Importance of the Key and the Kingdom of Heaven

Gospel Thoughts*

*Lent : Second Week: Monday*

*GOSPEL - Mt 16:13-19*

*First Reading - 1 Pt 5:1-4*

*Feast of the Chair of St Peter*

*Importance of the Key and the Kingdom of Heaven*

*1) Key is an important instrument*

We know the importance of the Key. 

When something is locked, it can't be opened unless we have the proper key. 

This instrument plays a very important role in our life. 

Usually today *Key* is used in everything and most of our modern things do have a lock. So there is a greater need of the key in order to deal with these things

*2)*Key is like a treasure*

It is a treasure because, it can open the way/door to the treasure

It is a treasure, because, key is valuable thing in our lives. 

Key is the symbol richness. Because key is shows that there is some hidden treasure. 

*3) Key is also the Symbol of Responsibility*

If some one gets key means it is the Symbol of responsibility

Only those who are in responsible position will be able to get the Key 

The New Parish Priest takes the Charge of the Parish by receiving the Key of the Tabernacle

So key Shows that there is a greater responsibility involved in it*

*4) Peter Received the Key of the Kingdom of Heaven*

Jesus gave him the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven 

This first of is the symbol of responsibility

Secondly it also indicates the authority of Peter. Only those who are in authority will be able to handle to key 

Thirdly key is also refers to the Leadership of Peter. By giving keys Jesus proclaims that Peter is the Future leader of the Church 

*5) Key is the Symbol of Trust and confidence*

Only trustworthy people will get the Keys and they will be handle in the right way. 

If some one gives keys means we are trusted by them and they have confidence in me. 

So key plays a very important role in our lives 

*6) One can't misuse the keys in ones life*

Jesus condemns the misuse of the Keys. 

*Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering.* Luke 11:52

One can't receive keys and keep quiet. He has the responsibility of doing great works 

*7) Like Peter we too are given Keys*

The key of Baptism, which open the door to Christian life and to all other sacraments 

The key of reconciliation, it opens our door of life to the mercy of God

The key of generosity, which opens God's salvation to us 

The key of simplicity, sincerity, humility, truthfulness, forgiveness, opens our life to Holiness

The key of Prayer open our very being to experience the divine power in us 

We have so many spiritual keys which make us great persons in the sight of God. 

*8) What do I do with the Keys*

Like those Lawyers who neither allowed others to enter nor they entered. Do I belong to this category?

Have I forgotten that I too am given so many spiritual keys to make my life fruitful and meaningful?

What are the ways through which I use the God given Keys in my life? 

*9) Key is small, but Lock is big*

Small key can open a big Lock and also the greater treasures 

Small key is very powerful and it can work wonders 

Do I consider the beauty of small key and big Lock?

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

*Fr Maxim Dsouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*

Why the Spirit drove Jesus into the Wilderness/Desert?

Gospel Thoughts*

*First Week : Lent: Sunday*

*GOSPEL - Mk 1:12-15*

*First Reading - Gn 9:8-15*

*Second Reading : 1 Pt 3:18-22*

*Why the Spirit drove Jesus into the Wilderness/Desert?*

*1) First of all to Pray*

In the life of Jesus, desert has a special place. It has special reference to the aspect of prayer 

*And in the morning, a great while before day, he rose up and went out, and departed into a desert place, and there prayed.* Mark 1:35

*But he withdrew himself in the deserts, and prayed* Luke 5:16 

Jesus also called His disciples to come to a deserted place *

*And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while* Mark 6:31.  

So it is clear that deserted place has a special significance to prayer. 

*2) Secondly to face the temptations of the Satan*

The Gospel clearly says that Satan with all its creativity was trying to tempt Jesus 

So for 40 days and 40 nights as Jesus prayed, Satan was continuously tempting Jesus through various ways. 

So wilderness became a place of facing terrible temptations as Jesus was praying intently

*3) Thirdly there were also beasts and wild animals in the wilderness*

Beasts and wild animals are the dangerous animals 

One can't play with the animals. One has to be very careful about them 

So wilderness shown along with the wild animals and beasts show us the gravity of the situation 

The temptations of the Satan's are like wild animals. They are dangerous and fatal. If one is not careful the there will be greater calamity in life 

*4) The Spirit drove Jesus into the wilderness to give the foretaste of Cross and His mission*

The wilderness experience is like a Cross experience. 

In a way it was a foretaste of Jesus' mission in the later days 

The Challenges that Jesus had to face in the wilderness will be similar and greater in His public ministry and also towards the end of His mission 

He will have to continue His mission among the wild animals and beasts (Pilot, Herod, Jewish officials etc)

So it gives us a foretaste of His mission, passion and death.

*5) Christian life is similar to desert experience*

Christian life is not a easy way of life. It is very challenging and demanding 

If Jesus had to go through this way, it is equally important that we also should go through this way of life 

God has not created us for a easy way of life but He has created us to face great challenges and win oven this world through the way of the Cross.

So Christian life involves terrible temptations of the Satan, life in the midst of wild animals and beasts (evil things, wordly things, pleasure, people those who are doing lots of evil things, persecutions, hurdles to live and spread our faith)

So Christian and Christian faith today is just like Jesus in the midst of wild animals, beasts and Satan the tempter 

*6) Jesus was driven by the Spirit after the Baptism*

This baptism is very important in the life of Jesus and for us to 

Baptism strengthened the relationship of the Father and Son 

It really manifested the identity of Jesus 

More over the Spirit came and dwelt in Jesus. 

So Jesus was full of power. This power and spirit is very important to face the wilderness. 

So after having received the power of the Spirit Jesus goes into the wilderness to face the challenges. 

So sufficient preparation is made to face the challenges

*7) Our Baptism and our life*

We too receive the baptism before the enter into the Wilderness. 

This baptism is the real strength for us to face the trails and temptations in the wilderness

So we are sufficiently given the spirit in the Baptism to face the challenges of the wilderness.

So God does not send us without giving us the proper measures to face the challenges the wilderness of our life

*8) The Angels in the Wilderness*

In the midst of wilderness *the angels ministered to him.*

The presence of Angels shows us the providence of God in the wilderness experience. 

God does not abandoned His children, especially at the time of wilderness experience. 

God intervenes in our life through His angels and protects us from all harm 

*9) Wilderness challenges and the power of prayer*

First of all there were many challenges and temptations in the wilderness. 

Situation was very dangerous in the wilderness. 

The only thing that saved Jesus was Prayer and Fasting 

These two powerful spiritual tools made Him to win  all the challenges of the Satan 

Prayer can win anything  in any situation. 

*10) Wilderness a place of Prayer also equally powerful to encounter powerful temptations*

Wilderness a place of prayer which Jesus wanted to experience, becomes a more powerful place of temptations and challenges

Where ever there is genuine holiness, Satan also becomes more active and creative 

So during this 40 days of wilderness - Lent - Satan and its temptations will become more powerful to take away from the grace of God. 

Be careful about this traitor and cheater 

May you have a wonderful wilderness experience during this lent.

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

*Fr Maxim Dsouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*

Jesus saw the Tax Collector but not the Taxes/Money

Gospel Thoughts*

*Saturday after Ash Wednesday*

*GOSPEL - Lk 5:27-32*

*First Reading - Is 58:9b-14*

*Jesus saw the Tax Collector but not the Taxes/Money*

*1) Jesus Saw the Tax Collector*

The Gospel begins with this sentence *Jesus saw a tax collector named Levi*

The seeing of Jesus about the tax collector is very important because, there were things around the Tax collector, but Jesus didn't see the things, but He saw the person - the Tax collector

*2) What is the significance of the Tax Collector*

During the time of Jesus, tax collectors were considered to be the great sinners 

Here when Jesus sees the tax collector Levi, this gesture of Jesus is not limited only to Levi 

The tax collector Levi represents the whole sinful race, who needs the mercy of the Lord 

So the tax collector has a deep meaning than the peripheral meaning. 

*3) Seeing of the Tax Collector within me*

As Jesus saw the tax collector at the tax office, I need to see a tax collector within me 

As we know that the tax collectors were considered as sinners, there is a sinful self - a tax collector with in me, which I need to find out 

*4) Lent is a time to find out this tax collector within me*

Lent is a special season to find out this tax collector who is hiding me 

When Jesus met the tax collector, he simply followed Jesus and got converted to a new life 

During lent it is very important that we search this tax collector who is hiding within me and to bring him before the Lord, so that the real conversion takes place 

*5) Why Jesus saw the tax collector and not the money*

Who concern of Jesus was the person and not the things

Jesus saw the tax collector because His heart and Mind was for the tax collectors and sinners

Jesus saw the tax collectors because He loved them and not the things of this world 

*For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also*  - Matthew 6:21. Jesus' treasure was the sinners. So His heart was for the tax collector and not for things 

*6) Who/What do I see?*

Jesus saw the tax collector with a greater purpose 

Where do I see? Or what do I see in my day today life? 

Some see the money and go behind it 

Some see the things and desire for it 

Others see, beauty, external glory, pomp, power and achievements

Still others see their self as, so important, powerful, influential, mightier, all knowing, and indispensable

Depends on ones aptitude one will develop his/her out look towards people and the things 

*7) Where do I see the tax collector?*

Do I have the tendency to see the tax collector only in others?

Am I able to see a tax collector in my own life? 

How many tax collectors you can see in your own life? 

*8) Sacrament of Reconciliation is the tool to treat the Tax collector*

Through the sacrament of reconciliation one can bring this tax collector to the presence of Jesus 

In other words through the sacrament of reconciliation Jesus encounters this tax collector in our life and asks him to follow Jesus 

Levi the Tax collector followed Jesus and he became Mathew the Evangelist

That is the power of Jesus' seeing and following Him.

*9) The Challenge between the Tax collector and the Things/Money*

Spiritual things calls us to see the tax collector in and around us and also within us 

The world tempts to see the things/money at the tax booth leaving the tax collector. 

So there is constant struggle to see the tax collector and the taxes/money 

How can I face this challenge during this Lent? 

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

*Fr Maxim Dsouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*

The genuine and real fast which is demanded of us during Lent

Gospel Thoughts*

*Friday after Ash Wednesday*

*GOSPEL - Is 58:1-9a*

*First Reading - Mt 9:14-15*

*The genuine and real fast which is demanded of us during Lent*

*1) Our Understanding of Fast/Fasting*

Normally we understand fasting means abstaining from the food. In orther words giving up those items which are very dear to us.

At times our understanding of fasting only limited to the area of food and drinks 

Since this is our understanding many people give up the favourite food and special eatable items in order to keep up the spirit of lent 

But the question is does fasting is only limited to the area of food, drinks and eatable things? 

Isaiah gives us a beautiful explanation of the real meaning of fasting 

*2) The various aspects which are involved in the real or genuine fasting*

*A) releasing those bound unjustly*

First of all in this category I need to include myself 

Am I unjustly bound by something in my life? 

Some of us unjustly bound by anger, jealousy, pride, selfishness and various other evil things 

The genuine spirit of Lent and fasting must help me to release myself from these unjust things 

The process of relieving myself from these things involves a real and genuine fast 

*B) Untying the thongs of the yoke*

At times Yoke is a symbol of slavery. 

Lenten fast involves in untying the various thongs of the yoke

Some of us have been made slave by the yoke of drinks, drugs, internet, uncontrolled desire for food/fast food, and addiction to various other things 

So Lenten fast should help me to untying myself from the thongs of these yokes.

*C) Setting free the oppressed*

Oppression reduces a human being into the level of animal. 

Oppressor considers the oppressed as the slave 

Giving freedom from the oppression should be the real spirit of the Lenten fasting 

Either I myself is oppressed by various crisis, or the other is oppressed by various problems. 

Lack for confidence, love, support, acceptance, may make a person to feel oppressed. 

*D) Sharing your bread with the hungry*

Anything can be postponed. But not the hunger 

There is question of postponing the hunger. It has to be met quickly

Fasting has to do a lot with sharing with the bread. 

One is unable to eat the food of five people. But five can share the food of one person. This is the beauty of sharing the bread. 

*E) Sheltering the oppressed and the homeless*

Give shelter to *Love* in your life. At times love becomes homeless in my life 

Give shelter to *generosity* in your life 

Give shelter to *Peace* in your life 

Give shelter to *humility, forgiveness, sacrifice, purity, care, concern* in your life. 

Give shelter to *your neighbour* by having a good and cordial relationship. 

These are some of the important values which may disappear from our *home - so called our life* and may become homeless.

So lent is the time to give shelter to these homeless values in my life.

*F) Clothing the naked when you see them*

Cloth your nakedness of stinginess by the garment of generosity

Cloth your nakedness of gossip by the garment of good words 

Cloth your nakedness of wordly pleasures, pomp and glory by the garment of simplicity of life

Cloth your nakedness of greed by the garment of sharing and giving 

This process leads to the real spirit of fasting 

*G) Not turning your back on your own*

Don't turn your back to your own voice of the conscience

Don't turn your back to your own feelings of, guilt, feelings of sorry

Don't turn your back to your own shortcomings, mistakes, problems, crisis, and so on 

So Isaiah gives us a real meaning of the spirit of fasting 

This fast can be seen in my own life or also seen in reference to my neighbour

Am I ready to undergo such fast instead of mere giving up some little food. 

Think about it

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

*Fr Maxim Dsouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*

Best offer of the Lent : Life and prosperity, death and doom

Gospel Thoughts*

*Thursday after Ash Wednesday*

*GOSPEL - Lk 9:22-25*

*First Reading - Dt 30:15-20*

*Best offer of the Lent : Life and prosperity, death and doom*

*1) God's Great offer to the mankind*

In the first reading of today from the book of Deuteronomy shows us the best offer of God to us 

Life and prosperity or death and doom 

Here nothing is forced upon the human beings. Rather it comes as an offer to us. We are free to choose whatever we wish 

*2) Lent begins with this great offer*

It is wonderful to begin the lent with this offer.

All of us by nature would like to choose life and prosperity than death and doom. 

No one wants to choose death and doom. 

If so what are the ways which are available for us to choose life and prosperity

*3) Various ways to choose life and prosperity*

*The commandments of the Lord* : by following the commandments of the Lord, automatically we choose life and prosperity

*Cross* Taking up ones Cross and following Jesus daily will make us to choose life and prosperity

*Life* : Living or spending ones life for Jesus or for building the kingdom of God will help us to choose life and prosperity

*Martyrdom* Loosing ones life for Jesus will make a person to choose life and prosperity

*4) Lent gives special ways to choose life and prosperity*

*Prayer* : Prayer gives a automatic entry into the aspect of life and prosperity

*Fasting* Fasting has tremendous power to help us in the process of choosing life and prosperity

*Almsgiving* This is an practical way through which we gain life and prosperity

Lenten spirit gives special significance to these above things 

*5) Life and prosperity in my life*

The moment I foster the values like, service, sacrifice, generosity, humility, truth, forgiveness, love, care, concern helping hand, and taking care of one another will help us to choose life and prosperity

*6) The shades of death and doom in my life*

Anger, jealousy, pride, arrogance, selfishness, self righteousness, revenge, greed, desire for wordly things, pleasures of this world will make a person to choose death and doom

*7) What is my Choice?*

As Lenten season gives us the opportunity to choose, what is my choice? 

Nothing works automatically. One needs to work for it 

If so what will I choose? 

Life and prosperity or death and doom? 

Its not enough to have desire, but necessary to work for it

Will I be ready?

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

*Fr Maxim Dsouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*

Am I ready to tear my heart? Tear your hearts and not your garments

Gospel Thoughts*

*Ash Wednesday*

*GOSPEL - Mt 6:1-6, 16-18*

*First Reading - Jl 2:12-18*

*Second Reading - 2 Cor 5:20-6:2*

*Tear your hearts and not your garments*

*1) Significance of tearing something*

Tearing is one of the important things which we use in our day today life. 

By tearing one can separate one thing from another 

By tearing one can divine a particular things and make it two or more 

By tearing we can pull out a particular thing which is no more needed

By tearing we put apart the same thing into two or more units 

*2) Tearing of the heart*

Prophet Joel uses this expression as we begin the lent 

Heart is a very important organ of the body and centre of all feeling 

Heart is the symbol of love and it is the center of Feeling of the Love 

*3) Why we have to tear the heart? 

As we know that the heart is the centre of emotions and feeling 

So one needs to tear from the heart all those emotions and feelings which do not help us to grow in our spiritual life 

So this is the reason why we have to tear our heart and not the Garments 

*4) Various things to tear from the Heart*

As we begin the lent there are many things to tear from the heart. Some of them may be following 

We need to tear from our heart the feelings of hatred, jealousy, revengeful attitude and selfishness 

We need to tear from our heart the feelings of gossip, unforgiveness, pride, greed, anger, and self-righteousness

We need to tear from our hearts the desire for money, power, sensual pleasures, wordly things, pomp and glory 

We need to tear from our hearts the attitude of arrogance, cunningness, cheating, and hypocrisy

These are the various things that we need to tear from our hearts 

*5) Tearing is a painful process*

Tearing is not easy. It is a very painful process. So it needs lots of efforts and determination

Some times we need to use so much of force to tear a particular thing. 

Some times tearing leaves a permanent mark and it is not easy to hide it 

Even then we have to use this technique in tearing so many things in our day today life 

So even in our spiritual life the same logic is used and we need to take care in tearing the bad things from our hearts inorder to purify our life 

*6) Jesus gives us Three important things to tear our hearts*

*Prayer* - Lent gives special significance to prayer and this technique of prayer can be used to tear unholy things from our hearts. 

This is a very powerful technique

*Fasting* Another powerful technique to tear the unnecessary and useless things from our heart. 

This technique has very good effect in bringing the desired results

*Almsgiving* - This is very practical and challenging technique to tear or to pullout  all the unholy things from our hearts 

By using these three techniques one can definitely tear ones hearts from all unholy things and make it pure and holy 

*7) Lent begins with tearing the heart*

If lent begins with this gesture means we can understand the gravity and importance of this - tearing of the heart 

Lent can't be made fruitful unless we tear our hearts from unholy things 

So let us begin this holy season of Lent by tearing our own hearts and making it pure and holy 

*Wish you a fruitful and  effective Season of Lent/Grace*

*Wish you a grace filled Ash Wednesday*

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

*Fr Maxim Dsouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*

Do I fail to see what I am supposed to see?

Gospel Thoughts*

*Sixth Week : Tuesday*

*GOSPEL - Mk 8:14-21*

*First Reading - Gn 6:5-8; 7:1-5, 10*

*Do I fail to see what I am supposed to see?*

*Jesus says "Do you have eyes, and fail to see?*

*1) The disciples of  failed to see the reality*

The disciples of Jesus failed to see the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. 

In spite of Jesus' warning they are not able to see the various ways of the hypocritical life of the Pharisees

That is why Jesus questions them saying *You have eyes but you fail to see?*

*2) To see hypocrisy one not only needs the eye sight, but needs insight*

The disciples were seeing only from their physical eyesight, which was not powerful to identify the hypocrisy of the Pharisees 

To identify such hypocrisy one needs deep insight, only then one is able to see such things 

The lack of insight may lead to may problems which may be at times very fatal. That's why one needs to development the insight along with eyesight 

*3) To see the yeast of the Pharisees one needs deep insight*

Jesus makes a mention of the yeast of the Pharisees

Yeast works in an hidden and silent way 

Yeast makes the things bigger than the actual reality 

Yeast works from within and gets mixed one with the flour 

So *yeast of the Pharisees* refers to the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. 

Just like yeast which makes the flour to come up (Show off) the Pharisees project themselves as holy and good people, even though they are not 

So one needs to be careful about the yeast of the Pharisees and to see that one needs special insight, which the disciples didn't have 

*4) Disciples saw only the loaves of bread and eating material*

Their whole attention was on the loaves of bread rather than anything else 

That is why when Jesus was speaking some serious things, they were thinking about the bread and scarcity of bread 

So the disciples were over worried about bread and physical hunger 

As long as one concentrates only on bread, he/she will be unable to see the greater realities of life

So insight in needed to see the greater realities of life other than the bread  

*5) Am I able to see the greater realities of the Kingdom of God*

  

The greater realities of the Kingdom of God are the following 

Forgiveness

Unconditional Love

Service

Humility

Washing of the feet 

Generosity

Faithfulness

Purity of thoughts and deeds

The above kingdom values I must see first of in my own life and then in my neighbours life 

If I am able witness these things in my life and in others life then my life will be a successful one 

*6) What do I see today in my life?*

A meaningful life 

A kind of alertness in my life to face all kinds of evil things 

Do I see a kind of watchfulness in my life to defeat the snares of the devil 

Do I see a merciful heart in me to see the misery of my neighbour?

*7) What type of eyes do I have?*

Eyes of love 

Eyes of forgiveness

Eyes of service 

Eyes of humility

Eyes of gratitude

Eyes of healing 

Eyes of generosity

Eyes of faithfulness

Or 

Eyes of revenge, anger, selfishness, hypocrisy, greed, jealousy, etc.

Think About it

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

*Fr Maxim Dsouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*