Uncategorized

You will be hated on my account – Friday, 14th Week in ordinary time – Matthew 10:16-23

St Matthew wrote this Gospel during a period of great hostility between the Jews and the Christians. The Christians had not yet formed a clear identity as a body of people, as we have today. At best, the early Christians were a sect of Judaism that believed that the Messiah was Jesus who had died and had risen. The early Christians still prayed at the synagogues, their prayers were still the prayers that their Jewish brothers and sisters recited, their habits and cultural mannerism were still predominantly Jewish.

But all that changed with the council of Jamnia or Jabneh. After the fall of Jerusalem, (A.D.70) the “Council of Jabneh” was convened. It consisted of a group of Jewish scholars who were granted permission by Rome around the year 90 to meet in Palestine near the Mediterranean Sea in Jabneh (or Jamnia). Here they established a non-authoritative, “reconstituted” Sanhedrin. Among the things they discussed was the status of several questionable writings in the Jewish Bible. They also rejected the Christian writings and made a new translation of the Greek Septuagint.

While scholars’ debate on what happened next, many have accepted that the council of Jabneh decided to expel those who did not adhere to their value system. Such a procedure is described in the Birkat ha-Minim, a ‘Blessing on the heretics’ (actually a curse) and among those cursed were the Jewish apostates whom we would call ‘the early Christians’. This sparked tension between Judaism and Christianity and built up even more in the medieval ages.

When St Matthew was writing the mission discourse, this tension was a lived experience. Today, every Christians would read this text in their own context that they live in. In India, these persecutions are real and fraught with dire threats and bodily harm. It is not uncommon to have right wing groups, attack with impunity, Christian evangelist and Christian institutions; taking the law into their own hands while the law itself looks the other way. So often, those who are charged with enforcing the law, are complicit in harbouring the attackers while filing false charges against Christian evangelists who are just tending to their own flock and institutions.

Social media is abuzz with videos recorded by right wing groups insulting St Teresa, calling for a Hindu nation and blatantly suggesting violence against Christians and other minorities. The very media channels that would scream blue murder at the top of their lungs on prime-time TV are silent to such hate. Yet, should anyone with a surname that sounds remotely from a minority faith dare to even critique the functioning of government, the same media channels would call you anti-national and within hours you would be in some prison on trumped up charges.

Jesus does not hide the danger that we are to face if we are his disciples. He does not sugar coat the path ahead. “Beware”, he says, “of them.” That “them,” has become for us in India, any one from the highest offices in the political class to one who thinks that they are doing a holy task for their faith by attacking a Christian.

The description of the persecution that is found in this text, seems like it is happening in real time, here in India. “You will be dragged before governors and kings before me,” said Jesus. While fear will be natural in such a circumstance, the defence of the righteous is the work of the Holy Spirit. The words of our defence will be given, for God will speak through us. But that does not mean that the doors of the prison will be opened for us like it did for St Peter; our lives could end up like St Stephen, when he was stoned to death.

Perhaps the saddest pain that comes from such persecution is not the physical attacks but the pain that comes from those with whom we once lived and loved; our neighbours, colleagues or students in our institutions. The words of Jesus ring true two thousand years later “brother against brother, father against child, children against parents.” It has not been uncommon for us today in India, to hear and perhaps experience, first hand, our very “brothers and sisters” with whom we took oaths in school, now turn against the very priests and nuns at whose hand they were educated. The shrill voices on social media accusing Christians as having a single agenda of conversion is fanned with impunity. Social Media giants are never asked to take these posts and videos down nor are these pages and sites every banned by government. Tragically, the lies have been told again and again giving rise to fear and falsehood and the victimisation of religious minorities.

Today, we in India are hated as citizens because we hold Jesus as our Lord and Saviour. Unfortunately, even now, some members of the hierarchy of the Catholic Church refuse to admit to the reality of this persecution that is faced on a daily basis. They ask us to wait patiently till all facts are gathered; this, eighty days into the horrific terrorisation and the deliberate targeting of Christians in Manipur.

The superscription of the text of today’s Gospel in the RSV Bible reads, “the coming persecution.” For us in India, it is not a matter of coming persecution but a matter of ongoing persecution.

Spread the love ♥
       
Continue Reading
Food

‘Nosto’ – Honest, authentic and Goan

When you visit Goa, I strongly urge you to support family run eateries. This is not some sentimental appeal. These families run food joints churn out the most delicious local food and put their heart and soul into the business. These mom-and-pop eateries do not have fancy carpeting (why would you want that in a place like Goa?) nor fancy crockery but they are mostly clean, authentic in flavours and super cool on your wallet.

You could come to Goa to have a fancy thirteen course French classical menu but that sounds like a meal better eaten in the city and still better in France. If you are in Goa, dig into the food like the Goans would, with your fingers and eat just about anywhere you see food.

While Goa has some super fancy and very good restaurants, I get the feeling you end up paying more for their overheads than the food and especially if the food is really not up to the mark. Take for example Folga at Seraulim. The restaurant which means ‘take a break’ in Portuguese is beautifully set up, just off the main road, by the edge of a paddy fields. The interiors are very tastefully done. Our steward surprisingly spoke Konkani, a rarity considering most of the locals choose to work abroad. The drinks were interesting though extremely light (I had the lavender twist) but the food was disappointing. Just about every Goan dish we ordered (and we ordered about seven dishes) was undercooked. Sadly, both the partners who were in the restaurant at the time, never asked us once, if we enjoyed the food and I did not care to offer unsolicited advice. Was it ‘the break’ that Folga promised? I would say yes to the ambience, certainly no to the food.

Then, just on a whim, I was whisked away after Sunday mass to this family run place in Benaulim. ‘Nosto’ translates very strictly as breakfast but can also be loosely used to mean a snack. This family run place by Thomas and Shoba Fernandes and their daughter Tinkle and her husband Rohan Borges is down to earth, finger licking and authentic.

We had to call in on a Sunday before we arrived, not because we needed a reservation but because we anticipated that the counter would be cleaned out and we were right. We also wanted to eat just the meats that are usually stuffed into the bread and we were happily obliged. Being a Sunday, people prefer to sit rather than just leave with a quick take away. We went through an array of interestingly well adapted snacks and many traditional ones too.

The Prawn Rissois de Camarao (Goan shrimp patties) also had a crab version and so did the croquettes. You will also get the usual favourites; the Goan beef or prawn croquettes, potato chops with an array of fillings, samosas and crispy patties but sit down to their sorpotel and sannas. These steamed rice cake seemed at first heavy to the touch but bite into it and you get this sweet coco-nutty taste which blends so well with spicy sorpotel. This sorpotel had liver too, for those who may not like their sorpotel with liver.

Then there was the potato bhaji and puri (served only on Sundays) which is a traditional Goan favourite along with the beef roast and tongue roast. The family takes food orders and while they are closed on Tuesday, Rohan told me that since they are just four months into the business, they smile and sacrifice their off day to oblige.

The entire family is at it. When they ran out of bread, Thomas sped off to the local bakery, in his short pants and on his scooter just to make sure we were not disappointed. Shoba who does the cooking will tell you just about everything you want to know except here recipes. Tinkle and Rohan have taken their vows seriously and wow you with their charm and service. The word “no”, is hard to pass their lips. At times, patrons get up and walk to the counter to pick up their food; such is the informality of the place. Nope, it’s not over the top, it’s not like you will say this is the ‘beeessstttt’ food ever; but it is honest, it is authentic and it is Goan.

Nosto is situated off the Colva road in Benaulim and next to the CCBI Centre. It is primarily a snack joint that is opened 7.30 am to 1 pm and 4.30 pm to 8 pm. They are closed on Tuesdays. You can call them on 9552424178

NB – The writer pays for his food

Spread the love ♥
  15    
15
Shares
Continue Reading
Faith

When Judas cast out satan – Thursday, 14th week in ordinary time – Matthew 10:7-15

The apostles, now having been chosen, are sent on mission. Their mandate comes from the authority of Jesus himself. What strikes us right away is that the mission begins with the task of proclamation. (verse7) and later in verse eight they are also told of the mighty works that they were to perform.

Proclamation is key to ministry. Sadly, a poster that announces a well know ‘healer’ will draw crowds that are packed to the rafters; a Bible class may only have a few souls in attendance. The principal task of the apostles and the Church is to proclaim the Good News. But Jesus also shares great power with these mostly unlettered simple twelve.

I can’t even imagine the buzz that the twelve must have caused where ever they went. Jesus gave them authority over unclean spirits and to cast then out (10:1) to cure the sick, to raise the dead, cleanse the leper and cast out demons. He gave them the same power that he had exercised in chapter eight and nine. Imagine Galilee abuzz; a child raised from the dead by Peter, a leper healed by John, a sick woman cured by Bartholomew and Judas Iscariot casting out a demon.

Did that last name make you sit up wondering if you read right? Did Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed Our Lord, really cast a demon out? Well, the Bible does not say that explicitly but it does say that ALL the twelve apostles were given these powers equally so we can’t rule out that Judas Iscariot did not cast a demon or even raise some one from the dead. Yet, a man to whom great authority was given by Our Lord could also end up being his betrayer. St Augustine cautions us all when he wrote, “there go I but for the love of God.”

The text also tells us that Jesus gives his apostles several instructions. When read together, the instructions have a single purpose; any minister who is called to service cannot be encumbered by baggage. The call to mission must be marked with a sense of faith in the providence of God. While money, provisions and several sets of clothing would make the journey comfortable they would also be the cause of distraction and delay. The one sent out must mark his journey with unwavering trust in God.

Finally, having arrived at the place of mission, the apostle is called to do due diligence with the residence he adopts. Jesus says “find out who is worthy” in the town and then stay with them. Interestingly Jesus stayed and visited several homes during his ministry. This also included the homes of tax collectors and sinners, the home of Simon the Pharisee, the home of Martha and Mary and even the home of Zacchaeus the chief tax collector. When we use the word ‘worthy’ we get a sense that the house chosen to live in should be one of good standing. That may not exactly be mind of Jesus. Clearly, what Jesus did not want was for his apostles to go around shopping for the best residence within the community to live in.

Jesus wants the apostles to acknowledge the kindness and the hospitality that they have received. Jesus suggests that a gift could be given to express their thanks. This gift is not some fancy car or a better job for the son of the family but rather he suggests a spiritual gift be given. Jesus said, “If the house is worthy let your peace come upon it.” Interestingly the gift of peace is not the gift of a conflict free home, rather the gift of peace is the gift that helps the members of the family face every storm that breaks upon it and face it with the grace and faith.

But not all accept the Good News. To those who reject the Good News as preached by the apostles, Our Lord suggests a sign of rejection as a warning of what is to come to them. Such will be their rejection that not even the dust from that town should cling to the sandals of the apostles. Sodom and Gomorrah would have it easier on judgment day than those who spurn the Good News of Jesus.

We have got used to embracing the idea of Jesus who is sweet and mild; but today, Jesus tells us what he intends to do when he loses his mind

Spread the love ♥
       
Continue Reading
Faith

The faith today; adopted, abandoned or adapted? Wednesday, 14th week in ordinary time – Matthew 10:1-7

Matthew chapter ten is the second of the five discourse that are found in the Gospel of Matthew. This is called the mission discourse because of the call of Our Lord to his twelve to go out and proclaim the Good News (verse 7). The mission discourse, as we will see, had a call to be commissioned (verses 5-15), the consequences of answering that call (verses 16-23) and finally the courage that Jesus gives us to face that call.

You need to read chapter ten of the Gospel of Matthew as a composite piece before you say yes to God’s call to commission. I guess, if someone had asked to me to read this chapter before I joined the seminary, my yes may have wavered. The commission of Jesus and his mandate to preach the Good News is intrinsically frightening because the Good News when preached is always followed by bad news.

But not to anticipate the whole text at once, we dwell on the commission of Jesus in today’s reflection. Jesus we are told, summons the twelve. From this point on they are no longer ‘disciples’ for they are now ‘apostles.’ The word ‘apostolos’ in Greek translates as one who is sent. It is for this reason that Mary Magdalene is also called the ‘apostle to the apostles.’

What ought to strike us immediately is that Jesus shares his authority with the twelve. Jesus is no solo artist who wants the glory for himself. He has come with the mandate of the Father to bring about the kingdom of God and to bring that to fulfilment, ‘all hands ought to be on deck.’ Our Lord does not give some authority but gave them all authority. He entrusts ordinary, unlettered men with the most spectacular powers; authority over unclean spirits, authority to cast out spirits and authority to cure every disease and every sickness.

The text of today gives us the names of the chosen twelve. While the other Gospels tell us that Andrew was the first to be called by Jesus, Matthew mentions Simon first giving him the primacy that was bestowed on him by Jesus later in the scriptures. The list gives us a brief running commentary with each name. It either gives us their relationship or their profession or their race but it is only in the case of Judas Iscariot that his sinful action of betrayal is attached. It would be a tragedy if our lives, like Judas, was remembered for the sin by which Our Lord suffered because of who we are or what we do today.

On reading this call to mission, you get the impression that it seems to exclude people rather than be inclusive. Why would the Lord mandate the twelve to proclaim the good news but then exclude the Gentiles and the Samaritans. It seems that Our Lords focus was only on the ‘lost sheep of the house of Israel.’ How do we answer this?

The mandate to mission may sound exclusive in this text but make no mistake this mission will later on take a larger perspective. The Gospel of Matthew will end with the ‘great commission’ (28:16-20) to ‘go therefore and make disciples of ALL nations, teaching them to obey everything that the Lord had commanded.’ For now, that is not the focus of Matthew; for now, the focus was to deal with those who most needed the Lord.

It was the house of Israel that was LOST. It was the house of Israel, the chosen ones of God, who had lost their way because their shepherds had abandoned them. We are told of the compassion that Jesus had for them in Chapter 9:36, just seven verses before this mandate. A compassion that was driven because Our Lord saw the “crowds harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” (9:36). It is not that Jesus excludes some from being ministered to when he sent the twelve out. For the present moment, Our Lord focuses on those most in need of his message and his mercy.

There are lost sheep today too. His sheep that have chosen to stray or have been misled by false shepherds or simply those that chose not to graze in green pastures under his crook and staff. Sadly, sheep have also fallen prey to wolves masquerading in sheep’s clothing. So many are lost today and the Lord needs his Good News to be proclaimed to them too.

Today, while the mandate to proclaim the Good News and to evangelize among those of other faiths may seem to be the primary mission, there is today a burning need to re-evangelize the lost sheep of Israel. So many Catholics who have abandoned the faith, adopted other faiths if not adapted the faith at the cost of sealing their fate. We too are called to be apostles and like them to even suffer the fate of martyrdom.

Spread the love ♥
       
Continue Reading
Faith

You are the answer to your own prayer – Tuesday, 14th Week in ordinary time – Matthew 9:32-38

We have come to tenth and the last of Matthew’s collation of the miracles of Jesus in chapters eight and nine. In Chapter ten we will look at the second of Jesus’ discourses, the mission discourse. But on careful following of the readings taken for the liturgy at Holy Mass you would have observed that the ninth miracle has been dropped.

The healing of the two blind men found in verses 27 -31 is repeated again in Chapter 20 of Matthew’s Gospel and seems to correspond to the healing of Bartimaeus, the blind man in Mark 10. This text will also be taken up as the Gospel for the fourth Sunday in Lent.

For now, we focus on the tenth miracle and there is much to reflect and ponder. While the miracle seems straight forward yet noteworthy, what follows is what will keep our lives nourished and strengthened. Remember that God speaks not just through miracles but through every encounter and event; positive or negative.

The miracle in today’s Gospel is the second such miracle, in the ten-part collation of miracles, that Matthew mentions a demoniac. When you read the Gospel of Mark, you will realise that Mark is unapologetic of Jesus’ battle against satan and the very first chapter has a man with an unclean spirit sitting in the very synagogue that Jesus was. (Mark 1:23). For those who think that the name of satan is merely a way we scare our children into submission; the battle against satan is real and constant.

We are told that the healing of the mute demoniac wins the favour of the crowds. “Never has anything like this been seen in Israel.” But such high praise for Jesus simply turns the ire of the Pharisees against him. “It is by the ruler or demons (that) he casts out the demons,” This is not just a matter of sour grapes, this is deadly venom being spit out of a cobra.

How often have good people been destroyed in our Church by so called ‘holy people’ who are jealous. The Acts of the apostles uses the word ‘jealous’ several times to refer to the hostility against the ministry of the Apostles. The hate poured out by the Pharisees is an opportunity for us to examine our own motivation in serving the Lord. It is an opportunity to examine our lives in our dealings with our colleagues, relatives, friends and neighbours whom we have destroyed with our words because we could not control our jealousy. Do not console yourself that jealousy is a venial sin. This is SIN (in capital letters) for this is murder (Matthew 5:21-24)

Observing Our Lord’s response to the hate he faced, can help us deal with hate that is thrown our way. Jesus had the power to call fire and brimstone to burn up the Pharisees to cinder. Yet, he did nothing of the sort. In order to understand this point well you need to keep in mind that the superscriptions to each Biblical text, the very chapters and verses in the Bible were introduced as late at the 1500’s. So, if you really want to read this text as it ought to be read, read it continuously. Jesus’ response to the Pharisees hate must be read seamlessly, from verse 34 to 35.

At once you will notice that for Jesus, this hate does not hinder his ministry. Verse 35 tells us, “He went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, curing every disease and sickness.” Our Lord could not be bothered by petty hate and neither should you. If you know in your heart that the persecution you face is because you chose to faithful to God then carry on! So many good Christians abdicate their posts of service because of a sinful brother or sister who cannot deal with their insecurity. By resigning your post, you have just given your place to ‘satan,’ a post that was allocated for God’s angel.

Jesus’ eye was on his mission not on the opinions of those around him. Scripture tells us in verse 36, “when he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” In this context, Jesus asks his disciples to pray to the Lord of the harvest. Our Lord did not ask his disciples to pray merely for vocations to the priesthood and religious life. When this text is used selectively for such a cause, it is disingenuous to say the least. Yes verse 37 could be used for such a prayer but it is not an exclusive prayer for vocations to the priesthood and the religious life.

I grew up seeing American posters that attempted to recruit soldiers for the Vietnam war. “Uncle Sam wants you,” it said, in its effort to enroll young men. When Jesus asked his disciples to pray for labourers in his vineyard, he did not rule out the fact that you could be both, the petitioner and the petition answered. You are the labourer that was prayed for as much as much as you are the petitioner of the prayer. You are the answer to your own prayer.

Spread the love ♥
       
Continue Reading