LOVE-LENT 2017 - HOLY WEEK #5

MAUNDY THURSDAY- 13th April, 2017

LOVE SERVES...
Exo 12:1-8,11-14; 1 Cor 11:23-26; Jn 13:1-15

Love is basically a willingness to submit oneself to a way of life that wishes the good of the other. Knowing the needs of the other, without having heard from him or her is a sign of love. Committing myself for the good of the other, without ever thinking of what I would gain, is an attitude of love. Being ready to lay down one's life for the good of the other is the ultimate act of love. It all begins in being at the service of the other and the good of the other. 

Maundy Thursday is the day on which the Lord gave us the famous mandate, the mandate of love: love one another as I have loved you; love in action - wash each other's feet; love to be identified as belonging to Christ. The Eucharist instituted is a loving service in action, by the Son of God who gives himself up for our good. Priesthood that is initiated today is a service, a ministry of bringing the Lord to the people. In every one of these, that which stands out is love. 

Love is our identity, love is our mission and love is our meaning. Love is seen in service, true and selfless service.

LOVE-LENT 2017 - HOLY WEEK #4

THE SPY WEDNESDAY - 12th April, 2017

LOVE HURTS...
Is 50: 4-9A; Mt 26:14-25

Starting from Monday, we have heard the three songs of the suffering servant from the book of Isaiah... a set of songs that expresses the sufferings that a servant of God or the prophet of God undergoes. It becomes a prefigurement of Christ's suffering. The servant of God, even the Son of God, finds all around  him, those who plot his downfall, those who want him to fail, to be destroyed: how prepared are we to face such people and still go about with dedication and commitment to the Will of God. Do you think it will be possible to go on loving even at these moments? It is simple to remain with the Lord and say I love, when things go on well; but when things do not go the way we want them? That is what led to the fall of Judas! But look at Jesus...it hurt him to have loved these people - the one who betrayed, the one who denied and the those who abandoned him but he never ceased loving them, much less react. 

"From that time on he looked for an opportunity to hand him over" ...says the Gospel today. The plot thickens and the tempo builds towards the climax. There are eyes that keep watching out for the right moment to lay hands on Jesus...and the most unfortunate fact is that it is led by one from the inner most circle of Jesus' collaborators! Yes, love hurts, but never retorts!

LOVE-LENT 2017 - HOLY WEEK #3

PREACHING TUESDAY - 11th April, 2017

LOVE NEVER GIVES UP
Is 49:1-6; Jn 13:21-33, 36-38

"Though I thought I toiled in vain... yet my reward is with the Lord", this feeling expressed by Isaiah in the first reading fits perfectly the state of Jesus' mind, as he bids a bitter farewell to his disciples today. Arriving at the fag end of his ministry, Jesus knows what is in store and prepares himself for it. Judas' betrayal, Peter's denial...he foresees everything and forewarns them too, but everything in vain. However, he knows that in everything God works for the good of those who love God (cf. Rom 8:28). 

Just after the cleansing of the Temple and the controversy created by it, Jesus is found preaching at the Temple, for the last time. The Jews, the high priests and the scribes, have always challenged Jesus regarding the authority with which he is doing all that he does! Jesus does not care to prove his authority not because he could not but because it was so obvious. His words were accompanied with signs, his teachings were authenticated with his living and no one needed any proof for Jesus' authority. They were not ready see the obvious truth. But Jesus' love does not let him lose heart...he goes on. That is true love - it never gives up. 

Believing involves repentance! Believing comes from a conviction, from an experience. Repent and believe - that was the invitation with which the Lent began! How far have you travelled? 

LOVE-LENT 2017 - HOLY WEEK #2

CLEANSING MONDAY - 10th April 2017

Is 42:1-7; Jn 12:1-11

The flame burns more vigorously as it is about to quench itself, they say. The perfume spreads itself more vivaciously when it is about to vanquish itself. The love for his father and the passion for his mission, burns ever brighter as Jesus nears the cross. Jesus is about to enter into his last few days, and more and more begin to believe in him and come to him. Even while these happen, the stubborn heart of Judas does not give way, the plotting spirit of the high priest and scribes does not change! 

This day within the Holy week is called the Cleansing Monday, as we see Jesus after entering Jerusalem, paying a visit to the Temple and cleansing it! Don't make my Father's house a den of robbers, he cries. As the scripture says, the zeal for his house consumes him, the love for his father consumes him, the love for his mission consumes him. 

All the good that Jesus did, all the signs that marked his mission did not manage to convert that one section of the people, because they had their hearts hardened and their eyes blinded. May we hear today the yearning cry of the Lord to true conversion. May we make up our mind to truly break away from some act or tendency that we habitually fall in. As Jesus cleanses that temple, the invitation to us is clear: our body is the temple of the Lord, is it maintained as the Lord's dwelling place or has it turned into a robber's den. Isn't it time for us to take note of it and cleanse it for all its impurities. Our love for the Father, for the Lord and for being the dwelling of the Spirit, should consume our selves! 

LOVE-LENT 2017 - HOLY WEEK #1

Palm Sunday 2017: 9th April

LOVE CELEBRATES LIFE

Is 50:4-7; Phil 2:6-11; Mt 26:14-27:66

Jesus enters Jerusalem. Jesus knows well what awaits him there... he had told his disciples that the Son of Man would be handed over to be tried and tortured; he had seen people plotting against him and waiting for a moment to lay hands on him; he had heard the whispers against him that it is better that one man dies for the whole of Israel. In spite of all these, Jesus sets his face towards Jerusalem, he enters Jerusalem.

Just as we find a festive atmosphere suddenly in the midst of the lenten sobriety this Sunday, so did Jesus find the joy of those people as he entered Jerusalem. He joins them in their celebration, notwithstanding the anxiety that clung to his soul. When someone suggested that he stop the people from all the frenzy, he disagrees with them and allows the jubilation and joins them in it. Love Celebrates, come what may!

Jesus' solemn entry into Jerusalem, is not merely a road show; it is much more. Like the disciples who had the transfiguration experience to sustain themselves, the common believers are given this solemn reception as something that they can fall back upon when things would look to be going wrong. He wants them to understand the celebration and the following confusions, the jubilation and the following tragedies, the triumphant entry and the shameful exit...all of these as part of a grand plan, the salvific plan. All that we need to do is to realise that life is from God's hands and learn to live life from God's hands. Surrender every thing, every little thing that happens - joy or sorrow, challenge or victory, opportunity or obstacle...surrender every thing into the hands of God and find its meaning from there. This is living life from God's hands! When we do this there will be no dearth for celebration in life.

Jesus was constantly motivated by the Mission that was entrusted to him by the One who sent him. It was this mission that defined his thoughts, words and actions. When there was a temptation of resting on the glory of the wonders that were happening, or the pressure from the people to make him their king, or the tendency towards attachment to a particular place or people, Jesus had his mind clear. He always said, we have to go to other villages and proclaim the good news! Living Life for God's Mission, was all that mattered for him. That is why a call from Herod for signs or a plea from Pilate for a submission or the threats from the high priests - all of them fell on a deaf ear. Jesus' mind was focused on just one thing: living life for God's Mission.

I came that you may have life; life in all its fullness: this was the self definition of Jesus' mission. The true glory of God is a human being fully alive, and Jesus is the prototype of this. Difficulties, rejections, let downs, oppositions, criticisms and condemnations, nothing really mattered for Jesus. He understood living to the full consists of all these experiences put together. What matters is hope, trust, and courage in the Lord with which to leap into the future which is filled with joy, splendour and peace that God alone can give. Behold, I come to do your will, says the Son and challenges us to do the same: to live our life to the full. Not to give up at the first of problems, not to give in to the least of the tests, but to remain faithful to the will of God, and obey with the same humility as the Son of God who emptied himself to the point of accepting death on the Cross. 

Let us look at the picture that the readings paint today...the man who foresees a terrible time amidst the people gathered around in extraordinary jubilation; the calmness of Jesus and the excitement of the people. This is living the moment to the full, living every thing that comes our way with intensity, this is celebrating life come what may! 

If we truly love the Lord, let us live our life from God's hands, live our life for God's mission and live our life to the full, after the example of our Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

LOVE-LENT 2017 - THE WORD IN LENT #32

Love is to gather, not scatter.

Saturday, Fifth week in Lent - 8th April, 2017
Ezek 37: 21-28; Jn 11: 45-56

Love is to gather, it is not to scatter. In the name of love for a person, if someone shatters every one else and scatters everything that is there, is it truly love? In the name of love one pressurises, forces or makes someone endure an undue pain, is it true love? In the name of loving someone or something, if a person advocates division and cruelty to others. is it truly love? Love does not polarise. Love does not set one against the other. Love does not spread calumny or hatred against others. Love is not an exclusive relationship that promotes ghetto mentality. Love is a broad sense of openness to the entire world. In loving one, I become a loving person myself...and thus I become one who gathers, not one who scatters. If I truly love, I will not be able to think thoughts of hatred, thoughts of division, thoughts of possession, thoughts of manipulation, thoughts of exploitation, thoughts of deception. Love, if true, makes me gather, not scatter!

LOVE-LENT 2017 - THE WORD IN LENT #31

Love is vulnerable, yet...

Friday, Fifth week in Lent - 7th April, 2017
Jer 20:10-13; Jn 10:31-42

Love is vulnerable, in the hands of those who receive it. Once love is extended, no conditions can be laid as to how the other should handle it. If conditions are laid, that love is not true, nor is it strong. The strength of true love is in its vulnerability. The Lord gave himself up in love, without counting the cost or expecting any returns. They did what they wished with him, just as we see in the case of Jeremiah who is taken for granted by the people to whom he was sent. But the question here is, though we know love is vulnerable, yet can we refrain from it? God loved the human beings into existence and lavished God's love upon them - they took it for granted and broke it right away!

Everytime God came forward to reveal God's love in any concrete way, human beings have always been taking advantage of its vulnerability. The height of it was killing of the God's own Son! We are sons and daughters of that love, that kept becoming stronger and stronger in the face of its vulnerability. How do we love? Precautious? Calculative? Expectant? Choosy? Is my love strong enough to be vulnerable?

LOVE-LENT 2017 - THE WORD IN LENT #30

Love is a Covenant, and so...

Thursday, Fifth week in Lent - 6th April, 2017
Gen 17: 3-9; Jn 8: 51-59

Love is not a contract, it cannot be. A contract is a give and take - love is a pure giving. That is why God is love and God's love is unconditional and without limits. The Word explains to us today, if love is not a contract, what is it? It is a Covenant.

Love is a Covenant, so unchangeable - it does not change. Even if one of that parties of the covenant fails in his or her obligation the covenant does not change. That is why God's love is unchanging whether we measure up to it or not. God has made a covenant and God will not change.

Love is Covenant, so eternal - it is timeless, it is at the same time retrospective and futuristic. Eternal is not merely endless, it is without beginning or end. God's covenant is such, it encompasses the entire humanity regardless of time - that is how Jesus is the saviour of the entire humankind, not only to those who come after him. So Jesus is the saviour of Abraham, of Isaac, of Jacob of every single human person. The Jews find it difficult to understand because they looked at their religion as a contract, not as a covenant.

God's love is a covenant and God expects that our love for each others has to be a covenant too - loving everyone regardless of what we gain out of it; loving everyone without counting the cost; loving everyone without demanding the other to deserve it. Let our love be a covenant too!

LOVE-LENT 2017 - THE WORD IN LENT #29

Love, if true, sets free!

Wednesday, Fifth week in Lent - 5th April, 2017
Dan 3: 14-20,24-25,28; Jn 8: 31-42

Truth will set you free; true love will set you free; it will make you experience that freedom even inside a furnace. The Word speaks of true love and its capacity to set persons free. Faithfulness to One God was an act of love for the Jews - an act of unfailing love, inspired by the unending love of God. Today we see the story of the three men inside the furnace - the icons of love and faithfulness to God.

Jesus shows the same faithfulness in his fearlessness. He speaks against the compromises the Jews continue to make and accuses them of being slaves to their own compromises. In fact compromises lead to bondages, while true love and faithfulness lead to freedom. 

We have our daily furnaces to prove our love and faithfulness to God. The offer is clear and open: I will set you free, truth will set you free, true love will set you free, the Lord declares. Are we ready to be set free?

LOVE-LENT 2017 - THE WORD IN LENT #28

Love, Look Up and Live

Tuesday, Fifth week in Lent - 4th April, 2017
Num 21:4-9; Jn 8: 21-30

All those who look up to the one who is lifted up, will find life! But anyone who looks up?... looking up can have very many motivations. 

One is a mere curiosity to know who is there and what is there. Just knowing about Christ and knowing about the Faith, may be an exercise of curiosity, not really leading us anywhere remarkable. 

Another motivation of looking up would be to make the most of the moment. It is to get whatever the benefits that are promised, however convinced or not I may be. It is an attitude of eclecticism, picking up what seems good all around and having them compiled together- not really bothered whether they contradict or comply. This can serve as a starting point to a faith experience, but cannot become a permanent faith choice!

The third is looking up with love, with trust, with hope that it is in the one who is lifted up there is an answer to every issue that I face in my life. I look up in love and I look up to love and it is in love that I am lifted too. The Love of the Lord urges me and I can love, even amidst circumstances that appear so loveless. I look up and I see Love lifted up and that is a call to lift my love up. Yes, it is in love, I look up and I live!