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.