Bible Reflections I 16.03.2023 - THURSDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Season of Lent: Week 3

Readings 

           I - Jer. 7: 23-28

          II - Lk. 11: 14-23  

BE UNITED WITH GOD IN PRAYER

There are two types of criticism: one is constructive and the other is destructive.  In today’s Gospel passage, some people witnessing the mute speak after the demon being cast out criticize Jesus telling, “he casts out demons by Beelzebul” while the others ask Jesus for a sign from heaven. Jesus was unperturbed by their destructive criticism and reaction to the healing he performed. One usually either responds or reacts to criticism.  Jesus responds tactically and traps them with two thought provoking questions: “if Satan is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand?” and “if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out?” He never performed a miracle too at that moment to prove himself.   

Jesus remained calm, serene and responded rightly even at the face of criticism because he was fully aware who he was and was always connected to God, his Father in prayer.  Only a person who is aware of himself/herself can remain calm without reacting to any cutting remarks or curtailing criticisms.  Let us be united with the Lord in prayer and prudently stay balanced at all circumstances. May our mind and heart resonate with the prayer: “Lord Jesus, teach us to be united with the Father like you in prayer and overcome all criticism and setbacks”.     

      

Bible Reflections I 15.03.2023 - WEDNESDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Season of Lent: Week 3

Readings: 

I - Deu. 4:1, 5-9

           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. 

The secrets of the Kingdom are revealed to mere children and are hidden from the learned and the clever (Mt. 11:25). If we wish to be great in the Kingdom of God we have to just 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). During this season of lent, let us in the simple acts of kindness and charity try to become great in the kingdom of God.

Bible Reflections I 14.03.2023 - TUESDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Season of Lent: Week 3

Readings 

           I - Dan. 3: 25, 34-43

          II - Mt. 18: 21-35

                          

THE CHILD OF GOD FORGIVES

Forgive and you will be forgiven is the crux of the Gospel passage of the day.  Peter asks Jesus how many time to forgive the other.  Jesus answers – seventy times seven and goes on to explain through the parable of the unforgiving debtor who was forgiven by his master for the amount quite higher than the that he had lent to his servant yet he failed to forgive; beat his up and put him in the prison despite his pleading.

In his prayer taught to his disciples Jesus lays a condition for forgiveness: “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us” (Mt. 6: 12).  Jesus also says, “Be merciful just as your Father is merciful” (Lk. 6: 36).  To those who brought the women caught in the very act of committing adultery, to be stoned to death Jesus said, “he that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her” (Jh. 8: 7).  Only when we become aware that we too are sinners needing God’s mercy can we be able to be merciful and forgive others faults and failings.  May our mind and heart resonate with the prayer: “Lord Jesus, give us a humbled contrite heart and help us to accept and forgive others”.

Bible Reflections I 13.03.2023 - MONDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Season of Lent - Week 3

Readings 

           I - 2 Kings 5: 1-15

          II - Lk. 4: 24-30

    

                       

ACCEPT ALL IN LOVE

In the Gospel according to St. John we read, “He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him” (Jn. 1:11).  Today’s Gospel passage is about suspicion and reluctance of people in accepting Jesus as the promised one - the chosen race trying to reject their own Messiah from their point of view.  It was because he was merely a carpenter’s son.  Jesus concludes quoting the two incidents: one, Prophet Elijah was sent to the widow in Zarephath and two, the healing of Naaman by Prophet Elisha and; saying, “no prophet is acceptable in his home town”.  

Truth is beyond all mindset, human computation and calculation. Only a broad mind and an open heart are prone to behold the truth without much criticism.  We too like those people of Israel try to avoid and eliminate people in the name of family background, caste, creed, power, prestige, popularity, fame and name.  If we are habituated in analysing all these we will be missing the messiah as he comes to meet us every day and in every event like those people of Israel. Go beyond to accept all without any prejudice. This is possible only to the person who loves as Jesus has commanded.  Let us in a special way pray to the Lord to fill our hearts with love so that it might be possible to love all without any prejudice and analysis. May our mind and heart resonate with the prayer: “Lord Jesus, fill my heart with your love”.

Bible Reflections I 12.03.2023 - SUNDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Season of Lent: Week 3

Readings 

           I - Hos. 6: 1-6

          II - Rom. 5: 1-2, 5-8 

         III - Jn. 4: 5-42

                          

JESUS IS THE LIVING WATER

Water is vital for all life. Dry land becomes fertile with water, plants remain fresh with supply of water and the thirsty throat gets satiated with a glass of water. In the first reading of the day, the Israelites grumbled against Moses for want of water and God did quench their thirst. In the Gospel passage the Samaritan woman came to the well to fetch water. Jesus through the long conversation with the Samaritan woman makes her to discover for herself the living water in Jesus Christ. Nowhere in the Gospel passage had Jesus revealed himself as Messiah except to this woman. The Jews considered themselves elite because they were chosen by God and never associated with the Samaritans. All the more Jesus was the rabbi and in talking to the woman he was risking his spirituality. He never cared about anything but in the salvation of the Samaritan woman.

Today people run after money, power, position, name, fame, titles and the like because they crave for these things that would and can never satisfy them. The emptiness they feel within them drives them to find fulfillment in the things that are temporary. The Psalmist says, “As the deer longs for running streams, so my soul longs for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, the living God (Ps. 42: 1).” Only God can fill all our emptiness and quench us from all our thirsts. Our response to the responsorial psalm today is, “O that today you would listen to his voice! Harden not your voice.” Be open to the voice of God as we partake in the Sunday Eucharistic celebration and implore his grace to capture his voice and submit ourselves to the same so that we too can joyfully like the Samaritan woman proclaim to the world that there is joy only in discovering the Lord. Let our mind and heart resonate with the prayer: “Lord Jesus, help me listen to you voice.”

Bible Reflections I 11.03.2023 - SATURDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Season

of Lent: Week 2

Readings 

           I - Mic. 7: 14-15, 18-20

          II - Lk. 15: 1-3, 11-32

                          

RETURN TO THE LORD

The Gospel passage is about the joy of the father in the returning of the lost son, the prodigal son. The Pharisees and the Scribes grumbled when the tax collectors and the sinners were drawing near to Jesus. Jesus through the parable of the Prodigal son tried to enlighten them on the importance of every child to the father and his happiness in getting them back especially the lost one. The elder son, with the father signified the scribes and the Pharisees while the younger son signified the sinners and the tax collectors. Like the father in the parable, God too rejoices over the repentance and return of the sinners and the tax collectors who are away from the Father’s love because of their ignorance, sinfulness, fear, guilt and shame. Jesus incites an inclusive connotation to ‘people of God’ - men, women, children, sinners, righteous, tax collectors, rich, poor, great and the least. God waits for the return of the lost, marks them from afar, hopes with patience, runs with great joy when they return and takes them back home with great joy and festivity. 

This grace filled season is an opportunity to reflect, repent and return to the Lord. An opportune time to put on Christ. An apt moment to be reconciled to Christ. May all our prayer, fasting and works of charity help us for a reunion with the Lord. Let our mind and heart resonate with the prayer: “Lord Jesus, give me the grace to repent and return to you”.

Bible Reflections I 10.03.2023 - FRIDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Season of Lent: Week 2

Readings 

           I - Gen. 37: 3-4, 12-13, 17-28

          II - Mt. 21: 33-43, 45-46

                           

SEARCH FOR THE TRUTH

Today’s Gospel passage is about the parable of the wicked tenants that beat up the servants and finally kill the son of the owner too who were sent by the owner to collect the produce from his vineyard. This parable infuriated the chief priests and Pharisees because the parable of Jesus pointed at them directly. Though these people claimed themselves to be ‘the people of God’ and yet rebelled against almost all messengers of God whenever the message was not appealing to them. The same thing happened to Jesus too. They were not ready to listen to Jesus, the Messiah for whom they awaited so long years because they were too proud and were not open to the truth that Jesus was the Messiah. Instead, the sinners, the tax collectors and the prostitutes accepted Jesus and his teaching making the concept of People of God, a universal one.   

We are not different from the Chief Priests and the Pharisees. We too are often ready to accept only the truth that are in line with our thought pattern and mind set. Instead today’s Gospel passage is an invitation to search for and accept the truth as it comes despite from whom or where it comes. The Bible says, “O that today you would listen to His voice, harden not your hearts” (Ps. 95:7). Let us with an open mind and heart be simple enough to accept and appreciate the truth as it comes to us through the Word of God, our conscience, friend and people around us. May our mind and heart resonate with the prayer “Lord Jesus, give me the grace to search for and accept the truth”.

Bible Reflections I 09.03.2023 - THURSDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Season of Lent: Week 2

Readings 

           I - Jer. 17: 5-10

          II - Lk. 16: 19-31

                          

NEGLECT NOT THE NEEDY

The Gospel passage of the day is on the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. The rich man was least bothered about Lazarus, the poor man at his gate. He enjoyed his life in his riches and luxury while Lazarus suffered in his sickness and misery. Lazarus appeared to be so invisible and insignificant to the rich man that he was absolutely indifferent and ignored him completely during his luxurious life time here on the earth. But in the life after his death and departure from this world, Lazarus seated beside Abraham, appeared prominent so to him that he began pleading for himself and his brothers. Abraham refuses and rejects his requests. In the parables of Jesus we find no name given to any person except Lazarus. The name Lazarus is Latinised version of Eliezer meaning “God is my helper”. In the Jewish tradition name signified the character of that person. Jesus would have purposely given this name because, the poor man Lazarus had no helper but God alone. The parable is not against riches and wealth but about what the rich man lacked viz. care, concern and compassion for Lazarus and therefore failed to lend him in charity. 

Everyone is blessed with some gifts by God solely for the purpose of sharing them with the ‘no person’ like Lazarus viz. the poor, the marginalised, the oppressed and the suffering humanity. Being indifferent towards the problems and sufferings of the other is a grave sin and this would follow us even after our earthly existence here. Charity covers a multitude of sin (1Pt. 4:8). During this season of lent in particular, let us lift our eyes to look upon the needy brethren to lend our hands and means in charity with the intention of lifting them up from their poverty, hunger, pain, suffering and misery. May our mind and heart resonate with the prayer: “Lord Jesus, give us a generous heart to share all we have with the poor and the needy”

Bible Reflections I 08.03.2023 - WEDNESDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Season of Lent: Week 2

Readings 

           I - Jer. 18: 18-20

          II - Mt. 20: 17-28

                          

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY

We celebrate the International Women’s Day today. A day when the world recall the values, capacity, capabilities, importance and dignity of women with appreciation and affirmation. There will be a number of organised programmes highlighting the qualities of woman right from her life to death; the wishes, poems, shorts, video clippings and the animated images the social media carry, simply be inflating the glory of women! If this celebration inspire and induces one to respect the role and dignity of woman, then the celebration has achieved its purpose. If not, it is going to be a mere hypocrisy.  

In today’s Gospel passage Jesus tries to explain about his rejection, suffering, crucifixion, death and resurrection to his disciples while the mother of the sons of Zebedee asks for the seats for his sons, one on the right and one on the left of the Son of Man. Being women’s day let us base our reflection on this verse from the Gospel passage. Like the mother of the sons of Zebedee, most of the women folk spend their lives wishing and accomplishing the best for others, forgetting themselves. They are selfless and sacrificing. A day like this is a reminder to strive for gender equality and justice especially to women. Resolve to bring the status of women to the fore, relieving them from all her bindings of slavery. May our mind and heart resonate with the prayer: “Lord Jesus, Bless all women.”

Bible Reflections I 07.03.2023 - TUESDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Season of Lent: Week 2

Readings 

           I - Is. 1: 10, 16-20

          II - Mt. 23: 1 - 12

                          

THE HUMBLE IS EXALTED

In todays Gospel passage Jesus instructs on what to follow and what to disregard.  To follow whatever the scribes and the Pharisees taught as they were taking the seat of Moses and to disregard their hypocrisy and vain glory.  Jesus replaces the weighing law of the scribes and the Pharisees with just two commandments restoring the original commandment of God: love of God and love of neighbour.  His preaching was substantiated with the personal example of washing the feet of his disciples:  You call me Master and Lord and rightly so, for that is what I am.  Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet you also should wash one anothers feet (Jh. 13: 13-14).  This is Christian charity and Christian living.

The Lord detests the proud (Prov. 3: 34) and scatters the proud hearted in the thoughts of their heart (Lk. 1:51).  Most of us like those Pharisees wish to be greeted, esteemed, honoured and revered.  Only the personal knowledge of oneself, in other words, personal awareness can help a person to ignore all these and keep focused in his/her going.  Jesus knew that he was the Son of God, the Promised One and the Messiah and therefore he was able remain serene at all circumstances: when the people hailed him to be their king or abandoned by all, hanging on the cross.  We are children of God and let this awareness help us to ignore all earthly desires and longings and trigger us to be focused in conducting ourselves as the children of God. May our mind and heart resonate with the prayer: “Lord Jesus, help me to live by the Law of Love”

Bible Reflections I 06.03.2023 - MONDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Season of Lent: Week 2

Readings 

           I - Dan. 9: 4-10

          II - Lk. 6: 36-38

                          

DO NOT JUDGE

A forgiving heart neither condemns not judges but is empathetic and merciful.  The two aspects of forgiveness are: one, it is a grace and two, it is conditional.  Forgiveness is grace because human beings are fragile and prone to get offended easily.  It is the grace of God that empowers one to be empathetic and magnanimous in forgiving the other.  Forgiveness is conditional because in his prayer Jesus has taught us: “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us”.  Only in our generous forgiveness can we obtain the forgiveness of God for ourselves.  

The self-righteous and the rude, judges, the proud and the arrogant, condemns but the child of God is merciful and forgives. Forgiveness is the predominant quality of Christian living.  We have a path set out by our Master Jesus Christ, who forgave even his offenders and the murderers.  During this season of lent as we reflect on the passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, let us ask God to give us the courage to tread that path of love, mercy and forgiveness.  May our mind and heart resonate with the prayer: “Lord Jesus, give me the grace to forgive our offenders.”

Bible Reflections I 05.03.2023 - SUNDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Season of Lent: Week 2

Readings 

           I - Gen. 12: 1-4

          II - 2 Tim. 1: 8-10

         III - Mt. 17: 1-9

                          

FOLLOWERS OF THE CROSS OF CHRIST

Today’s Gospel passage is about the transfiguration of Jesus. The apostles Peter, James and John, witnessed, heard and testified to this fact in their lives. The three apostles witnessed Jesus on the mount glowing in the glory of God along with Moses and Elijah, the two giants of God whom they revered great, one as the law giver and the other as the messenger of God who turned the hearts of people towards God. They heard a voice from the cloud saying, “This is my Son, My Chosen One; listen to him!” And they testified to this fact that Jesus was the Son of God through their effective life of teaching, preaching and healing like their Master and finally, with boldness and courage gave up their lives too as a testimony to the Truth.

We as Christians are called to follow the foot prints of the apostles chalked out by Jesus our Lord. If we dare to tread on the path of Jesus adhering to his words we become a blessing like Abraham in the first reading. We also become partakers in the holiness of God through our Lord Jesus Christ as the second reading says. As the Holy Father Pope Francis says in his Lenten message, let us ascent to Jesus on the mountain in prayer and come down to reveal God’s face to His people through our act of kindness, charity and love. Lent is a time to align our lives unto the ways of God. May the season of Lent help us to be the effective witnesses of our Lord Jesus Christ. Let our mind and heart resonate with the prayer, “Lord Jesus, make me an authentic followers of yours.”

Bible Reflections I 04.03.2023 - SATURDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Season of Lent: Week 1

Readings 

           I - Deu. 26: 16-19

          II - Mt. 5: 43-48

                          

LOVE YOUR ENEMIES

The tax collectors and gentiles were considered as sinners and outcasts and never as children of God. Jesus picks up their idea and gives a different connotation, an inclusive one as to who the children of God are. He inspires them to imbibe the quality of the impartial Father who make sun rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the just and unjust, in their love towards their neighbours. He reverts the existing law, “Love your neighbour and hate your enemies” to love, greet and above all pray for the enemies.  

In practicing this new teaching of Jesus anybody can become the children of God. Loving, greeting and praying for enemies is a challenge and it takes a lot of courage. Only the grace of God can give us the courage to love all and hate none. To love all and hate none though difficult, it is not impossible. St. Pope John Paul II forgave the one who shot him, Bld. Rani Maria’s family accepted the murderer as one of their family member offering him their forgiveness. May the lives of valiant saints inspire us to love all and hate none bearing witness to Christian charity. Let our mind and heart resonate with the prayer: “Lord Jesus, give me the courage to love all and hate none”.

Bible Reflections I 03.03.2023 - FRIDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Season of Lent: Week 1

Readings 

           I - Ezk. 18:  21-28

          II - Mt. 5: 20-26

                          

BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS

Merely killing a person alone is not murder.  Words and gestures too can mutilate and murder a person.  This why in today’s Gospel passage Jesus teaches that not only those who murder are liable to judgment but those who are angry with others, those who insult and those who call others a fool.  Jesus conditions to come with a reconciled heart while making an offering to the Lord.  Reconciliation not that when we have offended someone but when we realise that someone has something against us - a supreme teaching that superseded the teaching of the Scribes and the Pharisees.  Jesus invites us to take initiative for peace and reconciliation.

Anger is the reflection of one’s pride and arrogance while reconciliation is a sign of acceptance and humility.  Love uproots pride, upholds humility of heart and aspires for reconciliation and peace. Jesus says, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Mt. 5:9). The best example for the passage is Jesus’ forgiveness on the cross even to the people who crucified him. It was the people who had something against him that they crucified him though innocent was he but Jesus as the beloved of the Father, the Son of God, forgave them (Lk. 23:34).  As we are in the season of lent, let us pray for a humble heart to imitate Jesus in his love and forgiveness and testify to the fact that we are the children of God. May our mind and heart resonate with the prayer: “Jesus meek and humble of heart, make my heart like yours.”

Bible Reflections I 02.03.2023 - THURSDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Season of Lent: Week 1

Readings 

           I - Esther 4: 17

          II - Mt. 7: 7-12

                          

LOVE OTHERS AS YOURSELF 

In today’s Gospel passage Jesus says to his disciples “Whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets”, a simple formula for mutual wellbeing, peace, serenity and prosperity. It’s a sort of invitation for introspection. All of us do wish from others: love, forgiveness, kindness, respect, cordiality, amicability, esteem, faithfulness, uprightness and loyalty. But do we do the same to others? Don’t we gossip, underestimate, humiliate, brand and label persons thus projecting ourselves as someone righteous? If we go by what Jesus says, the Kingdom of God is already here on the earth spreading the fragrance of equality, fraternity, justice and liberation.

Love others as yourself is the precondition before we could ask, seek or knock for anything to God. In our love for our neighbour as oneself, will we be able to ask, seek or knock in and with charity. Anything asked in and for charity will be instantly done to us for in loving others do we become acceptable and worthy children of God. May our mind and heart resonate with the prayer: “Lord Jesus, give us the grace to accept and love others as ourselves”.

Bible Reflections I 01.03.2023 - WEDNESDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Season of Lent: Week 1

Readings 

           I - Jonah 3: 1-10

          II - Lk. 11: 29-32

                          

LISTEN, DISCERN AND LIVE

In today’s Gospel passage Jesus says that the people of Israel would not be given any sign except the sign of Jonah and the Queen of Sheba to believe in Jesus.   Jonah was merely a messenger of God and the people of Nineveh adhered and turned their hearts towards God in repentance.  The Queen of Sheba had to travel so far to listen to the witness the wisdom of King Solomon.  Jesus was greater than Jonah because he was message himself and greater than Solomon because he was the Word made flesh - the Divine Word Himself.  Still, the people of Israel asked Jesus for a sign in their stubbornness of heart though they heard his authoritative teaching, preaching; and witnessed so many miracles and wonders taking place.

We too like those people of Israel even if we happen to bear testimony to goodness of God in our lives, we wait for miracles, signs and wonders.  This is the sign of lack of love for and faith in God.  We too like those people of Israel, look but do not perceive and; hear and do not listen.  Let us today ask God for the gift of faith so that we be able to recognise Him even in the smallest happening in our lives.  May our mind and hear resonate with the prayer: “Lord Jesus, strength our faith in you.”      .

Bible Reflections I 28.02.2023 -TUESDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Season of Lent: Week 1

Readings 

           I - Is. 55: 10-11

          II - Mt. 6: 7-15

                          

RESOLVE TO FORGIVE

In the Gospel passage of the day, Jesus asks the disciples not to heap words while praying like that of the hypocrites and gives them the pattern of all prayers. Praying is not heaping up empty phrases for the Father knows about our needs and so Jesus gives the famous prayer, “Our Father” as the pattern of all prayers. Besides praising the name of the Lord and wishing for the blossoming of his kingdom and accomplishment of His will, the prayer contains three main petitions on: Providence, Forgiveness and Protection. Daily bread from his bounty, His forgiveness based on our forgiveness and a pleading to deliver and protect us from all that is evil.  

Bread nourishes and gives energy to move on with a healthy body; forgiveness fills our heart with peace and help us move on with healthy a mind; and we can tread steadily towards God with healthy mind and body if we are protected from trials and temptation. The three are essential and one alone is conditional. We pray God to forgive us as we forgive others. Meaning that if we don’t forgive we should not be forgiven either. Examine the number of times we make mistake and implore God’s forgiveness. But, do we forgive our offenders even when they plead for forgiveness. During this season of lent, make forgiveness a habit to project and testify to the love of God. May our mind and heart resonate with the prayer ‘Our Father…” and ask for God’s grace to forgive our offenders as did Jesus his executioners.

Bible Reflections I 27.02.2023 - MONDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Season of Lent: Week 1

Readings 

           I - Lev. 19: 1-2, 11-18

          II - Mt. 25: 31-46

                          

GOD IS LOVE

Today’s Gospel passage is about the last judgment.  There are so many divisions among the humankind today based on caste, creed, race, power and status but at the end of time during the last judgment when the Lord comes in all His glory, there will only be only two divisions based on the performance of the charitable deeds: the blessed and the accursed.  The Blessed will inherit the eternal life and the accursed, the eternal damnation. Simple acts of charity like, feeding the poor, giving a drink, clothing the naked, sheltering the homeless, visiting the sick and the prisoners, all done in love has a great power to make us blessed in order to merit eternal bliss.   

“Trifles make perfection, and perfection is no trifle” says Michelangelo.  We need not perform great acts and penance as an expression of our love and devotion to the Lord.  It is enough that we attend to our needy brethren with all love and concern and this is true devotion, the type of worship the Lord desires. Let us not miss any act of charity for it all needs much of our attention and a bit of love. May our mind and heart resonate with the prayer: “Lord Jesus, help us to see your image in others.”

Bible Reflections I 26.02.2023 - SUNDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Season of Lent: Week 1

Readings 

           I - Gen. 2: 7-9; 3: 1-7

          II - Rom. 5: 12-19

         III - Lk. 4: 1-11

                          

RESIST TEMTATIONS TO GLORIFY GOD

Two incidents are vital in the life of Jesus before he could begin his public ministry: One, the Baptism and two, the temptations.  In the baptism, God affirms that Jesus is His beloved Son and in temptations, Jesus affirms his son ship resolving to stand by the will of his Father.  Today’s Gospel passage is on the temptations of Jesus upon which we shall place our reflection.

In the first temptation, the devil says Jesus to change the stones into bread and satisfy his hunger. It might seem a quite normal proposition. But hereby the evil one tempts Jesus to use His power upon himself that is supposed to be utilised to accomplish the will of God viz. empowering, uplifting, liberating and saving the humankind. We too are bestowed with various gifts and talents by God for a purpose.  Often times we are tempted to utilise them only for personal benefits and gratification without even having a second thought about the needy brethren about whom God is very much concerned. 

In the second temptation, Satan promised to give Jesus the authority and power if only he worships him.  To the one whom belongs all authority, glory, honour and power the devil tries to deceive promising to entrust his authority.  Will the beloved one in whom the Father is well pleased be taken up by such a deceit!  Today people are ready to do anything to gain power, popularity and fame.  Everyone wishes and wants to be trending, famous and popular - the amount of videos regularly posted on the social media, the publicity created for a very small act of charity and the number of false statements made to people will testify to this fact.  We always take delight in projecting ourselves as someone great and important, a temptation so difficult to resist. 

In the third temptation, the devil tempts Jesus to fall from the pinnacle of the temple so that God might command His angels to bear him up so that he doesn’t get hurt.  Jesus does not yield to the evil one for he knows well the Father and therefore no test is required.  For anything and everything we either ask sign from God or condition Him to accomplish for us, an evincing sign of our ‘no trust’ and thereby yielding to the temptation of testing God.   

Temptations are quite common and natural but how are we to resist or overcome them depends on our trust in God.  Jesus refutes all temptations with the Word of God.  The Word of God is power.  It strengthens, saves and uplifts.  During this season of lent, let us take some time every day to read the Word of God with the sole intention of searching and accomplishing the will of God.  May our mind and hear resonate with the prayer: “Lord Jesus, give us the grace to be victorious in all temptations like you”.

Bible Reflections I 25.02.2023 - SATURDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Saturday after Ash Wednesday

Readings 

           I - Is. 58: 9-14

          II - Lk. 5: 27-32

                            

CAPTURE GOD’S VOICE 

Today’s Gospel passage is on the call of Levi - Jesus calls the tax collector at the tax booth to follow him. The tax collectors were loyal to the Romans and greedy in charging more to earn for themselves and therefore they were intent and resolute in their collection from the common people. This is why the people of Israel criticised and considered them as sinners and outcasts. From among all noise, yelling and confusion at the tax office, Matthew rightly captures the call of Jesus and gets captivated to the extent of leaving everything and following him with no compromises.

The gentle voice of the Lord comes, comes and ever comes through various persons and different means to us as well despite the state we are in, all in love and full of compassion. How attentive and disposed are we to capture that voice? May our devotions and practices during this season of lent help us to adhere to the voice of God and return to Him. Let our mind and heart resonate with the prayer: “Lord Jesus, help us to listen to your voice.”