GET BEHIND ME SATAN – SUNDAY, AUGUST 28, 2011 TWENTY-SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Matthew 16: 21 - 27

Fr. Tom, a newly ordained priest, came out of his room a bit disappointed after having received a call from his Provincial. Immediately Fr. Stephen a close friend of Fr. Tom asked him: “Where is he sending you?” “To that God-forsaken place! I knew he would send me there. He knows my caliber and intellectual capacity and yet he wants to send me there,” said Fr. Tom.  Fr. Stephen immediately whispered in his ear saying: ‘Hey! you are an asset to the Church and our congregation, just tell him a simple ‘no’, let him find somebody else.

God does not speak to us directly. He speaks to us through several people like our parents, teachers, religious superiors etc. and even through several circumstances. There are times we tend to bend the will of God in order to make it palatable to us or at times force our will on God’s will. This is what St. Peter does in today’s gospel. He tries to teach God a lesson. When we try to be like God we become Satan. Let us remind ourselves of the fate of the most beautiful angel Lucifer. Thus Jesus rightly calls St. Peter the rock a ‘Satan’ who dared to be like God or even go one step higher than God Himself. Here Peter tries to redeem the Redeemer and save the Saviour.

Rita and James were deeply in love with each other. During one of their intimate conversation, Rita asked James, ‘What will you do if I die all a sudden?’ Even before she uttered the last syllable, she received a slap from James.

When we love someone very much, we tend to treasure the presence of that person. We do not want to lose them. This is a sign of love. I am sure in this circumstance, even the act of slapping was a manifestation of love. This is what St. Peter does to Jesus. He rebukes Him. Why should the Lord talk about death on the cross at this point of time? The one who has come to give life abundantly speaks about lifelessness. Was the act of Peter lacking in signs of love? He genuinely loved the Lord and he did not want to lose Him. Then why should he be rebuked? Our love should not be a mere expression of our impulses. Even our emotions have to be educated. Not all that we feel is okay, there is an ethics even for our feelings. Our love should not be a cause of hindrance in doing God’s work. Every mother who prevents her son/ daughter from joining a religious congregation in order to have him/her close to her is in a way act like the agent of evil. Our love should foster the will of God not the other way.

When we love God and try to do His will, we find meaning in our life. Last week, after giving a short talk on Our Lady to the Legion of Mary, I was talking to a mother about the devotion to Our lady. In the course of our conversation, she told me that she is willing to give up everything and just dedicate her life for the Lord. She is from a fairly well-off family with a son and daughter of marriageable age. Her husband works in a big company. God has blessed her with everything she needs. But still she felt, God is above everything. I told her jokingly, that she should have thought about it, before the marriage. The simple words of that mother struck me. She did not talk from her head. They were the words from her heart. At the end of everything, what counts is how much of wealth we have inherited in the Kingdom of God. People, who love God and do His will, will be ready to lose everything for the sake of God.

Last year when I was attending the funeral of my friend’s mother, something touched me very much. Just before burying the body, people noticed the small ring on her finger. People around there wanted to remove it. But  they could not remove it. Many of them took turns and tried to remove it but the effort was in vain. Then someone suggested to cut off the finger in order to remove the ring. Some were for the suggestion and some did not agree. My friend told them to leave the ring in her finger. But the others did not listen and nearly after half an hour, they managed to pull out the ring. I was thinking, ‘even if we want to carry something after our death with us, our fellow human beings will not allow it. They will make sure that we go with empty hand.

Is it not right when the Lord tell us ‘What if you gain the whole world and lose the soul?

The simple way to save our soul and reach God is to love him sincerely and do God’s will even at the cost of our life.

PARABLE OF TALENTS –AUGUST 27TH – SATURDAY (Matthew 25:14-30)

1. This parable was understood specifically about the reception of the gospel. The man departing was viewed by the Church as Christ ascending to heaven. First servant represented the Jews who accepted Christianity, the second servant represented the Gentiles who got converted to Christianity and the third servant represents the unconverted.
2. Some interpreters do not focus on any eschatological themes, but relate this parable in terms of stewardship. Reward is given to the ones who make effort and remain faithful to the entrusted cause.
3. The traditional view of the parable is that it depicts the time from Jesus’ death and resurrection to the parousia. The disciples ought to encourage kingdom living.
4. There is a Chinese parable which says, ‘Success: Heaven’s will, human effort.’ In the Scriptures we encounter God who grants success through the miraculous collapse of Jericho’s wall or by making the sun standstill, but usually grants success through the means of shrewd strategy and hard work. Sound stewardship is what is required.
5. Quality work, importance of education, saving and deferring gratification and family commitment are all the values of good and faithful servant. In this context let me quote Richard Baxter “Waste of time…loss of time through sociability, idle talking, luxury, more sleep than necessary…is worth of absolute moral condemnation. Every hour lost is lost to labour for God…Work hard in your calling.”

We cannot question why the Lord is partial with His gifts and talents that He gives us. He gives talents to each one according to his/her ability and therefore He does not expect more than one’s capacity. Sometimes while regretting the fact that we are given less, we fail to value and develop the single talent we are entrusted with. We have several examples of people who were thought to be useless rose up to greater heights by means of sheer hard work and commitment. Parable of talents gives us yet another chance to make the best use of time and resources available at our disposal.

Reference

Parable of the Talents in Missionary Perspective by John B. Carpenter, in Missiology, v 25, Issue 2, 1997

Stories with Intent – Klyne. R. Snodgrass

TEN VIRGINS – AUGUST 26TH - FRIDAY – (Mt 25: 1-13)

1.      The bridegroom is Christ, the virgins are those who have accepted Christianity in faith, the oil is good works or love and the sleep is death. The number ten is interpreted in several ways therefore no consensus on that. We should not forget that the intention of the parable is to say that the kingdom is like the whole process narrated in the story and so we should avoid dwelling on the individual details of the description.

2.      The aspect of delay is more important, without which the parable has no significance. It was due to delay the lamps went out, the virgins went to sleep. The delay might be due to the banquet in the bride’s house. In any case, it was delay that distinguishes the wise ones from the foolish.

3.      There is no reason to think that sleep is given a negative connotation. Both foolish as well as the wise virgins went to sleep. It was their preparedness and alertness which was commended.

4.      Are the wise ethically culpable for not sharing? Some start arguing that the attitude of the wise is ungracious. They were accused for being selfish. The point is this, if they share the oil with the others eventually all the lamps will go out before reaching their destiny and all would be in darkness. A parable should be understood in context. The parable and reality are not connected with equal signs.

5.      The parable urges one to be ready and be prepared in view of the kingdom. Wisdom here means understanding the eschatological outlook of Jesus’ teaching. This parable is used by Jesus to instruct his disciples to live with such wisdom.

The worst thing we experience when we go to some government offices is the delay in the proceedings of the work. We tend to lose our patience when something gets delayed. Travelers usually experience the delay of the trains and buses. After waiting for a considerable amount of time, we usually decide and find alternatives and only at that time the thing or the person whom we waited for will arrive. There are several times we feel, ‘I should have waited for some more time’. God is teaching us a lesson on the importance of patience using this parable of ten virgins.

Reference

Stories with Intent – Klyne. R. Snodgrass

COMING OF THE KINGDOM – 25TH AUGUST – THURSDAY (Mt 24: 42-51)

1.      We are probably dealing with a slave, although the word is used for servants as well. That a slave is placed in charge is not unusual. The best biblical example and with similar wording to the parable is the account of Joseph being given authority both in the home of Potiphar and by Pharaoh. The slave literally controlled the health and welfare of the other slaves.

2.      Drunkenness and beating slaves are both traditional description of an uncontrolled life. This can be applied to the husbands who do the same to their wives.

3.      Often the parable is viewed as the Jesus’ instruction to his disciples to remain faithful in his absence before the coming of the final kingdom or of the Son of Man, both of which would entail judgment.

4.      Failing to be watchful even occasionally can bring in a lot of disaster. Thieves are the people who give surprise to the owner, because they come at the unpredictable time.

5.      We need to have urgency in our evangelization. The attitude of procrastination brings in a lot of danger. Before we could even start a project the end time would come. We would be taken for a task.

Many of us think that we have plenty of time left for us to live. We tend to postpone things with the hope of completing the task even at the last minute. We are more confident about our future. Are we prepared to go peacefully if death knocks at our door any time of the day? Our life is uncertain. It is better to complete the given tasks in time. Tasks do not strictly mean only our office works or house chores, but it primarily means the condition of our soul, condition of our spiritual life, condition of our moral life. We are not called to live in a constant fear of death but to live a life of preparedness and diligence.

Reference

The New Daily Study Bible – William Barclay

Stories with Intent – Klyne. R. Snodgrass

HYPOCRISY – AUGUST 23RD – TUESDAY – Mt 23: 23-26

1.    Etymology: Hypocrisy – judgment, sentence or power of distinguishing or a decider, judge or behind. The common usage in antiquity was ‘an actor on stage’. In popular understanding the term denotes metaphorically persons who pretend to be someone they are not.

2.      There is no equivalent word in OT – The author of 2 Maccabees used some other form of the same word to describe Apollonius as one pretended to be a person of peace after entering Jerusalem, when Sabbath day arrived he ordered the he ordered the troops to attack the Jews (2 Macc 5: 25), The agents of Antiochus tried convincing Eleazar to pretend as if he were eating the flesh of sacrificial meat (2 Macc 6: 21).

3.      In the N.T this word is used only in negative sense. Hypocrisy occurs in the Gospels (Mt 23:38; Mk 12: 15, Lk 12: 1) and in three other places in NT (Gal 2:13, 1 Time 4:2; 1 Pet 2:1). In synoptic the term appears mostly in Matthew. In Mark it is mentioned once, in Luke it is thrice and in Matthew it is 14 times. Paul charges Barnabas and other Jewish Christians with hypocrisy for joining Peter in their table fellowship practices excluding Gentiles.

4.      Today’s passage is the part of the seven woes Jesus pronounces against the Pharisees. Today’s gospel deals with fourth and fifth woe. Fourth woe concerns rulings about ‘trifles’. Deut 14: 22-23 prescribes tithes of grain, wine and oil. The Rabbis in building up the law added vegetables, fruits and nuts in the command. Jesus thinks it is absurd to spend in the tithing of trifles.

5.      The fifth woe concerns the ruling about cleanliness. God looks at the heart. How can one clean the inside of the cup? Through confession, slaying of human pride and a turning from our evil ways takes place. By trust in the mercy of God made we are made clean in Christ.

All of us are hypocrites in one way of other. The persons who crave for freedom and rights are the ones who persecute their subjects when they are in power. Most of the strict teachers who punish the students very badly are the ones who were naughty themselves when they were students. We are liberal with regard to the issues concerning us and our interest but when it comes to the issues of others we become extremely strict and start talking about laws and rules. Let us become little more considerate towards people who are under our power and authority.

Reference

The New Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible- Emerson B. Powery

The Interpreter’s Bible

QUEENSHIP OF MARY – AUGUST 22ND – MONDAY – (LK 1: 26-38)

1.      The encyclical Ad Caeli Reginam proclaiming the Queenship of Mary was promulgated by Pope Pius XII on Oct 11, 1954, near the close of Marian year observed in connection with the centenary celebration of the proclamation of the dogma – Immaculate Conception (1854)

2.      Mary is queen in relation to the King the Messiah. Her maternal authority over her royal Son and her care for all Christians give ground and meaning to her own royal title.

3.      Jesus the Son of God who humbled Himself to the extent of dying on the cross as a criminal was exalted by God the Father as the King and Kings and Prince of Peace. Likewise Mary humbled herself by saying ‘Behold the handmaid of the Lord’ and thus becomes the Mother of the King and thus the Queen.

4.      Christ’s royalty has strong evidence in Scripture. Luke 1:32, He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. Isaiah 9:6, For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Revelation 19:16, On his robe and on his thigh he has a name inscribed, "King of kings and Lord of lords."  Thus the Mother of Christ the King, logically becomes the Queen Mother. There are many Church Fathers like John Damascene, Gregory Nazianzen, Jerome who addressed Mary as the Queen.

5.      She had her place under the cross because it was God’s will. He wished her to share in her son’s sufferings. He might have spared her; there is no reason why Mary had to live to see her son’s death. If God willed that Mary share her son’s sufferings are we not to conclude that she, the handmaid accepted and fulfilled God’s will perfectly.

‘Because the virgin Mary was raised to such a lofty dignity as to be the mother of the king of kings, it is deservedly and by every right that the Church has honoured her with the title of Queen’ St. Alphonsus Liguori

References

From the article, ‘Queenship of Mary’ by Aver Johannes in Theology Digest (1955)

Encyclopedia of Mary – Monica and Bill Dodds

TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME MATTHEW 16: 13 – 20

He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

I have divided my homily into three parts by asking three pertaining questions. Q1. Who is St. Peter? Q2. Who do people say I am? And Q3. Who do you say I am?

Who is St. Peter?

What significance does this question have? Today there is a lot of hue and cry over the authority of the Pope. Imagine when you read the morning newspaper you read a headline which says that the General of the Indian Army feels that there is no reason to defend our country. Will we not be surprised and shocked? Same thing happens with regard to the Holy Father and his authority. Many including Catholics and even the Clergymen who are supposed to defend the Pope, do question the authority of the Pope. For all these people, today’s gospel gives a clear answer. We all know this character called Peter. He represents some of us who keep messing up things again and again in our life. Everyone misspeaks occasionally. Peter does so daily. He blurts wrong words like a whale spouts salt water, spraying folly everywhere. He always hurts someone. Oh, Peter and his quick-triggered tongue. This is the kind of person our Lord chooses to lead his Church. He gives him the authority to bind people with laws. He gives him the keys of heaven. Keys are the emblems of authority and this language was addressed to Peter because of the Power that was to be conferred on him. He was to organize, toil, and manage the affairs of kingdom as the Head, of course not absolutely but under Christ the Head. Among the Jews when a scribe was admitted to his office a key was given to him as the symbol of duty he was expected to perform.

Today we have Benedict XVI the 265^th Pope who is known for his intelligence and erudition. When the Pope teaches from the chair of St. Peter on issues concerning faith and morals, it binds the whole Church. He is also called the Bishop of Rome, which means anyone who is the Bishop of Rome is also the Pope. Why Rome? What is so very special? It is simply because tomb of St. Peter is in Rome. We as Christians have the responsibility not only to pray for our Holy Father but also to defend Him when he is attacked by enemies of the Church.

Who do People say I am?

Any Communication gets completed only when there is a feedback. Jesus being a good communicator wanted to get the feedback from his disciples. Feedback can be both positive as well as negative. He just asks his disciples to know what exactly the people think of him. The feedback given by the disciples is quite positive. Some call him Elijah, John the Baptist, Jeremiah. He was considered to be one of the prophets. Surely it is a compliment for Jesus and His mission.

This is an important lesson we need to learn from Jesus. As human beings, and more specifically as Christians we live in communities. We do not live in isolation. Therefore we cannot be too individualistic in our attitude. We should be mindful of what other people think about us and our way of living. Though we do not live for the sake of others, we also do not live only for our sake. If majority of our community members feel that our way of life is not that okay, we need to pay proper attention to that feedback. If many our community members point out to us saying that we seldom attend Sunday mass, we do not live a proper life worthy of a Christian etc., we should not ignore their view totally by shunning them. There could be some traces of truth in that. Jesus was ready to listen to the feedback.

We need not know everything about us. There are certain things which only when somebody points out to us, we will come to know. We see the whole world and the reality around us, using our eyes, we cannot see our own eyes. We need mirror to see our eyes. People with whom we live might serve as mirror at times. Therefore we should also take suggestions of people into consideration.

Who do you say I am?

Last year I went along with my friend to watch one of the league matches of IPL. I was longing to see Sachin playing. I was delighted throughout the match and came back home happily. Many asked me about the match and I was happy to share my personal experience with them. I was describing Sachin for quite a long time. Suddenly, someone a critique of cricket asked me, ‘Did you get his mobile number? I gave him a strange look. He continued. Do you have his email id? Do you know his house address? And finally asked me, do you really know him? This made me to reflect deeper. I know Sachin for a long time. I know how many centuries he has made but do I really know him? Is he related to me? Does he know my name?

We come for mass, and sit like spectators in the stadium, sing songs if we know, partly listen to sermons and then go away. We might know how many miracles Jesus did; where he was born; we might know the names of his parents, and so many other minute details. But do we really know him. On your way back home after the mass, if a non-Christian brother/sister asks you why do you go every Sunday to the Church, what answer will you give? Some of us might emphatically say, we go to receive Jesus Christ. But if that person asks you again, ‘who is this Jesus? Do we have an answer for that question? Will that answer come from our personal experience?

Who is Jesus Christ? To the banker, hidden treasure (Mt 13, 44), To the builder, one foundation (Is.26,16), To the carpenter, door (Jn. 10, 7), To the doctor, great physician (Jer.8, 22), To the educator, great teacher (Jn. 3, 2), To the engineer, new and living way (Hb.10, 20), To the farmer, sower and Lord of harvest (Lk, 10, 2), To the florist, rose of Sharon (song of songs (2, 1). This list is endless. But Jesus asks us today, who do you say I am? If we do not have an answer that comes immediately from our heart, probably it is the high time to enter into a personal relationship with Him. Let us move from the level of knowing about Jesus to Knowing Jesus.