ஏன்? சினத்தை விட பொறுமை நல்லது I 27.07.2021 - Tuesday I Rev. Fr. Arokia ...

Bible Reflections I 27.07.2021 - Tuesday I Indraya Manna I

Ordinary Time - Week 17

Readings:  

  I - Ex. 33: 1-11, 34: 5-9,28 II - Mt. 13: 36-42 

STAY CONNECTED, STAY SAVED  

In the Gospel passage today, Jesus explains the parable of the wheat and the weeds to his disciples. God sows the good seeds, the wheat and the evil one sows the weeds. One becomes good or bad in the choice he/she makes. At the end of time, the good will be gathered for the blissful life eternal and the evil ones with be gathered and thrown into the fiery furnace.

Take a glass of coloured water and keep filling with good water into it. At one point all colour water vanishes with the overflowing, leaving the glass filled with clear good water. Similarly allow the grace of God to overflow even in the most insignificant choices. This calls for discernment. Discernment is making the right choice between the two, the good and the evil, the wheat and the weed. To distinguish and discern rightly, stay connected with God as did Moses in the second reading. We read, “The Lord used to speak to speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend” (Ex. 36: 11). It may or may not be so with us. But He does speak to us gently but powerfully through our conscience and the Word of God; in prayer and through persons. Let us attune ourselves to listen to His voice and courageously keep choosing the good again and again, combating and conquering the evil that constantly creep in. It is a continuous struggle or rather a continuous warfare until our last breath. We can definitely be victorious and be saved for life eternal if we stay connected with God in prayer. May our mind and heart resonate with this prayer: “Lord, help me to stay connected with you”.

முதியோர், நம் குடும்பங்களின் ஆசீர்வாதங்கள் I 26.07.2021 - Monday I Rev. ...

Bible Reflections I 26.07.2021 - Monday I Indraya Manna I

Ordinary Time - Week 17

Readings:  

         I - Sir. 44: 1,8,10-15

     II - Mt. 13: 16-17

St. Joachim and St. Anne (Memoria)

Grandparents’ Day

CELEBRATE YOUR GRANDPARENTS  

According to the first reading of the day, some ancestors are hailed and honoured because they were godly men and women filled with wisdom and surpassed in their righteous deeds. They leave behind their faithfulness to God and righteousness as their inheritance to their descendants.  Today the Church gratefully remembers and celebrates St. Joachim and St. Anne, the parents of our Blessed Mother Mary and the grandparents of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is also celebrated as Grandparents’ Day.  St. Joachim and St. Anne in their faithfulness to God and through their righteous deeds were chosen to be the parents of the Mother of God.  If Mother Mary is blessed among all women, blessed too should have been the parents who brought her up to the extent of finding favour in the eyes of the Lord befitting to bring forth the long awaited Messiah into the world.

We are living in a painful reality of children discarding their own parents in old age homes or abandoning them to the caretakers confining them within the four walls of a room in the house or still to the worse, some are so cruel that they chase them out of their homes without giving a second thought of their sustenance or maintenance at that age.  If the plight of the parents themselves are such, then it becomes even unthinkable of the grandparents who are old and dependents.  The wealth, honour, glory and pride that are beheld are the inheritance from their ancestors; and this can neither be denied nor argued against.     

There are still others in the world who are grateful to their parents, treat them with dignity and respect; and revere their grandparents in kindness and love.  Honouring the parents begets the blessings of the Lord (Ex. 20:12) for the Scripture exhorts and promises, “Honour your father and your mother, as the Lord your God commanded you, so that your days may be long and that it may go well with you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you (Deu 5:16).  Respecting parents therefore is the command of the Lord (Lev. 19:3) that ultimately results in respecting the grandparents as well.

  

No one is going to remain young forever.  Aging is the natural norm of existence. So we sow so we reap.  So we treat our parents and grandparents so we’ll also be treated by our children and children’s children.  “Grandparents have the crowning glory of life: grandchildren. And it’s only proper for children to take pride in their parents” (Pro. 17:6). May this Grandparents’ Day help us to examine: Am the crowning glory of my grandparents? Let us in a special way today, express our love and affection towards our grandparents through our acts of kindness and gestures of love.

Bible Reflections I 25.07.2021- Sunday I Indraya Manna I

Ordinary Time - Week 17

Readings:  

            I - 2 Kings 4: 42-44

        II - Eph. 4: 1-6

       III - Jn. 6: 1-15

FROM EMPATHY TO EMANCIPATION 

There are two categories of people, one, empathise and evade and the second, empathise and emancipate.  The first category of people will sense, grasp and understand the situation but evade concretely responding to the situation.  The second category of people not only sense, grasp and understand the situation but involve and act responsibly to combat and conquer the situation.  Prophet Elijah in the first reading and Jesus the Prophet par excellence in the second reading belong to the second category of people.  The crowds neither expressed their hunger not asked for bread.  Moved with compassion and with the grace of God they were able to share twenty loaves and; five loaves and two fish respectively to their crowds with some left over as well.  Elijah and Jesus never stopped with being compassionate, they moved from mere empathy to emancipation, relieving the crowds from their hunger, solely because of the awareness of the truth that they are the children of one God and the Father.

 

In the second reading, St. Paul in his letter to the Church at Ephesus exhorts the Christians to lead a life worthy of calling, holding fast to one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all.  We affirm this in our loving, caring, understanding, sharing and forbearing that results in compassion and empathy. God blesses every one of our step and effort towards liberation of the suffering humanity and sides us in emancipating the victim of suffering. Let us dare to fall into the second category of people though it is demanding, for that is the way of the Lord.  When we go beyond empathy and try to emancipate the other we too become Prophet Elijah and Lord Jesus in the midst of the suffering humanity. May our mind resonate with the prayer: “Lord Jesus lead me from mere empathy to emancipation”.

தீமையின் நடுவே நன்மை செய்ய பழகு.I 24.07.2021 - Saturday I Rev. Fr. Aroki...

Bible Reflections I 24.07.2021 - Saturday I Indraya Manna I

Ordinary Time - Week 16

Readings:  I - Ex. 24: 3-8

                II - Mt. 13: 24-30

CHOOSE LIFE, CHOOSE BLESSINGS 

The Gospel passage in on the parable of the weeds among the wheat.  God sows the wheat, the values befitting the Kingdom and the evil one sows the weeds, the vices that lead to destruction.  God allows both the wheat and the weeds to grow together until the day of harvest and at the time of harvest, the weeds are bundled and burnt; and the wheat is gathered in the barn. 

We are free children of God.  He does not impose anything upon us but gives us the choice with an instruction, “I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses.  Choose life so that you and your descendants may live (Deu. 30: 19). God sows the seeds of values of the Kingdom viz. the fear of God, love, peace, joy, happiness, kindness, gentleness, forbearance, tolerance, unity and forgiveness.  The evil one sows the seeds of vices viz. hatred, jealousy, division, arrogance, avarice, selfishness, pride, anger, greed and envy. If we choose the values of the Kingdom we will be gathered for life eternal or otherwise we will be doomed to be eternally destroyed.  

The Scripture says, “The word is very near to you; it is in your mouth and in your heart for you to observe” (Deu. 30:14).  Let us base our lives upon the Word of God that come to us in various ways and through various persons and above all instructs and inspires from within our hearts.  May our point of reference ever be the Word of God.  God is patience for He is “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness” (Ex. 34:6). As the epistle of St. Peter connote may we “think of our Lord’s patience as an opportunity for us to be saved” (2 Peter 3:15) and strive hard to align our lives unto the Law of the Lord. Choosing to behold a bliss or otherwise is our choice.  Let us choose life and choose God’s blessings.

Bible Reflections I 23.07.2021 - Friday I Indraya Manna I

Ordinary Time - Week 16

Readings:  

              I - Ex. 20: 1-17

           II - Mt. 13: 18-33

CONVICTION ENSURES CREDIBILITY 

Today’s Gospel passage delves on the parable of the sower. Jesus explains the parable of the sower to the crowds that followed him. After the explanation of Jesus, the receivers of the Word of God can be categorised under 4Cs viz. the Careless, the Cowardly, the Conceited and the Convinced. Those seeds that fell on the road side can be compared to the Careless people. They are quick to listen to the Word of God and quick too to forget without any understanding. Those seeds that fell on the rocky ground can be compared to the cowardly people. They listen and understand the Word of God but on account of any inconvenience or trouble or persecution, they give up actualising the same. 

 The seeds that fell among the thorns can be compared to the conceited people. They listen and understand the Word of God but are easily lured by the wealth, fame and name that belong to the world. Finally, those seeds that fell on the good soil can be compared to the convinced people, who listen, understand and align their life according to the Word of God. They are the credible witness of Jesus and they, united in the Lord, bear fruit in abundance (Jh. 15:5). Who am I among the 4Cs?

Bible Reflections I 22.07.2021 - Thursday I Indraya Manna

Ordinary Time - Week 16

Readings:  

       I - Song of Songs 3: 1-4

     II - Jn. 20:1-2, 11-18.

LOVE THAT ENCOUNTERS, ENCOURAGES AND EMPOWERS 

(Feast of St. Mary Magdalene)

Today the Church celebrates the feast of St. Mary Magdalene, the passionate follower and ardent disciple of Jesus and the one time adulteress woman. In the feast of St. Mary Magdalene we celebrate the caring and credible love of Jesus that is so powerful, benevolent and emancipating. The three E’s that transformed the life of Mary of Magdala are: Encounter, Encouragement and Empowerment. Jesus Encounters Mary Magdalene when the drudgerous crowd drags her to Jesus for punishment. Jesus saves her from the clutches of the self-righteous menfolk saying, “Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her”. When everyone leaves without stoning, Jesus Encourages her saying, “Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again” (Jh. 8:11) and thereby infuses in her the life assuring hope and an absolute feeling of being forgiven. Finally Jesus Empowers her making her the witness of his resurrection. Witness of women wear out to be no witness at all in the male dominated patriarchal society of the Jews. Jesus counteracts this culture and appears first to Mary Magdalene and makes her the witness of his resurrection for great was her love for Jesus, her Lord, Master and Teacher. In the Gospel passage today, Jesus just calls her “Mary” and instantly she responds saying “Rabbouni” unlike his disciples who had long conversation with Jesus on their way to Emmaus and yet failed to recognise Jesus until he broke the bread with them (Lk. 24: 13-35).   

In the world of today, where love is downsized to mere utility and payback policy, we as Christians, are called to reflect this love of Jesus that is liberating, empowering, enriching, encouraging, healing and forgiving. In this way we can like Jesus touch and transform the lives of people around us. With our little acts of charity we can win the whole world for Jesus. May the Feast of Mary Magdalene make us like her the witnesses of the love of Jesus allowing ourselves to be encountered, encouraged and empowered by the love of Jesus our Lord and our Master. In the silence of our hearts let us keep repeating, “Lord Jesus, make me a witness of your love”.

Bible Reflections I 21.07.2021 - Wednesday I Indraya Manna

Ordinary Time - Week 16

Readings:  

         I - Ex. 16: 1-5, 9-15

      II - Mt. 13: 1-9

  

LISTEN TO LIVE

Today’s Gospel passage is on the parable of the sower. Great crowd gathered to listen to Jesus and he told them this parable to provoke them to check their disposition of mind and heart in giving heed to the Word of God. The seeds that fell on the path were eaten up by the bird, those that fell on the rocky ground withered with the sun, those that fell among the thorns were chocked and those that fell on the good soil brought forth grains. 

There are four types of disposition of mind in listening to the Word of God. They can also be called as 4Ws viz. Wondering mind, Wavering mind, Wearied mind and Willful mind. The seeds fell on the path can be compared to the wondering mind that just wonder at the Word of God and the preaching of the same and forget thereafter about it. The rocky ground can be compared to the wavering mind that listens to the Word of God, tries to practice but fails with some distractions. The thorny bush can be compared to the weary mind that is exhausted and too full to listen to the Word of God and to actualize the same. The good soil can be compared to the willful mind that listens intently to the Word of God with the resolve to stand by it come what may and become authentic followers of Jesus and credible Christians. Let us not listen to leave but listen to live the Word of God. In the silence of hearts keep repeating: “Lord Jesus, give me a wilful heart to stand by your Words”

Bible Reflections I 19.07.2021- Monday I Indraya Manna I

Ordinary Time - Week 16

Readings: I - Ex. 14: 5-18

                II - Mt. 12: 38-42

OPEN UP TO THE GRACE OF GOD

In the letter to the Hebrews we read, “Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son” (Heb. 1:1-2). The Scribes and the Pharisees refused to accept Jesus as the Son of God though all prophesies were fulfilled in His coming. It was a willful neglect and they asked for a sign to believe in Him. Jesus gave no sign to them instead said that on the day of judgment people of Nineveh and the queen of Sheba would rise up and condemn them. The people of Nineveh believed in the prophesy of Prophet Jonah; and the people of Nineveh and the animals alike fasted and covered themselves with ashes as a sign of repentance and turned from their evil ways. The queen of Sheba came from afar to testify and to listen to the Wisdom of Solomon. Jesus was the Son of God and Wisdom himself, but in their pride and arrogance of heart, the Scribes and Pharisees refused to behold, recognise, acknowledge and accept Jesus.  

Jesus praises the openness of mind and heart of the people of Nineveh and the Queen of Sheba unlike the learned and the clever religious leaders of his time. A bottle cannot be filled in two cases viz. when it is closed tight with the lid and when the bottle is already too full. When we neglect to seek God we neglect to recognise His graces and blessings as well. Similarly, when we are too full of ourselves with self-righteousness, pride, selfishness, ego and arrogance the grace of God can not touch and transform us. Let us today ask God to help us to be open to His graces and blessings as His beloved children in our Lord Jesus Christ for a transformed witnessing life.

Bible Reflections I 18.07.2021 - Sunday I Indraya Manna

Ordinary Time - Week 16

Readings:  I - Jer. 23:1-6

        II - Eph. 2:13-18

        III - Mk. 6: 30-34

BE A SHEPHERD

Jesus is the Good Shepherd par excellence sent by the Father to establish peace and to gather the scattered flock, unlike the ruthless, reckless and selfish shepherds, is the central theme of the three readings.  The Gospel passage of the day evince the care, concern and compassion of Jesus towards his sheep, the specialty traits of the Good Shepherd. Jesus out of his care and concern, takes his tired and wearied disciples just returned from the ministry and were surrounded by the people and had no leisure even to eat, to the other side of the lake by a boat. The great crowd followed them on their foot and reached the other side for healing and hearing their preaching.  Jesus was moved with compassion for they were like sheep without shepherd and he resumed his work with them.

Each of us are called to be a shepherd in our ways.  Shepherds of our suffering and needy neighbour.  According to Jesus anyone who is in need of our love, care, concern, support, help and understanding is our neighbour (Lk. 10:25-37).  When we possess a heart that moves in compassion towards the helpless and the suffering, rejoices at the success and joys of the other, defends the rights and dignity of others, cares for comfort and consolation of others and concerns for the well-being and well-living of others, instead of being cold, indifferent, apathetic and negligent, then we are truly shepherds modelled after the heart of Jesus.  In this way, we gather and do not scatter, we establish peace and thereby become credible Christians too making a difference in the society that is so cold, selfish and corrupt.      

     

அன்பே ஆகச் சிறந்த ஆயுதம் I 17.07.2021 - Saturday I Rev. Fr. Arokia Doss ...

Bible Reflections I 17.07.2021 - Saturday I Indraya Manna

Ordinary Time - Week 15

Readings: I - Ex. 12: 37-42

                 II - Mt. 12: 14-21

BE A SIGN OF HOPE 

Jesus healed the sick, forgave sinners, cleansed the leaper, raised the dead, befriended the tax collectors, associated with the Samaritans, women and children, chased the demons, upbraided the pharisaic attitude of the religious leaders and kept alive the essence of the law that restored and fostered life. In nutshell, Jesus was the Good News and a sign of hope to all the poor, downtrodden, depressed, oppressed, neglected, and the marginalised of the society, fulfilling the prophesy of prophet Isaiah (Is. 42:1-4) mentioned in today’s Gospel passage. “Jesus went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him” (Acts. 10:38). He was unlike the Pharisees, Sadducees, and the scribes who were merely hypocrites. The life of Jesus was a constant disturbance and sign of contradiction to their religious belief and customary practices. It was solely for this reason that the Pharisees conspired against him and plotted ways and means to get rid of him.

Flipping through the pages of History, it is evident that those who stand up for what is right, just and humane, following the footsteps of Jesus are neglected, ostracised, tortured, persecuted and are finally martyred. The voice of the voiceless is silenced, the acts of the ambassadors of Christ is falsely accused, followers of gospel are fooled and the messengers of the Master par excellence, Jesus are martyred, still as Bishop Oscar Romero says, “If they kill me I will rise again in the people of El Salvador. A Bishop will die, but the Church of God, which is the people, will never perish”. Led by the Holy Spirit many too will rise in the name of Jesus until equality, freedom, fraternity and justice is established here on earth.

After the Gospel passage today, we as Christians have just two options before us: One, to courageously stand for the values of Jesus, come what may and the second, to withhold from conspiring against who bravely accomplish the task of Christ on the earth. In short, either to fight the battle ourselves or at least restrain from pulling down the spirit of these courageous warriors of Jesus through our false rumours, calumny, defamation, slander, misrepresentation and denigration. In either case, led by the spirit we will but reflect to be the children of God the Father and resolute followers of Jesus our Lord, remaining the sign of hope to the helpless. Let us in the silence of our heart today keep praying: “Lord Jesus, make me too a sign of hope like you”.

வாழ்வின் சுமைகளை குறைப்பது எப்படி? I 15.07.2021 - THURSDAY I Rev. Fr. Ar...

Bible Reflections I 14.07.2021 - Wednesday I Indraya Manna

Ordinary Time - Week 15Readings: I - Ex. 3: 1-6, 9-12 II - Mt. 11: 25-27 BEHOLD THE TRUTH WITH THE OPENNESS OF HEART The learned, the intellectuals and the elite of Jesus’ time were the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the Chief Priest and the Scribes. They were familiar with the law and the prophecy and were fanatic in the practice of the religion. They were considered to be the custodians of their religion and were men of high repute and standing. Still in their stubbornness of heart, self-righteousness, pride and prejudice they refused to accept Jesus as Messiah, the Promised one prophesied by the prophets. Women and infants were considered as ‘no persons’ at all. Infant in the Gospel reading today, means ‘no person’. These ‘no persons’ - the sinners, tax collectors, women, children, the poor, the disabled, the prostitutes and the Samaritans were drawn to Jesus and accepted Him to be their Messiah in their openness, simplicity and humility of heart. 

 Jesus glorifies and thanks the Father for His goodness, mercy and magnanimity in choosing these ‘no persons’ to reveal Jesus His Son as their Messiah which is the gracious will of the Father. The Gospel passage today does not condemn the learned, the intelligent or the persons of repute instead Jesus highlights on the disposition and openness of the heart in beholding the truth as it comes. In the ordinary walk of life, people wish for the truth that is appealing, pleasing, and convenient but never contradicting, combating or conflicting their perspectives and ideologies. People never desire for the truth that hurts and disturbs. Only those people who are open to the truth with the simplicity and humility of heart can be drawn by the gracious will of God to be His instruments, all for His greater glory. Let us yield ourselves unto to the truth as we encounter, for God is Truth.

நம் நிறை வாழ்வே, இறை சித்தம்.I 13.07.2021 - செவ்வாய் I Rev. Fr. Arokia D...

Bible Reflections I 13.07.2021 - Tuesday I Indraya Manna

Ordinary Time - Week 15

Readings: I - Ex. 2: 1-15a

                 II - Mt. 11: 20-24

COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS

In the Gospel passage today, Jesus reproaches Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum because they failed to recognise the Messiah in their midst in spite of his healing, preaching, raising of the dead, deriving of he demons and forgiving the sinners. They had eyes but they did not see and they had ears but they did not hear (Mk. 8:18). Their hearts were hardened and they refused to recognise and resisted to repent, though their eyes beheld the Messiah unlike the cities viz. Tyre, Sidon and Sodom.   

Often times we are similar to the cities Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum. We are blessed with countless blessing. We had bee victorious in so many struggles, we can testify to a number of miracles we experienced in our lives, we can vouch for His presence that preserved, prevented and protected us from despair, depression, fear, discouragement, worries and anxieties, still at the crucial time of testing are we not tempted to cry out, “God where are you?”. Let us try to count our blessings at those moments just raise our hearts in thanksgiving confident that our God is “Immanuel” - God with us.

எளியவரை உயர்த்தும் இறைவன் I12.07.2021 - திங்கள் I Rev. Fr. Arokia Doss S...

Bible Reflections I 12.07.2021 - Monday I Indraya Manna

Ordinary Time - Week 15

Readings:  

            I - Ex. 1:8-14, 22

          II - Mt. 10: 34-11:1

CHOOSE GOD AND CHOOSE LIFE ETERNAL

Jesus, the Promised One is the Prince of Peace (Is. 9:6) but in today’s Gospel passage Jesus says, “I have not come to bring peace, but a sword”. Siding for one is siding against the other. Good and bad, moral and amoral, virtues and vices can never coexist. Since the life and Teaching of Jesus counters and contradicts the principles of the World there is always tension, division and strife in the world because of Jesus and it would be continued even in the lives of those who wish to follow him. In this pursuit, the disciple of Jesus may have to be against their own parents, friends and beloved ones and lose their relationship. The one who endures this loss for the sake of Jesus is a worthy disciple and his/her reward will be great in heaven.

A principled and purposeful living consist in standing up for what is right and truthful. In following Jesus, there is never this and that, only this or that. We have only two options before us: First, to lead our lives according to the standards set by the world and the second, to align our lives as per the teachings of Jesus. Choosing the first option, we may be hailed by this world but lose life eternal that is bliss. Choosing the second option, we may be abandoned, hated and marginalized by all but gain life eternal that is bliss. The choice is ours. Choosing God is choosing life eternal. Let us courageously choose Jesus and gain life that is lasing