Lent Week 4: Saturday 20 March 2021


Reading – Jn 7: 40 – 53

Jeremiah had the tough job of calling the people of his time to repentance. Instead of heeding Jeremiah’s call, they plotted to kill him. Even when Jeremiah learned of the plot, he did not stop preaching to the people. Instead, he placed himself at God’s disposal.

In this supreme act of trust, Jeremiah foreshadowed Jesus himself. Jesus too called the people to repentance. Instead of listening to Jesus, they plotted to take his life. Even when Jesus learned of the plot, he did not shy away from continuing the mission his father entrusted him with. Do we listen to God and follow his promptings?

During his presidency, Andrew Jackson offered a pardon to a man who had committed a serious crime. But the man refused the pardon and insisted on staying in prison. Neither Jackson nor anyone else could convince him to accept the pardon.

Many people in Jesus’ time were like that man. Nothing that Jesus said or did could convince some people to accept his message. How willing are we to accept Jesus and his message? Or do we stubbornly stick to our own views? It is easy to crack a safe than to crack a closed mind.

 

(By Fr. Sebastian Jose SDB, Rector of Don Bosco College, Maram)

 

Lent Week 4: Thursday 18 March 2021


Lent Week 4: Thursday 18 March 2021

What are our Golden Calves?

The first reading today speaks, how stiff-necked the people of Israel were, to turn away from the Lord and made for themselves a golden calf and said, “these are our Gods.”

People of Israel have seen by their own eyes the great wonders and miracles, the Lord had done for them to deliver them from their bondage.

They had seen, the Egyptians suffering all types of plagues, their first-born being killed. They had seen by their own eyes the red-sea getting divided into two, and the entire army getting drowned in the sea.

The Lord had accompanied them in the desert, by a cloud during the day and fire during the night.

The Lord provided them water from the rock, provided them Manna in the desert.

The Lord made an everlasting covenant with them, ‘I am your God and You are my people.’

Having seen all these wonders and miracles, they departed from the Lord. They created for themselves a golden-calf, worshipping and offering sacrifices to it.

We feel so terribly angry and fuming looking at the evil-deed of the people of Israel. We have so many questions like, ‘How could they ever do it? How could they ever turn their faces against a God who is so loving, providing and accompanying? How could they be so disloyal to a God who is so divine in his love?

Yes, we blame them for what they had done to the Lord. But before blaming them we need to introspect and see whether we are worthy enough to blame them?

We cannot blame them for it happens even today. It did not happen only among the people of Israel. It even happens now among us.

Yes. We have our own Golden-calves. We call them gods. We worship them.

Sometimes money, power and position become our golden-calves.

Sometimes worldly pleasures and amusements become our golden-calves.

Sometimes our egoistic attitudes and superiority complex become our golden-calves.

Sometimes our dishonesty, corrupt mind, evil-intentions become our golden calves.

We have seen wonders and miracles in our lives. We have seen the hands of God at work in our lives. Even then we forget his love and mercy, turn against him, become stiff-necked and create our own golden calves.

God might punish us for this disloyalty of ours. But he is so loving and kind that he awaits our return.

When Moses implored the Lord his God, the Lord changed his mind and about the disaster that he planned to bring on his people.

In the same way, when we turn to our Lord and God, when we implore him, the Lord would, with all his mercy and Love, embrace us in his bosom and would declare, ‘you are my Son/Daughter and I am your God and Father.’

As we feel sorry for the times we have created our own golden-calves in our lives, let beg pardon and implore his mercy.

In faith and love let us pray today, ‘Remember us, O Lord, for the love you have for us, your children.’

(By Fr Ashok SDB, the Province Secretary of Tiruchy Province)

Lent Week 4: Wednesday 17 March 2021


In the first reading from Isaiah 49, we read one of the most immortal lines of the Old Testament that God never forgets us, that he remembers us even if a mother were to forget her child. He never ever forgets to remember us because our names are etched (never to be removed) on the palm of his hand. (v.16). “hear then Oh Israel, Oh Jacob, my servant, my darling whom I have chosen. Fear not”(Is.44.1-2) “Fear not, Oh worm Jacob, (Is. 41.14) my friend, my chosen one…fear not, for I am with you, be not dismayed for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you I will uphold you with my righteous right hand (cfr. Is. 41.V.8-10). Can we ever doubt God’s love for us?  It is enough to change Jacob’s name for your name to know much God loves you personally. Jesus in the gospel alludes to the same thing. He stretched out his hands on the cross and said that “I love you so much”. St.Paul tells us in Rom. 5.6” that God loved us even when we were sinners”.

 In the First Reading, we are also reminded that God forgets to remember our iniquities and failures. He does not keep a record of our sins. He forgives all our sins. He deletes and wipes out all our sins. This is the meaning of “hesed”- in Hebrew- God’s loving mercy. What is our response to his love during this lent season? Do we appreciate it? Do we spurn his offer of love and forgiveness? Do we take it for granted?

The Gospel gives a premonition about the end of Jesus’ earthly life/ John alludes to it taking place in a few days. Jesus thus gives his keynote address.

In this Gospel narrative, Jesus does not attempt to bear witness to himself. “otherwise that would be worthless,” (v. 31).

In Jewish tradition, self testimony is not acceptable, but witnesses are necessary to prove the truth of a claim. Jesus is using the method of rabbinic argumentation for presenting his teaching further in this long passage.

He cites four other witnesses “John the Baptist, the very works that he does, the Father and the Scriptures.” While the quality of a testimony leads to belief, it is by the power of the indwelling Spirit that enables us to believe in and accept Jesus Christ.

 

 John the Baptist was introduced in the prologue as a witness to the light (Jn 1: 6-8). John is called a “burning and shining lamp” (5:35). He was not the light but only a lamp and the Light is Jesus and John’s function was to give witness to the Light.

Jesus’ works which his father entrusted him to complete are the second witness. ‘Works’  or “teleos” in greek was the goal of his works or “signs” was to reveal the Father, It refers more to his mission as the envoy of God, which he completes on the cross.” It is finished”.

The third witness is the Father himself. John does not report a voice from heaven during the baptism of Jesus or the voice heard during the transfiguration of Jesus at Mount Tabor. The testimony of the Father meant by John is not external but internal; in the interiority of the believer just as you inhale and breath take the cosmic energy which symbolizes the spirit of the Father. “This is the testimony that God has given about the Son. He who believes in the Son of God has this testimony within himself” (1 Jn 5: 9-10, 2: 14).

The final witness is the Scripture. The Jews believed that the Scriptures are the sources of eternal life and they come from God. St Basil says, “The distinctive mark of faith is the unhesitating certainty that the words inspired by God are really true”. The messianic prophecies which we find in the Scriptures are fulfilled in Jesus in time.

Jesus is challenging us today to become his “witnesses”. St. Patrick who is said to have banished all snakes from Ireland, whose feast we celebrate today was a true witness of the gospel. What is the credibility of our “witness” Do our works proclaim who we are? Do we walk the talk? Or we actors and hypocrites? How does your life show that you are my messengers?”

The season of Lent calls us to examine our lives. How credible and authentic witnesses are we?

Jesus concludes his discourse with a note of the disbelief of Jews. The Jews believed that Moses would defend them before God because they accepted the Scriptures of which Moses is the author Jesus tells that Moses would accuse the Jews because they did not believe in Jesus. Disbelief in Jesus is equal to disbelief in the Scriptures. If they accepted the Scriptures they cannot but accept Jesus. Like Jesus, we need to be conscious of who we are and what mission we have to fulfil. 

(By Fr. Francis T.J. Sdb, SPCA delegate for Mission)

Lent Week 4: Tuesday 16 March 2021


The Healing Water

 In today’s gospel (Jn 5:1-3, 5-16), we read the healing of a paralytic at the pool of Bethzatha.

This man had been sick and paralyzed for 38 years. And when he is asked by Jesus, “Do you want to be well again? Do you want to be made whole again?”, he does not give a straight answer. Instead of giving a straight “Yes,” the man starts explaining his incapacity to get into the water when the water is disturbed or to get help from someone. This is very strange, but we too see to share this strangeness at times.

I wonder if our prayers at times are explanations, rather than expressions of our desire. Simplicity in prayer points to one’s growth in spiritual life. Our prayers need to become simpler and simpler; with silence as a major portion of it. Some spiritual guides used to say, with regard to prayer, “Show up and shut up!” I think that is the way to get healed.

In the gospel, we meet Jesus who is the healing water. He understands the heart of the man who was a paralytic and heals him. In that whole chapter 5 of John, we see how the man doesn’t understand Jesus’ power or his divinity. He seems to be limping, even though he had been given the power of healing. The evangelist clearly shows that Jesus’ word is the real source of faith, not the signs.

The first reading (Ezek 47:1-9, 12), gives us a curious point to reflect upon. We know that when a stream flows into a sea, the water turns salty. But in the reading, we see how the water of the stream flowing from the Temple into the sea, made the water wholesome—where every creature could live.

We are asked to be good in season and out of season. Even when the situation around us is bad, we are asked to show goodness. Very often we complain saying that they were forced to do bad things. In a sense, it may be true. But if we are in touch with God and Jesus, who is the healing water—we can give life to others even in a seemingly impossible situation.

In the gospel, the man is told to complete his experience of healing by abandoning a life of sin, bringing body and spirit into full harmony and wholeness. This is not to say that Jesus is implying that the man had been a cripple because of his sin. Jesus did not teach that. But what he is saying is that physical wholeness needs to be matched by spiritual wholeness, the wholeness of the complete person.

Sin is not to believe in Jesus; sin is not to believe in the values of Jesus. Spiritual wholeness is more important than physical health. Jesus is the one who can bring us life and wholeness.

Even as we seek the pool of Bethzatha, let us be immersed in Jesus Christ, the true healing water!

 

(By Fr (Dr) Maria Anthuvan SDB is the Rector and Provincial Secretary at Don Bosco Provincial House, Guwahati. He has recently published a book on spirituality entitled, You are God’s Wonder: 52 Reflections and Prayer-Practices for a Life in the Spirit (Guwahati: Don Bosco Publications, 2020). He may be contacted at anthuvan.maria@gmail.com)

Lent Week 4: Monday 15 March 2021


Reading – Jn 4: 43 – 54

On an overcast and cloudy day, little Jimmy asked his mom, “Mom, do you believe that the sun is still shining somewhere in this universe amidst these thick clouds?” His mom replied, “Yes, Jimmy, the sun is still there, though you can’t see it. Faith is precisely believing in the sun even when it is not shining and not visible to our naked eyes. Faith indeed is believing even when we can’t see, feel or hear God.

Abraham of old, packed up his family and his belongings, not knowing where he was going, because he believed in God’s promise and trusted in his orders. Moses left Egypt in his old age, leading a rebellious pack of Israelites, because of his faith in God’s call. The official in today’s Gospel, believed in Jesus’ words and the miracle happened; his son was instantly healed.

Through this celebration, Jesus is inviting all of us to seek his will and to believe in him that he may bless our trust and give us grace and guidance as we live our Christian lives in deep faith.

(by Fr Sebastian Jose SDB, Rector of Don Bosco College, Maram)

Lent Week 4: Sunday 14 March 2021


THE GREATEST GIFT
2 Chronicles 36:14-16, 19-23; Ephesians 2:4-10; John 3:14-21

A man saw his five-year-old daughter tearing expensive wrapping-paper and sticking it on an old cardboard box, and yelled at her for wasting time and paper.

The next morning, she gave him that box, and said: “This is for you, Daddy.” The father was embarrassed by his earlier reaction.

He opened the box, found it empty, and yelled again: “Don’t you know when you give someone a present there’s supposed to be something inside the package?” The little girl’s eyes became little pools. She said: “Daddy, there is something inside. I blew kisses into it; I filled it with my love.”

The father was crushed. He hugged his little girl, and he asked her to forgive him for his anger. He kept that love-filled box by his bed for the rest of his life. Often, he’d open the box, take out an imaginary kiss, and remember the love of the child who had put it there.

In a very real sense, God our parent has given each of us a gift-box filled with the greatest gift of his unconditional love.

The First Reading tells us that God manifested his love through his patient faithfulness towards his unfaithful people. He persistently sent his messengers to them and consistently went after them because he had compassion for them.

The Second Reading and the Gospel remind us that God shows his love in the ultimate gift: the sending of his only Son. The text from John reads: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”  This is the core of the Gospel.

This text tells us that God took the initiative to love us; he sent his Son… for one reason: he loved us. It tells us of the width of God’s love: he loved the world. Not just the “chosen people”; not only those who loved him.

The greatest gift of all is for you and me. All you and I have to do is to accept the gift.

Do I accept the gift of God’s love? Do I believe that God loves me so much that he sent his son to be my redeemer? How do I respond to his love?

When someone gives a gift, it is never polite to ask, “How much did it cost?”  But in this case, the Bible tells us how much God’s gift cost. It cost God his only Son.

(By Fr Dr Vinod Mascarenhas SDB, Provincial Secretary of Bombay Province)

Lent Week 3: Saturday 20 March 2021


Lent Week 3: Saturday 20 March 2021

Reading Jn 7: 40 – 53

Jeremiah had the tough job of calling the people of his time to repentance. Instead of heeding Jeremiah’s call, they plotted to kill him. Even when Jeremiah learned of the plot, he did not stop preaching to the people. Instead, he placed himself at God’s disposal.

In this supreme act of trust, Jeremiah foreshadowed Jesus himself. Jesus too called the people to repentance. Instead of listening to Jesus, they plotted to take his life. Even when Jesus learned of the plot, he did not shy away from continuing the mission his father entrusted him with. Do we listen to God and follow his promptings?

During his presidency, Andrew Jackson offered a pardon to a man who had committed a serious crime. But the man refused the pardon and insisted on staying in prison. Neither Jackson nor anyone else could convince him to accept the pardon.

Many people in Jesus’ time were like that man. Nothing that Jesus said or did could convince some people to accept his message. How willing are we to accept Jesus and his message? Or do we stubbornly stick to our own views? It is easy to crack a safe than to crack a closed mind.

(By Fr Sebastian Jose SDB, Rector of Don Bosco College, Maram)

Lent Week 3: Friday 12 March 2021


Lent Week 3: Friday 12 March 2021

Are we near or far from the Kingdom of God?

The Gospel today speaks of the two commandments on which lay the foundation of Christian living.

“You must Love your God and you must Love your neighbour as yourself.”

The question of the Scribe was, ‘which is the first of all the commandments?’

Jesus answers, giving the first of all the commandments and adds the second one too. Or rather he couples the first with the second, meaning to say that these two are interlinked and inseparable. One flows from the other.

We cannot separate these two or we cannot even discuss which one is easier and which one is difficult?

These two are the basic foundation and requirement of every Christian.

We read in 1 John 4:20 “Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.”

We read in Matthew 5: 23 and 24, “when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first, be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift.”

Pope Francis says, “Love of God and love of neighbour are inseparable. They are two sides of the same coin: lived together they are the true strength of believers!”

The very hallmark and the identity of Christians are that they are recognized as people of Love. They are recognized as peace-lovers, loving people and charitable people. They are recognized as people who love God and love their neighbours.

Mother Theresa when interviewed about how she was able to love all and do charity even to the strangers who endanger her, she pointed out the Eucharist and said it was from there she received her strength. From her love for the Lord, she was able to draw love for her brothers and sisters.

Mrs Graham steins was able to forgive those murders saying, “for the love of Christ, I forgive those who burnt my husband and children.” From her love for Christ, flowed love for others even to the evil-doers.

Love of God and Love of neighbour is the lesson that we need to learn.

It is saddening to see that people gloriously want to portray themselves as holy, pious and God-fearing but fail to show any acts of charity to the people around them. They are just equal to the Pharisees. These Pharisaic attitudes are very much prevalent even in our families, communities too. We claim ourselves to be spiritual and prayerful but failing to love, forgive, understand and assist others.

When we love God with all our heart and carry forward this love to our brothers and sisters then the Lord would definitely declare to us saying, ‘You are not far away from the Kingdom of God.’

Let us reflect on whether we are near or far. If in case we are far away let us pray for the grace to be closer to God and closer to our neighbours.

(By Fr. Ashok Lawrence SDB, Province Secretary of Trichy Salesian Province)

 

Lent Week 3: Thursday 11 March 2021


Lent Week 3: Thursday 11 March 2021

In the first reading, God is only asking us to do 2 things.
1. To “hearken to his Word” during this Lent season and
2 “not to harden our hearts”. 

The first request is made some 151 times in the Bible. (Ex.15.26; Deut.4.1 etc) What brings peace and security to people’s lives? The first reading provides an important lesson: “Obey my voice and walk in all the way that I command you, that it may be well with you” (Jeremiah 7:23). God is telling us here that wellbeing is only given to those who are faithful to Him. And this rings true to many human experiences. People who listen and obey God’s Word live in peace. They may not possess much wealth, but they always live with joy in their hearts. In contrast, people who neglect God’s Word end up broken and disturbed. They feel empty and miserable despite their material possessions and worldly entertainments. Let us then ask Jesus to free us from evil desires so that we can obey and follow the will of His Father.

The second request “not to harden our hearts” is addressed to each one of us. All of us at times have turned away from God, out of fear, doubt, pride, selfishness, sensuality, etc. We have been at times callous, stubborn and heard-hearted. But God is merciful; when we acknowledge our sin and repent of it, he welcomes us back. Hardness of heart; however,  is much worse than a single failure to listen and follow God. It is a condition in which we stubbornly reject God’s will in favour of his own will. In this condition, the person is fixed on his own will and has no intention of listening to God.

In the first reading, God gives Jeremiah a good description of the hardness of heart as he describes the condition of his chosen people.  He has spoken to them through prophet after prophet, but they have not listened or obeyed. God uses a very clear image, saying, “They turned their backs, not their faces, to me.” (Jer.7.24 ) He warns Jeremiah that they will not listen to his words either.

This becomes the one reason for God not hearing our prayer. If your heart is switched off, God’s word is also never reachable. If you have lost contact with God, it is high time to be in His range. Reach out to him with all your heart. “Oh that today you will listen to his voice, harden not your heart” (ps. 95.7-8)

 Some of the people in the gospel of today are in danger of the same spiritual trap as they listen to Jesus and see the wonders he is doing. It should be obvious to them that Jesus is from God, but instead, they supposed he is in league with the captain of the devil Beelzebul. He has just worked a sign, and they demand another sign. Their hearts are not disposed to listen, so they will not believe, no matter what Jesus says or does.

The ultimate hard-hearted one is Satan himself. He has put himself in a state of permanent rebellion against God. When we refuse to listen to God, we risk joining in the tragic rebellion. Even if our hearts are not completely hardened toward God, when we do not want to bend to God’s will, we create a space in which the devil can gain a foothold in our hearts. Jesus exclaims that he has come to despoil Satan of all that he claims to possess. Satan is a “strong man” who sits guarding his courtyard, but Jesus is “someone stronger” – much stronger! – who comes and overthrows him. We do not belong to Satan but to Jesus Christ!

Thomas Brooks has this to say about Satan. He says: “Satan promises the best but pays with the worst. He promises honour and pays with disgrace. He promises pleasure and pays with pain. He promises profit and pays with loss. He promises life and pays with death.”

We are responsible for the condition of our own hearts. The Lord wants to set us free, but he will not force himself into our hearts. He waits for us to open the door. This is why he urges us, in the words of today’s psalm response: “If today you hear my voice, harden not your hearts.”

Lastly, the final sentence in today’s gospel is pertinent. Jesus said that he who was not with Him was against Him and that he who did not help to gather the flock helped to scatter it. In other words, there is no place for neutrality in Christian life. The man who stands aloof from the good cause automatically helps the evil cause. We cannot be bystanders; we cannot be mere spectators. We have to be in the play. A person is either on the way or in the way.

(By Fr. Francis T.J. Sdb, SPCA delegate for Mission)

 

Lent Week 3: Wednesday 10 March 2021


Jesus and Law

 In the first reading (Deut 4:1, 5-9), Moses reminds the Israelites of the great treasure they have in their laws and customs, a treasure full of “wisdom and understanding”. These laws are life-giving and will bring the people closer to their God.

 In the gospel reading, Jesus says that he has “not come to abolish the Law and the Prophets but to complete them.” He is not a rebel who disregards the law, but he is the fulfilment of the Law itself. Jesus clearly shows through his words and life that the Law is not to be downgraded in any way; rather it is to be transcended to a higher level.

 Jesus has not come to abolish the Law and the prophets but to bring them to completion. So, in a sense, the Law still has force. “Until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished.”

 Up to the time of Jesus, and this is clearly exemplified in the Pharisees and Scribes as they appear in the gospels, perfect observance of the Law focused on external observance. Jesus will show that true observance must involve the heart and mind. Let us not forget the simple maxim of Jesus, “The Sabbath was made for us; and not we for the Sabbath.”

 At the same time, let us remember that there is much in Jesus’ teaching that is completely new. He did not abolish the Law but he introduced a completely new way of thinking. He did not abolish or change the Law but went far beyond its literal requirements. New wine in new wineskins. Therefore, the necessity of changing our mentalities and attitudes.

 For Jesus, just to keep the Law externally is not enough. The Scribes and the Pharisees kept the Law and the Commandments very carefully. But Jesus would say that, though they observed the external requirements of the Law, they did not have the spirit which is the foundation of the Law: to love God and to love the neighbour as oneself. Clearly, this teaching would have made much more impact on a Jewish audience but, even in our Christian lives, it is possible for people to have a very mechanical notion of what is good behaviour. We can become obsessed with the external observance of Church laws and regulations. It can become a source of scrupulosity and fear.

 This is revealed often in the way we “go to confession.” This can happen during the Lenten season when we are encouraged to do ‘penitential acts’. We need to remember that these acts do not stand on their own and only have meaning if they deepen our relationship with God. In all things, our ultimate guide must be the law of love. That is, the spirit of the law is more important than the letter of the law. No truly loving act can ever be sinful, although at times it may violate the letter of a law.

 (By Fr (Dr) Maria Anthuvan SDB is the Rector and Provincial Secretary at Don Bosco Provincial House, Guwahati. He has recently published a book on spirituality entitled, You are God’s Wonder: 52 Reflections and Prayer-Practices for a Life in the Spirit (Guwahati: Don Bosco Publications, 2020). He may be contacted at anthuvan.maria@gmail.com)