WORD 2day: Joy and the Holy Spirit

Saturday, IV week of Easter: 2nd May, 2015

Acts 13: 44-52; Jn 14:7-14

The disciples were filled with joy and holy spirit, says the first reading today. It becomes hard to connect that this is the ending note of a passage speaking about the rejection and insult of the apostles by their own fellow Jews. Elsewhere too we would read that they returned happy that they were able to suffer for the sake of the name of  Jesus (cf. Acts 5:41). However it would make sense once we read and understand what Jesus tells us in the Gospel today: whoever believes in me will do the works that I do and will do greater ones than these. The apostles seem to have inherited it from their Master to consider themselves blessed for having to suffer for righteousness sake, to thirst for justice. 

It has become a normal experience for me to be laughed at, when I speak to groups about standing for truth and facing the consequences. Be it groups of youngsters or groups of consecrated people, they smile when I say stick to the truth and stand for the right wherever you are. They would smile and conclude with saying, 'then that would be the end of us"...meaning that they would lose any future if they did it! It would be like, they telling me: that sounds good when said, but living it is not feasible. I appreciate the honesty of these people, but constantly question myself: when will I be matured enough to shake the dust off my feet and walk!

THE WORD AND THE FEAST

St. Joseph, the Worker: 1st May, 2015

The 3 Dimensions of Work

Gen 1:26 - 2:3; Mt 13: 54-58

Every work that we do should have three dimensions to it,to make it truly holistic! On a day such as today, it is right that we dwell on this aspect of Work. 

The First dimension is the Self: work as a self expression of the one who works. Everything that I do, should become part of what I am. I should be able to see at the end of the work, in the outcome, a bit of me. The beautiful example is given in the first reading today,where we see God at work and at the end of it all, God found that it was good; God found that God was present in the works that God had created.

The Second dimension is the Other: work should add to the common good. Every work of mine should add to the common good in some way or the other, directly or indirectly. A carpenter for example is someone who expresses his or her self in a product that would serve the common good; or a sculptor or an engineer or a teacher... 

The Third dimension is God, the author of all work: work should be a participation in the divine design, the eternal plan, the creative mission of God. The psalm brings out the crux of it, invoking the Lord to give success to the work of our hands. It is in the eternal plan that our work draws its meaning and success. At  work, we partake in our role as co-creators with God the Creator!

Having said all this: let us ask a question. How many of us are involved in a work, an occupation, a livelihood that reflects all these 3 dimensions? Where is the place of "money" within this grand picture of 3 dimensions? Are our thoughts about our work and our calculations about out career, fitting into this framework? Or have we moved far far away from any such holistic thought pattern?

WORD 2day: Finally it is all about perseverance!

Thursday, IV week of Easter: 30th April, 2015

Acts 13: 13-25; Jn 13: 16-20

The first reading presents to us a vast gamut of information: Paul and his companions proceeding while John remaining back, the history of Israel with all the ups and downs, right up to John the Baptist! The Gospel presents Jesus who speaks of being a worthy messenger to the Master and of the one who would turn a traitor. Out faith life is full of experiences of faithfulness and failures. They need not be moments or experiences of desperation, but concrete reminder of our reality and a call to be conscious of my strengths and weaknesses!

I am reminded of a phrase I came across recently somewhere: the Lord does not expect you to be perfect, but he wants you to be honest! Knowing our weakness and knowing our limitations and acknowledging them with humility, and being ready to work on ourselves, begin anew everytime and being at the task given to us by our master: that is being witnesses to the ends of the earth...that is the point. Finally it is all about perseverance! 

WORD 2day: Getting Orders!

Wednesday, IV week of Easter: 29th April, 2015

Acts 12:24- 13:5a; Jn 12: 44-50

A life of faith is all about getting orders and carrying them out. We find in the first reading today that the Apostles got orders directly from the Holy Spirit, to set apart Barnabas and Paul for a particular task. Elsewhere too in the Acts we see similar accounts of getting orders for the regular running of the Church. In the Gospel, Jesus clarifies that he got his orders from his father and instructs us that we too need to follow suit. Get orders and carry them out!

Two things can hinder us from getting orders: One, not hearing: because we do not listen sufficiently. We are so busy with running our own shows that we are thoughtless about the orders that direct us constantly! 

The second reason is more serious: pretending not to hear! This is a conscious despise of the orders that are given us. The Lord, the Spirit of the Lord keeps inspiring within us or keeps supplying us with clear cut directions and orders to be on the right path. At times owing to the inconvenience it can cause, or the difficulty it will put us through, we pretend not to hear those orders and proceed with what we think best. And when things turn out for the worst, we begin to panic and blame everyone else, including God.

Can we train ourselves to get orders and carry them out on a regular basis!

WORD 2day: Counting on the hand of God

Tuesday, IV week of Easter: 28th April, 2015

Acts 11: 19-26; Jn 10: 22-30

The hand of God was with them, we read in the first reading today. And Jesus says in the Gospel that no one can take his sheep away from his hand or from his Father's hand! The hand of God is that which gives us protection in times of trials and victory in times of struggle. The Word invites us to live with the confidence that the hand of God is always with us. 

When we embark upon a journey that is in keeping with the will of God, when we take up projects that glorify the name of God, and when we start the good things that we are upto in the name of God, we are called to count on the hand of God. We see great feats achieved by people that transform the world and enhance humanity, they are done with the hand of God. When selfishness and self glory dominates, the great things may happen but its efficacy will not last long!

As St. Paul would say, "whether we eat or drink, or whatever we do, let us do everything for the glory of God" (cf. 1 Cor 10:31). Then we will dare to count on the hand of God!

WORD 2day: Who can hinder God?

Monday, IV week of Easter: 27th April, 2015

Acts 11: 1-8; Jn 10: 11-18

The Son of God decided that he will lay his life down for us, for the entire humanity, for every one whom God has created in God's own image and likeness! Can anyone segregate some, on the basis of whatever be the reason, and speak in terms of one being excluded from God's purview, or in terms of being more acceptable or less acceptable in the eyes of God than the others...who can hinder God from loving God's own children and from showing them God's mercy? 

Only one thing can hinder us: our choices, our personal choices for or against God and belonging to God. Condemnation, Discrimination, Condescension - are all mindsets that are un-Christian. Obedience, Surrender and loving submission to God are traits of a child of God! 

SHEPHERD SUNDAY

IV Sunday of Easter
A Poster Thought

THE WORD AND THE SAINT

Feast of St. Mark: 25th April, 2015

1 Pet 5: 5b-14; Mk 16: 15-20

Once, a few years ago, I was trying to explain today's Gospel reading to one of the tiny tots in the family. After I had explained all that Jesus had said about picking up the serpent and drinking the deadly potion and fighting the demon... the boy just looked at me and asked : so all of us are Shaktimaan? (Shaktimaan was one of those superhuman cartoon characters those days in India).  The readings today remind us of the superhuman call that we have all received! 

In spite of that superhuman qualities we are called to be humble and loving,  compassionate and kind. That makes the powers given us more efficacious, just like the Lord whom we mirror in our own selves. Mark a simple young boy joined the band of these superhumans and today we celebrate him. Let's join the band too... proclaiming in our own way everyday the Gospel of love and hope. 

WORD 2day : The Voice, the Bread and the Messenger

Friday, III week of Easter: 24 th April, 2015
Acts 9: 1-20; Jn 6 : 52-59

The Voice from heaven touched him;  the man sent by heaven healed him;  the bread from heaven strengthened him. What an example of the Word,  the Sacraments and the Community of faith working together for God's Reign to be established!

WORD 2day: God draws those who are drawn

Thursday,  III Week of Easter: 23rd April, 2015
Acts 8: 26-40; Jn 6: 44-51

Phillip is mightily used by God,  taken from place to place by the Spirit. It was because he allowed himself to be used;  he submitted to the plans of God. The Court Official is chosen to belong to the Lord because he had a fundamental thirst for the knowledge of the matters of God.

Jesus declares that it is the Lord who draws one to himself. And the Lord draws those who are drawn to the Lord in their choices,  in their priorities,  in their daily decisions. It is ofcourse the Lord who initiates but it is upto us to readily and promptly acknowledge these initiatives and respond to them from the depths of our beings. The one who begins the good work in us will surely bring it to its completion (cf. Phil 1:6)in God's own time.