புனித இஞ்ஞாசியார் லொயோலா I 31.07.2021 - Saturday I Rev. Fr. Arokia Doss ...

Bible Reflections I 31.07.2021 - Saturday I Indraya Manna I

Ordinary Time - Week 17

Readings:  

       I - Lev. 25: 1, 8-17,

      II - Mt. 13: 54-58

St. Ignatius of Loyola (Memoria)

ATTENTIVE LISTENER AND ACTIVE ACCOMPLISHER 

God chooses his predilects, empowers them with His words, and commissions them for a purpose, “I have put my words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to pull down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant” (Jer. 1:9-10), with an assurance of His support and accompaniment “Fear not I am with you” (Is. 41:10). Therefore His chosen ones cannot but speak the truth as we read in Jeremiah, “I say, ‘I will not mention Him, or speak anymore in His name……..I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot’”. In the Gospel passage today, John the Baptist courageously admonishes the unlawful act of King Herod, living with his brother’s wife. His words were powerful, piercing, disturbing and deterring both Herod and Herodias. Herodias plotted so well that she had the head of John the Baptist on the platter through her daughter.  

We are children of God who wishes that all of us be saved. Whenever we are astray, God calls us back on the right the right track through the Scripture, conscience, persons, signs and events. His voice is never compromising or appealing or pacifying but disturbing, contradicting, challenging and conquering. We have only two options before us, either to give heed and align our ways and inherit eternal life or rationalize and reject his words and impend for eternal destruction. Today we remember St. Ignatius of Loyola, the great soldier who disturbed by the word of God, gave up everything to become the servant of the King of Kings. 

If God chooses us to be His mouth piece, let us courageously do so with no fear of people who can kill the body but are unable to kill the soul (Mat. 10:28), like St. John the Baptist who dared to point the unlawful act of the king and St. Ignatius of Loyola who shattered the worldly dreams of St. Francis Xavier with, “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, but lose his soul?” Let us be both attentive listeners and active accomplishers of the Word of God.

முற்சார்பு எண்ணங்கள் தவிர்ப்போம் I 30.07.2021 - Friday I Rev. Fr. Arokia...

Bible Reflections I 30.07.2021 - Friday I Indraya Manna I

Ordinary Time - Week 17

Readings

       I - Lev. 23: 1,4-11,

            15-16,27,34-37

       II - Mt. 13: 54-58

   

INCLUDE ALL, EXCLUDE NONE 

Today’s Gospel passage is about the rejection of Jesus at Nazareth, his hometown. Prejudice prevented the people of Nazareth from accepting the wisdom of Jesus and his deeds of divine power. A deliberate rejection just because Jesus was a carpenter’s son and Mary, his mother was a simple and insignificant woman of Nazareth. They did not have a great or a renowned background. Therefore the people willfully refused to reckon to the truth. Pride became their pitfall of faith and truth. Ultimately, their unbelief prevented Jesus from performing many deeds of power with them. In their prejudice and pride they became the losers.  

Prejudice pollutes, pride prevents, anger avenges, jealousy jeopardises from accepting and rejoicing at the talents, goodness and the gifts of the other. With these attitudes we may tend to evaluate the background and eliminate, analyse the status and avoid, mount with criticism and marginalise and in the end hunt for reasons to reject and discard people. In this bargain we become the losers like those people of Nazareth who willfully missed Jesus, the Messiah for whom they so long waited.

 We have to go beyond our likes and dislikes to behold the persons as they are and to savour the blessings that each one bring with them. Let us surpass all stereo typed settings in our mind and with a magnanimity of mind and heart accept persons as they are and all for the glory of God. Keep repeating this prayer as often as possible in the silence of heart praying: “Lord Jesus, help to accept everyone”

நானும் என் குடும்பத்தாரும் I 29.07.2021 - Thursday I Rev. Fr. Arokia Dos...

Bible Reflections I 29.07.2021- Thursday I Indraya Manna I

Ordinary Time - Week 17

Readings:  

        I - Ex. 40: 16-21, 34-38

    II - Jn. 11: 19-27

St. Martha (Memoria)

JESUS, A FRIEND FOREVER 

“Faithful friends are beyond price; no amount can balance their worth” (Sir. 6: 15) and “whoever finds one finds a treasure” (Sir. 6:14b).  Everyone tends to seek their friend at all times of their life viz. ups and downs, fear and anxiety, happiness and sorrow, joy and pain.  Today the Church remembers St. Martha, the friend of Jesus and sister of Mary and Lazarus.  Jesus, as their friend, besides being a guest, sharing their hospitality, love and joy goes to Bethany to share the suffering of the bereaved friends at the loss of their brother Lazarus. Martha and Mary would have definitely thought of Jesus as we read in the Gospel passage today, as Martha says, “Lord if you had been here, my brother would not have died” and affirms her trust saying, “But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of Him” and so was it done to her.         

Loyalty, fidelity and faithfulness are the vaning concepts of the current consumeristic reality. Almost all relationship today are either utility based or highly self-centered. In the trending world of change and impermanency God’s love alone is strong and constant as the Scripture says, “I have loved you with an everlasting love” (Jer. 31:3).  Jesus is the all-time friend forever as the lyrics of Joseph Scriven’s hymn, “what friend we have in Jesus” goes. 

All we need to do is to get connected with Jesus through our prayer.  In times of grief, pain, trials, temptations, discouragement, betrayal, sorrows and weakness, turn to Jesus, an understanding friend closer to us than the very air we breathe. Let us resolve to accept the forever friendship of Jesus as we celebrate the feast day of his friend Martha who served him with much love and care.

துன்புறுவோரின் பாதுகாவலி அன்னை அல்போன்சா I St. Alphonsa I Rev. Fr. Aroki...

Bible Reflections I 28.07.2021 - Wednesday I Indraya Manna I

Ordinary Time - Week 17

Readings: I - Ex. 34: 29-35

                II - Mt. 13: 44-46

St. Alphonsa (Memoria)

   

ENCOUNTER TO EXCELL  

Jesus is the way, the truth and the life (Jh. 16:4), is the treasure and the precious pearl of which the Gospel passage portrays today. The one who discovers Jesus will be ready to rid anything and everything for Him and Him alone. Matthew, the tax collector, with a look and the encounter of Jesus, “Follow me” (Mt. 9:9), gave up everything and followed Jesus. Zacchaeus, the chief tax collector, and the greedy fellow after befriending Jesus, was ready to give up half of his possession to the poor and to pay back four times to the persons whomever he had defrauded (Lk. 19:1-10). The Samaritan woman dared not to look at people, so she choose the noon time when none would be present, to fetch the water from the well. After the long self-revealing conversation of Jesus, she left her water jar at the well and ran with joy into the city to announce to the people about the Messiah (Jh. 4: 4-42). The adulterous woman caught in the very act of committing adultery was so much taken up by the compassion, mercy and gentleness of Jesus in his words, “Neither do I condemn you”. She was so much captivated by Jesus, that she gave up her sinful living and followed him courageously till the cross (Jh. 8: 1-11). Saul, the fanatic Jew, became Paul after his encounter with Jesus was transformed (Acts. 9:1-19) to be a vehement preacher and faithful follower of Jesus and the pillar of the Church that he once persecuted.  

St. Francis of Assisi, the rich noble young man gave up all his wealth to the extent of stripping himself off and to be a mendicant, all to possess Jesus and Jesus alone. St. Ignatius of Loyola, the one time the womanizer, gambler and the great soldier, when injured was given the book titled ‘The life of Christ’ that gave a complete U-turn in his life. He discovered Jesus there, gave up everything even his old way of living and became a saint and a servant to the King of kings. St. Francis Xavier who went to pursue his university studies at the college of Sainte-Barbe, Paris was captivated so much by the words of St. Ignatius from the Bible, “What will it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit their life” (Mk. 8:36) that he committed himself to promote Jesus the great treasure and a priceless peal to the poor souls that knew not Christ.  

We celebrate the feast of St. Alphonsa, of the Franciscan Clarist Congregation and the first India woman saint who was ready to give up anything to follow Christ, even her beauty and burnt her one leg in the fire pit. She joyfully endured all her suffering for the love of the Lord because she had discovered the great treasure and the priceless pearl in the person of Jesus Christ.

In the light of the life of these personalities let us examine our lives: Have I encountered the Lord in my life? What have I given up to possess this great treasure and the precious pearl? Am I on the right track that the Lord has left for me, the path of love, unity, fraternity and justice? May our mind and heart resonate with this prayer: “Lord Jesus, help me to seek you as the greatest treasure and the precious pearl”

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.