BRINGING JESUS TO THE ‘UNDESIRABLE’! ~ CookingFood.Org

“HONEY FROM THE ROCK”

Saturday, 14^thJanuary 2017,

First Week in the Ordinary Time

Memorial of Blessed Devasahayam Pillai, Martyr

Heb 4: 12-16;

Ps 18: 8-10, 15;

Mk 2: 13-17

BRINGING JESUS TO THE ‘UNDESIRABLE’!

In the Gospel we see Jesus calling Levi, a tax collector, who was considered to be far from the Kingdom of God, to be his disciple. Levi understands the value of the call from the Lord and wants to celebrate it with his friends. He arranges a feast and calls his friends, so that even they may be called to enjoy the fellowship of the Lord and may not be excluded from His mercy and pardon.

We are so happy to point fingers at others. Jesus also was criticized for associating with sinners. The irony is that EVERYONE except Jesus Himself is a sinner. Jesus freely spent time with the “undesirables.” He was not afraid to be seen with those who were scorned by others. Jesus and His disciples welcomed these people. They ate and drank with tax collectors, sexual sinners, thieves and the like. More than that, they apparently welcomed these people without judgment.

Are you willing to be seen with and associate with those who are unpopular, dysfunctional, hurting, confused, and the like? Are you willing to let your reputation suffer because you love and care for those in need? Are you even willing to go so far as to befriend someone who will damage your social reputation? We are all called to experience that powerful message of Jesus who always goes in search of the lost and who calls everyone to enjoy the fellowship with him. Like Matthew and the disciples of Jesus, we are called to embrace all and welcome them to experience Jesus with us.

Prayer: Lord, You love all people with a deep and perfect love. You came, especially, for those whose lives were broken and sinful. Help me to always seek out those who are in need and to love all people with an unwavering and non-judgmental love. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen.

Saint of the Day:Devasahayam Pillai (1712-1752) born into a feudal Nair family, was an official in the service of King Marthanda Varma, the most powerful ruler of Travancore which encompassed southern Kerala and parts of Tamil Nadu. He was brought to Christianity by Dutch captain Eustacheus Benedictus De Lenoy, who was a war prisoner, later. He was christened as Lazar, but later came to be known as Devasahayam locally. Pillai's conversion was taken as an affront by the feudal lords of the day and they repeatedly persuaded him to give up his new faith. As Pillai stood firm, he was arrested and tortured for three years and finally taken to a remote place and shot dead on 14 January, 1752. On 2 December, 2012, He was beatified and declared a martyr in Nagercoil. Devasahayam Pillai is the first lay person to be elevated to the rank of "Blessed" in India.