Emotions

Today’s Gospel Text:  As they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, "The Son of man is to be delivered into the hands of men, 23 and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day." And they were greatly distressed.

24 When they came to Caper'na-um, the collectors of the half-shekel tax went up to Peter and said, "Does not your teacher pay the tax?" 25 He said, "Yes." And when he came home, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, "What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tribute? From their sons or from others?" 26 And when he said, "From others," Jesus said to him, "Then the sons are free. 27 However, not to give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook, and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a shekel; take that and give it to them for me and for yourself." Matt 17:22-27

Reflection: What do you think may have happened after Jesus announces his imminent death? Did the dedicated disciples understand what Jesus had to say or do?

For this we need to know the many ways in which we pick up the thought processes of others.

Primarily we could be picking up the thought processes of others either through a mere observation of the face, the body language, the emotional expressions and above all through words.

What may come across to us in written format are the mere words of the divine person, who was in complete control of his emotions.

Which means Jesus would express the right emotions at the right time and in right measure but it does not mean the absence of emotions which God has created so that we are able to express completely in every measure.

Thus the dedicated disciples may have picked up the emotions and the seriousness from the actual reality, from what they were seeing, which Jesus may have wanted to communicate to them.

Thus the scripture tell us: “And they were greatly distressed.” 

May be some of this distress was clearly evident in the voice and tone of Jesus at the way he was going to be handed over to mere men and that too sinful.

Emotions are something which God has created for men and for their good, so that they are able to express and communicate and through the proper use of these emotions and in right situations and occasions God will also work out his salvation in us.

Christian spirituality does not look at emotions in a negative way and as one to be suppressed and pushed into oblivion but rather as one to be expressed when necessary and in the right measure for the good of self and for others and above all for the greater glory of God.

Prayer:  Lord, I thank you for thy hands have made and fashioned me, give me understanding that I may ever rejoice in your ways. (cfr. Ps. 119: 73)

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

God’s Measure

Today’s Gospel Text:  For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 21 "You have heard that it was said to the men of old, 'You shall not kill; and whoever kills shall be liable to judgment.' 22 But I say to you that every one who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother shall be liable to the council, and whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be liable to the hell of fire. 23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Make friends quickly with your accuser, while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison; 26 truly, I say to you, you will never get out till you have paid the last penny. Matt 5:20-26

Reflection: There are measures and there are standards; criteria’s by which we judge and arrive at conclusions.

An athlete’s competence will be measured by the standard set by the previous record holder or by the standard set by the one immediately preceding them.

Similarly, there are standards set for material objects, metals, for specified jobs, growth and quality.

If we have to excel in life then we need to set a standard for growth and development. 

As the standard set so is the effort put in, in order to achieve the set target.  Some standards are very specific and measurable and requires great precision in order to achieve it.

Certain scientific instruments fit in with such category.

Similarly, Christian spirituality too sets a standard for us in our walk with God.

There are standards to attain perfection:

There are standards to be dedicated disciples of Jesus:

There is a standard, the minimum that is required to enter into eternal life: “For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (vs.20)

The righteousness of the scribes and the Pharisees came from the practice of the law and Jesus invites us to do more than that; to trust in the saving power of God and his wisdom to do the right thing and enter into eternal life.

Prayer:  “Correct me, O Lord, but in just measure; not in thy anger, lest thou bring me to nothing.”  Jer 10:24

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

Good Works

Today’s Gospel Text: "You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trodden under foot by men.

14 "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. 15 Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Matt 5:13-16

Reflection: One of the most difficult things to do is to be a witness to the great light Jesus Christ.

But what is worse is that people make what is difficult, impossible.

Indeed we have been called to be the light of the world and salt of the earth.  The quality if these agents are not just that of getting mixed well in the things that they get mixed in but they pervade well the things that they are in and bring about a great change without changing their original quality.

They are almost freely available and humbly permeate without changing the external quality of things but instead make those things better by their action.

The moment one hears the above exhortation of Jesus then everybody wants to jump on the bandwagon of being the light of the world and salt of the earth.

This is not a message for every listener but a message spoken specifically to the dedicated disciples of Christ.

There are indeed to be the salt and light by first drawing from the great light and salt, Jesus Christ.

What then are the good works that men may see in them and give glory to God.

Primarily, the good work would be that which flows from our union with the God and proclaiming that in ones deed lest men give glory to stones or individuals for the good that they do.

Jesus worked in union with the Father and not apart from his Father and the good works he performed included the mighty signs and wonder he did, through this union, which invited people to give glory to God.

They heard his divine wisdom and they saw the signs which a mere human can’t perform and yet can be performed by those who follow him with trust and confidence.

Thus we look at deeds or good works not from a narrow point of view, as meaning only the good character of a person, but includes everything a person does in union with God the Father, through Jesus Christ our savior.

Thus deeds or good works include; the effective words that flow from our mouth on account of his divine inspiration, the mighty signs and wonders, our trust and confidence in God, especially when faced with trying moments and finally it may include our good character seen in our humility and gentleness.

Prayer:  Lord, I thank you for revealing to me that it is not in merely accepting your proclamation that I become the Light of the world or the salt of the earth but by my union with you through faith and trust.

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

Consoling Presence

Today’s Gospel Text:  On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you." 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you." 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." John 20:19-23

Reflection: The consoling words of a loved one is always a great blessing and can have a great  transforming effect in our lives, especially from the immediate impediments, or the trial and troubles of life.

What is much more beautiful is; when we close our doors to others, especially to those who are sincerely interested in our well being and in spite of the closed door they still sneak in to reach out to us.

This is what Jesus has done to the dedicated Disciples, who in their moment of fears, especially of the Jews, close the door for anyone to enter in and allow themselves to be reached out to.

Yet Jesus still comes to them and reaches out to them with the sure hope of life: “Peace be with you”.

It is a passage which should constantly speak to each one of us, in our hearts, that Christ Jesus our Lord is with us right from the beginning, even during the first day of the week, with his presence.

No matter what trials or troubles we may go through, whether it concerns the trials of temptations in which we are often angry with ourselves, or with others, the guilt or the shame of life, in such situations we may often want to keep the door our hearts closed and would prefer to cry over it alone in order to resolve the issue.

Jesus can reach out to us even if we are locked within the four walls of a room with no windows or doors but the important question remains:

Will we recognize his presence and allow him to proclaim that peace that is able to save us? 

In other words; when he proclaims the peace will we believe that he will be able to bring about a change in the situation.

His peace is what we need to hold on to, at any cost! 

If we believe than nothing is impossible with God and even if the God of all possibilities may not act the way we would want him to act nevertheless he will have a better offer to give us in himself.

Prayer:  When I thought, "My foot slips,"thy steadfast love, O Lord, held me up. When the cares of my heart are many, thy consolations cheer my soul. Ps 94:18-19

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

Human Frailty

Today’s Gospel Text:  "A little while, and you will see me no more; again a little while, and you will see me." 17 Some of his disciples said to one another, "What is this that he says to us, 'A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me'; and, 'because I go to the Father'?" 18 They said, "What does he mean by 'a little while'? We do not know what he means." 19 Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him; so he said to them, "Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, 'A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me'? 20 Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. John 16:16-20

Reflection: If you think that you do not understand everything about life, then you are treading a safe ground.

Only fools dreams of accomplishing the impossible in all things and everything.  Thus you have it for belief: “Nothing is impossible with man”

Prove O mortal man by living the eternal life! How can mortal man ever boast about achieving every impossibilities of life? He may succeed, but for a while, even to prolong his life here on earth.

More so when it comes to spiritual truths it is always rare and difficult to understand many of its mysteries.  Yet is no excuse for us not to make attempts to understand these mysteries that concerns us for eternity.

In the gospel we see that the dedicated disciples did not understand what Jesus had to say concerning himself. It was a deep mystery for them and they wondered what Jesus was trying to tell them.

They needed to know what Jesus was trying to tell them lest they not lose heart and faith when the incident about the imminent death of Jesus would take place.

We already see signs of such discouragement in them, even as he is betrayed and arrested. Their isolation adds to their fate. 

No one likes to be associated with criminals or even with people who are on the wrong side of a corrupt authority and the disciples were in a similarly situation too and if not pre-warned they would have been lost forever.

Yet they didn't seem to understand the mysteriousness of the word: How can a man, who healed the sick, raised the dead, spoke a wisdom that none of his opponent could counter and delivered and exorcised them from the evil one, ever die and that too an ignoble death?

Such situations require a constant reinforcement on account of the frailty of human thinking.   

The death and resurrection of Jesus and later his interaction with the dedicated disciples and the sending of the Holy Spirit and the company of Mary are all powerful reinforcements kept for them by God and which in turn becomes a source for us too to aid us in our walk with Christ Jesus.

Prayer:  May we Lord have the help and intercession of your church, even that which reigns with you in triumph.

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

Hope In Pain

Today’s Gospel Text:  Now when he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons. 10 She went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept. 11 But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it. 12 After this he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country. 13 And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them. 14 Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they sat at table; and he upbraided them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. 15 And he said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation. Mark 16:9-15

Reflection: Three days since his death and there were many among the Lord’s disciples who mourned and wept at the loss of their dearest master whom they followed.

It seems that they followed him more out of a sense of good will and love and this must have been the fruit of the reciprocation of the love of Jesus towards them.

They must have followed him with all their hopes fixed on him. It is like a man putting all his eggs into one basket and now having lost it all.

A person who has invested everything into one, with all his hopes and vision concerning life. Such a one has much to lose at the loss of his investment.

For a woman it is like resting secure in the love of her man and then one fine day he vanishes from his life thus throwing up the many insecurities life can offer.

What mental anguish and pain a soul can go through when they lose all that they have invested in.

Who would console these dedicated disciples and what could alleviate their pain except, maybe, time which heals only the capacity of the memory that is strong enough to harden or let go.

But better still, and humanly impossible, is to get the lost one back to life.

Though Jesus had spoken to them of his imminent suffering and death but the human is rarely ready to accept the extremes of news and more so the life of Jesus, filled with signs and wonders made it almost impossible for anyone to easily accept the death of such a person.

How could a man who was mighty in deeds and wonders, who even raised the dead to life, ever die, that too an ignoble death?

True! Christ who died out of necessity now lives on forever and has become the hope of all those who have no hope in life.

Prayer:  Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help and my God. Ps 42:5-6

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

Reason for Fasting

Today’s Gospel Text: 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: Is fasting a pre-requisite for salvation? Do we as Christian really need to fast in order to enter into eternal life?

By itself mere fasting or the fasting of purification cannot lead us to heaven or eternity. But there is a fasting that seeks to unite ourselves in Christ and grow in the love and grace of Jesus and such a fasting is necessary for us to enter into heaven.  

Hence mere fasting and for that matter any other good works we may accomplish in this life are not a pre-requiste for us to enter into eternal life.  Hence there is no room for boasting for practicing gospel values and claiming the right to enter into eternal life.

How can the proud and arrogant enter into eternal life with all their charities and good works and works of justice and mercy, if they do not have the stamp of approval from God or put on the image of God's true character as revealed in Christ Jesus, who humbled himself unto death. 

The fact that the disciples did not fast when they were with Jesus and the fact that Jesus did not insist that they fast were indication enough that we need not fast merely in order to seek an entrance into heaven.

Jesus their heaven was in their midst and hence the dedicated disciples did not really have to fast when Jesus was in their midst.

How important and necessary it is for Christians to fast not out of mere obligation but out of a genuine love of God and in order to seek his face, as if desiring just one thing in life: to dwell in the house of the Lord, to behold the beauty of the Lord and to enquire in his temple.  (cfr. 27:4) and to put on his image and likeness. 

Prayer:  Lord, help me to adopt the discipline of fasting and may I seek thee and thy face through this discipline.

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

Male Preference

Today’s Gospel Text:   And when the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord") 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, "a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons." 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27 And inspired by the Spirit he came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law, 28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, 29 "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word; 30 for mine eyes have seen thy salvation 31 which thou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples, 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to thy people Israel." 33 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him; 34 and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed." 36 And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phan'u-el, of the tribe of Asher; she was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years from her virginity, 37 and as a widow till she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 And coming up at that very hour she gave thanks to God, and spoke of him to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.

39 And when they had performed everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him. Luke 2:22-40

Reflection: Do you have an objection to it? Do you think that the scripture gives too much of a preference and importance to the male?

That’s exactly how some would have us believe with cogent arguments, apparently appearing to be logical but lopsided in its overall context. They would have us condemn God once again! 

This is what happens when we get too embroiled in the folly of sociological perspectives and its derivatives. 

(As it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord" vs.23)

Imagine a world where everybody wants to dominate and rule over the other because its equality.

It is and already, in many instances of our long history, when men and women in order to gratify their ambitions or on account of their foolish thinking have felt that they can do a better job than God.

These have ultimately turned out to be corrupt dictators or subtle seducers and manipulators for the gain of every kind of power. Thus here too they think that the called to be holy is purely a privilege to be enjoyed and a responsibility to be shunned. 

So too when a situation arises to face the brunt they have made others scapegoats and let the load off their heads through deceptions and seductions, either overtly or covertly.

The male has a different role to play in God’s society and this in no way takes away the equal status of women, as understood in the scriptural sense.   One of the roles he exercises is to serve through rule and not rule to serve. He does it abiding in the wisdom of God and as a steward of God.

The male bashing is a divisive voice in society which seeks to deepen the division of a communitarian life which we are called to live as Dedicated Disciples of Christ. 

Any call for equality on the basis of an illogical and untested sociological or impractical psychological perspective of the human being will lead to a society that is speeding its way to destruction and eternal damnation and is thus detrimental to the cause that one fights for. 

Prayer:  Lord, we pray that men and women seek your wisdom as they seek to animate the Church and society in which they live. 

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