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!

GET YOUR BASICS RIGHT...

Being a Christian...

2nd Sunday in Ordinary time - January 18, 2026

Isaiah 49: 3,5,6; 1 Corinthians 1:1-3; John 1: 29-34

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

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

The readings seem to reflect with us in terms of the basic Question Words...

WHO? WHAT?

The first question is about who we are and what we are? Isaiah gives a direct response to it: we are the light of the nations! We are called, we know that. But, as what? To do the will of God, yes; to be ever at the disposal of the will of God and say, "Here am I Lord, I come to do your will" (Heb 10:7) But doing the Will not merely as servants but as 'the light of the nations!' 

We are called not merely as workers but as witnesses. "Called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God" ...that is the answer to the Who and the What, of our Christian life. We are called to live our life as witnesses...witness is our first mode of proclaiming Christ and His gospel. It is not what we do that matters most, rather what we wish to communicate through what we do! Do we want to tell the world about ourselves, our goodness, our greatness and our inevitability? Or do we want to communicate to them the goodness of the Lord, the Gospel of the Father, the grace and peace of Christ and love of the Spirit? What we wish to communicate would determine whether we are merely workers or witnesses!

WHY? WHERE?

Why should we be doing God's will and where are we bound to? In simple terms, what is our goal? What are we called for? The Word of God is vociferous on this point, be it in the Old Testament or in the New Testament: We are called to Holiness... We are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be holy - says the second reading today. Holiness consists of a clarity of one's own identity as Isaiah, Paul and John the Baptist demonstrate in the readings today: to know who we are and what we are, and thus realising why we are doing all that we do and where we are going towards! 

We are called, not to a mediocre life, but to live our life to the full... that is a life of real holiness. If everything that we do in our daily life, does not ultimately lead us to sanctification and holiness, that is in simple words fullness of life, we are on a mistaken journey. It might seem colourful at the moment, but will soon end up gloomy and grey. A clairty on the why and the where, will determine our daily choices, will define every aspect of our Christian living - our family life, our career, our spiritual life, our personal life and so on. Only when we are clear about our purpose, our lives shall be lived to the full.

WHICH? HOW?
The next question is, which way? and how do we reach that holiness? Is it my achievement? Is it some kind of a detached discipline of life that looks at every one around as a distraction and disturbance? Is it a elitist view of life, keeping myself above everyone, trying to be as less contaminated as possible, so that I can reach God and godliness? Are these points of view Christ-ian at all?

Christian life cannot be just a me-and-God type of a life. It has to be lived in a Community! From the very beginning, Christ-experience and the message of Christ has been lived and passed on by a community. The readings underline this community aspect with the terms like, light of the 'nations', 'to all those everywhere who call upon the name of the Lord', and 'Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world'... We are in the Unity Octave, which this year invites us to see God working through people and places which offer Unusual Kindness, which we will notice if only we would do the appropriate kind of looking.  

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

In search...who and whom?

WORD 2day: Saturday, 1st week in Ordinary time

January 17, 2026 - 1 Samuel 9:1-4,17-19,10:1; Mark 2:13-17

The Word presents to us today two persons in search... one, who went in search of the donkeys and the other, who went in search of the sinners... one similarity: both of them, for the sake of their father's wish! 

Though the comparison is strange, the fact is that both are kings... one the first king of Israel and the latter the eternal King of heaven and earth. We may consider ourselves worthless and dumb as donkeys, but the truth is the Lord is in search of us. Many a times we speak of the humanity that is in search of God... but how much more true it is to think of the Lord who is in search of each of us. 

Let us open ourselves up to the Lord; invite the King into our hearts; and the King shall reign for ever in our lives and through us, reach out to many more who are lost and are searching for themselves! I do realise that I have been too allegorical today, but the message is simple: to be forever open to the Lord, in a sense of daily conversion and repentance, ever growing more and more as children of God.

Freedom in Submission

WORD 2day: Friday, 1st week in Ordinary time

January 16, 2026 - 1 Samuel 8:4-7,10-22; Mark 2:1-12

It is a human tendency to look for something or someone, to which or to whom, one can submit oneself! Whether by force or by choice, a form of legitimate dependence or extraordinary obsession, habit of blaming someone or positively seeking someone's counsel... we are always looking to submit ourselves to someone or something! 

The point to be noted here is this: whatever be the form of submission, and whatever be its reason, it makes us dependent or subservient. The first reading reminds us of this human tendency and before we judge the people of Israel of those historical times, let us understand how we ourselves fall into the same category! 

The only submission that gives us a sense of freedom and a sense of self-worth is the submission to God's authority - because God dwells in us and a submission to God, as God's children, is a reinforcement of our dignity, our self-worth and the sovereignty that God has placed within us, as human persons. The call for us today, is to realise that God has the ultimate authority over us, and thus we will experience the greatest of all freedom: the freedom of the children of God.

Do we know our real strength?

WORD 2day: Thursday, 1st week in Ordinary time

January 15, 2026 - 1 Samuel 4: 1-11; Mark 1: 4-45

When the Israelites rejoiced at the arrival of the Ark to their tents, the Philistines shivered and recognised that the Lord were amidst them! The Israelites themselves realised that their real strength was the Lord. You are my strength, my fortress, my rock of refuge - would exclaim the Psalmist later. 

People who looked at Jesus, saw this to be true in him too. If you wish to, you can cure me, said the man to Jesus, realising the source of grace and salvation is in the mighty will of God. God's will saves us, protects us and guides us. On our part, what we need to do is to allow ourselves to be guided, to be strengthened, to be fortified by the Lord. 

We need to rise from a style of life that is a mere damage-control, to a more proactive responsible living. When we realise the presence of God ever in our midst, we will live a life that is worthy of the Lord and the Lord's will; and that alone can keep us from becoming a mere laughing stock among the people! Yes, that is a danger.

If we really consider ourselves people of God, sons and daughters of God, generated by God, strengthened, fortified and protected by God, should not our daily life, our attitudes, our relationships, our outlook on events, reflect that fact? The challenge to us today is: that we live up to our call, our identity and our vocation - that of being sons and daughters of God. Is that not our real strength?

To do good - would that be enough?

WORD 2day: Wednesday, 1st week in Ordinary time

January 14, 2026 - 1 Samuel 3: 1-10,19-20; Mark 1: 29-39

Preaching, healing, casting the demons out - Jesus went around doing good! But he was personally conscious that doing good was not good enough, at least that it was not the absolute or the ultimate! When the disciples scout to find him and the people try to possess him for themselves, he insists that he needs to move on. Doing good was good; but more important for him, or the most important of everything was doing what God wanted of him. 

We get lost sometimes in the frenzy of doing good to as many as possible... not really bothering whether we are doing really what God wants of us! Obedience to Eli and service in the temple was something good... but God was calling Samuel for something higher: to listen to the Lord and speak the Lord's Word to the people! 

When doing good alone becomes our concern, a lot of problematic elements like the fame-game, the ego-trips and rat-races find their way easily in. If we are convinced of doing what God wants of us, we will surely find serenity even amidst the worst of situations. But for that, we need to learn to say: 'Speak Lord, for your servant is listening!'

The source of true authority

WORD 2day: Tuesday, 1st week in Ordinary time

January 13, 2026 - 1 Samuel 2:1,4-8; Mark 1:21-28

Eli is too fast to judge Hannah... what permits him to do that? Hannah points out to him that he need not be true merely because he is in authority... nor is it taken for granted that he is better because of that same fact. Eli was wrong and Hannah was there standing tall in her total fidelity to God who had mercy on her. 

Hannah immediately makes an impression on Eli's mind when she explains herself and her grief. He recognises immediately his mistake in judgement and blesses her with truly edifying words... a sign of a person of God. Just because he was the priest in the Temple, nothing warrants that he would always be right - that kind of a claim would be an abuse of authority! 

One way of thinking about authority is looking at one's own position of supremacy! But we know how that kind of an authority could be unstable to the core, as we as persons are neither permanent nor are we infallible. The source of real authority has to be more transcendental, absolute and infallible - is it so difficult to understand where that source could be?

In the Gospel the pharisees wonder about the authority of Jesus... they wonder from where it came! Ofcourse, it was from Jesus' total fidelity to the One who sent him. With that absolute fidelity and uncompromising surrender to the Lord,  Jesus could say anything and it would happen!

What is in store does not matter - just follow!

WORD 2day: Monday, 1st week in Ordinary time

January 12, 2026 - 1 Samuel 1: 1-8; Mark 1: 14-20

After a long while we are back to the Ordinary time and the very first message that the Word gives is so relevant: Just follow the Lord.

In our life's journey, that which can grant us an incredible serenity is the attitude of Following the Lord, without being worried too much about what is in store! We are still in the beginning of this year. After nearly 2 weeks of the new year, there could be in our minds still the plans with which we began the year, the goals we set for ourselves, and the projects we fixed for ourselves.

While thinking of projects that engage our days, it is normal that many things preoccupy our minds. Samuel's story that we begin to reflect on from today, affirms to us that God has a definitive plan for each of us; as the Lord would explain the same through Jeremiah (29:11): for I know the plans that I have for you. 

The secret lies in not permitting the grievances of our past to stunt our life and at the same time not permitting the anxieties of the future eating into our todays. Let us live our life, here and now, to the full, with total confidence that the Lord has a plan that will unfold in God's own time! 

All that we need to do is what Jesus tells us - FOLLOW HIM!!!

MADE PEOPLE OF THE SPIRIT

By the Word, water and fire

Solemnity of the Baptism of the Lord - January 11, 2026

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

We celebrate the Baptism of the Lord today. As John the Baptiser rightly points out in the Gospel today, there was no need for the Son of God to be baptised... but he chose to be baptised! It was a radical sign, bringing a specific purpose to that event. The purpose was to set us a challenge. Baptism is an act of the Spirit. As Peter observes in the Acts of the Apostles, it is the Spirit who acts at baptism and makes us what we are called to be. This act of the Spirit has a three fold challenge, as the Word presents to us this festive Sunday.

The first challenge - the Word: 

The Word made flesh whom we have been celebrating all these days is manifest once again today - explicitly by the words of the Spirit. The words that are heard is the call of the Spirit - that we may live to be declared the sons or daughters in whom the Almighty delights! That is the call entrusted to each of us in our Baptism, a challenge that we are reminded of today. 

The second challenge - Water: 

The Water in which the Lord immersed himself is an indication of our situation, into which Jesus immersed himself - the mystery of incarnation that we are reminded of once again, as we close this loving season of Advent and Christmas. We are challenged to immerse ourselves into the situations of people around us, becoming people who are redeemed by this incarnation. The every day sign of it would be our solidarity with those who are suffering and those who need someone to stand by them, instead of getting lost in our own personal concerns and self-centred whims.

The third challenge - Fire: 

The promise that the Lord will make us a light to the nations, challenges us to possess the fire of the Spirit, as Isaiah proposes. The fire that will consume all injustice, inhumanities and anti-Reign elements, paving the way for the Reign of God to be born here and now! Being the light of the nations... refers to light which is indeed, gentle and benign; but what it is fundamentally fire, the burning fire which lights up! We cannot forget that we can become lights, only when we burn. 

A final question we are inspired to pose ourselves today is - are we people of the Spirit? If so, we shall be rightly challenged by the Word, the Water and the Fire. Would the world hear about us said: behold my beloved child, in whom I rejoice!

Who should increase?

WORD 2day: Saturday after Epiphany

January 10, 2026 - 1 John 5:14-21 ; John 3: 22-30

I came across a poster highlighting the first reading of today which read: whatever we may ask, the Lord hears us! It is an assuring statement and a very strong affirmation but I am afraid it is not true to the WORD. Yes... there is a small but a crucial phrase that is left out in between. That is,  "if it is in accordance with His will" - that is where most of us falter.

We think, all that we ask has to be given. True faith would say, 'not necessarily'. Even when I don't seem to be receiving what I am praying for (prayer anyway is not merely asking), I can be calm and serene, for I trust in the will of God. This will happen only when I decrease and God increases in me. 

At times even in our prayer and good deeds we concentrate so much on what we do and what we achieve that there is no much place for God and God's will. It is so full of me, my success, my power and my accomplishment. John the Baptist seems to offer us a wonderful lesson,  inviting us to allow the Lord to increase, and making our own self, or our ego, decrease.

Even in our so called spiritual exercises, let us beware who really is increasing... me? or the Lord? 

Our life in the Son

WORD 2day: Friday after Epiphany

January 9, 2026 - 1 John 5: 513; Luke 5: 12-16

Anyone who believes in the Son has life... our life, our privileged Christian life, our life to which we are called, is in the Son. Elsewhere we read too, "And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent" (Jn 17:3). The basis of a blessed life is not our achievements nor our accomplishments, nor our hoardings or savings, but our relationship with God, the Source of that life! 

The question posed to us today is about how truly and sincerely are we connected to the Lord? Jesus is seen today drawing himself alone to pray... and it is reported every now and then by the Gospel writers. He knew the importance of being connected to the Lord... being connected to, makes us never lose the source of our life, our true, blessed and eternal life. 

Being connected to, is one thing; and a fall out of it is, being connected in the Lord. Being connected in, means that we are connected not only to God, but to each other, in the Lord. If being connected to is the source of life and its blessedness, being connected in the Lord is the way to sustain that life and remain in that life and its blessedness. This is what Jesus and his coming, teach us. 

Connecting to the Father and staying in touch with the Son is the work of the Spirit within. Connecting with the other in the Father, Son and the Spirit is the we get our life in the Son. We are chosen - not merely in water and blood, but in the Spirit above all... and in the Son. Our life in the Son is our life in the Spirit, according to the will of the Father.

We love, because God loves us...

WORD 2day: Thursday after Epiphany

January 8, 2026 - 1 John 4: 19- 5:4; Luke 4: 14-22

To love, is not an extraordinary quality! For a human person, especially for us sons and daughters of God who is love, love has to be our essential nature! The fundamental question is not whether I am ready to love or not; it is whether I am a Christian or not! If I am a 'Christ'ian, then love has to be my second nature. Where there is no love, there is no God... where there is no God, there is no Spiritual life! True spirituality is true love.

The correlation of two readings bring out to us an all important point: to love is a charism given by the Spirit to each of us; to love is a commitment on behalf of my neighbour. That difficulties and sacrifices are involved, is a matter of fact. But that in no way can take away the call that I have recieved: the call to love. 

Our call to love does not come from merely a commandment, but from an experience. We love because God loved us, God loves us and God will always love us! When we don't love the other, we not only hate them, but we conceal ourselves from the love of God, which flows freely towards you and me! I allow the love of God to fill me only in as much as I love the other - they are proportionate processes... one defines and determines the other. 

We are called to love because God loves us; we are able to love because God has always loved us. 

 

Love, the loaves and the waves!

WORD 2day: Wednesday after Epiphany

January 7, 2026 - 1 John 4: 11-18; Mark 6: 45-52

The Word in the Gospel today raises a strange question within us... what is the connection between the loaves and Jesus walking on the water? How is it that Mark says they were dumbfounded at seeing Jesus walk on the turbulent waters because they had not still seen what the miracle of the loaves meant. 

Feeding the hungry in the wilderness was a Messianic Sign; and what is it but a child's play for the Messiah to walk on the water or calm the sea! Walking on the waters too resembled the walking through the waters, yet another messianic sign. But for Jesus none of these signs mattered. If they did, he would have taught his disciples to walk on water and to multiply loaves.

What mattered to Jesus was only one and that is what he taught them. That is the mind of Christ that is so vividly pictured in John's words: one who loves, lives in God and God lives in him! 

Love alone matters, neither the loaves nor the waves!

God is Love! Who are we?

WORD 2day: Tuesday after Epiphany

January 6, 2026 - 1 John 4: 7-10; Mark 6: 34-44

The image of God among God's people was continuously evolving... in the beginning they thought God was a demanding task master, but later understood God was loving too; first they thought God was an angry God, but later they found that God was slow to anger, abounding in love; first they thought God was an uncompromising God but later they understood God was merciful too! The evolution finds its climax in Christ, who reveals God as absolutely compassionate, profusely loving, immensely forgiving and unconditionally accepting!

Knowing God to be such a person, is in a way a great news for us; but at the same time a big challenge. A great news because we are cared for and protected in that unbelievable love. A challenge because, if we are children of that God, we need to be defined by who God is. 

Our God is love; hence we are called to be children of love! From the way we understand God to be, or the way God reveals Godself to be, we are defined as to who and what we are! From the way we live our life, the world should be able to understand the kind of God we believe in. This is what is called the integrity of faith: the correlation between our faith and our living!

Now that Jesus in his compassion and in his mercy, has revealed God as love, let us ask ourselves... who are we?   

Love, life and the Lord

WORD 2day: Monday after Epiphany

January 5, 2026 - 1 John 3:22 - 4:6; Matthew 4: 12-17, 23-25

Testing the spirits, apostle John speaks of in the first reading today! Today this is so important a task for us to do, for so many of our own children of God are drawn away by spirits that are so selfish and ungodly. 

How many times we have encountered faithful, vociferouslt complaining, 'I saw a video of a preacher of one of the denominations spreading calumny against the Holy Father and calling him names! How can he do that?' We can only smile at them and say, 'there were those who calumniated against Jesus himself, they killed John the Baptist and thwarted the first Christian community with the same calumny... so my dear brother or sister, why worry?'

However, the Word today gives us a special task: to test the spirits... and not to accept everything that seems to be showy. How do we test? There are three criteria that can be culled out from today's readings:
1. Love: Is what is told and done, done out of true, genuine and authentic love, or for selfish motives?
2. Life: Is what is spoken and what is initiated, life promoting, life enhancing and life giving?
3. Lord: Is what is being aimed at truly Lord oriented, or is it self oriented, or purse oriented, or kith and kin oriented?

Don't be deceived by flowery words and fiery speeches; don't be carried away with the show of crowd and technological cloud... be guided by the One True Spirit of the Lord: be firmly founded on Love, Life and the Lord.

CELEBRATING THE SELF REVEALING GOD

Seek, See and Shine

Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord - January 4, 2026

Isaiah 60: 1-6; Ephesians 3: 2-3,5-6; Matthew 2:1-12

The only possibility of knowing about God is through God's own self revelation! God is no simple object to be discovered or invented; God is a person whom we should get to know. Knowing God is possible only through the self revelation of God in history, in the Word, in our day to day experiences and in ways known only to God. 

Today we celebrate that one event, that one life, that one person - JESUS CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD, in whom God revealed Godself fully, completely, definitively and super abundantly! The revelation has been going on even before Christ, through prophets and judges (Heb 1:1), through chosen men and women. The revelation goes on even today in our everyday life, through the Word and the traditions, through day to day experiences, through holy men and women who have gone before us and those of our times. These revelations find their fullness in the Paschal Mystery, that is: the birth, life, suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus, the Son of God.

Epiphany is a celebration and a thanksgiving to the Self revealing God who deigned to reveal Godself in the person of  Jesus Christ, our Saviour. This feast of revelation reminds us of three realities of our faith:

SEEK... to know God: One has to seek, to know God; there should be a yearning within, in order to encounter God. The wise men from the east got wind of something special that was in store and they sought to know what it is. They were wise men, but they wanted to know more and more! 

Faith has to be deepened; there should be a yearning within us to grow more and more in our relationship with God. It is true that the fullness of revelation dwells in Christ, the Son of God...but I have to seek to personalise it, to encounter that revelation and relate to it in first person. I cannot rest with second hand experiences and age old narratives, I need to seek to experience this revelation of the Lord in first person, and truly behold it myself!

SEE... to find God: One has to see, to find God; God is always present with us, all that we need to do is see! 'Lift up your eyes round about, and see' says the first reading. The wise men found the star, they saw an invitation in it. They found the way and the saw a direction there. They found the baby, and they saw someone special that God was preparing there. 

We find so many around us... but we need to see the face of God in them: in our brothers and sisters; in those who are suffering and toiling; in those who are exploited and crushed; in those who are treated with disdain and burdened with pain; in those who wake up every morning not certain of the next; in those who have so many worries and concerns in life that they can never think of living the present moment! We need to see God, in the innocent love of a Child; in the tender touch of a mother; in the brimming eyes of a caring person; in the everyday miracles of life. Once we see God in these, we will surely find God concretely present in the Church, in the celebration of the sacraments and in our prayer moments. 

SHINE... to show God: One has to shine, to show God; we are called to become instruments of revelation ourselves. 'Arise! Shine!' calls the first reading. St. Paul speaks of how the Lord made him an instrument of revelation to the people! When we seek God and manage to see God, we begin to shine. That is why Isaiah says, "then you shall see and be radiant"...the very seeing makes us radiant, makes us shine! 

Our Faith is not something merely to be understood and believed, but it is to be lived and be shared. Revelation is at one and the same time a grace and a challenge. A Grace, because it is gratuitous and comes from God. A challenge because, once we get to see God, we have to shine; shine and announce God; shine and share God; shine and show God to the world, to all who are in darkness, sadness and gloom! Especially today, when the world is eager to celebrate anything that is not God and wants to do away with anything that is connected to God... if I believe in the Lord, I have to shine, I have to shine to show God to the world.

The Self revealing God invites us to SEEK, SEE and SHINE.
To accept the invitation is an act of FAITH; a beginning of a journey, a journey that lasts the whole lifetime - every day of which we are called to Seek the Lord, See the Lord and Shine for the Lord!

Resembling God

WORD 2day: 3rd January, 2026

1 John 2:29 - 3:6; John 1: 29-34

The Holy Spirit,  in the form of the dove testified on behalf of Jesus that he was the Son of God. We are made the children of God and the same Spirit testifies for us too. We would be identified as children of God if and only if we resemble God our Father and Mother. That is what John says in his epistle today: we resemble God and that is what we are expected to be in this world.

Resembling God in our being: would mean being loving beyond all expectations, being forgiving beyond all grievances, being welcoming beyond all petty differences and being generous, beyond all calculations.

Resembling God in our doing: wound mean having thoughts that God would have, saying words that God would give, doing things that God would rather do, in short, remaining with the lord- in every thought, word and deed.

Resembling God made easy: Christ had come to live amidst us to show us how we could resemble God in our lives. It is something that he did not just speak of but showed us in his person and life. Out choices and our values should begin to resemble those of Christ. It is a life long journey that our call as Christians proposes to us. Let us embark on that journey as firmly as possible.

Jesus has shared with us that name above all name that he was given by God - if we have to be worthy of that Holy name of His, let us resemble him. Let us resemble God!