Monday, September 6, 2021
Bible Reflections I 07.09.2021 - Tuesday I Indraya Manna I
Readings
I - Col. 2: 6-15
II - Lk. 6: 12-19
ACTUALISE PRAYER IN THE ORDINARY LIVING
The hotline connection of Jesus with the Father in Prayer was reflected in his ordinary yet effective living among the people. All his ministry: preaching, healing, cleansing, performing miracles and decision making, was backed up in perfect union with God in prayer. His life of prayer geared his mission among the people despite, rejection, misunderstanding, fault finding, accusations and allegations of the religious fanatics in particular, the Scribes and the Pharisees. Therefore Jesus was able to do good wherever he went (Acts. 10:38).
Prayer is surrender. Surrender of our will, pride, ego and self-interest so that we may be able to discern what actually God wants of us. If the life of prayer betrays our ordinary living with the people then it is hypocrisy. We many spend hours and hours in prayer but if that prayer does not help us or rather lead us to forgive, help, care, share, empathise and above all to love others as ourselves, then it is duplicity and double standard living that the Lord detests. Like Jesus, our prayer should lead us to an integrated living that is powerful and witnessing. Let us ask God for this grace as we keep repeating: “Lord Jesus, help us for an integrated living”.
Sunday, September 5, 2021
Bible Reflections I 06.09.2021 - Monday I Indraya Manna I
Readings
I - Col. 1: 24-2:3
II - Lk. 6: 6-11
DARE TO STAND UP FOR WHAT IS RIGHT
Today’s Gospel passage is about Jesus healing a man with the weathered hand on a Sabbath day. Jesus knew that the Pharisees were watching whether he would heal him so that they can find some reason to accuse him. The man with the weathered hand did not ask for a healing but Jesus on his own initiated the healing with the intention of refuting the Pharisees about their hypocrisy in observing the Sabbath. Jesus indeed knew that this act would definitely earn the wrath of the Pharisees, still he stood up for what was right: to do good and to save life on the Sabbath; and this is lawful, noble, human and religious.
Often times we do know what is right and truthful but still we hesitate to side the same because of the fear of losing relationship, reputation, name, fame, power and position. We remain so inhuman in willfully denying to stand by what is just and truth despite seeing the other helpless and suffering. It is heartrending, sinful and sorrowing for the Lord says, “Do what is just and right. Rescue from the hand of the oppressor the one who has been robbed. Do no wrong or violence to the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place” (Jer. 22:3). Let us dare to stand up for what is right after the example of Jesus our Lord and Master. May our mind and hear resonate with this prayer: “Lord Jesus, give us the courage to stand up for what is right”
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Saturday, September 4, 2021
Bible Reflections I 05.09.2021- Sunday I Indraya Manna I
Readings
I - Is. 35: 4-7
II - Jas. 2: 1-5
III - Mk. 7: 31-37
WITH OPEN MIND AND HEART, ACCEPT ALL AS CHILDREN OF GOD
The first reading is about the day of the Messiah, prophesy foretold by Prophet Isaiah and the Gospel reading comes as the fulfillment of that prophesy in Christ Jesus our Lord, in the healing of the deaf and the speech impaired person. The second reading is an exhortation to the Christians to build their life upon Christian love that shows no favouritism to anyone based on riches and laurels of the world; and this is the messianic era modeled after the life of the Messiah where freedom, equality, fraternity and justice reign.
St. Paul in his letter to the Galatians says, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female’ for you are all one in Christ Jesus (Gal. 3:38). Do we Christians conduct our life this way? Don’t we too favour people based on wealth, riches, power, influence, caste, status and the place they come from? If so, then we are closed up to the life and teaching of our Master Jesus Christ that is based on love, forgiveness, mercy, kindness, generosity, understanding, empathy and gentleness. Let us today invite the Lord to open up our mind and heart to accept everyone as children of God, created in the image and likeness of God. May the ‘Ephphatha’ of Jesus be said unto us so that we become exemplary Christians living an edifying life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Friday, September 3, 2021
Bible Reflections I 04.09.2021 - Saturday I Indraya Manna I
Readings
I - Col. 1: 21-23
II - Lk. 6: 1-5
LIVE BY THE ESSENCE OF THE LAW OF THE LORD: LOVE
Sabbath, the day of rest, was merely diluted to a day of ‘don’t dos’. Abstinence from all work and availability to the Lord was the crux of the observance of Sabbath. In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus defends his disciples saying, “The Son of man is the Lord of Sabbath”. The disciples were walking with Jesus, in total availability to the Lord and that is Sabbath. Hence the disciples were perfect in observing the Sabbath. Jesus by defending his disciples, clarifies the vision of the religious leaders to fix focus on the spirit of Law rather than burdening and oppressing people under the pretext of the observance of the Law.
One does not become a religious by mere observance of its rules and rituals. Prayer, fasting, penance, abstinence and all acts of piety should help the person to be available to the Lords and His demands of love, otherwise they are self-gratification and hypocrisy that the Lord detests. Let us live by the essence of the law of the Lord than focusing on rituals and rules of the religion.
Thursday, September 2, 2021
Bible Reflections I 03.09.2021 - Friday I Indraya Manna I
Readings
I - Col. 1: 15-20
II - Lk. 5: 33-39
LIVE A LIFE OF CELEBRATION WITH GOD
The arrival of the bridegroom is beheld with great joy and jubilation for it connotes a grand celebration. People do not fast during celebrations. The presence of Jesus, the long awaited Messiah is a celebration as the scripture describes: “….neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, not pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Rev. 21:4) and hence there is no necessity for fasting, weeping or sorrowing. The Pharisees adamantly refused to accept Jesus as the Promised One, the fulfillment of the prophecy and continued with their fasting and prayer awaiting the arrival of the Messiah while he was still amidst them.
Jesus is ‘Immanuel’ - ‘God with us’. We are often perturbed by petty problems as though we have no God to turn to. We must have been crossing so many barriers with God in the past but when time comes, we forget and keep mourning, sorrowing and sighing. Dare to fight the battle and face life as it comes for we have a mighty God and a great warrior in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Realising the presence of Jesus in our life is celebration of life itself. Let us live a life of celebration with God. May our mind and heart resonate as we keep repeating: “Lord Jesus, you are Immanuel - God with us”.
Wednesday, September 1, 2021
Bible Reflections I 02.09.2021 - Thursday I Indraya Manna
Readings
I - Col. 1: 9-14
II - Lk. 5: 1-11
OBLIGE TO THE WORD OF GOD
Peter was a professional fisherman. To him Jesus said, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch”. Peter instantaneously obliged saying, “Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so I will let down the nets”. This evinces the trust of Peter in the words of Jesus for he had witnessed the healing of his mother-in-law with his rebuke on fever. Tremendous trust of Peter in the words of Jesus, turns out the miracle of the might catch.
The word of God has the power to perform and accomplish; touch and transform life; and toggle and topsy turvy plans and predictions. The word of God can infuse hope, enthuse spirit, refresh minds, renew hearts, shed light, cast fear, calm agitation, give courage, instil purpose and strengthen to stand steadfast in the Lord. I have seen most of the families reading the bible during their family prayer, children reading the bible during their rising and before going to rest, adults reading the bible at the time of decision making, confusions, problems, anxieties and worries, elderly people praying all the time with the bible. I appreciate and encourage. But are we the doers of the Word as well, as did Peter? If we are able to actualise the demands of the word of God: to love, to forgive, to care, to share, to give up, to accept, to defend the hopeless, helpless and the poor then can we expect a great miracle as did Peter, love, joy, hope, trust, serenity, health, strength, prosperity and peace enveloping our life, making it meaningful and purposeful.
Tuesday, August 31, 2021
Bible Reflections I 01.09.2021 - Wednesday I Indraya Manna I
Readings
I – Col. 1: 1-8
II - Lk. 4: 38-44
WITH JESUS WE ARE VICTORIUS
In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus after teaching in the synagogue, cures peter’s mother-in-law in particular and heals the sick, the ailing and the possessed, that were brought to him thereafter. Let us take up the healing of Peter’s mother-in-law for our reflection today. Jesus entered into peter’s house, stood over his mother-in-law and rebuked the fever and instantly she was healed and began to serve him.
All of us encounter so many problems in our day-to-day life. The personal, physical, mental, moral, psychological, financial and social problems may overwhelm and weigh us down. May our heart learn to recognise the powerful presence of Jesus amidst them and intercede with him to heal, to eradicate, to help, to accept and to face the same with him. Overcoming all these problems with Jesus, strive to serve him with all our heart, mind, strength and will. In the silence of our heat let us keep repeating: “Lord Jesus, help us to face our life with you”.
Monday, August 30, 2021
Bible Reflections I 31.08.2021 - Tuesday I Indraya Manna
Readings
I - 1 Thess. 5: 1-6, 9-11
II - Lk. 4: 31-37
DOCILE HEART DISCOVERS THE TRUTH
The people of Capernaum was astounded at the teaching of Jesus because of the authority with which he spoke. They were amazed at the power of his command over the unclean spirits. Even the demons recognised that Jesus as the Holy One of God, but his own people in the stubbornness of their hearts recognised him not. They were rigid, adamant, hard headed and stiff necked people unwilling to accept the truth. About these stubborn people Prophet Jeremiah says, “This evil people, that refuse to hear my words, that walk in the stubbornness of their heart” (Jer. 13:10).
There is a famous proverb, “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink”. Though the life of Jesus, his preaching and the miracles he worked testified to the fulfillment of the Law and Prophecy in him, they were stubborn to accept a “carpenter’s son” as the “Son of God”. Stubbornness blind the eyes, deafens the ears and hardens the heart from being docile to the truth, true to the words of Jesus, “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear” (Mt. 13:13). May this Gospel passage of the day help us to examine our lives. Stubbornness darkens our understanding and excludes us from God (Eph. 4:18) and His people. Let us be docile to the truth even if it hurts and disturbs us for that is God Himself. In the silence of our heart let us keep praying: “Lord Jesus help me to be docile to discover the truth”.
Sunday, August 29, 2021
Bible Reflections I 30.08.2021 - Monday I Indraya Manna I
Readings
I - 1 Thess. 4: 13-18
II - Lk. 4: 16-30
FAITH FAVOURS
Today’s Gospel passage is on the manifesto of the public ministry of Jesus. As Jesus finished reading the passage of Prophet Isaiah, all eyes in the synagogue were fixed on him, he won the approval of all and they were astonished by the gracious words that came from his lips. But still the bias of the people that Jesus was a carpenter’s son prevented them to go beyond to trust him. Therefore as the bible says, “He did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith” (Mt. 13:58). He came to his own and his own accepted him not (Jn. 1:11).
Each person is unique. Everyone have their own role to play in this world. Judging from the background, we too are sometimes prone to miss people for what they are. Trusting in the word of God, the widow at Zarephath did what Prophet Elijah commanded and baked the first bread for him and found her jar of flour never used up and the jug of oil never ran dry all through the days of drought. Naaman the leper trusted in the words of Prophet Elisha and was cleansed.
Faith favours. Let us accept everyone in the name of the Lord, going beyond our prejudice, likes and dislikes. There are still prophets and persons of God amidst us. May we behold them with faith in order to behold the blessings of the Lord they bring, as we keep repeating this prayer: “Lord Jesus, increase my faith”.
Saturday, August 28, 2021
Bible Reflections I 29.08.2021 - Sunday I Indraya Manna I
Readings
I - Deu. 4: 1-2, 6-8
II - Jas. 1:17-18, 21-22,27
III - Mk. 7: 1-8
Beheading of John the Baptist (Memoria)
ALIGN YOUR LIFE UNTO THE COMMANDMENT OF GOD
The simple two dimensional law viz. the love of God and the love of neighbour was complicated by the observance of 613 laws, fabricated by the religious leaders, made the life of a Jew difficult and burdensome. The Scribes and the Pharisees thus “preserved” the law but diluted the essence of the law, the one commanded by God: Love. Anything against the love of God and love of neighbour is impure in the sight of God. They considered themselves as the ‘people of God’, a race after God’s choice and never associated especially with the outcast. Whenever they went out, after their return they would wash their hands so that they remain pure untarnished by their association with the outcast. An inhuman act indeed! And a great abomination in the sight of God because the love of neighbour is jeopardised in the bargain.
In today’s Gospel passage, the Scribes and the Pharisees accuses the disciples of Jesus for not washing their hands. Jesus admonishes their hypocrisy because they were putting aside the commandment of God and were clinging on to human traditions that hurt and neglected one section of the society on the whole. Nothing that goes into a man from outside can make him unclean but the evil that comes from within viz. theft, murder, adultery, avarice, pride, folly… make him unclean. The first reading speaks about the importance of keeping the word of the Lord, as people of God and in the second reading, St. James exhorts the Christians to be the ‘doers of the Word’ that has the power to save souls. Aligning oneself according to the Word of the Lord therefore is purity and that is religion.
There are people who go on a pilgrimage to holy places, fast for days together, perform all rituals under the pretext of ‘devotion’, parade themselves to be religious people but never give a cup of water to the thirsty, feed the hungry, care for the widow and the orphaned, help the poor or defend the voiceless. Through today’s Gospel passage Jesus rebukes these type of people for their hypocrisy and invites them to concentrate on the higher values of life. Let us not fall into this category of hypocrites but become doers of God and this is of course purity, and pleasing in the sight of God. Today the Church remembers the beheading of St. John the Baptist, voice in the desert that demanded everyone to live by the word of the Lord. May St. John the Baptist give us the courage to stand by God’s Word at all circumstances with courage and conviction.
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