THE SEED AND THE FRUIT

THE WORD AND THE SAINTS

26th January: Remembering Sts. Timothy and Titus

2 Tim 1: 1-8; Mk 4: 26-34 

Timothy and Titus are two models we are presented with today.  They were both finds of the Apostle 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 Reign of God. Timothy and Titus join the great band of apostles that Jesus initiated. 

How beautifully Paul speaks of faith in the first reading of today (we have chosen the one from the letter to Timothy)...as something that is gifted, something that has to be nurtured and something that has to be handed over and celebrated! 

Faith is a gift from God, as life and growth are. Just like the sower sows and waits for the grains to sprout, so do we sow all the goodness that we can and wait for the life and growth that God alone gives. We cannot be impatient and agitated to see their fruits, fruits will appear in God's own time, for it is the Lord who is at work!

Our faith has been sown in the ground of our hearts, it has to grow into the Reign of God on earth. Our responsibility is to nurture the seed (the faith) and await the fruit (Reign). It is not within our capacity to establish the Reign where we are, but it is within our capacity to live our faith to the full, because we are given a Spirit of power, love and self control! When we live it, the Reign will sprout!

The call the establish the Reign, however remains open and obligatory even today. Because, the Reign is yet to be made visibly present in the world. Every baptised person is entrusted with the task of establishing the Reign of God and what is your response? Do examples such as Timothy's and Titus' impel us towards action?

NOVENA TO THE FEAST OF ST. JOHN BOSCO - DAY 5

26th January, 2018: Don Bosco - A Spiritual Father

Our Challenge: That we understand our Catholic Spirituality and follow it in its depth. 

Our Prayer:

Lord God, thank you for Don Bosco, a man who promoted reverence to the Blessed Sacrament, love for Blessed Mother and loyalty to the Holy Father. He was a Spiritual Father to hundreds of youth and continues to be the same for millions of them today. Make us grateful for the Catholic faith we have and help us deepen our understanding and appreciation for it. We make this prayer through Christ our Lord.

சனவரி 25: மனமாற்றம் - கடவுளுக்கான முழுமன தேர்வு

கடவுளை நோக்கிய வாழ்வுக்கான மாற்றம்

தூய பவுலடிகளாரின் மனமாற்றத்தை நினைவுகூரும் நாள் இன்று. நமது மனமாற்றத்தை குறித்து சிந்திக்க அழைக்கிறது இவ்விழா. இன்றைய  காலச்சூழலில் மனமாற்றமும் மதமாற்றமும் ஒன்றிற்கொன்று குழப்பம் தரக்கூடிய சொற்களாக  பயன்படுத்த படுகின்றன. நற்செய்தி அறிவிப்பு என்பது மதமாற்றத்தை நோக்கியதல்ல, மாறாக மனமாற்றத்தை நோக்கியது என்று நாம் ஆழமாக இன்று புரிந்துகொள்ள முயல்வோம். நற்செய்தியை அறிவிக்காவிடில் ஐயோ எனக்கு கேடு (1 கொரி 9:16) என்று கூறுவதை மனதிற்கொள்வோம். 

ஒவ்வொரு நாளும் நற்செய்தி நம்மை வந்து அடைந்த வண்ணமே உள்ளது... அன்று பவுலடிகளாருக்கு ஏற்பட்ட பெரும் காட்சியை போல் இல்லை எனினும், இறைவனின் வார்த்தை நம்மோடு பேசாத தினமே இல்லை, பேசாத பொழுதே இல்லை என்பதே உண்மை. அவ்வாறிருக்க, நாம் இவ்வார்த்தையை உணர்ந்து உள்வாங்குகின்றோமா, ஒவ்வொரு நாளும் மனம் மாறுகின்றோமா என்பதே கேள்வி. இந்த மனமாற்றம் என்பது இறைவனை நோக்கிய பயணம், முழுமையாய் கடவுளை தேர்ந்துக்கொள்ளும் வாழ்க்கை, முழுமனதோடு முழு உள்ளத்தோடு, முழு ஆன்மாவோடு, வாழ்வின் முழு ஆற்றலோடு இறைவனை தெரிந்துகொள்ளும் வாழ்க்கை முறை. இது அன்றாட வாழ்வின் ஒரு சவால் தானே?

 இறைவன் தன் பேசுகிறார் என்று உணர்ந்த மறு தருணமே தரையில் கிடந்த சவுல் கேட்கும் கேள்வியை காணுங்கள்: இறைவா நான் என்ன செய்ய வேண்டும்? இதுவல்லவா நாம் தினம்தினம் கேட்க வேண்டிய கேள்வி - இறைவா இன்று நான் என்ன செய்ய வேண்டும் என்று எதிர்பார்க்கின்றீர்? உம்மை தேர்ந்துகொண்ட வாழ்வு வாழ நான் உண்மையில் என்ன செய்ய வேண்டும்? 

Conversion - an absolute choice for God!

THE WORD AND THE FEAST

25th January: Conversion of St. Paul

Acts 22: 3-16; Mk 16: 15-18

The feast of Conversion of St. Paul invites us to reflect on our conversion. Unfortunately, in today's context, the word 'conversion' has more political connotation than spiritual! 

In fact today is a beautiful occasion for us to remind ourselves that conversion is not about numbers and increasing the fold. It is a personal decision to go towards God, an about-turn (as the Greek word 'metanoia' suggests); it is an absolute choice for God! Choice for God...because we begin to see the role that God has played in our life and choose to actively acknowledge it; Absolute... because nothing else matters as much as God and God's will do! 

We are called to conversion... may not be as dramatic as that of St. Paul's, as we read in the first reading today, but more demanding! Yes, we are called to daily conversion. To be aware, each day and each moment, of those things that take us away from our progress towards God. Nothing - no demonic powers, no distracting languages, no cunning serpents, no poisoning lifestyle - should lead us away from God... we are called to make an absolute choice every day, for God and for God's Word.  Not merely in words but by my very life, I am obliged to proclaim God's message. "Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel," reminds me St.Paul (1 Cor 9:16). 

Notice the very first question that Paul asks the Lord after he recognises it was the Lord: What am I to do Lord? That is a relevant question for each of us to ask every day: What am I to do Lord, to turn to you and to make an absolute choice for you!

UNITY OCTAVE 2018 - DAY 8

25th January, 2018

He will gather the dispersed...

from the four corners of the earth.

Readings: 

Isaiah 11:12-13             Ephraim shall not be jealous of Judah, and Judah shall not be                                           hostile towards Ephraim
Psalm 106:1-14, 43-48  Gather us to give thanks to your holy name
Ephesians 2:13-19         He has broken down the dividing wall
John 17:1-12                 I have been glorified in them

Happening today: 

The world churches work together to heal the wounds in the Body of Christ on earth, which are a legacy left by a history so different and indifferent. Reconciliation often demands repentance, reparation and the healing of memories. One example is the acts of apology and reparation undertaken by individual churches and their representatives. Like the People of  Israel, the Church in its unity is called to be both a sign and an active agent of reconciliation.

Reflection

Throughout the biblical narrative of salvation history, an unmistakable motif is the unrelenting determination of the Lord to form a people whom he could call his own. The formation of such a people – united in a sacred covenant with God – is integral to the Lord’s plan of salvation and to the glorification and hallowing of God’s Name.

The prophets repeatedly remind Israel that the covenant demanded that relationships among its various social groups should be characterized by justice, compassion and mercy. As Jesus prepared to seal the new covenant in his own blood, his earnest prayer to the Father was that those given to him by the Father would be one, just as he and the Father were one. When Christians discover their unity in Jesus they participate in Christ’s glorification in the presence of the Father, with the same glory that he had in the Father’s presence before the world existed. And so, God’s covenanted people must always strive to be a reconciled community - one which itself is an effective sign to all the peoples of the earth of how to live in justice and in peace.

Prayer

Lord,
we humbly ask that, by your grace,
the churches throughout the world
may become instruments of your peace.

Through their joint action as ambassadors
and agents of your healing, reconciling love
among divided peoples,
may your Name be hallowed and glorified.

Amen.

The right hand of God
is planting in our land,
planting seeds of freedom, hope and love;
in these many-peopled lands,
let his children all join hands,
and be one with the right hand of God. 

courtesy: http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/chrstuni/weeks-prayer-doc/rc_pc_chrstuni_doc_20170613_week-prayer-2018_en.html

NOVENA TO THE FEAST OF ST. JOHN BOSCO - DAY 4

25th January, 2018: Don Bosco - A Father of a Family

Our Challenge: That we feel part of a family called to march towards sanctity

Our Prayer:

Lord God, thank you for Don Bosco, a man who initiated a movement, a family that marches hand in hand towards sanctity. May we inherit from this great person of God the sense of belonging to each other, specially to those who are suffering or in need. May we edify each other by our personal sanctity and journey together towards that eternal home of bliss that you have prepared for us. We make this prayer through Christ our Lord. 

சனவரி 24: விசுவாசமுள்ளோராய் வீரியமுள்ளோராய்

விதைக்கப்படவும் வாழ்வளிக்கவும் 

சாதனைகள் புரிய அன்று, அவருக்கு விசுவாமுள்ளோராய் வாழவே இறைவன் நம்மை அழைக்கின்றார், என்று தன் வாழ்க்கையினாலே எண்பித்தார் அன்னை தெரசா. அவரின் இந்த வார்த்தைகள் இன்றைய வாசகத்தின் வழியாய் நம்மை வந்தடைகின்றன - விசுவாசமுள்ளோராய் வாழ்வது நம் பங்கு, அதற்கு வீரியமளித்து பலனளிப்பது இறைவனின் பங்கு. தாவீதுக்கு இதை தெளிவாக்குகிறார் இறைவன். சாதாரண ஆடு மேய்க்கும் சிறுவனாய் இருந்த தாவீதை அரசனாய் உருவாக்கியது இறைவனின் சித்தம் என்பதை தாவீதுக்கு நினைவூட்டும் இறைவன், அந்த சித்தத்தின் படி வாழும் வரை அவனின் அரசுக்கு முடிவே இராது என்பதையும் தெளிவாக்குகிறார். தனக்கு முன் சென்ற சவுலின் நிலைமையை உணர்ந்து வாழும் நற்பாடத்தை தன் மனதில் தெளிவாய் பெற்றுக்கொள்கிறார் தாவீது. 

விதையெடுத்துக்கொண்டு நிலம்தேடி செல்லும் விவசாயியைப்போல, நம் வாழ்வை நம்மால் இயன்ற வரை இறைவனுக்கு ஏற்றவாறு வாழ்வது மட்டுமே நமது கையில் உள்ளது. அதை பலனளிக்குமாறு மாற்றுவதும், அதன் பலன்களை உலகறிய செய்வதும் இறைவனின் செயல் என்பதை நாம் உணர்ந்து வாழ இன்றைய இறைவார்த்தை நம்மை அழைக்கின்றது. நட்டுவைத்தவனும் அல்ல, நீரூற்றியவனும் அல்ல, இறைவனே வளரும் பயிரை வளர செய்கிறார் என்று கூறும் பவுலடிகளாரின் வார்த்தைகளை சிந்தித்து பாப்போம் (1 கொரி 3:7).

இன்று நாம் சிறப்பிக்கும் புனிதராம் பிரான்சிஸ்கு சலேசியாரும் இந்த கூற்றை உணர்ந்தவராகவே இருந்தார். உங்கள் குடும்பத்திலோ குழுமத்திலோ பிரச்சனைகள் எழும் போது அவற்றை பொறுமையோடும் இனிமையோடும் அணுகும் வழியை கற்றுக்கொள்ளுங்கள். ஏனெனில் அவற்றிலும் இறைவனே உங்களை வழிநடாத்துகின்றார் என்பது உண்மையல்லவா, என்று அவர் கேட்கும் கேள்வி நம்மை ஆழ்ந்து சிந்திக்க தூண்டுகிறது. 

நமது எண்ணம் முழுவதும் ஒன்றை நோக்கியே இருக்க வேண்டும்: இறைவனின் சித்தத்திற்கு விசுவாசமுள்ளவர்களாய் வாழ்வது மட்டுமே அது. வீரியமுள்ளவர்களாக்குவதும், பலனளிக்க செய்வதும் இறைவனின் செயல் என்பதை உணர்ந்துவிட்டால், விதைக்கப்பட தயங்கமாட்டோம்! என் அடியாரின் மீது எனக்குள்ள அன்பு என்றுமே குறையாது என்று வாக்களிக்கிறார் இறைவன். 

FAITHFULNESS & FRUITFULNESS

THE WORD AND THE SAINT

24th January 2018: Celebrating St. Francis de Sales

2 Sam 7: 4-17; Mk 4: 1-20

An oft repeated  quote of Blessed Mother Teresa explains that we are called to be faithful, not successful! It can well be paraphrased in today's readings as: We are called to be faithful and it is God's to make it fruitful. The Lord makes David understand that all the glory that he had acquired was a bountiful gift from God. The Lord does not want David to fall in the same trap as his predecessor, the trap of pride and arrogance. The Lord promises much more to David, just because he has proved himself to be a faithful servant and a loving son. 

Just like the sower in the parable that Jesus narrates, David did not have much to do with his rise from a simple shepherd boy to the king that he became. All that the sower can do is, sow and faithfully take care of the sown seed as it grows.  "Neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow" (1 Cor 3:7), writes St. Paul. 

Francis de Sales, the Doctor of Kindness whom we celebrate today, would say: "The many troubles in your household will tend to your edification, if you strive to bear them all in gentleness, patience and kindness. Keep this ever before you, and remember constantly that God's loving eyes are upon you amid all these little worries and vexations." Faithfulness is ours and Fruitfulness is the Lord's!

Our concern should be just one: to be faithful to the Lord in everything and the Lord will reward it with fruitfulness, in God's own goodness, because the Lord says: Forever I will maintain my love for my servant! 

UNITY OCTAVE 2018 - DAY 7

24th January, 2018

Building family in household and church

Readings: 

Exodus 2:1-10          The birth of Moses

Psalm 127                Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labour in vain

Hebrews 11:23-24    Moses was hidden by his parents … because they saw
                               that the child was beautiful

Matthew 2:13-15      Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to                                   Egypt

Happening today: 

In the world today, the family continues to be adversely affected by new factors such as the migration of parents, financial problems, domestic violence, questioning of fundamental beliefs and values, and so on. Facing this reality, the Christian communities are working to give support to both nuclear and extended families. There has to be an increased faithfulness, commitment and sensitivity towards our call to live as families, families of God.

Reflection

Families are of central importance for the protection and nurture of children. The Bible accounts of the infancies of both Moses and Jesus, who were in mortal danger from the moment they were born because of the murderous orders of angry rulers, illustrate how vulnerable children can be to external forces. These stories also show how action can be taken to protect such little ones. Matthew presents us with a model of fatherhood that is in loving fidelity to the Lord’s command, especially in turbulent times.

The Scriptures view children as a blessing and as hope for the future. For the Psalmist, they are ‘like arrows in the hand of a warrior’. As Christians, we share a common calling to live as supportive family networks, relying on the strength of the Lord for the task of building strong communities in which children are protected and can flourish.

Prayer

Gracious God,

you sent your son to be born in an ordinary family
with ancestors who were both faithful and sinful.

We ask your blessing upon all families
within households and communities.
We pray especially for the unity of the Christian family
so that the world may believe.
In Jesus’ name we pray,

Amen.

The right hand of God
is writing in our land,
writing with power and with love;
our conflicts and our fears,
our triumphs and our tears, 

courtesy: http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/chrstuni/weeks-prayer-doc/rc_pc_chrstuni_doc_20170613_week-prayer-2018_en.html

NOVENA TO THE FEAST OF ST. JOHN BOSCO - DAY 3

24th January, 2018: Don Bosco - A Beloved Son of Mary 

Our Challenge: That we be true sons and daughters of the Blessed Mother, who carried out God's will diligently. 

Our Prayer:

Lord God, thank you for Don Bosco, a man who identified himself as a beloved son of Mary. In every stage of his life and in every one of his endeavours he felt the maternal presence of the Blessed Mother. Grant that we may recommend ourselves totally to our Heavenly Mother, that we may be guided, protected and directed towards doing your will with utmost diligence. We make this prayer through Christ our Lord.