THIRD WEEK OF LENT .......... THURSDAY

RANDOM REFLECTIONS

THIRD WEEK OF LENT ........ THURSDAY

LUKE 11:14-23....HE WHO IS NOT WITH ME IS AGAINST ME

This dumb, deaf, blind, and demon-possessed man represents all the children of Adam, who through the flesh are possessed of Satan in original sin, so that they must be his slaves and do according to his will. Hence they are also blind, that is, they do not see God. They are deaf, for they do not hear God's Word, and are not obedient or submissive to it. They are also dumb, for they do not give him one word of thanks or praise, nor do they preach and proclaim Christ and the grace of God. Jesus sets  free such prisoners of the devil by his divine power. Instead of rejoicing he is slandered as though he was in league with the devil.Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil and hence those who do not engage themselves in the mission of Jesus are considered to be against him. Spiritual blindness is more terrifying than physical blindness. Let us free ourselves from every type of spiritual blindness and deformity by regularly reading the Word of God.

  "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." Psalm 119:105. 

God Bless

THIRD WEEK OF LENT ............. WEDNESDAY

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THIRD WEEK OF LENT .......... WEDNESDAY

MATHEW 5:17-19  ...  THE MAN WHO KEEPS THESE COMMANDMENTS AND TEACHES THEM WILL BE CONSIDERED GREAT IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN

The Message Bible reads .... " Don't suppose for a minute that I have come to demolish the Scriptures --- either God's Law or the Prophets. I am going to put it all together, pull it all together in a vast panorama... Trivialize even the smallest item in God's Law and you will only have trivialized yourself. But take it seriously, show the way for others, and you will find honor in the kingdom. Unless you do better than the Pharisees in the matters of right living, you won't know the first thing about entering the kingdom."   Let us pray more that we may introspect and repent, fast sincerely that we may control our passions, and give alms generously to help others.

God Bless

THIRD WEEK OF LENT ........ TUESDAY

RANDOM REFLECTIONS

THIRD WEEK OF LENT .......... TUESDAY

MATHEW 18:21-35...... YOUR FATHER WILL NOT FORGIVE YOU UNLESS YOU EACH FORGIVE YOUR BROTHER FORM YOUR HEART

God's generosity knows no bounds. He not only forgave us of our sins through the sacrifice of his Son but also admits us into his presence in heaven.We are sinful puny creatures like the dirt of the field and yet God who is eternally holy and almighty forgives us each time we turn to him. God reaches out to us despite this unbridgeable difference because of his infinite love. Jesus wants us to be like his Father, " Be holy as I am Holy " Lev. 11:44 and " Be perfect as my Father is perfect " Math. 5:48. and in Luke 17:4 " And even if he sins against you seven times in a day, and turns to you seven times and says, 'I repent ' (I am sorry), you must forgive him (give up resentment and consider the offence as recalled and annulled)"

The number "seventy seven" or seventy times seven is a very precise number. That is, this number is found only one other time in the Bible and it is in Genesis 4:24 and the story of Cain, the murderer, and Lamech. Cain gets revenge seven times and Lamech gets revenge "seventy-seven times, or seventy times seven."  How often am I to revenge my brother for murder? "Seventy-seven times." After the fall of Adam and Eve, the world had become a violent and murderous place. The story of Lamech symbolizes the cycle of hate, revenge and murder. And Jesus breaks that cycle of hate and revenge. How many times shall I revenge my brother with one more murder? Seventy-seven times? Jesus teaches that we are not to seek revenge, but to forgive our brother and sister seventy-seven times. Matthew 18:22 reverses Genesis 4:24.

In Luke 23:34 Jesus prayed " Father, forgive them;  they don't know what they're doing "

This kind of a forgiving attitude is not possible in the natural realm ; it is possible only by the power of God. Therefore like the disciples in Luke 17:5 let us pray " Lord , increase our faith. " and seek God's power and grace.

Correction

It should be Third Week of Lent ........ Monday and not Third Sunday of Lent ..... Monday

Sorry and thank you,

Bakianathan

THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT ......... MONDAY

RANDOM REFLECTIONS

THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT ....... MONDAY

LUKE 4:24-30 ......... 

When Jesus declared himself to be the  'Anointed One', 'The Messiah' as stated in Isaiah 61:1-2  to his fellow villagers in the synagogue, they were terribly outraged and tried to kill him. Jesus did not take offence but silently left the place for he was aware that according to human nature ,a prophet is not welcome in his own home or town.Familiarity breeds contempt and weakens faith. A receptive mind and nondiscriminatory attitude is essential for development of fervent faith and belief. The message is important and not the personal details of the messenger.Jesus was rejected because of jealousy that he being only a carpenter's son  should possess so much talent and ambition. Jesus begins to shoulder the cross of prejudice and rejection by his own people, something we are also familiar with. Let us ask God to give us the strength to forgive and carry on.

God Bless    

THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT

RANDOM REFLECTIONS

THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT

JOHN 4:5-42 ......   A SPRING OF WATER, WELLING UP TO ETERNAL LIFE.

God has placed a burning spiritual desire in each human heart. The things of this world or persons cannot satisfy this deep thirst within us. For most of us, this divine spark lay smoldering under layers of sin, guilt, fear, worldly passions and attachments. But God in his love, frees us from this captivity by the gift of repentance and we experience a new spiritual rebirth by the power of the Holy Spirit. Then the spiritual spark bursts into a bright flame and our hearts intensely yearns for the love of God.  Hence St. Augustine of Hippo cries out   "Our hearts were made for You, O Lord, and they are restless until they rest in you."

"To fall in love with God is the greatest romance; to seek him the greatest adventure; to find him, the greatest human achievement." 

What the Samaritan woman could never find elsewhere, either in the things of the world or from a series of failed relationships with men, she could at-last find when she meets our Lord and believes in him as the Messiah and God. Her unquenchable thirst was abundantly satisfied when Jesus graciously pours into her parched heart the "Living Waters" of the Holy Spirit - after she truthfully admits her sin. She promptly leaves behind the pot at the well and her old miserable sinful life to make a  bold and joyful beginning of sharing her faith and announcing the good news to her fellow townsfolk.  In this incident in John's Gospel Jesus for the first time openly declares and manifests himself as God and Saviour to the unnamed and despised Samaritan woman and the Samaritan townsfolk. Hence the gentiles are the first to clearly know that Jesus is truly God.Jesus tells the woman  that, as God he should be worshiped in spirit and not according to the customs of the Jews or the Samaritans.  And this special woman becomes Jesus'  first evangelist. In this lenten season let us pray that the love of God copiously fill our hearts to overflowing so that we can share this immense joy and love with others through word and example.

God Bless.

SECOND WEEK OF LENT .......... SATURDAY

RANDOM REFLECTIONS

SECOND WEEK OF LENT ........  SATURDAY

LUKE 15:1-3, 11-32       YOUR BROTHER HERE WAS DEAD AND HAS COME TO LIFE.

The restoration of the lost coin and the lost sheep to the joyful owners describes the initiatives taken by a merciful and forgiving God to seek and to save lost souls. 

There is little to choose between the characters of the two sons. The younger son driven by unrestrained  fleshly passions chooses to shamelessly demand his share of the property in the father's life time itself , so that he can  waste it in loose living. He was openly rebellious, had no affection for his father or brother and was immoral. But forced by hard and humiliating circumstances it was easier for him to repent and return to a jubilant and forgiving father. The elder son is intensely unhappy about the turn of events, complains against the father and disobeys him.He displays a mean spirit, hardness of heart, self-righteousness and lack of love for his family.Even when the father allays the hidden fears of his elder son about the double share of his property (the father assures him that "all I have is yours")  and that he is enjoying the loving closeness with him and invites him into the house to look after the guests and join the celebrations, he stubbornly refuses blinded by hate and resentment. The elder brother chose to refuse the love of his father and companionship of his brother out of bitterness, jealousy and an unforgiving and judgmental attitude. We also find it very difficult to overcome such sinful attitudes in ourselves. Likewise the Pharisees and the scribes together with the religious establishment never came to repentance and finally had Jesus, a forgiving Saviour nailed to the cross. Let us submit and surrender our lives to Jesus who came to root out evil from our hearts. 'What does God require of you, but to do justice, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.' Micah 6:8  Our judgmental nature should be replaced by virtues of tolerance, fairness and compassion. These sins of the heart are more subtle and very difficult to conquer than the gross sins of the flesh. Jesus seems to have been more comfortable in the company of those who sinned more often in the flesh than in the company of the hypocritical and hard hearted religious minded.

         " The heart is hopelessly dark and deceitful,

             a puzzle that no one can figure out.

          But I, God, search the heart,

             and examine the mind.

          I get to the heart of the human.

             I get to the root of things.

          I treat them as they really are,

             not as they pretend to be. "  Jeremiah 17:9

God Bless.

SECOND WEEK OF LENT ......... FRIDAY

RANDOM REFLECTIONS

SECOND WEEK OF LENT ........ FRIDAY 

MATHEW 21:33-46   THIS IS THE HEIR. COME ON, LET US KILL HIM.

In those days usually the landlords oppressed and squeezed the poor tenants. They were hard taskmasters. But this landlord who is an image of our loving God appears to be overly kind and extremely indulgent with his wicked tenants. The landlord  is absurdly patient and gives those tenants a very long rope. Finally he takes the foolish risk of sending his son and heir to collect the dues and the innocent son is pitilessly murdered by those rascals.. The heartless tenants took advantage of the goodness of the landlord but were also foolish enough to think that they would inherit the property on the death of the heir. Their minds were so clouded by greed and covetousness  that they became exceedingly wicked and lacked all fear of punishment. The same worldliness and covetousness clouded the minds of the Apostles who could not understand in Mathew 20:17-28 why Christ should suffer and die and rise on the third day. These tenants were the image of the religious establishment of those times and the innocent son was Christ Jesus himself. The wicked thrive because God is very, very patient and loves the sinner and wants him to repent and  be saved. But when God's patience is fully exhausted and the sinner does not repent a most terrible punishment awaits him. Nobody can fault God for his kindness and mercy even towards worst sinners. Roman's 5:10 says " For if we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, it is much more  (certain) , now that we are reconciled, that we shall be saved (daily delivered from sin's dominion) through His  (resurrection) life. "

Let us imagine ourselves in the place of the wicked tenants and be reconciled to God before it is too late. Let our lives produce only good fruits for the Lord.

"He rescued us                                    

from the power of darkness
and brought us
into the kingdom of his beloved Son.
Through him we have redemption,
the forgiveness of our sins."               Col.1:13-14

God Bless

SECOND WEEK OF LENT ....... THURSDAY

RANDOM REFLECTIONS

SECOND WEEK OF LENT............ THURSDAY

LUKE 16:19-31........ GOOD THINGS CAME YOUR WAY, JUST AS BAD THINGS CAME THE WAY OF LAZARUS. NOW HE IS BEING COMFORTED HERE WHILE YOU ARE IN AGONY.

It so happened that the rich man Dives was born rich and the poor man Lazarus was born in poverty. It was plain misfortune for Lazarus and plenty of good fortune for Dives and so it was all the more necessary for Dives to care for and look after Lazarus a brother in extreme need at his door step. And we read that Lazarus shared the few scraps of bread with the hungry dogs and they used to lick his sores in gratefulness. Since Dives did not show mercy to the needy , mercy was shut off from him when he was roasting in hell fire. On the other hand he wanted his five blood brothers to reform but for the wrong reason .......that is in order to avoid punishment in hell. He thought, may be a warning from a dead person would shock them into repentance. Moses replies that true repentance comes through grace and faith in God and from the Scriptures.Repentance should come out of a sense of deep guilt and remorse for having offended a loving God. David cries out in Psalm 51:4  - 

                             " You're the One I've violated, and you've seen it all,

                                 seen the full extent of my evil.

                               You have all the facts before you,

                                 whatever you decide about me is fair."

God blesses us in order to be a blessing to others. Let us pray for the gift of a generous heart and a kind nature inclined to goodwill towards others. Let us pray for the grace of true repentance  coming out of a humble and contrite heart.

God Bless. 

SECOND WEEK OF LENT ...... WEDNESDAY

RANDOM REFLECTIONS

SECOND WEEK OF LENT ......... WEDNESDAY

MATHEW 20:17-28 .......THEY WILL CONDEMN HIM TO DEATH

Jesus indeed was the Messiah but was not speaking about establishing an earthly kingdom. He spoke about the kingdom of God that would hold sway over the lives and hearts of all those who believed in him as redeemer and God. On his Second coming he will come as a victorious king to rule the earth. The values of the kingdom of God were at variance with the values of an earthly kingdom.Even those who are spiritually inclined nurse secret ambitions to become famous and popular as star rated TV Evangelists or miracle workers. At the other end we may aspire to become popular and gain recognition for whatever gifts God has given us. Or we may jockey for positions of power by hook or by crook in our work place. Our aim should be to serve only and popularity or fame may come or may not come. Anything that carries the taint of self-glory or self-promotion in our home or office comes from pride and is not in keeping with a servant attitude. We should posses the humble and self-effacing attitude of John the Baptist when He said concerning Jesus in John 3:30 "He must increase in importance, while I must decrease in importance" Let us esteem all others as better than us in the eyes of God.

God Bless

SECOND WEEK OF LENT .............. TUESDAY

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SECOND WEEK OF LENT ............ TUESDAY

MATHEW 23:1-12      THEY DO NOT PRACTISE WHAT THEY PREACH.

We have to respect the Church authorities  and obey what they preach  about the Word of God and Christian principles. But on seeing some of them who do not practise what they preach we should not get impatient or cynical and wayward in our own lives. We should always remember that we are ultimately obeying Jesus the Word of God who became flesh for our sakes and was cruelly killed on the cross to save us from our sins. The love of God should be our sole motivation for our lenten practices. In this we shall have to question ourselves whether we are being guided by the will of God properly discerned in the light of the Bible and our own prayer life and what others spiritually mature have to say about it. Sincerity, humility and love are the watch words. Mixed motives should be avoided. Actions arising from love of self and love of the world should be spurned, just as Jesus did when he was tempted in the desert. Also in Mark 1:35-39 Jesus after an early morning conversation with his Father refuses to oblige Peter or the admiring crowds but moves on to other towns in obedience to the will of God as discerned in prayer and his God given mission.

The more closer to God we come in prayer and devotion, the grace of God supervenes  and the world and love of self, gradually tend to lose their attraction. When we truly humble ourselves we do not bother whether God exalts us or not. Likewise when we do good to others we do not bother whether people are grateful or not. It is closeness to God that really matters.

God Bless.

SECOND WEEK OF LENT ......... MONDAY

RANDOM REFLECTIONS

SECOND WEEK OF LENT ....... MONDAY

LUKE 6:36-38  Be compassionate as your Father is compassionate....

Why is it so difficult to love our neighbors in the same generous way God loves us. The Gospel requires us to extend ourselves and help others in a sacrificial manner. Some instead of helping,  positively hurt others.Some do not help others at all even if it is within their reach. Some are prepared to help others provided it does'nt hurt them, if it does'nt inconvenience them, if it does'nt cost them, if it does'nt pain them. The Lord gives the example of the compassionate Good Samaritan a non-believer who goes out of the way to help a badly wounded Jew. The Jews despised the Samaritans and so the Samaritans have good enough reason to hate the Jews but still the Samaritan took good care of the Jew. Even in today's society we find many such exceptional non-believers who are like the Good Samaritan and many more Christians who are like the heartless person in Luke 16:19-31 ( the  parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus ). We as Christians are supposed to have been richly endowed with grace and strength by the Risen Christ and the Holy Spirit to be like the Good Samaritan. Why are we not like 'the salt of the earth' or like a 'light on a hill' ? During this Lenten season let us sincerely introspect and repent and strive not to disappoint our God any longer.

God Bless

SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT

RANDOM REFLECTIONS

SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT ....... MARCH 20TH

MATHEW 17:1-9 ...... HIS FACE SHONE LIKE THE SUN

God the Father Yahweh had a definite purpose for the three disciples and for us in bringing about the scene of the 'transfiguration' in the life of Christ. Jesus revealed and manifested himself in all his divine glory and majesty though he was clothed in human form during his stay on earth. He was true God and true man. The era of the Old Covenant with its Laws, rituals, observances and prophecies have come to full completion and fulfillment in the perfect sinless God-man Christ and is about to give way to the New Covenant being inaugurated by Christ himself by his life, teachings, sufferings, passion, death and glorious resurrection. Moses and Elijah who represent the Laws and prophecies in the Old Testament  prefigured Christ and led the exodus of God's people from slavery, idolatry and false worship. They were only messengers of God and acted under God's inspiration and guidance. But now Christ himself the 'beloved Son of God' and Second person of the Trinity, who in final fulfillment will bring about salvation from Sin, Satan and Death to the entire world by his crucifixion, death and resurrection as told by God in Genesis 3:15 is the harbinger of the New Testament. That is why in the transfiguration scene Jesus is left alone and Moses and Elijah depart and God instructs the disciples and us to listen to his beloved Son and obey him. Peter is taken up by the sensory bliss and spiritual ecstasies of the moment whereas Christ was looking forward with eagerness to his forthcoming passion and death and rising again on the Third Day in fulfillment of the will of the Father. Likewise Christ is asking us during this Lenten season to take up our day to day crosses and faithfully follow him and to receive the crown from him at the end of times. First the sufferings and then the glory, the focus is the saving and joyful Cross of Christ. In all this we rejoice that God has promised to make our burden light when we turn to him in repentance and faith.

God Bless

FIRST WEEK OF LENT .......... SATURDAY

RANDOM REFLECTIONS

FIRST WEEK OF LENT ........ SATURDAY  ( MARCH 19TH )  FEAST OF ST. JOSEPH

MATHEW 1:16, 18-21, 24

 The Bible does not record a single word spoken by St. Joseph. He is shown as a man who silently obeyed God in all the difficult and embarrassing circumstances of his life. These difficult and embarrassing circumstances were allowed by God himself. Job murmured but St. Joseph did not murmur. When he must have learnt from Mother Mary about the archangel Gabriel's visit and her pregnancy by the Holy Spirit, Joseph respected her but preferred to obey the Mosaic Law in proceeding to divorce Mary in an informal way without putting her to public shame. He continued to love Mary his wife and his God. When the angel appearing in his dream told him the truth of the matter, he did not question the angel why God did not take prior permission from him by sending the archangel Gabriel as he did with Mary. He simply believed and obeyed the Angel, took Mary into his home, named the child Jesus and was prepared to appear to the world as the child's father.He strongly believed that the child was the Christ, the Saviour of the world. This belief was not shaken when he had to frantically search for a lodging in Bethlehem or when he was directed to flee to Egypt in the middle of the night or when he became 'much worried' when Jesus was lost in the Temple for three days and nights. St.Joseph had no ego problems. He was a tremendous man of faith and good-will. It is not recorded in the Bible that Joseph was a witness to the miracles, message and resurrection of Jesus, yet he believed the child Jesus.There is no parallel for him in the entire Bible, uniquely positioned by God to be the foster father of God's only begotten son Jesus Christ.

Let us ask God to bless us with the gift of humility, love and faith found in St. Joseph the patron of the Church. Let us pray for St. Joseph's intercession on our behalf during this Lenten season.

God Bless.

FIRST WEEK OF LENT ............ FRIDAY

RANDOM REFLECTIONS

FIRST WEEK OF LENT .............. FRIDAY

MATHEW 5:20-26

The kind of fast God likes during this Lenten season is conveyed in Isaiah 58:5-7

"Sharing your bread with the hungry, 
sheltering the oppressed and the homeless; 
Clothing the naked when you see them, 
and not turning your back on your own." 

1) When we are angry with our brother we will not feed him when he is hungry, we will not help him when he is helpless and homeless, we will not clothe him when he his naked, and we will certainly turn our backs on him in resentment and grudge when he knocks at our door. In fact in our anger we may insult and harm  him and given the opportunity we may even murder him. In these circumstances fasting and praying are useless. We will be punished for our sins of omission and commission.
2) When we find a brother angry with us for a reason or simply out of misunderstanding we are required to reconcile with him, before we can  even pray or worship in the church. Otherwise those prayers and worship are not acceptable.
3) When we  nurse a grudge or resentment against a brother though we may not show it outwardly, even then our prayers and fasting will be ineffective.
God looks into our heart and not just at our external actions or behaviour. He has commanded us to love.
We should love God and see the image of God in others and love them. It is very difficult,  but God has promised to supply us his strength and grace through prayer and self-discipline.

God Bless.

 

FIRST WEEK OF LENT ....... THURSDAY

RANDOM REFLECTIONS

FIRST WEEK OF LENT ........ THURSDAY

MATHEW 7:7-12

Simply keep on asking, keep on seeking, keep on knocking with all sincerity, persistently, trustingly with expectant faith, without getting discouraged at the delay, without grumbling and without giving up hope, because Jesus has promised that everyone who asks always receives, everyone who seeks always finds and everyone who knocks,  the door is always opened. When his baby asks for a snake and fish, the loving father will always and only give the fish and not the snake and when his baby asks for a stone and bread, no father will give the stone but only the bread. Maybe the father will give the bread immediately and every time and the fish only when the child has grown enough to digest it. In the same manner we are required to give good things generously to all those in need who ask of us, seek from us, or knock at our doors. Particularly we should not exclude from our generosity those whom we do not like, because our  merciful and compassionate Father God forgives us our sins and gives everything we ask in prayer.If we become Godlike in this manner God will take care of all our needs and concerns when we approach him in expectant prayer. For those needs and concerns which we can find remedy ourselves God will give us the necessary strength and grace. This is the secret of answered prayer. During Lent let us take pains to help even those whom we dislike. Let this become an habit in us.

God Bless.

FIRST WEEK OF LENT ............ WEDNESDAY

RANDOM REFLECTIONS

FIRST WEEK OF LENT ........ WEDNESDAY

LUKE 11: 29-32

God's Word Translation in Luke 13:3 says  " But if you don't turn to God and change the way you think and act, then you, too, will all die."  Here death means eternal death. If we sincerely believe the Words of Christ we also like the Ninevites will repent of our sins and avoid eternal death by the grace of God. If we wish to obtain true wisdom like the Queen of Sheba we also will listen in the simplicity of our hearts to the Words of Christ and obey him. Repentance and obedience springs from belief and love. Let us ask God to bless us abundantly with the gifts of faith and obedience this Lenten season. Paul spoke of certain Jews and Greeks in the following verses as, " For the Jews ask for miraculous proofs and the Greeks an intellectual panacea --- but all we preach is Christ crucified...." ( 1Cor. 1:22 ). Instead, let us in  simplicity and humility  believe Christ who gave his life for us,  to a radical conversion of our hearts.

God Bless 

FIRST WEEK OF LENT ........ TUESDAY

RANDOM REFLECTIONS

FIRST WEEK OF LENT ....... TUESDAY

MATHEW 6:7-15

Prayer is all about being in the loving presence of God and conversing with him. It is more a communion and not a conversation with a lot of words. When two lovers meet, they enjoy simply being in each others company. Sometimes words becomes unnecessary. Just remain in the loving company of God and feel his warmth and love all round you in the silence of your heart. The creator of all beauty is more beautiful  than creation itself . Fall in love with him and admire his beauty and glory. All that your heart desires in your human lover, is found much, much more in your Divine Lover. Listen to what he says. He wants you to forgive his other sons and daughters ...... just do what he says and he is mightily pleased. He promises to take care of all your needs and will remove all your anxieties about your future, because he is an Almighty God. He will defend you against all evil and guard you all your days because he is a jealous lover. Only love and honor him and forgive others. Remain in his love and that is prayer most pleasing to him.

God Bless.

FIRST WEEK OF LENT ....... MONDAY

RANDOM REFLECTIONS

FIRST WEEK OF LENT ....... MONDAY

MATHEW 25:31-46

What does God really want from us ? In the Old Testament he has commanded us to love him above all things and to love our neighbor. God loves us above all things and that is the reason he did not hesitate to give his only Son on the Cross for us even though we were his enemies and undeserving of his love. In the New Testament Jesus has restated the commandment as "Love one another as I have loved you". It is not possible for weak human beings as we are to love others as Christ loves us. To love the unloved and the unlovable goes beyond human will power. But our Christian God wants us to love in this fashion only.... "Be holy as I am holy" and for this reason Jesus poured out his life on the Cross and gives  those who ask in prayer, his power, strength and grace to love others in a divine way. After all, our lenten prayers, fasting, and self-sacrifice should transform us into another Christ for the needy, homeless, unloved, despised and may be unlovable members of our society. Let us first begin the efforts from the home front. It is difficult but not impossible by God's grace. This is the only standard by which we are allowed entry into heaven. It is by the  'fruits of the Holy Spirit'  ("But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control." Galatians 5:22) that we who are undeserving of God's love can love the  "least of our brethren"  the way Christ  loves us.

God Bless

FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT

RANDOM REFLECTIONS

FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT

MATHEW 4:1-11

Sin results in separation from God our creator who is the source of infinite love and mercy. Adam and Eve separated themselves from God by hiding after they sinned.They disobeyed God out of pride and selfishness. But our merciful God searches out for them and provides them durable garments in his great love and compassion. God forgives them but punishment for sin was inevitable.

Adam and Eve believed the words of the Devil and did not trust God. Jesus trusted God and refused to put him to the test in the second temptation.

Adam and Eve gave in to their sensual appetites and thought that eating the fruit was enough to satisfy their desires,  even if it means disobeying God. But Jesus in the first temptation affirmed that man does not live on earthly bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.

Adam and Eve wanted to become like God having knowledge of good and evil. Jesus in the third temptation declared that he would submit to God and worship him alone.

Christ came to this world to reconcile fallen man to God through his life, death and resurrection by his total surrender and obedience to God's will. He destroyed death and sin and took upon himself the punishment for sin.

The lenten season enables us to spend more time with God in prayer and meditation, knowing and listening to his Word and Will for us.

 Like Christ let us, live by the Word of God, Trust in God alone, and worship and serve only God.

God Bless.

SATURDAY AFTER ASH WEDNESDAY

RANDOM REFLECTIONS

SATURDAY AFTER ASH WEDNESDAY

LUKE 5:27-32

Levi was a despised member of the community, considered a  'social outcast' , an unloved person but wealthy because of his disreputable profession of tax collector under the hated Roman regime. But when Jesus lovingly invited him to become his friend and associate, Levi immediately responded. He stood up ( made up his mind ), left everything (renounced his past life and riches ) and followed ( became a disciple ) of Jesus. This is in sharp contrast to the attitude and response of the Rich Young Ruler in Luke 18:18-23 though morally virtuous  was sinfully attached to his riches. Jesus is a friend of the friendless who promises unconditional love and eternal life to all who sincerely respond to his call to repent of their sins,renounce their sinful life and trust in him.

We have to give up  'everything'  which stands between us and the enormous love of Jesus for us.Through prayer, fasting and almsgiving God will give us the necessary grace and strength to increase in our love for God and neighbor.

God Bless.  

FRIDAY AFTER ASH WEDNESDAY

RANDOM REFLECTIONS

FRIDAY AFTER ASH WEDNESDAY

MATHEW 9:14-15

Jesus wanted John's disciples, along with his own disciples, to realize that while he was with them, it was a time of joy. This was not a time of mourning or fasting or weeping. It's simply inappropriate to fast at a wedding feast. No, a wedding feast is a time of celebration. But as bold as this statement is about Jesus' presence altering everything, we also find a hint that his death will alter everything again, and this time in a much more painful way.The disciples will then after mourning  for three days will rejoice after Jesus' resurrection. The point: Jesus' presence conditions the time; it changes everything; it determines our joy.

During Lent fasting as a means of inward cleansing should lead to a greater joy because of closer union with God in prayer and closer bonding with fellowmen in acts of generosity and charity.It is not a time staying fixed  mourning  over our sinful state, instead we are required with God's grace to move on and change our nature. And also, during the present times we  look forward with anticipated joy to the Second Coming of Christ.

Prayer

Almighty and tender Shepherd, I thank you for loving me so much that you hear my prayers. I believe that Jesus' presence means joy for my life. But I also recognize that I live between his two appearances on earth, and thus the joy is not as great as it was when he was here and far less than it will be when he returns. Give me strength, courage, and joy so that I can face the challenges of this waiting time with faithfulness. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Fwd: DAVID JOSEPH has shared: Practical Advice for the Challenge of Lent

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: DAVID JOSEPH <djbakianathan@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, Mar 10, 2011 at 12:37 PM
Subject: DAVID JOSEPH has shared: Practical Advice for the Challenge of Lent
To: djbakianathan@gmail.com

Practical Advice for the Challenge of Lent Source: integratedcatholiclife.org Entering into the Desert With Christ  As we approach this Lenten season, we are called to enter the desert with Christ; to turn away from sin and towards our God. Many of us realize that we are called to face difficult questions during this penitential season.  The challenge we face is not only ...

DAVID JOSEPH sent this using ShareThis.

THURSDAY AFTER ASH WEDNESDAY

RANDOM REFLECTIONS

LUKE 9:22-25

The command is given to follow the teachings and example of Christ. When we follow what Christ taught in the beatitudes ( Whole of Mathew Chapter 5 ) we are sure to encounter a lot of difficulties both for ourselves and for our families besides being considered  'unpractical ' and foolish by worldly standards. Christ is referring specifically to these crosses when he exhorts us to ' take up the cross everyday and follow me '. When we carry such crosses , we lose our false- self (ego ) and gain peace of God which this world cannot give. This great peace and joy within us (our real self created in the image of God ) continues into eternity with God. This is the promise and blessing of Christ to all his faithful followers in the beginning of this Lenten season.

  Christ who died for our sins on the cross, rose from the dead to be seated at the right-hand of God and pleads powerfully with God to give us the necessary strength and grace to follow his teachings and example.

GOD BLESS

Fwd: Fw: ASH WEDNESDAY

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: joseph bakianathan <joseph_dorathy@yahoo.co.in>
Date: Wed, Mar 9, 2011 at 1:20 PM
Subject: Fw: ASH WEDNESDAY
To: djbakianathan@gmail.com

--- On Wed, 9/3/11, joseph bakianathan <joseph_dorathy@yahoo.co.in> wrote: From: joseph bakianathan <joseph_dorathy@yahoo.co.in> Subject: ASH WEDNESDAY To: Date: Wednesday, 9 March, 2011, 12:39 PM RANDOM REFLECTIONS MATHEW 6:1-6, 16-18 ON CHARITY ---- "When you help someone out, do it quietly and unobtrusively.That is the way your God, who conceived you in love, working behind the scenes, helps you out." ON PRAYER ---- "Find a quiet, secluded place and just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage in the presence of God. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense His grace." ON FASTING ----  "When you practice self-discipline to better concentrate on God don't make a show of it. If you 'go into training' inwardly, act normal outwardly." God hates outward show. He looks only into the condition of our heart. Ashes reminds us of our nothingness before God. We are called upon by God to repent and mourn for our sins in "sackcloth and ashes" inwardly, by practicing  humility, ,charity, prayer and fasting as above and be reconciled to God through His Son and our Saviour Jesus Christ. (Extracts for the Message Bible) God Bless