Sunday, August 15, 2021
Bible Reflections I 16.08.2021 - Monday I Indraya Manna I
Readings
I - Judges 2:11-19
II - Mt. 19: 16-22
EMPTYING IS PERFECT CHRISTIAN LIVING
Christian living is giving. Giving all that we have and all that we are, to ennoble, enrich and empower the poor, the downtrodden, the less privileged, the less fortunate and those in misery. Observance of commandments may help to inherit eternal life but perfection vests in parting away with the possession for the poor is the crux of the Gospel passage today. Empting oneself for the love of God and love of neighbour is ‘kenosis’ modelled after the example of Jesus and this is perfect Christian living: “though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness” (Phil. 2: 6-7).
Spending our energy, time, skill, money, material, wealth and power surpassing all time constraint, power constraint, dignity constraint, status constraint and prestige constraint even at the cost of name, fame, pride, dignity, ego and reputation, just to uplift the poor and those in the periphery, is emptying. The pandemic of the time is a great opportunity to actualise this Gospel passage in our lives. Let us give, live and let live, all with love, for in loosing we gain, this is the Christian logic of perfection.
Saturday, August 14, 2021
Bible Reflections I 15.08.2021 - Sunday I Indraya Manna I
Readings
I - Rev. 11: 9, 12:1-6, 10
II - I Cor. 15: 20-27
III - Lk. 1: 39-56
ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY (Solemnity)
INDIA’S INDEPENDENCE DAY
Today the Church solemnises the assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, body and soul into Heaven. The dogma of faith on the assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary was declared on 1st November, 1950 by Pope Pius XII: “The most Blessed Virgin Mary, when the course of her earthly life was completed, was taken body and soul into the glory of heaven, where she shares in the glory of her Son’s resurrection, anticipating the resurrection of all members of his body”. Assumption of Mary is the prefiguration of the destiny of every member of the universal church.
Mary bore Jesus in her womb and we receive Jesus in our hearts. Mother Mary was privileged to assume into heaven because, primarily she was faithful to her call, to be the mother of God and secondly, she sought and accomplished the will the God at all times of her life. The feast of assumption therefore becomes an invitation and motivation for each of us to remain faithful to the state of life to which we have been called. And, however challenging, trying or wearing, learn to take delight in seeking and accomplishing the will of God. These two resolutions can help us combat the constant struggle between the good and evil and be victors conquering the evil as did our Blessed Mother Mary. Mary was simple and insignificant Lady of Nazareth, it was for these two reasons God chose her and exalted to the very heights of glory. May our Blessed Mother help us too to be modelled after her as we solemnize this her feast day today.
India celebrates the seventy fourth independence day today. Let us entrust India under the protection and help of Mother Mary that she may help all us to live in unity, charity, prosperity, justice, equality and brotherhood. Let us make the prayer of Tagore our own as we celebrate the Independence Day today by constantly repeating: “Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake”.
Friday, August 13, 2021
Bible Reflections I 14.08.2021 - Saturday I Indraya Manna I
Readings
I - Joshua 24: 14-29
II - Mt. 19:13-15
LITTLE ARE THE GREAT
Highlighting the marginalised, exalting the lowly, leading the last to the forefront and making the insignificant the prominent is the unique and unbeatable style of Jesus. In the society that considered women and children as ‘no persons’, Jesus commands his disciples to let the little children come to him, blesses them and calls them the greatest and the protagonist in the Kingdom of heaven. The passage reminds me of a hymn that is so familiar and stirring:
“The secret of the kingdom is power to the children
And that’s the Father’s style.
The greatest in the kingdom are those who enter in
But the keys are in the hands of a child”
The innocence, fragility, dependence, forgiveness, guilelessness, trust, reliance, simplicity, openness, sense of wonder, candidness and honesty make the little children the predilects of the kingdom of heaven. Jesus affirms saying, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Mt. 18:3). Jesus exhorts us to have an attitudinal change giving up our ego, anger, pride, hatred, jealousy, arrogance, vain glory, revenge, falsehood and pretensions, to imbibe the characteristics of little children in order to become great in the kingdom of heaven. Let us with the grace of God become worthy children of God giving up our old and rugged living and inherit the kingdom prepared for us.
Thursday, August 12, 2021
Bible Reflections I 13.08.2021 - Friday I Indraya Manna
Readings
I - Joshua 24: 1-13
II - Mt. 19:3-12
CHRISTIAN MARRIAGE: A SACRAMENT
In today’s Gospel passage as a response to the question posed by the Pharisees, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause?”, Jesus highlights the supremacy of marriage, in which man and woman become one flesh, a union inseparable and willed by God Himself. Marriage is a covenantal relationship characterised by unity and indissolubility rooted in fidelity and faithfulness to one another. It is the replica of the relationship between Christ and the Church (Eph. 5: 22-23) and hence it is a sacrament. It is a lifelong commitment to one another all in mutual love, understanding, forbearance, flexibility, adaptability, humility and patience.
Despite marriage being a sacrament, break ups too are not uncommon today. Couples get separated for silly and capricious reasons. The sacrament of matrimony gets shattered in each one’s striving for false freedom, carefree living, autonomy grounded in utter selfishness and egotism, intolerance at the success of the other, considering the other not as their life partner but as their rival, self-righteousness and pride. A family that prays together stays together. Prayer strengths the nuptial bond and family relationship building bridges beyond barriers turning hatred into love, discord into harmony, non-acceptance into acceptance, egotism into altruism, rivalry into companionship and pride into humility. Habituate family prayer and nurture fruitful living making family a church in its miniature. In the silence of our hearts let us keep repeating: “Lord Jesus, Bless our family”.
Wednesday, August 11, 2021
Bible Reflections I 12.08.2021 - Thursday I Indraya Manna I
Readings
I - Joshua 3: 7-10,11,13-17
II - Mt. 18:21-19:1
FORGIVENESS IS THE HALLMARK OF CHRISTIAN LIVING
Forgiveness is the hallmark of Christian living. In the Gospel reading today Jesus answers Peter’s query by exhorting him to forgive the offender seventy times seven, which means a complete forgiveness. In the prayer taught by Jesus, we invoke God praying, “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us” (Mt. 6:12), a conditional forgiveness. Therefore to be forgiven, one has to forgive. Forgiveness favours a bonding relationship that fosters fraternity, unity and communion thus realising the dream of Jesus: the kingdom of God.
“I can never forgive such and such a person”, “It is since so long that I spoke to him/her”, “Let me teach him/her a lesson by retaining my anger”, “He/she deserves to be punished” - these are some of the oft heard statements of the time that portray vengeance, arrogance, hatred, self-righteousness, pride and egotism of a person. Instead of extrospection if we introspect, then will we understand that we are offenders in need of God’s mercy and forgiveness. The bible says, “If You O Lord should mark our guilt, who will survive (Ps. 130:3). The world revolves in God’s love, mercy and forgiveness. Who are we then to magnify the mistakes of the other? When we are inclined to retain forgiveness and are prone to withhold forgiveness, let remind ourselves of the question asked by Jesus to the bloodthirsty crowd that brought the woman caught in the very act of committing adultery, “Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her” (Jh. 8:7).
Jesus says, “And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that you father in heaven may forgive your sins” (Mk. 11:25). We need to forgive, if we need to obtain forgiveness from God. Jesus had forgiven the torturers and the executioners who tortured and nailed him to the cross and had left us an example to walk his way. Let us follow the way of the Shepherd and set example to the world, as sterling Christians after the heart of Jesus Christ our Lord. Let our mind and heart resonate with this prayer: “Lord Jesus, help me to forgive”.
Tuesday, August 10, 2021
Bible Reflections I 11.08.2021 - Wednesday I Indraya Manna I
Readings
I - Deu. 34: 1-12
II - Mt. 18: 15-10
St. Clare of Assisi (Memoria)
WE ARE ONE IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD
“We must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love” (Eph. 4: 15-16). Every member constitutes the body of the Church (1Cor. 12:12). Even if one member of the Church deviates from the rhythm of the Church, the whole body suffers. For in the Church is the presence of Christ and every member is vital to the body of the Church. Therefore in today’s Gospel Jesus necessitates the importance of bringing back the drifting member into the rhythm of the Church by suggesting all possible efforts and means in putting him back on the track with all love, kindness and utmost charity. “For in one spirit we were all baptized into one body” (I Cor. 12:13) therefore with one mind, one heart and one spirit we form one body, the Church and become powerful, effecting God’s grace on one mission of love entrusted with one vision of the Kingdom of God.
From the Gospel passage today each of us can resolve to bring back the people who have deviated from God’s way with utmost love, care and empathy and with zero condemnation. When we go through the pages of the Holy Scripture, it is evident that whenever the faithful congregation invoked in the name of the Lord, for any particular grace with single mind and heart, it was done for them.
Trusting in the words of Jesus as in today’s Gospel he says, “If two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven” (Mt. 18:19). Let us as the members of the Church with one heart and in the powerful name of Jesus, evoke the mercy of the Lord to wash away the dreadful Corona Virus form the face of the earth. May the love of the Lord vanquish the waves of Corona from the wonderful world that He had gifted us. May our mind and heart resonate with this prayer, “Lord Jesus, in your mercy heal the world”
Sunday, August 8, 2021
Bible Reflections I 09.08.2021- Monday I Indraya Manna I
Readings
I - Due. 10: 12-22
II - Mt. 17: 22-27
INFLUENCE PEOPLE IGNORING INFLUENCE
Jesus besides being an obedient Son of God (Phil. 2:8), an obedient son to his parents (Lk. 2:51) was an obedient and responsible citizen paying the temple tax as we read in the Gospel passage today. Nowhere in the Bible can we find Jesus speaking up for himself or defending himself from the charges made against him. Jesus was revered by the people as a radical preacher with authority, a great prophet, wonder worker and a miracle healer while was truly the Son of God. Jesus would have very well used all these influence for evading the payment of tax. But he used his influence to influence the people for a new world order of freedom, fraternity, equality and justice.
‘Influence’ is the greatest magical word of the time. Influence can accomplish almost all things on the earth. Impossible becomes possible with influence. Under the pretext of influence people tend to shirk responsibilities, evade commitments and assign errands on anyone available at their beck and call.
Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam, a legendary scientist and our former President never used his influence for personal gain or glory but he had influenced millions of young and elders alike by choosing him as their role model to carry on his legacy. Parents, teachers, children, social leaders, church leaders, country leaders and world leaders all have influence pertaining to their level of life. Let all influence be sublimated to a higher level of influencing people for greater living instead of focusing on self-utility and personal fulfillment and accomplishments.
Saturday, August 7, 2021
Bible Reflections I 08.08.2021- Sunday I Indraya Manna I
Readings
I - I Kings. 19: 4-8
II - Eph. 4: 30-5:2
III - Jh. 6: 41-51
IN THE EUCHARIST IS THE LIFE ETERNAL
In the first reading, God refreshes and rejuvenates the disheartened prophet Elijah by feeding him through an angel to pursue his journey to Horeb, the mount of God. The prophet stood for the truth courageously but fled in fear to save his life. In the second reading, St. Paul exhorts the Christians to be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving one another as Christ has forgiven, in a nutshell to be imitators of God, as his beloved children. In this way one becomes a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. This is a daring and dauntless venture that demands absolute effort and resoluteness to live by the divine values that is difficult and demanding. Hence, to refresh and rejuvenate the Christian living, God gives His only Son, Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour as food and drink with the assurance of life eternal as we read in the Gospel passage today.
St. Paul in his letter to the Romans says, “do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind’ (Rom. 12:2). This is the challenge of the Eucharist as well, as Jesus says, “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you” (Jh. 13:15).
Being imitators of Christ demands love to hatred, peace to discord, unity to disunity, generosity to avarice, selflessness to selfishness and kindness to arrogance. It for this that we are marked with the seal of the Holy Spirit (Eph. 4:30). Whenever we stand for what is right, noble and truthful, we stand for God earning the vengeance and hatred of the world. As an understanding and empathetic friend, Jesus comes to as food and drink to strengthen, heal, support, encourage, revive and renew our assiduous effort, striving spirit and vanning strength until we reach our home with him in heaven.
Friday, August 6, 2021
Bible Reflections I 07.08.2021 - Saturday I Indraya Manna I
Readings
I - Deu. 6: 4-13
II - Mt. 17: 14-20
FLAVOUR BY FAITH
Today’s Gospel passage is about Jesus curing a boy with a demon. Absence of faith in both, the man who brought the boy and the disciples made the miracle an impossible one. It is in this context Jesus says, “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘move from here to there’, and it will move, nothing will be impossible for you”. Faith as mustard seed can flavour life and favour all things.
With the two waves of covid, the economy has slashed radically, leaving the people under poverty, unemployment and misery. Common people are caught up into the clutches of depression, discouragement, despair, helplessness and hopelessness. There are people who are unable to get even one square meal in a day, inability to cope up with the educational expenses have left many children as dropouts from the school this year, students who have completed their higher education with great struggle remain jobless with shattered dreams and vanning hope, some people are with guilt feeling of losing their dear ones because of their inability to afford to their medical treatment and some are mourning at the sudden demise of their dear ones.
Covid has adversely affected the social, economical and psychological dimensions of the people. Amidst all these adversaries there are still opportunities and possibilities for the one who nurtures his spiritual dimension in faith. Yes, faith can topsy turvey all setbacks into success, failure into accomplishment, adversity into prosperity and defeat into victory. Let our mind and heart resonate with this prayer: “Jesus Lord, increase my faith”.
Thursday, August 5, 2021
Bible Reflections I 06.08.2021 - Friday I Indraya Manna I
Readings
I - Dan. 7: 9-10, 13-14
II - 2Pt. 1: 16-19
III - Mk. 9: 2-10
Transfiguration of the Lord (Feast)
TRANSCEND, TRANSFOM AND TRANSFIGURE
Today the Church celebrates the feast of the transfiguration of the Lord. In the Gospel passage we read, Peter, James and John witnessing the transfiguration of the Lord in all his glory, glowing in dazzling white. There Elijah and Moses appeared to him and Jesus was talking to them. Elijah is a great prophet and also associated with the arrival of the Messiah: “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord” (Mal. 4:5). Moses is the liberator and the Law giver. Appearance of Moses and Elijah with Jesus symbolize that Jesus is the compendium of Law and Prophesy and this is affirmed by the overshadowing of the cloud that symbolize the presence of God.
The first reading is about the vision of Daniel, in which he sees God sitting in his throne with all dominion, glory and kingship. The vision of God usually beheld the mission of the Prophet among the people viz. repentance of heart and restoration of the covenantal relationship with Him. Hence it is a call for a commission and an invitation for rejuvenation and restoration of retarded relationship.
“In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe” (Heb. 1:1). Peter, James and John were given such a privilege of witnessing the transfiguration of the Lord with the mission embedded in the voice of the Father, “This my Son, the Beloved; listen to him”. To listen to Jesus, the prophet par excellence, the liberator from our sin, slavery and suffering and the Neo Law giver.
Listening to Jesus tantamount to living the Neo Law of Jesus. The Neo Law of Jesus is the New Commandment based on Love: love of God and love of neighbour. One cannot exist without the other. They are the two sides of the same coin. One cannot say “I love God and hate my neighbour” or vice versa. The feast of transfiguration invites us to transcend from all our selfishness, ego, pride, jealousy, hatred, envy, greed, avarice etc… and transform into persons of love, peace, joy, happiness, tenderness, compassion, empathy, gentleness, care, concern etc… so as to be transfigured restoring the image and likeness of God in which we were created. Let our mind and heart resonate with this prayer during this day: “Lord Jesus, help me to transform, transcend and transfigure for your greater glory”
Wednesday, August 4, 2021
Bible Reflections I 05.08.2021 - Thursday I Indraya Manna I
Readings
I - Num. 20:1-13
II - Mt. 16: 13-23
Dedication of St. Mary Major (Optional Memoria)
CHOSEN TO BE THE CHURCH OF GOD
In today’s Gospel passage Jesus calls Peter ‘blessed’ and ‘Satan’ simultaneously under two different contexts. Jesus praises Peter when his answer aligned with the plan of the Father in Heaven and calls him ‘Blessed’ and rebukes him calling ‘Satan’ when he becomes a stumbling block to the plan of God. Jesus choses that ‘Blessed’ Peter as ‘Rock’ and establishes his Church upon the leadership of that ‘Rock’, Peter. From then up till now the Church has been victorious over all heresies and havoc caused to it, true to the words of Jesus, “the gates of hades will not prevail against it”. With and upon the weak being is build the great, divine, holy and mighty Church of God as the bible says, “built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the corner stone” (Eph. 2:20).
Today the Church remembers the dedication of St. Mary Major Church, Rome, a great and gigantic church built in honour of Mother Mary. The site for the Church was chosen by the Blessed Mother herself through the miraculous snow fall at that site as she promised. The purpose of every church besides being a place of worship, glory, honour and praise to God, binds brothers and sisters in fraternity, unity and equality. St. Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians says, “Do you not know that your body is a temple of Holy Spirit within you” (1Cor. 6:19). We are the temple of God, called to be the sign of fraternity, unity and equality reflecting the presence of God. In this our living we become the worship, honour, glory and praise to God. This may inherit the wrath of the world upon us and the people of this world may hate, haul and hurt us but they can never prevail over us. With the blessings and grace of God let us try to project the presence of God in us to the people around as we keep repeating: “Lord Jesus, help me to project your presence in my life”
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