Thursday, November 14, 2013. 

Today's Liturgical Reading by Daily Flash, Goa.  

Wisdom 7:22 - 8:1; Psalm 118[119]:89-91, 130, 135, 175; Gospel : Luke 17:20-25. [Please share today's Gospel with family, friends/neighbors.]

Focus:  ‘God loves nothing so much as the person who lives with wisdom’ (Wisdom 7:28)

‘Knowledge is knowing that the tomato is a fruit; wisdom is not using it in a fruit salad.’ This quote tells us that knowledge should be used wisely.

Jesus wants us to use all our resources – physical, mental and spiritual – to build His kingdom. He says, “The kingdom of God is among you” (Luke 17:21). He wants us to prepare others to carry on His work, especially by nurturing our children – His gifts to us. This is where we truly need wisdom (Focus).

Today India celebrates Children’s Day. The usual tendency is to glance out of the window and feel sorry for the street kids. We pass disparaging remarks on how their parents lack wisdom in their upbringing and even question their right to have children. We express shock when the parents sometimes beat them. We are quick to condemn it as child abuse.

Are our children not abused? Our ambitions often pressurize them. School, tuitions, dance class, music class, art class, etc., leave them little time to enjoy a simple childhood. How much quality time do we give the kids? Is it the wisdom of God when one parent takes the kids and walks out on the other for flimsy reasons with sophisticated justification? Are the children one parent’s personal property?

Fruit: Give me the wisdom, O Lord, to love my children as You do and bring them up according to Your Word. 

Wednesday, November 13, 2013. 

Today's Liturgical Reading by Daily Flash, Goa.  

Wisdom 6:1-11; Psalm 81[82]:3-4, 6-7; Gospel : Luke 17:11-19. [Please share today's Gospel with family, friends/neighbors.]

Focus: 'He prostrated himself at Jesus' feet and thanked Him' (Luke 17:16)

It is easy for us, the privileged, to hold a sanitized Christianity, smug in the conviction that we 'keep the law'. Pope Francis, however, advocates a practical concern for the world's poor and marginalized (today's Psalm). He pays special attention to the economic problems which lead to impoverishment among millions. He speaks of our "greedy world". He exhorted the clergy in Rio to leave the comfort of their prestigious institutions and go to favelas (slums) to evangelise. 

Today's Gospel describes an encounter Jesus had with ten lepers. They kept their distance, but lawfully speaking they should not even have been there. That didn't faze Jesus - He sent them off to show themselves to the priest. We know what happened and how only a Samaritan returned to give thanks (Focus). Is it a coincidence that Jesus proposed the Samaritan leper, the Good Samaritan and the Samaritan woman at the well - despised 'outsiders' - as models of discipleship?

Can we apply the First Reading to ourselves? Many of us are privileged with comfortable homes, secure jobs, children 'doing well'. Yet we are often more greedy than grateful. We may mouth words of gratitude - as the servant whose debt was wiped off (Mathew 18:23-35). But we truly show our thankfulness when we go to Jesus present in the poor and serve them. 

Fruit: Let us show that we mean our gratitude by sharing a meal with an old or poor person. 

Tuesday, November 12, 2013. 

Today's Liturgical Reading by Daily Flash, Goa. 

Feast of St. Josaphat. 

Wisdom 2:23 - 3:9; Psalm 33[34]:2-3, 16-19; Gospel : Luke 17:7-10. [Please share today's Gospel with family,friends/neighbors.]

Focus: "We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!" (Luke 17:10)

Many of us are diligent and conscientious workers doing "all that (we are) ordered to do" (Luke 17:10). Usually the satisfaction of a job well done is enough for us. However, we sometimes have to face difficulties and obstacles that make a task much more complicated. It is at such times that we expect a pat on the back from our boss or supervisor. If they do not notice we may even become sad or discouraged. 

This has happened to me on occasions, and it is then that the Holy Spirit reminds me of today's Gospel. When we are doing everything for the love of God, it should not matter if no one notices or commends us for it. I am also reminded that it was God who helped me in overcoming the difficulties I faced in the process of completing the task when I called upon Him for help. As long as God is pleased with my effort why should I worry about whether others notice or not?

Another comforting thought is that my reward will be waiting for me when I am welcomed by the Lord at the end of my life with the words, "Well done, good and trustworthy slave" (Mathew 25:21). He knows all things and sees all things. 

Fruit: What is God calling me to do today? Let me strive to do it without expecting a reward. 

Monday, November 11, 2013.

Today's Liturgical Reading by Daily Flash, Goa.

Feast of St. Martin of Tours.

Wisdom 1:1-7; Psalm 138[139]:1-10; Gospel : Luke 17:1-6. [Please share today's Gospel with family, friends/neighbors.]

Focus: 'Think of the Lord in goodness and seek Him with sincerity of heart' (Wisdom 1:1)

After attending a retreat, Jenny began attending prayer meetings faithfully each week. Once, while going for a meeting, a bus hit her bike from behind. Miraculously she was unhurt. As she continued, she was worried that her family might not allow her to attend any more meetings if the bike was damaged. But on reaching the venue, she found that it had only minor scratches. She praised God. 

God is always faithful to those who seek Him sincerely (Focus). 'He is found by those who do not put Him to the test' (Wisdom 1:2).

Often we say we love God, but at the same time we fail to know Him. If we knew Him, we would appreciate His compassion and forgiveness and we would forgive others as He does. We would understand His love for us to the point of death on the cross and we would unselfishly die for others in daily life. If we knew Him, we would ask Him His plans for us and allow Him to execute them rather than first doing our own thing and then asking Him to bless our efforts.

We sob, blame, criticize and complain but little do we meditate and speak of God's goodness in our lives. How many times have we not grumbled? But do we ever count the blessings we receive daily from Him?

Fruit: Today I shall seek God and proclaim His goodness. 

Sunday, November 10, 2013. 

Today's Liturgical Reading by Daily Flash, Goa. 

32nd Sunday of Ordinary Time. 

2 Maccabees 7:1-2, 9-14; Psalm 16[17]:1, 5-6, 8, 15; 2 Thessalonians 2:16 - 3:5; Gospel : Luke 20:27-38. [Please share today's Gospel with family,friends/neighbors.]

Focus: "Now He is God not of the dead, but of the living" (Luke 20:38)

Good Friday comes around only once a year but don't we regularly put on 'Good Friday faces?' We are children of the Resurrection and our God is alive, not dead (Focus). Yet many of us come to church with heavy hearts and gloomy spirits. Like the Sadducees (today's Gospel) we are preoccupied with concerns like who after death might be the real husband of a woman who married seven times. The Sadducees had closed their minds to the possibility of an afterlife (Luke 20:27). Similarly, we miss the point that the Resurrection is about Jesus emerging victorious against sin and death.

God is not confined by space and time or by our earthly limitations. He has a perfect plan. We can wilfully be like the Sadducees and close our minds to His revelation or we can be eager to learn from Him. If He moves our lives in a direction we don't fully understand, we must listen humbly and follow Him. He will never lead us astray. He wants us to be ready to step out of our comfort zones when the situations call for it. 

For the Sadducees this meant accepting the truth that God can raise dead. For us it might mean accepting a new member in the family or community or a new priest in our parish. 

Fruit: In life and in death the only one who never fails is God.

Saturday, November 09, 2013. 

Today's Liturgical Reading by Daily Flash, Goa. 

Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome. 

Ezekiel 47:1-2, 8-9, 12 or 1 Corinthians 3:9-11, 16-17; Psalm 45[46]:2-3, 5-6, 8-9; Gospel : John 2:13-22. [Please share today's Gospel with family, friends/neighbors.]

Focus: 'For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple' (1 Corinthians 3:17).

Today's readings, chosen for the dedication of the Lateran Basilica, help us to focus on the Holy of Holies. As the word of God strongly highlights, '(we) are that temple' (Focus). It is only in God's grace that the building can grow, because its firm 'foundation is Jesus Christ' (1 Corinthians 3:11). And just as the Gospel speaks of the Jerusalem temple being rebuilt (but really refers to Christ's body), we are now called to grow, build and safeguard the temple of God. 

While reflecting on these words, I was struck by a connected thought on relationships. Many a time we enjoy a beautiful relationship with someone but then bitterness creeps in and it sours. Similarly, as temples of God, we are persons of faith. But on encountering illness, death or some unexpected problem, we doubt God's holiness and love. The relationship begins to weaken. We forget that that the Spirit of God dwells in us and gives us the strength to go ahead. 

By free will, we human beings are capable of directing ourselves and find perfection in seeking and loving what is true and good (cf. CCC 1704). Perhaps we need to look into our heart and live these words. We must become and remain God's holy temple both in good and bad times. 

Fruit: Are my thoughts, words and deeds holy for the Holy Spirit to reside in me (1 Corinthians 3:15)?

Friday, November 08, 2013. 

Today's Liturgical Reading by Daily Flash, Goa.  

Romans 15:14-21; Psalm 97[98]:1-4; Gospel : Luke 16:1-8. [Please share today's Gospel with family, friends/neighbors.]

Focus: "His master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly" (Luke 16:8).

All of us disapprove of corruption. We are pleased to see dishonest people humbled or disgraced. But Jesus seems to go soft on corruption in today's Gospel (Focus)!

However, a careful reading of the parable shows that as the dishonest manager faces dismissal, he acts aptly; first, by safeguarding the interests of his master and ensuring that is property is not completely misappropriated; second, by forgoing his own gain; and, third, by doing the debtors - probably poor people - a good turn, thus partly making amends. For this he is praised by his master. 

Jesus, rather than condoning corruption, shows His mercy even to the dishonest. His merciful attitude is seen in His calling of Mathew, a shady tax collector, to follow Him (Mathew 9:9). He also befriended corrupt Zacchaeus (Luke 19:5). Jesus was righteous but sinners' (Mathew 9:13) and "to seek out and to save the lost" (Luke 19:10). The dishonest manager in the parable took a decision to change even as he was on the verge of being punished. And Jesus' touch transformed both Mathew and Zacchaeus.

The other lessons of today's Gospel are making judicious use of our means, our position and our opportunities, and acting resourcefully even in the face of crisis.

Fruit: My conduct or actions may sometimes land me in trouble but I can still seek ways to make reparation.