Faith

Is God to be found at the disco? Thursday, 3rd week of Advent – Isaiah 54:1-10/Luke 7:24-30

The Gospel of today takes off from yesterday’s Gospel. The disciples of John the Baptist have departed to report to John what they have seen and heard about Jesus. Jesus now addresses the crowds. He turns John’s question, ‘who are you?’ on its head. Jesus now asks the crowd who or what did they think John was? Jesus does this in a series of rapid-fire questions, two of which are rhetorical.

Clearly, says Jesus, one does not go out into the Judean desert to see some prosperity preacher dressed in an Armani suit. Even more, they would not go out into the dessert to meet this ascetic prophet who could be swayed by political muscle like Herod the ruler. This was John the Baptist they went out to see, a man who wore his credentials on his sleeve and never had a hidden agenda. This was one clear thinking and straight talking man of God.

Clearly, John did not belong in a palace; that was not who he was nor was that his calling. So why, asks Jesus, would you want to hear otherwise from a man whose mission was not to pad up the immorality of Kings or the sins of commoners? When John preached, the message he preached was the same for all. God’s message does not change according to one’s social status or bank balance.

The point that Jesus is making is clear; what are your looking for? If you went looking for a king in the desert you are looking in the wrong place and if you went seeking John in a palace you would be wasting your time. If you want to truly get what you are looking for then where you look and what you look for is crucial.

Could God be found in a disco bar? I presume nothing is impossible for God but most likely your chances are slim considering that the primary purpose of a disco bar is not oriented to finding God. But it is not only where you are looking but also, who or what you are looking for? If we are seeking Jesus this Advent then we have to seek him in the solitude of our hearts and it is helpful if that solitude we seek is also matched by a place of solitude. I could pray while on the train or bus to work, but that should be my last resort and not the first and easiest option I make.

Spread the love ♥
12      
12
Shares
Continue Reading
Art/ Heritage


Things you need to know while decorating a Christmas tree – Part 1

I grew up in a family of creative and talented siblings. All three of us have unique skill sets when it comes to the arts. From painting, fashion designing, cartooning, photography, designing; you name it we got it. My skill set at which I excel, kicks in at the Christmas season. I could be planning the next Christmas season in my head the day Christmas gets over; that’s how much I love the Christmas season.

One such fun activity is decorating the Christmas tree. I grew up at a time when Christmas decorations were limited and standard. Today, you have a choice of trees and decorations to pick and choose from and if you don’t have a few basics in place you can end up with a lot of money spent and an ugly looking tree.

I plan to give you a few tips on how and where to purchase a Christmas tree, how to light it up and how to decorate it. I plan to limit these articles to a page for easy reading so look for the next part of this article which will give you many tips.

Let me tackle the most difficult part of decorating a tree; purchasing one! The Golden rule is to figure out where you want to set your tree up. Most residential homes in Mumbai are apartments. If you live in one, identify a nice corner that works well for you. This way you don’t have to decorate the entire tree but just the side that faces everyone in the room. Consider moving your furniture around at Christmastime. Make the tree the focal point of the room and let your other pieces of furniture take a back seat. Pick a tree that towers to the ceiling of your room. It won’t occupy much space if you don’t open up the leaves that face the corner of the room. Once you have found a nice spot, tuck the tree far back as I can into the corner.

There are several shapes and types of artificial trees that you can buy. A ten-foot tree from a wholesaler at Crawford market can cost you Rs 9,000/-. A ten-foot tree will touch the ceiling of any apartment in Mumbai but a word of caution, the base of the tree can spread out to a little more than a meter and five inches even if you tuck the back leaves upwards to fit in the corner. So, take a tape and measure out the space you have identified before you buy a large tree.

Spread the love ♥
12      
12
Shares
Continue Reading
Faith

God has no grandchildren – Wednesday, 3rd Week in Advent/Isaiah 45:6b-8,18,21-25/Luke 7:19-23

This text throws us several beautiful reflections for the Advent season. Remember that John is the precursor, the one who announced the coming of the Messiah, the Elijah that the Jews did not recognize. The Gospels tell us that John is in prison and perhaps the fears of human worry have overtaken his godly ministry.

Clearly John has doubts and seeks a clarification by summoning two his disciples whom he sent the Lord. What should immediately cross our minds is that simple matter of fact question, ‘why does John have doubts?’ Was it not John who while pointing to Jesus proclaimed, “behold the lamb who takes away the sins of the world?” Yet now he sends a message to enquire, “are you the one or should we wait for another?” Was John conflicted or confused?

The simple truth is that even saints have doubts. To doubt is not a sin though many faithful Catholics subscribe to such a thought. “Lord, I believe, help my unbelief” is not so much a confession of doubt but a cry out to increase the faith I have. Again, and to reiterate a point; to doubt is not sinful however to live in constant doubt is a sinful because it constantly demands proof.

The messengers carry the message to the tee; not a word is changed. They knew who Jesus was and they knew that they were sent by one whom Jesus himself had hailed in Matthew 11:11 “Truly, I say to you, among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist.” Personally, I would not like to trade places with these messengers for a second. Privileged though that I would be, this was not an easy message to carry. The two disciples of John do not soften the doubt of their master nor do they sugar coat it. They come from one who has authority to another who is THE authority. The message is conveyed in its entirety and its truth. Truth speaks to Truth.

The Gospel interjects this narrative with an immediate report of the works performed by Jesus. This is done so that the response of Jesus is clearly understood by us, the readers, as to who Jesus is. We are told that Jesus has cured many of diseases and plagues and evil spirits and had given sight to many who were blind.

Jesus’ answer to John via the disciples is a path to evangelization for us today. “Go tell him what you have seen and heard” Jesus does not dictate a carefully crafted statement of belief. His response is not a formulation of doctrinal belief. His response is direct and simple; tell him what YOU hear and what YOU see. The stress is on the YOU! The answer that should be taken to John must be from a personal testimony that stems from personal experience. The disciples of John must experience first-hand the ministry and message of Jesus and filled with conviction they will communicate their experience. John will no longer be in doubt!

Spread the love ♥
12      
12
Shares
Continue Reading
Faith

Speaking wrong, yet doing right – Tuesday, 3rd Week of Advent /Zeph 3:1-2,9-13/Matthew 21:28-32

The text of today is a continuation of Jesus’ ‘holy week’ tryst in Jerusalem with the religious leaders. In many ways the text seems a bit odd and misplaced; almost like as if someone jumbled up the season of Advent with Lent. But looking at Matthew 21 we are drawn to some interesting insights into the whole point that Advent makes; will He find you doing his will when he comes again?

That readiness is seen in how we respond to the call of God. Jesus does this by engaging his audience and in engaging us. “What do you think?” (Verse 28) is the opening words of Jesus. He engages us not for an off the cuff opinion but is looking for a heartfelt response to a parable designed to evoke not just a verbal response but one that would move us to act on those words.

Placing this text in its context it become clear that Jesus has one agenda only; to take on the Jewish religious authorities who had questioned his authority. One verse earlier we read how he disregarded the question of the chief priest, no less! Now in order to make his point he subtly throws out a random opinion poll regarding the actions of the Jewish authorities, cleverly masquerading it in the form of a parable. The resulting answer was not short of a damning report of the hypocrisy of the Jewish religious authorities who have publicly promised to serve God, but in reality have failed to do this.

But while this parable can be effectively used to point a finger to a far-gone group of people who turned on Christ, it is meant to be timeless. In that, this parable is meant for us as an advent reflection. Two sons are asked to help out in the vineyard. One said no but eventually changed his mind. He spoke wrong, but did right. The second son said the right thing and for good measure also threw in a word of respect. Remember he addresses his father with respect (sir), but he did not do what he said he would.

Obviously, the opinion poll was unanimous. The one who did the will of his father, in this parable, was the one who spoke wrong and did right. Jesus then says the most amazing thing; tax collectors and prostitutes will enter the kingdom AHEAD of those who talk religion but don’t practice it. But the reason why they will enter first is not because they are tax collectors or prostitutes but because they were tax collectors and prostitutes who heard and believed John the Baptist. The did wrong but now walked right.

Spread the love ♥
12      
12
Shares
Continue Reading
Faith

When Jesus bowled a spin ball – Monday, 3rd Week in Advent/Numbers 24:2-7,15-17a/Matthew21:23-27

In cricketing terms, we call Jesus’ question to the religious establishment, a spin ball. For those not familiar with this sport, a spin ball is a bowling technique in cricket, in which the ball is delivered slowly but with the potential to deviate sharply after bouncing.

The Gospel of Matthew tells us that Jesus had just cleansed the temple, having triumphantly entered Jerusalem. The blind and the lame came to him in the temple and he cured them. (21:14). What happened next is just a matter of sour grapes. Scripture tells us that the chief priest and the scribes saw the amazing things he had done and now they hear the children crying out “Hosanna to the son of David;” this in the temple itself! Now indifference turned to anger. (21:16)

The anger on the part of the religious leaders was two-fold. Approaching this from a historical perspective, we know that Jerusalem was a tinder box; one tiny spark that even remotely suggested the start of an insurrection was enough to bring the brute force of the Roman occupiers upon the city. The nominal power that the religious authorities wielded was subject to them keeping the peace.

The very fact that children were now hailing Jesus by a Messianic title was enough to stir thoughts and passions that could range from hope to revolution. But clearly the scriptures also tell us that the religious establishment could not handle the sensation that Jesus had become among the masses. Repeatedly, scripture notes that Jesus spoke with authority unlike the Jewish religious leader. We know from Matthew’s Gospel that the call of one disciple snowballed into thousands following Jesus .

It is in this context that the Chief priests and elders demand to know his human authority by which he has been exercising his ministry and his teaching. Jesus does not need a certificate of identity. He is God. Jesus was not going to turn this into some verbal dual and so he confronts the evil in their hearts with a spin ball. He will answer them if they answer him. We know that the religious leaders understood the implications of his question which exposed their hypocrisy. This was the last ball of the match and they would rather have a no ball than be hit for a six. They chose not to answer him, leaving Jesus with no other option but to give them a dose of their own medicine; a dose of silent indifference to their authority.

Spread the love ♥
12      
12
Shares
Continue Reading