The Lord our Rock

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

February 16, 2026 - James 1: 1-11; Mark 8: 11-13

During his life and ministry, Jesus was convinced that he had nothing to prove, to no one! He was what he was - the Son of God, the Word Incarnate. He spoke what he believed and lived what he spoke. That gave him an authority that the Pharisees and the Scribes could never understand. It came from his holistic self-understanding, an understanding in terms of the ONE who had sent him: "For I and the Father are one", he declared (Jn 10:30). 

Many a time we identify ourselves with the riches we have, the social status we enjoy, the titles and the offices we hold, the adulation from others and the image that others have of us. We are concerned and fixated on achievements and social images we create of ourselves. But these are like the drooping flowers and the fading beauty, reminds St. James. 

Our identity has to rest on that one thing that never changes - the truth that we are sons and daughters of the One God, that we are created in the image and the likeness of that One God who has loved us into existence. When we get this fact imprinted clearly on our hearts... no trial or doubt, no suffering or shock will ever affect our perseverance (Jas 1:4). 

Let our life be founded on that unshakable foundation, the Lord, our Rock!

FEB 14 - A REFLECTION

Saints Cyril, Methodius and Valentine - The Call to be in Love!

The Word reaching a people is not a simple happening or a non characteristic event - it is a definitive self revelation of God being extended to that part of humanity! Those who are involved become blessed instruments in the hands of the Lord, according to the heart of the Lord. They become the most beautiful feet on earth, carrying the most life-giving of all things in the world - the Word of the Lord.  

However, there are more than a few elements that have to come together if this blessed experience has to be realised. Looking at it as a basic communication, there is the Sender who has to will it and there has to be the receiver who is prepared to receive it; there has to be a medium which will carry it, amidst all the noise that will surround to disturb it; and above all and at the heart of it all rests the message that is being communicated, which has to be conceived and represented in its utmost originality! 

It is in this context that the saints whom we celebrate today come into consideration. Be it Saints Cyril and Methodius, or any other Apostle for that matter who is called and sent, there is the medium being chosen by the Lord! The effectiveness of this medium is determined by the fact of how much the medium is taken up with the message; how much the medium knows and treasures the message; how much the medium has interiorised the message - and this is what we call - being in love, which translates as the medium becoming the message! 

Celebrating also the popular feast of the patron of those in love - St. Valentine, today the question we are inspired to ask ourselves is this: how much in love am I with the message, as a medium! The reason we need to ask this question is crucially this: because the call to be an apostle, is a call to be in love! 

ASCOLTARE E DIGIUNARE

La Quaresima - il tempo di conversione

Messaggio del Santo Padre Leone XIV per la Quaresima 2026

QUARESIMA 2026 - PAPA LEONE XIV

LISTENING & FASTING

Lent - a time of Conversion

Message of Pope Leo XIV for Lent 2026 

LENTEN MESSAGE 2026 - POPE LEO XIV

LAW: LOVE & ABIDE by the WORD

Faith is a choice, a choice to obey

February 15, 2026: 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sirach 15: 16-21; 1 Corinthians 2: 6-10; Matthew 5: 17-37

Choice is the central theme running through the readings today! And there is another dominant theme that qualifies this choice - that is LAW. Law for the people of Israel was the way ordained by the Lord. Law was for them the guarantee of remaining people of God; it was their part of executing the covenant that the Lord made with them: I shall be your God and you shall be my people! To speak or act against the law was for them a serious and punishable offence. There is a discussion on two other themes- "maturity" and "wisdom" in the second reading from St.Paul. Combining all these, Jesus in the Gospel presents to us a mature and wise attitude towards LAW. He invites us to Choose LAW... that is to choose to Love and Abide by the Word.

Faith is a Choice...

Faith is not a blind leap, it is a conscious Choice! As the very first encyclical that Pope Francis gave us, Lumen Fidei (n.3) affirms, faith cannot be associated with darkness, instead faith is a light that enlightens one to choose, to choose believe in God, to choose to see God alive in one's life. 

The first reading presents to us the same perspective today, we have the choice between water and fire, between good and evil, between true joy and fleeting pleasures, between the right and the convenient, between conviction and compromise, between life and death! The choice is ours! We cannot ride on the shoulders of tradition and custom, and justify our acts and habits. We have to grow up! Our maturity has to be seen in the wisdom we possess. It is God who gives us this wisdom, as St.Paul reminds us. Jesus embodies that wisdom and presents the same to us in his words: I have come not to abolish the law, but bring it to its fulfillment.

A Choice beyond the Law...

Jesus declares that his disciples should make a choice not against the law but beyond the law! He gives a new meaning to law, and presents the way to go beyond, to transcend a mere slavish legalism and reach the heights of saintly perfection, through love and compassion. The words of Jesus, "You have heard that it was said,...but I say to you", heard repeatedly in the Gospel today presents Jesus as the New Moses, and describes the community of disciples as the New People of God! "See I am making all things new," declares Jesus by this (Rev. 21:5). The new law...today how do we understand that new law, the law beyond the law... L - to Love, A - to Abide, and W - the Word. To love the Word and Abide by it...is the new law that Jesus gives. 

The Word presents to us a guarantee to sanctity. To know the Word, to reflect on it and understand it, to love it and strive to abide by it, is the sure way to be real children of God, worthy people of God. Our life does not comprise merely of avoiding evil, it is much more profound and meaningful. It is to live, to love, to relate, to do good, to mature, to be happy, to make others happy and thus together as a community of God's children, to renew the world and fill it with joy.

To Obey the Law...

Jesus teaches the people today not to go against the law but to understand what it really means to obey the law. For Him, to obey the law was not to obey the word of the law but to obey the Lord of the law! It was so for the people of Israel; they obeyed the law as an act of obedience to YHWH. But when the Lord of the law was with them, and they did not realise it. The Word lived and moved among them, but they did not comprehend it. The danger for us too is the same: that we may be by definition the best of Christians - missing no Sunday Mass, regular with reading the Bible and reciting the prayers, strict with our fasting and abstinence, visiting as many pilgrim shrines as possible - but let us beware, we may be missing the point. These are good but not good enough - the Word instructs us: Love and Abide by the Word... to love the Word, and to live by it; not being merely hearers of the Word but doers(Jam 1:22); to say YES to the Word and mean it, to face all the consequences of that Yes and live through it. 

Our YES to the Word has to be our choice, our choice to go beyond the Law and obey the Lord of the law, to live and fill the earth with love and compassion; to challenge the present standards of the world towards a new world, new heaven and new earth!

Divided lives and Devilish intents

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

February 14, 2026 - 1 Kings 12: 26-32, 13: 33-34; Mark 8: 1-10

For the people of Israel there was no difference between their political life and their religious life. For them everything was just one - an integral mode of living as people of God, forever the people of the Covenant: 'I shall be your God and you shall be my people'. But at a certain point, as we read in the first reading today, the misery befalls them - Politics and Religion part their ways. 

Something that happens further makes things worse: using religion for political ends or politics for religious reasons. It becomes almost an unjust alliance, and remains so even to this day! That could be history... but the alarming fact is that it can happen in our personal lives too: the division between our religious life and our civil life, and worse still if we use one for the manipulation of the other. 

Jesus is totally against this division and considers it always an hypocrisy. One cannot call oneself a shepherd and still remain untouched by the miseries of the people. We see how sensitive he was, and how he taught that to his disciples. One cannot call oneself a 'Christ-ian' and live a life that is totally insensitive towards others. One cannot call oneself a child of God and look down on his brother or sister, or much worse ill-treat, exploit or oppress them. If one does that, he or she is giving into idolatry, claiming to belong to Christ but divided within oneself, externally professing Christ but totally against Christ at the level of the inner self.

Pride, Rebellion and Hearing God's voice...

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

February 13, 2026 - 1 Kings 11: 29-32, 12:19; Mark 7: 31-37

The readings today speak of two kingdoms... one that was ending and the other which was rising. Prophet Ahijah instructs Jeroboam about the role that he has to play in the fall of David's kingdom. And in the Gospel we see the people who rejoice at the coming of the Kingdom (Reign) of God: "the deaf hear and the mute speak" they exclaim - that phrase was symbolic and indicative of the Reign of God to the people of Israel. 

The message is obvious - it is an invitation to turn away from a tendency of human pride and rebellion and place the absolute dominion always in the hands of God. Right from the beginning (explained by the stories of Adam and Eve, the tower of Babel and so on), the ruin of humankind has been due to human pride; that has always been, indeed, the entry point of sin into humanity has been rebellion. 

It is in that rebellion and pride that we make gods for ourselves - making gods of our own ego, of our successes, of our plans and projects, of our prospects and the social ladders, of our attachments and cravings. At times, only when drastic things happen we realise our folly! Unfortunately that realisation too is short-lived... just round the corner we begin to accumulate weight on our heads... going around with haughty heads and stiff necks!

The Lord says to us today: I am the Lord you God, hear my voice! We would repeat that in the responsorial... let it remind us of what Jesus wants to do to us. "Be opened" he says, not only to our ears, but to our hearts that we would listen to God's voice. Because it would do so much good to us, if we make it our habit to hear the Lord's voice and live by it everyday.

Saints who surprise God!

WORD 2day: Thursday, 5th week in Ordinary time

February 12, 2026 - 1 Kings 11: 4-13; Mark 7: 24-30

The most dangerous character of sin is, it takes over "little by little," that all too soon we find it too late for an escape! Solomon, seemed to be the sign of God's glory in the early days of his kingship (just yesterday we reflected on it, as to how international his fame had become), but soon finds himself at a point of no return, because he had given away his heart "little by little" to ways that took him away from God! 

We know sin can be, in very simple words, understood as a rebellion against God... a lack of surrender into God's hands. If so, then the remedy would be: a childlike surrender into the hands of God; following God unreservedly as did David (1Kgs 11:6); a faith that becomes a humble surrender to God's Will, like the Syrophoenician woman that we see in the Gospel today. 

This simple woman we encounter, becomes the prototype of the numerous saints who manage to surprise God... they surprised God by their total, absolute, unprecedented surrender... like St.Paul, or the early martyrs, or the later saints like John Maria Vianney, or Maxmillian Kolbe, or great models like Bishop Oscar Romero, Sr. Rani Maria... the list goes on, and the challenge is that we add our names to that list. 

Let our surrender to the Lord be so total, that in God's pleasant surprise miracles begin to abound. Yes, we are called as God's beloved children, to surprise our loving God, by our surrender... that will be the real meaning of growing in holiness.

Living at the core of our beings...

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

February 11, 2026 - 1 Kings 10:1-10; Mark 7: 14-23

"That they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father", said Jesus to us last Sunday (Matthew 5:16). Today we see Solomon exemplifying this claim to honour. We read that the Queen of Sheba, looking at the wisdom and splendour of Solomon, said "Blessed be the Lord your God!"(v.9). 

Let us reflect a little on this experience. What actually matters is not what is seen merely on the outward appearance, for we cannot put up a show all our life. Just imagine, if we have to create an image of ourselves just for the sake of the others and live up to it all our life - how tiresome and fatiguing it can be! 

At some point or the other, to someone or the other, the truth will be known and that will be the ruin of everything. Instead, Jesus invites us to an authentic living that is built from within, from those which comes out from within - our thoughts, our attitudes, our priorities, the words and thoughts we entertain, the feelings and impulses we give into, the kind of persons we identify ourselves with, the sort of people for whom our hearts are moved, the readiness with which we go out of ourselves in true love and selfless compassion. 

Let us pay attention to our interiority. The core of our self defines who we are, and at that level of our being, we cannot deceive ourselves! Let our hearts enshrine the presence of the Lord and let that presence illumine every bit of our life.

External Expressions and Internal Dispositions

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

February 10, 2026 - 1 Kings 8: 22-23,27-30; Mark 7: 1-13

Still keeping with the theme of yesterday, the first reading presents to us Solomon who brings to light the relationship that lies between the absolute importance of the temple and the folly of limiting God's presence to the temple. They are two elements of a devotion that is matured, worthy of being called an adult faith. 

Jesus speaks of the same too, but from a different perspective. He brings out a contrast between an external expression and an internal disposition: here we are not looking at mutually exclusive choices to be made but a mature balance to be achieved. 

External expressions without deep internal dispositions will turn into mere ritualism and legalism; while mere internal dispositions without right external expression will lead to a cold individualism which is totally 'unchristian'! Very shortly we shall be stepping into the season of Lent - a noted time for expressions of piety and spiritual manifestations. We run the risk of turning all these into empty practices, if they are not really accompanied by a transformed internal disposition of humility, hospitality and holiness.

Let our internal disposition be challenged and transformed on a daily basis towards a continuous maturity that leads to a meaningful living of our faith.

Can God's presence be felt?

WORD 2day: Monday, 5th week in Ordinary time

February 9, 2026 - 1 Kings 8: 1-7, 9-13; Mark 6: 53-56

The Ark comes to the Temple; and Jesus comes to his people - where does the link lie here? Obviously, it lies in the fact that the people of God are the true temples of God! Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?, asks St. Paul (1 Cor 3:16). Specially the needy and the poor, the sick and the suffering, the lonely and the unloved... they are the temples where we can encounter God face to face. 

Jesus does not depreciate the importance of the Temple when he said: a day will come when you will worship the Lord in Spirit and in Truth (Cf. Jn 4:23,24). He invites us to look at a new perspective. Building churches are important but it is more important to build the Church, that is the people of God. 

Celebrating the feasts and solemnities are important, but it is more important to celebrate persons and ensure humanity, happiness and wholeness to every person. What would we have gained if we spent tons of money on a well organised festivity, if we had not touched even one needy person, or made happy one grieving heart, or given joy to one drooping spirit? 

Wherever Jesus went, people went and God's presence was felt; wherever the apostles went, people went and God's presence was felt (compare with Acts 5:12-15); wherever we Christ-ians go, God's presence should be felt! Wherever we go, is God's presence being felt?

THE LIGHT OF FAITH

Be illumined! Illumine!

February 8, 2026: 5th Sunday in Ordinary time
Isaiah 58: 7-10; 1 Corinthians 2: 1-5; Matthew 5: 13-16

"The Light of Faith: this is how the Church's tradition speaks of the great gift brought by Jesus": so begins the encyclical Lumen Fidei, issued by Pope Francis in 2014. Light is an image very often presented in relation to faith, the faithful and the life of a faithful. It is an explicit call by the Lord right from the Old Testament times that the people of God have to be light to the nations (Is 42:6). With Christ's call today to be light of the world, it becomes an inevitable criterion to be identified as Christ's disciple or not!

Faith as Light: The first reading reminds us of a Zen story that we would have heard, of the Master who asked his disciples: When do you think it is dawn? The disciples attempted various responses, like - when we see the difference between a tree and a pillar; when we can identify a black thread from a white, and so on. The Master, discontent with everything, finally said: it is dawn, when you look into the eyes of the one next to you and see your brother or your sister!

The first reading tells us exactly that... when you accept the gift of faith from the Lord, your eyes are opened that you can see into the eyes of those around you and see your brothers and sisters; in their suffering and in their pains, you can feel your heart weeping and your eyes welling. We are reflecting today on the theme of LIGHT... the light that illumines us, the light that makes us see the real meaning of life and the true sense of being human. What can do that task better than our faith - Faith, is the light that illumines us, a light that directs our journey of life, a light that opens our minds to see clear and live upright. It is the Light we are offered by the Lord, as a gift!

The Faithful as Light: Once we accept that gift, the gift of faith from the Lord, we as faithful, we become the Light! Receiving the light, we become the Light. The Lord sets us as the light to the nations, the light to the world, the light on the lamp stand, the city on the hilltop! Our faith does not rest on human wisdom, or logical reason, or scientific thinking, or systematic and mind blowing theologies! Our faith is primarily founded on the power of God, reminds St. Paul in the second reading today.

Illumined by the Light, we become the light! Jesus declared, "I am the light of the World" (Jn 8:12); but did not stop with that. He challenges us today in the Gospel, "You are the light of the World." Every person of faith is called to be a light that is set on the lamp stand, to spread the light to the entire house, to illumine those around him or her. But it is important that we remember always that the source of our light, is the Light which illumines us all, the Light eternal of which we are rays, the eternal fire of which we are sparks.

The life of the faithful as Light: Being the light...what could that mean? It involves two important elements: One, everyone sees you; and two, one is able to see because of you! Theologians and Pastoral thinkers always raise a pertinent question, what would be the most apt mode today, of proclaiming the Good News to those who have not heard it. The answer is as simple as it is tough: "by living my everyday life!" One may wonder, but where is the proclamation here - actually, it is in the very living!

Our life cannot have two shades - personal and public, sacred and profane, spiritual and secular... If I am a Christian - I should be seen! That is the first dimension of being light - my life has to be lived in its integrity. When the light can be seen, then one can see, because of the light. When my life can be seen by the other as an open book, the other can draw an inspiration to live by, and that is proclamation; that is evangelisation; that is illumining! It is through my life, my words, my actions and everyday choices that I become a light to the other; "if you bestow your bread on the hungry and satisfy the afflicted; then light shall rise for you in the darkness!" and thus one will become the light in darkness to the upright.

Let us keep this light burning in our hearts whole day today, and our everyday. To evaluate our daily life and see, if we really possess the Light of Faith, if we really live our life in a manner as to become light to those around me! Let the Eternal Light of Lord fill our hearts to be illumined and to illumine!

Compassion - the quality closest to sanctity

WORD 2day: Saturday, 4th week in Ordinary time

February 7, 2026 -  Kings 3: 4-13; Mark 6: 30-34

                             

"An understanding heart to guide God's people", is what Solomon asks of the Lord... and that is what he was given! We see Jesus, who understood the tiredness of his apostles and counseled them to relax. We see Jesus looking at the people and understanding their need, their thirst, their yearning for life...he was filled with compassion! 

Compassion, which comes from the latin terms com (cum) and pati, meaning to have the same feeling as someone, is basically a deep understanding of the other! When someone next to me is undergoing a crisis, when someone in my vicinity is going through a suffering, when persons in front of my eyes are experiencing a situation that stifles their lives... can I really feel with them, can I really suffer with them? That would be compassion! 

This is the kind of sensibility that Jesus exhibits, and it is the same sensibility that Christ requires of us - if we wish to call ourselves Christians! In fact, we could without exaggeration say: Compassion is the quality closest to sanctity! 

Being Christ-ians, we cannot but be compassionate; like Solomon, we could ask the Lord for this grace, and the Lord will grant us a heart that is wise and understanding, loving and compassionate.

Making God the centre of our lives!

THE WORD AND THE SAINTS 

February 6, 2026 - Remembering Paul Miki and Companions, among them Gonzalo Garcia!

Ecclesiasticus 47: 2-13; Mark 6: 14-29

We are presented with two kings today in the readings - King David and King Herod! Of one the reading praises without end and the other... we surely know his end! Both kings over Israel... but two totally different sorts of kings. One, who listened to the prophets and the other, who killed them! Not that one was a saint and the other was a sinner... both were sinners; but what made the difference? 

While one was merely curious about the things of God, the other one - the reading says, "with his whole being he loved his Maker and daily had His praises sung" (Sir 47:8,9). The place that David gave to God, in spite of all the weaknesses he had, made him a beloved son of God. 

It does not matter what heights we reach, or what laurels we fetch, giving the Lord the first place, will set everything else right. Making God the centre of our lives, is what all the saints teach us. And that is the secret to a life, truly happy and meaningful. 

It is a wonderful element to remember today, as we celebrate day, that one of the companions of Paul Miki was of Indian Origin - Gonzalo Garcia (though his father was a Portugese), from the Vasai, region of Maharastra - first Indian to have been canonised!

Reign is all that matters!

THE WORD AND THE SAINT

February 5, 2026 - Remembering St. Agatha

1 Kings 2:1-4,10-12; Mark 6: 7-13

David gives instruction to young Solomon as he is about to take over the Kingdom. Jesus gives instruction to his apostles as they are about to set out for a mission! The common element present is the instruction and there is a common thread that runs through the two sets of instructions too. For that matter the whole of the Word of God, and Jesus as the Word of God made flesh always has this ready message to give us: Seek first the Reign of God, and all other things will be given unto you (Mat 6:33). 

Persons like St. Agatha, whom we celebrate today, and many other martyrs and the first christians...every one of them was filled with this same zeal. Health. wealth, pleasure, not even life mattered more than the Reign of God for them! 

Solomon would later fall from the glory of his father, precisely because he would lose sight of the Reign that God wanted to establish - instead would be taken up with the kingdom that he wanted to build, making pacts with kings and compromising in the bargain. The reminder is for us to renew our commitment towards the Reign of God today - the Reign of justice, love, peace, brotherhood and sisterhood... in short Shalom, Wholeness, God's presence - can we make present these in our own little way today?

To behold the Lord in the Ordinary!

WORD 2day: Wednesday, 4th week in Ordinary time

February 4, 2026 - 2 Samuel 24:2,8-17; Mark 6: 1-6

Falling into sin, giving into our imperfections, falling short of what is expected of us, are all common human experiences. The experience becomes truly problematic, when we have fallen and we do not wish to admit it or we are not ready to get out of it. 

David was a chosen one of God. He was blessed with experiences and graces that no one else had been blessed with... but he falls and he falls repeatedly. When things go wrong and miseries come his way he realises his folly. But only to know and acknowledge that it has already gone out of hand. 

The Lord's grace is ever present with us - but it is possible that we do not realise it or we refuse to behold it in our obstinacy. We just take things for granted and push things aside without paying the attention that they deserve, because we are used to them, because we have always seen them, because they are "nothing new" to us. 

The ordinariness of Jesus was an obstacle for the people to accept the great things that he was upto - we see that in the Gospel today. For us today, it is important that we learn to behold the Lord's graceful presence, in the ordinariness of our lives; if not, it will be too late when we realise it, as it happens to David. We better resolve to be ready and eager to behold the presence of the Lord in the ordinariness of our days.

They call you strange! Does it matter?

WORD 2day: 4th Tuesday in Ordinary time

February 3, 2026 - 2 Samuel 18:9-10, 14, 24-25, 30-19:3; Mark 5: 21-43.

Sometimes we might appear 'strange' to those around us.

 

David appears so, in today's first reading at least to those who brought him the news of the death of his son Absalom. For those who were close to David, it seemed well deserved that Absalom met with such an end for all that he had done to David; but for David, it was unbearable; he cries inconsolably. He appears strange for the people who wanted to celebrate the victory. 

Jesus looks strange to those around, when he asks who is that who touched him, when there was a whole multitude that was crushing him! He appears strange when he tells those people at Jairus' house, 'the child is sleeping.' In fact, the disciples expressed their surprise and the people ridiculed him. 

However, there is an element here in these cases, that the people around could not see - that which made it natural for Jesus (and for David). But for the people, it was strange. The element in reference here is, the capacity to see everything from the eyes of God and comprehend  everything from the perspective of God! 

When David looked at it from the perspective of God, it was his loving child who was dead! When Jesus felt the touch from the perspective of God, it was a special touch of intense prayer and when He saw the child on the death bed, it was God's glory yet to be revealed. When we look at our own successes, failures, difficulties, trials, temptations and struggles from the eyes of God - they will have completely different meanings - could be 'strange' for others, but truly 'miracles' for ourselves!

Total Offering - Familiarity, Flexibility & Filiality

THE WORD AND THE FEAST

February 2, 2026 - The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord

Malachi 3: 1-4; Luke 2: 22-40

The readings of today were offered for our reflection only recently, on the 8th day after Christmas. They are given once more today, but they open a whole new perspective today with all that surrounds it liturgically! Today is also the 30th World day of Consecrated life - a message for which from Pope Leo: Consecrated Persons : Prophetic witnesses of peace in a Wounded world.

Keeping all of these in perspective, we have one lovely challenge posed: the Challenge of Total Offering to the Lord. Not just persons in Consecrated Life, but every one of us is called to offer ourselves totally to God and that alone can give us true meaning, happiness and above all true peace in life and to the world.

From the readings of today, we can pick up three signs of our total offering to the Lord:

Familiarity: As the Holy Family which enters the Temple with that ease and eagerness to perform their spiritual duty, so are we called to remain always familiar with the Lord.

Flexibility: Performing the duty was not merely a ritual, even for us it shouldn't be so! We are called to be pliable in the hands of God, as malleable as the silver and gold in the hands of the smith, so that we can become what the Lord wants us to.

Filiality: It is towards filiality that we are ultimately invited, as the Word reminds us repeatedly. This filiality inspired and enthused Jesus to belong to God totally and we are called to imitate the same self-giving!

Let us grow more and more, familiar, flexible and filial - that we could become true testimonies and instruments of peace to this wounded world.

BEING "HIS" PEOPLE

Humble, Integral and Simple!

4th Sunday in Ordinary time: February 1, 2026
Zephania 2:3, 3:12-13; 1 Corinthians 1:26-31; Matthew 5:1-12

Once again we have the beatitudes to reflect upon, a splendid description of a true people of God, the real people of the Reign, people who can belong to God and make present God here and now - in short, HIS people!

Seek the Lord, Seek humility, Seek Integrity... Zephaniah summarises the entire message of today in those words. Being poor in spirit, peace makers, humble of heart, vulnerable in spirit - those are the true characteristics of a person of the Reign... and today we can put them all into one single call - the call to be HIS people... to be HIS means, to be Humble, Integral and Sincere! That is how we become HIS.

Humble: Humility is to attribute praises to God from one's heart! We are today living in a context where people claim to be almost gods, or greater even than God. They claim to be all-powerful, and capable of anything on earth! They challenge anyone and despise everyone...funny that they find themselves more than worthy of any title or admiration in the world! This is in contrast to the kind of picture that Jesus paints for persons who are of his kind. Jesus when he lived on earth, though he could have claimed credit for everything he did or said, he declared: 'All that I speak, I do not speak on my own; all that I do, I do not do it all on my own!' That was the Son of God. He attributed everything good to God! He was clear about where his own goodness came from! That is humility - to accept the reality, and to be efficacious instruments of God's powerful presence.

Integral: Integrity is to have no discrepancy whatsoever between one's words and one's life! We see today people who live in total divided selves. They seem to be crying bitterly, but rejoicing in their hearts; they seem to be slogging for the good of others, but actually plotting against everyone to make their own way up; they seem to speak with honey in their lips, but there resides treacherous poison in their hearts; they put up a front of service and generosity, while all that they think of is their own self promotion and self glory! How can we understand this, particularly when it comes from a so-called "Christ-ian"? This lack of integrity will not only question the meaningfulness of one's own faith, but even drive people away from anything that has to do with God or Godliness. 

Sincere: Sincerity is to accept what one is and putting on no appearances! Drawing from integrity, it is to be what one is and manifest just that to everyone around. There are people who live two or three lives simultaneously - one for the larger public, one for the immediate circle of friends, and another for the most intimate circle. At times, persons do anything that they can to make people believe their false selves. But let us pose an extremely simple question: what do they gain by it - except that they end up never living their lives, leave alone living it to the full! It is sincerity alone that can help one live one's life - although it may cause a considerable cost!

We are called to be HIS people - people who are Humble, Integral and Sincere; people of the beatitudes, loving and forgiving people of the Reign! We are challenged to become true people of God, children of the Reign, His people!

Clinging to the Lord in love

THE WORD AND THE SAINT 

January 31, 2026 - Celebrating St. John Bosco, the friend of youth

2 Samuel 12: 1-7, 10-17; Mark 4: 35-41

"It is you!" - the famous finger of God against David, is the picture we are left with today by the Word. The Lord loved David, but David slipped into godlessness. However, when God pointed it out to David, like an inamorata clinging back to the beloved after a split, David comes back with remorse and love so tenderly balanced. Even when David realised he had sinned, he never panicked or never gave into guilt... he felt sorry and bounced back to the love of God, because he knew and he was convinced that the Lord was with him and the Lord loved him above anything else.

The storms may rage all around us, but we can still remain calm if only we realise the Lord is with us and the Lord loves us above all else. When the Lord is for us who can be against us? What really matters for a child of God, is to cling to the Lord in love... and everything else will fall in place!

Now, let us pause that reflection and turn to the Saint of the day! Just as God who was so much in love with the young David...so we find John Bosco a shepherd who loved the young to the last breath of his life. Don Bosco himself was so loved by God, and he just transmitted that love to the young entrusted to him. A wonderful life of faith, made manifest in actions and choices of love for the young. Let us ask for the grace of clinging to the Lord in love, and sharing the same love with each other. 

Beware of the slide...not just the fall

WORD 2day: 3rd Friday in Ordinary time

January 30, 2026 - 2 Samuel 11:1-4,5-10,13-17; Mark 4: 26-34

Jesus today gives us a parable to understand the subtle way in which the Reign of God grows in the earth - gradual and slow, but steady and strong! At times we have so much to say about God and God's ways - why is God not acting? why is so much of evil permitted? and so on... but we need to strive to understand... the process is underway; there is something in the making and it takes God's own time to come to fruition.

 

This seems to be true even with regard to situations and dispositions that take us away from God's ways. There is a gradual and slow falling away from God, slipping away from God little by little. It is not so much a fall that is dangerous, as the slide! Yes, most of the times we slide away from God, not just fall.

It is true that some times we fall into sin, but most of the time we slide into sin! David little by little slipped into sin but very soon he was in deep trouble. He lost all that he had built up by way of his faithfulness, dedication to the Lord, personal rapport with the Lord, love for his people and so on. Every thing went down the drain, when he began to slide into sin, step by step, mistake after mistake, one worse than before. 

Hence the call of the Word today is, that we be warned of sliding into sin... to be careful of the subtle ways that lead us to deep troubles. Let us beware of the slide, not just the fall. 

Worthy to be given more?

WORD 2day: 3rd Thursday in Ordinary time

January 29, 2026 - 2 Samuel 7:18-19,24-29; Mark 4: 21-25

David acknowledges the amount of good that the Lord has done on his behalf, the way the Lord raised him up from nowhere! He realises too that to be given so much means that much is expected of him. Though he failed in some ways, his love and dedication to the Lord never ceased.

The Lord chose David and raised him up, and David proved worthy of that choice inspite of his weaknesses. Doesn't that statement look like the one-line story of anyone among us - the Lord has chosen us and raised us up, and we need to live worthy of that choice inspite of our weaknesses and limitations.

There is yet another message that needs to be taken from here: it is not that David was chosen and that is no merit of his. He proved worthy of that choice and therefore remained or grew to be more choice-worthy. We are chosen... and the way we respond to that chosenness, will determine we would be further chosen or not! 

That is what Jesus teaches us in the Gospel today. The more we live humble and aware of the fact that we are chosen, the more we would be blessed. The more we would be blessed the more we have to grow worthy of it. What a lovely and interesting way to sanctity!

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!