God has not Forsaken us for we are partners of His Mission

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time: September 26, 2021

Readings: Numbers 11:25–29; Psalm 19:8,10,12–14; James 5:1–6; Mark 9:38–48

(Picture courtesy: Jean-Marc Arakelian)
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The world is suffering and humanity is struggling. Often the wars are not fought on the battlefields but in one's heart and in one's consciousness. The more one goes into conquering that does not belong to him or her, the more jealousy or envy begins to enter into one's heart. The disease of fragmentation causes humanity to be fragmented more and more. All of us are in some way or the other part of this illness. We live in disunity within ourselves because of our ills, failures and inadequacies. Envy and jealousy seem to be deep-rooted in us in spite of our ever readiness to enter into a spiritual realm of prayer, liturgy, meditation and even contemplation. The Bible is full of stories of envy and jealousy. For example, Cain and Abel, Joseph and his brothers, David and Saul and so on. The list is endless. World literature narrates to us major tragedies caused due to jealousy and envy.

1. Jealousy is not the answer for our climbing!

The liturgical readings for this Sunday point exactly to this fragmentation which the world suffers from. In other words, humanity is struggling with. In the book of Numbers (11:25–29) we read a young man's soul was disturbed when he saw the two stray men, one named Eldad and the other Medad began prophesying but did not belong to the camp of Moses. In the Old Testament, there were many prophets at a time. Sometimes, in groups people prophesized. The answer of Moses is startling. Joshua, son of Nun, who from his youth had been Moses’ aide, said, "Moses, my lord, stop them." But Moses answered him, "Are you jealous for my sake?" (Nm 11:25-29). Jealousy seems to have ripped apart the camp of Moses. But Moses looks at the will of God and says: "Would that all the people of the Lord were prophets! Would that the Lord might bestow his spirit on them all!" (Nm 11:25-29). Moses is so generous and gentle towards others. He wants the Spirit of the Lord to come down upon everyone. Thus they may prophesy. Others too have a place in Lord's vineyard. If Moses had listened to his people he would have denied the rightful place of Eldad and Medad as God's creation. In fact, they were saved from jealousy of Joshua.

Why Cross of Our Salvation?

25th Sunday in Ordinary Time: 19 September 2021

Readings: Wisdom 2:12,17-20; Psalm 54:3-8; James 3:16-4:3; Mark 9:30-37

Christ showing a little child as the emblem of heaven by Benjamin West (1790)
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1. Let the sign of the Cross make us holy

Liturgically this week has been a very rich one. We celebrated the feasts of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross and then Our Lady of Sorrows and not to mention the feasts of the saints like John Chrysostom,  Pope Cornelius, Bishop Cyprian, Bishop Robert Bellarmine and Hildegard of Bingen. Many religious congregations both male and female bear the name of Holy Cross or Our Lady. The utter devotion to the Holy Cross says it us all. Without the Cross, there is no salvation, and without Our Lady, we don't see the way to that salvation. Because in Mary, God becomes human.

Recognizing God as God

24th Sunday in Ordinary Time: 12 September 2021

Readings: Isaiah 50:5-9a; Psalm 116:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9; James 2:14-18; Mark 8:27-35

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In a world of too many ideologies, gurus and philosophies, it is quite difficult to find the right one that suits us. This arduous task can be fulfilled only when we have experienced something eternal and lasting in that ideology or philosophy or guru. Even though choosing the right thing that satisfies our interest, way of being and going about is a challenge yet we can follow a path that has fullness, holiness and eternity. However, it is a lifetime’s task to come to understand these truths about our identities, and to live them out daily and to the end. The liturgical readings of this Sunday invite us to respond to God’s saving grace that we can renounce the limitations of our old self, our former identity, and be transformed into a new creation.

1. Recognition confirms the ground reality

In today's Gospel, Mark 8:27-35 Jesus is posing a very important but personal question to his disciples: “'But you', Jesus asked ‘who do you say I am?'” (Mark 8:35). The answers are varied. Even though only the response of Peter is recorded here,  one thing is certain in the life of the disciples. They all have one voice regarding Peter's confession. They acknowledge who Jesus is. Almost as a spokesperson of the group of disciples, Peter makes Jesus happy with the right answer.