St Joseph: A Man of Dreams; A Man of Actions!

(St Joseph, Husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary in a dream)

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In our liturgical year, we celebrate two times the feast of St Joseph. On the 1st of May the Church celebrates St Joseph as the Worker and today on the 19th of March, Church celebrates St Joseph, the Husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Therefore, in this context we will base our reflections on this topic and how Joseph participated in the salvation work of his divine Son Jesus.

Perhaps we could look at this from three aspects that we find in Joseph. 

1. St Joseph was a refine person and noble in his dealings

2. St Joseph was a responsible husband and father and fully relied on God

3. St Joseph was a man of the future. And that futurity was God

Firstly, St Joseph was a refine person and noble in his dealings

The scriptures speak very little about St Joseph. In fact, he is familiar in statuary, paintings, nativity scenes, children’s stories, Christmas plays and Catholic devotional practices. He has most often been portrayed as quite old, a grandfather in the background of the stable at Bethlehem, a bald man with a flowering staff, and on his deathbed with Jesus at his side and with a much younger Mary standing by. What must be the origin of this image? Such particulars are imaginatively supplied by certain apocryphal writings. Though non-canonical and never considered historical by the Church, such writings have had a great influence on popular devotion including our own. Their content has entered into preaching, art, liturgy, and even patristic writings, though the latter have by and large employed a quite critical approach to them.

Even though Gospels do not supply us the imagery of Joseph as a man in his senior years but due to the influence of certain apocryphal writings we continue to have such an image of St Joseph, the husband of Mary.

Foremost among these apocrypha is the Protoevangelium of James. Protoevangelium signifies that it covers the period prior to that covered by the gospels originally written around the middle or the second half of the second century with a particular purpose. Its aim was to glorify Mary, which means her virginity must be reconciled with the Gospel phrase regarding Jesus’ “brothers.”

Subsequent apocryphal works draw freely on the story of James, adding their own embellishments. Among these are The Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew which includes legends of the stay in Egypt, The Syriac-Arabic Infancy Gospel, The Armenian Infancy Gospel, and the Liber de Infantia Salvatoris. The Infancy Story of Thomas recounts numerous bizarre miracles worked by the child Jesus. The resulting composite story has Joseph as a carpenter who makes plows, yokes, other wooden tools for cultivation, and also wooden beds.

Through these texts Mary and Joseph are made into leading characters, rather than supporting participants in the great mission of Christ. The purpose of these works is apologetic, doctrinal, or simply to satisfy one’s curiosity. What we learn from these stories is that St Joseph was a gentle man, a refine man who had a noble dealings. The Gospel of Matthew Chapter 1: 19 says to us that he was “a righteous man”.

Secondly, St Joseph was a responsible person who relied fully on God. Initially, he wanted his engagement to Mary to fall apart because of her conception. He wanted to do it quietly in order to save his and Mary’s reputation. We could imagine their situation in this so uncommon and complicated moment. However, once he hears the voice, Matt 1:20, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit” things change in him and he never looks back from his responsibility of a good husband to Mary and foster father to Jesus. 

Joseph is convinced fully that it is a work of God. He never shrugs his responsibility either from making all the arrangements in Bethlehem to find a place for Mary to give birth to the child, or to leave the native land for Egypt in order to save the child from the clutches of murderer Herod or to bring back the child to the native land after the death of the monster king Herod, or even searching Jesus in the temple during their pilgrimage to Jerusalem.

Joseph was there as a bedrock to Mary and to Jesus doing everything. Unfortunately, all his dreams were a bit nasty and worrying all the time, Joseph trusted completely in the God of his ancestors, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He knew his God. He knew God would not let him and his family down because he had the right and true intentions. 

Thirdly, St Joseph was a man who knew who his God was. He was a man of the future; he knew his futurity was God. Joseph seems to be a man all the time working and labouring in fulfilling his primary duty as bread winner for his family and doing the will of God. He was clear of his vision of God. He was God’s rightful instrument. The destiny or goal of his life was sure once the angel Gabriel woke him up in his sleep. “Take Mary as your wife.” In spite of the bad dreams that he dreamt still he was there to fulfil them and bring to completion God’s work in the life of Jesus. Just as his divine Son Jesus would say later on in his preaching ministry that a tree can be known by its fruits (Luke 6: 44). For every tree is known by its own fruit. So too, we know who Jesus is because of Joseph. Only a good tree produces good fruits (Matthew 7:17–18). Saint Bernardine of Siena writing on St Joseph writes, “What then is Joseph’s position in the whole Church of Christ? Is he not a man chosen and set apart? Through him and yes, under him, Christ was fittingly and honourably introduced into the world.” “In Joseph the Old Testament finds its fulfilment. He brought the noble line of patriarchs and prophets to its promised fulfilment.”

So dear friends, we pray on this wonderful day of the feast of St Joseph, who is the patron saint of the whole universal Church, and also of our house Mount St Joseph, we may always strive to be like Joseph, refine and noble in our dealings, responsible and humble and rely completely on God, as well men and women who find in God the futurity and our destiny. May St Joseph, may bless us abundantly with his graces and interventions when we need them. Amen.

- Olvin Veigas, SJ

Feast of St Joseph, Husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary

19th March 2020

No More a Stranger in a Time of Corona Virus Crisis

3rd Sunday of Lent: Readings: Exodus 17:3–7; Psalm 95:1–2, 6–9; Romans 5:1–2, 5–8; John 4:5–15, 19–26, 39–42

The Woman at the Well and Jesus

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1. Today's readings at the liturgy are rich in content and practical in many ways. 
2. In the life of God, everyone is included and none is left out.
3. The reading from the book of Exodus tells us that whatever may be our temptations to criticise and be not happy with what we don't have, still God gives us everything we need. Our God is a generous God, a large hearted God and opens to us new possibilities even in our distress and dissatisfaction.
4. Who are these Samaritans? They were Israelites who escaped exile when Assyria conquered the Northern Kingdom eight centuries before Christ (2 Kings 17:6, 24–41). They were despised for intermarrying with non-Israelites and worshipping at Mount Gerazim, not Jerusalem.
5. None of us in this world are left out but everyone is part of God's life. So there is no possibility of  inclusion of a word "alienation" or "excluded" in God's dictionary.
6. Jesus shows this in his conversation with the Samaritan Woman. He makes known to her who she is, especially her sense of exclusion from her own community and also by a larger society, because of her life which did not suit moral of the day. By making her known who she is, she recognises in Jesus not just a "Sir" but a "prophet", who speaks of God and for God. She recognises in Jesus, Messiah, the Christ, in other words, the anointed one. 
7. Jesus answers the Samaritan woman with these profound words “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water” (Jn 4:10). If I knew the gift of God, there would not arise any questions of doubt, suspicion or any other kind anxiety. I would not be a stranger to God and God to me. 
8. The episode at the Jacob's well indicate that Jesus was thirsty and looking for water. The humanity of Jesus is very vividly expressed here (Jn 4:7-9). Jesus did not shy away from asking what his physical body needed at the hour. He did not conceal human aspect of his life. 
9. In place of just simple water she is able to receive from Jesus the living water, which only the Son of God could give. Jesus takes the discourse from simple aspect of water to living water of eternity. He not only wins the Samaritan woman but also her village and the whole of Samaria. Moreover, Jesus spends his precious two days in that village along with his disciples. Jesus' capacity of winning over them is incredibly fascinating. Thus, Jesus satisfies not just the human physical thirst but also the spiritual thirst. 
10. Jesus is the answer to our questions. We need to hold on to him even in our distress and and in times of tribulations. 
11. With the spread of Corona virus around the world and in our own country, which is a serious threat to our life, we are called to be vigilant and do our best to keep us safe. But, on a far deeper level, we need to turn to prayer, to our relationship with God, to find comfort and peace that we need the most. This is a time to place ourselves in our Lord's hands and to ask for the grace to trust. Thus we may find a way out from this nasty disease. 

Prayer: Most loving God, Creator of us all, we turn to you to care for your people in need and in distress around the world. We thank you for your presence which you manifest among us continually and the peace you offer us daily. Send us your Spirit in this time of terrible distress which seems to be overtaking us and fill us with courage, faith and hope, so that we might be your instruments of love and assistance for others in need. Through this crisis of global illness, may we come together, as people of faith in a crisis so often do by your grace, and may we come out of it more united and more determined to care for those most in need. May the medical professionals find a right medicine to treat this Corona virus and thus save the humanity for your glory and praise. Amen.

- Olvin Veigas, SJ

3rd Sunday of Lent

15 March 2020

Discernment and Mysticism with Eyes Wide Open

2nd Sunday of Lent: Readings: Genesis 12:1-4;  2 Timothy 1:8-10; Matthew 17:1-9

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-Olvin Veigas, SJ
8th March 2020

God's Love is More Powerful than Sin

1st Sunday of Lent: Readings - Genesis 2:7–9; 3:1–7; Psalm 51:3–6; 12–14, 17; Romans 5:12–19; Matthew 4:1–11

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(The Temptation in the Wilderness, by Briton Riviere, ca. 1920.)

I would like to reflect over three aspects that are very prominent in all the three readings and the Psalm  51 that we heard today.

First one is sin, the second, the consequences of sin, and thirdly, the application of these readings to our life.

Sin is a three letter word which creates havoc not only today but even from the beginning of human history. It is a word that we hardly speak in public, in our work places, homes, businesses, factories or offices, or in our farms. However, every one is confronted with this word "Sin", individually or collectively. That is why our conscience often pricks. 

The first Letter of John 1: 8 says “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” So at the risk of distressing your digestion, let me begin this liturgy of the First Sunday of Lent by speaking on Sin.  For unless we speak of sin, we shall not speak sensibly of Easter, of resurrection, of Jesus Christ and even of ourselves. 

I would like to see here Sin for what it is, for what it does. By doing so you may opt for sin’s opposite: opt for love, for life, and for Christ. 

I should ask three set of questions here at this stage: What is this three letter word is all about? What does it have to do with the Christ of Lent’? What should it say to today’s Christian, in Lent and beyond?

I

To answer the first question, what is sin all about?  We go back to the first book of the Scriptures, the Genesis; first man, first woman and first sin. Sin is not a recent invention, sin was not invented in Rome or it is carved out in my psyche because of the guilt ridden the teacher of the catechism. 

Somewhere in the distant past, a man and a woman shaped in God’s image and likeness, (Gen 1:26-27; 5:1–3) the most beautiful and wondrous work of God on earth, turned their backs on their creator. Crowned with glory, he was given dominion over the world and the protection of His angels (Psalms 8:6–8; 91:11–13). He was made to worship God—to live not by bread alone but in obedience to every word that comes from the mouth of the Father. Gen 3:17 describes it how they have to behave a distant yet a clear voice, “You shall not eat of it”

It’s not important whether it was a red apple or some sort of artistic symbol ultimately matter. What matters most how God’s people, under God’s guidance came to understand sin. Sin was rebellion. It was a revolt, overthrowing. From one individual’s sin to a nations sin. 

Look at David, adulterous murderer finally realises he not only profaned the rights of the husband, of Uriah: “I have sinned against the Lord” writes 2 Sam 12:13. For Israelites to sin meant the rupture of a covenant. Both prophets Hosea and Jeremiah speak about it. Hosea says:

"Rejoice not O Israel,… 

for you have played the harlot, 

forsaking your God. 

You have loved a harlot’s hire 

[the pay of the sacred prostitute..] (Hos 9:1). 

Listen to Prophet Jeremia (3:1-2):

"You [Judah] have played the harlot with many lovers,

and would you return to me?...

By the waysides you have sat awaiting lovers

like an Arab in the wilderness.

You have polluted the land

with your vile harlotry."

Sin ruptures a relationship, intimacy with the God who fashioned you out of nothing- fashioned you out of love alone.

The Gospel’s are no different. In John sin is separation - separation from God. It means you are no longer a son or daughter of the Father; you are a salve-enslaved to satan. According to St Luke, it's like a prodigal son, beak the bond that bond between a father and son, father and a daughter. “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son” Lk 15:21

Sin takes place when we stop loving our neighbours as we love ourselves.

II

What has this Lent has to do with Christ and Lent?

For this we go back to today’s reading from St. Paul written to the Romans. Paul is profoundly aware of Sin. "Sin came through one man’s rebellion", he says; i.e, Adam’s act of disobedience. It is an evil force, rebellious force, a bad force, It’s a power hostile to God, a power that alienates us from God. Its works are hostile to God. Its works are sinful deeds. . . Paul says, “I do not  do the good  I want, but the evil I do not want” Rom 7:19.

paul further says "as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous... Where sin increased, grace abounded all the more...through Jesus Christ our Lord." Rom 5:19-21.

John 3:16 writes: “God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life”. 

In Lent we relive a love that has no rival, the love that is more powerful than sin. More powerful than the first sin or the countless sins that deface God’s image each day on earth. 

You see only the God whom sin defies could possibly destroy the death that stems from sin. St Paul is amazed at God’s power of love. Therefore, instead of an angel God sent his only son….finally God’s son pinned to crossed beams, God’s own son would bleed out his life and die like a criminal. Such is the love we relive in Lent. God showed "His love for us even while we were sinners and Christ died for us". (Rom 5:7-8).

III

So thirdly, I should ask: What should all this say to today’s Christian in Lent and beyond? Though Jesus has destroyed the tyranny of sin, he has not destroyed our ability to sin. Even though sin does not enslave us yet we are still tempted to sin. We are still free to sin. Still, we sin after the pattern of Adam’s transgression. Like Adam, we let sin in the door (Genesis 4:7) when we entertain doubts about God’s promises, when we forget to call on Him in our hours of temptation. But the grace won for us by Christ’s obedience means that sin is no longer our master.

This is where today’s Gospel reading comes in. Jesus was “led by the Spirit into the wilderness.”  (Mt 4:1) Jesus the new Israel is tempted, tempted when he is weak after 40 days of fasting and prayer. He is tempted to betray his mission. He is tempted when he is spiritually abundant. All these three temptation are temptations to power. You are hungry?…hungry, chase the stones, people want to pay attention to then soar like a bird from the roof top of the temple, you want to rule over the world then worship me. Thus you will get what you deserve. Adam, however, put the Lord his God to the test. He gave in to the serpent’s temptation, trying to seize for himself all that God had already promised him. But in His hour of temptation, Jesus prevailed where Adam failed—and drove the devil away.

Fascinatingly, Jesus says something different. Look for me among the lowly, the powerless, the crucified. The powers of this world means worshiping the false gods. 

There is often a temptation for Christians that haunts us that we are superior and powerful. We have shown in our Christian history through inquisition, crusades, wars on religions and ghettos, etc. that we are better than others. 

So, during these 40 days of Lent and beyond those 40 days, let our focus be not on sin, and the fears that sin brings but rather that on love, love that is stronger than sin.

As 1 John 4:18 says, “love that casts out fear.” Love that carried Jesus to the Cross. A love that crosses all sorts of boundaries that we try to put up. A love that over comes in times of our distress, in times of physical suffering, when we get bad reports of our health, when the stress of marriage and conjugal life becomes heavier like a cross, when our studies make no progress, when we do not get the jobs that we like to own, when our businesses don’t prosper or salaries don’t get increased, when our fields do not produce enough, then we need to look at Jesus on the Cross.  

Let that love of Christ be infront of us. Even Jesus could not attain whatever he wanted to achieve in his life time. Only such a Lent my dear friends leads to Easter, the crucifixion that end in Resurrection, the dying that is Christian living. In Christ we are strong. Because God's love is more powerful than sin. As we begin this season of repentance, we can be confident in His compassion, that He will create in us a new heart (Romans 5:5; Hebrews 8:10). As we do in today’s Psalm, we can sing joyfully of our salvation, renewed in His presence. AMEN.

- Olvin Veigas, SJ
 01 March 2020

God will Shine on You and Make You Bright

5th Sunday in Ordinary Time: - Readings: Isaiah 58:7–10; 1 Corinthians 2:1–5; Matthew 5:13–16

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The readings of today make us to reflect over who we are in this world. They also remind us that our faith can never be a private affair, something we can hide as if under a basket.

Taking the first reading from the prophet Isaiah, we see that God has a special place for each one of us.  We are never alone. In general, the running theme in today's reading clarifies our identity and vocation as Christians. We are someone before the Lord when we feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, clothe the naked and heal the sick. Because God is merciful, generous, and just. His arms are open, he gives without counting. God does not know our mathematics, our measures. He is unlimited in love. Hence, He invites us to be so.

The power of God is beyond telling, look at Paul, a person alien to our faith but turned completely upside down with his change of life’s direction. A man given himself completely to the ideology of his religion, opens up to the Spirit of the Lord. Once his life is offered to Jesus there is no looking back. He becomes the founder of many Christian communities. This Paul brought faith to more people than anyone else and helped to shape what we now call Christianity. People listen to him, non-Jews listen to him. He feels humbled by the power of God and how it is working in the lives of people and in his own life. Paul feels deep within that it is not his talent, intelligence that led the people to form communities in Christ but the power of the crucified Christ. He recounts his initial fear when he visited Corinth to proclaim Christ; he came with "fear and trembling". But with the power of God, he could bring so much fruit to the Corinthian community. Therefore, before the power of God human wisdom has no standing.

Paul doesn’t try to draw people by strength, confidence or even certainty. But instead shows who he really is to them – and so who Christ really is. To be Christian is to choose a God who became human, a God who chose to be vulnerable – a God who draws us to each other through our vulnerability. We are called to find ourselves- to be whole- to be as vulnerable as we are- and, in this vulnerability, this humanity, to find God. We could ask ourselves how we take our own vulnerability, limitedness before the pressures of this world. Often we are surrounded by a pressure to be strong and independent...as if to be weak is to be broken. How do you experience this pressure? Do you feel comfortable with it... or is it a strain?

Living in God is living in vulnerability. St Paul recognises that, in speaking to the Corinthians, he was weak and fearful yet he continues this great task of demonstrating power in faith. Think of those times and ways in which you have felt weak and fearful...perhaps times when you have been under pressure to perform – how did this feel? How did you deal with this? Did the pressure overcome you or did you overcome it?

To be Christian is to choose a God who chose to be vulnerable. God is almighty yet he chooses to be with us in our weakness...how does it feel to choose a vulnerable God? Ours is a relationship of vulnerability. As people who choose this God of vulnerability we, like St. Paul, are drawn to follow Him in becoming fully human...becoming open, vulnerable and real. Pope John XXIII said that “Tenderness is strength at its fullest”.

In today's Gospel Jesus puts so beautifully how we should be: ‘You are the salt of the earth, you are the light of the world’ he says. Salt and light are metaphors about the world. Salt gives taste whereas light takes away the darkness. With these metaphors of salt and light, we might firmly affirm that we should be Christians whose life matter. We should affect others. We cannot be like a stagnate water but flowing fresh river water. There must be a transparent quality to our lives. Our friends and family, our neighbors and fellow citizens, should see reflected in us the light of Christ and through us be attracted to the saving truths of the Gospel. If we live for Christ, we will glow like light. Thus we can be a beacon of hope for others.


- Olvin Veigas, SJ

09th February 2020

God has His Say in Everything

The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple. Readings: Malachi 3:1–4; Hebrews 2:14–18; Luke 2:22–40

(The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, Fra Angelico, 1440-1442)

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Today’s feast marks the Presentation of the Lord Jesus in the Temple, forty days after he was born. As the firstborn, he belonged to God. According to the Law of Moses, Mary and Joseph were required to take him to the Temple and “redeem” him by paying five shekels or a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons. At the same time, the Law required the child’s mother to offer sacrifice in order to overcome the ritual impurity brought about by childbirth.

I

What is fascinating and prominently make their presence felt in this Scripture passage are two elderly people, Simeon and prophetess Anna. Both came to the temple where Jesus would be presented because of the promptings of the Holy Sprit. Interestingly, both were looking for something extraordinary in their peak of life or in their ripe age.  Finally they meet whom for so long they had prayed, read in the prophetic writings and heard from their Rabbis.

The senior Simeon astonishes both the parents of Jesus, especially the mother, Mary. She would be coming to know here first sorrow among the seven sorrows mentioned in the Gospels.  This will be a source of deep pain for the Mother, something she will not realize fully until she sees him die in agony before her eyes.  Simeon's words must have been very puzzling and even alarming to Mary and Joseph. I suppose no mother would like to hear such bad futuristic thoughts about their child.

Every parent would like to know the future of the child, what this child would become; what it would accomplish, etc.?  Parents have dreams for their children. It is rightly to have dreams for one's offsprings.

II

Simeon also gives us a very challenging prayer, which we do everyday Compline, Night Prayer, in other words, whenever we recite "Nunc dimittis" from  the second chapter of the Gospel of Luke, verses 29 through 32, meaning "Now you dismiss".

"Now, Master, you let your servant go in peace. You have fulfilled your promise.

My own eyes have seen your salvation,

which you have prepared in the sight of all peoples.

A light to bring the Gentiles from darkness; the glory of your people Israel."

Both these elderly persons of the Lucan Gospel, Simeon and Anna remind us that God has His say in everything, even at the last moments of our life. It could be even when we have gone through rough sea's of life; in things which must have been really difficult and disappointing. Still we could give a chance to God to do his job for us. He will have his say and that would be the right one, promising one, and which we must have been waiting for so long.

III

The presence of Jesus must have been such an astonishing event in their long lives of Simeon and Anna. All the pain of being a widow, childless that she must must have been carrying on for more than 60 years of life must have vanished with that wink of seeing Jesus, the little baby in the arms his mother, Mary.

The presence of Jesus is must for every Christian where ever they are. The liturgy invites us to be the presence of Jesus in the world around us and to be able to recognize Jesus as revealed or made present by others.
Saint Teresa of Avila puts it so beautifully how and what it means to be the presence of Jesus in the world:

God of love, help us to remember 

That Christ has no body now on earth but ours 

No hands but ours, No feet but ours 

Ours are the eyes to see the needs of the world. 

Ours are the hands with which to bless everyone now. 

Ours are the feet with which he is to go about doing good.

And, to recognize Jesus made present by others, we perhaps need to, as Simeon and Anna did, rely on God’s grace.

- Olvin Veigas, SJ

02nd February 2020

Failures have a Future

(Photo courtesy: Jean-Mark Arkalian)

Although none of us like to encounter failures, unfortunately they are part and parcel of our lives. The more we run away from them, more they haunt us. Failures are facts of life. None of us can escape from failures either big or small, seldom or continuous.

A matured leaf has to ripen, dry and fall on the ground. Only then a new leaf would make its place and the branch would grow. Every failure is a pillar of success. Failures come and go and but we remain there.

As I read through the book of Samuel, especially the story of the rise and fall of Saul, the first king of the Jews in the 11th century BCE (1 Sam 9) the facts on failures become very vivid.  With his kingship, the Jews made a definite move from tribal society to a statehood. Things fail, human person fails, even God fails. This could be seen in the life of King Saul. In spite of the resistance of prophet Samuel, Yahweh wants to fulfil the desire of Israelites. Samuel tries to persuade the Jews not to look for a king by giving them various reasons and how the king would exploit and enslave its citizens. However, Yahweh has different plans. God asks Samuel to listen to the people. Vox populi est vox Dei, the voice of people is the voice of God. Finally, Samuel anoints the best person among Jewish male: "There was not a man among the people of Israel more handsome than he; he stood head and shoulders above everyone else" (1 Sam 9:2). 

Unfortunately, the story of king Saul does not end here with success but in utter failure personally and collectively. Saul follows his own ways instead of the book of the covenant, thus leading to an admonition from the prophet Samuel who had anointed him as the king (1 Sam 15).  Saul is rejected as a king and David was anointed in his place. The question that troubles us is this: How is that God who had chosen such a formidable man lost favour in the sight of God so quickly? Didn't God think well about Saul before making such an important milestone in the history of Israel by providing them first Jewish king? Why didn't God give enough wisdom to Saul to do the right and appropriate things?

God failed in the person of Saul. But the story has a colourful continuation. God raises another man more handsome and more courageous and talented in David. For God nothing is impossible. Perhaps we make things impossible when God wants us to be successful. He prepares us to beat the failures. There are always alternative routes to make our failures into success. Moreover, we should take different approaches. With our little failures we think that is the end of the story. In fact, it is the beginning of a new story with more scintillating and courageous one. Because every failure will be redeemed in order to be more successful. God is the future. Hence, failures have a bright and shiny future.

- Olvin Veigas, SJ

28th January 2020

God Reveals And Works Amidst Us

The Feast of Epiphany -Readings: Isaiah 60:1–6; Ephesians 3:2–3, 5–6; Matthew 2:1–12

(Adoration of the Magi, Jan Boeckhorst, 1652)

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The feast of Epiphany, in other words, the manifestation of our Lord, is an important event in the liturgical calendar. This feast brings us to the end of season that we started with First Sunday of Advent. While reading the narrative of those three wise men in search of baby Jesus sets us to think three important factors, in light of revelation of God and His work amidst us.

1. Confusion and clarity

2. Protection and proclamation

3. Mystery has a indilutable meaning.

I

Firstly, confusion and clarity: The Gospel of Matthew says, "When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him" (Mt 2:3). God works through confusion. There was a reason for King Herod and his palace to get disturbed and confused. Our God is a God of light and not of darkness. When God's light enters into the reign of darkness then there is confusion, commotion and terrific disturbance. This is happens for a good reason. The clarity does not come out just like that, without a whisk or leaving its deep traces. Clarity has its costs. 

God empowers those who are ready to hear and listen to him. The three wise men belong to this group of people who believed when one door closes another opens. God opens the door to these non-Jews and non-Romans. In fact, God had bigger, brighter and better plans. God brings clarity about His sovereignty to those who do not know him yet. The kingdom of God belongs to everyone even to those who are not within the purview of those "first called". Sometimes God can bring out good out of those evil people like Herod, at least, in pointing out the right direction even though they may not follow. Which evil man or woman wants to follow the right path even when the way to heaven is clear? The men in the Herod's palace were able to guide the magi in their search for the source eternal life, Jesus Christ. However, once the magi's task is accomplished God gives them different direction, a right sight to see in everything indomitable clarity and follow that path. Therefore, they need no more the star that they saw earlier. Thus they follow the vision or the path shown by God to reach their destiny. 

II

Secondly, protection and proclamation: God's work continues uninterrupted. Even when there is opposition or insecurity, still God knows how to protect His good work. The rescue and the evacuation of baby Jesus, and the parents, Joseph and Mary happens in a unique but in a bold way. God wants his work to be proclaimed to the ends of the earth. Therefore He chooses a person of his own. When there is threat at the very initial stages of its operation, God counters it very boldly with magnificent attitude of self-worth. The very protection of baby Jesus becomes a sign of proclamation. God makes known His presence and His work to His people through signs and wonders. This is what the feast of Epiphany is all about. God's work cannot be destroyed. God cannot be challenged. Instead, God can only be encountered. Am I ready for this task?

III

Thirdly, mystery has a definite meaning. Often, we find difficult to find meaning in the mystery of Incarnation of God in the world.  St Paul writing to the Ephesians emphasises that God through His grace has revealed to us the mystery of God's coming into this world. So, the new era of salvation belongs to all. God continues to shape us and fashion us in that mystery. No one has seen God but through Jesus we know God. God empowers us to know the mystery of God's life. God does not hide from us but opens himself to us provided we are ready to listen to him and work accordingly. God sends his people to proclaim Him. The wise men from the East are those who did this first job of proclaiming the mystery of Incarnation to the world. 

Through the gifts the magi bring gold, frankincense, and myrrh, God reveals himself that those who are baptised in Christ are just like him embodied with kingship, priesthood and prophetic role. In other words, we become partakers in His mission; moreover, "become partakers of the divine nature" (2 Peter 1: 4).

Olvin Veigas, SJ

The Feast of Epiphany (05.01.2020)

Joseph's Dream and Child's Cry

The Feast of Holy Innocent Martyrs - Readings: 1 John 1:5—2:2; Matthew 2:13-18

The Killing of the Innocents by Herod (detail), Leon Cogniet ca.1824.

Listen to my Audio family (Preached in Jebel Ali Parish, Dubai)

- Olvin Veigas, SJ
28th December 2019 (13th Anniversary of Ordination to the Priesthood)