Tuesday before Palm Sunday – Commentary on Gospel Reading

St. Luke 9:18-27 and St. Mark 10:32-45

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus

We are now just 5 days away from when we will be celebrating and remembering our Lord’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem Temple. Our church has prescribed the following reading - Gospel according to St. Luke 9:18-27 and St. Mark 10:32-45 for the Tuesday before Hosanna / Palm Sunday. Dear friends, since the first part of both the readings is common and the message same, I would take them both together, but the second part I will be concentrating on the reading from the Gospel of St. Mark.

In the Gospel according to St. Luke 9:18-20, Jesus asks His disciples to say who He is to them. Just as He asked His disciples about who He is to them, He is also constantly asking who He is for us. The Christian faith is not just limited to say that we are followers of Christ, but Jesus requires you to take a stand on our beliefs for ourselves. It is not what others believe, but in whom you believe in. Who do you say Jesus is?

In both the Gospels, St. Luke 9:21-22 and St. Mark 10:32-34 Jesus tells His disciples about His death by the hands of elders and priests and teachers of religious law. But the disciples would seldom understand what Jesus meant by all this, since they all still expected the Messiah to come as a conquering king. He spoke to them the words about resurrection, but they heard only His words about death. Jesus often spoke in parables, therefore the disciples must have thought that His words on death and resurrection were another parable they weren't astute enough to understand. How many of us think on the same lines. We read our Lord’s words in the Bible and still we do not understand Him. We still go far from Him.

In the Gospel of St. Mark, we are said that two of Jesus’ disciples went to Jesus with a request of being seated at the places of honor beside His glorious throne. As stated before, the disciples were still assuming that the Lord would be a conquering King and when His throne is established they wanted to have seats of honor. We too think along the same lines. How many of us would love to have glorious life here on earth? We think that accepting and following Christ would give us monetary stability, long and peaceful life here on earth. But Jesus’ Kingdom is not of this world, it is not centered in palaces and thrones but in the hearts and lives of His followers.

How many of us are willing to suffer for Jesus? James and John said they were willing to suffer, and yes they suffered indeed. James died as a martyr (Acts 12:2), and John was forced to live in exile (Revelation 1:9). It is easy for us to say that we would endure anything for Christ, and yet many of us complain about the most minor problems. We may say that we are willing to suffer for Christ, but are we willing to suffer the minor irritations that sometimes come with serving others?

James and John wanted the highest positions in Jesus’ Kingdom. But Jesus told them that true greatness comes in serving others. In today’s age, greatness is measured by personal achievement. In Christ’s Kingdom however it is service which will make one great. Rather than seeking to have your needs met, look for ways that you can minister to the needs of others.

“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give His life as a ransom for many.” – St. Mark 10:45

This verse not only reveals the motive for Jesus’ ministry but also the basis for our salvation. A ransom was the price paid to release a slave. Jesus paid a ransom for us because we could not pay it ourselves. His death released all of us from our slavery to sin. The disciples thought Jesus’ life and power would save them from Rome; Jesus said his death would save them from sin, and even greater slavery than Rome’s.

Hope you have blessed Lenten season

May the Lord Almighty bless you and keep you in all your ways.

Your Brother in Christ Jesus

Jobin George 

March 9 - Forty Martyrs of Sebaste

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus

On March 9th, the church remembers the 40 Martyrs who died for their Christian faith in Sebaste. What makes it more amazing is that the martyrs were all soldiers of the Roman Empire during 320 A.D. They were soldiers of Legio XII Fulminata (Armed with Lightning). These soldiers are recounted in the martyrologies for their stand for their faith against persecutions Licinius. The earliest mention of these martyrs is done by Bishop Basil of Caesarea.

Account of Martyrdom

The story of these mysterious martyrs unfolds in the city of Sebaste during the reign of Emperor Licinius in 320 A.D. A garrison of Roman soldiers-- 40 in number -- were stationed in this remote Armenian town. While they were bold, courageous soldiers, they were also devout Christians. Upon hearing of this in Rome, the infuriated Emperor issued an edict, stating that those throughout the Empire who would not worship pagan gods would be tortured and put to death. An additional contingent of soldiers was sent to Sebaste to see exactly where the loyalties of these 40 Christians actually stood.

We are told that to a man, all forty soldiers refused to reject Christ. A cruel death was planned for them. It was bitterly cold in Sebaste at this time of the year, and they were forced to remove their clothes and stand along the shores of a frozen lake, looking across the waters at the glowing fires of the pagans -- where they could go if they would renounce the Lord. Still they refused! As death approached, a band of angels came down from heaven and placed crowns on the heads of these dying saints. It is said that one of the Roman guards was so moved by this glorious sight that he removed his own garments and rushed to die himself at the side of these Christian warriors.

Names of the 40 Martyrs

Ss. Cyrion (Quirio), Candidus, Domnus, Hesychius, Heraclius, Smaragdus, Eunoicus, Valens, Vivianus, Claudius, Priscus, Theodulus, Eutychius, John, Santhias, Helianus, Sisinius, Angius, Aetius, Flavius, Acacius, Ecdicius, Lysimachus, Alexander, Elias, Gorgonius, Theophilus, Dometian, Gaius, Leontius, Athanasius, Cyril, Sacerdon, Nicholas, Valerius, Philoctimon, Severian, Chudion, Aglaius, and Meliton are commemorated by the Church on March 9.

Hymns

Troparion

Together let us honor the holy company united by faith,

Those noble warriors of the Master of all.

They were divinely enlisted for Christ,

And passed through fire and water.

Then they entered into refreshment praying for those who cry:

Glory to him who has strengthened you!

Glory to him who has crowned you!

Glory to him who has made you wonderful, O holy Forty Martyrs!

Kontakion

You abandoned all earthly armies,

Cleaving to the heavenly Master, O Forty Martyrs of the Lord.

Having passed through fire and water, O Blessed Ones,

You have fittingly received heavenly glory and many crowns.

Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHS7U6RCr2U&playnext=1&list=PL55D3DB4417DCCE9D&feature=results_video

4th Friday of the Great Lent - Gospel Reading - St. Luke 17:1-10

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus

As we near the blessed Passion Week, we are being taught more and more important life changing lessons by our Lord. From today's reading, I will be concentrating on the following key verses - 

"There will always be temptations to sin, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting!... So watch yourselves!" - St. Luke 17:1-3

"If another believer sins, rebuke that person; then if there is repentance, forgive." - St. Luke 17:3

"If you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, 'May you be uprooted and thrown into the sea,' and it would obey you!" - St. Luke 17:6

Dear friends, in our daily lives we all face temptations of some kind. From the smallest truths to committing adultery and fornication to murder and to so many of the other faults, we are constantly being tempted to choose the correct path. And Jesus knows that we are always tempted and He understands our pains because He has undergone the same pains and tribulations and He empathizes with us. But He warns those who tempt others. We as followers of Jesus are never meant to lead others astray by tempting them to commit sins. In today's time when corruption is at our doorsteps every day through television programs and internet.While we must guard against physical abuse, we must also be aware of and work against the mental and spiritual corruption that are caused by unfiltered and unsupervised internet surfing and television viewing can bring.

Also Jesus focuses on the "little children" who can be new disciples. It is a burden for the parents and teachers to bear to give training and correct treatment to these young ones, so that they are able to fight the spiritual and mental battle that awaits them tomorrow and to make them theologically sound.

Secondly, Jesus tells us that if there is a believer whom we believe is sinning, then we are to go and point out his sin with the purpose of restoring him or her to God and to fellow humans. We are also meant to check our attitudes when you are to rebuke that person. Are you rebuking that person in love? Are you willing to forgive? Unless rebuke is tied to forgiveness, it will not help  the sinning person.

Lastly, when the disciples ask Him to show faith for such radical forgiveness, Jesus gives an example of a mustard seed. He said that our faith should be like a mustard seed. But what is faith? Faith is complete trust and loyalty to God that results in a willingness to do His will. Faith is not something we use to put on a show to others. It is complete and humble obedience to God's will, readiness to do whatever He calls us to do. The amount of faith is not as important as the right kind of faith - faith in our all powerful God. Hence He uses the example of the mustard seed.

Mustard seed is small, almost invisible, but the seed will spread, first underground, then later sprout above the ground. Like a tiny seed, a small amount of genuine faith in God will take root and grow. Although the changes are gradual and imperceptible, soon this faith will have produced major results that will uproot and destroy competing loyalties. We don't need more faith; a tiny seed of faith is enough f it is alive and growing.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus

Hope that this Lenten season would be a blessing unto you all, and may you have ever growing seeds of faith in your heart for your Almighty and All Knowing and Ever Loving God and Creator, Who was willing to send His beloved Son for you and for me to be crucified for our sins so that we might not perish.

Please do uphold me, a sinful servant in your prayers.

Your Brother

Jobin George

Mid Lent Gospel Reading - St. John 3:13-21

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus

We have reached the middle of the Lenten season and during this day, Jesus teaches us some very very important lessons. Today's portion of the Gospel reading is a part of Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus, a Jewish religious teacher. Here Jesus is telling him that to enter the Kingdom of God we must be born again - born again of the water and Spirit. I would like to concentrate on one of my favorite verses and one verse which sums up the whole Bible - 

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life." - St. John 3:16

Just before this verse Jesus tells us that like the bronze serpent which was lifted up on a pole in the wilderness during the Israelite's wanderings, Jesus must also be lifted up, so that who so ever looks up to Him and believes in Him to save them would be saved from eternal damnation. God has provided this way for us to be healed of sin's deadly bite because the wages of sin is death.

The above verse shows God's love for His creation. God's love is not static or self-centered, but it reaches out and draws us in. Here God sets an example, a pattern, of true love, the basis of all love relationships - when you love someone dearly, you are willing to give freely to the point of self-sacrifice. God paid the highest price for the sins of human kind - our sins, by the death of His beloved son. Jesus accepted our punishment, paid the price for our sins, and then offered us the new life that He bought for us.

What does it mean to "believe"? To believe is more than intellectual agreement that Jesus is God. It means to put our trust and confidence in Him that He alone can save us. It is to put Jesus in charge of our present plans and eternal destiny. Believing is both trusting His words as reliable, and relying on Him for the power to change.

When you accept Jesus as your personal savior, His light will shine into your life and removing all the dark places in your life. But there will always be some people who will feel threatened because of God's light and do not want to expose their lives to that light as they are afraid of what will be revealed. They don't want to be changed. Don't be threatened by their fears and do what is right. Rather than being discouraged, keep praying that they will accept the light of the world into their lives.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus

Hope you will accept Jesus as your personal savior and love Him, just as He loved you. Trust Him and come closer to Him, trusting Him to guide you in all the ways of your life, in all your sorrows and troubles and happiness. May the Lord Almighty bless you abundantly and keep you in all your ways.

Your Brother in Christ Jesus

Jobin George

4th Monday of the Great Lent - Gospel Reading - St. Mark 12:35-44

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus

We have now entered into the Fourth weeks of the Holy Lenten season. Hope that this Lenten season is a blessing unto you all. Let us look at today's Gospel reading from the Gospel of St. Mark 12:35-44. I would like to bring your attention to two key verses here:

"Beware of teachers of religious law! For they like to parade around in flowing robes and receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces. And how they love the seats of honor in the synagogues and the head table at banquets. Yet they  shamelessly cheat widows out of their property and then pretend to be pious by making long prayers in public. Because of this, they will be more severely punished." - St. Mark 12:38-40

How many of us pretend to be pious in our day? We tend to make long prayers, carry the Bible around and also mouthing off each and every verse accurately from the Bible, but do we truly love our God, whom we profess? If not, then are we not hypocrites, just like the Jewish teachers? Jesus hated the hypocrites who hope to gain status and recognition and respect through their pious actions. Jesus warned against making a  good impression on others. 

True followers of Jesus are not distinguished by showy spirituality. Reading the Bible, praying in public, or following church rituals can be phony if the motive for doing them is to be noticed or honored. Let your actions be consistent with your beliefs. Live for Christ, even when no one is looking.

Secondly, by showing His disciples the example of a poor woman putting in money in the collection box, Jesus is teaching us on how to make our offerings before God.

"I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions. For they give a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on." - St. Mark 12:43-44

The widow here gave all that she had to live on as an offering unto God. When we consider giving a certain percentage of our income a great accomplishment, we resemble those who gave "a tiny part of their surplus". Here Jesus was admiring generous and sacrificial giving. As believers, we should consider increasing our giving - whether of money, time or talents - to a point beyond convenience or calculations.

Dear Brethren in Jesus Christ, may god Almighty bless you and guide you during this Holy Lenten season. Please keep me, a sinful servant, in your prayers

Your Brother in Jesus Christ

Jobin George

3rd Saturday of the Great Lent - Gospel Reading - St. Mark 8:1-10

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus

It's been a week since I last wrote on the Gospel Readings. I am sorry but couldn't help not write due to the work pressures. I hope that you all are doing well and enjoying the Lenten season. We are fast approaching the mid-Lent and I guess some of us are counting down the days to break our fast. Today's Gospel Reading is from the Gospel of St. Mark 8:1-10. I would like to take your attention to three lessons we can learn here..

The passage is on Jesus feeding 4000 people. But unlike the time when He fed 5000 people with five loaves and two fish (St. Mark 6:35-44), where He fed mostly the Jews, this time He was ministering to  a non-Jewish crowd in the Gentile region of the Ten Towns.

"I feel sorry for these people. They have been here with me for three days, and they have nothing left to eat..." - St. Mark 8:2

How many of us feel that God is so busy with managing all the Godly affairs that He would possibly not be aware of our needs? Jesus was concerned about these people who have been with Him for three days for their need for food, He is also concerned about our own personal needs. At another time Jesus said, "Your heavenly Father already knows your needs" (Matt. 6:32). Do you feel that your concerns are not of interest to God? Nothing is too large for Him to handle and no need too small to escape His interest. He is a loving Father who has created you and longs for you and your companionship always.

Secondly, when we go on reading to the next verse, we might just think how hard can the disciples hearts can get? They have been witness to so many of Jesus' miracles and yet be slow to comprehend who Jesus was. Their hearts were full of doubts on how Jesus would feed the 4000 people here after they had just witnessed Him feeding 5000 people. 

We are not so different from them. Sometimes we are slow to catch on. Although Jesus has brought us through all the trials and temptations in the past, we doubt whether He would do the same in the future. Don't be like the disciples, remember what Jesus has done for you, and have faith that He will do it yet again.

Lastly, Jesus gave thanks for the food, and He serves as a model for us. How many of us give thanks for the life that has been given us and for the food that has been provided at our tables as nourishment? Life is a gift, and the nourishment life requires, while it comes from the work of many hands, conveys God's material blessings. 

Mealtime provides an opportunity to thank God for the daily needs met, for taste and beauty, and for human company and divine companionship. Giving thanks keeps us from regarding a plate of food as a trough, our stomachs as bottomless pits, and our gathering to eat as a bothersome interruption. Keep up the good tradition of praying and thanking God before your meals. Let your gratefulness to God be genuine.

May the Lord Almighty bless and keep you in all your ways and may you have a blessed Lenten season.

Your Brother in Christ

Jobin

2nd Thursday of the Great Lent - Gospel Reading - St. Luke 16:1-13

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus

In today's Gospel Reading, Jesus asks us to understand some unusual teachings of His. Let us look into His parable in St. Luke 16:1-13. We all know Jesus usually taught with the help of parables. Here Jesus is using a parable of a steward and his master. Who is a steward? A steward is a person who looks after some one else's property and goods, today we call such a person a store manager.

In the parable, Jesus says that the steward was a thief and he was caught by his master in his thievery and he was demanded the books to show all the accounts so that he could be penalized. But for self-preservation, he took the little bit of time that he had been given to turn the situation to his advantage. He went to many of the customers of his boss and started reducing the money owed by them and gave them discount. Thus he started making friends out of them so that he could go back to them for favor for the favor they received.

This really was an act of thievery; the steward was using money owed to his owner to make friends for himself.  It’s easy to be generous with someone else’s money. 

But what happened to the steward? Anyone listening to the story would have guessed that the steward would get double the punishment he deserved. God hates sin. He had commanded thus, "Thou shall not steal." So naturally we would guess that Jesus would say the story in such a manner that the steward is punished. But surprisingly, it does not happen. Instead, the owner of the steward actually compliment the steward for his shrewdness for taking care of himself with the owner's money. Then, Jesus deliver's the punchline:

"Use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings." - St. Luke 16:9

Jesus asks us to be like the shrewd manager. You might think that Jesus is kidding. Right? No. Jesus never instructs us to lie or cheat. So what then is the instruction Jesus is giving? How are we as God's children to imitate the liar and thief?

Before that we have to realize that just like the steward, even we as God's children have been entrusted with some estate of God's to manage. Every single thing that we own belongs to God, it all comes from Him and returns to Him. The early fathers of the church wrote about it thus - Gaudentius writes:

“In this world nothing is really ours. … we have been entrusted with the stewardship of the goods of our Lord, either to use them, with giving of thanks, according to our needs, or to distribute them to our fellow servants according as they need. … it is not lawful to misuse indiscriminately the means that have been committed to us, or to claim the right to extravagant expense and display; for we must render an account of our stewardship to the Lord when He comes.”

Likewise, Chrysostom writes:

“We are not placed in this life as lords in our own houses, but as guests and strangers … He who is now rich in a moment is a beggar.  Therefore, whoever you may be, know that you are but an administrator of things that belong to Another. You have been given the right of brief and passing use of them.  Therefore cast out of your soul the pride of dominion, and put on instead the modesty and humility of a steward.”

It's so easy to imagine that whatever you have worked for and earned belong to you alone. Right? And it is correct to always hold on to it with an iron grip. God says, "Think again. I am glad to let you use these things for a little while. But don't get too attached and don't get proud that you have these things. Use them wisely. Especially use them to make friends for you and for Me, as did that steward."

How do make friends with money, and other goods? You know the answer to that! By giving it away. It's easy to be generous with someone else's money, as Martin Luther wrote:

Whoever wants to be a Christian must gladly, willingly and benevolently help the one who is in need and give wherever he can.  This is serving God, and He will ultimately reward you.  On the other hand, the skinflints and profiteers who can do nothing but pinch pennies and give nothing to anyone, or very sparingly, served the accursed devil, who will also reward them in kind.”

Don't misunderstand what Luther when he says God will reward you. You can't buy your way into heaven by giving money away, whether to a beggar or the Church. But when you give it way, two things happen. First, being a Christian, you make friends for God – people come to see the God you serve as generous, loving and good through your generosity, love and goodness.

Second, when you give it away you are fighting the good fight of faith.  Faith believes God when He says, “Man does not live by bread alone, but by every Word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”  Faith trusts and thanks God for all that you need to support this body and life, but ultimately believes that this world is not your home; that you are but a stranger here, heaven is your home.

Such faith is given to you by God, is exercised by fighting the good fight of faith, and ultimately is rewarded when you receive the goal of your faith, the salvation of your soul.  That salvation is the one thing that God wants you to have and hold forever. 

Our God, Jesus the Christ, was willing to give it all away for you.  He laid down His entire life at the cross that you might His life up as your own, and live under Him in His kingdom, and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence and blessedness, just as He is risen from the dead, lives and reigns to all eternity.

No one can serve two masters.  You cannot serve God and mammon.  As for you and your house, may you serve the Lord who gives eternal life!

Your brother in Christ Jesus

Jobin George

Source: http://www.historiclectionary.com/2009/08/sermon-trinity-9-st-luke-161-13/

2nd Wednesday of the Great Lent - Gospel Reading - St. Matthew 18:1-11

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus
Hope your Lenten season is a blessed season in prayer and fasting. Today I would like you to concentrate on the Gospel Reading from the Book of St. Matthew 18:1-11. I would like to concentrate on the following 2 verses from the whole teaching of Jesus that we read today -
"I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven." - St. Matt. 18:3
"What sorrow awaits the world, because it tempts people to sin. Temptations are inevitable, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting." - St. Matt. 18:7
Dear  friends we see here again that Jesus wants us to overlook the preoccupations of this world and the fame that comes along with it. He wants us to concentrate on Him and love Him and not lose sight of Him while we are working with the organization of Jesus' earthly kingdom. We are not to lose sight of the divine purpose. Now a days, just like the disciples, we are mainly aiming for the worldly fame and position that comes when we work for Jesus. We tend to lose sight of Jesus and His way. He calls us to trust in Him like children, because children are trusting by nature.

And since the children trust the adults, they are easily led to Christ. We are to be like children in our trust in Jesus and also we are to lead children to Jesus. God holds parents and other adults accountable for how they influence their little ones. Jesus warned that anyone who turns little children away from their faith in Him will receive severe punishment.

Jesus also warns us against temptation and tempting others to sin. As leaders, we are to help the young ones or new believers or those who are going through troubled times avoid anything and anyone that might cause them to stumble in their faith and lead them to sin. We must remove the stumbling blocks in our lives and then in our neighbor's lives that causes us to sin. Any relationship, activity or practice that leads to sin should be stopped.

Dear brethren, hope you have a blessed Lenten season and may the death of Jesus be a death of sins in your lives and the resurrection of Jesus, a new life in Jesus. May God bless you all and keep you. Please do keep me in your prayers.

Your brother in Christ
Jobin

2nd Monday of the Great Lent - Gospel Reading - St. Luke 6:27-36

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus

I hope you all had a blessed week. I apologize for missing out on some days of the Lent last week, it was due to some work pressures and I was unable to write. But as we enter the second week of the Great Lent, the church asks us to concentrate on some of the deeper teachings of Jesus Christ. For today, the Gospel reading is St. Luke 6:27-36. Jesus is teaching us about loving our enemies and the topic is so huge that it would take me many days to really get into the crux of it because each and every verse in this portion is important and I will be writing on it completely in the series "Demands of Jesus". But, for today, I will be concentrating on just this one verse...

Love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. St. Luke 6:27-28

Jesus' asking us to love our enemies, to be merciful, to make peace, and to forgive assumes that there will always be people around us who will always to hard to love. 

Jesus calls some people our "enemies", which means they are against us. They want to see us fail. Love them, says Jesus (Matt.5:44; Luke 6:27,35). 

Others may not be our personal enemies in this way, but simply people whose character or personality or condition makes them unattractive or even repulsive. Jesus says, Be merciful to them (Matt.5:7; 18:33; Luke 10:37).

Others may be our relatives or friends who have taken offense at something we have done - rightly or wrongly - and the relationship is cold or non-existent. Jesus says, Strive to be reconciled to them (Matt. 5:23-26)

Others may or may not have something against you, but you do against them. Forgive them, Jesus says (Matt. 6:14-15). Don't let laziness or pride or anger keep you from the humble work of forgiving, peacemaking and reconciliation.

The demand of Jesus that we are to love our enemies also assumes that we WILL have enemies and that not all will be reconciled to us, not matter what we do. He shows us that having enemies is not necessarily a bad thing but may mean that we are keeping in step with him. "Blessed are you when other revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account" (Matt. 5:11). In fact, Jesus warned that is there was no persecution, it may be a sign of being more like a false prophet than like Jesus. Enmity between the world and the followers of Jesus is rooted in the truth that the world rejects Him (John 18:37) and in the deep difference Jesus makes when He changes a person (John 15:19; 17:14). Therefore we should not assume that if we have enemies we must have done something wrong. That may be true, and we should search our hearts for unnecessary offences and repent, but Jesus said very plainly that faithful disciples will have enemies.

It is remarkable that Jesus draws attention to not just severe persecution but also to mere snubbing as the kinds of enmity we must deal with. Evidently He thinks we need to be told not only to love when our life s threatened, but also to love when our ego is threatened by a mere slight. Consider the range of enmity He mentions-

We are to love those who persecute us (Matt. 5:44), hate us (Luke 6:27), curse us, abuse us (Luke 6:28), strike us on the cheek, take our cloak (Luke 6:29). Those are all behaviors that would typically hurt us deeply, either physically or emotionally or both, and might kill us (Matt. 10:21; Luke 11:49). To all these behaviors we are to respond in love.  Jesus says, don't just love the person who acknowledges you and recognize you and do good things for you. Love the persecutor, and love the person who simply acts as if you are not alive.

Dear Brethren in Christ Jesus

I now stop here to let you ponder on the above words. I will most definitely explain more about this demand of Jesus to love our enemies in detail some other time. Till then, please do ponder on the what is such love? What does it look like? How much does it involve?

Your Brother in Christ Jesus

Jobin

Day 5 - 1st Friday of the Great Lent - Gospel Reading

"But I warn you - unless your righteousness is better than the righteousness of the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven." - St. Matt. 5:20

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus

As we enter the 5th Day of the Great Lent, I would like to bring your attention to the words of our Savior, Jesus Christ from today's Gospel reading of St. Matthew 5:17 - 26. Here after giving the Beatitudes, Jesus says that He did not come to abolish the laws, but to fulfill them. And He also says that even the smallest detail of the law will not disappear until its purpose is achieved. 

Not going into the details of the Mosaic laws, Jesus expects us to still follow the principles behind them - to worship and love a holy God. The principles behind the commands are timeless and should always guide our conduct. Also the law reveals the nature and will of God, which still applies today. So coming to the verse that I have decided to focus on-

YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS MUST EXCEED THAT OF THE PHARISEES

Jesus said that we cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven if our righteousness does not exceed that of the scribes and the Pharisees (Matt. 5:20). What did Jesus mean by those words? Are we to out-Pharisee the Pharisees? Pharisees were the most meticulous Jewish students of the Mosaic law and the most rigorous enforcers of its details. Tradition has it that there were 246 positive commandments in the Law (the first five books of the Bible) and 365 prohibitions. Getting these right and keeping them meticulously was the vocation of the Pharisees. So are we to be more meticulous than them and shaping our behavior around them?

John Stott answers thus:

It is not so much, shall we say, that Christians succeed in keeping some 240 commandments when the best Pharisees may only have scored 230. No. Christian righteousness is greater than pharisaic righteousness because it is deeper, being a righteousness of the heart... The righteousness which is pleasing to (God) is an inward righteousness of mind and motive. For "the Lord looks on the heart".

The reason why Jesus said such words are because, the teachers and the Pharisees were experts at telling others what to do, but they missed the central point of God's law themselves. The Pharisees were scrupulous in their attempts to follow the law but their weakness was that they were content to obey the laws outwardly without allowing God to change their heart (or attitudes). They looked pious, but they were far from the Kingdom of Heaven. God judges our hearts as well as our deeds, for it is in the heart that our true allegiance lies.

Jesus was saying that we needed a different kind of righteousness altogether (out of love for God), not just a more intense version of the Pharisees' obedience. Our righteousness must

1. come from what God does in us, not what we can do ourselves,
2. be God-centered, not self-centered,
3. be based on reverence for God, not approval from people, and
4. go beyond keeping the law to living by the principles behind the law.

We should be just as concerned about our attitudes that people don't see, as about our actions that are seen by all.

Dear Brethren in Christ Jesus, let us always ask our God and Father in prayer, to change our hearts and to make us centered in Him and to be sufficient in Him rather than on ourselves. May this Lenten season be a blessing unto us all.

Your Brother in Christ

Jobin George