The attitude of preventing some one's good work is devilish

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

26th Week – Monday

Gospel – Luke 9:46-50

First Reading – Job 1:6-22

 

The attitude of preventing some one's good work is devilish

1) Good work is the property of few

The disciples of Jesus, was of the opinion that, only His disciples could use the name of Jesus and perform good works

Because of this narrow thinking, they Stopped some one who were not belonging to their community, from doing such great good works. 

Their thinking was no narrow and they thought that only His disciples could perform the good works, by using masters name

Jesus corrects their wrong perception and tells them anybody can do the good work 

Thus Jesus declares that good work does not belong to only few persons or to a particular community or to a particular religion 

2) Why the disciples prevented the good work?

There may be various reasons why His disciples prevented the good work 

First of all they were belonging to different community. 

They thought only the disciples of Jesus can use Jesus' name to do good works

May be there were afraid of their popularity

May be others didn't want to do the work, in the name of Jesus 

May be they wanted to become heros and wanted to get milage for their work 

When the good works only concentrates on them, they can control other people and can claim a kind of superiority over others 

May also the issue of power and authority

3) Worldly attitude runs on this principle - Prevent the good work of others

Most of the times we see that many people try to prevent the good works of others

This may be for the sake of selfish interests, desire for power, to show that only we can do good works, to get cheap popularity and to execute the hidden agendas 

There people with vested interests who are only working to prevent the good works of others, in order to control their population

4) At times more time is spent on preventing others good work than doing the good works

This is the strategy followed by some politicians and some political parties 

Much of their energy and resources are spent on preventing others from doing good works 

Neither they do the good work, nor they allow others to do the good works. 

This is done purely for the sake of selfish purposes and to gain the power 

5) How good if all use their energy and resources only to do good work?

Just imagine the amount of money, resources and the time which can be used only for good work by all. 

In the present day context, if the above resources which are used at times for preventing good works, were to be used for the good work by all, the world would turn into heaven within no time 

Only our selfish motives do not allow us to think and act in that way. That is the tragedy of human society.

6) Preventing good works does not help in any way to any one

For the vested interests people may prevent the good works. 

But such a devilish attitude does not help in any either to the doer or to others 

It only deprives the good works which would have done by the cooperation, and such a loss of good work deprives every one its benefits 

So it does only harm and does not do any good to anyone

7) What about my life?

Do I prevent the good works of others for my selfish purpose? 

Am I frightened when others do good works. If so what is the reason

How much energy and resources do I spent either to do or to prevent the good work?

8) Preventing the good work is the act of cowardice

Only a person, who is frightened about good, does such an evil act 

Where ever there is good there is God. Therefore preventing good work is equal to preventing God from doing good work 

God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones.

Fr Maxim D’Souza

Jeppu Seminary

Mangalore

CHANGE is a powerful word in the Bible

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

26th Week – Sunday

Gospel – Luke 21:28-32

First Reading – Ez 18:25-28

 Second Reading Phil 2:1-11 or 2:1-5

 CHANGE is a powerful word in the Bible

1) Change we can Believe in

The above phrase was a famous slogan of Barack Obama for Presidential campaign in 2008

*Yes we can* was the chant for the above slogan

As the campaign went on, people believed in the Change and finally change took place 

Obama became the first African American President of United States

With Obama world saw a great change, both in perception and also in growth.

2) Change at the center of Bible

It is believed that the word *Change* appears many times in the scriptures. 

In the very first book of the bible we have a reference to change - *Get rid of the foreign gods you have with you, and purify yourselves and change your clothes* Gen 35:2.

Even God changed His mind - *So the Lord changed His mind about the harm which He said He would do to His people*

All the prophets in the Old Testament have reference to the Word *Change*

John the Baptist starts his mission with the word *Change* The word repent is nothing but a call to change ones life. Mt 3:2

Jesus started his ministry with the Word *change* Jesus also uses the same word repent. Mt  4:17

3) Turning away from the wickedness

The first reading of today from Ezekiel speaks about turning away from the wickedness. 

Turning away is another word for change. 

Change from ones wickedness

Change from blaming God and finding fault with God

Change from the ways which leads to death 

Change from unfair ways to fair ways 

Such a change is necessary for a new and righteous way of life 

Such change is necessary to save ones life for eternity

4) Both had Change, but in a different way

Change of the Elder son

The elder son starts with *I will not*

Later he changes this ‘I will not’ into ‘I will’  and he goes and does the work, which was asked by his Father 

This change is a positive change 

A change which made him to realize his mistake

A change which brought some kind of good feeling in his father and also in his life 

A change which made the elder son to appreciate by others 

A change which made others to think and to get some inspiration

Change of the younger son

Younger son starts with  *Yes sir* 

Later he changes *Yes sir* into *no sir*

This is a very negative change 

A change from good to worse

A change from *yes* to *no*

A change from sincerity to hypocrisy

A change from authenticity to duplicity

A change from right way to wrong way 

A change to destroy one’s own life 

5) Two sons represent two categories of people

The elder son represents

The sinners 

The tax collectors

The prostitutes 

The simple people 

These started with *I will not* but later they changed their way of life and they were able to enter into the kingdom of God 

The Younger son represents

The Pharisees

The scribes 

The so called elite and Holy people 

Those who claimed to have the access into Gods kingdom

These started with *Yes Sir* but gradually failed to keep up the promise and they lost the Kingdom of God 

6) What is the role of change in my life?

Change for the better or worse 

Change - does it help me in any way or to my family members? 

Change to become more holy or not? 

Does my change makes me more human, humble, sincere, lovable, understandable, accountable or not? 

Does my change help in any to serve others, to sacrifice for the sake of others? 

What type of change I wish in my life? 

7) Change is possible at any moment of my life

There is not particular moment for change. At Any moment one can change 

Change always brings some changes in life. 

More the positive change, more the growth

How do I see the change? 

God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones.

Fr Maxim D’Souza

Jeppu Seminary

Mangalore

It takes time to understand the mystery of suffering

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

25th Week – Saturday

Gospel – Luke 9:43-45

First Reading – Eccl 11:9—12:8

It takes time to understand the mystery of suffering

1) Suffering is a mystery

Suffering always has remained as mystery. No one knows why one has to suffer and face lots of problems in life.

It is also true that we can't think of a life without suffering. The very fact that we have born as a human being, we have to undergo some suffering by all means. 

No one likes to suffer in life. But the fact is that suffering leaves no one in life. Every one will have to undergo some sort of suffering. 

This appears to a mystery. Mystery is something, which does not have an answer. 

2) It takes time to understand the mystery of suffering

No one comes to know the meaning of suffering when it comes in our life. 

The first reaction towards suffering is negation. It means one does not want to accept sufferings in life 

Secondly there comes a kind of confusion. With the suffering we are confused and we become helpless. 

Thirdly we slowly try to accept the sufferings and try to think about the same 

Finally with the passage of time we try to understand the mystery of suffering in a little way 

So finally it takes time to accept and understand the mystery of suffering. 

3) Jesus took time to accept and understand the mystery of suffering

It was God the Fathers will that His Son to suffer and die on the cross

It was not an easy task for Jesus to accomplish. It was a difficult work to accomplish

*Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done."* Luke 22:42.

*My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?* Mathew 27 : 46.

These instances in the life of Jesus show us that even Jesus took time to understand the mystery of suffering

4) The disciples did not understand the mystery of suffering of Jesus

Jesus said to his/disciples, "Pay attention to what I am telling you. The Son of Man is to be handed over to men. But they did not understand this saying"

Its meaning was hidden from them

So it is very clear that the disciples did not understand the meaning of Jesus' suffering

5) Disciples took time to understand the mystery of suffering

When Jesus suffered they did not understand the mystery of suffering. 

But when the Holy Spirit came all of them were able to understand the mystery of suffering. 

With the power of the Holy spirit the sufferings of Christ became very meaningful to them and they also were able to find meaning to their own suffering. 

So the disciples took lots of time to understand the mystery of suffering to an certain extent. 

6) What is my attitude towards suffering?

Am I scared about the suffering? 

Do I freely able to accept the sufferings in my life. 

Am I able to understand the meaning of Jesus' suffering in my life 

Do I have a positive or negative attitude towards suffering? 

What is my first reaction towards suffering? 

Finally suffering in our life makes us to worry, get  tensed and confused in life 

So it is very clear that suffering takes its own time to reveal its hidden meaning to our life 

7) COVID19 is a mystery

The COVID19 is really a suffering and even to this day it remains a mystery

No one knows how it spreads, from where it has come, what harm it does and when it ends? 

This is the biggest mystery and biggest suffering too. 

It took long time for us to accept the reality of COVID19. 

It takes long time to understand its mystery and to overcome from this pandemic. 

So suffering takes time to understand its mystery

For us Christians it is the Holy Spirit which guides our pursuit of knowing and accepting the mystery of Suffering. 

What is my perception with regard to suffering? 

God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones.

Fr Maxim D’Souza

Jeppu Seminary

Mangalore

Greater things are revealed in Prayer

 GOSPEL THOUGHTS

25th Week – Friday

Gospel – Luke 9:18-22

First Reading – Eccl 3:1-11

Greater things are revealed in Prayer

1) Important Question about Jesus

Who do the crowds say that I am?”

Who do you say that  am? 

The above two questions are very important on the identity of Jesus

These questions will help us to understand about Jesus and to have deeper knowledge about Jesus 

2) The context in which these questions were asked

The Gospel clearly says that *when Jesus was praying in solitude, and the disciples were with him, He asked them*

It was in the context of prayer Jesus initiated these questions

This particular context (the context of prayer)  clearly tells us that, the greater realities are revealed only through the prayers. 

Prayer is a tremendous weapon to know the deeper realities of our salvation and specially about Jesus our Lord and Master. 

3) Jesus came to know the Will of God in and through the Prayer

Jesus had a deep relationship with His Heavenly Father. 

Early in the morning and late in the night and some times even during the day He was spending lots of time in prayer. 

It is firmly believed that, Jesus was able to know the will of God, in and through prayer. 

Prayer was a powerful instrument to know the deeper realities of the Kingdom of Heaven. 

4) All saints were enlightened through the prayer

Take any saint and reflect about their life. It is very clear that, many of the great things which they communicated to us were revealed to them in and through the prayer 

Mother Mary appeared many people when they were in deep prayer. This also an indication that greater things are revealed to us in and through prayer 

Today there are many people who communicate the message of the Gospel, which they received in deep prayer. 

5) Who do You say that I am?

First of all this is very personal question from Jesus to me. For everyone Jesus asks this question

 

Secondly, the answer to this question can not be copied from anywhere and others can't answer this question, since the question is asked for me. 

Thirdly, one can't depend on some one else's answer, because it becomes their answer. Jesus needs my personal answer

Fourthly, this question can be answered only through the power of prayer. In other words, only prayer will help us to understand and answer this question. 

6) Jesus asked the questions in the context of prayer

Jesus also invites us to know the deeper mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven in and through the prayer 

Am I convinced about the power of prayer in knowing the greater realities of the Kingdom of Heaven 

Do I use this method (prayer) in knowing the greater realities

So far what is the greatest revelation of God to me 

Is it through prayer or through any other means the revelation of the kingdom of Heaven revealed to me? 

What is my understanding about prayer?

God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones.

Fr Maxim D’Souza

Jeppu Seminary

Mangalore

Man can Kill but can't control God and His Mission

 GOSPEL THOUGHTS

25th Week – Thursday

Gospel – Luke 9:7-9

First Reading – Qoh - 1:2-11

Man can Kill but can't control God and His Mission

 1) Herod Killed John

 In the famous episode of Herod's birthday we come across the beheading of John the Baptist.

John was imprisoned by Herod for condemning his immoral life and speaking the Truth  

The Herodias who had kept grudge against John the Baptist for condemning her immoral life, finally succeeded in murdering John. 

2) When Jesus appeared - the reaction of people

When Jesus did lots of miracles and mighty works, people had different things to speak about Jesus 

Some said, John has been raised from the dead”;

Others were saying, “Elijah has appeared”;

 Still others, “One of the ancient prophets has arisen.”

Herod said, “John I beheaded.

Who then is this about whom I hear such things?”

3) The message of the various expressions of people

One thing is very clear. 

John killed only John the Baptist. But with the arrival of Jesus people saw 4 different personalities in Jesus 

Some saw risen John in Jesus 

Some saw Elijha in Jesus 

Some saw a great prophet in Jesus 

Herod also saw a great person in Jesus, but he was not clear about who He was 

Herod killed one person and people perceived 4 persons in Jesus 

4) No one can control the Good work of God

Some may think that by killing God's messanger and prophets they can control the God's work 

But the fact is that, when the wicked people  kill one God's messanger God raises 4 or 10 persons to continue His work 

Herod killed only John, with Jesus there were 4 different persons who were working in the place of John the Baptist. 

Nothing can stop Gods  work and no one can fight against God. 

5) Man is only perplexed before God's Work

Herod was greatly perplexed because he saw Gods wonders in the life of Jesus. 

Jesus' mission and miracles were really a reflection of Gods wonders, which makes Herod to get perplexed. He was perplexed by seeing the God's great deeds. 

Ultimately the Herod's example shows us that, he could not control Gods work by killing John but he was perplexed, got confused, was amazed at Gods work. This is what happens before Gods mighty power.

6) One is unable to kill truth and Good

No one can kill truth. So far there isn't any one who has succeeded in killing the truth. 

When one is killed for the sake of truth, God raises  another ten people, to spread His mission. This is the logic of God. 

Truth and good ultimately will reign. Because truth and Good are the reflections of God. Wherever there is Good and truth, there is God. So no one can fight against truth and good.

God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones.

Fr Maxim D’Souza

Jeppu Seminary

Mangalore