The WORD in ADVENT - Living the Reign here and now #2

COME, WALK IN THE LIGHT

First Monday in Advent, December 3, 2018

Isaiah 2: 1-5; Matthew 8: 5-11

Living the Reign here and now, is the call we have this Advent and the first way given to us, to accomplish that is to heed to the call that the Word gives us today: Come, walk in the Light!

Walking in the Light is walking in the presence of Christ, the Light! Isaiah speaks of a people who walk in the Light as the New Jerusalem, the City of God, the promised land... various names for the Reign of God! Reign of God is amidst us when we begin to walk in the light, walk according to the words of the Light! 'You say and it shall be done! You say and my servant shall live! You say and everything shall be new!'

Yes, when the Lord says and we commit to live by what the Lord says, everything shall be new, everyone shall be healed and the humanity shall be whole again! That is the Reign we look forward to, the fullness of life. This is the week of hope, in Advent. A week that invites us to hope in the Lord, await the light of the Lord, the light which is already here, all for us to receive and reflect.

We have a lovely example in St. Francis Xavier whom we celebrate this day: a man like the centurion in the Gospel - who came to know the Lord late - but once he knew him, his commitment was total, absolute, without any compromise whatsoever! That is walking in the Light! 

All that we need to do today is, decide and commit ourselves to walk in the light! And doing so, we shall live the Reign here and now!

STANDING ON THE PROMISES OF THE LORD

Alert, Ready and Firm!

First Sunday in Advent - 2nd December, 2018

Jer 33:14-16; 1 Thess 3:12 - 4:2; Lk 21: 25-28, 34-36

A fresh new liturgical year at hand! 

Let us begin to celebrate it. On the first day of this liturgical year, the reminder from the Word is: we are standing on the promises of the Lord. We begin the season of Advent, which is a call to wait, of course! But it is not a wait that has nothing to do with the present... it is a wait that is filled with hope, which affects that present. We begin to live already here and now, what we await. We are called to live the Reign that we await, right here and right now!

Advent is a season of waiting, waiting on the Lord for the fulfillment of promises. Just as the people of God waited for the centuries, we are called to wait for the Lord. The world however is growing increasingly impatient. 

There was a documentary which went viral a couple of years back... that of an 8 year old boy in Armenia, who was at school when a treacherous earth quake occurred. To the absolute dismay of the father of this boy who rushed to the school premises immediately, the school was nothing but rubbles, piles and piles of stones in a heap. But the father chose a spot and started removing the stones bit by bit... in spite of all the discouragements offered and despair thrown at him, he went on constantly doing it for the next 38 hours! After 38 hours of rummaging, suddenly he heard this voice from the rubble: 'see, didn't I tell you my father will surely not abandon us' and he was stunned to see his son with 12 others trapped under the debris.

Under debris, or boulder blocks, or totally in ruins... the challenge is to remain with HOPE... that we are standing on the promises of the Lord, the Lord our integrity.

1. PROMISES

Promises give meaning to life, they add an element that is not yet but already. A promise to a child will get that child do anything. A promise to a youngster will motivate that youngster into action. A promise to an employee will draw the utmost from the situation. A promise to the polity will gain parties votes. Promise is something that inspires action. We begin with a promise, a promise of a whole year of the Lord's accompaniment. The first reading invites us  to a hope that the Lord is serious about fulfilling the Lord's promises.

2. STANDING

Stand with confidence before the Son of Man, says the Gospel today. We are standing - that takes three dispositions: One, that we are alert. We do not allow people to deceive us, or we do not permit the situation around us to have the better of us. We remain awake and perceive everything that is going on, picking up every sign that the Lord gives towards action. The second disposition, that we are ready and on the move because our liberation is at hand reminds the Gospel again. It is time that we see not only the history but the Lord of history in action, that we perceive the hand of God in things that are happening around us. Thirdly, that we are firm, strong and standing erect! That we are not overcome by fear or trepidation. We are standing, sure of our steps because we have a promise from the Lord and we need not be shaken.

3. THE LORD

The Lord our Integrity... it is the Lord who gives us these promises and we are sure that they will be fulfilled because we are referring to the Lord our integrity: Jehova Tsidkenu, the Righteous one (Jer 23:6). We have a sure foundation because it is the Lord who promises, the Lord who is Integrity, the Lord who is Righteousness. The Lord is faithful forever.

There could be signs of destruction every where, there could be evil seen thriving all over, there could be difficulties multiplying in all directions, there could be traps set all around for the just to fall and rise no more, there could be plotters and plunderers right at our door steps, there could be powers and principalities hatching together plans to destroy truth and seize control over humanity... but nothing shall triumph, nothing that overtake you, for you are standing on the promises of God! The Lord's promise is the eternal covenant: For I shall be your God, you shall be my people!

We are standing on the promises of the Lord; we have nothing to fear however dark and dreary the situation may seem. The Lord our integrity is constantly watching over us and waiting to fulfill all God's promises! 

Alarming or Life-giving; Hyper-action or Inaction?

Last day in the Ordinary time of the Year

December 1, 2018: Revelations 22: 1-7;  Luke 21: 34-36

Behold I am coming soon! At times it annoys when I hear people go hysteric about this statement. It is not a statement to make every one panic, but a gentle reminder as to how one should live one's daily life. St.Paul understood this well and instructed the Thessalonians: "For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. ...But you, beloved, are not in darkness, for that day to surprise you like a thief; for you are all children of light and children of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness" (1 Thess 5:2,4).

We are on the last day of the liturgical year, from tomorrow we begin a whole new cycle. Last day, last days, last chance and last moments... these are words with a bit of alarm inbuilt. Jesus does shake us up a little, warning us of things that will happen in the last days. Alarming yes, but at the same time life giving, says the Word today. 

These words mean that neither inaction nor hyper action is expected of us; neither panic nor drowsiness! It is not a call to live your life on pins and needles, anxious about the next moment; nor is it a call to live our life in mourning and bewailing for the lost moments. The call is to make the best of this moment and live the 'here and now' to the full, conscious and loving. That is the sense that the Gospel presents us: be vigilant at all times! Neither inaction, which is the product of lamentation of the past, nor hyper-action which is a frenetic preparation for an unknown future at the cost of the present, would help us says the Word today. 

If we are prepared, holding on to the Lord and living in perfect communion with the Lord, then we need not be alarmed, we can remain firm with our heads high, we can rest assured whatever time it be, our experience will only be life giving. When there are, or there have been, compromises in our way of life and our choices, then the alarm is natural and eventual.The secret is to live our lives as children of the light, calm and composed, but awake and vigilant!

Signs of the times...

Friday, 34th week in Ordinary time

November 30, 2018: Revelations 20: 1-4, 11- 21;  Lk 21: 29-33

One of the key terms insisted upon by the second Vatican Council is "signs of the times" and the Council itself tried its best to be true to the spirit of that term. The Council challenged the faithful and the church as a whole to learn to read the signs of the times and respond to it.

We think today that signs from the Lord are few and far between. The truth instead is, the signs abound: in our daily lives, through things that happen around us, through persons who live with us, those who live worthy lives, those who suffer for no cause of theirs, those who are oppressed, those who have scores and scores of woes to meet on a daily basis, through the  crisis we see in the nature around us, through the humanity that is pushed into a hue and cry that is so artificial and human made... there are signs aplenty, provided we are ready to perceive them.

Our responsibility is two fold: first to learn to gather these signs, as coming from the Lord! At times even the crises that come all against us will serve its purpose and have a whole lot of meaning, if we have this attitude towards gathering the signs from the Lord, from everything that is and happens around us. 

Secondly to act upon these signs, respond to them, regardless of the risks and the sacrifices that are involved. We are so negligent in this second part that we habituate ourselves to become blind to the signs that are around. We prefer to pacify ourselves saying, 'do not expect extraordinary signs' rather than say, 'be attentive to every sign and diligent in working on them'. 

Whether we gather them or not, respond to them or not, they are there! We would do well as true sons and daughters of the Reign, if we are present to them and through them strive to build the Reign here and now.  

Judgement: Our Choice!

Thursday, 34th week in Ordinary Time

November 29, 2018: Revelations 18: 1-2, 21-23, 19:1-3, 9A; Luke 21:20-28

Happy are those who are called to the wedding feast of the Lamb...the final banquet, the moment of redemption...the end of days, the judgment seat... these are the pictures that the Word paints before our eyes today. These are not some horror stories or shake-up narrations. They are logical ends towards which we are all journeying. 

In fact, it need not be always an end time phenomenon, instead it has to be an everyday experience...the judgment is a continuous happening and it is not entirely an act of the Lord; the choices that we make at any given point of time, at any moment of a given day, the choice of words, thoughts, actions, decisions...that is the judgment we bring upon ourselves (cf. Jn 3:18).

We are all called to the wedding feast, that is to unite with the Lord and enjoy the eternal bliss. But the choices we make on a daily basis, at a particular point of time, is our response and that decides whether we enter the banquet or not. The simple message is a challenge to make a choice, a choice for God. 

Amidst all the dreadful things that happen around, we are called to remain firm in the Lord. Amidst all the inexplicable evil around, we are called to side with the truth and fearlessly face the consequences. Amidst all the dark powers that seemingly dominate the scene, we are called to firmly believe that the victory and power belong to Our Lord!  

Hence, instead of yarning tales of suspense and horror, let us realise our responsibility in making right choices in our daily life, right choices of thoughts, words and deeds: Judgement is our choice, indeed!

Christ-ian Perseverance...Ready!?!

Wednesday, 34th week in Ordinary time

November 28, 2018: Revelations 15:1-4; Luke 21: 12-19

Perseverance in terms of targets and achievements in the world is, holding on endlessly. The same, when it comes to our relationship with God is, giving up limitlessly. It is to give up totally into the hands of God, regardless of the successes or failures, gains or losses, happiness or sadness, prosperity or misery! 

Faith is all about this giving up, giving up everything and walking with our hands in the hands of God. Indeed it's a challenging feat. Specially considering the fact that today there is a great pressure laid on people to hoard up things, keep striving to prove oneself, ensure one's career or well being in competition with each other...the times are difficult. 

It takes true faith and strong hope, to remain calm and unperturbed even amidst such tribulations. That is true perseverance. Imagine the scenario around you. Truth is heckled at globally, values are sidelined, rights are taken for granted and dignity is reserved only to those who can afford it. It seems like the plagues that we read of in the hands of those angels have been let loose on to humanity! What are you going to do?

Neither hyper-reaction nor frustration can help! Neither counter aggression nor silent witnessing will serve! Neither over confidence nor a sense of hopelessness can strengthen us. Yes, we need perseverance... but not that of the world, which advocates an aggressive, obsessive, success-centered, control seeking obstinacy; but a hopeful, transcendent, serene and child like perseverance, which is truly, Christ-ian perseverance. Are you ready for it?

The Harvest: Curiosity or Care to Change?

Tuesday, 34th week in Ordinary time

November 27, 2018: Revelations 14:14-19; Luke 21:5-11

Harvest is joyful but it involves sickles and winnowing chaff. Harvest is a welcome end but anyway it's an end.  Harvest is the end of a process of growth but it is a moment when one shall be judged to be gathered or to be thrown away! 

It is the same with faith... that too is an harvest.  We keep growing.  All absurdities and adversities notwithstanding, we grow but it is upto that moment of reckoning when we shall be judged worthy or not,  for  the king who has chosen us to belong to him. But we are prone to think of that moment as something unconnected to the here and the now, as if it is to happen from nowhere, as if it is a magical event to be expected with curiosity. 

When will these things happen?  We are more interested in knowing when certain things will happen and curious about predictions and premonitions,  than understanding what is the right thing to be done here and now, and make the right moves in life at the right time. Mistakenly we postpone the necessary and crucial transformations in life for an opportune time which sometimes does not come at all or it gets too late by the time they come by.  

The month of November insists on the urgency that is involved in personal conversion and community dedication to growth and maturity in faith. And specially this week leading us to the season of advent gives us a better understanding of the end time spirituality that we are called to live in these times: not with curiosity but with care to change!

Mindful of the short time that we have, we have a calling to live: live our lives to the full, here and now.

Holistic Humanity: Hand, Heart & Head

Monday, Last week in Ordinary time

November 26, 2018: Revelations 14: 1-5; Luke 21: 1-4.

We have begun the last week of the Ordinary time following the feast of Christ the King, and the Word this week is going to invite us to fasten our seat belts and gear up for the Reign, a call of the special season of Advent! It is like the account closing days of banks, as they say these days. Or like the 'assessment period' in the IT and the Outsourcing fields. The Word invites us to take stock of all that we have been reflecting through these long weeks of the Ordinary Season, before we begin a brand new liturgical season coming Sunday.

John speaks of his vision of paradise: how many faculties he enlists! He saw the vision, he heard the singing, names written on forehead... all of them put together - eyes, ears, mouth, forehead...imagine the head there! And the responsorial reminds us of another pair of faculties: clean hands and pure hearts...hand, heart and head -in short, the entire person is involved in entering into the dwelling place of God. 

The Gospel gives us an illustration of a person as such: whose entire self, with all faculties involved in thought, word and deed. The widow whom Jesus compliments is a model of someone who acts in total submission to the Lord, while her hand dropped those two copper coins, her heart and head were in unison - that is, she did, she never regretted, she never went back and mourned for the loss of the little that she had. However small you judge that act to be, she was integral in it: thinking, speaking and doing going so perfectly together - a holistic human person! 

If we wish to be part of the 144000 that John visualised in the Reign, we got to be holistic human persons. Thinking what is right, speaking what we think and daring to do what we say and think! In a world where lies abound, falsities fester and showbiz thrives, we are called to build up the kind that begets eternity: the holistic humanity!

CHRIST THE KING

One, True and Good

25th November, 2018: Solemnity of Christ the King

Daniel 7: 13-14; Revelations 1: 5-8; John 18: 33-37

Monarchy... Kingship...Royalty... though monarchy in its ancient form is almost obsolete in today's world and even the remnant societies that uphold monarchy have a newer interpretation of monarchy, the tendencies of the age old monarchy has not disappeared by any means. What do I mean?

Consider people who are at war with each other for power and supremacy! Consider leaders who have ruled all their lives but even at their ripe old age dissent from ceding their power to anyone else. Consider political leaders and parties who make their kith and kin their political heir, and thus make the whole state or the polity their property. Consider people who wield so much power wherever they are, that they do not tolerate even the slightest criticism, much less opposition! Are these not tendencies of monarchy? A post modern era such as today, looks with despise on any form of monarchy! And today we celebrate Christ as King! Are we outdated? Are we obsolete? Are we archaic? Are we irrelevant? 

Celebrating Christ as King is to show ourselves how different a king Jesus our Lord is and to show the world, how different governing people could be! 


Our King is One... with none as second or with no need to succession! The first reading presents a king who is eternal, without end to his reign! Christ needs to contend with no one, he is the indisputable king and we will do well to acknowledge that. At the same time there is no necessity for anyone to protect the sovereignty of Christ... there is no power greater than him, there is no authority higher than him and there is no other name more powerful than his! Christ and Christ alone rules and he rules without end!
One, True, Good are the metaphysical qualities of a being; in the Indian tradition they are the transcendent qualities of the Atman...yes, Jesus, is Lord! the Lord of Lords, the King of Kings, the One, the True, the Good who gives me the very sense of my being! Christ is my King not because he rules, but because he loves, he loves me royally. He is my King, the only king, the true king, the good king, the king of my heart!

Our King is True... it is to bear witness to the Truth that he came on earth and gave his life: this is his own testimony before Pilate in the Gospel today. He is king, but not of the kind which we find in this world...those which are selfish, power mongering and pleasure seeking, but selfless, servant minded and self giving; not fraudulent, corrupt and crooked but just, true and integral! 

Our King is Good... for he loves us and gives himself totally up for our sake. Unlike the monarchs who demand everything at the cost of anything, Jesus our Lord, demands nothing costing him everything, his life, his body, blood and even his divinity! As Jesus taught his disciples, the rulers of this world lord it over the others - they are arrogant, heartless, tyrannical, cruel and obsessed with power - it cannot be so among us (cf. Mt 20:25,26)... Jesus did not only say that, he lived that. The one who wants to rule, let him serve. What a loving king we have!  

The God of the Living

Saturday, 33rd week in Ordinary time

November 24, 2018: Revelations 11: 4-12; Luke 20: 27-40

The God of the living: that is how Jesus presents his God and Father, and our God and Father. Resurrection is the foundation of our conviction that our life is not merely made of the few years that we spend on this earth. Our life is part of the Eternal Stream, that is God and we have but a few years here on earth. We come from and we are meant for, a union that is eternal and all our efforts during this life has to be towards ensuring that union for ever. 

What would be the fall out if we had this truth right in front of our minds while we live? We would not unnecessarily fret to make ourselves comfortable at the cost of the other. We would not long to possess something or someone, leading to undue striving to control the other and manipulate situations. We would not harm others or harm the nature just because at present we would like to make more money or make life more easy. We would not calculate everything in terms of gain and profit and dividends and surplus.

Should we wait for a terrifying moment to repent and reset our values, if that moment has not come already? Jesus offers us a wonderful criterion: the criterion of Resurrection. Live as Resurrection-people; live as people of the Eternity; live as people who really believe that your life does not end here and now; live as people who belong to the God of the Living!