15-May-2011 Dear Friend,
We all have the experience of being lost even in the most familiar surroundings and situations. We are forced to stop and ask ourselves or others: 'Where am I? What's going on? Am I on the right track? We could be asking these questions if we are returning home after a long long time. We could also be asking these questions when we have lost our way in life? Only in finding God can we discover our focus and direction in life! Have a joyful weekend celebrating the 'God-Way' of life! Fr. Jude Sunday Reflections Fifth Sunday of Easter 'Jesus the way, the truth and the Life!' 22-May-2011 Acts 6: 1-7; 1 Peter 2: 4-9; John 14: 1-12; Today's first reading from the Acts tells us that as the early church grew in numbers there were problems and difficulties that they had to cope with. While the Jews and Hellenists converts lived together their relations were not always harmonious. "The Hellenist made a complaint against the Hebrews that in the daily distribution their own widows were being overlooked." While the apostles were busy with preaching and teaching, they also were involved in works of charity- the daily distribution of bread to the needy members of the community. Firstly, the elders did not pretend that all was well. Secondly, those affected did not gossip among themselves but spoke to those concerned about it. The Twelve brought up the issue for discussion, prayer and follow-up action. Through open communication, and prayerful discernment they were able to decide upon some concrete action: the appointment of deacons to act on their behalf. When we are faced with difficulties, does God figure in our course of action or is He an afterthought? Focused on God - Returning to Him Once on a beach about forty miles south-east of Dublin I watched as a man took a crate of homing pigeons from the boot of his car. Then he opened the crate and released the pigeons. They flew straight up into the air. However, instead of heading directly for Dublin which was their home, they proceeded to fly in circles above us. Round and round they went. To someone who didn't understand what was going on this seemed silly and a waste of time. But apparently what the pigeons were doing was finding their bearings. Once they had found their bearings they would set off for home. This homing instinct which many birds posses is an almost miraculous thing. With some it seems to be an in-built thing. But others, such as pigeons, have to be trained. The basic requirement of training is to keep them in good health so that they are capable of sustained flight. -We too have a homing instinct. God, who made us for himself, has not left us rudderless. He has put a homing instinct in us. This is a very subtle and fragile thing, since God will never take away our freedom. It takes the form of an inner restlessness and discontent. This restlessness, this discontent, this longing, far from being a curse, is a blessing. Flor McCarthy in 'Sundays and Holy Day Liturgies' In the Gospel Jesus, towards the end of his life knows that he faces his own crisis and the community he has founded is troubled about its uncertain future. He encourages and admonishes them. "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God and trust in me." His disciples are distressed that he is going to leave them. Jesus knows that He is going to the Father, he knows that the work that he has begun will be taken care of by His Father. But his disciples during the last supper are disturbed at his leaving them. They feel abandoned and alone. Jesus reassures them that he is not leaving them but going ahead to prepare a home for them. He tells them that they know the way home. Still the disciples are disturbed and Thomas said: "Lord we do not know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" Jesus says: "I am the way, the truth and the Life! He assures his disciples He is the only way to the Father. Phillip then has a request: "Show us the father and we shall be satisfied." Jesus did not give him a very detailed and complicated answer. Instead he said. "I am the Way!" Follow me and I'll show you the way!" Jesus is reminding us that we are in transit, we are on our way home -we are God-bound. To reach God we have to follow Jesus and we are sure to reach home. The Way It is really hard to imagine that anybody could treasure each of his friends in a unique way without comparing one with the other. Our lives are filled with comparisons and competition. It starts with the Baby Shows rating the bonny toddlers, first, second and third. It ends with funeral caskets and the wreaths. In between there are the endless comparisons of talent, skill, success, wealth, breeding, power, usefulness, status and even holiness. Snobbery pervades the fibre of our society. It all seems so contradictory for a people who are made in the image of God. To help us to appreciate that with our God there are no such comparisons, Jesus told us that in his father's house there are many rooms, an individual place for each one of us. With him, there are no comparisons. He treasures each equally as a friend. When we believe that, we can trust in God and accept that Jesus has gone before us to prepare that place for us. He is truly the way to peaceful happiness. Tom Clancy in 'Living The Word' A sense of direction -Where are we going? However there are times when we are forced to pause because something happens that throws our routine into question. Like the sudden death of someone very close to us which leaves us in a large absence. Questions arise which are our questions. Things that we took for granted now look different from before; ventures we thought so important begin to look so insubstantial against the reality of loss. We wonder where we are going, if anywhere. What direction do we take when our very sense of direction seems to have gone? We might feel that we're going round in circles but not really getting anywhere. Like the fish who were fooled by their owner he pasted postcards onto the aquarium to give the impression they were going somewhere. An experience of profound loss always makes us question our own direction in life, and in today's Gospel John shows us that it is no different for the disciples. Denis McBride in 'Seasons of the Word' Showing the Way Like the shepherd, and like Jesus, a mother has a close and deep relationship to her flock or family. There's nothing she wouldn't do to protect them from danger. And there's nowhere she wouldn't go to seek out the one who strays or gets lost. A mother's love for her family functions even when she can no longer protect her children herself. There's a beautiful story in the autobiography of Jimmy Cagney, the famous Hollywood actor. It takes place in Cagney's youth when his mother is on her deathbed. Around the bed were the four Cagney boys and Jeannie, their only sister. Because of a stroke, Mrs. Cagney could no longer speak. After she had hugged each of her five children, she lifted her right arm, the only one that was still functioning. Jimmy describes what happened next: "Mom indicated Harry with the index finger of her useless hand, she indicated me with her second finger, she indicated Eddie with her third finger and with her fourth finger, she indicated Bill. Then she took the thumb, moved it to the middle of her palm, and clasped the thumb tightly under the four fingers. Then she patted this fist with her good hand." Jimmy says her gesture was beautiful. Everyone knew what it meant. The four brothers were to protect Jeannie after their mother was gone. It was gesture that no words could have duplicated in beauty and meaning. Mark Link in 'Sunday Homilies' The Way Gandhiji's 'Dandi March' initiated on March 12, 1930, was a landmark in India's freedom struggle. The Mahatma walked with 78 Satyagrahis for 23 days from Sabarmati Ashram to the coastal town of Dandi about 380 kilometers away in defiance of the salt tax imposed by the British. In his book 'My Experience with Truth', Gandhiji writes that he instructed people: 'to make salt along the seashore wherever it was most convenient and comfortable." The 75th anniversary of this event was commemorated in 2005 with Indian and foreign pilgrim-yatris retracing this historic 'way'. Indeed, great leaders have imprinted wondrous 'ways' on the sands of time. -You've probably read the 'Footprints in the Sand' anecdote. When the man complains that he saw only one set of footprints in the sand during his trials and sufferings, the Lord replies, "Those footprints are mine! It was then that I carried you!" We can joyfully sing that popular song, "We're on Our Way to heaven" not because we've discovered salvific ways to Life, but because Jesus - the Way and the Vehicle - carries us heavenward. Francis Gonsalves in 'Sunday Seeds for Daily Deeds' Do Not Be Troubled During the Second World War, Prime Minister Winston Churchill gave some of the most stirring speeches of all times. After England had suffered a demoralizing defeat at Dunkirk, Churchill reminded the House of Commons about their commitment to ultimate victory. He said: "Victory at all costs, victory in spite of terror, victory however long and hard the road may be, for without victory there is no survival. We shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end. We shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas, we shall fight in the air. We shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be. We shall never surrender." With words like that, Churchill aroused the hearts of his people to remain undaunted, even though they were on the verge of destruction. He encouraged them not to lose faith, however fierce the fight became. -In today's gospel Jesus gives one of his own stirring speeches. The scene is the Last Supper, his disciples are present, and the time is the eve of his darkest hour, the day of his death. And yet, in spite of knowing that the worst is about to occur, Jesus tells his disciples: "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Have faith in God and faith in me." Albert Cylwicki in 'His Word Resounds' 'When you reach the end of the rope..' Dr. R. A. Torrey was a great preacher and evangelist. He was instrumental in bringing many a sinful soul to Christ. But as a young man, he neither had faith in God nor in the Bible. He led a reckless life, and only wanted to enjoy the pleasures of life. His godly mother constantly prayed for his conversion and often advised him to turn from his evil and godless ways. One day, he became angry with his mother and said to her, "I am fed up of hearing about my sins and about your prayers. I am going to leave the house and never bother you any more." His mother pleaded with him not to take such a decision. But he left home. His mother cried out, "Son, you are going the wrong way, but when you come to the end of the rope, remember the God of your mother and cry out to Him and He will save you." He looked back and heard what his mother said, but continued with his departure. After leaving home, Torrey plunged deeper and deeper into sin, with every additional sinful way his heart was not satisfied. Gradually, he began to feel the emptiness in his life, and his pocket, too, began to shrivel up. Slowly but surely, insecurity and loneliness began to engulf him. One day, he went to his hotel room, took his revolver and laid it to his head, intending to put an end to his life. Suddenly, he remembered his mother's last words: "Son, you're going the wrong way, but when you come to the end of the rope, remember the God of your mother and cry out to Him and He will save you." Right then he fell on his knees and prayed and surrendered his life to Jesus. To the wayward Torrey, Jesus became the way; to the disillusioned Torrey, Jesus became the truth; and to the Torrey dead in his sins, Jesus became the new life. John Rose in 'John's Sunday Homilies' May we discover that Jesus is the only way to fullness of life! Fr. Jude Botelho [email protected] PS. The stories, incidents and anecdotes used in the reflections have been collected over the years from books as well as from sources over the net and from e-mails received. Every effort is made to acknowledge authors whenever possible. If you send in stories or illustrations I would be grateful if you could quote the source as well so that they can be acknowledged if used in these reflections. These reflections are also available on my web site www.netforlife.net Thank you.
