Fulfilling Relationships

Today’s Gospel Text:  "Do not think that I have come to bring peace on earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; 36 and a man's foes will be those of his own household. 37 He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38 and he who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for my sake will find it. 40 "He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives him who sent me. 41 He who receives a prophet because he is a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward, and he who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward. 42 And whoever gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he shall not lose his reward." 11 And when Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities. Matt 10:34-11:1

Reflection:  How many of us may have played this little game with a small child of claiming their beloved parent as their own and watch for the child’s reaction.

What an endearing thing it is to see the child showing indignation or displeasure at such a claim.

The child will even defend or catch hold of the parent thus proving their love. For the parent too it is a beautiful sight to take pleasure in; a celebration of love!

This love for the parent may not always be manifested, as one grows old, in such fashion but it does get relocated into other relationships.

Therefore Jesus in a way communicates a comprehensive message when he says:

“He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and he who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.” (vs. 37-38)

In other words we cannot have any love as our priority in life before the love for Jesus. Let God be first in our lives and every other love take the back seat.

It is not just a commandment or a selfish asking by Jesus but a legitimate demand which spells our own good.

We can never find our ultimate fulfillment and find stable happiness in anything, except in the permanent thing of life; Jesus Christ. 

Hence Jesus is revealing to us, in his assertion, that in him we can find our fulfillment and happiness; a relationship which is real, possible, caring, providing and fulfilling and above all permanent.

We need to know the practical aspect of loving Jesus more than anything else in life and one way to do it is to put into practice the spiritual lifestyles of the saints.

Prayer:  God our Father, teach us to put into practice the demands you make of us, so that we may be happy in this life and find eternal fulfillment in you.

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

Love of Jesus

Today’s Gospel Text:  As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you; abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

12 "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide; so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17 This I command you, to love one another. John 15:9-17

Reflection: Jesus’ discourse on love is often the most misunderstood teaching.

We are called to love and the essence of Christianity is indeed love; ask anyone and most of them will describe Christianity as a religion of love.

In the process we have failed to realize that the love of Christianity is not an indiscriminate ideology of love which can be freely interpreted by anyone and anyhow.

Many who practice this ideology of love compromise on the faith of Christ and thus given love a different twist and turn, giving love its own meaning. 

When Jesus loves us he loves us from an eternal perspective. Hence he is the standard; love personified. 

His coming to us and taking our nature and then living like us and revealing to us God and his nature and giving us the freedom to address him as our Father and his suffering and death on the cross and his resurrection tell us a story: the story of God’s love for us.

    

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.  For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. He who believes in him is not condemned; he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. John 3:16-18

We cannot say we love people and don’t reach out to them in service and the primary service is not feeding the people with material things but of feeding the world with the word that is able to save us for all eternity – an eternal perspective!  

In other words, even if immediate compulsions may compel us to feed them with the material things for sustenance, the ultimate has to follow if not begun with.  

Christ who loved us as the Father has loved him, proved this love for us by his various actions and ultimately by the death on the cross.

Prayer: May your Love O Lord fill and satisfy us and thus compel us to reach out with your Gospel to others.

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

Love of Jesus

Today’s Gospel Text:  As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you; abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. 12 "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide; so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17 This I command you, to love one another. John 15:9-17

Reflection: Jesus’ discourse on love is often the most misunderstood teaching.

We are called to love and the essence of Christianity is indeed love; ask anyone and most of them will describe Christianity as a religion of love.

In the process we have failed to realize that the love of Christianity is not an indiscriminate ideology of love which can be freely interpreted by anyone and anyhow.

Many who practice it like an ideology of love compromise on the faith of Christ and thus given love a different twist and turn.

When Jesus loves us he loves us from an eternal perspective. 

His coming to us and taking our nature and then living like us and revealing to us God and his nature and giving us the freedom to address him as our Father and his suffering and death on the cross and his resurrection, tell us a story: the story of God’s love for us.

    

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.  For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. He who believes in him is not condemned; he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. John 3:16-18

We cannot say we love people and don’t reach out to them in service and the primary service is not feeding the people with material things but of feeding the world with the word that is able to save us for all eternity – an eternal perspective!  

In other words, even if immediate compulsions may compel us to feed them with the material for sustenance, the ultimate has to follow if not begun with.  

Christ who loved us as the Father has loved him, proved this love for us by his various actions and ultimately by the death on the cross.

Prayer: May your Love O Lord fill and satisfy us and thus compel us to reach out with your Gospel to others.

                                                              

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

Love for his Beloved

Today’s Gospel Text:  He who has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me; and he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him." 22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, "Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?" 23 Jesus answered him, "If a man loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 He who does not love me does not keep my words; and the word which you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me. 25 "These things I have spoken to you, while I am still with you. 26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. John 14:21-26

Reflection: Something’s in life are precious and is not easily shared with anyone; be it the secrets of our hearts or the material wealth we posses or a special seat or a plate or a cup.

But these very things we may share with someone whom we may love and care for:

Thus you have parents sharing their belongings with children and a couple sharing their things with each other or siblings too following the same regiment.

We could have teachers who could be sharing their knowledge either freely or with the select students over whom they are employed to deliver, but to his chosen select he delivers extra. 

Just like the parent towards their beloved children or a teacher towards their chosen pupil likewise Jesus makes a choice to manifest himself towards his chosen ones.

Who are his chosen ones? Are they the ones who have experienced his manifestation or are they the ones who make a choice to follow him, by loving him, which they will do by following his commandments:

“He who has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me; and he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him." (vs. 21)

The process is clear: First, know the Lord and his commandments; not just the Ten Commandments but the commandment of listening to Jesus and his teaching, the living voice and what is written in Scripture as passed on to us through the great tradition of the church.

Then as one follows the Lord and his commandment, one will thus prove that they love the Lord and are willing to walk in the footsteps of the Lord.

Then will the Lord love them and manifest himself.

It is not a process that follows the liner movement but a process that follows a cyclic movement, in ever greater and increasing measure as one constantly chooses to live the commandments of Jesus out of love for him.  Thus Jesus will manifest himself to them till they achieve the growth that God wants them to have.

Prayer: Teach me thy way, O Lord, that I may walk in thy truth; unite my heart to fear thy name. Ps 86:11

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

Living the Resurrection

Today’s Gospel Text:  But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices which they had prepared. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in they did not find the body. 4 While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel; 5 and as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise." 8 And they remembered his words, 9 and returning from the tomb they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 Now it was Mary Mag'dalene and Jo-an'na and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told this to the apostles; 11 but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. Luke 24:1-11

Reflection: The resurrection the greatest event ever and believing in the resurrection of Jesus can have a great impact on one’s life.

This is not a call to believe for the sake of believing. That would be like taking a sick man with no appetite to a banquet for a meal.  

Hence, it is a belief that is based on two facts: one that appeals to the intellect and can be reasonably explained and the other is the experiential one wherein Jesus constantly reveals himself to those who earnestly seek him, not just to prove himself to them but rather by believing  in him they may have salvation.

If our beliefs are not based on these two pillars then it is still lame and can make us fall apart easily at the first obstacle of doubt we encounter.

This belief has to be constantly renewed in the presence of the living God, by having him with us in his resurrected form, daily and every moment. 

This is not an unreasonable argument but a living reality which begins from the assurance of his word; “... lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age." Matt 28:20

How often we as Christians only hold to the comfortable element of trusting in ourselves and in our intellect in order to believe in God rather than allow God to prove his love for us and which he most willing does, if only we allow him to do so.

Such a living faith leads to an on going relationship with God and to have that faith and relationship with God we need to spend time in his presence in prayer. Prayer helps in developing this relationship with Jesus and thus also with one another.

Prayer:  Lord, fill my heart with your love so that I may love you with all my heart, mind, soul and strength forever and ever.

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

Love and Mercy

Today’s Gospel Text:  For the complete text of the Good Friday gospel test read here; Click on link here:  http://dedicateddiscipleship.blogspot.in/p/good-friday.html

Reflection: The greatest event the world has ever seen, irrespective whether it admits or not, is the event of the resurrection of Christ, celebrated the world over as the Easter Sunday.

Easter Sunday communicates a powerful message that Christ rose from the dead on the third day.

It doesn't begin or end there; for the one who rose was also the one who was slain, given the most miserable death in the history of the world. Hence Easter together with Good Friday makes one consolidated event along with the Maundy Thursday. 

His being divine and therefore the Lord and master of the universe is only secondary.

If God wanted he could have made his divine presence felt in this world by great signs and wonders but there would be no lasting memory of it. 

True, lasting and noble memories are built on love and not just on power and might.and God’s love is visibly made manifest on the wood of the cross. 

The type of rejection, suffering and pain he had to undergo in order to prove his love for humanity is now for all generation to benefit from; it is an everlasting memory, which we even bring to mind at every Eucharist and even participate in it for our sanctification and salvation. 

This voice of his love still rings through history; when the only innocent man in the history of humanity was raised on the cross to meet his end from there came forth a voice which proves beyond doubt the love of God for the salvation of humanity:

"Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." Luke 23:34

Did he not have the right to condemn the many? If anyone who has been wronged has the right to condemn then he had it all the more.

Thus at the cross Christ proved himself as the savior of humanity by opening his arms in forgiveness to all, including his enemies; the very ones who crucified him.

This action also proves his eternal love for all who, acknowledging their sinfulness, come to him for mercy and love.

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, I come before you as a sinner, seeking your love and mercy: Have mercy on me and on the whole world.

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

Sacrifice of Truth

Today’s Gospel Text: Pilate entered the praetorium again and called Jesus, and said to him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" 34 Jesus answered, "Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?" 35 Pilate answered, "Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me; what have you done?" 36 Jesus answered, "My kingship is not of this world; if my kingship were of this world, my servants would fight, that I might not be handed over to the Jews; but my kingship is not from the world." 37 Pilate said to him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice." 38 Pilate said to him, "What is truth?" John 18:33-38

Reflection:  There is time for everything, even a time for asking questions.

Was it the right time for Pilate to ask a question to Jesus? Can you hold a man at gun point or hold a dagger to his neck and ask him to speak the truth?

Can you have the truth in such a situation?

With God, whose love is sacrificial, all things are possible! He will sacrifice his life for the sake of the truth: Jesus knew that he will be killed for the sake of the truth, the knife was pointed at him, yet he spoke what needs to be spoken.

What he spoke was necessary for us and for all ages, for our Salvation, so that we may enter into life by accepting this truth in our life, without which we cannot find Salvation; we cannot be saved.

That confession of Jesus, before Pilate was needed and was necessary for the world to believe that Jesus indeed is God and King of the whole universe and is the one who reigns for all eternity.

Such was his love and dedication towards humanity that in spite of foreseeing at Gethsemane the rejection of the many  down history, yet he accomplished with great pain and sacrifice the means of our our salvation through.this confession of his before Pilate. 

How hardened humanity can be that it still offers its own agenda as a perfect solution for humanity and being deceived themselves they now go about deceiving others, offering humans the panacea of wholeness therapy, godless or occult spiritualities, false ideologies, corrupted theology, etc.

Many are so enmeshed in the daily routines of life that they hardly have time to think about their eternity or to seek the truth that saves.

There are also the many that would rather prefer to walk the beaten path set forth before them by their parents and elders rather than seek what God in his goodness has revealed in his Son Jesus; as savior of the world.

Prayer: Lord, I thank you for revealing to me the Salvation which you offer us freely by your great sacrifice. Help me to value this sacrifice and not let my faith in you go in vain. May I be the servant of the New Evangelization as your instrument. 

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

Jesus Christ is King of the Universe: Happy Feast to you all at DD!

Action before Prayer

Today’s Gospel Text:  After he had ended all his sayings in the hearing of the people he entered Caper'na-um. 2 Now a centurion had a slave who was dear to him, who was sick and at the point of death. 3 When he heard of Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and heal his slave. 4 And when they came to Jesus, they besought him earnestly, saying, "He is worthy to have you do this for him, 5 for he loves our nation, and he built us our synagogue." 6 And Jesus went with them. When he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying to him, "Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; 7 therefore I did not presume to come to you. But say the word, and let my servant be healed. 8 For I am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me: and I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come,' and he comes; and to my slave, 'Do this,' and he does it." 9 When Jesus heard this he marveled at him, and turned and said to the multitude that followed him, "I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith." 10 And when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the slave well.  Luke 7:1-10

 

Reflection: The gospel story is an interesting story throwing up many questions and leading us into a deeper insight into the life of faith, healing and good works.

Why did Jesus listen to the centurions prayers and heal his slave? An answer to this question can lead us into our insight into the life of God and his priorities as revealed here in the scripture passage.

Character wise, the centurion was a good man and followed certain principles of life and hence in keeping with his principles was, first of all, kind to his slave and also shown much benevolence to the Jews and their religion.

When the need arose, he sent to Jesus the right people; the elders of the Jews. In other words the elders and those in authority have a special place in God's sight by virtue of their position and authority.

These come to Jesus with a request on behalf of the Centurion to heal his slave. They tell Jesus, in no uncertain terms, that he deserves to be heard.

Why? Because “he loves our nation, and he built us our synagogue.”! (vs.5)

What would have been better, they telling him that he cares much for his own slave and therefore he deserves it or that he cares about their religion and nation?

Faith and the work arising out of faith is of greater importance than any other good work. There is a priority of Faith, which gains precedence over all our other personal priorities.

God has made his personal preference for those who opt to make his priorities their priorities and thus make themselves poor. Jesus is God’s priority for humanity; for only in him can they be rich with the life of God.

Hence do not lag behind in the service of the Lord, and you will find favour with the Lord.

Prayer:  Lord, “teach me the way I should go, for to thee I lift up my soul.” Ps 143:8

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