What do you possess that you have not received?

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Ordinary Season : 22nd  Week : Saturday*

*Gospel : Lk 6:1-5*

*First Reading : 1 Cor 4:6b-15*

*What do you possess that you have not received?*

*1) The powerful words of St Paul*

St Paul asks a question to all of us. Accordingly he says all that we posses in our life, have been received

If so, the next question is from where we have received these things? So it is quite clear that we have received these things from God 

These are powerful words because, they convey a very fundamental truth about our life 

*2) God is the creator and Master of everything*

The above phrase of St Paul calls us to reflect about the authority of God 

The moment we realise that what we possess, comes from God, then we accept God as the Master of our life and everything

*3) Advantage of the above phrase*

The moment we realise that, what we have and what we possess is everything from God, 

We will not be greedy 

We will not be selfish 

We will be generous

We will be compassionate

We will be grateful

We will be forgiving

We will be positive

*4) The tragedy of Human life*

At times man becomes proud and thinks that whatever he/she possees and whatever he/she has is mine alone

It is *I* who is responsible for all the things 

Without *me* nothing could exist and nothing can move 

So he/she easily forgets the root of all that what he/she possesses and thinks he/she is everything 

*5) What do we possess?*

According to St Paul everything we posses comes from God. Some of the important things could be following

Our life 

Our talents and skills 

Our strength

Our knowledge

Our intelligence

Our wisdom 

Our abilities

Our creativity

Good values 

In one word everything we have, we receive from God 

Do you agree with this??

*Think about it*

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

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*

Can you provide one new wineskin to fill the new wine?

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Ordinary Season : 22nd  Week : Friday*

*Gospel : Lk 5:33-39*

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

*Can you provide one new wineskin to fill the new wine?*

*1) New wine is ready*

The Gospel of the day speaks about the New wine and old wine, new wine skins and old wine skins 

The Gospel is very clear that new wine needs the new wineskins to fill 

Since the new wine is ready, the immediate work is to find new wineskins to fill the new wine

*2) The characteristics of  New wine*

In fact new wine is powerful and very attractive at times 

New wine comes with new challenges and with new thinking 

Unless one tunes oneself to the new wine, one can't taste the new wine 

New wine has to be enjoyed in a new wine 

*3) The Master of the New Wine*

Jesus is the master of new wine. He is the one who has produced this wine. 

This wine is available freely. One need not pay for the wine. But one needs a new wineskins to store this wine 

One can't take this wind with old wineskins 

*4) Jesus' New Wine*

The Gospel is the Big container, which is filled with New wine 

One who wish to have this new wine, should bring the New Wineskins to have this new wine 

Jesus' New wine has the following characteristics  

Loving ones enemies

Forgiving unconditionally

Sharing with others 

Being generous towards others 

Not to live a life of hypocrisy

Walking two miles instead of one

Showing the other cheek if one slaps to the right cheek 

Taking up ones cross and following Jesus 

Laying down ones life for the friend 

Being sincere at all times 

Never to speak ill  about others 

Never to judge others 

This is the New wine of our Master - Jesus 

*5) Wineskins and my Life*

My life is like a wineskin which can be used for filling the new wine 

Since the New wine is available, our life should become like new wine skins to fill this new wine

So, the question is, Is my life equal to a new wineskin? 

What can I do to create my life as new wineskins? 

*6) New wineskins should smell the New wine*

Once the new wine is filled in the new wineskins, the new wineskins will smell only the new wine

Like wise, when the new wine which is produced by Jesus our Master, is filled in the new wineskins of our life, our life should smell this new wine 

The smell indicates that the new wine was really filled in the New wineskins. 

So, is my life, which is equal to new wineskin, smelling the New Wine?? 

*Think about it*

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

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*

Christian Spirituality consists in Lowering the nets

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

Ordinary Season : 22nd  Week : Thursday*

*Gospel : Lk 5:1-11*

*First Reading : 1 Cor 3:18-23*

*Christian Spirituality consists in Lowering the nets*

*1) Jesus' command to Peter to lower the nets*

In the scene of catching the fish by Peter and his company we come across a command of Jesus to Peter 

Jesus says *Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch*

In this context the gesture of Lowering the nets is very important 

How we can this gesture in our life and also in our spiritual life? Is there any deep meaning for this gesture?? 

*2) Lowering nets and obedience*

One of the meanings of lowering the nets would be obedience. 

Since Peter obeyed Jesus, he was ready to lower the net 

*3)Lowering the nets and Humility*

Another meaning of the gesture is humility. 

One who has the virtue of humility is able to lower himself in everything. 

Such a person does not show the attitude of pride and arrogance

*4) Lowering of nets and inward journey*

Another important meaning of lowering nets would be going inside of the person 

Deep waters and lowering of nets would go deep into the sea. 

If the net is lowered only in the deep waters fish would be caught 

Like wise when we go deep in the depth of our life we understand the real worth of our life

Inward journey in ones life will help to find the hidden treasures of life 

*5) Lowering of nets and our own life*

There are many things on our life which we need to lower, in order to produce the fruit 

Need to Lower ones pride 

Need to lower ones arrive

Need to lower one selfishness

Need to lower ones anger 

Need to lower ones attitude of gossip

Need to lower ones worldly attachment

Need to lower ones evil things 

So there are many things to lower in our life to reap the fruit 

*6) Am I ready to lower the nets of my life?*

Lowering of nets also a symbol of sharing

So am I ready to lower my nets of love, generosity, sincerity, sacrifice, service, faithfulness etc 

Unless I lower the nets of my life, I will never able to achieve any thing in my life 

If so,  what the relevance of lowering of the nets 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*

The importance of Leaving the Synagogue and going to the House of Simon Peter

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Ordinary Season : 22nd  Week : Wednesday*

*Gospel : Lk 4:38-44*

*First Reading : 1 Cor 3:1-9*

*The importance of Leaving the Synagogue and going to the House of Simon Peter*

*1) The Significance of Synagogue*

For Jews, synagogue was an important place 

People came to synagogue to listen to the word of God and to pray 

Jesus also went to the synagogue, to preach the word of God and to pray 

We find in today's Gospel that Jesus was coming out of the Synagogue. This tells us that Jesus was there in the Synagogue

*2) Jesus in the Synagogue*

There are many instances in the Gospel where we see Jesus in the Synagogue. 

Jesus went to the synagogue either to pray or the preach the Kingdom of Heaven 

Since many people were coming to the synagogue Jesus used this opportunity to teach and preach the Gospel

*3) Jesus Coming out of the Synagogue*

It is very important to notice Jesus departure from the synagogue and the next destiny 

From synagogue Jesus straight away goes to Simon Peters house in order to heal her from the fever 

In fact Jesus healed her from the fever and she became well 

So the question is, from where did Jesus get the strength to perform this miracle 

So we can naturally conclude that Jesus got this power from prayer 

This line of thinking helps us to conclude that Jesus starts His ministry after spending sufficient time in prayer 

Prayer experience of Jesus and the healing of the mother in law of Peter is closely connected 

So prayer is powerful and responsible for performing the miracles and doing the great works 

*4) The power of Prayer*

The Gospel of the day helps us to understand the power of prayer from the life of Jesus 

In fact there are many instances where Jesus starts His ministry after praying to the Father 

Today's event is one among them, where Jesus after finishing the prayer goes into the healing ministry and we see the miracles

*5) Synagogues in our life*

There are many places today which can be identified with synagogues in our life 

The Church where we spend time in praying 

The Holy and pilgrim centres 

The Altar in our house 

The Ward meetings 

Any gathering, which promotes the unity and solidarity

*6) What happens in our life, aftering returning from prayer*

Jesus after returning from the synagogue, started His ministry, by performing the miracles

What happens to us while returning from the church or pilgrim places 

 Do I  try to live the preached Gospel like Jesus???

*Think about it*

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

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*

The demon threw the man down

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Ordinary Season : 22nd  Week : Tuesday*

*Gospel : Lk 4:31-37*

*First Reading : 1 Cor 2:10b-16*

*The demon threw the man down*

*1) The demon who threw the Man*

The Gospel of the day speaks about an unclean spirit, who was causing trouble for a man 

The demon was an unclean spirit, who also tried to destroy the man 

With the intention of destroying the man the demon threw the man down. 

*2) Throwing down by the demon*

Throwing down by the demon symbolises many things 

Humiliating the person 

Not allowing him to do what is right 

Trying to destroy the person 

Trying to create a fearful situation so as the control the person

Not allowing to grow 

Trying to defeat another 

*3) Throwing down in our life*

All of us experience this particular situation

There are many things which throw us down in our life 

The sin throws us down 

Our pride throw us down 

Our arrogance throw us down 

Revenge thrown us down 

Jealousy, selfishness, anger thrown us down 

When we are thrown down by something, we find it difficult to get up and walk straight 

We need the strength of God to regain our strength

*4) The demon and my life*

At times I may work as demon in some ones life 

The moment I try to put down others, for any reasons I act as demon in some ones life 

I may use variety of things to put down others and melign others names 

The moment I put down others I act as demon in some ones life 

*5) The Need of God*

The demon ultimately threw the man on the floor and left 

Demons work is only to put down the others 

But Gods work is to protect us. God never puts us down at any cost 

Even when demon puts us down it is God who holds our hand and lifts us up 

Only God can lift us up and help us to walk straight again 

*6) Our Mission*

We need to thrown down demon in our life 

First of all we should never allow the demon to throw us down 

Secondly we need to throw the demon down. This is the only way through which we destroy the demon from our life

With the help of God we can throw the demon down. So am I ready to throw the demon down from my life???

*Think about it*

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

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*

Herod's Worldly Birthday Vs John the Baptist's Heavenly Birthday

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Ordinary Season : 22nd  Week : Monday*

*Gospel : Mark 6:17-29*

*First Reading : Jer 1:17-19*

*Herod's Worldly Birthday  Vs John the Baptist's Heavenly Birthday*

*1) The Birthday of Herod*

The birthday of Herod becomes the central issue for the event to take place 

The whole party was organised in the context of Herod's birthday. 

Birthday of Herod became an opportunity to organise the Whole event and many more things to Happen. 

*2) The tragedy of Herod's Birthday*

Birthday of Herod would have become one of the best event to celebrate and to enjoy the day 

It started with the same spirit and every one was enjoying the everything that was there in the birthday party 

Suddenly there was a twist to the birthday party. The whole mood of celebration truns into the sad mood because of Herodias. 

Herodias uses this beautiful birthday mood, for something else, which spoils the whole mood of birthday and also of Herod and of his guests 

The Happy mood turns into a sad mood. This is the tragedy of Herod's birthday

*3) The Birthday of Herod and the grudge of Herodias*

Herodias harbored a grudge against John the Baptist for challenging her immoral life. That's why she wanted to kill him

Birthday of Herod was an easy opportunity to take revenge on John. 

Finally she succeeded in beheading the Prophet for challenging her immoral life 

*4) Herod's birthday will remain a sadest  day in His life*

Since John was beheaded on the birthday of Herod, because of Herodias, the birthday of Herod will remain as a memorable day, not because of the good deed, but because of the wicked deed

History will remember for ever, Herod for his evil and wicked deed. 

So birthday of Herod becomes a death day of his conscience and entry into heavenly life 

This is the tragedy of Herod's life 

*5) The Birthday of John the Baptist to Eternal life*

Since John was beheaded on the day of the birthday of Herod, John was born to eternal life on the same day 

The eternal birthday of John the Baptist was more important and valuable than the heavenly birthday of Herod

The heavenly birthday of John the Baptist has no end. Its eternal

It will be celebrated forever because of the importance of the eternal birthday

Eternal birthday is the main aim of our life and we should do all the possible good things to be born into the eternal kingdom

One should consider and value more than heavenly birthday than the Earthly birthday

*6) Earthly birthday and Heavenly birthday in our Life*

Our earhly birthday should become an opportunity to prepare ourselves for the heavenly birthday

We should never allow our earthly birthday as an hindrance for heavenly birthday. 

All of us have a duty to protecting our heavenly birth, and we need to prepare a lot for this event in life 

Let everything happens in our life help us to prepare ourselves for heavenly birth 

*Think about it*

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

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*

The Power of Humility

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Ordinary Season : 22nd  Week : Sunday*

*Gospel : Lk 14:1, 7-14*

*First Reading : Sir 3:17-18, 20, 28-29*

*The Power of Humility*

*1) Humility in today's Readings*

The readings of the day, speak about the concept of Humility, its necessity, its power and its beauty 

Humility is a special quality, which one should develop to live a authentic Christian life 

Humility helps a person to reach to the highest level in life and also to live a sincere and authentic life 

*2) Various Explanations of Humility*

The readings of the day give us the variety of explanations about the humility. 

*A) Humility and Love* : A humble person will be loved by every one. He/she will be loved more than the giver of gifts 

*B) Humility and God's favour* : The first reading of the day tells us that a humble person finds with favour of God. He/she will be blessed by the Lord 

*C) Humility and Attentive ear*: Humility in our life fosters the capacity to listen and to understand

*D) Humility and Wisdom* : The reading also shows us that, a humble person is able acquire the greater wisdom, a divine wisdom, which helps us to see what is good and what is bad 

*E) Humility and the First place*

The Gospel speaks about the *first place* which one desires  for various reasons

Humility and First place of Honour, do not go together 

*F) Humility and Higher position*

A humble person by almeans moves towards the higher position. 

*My friend, move up to a higher position.’* This is the example to show humility makes us great. 

*G) Humility and God's exaltation*

Humility in our life makes God to raise our life to a better status. 

One who humbles himself will be considered great in the Kingdom of God 

*H) Humility and Publicity*

Humility and publicity do not go together, because they belong to two different categories

Where there is humility, there is no publicity. Where there is publicity, there is no humility.

*I)Humility and Generosity*

Humility makes a person to become  generous. Humility makes a person more open and to become generous

Such a generous act is recognised by God, He rewards in his own time 

*J) Humility and Reward from God*

A humble person will be rewarded by God. God never forgets to reward a humble person 

*3) The Magic of Humility*

As we see in today's readings, humility has different faces which helps a person to achieve great things in life 

Moreover, Humility unites everyone.

It unites us with God 

It unites us with others 

It unites us with ourselves 

It unites us with nature 

*4) Humility in my Life*

How do I see humility in my life?

Am I a humble person in my approach or am I a arrogant person??

Arrogance is a sickness and it destroys ones life

How can I be more humble and genuine person 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*