The words, “While he was saying this” connect what follows to what has gone on before. Jesus has just challenged his listeners to fill their lives with the kingdom of God, and now a woman in the crowd blesses the mother of Jesus, because of the beauty she sees in him. While Jesus does not deny that his mother is indeed blessed, he uses this opportunity to extend the blessing to anyone who like his mother will hear the Word of God and put it into practice in their lives. If the woman in the crowd was able to bless the womb that bore Jesus, it was because she could see and experience the goodness in Jesus. This goodness was manifested not only in what he said but in what he did and was therefore visible in his person. If we like Jesus hear the word of God and act on it, then others will pronounce the same blessing on us. How would you define “God’s Word” today? Do you put this “Word” into practice in your life? How?

Am I possessed by things or do I possess them?

The onlookers respond to the exorcism of a demon that made a man mute, in different ways. While there are some who are amazed, others attribute Jesus’ power to cast out demons to Beelzebul. This is an indication that no one doubted Jesus’ power to exorcise and heal. They attributed it to different sources. In his response to this charge, Jesus says that since exorcisms represented a direct assault on Satan’ power and kingdom, it is clear that he cannot be on Satan’s side. Also, if Jesus’ exorcisms’ were performed by the power of Satan, the same would have to be said of other exorcists belonging to their community. Instead Jesus’ works indicate that the kingdom of God has indeed arrived. Through his exorcisms, Satan’s power is broken. In the simile of the strong man and his castle, Jesus states that he is the stronger one who overpowers Satan, the strong one who had guarded his kingdom well till this time. Finally Jesus invites his listeners to take a stand for him. The saying here is strong. If one does not positively opt for Jesus, one has opted against him. The time now is for decision and choice.
Once he has answered his critics (11,17-23), Jesus moves on to exhort his listeners to fill their lives with the kingdom of God, because it is possible that despite the exorcism, if a person persists in his old ways, he will be possessed once again and this will be ever worse than before.

While there is no doubt that Jesus did exorcise people who were possessed by demons, we must avoid getting caught up with exorcisms ourselves. Rather, today there are many subtle forms of “possession” which are more dangerous than “external possession”. Some of these are consumerism, selfishness, ignorance and a better than thou attitude. We need to ask the Lord to exorcise these demons from our lives.

Which is the demon that has possessed you and does not leave you free?
Will you attempt to get rid of that demon today?

Our Lady of the Rosary

Today is the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. It was feast instituted by Pope Pius V in 1571 in honour of the Blessed Mother Mary and to spread devotion to the Rosary. The Gospel reading is about the call of Mary by the Angel Gabriel (El is strong of the strength of El) to be the Mother of Jesus. Mary says a resounding YES. This is her strength and it can also be ours.

When things do not go the way you want them to go today, will you like Mary also say "YES"?

Happy feast to all of you.

Dependence on God

By petitioning God for the most basic of our needs like “bread”, the prayer that is commonly called "The Our Father" is basically a prayer of dependence. It is an acknowledgement of the fact that we cannot manage even this simple task on our own, and we need God’s goodness to provide it to us. Just as we need bread we also need God’s forgiveness, because if God were to keep a grudge against us for every time we sinned, we would be lost. In this context it must be noted that nowhere in the Gospels does Jesus tell us that we must be “sorry” for our sins if we want forgiveness. Rather if we want to be forgiven, we must forgive. Our forgiveness of others opens our hearts to receive the forgiveness that God constantly gives. The prayer is not merely a prayer therefore, but an attitude, a way of life.

Will you depend on yourself today or will you show your dependence on God? How?

CWG

The CWG has got off to a great start. More power to the people!! We will need to keep on keeping on...

Fr. Errol Fernandes SJ

Martha or Mary?

The Martha's of the world presume to tell the Lord what to do whereas the Mary's of the world listen to what the Lord would have them do.

Which are you?

Province Days from November 3-5, 2010

The Jesuits of Mumbai will meet at St. Mary's Villa, Khandala from November 3 to 5 2010 to discuss issues regarding how we are responding to the needs of our times. We need prayers and support. I am sure I can count on all of you who will read this.

It will be a great moment for our Province and will in many ways affect the way we respond to the needs of our people.

CWG and Ayodhya

I am delighted that the Common Wealth Games are under way. The Press has not been as responsible as it had to have been with so much of sensationalism and negative reporting. However, it is good that now things seem in place and the country can host this event.

It is also good that some sort of compromise formula has been worked out regarding Ayodhya and all parties concerned have taken the decision in a mature manner. This is the way to unity and growth. We need to learn to be united even in our diversity.

The New Academic Year 2010-11 has begun well. We have a new Principal in St. Xavier's High School, Fort, and she is Mrs. Jennifer Dias. She is vibrant, optimistic and filled with the Jesuit spirit of the Magis. She wants to take Xaviers to new heights. The staff have responded well to this change and they are offering all co-operation to her.

Many new ventures are in store and the parents and boys can expect newness and more.

The recent controversy regarding St. Mary's is in my opinion politically motivated and with the intent of maligning the name of the Institution and those associated with it. there is no substance in the allegations and none of the allegations have been proved. Some Newspapers will try to hype the matter and so one has to be careful how one reads what one reads. The Jesuits have been involved in Education for more than 470 years and were known as "The School Masters of Europe". Given this tradition, it is not likely that we or those who work with us would stoop to do anything that is detrimental to the Institution or dishonest.