Jesus’ Name

Today’s Gospel Text:  John said to him, "Teacher, we saw a man casting out demons in your name, and we forbade him, because he was not following us." 39 But Jesus said, "Do not forbid him; for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon after to speak evil of me. 40 For he that is not against us is for us. Mark 9:38-40

Reflection: Reading this passage I am reminded of the following scripture:

"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.  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?'  And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you evildoers.' Matt 7:21-23

It seems that today’s passage in a contradicts and will remind us that not to forbid a person who does a mighty work in Jesus’ name.

Is there is contradiction in the two passages of scripture or is there a greater message for the servants of the gospel? 

A close glance shows that the two scripture passages are compatible with each other.

In the Matthean text above we clearly see that the message is a warning to all those who would be performing signs in the name of Jesus. Yet it does not seem to communicate that those who perform those signs will be condemned.  What is important is to do the will of the Father, who is in heaven.

The above text communicates to us that it is possible to do mighty works in the name of Jesus, without knowing Jesus too well but at the same time it also communicates to us this; in the process of serving in the name of Jesus if we do not get converted to him then we are doomed.

In other words, if we do not recognize the reason beyond the power and do not submit to the Lord our will and do not give him the glory that is due his name then we are walking a wrong path. 

Prayer: Lord our God, as we serve you may we never depart from your commandments and put our trust completely in you and seek your glory in all things.

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

Opportunity to Live

Today’s Gospel Text:  Truly, truly, I say to you, if any one keeps my word, he will never see death." 52 The Jews said to him, "Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham died, as did the prophets; and you say, 'If any one keeps my word, he will never taste death.' 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you claim to be?" 54 Jesus answered, "If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing; it is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say that he is your God. 55 But you have not known him; I know him. If I said, I do not know him, I should be a liar like you; but I do know him and I keep his word. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced that he was to see my day; he saw it and was glad." 57 The Jews then said to him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?" 58 Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am." 59 So they took up stones to throw at him; but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple. John 8:51-59

Reflection: Truly, truly, I say to you, if any one keeps my word, he will never see death." said Jesus. (vs. 51)

No wonder the Jews reacted by saying: "Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham died, as did the prophets; and you say, 'If any one keeps my word, he will never taste death.'  Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you claim to be?"  (vss. 52-53)

Living in the reality of death, this statement on the part of Jesus seemed too far fetched.  Their reasoning was sure, and they were based on facts.

We are supposed to trust in Jesus; in every word that proceeds from his mouth and such words from Jesus cannot invite confidence and trust.

Even if we were to look at the followers of Jesus, they too see death; then how can Jesus say that they will never see death?

Death is the inevitable outcome of the mortals living on earth. Did he himself not die or did he give a new meaning to death.

Did Jesus see death? Yes even Jesus sees death but the difference with him and the other mortals was this: He saw death and yet never saw it because in it he triumphed over death.

Death whose meaning always has permanency, as to its effect, now in Christ Jesus, we see that it is short-lived and no longer holds an eternal doom. 

Though his words in isolation, of that event of the resurrection, can be meaningless yet now through his passion, death and resurrection we can trust his words as true, proved in himself and even proclaim it to the world with fearlessness: There is no death in Christ Jesus! 

This is again no abstract thought or a philosophical idea but an experience whose reality one can live on this earth.  No wonder they have been countless who have been bold enough to stand witness by an austere life and to the extent of shedding their blood to prove this experience.

Prayer: Lord, as I dwell on your word daily may it enliven me to stand for all that is true; for thy word is eternally true.

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

The Word of the Lord

Today’s Gospel Text: While the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennes'aret. 2 And he saw two boats by the lake; but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. 3 Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. 4 And when he had ceased speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch." 5 And Simon answered, "Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets." 6 And when they had done this, they enclosed a great shoal of fish; and as their nets were breaking, 7 they beckoned to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. 8 But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord." 9 For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the catch of fish which they had taken; 10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zeb'edee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; henceforth you will be catching men." 11 And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him. Luke 5:1-11

Reflection: The letter to the Hebrews defines faith thus; “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Heb 11:1

Maybe modern fishing methods, with sophisticated trawlers, equipped with modern gadgets and GPRS have changed the way they fish but the primitive fishing business, still practiced in most parts of the world, is like working with the same mystery as faith. You do not see what you are about to receive and yet you step out in faith.  

You drop your nets in the water and may either get a great catch or in extreme situations absolutely nothing. It is in faith that the net is dropped into the water, sometimes taking into consideration the favorable factors and yet a fisherman may catch nothing at all.

The only thing that the fisherman knows is that there maybe seasons when he will, with all the trying will get his rich haul of fish.

Here in the gospel faith meets superior faith, faith in the fishing nets to faith in the Word of the master: “"Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets." Vs. 5

To trust in the Lord’s word is like looking at the blank waters and casting your net and lo and behold, there is a great catch.

But do not forget to wait and wait for his word!

Prayer: I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord, more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning. Ps 130:5-6

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

Meaning through Belief

Scripture/Bible:  And Jesus cried out and said, "He who believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. 45 And he who sees me sees him who sent me. 46 I have come as light into the world, that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. 47 If any one hears my sayings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. 48 He who rejects me and does not receive my sayings has a judge; the word that I have spoken will be his judge on the last day. 49 For I have not spoken on my own authority; the Father who sent me has himself given me commandment what to say and what to speak. 50 And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has bidden me." John 12:44-50

Reflection:  What is it and what does he mean when he says; "He who believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me”?

It means that Jesus has closely identified himself with the mission the Father has sent him to or in other words he is no different from his Father.  You are not going to commit any sacrilege when you believe in Jesus and give him equal status as the Father.

The word believe means; to accept as true, to have a firm faith or to trust and have complete confidence.

Can one imagine a God who leaves humans to believe in what is not true, and more so seeks to confuse them further, either completely or partially, and that we have to seek the fullness in other philosophies, ideas or religions. Can we believe in a God who leaves us as confused as our perplexed state of mind?  And that he sends someone to us who only preaches a gospel of confusion?  

Of course, there are many who can be still confused with the gospel of Jesus Christ and can remain so not because Christ is confusing but rather because they read his word from their stand point, trusting either in themselves or some so called 'experts' but not in Christ Jesus.

Christ Jesus will not leave you confused, except at the beginning, till you learn to listen to him from among the many confusing voices in your head; if your acknowledge them to be confusing.  This is so, not because Jesus is confusing but rather because the stain of confusion in us takes time to be washed away. It depends on how much we cooperate with God’s gracious gift of cleansing and his special guidance offered to us through his written word and through the working of the Holy Spirit received with reverence and love.

Just as a bar of soap cannot cleanse us, but can even make us dirty unless we learn to use it for its intended purpose and with the help of water, similarly God’s word can only cleanse us if we allow it to do so in the right way with the help of God’s Holy Spirit and the various help given us through magisterium of the Church and through its tradition. .

Prayer:  Lord I want to first realize my state of constant confusion and then turn to you and your word so as to find the true meaning of life.

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

Return to Jesus

Today’s Gospel: The apostles returned to Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. 31 And he said to them, "Come away by yourselves to a lonely place, and rest a while." For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. 32 And they went away in the boat to a lonely place by themselves. 33 Now many saw them going, and knew them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns, and got there ahead of them. 34 As he went ashore he saw a great throng, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.  Mark 6:30-34

Reflection:  They did many things and taught the people what they had learnt from the master and under his directives.  From their exuberance it is evident that they may have performed mighty signs and wonders and people themselves may have found their teachings authoritative. From the subsequent action of Jesus it seems that the apostles had overworked themselves to the point of exhaustion.  Such is the nature of the power of laboring for the kingdom.  Looks like they were still not tired and wanted share all that they did in his name.

What is it that could have prevented the Apostle not to return to Jesus? They were powerful without his physical presence with them. They were already with him and had learnt many things and now they were abundantly equipped to span on their own.  What did he offer them when they came back, except for a call to come away by themselves to a lonely place and even that did not succeed?

It is not the ministry of the Lord that is important but the Lord of the ministry whom one must return and render an account constantly.  “…… Apart from me you can do nothing” (Jn. 15:5)

Prayer:  Lord, you have taught me the path of humility by asking me to return and trust in you in all things and I am grateful.

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