Preciousness of the Gift of Life - Recounting the Blessings

(Picture courtesy: Jean-Marc Arakelian)

Time is flying but life moves on. It’s three years since I went through the knife which ushered a new lease of life for me. My second life, indeed, after going through horrific ordeal looking out for better treatment from one doctor another, from one treatment to another, from one city to another, from one country to another, from one method to another, I am still kicking. Perhaps it has made me stronger both mentally, physically and spiritually. However, may not be a complete man physically!

1. Accepting quick changes in life with an open embrace of mystery

Often I look at life as a mystery.  In the words of Gabriel Marcel (1889-1973), a French Philosopher: “Life is not a problem to be solved but a mystery to be lived.”  In other words, a problem may be solved but not a mystery. In spite of a major surgery which, took place exactly three years ago (31st October 2018), my life has been full of action. Living with a particular medical condition is not easy but looking at what I went through with a destructive illness in my body I seem to forget about everything as if I had no such illness at all. In spirituality, this is called grace. Grace is a free gift of the benevolent God. I believe that today I am tasting such a graced life. 

Unending Enduring Love of God and Neighbour

 Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year B: 31 October 2021

Readings:  Deuteronomy 6:2–6; Psalm 18:2–4, 47, 51; Hebrews 7:23–28; Mark 12:28–34

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What can we make of it from the liturgical readings of this Sunday? We have a very prominent theme in our Christian existence, that is, love which, is making itself present today. Our life has very little sense if we are not ready to contemplate, meditate and practice this Christian love which, the New Testament often speaks about. In love, the Christian expression of sacrifice finds its comprehensive meaning and truth.

1. Loving completely and wholeheartedly

‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:29-31). These words of Jesus to the scribe put all the controversies, moreover, the trapping questions to an end. Because the scribe recognizes Jesus as good and in turn, Jesus appreciates the scribe saying “You are not far from the kingdom of God” (Mark 12:34).

Seeing is believing!

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time: October 24, 2021

Readings: Jeremiah 31:7–9; Psalm 126:1–6; Hebrews 5:1–6; Mark 10:46–52

Jesus heals the blind man

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 What would you expect from a healer? Of course, healing! And this is exactly what we look for when we suffer from terrible chronic illness or birth deformity. The only thing that we want when we are sick is just the healing or getting over it. Every person in this world wants to spend his or her time in good health. In fact, health determines our destiny, our present and future.

1. Sight is the answer to blindness

The gospel reading of today (Mark 10:46–52) is full of promise, hope and deliverance. The poor beggar has been blind for long, probably from his birth. He might not have understood what colour is or what beauty means to his eyes. He might not have experienced the charm of a rose or might not have understood what a mountain is all about. Bartimaeus, son of Timaeus is looking for sight and waiting for his eyes to be opened. He was lost in the world because of his blindness. Not only he was blind, but even the world had blinded him. In other words, he had no place in society. He found comfort only at a street corner. In fact, streets had become his home. He was not considered a contributor to society's progress. In fact, he was marginalized in every sense of the word. That is why those words from the crowd are so stern and cruel: "And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent" (Mark 10:48). People even disliked his voice. That is why there is so much antipathy here. 

Embracing the Servant Leadership of Jesus

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time: October 17, 2021

Readings: Isaiah 53:10-11; Psalm 33:4-5,18-20,22; Hebrews 4:14-16; Mark 10:35-45

(Picture courtesy: Jean-Marc Arakelian)
To listen to my video reflections, please click here

The desire of every human person is to be somebody or someone in society. In pursuit of such desires, we are ready to undertake any means. Sometimes such means may be disliked by others. However, the desire to seek divine intervention through physical sacrifices is accepted by all. Recently I visited the Gunadala Matha Shrine in Vijayawada (Andhra Pradesh - India) while I preached a retreat to the Oblate Sisters of Saint Aloysius Gonzaga (Luigine). I saw a young mother with two of her children making their way by kneeling-walk on that hot sand to the Gunadala Matha Church. In order to satisfy the diety, the simple faith of our people can take up very hard physical sacrifices in contrast to what the Gospel reading of today speaks about the power struggle of James and John.

1. Being a follower of Jesus means becoming a person of indifference

The reply of Jesus to James and John, the sons of Zebedee is astonishing. Jesus says "but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all" (Mark 10:43-44). To reach the greater heights there are no shortcuts but only long and tough routes. Jesus cautions his disciples that to be the greatest of all one has to dirty his or her hands. In other words, one has to get down doing things that many people may not take notice of them, or may not appreciate or recognize at all. Being a slave or servant means one must be ready to shed one's freedom, one's selfishness, one's ego, one's honour or even prestige. Such a state of life is not easy and almost impossible for us in the materialistic world in which we live today. 

Oriented Towards Eternity

 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time: October 10, 2021

Readings: Wisdom 7:7–11; Psalm 90:12–17; Hebrews 4:12–13; Mark 10:17–30

The rich young man and Jesus
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As rational human beings, we look for something that is beyond us. Our capacity to imagine helps us to transcend physical and spatial constraints. That is why we can think about heaven, eternity, hell and such other things. Even though none of the human beings had the possibility to see these things and record their memories as real, yet we believe because of our reasoning as well as spiritual yearning towards God.

1. Every call presupposes challenges

The liturgical readings of this Sunday encourage us to look at the heavenly realities in a little closer way.  The question of a young man to Jesus "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" (Mk 10:17) is a result of the very notion that there is something beyond the earthly life. Interestingly, everyone recognizes this fact including the rich young man that only a good man or woman will enter eternity and will see God face to face. 

Cherishing the Companionship of the Lord

27th Sunday in Ordinary Time: October 03, 2021

Readings: Genesis 2:18–24; Psalm 128:1–6; Hebrews 2:9–11; Mark 10:2–16

To listen to my audio reflections please click here

We live in a web of social relationships. What the life of a person is if he or she does not have any relationship with others? Human life without contact with others is impossible on earth. So long as we are born out of the love of our parents, we cannot run away from the relationships. The feasts of St Vincent de Paul, Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, St Jerome and St Therese of the Child Jesus whose feasts we celebrated this week tell us that each one of them cherished a loving relationship with God. The constant presence and companionship they experienced is a sign for us that God continues to love us. This is what the liturgical readings of today are trying to tell us. 

1. Companionship of the other is the companionship of the Lord

The early chapters of the book of Genesis are full of God's mercy and compassion. The creation narratives of the book of Genesis are filled with the warmth and affection of God. God sees the life Adam, now a single person boring and uninteresting and puts him into the company of a woman, Eve in order to enrich each other's life. Understanding this fact itself is a mystical experience. Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him” (Genesis 2:18). God knows the needs of his people, of his creation. In order to make that creation happy and joyful, God does not leave humanity all alone instead God accompanies it. The companionship of God is open and all-embracing. God saw the need of Adam. In the company of Eve Adam felt at home. In other words, God's very creative act in itself says that God wanted to share His companionship with humanity in a very unique way.