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

Riches & Wealth

Today’s Gospel Text:  And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 18 And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. 19 You know the commandments: 'Do not kill, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.'" 20 And he said to him, "Teacher, all these I have observed from my youth." 21 And Jesus looking upon him loved him, and said to him, "You lack one thing; go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." 22 At that saying his countenance fell, and he went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions.

23 And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it will be for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!" 24 And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." 26 And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, "Then who can be saved?" 27 Jesus looked at them and said, "With men it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God." Mark 10:17-27

Reflection: There are many who give to the poor or in charity, some to have treasures in heaven and some to have more and some to have some kind of blessings or the other. 

Some of the modern day evangelist would have Christians believe that when they give more the more they will receive from God by way of material wealth; therefore tithe! 

In other words hope for more of the material world and not the way to perfection, as desired by Jesus.

They have forgotten the message of Jesus that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God and hence by preaching the gospel of prosperity they are making it still more difficult for the greedy and the lost to enter the kingdom of God. (cfr. vs. 23) 

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If it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God, then it will be impossible for these so called evangelist to enter the kingdom, for leading many of the little ones astray in their quest for Christ.

Wealth is one of the greatest substitutes for God and this evil replacement is far greater than the evil of indiscriminate knowledge or power or attention seeking.

Many a times many seek the wealth in the quest for these latter evil such as knowledge, attention seeking and power.

Thus one makes an idol out of wealth and worship it to their heart content.  It is the god that brings happiness and joy to the possessor and gives one the power to have things that can make them happy.

Not that God is a kill-joy and doesn’t want his creatures to be happy. His plan for our happiness begins here and has an eternal perspective, lived in a sure hope.

Assuring us of this, St. Paul said: 

    

"There is great gain in godliness with contentment; for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world; but if we have food and clothing, with these we shall be content.  But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and hurtful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all evils; it is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced their hearts with many pangs." 1 Tim 6:6-10

Prayer:  Lord, help me not to put my confidence in extortion and set no vain hopes on robbery; if riches increase then to set not my heart on them. (Adapted from Ps. 62:10)

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

Give to Receive

Today’s Gospel Text:  And the multitudes asked him, "What then shall we do?" 11 And he answered them, "He who has two coats, let him share with him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise." 12 Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, "Teacher, what shall we do?" 13 And he said to them, "Collect no more than is appointed you." 14 Soldiers also asked him, "And we, what shall we do?" And he said to them, "Rob no one by violence or by false accusation, and be content with your wages."

15 As the people were in expectation, and all men questioned in their hearts concerning John, whether perhaps he were the Christ, 16 John answered them all, "I baptize you with water; but he who is mightier than I is coming, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor, and to gather the wheat into his granary, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire." 18 So, with many other exhortations, he preached good news to the people. Luke 3:10-18

Reflection: How can such an advice by John the Baptist become a restoration unto God and thus a preparation for the coming of the savior Jesus Christ? Are these not mere moral corrections and adjustments in one’s lifestyle?

Are these injunction not aimed at helping people to be more generous and practice charity in one’s lifestyle?

Yes indeed, they are but they do help a great deal in inviting God’s mercy and love towards us. If only we learn how to be detached from earthly possession and wealth then God will bless us in ways that are eternal:    

“Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal.”  Matt 6:20

When we are detached from earthly possessions we acknowledge the creator, sustainer and provider as the one still reigning on high and in our midst. 

It is not the mind that needs to be emptied and made blank but our hearts that needs to give up on what we possess so that the Lord, the king of glory may come in and reign.

Likewise we need to give up on our sinful possessions, such as our sinful habits and bondages, the many hurts and bitterness, the many gods of our life.

Thus it becomes a pathway, with our lives open to receiving Jesus our savior and Lord and all that he has to give us.

When we learn to give we also become a giving river that constantly receives from the rain and gives, therefore its water is ever fresh.

In our time when there are many false prophets who talk about giving in order to receive earthly wealth and possession, instead the message should be to give in order to receive Jesus and his fullness in one’s life

Prayer: “Thou dost show me the path of life; in thy presence there is fullness of joy, in thy right hand are pleasures for evermore. Ps 16:11

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

Repay

Today’s Gospel Text:    He said also to the man who had invited him, "When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your kinsmen or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return, and you be repaid. 13 But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. You will be repaid at the resurrection of the just." Luke 14:12-14

Reflection: Our monetary world talks in terms of repayment. You pay and in return are repaid.

So also many actions of life including the whole justice system are based on similar principles.

There is a certain kind of logic about this system which cannot be ruled out, some even look at it as scientific and it maybe so.

Jesus is giving us a new measure and new system that will break every kind of logic and the very laws of science. It works on charity that comes from an authoritative source, which is Jesus.

It is a charity that was first practiced by him before he taught it to others. It is a charity that defies every law and ethics practiced by humans.

How can anyone so easily practice this kind of charity without expecting anything in return? Even though we may call ourselves Christian we practice what is contrary to our Christian calling to be generous beyond a certain measure; a measure which beats every human logic.

He who taught it also practiced it to the utmost when he gave himself for us sinful men in unconditional love.

When Christ invites us he invites us to practice charity in our invitation to the unfortunate and less privileged in the banquets we organize but when he practiced it he practiced it in a much more difficult manner. He offered his very self for sinful and ungrateful men who in no way can ever repay him.

No one can repay Christ for what he has done for us by his offering on the cross for our salvation.

The only repayment we can do, and which is no repayment, is a heart filled with love and lips overflowing with gratitude to God for what he has accomplished in Christ Jesus.  Yet these are mere words from our lips acceptable to God when done with a sincere heart.

Prayer:  Lord may I learn from your great sacrifice and seek to be generous with what you have given me.

  

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