UNITY OCTAVE 2017 - Day 1

The Love of Christ compels us

Reconciliation: Prayer for Unity in the Church

Jan 18 - Jan 25

Unity Octave has been observed from 1908 onwards as a step towards ensuring the Church or the People of God are united under One Lord and One Baptism. 

The chosen theme for this year is 2 Cor 5: 14-20. The Love of Christ urges is to throw away all divisions and thank God for the variety of gifts and charism, using it all for the One Kingdom that Our Lord wanted to establish on earth.

Can we pray from today onwards!

THEME FOR DAY 1: ONE HAS DIED FOR ALL

Other References:

Isaiah 53:4-12	He gave his life as an atoning sacrifice
Psalm 118: 1.14-29	God did not abandon me to death
1 John 2:1-2	Christ died for all
John 15:13-17	Giving his life for his friends

PRAYER FOR THE UNITY OF THE CHURCH

God of all, we pray as one,

that we may be one,

just as the Lord Jesus prayed

we may be one in Him.

Your son Jesus compels us

to be reconciled to one another.

May our spirits be joined

to your Holy Spirit,

that we may witness to

the visible unity of the Church.

May we all recognise

that we are truly one with you,

Father, Son and Holy Spirit and

grow together in peace.

We ask this in the name of Jesus our Lord

Amen.

WORD 2day: 18th January, 2017

Do Good, because no one knows you!

Wednesday, 2nd week in Ordinary Time

Heb 7: 1-3,15-17; Mk 3: 1-6

We are aware of the uprising among the Tamilnadu youngsters these days - they are not fighting merely for a cultural game to be conducted, but they are fighting for a culture and its heritage to be respected and upheld. There are voices that are continually being raised to strengthen their hand and to give them the needed visibilty. There is also a danger that some who add their voice to this cause, do so only to gain the hidden agenda they have! In most of the cases, it is so!

There can be more than one reason for someone to do good- seeking popularity, creating a name for themselves, looking for recognition from people, proving your point to those who see you doing good etc. But Jesus today invites us to do good, because no one knows you. No one understood who he was, they did not really care to. They thought they knew from where Jesus came - but that was not true! They never knew or understood Jesus until Jesus had left them. But Jesus did all the good that he could. He invites us too - to do good because no one knows you! Not because you get a reward or a recognition and not because people would stand by you...but because you are convinced of doing that good. Never grow tired of doing what is good.

THE WORD AND THE SAINT

Feast of St Joseph Vaz
16th January, 2017

Just two days ago we celebrated the feast of a Blessed of Indian Origin, Bl. Martyr Devasagayam. That very day, the Lord deigned to raise to the altars another saint of Indian origin, but an apostle to Srilanka - St. Joseph Vaz,fondly known also as: Juze Vaz. Born in Benaolim, Goa, the Oratorian Priest decided to go as a missionary to a Dutch-Calvinists-controlled Srilanka,in 1687 and he stayed on there, until he succumbed to sickness and breathed his last on 16th January, 1711. He was canonised 2 years ago (14th January, 2015) in Srilanka by Holy Father Pope Francis.

Joseph Vaz teaches us the following three qualities: unity within the Church, ardent sense of evangelisation and a great commitment to social justice. All these three have a great significance today, especially today!

GET YOUR BASICS RIGHT!

Answering the basic questions of Christian living

15th Jan, 2017: Year A - 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Is 49:3,5-6; 1 Cor 1:1-3; Jn 1:29-34

We have been busy celebrating feasts one after the other! It's time to return to the Ordinary Sundays and probably, the right beginning is to get our basics right, as sons and daughters of God. Today the readings speak to us about living our Christian life on an everyday basis...in our ordinariness of life! Festive occasions make it easier to feel the joy of the moment; but the demanding call is to live our life on a daily basis, to live it fully, faithfully and meaningfully.

Jesus is about to begin his public ministry, and like an MC in a performance, John the Baptist announces his entry into the scene! With Jesus' entry and his public life, our life as Christians, our call as sons and daughters of God and our identity as disciples of Christ are clearly defined. And that is what the liturgy today intends to do... to clarify the basics to us, so that we may live our Christian calling everyday of our life. The readings seem to answer the basic Question Words...

WHO? WHAT?

The first question is about who we are and what we are? Isaiah gives a direct response to it: We are the light of the nations! We are called, we know that. But, as what? To do the will of God, yes; to be ever at the disposal of the will of God and say, "Here am I Lord, I come to do your will" (Heb 10:7) But doing the Will not merely as sevants but as 'the light of the nations!' We are called not merely as workers but as witnesses. "Called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God" ...that is the answer to the Who and the What, of our Christian life. We are called to live our life as witnesses...witness is our first mode of proclaiming Christ and His gospel.

WHY? WHERE?

Why should we be doing God's will and where are we bound to? In simple terms, what is our goal? What are we called for? The Word of God is vociferous on this point, be it in the Old Testament or in the New Testament: We are called to Holiness... We are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be holy - says the second reading today. Holiness consists of a clarity of one's own identity as Isaiah, Paul and John the Baptist demonstrate in the readings today: to know who we are and what we are, and thus realising why we are doing all that we do and where we are going towards! If all that we do in our daily life, does not ultimately lead us to sanctification and holiness, we are on a mistaken journey. It might seem colourful at the moment, but will soon end up gloomy and grey. A clairty on the why and the where, will determine our daily choices, will define every aspect of our Christian living - our family life, our career, our spiritual life, our personal life and so on.

WHICH? HOW?
The next question is, which way? and how do we reach that holiness? Christian life cannot be just a me-and-God type of a life. It has to be lived in a Community! From the very beginning, Christ-experience and the message of Christ has been lived and passed on by a community. The readings underline this community aspect with the terms like, light of the 'nations', 'to all those everywhere who call upon the name of the Lord', and 'Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world'... We will be beginning this week the Unity Octave and it reminds us of the fact that Christ cannot be Divided (1 Cor 1:13). Unity and peace that stems from a genuine love, which comes from God - that is the true sign of Christian life. 

Now the only question that is left is, When? But that is established right in the beginning...Now, Today, Here, in the Ordinariness of our daily life... every day of our ordinary life... we are called to live mindful of our identity as children of God, called and sanctified by Christ towards holiness, living to spread God's love to the entire world... as light of the nations, in footsteps of the Lamb of God who calls us as a community of faith and love! 

Martyr Devasagayam

The first Tamil to be raised to the Altars

14th January, 2017

Born on April 23, 1712, Neelakandan was baptised a Catholic in 1745, as Devasagayam and within seven years, he died a Martyr in 1752, on this day. There are still controversies regarding the way he died: some groups claiming that it was no era of persecutions and therefore his martyrdom is doubtful. But the Chruch maintains him a martyr because of the thorough study of the circumstances around his murder, by King Marthanda Varman, under whom Neelakandan was a Court Official. 

Two elements that stand out in the life of Devasagayam can be taken for our consideration: First, the fact that he was brought to Catholic faith by a Dutch General who was taken as Prisoner of War by Marthandan and later raised to the ranks of an Army Commander. The Dutch General, Eustachius De Lannoy, was an ardent Catholic who inspired a conversion in Devasagayam. This man was in no position of authority or power to influence a conversion but it was a true internal conversion, based on a personal experience of Christ's love.

The Second element is the Martyrdom itself: the determination with which Devasagayam seemed to have held on to his new found faith in Christ and decided to give up his life rather than his faith. His martyrdom, it is said, gave rise to mass conversions of people to Christianity. Do we have to doubt that, since we know: 'a grain of wheat that falls to the ground and dies, gives rise to a hundred fold' (Jn 12:24).

Devasagayam was beatified on 2nd December 2012, making him the first Tamil and the first lay person in India, to be promoted on his way to be declared a saint! The day fits in well too, as the Tamils in India and elsewhere too, celebrate this day as the beginning of their New Year (Thai Thiru naal). May new life, new vigour and new commitment fill the lives of everyone this day!

WORD 2day: 13th January, 2017

Doing all that we can

Friday, week 1 in ordinary time
Heb 4:1-5,11; Mk 2: 1-12

Doing all that one can is not an unknown mindset or life style these days. There are people who do all that they can for a lot of things that they want to achieve, there are things for which the people are ready to do all that they can. The Word too invites us today to do all that we can - but for what and for whom? People are ready to do all that they can for themselves and for their own goals... the gospel challenges us, do it... do all  you can for others, your neighbours,  those in need and those who are suffering, those who are miserable and desperate to find the Lord. Do all you can!

WORD 2day: 12th January, 2017

TODAY - that's the key!

Thursday, Week 1 in Ordinary Time

Heb 3: 7-14; Mk 1: 40-45

By the time we end the Liturgy of the Word today, we would have heard the word 'today' atleast 9 times (from the first reading and the psalm)! In fact, that is the key to the message from the Word today. Any good that we wish to do, any change that we would wish to make in our life, any beginning we would love to make in our ways - the day to do it is today! The time to do it is now! There is no virtue in glorying in the past that is far gone and no use in waiting for an opportune future! Act now and act today. When that person with leprosy approached Jesus, he cured him then and there! Jesus was not thinking of a justification as from the past experience whether he should do it or not; he was not concerned about so many who are affected in the society and how he would reach out to all of them... those were questions that never mattered to him. What mattered was the person in front of him, who stood in need of a healing touch, a compassionate caress, a loving embrace - and Jesus gave it right then and right there. Don Bosco would often say, do all the good you can when you still have the time! If you wish to do something good, do it TODAY!

WORD 2day: 11th January, 2017

The Lord's choice

Wednesday, week 1 in ordinary time

Heb 2: 5-12; Mk 1:21-28

I am reminded of the movie Avatar as I reflect on the Word today. There would be a whole battalion gathered to attack an aboriginal tribe to occupy their land. And giving the troops a pep talk, the commander would say, "beyond this mountain everything that breathes is out to kill you"... least aware that one of his own men will be falling in love with a girl in that very tribe and with the whole tribe and its land, becoming one among them! It is all in the choices that we make. We make of the reality what we choose to make of it.

Speaking of choices, today the Word tells us, the Lord chose us! The Lord chose to belong to us. He did not choose to be like the angels but he chose be born like us and live like us. Because of his choice he has brought salvation to each and every one of us. It is upto us now, by our choice to make that salvation our own. Choosing the Lord would mean, choosing righteousness, peace, joy, serenity, hope and love, whatever it may cost us. The Lord is determined of his choice..., are we?

WORD 2day: 10th January, 2017

Being Subject to God

Tuesday, Week 1 in Ordinary Time

Heb 2: 5-12; Mk 1: 21-28

Everything is subject to God, for God is the creator. When that state of being subject is acknowledged, appreciated and accepted, things go smooth and splendid. When that subjection is considered to be something that should be resisted, problems begin. This is true not merely about things and the nature, it is about every being created on earth, including the human persons, especially the human persons. For we have been given an added gift of freewill and the capacity to subject ourselves to God, vis-a-vis, the other beings which are naturally subject to the creator. We make a difference when we decide on our own to subject ourselves. Am I ready and willing?

The Spirit : Word, Water and Fire

Baptism of the Lord

9th January, 2017

Is 42:1-4,6,7; Acts 10:34-38; Mt 3: 13-17

We celebrate the Baptism of the Lord today. As John the Baptiser rightly pointed out, there was no need for the Son of God to be baptised...but he chose to be! It is a very clear sign that there was a specific purpose to that event. The purpose was to set us a challenge. 

Baptism is an act of the Spirit. As Peter observes in the Acts of the Apostles, it is the Spirit who acts at baptism and makes us what we are called to be. This act of the Spirit has a three fold challenge

Word: the Words that are heard is the call of the Spirit - that we may live to be declared the son or daughter in whom the Almighty delights!

Water: the Water in which the Lord immersed himself is an indicator of our situation in which Jesus immersed himself. We are challenged to immerse ourselves into the situations of people around who are suffering and people who need someone to stand by them, instead of getting lost in our own selfish concerns and whims.

Fire: the promise that the Lord will make us a light to the nations challenges us to possess the fire of the Spirit, as Isaiah expects. The fire that will consume all injustice, inhumanities and anti Kingdom elements, paving the way for the Kingdom of God to be born here and now!

Are we people of the Spirit - challenged by the Word, Water and Fire; would the world hear about us said: behold my beloved child, in whom I rejoice!