31st Sunday in Ordinary Time : Do I long to see God in my Life

THIRTY FIRST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Wisdom 11: 22-12:2|Thessalonians 1: 11-2: 2|Luke 19:1-10

“And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not, on account of the crowd, because he was small of stature” (19:3)

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Jesus Christ,

Once upon a time, there existed a few bugs at the bottom of a pond and they used to crawl around the pond. They wonder what happens to their members who climb up the stem of the lily; they never come back. “They wondered what it’s like up there.” Once, they agree among themselves that the next one who is called to the surface will come back. The next little larva that finds itself drawn to the surface by nature, crawls up the stem and out on the surface on the lily leaf. It was really bright up there. It had been so dark and muddy down below. They won’t believe this. Suddenly something begins to happen. The larva begins to open out. The grub spreads out two huge beautiful colored wings and becomes a beautiful dragonfly. It never imagines that this could have happened. It thought it would remain a grub forever.

It seems to me that the story of Zacchaeus almost like the story of the bugs. He was a publican, the chief of the tax collector, a man entirely abandoned to greed, whose only goal was the increase of his gain.[1]    But he longed to see Jesus, a mere curiosity like ours to see a Hollywood star. But   that eagerness to see Jesus changed his life totally.  

The Story of Zacchaeus, what does it teach us?

First of all, the life Zacchaeus teaches that whoever longs, genuinely, to see God or God’s interventions in their life, God also take that longings so seriously. And God takes initiatives to visit him/her and receives him/her as His own.

Secondly, whoever takes God seriously, has to face the obstacles in their life to attain their goal. In the Gospel, we hear   Zacchaeus desired to see Jesus but the crowd prevented him to see Jesus. In the Gospel tradition, the crowd is always a hindrance to people who want to come to Jesus.[2] We have number of examples in the Gospels: the blind man in the Gospel of Luke chapter 18; the Paralytic in the Gospel of Mark chapter 2; the deaf and dump in the same Gospel chapter 7. The Crowd which is inclined to evil, repels people from Jesus rather than leading them to Him.[3] So, getting away from the crowd is so important in our spiritual progress.

Do I have the desire to see Jesus or His interventions in my life? If so, what kind of crowd that preventing me to see Him?  These are the questions that Gospel raises to us today. Each one of us may have different crowd that hinder us to see God. For some of us may be some addictions, for some others may be the social Medias; may be our wrong relationships. Each one of us has to identify from one’s life- what kind of crowd that block one’s vision to see God.

What Good news that we can take into our heart today?

I think this is the Good news that we can take to our heart. We can see God like Zacchaeus in the Gospel. In order to see Him, we must model Zacchaeus spiritually. Instead of giving the power to the crowd to control our life, we must control our crowd in which we have the possibility to go beyond the crowd like Zacchaeus did. St. Augustine, while commenting this passage make an observation. He says, “The reason you cannot see Jesus is that you are ashamed to climb the sycamore tree”.[4] Climbing a sycamore tree for Zacchaeus was really foolishness. Because if he cared people over Jesus, then he would never attempt to climb up the sycamore because people would mock at him. But he cared Jesus over the people and ignored what his fellow citizens would say. I think it is clearer if we put it in the words of St. Bonaventure: “Zacchaeus realized that the foolishness of faith leads to the height of wisdom of Christ.”[5]

Dear Brothers and Sisters, I understand the peer pressures and mocking comments from your friends when you take religion/ faith seriously. I also understand that practicing faith in our society is a real challenge. But I recommend you to reflect this question tonight: When you stand at the cross road of faith to make a decision to step, would you listen to your crowd or would you go beyond the crowd like Zacchaeus?

May our Merciful Lord bless you
Friar Tony vattaparambil Ofmconv

  

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[1] Alexandria, C. o. (2003). Commentary on Luke . In A. A. Jr., Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture: New Testament III Luke (pp. 289-292). Downers Grove, IL: Inter Varsity Press.

[2]Bonaventure. (2004). Commentary on the Gospel of Luke. In r. J. Karris, Works of St. Bonavneture (pp. 1789-1807). St. Bonaventure, NY: Franciscan Institute Publication.

[3] Bonaventure. (2004). Commentary on the Gospel of Luke. In r. J. Karris, Works of St. Bonavneture (pp. 1789-1807). St. Bonaventure, NY: Franciscan Institute Publication.

[4] Augustine (2003). Commentary on Luke . In A. A. Jr., Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture: New Testament III Luke (pp. 289-292). Downers Grove, IL: Inter Varsity Press.

[5] Bonaventure. (2004). Commentary on the Gospel of Luke. In r. J. Karris, Works of St. Bonavneture (pp. 1789-1807). St. Bonaventure, NY: Franciscan Institute Publication.

30th Sunday Homily Religion without compassion is terrorism

Today's gospel parable of Pharisee  and tax collector is very relevant in today's world. It's not something that happened 2000 years ago. It's something that still happening today.  We see so many people holding on to religious beliefs, traditions and faith without loving one another. In worst case, we see terrorists killing people in the name of God and religion. These kind of people believe that thy are righteous in the eyes of God and believe that they follow right religion. 

Pharisee in the parable is one of them, he believed, he is not like the rest of humanity. He thought he is following right religion he says of himself, He is not — greedy, dishonest, adulterous — or even like this tax collector. He even compares himself with others. He continues, he fasted twice a week, and he payed tithes on his whole income.’ According religious practices he is a good practitioner but he lacked love for others and his life was centered around himself. He lacked love, mercy and compassion for others. He was self praising to God. 

Once I was in India with Bellarmine students and we visited a Jesuit Ashram and one of the teachers there told us, religion without love and compassion is terrorism. That was an aha moment for many. 

We may find people like this Pharisee  in work places, parishes, religious life. They are full of themselves, despise others saying sentences like, I am the only one who hard work here, I am the only one knows things better. My prayer life is better than you. My poverty is better than you. My religious practices are better than you. They are full of themselves and they forget others and to be kind to others. And not only that they are constantly judging others. Jesus asks us Catholics not to be like this Pharisee being full of oneself and judging others. 

 I might have shared this story I like to share it once again. Lady and 7th station of the cross. What she does is the good practice of the religion but that didn't turn her to love others. 

In the second story, Jesus shows us the tax collector, he is bad man in the society, he cheated his own people collecting money for Rome. But this tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed, ‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.’ Jesus says he went home justified. This is one thing important in religion and faith humbling yourself. Humility is beginning quality to understand God and others. 

Dear brothers and sisters, this parable of Pharisee and tax collector teaches us that the entire point of religion is to make us humble before God and to open us to the path of love and compassion. 

Liturgy, prayer, the precepts of the Church, the commandments, sacraments, sacramental—all of it—are finally meant to conform us to the way of love. 

I am giving you two questions for your thoughts and reflection. 

1. How often we use knowledge and practices of religion to put others down? 

1. Does my practices of religion turn in to loving and not judging others?

29th Sunday- Your Prayer in emergency

Your Prayer in Emergency…

Luke 18:1-8. Today, we can have access to any emergency services just by ‘dialing’ a few numbers on our telephone. In the UK, it is 999; in the European Union it is 112,  in India 100 and in some countries it is 911. There are also separate numbers to call the police, fire services, or medical assistance.   The first emergency number system to be used in the world was in London.  It was on 30 June 1937 that ‘999’ was first dialed and a special red light flashed on the telephone operator’s table.  Thus began the system of emergency services. Have we ever called an emergency number in our life?  If ever we called an emergency number, I am sure, it now brings to our mind some traumatic experience. In any case, the emergency number is not the most frequently dialed number on our personal telephone.  The most dialed number in your phone.is may be that of your lover, spouse, child, parent, friend, or business partner?  And what does that frequently dialed number say about your own priorities in life?

In the gospel today we have a reminder on making frequent calls to God. By the parable of the unjust judge and the persistent widow, Jesus emphasizes the “necessity of praying always and not losing heart.” Constancy in prayer is Faith in action.  Now, here is a more important question:  how would you describe your own acts of calling on God!  Are they emergency calls, or are they frequent calls?
-When you are facing danger, call on Psalm 91. Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”  Look at some the emergency numbers in sacred scriptures.

-When you are worried, call on Matthew 6:25-34 The Heavenly Father feeds everybody.
-When you are sad, call on John 14. Jesus Comforts His Disciples
-When you don’t feel loved, call on Romans 8:38-39. Nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God
-When you feel no one is on your side, call on Romans 8:31-39 who shall separate us from the love of Christ
-When you are suffering, call on Romans 8:18-30 Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness.
-When you need courage, call on Joshua 1. Never rebels against to the word of God. Be strong and courageous!
-When you are seeking peace, call on John 14:27. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
-When you want to live a happy life, call on Colossians 3:12-17. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, we are called to peace.
-When you don’t understand what God is doing, call on Isaiah 55:8-9. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Jesus tells us that we should pray, pray a lot, pray often, and be untiring in turning to God. Consistency, perseverance, steadfastness, along with continuing courage, is needed in our lives. When we are facing great difficulties along with emotional and spiritual crises of various sorts we may say: “I’ve tried everything. Now the only thing left to do is to pray.” Prayer should be our normal way of life, not just a last resort in times of difficulty. Stay always connection with God.

We live now in a world that offers us quick answers to our problems along with quick responses to our needs. All of our needs and wants can be fulfilled these days in no time at all. Most of our days are crowded and blocked with things to do. Within all of this,  we need prayer, meditation, and time with God.

- Personal prayer is of great importance in our life of prayer. Talking to God in our own words, praising Him, thanking Him and presenting our needs before Him -- transforms our whole life into prayer. Bring all our successes and failures, joys and sorrows, highs and lows to God in prayer.

- Never expect to get whatever we pray for. A loving father may refuse or accept our requests. God is like that. He knows what to give, when to give and how to give it. Only God knows what is good for us in our life.

- To make our prayers effective, be consistent. Our prayers do not change God's will. Instead, they bring our minds into line with God’s reasons.  Sincere and persistent prayer makes us ready to accept His will.

There is a way to pray with the heart, which God can hear, and answer. To speak from the heart is to speak to the heart. God can read our heart, and that is more important than any words we might say. Prayer is not an isolated act – it is a way of life. We need each other’s prayers. We need each other’s strength.

Fr. George Munjanattu OFMConv.

October 9, 2016 - 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

TWENTY EIGHTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

2 Kings 5: 17-17|2 Timothy 2: 8-13|Luke 17:11-19

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Jesus Christ,

There is a story about one of our friaries in India. The Friary is named after St. Francis of Assisi and we call in our language Assisi Snehalaya- House of Love. This is a house set apart for the care and cure of the HIV affected Patients. It was erected as a religious house around the year 2000, when in our society HIV-AIDS was considered something like God’s curse for one’s wrong doing; therefore, those who are infected must be expelled from the society. I remember, reading the circular letter of our then Superior, addressing the need of the society. He compared the situation of 20^th century with the situation of Francis’ time. “Francis, seeing the need of his society took care of the lepers. In the same way, we (Franciscans) are called to respond to the needs of our society and this is our responsibility to take care of the modern day lepers-the AIDS patients[i]. AIDS is no more a threat in our society and therefore, they are no more lepers. But I think the name is still so important. More than a physical ailment, it can well describe the attitude of a society on people who lives in the margins of it.

The ancient world was terrified of leprosy, which is a contagious disease, and having no cure they banished lepers from society.  Lepers became outcasts, required by the law to stand at a distance from people, and to shout ‘Unclean, unclean!’ when they saw anyone near (Leviticus 13:45f).  The Samaritan leper in our today’s story was doubly isolated, for there was deep religious hatred between Jews and Samaritans.

What kind of lepers that we identify in our modern world? St. Bonaventure brings up with four kinds of spiritual leprosy that is possible in the background of this Gospel in his Commentary on Luke. There is a possibility of the leprosy that develops from the evil fear, there is a possibility of the Leprosy that arises from carnal desires, there is a possibility of leprosy that develops from the evil intensions of the sight and there is a leprosy that is the outcome of our pride.  Bonaventure develops these spiritual ailments from the observations of St. Augustine on the theme of Fear and Love. For St. Augustine says, “Love and Fear lead to every deed done justly. In the same way, love and fear lead to every sin. In order to do good, we love God and fear God. But in order to do evil, we love the World and fear the world.”[ii]

Fear and Love of God leads to an inclusive spirituality where nobody is alienated no matter what they are. On the other hand, fear and love of the World build exclusive agenda where narrowness of mind dominate everything.

Every society, every group, has outsiders.  How a group sees and treats outsiders is the clearest indicator of the values the group is based on.  Is there any possibility of an open society where all are welcomed? We might expect that all religious societies, since they claim to be in the service of God, would be open societies; but some of them shrink into cults, and many develop cult-like qualities.  There is always a war between inner and outer.  If the outsider is regarded only as an enemy, then we can be sure that the inner life is diseased in some way.  This is how we estimate the life of an individual; it is also how we can estimate the life of a society.  An individual who only knows who he or she is against, has no positive identity at all; likewise a society. 

A Christian society that is deaf to the outsider and that marginalizes some of its own, can hardly be described as Christian.  Pope Francis, in his very first week as pope, spoke about a tendency in the Church to “self-referencing.”  A Christian community of any kind is not a group of likeminded people who confirm one another in their narrowness, but a group that reaches out to those whose lives are in chaos, whose voices are not heard, whose presence is not welcomed.[iii]

Brothers and Sisters, what kind of leprosy that we faces in our day to day life? Does my Christian identity allow me to welcome everyone and accept them as they are? Or am I afraid of my society and anxious about my social status which leads me to take an exclusive position in which the other is my enemy and outcaste? This is the challenge the Gospel gives us today.

May the Eucharistic Lord, heal our troubled conscience and society. May we have the light to see everyone as God’s child. Amen

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[i] J.CILIA, Circular Letter to the Provincial Custody of St. Maximilian Kolbe, India 1999.

[ii] St. Bonaventure, Commentary on Luke, Chapter XVII, Vol.3

[iii] http://frnick.com/weekday/today_s_good_news