Unique You!

Matthew 18:12-18 

"What is your opinion? If someone has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders off, doesn't he leave the ninety- nine and go after the one? 13 And if he finds it, doesn't he make far more over it than over the ninety- nine who stay put? 14 Your Father in heaven feels the same way. He doesn't want to lose even one of these simple believers.

Food for Thought!

The parable of the lost sheep is a clear indication that in God's economy everybody counts. It means that one is as good as many and many are as good as one. Why this? Because there's none of us somewhere else; if any of us is lost there's no more of us living somewhere. It means there's is only one of you, only one of me; you're not repeated and are not repeatable. When we're lost we're lost because they is no substitute. This is why the shepherd left the ninety nine to go after one. This is why God does not want to lose even the little ones.

What does this mean in practice? It means that we're special; that all of us and each one of us is special; it means that there is none like you, there is none like me; that God customizingly made each one of us different; that each one of us is a different story, a unique story. It means that though there may be similarities in our individual stories, we're completely different. It means that each one's story, not only had a different beginning, but also will have a different ending.

The parable shows us that God deals with us on a one to one basis. Though we're many, some say too many, we're known individually and we count. If God deals with us individually, we must deal with God as individuals. Some of us relate with God when we're among many and don't know how to relate with God as individuals. How long can you retreat yourself into private prayer and meditation? When did you last sit down alone to pray without some prayer book, just praying from your heart?

If God made us different and UNIQUE, why do we envy other people? We should instead admire ourselves and the gifts God gave us. Be happy with what you have received from God instead of envying what God has given to others. And appreciate and develop that which makes you unique. Do you know your uniqueness, by the way? What makes you different from everybody else? Or you are the lost sheep? The sheep that Jesus is looking for? Are you not lost?

When Jesus sees our faith!

Luke 5: 17 One day as he was teaching, Pharisees and religion teachers were sitting around. They had come from nearly every village in Galilee and Judea, even as far away as Jerusalem, to be there. The healing power of God was on him. 18 Some men arrived carrying a paraplegic on a stretcher. They were looking for a way to get into the house and set him before Jesus. 19 When they couldn't find a way in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof, removed some tiles, and let him down in the middle of everyone, right in front of Jesus. 20 When Jesus saw their faith, he said, "Friend, I forgive your sins." 21 That set the religion scholars and Pharisees buzzing. "Who does he think he is? That's blasphemous talk! God and only God can forgive sins." 22 Jesus knew exactly what they were thinking and said, "Why all this gossipy whispering? 23 Which is simpler: to say 'I forgive your sins,' or to say 'Get up and start walking'? 24 Well, just so it's clear that I'm the Son of Man and authorized to do either, or both...." He now spoke directly to the paraplegic: "Get up. Take your bedroll and go home." 25 Without a moment's hesitation, he did it-- got up, took his blanket, and left for home, giving glory to God all the way. 26 The people rubbed their eyes, incredulous-- and then also gave glory to God. Awestruck, they said, "We've never seen anything like that!"

Food for Thought!

Who said faith is not visible? It is. The gospel says that “When Jesus saw their faith”, when he saw the eager faith of those who stopped at nothing to bring their friend to his cure, he acted. It still happens. 

Great works are performed not by strength alone but by faith too. Faith is stronger than strength. You can do more things with faith than with physical strength. But when you add strength to faith to purpose or goal, you turn the impossible possible. You have to join the two because faith without works is dead; and works without faith are also dead. 

God created us all with a purpose. I hope you know your purpose in life. If not, find your purpose of life, by asking these questions: Why are you living? Why did God make you? When you find you purpose in life, something you want to achieve or be before you leave this life, then throw into it your strength of mind, your faith, and it will be achieved.

Consider the postage stamp. It's strength consists in the ability to stick to one envelop till it gets to its destination; we too can do anything we want to do, if we stick to it long enough. So know what you want to achieve in YOUR life and press on. Learn from the weather; it pays no attention to criticism; it will never change because people are complaining. In other words, don't let other people discourage you in your resolve; don't give up on your resolution; don't yield until you get to Jesus. 

Like the people in the gospel reading of today, the people who succeed in life are the people who dream and start working on their dream until they realize it. The important things in the world have been accomplished by people who kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all. People's criticism is part of the story; don't be upset by what the people say to discourage you; they are by and large like you.

God helps those who help themselves. As the Psalm puts it: Faithfulness and Mercy have met (Psalm 85). Miracles happens when our faithfulness, our struggle, our determination, our faith meets the mercy of the Lord. This is what happened in the gospel reading of today: when Jesus saw their faith in action, their determination, their resolve, he said to the sick man, your sins are forgiven you. 

Let the party begin!

First Reading Baruch 5:1-9 

(Your Name), take off your dress of sorrow and distress, put on the beauty of the glory of God for ever, wrap the cloak of the integrity of God around you, put the diadem of the glory of the Eternal on your head: since God means to show your splendour to every nation under heaven.

The colour purple is the colour of Advent. Unfortunately, purple is also the colour for Lent. This makes us sometimes to think of Advent as a kind of Lenten season. But Advent is very different from Lent. Whereas Lent is marked by penitence, sorrow and self-denial, Advent is a time of getting ready for the party to begin. Are you ready for the party? Are you ready so that the party can begin?

For some people there has never been a party in their life; for them the party of life and living has never began. Yes, because of what we have gone through or are going through, the joy and happiness meant for us may still be elusive. If you are one of those people whose party and fiesta have not began, listen to the Prophet Baruch in the First Reading of today: 

(Your Name), take off your dress of sorrow and distress, put on the beauty of the glory of God for ever, wrap the cloak of the integrity of God around you, put the diadem of the glory of the Eternal on your head: since God means to show your splendour to every nation under heaven.

Are you ready? Are you ready, “since God means to show your splendour to every nation under heaven.” Please, if you want to shine, if you want to show your glory and be your best, do the following: “take off your dress of (1) sorrow and distress, put on the (2) beauty of the glory of God for ever, (3) wrap the cloak of the integrity of God around you, put the (4) diadem of the glory of the Eternal on your head.”

First and foremost, change your appearance. Take off your mourning clothes and put on celebration attire. What is the name of the your dress of sorrow and distress? Is it a person, a circumstance in your life? An event in your life? Take it or him or her off yourself. 

Start to look good. Why is that important? Because what we wear reflects and affects how we feel about life. Secondly, it affects everyone else around us. One reason why the philosopher Nietzsche could not accept the gospel message of salvation was because the Christians of his day who claimed to be saved did not look like people who were saved. “If these Christians want me to believe in their God,” he said, “they’ll have to sing better songs, they’ll have to look more like people who have been saved, they’ll have to wear on their countenance the joy of the beatitudes.”

“Take off your dress of (1) sorrow and distress, put on the (2) beauty of the glory of God for ever, (3) wrap the cloak of the integrity of God around you, put the (4) diadem of the glory of the Eternal on your head.”

This is what John the Baptist is telling his people to do in today’s Gospel Reading (Lk 3:1-6): "Prepare God's arrival! Make the road smooth and straight 5 Every ditch will be filled in, Every bump smoothed out,The detours straightened out, All the ruts paved over. And everybody will see the Life of God.”

You will tell me, how am I to change when my situation has not changed? My answer is this: change not because your situation has changed; change so that your situation  may change; your situation will change when you change. Yes, change first and your spouse will change; change first and your children will change; change first and your boss will change; change yourself and you will change your world. 

Yes, we can live in a depressing situation without being depressed. Not because we are super-men and women but because the joy of the Lord is our strength; we need to prove to ourselves and to the world that our joy does not depend on what we eat and drink, does not depend on someone or on some situation; it depends on the Lord.

Let us begin the party, by singing Shine Jesus Shine!

Lord the Light of Your Love is shining,

In the midst of the darkness shining,

Jesus light of the world shine upon us,

Set us free by the truth You now bring us,

Shine on me. Shine on me.

Shine Jesus shine

Fill this land with the Father's glory

Blaze, Spirit blaze,

Set our hearts on fire

Flow, river flow

Flood the nations with grace and mercy

Send forth Your word

Lord and let there be light.

Lord I come to Your awesome presence,

From the shadows into Your radiance,

By the blood I may enter Your brightness,

Search me, try me, consume all my darkness,

Shine on me. Shine on me.

As we gaze on Your kindly brightness.

So our faces display Your likeness.

Ever changing from glory to glory,

Mirrored here may our lives tell Your story.

Shine on me. Shine on me.

Immaculate Conception!

Luke 1: 26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to the Galilean village of Nazareth 27 to a virgin engaged to be married to a man descended from David. His name was Joseph, and the virgin's name, Mary. 28 Upon entering, Gabriel greeted her: Good morning! You're beautiful with God's beauty, Beautiful inside and out! God be with you.

29 She was thoroughly shaken, wondering what was behind a greeting like that. 30 But the angel assured her, "Mary, you have nothing to fear. God has a surprise for you: 31 You will become pregnant and give birth to a son and call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great, be called 'Son of the Highest.' The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David; 33 He will rule Jacob's house forever-- no end, ever, to his kingdom." 34 Mary said to the angel, "But how? I've never slept with a man." 35 The angel answered, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, the power of the Highest hover over you; Therefore, the child you bring to birth will be called Holy, Son of God. 36 "And did you know that your cousin Elizabeth conceived a son, old as she is? Everyone called her barren, and here she is six months 'pregnant! 37 Nothing, you see, is impossible with God." 38 And Mary said, Yes, I see it all now: I'm the Lord's maid, ready to serve. Let it be with me just as you say. Then the angel left her.

Food for thought!

In today's second reading, (Eph 1:11-12) we read: It's in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.

What this reading is saying is that God has a plan for each one of us. He has this plan from day one of our existence; he created us with a plan; we come into this life for a purpose. This is the good news. The bad news is that, like Mary, we sometimes don't know it. The gospel says that all Mary was looking toward to was her wedding, for she had been engaged to Joseph. When she least expected the angel from God came to her with a very disturbing revelation: 'Good morning! You're beautiful with God's beauty, Beautiful inside and out! God be with you. She was thoroughly shaken, wondering what was behind a greeting like that. But the angel assured her, "Mary, you have nothing to fear. God has a surprise for you: You will become pregnant and give birth to a son and call his name Jesus."'

Like Mary, sometimes we don't know God's plan for us; we plan and work for one thing when God has quite another thing for us. Like Mary, we get upset and we upset others when we come to know God's surprise for us. This surprise plan can be in our private life, family life, professional life, can be in our business. In all these, God can and indeed sometimes acts contrary to our expectations and plans.

How many people have married someone completely different from the one they dreamed? How many people have moved from their home countries to a completely different country they never ever dreamed of going to? How many people have changed career or jobs to a completely different one? How many people have...? God continues to surprise us because, as today's second reading put it, He has a master plan, an overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.

For that reason, when all is done and said, we must say like Mary: Let it be done to me according to thy plan. Imagine if Mary has stubbornly refused to cooperate? Imagine Mary saying to the Angel, Sorry, I am set for marriage; I can't and I won't. Mary would not be the Mary we know if she had refused. Our glory consists in obeying to God's plan for us, even when we don't understand all the details; even if we get upset ourselves; even if we upset others. We should always say like Mary and with Mary, Be done to me according to his plan for me! Mary, pray for us now and at the hour of our death.

Do you earnestly believe I can do this? (Friday's readings)

Matthew 9:27-31

27 As Jesus left the house, he was followed by two blind men crying out, "Mercy, Son of David! Mercy on us!" 28 When Jesus got home, the blind men went in with him. Jesus said to them, "Do you really believe I can do this?" They said, "Why, yes, Master!" 29 He touched their eyes and said, "Your faith has healed you." 30 It happened. They saw. Then Jesus became very stern. "Don't let a soul know how this happened." 31 But they were hardly out the door before they started blabbing it to everyone they met. 

Food for thought!

It is worth noting that Jesus did not answer the blind men at once; they had to follow him into the house. Why does Jesus not answer our needs at once? Why has he not answered some of our prayers? Well, for the two blind men Jesus wanted to be quite sure that they were sincere and earnest in their desire for what he could give them. He wanted first of all to be sure that their request was genuine, and that their sense of need was real.

It is true that there are people who in actual fact do not wish their chains to be broken. There are not a few people who in the depth of their hearts do not dislike their weakness; and there are many of us who, if we were honest, would have to say that we do not wish to lose our bondage. Jesus had first of all to be sure that these men sincerely and earnestly desired the healing he could give.

Another noteworthy thing in today's gospel, is that Jesus compelled these people to see him alone, in private. Because he did not answer them in the streets, they had to come to him in the house. When Jesus got home, the blind men went in with him. It is the law of the spiritual life that sooner or later we must confront Jesus alone. It is all very well to take a decision for Jesus when we are in a gathering, or in some little group which is charged with spiritual power; it is easy to choose Jesus when we are in a church; it is not so easy when we are home or at work.

After the crowd has gone, everybody must go home and be alone; after church service we must go back to the essential isolation of every human soul; and what really matters is not what we do or say in the crowd, but what we do when we are alone with Christ. Jesus compelled these men to face him alone, away from the crowd. This is why our true prayers are not those we say inside the church, but those we say in our bedroom, in our homes where we are alone; under such environment we don’t pray to impress anyone but God.

Jesus asked these men only one question: "Do you really believe that I can do this?" The one essential for a miracle is faith. There is nothing mysterious or theological about this. No doctor can cure a sick person who goes to him in a completely hopeless frame of mind. No medicine will do a man any good if he thinks he might as well be drinking water. The way to a miracle is to place one's life in the hands of Jesus Christ, and say, "I know that you can make me what I ought to be." 

The last thing to note, not everything Jesus does for us or tells us is for public consumption; there are things Jesus tells or does for us that he expects us not to tell everybody. Unfortunately some of us are the two men: “But they were hardly out the door before they started blabbing it to everyone they met.”

Translate words into works!

"Knowing the correct password, saying 'Master, Master,' for instance, isn't going to get you anywhere with me. What is required is serious obedience, doing what my Father wills."These words I speak to you are not incidental additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundational words, words to build a life on. If you work these words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who built his house on solid rock. 25 Rain poured down, the river flooded, a tornado hit, but nothing moved that house. It was fixed to the rock. 26" But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don't work them into your life, you are like a stupid carpenter who built his house on the sandy beach. 27 When a storm rolled in and the waves came up, it collapsed like a house of cards."

Food for thought!

Jesus was in a double sense an expert. He was an expert in scripture. He is referring to Proverbs 10:25. "When the tempest passes, the wicked is no more, but the righteous is established for ever" (Prov.10:25). But Jesus was also an expert in life. He was the craftsman who knew all about the building of houses, and when he spoke about the foundations of a house he knew what he was talking about.

There are two great permanent truths within this passage. There is only one way in which a man's sincerity can be proved, and that is by his practice. Fine words can never be a substitute for fine deeds. So often we confess God with our lips and deny him with our lives. It is not difficult to recite a creed, to say prayers, even to go to church or to Bible study meetings. What we need to do is translate words into works.

So as we go to church, go to Mass, kneel down to pray, as we read the Bible, we should remember that it is not enough; it is just the beginning. The second part is to act as the Lord has told us in the prayer. For instance, if and when we pray for rain, we should take our umbrella with us.

Knowledge only becomes relevant when it is translated into action. Many of us would perfectly pass an examination in Christian Ethics with the highest distinction, and yet fail in action. Knowledge must become action; theory must become practice; theology must become life.

There is little point in going to a doctor, unless we are prepared to do the things we hear him say to us. There is little point in going to an expert, unless we are prepared to act upon his advice. There's little point in going to church, in praying, in reading the Bible, unless we do experiment on what the Lord tells us. The problem with some of us is that we distrust what we hear the Lord tell us to do. Mary's advice at the wedding at Cana is very pertinent: "Whatever he tells you, do it." (Jn 2:5).

Change your attitude change your altitude!

Matthew 15:29-37 

Jesus returned to the Sea of Galilee and climbed a hill and sat down. 30 A vast crowd brought to him people who were lame, blind, crippled, those who couldn't speak, and many others. They laid them before Jesus, and he healed them all. 31 The crowd was amazed! Those who hadn't been able to speak were talking, the crippled were made well, the lame were walking, and the blind could see again! And they praised the God of Israel. 32 Then Jesus called his disciples and told them, "I feel sorry for these people. They have been here with me for three days, and they have nothing left to eat. I don't want to send them away hungry, or they will faint along the way." 33 The disciples replied, "Where would we get enough food here in the wilderness for such a huge crowd?" 34 Jesus asked, "How much bread do you have?" They replied, "Seven loaves, and a few small fish." 35 So Jesus told all the people to sit down on the ground. 36 Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, thanked God for them, and broke them into pieces. He gave them to the disciples, who distributed the food to the crowd. 37 They all ate as much as they wanted. Afterward, the disciples picked up seven large baskets of leftover food.

Food for thought!

Some one remarked: There is little difference in people, but that little difference makes a big difference. The little difference is attitude. The big difference is whether it is positive or negative. The miracle in today's gospel is all about attitude.

Did you notice what Jesus did? He first noted:  "I feel sorry for these people. They have been here with me for three days, and they have nothing left to eat. I don't want to send them away hungry, or they will faint along the way." Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, thanked God for them. Jesus had a positive attitude; he gave thanks for the little there was. He did not do like the disciples: "Where would we get enough food here in the wilderness for such a huge crowd?" This is poor attitude at work. Unfortunately, many of us operate like the disciples: we see only the negative side of things. 

Do you awaken every morning with a song of praise on your lips? Do you feel full of appreciation for life as you live it every day? Or, do you have to think long and hard before finding something to be grateful for? Consider your response to these questions carefully, for they could be crucial to a life of usefulness and joy. It is a law of life, and an inexorable principle, that if we develop an attitude of gratitude our happiness will increase.

The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past ... we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one thing we have, and that is our attitude.... I am convinced that life is 10 percent what happens to me and 90 percent how I react to it. And so it is with you ... we are in charge of our attitudes.

There is always something beautiful to be found, right where you are, if you will look for it. This is what Jesus did to work the miracle:  Jesus asked, "How much bread do you have?" Like Jesus, concentrate your thoughts on the good, the beautiful, on what you have, and on the true things of life. This positive, loving attitude of mind can help you perceive the presence of God active in your life and put into operation the divine magic that can open doors to greater usefulness and joy.

"But how does this positive attitude really work?" you may ask. The only way to prove it to yourself is to give it a good try and see what happens. Practice waking up each day with an inherent expectation of good and with a wonderful feeling of thanksgiving for life itself. Your days will be filled with exciting adventures. Expect the good, and good will come your way; expect evil, and evil will hasten to meet you. When you go for an interview, or conduct one, remember this formula  5% is about availability 5% is about adaptability 5% is about ability 85% is on attitude of the candidate.

Blessed!

Luke 10:21-24 

In that same hour He rejoiced and gloried in the Holy Spirit and said, I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have concealed these things [relating to salvation] from the wise and understanding and learned, and revealed them to babes (the childish, unskilled, and untaught). Yes, Father, for such was Your gracious will and choice and good pleasure. 22 All things have been given over into My power by My Father; and no one knows Who the Son is except the Father, or Who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son may choose to reveal and make Him known. 23 Then turning to His disciples, He said privately, Blessed (happy, to be envied) are those whose eyes see what you see! 24 For I tell you that many prophets and kings longed to see what you see and they did not see it, and to hear what you hear and they did not hear it.

Food for thought!

 Then turning to His disciples, He said privately!

This is an interesting detail about Jesus. Today's gospel reports that Jesus  "turning to His disciples, Jesus said privately" to tell them of their blessing: "Blessed (happy, to be envied) are those whose eyes see what you see! 24 For I tell you that many prophets and kings longed to see what you see and they did not see it, and to hear what you hear and they did not hear it." 

Jesus is making a revelation, that being a Christian is not a given; it is a gift. "No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him." Our blessing consists in the fact that we were chosen by Jesus to know his Father; what you and I know about God is a revelation. 

Every time we come to church, every time we turn to prayer, we're in a private moment with Jesus. And as you know from your experience, there are things Jesus tells us in private that he doesn't want anybody else to know; Jesus has customized solutions to each one of us; he never gives a one-fits-all solution.

We do well to find time for privacy with Jesus, for him to reveal to us our own blessings. There's much we are that we do not know, things about us that only him can tell us, things for our own private consumption. 

Watch and Pray!

Luke 21:25-28.34-36

“And there will be strange signs in the sun, moon, and stars. And here on earth the nations will be in turmoil, perplexed by the roaring seas and strange tides. 26 People will be terrified at what they see coming upon the earth, for the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 27 Then everyone will see the Son of Man coming on a cloud with power and great glory. 28 So when all these things begin to happen, stand and look up, for your salvation is near. 34 “Watch out! Don’t let your hearts be dulled by carousing and drunkenness, and by the worries of this life. Don’t let that day catch you unaware, 35 like a trap. For that day will come upon everyone living on the earth. 36 Stay awake, praying at all times for the strength to survive all that is going to happen, and to stand with confidence before the Son of Man.

Food for thought!

We had already this reading this week; and now we have it again. Why? It is because last week was the end of Year B; and today we begin year C. Last week we were ending; now we are beginning.

The 1st Sunday of Advent, marks the beginning of a new liturgical year. Today we move from the year of Mark (B) to the year of Luke (C). In fact, today's gospel is Luke's version of the gospel we read two weeks ago from Mark. And since in every end there's a beginning, and in every beginning there's already an end, the same reading is being used again, but from Luke.

Comparing Mark 13:24-32 which we read two Sundays ago with Luke 21:25ff which we read today, we see that Luke has left out all the spectacular sky events which Mark associated with the Last Days: "the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven" (Mark 12:24f). Luke rewrites this with more restraint: "There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars" (Luke 21:25). Again, Luke leaves out altogether Mark's idea that the Son of Man "will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven" (Mark 13:27). Why does Luke leave out these easily observable and verifiable forecasts in Mark? For one thing, unlike Mark, whose attention was on the ending, Luke's concern is on the beginning. The two, Mark and Luke are talking about the same reality (same as, bottle half empty and half full). 

As Winston Churchill was noted: "This is not the end. This is not the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning." He is saying what Jesus says in today's gospel: "when all these things begin to happen, stand and look up, for your salvation is near." Jesus was a very practical man, he is teaching us that the beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of faith is the end of anxiety.

As we know, in the heat of battle, our mind tends to lose its balance. Too many things confront you at the same time— unexpected setbacks, doubts and criticisms from your own friends. There’s a danger of responding emotionally, with fear, depression, or frustration. It is vital to keep your faith, maintaining your mental powers whatever the circumstances. You must actively resist the emotional pull of the moment— staying decisive, confident, no matter what hits you. In moments of turmoil and trouble, you must force yourself to be more determined.

Jesus' advice is that whenever we get into trouble and turmoil, suffering and problems, "when all these things begin to happen, stand and look up, for your salvation is near. Watch out! Don’t let your hearts be dulled by carousing and drunkenness, and by the worries of this life. Stay awake, praying at all times." The word translated "carousing" here signifies the state of nausea that comes after eating or drinking too much.

Why prayer? Because prayer takes us beyond the present turmoil, problem, and suffering; without prayer our hearts gets dulled by carousing and drunkenness, and by the worries of this life; prayer takes us to God. Without prayer, we get caught up in the moment. Without prayer we live as if there's no tomorrow. Let us avoid leading a life engulfed into the present moment. Let us avoid living as if there is no tomorrow; shopping as if there's no tomorrow; eating as if there's no tomorrow.

We should be vigilant to recognize and welcome the Lord who comes to us without warning everyday in people, places and events we least expect. If we are preparing for the Lord’s coming by looking up to the sky, Luke today invites us to look out, to look into the story of our daily lives and recognize the Lord who comes to us in ways we least expect.

On death and dying!

Luke 21:34-36

34 “Watch out! Don’t let your hearts be dulled by carousing and drunkenness, and by the worries of this life. Don’t let that day catch you unaware, 35 like a trap. For that day will come upon everyone living on the earth. 36 Stay awake, praying at all times for the strength to survive all that is going to happen, and to stand with confidence before the Son of Man.

Food for thought!

"Don’t let that day catch you unaware, like a trap. For that day will come upon everyone living on the earth." 

Jesus has taught us many things. Many things about life and living. In today's gospel reading, he is teaching us about death and dying. First and foremost, Jesus is saying that death is a universal destiny; each and everybody will experience it; "will come upon everyone living on the earth." This phrase means that death is what we all share; our common heritage; is our "trade mark". We are all known by our death; we are not known by the way we live as by the way we die. This is why Jesus teaches us to pay more attention to death than to living: "Watch out! Don’t let your hearts be dulled by carousing and drunkenness, and by the worries of this life. Don’t let that day catch you unaware, like a trap."

Jesus stands out of all people because of his death, as this story shows. While traveling in Egypt, Harry Rimmer had an opportunity to talk with that country's secretary of state, and in the course of the conversation he brought up the subject of Christianity. Rimmer told the official that Christians believe God has given us three revelations of Himself. "We too believe that," said the official, who was a Muslim. "We believe God revealed Himself in the works of creation," said Rimmer. "We also believe that," the other responded. Rimmer continued, "We believe God has revealed Himself in a book-the Bible." The Muslim answered, "We too believe God has revealed Himself in a book-the Koran." Rimmer declared, "We believe God has revealed Himself in a man-Jesus Christ." "We also believe God has revealed Himself in a man," replied the official, "the prophet Mohammed." "We believe," added Rimmer, "that Jesus is able to substantiate His claims because He arose from the dead." The Muslim hesitated, then his eyes fell. Finally he replied, "We have no information concerning our prophet after his death." 

Joseph Renan, the French skeptic, said sarcastically but truthfully, "You Christians live on the fragrance of an empty tomb"

As for Jesus, we too should prepare to die well. How? "Stay awake, praying at all times for the strength to survive all that is going to happen, and to stand with confidence before the Son of Man."