Living a Life of Purpose: Aligning Words and Deeds in Daily Life

 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time: October 01, 2023

Readings: Ezekiel 18:25–28; Psalm 25:4–9; Philippians 2:1–11; Matthew 21:28–32

   To listen to my audio-video reflections via YouTube, please click here: https://youtu.be/NU0K3xVjoGc

It is often stated: "If you wish to plan for a year, cultivate flowers; if you wish to plan for ten years, plant trees; if you wish to plan for eternity, develop men and women." Cultivating good habits and nurturing human values take time. In spite of education, experience, intelligence, knowledge, and past history, still we fall short of becoming perfect human beings. There is always something lacking in us. This void in our lives could be filled only by that God who created us and brought us forth into this universe. The liturgical readings for this 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time invite us to cultivate good human values based on divine wisdom so that we may live in God continuously.

1. Personal responsibility with a sense of integrity and consistency.

In the last few Sundays, the writings from the Prophets continue to admonish us why we must choose life and avoid wickedness and evil. Today Prophet Ezekiel 18:25–28 in the Bible offers profound spiritual insights on personal responsibility and the importance of aligning our lives with divine values. These verses prompt us to reflect deeply on how we can cultivate human values, become better individuals, and maintain God as our guiding light in our journey of self-improvement. God's message through Ezekiel underscores the potential for transformation and redemption. We are not bound by our past mistakes. By turning away from wrongdoing and embracing justice and righteousness, we can experience a spiritual rebirth and growth.

Caught Between the Two: Life with Christ and Life without Christ

25th Sunday in Ordinary Time: September 24, 2023

Readings: Isaiah 55:6–9; Psalm 145:2–3, 8–9, 17–18; Philippians 1:20–24, 27; Matthew 20:1–16

   To listen to my audio-video reflections via YouTube, please click here: https://youtu.be/L8Fn5aLWxeE

Our life is full of dilemmas. Often we are caught between two divergent views or opinions, circumstances or events. It becomes difficult to decide what is the best option before us. Choosing becomes extremely difficult. We feel we are left in the middle of the river. Making proper decisions for the present and future becomes a headache. Loneliness sets in and we look for some comfort or angels of good time to come and advise us and help us to get out of this mess. In this context, we have beautiful liturgical readings including Psalm 145 on this 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time, which extols us that "the Lord is near to all who call upon him." The God who created us knows best how to lead us in such moments, giving us wisdom and knowledge to walk in the path of righteousness and peace.

1. Self-righteousness vs generosity

The Gospel reading from Matthew 20:1–16 is a parable that speaks to the profound nature of God's grace and the kingdom of heaven. Jesus gives this intriguingly fascinating story of a landowner who hires laborers to work in his vineyard at different times throughout the day. When it comes time to pay the workers, he gives each of them the same wage, regardless of how long they worked. This attitude of the landowner not only perplexes the workers but also they to begin to grumble and criticize him for his self-righteous way of acting. 

Healing Power of Wholesome Forgiving

 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time: September 17, 2023

Readings: Sirach 27:30–28:7; Psalm 103:1–4, 9–12; Romans 14:7–9; Matthew 18:21–35

"Wrath and anger are hateful things, yet the sinner hugs them tight" (Sirach 27:30). With these beautiful but courageous words, we begin to read the Word of God on the 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Our globalized world even though it looks united and open to each other, yet the deep-down there is so much distrust, frustration, jealousy and wickedness. This was very visible at the recently concluded G-20 summit in New Delhi, India where two major nations of the world did not send their presidents for this meeting. They did not attend the meeting not because they had some pressing work or health issue they had to attend to, rather it was all a political game to diminish the influence of the other and unready to settle the issues, which are threatening world peace. Both Russian and Chinese Presidents stayed out from this crucial meeting which saw for the first time the African Union getting its membership. How exclusive this world can be and this gang of G 20 countries in a world of 197 nations! Until now none of the African Nations could be a member of the so-called G-20 Nations. This is called the globalization of exclusivity! In this context, when we meditate on the Word of God, the words Sirach must touch us and transform us. 

1. No to evil but yes to forgiveness

Unlike many of the episodes in the book of Old Testament which call for vengeance, wrath, and punishment, here the book of Sirach invites us to reflect on our relationships with others and the power of forgiveness. Wrath and anger, hate and revenge are really bad things yet they are very close to our hearts. The human person is basically a selfish creature and that's why there is no end to enmity, war, and strife. In spite of the lessons from history, still wars are fought even using artificial intelligence which is more destructive than in earlier times of history. The cluster drones that are being used in the war against Ukraine is a very sad reality which is just before our eyes. There is so much destructive nature because we hold on to anger and grudges. When we allow resentment to fester within us, it can consume our thoughts and lead us away from the path of inner peace and spiritual growth. The first step towards healing is recognizing the weight of these negative emotions.

Whatever you Bind on Earth Shall be Bound in Heaven

23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time: September 10, 2023

Readings: Ezekiel 33:7–9; Psalm 95:1–2, 6–9; Romans 13:8–10; Matthew 18:15–20

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Somehow or the other, conflict resolution seems to be one of the important topics in both Old and New Testaments. Conflict management is a recurring theme in the Bible. In fact, it deals extensively with this idea in different places and circumstances. The Word of God gives a number of ways of fixing the issues with one another. As all of us are called by God as His children, He invites us to be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving and adjusting. However, God does not tolerate evil and wickedness, yet there is salvation for such people if they show remorse and are ready to change for good.  On this 23rd Sunday in the Ordinary Time of the year, the liturgical readings for the day invite each one to follow the teachings of Lord Jesus Christ, especially in fixing our relations with one another. So that we may truly be called the children of God. 

1. Power of Reconciliation and the value of the community

In Matthew Chapter 18, Jesus addresses the issue of conflict resolution within the community of believers. He provides a step-by-step process for addressing grievances and reconciling with one another. This passage emphasizes the importance of maintaining unity, forgiveness, and love within the body of Christ, that is the community of Christians. The essence of Christian faith is love, forgiveness, and reconciliation. In these verses, Jesus teaches us that reconciliation is an essential aspect of our Christian walk. When we have conflicts or grievances with fellow believers, we should seek reconciliation rather than harboring bitterness or resentment. This mirrors Christ's ultimate act of reconciliation with humanity through His sacrifice on the cross.

Thinking as God Does

22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time: September 03, 2023

Readings: Jeremiah 20:7–9; Psalm 63:2–6, 8–9; Romans 12:1–2; Matthew 16:21–27

   To listen to my audio-video reflections via YouTube, please click here: https://youtu.be/4brVHye4m74?si=JWnRltkJY1KHoJWP

Doubts and fear seem to be part of our lives. Both doubt and fear go together. Even though, we may believe in the ability of others, still when the actual moment of doing about to take place doubt and fear set in. If someone has low self-esteem or low self-image, many others have low opinions, wrong and ill perceptions of others. Both are not good in themselves as they can destroy oneself and others. Therefore the reality check is essential. The liturgical readings for this 22nd Sunday in ordinary time tell us that both Prophet Jeremiah and Apostle Peter are full of fear and wrong perceptions of themselves and others. Both of them don't believe in the abilities and strengths of Yahweh and Jesus. The scripture admonishes that such fear, doubt, and wrong perception of oneself and others are nothing but traits of Satan. 

1. Following Jesus and getting behind Satan

We have a fascinating Gospel passage Matthew 16:21-27, presenting us a profound lesson on discipleship and the Christian journey. Jesus reveals to His disciples the impending suffering, rejection, and death that awaits Him in Jerusalem. When Jesus begins to speak about this revelation the disciples may have stunned and bewildered. Because they were following Jesus with great expectations of a victorious Messiah. The perception of the disciples of Jesus was indeed faulty. They never realized who exactly Jesus was. Healing and miracles that Jesus performed gave them a different picture of Jesus.