Choose Life

Today’s Gospel Text: Now when Jesus saw great crowds around him, he gave orders to go over to the other side. 19 And a scribe came up and said to him, "Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go." 20 And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man has nowhere to lay his head." 21 Another of the disciples said to him, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father." 22 But Jesus said to him, "Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead." Matt 8:18-22

Reflection: Just a surface glance at the passage and it seems to suggest that Jesus was in no mood to entertain any one:

In the first place we see that Jesus, having seen the great crowds around him, giving orders to go over to the other side.

And to add to his woes, we see a scribe then coming up to him and announcing that he will follow Jesus wherever he goes.

Then follows one of his disciples, which means, one who is already following him and seeks permission from the Lord to go and bury his father.

On a day like this; was Jesus in no mood to entertain anyone?

We have in Jesus, the one who has come to save us and reach out to us but also a one who knows his priority at a given situation and time.

The fact the he answers them in a reasoned and logical way, with all wisdom is clear indication that he cares.

In his answers to them he reveals the motives that people could have while following him.

The crowds may have wanted to be around a man who seems to also have star status; popular and widely discussed. Who doesn’t feel the urge to see such stars and even go home and boast about their sighting and proximity to such people.

The scribe may have had his own reason; was it a new story line for each day or was it the material gain and the windfall that one may get?

This particular disciple too, like most Christians, has a dual allegiance and Jesus, like the new Moses, challenges the Dedicated Disciple to choose life rather than death by asking him to follow him.

This Challenge rings through in all ages and generation to come; are we willing to listen? 

Prayer: I pray that I may be faith to you Lord and to your calling.

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

Will of God

Today’s Gospel Text: When the days drew near for him to be received up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. 52 And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him; 53 but the people would not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. 54 And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, "Lord, do you want us to bid fire come down from heaven and consume them?" 55 But he turned and rebuked them. 56 And they went on to another village. 57 As they were going along the road, a man said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." 58 And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man has nowhere to lay his head." 59 To another he said, "Follow me." But he said, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father." 60 But he said to him, "Leave the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God." 61 Another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home." 62 Jesus said to him, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God." Luke 9:51-62

Reflection: Yes, he knew that he had to go to Jerusalem in order to be sacrificed in this temple town, as the Lamb of God; the one without blemish, for our salvation.

Yes, he also knew that it was the will of the Father that he should offer himself as the sacrifice for the redemption of mankind.

In keeping with this will of the Father, Jesus sets his face to Jerusalem but this does not please the Samaritans whose territory he had to pass; for the Samaritans opposed the Jewish way of worship and had their own custom and keeping with that custom, their own mountain or place of worship. (Jn. 4:20)

Therefore the Samaritans learn about this from the messengers sent ahead of him to prepare his way, they refuse to let Jesus through.

Thus on the one hand you have God’s will in keeping with which Jesus is moving towards Jerusalem and on the other hand we have the opposition to God’s will.

In the midst of this we also have the disciples who seem to have their own human reasoning’s to be indignant and thus sort the issue, with zeal, by calling forth fire.

In the midst of all this we have the greatest example of a sublime savior who handles the situation with absolute suave, calm and composed, rebuking the disciples and moving on to another village.

From this we learn a lesson on doing the will of the Father: Our anger and frustration does not promote God’s will, instead, it can be an obstacle.

Even overzealousness can be a block to God’s ways and they are mere human ways of pleasing.

Patience and trust and respecting the ways of the Lord and humbly walking in his ways are means to walk in the will of the Father.

Jesus proves that with his action, and at an appropriate time or rather at God's own time, he is raised as the sacrificial Lamb of sacrifice for our salvation.

Prayer: Teach me to do thy will, for thou art my God! Let thy good spirit lead me on a level path! Ps 143:10

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

Knowledge of Jesus

Today’s Gospel Text: Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesare'a Philip'pi, he asked his disciples, "Who do men say that the Son of man is?" 14 And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, others say Eli'jah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." 15 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" 16 Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 17 And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." Matt 16:13-19

Reflection: In school and even in quiz contests one is often asked about the naming of the head of state and I have often wondered how relevant or important it is to know the name of the head of state.

If one meets the simple folks in the villages and by lanes of the cites too then one will find that there are many who could be going about life without knowing the names of any of these big peoples.

You could go to the government offices and yet can get your work done without anyone bothering to know your IQ or general knowledge on these matters.

Many a times, it is a rule in government offices to even put up a photograph of these head of state and yet one need not bother to know them in order to get their work done.

Can the same be said about the knowledge of Jesus Christ? Can we go about life without knowing Christ Jesus?

Perhaps we may go about life without Jesus but to live that fullness of life; a life of true happiness here on earth and carry a sure hope of the eternity then it is not possible without the knowledge of Jesus.

No work that concerns our total being and our full maturity can be accomplished without the knowledge of Jesus Christ; “for apart from me you can do nothing.” says he. John 15:5

In other words; it is not just the knowledge about Jesus but a deep intimate knowledge of him.

It is to be based on a relationship with Jesus, which foundation is total faith and trust.

It is not an abstract foundation but a relationship with a risen Christ who assures us of his presence with us even to the end of times.

How then could he assure Peter, that his work of building his church on the rock of Peter, in our midst, will be a continual labor of his?

Hence all knowledge may be passing and for a moment, but the knowledge of Jesus Christ is the only knowledge that will see us through for all eternity.

Prayer:  May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him. (cfr. Eph 1:17)

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

Fearless

Today’s Gospel Text: When he came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him; 2 and behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, if you will, you can make me clean." 3 And he stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, "I will; be clean." And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. 4 And Jesus said to him, "See that you say nothing to any one; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a proof to the people." Matt 8:1-4

Reflection: What if someone were to come to you with a request like that of the leper:

"Lord, if you will, you can make me clean." (vs.2b)

Where would we look to and how would we have treated the leper.

“Go your way, have you not found anyone” or “what do you think, am I god that you should come to me”

Some would even run away from him seeing him approach them or may even scold him for being bold enough to approach them.

It also depends on ones faith too and the response could be according; hence some would take him to a leprosarium or a medical practitioner or refer them to some institutions that are involved in the care of the leprous.

There are some who may consult a friend or some expert to handle the situation.

How many of us would at least get into a conversation started with the leper and ask him his needs and at least pray in their hearts for the man and see how best they can be God’s instrument to him.

Though we cannot be like Jesus who makes him clean but we can definitely act more Christian towards the leper.

But our many fears could prevent us from doing so and the contagious nature of the disease can add to the fears and can be a big discouragement to reach out to the leprous.

Jesus not only heals him but does so by stretching out his hand and by touching him.

If we are to touch hearts and overcome the fear of leprous then we need a faith that trusts in the mighty power of God to heal and preserve our lives.

It is a faith that ever increases from ones growing relationship with God and nurtured by the avenues that he has offered through the church.

Faith, hope and charity destroy all fears and anxieties and sets us secure upon the rock, in whom we place it; Jesus Christ.  

Prayer: Father, make me  your instrument too, of love and charity as I hope in your might.

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

Will of God

Today’s Gospel Text:  "Not every one who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' 23 And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you evildoers.' 24 "Every one then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house upon the rock; 25 and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And every one who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house upon the sand; 27 and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell; and great was the fall of it." 28 And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, 29 for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes. Matt 7:21-29

Reflection: Wish it was that easy to know and do the will of the Father.

How easy it really is to know the will of the Father that we can live as good Christians? People often struggle to know it. 

You ask a man on the street and you will have some attempts made to answer it; either they will talk about doing good or loving one another and loving their neighbor, or talk about kindness, etc.

Does these kind of activities fit in with God’s will or is God’s will something more than these things?

These activities may fit in with God’s will but they are not primarily his will.

If we miss out on the primary aspect of God’s will then we could miss out on all the other aspect of God’s will and may even go astray, some even earnestly out of goodwill.

The primary aspect of doing God’s will is to do the work of God and this is brought out by John’s gospel as thus, when the people asked him; “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?" John 6:28

And Jesus’ reply was:"This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent." John 6:29

This above explicit will of God is not just a Johanine revelation but is well brought out by the synoptic too and it is well attested with the voice of the Father saying: “ "This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!" Luke 9:35 (also Mt. 17:5; Mk. 9: 7)

From the above text it is evident that once the primary aspect of God’s will is accepted then we are moving on the secondary path of truth, otherwise  we are moving on the path falsity.

From this primary truth we need to move on to the secondary and so on, with the divine grace and gifts to assist us, whether these gifts be the church or the sacraments or the sacramental’s they are there for our salvation. 

Prayer:  Lord, I believe that you send Jesus your son as our savior and redeemer so that we may listen to his word and live by it, even unto eternity.

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

Mark of a Beast

Today’s Gospel Text: "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every sound tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears evil fruit. 18 A sound tree cannot bear evil fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will know them by their fruits. Matt 7:15-20

Reflection: Despite the warning we still keep getting deceived by the false prophet and we even begin to walk as false prophets in the footsteps of falsity.

Why do people go astray? Why do they get so easily deceived and get carried away?

And among those carried away it is like a chronic disease which gets passed on from one generation to another through genetic defect.

It is the deception which the fathers chose to walk in and which gets passed on from one generation to another.

In case of diseases it may not always be so, but in case of deception it is definitely so because we tend to create intuitions to legitimatize our actions.

You look at the world and the deception of institutions and philosophies which have got passed on from generation to generation even legitimizing falsity as truth.

Some may be extremely clothed in sheep’s clothing and some may be ferociously clothed, but nevertheless are clothed in them and that is what Jesus is warning us against.

Those who have Christ have his assistance too; for he has promised us the help of the Holy Spirit besides his word to see us through and even that is not enough if we are not sincere enough to respond to his guidance and promptings.

How easy is it for a simple man to discern the ones clothed in sheep's clothing and whose intent is clear enough – to deceive?

Another criterion that Jesus gives us, is to see their background, see where they come from; the source is very important, even if it contains the ray of that truth which is Christ.  (cfr. 16b)

After his return from the dessert, when Satan came to Jesus with the pure word of God, Jesus refused to accept it, even though it was the truth of his word.

Thus know the fruit, not only from its looks, but from its source; who is that brings it to you and how it is brought to you?

Prayer:  Blessed be the Lord, who has not given us as prey to their teeth! We have escaped as a bird from the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we have escaped! Ps 124:6-7

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

Beastly Men

Today’s Gospel Text:  "Do not give dogs what is holy; and do not throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under foot and turn to attack you. 7 "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. 13 "Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is easy, that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few. Matt 7:6, 12-14

Reflection: This again brings us back to the debate on Christian love, mercy and compassion.

It is meant especially for those who think that to be a Christian means to love and only love and nothing but love- a love without doctrine and based on ignorance. 

If above teaching had not come from the mouth of Jesus but instead even if it would have come from a good saintly Christian, of our present time, then we would have cast stones in return for these pearls which are holy.

Indeed we as Christians are called to love and love every human being irrespective of cast, creed and colour.

But the question remain; what do we do with the beasts or more plainly put; what do we do with those who think only like beasts, i.e,  like dogs and swine’s?

And what do we do with those who refuse to accept the love of God which comes to us as wonderful pearls of sound teachings? 

To what extent can we love them who deliberately opt to be beasts and prefer to be treated like one.

But there may be beasts among human beings who may acknowledge their situation and feel the need for a savior and may be looking for help. That would be a altogether different situation. 

In fact, we all could be one in some measure or the other but some may either through ignorance or hardness may want to continue in their folly or they could be some who acknowledging may want to change. 

A true Christian in his heart desires that all humans act and behaves like a human and receives the respect of a human being and are fed with the sacred things which God has revealed through his beloved son Jesus Christ.

Dog hood and swine hood may not be a permanent situation and Christ Jesus as savior can save anyone who comes to him and transform them from an unclean beast into the image of man; into his own image and likeness.

This very reason he came and this reason he endured all things like a true human being in order to show us the demands of being human and what is more he affords us the grace to be so, if we ask for it.

Prayer:  Jesus my savior, I pray that I may be like you in all things and it is only you who can transform me in totality.

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

God’s Ways

Today’s Gospel Text: Now the time came for Elizabeth to be delivered, and she gave birth to a son. 58 And her neighbors and kinsfolk heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. 59 And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they would have named him Zechari'ah after his father, 60 but his mother said, "Not so; he shall be called John." 61 And they said to her, "None of your kindred is called by this name." 62 And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he would have him called. 63 And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, "His name is John." And they all marveled. 64 And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. 65 And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea; 66 and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, "What then will this child be?" For the hand of the Lord was with him. 80 And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness till the day of his manifestation to Israel. Luke 1:57-66, 80

Reflection: In life there is always the subjective situation of a particular situation or circumstance and the more objective in which God is at work and we are rarely able to see this working of God.

If we are not attuned to God then we could be carried away by the subjective situation and so immerse ourselves in it that we may forget the work which God is doing in our lives.

Each understanding has its own truth and merits and scripture has an abundance of examples of such situations. It can sometimes lead astray the ones who are not familiar with the objective working of God and his subjective work.

In the gospel of today we see similar situation in which the neighbors and kinsfolk of Zechariah and Elizabeth are described:

“And her neighbors and kinsfolk heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.” (vs. 58)

Subjectively or speaking as humans; the Lord did have mercy on her and it was right for them to rejoice over her and about the situation.

Objectively, the Lord was working out his great plan in and through the family of John the Baptist.

Similarly in life we may be faced with situations of persecutions and trials, which subjectively speaking, allowed by the Lord in the lives of the beloved.

But objectively, the Lord keeps doing his work of sanctification.

Subjectively and in the light of this we could be looking at the immediate situation and be lost in the maze of hurts and pain.

Objectively, we could be looking at the work, the good, almighty and powerful God could be doing in our lives and rejoice at his working and the things that he is accomplishing either in us or in and through us as his instruments and thus be blessed. 

Prayer:  Lord, as I offer myself to you to be your instrument let me never lose track of the work that you are doing in and through me.

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

Knowing Christ of God

Today’s Gospel Text: Now it happened that as he was praying alone the disciples were with him; and he asked them, "Who do the people say that I am?" 19 And they answered, "John the Baptist; but others say, Eli'jah; and others, that one of the old prophets has risen." 20 And he said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" And Peter answered, "The Christ of God." 21 But he charged and commanded them to tell this to no one, 22 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. Luke 9:18-24

Reflection: Do people always say things openly or give their opinion openly? 

The truth is; very rarely we have people who will speak things in the open.

Did Jesus, who could read minds, have to find out who he is and what people say about him from his dedicated disciples?

I am sure not, he must have posed this question for the benefit of his disciples and  for us, for all time to come and for every time.

It is in this light that the question posed by Jesus to his dedicated disciples gains a lot more significance.

In other words this question is meant to be answered, not only by the dedicated disciples of his, at that time but it is question even meant to be answered, by each one of us, now and here:

"But who do you say that I am?" (vs. 20)

You may choose to avoid it and say that we are not meant to learn doctrine and lets be more pastoral and some may even say; "as long as we love as Christ wanted us to love is enough." 

Yet if you choose the latter then better step down as leaders in the church of Christ and if you have not grappled with this question in its entirety then you can only be an imposter scurrying for power and positions. (Mt. 16:17-19)

On the other hand, Jesus is not just the Christ of God but he also a suffering messiah for  a purpose.

Hence it is not enough to know the doctrine of Christ but also the suffering that he the messiah would undergo and all those who follow him will also have to undergo similar sufferings in order to follow him.

It is not just a life of mighty works and miracles, with the anointing of God all the way, that counts but a way of the cross is what is essential: 

"If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake, he will save it. (vss. 23-24)

                                                                                                                                

Prayer:  Lord that I may know you and the power of your resurrection, and may share in your sufferings, becoming like you in your death, that if possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. (Prayer of St. Paul the apostle; cfr. Phil 3:10-11)

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