To hear the Audio Reflections of Thursday, June 1, 2017 click HERE
Wednesday, 31 May 2017
Thursday, June 1, 2017 - Are the troubles and difficulties of your neighbour as real to you as your own? Or do you regard their problems as of no consequence to you?
To read the texts click on the texts: Acts 22:30-23:6-11; Jn 17:20-26
In these last verses of the
prayer, Jesus expands the circle of those for whom he prays to include
believers of the future. Since Jesus did not come to make a limited revelation,
but one that was meant to embrace the whole world, it is only appropriate that
he pray also for those who will believe because of the disciples’ word and witness.
The primary invocation that Jesus makes here is the all be one. It is a
petition for unity. The reason for this petition is that Jesus wants all those
who will believe in him to share in the same relationship that he shares with
his Father. Just as Jesus and the Father are one, so, he prays, that all
believers will also share in this mutual indwelling. When this unity is seen by
those who do not yet believe, they, too, will be inspired to know and believe
that Jesus was indeed sent by God. Unity of the community, which has as its
source the unity of the Son and Father, will be the drawing force that will
lead others to Jesus. By the unity that is shown in community, those who
believe in Jesus will also be able to complete God’s work in the same way in
which Jesus did.
In the last three verses of
the prayer (17:24 -26),
there is a greater intensity. Petition changes to want. This is not to be
interpreted as selfishness but rather, as audacity or confidence. Jesus is
confident that his Father will give him what he wants and also, that this is
his Father’s will for him and all believers. What Jesus wants is that God, he,
and the believers, share in a mutual indwelling. What he wants is that all be
one. This oneness and unity is expressed in the tangible reality of love.
Christianity was never meant
to be, and can never be, a private religion. Everything about Christianity is
both individual and communitarian. The seven Sacraments are beautiful examples
of the communal dimension of Christianity. This is because Jesus did not come
to make a private or esoteric revelation to only a small group of individuals
but to make a revelation to the whole world. Thus, the community of believers
today is faced with this challenge of showing the communal dimension or unity
of the community and so, drawing others to believe. It is a tremendous
privilege and responsibility. It is a privilege because we are called to
continue the work of Jesus himself and so share in the mission entrusted to him
by his Father. It is a responsibility because, as believers, we cannot be
complacent and content with our private devotions or individual faith. We must manifest it to everyone we meet. It
is a faith that is to be shown in action, a faith that is to be shown in
tangible love.
Tuesday, 30 May 2017
Audio Reflections of Wednesday, May 31, The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
To hear the Audio Reflections of Wednesday, May 31, The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 2017 click HERE
Wednesday, May 31, 2017 - The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
To read the texts click on the texts: Zeph 3:14-18; Lk 1:39-56
The Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin
Mary to her kinswoman Elizabeth was begun by St. Bonaventure among the
Franciscans in 1263 C.E, and became a universal Feast in 1389 C.E., during the
papacy of Urban VI. It celebrates the visit of Mary to Elizabeth after the
angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she would be the mother of Jesus.
The call of the first reading chosen for the feast
of today is a call to rejoice. This rejoicing is for many reasons. The first of
these is that judgement has been taken away. The Lord is now in the midst of
his people. This being in the midst of his people is confirmed by the Gospel
text of today where Jesus is already in the womb of Mary and so among his
people. There will be no more reproach or condemnation. Now, there will only be
unconditional love.
This unconditional love is confirmed both by the
physical act of Mary’s visit to her kinswoman Elizabeth and also the Magnificat
which is attributed to Mary. In this hymn, Mary extols God’s greatness because
God has indeed redeemed his people. The verbs that are used in the hymn are all
in the past tense though signify future actions. This is an indication of the
faith and confidence that Mary has in God who she is confident will accomplish
all that he has promised.
Though on the surface level the Visitation may
appear to be Mary’s concern and love for her cousin, on the deeper level it
means that Mary wants to share with Elizabeth what God has done in each of
their lives and through the sons to be born of them, what God will do in the
world.
Monday, 29 May 2017
Audio Reflections of Tuesday, May 30, 2017
To hear the Audio Reflections of Tuesday, May 30, 2017 click HERE
Tuesday, May 30, 2017 - Does my prayer show in action? How?
To read the texts click on the texts: Acts 20:17-27; Jn 17:1-11
Chapter 17, from which we
will read today, tomorrow, and the day after, is titled “The High Priestly
Prayer” of Jesus. However, this may also be seen as a farewell hymn of praise
to God. This farewell is not simply the death of Jesus, but is the “departure”
from this world, a return to the Father, after completing the work entrusted to
him. It is thus a prayer of thanksgiving and confidence. Since is the last
prayer before the Passion Narrative, which begins in Chapter 18, it must also
be interpreted with this in mind. The intimacy that Jesus shares with the
Father shines through every sentence of the prayer. Jesus speaks in this prayer
directly to God.
The prayer is divided into
three parts. In the first (17:1-5), though it seems that he is praying for
himself, what Jesus is really doing is giving thanks to the Father for his
graciousness and love. In the second part (17:6-19), Jesus prays for his
disciples and, in the final part of the prayer (17:20-26), Jesus prays for
those who will believe because of the disciples preaching, i.e. future
generations of disciples.
The prayer begins with Jesus
adopting a formal posture of prayer, looking up to heaven, and addressing God
as “Father”. On the one hand, this shows that Jesus now distances himself from
his disciples and, on the other, indicates the intimate relationship that Jesus
shares with God. The announcement of the “hour” at the beginning of the prayer
points to the fact that the prayer will be directed to God, keeping this in
mind. It is the “hour” of glorification because during it, Jesus will obey God
completely, and in that obedience, God will be revealed and glorified. Jesus,
as Son, has revealed God’s gift of eternal life to all who were willing to
receive it. Jesus has completed this work on earth and now, he has to return to
the Father in order to complete the work of glorification.
The work of glorification
included making the name of God known to all. Jesus has revealed the Father as
Father and God as a God of unconditional and bountiful love. The disciples have
been able to see God revealed in Jesus and thus, have kept God’s revealed word.
Since Jesus is not going to be in the world in the same way in which he was
with the disciples, he prays for their protection. This protection is to be
manifested in the oneness that the disciples will share to show those who do
not yet believe, that Jesus has indeed come from God and is with God.
Prayer is not primarily
words, but an attitude. This is what Jesus displays in his prayer. The manner
in which one addresses God displays the relationship that one shares with him.
“Father” was the most intimate term for Jesus to use and it shows the oneness
that he felt with God. Each of us has to find our own intimate term with which
to address God. It is important to realize that, after Jesus, God can never be
looked at with fear or trepidation, but only with confidence, courage, and
hope.
Prayer does not begin with
“me” but with God and his glorification. However, the glorification of God is
complete when love abounds, because where love is, there God is. The effect of
our prayer has to be seen in tangible love, expressed in deeds, like it was in
the life of Jesus.
Sunday, 28 May 2017
Audio Reflections of Monday, May 29, 2017
To hear the Audio Reflections of Monday, May 29, 2017 click HERE
Monday, May 29, 2017 - When faced with a seemingly insurmountable problem today will you believe that you, like Jesus, will overcome?
To read the texts click on the texts: Acts 19:1-8; Jn 16:29-33
Though the disciples think
that they have understood everything that Jesus has said, and that it is plain
to them, they actually misunderstand. While Jesus has used many figures of
speech to make his points, the disciples mistakenly think that he has used only
one. They also do not realize that Jesus had spoken of a future time when he
would speak plainly and when things would be clear, and erroneously think of
that time as the present. Where Jesus was appealing to the heart, the disciples
used their minds. Their knowledge is an intellectual knowledge and thus,
focuses only on the present and not on the future. They forget that the whole
story of Jesus can only be completed with the departure to the Father. This is
why Jesus has to reorient them and remind them again of the “hour”. The “hour”
here is the hour of death which will result in the scattering of the disciples.
They will all abandon him at his death. Yet, Jesus will not be alone because he
knows that the Father will be with him, even if no one else is. Thus, even when
faced with the most difficult situation, namely death, Jesus can have peace and
this is the peace that he will gift to the disciples. This peace will enable
the disciples to stand up to all the trials and tribulations they will
encounter.
The last words of Jesus here
are words of confidence and hope: “But take courage; I have conquered the
world.” Even as he goes to his death, Jesus knows that victory will be his. He
will overcome, through his cross, all the negative powers that try to prevent
his love from reaching the ends of the earth.
It takes courage to believe
when we are faced with seemingly insurmountable obstacles and difficulties of
life. It is at times like these that our faith is tested and tried. It is at
times like these when we have to ask ourselves whether we believe that God is
still working for our good. To have courage in the face of adversity, to
believe in the face of trials, and to trust and have faith when everything
seems to be going wrong, is to have the confidence in the Father that Jesus
had. This attitude can be ours if we open ourselves to God’s abundant grace and
realize the impermanence of all that assails us. It is to know that, like
Jesus, we too will overcome the “world”. The movement from present sorrow, pain
and trial, to future joy, peace and hope, is possible and even guaranteed
because Jesus has overcome.
Saturday, 27 May 2017
Audio Reflections of Sunday, May 28, 2017 the feast of the Ascension
To hear the Audio Reflections of Sunday, May 28, 2017 the feast of the Ascension click HERE
Sunday, May 28, 2017 - The Ascension of the Lord - Will you proclaim the WORD in ACTION?
Though the First and Second readings and the
Responsorial Psalm are common for all three years A, B and C, the Gospel
readings differ on Ascension Sunday. In year A the Church reads from Matthew,
in year B from the longer and canonical ending of Mark (Mk 16:15 -20) and in year C from the last chapter
and verses of Luke (Lk 24:46-53). While Mark and Luke clearly mention the
detail of Jesus ascending into heaven, Matthew does not. Yet, the scene in
Matthew conveys a depth of meaning that the other Synoptic Gospels find
difficult to match.
Matthew’s text is made up of two parts. The first of
these is the encounter of the disciples with the Risen Lord on the mountain in Galilee and the second is the commission which the Risen
Lord gives to his disciples. The encounter with the disciples is described as a
matter of fact, as an event which takes place ordinarily. The response of the
disciples to the appearance of Jesus is worship mixed with doubt. This is to
indicate that the Risen Jesus comes to a Church that while it worships also
wavers, while it believes also hesitates, while it has faith also doubts. This
is the Church to which the commission is given and by sacrificing
sensationalism, the text focuses on the words of the Risen Jesus. The
universalizing “All” before the revelation which Jesus makes about his
authority, before the commission that he gives the disciples, and before
assuring them of his abiding presence, makes the whole scene universal in
scope. The local Mission of Jesus has become now universal.
The first reading from the Acts of the Apostles
already sets the tone for the Universal Mission which the disciples are given.
Here they are commissioned to be witnesses not only in Jerusalem Assisi
The evidence that they were to give and the message that
they were to proclaim, was good news. The message was hope and light and love. It
was a message which Jesus himself had taught them and this is what they were to
teach. This was why even before Jesus sent them out, he made explicit that the
authority was his and not theirs. Their job was not to usurp this authority,
but simply to welcome all peoples to make the same discovery that they had made
in their faith journey, the discovery of the God of light and of goodness, of
mercy and of compassion, of justice and of reconciliation -- and not impose
their own cultural values or their own cultural traditions in the process. It
was allowing others to make that discovery freely and joyfully. Authority has
been given to Christ.
This was remembered by Christians in the first
century as is evident in the community living which resulted as a result of the
witness to the words and deeds of Jesus. They also realized that the Church was
but the body of the Risen Christ and so had to continue to be an extension of
him who was raised.
The missionary movement of the Church stemming from
the Mission command of Jesus continued and
does so even today. There are moments in the Church’s history in which we see
truly gracious, noble, altruistic and selfless acts of dedication and service.
A lot of good has been done in every continent and corner of the earth because
the Church continued to take seriously the command of Jesus.
However, it is also true that sometimes we as Church
seemed to have forgotten the real message and concentrated on getting converts
to the faith at any cost. This has left in some places a memory of hurt, pain,
loss and even suffering. We have sometimes missed the point. The mistake that
we sometimes make is to forget that the authority rests with Jesus and not with
us. Our role continues to be only that of proclaimers who will “disciple” peoples
everywhere by teaching them through our lives what Jesus has commanded us and
done in us.
Friday, 26 May 2017
Audio Reflections of Saturday, May 27, 2017
To hear the Audio Reflections of Saturday, May 27, 2017 click HERE
Saturday, May 27, 2017 - Do you remember to add at the end of your prayer the words “not my, but your will be done”?
To read the texts click on the texts: Acts18:23-28; Jn 16:23-28
The death, resurrection, and
ascension of Jesus will be the event that will enable the disciples to pray,
not only in Jesus’ name, but like he prayed. Through this event, the disciples
will enter into a new relationship with Jesus and with God through him. This
relationship will be a relationship of love. As God showed his love for the
world in sending Jesus, and Jesus showed his love for the world by accepting
the cross, so the disciples have shown love for Jesus and God by accepting and
believing that Jesus has come from God.
In the last verse of today’s
text the entire mission of Jesus is summarized. Jesus has been sent by God and
has come from God. After completing the mission entrusted to him, he is
returning to where he has come from: God. The story of Jesus, which began with
his coming from the Father ends, but also continues with his ascending to the
Father.
Thursday, 25 May 2017
Audio Reflections of Friday, May 26, 2017
To hear the Audio Reflections of Friday, May 26, 2017 click HERE
Friday, May 26, 2017 - What causes sorrow in you? Can you be described as primarily a “happy” person? If No, why not?
To read the texts click on the texts: Acts18:9-18; Jn 16:20-23
Jesus explains in these
verses how the disciple’s sorrow will turn to joy. The metaphor of child birth
is used to explain the in-breaking of God’s kingdom. Just as the birth of a
child turns the pain of the mother into joy, so the in-breaking of God’s
kingdom will turn the disciples’ sorrow into joy. Jesus’ appearance to the
disciples after his death will be the cause of their sorrow turning to joy.
This joy will not be temporary, but permanent, and no one or event will be able
to take it away. This is because the whole of life’s perspective will change
and the disciples will become a new people, a new creation. On that day, all
the questions of the disciples will cease because nothing will need to be
explained. It will be as clear as it needs to be.
Sorrow and joy are common
everyday experiences of all humans. Sorrow is caused when things do not go the
way we expect them to or when people do not respond in the way we want them to.
When our expectations are not met, we feel sad and upset. However, after the
resurrection of Jesus and his presence among us in his Spirit, sorrow can never
be an enduring experience for a believer. It is always temporary. Joy is
permanent. This joy is not caused by the happening or not happening of events,
it is not caused by our expectations being fulfilled, but by a realization
that, in Jesus, God always wants what is best for us and will never do anything
that is not for our good and for his glory. It is a realization that, in Jesus,
we are loved unconditionally by a God who is Father and who always wants what
is best for his sons and daughters.
Wednesday, 24 May 2017
Audio Reflections of Thursday, May 25, 2017
To hear the Audio Reflections of Thursday, May 25, 2017 click HERE
Thursday, May 25, 2017 - Can you be courageous even when it seems that the whole world is conspiring against you?
To read the texts click on the texts: Acts18:1-8; Jn 16:16-20
In the first verse of
today’s reading, 16:16 ,
the focus is turned back from the Paraclete to the impending departure of Jesus
and the response of the disciples to that departure. The first “little while”
in this verse refers to the time before his death, which Jesus sees as fast
approaching, whereas the second “little while” refers to the events after his
death to his resurrection appearances and even beyond. The disciples are not
able to understand the meaning of Jesus’ words and keep questioning among
themselves what they mean.
Though they have not
addressed Jesus with their questions, he is aware of what they are discussing.
Yet, he does not answer their question directly, but moves the question to a
new direction. A new teaching is introduced by the use of the words, “Amen,
amen”. There will be contrasting responses to the death of Jesus. The disciples
will weep and mourn, whereas the “world”, which here must be translated as
those opposed to the revelation of God in Jesus, will rejoice. However, this will only be a temporary
response. The pain and sorrow of the disciples will soon turn to joy.
It is easy to be happy and
believe that God is on our side when things go the way we want. However, when
we are faced with obstacles and difficulties, when we do not get the due we
think we deserve and, when the road is steep and the going is difficult, then
we begin to wonder if God is on our side. The text of today is a call to
believe, even in the most difficult circumstances. It is a call to know that
there will be joy, even in the midst of pain, and happiness, even in the midst
of sorrow. It is a call to have faith and see the risen Jesus, even as he hangs
on the cross, and to see in the crosses that we have to carry every day, our
own resurrection.
Tuesday, 23 May 2017
Audio reflections of Wednesday, May 24, 2017
To hear the Audio reflections of Wednesday, May 24, 2017 click HERE
Wednesday, May 24, 2017 - Will you like Mary, let it done ‘in and through you’ by God?
To read the texts click on the texts: Prov 4:10-18; Lk 2:15-19
In 1537 St.
Ignatius hired a small house near a small church on a narrow street in Rome.
The Church was named as Our Lady of the Way, because of a picture of Our Lady
in the church and its proximity to the narrow street. Here St. Ignatius
celebrated Mass and prayed with his companions.
For many years
‘La Strada’ (the wayside) was the ‘heart of the Society’. It witnessed the long
hours of prayer of St. Ignatius, his discussions, meditations, and reflections
with his companions. The Constitutions were written here. The first novices
were trained by St. Ignatius here. Hundreds of letters went from here to St.
Ignatius’ companions round the world. Fr. Cordacio, a wealthy and influential
diocesan priest who became a Jesuit used all his money and influence to buy the
rented house and secure the Church through Pope Paul III for the Society. In
course of years the ‘Gesu’ Church and other buildings came up. All this through
the powerful intercession of Mary, Queen and Mother of the Society whose same
picture is venerated in a special chapel in the ‘Gesu’ and who is honoured with
today’s feast, granted to the Society of Jesus by Pope Leo XIII in 1900.
The Gospel
text chosen for the memorial of the feast concerns the response of the
Shepherds to the revelation that they have received. It also concerns the
response of Mary. While all are amazed at the Shepherds report of the things
that have taken place, Mary “treasured all these words and pondered them in her
heart” (2:19). Mary is unable to make logical sense of all the events that have
taken place in her life. The annunciation, the pregnancy of Elizabeth, the
birth of John the Baptist and the birth of her son are all mysteries to her.
Her response to these mysterious events is to ‘wonder’. She tries to make as
much sense as she can of these events. Even as she does so, she remains the
servant of the Lord, his handmaid, who let it be done in and through her.
There are
times in our lives when we cannot understand the meaning of events that take
place. At times like these we respond in a variety of ways. If the event that
occurs is not what we expected, we might lose faith in God, respond with anger
or simply give up and give in. The Response of Mary is a challenge to us of how
we also can respond. We might not always receive logical answers to the
questions that we ask, but if remain God’s servants and let it be done in and
through us, we will find that peace which only the Lord can give.
Wednesday, May 24, 2017 - What contemporary symbol describes Jesus for you? How will you share this symbol with at least one other person today?
To read the texts click on the texts: Acts17:15,22-18:1; Jn 16:12-15
The Paraclete is mentioned
for the last time in the Farewell Discourse in these verses. Jesus has taught
the disciples all that they are to know and understand about the present time.
There is nothing more about the present that he can say to them. What they need
to know about the future will be revealed to them at the appropriate time and
when the Spirit that is sent comes. This means that, even when they are faced
with the future which is uncertain, God’s presence will be with them. They are
not alone. The Paraclete is the “spirit of truth” since he comes from Jesus,
who is “the truth” and will guide the disciples into the way of truth, into the
way of Jesus. Since the Paraclete will be sent by Jesus, he will only explicate
and make clearer what Jesus has already said. He will not give a new teaching
but will continue what Jesus has begun. As Jesus taught what he heard from God,
so the Paraclete will teach what he hears from Jesus.
He will also declare “the
things that are to come” which here means the preparation of the disciples for
the time after Jesus. This also indicates that the words of Jesus are not time
bound, but available anew for every succeeding generation of disciples. The
Paraclete always makes the teachings new and relevant for the times. Just as
Jesus made God visible through his words and actions, so the Paraclete will
make Jesus present through the inspiration and support he provides to the
disciples.
The Paraclete thus makes
Jesus present even after his death, resurrection, and ascension to the Father.
He is the teacher and witness of all that Jesus has said and done. That is, the
Paraclete enables the Christian community, at any time in its life, to reach
back to the teachings of Jesus and “remember,” and bring Jesus’ teachings to
life afresh with new understanding. However, the Paraclete’s role as teacher is
also creative. The Paraclete enables the word of Jesus to move forward from its
moment in history to the present life of the church. The Paraclete gives new
meanings to the teachings of Jesus as the changing circumstances of faith
communities and the world demand.
Monday, 22 May 2017
Audio Reflections of Tuesday, May 23, 2017
To hear the Audio Reflections of Tuesday, May 23, 2017 click HERE
Tuesday, May 23, 2017 - If people heard you speak and saw your actions today, would they recognize you as a follower of Jesus?
To read the texts click on the texts: Acts16:22-34; Jn 16:5-11
These verses continue the
farewell Discourse which was begun in 14:1. Since Jesus had been physically
present to the disciples, he did not need to give them instructions about the
time when he would not be with them. However, since that time has now come,
they need to be informed about how they are to handle the future without him.
They are dismayed and troubled, even though they know that he is going to the
Father. They must realize and accept that it is to their advantage that Jesus
goes. If he does not go, the Paraclete cannot come. Jesus’ departure, which
means his death, resurrection, and ascension, must precede the Paraclete’s
coming. When this happens, Jesus will have completed the work given to him by
the Father and the Paraclete will continue the work begun by Jesus.
The Paraclete’s work in the
world will be to bring people to trial. This, however, is only one of the many
functions that the Paraclete performs. It will bring out into the open the true
meaning of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and the “world”, which here means
those who rejected Jesus, will be held accountable.
The “world’s” sin is exposed
because they have not believed in Jesus as the one who was sent from, and by,
the Father. This means that the focus is not on one particular act, but on the
attitude of rejection. Though the “world” might assume that Jesus’ death is the
end, it is mistaken and, in this is righteousness exposed. Jesus’ death is not
the end; rather, it is the completion on earth of the work entrusted to him by
the Father. It is to be seen in the context of obedience to his Father’s will
for him and the world. The final judgment will be that of the “ruler of this
world”. By his death, resurrection, and ascension, the devil, the embodiment of
all that is opposed to Jesus, will be judged. It will be proved, through this
decisive act that God has triumphed in his Son.
The “world” continues to be
opposed to Jesus and to love. However, Jesus continues to be present to the
world in his Spirit, made manifest in his disciples. It is the task of the
disciples inspired and guided by the Spirit to continue to expose the sin of
the world and bring the world to judgment. While this may be done by verbal
proclamation, it must also be, like in the case of Jesus, a proclamation that
is shown in action.
Sunday, 21 May 2017
Audio Reflections of Monday, May 22, 2017
To hear the Audio Reflections of Monday, May 22, 2017 click HERE
Monday, May 22, 2017 - Will you persevere in love today? When you are repaid with ingratitude for your kindness, will you continue to love?
To read the texts click on the texts: Acts16:11-15; Jn 15:26-16:4
This is the third promise of
the coming of the Paraclete in the Gospel of John. Jesus had made the first
promise in 14:16 -17, and
the second one in 14:26 .
The Paraclete or Advocate is sent by Jesus and the Father. The Paraclete is
sent by Jesus, but is sent from the Father. The Paraclete is sent here to
testify or bear witness to Jesus. This means that the teaching of the Paraclete
will not be new teaching but a confirmation of what Jesus has already taught
and done. Just as the Paraclete bears witness, so must the disciples, since
they have seen and heard Jesus from the beginning. The Paraclete will give
strength to the disciples in their time of trial so that they will not fall
away. The Paraclete will work in and through the disciples. The work of Jesus
continues through the Paraclete working in the disciples.
Because of this work of
Jesus, the disciples will have to face persecution from those who do not accept
them. As a matter of fact, those who engage in such persecution will think they
are right and, by so persecuting the disciples, will think they are, in effect,
worshipping God. This is because they have not understood the meaning of the
incarnation and so, have not been able to recognize God’s unconditional and
gratuitous love made manifest in Jesus. Jesus predicts these happenings, to
both prepare the disciples in advance for what is to come and also, to warn
them about the consequences of following him. Their perseverance and standing
firm, even in the midst of persecution, will reveal their love for him and the
Father and will be the tangible expression of their faith.
Believing in Jesus is not
easy. It is one thing to verbally profess faith in him and another to live out
all that he taught and did. It is especially difficult to follow him when
things do not go the way we want them to and when things happen contrary to our
expectations. When those to whom we are good repay us with goodness, we are not
surprised, because we expect them to do just that. However, when those to whom
we have reached out in love are ungrateful and sometimes openly hostile to us,
we get shocked at their behavior, simply because we did not expect them to
react in that way. It is at times like these that we must remember the
predictions of Jesus made here. His love for the world, shown in the most
tangible manner on the cross, was spurned by most of his contemporaries, yet
that same love continues to be made new, even today, two thousand years later.
We, too, are called not to fall away but to persevere in love.
Saturday, 20 May 2017
Audio Reflections of Sunday, May 21, 2017
To hear the Audio Reflections of Sunday, May 21, 2017 click HERE
Sunday, May 21, 2017 - Sixth Sunday of Easter - Always with us: Jesus and his Spirit
To read the texts click on the texts: Acts 8:5-8,14-17; 1 Pet 3:15-18; Jn 14:15-21
Someone once said tongue in cheek: “The reason
mountain climbers are tied together is to keep the sane ones from going home.”
Whoever said that may have been joking, but only partly. For, though we know
that mountain climbers are tied together to keep from getting lost or going
over a cliff and even to support and encourage one another, there is another
piece of truth here. When things get difficult up on the mountain, when the
going gets tough, when the path is too steep, when fear sets in, many a climber
is tempted to say, “This is too difficult! It’s crazy! I’m going home.” This is
understandable and sometimes even prudent.
The life of faith can be like that. When doubts
set in and despair overwhelms us, the whole notion of believing in God seems
crazy. Jesus was aware that his disciples would have days like that, and so the
focus in the opening verses of this chapter (Jn 14) read last week was on the
confidence that the disciples are exhorted to have, since Jesus will overcome
death and return.
Here the focus is on two interconnected aspects.
The first of these is the intimate connection between the love which one has
for Jesus and keeping his commandment of love – a theme which begins and ends
this text – and the second is the promise of the Advocate, Helper, Comforter,
Counsellor or Paraclete that Jesus will ask for the disciples from the Father
who will come to their aid and to give strength and courage when the going gets
tough and the road is steep.
In the first, Jesus is explicit that the love of
the disciple has to be a tangible love that will express itself in action. It
is to be an imitation of the love that the first letter of Peter speaks about;
the love of Christ who died for the guilty to lead us to God. This kind of
unconditional love will lead to the disciple sharing in the Father’s love.
It also leads to the second and connected aspect:
the promise of the gift of the Advocate who will abide not only with the
disciples but also in them. The Advocate can mean variously, “the one who comforts”,
“the one who helps” and “the one who makes appeals on one’s behalf”. This
Advocate will not engage in any new work, but will continue the work of Jesus.
The Spirit will ensure that the revelation of God begun in Jesus will continue
forever. Though the Paraclete will be with the disciples, Jesus himself will
also return to accompany the disciples.
While not abandoning traditional beliefs – for
instance, in the second coming and judgement – John handles them in a way which
relates them directly to the present. The chief focus of his spirituality is
not bigger miracles or stricter commandments, but the expansion of the
initiative of love which comes from God and seeks to fill the world. This is
why John’s account of Jesus’ last words insists on the Spirit, relationship and
resultant action on communities of love which ‘speak for themselves’. The
passage is framed by human anxiety about the absence of Jesus and ultimately
about the absence of God (14:1; 14:27). It does not deny the anxiety and distress,
but offers a promise of presence and sense of meaning embedded in sharing God’s
life and participating in God’s action in the world, recognizable by its
‘Jesus-shape’. These parting words of Jesus are not merely for his immediate
disciples but disciples of all times.
This is why even after the death of Stephen by
stoning and the general persecution of the Christian community, Philip, one of
the seven chosen deacons, is aware of this presence of the Risen Lord and is
bold to proclaim Christ. The Spirit working in and through him enabled him to
both preach and act as Jesus himself had done. The result of Philip’s actions
through the guidance of the Spirit was that people were made whole. This
combination of healing word and action resulted in great rejoicing, and many
were drawn to Christ.
This presence, in which the disciples loved,
continued to sustain them and make an impact on others. Since this was so, they
are exhorted in the second reading of today to be willing to share that hope.
It is not to be a sharing that smacks of condescension or a sharing which
professes to have the whole truth, but a sharing that has to be done in
humility, courtesy and reverence for the other. We are given as it were a
starting point for inter-religious dialogue.
This kind of sharing is the need of the hour in
today’s world. In a world that is already a global village but also where each
community is becoming more closed in on itself and parochial, the task of the
Christian community is evident. Convinced that the Risen Lord continues to
accompany us on our journey in and through his Spirit which abides in each of
us, we must be able to communicate this presence which is manifested in peace,
joy, fellowship and justice for all.
Friday, 19 May 2017
Audio reflections of Saturday, May 20, 2017
To hear the Audio reflections of Saturday, May 20, 2017 click HERE
Saturday, May 20, 2017 - How often has your comparison with what others have led you to feel jealous of them? Will you realize that you can be the most contented person if you so decide today?
To read the texts click on the texts: Acts 16:1-10; Jn 15:18-21
These verses of the
Discourse on the Vine and the Branches focus not on the relationship of Jesus
and the disciples, like the earlier verses did, but on the relationship of the
disciples with the “world”. Here, the word “world” is used to represent, not
the physical world, but those who are opposed to God’s revelation in Jesus.
The challenge of love will
be truly encountered when the community faces the “world”. The “world” will
hate the disciples because of their relationship with Jesus and because they
live out his teachings. If the disciples want the world to love them, they must
give up the teachings of Jesus. However, because they have been chosen by Jesus
and set apart from the “world”, they too, like Jesus, will have to endure the
“world’s” hatred.
The disciples must realize
that following and obeying Jesus, as servants obey their masters, will lead to
persecution. What has happened with Jesus will be repeated in the disciples’
lives. While the authority of the one sent is the same as the sender, it is
also true that the response to the one sent will be the same as the response to
the sender. Those who do not accept the word of truth, spoken by God in Jesus,
will indulge in persecution. Those who accept the word will respond by living
out that word in their lives. Rejection
of the disciples means rejection of Jesus because it is Jesus who sends them. Rejection of Jesus means rejection of God who
sent him.
In a world in which the
resonating message is to “have more”, it is not always easy to speak and live
Jesus’ message to “be more”. Those who do this are labelled as crazy and out of
touch with reality. Possession of things has so possessed us that we do not
even realize that, most of the time; it is things that possess us rather than
the other way round. We are held by the things we want to possess and they will
not let us rest. Often, it begins with a small possession and then goes on to
something bigger and soon gets so big that we lose control of ourselves and who
we are. Our identity is linked with what we have and what we have achieved. In
a situation like this, we need to take stock and decide when enough is enough.
We need to ask ourselves whether we will live our lives moving from one
possession to the next, often not even having the time or energy to enjoy what
we possess.
Thursday, 18 May 2017
Audio Reflections of Friday, May 19, 2017
To hear the Audio Reflections of Friday, May 19, 2017 click HERE
Friday, May 19, 2017 - Have you received Jesus’ gift of unconditional love? Does this show in your sharing of that love?
To read the texts click on the texts: Acts 15:22-31; Jn 15:12-17
The first verse of today’s
reading repeats the love commandment of 13:34, which there, was referred to as
a new commandment. This love is expressed in the most perfect of ways in the
willingness to go to one’s death for the sake of a friend. The disciples are
indeed friends of Jesus, as has been manifested in their keeping his command to
love. It is important to note that Jesus is not placing a condition for
friendship here (you can be my friends only if…); rather he is stating what and
who the disciples are (because you are my friends, you do what I command).
The friendship that the
disciples share with Jesus is grounded in love. This means that Jesus keeps
back nothing from his disciples and reveals to them all that they need to know.
His primary revelation to them has been of God as a loving and compassionate
Father.
It is Jesus who has taken
the initiative in calling and choosing the disciples and this fact reinforces
the idea of grace. It is not one’s effort that can earn discipleship but the
grace of God which, when received, results in one living out the call to
discipleship. The living out of the call is not merely a once for all act, but
something that is done constantly and with perseverance. This will ensure that
the effects of their love are abiding and lasting. The last verse of today,
with its reminder to “love one another”, forms an inclusion with the first.
The relationship that we
share with God because of Jesus is one of sons and daughters. We are Jesus’
brothers and sisters, even friends. This is because he has given us everything
in all its fullness. He held nothing back, not even his own self. The
manifestation of this self giving, which began with the incarnation, was
completed and continued on the cross, and through his resurrection and
ascension. He continues to give, even today. However, the giving is only one
side of the story. Without a receiver, the gift has no value. This is why,
while the grace of God given as a gift in Jesus is first, our reception of that
gift is as important if the act of giving is to be completed. We show that we
have received this gift when we, like Jesus, also dare to reach out in love.
When we speak an enhancing word, perform a loving action, behave a little less
selfishly, and a little more selflessly, then the gift is given and received,
again and again.
Wednesday, 17 May 2017
Audio reflections of Thursday, May 18, 2017
To hear the Audio reflections of Thursday, May 18, 2017 click HERE
Thursday, May 18, 2017 - How often has fear ruled your actions? Will you dare to act from love today?
To read the texts click on the texts: Acts 15:7-21; Jn 15:9-11
The love which the Father
has for Jesus is the same love that Jesus has expressed and shown for his
disciples. It is a love that is unconditional, a love without end. It is not
merely a verbal expression, or an emotion, but a love that is shown tangibly
and in every action that Jesus performs. The disciples have to act in the same
manner as Jesus in order to make this love visible. There is only one
commandment and that is the commandment to love. If the disciples keep this
commandment, it will result in their being like Jesus, their master, who before
them, revealed God’s love for the world.
Keeping the commandment of
Jesus is thus not a chore or burden but done willingly because one has
experienced this love first. The outcome of this sharing and manifestation of
love is unbounded joy.
The word “love” has been a
word that is used so often that it has been abused. We speak of our love for
the good things of life, and of our love for the members of our family, and of
our love for God in the same breath. “I love mixed vegetables” we might tell
our spouse and, in the next breath, say “I love you”. Love is not primarily an
emotion; it is not even a feeling, but reality. As a matter of fact, the only
reality is love. Fear, which is regarded as the opposite of love, is not real,
it is only an illusion. If there is fear, there cannot be love, and where there
is love, there is no fear (1 Jn 4:18 ).
While Paul gives a beautiful definition of love in 1 Cor 13:1-9, my own
definition of love is simple, but not simplistic. “In love, there is no “I””.
Tuesday, 16 May 2017
Audio reflections of Wednesday, May 17, 2017
To hear the Audio reflections of Wednesday, May 17, 2017 click HERE
Wednesday, May 17, 2017 - Do I consider myself as part of the vine or do I regard myself as an individual branch? How will I show that I am part of the vine?
To read the texts click on the texts: Acts 15:1-6; Jn 15:1-8
John 15:1-17 are the verses
for today and the next two days. These verses contain the final “I am” sayings
in the Gospel (vv. 1, 5) and introduce the central metaphor of this unit: the
vine and its branches. Jesus uses, in the first verse of Chapter 15, a common
symbol of the world at that time: Vine. While in 15:1, the relationship with
Jesus and the Father is stressed, in 15:5, when the metaphor is used again,
Jesus does so in the context of his relationship with his disciples. Thus, the
focus of the metaphor is interrelationship. If God is the vine dresser, Jesus
is the vine and the disciples are the branches. All three are required for the
production of fruit.
God, as the vine dresser, is
the origin or source and, because Jesus comes from the Father, he is the true
vine. God acts in his capacity as vine dresser and does what is best for the
vine. Those branches that do bear fruit are pruned and those that do not, are
cut away. This means that those of the community who express their union with
Jesus by acting it out in works of love are pruned, whereas those who do not
show their faith in action are cut off. The disciples have been given an
insight into how they must remain in the vine, through the words that Jesus has
spoken to them and through the loving actions that he performed, symbolized in
the washing of the feet. They must learn from these actions and realize that,
without abiding or remaining in Jesus, they can do nothing. Their own power or
effort will never be sufficient for the works they have to perform. These can
only be done if accompanied by the grace that Jesus gives.
“I am the vine, you are the
branches” in 15:5 is not a repetition of what was said earlier. Rather it
stresses the relationship of the community with Jesus. Without the vine, the
branches are nothing. Mutual indwelling will result in bearing fruit. If a
branch decides that it wants to live apart from the vine, it is in effect
asking for death. Life apart from the vine is not possible for any branch.
Mutual indwelling is not
merely with a single branch and the vine but with all the branches in the vine
with one another. This unity of the branches among themselves will result in
fruit bearing. This unity will also be a witness for the world and the glorification
of the vine dresser: God. When people see the works of the disciples, it will
lead them to glorify the Father.
All too often Christianity
has been understood as a religion that has only the individual dimension. The
communitarian dimension has been neglected. This is seen in so many of the
Sacraments (which are both individual and communitarian) being treated and
regarded as private devotions. The approach of many Christians has often been:
My God and I. This approach is to misunderstand Christianity and all that Jesus
stood for. The metaphor of today makes explicit that mutual indwelling is at
the heart of the preaching of Jesus, and that Christianity, while it surely has
an individual dimension, just as surely has a communitarian dimension. I am, as
a Christian my brother’s and sister’s keeper. Their joys and sorrow, their
trials and tribulations, their successes and failures, have to be as real to me
as my own if I am to be a Christian in the true sense of the word. The
Christian does make an individual commitment and choice to follow Jesus but
he/she makes it in and through a community.
Monday, 15 May 2017
Audio reflections of Tuesday, May 16, 2017
To hear the Audio reflections of Tuesday, May 16, 2017 click HERE
Tuesday, May 16, 2017 - When adversity knocks at your door do you open with dread and fear or hope and courage?
To read the texts click on the texts: Acts14:19-28; Jn 14:27-31
A new promise is given to
the disciples. This is first occurrence of “peace” in the Gospel of John. Peace
here does not mean simply a wish, but must be seen as a legacy or bequest that
Jesus leaves behind for the disciples. This peace that Jesus gives is not
merely a sense of security, not merely the end of conflict and strife, but it
embraces every aspect of a person’s life. This peace makes the weak strong and
the fainthearted brave. It is a wholeness which makes one courageous to face
all the trials and tribulations of life without getting overwhelmed. It is a
peace which gives them the strength to face every kind of adversity with
equanimity and faith.
Even as he offers this gift
to them, Jesus reminds them of his departure because this is what God wills and
it must come to pass. It is a reality that cannot be avoided and the peace
given to them must make them able to accept it. The disciples must accept this
reality, not out of resignation but, with an active joy. The reason for this
joy is that Jesus goes to the Father after having completed the work given to
him. It is the Father who has sent Jesus and given him the work to do - the
work of making the Father known to the world - and now, after completing it thoroughly,
Jesus goes back to where he has come from.
The foretelling of the
events is Jesus’ way of preparing the disciples for what is to come and also to
reveal to them that Jesus continues to go to his departure willingly and
knowingly. It is not as if some unseen hand or “fate” is responsible for what
is to come. Since what will happen fits in with God’s plan for Jesus and the
world, Satan is never in control. He cannot have any power over Jesus. Jesus
does what he does willingly and in obedience to the will of the Father..
The event of the death of a
loved one sometimes shatters our world. We find it difficult to cope with the
loss and wonder if the God we believe in really is a God of unconditional love.
Does our God really care what happens to us? If he does, then why did he let
this misfortune befall us? Where is he when we need him most? Why does he not
answer? The answers to these questions are provided by Jesus in the Gospel text
of today. He tells his disciples, and
us, to rejoice at such happenings because they fit in with God’s plan for us
and the world. We may not be able to see this plan at first glance, like the
disciples were not able to see it when Jesus spoke it to them, but we also know
that Jesus’ words are true because of his resurrection and ascension and
because of the transformation in the lives of his disciples because of these
events. We have to continue to dare to believe.
Sunday, 14 May 2017
Audio Reflections of Sunday, May 15, 2017
To hear the Audio Reflections of Sunday, May 15, 2017 click HERE
Monday, May 15, 2017 - Do Jesus and the Father dwell in you? How will you show this through your actions today?
To read the texts click on the texts: Acts 14:5-18; Jn14:21-26
To be a true disciple of
Jesus, it is not enough to make a verbal proclamation of faith in him. One is
also required to keep his commandments. It is important to note here that one does
not earn Jesus’ love by keeping his command to love. It is because one has already experienced
that love that one wants to love and obey in return.
Judas (not Iscariot) does
not appear in any of the Synoptic Gospels. He is the one who misunderstands
here and asks a question about the revelation that Jesus is to make, not
realizing that the revelation has been made already. If the disciples want to
continue to experience the love that Jesus has made manifest to the world, they
must continue to love one another. It is in the love of one another that they
will experience the love of God and Jesus. This will result in a mutual
indwelling. Just as Jesus dwells in the Father and the Father in him, so Jesus
and the Father will live in the disciples and the disciples in them. This
abiding presence of God and Jesus within the disciples as a community is both
the foundation and the result of love expressed in deeds. Where there is no
love shown, Jesus and the Father cannot be made present.
Though Jesus has made
explicit what the disciples are to do if they are to make him present, it is
possible that they may not have grasped all the implications of the command.
The Paraclete or Advocate, only here in John identified with the Holy Spirit,
will “remind” them of Jesus’ teachings. This clearly indicates that the Holy
Spirit will not give new or different teaching, but only reinforce all that
Jesus has already taught. The Spirit will be sent in Jesus’ name and so, like
Jesus was the exegesis of the Father, the Spirit will be the exegesis of Jesus.
To keep the words of Jesus
means to live them out in action. The ones who do that have already experienced
the indwelling of God and Jesus in them. This indwelling will strengthen them
and enable them to live out the word more fully each day. This is not a linear
but cyclic process. More living out means more indwelling and more indwelling
means more living out.
Saturday, 13 May 2017
Audio reflections of Sunday, May 14, 2017
To hear the Audio reflections of Sunday, May 14, 2017 click HERE
Sunday, May 14, 2017 - To continue his work on earth
To read the texts click on the texts: Acts 6:1-7; 1 Pet 2:4-9; Jn 14:1-12
Though
we are in the Easter season, the Gospel reading is from the centre of the
Farewell Discourse in the Gospel of John which Jesus gives before his departure
from this life to the next. This is not as strange as it may appear at first
glance. One reason for the choice of this reading seems to be to prepare for
the Ascension (the departure of Jesus) and Pentecost (his return again through
his Spirit) which the Church will celebrate soon. Another reason seems to be
the content and meaning of the verses that make up this part of the discourse.
The
focus in the opening verses is not so much on the departure but on confidence
which the disciples are exhorted to have. The reason for this confidence is
that even though it might seem that Jesus is being defeated by death, the
reality is that he will overcome death. Not only will he do that, but after
having prepared a place for every believer, he will return to take them with
him. This will prove (if proof is required) that he is alive and that with him
and the Father, all believers will continue to live in a relationship that is
governed only by unconditional love and mutual self-giving. Thus as disciples
of the Lord who was raised from the dead and who ascended into heaven, we are
called to that same confidence.
The
Way to this life is Jesus himself. However, Jesus is not merely the access
route to God but is also the embodiment of this life in his being the Truth and
the Life. He is so because in him as never before the Father is revealed. This
revelation is made in the words of love that Jesus speaks and also in the
loving actions that he performs. This is why to believe in God means also to
believe in Jesus. This kind of faith will lead to the disciples being empowered
and their continuing the work begun by Jesus which is to reveal to all the
unconditional and magnanimous love of God.
The
continuation of this work was not an easy task because of the very high
standard set by Jesus. This is evident in the first reading of today in which
we read of partiality, animosity and tension between two groups, both of whom
were followers of Christ and so Christians. However, because of what they had
learned from the Lord, they did not let this brief hiccup get them down, but
worked at it with practical wisdom and were able to overcome it and not only
restore unity but also continue to draw others to their fold. They were able to
do this because they continued to remember that Christ himself was the corner
stone and so the very foundation of their life and so the one who would
continue to sustain, nourish and nurture them on their journey.
Accepting
Christ as their foundation and following in his path by drawing inspiration
from him will mean that there will be hardships, trials and tribulations from
within and without. Perseverance, however, is the key, and they must continue
to persevere because they are a chosen race. They are related by blood, they
have a common origin and so a common Father. This makes them brothers and
sisters, members of one family. They have been called out of the darkness of
their sin to live in the wonderful and marvellous light of God’s magnanimous
and generous love and to make that love manifest to others.
Today
more than 2000 years later the call is the same and the challenge still
remains. It is true that when we look around us at the reality that confronts
us, we might be sometimes tempted to throw in the towel. As with the first
Christian community, division, partiality and selfishness exist both in the
world and in the Church. The lofty description of Church that the reading from 1
Peter states as a fact seems to be only a distant dream. On the contrary we
seem to be going the way the Church was going as narrated by the text from Acts
in the first reading.
However
as Christians, we have been sanctified by the same Spirit that sanctified Jesus
and the first Christian community. Since this is so, we have the same
obligation or task that had been assigned to them, namely manifesting to all
those who do not yet believe, the forgiving love of God who is Father. We must
respond to the harsh realities around us with a practical wisdom and confidence
in the promise of Jesus as the first Christian community did even in the midst
of trails. This is done not merely by the words that we may speak but more by
the loving actions that we perform. We continue that which Jesus began for we
are now his body on this earth, making him present throughout the world.
When
we reach out to heal the sick, care for the poor, love the unlovable, and pour
ourselves out for the oppressed of the world, then indeed we are living out our
call and mission.
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