Jesus, the two thieves, Longinus, a few others and Me.

I look to the far distance and I see Longinus, a spear and a cross on which hangs a naked body. The hillock of Calvary stands in desolation, made eternal by a tall cross adorned with the tattered body of the Lord. As I look closer, the cross looks ghastly, soiled with dust, torn flesh, blood, an unmistakable body crowned with thorns and a label which said “Iesus Nazarenes, Rex Iudaeorum- Jesus the Nazarene, King of the Jews”. For the average onlooker a bloody Roman execution unusual for Jews. For the few who were at the upper room for Passover this still was not making sense and many are missing in the silhouette that I see.

Yonder the sun has lost its brilliance hiding into an eclipse, as if ashamed of the callousness of the sheep that turned foe to the shepherd and of some which remained too sheepish and silent. A few were willing to do whatever but felt powerless against the legal and religious courts and the powers of their army, they were afraid for their lives.

From the elevated position the Lord looked down. The fullness of Love made him see no enemies but just bruised reeds and He had only one desire; “Father forgive them for they do not know what they do”. Those words were not easy to speak, hanging on three nails with excruciating pain, lack of breath, dehydration and unspeakable agony added by the unusual scourging, overnight trials, lack of sleep, falling thrice with the cross, loss of blood and to add to it all the agony of the mother witnessing mutely and helplessly the naked body of her dear son so rejected by His own and left to die.

For us Calvary happened 2000 years ago, but for God, who is beyond the time frame and limitations of time, Calvary is then, now and ever. Calvary applied beyond time applies to all of us today as we live our lives. Calvary is there, casting a shadow on us.

Longinus pierced the Lord’s side, on orders to check if He was dead, and the blood and water which gushed out healed Longinus who was blind in one eye. That was the last drop poured out.

The thief who asked the Lord for remembering him, gained paradise in God’s unfathomable justice and Mercy. The thief who mocked him and who despaired and was callous lost the opportunity which was too good to miss. He was not much different from Pilate who asked Jesus, “what is the Truth” while looking at The Truth , yet turned his back on the Truth.

John who stayed with the Mother gained a Mother and the Mother gained a son.

What about me? I too was there. I too am there. I think of the two thieves. Both were there. One gained Paradise and one did not, the second not only lost paradise but added to the pains of the Lord – in two ways, one of sinning further which in turn added to the spiritual suffering and the second of ridiculing which added to the mental suffering of the agonising Lord

Did I add to the Lord’s physical abuse just as those who openly deny His grace?

Or did I appear nice and spiritual but stayed far away, lacking true virtues and went on with the abominations partying with the spirits of Pride, Greed, Wrath, Envy, Lust, Gluttony and sloth; ignoring the cross and the crucified?

I may be getting it right attending weekly confessions, traditional Tridentine mass, daily prayers and what have you, yet when it comes to life in the real world I fail to be humble, I retort, I don’t let anyone humiliate me, I want to be approved, accepted, appreciated.

Or may be I shy away from mortifications and gratify my appetite without exceptions. Or when an opportunity presents, may be I slander, I speak ill, I judge and gossip. And so on..

By one’s many visible activities he may appear to be like St John under the cross, but in reality he may be a combination of the unjust courts, the cruel and mocking soldiers, the thief, the betraying friend and all else that could be combined.

This reminds us, the Cross on Calvary and Longinus piercing his side and the bleak sun is only a part of the picture, if I do not see me there with all my instruments that bruise His body and of the company that I keep, the company of Pride, Greed, Wrath, Envy, Lust, Gluttony and Sloth. The picture is only complete if I put me there as Jesus sees me with the company I keep.

Dear Lord, I am hurting you in many unseen ways, though my spiritual life seem like a fig tree in leaves(Mark 11:12-15); only you can see the lack of fruits. Lord I believe in your words (James 1:5, Luke 11:13, John 15:7-8), help me that I may bear much fruit; fruit that is visible in my every thought, every action and every word. Help me to Love you above all.

I raise, all who struggle just like me, with the chalices being raised in all the Holy masses said throughout the world today, into your pierced hands. Help us, heal us and make us Yours. I pray in Your name Jesus. Amen

THE GOD OF LITTLE THINGS

2 KINGS 5:8-14 Speaks of Naman, the commander of Syrian army, who is suffering from Leprosy. Having heard of the Prophet of Israel who could heal him he takes a letter from the Syrian king to Israel and so on…Interestingly the king of Israel is perplexed..and distressed when he learns that Naman has come to him for a cure.

Hearing of the king’s distress Elisha conveys to the king that Naman may be send to him for healing..Naman along with his chariots and horse arrives at Elisha’s door. Elisha sends a messenger to him saying ” Go and wash in the Jordan seven times and your flesh shall be restored and you shall be clean”.

Naman expected Elisha would come out and with open arms cry out to God to heal the lepper.  He just felt insulted and says ” are not Abana  and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus better than all the waters of Israel…….

Its Naman’s servant who slows down Naman’s rage and asks him to consider the simple request. Naman yields and dips seven time in river Jordan to be completely healed and be tender like a baby.

Isn’t this just what happens in our lives too? We see this in 1 Kings 19:11-13 too..  The Lord who’s not there in the  a great and powerful wind Nor  the earthquake Nor in the fire – He was there as a gentle Whisper.

Today the little things that the Lord brings to us and the humble presence in the Eucharist is often not seen by us. We await the show, which may just not happen. He is the on who asked us “Be still and know that I am God”. Psalm 46:10.

Slow down, pause for his little whispers and enjoy his mighty presence. He is Love. A Love that’s so boundless that it could humble itself to come in search of what he created, that he may raise them up to his holy presence. A love that could humble himself to shrink into a piece of conceivable bread and a drop of wine so that he could live right within us and be a part of every cell in us.

O God, you are my God-
it is you I seek!
For you my body yearns;
for you my soul thirsts,
In a land parched, lifeless,
and without water.
I look to you in the sanctuary
to see your power and glory.
For your love is better than life;
my lips shall ever praise you!
I will bless you as long as I live;
I will lift up my hands, calling on your name.
My soul shall be sated as with choice food,
with joyous lips my mouth shall praise you!
I think of you upon my bed,
I remember you through the watches of the night
You indeed are my savior,
and in the shadow of your wings I shout for joy.

(Psalm 63)

The betrayel

MATTHEW CHAPTER 27 

Jesus before Pilate.

 1* When it was morning,a all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel* against Jesus to put him to death. 2They bound him, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate, the governor. 

The Death of Judas. 

3b Then Judas, his betrayer, seeing that Jesus had been condemned, deeply regretted what he had done. He returned the thirty pieces of silver* to the chief priests and elders,c 4saying, “I have sinned in betraying innocent blood.” They said, “What is that to us? Look to it yourself.” 5* Flinging the money into the temple, he departed and went off and hanged himself. 6The chief priests gathered up the money, but said, “It is not lawful to deposit this in the temple treasury, for it is the price of blood.” 7After consultation, they used it to buy the potter’s field as a burial place for foreigners. 8That is why that field even today is called the Field of Blood. 9Then was fulfilled what had been said through Jeremiah the prophet,* “And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the value of a man with a price on his head, a price set by some of the Israelites, 10d and they paid it out for the potter’s field just as the Lord had commanded me.”

—————-

Does it feel like real life?

Many I know have felt life having taken bitter turns, probably in varying degrees.

A friend who betrayed…the very pillars which were to be just and protect turning to be the cannibals and justifying it and the mob believing them…

If you feel betrayed..if you feel rejected…lonely…refused justice..even minimum justice…..remember HE, the blemishless sacrificial lamb, has been there, seen it all, heard it all, experienced it all..TWICE.

Don’t fret you are in good company. God bless.

Anoint us with your oil Oh Lord

James 5:14 – Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.

We see the pre-cursor of this in Mark 6:13 when Jesus sends out his disciples to preach and heal and cast out demons.

Mark 6:13 – They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.

Lord anoint us with your oil that we may derive the healing powers of your anointment. For we are unclean but if you wash us we will become clean. As you call us in Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the LORD, “Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool.”

We know so little of you Lord. We as humans are so incapable, except in your grace, to even know what you will from us. Give us more of your grace Lord that we may become worthy of your Love. Give us more of your Grace that we may humble ourselves and receive more of your Love. A love that simplified and lowered itself so much that the creator would come and dine with the creation. When our lamps run out of oil Lord give us more of your oil of love that we may burn bright and shine in your Love. Amen.

John 10 The Good Shepherd.

John 10  The Good Shepherd  (I stand in awe of what Jesus says here and too dazed to realize how much his love tracks me. He leaves the 99 in the safety of his mountain and comes looking for me ; and when he finds me fallen, bruised and afraid, just as the lamb fallen into an abyss, he lifts me right out with his mighty right hand and keeps me close to him. And he rejoices. Because he knew the worth of this lamb. Love you Lord. Strengthen us to hear your voice, to discern the spirits and recognize your true spirit.) 1“Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” 6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them. 7 Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. 11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. 17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.” 19 The Jews who heard these words were again divided. 20 Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?” 21 But others said, “These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”

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