Tuesday 6 September 2022

The Christian Attitude of Waiting for the Lord


 

The Word of the Lord says “let your loins be girded and your lamps burning and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the marriage feast” (Lk 12:35-36). Waiting is part of human life. As human beings, we have numerous desires. It usually takes some time for what we desire to be realized. There is a gap between our desires and the manifestation of what we desire. That is why we have to wait.

All of us are waiting for something or may be somebody. It is difficult, if not impossible, to see a person who is not waiting for something. If you are single, you will probably be waiting for a life-partner. If you are married, you are waiting for children. If you have children, you are waiting for grandchildren. If you are unemployed, you are waiting for work. If you find work, you are waiting for promotions. If you have promotions, you are waiting for retirement. If you are facing challenges of life, you are waiting for solution or breakthrough. It is almost trite to say that we are all waiting for something or somebody.

For many of us, the things we are waiting for are temporal, ephemeral and mundane. Most of the things we are waiting for are things that do not last; things that do not satisfy completely; things we can lose against our will. St Augustine says: “do not live and work only for the things you can lose against your will.” Nothing as tragic as waiting only for things we can lose against our will.  You can lose your certificate against your will, for example, in fire. You can lose your car against your will. Your car can be stolen. You can lose your house against your will. You can lose your friend against your will. Your friend can betray you. Your spouse can abandon you. This is the reason our Gospel reading encourages us to wait for somebody who can absolutely satisfy all our desires. Our Gospel urges us to wait for Jesus who can give us the things we cannot lose against our will. If we are rooted in Jesus, We cannot lose Him against our will. We cannot lose the stupendous gifts of salvation, redemption and eternal life against our will.

King David was the king of Judah; he waited to become the king of the whole Israel. When he became the king of Israel, he began to wait for victory over his enemies. After securing victory over his enemies, he began to wait for affluence, influence and leverage. He got all those. He became bored. He committed heinous crime. Then he realized that all he had been waiting for all his life are things that do not satisfy absolutely. Looking for God- the only person who could satisfy all his desires, he wrote “like a deer that yearns for running streams so my soul is yearning for you my God” (Ps42:1). He began to wait eagerly for the lord. He wrote again, “I wait for the Lord, my soul waits… My soul waits for the lord more than watchmen for the morning” (Ps 130: 5-6). Eventually, the Lord showed him mercy and forgave his trespasses. David wrote: “I waited, I waited for the Lord, he stooped down to me, he heard my cry” (Ps 40:1). After experiencing the goodness of the Lord, he wrote: “taste and see that the Lord is good” (Ps 34:8). David waited for the Lord, he experienced the Lord. He tasted and testified that the Lord is good.

We still have the opportunity and time to wait for the Lord. We need to revisit the list of the things we are waiting for in life. We need to make sure that Jesus is on top of our list - Jesus who can fulfill our desires more that we can ever imagine. Let us sincerely determine whether our waiting is righteous and salvific. A habitual liar cannot say he is waiting for the Lord who is the Truth. A person whose heart is full of hate cannot claim that he is waiting for Jesus who is Love. The Christian whose hands are filled with deeds of darkness cannot assert that he is waiting for the Lord who is the Light. Let us wait for the Lord in a manner befitting of Children of Light. Let us be like men waiting for their master to come. Let us wait earnestly, eagerly and patiently for the Lord. “Those who wait for the Lord will renew their strength. They will mound up with wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.” (Is 40:31).

 

Wednesday 24 November 2021

OPEN MY EYES O LORD!

 


Hagar found herself in a precarious and perilous situation (Gen 21:14-21). With a tiny infant in her arms, she ran out water in a dreary dessert. She was distraught and distressed. Her only option was to watch helplessly her son experience slow and agonizing death. We can only imagine the pain and anguish of a mother. But something astounding happened! An angel of the Lord heard the cry of Hagar’s baby. The angel asked Hagar: what troubles you? God opened the eyes of Hagar and she saw a well of water nearby. She felt a huge relief. It is worth noting that the well of water did not just appear. It was not freshly dug. All the while Hagar was crying, overwhelmed with sorrow in the throes of despair, she did not see the well until the God opened her eyes.

When we face the challenges of life and confront the turbulence of human existence, we may be so overwhelmed, so gripped with our sorrow that we cannot see the solution to our problem or answer to our questions. We may be staring gloomily at the closed door and we are unable to see the new door open before us. We may be so harassed and embarrassed by our weaknesses and inadequacies and we cannot see the enormous graces of God. We may be battered by the storms of life and we cannot see the silver lining.

The Pharisees were so obsessed with the Jesus’ infractions of the letter of Mosaic law and they did not see that He was the Messiah. Pilate was arrogantly asking for truth without knowing that he was in the presence of divine Truth. Mary Magdalene was crying profusely unable to recognize Jesus. In the darkest moments of our life, all we have to do is to open our eyes and see the solution to our problems. Finding solution to our problem is not always like looking for a needle in a haystack. Our breakthrough may be hidden under opaque terrain of our fears and anxiety.

 Like Bartholomew, we beg the Lord to open our eyes that we may see new opportunities, new solution, new door, new answer to life’s question, new  hope in despair, light at the end of the tunnel. Open my eyes that I may see the wonders of your love! Ps (119:18).

Sunday 18 July 2021

PRUDENCE: AURIGA VIRTUTUM

 


Jesus did two things after his acerbic confrontations with the Pharisees that might not appear impressive to us (Matt 12:14-21). First, when He realized that the Pharisees were planning to arrest and possibly harm him, he withdrew. Literally he ran away. This might not appear heroic at all. Second, after performing many miracles, he strictly ordered the people not to make him known. Again, this might portray Jesus as lacking confidence in his ministry and mission.

If we peruse the bible carefully, we observe that sometimes Jesus would confront the Pharisees. Just by reading the content of their minds, Jesus would raise controversial issues with them. At other times, Jesus would avoid arguments and confrontation with the Pharisees. Again, Jesus would tell the beneficiaries of his miracle to proclaim his miracles to the roof tops. At other times, he would sternly instruct the people not to make him known.

What determined the decision and action of Jesus at every circumstance is the virtue of prudence. Prudence helps us to determine what is good, choose the right means to attain the good. It also guides the dictates of our conscience (CCC1806). In other words, prudence helps us to do the right thing, at the right time and in the right place. What should I do in this present situation? How should I respond or not respond in the present situation? What is the right thing to do  here and now? The virtue of prudence provides answer to these questions.

Prudence informs us whether to speak or to remain silent; to act or remain passive; to run or to stay. Prudence assists us to determine when we need courage to fight or humility to withdraw; boldness to speak or restraint to be silent; strength to act or patience to be calm.

In the absence of prudence, we make many avoidable mistakes. In the absence of prudence, Peter cut off the ear of a soldier, James and John wanted to call down fire from heaven to destroy the Samaritans, the apostles were arguing among themselves who was the greatest. But with prudence, we avoid unnecessary stress, dangers and worries. We also achieve tremendous feat for the glory of God. Under the guidance of prudence, David was calm in the face of provocation; the widow of Zarephat shared the little she had with the prophet.

St Pio of Pietrelcina is a good example of a man of prudence. He practiced the virtue of prudence in an exemplary way. St Pio says “prudence has eyes.” In other words, prudence is insight, knowledge, wisdom in action. In everything the prudent acts with knowledge but a fool parades his folly (Prov 13:16).  Prudence is our sure guide to right decision in every situation.

Tuesday 8 December 2020

Immaculate Conception of Virgin Mary

 



The Catholic Church teaches authoritatively that God preserved Mary from the stain of original sin from the moment of her conception. The implication of this teaching is that Mary is totally free from the stain of original sin and personal sins. Mary is absolutely stainless and sinless. The reason for this inestimable privilege of Mary is very simple. God decided to purify the vessel through which His Son will come to the world. God who is absolutely holy, whose nothing impure can endure in His presence, purified Mary in such a way that she could become worthy vessel for Jesus’ first coming. It is unthinkable that God who is all holy will allow His Son to be stained by original sin. It is because of the divine merit of our Lord Jesus Christ that our Lady was preserved from the stain of original sin. Mary did not receive the singular gift of Immaculate Conception by her own merit. She could not have earned this gift. The gift is generously gratuitous.

The doctrine of Immaculate Conception has puzzled non-Catholics. Some non-Catholics consider the doctrine as a grandiose theory- too good to be true. They accuse the Catholic Church of romanticizing and exaggerating the holiness and merit of Mary. They are also quick to remind us that all men have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Rom 3:13). They will argue that it is only by the death of Jesus that humanity can be saved. How could Mary be free from the stain of original sin?

The Catholic Church is not exaggerating the holiness and privileges of Mary. On the contrary, the Catholic Church lacks the words to express the stupendous graces of Mary with limitations of human language. Who can really put into words the stupendous graces that Mary received? Human words are inadequate to satisfactorily express the profundity of holiness of our Lady.

It is true that all men and women have sinned and are in  need of reconciliation and justification brought about by Jesus. But Mary is an exception because her vocation is exceptional. We receive our salvation after the suffering and death of our Lord Jesus on the cross. But Mary received her salvation before the actual death of Jesus on the Cross. Mary is still saved by Jesus but her justification is unique because of her unique role in the work of salvation as the true mother of our Savior. We cannot blame God for dispersing His Graces the way He desires.

What God achieved in the life of Mary is also what he wants to achieve in our lives too. Graces of God are so effective in the life of Mary because she cooperated with God. She cooperated freely, actively, fully and whole-heartedly. She said her ‘fiat’ with conviction and joy. God will preserve us from stains of original sin with the sacrament of baptism and the horrors of personal sins if only we are willing to cooperate with Him. The graces of God will be active and effective in our lives if we say our ‘yes’ to God, not just with our lips but with our hearts.


Monday 2 November 2020

PURGATORY AS A GIFT OF LAST RESORT

 


Purgatory can be considered as a gift of God. It is a gratuitous gift of God to those who might perish but are now being purified; those who might be lost but now being saved. Purgatory is a gift because God could have left only two possibilities- heaven or hell. But God offers purgatory as a gift of last resort, as a reprieve, as a cancellation of condemnation; as a sign of hope; as a pledge of salvation. So purgatory can be seen as a gift from merciful God.

Purgatory is an indubitable evidence of God’s infinite mercy and compassion. It is a proof of God’s unrelenting effort to save humanity. It is an assurance that God will stop at nothing to save us. The existence of purgatory is an incontrovertible sign of God’s desire for universal salvation- God who will leave no stone unturned, He will spare no effort to save us.

However, purgatory is a gift we may not desire, we may not require, we may not need- we should not need. Purgatory is the only gift of God that we may not need at all. Even God Himself will be delighted if we do not require this gift. “Be holy as I am Holy.” If we are holy as the Lord is holy, we may not need the gift of purgatory. “Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.” If we are perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect, we will not see the gate of purgatory. We pray for the grace never to make use of this gift!



Saturday 6 June 2020

A SHORT REFLECTION ON THE BIRTHDAY OF ST PIO

                        
The commemoration of birthday of St. Pio of this year 2020 occurred during a great upheaval of global pandemic. The lockdown imposed by the government prevented many of us to come together as sons and daughters of St. Pio to celebrate his birthday. Some Prayers Groups moved their celebration online to share their personal experiences during these challenging times. As sons and daughters of Padre Pio (as he is fondly called by his numerous devotees) what should be our altitude during this crisis of global pandemic?

In 1918, St. Pio celebrated his 31st birthday during an outbreak of pandemic known as Spanish flu (February 1918-April 1920). The Spanish flu killed around 50 million people. In Italy, the home country of Padre Pio more than 400,000 people died as a result of this pandemic according to some sources. On October 19 1918, facing the uncertainties that the pandemic brought, Fr Benedetto (the Spiritual Director of Padre Pio) wrote a letter to Padre Pio asking what was going to be the outcome of the pandemic. Fr Benedetto asked: “Tell me also where this scourge (Spanish flu) is going to lead us in the end. What does the future hold in store for us? I am terrified as I observe that justice is by no means appeased and the sky is growing darker and darker.”   Few days later, Padre Pio responded to the enquiry of his Spiritual Director. Padre Pio said: “the present scourge, in God’s plan, is primarily intended to draw men closer to the divinity. Its secondary and immediate purpose is to ward off the persecutions against God’s children which could follow for some of them as the just fruit of the present war.”

The response of Padre Pio to his Spiritual Director over a century ago is still refreshingly relevant in our own time even as we confront the travails of the Corona virus pandemic. God is using the unpleasant occasion of pandemic to draw us closer to his divine mercy. God is calling our attention to our sinful wretchedness and utter need for His unfathomable mercy. Drawing from the wisdom of our Patron Padre Pio, we can discern the call to conversion, renewal and intimate communion with Jesus. This is a time of introspection, soul-searching and self-evaluation in the light of Gospel’s call to conversion and personal holiness. We can safely assume that it is God’s plan that many men and women will find their way to Him during this terrible pandemic. 

Many of us are facing serious challenges during this lockdown; and even as the lockdown is gradually being lifted, we are faced with uncertainties. We have no idea how this present crisis will end or when it will end. These challenges can be a means of purification and renewal for us. We do not glorify suffering. But in the light of suffering and death of Jesus, suffering has new meaning and salvific significance. We also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character and character produces hope and hope does not disappoint (Rom 5:3-5). Padre Pio thoroughly understood the hidden treasure of suffering that he desired it all the more. Padre Pio would often say: “I suffer only when I have nothing to suffer.”

We can also offer all our challenges and difficulties to God in reparation for the sins of the whole world. Instead of complaining about the difficulties we may be facing, we can offer them to divine mercy as restitution for all the atrocities perpetrated by sinful humanity. We can surrender all our fears, worries and anxieties to God who makes all things work together for the good of those who love Him (Rom 8:28). Needless to say that our primary task (as members of Padre Pio Prayer Group) during these challenging times is prayer. We continue to ask the good Lord through the intercession of St Pio to deliver the world from the threat of this pandemic and draw all humanity to Himself in contrition and conversion.




Sunday 31 May 2020

COME HOLY SPIRIT!


Come Holy Spirit and fill me with your wisdom to discern what is God’s plan for me. Open my eyes to see God’s image in every human being and God’s hand in every event of my life. Enlighten my mind to understand the ultimate purpose and meaning of my life. Arrest my ignorance that I may know what is true, good and right. Inspire me to make good decisions and choices. Motivate me to work for God’s glory.  Steady my steps in my turbulence and anxiety. Instill in me courage to confront the challenges of life. In my confusion show me the path I must follow.  Imbue me with strength to live in the present and confidence to welcome the future. Grant me fortitude to endure whatever may come. Fill my heart with boundless joy. Permeate my whole being with your abundant love!