The Spirit and the Satan

WORD 2day: Thursday, 6th week in Ordinary time

February 20, 2025 - Genesis 9:1-13; Mark 8:27-33

The Spirit of the Lord is upon us... for the Lord has created us in God's own image. We bear the name of God. The first reading today reiterates the fact in many ways - saying that God created everything for the human beings, that God gave human beings an ascendancy over the rest of the creatures and explicitly stating once again that God created human beings in God's image, the Spirit of God!

Peter is seen to be filled with that Spirit of God when he rightly points out who Jesus was - the Son of God. Yes, we possess the Spirit of the Lord within us, and that is what defines us, not all other forces that try to take us away, or tempt us towards ruin. 

A fact that we need to beware of is that the Satan is all the time lurching around the corner waiting for a time to pounce on us and draw us as far away as it could. Right from the first moment of the creation this enmity is on, isn't it true? But it all depends where I belong: the Spirit or the Satan - whose side am I on?

The Noah's Ravens

WORD 2day: Wednesday, 6th week in Ordinary time

February 19, 2025 - Genesis 8: 6-13,20-22 ; Mark 8: 22-26

I am reminded, reflecting on today's first reading, of an expression a good friend of mine is fond of repeating. He would call some people, 'the Noah's ravens' - when they take up a task and set about it but never return to report the progress or the lack of it. It is indeed an interesting perspective to think from, isn't it?

Anything good or healthy we take up to, has a gradual progress and we need to follow it through. And to do that, there are three requirements...

Firstly, we should not be impatient as to expecting everything to happen in a jiffy. Noah was patiently waiting to get the right sign and the right time. In our personal lives and in our families, when we live through some trying times, how many impatient moments lead us to choices that are not truly divine?

Secondly, when we set off on the task we should be resolute enough to follow it through till its very end. Quitting and giving up are signs of lack of faith and trust and we are called to surrender into the hands of the Lord.

Thirdly, we should not forget those who are involved with us in the task... beginning with the Lord who initiates everything that is good. Unlike the ravens that were lost in their own amusement, forgetting the purpose behind the task taken up; we are called to be attentive to the Lord and wait on the Lord. The Lord will deign to offer us the right direction to renew our lives!

The dangerous leaven

WORD 2day: Tuesday, 6th week in Ordinary time

February 18, 2025: Genesis 6: 5-8, 7: 1-5, 10; Mark 8: 14-21

The Lord invites us, as God's people to be the light of the world and the salt of the earth. Another significant role the Lord assigns to us, is to be the leaven of goodness; the yeast of the Reign. Jesus uses this image of the leaven - both in the positive sense of the leaven of the Reign, and in the negative sense of the leaven of the pharisees to be avoided.

Today, the Lord warns us of a danger that we become a leaven of insincerity, compromises, mediocrity and hypocrisy. Even though we may not outwardly choose to be blatantly evil, we may live a life of double or multiple standards, a life of total discrepancy; that life would not only be unfit for Reign, it would be dangerously against the Reign.

Getting into the ark of the Lord, that is the Reign of God, is not a simple matter that happens automatically. It is a series of deliberate choices to be made, on a daily basis. It does not happen by decisions others have made on our behalf (something like the parents deciding to baptise the kids), nor does it happen by mere enrollment on a list of members in a society or a community! It is a personal choice and an absolute way of life.

The Intention within!

WORD 2day: Monday, 6th week in Ordinary time

February 17, 2025: Genesis 4: 1-15, 25; Mark 8: 11-13

What have we heard from our childhood memories about the story we hear today: as Cain brought some rotten fruits and leftovers, while Abel brought the best of the firstlings from his flock? But let us take a good look at the story as we read today in the first reading: there is nothing in there that says in the Word that Cain's offering was rotten. Yes, it was not acceptable, but not because it was not of international standards or of the best known quality.

It is the question from the Lord that gives us the reason why Cain's offering was abominable: because of the heart with which it was offered. His heart was probably filled with envy, pride and malice and that renders even the best of gifts worthless. It is not what we give that matters, but with what kind of a spirit we make the offering we make.

The Gospel presents to us another scene where Jesus is upset with the Pharisees and the Scribes. So many had asked him for healing and miracles... he had no issues with them, that is about healing or doing miracles. But today when they ask for a sign he is worked up. The reason was simple: what lay in their heart as they asked for it! Feelings of animosity, pride, envy and hypocrisy. It was not what they asked that irritated him, but what was there behind what they asked, what was there in their hearts even as they made that demand from him!

When we come to the presence of the Lord to pray, let us check our inner disposition first. Are we worthy to behold the presence of the Lord?

IN GOD WE TRUST

Trust, in God, do we?

February 16, 2025: 6th Sunday in Ordinary time

Jeremiah 17: 5-8; 1 Corinthians 15: 12, 16-20; Luke 6: 17, 20-26

In God we trust, is a famous dictum, not just because it is found printed on the much sought-after dollar bills of the United States of America, but because it is the motto adopted by the nation since almost seven decades (to be precise, from 1956). This phrase is famous, but is it practised? It is popular, but is it meant when and where it is used, with all that we know is going there? There is no motive to criticise the Nation in reference here, but to bring our attention to such a statement that we make so frequently... that we trust in God. Do we? Do we really trust in God, in our practical day to day life? 

One of the first questions to be answered here is, what does 'trusting' mean? Trust is the firm belief in the reliability, truth, or ability of someone or something! When I say I trust, I know that the person or the thing, is capable of something that is in reference. To trust, therefore is to know. To trust is to use that knowledge to rely on that someone or something. To trust is however not totally foolproof. Because trusting is a leap that one takes from what one knows about someone, to a judgement about what that someone is. The knowledge one has can be deceptive, or purposely created and shared to deceive. Remember the episode of Adam and Eve with the serpent... they trusted the serpent! That is why the whole idea of who is trust-worthy and who is not, arises.  

Here comes the second question, what does it mean, when I say, I trust in God. It means that I know God, I have gotten to know God, I have my convictions about God, I have a relationship with God as a result of knowing God. Can I say, 'O God, in you I trust', without really knowing God? Can I claim to trust in God, without really developing a true relationship in God? Do I really trust in God or do I trust in what I have created for myself as trust-worthy gods? May be riches, may be power or position or dominion over the other, may be the pleasures of life, may be my ego, may be the opinions of the world, may be the false image that I wish to give the world about myself... anyone of these I could create for myself as my trust-worthy deity.  

The question that remains to be answered is, do I really trust in God? Or am I using God for my own purposes - pacifying myself, justifying myself, satisfying myself, fending for myself and reaching my own ends! The world today teaches this generation to look at the what is here and now, to consider the facts and concrete reality as seen, to value statistics and believe in calculated precisions. In the name of science, certain knowledge is created and spread and everyone is directly or indirectly obliged to accept it, submit to it and act on it. What is 'spiritual' is considered unreal, what is 'theological' is considered unscientific, and what is 'transcendental' is considered a waste of time. To add to the predicament, there are those who misinterpret the 'spiritual', manipulate the 'theological' and manoeuvre the 'transcendental' to suit their own ends. As St. Paul says to the Corinthians in the second reading today, these are the 'most unfortunate of all people' and not only that - the most dangerous of all, misleading everyone. 

The contrast that repeats itself in the first reading and the Gospel - the blessed and the cursed - consists in trusting truly in God or trusting in the gods that we create for ourselves! 

The worst of the possibilities is that we intentionally create deities for ourselves and for others around and make people trust in them. As the society today creates success, popularity and comfort as deities and propose to people to chase after, for the sake of happiness and meaning in life! It is enough a person is successful and moneyed, whatever he or she says becomes trust-worthy, today. Look at some bigwigs who control the entire governments and their policies, just because they have the money and might! In the past we have seen too, the moneyed controlling the world… and where it led to! Where is the trust of the world placed?

Another possibility is that we are mistaken in our understanding, and conceive God in a manner much limited and wrong. Some so-called preachers who delight in making fancy predictions and frightening propositions, make people fall for this and there are persons who trust in some rites, rituals and rules as those which can really save them from all pain and suffering in life. What a deception it can cause when they really get to know the Truth!

The only possibility that can do us eternal good is to earnestly pray with the psalmist today: happy is the one who trusts in the Lord. In God should we trust... in God alone, in God who is Love, Truth and Goodness. Only in love, should we trust, not in hatred and vengeance, not in proving one's point and winning over all others. Only in Truth should we trust, not in half-truths and fancy ideas, not in the deceptions of the evil one. Only in Goodness should we trust, not in craftiness and deceit, not in manipulations and exploitation. 

Only in God should we trust, for in God lies our eternal salvation. We are called to resurrection, to eternal life, to that salvation... which cannot be made sense of, except in relation to God. May our everyday life choices and priorities show to ourselves, that only IN GOD WE TRUST.

The Promise, the bread and the Word

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

February 15, 2025 - Genesis 3: 9-24; Mark 8: 1-10

The Word in its entirety today, brings to us the deep connection that exists among the three key terms of our Christian faith: the promise, the bread and the Word.

The multiplication of the bread in the Gospel, is but a symbolic episode of the continuity that exists between the God of Old Testament and the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. We witness the God who provided, in a deserted place, to a multitude of people and from almost nowhere - and we see Jesus who provides food, gives them bread to eat, just as the Father gave them food, manna from heaven to eat.

The bread is not merely a bread to eat, but a sign of God'promise. You shall be my people and I shall be your God, was God's promise and God has remained faithful to it, all the time. God promised that we would be redeemed by an offspring from a woman... and we have been! The promise lies open to us and we stand firm on it, not because we deserve it but because the Lord our God is faithful to it.

The Word is the incarnation of the promise, and the Word comes to us every day in varied forms, including the form of the bread, the bread of the Covenant, the mystery of our redemption: the Eucharist. The Eucharist embodies all the three elements of the promise, the bread and the Word... it is a daily reminder of the goodness and the faithfulness of God.

Let our celebration of the Eucharist today, be a true thanksgiving to the goodness of God in which we are saved!

Half truths and complete destructions

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

February 14, 2025: Genesis 3:1-8; Mark 7: 31-37

We see a striking similarity in the claims of both the Satan and the Lord, in the Word today.

- Do what I say and your eyes will be opened, says the serpent.

- Ephatha, Be opened, says the Lord to the deaf ears of the man.

Both take place... but the latter opens to fullness of life, while the former to destruction of life.

Today in our situations of daily life we don't deliberately choose the evil, the lie, the destruction of life... we are deceived by the look-alikes. The evil one taunts us with lies which look like truth, while they are really half truths. The insistence on autonomy of individuals, need for self actualisation, the attraction of successful living - these are presented as ideals to be pursued! They look so good and we may tend to believe this is what the Lord made us for! But unfortunately a major part of humanity is today deceived by these half truths.

Yes, they are half truths, unless they are conceived, interpreted and presented in relation to the other half - love for the other, common good, human solidarity and universal harmony! These are the complements that make the reality of creation, truly what it was conceived to be by the Creator! We would understand that, if only we open our ears to the cries of the poor and the marginalised, the wailing of the crumbling creation, the mourning of the suffering part of the humanity - ephatha...be opened, says the Word to our deafened spiritual ears.

Half truths are more dangerous than the plain lies; they can make one walk one's own way to perdition. It is important that we remain faithful to the truths taught to us, clarify them further and deepen them instead of being carried away by the fancy teachings and fantastic claims of the half truths! 

Being One in the Lord!

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

February 13, 2025: Genesis 2: 18-25; Mark 7: 24-30

Man-woman, we-they, rich-poor, high-low... these categories of daily consideration of people, things and events is something to be consciously transcended. Jesus himself receives a bit of a lesson from that Syro-phoenician woman in the Gospel today and Jesus was not ashamed to acknowledge it: woman your faith is great!

At times people are apprehensive about interreligious dialogue or multi religious initiatives of unity and harmony. They prefer to look at the other as different, separate or even contrary. If we truly mean what we say and what we pray: I believe in One God - then I need to become more and more proactive and look at the reality as One Humanity!

Divisions and discrimination are types of possesions, demonic and devilish; they have affected human persons right from the beginning and try to control them all along. It makes us sick and broken. The Lord alone can chase this spirit away and grant us the wholeness that we are in need - because the Lord is One, and if we are in the Lord we shall be One too, never divided or discriminating!

Neither death nor defilement!

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

February 12, 2025: Genesis 2: 4-9,15-17; Mark 7: 14-23

Religious practices and principles abound in our contexts defining what is right and what is wrong; determining what is acceptable and what is unacceptable in the sight of God. The Word today has one such clarification as to what would make a person unacceptable in the eyes of God from a Christian perspective - it is neither death nor defilement.

Death is considered the peak of negative experiences by many religious traditions but not the Christian. Death is merely another milestone considering the totality of human experiences. It shouldn't perturb us or preoccupy us... the least, it should not frighten us! For those who believe in the Risen Lord, death is but a transition, a passage, a moment of faith.

Defilement laws are seen as important religious factors in a society. What makes one socially acceptable or not, is a crucial religious parlance. But Jesus is categorical in stating that nothing of that sort - categories of acceptability and experience of defilement, exists in his Father's mind. The Father is all Mercy and Compassion towards God's children!

So, neither death nor defilement can separate me from the Lord, but a deliberate choice does. I cannot live my Christian faith merely on customary practices and accepted mores. It is not so much about what I say and what I do, as about what I think and what I intend. It is there I need to make concrete and categorical choices, within me! I need to make those deliberate choices on a daily basis and at every moment of my life... choices that would determine whether I belong to God or no.

Imago Dei - Our real core

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

February 11, 2025 - Genesis 1: 20 - 2:4a; Mark 7: 1-13

Jesus had one thing that he could never bear or tolerate! Living two lives... how much ever good I may do, it does not matter as much as, I being good. This is because Jesus is mindful of the real core of our being: Imago Dei, the image of God that is enshrined within us.

God saw everything was good as God created them one by one. But when God had created the human beings, God found it very good - the recorded Word says. Because God saw Godself in the human person. The inner core of our being is that godliness that we can observe in God. When we refuse to see it within us or reject what is at the core of our selves, we become aliens to ourselves. This is what Jesus is warning us against. Get closer and closer to the real core of your being: the image of God. 

This is the true Christian spirituality, that the Word today wants us to understand. Spirituality itself is a sense of being connected to everything and everybody... and further still, Christ's, Christ-like and Christian Spirituality is a sense of feeling an obligation to love people, fend for their good, be interested in their well being and spend oneself for the happiness and well being of the other. It cannot be merely a dry or rigid performance of rituals and lifeless hypocritical obedience to rules and commandments. 

Christ's spirituality consists predominantly of love: because God is love and that is the image that is placed at the core of our beings. We are called to recognise the presence of this image within us, marvel at its majesty and strive to live true to it, come what may: troubles, inconveniences, burdens, sacrifices and carrying of crosses! If we are prepared, we are well on our way to become what we really are, in our real core - the living images of God.