Treasure Trove

Today’s Gospel Text:  "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. 45 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, 46 who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it. Matt 13:44-46

Reflection: Let’s understand the first of the two parables, which compares the Kingdom of heaven to a treasure hidden in a field.

From what is said in comparison, we see the kingdom of heaven as not something that we have or posses. It is not something that we can arrive at or build on our own wisdom.

It is something that has to be discovered or found; how can we discover and find what is covered?

What the parable does talk about is that this Kingdom is to be found, not in ourselves, as deceivers would have us believe, by even wrongly quoting a text of the Bible; “For lo, the kingdom of God is within you.” Luke 17:21 Douay-Rheims

But it is a kingdom which is first found external to ourselves and then made ones own.  Once discovered, we realize that it is something that we are capable of perceiving as being of a far greater value than all our strivings and efforts.

It is something, that once we see it or behold, it will fill us with a joy to give up everything in order to possess it. In other words it gives us joy and yet is greater than our joy, lest we remain satisfied with our joy and lose out on that treasure of the kingdom.

It is something that will lead us to a concrete action, or a praxis of first wanting to have it, by giving up all that we have seen as important in our lives; whether wealth or fame or power or possessions or vast field of expertise or knowledge or idea or ideologies or spiritualities or experiences or our pet projects or innovations.

May be for the many of us reading this, it is a challenge to check whether we fit in with this aspect of the truth, that the parable reveals.

It’s high time we ask God’s help, to enable us to discover this great treasure of the kingdom of God. Pray, to be totally enamored by it and allowing it to take total control of our lives, so as to compel us into giving up everything for this greatest of treasure: Jesus Christ.

Prayer: Lord, I pray that I may have you as my sole treasure, my portion and cup, and when I find you, I may do as you will.  

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

Delve into God

Today’s Gospel Text: Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field." 37 He answered, "He who sows the good seed is the Son of man; 38 the field is the world, and the good seed means the sons of the kingdom; the weeds are the sons of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the close of the age, and the reapers are angels. 40 Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the close of the age. 41 The Son of man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, 42 and throw them into the furnace of fire; there men will weep and gnash their teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear. Matt 13:36-43

Reflection: We know what humans are all about and yet they are so mysterious. Each individual is a mystery to be discovered. We could even spend our life time discovering each other and yet find that there are certain aspects which will remain a mystery to us.

The Gospel text of today reveals the mysterious nature of God. He is hidden and yet in his generosity and mercy towards us reveals himself to us.

We can safely say this about Jesus our Lord and God: The more he revealed himself to us the more we threatened his existence when he walked on earth among us, ultimately crucifying him to a most ignoble and miserable death.

In the many parables, he teaches us the mysterious nature of God offered to us and yet it does not completely reveal the complete mystery of God.

We can look at it from a bitter point of view or we can view this from a more positive point of view. A child wanting bread can be either refused by his father or given money to explore the mystery of buying bread, rather than the child having the bread itself .

Likewise God, reveals to us, so that we may explore into that mystery which saves us, because we are now dependent on him and grow in dependency on him who alone can save us from the unseen powers and principalities of wickedness at work in us, which is far removed from our visible eyes.

Blessed are these humble Dedicated Disciples who having not understood these parables of Jesus, could have said to themselves; “if he speaks in such mysterious language then why should we go to him again and beg of him or perhaps he himself doesn’t know the interpretations to these parables.”

Yet they knew that every revelation of God, in a mysterious way, is an invitation to persevere in understanding the mystery further but with his help and wisdom.

Prayer:  Father, you who has chosen to reveal your Son to us, may we understand all those mysteries that are necessary for our salvation.

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

Kingship Of Jesus

Today’s Gospel Text: Another parable he put before them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his field; 32 it is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches." 33 He told them another parable. "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven which a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened." 34 All this Jesus said to the crowds in parables; indeed he said nothing to them without a parable. 35 This was to fulfil what was spoken by the prophet. Matt 13:31-35

Reflection: "Who has seen heaven that you talk of eternal life?" Is the oft heard question, when you tell some one of the kingdom of heaven.

Yet to those who have seen,experienced even a glimpse of it and live in it, for them, it is a reality to worth live for and to be looked forward to.

Is it the same as earthly kingdoms and does it operate in the same way as any earthly kingdoms?

Jesus in explaining the kingdom of heaven by means of the many parables brings out the many facets of such an existence. The many parables bring out the richness of this kingdom.

One great reality that Jesus brings out, through the parables, is that the Kingdom of God is not just a distant reality, which can be attained after death but a reality that can be lived and experienced in this world too. It can be experienced by all of us through him who brings it to us primarily by his very presence, through our invitation of him.

Jesus is the reality of God’s kingdom present in our midst. Just as you cannot talk about a kingdom without a king in place, so also Jesus is the King of the Kingdom of God.

The fact of the Kingdom he came to establish; though having all the rights, yet with no kingship in the many hearts created by him.

In order to win this earthly kingdom, the hearts of the many on earth, he chose to conquer it, not with men and women employed to fight through blood shed and war, but by humbling himself, taking on the form of a slave, dying the most ignoble and miserable death of the cross. Thus he proved his love for us.

To those who surrender their hearts in order that he may reign, they also lift their hearts to the heavenly place, the heavenly values, which he has revealed though these various parables.

Prayer: “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Matt 6:10

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

Jesus the Bread of life

Today’s Gospel Text:  After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiber'i-as. 2 And a multitude followed him, because they saw the signs which he did on those who were diseased. 3 Jesus went up on the mountain, and there sat down with his disciples. 4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. 5 Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a multitude was coming to him, Jesus said to Philip, "How are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?" 6 This he said to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. 7 Philip answered him, "Two hundred denarii would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little." 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him, 9 "There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what are they among so many?" 10 Jesus said, "Make the people sit down." Now there was much grass in the place; so the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 11 Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted. 12 And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, "Gather up the fragments left over, that nothing may be lost." 13 So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten. 14 When the people saw the sign which he had done, they said, "This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world!" John 6:1-14

Reflection: If John the evangelist wanted to relate the story of Jesus feeding the multitude with bread, then why did he have to bring in the Passover element into this story?

The first message that we get from the Passover story of the Old Testament is that of a God who cares and provides for his people; just as he protected them in the desert and provided them with the heavenly manna, so too God will provide them who are walking in his ways and are hungry.

He provided Abraham the father in faith, of all Jews, the lamb of sacrifice; likewise, God will provide for the needs of his people the eternal lamb of sacrifice. 

Will then not God provide that greatest inherent need of man  to live long?

We eat in order to live. The fact that the world still strives to produce that elixir of life so as to prolong life, is an indication of our desire to live life to the full and long.

So we have gymnasiums, health spas, wholistic and spiritual health care centers, health centers, special anti-ageing formulas, research into the cause of aging, etc.

Though many may not avail of these benefits yet deep in the human heart there is always that desire to live and even long. 


How many of us not read articles that talk about the benefits of  healthy living, for a long and prolonged life?

Jesus is the answer to that need in every human being and he has done it by offering his own eternal life: By virtue of his sinlessness it is eternal and by virtue of his calling was to be a sacrifice to give life, so that we may have life through him (Jn. 10 : 10)

In the light of the above, the mention of the Passover by John holds special significance; it reveals God’s special dedication to save his people from the eternal damnation, of death, which each one on this earth is so keen on escaping.

I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live for ever; and the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh." John 6:51

Prayer: "Lord, give us this bread always." John 6:34

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

IDENTIFY THE ENEMY

Today’s Gospel Text: Another parable he put before them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field; 25 but while men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. 26 So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. 27 And the servants of the householder came and said to him, 'Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then has it weeds?' 28 He said to them, 'An enemy has done this.' The servants said to him, 'Then do you want us to go and gather them?' 29 But he said, 'No; lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.'"

31 Another parable he put before them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his field; 32 it is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches." Matt 13:24-32

Reflection:  Surely every good worker of the kingdom will be surprised at the weed among the wheat. They would not know who has put them there, hence they have to ask the master, how the weeds came about.

There are those, in our days, who have heard the masters injunction to his servants and may even plead that the weed remains there because the master has ordered thus to his beloved servants.

Surely, the seeds of false teachings from false prophets, who are the enemies in our midst, will always exist. This doesn’t mean that the enemy who has sown the seed should remain for long and openly with the master and work to burn the bundles of wheat rather than the bundles of weed.

The apostles who had understood this parable did not take life casually, as shepherds to whom Christ had entrusted his flocks to. They made it a point to help the servants identify those are from the enemy and those who were from the master.

I often see some of the enemies hiding behind this scripture with their tails, pleading that they be spared just as the master have spared the weeds to. They assert that if the weed be removed then the wheat would get harmed.

This should never happen in the church of God, which is the bulwark of truth.

   

The Apostles as masters and shepherds always made it a point to warn the church and never failed to act:  “Any one who goes ahead and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God; he who abides in the doctrine has both the Father and the Son. If any one comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into the house or give him any greeting; for he who greets him shares his wicked work. 2 John 9-11

(Rom. 16: 17; Eph. 5: 6-7; 1 Cor. 5: 9-11 are some of the scripture passages where you see the apostles seeking to expose or correct the enemies of the gospel of Christ)

In our days when the enemy has infiltrated the shepherd class, there is an urgent need to be alert against the enemy and expose them if need be.

Prayer: “Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou who leadest Joseph like a flock! Thou who art enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth before E'phraim and Benjamin and Manas'seh! Stir up thy might, and come to save us!  Restore us, O God; let thy face shine, that we may be saved! Ps 80:1-3

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

Understanding Heart

Today’s Gospel Text: "Hear then the parable of the sower. 19 When any one hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in his heart; this is what was sown along the path. 20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. 22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is he who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the delight in riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. 23 As for what was sown on good soil, this is he who hears the word and understands it; he indeed bears fruit, and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty." Matt 13:18-23

Reflection:  Who said that you have to be doers of the word not just hearers? Of course we have to be doers of the word as James the Apostle puts it in his letter, Chp. 1:22-25: “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if any one is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who observes his natural face in a mirror;  for he observes himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But he who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer that forgets but a doer that acts, he shall be blessed in his doing.”

Yet, it is not enough to carry this message in practical living. If we do we will be living in a heresy of Pelaginism, thinking that good works based on the law of the word will save us.

We could also be living like the Pharisees who lived the word by interpreting it and putting it into practice.

So then what’s wrong in living by the word of God and being doers of the word?

There is a stage in between hearing and doing, it is one of understanding or receiving the word with meekness of heart. (cfr. vs. 19) In fact, UNDERSTANDING is the most important part or the only important part in living as true Dedicated Disciples of Christ Jesus.

How can you say that? Then what happens to doing or action?

All those things will come about in due time, if there is understanding with the grace of Christ.

Understanding is like a food item which you may have tasted before and never cared much about it. Now somebody takes you for tasting the same dish to a specialist and it all tastes so good that you really want to taste it again and again, even wanting others to taste it.

Such are the Christians whom Christ wants to be his Dedicated Disciples, who seek to understand his word, because ; like a true master chef,. Jesus knows that what he has to offer is the best. It is the truth, if really savored well then one will find real meaning and taste. It is not like any other so called holy word, but a time tested word, that has to be relished. He who relishes it will even go and tell others about it.

This very reason James begins his injunction with this exhortation: “Therefore put away all filthiness and rank growth of wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.” Jas 1:21

Prayer: “Give me understanding, that I may keep thy law and observe it with my whole heart.” Ps 119:34

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

Foolish Fools

Today’s Gospel Text:  Then the disciples came and said to him, "Why do you speak to them in parables?" 11 And he answered them, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12 For to him 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. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14 With them indeed is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah which says: 'You shall indeed hear but never understand, and you shall indeed see but never perceive.  15 For this people's heart has grown dull, and their ears are heavy of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should perceive with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and turn for me to heal them.' 16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. 17 Truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it. Matt 13:10-17

Reflection: To make fool of people or to fool the people is one and the same.

Many experts and trainers do that; they use the gift of their gab to fool people with half truth.

The most surprising part is that people do get fooled and get carried away by the such crooked nobility of apparently sincere men and women.

History is replete with examples of such Characters who have led their own generation astray, only to be condemned by subsequent generations, who walk in the same folly in their own generation.

What do you call such stupidity of men in their own generation, who think their learning and their intellect and study makes them wise.

To prod them on, the world dishes out its wisdom to them, such as these; "failure is a stepping stone to success." How can failure due to absolute stupidity and foolishness be a stepping stone, if not to pride and self-conceit?

How can you explain this phenomenon in men of every age; believe in the lie, more than the truth?

This could be the reason why Jesus presents to them the pure truth of the parable in a covert way. The parable is all truth and there is a mystery about it; a store house of truth which needs to be explored and discovered, What is more, it comes to us in many dimensions, 

Those who dwell on it with God's help are richly blessed into penetrating the mystery and can multiply  their blessings according to their perseverance.

Prayer: Lord, I thank you for your love for us,  that you allow us to enter into the depth of your mysteries and saving grace.

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

Servanthood

Today’s Gospel Text: Then the mother of the sons of Zeb'edee came up to him, with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. 21 And he said to her, "What do you want?" She said to him, "Command that these two sons of mine may sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom." 22 But Jesus answered, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?" They said to him, "We are able." 23 He said to them, "You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father." 24 And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers. 25 But Jesus called them to him and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. 26 It shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever would be first among you must be your slave; 28 even as the Son of man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Matt 20:20-28

Reflection: The most intriguing part of today’s gospel passage is the woman, the mother of  the sons of Zebedee.

How were they so sure of this mystery of Jesus’ special power and of his kingdom? And which Kingdom were they talking about, the earthly or heavenly?

Nevertheless, they still ask him for that favour and from the reaction of the other 10 disciples it becomes evident that the woman was pleading for a position for the sons. They couldn’t be so doing unless they had communicated that ambition to their mother.

Seems that they wanted their mother to play the seductive role of influencing Jesus with a request, Hence the other disciples were not angry with the mother but with their companion.

It is not bad to have an ambition for the greater things of life and in no way Jesus discourages that, evident even in this passage, What is important and to be kept in mind, is that there are no short cuts to positions.

Still more important and a necessary fact would be that there are no such glories in any positions in the church of God.

Hence if someone aspires to be a Bishop or a superior for self glory, then they fail to see his vocation in the light of Christian revelation. It is like seeking to serve ones own interest rather than the interest of the one, on account of whom we are alive and surviving, by whose wisdom we are able to do anything good to our brothers and sisters.

Similarly, the demand for women priests is an aberration in our time in the light of Christ teaching on servanthood and positions of power,

What about the many who are envious about someone else's position and gifts, those who manifest jealousy and through intrigues try to pull down others through false accusations and allegations- are they not also walking in the same folly of the overambitious?

Prayer: Lord, may I seek to serve and not to be served at in whatever positions and wherever you call me to serve.

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

Brotherhood and Human Family

Today’s Gospel Text:  While he was still speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him. 48 But he replied to the man who told him, "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?" 49 And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother, and sister, and mother." Matt 12:46-50

Reflection: The Gospel text carries a very important message, relevant for all time and ages. 

How do we look at the great effort made to proclaim the message of brotherhood and sisterhood, the human family and the call to love?  

The world more and more seeks to live as one family, in unity and peace. The religious wars and the terrorism has further pushed the world to think of a solution in humanism, which seeks to unite the world into a global family where there would be no difference between caste, creed and religion; unity of religions. 

Hence the illusory hope of a world where there would be no killing or blood bath.

Unfortunately there are leaders in the hierarchy of the church, who also speak such a language of striving, to  establishing a kingdom of unity, peace and brotherhood.

Christ Jesus is often quoted out of context or understood for convenience, to create a civilization that would be based on the concept of the universal brotherhood of man.

In such a situation the question that Jesus raises is relevant for us to understand and has its own implications: "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?" (vs. 48)

Is it all or everyone on the street or in the world? No,  “… stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! (vs. 49)

And he qualifies that statement, lest if there be any room for misunderstanding: “For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother, and sister, and mother." (vs. 50)

If you find this shocking, then I find it equally shocking at the rejection of the revealed truth of God, rejecting which, the many human strivings is only a mirage of hope leading to doom!

Hence the basis for the unity and brotherhood is not creation, that is, image and likeness of God but rather doing the will of God.  Jesus Christ is the key for this unity and brotherhood because he is God’s will for us and it he who reveals to us God as our Father.

Prayer: We are grateful to you for revealing to us our Father and thus making us a part of your family.

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