DAILY MEDITATIONS # 4

 

30.11.11

ROMANS 10:9-18

“Yet not all have responded to the Gospel. Isaiah asks, you remember,

‘Lord, who hath believed our report ?” Verse 16

MATHEW 4:18-22

“Follow me and I will teach you to to catch men ! “ At once they left their nets and followed him.” Verses 19-20

Unless we accept Jesus as our God and Saviour and believe in his teachings we cannot follow him. It was by Grace that Peter and Andrew were drawn to Jesus. They responded by childlike trust in the love of Jesus and again it was by Grace they became his Apostles.

A deep personal devotion to Jesus is necessary to become his followers.

Do I love Jesus above all others ?

God Bless.

DAILY MEDITATIONS # 3

TUESDAY 29.11.11

Is. 11:1-10

Luke 10:21-24

" Then he turned to his disciples and said to them quietly,

' How fortunate you are to see what you are seing ! I tell you that many prophets and kings have wanted to see what you are seeing but they never saw it, and to hear what you are hearing but they never heard it.'  Luke 10:23-24

Jesus Christ the Messiah is God Himself and hence many powerful kings and great prophets of old longed to behold him in their own life time itself. But Jesus when he was born chose to reveal his divinity only to a fortunate band of his lowly and illiterate disciples. But we are more blessed than any of them because we know that Jesus dwells in our hearts intimately and can never be seperated from us either by time or location and moreover he is physically present in the form of a small sacred host in every church around the world. How blessed we are even though we are poor sinners.

When we reach heaven we will be the most fortunate, for then we shall behold his glorious divinity just as he is.

God Bless.

DAILY MEDITATIONS # 2

Monday 28.11.11
Isaiah 2:1-5
Mt. 8:5-11
" O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord."  Is.2:5
" I will come and heal him," said Jesus to him. Mt.8:7
All of us need a thorough healing in our inner self, mind, body and soul. And Jesus is the medicine. Let us obey His Teachings .
God Bless.

DAILY MEDITATION # 1

First Sunday of Advent 27.11.11

Isaiah 63:16b-17, 19b; 64:2-7
Psalm 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19
1 Corinthians 1:3-9 
Mark 13:33-37

 " Therefore watch ( give strict attention, be cautious and alert ) for you do not know when the Master of the house is coming ---- in the evening, or at midnight, or at cock-crowing, or in the morning ---- ( Watch, I say ) lest He come suddenly and unexpectedly and find you asleep. "  Mark 13:35-36

While the four weeks of Advent are supposed to prepare us for the celebration of Christmas, they have an even more important preparation in mind - the readiness of each one of us for the final judgment.

Are you READY ?

God Bless.

Random Reflections

Mass Readings for 26.11.11

Daniel 7:15-27

Luke 21:34-36

 The first reading refers to the various persecutions the Jews suffered under different Kings and finally that of Antiochus Ephiphanes IV who desecrated the Jerusalem Temple.The Jews were thoroughly scandalized and concluded that their God Yahweh had deserted them. In this seemingly hopeless situation Daniel assures his dejected people that the Messiah and Savior will finally arrive to defeat the enemies of the Jews,.Considering that these words were written in the midst of persecution and before the successful revolt of the Maccabees, they represent a great spirit of hope and confidence in the outcome and in God’s protection. Nor were they to be disappointed. The evil Antiochus who led many Jews to apostasy did indeed fall. 
Later Jesus will come and inaugurate the kingdom which begins with him and will last forever. This is a kingdom of which we, too, sincerely hope to be a part. This messianic vision was one which the author Daniel never saw realised himself. We now have our Messiah-King in Jesus Christ. He is the “Son of Man” who now sits at the right hand of the “Ancient One”, the Father. And, as the reading predicts, we share in Christ’s kingship. Through our baptism we become, with Christ and in Christ, priest, prophet and king. They are three titles which we must take seriously and has to be actively realized in the lives of every single Christian. 
Because, as has been said here more than once before, the guarantee of our future is depends on how we perform in the present, and how we respond to the call of our King.This is the principal lesson learnt as we arrive at the end of this liturgical year. 
And, so it is on this confident note of hope and expectancy, which has been fulfilled in the person of Jesus in his incarnation, that we come to the end of our Scripture readings for this year. and hopefully look forward to fully participate in God's kingdom with resurrection bodies when Christ returns to reign at the close of ages. With today the Church's liturgical year ends and a new year commences tomorrow with the First Sunday of Advent.The promised Messiah who is going to wipe away all our tears is soon to be born in our hearts on Christmas Day. Let us now prepare our hearts for his joyous arrival !

God Bless 
 

Random Reflections

Mass Readings for 25.11.11

Daniel 7:2-14

Luke 21:29-33

Daniel's vision  is about the rise and fall of powerful dynasties noted for their cruelty and oppressive methods under which successive generations of  Jewish people suffered. Finally the Jews are liberated by the ' Son of Man ' who is none other than the expected Messiah Jesus Christ. This idea of a political messiah was etched so strongly in the minds of succeeding generation of Jews,  that when Jesus finally appeared on the scene they rejected him because he did not conform to their vision of a political messiah. The truth is Jesus is God and he will establish God's kingdom after defeating all the supernatural authorities, powers and dominions which are unjustly ruling the world by proxy.He will establish an everlasting kingdom which will have no end and in which those who have been faithful will rule along with him.This kingdom and its citizens will be immortal because the last enemy Jesus will defeat will be death-- Satan's greatest weapon. In God's kingdom there will be complete justice and happiness for all. Jesus in the Gospel message is giving us this strong hope of a  secure future in his joyous kingdom. Again he is asking us to be alert and watchful for his Second Coming.

God Bless.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: bakianathan <djbakianathan@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, Nov 24, 2011 at 10:24 AM
Subject: Short Inspirational Sayings #1
To: djbakianathan@gmail.com

From Evernote:

Short Inspirational Sayings #1 Clipped from: http://www.thebiblepost.com/short-inspirational-sayings-1?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheBiblePost+%28The+Bible+Post%29

Short Inspirational Sayings #1

by Chris Esty on November 23, 2011

Holiness is quality of life discovered in always being in God's loving presence by faith. This intense awareness every moment of our life is holiness.Even while engaged in worldly affairs we keep feeling His presence in our lives.

I believe we all have a purpose in life; it’s not about becoming wealthy or famous, but about being holy. What we choose to do with our time will determine whether we fulfill that purpose or not. As for me, I choose to serve Yahweh. I hope you will do the same. For there is no greater place to stand than in the space God wants you to occupy . . . no greater purpose to fulfill than to live by His will. Quality of life is discovered in walking with God. Enjoy His presence! ~ Chris S. Esty

Random Reflections

Mass Readings for 24.11.11

Daniel 6:12-28

Luke 21:20-28

Daniel is saved miraculously in the lions den because he trusted in God and was faithful to him. Moreover Daniel lived a blameless life before men.Because God was always with him, Daniel was fearless. At the end his accusers and enemies were condemned and put to death. Jesus promises to live in us always provided we remain faithful to him till the end.A terrible fate awaited Jerusalem because of its sinfulness and faithlessness and Jesus advises his disciples to flee Jerusalem when the Roman armies begin to attack it. Jesus prophesies that similarly during the end times there will be utter chaos and destruction in the skies and on the earth, so much so that people will die merely of fright.But Jesus tells us not to be frightened or shaken when such things happen because we have been sufficiently forewarned by him. On the other hand with courageous and joyful hearts we have to look forward to our  final deliverance at the Second Coming of Jesus.This may happen any time and we have to anticipate like the wise-brides maids who were well prepared to meet the bridegroom at an unexpected hour with lighted lamps. Our eventual death is certain, the end of the world is certain, Christ's return to earth is certain, final judgement is certain and in the meanwhile  before any such things occurs let us, like Daniel lead a prayerful and pleasing life to God.

God Bless

Heart to Heart

Ring, ring.

There’s a call for your heart.

It’s been there since the day you were born.

And it will be there until the day you go Home.

Pick it up, listen closely, and you’ll hear

the voice of Your Father whispering what’s true...

“You are mine.

I made you.

Chose you.

Called you.

That call isn’t about a vocation.

It’s about making a difference wherever you are.

It’s about being who I created you to be.

No one else can take your place.

No one else can answer this call.

I’m so glad you did.

I’ll be right here telling you all you need to know

every day, every step of the way.

I love to hear your voice...

and I love when you listen to Mine.”

From Holley Gerth Blog

Random Reflections

Mass Readings for 23.11.11

Reading 1  Dn 5:1-6, 13-14, 16-17, 23-28

Gospel Lk 21:12-19

Christians have been persecuted throughout the ages even till recent times in many countries. Christianity amazingly thrives on persecutions  and Jesus forewarns his disciples about it in today's Gospel. The fellow Jews followed by the Romans persecuted the newly converts and tried to destroy the fledgling church and this is recorded in the Acts of the Apostles and by the Church Fathers.Persecutions took place even within one's own family as it continues even today.Jesus tells his disciples and also us that in such trying situations not to react with violent thought, words or deeds but to trust fully in the power of God who will provide us with words of wisdom which will silence the persecutors.In periods of persecution one may have to suffer terribly or worse be martyred for one's faith but our eternal future is safe in the hands of God. And God will also severely  judge  those who persecute us as was in the case of the Babylonian King Belshazzar  seen in the first reading. God is almighty and he is the final arbiter of man's fate.

It is also known that whoever stands for principles of Truth, Justice, Equality and Honesty are looked down upon. And those who practice Mercy, Compassion , Non-violence and Love are taken advantage of and have to endure suffering many a times.This is the risk God expects us to take if we are to   be his disciples, but nevertheless God's true love and protection will ever follow us. We need supernatural strength to follow these ideals and let us pray for the protection of Jesus in all our struggles.

God Bless.

Fwd: An Ancient Sacrifice for Faith - Guideposts

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: bakianathan <djbakianathan@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, Nov 22, 2011 at 10:46 AM
Subject: An Ancient Sacrifice for Faith - Guideposts
To: djbakianathan@gmail.com

From Evernote:

An Ancient Sacrifice for Faith - Guideposts Clipped from: http://www.guideposts.org/blogs/edposts/ancient-sacrifice-faith

An Ancient Sacrifice for Faith

By Edward Grinnan, October 28, 2011

I've finally got a reliable wireless connection now that we are approaching Istanbul, the port from which we started our voyage two weeks ago. It seems like years.

And that may be because so much of this trip has been about exploring the past and seeing how it has molded our lives today: Ephesus, the Acropolis in Athens, Corinth and Jerusalem, where every street of the Old City rings with history. On the last days ashore we toured through ancient Judea, visited the River Jordan, bobbed on the mineral-rich Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth, and saw the caves at Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered.

Our final afternoon brought us to the area around Nazareth and to Capernaum, where Christ began his ministry. We took a beautiful sunset boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, where he calmed the waves and walked on the water.

Most amazing of all to me, perhaps, were the ruins of Masada, a mountaintop fortress where some 960 Jewish rebels who had participated in the revolt in Jerusalem in 66 A.D. made their last stand against the pursuing Roman legion. For more than three years they held out against 8,000 Roman soldiers before killing themselves rather than being captured and enslaved.

What impressed me most was the willingness of these Jews (called Zealots) to fight and die for their faith, a sacrifice that many Christians of the early church would soon make. As I gazed out over the northern escarpment across the desert, I couldn't help but wonder at how lonely the siege must have been for the Zealots, for they surely knew their eventual fate. I thought of our visit to the Holocaust Museum on our first morning in Israel, and the isthmus of history that connected that tragedy with this one.

Our guide, Isaac, came and stood next to me. "I have no doubt they did what they thought was the right thing," he said. "They made this place a symbol of the struggle to be free from oppression." Then he tapped my arm. "Time to go." We headed for the cable cars that would take us down.

I had grown very fond of Isaac. The first morning on our bus he had revealed a treasure. He took a tarnished coin from his pocket. "This is an actual coin that was used in Jerusalem two thousand years ago." He had bought it from a collector for a great deal of money, he said.

He passed the coin around our group, urging us to hold it and feel the sensation of history. When my turn came I examined the coin closely. On one side I could make out the head of a Caesar—Tiberius?—but I couldn't tell what made up the other side. I pressed the coin between my hands and wondered whose hands it had passed through over the centuries. Had a disciple touched this coin? One of the moneychangers Jesus drove out of the temple? Jesus himself?

Not likely, I knew, but possible. Possible.

Isaac explained that when his wife saw the bill for the coin she threw him out of the house and he had to go live with his mother for a time. "But eventually she forgave me and I came home. She understood how important the coin was to me."

Now I understood too.

If there was any doubt about the reconciliation it was dispelled when we passed the site where Jesus performed his first miracle at the marriage at Cana. Isaac got on his cell phone, called his wife and said, "I love you." He always did that passing this sacred spot.

Excerpts from Holley Gerth's Blog

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: DAVID JOSEPH <djbakianathan@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Nov 21, 2011 at 9:28 PM
Subject: Excerpts from Holley Gerth's Blog
To:

                                                                    

Just as You Are

Hello Friend!

The other day my husband and I wandered out to a nearby fruit and vegetable stand. Rows of pumpkins, gourds and other fall goodies lined the front. Families gathered around to touch, thump and observe each one.

Eventually a child would declare, "I want this one!" When a parent would squint their eyes and inquire, "Why that one?" the child would enthusiastically point and declare something like, "I like this bump! It looks like a camel!" 

The parents would shrug their shoulders and then that gangly, unsightly gourd would be scooped up and carried home with love. 

Chosen with its imperfections. 

I can't help thinking it's much the same with us. Jesus looks at us and says, "I want that one!"

Random Reflections

Mass Readings for 22.11.11

Daniel 2:31-45

Luke 21:5-11

Jesus speaks about the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple about to happen 40 years hence and also about the end-times of the world. Both narratives appear to be fused because to his present hearers the destruction of the Temple may appear to be the beginning of the end of the world. Jesus tells us not to be alarmed when wars, natural calamities and celestial upheavals take place.They are all in the natural order of things and occur regularly. Some people are in the habit of pointing to these catastrophes and make wild predictions that the end of the world is imminent. Some even practice deception by describing themselves as the  " Promised Messiah " and people rush here and there to have their " darshan ". Jesus is cautioning us not to be carried away by all these things.On a more personal and realistic level Jesus has always been warning us to repent and reform today itself when we are still alive before it is too late. Let us live each day for the glory of God as though this is the last day of our life. This is more practical and makes spiritual sense.

The First reading unravels the broad canvas of world history as revealed in  King Nebuchadnezzar's dream and interpreted by Daniel.The Final Kingdom to rule the world will be that of Christ at the close of the ages.If we have been faithful to Christ we will participate in God's Kingdom with resurrected glorious bodies or if still alive with glorious transformed bodies at the Return of Christ the Messiah and our King.But it all depends on how we live our lives now at the present moment of time.

God Bless.

A WONDERFUL FRIEND

                             

Ten Spiritual Tonics

   

Random Reflections

Mass Readings for 21.11.11

Daniel 1:1-6, 8-20

Luke 21: 1-4

Today's gospel reading is about whether we put more trust in God's providence or in our own abilities or in our bank balance. The faith that we have in God should far exceed the faith we naturally tend to have in worldly things. The poor widow contributed whatever was left of her earnings at the end of the day, into the Temple treasury. This speaks volumes about her immense trust in the providence of God for her future. Her insurer for her was, (while she survives and after her demise),  the Almighty God and not the L.I.C. of India. She evidently is acting out of her experience because in the past God has been taking great care of all her needs, relieving her of all anxiety and tension about the future. This reminds us about the  'Manna ' incident in Exodus. The children of Israel were commanded by God only to collect manna ( food in the desert ) only for that day's requirements. They were not to hoard even for the next day. Jesus now explains the same principle of trust in God, through the actions of the ' poor widow '.Even in our Lord's Prayer Jesus taught us to pray " Give us each day our daily bread ". This does not mean that we should not save for a 'rainy day' or for the children's future.However such financial planning should be reasonable and prudent and in line with our standard of living with which God has blessed us. But there should be no tendency to hoard in excess or be greedy.Anything that we possess in excess is sinful as that could have been given to the needy. This brings to mind the story of the rich man and the beggar Lazar in Luke's gospel. The lesson taught by today's gospel reading about the ' poor widow's mite ' is that our hearts should be always turned towards God who will meet our every need even though we may be materially well off. The same lesson can be learnt from Daniel and his three companions in the First reading who being ever faithful to God, entirely depended on His providence to ensure their excellent physical and mental health even though they chose to live only on a vegetable and water diet for the entire period of their exile in King Nebuchadnezzar's court.

Love and trust God in everything and for everything , He is sufficient for us and will not fail to meet all of our needs in this world and in the next.

God Bless.

Random Reflections

Mass Readings for 20.11.11

Ezek.34: 11-12, 15-17

1 Cor. 15:20-26, 28

Mathew. 25 :31-46

THE FEAST OF CHRIST THE KING

The really “good” Christian

There are a number of things to notice here in today's gospel reading.

• a) none of the things Jesus mentions are religious in nature.
• b) there is no mention whatever of any commandments being observed or violated.
• c) people are condemned not for doing actions which were morally wrong but for neglecting the needy and the weak among them.
• d) the actions are done (or not done) TO Jesus and not just FOR Jesus. In other words, Jesus is truly present in every person I meet. I am not just nice to this person (whom I may not care about very much) in order to do a “good act” which Jesus will reward and add to my bank account of “good works”. People cannot be used – even for spiritual purposes

To sum up, Jesus is saying that, if I wish to be counted among the sheep destined to enjoy eternal life, then I must be an actively loving person, irrespective of the response I get to my love. This is the way God loves me. It is not enough just to fulfil obligations, religious or otherwise. It won’t do to say, “I am a good enough Catholic”. My prayer life and spiritual exercises should bear fruit in showing concern and love for others or else all my prayer life is a sham and self-deception and will meet with God's condemnation on the judgement day. I must proactively see Jesus in all persons I meet. I am expected to keep going out of my way and reach out in love especially to those in need – the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the poor and naked, the sick and those in prison. It does not matter how they got sick (acquiring AIDS through a sexually promiscuous lifestyle, overindulgence in alcohol or nicotine) or why they are in prison (murder, rape of a young girl, terrorism…). These people are especially to be loved because they are the most in need of having their lives turned round.

This is the King I am called to serve. And the way he wants to be served is for me to be filled with care and compassion for brothers and sisters everywhere and especially for those who are furthest from him and those who are not experiencing the abundance with which he has filled this world. I serve Jesus my King by loving those who are materially, socially, psychologically, morally and spiritually poor.

The picture of the Judgement in the Gospel is not meant to fill us with fear and trembling. No, it is a challenge not about the future but about today. The surest way to guarantee that I will be saved by Jesus for eternal life is for me to become right now a loving, caring, tolerant, accepting person --- being the fruit of my sincere spiritual life. Let us pray for God's abundant grace in this regard.

Help me, Lord, to seek and find and respond to you
in every person and in every experience of this day.
Grant, Lord, that all my thoughts, intentions, actions and responses
may be directed solely to your love and service this day.

God Bless

Random Reflections

Mass Readings for19.11.11

1 Macc.6:1-13

Luke 20:27-40

As the Church's liturgical year will be coming to a close next weekend, we are called upon to meditate on the last things of life and the imminent return of Jesus Christ. In the First reading we see the tragic end of King Antiochus who admits that he has been punished by God for desecrating the Temple in Jerusalem and for persecuting the Jewish community.His has been a bitter and mighty fall in his last days and after death he will be again judged by God.

In the Gospel reading Jesus gives us a glimpse of the joys of eternal life that awaits those who have been faithful to the One True God. The blessed ones will be like angels and will be counted as children of God. There will be no more death and hence no more child bearing or marriages. There will be no more tears and no more suffering. We will all be loving brothers and sisters in the joyful company of our loving Father and God. This blissful happiness and pure love will be of a totally different dimension and is unimaginable.The divine love which will mark our relationships with each other will be entirely of a different category than what we experience in this life. But we get a foretaste of it in this life with the loving indwelling of the Holy Spirit in our hearts  who guides us gently to live a life pleasing to God. After death what joy there is to see God face to  face ! This is known as the beatific vision. For faithful christians death is only the beginning to a more glorious eternal life in the loving company of God and those dear to him.

God Bless 

What A Friend We Have In Jesus - Alan Jackson - YouTube

Above All - Crucified (Christian Music Video) - YouTube

Random Reflections

Mass Readings for 18.11.11

1 Macc. 4:36-37, 52-59

Luke 19:45-48

In the First reading Judas and his brothers rededicate the Temple after driving away the enemies. In the Gospel reading Jesus cleanses the Temple area of all illegal commerce while the chief priests and the scribes who had business interests in the Temple activities devise plans to do away with Jesus. What Jesus does is symbolic of what he intends to do in our souls by his passion, death and resurrection. He has cleansed of all our sins and by the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit we have been made Temples of God. Therefore we belong to Christ and God expects us to preserve the holiness of our souls. To be holy means to live as though we have been set apart for the purposes of God and have nothing to do with any kind of evil or wickedness. We will be judged on the last day as to how much we  have excelled in doing good deeds for the glory of God. Those who reject Christ will not be admitted to eternal life. 

God Bless. 

Random Reflections

Mass Readings for 17.11.11

1 Macc. 2 :15-29

Luke 19:41-44

Jesus is given a hero's welcome when he enters Jerusalem, but he knows quiet well that in a week's time the same crowd will be seeking for his blood when they discover that he is not a political Messiah. The people of Jerusalem did not accept Jesus as the Son of God come to save them from their sins. This rejection of Jesus would not only result in their eternal condemnation but would also make their bitter political slavery under their  Roman masters complete with the invasion of Jerusalem and destruction of their Temple  by the ruthless Roman army in 70 AD. Jesus in his infinite love weeps over the cruel and hopeless destiny that awaits his people who repeatedly turned a deaf ear to all his appeals.

Even today God appeals to each one of us to make sincere and sustained efforts at continuous spiritual transformation before the patience of God runs out on us. Even today could  be the eleventh hour for some people to hear God's message of salvation and repent before it is too late. God does not want any of us to be eternally lost because we are precious in his eyes.

God Bless.

Random Reflections

Mass Readings for 16.11.11

2 Mac, 7:1,20-31

Luke 19:11-28

Jesus was hurrying to Jerusalem as his  ' time ' had come to complete his Father's will. But the people thought that when Jesus reaches Jerusalem he will immediately seize political power and begin his much awaited messianic reign in the manner of his ancestor the great King David. And all of his followers and notably the Apostles entertained grand visions of sharing power with Jesus being the supreme ruler. Therefore Jesus tells them the Gospel parable. The reign of Christ will commence only at the time of his Second Coming. In the interregnum period people have to accept Christ as their only personal saviour  in order to be saved. And those who have been saved will have to live according to the Gospel values in order to be rewarded when Jesus returns to reign..Those who fail to live up-to the expectations of Christ ( like the servant who hid the coin in a handkerchief, knowing fully well that what he was doing is wrong ) are in danger of losing the grace of God.

Whereas those who have rejected Christ will not be able to participate in the kingdom reign of God. Jesus Christ is the only  ' WAY '  , the only comprehensive  ' TRUTH '  and the only source of  ' ETERNAL LIFE '. This is a fundamental Christian Belief based on Absolute Truth. The Maccabees  who were deeply committed to the true God sacrificed their lives to uphold this truth.

Therefore let us not be caught off guard entangled in the affairs of the world at the time of Christ returning. Let us ' work out ' our salvation as St. Paul says in his various letters to the early christians.

God Bless

Random Reflections

Mass Readings for 15.11.11

2 Mac.6:18-31 

Luke 19:1-10

We read in Ephesians 2:8 that salvation is by grace through faith in Christ. The rich young man rejected God's offer of grace for salvation because he lacked faith in the words of Jesus. He preferred his riches to eternal salvation. 

The blind man was saved because in faith he accepted the healing of Jesus.He preferred to use his regained sight in the service of Jesus and eternal salvation. 

Nicodemus was saved because he accepted Christ's as his guest knowing too well that it would mean sincere repentance and substantial restitution.Though wealthy he was not attached to his riches or to his sinful ways. Faith in Christ and eternal salvation was more important to him than anything else.

 Faith no doubt is a gift of God but we are expected to act in pursuance of that ' faith '. Our willing and wholehearted cooperation to the grace of God makes ' faith '  genuine and complete. God loves us infinitely and he wishes us to respond to his love out of our own free will. Even a human lover expects the same response from his beloved. This response confirms our ' faith ' in Christ and thus begins our journey of salvation. Repentance is one of the key components of our ' response '. Now how  ' strong '  is our faith in Jesus ? God makes our faith to grow as we continue to repent and respond more and more to his loving grace. Its a day to day spiritual experience throughout our life. Our faithfulness is life long through eternity. This is the message of the first reading in 2 Macabees.

God Bless.

Random Reflections

Mass Readings for 14.11.11

1 Mac. 1:10-15, 41-43, 54-57, 62-63

Luke 18: 35-43 

We learn from the Gospel reading that the blind man was seated by the roadside begging, when he heard that Jesus was coming on that particular road. The blind man had an intense desire of becoming a disciple of Jesus when he heard from others that Jesus was a great prophet and was doing good to all.He believed in Jesus but his blindness prevented him from drawing closer to Jesus.He believed that Jesus could cure him. In the earlier reading in the same chapter of  Luke we see that the love for riches was preventing the rich young man from following Jesus but he did not heed Jesus' call to give up his attachment for wealth. When the blind man screamed for Jesus' attention ( in his helpless situation that was the only thing he could do ) Jesus immediately responds and heals him. Having received his precious sight the man fulfill his desire of following Jesus.

What is preventing us today from following Jesus more closely ? Let us introspect and seek Jesus' help like the blind man by the roadside.

God Bless

Random Reflections

Mass Readings for 13.11.11

Proverbs 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31

1Thess. 5:1-6

Mathew 25:14-30

Please click on the link below for video reflections

http://bcove.me/5cfb74b5

Jesus when he taught his disciples  had the kingdom perspective and principles in mind ........not the earthly kingdom but that of  his divine kingdom.

The initial deposit of faith that God gives to each one us is a free gift.This faith has to be exercised by trusting in God's providence and promises. It is known as a  ' Working Belief ' in God's grace or 'talents'. This gift of faith is increased by God's grace when we utilise and exercise this gift according to his divine will.This gift is essentially meant to unite us closer and closer to God and to work for the expansion of His kingdom in this world.This is the responsibility that Jesus entrusts to his disciples and through them to us who are members of the universal church. At judgement time each one us is going to be evaluated as to how sincerely and faithfully we had carried out the specific tasks assigned to us.The tasks are many and varied and they are assigned to us depending upon the abilities given to us. When it comes to the nuts and bolts finally it is all about how much we loved God and how well we served our neighbor in their spiritual and worldly needs.Did we care for Christ present in our needy neighbors ?  Did we feed, clothe, shelter, nurse and encourage them by going out to them trusting in the providence and strength God has given us ?  Of course this involves risking our reputation, time, energy, financial and spiritual resources. Or did we wait till they approached us for help ? Or still worse, did we play it safe by ignoring their very existence just like the rich man who ignored the languishing lazar at the gate of his palace. Those who proactively engaged with the poor , dispossessed and the lonely are likened to the two servants entrusted with the the 5 and 2 talents. The servant with the one talent wasted it and he was punished. The more we spend ourselves for God's cause the more graces and gifts will be poured upon us. This is a spiritual principle. This is how St. Paul in the second reading tells the Thessalonicans they ought to live while waiting eagerly for Christ's Second Coming. Are we living with similar attitudes and expectations ? Let us ask God to increase our faith and enable us by the power of the Holy Spirit to exercise this gift of faith the way God a hard task master expects from us.

God Bless.

[Shared Post] IN LOVING MEMORY OF REV. FR. S.J.D. KUMAR

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Bakianathan's Blog <donotreply@wordpress.com>
Date: Fri, Nov 11, 2011 at 11:32 PM
Subject: [Shared Post] IN LOVING MEMORY OF REV. FR. S.J.D. KUMAR
To: djbakianathan@gmail.com

bakianathan (djbakianathan@gmail.com) shared a post from Bakianathan's Blog IN LOVING MEMORY OF REV. FR. S.J.D. KUMAR by bakianathan My Dear Fr. Kumar, Your untimely demise today on the Feast Day of St. Martin of Tours ( 11.11.11 ) is an irreparable loss to all of us. Your cheerfulness, your exuberance, your warmth and love and above all your burning zeal to serve God and his people can never be erased from our living [...] Read more of this post bakianathan | November 11, 2011 at 4:45 pm | Categories: Uncategorized | URL: http://wp.me/pGyCM-bx Comment    See all comments Change your email settings at Manage Notifications. Trouble clicking? Copy and paste this URL into your browser: http://bakianathan.wordpress.com/2011/11/11/in-loving-memory-of-rev-fr-s-j-d-kumar/

Thanks for flying with WordPress.com

A HUMBLE TRIBUTE TO LATE REV. FR. S.J.D.KUMAR

 EXCERPTS FROM THE LITURGY OF THE HOURS ... EVENING PRAYER  FOR 11.11.11  ..... MEMORIAL FOR ST. MARTIN OF TOURS, BISHOP

This is a humble homage to our very dear Rev.Fr. S.J.D.Kumar whose untimely demise we mourn with heavy hearts. Fr.Kumar passed away in the afternoon at 2.50 p.m. on  11.11.11, the feast day of St.Martin of Tours

PSALMODY

Ant. 1 Here is a man that words cannot describe. Death could not defeat him nor toil dismay him. He did not fear death, nor did he refuse to live.

Psalm 15

Lord, who shall be admitted to your tent
And dwell on your holy mountain?

He who walks without fault;
He who acts with justice,
And speaks the truth from his heart;
He who does not slander with his tongue;

He who does no wrong to his brother,
Who casts no slur on his neighbor,
Who holds the godless in disdain,
But honors those who fear the Lord;

He who keeps his pledge, come what may;
Who takes no interest on a loan,
And accepts no bribes against the innocent.
Such a man will stand firm for ever.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
– as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

Ant. Here is a man that words cannot describe. Death could not defeat him nor toil dismay him. He did not fear death, nor did he refuse to live.

Ant. 2 Lord, if your people still need me, I am ready for the task; your will be done.

Psalm 112

Happy the man who fears the Lord,
who take delight in all his commands.
His sons shall be powerful on earth;
the children of the upright are blessed.

Riches and wealth are in his house;
his justice stands firm for ever.
He is a light in the darkness for the upright:
he is generous, merciful and just.

The good man takes pity and lends,
he conducts his affairs with honor.
The just man will never waver:
he will be remembered for ever.

He has no fear of evil news;
with a firm heart he trusts in the Lord.
With a steadfast heart he will not fear;
he will see the downfall of his foes.

Open-handed, he gives to the poor;
his justice stands firm for ever.
His head will be raised in glory.

The wicked man sees and is angry,
grinds his teeth and fades away;
the desire of the wicked leads to doom.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
– as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

Ant. Lord, if your people still need me, I am ready for the task; your will be done.

Ant. 3 Bishop Martin has left this world; a shining light among priests, now he lives with Christ for ever.

READING 1 Peter 5: 1-4

To the elders among you I, a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings and sharer in the glory that is to be revealed, make this appeal. God’s flock is in your midst; give it a shepherd’s care. Watch over it willingly as God would have you do, not under constraint; and not for shameful profit either, but generously. Be examples to the flock, not lording it over those assigned to you, so that when the chief Shepherd appears you will win for yourselves the unfading crown of glory.

Sacred Silence (indicated by a bell) – a moment to reflect and receive in our hearts the full resonance of the voice of the Holy Spirit and to unite our personal prayer more closely with the word of God and public voice of the Church.

RESPONSORY

This is a man who loved his brethren and ever prayed for them.
– This is a man who loved his brethren and ever prayed for them.

He spent himself in their service,
– and ever prayed for them.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
– This is a man who loved his brethren and ever prayed for them.

Ant. This blessed bishop loved Christ with all his strength and had no fear of earthly rulers; though he did not die a martyr’s death, this holy confessor won the martyr’s palm

Concluding Prayer

Father,
by his life and death
Martin of Tours offered you worship and praise.
Renew in our hearts the power of your love,
so that neither death nor life may separate us from you.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
– Amen.

DISMISSAL

May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life.
– Amen.

These portions of the Breviary can be also aptly applied to Rev.Fr. S.J.D. Kumar  since it appears to me that he has modeled his life on that of St.Martin though Fr. Kumar’s life was short-lived. Perhaps God as an indication to us that He has endeared himself to Fr.Kumar thought it fit to call him home on this Saints feast day.

KIndly continue to remember us in your prayers dear Fr. Kumar. We all bid you a fond and tearful farewell.

God Bless.

Share 

Thank you God, for everything

Random Reflections

Mass Readings for 12.11.11

Wisdom of Solomon 18:14-16; 19:6-9

Luke 18:1-8

Both the readings are very emphatic that God certainly hears our prayers and acts swiftly whenever we are in dire need or have become victims of injustice.But God's 'timing' and the nature of  'action' will  always be at the right time and appropriate to our situation and according to his promises in the Bible. On our part we are expected to  'wait'  upon God patiently and with complete trust and faith in his goodness and love for us. God is all powerful and he is capable of answering all our prayers much beyond our expectations provided what we ask him in prayer is in accordance to his will for us. We should always keep in mind that God knows what is best for us and is very eager to please us.He will give only the best things for his beloved children and all of us are God's children. He is an impartial God and a loving Father to each one of us.This fact I have experienced in my own life. He is totally unselfish and his love for us is unconditional.However the answer to our prayers may not be in the way or form we expected or according to our expected  'time' because that may not be the best thing for us in God's will.Many a time he refuses what we ask if he knows in his divine wisdom that it is going to harm us.Sometimes he postpones the gift to a suitable time when we can enjoy it best. He is the most wisest, faithful and loving Father.When an unjust judge as in the parable performs his duty unwillingly to a defenceless widow for selfish reasons, will not our Sovereign God and Almighty Father hasten to lovingly answer all the prayers of his beloved children.Jesus asks us to wait on God patiently and expectantly after we have made our prayers to him.Have patience like the defenceless widow and pray with faith but without anxiety or worry.God is much closer to you than you can ever know and he hears all your prayers. Cheer up and trust God and  wholly depend upon his goodness and wisdom.

Click this link for a video reflection

http://bcove.me/fbtretyq

God Bless.

Random Reflections

Mass Readings for 11.11.11

Wisdom 13:1--9

Luke 17:26--37

The first reading is a warning to all those who follow idolatry in one form or the other. God's judgement is upon them. The Gospel reading  warns us christians to be faithful to God and not be overly attached to the world.This creation will pass away one day ( though that 'day' is not specified ) and instantly God's  judgement will be upon all of us both living and dead.This is what happened at the time of Lot and Noah and again foretold by Jesus about the impending destruction of Jerusalem by the Roman army in 70 AD by the Hand of God. In our own memory we  are witnesses to massive destruction by Tsunamis, earthquakes, floods. epidemics etc. Our end may come any time.But the Final End will come when Jesus returns to judge the world. What do we learn here about Jesus coming? Jesus will come when everything is going on normally, when nobody is expecting him.Jesus will come suddenly and without warning.When Jesus comes it will be too late to do anything or get anything. Material possessions have no meaning at that time, and those for whom they do have meaning are destined for judgment.When Jesus comes people side by side will be separated, one for salvation, the other for judgment.When Jesus comes his location will be immediately obvious from far away. It will not be hidden or secret.We christians must be ready and watchful, lest we be lulled into spiritual lethargy by the progress of life from one generation to the next and assume that Jesus wont return after all -- that there must have been some mistake. 

The Apostle Peter issues such a warning for us in  2 Peter 3:3--13.  " First of all you must realize  that in the last days cynical mockers will undoubtedly come -- men whose only guide in life is what they want for themselves -- they will say, "Where is his promised coming ? Since our fathers fell asleep, everything remains exactly as it was since the beginning of creation ! " They are deliberately shutting their eyes to the fact that there were heavens in the old days and an earth formed by God's command out of water and by water.It was by water that the world of those days was deluged and destroyed, but the present heavens and the earth are, also by God's command, being carefully kept and maintained for the fire of the day of judgement and the destruction of wicked men. But you should never lose sight of this fact, dear friends, that with the Lord a day may be a thousand years, and a thousand years only day. It is not that he is dilatory about keeping his own promise as some men seem to think; the fact is that he is very patient with you. He has no wish that any man should be destroyed; he wishes that all men should find the way to repentance. Yet the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. In that day the heavens will vanish in a tearing blast, the very elements will disintegrate in heat and the earth and all its works will disappear."

Let us pray that God will be merciful to us and prepare us for Jesus' sudden coming. Let us not cling to material things and be wholly immersed in the affairs of this world. Let us keep our eyes ever open looking for His appearing. Let us not be like Lot's wife who was so near to salvation but missed it because of her attachments to worldly life. Let us not disregard the love and sacrifice of Jesus for us on the cross .

God Bless.

Random Reflections

Mass Readings for 10.11.11

Wisdom of Solomon 7:22--8:1

Luke 17:20--25

Please click on the link for the day's video reflection.

http://bcove.me/f9q7s0y5

The kingdom of God is present within us when we enjoy inner peace and joy by being faithful to God.The Pharisees failed to recognize in Jesus Christ the presence of God. They wanted Jesus to convince them about his divinity with spectacular signs and wonders. Jesus tells his disciples who recognized the divinity of Jesus that shortly he will be crucified and after being raised from the dead he will stay with them for a brief period before he ascends into heaven.Then the disciples will very much miss the physical presence of Jesus just as we also do now.But Jesus according to his promise lives within us by the Holy Spirit.This is the assurance we have that Jesus who is now seated at the right hand of God the Father will be returning in Glory. The Second Coming of Jesus will be seen by everyone just like the flash of lighting  that lights up the entire sky suddenly and instantly.He will be made present simultaneously to all of us. No one need to go in search of Jesus here and there. Let us pray that Jesus will return in our own lifetime and prepare ourselves for this grand event.

God Bless.

Random Reflections

 

Mass Readings for 9.11.11

Ezekiel 47:1-2,8-9,12

1Cor.3:9-11,16-17

John 2:13-22

Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome

http://bcove.me/r3d85lom

Please click the above link for a video reflection.

Jesus Christ has laid the foundation for his sacred presence in our hearts by sacrificing his life for us on the cross. Hence the Spirit of Christ dwells within us and we have become individually and as a believing community living temples of the Most High God.Just as Jesus cleansed the Jerusalem Temple of all filthy and greedy practices, we have to be cleansed periodically of all impurities found in our souls by the precious blood of Christ.It is time to take stock and spiritually prepare ourselves for the incarnation of Christ in our hearts when we will be soon celebrating Christmas next month. It is not the specific date of Christmas that matters for spiritual christians but our constant efforts at renewal to keep our lives holy and untainted so that the presence of Jesus in our hearts is an ever present reality.

God Bless.

ROMANS 14:13

                                                                      LIVE PEACEABLY WITH EVERYONE

  

" So let's stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall."

Random Reflections

Mass Readings for 8.11.11

Wisdom of Solomon 2:23-3:9

Luke 17: 7-10

God expects from us believing christians a certain standard of behavior and we owe that to Him because He is our sovereign Lord and creator. We have to offer God our acceptable worship and love Him and obey His will. We are not doing God a favor by obeying His commandments rather it is our duty as His faithful servants to carry out His will. We should remember that our serving God is a privilege God graciously bestows on us and this should make us ever grateful to Him. We cannot demand from God a reward for our good behavior however God in his graciousness takes care of us like a loving father. God created us in His own image to enjoy His everlasting fellowship and happiness. Unfortunately Adam sinned and God had to send a redeemer Jesus Christ ) to save us from our sins and restore the original image in which we had been created.This spiritual restoration process is gradual and painful like that of the healing process in our physical bodies; and this process generally  continues after  death for sometime in purgatory. Once the original image in which we had been created is fully restored we are fit enough for everlasting life in the glory of the Father.This painful spiritual process of restoration that we undergo in this world comprising of sufferings and trials ( allowed by God and not of our own making ) is not to be mistaken as punishment from God. Every father desires his children to become perfect and happy and in the same way our Heavenly Father is molding us his beloved children into His perfect image so that we can enjoy His presence in this world and in the next.Therefore death is only a gateway to an even better life.Let us ask God for the gift of faith and perseverance till the end and also let us pray for God's comfort and strength in all our earthly trials and sufferings,

God Bless..

Mass Readings for 7.11.11

Wisdom of Solomon 1:1-7

Luke 17:1-6

One of the best gifts of the " Holy Spirit " ( personified as  'Wisdom' ) are the gifts of  " understanding " , " knowledge " and  " discernment ", together with this we also require the gifts of " actionable faith  " and " true love ".These gifts enable us to discern the will of God for us, know His true love and have knowledge of what is a strong, unshakable and actionable faith.With the powerful guidance of the Holy Spirit we will neither easily fall into the trap of sin or be the cause of making others to fall into sin.At the same time we also acquire the moral courage to correct a sinner  with a gentle. forgiving christian attitude, any number of times in the day. Christ promised to clothe us with the necessary strength and fearlessness (the fear is that the person may take advantage of our kindness) to forgive an erring brother countless number of times.That is why the disciples ask Jesus to increase their faith. A child like simple faith in the promise of God is called actionable faith and it can move mountains. When a father asks his child to jump from a tree into his waiting arms below. the child without evaluating the skill. strength and capacity of the father simply jumps unthinkingly..The child does not use its mind, it simply puts its trust in the fathers love for her and her well being. This is the faith "small as a mustard seed ".which Jesus says is sufficient for us. This faith each one of us has, but do we act on the faith fully trusting our Father's every Word just like the small child ? We have to practice actionable faith from small beginnings as prompted by the Holy Spirit..Live a holy life pleasing to God and cultivate the friendship of the Holy Spirit  and know God's will according to God.s Word and exercise your faith boldly with a simple and strong faith in God.We should take care not to be misled by our flesh or the evil spirit. That is why the gift of discernment is necessary. Let us seek for these gifts from the Holy Spirit.

God  Bless

In All The Seasons Of Life God Is In Control

Random Reflections

Mass Readings for 6.11.11

First Reading: Wisdom 6: 12-16

Second Reading: 1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18

Gospel: Matthew 25: 1-13

  

This Sunday's readings bring familiar warnings about preparation for the end of our own world, the end of our own time and our passage to another world. They tell us that a searching, watching and evolving heart is essential for a lively, dynamic faith in God.  They ask us whether we are ready for these events and how we are preparing for them.

 Since Jesus' parable in today's gospel has five well-prepared, wise women, the first reading chosen for today shows us wisdom personified as a woman. The author advises Jews in Alexandria not to envy the wisdom of the pagan philosophers, because they themselves have true wisdom in their sacred scripture, a wisdom which regulates not only this life but the next also.  Hence, they must live their lives in strict conformity with the divine wisdom given them so generously by God.  In the second reading, Paul assures those Christians who expected Jesus' second coming in their own lifetime that the death and resurrection of Jesus is powerful enough to save even those who die before the second coming of Jesus. However they are cautioned to be alert, well-prepared and vigilant. In the gospel parable of the ten virgins, the foolish virgins represent the "Chosen People of God" who were waiting for the Messiah, but were shut out from the messianic banquet because they were unprepared.The universal meaning is that the five foolish virgins represent those who fail to prepare for the end of their lives.  What matters is not the occasional or the last-minute burst of spiritual fervor but habitual attention to one's responsibilities before God.  At the final judgment, there will be no depending upon the resources of others, no begging or borrowing of grace.  The parable implies that we should attend to duties of the present moment, preparing now rather than waiting until it is too late.

 We need to be wise enough to remain ever prepared.  Wise Christians find Jesus in the most ordinary experiences of daily living -- in the people they meet, the events that take place, and the situations in which they find themselves, and they carefully make their daily choices for God. They are ready to put the commandment of love into practice by showing kindness, mercy and forgiveness. 

  Let us be sure that our Lamps are ready for the end of our lives. Spiritual readiness, preparation and growth are the   result of intentional habits built into one's life. We cannot depend on a Sunday Mass or morning service to provide for all our spiritual needs, nor on Christian fellowship to provide us with spiritual development. These disciplines include taking time for prayer talking to God and listening to Him by reading the Bible; frequently receiving the sacraments with devotion; acts of  loving service to others; moral faithfulness and loving obedience; and spending time with other Christians for mutual prayer, study and encouragement.They also include cultivating attitudes of  humility, compassion, mercy and forgiveness towards others  As these habits become developed, they cease to be a struggle and begin to be a source of strength and blessing.  They make our life powerful against the onslaught of the world and keep us well prepared to meet our Saviour whenever he returns or at the time of our death.

Graham Greene once observed: "There is always one moment when the door opens and lets the future in." Will you be ready when your time comes? Robert Runcie was.  During a battle in WWII, a British tank was hit. The crew, except for the co-driver, scrambled out. The turret on the tank was stuck in such a position that it could not be opened, pinning the co-driver inside. Under heavy fire, a soldier jumped out of his own tank, ran to turn the turret, and dragged the co-driver out. That soldier, Robert Runcie, was ready to do what was needed in WWII. He was also ready to do what was needed when he became Archbishop of Canterbury many years later. Victory goes to those who are prepared. Preparation and character go hand in hand. One more thing needs to be said. It is amazing that many of us who are prepared for life, fail to prepare for eternity. We get our degrees in top schools and universities.We position ourselves for the right jobs. We set our goals ten years in advance. We know where we want to retire. Each year we invest in retirement plans for a secure and comfortable old age.. And we totally disregard the most important reality of all, our relationship with God until it's too late, and we are unprepared. When Bishop Philip Brooks, author of "O, Little Town of Bethlehem," was seriously ill, he requested that none of his friends come to see him.  But when an acquaintance of his named Robert Ingersoll, the famous anti-Christian propagandist, came to see him he allowed him to enter his room.  Ingersoll said, "I appreciate this very much, especially when you aren't letting any of your close friends see you."  Bishop Brooks responded, "Oh, I'm confident of seeing them in the next world, but this may be my last chance to see you."

Are you ready and well prepared for the biggest thing in your life ? Your address after you are gone from the world is the most important thing that matters now.

God Bless.