Love as Commandment

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Ordinary Season : 30th Week : Sunday*

*Gospel : Mt 22:34-40*

*First Reading : Ex 22:20-26*

*SECOND READING - 1 Thes 1:5c-10*

*Love as Commandment*

*1) Why Love is Commandment?*

The Gospel of the day Speaks about the Love as Commandment

*“Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?”* To this question gives a simple answer that Love of God and Love of the Neighbour is the greatest  commandment 

A commandment is one of the important law, which a Christian must obey or follow 

*2) Love As commandment*

When Love becomes an commandment there is no choice to love or not to love 

It simply says that one is supposed to love. There is no question of not loving at all 

So commandment of Love says, one must live in love and not otherwise 

*3) Love is a commandment because God is Love*

There is no existence for human being without God. 

So to depend on God means to Love God. Anything and everything with God, depends on Love 

There is no other way than Love. So it becomes a commandment of Love 

*4 Love is Like a Breath*

There is no choice either to breath or not to breath 

Without breathing one can't survive. So breathing becomes commandment in the sense that one has to follow it. Without that one can't survive

In our life too, love is like a breath. It gives us life and helps us to love

We obey to love from the moment of our conception and it continues till we die

Our life is nothing but the Commandment of Love 

*5) Two areas of the commandment*

*Love of God*: Once again when we speak about the love of God, we have to obey to the one from whom comes the power of Love 

*Love of the Neighbour* : When it becomes a commandment, there is no chice there. The only choice is to love the neighbour 

*6) Three Angles of the Commandment of Love*

*With all your Mind* In love, mind and reason is very important. It helps us to understand the purity of genuine love and to choose the unconditional love 

*With all your Heart* Heart is the center of Love. Love should come from heart. Heart is also the symbol emotions and power of Love 

*With All your Soul/Strength* This angle of Love makes the person to act and do something in an concrete situation. 

Love without Works is nothing and Works without Works is useless

 

*Think about it*

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

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*

He chose Twelve, whom he also named Apostles: Jesus Chose us and we are Called Christian

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Ordinary Season : 29th Week : Saturday*

*Feast of Saints, Simon and Jude, Apostles*

*Gospel : Lk 6:12-16*

*First Reading : Eph 2:19-22*

*He chose Twelve, whom he also named Apostles: Jesus Chose us and we are Called Christian*

*1) Who is an Apostle?*

Jesus Chose 12 from among His disciples and called them as Apostles 

The Greek word apóstolos means "one who is sent out," giving it a proper connection with the word apostle. 

The word’s original English meaning of "messenger" referred to the followers of Jesus. 

The modern meaning can be more secular, with the word appropriately being applied to any leader breaking new ground or supporting an important new idea

*2) Apostle is the one Who is sent out*

He is sent out to carry Jesus everywhere

He is sent out to spread the message of Jesus 

He is sent out to represent Jesus wherever he goes 

He is sent out to build the Kingdom of God 

He is sent out to spread  the message love and forgiveness 

He is sent out for the mission of Jesus 

*3) Jesus Chose us and we are called Christians*

A person who follows Jesus and accepts his teachings and values is called Christian 

Like apostles we are called and sent out for a particular purpose 

So what is our mission? What should be communicated to others when some one hears about Christian? 

*4) The Role of a Christian*

Christian always Has *Christ* in its very name. There is no Christian with out Christ 

*Christians means Forgiveness* : We are sent out by the Lord to show the power of forgiveness to the world 

*Christians means service* : We are sent out into the World, to show the miraculous power of service, which transforms the person 

*Christians means Humility* We are sent out to show the ability of Humility in every situation

*Christians means Sacrifice* This is the best definition of Christians. We are sent out to show that nothing can beat sacrifice in ones life 

*Christianns means Love* We are sent out to show Who God is. God is love and wherever there is Love there is God 

*Christians means Generosity* We are sent out to Show that generosity is the aspect, which makes us great in the sight of God and others 

*5) What is my Mission?*

I am chosen and sent out by the Lord, for His mission 

The very fact that I bear the name Christian, I must carry Christ in my life and in the works that I do 

Any work that I do, which takes away Christ, then I am no longer a Christian

As a Christian how do I carry Christ in my life to give to others? 

*Think about it*

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

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*

Am I able to interpret the present time of my Life?

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Ordinary Season : 29th Week : Friday*

*Gospel :  Lk 12:54-59*

*First Reading : Rom 7:18-25a*

*Am I able to interpret the present time of my Life?*

*1) Interpretation of the Nature*

The Gospel of the day speaks about the interpretation of the nature 

By seeing some signs in the nature, one can easily interpret the nature. 

Most of the times our interpretations of the nature become  true, especially about rain and other simple things

*2) Jesus speaks about the interpretation of present time*

From the nature Jesus comes to the interpretation of  present time 

This present time always has the reference to our life. Present time can't separate from our daily life 

If so what is the interpretation of the  present time of our life?  

*3) positive aspect of our life*

When we interpret the present time of our life, we can count all the positive things in our life 

The interpretation of our life, at present depends on God's blessings, good things, the good values we have, good family, good carrier, good mission, good position, good health, good time, joyful moments, lovely friends, and so many other good things 

Interpret life from these things. We can really see the beauty of our life 

*4) Negative aspects of our Life*

We need to interpret our life at present from the negative aspects of our life 

The sinful nature of our life 

The weaknesses of our life 

The bodily passions of our life 

The cravings for power, wealth, money, position, authority, bodily pleasures in our life 

We need to interpret our life from these things, to know the present situation of our life 

*5)  Interpret life from present day Challenges*

The Challenges of media 

The challenges of internet

The challenges of mobile

The challenges of drugs 

The challenges of alcohol

The challenges of consumerism

The challenges of liberal attitude in morality and in faith matters  

*6) Need of interpretation*

There is no doubt that we need to interpret the present time of our life

By interpreting the present situation of our own life from different angles will help us to see the life in its reality and to take the necessary steps for improving the quality of our life 

Such interpretation has deep implications on our life  while moving towards the holiness

*Think about it*

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

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*

The possible reasons for setting the earth on Fire

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Ordinary Season : 29th Week : Thursday*

*Gospel : Lk 12:49-53*

*First Reading : Rom 6:19-23*

*The possible reasons for setting the earth on Fire*

*1) Fire immediately draws our Attention*

Whenever and wherever there is fire, it immediately draws our attention 

Fire can't remain in silent or in slow motion. It is always active and spreads very fast 

*2) Fire is not limited to any Religion*

Fire goes beyond the boundaries of religion, caste and creed 

Fire is no way limited to few but it is the part and parcel of our life. 

Fire is needed for everyone. This shows the universality of the fire 

*3) Fire brings us everyone together*

Fire has the capacity to bring the people together. When there is fire, people don't see the religion, status, economic conditions, culture or any other views. 

Simply everyone comes together and work together. So fire has the aspect of Unity and not division 

*4) Fire has the Quality to change*

Fire can change anything that comes into its contact 

It changes everything into ashes. This quality of bringing the change is also very important to Jesus 

The fire also purifies everything that comes into its contact. Purification is at the heart of fire 

*5) Fire has the quality of destruction*

Fire can destroy anything that comes into its contact

All the unwanted things we collect and then we put it in the fire. These unwanted things are destroyed by fire

*6) The Speciality of Jesus' Fire*

In today's Gospel Jesus speaks about the fire and setting the earth on Fire 

Jesus is not speaking about the physical fire. The fire which Jesus speaks is very clear from His life and Mission 

The fire of forgiveness

The fire of love 

The fire of humility 

The fire of service

The fire of mercy 

The fire of salvation

The fire of liberation from sin

The fire of patience

The fire of trust 

The fire of generosity

The fire of prayer 

The fire of faithfulness

The fire of commitment

The fire of goodwill 

The fire of sacrifice

The fire of courage

The fire of the Cross

The fire of friendship

The fire of Hope 

Jesus has set the World on these fires. Now this fire is burning everywhere. 

Many are trying to extinguish this fire through various means. But no one will succeed, because  the fire set by Jesus is very powerful and no one can extinguish this fire 

What is my role in the mission of setting the fire? 

How far the fire of Jesus is burning 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*

Thief who breaks the House and the Thief who breaks the Life

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Ordinary Season : 29th Week : Wednesday*

*Gospel : Lk 12:39-48*

*First Reading : Rom 6:12-18*

*Thief who breaks the House and the Thief who breaks the Life*

*1) Thief in the Gospel*

The Gospel of the day speaks about the thief and Jesus warns us to be careful about this thief. 

Usually all of us are frightened about the Thief and most of the times we are careful about the thieves

*2) The Thief who breaks the House*

The Gospel specifically speaks about the thief who is ready to break the House 

We are familiar with such kind of thieves and we are careful about them 

Such thieves break open the house in order to steal, money, Gold and valuable things 

Our spontaneous response to these thieves would be a kind of preparedness to face them in any situations

*3) Our preparedness towards the Thief who breaks the house*

Every one is careful about these thieves 

All of us make maximum preparations to protect our things from these thieves 

In a way, our preparedness to challenge and to face these thieves would be commendable. Therefore, usually thieves do take chance to break open our houses 

*4) Thieves who break our life*

Like those thieves who break our houses there is also another category of thieves who break our life

These thieves are much more dangerous than those thieves who break our houses 

The Gospel calls us to reflect about such thieves and to prepare ourselves to face them in any situations 

*5) Thieves who break our life*

Satan/Devil 

Sin 

Pride

Arrogance

Hypocrisy

Duplicity

Revenge

Anger 

Selfishness 

Jealousy

Gossip 

Laziness

Self-righteousness 

All these thieves break our life in an unexpected time and unexpected ways

*6) How is my preparedness?*

So there clear understanding about the thieves who break our life. If so what is my preparedness? 

What is my strategy to face the thieves of sin, arrogance, gossip selfishness and pride? 

What is my preparedness to face the Satan and devil? 

What is my preparedness to counter attack the thief, who is all the time ready to break my spiritual life? 

Ultimately what is my preparedness to face the thieves who steal the beauty of our life? 

*Think about it*

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

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*

Light up your Lamps

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Ordinary Season : 29th Week : Tuesday*

*Gospel : Lk 12:35-38*

*First Reading : Rom 5:12, 15b, 17-19, 20b-21*

*Light up your Lamps*

*1) First lighted lamp at the time of Baptism*

Every Christian begins His/Her faith journey through the lighted candle at the time of Baptism

We have given the light of Christ at the time of Baptism, and we are asked to gaurd that light throughout our life 

*2) Lighted Lamp is the Symbol of presence of Someone*

If people are absent in certain place, definitely there will not be light 

Lighted lamp or lighted candle is found where the people are present 

In this way, the lighted candle at the time of Baptism represents the presence of the Risen Christ 

*3) Lighting up the lamp is a ongoing process*

The Gospel of the day speaks about lighting the lamp as a sign of preparation to receive the Master 

In this context the lighted lamp symbolizes the preparedness to receive the Master at any time 

The lighted lamp symbolizes that the servant is ready to receive the Master at any time 

*4) The Mission of lighting the Lamp in our Life*

There are numerous areas in our life, which we need to keep burning, in order to prepare ourselves to receive the Master 

The lighting of the lamp of faith

The lighting of the lamp of prayer 

The lighting of the lamp of forgiveness

The lighting of the lamp of humility

The lighting of the lamp of service 

The lighting of the lamp of simplicity

The lighting of the lamp of sacrifice

The lighting of the lamp of generosity

The lighting of the lamp of Hope

The lighting of the lamp of patience

The lighting of the lamp of sincerity

*5) Light dispels the Darkness*

Jesus is the light of the World and He has chosen every one of us to become the light of the world 

Every burning lamp will dispel the darkness which is around us 

Imagine that everyone's life becomes a burning lamp, the World would become heaven

That is the power of light and burning lamp 

A Christian is sent into the World to light the lamp and dispel the darkness through his/her  life 

Am I ready to make my life and burning lamp?

*Think about it*

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

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*

The importance of Checking ones greed

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Ordinary Season : 29th Week :Monday*

*Gospel : Lk 12:13-21*

*First Reading : Rom 4:20-25*

*The importance of Checking ones greed*

*1) Gospel on the evils of Greed*

The Gospel of the day speaks about the evils of greed 

Greed is a desire for more food, money, power, etc. than you really need

Greed is one of the seven capital sins which destroy our life 

Therefore Jesus tells us to be aware of the evils of greed 

*2) The various faces of Greed*

The Gospel of the day lists out the various faces of the evils of greed. They are the following 

*A) Greed makes a person to think only about the self*

This is one of characteristics of greed. The rich person in today's Gospel asks *What shall I do for I do not have space to store my harvest?*

*B) Greed makes a person to do useless work*

The person destroys the existing store house and builds once again 

Instead of this, he could have built new store leaving the existing ones. This is what the greedy person does 

*C) Greedy persons life centers around the material things*

The desire of the flesh and satisfying the desires of flesh is the main aim of the greedy person 

Their Philosophy is, rest, eat, drink, be merry!”’

*D) Greedy person believes in storing and not in giving*

Greedy person thinks life depends on the things stored up for the daily use. *More things, more life* this philosophy rules the life 

*E) Greedy persons are fools in the sight of God*

The greedy person of the Gospel is addressed as fool by God 

Greed makes a person fool and not wise

*3) Greed does not allow the person to enjoy the life*

Greedy person always thinks of getting and possessing more and more 

In this race he/she forgets to find meaning in life. The present moment is always forgotten and always future is thought about 

As a result life becomes a meaningless exercise 

*4) Nothing can be taken with us*

At the end of life, nothing can be taken with us 

God clearly says about this fact *You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?’*

*5) Check your greed*

In today's Gospel Jesus tells all of us to check the aspect of greed in our life 

When a person desires more than what is really needed, then one becomes the greedy person 

Since greed destroys our life, we need to destroy the greed, before it destroys our life 

Life lived in greed has no meaning at all 

Self control and self discipline is the best ways to control and check the greed

*Think about it*

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

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*