The inner stuff that we are made of...

WORD 2day: Wednesday, 5th week in Ordinary time

February 12, 2020: 1 Kings 10: 1-10; Mark 7: 14-23

Wisdom is seen in what comes out of one's mouth, out of one's mind and out of one's life! Queen of Sheba found that with Solomon and praised God. Jesus invites us to pay attention to such an outlook on life - being mindful of what comes out!

From the fullness of the heart does your mouth speak, they say. From what fills your mind does your choices emerge and from your choices is your life's direction determined. And hence, the most crucial element to pay attention to in our existence, in not so much what we do and what we say, as what we think and how we think! Is it not clear then why St. Paul instructed us to 'put on the mind of Christ'.

Do not try to do all that Christ did. Do not try to do all that some saint did. That is not what you are called for. Instead, try to get into the mind of Christ; try to get into the mind of these brothers and sisters of ours in Christ, who have gone before us and shine as examples. Getting into their minds, find out why they did what they did. That will give you a clue to how to think and what we think. And from there will be born choices, a direction for life, a direction that will take you closer and closer what God intended of you! 

It is so pointless to be taken up with what one eats and what one avoids, what one does and what one restrains from, what one promotes and what one denounces - they are all meaningful one in as much as one is clear and transparent about what one really believes and what one is convinced of - that is the inner stuff one is made of. Let us be mindful of it and be attentive to it: the inner stuff that we are made of. 

Prayer and the Pray-er

WORD 2day: Tuesday, 5th week  in Ordinary time

February 11, 2020: 1 Kings 8: 22-23, 27-30; Mark 7: 1-13

Solomon prays and Jesus teaches what is not truly prayer! Solomon acknowledges the goodness of God as the crux of all prayers and Jesus teaches us that as long as we really don't experience and strive to grow worthy of God's goodness, our prayer will merely be a lip service: "this people honours me only with lip service, while their hearts are far from me. The worship they offer me is worthless, the doctrines they teach are only human regulations," quotes Jesus from Isaiah. 

This is no new or isolated teaching of Jesus - it is in fact the linking thread all through his teaching of faith and expressions of faith. It has to be something that is lived from the core of our beings not merely a performance for the sake of the those who are seeing, those who are expecting and those who are valuating us constantly. That is the essential difference between a performance-prayer that the pharisees and scribes upheld in contrast to the integral prayer that Jesus lived and taught.

In short Jesus was trying to contrast between a mere prayer and a pray-er! It is not enough that we say prayers, we need to become pray-ers... persons who pray; pray with their lives, pray with their everyday choices, pray with their value system, pray with their entire self - they do not merely say or perform prayers, but become in themselves pray-ers! That is what Jesus was...every bit of his being, all the time was united with the One who sent him, thus he was a pray-er! Let us seek ways of growing to be true pray-ers. 

To Rest or to Reach out?

WORD 2day: Monday, 5th week in Ordinary time 

February 10, 2020: 1 Kings 8:1-7,9-13; Mark 6 : 53 -56

The first reading speaks of the first temple built for the Lord... ever since, it had been a point of contention. However, how do we understand the temple for the Lord: a place of rest for God? Would that be a good way to understand? 

In contrast to the established temple in the first reading,  we have a wandering Lord in the Gospel. Could anyone stop Jesus from his work... no one could. They even thought he was going out of his mind. He was so busy... doing what? Just meeting people. Just reaching out. Is that not a more likely understanding of God - a God who reaches out, instead of someone who rests in an abode!

Jesus considers reaching out to people compelling and urgent. There was a constant urge in his heart to move on. He wished to build his resting place amidst the cries and woes of people, sickness and sadness of the afflicted, trials and troubles of their daily lives. Let us learn to see the Lord dwelling in true and sincere encounters. The Lord continually reaches out, in spite of us trying to contain the Lord in one place, one tradition, one thinking, one religion or one form! Whether we will truly be made whole by the Lord, it depends on us.

Have a second look at the Gospel and how it ends today: all those who touched him were cured. It does not say, all those whom Jesus touched were cured, but all those who touched him were cured. It depends on us to truly open ourselves and touch the Lord, to truly behold the real presence of the Lord amidst and we shall be made whole! The Lord is here amidst us not to rest, but to reach out. If only we behold the Lord every moment of our lives!

THE LIGHT OF FAITH

Be illumined! Illumine!

February 9, 2020: 5th Sunday in Ordinary time

Isaiah 58: 7-10; 1 Corinthians 2: 1-5; Matthew 5: 13-16

"The Light of Faith: this is how the Church's tradition speaks of the great gift brought by Jesus": so begins the encyclical Lumen Fidei, issued by Pope Francis in 2014. Light is an image very often presented in relation to faith, the faithful and the life of a faithful. It is an explicit call by the Lord right from the Old Testament times that the people of God have to be light to the nations (Is 42:6). With Christ's call today to be light of the world, it becomes an inevitable criterion to be identified as Christ's disciple or not!

Faith as Light: The first reading reminds us of a Zen story that we would have heard, of the Master who asked his disciples: When do you think it is dawn? The disciples attempted various responses, like - when we see the difference between a tree and a pillar; when we can identify a black thread from a white, and so on. The Master, discontent with everything, finally said: it is dawn, when you look into the eyes of the one next to you and see your brother or your sister! 

The first reading  tells us exactly that... when you accept the gift of faith from the Lord, your eyes are opened that you can see into the eyes of those around you and see your brothers and sisters; in their suffering and in their pains, you can feel your heart weeping and your eyes welling. We are reflecting today on the theme of LIGHT... the light that illumines us, the light that makes us see the real meaning of life and the true sense of being human. What can do that task better than our faith - Faith, is the light that illumines us, a light that directs our journey of life, a light that opens our minds to see clear and live upright. It is the Light we are offered by the Lord, as a gift!  

The Faithful as Light: Once we accept that gift, the gift of faith from the Lord, we as faithful, we become the Light! Receiving the light, we become the Light. The Lord sets us as the light to the nations, the light to the world, the light on the lamp stand, the city on the hilltop! Our faith does not rest on human wisdom, or logical reason, or scientific thinking, or systematic and mind blowing theologies! Our faith is primarily founded on the power of God, reminds St. Paul in the second reading today. 

Illumined by the Light, we become the light! Jesus declared, "I am the light of the World" (Jn 8:12); but did not stop with that. He challenges us today in the Gospel, "You are the light of the World." Every person of faith is called to be a light that is set on the lamp stand, to spread the light to the entire house, to illumine those around him or her. But it is important that we remember always that the source of our light, is the Light which illumines us all, the Light eternal of which we are rays, the eternal fire of which we are sparks.

The life of the faithful as Light: Being the light...what could that mean? It involves two important elements: One, everyone sees you; and two, one is able to see because of you! Theologians and Pastoral thinkers always raise a pertinent question, what would be the most apt mode today, of proclaiming the Good News to those who have not heard it. The answer is as simple as it is tough: "by living my everyday life!" One may wonder, but where is the proclamation here - actually, it is in the very living! 

Our life cannot have two shades - personal and public, sacred and profane, spiritual and secular... If I am a Christian - I should be seen! That is the first dimension of being light - my life has to be lived in its integrity. When the light can be seen, then one can see, because of the light. When my life can be seen by the other as an open book, the other can draw an inspiration to live by, and that is proclamation; that is evangelisation; that is illumining! It is through my life, my words, my actions and everyday choices that I become a light to the other; "if you bestow your bread on the hungry and satisfy the afflicted; then light shall rise for you in the darkness!" and thus one will become the light in darkness to the upright.

Let us keep this light burning in our hearts whole day today, and our everyday. To evaluate our daily life and see, if we really possess the Light of Faith, if we really live our life in a manner as to become light to those around me! Let the Eternal Light of Lord fill our hearts to be illumined and to illumine!

The Strange Choices

WORD 2day: Saturday, 4th week in Ordinary time

February 8, 2020: 1 Kings 3: 4-13; Mark 6: 30-34

The choices we make are based on the priorities we hold. We are aware of so many psychological tests based on the types of choices a person makes, leading to the reasons and applications of the same into an analysis. That is only an indication to say, there is more than what meets the eye, in a choice that a person makes. There are subconscious elements that determine a choice in any given concrete situation - that is where the priorities truly abide.

Today in the Word,  we have some strange choices: Solomon who chooses a less attractive but more divine choice; Jesus who makes a tiring tough choice of being with people; and the apostles who had just returned from hectic outing but glad to be with Jesus once again...all strange choices given the circumstances. But every one of those choice had an underlying grace! 

Solomon's choice was applauded by the Lord because the priority was the people of God, and not his own glory or dominance. Jesus' choice is so elevating because, he chooses to cater to the people of God, not his own personal comfort or rest. The choice of the apostles to be with their Master, was a choice so ideal because they did not mind their state of exhaustion. 

These choices would be considered inopportune by a world which looks at unwinding as so important, personal space as sacred, total self-giving as a burn out and other-orientedness as stupidity! For those who are centered on God, God's purposes and God's people, these choices need not be strange at all. When we are united with the Lord, in heart and mind, our choices will be considered strange, don't be alarmed, we do have company!

A life for God

WORD 2day: Friday, 4th week in Ordinary time

February 7, 2020: Ecclesiasticus 47:2-13; Mark 6: 14-29

Today we read the glories of David from the Philosopher... glory that came directly from the fact that his was a life lived for God and totally for God. All his mistakes and blunders were overlooked because of his overwhelming dedication to God and God's purposes. David had one identity over and above everything else, that he was a beloved son of God and that did the magic.

The Gospel reminds us of another man with a very strong identity, that he was a man of God, a messenger of God, a forerunner to the Saviour. John the Baptist, or for that matter any martyr we could think of, what really matters is not so much the fact that they died for Christ as the fact that they lived for Christ!  They lived so much for God that dying did not matter to them. 

For me to live is Christ and to die is gain, said Paul. These lives are purest translations of that principle that Paul expounds. What matters today for me, is not whether I am ready to die for Christ, well, in its time I might need to face that too. But more important is to respond to the question, whether I am ready to live for Christ, to live for God, to live for God's purposes! Let us sharpen our purpose in life, on a daily basis, that we may live every moment a life that is lived for God

The Handing Over

WORD 2day: Thursday, 4th week in Ordinary time

February 6, 2020: 1 Kings 2:1-4,10-12; Mark 6:7-13

David hands it over to Solomon;  Jesus hands it over to his apostles;  the Apostles have handed it over to us! We have to take it forward! a very clear message from the Word today - run your part of the race!

While Jesus gives a long prescription of how to take it forward,  David sums it all up or the Lord sums it all up to David in a phrase: “If your sons are careful how they behave, and walk loyally before me with all their heart and soul"... that's the key! care of behaviour, loyalty in life and a life lived with all one's heart and soul before the Lord.

Persons like the martyrs Paul Miki and companions others (incidentally there was an Indian in the group - Gonsalo Garcia, the first Indian to be proclaimed a martyr-saint), show us by their example not only what it means to run the race that has been handed over to us, but also what it would be at the end of it all... the crown of success could very well be a crown of thorns! But should that disturb us, keeping in mind the ultimate crown of love that awaits us?

What I need to remember today is this: the key that the first reading gives: my call binds me in my conscience not merely in my external behaviour. Living for God is proclaiming God; Living with all my heart and my soul before the Lord is the surest form of proclamation, the concrete form of running the race. Living for God's Reign is establishing God's Reign here and now!

Misleading Mentalities

WORD 2day: Wednesday, 4th week in Ordinary time

February 5, 2020: 2 Samuel 24:2,8-17; Mk 6: 1-6

I come in the name of the Lord -those were David's words before the philistine giant, when he began his adventure with the Lord. Today we see him counting his strength. He seems to be taking stock of what and how much he could achieve, as if all that he had achieved till then were purely because of his own capabilities! True to his nature, he soon realises his mistake and regrets.

The people who encountered Jesus could not but be amazed... but those who have always seen Jesus growing amidst them refused to be amazed in spite of the great things that happened. They did not believe in their own people, one among them, being so blessed. Truth had to be told by someone who came from elsewhere! They suspected their own capabilities.

Both these are misleading mentalities: the Lord has blessed us with qualities and capabilities that is for the good of all and we need to put them to use... mindful always of the fact that these came from the Lord and it is for the Lord's purposes they have to be used. 

As we, these days, hear about all the threat of Coronavirus all over the world and reflect on the pestilence that David and his people were struck by, what we need to keep in mind and learn is, the irreparable damage we do when we exaggerate our capabilities, without acknowledging the all-powerful Presence that keeps guiding us and instructing us. 

Humanity has to learn today the right balance of being filled with awe and gratitude for what we have received and, at the same time, using it to the full without being bogged down by discouraging and disparaging circumstances that may surround. Let us stay away from the misleading mentalities that we find in the Word today and grow more and more mindful of the Lord who is present amidst us.

The 'strange' people of God

WORD 2day: Tuesday, 4th week in Ordinary time

February 4, 2020: 2 Samuel 18: 9-10,14,24-25,30-19:3; Mark 5: 21-43 

Sometimes we might appear 'strange'. David does, in today's first reading! To those with David, it seemed well deserved that Absalom met with such an end for all that he had done to David; but for David, it was unbearable; he cries inconsolably. He appears strange for the people who wanted to celebrate the victory. 

Jesus looks strange too, when he asks who is that who touched him, when there was a whole multitude that was crushing him! He appears strange when he tells those people at Jairus' house, 'the child is sleeping.' In fact, the disciple expressed their surprise and the people ridiculed him. 

There was an element there that the others did not see, which made it natural for Jesus (and David) to act the way he (or they) did but, for the people it was strange. That element was, the capacity to see everything from the eyes of God and feel everything from the perspective of God! 

When David looked at it from the perspective of God, it was his loving child who was dead! When Jesus felt the touch from the perspective of God, it was a touch of intense prayer and when He saw the child on the death bed, it was God's glory yet to be revealed. Naturally from others' perspective, these appeared strange, not because they were strange, but for the people who looked on the perspective was strange. 

When we look at our own successes, failures, difficulties, trials, temptations and struggles from the eyes of God - they will have completely different meanings - 'strange' for others, 'miracles' for ourselves! That is the way it has to be. In a world that is obsessed with personal success and possessions and proofs of domination, in our humble and genuine love for each other, let us not hesitate to appear strange, or sound strange...for that is the way we would witness to this world, as truly 'strange' people of God!

The curse of compromise!

WORD 2day: Monday, 4th week in Ordinary time

February 3, 2020: 2 Samuel 15:13-14,30,16:5-13; Mk 5:1-20

The society today has many issues to sort but if there is something that seems to be having apparently no solution, it is the curse of compromises. It has no solution because one does not see it as a problem, and at times we find unlimited justification for such compromises. We learn to live with any thing, for that matter, within a very short span of time.

Just because Saul was a Benjaminite,  today we see a man cursing David on Saul's account forgetting and justifying all that Saul did against David. How many compromises are made just because someone is on my side,  known to me or related to me! Not that David was bereft of any of his own stupidities. Just because you have been chosen for something special doesn't make you special; it all depends on how firm and categorical you are on your choice of what is good, right and just.

The people in the Gospel were ready to live with the demoniac and the troubles he created. They were putting up with him for months and years, but they could not put up with Jesus even a day - they send him away from their countryside right away. Simply because, they didn't want too much of disturbance in their cosy lives. They ask Jesus to leave their neighbourhood because Jesus was intent on transforming everything and making them new. They were more for compromises than for true life giving choices.

The world has begun to put up with anything. Persons compromise on everything for certain gains and calculations. Would Jesus like it, if we his disciples had that way of life? It is important to ask myself today, would I give up on Jesus owing to this curse of compromise?