Divine Wisdom

Today’s Gospel Text:  "But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the market places and calling to their playmates, 17 'We piped to you, and you did not dance; we wailed, and you did not mourn.' 18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon'; 19 the Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Behold, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds." Matt 11:16-19

Reflection: What do we say about people?  Sorry, in fact, it should be said the other way  “what do we say about ourselves; are we not like what Jesus draws our attention to concerning the way we judge: 

“For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon'; the Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Behold, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' (vss. 18-19)

Both ways people speak and pass remarks or make a judgement and yet logically and humanly speaking they are not wrong.  

Hence many a times we are not aware about our double speak, we have to pass a judgment both ways, whereas the divine wisdom has a different take altogether. 

What about those who do not pass a judgment? There could be some among us who may pass a judgment on the basis of their silence at crucial moments when they do not side with what is right and just or fail in carrying out the just mandate of Christ hiding behind a spiritual or theological veil. 

Such is the unavoidable sinful tendencies of the people of this world in whose midst we live in. 

Mother Theresa drawing from the divine wisdom, reveals to us in her great inspiring moment a wisdom that is best lived by our union with Christ’s grace and strength; helped by the divine spirit: 

“People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway. 

If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway.

If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway.

The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway. 

For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.” 

― Mother Teresa

Yes, at the end of the day, it is deeds that count and not the deeds that humans demand, even as witnesses of Christ, but the deeds that seeks to please God and thus be his witness and maybe even his instrument of judgment.

Likewise, our deeds performed in union with him will be their judge. 

Prayer: Lord, without you it is not possible to make a just judgment about life and issues; help me to live my life in union with you and your wisdom, always seeking to fear you rather than men.

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

Bring in Jesus

Today’s Gospel Text:  As it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of man. 27 They ate, they drank, they married, they were given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. 28 Likewise as it was in the days of Lot - they ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built, 29 but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom fire and sulphur rained from heaven and destroyed them all -  30 so will it be on the day when the Son of man is revealed. 31 On that day, let him who is on the housetop, with his goods in the house, not come down to take them away; and likewise let him who is in the field not turn back. 32 Remember Lot's wife. 33 Whoever seeks to gain his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will preserve it. 34 I tell you, in that night there will be two in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. 35 There will be two women grinding together; one will be taken and the other left." 37 And they said to him, "Where, Lord?" He said to them, "Where the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together." Luke 17:26-37

Reflection: One clear sign for the day of the Lord; “They ate, they drank, they married, they were given in marriage” (vs. 27)

“…they ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built” (vs. 28)

What is so extraordinary about this sign that Jesus mentions or is there anything extraordinary about this prophetic revelation of his?

We eat, we drink, we get married, we buy and sell and plant and they are all necessary activities of life and hence what is so special about what Jesus is revealing.

Nothing and yet the message is as strong as the void it communicates. 

In the routine activity of life where we find comfort, solace, satisfaction, joys and hope we have to be careful and learn that Christ presence is never in it. No matter how beautiful and noble it maybe, we shouldn't be so enamored as to see God in it. 

He is not in the joys and hopes of daily routine as some would proclaim it but he needs to be brought into it by turning over our lives to Jesus and thus sanctifying these daily and routine activities of life.

If we do not then these things will reign and rule over us and our actions. And just as these earthly things will be destroyed on the day of Christ, making way for a new heaven and new earth, so also our souls attached to these daily routines of life.  

So today if you are eating or drinking or getting married or buying or selling or razing it down or building or whatever you are doing, ask yourself: Is Christ Jesus in it or not?

If not then bring him in into all your actions.

Prayer: Lord, may I co-operate with your grace and thus be your instrument to thank and praise you in all things and for everything.

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

The Name of Jesus

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. 41 For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ, will by no means lose his reward. 42 "Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung round his neck and he were thrown into the sea. 43 And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. 45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. 47 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, 48 where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched. Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48

Reflection: A good tree not only gives fruit, but could have many uses too, no part of the tree goes wasted. Even if the main purpose of planting the tree could be its fruit but besides giving shade to a passerby, the fruit can be used for a variety of purposes, the seeds to too can be used as edible oil, the bark and leaves could be used as fodder or as a medicinal herb or for other useful purposes.

Similarly, one of the main purpose of Jesus’ coming was to make disciples of all nations, yet his reach is far and wide to all sorts of people who are open to his action and power.

Even the wicked and the evil may make use of his name for personal glory and power, if they do not repent then it is only to face the judgment on the last day; “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 7:22-23

Hence of the many who  would be using his name, there will be some who maybe for Christ or against him or maybe seeing his power change and turn to him, repenting of whatever wrong they may have done.

The wheat and the weed has to exist and grow together:  “...lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. Let both grow together until the harvest.” Matt 13:29-30

It is a lesson for each one of us not to take the generosity of God for granted, in fact, “..to every one who has will more be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away.” Matt 25:29

Prayer: Lord, as I seek to be your instrument, following you as a disciple, may I be found worthy of your calling and not be found lacking on that day.

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

Judgment

Today’s Gospel Text: "To what then shall I compare the men of this generation, and what are they like? 32 They are like children sitting in the market place and calling to one another, 'We piped to you, and you did not dance; we wailed, and you did not weep.'

33 For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine; and you say, 'He has a demon.' 34 The Son of man has come eating and drinking; and you say, 'Behold, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' 35 Yet wisdom is justified by all her children." Luke 7:31-35

Reflection: Why does a whole generation get categorized and why not a few of the notorious ones not identified? Is it right for us to categorize whole generations or an entire race or a group of people?

Even otherwise we do it? Sometimes those who seem to exhibit a little extra nobility of heart tend not categorize a generation, group or a race?

Though it may not always be right to categorize a whole race or a particular race or religion, yet in certain matters it is unavoidable. Moment you belong to a particular group, you carry a tag.

Are we still justified in all matters? Human judgment is almost always frail to fault.

Suppose, a travel advisory warns of terrorism in a particular nation, then it would be foolish on anyone’s part to consider the whole nation as a group of terrorist or on the other hand not to be cautious in their travel there.

The human mind thinks in terms of categorization. A nation declares a war on another and the enemy cannot be sitting down to identify who in that nation is good and who is bad and bomb it accordingly unless individuals and groups, except for a cowardice reason, have come out openly to renounce the wrong of its nation. Even then they could become victim’s war.

In the scripture text we have God’s judgment concerning this particular generation. Similarly we have God’s judgment concerning the entire human race: “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” Rom 3:23

But God is not unjust when he proclaims entire generations, nations, race or groups as sinners, he gives us a solution; we need to come out of these groups and turn to God:

Therefore come out from them, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch nothing unclean; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty." 2 Cor 6:17-18

Prayer: Lord, separate me from a generation that does not accept your salvation, even if it means being judged by them as being individualistic.

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

Not Enough

Today’s Gospel Text:   Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net which was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind; 48 when it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into vessels but threw away the bad. 49 So it will be at the close of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous, 50 and throw them into the furnace of fire; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.

51 "Have you understood all this?" They said to him, "Yes." 52 And he said to them, "Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old."

53 And when Jesus had finished these parables, he went away from there, Matt 13:47-53

Reflection: This parable brings out a profound reality of the Kingdom of heaven.

The Gospel that Jesus mandated to be proclaimed to all creation is the net that is cast in the vast ocean, consisting of individuals of the earth. Here we have people of every kind; i.e. of every nation, language, tribe, culture, religious affiliations and color.

From the time of the Apostles the gospel has been preached to people of every kind and only the Lord knows when the net shall be full.

The definite end is sure, when all these people of every kind will be hauled before the great judgment seat of God, with his angels separating the good from the bad.

Surely, the parable has left out those who have not received the Gospel and have not been caught in the fishing net of the gospel. In other words, it discusses the judgment of those who have been hauled by the fishing net. 

Is it the first judgment that Peter the apostle talks about in his letter:

“For the time has come for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? And "If the righteous man is scarcely saved, where will the impious and sinner appear?" 1 Peter 4:17-18

Can we who believe in the truth of the parable do something about it? Surely, by living a life more dedicated to God, we can be a leaven of influence in reducing the number of wicked who will be prevented from entering the kingdom of heaven.

Prayer: Lord, may I be the kind of fish that is acceptable and may I be found pleasing to you on that day of Judgment.

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

God’s Warning

Today’s Gospel:  And they came to Beth-sa'ida. And some people brought to him a blind man, and begged him to touch him. 23 And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the village; and when he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands upon him, he asked him, "Do you see anything?" 24 And he looked up and said, "I see men; but they look like trees, walking." 25 Then again he laid his hands upon his eyes; and he looked intently and was restored, and saw everything clearly. 26 And he sent him away to his home, saying, "Do not even enter the village." Mark 8:22-26

Reflection:  (Read this reflection along with that of Fri. 10^th Feb. 2012) There are two actions of Jesus in the gospel which are very prominent and stand out starkly; the first one is that of leading the blind man out of the village by the hand and the other is that of telling the healed blind man not to enter the village. 

Whatever the reasons for such an action, could this action of Jesus be a prejudice or abhorrence or disdain for the village of Bethsaida? In Mt. 11;21 and in Lk. 9:10 we find Jesus even cursing Bethsaida for refusing to believe.

We often overlook the fact that God too rejects families and parishes and churches and villages and towns, cities and nations for their unbelief and rejection of the commands of God.  We often wonder why God does these things.

Some of these actions of God are an absolute judgment, while the other milder actions of God are judgments that invite the people to repent.  God does punish and his punishments many a time are supposed to be a curative and a timely warning for the individuals and people to repent and turn to him.  

The task at hand is not easy; hence it is better to trust in the Lord rather than on human wisdom.

Prayer: How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to thy word. With my whole heart I seek thee; let me not wander from thy commandments! Ps 119:9-10

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