Never Alone

Today’s Gospel Text:  His disciples said, "Ah, now you are speaking plainly, not in any figure! 30 Now we know that you know all things, and need none to question you; by this we believe that you came from God." 31 Jesus answered them, "Do you now believe? 32 The hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, every man to his home, and will leave me alone; yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. 33 I have said this to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." John 16:29-33

Reflection: Loneliness is a great sickness they say. It can be killing and begins to haunt the ones who are facing it.

Yet there are many who prefer to be left alone, it is normally for a while because as the effects of loneliness begins to haunt then one wants to come out of it.

We may sometimes dream of being alone and quiet, especially when we are disturbed and hurt.

One of the greatest fact of life is that we could be in the midst of our family, friends and loved ones and yet be lonely.

What happens to a person who goes through so much of battering in life that he or she now can’t trust anyone and prefers to be in isolation? Is it not a situation of depression and pain?

Such a battering may not always be from people but can also be from the self which speaks the many voices of condemnation to the fragile mind and conscience.

Such are the types who are then suicidal, with the evil one assaulting the mind and conscience to give up.  

Some may in such situations adopt a spirituality of death, available in the plenty in the market places, because of their strong will to fight back. 

The market place is filled with such New Age spiritualities and practices to overcome stress of loneliness too. 

Yet in the midst of these challenges there are some who may deliberately adopt a way of life of moving away from the world, cutting oneself completely as in a cloistered or monastery.

Those who do so know that they are not alone in their loneliness and have learned to live in the company of the select or even in the company of God, as revealed in Christ Jesus.

Jesus in himself faced plenty of situation of loneliness, even in the midst of his select disciples; because no one really understood what he had to tell them and more so in his moments of rejection, betrayal and pain.

In such a moment he speaks the secret meant for all his followers: “The hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, every man to his home, and will leave me alone; yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me.” (vs. 32)

Prayer:  Who is like the Lord our God, who is seated on high, who looks far down upon the heavens and the earth? Ps 113:5-6

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

Voice in the Wilderness

Today’s Gospel Text:  In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiber'i-us Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Iturae'a and Trachoni'tis, and Lysa'ni-as tetrarch of Abile'ne, 2 in the high-priesthood of Annas and Ca'iaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechari'ah in the wilderness; 3 and he went into all the region about the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 4 As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness:

Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; 6 and all flesh shall see the salvation of God." Luke 3:1-6

Reflection: In our times there are plenty of avenues open to us to entertain ourselves about many things of life. Yet very often people still complain about the boredom of life and grumble about it.

Boredom and loneliness are serious issues and is a profound problem in our times. There are many new inventions and media entertainments to keep us occupied and busy.

We so easily walk into these entrapment's of pleasure and entertainments that we rarely have time to take stock of the reason for our boredom and loneliness, the wilderness of our life.

Many a times we do go through a struggle in the absence of family, relatives and friends who could sort out our urgent issues. Some not being able to cope up end up in depression or are led on to suicides.

The gospel of today spells hope for those who are struggling with the wilderness of life by a great personality who had opted for the wilderness; a forsaken place which the many shun because it kills.

It is hope that the gospel communicates a voice crying in the wilderness in the reign of various personalities in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, in a reign of extravagance. 

It is a word of hope communicated in the vacuum of the wilderness and resounding through the city down to this age:

“Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.  Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God." (Vss. 4-6)

 

These words of his are profound, loaded with rich meaning and above all assurances for all who are willing to take it; whether men in authority or kings or governors or the common men or women on the street.

Only a fool can ignore such a voice that cries in the wilderness and not pause, reflect and respond to this call.

Prayer: Lord, help me to reflect and respond to these words and accept your way as my own.

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