Beware! the small is big!

WORD 2day: Friday, 3rd week in Ordinary time

January 28, 2022: 2 Samuel 11:1-4,5-10,13-17; Mark 4: 26-34

Although today is the memory of the great theologian St. Thomas Aquinas, we could carry on with the flow of the Liturgy of the Word these days...as there is a continuity that is intended in the entire week's Word of God...today we are called to pay attention to another aspect of the seed: the smallness, the littleness, the seemingly insignificantness of the size of the seed... but the message is to beware, because even the small is big!

Jesus presents to us the imagery of the small, tiny seed that grows into a great big shrub, becoming home to hundreds of birds. He draws our attention to our small gestures, little words, simple smiles, loving looks that can really grow into the Reign of God. He invites us to pay attention to our daily faithfulness and faithfulness in small things, that can measure up to the mighty big Reign of God, even without our knowledge.

It does not stop there. The first reading adds another nuance, which though Jesus did not say, he would have certainly meant. Just as small acts of goodness and virtue can grow up into the Reign of God, our small acts of vice and negligence of virtue can grow into a mighty big blunder. That is what happens to David... David who was in most of the ways acceptable in the eyes of the Lord, permited little weaknesses and vices within him, to take the better of him. They grew to the extent of making him a treacherous murderer...for which he had to bitter repent at a later stage. On his part, he at least repented...but today not many are ready even for the repentance! Then how will the Reign grow?

Hence the warning today: beware of the seeds of vice and weakness within you! However small and negligible they look, they can grow into an entire ruin of your life! Beware! the small is big!

Investing in the Lord

WORD 2day: Thursday, 3rd week in Ordinary time

January 27, 2022: 2 Samuel 7:18-19,24-29; Mark 4: 21-25

David is denied the privillege of building the Temple for the Lord - given the impetuous character of David, one would expect a ruckus or atleast an infantile rebellion from David. But that is not what happens today in the first reading...David submits to the Lord in all earnestness and humility, with gratitude and acknowledgement of the goodness of the Lord. And not just that, he pledges his faithfulness to the Lord, not for himself but for all his generation, his entire household. That was a great invenstment on the part of David - an eternal investement with boundless dividends. 

Faithfulness to God is not an easy virtue, given the trouble and suffering it can cause at particular moments of life. But it is an investment, not just for oneself but for the entire generation. Believe in the Lord, and you shall be saved, you and your household - is a familiar promise repeated in the Acts of the Apostles. And as St. Paul affirms, the one who sows aplenty shall reap in abundance; those who sow sparingly shall reap only sparingly (cf. 2 Corinthians 9:6). Faithfulness to the Lord is a mightly investment and it shall never fail! 

Any investment is giving away, letting go, a losing of what one has... and so is faithfulness to God. The so-called promises and the attractions of the instantly glamourous world, can take us away from the right perspective of eternity - from that perspective, one who gives away more shall be given more, and only those who have more shall think of investing more! Without minding the hardships, temptations and struggles, let us resolve to invest more and more in the Lord; and in God's own time we shall reap every bit of its dividend. 

The Sower, the seed and the Fruits

THE WORD AND THE SAINTS

January 26, 2022: St. Titus and Timothy

2 Timothy 1:1-8; Mark 4:1-20

What is sown shall certainly bear its fruits, but the fruits depend on the condition created and the care taken. The Lord has sown within us, God's own image and likeness, God's goodnews and all the goodness with which the Lord has created this whole universe! Much depends on how we care for what has been sown and the condition we create together as people of God. 

First lesson is to be convinced of the fact that God has sown within us great treausres - beginning with the image and likeness of God because of which we are made true children of the Almighty, the Spirit of the Lord which the Lord has poured into our hearts which make of us great signs of God's presence and the Message of Jesus Christ, the Kerygma of God which makes us bearers of God's tidings to the entire world.

The second lesson is to care for what has been given within us - that we may grow to be truly children of God, that we may forever bear the presence of God to others in whatever situation we find ourselves in and that we may translate our very lives into a goodnews, that the Lord our God is with us and we belong to the One Lord.

Finally, the lesson is to bear fruit - the fruits of our identity,the fruits of the Spirit, the fruits of the Message of God - that everyone who comes across a Christian finds in the person an inspiration, a guidance, a sign post and a clear direction how to live as human persons in this world. At times, today the life of a Christian or a Christian community not only fails to give this witness, but becomes a counter witness; not drawing people to God but driving people away from the One True God. 

The Sower who has sown the divine seeds within us, awaits our cooperation and our fruits... are we on the path of our growth?

Conversion: the call and the commitment

THE WORD AND THE FEAST

January 25, 2022: The Conversion of St. Paul

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

In celebrating the event of the conversion of St. Paul we celebrate the Christian theology of Conversion. It is not merely about someone abandoning one's previous faith and embracing another faith, a phenomenon which seems to be creating so much of a controversy down the history. It is about discovering, or rediscovering, one's call and commitment, the original call and the fundamental commitment. 

Paul was called...and he knew it well. He did not realise the crux of his call, but he was convinced he was called. We as children of God need to have that conviction that we are called, a fundamental self-identity that sets us apart and keeps us close to God. At times we may mistake, misunderstand or misinterpret the call that we have received...but what is important is the search to remain faithful to God. 

Paul committed himself to God and God's mission, with all his heart and with all his soul. Even when he was a persecutor of the Christians, he was doing it all for God and that authenticity in Paul, brought him to the right path in the same drammatic way that he loved God. His commitment was exceptional and that is why when his whole direction was changed in life, Paul continued with the same zest within him. There was inbuilt within him, a sense of absolute commitment to his call.

Conversion, therefore, is a rediscovery of the original call that we have received from the Lord. The call and the reminder is to remain always alert to discern the purposes of the Lord and be ready always for an absolute commitment to God's ways!

Division, Unity and the Spirit

WORD 2day: Monday, 3rd week in Ordinary time

January 24, 2022: 2 Samuel 5:1-7,10; Mark 3: 22-30

The Word today speaks to us about how a house divided within itself shall become a victim of the evil one and how the house of Israel united themselves under one servant of God - the King David. The Spirit unites...anyone who sins against unity, sins against the Spirit; anyone who sins against the Spirit, denies oneself of a place in the presence of God. 

During the unity octave that we are in, which ends tomorrow, we are inspired to reflect on the Christian call to unite! Becoming One in the Spirit is the fundamental call of the People of God. Those which spread division, instead, are unnecessary ego-play and inhuman surrender to evil. 

There are presons today in the world today who seem to have given themselves to the evil one, having made a pact to further the cause of the evil at the cost of peace and tranquility of the entire humanity. This is an unfortunate development, and it shall not be too long before they ruin themselves and damage so many others around them.

More dangerous are those who are given into ego-play, who even without their own knowing will be furthering the cause of the evil one. At least those who are deliberately evil and pronouncedly on the side of the evil can be identified and warned against. But those who are guided by their own ego, over and above every other good, are persons who will cause much more damage to themselves and to others... we are infact witness to such experiences. 

 

LIFE IN THE WORD

Understand, Unite & Undertake

January 23, 2022: Third Sunday in Ordinary time

Nehemiah 8:2-6,8-10; 1 Corinthians 12: 12-30; Luke 1:1-4,4:14-21

One of the most popular identities of the people of God is that of being the people of the Word! In fact, there is a famous term that is used in the semitic circles - the People of the Book: the Islamic tradition uses it for themselves and for Chrstians, some Jewish sects and Chrstian denominations use it to refer to themselves and some common sources use it to refer to the people of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. All because, the faith tradition of these communities of persons has a strong link to their Holy Book. The Holy Book for them does not mean merely a printed book, but a living tradition. 

For us Christians, the Holy Bible, the Scripture, the Holy Book is not merely a living tradition, but a living Person! Yes, we are not merely people of the Book, but we are People of the Word. Because in the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God and the Word was God. In and through the Word everything was created and there was nothing created that was not for the Word...such is our link with the Word. Infact our whole life is lived in the Word. The liturgy this Sunday invites us to reflect on this life in the Word.

Our Life in the Word, consists of three important phases in terms of our growth in faith. These three phases are essential to make ourselves, or grow into, true people of God or people of the Word. But before we look into those phases, we need to stay clear of an unnecessary confusion; that is, calling ourselves People of the Word, are we undermining the importance of the Sacramental life, the Social life and the Spiritual practices that form so much part of our Christian faith-living? No, it can never be the case, because being people of the Word, makes us people of the Sacraments through which we experience the closeness of the Word, people of Social commitment who see the Word in action in daily life and the people of the Spiritual Practices that authentically translate our love for the Word into daily and concrete actions. In fact the three phases we refer to, ensure this holistic picture of the People of the Word.

Phase One: Understand the Word

People of the Word, does not mean those who blindly get stuck to a written word, or those who fanatically prioritise a formula or a written phrase over anything and everything, merely because it is written. This written-oral tradition controversy has always been present in the history of human and religious crises. That is why Nehemiah today, uses the term "understanding" the Word repeatedly, while presenting the Word to the people. 

The Word has to be understood; it has to be interpreted; it has to be made sense of in a living context, because as we said it is a Living Word and one cannot get stuck to an old sense made and deny anyother possibility of meaning and sense from it for life. Men and women, and children old enough to understand... that is what we read in the first reading. Listening to the Word is an art and we need to grow in it, men, women and chidlren of God. The Holy Spirit can give us the grace to grow in that competence which is so necessary for us to know what is right, what is valuable and what is God-willed for each of us, in our own life and experience. Apart from the assistance of the Holy Spirit each of us needs to grow more and more familiar with the Word and with the exercise of listening to the Word, in order to Understand the Word and what the Word expects from us here and now. 

Phase Two: Unite in the Word

People of the Word means, people who are united in and through the Word. At times, ironically, the very written word, or the Scripture has been a bone of contention for very many Christian denominations, leave alone considering different religions. The Word makes us one people and gives us one mission; uniting us in identity and quality as brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, disciples and apostles, persons and communities in fellowship and love. 

St. Paul in the second reading today, outlines to us how the people of God are one body, united in the Head that is Christ, the Word that makes us one. Truly, people of the Word are those who keep looking for reasons to unite, come together, live together and spread the cause of the community. This unity does not come easily, because it is not based on uniformity. It is easier to unite in terms of uniformity...but what results will not be rich but a repetition of the same 'n' number of times. While the unity of the Holy Spirit is based on diversity, specificity, uniqueness of individuals, variety of gifts, diversity of capacities, the contribution of different individuals towards a common identity - that is truly Christian Unity. We are living through the Unity Octave these days (18th to 25th January)...and this is exactly what we are called to celebrate. The diversity that we have, should not divide us but unite us in our richness, making us before the world, people of the Word, who stand together united by the Word and the Spirit. This unity has to begin first of all from within every individual, avoiding any sentiments of competition or threat and looking at the other as a brother and sister in the Word. Secondly, it has to be reflected in every believing Community, which needs to stand together as one people of the Word without internal divisions and descriminations. Thirdly, it has to be presented as a witness to the  world, in varied Christian communities coming together in mutual love and appreciation, promoting the common good of humanity, united by the Word. 

Phase Three: Undertake the Challenge of the Word

People of the Word are those who are filled with the Word and who feel the impulse to go out and announce the Word, in the Spirit. God's Word is the Spirit and life, it gives meaning to a Christian living, That is why St Paul once declared: woe to me if I did not proclaim the Goodnews! In fact the whole Christian life is all about announcing the Word... not so much as an activity, instead as the very style of living. 

The two passages from Luke that are brought together into one, as the Gospel passage today, give us an incling into what is intended - that we announce to the world, as Luke wrote and announced, that our very call is to announce! Jesus realised it and that is why he declared it: God's Spirit is in my heart and I am appointed to go and announce. We, as people of the Word, are challenged too, to realise our call to go and announce. To announce in our very lives, to announce in and through our way of thinking and reasoing, to announce in our priorities and policies, to announce through our decisions and options, to announce in our actions and attitudes, to announce in our relationships and interactions, to announce in the way we live in our personal lives and family ties, to announce in the way we build our communities of faith, to announce in the way we go out as individuals and communities towards the good of whole humanity... catering to the poor, the sick, the unfortunate, the needy, the oppressed, the victimised, the helpless and the suffering. Let this begin in each of our lives: each of us, in our way, undertaking the challenge that the Word presents to us in our daily lives. 

We are a people of the Word and we need to make that known to the world, through our life in the Word. 

Out of our minds!

WORD 2day: Saturday, 2nd week in Ordinary time

January 22, 2022: 2 Samuel 1:1-4,11-12,17,19,23-27; Mark 3: 20-21

Jesus today is considered out of his mind, by his own people. The reason was very simple - he was totally taken up with the others, with preaching, healing, feeding, befriending, forgiving, consoling, and so on. He had no time to care about himself. Food and drink were absent from his daily categories of thinking. Naturally people thought he was out of his mind.

Those who were around David that day when he lamented so bitterly for Saul and Jonathan, would have considered him too, out of his mind. At least Jonathan was his friend, but Saul? He was his rival, a threat who was trying to kill him! With Saul's death, should not David heave a sigh of relief - that is how the society would think. Even Jonathan, though being a friend, without him David has no block towards ascending to the throne! According to the world's standards, David should take advantage of the situation; nothing less! But David did not do that.

Jesus and David, seem to have a similar mind - not just out of mind as the people around judged, but a mind of God, a mind of genuine love, a mind that prioritised love over everything else. Today we do not dare to live that way because we are afraid the society will brand us 'out of our minds'. But the Lord? How the Lord would wish more and more of us go 'out of our minds'!

Let it not be too late!

WORD 2day: Friday, 2nd week in Ordinary time 

January 21, 2022: 1 Samuel 24: 3-21; Mark 3: 13-19 

Many a person chosen in the history of humankind, has fallen short of their call. We have today the list of those who were chosen and called to be his disciples, by Christ. And we know well how unprepared, incapable and unworthy every one on that list was. But they finally lived up to their call... they measured up to the challenge and today they are an inspiration to all of us. 

But there have been in history, also sad stories and painful turn of events. An excellent example is Saul, who was chosen in all glory but soon, fell short of even a favourable sight from the Lord. Today we see Saul, crying out to the Lord and to the Lord's chosen servant, David. Listening to Saul from the first reading of today, one might think he deserved a second chance. But the fact is, he had by then missed n number of chances to turn to the Lord. It was indeed too late when he came to his senses!

The warning is right here: even if you are at times weak or incapable, and fail in the call that you have received, turn to the Lord at the earliest possible chance, lest it becomes too late. Postponing our decision to make our choices right, delaying our choice to commit totally to God's purposes, procrastinating the definitive choice of lifestyle that is pleasing to God... these might seem pleasurable at times. But let us not grow faint not to listen to the promptings of the voice from within: let it not be too late!

Envy, loyalty and equanimity

WORD 2day: Thursday, 2nd week in Ordinary time

January 20, 2022: 1 Samuel 18:6-9,19:1-7; Mark 3: 7-12 

History is full of emotions, and bible history is no exception. Especially when we read the account of David's life, there is an interplay of innumerable emotions in a really dazzling manner. Today we have a sample. 

There is the envy of Saul, who is unhappy with the new found popularity of David. He begins to look at David as a threat, first to himself and second to his son's succession to the throne. However, alongside we see the loyalty of that son, Jonathan, who treasures his friendship with David and dares to be loyal at all costs. 

Apart from these there are so many emotions that we will be continuing to encounter these days with this account carrying on. While Jesus in the Gospel stands apart for his equanimity and that is what we are called to imitate, to cultivate, in our own lives. When people opposed him and criticised him Jesus walked away from that place and when people praised him to the skies and wanted to make him their king, he walked away from them; he refused it and he withdrew himself.

This attitude of equanimity is a lesson that Jesus teaches us! In the face of praise or in the event of a discouragement, we need to stay strong and unswerving. We may ask, how is it even possible. It is possibile when we do everything for the sake of God's will - my food is to do the will of the One who sent me; Everything done for God and God's will enables us to take the sufficient distance from the effects of our action! What is important is we know and do the will of God for us, here and now. 

Choose God; Choose Good

WORD 2day: Wednesday, 2nd week in Ordinary time

January 19, 2022: 1 Samuel 17:32-33,37,40-51; Mark 3: 1-6

One of the signs of those who feel close to God is their courage to choose good! 

We see today in the first reading the courage of the young David who chooses to fight the Philistines, in order to liberate God's people from fear and slavery. And the reason for the courage is given by the young lad himself: I come in the name of the Lord. 

The Gospel presents to us Jesus who takes on the oppressive system of the Scribes and the Pharisees and questions them about their choice! Whether they choose good or evil, whether they choose life or death, whether they choose to liberate people or keep them under fear and slavery!

Be it David in the first reading  or Jesus in the Gospel, their choice to do good and their courage to manifest that choice openly came from the choice they had made for God. Anyone who really chooses God will choose good by all means, come what may! If someone claims to choose God but does not choose good, it is an ample reason to suspect the choice. 

Let us choose God, and the easiest way to manifest that is to choose good, in all ways!