Mary, the Mother of the Church

THE WORD AND THE FEAST 

Monday after the Pentecost - June 1, 2020

Genesis 3: 9-15, 20; John 19: 25-34

This is the third year that we celebrate this memorial, newly instituted in the Church's liturgical calendar, to be celebrated on the day following the Pentecost Sunday - the memorial of Mary, Mother of the Church! The positioning of the feast is very crucial: the day after the Pentecost, to prolong the celebration of the Pentecost and to remain with the extraordinary event that took place, resulting in the genesis of the Church! 

Mary is indisputably the Mother of the Church for the following three reasons:

1. Mary bore Jesus, the head of the Church: As the mother of the head of the Church, she naturally becomes the mother of the body of Christ - the Church. As she gave birth to Jesus and nourished him, so does she nourish each of us in our faith in Christ her son. As she brought up Jesus in wisdom and grace, so does she watch us mature in our faith and hope. As she cared for Jesus and protected him from all worldly perils (be it fleeing to Egypt or going in search of Jesus at Jerusalem), so does she care for us and protect us. THE PATRONESS AND PROTECTRESS OF THE CHURCH.

2. Jesus nominated her as the mother of his followers: While Jesus was about to culminate his divine moment of sacrifice to the Father, on the Cross, he deliberately nominated Mary as the mother of his followers! He looked at John, the beloved disciple who represented every beloved of Christ who would form his Church, and said, Behold your Mother! That was a parting gift, a final gesture of love and care towards his loved ones on earth. As Mary went home with John that day, so does she come home with everyone who accepts this gift from Jesus, she is there to guide us and accompany us. THE GUIDE AND MODEL OF THE CHURCH.

3. Mary was there holding the Apostles together, at the descent of the Spirit: Mary was one of the first members of the Church, right at its origin. Just yesterday we celebrated the birthday of the Church - I wonder how some conveniently forget one important person who was at the centre of it all. How can there be the Church without Mary! She was united, in fact she united the disciples in prayer until the Spirit came! The Holy Spirit was no stranger to Mary. Her faith journey began with the rendezvous with the Spirit. Mary unites us as one of us and as a person filled with the Spirit! A MEMBER OF THE CHURCH AND A SPIRIT-FILLED PERSON. 

Note that the three reasons that we just saw, are all from the Word of God, so faithfully cherished by the Tradition of the Church. The Feast that has been instituted recently is not merely an invention of fantasy - but a profound reflection on the Word and its impact on our faith. Let us cherish out Blessed Mother, the Mother of God, Our Mother and the Mother of the Church!

SPIRIT UNITES

Principles of Unity: Communication, Conciliation and Christ

Solemnity of Pentecost: May 31, 2020

Acts 2:1-11; 1 Corinthians 12:3-7,12-13; John 20:19-23

We are people of the Spirit - that is the reminder we are given with today, the day when the Church was born! We are people of the Spirit - in contrast to the people of the world (if at all we can make that distinction). But being people of the Spirit is not merely a namesake understanding. Our life has to show that we are people of the Spirit. 

What does it mean to be people of the Spirit? The fruits and the gifts of the Spirit that we are well aware of, inspires in us a lifestyle that is ideal and an inspiration to everyone around. If we are truly the people of the Spirit, it has to be seen; seen in our daily life, our daily choices, in our very way of life. Infights, ego clashes, misunderstandings, jealousies, misgivings, hidden agenda, exploitation of persons, manipulation of vulnerabilities - these are signs of the lack of Spirit, or even a spirit that is against the Holy Spirit of God. The sad fact is that even some so-called spiritual people give into these deficiencies and that is a clear sign that they are 'spiritual people' only in their name and title. 

First and foremost, we need to understand that the Spirit inspires love; love inspires unity; unity is the fundamental mark of the people of God, the people of the Spirit. Let us have a look at the event of Pentecost that we celebrate today and that which is narrated in the first reading. The coming of the Spirit cause three movements: first the movement of the Spirit from within the apostles and disciples - they who were all absorbed in themselves go out of themselves and reach out to others; the second movement is beyond all limits - the limits of fear, the limits of ignorance, the limits of weakness, the limits of timidity; the third movement is the stirring all around - not just the apostles, every one who heard them speak were moved by the Spirit to understand the  message that was spoken! These are the very same movements that the Church and the world needs even today and the Spirit alone can  cause them, for the good of everyone, for the good of humanity, for the good of the universe! Today we need to feel moved from within from egocentricity towards benevolence. We need to move beyond limits that we set for ourselves, the limits of creed, colour, language and other communal polarisations, towards the feeling of One humanity. We badly need to feel the stirring from within to understand the obvious message that is written all around us in the events and experiences like poverty, disease, climate crisis, eco-imbalance, criminalities and violent terrorism, towards humanity, compassion and true love for each other. 

Apart from the traditional fruits and the gifts of the Spirit, there is a nature that the Spirit instills in those persons within whom the Spirit resides. This nature is the very essense of the Spirit: Oneness. The unity and love between God the Father and Mother and the Son of God, is the Spirit. Spirit is the communion! Spirit is Union of hearts! Spirit is the principle of Unity! And there are certain principles of unity that the Spirit ensures in a Spirit-filled person. 

The first of those principles of unity is Communication. Simple blocks in communication among persons are the primary cause of big unresolved issues. Husband and wife, parents and children, brothers and sisters, kith and kin, friends and neighbours - when communication stops, understanding disappears. Communication stops due to blocks like prejudice, taking the other for granted and ego trips. Even when one talks, the other doesn't really understand because the other is listening from his or her own prejudice or pre-understanding. When each one hears only what one wants to hear, there is either lack of communication or gross miscommunication!

Spirit enables communication - which is fundamentally and literally, 'making something common' or 'rendering something common to'. Communication means that some thing that has been known to me, I make it common between you and me, which means you and I share a common space from where we are able to understand each other, speak to the other and listen from the other, without creating any blocks or transformers in between us. The Spirit makes us communicate - I and the Father are One said Jesus, and said, the Advocate that the Father sends will receive everything from me and make it known to you! The Spirit makes us communicate, that we are able to find that common space between us where we are able to see what the other sees, hear what the other says, and feel what the other feels.

Conciliation is an important principle of unity. We are human persons, each with our own limitations and weaknesses. We cannot avoid misunderstandings and misgivings, little or grave, but what is detrimental here is, not being ready to find a way out of these misunderstandings and misgivings. A truly Spirit-filled will take the initiative of reconciling with the other. He or she will not look for reasons to blame the other or excuses to prolong the stand off. The Spirit-filled persons will find ready reasons to reconcile, to rebuild relationships and build up the Body of Christ. 

Look at the recent events in the world scenario - the whole world is reeling under the pandemic and there are those who are waiting, striving and fighting hard to pin the blame on someone and call for a 'retaliation'! Blaming the other, calling names, fiery talks, unfounded accusations, underground instigations: these will take us nowhere! When shall we understand this? Are they truly Spirit-filled persons who spit fire and cry vengeance? Pope Francis, unfortunately right from the beginning of his Papacy, has had to confront already so many moments of crisis and standoffs among world leaders and international powers. Every time, he has insisted with the leaders 'to be responsible, to be promoters of peace and not war'! That is the sign of a truly Spirit filled person.

Christ is the invincible principle of unity. The Spirit unites us in the Lord. We become One, one in the Lord, one body of Christ and this is possible only through the Spirit. This oneness has to be felt at all levels and it is a sheer gift of the Holy Spirit. Let us begin with the personal oneness - the oneness that is seen within a person; where words and actions are one; where hidden thoughts and outward speech are one; where inner convictions and external expressions are one! Another level is interpersonal oneness - the oneness of hearts and minds among persons in relationship; families, spouses, friends, communities etc. The next level is the communitarian oneness - the oneness of the people of God; feeling compassion for the other, respecting and being open to the other even though he or she is different from me, and has convictions and beliefs different from mine. 

Believing in Christ, has to unite us not divide us. As St. Paul would complain, do not say, I belong to Paul, I belong to Apollos or I belong to Cephas...saying thus you are dividing the Lord. Today the factions that we have among the believers and the way one group vies with the other to increase their numbers or prove their strength is an outright counter witness to the One Lord and that is why, a divided church is the greatest scandal in the world. If we truly believe in  One Lord and pledge our allegiance to that One Lord, where does the division and fight come from? 

A true sign of a Spirit filled persons is the person's longing for unity and his or her concrete initiatives towards unity. Are we truly persons of the Spirit? Then let it be seen in our oneness of heart and mind, in our love and compassion for the other, in our respect and loving coexistence with the others, who are different from ourselves! May the Spirit unite us among us and unite us with God, the Father and Christ, the Son and Saviour. 

Peter and Paul... You and Me!

WORD 2day: Saturday before Pentecost

May 30, 2020: Acts 28: 16-20, 30-31; John 21: 10-25

These days we continuously hear of Paul and Peter, the two great leaders who led the band of apostles in their proclamation of the Gospel and the initial formation of the Church. They announced the Gospel in season and out of season, in the prison or out of it, in political custody or in the public squares, in health and in sickness, among the faithful or among skeptics, among simple peasants or to learned philosophers. Nothing held them back from preaching the Word.

Looking for ideal situations to evangelise, bemoaning the political atmosphere or the social apprehensions,  finding excuses for remaining unnoticed Christians and justifying our lack of initiatives towards evangelisation: these are very common these days. 

At the same time, speaking of the Word in an insensitive manner, caring nothing for the well being of persons around but all the time proclaiming with a self-promotional mentality, faking godliness, putting up appearances, hypocritical judgement of the other, hidden rush for self centered goals and economic gains, making the Word and God a commodity for self preservation or identity creation: these are widespread too!

Tomorrow we will be celebrating the feast of the descent of the Holy Spirit causing the rise of the Church, the People of God, the people of the Spirit. Let us pray for the Spirit, the Spirit of power, love and self-discipline, the Spirit of courage and wisdom, the Spirit who strengthens apostles and empowers martyrs, that we may be persons filled with the Spirit and witnessing to the Gospel without ceasing and with integrity.

Following the Lord

WORD 2day: Friday after Ascension

May 29, 2020: Acts 25: 13b-21; John 21: 15-19

The total import of following the Lord may not be known to us right at the beginning when we intend to. But the Lord does not spare the moment. He instructs right from the beginning what can, or what is sure to, befall someone who intends to follow Him. Whoever is not ready to take up his daily cross and follow me is not worthy of me, said Jesus categorically (cf. Mt 10:38). 

St. Paul was more than certain of everything that awaited him, the sufferings and even death for the sake of the Lord. "I kept back nothing," he could declare because that was the fact - he did not deem anything worth keeping back from God and from God's purposes; he did not find anything more important that doing what the Lord commanded him to do: go and proclaim.

Jesus himself prepares Peter in his post-resurrection encounter. Invariably all Jesus's apostles, except James it is said, died the death of martyrs. They were prepared for it and they even considered it their privilege. It was in fact the finest way of expressing their love for their Master and Lord. Paul was not exception on this count as well.

Today, with the increasing number of anti-Christian skeptics in the world and anti-Reign elements even within our faith, our challenge to be disciples becomes is more and more demanding. However, it remains categorical as ever. There can be no other choice or no compromise absolutely. Following the Lord means following Him in everything, right till the end.

The Mystical Union with God

WORD 2day: Thursday after Ascension 

May 28, 2020: Acts 22:30, 23:6-11; John 17: 20-26

Just as the Father is in the Son and the Son in the Father, we are invited to be one in the Father and the Son, through the Holy Spirit. Jesus' prayer for his disciples, that is, for us to the Father has a beautiful challenge to pose to us. The challenge does not consist in doing anything or accomplishing anything great... but it consists of being, simply being with the Lord, just being one with the Lord!

However, it is not that simple. As both the readings point to, the world at large does not "know" the Lord, or does not identify with the Lord; in a way it stands aloof from or sometimes even against the Lord. The culture of death that prevails, the insensitive economy that rules, the inhuman politics that dominates, the treacherous power equations that manipulate... are signs of opposition to God and the Gospel. It is in this context that the Lord invites us to bear witness, 'just as in Jerusalem, also in Rome'.

From Jerusalem to Rome, from the religious circles to the political arena, from the academic domain to grass root social praxis, we are called to bear witness to the Lord and to the Lord's good news of love - the love that the Father has for the Son, which is the same love that God has for us! 

We are called to be One in love, we are united in the love of God. We are in the Lord and the Lord is in us and we are made one in the Lord - let us celebrate this mystical union in God, that is  the quintessence of Christian faith.

The Preoccupation for the Flock

WORD 2day: Wednesday after Ascension

May 27, 2020: Acts 20: 28-38; John 17: 11b-19

The readings today present to us the preoccupation that Jesus and St.Paul have for the flock that they leave behind - as St. Paul sets off to Jerusalem and Jesus contemplates returning to his Father! The total dedication that each of them had towards those entrusted to them is known to us and it is best expressed in the phrase that St. Paul uses quoting his Master: it is more blessed to give than to receive.

Keeping the faith, being true to the message of the Lord, persevering in the tradition in which one is brought up, not letting oneself be swayed by newer teachings  and fancier presentations, not becoming stumbling blocks to others, not looking for greener pastures, not seeking excitements of the moment or extraordinary show down... these are the preoccupations that are expressed here and proposed to us. 

These concerns prompt to us two important qualities that are necessary: Spiritual Sincerity and Constant Discernment. Spiritual Sincerity that goes beyond all external shows and calculated benefits and refers to a person's innermost relationship with his or her Lord, and Discernment that refers to the openness to the Spirit of the Lord and obedience to the Will of God even amidst problems and struggles.

The times today are marked by certain fickle minded hopping from tradition to tradition, seeking consolation or so-called "search" for the truth, or reckless trial-and-error attempts, with the proliferation of innumerable sects and factions. If these movements are spiritually sincere and discerned with rigour, well and good. But if they come from an unfounded mind and a lack of persevering dedication, they are the dangers that Paul and Jesus warn us against.

The real glory of a true disciple

WORD 2day: Tuesday after Ascension

May 26, 2020: Acts 20: 17-27; John 17: 1-11a

"Father the hour has come, give glory to your Son, that your Son may glorify you!" prays Jesus. The glory that he talks of is the baptism of blood, the cup of suffering that Jesus was preparing to take up! Not just himself, but all those who believed him were destined to that cup and to that baptism, says Jesus (Mk 10:39; Mt 20:23). 

St. Paul understood this perfectly. Though he knew well, instructed by the Holy Spirit, that suffering and imprisonment awaited wherever he went, he does not hesitate. He was more than prepared for the cup of suffering, for the baptism of blood! Today we hear him say that in terms so clear: I consider life of no importance to me! For him all that mattered was to carry the Good news to the farthest that he could! 

For us it sounds good, means great and appears lofty, but does it really become our way of life? Every time a suffering comes my way, the first thought that crosses my mind is, why me! And as if it were alright some other time, why now? The fact is that whatever be the moment we would ask that same question. As soon as a grief or a burden befalls someone, we have to take a giant effort to justify it and negate it and decry that God would prevent, and protect, and deliver and so on and so forth! Why all these fretting? Why are we so slow to submit ourselves to the eternal design of God? Why is it so difficult to surrender to the plan of God, instead of suggesting all types of adjustments to the Lord?

How many times I would have languished that I don't get any consolation from God for belonging to God, for being on God's side and for speaking on behalf of God! Do I really understand in Jesus' terms, the real glory of a true disciple?

As disciples of the Lord who has conquered the world...

WORD 2day: Monday after Ascension

May 25, 2020: Acts 19:1-8; John 16: 29-33

Take courage, I have conquered the world, declares Jesus! With Jesus ascended to the right hand of the Father (cf Eph 1:20), the apostles and the early Church, found a great power in their witness and in their proclamation. The gift of the Holy Spirit was an absolute boost to the faith community and their faith, and its expressions reach a totally different level with the coming of the Holy Spirit.

The Spirit of the Lord is the Spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline (cf. 2 Tim 1:7) and that is what the Lord fills us with. We are the temple of this Spirit and the Spirit dwells in us. At times we live like sleeping giants, with the Spirit stifled to be dormant within us. The days to follow are days in preparation towards the feast of Pentecost: a reminder of the Spirit that we are all gifted with; a challenge to surrender to the Spirit and become active agents of the Spirit.

Let us thank God that we are not in a position to say, "we have never even heard that there is a holy spirit" ( Acts 19:2). However, let us become aware of the power that the Spirit brings to our life and our faith. With the Spirit, and only with the Spirit, can we be true disciples of the Lord who has conquered the world!

GONE... TO BE WITH US

May 24, 2020: Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord

Acts 1: 1-11; Ephesians 1:17-23; Matthew 28: 16-20

It was just after the vigil mass of Ascension, a youngster was overheard speaking to her friends, almost arguing, 'but, why did the disciples just let Jesus go? They should have created a ruckus and made sure Jesus couldn't go. I would have done it, if it were me!' The young assistant parish priest thought it was a good point for him to offer an explanation as to what Ascension of Christ truly means. For many of us too, who think Jesus need not have gone, the explanation could be a crucial fact to remember. 

Jesus had gone; but he had not abandoned us, as he himself had promised. Jesus' ascension does not mean Jesus has gone away but Jesus has gone up to be with us more than before. If Jesus had continued to stay on in that incarnate form forever (think of it just an hypothesis), he would have remained in Jerusalem, Judea and the surroundings. But Jesus went up to the Father and thus he has begun to stay with every one worldwide. As Jesus promises in the gospel today: I shall be with you till the end of times. To be with us, Jesus had to go; he went, and that is what we celebrate today - the Ascension.

Going to the Father did not mean for Jesus, distancing himself from us! It was a way of involving himself more into our lives. To be close to all, and not just to a few! Jesus goes, so that he can be everywhere and with everyone and always! 

Going to the Father did not mean for Jesus, forgetting his self emptying! Jesus gave up the status of being God and emptied himself. Going back to the father is not merely taking up once again the Godhood but becoming the mediator. We have a mediator par excellence!

Going to the Father did not mean for Jesus, that he is done with the humanity! Jesus continues to challenge humanity to grow up, and follow him to the Father's house. Jesus gives us a roadmap, a precedence, a clear plan of life. Keep growing until you ascend to the Father.

Jesus would not have kept his promise, "Behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age," if he were not to ascend to his Father. In fact, in ascension we remember the fact that he is gone to his father, he is gone so that he can be with us always and everywhere. The second reading explains to us that Jesus has ascended to his Father and sits on His right, thus being present to us universally and incessantly.

The event that we celebrate today, has three biddings for us to hearken to, the three things that the readings speak to us:  

The first message is: GO! Why are you standing and staring at the sky... he is gone, now it is time for you to go! Jesus ascends to the Father to remind us that we are not permanent here, and our permanent abode is elsewhere. "We are longing for a better country; the heavenly one!" says the letter to the Hebrews (Cf. 11:16). Ascension, is a reminder to go, to keep going, not to get fixed, not to grow complacent, not to get stuck! Again the movement upwards is very significant in this regard. 

The second message is: GO and PROCLAIM! The Lord commissions the disciples as they surround Him for the final farewell. It is a parting commission, the last wish - that the believers go and make disciples. Making disciples is first of all through inspiration, through the contagious fire within, through the life style that challenges even the onlooker to get closer in order that he or she may understand what makes all the difference that there is. To proclaim is the parting task entrusted to us!

The third message is: GO, PROCLAIM and FEAR NOT! As we heard the Lord saying a few days ago to St. Paul: 'Go on speaking, and do not be silent... for I am with you (Acts 18:9,10). The Ascension of the Lord fills us with hope, a hope that the Lord is ever with us. This hope rules out any fear of future and judgement. It is only in the absence of fear that love gets deepened. Fear not, hope in me, for I am with you, I will be with you until the end of the ages.

To go is a challenge; to go and proclaim is the command; and to go, proclaim and not to fear is the promise of the companionship of the Lord. The Lord ascends today but we are not abandoned, because the presence of the Lord continues to be. The Lord has gone, but he has gone so that he could be with us, evermore effectively and universally. It is upto you and me, to realise that presence, believe in that presence and draw strength from that presence, to live our daily life worthy of the One who loves to remain with us!

The Name: Jesus, the Christ

WORD 2day: Saturday before Ascension Sunday

May 23, 2020: Acts 18: 23-28; John 16:23-28

Jesus was the name and Christ was a faith experience! Jesus, the Christ is no syntax error! Today we encounter Apollos, another contemporary preacher with Paul. It looks like there were some little misgivings in the Acts of the Apostles between the followers of Paul and followers of Apollos. But Paul makes no notice of such bickerings. 

Another great lesson we have is Priscilla and Aquilla instructing Apollos in the right doctrines! The role of the laity in the formation of the apostolic ministers comes out strongly...all of this to make people understand, Jesus was the Christ!

Jesus in the Gospel seems to harp on the same point too: anything you ask the Father in my name, my Father shall give you. He seems to say, because I am the Christ. As Acts so clearly says in another place (4:12) that there is no other name given in all the earth by which one could be saved! It is Jesus, because Jesus is the Christ, Jesus is the one anointed and set apart for our salvation! That should not make us haughty as if we have the monopoly over that name, but it should make us humble in questioning our daily lives and priorities. Are we living worthy of that name? It is not an opportunity to judge the "others" but it is gratitude that should fill our hearts for the privilege given. 

Ask a question, Is Jesus my Christ? If you very easily said 'yes', ask that question again looking closely at your values and attitudes of daily life: Is Jesus really my Christ?

The Divine Assurances

WORD 2day: Friday, 6th week in Easter time

May 22, 2020: Acts 18: 9-18; John 16: 20-23

Today's readings have two of the most repeated and most affirmed promises of the Lord: Do not be afraid, for I am with you (Acts 18:9,10) and Your sorrow will turn into joy (Jn 16:20). For both these, the provision given is: go on speaking and endure the griefs.  What an assurance and a what a challenge!

Though what is expected of us -that is to go on speaking and to endure suffering- might seem a bit too demanding, the consequence of it justifies everything! The promised presence of the Lord and the promised joy in the Lord are incomparably filled with assurances that can brighten up our todays and our tomorrows. Look at the metaphor that Jesus offers - the childbirth. Can there be a better one at that? It is a matter of life and death for the mother; but at the climax of it all, when she holds the baby in her hand, it is a whole new life, a whole new world, a whole new reality not only for her, but for all those who are connected to her, for the entire family.

The strengthening presence of the Lord and the awaiting joy in the Lord: we are called to claim these promises in our daily life and more importantly, we are called be the fulfillment of these promises for those around us who are needy, the real poor, the suffering and the troubled in spirit. Instead of questioning how the Lord is present amidst sorrows, can I strive to be God's strengthening presence to the weak and the suffering? Instead of being critical about a future joy promised, can I be the source of simple joys for those around me?

The Ascension of the Lord which we intend to celebrate this weekend carries precisely this message for us: the continued and unceasing presence of the Risen Lord, more often than not, in the form of our presence with the others. Let the Spirit help us today to feel the presence of the Lord with each of us and within each of us, leading us to be the joyful, strengthening presence of the Lord for everyone we encounter today.

To Leave... it is a missionary challenge!

WORD 2day: Thursday, sixth week in Easter time

May 21, 2020: Acts 18: 1-8; John 16: 16-20

Today is the Ascension day! But in many places (not all certainly), in order to celebrate the Solemnity on Sunday, they continue till the end of the week, as weekdays of the sixth week in the Easter time. So here too, we shall reflect on today's Word.

Paul leaves; he leaves Athens for Corinth, he leaves the Jews for the Gentiles. Jesus leaves; he leaves his earthly life and his friend disciples and prepares to go to his Father and our Father! You should glad that I leave, because I go to the Father and from there I shall draw you to myself, because where I am, you shall be too: what lovely words of Jesus these were! 

Be it Jesus, the missionary of the Father or Paul, the missionary of Christ the Word from the Father, they were able to 'leave' because their eyes were fixed on the mission that was entrusted to them: nothing that came in between, neither success nor failure, neither helps nor hindrances, neither pains nor pleasures - nothing could keep them back, no affections or no attachments. 

Another point the readings today point to: whenever they left something, something greater awaited. Christ left his worldly stint, to remain with the Father and thus with us for ever, to the end of ages. And Paul leaves place after place, and everywhere there were more and more people being touched by the Lord and won over for the Lord.

Leaving behind is not an easy task. The most challenging of all 'leaving behind' is to leave behind one's own desires and dreams, personal plans and projects, one's loves and longings! At times, if we have to witness to the Lord and the Gospel that the Lord wants us to announce, there is no other choice but to leave... it is indeed a missionary challenge!

In Him...

WORD 2day: Wednesday, 6th week in Easter time

May 20, 2020: Acts 17: 15, 22 - 18:1; John 16: 12-15

In Him we live, move and have our being (Acts 17:28), is one of the most expressive faith statements of St. Paul. Paul has a very special insight into understanding Jesus' mind.  That is why he was able to declare, "It is no longer I who lives, but Christ lives in me!" (Gal 2:20). Christ lives in me, when I decide to live IN HIM. That decision I can arrive at only in the Spirit.

Jesus  in the Gospel today says, the Counselor, the Holy Spirit will get everything from him and make it known to the believer! "Get from him" would mean 'get from the Father', since Father and the Son are one (cf. Jn 10:30). Jesus invites us to a state where, "On that day you will know that I am in the Father, and you in me, and I in you" (Jn 14:20). And the way to it is simple: keeping His commandments; that is the secret of living in Him.

When we live in union with the Lord, a union in heart and soul, keeping the Lord's commandments will not be a demanding task but a natural way of life. It is the Spirit of the Lord, the Spirit of truth who will inspire us to such way of life, a life lived in Him, lived in the Spirit, lived in Christ, lived in the Risen Lord, lived in the very Author of life!

Let us prepare ourselves these days to receive the Spirit, the Spirit of the Risen Lord, the Spirit of Truth and Wisdom, which the Father will send after Christ the Son ascends to the Father's right hand. The crux of Christian perfection is not in anything that we DO, it is in living, moving and having our being, IN HIM.

Welcoming the Advocate!

WORD 2day: Tuesday, 6th week in Easter time

May 19, 2020: Acts 16:22-34; John 16: 5-11

Beaten, bruised and bound, they sang the praises of the Lord... will not the glory of the Lord be revealed there? The act of Paul and Silas in the prison was such a powerful witness that the prison guards expected anything anytime. They were capable of it, because of the Spirit that filled them, fueled them and fired them.

It is the Advocate that Jesus promised to his disciples who makes the entire difference and the difference is enormous. We see this in the very first moment when the apostles come out to speak in public. The frightened band of messengers had been turned into fiercely blazing firebrands. 

Added to this, Jesus says, when the Spirit comes the Spirit will convict the world. Every heart is given the possibility to know what is true, good and just; every human heart has a longing for someone beyond oneself; every person called by the waters of baptism realises at the core of one's being, the need to be a righteous witness. In spite of these, if the person chooses to fall, decides to choose the evil, sides the evil and despises good, ignores the truth and passively permits the untruth...who is to be blamed? Is not a conviction needed there!

Sin, righteousness and judgement - they decide the quality of one's witnessing life. Receiving the Spirit is not merely receiving some magical power but it is facing the truth, encountering the all-knowing Divine, opening yourself completely before the finger of judgement. Are we really prepared to welcome the Advocate who is to come?

On our way to the Reign

WORD 2day: Monday, 6th week in Easter time

May 18, 2020: Acts 16: 11-15; John 15: 26 - 16: 4

Jesus has begun to speak of the Spirit to the apostles, from last week onwards... a sign that there is a different kind of a presence that we have to get prepared for. A different kind of a life style, a new graduated kind of a life and habits and attitudes. The life in the Spirit, is the new existence we need to prepare ourselves for. 

"The Spirit of truth" that Jesus speaks of in the Gospel is witnessed to be at work in the first reading event from the Acts of the Apostles - that of the lady and her household, who accept the Lord and get baptised! While on the one hand there are people who are waiting to take the apostles to task and persecute them in all known ways, there are at the same time a multitude who are ready to protect, help and fend for them.

This discrepancy comes to the fore in our day to day experience too, when we find the Spirit at work within us. We will feel an urge to spread the Word, but will be faced with obstacles and hurdles: it is the Spirit of the Lord who leads us to discern the right way that a believing community should take at a particular point of time. Priorities differ, principles of decision making change, the criteria of choices are update, because we are in a graduated phase, and well on our way to the Reign.

The persecutions may abound, yet the final result will be a 'revival'...and that is what we hope for. Let our hearts, homes and our households be filled with the Spirit of truth, that we may set in motion real journey, always mindful of the fact that we are well on our way to the Reign of God. 

THE CHALLENGE TO GRADUATE

The need to move on, move in and move up!

May 17, 2020: 6th Sunday of Easter

Acts 8:5-8,14-17; 1 Peter 3: 15-18; John 14: 15-21

Our life is a process, a process of continuous growth; so is faith. Our faith is not a static assertion of some facts or some set of information, as we often mistakenly imagine it to be. Faith is a dynamic experience, a rapport within and with persons and realities around based on the relationship we have with God as its foundation. In this progress, we are called to keep moving on! This moving on need not be always moving out, it could also essentially be a moving in. And especially in faith, it is basically a call to move up, ever more closer to the One who has called us, scaling up towards our perfection. We have today from the Risen Lord, the challenge to Graduate in our life our faith!

Jesus seems to be winding up his course... and he challenges his disciples to Graduate. He does the same to us: he challenges us to Graduate, in our life of faith and not remain the same little children we began this journey as. And the challenge can be broken up into three movements - moving on, moving in and moving up!

Move on! says Jesus to his apostles and to us. In a little while the world will no longer see me, tells the Lord. He prepares to bid them farewell, telling them the current phase is getting to a close, and the new phase is round the corner; they need to get ready for it. Move on, don't get stuck - be it to good times or to trying times, don't get stuck. There were glorious times when they went around with the Lord and saw miracles and wonders, healings and resuscitations. There were tough times when they saw the very same Jesus being crucified and buried, hid themselves from the threatening powers. The Risen Lord invites them not to get stuck to any of these, for they were phases of transformation, periods of growth, through which he wanted the disciples to graduate, progress, grow up. The apostles understood this...they moved on! They were all over the place preaching Christ and ushering in the new phase that Jesus had promised them. In the first reading today we see Phillip doing that in the Samaritan quarters, opening up the Jewish world to the rest of the human kind and reaching out with the love of God, a love that was universal - that was a graduation, a moving on!

Today, we are called to move on too... from this experience of fear and anxiety of the lock down to the next phase of opening up our minds and hearts to the next level. We are called to move on too... from our tendency to think only about ourselves and not about the other, the others, the common home, the universe, the entire reality that we are part of. Let us move on, moving on is an essential mark of graduating in our faith life. Let us not get stuck to our individual experiences but look at them as a source of inspiration for progress, for moving on, for graduation!

Move in! clarifies Jesus. As a means and an aid to graduate, Jesus promises an advocate. I shall ask the Father and the Father will give you another advocate, the Spirit of Truth and Jesus goes on to clarify: the Spirit is with you, the Spirit is in you! The Indwelling Spirit is the Spirit of Truth that Jesus promises as the guarantee of graduation. Though graduation is moving on, it may not always mean moving out, it could be more moving in. Moving into oneself. Becoming aware of one's own innermost thoughts, attitudes, tendencies and priorities and working on them with the help of the Spirit who dwells within us to assist us and to strengthen us. St. Peter invites us to exactly this, when he calls us in the second reading to live a life in the spirit, that we may be raised as Jesus was raised in the spirit - and that involves suffering for the right, for truth, for righteousness, for justice and for integrity. 

Quarantine and isolation, need not be always a painful experience. It could well serve as a school of solitude! To enter that interior castle within our self, understanding ourselves at a closer view, analysing ourselves and growing through it... that is moving in, moving in to ourselves, moving in to our conscience, moving in to our interior self, moving in to the core of our being and becoming aware of what and who is at work there! Is it the Indwelling Spirit...that is would be a sign of graduation in faith. 

Move up! invites Jesus. Move up, as an expression means to get closer to a person, in order to say something or do something! And Jesus invites his disciples to move up to the Father and experience in the Father the love that Jesus came to share with them. Jesus is challenging them, and us, to graduate to that experience where "you will understand that I am in my Father and you in me and I in you!" Naturally Jesus seems to be instructing his disciples towards the next level of their encounter. He seems to be telling them: I came in order that I may put you in direct touch with my Father, and here comes the Spirit to sustain that relationship...here you go, grow in that communion! A true graduation of faith life.

Our life of faith is not merely doing something or fulfilling some requisites, it is a relationship, a communion, an integral harmony within and without, where everything dissolves into One, True Bliss (Sat Cit Ananda). There cannot be contrasts and confusions, there cannot be competitions and compromises, there cannot be hatred or indifference... what remains in that graduated faith life is - Oneness, Love and Eternal Happiness! Love each other as a sign of your love for the Divine who loves you so intimately, unconditionally! In that love and harmony, you shall sense the indwelling divine, the Advocate the Father has given you, the presence of God within that you need to become more and more aware of. 

Graduate, is the challenge today! To graduate in our life our faith and move on to the higher plane of living your faith, to move in and find the source of true meaning within you and to move up to the Divine and establish a long lasting relationship. May the Risen Lord, the Spirit of God and the love of the Father help us grow everyday!

They hate you? Don't Worry! Be Happy!

WORD 2day: Saturday, 5th week in Easter time

May 16, 2020: Acts 16: 1-10; John 15: 18-21

Don't worry! Be happy!... these are very familiar words among the younger generation of anytime! With the Bobby McFerrin musical, these lines have become really famous. But is living it as easy as it is said? Life's lessons do not answer in affirmative for that! Life is not easy; life is hard and complicated; life is troublesome and challenging... so what do you do? The Word says today, live it to the full and don't worry; be happy!

People around you find you a pain in the neck, for the right reasons... be happy! 

People call you outdated and impractical and living in a world that does not exist because you stand by values... don't worry!  

People dump you and wish to see you destroyed because you disturb their so-called "peace"... be blessed!

Everyone,  even the worst among the entire lot, seems to be comfortable with you... be careful! 

No one has any problem with your ideas and absolutely every one seems fine with your values... look carefully into yourself! 

There is no opposition at all to what you do and not even those who discourage you have a problem with you... beware!

Yes, it sounds strange! But that is what the Lord says. If you stand by truth and live by values, you are sure to be branded 'problematic', 'unrealistic' and 'utopian.' You shall be kept aside from the so called 'steps forward' or 'the rise in the ladder' or 'the career lift'. 

It is wonderful to be acceptable to all,  but at what cost? Would you choose to be acceptable to all or would you choose to stand by what is true and right? If you choose the latter you would find more trouble in life: don't worry; be happy!

Friends of Christ

WORD 2day: Friday, 5th week in Easter time

May 15, 2020: Acts 15: 22-31; John 15: 12-17

While the readings on the one hand insist on making the burden easy for the new converts to faith, on the other hand we find lofty demands such as even giving one's life for one's neighbours! The point is not merely making life easy, but it one of the right priority!  

Yes, our faith is not a matter of do's and don'ts; it is a matter of relationship. Our faith redefines our relationship with God: from mere creatures we are given the identity of God's beloved; friends of Christ! It is not in circumcision or in any other external signs and costumes that we prove ourselves Christians, but in our intimate relationship with the person of Christ; in our friendship with Christ. 

Being friends of Christ, it is natural that, the demands are high. After all, did not Jesus insist that "from the one to whom much is given, much will be demanded" ? (Lk 12:48) But the demands are not merely to DO something and to AVOID something else, but the demand is about an entire LIFESTYLE. It is to model our life after that of Christ. 

The relationship with Christ, or the friendship with Jesus affects all other relationships of our's too. The friends of our friend, should be our friends too! The love we have for the Lord compels us to be loving persons with every person around us: not just our friends, but even with strangers, people whom we just casually bump into, or even with those who might have offended us. In short, every person is our friend, when we are friends with Christ. Even if we do not lay down our life, are we not expected to lay down at least our ego when it comes to our relationships?

The Twelfth Man

THE WORD AND THE SAINT 

May 14, 2020: Feast of St. Matthias, the Apostle
Acts 1:15-17, 20-26; John 15: 9-17

Feast of any apostle is a reminder to each of us that we are called to be an apostle, sent in the name of the Lord. As my Father sent me, so I send you...said the Lord after his resurrection. Though the event of the election of Mathias is overshadowed by the sorrowful and unfortunate end of Judas, the feast has its usual charm of inviting us to an absolute commitment to the Lord.

There is another dimension that Matthias brings into the Apostleship, in a very specific manner! He was not considered an apostle as long as Jesus moved around with them, in his earthly sojourn. But when Jesus was present amidst them as the Risen Christ he was chosen...as the substitute for the one who lost the way, as the twelfth man! That is both an inspiration and a warning - a warning that we could lose our way any time, be whatever the reason; an inspiration that Jesus is as active as he was when he was around physically - I choose you and I commission you, to go out and bear fruit! The place of that twelfth man is open to each and every one of us! Jesus seems to inspire us telling - even his band of apostles were not the perfect one; we could play our part, however little, to perfect it, complement it and complete it, in our own way!

Besides, the Word today adds a wonderful note to the reflection on our call, as it seems to underline the one objective in being an apostle, or for that matter in being a disciple: in Jesus' own words, "as my Father loves me, so I love you!" The primary aim is to receive in all its fullness the abundant love of the Father, through Jesus our friend! And it is in receiving that love, our joy is made complete! 

Let us rejoice in being loved, and love each other in return!

Happy Feast of Mother Mazzarello

The First Ecumenical Council of the Church

WORD 2day: Wednesday, 5th week in Easter time

May 13, 2020: Acts 15: 1-6; John 15: 1-8

There is so much talk about the Vatican Council II, an ecumenical council that has revolutionised the Church of late. There are those who look at it as the rebirth of the Church in the Modern times and there are others who criticise it saying it was the deconstruction of a solid faith! That apart, today we have the account of the first ever ecumenical council held - the Council of Jerusalem! It stands as a wonderful Christian model of handling crisis and confusion: getting together in brotherly dialogue and faithful communion. 

The Community of faith gives us a splendid possibility of remaining united as branches to the one Vine, Jesus the Lord. That is the key to Christian Unity and Spiritual Communion. Today, when crisis and confusion arise, how many human methodologies we follow to handle them: writing anonymous letters, spreading calumny about others, raising unchristian slogans, speaking an unholy language, using all means to destroy the other and unleashing uncharitable actions... 

Is it truly a 'Christ'ian way of approaching a problem or a dilemma? What are we aiming at? Establishing our ego? Gaining our political mileage? Assuring our social and economic security? Making ourselves relevant and craving to prove ourselves to those around?

Let us remember - division among us is the worst scandal we can give to the World, as people of God. Let us be strive to be united with the one Vine, nourish ourselves from that vine, be filled with the sap from that vine and give fruits worthy of that vine. Or else, we will have to be pruned and charred!

Troubles or No Troubles...Fear Not!

WORD 2day: Tuesday, 5th week in Easter time

May 12, 2020: Acts 14: 19-28; John 14: 27-31a

"It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God," say Sts. Paul and Barnabas (Acts 14:22). Elsewhere in the Acts (see 5:41) we read, "they rejoiced that they were considered worthy to suffer dishonour for the sake of the name" of Jesus, after having received severe flogging. The apostles startled the world around them with their fearlessness! Nothing could contain them or control them. They were overwhelmed with enthusiasm, for they felt the presence of the Risen Lord with them.

In today's Gospel, after giving his peace, the Lord instructs: 'do not let your hearts be troubled!', for the peace that he gives us is unlike the peace that the world gives. The peace offered by the world is a peace of compromises and conveniences, a peace of inaction and suspicious silence! But the Peace that Christ gives, is the peace of the Reign, the peace that comes from justice and equality, peace that comes from true love and compassion. It is no contract of just war or war against terrorism; but a total cessation of war or corruption or injustice or any inhumanity! 

This peace, Jesus has given us as he promised! It is enshrined in the Word. If only we live the Word we shall realise that our life shall be founded on true love for the entire humanity and compassion for the least and the last. How blessed it shall be, if we realised this truth. And once we do so, we are called to witness to it and challenge the world to do the same. Our call is to spread it, take it to every heart that longs, to every corner of the earth. 

When we begin doing it, we shall certainly face troubles, floggings, stonings, criticisms, threats and persecutions. The times are near for that and in some cases it is already here... but let us fear not; and let not our hearts be troubled!