Householder

Today’s Gospel Text: "Hear another parable. There was a householder who planted a vineyard, and set a hedge around it, and dug a wine press in it, and built a tower, and let it out to tenants, and went into another country. 34 When the season of fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants, to get his fruit; 35 and the tenants took his servants and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. 36 Again he sent other servants, more than the first; and they did the same to them. 37 Afterward he sent his son to them, saying, 'They will respect my son.' 38 But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, 'This is the heir; come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.' 39 And they took him and cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. 40 When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?" 41 They said to him, "He will put those wretches to a miserable death, and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons." 42 Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the scriptures: 'The very stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner; this was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes'? 43 Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation producing the fruits of it."

45 When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they perceived that he was speaking about them. 46 But when they tried to arrest him, they feared the multitudes, because they held him to be a prophet. Matt 21:33-43, 45-46

Reflection: How do we want to treat God? Do we want to treat him like a master or do we treat him like an outcast or a criminal or a villain or a landlord or a taskmaster, etc. etc?

We who are capable of double speak and double standards treat God in every way negative than how in reality we are supposed to treat him.

We may say we love him and our actions can prove us wrong, we may claim to serve him and yet in all probability may be serving our own interests, if anyone insults God we will even defend him, but as per the Christian doctrine it may be no defense of God, of whom we believe can defend himself and yet chooses not to, many a time.

We may be even spiritual and deep within, many a time, hypocritical, but the worse is when people want to remain where they are, in their hypocrisy.

Out of the many attributes of God taught by Jesus, who came to reveal to us the reality about ourselves and God is this attribute of God as a householder and we as mere stewards or tenants.

This means even though he is a Father to us or a Shepherd to us, the primary attribute always remains and in the light of the primary attribute we see the great love of God, viz. that he still comes to us in order to reach us at our level, in our particular situation as Father, Shepherd or Savior.

This means that if we don’t accept this relationship which God wants to establish, by introducing himself as Father, good Shepherd, Savior then we need to at least accept his reign, as the master and householder who will ultimately call everyone to render an account.

The parable makes this truth absolutely clear and what is more the parable also brings to light the hostility with which we relate to God and his servants.

Even among the spiritual category of men, if anyone thinks that they have never rejected God or hurt his anointed ones or done harm to them, then they need to ask God’s Holy Spirit to convict them of their blindness.

Prayer:  Jesus Lord and Master of the universe, you deserve all praise and glory, more so for revealing to us the Father's glory. 

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

Hypocrisy

Today’s Gospel Text: In the meantime, when so many thousands of the multitude had gathered together that they trod upon one another, he began to say to his disciples first, "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2 Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. 3 Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed upon the housetops. 4 "I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. 5 But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear him! 6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. 7 Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows. .... Luke 12:1-7

Reflection: A very unusual action of Jesus; a crowd around him and yet he turns to his disciples, as if to communicate a very important message:

"Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.”

A leaven is a very important element in making bread that sustains, it is no ordinary dead material but has a special life in it which is hidden in the dough, it begins to work out an increase and softness to the dough.

A leaven is the most beautiful example of what hypocrisy is all about. It is hidden in the most wonderful and select dough that will become bread. It works accordingly to form great  delicious breads.

Likewise it works beneath the most beautiful faces of humans that ultimately is corrupt from within.

The end does not justify the means in human relationships. If the corruption of hypocrisy brings about a beautiful outcome, it is still not acceptable to God.

So too humans may not mind the fruit of corruption, which is a soft wonderful bread. Such breads are even relished by humans and are in great demand.

But what God seeks is the unleavened, pure bread such as the one which his Son Jesus became in order to free humanity from such corruption of hypocrisy and sin.

Likewise he admonishes every disciple of his to resist the corruption of hypocrisy. Even if humans by the majority would like them or even want them, they are to resist the temptation. 

Prayer: Lord it can never be easy to recognize ones hypocrisy, help me by your Holy Spirit and reveal the hidden hypocrisy of my heart, so that I may constantly be renewed.

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

Practicing Piety

Scripture/Bible: "Beware of practicing your piety before men in order to be seen by them; for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. 2 "Thus, when you give alms, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 5 "And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. ………… 16 "And when you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 that your fasting may not be seen by men but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Matt 6:1-6, 16-18

Reflection:  A priest was once told by his superiors to practice his piety in public as an example to his flock.  His idea of obedience compelled him to do so even though it was an advice and not an order.

Do we need to practice piety in public in order to be an example to your flock; which means playing to the galleries? 

When Jesus says beware, it is in no uncertain terms that he warns us to be beware of practicing our piety before men, in order to be seen by them. 

“O but the resultant fruit would be that many will learn from your example.” Surely they will learn from your example to be another hypocrite to practice their piety in public so that others too may learn from them. 

Ultimately everyone learns from everyone, to be a hypocrite!

Why do some people in authority walk in such folly? It’s because they always thought the word of God has flaws in it and so they instead of learning sound theology, dogma and scripture chose to accumulate degrees and doctorates in secular studies and prided themselves in it as if these were superior knowledge to be swallowed indiscriminately.  May be they went on to hold such positions and power piggybacking on these laurels of theirs.   

Prove your faith by your actions and your actions will prove your faith. 

If you teach people from other sources than what is sound Catholic, pagan wisdom and worldly anecdotes, then you will end up teaching the practice of wrong spirituality’s. This is an absolute mockery of faith!

This faith is nothing but the faith of Judas who in his external practice was an apostle of Jesus but as to his dedication belonged to the synagogue of Satan. We do not know what trail he led to hell with him.

Does this mean that you can’t practice your faith in public? No not at all, but don’t do it for public consumption but out of pure reverence and awe of God; for there are some who practice the other extreme.   

Prayer: “May my heart be blameless in thy statutes, that I may not be put to shame!” Ps 119:80

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

Absorbed in Self glory

Today’s Gospel: "Beware of practicing your piety before men in order to be seen by them; for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.

2 "Thus, when you give alms, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

5 "And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

"And when you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 that your fasting may not be seen by men but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Matt 6:1-6, 16-18

Reflection:  Who doesn’t seek attention? But the degree of seeking varies, some seek it in all humility, some seek it in abundance and therefore are assumingly humble, very rarely you will find the true humility that doesn't easily seek attention. 

Attention seeking is a very deadly disease in our day, whether through writings or through creative activities or through use of other people to promote oneself and ones pet ideas.  

If one thinks that it only happens on the stage or in some public gatherings then one is absolutely wrong.  It can be in one’s own eyes we could be attentions seekers, living in a dream world. We may externally manifest a simplicity but internally carry a pride of self glory that is an abhorrence before God.

One has only to sit quietly in prayer and if one allows the Holy Spirit to search one’s heart and conscience then they would find themselves most of the time absorbed in thoughts of self glory. 

We were created to love and serve God and we rarely realize that we in the act of serving God serve ourselves more than God, absorbed in our glory rather than the greater glory of God.

In the gospel reading of today Jesus warns us about such hypocrisy and expects us to deal with this disease of self glory.  What better time than the season of lent.

Prayer:  Lord, may this sacred season be a source of unending joy as I seek to love you and follow you closely.

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