Life As the Whitewashed Tomb

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Ordinary Season: Twenty First Week : Wednesday*

*Gospel : Mt 23:27-32*

*First Reading : 2 Thes 3:6-10, 16-18*

*Responsorial Psalm : Ps. 128:1-2, 4-5*

*Life As the Whitewashed Tomb*

*1) The Reality of the Whitewashed Tomb*

All of us are very familiar with the whitewashed tombs

In today's Gospel Jesus speaks about the whitewashed tombs in the context of the hypocrisy of the scribes and Pharisees 

As Jesus says, whitewashed tombs appear beautiful from out side. But from inside the bones and filth is found 

This is the reality of the whitewashed tombs 

*2) Reasons behind whitewashed tombs*

First of all to identify the tombs 

Secondly, to cover all the filth and the foul smell. So that unpleasant things can be covered 

Thirdly to remember the persons who have dead and gone 

*3) Duel standard of whitewashed tomb*

Whitewashed tomb is used as one of the best examples by Jesus to show the hypocrisy of scribes and Pharisees 

From out side they are attractive, colourful, gives a soothing feeling and creates a great feeling 

But in actuality, inside there are lots of unwanted, waste, dry bones are found. 

No one likes remain inside of the tomb, because of the fear, bad smell, darkness and the negativity involved in it. 

So dual standards are very clear in the whitewashed tomb

*4) Inside is more important not out side*

The tomb has existence because of the things which are inside. 

If the inside things are absent then the tomb does not exist 

Since inside things are important one should pay attention to inside things but not the outside things 

With regard to tomb, inside things like bones and  bad smell goes along with the nature. But not with the life 

*5)  Life as Whitewashed Tomb*

The whole focus of Jesus' discussion on whitewashed tomb is to teach a profound lesson on hypocrisy 

Making our life is like whitewashed tomb is the biggest tragedy of life 

We have many beautiful and spiritual images which can be applied to our life. One such example would be mustard seed 

To compare life to a whitewashed tomb is the last and worst thing that can happen to our life 

*6) No Growth in whitewashed tomb*

No growth whatsoever in the whitewashed tomb

Only decay and dead things are found. Nothing grows there. 

When life becomes whitewashed tomb, it looks beautiful only from outside but inside no growth, but decay and dead things are found 

*7) What is the image of my life?*

Jesus called the life of scribes and Pharisees as whitewashed tomb

What about my life? What he will call about my life? 

Will he call it as dead sea? 

Will he call it as house built on the sand? 

Will he call it as dirty cup from inside? 

Will he call it as, rocky ground? 

Will he call it as lamp stand?

Will he call it as Yeast?

Will he call it as salt of the earth?

*Think about it*

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

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*

Cleansing of the Cup or Dish from inside

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Ordinary Season: Twenty First Week : Tuesday*

*Gospel : Mt 23:23-26*

*First Reading : 2 Thess 2:1-3a, 14-17*

*Responsorial Psalm : Ps 96:11-12, 13*

*Cleansing of the Cup or Dish from inside*

*1) Challenges to clean the cup from Inside*

Jesus speaks about the hypocrisy of the Scribes and Pharisees in today's Gospel

In this context Jesus uses the imagery of the cup to show explain the vice of hypocrisy 

Cleansing of the Cup is the work that has to be done. At the same time, there are certain things which we need to pay attention in the process of cleansing the cup 

These are also could be tremed as the challenges of cleansing the cup 

*2) First of need to Empty the Cup*

To clean the cup we need the empty the cup 

It means cup is filled with many things 

Emptying cup means discarding all the things which are inside the cup

Unless one is ready to discard the things which are inside, cleansing of the cup is not possible

Some times people find emptying cup is really challenging, because they consider whatever inside the cup is the real identity and when inside is empty they feel everything is empty

This emptiness should be filled with other good things, which they find really difficult

*3) Complications of the Cup*

Cups are of different kinds and shapes. In this way, each cup is unique

Some cups are deep, some are having bottle neck, some are huge, some are transparent, some are colourful and some are plain 

At times to clean these cups  are difficult, especially if the cup is of bottleneck, or deep inside 

These are the challenges of cleansing the cup 

*4) The need of extra things to clean the Cup*

When the cup is deep or of bottleneck,  one can't clean the cup from hands. 

In such situation one needs some instruments and some detergent also 

Brush, surf, detergent and other things are needed to clean the cup. 

One can't take this work in a casual way. One has to take this task in a serious way 

*5) Dangers of the Dirty Cup*

Not properly cleaned cup becomes dirty

The dirt which gets accumulated inside the cup gradually becomes poison

Such poison, it gets into the stuff which is poured into cup or while using the cup. Finally it gets into the body, which may be dangerous for health

*6) Life as Cup*

Jesus compares the entire logic of the cup to our life 

In a larger context our life itself is the beautiful cup 

Our moral life or the conscience is the inside of the cup 

The steps which are involved in cleansing the cup, also applicable to clean the life's cup 

There are also spiritual things to clean the life's cup

*7) The Spiritual things needed*

To clean the life's cup we need the following spiritual things 

The sacrament of confession

The examination of the conscience

The humility to accept ones wrong doing

The strong prayer life 

The grace of God 

The active participation in the celebration of the sacraments 

Reading and meditating the Scriptures 

*8) The Value of the Cup/Chalice*

The life's cup also reminds the cup of Jesus or the Chalice 

No one can pass through life, without this cup 

Like Jesus one has the embrace the life's cup 

This cup is filled with the mission, liberative aspect, challenges, sacrifice, Cross and victory 

With life's cup one can find real meaning of life, if it is clean and good

*Think about it*

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

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*

The reality of Blind Guides

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Ordinary Season: Twenty First Week : Monday*

*Gospel : Mt 23:13-22*

*First Reading : 2 Thes1:1-5, 11-12*

*Responsorial Psalm : Ps. 96:1-2a, 2b-3, 4-5*

*The reality of Blind Guides*

*1) Blind guides : A inner contradiction*

Blind is a person who can't see properly 

Such a person needs the guidance from another person for his movements 

A blind person becoming a guide, really dangerous. Because such a person will do more harm than the good 

So blind guides are the most dangerous people 

*2) Scribes and Pharisees the blind guides*

In the Gospel Jesus refers the concept of blind guides to Scribes and Pharisees 

In a way Jesus condemns them through these words 

When Jesus calls them as blind guides, they are really  blind guides who led the people away from greater good things 

*3) Why Scribes and Pharisees are blind Guides?*

First of all they had begun blind for number of reasons 

They became blind because of their arrogance, self righteousness, hypocrisy, greed for power, position and authority and their strange behavior towards Jesus 

As a result they were not able to see who Jesus really is, His values, His teaching, and his preaching 

They were not able to see Jesus as Messiah, Son of God, great healer and preacher 

As a result their sight had become blurr in knowing and accepting the reality 

*4) The Consequencs of Blind guides*

First of all they are not able to have true and necessary knowledge about the Kingdom of God 

Secondly Such an attitude does not help them to grow in any areas 

Thirdly One who follows their guidance will totally lose everything since their presumption about true things may totally go wrong 

*5) Am I a blind Guide?*

When I am blind my vision becomes blurr. 

As a blind man my thinking becomes blurr 

As a blind man my heart becomes heart less feeling

As a blind man, my life becomes a totally confused reality 

As a blind guide I do more harm than good

Blind guide is a dangerous attitude. Such an attitude one should over come

*Think about it*

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

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*

Do you also want to leave? : “Master, to whom shall we go?

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Ordinary Season: Twenty First Week : Sunday*

*Gospel : Jn 6:60-69*

*First Reading : Jos 24:1-2a, 15-17, 18b*

*Responsorial Psalm : Ps 34:2-3, 16-17, 18-19, 20-21*

*Second Reading - Eph 5:21-32 or 5:2a, 25-32*

*Do you also want to leave? : “Master, to whom shall we go?*

*1) Leaving - But where to go?*

The Gospel of the day speaks about the leaving.

There is a group in the Gospel who felt that the teachings of Jesus is hard to practice 

 *This saying is hard; who can accept it?”*

That's why this group wanted back to their former ways of life, leaving the company of Jesus 

It appears easy to leave and go. But we need to reflect the question of Jesus in different level 

So, by leaving where to go? All those who went to former ways of life, what happened to them? 

What was the consequences of it? 

*2) The Question of Jesus is seen in different level*

*“Do you also want to leave?”*

This question was asked by Jesus. In today's context these are the realities who will ask this question to us 

*A) Family : “Do you also want to leave?”*

Many people think that it is too hard to follow the responsibilities of the family, the commitment to the family, fidelity to the spouses and other things as well 

Who can accept all these? So, many want to go back or to leave the family 

But what happens to all those who leave the family? 

Family, Whom shall we go? You have the future of our life? 

*B) Conscience : “Do you also want to leave?”*

There are also people who don't follow the voice of the conscience

They think it is too hard to follow the demands of the conscience? Who can accept this? 

But what is the consequence of ignoring the demands of the conscience? 

Destruction of Life

O conscience, whom shall we go? You have the knowledge of rightness and wrongness of the things

*C) Church: “Do you also want to leave?”*

To some church has become a burden. For them the demands of the church is too much, too hard. Who can accept it? 

But what is the consequences of leaving the Church? 

O Church, whom shall we go? You have the way to eternal life

*D) Life : “Do you also want to leave?”*

To some life becomes burden. They don't want to live. They feel it is too hard to face the challenges of life. Who can accept it. So, they want to end their life

But what is the consequences of ending our life? 

O life, whom shall we go? You have the meaning and purpose for our existence

*E) Spirituality : “Do you also want to leave?”*

Life can not find meaning without spirituality.

At times many feel it is not necessary. At times its demands are too much. Who can accept it? 

So ignore the spirituality. But what is the result of it? 

O spirituality, whom shall we go? You have the wisdom for holy life 

*F) Eucharist : “Do you also want to leave?”*

How can we sustain without Eucharist? 

Am I finding too hard to follow the demands of Eucharist? 

Do I feel, Who can accept it? 

What are the consequences of ignoring the celebration of Eucharist? 

O Eucharist, whom shall we go? You have the food for eternal life and to our souls

*G) Reconciliation : “Do you also want to leave?”*

Sacrament of reconciliation renews our life. 

At times people do feel the demands are too much and too hard. Who can accept it? 

So ignore them. 

But what is the consequences of ignoring the sacrament of reconciliation? 

O sacrament of reconciliation, whom shall we go? You have the mercy of God

*3) My Attitude?*

How do I feel the demands of my life? 

Do I feel it is too much or too hard, who can accept it? 

But one important question: Whom shall we go? At the end of the life, only these things can help us

We can go no where other than Jesus and above these things

*Think about it*

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

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*

Good can come from anywhere

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Ordinary Season: Twentieth Week : Saturday*

*Gospel : Jn 1:45–51*

*First Reading : Rv 21:9b–14*

*Responsorial Psalm : Ps. 145:10-11, 12-13, 17-18*

*Good can come from anywhere*

*1) “Can anything good come from Nazareth?”*

This particular expression of Nathanael, gives an impression that, good can come from certain places, or from certain places, or from certain tradition 

In fact Nathanael is wrong in having such an view, which could be considered as prejudice about certain place 

Not only, Nathanael but many scribes and Pharisees were of the opinion that, Messiah can't come from certain places and from certain family 

To all such prejudices the Gospel gives a beautiful answer

*2) Good is not restricted to any place or person*

This is the first truth that one should accept 

To think that good is restricted to certain place, certain people, certain culture or to certain religions is a wrong view. 

It is not only wrong but it is a dangerous belief or attitude which can create lot of harm, chaos and confusion

*3) Good can come from anyone*

God has created all of us in His own image and likeness

So there is a basic goodness in all of us. This basic goodness is the underlying factor to say that basically all are good and good can come from anyone 

We have been created for good things and we need to bring out the goodness  in every situation 

*4) The effect of Goodness*

The Gospel not only shows that Goodness can come from anywhere but also shows the effects of Goodness 

In the Gospel the effects of goodness is witnessed by Nathanael 

First of all, he was able to overcome from his doubt and prejudistic attitude 

Secondly he was also enlightened about the greater truths about the Messiah 

Thirdly he was as able to realised his true self, that is *Here is a true child of Israel. There is no duplicity in him.”*

Fourthly, he was given a greater revelation that *You will see greater things than this.”*

*5) Can anything good come from me?*

This question is very important for our life 

Time and again we need to ask this question, in order to know the value of Good and our role in bringing out good 

The first answer to the above question is *Yes*

Good can come from me. I have been created for good. So my mission should include in bringing our good and good only 

Secondly, never to underestimate the capacity of anyone in bringing the good 

Good can come from children, from youngsters, from elderly, from servants, from ordinary people, from any situations and from anywhere 

As a good child of God, let's try our best to bring about good from all sides

*Think about it*

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

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*

Importance of the Approach

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Ordinary Season: Twentieth Week : Friday*

*Gospel : Mt 22:34-40*

*First Reading : Ez 37:1-14*

*Responsorial Psalm : Ps. 107:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9*

*Importance of the Approach*

*1) Our Approach towards Jesus*

The Gospel of the day speaks about our approach towards Jesus 

The way we approach Jesus will be the result we will receive from the approach 

If our approach is good, we will be blessed. If our approach is filled with evil intention, we will not receive any blessings from God 

*2) The approach of the Scholar*

The Gospel of the day speaks about the approach of the Scholar

With the intention of *testing* Jesus, he approached Jesus 

Either he wanted to trap Jesus or wanted to show that he knows better than Jesus or to humiliate Jesus in front of Sadducees and Scribes 

Such was the intention of the Scholar. At the end we see, Jesus uses this opportunity to communicate the  correct teachings about the Beauty of Love 

*3) Sadducees, Scribes and the Scholars of the Law*

In Matthew Chapter 22, we have 4 instances where Sadducees, Scribes and the so called Scholars of the law approach Jesus purely with the intention of testing, trapping and humiliating him 

So their intention was very clear. In each of these above incidents they wanted to challenge Jesus with their knowledge pride and arrogance 

*4) The Hypocrisy of the Scribes and Pharisees*

Following these things, in Chapter 23 Jesus uses very harsh words to condem their hypocrisy

Jesus calls them as, hypocrites, blind guides, blind fools, Whitewashed tombs, filled with greed and self indulgence

Finally the colour of the Scribes and Pharisees is seen in the above harsh words. 

When the approach is wrong, this is what is seen in the underneath

*5) The Correct Approach*

Nicodemus approached Jesus to know about the truths of the kingdom of God. He considered Jesus as the man with great wisdom. Finally he goes back as enlightened man 

Zacchaeus approached Jesus for a change of life. Finally he went back as fully converted man 

Mary Magdalene approached Jesus for Mercy. She experienced mercy and become first apostle to communicate the message of the Risen Lord 

The Syrophoenician woman, realised the divinity and the miraculous power of Jesus. She had come to Jesus for a favour for her daughter. She asked for crumbs. But she received the Whole bread. She became the champion of Faith. Her approach was totally a faith based one 

*6) How about my approach?*

Many times in my life I approach Jesus for different reasons? 

How is my approach? 

A faith based approach? 

A casual approach? 

Approach purely for a favour? 

Approach for a miracle? 

Approach for real experience? 

Approach out of fear? 

Approach out of frustration? 

Approach for external show? 

A hypothetical approach? 

A diplomatic approach? 

Approach for recognition? 

Approach for a chance of life? 

Approach for mercy? 

What is my approach to Jesus? 

*Think about it*

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

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*

Feast : The Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Feast : The Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary*

*Ordinary Season: Twentieth Week : Thursday*

*Gospel : Lk 1:26-38*

*First Reading : Is 9:1-6*

*Responsorial Psalm : Ps 113:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8*

*Queenship is the Highest Honor for the Blessed Virgin Mary*

*1) Queenship of Mary*

We celebrate the Queenship of Mary in Marian Litany and in the Glorious Mystery

In the Litany we say *Queen Assumed into Heaven*

In the Glorious Mysteries we  read in the Fifth Mystery *Crowning of the Blessed Virgin Mary*

These two instances clearly show us the Queenship of Mary and Her Importance in the Salvation history

*2) Possible Reasons for the Queenship of Mary*

*A) Mary's Role in the Salvation History*

First of all Mary played a major role in the Salvation History 

Through her the author of our salvation came into this world

That's why Mary is real Queen 

*B) Mary's Deep faith*

In Mary we see a great personality of Faith and Hope 

Her faith was so deep, which made her to accept every situation of her life as the will of God, as the part of God's plan 

Such a deep faith makes Mary a real Queen 

*C) Mary's Humility*

There is no comparison for Mary's humility 

After the humility of Jesus, Mary is the best example of humility 

In spite her greatness as the mother of the Saviour yet She remained as a humble servant of God 

Her Humility is the road to her Queenship

*D) Mary's unwavering commitment*

Once she said *Yes* to the Lord, she never looked back 

She never complained, never questioned, never Grumbled at any situation especially in the difficult situation 

This shows her unwavering commitment to God's plan. That's why she is real Queen

*F) Mary's womb - The First tabernacle*

Mary First received Jesus in her Heart and then Her womb

The dwelling place of Jesus is the Tabernacle

Since Jesus dwelt in the Womb of Mary, the Womb became the tabernacle for Jesus 

This is also another reason why Mary is considered as Queen 

*G) Mary's YES to the Lord*

The *Yes* of Mary brought a new revolution in the Human  history

The *Yes* of Mary divided the History of this world into BC and AD 

The *Yes* of Mary brought the Son of Mary to this World 

The *Yes* of Mary opened a new world in the Human History

That's why Mary is the Queen 

*H) Mary's Unifying Strength*

From the beginning till the end Mary remained as a unifying figure

After the death of Jesus Mary kept the Apostles together

At the Pentecost, Mary brought all the Apostles together, which resulted in the reception of Holy Spirit

So Mary is seen as the Unifying Queen for the Apostles

*I) Mary's Motherhood*

The Motherhood of Mary is a special feature of Mary 

She not only the Mother of Jesus, but the Mother of God, Mother of the Church and the Mother of everyone 

The Litany tells us the vastness of the Motherhood of Mary 

Such an aspect makes Marya great Queen 

*3) Queen of Heaven and Earth*

The Queenship of Mary extends to everywhere, to the Heavens and to the Earth 

Such is the power and importance of the Queenship of Mary 

*4) Queenship of Mary and My Life*

How do I see the Queenship of Mary? 

Have I understood the role and importance of Mary in salvation History and to my life? 

Queen is a great Person. She became queen by doing God's will, doing good and holy things. 

Mary, the Queen of Heaven and Earth calls me and every one to Become the Kings of Good and Holy things, by doing the Will of God. 

Am I ready?

*Think about it*

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

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*