Truth

Today’s Gospel Text: Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesare'a Philip'pi, he asked his disciples, "Who do men say that the Son of man is?" 14 And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, others say Eli'jah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." 15 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" 16 Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 17 And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." 20 Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ. 21 From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. 22 And Peter took him and began to rebuke him, saying, "God forbid, Lord! This shall never happen to you." 23 But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me; for you are not on the side of God, but of men." Matt 16:13-23

Reflection: Impossible! How can anyone arrive at such a conclusion as that of the Apostle Peter?

How can Peter stand alone in a crowd and proclaim that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.

On the other hand how can Jesus approve what is not proclaimed by a majority? Why did Jesus not go by the democratic principles of life?

Should not truth come from the majority?

May be we should go by what the leftist have to say and arrive at truth by asking from the marginalized and those on the fringe of society. 

Once again scripture reveals to us how to be wise and arrive at the truth?

Not by flesh and blood reasoning and hence do not give extra credence to reasoning or decisions based on majority but to decisions that are based on prayer.

It should be a decision which is based on discernment; seeking God’s will and mind in the things that we do and proclaim to others.

Today we have even people in authority and positions who reject the faith of Christ and thus give credence to flesh and blood reasoning’s.

Humanly speaking Peter could have asked for trouble and even a rebuke from the Lord, who would not mince words in order to correct what is false.

Likewise, if any among the crowd would have heard it then they would have bundled him up with his master for stoning.

Did they not judge the Lord for claiming himself to be the Son of God, and crucify him for the same very reason?

Truth stands alone and yet it is never alone because the might of God is on the side of truth and nothing happens unless God allows it. 

Prayer:  Lord, teach me wisdom in the secret of my heart and a Spirit of perseverance to adhere to it.

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

Good or Bad

Today’s Gospel Text:  "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net which was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind; 48 when it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into vessels but threw away the bad. 49 So it will be at the close of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous, 50 and throw them into the furnace of fire; there men will weep and gnash their teeth. 51 "Have you understood all this?" They said to him, "Yes." 52 And he said to them, "Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old." 53 And when Jesus had finished these parables, he went away from there. Matt 13:47-53

Reflection: Some hold on to a view that there is no such thing as good or bad, "it is all in your mind", they say.

Some may not hold on to this view consciously but when it comes to daily situations they do propagate this idea, especially those in the teaching profession when they affirm: “feel free to answer; there is no right or wrong views”.

There are many in this world and it is an ever growing tribe, even among the followers of Christ, with whom it a trend to hold on to a purely subjective view of life.

Someone coming to reason out with you because you oppose this view often is pulverized by their reason. Is it because they are reasonable in their arguments?

No, because their reason knows only one argument: “it is all in your mind” and if they do come out with another argument then they will only be contradicting themselves.

Surely, they should take no offence if they look at all things and everything as good and if they do take everything as bad, then, if they are true to their thinking they will never be in this world for a moment more.

This is not how it is for a Christian, where morality is well defined and may be at times carried to extreme levels, which is a sign of its existence and the immoral pull that keep exerting on us proves it all.

There is a good and there is bad, there is that which is holy and that which is evil and to affirm this moral principle God had to give the commandments to the Israelites as a sign of his objective demand.

Hence we have this parable which brings out the significance of the good and the bad, which is a everyday, every moment reality of life.

Life cannot exist without a constant decision making, based on our limited discernment, in making a choice whether while eating or moving or drinking.

Jesus is that first good; a choice that everyone needs to opt for in order to make a constantly good choice in life.

Prayer:  Lord, we know and believe that when we make a choice for you, you give us your Holy Spirit who will lead us into all truth. (cfr. Jn. 16:13)

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

Discern His Voice

Today’s Gospel Text: "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber; 2 but he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the gatekeeper opens; the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers." 6 This figure Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. 7 So Jesus again said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers; but the sheep did not heed them. 9 I am the door; if any one enters by me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. John 10:1-10

Reflection: One needs only to sit quietly for a few moments to realize how unquiet the mind is amidst even the greatest of silence.

Yet the human mind seeks for peace in the quieter atmosphere and then realizes that it is not able to sustain that peace, which then begins to haunt them or bore them to death.

In finding peace is our happiness but the greater peace and happiness is in accomplishing the mission which God has sent us into the world with:

This mission cannot be established with our good intentions or plans, guided by an in tranquil and disturbed mind, which is self seeking in the good it does.

It is even short on the overall vision and plan that the God, who still works in creation, has for humanity as a whole:

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”  Isa 55:8-9

Hence God’s plan gains precedence over every human plan and thus we arrive at the basis of Christian life:  Discernment!

A Christian is one who constantly seeks to discern the will of God, thus seeking to listen to the voice of the Shepherd among the many clutter of voices that speaks to our mind in the world in which we live in.

Prayer:  “Speak, Lord, for thy servant hears." 1 Sam 3:9

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

Follow Me

Today’s Gospel Text: The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. And he found Philip and said to him, "Follow me." 44 Now Philip was from Beth-sa'ida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathan'a-el, and said to him, "We have found him of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." 46 Nathan'a-el said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." 47 Jesus saw Nathan'a-el coming to him, and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!" 48 Nathan'a-el said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you." 49 Nathan'a-el answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" 50 Jesus answered him, "Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You shall see greater things than these." 51 And he said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man." John 1:43-51

Reflection: We are creatures who follow either blindly or obediently or rebelliously, but we follow.

In the gospel we have Philip who is called to follow, by Jesus, and he follows Jesus immediately.

In keeping with the characteristics of following, he could have followed his own thoughts and thinking, did he really require someone in life to follow.

There were many in Israel even at that time whom one could follow too. Along with these many, there must have been many thoughts and philosophies and ideas in society dominated by pagan Rome and he could have opted to follow them.

After all, did he not have a Greek background, at least in name and hence he must have had some Hellenistic influence in life.  His name in Greek means; lover of horses.

What was there to prevent him to a life of loose living on the jackpots and about Greek wisdom and learning?

Philips action of following Jesus is not a blind action but an action based on a sure knowledge, as if his heart has been prepared for this by the many years of his earnest search:  

"We have found him of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." (vs. 45)

A few minutes of interaction with Jesus is enough to convince him of the special place and role of Jesus and the fact that he proclaims Christ to others, with such immediacy, is a proof of his sharp discerning mind, trained in the art of discernment with God’s prophetic word as his sure guide.

A discerning mind makes following easy and Philip knows that it is not enough to just have a discerning mind or a wise mind but rather to have him who is capable of all things, Jesus Christ, is more important than anything in life.

Prayer:  Lord, I pray that I may know you and the power of your resurrection, and may share your sufferings, becoming like you in your death, that if possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. (Cfr. Phil 3:10-11)

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

Before you Malign

Today’s Gospel Text:  "A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master; 25 it is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Be-el'zebul, how much more will they malign those of his household.  26 "So have no fear of them; for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. 27 What I tell you in the dark, utter in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim upon the housetops. 28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father's will. 30 But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. 32 So every one who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven; 33 but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven. Matt 10:24-33

Reflection: They called him, the master Jesus Christ, a Beelzebub; which means Lord or Prince of the Devil or Demons. 

It was no ordinary maligning, inviting a a terrible consequence. 

You could malign a person either out of hate or some half baked knowledge about a person.  It could be on the basis of false information you have gathered about a person or it could be due to your own prejudice. 

Maligning a godly man, the anointed one of God. is a serious business, with wide ramifications.  When you malign an anointed man falsely, you are not only hitting out against the concerned person, but you are also inviting a curse upon yourself and the many. 

I am saying this not just from a spiritual point of view but also from a logical angle. 

By doing so, you close yourself from receiving the truth of life and the truth of the gospel that is able to save you. In the process of maligning, you are also encouraging others too to do the same and thus invite others too to participate in your sin.  This then is passed on from one generation to another.

In the bargain, the Gospel that is able to save us is rejected in our hearts and mind and in the hearts of the many who have allowed themselves to be deceived or hurt by believing your story against the anointed one; thus they too are prevented from walking in the truth of the Gospel of Christ.

The Equation: The greater the maligning the more severe the self inflicted judgment, on yourself, on others who have partook of it and on your children and generations to follow.

This is besides the judgment and wrath of God on those who persist in such sinful activity as maligning the  innocent anointed.

To come out of such habitual sins, one has to take a serious look at one’s limitation to know, apart from God's help.  This requires a training of the mind in the word of God so as to receive from his wisdom to understand and judge situations and people appropriately.  

Prayer: Grant me a discerning heart, that I may love your people with wisdom.

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

The Spirit Blows

Scripture/Bible:  Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born anew.' 8 The wind blows where it wills, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know whence it comes or whither it goes; so it is with every one who is born of the Spirit." 9 Nicode'mus said to him, "How can this be?" 10 Jesus answered him, "Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand this? 11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen; but you do not receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven but he who descended from heaven, the Son of man. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life." John 3:7-15

Reflection:  This is sheer madness; imagine the world where everyone does what they want? Yet the world operates on this same principle; do what you want and feel like doing. 

In this church too we could have a situation where each one does what they want. But fortunately one of the strongest element of Christian faith is to seek God’s will in total discernment. But every discerned act in submission to the mission of the church is like the action of the wind; we don’t know where it comes from and where it goes.

In the ruling or administrative class the people who will be the most insecure would be the ones with a socialist mind set, who think that by controlling people there will be peace and unity in society. These are people who are comfortable with uniformity and deduce that it will bring about peace and unity. 

These will rather thrive on creating fear even ruling in an atmosphere of twisted fear with an outwardly freedom which is always deceptive.   As long as things are subjected to them even by means of mere information or permission it is considered safe, no matter what abuses may take place.

The trust in self is more than trust in God.

On the other hand those who value the working of the Holy Spirit believe that God is still at work by the action of the Holy Spirit and only seeks to discern and promote the action of the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus refers to as the wind.

Just as the wind “blows where it wills, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know whence it comes or whither it goes” so also the working of the Holy Spirit.

But rejecting this working of the Holy Spirit in the Christian milieu many have gone in search of the illusory Holy Spirit in other religions.  This is a sheer mockery of the faith.

Some have even become instruments of persecution and have sought their best to quench the working of the Holy Spirit by every means available at their disposal.

Prayer: Lord, may I be faithful to your teachings.

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