Educate

Today’s Gospel Text:"Then the kingdom of heaven shall be compared to ten maidens who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; 4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 As the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. 6 But at midnight there was a cry, 'Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.' 7 Then all those maidens rose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' 9 But the wise replied, 'Perhaps there will not be enough for us and for you; go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.' 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast; and the door was shut. 11 Afterward the other maidens came also, saying, 'Lord, lord, open to us.' 12 But he replied, 'Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.' 13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour. Matt 25:1-13

Reflection: Modern Education has done great wonders; it has brought in development and given ordinary people access to knowledge.

A nation’s wealth is often counted by way of its educated class; for wealth is not just a produce from or of natural resources but also includes human resources of which intellectual property and contribution thereof is an important factor.

Having seen the wonders thereof, every nation makes it point to invest in education and so too society and communities lay great emphasis on education.

Parent will go through great lengths to educate their children in every possible way, making great sacrifice by way of time, wealth and sleep.

Like every good invention and investments which has a flip side so too education; the state of the world with its many problems and irreversible damage done also suggests the evil contribution of education.

No one complains because we rarely see the negative side and see only the positive side and the great contribution of education in terms of wealth generation and rarely human development, with no sound criteria to adjudge it. 

Does modern education really develop character and if yes, is it developed in freedom or is it developed in fear and societal conditioning?

What do we compare modern education? Is it not like an artificial hormonal growth: visibly appeals to the eye and growth is sure but is it real quality?

Such an emphasis on education could even be practiced in the religious places and seminaries of today.

The parable reveals to us that that five of the virgins were foolish because they carried no oil in their lamps; the oil of the Holy Spirit that comes through learning at the feet of the master and receiving from his Holy Spirit.

How many of our modern day parents and those among Christians, who have a role in education, teach the children on the importance of keeping their lamps always filled with the oil of the Holy Spirit.

Prayer:  Give me the oil O Lord that my lamp may ever be burning brightly unto eternity and thus prove myself wise in your eyes. 

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

Prayers

Today’s Gospel Text: Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people; 14 but Jesus said, "Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven." 15 And he laid his hands on them and went away. Matt 19:13-15

Reflection: We pray and pray and many a times nothing seems to happen.

Yet some are dedicated to their prayer life; they will have a committed time for personal prayer, for family prayer, for community prayer, for personal devotions, etc.

Life goes on and many a times nothing seems to happen, there is no fruit thereof or our personal expectations are never met.

Do we still need to continue in such type of prayer?

May be at times there is always the need to make an adjustment or a small correction in the way we pray and what we pray for.

Each time it is a ever new field we seem to enter; of learning newer ways of relating with someone who is almighty and powerful.

From the word of God we are encouraged and feel motivated that things may not always happen and yet we need to pray.

Prayer is a sure investment which will reap its reward; what is important is to approach God like a little child who may not even know the fruit they have received.

Even the scripture here does not reveal to us what happened when Jesus prayed over those little children but what the scripture does reveal is this:

That Jesus was insistent that the little children should not be prevented from receiving his blessings despite the opposition from his own dedicated disciples.

He even rebukes them for what seemed like a mere blessing; for any blessing from the Lord, may appear as a mere ritual, cannot be an empty exercise. 

Hence know this: Nothing may happen in our daily commitment to the Lord in prayer but there is a blessing which we receive and which the Lord longs to give us. Our eyes may not be able to see but it is surely there, stay at it.

Prayer:  Lord, I resolve to sit in your presence daily and in a dedicated way believing that you are there with me to bless me in ways beyond my imagination.

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

Lord our Treasure

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: How often parents work hard giving in all that they have so that their children do well.

Many parents do not gather up anything by way of a bank balance just so that their children may get the best. Some even mount debts. 

For a higher cause or a greater cause we will do everything possible in order to achieve it.

Similarly a businessman may sell everything in order to enter into a new business because he knows that his  new investment will help him in a greater measure to achieve much.

Similarly Christian history has been replete with examples of the many saints or holy men and women who have left everything in order to follow Christ.

For them to follow Christ has always been the highest cause to live for; a cause which all Christians are called to live because Christ Jesus himself by his greatest ever sacrifice is worthy of that allegiance from us.

We need not go very deep in history; for even in our times there are peoples who have left everything for the sake of the Gospel of Christ Jesus or even if they are involved in a secular world yet they strive to make Christ Jesus the center of all their actions.

For them who follow him he is like those fine pearls of great price or the treasure hidden in a field; Only those who know Christ and are aware of what he has done for them realize his true value.   

And yet, what we realize is still partial; for we shall know the fullness of his love and sacrifice when we shall meet him face to face in his everlasting kingdom.

These who follow him are living testimonies, not just for observation but for the world to observe, even as they bear witness to the truth.

These act as models in a world that is confused and finds everything dark and hopeless.

But to the many who hope, despite the many upheavals, for an idealistic world with possible solutions to its many problems are bound to struggle and be lost forever in the maze of life.

Prayer: Thou art my hiding place and my shield; I hope in thy word. Ps 119:114

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

Be Like Little Children

Today’s Gospel Text: Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people; 14 but Jesus said, "Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven." 15 And he laid his hands on them and went away. Matt 19:13-15

Reflection: Children are cute and sweet but these little cute children can be a big nuisance in certain places and situations,

When they get together or are gathered together their clutter never dies but grows all the more loudly, depending on the freedom and training with which they are brought up with.

Certain institutions like a hospital or a sick home would just refuse their presence, lest they be more casualties. Hence you can’t easily have them in serious place.

It seems that the Disciples had a similar view of the children or could it be that they felt that the master carried such wisdom that it was not meant for little children.

Jesus would not refuse them at any cost; for he understood the value of children, in keeping with their openness to the Kingdom.

I am of the firm opinion, that you train a child well in the living faith, and when they grow up, even if they go astray, they will come back, because they will know where to find that solace.

It is like a little investment in the child’s future, fortify them with faith, let the child experience it all in their childhood and when they grow, in their moment of emptiness and dryness, they will know how to fall back on their powerful sustainer; Christ Jesus.

Prayer:  Lord, help me to be an instrument; carrying your faith to the little children I come across in daily life.

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