Saturday 27 February 2016

58/16 My Monologues & Musings : The Two Sons in me (Mt 21:28-32)

58/16 My Monologues & Musings : The Two Sons in me (Mt 21:28-32)

What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’q
29 “ ‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.
30 “Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go.
31 “Which of the two did what his father wanted?”
“The first,” they answered.
Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32 For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness,t and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.

Musings of the First Son,
“As I look back, I don't know why keep doing so! It just so happens. Whenever my father asks me to do things i agree to do household chores or to run errands but just don't do it! Even if I have no intention to do it, without any hesitation I would agree to do it by saying ‘yes’. But I just don't care to do it. The funny thing is that I just don't feel guilty at all. At times I do say ‘yes’ deliberately for the fear of having to ‘no’.
I am a cunning coward indeed!
I am very often selfish to the core!
I feel bad that I have been hurting my father and others with my careless and inconsiderate  attitude towards others!
I know he keeps waiting for to grow out of my set ways and grow up!
How I wish! I could just say plain ‘no’ when I want to say ‘no’ and say ‘yes’ when I want to say ‘yes’!”

Dear First Son,
Thank you, for your honest musings!

Musings of the Younger Son,
“I am very impulsive indeed! I do often talk and do things without thinking! Later on I do often regret of having impulsively said or done things! That's what actually  happened when my father asked me to the field and I did instantly refused! Later on I did feel bad about it and I just got up and went to the field. I am sure my father must have been happy when he came to learn that I did change my mind!
How I wish! I could think a bit before opening my mouth or jumping into action!
I do admire my father for accepting me with all my drawbacks though I keep hurting him every now and then! “

Dear Second Son,
Thank you for your honest musings!

Dear Jesus,
Thank you very much for your thought provoking parable. It sure does help me to look at myself.
I wonder!
Aren't these two brothers very active in me?
Haven't I often behaved like them?
I have a tendency to say ‘yes’ to myself  and decide to do something and then ended up negating it. I guess, it's a kind of fooling myself and not taking my life seriously. As a result my performances are often minimal which makes me sad and disappointed.
I feel miserable when I see others succeed and thrive. I forget the fact they are successful on account of their hard work.
That's me, at times, Lord!

Dear Jesus,
I have behaved like the younger son as well.Though I have impulsively made quick decisions I am ready to retract on second thoughts. But in many cases I have already caused the damage by hurting  you and others with my impulsive decisions and actions.
I want to keep controlling the ‘Two Sons’ in me!
Thank you, Jesus, for your immense patience with me!

Dear Jesus,
I bring before you:
Everyone one of my loved ones.
Everyone one of enemies who were and are.
Everyone who loves as well as hates me.
Everyone whom I love and whom i hate.
Everyone who helps me and who don't.
Everyone whom i have lead astray.
Everyone who is sick and needs healing.
Everyone who is in despair and needs hope.
Every priest who is in need of prayers.
Everyone who has met with me!

Oh, Jesus, My Lord and My God,
I thank You,
I thank the Father,
I thank the Spirit,
For Your Unsolicited gift of life for me!
For Your Uncountable blessings for me!
For Your Unlimited Patience with me!
For Your Untold Forgiveness for me!
For Your Unflinching faith in me!
For Your Unfailing Hope in me!
For Your Unconditional Love of me!
Amen
JoAchen
Saturday, 27th February, 2016

These Reflections are neither pure scientific exegesis nor are they any highly theological explanations. They are a sort of devotional musings and monologues mainly meant for my personal renewal and spiritual growth. They are a part of my journaling as a Prodigal Priest trying to make my pilgrimage back to the Home of our Heavenly Father. As I keep holding you in my prayers and I request you to include me in yours. Thank you!  

Friday 26 February 2016

57/16 My Monologues & Musings : The Sadducees in me.(Mk 12:18)

57/16 My Monologues & Musings : The Sadducees in me.
“Then the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection….” (Mk12: 18)

Dear Jesus,  
The Sadducees were a very rich, educated, aristocratic group. They were politically powerful. They had very decisive say in religious  anx judicial matters oc tge Jewish Community. Most of the Seventy member Council of Sanhedrin were Sadducees.They were the final Court of appeal for the Jews. It seems they picked and chose their religious beliefs to suit and protect their economic and political interests. They did not believe in resurrection and a life after death. The one and only life we have is here on earth. Therefore enjoy it.
Dear Jesus,
These are the basic informations about the Sadducees I have had ever since my biblical studies in Rome and in Jerusalem.
Now, years later, as I think of them l am able to identify a part of me behaving like a mini Sadducee.
Dear Jesus,
As you know, I do have a certain amount of academic and theoretical knowledge of the Sacred Scriptures. I have used it often to preach and to teach.
But I wonder how far it has influenced and transformed my life! Sure, it has influenced my life to some extent. But I doubt whether it has brought in a radical change in life.

Dear Jesus,
Like the Sadducees, I had often been interested in protecting my life, my position, my name, and selfish motives.
Sure, I do believe in Resurrection and in a life after death.
But again does my belief in resurrection confined mainly to the Creed? Has it substantially impacted my life?
I wonder!
Dear Jesus, I want to change and get  transformed.
I want to be daring like Nicodemus, the Venerable Old Sadducee who was fascinated by you and sneaked in to see you!
Nicodemus, the Sadducee, began to transform after meeting you and had a genuinely soul touching dialogue with you, Right, Lord?
Nicodemus, even in his evening years of life got transformed and became convinced of the meaningless of mere academic qualifications coupled with economic security and high social status!
Like Nicodemus, I am in the evening years of my life and find myself doubting the meaningless of all that I achieved!
Encouraged by his transformation I am determined to make a serious effort to grow up and get transformed.
I know I have a long and hard path ahead.
But, like Nicodemus, remaining constantly in your presence I am confident of making it!
Be with me, Lord!
And keep challenging me, Lord!
As you did with Nicodemus, the Sadducee!
So that the little Sadducee in me may get transformed into a Sadducee Nicodemus who became your ardent supporter and an avid follower!
Dear Jesus,
I bring before you:
Everyone one of my loved ones.
Everyone one of enemies who were and are.
Everyone who loves as well as hates me.
Everyone whom I love and whom i hate.
Everyone who helps me and who don't.
Everyone whom i have lead astray.
Everyone who is sick and needs healing.
Everyone who is in despair and needs hope.
Every priest who is in need of prayers.
Everyone who has met with me!

Oh, Jesus, My Lord and My God,
I thank You,
I thank the Father,
I thank the Spirit,
For Your Unsolicited gift of life for me!
For Your Uncountable blessings for me!
For Your Unlimited Patience with me!
For Your Untold Forgiveness for me!
For Your Unflinching faith in me!
For Your Unfailing Hope in me!
For Your Unconditional Love of me!
Amen
JoAchen
Friday, 26th February, 2016

These Reflections are neither pure scientific exegesis nor are they any highly theological explanations. They are a sort of devotional musings and monologues mainly meant for my personal renewal and spiritual growth. They are a part of my journaling as a Prodigal Priest trying to make my pilgrimage back to the Home of our Heavenly Father. As I keep holding you in my prayers and I request you to include me in yours. Thank you!  

Thursday 25 February 2016

56/16 My Monologues & Musings : I do the Scribe in me (Mk 12:38-40)

56/16 My Monologues & Musings : I do the Scribe in me  (Mk 12:38-40)
“Beware of the scribes who like to walk around in long robes, and like respectful greetings in the market places, 39and chief seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets, 40 who devour widows’ houses, and for appearance’s sake offer long prayers; these will receive greater condemnation.”

Dear Jesus,
How easy is to get hooked on to power and position especially in the context of my religious practices. I love to parade my piety and pious practices. Somehow I get a kind of a pleasure of showing off my bogus piety thinking that it impresses those who see me. Little do I realize that others easy recognise my fake piety.  

Dear Jesus,
Often enough my religious practices and performances as a priest are shallow and are mainly meant to show off and impress others!
Yes, there is a little Scribe often alive and kicking in me. The strange thing is despite his characteristic hypocrisy I seem to like him and encourage him to be alive and active through me!

Being a priest there is ample opportunity  to parade my piety before a receptive congregation, Right, Lord?

Dear Jesus,
As look at my past performances of parading my piety I have often been very successful in fooling people!  I have become an expert in impressing the people
with my often pretending piety.
You know it, Lord, Don't You?

Dear Jesus,
There is a certain amount of inherent temptation to pretend and to show off our piety as it requires heroic efforts us priests to be genuinely pious and religious.
It is easier to fake than faithfully pious.
i have often thought:
that i can win the approval of the people,
if I were to give a good firey preaching,
if i were to celebrate a sentimental the Holy Eucharist,
if I were to offer long emotional prayers,and if i were to involve in lots of social activities,
I would make a good priest!  

Dear Jesus,
I have done so.
I have had initial euphoric success.
But gradually I began to feel unauthentic and empty as priest and as a teacher.

Dear Jesus,
I want to stop faking a good priest looking for attention and applause.
I am far from being an ideal priest.
I am more of a smart Scribe.
I want to replace the attention seeking  Scribe in me with a caring priest.

Dear Jesus,
I bring before you:
Everyone one of my loved ones.
Everyone one of enemies who were and are.
Everyone who loves as well as hates me.
Everyone whom I love and whom i hate.
Everyone who helps me and who don't.
Everyone whom i have lead astray.
Everyone who is sick and needs healing.
Everyone who is in despair and needs hope.
Every priest who is in need of prayers.
Everyone who has met with me!

Oh, Jesus, My Lord and My God,
I thank You,
I thank the Father,
I thank the Spirit,
For Your Unsolicited gift of life for me!
For Your Uncountable blessings for me!
For Your Unlimited Patience with me!
For Your Untold Forgiveness for me!
For Your Unflinching faith in me!
For Your Unfailing Hope in me!
For Your Unconditional Love of me!
Amen
JoAchen
Thursday, 25th February, 2016

These Reflections are neither pure scientific exegesis nor are they any highly theological explanations. They are a sort of devotional musings and monologues mainly meant for my personal renewal and spiritual growth. They are a part of my journaling as a Prodigal Priest trying to make my pilgrimage back to the Home of our Heavenly Father. As I keep holding you in my prayers and I request you to include me in yours. Thank you!  

Wednesday 24 February 2016

55/16 My Monologues & Musings : Loving my enemy (Mt 5: 43-44)

 55/16 My Monologues & Musings : Loving my enemy (Mt 5: 43-44)
You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor[a] and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,”(Mt 5:43-48)

Dear Jesus,
It's very difficult to love enemies!
Unless I forgive how could I love them?
Dear Jesus,
I have big problems in forgiving them.
To forget the hurts caused is tough for me.
To forgive those who hurt me is not easy.
I love to retaliate and to take revenge on my enemies.
Instinctively I yearn to pay back.
Revenge-filled thoughts often haunt me.

Dear Jesus,
Though I haven't physically attacked and  taken any revenge, the Revenge-filled Thoughts are often deeply embedded within me. I do indulge in them and relish them.
I have wished harm and misfortune for those who are inimical with me and those with whom I am inimical.
Then I also indulge in gossips and calumny against them. I tend speak ill of them and try to paint them black. I try to exaggerate their faults and failure!  I keep on nursing grievances and holding grudges against my enemies.
Dear Jesus,
These are my pet ways to pay back and take sweet revenge on my enemies.
I know if I don't forgive my enemies it is more harmful to me rather than to my enemies.
I also wonder whether many of my enemies are imaginary or not.
Don't I see some of my fellow humans as my enemies just because they seemingly appear to be blocking my selfish interests and agendas?
Dear Jesus,
During this Jubilee Year of Mercy I want to forgive my enemies so that I able to love them!
I want to wish my enemies well rather than wishing them and causing them harm.

Dear Jesus,
I bring before you:
Everyone one of my loved ones.
Everyone one of enemies who were and are.
Everyone who loves as well as hates me.
Everyone whom I love and whom i hate.
Everyone who helps me and who don't.
Everyone whom i have lead astray.
Everyone who is sick and needs healing.
Everyone who is in despair and needs hope.
Every priest who is in need of prayers.
Everyone who has met with me!

Oh, Jesus, My Lord and My God,
I thank You,
I thank the Father,
I thank the Spirit,
For Your Unsolicited gift of life for me!
For Your Uncountable blessings for me!
For Your Unlimited Patience with me!
For Your Untold Forgiveness for me!
For Your Unflinching faith in me!
For Your Unfailing Hope in me!
For Your Unconditional Love of me!
Amen
JoAchen
Wednesday, 24th February, 2016

These Reflections are neither pure scientific exegesis nor are they any highly theological explanations. They are a sort of devotional musings and monologues mainly meant for my personal renewal and spiritual growth. They are a part of my journaling as a Prodigal Priest trying to make my pilgrimage back to the Home of our Heavenly Father. As I keep holding you in my prayers and I request you to include me in yours. Thank you!  

Tuesday 23 February 2016

54/16 My Monologues & Musings : :Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down…” (Lk 21:34)

54/16 My Monologues & Musings :
:Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down…”
(Lk 21:34)

34 “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap.”


Dear Jesus,
As you were telling your disciples and others about the end of the world especially the end of their world you did warn them of ominous signs and the hard times ahead. You tell them to read the signs of the times. And also you encourage them not to lose heart and get dissipated. According to some of the bible pundits when you were talking about the unimaginable but the inevitable and impending destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem and the enormous loss of lives of so many of her children. The Jewish people could never ever imagine their Temple would be destroyed!  

Dear Jesus,
Despite your warnings they were shell shocked when it actually happened some thirty plus years later. You had given them ample enough warning along with a detailed description of the frightening signs which would be preceding as well as following the destruction of the Temple  and devastation of its people.

Dear Jesus,
As I look at my life, in hindsight I see the many warnings you had been sending through events, experiences, and through my fellow humans. The Temple of own self and life were being desecrated by my own repeatedly irresponsible behaviour.  Most of your warnings were unheeded by me! I did pay heavily for them. My selfish ambitions and unbridled passions often had the upper hand and had caused much grief to you as you were helplessly watching the periodic desecration of the Temple of my own life.
Subsequently, as you know, my falls and failures had ended up in guilt feelings, in disappointments, and in despair. It has been a kind of vicious cycle of chronic falls and failures of every sort of sinful behaviour especially in my thoughts.

Dear Jesus,
How I wish!
I could get freed from this vicious cycle of gradual self-destruction.
How I wish!
I could learn from from my past mistakes avoid their repetition!

Dear Jesus,
Do continue to keep sending me warnings and signs so that I desist from making the same mistakes over and again.

Dear Jesus,
I want to keep on reminding myself of the dire consequences of my repeated irresponsible handling of the Temple of my own Self and life!
I want to keep rededicating the Temple of life to You, the Father and to the Spirit.
You and I know there is much good in me as I have within me the spark of the Divine Image and Likeness.
Dear Jesus,
Do continue to keep sending warnings, signals, and signs so that I may be kept on a leash!

Dear Jesus,
I bring before you:
Everyone who loves as well as hates me.
Everyone whom I love and whom i hate.
Everyone who helps me and who don't.
Everyone whom i have lead astray.
Everyone who is sick and needs healing.
Everyone who is in despair and needs hope.
Every priest who is in need of prayers.
Everyone one of my loved ones.
Everyone who has met with me!

Oh, Jesus, My Lord and My God,
I thank You,
I thank the Father,
I thank the Spirit,
For Your Unsolicited gift of life for me!
For Your Uncountable blessings for me!
For Your Unlimited Patience with me!
For Your Untold Forgiveness for me!
For Your Unflinching faith in me!
For Your Unfailing Hope in me!
For Your Unconditional Love of me!
Amen
JoAchen
Tuesday, 23rd February, 2016

These Reflections are neither pure scientific exegesis nor are they any highly theological explanations. They are a sort of devotional musings and monologues  mainly meant for my personal renewal and spiritual growth. They are a part of my journaling as a Prodigal Priest trying to make my pilgrimage back to the Home of our Heavenly Father. As I keep holding you in my prayers and I request you to include me in yours. Thank you!  

Monday 22 February 2016

53/16 My Monologues & Musings : “You are not far from the kingdom of God..” (Mk 12: 34)

 53/16 My Monologues & Musings :  “You are not far from the kingdom of God..”
(Mk 12: 34)
28 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.[a] 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’[b] 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[c] There is no commandment greater than these.”
32 “Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. 33 To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.
34 When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.”(Mk 12: 28-34)

Dear Teacher of the Law,
You are very very well-versed in Law and in Holy Scriptures. You are a very knowledgeable and a wise Jew indeed!
You are an intellectual too.
Unlike the other teachers of the Law,
You seem to have a positive attitude towards Jesus the Rabbi.
Anyhow you were not at all inimical towards Jesus, right?
Many of your fellow Jewish intellectuals and pundits were up in arms against him, weren't they?
Glad to know “you are not far from the kingdom of God.”
May be, I am a bit like you with my intellectual knowledge and academic degrees!

Dear Jesus,
It seems that I am also
“ ...not far from the the kingdom of God.”.
Though I have been periodically experiencing the presence of kingdom within myself, it just doesn't last!
But I keep asking myself when will I experience the kingdom of God in a rather permanent way?
Why have i not entered the kingdom?
Or rather why have I not let the kingdom enter into my life?
Am I blocking its entry?
Even if it succeeds entering my life,
Why doesn't it stay for a longer time?
Do my life and my activities block it to be experienced?
Does presence of some particular aspect within me which blocks the entry of the kingdom into my life?
Dear Jesus,
I think I am very much like this man who knew everything about the commandments on an intellectual level but didn't have any change of heart. There was not much a conversion of heart involved.
Thus I often lack the zest and zeal for the Kingdom.
Though often I enter the Kingdom it makes its exit very soon!
I had an intense experience of the Kingdom
During the initial years of my religious and priestly and right after my Priestly Ordination and while studying Sacred Scriptures in Jerusalem and visiting the different places in the Holy Land.
But those experiences were temporary.
Surely those experiences were also emotional.
Then I find myself falling into a world of failures, faults, and sins of every sort, especially in thoughts.
That's part of me, Lord!

Dear Jesus,
I do want not only to enter into the Kingdom but i want keep staying there and relish it for th e rest of my life.
In a sense, as you said:
The Kingdom is already within me.
I haven't been aware of it and experienced it on account of  my selfish wants and worries!
I better hurry up as I am in the sunset years of my life!

Dear Jesus,
I bring before you:
Everyone who loves as well as hates me.
Everyone whom I love and whom i hate.
Everyone who helps me and who don't.
Everyone whom i have lead astray.
Everyone who is sick and needs healing.
Everyone who is in despair and needs hope.
Every priest who is in need of prayers.
Everyone one of my loved ones.
Everyone who has met with me!

Oh, Jesus, My Lord and My God,
I thank You,
I thank the Father,
I thank the Spirit,
For Your Unsolicited gift of life for me!
For Your Uncountable blessings for me!
For Your Unlimited Patience with me!
For Your Untold Forgiveness for me!
For Your Unflinching faith in me!
For Your Unfailing Hope in me!
For Your Unconditional Love of me!
Amen
JoAchen
Monday, 22nd February, 2016

These Reflections are neither pure scientific exegesis nor are they any highly theological explanations. They are a sort of devotional musings and monologues mainly meant for my personal renewal and spiritual growth. They are a part of my journaling as a Prodigal Priest trying to make my pilgrimage back to the Home of our Heavenly Father. As I keep holding you in my prayers and I request you to include me in yours. Thank you!