Monday 31 October 2011

Whom will you Invite?


Scripture: 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:  Difficult teaching, practically impossible! How can we have a banquet and not have our friends and relatives and kinsmen or rich neighbors and friends. This is how it is with most of our celebrations and no one seems to have the courage and the zeal to implement this element of Christ’s teaching.

Could it be that we do not really trust God in the assurances he gives us; “and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. You will be repaid at the resurrection of the just." Or where do we go in search of the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind in order to invite them?

In our days when there are homes and places where many Christians reach out to these in such homes and even have special celebrations for them there.

But in the course of our Charity we shouldn’t forget that Christ the Sacrificial Lamb is cut and we as his servants are sent forth to invite the less fortunate through our witnessing and proclamation to the great banquet of Christ.

Prayer:  Make me Lord your instrument.

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

Sunday 30 October 2011

The Seat of Power


Scripture: Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to his disciples,2 Saying: The scribes and   the Pharisees have sitten on the chair of Moses.3 All things therefore whatsoever they shall say to you, observe and do: but according to their works do ye not; for they say, and do not.4 For they bind heavy and insupportable burdens, and lay them on men's shoulders; but with a finger of their own they will not move them.5 And all their works they do for to be seen of men. Matt 23:1-5 Douay-Rheims

Reflection:  The seat of Moses is a special seat to be respected and honored. Jesus could have said it the other way; the scribes and the Pharisees have sitten on the chair of Moses. Therefore avoid their company and seek to overthrow them for abuse of power, for they say things and do not observe what they say.

What could be the logic in not asking them to act and overthrow the powers to be? Perhaps most men would be the same when they sit on the chair of Moses, maybe some a little better than the others.

History is replete with examples of such evil of abuse of seats. At the same time we have been given the help of God’s Holy Spirit and help and hence do not change the status quo. Remember, the seat of Moses is a transitional seat and the one who has established it also knows how to help us triumph over the evil that may be proclaimed through it, if only we learn to leave things in God’s hands. 

Prayer:  Lord, guide all the occupants of the seat of power and authority so that they maybe your instruments to lead us in your ways on earth.

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

Saturday 29 October 2011

Who is at your Table?


Scripture:  One sabbath when he went to dine at the house of a ruler who belonged to the Pharisees, they were watching him.  Luke 14: 1

Reflection:  Meals are great moment to fellowship and learn, thanks to the mind that can do two things at a time. More so at a meal the mind does not require to focus much on a meal that is served.  Yet, when there is a great meal there are times when everyone is so quiet enjoying the meal that they forget that the others are around.

A family meal can be an occasion for praying, learning about the values of life and the Gospel.  In the Gospel example we also learn that we can always invite guests as the Pharisee did, guests who can enrich our spiritual life and the quality of life of the family. The guests need not be a poor but it could be a person who will give you the best concerning the Kingdom of God.  If not, then at least let Jesus be the guest at every meal by inviting him to be a part of your family. “Behold, I stand at the gate, and knock. If any man shall hear my voice, and open to me the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” Rev. 3:20

Prayer:  Lord be a part of our family and at every meal animate our conversation for your greater glory.

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

Friday 28 October 2011

Do I Pray?


Scripture: In these days he went out to the mountain to pray; and all night he continued in prayer to God. 13 And when it was day, he called his disciples, and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles.      Luke 6:12-13

Reflection:  Some people consult an expert before a major decision, some refer the matter to professionals, and some do a case study and refer to volumes and books on the subject.  There are some who require no help from any quarters because they themselves are experts or at least consider themselves to be one.  But rarely, do people refer their action to God.

In the Gospel of today we find Jesus, who is God in our midst spending a night in prayer before a major decision in life.  

From the action we know the importance of the decision, a decision which will have eternal ramifications; a perfect choice and blend of all types of characters, yet united in a common mission, viz. to proclaim the Gospel of Salvation by being his witness.

If he needed to pray then we too who are mere mortals with limited vision and capability, despite all our achievements and talents, need to have a relook at our life style and decision making process.

Am I referring all my actions to God?

Prayer:  Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 

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

Thursday 27 October 2011

Who is your Enemy?


Scripture: At that very hour some Pharisees came, and said to him, "Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you. 32 And he said to them, "Go and tell that fox, 'Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course. "   Luke 13:31-32

Reflection:  Think about great leaders of today how they surround themselves with a posse of security personnel’s.  Some even get intimidated with a little confrontation and a least bit of suspicion is enough for them to act against their opponent.  The best form of defense is often offence. 

Similarly, we too at our level can carry such suspicion and insecurities on account of threat perception. Maybe because someone is out there to kill our reputation and image or there is someone in our office or work place ready to usurp the place that we are seeking or the fears of insecurities concerning our positions and future. It could also be the fear that our bloated ego or ambitions that makes us look to at others as enemies that obstruct our study rise to fame and gain.

Prayer:  Lord, May I be faithful to your call to embrace the cross of truth.

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

Wednesday 26 October 2011

Few Will Be Saved


Scripture: He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. 23 And some one said to him, "Lord, will those who are saved be few?" And he said to them, 24 "Strive to enter by the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. Luke 13:22-24


Reflection: "Lord, will those who are saved be few?" It is their question, I mean the disciples. But a question of such gravity could not have come out of the blue. The text before their question tells us that, “He (Jesus) went on his way through towns and villages, teaching.”

And if you think that this question of who is going to be saved and who is not bothers you then remember that it bothered the disciples too. They must have heard Jesus teaching about it and yet it looked like they couldn’t digest this one fact and hence the query.

Unfortunately, among the many that will not make it are the ones who actually seek to enter. Hence forget those who do not seek to do so they will never enter (vs.24).

Prayer:  Lord, save us O Lord, while you are near to us.

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

Tuesday 25 October 2011

The Kingdom Reality


Scripture: He said therefore, "What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? 19 It is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his garden; and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches."  20 And again he said, "To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? 21 It is like leaven which a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened." Luke 13:18-21

Reflection:  What is the bull’s heart fruit like? And to what shall I compare it?  Now when you compare a product or an idea to something you take the risk of either overvaluing or undervaluing things? But at the same time what is accomplished is an explanation which closely satisfies our minds. Which means the explanations does not fully meet the standard and still has a lacuna in understanding fully the depth of the truth. 

If those who do not understand the limitations of the explanations now begin to think that they have understood the kingdom, then they are a fool of the highest order. The invitation is to understand the Kingdom, even if partially now, but progressively more and more, till we experience a complete measure of leavening or till the birds of the air begins to take shelter under our wings.

But the greatest truth is this: When there is an effort to explain things through comparison then the best way to know the truth is to taste it yourself.  We know that this was Jesus’ ultimate offer too. In order to experience the Kingdom we need to ask him for the gift of the Holy Spirit and not through the practice of Yoga or any of the so called eastern prayer techniques.

Prayer:  Lord I believe, grant me the grace to labour righteously.

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

Monday 24 October 2011

Sabbath Blessings


Scripture: Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. 11 And there was a woman who had had a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years; she was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. 12 And when Jesus saw her, he called her and said to her, "Woman, you are freed from your infirmity." 13 And he laid his hands upon her, and immediately she was made straight, and she praised God. Lk. 13:10-13

Reflection:  That which Jesus did we still continue to follow, his teachings in the Synagogue on a Sabbath is still the norm followed everywhere. Except that the place (Church) and the day (Sunday) are different in keeping with the new Sabbath (from Saturday to Sunday) he established by in it resting from all his work, by rising from the dead.

A Sabbath for a Christian is meant to be a day of rest and what is the best way we can rest, if not by feeding on the word of God that is taught and proclaimed. Six days we can work our tongues out but let the seventh day be a moment of rest for the tongue and listen to God’s word that heals the broken body, the infirmed spirit and the soul that is ever deep in turmoil. 

Prayer: Grant me grace O Lord that I may listen to your word.

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

Sunday 23 October 2011

Fair Judgment


Scripture:    But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sad'ducees, they came together. 35 And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question, to test him. Matt 22:34-35

Reflection:  When you have an enmity with someone then better be careful! You may for the sake of condemning that someone may join hands with a more comfortable and devious enemy. All this is done in order to condemn the more righteous enemy.  This righteous one may in actual reality be your friend, except that he irritates you by his nagging corrections.  

Pharisees and Sadducees were no great friends, in fact they looked down on each other but for convenience they came together seeking to condemn Christ Jesus.

Why does it happen? Because our judgments are wrong, we could be looking at the immediate wrong and forget the larger wrong.  We are short sighted in our outlook.  

Prayer:  Open our eyes Lord so that we may see things as you see them.

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

Saturday 22 October 2011

O Saviour, Save Us


Scripture: There were some present at that very time who told him of the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And he answered them, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered thus? 3 I tell you, No; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen upon whom the tower in Silo'am fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who dwelt in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, No; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish." Luke 13:1-5

Reflection:  When we see suffering and tragedies or accidents and calamities our immediate reaction is that of sadness and pain or shock and disbelief and anger and hurt.

Some of us may think of reaching out to those victims of such tragedies. In the face of such tragedies, if we were to Judge Jesus by our human standards then he would stand condemned for his aloofness and cold hearted response to such a tragedy. What is more he begins to talk about sin and repentance. Such statements by any in good standing in society can invite the wrath of the people and the media would definitely blow it up. I do not know how many of our own religious leaders, finding this teaching hard and difficult would give their own slant saying; “these words were put in the mouth of Jesus”  and thus will condemn him too by not attributing it to Jesus. They take upon themselves the task of saving the savior of the world.

The Scripture has revealed to us that Jesus’ commitment to humanity is 100% (Rm. 5:8, Jn.3:16) and if he is to be judged by our short sighted vision then he will stand condemned but if we look at the situation from an overall angle then Jesus’ statement is of more value and of better concern: Change of heart (repentance) and save yourself from the tragedy of eternity.

Prayer:   O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell and lead all souls to heaven, especially those in great need of your mercy.

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

Friday 21 October 2011

FOOTSTEPS OF JESUS


Scripture: He also said to the multitudes, "When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, 'A shower is coming'; and so it happens. 55 And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, 'There will be scorching heat'; and it happens. 56 You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky; but why do you not know how to interpret the present time? Luke 12:54-56
  
Reflection:  Speculation or predictions are part of daily life.  In modern times we are exposed much to the world of politics, economics and sports and we do predict and speculate much concerning winning and losing, the share market going up or down, the foreign exchange going berserk,  the inflationary trend and the economic depression and crisis.  Even at our own small level the family knows how to predict the daily aspects of behavior patterns of children and spouses and neighbors. 

They may mean much to us but if we know the real value of life, its purpose and the eternal implications then we would see things differently and our priorities will change.

One reason we may do this is because of our many insecurities which compulsively seeks to see things in advance. Hence some even seek such knowledge in Astrology and palmistry.

We walk by faith and not by sight. It is faith in Jesus which should keep us going in life rather than our predictions and speculations.  Let Jesus be the priority and seek knowledge of him who is able to really save us; for our eternity is assured in following him in his  FOOTSTEPS   and hence no room for predictions and speculations.

Prayer:  Lord, help me to seek your wisdom and walk securely in your footsteps.

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

Thursday 20 October 2011

Let the fire fall


Scripture "I came to cast fire upon the earth; and would that it were already kindled! 50 I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how I am constrained until it is accomplished!”     Luke 12:49-50

Reflection:  "I came to cast fire upon the earth; and would that it were already kindled!” What fire is this that he has come to cast on earth and eager that it be kindled?  Imagine a fire, a nuclear bomb fire and the destruction that a fire can bring about. The last time we know of God taking up a task of cleansing the earth was through the great floods in the time of Noah but now he has a fire in store may be because those waters did not accomplish his purpose. We had Babel that followed and it needs to begin with Babel (Pentecost). Thus we have the great Pentecost where God cast the first of the fire on Earth after the Baptism which Jesus underwent.

The fire of Pentecost still rages in our midst. To those who accept it, it is the fire of God’s mercy for our purification for it helps us stand (witness) unlike the tower of Babel to witness to the truth of the Gospel.

Prayer: Come Holy Spirit and enkindle in us the fire, the fire of your love.

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

Tuesday 18 October 2011

Look to Jesus


Scripture:  But know this, that if the householder had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. 40 You also must be ready; for the Son of man is coming at an unexpected hour." Luke 12:39-40

Reflection:  In order to communicate the truth of his coming, does Jesus have to talk about the coming of the thief.  Why could Jesus not give a better and positive example to the people? For example; if the householder had known at what hour the guest was coming or at what hour sickness would come.

But a thief….???  There definitely is a double message for Christians: on the one hand there is the thief (Satan) and perhaps the house is broken into but yet don’t look to him for solutions to your problems; the thief is already in your household but don’t worry you can still wait for him who has the authority and power and comes at an unexpected hour. Don’t worry about the thief you only wait on him and his constant coming in your life and the thief has to vanish just as he vanishes at the sight of the policeman.  

Prayer: Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered; let those who hate him flee before him! 2 As smoke is driven away, so drive them away; as wax melts before fire, let the wicked perish before God! Ps 68:1-2

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

Monday 17 October 2011

The Lord accompanies his word


Scripture:  After this the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to come. Luke 10:1

Reflection: When the cloud arrives the rain arrives too, when the Sun arrives the heat arrives too, when the food arrives the plates arrives too and the men to eat.

Similarly, when the Gospel of Jesus arrives through his chosen servants the Lord too arrives. How do we know this?

In today’s Gospel Jesus make it clear that when he sends his disciple to every town and place, he ensures that his presence will follow to that place; “where he himself was about to come.”

This very reason when the word of God or the Gospel is proclaimed faithfully there are signs and wonders that follow on account of Christ’s presence that accompany the carriers of the good news of faith; for the Lord is the Word! Therefore, the greatest sign is the conversion of the stony human heart towards the truth of the Gospel that saves.

Prayer:  Lord, May we see you arrive each time your word is proclaimed and may this arrival transform and change me to follow you closely.

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

Sunday 16 October 2011

Social Justice


Scripture: One of the multitude said to him, "Teacher, bid my brother divide the inheritance with me." 14 But he said to him, "Man, who made me a judge or divider over you?" 15 And he said to them, "Take heed, and beware of all covetousness; for a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." Luke 12:13-15

Reflection:  I want to name this story, ‘The oppressing and the marginalized brother’,  to honor our modern day Christian activists: One has robbed the other of his lot. The inherited property belongs to every child equally according to the law and according to justice and ethics.  What right has this brother then to keep the property for himself?

Disappointing and sad still is the attitude of Jesus.  When the world stands in need of liberation he fails to take his stand. Forget dividing the property, the least Jesus could do was take a stand. Those days he was crucified for some other reason now he needs to be crucified for this; I mean his followers should be crucified for their indifference to social injustice. 

Are you scandalized by these statements, yet there is a tribe that sees Jesus as an activist and proclaims and invites others to do the same.

Why does this happen?  It happens because we do know the master and his priorities and yet claim to be his servants.  Some have rejected him and adopted a spirituality that is contrary to the faith and yet claim to be more Christian than the other with all sincerity of heart and stupidity of mind and arguments.

Prayer:  Lord, help me know your priorities for me and seek first your kingdom and your righteousness. (Mt. 6:33)

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