Following Jesus

On his journey to Jerusalem, Jesus meets three men who are anxious to follow him. Two of these voluntarily come forward to follow Jesus. But as we read in the gospel, all the three seem to be unfit or unprepared for the challenges involved in following Jesus. To follow Jesus is not a walk in the park.

To the first young man bursting with enthusiasm who, with whole-hearted response, vowed to be a follower of Jesus wherever he would go, must have been surprised to hear Jesus dampen his spirits and warn him off with the caution, that the Son of Man did not have a home to call his own. Jesus left his home at Nazareth, and settled in Capernaum. But that must have been merely a base for his activities. Jesus had no possessions or securities. Nor did he have institutional provisions for his nomadic mission of spreading God’s Kingdom in Galilee. His friends and followers were mainly from the lower class, though there were some including some pious women who were his benefactors. To all intents and purposes, Jesus did not have a place to lay his head.

Jesus is only being fair when he makes it clear in very direct terms what is expected of those who wish to join his group. If we want to accompany him we must know what we are doing and be aware of the harsh realities of life. To follow Jesus to Calvary can be no casual accompaniment of a wandering preacher. Less of romance, more of reality-bites. The message is harsh but clear – if anything at all stands in our way or takes priority over Jesus in our lives, then we are not free to follow him. Jesus would have certainly failed in any of our modern ad firms—who earn by the second (not merely by the minute)!

To the second man Jesus says, “Let the dead bury their dead.” It is not a polite thing to say to someone who just wants to provide a simple, human service to his father. A service, it needs to be said, that was required under Jewish law. Burying the dead and honouring one’s parents were both mandates, not suggestions.

But time is short, and Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem and his death. The shortcut across Samaria leads to shunning this time, as the Samaritans are not keen on a prophet destined for Jerusalem. The disciples would like to see them punished, but Jesus is not going to dignify that request with anything more than a curt reprimand. There is no time to lose.

To everyone, Jesus tells us what he says in this text to the man who wishes to bury his father: “Follow me.” Sometimes we have what seem to us good reasons for not dropping everything, but more often we make excuses.

To those who want to follow him, Jesus points out that the way he is going holds no glamour. Those who hesitate, Jesus rejects. The only disciples Jesus can use are those who put their hand to God’s plow and do not look back. That is what he tells the third young man, who too had conditions or duties to be fulfilled. You can only plow a straight line if you keep your focus on what you are doing—like Jesus, who is resolutely making his journey towards Jerusalem and the cross.

Every day we are faced with a situation similar to these three young prospective disciples. In the midst of our work, as we are hurrying about our business, we encounter Jesus who beckons us to come and serve. He longs for us to acknowledge his loving presence in silently carrying out his will. But how many times we have said, “Why now, Lord?” “Perhaps I’ll catch up with you later.” “Why don’t you come later?”

We could make other similar excuses. But having a habit of making excuses makes us halfhearted, which is one of the biggest reasons why we don’t feel fulfilled in life. Halfheartedness robs us of the joy and satisfaction that come from achievement.

What will be our response if we chance to meet the Lord today? Is there some kind of irritation with regard to Him? Do we want to postpone our following Him? Don’t we think it is easier to worship Jesus than to follow him?

Only one thing God wants of you: to call Him “my father,” and not stop following Him? (Jer 3:19) He wants from us a relationship, a loving devotedness.

Sts Peter and Paul, Apostles

We celebrate the feast of the two greatest apostles of the Church, Peter and Paul. They were the two major personalities from whom the mission of Jesus grew and spread to every corner of the world. As the Preface for today’s Mass puts it: “Peter raised up the church from the faithful flock of Israel. Paul brought your call to the nations, and became the teacher of the world. Each in his chosen way gathered into unity the one family of Christ. Both shared a martyr’s death and are praised throughout the world.” Each one represents two very distinct roles of the Church in its mission to the world.

Peter represents that part of the Church which is the source of its stability: its traditions handed down in an unbroken way from the very beginnings, the structures which help to preserve and conserve those traditions, the structure which also gives consistency and unity to the Church, spread as it is through so many races, cultures, traditions, and geographical diversity. Peter today is represented by the Pope, who is the great symbol of unity and continuity. Without his role we would see the Church break up and disintegrate.

Paul, on the other hand, represents another key role, the prophetic and missionary role. It is that part of the Church which constantly works on the edge, pushing the boundaries of the Church further out, not only in a geographical sense but also pushing the concerns of the Church into neglected areas of social concern and creatively developing new ways of communicating the Christian message. If the Church is to remain relevant, if it is to continue speaking in a meaningful way to rapidly changing world, if it is to keep up with the new knowledge and ideas which change our ways of understanding the world in which we live, it has to renew itself constantly in the way it expresses its message, in the way it structures itself, in the way it communicates its message, and in the way it dialogues with the world.

The readings today emphasise the presence of God in the work of his Church. Peter’s faith and acknowledgment of Jesus as the Messiah-Christ and Saviour-King are rewarded by his being made the foundation on which Christ will build his Church. Through Peter, Jesus gives his Church a guarantee of never-ending protection. And he gives to Peter, as his representative, the powers, which he himself had received from the Father, the “keys of the Kingdom”. 

We see that in the first reading where Peter is thrown into jail for preaching the message of Christ and the Kingdom. As Paul, who was himself in prison more than once, will say later, the word of God cannot be bound. Peter finds release and then goes back to the only thing he can do – proclaim the message of his beloved Master. The miraculous release from prison symbolises that protection over his Church which Jesus had promised in the Gospel.

Paul in the second reading speaks first with gratitude of how his life has been spent in the service of his Lord. “I have fought the good fight to the end; I have run the race to the finish; I have kept the faith.” May we be able to say the same as we approach the end of our life. Paul also speaks of how God continued to protect him through all kinds of trials and persecutions. “The Lord stood by me and gave me power, so that through me the whole message might be proclaimed for all the non-believers to hear.” He too knows that the Lord will continue to protect him but he also knows that when his time comes he is ready to go.

Paul’s love for Jesus is so intense that he finds it difficult to choose between staying alive and working for the Kingdom or dying and being reunited with Jesus, his beloved Lord. As he said once in a memorable phrase, “For to me life is Christ, to die is gain.” In either case, he is with his beloved Lord.

As we celebrate the feast of the two “pillars” of the Church today, let us remain faithful to the traditions which have come down to us over 2,000 years but, at the same time, be ever ready to make the necessary changes and adaptations by which the message of Christ can be effectively communicated to all those who still have a hunger for that truth and love which over the centuries never changes.

Let us pray today for the whole Church all over the world; let us pray for our Holy Father who is the focus of unity for Christians everywhere. Let us also pray for those places where the Church is working under great difficulties.

Celebrating Love

Today in the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, we celebrate love. We celebrate God’s unconditional love. God only and always loves.

Is there anything that I need to do first to merit God’s love? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. We don’t earn or merit God’s unconditional love; He has loved us even before we were conceived in our mother’s womb, from the beginning of the universe, and even before this universe took shape. Alive or dead we belong to the Lord. We are His Beloved, no matter what. His love for me does not depend on my worthiness, or on my good works. He always and everywhere loves me, He loves me whatever condition I am in. Sinful or holy, just or unjust, good or bad, ugly or beautiful.

God loves us with an everlasting love. His faithful love never ends. His mercies never cease. They are new every morning; great is His faithfulness. God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Such utterly free and gratuitous love is the only love that validates, transforms, and changes us at the deepest levels of consciousness. It is what we all desire and what we were created for. It is to show that every creature, every human person craves for love and communion. Even the physical structure of the universe is love. Once you allow it for yourself, you will almost naturally become a pipeline of the same love for others.

The more we receive His love, the more we are able to love. Once you can accept mercy, it is almost natural to hand it on to others. You become an instrument of what you yourself have received. I may not understand His unconditional love, but the more and more I experience His love, I am able to open my heart in love towards others. But if I don’t accept mercy and love, then I won’t be able to pass it on to others.

Love breaks all barriers; it is stronger than death, cruelty, violence, selfishness and sinfulness of humanity. Only in love I can understand that no one is perfect, no human enterprise is perfect. Only in love can I know that except for God, nothing is perfectly anything.

The dynamism that God is, is called Love. Love is the nature of God himself. God is Love. And interestingly, the dynamism that unites us together is also called love. We humans become capable of truly loving, only because God’s love has poured into our hearts.

Divine love is the template and model for all human love, and human love is the necessary school and preparation for any God-encounter. If you have never experienced human love, it will be very hard for you to access God as Love. If you have never let God love you, you will not know how to love humanly in the deepest way. Of course, grace can overcome both of these limitations.

We as imperfect persons can accept love and also give love to others. In facing the contradictions that we ourselves are, we are able to accept others as they are. That’s how I am able to forgive others, and also love my enemies.

Good Behaviour

Mt 7:21-29

“Jesus said to his disciples: It is not those who say to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ who will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the person who does the will of my Father in heaven.”

We come today to the final reading from the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus spells out the essential quality of the true disciple. He or she is not to be measured merely by external activities. It is not enough, for instance, to keep saying “Lord, Lord…” That by itself will not bring a person under the kingship of God. It will not be enough even to be able to perform wonders like casting out demons or working other miracles even in the name of Jesus. The true disciple is someone who is totally united to God in heart, soul and mind. Such a person is one who listens to Jesus’ words and carries them out.

Good behaviour and actions are the only way to honour the Lord. Our prayer sessions and liturgical practices can become a mere sham, if they are not translated into correct behaviour and good actions. Today, therefore, is an opportunity to break down our hypocritical behaviour, our superficiality and lack of depth.

Our biggest sin could be superficiality. The shape of evil is much more superficiality and blindness than the usually listed sins. Sin is to stay on the surface of even holy things, like Bible, sacrament, or church.

To live a Christian life only on the surface, that is, only with words and externally conforming behaviour, is like building a house on sand. Once we come under attack, we will collapse because we have no deep foundation inside. We see that happening frequently when people who have lived in an outwardly Christian environment move to a purely secular situation. They fall away very quickly. So let us be like that sensible person who builds his house on rock, the firm foundation that is Christ with the vision of Christ also the vision of our own life, a life built on truth and love.

As Gandhi said, you have to dig one deep well, not many shallow ones.

By their fruits

Mt 7:15-20

Our reading contains a warning which must have been very relevant in the early Church but has not lost its meaning in our own day.

Prophets who are wolves in sheep’s clothing. On the outside, they seem to have the image of Jesus, his gentleness and love, but in fact they are religious predators, using people for their own ends. There have been unfortunate examples of this in some so-called evangelists who, in the name of the Lord Jesus, ripped off countless numbers of trusting people, many of them elderly and not well off, by making them pledge large sums money they could not afford.

How can you recognise them? By their ‘fruits’, by the way they behave and not just by what they say or the claims they make. It is not that difficult to separate the genuine from the false. As Jesus says, it is not possible for a bad tree to consistently produce good fruit nor for a genuinely good tree to produce bad fruit. Very often we have to admit that we try to make a good impression on people and we often try to hide from others what we believe to be our weaknesses.

Integrity and transparency are precious qualities to be found in any person and they are not easy to achieve. Most of us wear masks of some kind. Most of us can identify with the title of John Powell’s book – ‘Why Am I Afraid To Tell You Who I Am?’ In fact, people can often identify more easily with a person whose faults are admitted. They feel that they are dealing with the real person and not a phoney. This can apply very much to pastors and other religious leaders.

Jesus is calling on us today to be really genuine people. Take care of the inside and the outside will take care of itself.

Take Courage

The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage. For just as you have borne witness to my cause in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness in Rome.”

We are now coming to the end of the Third Missionary Journey of St Paul. Events are moving very fast as we have to finish the Acts in the next three days! And a great deal is happening, much of which will have to be passed over. It might be a very good idea to take up a New Testament and read the full text of the last eight chapters of the book.

As we begin today’s reading let us be filled in a little on what has happened between yesterday’s reading and today’s. After bidding a tearful farewell to his fellow-Christians in Ephesus, Paul began his journey back to Palestine, making a number of brief stops on the way – Cos, Rhodes, Patara. They by-passed Cyprus and landed at Tyre in Phoenicia. They stayed there for a week, during which time the brethren begged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. They knew there would be trouble. But there was no turning back for Paul and again there was an emotional parting on the beach.

As Paul moved south, there were stops at Ptolemais where they greeted the community. Then it was on to Caesarea where Paul stayed in the house of Philip, the deacon, now called an ‘evangelist’. (Earlier we saw him do great evangelising work in Samaria and he was the one who converted the Ethiopian eunuch.) Here too there was an experience in which Paul was warned by a prophet in the community of coming suffering. Again they all begged him not to go on but he replied: “I am prepared not only to be bound but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” They then accepted God’s will and let him go.

When they arrived in Jerusalem they received a warm welcome from the community there. However, as the seven days stipulated were coming to an end, Paul was spotted by some Jews who had known him in Ephesus. A mob rushed into the temple and seized him, and might have harmed him, if the Roman commander had not seen the riot. He rescued Paul, then arrested him and put him in chains and thus out of the reach of those wanting to harm him.

It was only after the arrest that the commander realised the Greek-speaking Paul was not an Egyptian rebel. Paul then asked to be allowed to address the crowd and, in a longish speech, told the assembled Jews the story of his conversion on the road to Damascus. At the end of the speech, the crowd bayed for his blood and Paul was about to be flogged in order to find out why the Jews wanted him executed. At this point, Paul revealed to the centurion that he was a Roman citizen and that, unlike the garrison commander who had bought his citizenship, he had been born one. This created great alarm among his captors and he was released.

Paul’s freedom of movement, however, didn’t last long. The Roman commander then ordered a meeting of the Sanhedrin to be convened so that Paul could address them. While those of the high priestly line were mainly Sadducees, the Sanhedrin also now included quite a number of Pharisees. Their approval was needed, however, in cases of capital punishment (as happened in the case of Jesus).

He began by telling them that everything he had done was with a perfectly clear conscience. On hearing this, the high priest Ananias ordered that Paul be struck in the mouth. Paul hit back – verbally. “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall.” He said this because, although Ananias was supposedly sitting in judgement according to the Law, he was breaking the law by striking the accused. Josephus the Jewish historian tells us that Ananias was actually assassinated in AD 66 at the beginning of the First Jewish Revolt. When Paul is accused of reviling the high priest, he said he did not realise Ananias was the high priest and apologised.

It is at this point in today’s reading that one of the most dramatic scenes in the Acts, begins. Paul knew his audience. He professed loudly and with pride that he was a Pharisee, knowing that his audience consisted of both Pharisees and Sadducees. Addressing his words specially to the Pharisees, he said that he was on trial because “our hope is in the resurrection of the dead.” That was not quite the whole story, of course, as he made no mention of Christ but it immediately put him on the side of his fellow-Pharisees.

His words on resurrection immediately diverted attention from him to this contentious dividing point between the Pharisees and the Sadducees. All of a sudden the Pharisees make an about-turn: “We do not find this man guilty of any crime.” A brawl ensued. It got so serious that the tribune, fearing Paul would be torn to pieces, came to his rescue and put him back in the fortress.

That night Paul received a vision in which he was assured that he would be protected in Jerusalem because it was the Lord’s wish that he give witness to the Gospel in Rome. The Lord appeared to him and assured him at night (when everything was dark) said: “Take courage! I will be with you!” It is a promise given not only to Paul but to all of us as well: “I will be with you always.” This divine assurance should help us to be the master of all tensions and events, rather than their victim. God’s support is always there for us.

We need to bear witness to the resurrection of the Lord, and hope in the resurrection of the dead. That is, we need to testify that God is completely alive and fully incarnate in our physical world, and that nothing is possible without Him. That following Him, imitating Him is our only joy and happiness.

Generosity of Heart

For our first reading, we have the last part of St Paul’s farewell speech to the church elders of Ephesus. Paul gives us a glimpse into his own personal dynamic. His imitation of Jesus Christ is the key to his life. In all he does he is led by the remembrance of the life and the words of Jesus.

He quotes Jesus’ words, “Happiness lies more in giving than in receiving.” (Another translation: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”) This beautiful saying of Jesus is not found in the gospels, but only here in the Acts of the Apostles. We can see how this saying has influenced St Paul’s life—giving himself and his life totally to others.

The goodness and happiness within a person is manifested by one’s generosity of heart. The more one is able to give her life, her time and talents to others, then that person is generous, good, kind, etc.

But grabbing, taking advantage of others and their goodness is very common in our societies. Selfishness and self-centredness have become a way of life in this world. From politics to religion, a life of selfishness is seen to be unfortunately common. Comfort-seeking and self-glorification have become common even in the church circles. The name of business is nothing but profit-making.

An infant is born into this world with closed-fists. But as it grows it needs to open up its fists, in an act of giving itself more and more. It is a movement from selfishness and egoism to true generosity and goodness of heart. All our successes, achievements and wealth cannot contribute to our growth, unless we are able to give, to contribute, and to share.

“There is more happiness in giving than in receiving.” To follow Jesus we need a big heart and mind. We need to give more and more, and perhaps become poorer in terms of worldly riches. Christian life therefore is a life of sacrifice. But it is a life, inspired by the Spirit and led by the Spirit. Which means, it is an inner process of being vivified by the same Spirit that enlivened Paul and other disciples.

Jesus’ Way

Acts 20:17-27. John 17:1-11.

“And now you see me on my way to Jerusalem in captivity to the Spirit....”

At the end of his life with Jesus Christ, Paul decides to go to Jerusalem. He says: “Compelled by the Holy Spirit I am going to Jerusalem.” Paul feels that the Holy Spirit is asking him to go to Jerusalem. He also knows that the Holy Spirit is warning him that if he goes to Jerusalem he will be arrested. He is going Jesus’ way. Jesus, too, knew that he had to go to Jerusalem and that he would be arrested there. Jesus’ disciples asked Jesus not to go. Paul’s friends do the same (Acts 21:12).

Paul’s story follows the pattern of Jesus’ story. The journey to Jerusalem is the final one. Jesus and Paul both began their journeys reaching into their inner self. Jesus did that before he came out of Nazareth and while he was in the desert after being baptized by John the Baptizer. Saul did it when, being struck by the Lord at Damascus, he turned into the Paul we know. Both Jesus and Paul then continued their journey through life, reaching out to the people they met around them. And both Jesus and Paul decided that going to Jerusalem would be the final part of their journey, bringing all they had experienced and rallying all those they had met. All his life, Jesus was on an inner journey, an outer journey, and a centering journey. So was Paul, following the way of Jesus.

If we are faithful in the world in which we live, our story will be like Jesus’ and Paul’s, though not necessarily as dramatic as theirs, but certainly just as real as theirs. Any time we enter into ourselves in prayer we will discover that we are called to reach out and bring the whole world with all its people together in the Lord. This is the way Jesus went, and Paul, and all those who lived the Way before us.

The Spirit is inviting us and challenging us today!

Fulfillment of God’s Promise

Jesus said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.”

The celebration of Ascension can evoke some strangeness within us. Jesus goes away to heaven, and why is this cause for a celebration, and not sadness? Isn’t Jesus going to be absent, then?

No, Jesus is not going to be absent. But he is going to be present in a new way: more powerful than before. Technically, he is not going away, but he will be present in a concrete, precise way. Jesus will be present in the Eucharist, the memorial-meal that he had instituted before he suffered and died. He is going to be present in and as the Word of God. He will be present in those people, even if they are two or three, who are gathered in his name. Jesus will be present in the Church, he being the Head and the Church being the Body of Christ. He will be present in and through His Spirit. Jesus’ presence is not going to be restricted to Israel, but opened up to the whole universe. (Historical becomes trans-historical. Particular becomes universal.)

Therefore, the ascension is not about absence but a celebration of the new presence of Jesus. The fullness of his Godhead is revealed in today’s solemnity. He is going to be seated at the right hand of the Father, that is, he is God from ever, for ever—revealed and manifested fully in the Paschal Mystery of his Passion, Death, Resurrection, Ascension and the Pentecostal outpouring—and its culmination will be experienced in the Second Coming of Jesus.

So, when will be experiencing his glorious and visible “Coming” of Jesus? Will it be end of history? Will it be the end of the world and the universe? God the Father is in charge of times and seasons. As Jesus instructs, it is not for us to know the times or dates the Father has set by His own authority. We wait. We allow God to have His way. It is not upto us, but it is all upto Him.

How to live ascension in our daily lives?

When we meet with suffering or misfortune, we don’t give up hope. Sometimes we could become dejected based on factors we cannot control: the destructive choices of a spouse or child, the state of the economy or politics and its effect on our lives. But we don’t give up hope. We know that life will be restored to us, in one way or another. This is ascension in our lives.

And we go about like Jesus, making very convincing signs of new life within us. We plant seeds and hope they will grow. We take off the clothing of mourning and put on a fresh shirt, get a haircut or do a facial. We gather with friends whom we have put off visiting when we were beset with sadness. We reach out to offer our help, after so long being on the receiving end of sympathy. When new life comes to us, it is unmistakable and uplifting to everyone around us. It is an ascension of body and spirit. This is the fulfillment of God’s promise. As we live our hope, we will surely see that God’s promise is already being fulfilled.

“In the time after his suffering Jesus showed them in many convincing ways that he was alive.” Let us try this. Let us also show that Jesus is alive in our lives.