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.