PARABLE OF TEN VIRGINS (Mt 25)

PARABLE OF TEN VIRGINS (MATTHEW 25:1-13)

1. Jesus and the image of the bridegroom: 

In the Gospel, Jesus is usually coming like a thief, but this time he is coming in the image of bridegroom, one of the most beautiful images in the Bible. There are many images used in the Scripture to explain the relationship between God and His people. God presents himself as a husband. God is the bridegroom and the people of Israel are the bride. “Thus, says the LORD, I am your husband, you are my love as a bride, remember how you followed me in the wilderness”. (Jer 2) 

The first attitude that I suggest you in these days is to look inside your heart, and to discover what really you desire. Who is God for you? Who is Jesus for you? Do not be satisfied with listening to what others can tell you. Try to let emerge what is your more personal desire. You will discover that Jesus is the only person able to satisfy your greater desires (the real bridegroom): the most important things of the life of a person.  

2. Prepare your oil; Symbol of consecration: 

In the Bible, consecrated oil is always used for the ordination of the priests. “You shall take the anointing oil and pour it on his head and anoint him”. (Ex 29:7) “And he poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron’s head and anointed him to consecrate him”. (Lev. 8:12) 

In your life, consider vocation as a gift. Nobody can replace your vocation. Remember, you cannot borrow the oil from others at the necessary time. The foolish ones asked the wise to borrow the oil from their lamps. But the wise ones replied, ‘No, for there may not be enough for us and you. Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.’  We might think that the wise virgins were not charitable enough to share the oil. It is because nobody can replace your vocation. The lamp is Jesus Christ himself. Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life". We need oil to hold him tight so that he may illumine others. 

God bless your journey!

DISSOLVE YOUR EGO (Aug 16, 2022; Ezek 28:1-10; Mt 19,23-30)

Mt 19,23-30

Those who travelled to the Holy Land might have seen the "eye of the needle", which is one of the smallest gates in Jerusalem. This gate of Jerusalem was named "The Eye of the Needle," because of its small size. Some say that Jesus would have meant this gate while saying these words of today's gospel, "It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven," He meant that, it was not necessary for the camel to bend down with all the load. Camels at hose times were heavily loaded with goods and riders, but they would have needed to be un-loaded in order to pass through. Therefore, the analogy is that a rich man would have to similarly unload and leave his material possessions in order to enter the heaven. 

Wait! I think Jesus did not mention these words only for the rich people alone. He is addressing these pieces of advice in the regions of Judea (probably it is the place of Mt 19) which is not the place of the rich but o the poor. Yes! Jesus invites all the people to unload your egoistic possessions, that will make our way easier to enter into the heaven. Because Ego prevents you to experience God fully. So dissolve your ego in order to pass to the Heaven.

   

Ezek 28:1-10   In today's first reading, God calls Ezekiel with a new name for the first time. "Son of Man". What a beautiful name that explains our true nature. God wants to affirm that you are man, you cannot become God, and he asks the prophet to tell the prince that they cannot become God, because they are just children of God. 

There are different views of God and religion in the Western and Eastern philosophy. The Western tradition says that we are not gods absolutely, just children of God. Advaita, an ancient school of Indian philosophy says, Atman - Brahman are one and the same. I and God are one and the same because I am created by God. I am Brahman, when I realize that I am god. But today's first reading says that it is human pride that wants to say that I am bigger than God. This is the real danger of our  modern world. 

Let us remember! You are not God, you may think yourself like a god. You do not think like God, you cannot predict the future. God knows the past, present and future. 

A man asked Buddha, "I want happiness". 

Lord Buddha said, "First remove 'I', because that is ego". 

Then remove "want" that is desire. 

See, now you are left with only happiness"

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