We are in the first Sunday of the Lent.
The readings of this Sunday underline the message of the Lent:
orient the life towards the kingdom of God - towards a redeemed and peaceful life in union with God and the created world.
The first reading has the context of the great flood.
We know the world was not free from violence before the flood.
Still God remembers Noah. He is kind enough to save Noah and his children, as they were following the laws of life.
Now after this big catastrophe, which cleansed the earth, Yahweh is making a new covenant with Noah and his children.
And the covenant is not only for human beings, but it includes also the birds, and the various tame and wild animals.
Yes, we can say it embraces the whole universe. The whole living world is included in this promise - beginning from Noah to the present time of ours. It is an eternal covenant and it makes no division on colour or race or language.
God wills no violence but he extends a new era of new relations.
It is a compact and complete pact of peace.
Through this covenant God offers, when the humanity is ready for that, a peaceful life- both spiritual and earthly life...
The Gospel is mainly narrating on the life of Jesus in the Desert and his first proclamation in Galilee. Jesus reminds:" “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the Gospel.".
But the gospel is giving a short hint of a peaceful life Jesus, before his mission starts.
Jesus is not alone in the desert; but we hear that "He was among wild beasts, and the angels ministered to him" and the Satan tested him.
We know it is not easy to live in such a world of rivals and challenges. Still we find Jesus conquering all these problems.
He could even win the evil spirit and his temptations.
This was a good preparation with regard to his public life, where he had to face all kinds of rivals and contras. And he remains the winner not only in the desert and in his mission in Palestine.
The victory of Jesus is not coming to an end here.
The first letter of Peter (second reading of this Sunday) reminds us,
Jesus is the winner over even the death.
He also went to preach to the spirits in prison writes Peter.
Lent is the time of victory. As Jesus won over the powers over him, we too are invited to profit the time of this lent.
This is a "desert time" for us.
This is the time to control our self.
This is the time to control the evil spirits in and around us-
A time to control and lead a serene life.
The extra ordinary message in this Sunday is that it does not avoid a peaceful and responsible behaviour even to the nature. The covenant of Yahweh in Genesis and the life of Jesus in the desert assert this special call in the beginning of this Lenten season. One can achieve a serene life only through in harmony with the Creator and creatures. By facing the difficulties one can learn lessons to conquer the problems in the life.
The Genesis gives Noah a new covenant and the rainbow becomes the sign of this bond. In New Testament Jesus incarnates as the living covenant of God.
He unites man and nature with God the Creator.
He is the new rainbow that connects the heaven with the earth.
The Lent starts with the exhortations of a peaceful union to the nature, as well as to other humans and God.
Let us make use of this time to attain a peaceful relation to our nature, to our fellow beings through these we ultimately reach God.
Let us live a life that can represent the kingdom of God and his covenant.
God bless us all. Amen!
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Fr Thomas Kalathil
To live the Gospel is not so easy.
Many of us may come to this wisdom especially in the Lenten Season when we listen to the readings of this Ash Wednesday.
Many things we do daily practice with certain convictions seems to be not that sure and they may get another meaning in this time.
The words of Jesus in Mk 6, 1-18 is such a concentrated expression of the various practices which Jesus experienced in his time.
Many were accustomed and attuned with these practices and were justified as "Norm" and "normal". But Jesus has another view point on these practices...
He brings his observations in 3 important matters in the Gospel.
"When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites"
"When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites,... so that others may see them"
"When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites..."
These three practices cover the 3 levels of Human life:
Alms giving refer to the financial and social life- by practicing this virtue one declares he is rich enough to do financial helps or he is having a social sympathy towards the poor, directly or indirectly;
Prayer refers to the spiritual life - declares, one practices religious life and has contact to God.
Fasting refers to the physical and consuming life of the humans- says one can control one's desire and physical needs.
Yes, these three human necessities determine the life of a normal human being. But Jesus realizes that in the lives of Israel, an evil is presided over these virtues: That is the Ego - the Self love. Jesus easily figures out it from their life, because all these virtues were done often in front of others... In the Public...only to get human praise and appreciation.
Jesus teaches us that these must be done in the secret.
This is not the virtue to "act". It should not be performed in the street.
Jesus uses the term "street" deliberately, I think.
Street is not a worthy place where one practices his virtues and secrets.
When these practices are "worthy rules" for them,
then they had to choose a worthy place according to the action.
Doing such things in the street, they are degrading the act itself.
These actions turn to be cheap one, which only express their silliness.
May be this teaching is little bit strange for our world, then our modern era is based on quickness. According to the teaching of Jesus, the reward may not come so quick, considering to the acts that are done in the public.
But Jesus gives us an option: we can either get an appreciation of the crowd or the eternal gift from the Heavenly Father.
Prophet Joel's words must guide us in these days. It is not the external matters, but the change of heart's disposition is important. The heart must be touched first. All our other movements must be directed by this changed heart. This should help us to near others friendly, to help others hearty, to pray for others in love, to abstain from physical needs in the resolution of the heart.
As Apostle Paul says in his 2nd letter to Corinthians (6, 2) "it is the right time." Let us make use of the given time of lent. Let us form our hearts and our lives according to the teachings of Jesus.
Let us reduce our egos from our hearts and lives and replace the love of God and Men there. God bless us all through out this Lenten Season. Amen!
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Fr Thomas Kalathil
Like last week, Jesus is performing his wonders through out Galilee. Not only his wonders are special, but their context too. That is why the Gospel passage of this Sunday is inspiring us with following points:
We read in the Gospel "Many gathered together so that there was no longer room for them". This can also be a common line of thought and experience of many; those like to believe in God but have doubt in Him and the in Religions. Especially in their difficult situations God seems to be unapproachable and remote or the religion may not be helping them to reach God. For them religion "is blocking" them to reach God.
Such thoughts are not rare in our time.
For such thoughts, the following part of the Gospel gives an answer.
We will see, the people, who are carrying the paralytic, are not giving up.
They stick on to their faith.
They are taking risks too:
"Unable to get near Jesus because of the crowd, they opened up the roof above him."
It is good that we have a picture of an ordinary house- roof in Palestine at that time. Such roofs were made of leaves, bark, and might also have had wooden beams for more support. To make a hole in the roof of the house is simple, but it can bring issues. It can lead to some quarrels between the house owner and the people who do the "crime". But all these were not a problem for them; they were sure that Jesus will heal the man and will handle the situation. They were also courageous enough to "disturb the teaching-Jesus" and also to take the risk to "open the roof".
Yes, the faith of the assisting people are surpassing and surprising.
Jesus is praising their faith.
The unmovable faith in Jesus is the answer to such people who doubt in God's power. The faith in God also means to take risks based on faith.
They teach us not to give up soon.
Stick on to the faith in Jesus and he will empower you;
He will do wonders for you.
This is something encouraging us. This is the good news for our life.
But the gospel has a sad part too.
Jesus, seeing their faith, forgives the sins of the paralytic.
But for some of the scribes gathered there found it as blasphemy.
They had right too, then only God can forgive sins.
But the real paradox in this scene is, they cannot believe Jesus as God.
They were all gathered before him in order to listen and learn from his life and teachings. But their presence before Jesus is making no changes in them. They remain the same stubborn and closed. They cannot believe in Jesus.
My friends,
it is not our regular visits to church or various prayers that make us faithful and real followers of Jesus. I am not denying them or discouraging you doing them. They are important external matters of the exposure of our faith, which may guide and foster in faith practicing.
If these visits and prayers are not contributing to some basic changes in our life and faith, then we are not better than the scribes at the time of Jesus.
We remain just a "Crowd" before God,
which may block and hinder other believers in reaching God.
Gospel says they "were all astounded and glorified God".
How do we find our faith and God?
Are they something that is sensational only or
helping me to be more faithful and trusting in God?
Am I an obstacle for others or one among the Crowd before God?
There was a German song from Xavier Naidoo: It can be translated so- "What we cannot do alone, let us complete it together". It is not a religious song, but it is an impulse to grow and live together, to support others.
Let us think on our faith.
May the gatherings and prayer life in the church and in the personal life help us to grow together in faith and trust in God.
God bless us all. Amen!
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Fr Thomas Kalathil
When we travel in these days through the streets of Germany, we may notice some interesting posters by "Misereor" - It is their Empowering-Campaign. We come across with some interesting slogans like "Courage is the weapon, to fight with words" or "Courage is to go there, where others flee". Misereor tries to encourage and empower the week through such activities. It is a good work; through them people get their own worth in the society.
I would interpret today's Gospel in this direction.
It is true that Faith and religion are considered by some as the weapon of the weak. But the readings of the day esp. the Gospel is giving another view.
In today's Gospel we meet two people with extra ordinary courage.
One is The Leper and the other is of course Jesus.
The leper was brave because, he breaks the rules for his faith and to be healed. Then it was not allowed for a leper to appear in the society public, because of the cleanliness rituals of the Jews. The first reading is the evidence to that. Through these instructions people were determined to a live closed and often a degraded life. But, the leper in the Gospel had the courage to break the rules. It was not his intention to break them. But his desire to get cured and to have a normal life empowers him to do that. The social isolation was such cruel.
He is brave enough to come forward to Jesus and even to challenge. "If you are willing... then cure me". Is it not a challenge? Yes, God is his nature, do not want some one curse or damn. He has only good wishes for us. Now through this request he is provoking Jesus to the level that Jesus had to do a wonder for this man.
The next courageous man, Jesus, is showing it through his reaction.
Then the law also instructs people to abstain from the contact of such unclean people and objects etc. Who ever comes in to contact such unclean situation, will be also unclean and had to undergo the laws of purification.
But Jesus is not avoiding the presence of this Leper. To the next (extreme) step he is touching the Leper and curing him.
The Gospel teaches us, one is cured or one experience God's will through such courageous acts. The faith is the big factor behind this courage.
Jesus action is not just for the Gospel's sake. It gives us a message for our life. It reminds us how we should act.
It is also a question to the church...a self criticism.
Who is welcomed in the church?
Whom we are looking for in the church?
How much the outcastes are accepted in the church?
Jesus never reserved his kingdom for any special class; it was open for all with a desire to God. It is open for both to rich and poor, sinner and righteous. The only matter he counted was the faith and desire for the divine.
The Psalm tells, "I confess my faults to the LORD," and you took away the guilt of my sin". Yes, this is the only action God asks from any of his follower - to accept the Self and the Divinity of God.
St Paul says in the letter to Corinthians (10, 31-11,1) he wants all may be saved. It is not only the desire of St Paul, but it is the divine will. St Paul as his apostle is continuing this mission, the mission of Jesus, which is the will of God. God wants to keep us pure and clean.
This gospel passage is a reminder for our church and all her ministers.
Jesus wants to share his healing touch in the church.
But unfortunately we have too much barriers. People actually needed to be united, are often divided because of Rite and Traditions and for much more reasons. And this remains as a complicated issue.
As the leper and Jesus, we need courage driven by the faith.
- Courage to touch and communicate with the unclean and outcasts.
- Courage to solve the dilemma.
This is simple to preach. But it needs power - from above.
May our church, be a place where "God speaks with us";
where he can "touch and cure" the needy.
Let us ask the spirit for his courage and light, that we may keep the doors opened for the needy and good seeking. God bless us all! Amen
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Fr Thomas Kalathil
In today's first reading (Job, 7, 1-4.6-7) we are listening to the words of Job. He is declaring the miseries of a man's life. In his address to God Job uses the terms of soldier and slave. Both of these were chosen to serve others and their lives can also be short and defined. Their life depends upon the mercy of others. A soldier must be obedient even unto death, and should never resist his superior. A Hireling has no rest till the day is spent.
Still Job says no soldier or hireling was ever treated so severely as he is.
Yes, the testing of Job's faith in God was painful.
Job has no idea, why he is so punished. Still in this painful life he is not stopping praying for God's Mercy and Peace.
The passage from the book of Job is not giving a clear explanation to the sufferings of Human. But it asks us to remain faithful and just.
But the Psalm (147, 1-6) gives some hope and power. It is a thanksgiving Psalm. The figures "the Lord rebuilds Jerusalem, " he gathers the dispersed of Israel", "Heals the broken-hearted, binds up their wounds, Numbers all the stars, calls each of them by name." - are positive.
This is something rebuilding and encouraging the hope and self respect that were lost. As Job does, the psalmist too acknowledges that
"Great is our Lord, vast in power".
The growth of this Hope and faith is more visible in the second reading (1 Kor 9, 16-19, 22-23) in the words of St. Paul. Claiming one's right is the context of the reading. But Paul exhorts them not to concentrate on their right alone, when it may hurt others. He is giving his own example. He as an Apostle had the right to live from his Preaching Gospel and not to engage in other works. But he considers the preaching of the Gospel more important that any glory and position. He says there is no reason to boast on his preaching, but it is an imposed obligation.
Not preaching the Gospel means wo unto him.
This is not a compulsion from outside - that brings nothing.
But it is a compulsion from the conscience, from inside, from his faith and God experience. It forces him to do Good; to do what is right.
And avoiding conscience is bad then
it is avoiding the chance of doing good work.
Gospel is the good news of God unto us and is not bad.
It is good as the name itself refers.
Proclaiming Gospel means proclaiming good works of God, God's good intention with us. It is the saving message of God for our lives.
Avoiding it is a big lapse.
If Job compares his suffering worse that that of a soldier and a slave, St Paul is happy to preach that "I made myself the servant of all: that I might gain the more".
Yes, it may be an answer to the sufferings and Human beings.
One hast to accept the life with the combination of Charity and free will.
That gives satisfaction in life.
St Paul's life style is charming. He says " To the weak I became weak, to win over the weak. I have become all things to all, to save at least some. All this I do for the sake of the gospel, so that I too may have a share in it."
It is the reflection of today's Gospel (Mk 1, 29-39) and the deeds of Jesus in common. Jesus was one with the human situation.
He was fully there for their needs. It helped him to understand the life of others.
He heals the mother in law of Simon Peter, then in the evening the many who were ill and possessed by the evil spirits.
This says what he was and what he will. It is the love and dedication towards his call and mission. Jesus too had his burdens. To be with a crowd full of various needs and to do Wonder and healings were not so simple. It needs him enormous power and patience. For that he gets up in the early morning and returns to the Divine source in Prayer in the loneliness. He collects his power in the deep relation with his Father in Heaven through his prayer life.
The painful life of Job, the hopeful prayer of the psalmist, the dedicated life of St Paul and the busy life of Jesus - all of them teach us to live for the divine will. Our lives may not be fully revealed to us. Still we should hope for a rebuilding, reinstating Power of God. The duties may appear to us as compulsion and burden, but they elevate our life.
We may feel that there is a scarcity of time in our life for all the good works. But we have also no time to lose. Our life and mission to other people are costly. Jesus showed us what a man can do. We may not be able to do all of them. But we can do our duties with charity and free will.
It will bring us 30, 60 and 100 Percent harvest. God bless us all. Amen!
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Fr Thomas Kalathil
