The Right Gift

Scripture/Bible:  "Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or what man of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! 12 So whatever you wish that men would do to you, do so to them; for this is the law and the prophets. Matt 7:7-12

Reflection:  “Ask”, “Seek”, “knock”, and it all seems like an open invitation from the Lord. In real life this never seems to be a reality. 

In fact in real life what Jesus says, if taken in isolation, is not a fact; for not everyone who asks receives, neither everyone who seeks finds, nor him who knocks it is opened.

When a statement does not stand the test of truth, one shouldn’t immediately jump to judgments, more so with God’s word. Maybe the statement was quoted in isolation and out of context. The then the next best thing to do is to test it in its proper context and see if it means something else or if need be then read the subsequent statements and see how it qualifies the statement. 

Here we need not go far, but the subsequent statement of Jesus seems to qualify what he has to say:  “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!”

It can now be safely assumed that God gives to everyone who asks, seeks and knocks in order to have the good things.  Not the good things according to how we see but good according to what God thinks to be good for us.

In a similar passage in Luke we learn that one of the best thing to ask and which is good for us and our salvation is to ask for the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Lk. 11:13)

Prayer:  Lord as I knock at your door, after seeking in various pastures, I ask of you to give me your Holy Spirit, that I may never thirst again.

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us

Save us O Lord

Today’s Gospel:  When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, "This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign shall be given to it except the sign of Jonah. 30 For as Jonah became a sign to the men of Nin'eveh, so will the Son of man be to this generation. 31 The queen of the South will arise at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them; for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here. 32 The men of Nin'eveh will arise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. Luke 11:29-32

Reflection:  How is our generation different from that generation? Do we not seek for signs too? No not really so, not all of us seek for signs in our generation in order to believe.  

Our generation is an indifferent generation? How many of us are really bothered to know whether there is a God who exists and demands from us a response for our good and for our salvation?

We are instead worried about politics and humanity and how to save the earth and increase the living conditions of humans by way of materialistic emancipation and do good (purely from the human sense).  


Ours is a generation that thinks that by putting humans and their agenda first they are serving God as well as humanity.  In the bargain they suppress the freedom of those who voice their concern against such blasphemous ways and practices. 

So we have all sorts of charities and programs for human emancipation, holistic formation, saving the earth against global warming and looking forward to a new world order where justice, peace and brotherhood reign; an idealism.

You cannot be serving humanity, however good it may sound and however holistic the program. Humanity can only find its true meaning in Christ Jesus who has revealed himself to us as the one and only savior. His ghastly death at the hands of men was an act to save us and he is still saving all those who trust in his abiding grace to save to them.

Prayer: “So now, O Lord our God, save us, I beseech thee, from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou, O Lord, art God alone." 2 Kings 19:19

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us

How to Pray?

Today’s Gospel:  "And in praying do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 Pray then like this:

Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

10 Thy kingdom come.Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.

11 Give us this day our daily bread; 12 And forgive us our debts, As we also have forgiven our debtors; 13 And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil.

14 For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father also will forgive you; 15 but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Matt 6:7-15

Reflection:  ‘Comparison of religions in multi-religious society’, and Jesus does just that!

The Gentile way of doing things and the way his followers are supposed to do things would be different. Since their concept of God is different.  One has to appease the gods the other has to only turn to the God who cares with sincere prayer from the heart.  

Why should his followers not do things differently? Jesus clearly indicates to us that if we pray the right way God will hear our prayers; for he has revealed to us who God is. He is our Father and he cares for us. May be we may not pray the Lord's prayer which Jesus taught us but it is a model prayer for his disciple to follow and base their prayers on.  


The Greatest truth about who God is and what one should do to please him so that he or she is heard is contained in the Lord’s Prayer.

It is important to mention here the Catholic Rosary prayer, since the many so called wise consider the Rosary to fall in the category of what Jesus is saying in the gospel.  They have got it all wrong.

The Rosary is primarily a contemplative prayer, aimed at contemplating the mystery of Christ as revealed in scripture and tradition.  This labour of contemplation could then be offered for the salvation of souls and thus it becomes an intercessory prayer too. All this action is worth twice and multiplied, because we have the Most Holy presence with Mary as our mother with us as we pray it.  

Yet as in any prayers we could approach God in the wrong sense and pray as if they are magic formulae’s.  Similarly, we may not be praying the Rosary as it is supposed to be prayed and thus loose out on its many blessings.

Prayer:  Thy will be done!

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us

He will Come for Sure

Today’s Gospel:  "When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. Matt 25:31-32

Reflection:   "When the Son of man comes in his glory.” This phrase sounds like the many warnings our parents or our formators or teachers may have given us in order to warn us in our mischievous moments and yet never acted on them; “See, if I come there, I will not spare you.”

Not that the message of Jesus has the same implications as the warning of these but rather we could because of our background have a similar attitude towards such a warning and thus may take things in a casual way. In reality too our attitude to Jesus seems to be thus.

We fail to value words and assurances given to others and the worst is when this leads to an attitude of indifference and negligence to what is being said.

One of the greatest sins of our parents and elders (a way of saying what in fact we all practice in some measure or the other) is not to keep our word and not to teach our children the value of every word they speak.  “I tell you, on the day of judgment men will render account for every careless word they utter.” Matt 12:36

How many of us value the many sermons or good advices given? Here again the situation is exacerbated by the lack of commitment, dedication and actual quality of the message delivered.

But those who complain and grumble have no excuse if they do not avail of the sure word of God and the magisterial teachings available in writing. And for those not educated and for each one there is always the special instructions of the Holy Spirit to those who care to sit at the feet of Jesus. 

Let the discipline of lent lead us to this goal of learning at the feet of our Lord and master; Jesus Christ, lest we be found wanting when he comes in his Fathers Glory.

Prayer:  “Put false ways far from me; and graciously teach me thy law! I have chosen the way of faithfulness.” Ps 119:29-30

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us

The Work of the Holy Spirit

Today’s Gospel: The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. 13 And he was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to him. 14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, 15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel." Mark 1:12-15

Reflection:  The Holy Scriptures have a lot of wonderful things to share about the beautiful things the Holy Spirit does and energizes in every individual who welcomes him in their lives.

Taking from these instances and the personal experiences of people we normally hear of the many testimonies concerning the wonderful happiness and joy the Paraclete brings in their lives. One has only to sit among audiences testifying to the work of the Holy Spirit and one will hear of healing s and deliverances and other mighty works.

Can the Holy Spirit work negatively in the human sense?  Yes, and in today’s Gospel we have one such mighty example of Jesus being driven into the wilderness, where he is there for 40 days.  The dessert is no rosy affair but a hard life as it holds the many things that are detrimental to life and its comforts.

Though every individual, baptized in the Holy Spirit, has to go through the desert, the immediacy of it could vary depending on the readiness and willingness of the heart to serve God in whatever circumstances as possible.   But God’s presence and consolation is always there even in the most trying desert of our life. 

Lent is a beautiful opportunity to prepare one’s heart to welcome the wilderness which every individual has to pass through in order to enter into life.

Prayer:  Lord as you take me through the wilderness of life, may I not rebel against you nor grieve you but instead recognize your presence with me in all gratitude. (cfr. Ps. 78:40)

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us

Judging

Today’s Gospel:  After this he went out, and saw a tax collector, named Levi, sitting at the tax office; and he said to him, "Follow me." 28 And he left everything, and rose and followed him. 29 And Levi made him a great feast in his house; and there was a large company of tax collectors and others sitting at table with them. 30 And the Pharisees and their scribes murmured against his disciples, saying, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?" 31 And Jesus answered them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." Luke 5:27-32

Reflection:  Once a sinner, always a sinner, this is the human norm. But God’s norm is different; “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." Luke 5:32 There is scope in God’s eyes to change and to be thus looked upon as righteous.

Similarly, once a person is caught or condemned, he is always so by human standards but God’s standards are different, in his heart there is room for us to change and return. 

Can we humans be like God and change our attitude towards people and become like God? Not completely; because, unlike God we cannot know the genuineness of a person’s heart and the inner motivations with which one has repented.

But this is not an excuse to behave like humans, in the sense communicated above; for we can and have been given the ability and the assistance of God’s Holy Spirit. More so, as Christians we need to genuinely respect a person and even to seek to know with discernment the real motivation and truth.

This requires the patient attitude of letting go of our pre-conceived prejudices and even immediate judgments or pre-judgments based on mere information rather than a thorough study of the individual or subject.

More so as Christians our Judgment for wrong judgments can be severe for not learning from our master’s example; how he was crucified as a sinner, blasphemer and wrongdoer without a proper investigation by anyone, especially those in authority. Hence better still; not to judge!(cfr. Mt. 7:1)

Prayer: Lord, may I count on your wisdom before arriving at a judgment about any individuals.

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us

Lord you are more Precious

Today’s Gospel: Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?" 15 And Jesus said to them, "Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come, when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast. Matt 9:14-15

Reflection:  Some fast for health, some fast for wealth and some fast for power. There are some who fast for youth and some who seek to slim down, there are some who fast under a medical advice and then there are some who may be compelled by circumstances, such as a death or an ill health or lack of food and famine. 

Whatever the reason for fasting, for those who have abundance it is good for them to get into the discipline of fasting so as to understand the birth pangs of hunger and poverty. 

One of the compelling reasons for people to fast has been the going away of the beloved, either on account of death or separation. One automatically enters into a fast mode as if to say the lost will come back. The situation automatically brings about a trauma and a lack of appetite for food.

I am sure this cannot happen to us vis-a- vis our relationship with Christ in comparison to the disciples of Jesus.  But at the same time Jesus does suggest a need to fast and compares it to a situation of separation of a bridegroom from the beloved. “The days will come, when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.” Vs. 15

Therefore, the only way this can happen is to grow in the love of Jesus who is not visibly with us so that we are able to experience him in the depths of our being.  It is like a seed that is just cast away on a soil and it grows but yet better still if the seed is sown in an atmosphere created to bring about life and growth.  This will only be done if one knows the value of the seed to be sown and nurtured.

Prayer:  Lord, Let my fasting this season of lent help in grow in hunger for you and your word.

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us

Suffering with a Cause

Today’s Gospel:  saying, "The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised."

23 And he said to all, "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake, he will save it. 25 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?  Luke 9:22-25

Reflection: “The Son of man must suffer many things.”  Isn’t rejection in itself a great suffering and then add to it death.  A holy man suffers the pangs of death more than an unholy man.  This is because he carries in himself life, the very life of God.  

The visible form of this suffering of Jesus is greatly manifested as he expresses the deep emotional distress. The evangelists bring this fact out by describing the little details of him sweating blood and the agony of his pleadings.

What could be his greatest suffering? Is it the physical abuse, the whipping with the many lashes, the punching in his face, the crown of thorns on his head or the rejection of the Jews and others?

Seeing before his eyes the hardness of the hearts of men, who would not see their own salvation at stake by rejecting the very author of their salvation, was the greatest suffering of Christ.

Why are the majority so lost in the cruel world of indifference towards a God who loves them and cares for them and even comes to reach out to them constantly?  The cross and death that Jesus endured out of love for us is a sealed PROOF of the love of God for the ungrateful humanity. A humanity which is hardened and deceived and allowing themselves to be deceived by the deception that dwells in the many riches of this world.

Prayer:  Lord, that I may that I may know you and the power of your resurrection, and may share your sufferings, becoming like you in your death.” (cfr. Phil 3:10)

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us

Absorbed in Self glory

Today’s Gospel: "Beware of practicing your piety before men in order to be seen by them; for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.

2 "Thus, when you give alms, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

5 "And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

"And when you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 that your fasting may not be seen by men but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Matt 6:1-6, 16-18

Reflection:  Who doesn’t seek attention? But the degree of seeking varies, some seek it in all humility, some seek it in abundance and therefore are assumingly humble, very rarely you will find the true humility that doesn't easily seek attention. 

Attention seeking is a very deadly disease in our day, whether through writings or through creative activities or through use of other people to promote oneself and ones pet ideas.  

If one thinks that it only happens on the stage or in some public gatherings then one is absolutely wrong.  It can be in one’s own eyes we could be attentions seekers, living in a dream world. We may externally manifest a simplicity but internally carry a pride of self glory that is an abhorrence before God.

One has only to sit quietly in prayer and if one allows the Holy Spirit to search one’s heart and conscience then they would find themselves most of the time absorbed in thoughts of self glory. 

We were created to love and serve God and we rarely realize that we in the act of serving God serve ourselves more than God, absorbed in our glory rather than the greater glory of God.

In the gospel reading of today Jesus warns us about such hypocrisy and expects us to deal with this disease of self glory.  What better time than the season of lent.

Prayer:  Lord, may this sacred season be a source of unending joy as I seek to love you and follow you closely.

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us

Important Teaching

Today’s Gospel:  They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he would not have any one know it; 31 for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, "The Son of man will be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him; and when he is killed, after three days he will rise." 32 But they did not understand the saying, and they were afraid to ask him." Mark 9:30-32

Reflection:  When we talk about teachings, we normally think in terms of a set of instructions or knowledge of something.   Very rarely, we would imagine that a future knowledge about self as instructions.

In the Gospel reading of today, there is an unusual statement made about Jesus teaching his disciples (vs.31) and in actual reality he was sharing with them his forthcoming ordeal and sufferings at the hands of men.

Sometimes, the easiest instructions are difficult to understand and that’s because we come with our categories and pre-set mindset to the school of instruction.

When you are learning to drive a vehicle you could and should learn to first handle the breaks but when learning from the mother of all schools, the greatest of all teachers, then there is no room for such fears.  But beware of men who come to you in the name of the Lord, claiming to be his servants and yet servants of their own imaginations, promoting themselves in the name of the Bible.

They avoid the cross in the name of God’s word and condemn those that instruct them as their persecutors.  That’s because they have never understood the most important teachings of Christ; the passion and death of Jesus.

The greatest opportunity and blessings the Catholics have is the season of lent which also gives them opportunities to not only receive the teaching of Christ’s suffering but also to participate in it through its various time tested devotions. We could miss out on this teaching by only practicing all types of rigours without being rooted in the cross of Christ.

Prayer: Lord, let the words of St. Paul be my instruction and prayer this lent: “For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” 1 Cor 2:2

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us

Deliverance

Today’s Gospel:  And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd about them, and scribes arguing with them. 15 And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed, and ran up to him and greeted him. 16 And he asked them, "What are you discussing with them?" 17 And one of the crowd answered him, "Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a dumb spirit; 18 and wherever it seizes him, it dashes him down; and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid; and I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able." 19 And he answered them, "O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me." 20 And they brought the boy to him; and when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. 21 And Jesus asked his father, "How long has he had this?" And he said, "From childhood. 22 And it has often cast him into the fire and into the water, to destroy him; but if you can do anything, have pity on us and help us." 23 And Jesus said to him, "If you can! All things are possible to him who believes." 24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, "I believe; help my unbelief!" 25 And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "You dumb and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again." 26 And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse; so that most of them said, "He is dead." 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. 28 And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, "Why could we not cast it out?" 29 And he said to them, "This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer." Mark 9:14-29

Reflection:  “And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd about them, and scribes arguing with them.” (vs. 14) Who are the “they” that came to the disciples and that saw a great crowd about them?  They were Peter, James and John who had just about been witnesses to the transfiguration of Jesus on Mount Tabor.

If the Lord would have stuck to Peter’s plan of being up there permanently then who would train the disciples and or instruct them on how to handle things. Jesus had a task to train them, the future church and part of the training was to be God’s instrument in the world to heal and set free those who are captive to the devil and his scheming.

In our generation it is much easier to believe in the power of modern medicine and psychiatry to handle such issues. The power of the Gospel was rendered meaningless and presented empty of its power by these disciples of Jesus.  The only way to revive this grace is by allowing that reprimand of Jesus, which was addressed to these disciples, to speak to us: "O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you?”

If we still lack that motivation and faith to have that confident faith then we need to be humble enough to take him to Christ who not only rebukes them but also invites them: “Bring him to me.”

But woe to that man who boasts and falsifies the Gospel and thinks that it is prudent not to handle it in a spiritual way but rather refers them to a psychiatrist or a psychotherapist or  a counselor or puts obstacles in the working of God’s grace in such deliverance activity.

Prayer:  “Because he cleaves to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name.”  Ps 91:14

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us

Surround yourself with Faith

Today’s Gospel:  And when he returned to Caper'na-um after some days, it was reported that he was at home. 2 And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room for them, not even about the door; and he was preaching the word to them. 3 And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. 4 And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and when they had made an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic lay. 5 And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "My son, your sins are forgiven." Mark 2:1-5

Reflection:  Their faith, the faith of the four was instrumental in healing the paralytic who was brought to Jesus on a stretcher through the roof.  This is amazing; we have had many cases of individuals accessing Jesus’ healing and deliverance through faith.

This then brings us to the question of faith and the many faith healers. They would say; only believe and don’t doubt but believe that you are healed and yet many in the congregation go back unhealed.  If anyone protests they had it because they are already judged; if you are not healed it is because of your lack of faith. What is worse is that they are quite detached from their words when they speak and would not go that extra mile in rehabilitating those who are not healed.

In other words; we have the faith but you don’t have the faith.  My contention is this; if you have the faith then I am sure it is not like the faith of the four who brought the paralytic to Jesus to be healed. While the paralytic only cooperated but it was their faith, the faith of the four, that Jesus could see and testify to and through which could bring about one of the most impressive and amazing healing.

Faith is absolutely necessary for healing, but it could be the faith of others too which can change an impossible situation into a blessing.  Likewise the lack of faith of the many can also influence the working of God as in Matthew: “And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief.”  Matt 13:58

Prayer:  I will say to the Lord, "My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust." Ps 91:2

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us

Listen to Him

Today’s Gospel:  And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves; and he was transfigured before them, 3 and his garments became glistening, intensely white, as no fuller on earth could bleach them. 4 And there appeared to them Eli'jah with Moses; and they were talking to Jesus. 5 And Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is well that we are here; let us make three booths, one for you and one for Moses and one for Eli'jah." 6 For he did not know what to say, for they were exceedingly afraid. 7 And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, "This is my beloved Son; listen to him."    Mark 9:2-7

Reflection:  Whom do you listen to? This can well be answered when one asks oneself; whom do I go to when I have a problem? Even this can sometimes be a deceptive question?  What could be still better is this; whose advice do I take most of the time and whom do I depend on most of the time for advice?

Then the next thing to check is this; what is the opinion I have of myself?  Do I believe in myself as taught by my education? Do I analyze things and thoughts, sermons, lectures and news item in my mind so as to dissect the motives and intention, the logic and the truth, before arriving at decisions?

The real problem arises when we are totally dependent on our own intellect and wisdom or on others as if we understand every mystery as they are supposed to be understood.  

The Psalmist having realized the reality of this truth says:  “O Lord, my heart is not lifted up, my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a child quieted at its mother's breast; like a child that is quieted is my soul.”  Ps 131:1-2

In keeping with this truth about humans we arrive at a threshold of decision making: who do I trust and should trust? In other words whom do I listen to?

For us it is God himself has spoken for our good and for our salvation: "This is my beloved Son; listen to him." If there is any human being who knows what is best for us, for our good health and longevity, then remember, God knows even better than them all; “This is my beloved Son; listen to him."

Prayer: “O that my people would listen to me, that Israel would walk in my ways! I would soon subdue their enemies, and turn my hand against their foes.”  Ps 81:13-14

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us