Love for brethern in faith; 29 July 2022;

Friday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time [29 July 2022]

 

First reading

From the second letter of the apostle Paul to the Corinthians 12:14 – 13:13

Paul will soon visit the Corinthians for their correction

 

This is the third time that I am about to visit you, and I am not going to burden you; for I do not want what you have, I only want you. Children should not save up for their parents, but parents for children. I will gladly spend myself and be spent for your sakes. If I love you too much, will I be loved the less for that?

 

Granted that I did not burden you—but being crafty, you say, I caught you by guile. Did I ever take advantage of you through any of the men I sent to you? I urged Titus to go to you, and I sent the other brother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you in any way? Did we not act in the one spirit, walk in the same footsteps?

 

Do you think throughout this recital that I am defending myself to you? Before God I tell you, in Christ, I have done everything to build you up, my dear ones. I fear that when I come I may not find you to my liking, nor may you find me to yours. I fear I may find discord, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, slander and gossip, self-importance, disorder. I fear that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, and I may have to mourn over the many who sinned earlier and have not repented of the uncleanness, fornication, and sensuality they practiced.

 

This is the third time I shall be coming to you. “A judicial fact shall be established only on the testimony of two or three witnesses.” I said before when I was there the second time—and I repeat it now in my absence—to those who sinned before and to all the rest, that if I come again I shall not spare you. You are, after all, looking for a proof of the Christ who speaks in me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful in you. It is true he was crucified out of weakness, but he lives by the power of God. We too are weak in him, but we live with him by God’s power in us.

 

Test yourselves to see whether you are living in faith; examine yourselves. Perhaps you yourselves do not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you have failed the challenge. I hope you will understand that we have not failed. We pray God that you may do no evil—not in order that we may appear approved but simply that you may do what is good, even though we may seem to have failed. We cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the sake of the truth. We even rejoice when we are weak and you are strong. Our prayer is that you may be built up to completion.

 

I am writing in this way while away from you, so that when I am with you I may not have to exercise with severity the authority the Lord has given me—authority to build up rather than to destroy.

 

And now, brothers, I must say good-bye. Mend your ways. Encourage one another. Live in harmony and peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the holy ones send greetings to you.

 

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all!

 

Second reading

From a letter to Polycarp by Saint Ignatius of Antioch, bishop and martyr

Let everything be done for God’s honor

 

Avoid evil practices; indeed, preach against them. Tell my sisters to love the Lord and be content with their husbands in the flesh and in the spirit, and in the same way bid my brothers in Christ’s name to love their wives as the Lord loves his Church. If anyone can remain chaste in honor of the Savior’s flesh, then let him do so without boasting. For if he boasts of it, he is lost; and if he thinks himself for this reason better than the bishop, he is lost. Those who marry should be united with the bishop’s approval, so that the marriage may follow God’s will and not merely the prompting of the flesh. Let everything be done for God’s honor.

 

Hear your bishop, that God may hear you. My life is a sacrifice for those who are obedient to the bishop, the presbyters and the deacons; and may it be my lot to share with them in God. Work together in harmony, struggle together, run together, suffer together, rest together, rise together, as stewards, advisors and servants of God. Seek to please him whose soldiers you are and from whom you draw your pay; let none of you prove a deserter. Let your baptism be your armor, your faith your helmet, your charity your spear, your patience your panoply. Let your good works be your deposits, so that you may draw out well-earned savings. So be patient and gentle with one another, as God is with you. May I have joy in you for ever!

 

Since I have heard that the church of Antioch in Syria is in peace through your prayers, I too am more tranquil in my reliance upon God. If only I may find my way to God through my passion and at the resurrection prove to be your disciple! My most blessed Polycarp, you should convene a godly council and appoint someone whom you consider dear and especially diligent to be called God’s courier and to have the honor of going into Syria and advancing God’s glory by speaking of your untiring charity. A Christian is not his own master; his time is God’s. This is God’s work, and it will be yours as well when you have performed it. I have trust in the grace of God that you are ready to act generously when it comes to God’s work. Since I knew so well your zeal for the truth, I have limited my appeal to these few words.

 

I could not write to all the churches because I am sailing at once from Troas to Neapolis as is required of me. I want you, therefore, as one who knows God’s purpose, to write to the churches of the East and bid them to do the same. Those who can should send representatives, while the rest should send letters through your delegates. Thus your community will be honored for a good work which will be remembered for ever, as their bishop deserves.

 

I wish all of you well for ever in Jesus Christ; through him may you all remain in God’s unity and in his care. Farewell in the Lord!

 

Martha - A symbol of hospitality

 

Is there anyone as an elder sister in the family? Elder sister is always a second mother. Gospel does not record anything about the parents  of Martha. We come to know that she is an elder sister to Mary and Lazarus. Martha would take care of them from the birth onwards, to bring them up in faith and love. 

We meet Martha in both the Gospels of John and Luke. Luke presents Martha as a woman of hospitality and John presents her as the one who announces the resurrection of Jesus. 

Martha was worried about how to show hospitality to Jesus. Jesus says "why are you so worried". Some times it is good to worry, sometimes not. Martha knew how to worry. Jesus also worried in the garden of Getsemani. We need not worry in our life. But we should have fear of God. Sometimes people think that one should not worry, but be happy and enjoy the life. That is epicureanism. Cross is the value of Christian life. “Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” —Matthew 6:27.  We need to worry for the essential things, not every thing. 

The mature way of worrying is to direct to Jesus our worries. “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Jesus is the right person you  should show your worries to, not to others, especially not to your enemies. Lamenting to the other is like gossip. 

Build the united family not on earth, but in heaven. His goal is resurrection. Jesus gives Lazzarus his life back, but he dies again. Jesus cried while Lazarus was dead abandoning the family of two girl children. Jesus gave life, but it was just temporary. He died again. So, these worries are all temporary, the main one remains the worry that we should enter the eternal life, by grace of God.

PATIENT BUT OMNIPOTENT GOD Jeremiah 7:1-11. Matthew 13:24-30 (July 23 2022)

Let them grow together

In the gospel reading Jesus gives a parable of the kingdom of heaven. According to the parable a man sows good seed in his field. When everyone is asleep his enemy sows weeds through the wheat. When his servants warn him about the growing weeds he tells them to let the wheat and weeds grow together.

God's providence, God's knowledge, God's patience - these three elements are the values of the kingdom of heaven.

(a) God's providence

God does not keep his land - that is, the world - bare and empty. He fills it with goodness and takes care of it. He is the fountain of our life.

(b) God's knowledge

God knows about the evil in the world, and its origin. Kingdom of heaven is not an entity that is isolated from the evil, but to be amidst the evil, yet untouched by it.

(c) God's patience

God does not intervene immediately to pull up the weeds. The weeds when left by themselves tend to grow and become hard. Even when they are left to be themselves they don't change their nature. They remain weeds always. Moreover, they take in the water and other resources which are meant for the wheat. And they disrupt the growth of the wheat. However, the master is patient. Despite the outgrowth of evil in the world God does not intervene. He is patient so that people may change their evil nature. Divine providence is not indifference, but God's mercy.

In the first reading Jeremiah prophecies in front of the Jerusalem Temple. He points out to the presence of injustice among the people of Israel and invites them to shed their evil ways. He warns that the comfort zone of the temple will give away shortly. 

The Lord says, "Has this house which bears my name become in your eyes a den of thieves? I too see what is being done."

Through God's providence the people of Israel possessed the land. God knew about their evil deeds. Still God is patient with them.

What are the lessons of these two readings?

(a) We need to retain our good nature, nature of wheat, till the end, even though we need to live among weeds. At times we may be tempted to adopt the nature of weeds. We must not yield to this temptation.

(b) We need to have divine patience in our lives. If the master had reacted upon heeding to the servants he would have pulled up wheat as well. Haste makes waste. When we lose patience we ourselves. Patience is a great ornament.

(c) We need to get rid of the servant mindset. The servant mindset wants perfection, immediate action, and annihilation of a few. But the master mindset seeks nearest perfection, patient waiting, and growth of all. 

(Source: Fr. Yesu)

Mary Magdalene: a symbol of spousal love

The Latin Church made it common to share in the liturgy the three distinct women of which the Gospel speaks; Mary of Bethany also known as the sister of Lazarus, Mary, the sinner (prostitute), and Mary Magdalene or Magdalene of resurrection (Jn 20). The sanctity of Mary Magdalene was venerated by many; the Greek liturgy and Eastern Orthodox traditions portray the figure of Mary Magdalene in depth.  

It was Pope Francis who made this day to be celebrated as a "Feast" on June 3, 2015, when the Congregation for Divine Worship issued a decree. The Pope made this decision “to signify the importance of this woman who showed great love to Christ and was so loved by Christ."

Though today's Gospel and the first reading were written in different times and places, they are closely connected to today’s feast, revealing the love of Mary Magdalene for Jesus. In the Song of Songs, we read that the bride lost her love at midnight, and she searches everywhere; city, streets, and squares. He was not to be found. Finally, she found a watchman to whom she inquired, “Did you find my Lord?" 

I would like to give three understandings for our reflection today:

1. Jesus, the bridegroom: 

Have you read Tom Brown's Da Vinci Code? Or at least did you watch the movie?  According to the book, the bloodline of Jesus and Mary Magdalene extends until now. This controversy was also present in some of the apocryphal books ( like Gospel of Thomas and Story of Magdalene).  We need not enquire about the controversies, but one thing is sure; Jesus allowed her to love him closely and passionately. In John 10, the Lord is allowing her to wipe the feet with the hair. Remember well: No young women can participate in a public Jewish banquet,  and yet she was found there even with unbound hair (prostitute's symbolic act in Jewish parties). In every scene, Mary Magdalene is teaching us to love Jesus with spousal love (like a real bridegroom).

2. Attitude of Searching: 

In the book of Song of Songs, “At midnight, her spouse was missing. She started to search for him at midnight”. In the Gospel of John also, when Mary Magdalene was searching the Lord, it was still dark (Jn 20:1). The Jewish women never appear on the streets alone and it can never happen at midnight. Only prostitutes wander on the streets at midnight. Here she is searching because her heart is seeking him (in pain). She was weeping constantly (the Lord is asking twice why are you weeping?) 

நற்செய்தி நூல்களில் இவர் அழுதுகொண்டிருக்கின்ற இளவலாகவே அறிமுகம் செய்யப்படுகின்றார். அழுது கொண்டே தன் கண்ணீரால் இயேசுவின் காலடிகளைக் கழுவுகின்றாள். கல்லறையின் முன் நின்று கொண்டு அழுகின்றாள். கல்லறைக்கு முதுகைத் திருப்பிக் கொண்டு அழுகின்றாள். 'என்னுடையது கிடைத்துவிட்டது!' என்று எண்ணும்போதும், 'என்னுடையது என்னை விட்டுப் போய்விடுமோ!' என்று எண்ணும்போதும், பெண்கள் அழுதுவிடுகின்றனர்.

Have you noted Mary Magdalene is not searching the body (corpse) of Jesus, but she is searching the Living Lord. She says, "they have taken my Lord (Kirios)". For those who love Jesus passionately, Jesus remains the living Lord. 

3. Stop holding on to me, but go to the Church: The bridegroom says, "Stop holding on to me, ... But go to my brothers" Then we read finally, "Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples. Jesus does not draw all men and women toward him, but directs them to the Church. Jesus is the bridegroom: The Church is the bride. In the Gospel, the wise virgins wait for the bridegroom with burning lamps and the feast that the father throws for the wedding of his son”.

Saying NO, Jer 2:1-3, 7-8, 12-13; 21 July 2022

Saying No

One of the famous Aesop's fables is 'A Father, A Son, and A Donkey.' The moral of the story is the art of saying 'no' to people and their opinions. The father and the son in the story try to please everyone. In the process they are unable to say 'no.'

Oftentimes we fail to say 'no' to people and things. 

But at times life demands us to say 'yes.' Only in our assertive yes lies our growth.

In the first reading Prophet Jeremiah points out to the people of Israel how they said 'no' to God.

The Lord says: "Two evils have my people done:

they have forsaken me, the source of living waters;

They have dug themselves cisterns,

broken cisterns, that hold no water."

The people of Israel have said no to the source of living waters; and they have said yes to the broken cisterns that hold no water.

The source of living waters or the fountain is not visible to the eyes. Therefore it is not attractive. On the other hand, the cisterns are just in front of our eyes, and they are attractive. 

The people of Israel abandoned the Lord and embraced other idols. Priests, teachers of the law, shepherds or kings, and prophets all have forgotten the Lord.

Why did they say 'no' to God?

Because they went by convenience, rather than commitment.

Do I say 'no' to God today? If so, to what / whom do I say 'yes'?

In the gospel reading Jesus reveals the purpose of the parables. The parables narrow down the gap between Jesus and the people.

When we say 'no' to God we tend to increase the gap between God and us.

Thanks  Fr. Yesu

Did Mary speak out or keep everything in her heart? Mic 7:14-15.18-20: Mt 12,46-50; July 19 2022

While Jesus was preaching, his mother and his brothers wanted to speak to him and they waited outside. So someone said to him, «Your mother and your brothers are just outside; they want to speak with you».

My reflection goes on like this; What did Mary want to tell to Jesus? 

• She might have invited Jesus saying, Come home. 
• She might have advised him to be attentive.
• She might have ewantged to speak with him about the condition of his father. 
• She might have wanted to see Jesus because people told that he was insane, crazy and possessed. 

• 'நீ வீட்டிற்கு வா!' என இயேசுவை அழைக்கவா?
• 'கொஞ்சம் கவனமாய் இரு!' என அவரை எச்சரிக்கவா?
• 'நீ நல்லா சொல்ற! செய்ற! தொடர்ந்து செய்!' என அவரை வாழ்த்தவா?
• 'உன் அப்பாவிற்கு உடல்நலம் சரியில்லை!' என தகவல் சொல்லவா?
• 'உனக்கு மதிமயங்கிவிட்டது எனக் கேள்வியுற்றோம்!' என்னும் தகவலை உறுதிப்படுத்தவா?
• 'உன்னோடு நாங்களும் வரட்டுமா?' என அனுமதி கேட்கவா?
• 'உன் துணிகளைத் துவைத்துக் கொடுக்கவா?'  'உன் காலணிகளைத் தைத்துக் கொடுக்கவா?' என்று அவர்மேல் அக்கறை காட்டவா?
• 'இதோ! உனக்குப் பிடித்த உணவு. இதைச் சாப்பிடுவாயா?' என்று அவரின் விருப்பம் நிறைவேற்றவா?
• 'உனக்கு வயதாகிக் கொண்டே போகிறது. பெண் பார்க்கட்டுமா?' என திருமணம் பற்றிப் பேசவா?

We are curious to know what Mary and his brothers wanted to communicate to him in between the mission.  

Jesus did not allow them to speak. He said, "Whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is for me brother, sister, or mother". Most of the times those who know do not speak. Those who speak do not know. "Mary treasured up all these things and pondered in her heart" (Lk 2:39). The Greek word for “treasured,” synetērei, also means “kept safe.” Keeping carefully and keeping safe. Mary did not forget anything. Mary did not ignore but she pondered what God wants to tell out of this situation, from the words of Jesus. 

Do not speak as you think, because your thinking will have always limitations. Count on your immaturities on what you speak. My spiritual director once told me, "Take time when you give correction to others. Do not correct immediately. But try to be the first person to affirm someone in whom you see good things".  Because there are many differences among the persons in the name of culture, age, mind and situations. Think twice before you speak because your words and influence will plant the seed of either success or failure in the mind of the other. 

Welcoming the hard times; Sign of Jonah, July 18 2022

• What were your emotions, thoughts and experiences during the peak time of the lockdown when there were no staff, mission and mass? 
• What were your experiences when the strong typhoon hit your house and you are in the house for three days while there is still flood, electricity is cut and no one goes for work? 

In today's Gospel, Jesus does not give a new sign for the evil and unfaithful generation. He gives a sign of Jonah applicable to yesterday, today and tomorrow’s generation. God gave a tough time to Prophet Jonah. Jonah spends the particular period not as punishment but while in the belly of the big whale, Jonah prayed to God for help, repented, and he also praised God. 

Jonah’s syndrome is fear, uncertainty and unbelief in God.  

• The people of Nineveh are Assyrians. 
• The Queen who was searching for Solomon was the queen of Sheba. Both are gentiles. 

But when Jonah preached the message of conversion they received the Word of God. Though they were gentiles, they were coming back to God. But the Prophet wants to flee/escape from "the presence of the Lord" by going to Jaffa, and sets sail for Tarshish. A huge storm arises and the sailors, realizing that it is no ordinary storm, cast lots and discover that Jonah is to be blamed. 

யோனா நற்செய்தி அறிவித்த நினிவே மக்கள், மற்றும் சாலமோனைத் தேடி வந்த சேபா நாட்டு அரசி. இவ்விருவருமே புறவினத்தார்கள். நினிவே மக்கள் அசீரியர்கள். அசீரியர்களுக்கும் இஸ்ரயேல் மக்களுக்கும் நெடுங்காலமாக பகை இருந்து வந்தது. ஆனாலும், யோனா தங்கள் நாட்டில் மனமாற்றத்தின் செய்தியை அறிவித்தபோது எந்தவொரு கேள்வியும் கேட்காமல் அவரையும் அவருடைய செய்தியையும் அப்படியே ஏற்றுக்கொண்டு மனம் மாறுகிறார்கள். சேபா நாட்டு அரசி சாலமோனுடைய ஞானத்தைக் கேட்டு அவரைக் காண வருகின்றார். அவருடைய ஞானத்தில் மெய்மறந்து போகின்றார். ஆக, நினிவே மக்களும், சேபா நாட்டு அரசியும் புறவினத்தார்களாக இருந்தாலும் அவர்கள் முன்மாதிரிகளாகத் திகழ்கிறார்கள் என்கிறார் இயேசு.

God allowed Jonah to escape, God sent Jonah many times to Nineveh, God sent a big fish: God created new things also from the refusal and disobbedience of Jonah. 

In the first reading also, God asks the people to undergo the bitter experience which can give them the opportunity to realize God’s unconditional love. 

In the first reading, God says, he was able to bring the people up from the land of Egypt, from the place of slavery, why can’t they believe in him, God is not going to punish, but he he is going to give tough time through which they can trust him. 

We are not God, 

God knows what is best for us, 

because he knows us better than we know ourselves. 

Let us accept the hard experience (given by God) like Jonah, Jesus and the people of Israel.