Perfect Duty

Today’s Gospel Text:  And he said, "The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed upon the ground, 27 and should sleep and rise night and day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he knows not how. 28 The earth produces of itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. 29 But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come."

30 And he said, "With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? 31 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; 32 yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade." Mark 4:26-32

Reflection: There are some people who are only concerned with performing their duty and nothing else.

There are some who hold on to this philosophy as if it is the only thing in life that counts; duty for duty sake!

It is a wonderful noble thought, but how can one  think about duty without a goal in life? On the other hand, a compulsion to perform, not originating from an upright moral source, is dangerous.

When one diligently follows the orders of duty without asking the subjective conscience, which God has created and which, unless it is totally contaminated, can result in moral degeneration of the society.

One of the popular examples of such obedience to the call of the duty is the famous holocaust and many genocides committed in the name of duty.

It is necessary for humanity to be safe in what it practices, in all of one’s action. One cannot just say we have to be practical and without asking conscience work for the betterment of society. That betterment has to be first defined, before being dutiful.

To those who would pay more attention to performing their duty then the best is what Christ Jesus gives us and he even shows us, in the parable above, the fruit of such a labour in God’s vineyard.

Such a duty is sound in every doctrine, because one will first pick up the seed which Christ himself, by means of the gospel, gives us and we have to dutifully sow it.

What is more, he shows us the process our action will generate and the fruit it will produce. Christ Jesus approves of the fruit and there is a reward that awaits, not the wages that perish but the abundance that should accompany us to eternal life.

Prayer: Lord, I pray that I may seek to sow the seed of the gospel and have the strength to do so dutifully.

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

Expose to the Light

Today’s Gospel Text: And he said to them, "Is a lamp brought in to be put under a bushel, or under a bed, and not on a stand? 22 For there is nothing hid, except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret, except to come to light. 23 If any man has ears to hear, let him hear." 24 And he said to them, "Take heed what you hear; the measure you give will be the measure you get, and still more will be given you. 25 For to him who has will more be given; and from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away." Mark 4:21-25

Reflection: One of the freedoms we demand is the freedom of privacy and as per the laws of human right it is guaranteed in the constitutions of many nations, who have signed the United Nations charter on human rights.

The right to privacy usually guarantees to a certain defined extent when, where and how much of personal information could be disclosed by an individual.

It is a happy law for the many of us in the world who could go through a nightmare if the hidden things of our lives were to be made public.

Embarrassment, hurt, pain, betrayal, distress are some of the deepest feeling that we struggle with when exposed either rightly or wrongly, by the cautious or the overcautious.   

Despite all these freedoms of privacy laws, the Lord is cautioning us about the ultimate day, if not now when we will have to face the exposure of disclosure before the king and judge and then it will be public knowledge, whether we like it or not.

The exposure is sure and is inevitable; everything hidden in darkness has to be manifest by the light of Christ and what is secret will be manifest. (vs.22) 

But for us Christian we could avoid the great embarrassment by bringing things to the light of Christ through the Sacrament of reconciliation, which makes things practical and easy.

The light of Christ thus shining on the darkened area dispels everything that is not of his kingdom and clears our consciences to face him on that day without fear or anxiety.

Believe in what Christ claims about himself; as the light of the world, a light that dispels all darkness. Turn to his merciful love and forgiveness offered to us once and for all on the Cross.

Prayer: Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any wicked way in me,and lead me in the way everlasting! Ps 139:23-24

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

Turn over to the Lord

Today’s Gospel Text:  Again he began to teach beside the sea. And a very large crowd gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat in it on the sea; and the whole crowd was beside the sea on the land. 2 And he taught them many things in parables, and in his teaching he said to them: 3 "Listen! A sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. 5 Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it had not much soil, and immediately it sprang up, since it had no depth of soil; 6 and when the sun rose it was scorched, and since it had no root it withered away. 7 Other seed fell among thorns and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. 8 And other seeds fell into good soil and brought forth grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold." 9 And he said, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

10 And when he was alone, those who were about him with the twelve asked him concerning the parables. 11 And he said to them, "To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables; 12 so that they may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand; lest they should turn again, and be forgiven." 13 And he said to them, "Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables? 14 The sower sows the word. 15 And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown; when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word which is sown in them. 16 And these in like manner are the ones sown upon rocky ground, who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy; 17 and they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away. 18 And others are the ones sown among thorns; they are those who hear the word, 19 but the cares of the world, and the delight in riches, and the desire for other things, enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. 20 But those that were sown upon the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold." Mark 4:1-20

Reflection: If only people knew that the secrets that are revealed concerning the parables can continue to remain secrets despite the explanation.

That’s because we confuse between knowing and understanding. What we know now, through the explanation which Jesus gives is not the same as understanding them.

If by now you are already feeling confused, then it is an indication of the mental state in which we are which refuses to understand as it is to be understood; for what the mind prefers is that understanding which is knowing and hence not really understanding as it is to be understood. 

To understand is a painful process involving a dying of ourselves. 

Our power of understanding gets further developed in the light of the wisdom of God, in his presence, when Christ Jesus removes the scales of blindness.

Hence, when we learn theology and even become a master with a doctorate, what we actually gain is merely knowledge unless the scales are removed from our eyes by God’s mercy at work through all who believe in him and his love.

Hence asserting this truth, St. Paul writes thus: “Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their minds; but when a man turns to the Lord the veil is removed.” 2 Cor 3:15-16

Now a man who lacks understanding may say; “that is meant for the Jews and not to us.” 

Certainly true that this word is concerning the Jews but equally valid to us who behave either like them or even worse than them by not turning to the Lord; the only means to come out of our dullness of understanding. 

Prayer: Lord, help me to train my mind to turn to you, even when I study or learn the things of you and thus learn of you.

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

Jesus’ Brethren

Today’s Gospel Text:  And his mother and his brothers came; and standing outside they sent to him and called him. 32 And a crowd was sitting about him; and they said to him, "Your mother and your brothers are outside, asking for you." 33 And he replied, "Who are my mother and my brothers?" 34 And looking around on those who sat about him, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! 35 Whoever does the will of God is my brother, and sister, and mother." Mark 3:31-35

Reflection: "Here are my mother and my brothers!  Whoever does the will of God is my brother, and sister, and mother." (Vs. 34-35)

It’s very unfortunate that most of our focus and discussion of this beautiful passage is normally centered on expounding the relationship of these brothers and sisters of Jesus and how they are not the actual but cousins of Jesus. Thanks to the protestants who deny that!

In the process we miss out on the most important aspect of our changed relationship, with none other than God himself, who transforms us mere mortal creatures to the level of God himself.  (cfr. Jn. 1:12)

Hence John in his Gospel brings out the truth of this relationship as thus: “But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become CHILDREN of God; who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”  John 1:12-13

So too the exsultet at Easter rings out with joy at this Salvation which Christ has accomplished for us:

“O happy fault, O necessary sin of Adam which gained for us so great a Redeemer!”  

In other words, we were ONCE:  

• Slaves of sin Rom. 6:17;
• Disobedient to God Rom. 11: 30;
• Dead through the trespasses and sins, following the prince of the power of the air, following the passions of the flesh, the desires of the body and mind, and so by NATURE were CHILDREN OF WRATH Eph. 2; 1- 3;
• Far off - Eph. 2:13;
• Darkness, instead of being CHILDREN of light. Eph. 5:8;
• Estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds. Col. 1:21;
• Foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by men and hating one another. Titus 3:3;
• No people, not received mercy. I Pt. 2: 10;

All these above verses of scriptures helps us understand the great mercies of God and the significance of Christ statement, when he calls us brothers and sisters.

Prayer: We praise you for your kind and great mercy O Lord and can never stop rejoicing at what you have accomplished for us.

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

Right Instructions

Today’s Gospel Text: And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, "He is possessed by Be-el'zebul, and by the prince of demons he casts out the demons." 23 And he called them to him, and said to them in parables, "How can Satan cast out Satan? 24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. 26 And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but is coming to an end. 27 But no one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man; then indeed he may plunder his house.

28 "Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter; 29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin" -  30 for they had said, "He has an unclean spirit." Mark 3:22-30

Reflection: The scribes from Jerusalem must have been looked upon as the elite, well versed with the scriptures and knew scriptures through their many years of service and discussions at such an elite place. Here intellectual Jews and even pagans, who came to worship here, may have gathered here to discuss the intricacies of spirituality..  

How then men of such proficiency could make such irresponsible statements: "He is possessed by Be-el'zebul, and by the prince of demons he casts out the demons." (vs. 22)

Possibly in their experience of life they may have reflected and had experiences of exorcism and deliverance and may have heard of people holding on to other forms of religion and black magic also doing something about cases of possession and knew that they did arrive at some solutions.

I wonder how they understood the deep deception of these evil spirits at work through these human medium of other religions.

They may have thus interpreted all of these as cunningness of Satan and him working to set people free.

They now seem to apply this knowledge to Jesus, a Nazarene Galilean, meaning to say, the most backward among the Jewish people: A phenomenon common to our times, when many a times, people think that just because they roam around in intellectual circles they have all the wisdom and knowledge.

Fortunately, these scribes seemed humble enough to respond to Jesus’ invitation to listen to his counter argument and instruction of what is right and wrong and what is the ultimate role and power of the Holy Spirit in all this work.

What would happen if they, with their elite background, would have carried their swollen head on their shoulders? 

It is an invitation for each one of us to look at ourselves too, especially when we are much in the service of God. 

Prayer: Lord, help me to depend on the Holy Spirit whom you have given us to lead us into all truth and set us free from the darkness of Satan, Sin and death.

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

The Reason

Today’s Gospel Text:  Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things which have been accomplished among us, 2 just as they were delivered to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word, 3 it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent The-oph'ilus, 4 that you may know the truth concerning the things of which you have been informed.

14 And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee, and a report concerning him went out through all the surrounding country. 15 And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all. 16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up; and he went to the synagogue, as his custom was, on the sabbath day. And he stood up to read; 17 and there was given to him the book of the prophet Isaiah. He opened the book and found the place where it was written, 18 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, o set at liberty those who are oppressed, 19 to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord."  20 And he closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant, and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21 And he began to say to them, "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." Luke 1:1-4 & 4:14-21

Reflection: The moment one talks about faith, then the tendency is to think that it is all fake, a mumbo-jumbo that people believe in.

Some think that faith involves less reasoning and more of believing and hence it is a blind adherence to something’s.

Though many a times these things are so because of the emotional attitude and sentiments people communicate when it comes to matters of faith.

On the other hand we could have another type of religion in place, of people who give so much of credence to reason and rationality; as if to say that they know the mysteries of all things and everything. If not then they think that science has or is able to explain all mysteries of life.

Remember, all that appears to be rational by way of hypotheses and theories are not the truth.

But Christian faith is no blind belief and hence allows an attitude of reasoning in its search for the truth, while at the same time recognizing the limitations of the reason to know all things.

But reason is definitely enhanced and raised to a new level to the person who believes in the truth of God as Jesus revealed and allows his spirit to animate their lives.

It is this freedom, first worked in us by the working of the Holy Spirit that enables Luke to write to Theophilus an orderly account, but much researched and reflected upon over a period of years.

It is a testimony not of eyewitnesses or testifiers but of the on whom they point to; Jesus Christ, that Luke is now seeking to present.

It is, as if he is the reason for every reason and the ultimate knowledge for every kind of knowledge.  Just as no knowledge could be considered worth if at the end of the day it does not help in our survival likewise Christ is our survival unto eternity.

Prayer:  Lord Jesus you are the reason of my living and dying, without you am nothing but the dust that is trampled by men.

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

The Human Judgment

Today’s Gospel Text: and the crowd came together again, so that they could not even eat. 21 And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for people were saying, "He is beside himself." Mark 3:20-21

Reflection: When were you last accused of abnormal behavior for your faithfulness to Christ?

“He is beside himself” they said; – in other words he is emotionally disturbed or gone out of his mind.

There was a serious doubt about Jesus. What did he do that people expressed such a doubt about him. 

Worst still was the reaction of his family (perhaps his cousin brothers or could it be the children of Joseph his foster father through his late first wife) and how those among the crowd could come to such judgment and slander about him?

To what extent people not go through to slander and gossip; the power of gossip to kill and destroy!

I can imagine what would happen if God’s hand were not there in the situation to rescue his servant against such a serious allegation.  It was the worst form of allegation, worst than putting him in a prison or killing him or merely beating.

Then people would at least believe in his message either when he is alive or after death but to allege that a person is out of his head is to create a situation of doubt; destroying the very reason that Jesus came to accomplish by way of Faith and trust in him.

And how could such slander spread so widely? If one person or two person believes is understandable but a whole group of people and whole nations and the whole world (I mean the majority) believes in the lie is a perplexing fact.  Yet this is the truth of us humans and both secular and Biblical history proves it and even this would be a false statement if I do not assert that this keeps repeating, even in our times in daily life.

I am saddened at the nature of man and not lost hope in the saving action of God, who saved Jesus from such a peril so that the work of salvation may be accomplished in all its perfection through him.and in the lives of those who believe in him against all odds. 

Prayer:  "Deliver us, O God of our salvation, and gather and save us from among the nations, that we may give thanks to thy holy name, and glory in thy praise. 1 Chron 16:35

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

Take my Yoke

Today’s Gospel Text: And he said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover." Mark 16:15-18

Reflection: Something’s in life has no substitute.

You can have fake sugar or artificial sugar or you can adopt other types of sweeteners but you cannot say let’s use salt instead as a substitute for the sweetness of sugar just because it is widely used and it is equally popular.

Even a fake sugar or sweetener would do but not saltiness or a bitter or a souring agent instead.

Likewise, there is no substitute to the mission of PREACHING which Christ has entrusted to his disciple.

But someone may say, the church requires new pedagogical styles and witnesses more than preachers.  They must be fools of the first order, pseudo biblical scholars and theologians, merely holding offices in the church and not knowing its responsibility.

If one truly understands the significance of the preaching ministry and how it is brought about and above all who it is that has commanded us to do so then one would not make such foolish, irresponsible statements.

Let me explain through a parable: A rich man invited his guests for the banquet at an appointed time.  The table was laid with the best spread that men could dream of and everything was ready, yet people were waiting even though the appointed time had passed by.

The food on the table witnessed to one fact; the table was set. And no one dared to touch the food or eat of it. Would the rich man have protested if anyone would have helped himself? No, not at all!

Then after a little delay the rich man with great apology chided the guest for not helping themselves from the table.  The table is set for you” he said; “why are you not helping yourself, whom are you waiting for, please go and help yourself” and the guest rushed forth to the table to help themselves. 

Such is the need and power of preaching: even though the food witnessed to the guest to come and eat but it was only the speech of the rich man that made the difference.  

Preach not because Christ says or some authority says but preach because it is the mandate of Christ Jesus your LORD and you have taken the mandate of Christ on you: “For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!” 1 Cor 9:16

Prayer:  Lord help me to obediently take on me the task you have entrusted to us by your mandate.  

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