Wickedness blinds ones vision

Gospel Thoughts*

*Lenten Season : C Cycle : 4th Week - Friday*

*GOSPEL - Jn 7:1-2, 10, 25-30*

*FIRST READING - Wis 2:1a, 12-22*

*Wickedness blinds ones vision*

*1) Wickedness in the First Reading*

The entire reading speaks about the wickedness and its different form 

Through out reading, it says that the wickedness of those who plan the innocent people to destroy takes diffent forms 

Finally it shows that by all means these wicked people wanted to eliminate the just one, since they opposed their wrongdoings. 

*2) Result of the Wickedness is blindness*

Those people who were involved with wickedness, finally become blind to so many things 

The first reading says that they became blind to the hidden counsels of God;

They became blind to importance of Holiness 

They became blind to the innocent souls’ reward.

Finally we can say that they became blind to every spiritual reality 

*3) Various forms of Wickedness*

In our life wickedness can reflect in diffent forms. These are some examples 

Pride 

Arrogance

Anger 

Jealousy

Gossip

Revenge

Immoral things 

Telling lies 

Cheating 

Greed for wordky things 

Insincerity

Selfishness

These above things lead to wicked things in ones life 

*4) Wickedness blinds our vision*

When the wicked things takes control of our life, our vision towards good things becomes blur and we will not be able see the value of

 good things 

Vision towards forgiveness

Vision towards love

Vision towards sharing 

Vision towards generosity

Vision towards good values 

Vision towards cooperation

Vision towards justice 

Vision towards faithfulness

Vision towards holiness

Vision towards prayer

Vision towards the purity of Life 

When the vision towards these things becomes blur, wickedness becomes strong. So one needs to be careful about these things in life 

*5) How Sharp my vision is towards good things?*

Today we need to reflect about the sharpness of our vision towards the Good things 

How far my vision is able to grasp the reality of good and bad in a particular thing 

How quick my vision  to realise the importance of, forgiveness, love, sacrifice, sharing, love, concern and other things in life 

*Think about it*

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

*Fr Maxim Dsouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*

I see how stiff-necked this people is : Do I belong to this Group?

Gospel Thoughts

*Lenten Season : C Cycle : 4th Week - Thursday*

*GOSPEL -  Jn 5:31-47*

*FIRST READING - Ex 32:7-14*

*“I see how stiff-necked this people is : Do I belong to this Group?*

*1) God calls the Israel as Stiff necked people*

Stiff necked people could be understood as those people who are very proud or stubborn in their approach 

Such people do not listen to any one and they think that they are tight in everything whatever they do

A stiffneck is a uncomfortable position and not able to have free movement

God calls the People of Israel as stiff necked people because they became proud and stubborn in their approach 

*2) Why God called them as stiff necked people*

The first reading of the day gives us the following reasons

They had forgotten the God who brought them out from the slavery of Egypt

Instead of Worshiping, Thanking and praising one true God, they created their own God - A golden calf - and adored it as God 

They replaced the God of Israel, with this Golden calf 

They broke all the promises of God who protected them and gave them 10 commandments

For these reasons God called them as stiff necked people 

*3) Stiff necked people are unable to Change*

Those people who belong to this group, they are unable to change 

They do not understand the value of Change and need of it 

Such an attitude is contrary to God's salvific plan and one becomes ineligible for the salvation

Refusing to Change, is contrary to the Spirit of the Lent and also to God's plan 

*4) What about my Life?*

Am I stiff-necked person about the following things 

Forgiveness, humility, sacrifice, love, faithfulness, sharing, service, reconciliation, and other kingdom values?

Do I exhibit my stiff-necked behaviour, while some one approaches me for help, for a smile, for a good word, for a companionship, for love, for a favour, etc 

*5) Lent is a special time to over come my stiff-necked behaviour*

Lenten spirit and the practices should help us in overcoming our Stiff-necked baviour in my life 

Stiff-necked behaviour and Lenten Spirit do not go hand in hand with each other. So there is a strong need for change 

Stiff-necked person can have only a limited vision or one sided vision since he is not able to turn his neck and see the other side

Like wise our mind, heart, thinking pattern, can very well be influenced by Stiff-necked baviour, making the transformation difficult in  life

How is my approach? Stiff-necked or not? 

*Think about it*

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

*Fr Maxim Dsouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*

Since God is working at all times, I can not take rest

Gospel Thoughts

*Lenten Season : C Cycle : 4th Week - Wednesday*

*GOSPEL -  Jn 5:17-30*

*FIRST READING -Is 49:8-15*

*Since God is working at all times, I can not take rest*

*1) My Father is at work until now, so I am at work.*

This is what God says in today's Gospel. 

From this, it becomes very clear that, God is at work all time and He is not lazy, while doing His work 

It is also clear that God is quick and swift in Doing His duty and responsibility towards the Humanity 

*2) What God is busy doing?

Jesus says *My Father is at work until now* If so, what God is busy in doing 

God is busy in loving me 

God is busy in forgiving me 

God is busy in teaching me right things 

God is busy in hearing my prayers 

God is busy in protecting me

God is busy in guiding me 

God is busy in blessing me

God is busy in giving me peace of Mind

God is busy in showing the goodness and newness of one more new day in my life 

God is busy in telling me that Good life as always make us happy and joyful 

God is busy in showing the good things 

God is busy in giving me the opportunities to serve and love the poor 

God is Busy in being with me always 

God is busy in recreating my whole being again and again 

God is busy in showing the beauty of reconciliation and the value of Mercy 

So God is busy in Doing lot of Good work for our sake 

*3) So I am at*

These are Jesus' words about Himself 

Accordingly Jesus was busy in doing His work, which involves, preaching, teaching, healing and every good deed. 

Since Jesus is Working at all the time, His disciples should be busy in doing some work 

*4) About What Work I must be busy?*

As a disciple of Jesus I  must be busy at all times. If so, what should be my work? 

I must be busy in knowing the value of Forgiveness and reconciliation

I must be busy with loving others and not hating them 

I must be at work, of practicing what I preach

I must be busy in knowing the importance of sacrifice, service, humility, sincerity, smile, simplicity of Life, good relationship, hard wotk 

I must be busy in knowing the, dangers of evil, temptations, weaknesses, 

I must be busy in bringing peace Within myself, around and in the society 

I must be busy in doing the examination of the conscience and accepting the faults 

I must be busy in Thanking And Praising God, for his bountiful blessing and Grace. 

*5) Lent is a time of working and not remaining neutral*

Lent is a special time for work. 

Primarily, this work should invove in reforming our personal life and our Attitude 

Secondly lent is a time of work on our emotional life, our behaviour, and prayer life 

Thirdly lent is a time of conversion of the heart and mind 

*So primarily, am I working or  not?*

If I am working, it is better to clarify about type of work I am doing 

If not working, better to start than never. 

*Think about it*

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

*Fr Maxim Dsouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*

Rise, Take up your mat and Walk

Gospel Thoughts

*Lenten Season : C Cycle : 4th Week - Tuesday*

*GOSPEL -  Jn 5:1-16*

*FIRST READING - Ez 47:1-9, 12*

*Rise, Take up your mat and Walk*

*1) In the Context of Healing, Jesus says these words*

In today's Gospel we find a person who was sick for 38 years and was hoping for the Healing 

Even tough he had much faith in the water of the pool at Bethsaida, finally he met Jesus.

Jesus uses the different method to heal him and not as he thought that some one would help him to get into the water

So in this context, Jesus says to Him, *Rise, take up your mat and walk*

*2) Three Actions are highlighted here*

*First -  Rising* : Willingness to Rise is very much necessary in order to experience the healing 

*Secondly : Taking up his mat* We need to reflect deeply about this. What is the mat that is necessary? 

*Thirdly : Walking* Walikg is the gesture of movement, and movement is the symbol of Growth, healing and Change 

*3) What is the Mat that we need to carry in our life?*

It is not enough to rise and walk, but we need to carry the mat along with us 

We need to carry the mat of faith with us 

We need to carry the mat of courage in us 

We need to carry the mat of change in us 

We need to carry the mat of love in us 

We need to carry the mat of determination with us 

We need to carry the mat of new life with  us 

We need to carry the mat of conversion of heart and mind in us 

We need to carry the mat of prayer with us 

We need to carry the mat of service in us 

So all the mats will help us to rise and walk towards a new life 

*4) Lent is a special Time*

Lent is a special time to rise and walk, along with various spiritual mats for renewing our life 

The mat of prayer, fast, and almsgiving are the important mats which we need to carry during this special time of Lent 

As lent invites us to rise and walk towards the new life and life in Christ, let's take these mats and walk along with Jesus to experience new life 

*5) Am I ready for this Challenge?*

Jesus says the same words to us 

Rise, take your mat and walk 

Am I ready to do that? 

Or do I want to sit near the pool of my old life, waiting for the miracle to happen???

*Think about it*

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

*Fr Maxim Dsouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*

God wants to create a new heaven and a new earth in my Life - Am I ready for it?

Gospel Thoughts

*Lenten Season : C Cycle : 4th Week - Monday*

*GOSPEL -  Jn 4:43-54*

*FIRST READING - Is 65:17-21*

*God wants to create a new heaven and a new earth in my Life - Am I ready for it?*

*1) New Heaven and a New Earth*

The First Reading of the day speaks about the New Heaven and New Earth

It is God who wants to create this New Heaven and New Earth

Since this appears to be a beautiful concept, we can think of allowing God to create this New Heaven and Earth in my Life. 

*2) What should not be there in the New Heaven and New Earth*

God says that the Past things Should not be remembered 

The past things may be our failures, our weaknesses, our self centered achievements, our narrow mentality and other not so good things.

 All these things should not be remembered in the New Heaven and New Earth 

God also says that the past things should not even come to our mind 

Because past things work as a hindrance to create a new heaven and a new earth. Therefore the past things should not come to our mind 

*3) What things Should be found in the New Heaven and New Earth?*

God says that there should be always rejoicing and happiness in the New Heaven and New Earth

Various ways which can bring happiness and create a feeling of rejoicing could be the Following

Forgiveness

Love 

Sacrifice

Humility

Commitment

Sharing 

Hard Work 

Prayer 

Peace 

Adjustment

Eucharist

Reading of the Scripture

Meditation on the Word of God

These are the various ways which bring us happiness in the New Heaven and New Earth 

*4) Lent is a apt time to create a New Heaven and a New Earth*

The mood of the Lent leads us to create a atmosphere, where we can think of New Heaven and a New Earth

The three pillars of Lent, namely Prayer, Fasting, and almsgiving are the best ways to create a New Heaven and New Earth.

*5) Am I ready for New Heaven and a New Earth?*

God wants to create a New Heaven and New Earth in my life. 

Allowing God to create a new Heaven and a New Earth will make our life Holy, Blessed and Peaceful 

Allowing to create a new heaven and a new Earth, will show us what is right and what is wrong, the purpose of our life and our place in front of God

New Heaven and New Earth will always bring the New Ways in our life, which will make our life more creative, innovative, and powerful 

So am I ready to allow God to create New Heaven and a New Earth 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*

How the Son became a Prodigal Son?

Gospel Thoughts

*Lenten Season : C Cycle : 4th Week - Sunday*

*GOSPEL -  Lk 15:1-3, 11-32*

*FIRST READING Jos 5:9a, 10-12*

*SECOND READING - 2 Cor 5:17-21*

*How the Son became a Prodigal Son?*

*1) A Son from Good Family*

The Parable shows us that Father was a wonderful man with compassionate heart. 

This Shows that the Son belonged to a good and a holy a family 

*2) How he became then a prodigal Son?*

*A) Desire for Property and possession*

This is the first thing that entered into his mind 

The desire was so strong which made him to ask for the property when the father is still alive 

This means that He considered that His father is no more and completely forgot his responsibility towards the Father 

*B) Son wanted a freedom from the Father*

The son thought that he can't enjoy the full freedom when he is with the father 

So he wanted to go away from his father to enjoy the so called free which ended up in misery 

*C) Went to a distant Country*

After getting the Property, he didn't stay within the vicinity, where his father lived. 

He goes away from the Father as far as possible. 

The distance from the Father also made him a prodigal Son

*D) Squandering of the Valuable things*

In the distant land instead of using the valuable things He squandered the valuable things for the immoral life 

Finally this led him to lose everything and became a prodigal son 

*3) My life and Prodigal Son*

Like prodigal son we also belong to a rich and wealthy family, a family of God 

Our Father is a compassion Father who respects our freedom 

We inherit lots of Good things from our heavenly Father 

Good values like compassion, knowledge, Courage, understanding, leadership, talents, skills, intelligence, sharpness of mind, willingness to work hard. So all these things are given to us by our Heavenly Father, where we belong 

*4) Tendency to Squander the above things*

In all of us there is a element of selfishness and personal interest. 

The moment we squander the above things, they make us poor and homeless people 

Squandering means, misuse of the talents and skills for personal gains, which make us prodigal people 

*5) Am I a prodigal Son?*

All of us belong to the family of prodigal Son 

Only we need to reflect to find out the percentage of it in our life 

How far have I become the prodigal son/daughter? 10% 25%, 50%, 70% or more than this? 

Let's us try to find out the prodigal son in our life, and see what is the reaction of this prodigal Son 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*

What can I do with you Ephraim and Judha? Today God asks me : What can I do with You?

Gospel Thoughts

*Lenten Season : C Cycle : 3rd Week - Saturday*

*GOSPEL - Lk 18:9-14*

*FIRST READING Hos 6:1-6*

*What can I do with you Ephraim and Judha?*

*Today God asks me : What can I do with You?*

*1) What can I do with Ephraim?*

The tone of the Question tells us that, God is not happy with Ephraim

It is not that God does not know what to do with Ephraim, but because of the failure from the part of Ephraim, God is asking this question. 

The deeper meaning could be *what else I can do to save you?* This is what meant in this particular question. 

*2) Why This question is asked to Ephraim?* 

The first reading says that the piety or Love is like a morning Cloud or like a dew

*The speciality of Morning Cloud*

Morning cloud is found only in the Morning 

It disappears within no time. 

Nothing happens with morning cloud. It can't bring rain

Morning cloud fails to bring any change

*The speciality of Morning Dew*  

Once again only in the morning this dew is found 

It disappears when the Sun comes up 

Its effect is very short

Sometimes morning dew becomes a problem than any help 

So the love of Ephraim is like a morning cloud and morning dew, which has only temporary effect, which can bring no change 

*3) Morning Clouds, Morning Dew and my Life*

This concept has direct reference to my life. 

Let's see the various things which I practice in my day today life fall under the above category?

Is my generosity like morning cloud and dew? 

Whether the various values Fall under the category of morning cloud or morning Dew? 

*What about the following values?*

The value of truth 

The value of love 

The value of devotion

The value of humility

The value of sincerity

The value of sharing 

The value of sacrifice 

The value of faithfulness

The value of smile 

All these above values in my life, follow the logic of Morning clouds or dew? 

*4) The Rain and the coming of Dawn*

When rain comes it wets the ground and produceses the fruit. 

Rain does not go away with out producing some effect or the other

*Coming up dawn and the Sun* is once again a practical reality which we experience. 

This is never ending reality. Its a continues process 

So Our love should belong to the family of Sun, and Rain water 

*5) What About my life?*

Which concept do I use regularly or to which area  my life is inclined more??

Rain water concept

Sun and its powerful light 

Morning Clouds 

Morning Dew

Where do I belong? 

Where do my love and piety belong? 

*Finally God askes me : What can I do with You?*

*Think about it*

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

*Fr Maxim Dsouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*