The tragedy of Missing the Opportunity

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Ordinary Season: Thirty First Week : Tuesday*

*Gospel : Lk 14:12-14*

*First Reading : Phil 2:5-11*

*Responsorial Psalm : Ps 22:26b-27, 28-30ab, 30e, 31-32*

*The tragedy of Missing the  Opportunity*

*1) ‘Come, everything is now ready.’*

In today's Gospel we see the event of a great dinner 

To this dinner many guests were invited by the one who had organized the dinner 

He prepared everything and sent a grand invitation to the guests with the information *‘Come, everything is now ready.’*

It was an golden opportunity for the invited guests to participate in the dinner 

*2) The response of the guests*

Among the invited guests many started to give different reasons and consider them as excused 

The first one was busy with property

The second one was busy with business or things 

Third one was busy with marriage

So all of them gave diffent excuses 

*3) The possibility of the postponement*

The dinner is ready and time is also fixed 

The dinner can't be postponed, because such a a large amount of food can't be preserved for next day. It has to be eaten at that moment 

The other things, for example, examining the field, evaluating the oxen and spending time with the spouse can be done some other time as well 

There was a possibility of postponing these things, but not the celebration and the dinner 

*4) Missed Opportunity*

All those invited guests missed the Golden opportunity of participating in the dinner organized by the owner 

Ultimately the guests lost the opportunity. But the owner didn't lose anything, since there was an alternative arrangements by the owner 

These servants who missed the dinner have lost forever the opportunity. 

*5) The loss of all opportunity*

The blunder which these invited guests, will costs them very much 

Hence forth they will lose all the opportunities. They will not be called for any celebrations or events 

One decision will cost them very much. With their rejection of the invitation they have lost everything  

*6) Life has only one opportunity*

We have only one life. If the opportunity in life to do good is lost, then it is lost for ever 

There are things in life, which we can't get it back once they are lost 

We have to use the opportunity when life gives it. Once it is lost, we can't get it back 

*7) To the Life Situation : ‘Come, everything is now ready.’*

This particular aspect can be applied very well to our own life 

When we take birth God says *Come, everything is now ready.’*

When we are Children once again God says *Come, everything is now ready.’*

When we are young people we can here these words in a more powerful way *Come, everything is now ready.’*

When we are leaders of the community God says *‘Come, everything is now ready.’*

When we are elderly we here once again *‘Come, everything is now ready*

When we are about to die, we will here  *‘Come, everything is now ready.’*

In other words every day in our life there is a great invitation from the Lord with these words *‘Come, everything is now ready.’* to build the kingdom of God 

Our days are numbered. A day lost, lost for ever 

A opportunity missed, missed for ever

A good and moral life missed, is missed for ever 

There are certain things when they are lost, they are lost for ever

How about opportunity in my life to build the Kingdom of God?

*Think about it*

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

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*

The Question of Repayment

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Ordinary Season: Thirty First Week : Monday*

*Gospel : Lk 14:12-14*

*First Reading : Phil 2:1-4*

*Responsorial Psalm : Ps 131:1bcde, 2, 3*

*The Question of Repayment*

*1) The issue of repayment*

The word repayment appears three times with three diffent tenses 

Repayment

Repay 

Repaid 

These three words also indicates three levels of people with different significance 

In fact the word repayment is very familiar to us, and most of us insist on the word repayment

*2) Repayment - Something in return*

The word repayment is understood in the context of receiving something 

Especially when we have done some service, or given something to the other or in the case of some dues 

In all cases we expect something from the other and we always insist on repayment 

*3) The first level of Repayment*

In the Gospel the word repayment appears in the context of returning something back to us for the service we have done or the work we have performed 

This repayment comes from the human beings 

This repayment happens here and now, in the world 

This repayment happens as a settlement of everything, after-which it has no significance 

*4) The Second level - Repay*

This shows the inability of the person to repay for whatever the person has taken from another 

The second level does not get settled with the present situation 

The second level is a incomplete circle which continues for the next world 

There are two parties, one is unable to pay, second one is unable to receive, because of the inability of the person to pay

*5) Third Level - Repaid*

The third level happens at the last day 

There is one more party is involved here 

The party - Unable to repay 

The party - unable to receive 

The party - the one who pays the due 

This repayment is not immediate solution but a solution comes at last which has eternal value 

Here it the God who repays the person, who was unable to get it from the party when he lived on earth 

The third level of repayment has eternal value 

This payment changes our destiny towards heaven 

This repayment makes us holy and blessed 

This repayment gives us a new identity 

*6) The Choice for repayment*

All of us who live in this world, who always expect repayment from others, has two choices in this regard 

Repayment from the human beings 

Repayment from God 

One has temporal value and other one has eternal value

One is concerning the earthly things, other one is related to the heavenly things 

Choice is ours.

If so, what is my choice? 

*Think about it*

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

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*

The Richness of Love Commandment

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Ordinary Season: Thirtieth Week : Sunday*

*Gospel : Mk 12:28b-34*

*First Reading : Dt 6:2-6*

*Responsorial Psalm : Ps 18:2-3, 3-4, 47, 51*

*Second Reading - Heb 7:23-28*

*The Richness of Love Commandment*

*1) One Commandment*

The Gospel of the day invites us to reflect about the first, great and one important commandment of the Lord 

In short this commandment is called Love commandment 

Love of God and Love of the Neighborhour - in simplest form it is expressed in this way 

But this one commandment is really rich and has lots of implications 

*2) Love Commandment includes all Ten Commandments*

We see that God gave 10 commandments to Mosses to be followed by the people of Israel 

These Ten commandments become central aspect in the life of the people of Israel 

Later when Jesus spoke about the commandment, He spoke about one commandment, which is love commandment 

Careful reflection showes that all Ten Command are included in one Love Commandment 

One can not leave out any of those commandments in loving God and neighbor

*3) Love Commandment includes all sacrifices*

The Gospel also speaks about the sacrifice in the context of observing the commandment 

In fact the love commandment bases itself on the sacrifice 

Look at Jesus' sacrifice on the Cross, for the sake of  unconditional Love for the Father and to the neighbor

So every form  of sacrifice is included in the Love commandment

*4) Love commandment includes all types of Service*

Christian life and spirituality is built on the aspect of service 

No service no Christianity. 

If so, Love commandment can't exist with out the service

Jesus' life revolves arround service 

If so, the commandment of Love involves all forms of service

It is a love commandment for service

*5) Love Commandment, includes all sorts of Good Work*

We are representatives of Christ here on earth 

Jesus came to this world to do Good and he went on Doing Good

He did Good because he Loved every one, including his enemies 

So love commandment one again involves all the Good work which we can think of 

*6) Love Commandment Works on Forgiveness*

Without forgiveness one can't love another 

Love depends on forgiveness

One who is ready to forgive can love

Jesus forgave his enemies because he taught love your enemies

Accordingly he did and showed that love commandment is nothing other than forgiveness

*7) Follow only Love Commandment*

From above few things we can conclude that Love commandment is like a ocean, which has no boundaries 

It is vast like sky, which include evey single good thing 

So, one who is able to focus on love, or one who is motivated by Love can really observe the commandment of the Lord

How do I understand the commandment of Love??

*Think about it*

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

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*

Great Lessons from All Souls Day

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Ordinary Season: Thirtieth Week : Saturday*

*All Souls Day*

*Gospel : Jn 6:37-40*

*First Reading : Wis 3:1-9*

*Responsorial Psalm : Ps 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6*

*Great Lessons from All Souls Day*

*1) We are created for God*

All souls day, powerfully brings out this fact 

On this day, it is God who is at the centre of the celebration 

We celebrate the all souls day in connection with our relationship with God 

This day reminds us that we are really created for God and not for this world

*2) Journey starts from Birth*

All souls day, show us the destiny of our life. 

The destiny is to become one with God 

So, the journey towards God does not start from, after death, but journey starts from our birth 

After birth every event in our life is counted towards our destiny, that is eternal life 

This is a great lesson for us to learn from this day 

*3) Death is not the end*

All souls day reminds us that death is not the end of life 

There is life beyond grave and we look for that life 

All souls day reminds us that earthly life and the cemetery is only the passing phase of our life towards the destiny 

Beyond grave Our life has meaning

*4) Higher form of Life*

All souls day reminds us that there is a higher form of life 

Usually we focus on the earthly life. We think the luxurious life or the comfortable life here on earth is the best form of life 

But this day reminds us, the earthly luxurious or comfortable life has an end but, the life in heaven has no end

The life after death is far superior than the life here on earth 

*5) Temporality of Life*

All souls day we remember our dead members of the family 

On this day we visit the cemetery 

These exercises only show us the temporality of the earthly life 

This should help us to reflect about the eternal life and our preparations for the same 

*6) Reminder for our life*

All souls day is a reminder for all of us 

Finally what is important is soul, which lives for ever 

If our earthly lived life does not allow the soul to reach its permanent house, that is heaven, the purpose of life is lost 

Everything we do in our life should help our soul to reach God 

This day helps us to reflect more about soul than anything else 

All souls day will come every year reminding the importance of the Soul and destiny of the Soul

If so, how about my Soul? 

*Think about it*

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

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*

Great Lessons from Saints Life

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Ordinary Season: Thirtieth Week : Friday*

*Gospel : Mt 5:1–12a*

*First Reading : Rv 7:2-4, 9-14*

*Responsorial Psalm : Ps 24:1bc-2, 3-4ab, 5-6*

*Second Reading - 1 Jn 3:1–3*

*Great Lessons from Saints Life*

*1) There is a better Life*

All of us think about this earthy life very often. But the saints show us that there is better part in our life 

This better part of our life makes us holy, spiritual and finally a saintly person 

This better part of our life motivates us to live a life with human values and Gospel values 

*2) There is a better Place*

Most of the time we focus on this earthly place 

But saints show us a better place which we call heaven 

All these saints are in heaven, which is our permanent place, and saints give us the foretaste of this place to us. So that we can focus on this place

*3) There is a better relationship*

Saints also show us that apart from the blood relationship and other Hunan relationship, there is another level of relationship 

Such a relationship is called divine relationship. 

This divine relationship make our life holy and service oriented for the greater Glory of God 

Saints enjoyed this divine relationship while they lived on this earth, which helped them to become great saints in heaven 

*4) Saints show us that conversion is possible*

Many of the saints were sinners, yet they became saints

Behind this success story there is a miracle of conversion of the person 

Conversion of mind and heart finally led the person to change his/her life and to become great in the sight of God

Saints show us that conversion is possible at any moment of our life, which makes us real saints before God 

*5) From ordinary life to extraordinary life*

All saints lived a very normal life, doing their daily activities in perfect way 

Being faithful to ones daily duty one can become great saint 

Through ordinary life one can enter into the extraordinary life, which is governed by the divine principles

In other words, saints show us that through the ordinary things, one can achieve the extraordinary life in heaven

*6) We are called to become saints*

Sainthood is for all. The celebration of today's feast is to remind this divine call to all of us 

All saints are model for us. By imitating their virtuous life, we can definitely achieve sainthood

Our primary purpose is to achieve sainthood, for which we need to struggle everyday and move forward with great Hope 

Am I living a life, which could be the foundation of saintly life? 

Do I have a deeper desire to have my name in the saints list? 

What better things I can do for the greater glory of God?

*Think about it*

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

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*

Hen gathers her brood under her wings

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Ordinary Season: Thirtieth Week : Thursday*

*Gospel : Lk 13:31-35*

*First Reading : Eph 6:10-20*

*Responsorial Psalm : Ps 144:1b, 2:9-10*

*Hen gathers her brood under her wings*

*1) Hen Symbolises Motherly Love*

First of all Hen plays a role of a Mother 

Gathering the chicks under her wings in any situation shows the motherly love 

The hen is never tired of keeping the chicks under her wings. A symbol of great motherly Love 

*2) Hen Symbolises the Protection*

The chicks under the wings of mother hen are perfectly protected 

No one can easily take the chicks from her wings 

The extended wings shows the protection of Mother hen to the chicks 

*3) Watchfulness and Alertness:*

The Mother hen is always watchful and alert  to the surrounding situations 

Its eyes are very sharp in judging the situation. Within no time the mother hen is able to perceive the danger and give signal about the danger. So that chicks can immediately take shelter in her wings 

*4) The Space under the Wings*

First of all the mother Hen is able to accommodate all the chicks in her wings 

It is always visible that no hen is unable to accommodate its chicks under her wings 

If there are 25 chicks hen can accommodate and hen is able to extend her wings, as per the situation and number of the chicks 

Inside the wings there is warmth, protection and safety. 

That is the beauty of the Wings 

*5) Hen always leads the chicks*

The chicks usually follow the mother 

If some times, the chicks lag behind the mother hen will not go ahead. It comes back, takes the chick and then proceeds

For mother hen evey chick is very important. 

*6) The Sacrificial Aspect*

This is very much reflected in the Hen 

The mother hen is ready to lay down her life for the sake of the chicks 

She fights against all the challenges risking her own life 

The mother hen will never run away from the challenging  situations

*7) Jesus, Church and Hen*

The symbolism of Hen is very much applicable to Jesus and the mother church 

The qualities found in the hen is very much reflected and seen in Jesus and the mother church 

The mission of taking care of the children, as mother by Jesus and the mother church is very much seen and reflected. 

*8) My Mission*

My life should reflect the image of the Hen, in whatever I do 

As a hen I can't give up my mission in any adverse situations. 

Am I ready to play the role of a Hen in my mission for the Lord?

*Think about it*

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

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*

The Narrow Gate and Being Saved

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Ordinary Season: Thirtieth Week : Wednesday*

*Gospel : Lk 13:22-30*

*First Reading :Eph 6:1-9*

*Responsorial Psalm : Ps 145:10-11, 12-13ab, 13cd-14*

*The Narrow Gate and Being Saved*

*1) Two realities*

The Gospel of the day had two important realities, which are very necessary to our life 

Jesus speaks about narrow gate when some one asked about how many will be saved? 

Jesus shows that narrow gate is the only way through which one can be saved 

So what is this narrow way? 

*2) Various meanings for the Narrow gate*

From the life of Jesus one can conclude that these things come under the preview of Narrow gate. 

*The Cross* The way of the cross comes under the narrow gate. One has to really struggle to pass through this way 

*The Service* The way of service falls under narrow gate. Because it is thankless job and one has to work without any returns

*The Humility*  The way of humility can pass only through the narrow gate. Humility is a great virtue, which makes us to pass through the narrow gate 

*The sacrifice* The way of the sacrifice, once again, passes through the narrow gate. It has tremendous impact on our life 

*The Hard work* This is another aspect which passes through the narrow gate. Hard work involves sincerity and appreciation

*Prayer life* Once again the prayer life is the door which opens and closes the door of the narrow gate 

*Helping the needy* another way through which we can pass through the narrow gate is helping the most needy people 

*Conversion* The way of changing ones life or conversion of life passes through the way of narrow gate 

All these are various explanation for narrow gate 

*3) Deeper meaning of narrow gate*

Narrow gate is not only the physical structure of the gate 

Narrow gate has deeper meaning. It is very much applicable to thr Christian life and also to live a Fruitful life in the society 

Deeper meaning really challenges us to accept the narrow gate and the need of passing through it 

*4) Benefits of Narrow gate*

All the time one has to be alert 

Narrow gate allows a person to enter into the new life holiness and to live according to its standards

Narrow gate leads to the right path 

Christian life can pass only though the narrow path

Am I ready to go though the narrow path? 

*Think about it*

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

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*