Soul Issue

Today’s Gospel Text: Then Jesus told his disciples, "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life? Or what shall a man give in return for his life? 27 For the Son of man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay every man for what he has done. 28 Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom." Matt 16:24-28

Reflection: The big attractions of life are money, power, wealth, pleasures of life and recognition. 

What will people not exchange in return for these things? The media today gives further impetus to short term popularity and wealth and money.

If one had money then one could even buy these other attractions of life; for such is the power of money and wealth.

No wonder the poor easily get attracted to gambling and lotteries because it fulfills their dreams or some may go for illegal activities or jobs that attracts risks but at the same time an easy windfall of money.

Then there is the cult of power which attracts too; any news concerning the head of state is lapped up easily by the great crowd, so too news concerning great sports star or film stars or great achievers.

An attractive person can get a lot more likes on social networking sites than the less attractive.

Where does a poor wondering mendicant like Jesus fit the bill when it comes to attracting followers for himself?

What is that big attraction in Jesus that we should to go after him?

Yet the audacity of the man to challenge us to follow him, with challenges that least attract in comparison to what the world, with its many attractions has to offer each one of us:

1) Deny yourself

2) Take up your cross

3) then follow him

Why should any sane thinking person risk their precious life in order to follow a person like Jesus?

This is a question which every individual on earth need to ask and better be serious about?

The why of it is clear: Life is the most precious thing than all the allurements and attractions this world can offer.

Prayer:  Lord, I thank you for revealing to us the importance of our soul and the need to save it by following you and your ways.

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

Male Preference

Today’s Gospel Text:   And when the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord") 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, "a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons." 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27 And inspired by the Spirit he came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law, 28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, 29 "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word; 30 for mine eyes have seen thy salvation 31 which thou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples, 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to thy people Israel." 33 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him; 34 and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed." 36 And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phan'u-el, of the tribe of Asher; she was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years from her virginity, 37 and as a widow till she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 And coming up at that very hour she gave thanks to God, and spoke of him to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.

39 And when they had performed everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him. Luke 2:22-40

Reflection: Do you have an objection to it? Do you think that the scripture gives too much of a preference and importance to the male?

That’s exactly how some would have us believe with cogent arguments, apparently appearing to be logical but lopsided in its overall context. They would have us condemn God once again! 

This is what happens when we get too embroiled in the folly of sociological perspectives and its derivatives. 

(As it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord" vs.23)

Imagine a world where everybody wants to dominate and rule over the other because its equality.

It is and already, in many instances of our long history, when men and women in order to gratify their ambitions or on account of their foolish thinking have felt that they can do a better job than God.

These have ultimately turned out to be corrupt dictators or subtle seducers and manipulators for the gain of every kind of power. Thus here too they think that the called to be holy is purely a privilege to be enjoyed and a responsibility to be shunned. 

So too when a situation arises to face the brunt they have made others scapegoats and let the load off their heads through deceptions and seductions, either overtly or covertly.

The male has a different role to play in God’s society and this in no way takes away the equal status of women, as understood in the scriptural sense.   One of the roles he exercises is to serve through rule and not rule to serve. He does it abiding in the wisdom of God and as a steward of God.

The male bashing is a divisive voice in society which seeks to deepen the division of a communitarian life which we are called to live as Dedicated Disciples of Christ. 

Any call for equality on the basis of an illogical and untested sociological or impractical psychological perspective of the human being will lead to a society that is speeding its way to destruction and eternal damnation and is thus detrimental to the cause that one fights for. 

Prayer:  Lord, we pray that men and women seek your wisdom as they seek to animate the Church and society in which they live. 

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

Responsiblity

Today’s Gospel Text:  And James and John, the sons of Zeb'edee, came forward to him, and said to him, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you." 36 And he said to them, "What do you want me to do for you?" 37 And they said to him, "Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory." 38 But Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?" 39 And they said to him, "We are able." And Jesus said to them, "The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; 40 but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared." 41 And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. 42 And Jesus called them to him and said to them, "You know that those who are supposed to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. 43 But it shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. 45 For the Son of man also came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Mark 10:35-45

Reflection: Many seek power and positions in life but they would not want to take up the total responsibilities that comes with such positions.

Some on gaining power become more corrupt and thus abdicate their responsibility to manage their jobs in all sincerity and with the right spirit.

Some gain power and want positions too but are incapable of handling their responsibilities and yet would not have the humility to step down or delegate that responsibility to someone lower then them, who may be better equipped and more capable.

There may be some in power who are so insecure that they work by envy of their subordinates and subjugate or spend their time and talent in persecuting their juniors and even demanding respect and honor.

Others gain power and positions, fulfill their responsibilities to the bare minimum or go by the code and hence can be less human in their ways of going about their job.

Some see how they can play even with their enemies, as long as they have the power in their hands by virtue of their position and authority.

Some do not know the job and are totally incapable and yet want to be in power and hold on to positions.

When will Christians learn from their faith that they already have a special place and privilege in society as salt of the earth and light of the world.

They wield a certain power by virtue of their faith and they need to live an incorrupt and self-sacrificing life as part of their responsibility to lead others to the light too.

Thus the Dedicated Disciples, who seeks that power and position, are admonished by Jesus and reminded about their responsibilities as true dedicated disciples; “Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?"

Prayer: Lord we too desire that special place in your kingdom; strengthen us to accept the responsibilities associated with our privileges as Christians.

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

Divine Authority

Today’s Gospel Text: And he went down to Caper'na-um, a city of Galilee. And he was teaching them on the sabbath; 32 and they were astonished at his teaching, for his word was with authority. 33 And in the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon; and he cried out with a loud voice, 34 "Ah! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God." 35 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent, and come out of him!" And when the demon had thrown him down in the midst, he came out of him, having done him no harm. 36 And they were all amazed and said to one another, "What is this word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out." 37 And reports of him went out into every place in the surrounding region. Luke 4:31-37

Reflection:  If you are in the habit of listening to sermons and analyze them, then you will realize that there are varieties of sermons dished out from the pulpit.

Broadly speaking they can be categorized as; impressive sermons and non-impressive sermons.

Leaving the non-impressive aside, we analyze the impressive ones which may be even super-impressive and yet never effective or qualitative.They may leave good and pleasant memories and yet a vacuum in one's heart. 

These super-impressive sermons could in its content be interspersed with worldly wisdom and jokes, good enough to impress the senses. It may contain cogent logical arguments and yet may never be based on solid truth as its premise. It depends much on the personal charisma of the preacher.

In other words, the sermon may be all impressive but never effective and may never achieve the goal and vision Christ Jesus has set forth.

On the other hand a quality effective sermon may not have all the fanfare of a brimstone and fire sermon but it touches somewhere and strikes a deep cord. It has a divine presence in it. 

Jesus’ teaching seemed to have the same divine presence as well as that authority; it carries the authoritative word that created the heavens and the earth and all that it contains.

It’s the authoritative word that created man and placed him as the caretaker of his creation as a responsible steward.

It is that authoritative voice that  now comes to restore what was lost by the irresponsible action of man.

Jesus is that one authoritative voice that has to be believed on in the world, so that mankind doesn’t meet its condemnation.

He has delegated this authority to his Holy Apostles and saints and it belongs to them who know how to act responsibly and guard it from the contamination of the world.

Prayer: Lord, prepare my heart and mind to be your voice of authority to others, so that they may believe that you are our God that reigns.

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