Spiritual Spark 🔥

"Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. For three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank" (Acts 9:8-9).

The mighty invincible zealous Saul, riding high on the horse and arrogantly charging towards Damascus to bring Christians bound back to Jerusalem, experienced something totally unexpected. He was thrown down from his horse. He became blind and he had to be taken by hand and brought into Damascus. What must have gone through his mind for those three days, without sight and without eating without drinking?

Let us put ourselves in place of Saul. Like him, we, too, were riding high on our projects, our plans, our ambitions. We were going ahead mercilessly, neither caring for the poor nor for the environment. Suddenly a strong break was applied. All movements ceased. Most of the projects, plans, ambitions were shattered.

Damascus crisis helped ruthless Saul to turn into caring Paul. Will this corona crisis bring the best out of us?

Good day and God bless us all! 🙏🏼👼🏼

Spiritual Spark 🔥

"A severe persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria" (Acts 8:1).

Famous German poet, Friedrich Hölderlin writes: "Where there is danger, there grows the salvation also". This is the reality of life. The famous verse in the Bhagvadgita states: "yada yada hi dharmasya glanir bhavati bharata, abhyuthanam adharmasya tadatmanam srjamy aham" (wherever there is a decline in religious practice, O descendant of Bharata, and a predominant rise of irreligion, at that time I descend myself). This teaching is found in all religions. St. Paul writes, "Where sin abounds, grace super abounds" (Rom 5:20).

Those who believe in God, know that God works very powerfully in the midst of crisis. The early church learnt it through their own experience. After the stoning of Stephen, a great persecution broke out in Jerusalem. If this crisis had not occurred, Christians may have remained limited to a small city of Jerusalem. Crisis forced them to move out of their comfort zones and reach out to the far corners of the world.

Good day and God bless us all! 🙏🏼⚔️

Spiritual Spark 🔥

Then Stephen knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he died. And Saul approved of their killing him (Acts 7:60--8:1)

What is the role of Saul in the killing of Stephen? He is not with the other religiously fanatic people stoning Stephen. He is only taking care of the coats of the witnesses. But he also shares in their guilt because he approves the killing of an innocent man.

According to ancient Jewish laws, witnesses were supposed to be the first ones to cast first stones (cf. Deut 17:7). The witnesses must have been acquainted with Saul (a part of his friendly circle) and asked him to take care of their coats. Saul also approves the brutal killing of Stephen in spite of witnessing the great act of Stephen forgiving his murderers.

In these difficult days, if we forward messages and videos blaming and targeting any particular group, like Paul, we, too, become indirectly guilty of the blood of the innocents lynched mercilessly.

Good day and God bless us all! 🙏🏼🔪

Spiritual Spark 🔥

Some stood up and argued with Stephen. But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke. Then they secretly instigated some men to say, "We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God" (Acts 6:9-11).

Stephen was a holy man, full of grace and power. Jews of his time couldn't match him in knowledge and wisdom. They couldn't argue with him and so they chose a crooked way. They bribed and instigated people to bring false charges against him to get rid of him.

Even today religion is used as a means to settle score with one's opponents. Religion has a strong emotional appeal, which is capable of generating immense positive as well as negative energy. Stephen was filled with the positive spirit, but his opponents were filled with negative spirit. We need to choose for ourselves, which aspect of religion we wish to choose: love or hatred?

Today we celebrate the feast of St. Peter Canisius, a Jesuit saint and a Doctor of the church. He did a great work in Germany. He is credited with adding to the Hail Mary prayer the sentence: "Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners". He actively promoted the sodalities of our Lady and the rosary associations.

Good day and God bless us all! 🙏🏼💐

Spiritual Spark 🔥

Jesus said to them, "What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?" They stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, "Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?" (Lk 24:17-18).

Imagine ourselves discussing the situation of the present crisis and Jesus coming and asking us what we are discussing. What will be our reply? Will not be our reply exactly the same as that of Cleopas?

The two disciples on the way to Emmaus were totally dejected. Hope is the last thing to die. But when hope dies, life becomes meaningless. These disciples had lost hope.

In the story of Emmaus, we can find the much needed hope and consolation. Emmaus academy teaches us to recount our story of hope and distress to Jesus, and to discover hope in the scripture, which states: "It is necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory." Often suffering is a divine necessity, which purifies us and makes us better human beings.

Good day and God bless us all! 🙏🏼☦️

Spiritual Spark 🔥

"Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you" (1 Pet 5:6-7).

Peter gives us two important exhortations: (1) humbling ourselves before the mighty God; (2) Casting all our anxieties on God. The second exhortation seems very good to us. It is good to get rid of all our anxieties and throw them on God. But the first exhortation seems quite difficult to us. We don't want to humble ourselves.

We want to be managers; we want to have all the situations under our control. We don't want to bend down before anyone and give control of our lives to anyone, not even to God.

Why do we don't want to humble ourselves? Because we are very impatient. We want things to happen according to our time and our plan. St. Peter says, God will exalt you "in due time". God's time is different. We need to trust God; humble ourselves; stop worrying; throw our anxieties on God; and he will deliver us in "due time".

Good day and God bless us all! 🙏🏼🛐

Spiritual Spark 🔥

When Jesus looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, "Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?" (Jn 6:5).

I seriously wonder, where have all the miracle-working godmen and preachers of all the religions gone in these difficult times? Why did I remember them today? Because of the feeding of five thousand in today's gospel.

When thousands of people flock to these so-called miracle-working preachers, their primary concern is not to take care of the people's needs. They are instead more interested in receiving collections and donations from these people.

When Jesus saw the crowd, he felt compassion for them and he wanted to feed them. I think, compassion is the greatest miracle. It opens the doors of hearts and when the doors of hearts are opened, the doors of heaven also open! Let us try to be a little more compassionate today towards those who are in urgent need of our help!

Good day and God bless us all! 🙏🏼💝