SPRINGBOARDS and WALKING STICKS

 The traditional interpretation of the Our Father prayer (Matthew 6: 7-15) often focuses on its didactic elements, teaching us how to pray. However, reading it from the perspective of the prodigal son re-frames it as an active, unfolding prayer, echoing the very real and relatable experience of the prodigal son. "Our Father, let Thy home come" This rephrasing of "Thy kingdom come" is particularly potent in this context. Kingdom is an old usage; today when we have no kingdoms and king, it is more connecting to say ‘home’. For the prodigal son, "home" isn't just a physical place; it's the restoration of his relationship with his father, a return to belonging, security, and love. His journey is the embodiment of this prayer. He's not just wishing for the father's house to appear, but actively moving towards it, his desire for that restoration driving every step. The son actively got away from his father home, not actively makes a return. Simil...

 When Jesus taught his disciples to pray, he gave them more than words to recite. He offered a way of being in the world. The Lord's Prayer, or "Our Father" (Matthew 6: 7-15) is not merely a religious formula but a profound guide for how humans should live together on this earth. Within its simple phrases lie four essential truths about our existence: we are connected, we must care for others, we need reconciliation, and we require divine companionship. Connected: We Are All Children Coming Home The prayer begins with "Our Father," not "My Father." This single word—"our"—transforms everything. It declares that we share the same spiritual parentage, making us siblings in the deepest sense. We are not isolated individuals fighting for survival, but children of the same household, all journeying toward the same destination. When we pray "thy kingdom come," we echo the longing of the prodigal son gazing toward home. We are all prodigals...

 Things, unpleasant to offensive, happen around us, no one has a complete escape from it. Things unpleasant like, someone asking for financial help, or people expecting you to walk with them, be kind and compassionate to them all the time. Things offensive like, slapping you, defaming your name, etc. Though there may be many ways to deal with it, dealing with unpleasant and offensive happenings is never easy. While some lack even the capacity to respond to offences done against them, which in itself is regrettable and condemnable, those who respond take either of these three kinds of responses. Firstly, revenge, which is driven forward by subjective logic and rage. It causes lose of compassion, lose of objectivity, and sometimes even common sense; which can eventfully harm the one who does it. Secondly, justice, which is driven by objective logic and fair process. It follows a set of rigid rules of a social system. Thirdly, reconciliation, the scripture calls it as the justice of G...

 What truly moves us? What is the bedrock of human existence, the silent engine that propels us through joy and sorrow, triumph and despair? For generations, thinkers have wrestled with this question. Two giants of psychology, Sigmund Freud and Alfred Adler, offered powerful but differing answers. Yet, it was the harrowing experience of a third, Viktor Frankl, that unveiled a profound truth, simple in its essence, yet boundless in its implications. Freud saw humanity driven by the pursuit of pleasure. From our earliest cries to our most complex desires, he believed we are fundamentally seeking gratification, a release from discomfort. Life, in this view, is a continuous striving for satisfaction. His contemporary, Adler, offered a counter-narrative, arguing that the deepest human need is for power. We begin life feeling small and helpless, and our journey is a relentless quest for control, for significance, to escape the shadow of inferiority. Each theory, in its own way, provided ...

 Swearing is a crude habit, a sign of poor vocabulary, and an outlet for frustration. But more seriously it is violence against truth. Swearing is a forceful assertion designed to elevate one's own perspective to the status of undisputed, singular truth. When swearwords erupt, they frequently do so not as contributions to a dialogue, but as declarations intended to overwhelm, silence, and impose. Swearing often bypasses the realm of reasoned argument, serving instead as an emotional sledgehammer. In moments of intense feeling—anger, conviction, or absolute certainty—an individual's "truth" can feel immutable and universal. The use of swearwords then becomes a way to imbue this subjective truth with an almost physical weight, lending it an air of unquestionable authority. It's a linguistic shortcut, skipping the nuanced explanations and persuasive arguments in favour of a raw, immediate impact that demands attention and, ideally, compliance. The speaker, through th...

 Truth is a synonym for God; thus to be a follower of that God is to be truthful. Perhaps the best complement that we can receive is that she is truthful, he is truthful. As a follower of that God and as a part of a sane and civilised world we all like and wish to be truthful; but as life gets on we realise that one of the hardest thing on earth is to be truthful. Therefore we try to pretend to be truthful, to be authentic and genuine. And to claim our truthfulness and authenticity we argue, we say lies, we put forth false proofs, and as a last resort, we even swear. Jesus elsewhere has told us no to lie, not to give false witness and proofs, etc. here he explicitly tells us not to swear. Why does Jesus encourage and exhort his disciples not to swear? Because, we know a fact only with our limited knowledge; we are able to carry out an action only with our limited capacity. When we swear by God or anything of which God alone is the master the fact that we hold to be right is kept in...

 We exist in a constant tension between two profound fears: the fear of losing ourselves to change, and the deeper, more haunting fear of remaining forever trapped in our current circumstances. This paradox sits at the heart of human experience, where growth demands we risk the very identity we've worked so hard to construct. The fear of change operates on multiple levels. There's the surface fear of practical disruption—new routines, unfamiliar environments, altered relationships. But beneath this lies something more fundamental: the terror of losing coherence in our sense of self. We become attached not just to our circumstances, but to our understanding of who we are within those circumstances. Change threatens this narrative continuity, suggesting that the person we've been might not be the person we become. Yet paradoxically, the alternative—remaining static—often proves even more terrifying upon deeper reflection. Stagnation carries its own form of identity death, a s...

 The gospel scene given for the feast of St. Anthony of Padua is Jesus instructing the apostles before ascension, and what happened thereafter (Mark 16: 14-20). The eleven went forth, and preached everywhere. The lord continued to work with them. Preaching has been a continuous phenomenon in the Church: Peter, Paul, Augustine, Dominic, Anthony of Padua, Fulton J sheen, and list reaches people who stand among us—we have unbroken 2000 years of continuous preaching. If we do a little research into the history of Catholic preaching, and find out who were the best 10 catholic preachers of all time, we would definitely find the name, St. Anthony of Padua among the first ten. He is no small a man, it was not for fun he was called ‘hammer of heretics’. People were amazed at the comfort and confidence with which he preached that even the fishes listened to him. How does one get this courage and confidence to stand up and preach? Of course the Lord continues to work with people; butt what is...

 Imagine you're about to take a crucial exam, having studied diligently and feeling confident in your preparation. However, upon entering the examination hall, your memory vanishes. All you can do is scribble down a few lines, hoping they're correct. What good is a wise person who has lost their memory? A similar scenario unfolded for the people of Israel. Through their journey and their relationship with God, Yahweh, they had absorbed numerous values and virtues that formed the foundation of their moral and religious strength. Yahweh had given them great and life-giving laws, such as "Love your God above everything and love one another". Israel was once a profoundly wise civilisation, boasting well-ordered traditions, sound laws, and customs. It offered solutions to its societal problems and provided purpose and meaning for its members' lives. This wise civilisation was in its prime. However, this glorified civilisation, on a particular day, decided to lose its m...

 A profound journey of life begins with a deep truth: we are all called to make our world a more vibrant, "tasty," and "bright" place. This isn't just a suggestion; it's a sacred duty entrusted to every human being, for we are the caretakers of this beautiful creation. In the vast story of life, God gave us, humanity, countless gifts and resources. Our ancestors, through their struggles, shaped the raw elements of existence into something beautiful. Without a deeper meaning, life can feel bland, lacking its essential "salt." We are called to be the "salt of the earth" and the "light of the world," (Matthew 5: 13-16) to enrich human lives and show the true heart of meaningful connections. Think of a messenger: how useful is one who forgets the message they were sent to deliver? It’s a shame to the sender. As people moving through this world, we are all messengers, carrying a vital message within us. No matter who we are—our appea...

 The profound wisdom in "don't make an idol of anyone" invites us to rethink our relationship with revered figures and the past itself. It's a call to liberation, suggesting that true spiritual and personal growth comes from within and through a critical, dynamic engagement with knowledge, rather than blind worship or clinging to static memories. This idea is beautifully encapsulated by Buddha's radical instruction to his disciples: "when you go if you see Buddha take a knife and kill him". This isn't a literal command for violence, but a powerful metaphor urging us not to become enslaved by past teachings or the image of the teacher. It champions self-reliance, proclaiming, "You are your light. You are your direction giver". This is the hallmark of true religion and authentic living: finding your own path, guided by your inner wisdom, rather than endlessly following someone else's footsteps. We should "Take from Gandhi, take from ...

 St. Bonaventure stands as a beacon, illustrating a profound truth for all of us: our human duty is to strive for a better world, to make it more "tasty" and "bright". This noble calling demands a thoughtful blend of wisdom and goodness, ensuring our efforts truly uplift humanity. We often observe a disconnect in our world. There are those who possess great intelligence and vast information, yet tragically, they might use their knowledge to overpower or manipulate others. Conversely, we find deeply pious and holy individuals whose detachment from the world leaves them unaware of the suffering around them, comfortably embracing "ignorance is bliss". However, true and lasting impact emerges from those exceptional individuals who courageously embrace both learning and holiness. This balanced approach has been championed by great thinkers across history. Sri Narayana Guru, a revolutionary sage, envisioned a world where "wherever there is a temple to pray,...

 Finding favour with your kind is easy, and it is cheap grace. True blessing and transformative change often arise from engaging in a "wrestle" with "the other" – be it a challenging thought, a person different from oneself, or ultimately, God. Jacob's encounter (Genesis 32: 22–32) is a quintessential example of wrestling with the "ultimate other" – God. Alone in the night, Jacob physically struggles with a mysterious man until dawn. Despite realising his powerlessness, symbolised by the dislocation of his thigh, Jacob refuses to let go until he receives a blessing. His resolute demand, "I will not release you, except if you bless me," demonstrates a profound determination to extract a blessing from a challenging, divine encounter. This "wrestle" leaves Jacob physically marked, limping, but also spiritually transformed and blessed. The blessing comes not from passive acceptance, but from active, persistent engagement with the divine...

  The institution of the Eucharist heralded a faith community united in the remembrance of Jesus, which eventually became the Church . The final days of Jesus on Earth, his instructions to the apostles, and the Pentecost event marked the genesis of the Church, defining its presence and mission . Jesus entrusting Mary to John as his mother at the foot of the cross (John 19: 25-37) foreshadowed the reality of a new family—the Church . Mary is thus recognized as the Mother of the Church . As the first member of the Church, her obedience to God set the example for us to become the Church by doing God's will . Jesus' instruction to John to take Mary home as his mother highlights a crucial aspect of being the Church . The Church is about embracing others, bringing them into our home, and affirming their dignity . It is a welcoming house for all. Just as John took Mary into his home, every such house of John is the real Church Mother Teresa wisely observed, "The problem with the ...

 In the prophecy given to Mary by Simeon at the temple, it was foretold that "a sword shall pierce your heart too". This prophecy implied that another heart had already been pierced. Standing at the foot of the cross, witnessing Jesus' pierced body, it became clear to Mary that Jesus’ heart was the first to be pierced. The profound pain of torture and suffering pierced Mary's heart. Mother Mary endured many sorrowful experiences in her life, perhaps more than most of us. These included being an unwed mother, fleeing to Egypt, losing her child, her son's crucifixion, and finally, holding her son's lifeless body in her lap. The Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows doesn't simply highlight Mary's grief over tragic events. Instead, its central message is to show us how she navigated sorrow in her life. Firstly, Mary never allowed her circumstances to become an excuse for sin. In difficult times, people often make excuses, grumble, argue, curse, fight, or even reso...

 For millennia, human understanding was largely confined to binary oppositions. Life was good or bad, right or wrong, light or dark. This dualistic worldview, while offering a comforting simplicity, inevitably painted a distorted picture. It flattened the rich contours of reality, forcing every experience, every individual, every concept into one of two opposing camps. Such an oversimplification, while perhaps necessary for survival in simpler times, stifled intellectual and emotional growth. But something fundamental changed as we moved into the modern age. We began to see the world not as a collection of opposites, but as an endless spectrum of possibilities. This shift toward nuance represents one of humanity's greatest achievements. We no longer accept that complex realities can be reduced to simple categories. Instead, we have learned to embrace the beautiful complexity that surrounds us every day. Modernity has unveiled the magnificent spectrum that underlies all existence. W...

 Marriage brings together two individuals who have lived their own distinct lives, now choosing to begin a new journey together. A common question about any journey is: what holds more importance, the destination or the path itself? What do you think? James Norbury's illustrated book, "The Big Panda and the Tiny Dragon," offers a beautiful insight. When the big panda asks the wise, agile dragon this very question, the dragon wisely replies that neither is as important as the company along the way. Indeed, having a companion until life's end is a profound blessing. In the biblical tradition, humanity's first challenge was not a lack of food, shelter, or clothing; it was the ache of loneliness. After creating Adam, God observed that it was not good for man to be alone and promised to provide a companion. Giving a human being a spouse to walk alongside is God's divine response to loneliness. Therefore, the most fundamental beauty of marriage is the gift of having...