SPIRITUAL LIFE AS A BUILDING ON THE ROCK

The Gospel describes the formation of Christian life as building a house (Matt 7: 24-27). The wise builds on the solid rock. The foolish builds on the sand. Building on the solid rock means building our spiritual lives on the living Word of God. It means hearing and acting on the Word of God.

Since the Word is the second Person of the Trinity, building on a rock means building our spiritual lives on the solid and intimate relationship with Jesus. There is only one foundation, this foundation is Jesus. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ (1 Cor 3:11).

Now it is possible to belong to a parish, come to Church regularly, be active in the Church and still not enjoy a deep, personal relationship with Jesus. That is like building on the sand. To be so concerned about outward piety, external devotion, and religious exercises without encountering Jesus is to build on the sand. Building on the sand is a comprehensive show of futility.  We are encouraged to build on the true foundation, to be rooted in Christ and build up in Christ (Col 2:7).

The idea of building on the solid rock is applicable to every sphere of life.  We can build our relationships on the solid rock of love, trust and faithfulness or a shifting sand of selfishness, lies and deceit. We can build our education on the solid rock of wisdom, knowledge and understanding or a sinking sand of laziness and forgery. We can build our businesses on the solid rock of honesty, integrity or a shifting sand of fraud and lies.

 Whatever is built on the rock stands and endures. Whatever is built on the sand is unstable and unreliable. Whatever we build is our own. Whatever we build is our reward.

FORGIVENESS AS A VIRTUE

Forgiveness is a recurring theme in the Bible. It strikes at the heart of every human relationship. It is one of the most difficult precepts in the Bible. Jesus insists on forgiveness as a fundamental and irreducible virtue. He desires that we forgive our brothers and sisters as often as they offend us. And if the same person sins against you seven times a day and turns back to you seven times and says, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive (Lk 17:4).

To a critical mind, this command is unrealistic and impracticable. It’s a joke! Imagine a friend coming to ask for forgiveness for the same offence seven times in a day! If showing mercy seven times a day is a herculean task, imagine offering forgiveness seventy -seven times (Matt 18:21-22). By what stretch of imagination can one forgive seventy-seven times? 

How can a finite person show infinite mercy? How can a human person with all his limitations forgive without limit? If we find it difficult to forgive even when our offender is willing to apologise, how much more when the offender is not willing to ask for mercy? If the offender is not seeking mercy and forgiveness, are we still obliged to forgive? The answer is YES!

Jesus encourages us to take forgiveness to those who offend us (Matt 18:15-17). Jesus forgave his executioners (Lk 23:34). Stephen also forgave his persecutors (Acts 7:60). Imitating the supreme example of Jesus, we can live our lives in such a way as not to take offense at every provocation. We can acquire a calm personality in the face of grave injury. We can form our hearts to keep no malice and our minds to remember no hurt. We need to understand the human condition (weakness), anticipate injury and excuse wrongs. For judgement will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgement (James 2:13).

I WILL NOT FORGET YOU (Is 49:15)

Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even if these may forget, yet I will not forget you (Is 49:15).  This is a stupendous promise of God to us. No matter the situation we may find ourselves; no matter how hard, how tough, how long our challenges may last- the Lord promises never to forget us.

God will not forget us because He has said it. God does whatever He says. God can never say one thing and do another. God is faithful. The Lord is faithful in all His words (Ps 145:13). God is faithful, even if we are unfaithful, God will still be faithful, for he cannot deny Himself (2Tim 2:13).

This promise is the source of strength for us especially when we are facing difficulties of life. When the whole world abandons us; when we have nobody to turn to or nowhere to run to; when God seems to delay in answering our prayers; when it seems time is running out for God’s promises to be fulfilled- let us remember that the Lord will never forget us.

The Lord has indelibly engraved our names in His heart even before we were born. It is not now that He will forget us.
Though the Lord will never forget us, let us never forget to remind Him not to forget us!

EPIPHANY OF THE LORD

The Epiphany is the revelation of the glory of the Lord to the world. It is the unveiling of the glory, resplendence and magnificence of God.  Jesus is the radiance of the glory of the God ( Heb 1:3). It the revelation of God’s salvation for humanity. "For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of God as the waters cover the sea" (Hab 2:14).

Though the Lord has revealed his glory to the nations, only those who have faith will see it. “We walk by faith and not by sight” (2Cor 5:7). The Lord will manifest his glory to those who long to see Him; those who seek him with their hearts; those who are disposed to welcome him with joy.

The Epiphany of the Lord produced opposite reactions in different people in the Gospels (Cf. Matt 2:1-12). The three wise men rejoiced when they saw the glory of the Lord in the manger but King Herod was angry and saddened. While the wise men were making effort to see the glory of the Lord, Herod was making effort to diminish the glory of God. The Epiphany can be accepted with faith or rejected because of unbelief

The Lord wants to manifest his glory in our lives. But are we ready to receive Him? Are we ready to welcome Him? Human existence is full of contradictions. We want light yet we hide in darkness (Cf. Jn 3:19). We yearn for truth but peddle falsehood (Cf. Ps 101:7). We want unconditional love but surround ourselves with the thick walls of hatred and malice (Cf. 1 Jn 4:20). We want to behold the glory of God but we are afraid of its brilliance (Cf. Ex 19).

If we want to experience the manifestation of Epiphany, let us do what the wise men did. Let us embark on the journey of conversion and self-renunciation. Let us leave behind the old way of life and embrace a new horizon. Let us fix our gaze on the Word of God as the star that leads us to the King of glory. Then the glory of God will be manifested in our lives. We will reflect the glory of God. We shall rejoice exceedingly.

Most Holy Name of Jesus

There is something about the name of Jesus. It is the greatest name in heaven and on earth. The name of Jesus is above every other name (Cf. Phil 2:9). This sacred name is not just a combination of letters. It is certainly more than just an audible sound. The name of Jesus connotes the person, identity and being of the second Person of the Trinity.

My name connotes my being, my person and my identity. My name is me! My name is what I am, what I have and what I stand for. If you insult my name, you insult me. In the same way, the name of Jesus connotes his being, person and identity.

About this holy name the scripture says “there is no salvation in anyone else, for there is no other name in the whole world given to men by which we are to be saved” (Acts 4:12). This name deserves our utmost respect and reverence. “At the name of Jesus every kneel must bow, of those that are in heaven, on earth and under the earth” (Phil 2:10).

The name of Jesus is so powerful, so portent. The name is prayer, power and possibilities. Miracles have been wrought, wars have been won, sicknesses have been cured, darkness has been dispelled and evil spirits expelled at the name of Jesus. There is certainly something about the name of Jesus.

In the name of Jesus we receive healing and protection from bodily harm. “In my name they shall take up serpents and if they shall drink poison, it shall not hurt them (Mk 16:17-18). This name gives us consolation in times of spiritual trials. It protects us from the assaults of the evil ones. It obtains for us anything and everything we ask from the Father. “If you ask the Father anything in my name He will give you” (Jn 16:23).

When we find ourselves in times of trials, temptations and distress, let us never hesitate to call on the name of Jesus. Let us invoke this name with faith and reverence, and the Lord will come to our aid. He will rescue us and assist us.