RESEMBLING GOD

WORD 2day: 3rd January, 2018

1 Jn 2:29 - 3:6; Jn 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!

சனவரி 2: உண்மை கிறிஸ்துவை கண்டுகொள்வோம்

கிறிஸ்து மனிதனா? கடவுளா?

இயேசு உண்மையில் மனிதரா கடவுளா என்ற வாக்குவாதம் தொடக்க கால திருச்சபையிலே பெரும் சர்ச்சையாய்  இருந்தது. அதற்கு  தெள்ளத்தெளிவான  ஒரு சான்று இன்றைய முதல் வாசகம். இயேசு மனித உருவம் மட்டுமே கொண்ட கடவுளின் மகன் என்று ஒரு தரப்பினரும், அவர் மனிதனாய் இருந்து பின்னர் கடவுளால் உயர்த்தப்பட்டவர் என்று ஒரு தரப்பினரும் வாதிட்டனர். ஆனால் திருச்சபை கிறிஸ்துவின் மனிதத்தையும் அவரது கடவுள் தன்மையையும் பிரித்து பார்த்தால் இயலாது என்பதை தொடக்கம் முதலே ஆழமாய் கற்பித்து வந்துள்ளது.

அவரது மனித தன்மையில் கடவுளின் மகனை காண இயலாதவர்கள், மனிதனில் உறையும் இறைவனை காண இயலாது என்ற உண்மை இன்றும் எதார்த்தமே. மனிதனாம்  கிறிஸ்துவில் கடவுளின் மகனையும்,  கடவுளில் மனிதனையும் முதலில் முழுமையாய் கண்டுகொண்டு அதை உலகிற்கு அறிவித்தவர் என்ற பெருமை திருமுழுக்கு யோவானையே சாரும்.

இன்று நமக்கு விடுக்கபடும் அழைப்பும் இதுவே: துன்பங்களில் துவண்டுகிடக்கும் மனிதர்களில், சமுதாயத்தால் புறக்கணிக்கப்படும் சகோதரர்களில் , ஏழ்மையாலும் சுயநல ஏய்ப்பாலும் வாவிழந்த உள்ளங்களில் உண்மை கடவுளின் உருவை காண முயலுவோம், இதோ கிறிஸ்து என்று பறைசாற்ற துணிவோம்.

ENCOUNTERING CHRIST TODAY

WORD 2day: 2nd January, 2018

1 Jn 2:22-28; Jn 1: 19-28

The identity of Jesus as both God and Human was a major node of controversies in the early Church. The first reading we have today is an indication to such feuds that existed. What matters, as John so rightly points out there, is not the philosophical and theological justification of who Jesus is,  but the personal experience of the person of Christ.

John the Baptist foretold the coming of Christ and pointed out when Christ really came. His prophetic gift have him the privilege of understanding Jesus and identifying Jesus when he came. Today we would do well to pray for this grace... To identify Jesus when he comes so that the encounter may enrich our life and bring meaning to it. 

In varied ways, in our neighbours, in our brothers and sisters, very specially in those who are in dire need and helplessness,  we are challenged to encounter Christ who is God, but deigned to assume our nature and live in the poor and the oppressed! 

How provident it is that Pope Francis has given a four point programme this year to care for the strangers, the migrants, the refugees, those who are at a loss in the lives. He calls us to Welcome them, Protect them, Promote their wellbeing and Integrate them into the mainstream life of the society! May Christ our Lord give us a love that sees beyond dichotomies and divisions towards an authentic celebration of difference!

சனவரி 1: மரியன்னை இறைவனின் தாய் பெருவிழா

மரியன்னையின் இறைத்தாய்மை என்பது நமக்கு ...

ஒரு கொடை ... 

காலம் நிறைவேறிய போது ஒரு பெண்ணின் வயிற்றில் பிறந்தவராய் நமது மீட்பர் வந்தார் என்பது இறைவார்த்தை. நம் மீட்பை நமக்கு தர இறைவனின் முதல் தயாரிப்பே  இவ்வன்னை.

ஒரு நினைவுறுத்தல்...

அன்று மீட்பரை மண்ணிற்கு ஈன்ற அவளது தாய்மையை எண்ணி வாயால் போற்றுபவர்களாய் மட்டுமே நாம் இருந்துவிடலாகாது. அவளை போன்றே நம் சிந்தையிலும் சொல்லிலும் செயற்களிலும் இறைவார்த்தையை கருத்தாங்கி இம்மண்ணிற்கு ஈன்றளிக்க நாம் அழைக்க பட்டிருக்கிறோம் என்பதன் நினைவூட்டல் இவ்வன்னை.

ஒரு சவால்...

தன்னையே அளித்தாள், தன் வாழ்வை அளித்தாள், தன் ஒரே மகனை அளித்தாள், தன் கனவுகள் ஆசைகள் ஏக்கங்கள் என அனைத்தையும் அளித்தாள். தான் அளிப்பது இன்னது என்று எண்ணாமலே கூட அளித்தாள். நாம் நம்மிடம் உள்ளதை அளிக்கவே இத்தனை சிந்திக்கும் போது நம்மையே அளிக்க எத்துணை சிந்திப்போம் என்று நம்மையே வினவ வைக்கும் அன்னை இவள். அவளது தன்னளிப்பு நமக்கு மாபெரும் சவாலே.

PRESENCE, PEACE AND BLESSING - 2018

The Solemnity of the Mother of  God

1st January, 2018
Num 6:22-27; Gal 4:4-7; Lk 2: 16-21

It is a fresh start, a new year, a treasure of 365 days! It is a gift, a gift in all ways: precious, beautiful, wrapped and presented. First of all, it would be too rude not to receive it as a gift. Secondly, it is wrapped...and it is important that we receive it with a sense of wonder, surprise and gratitude. Trying to know everything, in the name of predictions and presumptions, would strip it of its wonder! To approach it with a wry and dry mentality will make it devoid of its surprise. Let us approach it with gratitude and a sense of childlike curiosity, prepared to receive the gift on daily basis, one day at a time!

The greatest gift we can have, that with which we begin every new year, is the loving presence of God! The babe in the manger is the highest gift that we can have. The Emmanuel, God with us, is the most precious gift that we can behold. That the Lord is with us fills us with hope: that whatever it be as the year unfolds day by day, we would never be alone facing it. We have the Lord with us. 

We celebrate the gift of our Lord: given through the Mother of God! The Mother of God is a gift, a reminder and a challenge to us. 

The Mother of God, is a gift: God gives her to us as a protector, a guide, a refuge as we begin this new year, with all its surprises. 

The Mother of God, is a reminder of the Word made flesh, the Lord who has cast away all distance and difference and become one like us, just to show us how much God loves us. 

The Mother of God is a challenge, a challenge to give, to give endlessly. She gave herself, when the Angel approached her! She gave the world the Son of God, born of a woman, when the fullness of time came. She gave that child to the Lord, offered him in the temple and offered him to the Father's work! She gave her young son, for the sake of the salvation of the world. She gave up everything and gave everything! She stands as a challenge for us today, to give, to give and never to count!

This year, which is given into our hands today, as a gift pack, will be filled with peace if we live it in the way that the Lord wants us to; after the example of our Blessed Mother. She said that yes, and she said that for her whole life, not knowing what it meant and where it will lead her. All that she was assured was, the Lord was with her. We are assured too that the Lord's presence will go with us, that the Lord's countenance will shine on us. Let us begin with hope and that will give us peace.

May the Lord bless you and keep you!

May the Lord let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you!

May the Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace!

May your New year 2018 be filled with God's presence, peace and every blessing!

FAMILY: A TASK FROM GOD

The Solemnity of the Holy Family

31st December, 2017

Gen 15:1-6, 21:1-3; Col 3: 12-21; Lk 2:22-40

Celebrating the feast of Holy Family... we are given a challenging model, a task we have to fulfill as families in today's context. First of all, let us make it clear to ourselves, that the Holy family is not a normal family akin to all our families. So, if you are going to think, 'Oh, my family! how far it is from the one in Bethlehem!'...the Church is not responsible! The Church invites us to look at the family and observe one important fact that we need to: that God deigned to dwell there; that the Word made flesh began the climax of self emptying here in this family!

They too had there own share of difficulties - think of Joseph who wanted to keep Mary away, think of Mary who was wondering how to communicate things to Joseph, think of the neighbourhood who were gossiping about what was going on between Mary and Joseph... everything finds its place there. But apart from these, the holy family was given a specific task to fulfill and the same task is given to us as Christian Families! That is the point of our reflection.

Task 1: Offering the Lord to the World 
She bore the Child and placed it on the manger (Lk 2:7)

The Holy family offered the Lord to the world: Do we do as families? Do we offer the Lord where we live? Do our way of life offer the values of the Lord to our surroundings? Do the families and individuals around have the Lord to take away from us, when they visit us?  Our mode of relating to each other in the family, our way of relating to those around us regardless of what they think or speak of us, the way we share our love to them - these are the ways we can offer the Lord where we live.

Task 2: Bringing the Lord to the Church 
They brought him up to the Jerusalem, to present him (Lk 2:22)

The Holy family brought the Lord to the Temple at Jerusalem. The Lord said he lives where two or three are gathered in the Lord's name! What about our families...aren't we gathered in the name of the Lord and by the holy will of God? If so, aren't our families responsible of bringing the Lord to the community, the gathering of the families? Are our Church gatherings, our communities real union of families or some mass of people congregated? Are we bringing the presence of the Lord to the assemblies of the people of God? Or are we bringing only our own selves, our plans and our programmes?

Task 3: Making space for the Lord at home  
He went down with them to Nazareth (Lk 2:51)

The Holy family created a space for the Lord to live with them. Mary knew this Child was the Son of God and Joseph knew that this was not his boy, the parents knew that child of the family had a specific mission to carry out. They were mindful of the task entrusted to them, to foster that child in their families, to host the Lord in their home. Have we created a concrete space for the Lord in our homes? It is not about the altars we have at home, neat and decorated. It is not about the pictures we hang or the calendars we stare at. It is about the living space, it is about a membership in the family! Is God part of our families, a living member, a participating member in all events and decision making?

The Holy family does more than just standing around and blessing us today! They challenge us to be bearers of the Lord to the world, in spite of our weaknesses. Can we accept that challenge?

My disposition: Surrender or Manipulation?

WORD 2day: 30th December, 2017

Saturday within Christmas Octave
1 Jn 2: 12-17; Lk 2: 36-40

World or things of the world as opposed to the love of the Father: by now it is considered an outdated way of thinking. Indeed the dichotomy that is involved and implied is a bit old fashioned but the difference between the two choices, is real and concrete. Even our prayer for example could have within itself hidden a tendency of giving more importance to the world and the things of the world instead of our love for God our Father and Mother. 

Once I was involved with a group, in a last minute preparation going on for a mega event, while unfortunately there was a forecast of a likely cyclone showers! Immediately a group got down to pray and say, 'please stop the rain'! Praying here is something wonderful, but a subtle point to be noted here is: how prepared are we to accept the will of God in things that we have planned; instead of asking the Lord to adjust to our designs?

Whoever does the will of God remains for ever, reminds St. John in his epistle today (v.17). Prophetess Anna, or even Prophet Simeon for that matter, waited for years together, in relentless patience towards the will of God. There is always this challenge before us - whether to pray for the light to know what exactly to do and do it or to do whatever we can and then start praying that things adjust to favour us! What is worthy of a child of God: surrender or manipulation?

Can we really abandon ourselves to the will of God: a surrender so beautifully symbolised by the Divine Kid in the manger these days!

LOVE: THE ONLY LIGHT THAT GUIDES

WORD 2day: 29th December, 2017

Fifth day within Christmas Octave

1 Jn 2: 3-11; Lk 2: 22-35

Hatred, violence, vengeance, religious polarisation, political aggression and terrorism abound today in forms varied and vicious. The talks of nationalism and supremacy even in so called Christian countries rob true faith of its fundamental essence.  The readings today give us a clear cut criterion to judge who is right and who is not. The one who loves one's brothers and sisters is in light. And whoever says he or she is in light,  yet hates one's brother or sister,  is still in darkness (Cf. 1 Jn 2: 8,9).

For those within the Church who are causing divisions: Jesus the light can never cause hatred or division. There can be people who claim to be interpreting the Light but causing divisions and hatred and rivalry. Let them be certain,  says the Word, that they are still in darkness.

For those who spread religious hatred: A true religion can never spread hatred and anything that spreads hatred in the name of religion is pure politics and an instrument of the darkness! 

For those who divide people for their own selfish motives: When the Light is around nothing can be hidden. Even your most hidden motives are laid bare before God the light of love. Anything within you that is not inspired out of love, is still an act of darkness!

Let love, the light of life, guide us on as we come closer to the end of this year!

THE WORD AND THE FEAST

LET US CELEBRATE CHILDREN

28th December 2017 - The Feast of the Holy Innocents

1 Jn 1:5 - 2:2; Mt 2:13-18

The Feast of the Holy Innocents is a reminder to celebrate the children with us and within us - the Gospel speaks of the latter and the first reading of the former! The call is threefold :

1. Let us celebrate every child: The very same world that is raising a hue and cry of the rights of children and related issues is also fighting for the right to abortion, in the name of right to choice! What an irony! The attitude of celebrating children should come from the fact that children are a wonderful gift from God, they are a sign that God is forever in love with the world and the humanity! Every child is a gift to be celebrated. 

2. Let us nurture our children: Nurturing our children does not mean pampering them; it is a great task and responsibility given to us parents and elders to nurture them to the fullness of their life - it means we give them everything they need to grow up with - not everything that the world says is important! The right values, the right orientations, the right priorities...how can we give these if we lack them ourselves? When we fail to give them a balanced growing ambient, we are actually ruining their life, in a sense, killing them! How important the role of a parent is! How much do we take care to learn that art, the art of parenting?

3. Let us learn from children: The children are not only at the receiving end, they have much to teach us too! We need to learn from their innocence, from their openness, from their capacity to trust and their innate sense of perceiving the divine! We, in the name of our rationality and our craving to prove ourselves right and superior, at times refuse to perceive the obvious signs of the divine around us and and fail to give a place of priority to God. May our children today teach us to remain children, children of the Most High. 

Let us celebrate children this day...it is actually a Church proposed CHILDREN'S DAY!!!

THE WORD AND THE SAINT

Christmas Joy and a Joyful Proclamation

27th December, 2017: Remembering St. John

1 John 1: 1-4; Jn 20:2-8

The Christmas joy continues, even as we commemorate St.John the Evangelist today. John is literally a great gift of God to us, as the name itself suggests. John refers to himself in the Gospel as the Other Disciple and that specificity gives us a guarantee of the great tradition that is behind that name and that experience.

"The Joy of the Gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus," says the Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium (n.1). Though the Gospel reading draws our attention to the scene of resurrection, the message is all about an encounter with Christ that redefines one's life. 

When a person encounters Christ in all one's earnestness, there is a choice, a categorical choice for Christ and Christ's mission! As St. Paul affirms that it is no merit that an apostle proclaims the Word, but woe to him if he does not (1 Cor 9:16), today we see John explaining in the first reading: I am called to announce Christ, not merely because others will benefit from it; but primarily that my joy may be complete (1 Jn 1:4). 

For a Christian, a joy-filled proclamation of Christ is the only way to live his or her life - joyfully proclaiming Christ in every word, every action and every choice that is made, at every moment of one's daily life. John stands for a loving personal relationship with the Lord. It is this personal relationship that gets translated into a proclamation, by the very life that we live. It is a call that is given to each of us who has heard the Word, felt its presence and experienced it in our life. Can we say a wholehearted yes to that call?