Enabling Leadership

Today’s Gospel Text: Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down his disciples came to him. 2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: 3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 5 "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. 6 "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. 7 "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. 8 "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 9 "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. 10 "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 "Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, Matt 5:1-12

Reflection: What sort of an attitude is this; “seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain and when he sat his disciples came to him.”? (vs. 1)

Should he not have catered to the crowd and their needs, what sort of charity was Jesus practicing that he ignored the crowd and he goes up the high mountain away from their gaze?

I am sure that in our times if someone did that we would have criticized them for ignoring their need to meet God or to be ministered by him. 

Was this not a good opportunity for Jesus to preach to them the things of God and make God known to them?

But if we look at this from the leadership point of view, here was a moment for Jesus, at the very beginning of his ministry, to see the great task at hand and withdraw early in order to prepare a band of people to handle the great task at hand.  

His story is like that of the story of Moses who ministered all day long to his people until his father-in-law came with a better idea of appointing leaders and elders to do the work. (Ex. 18:13ff)

Jesus similarly withdraws in order to prepare his dedicated disciples for the great task at hand.

Leadership is meant for enabling others towards taking up the task that God wants of us. It is meant to raise up dedicated disciples after God’s own heart.

There is a great hunger and thirst for God’s word in the hearts of people and we have failed to cater to these needs of the people. These task is many places and situation is best fulfilled by the many break away groups. 

There is an overemphasis on the rite and the ritual that a few have realized the need to reach out at a level where sacraments empowered by the gospel could be used to bring about transformation in the hearts and minds of people.

The word of Jesus is the primary and it is the word that brings forth the sacrament into existence and it is this word that needs to be proclaimed in all its power.  The beatitudes are those words of Jesus that along with the sacramental presence of Jesus can bring hope to the millions.

Prayer:  Lord, prepare me to be an instrument; a dedicated disciple of your word and sacrament.

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

Mystery of Life

Today’s Gospel Text: He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. 23 And some one said to him, "Lord, will those who are saved be few?" And he said to them, 24 "Strive to enter by the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25 When once the householder has risen up and shut the door, you will begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, 'Lord, open to us.' He will answer you, 'I do not know where you come from.' 26 Then you will begin to say, 'We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.' 27 But he will say, 'I tell you, I do not know where you come from; depart from me, all you workers of iniquity!' 28 There you will weep and gnash your teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God and you yourselves thrust out. 29 And men will come from east and west, and from north and south, and sit at table in the kingdom of God. 30 And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last." Luke 13:22-30

Reflection: Did anyone tell you that all will be saved from damnation because he is a God of love? If you believed in them then remember; beginning with that person even your salvation is at stake.

How dare they make the master of all truth a liar or make his chosen servants the evangelist a liar? If you address truth as lie, then what is left for you except to dwell in lies all along life’s journey unto eternal damnation?

Woe to the wise of the world, the learned and the educated who despise the wisdom of the God of all ages. It is his action of love to preserve those that walk righteously in his ways.

Yes only a few will be saved and if you have to condemn such assertion as fundamentalism or by any other name without ascertaining the truth of the matter then it is to your own condemnation.

The choices we make today have eternal ramifications and Jesus' warning about the few being saved is not to be taken lightly. It should make us see the truth behind it and more so the price that he paid in order to bring this truth to us.

The death he endured just so that we may know the eternal truth and the eternal value of our soul could help us in not rejecting what Jesus has to say.

The cross of Christ speaks a powerful message; that eternity is offered to us as a gift by living out the challenges that comes through faith in Jesus.

There will be many to ridicule and mock as they did at the cross, willing to shed innocent blood in order to accomplish their agenda for a just world achieved through pseudo equality, justice and brotherhood and through vile suppression and wrong doing. 

Prayer:  Lord, in your mercy open our minds to understand the depth of the mystery you have revealed in the revelation of Jesus and his cross and resurrection. 

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

Growing Kingdom

Today’s Gospel Text: He said therefore, "What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? 19 It is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his garden; and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches."  20 And again he said, "To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? 21 It is like leaven which a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened." Luke 13:18-21

Reflection: We understand better through comparisons and thus people may ask; like what or they may ask for an example. 

The difficulty is that a given comparison could either communicate a shallow meaning or a deeper meaning. Sometimes a shallow meaning communicated is itself a deeper thought and progressively can lead us still deeper into the depth of it.

But when it comes to expressing the richness of the kingdom of God, the deeper meaning is to be expected, and to reach the depth of the hidden meaning may never be easy without the help of the Holy Spirit.

In the two parables of today's Gospel passage Jesus explains the delicate increase of the Kingdom of God brought about unconsciously but surely, revealing its sublime power to do so. 

The history of the Church and its growth at great odds down the ages, beginning with the crucifixion of Christ its founder followed by the martyrdom of the apostles, is a clear sign of the fulfillment of this parable and its prophetic nature.

Just a seed planted by Christ Jesus and it has become a huge tree where every kind of people and nations have gathered to shelter under its branches and feed on its fruits.

And just a small measure of leaven and the church largely has spread with much violence against it; in fact the many saints and martyrs loosing themselves like leaven for the increase of the kingdom of God,

What is past has to be repeated in every age, for a seed and a leaven cannot loose its potency. Hence the un-evangelized world is a scandal and does not fulfill the mandate of Christ to proclaim the gospel to the whole world.

Prayer: Lord, grant us the faith to be your instruments to boldly proclaim Jesus as the only savior of all mankind.

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

Sabbath Rest

Today’s Gospel Text:  Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. 11 And there was a woman who had had a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years; she was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. 12 And when Jesus saw her, he called her and said to her, "Woman, you are freed from your infirmity." 13 And he laid his hands upon her, and immediately she was made straight, and she praised God. 14 But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the sabbath, said to the people, "There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be healed, and not on the sabbath day." 15 Then the Lord answered him, "You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his ass from the manger, and lead it away to water it? 16 And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?" 17 As he said this, all his adversaries were put to shame; and all the people rejoiced at all the glorious things that were done by him. Luke 13:10-17

Reflection: A Sabbath rest is always an opportunity for God to work; for while we rest he works best.

Thus we find Jesus busy on a Sabbath doing the most laborious and best work that anyone can undertake, viz. the ministry of teaching in the Synagogue. 

This ministry of teaching leads him to do the next best work one can undertake viz., that of witnessing by our deeds to the mighty power of God who alone is able to save us.

Hence, one who understands the significance of a Sabbath will not violate the Sabbath or underestimate its importance but will instead value its importance and keep it.

To be recipient of the grace of Sabbath depends on the way we understand the significance of the Sabbath rest and how we keep it.

If we spend that day in the presence of God, by fulfilling our Christian obligation and duties, then we are entering into that perfect rest which ministers to our spirits and heals us with each encounter of the Lord of the Sabbath; Jesus Christ.

If only the ruler of the Synagogue knew who Jesus was and his ministry and work. 

Even in our times the many sacred and lay ministers who minister diligently and faithfully do the work of Christ and minister rest and peace to the people who are need it.

Everyone born in this world requires this rest whose closest camouflaging cousin the bodily sleep which too heals and gives rest. But the one that the Lord gives and ministers to us far outweighs the one accrued through a bodily sleep.

This insight should encourage each one of us to seek to enter into this rest of God by having programs of prayer; personal, family or communitarian.

Prayer:  Lord I pray that I may have the courage and strength to enter into your rest.

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

Faith is Supreme

Today’s Gospel Text:  And they came to Jericho; and as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great multitude, Bartimae'us, a blind beggar, the son of Timae'us, was sitting by the roadside. 47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" 48 And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent; but he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" 49 And Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." And they called the blind man, saying to him, "Take heart; rise, he is calling you." 50 And throwing off his mantle he sprang up and came to Jesus. 51 And Jesus said to him, "What do you want me to do for you?" And the blind man said to him, "Master, let me receive my sight." 52 And Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your faith has made you well." And immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way. Mark 10:46-52

Reflection: Faith versus reason! Which is greater: faith or reason?

This a difficult argument for the many and to comprehend the wisdom of God in seeking to save us not on the basis of reason or absolute knowledge but on pure faith.

Yet those who value faith never discard reason and are fully able to explain the relevance and at the same time limitations of reason. It requires sound reasoning's to do so. 

They who value faith over reason can argue and as St. Paul puts it are “able to lead every thought into subjection to Christ.” (2 Cor. 10:5). Thus reason makes a new beginning through subjection to Christ, which is faith.  

The relationship between reason and faith is like the relationship between life and breath; though it seems that one can’t do without the other.  Though breath is on account of life, yet without the breath there is no life.

Which is greater? If the criteria for evaluating is preexistence then life is greater than breath, otherwise we could conclude that it is breath that is essential for life to exist.

But when breath ceases life still continues in a lifeless body for sometime and those who have faith know for sure that this life continues with God’s help for all eternity.

Similarly, faith always exists and will exist irrespective of reason. If one would not have faith in God then faith in all its pride is placed in oneself, which many a times is a faith in the reasoning's of mortals.

If not then we begin to put our faith in mere abstractions, ideas and values without allowing our reasons to that comprehensive knowledge.

Prayer: Lord, I believe in you, I believe in every word you have spoken to us, I believe that I still need to believe in you as one who is with me guiding my footsteps. 

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

Face Death

Today’s Gospel Text:  There were some present at that very time who told him of the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And he answered them, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered thus? 3 I tell you, No; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen upon whom the tower in Silo'am fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who dwelt in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, No; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish."

6 And he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. 7 And he said to the vinedresser, 'Lo, these three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down; why should it use up the ground?' 8 And he answered him, 'Let it alone, sir, this year also, till I dig about it and put on manure. 9 And if it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.'" Luke 13:1-9

Reflection: “Get yourself insured” is the new age mantra for life and its eventualities.

Some would register themselves for a health rejuvenation program or join a gym or could be on health foods and vitalizers to rebuild their immune system.

In order to protect ourselves from harm we are constantly asked to be careful and trust much in the abilities of our watchful eyes and other senses.  If not and in the case of those who can afford, they may go to the extent of having body guards or invest in security devises in order to protect themselves.

Yet with all these gadgetries and efforts to protect we could still end up as casualties along the way. Such are the frailties of life! 

Some wise man may say; “Who has come to survive, we all have to die some time or the other”

But what sort of death, a sudden one, lost to the world and with no hope of an eternity. A death you eventually meet but never facing it. 

It is such a reality that Jesus is pointing to when he says; “"Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered thus?  I tell you, No; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. (vss. 2-3)

The followers of Jesus too died snuffed out from among the people of the world: Were they sinners? Yes, they were, but not like the ones who persist in sin, without a knowledge of God.

While those killed by Pilate and those on whom the tower of Siloam fell met their death without being ready for it. The followers of Jesus faced death, fully aware of the consequences they will have to face as result of proclaiming the truth of Christ to the world. 

What is more these Dedicated Disciples carried in their hearts the assurance of eternal life, an experience constantly lived by the true followers of Jesus Christ.

Prayer:  Lord, let my life be a constant and pleasing sacrifice to your holy name.

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

Human Limitations

Today’s Gospel Text: He also said to the multitudes, "When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, 'A shower is coming'; and so it happens. 55 And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, 'There will be scorching heat'; and it happens. 56 You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky; but why do you not know how to interpret the present time? 57 "And why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? 58 As you go with your accuser before the magistrate, make an effort to settle with him on the way, lest he drag you to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer put you in prison. 59 I tell you, you will never get out till you have paid the very last copper." Luke 12:54-59

Reflection: You travel by a public transport or eaves drop on conversation between friends or colleagues and invariably the whole conversation revolves around the hot topics of the day, dished out either by the television or the daily news paper or any other sources.

Each one has an opinion about the things happening or even if not then the many may humbly submit to an opinion which they feel is right. Disagreements if any is a clear indication of the individuality and the ability to have an opinion differing from the other.

To have an opinion about things is a perspective and however right or convinced one may feel in ones heart that they are perfectly right, yet they may not always be right.

In some situations the right opinions may get discarded and false one easily assimilated and adopted.

And in quite a few instances the right opinions may just elude us.

The most shocking element is that there are situations when one may even know that they don’t have a right opinion about things and yet may hold and even proclaim their opinions to others with all conviction.

Our masses like to live in deception too and would welcome indiscriminately the falsity that people offer them.  A dynamic personality has only to capture their imagination and they can use the masses to piggy back a revolution.

There are those who claim an element of neutrality or may not mind the term “fence sitters” and yet may not always be right in their decisions.   

One reason for the confidence we have about our opinions is because of our particular expertise in certain fields which we extrapolate it on to other areas of knowledge wrongly or we think that to be an expert in any field is more than enough to reach our ultimate destiny.

Jesus in today’s gospel reading warns each one of us such deception in ourselves.

Prayer: Lord, help me realize the limitations of myself bereft of immortality.

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

Baptism

Today’s Gospel Text: "I came to cast fire upon the earth; and would that it were already kindled! 50 I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how I am constrained until it is accomplished! 51 Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division; 52 for henceforth in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three; 53 they will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against her mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law." Luke 12:49-53

Reflection: The baptism of Christ: How often should he go through a baptism process?

As Catholics we believe in one baptism, yet various kinds of baptism. So besides the baptism with water, we have here the mention of the baptism of fire or in Catholic circles referred to as the baptism of blood.  Then we also have the baptism of desire.

The Lord Jesus who underwent a baptism at Jordan at the hands of John the Baptist is now talking about another baptism which he has to undergo; a baptism of fire, which culminates in his ultimate death, beginning with his passion at Gethsemane.  

Was there a need for Jesus to undergo any of these baptisms?

It is we humans who are sinful before God who require a baptism and not Jesus. Being sinless all the baptism of Jesus are on behalf of mankind and for the salvation of mankind.

Hence Jesus who was sinless did not require to go through a baptism in order to achieve the end of baptism, which is eternal life, accomplished through dying in the waters of the font and rising to new life in him.

Since Jesus in every way submitted to the cruelty of the effects of sin, which brings about death and thus necessitates baptism, we through him have peace with God and eternal life.

Baptism is not a once and for all action but rather an ongoing process with its grace at work in us. It is an invitation to die to our old selves corrupted by sin and live for Christ, who conquered and has gone ahead of us preparing a place for us.

Prayer: Lord, help me live the grace of baptism in daily life by constantly seeking to die to my many desires that are detrimental to life and according to your wisdom.

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

Parable for Whom

Today’s Gospel Text:  But know this, that if the householder had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. 40 You also must be ready; for the Son of man is coming at an unexpected hour." 41 Peter said, "Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?" 42 And the Lord said, "Who then is the faithful and wise steward, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? 43 Blessed is that servant whom his master when he comes will find so doing. 44 Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. 45 But if that servant says to himself, 'My master is delayed in coming,' and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, 46 the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will punish him, and put him with the unfaithful. 47 And that servant who knew his master's will, but did not make ready or act according to his will, shall receive a severe beating. 48 But he who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, shall receive a light beating. Every one to whom much is given, of him will much be required; and of him to whom men commit much they will demand the more. Luke 12:39-48

Reflection: The parables of Jesus communicate a powerful message to any listeners. Some of them are addressed to the general public, some for the scribes and Pharisees and some specifically to the disciples. 

Whom then was this Parable addressed to?

Peter said, "Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?" (vs. 41) When Peter asks this question, he is revealing something to us.

Ultimately whom is this specific parable addressed to, is it not to those among the disciples who have been given a responsibility.

Hence the parable is a specific one for Peter and all those who are given responsibility over God’s household to minister the bread of life; to feed and quench the deep spiritual thirst of people.

 Blessed is that servant whom his master when he comes will find so doing. (vs. 43)

Peter and company seems to have taken this message to heart after the resurrection of Jesus from the dead and even exhorts themselves to likewise devote themselves to this task:
 

"And the twelve summoned the body of the disciples and said, "It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brethren, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word." Acts 6:2-4

Despite the warning of Jesus, we could have servants who have taken these apostles place and who could be involved in eating and drinking and beating and persecuting the sheep under their care, even persecuting those who take this task seriously. 

Thus it must remain this way because the Lord himself warns us about it along with their rewards.

As for those who take Christ’s message seriously, they know their daily task of feeding the multitude from the Lords presence. They do it with diligence and perseverance, with a sense of urgency and generosity of heart.

Ultimately, their labor accomplished at great risk to life, will be rewarded.

Prayer: Lord, I accept the responsibility you have placed over me, help me to accomplish it faithfully trusting in you.

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