In thy Name

Today’s Gospel Text:  Holy Father, keep them in thy name, which thou hast given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I kept them in thy name, which thou hast given me; I have guarded them, and none of them is lost but the son of perdition, that the scripture might be fulfilled. 13 But now I am coming to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them thy word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15 I do not pray that thou shouldst take them out of the world, but that thou shouldst keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; thy word is truth. 18 As thou didst send me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be consecrated in truth. John 17:11-19

Reflection: We see wars, acts of terrorism, the various fights on religion and arguments based on it and many of us can often get fed up about it and give up on religion easily. 

Many among these will profess a religion of ‘humanity’ or ‘humanism’.

There a quite a few, even among the consecrated ones who think that to be a Christian means to profess humanism and even practice a form of humanism while living their religious vows.

I know of such who have been part of organizations which proclaim humanism and some have even gone to the extent of recommending me to such organizations.

They do not realize that working for humanity and humans and their needs as a goal is detrimental for humans in the long run.

They who work for a humanistic society, where justice, peace and brotherhood dwell are fools trying to build an ideological society. 

The agenda of the small Christian communities or the basic Christian communities also have a similar motivation and can be visibly seen in their ultimate goal to form a human community.

Unity and peace is the core agenda and many a times they are achieved by methods which are contrary to such values.  They prove themselves by their subtle dictatorial methods and corrupt ways.

Christ Jesus was no corrupt man and he did not give us a corrupt doctrine or teaching for unity and peace; the only unity and peace we can have is by abiding in the love of the Father by accepting the name of Jesus. 

It is an eternal truth which may not be realized in this world but its power can be experienced while we labor in this world as true followers of Christ Jesus.

Yes it is in the name of Jesus we will find unity as proclaimed by Jesus: "Holy Father, keep them in thy name, which thou hast given me." (vs. 11a)

Prayer: Holy Father, keep us in thy name, which thou hast given Jesus, that we may be one, even as you’ll are one. (vs. 11)

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

Gospel of Jesus

Today’s Gospel Text:  And he said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover." 19 So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. 20 And they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that attended it. Amen. Mark 16:15-20

Reflection: Some theologian’s best way to scuttle the work of God was by denying that it was Jesus who ever said these things and that the disciples had put these words in the mouth of Jesus.

When they did not succeed in their fabrication they resorted to other ways to foil the work of God in the revelation of his Son Jesus.

This time around, in their ever newer methods, they did not deny the words but took the liberty to give it a new meaning and interpretation.

"We need to proclaim gospel values and not the gospel", they said and evangelize by actions rather than words and hence witness by deeds.

They managed to sweep quite a few with their deceptive tail and hence many walked in their deception because they trusted their irrational rational mind rather than trust the truth; Jesus Christ who has proved himself for all ages by his death on the cross.

Hence the call to proclaim the gospel, which is the good news of God’s saving plan stands firm forever and for all ages:

"Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” (vss. 15-16)

The saving good news of God offered through his son Jesus is to be believed in order for men to be saved and there is no other way offered by God to humanity. (cfr. Acts 4:12)

There have been countless witnesses who have proclaimed the gospel with great risk to their lives and with great sacrifice, going through great persecution and torture for the sake of the Gospel.

Compare this with terrorism in the name of religion; even in our day there are people who go through great hardship for the sake of the gospel of peace.

There have also been dedicated disciples of Christ who support this mandate of Jesus with their prayers and material support so that the work of God may triumph until the day of Christ.

Prayer:  Lord, protect me from every deception of the evil one as I seek to dedicate my heart to your gospel.

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

Born Again

Today’s Gospel Text: '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: “You must be born anew” and so we have the Born Again Christians!

Are they the select and the elect or what should be the response to such claim of being “Born Again”?

Are we also called to be born again or shall we resign ourselves to the fact that we are baptized Christians and now in no need to be born again?

 If one understands what Jesus meant when he said that we must be ‘Born Again’ then one would know what we should be doing to live up to this calling and whether we still need to be one in spite of being baptized in the faith:

“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 everyone who is born of the Spirit." (vs.8)

These are some of the questions that everyone who claim themselves to be Christians, irrespective whether we are Born Again or not, should ask:

·     Are we in any way different then the people of the world? Is there something about us which is unique in relation to Christ and his Gospel?

·      Do people hear the sound of the gospel rather than our sounds? In other words: whom do we proclaim, Christ or ourselves?

·      Do people have more information about ourselves or do they have more information of Christ Jesus through us, as his mere instrument.  

·     God the Lord of all creation makes the wind to blow where he want to: are we directed by this our Lord and God to blow where he wants to and when? (cfr. Gen. 8:1; Ex. 15:10; Ps. 78:26; 147:18; Rev. 7:1)

If one is genuine in searching ones conscience in the light of the grace of God and his Holy Spirit then one will realize that what has begun in baptism is an ongoing process because the wind never dies off but continues in spurts and intervals, in strength and absence.

But it has to continue in dedication, with endurance and determination and just claiming that one is Born Again is never enough!

  

Prayer: Restore us to thyself, O Lord, that we may be restored! Renew our days as of old! Lam 5:21

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