Let your servant go in peace

St John’s letter mentions about claiming to be knowing God, being in Christ, being in the light. We know that claims are not sufficient. Among the people who came to the temple many may have had such claims. None of them, except Simeon and Anna, recognised the Messiah. In Simeon we see a contentment of seeing what he has been waiting for. Simeon saw what he was making efforts to become, and he was walking in the light from the rays he had received. So, he feels the completion of his path. Let me go in peace.

There is a Christ moment in every one of us. Ultimately, what we are to become is Christ, though not the fullness of Christ. Christ is the purpose, the end, the completion, the Omega. The path we walk will decide whether it will be compatible to identify the Way and the Light. If Christ is not our desire and fulfillment, we can very well have a successful Christianity without Christ. That Christianity may not find contentment in Christ, cannot go ahead in peace, cannot become an instrument of healing and forgiveness. He is glory to those who have the glimpse of Him, and a light to those who are yet to walk in his paths.

1 John 2:3-11 Luke 2:22-35

Solemnizing the killing of God

Herod would solemnize the celebrations in the temple, because 'he' was the king, ie ie he too received some form of worship. Herod built the temple but attempted to kill the living temple. Fear of losing power to control can make the king arrogant, and he can even do away with God very religiously and legally. Any time in history, where ‘Rachel weeping for her children, sobbing and loudly lamenting, refusing to be comforted,’ they have come from the arrogance of Kings led by fear of their own power to control. It can be from the power of money, the lure of ideologies concerning progress and development, even in the name of freedom leaving the born and unborn children into death and misery. The powerful has the legality and piety framed in their favour, and the innocents get murdered. Even God had no escape. Though Jesus and the family could flee to Egypt they did suffer the trauma of meeting death.

Identify the cruelties wrapped within religious, devotional, legal interpretations about others. We are killing God in our arrogance in the name of laws, religion, traditions, and piety. Thus we are solemnizing the killing of God.

1 John 1:5-2:2 Matthew 2:13-18

Sign

A sincere heart hears an affirming voice, “I love you.” It consoles, offers courage, gives strength to our voice, and power to our actions. In that embracing love even empty tomb will have new meaning. Sign to the shepherds was the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. They could take the child with affection. Sign to the beloved disciple was the linen clothes on the ground, and the cloth that had been over his head rolled up in a place by itself. They could love him with a mature and responsible love. He is alive, living with us and one with us.

Jn 20: 2-8; 1 Jn 1: 1-4

Family within the gospel pattern

The whole family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph is shaped centering on Jesus and on the will of the Father about him. Seeing Jesus of different age, we can assume new modes of their relationship among themselves, and their neighbours. Beginning from the shepherds and the wise men, and the life in Egypt, in each stage their neighbours were different. From the family of Nazareth Jesus grew ‘in wisdom, in stature, and in favour of God and people. He was offered in the temple as per the customs, but he was not left there for the service of the temple. He was shown the sanctuary, the holy place, and the sacrifice among his neighbourhood where God really dwells. He became a member of the human family without boundaries of nationality, language and creed. According to the stages of this growth leaving home and embracing the cross the family could not be just watching.

As Jesus shapes their lives, Jesus is also moulded in a setting of his family. The life they lived and the conversations they had surely created a world vision for Jesus. The stories that Mary told were full of generosity, kindness, care, and goodness that was shown to them by many people who were ‘strangers.’

Shepherd who had no stories are given a story. They couldn’t afford to dream big, they had not great dreams. May not have thought about the great promises in the prophesies of Isiah. God among us meant to the poor/shepherds that they may be able to live in peace. Why did God wanted them to see? there is someone in need. Their heart was small enough to see the glory of God in a feeble child. We can imagine that they did care for the needs of the new born and the mother. In the shepherd there was a familial heart that cared for the holy family. It challenges the strangeness, suspicion and tendencies to be closed.

Every family has a story. But often we have stories that calls for revenge, suspicion, hatred, and enmity. Humanity needs stories, and retelling shapes the members of the family. Retelling creates a new womb, a world to live in. We need families that have stories of goodness, confidence, and hope. Retelling stories with new interpretation to sustain a new generation.

Stories controlling our lives from eco-nomics – household management are destructive to house and family of humanity and the earth family as a whole. Where some make profit and others are used, we cannot have a good house or family. It controls education, religion, and politics and does not let a livable story in function. When human greed manages the system there can be no household management. When religion and temple become symbols of human pride, and brood insecurity they cannot facilitate family bond. Today many lack confidence in a lasting relationship, many are afraid of making commitment, relationships are based on emotional dependency, many have problems in trusting, many cannot ensure a continuing presence. This leads to life making a trial-and-error method.

It would be very good if an angel told us every day what to be done, and how it has to be done according to what God wants. We know that it is in an open heart and sincerity in fulfilling our responsibilities and commitments that enable us to build and sustain a good family and community. What defines and models the family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph was ‘doing the will of God.’ Jesus says, “…I have come to do your will,” “your will be done, I have come to do the will of him who sent me.” Mary says, “…behold the handmaid of the Lord,” Joseph ‘did what was told to him by the angel.’

We have the gospel as the model that defines our family. Gospel is not the parables and statements. Gospel is the person of Jesus, the power and grace given to every person and family. So a family lives together to live together the life principles of Jesus. Family retells the stories of the past in the light of the gospel, creating a new womb for new generation and a new world for them. In every stage of growth, we are met with different concerns. When they come within the pattern of the gospel, we are able to find the will of God.

Instead of being born in the temple God was born in a family. God prepared a family. God became man and dwelt among us in a family. God dwells in families. It is our choice to make a family where God lives.

The Word became flesh

The Word became flesh, and dwelt among us.

The Word, the wisdom of God, the love, life, and light of God,

through everything was made, who guided the web of creation,

who directed every new spark of the universe,

who guides decay, destruction, and death, and through them make new forms emerge,

Who orders all things mightily,

who gave every creature its voice and language,

who raised conscious mind in human kind,

who shone in diverse cultures and beliefs,

who guides the conscience and leads to what is good,

the Word that was visible only to the Father, now is visible to us.

The Word became flesh.

 

The Word and the Herald

We heard many times that the blind shall see, the deaf will hear, the lame will leap with joy. The eyes are opened, the tongue is loosened and a voice is given, new life and joy has come. It is because God has visited us. Blessed be the Lord…is the song Zechariah sang in a new and free tongue and voice.

We have been preparing ourselves. Not just for the visit of God, but for the birth of God. There is a Word being made flesh, and a herald pointing to the Messiah. Mary sang praises of God because in her the Word became flesh. Zechariah also sang for the greatness of God. He also rejoices for the herald is born. We see Simeon and Anna praising God. Simeon says that he has seen the salvation. It is a fulfilment that fills us with peace.

It is a time to rejoice for these events being actualised in us too. The Word taking flesh in us, and becoming the herald seeing and announcing truth, grace, life… light. It is by the grace of Christ we have these both. We reflect truth in a specific way that we are gifted with. Yet we praise God seeing the growth of Christ in us. By what we reflect we are also pointing to the fullness of Christ which we know only in communion with others. So, “you O child, will go before the Lord, to prepare his way before him.” Once we have seen the light, life grace and truth in us and others, what fills us is peace. It is to us today.

2 Samuel 7:1-5,8-12,14,16 Luke 1:67-79 Ref Is 35:5,6

Power of Speech

In human maturity, perhaps, the conscious mind directs and models words and deeds. Yet, to bring about something good and beautiful in our life and character it is something important that begin with speech though the mind has not grasped it. Affirming words may open a new door in our consciousness. Speak aloud and speak to ourselves – “I can live and I must live,” “surely there is something greater in me,” “I will not be anxious,” … Trust in God that these words may receive life and grace.

“At that instant his power of speech returned and he spoke and praised God.”

Malachi 3:1-4,23-24 Luke 1:57-66

Indebtedness

For our life and its graciousness, we are indebted to thousands of people and elements of the universe. Our miseries also have lot of connections to others. We can neither repay it fully, nor can we revenge for the pains. Reliance on the justice of God can make these responses peaceful and life-giving; indebtedness repaid with generosity, and revenge moulded with ensuring of integral strength. We need to act, raise our voice, but seeing the further life and health of all. What else can we give in return from a real human response? After seeking the will of God, and sincerely making effort to actualize it in words, voice, and deeds, there is nothing else left to be done, a moment of human flourishing.

Indebtedness responded with generosity is ultimately a wholehearted cry that the almighty has done great things. While we were working, God has been working although in a gentle way to act, to speak, to weep and mourn, to console, and to convict. God raises the poor, feeds the hungry, but we need to have a heart and hands of God for the deeds of God to be realized. Mary recognized the will of God, desired it, and she brought forth God in her flesh.

1 Samuel 1:24-28 Luke 1:46-56

Leap of Joy

For many things that we read in the scriptures, an effort of imagination will bring great sense. One of those kinds is the imageries used for God’s love. God’s love is tender and spontaneous, it gives surprises and so fills us with joy. God’s love is passionate, it not only evokes dancing and singing God dances and sings with us. Imagine these joyous dances and songs of this creative love all around us, see the leap of joy in the emergence of new forms of creation. It is love everywhere, watching, calling, taking by hand, consoling, smiling, God's voice hissing in our ears. With eyes gently closed we can be immersed in this love with a satisfying smile.

Faced with miseries and pain some of us may not be able to go so romantic thinking of love everywhere. A compassionate or merciful face, a gentle word will give a touch of love to the world. There will be a leap of joy filled with the Holy Spirit.

December 21, 2021 

Song of Songs 2:8-14 Luke 1:39-45 Ref Zeph 3: 18

With us

War is never fought for peace; no war is a just war. It is exciting only in movies. For the victims of war, it is full of pain, fear, and helplessness. How could we console children leaning onto their mothers for a sense of security, where mothers themselves are vulnerable to violence. For a maiden, her first born risking its life can’t be imagined. Such a maiden to call her child as Emmanuel, God-is-with-us is indeed a great sign.

Isaiah 7:10-14 Luke 1:26-38

20^th Dec 2021

Holy thrones and the innocent child

"People lived in darkness and in the shadow of death saw a great light."

People claiming to be guiding lights miserably sought to live in deeper darkness covered under rotten death. They seem to be going to the manger with wild beasts' faces. They are finding new reasons for war. How can they be tender to take the new born baby in their hand? Their holy thrones and oracles in sacred languages are strange to the family at Bethlehem.

Good News is preached to the poor, and they inherit it.

Blessed are you

For a moment let us revisit the journey we have made in preparation for welcoming Jesus. We may have prepared in different ways personally. The readings were preparing us to make us receive Jesus worthily in the manger we have made. Even when the assurance was made that the Lord will surely come, we are told that He is already with us. The readings told us to prepare the way. It was to introspect the disposition of our heart; whether they are open towards Christ or not. Reminding us about the streams of life in us the readings asked us to keep our hopes alive. Further they told not only about the beautiful things happening around us, but that the Lord rejoices over you, He has found joy in you. He embraces us in his love. Finally, we saw, with devotion and gratitude, the very truth of human flesh where God became one of us.

As we place ourselves once again in the journey of advent, we are encouraged to look at one person, Mary. Earlier we heard that Mary is blessed, and is full of grace. God found favour with her. Today we hear that Blessed is the fruit of her womb. Let us try to imagine what happens in these two things in her life, the fullness of grace and the human flesh. It is not a magic, it was the fruit of such a deep love. The Word, the eternal truth and wisdom of God became flesh in her body. It is an unusual thing to happen, but she was not restless as the child was growing in her womb because she was familiar with the Word. This blessed fruit in her flesh caused the movement of the Spirit in Elizabeth.  Even the child in her womb was filled with the holy spirit at the greeting of Mary. Elizabeth, rejoices at the visit of Mary. She says, “Blessed is the fruit of your womb”

From these two women we need to learn today to praise the graciousness of God. We cannot find the joy at the manger if we have not learned to see the blessedness and greet with blessedness. Blessed are ‘you’ (in person, and in the many blessings you carry, and blessed is your fruit. Blessed are you to me, to the family, society, the church community … free of judgment on the perfection and holiness of the person. Perhaps, it is when we cannot see the blessedness around, we live in darkness and in the shadow of death, because we have been so trained to believe that it is sin, curse, and condemnation all around. We cannot find the joy of Christ taking flesh in our body and life.

“You have prepared a body for me. I said, here I am, I have come to do your will O, God.” Grace works in our flesh too like in Mary. Can we accept that grace is at work in our life, and the blessedness can make the movements of the Spirit in others? To believe in the reality of the incarnation, and in the continuing work of the Holy Spirit in us, we must first raise our own human flesh in thanksgiving. Begin to love the Word present in and around us, listen what the Word calls us for, learn to do the will of God. The world will see a Christlike person in us too. Then, the Emmanuel event will be very much personal for us too like Mary and Elizabeth. Let us feel within ourselves the forming of and the being born of Christ in our own flesh and blood, and fill many with abundance of blessings. Let us also greet others praising their blessedness. See that the core of the Gospel was the blessedness, that God is in our midst.

4th Sun Adv 2021 Micah 5:1-4 Hebrews 10:5-10 Luke 1:39-45

Joseph, the just man

Every significant moment with God redefines our path to know God. God has been the liberator, “The Lord who brought us out of the land of Egypt.” There is a new way of looking up to God after the exile, “The Lord who led back from where they have been dispersed to their own land.” God is our integrity, justice, righteousness. Those who live up to that experience of God, God becomes very much real in their life, attitudes, and flesh. God is Emmanuel, God-with-us. Gospel sets a new path in the newness of life with God, “by the tender mercy of God a new light will be given to those who live in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

Such a path of peace can already be seen in the heart of Joseph. There is the key to the mercy and love Joseph showed to Mary. Try to see Joseph making the steps to receive Mary without the clarification from the angel. If Mary loved the Word with a love beyond all telling in her flesh and deeds, Joseph must have lived the Word in his flesh and deed in justice and mercy. Scripture rightly testifies that he was a just man.

Dec 18, 2021 Jeremiah 23:5-8 Matthew 1:18-24

Rejoice in our humanity

How much are we grateful about our ancestral roots? Perhaps, we are not able to make a 14x3 generation list of names of our fathers and mothers, nor are we able to connect ourselves through our roots to the beginnings of humanity. But it is through them we are what we are in genetic, personal and social uniqueness. Worried and anxious about our security we want to cleanse them. What about the love and kindness of God at wok throughout these generations? “Before you were formed in your mother’s womb I knew you,” wonderfully we quote it. Can we feel the care God had for us being within these generation roots? Somehow, we have habituated in condemnation of our life, and our ancestors.

We condemn also our very humanity. Though conveniently we might say that the body is the gift of God, if we examine the core of many of the popular spiritualities and beliefs we are Gnostics, Albigensians and Manicheans. We despise the human flesh. Christ assumed the very human flesh that we tend to condemn.

Can we rejoice in our human flesh? If we cannot, there is no point in the joy of Christmas. 

17th Dec 2021

‘my beloved,’ ‘my joy,’

Though we are happy about love, often we don’t dare to own love. It is not easy to take up love, because it has responsibility implied within itself. Often, we engage in emotional games which we are happy to call as love. Though God says, ‘my love for you will never leave you,” still we speak of curses and punishments. Perhaps, it is because it is easy to explain many sufferings and struggles. What denies grace is our own closedness, the hardness of heart. Sin is an outcome, not the source. Repentance includes a reminder about the Covenant of peace, “my steadfast love shall not depart from you.”

Love is not a reward, it is a flow of the heart to the beloved. Voice of love is life-generating. It also gives a new life and new meaning. This en-voice-ment embraces the heart with love. God gives us new names. Instead of ‘forsaken’ (‘azubah) and ‘desolate’ (Shemama) a new name ‘married,’ ‘my joy’ or ‘beloved’ (be’ulah / tib.ba-el) is given. There is ownership, belonging and embrace. It retells our life with new love.  Instead of repeatedly thinking of curses everywhere blessedness is to be recognized. Blessed is the land, blessed indeed are our children, blessed are the things we engage in. The sense of Grace-fullness itself will make our life worthy of further graces. From that love will be born the new man in us.

It is the time to hear the voice in our hearts full of love. God rejoices in us, he calls us ‘my beloved,’ ‘my joy,’ he hides us in his loving embrace.

3rd Wk Adv Thu 2021 Isaiah 45:6-8,18,21-25 Luke 7:19-23 Ref Is 62: 4 

“Have we to wait for someone else?”

John the Baptist had a testimony about Jesus, “I saw the spirit come down on him like a dove from heaven and rest on him.” (Jn1:32) “I have seen and testify that he is the chosen one of God” (34). He pointed to Jesus, and said, “Here is the lamb of God” (1: 29). Many of the disciples of John left him and began to follow Jesus.

See what makes the person of John. He said, “I am not the one who is to come, … I am not worthy even to untie his sandals, … I am the voice crying out in the wilderness.” John was a voice, powerful and faithful but he was not the Word. Word incarnated, and in him there was fullness of life, truth and grace. There is no greater blessing, no greater prophesy or scripture, no greater reward or retribution than the Messiah. Now, John is imprisoned, perhaps as Jesus was in the desert. In isolation and loneliness, he heard in depth the voices he had once heard.

In the religious or spiritual interpretations of cultural or social concerns, did we make our own possible interpretations or sincerely searched for the divine voices within them. Did we encounter the truth? We don’t possess the truth, we belong to the truth, and bear testimony.

Did John expect Christ conquering kingdoms, erecting great walls or statues in place of the great symbols of Roman imperial power? We do not know. But the darkness in the prison gave him a second womb experience where at the hearing of what Christ is doing the heart of John once again leaps with joy. He goes to further depth of silence.

Dear friends, God is almighty. But conceiving God, the Word in our heart, in our mind, and in our attitudes, even in our body is very delicate. It has to be the real one. However prophetic, charismatic, devoted and zealous we are about matters of faith and religion, it is important to recheck often whether we testify to the true one. There may be wrong Christ being formed in us.

There are evenings and depths of darkness in our life too. What is that voice resounding in our hearts? Do they point to the lamb of God who is full of life and grace that was able to fill the emptiness of death and sin? When God seems to be dead, and hope begins to fail we also need to have the courage to reaffirm once again that we recognised and witnessed the true one. “Are you the one, or do we have to wait for another?” was John’s question. When we see the blind begin to see, a generation without vision receives new insights, the deaf hears and the closed hearts hear the voices of inspiration, the young begin to walk a new path of goodness and solidarity even keeping away the gods that divide we have a light to see that ‘here in our midst is the Holy One.’

3rd Wk Adv Wed 2021 Isaiah 45:6-8,18,21-25 Luke 7:19-23

Sacrifice

The virtue of sacrifice is costlier than the sacrificial rituals. Jesus, sacrifice was not ritual, nor was it modeled after any ritualistic sacrifice. He was made a victim, which was the cost of the Good News he preached. Life giving and self emptying was that sacrifice. Sacrifice and death are essential to any life to emerge and grow. Today sacrifice, both as virtue and as ritualistic sacrifice cannot have its meaning without keeping in mind those victimized species; whether it be indigenous people, migrants, or nature. 

If the sacrifice of the anointed is to be worthily administered in sacraments the suffering of these victims must be responsibly remembered in the sacrifice offered. Saviour's suffering cannot be celebrated without the worthy consideration of the sufferings of the saved. Here we cannot escape with the ritualistic sacrifice. Both the sacrifice of the mass and the adoration of the Eucharist demands sacrifice of ourselves. It cannot, and should not function merely as a devotion.

Obedience

Obedience is a beautiful word that is often spoken in religious context. Obedience loses its soul if we have not learned the obedience of Jesus to his Father. The reason to obey is not the power of authority but the relationship of the Father to his children. When we say yes, the courage is based on the trust the Father has placed upon us, not our capability for perfect performance. Even if we fail, we are not ashamed nor are discouraged. It is the Father who holds me close to do his will. Rebelliousness to God rises up when we don’t wait for discerning the will of God properly or we have not experienced being the children of God.

Christian obedience is exercised where the freedom of the children of God is experienced and sustained. A Christian authority is not to be seen as a seer who receives direct revelations from God. Instead, Christian authority discerns the will of God from the voices of the people as God speaks through them. Both the people and the authority act to fulfil the will of God, not the ruler’s project. Since it bases on a relationship, obedience in its truest sense is faithfulness to God and his will.

When seers say whatever they want, we are not obliged to obey. Often, they say what they want and claim it to be word of God. That which does not go in line with the life and message of Jesus is not word of God however noble they are.

“What must we do?”

If the people of the covenant, the people of the commandment, were really faithful to the covenant, they would have been a people of integrity, righteousness and justice. John the Baptist preached repentance. The reason was that the Lord is at hand.  So, ‘preparing the way’ meant to turn their hearts to God. In the repentance Jesus preached he pointed to a truth of us that we are the children of God, and put God in a relationship with us that God is our Father. Without the truth of this relationship, we cannot have joy or true worship of God, and we cannot have the experience of God’s presence among us - the Emmanuel experience.

John would ask the religious leaders today to take the initial inspirations to guide our communities here and now, and not to make gods divide humanity. God has been active in the world through the newness of the spirit. Priests and scribes coming out of the curtain of division between the holy of holies and the world, may not be able to recognise the world at all. It should alarm us that the people who were generally religious, strictly following the law, could not recognise the Messiah when ‘God among us’ really happened. Perhaps they were too religious which boxed them within unholy sanctuaries they made for themselves in the name of God. When they saw through their religious boxes, John the Baptist was a mad man, and Jesus was a drunkard and a friend of sinners. Though strictly following the commandments, why were they deprived of the happiness it promised? They followed the formality of the scripture and the commandments, but forgot the covenant within the commandment. After the reading of the written form of it, they failed to enquire, “what does the Lord ask of you?”

“What must we do?” Jesus’ answer would be "to do the will of God." The will of God is that we may have life. We can have life only by doing the will of God. Jesus made life visible among us, that life consoled and strengthened many to enter into the joy of salvation. Only when life flourishes, we can rejoice. We who are rejoicing in the ‘Word made flesh,’ can live the happiness only if the Word is alive in us. The Word has been there, and is present within us and among us. The Word is not in the words and letters. Every encounter with Christ has a sacramental power; the meeting of our daily realities and the Word to be enfleshed. Then we have a new song of joy. That is the moment we can experience that God rejoices over our life: “he will rejoice over you with gladness, and renew you in his love, he will sing joyfully because of you, as one sings at festivals.”

In naming, framing, and claiming of Jesus we may not have an encounter of the Word made flesh. Though there is nothing wrong in imagining that baby Jesus coming inside our heart, we fail in welcoming Christ if we cannot imagine and desire that we be transformed Christ-like, in our attitudes, approaches, words and deeds. It really begins with the recognition of the Word in the beauty and goodness of humanity and the larger community of all species. Often, we term them as mere natural, human, social or even condemn as worldly.  For Jesus it was neither materiality nor the law that described worldliness, but it was the intentions and attitudes. Worldliness is not in the material or the natural world, it is in our choices, it is in our heart. It is here we need the denial of the self. 

This ‘denying of self’ would be another answer from Jesus to the question “what should we do?” Self-emptying sacrifice is what provides life, and that is what God asks of us. We read from the Psalms, “You wanted no sacrifice or offering, but you gave me an open ear, you did not ask for burnt offering or sacrifice for sin; then I said, 'Here I am, I am coming.'…my delight is to do your will; your law, my God, is deep in my heart. "This self-emptying brings about freedom and so, joy. It means to be free of the self-oriented mechanisms that support our false securities, and of the false identities that keep us in false glory. 

Peace of God begins to guard our hearts and minds when our life and our desires are known to God by prayer and petition with thanksgiving. It is not a festal happiness at the arrival of a deity. It is the joy of being created anew. In brief, rejoicing is not about being merry, it is peace, and joy and gladness at the experience of life through sacrifice and generosity. “Love the Lord and your neighbours,” was what God asked. Instead, we may dare to teach God what sacrifices must please him. Did God ask for atonement and heaviness of reparations? It is sacrifice and generosity in life that generate joy and peacefulness without which we cannot rejoice. 

John was straight forward. He told them to share food and clothing, live a life of justice, and be sincere. If we piously recognise some evils and be blind to those that are ‘profitable’ to us, we are making a mockery of God. We are often blind to the isolated individualism, narrow nationalism, deliberate lies, creation of conflicts and trade of arms, distortion in science researches, vexed political games in the name of religion, dispossession of the indigenous, sad and frightened faces of children who are victims of war. Self emptying challenges us with a purpose to stand for truth and justice where the freedom and joy are shared and ensured.

Finally, “What should we do?” Jesus said, "Follow me." Following him means both living and dying like him. To find joy and gladness, to live in peace, to do the will of God we must see the baby lying in the manger from Christ’s own eyes. May Christ be formed in us to have those eyes.

Zephaniah 3:14–18a Philippians 4:4-7 Luke 3:10–18 Ref Ps 40: 6-8

God, a familiar stranger?

Is God a familiar stranger to us? Though we are familiar with 'godly things' godly nature remain far from us. Perhaps we are too stuck to the familiar. Christ himself and anyone who pointed out to the presence of the Word in their time, had to suffer humiliation and death. When they spoke of God, their message was something strange. The Word is present among us, in many ways which we are not familiar with. God was not hiding in a 'spiritual' world far away from us. God was always with us and among us. In incarnation he made himself visible to us in human form. We can see him, touch him and relate to him with human emotions and human response. We can also learn form him what it means to be human. 

Christ still a stranger?

Why could they not recognise the Messiah when ‘God among us’ really happened. They were generally religious people strictly following the law whether it benefitted them or burdened them. Perhaps they were too religious which boxed them within unholy sanctuaries they made for themselves in the name of God. When they saw through their religious boxes, John the Baptist was a mad man, and Jesus was a drunkard and a friend of sinners.

Though strictly following the commandments, why they were deprived of the happiness it promised. They followed the formality, but forgot the covenant within the commandment. After the reading of the written form, they failed to enquire, “what does the Lord ask of you?”

We who are religious, rejoicing in the ‘Word made flesh,’ can live the happiness only if the Word is alive in us. In naming, framing, and claiming of Jesus we may not have an encounter of the Word made flesh. The Word is not in the words and letters. The Word is within us, among us. Every encounter with Christ has a sacramental power; the meeting of our daily realities and the Word to be enfleshed. Though there is nothing wrong in imagining that baby Jesus coming inside our heart, we fail in welcoming Christ if we cannot imagine and desire that we be transformed Christlike, in our attitudes, approaches, words and deeds. It really begin with the recognition of the Word in the beaty and goodness of humanity and the larger community of all species. Often, we term them as mere natural, human, social or even condemn as worldly. The Word has been there, and is present in and among us. 

...that they may see the Christ visible in you and give glory to your Father in heaven.

 2nd Wk Fri Advent Isaiah 41:13-20 Matthew 11:11-15

Mary Full of grace

Wandering in the valley of tears, how can we sing a song of joy? Weeping is worth, but it cannot take away seasons refreshing if we want to flower and give fruits. Mary sings the song of joy and hope gratefully acknowledging that God has done great things.

Mary lived a very ordinary life, laboured for livelihood. She lived the will of God, and taught Jesus too the will of God, as in a human way he needed to learn. God who sees the lowliness and feeds the hungry was very much in the vision of Jesus. Mary’s Magnificat is a song of praise about the personal experience of the beatitudes.

How could it happen? When others speak of miseries and tears, as they were harassed, despised and dejected as sheep without a shepherd, how could Mary find the comfort of the shepherd? God was alive for her in every moment and every object and every person. She saw light and beauty, not shadows and death, she touched the Word in and around her, loved the Word with deepest sincerity – a love beyond all telling.

How could it happen when others could not? Why do our pain and injuries burden us and cause lack of grace in us? We know that the hurts and injuries shape us and in turn we act on it, and the same things are given to others. We remain graceless and lifeless. Mary was preserved from every sin, she was filled with the fullness of grace. There was no lack of grace, no lack of life. Grace-lessness cannot be removed, but can only be filled with grace; life-lessness cannot be removed, but can only be filled with life. The chain of pain and injuries were broken in order that Mary may be conceived immaculate. Mary was born immaculate points to the grace at work for many generations. They were not perfect people, but even in the valley of tears they sought to keep the will of God. Every kindness they experienced was matter of great gratitude.

Grace was at work through many generations to bring forth a person to possess the fulness of grace that the Messiah may be born of her. Grace is at work in us to make a generation of healing. God calls us to be a generation that consoles one another, and ensures justice, a generation that establishes peace among nations, strangers, and among multiple species of living beings. We must open ourselves for receiving grace upon grace. We are to be a generation of healing if we want to bear in us a generation of blessing full of grace, so that truth and life may be real and full in our lives, and every flesh shall see the salvation of our God.

Being found

Rejected, ashamed, or afraid we may have lost hope sometimes. Yet, there may have been moments that we were able to take courage, get up, and walk. We may have felt a presence nearby or a voice within. Being consoled, being found worthy is important to rebuild our life. Even in the midst of 'being lost' we might we may rise up to what we are made for. So then, our injuries now made well add a certain uniqueness in what we are. Every flesh – soil, plants, flowers, fish, birds and animals, has its glory in achieving their purpose. There is a divine spark, a voice crying out in the wilderness even in a small flower, every breath, and tears.

We have been lost by our attempts to create Wonderlands by self or by humans alone. The glory that has been destroyed can be rediscovered. That is a moment that we are found. We cannot find salvation without being found along with all other life forms. Reinventing the worth of each one is a celebration, a home coming. Then we may joyfully say the Lord is in our midst.

2nd Wk Adv Tue 2021
Isaiah 40:1-11 Matthew 18:12-14

Everlasting joy on their faces

Sometime our religiosity may prompt us to find fault with God’s graciousness. We may find that God is following a wrong methodology or liturgy. God wills to make the streams of grace flow even in places which our understanding of holiness may not expect. According to the law and holiness code the paralytic in the Gospel was suffering for his sins. He deserved it. But for Jesus he deserved love and mercy.

Jesus forgave and healed. Both the paralytic and the people praised God. The return of the remnant of Israel from Babylon also is expressed as coming to Zion “shouting for joy, everlasting joy on their faces.” Prophet Isiah keeps the hope strong that the people taken in captivity are returning. When they return there will be significant changes as God is alive in their midst. So the prophet tells them to take courage, and god’s salvation brings strength to the weak hands and supports the faint hearts. The blind sees, the deaf hears, the lame walks, and the dumb speaks, and people in bondages are set free. Their way will be secure. So there will be songs of joy as they come. We must imagine this vision “for water gushes in the desert, streams in the wasteland, the scorched earth becomes a lake, the parched land springs of water,” for the remnant returning, the paralytic, and for ourselves.

Do we have something to do in all these flowing streams through the life of people and the life of nature? We practiced religion and learned to expect God to do magic and make everything beautiful and open the eyes of the blind and heal the paralytic. But we wouldn’t let the wounds and burdens be eased. We will teach God what sacrifices must please him. Did God ask for atonement and heaviness of reparations? We found shelter in our making of God and his holiness. There we have lost songs when we have stopped listening to the voice of gladness within our neighbours, and in flowers, leaves and birds. Where are our songs of joy and gladness? How did we adamantly attach ourselves to the spiritualities of the desert, the wasteland and the scorched earth. Where are the streams, gushing waters, and springs in us? Where are the songs of rejoicing?

Grace and salvation do not work as magic. They are like streams in dry land. It is already flowing in us.

2nd Mon Adv 2021 Isaiah 35:1-10 Luke 5:17-26

Prepare the way!

Being a Christian, what defines our life? Whether we are in family, or being a priest or a bishop if it is not Christ that defines our life, we have never thought of preparing the way for Christ. We may do a religious submission and be very faithful in cultic devotion (we are proud of 'that' Christian identity), the preparation can happen only if there is loving devotion. This is what Jesus pointed to when he mentioned how the people who call Lord, Lord, preach in the streets, and working miracles in his name really differed from those who do the will of God.

So the loving devotion means the readiness to act justly, love tenderly and walk humbly before the Lord. It also includes untying the burden of the poor, feeding the hungry, protect the stranger, speak truth, and work for justice and make efforts for peace. ‘Saying’ thousands of prayers and making many penances without the desire for realising these, will only blind us. But if we have done it, our life will be defined as ‘Peace through integrity, and honour through devotedness.’ From this sense we can widen the reflection a bit - what defines our life as a human, as an earthling, and as a part of the universe?

How many generations had gone before Christ was born? Among them there were even kings, prophets and priests. Many have gone, and even their memory has faded. There are some significant among them who are remembered. They were the ones who had been already living the light of Christ though Christ was yet to come. If we are not prepared, the moments that the Messiah is revealed will pass just as any normal moment. If we are prepared we will see the star of the Messiah even in the most unexpected people and circumstances. Messiah will not appear in clouds in the sky; he will sprout and grow from the seeds sown. Prepare the way!

2nd Sun Adv Baruch 5:1-9 Luke 3:1-6

Will we miss his visitation?

When God comes, is he coming as someone outsider? Are we going to see God as someone totally strange? Are we totally strangers to God? Perhaps it may be surprise to us that we ponder the moments when God was actually present and we were looking elsewhere.

Though we are not sure, though we are in the night, yet we are sure of the day. Though torrents are strong, and waves are overwhelming we can have a sure safety amidst them when we know that God keeps us safe. That is why the Lord is the everlasting Rock. Only in placing trust in God we can be faithful to him and have steadfastness and peace. There is sure help from God, we will not be in despair and confusion. We can experience help, strength, protection and guidance. Upon this assurance, we can confidently build our home. Only trust and faithfulness can bring these into everyday experiences. Then God is never seen as a stranger as if we do not know what he does.

God is different from the god of the prosperity gospel who is expected do magic, and expects us to pay either by money or by pains. That god will pull us all around doing so many things in the name of God. God is not super-perfect, he does not re-create a world that is free of every human limitation. we will not be superrich and powerful rulers. What is sure is peace and contentment. God strengthens us in love to stand in time of tribulations. He has given the power to humanity to build a house that all can gather and be safe. Human tendency for divisions, injustice, plundering… will weaken the foundations. We have not known God though We may preach, heal, and repeatedly call out “Lord, Lord,” But may not be seeking the will of God.

Every touch of God is an anointing. The more we feel the tenderness of God’s touch, we will have more of assurance of God the everlasting rock. If we take them for granted now, we may not recognise him when he comes. We should not be framing faces for him in our customs and traditions. Emmanuel is with us in our ordinary lives. If we expect him only in extraordinary ways, He may pass by as a stranger. Advent alerts us. We should not miss it.

Thu 1Wk Adv Isaiah 26:1-6 Matthew 7:21,24-27

Banquet of the Lord

Even before we were born the Lord has prepared a banquet for us through many loving and generous hands. Fruits and grain, water and juice, fragrance and colours God has prepared. Incarnation and sanctification begin with generous giving and an open reception. How generously can I give my life, and how lovingly can I receive what is given?

“They will eat and shall be satisfied” can occur only when people see each other without veils, without slavish chains. Even to eat joyfully we need the passion for life. God wipes away tears and comforts us, guides us to the fulness of life. More than power and richness God desires in us gladness and joy, a people look forward to the future in peacefulness. That is the great banquet God offers.

One serious thing in life how we deceive ourselves is by distancing ourselves from others and natural surroundings, the banquet tables. It is an illusion of our mind and escape from the real living presence of God when we speak too much about a direct experience with God, separating society and nature as worthless. We experience God's love, benevolence, providence, protection, embrace... through the people around and through the gifts if nature. They are often condemned to be worldly engagement. The worldliness is within ourselves which we often dearly protect. They are falsely justified, unfortunately, often with religious interpretations. So our deception embraces a religious colour. God is kept far away in the very name of God, and we miss the banquet. Experience of the banquet begins from how we generously give ourselves, and gratefully receive what God has given. It is not limited to a final moment reward, the banquet of the Lord is an every-moment living. Banquet of the Lord cannot be limited to religious celebrations and rituals. It is hearing the Word proclaimed in every surrounding through people, culture, natural dynamism … It is touching the moments of ordinary life with the sense of the sacred. Even before our ceremonial blessings they carry a blessing. Fruits, grains, oil, every drop of water come with graces, providence, healing, and love.

'Banquet of the Lord' does not make an exclusive sense pointing to our regular practice of receiving communion. 'Banquet of the Lord' is all inclusive of physical, emotional, spiritual fulfilment we receive. If we are sure that it is Christ who is there in the Eucharist, it will take us much deeper than Christ's death, sacrifice, resurrection, and the life that is given to us embraces all of us. So, the receiving of communion make us plunge into the life bond with the whole world. If we further realise that it is the Word that is made flesh that is received and celebrated, there is no difficulty in seeing and enjoying the banquet in our everyday surrounding.

Wed 1Wk Adv

Is 25: 6-10 Mt 15: 25-37