To hear the Audio Reflections of Saturday, June 1, 2019 click HERE
Friday, 31 May 2019
Saturday, June 1, 2019 - 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.
Prayer in Jesus’ name
and praying like Jesus means to believe, before we receive something, that it
will be given to us. It is a confidence that God is on our side. We may not
always be able to see at first glance how what we receive is for our good, much
like the cross that Jesus carried. However, it means that we continue to trust
and believe that all will be well because God is always in control of any and
every situation.
Saturday, June 1, 2019 - Acts 18:23-28; Jn 16:23-28
Saturday, June 1, 2019 - Acts 18:23-28; Jn 16:23-28
Thursday, 30 May 2019
Audio Reflections of Friday, May 31, 2019 the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
To hear the Audio Reflections of Friday, May 31, 2019 the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary click HERE
Friday, May 31, 2019 - The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary - When it is shared joy is doubled and sorrow is halved
To read the texts click on the texts:Zeph 3:14-18; Rom 12:9-16; 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.
Wednesday, 29 May 2019
Audio Reflections of Thursday, May 30, 2019
To hear the Audio Reflections of Thursday, May 30, 2019 click HERE
Thursday, May 30, 2019 - 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, 28 May 2019
Audio Reflections of Wednesday, May 29, 2019
To hear the Audio Reflections of Wednesday, May 29, 2019 click HERE
Wednesday, May 29, 2019 - 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.
The Paraclete that
Jesus sent two thousand years ago is the same Paraclete that is available to us
today. The presence of the Paraclete will be seen and felt when we make the
teachings of Jesus relevant and alive today. The idiom, symbols, and language
that we use have to be understood by contemporary hearers. All too often,
language about Jesus is too pious and even outdated and so, does not touch the
lives of many. If we open ourselves to the working of the Paraclete in our
lives, we will be able to make Jesus present even now.
Wednesday, May 29, 2019 - Acts 17:15,22-18:1; Jn 16:12-15
Wednesday, May 29, 2019 - Acts 17:15,22-18:1; Jn 16:12-15
Monday, 27 May 2019
Audio Reflections of Tuesday, May 28, 2019
To hear the Audio Reflections of Tuesday, May 28, 2019 click HERE
Tuesday, May 28, 2019 - 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, 26 May 2019
Audio Reflections of Monday, May 27, 2019
To hear the Audio Reflections of Monday, May 27, 2019 click HERE
Monday, May 27, 2019 - 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: Acts 16:11-15; 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.
Monday, May 27, 2019 - Acts 16:11-15; Jn 15:26-16:4
Monday, May 27, 2019 - Acts 16:11-15; Jn 15:26-16:4
Saturday, 25 May 2019
Sunday, May 26, 2019 - Sixth Sunday of Easter - Am I living out the message of love?
To read the texts click on the texts: Acts15:1-2, 22-29; Rev 21:10-14, 22-23; Jn 14:23-29
A
priest was invited to a meal by one of his parishioners during the season of
Lent and on a Friday. He sat down at table and was surprised when most of the
dishes placed in front of him contained meat. He remarked to the parishioner
that they were in the Lenten season and, even more significant, that the day
was Friday and meat could not be eaten. The parishioner replied, “Do not worry,
father. I sprinkled some holy water on all the meat, baptized it, and called it
fish.” Did the meat become fish? Did the priest eat the “meat”? Was he guilty
of sin if he did eat? Was the parishioner making a joke of the whole Lenten
season? These are questions for which we find responses in the readings of
today.
Christianity
was never meant to be a religion of rules and regulations. More than once,
Jesus encountered people who had made rules and regulations ends in themselves.
And, more than once, indeed often, in his responses to such people, he would
ask that the focus be on love rather than on law, that it be on the person
rather than on the rule, and that it be on the heart rather than on the body.
Yet, it seems that, more and more, we continue to focus on the external rather
than on the internal.
This
is evident in the first reading of today when, a few years after the death and
resurrection of Jesus, the first Christian community is debating about what
makes a Christian and a disciple of Jesus. However, even as they debated, they
realized that this is not what Jesus had intended at all. The Spirit inspired
them to change their focus to the internal, to the heart. This is the same
spirit that Jesus promised the disciples in the Gospel text of today. This
Spirit is the Spirit of Jesus and so, will not teach something different from
what Jesus taught. Rather, the Spirit that Jesus sent, and continues to send,
will reinforce and confirm all that they have been taught by Jesus. By
listening to this Spirit of freedom, they will be empowered to keep the word
spoken to them and enable Jesus and the Father to make a home with them. The
word spoken to them by Jesus was not a set of rules and regulations. The word
spoken to them was not a list of commandments. The word spoken to them was not,
primarily, a word about the law. It was always, with Jesus, a word of love.
This is why the gift that Jesus leaves with the disciples is the gift of peace,
which means wholeness and well being. The focus of the gift is the heart.
Since
this is so, the Book of Revelation, in the second reading of today, can speak
of the apostles as being the foundations of the new Temp0le and of God and
Jesus being the Temple. There are no bricks and no walls that make up the new
Temple. It is a Temple which has as its cornerstone, Jesus himself. This new
Temple will not need external light. It will not even need the sun and the
moon. Jesus will be all the light that the Temple needs.
Why
is it that, almost from the “foundation” of Christianity, and continuing even
today, the Church has focused on externals and on what constitutes and does not
constitute sin? There could be a variety of reasons for this. The core reason,
however, seems to be that, like Jesus was misunderstood so often in his
lifetime, he was misunderstood also after his death and resurrection Instead of
being content with living out the message of love, the Church became more
interested in converting others to Jesus. Instead of showing, in and through
the reality of love, what it meant to be a disciple of Jesus, the Church
focused, on merely proclaiming the word. Instead of concentrating on Jesus and
his Spirit, the Church shifted the focus to everything else. We moved our gaze
away from the crucified Jesus and risen Christ.
What
must we do to bring back this focus? What must we do? Only one response is
required: the response of love. As Jesus lived out throughout his life, and in
the face of all opposition, the reality of unconditional and absolute love, so
we, as Church, are called to do so today. We need not concern ourselves so much
with numbers and statistics, but with living out the message that Jesus
brought. We need not concern ourselves with external conversions, but must
focus more on the conversion of the heart. We need not worry so much about
eating or not eating meat and fish and thus, what goes in, but must concentrate
instead on what comes out from within. Then, that Temple, which John speaks
about in the second reading of today, will become a reality. Then, its light
will be the glory of God and the Lamb. Then, the Spirit that Jesus sent, and
continues to send even today, will not be stifled and will be free to transform
our lives and the lives of those we encounter and so, win them over to
love.
Friday, 24 May 2019
Audio Reflections of Saturday, May 25, 2019
To hear the Audio Reflections of Saturday, May 25, 2019 click HERE
Saturday, May 25, 2019 - 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: Acts16:1-10; 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.
Saturday, May 25, 2019 - Acts 16:1-10; Jn 15:18-21
Saturday, May 25, 2019 - Acts 16:1-10; Jn 15:18-21
Thursday, 23 May 2019
Audio Reflections of Friday, May 24, 2019
To hear the Audio Reflections of Friday, May 24, 2019 click HERE
Friday, May 24, 2019 - 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: Acts15:22-31; 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, 22 May 2019
Audio Reflections of Thursday, May 23, 2019
To hear the Audio Reflections of Thursday, May 23, 2019 click HERE
Audio Reflections of Wednesday, May 22, 2019
To hear the Audio Reflections of Wednesday, May 22, 2019 click HERE
Thursday, May 23, 2019 - How often has fear ruled your actions? Will you dare to act from love today?
To read the texts click on the texts: Acts15:7-21; 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, 21 May 2019
Audio Reflections of Tuesday, May 22, 2019
To hear the Audio Reflections of Tuesday, May 22, 2019 click HERE
Wednesday, May 22, 2019 - 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: Acts15:1-6; 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, 20 May 2019
Audio Reflections of Tuesday, May 21, 2019
To hear the Audio Reflections of Tuesday, May 21, 2019 click HERE
Tuesday, May 21, 2019 - 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.
Tuesday, May 21, 2019 - Acts 14:19-28; Jn 14:27-31
Tuesday, May 21, 2019 - Acts 14:19-28; Jn 14:27-31
Sunday, 19 May 2019
Audio Reflections of Monday, May 20, 2019
To hear the Audio Reflections of Monday, May 20, 2019 click HERE
Monday, May 20, 2019 - 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: Acts14:5-18; Jn 14:21-26
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.
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