“The truth will set you free.” (Jn 8:32)

“The truth will set you free.” (Jn 8:32)

Today’s Passages: Jn 8:31-36; Jer 31:31-34; 1 Tm 2:1-6;

Meditation: Mother holy church has blessed us, Indians, today with the readings that suit to our great republic day. Let us give thanks and praise to God! Today’s second reading begins with an exhortation of Paul on intercessory prayer: “First of all, then, I ask that supplications, prayers, petitions, and thanksgiving be offered for everyone, for kings and for all in authority, that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all devotion and dignity.” (1 Tim 2:1, 2)

This exhortation is being practiced in continuity even today in the universal church. Every day in our liturgy we pray for our leaders that they may be strengthened and guided by truth and justice; that they may be able to lead their people in peace and harmony. Today in a special we pray for our sovereign and secular country and its leaders; for the welfare of the people and integrity of the country; and for all those who have laid their life and toil for the freedom of India.

On the day of the commemoration of the sovereignty of Indian Republic, mother holy church calls upon us to reflect on the real and eternal freedom. Without this real freedom we may not be able to enjoy the political freedom that we have achieved. The political freedom is like physical and external, but the freedom Jesus gifts is internal and everlasting. That is why, even after sixty years of freedom, we are still in darkness of social, religious, and political injustice and inequalities.

In the first reading we hear, “I will place my law within them, and write it upon their hearts; I will be their God and they shall be my people.” (Jer 31:33) Let all the people surrender themselves to the divine law that they may enjoy real fraternity, peace, and freedom. Jesus has something more to say: “If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, and truth will set you free.” (Jn 8:31, 32)

Prayer: Lord God, we thank you and praise you for your daily eternal bread. Lord, we pray today for our republic, its people, and its leaders. Give us your Holy Spirit in abundance that we may always stand for its welfare and integrity. Lead each one of us, in every moment of life, from darkness to light, from death to life, and from falsehood to truth.   We ask for this grace through Christ our Lord. Amen!

Greetings: God is with you! Have a blissful Republic Day!

“Jesus told them, ‘I have chosen you to be with me. I will also send you out to preach, ...” (Mk 3:14, 15)

“Jesus told them, ‘I have chosen you to be with me. I will also send you out to preach, and you will have authority to drive out demons.” (Mk 3:14, 15)

Today’s Passages: Mk 3:13-19; Heb 8:6-13

Meditation: Today’s meditation verse gives us an account of the election of Jesus’ disciples as apostles and the purpose of their election. Jesus’ teachings on the kingdom of God and his healing ministry attracted many to follow him and several of them eventually turned to be his disciples. However, Jesus one day chose twelve from among these disciples and called them apostles. While choosing the twelve, Jesus reveals or explains to them clearly the purpose of their calling.

“Jesus told them, ‘I have chosen you to be with me. I will also send you out to preach, and you will have authority to drive out demons.” (Mk 3:14, 15)  Obviously we find three main elements or aspects in this election: “to be with him,” “to be sent out to preach,” “and authority to drive out demons.” These three elements in a way remind us of God’s love for Adam, and the authority and mission he was entrusted in the garden of Eden.

The creation account of Genesis and the following narratives give us a rather good picture of God’s love toward man and his love for him. The question of God, “where are you?” to Adam echoes also God’s anxiety over his absence. This is just like a loving father who is after his beloved child that is missing. Through today’s meditation verse, in the beginning of “the creation account of new Israel,” we hear again the revelation of God’s purpose; “to be with him.”

Again we read, “God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and placed there the man whom he had formed.” (Gen 2:8) He was given the garden with a mission; “The Lord God then took the man and settled him in the garden of Eden, to cultivate and care for it.” (Gen 2:15) An apostle is called to be with him and to be sent out to accomplish a particular mission like Adam’s call; “to be sent out to preach.”

The third element is very important: “have the authority to drive out the demons.” It is in union with God only you may be able to do your ministry and drive out demons. Once your relationship with God is broken, then your ministry will be disturbed and destroyed by Satan as in the case of Adam. Therefore, in order to drive out demons, you have to do your ministries faithfully in union with God. Jesus says, “Without me you can do nothing.” (Jn 15:5) 

                 

Prayer: Lord God, we thank you and praise you for your daily eternal bread. O Lord, you are our creator and redeemer. The fact that you are our creator makes us think of our call to be with you and the fact that you are our redeemer reminds us of our faithful living in this world. Lord, give us the grace to do all our duties in union with you so that we may not fall into the temptations of Satan. We ask for this grace through Christ our Lord. Amen!

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

“All these people came to Jesus because they had heard of the things he was doing.” (Mk 3:8)

“All these people came to Jesus because they had heard of the things he was doing.” (Mk 3:8) 

Today’s Passages: Mk 3:7-12; Heb 7:25, 8:1-6

Meditation: Daily meditation is just like looking at the mirror and realizing ourselves; it helps us to know and improve ourselves. Today’s meditation verse surely guides us in this direction. The word of the Lord says, “All these people came to Jesus because they had heard of the things he was doing.” (Mk 3:8) Where are they from? They are from the whole of Palestine and the neighboring countries; more than four kilometers away.

What did they come for? They have come all the way over to hear the word of God and to be healed by God. Today also we find places where people are crowded over to hear the word of God and to be healed. However, there arises a point to reflect upon as to how they came to know about Jesus. Our meditation verse underlines, “because they had heard of the things he was doing.” This seems to be somewhat old-fashioned for the modern world.

Modern time’s language is almost that of conquering, defeating, making the other slave. On the highways, during night the two Wheeler are afraid of the halogens of the new four wheelers; in the churches and retreat centers, people are in a way forced to hear the sound not the message, not the music but the ear-breaking volume of the music system; and through the ads of the visual media people are becoming more and more slaves than masters. Even the mass conventions and protests prove themselves paid ones and controlled by the event management groups.

It is in this context we reflect on “all these people came to Jesus because they had heard of the things he was doing.” (Mk 3:8) Let the people be attracted primarily by the quality of our activities and ministries, not by our marketing skills, nor by our money power. God values above all our faithfulness to the ministries entrusted than the success connected to it. Whenever I am asked about the number of beneficiaries of my service or ministry, I used to tell that it is also the faithfulness to the call that matters.          

Prayer: Lord God, we thank you and praise you for your daily eternal bread. In this world of big ads and marketing, Lord, help us, with the help of your Holy Spirit, to do our duties and ministries that are entrusted to us silently and faithfully. Let us also learn to believe in your promise, “Your father, who sees what you do in private, will reward you.” (Mt 6:18)  We ask for this grace through Christ our Lord. Amen!

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

“Jesus was angry as he looked at them, but at the same time he felt sorry them, for they were so stubborn and wrong.” (Mk 3:5)

“Jesus was angry as he looked at them, but at the same time he felt sorry them, for they were so stubborn and wrong.” (Mk 3:5)

Today’s Passages: Mk 3:1-6; Heb 7:1-3, 15-17

Meditation: Today’s meditation verse rightly manifests Jesus’ human face on a Sabbath day. It is actually the continuation of yesterday’s reflection. All the four gospels obviously give their own accounts on Jesus’ healing on the Sabbath day: a man with a paralyzed hand (Mt 12:9-14); a man with an evil spirit (Mk 1:21-28); a crippled woman (Lk 13:10-17); and a paralyzed man at Bethsaida (Jn 5:1-17).

Most of the time of these healing, we find the Pharisees or the teachers of the Law making their attempts to question Jesus for the violation of the Law or going out and planning to do something against Jesus. In today’s passage also we find some of the people present there watching him closely to see whether he would heal the man with the withered hand on the Sabbath day. However, Jesus takes these opportunities to teach them about the spirit of the Sabbath day.

We focus today specially on Jesus’ reaction to the response of the people present there. “Jesus was angry as he looked at them, but at the same time he felt sorry them, for they were so stubborn and wrong.” (Mk 3:5) The real mix of the human and the divine is unveiled here. He cannot keep his anger for long for he has come not to judge and condemn the world but to redeem. Through the prophet Isaiah, God says, “For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with great tenderness I will take you back.” (Is 54:7)

Because of this nature of Jesus, the book of Hebrews plainly calls him the eternal high priest and says, “Therefore, since we have a high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin.” (Heb 4:14, 15)

In the second reading we hear, “He was made a priest, not by human rules and regulations, but through a power of a life which has no end.” (Heb 7:16) It is about the eternal priesthood of Jesus Christ too. St. John Maria Vianney defines priesthood as “the love of the heart of Jesus.” Though the ministries of priests reflect and mirror Jesus who is the king, prophet and shepherd, the imagery of Jesus the good shepherd should shine in him than the other two. 

             

Prayer: Lord God, we thank you and praise you for your daily eternal bread. Lord, let this word, “My son, pay attention when the Lord corrects you, and do not be discouraged when he rebukes you. Because the Lord corrects everyone he loves, and punishes everyone he accepts as a son,” (Heb 12:5) be an anointing in each one of us. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen!

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

“Look, it is against our Law for your disciples to do that on the Sabbath!” (Mk 2:24)

“Look, it is against our Law for your disciples to do that on the Sabbath!” (Mk 2:24) 

Today’s Passages: Mk 2:23-28; Heb 6:10-20

Meditation: If we go through today’s meditation verse, we understand how zealous the Pharisees and scribes are. We have already learned from our previous meditations that they are very zealous about the Law and traditions. Many a time we have seen them intervening and intriguing whenever and wherever the Law of Moses is broken or violated. That is why even Jesus and his disciples were at times questioned, “Look, it is against our Law for your disciples to do that on the Sabbath!” (Mk 2:24)

However, it is also quite interesting to note Jesus’ response to them also, “According to our Law only the priest may this bread – but David ate it and even gave it to his men.” (Mk 2:26) If we observe closely, we can notice that both of them are speaking about the same Law. Then, the question arises as to how the same Law becomes the point of agreement as well as disagreement at the same time. I do believe that it arises from the way you look at the Law. That means, it is not only the letters matter but also the spirit of the Law.

All laws, including the Sabbath law, are formulated primarily for the good of the man. Therefore, Jesus invites each one of us today to review our attitude toward the laws and regulations; both divine and human. Unless and until they lead us to the good of the other, it is of no use. For this, we have to know and abide by the spirit of the Law, not mere the letters of the Law. The Pharisees saw only the letters of the Law and were often misled others.

Only Jesus can lead us to the truth of the Law for the word of the Lord says, “God gave the Law through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” (Jn 1:17) If we keep the spirit of the commandments, the giver of the commandments, Jesus will save and protect us. The second reading encourages us by saying, “On our behalf Jesus has gone in there before us, and has become a high priest forever, in the line of succession to Melchizedek.” (Heb 6:20)

Prayer: Lord God, we thank you and praise you for your daily eternal bread. Lord, have mercy us, sinners. Often we find justification before men by keeping the Law for the Law’s sake. However, we understand that you are the One who look into the heart of men. Let us learn the meaning of your word, “The words I have spoken to you bring God’s life-giving Spirit. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen!

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