Giving is Divine!

The twelve tribes saw the importance of priesthood and the centrality of the Temple. The Levite tribe had to take up the important duty of being priests and safeguard the vicinity of the Temple. Priesthood and the Temple have always been the responsibility of the people, the 12 tribes put together. Thus from the beginning it is people’s responsibility. Tithes, taxes, gifts and donations are part of and parcel of Churches around the world. Starting from the Peter’s Basilica in Rome to the smallest mission churches in Africa has been built with people’s money.

I remember celebrating mass in a remote village in India where people brought tube lights as offering and I could see their names all over the tube lights where the light is hardly coming out of the tubes. Writing the name of the donor on the gifts is a popular practice in all donating circumstances. Why do we do that? Is it because we want people to know where the gift comes from? There are priests who put their names into anything and everything they build. I remember Father Malcolm Fyfe building Indian Union from the scratch never left his name onto anything that he did.

The similarity between the two widows is of generosity. They were in absolute poverty and their love for the other dominated their need to survive. Widows’ life is not an easy one. Many think they are like any other people. Not many have a clue what is to be without a husband, without a wife. It brings along a great lesson on how to be without the number 1 and also how to be with God who should have been the number 1 from the very beginning. These widows have made those shifts from the vulnerability of the people to the stronghold of God.

Jews believed in wealth as a blessing from God but Jesus advocated poverty as the best means to save riches in heaven. Buddha talked about desires. Francis of Assisi revealed to us the importance of poverty. The reason for their shift is the strong conviction as to what is priceless and what is of less value and what is worthless. It is often not clear when we live among comforts, pleasures and intense happiness but gets clear when we are prepare ourselves to see beyond these. The objective for our gifts should never be anything in return. People expect love, respect, name, fame, recognition, power and also a sense of accomplishment whenever we present a gift to someone. These expectations are rewards from people. On the other hand as Christians we expect reward from God and God only.

As religious we take the vow of Poverty. All our belongings and possessions belong to the society. Our will is made in our early days of profession. If the vow of poverty brings in just a sense of purity and holiness to the life of the member, that is a mediocre profession. The vow of poverty necessarily includes others as much as it includes the self and God. Every professed member takes the vow of poverty to make others rich. Purity and holiness also are points of interest for others to judge, whereas ‘making others rich’ is a great way to exercise our spirit of generosity. In this way we share God’s own generosity since God gave us his own image and likeness and God gave us everything in and through the Son, Jesus. God gives gives and forgives; we get, get and forget. Taking is human and giving is divine. What do you want to give? Why do you want to give?

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Saint-making is God’s doing!

Coming from a rich religious background, I always wanted to be a saint. I put in a lot of time in learning, studying, reading the lives of the saints and that had a great impact on my personal life. There was a fervent desire in me that I will be a saint one day and I need to work toward it. Along with the desire, I also had the urgency. I would spend hours of my sleeping time before the tabernacle, expecting that God would talk to me one day face to face like he did to many saints. I would try to inflict pain on me voluntarily thinking that self-mortification was a sure way to sanctification. It took me years to accept and appreciate that saint-making is God’s doing and not our own accomplishment.

The Church rules regarding canonization was promulgated on Jan 25, 1983 and was made public only on Sep 12, 1997. To begin the process, the person should have been dead for at least 5 years. The Bishop of the diocese is responsible for beginning the investigation by forming a diocesan tribunal for this purpose. Witnesses are called before the tribunal to look at his/her theological virtues: faith, hope and charity and also Cardinal virtues of prudence, justice, temperance and fortitude. He/she gets the title Servant of God by now. These documents are sent to Rome (Congregation for the Causes of Saints). The Postulator in Rome prepares a summary and 9 theologians examine the possibilities and vote followed by the examination of cardinals and bishops who are the members of the office. If the judgment is favorable, the prefect presents the result to the Holy Father to approve and draft a relative decree. For the beatification a miracle should be attributed to the servant of God and is proven through the appropriate canonical investigation (another decree) – title of Blessed. For Canonization, another miracle is needed. Title of Saint.

We need to understand it is only the Catholic view of the sainthood of humanity. Abraham, Moses, Jacob were all called the Patriarchs. They were Jews. Were they saints? Gautama Buddha, Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King and all other extraordinary men and women of other religion who lived holy lives – were they saints? We may have about 10000 saints in our Church. Church is human indeed that it is limited in many ways to identify and appreciate simple, ordinary people who day in and day out lead holy life, yet remain hidden. Our Church remembers all those men and women who have died living this kind of life. Our church celebrates with joy the living saints who model their lives on Christ. Holiness belongs to God. As saints we share the Holiness of God.

If we are look at saints, we should as well look the sinners. If you know that your doctor got only 35% in medical examinations, would you continue to get treatment from him? He/she literally does not know 65%. If you know a certain country is infested with swine flu or water contamination is over 80%, would you mind taking a trip there for vacation? Can a failed lawyer, failed businessperson, a failed spiritual leader ever approached for help in respective fields? Church the universal sacrament of salvation has no saving effect if we don’t cooperate. Church we claim ‘one, holy’ and yet holiness is locked in tabernacle and our tongues don’t feel real presence of God. Perfection is interpreted as mechanics and is aimed at secluded elite group. Transformation is what we need.

Look at the things that are reserved for other religions: Muslims don’t eat pork, Hindus don’t eat beef and only Catholics eat, drink and do everything. Is there anything we can tell the world honestly, “we Catholics don’t do that” and it is against our faith? What are the honest steps we take towards being holy? How many here wants to be remembered as a saintly man or woman when he/she dies? What do you want your own children to remember you for? Oscar Wilde says, "The only difference between the saint and the sinner is that every saint has a past, and every sinner has a future." One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.

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Challenges of Priesthood!

Almost all religion has the concept of priesthood as someone who acts as a bridge between God and people. These priests are respected, revered as model human beings and are always held in high esteem. Traditionally ‘priesthood’ is seen as an essential element in the nature and life of the church and we believe that it is a gift and a mystery and that no individual can claim a ‘right’ to be ordained a priest.

Priesthood in Catholicism is posed with lots of challenges. Priests who were busy preparing people are seen preparing for their retirement and social security. Many dioceses have to take up special collection for the retired priests. Priests who played with kids, seen around with kids, lover of kids now ‘have to be careful’ abiding by the rules of church & society. Diocesan funds are exhausted for law-suits in some places. Priests who were into the lives of people so intimately, fashioned as family guys with hundreds of moms, dads, brothers and sisters are seen living in isolation. Some people are convinced the call should be made to a priest 5 min before the death of a person. Children seldom have a clue on priests and their life-style. Youths are busy with iPhone or Facebook when it comes to vocation to priesthood. Parents have enough problems in families, resulting in forgetting the names of priests who serve them. Media has a lot of fun with this group in all possible ways. Now, what can be done?

We all collectively form the body of Christ and priests have to come from you, from these pews. Every Christian should avail himself/herself in reflecting on the importance of the servanthood of priests. Indifference is also a major influence in deleting the sign of priesthood in our families & societies. A priest is set to do 3 things: witness to the Word, sanctification through sacramental celebration, and exercising pastoral leadership. People are directly involved in all those areas of ministry. As sharers of the common priesthood, people contribute to the make-up of every priest. Priests need love and friendship, appreciation, care and respect for his personality. Jesus did not fool anyone when he said, “Those who left their father, mother … I will give them 100 fold.”

In the Gospel we hear the poor blind man calling out. It is bad enough to be poor let alone being blind! Not many would reflect on his long struggle with his poverty and blindness. What hope did he have? Did he think of committing suicide? What sort of self-esteem he had? How did he see the human dignity? What was his meaning in life? He knew where to go and what to ask. The whole church collectively asks God. God knows our struggles that people need direction, people need God and people need priests.

A priest filled with love and prayer, filled with happiness in heart radiated through smile, filled with a Charism to serve and minister to the needy and all other add-ons that the faithful like to witness in a priest are very much related to people and their support. If one or more in this list is missing – that too is very much related to people. Every priest is given a mission to accompany the growth of families. Every effort of a priest is targeted towards families. No pew is hidden from the altar.

Those pews will be anointed by the altar now.

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Jealousy

The difference between envy and jealousy is one of possession and ownership: Jealousy creates a resentful suspicion but envy is often a desire for or a feeling of ill will over someone’s success or advantages. Envy is a pain (Aristotle) or it aims at destroying other’s good fortune (Kant). But jealousy involves three persons: the subject, the rival and the beloved and the jealous person's real locus of concern is the beloved—the person whose affection he is losing or fears losing—not his rival. That is the real difference that the envier’s real concern is the rival.

Jealousy is not a new concept to humanity. Right from the start of Greek civilization, it has been the underlying factor and a great concern too. Hera the wife of Zeus revealed her jealousy whenever Zeus showed some interest in other gods like Leto, Callisto, Lo and Lamia. Judaism had to deal with it from the moment monotheism became the part and parcel of their life. The Shema and the Ten Commandments reveal the Jealous God and a vulnerable people who give into jealousy. Christianity has some strong lessons on jealousy in the NT: For where jealousy and selfish ambition are, there is confusion and every evil deed. (James 3:14-16). St. Paul talks about the works of the flesh in Galatians (jealousies).

The main concern among the leaders of the church is that jealousy brings in inconsistency in our faith. It certainly is contrary to the Golden Rule of Jesus and incompatible with the faith we profess in. Both the 1st reading and the gospel reading reveal the paranoid disciplines of people who wanted to ‘safeguard’ the boundaries of the church. It was impossible for Ancient Greek rulers and philosophers and also the Egyptians to understand and appreciate the One True God of the Jews; yet Cyrus, the king of Persia was referred to as a Messiah by the Jews. Romans had power and intelligence yet a soldier came to Jesus and professed faith in a Jew called Jesus.

Tax collectors, prostitutes, murderer Paul and political extremist Simon the Zealot were are welcomed into the heart of Jesus. Outsiders like the Samaritans, Romans were considered heroes in the language of Jesus. Jesus refused to live by the divisions and barriers of one's own race, one's own religious institution, one's own political party. When the disciples wanted exclusive claims he challenged them. "Do not stop him . . . Whoever is not against us is for us." God can never be a reference point of separation, anarchy or war since God is the point of Unity and peace.

Jealousy is the cause of many breakups of relationships down through the centuries. Experts say the negative effects of Jealousy are often Paranoia (checking on you every time, checking cell phones etc.), Fighting (lack of trust, leading to anger and aggression), inaccurate accusations and ultimately the Break-ups. It is essential that every married ring carries a tremendous amount of love and trust the every time you see it, it should increase your married love with one another and God. Children need to witness that unity and trust of the parents every time they see the parents together. Every Christian has the responsibility to work towards unity and peace and avoid jealousy overtaking us.

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Ephphatha is not just a physical healing!

Hearing and speaking are God’s great gifts. Allen Peace in his book “Talk Language” and later on an interview in 2004 for CNN states that women can speak 20,000 to 24,000 words a day versus man’s top end of 7,000 to 10,000. Words range from swearing to lying, best to worst and life to death. The world has taught us how to talk in public and in private. Our daily greetings, our exchange of love, our worship, our struggles and happiness, our fears and anxieties are all translated by words, sponsored and hijacked sometimes blackmailed. Without words, we are hardly connected, unable to form societies. The apes got together to groom themselves and we go together to spread ideas that are good and bad to groom ourselves. As a result we have thousands of languages: the product of rumor and gossip!!!

Last year the movie ‘Doubt’ drew a lot of attention to people like me. What fascinated me in that movie was the story of the pastor in one of his homilies on gossip and rumor. The feathers that went out from our windows can’t be collected back! The disciple couldn’t wait to tell the master the rumor he had heard in the marketplace. ‘Wait a minute’, said the master. ‘What you plan to tell us, is it true?’ ‘I don’t think it is.’ ‘Is it useful? ‘No, it isn’t’ ‘Is it funny?’ ‘No’. “Then why should we be hearing it?”(Anthony De Mello, One minute wisdom).

Rumor is a piece of information or a story that has not been verified. Gossip is small talk often termed juicy, ie, it deals with subjects that are shocking or personal. Some people slander in order to purposely cause pain or damage someone’s reputation. Rumors could involve the threat of physical danger. Jokes and wild stories help them get shapes. Why do people do it? To feel superior, to feel like part of the group, for attention, for control or power, out of jealousy or revenge or sometimes even out of boredom. It can be a form of exclusion, can destroy trust and could lead us to make bad choices in life.

Church from the beginning had a high moral standard. The 8th Commandment: ‘You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor’ brings along the aspect of loving our neighbor like the Good Samaritan. The CCC 2464 teaches us that “The eighth commandment forbids misrepresenting the truth in our relations with others. This moral prescription flows from the vocation of the holy people to bear witness to their God who is the truth and wills the truth. Offenses against the truth express by word or deed a refusal to commit oneself to moral uprightness: they are fundamental infidelities to God and, in this sense, they undermine the foundations of the covenant.” Also CCC 2479, “Detraction and calumny destroy the reputation and honor of one's neighbor. Honor is the social witness given to human dignity, and everyone enjoys a natural right to the honor of his name and reputation and to respect. Thus, detraction and calumny offend against the virtues of justice and charity.”

The 1st reading talks about the great things that happen in the presence of the Lord. The 2nd reading reassures us that our language should be different from the language of the world. We have a different standard. The command of Jesus in the gospel ‘Ephphatha! Be opened is not just a physical healing. In the presence of Jesus we learn how to talk and listen like people of God. When we talk to and about others, this commandment echoes in us. We open our hearts and souls as well when we talk. We are Christians in words and deeds. We are not meant to be deaf or dumb. In the presence of God, we are recreated every time so that we speak what God tells us to speak. Do you feel that you have been healed? Or are you happy being dumb and deaf, spreading rumors about innocent people!

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Washing our hands!

Food is an essential part of our living. “Nothing would be more tiresome than eating and drinking if God had not made them a pleasure as well as a necessity” said Voltaire. We have never made it until we have our own salad dressing, until then we’re stuck behind the French, Italian and Russians. All religion has dietary codes for the believers. The Jews have Kosher Laws that prohibits people from eating pigs, camels and those that chew the cud and divide the hoof (Lev 11:4). It rejects more than 35 different animals and birds – in modern language they are about 60 or more. Islamic Halaal laws prohibit all dead meat, swine. Al-Maidah 5:3 states that all food, “that on which have been invoked the name of other than Allah, that which hath been killed by strangling, violent blow, headlong fall, or being gored to death, has been eaten by a wild animal…”

Hinduism traditionally held a rigorous approach following the Dharmasastras (Hindu religious & legal codes). The rules they believe enlighten their approach to mental, physical and spiritual health. Food comes in three categories: Satvic (that which is considered ideal – Vegetarianism) thus following the teachings of Bhagavad Gita 17:8 “It creates a pure, peaceful and balanced mind.” Rajasic (stimulates and excites the passions). It produces disease, pain and grief. Beef and all carnivorous birds are forbidden. Third category is Tamasic: tasteless, stale, decaying, rotten, cooked overnight – Alcohol.

Christians follow the same tradition as the Jews and Muslims. From the time of Jerusalem Council in Act 15, we were allowed to have our own identity. Noah accepted the unclean animals in the ark along with the clean animals. The Jews were given ravens in the wilderness. Peter was asked to eat wild meat as all things are good and created good. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer."1 Tim 4:5.

Jesus did not come to change the Law; rather enlighten us for what the Law was originally intended. A gift, money, car keys or anything for that matter in my culture given in left hand is not accepted and sometimes insulting. My superior in my seminary days always told me ‘a clean desk is a clean mind.’ These customs and traditions though are not central to life and practice of our religion, they help us to better our focus and attention. Texting can be a psychological illness, prevents our ability to drive or pay attention to our surrounding.

Our ‘clean’ food and instructions of purification should result in our ability to see God and love neighbor. It will be foolish to have all clean food and clean habits yet missing God amidst all that hassle. Who worries about making an apple pie that her son loves when the son is dead! Purity has a say in our faith formation only when it takes us close to God. Demand on purity as an imposition on account of selfishness, pride, arrogance will only result in chaos and confusion.

Moral evolution and scientific research must go hand in hand, writes our Pope, and that Charity must animate them in a harmonious interdisciplinary whole, marked by unity and distinction. (Caritas in Veritate, No. 31)What we see is just the opposite: we have reached the zenith of scientific research and our moral evolution has been buried deep and rotting. What goes inside is the body and blood of our Lord, thus every Christian is given the responsibility to bring out Christ in all that we do and say. When Jesus washed the feet of the disciples we know the value of that washing. When Pilate washed his hands, we know what that meant! Have you washed your hands?

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The Abandoned!

Many atheists believe that Christianity is based on fear, dishonesty and it preys on the innocent and is extremely egocentric. Some even talk about Christianity that breeds authoritarianism, is anti-intellectual and anti-scientific thus it is cruel. There have been more attacks on Christianity compared to the attacks on all the religions put together, both physically and intellectually down through the centuries. Nearly every decade witnesses a controversy on Christianity, especially the Catholic Church. Almost all of the controversies only strengthens and consolidates the faith of Catholics. Catholicism is one of the most professional, balanced and the most complete revelation of God to people.

Instead of talking about the outsiders, it is important to talk about who comprises the people of God. St. Peter gives us the hint as to the qualities of the people of God. 1. The people of God have a conviction as who is God and who is not! False beliefs and rash conclusions have made us grownup teenagers who operate their world by instincts rather than by wisdom.

Nasaruddin earned his living selling eggs. Someone came to his shop one day and said, “Guess what I have in my hand.” “Give me a clue,” said Nasaruddin. “I shall give you several: It has the shape of an egg, the size of an egg. It looks like an egg, tastes like an egg, and smells like an egg. Inside it is yellow and white. It is liquid before it is cooked, becomes thick when heated. It was, moreover, laid by a hen.” “Aha! I know!” said Nasaruddin. “It is some sort of cake!” (De Mello, The Song of the Bird, P 58). This conviction is not a sure guarantee that we will live happy hereafter, rather a constant effort to purify ourselves by the body and blood of Christ and also clearing our minds by the study of Scriptures. The Jews in the first reading were not absolutely free from serving other gods, nor those who abandoned Jesus.

2. The people of God are called to life. All were given freedom to choose between life and death. Every time we sin, we choose death and every time we do good we choose life. Jesus, when asking the disciples, “Do you also want to leave?” makes it clear that we all have freedom and nothing is imposed. It is the way God created us. Life is choices. Love, anger, fear and courage are all life-choices. “Sometimes we choose the best-version-of-ourselves, and sometimes, we choose a –second-rate-version-of-ourselves. Our choices echo throughout our lives, and into history and on and on into eternity.” (Matthew Kelly, The Rhythm of Life, p 4).

3. We all have answered and said, “No we don’t want to leave, we will stay.” Now we have to be clear in answering this question. We stay here for a purpose. We are not in a limbo or purgatory here, temporary stay. “I will check out what Christianity and Christ is all about”, “I am here for my wife or my kids or for my parents.” Most often we guess. Marriage has been pushed down from the status of a Sacrament to a guess work in our modern world. Religion and spirituality who gave us meaning to our lives and morality have been reduced into a recycling bin. Bible-in-the basement is the trend. If we are to stay we need to ask: Am I ready to stop serving other gods? My selfishness, my ego, my arrogance, my pride and my small-mindedness. Now that I m sure who I serve, I ask, “Am I ready to serve God with all my heart, my mind and soul?” How? Or is it easy to answer the previous question, “Do you also want to leave?”

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Humility is a forgotten virtue!

Once I was travelling in Europe and I asked my friend “what is so special about your country?” and he said in reply, “Food”. It is hard to come up with anything worthwhile apart from infra-structures, the haves and have not’s when talking about countries. We all are proud of our country. The road-system in USA is the best that I have seen anywhere in the world! The educational policy is the most expensive compared to any other country. But who are we? What do others think of us? How do we project ourselves to us and others? “Americans who travel abroad for the 1st time are often shocked to discover that, despite all the progress that has been made in the last 30 years, many foreign people still speak in foreign languages” (Dave Barry) or is it true that “When good Americans die they go to Paris” (Oscar Wilde).

Humility is the forgotten virtue in most societies in our modern world. In the 1st reading today, we heard about Wisdom drawing all the simple people. The simple always enjoy the fruits of wisdom. The meat and wine are not the ordinary meal of the people, they symbolize a feast. Tagore, the poet who wrote the Indian national anthem, once said, ‘We come nearest to the great when we are in great humility’.

Many of us think that intelligence is wisdom or intelligence is the by-product of wisdom. Though intelligence gives us the ability to share what we know in different formats, Wisdom is the holistic ability to grasp knowledge that is valuable to our lives. This is what the Upanishads call Vidya. Vidya is the knowledge of the Brahman. In other words, those who possess wisdom speak the language of God. Avidya the ignorance takes us away from the light and we are termed ignorant. We just have the intellectual capacity to read and write.

The past three Sundays have brought in the concept of bread and Jesus being our flesh. In John’s Gospel this theme is very central to the teachings of Jesus. In the Prologue of John, we hear that the Word was made flesh. What would we say when asked, ‘why?’ Why was the Word made flesh? The Word was made flesh so that we may have life and that life in fullness. God spoke through his Son Jesus (Heb 1:1). Think of a world where the Word still remains Word. Think of the Wisdom that never called us to come and dine! Think of a God who never came in search of us!

The Greek word ‘to eat’ here has a real urgency and munching connotation. It is urgent that we eat this flesh in order to live. It is not a casual breakfast that we eat after mass or funnel cake after a meal! Have you ever experienced real hunger or real thirst? Have you seen anyone who eats when hungry or drinks when thirsty? Why? It is the issue of life and death. My body needs it. In the same way our life needs this food.

The Word became flesh. It is not right now to say ‘let us make this flesh words, words, words. That’s what we do when we are so filled with pride and arrogance. Word becoming flesh is the humility of God in action. Take this, eat and drink – God’s humility in action that is remembered day after day. If the all powerful El Shaddai, the God of the universe could come to our heart in a thin, round unleavened wafer, why do we blind others of our pride and arrogance and pretend to be someone we are not? Christians who eat that flesh necessarily live out that humility by clearly witnessing the primacy of God in our lives. Humility is a solid foundation to all our virtues (Confucius). Let us pray that we witness God’s humility in all our words and actions. Amen.

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God is for us!

There is an old Hindu story told of a monk who was set out to journey a long distance. He had a small bag with him to carry basic things. When the evening fell, the monk decided to rest in an inn on the way. A thief also stayed in the same inn. The thief noticed the monk had a bag with him and in that bag there is a big diamond. He tried to steal the diamond that night. The monk realized the intention of the thief and called him near and readily gave the diamond to the thief. The thief took the diamond and ran off. After a few days, the thief realized that he made a mistake. He searched for the monk and asked him one more thing: “Dear monk! I don’t want this diamond anymore, but please give me your generous heart.”

Most often we don’t ask questions like: What is the purpose of my life? We all want to live. This want is most often selfish in many ways. A survey tells us that nearly 68% men work more than 40 hours a week. 62% work on weekends. The demands are such that we have to struggle to get both our ends meet. I can’t attend mass because I don’t get what I want here. If God can offer 30 or 40 dollars a mass I will readily come for the mass. The book A Nation of Wimps states that “Using the classic benchmarks of adulthood – leaving home, finishing school, getting a job, getting married, and having children – it has been found that 65% of males had reached adulthood by the age of 30 in 1960. By contrast, in 2000, only 31% had. Most self-help books teach us to live for ‘myself’ and ‘my success.’ Christians are not formed that way. If happiness if our goal, where do we find it?

Will you be happier if you make more money? Researches show that people in rich countries are not happier than those in poorer ones. No significant difference can be found between the happiness of the millionaires on the Forbes list with the Maasai herdsmen in East Africa. “The Annual poll by the University of CA and the American Council on Education found that entering freshmen rated becoming “very well off financially” first on a list of 19 goals, ahead of choices such as helping others, raising a family or becoming proficient in an academic pursuit” (Alison Grant for SunHerald.com)

Since every family is different it is good to ask what kind of family do we really want to be? What do we want to be remembered by? It is not enough for Christians to know you by your name. The people who murmured against Jesus did not know anything about Jesus except his parents’ name. Jesus opens his heart and reveals them who he really is. That is possible only in intimacy and love. Every bishop and priest takes on the responsibility with a mission statement. My ordination card carried my mission statement as “Through Him, with Him and in Him” all my days. Since we are all made for a mission to love, every family should sit together and spend some time on its own mission statement.

The celebration of the Eucharist witnesses the opening of the Tabernacle. Every consecration clearly states Jesus telling us “Take and eat; take and drink”. In the same way the Christians participate in opening our own tabernacles – our hearts to God and others. Every encounter with God necessarily makes us generous with love and compassion. If Christ can give his body and blood to the whole world, we can give our love at least to a few.

Someone said, God writes a lot of comedy… the trouble is, he is stuck with many bad actors who don’t know how to play funny. Our tabernacles are locked for a very long time. The locks are rusted and we have lost the keys to open them. The purpose of our existence is to live God and love God and others. We are created for a single purpose – to love. Every intake of the bread of life nourishes the love within us.

For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him. (Col 1:16) Let us pray that we find our life’s worth in Him and continue to live for God since God lives for us. Amen.

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Filling and fulfilling

Arthur Ashe, the legendary Wimbledon player was dying of AIDS which he got due to infected blood he received during a heart surgery in 1983. His fan asked: 'Why does GOD have to select you for such a bad disease'? To this Arthur Ashe replied: 'The world over -- 50 million children start playing tennis, 5 million learn to play tennis, 500,000 learn professional tennis, 50,000 come to the circuit, 5000 reach the grand slam, 50 reach Wimbledon, 4 to semi final, 2 to the finals, when I was holding a cup I never asked GOD 'Why me?'. And today in pain I should not be asking GOD 'Why me?'

The parish register tell us that we have about 3600 families: even an average of 3 would take us to 10000. A website gives us a calculation that 52% of the people of Nazareth are Catholics. In truth we can say it is 20%. If we exclude the people who cannot come to the church for health reasons, and with 4 masses each Sunday we should at least have 2500 people in church. The chosen are 250. All hunger is not the same: there is hunger from relief from boredom, hunger for affection, hunger for a way to relieve anger or sadness, a hunger for a way to deal with loneliness or stress or a hunger for stimulation. How many reach semis and finals in experiencing God’s love – a bunch of men in black (church guys) and a few others?

If ‘Christianity is one beggar telling another beggar where he found bread’ (D T Niles), why are there no beggars found here? If Holy Eucharist is the mode of communication, what do we actually communicate to God? Gimme-gimme attitude of us filled and still filling our stomachs. Visits to Holy shrines and pilgrimages are made most often to get something. God help my dog! God help my cat! – these are comparatively more in requests than – Lord! Teach me how to love.

What is filling us? Most often we are like the husband in the movie Fireproof – Dad! Don’t give me lessons on God. A man is given a 40 days lesson to get back his wife. The parasites – the addictions in other things blinds us to see love. God does not need 40 days. Try an act of kindness, a little love shown in listening to our son, daughter or parents or grandparents, a smile that comes from the heart – you are back on. God is a God of small things.

Our bishop in his mission statement includes ‘mission in holiness’. That necessarily brings in our participation. If we are part of Christ’s body, our face should be in the body and blood of Jesus. It is not enough to say Jesus is the bread of life – Our Christian commitment is the ability to proclaim that we are that bread. Our aim is not just filling the stomach; it is fulfilling God’s love. We are what we eat! We become what we eat.

“There is more hunger for love and appreciation in this world than for bread.” (Mother Teresa). Children need to be fed. No parent would say ‘God has given me kids to feed, feed and feed’. As a child my family's menu consisted of two choices: take it or leave it. Children are given too many choices and one of them is God. God is not a choice. God values us. We undervalue God. Here, all kneeling counts, all words are heard and every heart is embraced. I am bread for others just as Jesus is bread for us all.
Amen.
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