Shepherds Voice

Today’s Gospel Text:  It was the feast of the Dedication at Jerusalem; 23 it was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. 24 So the Jews gathered round him and said to him, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly." 25 Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness to me; 26 but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; 28 and I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. 30 I and the Father are one." John 10:22-30

Reflection: One of the most humorous aspect of life is when people ask you a question and you know for sure that they would not believe and invariably they will not.

And they will ask you again and again, requiring of you and even reprimanding you for not speaking the truth.  In other words the answer they expect is the answer that is in their mind.

Simply put: they expect an answer which is a lie!

Such is the nature of truth too; the highest truth about God and his existence, his nature and his intervention in creation. Humans down the ages have distorted it, sometimes beautifully. 

The majority prefer the God of their imagination and so whatever truth we may have of the one true living God whom Jesus has revealed, even proving by the greatest ever sacrifice of the cross, is distorted. 

A distorted lie is preferable and hence the Gospel has met with obstacles wherever it is proclaimed. The worst is when men in authority in the church have distorted this message and reduced it to a social agenda, calling for a brotherhood of humanity based on distorted lies.

Such a house will definitely not last but the damage has been done even as a severe judgment awaits these false prophets whose god is their stomach and their self-glory.

Hence, to be focused on only the Jews as breakers of this norm is another distortion,  their attitude of doubting Jesus and his Christhood should be an eye-opener for each one of us to check our conscience and ask whether we are sincere in seeking God and his wisdom, to guide us into the right path.

It is again a call to develop the gift of discerning the voice of the Shepherd who guides us amidst the clutter of the many voices that speak, some even with the greatest sense of logic but based on a wrong premise.

May the Lord in his mercy, allow not his chosen to go astray but strengthen them to listen to his voice.

Prayer: May I seek you Jesus and your voice to guide me, in all that I do.

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

Parental Advice

Today’s Gospel Text:  Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom; 43 and when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, 44 but supposing him to be in the company they went a day's journey, and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintances; 45 and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions; 47 and all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 And when they saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been looking for you anxiously." 49 And he said to them, "How is it that you sought me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" 50 And they did not understand the saying which he spoke to them. 51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; Luke 2:41-51

Reflection: What do we teach our children?

It is always nice to see parents teaching their children the good things of life, the many positive human values, on how to live and behave in society and with others.

Most of the character formation of a child takes place at home: 

In school or in friends circles a child picks up traits which may spoil the character of a child but yet it need not always be a worry with good parents who know the art of parenting.

They can pick up from the bad things their child has learnt and make it work for the good of the child; on how not to behave from existing bad behavior patterns as examples to unlearn.

But the problem arises when parents themselves don’t live as role models to their children and there is a big discrepancy in what they teach their child and what they portray.

With what moral authority can a parent teach the child to be courteous or kind and they themselves often don’t practice what they teach their children.

This in no way means that one should stop teaching ones children the good behavior patterns of life, just because one cannot live up to the normal standards of living.

Every individual is duty bound to teach what is right and wrong, because sound morality is based on truth and is the essence of life and just because one is on a suicide mission does not mean that one should drag the whole world with it.  

In the gospel we could have a similar confusing situation which the Child Jesus goes through and revealed to us in that part when his parents ultimately finds him and he confronts them: "How is it that you sought me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" (vs. 49) 

A careful look at that statement clearly shows us from where he learnt that and yet he knew that the very source from where he learnt  such wisdom were also an authority on what his future action should be and when it has to be performed.

Prayer:  Lord, help me to go back through my childhood and learn whatever sound things I have learnt from my parents, teachers, mentor’s and elders, in keep with your word and renounce all that is not of you.

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

Turn over to the Lord

Today’s Gospel Text:  Again he began to teach beside the sea. And a very large crowd gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat in it on the sea; and the whole crowd was beside the sea on the land. 2 And he taught them many things in parables, and in his teaching he said to them: 3 "Listen! A sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. 5 Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it had not much soil, and immediately it sprang up, since it had no depth of soil; 6 and when the sun rose it was scorched, and since it had no root it withered away. 7 Other seed fell among thorns and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. 8 And other seeds fell into good soil and brought forth grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold." 9 And he said, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

10 And when he was alone, those who were about him with the twelve asked him concerning the parables. 11 And he said to them, "To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables; 12 so that they may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand; lest they should turn again, and be forgiven." 13 And he said to them, "Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables? 14 The sower sows the word. 15 And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown; when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word which is sown in them. 16 And these in like manner are the ones sown upon rocky ground, who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy; 17 and they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away. 18 And others are the ones sown among thorns; they are those who hear the word, 19 but the cares of the world, and the delight in riches, and the desire for other things, enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. 20 But those that were sown upon the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold." Mark 4:1-20

Reflection: If only people knew that the secrets that are revealed concerning the parables can continue to remain secrets despite the explanation.

That’s because we confuse between knowing and understanding. What we know now, through the explanation which Jesus gives is not the same as understanding them.

If by now you are already feeling confused, then it is an indication of the mental state in which we are which refuses to understand as it is to be understood; for what the mind prefers is that understanding which is knowing and hence not really understanding as it is to be understood. 

To understand is a painful process involving a dying of ourselves. 

Our power of understanding gets further developed in the light of the wisdom of God, in his presence, when Christ Jesus removes the scales of blindness.

Hence, when we learn theology and even become a master with a doctorate, what we actually gain is merely knowledge unless the scales are removed from our eyes by God’s mercy at work through all who believe in him and his love.

Hence asserting this truth, St. Paul writes thus: “Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their minds; but when a man turns to the Lord the veil is removed.” 2 Cor 3:15-16

Now a man who lacks understanding may say; “that is meant for the Jews and not to us.” 

Certainly true that this word is concerning the Jews but equally valid to us who behave either like them or even worse than them by not turning to the Lord; the only means to come out of our dullness of understanding. 

Prayer: Lord, help me to train my mind to turn to you, even when I study or learn the things of you and thus learn of you.

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

Right Judgment

Today’s Gospel Text:  And in his teaching he said, "Beware of the scribes, who like to go about in long robes, and to have salutations in the market places 39 and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, 40 who devour widows' houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation."

41 And he sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the multitude putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. 42 And a poor widow came, and put in two copper coins, which make a penny. 43 And he called his disciples to him, and said to them, "Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. 44 For they all contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, her whole living." Mark 12:38-44

Reflection: Why would they do it? Why do the Scribes or people in general, especially those in authority behave in such a manner?

They are spiritual and they have God as the center of their outlook and in all that they do? Is it not enough that they are spiritual or do you doubt now their spirituality because Jesus has exposed them.

Yes, indeed by all standards they are spiritual creatures but Jesus has a word of caution concerning these. He invites us not to pass a judgment but to observe and analyze them and then to make our judgments whether to follow them or to be beware of them.

Thus it is not a judgment of condemnation that we are to make, which privilege and authority belongs only to Jesus but rather a judgment of observation and analysis wherein we are careful and discerning in all our ways; a judgment in which we depend on God and seek his wisdom. 

"Beware of the scribes” (vs 38b) 

Let not our observation of such peoples make us envy and appreciate their wicked ways or to be gullibly carried away by them.

Nor should it lead us to imitate them and their prosperity among the people, which includes the many honors they receive from people and their adulations.

The passage is an assurance that God is the observer of all that is not visible to the human eye and is able to bring things to the light, if not now then at least at the judgment.  

Prayer: Lord, purify the motives of my heart that I may be true to you and your word and thus find cleansing in your holy presence.

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

Watch Not

Today’s Gospel Text:  One Sabbath when he went to dine at the house of a ruler who belonged to the Pharisees, they were watching him.

7 Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when he marked how they chose the places of honor, saying to them, 8 "When you are invited by any one to a marriage feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest a more eminent man than you be invited by him; 9 and he who invited you both will come and say to you, 'Give place to this man,' and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place. 10 But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, 'Friend, go up higher'; then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. 11 For every one who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." Luke 14:1, 7-11

Reflection: Why would one watch and more so watch over Jesus?

It could be either to imitate him or to see what faults they could find in order to condemn him.

As for us the safest thing to do before watching over someone or sending people as spies to watch over others is to watch over our hearts and mind first and see if we are right with God.

This also applies to those in authority and those who want to exercise authority over people by watching over them in order to discern their ways or simply spy on them.

By deliberately seeking to watch over people whom we may want to target, we are bound to fail, especially if it involves the work of God.  

    

"For who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?" 1 Cor 2:16

Ideally, if one wants to discern the authenticity of a person so as to discern whether they are God’s servant then the best thing to do is not to watch over that person but to watch in prayer for God’s insight about the person.

The human mind is limited and even petty in the light of the large heartedness of God and bound to make mistakes when it comes to judging a spiritual man.  He cannot be judged by anyone. (cfr. I Cor. 2:15)

On the other hand we could watch over a person in order to imitate him, yet it is never safe to do so without seeking the wisdom of God.  There are many who have been deceived by men in assumed humility but inside have been ravenous wolves. (cfr. Mt. 7:15)

These categories are not always found outside the church or among the laity but could be among the hierarchy too.  Hence the great need to trust in God, which is never an option, and carry on with life.

Prayer:  Lord, deliver me from those who work evil, and save me from bloodthirsty men. Ps 59:2

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

Mystery of Life

Today’s Gospel Text: He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. 23 And some one said to him, "Lord, will those who are saved be few?" And he said to them, 24 "Strive to enter by the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25 When once the householder has risen up and shut the door, you will begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, 'Lord, open to us.' He will answer you, 'I do not know where you come from.' 26 Then you will begin to say, 'We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.' 27 But he will say, 'I tell you, I do not know where you come from; depart from me, all you workers of iniquity!' 28 There you will weep and gnash your teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God and you yourselves thrust out. 29 And men will come from east and west, and from north and south, and sit at table in the kingdom of God. 30 And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last." Luke 13:22-30

Reflection: Did anyone tell you that all will be saved from damnation because he is a God of love? If you believed in them then remember; beginning with that person even your salvation is at stake.

How dare they make the master of all truth a liar or make his chosen servants the evangelist a liar? If you address truth as lie, then what is left for you except to dwell in lies all along life’s journey unto eternal damnation?

Woe to the wise of the world, the learned and the educated who despise the wisdom of the God of all ages. It is his action of love to preserve those that walk righteously in his ways.

Yes only a few will be saved and if you have to condemn such assertion as fundamentalism or by any other name without ascertaining the truth of the matter then it is to your own condemnation.

The choices we make today have eternal ramifications and Jesus' warning about the few being saved is not to be taken lightly. It should make us see the truth behind it and more so the price that he paid in order to bring this truth to us.

The death he endured just so that we may know the eternal truth and the eternal value of our soul could help us in not rejecting what Jesus has to say.

The cross of Christ speaks a powerful message; that eternity is offered to us as a gift by living out the challenges that comes through faith in Jesus.

There will be many to ridicule and mock as they did at the cross, willing to shed innocent blood in order to accomplish their agenda for a just world achieved through pseudo equality, justice and brotherhood and through vile suppression and wrong doing. 

Prayer:  Lord, in your mercy open our minds to understand the depth of the mystery you have revealed in the revelation of Jesus and his cross and resurrection. 

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

Life and Wisdom

Today’s Gospel Text:  When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, "This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign shall be given to it except the sign of Jonah. 30 For as Jonah became a sign to the men of Nin'eveh, so will the Son of man be to this generation. 31 The queen of the South will arise at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them; for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here. 32 The men of Nin'eveh will arise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. Luke 11:29-32

Reflection: It is in our nature to seek wisdom and learn from the wise sayings of people. 

What is so special about wisdom that people seek it or even if they don’t seek it diligently are at least appreciative of it when they come across wise sayings or what they think are words of wisdom? 

In order to understand that we need to know what wisdom is all about?

Is it not saying the right thing at the right time? Or better still, is it not doing the right thing at the right time? In other words, it means performing the right action at the right time; an action that supports life and spreads life.

Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds." Matt 11:19

If this is how we understand the meaning of the word wisdom then it is but natural and in our human nature to seek wisdom. The very nature of the mind that seeks survival and happiness desires wisdom.

  

Ultimately, it has everything to do with life and promoting life. If our actions does not promote life then it is not wise action in the sight of God. 

But who will judge what is it that promotes life and what is that destroys life? What is many a times immediate gain for life is in the long run detrimental for life.

The fact that all our wise actions ultimately lead us to death should be an indication to us that we cannot be  crucibles of wisdom. What is more,  people may end up in greater misery after an immediate gain.

No wonder Jesus reserves such strong words against the people for rejecting him who came as the author and source of life (Jn. 10:10)

His words are spirit and they are life, his actions only brought healing to life and deliverance from the enemy of life and he ultimately died on  the cross breathing forth life for all who would believe in him. 

Prayer: Jesus source of all wisdom, as I come before you with my sinful and miserable self, moving towards the decay of death, breathe your life in me.

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