Lies

Today’s Gospel Text:  So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 And behold, Jesus met them and said, "Hail!" And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid; go and tell my brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see me."

11 While they were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place. 12 And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sum of money to the soldiers 13 and said, "Tell people, 'His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.' 14 And if this comes to the governor's ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble." 15 So they took the money and did as they were directed; and this story has been spread among the Jews to this day. Matt 28:8-15

Reflection: Lies are a way of life with most humans.

I do not know if there is any research or if there is any statistical data on this subject of lying:  I am sure that 99 percent of the people may have lied at sometime in their life.

Even if we don’t lie, we may at times still allow a lie to spread, if it is to our advantage, and would not silence anyone because of the benefit it may accrue us.

There are some such lies which may be spoken and proclaimed even on behalf of the community or a community may choose to live in lie, many a times unaware of the truth.

Sometimes, we may discover that there are whole religions that are based on lies, mixed with an element of a ray of truth, making it more dangerous for its adherents.

The negative effect of a lie can not only last a life time but for generations to come. So what has been proclaimed at the beginning of ages may still continue in our day. 

Why do humans speak the lie rather than the truth and why do sometimes whole communities speak and proclaim a lie rather than the truth?

The insecurities of life could be one of the reasons but the other reason could be the good of the other.

The problem arises when one asks what is that good of the other.  Is what we think or imagine being really the good of the other?

Here, in this passage, the chief priests and the elders indeed seem insecure of their religion and through their religion also of their positions.

Could it also be that some of these elders also thought it right to support them because they felt it was good to do so in order to protect their religion and it is for the good of the people that they do so otherwise they may be led astray by the dedicated Disciples of Christ?

No matter what good it may accrue the other; the end cannot justify the means.

Prayer: Stretch forth thy hand from on high, rescue me and deliver me from the many waters, from the hand of aliens, whose mouths speak lies, and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood. Ps 144:7-8

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

Personal Opinion or Truth

Today’s Gospel Text:  Now on the first day of the week Mary Mag'dalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. 2 So she ran, and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him." 3 Peter then came out with the other disciple, and they went toward the tomb. 4 They both ran, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first; 5 and stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; he saw the linen cloths lying, 7 and the napkin, which had been on his head, not lying with the linen cloths but rolled up in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9 for as yet they did not know the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. John 20:1-9

Reflection: There is usually a vast difference between the way a man will give directions and a woman.  This is so on account of the way men think which is far different from the way a woman thinks.

Each of them is a beautiful creation of God, who made them different so that they may, each according to their gifts; toil in harmony in this beautiful creation which God has created.

In the light of this, the sociological theory which looks at equality of the sexes from its own narrow perspective, aimed more at aping the male,  is not only detrimental towards the blossoming of the woman but also detrimental for her growth and well being.

There may be at time certain exceptions to the rule, when women have taken up leadership and fitted well in professions dominated by men.

In the gospel passage we have one of the first witnesses to the resurrection, a woman called Mary of Magdala who relates her experience of the resurrection:

"They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him." (Vs. 2)

If one goes by the pure witness of her words then one could end up in trouble.  She has witnessed a fact but her comprehension and interpretation of that fact is her personal reading into that fact.

Did they really take the Lord out of the tomb?

Who are these, “they”? Probably a few!

“We do not know where they have laid him,” could mean that they have laid him somewhere, possibly hidden him.

Thanks to their Jewish background, the apostles decide to have a look at it themselves and what they witness and how Simon Peter interprets we do not know.

But the other disciple interprets that in the light of what Jesus has constantly drilled into them about his resurrection.

Mary of Magdala is representative of some of our modern day theologians and hierachy who teach their opinions as truth, make judgments and thus misrepresent the church of the Crucified Christ, now risen.

Prayer:  Lord, save your church by raising-up disciples who believe in your word and proclaim them to them even as they allow it to be fulfilled in their lives.

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

Living the Resurrection

Today’s Gospel Text:  But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices which they had prepared. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in they did not find the body. 4 While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel; 5 and as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise." 8 And they remembered his words, 9 and returning from the tomb they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 Now it was Mary Mag'dalene and Jo-an'na and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told this to the apostles; 11 but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. Luke 24:1-11

Reflection: The resurrection the greatest event ever and believing in the resurrection of Jesus can have a great impact on one’s life.

This is not a call to believe for the sake of believing. That would be like taking a sick man with no appetite to a banquet for a meal.  

Hence, it is a belief that is based on two facts: one that appeals to the intellect and can be reasonably explained and the other is the experiential one wherein Jesus constantly reveals himself to those who earnestly seek him, not just to prove himself to them but rather by believing  in him they may have salvation.

If our beliefs are not based on these two pillars then it is still lame and can make us fall apart easily at the first obstacle of doubt we encounter.

This belief has to be constantly renewed in the presence of the living God, by having him with us in his resurrected form, daily and every moment. 

This is not an unreasonable argument but a living reality which begins from the assurance of his word; “... lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age." Matt 28:20

How often we as Christians only hold to the comfortable element of trusting in ourselves and in our intellect in order to believe in God rather than allow God to prove his love for us and which he most willing does, if only we allow him to do so.

Such a living faith leads to an on going relationship with God and to have that faith and relationship with God we need to spend time in his presence in prayer. Prayer helps in developing this relationship with Jesus and thus also with one another.

Prayer:  Lord, fill my heart with your love so that I may love you with all my heart, mind, soul and strength forever and ever.

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

Love and Mercy

Today’s Gospel Text:  For the complete text of the Good Friday gospel test read here; Click on link here:  http://dedicateddiscipleship.blogspot.in/p/good-friday.html

Reflection: The greatest event the world has ever seen, irrespective whether it admits or not, is the event of the resurrection of Christ, celebrated the world over as the Easter Sunday.

Easter Sunday communicates a powerful message that Christ rose from the dead on the third day.

It doesn't begin or end there; for the one who rose was also the one who was slain, given the most miserable death in the history of the world. Hence Easter together with Good Friday makes one consolidated event along with the Maundy Thursday. 

His being divine and therefore the Lord and master of the universe is only secondary.

If God wanted he could have made his divine presence felt in this world by great signs and wonders but there would be no lasting memory of it. 

True, lasting and noble memories are built on love and not just on power and might.and God’s love is visibly made manifest on the wood of the cross. 

The type of rejection, suffering and pain he had to undergo in order to prove his love for humanity is now for all generation to benefit from; it is an everlasting memory, which we even bring to mind at every Eucharist and even participate in it for our sanctification and salvation. 

This voice of his love still rings through history; when the only innocent man in the history of humanity was raised on the cross to meet his end from there came forth a voice which proves beyond doubt the love of God for the salvation of humanity:

"Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." Luke 23:34

Did he not have the right to condemn the many? If anyone who has been wronged has the right to condemn then he had it all the more.

Thus at the cross Christ proved himself as the savior of humanity by opening his arms in forgiveness to all, including his enemies; the very ones who crucified him.

This action also proves his eternal love for all who, acknowledging their sinfulness, come to him for mercy and love.

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, I come before you as a sinner, seeking your love and mercy: Have mercy on me and on the whole world.

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

Wash through the Word

Today’s Gospel Text:  Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 And during supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, 4 rose from supper, laid aside his garments, and girded himself with a towel. 5 Then he poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which he was girded. 6 He came to Simon Peter; and Peter said to him, "Lord, do you wash my feet?" 7 Jesus answered him, "What I am doing you do not know now, but afterward you will understand." 8 Peter said to him, "You shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no part in me." 9 Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!" 10 Jesus said to him, "He who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but he is clean all over; and you are clean, but not every one of you." 11 For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, "You are not all clean."

12 When he had washed their feet, and taken his garments, and resumed his place, he said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. John 13:1-15

Reflection: “……… having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. (vs. 1)

Having loved them; referring to his disciples whom he loved but how did he love them to the end.

Is it the immediate end or the future end? Yet we know that the moment was the foot washing ceremony of Jesus when he washed the feet of his Disciples.

Since it was still a way away from the end then how can the gospel claim that he loved them to the end?

Unless the gospel of John is suggesting that that moment was the end towards a new beginning: a moment when one meets the cleansing power of the word in order to make a new beginning. 

What was the moment? It was the moment of the foot washing, liturgically practiced by the priest, not just at Maundy Thursday, which is a purely symbolic action but practiced at every Eucharistic celebration.

   

You are already made clean by the word which I have spoken to you. John 15:3

A priest through his faithful preaching of the word of God, and not by his preaching of his secular learning’s or his personal opinions, faithfully carries on the mandate of Christ to wash his people where they need to be washed more and what they need to be washed of.

When one only looks at this symbolic action of Jesus and keeps practicing the symbolic action opportunistically and make demand for an inclusive action then one is being self-conceited and does not understand the truth of the gospel. 

From this primary action flow all other actions of service towards the brotherhood of Christ: "Do you know what I have done to you?  You call me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. John 13:12-15

   

St. Paul practiced it when he asserts: “To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.” 1 Cor 9:22

    

And to us he exhorts: “Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” Gal 6:2

Prayer: God our Father, may we humbly learn from the example of Christ and we ask you to bless the priests of your vineyard as they carry on the mission with faithfulness to your word

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

Betrayal

Today’s Gospel Text:  Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15 and said, "What will you give me if I deliver him to you?" And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. 16 And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him. 17 Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Where will you have us prepare for you to eat the passover?" 18 He said, "Go into the city to a certain one, and say to him, 'The Teacher says, My time is at hand; I will keep the passover at your house with my disciples.'" 19 And the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the passover.  20 When it was evening, he sat at table with the twelve disciples; 21 and as they were eating, he said, "Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me." 22 And they were very sorrowful, and began to say to him one after another, "Is it I, Lord?" 23 He answered, "He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me, will betray me. 24 The Son of man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born." 25 Judas, who betrayed him, said, "Is it I, Master?" He said to him, "You have said so." Matt 26:14-25

Reflection: What is the difference between these two actions: trading in slaves and what Judas did to Jesus?

A slave is one whose right is forcibly taken away by another and hence is sold in order that he may become the property of the one who has legally owned them. They can do with them what they want. 

The scripture gives us enough evidence of Judases greed, which primarily may not have been a greed for power or domination but rather a greed for wealth, which led him to trade with his very own Lord and master, whose humble ways are within the powers of men to manipulate in this life.   

Could it be that he opted to be in charge of the money box and the financial management of the little institution on account of his greedy habit of pilfering? 

But he did achieve, in his greed, to sell-off as a slave one of the most innocent and yet the most unassuming powerful man in the history of mankind:

"What will you give me if I deliver him to you?" (vs. 15)

What right did he have to deliver him to him? Was he the owner of Jesus or was he his father or was it the other way around?

Where do human's get such strength to trade with their God; the Lord and master of the universe? 

How greed, ambition,  craving for power and the things of the world; whether it be worldly glory, honor or positions, leads one to such depraved mindset wherein which they begin to assert their rights over the other. Worse is when they do it with even God. 

Some do it under the acceptable democratic institutions and some even by using their power and positions in the church:

Was Judas not holding similar position of power and authority in the church? How then did he become an instrument of Satan?

Did he not eat of the same table, what some may obstinately claim as to be the meal of unity, and yet betray, thus separating himself from the unity of the body of Christ?

He had the best teacher in Christ, whom he followed and yet followed himself more than Jesus.

A thing to ponder upon, this holy week, as we labor in the vineyard of Christ.

Prayer:  Lord God, as I reflect on the betrayal of Judas, I dread to think of the frail human possibilities laboring without your great mercy and help.

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

Greed

Today’s Gospel Text:  When Jesus had thus spoken, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, "Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me." 22 The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he spoke. 23 One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was lying close to the breast of Jesus; 24 so Simon Peter beckoned to him and said, "Tell us who it is of whom he speaks." 25 So lying thus, close to the breast of Jesus, he said to him, "Lord, who is it?" 26 Jesus answered, "It is he to whom I shall give this morsel when I have dipped it." So when he had dipped the morsel, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. 27 Then after the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, "What you are going to do, do quickly." 28 Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. 29 Some thought that, because Judas had the money box, Jesus was telling him, "Buy what we need for the feast"; or, that he should give something to the poor. 30 So, after receiving the morsel, he immediately went out; and it was night.  31 When he had gone out, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of man glorified, and in him God is glorified; 32 if God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once. 33 Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, 'Where I am going you cannot come.' 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."  36 Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, where are you going?" Jesus answered, "Where I am going you cannot follow me now; but you shall follow afterward." 37 Peter said to him, "Lord, why cannot I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you." 38 Jesus answered, "Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the cock will not crow, till you have denied me three times. JN 13:21-33, 36-38

Reflection: The first commandment is a very serious issue and any breaking of the first commandment makes that sin a serious one too.

Many of the curses, poverty, divisions in families, untoward deaths and evil running in families are on account of the curse of breaking God’s first commandment and not living up to the call of God to be faithful to him alone and to all that he has given us in Christ Jesus.

This issue becomes all the more serious for the New Testament Christians, who have the complete revelation of God in Christ Jesus.

How could Christians be breaking the first commandment of God in the New Testament faith that we have received from Jesus?

We should have learnt this from the example of Judas and his betrayal of Jesus and the consequence thereof. 

By betraying Jesus Judas was completely rejecting God in Christ Jesus who came to save us and without him and apart from him we cannot save ourselves. (cfr. Jn. 15:5)

Hence all other sins are secondary in comparison to the sin of denial or betrayal which ultimately leads us into a greater stalemate in our life. It is so because we are rejecting the very source that can help us overcome or save us from our sinfulness.

Though, in reality, the other sins can lead us to this low level of denying or betraying Jesus. And the sin that leads us to that state becomes another example of breaking the first commandment of God.

Greed or wanting more than what we need; a lust for worldly gain whether it be for wealth or power or positions also amounts to breaking of God’s first commandment: “Put to death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry).”  Col 3:5

Prayer: Lord, reveal to me the areas of greed that I may purge it from me with your help.

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