Jesus understands

A Very Happy Easter to you and your  family!          

Scripture/Bible: Now on the first day of the week Mary Mag'dalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. 2 So she ran, and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him." 3 Peter then came out with the other disciple, and they went toward the tomb. 4 They both ran, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first; 5 and stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; he saw the linen cloths lying, 7 and the napkin, which had been on his head, not lying with the linen cloths but rolled up in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9 for as yet they did not know the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. John 20:1-9

Reflection:  Facts of the situation; Mary Magdalene observed that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.

If this is what is observed then where and how did she cook up this story; "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.", and to add further credence to her story she has this to say; “and WE do not know where they have laid him."  Where does that WE come from when it was she who saw it? It doesn’t matter; there is scope for change to those who have experienced his mercy.  

But what about Peter, at least he should not have reacted the way he did; after all he was one of the apostles of Jesus.  His reaction of running to the tomb, along with the beloved disciple showed how worked up they were and their lack of faith in God.  He had still not learnt from his earlier action of cutting Malchus’ ears (Jn. 18:10), that Jesus does not require his type of service, even though it was spiced with a special zeal.

But look at these from another eye or view point; Both Mary Magdalene and Peter’s action reveal a great love and zeal for the master.  Their love is seen even in death even though it is still a human way of loving the master.  What would they have done if the body of Jesus was really taken away and kept elsewhere? How long would they have struggled to find and restore it?

This is how they thought; human efforts and human solutions to solve divine problems!

God knows that our human reason and judgments will always fail in knowing him, his ways and plans. Hence in Jesus he has given us a hope; no matter what our limitations and weaknesses, whether intellectual or spiritual, we can begin with knowing and loving the person of Jesus and then if need be grow in Knowledge and discernment in knowing his ways.  In believing in Jesus and his love is our salvation.

Prayer:  Thank you Lord for making it easy for people like us who know our limitations and weaknesses and are so easily condemned by the ones who consider themselves perfect.

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

Resurrection Offer

Scripture/Bible:  And when the sabbath was past, Mary Mag'dalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salo'me, bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. 2 And very early on the first day of the week they went to the tomb when the sun had risen. 3 And they were saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the door of the tomb?" 4 And looking up, they saw that the stone was rolled back; - it was very large. 5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe; and they were amazed. 6 And he said to them, "Do not be amazed; you seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen, he is not here; see the place where they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him, as he told you." Mark 16:1-7

Reflection:  Who said that the early to bed and early to rise are wise? Look at these women who got up early in the morning to go and anoint Jesus.  Their preparation seemed complete for after all they only had to get spices to anoint Jesus.  

Before setting out they should have bothered to resolve the problem of the big stone, at the mouth of the tomb, which was an obstacle to anoint the body of Jesus.  How foolish they were!

Often in life we too go about life preparing for everything and yet the most important matters of life may have escaped our gaze while arriving at our destination.

If our preparation has been earnest and we have made every effort with love in our hearts for him whom we are called to serve, then even the biggest obstacles in no problem. Our God in the resurrection of his Son Jesus has moved the stone away for us.

Hence every encounter sought with Jesus does not condemn us of the lack of  necessary preparation we need to make but instead it brings us to a realization that whatever our necessary preparation, effort and love, is just a miniscule contribution in comparison to God’s contribution; that God has poured out his bounty out of love for us and in order to save us.


If he could move that heaviest of stone, will he not move away the darkness of our life and make his resurrection light shine in our difficult situation with hope. 

By not recognizing it and seeking to force enter the tomb by our efforts through methods and techniques we are rejecting God's offer of salvation, which is also is free gift and what is more we are entering the tomb of death rather than the tomb of resurrection. 

This is a reality which we can experience by daily encountering the living God who lives with us and is with us through his resurrected spirit. 

Prayer: “My heart exults in the Lord; my strength is exalted in the Lord.” (1 Sam 2:1) Thank you Lord God my Savior.  

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

Surrender

Scripture/Bible:  When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples across the Kidron valley, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. 2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place; for Jesus often met there with his disciples. 3 So Judas, procuring a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons. 4 Then Jesus, knowing all that was to befall him, came forward and said to them, "Whom do you seek?" 5 They answered him, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus said to them, "I am he." Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. 6 When he said to them, "I am he," they drew back and fell to the ground. 7 Again he asked them, "Whom do you seek?" And they said, "Jesus of Nazareth." 8 Jesus answered, "I told you that I am he; so, if you seek me, let these men go." 9 This was to fulfil the word which he had spoken, "Of those whom thou gavest me I lost not one." 10 Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's slave and cut off his right ear. The slave's name was Malchus. 11 Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup which the Father has given me?" John 18:1-11

Reflection:  I have often seen fear gripping a mob or a locality on account of a murder or an untoward death.  However brave one may be it is still contagious and the brave in their cowardice state may even make plans on how to protect themselves.  In fact most of bravery is handling the many fears that can grip an individual.

Today for Jesus is a tragic moment when the drama has reached a stage further than the initial betrayal.  Judas has come with the soldiers to arrest Jesus and that too by night.  Jesus could have escaped this terrible moment, just like Jonah the prophet, since he had the foreknowledge of his imminent arrest and trial and the ill-treatment followed by the most tragic and violent death ever.

Yet he faced it with all courage. It required courage as he totally surrendered to the will of his Father. What does that mean?

It means, though he had all the power to prevent his suffering, humiliation and rejection at the hands of evil men yet he did not assert his will but was willing to go by his Fathers will to be the sacrificial lamb for the salvation of the world.

This is seen in the drama of the arrest when the soldiers come to arrest Jesus and Judas is there with them yet they are not able to recognize Jesus. Was Jesus still resisting his arrest? In all probability it seems he was doing that.  It is like the struggle between willingness and resistance surfacing to the fore. This I see further affirmed by the throwing back to the ground of the soldiers when Jesus is offering himself to them. 

Then when he has totally surrendered to the Father, after the assault of Peter, that they are able to recognize and arrest him.  This total and ultimate surrender is well expressed in those words; "Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup which the Father has given me?"

We often pray his prayer addressed to the Father but how often do we really mean what he has taught us: Thy will be done on earth as in heaven.  May this Good Friday really be a good Friday for us all our lives by seeking to surrender to the will of the Father.

Prayer:  Thy will be done, as it was with Jesus you beloved Son so may it be with me.

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

The partial Love

Scripture/Bible: Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 And during supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, 4 rose from supper, laid aside his garments, and girded himself with a towel. 5 Then he poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which he was girded. John 13:1-5

Reflection:  Life is lived in relationships and by holding on to some relationships we compromise on many other relationships.  You cannot relate in the same way with everyone as you would relate with your family. Some friends will have that special place in your life in comparison to the other. 

You may have 5000 friends and yet you are not relating with them all at the same level. Some may be good and some bad, some may be close and with some a hi and bye relationship, with some you may party and drink and some you may never want them for your celebrations but some even if you want them for your parties and gathering yet they may be elusive to your tastes.

“Only God loves everyone equally and in complete measure”, many will agree with me on this and say it is true 100%.   But I do not fully agree with what I have stated above and if it is in the context of what I have shared about friendship then I do not agree at all with what I have stated.

  

It is true that God loves every one irrespective of their caste, creed, race and colour but yet in today’s gospel we see this interesting statement about Jesus:  “…having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.”

Now you may cry foul and say this is discrimination on God’s part and that he is partial only to the Christians and cares only for the few, it is his word that says it all.

Objectively speaking; yes Jesus loves everyone, irrespective, and this is his love in action; he came into this world to be the eternal sacrifice of redemption for the salvation of all mankind.  But the subjective statement in the Johanine Gospel is equally true; you cannot love a person, whom you are yet loving and continue to love, who does not respond to your transforming love and don’t want to be anywhere near you.  

All that Jesus can do is to hover over the larger humanity with his love, hoping that someday his children who are astray may realize their folly and turn to him and experience his transforming love and power.

 But to those who believe you can rest assured that he loves you as his own and is zealous over you and he will love you to the end and you can receive from this love always and at all times.   

Prayer:  Lord, I thank you for your constant love for me, may I never doubt this love of yours no matter what the odds.

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

Idolaters

Scripture/Bible:  Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15 and said, "What will you give me if I deliver him to you?" And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. 16 And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him.  Matt 26:14-16

Reflection:   "What will you give me if I deliver him to you?” this communicates the character Judas, in the great drama that unfolds before us. 

This sort of avariciousness could manifest in many forms.

What will I get out of this? How will I benefit from this? Will I become that which I aspire to be? What will I gain in return for my investment? How is my interest going to be served?

The above questions are not so harmful in themselves if practiced in an ethical way but they become vicious and terribly evil when such things are achieved at the cost of someone else’s life or at the cost of truth. “If I deliver him to you”; is a betrayal of the other and for self gain.

This betrayal may not always be through 30 pieces of silver but could be through slander, gossip, backbiting and maligning. It may not necessarily be for wealth but could be for power and positions, fame and fan following, health and not just wealth. 

There are many who prefer to betray their Lord and master, who shed his blood for them, in order to seek health, wealth and favor, some do it through occult new age practices or through compromise of the faith of Christ. These will compromise the doctrine of Christ for cheap gain and popularity, for security and recognition. Some think that to please people is a form of godliness but ultimately it is a form of greed to want to be called nice and good.

No wonder scripture affirms such greed as a form of idolatry. (Col. 3:5)

The modern day Judases are many but with the Lord there is mercy. It is necessary that one repents and turn to him opting for the narrow road which he invites his followers to walk on, order to receive his mercy; “He who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for my sake will find it.” Matt 10:38-39

Prayer: Lord, may I humbly seek you and your ways and not in the ways of idolaters.

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

Be troubled in spirit

Scripture/Bible: When Jesus had thus spoken, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, "Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me." 22 The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he spoke. 23 One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was lying close to the breast of Jesus; 24 so Simon Peter beckoned to him and said, "Tell us who it is of whom he speaks." 25 So lying thus, close to the breast of Jesus, he said to him, "Lord, who is it?" 26 Jesus answered, "It is he to whom I shall give this morsel when I have dipped it." So when he had dipped the morsel, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. 27 Then after the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, "What you are going to do, do quickly." 28 Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. 29 Some thought that, because Judas had the money box, Jesus was telling him, "Buy what we need for the feast"; or, that he should give something to the poor. 30 So, after receiving the morsel, he immediately went out; and it was night. John 13:21-30

Reflection:  We are often irked about people and their behavior pattern, especially at the way they deal with us. It could make us feel hurt and disturbed, either mentally and sometime we are left with agonizing mental trauma and bruises. 

Many a times our egos are bruised and we may feel rejected or we may feel the other has not been respectful towards us. 

Similarly our attitude or instinct for survival will not allow ourselves to accept a defeatist attitude in the face of such onslaughts. We will do something and rarely not act unless we have accepted a defeatist attitude to the greater onslaught.

There are four different ways in which we actively face a situation like this and we could belong to one of these four categories in our response to such an external stimuli:

1) In the first instance we may deal with such a situation with punitive or vengeful action, hoping to teach the other a lesson.  This action is in proportion to the hurt that we feel has been cause to us. It may not always be based on justice though the one executing it may feel that they are being just in their ways and in most case even feel that with all sincerity.

2) On the other hand we have a situation where  no matter what the insults hurled or the abuses, whether physical as well as verbal, except for the momentary hurt, one still loves the other and is willing to overlook the others faults and failings. This could happen in families and is very common factor in fraternal and husband-wife relationship.

3) The third category is that perfect love which Jesus manifested and is uncommon among human being and even if it exists then it is at very base level.  This is something which only Jesus who can teach us and empower us to do when he says; Love one another as I have loved you. (Jn. 15:12)

When the text of the gospel tells us that Jesus was troubled in spirit, it is reminding us that it was not the ego that was hurt on account of the betrayal and the disrespect of Judas but his spirit that was troubled. 

This is pure love and we can only learn this at the feet of Jesus; "as I have loved you".

4) Today there was Psychologists who in way also promote a concept in which they say that nothing should affect you.  Such philosophy also in a way has its roots in many eastern traditions and their spirituality of meditation braces the mind for subliminal action. This is the extreme category based on self deception.

Such worldly wisdom even if taught in a Christian setting by Christians, can never be Christian. It is the betrayal Christ by the modern day Judases astray with their swollen head practicing a spirituality of openness.

The troubled spirit of Jesus is a language of absolute love in which the others action does not affect him at the level of his ego but rather disturbs him at the level of his spirit. This troubled spirit is a healthy concern for the other who doesn’t know what he is doing; this is Christian love. 

Prayer:  Lord, may we not be fooled by the modern day rabbi’s into believing a worldly wisdom that can only lead to eternal doom.

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

Fragrant Offering

Scripture/Bible: Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Laz'arus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 There they made him a supper; Martha served, and Laz'arus was one of those at table with him. 3 Mary took a pound of costly ointment of pure nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment. 4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was to betray him), said, 5 "Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?" 6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor but because he was a thief, and as he had the money box he used to take what was put into it. 7 Jesus said, "Let her alone, let her keep it for the day of my burial. 8 The poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me." John 12:1-8

Reflection:  He came to his favorite place to be with his beloved friend Lazarus.  There they made him a supper and as usual Martha did the serving and Mary who always did the right thing with great perfection took a jar of costly ointment and anointed the most wonderful feet  to have ever walked the earth and wiped it with her hair; the perfect towel not used on anyone. 

What devotion, not of prayer but a fragrant offering for the feet of Jesus!

This was a like a liturgical action and could be an ideal one in any Christian family. It could be even applied to the Eucharistic celebration too.

While the priest like Lazarus is at table, the others serve like Martha, which could be the various liturgical ministries and actions which each one participates in. 

On the other hand we have Mary, whose devotion is a special one, the fruit of her labor which has resulted in a fragrant offering, now offered with great devotion of heart and mind. 

Such an expensive offering on the part of Mary can only be possible if one has a great devotion to the Lord.  Then one is willing to make great sacrifices in order to please the Lord.

If it was an ordinary ointment, a cheap one then no Judas on earth would have envied the money spent on it. Therefore since the ointment was a costly one, Judas knew there was much gain in it and so he was suggesting a way to pocket it.  Could it be worth at least thirty pieces of silver or more? 

Some are never satisfied with the little that they have and for the sake of their gain can even betray their faith.  These may not be in terms of silver or money but by way of career and advancements or envy with wealth or relationships or power and positions that they are willing to compromise on the precious gift of faith, which is supposed to grow in us like that fragrance which Mary offered.

By using her hair, Mary was communicating that it is Jesus who gets the first place in her life and that this hair, the crowning glory submits to seek God’s glory in everything.  (cfr.Mt. 6:33)

Prayer:  Lord, may I walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to you. (cfr.Eph 5:2)

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