THE PLENITUDE OF GOD'S GRACE

Where sin increased, grace increased all the more (Rom 5:20). The word of God assures all who are harrassed by sin, embarrassed by shameful secrets, battered by temptations and overwhelmed by sense of guilt that the grace of God is superabundant. The grace of God surpasses human fraity and it is sufficient ( Cf. 2Cor 12:9).

Sometimes we wonder why it seems impossible to overcome certain sins? We ask whether it is possible to overcome some stubborn sins? We may even give up the struggles against sins. We may passively accept slavery to sin and tyranny of the flesh.

The bible reassures us that grace exists; that grace is real; that grace is bounteous and that grace is very effective.  We can avoid the presumption that sin is greater than God's grace.

However, we need to remind ourselves that grace cannot replace our will and freedom.  We still have to cooperate with the grace of God. We have to say 'yes' to grace and 'no' to sin.  We need to be open, to be receptive to the grace of God.

The grace of God cannot compel us to abandon sin. Grace will not force us stop sinning.  Grace will only nudge us gently to do good and avoid evil.  We don't need special 'grace' of make good use of God's grace. All we have to do is to choose grace and shun sin.

We urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain  (2Cor6:1). The superabundant  grace of God must never be in vain.  It must bear fruits in holiness, friuts that will last to eternal life.

PRAYER TO THE THREE ARCHANGELS

Heavenly King,You have given us archangels
to assist us during our pilgrimage on earth.
Saint Michael is our protector;
I ask him to come to my aid,
fight for all my loved ones,
and protect us from danger.

Saint Gabriel is a messenger of the Good News;
I ask him to help me
clearly hear Your voice
and to teach me the truth.

Saint Raphael is the healing angel;
I ask him to take my need for healing
and that of everyone I know,
lift it up to Your throne of grace
and deliver back to us the gift of recovery.
Help us, O Lord,
to realize more fully the reality of the archangels
and their desire to serve us.

Holy angels,
pray for us.

Amen.




Source: Catholic Doors Ministry

Stumbling on the Same Stone Twice

The disciples of Jesus attempted to cure an epileptic (Matt 17:14-20). But they did not succeed. The failed terribly.  Before this episode, they had already cured many people cured many people, sent away many demons, and performed many miracles. But on this particular occasion, they failed.  They were a little bit disturbed and befuddled.

The disciples did something admirable, something worth emulating- they inquired about the cause of their failure. They had a strong desire to know the cause of their failure. Why did we fail? What went wrong? Why could we not cast it out?

The disciples were keenly aware of the fact that knowledge of the cause of their failure is vital to prevent the occurrence of the same failure. Cicero says to stumble on the same stone twice is a proverbial disgrace. The disciples did not want to stumble on the same stone twice. Hence, they approached Jesus to know the cause of their failure.

We observe that the disciple of Jesus asked for his help as soon as they got the chance. There was no room for delay, for dragging their feet, for procrastination. They also approached Jesus despite their embarrassment and shame. Embarrassment and shame did not prevent them from gaining vital information that may preserve them from future errors.

There are many  feckless people who stumble on the same stone twice- those who make the same mistakes over and over again and  who do not make effort to know the cause of their failure. Some people look for otiose excuses for their frequent failure. They constantly blame everybody and everything for their mistakes except themselves. Those who will not make effort to know the  cause of their failure.

Our universe is regulated by the principle of cause and effect. There is no effect without a cause. It is useless to complain and lament about the effect without making effort to know the cause of the effect. Our failures, setbacks and challenges in life have their causes. We need to make conscientious efforts to discover the true cause of our failure and strive to avoid the cause or overcome it.

Without the knowledge of the cause of our failure, we will stumble on the same stone twice. Progress will be far away from us, positive change will elude us, and success will leave us behind. Knowledge is the solution. Knowledge is the salvation.

The Attitude of Beatitude

The beatitudes are familiar verses in the bible. They form the broad principles of Christian life.  They are revolutionary in their stance; far reaching in their scope; penetrating in their depth and sublime in meaning. The beatitudes challenge us to identify who we are and prioritise what we value.

In the  beatitudes, Jesus attempts to give us a portrait of a true Christian life.  He teaches us  the attitude we need to acquire to be happy and fulfilled in life.  Jesus indicates the clear path that leads to salvation.

We need to note carefully that the blessedness of the beatitudes is from God's perspective and not from perspective of the world.  The Christian who practices the virtues of the beatitudes is blessed even if the external circumstances of his life do not suggest that he is happy.

The poor, the meek and those who mourn can hardly be considered happy by the world .  Yet Jesus declares them happy.  The beatitudes give exactly what they promise-happiness, joy and salvation. Our happiness in life will depend on the extent we acquire the attitude of beatitudes.

How Do You Want To Be Remembered?

There is a desire in the heart of every human being to be remembered after death.  As one grows older, this desire grows stronger.  As we approach the twilight of life, we are concerned about how we want to be remembered.

The Gospel remembers one of the disciples of Jesus as "the disciple whom Jesus loved. "(Jn 21:20)  What a beautiful way to be remembered! Tradition believes this disciple is John.  Of course, Jesus loved all the disciples.  But it appears Jesus had a special love for John.  It is also undeniably true that John loved Jesus. John's love, affection and loyalty to Jesus was unmistaken. He is remembered as the closest friend and disciple of Jesus.

Sadly another disciple is also remembered in the bible for all the wrong reasons.  Judas is remembered in the bible as "the one who would betray Jesus."(Matt 26:25).  The legacy of Judas is greed, betrayal and tragedy.

The way we live now will determine how we will be remembered.  The choices we are making or not making will determine our legacy.  What we do or refuse to do will go a long way to shape how history will remember us.

History will be gracious to us if we assist people and make this world a better place.  We will continue to live on in the hearts and memory of the people we have helped.  Those who lived selfless life will never be forgotten.  They will live forever in the memory of their loved ones and admirers.

Addressing Injustice

A strange complaint was raging in a Christian community. The greek widows complained that they were neglected in the daily distribution of food. The widows were not receiving their due. Deprivation of one's due is an injustice. An injustice gave rise to a complaint. The complaint called attention to an injustice.

The apostles admitted that there was an injustice. And they quickly addressed it. They appointed seven deacons to serve the whole community. The apostles did not ignore the complaint. They did not defend or justify an injustice. They did not delay in addressing the problem. They acted proptly. The little complaint was put to rest and the community moved on.

Many problems in the families, societies and nations began as a little complaint. A complaint calling attention to an injustice, inequality, wickedness and tyranny. The atrocious and vicious wars in the world began as a little complaint.

Often complaints are ignored or rejected. Injustice is defended or justified. Justice is delayed or denied. The divorce happening in this marriage began with a complaint. The agitations and uprisings unfolding in our world began with a complaint.

When complaints are ignored or treated with levity, an occasional complaint becomes frequent; silent complaint becomes very loud and just complaint becomes violent and vicious.

We need to examine our relationships to check whether there are complaints we ignore. Of course, not all complaints are valid. Some complaints are baseless. But we should not be too quick to dismiss a complaint. We may examine the complaints addressed to us in the light of truth, Justice and the Word of God.

If the complaints are valid, we need to address the problem immediately. Justice delayed is justice denied. Our inaction, denial and delay can become the worst form of injustice.

Our God is a God of justice. The Lord frowns at injustice. "Whoever sows injustice will reap calamity" (Prov 22:8). We can't afford to be deaf to legitimate complaints around us. We cannot be blind to instances of injustice in our society. We can't remain insensitive or indifferent to the cries of injustice.

Christian Freedom and Responsibility

Freedom is the source of dignity of the human person. It is one of the few qualities we share with God. Without freedom we will not be different from animals or trees.

Freedom is the source of alternatives and options. Without freedom there will be no reason to bring different options to the table. Only those who are free can choose.

Freedom is the source of reward and punishment. It is because we are free that our actions can be praised and reward or blamed and punished. Without freedom our actions will lack either merit or demerit.

Freedom is our second nature. Freedom is embedded in our being. So much so that we are not free not to be free. It is almost impossible to decide not to be free. The decision not to be free is itself free.

In life we face many choices. Some choices are opposites- light and darkness, life and death, good and evil, heaven and hell. We are free to choose any of the two. We are not free not to choose any of the two. To choose not to choose is already a choice.

With reference to fundamental options like God or eternal destiny, we can not remain neutral. We have to make a choice. This is one of the reasons many people dread their own freedom. Because they know they have to take eternal responsibility for the use or abuse of their freedom.

Freedom is a gift of God- a gratuitous and unmerited gift. Freedom as a gift evokes responsibility and a sense of duty.

In order to choose wisely we need two things. First, we need the truth to illuminate and guide our choices. You will know the truth, the truth will set you free ( Jn 8:32). Second, we need the grace of God to nugde us to choose correctly. Without the grace of God, freedom is often abused.

The Light That Darkness Cannot Overcome (Part 1)

Darkness is associated with something unpleasant or dangerous. Darkness symbolises evil, sin, ignorance, adversity, despair, gloom and doom.

It appears even God is not comfortable with darkness. When God created the earth, the earth was covered with darkness. The Spirit of God was hovering in darkness. And God said "Let there be light." And there was light. And God saw that it was very good and God separated light from darkness (Gen 1:1-4).

God created Adam and Eve and  allowed them to enjoy the brilliance of divine light. But Adam and Eve sinned. They step outside the frame of light and entered the region of darkness (Gen 3:1-19). Moral darkness covered the earth. Evil multiplied, sin increased, and darkness also deepened. "The way of the wicked is like deep darkness" (Prov 4:19). The whole humanity was groping in darkness, evil, injustice and wickedness.

But the Lord who is rich in mercy would not abandon humanity (Eph 2:4). The Lord sent prophet Isaiah to announce the new era of great light, the triumph of light over darkness. The prophet proclaimed: the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light, those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined (Is 9:2).

This prophecy was fulfilled when Jesus entered the human history. "In him was life, and the life was the light of men and women. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it" ( Jn 1:4-5). Jesus himself would later say: "I am the light of the world" (Jn 8:12).

Enemies As Footstool

The Lord's revelation to my Lord: "sit at my  right hand, until I make your foes your footstool" (Ps 110:1).  This verse primarily refers to Jesus, the conqueror of evil and satan, who is now seated at the right hand of God (Lk 22:69).

This verse also explores our approach to our 'enemies'. Life is complicated. We make enemies. We also become enemies to others. We may hate others and become hateful ourselves.

Christ is inviting us to leave the valley of hatred and hostilities. Christ is inviting us to come and sit at his right hand (Col 3:1). The right hand of Christ is a place of extreme honour and grace.

But to sit at the right hand of Christ, we need to be pure and purified, we need to be clean and cleansed. In other words, we need conversion, purification, self denial and sacrifices. Who can climb the mountain of the Lord? (Ps 15:1-5).

If we dare to cleanse ourselves and sit at the right hand of Christ. We experience two things. First. We feel safe. Our safety is absolutely guaranteed. Not a single hair on our heads can be touched in the presence of Jesus (Lk 21:18). The Lord will prepare  a banquet for us in the sight of our enemies (Ps 23:5).

Second, our perspective of our enemies will change. The enemy who appears so big will now look so small. We realise that an enemy is not to be feared but pitied. Sitting next to Christ and looking down, we see our enemies at our footstool. Rather, our enemies become our footstool.

The footstool is not a comfortable place for the enemies. It is a place of pain and suffering, shame and disgrace. That's why Jesus asks to pray for our enemies (Matt 5:44). So that our enemies may leave the footstool one day and join us at the right hand of Christ!