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

Heaven’s Authority

Today’s Gospel Text: And they came again to Jerusalem. And as he was walking in the temple, the chief priests and the scribes and the elders came to him, 28 and they said to him, "By what authority are you doing these things, or who gave you this authority to do them?" 29 Jesus said to them, "I will ask you a question; answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. 30 Was the baptism of John from heaven or from men? Answer me." 31 And they argued with one another, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say, 'Why then did you not believe him?' 32 But shall we say, 'From men'?" - they were afraid of the people, for all held that John was a real prophet. 33 So they answered Jesus, "We do not know." And Jesus said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things." Mark 11:27-33

Reflection: The above question by Jesus was addressed to the chief priests, scribes and elders and how well we would prefer to ignore it in our minds: “not meant for me”!

But nevertheless Jesus' question is an important question which we all need to grapple with: “Was the baptism of John from heaven or from men? Answer me."

If we do not grapple with this question and seek a message for ourselves then we could remain in our sins and rebelliousness toward God.  The chief priests, scribes and elders met the same fate and failed to come under the authority of Jesus; a authority that saves us.

Though simple to answer, it nevertheless throws up a relevant message, meant to be assimilated by each one of us:

If a message is from heaven then it is to be obeyed and if the message is from a man from heaven then all the more it is to be obeyed.

What Jesus has communicated to us in this question is particularly the significance of his own authority while communicating the authority of John the Baptist, who came speaking as the voice of God, as a prophet of God.

While John was a real prophet, speaking the voice of God or speaking on behalf of God Jesus on the other hand was God himself.

If John’s message was from heaven then he is to be believed and Jesus message all the more because he is from heaven.

Seeing the relevance of Jesus authoritative presence with us the Apostles proclaimed him everywhere and the letter to the Hebrew begins with the following salutation:

“In many and various ways God spoke of old to our fathers by the prophets; but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.”  Heb 1:1-2

Jesus is the ultimate message of God to save the world.

Prayer: The heavens proclaim his righteousness; and all the peoples behold his glory.  Zion hears and is glad, and the daughters of Judah rejoice, because of thy judgments, O God. Ps 97: 6 & 8

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

Kill the Sin

Today’s Gospel Text:  After this Jesus went about in Galilee; he would not go about in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill him. 2 Now the Jews' feast of Tabernacles was at hand. 3 So his brothers said to him, "Leave here and go to Judea, that your disciples may see the works you are doing. 4 For no man works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world." 5 For even his brothers did not believe in him. 6 Jesus said to them, "My time has not yet come, but your time is always here. 7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify of it that its works are evil. 8 Go to the feast yourselves; I am not going up to this feast, for my time has not yet fully come." 9 So saying, he remained in Galilee.

10 But after his brothers had gone up to the feast, then he also went up, not publicly but in private. 11 The Jews were looking for him at the feast, and saying, "Where is he?" 12 And there was much muttering about him among the people. While some said, "He is a good man," others said, "No, he is leading the people astray." 13 Yet for fear of the Jews no one spoke openly of him.

14 About the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and taught. 15 The Jews marveled at it, saying, "How is it that this man has learning, when he has never studied?" 16 So Jesus answered them, "My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me; 17 if any man's will is to do his will, he shall know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. 18 He who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but he who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood. 19 Did not Moses give you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why do you seek to kill me?" 20 The people answered, "You have a demon! Who is seeking to kill you?" 21 Jesus answered them, "I did one deed, and you all marvel at it. 22 Moses gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man upon the sabbath. 23 If on the sabbath a man receives circumcision, so that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because on the sabbath I made a man's whole body well? 24 Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment."  25 Some of the people of Jerusalem therefore said, "Is not this the man whom they seek to kill? 26 And here he is, speaking openly, and they say nothing to him! Can it be that the authorities really know that this is the Christ? 27 Yet we know where this man comes from; and when the Christ appears, no one will know where he comes from." 28 So Jesus proclaimed, as he taught in the temple, "You know me, and you know where I come from? But I have not come of my own accord; he who sent me is true, and him you do not know. 29 I know him, for I come from him, and he sent me." 30 So they sought to arrest him; but no one laid hands on him, because his hour had not yet come.   - Jn.  7:1-2, 10, 25-30

Reflection: Killing is the destroying of the other and one usually does it because the other opposes their way of life. 

In the gospel passage we see that the Jews were bent on killing Jesus, even though he meant good for them. 

I wonder how killing, imprisoning or persecuting a person who either opposes us or more so questions our illegitimate rights and thinking can help us?

Because of the human nature’s inherent flaw, on account of sin, we are in need of the critic, but it would always be right to discern and welcome the critic who wishes well for us rather than pounce to kill such opponents  – This is a rational approach.

As for the spiritual option, the diagnosis is very clear, our sinful self, with its self-centered pride is the greatest obstacle for the truth to sink in.

Each one thinks they are perfect and they have the perfect solution and they fail to recognize the voice of God in their midst, manifested through his faithful servants.

Even if we have the best agenda for human emancipation and think we have the perfect solution to a given problems still it doesn’t justify the means we could use to achieve a desired end.

Cautiousness rather than achieving at any cost is a better approach to handle the things of life.  But still more better is a humility that acknowledges the need for the saving action of God to set things right wherever required. 

Such a being will not kill the opponent with stooped words, nor will they kill the opponent with intrigues and torture.  What they will instead seek to kill in the human heart is that sin that separates them from the living God, who teaches us to love our enemy as Christ loved his enemy even on the cross.

Prayer: Teach us Lord to humbly submit to your saving grace and pray for those who oppose us in our walk with you.  

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

Let him Speak

Today’s Gospel Text: Nathan'a-el said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." 47 Jesus saw Nathan'a-el coming to him, and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!" 48 Nathan'a-el said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you." 49 Nathan'a-el answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" 50 Jesus answered him, "Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You shall see greater things than these." 51 And he said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man." John 1:46-51

Reflection: “Come and see.”

We know seeing does not really help us because of our limitations in seeing what we really need to see, of comprehending reality.

I may be traveling in a speeding car and keep my eyes open to see the dangers ahead as if me keeping my eyes open will help me avoid the dangers of life or take preventive measures to escape an accident.

When it comes to seeing ourselves, many people may be able to see us and point many things about ourselves, we too may be able to see ourselves perfectly in many areas of ourselves and yet may never be able to see ourselves as perfectly as we are.

How can we take perfect decisions in life when we do not know ourselves? We may be able to see some of the mistakes we make in life, some immediately, some after some time, some after years have passed and some because someone or something has pointed it out to us. But there may be many which we may never see and never realize. 

How do we know for sure that we have never made many mistakes in life? What is success, if that is the criteria by which go?

One of the most intriguing thing that I have observed in people, is that you point a mistake to people and they are proved wrong and yet they still continue to proclaim or do what is wrong and evil. That’s because they have gained their power and position in society on account of this false thoughts, which society has legitimized and approved as true on account of its own folly or because it is a compulsive disorder, they suffer from.  

If such is the sad distressing situation of human life, then we are living dangerously in a society which approves of evil and untruth and yet life goes on, many a time without a major calamity to shock us and we are comfortable with piecemeal solutions to our problems.

Unless we allow God to speak to us as did Nathanael, who in his zeal to come and see would definitely have failed if not for the revelation of Christ about him, we will fail too.

Allow Jesus to speak to your heart, he is alive and still speaks. Ask him to reveal to you yourself, your true worth and you will be saved from all your troubles.

Prayer: In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I cried for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears. Ps 18:6

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