Which Master

Today’s Gospel Text:  "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. 25 "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O men of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For the Gentiles seek all these things; and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well. 34 "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Let the day's own trouble be sufficient for the day. Matt 6:24-34

Reflection: In the daily struggle of life we know of people who serve not only two but even more masters.

Today itself I came across a person who goes from house to house to perform the daily household chores in order to survive.

How long can this person go on? All of us who labor to feed themselves and survive, one day we may have to hang our boots and seek to lead a life of retirement or relaxation.

But in that ultimate struggle of life which includes all our activities, with the ultimate goal in mind, we cannot serve two masters.

Yet, many of our struggles in life is serving either the two masters or the many masters or even if it is only the one master we serve then it is not the master who can lead us to eternity but the master that can lead us hell; whether it means serving our selves or serving the devil, it means the same.  

In other words, whatever the number of masters we may serve in the ultimate count we are making a choice for either one of the two.

These words of Jesus are a caution for each one of us. He would not have given us these words if it was not a reality among men to serve two masters.

Hence life is a constant choice and every choice we make effects our choice for either one of the masters.

There are no fence sitters in this choice, no neutral parties, and no non-aligned individuals: you either leaning on Jesus’ side or you are leaning on the side of the devil.

What if you do not know the master; Jesus Christ?

It still means the same: “He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.” Matt 12:30

Even in the Old Testament it was the same and no in-betweens:    

"Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse: the blessing, if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you this day, and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside from the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods which you have not known. Deut 11:26-28

Prayer:  Lord it is at times difficult to make a choice but not impossible because of what you have achieved for us on the cross; your perfect love for us makes all things possible.

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

Heaven and Earth

Today’s Gospel Text: "Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfil them. 18 For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. 19 Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but he who does them and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Matt 5:17-19

Reflection: Will the world come to an end? There has been many predictions concerning the end of the world.

We see how people can be much concerned when one talks about the end of the world when it is a reality which is true with everyone:

Each one will face the end to this world and will not see the light of day.

Jesus, the God, who is the knower of all things and in everything, in today’s gospel doesn’t hide the fact of the end of the world.

He reveals this truth to us in the context of the Law and the Prophets and how he had come to fulfill them.

In that he is communicating to us that God’s word is eternal and it will stand and that instead heaven and earth will not last.

Yet we build and work and make our plans as if this world will stand for all eternity.

What then will be the fate of us humans who always desire eternity in our hearts?

God has offered us a solution in and through his eternal word; Jesus Christ.

He is the savior who died in order that we may be redeemed from the everlasting damnation that befits the earth.

His word assures us that he has prepared us a better place for us:

“But, as it is written, "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him," God has revealed to us through the Spirit.” 1 Cor 2:9-10

Prayer:  May we by the cross and resurrection of your Son merit the eternal life which you have prepared for all those who love to do your will.

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

Please God

Today’s Gospel Text: And they sent to him some of the Pharisees and some of the Hero'di-ans, to entrap him in his talk. 14 And they came and said to him, "Teacher, we know that you are true, and care for no man; for you do not regard the position of men, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? 15 Should we pay them, or should we not?" But knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, "Why put me to the test? Bring me a coin, and let me look at it." 16 And they brought one. And he said to them, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?" They said to him, "Caesar's." 17 Jesus said to them, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." And they were amazed at him. Mark 12:13-17

Reflection: The wickedness of men is not in asking a question or clarification but the plans that they make to entrap their enemy.

Many a times, who is their enemy? Not the ones who have harmed them or done anything evil to them but the ones who love them and are concerned about their welfare, not only for this life but for all eternity.

Thus we have in the history the death of the many martyrs for Christ Jesus, whose only aim in life was to reach out to the people with the Gospel of love and life: a gospel that would transform them and lead them to the eternal doors of life.

Why then did the once in authority have to send some of the Pharisees and the Herodians to entrap Jesus?

Their question seemed so simple and straight and yet much loaded but hidden behind was the motive of entrapment.

Their flattery, or as interpersonal skill experts would recommend, contained an abundant dose of positive stroke so that the lethal weapon of entrapment may be swallowed without any suspicion.

What is evident from their flattery is that they had a clear idea of the truth of Jesus; an apt description of Jesus:

“We know that you are true, and care for no man; for you do not regard the position of men, but truly teach the way of God.” (vs. 14) 

From this description we come to know the prime criteria to be a great servant of God; Not pleasers of men or their positions, not being false and uttering falsity all the time and truly teaching the way of God.

St. Paul, one of the greatest followers of Jesus has the same to say about himself and thus we know the reason for his greatness:    

“Am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still pleasing men, I should not be a servant of Christ.” Gal 1:10

And likewise are his prayers for the neo-Christians: “to lead a life worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. Col 1:10

Prayer:  May my life and meditation be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the Lord. (cfr.Ps 104:34)

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

Know God

Today’s Gospel Text:  Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also; henceforth you know him and have seen him." 8 Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and we shall be satisfied." 9 Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you do not know me, Philip? He who has seen me has seen the Father; how can you say, 'Show us the Father'? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father in me; or else believe me for the sake of the works themselves. 12 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I go to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son; 14 if you ask anything in my name, I will do it. John 14:6-14

  

Reflection: Man’s search for God can throw up volumes of researched materials and that's what religion is all about. 

What is it that makes us search for the divinity or even the the divine presence in creation? Is it the human insecurities or is it because there is a divine spark in all of us that prompts us to seek him.

Or could it be the human reason which refuses to believe the big-bang on account of its inherent flaws or could be reason seeing cause for the great movements in creation, the natural and moral laws that govern creation and the occasional spurt by way of calamities.

For some the divine could be a charm for material gain, which ultimately is of far more importance to supply their many wants for fragile happiness and or for self-gratification.

Or could it be the desire to live for all eternity the reason for seeking the divine and yet the Scripture reminds us of the contradictory pulls in the heart of man:

    

“He has made everything beautiful in its time; also he has put eternity into man's mind, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.”  Eccl 3:11

Whatever be the reason, the gospel text teaches us that, in Christ Jesus is the beginning and end of all searches for the divine:  “If you had known me, you would have known my Father also.” (vs. 7)

Thus we can also conclude: God fully reveals himself in Christ Jesus and we apart from Jesus, our search for God can only lead us round in circles.

It is Jesus who makes it clear to us that we are under the cloud of deception and that apart from him we can do nothing. It is he who came to destroy the work of the evil one so that we could be under the righteous reign of the God who saves.

Prayer:  "Lord, show us the Father, and we shall be satisfied." (vs. 8)

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

Sign of the Cross

Today’s Gospel Text:  After the two days he departed to Galilee. 44 For Jesus himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country. 45 So when he came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, having seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the feast, for they too had gone to the feast.

46 So he came again to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine. And at Caper'na-um there was an official whose son was ill. 47 When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and begged him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. 48 Jesus therefore said to him, "Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe." 49 The official said to him, "Sir, come down before my child dies." 50 Jesus said to him, "Go; your son will live." The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went his way. 51 As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was living. 52 So he asked them the hour when he began to mend, and they said to him, "Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him." 53 The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, "Your son will live"; and he himself believed, and all his household. 54 This was now the second sign that Jesus did when he had come from Judea to Galilee. John 4:43-54

Reflection: Jesus therefore said to him, "Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe." (vs. 48)

How fortunate were these people who saw the signs and wonder which Jesus performed; for their eyes beheld the great works of God in their midst and they were many who believed and were blessed.

What shall we say about our generation, there are quite a few who are simple and eagerly believe when they see the signs and wonders taking place in their midst

But there are many in our generation who care less for these signs and wonders.

Signs and wonders are first of all the great merciful actions of God. God need not perform signs and wonders but he does that in order that we may believe in him and his love.

Hence the actions of Jesus whether to raise the dead and heal the sick and set people free from the yoke of slavery to sin and demons are actions that reveal the mighty love of God to humanity; so that free from the yoke of sicknesses, fear and guilt they may serve God in the freedom of their heart.

If God performs a sign for us, we now know that he does so in order that we may believe and trust in him, as one who is true, real, all powerful and almighty and that he is the only one who can save us.

Hence the greatest sign of all times, which required of him to prove himself to us and his love for us is the  sign of the death on the cross.

    

"This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign shall be given to it except the sign of Jonah.  For as Jonah became a sign to the men of Nin'eveh, so will the Son of man be to this generation. Luke 11:29-30

  

For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.  For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 1 Cor 1:22-25

Prayer: Lord, may the sign of your cross transform me each day more and more into your image and likeness.

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