The Word made sense!

THE WORD AND THE SAINT

January 28, 2026: Remembering St. Thomas Aquinas 

2 Samuel 7: 4-17 Mark 4: 1-20

We know, and let us hope that we are convinced, that the Word of God is alive and active! In fact, the Word comes to us everytime with a specific call and life changing challenges. We would render it "dead"  if we do not make the real sense out of it. Listening and understanding the Word and what the Word really wants from me, is an essential part of the process. It may sound a difficult task, but truly, no.

The Lord provides us the possibility of making sense too, only that we have to be ready and open. The Lord sends events that can help us experience the sense, persons who can explain the sense - at times they are direct, other times applied. But the condition is that we need to be ready and open.

We see David today, so open and eager, as Prophet Nathan tries to make sense of the Word to him. The disciples ask Jesus to make sense of the Word to them and Jesus does it so impressively. Receiving the Word and making sense of it should lead us to concrete changes in life. If not the Word would be dead as the seeds picked by the birds or scorched by sun or suppressed by the thorns. 

One of the ways the Word is made sense of is Theology - and today we celebrate a great theologian who has been a great foundation for the theology of Catholic Church for centuries together - St. Thomas of Aquino. He was a person totally ready, open and eager to make sense of what the Word wanted to communicate - that is why he was so fertile in his academic and spiritual life, the fruits of which we continue to enjoy till date. 

Let us ask him to intercede for us to be spiritually fertile giving fruit in abundance, each one in our own way.

Doing God's will... but why?

WORD 2day: Tuesday, 3rd week in Ordinary time

January 27, 2026 - 2 Samuel 6: 12-15, 17-19; Mark 3: 31-35

Doing God's will, is presented to us as a duty. Not just that, but it is also at the same time, a guarantee of righteousness. There can be various motivations for doing God's will in life.

It could be because of Fear - that I am afraid that if I do not do God's will I might get into trouble or I might ruin my well-being. It is carrying out our duties out of fear of undesirable consequences that may arise on the contrary.

Secondly it could be because of Obligation - that I am expected to do it; that is, doing the duty for the sake of the duty. I am given to feel that I have been brought up and always been taught that way, and therefore it should carry on for life that way. Though there is an appreciable discipline involved here, it seems very robotic and slavish.

Today, David in the first reading and Jesus in the Gospel, give us a beautiful outlook on doing God's will - doing what God wants, because of Love - because I love God! I have experienced the love of God to such an extent, that I cannot but do what pleases God; I cannot count the cost; I am ready to give up anything for the sake of doing the will of God. That is the disposition revealed when Jesus declared with no hesitation: "My food is to do the will of the one who sent me!" (Jn 4:34).

It is only when we are convinced of this fact that we become like Jesus; we become his brothers and sisters... that is, we become the loving children of God our Father and Mother.

Discipleship costs...

THE WORD AND THE SAINTS

January 26, 2026 - Remembering Sts Timothy and Titus

2 Timothy 1: 1-8; Luke 10: 1-9

Timothy and Titus are the two models we are presented with today. 

They were both finds of St. Paul on his journeys. Inspiring the listeners to make a life choice is a special gift that some are given with. St. Paul possessed this and used it well for the sake of the Reign of God. Timothy and Titus join the great band of apostles, that Jesus initiated and Paul joined later in God's own time. 

Today the call remains open. We are all on the jouney towards the Reign and the Reign, although is yet to be made visible, is already present in the world today. Every one of us, by our baptism is entrusted with the task of establishing the Reign of God. The question is, how conscious are we about it? The more we become conscious of it, the more we grow in the sense of our call.

What is our response? Examples such as Timothy's and Titus' impel us towards action. St. Paul who identified these two apostles, also inspired them. They learnt from the spirit of Paul who said, woe to me if I do not proclaim the Word. Paul himself learnt from Jesus, for whom doing what the Father wants is like food and drink. 

As the Gospel presents to us, the task entrusted to us, costs dearly... sometimes costs even one's very life! The Apostles knew it and still embraced it because, they had an urgency for the Reign - the Reign of God is very near to you!

THE REIGN - A DO-IT-YOURSELF GUIDE

 3RD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - JANUARY 25, 2026

Sanctity and Insanity - the curious rapport

THE WORD AND THE SAINT

January 24, 2026 - Celebrating St. Francis de Sales

2 Samuel 1:1-4,11-12,17,19,23-27; Mark 3: 20-21

There is quite a list of saints who were considered out of their minds... Paul, Francis of Assisi, Bro. Juniper, Symeon of Emessa, Don Bosco... they were all considered so because they were fools, fools for Christ as Paul calls himself in 1 Cor 4:10.

Why were they considered so? What made them persons 'out of their mind'? Infact they were not out of their mind but they went out of their way for others sake and the world calls it madness. Isn't it a folly or madness on the part of God to have done all that God did for humanity inspite of their infidelity and weaknesses? Jesus was a chip of that exact block and we are called to follow his footsteps... growing to be more and more mad: getting out of ourselves and loving people genuinely.

The Saint whom we remember today - Francis de Sales, would have been called so today, in a world that rages with vengeance and vehemence. Even in his own times, as many of the authors who have studied him say, he was called the saint of gentleness. His simple but incisive remark, that one can catch more flies with a drop of honey that with a barel of vinegar, is so distinctive of his nature and his convictions.

However, one strange fact that stands out in all these reflections, is that reminder of the Word: sanctity and insanity seem to have more than little that relate them... let us give it a thought!

Beware of whom you want around you!

WORD 2day: 2nd Friday in Ordinary time

January 23, 2026 - 1 Sam 24: 3-21; Mk 3: 13-19

Saul had his men with him, David had his own men with him and Jesus gets his own men ready today! Each of us has a group of people who surround us. A backup group that suggests, supports and sustains us in the life journey. But it is important that we beware of this group! We have to be very careful to choose the group of persons who surround us; and as a corollary, also about whose group we wish to belong. 

That group of can make or mar us... depending on the level of importance given to them. The group with Saul assisted him in his pursuit of irrational vengeance, although they did not have an alternative. The group with David instigated the murder of the reigning king, thanks be to God David did not pay heed to them. Though Jesus picked and chose the group that he wanted to be with him, there was a traitor right amidst them!

The message to us is this: that we fill our atmosphere with God fearing persons, that our life could be doubly blessed - our efforts to goodness and the goodness of those who surround us. Allow God above all to guide you, not those who wish their own gains and glory. Beware of those around you who create an opinion within you. Seeking guidance and support is great, but beware from whom!

Even demons don't dare compare!

WORD 2day: 2nd Thursday in Ordinary time

January 22, 2026 - 1 Samuel 18:6-9,19:1-7; Mark 3: 7-12

As Jesus drives the demons away from the persons possessed with them, the demons acknowledge the Son of God and give him the rightful place. Not even the demons dared compare themselves with the Son of God. They knew, any such comparison would only make them more frustrated than they were. 

Saul failed to learn this lesson and that spelt his doom. This is what the first reading reminds us of today... that Saul compared himself with David, and forgot the good that he himself was able to do with the help of God. There is no comparison - we would remember the beginning of the account on Saul that we heard a few days ago: he was the most handsome and strong of the entire lot. Where was the need for comparison - when David was such a young lad and Saul was such an accomplished leader! But it happens... even among us it happens. We fall into this temptation without any need absolutely for it. 

The message is clear, categorical and strong: comparison is a poison and it will surely kill you someday.

Obstinacy of Total Surrender

THE WORD AND THE SAINT 

January 21, 2026 - Remembering St. Agnes of Rome 

1 Samuel 17:32-33,37,40-51; Mark 3:1-6

A mere pebble was enough for the young David to bring down the mighty Goliath. In fact, Goliath needed no javelin or spear to kill that young brat David - he was just a boy! But Goliath could not, because the obstinacy of his pride and arrogance impeded him from real glory. 

The whole sanhedrin and the entire ruling class plotted against Jesus but no one could do anything till the appointed time, though Jesus had no spear or javelin to defend himself. They were caught up in their obstinacy of self-righteousness and convention, that they could not see God's glory shining around them.

St. Agnes, who we celebrate today, was just a little girl, like David whom we encounter in the Word. She was just 12 or 13 and there were so many who were determined to possession of her. No one could, because of her obstinacy to belong to God... this is a different type of  obstinacy from the previous two that we have seen. This is an Obstinacy of total surrender to the Lord... that was seen in Jesus, and in David. 

We are called to remember, that no one can stop us from the good we do if that good is ordained according to the holy will of God. If it were for my own gain or glory, my own pride or proof, I cannot blame God if it brings strife and suffering alone. A small reason is enough to topple the entire edifice so carefully raised, just like a pebble was enought to bring Goliath down. When I have my selfish mileage to make and manipulate persons and situations placing my trust in my might then I should realise I am far far away from the Lord. 

Maybe we could try growing in this type of an obstinacy - the obstinacy of total surrender to the Lord. 

The Blue-eyed of God

WORD 2day: Tuesday, 2nd week in Ordinary time

January 20, 2026 - 1 Samuel 16:1-13; Mark 2: 23-28

David is chosen over and above the rest of his brothers... all of them stronger and fitter. Not even for Samuel who understood so well the mind of God, was it easy to make sense of this choice. But soon things would happen, to prove how that choice could be justified - be it the killing of the Philistine Goliath, or the hundreds and thousands he overpowered in war or the kind of turmoils and internal coups that he withstood. All this he could because God gave him the special gift.

On his own part too, David proved himself so worthy of the choice. He loved God so much that God saw in him someone lovable as a son. In fact, David could do anything because he knew he had won the special favour of God. He was special in the eyes of God, he knew that fact and he lived up to it. 

Jesus seems to refer to that fact exactly - the fact that David was a blue-eyed boy of God! Jesus is trying to impress on us today, that we too could grow to be the 'blue-eyed's  of God... if we love God with all our heart, trust God with all our soul and surrender to God our entire life.

Compromise kills!

WORD 2day: 2nd Monday in Ordinary time

January 19, 2026 -1 Samuel 15:16-23; Mark 2: 18-22

Saul defends himself today, 'did I not do what the Lord wanted me to? ' Yes, he did. But not the way the Lord wanted it. This is a crucial problem, even with us. Sometimes we think we are doing what the Lord wants us, or we wish to think so, or worse still we try to convince ourselves that we are doing so. The fact is, heart of heart, we know there is something that is not really '...that right!'

Look at Saul in the episode we refer to today - he tried compromising what the people wanted along with what God wanted. To be honest, he knew, or he should clearly have known that he is not doing exactly what God wanted. That was a matter of the heart. It would have been enough for him to sincerely listen to his heart. 

Jesus warns us therefore - compromising kills... don't compromise with the old ways and the new, with what God wants and what the world wants! What one builds through small tough steps towards perfection, can be pulled down in one simple compromise. 

Yes, let us beware: compromise kills!