Cursed Life

Today’s Gospel Text: Then he began to upbraid the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent. 21 "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 in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I tell you, it shall be more tolerable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. 23 And you, Caper'na-um, will you be exalted to heaven? You shall be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 But I tell you that it shall be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you." Matt 11:20-24

Reflection:  Were the woe’s that he was proclaiming, against those cities, were really a one sided act of cursing by God or was it much more than that? 

Why did Jesus have to show his indignation again these cities?

This mystery is no mystery, if one understands the mission of Jesus, his purpose of coming to us as the incarnate Son of God.

He indeed came to save us and not curse us to doom and he has already assured us: “For the Son of man came to seek and to save the lost." Luke 19:10

Then where is the problem?

The problem was with the people who did not accept him or his saving message; the gospel of salvation.

Nor did they repent of their ways of listening to their deceptive, self-centered, sinful self, instead of listening to the truth of the gospel.

It is like a heart that can still know the truth but by sheer habit, due to many years of hardening fails to respond to the truth. 

May be right now we need to pause and ask ourselves prayerfully; “whether I have been sincere and if Jesus were to reveal himself as the truth how will I respond? Will I be sincere enough to say yes to his calling?

Indeed, even the sincere ones go through a tremendous turmoil in order to respond to the constant voice of God but nevertheless we need to take that first step and promise to continue to say yes to every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.

Then our lives, irrespective whether Jesus curses us or not, will never be accursed and there is no need for Christ to state a woe on us. 

Prayer:  Lord, may I respond to every prompting of your Holy Spirit at work in me both to will and to work for your good pleasure. (cfr. Phil. 2:13)

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

Truth of the Gospel

Today’s Gospel Text: "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. 17 Beware of men; for they will deliver you up to councils, and flog you in their synagogues, 18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear testimony before them and the Gentiles. 19 When they deliver you up, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour; 20 for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 21 Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; 22 and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. 23 When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next; for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel, before the Son of man comes. Matt 10:16-23

Reflection: In a situation when there is a negative outlook to life any warrior or conqueror would advise his followers to take up weapons.

Let’s not be shocked, Jesus did not have a very high opinion of men. Yet, it doesn’t mean that he did not love them or care for them. He came for them, who were sinners. 

His was an action that was based on love, he came to save mankind from the eternal hell and he knew that men will still reject it and behave like wolves,  thinking that they are the righteous ones. 

How could he ever advise his followers to take up weapons?

Instead, even to this day, men do all that they can to suppress the truth of the gospel and prevent the spread of the gospel of truth for a cause which they think is greater than the truth of the gospel.

There are many in our times dedicated to the gospel and take vows to be faithful to the service of the gospel  and ultimately promote their own agenda and even interpret the gospel of truth to suit their agenda.

What is more they have even become instruments of persecution to those who oppose them in the light the gospel of Jesus Christ and promote those who are enemies of the gospel.

There are governments and institutions created whose sole agenda is human emancipation and development yet not knowing what they want to achieve or if they have a goal then it is purely for longevity or economic independence.

All these will look at the gospel of truth with suspicion and will use all their resources at hand to abuse their authority to suppress the freedom which humans should enjoy in their search for the eternal truths.

The many religion’s and the fanaticism adds to the confusion.

As for us Christians the message of Jesus is clear: " But he who endures to the end will be saved." (vs. 22)

Prayer: Lord our God, raise up men and women to labor in your vineyard and harvest men and women to be instruments of your gospel.

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

Background Check

Today’s Gospel Text:   Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." 13 The Pharisees then said to him, "You are bearing witness to yourself; your testimony is not true." 14 Jesus answered, "Even if I do bear witness to myself, my testimony is true, for I know whence I have come and whither I am going, but you do not know whence I come or whither I am going. 15 You judge according to the flesh, I judge no one. 16 Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for it is not I alone that judge, but I and he who sent me. 17 In your law it is written that the testimony of two men is true; 18 I bear witness to myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness to me." 19 They said to him therefore, "Where is your Father?" Jesus answered, "You know neither me nor my Father; if you knew me, you would know my Father also." 20 These words he spoke in the treasury, as he taught in the temple; but no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come. John 8:12-20

Reflection: How many of us as individuals know Jesus? And how many in this world know Jesus? How many are there who seek their wisdom from all sorts of sources and not from Jesus? 

Do we know from where he is come and where he is gone and where he is right now?

Knowing the whereabouts and antecedents of Jesus are extremely important. It is more important than any philosophical or worldly knowledge.  

Most corporate houses and the media too may do a background check of a candidate standing for an election or applying for a job. It is important to know the background of a bride and a bridegroom if one wants to be safe and secure in the long term relationship of marriage.

Human nature even otherwise will not take a decision on the spur of the moment, especially in those matters which effect their life in a major way.  In the trivial, insignificant aspects of life one may not really be discerning much.

Hence in the marketing of products branding works, because every brand carries with it a value based on a solid historical background of trust.

If such is the human nature that it so easily and in everyday life trusts the many available things of life, then why can’t they believe in the most sincere, honest, eternal words of Christ Jesus?

He has a background and it can be checked. The cross of Christ and his subsequent resurrection is the ultimate and real background of Jesus proved by history and actualized by faith in the life of all who have given God a chance to prove himself.  

The many martyrdom's, through their witness to the truth of the gospel, by the countless men and women of all ages and the martyrdom of the living who live the gospel literally with meaning, speaks volumes to the many who care to search for the truth of Christ.

This privilege is not meant for the petty who only seek to look at the miniature sized scar of the followers of Christ. These have their motives clear; seeking to magnify them for the world to see. 

Nor is it meant for the Judases among the followers of Christ who continue to betray Christ through their complicity in the crime of the modern day scribes and Pharisees.

Prayer: O God save the sheep of your flock, who seek to diligently listen to your voice each day of their lives.

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