Thursday, September 30, 2010

Greatest in the Kingdom (Mt 18:1-4)

Today is the feast of St. Therese of Child Jesus, a saint who followed the spirituality of childness. It is, in short, be a child who is totally dependent on the power of the Father. The child is pretty sure that the loving father would provide him/her whatever he needs.

The word CHILD can be developed in to five words; such as

C-Care/careful

- We care child and we tell the child to take care or be careful. Let us care each other and be careful of the dangers that can destroy our spiritual growth.

H-Humility

- Child knows that with the parents it is nothing. So it accepts its limitations. Let us accept our limitations and human weakness so that we may be strong in Christ.

I-Innocence

- The child cannot act by keeping something else in mind. It is usually very easy to analyze whether the child is telling lie or not by looking at the face. Let us be innocent before God and human.

L-Love

- The child may quarrel with its siblings, but at the end of the day he/she forgets everything and once again loves them. Let us love others by forgiving and forgetting others mistakes.

D-Dependent

- Child depends on the parents for everything. This dependency reveals the power of the parents and the limitation of the child. Let us depend totally on our Heavenly Father, the all Powerful God.

Jesus tells us that the Kingdom of God is for those who are like a child. Let us imbibe the values in a child and acquire the Kingdom.

(Courtesy to Fr. James Thayil CMI)

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Samaritan Inhospitality (Lk 9:51-56)

In today’s gospel we see the difference between the mind of ordinary Jew and of Jesus. The disciples (ordinary Jewish mind) suggest Jesus to curse the villages of Samaritans for not welcoming them in their journey to Jerusalem. But Jesus did not curse that village instead rebuked the disciples.

There were enough reasons for Jesus to curse those villages. At first, Samaritans were considered as the second class Jews and enemies. They were second class because they were adulterated during the exile and became impure by mixing themselves with the Gentiles. The second reason was; Jesus was in a disturbed state of mind since he was going for his passion and death in Jerusalem. A person who is disturbed in mind might get agitated very fast.

The disciples got angry because of these two reasons; their enmity with Samaritans and the disturbed state of mind in the journey to Jerusalem (for their master to suffer and die). In spite of these reasons Jesus showed them the model of forgiveness and love.

We may have enemies in our life. We also may have sufficient reason to keep them enemies. But the important question is; do we follow the disciples who tried to curse their enemies or Jesus who forgives the villagers?

Monday, September 27, 2010

Greatest in the Kingdom (Lk 9:46-50)

The discussion about who is greatest follows the second passion prediction of Jesus. The human being has the desire to be greatest among their fellow brethren. Is there anything wrong in that desire?

The word “greatest” is in superlative degree and presupposes the positions such as greater, great, less great, least etc. In other worlds greatest is always in comparison with something else. Comparison always makes a person wrestles and envy. Therefore nobody will enjoy the peace of mind if there is a thought about “am I the greatest among all my fellow beings?”. Christ teaches us to be equal under One Master that is He Himself.

The title superior (greatest) presupposes an inferior or more. For the sake of administration there may be a need for these titles. But Jesus teaches us how to use that position by showing the model of a servant leader, by washing the feet of the disciples. In today’s gospel he teaches us to receive a child which means to receive a person who is weak and vulnerable, to support and nourish. Let the model the Servant Leader motivate us in our daily lives.

Saturday, September 25, 2010

26th Sunday of Ordinary Time – The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus

Sin of Omission

Introduction

- Once a parish priest shared his experience during the preparation of the first holy communicants in his parish. While preparing them for the confession he gave them a creative guidance that was to mention 5 good things that they did without any obligation, after saying the sins in their confession. The students began to prepare for the confession. It was easy for them to find out the sins but they took a long time to find out the good things that they have done without any obligation.

- In our confession we are more concerned about the sins of commission. It is easy to find out – by comparing our deeds with the 10 commandments and the precepts of the Church. It is also necessary to find out our sins of omission.

- In this parable we see the sin of omission that caused the rich man for his torment in fire in the neither world.

Content

- Sin of omission is very much connected with insensitivity. We are sensitive towards the sins of commission but not so much to the sins of omission.

- An incident in the life of Mother Teresa – Mother Teresa heard that one of their neighbor’s families was suffering from poverty and starvation. So she collected some rice and went to that house to give it to them. She visited the house and gave the rice. When the house wife received the rice she divided it into two, took once part and went out of the house. After some time she returned. Mother Teresa asked “Where did you go?” The house wife who was a Hindu answered that there was a Muslim family near to that house. They were also starving for days. So she thought of sharing half of the rice with that family.

- The rich man in the gospel is not too bad when compared to many of us, because;

o He allowed Lazarus to be at his door side though he had soars and dogs around him (that nobody would allow in these days such a person to be at our gate for a long time)

o He allowed Lazarus to eat the scraps of his table.

o He begged Abraham to send Lazarus to his brother’s house in order to save them. He had a true concern and love towards his brothers even though he was suffering.

- Though he was good he received a place in the eternal fire. It is because of his sin of omission.

- God gave him opportunity to acquire the wealth in heaven through the person of Lazarus but he denied it.

Conclusion

- What is our tendency when see poor and less privileged?

1. They are poor because of their mistakes and wrong doings. So let them suffer. For example some people become baggers because of their bad habits such as gambling, drinking etc.

2. They are poor because of the corruption in the government. Though the government allows the funds the middle man eats everything and the poor is left abandoned. In this case we blame government and corruption.

3. Some of the poor come to us to cheat us and to get the money. For example persons asking for help “to get a bus ticket to the province”, but the real need may be different. Here the fact that they are poor and in need of help. We brand them as cheating people.

- In all these thee cases we blame others for poverty and wash our hands.

- Let us realize that these are God given chances for us to acquire wealth in the everlasting life.

Let us reduce our sins of omission by utilizing the chances that are given to us through the poor and less privileged.

Friday, September 24, 2010

The Second Prediction of Passion (Lk 9:43-45)

Jesus shares with the disciples his plan of going through the suffering and death, to enter into the resurrection. But the disciples could not grasp it. That is the reason why soon after this discourse the disciples were on a discussion about who is greatest among them. They did not understand Jesus. Why?

The disciples must be thinking about the ordinary suffering the people undergo in their life. The usual suffering is mostly the result of our past actions. For example a chain smoker may have a lung cancer and suffer in his/her old age. Is there any value in that suffering? I would say, not much. The sufferings of those who are Jail are justified because of their wrong deeds. It does not have a value. So the disciples thought since Jesus did not do anything wrong he should not suffer. But Jesus was not meaning this kind of suffering and that is why the disciples could not understand it.

Jesus means here the suffering with an intention, to save the humanity from the sinfulness and to show the love of God. The suffering of Jesus was not the result of his wrong actions since he is sinless. The saints who lived for others are the examples for the suffering with intentions. For example Mother Teresa, Macmillan Kolbe, Fr. Damian etc… suffered for others and participated in the suffering of Jesus Christ. We are called to participate in the suffering of Jesus which is for the redemption of others. It is a call to live for others. May Christ who entered into the glory of resurrection through the sufferings guide us in our life.

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Peter’s Confession – Messiah of God (Lk 9:18-22)

Peter declared that Jesus is the Messiah of God in answering the question of Jesus. Messiah (in Greek Christos) has the meaning the anointed. In the Old Testament the anointing was done for Kings, Priests and Prophets. The anointing shows that they have a special role in the society. Jesus is the Messiah, the Ultimate King, Ultimate Priest and Ultimate Prophet.

By the sacrament of baptism all the Christians partake in the messianic mission of Jesus Christ by becoming king, prophet and priest. It is a sharing in the three functions of Jesus. We are kings, prophets and priests in Jesus Christ. What does it mean? Is it to rule the world or to condemn others or do offering for others?

I would rather think of our role as priest, prophet and king in a different way, a role to be accomplished towards myself. I should be a king to myself – knowing how to control me. I should be a prophet to myself – giving warning to myself when I go wrong and correct myself to the ways of God. I should be a priest to myself – to sanctify myself through my prayers and sacrifices. Let us be king, priest and prophet to ourselves before entering to the universal dimension of the call of Jesus to be the messiahs of the world.

Sunday, September 19, 2010

25th Sunday of Ordinary Time - The Parable of Dishonest Servant (Lk 16:1-13)

Introduction

- Story of 3 men coming to a house – wealth, peace and love – you can choose one – with love all the others entered in house.

- Where there is love there is every thing

Content

- Today’s gospel is matter of selection – between God and Mammon (wealth)

- Can we compare it with a basketball match where one team is God another is wealth. No because they are not equal. God is the creator of all the wealth. Wealth is just a creation of God.

- The pitiful thing is people forget this factor if God is with us we have everything.

- Story of Mahabaratha where lord Krishna asked Kavravas, what do you need, me or my whole army to support you in the battle. The Kavravas selected the whole army of lord Krishna, but the Pandavas selected only the lord Krishna.

- Does God is against making or multiplying wealth? No, in the parable of talents he blames the servant who did not multiply his talent. God is for the multiplication of wealth.

- God is concerned with our positioning of wealth. If we sacrifice God and Kingdom Values for the wealth then we become fools by forgetting the fact that God is the creator of wealth.

- In the gospel the master praises the steward for misusing the master’s wealth. He misused it to make wealth that is lasting.

- The purpose of all our wealth is;

o To make lasting wealth in heaven and

o To enjoy on earth the fruits of god’s kingdom such love and peace.

- If we have wealth but no peace of mind or love what is the use of that?

Conclusion

- Let us be wise stewards of the material things that are entrusted to us.

- Let us reflect whether the purpose of wealth is met in our lives.

- Let us prioritize the things in our life by giving first place to God and the Values of His Kingdom in our lives.

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Those who followed Jesus (Lk 8:1-3)

Those who were moving with Jesus can be broadly classified in to four inclusive groups.

1. The crowd – Whenever Jesus appeared in public the crowds were there to observe him. They admired at the miracles, tried to make him king when he multiplied the bread and shouted “crucify him” at the end of the gospel. They changed their opinion according to the external influence.

2. The disciples – They are the one who had a soft corner towards Jesus and were considering Jesus as their savior. They also include those who received some kind of benefit from Jesus such as healing or exorcism.

3. The apostles – they are chosen people by Jesus to carry his mission to the next generations. Jesus spent times with them giving them special training.

4. The dear and near ones of Jesus – This group include Peter, James and John whom Jesus took with him in special occasions like transfiguration, some other disciples and faithful women like Mary Magdalene, Martha, Mary and so on. The specialty of them was they stayed with Jesus and supported him with material things.

The call of becoming a catholic is to be the dear and near ones of Jesus, by staying with Jesus always and to contribute what we are and what we have for the Kingdom of God. Let us do our duty “the dear and near ones of Jesus” with more faithfulness and sincerely.

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Mary by the side of the Cross (Jn 19:25-27)

Yesterday we celebrated the feast of the Holy Cross. Today the church shows us an example of how to carry the cross, through the person of Mary the mother of Jesus. She stands as a perfect example for all of us who carry our everyday crosses of life.

Mary had crosses all through her life, especially from the conception of Jesus in her womb till the resurrection. The annunciation was itself a call to take up the cross. Mary took the cross for the good of humanity and became a part in the redemptive ministry of Jesus. The secret of Mary’s victory is “She stood by the side of the Cross of Jesus”, as it is mentioned in today’s gospel.

Cross in itself is not a value but a sign of curse. But when Jesus was attached to it, the cross became the way for salvation and a blessing. Mary suffered the crosses according to the will of Heavenly Father, with Jesus. Let us attach our crosses to Jesus and make it redemptive and a blessing.

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

The Exaltation of the Holy Cross (Jn 3:13-17)

The Holy Cross is the sign of Salvation. Earlier Cross was the symbol of shame and curse. But when Jesus was attached to it, it became holy and hope to human kind. The distance from curse to blessing is the “attaching of Jesus” to that.

We take our crosses. Our crosses can be of four types. It can be our own creation such as the cross that comes from our imagination and which may not be realistic. Another type of Cross can be the result of our own action and are real in nature as of the thieves who were crucified with Jesus. They deserved that cross because it was the result of their own actions. The third kind of cross is that which we suffer for the sake of others especially our dear and near ones. For example the parents live for their children and take up their day to day crosses for them. It is also their obligation. The forth type is the cross that we carry for the good of others which is fully voluntary in nature. The saints and great leaders are the examples for that.

Whatever be the nature of our cross if we attach Jesus with the cross it become a blessing. Let our prayer be as of Jesus at Gethsemane “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt”.

Monday, September 13, 2010

The powerlessness of the Centurion (Lk 7:1-10)

Centurion, as the word indicates, was a commander in charge of 100 soldiers. They were ready to do anything commanded by him. He also had slaves to serve him and do his commands. Therefore he was one of the power men of that place.

In spite of his powers he felt powerlessness and helplessness in today’s gospel. He could not do anything to help his suffering servant. In frond of sickness and death we often feel powerless. It’s a tragedy that we feel powerless though we have achieved so many things. I remember a mother consoling her son who was crying in the hospital bed with pain, “Son, we all are with you. I love you very much. But there is nothing more that I can do in your pain. Let pay to God”.

When centurion felt this powerlessness he turned to Jesus and prayed with a humble heart. There were people to intercede for him since he was a man with a good heart. During the tragedies of life let us turn back to God with humble heart. Let it be an eye opener for us to understand our limitedness and the power of God. God who sees our limitations will stretch His loving hand upon us.

Saturday, September 11, 2010

24th Sunday of Ordinary Time - Parable of Lost Sheep, Lost Coin and the Lost Son (Lk 15:1-32)

Introduction

- All the media are busy with finding the defects of others especially politicians, government, various departments and so on. It is evident in these days’s news about the hostage crisis.

- Is there any defect in Jesus Christ? Arch Bishop Francois-Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan from Vietnam after his 13 years of imprisonment under communist government came up with his book Testimony of Hope saying Jesus has 10 defects. I mention here five of them.

Content

- The first defect of Jesus is; He does not have a good memory.

o Eg – He forgives all the sins of the thief who was at His right side on the cross. He forgot all of his past evil actions and offers him a place in heaven. He would have said like this, “ok, I forgive your sins but considering all your mistake go to the purgatory for some years and then enter into heaven”.

o Eg – To the sinful women who was brought to stone to death Jesus says, “your sins are forgiven”, even without asking about her sins or saying her to repent. Jesus forgets all these things

- The second defect of Jesus is; Jesus in not good in mathematics

o Eg – for Jesus 99 is equal to 1. In the parable of lost sheep he makes One more valuable than 99.

o Eg – for Jesus 5 bread is equal to more than 5000, in the multiplication of bread, to feed all the people.

- The third defect of Jesus is; Jesus knows nothing about logic

o Eg – In the parable of Lost Coin, the widow celebrates at night with her neighbors for finding out her lost one coin. She might have spent more than 10 coins for the celebration.

o Eg – in Miraculous Fish Catch, though the disciples told him that they tried the whole night to catch the fish, Jesus told them to try once again.

- The fourth defect of Jesus is; He is adventurer and does not know how to attract the followers.

o The usual way of attracting the followers are – “If you follow me I will give you a greater position in the government or more wealth or other material benefits”. But for Jesus, “if you would follow me I have to carry the cross”.

o Persecution and death are the offers of Jesus. Son of man has nowhere to lay his head (Mt 8:20)

o Those who would like to follow Jesus should deny himself; leave parents and brothers and sisters etc...

- The fifth defect of Jesus is; He knows nothing about finance and economy

o Eg – Distribution of wages among the laborers of vineyard. Everybody got the same wage.

Conclusion

- Why Jesus has defects

o Because He sees things with His heart and not with His intellect.

o His Sacred Heart is full of love

o Because of His weakness we receive His blessings and are here for this Holy Eucharist in spite of our unworthiness.

- What is our challenge

o To participate in His love that comes from the heart.

o As a mother love her child in spite of his/her problems and deficiencies.

o Let us use more our heat in our relationship than our intellect. It will enable to love more, forgive more and accept more.

(Courtesy to Fr. Wilson C. CMI)

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Clear Vision (Lk 6:39-42)

Jesus speaks about the importance of a clear vision. In journalism we study about objective vision of the reality. But how far we can be objective is a doubtful matter since all of us are shaped by our own culture, tradition, family background and other factors. Our vision will always be subjective and prejudiced. What we can do in this state is – aliening our vision with the vision of Jesus and his kingdom values.

The clarity of vision depends on the freedom we enjoy in our lives. It involves the mental and emotional freedom. The danger to the clarity of vision would be the bondages such as anger, selfish interests, jealousy, greed, tensions and worries, etc. In other words clarity of vision depends of the purity of the heart. Human being has the capacity to rise beyond the problems and see the things from a different perspective. But we seldom use this capacity of mind.

In the parable of prodigal son, the younger son lost his clarity of vision because of his bondages such as greed and attraction towards worldly pleasures. He got back his clear vision when he was in suffering. In the suffering he remembered his father’s love and care.

Let us purify our hart so that we also enjoy the clear vision. The difficulties and sufferings of our life may become an eye opener to us as in the case of prodigal son.

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Love of Enemies (Lk 6:27-38)

To understand this gospel passage we may classify all the people into three groups – Friends, Strangers and Enemies. Friends have a wider meaning today since the people have so many unseen friends through social networking systems such as face book and twitter. Strangers are those who do have any contact with us. Enemies can be those whom we know, may be our old friends, but did something harm to us and we do not like them anymore.

During the time of Jesus they had friends and neighbors, who belong to the same clan or family and were Jews. The strangers and enemies were the foreigners, outcast people whom they had hatred in their mind. Jesus tells them to love these strangers and enemies more than their friends.

The purpose of Jesus’ love for enemy is to eliminate them. The way of the world to eliminate enemies are to destroy them or conquer them by force. But the way of Jesus to eliminate our enemies is to love them and convert them into our friends. The way of Jesus gives us a lasting solution to our problem of enemies.

Let us conquer our enemies through forgiveness, patience and love.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Birthday of Mary (Mt 1: 1-23)

I have heard some of the people who suffer asking “God why do you create me?” It is a question that comes from their experience of suffering and feeling of abandonment. The answer for such a question is this feast of the Birthday of Mary. Mary was a blessing to all others and fulfilled her mission of life according to the will of God.

Mary was born to be a blessing to others and the humanity.

- Mary was a blessing to Elizabeth – going to Elizabeth’s house with the blessings of God.

- Mary was a blessing at Cana Wedding Feast – understanding the need of others and helping them.

- Mary was a blessing to Jesus – always taking care of her beloved son

- Mary was a blessing to the Apostles – they gathered with Bl. Mary in prayer to receive the Holy Spirit.

Mary was born with a particular mission

- Present the Word to the World in Human form.

Our lives must be a blessing to others and we have to fulfill the mission that is entrusted to us by our Creator according to the will of our Creator, not according to our will (as Mary’s prayer – let thy will be done)

How can we become a blessing to others?

- By loving and caring others

- Giving priority to the needs of others than us

- By growing from self centeredness to other centeredness.

Let us be the children of Mamma Mary by becoming blessings to others and by fulfilling our purpose of life according to the will of our Heavenly Father.

Power Came forth from Him (Lk 6:12-19)

At the end of today’s reading we see this sentence, “power came forth from Him”. It is the power of Jesus that we see in the gospel and that we experience in our day today life. The power of Jesus came forth for different purposes such as

- to heal the body and soul of persons,

- to cast away the evil spirits and

- to proclaim the arrival of kingdom of God.

Jesus selected 12 apostles to hand over this power after His life on earth. After the ascension of Jesus apostles used this power to heal, to fight against the powers of darkness and to proclaim the kingdom of God. This power is handed over to the Church which is built on the foundation of the apostles.

Today we receive this power of Jesus through the church. When we receive the sacraments we receive this power from God to get healed, to chase away the evil and to proclaim the Kingdom values. We may think that this power is a monopoly of the priests and the religious. In fact all the members of the church are basically priests, prophets and kings with our baptism and therefore sharers of the power that comes through the church.

To receive the power let us come to Jesus as the people did in today’s gospel. Let us come with the desire to touch and experience him so that the Power would flow to our heart to heal us, to deliver from powers of darkness and to make us channels of Kingdom of God.

Sunday, September 5, 2010

Jesus knew their Intensions (Lk 6:6-11)

Today’s gospel is on the Sabbath observation. The Pharisees and Scribes were watching closely the actions of Jesus in order to find fault with Him. They presented themselves to be in good intentions but their inner self was with full of deceit. Jesus realized their intensions and acted to make them realize the true meaning of Sabbath.

A grown up persons can, to a certain extent, could cover up their true intensions of mind and act in a different way. There is a saying “a gentle man is the one who thinks one thing and does another”. Sometimes the children tell lies in order to please their parents but it is easy for the pageants to understand their children’s mind from their face since they are so innocent. We are the children of God and we cannot hide anything from his Supreme Knowledge.

Jesus is more concerned with our intensions. We can never cheat Jesus Christ who knows us better than what we know about ourselves. It is a call to purify our inner most thoughts. We may have a good looking appearance and praise worthy words and actions, but what about our inner thoughts and intensions. Am I like whitewashed tomb?

Saturday, September 4, 2010

23rd Sunday of Ordinary Time – The Disciple of Jesus (Lk 14:25-33)

Various Steps towards Discipleship

- Do you Know Jesus?

o Knowledge is the first step to the discipleship of Jesus.

o Can we be proud that we know Jesus? Or, Is the knowledge is exclusively for the disciple? No. For example those who do researches on Bible study Jesus. (there was a Buddhist monk who did doctorate in Jesus Christ)

o Even Satan knew who Jesus was. They even proclaimed it in the public in the story of exorcisms in the Gospel.

o Therefore the disciples have to go beyond the knowledge

- Are you an admirer of Jesus?

o The disciples are admirers of Jesus’ words and deeds.

o In the gospel people admired Jesus about his wisdom and the miracles. When Jesus multiplied the bread they admired at him. But they need not necessarily be a disciple.

o The disciple must go further.

- Are you a devotee of Jesus?

o Devotee here means the one who pray to Jesus and listens to him.

o It is good to be a devotee of Jesus like Mary who sat at the foot of Jesus to listen.

o But the disciple must go further

- Are you an advocate of Jesus?

o Advocate is the one who publicize the work of somebody else.

o The Samaritan woman was an advocate of Jesus when she experienced that Jesus is the Lord. She had knowledge about Jesus and later became an admirer of Him and also a devotee. Then she went to the nearby town and proclaimed this truth.

o Advocate is the one who are convinced about the specialties of Jesus as a divine person.

o When we share the wonders of Jesus that we have experienced in our lives we become the advocates of Jesus.

- Are you the disciple of Jesus

o It is a call to follow Jesus closely or to become another Jesus in the community.

o It is a call to be obedient to the Words of Jesus even at the cost of our lives. It is a total surrender to His Will.

o Two things that Jesus asks from the disciple is

§ To hate oneself – detachment spirit to all the material things – giving always the first preference to Jesus and His values

§ To take up the cross and follow Him – our daily crosses

o When we take the crosses with willfully and whole heartedly, Christ turns the crosses into the experience of Resurrection.

o The experience of a mother of three children. While she was pregnant for her third baby the doctors found out that the boy in the womb is a mentally challenged child. They told the mother to opt for abortion. But the mother did not. “I do not want to destroy the gift of God”. Now this child became the unifying factor of the family and the dearest of all the members, a blessing to the family.

o The experience of resurrection is through the suffering and death.

These stages are not exclusive. We should be knower of Jesus, admirer of Him, devotee of Jesus, advocate of Him and more than everything “a disciple” who follow Christ closely.

Let us grow to become the disciple of Jesus by having the first place to Jesus in our lives and by taking up our daily cross.

Friday, September 3, 2010

Debate on Sabbath (Lk 6:1-5)

There were three bases for the celebration of Sabbath;

1. God rested after the creation on the seventh day (Gen 2:2) (Ex 20:8-11).

2. God told the Israelites to remember the deliverance from the slavery of Egypt on the day of Sabbath and celebrate it as a thanks giving day (Dt 5:15)

3. God blessed the Sabbath and made it holy (Ex 20:11, Lev 23:3).

For these reasons everybody should follow the Sabbath according the rules set for that day. Because of the strictness of its practice people began to think that Sabbath is to please God and to make Him happy. But Jesus taught that Sabbath is not for God but for man.

Do we try to make God happy by our good deeds and observation of the commandments? The reality is God neither be more happy or sad because of our actions nor he is angry because of our evil actions. If God is movable then He is not the Perfect One (whom St. Thomas Aquinas calls Unmoved Mover). He is no need of our praise and glory. It adds nothing to His greatness. Therefore we glorify God and obey the commandments not for God but for ourselves.

When we break the law and sin we go astray from God’s love. We make a block in the channel of reception of God’s grace. Let us remember always that our prayers and penances are not for God but for us.

Thursday, September 2, 2010

The Question about Fasting (Lk 5: 33-39)

Today’s gospel passage reveals the opinion of Jesus about enjoying the life by eating, drinking, party and merry making. Was Jesus for or against these things? In the gospel Jesus was blamed for not propagating fasting. In fact Jesus came to celebrate life in its fullness.

The teachings of Jesus and His parables revolve around dinning, feast, party etc. His last supper itself was a gathering with food and drink. It was so relevant to that time where people were deprived of the basic necessities of life such as food and drink. The Kingdom of God is a state of abundance and not a state of scarcity.

But we also see Jesus fasting 40 days and nights in the desert before His public ministry. He also taught that while fasting you should look fresh and our penances should not be for the sake of showing others. Therefore he is not totally against fasting.

Life is to celebrate with the gifts that we have received from God. Therefore let us enjoy the life with its happiness and pleasures. But there is a danger in this enjoyment, the mistake done by the first parents, Adam and Eve. They tried to enjoy life by tasting the forbidden fruit. While enjoying our life let us not forget that there are certain forbidden fruits in our lives also. In each state of life there are so many things for happiness which are our right to enjoy. For example in a family there are pleasures and enjoyment that the partners get from the family life. There are also the pleasures that they have to abstain from. The commandments give us a clear guideline about the forbidden fruits of our life.

Let us enjoy the life with Jesus Christ.