Path of Perfection

Today’s Gospel Text: "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you salute only your brethren, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matt 5:43-48

Reflection: Again and again we come across people who ask: If there is a God then why does he allow evil; murder, killing, mass destruction, terrorism, rape, incest, robbing the poor, corruption, etc.,

On the other hand you have hunger, disease, sickness, and untoward deaths; the pain of separation, someone losing their near and dear ones.

The hardness of human hearts towards their neighbor further adds to the complicated scenario.

Further, to add to the complications, there are the self-styled god-bashers who never lose an opportunity to bash-up God or even if they would want to acknowledge one then they prefer to create their own gods; a religion of humanism which ultimately is destructive of humanity.

Some even think that they can do better than God and historically speaking there is nothing new in these human assertions, based on pride.   

Jesus the revelation of God, who came to reveal to us the truth about God, gives us an understanding about God both in himself and his action and also in this passage of scripture above.

If God were what Jesus reveals then evil is bound to flourish and may even increase to a level which God can endure because his love tolerates and respects the freewill given to man. 

His endurance is seen at Calvary, when he endured the blasphemies of men, the physical and verbal tortures the wicked men subjected him to.

Yet, he put into practice what he also taught his beloved and dedicated disciples;

“But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”  (vss. 44-45)

And he did put into practice what he taught, even at that moment when the greatest ever evil perpetuated by men, when they crucified the most innocent man in the history of humanity:

   

"Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." Luke 23:34

Prayer: Help me Lord to walk the path of perfection which you have taught through your own example.

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

Home with Us

Today’s Gospel Text:  Jesus answered him, "If a man loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 He who does not love me does not keep my words; and the word which you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me.25 "These things I have spoken to you, while I am still with you. 26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. 28 You heard me say to you, 'I go away, and I will come to you.' If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I go to the Father; for the Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place, you may believe.  John 14:23-29

Reflection: Who doesn’t require a house and, more so, if they were to be offered one free of cost on a platter or by answering a simple questionnaire or with a minimal contribution.

Every individual requires a house to stay in but not all of them would want an intruder in the house to intrude into their space.  Many a times, even a spouse or a friend cannot take that little privacy away from us and hence we may not really share everything within the home of our mind.

We will not mind a V.I.P. for a few minutes to give oneself the pleasure of importance and largely, many may not mind having them in their home even longer.

They will accommodate them with all the fanfare possible, going through all the inconvenience just to make them feel special so that the memories of them may remain in the hearts and minds of the V.I.P., with the hope of a future benefit.

What if demanding circumstances or a difficult or trying situation crops up, then if there was someone who would assuredly have a solution; will we not welcome such a person?

There are times we are strong enough with our ego to carry on with the struggles of life alone with our ideas and mindset.  Even though we may require help more than others yet we will not seek that necessary help because our pride will prevent us from doing so.

But to all who would be humble to turn to him, Jesus offers us himself as the expert consultant of life and much more, by being our joy and consolation, the assurance of a presence that comforts, heals and sets us free:

Jesus answered him, "If a man loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.” (vs. 23)

Prayer: O save thy people, and bless thy heritage; be thou their shepherd, and carry them forever. Ps 28:9

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

Faith is Supreme

Today’s Gospel Text:  And they came to Jericho; and as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great multitude, Bartimae'us, a blind beggar, the son of Timae'us, was sitting by the roadside. 47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" 48 And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent; but he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" 49 And Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." And they called the blind man, saying to him, "Take heart; rise, he is calling you." 50 And throwing off his mantle he sprang up and came to Jesus. 51 And Jesus said to him, "What do you want me to do for you?" And the blind man said to him, "Master, let me receive my sight." 52 And Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your faith has made you well." And immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way. Mark 10:46-52

Reflection: Faith versus reason! Which is greater: faith or reason?

This a difficult argument for the many and to comprehend the wisdom of God in seeking to save us not on the basis of reason or absolute knowledge but on pure faith.

Yet those who value faith never discard reason and are fully able to explain the relevance and at the same time limitations of reason. It requires sound reasoning's to do so. 

They who value faith over reason can argue and as St. Paul puts it are “able to lead every thought into subjection to Christ.” (2 Cor. 10:5). Thus reason makes a new beginning through subjection to Christ, which is faith.  

The relationship between reason and faith is like the relationship between life and breath; though it seems that one can’t do without the other.  Though breath is on account of life, yet without the breath there is no life.

Which is greater? If the criteria for evaluating is preexistence then life is greater than breath, otherwise we could conclude that it is breath that is essential for life to exist.

But when breath ceases life still continues in a lifeless body for sometime and those who have faith know for sure that this life continues with God’s help for all eternity.

Similarly, faith always exists and will exist irrespective of reason. If one would not have faith in God then faith in all its pride is placed in oneself, which many a times is a faith in the reasoning's of mortals.

If not then we begin to put our faith in mere abstractions, ideas and values without allowing our reasons to that comprehensive knowledge.

Prayer: Lord, I believe in you, I believe in every word you have spoken to us, I believe that I still need to believe in you as one who is with me guiding my footsteps. 

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

Glory

Scripture/Bible:  And they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them; and they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. And taking the twelve again, he began to tell them what was to happen to him, 33 saying, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man will be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death, and deliver him to the Gentiles; 34 and they will mock him, and spit upon him, and scourge him, and kill him; and after three days he will rise." Mark 10:32-34

Reflection:  The normal human tendency is to ignore the stark reality when one experiences a moment of glory. In such situations one is rarely willing to face that which is imminent.

We see a similar situation with the disciples of Jesus.  The situation of these disciples was that of denying what Jesus was communicating to them.

Looking at the situation in today’s gospel; we find that there was amazement and fear in the air about the people who were around Jesus. This was on account of the move towards Jerusalem. 

Jesus must have been to Jerusalem on many occasions but this moment was different, there was something about this Jesus. There seem to be a bent of mind, a resolve, a sense of mission and, specifically, a sense of awe about him and the people seem to have observed it. There could have been the special presence of the glory of God, like the one that went with the Israelites when they were walking towards the Promised Land.

Jesus, had to take the 12 aside and specifically instruct and admonish them that there was a greater glory in that which he was telling them; viz., “..the Son of man will be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death, and deliver him to the Gentiles;  and they will mock him, and spit upon him, and scourge him, and kill him; and after three days he will rise." (vs. 33-34)

We see as humans the reality and interpret them according to our ego and pride. We may see greater glory in power and positions, in seeking promotions and better emoluments, in degrees and qualifications and in having fans and followers rather than the drab cross of isolation, rejections, persecutions and trials, the cruel impositions of men on account of one’s faith and belief in Christ.

Remember, it is not merely enduring these trials and troubles that gives glory to God but the faith with which we carry on in such circumstances; the faith of Christ.

Prayer: Lord, I believe that you will supply every need of ours according to your riches in glory in Christ Jesus. (cfr. Phil 4:19)

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