These past days…

I’ve been out of commission due to an illness. What has made my days are the wonderful gospel readings everyday. Thursday, the parable of Lazarus; Friday, Jesus giving the keys of his Kingdom to Peter; Saturday, the Prodigal Son and Sunday the Samaritan woman at the well. WOW!!! What a marathon of absolutely beautiful teachings. Each of those parables are my favorites. Each year there are things that are reinforced and each year I learn something new. Today’s first scripture reading is also one of my favorites. Naaman the leper; rich, influential but afflicted with a terrible illness. Sounds like our lives right? We have so many good things but our souls seem to be in constant disrepair, in need of a healer.

While I was sick I did amuse myself by going on a Jane Austen binge. She is one obsession that just seems to get stronger. I did also watch Francis of Assisi. It was a moving depiction of a man who wanted nothing more but to live simply, commune with God in nature and give comfort to the needy. It was interesting to note the contrasts. One in which there are societal pretensions and storybook relationships. The other completely breaking free of the requirements of this world. Is there a middle path?

Uh-Oh

Being judgemental is such a common pastime. I judge people on their looks, their clothes, their mannerisms, their family, their friends, their political views - need I go on? Maybe I am being too harsh on myself. I am not so snobbish as to react to to the smallest feature negatively. But I do know that in everyday life it is very easy to color ones vision. To bite back that thought even before it forms in the mind is what I need to do this Lent. Judge not!

On another note, my iPhone died on Friday. My wonderful husband went to the store and had it replaced. It did however annoyingly wipe out my playlists (which btw I was painfully trying to recreate when our home PC crashed the other day). Talk about technology woes. Anyhoo, on our way to DC, I created playlists from CDs my hubby had so sweetly copied tons of music on to. Woohoo.

Sight to behold!

The transfiguration is like getting a glimpse into what heaven must be like. Jesus, conversing with the prophets of old. Walking along streets of gold, their heads together, what they are discussing is beyond my limited scope of imagination, but it still brings out a deep sigh from within me. How wonderful! There would be all the saints who we admire, the prophets with such colorful lives, the warriors, the patriarchs, people who walked the Lord’s line with so much passion, etc, etc. What a beautiful life to look forward to, isn’t it?

On another note, we are back from our trip to Washington DC/Baltimore area which never ends before hearing mass at the Basilica. The transfiguration became even more vivid there amongst the wonderful icons and paintings.

Ask, seek, knock

We attended the funeral of a dear friend of ours this morning. A man by all accounts not only a good husband and father but a man of deep faith. Someone who started each day with mass, who was so active in his Malayalee Catholic community.  Our friendship began 10 yrs ago when as a new bride each month we started attending Sunday mass at this old church in Port Chester. We didn’t understand a word of Malayalam but the warmth of that community drew us there. This gentle man was at the center of these gatherings, drawing us in, welcoming us and making us feel part of their family. Today, at the mass for this wonderful man, I could sense Esther’s desperate prayer, I could feel all his loved ones knocking on the door and God “was” there – holding, comforting, healing. Jesus, receive his soul and give him eternal rest. Amen!

Temptations

Last year or so top Bollywood stars went on a world concert tour – their tour was titled “Temptations”. The ads were very “today” in that young people calling themselves tempters and seducers was so modern. Now the general reaction of most folks would be, “it’s just a label, they aren’t really selling what they are talking about”. That’s right, they are not. That is not what is unsettling, it’s the fact that temptation is such a fashionable word. There is however, nothing really snazzy about being faced with soul corrupting temptation - the kind Jesus looked at and ripped to shreds in today’s gospel. His human side, tempered into steel by fasting and prayer roared back into Satan’s face and emerged victorious. The preamble to the everlasting victory that he gained for us on the cross. Sweet, glorious victory!!!

Matthew’s Call

Talk about hating tax collectors. Living in a state where property taxes are the highest and other taxes constantly burden citizens, I can relate to the frustration the Jews had with their government. The tax collectors profited from that burden and that made people hate them. And Jesus calls Matthew. Matthew and his other tax collector friends who are hated by the Jews are now sitting at the same table with Jesus. The incomparable love of Jesus is what surprised people then and surprised people now. When Christians become Christ-like and display that same love to the hated and the despised that’s the indication that the gospel is alive and well.

Ashes, Ashes we all fall down

I don’t know why but this rhyme stuck in my head today. This was such a popular rhyme when I was growing up, of course, the Indianized version went “Ring-a-ring-a-roses, pocket full of posies, husha, husha, we all fall down”. Husha, husha sounded so much nicer than the ominous ashes I think. Particularly when popular belief ties the origins back to the devastating plague in England in the 17th century. Anyway, I digress. The ashes on my forehead this morning probably set that off. When you think of it however, the rhyme seems appropriate – ‘dust thou art and to dust thou shall return’. That is a fact that cannot be separated but the state our souls are in when we mingle with the dust, that is key.

On another note, Joshua and Jordan seemed very proud of the marks on their foreheads and so I took myself off to work in the same state too. I did not get one strange look nor did anyone remark on it. Now, this can mean 2 things – either people are very accommodating about others beliefs or they don’t care a fig. I do believe that it’s the latter. In India, when we went about we would feel kinship with other Catholics riding the bus with us, when non-Christians would ask what the mark meant we would explain what it signified. For one day we would wear our faith on our sleeve or rather on our foreheads and it felt wonderful.

Chock-full of messages

Today’s scripture readings… David’s grief when his rebel son, Absalom dies, mirrors God’s heartbreak when his children sin and turn away. The faith of the woman who is healed just by the touch of Jesus’ clothes. The healing of Jairus’ daughter amidst the amused disbelief of the onlookers. All these messages seem to be hurtling speedily towards the beginning of a season which will take us through a lot of introspection, learning and sharing. Lent for me is the most special season in the Christian calendar – every year it offers yet another chance at examining ourselves though God’s eyes and making progress to get closer to Him.

Blest are they…

I love this hymn and it was aptly sung today at mass since the gospel reading was the Beatitudes. Even though it is truly a challenge to perfect ourselves and like good servants aim to be the person Jesus wants us to be, we persevere. The hymn has very comforting words though, “Rejoice, and be glad! Blessed are you, holy are you!” Here are the words:

1. Blest are they, the poor in spirit; theirs is the kingdom of God. Blest are they, full of sorrow; they shall be consoled.

Refrain: Rejoice, and be glad! Blessed are you, holy are you! Rejoice and be glad! Yours is the kingdom of God!

2. Blest are they, the lowly ones: they shall inherit the earth. Blest are they, who hunger and thirst; they shall have their fill.

3. Blest are they, who show mercy; mercy shall be theirs. Blest are they, the pure of heart; they shall see God!

4. Blest are they, who seek peace; they are the children of God. Blest are they who suffer in faith; the glory of God is theirs.

5. Blest are you, who suffer hate, all because of me. Rejoice and be glad, yours is the kingdom of God; shine for all to see.

Of mustard seeds

Growing up in India, a culture where mustard seeds are used a lot in cooking there were a lot of things that used to strike me whenever today’s gospel was read.  I remember mustard plants being very hardy. Sometimes people would through out dirty dish water out in the backyard where there wasn’t much soil, just a thin layer of dirt. Even if that water contained a few mustard seeds (and mustard seeds are tiny), a couple of weeks later there would be a tiny plant there.  The other thing I remember distinctly were the flowers – the mustard plant has the loveliest yellow flowers, together in a field they looked absolutely beautiful. Anyway, I always thought that Jesus was so wise when he used the mustard analogy – the Kingdom of God is definitely resilient, it is also beautiful.

King David, who was ruler of an earthly kingdom in today’s first reading follows his human desires to a disastrous level. Inspite of the a grave sin, God sees his repentance and forgives him. From that very lineage he brings forth the Messiah. The next week ushers in the season of repentance. We keep our eyes focussed on the Kingdom of God and pray like David did in today’s psalm, “Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.”