THE CHALLENGE TO GRADUATE

The need to move on, move in and move up!

May 17, 2020: 6th Sunday of Easter

Acts 8:5-8,14-17; 1 Peter 3: 15-18; John 14: 15-21

Our life is a process, a process of continuous growth; so is faith. Our faith is not a static assertion of some facts or some set of information, as we often mistakenly imagine it to be. Faith is a dynamic experience, a rapport within and with persons and realities around based on the relationship we have with God as its foundation. In this progress, we are called to keep moving on! This moving on need not be always moving out, it could also essentially be a moving in. And especially in faith, it is basically a call to move up, ever more closer to the One who has called us, scaling up towards our perfection. We have today from the Risen Lord, the challenge to Graduate in our life our faith!

Jesus seems to be winding up his course... and he challenges his disciples to Graduate. He does the same to us: he challenges us to Graduate, in our life of faith and not remain the same little children we began this journey as. And the challenge can be broken up into three movements - moving on, moving in and moving up!

Move on! says Jesus to his apostles and to us. In a little while the world will no longer see me, tells the Lord. He prepares to bid them farewell, telling them the current phase is getting to a close, and the new phase is round the corner; they need to get ready for it. Move on, don't get stuck - be it to good times or to trying times, don't get stuck. There were glorious times when they went around with the Lord and saw miracles and wonders, healings and resuscitations. There were tough times when they saw the very same Jesus being crucified and buried, hid themselves from the threatening powers. The Risen Lord invites them not to get stuck to any of these, for they were phases of transformation, periods of growth, through which he wanted the disciples to graduate, progress, grow up. The apostles understood this...they moved on! They were all over the place preaching Christ and ushering in the new phase that Jesus had promised them. In the first reading today we see Phillip doing that in the Samaritan quarters, opening up the Jewish world to the rest of the human kind and reaching out with the love of God, a love that was universal - that was a graduation, a moving on!

Today, we are called to move on too... from this experience of fear and anxiety of the lock down to the next phase of opening up our minds and hearts to the next level. We are called to move on too... from our tendency to think only about ourselves and not about the other, the others, the common home, the universe, the entire reality that we are part of. Let us move on, moving on is an essential mark of graduating in our faith life. Let us not get stuck to our individual experiences but look at them as a source of inspiration for progress, for moving on, for graduation!

Move in! clarifies Jesus. As a means and an aid to graduate, Jesus promises an advocate. I shall ask the Father and the Father will give you another advocate, the Spirit of Truth and Jesus goes on to clarify: the Spirit is with you, the Spirit is in you! The Indwelling Spirit is the Spirit of Truth that Jesus promises as the guarantee of graduation. Though graduation is moving on, it may not always mean moving out, it could be more moving in. Moving into oneself. Becoming aware of one's own innermost thoughts, attitudes, tendencies and priorities and working on them with the help of the Spirit who dwells within us to assist us and to strengthen us. St. Peter invites us to exactly this, when he calls us in the second reading to live a life in the spirit, that we may be raised as Jesus was raised in the spirit - and that involves suffering for the right, for truth, for righteousness, for justice and for integrity. 

Quarantine and isolation, need not be always a painful experience. It could well serve as a school of solitude! To enter that interior castle within our self, understanding ourselves at a closer view, analysing ourselves and growing through it... that is moving in, moving in to ourselves, moving in to our conscience, moving in to our interior self, moving in to the core of our being and becoming aware of what and who is at work there! Is it the Indwelling Spirit...that is would be a sign of graduation in faith. 

Move up! invites Jesus. Move up, as an expression means to get closer to a person, in order to say something or do something! And Jesus invites his disciples to move up to the Father and experience in the Father the love that Jesus came to share with them. Jesus is challenging them, and us, to graduate to that experience where "you will understand that I am in my Father and you in me and I in you!" Naturally Jesus seems to be instructing his disciples towards the next level of their encounter. He seems to be telling them: I came in order that I may put you in direct touch with my Father, and here comes the Spirit to sustain that relationship...here you go, grow in that communion! A true graduation of faith life.

Our life of faith is not merely doing something or fulfilling some requisites, it is a relationship, a communion, an integral harmony within and without, where everything dissolves into One, True Bliss (Sat Cit Ananda). There cannot be contrasts and confusions, there cannot be competitions and compromises, there cannot be hatred or indifference... what remains in that graduated faith life is - Oneness, Love and Eternal Happiness! Love each other as a sign of your love for the Divine who loves you so intimately, unconditionally! In that love and harmony, you shall sense the indwelling divine, the Advocate the Father has given you, the presence of God within that you need to become more and more aware of. 

Graduate, is the challenge today! To graduate in our life our faith and move on to the higher plane of living your faith, to move in and find the source of true meaning within you and to move up to the Divine and establish a long lasting relationship. May the Risen Lord, the Spirit of God and the love of the Father help us grow everyday!

They hate you? Don't Worry! Be Happy!

WORD 2day: Saturday, 5th week in Easter time

May 16, 2020: Acts 16: 1-10; John 15: 18-21

Don't worry! Be happy!... these are very familiar words among the younger generation of anytime! With the Bobby McFerrin musical, these lines have become really famous. But is living it as easy as it is said? Life's lessons do not answer in affirmative for that! Life is not easy; life is hard and complicated; life is troublesome and challenging... so what do you do? The Word says today, live it to the full and don't worry; be happy!

People around you find you a pain in the neck, for the right reasons... be happy! 

People call you outdated and impractical and living in a world that does not exist because you stand by values... don't worry!  

People dump you and wish to see you destroyed because you disturb their so-called "peace"... be blessed!

Everyone,  even the worst among the entire lot, seems to be comfortable with you... be careful! 

No one has any problem with your ideas and absolutely every one seems fine with your values... look carefully into yourself! 

There is no opposition at all to what you do and not even those who discourage you have a problem with you... beware!

Yes, it sounds strange! But that is what the Lord says. If you stand by truth and live by values, you are sure to be branded 'problematic', 'unrealistic' and 'utopian.' You shall be kept aside from the so called 'steps forward' or 'the rise in the ladder' or 'the career lift'. 

It is wonderful to be acceptable to all,  but at what cost? Would you choose to be acceptable to all or would you choose to stand by what is true and right? If you choose the latter you would find more trouble in life: don't worry; be happy!

Friends of Christ

WORD 2day: Friday, 5th week in Easter time

May 15, 2020: Acts 15: 22-31; John 15: 12-17

While the readings on the one hand insist on making the burden easy for the new converts to faith, on the other hand we find lofty demands such as even giving one's life for one's neighbours! The point is not merely making life easy, but it one of the right priority!  

Yes, our faith is not a matter of do's and don'ts; it is a matter of relationship. Our faith redefines our relationship with God: from mere creatures we are given the identity of God's beloved; friends of Christ! It is not in circumcision or in any other external signs and costumes that we prove ourselves Christians, but in our intimate relationship with the person of Christ; in our friendship with Christ. 

Being friends of Christ, it is natural that, the demands are high. After all, did not Jesus insist that "from the one to whom much is given, much will be demanded" ? (Lk 12:48) But the demands are not merely to DO something and to AVOID something else, but the demand is about an entire LIFESTYLE. It is to model our life after that of Christ. 

The relationship with Christ, or the friendship with Jesus affects all other relationships of our's too. The friends of our friend, should be our friends too! The love we have for the Lord compels us to be loving persons with every person around us: not just our friends, but even with strangers, people whom we just casually bump into, or even with those who might have offended us. In short, every person is our friend, when we are friends with Christ. Even if we do not lay down our life, are we not expected to lay down at least our ego when it comes to our relationships?

The Twelfth Man

THE WORD AND THE SAINT 

May 14, 2020: Feast of St. Matthias, the Apostle
Acts 1:15-17, 20-26; John 15: 9-17

Feast of any apostle is a reminder to each of us that we are called to be an apostle, sent in the name of the Lord. As my Father sent me, so I send you...said the Lord after his resurrection. Though the event of the election of Mathias is overshadowed by the sorrowful and unfortunate end of Judas, the feast has its usual charm of inviting us to an absolute commitment to the Lord.

There is another dimension that Matthias brings into the Apostleship, in a very specific manner! He was not considered an apostle as long as Jesus moved around with them, in his earthly sojourn. But when Jesus was present amidst them as the Risen Christ he was chosen...as the substitute for the one who lost the way, as the twelfth man! That is both an inspiration and a warning - a warning that we could lose our way any time, be whatever the reason; an inspiration that Jesus is as active as he was when he was around physically - I choose you and I commission you, to go out and bear fruit! The place of that twelfth man is open to each and every one of us! Jesus seems to inspire us telling - even his band of apostles were not the perfect one; we could play our part, however little, to perfect it, complement it and complete it, in our own way!

Besides, the Word today adds a wonderful note to the reflection on our call, as it seems to underline the one objective in being an apostle, or for that matter in being a disciple: in Jesus' own words, "as my Father loves me, so I love you!" The primary aim is to receive in all its fullness the abundant love of the Father, through Jesus our friend! And it is in receiving that love, our joy is made complete! 

Let us rejoice in being loved, and love each other in return!

Happy Feast of Mother Mazzarello

The First Ecumenical Council of the Church

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

May 13, 2020: Acts 15: 1-6; John 15: 1-8

There is so much talk about the Vatican Council II, an ecumenical council that has revolutionised the Church of late. There are those who look at it as the rebirth of the Church in the Modern times and there are others who criticise it saying it was the deconstruction of a solid faith! That apart, today we have the account of the first ever ecumenical council held - the Council of Jerusalem! It stands as a wonderful Christian model of handling crisis and confusion: getting together in brotherly dialogue and faithful communion. 

The Community of faith gives us a splendid possibility of remaining united as branches to the one Vine, Jesus the Lord. That is the key to Christian Unity and Spiritual Communion. Today, when crisis and confusion arise, how many human methodologies we follow to handle them: writing anonymous letters, spreading calumny about others, raising unchristian slogans, speaking an unholy language, using all means to destroy the other and unleashing uncharitable actions... 

Is it truly a 'Christ'ian way of approaching a problem or a dilemma? What are we aiming at? Establishing our ego? Gaining our political mileage? Assuring our social and economic security? Making ourselves relevant and craving to prove ourselves to those around?

Let us remember - division among us is the worst scandal we can give to the World, as people of God. Let us be strive to be united with the one Vine, nourish ourselves from that vine, be filled with the sap from that vine and give fruits worthy of that vine. Or else, we will have to be pruned and charred!

Troubles or No Troubles...Fear Not!

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

May 12, 2020: Acts 14: 19-28; John 14: 27-31a

"It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God," say Sts. Paul and Barnabas (Acts 14:22). Elsewhere in the Acts (see 5:41) we read, "they rejoiced that they were considered worthy to suffer dishonour for the sake of the name" of Jesus, after having received severe flogging. The apostles startled the world around them with their fearlessness! Nothing could contain them or control them. They were overwhelmed with enthusiasm, for they felt the presence of the Risen Lord with them.

In today's Gospel, after giving his peace, the Lord instructs: 'do not let your hearts be troubled!', for the peace that he gives us is unlike the peace that the world gives. The peace offered by the world is a peace of compromises and conveniences, a peace of inaction and suspicious silence! But the Peace that Christ gives, is the peace of the Reign, the peace that comes from justice and equality, peace that comes from true love and compassion. It is no contract of just war or war against terrorism; but a total cessation of war or corruption or injustice or any inhumanity! 

This peace, Jesus has given us as he promised! It is enshrined in the Word. If only we live the Word we shall realise that our life shall be founded on true love for the entire humanity and compassion for the least and the last. How blessed it shall be, if we realised this truth. And once we do so, we are called to witness to it and challenge the world to do the same. Our call is to spread it, take it to every heart that longs, to every corner of the earth. 

When we begin doing it, we shall certainly face troubles, floggings, stonings, criticisms, threats and persecutions. The times are near for that and in some cases it is already here... but let us fear not; and let not our hearts be troubled!

The fad called Mothers' Day

To be signs of God's power!

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

May 11, 2020: Acts 14: 5-18; John 14: 21-26

Jesus seems to be winding up his earthly phase with his disciples and he bids them farewell as if to say they have to take his place there after. This whole week we shall listen to this series of sayings from Jesus. He had assured them, that their faith in God and their faith in him, will stand them in good stead... they will do all that he did and even more (cf. Jn 14:12). Today he promises an added facilitator: the Holy Spirit. All these promises were not mere words... they worked.

The People saw in the apostles great prowess... they healed the paralytics and gave life to the dead. The people found it so overwhelming that they thought that the gods had descended on them. If we really believed in the Lord and beheld his risen presence with us truly, people would see great things in and through us. The world needs people of God today; the world longs to see the real majesty of God revealed in ordinary things and we ought to be the instruments in the hands of God.

Especially during moments such as what we are traversing right now, the world and the suffering humanity needs people of God - not those who "use" the name of God to run their businesses, not those who manipulate the situation to instill the fear and guilt that would make people run to God, not those who make use of the opportunity to make themselves "on demand" and "popular" - but true people of God, who would make the presence of God felt in all simplicity and silence, sincerity and service. That requires that we surrender ourselves to God and remain totally disposed to God's will.

How prepared am I to dispose myself into the hands of God? Can I allow the Spirit of the Lord to take hold of myself and reveal through me the merciful, loving and powerful presence of the Lord today, to those around? 

A PRIESTLY PEOPLE

Chosen to belong forever

5th Sunday of Easter: May 10, 2020
Acts 6:1-7; 1 Peter 2:4-9; John 14:1-12

God “chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before God in love” (Eph 1:4). That is the core of our identity; we are a chosen race, royal priesthood, holy nation, God’s own people in order that we may proclaim the mighty acts of God, the God who has called us from darkness into his marvelous light (1 Pet 2:9). 

What is my identity of myself?

Are we merely people who are looking up to God for some favours? Are we people who wait on God to come and solve our everyday problems? Are we merely people decrying the crisis around us and complaining about it to God? Are we people who are grudging about those around us who are not living up to our expectations, disappointing us, troubling us, not understanding us or causing us grief? Can we take a breath and reflect a moment about what identity God has invested in us and to what level we have diluted in our daily living of our faith.

We are Chosen…

It is not by chance that I am a Christian, I am chosen. Anandhi (name changed) a girl of another faith, came to a priest asking to be prepared for baptism. She was in love with Alfred (name changed), a Catholic and wanted to marry him in the Church. After all the preparation, finally the priest asked her a simple question, “who do you think brought you to this intention of receiving Baptism?” Without any hesitation, Anandhi seemed to have replied, “Alfred.” The priest gently smiled at her and took the opportunity to tell her, ‘It is really Christ who has brought you to Baptism.’ 

It is the Lord who has chosen us and it is definitely not the other way around: “You did not choose me, but I chose you”, says the Lord (Jn 15:16). It is the Lord who has chosen you and me, and all that we need to do is happily walk holding his hand at times of gladness, boldly walk with the one who strengthens us beside at times of hardships, hopefully walk with the light of the Lord at times of darkness and doubt...all because we are certain and  assured that we have been chosen!

We are Chosen to belong…

Last Sunday we celebrated the Good Shepherd Sunday and we would have specially prayed for vocations to Priesthood and Religious Life. That is a special call, a call for a ministry, just like Stephen and the 6 others are chosen today in the first reading for a special task – that is what we call Ministerial Priesthood. But there is another call that is universal… that is the call to Royal Priesthood… each and every one who is chosen in Christ, who is washed in the waters of baptism, is called to this priesthood. Yes! We are all priests unto the Lord! We are Chosen Race, Royal Priesthood… We have a special call to belong to the Lord. That is the crux of this priesthood. The ordained priests are ordained for a special ministry, while all of us share in the priesthood of Christ. 

The Priesthood of Christ consists in belonging to the Father. “I am in the Father and the Father is in me” says the Lord (Jn 14:11). The priesthood that we share with Christ is to be in God, the Father and Mother; to belong to God, to be grafted on to God, to remain in God as the branches remain in the wine and give fruit. It is to show at every moment of the our life, in our action, in our choices, in our relationships, in the way we look at challenges and difficulties in life, in the approach to sickness, disease, isolation and death...at every step, belonging to the One who has chosen us and called us. 

We are Chosen to belong forever…

In belonging to the Lord, in remaining with Christ, in sharing the priesthood of Christ we inherit the greatest of all patrimonies: a dwelling place in the courts of the Lord. That is what is prepared for us, that if we belong in our life to God, we would belong to God forever - even in death. 

At times when we face difficulties and crises, we behave just as any other person - without confidence, without hope, without any faith, without any divine element within us, without any spiritual strength, without really mindful of the fact that we have been saved by the sufferings of the Lord, without acknowledging the fact that we have been healed by the wounds of the Son of God! We are not chosen by a mere almighty power, or a universal force... no, we are chosen by a Person, a Personal God, our Father and Mother, our Saviour and Master, our indwelling accompanier who loves us without conditions or limits! 

God our Father and Mother had chosen us, had sent the Chosen One to remind us of our chosenness, and continues to live as chosen people every day of our life.  Christ has gone before us to prepare this place for us, and when he comes we should still belong to God, we should still be his Priestly People, that we may receive that dwelling place prepared for us! Every day is an opportunity, through our ordinary tasks and daily duties, by our conscious choices and deliberate decisions, to deepen our belonging to the Lord, to realize we are chosen, that we are chosen to belong to God, chosen to belong forever, as a chosen race, a Priestly People!