“If you are not more righteous than the teachers of the Law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Mt 5:20)

“If you are not more righteous than the teachers of the Law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Mt 5:20) 

Today’s Passages: Mt 5:20-26; Ez 18:21-28

Meditation: Today’s meditation passages help us to renew ourselves and lead a fruitful Christian life during this Lenten season. It is easy to blame on others every now and then for our sins and problems in life and find justification for them. It is heard that many Christians in these days find themselves justified and satisfied by putting blame on their forefathers for their difficulties and problems in life and begin doing penances for them. This is not in any way appropriate for an authentic Christian life.

The first reading clearly exhorts us that each one is primarily responsible for one’s own life. God’s does not want the death of a sinner, rather his life. Therefore, each one has to decide on his own accord whether he should choose good or not. If he chooses good, he naturally lives; whereas if he chooses evil, he will die. He puts before us good and evil, life and death, it is we who decide the either. The punishment is not above all something from outside, rather it is from inside.

The word of the Lord says, “This is the judgment, that the light has come into the world and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For whoever does wrong hates the light and does not come to the light for fear that his deeds will be shown as evil.” (Jn 3:19, 20) Here the judgment is not something imposed upon but it is the result of my free choice. Hence, it is the right time to take a decision as to salvation and live. For God promises, “He will live and not die, because he has opened his eyes and turned away from the sins he had committed.” (Ez 18:28)

Here the norm is not the other and his doing rather God himself. You will not be justified even if you have followed the teachings of the teachers of the law and the Pharisees. In the gospel reading, Lord Jesus says, “If you are not more righteous than the teachers of the Law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Mt 5:20) Therefore, God alone has to be our norm of our life; no one or nothing else.

As the word of the Lord says, “Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who for the sake of the joy reserved for him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at right hand of the throne of God.” (Heb 12:2) The lives concentrated on Jesus and his words will not be left to peril. In that way, may this Lenten season be a fruitful and blessed one to all of us.

 

Prayer: Lord God, we thank you and praise you for your daily eternal bread. O Lord, send your Spirit upon us so that we may be properly led by him and inherit the kingdom of God. Sometimes we are attracted to the false teachers and prophets who guide us only to the letters of the law, not to its spirit. Make us surrender to the word of God and live an authentic Christian life. We ask for this grace through Christ our Lord. Amen!

Greetings: God is with you! Wish you a blessed and fruitful Lenten Friday!

“Do for others what you want them to do for you: this is the meaning of the Law of Moses...” (Mt 7:12)

“Do for others what you want them to do for you: this is the meaning of the Law of Moses and of the teachings of the prophets.” (Mt 7:12) 

Today’s Passages: Mt 7:7-12; Est 14:1, 3-5, 12-14

Meditation: Today’s meditation passages precisely remind us of what God wants from us to be reconciled unto him and unto our brethren. In a sense we can see that the whole salvation history is making humanity aware of this principle of divine-human relationship. This can also be understood from the point of view of covenantal relationship between God and man: “If you listen to me and keep my covenant, you shall be my very own possession among all the peoples.” (Ex 19:5)

As the Israelite heard this message of God through Moses they all agreed: “all that the Lord has said, we will do.” (Ex 19:8) However, we know from Israel’s history that despite the fact that God was steadfast in his love and faithfulness, the people of Israel always has proved unfaithful to this covenantal relationship. Therefore, many a time they were put under various punishments. You cannot enjoy and experience the real love and faithfulness of God unless you love and obey God

.

The more you love God the greater your experience of the love of God will be. Even if we don’t love him, God loves us but that experience of love may be more in the form of mercy and forgiveness. That is why we are asked to return to the first love and works (Rev 2:4-5). This is the pure love God and Adam experienced; this is the love Adam and Eve experienced in the beginning: “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh.” (Gen 2:23)

It is in this purity of mind only, one can trust in and desire for others’ good, and love them. However, is it possible today in our society? Where do begin from? Who will make the first step? The experiences we have already from the society pulls us back; no more fidelity possible! God showed us the way: “In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” (1 Jn 4:10) In the gospel reading we hear Jesus saying, “Do for others what you want them to do for you: this is the meaning of the Law of Moses and of the teachings of the prophets.” (Mt 7:12)

Yes, in this Lenten season, let us therefore, desire for the good of others and be good to others, and fulfill the law and the prophets. Whenever you do something good to others, even if they do not do something good in return to you, God will reward you abundantly. The narrative of the last judgment in the Mathew’s gospel chapter 25 makes it clearer. The word of God says, “Do not turn away your face from anyone who is poor so that God may not turn away his face from you.” (Tob 4:7) 

                         

 Prayer: Lord God, we thank you and praise you for your daily eternal bread. Lord, give us the courage and readiness to do good to others and be children of God. This doing good to others may always be led by the intention of your reward not human appreciation and glory. We ask for this grace through Christ our Lord. Amen!

Greetings: God is with you! Wish you a blessed and fruitful Lenten Thursday!

“This is an evil generation. They ask for a sign, but no sign will be given to them except the sign of Jonah.” (Lk 3:29)

“This is an evil generation. They ask for a sign, but no sign will be given to them except the sign of Jonah.” (Lk 3:29) 

Today’s Passages: Lk 11:29-32; Jon 3:1-10

Meditation: Today’s meditation passages speak of the right attitude we all should cherish during this holy Lenten season. Jesus Christ is reproaching those people who do not pay due attention to their religious faith and life. Those who believe in God often find enough signs in and around them to believe and love God. However, those who do not have real faith in God seek for miracles and wonders because they do not want to believe in him. Asking for miracles itself is a sign of disbelief and at times contempt.

Therefore, in the second reading we find Jesus grieving to his heart says, “This is an evil generation. They ask for a sign, but no sign will be given to them except the sign of Jonah.” (Lk 3:29) The reason why he calls them evil generation is clear that they repeatedly ask for a sign. They are no more able to know who God is and what he has already done for them in the past years. If you are not able to experience and acknowledge the miracles he has already done in your lives, then it will be useless to search for new miracles in your lives.

It is said that without appreciation there can be no appropriation. In order to have this appreciation for God and spiritual realities, first we have to remember and acknowledge God’s showering of graces in our lives. Psalm 118 is a beautiful thanksgiving psalm that praises God from the bottom of Israelite’s heart. Whenever we are tempted for asking fresh signs from God reading this psalm will give us right guidance. Satan will never be interested in guiding you to all other trees and its fruits in the garden, but the forbidden tree and its fruit. This is an evil generation indeed! They ask for a sign.

The only sign waiting for them is the sign of Jonah; the sign of repentance. We have to acknowledge first our ungratefulness toward God and repent on our sins. When the people of Nineveh repented on their sins, God showered graces upon them abundantly: “When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not carry out the destruction he had threatened upon them.” (Jon 3:10) This Lenten season, then, should not be an occasion of asking for signs from God rather it is the time of our repentance, renewal, and return to the Lord.

                  

 Prayer: Lord God, we thank you and praise you for your daily eternal bread. How true it is that man often gets, gets, and forgets; and God gives, gives, and forgives. Lord Jesus Christ, give us a genuine and humble heart to acknowledge and appreciate your graces and forgiveness we received in our lives, and live an ever-grateful life. We ask for this grace through Christ our Lord. Amen!

Greetings: God is with you! Wish you a blessed and fruitful Lenten Wednesday!

“Do not be like them. Your father knows what you need, even before you ask him.” (Mt 6:8)

“Do not be like them. Your father knows what you need, even before you ask him.” (Mt 6:8) 

Today’s Passages: Mt 6:7-15; Is 55:10-11

Meditation: Today’s meditation passages rightly instruct us of the real way of Christian life. It is real and effective for it is given by God himself. The first reading speaks of the effectiveness of the word of God: “So is my word that goes forth out of my mouth: it will not return to me fruitless, but it will accomplish my will, and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” (Is 55:11) Therefore, let us receive this divine instruction for a different life style and put it into practice.

The idea of a separate people in a sense is not original of Christianity. It was there with the concept of the people of God; the Israel. God chose and set them apart from all other people on earth. They were given leaders to guide them and particular laws to be obeyed. This strong covenantal relationship between God and his people made Israel feel that they are different from others. However, as centuries passed, the warmth of the relationship lost its spirit and limited to its keeping of the letters of the law. So, God became man and began forming new people of Israel; Christianity.

Christian life is quite different from any other way of life. Be it any aspect of life, it has got its own specific way centered on Jesus Christ. Hence, in the second reading we find Jesus warning his disciples “Do not be like them,” (Mt 6:8) that is, like the Pharisees. For example, they had their own way of praying and fasting that did attract the attention of others (Mt 6:16-18). Sometimes, these prayers had the face of even self-righteousness (Lk 18:9-14: the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector). That means their concentration was no more on God and his will rather on themselves.

Therefore, Jesus instructs us the new Israel to regain the spirit of the law and put all our trust on God; concentrate on God and his will rather than on ourselves. He assures us, “Your father knows what you need, even before you ask him.” (Mt 6:8) Thus the prayer Jesus taught is more than a prayer; it is the summary of the way of Christian life. It guides each and every one to lead a genuine Christian life centered on the will of God the father.

This prayer rightly teaches us the meaning of the Lent and puts before us an action plan for this season. There in the prayer we find a total surrender to the will of God, hope in the promise of God’s salvation, trust in the mercy and providence of God, resolution to go reconciled with one’s brethren, keeping alert over evil and Satan etc. Actually, this is not only of the Lenten season but of the whole Christian life. Let us love praying and living this prayer, a real gift from our Lord Jesus Christ.

 Prayer: Lord God, we thank you and praise you for your daily eternal bread. O God, we thank you and praise for the great prayer you taught us. It is the quintessence of Jesus’ life we rightly understand it today. Help us to live this perfect prayer in our daily life, especially in this season of Lent. We ask for this grace through Christ our Lord. Amen!

Greetings: God is with you! Wish you a blessed and fruitful Lenten Tuesday!

“I tell you, whenever you did this for one of the least important of these brothers of mine, you did it for me!” (Mt 25:40)

“I tell you, whenever you did this for one of the least important of these brothers of mine, you did it for me!” (Mt 25:40) 

Today’s Passages: Mt 25:31-46; Lev 19:1-2, 11-18

Meditation: Today’s meditation passages rightly remind us of keeping the real motive of the Lenten season. As we enter the second week of the season, we should not lose the spirit we had on Ash Wednesday. Sometimes, it may lead us to mere keeping some abstinence or fasting. Though these are not bad in themselves, these alone cannot keep us united to Jesus Christ and his people. Therefore, let us pay due attention to today’s passages and their message.

In the first reading, we hear the Lord God saying, “Be holy, for I, the Lord your God, am holy.” (Lev 19:2) This, of course, is the purpose of the Lenten season we observe. However, how do we obtain this holiness? In the OT tradition everything that is connected to God is holy and therefore, there was a strong inclination to keep away from everyone and everything that is not holy and divine. In this way they thought that they were on the path of becoming holy people.

This way of understanding holiness is also found emphasized in the formulation of the laws of the people of God. In the first reading, from verses 11 to 18, we find “nine times” as a refrain, “you shall not.” I do believe that because of this mind set up the people were naturally inclined to be alert on what all things they should not do or observe. This type of observing the laws or rituals will not make us indeed holy rather may make us “satisfied” in our religious life.

But Jesus was against this “religious satisfaction” and therefore, he touched the untouchables, made friendship with the marginalized, and ate with the sinners and tax collectors. He even summarized the Ten Commandments into two; two simple positive laws: love your God and love your neighbor. It is not only your attempts to keep yourselves away from sins that matters, but also your attempts to possess holiness; Lenten season is not of a mere passive attitude, rather it is of more active heart and mind. This is apparently evident from today’s gospel reading.

Jesus rewards all those who had this positive mind and attitude: “I tell you, whenever you did this for one of the least important of these brothers of mine, you did it for me!” (Mt 25:40)  Of course, this does not mean that your Lenten season is merely doing some social or charitable activities. In other words, this may lead to the temptation of some showy business like that of the Pharisees. Therefore, today’s passages remind you and me that becoming holy is not only a process of driving out evils from us but also filling us with the Holy Spirit; not only abstaining from something but doing good for others.

 Prayer: Lord God, we thank you and praise you for your daily eternal bread. O Lord God, help us to be genuine in our religious practices. Let us learn the meaning of real abstinence and fasting; it is also keeping ourselves away from anything and anyone that blocks our going closer to God and his little ones. We ask for this grace through Christ our Lord. Amen!

Greetings: God is with you! Wish you a blessed and fruitful Lenten Monday!

“Why is it that we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples don’t fast at all?” (Mt 9:14)

“Why is it that we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples don’t fast at all?” (Mt 9:14) 

Today’s Passages: Mt 9:14-15; Is 58:1-9a

Meditation: Today’s meditation verse really motivates us to review our attitude toward the fasting and penance we do during this holy Lenten season. Both the first and the second reading rightly support us in this direction. It is quite human to think of others, during this Lenten season, in view of their practice of prayer and fasting. How often do they practice it? Or how rigorously do they follow it? Moreover, there is also a tendency to think of one’s own Lenten practices as to its fruitfulness.

In the gospel reading we heard about a question: “Why is it that we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples don’t fast at all?” (Lk 9:25) We are doing our prayers and penance and to some extent others too, but “why not then your disciples?” is the real question for many of us during this Lenten season. Is it not a real temptation that seeks self-righteousness? I hope it is indeed! Whenever you compare yourself with others in your religious practices, you are in the verge of self-righteousness. 

  

In the first reading we hear apparently a cry of a devotee as his religious activities go unnoticed: “Why are we fasting, if you do not see it? Why are we doing penance, if you never notice it?” (Is 58:3) Perhaps this prayer is a sign of one’s unbearable suffering or one’s loss of hope in God and prayer. That means it is prayer of a desperate person. It has also got another dimension as to its self righteousness. Why should I do this, if it is not considered well or at all? That means, I am not doing it for myself, rather I am doing it on behalf of others; to show others.

Therefore, in the very beginning of this holy Lenten season, we are asked to review thoroughly ourselves and find out whether we are ready to overcome these temptations or not. I have to be rest assured of myself the fact that whatever I do during this Lenten season is not for showing others rather it is for me and for the reparation of my sins only. Once I am convinced that these are for me, then, I am not bothered about others’ indifference or hypocrisy.

If I am free of these temptations, then I will be able to do the real fasting that is highlighted in the first reading: “Is it not this, the kind of fast that pleases me: to break the fetters of injustice, to untie the thongs of the yoke, to set the oppressed free, and to break every yoke. Is it not to share your food with the hungry, to bring into your house the homeless poor, to clothe the naked when you find them and not to turn away from your own kin?” (Is 58:6, 7) Of course, these may not come under cultic Lenten practices, but they are prophetic way of spirituality and Christianity.

                 

Prayer: Lord God, we thank you and praise you for your daily eternal bread. God, help us to learn the real meaning of repentance and fasting. We understand that it is not mere outward seasonal religious practices; rather it has to be practicing of authentic Christian life throughout our life. Let this Lenten season be an intense period of learning it. We ask for this grace through Christ our Lord. Amen!

Greetings: God is with you! Wish you a blessed and fruitful Lenten Friday!

“What does it profit anyone to gain the whole world and lose or forfeit his very life?” (Lk 9:25)

“What does it profit anyone to gain the whole world and lose or forfeit his very life?” (Lk 9:25) 

Today’s Passages: Lk 9:22-25; Dt 30:15-20

Meditation: Today’s meditation verses lead us to God’s infinite mercy and love toward human beings. He created them and adorned each one of them with the freedom of will and choice. This manifests clearly that his creation was out of his pure infinite love for mankind. If it were otherwise, he would have made them like slaves; in order to satisfy his selfish needs. But psalmist solemnly declares, “You have made him little lower than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honor. You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet.” (Ps 8:5, 6)

However, man could not understand this steadfast and true love of God fully and turned away from him by listening to the fake news of Satan. Real truth is always plain and unattractive, whereas the false truth is both covered and attractive. God is always plain in his revelations and therefore, he says, “I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. Choose life, then, that you and descendants may live.” (Dt 30:19) That means God has already given you vivid and ample direction as to what is good and what is wrong. But, see closely the next step of Satan.

Because, it is precisely here that the Satan makes an entry into our virtuous life. He makes us first believe that we do not have such capacity at present but can achieve by following his words. In the book of Genesis we read, “The serpent said to the woman, ‘you will not die, for God knows that the day you eat it, your eyes will be opened and you will be like gods, knowing what is good and what is bad.” (Gen 3:4, 5) Here what happens is this; by obeying God’s command Eve continues to enjoy the promises of God as to the knowledge of right and bad, whereas by following the fake promise of Satan she will lose God’s real promise.

In the temptation narrative of Jesus too, we find similar fake promise of Satan making to Jesus: “All this I will give you, if you kneel and worship me.” (Mt 4:9) Actually, the Satan is putting this suggestion before God the creator of everything. Sometimes, having the divine powers received through the anointing of the Holy Spirit, we too are tempted to go after such fake promises. During this Lenten season, we must be able to say to these fake promises with the power of Jesus’ name: “Be off, Satan! Scripture says: Worship the Lord your God and serve him alone.” (Mt 4:10)

Today’s meditation verse also plainly speaks about the real meaning of life and its nature. However, Satan, who was already thrown out the paradise and lost eternal life, tries to make people believe that the life in this world is more real and meaningful. God has clearly revealed to us about the life here on earth and the life everlasting. But Satan magnifies the life here on earth and its pleasures and keeps silence about the eternal. Today, Jesus, the Son of God, the source of all living, in the second reading reveals the truth asking us, “What does it profit anyone to gain the whole world and lose or forfeit his very life?” (Lk 9:25) How do we respond to this question in this holy season of Lent?

    

Prayer: Lord God, we thank you and praise you for your daily eternal bread. Give us your Spirit in its abundance so that we may discern rightly what is good and what is bad; what is earthly and what is eternal. We ask for this grace through Christ our Lord. Amen!

Greetings: God is with you! Wish you a blessed and fruitful Lenten Thursday!

Ash Wednesday 18 Feb 2015: a three minute meditation for today!

Ash Wednesday 18 Feb 2015: a three minute meditation for today!

Today’s readings: Mt 6:1-6, 16-18; 2 Cor 5:20-6:2

Dear loving brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ, today we are entering the holy season of Lent with the mark of the cross on our forehead. The mark of the cross signed on the forehead is apparently less attractive for it is neither beautifully drawn nor is it in fine colors. However, it is the symbol of our salvation achieved through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ on the cross. When this sign of the salvation is marked on my forehead today with ashes, on the one hand, I proclaim to my dear ones, neighbors, and friends that I am entering into an intense forty days of prayer, fasting, and repentance; and on the other hand, the very fact that I received the sign of the cross in a community liturgical context makes me also aware of my responsibility to help each other by encouraging and praying for its fruitful completion. 

   

The ash sign of the cross marked on our forehead may not last even for a day because it is washable. However, this external sign of the cross should be taken into our heart and mind that we may be internally and consciously prepared for the Lent. As we heard today in the gospel reading, whatever sacrifices we do, and whatever prayers we pray in this season are not for showing ourselves to others, but for the reparation of my sins and the sins of others in private. Then only, our Father who is in heaven will reward us. Prayer and fasting combined together is the powerful victory flag against Satan and his legion. Jesus Christ himself has reminded and assured us of that Satan and his legion could be defeated only through prayer and fasting: “Only prayer and fasting can drive this kind out; nothing else can.” (Mt 17:21)

Let this season also be a season of praying for others, especially for those who find for themselves difficult to get rid of their sinful ways and habitual sins; for those who are away from faith and religious practices; and for those who are suffering for the sake of Jesus in different parts of the world. In the first reading St. Paul reminded us of this aspect: “Christ was without sin, but for our sake God made him share our sin in order that in union with him we might share the righteousness of God.” (2 Cor 5:21) I don’t say that I wish you all a blessed Lenten season, rather let us wish each other a blessed and fruitful Lenten season and pray for each other.

Greetings! May God bless you and your dear ones with his grace and peace! Amen.    

“Keep your eyes open and beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.” (Mk 8:15)

“Keep your eyes open and beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.” (Mk 8:15) 

Today’s Passages: Mk 8:14-21; Gen 6:5-8; 7:1-5, 10

Meditation: The tempo of the joy and wonder of the colorful creation narrative of the book of Genesis has gone into several grey shades forever. What we see from the third chapter on is the fall of man and its fast continuation through the generations. It began with the disobedience of the first parents, Adam and Eve, continued through Cain and his sons, and now the situation is in its worst height. The creator now has become helpless and restless

It is written, “When the Lord saw that human wickedness had increased on the earth and that the thought of his heart shaped nothing but evil the whole day, the Lord regretted having created man on the earth and his heart grieved.” (Gen 6:5-6)  Here the author does fail to use the word anger or revenge and uses “grief” for he knows well that grief comes from the love and compassion of the heart. God cannot but love his creation and man as its crown.

Then the question arises as to, why he made up his mind to destroy the world with the flood. The answer for this question we get from God himself. Though he had to take that decision with so much pain against man, he was looking for a reason till the last moment not to destroy his creation and save him. The author of the Genesis cleverly puts it, “But Noah found favor with God.” (Gen 6:8) Against the entire immoral humanity one man’s righteousness stands as summon for salvation! Yes, he cannot but love!

Finally, as he couldn't find anyone in the place of Noah, he sent his only begotten son Jesus Christ against the sins of humanity. John says, “Yes, God so loved the world that he gave his only Son that whoever believes in him may not perish, but may have eternal life. God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but that, through him the world might be saved.” (Jn 3:16-17) His salvific work is being continued even today.

The warning we find in today’s mediation verse is indeed his grief over our lazy and careless Christian life: “Keep your eyes open and beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.” (Mk 8:15) Why is this frequent warning needed in our life? It is certainly in view of our salvation.

For, “it is impossible for people who have once been enlightened and who have tasted the heavenly gift and received the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the beauty of the word of God and the powers of the supernatural world, and in spite of all these if they cease to believe and fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because they are again crucifying the Son of God and holding him up to mockery.” (Heb 6:4-6) 

               

Prayer: Lord God, we thank you and praise you for your daily eternal bread. God, give us the grace to listen to the guidance of the Holy Spirit and discern what is good and evil. Let us not be cheated by the false teachings of the teachers. We ask for this grace through Christ our Lord. Amen!

Greetings: God is with you! Wish you a blissful Tuesday!

“Hoping to trap him, they asked for some heavenly sign.” (Mk 8:11)

“Hoping to trap him, they asked for some heavenly sign.” (Mk 8:11) 

Today’s Passages: Mk 8:11-13; Gen 4:1-15, 25

Meditation: Today’s first reading directly leads us to the primeval story of the spread of sin in the very beginning of the world. It began with Adam and Eve, the first parents, and now continues to the next generation of Cain and Abel. “God-rejecting man” slows grows toward “man-rejecting man.” Consequently, the question of God to man continues/changes from, “Where are you?” to “Where is your brother?” It is quite interesting to note its gradual development and turning!

The gap between God and man, and man and man has become more broadened. The way of his responding to God has also become worse now; it is no more fleeing and hiding from the God’s presence, rather it has grown up to lying and confronting his God. He is no more ready to surrender himself to his creator. Therefore, God warns him saying, “If you are not doing what is right, sin is lurking at the door. It is striving to get you, but you must overcome it.” (Gen 4:8)

Doing right is doing the will of God for he only knows what right ultimately is. Therefore, whenever we go against the will of God, then we are really approaching Satan who will misguide us by telling lies. He is crouching at the door hungry to get us. In his letter Peter says, “Be alert, be on the watch! Your enemy, the Devil, roams round like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.” (1 Pt 5:8) How does it come to our lives? Or how do you we discern it?

One of the ways is being disclosed in the second reading. There we are once again reminded of Cain’s questioning and confronting nature in the Pharisees: “Hoping to trap him, they asked for some heavenly sign.” (Mk 8:11) Once you are away from God then cannot appreciate the heavenly things; if you cannot appreciate the heavenly things then of course you cannot appropriate them. It results in the rejection of God.

Usually we also pray with David, “Do not cast me out of your presence, nor take from me your spirit of holiness.” (Ps 51:11) Let us be humbly aware of the other side of the coin too. Actually, it is not that God is driving you out from the land as Cain said (Gen 4:14), rather God is forced to leave you and go to the other side of the lake (Mk 8:13) because of your disbelief and contempt. Therefore, let us be more aware of the sin that is lurking at our doors. 

             

Prayer: Lord God, we thank you and praise you for your daily eternal bread. O God, many a time in my life I have made you keep away from me through my words and deeds. Though you wanted to give yourselves to us and be with us but we rejected you often. Have mercy on us sinners. Give us the grace to surrender ourselves to you completely. We ask for this grace through Christ our Lord. Amen!

Greetings: God is with you! Wish you a blissful Monday!

“Then, looking up to heaven, Jesus sighed and said to him, ‘Ephphatha,’ that is, ‘be opened.’” (Mk 7:34)

 “Then, looking up to heaven, Jesus sighed and said to him, ‘Ephphatha,’ that is, ‘be opened.’” (Mk 7:34) 

Today’s Passages: Mk 7:31-37; Gen 3:1-8

Meditation: The first reading of today presets a brief account on the original sin of man. Though some believe and claim that the original of man is connected with sex, and prompted several to bring in this theme to art and literature, it is not in any case evident from the bible. What may be derived from this passage is that it is connected with disobedience and eventually, badly affected man’s relationship with Lord God, his creator. They lost entirely the cordial relation they had with God.

That is why we read, “They heard the sound of the Lord God taking a walk in the garden in the cool of the day, and they, Adam and his wife, hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden.” (Gen 3:8) When the author of Genesis brought this theme out he might have used the language and style of a story teller and therefore, we have a beautiful narrative too of Adam and Eve being thrown out of the garden at the end of that story. 

  

“So the Lord cast him out of the garden to till the ground from which he had been made. And after having driven the man out, he posted the Cherubim and a flaming sword that kept turning in all directions to guard the way to the tree of life.” (Gen 3:23, 24) This narrative is there in mind from my child hood onward. However, today after going through the salvation history and its message many a time, I tend to believe that it may not be God who closed the door against him; rather Adam himself closed his heart against God.

If at all God closes, it is only for your salvation. This message is very obvious in the stories like Noah, where we read, “Then the Lord closed the door behind Noah.” (Gen 7:16) And he was saved from the flood. However, God is helpless in front of man’s closed doors of his heart and life. This remains the same till the last book of the bible, where we find, “Look, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my call and opens the door, I will come in to him and have supper with him, and he with me.” (Rev 3:20)

The same message is heard in today’s meditation verse: “Then, looking up to heaven, Jesus sighed and said to him, ‘Ephphatha,’ that is, ‘be opened.’” (Mk 7:34)  If you believe in the Lord and repent on your sins, then, the closed, hardened heart and life will be opened for ever. It is not that God sent me away from his presence, rather it is I who fled from him through my sins, pride, selfishness etc. “God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world; but that, through him the world might be saved.” (Jn 3:17)  

    

Prayer: Lord God, we thank you and praise you for your daily eternal bread. Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner. I surrender myself to you and your healing word in faith today. Come to me and open my closed heart and mind. Make me whole. We ask for this grace through Christ our Lord. Amen!

Greetings: God is with you! Wish you a blissful Friday!

“Because of that answer, go back home, where you will find that demon has gone out of your daughter.” (Mk 7:29)

 “Because of that answer, go back home, where you will find that demon has gone out of your daughter.” (Mk 7:29) 

Today’s Passages: Mk 7:24-30; Gen 2:18-25

Meditation: Today’s meditation verse calls us for an authentic faith in Jesus, even amidst trials and tribulations. The Marcan narrative of the miracle is a little different from that of Mt 15:21-28. In the Mathew’s gospel we find Jesus’ disciples intervening and interceding for the gentile woman, Jesus’ total indifferent and negative attitude toward the woman, and his response as to his mission that is limited only to the people of Israel. The differences found in both these narratives could be explained from the point of view of their original readership.

We know that the gospel of Mathew was written for the Jewish Christians living in Palestine, whereas the Marcan gospel addresses the Jewish people living among the gentiles outside Palestine. Therefore, some elements supporting the Jewish traditions may be emphasized more in Mathew, while Mark may not give so much importance to those elements which hurt the gentiles. Therefore, the absence of the above-said elements in the Marcan narrative could be understood from its original audience/readers, viz., the Jewish Christians who were living in the gentile area.

Now let us come to our meditation point proper: “Because of that answer, go back home, where you will find that demon has gone out of your daughter.” (Mk 7:29) That means Jesus is highly impressed by her strong faith in him! However, I tend to believe that it is more than Jesus we are really strengthened and encouraged by her confession of faith in Jesus.

In the gospels, at times, miracles are also moments of the manifestation of God’s glory: “This illness will not end in death; rather it is for God’s glory, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” (Jn 11:4) The result was that “many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary believed in Jesus when they saw what he did [i.e., the raising of Lazarus].” (Jn 11:45) Therefore, Jesus’ apparent indifferent attitude toward woman’s prayer and her response to Jesus is given to us today as a lesson for our lives and faith formation.

The psalmist says, “O Lord, you have examined me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you discern my thoughts from afar. You observe my activities and times of rest; you are familiar with all my ways.” (Ps 139:1-3) Though he is omniscient, he wants our faith properly expressed for our good and for the good of others. Examples of Abraham, Noah, Moses, and Job are there in the bible. God’s silence is not always the sign of his rejection of our petitions and prayers.

Prayer: Lord God, we thank you and praise you for your daily eternal bread. God, give us tests and trials in our lives along with the strength and faith to face these challenges. The word of the Lord says, “Consider yourselves fortunate, my brothers, when you meet with every kind of trial, for you know that the testing of your faith makes you steadfast.” (Js 1:2-3) Let this word be an anointing today in our lives. We ask for this grace through Christ our Lord. Amen!

Greetings: God is with you! Wish you a blissful Thursday!