WORD 2day - Easter Monday 2017

The Colour of Easter is Green

17th April: Acts 2:14,22-33; Mt 28:8-15

Green is the colour of life! New life - that is what Easter stands for. We are Easter people; people of life, people of new life, people of eternal life. There is always a group of people in the world who are against life and anything that upholds life. The Gospel today also speaks of a people who are determined to stifle life by all means or any means, whereas there is the Holy Spirit in the first reading instilling new life into the apostles. 

Jesus' rising to life is a call to new life, a life that is lived in its fullness, in spite of the culture of death that is prevalent all around us. Violence and Conspiracy, Neglect and Indifference, Hatred and Enmity... these are spread in abundance by persons and groups. However good we may be, there is always a force against us to put us down or hate us or threaten us or discourage us. Would we give up being good? Would we give up being life-giving persons? We would not if we are a Easter People.

Let us colour our lives green! Let us be life giving people, whatever the circumstances be! Jesus lives, and we will live, let us love, live and let everyone live! Let us go green!

LOVE-LENT 2017 - HOLY WEEK #7

THE SILENT SATURDAY - 15TH APRIL, 2017

The Lord rests in the tomb this day...everything is silent! There will be a dawn very soon...but until then we are invited to Remain Silent, Remain Patient and Remain Waiting.

Speaking to me, a youngster asked me, what happened after Jesus died and before he rose? What was he going through? I said, He was silent! He was waiting! He just remained! This is the call of this unique day of the year in the Church: this is the only day in the whole of the Church when no Eucharist is Celebrated...the altar remains stripped, the tabernacle remains empty and the Church remains silent: waiting in patience to see what is going to happen next.

It is not so easy to remain silent in a moment of crisis. Multitudes of questions, thousands of thoughts will pass by our mind breaking our silence. Only the one who has an unwavering faith in the Lord can remain silent at these moments.

We have grown slaves to instant results. We seem to have have lost the natural patience of our forefathers, in the name of development and technology. Only the one who hopes in Someone greater than oneself, can remain patient and see things happen.

Compare waiting for a public utility, may be a transport or one's turn in a crowded office, with waiting for one's beloved! While former seems irritating, the latter looks exciting. The difference is the love that is involved: Only the one who loves the Lord immensely, remains waiting, for the Lord to act on his or her behalf.

Today is the day to remain...to remain silent, to remain patient, to remain waiting, because the Lord is getting something beautiful ready for us! The Lord waits...

LOVE-LENT 2017 - HOLY WEEK #6

GOOD FRIDAY 2017 - 14th April

LOVE DIES - FOR YOU AND ME

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?