“They were all afraid. Jesus spoke to them at once, ‘courage!’ he said, ‘it is I, don’t be afraid!’” (Mk 6:50)

 “They were all afraid. Jesus spoke to them at once, ‘courage!’ he said, ‘it is I, don’t be afraid!’” (Mk 6:50)

Today’s Passages: Mk 6:45-52; 1Jn 4:11-18

Meditation: The meditation verse given to us today rightly unfolds the pastoral care and concern of Jesus Christ for his people and disciples. The word of the Lord says, “Jesus is Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Heb 13:8) In the book of Revelation he says, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the one who is and who was and who is to come, the almighty.” (Rev 1:8) Therefore, he continues the same care and concern he had for them upon us too.

Is there anything more than this to be reflected upon? Yes, certainly! One of the aspects to be noted is the way he did his daily ministries. Even when Jesus was tired of his day long ministries, he could find time to send the people off to their own villages after feeding them; make his disciples get into the boat and precede him to the other side of the lake Tiberius, and go to pray off to the mountain. While he was praying to God the father he knew that his disciples were in great danger. Right away he came to their help.

However, they were totally afraid and on seeing Jesus, were terrified too. Jesus spoke to them at once, “Courage!” he said, “It is I, don’t be afraid!” (Mk 6:50) It is of course a word of great comfort for us. What we heard during the Christmas season has become realized now; he is truly Emmanuel. We hear the same message from the risen Jesus too: “Behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” (Mt 28:20) Why were they, then, afraid?

In the second reading we find its answer, “There is no fear in love; perfect love drives out all fear. So then, love has not been made perfect in anyone who is afraid, because fear has to do with punishment.” (1Jn 4:18) Even from our day to day life, we know that whenever we lose the real love in our relationships then somehow we lose also the power or capacity to identify their sounds, figures etc. The result is we keep ourselves distant from them. But the real love follows the person even in his/her absence. Many a widow/widower faces the challenges of their life, simply with the courage they receive from the loving memories of their late partner. 

I do remember a mother who recognized and received her son who had left the house in his childhood and returned after some thirty-five years. It was just like the way Mary Magdalene recognized the call of Jesus, “Mary,” (Jn 20:16) and the way the beloved disciple cried to Peter, “It is the Lord.” (Jn 21:7) Do I really hear the voice of my Lord in my daily life? Do I recognize his loving interventions in my personal life? Unless and until I keep a personal relationship with him, I cannot recognize him while he intervenes in my life.

Prayer: Lord God, we thank you and praise you for your daily eternal bread and especially for the New Year of 2015. Often we forget the fact that it is you who loved us first and gave your life for our salvation. It is only because of your precious blood that we are freed from the clutches of sin. Lord, help us, therefore, to live a life fully and faithfully dedicated to you and to you only by the power of the Holy Spirit. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen!  

Greetings: God is with you! Have a blissful Wednesday!

“So Jesus asked them, ‘how much bread have you got? Go and see.’” (Mk 6:38)

“So Jesus asked them, ‘how much bread have you got? Go and see.’” (Mk 6:38)  

Today’s Passages: Mk 6:34-44; 1Jn 4:7-10

Meditation: I do feel that today’s meditation verse is quite timely and much loaded with New Year message. Because we are just one week past from the New Year celebrations and resolutions; may be still counting on the loss of the previous year, may be still lingering on what could have been done on such and such occasions, or thinking that I will do this year such and such things if I get, and so on. All these imaginations and evaluations are good, but Jesus calls you and me today to the black and white realities of life. It is just like a call to get down from the glory of mount Tabor to the valley of people’s needs and aspirations.

Jesus must be tired on that day just after a continuous preaching and healing. However, he felt great sympathy for the people who were with him listening to his words throughout the day. He knew that they were from faraway places and were hungry and tired now. So he cannot leave them to their villages without giving anything feeding. He asked his disciples to give them something to eat, but their answer was not positive. Perhaps this was because they might have thought that money they had and the number of the people before them was in different poles.

However, Jesus asked them, “How much bread have you got? Go and see.’” (Mk 6:38) Jesus wants to ask the same question upon all our counting, calculation, projects etc. Sometimes, we too are very happy and interested to make projects counting the resources outside our pockets and savings. Jesus warns us today saying, “[you] tie on to people’s backs loads that are heavy and hard to carry, yet [you] aren’t willing even to lift a finger to help them carry those loads.” (Mt 23:4) The old saying is worth remembering now: “Charity begins at home.”

In the second reading we find how God the father put before us his example: “God showed his love for us by sending his only Son into the world, so that we might have life through him.” (1Jn 4:9) He spared his only begotten Son Jesus for the salvation of mankind. In the beginning of this New Year, let us learn to count first on us, our talents, our time, and our wealth before counting others and their gifts. I do hear once again the whispering of Jesus, “How much bread have you got? Go and see.” 

       

Prayer: Lord God, we thank you and praise you for your daily eternal bread and especially for the New Year of 2015. We surrender ourselves before you, O Lord, help us to count on whatever you have been giving us graciously in our daily life and share those gifts with others gratefully. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen!

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

“The people who live in darkness will see a great light. On those who live in the dark land of death the light will shine.” (Mt 4:16)

“The people who live in darkness will see a great light. On those who live in the dark land of death the light will shine.” (Mt 4:16) 

Today’s Passages: Mt 4:12-17, 23-25; 1Jn 3:22-4:6

Meditation: Today’s meditation verse gives great comfort to those who surrender themselves to God; but to others of course it may not be good news. God is certainly steadfast in his love and promises; he will shed his light upon those who are in darkness. However, is that enough for our salvation? It need not be. John says, “This is how the judgment works; the light has come into the world, but people love the darkness rather than the light, because their deeds are evil.” (Jn 3:19)

Therefore, we understand that the same news may become good to some, but not good to others. The good news of Jesus’ birth made King Herod restless and unhappy, whereas it made the shepherds happy and joyful. As we are in the very beginning of the new year 2015, let us review ourselves and see whether Jesus’ birth/Christmas made me happy or not. My being in the darkness and sin, and Jesus’ coming into the world do not ensure guarantee of my salvation. For my salvation, I have to surrender myself unto him completely.

We have already been given the guarantee of our salvation through the Holy Spirit. St. Paul says, “It is God himself who has set us apart, who has placed his mark of ownership upon us, and who has given us the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the guarantee of all that he has in store for us.” (2Cor 1:22) However, we have to respond to this gift so graciously and responsibly. How do we respond to it faithfully? Once we received the light of God, we should not walk in the darkness. Jesus says, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will have the light of life and will never walk in darkness.” (Jn 8:12)

Who will guide us in the path of life and light? Surely Holy Spirit will guide each one of us. In the second reading we hear, “The Spirit who is in you is more powerful than the spirit in those who belong to the world.” (1Jn 4:4) Again the word of the Lord says, “The Spirit that God has given you does not make you slaves and cause you to be afraid; instead, the Spirit makes you God’s children.” (Rom 8:15) Therefore, let us be proud of the gift of the Holy Spirit and be led by Him so that the light shone upon us be our mark of salvation.

Prayer: Lord God, we thank you and praise you for your daily eternal bread and especially for the Christmas season and New Year of 2015. We surrender ourselves before you, O Lord, and help us to walk always in the light and be free from sins. Give us your Spirit to be courageous enough in the time of difficulties and dangers of life. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen! 

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

“‘I have seen it,’” said John, ‘and I tell you that he is the Son of God.’”(Jn 1:34)

“‘I have seen it,’” said John, ‘and I tell you that he is the Son of God.’”(Jn 1:34) 

Today’s Passages: Jn 1:29-34; 1Jn 2:29-3:6

Meditation: The Christmas season continues to walk along with us by means of its message of call for an authentic witness and Christian life. The child born of the Blessed Virgin Mary in manger has to be grown in and through us. It is not enough that he has decided to be with us, to become Emmanuel, but we have to be with him. How is it possible? Jesus says, “Whoever loves me will obey my teaching. My father will love him; my Father and I will come to him and live with him.” (Jn 14:23)

John in his letter says, “Whoever sins is guilty of breaking God’s law, because sin is breaking of the law.” (1Jn 3:4) Therefore, abiding, in and with Christ, first makes each one of us free from all sins. “So everyone who lives in union with Christ does not continue to sin; but whoever continues to sin has never seen him or known him.” (1Jn 3:6) Abiding in Christ and keeping ourselves free from sin are to be complemented in its real sense.

Once you are free from sin and abiding with the Lord, Emmanuel, then, second, your witness to Jesus Christ will be authentic. Today’s meditation verse is the manifestation of this very fact. “‘I have seen it,’” said John, ‘and I tell you that he is the Son of God.’”(Jn 1:34) Are we really nourished and enriched by the Christmas celebration? Are we able to proclaim that infant Jesus in the manger is our savior and redeemer?

Finally, the faith life and moral life (life of Ten Commandments) are not different ones; but it is two sides of the same coin. Unless and until they are so, our evangelization won’t be “attractive” and effective. St. Paul preached the gospel “by attraction” for his life was in and for Christ. People listened to him when proclaimed, “Who, then, can separate us from the love of Christ? Can trouble do it, or hardship or persecution or hunger or poverty or danger or death?” (Rom 8:35)

The most debated “Ghar vapasi” –returning home- is to be considered also as a test or challenge to the Christians; to examine ourselves as to whether we are authentic Christians or not. St. Paul says, “Examine yourselves to see whether you are living in faith. Test yourselves. Do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in you? – Unless, of course, you fail the test. I hope you will discover that you have not failed.” (1Cor 13:5, 6) Wish you a happy journey in and with Jesus in this New Year! 

             

Prayer: Lord God, we thank you and praise you for your daily eternal bread and especially for the Christmas season and New Year of 2015. Throughout this year, both in positives and negatives, we know that you are with us; guiding and protecting. Give us, O Lord, your Spirit that we may become authentic Christians and be able to give genuine witness to you like John the Baptist. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen!

Greetings: God is with you! Have a blissful Saturday!

“John answered, ‘I baptize you with water, but among stands the one you do not know. He is coming after me, but I am not good enough even to untie his sandals.’” (Jn 1:5)

 “John answered, ‘I baptize you with water, but among stands the one you do not know. He is coming after me, but I am not good enough even to untie his sandals.’” (Jn 1:5) 

Today’s Passages: Jn 1:19-28; 1Jn 2:22-28

Meditation: As we step into first days of the New Year 2015 with new hopes and aspirations, church exhorts us as to how should be our attitude to genuine Christian life. The holy mother church tells us that we should always be authentic in our words and deeds. This authenticity makes you tell either “yes” or “no.” The word of the Lord says, “Just say “Yes” or “No” – anything else you say comes from the Evil one.” (Mt 5:37) Today’s meditation verse is well connected to it.

In verses 20 and 21, thrice John the Baptist denies that he is not the Messiah which doesn't mean that he is indifferent to their questions. He immediately affirms who he really is; John answered by quoting the prophet Isaiah; “‘I am the voice of someone shouting in the desert; Make a straight path for the Lord to travel.’” (Jn 1:23) Both the negation as well as the affirmation is the result of his self realization “who he is” and “who the messiah is.” This is very clear from his further answer.

 

 “John answered, ‘I baptize you with water, but among stands the one you do not know. He is coming after me, but I am not good enough even to untie his sandals.’” (Jn 1:5) Sometimes in our ministries we lack this self awareness and take the other’s designation for our name and fame or for the approval of man. Then comes the temptation of denying the truth and follow our own will. This is a great danger in the life of a faithful.

John in his letter says, “Who then is the liar? It is anyone who says that Jesus is not the Messiah. Such a person is the enemy of Christ – he rejects both the father and the Son.” (1Jn 2:22) We find today some people who were enthusiastic in the preaching of the word of God in the retreat centers go astray from the true teachings and become liars only to become Antichrists. They somewhere, somehow forget “who they are” and “what they are.” If we want to become effective and useful disciples of Jesus, we have to have the awareness of John the Baptist.

  

Prayer: Lord God, we thank you and praise you for your daily eternal bread and especially for the New Year of 2015. Throughout this year, both in positives and negatives, we know that you are with us; guiding and protecting. Give us, O Lord, your Spirit that we may become authentic Christians and be able to give genuine witness to you like John the Baptist. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen!

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