SPRINGS OF LIVING WATER

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TUESDAY, SIXTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

 

Feast of Mary Magdalene, Apostle to the Apostles

 

Sg 3:1-4 or  2 Cor 5:14-17               Ps 63:2-9           Jn 20:1-2,11-18

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MY HEART’S DESIRE IS YOU ALONE

The readings today focus on Mary Magdalene as a true disciple of Christ. One can identify the important elements of discipleship in her life: ardent seeking, pure motive, and devotion to the Lord’s Mother.

She did not abandon Jesus during His most shameful passion but remained with the beloved disciple John at the foot of the cross, standing with the afflicted Mother. Like John, she too welcomed Mary into her heart as her mother. Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, she went with the other women to the tomb – so focused on her search that she scarcely noticed the angels – seeking “Him whom her soul loves.” With the bride in the Song of Songs, she asks, “Have you seen him whom my soul loves?” The watchmen in the first reading can be likened to the angels who ask her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” And scarcely had they spoken when she finds Him – her Master, “Rabbouni” – becoming the first recorded witness to the greatest historical event, the Resurrection.

Therefore, she can declare with the bride: “I sought him whom my heart loves, and I found him whom my soul loves.” Love was both the object and motivation of her search. She sought the Lord for His own sake, not for consolation, benefit, or glory; though, she would receive all these, as the Lord said, “Seek first the kingdom of heaven and all will be added…” This contrasts with Judas, who followed Jesus for ambition’s sake. Here we face a choice: Seeking Christ for ambition may grant us earthly authority and power, while seeking Christ for love’s sake will certainly bring sufferings and trials in this life but everlasting joy in eternity.

Mary Magdalene helps us understand Mother Mary’s role in our personal lives. Devotion to Mary is not merely an individual preference but is absolutely necessary for our salvation, for she is the “Gate of Heaven” (Janua Caeli) through which the Bride (we, the Church) enters to meet the Bridegroom of our souls, Jesus Christ.

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Response: For you my soul is thirsting, O Lord, my God.

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MONDAY, SIXTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

 

Ex 14: 5-18                 Ex 15: 1-6                   Mt 12: 38-42

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JESUS, THE GREATEST SIGN!

It is human weakness to look for signs. Young lovers search for proof of their partner’s affection, and we sometimes seek signs to confirm Christ’s love for us. Yet today’s readings remind us we need no such signs to be assured of God’s love. In the wilderness, God provided countless signs through Moses – manna from heaven, water from rock, pillars of cloud and fire – yet the Israelites still doubted. They constantly complained and questioned, despite witnessing miracle after miracle. Even so, God remained patient, continuing to show His care through wonders. Jesus, however, takes a different approach with the scribes and Pharisees. He refuses their demand for signs because He recognizes their hardened hearts seek only to test Him, not to believe.

As disciples of Christ, we are called to radical faith; i.e., to trust in His mercy without requiring signs. Jesus Himself is God’s greatest sign to us. His real presence in the Eucharist stands as the ultimate proof of His love and constant companionship, more powerful than any fleeting wonder. This sacred mystery sustains our hope through life’s storms and anchors our faith in divine providence. Even when we wander through life’s wildernesses, through valleys of doubt and deserts of despair, Christ remains Emmanuel, “God with us,” fulfilling His promise to never abandon His flock until the end of time.

No hardship or heartache can separate us from Jesus’ guiding presence. Like Moses leading Israel through unknown terrain, Christ goes before us to smooth rough paths and clear the way ahead. His shepherd’s staff gently corrects and directs our steps, for He knows every turn of our journey and every burden we carry. The same God who parted the Red Sea makes a way where there seems to be none. What greater assurance could we need than the Word made flesh dwelling among us? In His crucified and risen body, we find the ultimate sign of God’s faithful love – a love that leads us safely home.

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Response: I will sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously.

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Copyright ©2025 ©Springs of Living Water  http://springs.carmelmedia.in

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SUNDAY, SIXTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

 

Gn 18: 1-10                Ps 15: 2-5                   Col 1: 24-28               Lk 10: 38-42

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LIFT YOUR EYES

The first reading begins with Abraham at the entrance of his tent during the heat of the day – a detail rich with symbolic meaning. The tent’s entrance represents the place where the human and the divine meet, while the scorching midday sun suggests both physical exhaustion and spiritual dryness. Yet, instead of withdrawing into the comfort of shade, Abraham “lifts his eyes” and notices three mysterious figures standing nearby. Abraham does not hesitate; he runs to greet them. His eagerness is matched by profound humility as he bows to the ground, recognizing the sacred dignity of his visitors. He then offers them water to wash their feet, rest beneath the tree, and a lavish meal prepared with the finest flour and a tender calf. His hospitality reflects a heart attuned to the presence of the divine in the ordinary. The early Church Fathers saw in these three visitors a foreshadowing of the Trinity. In a more contemporary sense, this scene echoes Christ’s words in the Gospel of Matthew: “Whatever you did for the least of these, you did for me.” Abraham’s reward – the promise of a son in his old age – demonstrates that divine hospitality bears fruit beyond human expectation. When we welcome the stranger, we may unknowingly entertain angels, or even God Himself. The challenge for us today is whether we possess Abraham’s attentiveness to the “strangers” in our midst especially those on the margins of society. In a culture that prioritizes efficiency and productivity over presence and receptivity, can we recover the sacred patience to pause, to see, and to welcome? True charity is not merely about providing physical comfort but about recognizing and honouring the divine image in every person we encounter.

In the second reading, Paul declares: “I complete what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions.” This does not mean that Christ’s sacrifice was insufficient; rather, Christ’s redemptive work is perfect and complete. Yet the Church is called to participate in His suffering, extending its redemptive power through time and space. Even in imprisonment, Paul does not lament his fate but sees his pain as a means of communion with Christ. This passage invites us to reconsider our own sufferings. Do we resent them, or can we, like Paul, perceive them as participation in Christ’s redemptive work? The Christian vocation does not promise exemption from suffering but offers a way to sanctify it. When we unite our pains to Christ’s Passion, they become more than burdens; they become altars where God is encountered in profound intimacy.

The Gospel of Luke presents two sisters with different approaches to divine encounter. Martha is consumed with preparations, her hands busy with service, while Mary sits at Jesus’ feet, absorbed in His words. Jesus does not condemn Martha’s labour – Abraham, too, worked diligently to prepare a meal for his guests. Rather, He observes that she is “anxious.” The Greek word merimnaō suggests a heart divided, pulled in multiple directions. Mary, in contrast, has chosen the “better part”; love must first be received before it can be poured out in service. Before we can serve God, we must allow Him to serve us, to nourish us with His presence. Mary’s posture at Jesus’ feet reveals that the greatest act of charity is sometimes silence, listening, and receptivity. In our busy lives, we often prioritize ‘doing for God’ over ‘being with God’. Yet, without moments of stillness, our service risks becoming frantic and joyless. How might our days change if we carved out even ten minutes of silent prayer – a “Mary moment” amidst our “Martha tasks”? Contemplation is not an escape from responsibility but the soul’s necessary orientation toward its Source. Only when we have first sat at the feet of Christ can we rise to serve with hearts full of His peace.

Rublev’s famous icon of the Trinity depicts the three angels at Abraham’s table with an open space at the front; this is an invitation for the viewer to complete the circle. In the Eucharist, we find the most tangible manifestation of this invitation. Here, God hosts us at His own table, offering not just bread and wine but His very self. As we receive Him, we are sent forth to become living icons of His love until all the world becomes a place of divine encounter.

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Response: O Lord, who may abide in your tent?

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Copyright ©2025 ©Springs of Living Water  http://springs.carmelmedia.in

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SATURDAY, FIFTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

 

Ex 12: 37-42               Ps 136: 1,23-24,10-15                                    Mt 12: 14-21

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THE KINGDOM OF MUTUAL ENCOURAGEMENT

 

Today’s gospel passage follows two significant incidents that reveal the growing tension between Jesus and the religious authorities. The first was yesterday’s account of the disciples plucking ears of grain to eat as they walked through the fields. The second, occurring immediately before today’s passage, showed Jesus performing a miraculous healing of the man with a withered hand. Both events took place on the Sabbath, but what truly angered the Pharisees wasn’t primarily the alleged Sabbath violations, it was the way large crowds, including many devout Jews, enthusiastically followed Jesus. Threatened by His growing influence, they feared losing their social standing, religious authority, and popular respect. This explains the ominous opening line of our passage: “The Pharisees went out and took counsel against Jesus, how to destroy him.”

 

We witness similar motives throughout Scripture. Herod, driven by political convenience rather than justice, ordered John the Baptist’s execution to please Herodias and her daughter. Later, the same Herod would sacrifice justice again by yielding to pressure to crucify Jesus. What is remarkable is Jesus’ response to these threats; He never reacted in anger or fear, but maintained perfect composure, withdrawing when necessary according to the Father’s timing.

 

This passage holds up a mirror to our own hearts. How often do we, like the Pharisees, feel threatened when others succeed? When a colleague receives praise or a friend excels, do we celebrate, or secretly resent? Our legal systems overflow with cases prolonged by false testimony, while families suffer from needless conflicts rooted in envy. The damage is immeasurable – ruined reputations, broken relationships, and wounded souls. Jesus offers us a better way. First, He models how to face opposition with peaceful confidence, trusting in God’s timing rather than taking matters into our own hands. Second, He calls us to radical generosity of spirit – to genuinely rejoice in others’ blessings and actively support their growth. While the world operates on competition and comparison, Christ’s kingdom flourishes through mutual encouragement; it is this kingdom that we must work towards establishing.

 

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Response: For his mercy endures forever.

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Copyright ©2025 ©Springs of Living Water  http://springs.carmelmedia.in

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FRIDAY, FIFTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

 

Ex 11:10–12:14                     Ps 116: 12-13,15-18               Mt 12: 1-8

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MERCY RECEIVED, MERCY GIVEN

 

In the first reading, we witness the culmination of God’s efforts to free the Israelites from Egyptian bondage. Despite the wonders performed by Moses and Aaron, Pharaoh’s heart remains hardened. God then brings the final plague: the death of the firstborn. To protect themselves, the Israelites are instructed to sacrifice a lamb and mark their doorposts with its blood, a sign for the Lord to “pass over” their homes. This event marks the institution of Passover, a commemoration of God’s deliverance and a perpetual ordinance for future generations. We are reminded here of God’s ultimate power over earthly rulers and His unwavering commitment to His people. The Passover becomes a symbol of redemption and a reminder of God’s merciful love for His people. The blood of the lamb foreshadows the ultimate sacrifice of Christ, who would become the Lamb of God, offering salvation to all.

 

In the Gospel, Jesus and His disciples are walking through a grainfield on the Sabbath, and the hungry disciples begin to pluck and eat the grain. The Pharisees accuse them of breaking the Sabbath law. Jesus defends His disciples by referencing David’s actions when he and his companions were hungry, as well as the priests’ work in the temple on the Sabbath. He declares, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice,” and asserts that “the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.” This passage challenges the rigid interpretation of religious law and emphasizes the importance of mercy and compassion. Jesus reinterprets the Sabbath law, asserting His authority over it and prioritizing human need over strict adherence to ritual. He is Lord of the Sabbath.

 

Today, we are urged to consider the nature of divine power and the evolving understanding of God’s law. The Exodus narrative demonstrates God’s mercy in liberating His people from physical bondage. Do we recognize the saving work of divine mercy in our lives? Jesus’ actions challenge us to move beyond legalistic interpretations of religious practice and to embrace the spirit of mercy and compassion. Does mercy shine through our attitudes and actions?

 

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Response: The cup of salvation I will raise; I will call on the name of the Lord.

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Copyright ©2025 ©Springs of Living Water  http://springs.carmelmedia.in

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THURSDAY, FIFTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

 

Ex 3:13-20                  Ps 105:1,5,8-9,24-27              Mt 11:28-30

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A CALL TO TRUST

 

The Invitation to the Weary: Jesus addresses all who are exhausted – physically, emotionally, or spiritually, offering divine rest.

• St. Augustine beautifully reflects: “Our hearts are restless until they rest in You.”
• The Church (CCC 459) teaches that the Son of God became man so that we might share in His divine life, lifting our burdens through grace.

 

The Yoke of Christ: A yoke was used to for ploughing, symbolizing submission and shared labour. Jesus does not promise a life without challenges, but assures us that walking with Him makes burdens bearable.

• St. Thérèse of Lisieux lived this truth in her “Little Way,” trusting that even in small, humble acts, Christ’s yoke is light when we rely on His strength.
• The Church (CCC 1618) reminds us that following Christ requires surrender, but His commandments are not heavy for those who love Him.

 

Learning from His Meekness and Humility: Pride weighs us down; humility opens us to grace.

• St. Francis de Sales wrote, “Nothing is so strong as gentleness, nothing so gentle as real strength.” True discipleship means imitating Christ’s gentle authority.
• Pope Francis frequently emphasized mercy and humility, urging us to trust God than worldly power.

 

The Promise of Rest: The “rest” Jesus offers is both a foretaste of heaven and a present reality for those who abide in Him through prayer and the sacraments.

• St. John Vianney always encouraged to seek refuge in the Eucharist, where Christ renews our strength.
• Vatican II (GS 22) teaches that Christ fully reveals man to himself, showing that our deepest peace comes from communion with God.

 

Let us take up His yoke daily knowing that in Him, even our heaviest crosses become light.

 

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Response: The Lord remembers his covenant forever.

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Copyright ©2025 ©Springs of Living Water  http://springs.carmelmedia.in

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WEDNESDAY, FIFTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

 

Memorial of Our Lady of Mount Carmel

 

Ex 3: 1-6, 9-12                       Ps 103: 1-4,6-7                       Mt 11: 25-27

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BLESSED ARE THE LITTLE ONES!

When Moses stood before the burning bush, he was a fugitive, an exile, an ordinary shepherd tending his sheep. Yet God called him to lead His people. Moses, overwhelmed by his own insignificance, asked, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh?” God’s answer was a simple reassurance: “I will be with you.” This is God’s way; He chooses the little ones, the simple, the anawim! Jesus confirms this in the Gospel: “I thank you, Father, for hiding these things from the wise and learned and revealing them to little children.” It is not the self-sufficient but the humble who truly see God. The proud build fortresses around their hearts, but the little ones, those who know their need for God, receive Him with open hands.

The greatest of these little ones is none other than our Blessed Mother, whom we honour today as Our Lady of Mount Carmel. She was a quiet, hidden soul in a forgotten village, yet she was chosen to bear the Saviour of the world. She professed her Fiat, her ‘yes’ to God without calculation or hesitation. Her greatness lay in her simplicity and her total surrender. The Order of Carmel teaches us to follow her way: to live a life hidden in God, where faith is not about grand displays but quiet trust, deep prayer, and total surrender. In St. Thérèse’s of Lisieux, we have another soul who embraced this path of littleness. Thérèse longed to be great, but instead of seeking power or fame, she chose the Little Way – to trust in God like a child trusts its father.

There are times when we feel too weak, too ordinary, too unworthy! Those are precisely the moments that reveal God’s choice of us! He does not seek the strongest or the most capable; He seeks hearts that trust. Like Moses, like Mary, like Thérèse, let us embrace our littleness, surrender to God’s plan, and trust that He can work wonders through us.

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Response: The Lord is compassionate and gracious.

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Copyright ©2025 ©Springs of Living Water  http://springs.carmelmedia.in

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TUESDAY, FIFTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

 

Memorial of Saint Bonaventure, Bishop & Doctor

 

Ex 2:1-15                    Ps 69:3, 14, 30-31, 33-34                   Mt 11: 20-24

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MERCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY INTERTWINED

The first reading highlights God’s providential care in the midst of suffering. We encounter the story of Moses’ birth and early life. Born into a time of oppression, his life is spared through the courage of his mother and sister, and the compassion of Pharaoh’s daughter. He is raised in the Egyptian court, yet remains connected to his Hebrew roots. Witnessing the suffering of his people, Moses takes action, killing an Egyptian who was beating a Hebrew slave. This act, though driven by a sense of justice, forces him to flee Egypt and begin a new life in Midian. The deliverance of Moses from death foreshadows the greater deliverance he will later bring to the Israelites. His act of violence, however, reveals the complexities of human action and the need for divine guidance. Eventually, the life of Moses, who led the Israelites out of slavery, becomes a kind of prophecy of the Messiah, who would save people from the slavery of sin.

The gospel passage highlights the responsibility that comes with witnessing God’s power. Jesus rebukes the cities of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum for their lack of repentance despite witnessing His mighty works. He declares that if the miracles performed in these cities had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago. Jesus warns that these cities will face a more severe judgment than Sodom on the day of reckoning. They will be held accountable for their unbelief. Jesus’ words serve as a warning against complacency and a call to respond to God’s grace with humility and repentance.

Thus, the liturgy invites us today to consider the interplay between divine action and human response. The story of Moses demonstrates God’s power to deliver His people from oppression. Jesus, however, highlights the consequences of refusing God’s gift of deliverance accepted by striving towards a transformation of life. May we seek to recognize God’s hand in our lives and to respond with faith and obedience, lest we face a judgment more severe than that of Sodom.

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Response: You who are poor, seek God and your heart will revive.

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Copyright ©2025 ©Springs of Living Water  http://springs.carmelmedia.in

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MONDAY, FIFTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

 

Ex 1:8-14, 22              Ps 124:1-8                  Mt 10:34–11:1

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FEAR CANNOT STOP DESTINY

 

When people in power become unsettled by the strength or growth of others, their instinct is often to control rather than to understand. Pharaoh sees the growing nation of Israel within his borders not as allies, not as contributors, but as a danger. This fear leads to a strategy rooted not in justice but in oppression. Heavy burdens are placed upon the people. They are worked to exhaustion. Life becomes a daily grind of survival. The motive is to break their spirit, to weaken them from within. But something unexpected happens: The more pressure is applied, the more the people endure. The more they are pushed down, the more they rise.

 

This reveals something powerful about how God operates in the midst of suffering. Human plans may be rooted in fear, but God’s plan is rooted in faithfulness. What was meant to destroy His people becomes the soil for their growth. Even when circumstances seem bleak, there is a divine strength that sustains. Pharaoh does not stop there; his cruelty escalates. A command goes out to destroy the future of a people before it can take its first breath. It is a heartbreaking moment, a reminder of how far fear will go when left unchecked. Yet even here, hope is not lost. What was intended for death becomes the place from which deliverance will rise.

 

There are still powers in the world that act out of fear, that try to suppress what they do not understand. There are still moments when life feels like nothing more than hard labour under a harsh sun. But the same truth remains: God is not idle in our pain. He is never far from the cries of His people. When life presses hard against us, when the future seems uncertain, we must remember that our God is at work behind the scenes. Out of suffering, He brings strength. Out of fear, He draws faith. And when the time is right, deliverance comes, not from power but from promise.

 

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Response: Our help is in the name of the Lord.

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Copyright ©2025 ©Springs of Living Water  http://springs.carmelmedia.in

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SUNDAY, FIFTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

 

Dt 30: 10-14               Ps 69               Col 1: 15-20               Lk 10: 25-37

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THE GOLDEN RULE

 

In his first letter, John says: “If someone says, ‘I love God,’ but hates his brother, he is a liar; for whoever does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen” (1 John 4:20). This highlights a central tenet of Christian faith: love for God is inseparable from love for others. On the eve of His crucifixion, Jesus reinforced this truth with a new commandment to His disciples: “Love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:12). This call to love is a divine mandate, rooted in the sacrificial love Christ modelled on the cross.

 

The Golden Rule, articulated in today’s Gospel as “Love your neighbour as yourself,” is a principle that resonates far beyond Christianity. It is a universal ethic, found in some form in every major religion and culture, reflecting a shared human aspiration for compassion and mutual respect. Consider the following expressions of this principle across traditions:

 

• Judaism: “What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow man. That is the law; all the rest is commentary” (Hillel, Talmud, Shabbat 31a).
• Islam: “No one of you is a believer until he desires for his brother what he desires for himself” (Hadith, Sahih al Bukhari).
• Hinduism: “This is the sum of duty: do nothing to others that would cause you pain if done to you” (Mahabharata 5:1517).
• Buddhism: “Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful” (Udana-Varga 5:18).
• Confucianism: “Do not do to others what you would not have them do to you” (Analects 15:24).

 

While the wording varies, the essence of the Golden Rule remains consistent: treat others with the same dignity, care, and respect you seek for yourself. Yet, its application depends on how one understands the word “neighbour.” Jesus responds to the lawyer’s question with the parable of the Good Samaritan. Jesus’ choice of a Samaritan as the hero is deliberate, shattering the cultural and religious boundaries that defined “neighbour” in His time. Definitions of “neighbour” varied widely then, as they do now:

 

• Essenes of Qumran: Neighbours were only those who shared their strict religious beliefs, excluding outsiders.
• Zealots: Neighbours were limited to those of the same nationality and ethnicity, bound by tribal loyalty.
• Average Jew: Neighbours included fellow Jews in good standing; Samaritans and other outcasts were excluded.

 

For Jesus, the definition is radically inclusive: a neighbour is anyone in need, regardless of race, religion, or status—or anyone who steps forward to help those in distress. The Samaritan’s actions embody mercy, transcending prejudice and fear to meet the immediate need before him.

 

Jesus is the ultimate Good Samaritan, with humanity as the wounded victim lying by the roadside of sin and suffering. Through His life, death, and resurrection, Christ binds our wounds, restores our dignity, and offers us salvation. Yet, He also calls each of us to emulate the Good Samaritan. At any moment, God may place us in a “Good Samaritan situation” – a beggar at our gate, a stranger at our car window, a colleague in distress, or a family member in need. Living as a Good Samaritan is not always convenient or comfortable. It may require us to step out of our routines, confront our biases, or sacrifice our resources. Yet, it is in these acts of self-giving love that we most closely resemble Christ. The parable invites us to see every person as an opportunity to reflect God’s love. In a world wounded by division and indifference, the call to be a Good Samaritan is more urgent than ever. Let us heed the Lord’s command to “go and do likewise,” trusting that through our love for our neighbours, we draw closer to the heart of God.

 

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Response: You who are poor, seek God, and your hearts will revive.

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