Blind men's determination to Follow Jesus

Gospel Thoughts

Advent Season : 1st Friday

GOSPEL Mt  9:27-31

First Reading - Is 29:17-24

Blind men's determination to Follow Jesus

Two blind men followed him

*1) When one is blind it is difficult to Follow*

When one is blind, it is clear that the person is not able to see anything. In such a situation it is very difficult to move from one place to the another.

The Gospel also does not say whether they were helped by some one or they followed Jesus by themselves.

This particular gesture of the blind men shows that they were determined to follow Jesus by all means. This is something marvelous

*2) The level of their determination*

From the episode one can conclude that they had a very high level of determination to follow Jesus. This can be proved from the following things. 

A) First of all they were not able to see, still they followed Jesus. 

B) They have not seen who Jesus is. Since they were blind there is no possibility of seeing Jesus. Still they believed in the power of Jesus and followed. 

C) They might have heard of Jesus, while others were speaking about the miracles performed by Jesus. So only hearing about Jesus, without knowing who the person is, and without seeing who Jesus is, still they were able to follow Jesus, shows their high level of determination to follow Jesus and to get cured from the blindness. 

D) It appears that Jesus didn't respond to their wish at once. The Gospel says that they cried and followed Jesus. They had to go inside the house, where Jesus was. Even then they were not disappointed at the first reaction of Jesus. This proves their determination

E) Finally they were healed because of their Faith. Jesus clearly says *Let it be done for you according to your faith*. Along with the power of Jesus their faith also was very important. This once again shows the high level of determination. 

G) The blind men had to travel a long distance before they were healed. The Gospel says, Jesus travelled and went inside a house. That means the blind men had to travel some distance, and they travelled without having the eye sight. Once again this gesture of the blind men shows their great level of determination to follow Jesus and to get cured. 

*3) It is not enough to have mere wish: Need to work for it*

The blind men had a great wish to have the eyesight 

Their genuine wish had a Strong level of determination to work for it. 

Their work consisted in,  knowing about the power of Jesus, following Jesus in spite of their blindness, crying out for the eyesight, going up to inside the house begging for the sight, and their examination by Jesus, because ultimately the healing comes based on their faith. So all these things show that they really worked for the miracle along with the deep desire to gain the sight 

So mere wish is not sufficient, but hard work towards the goal is also very much necessary.  

*4) Physical sight was absent, but they had deep spiritual sight and insight*

The blind men were not able to see Jesus and other realities around them physically, since they were blind. 

But no one can challenge their spiritual sight and insight to see Jesus, and experience Him and His divine power. 

Ultimately their spiritual sight and insight helps them to have the physical sight 

The spiritual sight and insight worked as a foundation for the physical sight. Something very strange, but very true. 

*5) Spiritual blindness is more dangerous than physical blindness*

Physical blindness may cause suffering for some years, maximum as long as the person lives. 

But spiritual blindness may cause suffering eternally. So spiritual blindness is more fatal and dangerous than the physical blindness. 

*6) How about my life?*

All of us who read this reflection have physical sight. If so what is the level of my determination to follow Jesus? 

What about my wish for something and the level of hard work for the same? Do I have only wish without any motivation for hardwork? 

Am I spiritually blind to observe many things within my life and in my surrounding? 

Am I able to see the suffering, and pain of others? Do I have the eye sight to see that? 

Do I have the eyesight to see beyond my own life, beyond my own family and my own culture, the wellbeing of the other? 

How sharp is my spiritual sight and insight? 

*How sharp is my eyesight to see the realities as they are?*

*Think about this*

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

*Fr Maxim Dsouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*

Have I built my Life on Sand?

Gospel Thoughts

Advent Season : 1st Thursday

GOSPEL Mt 7:21, 24-27

First Reading - Is 26:1-6

*Have I built my Life on Sand*

*1) Sand and Its Speciality*

One can't build anything on Sand, because 

Sand does not remain in one place. It simply moves one place to another 

Since the particles of sand are very small, they don't have much strength. 

They are loosely connected with other grains of sand. So there is no much strength. 

In sand there is nothing special to hold in to something. So it can't remain holding on to something. 

*2) Rock and Its Speciality* 

Rock first of all big in size and it is hard surface

Secondly the rock does not move from one place to another and it is not easy to shift rock from one place to another 

Since Rock is very strong, it has the capacity to support any other things which come on in its surface

*3) There are many things in Life, which take the place of Sand*

A house built on sand will collapse. The following things represent the sand in our day to day life 

A) Money : it can take the place of Sand. A life built on money will collapse. Because all the time money will not be there 

B) A life built on Power, position, and influence

C) A life built on untruth, cheating, revenge, hypocrisy, anxiety is equal to a house which was built on sand 

D) A life built on External beauty and glamour

E) A life built on wealth and riches 

F) A life built on Pride, self righteousness,  and greed 

All these things represent the aspect of sand and such a life gets collapsed within no time 

*4) Sand is the technique of Satan*

Satan is for destruction. 

Satan through its creative way, makes the human beings to build their *life houses* on the sand 

So at times we are easily deceived by Satan and we unknowingly build our beautiful life on the Sand, which after some times gets destroyed. 

*5) What is rock and What is Sand in life?*

This is a greatest challenge for all of us to find out, which things represent the Rock and which things represent sand. 

Once we know these things, things will change in our life and we will be able to built our life on solid foundation, that is Jesus himself

*Am I ready to build my life house on the Rock?*

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

*Fr Maxim Dsouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*

Begin with What You have : Miracles will Happen

Gospel Thoughts

Advent Season : 1st Wednesday

GOSPEL Mt 15:29-37

First Reading - Is 25:6-10a

Begin with What You have : Miracles will Happen

*1) Disciples were Speaking about "ENOUGH" to "SATISFY"*

 *Where could we ever get enough bread in this deserted place to satisfy such a crowd?*

The aspect of *Enough*  becomes a big hurdle to begin any work 

No work begins with *Enough* resources or things which are needed to carry out 

When some work has to be done, it is very difficult to calculate the exact *Enough* materials or the resources. Either it will be more or less when the work get completed.

The aspect of *Enough* shows that the disciples are not ready to take any risk. In *Not enough* there is always a aspect of risk involved.

In the crucial moment we don't speak about the *Satisfaction* rather we speak about managing some way. 

To manage you need little. To satisfy some one else you need more and at times difficult. 

So instead of satisfying some one, first we need to manage the situation. That is more important.  

One can not start with whatever he has to compete with *Enough to Satisfy*

*2) Jesus Begins with Whatever He has*

Jesus approach is quite different from that of the disciples. 

His calculations are strange. He simply begins with whatever he has. He didn't think about *Enough to Satisfy* but He began with whatever He had to manage the situation. 

*3) First of all to begin - Collect whatever You have*

Jesus collected whatever He was able to get. 

He was able to get, Seven loaves and few fish. 

Collecting whatever one has is necessary to begin the work

*4) Share whatever you have to begin the Work* 

The expression which is used for sharing is *Breaking of the Loaves* 

*Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, gave thanks, broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples*

Breaking or Sharing whatever you have is very important to begin the work 

Jesus followed the same logic and there was a great miracle. 

*5) Begin with Whatever you have : Miracles will happen* 

One can't wait for the *Enough* of the resources to begin

Start with what you have and you will find there is Enough for the miracle to happen. 

*6) Begin with whatever You have, then you will see that there is Enough to complete*

There are many things in our life to begin. Talents, skills, intelligence, strengths, hardwork, techniques, knowledge, information are available in our life to begin.

Once we begin we see the ocean of things or resources to complete the work. That itself is a great miracle.

*7) Unless one begins, no miracles will happen*

Begin somewhere and you will reach near to the destiny.

If you don't begin, no question of reaching 

Jesus began with whatever he had, and He was able to work a great miracle. In the same way, begin with whatever you have, and you will see a great miracle in your life. 

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

*Fr Maxim Dsouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*

Blessed are Your Eyes - When they really become blessed?

Gospel Thoughts

Advent Season : 1st Tuesday

GOSPEL Lk 10:21-24

First Reading - Is 11:1-10

*Blessed are Your Eyes - When they really become blessed?*

*1) Eyes are the wonderful Creation of God*

Eyes are one of the great wonders of God in the human body

No one can fix the value of the eyes, because they are beyond price.

Once the eyes are lost no power on earth can restore the eyes and eye sight, even though to some extent the modern technology can repair the eye sight. 

*2) Eye sight can be at two levels*

*First level is the physical sight*

This  sight helps us to see the things as they are 

*Second level is - Spiritual sight.*

This sight is very much necessary to see the real meaning of the things and realities we encounter in our day today life. 

Both these sights are very necessary in order to live a genuine life. 

*3) When our eyes and eye sight become Blessed?*

Jesus says *Blessed are the eyes that see what you see* 

If so what exactly Jesus is telling in these words? 

We can explain this phrase in different levels 

*A) Eyes become blessed when they see God*

The Apostles and the disciples saw God in and though Jesus. One who sees God, encounters God, experiences God is really blessed  and his/eye sight becomes blessed

*B) Blessed are the eyes, which see the various kingdom values* life sincerity, humility, and concern for others 

*C)/ Blessed are the eyes which see the opportunities* to forgive others and ask pardon from the others 

D) Blessed are the eyes which sees the aspect of Humility and generosity

E) Blessed are the eyes,  which see the pain and sufferings of others and help them I some way

F) Blessed are the eyes which see the presence of Jesus in another human being

G) Blessed are the eyes which recognizes the great love of the parents and look after them when they are old 

H) Blessed are the eyes which see what is good and what is bad 

Blessed are the eyes which see the beauty of the nature and praise God for the same 

G) Blessed are the eyes which see the image and likeness of God in another human being

*So there are 101 good things to see in and around us and to praise God*

*Will my eyes become blessed?*

*What can I do to gain blessed eye sight?*

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

*Fr Maxim Dsouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*

Why the Fishermen had to leave their nets

Gospel Thoughts

Advent Season : 1st Week :  Monday

GOSPEL Mt 4:18-22

First Reading - Rom 10:9-18

Feast of St Andrew

*Why the Fishermen had to leave their nets*

*1) They Left their boats and Nets*

When Jesus called these first disciples, Peter and Andrew, John and James, they left their boats and nets and followed Jesus

Why did they leave these things? 

Was it necessary to leave these things?

Is there any other or deeper meaning for this gesture of the disciples? 

*2) First of all Net collects everything*

Usually net is used to collect the Fish from the sea. 

It collects everything when it is cast out into the sea

It is the nature of the net to Collect everything rather than giving everything. 

There is net which leaves out or gives to others when it is cast out into the deep sea. 

*3) Christian Spirituality does not consists in acquiring but in giving* 

Net collects everything, it does not give or leave out anything. 

Collecting everything is the symbol of excess desire for greed, selfishness and self centeredness. So the nature of net does not go along with Christian spirituality. 

Christian spirituality does not consisting in collecting and amassing the wealth and things. It consists in giving and in generosity

*4) Net is an instrument to trap the Fish*

Net is like a trap which is used to catch the fish. 

The fish is simply trapped into the net. 

Leaving out the net by the disciples is the symbol that the disciples not to use any of the things which work as a trap. 

The moment something is used as a trap we put other person into difficulty. So we need to give up those things which work as a trap 

*5) Net is the Symbol of Death and not the symbol of Life*

Any fish which is trapped into the net, finally  dies. 

Death is the final destiny of the net. 

So with such kind of net, a disciple can not work and should work. 

*6) Net is deceptive / not visible*

When the net is cast out into the sea, it can not be seen. It is invisible

So the net works as a deceptive instrument, which finally deceives the fish and fish is in the trouble. 

A follower of Christ, can not carry the net, which works as a deceptive or invisible instrument

*7) Which are the things working as net in my life? 

Net collects, deceives, traps, and  takes away life. So also there are many things in life which work as the above mentioned things. Some of them may be following

Pride, Power, Money, Wordly Pleasures, arrogance, revenge, falsehood, cheating, selfish motives, and so on

Do these things work as a net in my life?

*Think about it*

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

*Fr Maxim Dsouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*

Liturgical Year Starts with a Wonderful Note : Be watchful! Be alert

Gospel Thoughts

Advent Season : 1st Sunday

GOSPEL Mk 13:33-37

First Reading - Is 63:16b-17, 19b; 64:2-7

Second Reading - 1 Cor 1:3-9,

*Liturgical Year Starts with a Wonderful Note : Be watchful! Be alert*

*1) Be Watchful and Be alert - These phrases are Important for Life*

In a way life revolves around these phrases 

Many times in our day today life we use these phrases and those who pay attention to these phrases will see a great change in their lives 

One who ignores these phrases will have to pay the consequences which at times too costly.  

*2) These phrases have special significance, when we begin something new* 

We have lots of new things to begin in our lives. For example, academics, taking risks for greater service and development, family life, religious life and so on 

When we begin, something new, as mentioned above, many people give us advice with these above phrases. Be careful, be alert in what you do and what u begin 

*3) New year is a New Beginning* 

Today we begin new liturgical year. So something new we begin today. 

When we begin this new liturgical year, these phrases have deep significance in our life 

We are asked to become watchful and alert. 

*4) About what we need to be watchful and Alert?* 

*A) Be alert about your new decisions*

Usually when we begin new year we take some decision with the intension of becoming good. So be careful about your decisions. Unless we are watchful and alert about our decisions, we will not be able to keep them up and make any progress in our lives 

*B) Be watchful and alert about Worldly attractions* 

Unless one is watchful about this one will be slave of worldly attractions and pleasures 

*C) Be watchful and alert about the Devil and its snares* 

Devil is active, watchful and alert all the times. If we are not alert then devil will take the control of our life. 

*Be watchful and Alert about your spiritual life* 

There are 101 forces which always work together to destroy your spiritual life

*E) Be watchful and alert about the 7 deadly devils* 

Seven deadly devils/sins are pride, envy, gluttony, greed, lust, sloth, and wrath. 

*F) Be watchful alert about your family/Religious life*

So that the family life may not destroyed or one may be able to remain faithful to  religious life in order to serve Christ

*F) Be watchful and alert about Your 5 Senses*

They are most dangerous if they are not kept in control

*G) Be watchful and alert about ones bad habits*

If one is careless about these things one will destroy ones life

*H) Be watchful and alert about your mobile and other social media*

Be aware of the dangers of the social media and mobile

*I) Be watchful and Alert about your Thoughts, Words and deeds* 

*J) Be watchful and alert about the Gossip*

One who gossips is a terrorist. Terrorist destroy everything. One who gossips also destroys everything

*5) Need to start from the beginning of the Year and not towards the end of the year*

These words *Be watchful and Alert* which appear in the beginning of the year, with a great measure. 

If we begin now, we will make some growth. If nothing will take place. 

Since change comes slowly, we need to begin in the beginning itself 

*6) Be watchful and be Alert to receive Jesus or Master* 

No one knows when the master comes. Anytime he can come. 

The watchman's work is to remain alert and to open the door at the masters return 

*7) Be watchful and be alert to observe what happens to your life?*

Unless one is watchful and alert, things will take place without our knowledge and life will be in danger

*Will you remain watchful and  alert?*

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

*Fr Maxim Dsouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*

The Danger of Heart becoming Drowsy

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Gospel Thoughts

34th Week : Saturday

GOSPEL Lk 21:34-36

First Reading - Rev 22:1-7

*The Danger of Heart becoming Drowsy*

*1) The State of drowsy  is dangerous*

Drowsy is a state of half sleep or lethargic or Sleepy state.

When a person is in the state of half sleep he/she does not know what he is doing or what is happening to him 

So this state becomes very dangerous. The best example would be road accidents that take place due to the state of drowsy and the fatalities which involves in it. 

*2) The danger of heart becoming Drowsy*

The Gospel of the day speaks about heart becoming drowsy. 

When the heart becomes drowsy it does not realise what it feels and what happens to the person

Since heart is the centre of persons emotional life, if heart becomes drowsy we can imagine the damage that will take place in the emotional life of the person. 

So Jesus is warning about the danger of heart becoming drowsy 

*3) The Various causes of heart becoming drowsy* 

*A) Carousing*

Carousing means the activity of drinking alcohol and enjoying oneself with others in a noisy, lively way.

This makes the person makes to feel a great happiness, but it is a wrong way of feeling happy by himself. So it makes a persons heart to feel drowsy

*B) Drunkenness*

This is a kind of addiction and it makes a person slave to all kinds of bad habit and gives a false type pleasure. 

Person who is the slave of the drinks can not be trusted. Because he is not in control of Himself 

Drunkenness makes a persons heart drowsy and takes away from the real and genuine feelings. 

*C) Anxieties of Life*

Anxiety is one of the deadliest  poisons which slowly kills the Human beings. 

A person who is anxious about many things is not able to concentrate on anything. So his heart and mind not in a position to function in a proper way. So it is equal to becoming drowsy. So it is dangerous. 

*4) Why heart should not be drowsy and it should be alert* 

When the heart is alert the person is able to feel what is happening to the person 

He is able to feel what is good and what is bad and able to act accordingly

When the heart is alert the aspects of Love, care, concern, service, belongingness becomes very effective and person is able function in a better way

When the heart is alive there is life. If the heart is drowsy there is no life in the person 

*5) Alertness of the Heart and spirituality*

According to Jesus there is a close connect between heart and spirituality. 

Only when the heart is active a alive a person is able to deepen his faith and grow in spiritual life 

He is able to experience the God and divine being 

Heart is a place of experience. So it should be alert and not drowsy. So to experience God, and His love, mercy, forgive, salvation heart must be alert. 

*6) Only the Worldly things make the heart Drowsy*

No spiritual or good deed will make the heart drowsy, but they will make alert. 

All the worldly things and the bad things will make the heart drowsy and that is the beginning of the end. 

*Is my heart is drowsy?*

*Think about it*

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

*Fr Maxim Dsouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*