and prove ourselves to be the children of God.

Bible Reflections I 20.06.2023 - TUESDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Ordinary Time: Week 11

Readings: 

           I - 2 Cor. 8:1-9

           II - Mt. 5:43-48

                

PRAY FOR YOUR ENEMIES

  

The paradoxical yet practical preaching of Jesus proposes to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. Is it possible to love and pray for those who offend, scoff, revile, falsely accuse, spread rumors, gossip and drag our name in vain to the point of making our life difficult and disastrous? Jesus is our model par excellence in this regard who forgave even His executioners. 

We do have exemplary people even in this era following this teaching to inspire and encourage besides being a witness to Christian living. It is easy to hate those who hate us but challenging to love and pray for them. Hate for hate can by practiced by anyone but it is in loving everyone beyond our likes and dislikes, friends and foes, whims and fancies can we imitate our Father in Heaven and claim ourselves to be children of God the Father. In the silence of our hearts let us pray: “Lord Jesus fill my heart with your love”.

Bible Reflections I 19.06.2023 - MONDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Ordinary Time: Week 11

Readings

            I - 2 Cor. 6:1-10

           II -  Mt. 5:38-42

               

CONQUER EVIL WITH GOOD

According to the Law of Moses, evil inflicted has to be paid back with the same density of evil viz. an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.  But Jesus, the New Moses gives a new law reversing and replacing the one that existed.  Not to retaliate but to resist the evil doer with our good deeds. Jesus instructs us to conquer evil with goodness.  

If we try to walk by the Gospel passage we might be ridiculed and labelled as foolish and coward.  If we dare to be Christians we should also dare to abide by the teachings of Jesus that calls us to challenge the existing world order.  Forgiving the one offended, walking an extra mile for the good of one that manipulates, wishing the good of the one that inflicts evil is of course a challenge and a risk.  The Bible says “Jesus went about doing good (Acts 10:38)”. With the grace of God let us aspire to go about doing good modelled after our Master and Lord Jesus Christ.

Bible Reflections I 18.06.2023 - SUNDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Ordinary Time: Week 11

Readings 

           I - Ex. 19: 2-6

          II - Rom. 5: 6-11

         III - Mt. 9: 36-10: 8

                  

GOD IS COMPASSIONTE

The three readings of the day speak about God’s work of salvation and his commission to them. The first reading is on God’s compassion and concern for his people. He saved them from the hands of the Egyptians and brought them to Himself. He commissions them to obey His voice and keep His covenant so that they remain always as God’s own. In the second reading Paul in his letter to the Romans writes that though we were sinners, still Christ was willing to give his life as a ransom for our salvation. In the Gospel passage, Jesus feels compassionate for the people around who were like sheep without a shepherd. He wished to save the suffering people and so he commissions his apostles to carry on his work among people until he comes again in glory. 

We are Christians with a great mission of healing, preaching and proclaiming. We need not raise the dead the dead, heal the sick….but with our words and gestures, and bring healing to the minds and hearts of people. We need not go to the street corners or search for pulpits to preach the Word of God but can effectively be done through our own life style. Not our mouths alone, let our entire being proclaim the glory of God. Become sensitive to the needs and sufferings of others and reflect Jesus amidst them through our lives.

Bible Reflections I 17.06.2023 - SATURDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Ordinary Time: Week 10

Readings 

           I - 2 Cor. 5: 41-21

          II - Lk. 2: 41-51

                  

IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY

Today the Church celebrates the feast of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In celebrating the feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, we celebrate her constant ‘Yes’ to the Lord that she once said to the angel Gabriel, the messenger of God at the time of annunciation: “Let ‘it’ be done according to your word.” That ‘it’ made her accept all things as the will of God: the accusations and allegations from people around, childbirth in the manger, flight to Egypt with the new born baby Jesus, the twelve years boy Jesus being lost in the Jerusalem temple, supporting and encouraging accompaniment of his son on his journey towards Calvary, suffering under the cross, acceptance of the humanity as her own children, the death of his dear son on the cross, to be with the apostles in the upper room at the Pentecost. And finally, that obedience to God all through her life fetched her assumption into heaven and the glory of incarnation as queen of heaven and earth.  

Yielding to the will of God is not easy it demands courage, conviction and daily commitment. Mary is an absolute model for our everyday living by surrendering ourselves unto the plan of God. We may have to suffer on account of our obedience to God but have courage and hope that we will like Mary partake in the glory of God if we submit ourselves unreservedly to Plan of God. May the Blessed Virgin Mary Bless all of us her children and give us the courage to walk by the way of the Lord.

Bible Reflections I 16.06.2023 - FRIDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Ordinary Time: Week 10

Readings 

           I - Deu. 7: 6-11

          II - 1 Jn. 4: 7-16

         III - Mt. 11: 25-30

                  

SACRED HEART OF JESUS 

The solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is the epitome of the absolute love of God for the humankind.  The heart of Jesus especially beats for the lost, the injured, the strayed and the weak; and he goes to their recue with an ardent love and anxiety like that of a Good Shepherd in manifesting the love of God for His people.  The despised, like the tax collectors; the abandoned, like the lepers who lived in the gallows; the oppressed, like the women and the children; the sinners, like the woman caught in adultery; the outcast, like the Samaritans; the traitor, like Judas; the betrayer, like Peter; the religious fanatic, like Saul and everyone are individually precious to Jesus. As the first reading says, we are God’s treasured possession.

In response to the unfathomable love of God, let the celebration of the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus inflame our hearts with love and devotion.  Jesus was the manifestation of God’s love for us, resolve as Christians, to manifest the love of Jesus in our thoughts, words, activities and dealings.  As we read in the second reading, we testify that we are born of God only when we love our neighbour.  Our love for God is proved in our love for our suffering brothers and sisters. Become a channel of God’s love to all who come in contact with us so that, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (Jn. 13: 35) be witnessed through our Christian living.  May our mind and heart resonate with the prayer: “Sacred Heart of Jesus, make my heart like yours”

Bible Reflections I 15.06.2023 - THURSDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Ordinary Time: Week 10

Readings

               I - 2Cor. 3:15-4:1,3-6

               II - Mt. 5:20-26

             

FORGIVENESS SURPASSES ALL THINGS 

The offenders and murders are liable for judgment. But, in today’s Gospel Jesus says that the one who is angry with his or her brother or sister is liable to judgment. He goes a step even further and insists to leave the offering at the altar and go to reconcile with the person who has something against him or her. Through this powerful sermon Jesus enlightens the humanity that love of God and love of neighbour are inseparable and that they are two sides of the same coin. Forgiveness is supreme and that lack of forgiveness nullifies any offering or other expressions of devotion. 

Insults inflicted and words spoken in anger can incapacitate, mutate and invalidate persons to the point of leaving them dead while they are still alive. Hence anger tantamount to murder. Jesus proposes reconciliation as a rudiment to quench anger and foster peaceful living. Reconciliation is to be resorted not only when we hurt others in our anger but also when we realise that others have something towards us. This requires humility. Jesus says, “Learn from me for I am meek and humble of heart” (Mt. 11:29). May the Lord Jesus teach us to be humble so that hatred, anger, rancor, resentment and violence can be resolved in reconciliation and peace restored. Jesus says, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God”. Getting angry is our weakness but feeling sorry for the same is Godliness. Let us repent, reconcile and recourse to peaceful living for we are children of God.

Bible Reflections I 14.06.2023 - WEDNESDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Ordinary Time: Week 10

Readings

              I  - 2 Cor. 3:4-11

             II -  Mt. 5:17-19

           

THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS

Israel was chosen to walk by the law and wait for the promised one in prophesy.  Jesus, the long awaited Messiah came as the fulfillment of the law and the prophets but in the stubbornness of their heart, the Scribes and the Pharisees refused to behold the promised one in Jesus.  They were adamant in holding on to the difficult and multiplied version of the law than to accept its simplified and condensed version given by Jesus to love God and to love one’s neighbor as oneself. 

Jesus through his love and life proved that this commandment is possible to observe and through today’s Gospel passage invites us to observe and exhorts us to help others to in observing the same.  If we wish to be great in the Kingdom of God we have to feed the hungry, give a drink to the thirsty, welcome the stranger, cloth the naked, care for the sick and visit those in the prison (Mt. 25:35-40). In this way we certainly outdo not only the Scribes and the Pharisees but also the hypocrites of our time as well.  For whatever we do the least of our brethren we do unto God Himself (Mt.25: 40).  In the simple acts of kindness and charity, try to become great in the kingdom of God.

Bible Reflections I 13.06.2023 - TUESDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Ordinary Time - Week 10

Readings 

                 I  - 2Cor. 1:18-22

    II -  Mt. 5:13-16

St. Antony of Padua (Memorial)

           

WE ARE SALT AND LIGHT TO THE EARTH

In today’s Gospel, Jesus invites us to make the marooned life colourful and meaningless life purposeful by being a light and the salt of the earth.  As Christians we have the responsibility to testify to the world that it is in sharing and not accumulating; it is in giving and not in receiving; it is in synergy and not in success; and it is in solidarity and not in aloofness, can we make our life colourful and purposeful.  It takes a lot of courage to go against the current carrying the light of Christ to savour the lives of the people living in darkness and despair. 

The Church today remembers St. Anthony of Padua, an Augustinian monk. He was born in Lisbon, Portugal.  He hailed from a noble family. Still he gave up everything including his wealth and riches for the sake of Christ and his Gospel.  He was just thirty five years old when he died.  He was canonised in less than a year. His tongue is not corrupt and still exhibited in St. Anthony’s Church, Padua. His teaching was so perfect and his life exemplified Christian living as a monk.  St. Anthony is also considered as patron for finding of the lost things. Let us pray to St. Anthony, the finder of lost things, to help us discover the qualities of Jesus in us so that we too may embrace an exemplary life in Christ becoming salt and light in our own society.  May our mind and heart resonate with the prayer, “St. Anthony, Pray for us”.

Bible Reflections I 12.06.2023 - MONDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Ordinary Time: Week 10

Readings: 

           I - 2Cor. 1:1-7

           II - Mt. 5:1-12

            

YOUR ARE BLESSED 

In today’s Gospel, Jesus calls those labelled and branded by the world as ‘cursed’, ‘ill-fated’ and a ‘threat’ because they choose to live by high ideals of life, as ‘Blessed’, encourages and consoles them with the reward that awaits them. With the Sermon on the Mount Jesus sets the parameter for Gospel living, the sufferings on its account and the reward for enduring false accusations and sufferings inflicted on this accord. 

Whenever we are pushed to tight corner in our choices, may we dare to choose God again and again and suffer for the same so that we may hear in the silence of our hearts God calling us ‘Blessed’ and filling us with His peace and joy. In our striving to live for God we may have to suffer but let us remember that we have Christ with us to standby, understand, help and support, for the Scripture says, “since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us as we are being tested” (Heb. 2:18) and prove ourselves as Christians and the followers of Jesus.

Bible Reflections I 11.06.2023 - SUNDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Ordinary Time: Week 10

Readings: 

            I - Deu. 8: 2-3, 14-16

            II - 1 Cor. 10: 18-17

           III - Jn. 6: 51-58

MOST HOLY BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST 

The Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ signifies the gradual transition of the Old Covenant of God with His people Israel through Moses - "You are my people and I will be your God” to the New Covenant with us, the New Israel through Jesus, the New Moses as “Children of God”, confirmed in the blood of Jesus. The first reading of the day is about how God took care of Israel in their journey from Egypt to the Promised Land, from slavery into the land of freedom, providing them with manna and water that refreshed and strengthened them on their journey. In the Gospel passage Jesus says that he is the bread of life and anyone who eats his flesh and drinks his blood is assured of eternal life with him. We are the New Israel, redeemed by the precious blood of the Lamb of God. We are fed by the body and blood of Christ that strengthens and sustains us in our journey towards eternal life and eternal bliss. 

The Holy Eucharist that assures us of His continual presence with us forever until the end our time. After the Institution of the Holy Eucharist, Jesus says, “Truly I tell you, I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until the day when I drink it new in the Kingdom of God”. An expression of His commission in building up a new world order. Thus Eucharist become a sign and symbol of His presence and mission. Become not wearied of the discouragement and the setbacks that the world gives instead have courage because we are journeying with and in the presence of the Lord. Fight all battle in this world with Jesus, hoping to raise our cup joyously with Him at the celebration of our eternal life with Him.

Bible Reflections I 10.06.2023 - SATURDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Ordinary Time: Week 9

Readings: 

            I - Tobit 12:1,5-15,20

           II - Mk. 12:38-44

SHUN PUBLICITY AND STRIVE FOR HUMANITY

The Gospel passage of the day proposes two models of personality viz., the Scribes, noble and respectable persons but mere preachers and a widow, poor and insignificant but practitioner of the law. The former is the model of hypocrisy and the latter is the model of spirituality. One took delight in vain glory the other in the generous giving as the scripture says, giving up all that she had to live on, the two copper coins. It is the attitude that takes precedence over our actions.  

We are living in the reality that is so much influenced by the ‘culture of publicity’. There are so many corporates, consultants and agencies besides the SNS platform that are working for the same cause. Scientific and technological developments have made publicity a click away. Still we do find people like the poor widow, going about doing good out of their way noticed by none but God alone. For instance, during this pandemic we did find ordinary common people helping the affected out of humanity and not publicity by providing physical, moral and spiritual support by contributing their mite. Some have also volunteered to help even at the cost of rising their lives by offering frontline services or by providing a decent burial to the deceased. May God be glorified in their generosity. As Christians we are called to imitate our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ shunned publicity either while performing the miracles or while preaching to the public. Let us follow our master and Lord Jesus Christ and live our lives challenging existing culture of publicity.

Bible Reflections I 09.06.2023 - FRIDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Ordinary Time: Week 9

Readings: 

           I - Tobit 11:5-15

           II - Mk. 12:35-37

BE OPEN TO THE TRUTH

In today’s Gospel we read Jesus quoting the Scripture to prove that He is not merely David’s Son but God’s own Son. The prophecy about the Promised One, the long await Messiah was already fulfilling in the person of Jesus. But in their stubbornness of heart, the Scribes, the Pharisees, the Chief Priests and the elders refused to accept this truth because of sheer jealousy, pride and prejudice. For in them was fulfilled the prophecy of Prophet Isaiah, “you will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving” (Isaiah 6:9).

We are not very much different from those hypocritical people. We too wish to hear only what is pleasing and see what is satisfying. We even try to shun from our family and friends, dear and beloved ones because their truth hurt us. We pamper our inflated ego, obstinate pride and obsessive prejudice to hate people who are different from us and bypass the hurting truth that come from them. May the Lord grace us with an open mind and heart to understand what we hear and to perceive what we see accepting the uniqueness and difference in every person in our search for truth.

Bible Reflections I 08.06.2023 - THURSDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Ordinary Time: Week 9

Readings: 

            I - Tobit 6:10-12;7:1,9-12, 15-1; 8:1, 4-9

           II - Mk. 12:28-34

KNOW WHO YOU ARE

 

In today’s Gospel we read one last question posed by one of the Scribe followed by the chief priests, the elders, the sadducees and the other scribes to Jesus, “which commandment is the first of all?” As a faithful Jew Jesus responded saying, to love the Lord God above all else, and to it he added the second, to love the neighbours as oneself.

The whole week we had been reading about Jesus answering one question after another, about his authority, payment of tax to Caesar, resurrection of the dead and about the first commandment, with utmost wisdom and prudence. It was possible because he was aware of His identity as the Son of the Father and he was always united with His Father in prayer. In the context of our world today we are faced with wickedness, plotting, fault finding, injustice, corruption, misunderstanding, hatred, rash conclusions and violence. The Gospel passages of the week invite us to become aware of our own identity as Children of God and to be always united with God in prayer as did Jesus so as to combat the current context with prudence and wisdom. Jesus has walked the way. He has said, “Behold I’m with you until the end of time”. Let us hold fast to the hands of Jesus and tread our path courageously facing everyone

Bible Reflections I 07.06.2023 - THURSDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Ordinary Time: Week 9

Readings

             I - Tobit 3:1-11, 16-17

     II - Mk. 12:18-27

APPEARANCE IS DECEPTIVE

 

The Sadducees were ‘liberals’ while the Pharisees were ‘conservatives’ comparatively. Still the Sadducees insisted that the doctrines be grounded in scriptural foundation while the Pharisees were content that they be based on their tradition. In today’s Gospel the Sadducees question Jesus about resurrection, life after death, the doctrine in which they actually did not believe expecting to embarrass Jesus, the carpenter’s son and assert their premise on resurrection. To their surprise Jesus quotes the scripture and evince them that there is life after death and that our God is God of the living and not of the dead. He astounds the Sadducees quoting from the Book of Moses, in the story about the bush, how God said to him, “I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob?” He is God of the living and not of the dead and that they are wrong in their belief.  

Appearance is deceptive. We have our own set mold categorizing people in our mind as cleaver, foolish, intellectual, illiterate, virtuous, wicked, good and bad based on the place they come from, family they belong to, their caste and their tribe. The rough jack contains sweet fruits, the lovely ripe fig often contains dead bugs, precious gold is mixed in mud and in charcoal do we find exquisite diamonds. Therefore go beyond appearances and prejudice to discover the truth in everything, every happening and every person. Give up prejudice against persons under the pretext of their appearances and hailing and explore the truth, goodness and beauty present in them.

Bible Reflections I 06.06.2023 - TUESDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Ordinary Time: Week 9

Readings

            I - Tobit 2:9-14

           II - Mk. 12:13-17

DO YOU SERVE GOD OR MAN

 

In today’s Gospel some Pharisees and Herodians precisely try to trap Jesus asking, “Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor or not?” If he says ‘yes’ he would be against the religion and if ‘no’ he would be against the Romans and their nation. In either cases he would be a traitor. The simple fact is that they wanted to get rid of Jesus though they were convinced that He was sincere, impartial and showed difference to no one. They wanted to get rid of Jesus precisely because He was not fitting into the frame that they had for nation, religion and people. 

It so happens in our lives too that we discriminate and estrange people when they don’t fit into our mental frame that is set already. In our pride, arrogance, anger, hatred and jealousy we suppress, neglect or evade others. We wish to get rid of those people no matter how good they are by false branding, negative comments, misrepresentation, untrue accusations, delusive remarks and fabricated gossips. May our emotions towards Jesus, Pharisees and Herodians in this passage help us to examine and align our lives in the path of truth and transformation.

Bible Reflections I 05.06.2023 - MONDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Ordinary Time: Week 9

Readings 

           I - Tobit 1: 3, 2: 1-8

          II - Mk. 12: 1-12

                         

STAND WITH AND FOR THE MASTER

Today’s Gospel passage is about the parable of the wicked tenants who refused to give the fruits to the master.  They beat the servants who were sent to collect the fruits and finally beat and killed the son of the owner of the vineyard. An unfair, unjust and wicked act indeed!  By doing this they inherited not the vineyard but the wrath of the Master who destroyed them and gave the vineyard to others.  The same thing happened to Jesus too. The Scribes and the Pharisees were not ready to listen to Jesus, the Messiah for whom they awaited so long years because they rejected him when he came to redeem them. Instead, the sinners, the tax collectors and the prostitutes accepted Jesus and his teaching making the concept of People of God, a universal one.   

Today the Church remembers St. Boniface, a Benedictine monk and martyr who was martyred because he was turning the hearts of people towards God.  He is known for Christian orthodoxy and fidelity to the Pope.  He tried to reform the German Church as instructed by the Holy Father. In the Frankish kingdom, he had to meet the problem of lay interference in the election of bishops, the worldly attitude of the clergy and lack of papal control.  During his final mission to the Frisians, Boniface, along with his 53 companions were massacred while he was preparing the converts for their confirmation.  St. Boniface used to say, “Let us continue the fight on the day of the Lord. If God so wills, let us die for the holy laws of our fathers, so that we may deserve to obtain an eternal inheritance with them.”  In the light of the parable and the life of the saint let us resolve to be like the servants of the Master who has commissioned to turn all hearts towards God.  Resolve to live for the Lord.

Bible Reflections I 04.06.2023 - SUNDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Ordinary Time: Week 9

Readings 

           I - Ex. 34: 4-6, 8-9

          II - 2 Cor. 13: 11-14

         III - Jn. 3: 16-18

                         

THE MOST HOLY TRINITY (Solemnity)

In the first reading the Lord our God proclaims about himself that he is merciful, gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.  This proclamation is affirmed in the Gospel passage that God so loved the world that he sent his only Son to save the world and that anyone who believes in him will be saved.  God created the world, the Son saved the world and the Holy Spirit sanctifies the world.  The Church today solemnises the feast of the Holy Trinity, a mystery and the identity of our God: three persons yet one God, the truth that cannot be comprehended but to be trusted in faith.  

God loved the world that he gave His only Son to save the world, Jesus so loved the world that he gave up his life as ransom to save us from sin and death, the Holy Spirit that proceeds from the love of the Father and the Son loves us so much that he accompanies us until we reach our goal ‘the paradise’.  Love is the crux and culmination of our Christian religion.  The feast invites us to love God and in God to love one another.  One of the lesson that we can draw from the celebration of this feast for our Christian living is that the love and unity that exists between the Father, Son and the Spirit should be replicated in our Christian relationships.  Our families should be modelled after the unity and love of the triune God. As St. Paul says in the second reading, the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all as our mind and heart resonate with the prayer with the prayer: “Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, Amen.”

Bible Reflections I 03.06.2023 - SATURDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Ordinary Time: Week 8

Readings

            I - Sir. 51:12 - 20

            II - Mk. 11:27-33

TRUTH ALWAYS HURTS

In today’s Gospel the chief priests, the scribes and the elders interrogate about the authority of Jesus asking, “By what authority are you doing these things?” ‘These things’ here means the cleansing of the temple in particular. Jesus consents to answer posing a conditional query to them, “I will ask you one question; answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin? Answer me”. Jesus counter questioned them because he was not speaking to the ordinary people but to the chosen and the privileged, the learned and the cleaver; and the elite and the spiritual who were on their finger tips about the law and the prophets. They were of course waiting for the fulfillment of the prophesy in the coming of the Messiah, “See I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to His temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight - in deed, he is coming” (Mal. 3:1). The sick and the sinners; the poor and the marginalized; and the lost and the least were able to discover the Messiah in Jesus while the so called spirituals were stubborn to accept the truth that they were already in the days of the long awaited Messiah because he was not compromising rather he was a sign of conflict and contradiction to them. It was also because of the prejudice, jealousy and hatred they had towards Him - “Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all this?” (Mt. 13: 55-56).    

Even today truth is accepted only when it is convincing to our whims and fancies, compromising to our thought patterns and not contradicting our life style. Let us not discriminate, alienate or exclude people and search for the truth only in the people appealing to us. Truth can be hidden anywhere and in any person. Let no preconceived ideas or sordid mind prevent us from discovering it. Let us with an open mind and courage go beyond, walk an extra mile to discover the truth even if it hurts us for God is truth. Those who discover truth discover God Himself.

Bible Reflections I 02.06.2023 - FRIDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Ordinary Time - Week 8

Readings 

            I - Sir. 44: 1, 9-13

           II - Mk. 11: 11-25

LET LIVES BE PURPOSEFUL

                  

Today’s Gospel says that Jesus in the distance sees a ‘fig tree in leaf’ which means that the fig tree is fruitful.  But to the disappointment of Jesus he found no fruit at all in the tree.  So he curses the fig tree and goes to the temple.  The temple is a place of prayer and worship.  But it was made a business centre and a place of money making. The fruitless fig tree and the temple that targeted business provoked the anger of Jesus because they were deceptive and lost their purpose.  They appeared to be what they were not.  

We are the temple of God and are called to chant the praises and glory of God and this of course is a purposeful and fruitful living.  Often times we appear to be fruitful in our deceiving gestures, impressing words, pretention and falsehood forgetting that we are the temple of God.  We can easily deceive people but never God who knows even the most secret thoughts of our hearts.  We sadden and disappoint God with our dishonest and disintegrated living.  Let us take up our lives as it comes and live to the best trusting in the grace and mercy of God.  Let us resolve to be sincere with ourselves, to God and to our neighbours so that God may be pleased to have a residence in our hearts and that our lives may become purposeful and fruitful glorifying the Lord.