It’s Christmas

Today’s Gospel Text: Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit; 19 and her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit; 21 she will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." 22 All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:  23 "Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel" (which means, God with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had borne a son; and he called his name Jesus. Matt 1:18-25

Reflection: Today the world celebrates Christmas, the birth of Jesus; Emmanuel, God with us.

One of the most appealing story is the story of Jesus. Which is now read now read though a prism of faith or positive attitude.We have it presented to us in a profound way in the gospels.

What if Christ were to be born in our age; would we have welcomed him in our midst, since, more so, we have a better knowledge of him and his face (not just in the physical sense but in the message and description of the character of Christ.

In fact this question should be a reflection for every Christmas

Our answer shouldn't surprise you; if Christ were born, he would definitely not have been welcome even in our age, in spite of all the knowledge that we have about him.  

One immediate way in which we can check ourselves is to find out how we have prepared ourselves this advent for the coming of Christ now.

Have we prepared only by way of the externals; the decorations, the fine clothing’s, delicate perfumes, the choicest purchases, the cakes and the sweets, the roast and the turkey or have we dwelt on restoring the internals?

If the preparation has been merely the externals then we need to be seriously thinking about life and the eternal fate which we are going to meet.

Some of us may have prepared ourselves by way of confessions and the Eucharistic attendance; is it as mere  fulfillment of an obligation or was it a sincere repentance to meet and encounter Christ in these sacraments?

Many of us may have a good reason and excuse; life has been busy with the demands of work, family and friends.

Could this be an excuse for rejecting the very source of our life, the reason for our existence, the source of our sustenance, the means of our living, the cause of our peace and joy?

We would not mind taking time off for a good vacation and preparing for a great celebration and may have all the time for entertainment, spirits and friends but would have no time for him.

How can our job or our business be an excuse when the reality of life teaches us that death is inevitable to each one of us and preparation for it cannot be ignored. Yet the truth remains; it may be ignored by the many.

Prayer:  Lord, it is never too late to come to you in repentance and faith, help me in this joyous season to make a joyful and willing surrender of my life to you.

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

Face Death

Today’s Gospel Text:  There were some present at that very time who told him of the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And he answered them, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered thus? 3 I tell you, No; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen upon whom the tower in Silo'am fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who dwelt in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, No; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish."

6 And he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. 7 And he said to the vinedresser, 'Lo, these three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down; why should it use up the ground?' 8 And he answered him, 'Let it alone, sir, this year also, till I dig about it and put on manure. 9 And if it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.'" Luke 13:1-9

Reflection: “Get yourself insured” is the new age mantra for life and its eventualities.

Some would register themselves for a health rejuvenation program or join a gym or could be on health foods and vitalizers to rebuild their immune system.

In order to protect ourselves from harm we are constantly asked to be careful and trust much in the abilities of our watchful eyes and other senses.  If not and in the case of those who can afford, they may go to the extent of having body guards or invest in security devises in order to protect themselves.

Yet with all these gadgetries and efforts to protect we could still end up as casualties along the way. Such are the frailties of life! 

Some wise man may say; “Who has come to survive, we all have to die some time or the other”

But what sort of death, a sudden one, lost to the world and with no hope of an eternity. A death you eventually meet but never facing it. 

It is such a reality that Jesus is pointing to when he says; “"Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered thus?  I tell you, No; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. (vss. 2-3)

The followers of Jesus too died snuffed out from among the people of the world: Were they sinners? Yes, they were, but not like the ones who persist in sin, without a knowledge of God.

While those killed by Pilate and those on whom the tower of Siloam fell met their death without being ready for it. The followers of Jesus faced death, fully aware of the consequences they will have to face as result of proclaiming the truth of Christ to the world. 

What is more these Dedicated Disciples carried in their hearts the assurance of eternal life, an experience constantly lived by the true followers of Jesus Christ.

Prayer:  Lord, let my life be a constant and pleasing sacrifice to your holy name.

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

The All Powerful Name

Today’s Gospel Text:  The seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!" 18 And he said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing shall hurt you. 20 Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you; but rejoice that your names are written in heaven." 21 In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, "I thank thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to babes; yea, Father, for such was thy gracious will. 22 All things have been delivered to me by my Father; and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and any one to whom the Son chooses to reveal him." 23 Then turning to the disciples he said privately, "Blessed are the eyes which see what you see! 24 For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it." Luke 10:17-24

Reflection: The all powerful name of Jesus vanquishes every evil and even brings them to submission to us who have that name and value it:

The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. 1 John 3:8

Yet this truth could hold very little value to the many who do not understand the full significance of such an action of God by sending his Son Jesus into the world.

In the sin of our first parents we were subjected to the power of evil, sin and decay. Death was an inevitable consequence of that first sin and hence we all are under the power of death.

These evil to which are subjected to are further taken advantage of by the devil by either tempting us or oppressing us by various means into various kinds of bondages of life; of lethargy and sin pleasures.

Thus we are made slaves to the evil one in long as we are slaves to these sinful tendencies at work: ‘”… but I am carnal, sold under sin. I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.” Rom 7:14b-15

  

The extreme form such evil takes makes us slaves to him in such a way that we are unable to relate with others in peace and joy and or even if we do relate then it is only in constant conflict.  The worst is when we led on by such oppresses forces to drastic measures of either seeking the destruction of the other or self either through immediate suicide or over indulgence.

We are often bewildered by these destructive tendencies, especially manifested in the prime of youth and wonder where as parents they have faltered.

They have faltered in not keeping the flame of faith alive in their own hearts and subsequently in the hearts of these children entrusted to them as stewards by God.

Prayer: Lord, help me not to depart from thy holy presence and ever to lose hope in your all powerful name to set us free from every evil.

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

Judging

Today’s Gospel:  After this he went out, and saw a tax collector, named Levi, sitting at the tax office; and he said to him, "Follow me." 28 And he left everything, and rose and followed him. 29 And Levi made him a great feast in his house; and there was a large company of tax collectors and others sitting at table with them. 30 And the Pharisees and their scribes murmured against his disciples, saying, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?" 31 And Jesus answered them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." Luke 5:27-32

Reflection:  Once a sinner, always a sinner, this is the human norm. But God’s norm is different; “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." Luke 5:32 There is scope in God’s eyes to change and to be thus looked upon as righteous.

Similarly, once a person is caught or condemned, he is always so by human standards but God’s standards are different, in his heart there is room for us to change and return. 

Can we humans be like God and change our attitude towards people and become like God? Not completely; because, unlike God we cannot know the genuineness of a person’s heart and the inner motivations with which one has repented.

But this is not an excuse to behave like humans, in the sense communicated above; for we can and have been given the ability and the assistance of God’s Holy Spirit. More so, as Christians we need to genuinely respect a person and even to seek to know with discernment the real motivation and truth.

This requires the patient attitude of letting go of our pre-conceived prejudices and even immediate judgments or pre-judgments based on mere information rather than a thorough study of the individual or subject.

More so as Christians our Judgment for wrong judgments can be severe for not learning from our master’s example; how he was crucified as a sinner, blasphemer and wrongdoer without a proper investigation by anyone, especially those in authority. Hence better still; not to judge!(cfr. Mt. 7:1)

Prayer: Lord, may I count on your wisdom before arriving at a judgment about any individuals.

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

God’s Warning

Today’s Gospel:  And they came to Beth-sa'ida. And some people brought to him a blind man, and begged him to touch him. 23 And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the village; and when he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands upon him, he asked him, "Do you see anything?" 24 And he looked up and said, "I see men; but they look like trees, walking." 25 Then again he laid his hands upon his eyes; and he looked intently and was restored, and saw everything clearly. 26 And he sent him away to his home, saying, "Do not even enter the village." Mark 8:22-26

Reflection:  (Read this reflection along with that of Fri. 10^th Feb. 2012) There are two actions of Jesus in the gospel which are very prominent and stand out starkly; the first one is that of leading the blind man out of the village by the hand and the other is that of telling the healed blind man not to enter the village. 

Whatever the reasons for such an action, could this action of Jesus be a prejudice or abhorrence or disdain for the village of Bethsaida? In Mt. 11;21 and in Lk. 9:10 we find Jesus even cursing Bethsaida for refusing to believe.

We often overlook the fact that God too rejects families and parishes and churches and villages and towns, cities and nations for their unbelief and rejection of the commands of God.  We often wonder why God does these things.

Some of these actions of God are an absolute judgment, while the other milder actions of God are judgments that invite the people to repent.  God does punish and his punishments many a time are supposed to be a curative and a timely warning for the individuals and people to repent and turn to him.  

The task at hand is not easy; hence it is better to trust in the Lord rather than on human wisdom.

Prayer: How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to thy word. With my whole heart I seek thee; let me not wander from thy commandments! Ps 119:9-10

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

Allowing God to Work in me; repentance.

Bible: "Woe to you, Chora'zin! woe to you, Beth-sa'ida! for if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. Luke 10:13

Reflection:  I am wondering how many in Chorazin and Bethsaida may have watched these mighty things done by Jesus. Imagine a big town and a miracle done in some private places: how many would be around at the time of performing a mighty miracle or sign by Jesus. If this is true then the real problem is elsewhere.

God will continue to perform his miracles and mighty works among men irrespective whether they come to see them or not. It is not he who is to be blamed if men are not seeing it.  Men will continue to be so busy with worldly affairs and entertaining themselves that they would have no time for God or his works. Today such sign are on display even on select T.V. channels and internet: how many of us have the time to watch and repent of their ways?

Prayer: Lord, in my busy schedule help me to spare some time for you so that you may perform your mighty work beginning with me.

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

Obeying Jesus willingly

Scripture:What do you think? A man had two sons; and he went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work in the vineyard today.' 29 And he answered, 'I will not'; but afterward he repented and went. 30 And he went to the second and said the same; and he answered, 'I go, sir,' but did not go. 31 Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. 32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the harlots believed him; and even when you saw it, you did not afterward repent and believe him. Matt 21:28-32

Reflection: The Chief priest and the Elders were asked by Jesus a question: What do you think?  We all have an opinion and are capable of knowing, the truth, of what is right and wrong with a big LIMITATION. These were Chief priests and elders and they should have known the essence of life. How will they guide the people if they do not know the essence of life?  Did they know the answer, they knew the answer but they did not know practical application, i.e. how to apply a truth to life and even practice it? (all knowledge but no wisdom)

So knowing the truth is not enough but what you do after knowing it is what is important. Practical wisdom comes from willingness to change and obedience from a heart inclined to do the will God, especially in believing the word of Christ.

 Do I prayerfully read the Bible daily and seek to apply and act on it?

Prayer: Lord, may I work towards a complete change of heart in my walk with you.

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

Change

Scripture: But while they were all marveling at everything he did, he said to his disciples, 44 "Let these words sink into your ears; for the Son of man is to be delivered into the hands of men." Luke 9:43-44

Reflection: The marvel and the beauty of God are so fascinating that we could be lost in it like in a vast ocean or in a huge forest.   We could be lost in a maze of our business or work, our wealth and money, the good life we seek, the friends we have, on social networking sites and friends on facebook.

We could be likewise lost in the marvel of our sinful pleasures of over indulging on eating, drinking, spending, entertainment, socializing or fellowshipping, piling on addictive tendencies, etc.

How fascinating is the world in which we live in and if we don’t stop at times and more often and say to ourselves; “let’s stop and turn around and change, there is every possibility of we getting carried to a point of no return”. 

Those who follow him too can be lost at the marvels that God is working in their lives, the daily miracles, the special interventions of God in their day to day life, the healing and outreaches to the poor and marginalized.

But don’t forget, as you seek the change let the goal of the change you are seeking be clear and legitimate: Let Jesus who is the way and shown us the way, be the way of change…for he is surer than where our limited vision can take us.

Prayer: Lord, open my ears so that your words may sink into my heart and may I seek that change in my life which you desire.

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