At the right time...

WORD 2day: Thursday, 27th week in Ordinary time

October 12, 2023: Malacchi 3: 13-20; Luke 11:5-13

Just yesterday we reflected on waiting for the answers from the Lord and today the Word continues to insist on the same: at the right time, everything will be set right!

If I want it right now, it does not mean it is the right time. If I insist on having what I want, when I want it, where is the space for the Omniscient God, the God who has a plan for eternity. Within God's eternal plan everything will have its place. It is faith alone that can help us understand and accept that. 

Our confusion regarding the thriving evil, our compassion for the suffering righteous, our helplessness before the conniving shrewdness, our anger before the insensitive power... all these should not frustrate us, if we take the God-perspective seriously. If only we can look at everything that is happening from God's perspectives we will be strengthened by that serenity that God alone can give. 

This serenity is not inactivity or passivity or incapacity or giving up... it is a hopeful surrender to the Lord that truth and righteousness alone can triumph because God is in charge! Nothing can ultimately go wrong. For a while, some forces can be at play but the final victory belongs to the Lord. This is the hope of Resurrection and we are a Resurrection People! 

Prayers, Questions and Answers

WORD 2day: Wednesday, 27th week in Ordinary time

October 11, 2023: Jonah 4: 1-11; Luke 11: 1-4

At times persons have a perplexity, that they are tempted to ask the Lord so many questions when they have difficulties! Do they really need to be perplexed about it? This is the reflection that the Word today can inspire within us.

Can we question the Lord? Is that prayerful at all? Let us think a bit: what else is prayer then? 

It is not at all wrong to ask questions to the Lord. But it is important to wait for the answer. What is wrong is, we ask questions and move away from the Lord, abandon the Lord, quit the presence of the Lord. That is the problem most of us give in to.

Ask whatever question you want to, because the Lord is your Father and Mother who loves you above all. But after asking the question, remain there till the Lord answers you, as the Lord answered Jonah today. The answer will come, now, later, much later, God alone knows when, but it will come. Because God answers prayers, that is, God answers the question your raise in prayers! God will surely answer...I need to wait!

Praying can very well be asking questions, but only when I am determined to get an answer from the Lord, whatever time it takes! For God's is the kingdom, God's is the power, God's is the glory for evermore!

Listening and Doing

WORD 2day: Tuesday, 27th week in Ordinary time

October 10, 2023: Jonah 3:1-10; Luke 10:38-42

Is listening better than doing? What about that young man that Jesus spoke to, who came to Jesus and asked a question about being saved and Jesus looked at him with compassion and explained? He listened... was that enough? Or what about that son, in Jesus' parable, who listened to his father with such eagerness, saying 'yes' even before he could finish telling him to go to work in the vineyard? He listened too... was that enough? Today Mary is listening... is that enough?

Is Martha less than Mary for doing so many things, all for Christ? What is the problem here? Martha's doing was like the doing of the Hebrews, all for God but nothing with God! Whatever you do, do it with God... listen and do! That is the point Jesus was arriving at. Like the people of Nineveh, who listened and acted, Mary was listening to act, listening to do, listening to transform herself!

Neither listening alone nor doing alone will make a difference in our lives, says the Word today. Listening and Doing is what we need to learn. Listening alone will make us useless. Doing alone will make us place the work of God prior to the God of work. So the right Christian attitude will be listening and doing - a doing that is born out of listening and a listening that moves us towards doing!

Love alone is the answer

WORD 2day: Monday, 27th week in Ordinary Time

October 9, 2023: Jonah 1:1 - 2:1, 11; Luke 10: 25-37

Humanity has so many questions - why are the evil people thriving; why are the innocent suffering; why are there exploitations in the world; who is cause of the misery of the poor; why is there so much of violence and killing; what makes people turn against each other... how many questions we face in our daily life in today's world. Yes, Humanity has all these questions, but Love alone is the answer!

People may turn evil, but they were created out of love and they are called live with that love, in joy and fulfillment. When they make mistakes, it begins to affect the other, finally there will be a time when it comes back to them. Self centered exploitation of the other is a deprivation of love and violence and killings are but inevitable consequences of these. 

If Love is felt to be present around, if Love is felt in each one's heart, if Love is found to animate every relationship, if true Love of God governs the whole world, misery, violence, killing, poverty, suffering, injustice, exploitation and every shade of sadness and grief will be wiped out. Will it happen? 

Let us remember, to every single problem on earth, even with us and among us, Love alone is the answer!

SALVATION BY DEFAULT?

Autosave and Autorecovery, yes... but Salvation not automatic!

October 8, 2023: 27th Sunday in Ordinary time
Isaiah 5: 1-7; Philippians 4: 6-9; Matthew 21:33-43

'Are you saved?' - this is one disturbing question that has to be removed from the non-catholic, pentecostal lexicon! We often see this phrase on the lips of the non-catholic, specially those who belong to the pentecostal sects and varied denominations other than the mainline churches. That question, should kind of intrigue us, and at the same time challenge us! Let us understand this first. 

Salvation: as sons and daughters of Christ, we should be confident of it, because the Lord has saved us by his blood. That is why that question should intrigue us! But can we take 'being saved' for granted, that whatever I may do or not do, I will be saved? That is a true challenge that this question inspires, but answers have to be sincere and genuine; and such sincere and genuine answers will of course lead to transformation, both personal and universal! Though it lacks wholeness and truth in its entirety, the point that these denominational brethren try to make is the second understanding we just referred to. How challenged do we feel about receiving the salvation from the Lord? Are we eager to be SAVED? 

Look at that question once again - to be saved! In today's computerised digital language we can imagine an explanation in these lines: do you want to be saved - don't expect that to happen by default! Every time the computer asks you, do you want to save? And you need to say, yes! Allegorically, even in our spiritual parlance, there is no Salvation by default! 

It is true that there is an Auto-save Option at work - Yes, the very fact that we are the chosen children of God we are automatically saved! God has chosen us and named us after Godself, and made us God's own people. As Peter would say "once you were not a people; but now you are God's people" (1 Pet 2:10); we are made "children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ" (Rom 8:17)! This is what is theologically known as 'Objective Salvation'...the possibility of salvation that is open to ALL people! God wishes EVERYONE to be saved, says the Word of God (1 Tim 2:4), yes by the very fact that we are created in the image and likeness of God, we are eligible for that salvation. 

In our computer lingo, this is what we refer to as Auto-save option, but for auto-saving, something should have been done which could be saved. The Lord had made us the Lord's vineyard, but have we proved to be vineyards or are we merely a plot of useless thistles? What we sow, that we reap; the Lord has sown and looks forward to see vines; is it not justified and mandatory that we put forth our fruits? What is there will be saved...that is the auto-save option! Our efforts to live-up to our calling and our identity as children of God - that is what will define us. 

It is also true that there is an Auto-Recovery Option at work - just as it happens when we work at a computer, at times we fail, we hang, we crash, we shut down without warning and alas, lose data! But we need not totally panic. There is an auto-recovery option that is on, isn't it? "For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fallback into fear" (Rom 8:15), and that is why St. Paul advises us, "do not worry about anything" (Phil 4:6), but to cast behind us what has been and strain forward (Phil 3:13) towards that crown of salvation prepared for us! Everything will be recovered, everything will be brought back, reconciled in Christ our salvation; he is the auto-recovery option that is on (cf. Col 1:20). 

But, be attentive... if something has to be recovered, it should have been there! Again our efforts to belong to Christ (cf. Col 2:20), our efforts to bear fruit, to make most of the short time we have (cf. Eph 5:15,16)... all these count. Auto-recovery option is fine, but it is when there has been some solid work that has been done. We can cast behind our back our limitations and shortcomings, but only if there is within us an abundance of good will to belong to God and a unquenchable thirst to unite with the Lord. The Lord is always there beside us to recover us from whatever we lose ourselves into, but on our part we are expected to have built already a relationship with the Lord, a loving relationship, a childlike relationship, so that we could keep the channel open for the love of God to act in, through and on our behalf. 

The crucial point, therefore, that we have to keep in mind is, though auto-save and auto-recovery are options, salvation is never by default! We have to work it out, on a daily basis! "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling", says St. Paul (Phil 2:24). We are called to live in a situation that is surrounded by all sorts of choices; what choices do we make? A tree will be known by its fruits, it is said; what fruits do we put out? 

We are weak, we are limited and we have our shortcomings - no one can deny that. But in spite of these, are we prepared to "overcome evil with good" without being "overcome by evil" that is around? (cf. Rom 12:21). We need to show it by our efforts and by the fruits, however small, that these efforts produce. We have to be transformed into the image of the One after whom we are fashioned. Salvation is never by defalut; it is by our choices (choice of what is true, what is honourable, what is just, what is pure and so on), and by our faithfulness to the call that we have received. 

Let us take stock of our daily living and be transformed into true and fruitful vineyards of the Lord.

To return... but how?

WORD 2day: Saturday, 26th week in Ordinary time

October 7, 2023: Baruch 4: 5-12,27-29; Luke 10: 17-24

'For just as you by your will strayed away from God, return with tenfold zeal to seek him' (Bar 4:28), instructs the first reading today. The key to understand the so-called discrepancy between the Old Testament thinking and the New Testament theology lies here. While we can be surprised at a 'punishing' and a 'revengeful' God that the people of the Old Testament thought of, we understand from the verses like the above that we are responsible for all the calamities that we bring on ourselves, by our priorities and choices, not only individually but also collectively - it is unfortunate that some who are innocent too face the brunt due to the rest! 

It is high time that we realise that 'blessed are those eyes that see what we see, and the ears that hear what we hear'... if only we can take the cue from things that happen around us, we will readily return to the Lord, with tenfold zeal! 

Returning is another theme that repeats itself in the Word today - first returning from places far from God and the second returning from the mission given by God: to which return are we referring to with regard to ourselves - are we far from God to decide to return to the Lord? Or are we on a mission, bearing the name of God and spreading God's mercy and love to return to the Lord for a justful recompense? 

The requirement that is crucial here - is that we see, and that we hear, and that returning to the Lord is possible only in true faith!

Integrity or Shame?

WORD 2day: Friday, 26th week in Ordinary time

October 6, 2023: Baruch 1:15-22; Luke 10:13-16

Everyone has always, the choice to make between Integrity and Shame. There is a tendency among people to believe that is more important to be careful, than to be right. That is a dangerous tendency.

People choose to be right not because they are convinced of being right but because they do not want to get into trouble. Be it obeying traffic rules, or paying tax returns, or keeping to the social agreements or carrying out one's assigned duties - in everything of this sort, people choose to do things in order to avoid consequences than to be true to their selves and to their calling. 

Can we follow the same logic with the Lord who knows even our innermost thoughts, our unsaid words and our hidden motives? Here arises the whole concept of integrity: being right for the sake of being right, doing something because it is right than because it is acceptable, living out of conviction than in view of convenience. 

Obeying God has to come out of conviction, that is integrity. If I make use of the name of God and the practices pertaining to God for social acceptability or for my hidden agenda, I am far from integrity and the ultimate consequence will be shame. I live either in constant pressure of pleasing others or in constant fear of shame. 

The Word counsels us today: Integrity frees me of this because truth will set you free! Look up to the Lord and you will never be put to shame!

The Word Gladdens

THE WORD AND THE SAINT

October 5, 2023: Celebrating St.Faustina Kowalska 

Nehemiah 8: 1-12; Luke 10: 1-12

The Word gladdens the heart because the Word is the Mercy of God, the Word is the Divine Mercy that revealed itself to St. Faustina Kowalska! When Ezra proclaimed the Word, along with the other levites and the priests, the people cried, not because they were sad but because they were gladdened by the Word. When Jesus sent his disciples to carry the good news to the villages two by two, he commissioned them to cure, heal and exorcise because taking the Word meant taking gladness to the people.

The Word gladdens one's heart so much that it changes the lives of the one's who hear and understand it. The people heard it and when they understood it they wept, out of joy and gladness for the goodness that the Lord had shown them. The same happened to Sr. Faustina... she was so gladdened by the Word that she left everything and followed the Word.

Helena Kowalska, who lived in Krakow, was 19 when she had the vision of the Crucified Lord and that was during a dance with her friends! She was transformed and that very night she left everything, her old life, her firends, her family, her place and moved to Warsaw, 85 kms away, because the Word told her. New place, strange circumstances but her heart was full of the vision and finally she landed up with the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy. The reason for the choice: she knew only that she was being led there. Soon the reason was clear too. By 22 she professed in the congregation as Sr. Faustina of the Blessed Sacrament (Faustina meant 'the fortunate one') and in 1931 her visions of Jesus as the King of Mercy began. The devotion to Divine Mercy began with these visions and today we know how profound this devotion has become. 

The Word, listened to and understood, gladdens our heart and changes our lives. How attentive is our listening, how humble is our understanding and how committed is our love for the Word?

The Marks of Christ: gentleness and humility

THE WORD AND THE SAINT

October 4, 2023: Celebrating St. Francis of Assisi
Galatians 6: 14-18; Matthew 11: 28-30

Francis of Assisi is considered a man who managed the maximum resemblance to Christ in his life, not so much due to the marks of the stigmata that he received from the Lord, but more due to the marks of Christ that he lived all his life - that is Gentleness and Humility. Learn from me for I am meek and humble of heart, invites Jesus in the Gospel today.

Specially today, with the rising fanaticism around the world, we are called to imitate that gentleness and humility of the self emptying Lord. We are not here referring only to the fanatic terrorists who are threatening the peace of the world, but even to the fanatics in the garb of Christians, people who are insisting on rules and rubrics, legalities and orthodoxy, the ego and hierarchy, to such an extent that mercy and understanding, dialogue and compassion find no place within the practice of faith and religion. People refuse to see the truth that dialogue is not diluting, compassion is not compromise, instead dialogue and compassion are the ways to bear Christ to the world today, a world that is so torn by fundamentalism and inhumanity.

Francis came at a time when the Church was wounded due to various spiritual calamities within the Church in the 10th and the 11th century and he treated those wounds with the compassion of the Lord, the humility of the Son of God and the peace of the Prince of Peace. He showed us that the marks of Christ that all of us can bear in our life, are exactly these: to be instruments of peace, through love, pardon, faith, hope, light, joy, consolation and new life.

May St. Francis assist us to understand the difference between true holiness and self righteousness, the distance between love and legalism and the need to grow towards becoming Christ ourselves!

Knowing God is from within!

WORD 2day: Tuesday, 26th week in Ordinary time

October 3, 2023: Zechariah 8: 20-23; Luke 9: 51-56

Though Evangelisation is one great mission that is entrusted to every person who knows God, it is not a means to force anyone to get to know God. One cannot know God by force. In fact, attempting to make people know God by force only works against the very objective. Knowing God has to happen! It should come from within. 

The concerned person needs to feel the presence of God in and through the persons around, the situation around and the experiences that happen. Hence, evangelisation essentially is not making people know God but making people see what I have known about God, how I know God, and as what I know God to be!

Once I really experience God, know God and fall in love with God, people around me see the experience that makes such a difference for me, they wish to get to know God from me and begin to love the One whom I love, on their own. This is true evangelisation, and that comes from within because, without any doubt, knowing God is from within. 

Knowing God is not an easy task, nor is it a pleasant one at that because just as Jesus fixing his gaze towards Jerusalem, it takes us through challenges and struggles! It is a mission in itself and we are indeed created for it - to know God, to love God and to experience God from within, in the core of our beings.