The contradiction between the King and the Prisoner

GOSPEL THOUGHTS*

*Ordinary Season : 21st Week : Tuesday*

*Gospel : Mk 6:17-29*

*First Reading : Jer 1:17-19*

*The contradiction between the King and the Prisoner*

*1) Is Herod King?*

The Gospel narration tells us that, Herod was called as King. So he is known as King Herod 

At the out set He is King. He is the King of the Place, He has his people, soldiers, power, authority, influence, and everything 

So from this point of view Herod is a king. 

*2) Is John the Baptist  a Prisoner?*

To this question, answer is He is the prisoner

He has been put behind the bar, by King Herod for Questioning and Condemning the immoral life of King Herod 

From this point of view, John was a prisoner

*3) Who is the Real King?*

To this question when we deeply reflect, we come to know that John the Baptist is the real King 

He is the King of Courage

He is the king of justice

He is the king of Sacrifice

He is the King of Morality

He is the king of Truth 

He is the King of Love 

He is the King of conscience

One who is king of these eternal things, he/she is the real king 

*4) Herod is the Real Prisoner*

From the Gospel it is very clear that

Herod was the prisoner of his authority

Herod was the prisoner of his power 

Herod was the prisoner of his sensual pleasure 

Herod was the prisoner of his insecurity

Herod was the prisoner of the fear of losing everything

Herod was the prisoner of his wife 

Herod was the prisoner of his dead conscience

Herod was the prisoner of the falsehood

Herod was the prisoner of destruction

When a person acts on these aspects he becomes a prisoner and not the King 

*5)  King Lives, Prisoner Dies*

John the Baptist who stood for truth, justice, courage, morality, sacrifice, still lives and lives for ever 

John lives for ever through His martyrdom

Herod, who killed John the Baptist, dies eternally because of his evil things 

He is a dead man, whose name is difficult to find in the book of Life 

*6) Am I Living as King or Prisoner?*

The way of Jesus makes us real kings in the Kingdom of heaven 

The king of service

The King of Love

The King of sacrifice

The king of humility

The King of morality

The king of moral courage

The king of forgiveness

The king of simplicity

But when we follow the standards of this world 

We become the prisoners of hatred 

Prisoners of power 

Prisoners of authority

Prisoners of wealth 

Prisoners of greed 

Prisoners of publicity

Prisoners of popularity

Prisoners of pleasure

Prisoners of sensuality

Prisoners of hypocrisy

So am I living a life of King or Prisoner?

*Think about it*

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

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*

Hypocrisy Leads to Blindness

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Ordinary Season : 21st Week : Monday*

*Gospel : Mt 23:13-22*

*First Reading : 1 Thes 1:1-5, 8b-10*

*Hypocrisy Leads to Blindness*

*1) Jesus condemns the Hypocrisy*

In the Gospel of the day we see that Jesus is condemning the Hypocrisy of the Scribes and Pharisees

Jesus becomes very critical and condemns directly when it comes to hypocrisy. 

This is the message that, God does not tolerate the aspect of Hypocrisy in our life. It is very dangerous and spoils our life 

*2) Hypocrisy Leads to Blindness*

In today's Gospel Jesus uses the word *Blind* three times 

Jesus calls them blind Guides

Jesus calls them blind fools 

Jesus calls them blind ones 

So the concept of Blindness is very much attached to the hypocrisy

*3) The Danger of Blind Guides*

From the Gospel it is very clear that a person with hypocrisy becomes a blind guide 

When a guide becomes blind one can imagine the danger involved in it 

Since the person himself is blind about the various things, following his/her guidance will be fatal to our life 

*4) The danger of Blind Fools*

We also see that, hypocrisy leads to blindness and that blindness makes us fools 

A fool lacks the necessary knowledge to do the normal work in a systematic way 

A fool becomes a laughing stock for many 

A fool loses his/her self respect

So hypocrisy leads to such s shameful state 

*5) Hypocrisy blinds the vision into deeper reality*

This is also very clear from the Gospel 

Since the hypocrisy blinds ones vision the person is not able to see the greater realities and the good things 

A person with hypocrisy, sees only external things and gives importance to external things 

The external show off becomes a platform to cover up the inner vacum and emptiness

*6) Am I a victim of Hypocrisy?*

Have I become the slave of hypocrisy? 

Hypocrisy makes us to act in two ways. We try to show to the world what we are not.  

Am I genuine in my relationship and in my dealings?

*Think about it*

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

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*

Jesus is the Key to the Kingdom of Heaven

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Ordinary Season : 21st Week : Sunday*

*Gospel : Mt 16:13-20*

*First Reading : Is 22:19-23*

*SECOND READING - Rom 11:33-36*

*Jesus is the Key to the Kingdom of Heaven*

*1) Key in Today's Liturgy*

The first reading from the book of Isaiah and the Gospel reading from Matthew speaks about the *Key* and its importance

First reading tells us *I will place the key of the House of David on Eliakim’s shoulder; when he opens, no one shall shut when he shuts, no one shall open.*

The Gospel reading tells us *I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”*

*2) Keys Speaks about Opening and Closing*

Both the readings speaks about opening and closing of something

The first reading tells us whatever is opened by Eliakim’s can be closed by anyone and whatever closed by Him can't be opened by anyone 

What a authority has been given to Him by the Lord 

In the Gospel it is Peter, who has been given the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven to Open and Close about the riches of it, in this world and to be get nourished by it for the life of the Kingdom of Heaven

*3) Jesus is the Key of the Kingdom*

Before Eliakim’s and Peter got the Keys of the Kingdom, it was with Jesus 

In fact Jesus is the *Key* to kingdom of Heaven. It means only Jesus has the Power to open and close the Kingdom God 

But the Generosity, Love and Trust of God is so deep, he gave those keys to 

Eliakim and Peter

This is the greatness of God 

*4) Jesus as the Key of the Kingdom of Heaven Opened so many Things*

Jesus as the Key, opened Love 

Jesus as the Key, opened Forgiveness

Jesus as the Key, opened Humility

Jesus as the Key, opened Service

Jesus as the Key, opened Truth

Jesus as the Key, opened sacrifice

Jesus as the Key, opened salvation

Jesus as the Key, opened God's Mercy 

Jesus as the Key, opened divine  friendship

No power on earth can close these things from the Life of the Human beings 

*5) Jesus as the Key of the Kingdom of Heaven Closed so many Things*

Jesus as the Key, closed Hatred

Jesus as the Key, closed revenge

Jesus as the Key, closed Death 

Jesus as the Key, closed greed 

Jesus as the Key, closed arrogance

Jesus as the Key, closed hypocrisy

Jesus as the Key, closed jealousy

Jesus as the Key, closed gossip

There is no place for these above things in the Kingdom of Heaven 

*6) We are Given the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven*

Like Peter all of us have been given keys of the Kingdom of heaven in the sacrament of Baptism

All the above mentioned things are the various keys of the Kingdom of heaven. We are suppose to  use them and try to open the kingdom of God, in order to enter into it.

Am I able to use these keys in responsible ways to open the Kingdom of Heaven?

*Think about it*

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

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*

Authority/Power and Responsibility go together

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Ordinary Season : 20th Week : Saturday*

*Gospel : Mt 21:1-12*

*First Reading : Ru 2:1-3, 8-11; 4:13-17*

*Authority/Power and Responsibility go together*

*1) The Chair of Moses*

The Gospel of the day, makes a mention of the Chair of Moses 

This chair symbolizes the position and power of one who occupies this seat 

In fact it was believed that Moses is the Author of Torah - the first five books of the Bible and His seat symbolizes the concept power and position

This seat was occupied by the Scribes and Pharisees who take the place of Moses in teaching the people 

*2) Moses and the Scribes and Pharisees*

Moses believed what he preached and practiced what he taught to the people 

Therefore Moses is considered to be the great person whose example has to be followed by all 

Where as about the scribes and Pharisees Jesus says, learn what they teach since they are on the seat of Moses, and they teach what is right, but not to follow their example

This is because, they don't practice what they teach. This leads ones life towards hypocrisy

*3) Power and responsibility go together*

When some one has the power to do something, he/she also has the responsibility of doing what he/she preaches to others 

The dichotomy between what is practiced and what is preached shows our real personality 

This is the another form of hypocrisy. Jesus condemns such a type of hypocrisy 

*4) Who is the example for my Life?*

There is a strong warning in today's Gospel about the people whom we chose as our hero's 

Much of our life is influenced by those hero's in our life. If so who is my Hero? 

A person who is hypocrite, and if I take such a person as my hero, my life also will be affected by this hypocrisy

All saints had Jesus as their hero, and all generous people have their, hero as Jesus 

The question is who is my model or Example?

Righteous person will change our life 

So whom do I want to follow? Who is my best example for life? 

Where does the good things come??

*Think about it*

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

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*

Why the Commandment of Love is greatest?

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Ordinary Season : 20th Week : Friday*

*Gospel : Mt 22:34-40*

*First Reading : Ru 1:1, 3-6, 14b-16, 22*

*Why the Commandment of Love is greatest?*

*1) It was Love that made God to create the Human Being*

From the Scriptures it is clear that, God created Human being out of Love 

At the same time we are created by God to Love Him and Love one another

So Love is the force which works as a medium between God and Human beings 

*2) It was Love which is responsible for Jesus to come into the World*

The Gospel of John clearly tells us that, *For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”* John 3:16

What we see is that, it is the Love which was responsible for Jesus to humble himself and to assume the Human Nature 

*3) Jesus says Love as I have loved you*

This one of the rarest statement in which Jesus is giving his own example and asking us to do the same 

So it is the Love which Jesus is telling us to do as He loved us. There is no another  equal statement about doing what Jesus did

*4) It was Love which made Jesus to die on the Cross*

What is the power which Jesus led to offer himself to die on the Cross? The direct answer is the power of Love 

Ultimately His love for the Human kind led him to accept the cross, carry the cross, accept the humiliations and finally to die on the Cross

So the Power of Love is seen in the Cross

*5) If Love is removed nothing remains*

If one removes love from the family, family does not exist 

If one removes love from ones life, relationship doesn't exist 

If one removes love from friend, friendship collapses

If one removes love from work, it becomes a burden 

If one removes love from learning one can't learn anything

If one removes love, then the values like, sacrifice, generosity, service, forgiveness, humility, simplicity, does not have any place in our life 

*6) Love is the foundation for everything*

Nothing works without love 

Nothing remains without love 

Nothing can live without love 

Love is life, love is power, love is strength, love is energy, love is creative and love can achieve anything.

Therefore love is the First and important commandment

Am I ready to love as Jesus loved?

*Think about it*

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

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*

Come and See - Am I Ready?

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Ordinary Season : 20 Week : Thursday*

*Feast of St Bartholomew, Apostle*

*Gospel : Jn 1:45–51*

*First Reading : Rv 21:9b–14*

*Come and See - Am I Ready?*

*1) The background of Come and See*

In today's Gospel we have this important phrase *Come and See*

When Philip told *We have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the law, and also the prophets, Jesus son of Joseph, from Nazareth.”* to Nathanael, He replied saying *“Can anything good come from Nazareth?”*

To this reply of Nathanael, Philip tells him *“Come and see.”*

*2) Nathanael's Opinion about Nazareth*

Nazareth was a city roughly 55 miles north of Jerusalem. During the time of Jesus, the Jews held those from Nazareth, a city within the region of Galilee, in low esteem. 

Nathanael’s mocking question, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” foreshadows the fact that Jesus would be mocked more earnestly by others (cf. John 7:42). 

Psalm 22:6–7 describes the Christ as being “scorned by everyone, despised by the people” as “they hurl insults, shaking their heads.” Isaiah 53:3 describes the Christ as “despised and rejected by mankind.” It is possible these passages are the prophecies to which Matthew alludes in his statement “He would be called a Nazarene.”

Jesus was foolish and weak and lowly and despised in the estimation of this world (cf. John 19:1–5), and to top it off, He was from Nazareth. Jesus is the ultimate example of God utilizing the weak (according to human standards) to shame the wise (also according to human standards) for the purpose of glorifying Himself.

*3) Nathanael's Willingness to Come and See*

We see the background why Nathanael said *What good can come from Nazareth?*

Yet he was ready to come and see what was happening 

So he accompanied Philip and came to meet Jesus 

*4) Reaction of Nathanael after seeing/meeting Jesus*

When Jesus saw Nathanael coming towards Him, Jesus said *“Here is a true child of Israel. There is no duplicity in him.”*

This comment might have made Nathanael to think about His own personality and also the person of Jesus 

After talking to Jesus Nathanael realises that Jesus is not an ordinary man. That is why he says *“Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.”*

Jesus also tells Him that *You will see greater things than this.”*

All these things happened because he was ready to come and see for himself about the things which he heard from Nathanael

*5) Coming and Seeing is the way for the revelation of greater Things*

This is very clear from the life of Nathanael

To come and see, one needs humility and one needs to verify the pre conceived ideas in order to know the correct things 

Nathanael did the same, and the greater things of divine nature was revealed to him

*6) Come and See - are you ready?*

Come and see in the Scriptures - You will see greater things

Come and see the Eucharist - you will see greater things 

Come and see the confession, you will see the beauty of God's mercy 

Come and see service, you see God in it 

Come and see the sacrifice, generosity you will see the heavenly richness in it 

Come and see the family, you will find the treasure in it 

So are you ready to come and See?

*Think about it*

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

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*

The argument and Logic of the Labourer who came first

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Ordinary Season : 20th Week : Wednesday*

*Gospel : Mt 20:1-16*

*First Reading : Jgs 9:6-15*

*The argument and Logic of the Labourer who came first*

*1) All labourers got equal wage*

The Gospel of the day speaks about the Labourers who came to work in different times 

Some came at dawn, some at 9, some at 12, some at 3 and some at 5

All these labourers were invited by the landowner, to work in his vineyard

After doing the days work, all got the equal days wage. There wasn't any difference

*2) Day's wage was fixed only to the first Group*

It is clear from the Gospel that, the day's wage was fixed only to the first group which came in the morning

All those who joined later, to those master had told that  *You too go into my vineyard, and I will give you what is just.’*

So master speaks about just wage but not the day's wage 

From this, it is very clear that the just wage is less than the day's wage since the hours of work differs accordingly 

*3) The first group of labourers didn't tell that they have been given less*

From the grumbling of the labourers, it is very clear that they never said that they have been given less

In fact master has given what was agreed upon as the day's wage

So master has not failed in giving the days wage. He has given the day's wage to these labourers

The labourers also clear that they have been given the day's wage perfectly, that is why they didn't tell that they have been given less 

*4) The problem of the first group of labourers*

The first argument : *Last ones have worked for only one hour*

Second argument *you have made them equal to us,* 

Third argument *We have faced the entire days  burden and the heat.*

No where they argue that they have been given less

Thier argument is *others got more*

*5) If others get more, what is your problem*

You have not been given less. You have been given what was agreed upon. 

Others got more. Be happy that others also got more. What is the need of feeling jealousy about others getting more? 

What do you benefit by being jealous about others goodness? 

*6) The first group of labourers lost their reputation without any reason*

From the parable it is very clear that the first group of labourers lost their good reputation with master

There is no guarantee that they will be called tomorrow for the Work

The jealousy of this group made them to lose everything, their name, their reputation, their work and the peace of mind

*7) Dangerous mentality*

The mentality of the first group is very dangerous

Since it is founded on jealousy about others wellbeing and about master's generosity, it destroyes the person who fosters the jealousy

Either to the Master or to the other group of labourers, the reaction of the first group does not effect in any way 

Only the jealous group is affected very badly. So it is a dangerous mentality

Do I feel jealous when I see some one's attitude of generosity? 

Do I feel jealous when I see my neighbors growth? 

Am I frightened of considering some one as my equal?

*Think about it*

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

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*