Friday, September 17, 2021
Bible Reflections I 18.09.2021 - Saturday I Indraya Manna I
Readings
I - 1Tim. 6: 13-16
II - Lk. 8: 4-14
BECOME DOERS OF THE WORD OF GOD
Today’s Gospel passage is about the parable of the sower and the seed. It’s about the seed and the yield, highlighting the receptiveness of the soil it fell upon. Same sower and the same seed but the yield varied with the place where they were sowed. Some fell on the path, while some on the rock, still others amidst the thorns and thistles and the seed that fell on the good soil produced a hundred fold.
Based on the parable, people can be divided into four types: the hearers, the impetuous, the opportunists and the doers. Hearers can be compared to the seed that fell on the path. This type of people just hear the Word of God and just leave it in the air without giving a second thought. They can be easily distracted. The impetuous are quick to respond but without standing steadfast in the same. These people can give up easily. The opportunists understand well but waver in their steadfastness. These people pick up what is pleasing and give up all that is demanding. They follow the Word at their own convenience. The doers accomplish every Word of the Lord and bear witness to Him at all times. They yield a hundred fold giving glory to the Lord. To which category to do belong? Let us stand by the Word of God and bear witness to the same thereby making our life resolute, meaningful, and purposeful.
Thursday, September 16, 2021
Bible Reflections I 17.09.2021 - Friday I Indraya Manna I
Readings
I - 1Tim. 6: 2-12
II - Lk. 8: 1-3
WE ARE ALL ONE IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD
Jesus came to restore the relationship with God reflected in the establishment of an egalitarian society where, freedom, fraternity, equality and justice reign and this is the Kingdom of God. Jesus taught on the streets and the lanes, preached in the synagogue and on the shores, healed the deformed and the disabled, cured of evil spirits and infirmities as a sign of the blossoming of the Kingdom of God that was so immanent. Jesus gave a giant leap in the composition of his team that consisted of women as well, as we read in the Gospel passage today. The rabbis in Israel, holding on to the law, tradition and practices withdrew themselves from associating with women and valued them as ‘no persons’, secondary citizens and inferior to men. Unlike the Jewish rabbis, Jesus befriended women and had them too to be in the team of followers. He gave them a fitting place in his team and made them the partakers of his mission as well. This is the greatest sign of equality that reign in the Kingdom of God for: “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3:28).
There are innumerable groups of activists who protest and fight for gender equality. Men and women are never equals they are complimentary. One gets completed in the other and also one cannot exist without the other. And hence, equality in dignity has to be insisted. We are the loving children of God the Father, created in His own likeness and image and hence there is no distinction in the dignity. Violating the dignity of the other is violating oneself. Trampling the other is tampering oneself. Let us imitate the legendry life of Jesus to restore the respect and human dignity of women keeping in mind that one cannot exist without the other and that one compliments the other, for we are all one in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Wednesday, September 15, 2021
Bible Reflections I 16.09.2021 - Thursday I Indraya Manna I
Readings
I - 1Tim. 4: 12-16
II - Lk. 7: 36-50
Forgiveness : LOVE WITHOUT FRONTIER
Love surpasses all frontiers, hurdles, difficulties and hitches. Love spotlights the loved one amidst all odds. Geared by an abounding love, because of the mercy, compassion, gentleness, affection and above all by the love of the Lord Jesus, the woman, the disgust and the scum of the society dared to enter the house of the Pharisee and anointed the feet of the Lord. Jesus was as usual accused but he took up for the woman, defended and praised her act, an expression of her love that bothered nothing and none.
A bit of love can set all things right. For the sake of love one is ready to give up anything. For the love of mankind, Jesus gave up his divine nature and took up the form of the human person. For the sake of the love of God, Mary consented to be the mother of Jesus. For the sake of the love for the triune God, many had endured persecution. For the sake of following Christ, many still sacrifice all that they can, in order to bear witness to the love of the Lord. Love is giving. Let us shun our mind and heart to ‘what others will think/say” and begin to love God and neighbour without any restriction as our Lord Jesus had taught and exhorted us. By our act of love, that has neither restriction nor reservation, let people know that we are Christians after the heart of Christ. May our mind and heart resonate with the prayer: “Lord Jesus, fill our heart with your love”
Tuesday, September 14, 2021
Bible Reflections I 15.09.2021 - Wednesday I Indraya Manna I
Readings
I - 1Tim. 3: 14-16
II - Lk. 7: 31-35
Mary, Mother of Sorrows (Memoria)
YIELDING UNTO THE WILL OF GOD IS WISDOM
In today’s Gospel passage we read, God's wisdom, however, is shown to be true by all who accept it (Lk. 7:35). To yield ourselves unto the will of God, turning deaf to the comments, remarks, allegations, appreciations and criticism of all around is wisdom. Neither John the Baptist not Jesus Christ was affected by the accusations of the Scribes and the Pharisees because they fixed their focus on the will of God and were passionate in accomplishing the same. Hence they became so prominent and vital in the history of salvation of mankind. Mother of Sorrows, our Blessed Mother is not an exception to the same. The sorrows endured on account of her Son is the Master Plan of God in the history of salvation. Not once but seven times her heart was pierced with swords:
1. The Prophecy of Simeon.
2. The Flight into Egypt.
3. The Loss of the Child Jesus in the Temple.
4. The Meeting of Jesus on his way to Calvary
5. The Crucifixion of Jesus on Mount Calvary.
6. Jesus is Taken Down from the Cross.
7. The Burial of Jesus.
Never once did Mother Mary complain about her suffering to God. She endured with faith and with great wisdom placing all her trust in the Lord who is all and always good. We are so prone to seek appreciation and praises from the lips of the people around us. None of us wish to risk our good name or reputation. We are ready to do anything on this account. This is utter foolishness and wasting of our life in vain. Our happiness must come from God alone and this is possible only when we resolve to live by the will of God. As we fondly remember our blessed mother today, let us invoke her to intercede for us to take delight in yielding ourselves unto the will of God.
Monday, September 13, 2021
Bible Reflections I 14.09.2021- Tuesday I Indraya Manna I
Readings
I - Num. 21: 4-9
II - Jn. 3: 13-17
EXALTATION OF THE HOLY CROSS (Feast)
All things are possible for God as the Holy Bible says, “…with God all things are possible” (Jer. 32:17, Mt. 19:26). He humbles and He exalts, He strikes and He heals, He scatters and He gathers, for the sake of His benevolent love for His people. God can turn punishment into forgiveness, suffering into joy, curse into blessing, mourning into dancing and weeping into joy for the sake of His infinite mercy upon us.
The Israelites sinned by speaking against the Lord and against Moses His servant; and so God sent poisonous serpents to punish them. Many of the Israelites died bitten by the serpents. Moses, prayed and pleaded for the people and hence the sign of punishment and death - the serpent, was turned to sign of forgiveness and life. Everyone bitten by the serpent looked upon the serpent set on a pole and was saved. Similarly, to save the mankind from sin and death, God sent His only son in form of a human being to save the mankind. The fall of humanity with the sin of Adam was rectified and restored by the death of the New Adam - Jesus Christ on the cross. Cross, the sign of punishment, defeat, death and shame was turned into redemption, victory, life and glory with the death of Jesus on the Cross. By one man, Adam, death entered into the world and the death of one man, Jesus, the New Adam, the entire world is saved and restored.
Today the Church celebrates the feast of the exaltation of the Holy Cross. In St. Paul’s letter to the Philippians we read, “…He humbled Himself and became obedient to death, even death on a cross. Therefor God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name above all names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2: 8-10). “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1Cor. 1:18). Yielding our life unto the will of the Father at all times and in all situations like Jesus, will definitely rise us up one day even if it is costing here and now. Let us learn to endure carrying our daily cross (Lk. 9 :23) as they come on our way with all love so that one day we too may be exalted for glorifying God the Father with our life here on earth.
Sunday, September 12, 2021
Bible Reflections I 13.09.2021 - Monday I Indraya Manna I
Readings
I - Tim. 2: 1-7
II - Lk. 7: 1-10
THE WORDS OF JESUS ARE CREDIBLE AND POWERFUL
Today’s Gospel passage is about Jesus, healing the salve of a centurion. We can take three learning lessons from this Gospel passage. One from Jesus and two from the centurion. The credibility in the words of Jesus and from the centurion, his regard for his slave, the Bible says that he valued him highly; and the faith of the centurion in the words of Jesus evinced in his saying, “But only speak the word, and let my servant be healed” and it happened.
The word of God is powerful but do we have faith in the same when the time demands? We see people flocking to this person and that person for good and encouraging words when the promising words are propelling and are ample in the Bible. Some go a step beyond to predict the future having recourse to palmistry, numerology, medium and the like. Place the trust in the Lord who holds the future and the master of our lives. Flock to Him for all things are possible with Him and for Him. Unlike the centurion, we have received the gift of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ right from the day of our Baptism, let that light of faith neither flicker not wear out rather keep alive oiling it with the life giving and credible words of Jesus.
Like the centurion, may we too have regard for our subordinates. Value them, consider their suffering and setbacks as your own with an attitude of love and empathy; and try your best to alleviate their pain and sorrow. Enwrap yourselves with humanness so as to empathise with them and by this people may know that we are Christians following the Lord who is love itself. Let our mind and heart resonate with the prayer: “Lord Jesus, help me to seek you at all times”.
Saturday, September 11, 2021
Friday, September 10, 2021
Bible Reflections I 11.09.2021 - Saturday I Indraya Manna I
Readings
I - Tim. 1: 15-17
II - Lk. 6: 43-49
A GOOD TREE YIELDS GOOD FRUIT
A grandfather was teaching his grandson about life. He said, “A terrible fight between two wolves is going on inside me. One is evil and the other is good. The evil is: anger, jealousy, hatred, greed, arrogance, resentment, ego and pride. The good is: love, peace, joy, compassion, mercy, faith, hope, empathy, kindness, humility, forgiveness and benevolence. The same fight is going on inside you and every other person as well”. The grandson thought for a while and asked his grandfather, “Which wolf will win?” The grandfather replied, “The one you feed”. In today’s Gospel passage Jesus says that a good tree bears good fruit and the bad tree bad fruit. People do no pick figs from thorns nor gather grapes from brambles. A man’s words flow words flow out of what fills his heart.
Jesus exhorts his followers not to be mere hearers of his word but doers of the same. A person captivated by God’s words cannot but obey his words and stand by them at all times. Spikenard when crushed fills the ambient and the hand that crushes with its pleasant aroma. So too are the doers of the word of God. They prove their faith more fervently at the testing times as did Job in the Bible. These are the people who build their house on the rock that stands firm even with the flood. These are the good trees that yield good fruits, in season and out of season. These are the people who feed their soul constantly with the word of God and reap it in good deeds proving their authenticity. In this light let us examine our life whether we are mere hearers of the word or doers of the word as well yielding good fruit glorifying the Lord. May our mind and heart resonate with this prayer: “Lord Jesus, give me the courage to stand by your word”.
Thursday, September 9, 2021
Bible Reflections I 10.09.2021 - Friday I Indraya Manna I
Readings
I - Tim. 1: 1-2, 12-14
II - Lk. 6: 39-42
ONE BLIND CANNOT LEAD THE OTHER BLIND
In today’s Gospel passage Jesus speaks of a parable about the blind leading the blind which is quite impossible for both of them will fall into a pit. A person cannot point the mistake of the other when he/she is into the same mistake. We become so stringent in our accusation towards the faults of the other while we are so liberal and have a long margin for the similar accusation that we make towards the other. We are so often worried about the splinter in the other person’s eye while there is a plank in our own eyes. One blind cannot lead the other. Only the righteous one has the authority and power to judge at the faults of the other. God alone is righteous and he patience and never rash in his judgment.
When the woman caught in the very act of committing adultery was brought to Jesus, he said, “He that is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone at her” (Jn. 8:7). While we are prone to judge others, let us pose the same verse upon us so that we may not fall a prey to the temptation of judging others. With the realisation that all of us are sinners in need of God’s mercy, let us walk hand in hand with each other in all understanding, sympathy, forgiveness, empathy and love. May our mind and heart resonate with the prayer: “Lord Jesus, lead me not into the temptation of judging others”
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