Love: can there be a measure?

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

August 13, 2021 - Joshua 24: 1-13; Matthew 19: 3-12

The gratuitous love of God and the conditional love of humans – that is the contrast the Word brings to the fore today. Taking the reins from Moses, the young Joshua consolidates his people reminding them of the great history of faith and wonders that they have behind them, the great things that God had accomplished for them though they deserved none of them! What a way to begin a leadership, reminding ourselves of the unconditional love of God!

The love that God lavishes on us, and the measure in which God does it, we do not deserve it at all. It is a gratuitous gift from God and God has never counted the cost, even to the extent of sending the only Son of God as a ransom on our behalf (cf. John 3:16). That love is the model set before us, by Jesus. It is not a mere polemic on the part of Jesus, it is done deliberately.

When Jesus changed the commandment of Leviticus (19:18) from ‘love your neighbour as yourself’ to ‘love one another as I have loved you’ (Jn 13:34), Jesus made a deliberate choice to propose God’s love as the model. Having God, who is Love itself, as the measure, can we ever love enough? Accepting one another, forgiving one another, being good to one another, wishing the good of the other with all one's heart – in all these we are called to measure up to none less than God, who is Love itself! 

If we truly accept Christ's teaching on love, we cannot stop loving at any point and for any reason! Can there really be a limit, a measure?

The dry ground phenomenon!

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

August 12, 2021: Joshua 3:7-11,13-17; Matthew 18:21 - 19:1

The presence of the Lord with the Israelites was a solid and concrete presence - the pillar of fire and the pillar of cloud that we have seen and today the splitting of Jordan when the bearers of the Ark step in. The presence made a great difference in the lives of the people and at times the Lord made it concrete because they were constantly forgetting the fact. 

Today we have the Jordan splitting itself - the upper Jordan and the lower and they saw the dry ground. It is a repetition of the experience when they crossed the Red Sea with Moses, they walked on dry ground even then. In our life too, there are experiences of dry ground - we walk through them without our feet getting wet or dirty or stained or soiled, not by our own merit but by the grand mercy of God. 

That is what Jesus is reminding us of - when you find fault with your neighbour, when you judge your brother or your sister, when you call them names, when you have your finger pointing at your fellow persons, remember the dry ground phenomenon. You are standing on a dry ground, your feet unsoiled because the Lord has had mercy on you. Remember, your dry ground is not your merit, it is God's mercy. When you are mindful of it, you will surely be a member of the Reign.

Moses, Joshua, Clare and You!

THE WORD AND THE SAINT

August 11, 2021: Remembering St. Clare of Assisi
Deuteronomy 34: 1-12; Matthew 18: 15-20

Today we listen to an account of the demise of Moses and the taking over of Joshua. Moses was a great prophet, an unparalleled leader, a person who related to God as if to a friend - but that does not mean he would go on forever. He faced his end. Joshua took over and there was an end to him too. None of us is indispensable - neither Moses, nor Joshua, nor you and me! We are all here to do the will of God, each one in our own way, in our personal life. And one thing that will remain to ensure continuity is the community, the faith community, the people of God! This is what Jesus teaches his followers today. 

The Faith Community, that is, my brothers and sisters in the Lord together as one, have an indispensable role to play. This is where the Church draws its importance. At times we belittle our faith, as if it is between me and my God. Yes, it is so, but it is between me and my God in the context of my brothers and sisters in the Lord. 

The saint we remember today - St. Clare, was a close collaborator with Francis of Assisi, in the much needed renewal of the Church of the medieval times...how did she help in the renewal? Just as Francis did, she built up a community of sisters, who would live in communion with the Lord, with the whole universe and above all with each other. That was the model of renewal proposed then, and it serves even now, or anyday! That which can renew the Church or the humanity is love, love in the Community! 

Know the people of God whom you live with. Love your faith community. Be responsible towards the community around you. As a follower of Christ, I am called to express and live my faith, in and among a community, given to me by God. Let love reign!

The Call to Give - a life of fruitfulness

THE WORD AND THE SAINT

August 10,  2021: Remembering St. Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr

2 Corinthians 9: 6-10; John 12: 24-26

The best of all giving, is giving of oneself! Giving of one’s abundance, giving of whatever little that one has and giving even if one does not have enough for oneself – these are praise worthy in their respective order. But the highest of all giving is Self-giving.

Celebrating the Deacon-martyr, St. Lawrence, we are reminded of the early Christian communities that were so much characterized by persons who were blessed with the special charism of Giving of their own selves, apart from what they possessed. They were cheerful givers, and so we find their numbers kept growing unprecedentedly. The very spirit that they radiated held captive those who saw them and multitudes were drawn to emulate it. They were ready and willing to die to themselves that Christ may come alive in them! 

St.Paul’s words were true in so many of those early Christians – “I live, it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me” (Gal 2:20) and “for me to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Phil 1:21). These were not mere catchy sayings; they were true lived experiences and we witness it in great martyrs like St. Stephen, the apostles and St. Paul himself. St. Lawrence follows suit very closely later in the third century. After all, they had but one model who had invaded and conquered their minds, hearts and spirits - Jesus the ultimate personification of self-giving - the grain of seed that chose to fall to the ground, that it may abound in its fruits: we are the fruits and let us be worthy of the grain which has borne us.

Thinking of dual citizenship!

THE WORD AND THE SAINT

August 9, 2021: Celebrating St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross or Edith Stein

Deuteronomy 10: 12-22; Matthew 17: 22-27

I run every risk of being misunderstood if I write, Christians have to be people with a dual citizenship! With the pseudo-religio-political claims that prevail in our land (India), that 'all Christians are westerners', the risk is real and concrete. But let me stay clear of any further misunderstanding, by immediately explaining myself - that we are undeniably legitimate citizens of the country we belong to, but at the same time, we look forward to the one that God has prepared for us (Heb 11:12 & 16). 

The first reading today underlines the primacy of God and God's place in our lives! In the Gospel, Jesus shows us an example of looking at everything in life, absolutely everything in life, from the perspective of God. Even a question of paying tax leads Jesus to reflect on the fact that we are sons and daughters of God, that we are free by virtue of our participation in the Divine Nature of God! 

The capacity of Jesus to move from the ordinary things of the daily life to a reflection on our relationship with God, is something amazing and something that we need to practice ourselves too. We see this capacity enshrined with ease in the saint we commemorate today - St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross or Edith Stein - a profound Jewish Philosopher, who discovered the reality of the revelation of Christ and found her salvation in the Lord and in the Church. 

Let us at the end of this day, look back and see how many God-talks we were inspired to, all along this day, and usually how frequently do we think of our Saviour and things pertaining to God during our day! Should we not seriously think of our concrete dual citizenship!

BREAD FOR THE JOURNEY

The Bread, the destiny and the Journey

August 8, 2021: 19th Sunday in Ordinary time
1 Kings 19: 4-8; Ephesians 4:30 - 5:2; John 6: 41-51

When we were kids, I am speaking of more than three decades ago when eating at hotels or restaurants was still reserved for exquisite occasions, we would go on family pilgrimages that lasted over a couple of days. Apart from the spiritual value it had, I am reminded of the special preparations that were precluded, specially those of preparing food for those days, which we would take along with us. There were certain types of rice preparations that would last for two days or even more, without the necessity of refrigeration or anything of that sort, but it meant extra care and special recipe at the time of preparation. As a kid, I remember I would get excited at the spread because the more it was, the longer the journey were to be. The preparation already gave us an idea of the duration of the journey.

Get up and eat, the Angel tells Elijah, it is going to be a long journey! The food was not merely to be eaten for the moment, but it was a source of sustenance. The Word this Sunday invites us to look at the Bread for the Journey, which means to look at the bread, to look at the destiny that is long and to look at the journey itself which could be trying. But do not be preoccupied says the Lord, because, I am the bread for the journey, I am the destiny of the journey and I am the journey!

I am the bread for the journey.

I am the bread, not any bread but the bread that has come down from heaven, and only the bread that has come from heaven can prepare you for heaven. Remember that you are bred for heaven, that is, you are being nurtured for heaven and I am the bread that can transform you into true stuff meant for heaven. The longer the journey is, the stronger the food has to be; the more trying the journey is, the more nourishing the food has to be. As bread from heaven, I have within me not merely all sweetness but all that it takes for you to make this journey!

I am the destiny of your journey.

You have to reach me, and you cannot come to me unless my Father draws you to me! My father has drawn you, that is why we are here conversing with each other. I am the way and not merely the way, I am the destiny too! Fix your gaze on me and do not get lost on your way. There would be pitfalls all along: the grudge that you can have against your brothers and sisters will distract you from progress, the anger that you harbour at heart can weigh you down and dampen your spirit; the spite that you have for others might make you lose your vision ahead. If you have to reach me, you need to take care of your relationship with others - be friendly; you need to pay special attention to those in need - be kind; and you need to be loving towards those who do not love you - forgive! The Holy Spirit has given you the capacity to make all this possible, do not waste that power invested on you - make it up to me, I am waiting!

I am the journey.

Do you think I am sounding like a task master, having given you a task and waiting to see if you got it completed? No, I am not only the destiny of your journey, I AM your journey! I am the way, I have told you this! I am the way, I am the journey, and I am the bread for the journey, all you need to do is, look up to me, learn from me, feed on me and be nourished by me. Eat of me, and become like me. Drink from me and be filled with my Spirit. Eat and drink, that you may grow into my very self... that is the journey - growing to be me! It is a life long journey, a journey of becoming me! 

You have embarked upon this journey right from the time you received the Spirit from my Father, that was when the Father drew you to me! Now that you are well on the way, my child, realise that I am the journey and never stop your progress, that I am the destiny of your journey and do not take you eyes off me and that I am the bread for your journey, be strengthened by me and be transformed into me!

Grow up! Will you?

WORD 2day: Saturday, 18th week in Ordinary time

August 7, 2021: Deuteronomy 6:4-13; Matthew 17: 14-20

What do you have that you have not received, St. Paul would question us (1 Cor 4:7). Isn't it true, that we have received gift after gift, grace after grace from the Lord to begin with from our very life! The Lord has given us, filled us with so many gifts and graces, protected us thus far, provided for every bit of our need - what does he ask for in return? Nothing but faith!

Faith is my personal response to a God who reveals, gives, forgives and loves me so much. How ready, willing and prepared am I to give a personal response to my Lord. At times I am happy and satisfied with doing the minimum possible, as a requirement to be fulfilled - by way of attendance at some Church service, some fixed recitations and regular almost instinctive practices - but are they truly meant and do they come from the depth of my being? What I do in the name of faith, is it truly what I wish to be my response to the love that I don't deserve at all?

As Jesus gets so irritated with the disciples today in the Gospel, so will it be if Jesus speaks to us in the heart of our hearts - when will you grow up? My Father loves you and does everything for you, keeping you as the apple of His eye. And what do you do in response? Have you truly committed yourself to an intimate relationship with my Father?

Can we really answer those questions?

The Light for our way!

THE WORD AND THE FEAST

August 6, 2021: Transfiguration of the Lord

Daniel 7: 9-10,13-14; Mark 9: 2-10

The disciples see their Lord in his glory and all that they want is to remain in that state of splendour and delight! There was a proposal also to make tents, and stabilise their presence. The sense of awe makes them feel like reifying that moment and that event. It is nothing wrong, isn't it? However, the call is to climb down, move on and keep walking, taking advantage of the light that the moment has shed! Though Jesus was all the time with them, the disciples needed that experience on the mount to behold his power and glory. 

Our life of prayer, that is, our relationship with God who shares every moment of our life, is punctuated at times with ‘peak’ experiences, to sustain us in the tedium of the daily journey. Retreats, pilgrimages, charismatic conventions, supernatural experiences and miraculous events – these are very useful and important, but cannot become a daily need! Effective substitutes for these that the Church suggests to each of us, are the Sacraments of Eucharist and Reconciliation – which when celebrated with the zest and the earnestness that they truly deserve – can become peak experiences on a regular basis. 

To walk with Christ every day of our life - that is the call that we have received and not to go by merely exciting events and extraordinary moments. But the Lord deigns to throw the light of faith in God's own ways. If we are attentive we shall receive those timely gifts and keep marching on every day and every moment, accepting the light for our path. 

The feast of transfiguration that we celebrate today has this call for us: on our daily journey, let us observe the glorious presence of the Lord in the ordinariness of the day. Let the gentle beckoning of God keep sounding in our ears – “This is my Son, my Chosen. Listen to him.”

Basilica of Mary Major

August 5, 2021

We celebrate today the feast of the dedication of the Basilica of Mary Major, 

one of the four major Papal Basilicas in Rome. 

It has a great historical background as it was one of the first basilicas built 

in honour of Mary, Mother of God. 

The miracle that is said to have happened 

to reveal the exact spot chosen by our Blessed Mother herself, 

the miracle of snow in the mid summer night, 

gave rise to the title 

Our Lady of Snows! 

There is nothing greater than God's plan!

WORD 2day: Thursday, 18th week in Ordinary time

August 5, 2021: Numbers 20: 1-13; Matthew 16: 13-23

Moses and Peter – their impatience and impudence come under scrutiny today! Moses, whom God spoke to as a friend, and Peter, whom Jesus called the Rock on which he would build his Church – even they, as leaders give themselves off in a moment of fatigue and overconfidence! 

Discipleship is not a victory gained once for all! It is a daily commitment and a perpetual challenge. Anything can bring down to the ground whatever we have built with days, months and years of hard work and persistence. We cannot afford to grow careless. That is why Jesus teaches us to watch and pray and be vigilant always, that the moment of the enemy may not overtake us (Lk 21:34-36). 

The murmurings and the hardheadedness of the people catches on to Moses and in a moment of impatience and restlessness, Moses instead of waiting on the Lord, decides to act on his own account. While the Lord asked him to speak to the rock (20:8) in order that the water may flow, he strikes the rock with his baton (20:11), to make it dramatic before the people and draw their attention! 

The commendation from Jesus gets to the head of Peter and he turns presumptuous to question the will of God! He begins to think he has to even tell Jesus what is alright and what is not to be done; he wishes to have his way inspite of what God reveals. Not that he was conscious of it; but he was mindless, he was losing his head over his popularity with Jesus.

Both Moses and Peter are promptly indicated their mistake. The lesson is clear for us today – to remain vigilant in our discipleship that we may always remain calm but cautious, confident but humble, persistent but patient, passionate but attentive to the Will of the Master! May these two great men, Moses and Peter, and many such persons of God, teach us by their example: there is nothing greater than God's plan!