WELCOME OCTOBER

THE CONTRAST COMMUNITY

True People of the Reign

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time - 1st October, 2017

Ezek 18:25-28; Phil 2: 1-11; Mt 21: 28-32

Beginning from last week Jesus would narrate to us a series of parables on the Reign of God, calling our attention to the fact of being deserving or not, towards being people of the Reign. Today we have another teaching, the need to choose between the constrasts presented today to be true people of the Reign.

Of what use is it to have been righteous, if we fall from that status in the walk of life. I am painfully reminded of persons in today's scenario who were once upon a time recognised by the whole world as persons of peace and persons dedicated to justice and truth, but today the very same persons joining hands with the evil, either actively or by remaining mysteriously mute. Instead it is better to be sinners but repent from there and reorganise our life in sincerity and grow more and more acceptable to God. This is what Ezekiel presents to us today - it is better to be penitent sinners than to be fallen righteous. 

Being leaders does not make us by default important people. Once again, the leaders we witness in today's scenario are sheer counter witness to the world. One threatening the world like a child playing with fire, the other going non-stop with the insinuations making the other more and more indignant -which of these is better? Aren't they both sailing on the same boat of madness, so self conceited that they care nothing about the common good and world peace? We have today the others around us, who get down to the streets and protest this madness, they put their own life at stake for the good of the common crowd, they don't mind losing time, energy, livelihood, comfort and consolation, provided they can make their choice for good crystal clear in life. They are like Christ who was ready to empty himself of everything for the sake of God's will. The choice is ours today, either to be self conceited leaders or to be self emptied servants - we know which one takes us closer to the Reign in Jesus' vision.

At times we run the risk of speaking too much, promising too much, propagating ourselves too much and justifying ourselves too much by our words and arguments. It would not be long before we realise how hypocritical we can get. Just because we are outspoken, we need not be right. The other day, someone sent me a link to a video. There was someone who was not mentioned by name on stage by another during a talk. When this person, who claims to be a VIP comes to speak, points out in public the fact that the other person did not mention his name. Immediately the latter apologises for it but the so-called VIP goes on to insult the person and attach judgements to the simple act of forgetfulness making the person feel so small on stage! What a hypocritical behaviour, while he goes on repeating sentence after sentence that he does not expect to be praised or respected or acknowledged. It was a sheer show of childishness more than being outspoken. There was someone else who had shared a view - she said, being straight forward does not mean being rude! One is saying the truth in such a way that it can be taken the other is saying the truth in such a way that I wish to establish it that only I know it. Preaching, judging, "filial correcting", all these are fine... but to what end? They are like the first son in the parable who shows off that he is so obedient and trustworthy by his empty words! Empty words and arguments won't take us far. What is important is to convert, to repent, to rethink our lives, look from Jesus' eyes, put on the mind of Christ, think as He would, act as He would, decide as He would and choose as He would, to be Silent and to go on doing the will of the Father - a silent servant rather than an outspoken hypocrite!

We are caught between contrasts today. We need to make up our minds, each of us, to which community we would like to belong? To those persons who are on the side of power and domination or to the community of persons who are still struggling to be heard, who are suffocated due to their hunger and thirst for true justice, who are trying to voice their feeble cry towards true peace and well being. If I have to be truly close to the Reign I need to choose between these contrasts: to be a penitent sinner than to be a fallen righteous, to be a self emptying servant than to be a self conceited leader, and to be a silent convert than to be an outspoken hypocrite!

THE WORD AND THE SAINT

The Glory and the Cross

Celebrating St. Jerome - 30th September, 2017

Zech 2: 5-9,14-15; Lk 9: 43-45

For a true Christian glory and the cross have to coexist constantly. One cannot lose himself or herself in the glory of a moment, being misled into orientations that do not help their ultimate salvation. At times this is seen very much in people who are in a position to claim glory from things that happen around them. Think of the parish priests and other pastors who are so keen on putting up buildings and structures that would speak of their glory, to a detrimental effect on their pastoral care of the people entrusted to them! Don't be carried away, Jesus warns the disciples. He says, beyond this glory and praise, there is suffering which is the only way to salvation. Striving for it, taking control of our passions and inclinations, making choices that are difficult and never losing sight of the ultimate goal towards which we are all traversing, are the essential marks of a true Christian. Even amidst the glories that come along, these orientations should never be lost. 

Looking at the Saint we celebrate today, St. Jerome, was a contemporary of St. Augustine and had written as much as Augustine himself. The first translation of the entire Bible into Latin was by Jerome. A queer fact I was fascinated looking at some of the paintings of Jerome was, that we see a skull all the time around him, either on his bed or on his working table. And what was the reason - that which we are reflecting on from the readings: to never lose sight of the ultimate goal we are moving towards. As a hermit, Jerome often reminded himself of death and that is the symbolism of the skull. He would remind himself that death is always around and he cannot lose his orientation in life. He fixed his eyes on the will of God and fulfilled it to perfection, putting up with numerous difficulties for the sake of the Word and the Will of God. 

THE WORD AND THE FEAST

Angels - Manifestations of God

Celebrating the Archangels - Michael, Gabriel and Raphael

29th September, 2017 - Dan 12:7-12; Jn 1: 47-51

Angels are extensions of God, they are the concrete manifestations of the presence and interventions of God. This is what the Word tells us. If we really understand them so, let us look at the kind of manifestation that the Lord gives us. 

Michael is the Strength of God, the power and the sovereignty that God has. Who looks upto power and strength? Those who are weak, those who are downtrodden. God manifests, through Angel Michael that God stands by those who are weak and exploited.

Gabriel is the Good News of God, the message of joy and salvation. Who is in need of a good news? Those who find themselves in need, enslaved and suffering, heavy laden and hopeless, look up to the Lord for a ray of Hope. 

Raphael is the Healing of God, the compassionate touch of God. Obviously, those who need a healing are those who are sick, those who find it hard to live their life to the full. God chooses to reach out to the sick, the sinners, those who are struggling to remain true to their calling. 

God expresses to the world, and today's world should take it seriously, that God stands by, stands for, stands with the downtrodden, with those who are in darkness and those who are spiritually and physically sick.

We are called today, not only to see and to celebrate the Angels climbing up and down the ladder of God's mediation, but to be Angels ourselves. That is, to stand by the downtrodden, the desperate and the diseased. They need the Lord and we need be the Lord's manifestation. Can we?

Reflect: House in Ruins

WORD 2day: 28th September, 2017

Thursday, 25th week in Ordinary Time

Hag 1:1-8; Lk 9: 7-9

It is important to know that the house is in  ruins and more important to know the reason. The world today is experiencing that ruin in  many realities. The wounded peace, the wrecked ecology, the neglected humanity, the despised helpless, the insensitive power centres... these are the experiences of ruins. If we carry on our lives paying no attention to these, but trying to live our religious lives as mere ritual requirements, we will be like Herod who was more curious to see Jesus than earnest to see himself in the light of Jesus. 

Today, to reflect on our house of ruins is not merely to criticise ourselves or everyone else who is around, but to look at ourselves in the light of Jesus and his Mystical Body. The Mystical Body of Christ is the communion of believers, the communion of human persons, a true communion of heart and spirit. Are we building up such a presence amidst us? If not Jesus' body, the house is in ruins! It is important that we know that the house is in ruins and more important that we analyse to see where really lies the problem. 

A bit of sincerity and a lot of dedication will set this house back in order -let us better Reflect!

THE WORD AND THE SAINT

Set out... Restore the Ruins!

Celebrating St. Vincent de Paul - 27th September, 2017

Ezra 9: 5-9; Lk 9: 1-6

Look at the world today- you have enough to criticize, enough to lament and enough to detest. But that is not what a disciple of Christ could do at his or her best. The Lord invites and challenges us to 'Set out to restore the ruins'. God called in history people like Moses, Ezra and Nehemiah, the other prophets, John the Baptist, Jesus himself, Francis of Assisi and many others like the saint of today, Vincent de Paul. Just as much does God call you and me today, in our own way to restore the ruins and certainly not to add to them.

Even in and through our facebook messages, whatsapp forwards, blogposts, tweets and circulated mails we are called to restore ruins and not create more havoc. There are enough hate-spreaders, we need not add to those numbers. Our justice need not be a justice of an uncharitable self righteousness; it has to be a charitable holiness. Even when they reject you, move on shaking the dust off your sandals, the Lord suggests. 

It is not so easy in a world so dominated by egoistic agenda, divisive mentality, exploitative mindset, vindictive perspectives and inhuman developmental processes! We tend to play it according to the tunes of the majority and rationalise ungodly leanings. Can we truly found ourselves on evangelical charity and fend for the weak, stand by the oppressed and think from their grounds? Vincent de Paul stands out as a great model in that.

Build yourselves up to be God's own today!

WORD 2day: 26th September, 2017

Tuesday, 25th week in Ordinary Time

Ezra 6: 7-8,12,14-20; Lk 8: 19-21

To be God's own, to be called God's people, to truly belong to God - Jesus suggests a means: listen and live! Listen to the Lord, live it to the letter! God gives a command - build up the temple - not because God has nowhere to live, but because the people have nothing to unite them. God wants them to be united as one, under one God, under one sacrifice and under one banner, as God's own people. 

Jesus pitches for the same too: it is not about a group which is privileged, claiming honours and priced positions and hierarchical arrogance. At times in religiosity, this happens much that people of an elite group claim all the privileges and honours. The people of God are not a privileged few but the committed few, the obedient few, the dedicated few, the faithful few, the observant few, the uncompromising few - they are those who hear and practice, those who listen and live. They are those who build themselves up to be God's own. 

When we hear and practice, listen and obey that One Lord, our minds and our heart become one, we are built into one people of God. That is what we are called towards: to build ourselves up to be God's own today!

Roused in the Spirit

WORD 2day: 25th September, 2017

Monday, 25th week in Ordinary Time

Ezra 1:1-6; Lk 8:16-18

Sentiments of hatred and violence is strewn all over the news these days. Every day we rise to newer and newer challenges against peaceful life on earth. Direct killings and terrorist fundamentalism on the one side; the hidden agenda and delirious deceptions on the other side, normal peace loving human being is forced to feel out of place today. 

Do not be worried dear sons and daughters of God, says the Word today. The Lord is in control. The Lord made use of an alien king Cyrus to raise God's dwelling and God's people - the same Lord is in control even today! 

All that children of God need to do today, is be roused in the Spirit - yes, be roused in the Spirit, share the Word more and more, speak the mercies of the Lord to everyone, set the world ablaze with the love of the True God. Only then you can be called people of God. 

Be children of God, be roused in the Spirit, be lights of the world, burn bright and help people see the Truth.

BEING CHRISTIAN IS BEING CHRIST

Listen, Learn and Live

25th Sunday in Ordinary Time - 24th September, 2017

Is 55: 6-9; Phil 1:20-24,27; Mt 20:1-16

There is a colleague of yours who is very close to you, spends a lot of time with you and enjoys much of your favours. You come to discover that the person is spreading rumours against you and calumny against you. What would you do?

Every one in your locality consider you and your spouse, as the the best couple around. They speak highly about you. But both of you know, only both of you know, that you are not really happy with each other. What would you do?

Everyone in the ambient where you work are corrupt. They are in one way or the other people who either directly involve in corruption or indirectly promote corruption through an assistance or silence. You find yourself in the thick of this situation, what would you do?

What would you do? 

The Word today wants us to say: I would think, decide, act and live as a Christian. I would be a Christian. What does that mean: To be a Christian means to be Christ! For me to live is Christ, to die is a gain, declares St. Paul today!

I would change things, revolutionise the world, challenge the society, transform the world...these are easy statements to make. But "how" is the million dollar question. To be Christ today, the Word invites us to listen to Christ, learn what it means to be Christ and live to be Christ.

To be a Christian is to be Christ - that is the call. Limitless Forgiveness and Compassionate Challenge, Authentic love and Sincere Relationships, Integral Living and Uncompromising Values - these are the need of the hour - this is what it means to be Christ, to be Christ wherever we are, to be Christ in whatever way we can, to be Christ to the extent we can. How can I do that?

First, I need to listen to Christ, listen to Christ who invites me, listen to Christ who calls me, listen to Christ who tells me "go" into my vineyard! The Lord comes seeking for me and I need to pay heed to the Lord. The situations of difficulties, the situations of temptations, the situations of challenge are situations through which I am being called to enter into the mission of Christ, to transform the world. If I give excuses and stand by without listening to the Lord, I am already failing in my duty. It doesn't matter how much difference I make, all that the Lord wants is I make a difference. It doesn't matter how much I achieve, all that the Lord wants is that I remain faithful to whatever I can, because as Mother Teresa said, I am called not to be successful, but to be faithful.

The second is to learn to be Christ, to learn the way Christ would look at things, to learn the way Christ would approach an issue, to learn the way that Christ would act in a given situation. Seek the Lord when you still have time, says Isaiah in the first reading today. Seek the Lord means, seek to know and understand the Lord, seek to get closer to the Lord and the ways of the Lord, seek to know the difference between the ways of the world and the ways of the Lord and make the Lord's ways mine.

The third call is to live to be Christ...to say like Paul, for me to live is Christ. To live to be Christ is to have the mind of Christ. To live to be Christ is to think like Christ, to speak like Christ, to love like Christ, to suffer like Christ, to be ready to give our life for the sake of the will of God, just like Christ. It is easy for us to set this aside and say, this is too much or this is impractical. But let us also understand, in doing that we are telling ourselves, it is impractical to be a Christian, it is too much to be a Christian. All that the Lord wants to see is our sincere effort to be Christians, not merely nominal Christians but Christians true to our name - to be Christian is to be Christ!

THE WORD AND THE SAINT

Living in Christ and Living for Christ

Celebrating Padre Pio - 23rd September, 2017

Gal 2: 19-21; Lk 16: 24-27

Padre Pio is a prophet of our age. A man who who died just 49 years ago and was canonised just 15 years ago, he is an exceptional witness to the powerful presence of God amidst today. Padre Pio was known for his extraordinary sense of belonging to the Lord, which he wanted to instill in everyone he met. 

The readings that are chosen for his feast express this total insertion into the reality of God. Padre Pio lived for Christ, as he brought thousands and thousands to the way of the Lord and he continues to do it even today. The Saint also lived in Christ, so much in Christ that he experiences the Stigmata, the wounds of the Crucified Lord for 50 years in his life, from 1918 till he died. His life in Christ, transformed him into a living Christ, bearing in his body the wounds of Christ and in his soul the thirst that the Crucified Lord had for souls. 

Padre Pio was a great champion in winning souls for God, be it in the confessional or outside. Let us be inspired today, to save our own souls and to do our best in the salvation of souls.