A Spirituality of Waiting

Message from Fr. Jose Koluthara, CMI

Lord Jesus, help us imitate our mother who said in her waiting, “Let it be done to me according to your word”. Amen.

My Dear Brothers and Sisters,
A reflection on the book “A Spirituality of Waiting” authored by Henri Nouwen (1993) seems worth considering for this advent.  As Nouwen has affirmed, waiting is not a very popular posture. Many consider waiting a waste of time. For many waiting is an awful desert between where they are and where they want to go. Think of the “first strike” approach of some nations towards others. The more afraid we are, the more difficult it becomes to wait. But advent is a season that is marked by a spirituality of waiting.
In the pages of Jewish and Christian scriptures, we will find a different attitude toward waiting. Recall psalmist’s prayers. They enunciated the hopes and longings of their people, who awaited God’s messianic intervention on their behalf: “Our soul waits for the Lord who is our help and our shield.” (Ps. 30:22) “My soul waits for the Lord more than sentinels wait for the dawn.” (Ps. 130:6-7)
In the gospel we find the waiting of Zechariah, Elizabeth, Mary, Joseph, Anna, Simeon and John the Baptist setting the scene for the welcome of Jesus.
The quality of waiting in these scriptural heroes and heroines can be characterized in several ways. Nouwen describes them thus: First, theirs is a waiting with a sense of promise. Like a seed growing within, the promise promotes endurance. We can only wait well if what we are waiting for has already begun for us. In today’s first reading, Jeremiah (33:14-16) reminds us that all God’s promises are fulfilled in Jesus, the shoot of David, who comes among those who wait in order to do what is just and right.
Second, the waiting that we see epitomized in the scriptures is active. Our ancestors in the faith did not remain in a passive or idle state. They were actively and fully present to each moment. Paul, in today’s second reading (1Thes. 3:12-4:2) reminds us that our active waiting for the Lord’s second advent must be exercised in love for one another and for all. In the gospel (Lk. 21:25-28, 34-36), the evangelist exhorts us to fill our active waiting with constant prayer and careful watchfulness for signs of the Lord’s nearness.
Our waiting for God and for Jesus is also to be patient and open-ended. Mary exhibited this manner of spirituality in her waiting when she said, “Let it be done to me according to your word.” (Lk. 1:38)

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Kingship of Jesus Christ

Message from Fr. Jose Koluthara, CMI

Lord Jesus, help me transform myself by putting on your mind, your will and your heart. Amen.

My Dear Brothers and Sisters,
The last Sunday of the liturgical year is always celebrated as the Solemnity of Christ The King. How do the worldly monarchs prepare us for understanding the kingship of Jesus Christ? Unfortunately for the most part, they do not. Jesus’ kingship is exercised in a manner that has rarely been reflected in other rulers, be they kings, queens, tzars, sheiks, presidents, prime ministers, or even bishops and popes. Many of these would enforce their ownership and strongly assert their power and authority. Jesus invites free acceptance of himself and his care. Many of these would rule for their own interests and purposes, but Jesus exercises his power as protection, his authority as service. Earthly sovereigns may force conformity to their will upon their subjects; Jesus, as king, invites those whom he has called to be friends, brothers and sisters to be transformed by his dominion.

Acceptance of Jesus’ sovereignty will entail a daily, deliberate and lifelong willingness to be transformed by Him. This will involve a transformation by his words, by his mind, by his will and by his heart. His words were truthful; his mind was fully intent on God and goodness; his will was conformed to God’s will; his heart was warm with welcome for all, full of forgiveness and compelled by compassion. The transformation of believers by the power and kingship of Jesus Christ is far from complete. Indeed, as we limp along toward the goal of establishing Jesus’ dominion in all people and places, discouragement may set in and paralysis may ensue. As German theologian Wolfhart Pannenberg once observed, our present world with its wars, injustices and brutalities, demonstrates the gap between itself and kingship of Christ.

Our King, Jesus, achieved his kingship, his victory and his glory through suffering, humiliation and death. While humiliation and suffering aspects of Jesus’ kingship will be featured in today’s gospel (Jn 18:33-37), the glorious victory of Jesus is anticipated in today’s first reading (Dan. 7:13-14). In today’s second reading (Rev. 1:5-8) the author of Revelation will transpose this description to the risen Jesus.

God’s kingdom, in Jesus , has not yet come in all its fullness. We can maintain hope because of faith in our king and the coming kingdom.

INTERESTED IN VOCATIONS? Call Fr. Jose or visit http://www.vocationstoronto.ca/

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END OF THE WORLD

Message from Fr. Jose Koluthara, CMI

Lord Jesus, help us to be more attentive to the ways of God here and now. Amen.

My Dear Brothers and Sisters,
The last Sundays of each liturgical year invite our attention to the last things: the end of the world, death and judgment, reward and retribution. The intended purpose of this focus on the end time is to prepare us for the final reckoning and to make us more attentive to the ways of God here and now. Still some of us engage in undue worry and speculation as to the exact time, place and circumstances of the end.
In 960, Bernard, a visionary in Germany, announced that the world would end on Good Friday in 992. A century later, an astronomer named John of Toledo calculated that a major calamity would destroy the earth in September of 1186. A group of London astrologers speculated that the world would end by a flood in February 1524. The German astrologer and mathematician Johannes Soeffler supported that view and specified the date of destruction by flood as February 20, 1524. As a result, Count von Laggleheim ordered a three-story ark to be constructed for his family. When the rain began to fall on February 20, a panicky crowd trampled the Count to death while attempting to board his ark. The world did not end.
Charles Long of Pasadena, California, wrote a 70,000- word tract outlining the details of the end of the world which was to happen at 5.33 p.m. on Sept.21, 1945. But nothing happened. It seems that we human beings have a propensity for end-of-the world prophecies even when these are disproved time and time again. Let us learn the lesson given in today’s gospel, (Mk.13:24-32): “As for the exact day or hour of the end-time, no one knows it.”
Useless worry and speculation must give way to careful preparedness. That preparedness, as is given in the first reading from Daniel (12:1-3), consists in living wisely and justly in all we are, in all we do. That preparedness, according to Hebrews author (2nd reading, Heb.10:11-14,18) , also consists in trusting the power of Jesus’ saving sacrifice to forgive sins and to sanctify sinners. Victorious over sin and death, Jesus has gone on to God and to glory; there he waits to call us home at a time and in a place we do not know. No one knows. Hope and trust must wipe out worry; faith and fortitude must blot out fear. The attention that might have been given to the false predictors of the end must instead be given over to the words and wisdom of God.

INTERESTED IN VOCATIONS? Call Fr. Jose or visit http://www.vocationstoronto.ca/

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Sacrificial Giving

Message from Fr. Jose Koluthara, CMI

Lord Jesus, empower me to practice sacrificial giving. Amen.

My Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Do you give from your surplus of your store? Another way to ask this is, do you offer your leftovers or the food you obtained for your main meal? In today’s Gospel (Mk 12:38-44), the widow in Jesus’ example contributed “her whole livelihood”, everything that she had. Even though her offering was financially less than that offered by the rich contributors, because she gave her livelihood and not her surplus, she offered more than the rest. Her offering is an example of sacrificial giving, giving the total gift of self out of love for another or in response to another’s need.

She has that in common with the widow of Zerepath in today’s first reading (1Kings 17:10-16). When asked to make a little cake for a guest, rather than use the last flour and water she had for her son and herself only, she is willing to give what she had planned for their main meal, their last meal. No leftovers here. What happens? She had enough for her, her son and her guest for a year! God blessed her willingness to give sacrificially out of love for the stranger, in response to the need of a traveller in a nomadic land, where travellers were dependent upon the kindness of strangers.

Do we practice sacrificial giving or surplus giving? An illustration can be given from the life of Jim, a Dominican missionary. He was in El Salvador in 1989 when the Jesuits, their housekeeper and her daughter were martyred. Jim was pastor to a parish that was built on a garbage dump. The parish served all who came, whether they were leftist or rightist, pro-government or anti-government, part of the system or part of the revolution. Parish members gave people Bibles and helped them reflect on the Gospel in ways that invited a change of life , so as to live the Gospel more clearly. The community also operated a clinic that served all who came, regardless of politics or religious conviction. These two activities made them subversive in the eyes of the military. As the pastor, Jim’s name appeared on the death list.

So Jim went to his people and asked: “What will help you more ? Would it be more helpful for me to stay here and die for you? Or would it be more helpful for me to go back to the States and let people know what’s really happening here”. The community discussed and prayed. They finally said, “Go back and let people know what's really happening and put pressure on your government to stop supporting ours until it really helps the poor and cares for all our citizens”. He was willing to give his all, either in death or in the risk of being caught. He gave from his store, giving his all not counting the cost, out of love for his people. He still witnesses to justice and peace today.

Sacrificial giving is what the gospel asks of us. Jesus, who offered his life once for all of us, empower us to give of our store, like the widow in the Gospel and the very food we have obtained for our meal, like the widow of Zerepath. May these examples of sacrificial giving help us affirm where we already give sacrificially or move us to change our ways of giving and living.

INTERESTED IN VOCATIONS> Call Fr. Jose or visit http://www.vocationstoronto.ca/

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Footprints of Saints

Message from Fr. Jose Koluthara, CMI

Lord Jesus, make us a community of hope following the footprints of saints. Amen.

My Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Today we celebrate the Feast of All Saints. The word saint comes from the Latin word sanctus, which means “holy”. Literally, the word saint means “holy one”. It recalls God’s command to the chosen people: “Keep yourselves holy, because I am holy”. (Leviticus 11:44). Early Christians, like St. Paul referred to one another as “holy ones”, or “saints”. The New Testament uses the word over 60 times in this sense. With the passage of time, however, the word saint was reserved exclusively for those Christians who were martyred or who had lived lives of remarkable holiness. Today, the Church recognizes as “saints” thousands of men and women whose lives have mirrored, in a special way, the holiness of God. It is these people whom we honour today.

The scheduled readings for this Sunday are replaced with the traditional readings for All Saints. The 1st reading from the Book of Revelation (Rev.7:2-4, 9-14) contains two separate visions that John experiences. The first vision refers to a well-known number: 144,000. This number is the square of twelve (144), multiplied by one thousand (thus 144,000). Scholars think the number “twelve” may represent the historic twelve tribes of Israel, and the number “one thousand” may represent the universal scope of all people saved by Christ (i.e. the new Israel). The “seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God” represents the mark that will identify those to be saved (i.e. the elect) who have suffered for their faith in Christ. These are among the first generation of Christian Martyrs. The second vision is meant to encourage all those who were currently suffering persecution (the “great distress”) for their faith in Christ.

In the second reading (1Jn:1-3), the author John urges the recipients of his letter to be a community of “hope”, to be imitators of Christ, as “pure” as Christ himself.
The Gospel reading (Mt.5:1-12a) narrates the beatitudes, the new law issued by Jesus. They can also be seen as a list of qualities that defines a saint. As we listen to these beatitudes hopefully we find ourselves connecting to some of them. If we do, we can be assured we are showing others what it means to be a living saint.

INTERESTED IN VOCATIONS> Call Fr. Jose or visit http://www.vocationstoronto.ca/

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Sight and Insight

Message from Fr. Jose Koluthara, CMI

Lord Jesus, give me enough insight to understand that my call is to be faithful to you in all my life situations. Amen.

My Dear Brothers and Sisters,
“God has not called me to be successful. He has called me to be faithful” (Mother Teresa). This inspirational quote was printed on a memento when Mother Teresa died on September 5th 1997. May her mediation give us sight and insight in all our life situations.

Today’s gospel (Mk. 10:46-52) brings before us Bartimaeus, a blind man, so as to make us aware of our blindness. Jesus asked of Bartimaeus, “What do you want me to do for you?” With no hesitation whatsoever, the reply came back, “I want to see”. This blind man challenges us to take our place beside him and make his request our own; “I want to see!”.

Some may be tempted to advise, “Be careful what you wish (pray) for”. When believers open themselves in faith to the power of God, new sight and insight will surely come – and so also will come responsibilities and challenges, all of which will make demands on our time and talent and treasure. Therefore, real courage is needed to allow the prayer of Bartimaeus to find its voice in our lives: “I want to see!”.

In an excellent essay on the experience of Bartimaeus William J. Bausch suggests that those who have both daring and courage to pray, “I want to see”, should be prepared to see three things. First, we would want to see that the most important thing in life is relationships. Many of us sacrifice our relationships for careers, jobs, entertainment, power, success and the like. We don’t spend time together; we don’t eat together… and for what?

Another sight or insight that might be granted us when we pray, “I want to see”, is the ability to recognize those we may otherwise have “overlooked”: e.g., the poor, the hungry, the downtrodden, etc. We may have deemed it easier not to see a problem that needs attention, e.g., gambling, drugs, alcohol, sex addiction, etc.

A third realm of sight and insight that might come into clearer focus if we pray, sincerely, “I want to see” is the manner in which God’s love can and should be perceived in our lives. God’s love can be evidenced in the kindness of strangers, in the support of family and friends, in the beauties and wonders of the universe. For those who would see, the manifestation of God is everywhere, in everyone, in everything, in you, in me.

INTERESTED IN VOCATIONS> Call Fr. Jose or visit http://www.vocationstoronto.ca/

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God-given Mission

Message from Fr. Jose Koluthara, CMI

Lord Jesus, help us give ourselves fully and freely to the God-given mission and become your witnesses. Amen.

My Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Go west young man and make the country grow!” Thus read the title of an 1881 editorial by John B. L. Soule that was first published in the Terre Haute Express. Taking those words to heart, many made their way into the American West. Some travelled by wagon train, others opted for the stagecoach. The stagecoach companies sold three different classes of tickets: first, second and third class. First and second-class ticket holders retained the right to remain seated during the entire trip. Third-class ticket holders were held responsible for helping to fix a problem like pushing or pulling a stuck wagon.

With this colourful bit of history in mind, we turn to today’s Gospel (Mk 10:35-45). Jesus and his disciples are also travelling, not west, but from Caesarea Phillipi in the north to Jerusalem in the south. On their way, Jesus has been instructing his disciples in the blessings as well as the rigors of discipleship. He has been frank, speaking more of service and suffering less of power and prestige. Jesus will repeatedly (three times) allude to the inevitable conflict and struggle he would face in fulfilling his God-given mission. It would appear that he saw his role as more comparable to the Isaian servant whose innocent and vicarious suffering for sinners is so graphically depicted in today’s first reading (Is 53:10-11). Nevertheless, the disciples remain without full understanding as is reflected in the request made by James and John, Zebedee’s sons. In essence, they asked Jesus for the privilege of travelling with him holding first class tickets and enjoying the privileges thereof.

By expressing their wish to be seated at Jesus right and left, it would also appear that the two sons of Zebedee presumed that Jesus, too, was riding first-class into glory. They misunderstand what it means to share Jesus’ cup and bath (baptism); thinking of these as a sharing in his kingdom, they are full of confidence. “We can!” they offer excitedly. How many of us are similarly unaware and uninformed regarding the cost of discipleship? We start out well, with the enthusiasm of first-class ticket holders. Yet when the cup turns bitter and the bath becomes an immersion in sacrifice… when our third-class ticket status requires that we give up our seats and plunge wholeheartedly into fixing what needs to be fixed, mending what is broken and reconciling that which has become alienated, we balk.

INTERESTED IN VOCATIONS> Call Fr. Jose or visit http://www.vocationstoronto.ca/

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