XVIth Sunday : GEN. 18: 1-10 : COL. 1: 24-28,: LUKE 10: 38-42
There is an ancient Scottish legend that tells the story of a shepherd boy tending a few straggling sheep on the side of a mountain. One day as he cared for his sheep he saw at his feet a beautiful flower -- one that was more beautiful than any he had ever seen in his life. He knelt down upon his knees and scooped the flower in his hands and held it close to his eyes, drinking in its beauty. As he held the flower close to his face, suddenly he heard a noise and looked up before him. There he saw a great stone mountain opening up right before his eyes. And as the sun began to shine on the inside of the mountain, he saw the sprinkling of the beautiful gems and precious metals that it contained.
With the flower in his hands, he walked inside. Laying the flower down, he began to gather all the gold and silver and precious gems in his arms. Finally with all that his arms could carry, he turned and began to walk out of that great cavern, and suddenly a voice said to him, "Don't forget the best." Thinking that perhaps he had overlooked some choice piece of treasure, he turned around again and picked up additional pieces of priceless treasure. And with his arms literally overflowing with wealth, he turned to walk back out of the great mountainous vault. And again the voice said, "Don't forget the best."
But by this time his arms were filled and he walked on outside, and all of a sudden, the precious metals and stones turned to dust. And he looked around in time to see the great stone mountain closing its doors again. A third time he heard the voice, and this time the voice said, "You forgot the best. For the beautiful flower is the key to the vault of the mountain."
The key to the Christian life is SETTING PRIORITIES: Jesus Christ first, then everything else. The only way really to learn that lesson is to spend some time every day, "sitting at the feet of Jesus." Today’s first reading describes how Abraham’s and Sarah’s hospitality to strangers was rewarded by God. The gospel passage describes how Martha wanted to extend the traditional generous hospitality to Jesus, by preparing an elaborate meal for him, while her sister Mary spent her time in talking to him and listening to him.
Jesus loved both Martha and Mary. They knew him well enough to invite him to dinner. Martha was so comfortable with him that she didn't think twice about involving him in her family squabble. The atmosphere is casual, friendly - almost like a barbecue. Martha is doing all the work, and Mary is just sitting at Christ's feet listening to him converse with the Apostles. It's understandable that Martha would get perturbed. Feeding 15 people is no small task, and she could have used her sister's help. So she tries to get Jesus to tell Mary to lend a hand. But Jesus doesn't. He actually commends Mary and reproves Martha. Why? Christ was glad to be served, but he was even gladder to be loved. He yearns for our love.
Jesus did not intend to belittle Martha and her activity, but rather to show that hearing the word of God is the foundation of all action, that the word of God must permeate all other concerns. The highest priority must be given to listening to the word. Prayer and actions must be continuous, complementary and mutually dependent. Prayer without action is sterile, and action without prayer is empty. We are expected to be "contemplative in action" because only those who listen carefully to the Word of God know how to behave in the way that God wants. That is why Jesus reminds Martha that proper service for him is attention to his instruction, not an elaborate provision for his physical needs.
The point of the story of Jesus with May and Martha is not to invite us to choose between being a Martha or a Mary. The true disciple needs to be both Martha and Mary. The point of the story is to challenge our priorities so that we come to see that fellowship with the Lord, being with the Lord and hearing his word should always precede the work we do for the Lord. Do we have a program of daily fellowship with the Lord? Many people fulfill this by assisting daily in the Eucharist where they can also hear the word of God. Others schedule a holy hour or quiet time when they can pray and read the word of God. Whatever way we fulfill this need, today’s gospel invites all Christians first to be a Mary who sits with devotion at the Lord’s feet listening his word, and then also to be a Martha who throws herself with energy into the business of serving the Lord.
Some single men in a Bible study group were discussing who would make the better wife--Martha or Mary. One fellow said, "Well, I think Martha would make the better wife. The way to a man's heart is through his stomach. It sounds like Martha surely knew how to cook. I would love to be married to a woman like that!" Another man said, "I think Mary would make the better wife. She was always so thoughtful, sweet and loving. I could be very happy married to a woman like Mary!" Finally, another fellow settled the argument when he said, "Well, I would like to be married to both of them. I would like Martha before supper and Mary after supper."
We need listening Marthas and serving Marys. Our world needs such men, women, boys and girls who get the job done. This is certainly true in the church. The same is true with the family. We need responsible people to do the work in the house: to cook, to clean, to keep the house operating, to pay the bills, to keep the cars running, not to speak of rearing the children and loving the spouse. But we must find time to listen to God speaking to us through His word and time to talk to God. Jesus clearly said: be hearers and doers of the word. Jesus never reversed that order.
This morning, we have all chosen to come and listen to the Lord. What will we choose tomorrow morning? Tuesday? Jesus is hoping that we will continue to choose this "better part". It isn't hard. It's a matter of spending ten minutes with him before getting distracted with the day's activities. It could be ten minutes of reading and reflecting on a passage from the Bible or a paragraph from a book of Christian meditations. It could be praying a decade or two of the Rosary before we turn on the morning news show.
Jesus wants us to choose the better part, to depend more on him than ourselves, so that he can give us his best. Today, let's promise that we will.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Saturday, July 3, 2010
IVXth Sunday in Ordinary Time.
IVXth Sunday in Ordinary Time.
IS 66:10-14,: GAL. 6:14-18,Gosple: LUKE 10: 1-12, 17-20
The story of St. Philip Neri, who earned the title “Apostle of Rome” in the 16th century, is an example of missionary zeal demanded by today’s gospel. Philip came down to Rome in the early 1500s as an immigrant from Florence and a layman. When he arrived, he was horrified by the physical and moral devastation of the city. Rome had been sacked in 1527 by the Germans who had left much of the city shell-shocked and ruined. The Gospel wasn’t being preached, and many priests and cardinals were living in open defiance of Christ’s moral teachings. Philip prayed to God to learn what he might do. He read the letters that St. Francis Xavier had sent back to Europe from India, where he had been converting tens of thousands, and Philip thought that God was calling him to follow Francis to India, to give his life in proclaiming the Gospel. He went to his spiritual director and told him what he thought God was asking of him. The wise old priest affirmed his desire to serve and bear witness to Christ, but told him to focus his attention on re-evangelizing those around him: “Rome is to be your India!” This was quite a task for one man. But Philip, relying on God’s help, started — first as a layman, then as a priest — to convert Rome, one person at a time. He would cheerfully go to street corners and say, “Friends, when are we going to start to do good?” He developed various entertaining social and religious activities to give the people, especially the youth. His impact was enormous, and when he died in 1595, much of Rome had been reconverted. The same God who spoke to Philip almost five hundred years ago challenges each one of us this morning through this Scriptures.
While all the synoptic Gospels mention a mission of the Twelve, only Luke adds a second mission of the 72. Just as Moses selected the seventy-two elders to guide and govern his people, so Luke presents Jesus as the “new Moses” in today’s gospel. Jesus sends out his seventy-two disciples to towns and villages to announce his visit, thus giving a symbolic meaning to the number seventy-two. The Jews also believed that there were seventy-two nations in the whole world, and they had seventy-two members in the Sanhedrin, the supreme council of the Jews. In the Book of Genesis, seventy descendants of Jacob moved with him from Israel to Egypt to begin a new life. In the Book of Exodus, seventy elders go up the Mountain of God along with Moses to learn about the new covenant with YHWH. Who were these seventy-two Jesus sent out ? We don’t know even one of their names. Their names are not mentioned. And there is a reason for that. They are us. We are the seventy-two. Each of us, by the very fact that we have heard the Lord's call, is likewise sent on a mission.
The messengers were to preach that the kingdom of God is at hand. The kingdom of God comes into being wherever God reigns, and wherever His will is done. The kingdom of God is present in the people through whom God acts. “Hence the early church equated Christ with the kingdom of God because God reigns in Christ, God’s will is done in Christ and God acts through Christ” (L G, #5). Thus to proclaim the kingdom of God is the same as to proclaim Christ. The kingdom of God has come upon us if God reigns in our hearts, if we do God's will, if God acts through us. When we preach “the kingdom of God is at hand” we are inviting the people to reach out and enter that Kingdom. What do we mean by “at hand” ? If I made a new house and did all the wiring for lighting, air conditioning, heating and stove etc..I won’t be getting the electricity in my house if no electricity is going through the area. But if the electricity is running over head, or in the neighbourhood, I can get the connection with some cable or wire, and get my house lighted and heated…It is something like this when we say the kingdom of God is at hand. The light and life is at hand and available now for you, reach out and grab him and make your life bright, eternal, happy and joyous. And he is at hand now as he was 2000 years ago.
We need to continue the preaching mission: Just as Jesus in today’s gospel gives instructions to the seventy-two missionaries, he also gives each one of us a mission to carry out. And our mission field is our parish and our workplace and neighbourhood. A recent survey asked the question, “Why do adults join the Catholic Church in spite of the scandals publicized in the media?” Seventy-five percent of the new adult converts to the Catholic Church reported that they were attracted by a personal invitation from a Catholic who had a lively relationship with Christ and his Church. As faithful Catholics, we will attract others to the Catholic Church—just as a rose attracts people by its beauty and fragrance. It’s our job. It’s our responsibility. We must not miss the current opportunities to be apostles in everyday life by our words and deeds.
When he tells his listeners to "ask the master of the harvest", he is telling us to pray for vocations. This is something concrete that every Catholic can do to further the Church's mission. In our parish we have the 30 hr adoration starting on every first Friday after the 10.00 am Mass till before Saturday evening Mass. A lot of people find time for that at some time during these hours. If you can’t go to Asia or Africa for mission work, you can do it here, may be praying for vocations at the dead of the night, sacrificing your sleep.
So during this Mass, and throughout this week, let's keep asking God to send more laborers into the harvest. And when we receive him in Holy Communion, let's ask him to show us how to be better followers, let's ask him to send us out this week to bring his Good News to someone who needs to hear it.
Today when we celebrate the blessing of the nation’s independence, we are to consider how much of that freedom we need to share with others. Our allegiance to country never supersedes nor is ever equivalent to our allegiance to God. We sing “God Bless America,” and yet we know that our faith will not allow us to ask God’s favoritism toward us over other nations. We know there are no national boundary lines with God. Our first allegiance is to the God whose truth still marches on. As we celebrate the independence let’s ask God’s grace on the leaders and the people to work for justice and peace, here in this land and all around the world.
IS 66:10-14,: GAL. 6:14-18,Gosple: LUKE 10: 1-12, 17-20
The story of St. Philip Neri, who earned the title “Apostle of Rome” in the 16th century, is an example of missionary zeal demanded by today’s gospel. Philip came down to Rome in the early 1500s as an immigrant from Florence and a layman. When he arrived, he was horrified by the physical and moral devastation of the city. Rome had been sacked in 1527 by the Germans who had left much of the city shell-shocked and ruined. The Gospel wasn’t being preached, and many priests and cardinals were living in open defiance of Christ’s moral teachings. Philip prayed to God to learn what he might do. He read the letters that St. Francis Xavier had sent back to Europe from India, where he had been converting tens of thousands, and Philip thought that God was calling him to follow Francis to India, to give his life in proclaiming the Gospel. He went to his spiritual director and told him what he thought God was asking of him. The wise old priest affirmed his desire to serve and bear witness to Christ, but told him to focus his attention on re-evangelizing those around him: “Rome is to be your India!” This was quite a task for one man. But Philip, relying on God’s help, started — first as a layman, then as a priest — to convert Rome, one person at a time. He would cheerfully go to street corners and say, “Friends, when are we going to start to do good?” He developed various entertaining social and religious activities to give the people, especially the youth. His impact was enormous, and when he died in 1595, much of Rome had been reconverted. The same God who spoke to Philip almost five hundred years ago challenges each one of us this morning through this Scriptures.
While all the synoptic Gospels mention a mission of the Twelve, only Luke adds a second mission of the 72. Just as Moses selected the seventy-two elders to guide and govern his people, so Luke presents Jesus as the “new Moses” in today’s gospel. Jesus sends out his seventy-two disciples to towns and villages to announce his visit, thus giving a symbolic meaning to the number seventy-two. The Jews also believed that there were seventy-two nations in the whole world, and they had seventy-two members in the Sanhedrin, the supreme council of the Jews. In the Book of Genesis, seventy descendants of Jacob moved with him from Israel to Egypt to begin a new life. In the Book of Exodus, seventy elders go up the Mountain of God along with Moses to learn about the new covenant with YHWH. Who were these seventy-two Jesus sent out ? We don’t know even one of their names. Their names are not mentioned. And there is a reason for that. They are us. We are the seventy-two. Each of us, by the very fact that we have heard the Lord's call, is likewise sent on a mission.
The messengers were to preach that the kingdom of God is at hand. The kingdom of God comes into being wherever God reigns, and wherever His will is done. The kingdom of God is present in the people through whom God acts. “Hence the early church equated Christ with the kingdom of God because God reigns in Christ, God’s will is done in Christ and God acts through Christ” (L G, #5). Thus to proclaim the kingdom of God is the same as to proclaim Christ. The kingdom of God has come upon us if God reigns in our hearts, if we do God's will, if God acts through us. When we preach “the kingdom of God is at hand” we are inviting the people to reach out and enter that Kingdom. What do we mean by “at hand” ? If I made a new house and did all the wiring for lighting, air conditioning, heating and stove etc..I won’t be getting the electricity in my house if no electricity is going through the area. But if the electricity is running over head, or in the neighbourhood, I can get the connection with some cable or wire, and get my house lighted and heated…It is something like this when we say the kingdom of God is at hand. The light and life is at hand and available now for you, reach out and grab him and make your life bright, eternal, happy and joyous. And he is at hand now as he was 2000 years ago.
We need to continue the preaching mission: Just as Jesus in today’s gospel gives instructions to the seventy-two missionaries, he also gives each one of us a mission to carry out. And our mission field is our parish and our workplace and neighbourhood. A recent survey asked the question, “Why do adults join the Catholic Church in spite of the scandals publicized in the media?” Seventy-five percent of the new adult converts to the Catholic Church reported that they were attracted by a personal invitation from a Catholic who had a lively relationship with Christ and his Church. As faithful Catholics, we will attract others to the Catholic Church—just as a rose attracts people by its beauty and fragrance. It’s our job. It’s our responsibility. We must not miss the current opportunities to be apostles in everyday life by our words and deeds.
When he tells his listeners to "ask the master of the harvest", he is telling us to pray for vocations. This is something concrete that every Catholic can do to further the Church's mission. In our parish we have the 30 hr adoration starting on every first Friday after the 10.00 am Mass till before Saturday evening Mass. A lot of people find time for that at some time during these hours. If you can’t go to Asia or Africa for mission work, you can do it here, may be praying for vocations at the dead of the night, sacrificing your sleep.
So during this Mass, and throughout this week, let's keep asking God to send more laborers into the harvest. And when we receive him in Holy Communion, let's ask him to show us how to be better followers, let's ask him to send us out this week to bring his Good News to someone who needs to hear it.
Today when we celebrate the blessing of the nation’s independence, we are to consider how much of that freedom we need to share with others. Our allegiance to country never supersedes nor is ever equivalent to our allegiance to God. We sing “God Bless America,” and yet we know that our faith will not allow us to ask God’s favoritism toward us over other nations. We know there are no national boundary lines with God. Our first allegiance is to the God whose truth still marches on. As we celebrate the independence let’s ask God’s grace on the leaders and the people to work for justice and peace, here in this land and all around the world.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
IInd Sunday of Easter- Divine Mercy Sunday
IInd Sunday of Easter- Divine Mercy Sunday
Perhaps you've heard the story of the Yugoslavian judge who was electrocuted when he reached up to turn on the light while standing in the bathtub. This guy’s poor wife found his body sprawled on the bathroom floor. He was pronounced dead and was placed in a preparation room under a crypt in the town cemetery for twenty-four hours before burial.
Well, in the middle of the night, the judge came to life. The judge looked around at his surroundings and suddenly realized where he was. He got pretty excited and rushed over to alert the guard. But instead of being any help, the guard was terrified and promptly ran off.
Fortunately, though, the guard returned with a friend, and they released the newly-revived judge. The judge's first thought was to phone his wife and reassure her that he really wasn't dead. Unfortunately, he got no farther than, "Honey... it's me," when his wife screamed and fainted.
So, he decided that the best course of action was to enlist some friends. He went to the houses of several friends; but because they all had heard the news from his distraught wife, they all doubted that he was really alive. They were all convinced he was a ghost.
Finally, in a last desperate effort, he contacted a friend in another city who hadn't heard about his death. And that person was able to convince his family and friends that the judge really was alive. This story almost sounds like the one from the Gospel today.
Thomas thought seeing is the basis for believing, but Jesus corrected him, believing is seeing. Faith is seeing from the heart and the Spirit, not the eyes. The story of "doubting Thomas" is presented as a warning to those of us who have trouble trusting the spiritual side of life. We often assume that those who knew Jesus in the flesh had a great advantage over the rest of us and we may even envy them. In fact, however, the risen Lord is far more present to us now in the Spirit than he ever was in the flesh.
It is interesting that the story that gives Thomas his infamous nickname, doubting Thomas, is the same story that has Thomas making an earth shattering confession of faith. Look at his confession, "My Lord, and my God." Not my teacher. Not my Messiah. But my God! It is the only place where Jesus is called God without qualification of any kind. It is uttered with conviction as if Thomas was simply recognizing a fact, just as 2 + 2 = 4, and the sun is in the sky. You are my Lord and my God! These are certainly not the words of a doubter. Finally Thomas came to believe that without faith, no evidence is sufficient; with faith no evidence is necessary. Faith is believing in the power of God to transform us. Thomas believed that Jesus had the supreme power to change the lives of all beings. That is why he acclaimed him Lord and God.
Theologian Karl Barth once remarked that to say the old line from the creed, "I believe in the Holy Catholic Church" does not mean that we believe in the church. It means rather to believe that God is present and at work in the church, that "in this assembly, the work of the Holy Spirit takes place, the work of the Holy Spirit becomes an event."
The tragedy that happened with Thomas was that he had separated himself from the disciples and therefore, in his solitude, missed the resurrection appearance. In this incident john is suggesting to us that Christ appears most often within the community of believers that we call the church, and when we separate ourselves from the church we run the risk of missing his unique presence and work in us.
The only Sunday Carrol, a little girl, missed was the Palm Sunday. When her parents came home from the Church with palms she asked where they got it. They said when Jesus came Jerusalem the people used the palms to welcome him and that is why they got this palms today. Carrol’s reaction was: Oh shucks, the only Sunday I did not go to Church Jesus turned up. Thomas also felt almost this way. The only time he was away from the group of other disciples Jesus came. We also miss his redeeming actions when he miss the Sunday gathering.
The Lord promised his abiding presence with his believing community. When two or three are gathered together in your name, I will be in your midst. I will be with you till the end of the world..
This Sunday is also called Divine Mercy Sunday. Pope John Paul II saw in the visions of a Polish saint, Faustina, a message Jesus Christ wished the world to focus on more: His Divine Mercy. His Mercy is powerfully shown in today's Gospel as the newly-risen Savior appears to those who had betrayed Him, those who in weakness had run far away from the soldiers and deserted him in His three-hour agony and death.
As Jesus came through those locked doors where they had huddled in fear of arrest, He did not upbraid or condemn them, but said with loving compassion, "Peace be to You." He forgave them for their weakness, their cowardice, and their sinfulness. He continued to heal them of their doubts and the fears.
Secondly, he did not fire them from their ministry, but commissioned them to preach His Name to the ends of the earth. He restored His trust in them, and loved them even more. He would eventually send His Spirit to strengthen them with His Divine Power.
As Jesus showed His Divine mercy to His apostles on this Sunday, the Church urges us this Sunday to show our gratitude and belief in His never-failing forgiveness for our sins and betrayals of His love. And let’s pray for a world that has abandoned His commandments, ignored His words, shunned His healing, and rejected His love.
Perhaps you've heard the story of the Yugoslavian judge who was electrocuted when he reached up to turn on the light while standing in the bathtub. This guy’s poor wife found his body sprawled on the bathroom floor. He was pronounced dead and was placed in a preparation room under a crypt in the town cemetery for twenty-four hours before burial.
Well, in the middle of the night, the judge came to life. The judge looked around at his surroundings and suddenly realized where he was. He got pretty excited and rushed over to alert the guard. But instead of being any help, the guard was terrified and promptly ran off.
Fortunately, though, the guard returned with a friend, and they released the newly-revived judge. The judge's first thought was to phone his wife and reassure her that he really wasn't dead. Unfortunately, he got no farther than, "Honey... it's me," when his wife screamed and fainted.
So, he decided that the best course of action was to enlist some friends. He went to the houses of several friends; but because they all had heard the news from his distraught wife, they all doubted that he was really alive. They were all convinced he was a ghost.
Finally, in a last desperate effort, he contacted a friend in another city who hadn't heard about his death. And that person was able to convince his family and friends that the judge really was alive. This story almost sounds like the one from the Gospel today.
Thomas thought seeing is the basis for believing, but Jesus corrected him, believing is seeing. Faith is seeing from the heart and the Spirit, not the eyes. The story of "doubting Thomas" is presented as a warning to those of us who have trouble trusting the spiritual side of life. We often assume that those who knew Jesus in the flesh had a great advantage over the rest of us and we may even envy them. In fact, however, the risen Lord is far more present to us now in the Spirit than he ever was in the flesh.
It is interesting that the story that gives Thomas his infamous nickname, doubting Thomas, is the same story that has Thomas making an earth shattering confession of faith. Look at his confession, "My Lord, and my God." Not my teacher. Not my Messiah. But my God! It is the only place where Jesus is called God without qualification of any kind. It is uttered with conviction as if Thomas was simply recognizing a fact, just as 2 + 2 = 4, and the sun is in the sky. You are my Lord and my God! These are certainly not the words of a doubter. Finally Thomas came to believe that without faith, no evidence is sufficient; with faith no evidence is necessary. Faith is believing in the power of God to transform us. Thomas believed that Jesus had the supreme power to change the lives of all beings. That is why he acclaimed him Lord and God.
Theologian Karl Barth once remarked that to say the old line from the creed, "I believe in the Holy Catholic Church" does not mean that we believe in the church. It means rather to believe that God is present and at work in the church, that "in this assembly, the work of the Holy Spirit takes place, the work of the Holy Spirit becomes an event."
The tragedy that happened with Thomas was that he had separated himself from the disciples and therefore, in his solitude, missed the resurrection appearance. In this incident john is suggesting to us that Christ appears most often within the community of believers that we call the church, and when we separate ourselves from the church we run the risk of missing his unique presence and work in us.
The only Sunday Carrol, a little girl, missed was the Palm Sunday. When her parents came home from the Church with palms she asked where they got it. They said when Jesus came Jerusalem the people used the palms to welcome him and that is why they got this palms today. Carrol’s reaction was: Oh shucks, the only Sunday I did not go to Church Jesus turned up. Thomas also felt almost this way. The only time he was away from the group of other disciples Jesus came. We also miss his redeeming actions when he miss the Sunday gathering.
The Lord promised his abiding presence with his believing community. When two or three are gathered together in your name, I will be in your midst. I will be with you till the end of the world..
This Sunday is also called Divine Mercy Sunday. Pope John Paul II saw in the visions of a Polish saint, Faustina, a message Jesus Christ wished the world to focus on more: His Divine Mercy. His Mercy is powerfully shown in today's Gospel as the newly-risen Savior appears to those who had betrayed Him, those who in weakness had run far away from the soldiers and deserted him in His three-hour agony and death.
As Jesus came through those locked doors where they had huddled in fear of arrest, He did not upbraid or condemn them, but said with loving compassion, "Peace be to You." He forgave them for their weakness, their cowardice, and their sinfulness. He continued to heal them of their doubts and the fears.
Secondly, he did not fire them from their ministry, but commissioned them to preach His Name to the ends of the earth. He restored His trust in them, and loved them even more. He would eventually send His Spirit to strengthen them with His Divine Power.
As Jesus showed His Divine mercy to His apostles on this Sunday, the Church urges us this Sunday to show our gratitude and belief in His never-failing forgiveness for our sins and betrayals of His love. And let’s pray for a world that has abandoned His commandments, ignored His words, shunned His healing, and rejected His love.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Vth Sunday. Lk.5:1-12 ( Miraculous catch/ Peter's Call)
Vth Sunday. Lk.5:1-12 (Miraculous catch of fish and Peter’s call)
In a certain church there was a man in the choir who couldn't sing very well. The choir director suggested that he should leave the choir. Others felt he should be given more time to improve. The choir director then decided to go to the pastor and complain. "You've got to get that man out of the choir or else I'm going to resign." So the pastor went to the man and said to him, "Perhaps you should leave the choir." "Why should I leave the choir?" the man asked. "Well," said the pastor, "four or five people have told me you can't sing." "That's nothing," the man replied, "forty or fifty people have told me you can't preach!" Today's readings show us how God can make use of the most unlikely people to fulfill the divine purpose.
The first reading is on the call of Isaiah, the second on the call of Paul, and the Gospel on the call of Peter and his coworkers. How did these people feel when they realized that they were in the presence of God. They all felt unworthy of God. Isaiah said: “Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips!” (Is. 6:5). Paul felt himself unfit to be called an apostle, because he persecuted the church of God. (1 Cor.15:9). And Peter fell down at Jesus' feet and said, “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” (Lk.5:8). Initial feeling of personal unworthiness could be a sign that a soul has seen God. That is why humility is said to be the first and primary virtue in authentic spirituality. The feeling of personal worthiness and competence, not to talk of the feeling of self-righteousness and spiritual superiority, could be a sign that the soul has neither seen nor known God.
When the soul confesses its sinfulness and inadequacy before God, God reaches out and absolves the sinner and renders him or her competent to serve Him. In the case of Isaiah, one of the seraphs touched his lips with a burning coal taken from the altar of the temple and said to him, “Now that this has touched your lips, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out” (Is.6:7). In the case of Simon Peter, Jesus said to him, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people” (Luke 5:10). We see that their qualification for the work of God does not come from them but from God. It is not their personal achievement; it is God's grace. That is why Paul could say, “But by the grace of God I am what I am” (1 Cor.15:10).
Beyond the feeling of personal unworthiness, there is another quality that the three people who are called to do God's work in today's readings have in common, and that is the availability to do God's will and the readiness to follow His directives. As soon as Isaiah hears the voice of the Lord asking, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” his immediate response was: “Here am I; send me!” (Is.6:8). In the case of Peter and his partners, we are told that “they left everything and followed him” (Lk.15:11) without looking back. And Paul threw himself with so much zeal into God's work that he worked harder than all those who were called before him, though as he is quick to point out, “it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me” (1 Cor.5:10). Merely feeling unworthy and incompetent does not make us into people that God can work with. We must add to that the availability and willingness to go out there and do as the Lord directs.
When we follow the guidance of the Lord in our lives, we achieve results that will blow our minds. This is what we see in Peter's miraculous catch of fish. Peter had fished
all night and caught nothing. Jesus asked him to let down his nets for a catch. It seemed foolish to do so, because Peter knew there were no fish to catch. "But at your word," he said, "I will let down the nets" (v. 5). And, like Mary before him, he consented to what seemed the impossible. He obeyed the word to put out into the deep and fish when his own senses told him to expect nothing. The huge catch of fish, almost bursting the nets, which followed was for him a sign of the presence of the holy God in Jesus.
One of the few creatures on earth that can out-jump Michael Jordon is the Impala. This is an African deer with a supercharged spring. It has a vertical leap of over 10 feet and can broad jump over 30 feet. You would think that the zoos of the world would find it impossible to keep such an animal enclosed. Not so! It's rather easy. Because the experts discovered something about the Impala. It will not jump unless it can see where it is going to land. Therefore, a solid wall even 6 feet tall is a sufficient enclosure. Lots of Christians have the Impala problem. They won't take a leap in faith unless they have all the answers in advance about where the leap will take them. But God is looking for some bold believers who, even in the face of the unknown, will leap when the Spirit says leap, will fly when the Spirit says fly, will launch when the Spirit says launch, all to the glory of the Lord. And Peter did that.
When God calls someone for ministry, it is not their expertise but their willingness to serve that God counts. For it is not us but God working through us. Jesus said to his disciples, “Do not worry about what you are to say and how you are to say it; when the hour comes you will be given what you are to say. For it is not you who will speak but it will be the spirit of your Father in you” (Mt: 10:19-20). God spoke to Jeremiah, “They will fight against you but not prevail over you, for I am with you to deliver you.” God empowers whoever He commissions for ministry.
People who performed great things in the past were not always great from a worldly standpoint. For example, St. John Vianney, the patron saint of priests, was below average in intellectual capacities. He struggled to complete his seminary studies. Jesus’ selection of the Twelve Disciples tells us the same truth. You may not be fit for a particular ministry but definitely there are ministries that are suited for you. It is not the power associated with a ministry but the manner in which you perform a ministry that makes you powerful.
Problems creep up when we turn to ourselves for resources to solve the issues. People who had successful ministries were always preoccupied with the needs of the people whom they were serving. That’s the key to success! As Jesus clearly spelled out in the gospel, our mission is to become fishers of men. Our focus must be on people. People and their struggle give us power beyond our imagination.
Today, as always, the good Lord continues to ask: “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” The Lord still needs messengers, men and women who, like Isaiah, will proclaim the Good News of God's love in the temple, or who, like Paul, will announce it in foreign lands to the ends of the earth, or who, like Peter, will speak up for God in the workplace and bring their coworkers and business partners to know and follow the Lord. If we feel unworthy and incompetent for the work of God, know that it is only people who feel that way that God can use. All that remains is for you to take the risk and say, “Here am I; send me!” The Lord himself will see to it that He renders you fit for the job He wants you to do for Him, as He did with Isaiah, with Paul, and with Peter.
The sinner is not banished, just purged for action. Unworthiness cannot be used as an excuse to keep to safe old ways. Isaiah is not allowed to stay in the temple and Peter cannot remain on the shore. They are both sent out into the sinful world. God calls us not to just savor his holiness in the safety of the familiar but he sends us out into the deep, into the unknown, to make his glory manifest to a hostile world. We cannot plead our sinfulness as an excuse not to obey his word. He invites us to put out into the deep wherever we are. And he goes on calling us even when we think we are safe. Only by responding to his call and encountering his holy presence we will finally discover the true identity for which he created us.
In a certain church there was a man in the choir who couldn't sing very well. The choir director suggested that he should leave the choir. Others felt he should be given more time to improve. The choir director then decided to go to the pastor and complain. "You've got to get that man out of the choir or else I'm going to resign." So the pastor went to the man and said to him, "Perhaps you should leave the choir." "Why should I leave the choir?" the man asked. "Well," said the pastor, "four or five people have told me you can't sing." "That's nothing," the man replied, "forty or fifty people have told me you can't preach!" Today's readings show us how God can make use of the most unlikely people to fulfill the divine purpose.
The first reading is on the call of Isaiah, the second on the call of Paul, and the Gospel on the call of Peter and his coworkers. How did these people feel when they realized that they were in the presence of God. They all felt unworthy of God. Isaiah said: “Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips!” (Is. 6:5). Paul felt himself unfit to be called an apostle, because he persecuted the church of God. (1 Cor.15:9). And Peter fell down at Jesus' feet and said, “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” (Lk.5:8). Initial feeling of personal unworthiness could be a sign that a soul has seen God. That is why humility is said to be the first and primary virtue in authentic spirituality. The feeling of personal worthiness and competence, not to talk of the feeling of self-righteousness and spiritual superiority, could be a sign that the soul has neither seen nor known God.
When the soul confesses its sinfulness and inadequacy before God, God reaches out and absolves the sinner and renders him or her competent to serve Him. In the case of Isaiah, one of the seraphs touched his lips with a burning coal taken from the altar of the temple and said to him, “Now that this has touched your lips, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out” (Is.6:7). In the case of Simon Peter, Jesus said to him, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people” (Luke 5:10). We see that their qualification for the work of God does not come from them but from God. It is not their personal achievement; it is God's grace. That is why Paul could say, “But by the grace of God I am what I am” (1 Cor.15:10).
Beyond the feeling of personal unworthiness, there is another quality that the three people who are called to do God's work in today's readings have in common, and that is the availability to do God's will and the readiness to follow His directives. As soon as Isaiah hears the voice of the Lord asking, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” his immediate response was: “Here am I; send me!” (Is.6:8). In the case of Peter and his partners, we are told that “they left everything and followed him” (Lk.15:11) without looking back. And Paul threw himself with so much zeal into God's work that he worked harder than all those who were called before him, though as he is quick to point out, “it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me” (1 Cor.5:10). Merely feeling unworthy and incompetent does not make us into people that God can work with. We must add to that the availability and willingness to go out there and do as the Lord directs.
When we follow the guidance of the Lord in our lives, we achieve results that will blow our minds. This is what we see in Peter's miraculous catch of fish. Peter had fished
all night and caught nothing. Jesus asked him to let down his nets for a catch. It seemed foolish to do so, because Peter knew there were no fish to catch. "But at your word," he said, "I will let down the nets" (v. 5). And, like Mary before him, he consented to what seemed the impossible. He obeyed the word to put out into the deep and fish when his own senses told him to expect nothing. The huge catch of fish, almost bursting the nets, which followed was for him a sign of the presence of the holy God in Jesus.
One of the few creatures on earth that can out-jump Michael Jordon is the Impala. This is an African deer with a supercharged spring. It has a vertical leap of over 10 feet and can broad jump over 30 feet. You would think that the zoos of the world would find it impossible to keep such an animal enclosed. Not so! It's rather easy. Because the experts discovered something about the Impala. It will not jump unless it can see where it is going to land. Therefore, a solid wall even 6 feet tall is a sufficient enclosure. Lots of Christians have the Impala problem. They won't take a leap in faith unless they have all the answers in advance about where the leap will take them. But God is looking for some bold believers who, even in the face of the unknown, will leap when the Spirit says leap, will fly when the Spirit says fly, will launch when the Spirit says launch, all to the glory of the Lord. And Peter did that.
When God calls someone for ministry, it is not their expertise but their willingness to serve that God counts. For it is not us but God working through us. Jesus said to his disciples, “Do not worry about what you are to say and how you are to say it; when the hour comes you will be given what you are to say. For it is not you who will speak but it will be the spirit of your Father in you” (Mt: 10:19-20). God spoke to Jeremiah, “They will fight against you but not prevail over you, for I am with you to deliver you.” God empowers whoever He commissions for ministry.
People who performed great things in the past were not always great from a worldly standpoint. For example, St. John Vianney, the patron saint of priests, was below average in intellectual capacities. He struggled to complete his seminary studies. Jesus’ selection of the Twelve Disciples tells us the same truth. You may not be fit for a particular ministry but definitely there are ministries that are suited for you. It is not the power associated with a ministry but the manner in which you perform a ministry that makes you powerful.
Problems creep up when we turn to ourselves for resources to solve the issues. People who had successful ministries were always preoccupied with the needs of the people whom they were serving. That’s the key to success! As Jesus clearly spelled out in the gospel, our mission is to become fishers of men. Our focus must be on people. People and their struggle give us power beyond our imagination.
Today, as always, the good Lord continues to ask: “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” The Lord still needs messengers, men and women who, like Isaiah, will proclaim the Good News of God's love in the temple, or who, like Paul, will announce it in foreign lands to the ends of the earth, or who, like Peter, will speak up for God in the workplace and bring their coworkers and business partners to know and follow the Lord. If we feel unworthy and incompetent for the work of God, know that it is only people who feel that way that God can use. All that remains is for you to take the risk and say, “Here am I; send me!” The Lord himself will see to it that He renders you fit for the job He wants you to do for Him, as He did with Isaiah, with Paul, and with Peter.
The sinner is not banished, just purged for action. Unworthiness cannot be used as an excuse to keep to safe old ways. Isaiah is not allowed to stay in the temple and Peter cannot remain on the shore. They are both sent out into the sinful world. God calls us not to just savor his holiness in the safety of the familiar but he sends us out into the deep, into the unknown, to make his glory manifest to a hostile world. We cannot plead our sinfulness as an excuse not to obey his word. He invites us to put out into the deep wherever we are. And he goes on calling us even when we think we are safe. Only by responding to his call and encountering his holy presence we will finally discover the true identity for which he created us.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
4th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME-C
LOVE NEVER FAILS
Taj Mahal is a major center of attraction to any tourist who visits India. The wonder of Taj Mahal lies not only in its immeasurable beauty but also in the unfathomable love behind its construction. Emperor Shah Jahan’s heart was broken at the death of his beloved wife Muntaz Mahal. His love towards her was so deep that he wanted to immortalize his love for her. He took 22 years and used 20,000 people to complete this epitome of love. Later, even after he was ousted and imprisoned, he celebrated his love for her, looking at Taj Mahal- the symbol of his love for her, through the prison windows. Such was the power of his love. Taj Mahal announces to the world the unfailing nature of love. Love never fails. “Deep waters cannot quench love, nor floods sweep it away” (Song of Solomon 8/7) St. Paul, today, talks about this eternal nature of the spirit of love.
LOVE FAILIURE!
There is an inner urge in every human person to love and to be loved. Everyone talks about the beauty and fruit of love. In spite of all this talk and excitement about love, everyone finds it difficult to stay in love. Where is the problem?
1. The problem lies in the fact that many of us are confused with the concepts of loving and liking. They are two different realities. Liking is the function of instincts of which we haven’t much control. It is an instinctual behavior. Anything that flows from an instinct is not premeditative. A human Instinct responds to whatever appeals to the senses. It can be the look of a person, the color of an object, the way she/he dresses, a certain manner of behavior, a particular quality of a person and so forth. We subconsciously fall in love with whatever is appealing to the senses. Very often we fall in love with people because of certain fascinations that have a quick impression on the senses. This sort of love ceases to exist as soon as these qualities disappear. Love based on liking alone is doomed to fail because the external appearances are transient.
On the other hand, love is a decision. It is an act of the will (Thomas Aquinas). Therefore even though we may not like someone, still we can choose to love him/her. In genuine love, likeability is only one aspect of many. Likeability definitely makes love easy; likeability makes a person more lovable. Even though, we may disagree with someone or do not like certain behavioral patterns of a person, still we can make a decision to love him/her. The decision to love someone helps us to look for the likeability in that person. That in turn changes our attitude towards him/her.
2. It is also important to know the difference between Eros love and agape love. Eros lies in the realm of sensuality and Agape on the other hand belong to the divine milieu. In the former case, we love a person because of the goodness in him/her. We love him/her as long as he/she serves my purposes. How often we hear people saying how the other disappointed them! Relationship based on Eros is destined to fail.
On the other hand, in agape love, our love is a reflection of the goodness within us. This love enriches the other rather than the lover. It enriches the receiver rather than the giver. This is the nature of God’s love. God’s love to the world does not add anything more to His Being. In agape, we love a person, not for what he is but for what he could be. Every person is created in the image and likeness of God. Every person is a potential saint. Every sinner has a future as every saint had a past. Our love is not based on his/her past but on his/her future possibilities.
NO LOVE, NO CHRISTIANITY
If there is no love, there is no Christianity. If we don’t abide in love, we don’t know anything about God because God is love. Love is not a quality of God. God is love. Jesus himself underscored this view when he said: ’By your love you will reveal that you are my disciples’ For example, the second reading (1John 4:7-10) starts with this advice: “Beloved, let us love one another, because God is love; everyone who loves is begotten by God”. Jesus repeats the same message in the Gospel: “As the Father loves me, so also I love you. Remain in my love” (John 15:9-17). Therefore, Christian vocation, as St. Therese of Lisieux put it rightly, is a call to love.
CRITERIA OF CHRISTIAN LOVE!
How do we know that we really love someone? What are the parameters of love? Christian love has three characteristics:
1. It is other oriented. The moment you start to think about others and their growth, you have begun to live Christian Love. If your life and activities do not bring happiness and growth to others, yours is not Christian love.
2. Christian Love is action oriented. Love is not an abstract thing. It should take on a concrete form. For example, we make available our time, talents, and treasures to the person we love. In genuine love there is always an exchange of words, an exchange of persons and an exchange of gifts. God so loved us by sending His own Son. Jesus loved us by giving His own Body and Blood. We must show our love through concrete actions.
3. Christian Love is expensive. There is no genuine love without a price or sacrifice. For example, to forgive someone who offended us or to defend somebody whom we don’t like…is really a sacrificial act. The amount of sacrifice that goes along with our concrete actions measures the real depth of our Christian Love!!
“The Crucifix is our Taj Mahal. It is our supreme parameter for love. Whenever you waver, look at Calvary. You will return home with hope and confidence.”
Taj Mahal is a major center of attraction to any tourist who visits India. The wonder of Taj Mahal lies not only in its immeasurable beauty but also in the unfathomable love behind its construction. Emperor Shah Jahan’s heart was broken at the death of his beloved wife Muntaz Mahal. His love towards her was so deep that he wanted to immortalize his love for her. He took 22 years and used 20,000 people to complete this epitome of love. Later, even after he was ousted and imprisoned, he celebrated his love for her, looking at Taj Mahal- the symbol of his love for her, through the prison windows. Such was the power of his love. Taj Mahal announces to the world the unfailing nature of love. Love never fails. “Deep waters cannot quench love, nor floods sweep it away” (Song of Solomon 8/7) St. Paul, today, talks about this eternal nature of the spirit of love.
LOVE FAILIURE!
There is an inner urge in every human person to love and to be loved. Everyone talks about the beauty and fruit of love. In spite of all this talk and excitement about love, everyone finds it difficult to stay in love. Where is the problem?
1. The problem lies in the fact that many of us are confused with the concepts of loving and liking. They are two different realities. Liking is the function of instincts of which we haven’t much control. It is an instinctual behavior. Anything that flows from an instinct is not premeditative. A human Instinct responds to whatever appeals to the senses. It can be the look of a person, the color of an object, the way she/he dresses, a certain manner of behavior, a particular quality of a person and so forth. We subconsciously fall in love with whatever is appealing to the senses. Very often we fall in love with people because of certain fascinations that have a quick impression on the senses. This sort of love ceases to exist as soon as these qualities disappear. Love based on liking alone is doomed to fail because the external appearances are transient.
On the other hand, love is a decision. It is an act of the will (Thomas Aquinas). Therefore even though we may not like someone, still we can choose to love him/her. In genuine love, likeability is only one aspect of many. Likeability definitely makes love easy; likeability makes a person more lovable. Even though, we may disagree with someone or do not like certain behavioral patterns of a person, still we can make a decision to love him/her. The decision to love someone helps us to look for the likeability in that person. That in turn changes our attitude towards him/her.
2. It is also important to know the difference between Eros love and agape love. Eros lies in the realm of sensuality and Agape on the other hand belong to the divine milieu. In the former case, we love a person because of the goodness in him/her. We love him/her as long as he/she serves my purposes. How often we hear people saying how the other disappointed them! Relationship based on Eros is destined to fail.
On the other hand, in agape love, our love is a reflection of the goodness within us. This love enriches the other rather than the lover. It enriches the receiver rather than the giver. This is the nature of God’s love. God’s love to the world does not add anything more to His Being. In agape, we love a person, not for what he is but for what he could be. Every person is created in the image and likeness of God. Every person is a potential saint. Every sinner has a future as every saint had a past. Our love is not based on his/her past but on his/her future possibilities.
NO LOVE, NO CHRISTIANITY
If there is no love, there is no Christianity. If we don’t abide in love, we don’t know anything about God because God is love. Love is not a quality of God. God is love. Jesus himself underscored this view when he said: ’By your love you will reveal that you are my disciples’ For example, the second reading (1John 4:7-10) starts with this advice: “Beloved, let us love one another, because God is love; everyone who loves is begotten by God”. Jesus repeats the same message in the Gospel: “As the Father loves me, so also I love you. Remain in my love” (John 15:9-17). Therefore, Christian vocation, as St. Therese of Lisieux put it rightly, is a call to love.
CRITERIA OF CHRISTIAN LOVE!
How do we know that we really love someone? What are the parameters of love? Christian love has three characteristics:
1. It is other oriented. The moment you start to think about others and their growth, you have begun to live Christian Love. If your life and activities do not bring happiness and growth to others, yours is not Christian love.
2. Christian Love is action oriented. Love is not an abstract thing. It should take on a concrete form. For example, we make available our time, talents, and treasures to the person we love. In genuine love there is always an exchange of words, an exchange of persons and an exchange of gifts. God so loved us by sending His own Son. Jesus loved us by giving His own Body and Blood. We must show our love through concrete actions.
3. Christian Love is expensive. There is no genuine love without a price or sacrifice. For example, to forgive someone who offended us or to defend somebody whom we don’t like…is really a sacrificial act. The amount of sacrifice that goes along with our concrete actions measures the real depth of our Christian Love!!
“The Crucifix is our Taj Mahal. It is our supreme parameter for love. Whenever you waver, look at Calvary. You will return home with hope and confidence.”
Sunday, January 24, 2010
THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
The scriptures for today focus our attention on the importance and power of the Word of God and its challenge for us today. One Sunday, a man asked: “What is the importance of the Bible in the life of a Catholic?” It was a great question. You may have numerous answers. However, Psalms Chapter 119: verses 105 offers the best answer for us: “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light for my path”.
In today’s gospel, Luke presents Jesus in the synagogue in Nazareth. It is the hometown of Jesus. There, Jesus makes a solemn declaration of his mission in the world. We can call it the Jesus Manifesto. People who initiate a revolution usually start off with a declaration of their manifesto. Karl Mark started by publishing the Communist Manifesto. Martin Luther started off with the publication of the 95 theses in Wittenberg. Jesus has come to start a revolution of mercy and love in the world. And here in today's Gospel reading, he publishes the Christian manifesto:
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor. (4:18-19)
To the great amazement and disbelief of his own townsmen, Jesus declared that Isaiah’s prophecy was being fulfilled in him at that very moment and his mission would be to give liberation to everyone who would listen to his “good news,” and accept it. Scripture helped Jesus to identify His mission.
Words reveal what is in one’s heart. The Word of God reveals God’s heart. In Jesus, the Word of God became Flesh. St. John’s chapter one says, in the beginning the word already existed, the word was with God and the word was God .The word was the source of life, and this life brought light to people. So Jesus was the living word of God. He became the heart of God; the message of God. At the age of 12, Jesus said: “I must be about my Father’s business”. In the desert Jesus said: “One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God”. On another occasion Jesus said to his disciples: “My food is to do the will of the one who sent me and to finish his work” (Jn 4:34). At Gethsemane Jesus said: “Not my will but yours be done” (Luke 22:42). And finally, on the cross He said: “Father into your hands, I commend my spirit”. (Lk23:46). Jesus started his life taking the job of doing His Father’s business and He faithfully completed it on the cross. Jesus, not only turned to the Scripture for guidance, but also became Scripture, the Word of God itself. Hence Jesus said: Whoever has seen me has seen the Father; the Father and I are one” (Jn10/30, 14/9).Since the Word of God is incarnated in Jesus, He became the True Way to Life.
The Word of God is like the Lighthouse! The role of a light house is to show the correct way for someone lost in the sea during night. The Bible does the same to a lost soul. It removes the darkness. The first word uttered by God was: Let there be light. And the light removed the darkness. And Jesus is the light that removes the dark and shows the right way to life. He says, He is the way, the truth and the life . That’s what Peter said to Jesus, Lord where shall we go? You have the words of eternal life! (Jn: 6:66, 20:31). Human doctors and medicines are the solution for physical sickness, but Jesus and his words are the answer and solutions for spiritual sickness. The Bible has the answer to all our problems.
The letter to the Hebrew chapter four says, the word of God is alive and active, sharper than any double edged sword. It cuts all the way through, to where soul and spirit meet, to where joints and marrow come together. It judges the desires and thoughts of the heart. (Hebrew 4:12) According to Isaiah, the word of God is just as the rain and snow come down from heaven and do not return there till they have watered the earth, making it fertile and fruitful, giving seeds to him who sows and bread to him who eats so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth. It shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it (Is 55:10).
Friends, the Word of God transformed the life of many. St. Paul discovered his mission when he was confronted with the Words of Jesus (Acts 9:3ff). For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? This word from Mark’s gospel chapter 8: 36 changed the life of Francis Xavier. Francis of Assisi, Francis De Sales, Ignatius Loyola, Vincent De Paul, Mother Theresa, Gandhi and many others talk volume about the life transforming influence of the Word of God in their lives. They became the living Gospels!
Dear friends, if they can live like a living gospels, why can’t we? Living the gospels is a process of listening, meditating, assimilating and delivering. This is what Blessed Mary did. She listened to the Word of God, pondered over it, made it part of her being and delivered it to the world in the form of Jesus.
How do I and you approach the Word of God? How much hours we spent in front of our TV, watching different channels? Why can’t give five minutes to read Bible everyday with all the members of the family? That will make wonders in our life.
In today’s gospel, Luke presents Jesus in the synagogue in Nazareth. It is the hometown of Jesus. There, Jesus makes a solemn declaration of his mission in the world. We can call it the Jesus Manifesto. People who initiate a revolution usually start off with a declaration of their manifesto. Karl Mark started by publishing the Communist Manifesto. Martin Luther started off with the publication of the 95 theses in Wittenberg. Jesus has come to start a revolution of mercy and love in the world. And here in today's Gospel reading, he publishes the Christian manifesto:
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor. (4:18-19)
To the great amazement and disbelief of his own townsmen, Jesus declared that Isaiah’s prophecy was being fulfilled in him at that very moment and his mission would be to give liberation to everyone who would listen to his “good news,” and accept it. Scripture helped Jesus to identify His mission.
Words reveal what is in one’s heart. The Word of God reveals God’s heart. In Jesus, the Word of God became Flesh. St. John’s chapter one says, in the beginning the word already existed, the word was with God and the word was God .The word was the source of life, and this life brought light to people. So Jesus was the living word of God. He became the heart of God; the message of God. At the age of 12, Jesus said: “I must be about my Father’s business”. In the desert Jesus said: “One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God”. On another occasion Jesus said to his disciples: “My food is to do the will of the one who sent me and to finish his work” (Jn 4:34). At Gethsemane Jesus said: “Not my will but yours be done” (Luke 22:42). And finally, on the cross He said: “Father into your hands, I commend my spirit”. (Lk23:46). Jesus started his life taking the job of doing His Father’s business and He faithfully completed it on the cross. Jesus, not only turned to the Scripture for guidance, but also became Scripture, the Word of God itself. Hence Jesus said: Whoever has seen me has seen the Father; the Father and I are one” (Jn10/30, 14/9).Since the Word of God is incarnated in Jesus, He became the True Way to Life.
The Word of God is like the Lighthouse! The role of a light house is to show the correct way for someone lost in the sea during night. The Bible does the same to a lost soul. It removes the darkness. The first word uttered by God was: Let there be light. And the light removed the darkness. And Jesus is the light that removes the dark and shows the right way to life. He says, He is the way, the truth and the life . That’s what Peter said to Jesus, Lord where shall we go? You have the words of eternal life! (Jn: 6:66, 20:31). Human doctors and medicines are the solution for physical sickness, but Jesus and his words are the answer and solutions for spiritual sickness. The Bible has the answer to all our problems.
The letter to the Hebrew chapter four says, the word of God is alive and active, sharper than any double edged sword. It cuts all the way through, to where soul and spirit meet, to where joints and marrow come together. It judges the desires and thoughts of the heart. (Hebrew 4:12) According to Isaiah, the word of God is just as the rain and snow come down from heaven and do not return there till they have watered the earth, making it fertile and fruitful, giving seeds to him who sows and bread to him who eats so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth. It shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it (Is 55:10).
Friends, the Word of God transformed the life of many. St. Paul discovered his mission when he was confronted with the Words of Jesus (Acts 9:3ff). For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? This word from Mark’s gospel chapter 8: 36 changed the life of Francis Xavier. Francis of Assisi, Francis De Sales, Ignatius Loyola, Vincent De Paul, Mother Theresa, Gandhi and many others talk volume about the life transforming influence of the Word of God in their lives. They became the living Gospels!
Dear friends, if they can live like a living gospels, why can’t we? Living the gospels is a process of listening, meditating, assimilating and delivering. This is what Blessed Mary did. She listened to the Word of God, pondered over it, made it part of her being and delivered it to the world in the form of Jesus.
How do I and you approach the Word of God? How much hours we spent in front of our TV, watching different channels? Why can’t give five minutes to read Bible everyday with all the members of the family? That will make wonders in our life.
Friday, January 15, 2010
SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
ISAIAH 62: 1-5;: I COR 12: 4-11;Gosple: JOHN 2: 1-11
Two weeks ago we celebrated the Feast of the Epiphany of Jesus. The Scripture, however, recorded three Epiphanies; one in Bethlehem at the visit of the Magi, second at the time of His Baptism and the third at the Wedding Feast of Cana. In Bethlehem, the Magi discovered the identity of Jesus and revealed it to the world. On the day of His Baptism, the Father and the Holy Spirit together revealed Jesus’ identity to the world. At the Wedding Feast of Cana, Mary, his own mother took the initiative to reveal the identity of Jesus. Our Gospel reading, today, focuses on this particular aspect. Even though the focus is on the fist of the seven miracles of Jesus in John, this story also reveals the significance of Mary in the plan of salvation. From that perspective, the wedding feast of Cana also marks the Epiphany of Mary. This story reveals at least three aspects of Mary’s personality.
MARY IS THE GREAT MENTOR OF JESUS
Mentoring is important in any area of life. Consider any game or a sport. Behind any winning team, there always is a great Coach. People who reached the height of holiness had mentors or spiritual directors. The mentor behind the formation of Jesus was none other than his mother. No one knows a son better than his mother. The greatness of Mary was that she accompanied Jesus at every step of his growth and prepared him for his mission. At the age of twelve Jesus was lost in the temple. When Mary confronted Jesus, He said: “Why did you search for me? Don’t you know that I must be about my Father’s business?” According to the Jewish custom, a boy becomes legally an adult at the age of 12. Naturally, nobody could blame a boy if he makes an independent decision. Legal adulthood does not necessarily mean maturity. Mary convinced him of the importance of waiting for God’s time, and led him home. The Bible says Jesus grew in wisdom under the guidance of His parents. At Cana, Jesus was not sure about the timing of his mission. He said, “My time has not yet come.” Mary intervened again and helped him to see the signs of the time. She said to the servant, “Do whatever Jesus tells you”. Mary, thus, accompanied Jesus as a mentor and slowly prepared him for the mission for which he was sent by His Father. Jesus recognized the role His mother in His formation. So at Calvary, He entrusted the Church to her guidance. She faithfully accepted that responsibility and prepared the disciples for the day of Pentecost.
Do we have a mentor in our life? The help of a spiritual director is useful for discernment. Remember the story of Samuel. God called him three times. He did not recognize it. He thought that it was Eli. Finally, Eli helped him to recognize God’s voice. St. Paul says: To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit. We all have gifts and talents. As Mary helped Jesus to manifest his gift, we need mentors to discern, discover and identify our gifts, talents and calling.
MARY IS THE GREAT BENEVOLENT
Things may not always happen as planned. Our calculations can go wrong. Unpredictability of the situation and miscalculation on our part can at times put us in a humiliating situation. How do we respond if we see such a situation happening to some of our friends or neighbors? Here Mary stands as a great model. The host of the wedding feast at Cana was running out of wine. It was a sign of disgrace. It could have brought shame on the whole family. Mary helped to solve the crisis in a professional manner. She did not make breaking-news out of it. She did not bring it to the attention of anyone who could do nothing to save the situation. She approached the right person and solved the crisis without incurring damage to anyone’s reputation. She did everything quietly, and remained behind the scene. What a great model of service!
MARY, THE GREAT INTERCESSOR
“Pray to the Mother of God. She will get our petition to Jesus. Jesus never denies her request. It is a true statement. A couple of times Jesus turned down the requests of His disciples, including Peter. Jesus, however, never rejected the request of his Mother. Even though Jesus thought that it was not the appropriate time for Him to start his public mission, He yielded to his Mom’s request. He performed the first miracle at his mother’s request. Approach Mary, she will intercede for us before her Son, Jesus.
“Invite Jesus and Mary to remain with us in our homes.” St. John Mary Vianney suggests this as the solution for many of our family problems. He used to encourage parents to create an atmosphere of prayer, Bible reading, mutual love and respect and sacrificial service at home so that the presence of Jesus and Mary might be perpetually enhanced and experienced in the family.
"Do whatever He tells you." This is the only piece of advice given by Mary recorded in the New Testament, and it is a prerequisite for miracles in our families. Let’s heed her advice and obey her Son who will fill our empty jars- our empty hearts- with joyful things to celebrate. And let’s ask “Holy Mary Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of hour death.”
Two weeks ago we celebrated the Feast of the Epiphany of Jesus. The Scripture, however, recorded three Epiphanies; one in Bethlehem at the visit of the Magi, second at the time of His Baptism and the third at the Wedding Feast of Cana. In Bethlehem, the Magi discovered the identity of Jesus and revealed it to the world. On the day of His Baptism, the Father and the Holy Spirit together revealed Jesus’ identity to the world. At the Wedding Feast of Cana, Mary, his own mother took the initiative to reveal the identity of Jesus. Our Gospel reading, today, focuses on this particular aspect. Even though the focus is on the fist of the seven miracles of Jesus in John, this story also reveals the significance of Mary in the plan of salvation. From that perspective, the wedding feast of Cana also marks the Epiphany of Mary. This story reveals at least three aspects of Mary’s personality.
MARY IS THE GREAT MENTOR OF JESUS
Mentoring is important in any area of life. Consider any game or a sport. Behind any winning team, there always is a great Coach. People who reached the height of holiness had mentors or spiritual directors. The mentor behind the formation of Jesus was none other than his mother. No one knows a son better than his mother. The greatness of Mary was that she accompanied Jesus at every step of his growth and prepared him for his mission. At the age of twelve Jesus was lost in the temple. When Mary confronted Jesus, He said: “Why did you search for me? Don’t you know that I must be about my Father’s business?” According to the Jewish custom, a boy becomes legally an adult at the age of 12. Naturally, nobody could blame a boy if he makes an independent decision. Legal adulthood does not necessarily mean maturity. Mary convinced him of the importance of waiting for God’s time, and led him home. The Bible says Jesus grew in wisdom under the guidance of His parents. At Cana, Jesus was not sure about the timing of his mission. He said, “My time has not yet come.” Mary intervened again and helped him to see the signs of the time. She said to the servant, “Do whatever Jesus tells you”. Mary, thus, accompanied Jesus as a mentor and slowly prepared him for the mission for which he was sent by His Father. Jesus recognized the role His mother in His formation. So at Calvary, He entrusted the Church to her guidance. She faithfully accepted that responsibility and prepared the disciples for the day of Pentecost.
Do we have a mentor in our life? The help of a spiritual director is useful for discernment. Remember the story of Samuel. God called him three times. He did not recognize it. He thought that it was Eli. Finally, Eli helped him to recognize God’s voice. St. Paul says: To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit. We all have gifts and talents. As Mary helped Jesus to manifest his gift, we need mentors to discern, discover and identify our gifts, talents and calling.
MARY IS THE GREAT BENEVOLENT
Things may not always happen as planned. Our calculations can go wrong. Unpredictability of the situation and miscalculation on our part can at times put us in a humiliating situation. How do we respond if we see such a situation happening to some of our friends or neighbors? Here Mary stands as a great model. The host of the wedding feast at Cana was running out of wine. It was a sign of disgrace. It could have brought shame on the whole family. Mary helped to solve the crisis in a professional manner. She did not make breaking-news out of it. She did not bring it to the attention of anyone who could do nothing to save the situation. She approached the right person and solved the crisis without incurring damage to anyone’s reputation. She did everything quietly, and remained behind the scene. What a great model of service!
MARY, THE GREAT INTERCESSOR
“Pray to the Mother of God. She will get our petition to Jesus. Jesus never denies her request. It is a true statement. A couple of times Jesus turned down the requests of His disciples, including Peter. Jesus, however, never rejected the request of his Mother. Even though Jesus thought that it was not the appropriate time for Him to start his public mission, He yielded to his Mom’s request. He performed the first miracle at his mother’s request. Approach Mary, she will intercede for us before her Son, Jesus.
“Invite Jesus and Mary to remain with us in our homes.” St. John Mary Vianney suggests this as the solution for many of our family problems. He used to encourage parents to create an atmosphere of prayer, Bible reading, mutual love and respect and sacrificial service at home so that the presence of Jesus and Mary might be perpetually enhanced and experienced in the family.
"Do whatever He tells you." This is the only piece of advice given by Mary recorded in the New Testament, and it is a prerequisite for miracles in our families. Let’s heed her advice and obey her Son who will fill our empty jars- our empty hearts- with joyful things to celebrate. And let’s ask “Holy Mary Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of hour death.”
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