Friday 31 May 2013

Heaven’s Authority

Today’s Gospel Text: And they came again to Jerusalem. And as he was walking in the temple, the chief priests and the scribes and the elders came to him, 28 and they said to him, "By what authority are you doing these things, or who gave you this authority to do them?" 29 Jesus said to them, "I will ask you a question; answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. 30 Was the baptism of John from heaven or from men? Answer me." 31 And they argued with one another, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say, 'Why then did you not believe him?' 32 But shall we say, 'From men'?" - they were afraid of the people, for all held that John was a real prophet. 33 So they answered Jesus, "We do not know." And Jesus said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things." Mark 11:27-33

Reflection: The above question by Jesus was addressed to the chief priests, scribes and elders and how well we would prefer to ignore it in our minds: “not meant for me”!

But nevertheless Jesus' question is an important question which we all need to grapple with: “Was the baptism of John from heaven or from men? Answer me."

If we do not grapple with this question and seek a message for ourselves then we could remain in our sins and rebelliousness toward God.  The chief priests, scribes and elders met the same fate and failed to come under the authority of Jesus; a authority that saves us.

Though simple to answer, it nevertheless throws up a relevant message, meant to be assimilated by each one of us:

If a message is from heaven then it is to be obeyed and if the message is from a man from heaven then all the more it is to be obeyed.

What Jesus has communicated to us in this question is particularly the significance of his own authority while communicating the authority of John the Baptist, who came speaking as the voice of God, as a prophet of God.

While John was a real prophet, speaking the voice of God or speaking on behalf of God Jesus on the other hand was God himself.

If John’s message was from heaven then he is to be believed and Jesus message all the more because he is from heaven.

Seeing the relevance of Jesus authoritative presence with us the Apostles proclaimed him everywhere and the letter to the Hebrew begins with the following salutation:

“In many and various ways God spoke of old to our fathers by the prophets; but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.”  Heb 1:1-2

Jesus is the ultimate message of God to save the world.

Prayer: The heavens proclaim his righteousness; and all the peoples behold his glory.  Zion hears and is glad, and the daughters of Judah rejoice, because of thy judgments, O God. Ps 97: 6 & 8

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

Thursday 30 May 2013

Voice Divine

Today’s Gospel Text: In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a city of Judah, 40 and she entered the house of Zechari'ah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit 42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her from the Lord." 46 And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed;
49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
50 And his mercy is on those who fear him from generation to generation.
51 He has shown strength with his arm, he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts, 52 he has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted those of low degree;
53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent empty away.
54 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy,
55 as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his posterity for ever."
56 And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her home. Luke 1:39-56

Reflection: Sometimes it happens in families; you hear a voice and lo you do not understand why you are irritated.

When I say voices, I do not mean of a ghost or animal but of a beloved person of the family and after you have let out your anger against the beloved person you begin to brood:

“Why do I get irritated with my mother or father or brother or sister” and in spite of your awareness you are still at it again.

In the same way, certain persons can make us feel guilty or ashamed or sick or remind us of our pain.

It is not always a negative situation with voices, likewise we could have situations when a person could make us feel positive or at peace or more blessed or could deceive us in our spirit as being a saintly man.

Many a time the voice is enough to communicate the state in which a person is or bring about a change or effect in a person.

Hence we could have a voice that could make us feel obedient or submissive or a voice that can put us off or a voice that can make us want to listen more and more.  I am not referring to singing, where things are more prominent in comparison to speech.

Mary’s voice likewise is a special voice that has been graced in the crucible of God’s power and might and its effect is for all to see and for all generations:

For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb leaped for joy. (vs. 44)

The statement not only shows the connectivity of the child in the womb with the mother, as proved with modern scientific research but also shows the deep union the mother has with the child and how an external stimuli can effect a child. 

The mother can indeed become a healing instrument when she is open to the voice of the divine, even speaking through human instruments.

The scripture too assures us that faith which is the beginning of all healing comes through hearing and hearing of the word of God (cfr. Rom. 10:17)  and Mary is no less God’s instrument bringing about a faith response and healing in the life of the first herald of the gospel, John the Baptist.

Mary pre-empts John the Baptist to be the herald of the gospel and thus even proves her faithfulness.

Prayer:  Whether it is good or evil, help us to obey your voice O Lord our God. (cfr. Jer. 42:6)

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



Wednesday 29 May 2013

The Inner Light

Today’s Gospel Text:  And they came to Jericho; and as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great multitude, Bartimae'us, a blind beggar, the son of Timae'us, was sitting by the roadside. 47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" 48 And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent; but he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" 49 And Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." And they called the blind man, saying to him, "Take heart; rise, he is calling you." 50 And throwing off his mantle he sprang up and came to Jesus. 51 And Jesus said to him, "What do you want me to do for you?" And the blind man said to him, "Master, let me receive my sight." 52 And Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your faith has made you well." And immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way. Mark 10:46-52

Reflection: Blindness is like the darkness that does not enable us to see the things around us.

Our eyes may be open and we may search and seek out and yet we may never find the things unless we are familiar with the surroundings.

How then can the son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, perhaps blind from birth, be familiar with the things around him?

A blind man can work with assistance from outside because his other senses may still be working and enlightening his various faculties.  

The poor and the handicapped are more open to take the help of the other and are much dependent on external help to lead them anywhere or rather those who acknowledge their poverty and handicap are blessed, they shall seek that external help and may not easily fall into a ditch.  

Thus there may have been many blind men in and around Jericho and yet it was only Bartimaeus who cried with a faith for that real and true external help that made the miracle possible; a help that never deceives. 


Deep within the blind man may still feel the burden of burdening others with his handicap, even though in reality the handicapped are always a blessing to the community because they teach us the essential things of life, things that can ultimately lead us to eternal life. 

One of the essential things that they teach us is that we too are handicapped in some measure or the other and our pride may blind us to this reality. 

We do not know why they are handicapped but God is closer to them in a special way and is always willing to help them if only they know how to acknowledge and seek him.

And who is a handicapped? Is it the one whose eyesight fails him or is it the one whom the world sees and recognizes as one or is it the one who in their deepest being feel the need for help to take them out of their misery?

Yes, the world may not recognize the deeper handicap of every human being and even that situation is a situation of being handicapped but it is only those who know and acknowledge their handicapped nature and turn to the savior Jesus Christ,who alone can help, they will be the ones who will find their salvation.

Prayer: "In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I called. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry came to his ears. 2 Sam 22:7

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

Tuesday 28 May 2013

God’s Children

Today’s Gospel Text:  And they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them; and they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. And taking the twelve again, he began to tell them what was to happen to him, 33 saying, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man will be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death, and deliver him to the Gentiles; 34 and they will mock him, and spit upon him, and scourge him, and kill him; and after three days he will rise."
35 And James and John, the sons of Zeb'edee, came forward to him, and said to him, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you." 36 And he said to them, "What do you want me to do for you?" 37 And they said to him, "Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory." 38 But Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?" 39 And they said to him, "We are able." And Jesus said to them, "The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; 40 but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared." 41 And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. 42 And Jesus called them to him and said to them, "You know that those who are supposed to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. 43 But it shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. 45 For the Son of man also came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Mark 10:32-45

Reflection: The human ambition to achieve and to attain greatness and power can be never ceasing.

God knows this human desire, which when first manifested led the first parent to sin against God.

They sought equality with God without God and thus rebelled against his creator; the sinful nature still evident in the many actions of humans, not just when relating with one another but also in one's relationship with God.

In other words, humans adopt the ways of Satan and his qualities in order to achieve the higher goals of life.  No matter how good our actions may seem to us and how noble our thoughts but our actions if it doesn’t flow from God and in the end doesn’t lead to God then it will only lead to one's mortal self.

Hence the desire of the sons of Zebedee to sit on the right and left of Jesus in his kingdom was a desire to attain the one of the greatest position one could ever dream of. 

Jesus does not disappoint us in our desire, even if it is a wrong one but he does disappoint us by not granting us according to our worldly ambitions and ways.

Therefore he had to correct the Sons of Zebedee and remind them of a responsibility that they will have to undertake in order to reach somewhere close to their goal.

What if God doesn’t grant us the higher goals and ambitions of life as seen from our human perspective but he definitely grants us the power and authority to be his sons and daughters in Christ Jesus.(cfr. Jn. 1:12)

What goal can be greater than this; that each one who believes and accepts Jesus as their Lord and master and follow in his commands and ways will be authorized to be sons of God or children of God?
    
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

Prayer: God our Father, we thank you for giving us the privilege to be your children and to address you as our Father. (Cfr. 1 Jn. 3: 1-2)

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

Monday 27 May 2013

To Follow

Today’s Gospel Text: Peter began to say to him, "Lo, we have left everything and followed you." 29 Jesus said, "Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, 30 who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. 31 But many that are first will be last, and the last first." Mark 10:28-31

Reflection: Peter in the gospel claims that he has left everything while following Jesus: "Lo, we have left everything and followed you." (vs. 28)

There are something’s in life in which we can make a choice and some in which we can make no choice.

Can a child make a choice for an ideal parent or to go to an ideal school or can anyone make a choice aas to which country they have to belong and who should be their neighbor?

A cruel parent can make a child desire for the ideal or for a better way of life and so too an adult could opt or desire for something better if a marriage begins to get rocking or a job becomes a burden.

The search for the ideal or a better way of life is what keeps the adult going, either searching or learning or migrating or divorcing or breaking, etc..

With Jesus as the one to follow, Can anyone ever make a statement of wanting more or desire the immeasurable?

Is not Christ the fullness, the abundance, the provider and the creator and much more? Then what could be lacking a man who follows Jesus and what more can a person want if one follows Christ?

How unfortunate it seems that Peter who has made a choice to follow Christ was wanting more than what he had done. 

Yet there are very few in the history of humanity who has followed Christ with complete trust and abandonment.  It is so very much difficult to abandon oneself to the Lord’s providence, assuring presence and comfort with us.

I marvel at the heroic abandonment and trust of some of the saints beginning with the Apostles to give up everything in order to follow the pearl of great price.

Peter had to first learn from the master that to leave everything and follow Christ was to really leave everything and make Christ Jesus the only goal of one’s abandonment to God.

Prayer:  Lord, help me to follow you closely and trust in your providence, even willing to give up everything. 

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

Sunday 26 May 2013

Riches & Wealth

Today’s Gospel Text:  And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 18 And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. 19 You know the commandments: 'Do not kill, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.'" 20 And he said to him, "Teacher, all these I have observed from my youth." 21 And Jesus looking upon him loved him, and said to him, "You lack one thing; go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." 22 At that saying his countenance fell, and he went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions.
23 And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it will be for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!" 24 And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." 26 And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, "Then who can be saved?" 27 Jesus looked at them and said, "With men it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God." Mark 10:17-27

Reflection: There are many who give to the poor or in charity, some to have treasures in heaven and some to have more and some to have some kind of blessings or the other. 

Some of the modern day evangelist would have Christians believe that when they give more the more they will receive from God by way of material wealth; therefore tithe! 

In other words hope for more of the material world and not the way to perfection, as desired by Jesus.

They have forgotten the message of Jesus that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God and hence by preaching the gospel of prosperity they are making it still more difficult for the greedy and the lost to enter the kingdom of God. (cfr. vs. 23
If it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God, then it will be impossible for these so called evangelist to enter the kingdom, for leading many of the little ones astray in their quest for Christ.

Wealth is one of the greatest substitutes for God and this evil replacement is far greater than the evil of indiscriminate knowledge or power or attention seeking.

Many a times many seek the wealth in the quest for these latter evil such as knowledge, attention seeking and power.

Thus one makes an idol out of wealth and worship it to their heart content.  It is the god that brings happiness and joy to the possessor and gives one the power to have things that can make them happy.

Not that God is a kill-joy and doesn’t want his creatures to be happy. His plan for our happiness begins here and has an eternal perspective, lived in a sure hope.

Assuring us of this, St. Paul said: 
    
"There is great gain in godliness with contentment; for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world; but if we have food and clothing, with these we shall be content.  But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and hurtful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all evils; it is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced their hearts with many pangs." 1 Tim 6:6-10

Prayer:  Lord, help me not to put my confidence in extortion and set no vain hopes on robbery; if riches increase then to set not my heart on them. (Adapted from Ps. 62:10)


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

Saturday 25 May 2013

Holy Submission

Today’s Gospel Text:  They will put you out of the synagogues; indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. 3 And they will do this because they have not known the Father, nor me. 4 But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told you of them.
"I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. 5 But now I am going to him who sent me; yet none of you asks me, 'Where are you going?' 6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts. 7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will convince the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more; 11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.
12 "I have yet many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you. John 16:2-15

Reflection: There was a professor who taught the seminarians and even the laity in a Archdiocese how the scripture was contradictory. 

His book was acknowledged by one of the auxiliary bishops of the Archdiocese.

Besides, teaching that the scripture was contradictory and not to be relied on, he also taught that scripture was not to be trusted and he asserted his point by playing the game of Chinese whispers.

If only he believed less in his foolish philosophy and more in the word, he would not have led the many formed under him astray till this day. Nor have those in authority have realized the foolishness of these kind of erroneous teachings and withdrawn the book for formation of minds. 

The greatest folly of humans has been to judge God’s word or sit in judgment over God.

On the other hand God gives his servants who are humble and turn to him the grace of the Holy Spirit, who helps us to understand the mysteries of God because God himself desires to reveal them to us his chosen ones.

If there was no Holy Spirit then we mortals would keep judging what is immortal with our standards and continue to crucify God in our midst. We would continue to become the modern day Pharisees and Scribes.

They always thought, to their best of their abilities, that they were the wisest, smartest and cleverest and could do no wrong and by persecuting the obedient children of God they were doing favor to God.

Are they any different from the terrorist? No, except that they will not wield a weapon of destruction and they will condemn the terrorist but will kill by their stupid crass wisdom and by seeking the seat of power they will crush those below them.  

Jesus says of them: “And they will do this because they have not known the Father, nor me.”

And how will they know the Father or Jesus or his servants if they who have been baptized in the Holy Spirit reject the Holy Spirit and now seek to walk by sight.

Prayer: Teach me O Lord to humbly submit to the working your Holy Spirit in my life.

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