Friday, May 25, 2018 - Am I faithful to the commitment that I have made in my state of life?

To read the texts click on the texts: James 5:9-12; Mk 10:1-12

The school of Hillel (60 BCE – 20 CE), permitted divorce literally for any cause – even if the wife spoiled a dish or if her husband found another fairer than his wife. However the school of Shammai (50 BCE – 30 CE) permitted it only for adultery.

In Deut 24:1-4 the institution of divorce is taken for granted, & concerns only the procedure to be followed and that after the woman has married a second time, the first husband cannot remarry her. The Law of divorce was a concession not a commandment.

The question of the Pharisees is asked by them in order to test Jesus. This attitude becomes clear when in their response to Jesus’ question about what the law says on divorce, they seem to know it quite clearly. 

In his response to them, Jesus quotes Gen 1:27 and 2:24 as arguments for a permanent state of unity created by marriage. Jesus goes beyond the Law and to Creation. Divorce according to the law of creation would be like trying to divide one person into two. Mark’s formula is a near total prohibition of divorce. 

Mt 19:9 contains the exception contained in 5:32 – unchastity (Porneia, Hebrew-Zenût = prostitution) understood in the sense of an incestuous union due to marriage in their forbidden degrees of kinship (Lev 18:6-18). Such a union would not be true marriage at all and would not require a divorce but annulment.

Many families today are breaking up and there are various reasons why this is happening. However, it seems that one of the important reasons why marriages and families break up is because of selfishness. Due to this there is unwillingness on the part of the members to adjust with each other or the inability to understand. Each wants to go his/her own way and do his/her own thing. Concern for the others needs and feelings seem to be on the wane. Psychologists today are quite convinced that a healthy family background is an absolute requirement for the healthy growth of a child and a happy child is the result of a happy family.

Friday, May 25, 2018 - James 5:9-12; Mk 10:1-12

Friday, May 25, 2018 - James 5:9-12; Mk 10:1-12

1. Which group came to test Jesus?

The Sadducees
The Pharisees
The chief priests


2. Who allowed the Jews to write a certificate of dismissal and divorce?

Aaron
Moses
Joshua


3. Who does James say is standing at the door?

A stranger
A guest
The judge


4. What does James ask his readers not to do by heaven or earth?

Gamble
Swear
Lie


5. Who asked Jesus about the question of divorce in the house?

His disciples
The crowds
Simon Peter


6. Whom does James point to as an example of suffering and patience?

The kings
The prophets
The saints


7. Whose specific endurance does James point to?

Abraham
Job
Jacob


8. When the crowds gathered what did Jesus do?

He fed them
He taught them
He cured those who were sick


9. Which old testament book does Jesus quote to support his argument against divorce?

Leviticus
Genesis
Deuteronomy


10. What is the message of the readings of today?

Each of us must be faithful to the choice we have made in life
Divorce destroys the family
Fidelity is one of the keys to a happy marriage

Thanks for taking the Quiz. I hope it makes the word of God more relevant. Let me know on errolsj@gmail.com. Suggestions are always welcome.

Thursday, May 24, 2018 - Our Lady of the way - 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 we remain God’s servants and let it be done in and through us, we will find that peace which only the Lord can give.

Thursday, May 24, 2018 - Am I a part time Christian? Am I a fair weather Christian?

To read the texts click on the texts: James 5:1-6; Mk 9:41-50

This pericope contains a series of sayings against those who cause scandal and other to sin. Anyone who scandalises or causes someone else to stumble is a danger to those who believe. 

Jesus’ language here seems harsh, but he is not asking individuals to maim parts of their body. Rather he is using these striking metaphors to drive home powerfully the point he wants to make, namely: that no one and nothing must be allowed to compromise the kingdom. The metaphors reflect how important striving for the kingdom is. A disciple of Jesus must be prepared to forego anything for the sake of the kingdom.

Our behaviour in public sometimes results in leading others away from God and Jesus. Those who see our behaviour and know that we are disciples of Jesus are not inspired to follow him. Christ today is made visible and tangible through the words and actions of those of us who believe in him and so we have an enormous responsibility to make him known and draw others to him. People must be able to see him in us.

Thursday, May 24, 2018 - Our Lady of the way - Prov 4:10-18; Lk 2:15-19

Thursday, May 24, 2018 - Our Lady of the Way -Prov 4:10-18; Lk 2:15-19

1. Where did the shepherds after the angel left them?

To heaven
To Bethlehem
To Jerusalem


2. Whom did the shepherds find with the child?

The wise men
Mary and Joseph
Herod


3. From which book is the first reading of today taken?

Psalms
Proverbs
Luke


4. Where did the shepherds find the child lying?

On a soft bed
In a manger
On a cushion


5. Where did the angels go after leaving the shepherds?

To see Jesus
To heaven
To other shepherds


6. Who cannot sleep unless they have done wrong?

Evildoers
Merchants
Traders


7. What bread do the evildoers eat?

Brown bread
While bread
The bread of wickedness


8. What wine doe the evildoers drink?

Red wine
The wine of violence
White wine


9. How many chapters does the book of Proverbs contain?

Thirty two
Thirty one
Thirty


10. What is the message of the readings of today?

Like Mary we must be able to say "Let it be done to me"
Mary is a model of faith
Mary is a powerful intercessor

Thanks for taking the Quiz. I hope it makes the word of God more relevant. Let me know on errolsj@gmail.com. Suggestions are always welcome.

Thursday, May 24, 2018 - James 5:1-6; Mk 9:41-50

Thursday, May 24, 2018 - James 5:1-6; Mk 9:41-50

1. What is the action for those who are stumbling blocks?

They will be punished
A millstone will be hung around their necks
They will be parised


2. Which parts of the body are mentioned in the Gospel of today?

Hand, foot and eye
Hand, foot and ear
Hand, foot and tongue


3. Whom does James address in the first verse today?

Rich persons
Sinners
The righteous


4. How will everyone be tested?

They will be tempted three times
They will be salted with fire
They will be possessed


5. What has happened to the clothes of the rich?

They have become old
They are moth eaten
They are too luxurious


6. Who have the rich condemned and murdered?

Their enemies
The righteous one
Their friends


7. What has happened to the riches of the rich?

They have doubled
They have rotted
They have remained the same


8. Whose cries have reached the ears of the Lord?

The ungodly
Labourers and harvesters
The rich


9. What has happened to the gold and silver of the rich?

It has been stolen
It has rusted
It has been used wisely by them


10. What is the message of the readings of today?

Our God is a God of justice
We must give each his/her due
To be a Christian means to be just

Thanks for taking the Quiz. I hope it makes the word of God more relevant. Let me know on errolsj@gmail.com. Suggestions are always welcome.

Wednesday, May 23, 2018 - Do I feel threatened by people whom I think are more talented than I am? Will I rest secure in my selfhood? Will I glory in my selfhood?

To read the texts click on the texts: James 4:13-17; Mk 9:38-40

John comes to Jesus hoping to be commended for stopping an exorcist who was using the name of Jesus to exorcise. In his response Jesus advocates openness and allows anyone who wants to exorcise in his name to be free to do so. Since the man is using Jesus name, it is clear that he is not against Jesus and so will not speak ill of Jesus. Since he is not against, he is for Jesus.

One of the many qualities of Jesus that stood out in his life and mission was the quality of openness. He was willing to accommodate and believe even in those whom others had given up on. This is shown in his call of Levi/Matthew the tax collector, and his reaching out to sinners and outcasts. 

In our understanding of Jesus we sometimes do him a disservice when we become too parochial and narrow-minded and imagine that he is the exclusive property of those of us who are baptised. We communicate this attitude to others when we reject their symbols of God and worse treat them as idol worshippers. We are being called through the attitude of Jesus in the text of today to make him available to all with our openness and acceptance of others and of their way of relating to God.

Wednesday, May 23, 2018 - James 4:13-17; Mk 9:38-40

Wednesday, May 23, 2018 - James 4:13-17; Mk 9:38-40

1. What is anyone who know the right to do and does not do it guilty of?

Procrastination
Sin
Adultery


2. Why was the attempt to stop the unnamed exorcist made?

Because he was not following Jesus
Because he was taking advantage of Jesus
Because he was talking ill of Jesus


3. With what does James compare those who make plans for tomorrow?

Mountains
Mist
Rivers


4. Who came to Jesus to complain about the unnamed exorcist?

Peter
James
John


5. How long does the person who makes plans for tomorrow expect to be in that town?

A few days
A few months
A year


6. What was the unnamed exorcist doing?

Abusing the disciples
Casting out demons in the name of Jesus
Making money for himself


7. How many Chapters does the letter of James contain?

Five
Four
Six


8. What is Jesus' response to the unnamed exorcist who was casting out demons in his name?

Acceptance and openness
He was upset
He tries to stop him


9. What is the message of the readings of today?

Inclusiveness
Jesus is not narrow minded or parochial
We must be as open as Jesus is

Thanks for taking the Quiz. I hope it makes the word of God more relevant. Let me know on errolsj@gmail.com. Suggestions are always welcome.

Audio Reflections of Tuesday, May 22, 2018

To hear the Audio Reflections of Tuesday, May 22, 2018 click HERE

Tuesday, May 22, 2018 - The world seems to be saying, “If you are not No. 1, you are NO ONE. Jesus, however, is clear in what he says: If you want to be No. 1, be NO ONE.

To read the texts click on the texts: James 4:1-10; Mk 9:30-37

The text of today contains the second Passion, death and resurrection prediction that Jesus makes on the way to Jerusalem and Jesus’ explanation of his way of life to his disciples after they misunderstand what his kingdom is all about. 

In this second passion and resurrection prediction, there is a change in the verb from the first where the verb was the passive “be killed” (8,31) to the active “they will kill him” (9,31).

If after the first passion and resurrection prediction it is Peter who misunderstands, here, it is the disciples as a whole that misunderstand because "on the way" they are discussing who the greatest among them is, when Jesus is speaking about service and being the least. 

Before his teaching on what discipleship means, Jesus sits down thereby assuming the formal position of a teacher. He speaks first of a reversal of positions and status in the kingdom, and then places before them the example of a child. In the oriental world of Jesus' time, the child was a non-person, and so by this example, Jesus derives home the point that they will have to lose their identity, become non-persons if they want to gain entry into the kingdom.

Authority as understood in Christianity can never be for domination but is always for service. Management experts today are advocating more and more the advantages of using authority for service and leading by example. In this manner the leader can get more out of the ones he/she leads than if he/she tries to dominate.