God's holiness in us!

WORD 2day: Thursday, 20th week in Ordinary time

August 20, 2020: Ezekiel 36: 23-28; Matthew 22:1-14

God wishes to display God's holiness in us... what a realisation if only we understand what God wants to communicate by this. At times we reduce our human nature to sinfulness and wickedness, jealousy and egocentrism, lawlessness and insensitivity. 'I am only human, I am just a man or a woman', we tend to justify all our shortcomings and failures. 

The truth is not that. It is not true that we human beings are evil and miserable. The real truth is that we possess within us the holiness of God, the splendour of God, the glorious and majestic image of God. If only we realise it! When we understand our true nature and the spirit that dwells within us - the spirit from the Lord, our world view will be entirely different and our perspective holistic. That wholeness is Holiness, and that holiness is God's splendour within us. 

We are called to be holy...holiness here is knowing the right perspectives of life and living with right priorities on a daily basis. The Word today seem to underline the urgency of responding to the invitation of God. We claim to have accepted the invitation, but if we do not have this balanced perspective and wholesome priorities, we are doomed to be cast out from that presence of the Lord. For it is no holiness that does not result in concrete wholeness!

A warning and a lesson - be compassionate!

WORD 2day: Wednesday, 20th week in Ordinary time  

August 19, 2020: Ezekiel 34: 1-11; Matthew 20: 1-16

The careless shepherds and the sensitive land owner: the readings today present to us a dynamic contrast. It is a warning and a lesson offered together, to every person who has in some way or the other, care over others. It could be pastors who have care over the whole flock of the faithful, or the parents who have the care of children, or the teachers who have the responsibility towards their wards, or friends who have a natural ascendancy over their peers, or employers who have a say over their employees and so on.

The warning is: You are not indispensable and you are answerable! The ascendancy you have is a service required of you. Jesus would instruct those given charge not to lord it over the people (Mt 20:25) and St. Peter would perfectly learn it from his master (1 Pet 5:3). It is a service of love and a task entrusted by the Lord, to be compassionate towards those under our care.

The lesson is: Treat persons for what they are and not for what they have to give you! Whether it was the one who came into the field at the dawn of the day or the ones who came close to the dusk, they were persons in need and persons who had stomachs to feed. The land owner saw what they were and not what they gave him in the form of labour. He gave them all, what they needed at the end of the day to live life at peace.

In both, the warning and the lesson, the Lord underscores a heart that is compassionate. Indeed, that is the identity of the Lord himself. If you really wish to belong to God, be compassionate!

Absolute Centrality of God - the Jesus Style!

WORD 2day: Tuesday, 20th week in Ordinary time

August 18, 2020: Ezekiel 28:1-10; Matthew 19: 23-30

The Rich and the Poor: how do we differentiate them? It might seem a naive question. In fact, it is. Rich are those who hold wealth and the poor are those who do not. It is fair and clear. But today, the Lord invites us to go a little deeper and understand what it means to be "poor in spirit". 

Often, being rich and a sense of arrogance is considered to be naturally linked to each other. Though its authenticity could be questioned, an arrogance arising from the wealth one possesses makes one totally ungodly - that is an undeniable fact. 

The second category are those who are rich but act discretely, but are all the time conscious that they are so discrete and decent. They consider that a great favour they do to the rest of the society, punctuating all the time the fact that they have chosen to be so considerate towards everyone! 

Yet another category are those who are rich but are humble and grateful, acknowledging everything as a blessing from above. They are conscious not only of what they have, but from whom they have it all. As St. Paul asks, 'what do we have that we have not received?' Isn't that the attitude that we need to cultivate?

Hence the real difference is not whether one has or not, whether one is rich or poor, whether one is affluent or afflicted! There is something that Jesus teaches us - the Jesus style of life. The Jesus style of life is simply an attitude of absolute centrality of God, where it does not matter whether one possesses wealth or not, whether one has abundance of riches or not; a centrality that leads to a childlike dependence on God, with total trust and absolute confidence in the provident love of God. This is being poor in spirit; and that is how I can inherit the Reign of God.

Knowing is one thing; but living with God...

WORD 2day: Monday, 20th week in Ordinary time

August 17, 2020: Ezekiel 24: 15-23;  Matthew 19: 16-22.

A scene from the movie, "I am Gabriel": the messenger from God, who is the protagonist in the movie. tells a person to make prayer mats for everyone in the town. And a day later, the person happily shows all the prayer mats made and the messenger replies calmly but sternly, "making the prayer mats is one thing but what is more important is using them!" The readings today seem to give us a message similar to that.

Knowing what is right is one thing, but the more important thing is to live by it. Ezekiel is presented a sign, to make the people realise how thoughtless they were growing about God. They were fulfilling their daily duties and keeping the so called "law" or the religious duties. But whether they were really in touch with the Lord, is the true concern. 

The rich young man, who encounters Jesus in the Gospel, knew the laws and lived the laws, but missed the point as to why he was doing all that. He was keeping the law, because he was taught to. He performed all prayers, because he took them very seriously. He carried out all his duty because he knew those were the rights things to do. All these were fine - but he forgot why he was doing all these: to make God the centre of his life. At the end of it all he was lost. Maybe he felt, 'I have been doing so many things, but finally what have I achieved? I am still lacking something, something so substantial; some thing so crucial.'

With all the various things that we do we may know what is to be done at a given point of time: the rites and the rituals, the rules and the regulations, the laws and the demands therewith. But let us beware, it is completely another thing to realise why do all that we do! To make God the centre of our lives, the foundation and the meaning of our lives. That would mean 'selling everything', 'giving up' and 'loving everyone genuinely'; for in love is God revealed. Living with God means, living in love!

GOD'S SAVING LOVE...

History, geography and memory

August 16, 2020: 20th Sunday in Ordinary time

Isaiah 56: 1, 6-7; Romans 11: 13-15, 29-32; Matthew 15: 21-28

Will those who do not believe in God be saved? Will the Hindus or Muslims be saved? Will those who belong to this particular church be saved? - Haven't we frequently heard these questions? But these, we need to understand, are questions asked by those who have not truly understood the omnipotence and the mercy of God, and the relationship between the two. God wills that all be saved, declares St. Paul (1 Tim 2:4). The Universal Salvation of God has been effected once and for all, from the Cross. What is left for us is to claim it for ourselves from the Lord, in Lord's Mercy. 

Is it on our merit that we can claim it? Or are we left so desperately at the mercy of the Lord that we live till the last moment of our life with intense insecurity and total obscurity? Both these options are out of place when we remember the SAVING LOVE OF GOD. I can never merit it for I do not deserve the love that the Lord showers on me. I am not desperately left in obscurity for I have the hope in the fact that Jesus has given me the power to become a child of God (cf. Jn 1:12). The readings today highlight this salvific act of God's love on my behalf. 

God's saving love knows no history. As the second reading points to us, the salvific love of God does not depend on what history I share and with whom? It does not keep in mind the account of the undeserving acts, in which case I would be damned to eternity. The appeal that God's love makes to us, is made afresh every day and every moment. It is in every single moment of choice that I make, that I have to receive this love, so freely and so generously given.

As the Lord would point out through prophet Ezekiel (18: 21, 24) - we need to grow very critical of common views expressed like, the sins of the previous generation would affect the present, that our past sins condition who we are and what happens to us, and so on. It has become a fashion even for Christians and catholics to speak in terms of 'karma'... aren't we missing something so deep and profound here? Our life and life conditions cannot be let at the mercies of some dumb principle - the Lord's saving love is much greater and deeper than anything that can ever affect the meaning of our life. 

God's saving love respects no geography. As the second reading and the Gospel point out to us, God does not love us on the basis of the background that we come from, the family that brought me up, the institutions I got educated in and the ministries that I have carried out. No, there is no geography in God's salvation because the whole earth, what is within it and what is around it belongs to God. Lord God is the Lord of the universe! And that is precisely why God's salvation is universal.

Today, there is so much made about where a person comes from - the global north versus the global south; the first world and the rest of the world, the regions with their language and cultures... even the value of what is said is gauged depending on from where he or she hails. This regionalism, sectarianism and factionalism has no sense in the sight of the Lord - the only favouritism that the Lord shows is towards the lost, the least and the neglected, there is no geography beyond it.

God's saving love holds no memories. I need not despair at the bitter past that I have had, nor need I make such great acts of reparation to appease my God! They are in no way related to the love that my God has for me. The love that the Lord has for me is so absolute and boundless that nothing on earth or beyond the earth can separate me from that love in and through Christ Jesus. That love of God does not keep count of my faults or my failures; all that counts is the choice I make at a given moment, a choice lovingly made, and a choice absolute for God and for everything that belongs to God. 

Memories, records and revenge seem to have become the rule of life not only to 'many' persons but to the society on the whole, the nations and the entire humanity. There is so much of bad and bitter memories at work, and deciding what we should feel, experience and make of our lives in today's context. The worst affected are the innocents, the weakest in the society, the helpless and the those who have absolutely no power to decide or choose for themselves. This is a logic that is diametrically opposed to God and God's saving love! God wishes the salvation of all, the fullness of life for all, a holistic humanity... this is salvation. In Jesus' terms, this is the Reign of God. 

In summary, the Word today tells us that our salvation is assured on the part of God; but on our part we need to grow into our salvation: through our daily choices and everyday commitment. We need to think beyond history and geography; go beyond our memories and experience the salvation of God, becoming ourselves signs of that salvation, promoting a humanity guided by compassion and a universe filled with love. 

Celebrating a Sign of Hope in the Lord

THE WORD AND THE FEAST 

August 15, 2020: Solemnity of the Assumption of our Blessed Mother
Revelation 11:19, 12:1-6, 10; 1 Corinthians 15: 20-26; Luke 1: 39-56

The crossing of the red sea and the Babylonian Exile are said to be the watershed for the God experience of the people of Israel. It was their walk from slavery to freedom that gave an identity to the people of the Old Testament. 

In the New Testament too it was a similar experience that proved to be the watershed... the passing from death to life; the event of life-giving Hope! The hope that Jesus' resurrection brought to humankind reaches its fulfilment, when Mary shares the fruits of it as the first one to do so, in union with her Son and Lord Jesus Christ.

Mary was instrumental in bringing in the light of the world. She remained faithful to the One who had called her and thus wins favour in God's eyes. Hence it is that many a saint spoke of her as the lady of the Apocalypse, bringing forth the Son and fighting the dragon. She is given these honours due to the humility with which she went about doing the will of the One who had called her.

It was this humility and docility that made her so grateful and recognizant of God's mighty presence with her on a constant basis. This recognition makes her a strong person: so free and so responsible. When she sings that hymn of glory to the Lord it was not merely a wishful prayer but also an expression of commitment towards the Reign of God, the reign of equality and justice to all.

There is a difference between Ascension and Assumption: let us not be carried away by those who argue that it is unjust to raise Mary to this level and that it is almost like granting her a place equivalent to Jesus who ascended into heaven! The Church teaches that Christ, the Son of God after his resurrection ascended to the Father. The same Church teaches us in clear terms, "Mary was assumed" into heaven by the grace of God! This was a grace bestowed on Mary, not a feat achieved by Mary. Hence what we celebrate today is the goodness and generosity of God in granting God's beloved daughter and the Mother of the Son of God, a singular privilege which further manifests God's glory!

May the feast of Assumption bring us to a humble recognition of the ways in which God wants to use us here and now, that we too may one day experience the fulfillment of our Hope in the Lord.

Conviction of our Real Image

THE WORD AND THE SAINT

August 14, 2020: Remembering St. Maximilian Maria Kolbe 
Ezekiel 16: 1-15, 60, 63; John 15: 12-16

The Word today brings out the Merciful face of God at its best. The Lord resents that the people of Israel have abandoned the covenant that they had entered into with the Lord. When the Lord contemplates even a penalty, he contemplates it in terms of goodness! Being good to them and being good to all those who will respect the commandment, this is what the Lord contemplates. 

We may see that the people of Israel lose that privilege as  'chosen race' but every race becomes special provided they choose the Lord. It is, therefore the most important element that there is - it is again back to that key element of any spiritual maturity: Choice!  The Lord is always good...and we can taste that goodness if we choose to! We can become chosen race, if we choose God to be our priority!

The saint we remember today, Maximilian Kolbe, made a drastic choice, a radical and absolute choice, a choice of life and death, the choice for both the white crown of sanctity and the red crown of martyrdom - for the sake of what he was convinced; that there is no greater love than this, that one gives his or her life for another. He did not mind laying his life down for an unknown friend in the concentration camp. Even God's love has been manifested to us, in this same scheme of events. The love out of which God gave God's only Son and the love out of which the Son of God gave himself totally to the children of God, that we may share His heirship. 

We are called to image that same love, for we are made of exactly the same substance. Those who are totally convinced of it, turn into saints. Those who are moderately convinced of it, keep struggling, keeping that fight on, day in and day out. Those who are not convinced of it, make not only their life miserable, even the existence of entire humanity miserable and painful. How convinced are we of our real image: God, who is Love! 

Obstinacy of Human Selfishness

WORD 2day: Thursday, 19th week in Ordinary time

August 13, 2020: Ezekiel 12: 1-12; Matthew 18:21 - 19:1

The Rebellious people have eyes to see but do not see; they have ears to hear but do not hear. How good, loving, forgiving, merciful and bountiful God is to me - I am so aware of it right until the time that I myself have to be good, loving, forgiving and generous with those around me! I begin to count, calculate, justify, judge, grudge and grumble when I have to give or forgive or show mercy or be loving. I have the eyes to see God's goodness but I lack the vision to see that I need to be good too. I have the ears to hear the merciful whisperings of the Divine but I don't have the ears to hear the pleading for mercy in the eyes of my brother and sister! What is this but an awful obstinacy of human selfishness?

The Obstinacy of Human Selfishness does not allow me to share with the others whatever God has given me; it blocks even the natural consciousness and awareness of the extent to which I have received. In comparison to the amount of love that God has showered on us, where does the level of love that I show to others stand? In comparison to the sins and the wickedness that God has forgiven in me, where do the simple faults committed by my brother or my sister stand? 

The Obstinacy of Human Selfishness fills me so much with my own self, my ego, that I am not able to see anything beyond me and mine; I am not able to hear anything beyond my own wants and whinings; I am not able to occupy myself with anything beyond my own greed and desire; I am not able to even consider anyone other than myself important or worthy of consideration. Just give it a serious thought - is it not from here all the problems of today arise... be it in the family, or in the society or in the world at large? 

What mark do I bear?

WORD 2day: Wednesday, 19th week in Ordinary time

August 12, 2020: Ezekiel 9: 1-7, 10, 18-22; Matthew 18: 15-20

the Arabic character 'nun' as the starting letter of nazarani a derogatory term
used by the ISIS and other anti Christian forces, to refer to the Christians,
as follower of Christ (who was called the Nazarene)

Do you remember to have seen this symbol? Some years back this was so familiar all over the media... during the time when the Christians in Iraq were targeted and persecuted. They were being butchered for the mere reason that they were Christians...and how were they identified and indicated to each other by those who were targeting them? This symbol or sign was drawn or spray painted on the doors of the houses of Christians, to tell the plunderers and soldiers that those houses are accessible at will. The Christians were made to live in constant fear and anxiety. Similar things happened even during the Nazi targeting of the Jews and other historical contexts.

In the first reading today we see in the vision of Ezekiel, the angels were given a symbol on the forehead of people, by which they are spared! That is a manifestation of mercy by God! Jesus too gives a mark by which we will be known as people of God...the mark of loving forgiveness. "By this they will know that you are my disciples: if you have love for one another" (Jn 13:35). 

In the Gospel today, Jesus explains what this 'having love for one another' is. It is to forgive, to care for each other and above all to pray together, with one heart and mind. This is the mark that Jesus expects of us, as our identity, as a sign that saves us! It is not those who call him 'Lord Lord' who would be saved but those who do the will of the Father (Mt 7:21), Jesus would say. The sign that can save us is our life of daily forgiveness and undying love.

"If they arrested you today for being a Christian, will they find enough evidence for that when they prosecute you?" - that is a very strong question indeed for us to reflect today! What the marks that I bear in my daily life to tell my self and the world, that I am a disciple of Christ?

Obedience or Rebellion?

WORD 2day: Tuesday, 19th week in Ordinary time

August 11, 2020: Ezekiel 2:8-3:4; Matthew 18:1-5, 10,12-14.

When a child places its trust in someone, be it father or mother, or a loved one, or a teacher or a friend, the child obeys without questions. That is what makes a child so vulnerable in front of those. That vulnerability makes the child so special and so valuable in the eyes of the Lord. Obedience, docility, humility, surrender - these are the dispositions that are expected of a child of God, in the presence of God. 

The first reading so figuratively presents through the experience of Ezekiel, the message that Lord gives to each of the Lord's sons and daughters: to be children, to obey and not to be rebellious, but to receive the Word of the Lord, take it in, savour it, understand it, live by it, and announce it to the world. It is not about taking in what you like and leaving out what you don't like - that is childishness! Instead, childlike-ness would be to take in what the Lord says, the Words of the Lord, without any question or rebellion! 

"Obey and you will not have sinned" says the famous monastic rule. And that is the strength of obedience. The first sin recorded in the Word of God is of rebellion, and the atonement for it was offered in Obedience, on the Cross! Should we hold on to the sentiment of rebellion, we shall be weak in our obedience. The sign of growth in obedience to the Lord is accepting what comes from the Lord without any question or second thought.

The Lord says love; the Word says forgive; the Saviour says believe; the Son of God says do not be afraid; the Spirit says abide in truth; the Triune God says make peace and live in harmony... are we ready to obey...or are we rebelling in our own way? The Word instructs us today, if you are to be called children of God: Obey and be not rebellious!