Walk in the Spirit Nov. 2015

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"O Lord, to Receive a Touch of Your Love"

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WALK IN THE SPIRIT November 2015 Volume 11 Issue 15

"O Lord to receive a touch of Your Love"

ISSN 1391-5967

Publication: Fr. Siri Oscar Abayaratne Kithu Dana Pubuduwa

"O Lord, to Receive a Touch of Your Love"

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SHARING ON PRAYER November 2015

“We shall behold the glory of the Lord.”

What is the Glory of the Lord?

What is the Glory of Christ?

It is fruit of His drinking from the fount of Love. It is the manifestation of love’s fullness : like the myriad rays of sheer beauty that emanate from a ‘gem’ bathed in light.

One ray that would attract my attention is – Vulnerability of the Love possessed.

Jesus was ‘vulnerable’ because of Love.

Fr. Siri Oscar Abayaratne

"O Lord, to Receive a Touch of Your Love"

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Sunday 1st November 2015 31st Sunday of Ordinary Time All Saints Revelation: 7/2-4, 9-14 Psalm:24/1-6 1 John: 3/1-3 Matthew:5/1-12 Introduction

“Do not damage the land or the sea or the trees until we put the seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.” I heard the number of those who had been marked with the seal, one hundred and forty-four thousand marked from every tribe of the Israelites. After this I had a vision of a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation, race, people, and tongue. They stood before the throne and before the Lamb, wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands. They cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation comes from our God, who is seated on the throne, and from the Lamb.’” All the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They prostrated themselves before the throne, worshiped God and exclaimed: “Amen! Blessing and glory, wisdom and thanksgiving, honor, power and might be to our God forever and ever. Amen” Then one of the elders spoke up and said to me, “Who are these wearing white robes, and where did they come from?” I said to him, “My lord, you are the one who knows.” He said to me, “These are the ones who have survived the time of great distress; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Prayerful Awareness

In the Apostles Creed we state that: ‘we believe in the communion of saints’. Whom would you call a saint?

It is recorded that there are over 10,000 persons who have been canonized or named as saints in the Catholic Church. The Church sees in these saints nothing more than friends and servants of God whose holy lives have made them worthy of His special love.

We may like to broaden the concept of saints to include all those who are in heaven. Because there are such a multitude of those who have lead saintly lives pleasing to God but they have not been fortunate enough to grab any publicity. God has surely canonized more saints than we could imagine. Today we celebrate the lives they lived here on earth and their present life before the heavenly Father in communion with all of us here on earth.

Preparing us for this wonderful celebration is The Entrance Antiphon: ‘Let us rejoice in the Lord and keep a festival in honor of all the saints. Let us join with the angels in joyful praise to the Son of The game of cricket has been deGod.’ scribed by George Bernard Shaw as The First Proclamation 22 flannelled fools being watched by Then I saw another angel come up 22,000 flannelled fools. A person who from the East, holding the seal of the is not a cricket fan would see the game living God He cried out in a loud voice of cricket and those who watch it as to the four angels who were given crazy. But for those taking part in the power to damage the land and the sea, event or are willing spectators, it is the

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essence of life itself. In the same vein the scene described in the first proclamation where a multitude standing before the throne of God dressed in white and singing the praises of God can also be considered crazy by some people. But this huge throng before God on His throne was expressing their utmost happiness, glorifying, thanking, honoring and praising God. I would venture to say that they had found the secret that St. Augustine expressed in the following words; ‘My soul was made for thee O God it will not rest until it rests in thee.’

To be in the presence of the eternal Triune God Who Is love is happiness in its fullness. That is paradise, ecstasy, eternal bliss!!!

The Gospel Proclamation When he saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him. He began to teach them, saying; “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called Children of God. Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you (falsely) because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great

in heaven. Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Gaze at Jesus The ultimate in happiness is to be found in the eternal experience of the presence of God. If we acknowledge this statement, then what is it that stands in the way of our reaching this objective? The short answer is anything and everything that would give us temporary satisfaction. Jesus in proclaiming the Beatitudes tells us to discover true blessedness in being unsatisfied by worldly standards so that our thirst for God remains unblemished and ever renewed.

The Second Proclamation See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God. Yet so we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we shall be has not yet been revealed. We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope based on him makes himself pure, as he is pure.

Our sonship The filial relationship with God the Father and the fraternal relationship with God the Son and the experience of the indwelling presence of God the Holy Spirit is our destiny. This destiny is already given and is waiting to be discovered by us who need to repent - turn around in order to ‘see’ it.

BELOVED WEARE CHILDREN NOW. Praise the Lord!

Prayer Starter

Lord Holy Spirit! Give us the grace to see ourselves for who we truly "O Lord, to Receive aare Touch of Your Love" in praise and thanksgiving. .....

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Monday 2nd November 2015 Isaiah: 25/6-9 Psalm:23/1-6 Romans: 5/5-11 John: 6/37-40 The First Proclamation On this mountain, for all peoples, Yahweh Sabaoth is preparing a banquet of rich food, a banquet of fine wines, of succulent food, of wellstrained wines. On this mountain, he has destroyed the veil which used to veil all peoples, the pall enveloping all nations; he has destroyed death for ever. Lord Yahweh has wiped away the tears from every cheek; he has taken his people's shame away everywhere on earth, for Yahweh has spoken. And on that day, it will be said, 'Look, this is our God, in him we put our hope that he should save us, this is Yahweh, we put our hope in him. Let us exult and rejoice since he has saved us.'

Fix your gaze on Jesus Let us exult and rejoice since He has saved us...! Dearest Lord, Yours is a done deed; proof is in the incarnation of the Christ in human form as Jesus, His living a very ordinary life under deprived circumstances in the extraordinary manner of experiencing the love of the Creator in every moment, and His loving response to the 'Abba' in loving humanity's entire gamut till His death on the cross conveying the simple message that the 'Creator loves and cherishes you, regardless of your present state/condition'; His life is proof positive that humanity in it's fallen state is yet able to experience and stay in a state of experiential love!

This is God's dream for us; S/His plan is no other. The onus however is

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All Souls on us to now believe this, own up to this, and to experientially taste/live it.

The journey before us is to awaken to the liberty and the healing, the tasting of the bounty we 're been given in all of it's aspects! It is ours for the taking, were we to work up the courage to claim it! And, the wonder is that this courage too is gifted us, were we to choose so!

Let us liken this to a big fat deposit our big brother has made to our account at the bank. To enjoy the benefits of this gift given us, firstly we have to accept (believe in) the deposit made. Secondly, we have to take the steps necessary to claim it. So we have to get dressed and go to the Bank or ATM to draw-upon it. Nowadays, you could do this on-line too!

The Holy Spirit, the facilitator stands ready to teach us how to access God's love and bounty right now, right here. So eat-up the Living Word; simply change our thinking and affirm these scriptures to ourselves; let it become our mantra for today... let Jesus' assurance, "It is my Father's will that whoever sees the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and that I should raise that person up on the last day" echo and re-echo in our hearts today...!

Prayer Starter Thank You Lord for Your constant Love and Care. It is indeed liberating to know that to experience this love, all we've got to do is believe, and turn from our erroneous thinking...back to Your ways, the ways You want us to think and believe. All grace is ready to flow through once this simple turn is made...

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Tuesday 3rd November 2015 St. Martin de Porres, Religious Romans: 12/5-16 Psalm:131/1-3 Luke:14/15-24 The Gospel Proclamation One of the dinner guests, on hearing this, said to him, 'Blessed is anyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!" Then Jesus said to him, "Someone gave a great dinner and invited many. At the time for the dinner he sent his slave to say to those who had been invited, 'Come, for everything is ready now.' But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, 'I have bought a piece of land; and I must go out and see it; please accept my regrets.' Another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to try them out, please accept my regrets.' Another said, 'I have just been married, and therefore I cannot come.' So the slave returned and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and said to his slave, 'Go out at once into the streets and lanes of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame. And the slave said, 'Sir, what you ordered has been done, and there is still room.' Then the master said to the slave, 'Go out into the roads and lanes, and compel people to come in, so that my house may be filled. For I tell you, none of those who were invited will taste my dinner.'"

Prayerful Awareness In Jesus' story, many people turned down the invitation because the timing was inconvenient. We too do the same, and our excuses may look reasonable - work, duties, family responsibilities, financial needs. Nevertheless GOD's INVITATION is the

MOST IMPORTANT in our lives.

Jesus reminds us that the TIME will come when God will offer the invitation to OTHERS. Then it would be TOO LATE to get into the banquet.

In Jesus' day it was customary to send TWO invitations to a party - the first, to announce the event. The second to tell the guests that EVERYTHING was READY. Here, the guests insulted the host by making excuses to the second invitation.

In Israel's history, God's first invitation came from MOSES and the prophets, the second came from God's Son. the religious leaders accepted the FIRST invitation. They believed that God had called them to be HIS PEOPLE. But they insulted God by refusing to accept HIS SON. So God sent His Son to the WHOLE WORLD of needy people.

We see and read Jesus' words against seeking STATUS and in favour of hard work and even suffering. Let us not lose sight of the end result of all our humility and self-sacrifice. A JOYOUS BANQUET WITH OUR LORD. God never asks us to give up something good, unless God PLANS to replace it with something EVEN BETTER. Jesus is not calling us to join Him in a LABOR Camp but in a FEAST. The WEDDING SUPPER OF THE LAMB, when God and His beloved Church will be joined forever.

Prayer Starter Father in heaven thank You for the invitation to the banquet. For the great gift of Your Son, who promised to prepare a place for us. Thank You Jesus, that You are preparing us for that place.

"O Lord, to Receive a Touch of Your Love"

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Wednesday 4th November 2015 St. Charles Borromeo, Bishop Romans: 13/8-10 Psalm: 112/1-2, 4-5, 9 Luke: 14/25-33 The First Proclamation Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. The commandments, 'You shall not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not covet"; and any other commandment, are summed up in this word, "love your neighbor as yourself.' Love does no wrong to a neighbor, therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.

The Gospel Proclamation Now large crowds were travelling with him, and he turned and said to them, "Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters; yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him, saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.' Or what king, going out to wage war against another king, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? If he cannot, then, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for the terms of peace. So therefore, none of you can become my dis-

ciple if you do not give up all your possessions.

Gaze at Jesus Lord Jesus, thank You for Your words. Your words challenge me to get my priorities correct. Lord I know

by Your mercy, that if I am attached to anything, it can prevent my walk with You. The voice that emanates from my attachment can drown the still small voice of the Holy Spirit. So help me; I want to be Your disciple.

Prayerful Awareness The Sinhala word for disciple is revealing! It is SHRAVAKAYA. i.e. One who listens! To listen, we must train ourselves to be still at least once a day.

This time we call "My Hour" in the Kithu Dana Pubuduwa. God's word says, "Be still and know that I am God!" It is time for all peoples, for all time; until time itself comes to an end.

I would humbly suggest that you set aside five minutes to listen to the sounds of the environment right now.

Do you hear the birds chirping? Do you hear the sound of the traffic? Do you hear human voices? Can you perceive the sound within the sound? BE SITLLAND KNOW THAT I AM GOD. Gaze at my sonship Lord, as I engage in Lexio Divina on today's Gospel proclamation, I find that my greatest attachment is to my own sinful self!

In Your mercy, help me to listen to You. Prayer Starter Lord, Have mercy on me a sinner and help me to be Your disciple.

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Thursday 5th November 2015 Romans: 14/7-12 Psalm: 27/1, 4, 13-14 Luke: 15/1-10 Introduction The underlying theme in today’s Proclamations is that we belong to the Lord irrespective of the circumstances we find ourselves in, alive or dead, sinful or otherwise, and hence none of us has the right to judge others and consider them inferior in any manner!

First Proclamation For none of us lives for himself and none of us dies for himself; while we are alive, we are living for the Lord, and when we die, we die for the Lord: and so, alive or dead, we belong to the Lord. It was for this purpose that Christ both died and came to life again: so that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living. Why, then, does one of you make himself judge over his brother, and why does another among you despise his brother? All of us will have to stand in front of the judgement-seat of God: as scripture says: ‘By my own life says the Lord, every knee shall bow before me, every tongue shall give glory to God.’ It is to God, then, that each of us will have to give an account of himself.

Gospel Proclamation The tax collectors and sinners, however, were all crowding round to listen to Him, and the Pharisees and scribes complained saying, ‘This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.’ So He told them this parable: ‘Which one of you with a hundred sheep, if he lost one, would fail to leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the missing one till he found it? And when he found it, would he not joyfully take it on his shoulders and then, when he got home, call together his friends and neighbours, saying to them, “Rejoice with me, I have found my sheep that was lost.”

In the same way, I tell you, there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner

repenting than over ninety-nine upright people who have no need of repentance.

‘Or again, what woman with ten drachmas would not, if she lost one, light a lamp and sweep out the house and search thoroughly till she found it? And then, when she had found it, call together her friends and neighbours, saying to them, “Rejoice with me, I have found the drachma I lost.” In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing among the angels of God over one repentant sinner.’

Prayerful Awareness In today’s Gospel Proclamation our Lord Jesus Christ describes (using parables of a lost sheep and a lost coin) to what lengths He will go to, in search of us sinners until we repent and get back in His beloved embrace! and the joy felt in heaven over one redeemed sinner! Oh what a friend we have in Jesus! who let go of all heavenly glory to be born a slave and face immense pain and an agonising death on the cross (Philippians 2: 6-8) to lay down His life as atonement for mankind’s sin in order to restore our Father / son relationship with Almighty God, our Abba Father, so that whosoever believeth in this truth can now claim His Holy Spirit to be anointed as a child of Almighty God! This awesome unbelievable gift is ours not through any of our own effort, but purely by God’s grace and our faith in His mercy and goodness! Amen! Alleluia!

Song of Praise Yahweh is my light and my salvation, whom should I fear? Yahweh is the fortress of my life, whom should I dread?

One thing I ask of Yahweh, one thing I seek: to dwell in Yahweh’s house all the days of my life, to enjoy the sweetness of Yahweh, to seek out his temple.

This I believe: I shall see the goodness of Yahweh, in the land of the living.

Put your hope in Yahweh, be strong, let your heart be bold, put your hope in Yahweh. (Psalm 27:1, 4, 13-14).

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Friday 6th November 2015 Romans:15/14-21 Psalm:98/1-4 Luke: 16/1-8 The First Proclamation I myself feel confident about you, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another. .... In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to boast of my work for God. For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished, through me to win obedience from the Gentiles, ... Thus I make it my ambition to proclaim the good news not where Christ has already been named, so that I do not build on someone else's foundation, but as it is written, "Those who have never been told of him shall see, and those who have never heard of him shall understand."

The Gospel Proclamation Then Jesus said to the disciples, "There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was squandering his property. So he summoned him and said to him, "What is this that I hear about you? Give me an accounting of your management, because you cannot be my manager any longer." Then the manager said to himself, 'What will I do, now that my master is taking the position away from me?.... So, summoning his master's debtors one by one, he asked the first, 'How much do you owe my master?' He answered, 'A hundred jugs of olive oil.' He said to him, 'Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it fifty.' Then he asked another, 'and how much do you owe?' He replied, 'A hundred containers of wheat.' He said to him, 'Take your bill and make it eighty.'

And his master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly, for the children of this age

are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light.

Prayerful Awareness The discourse describes the conduct of a steward - someone who acts on behalf of a master, in the business of the master.

Therefore, this scripture passage gives insight, especially to someone, who is taking a leadership role in the church.

In this discourse, Jesus tries to show the dishonesty of the steward, who tried to take advantage of his position, for his own personal benefit. Similarly, in today's context, those who are entrusted with leadership in the church/association, may be tempted to act likewise - to obtain, may be monetary benefits, to become an influential person, to obtain fame, popularity, for himself, through manipulation.

Jesus, in this parable, also commends the dishonest steward (vs. 8). The steward acted prudently, in order to secure his future well-being in this world. But, what this implies is, that believers need to work, not to secure their immediate future in this world, but the everlasting future in the hereafter.

The leadership role one plays ought to be a stepping stone for his own spiritual development, through which, his future in the hereafter will be secured. Jesus said, "If you are my disciple, die to your self daily, take up your cross and follow me." Similarly, one who takes up a leadership role in the church, is called to die to self - give up selfishness, bear up threats to his reputation, to sacrifice his fame and status, to sacrifice his leisure, be subjected to even unreasonable accusations etc. The merits thus accrued, will go to ensure a secure future, in the life hereafter.

Prayer Starter Sing a new song to the Lord, who has done marvelous deeds, whose right hand and holy arm, have won the victory (Ps.98:1) ...)

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Saturday 7th November 2015

St. Willibrord

of money donated for charity or to the church, sponsoring public welfare work are o.k. but if done for vain glory, one receives no reward. The love one puts into these actions determines the merit. Wealth can be used to be faithful to God. The St. Willibrord main thing is not to give it the place one He was born in 658 A.D. He was a should give to God in life. It is either God Benedictine monk and had his early edu- or money. No two masters. We've got to cation at the Abbey of Ripon near York. be vigilant and examine our conscience reguHe was commissioned to the mission of larly. If we possess ill-gotten money we Frisia. When he visited Rome in 692 he can convert that as means of salvation received apostolic authorization for his how? - through charity. Take the example missionary labours. On his second visit to of Zacheus. (Luke 19:1-10).

Rome he was consecrated Archbishop of "A theory that makes profit the excluthe Friscians and was given the name Clem- sive norm and ultimate end of economic ent - meaning 'merciful'. He was forced into activity is morally unacceptable. The disexile by Radbod in 716 but he came back ordered desire for money cannot but prowhen Radbod died in 719. Died: Novem- duce perverse effects. It is one of the causes ber 07, 739. of the many conflicts which disturb the The Gospel Proclamation social order. A system that subordinates the basic rights of individuals and of And I tell you, make friends for groups to the collective organisation of proyourselves by means of dishonest duction is contrary to human dignity. Evwealth so that when it is gone, they ery practice that reduces persons to nothmay welcome you into the eternal ing more than a means of profit enslaves homes. man, leads to idolizing money and con"Whoever is faithful in a very little tributes to the spread of atheism. "You is faithful also in much; and whoever cannot serve God and mammon." is dishonest in a very little is dishonest (C.C.C.2424) also in much. ... No slave can serve two In the first proclamation we have St. masters; for a slave will either hate the Paul's greetings to various people and he one and love the other, or be devoted to puts the finishing touches to the letter with the one and despise the other. You can- a doxology which summarizes the main not serve God and wealth. .... points. The acquaintances he names in his Prayerful Awareness letter number over twenty. Even our Lord Small things, faithfulness in small was at the receiving end of personal ministhings do count. Our Lord engaged in small trations, substances and time of devout things like taking finished products of His and grateful women. 'I preach about Jesus foster father to the customers, fetching Christ". (Romans 16:25) Do we make use water from the well for His mother etc. of the opportunities we have to preach Our sanctification lies in small things. For Jesus Christ? We can use words and deeds example - to obey or observe a certain point to achieve this goal. Good and exemplary of law, be true to one's word or promises, deeds preach without preaching.

Prayer Starter refrain from being inconvenient to others etc. God looks not at the work or the Help us to grab opportunities availamount of work done but at our motive in able to take Your word to others. Amen. doing them. Big or great things - lump sums

Romans: 16/3-9, 16, 22-27 Psalm:145/2-5, 10-11 Luke: 16/9-15

"O Lord, to Receive a Touch of Your Love"

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Sunday 8th November 2015 Thirty-Second Sunday of Ordinary Time 1 Kings; 17/10-16 Psalm:146/6-10 Hebrews: 9/24-28 Mark: 12/38-44 or 12/41-44 There is in every person an inner thirst to receive and give love which manifests itself in the life of every man and woman from birth to death. The word we celebrate during the Eucharist of today is on the giving aspect in the life of the followers of Jesus. He/She has to give, give and give.

Let us begin with the Gospel … ‘Beware of the scribes who like to walk about in long robes, to be greeted obsequiously in the market squares, to take the front seats in the synagogues and the places of honour at banquets; these are the men who swallow the property of widows, while making a show of lengthy prayers. The more severe will be the sentence they receive.’

Jesus does not seem to be a person who spends time in preparing for His next teaching. Events of His daily life, a very human life, speak the Abba’s mind to Him. He has got enough material to keep Him going, to teach, to preach and get followers.

He is seated opposite the treasury and He sees the Scribes making a show of lengthy prayers and making big contributions to the treasury. He spots the widow with her meager possession. He must have watched her with very keen eyes so

that He could conclude with ease that she has put in everything that she possessed, all that she had to live on. The power of the Abba’s love within is kindled. It is in this love that His eye pierces to the inside of the Scribes’ movements, even regarding their religious act of making an offering in the Temple.

Our minds and hearts should go to the mind and heart of Jesus who takes in all that happens around Him and gives powerful expression to it in words that challenge the world’s value system of any period in the history of man, “Blessed are the poor.”

Who on earth one could ask oneself or others, could see blessedness in deprivation, poverty, hunger, thirst. He could speak so blandly of the blessedness of the poor, blessedness of those who go hungry, blessedness of those who are persecuted, blessedness of peace-makers (not the superficial peace that we are now getting accustomed to speak very glibly). One who views the passing scene in the happenings of any period of time would see that everyone is out to overcome this state of affairs in some way or the other and we see the pathetic state of people who in their various attempts to conquer poverty, hunger and division would be giving in to the 3 P’s – Power, Possession and Prestige.

We move on to the first reading.

Elijah, the prophet went off to Sidon. And when he reached the city gate, there was a widow gathering sticks; addressing her he said:

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‘Please bring a little water in a vessel for me to drink’. She was setting off to bring it when he called after her, ‘Please’ he said ‘bring me a scrap of bread in your hand’. ‘As the Lord your God lives’ she replied, ‘I have no baked bread, but only a handful of meal in a jar and a little oil in a jug; I am just gathering a stick or two to go and prepare this for myself and my son to eat and then we shall die.’ …

We could see Elijah with little or no concern for the needs of the poor widow and her son makes a demand that she gives all that she has. However the God from above would see to it that the one who gives selflessly does not go empty handed. For thus the Lord speaks, the God of Israel; “Jar of meal shall not be spent, jug of oil shall not be emptied, before the day when the Lord sends rain on the face of the earth” We’ve got to take the Lord seriously. We could see what demands Jesus makes of His followers. No wonder that He was able to tell His disciples, “Go, sell all that you have, give it to the poor and come follow me.” That may be the price that we’ve got to pay to enjoy the peace that comes from above and it is not an achievement of human endeavour.

The Second Reading: Hebrews 9/24-28

of God on our behalf. And he does not have to offer himself again and again like the high priest going into the sanctuary year after year with the blood that is not his own, or else he would have had to suffer over and over again since the world began. Instead of that, he has made his appearance once and for all ….

To do away with sin by sacrificing himself …..

Here in the second reading the Holy Spirit is leading us to take a good look at Jesus. He is a Giver par excellence. He gives Himself totally not because we are good, not because we have made a show of our generosity but despite all the weaknesses of man. He gives himself fully, totally, so that sinners could find real meaning in their lives.

The Spirit of the Lord is leading us to come to a deep understanding of what priesthood is all about. We are told that it is not only in the spiritual gift of ordination to the ministerial priesthood but in and through our Baptism we all receive an ordination to the priesthood and that would mean giving all that we possess, even the little that we possess, like the widow in the Gospel with only faith that everything is in the hands of the Lord above.

Let us pray: Almighty Father, strong is Your justice and great is Your mercy. Protect us in the burdens and challenges of life. Shield our minds from the distortion of pride and enfold our It is not as though Christ had en- desire with the beauty of truth. Help tered a man-made sanctuary which us to become more aware of Your was only modeled on the real one, living design so that we may more but it was heaven itself, so that he willingly give our lives in service to could appear in the actual presence all.

"O Lord, to Receive a Touch of Your Love"

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Monday 9th November 2015 The Dedication of the Lateran Basilica Ezekiel: 47/1-12 or 1 Corinthians: 3/9-17 Psalm:46/2-3, 5-6, 8-9 John: 2/13-22 The First Proclamation He brought me back to the entrance of the Temple, where a stream flowed eastwards from under the Temple threshold, for the Temple faced east. The water flowed from under the right side of the Temple, south of the altar. He took me out by the north gate and led me right round outside as far as the outer east gate where the water flowed out on the right-hand side....

He said, 'This water flows east down to the Arabah and to the sea; and flowing into the sea it makes its waters wholesome. Wherever the river flows, all living creatures teeming in it will live. Fish will be very plentiful, for wherever the water goes it brings health, and life teems wherever the river flows... Along the river, on either bank, will grow every kind of fruit tree with leaves that never wither and fruit that never fails; they will bear new fruit every month, because this water comes from the sanctuary. And their fruit will be good to eat and the leaves medicinal.'

Fix your gaze on Jesus Lord, You are Good indeed.... everything that You touch becomes blessed and uplifting...

It would be correct to liken the Temple depicted herein to be the abode of the Source of All Goodness ... the blessings flowing out there-from journeying far and wide, beneficial to all life which thrive and blossom forth in the surroundings.

The Lord goes another step beyond too. Not only is the Lord Good-

ness itself, S/He also wants us to consciously become aware of the goodness we're bestowed with, standing tall and bountiful there-from. With gladness and gratefulness springing forth from our hearts, we are to stay in S/ His presence and journey towards our complete health and integration. That there is a journey towards perfection is evident from the clue that the leaves are medicinal, meaning that there are systemic imbalances needing correction!

And this is exactly what Jesus does in today's scripture when He visits the temple in Jerusalem; humanity, so prone to going astray, becoming diffused in attention and orientation, mired in selfish wants and desires, kneeling before the flesh, the world, and the devil to find succour and satisfaction, pollute the very place we live at. We desecrate the temple of our bodies, our families, our places of worship, our communities, and our nations with idols of many kinds, worshipping the Mammon! Most of the time we are driven by our egoistic agendas, not entering in to our true worth and nobleness.

Such a pity, since this is clearly not the intent of our Creator for us.

But, when we choose to go 'our own ways', such is what we reap. Can we get back to our orientation that we are in a friendly creation? That this creation of our 'Loving Father' is good for us? That we are called to be bountiful and blessed!

Prayer Starter Thank You Lord for reminding us that we exist in a friendly and loving environment! That we are called upon to experience a drop of Your love on a continuous basis; an eternal moment of being in love...

"O Lord, to Receive a Touch of Your Love"

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Tuesday 10th November 2015 St. Leo the Great, Pope & Doctor Wisdom: 2/23-3/9 Psalm: 34/1-2, 15-18 Luke: 17/7-10 The First Proclamation For God created us for incorruption, and made us in the image of his own eternity, but through the devil’s envy death entered the world, and those who belong to his company experience it.

But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and no torment will ever touch them. .....

The Gospel Proclamation Who among you would say to your slave who has just came in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, ‘Come here at once and take your place at the table’? Would you not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, put on your apron and serve me while I eat and drink; later you may eat and drink’? Do you thank the slave for doing what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, ‘We are worthless slaves; we have done only what weought to havedone!’”

Prayerful Awareness We have been entrusted with a great vocation; To build the Kingdom of God. Jesus really came to earth for this purpose. That was God’s main desire. Thus is the love of God for the whole of mankind.

Today we have to pause and think whether we are discharging our duties, just because God had entrusted them to us or because of the love which wells up in our heart.

As stated in the first proclamation, God made man to His own image and

likeness. The image and likeness of God, is Love. God calls us to act with love. It is not only discharging one’s duty that is expected of us, but also to act with love. Love should be foremost in all our works. Let us pray to the Lord to make us aware and conscious of His calling.

The verses 7-10 tells us that we can never put God in our debt and can never have any claim on Him. When we have done our best, we have done only our duty; and a man who has done his duty has done only what in any event, he would be compelled to do. It may be possible to satisfy the claims of law; but every lover knows that nothing can ever satisfy the claim of love.

Jesus accepted and implemented His mission with sheer internal freedom. All what was entrusted by God to Him, He performed without any reward. In the same way, Jesus wants His followers to perform their duties without any reward from God. All what Jesus had said and done on earth was totally in thanksgiving to God His Father. In moments of silence Jesus sought His Father’s presence and then He performed all that was expected of Him. Consequently God’s love flowed out to all corners of the earth giving solace to the entire world. It is this Jesus Who calls us to follow Him. Jesus is The Way. Prayer Starter We thank You Father, for the vocation You have gifted us to serve You and one another willingly and lovingly. Help us Lord, let us be grateful servants, working for the Kingdom of God, planting the seed of the Word, harvesting bread for all, and making sure that the communities of the world are gathered as one. Amen.

"O Lord, to Receive a Touch of Your Love"

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Wednesday 11th November 2015 Wisdom: 6/1-11 Psalm: 82/3-4, 6-7 Luke: 17/11-19 The Gospel Proclamation On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him.

Keeping their distance, they called out, saying, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" When he saw them, he said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were made clean. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He prostrated himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus asked, "Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" Then he said to him, "Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well."

Prayerful Awareness At the beginning of the first Century, there existed a great animosity between the Jews and the Samaritans.

This animosity was so great that the Jews avoided going through Samaria when travelling from Galilee to Jerusalem and took a circuitous route avoiding Samaria. St. Luke in today's Gospel proclamation makes it a point to state that Jesus went purposely through Samaria.

It was also a time when lepers were ostracized from society and an ostracized group of lepers approached

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St. Martin of Tours, Bishop Jesus most probably in the no man's land near the border of the two regions. Jesus healed all ten lepers in the group irrespective of their beliefs.

However it is clear from Our Lord's comments, after He identified the Samaritan leper that all the other nine were indeed Jews. "Was no one found who would turn and give glory to God except this foreigner? " And he said to him, "Rise up, go forth. For your faith has saved you."

The point to be noted in today's Gospel proclamation is that the Samaritan man prostates himself before a Jew. He is acknowledging the Lordship of Jesus. Very interestingly Jesus says 'Your FAITH has SAVED you.'

I can imagine the struggle going on inside the Samaritan man to give up his many Baals and prostrate himself before Jesus. Most probably this Samaritan, would have learnt about the one true God of the Jews and the soon to come Messiah from his Jewish leper acquaintances. But he took a leap of faith that the nine Jews did not. In Jesus' own words he gave glory to God by accepting and prostrating before the Messiah.

Gaze at my sonship I am aware that I too suffered greatly from the leprosy of sin. When I prostrate myself before the Blessed Sacrament I know I am thanking Jesus for His sacrificial death and glorious resurrection for my sake.

Prayer Starter Glory be to the Father and to the Son ....

"O Lord, to Receive a Touch of Your Love"

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Thursday 12th November 2015

St. Josephat, Bishop & Martyr

Wisdom: 7/22-8/1 Psalm:119/89-91, 130, 135, 175 Luke: 17/20-25 First Proclamation For within her is a spirit intelligent, holy, unique, manifold, subtle, mobile, incisive, unsullied, lucid, invulnerable, benevolent, shrewd, irresistible, beneficent, friendly to human beings, steadfast, dependable, unperturbed, almighty, all-surveying, penetrating all intelligent, pure and most subtle spirits.

For Wisdom is quicker to move than any motion; she is so pure, she pervades and permeates all things. She is a breath of the power of God, pure emanation of the glory of the Almighty; so nothing impure can find its way into her. For she is a reflection of the eternal light, untarnished mirror of God’s active power, and image of his goodness.

Although she is alone, she can do everything; herself unchanging, she renews the world, and, generation after generation, passing into holy souls, she makes them into God’s friends and prophets; for God loves only those who dwell with Wisdom. .....

Gospel Proclamation Asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was to come, he gave them this answer, ‘The coming of the kingdom of God does not admit of observation and there will be no one to say, “Look, it is here! Look, it is there!”

For look, the kingdom of God is among you.’ He said to the disciples, ‘A time will come when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of man and will not see it. They will say to you, “Look, it is there!” or, “Look, it is here!”

Make no move; do not set off in pursuit; for as the lightning flashing from one part of heaven lights up the other, so will be the Son of man when his Day

comes. But first he is destined to suffer grievously and be rejected by this generation.

Song of Praise For ever, Yahweh, your word is planted firm in heaven. Your constancy endures from age to age; you established the earth and it stands firm. Through your judgements all stands firm to this day, for all creation is your servant.

As your word unfolds it gives light, and even the simple understand.

Let your face shine on your servant, teach me your will.

May I live only to praise you, may your judgements be my help.

Prayerful Awareness Today’s Word describes the attributes of the Holy Trinity, the creation, and what constitutes Gods’ Kingdom. Let us meditate on them!

We know a kingdom denotes an area of jurisdiction. Hence God’s Kingdom is all that the known universe contains (and beyond) as we say in the CREED (our Profession of Faith). But God gave the angels and man the freedom of choice, and hence although within His purview some angels (devils) and mankind chose to operate on their own wavelength and willingly cut themselves off from God’s protective cover. But God loved the world so much that He sent His only begotten Son to lay down His life as an atonement for this sin in order to restore to us our lost glory. Whosoever believeth in this truth can now claim His Holy Spirit to be anointed back as a child of God to become part of His Kingdom, so that God’s Kingdom is within us and among us, and we are within it! And today’s First Proclamation is a beautiful description of the attributes and the workings of the Holy Spirit! And everything will once again be unified in God’s Kingdom after the Second Coming!

So be it. Come Lord Jesus! Amen! Alleluia!

"O Lord, to Receive a Touch of Your Love"

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Friday 13th November 2015 Wisdom: 13/1-9 Psalm: 19/1-4 Luke: 17/26-37 The First Proclamation For all people who were ignorant of God were foolish by nature, and they were unable from the good things that are seen to know the one who exists, nor did they recognize the artisan while paying heed to his works; but they supposed that either fire or wind or swift air or the circle of the stars, or turbulent water, or the luminaries of heaven were the gods that rule the world. If through delight in the beauty of these things people assumed them to be gods, let them know how much better than these is their Lord, for the author of beauty created them. And if people were amazed at their power and working, let them perceive from them how much more powerful is the one who formed them. For from the greatness and beauty of created things comes a corresponding perception of their Creator. ....

The Gospel Proclamation Just as it was in the days of Noah, so too it will be in the days of the Son of man. They were eating and drinking, and marrying and being given in marriage; until the day Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed all of them. Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot, they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, but on the day that Lot left Sodom, it rained fire and sulfur from heaven and destroyed all of them - it will be like that on the day that the Son of Man is revealed. On that day, anyone on the housetop who has belongings in the house must not come down to take them away; and likewise anyone in the field must not turn back. Remember Lot's wife. Those who try to make their life secure will lose

it, but those who lose their life will keep it. I tell you, on that night there will be two in one bed, one will be taken and the other left. There will be two women grinding meal together, one will be taken and the other left." Then they asked him, "Where, Lord?" He said to them, "Where the corpse is there the vultures will gather.

Prayerful Awareness "Whoever seeks to preserve his life, will lose it, but whoever loses it, will save it." (vs.33) Man is created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). Therefore, as God is immortal, man is immortal too. He spends part of his life here on earth in a body, and the rest of the life, in the hereafter for ever and ever.

But generally, we tend to focus our attention mainly on the component of life, which is lived here and now and tend to ignore the part that will be hereafter, which according to the teachings of Jesus, is far more important. The verses 27 and 28, indicate how in the past, people were not conscious about the life in the hereafter.

Jesus' teachings always seems to stress on the need to exercise our judgement and choice. For example, Jesus said, "You cannot serve God and mammon."

"Those who are not with me, are against me." And today, Jesus tells us that, "Whoever seeks to preserve his life, will lose it." (vs.33) It always is "Either or" We cannot possess both. Therefore, we are called to denounce one, in order to possess the other.

Today, many people talk of the end of the world. But, what is more important is the end of our life, here on earth and how we live this part of our life, in order to be happy, in the next part of our life hereafter.

Prayer Starter The heavens declare the glory of God, the sky proclaims it's builder's craft, One day to the next .... (Ps. 19:2...)

"O Lord, to Receive a Touch of Your Love"

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Saturday 14th November 2015 Wisdom:18/14-16; 19/6-9 Psalm:105/2-3,36-37; 42-43 Luke: 18/1-8 The Gospel Proclamation Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. He said, "In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people. In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, 'Grant me justice against my opponent.' For a while he refused; but later he said to himself, 'Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.' And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?"

Prayerful Awareness Of the two characters we have in this parable, the judge neither feared God nor had respect for people. One who has no fear of the Lord will not have regard for others. When one is forgotten, the other too is forgotten. No faith in God then no faith in man, no love to God then no love to man and hatrad to God then hatred to man. The other character is the widow in dire need of help. A rich influential man must have been her adversary who had done her some wrong. As she was poor and unable to bribe the judge she went to him to obtain her right. Although her request fell on deaf ears she went to him

again and again. Being tired of her he vindicated her right. In one way we are in the widow's boat - in the sense of helplessness and need. The unscrupulous and unjust judge finally gave the persevering widow what she asked for. Then how much more will our heavenly Father, who is all just and loving, hear our prayers? There was no relationship betwen the widow and the judge. We are God's own people, blood bought, ransomed family of God. "The Word became a human being and full of grace and truth lived among us." (Jn 1:14) "We have someone who pleads with the Father on our behalf" (1 Jn.2:1) God will surely vindicate His own people who cry to Him day and night for help. The solutions He gives us are by far better than the ones we ask for in our prayers. He may at times delay granting our petitions with the view to make us more disposed to receive what is asked for. If God were to grant our petitions immediately we might not esteem the grace. Then there is the danger of presumption. The delay in granting a grace is aimed at increasing the faith. It also happens that what is asked for is not granted but the grace to endure the same with a view to increasing faith and experiences and also to help one to see and think positively. Naturally the result is to glorify Him. He wants us to persevere in prayer and never to stop praying and get discouraged. (Lk 18;1) "Before confrontng his elder brother Essau, Jacob wrestles all night with a mysterious figure who refuses to reveal his name, but he blesses him before leaving him at dawn." From this account, the spiritual tradition of the Church has retained the symbol of prayer as a battle of faith and as the triumph of perseverence." (C.C.C.2573) Prayer Starter Make us worthy of the life You have called us to live. Fulfil our desire for goodness and complete the work of faith. Amen.

"O Lord, to Receive a Touch of Your Love"

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Sunday 15th November 2015 Thirty-third Sunday of Ordinary Time found written in the book. Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake; some shall live forever, others shall be an everlasting horror and disgrace. But the wise shall shine brightly like the splendor of the firmament, and those who lead the many Introduction to justice shall be like the stars forAmongst the fears we have as hu- ever. man beings is the fear of the future, Prayerful Awareness especially about how our life and the world as we know it will end. There are The first proclamation begins on a quite a few people who became popu- note of consolation. The assurance of lar by predicting or talking authorita- the presence of someone great whose tively about the future. A few who task is to act as a guardian (Michael, come to mind are Arthur C. Clarke, the great prince, guardian of your Nostradamus, Alvin & Heidi Toffler people) at a time of turmoil and chaos and the numerous astrologers in the is indeed comforting. But there are East. Currently the devastating effect some things that are stated which of global warming is generating a lot could make the reader uneasy. They of interest. Even the prophecies of the are the coming of a time unsurpassed Bible are used to create a fear psycho- in distress, the escape of only a sesis amongst Christians. In the midst lected lot, division of the people into of these prophets of doom we have those who will live like the stars fortoday the entrance antiphon giving a ever and those who will experience evmessage of hope and consolation. erlasting horror and disgrace. The question that will bother us is, in to The Entrance Antiphon which category will I fall? This seems The Lord says: my plans for you to be the purpose of this and the readare peace and not disaster; when you ings to follow. That is to give us a decall me, I will listen to you, and I will sire to belong to God's elect. bring you back to the place from In the gospel proclamation, Jesus where I exiled you. reinforces this desire among His disLet us read the proclamations for ciples. How? Let us read the Gospel today spreading out a spectrum of pre- proclamation prayerfully. dictions regarding the end-times.

The Gospel Proclamation The First Proclamation But in those days after that tribu"At that time there shall arise lation the sun will be darkened and Michael, the great prince, guardian the moon will not give its light, and of our people; it shall be a time unsur- the stars will be falling from the sky passed in distress since nations be- and the powers in the heavens will be gan until that time. At that time your shaken. And then they will see 'the people shall escape, everyone who is Son of Man coming in the clouds' with Daniel: 12/1-3 Psalm: 16/ 5, 8-11 Hebrews: 10/11-14, 18 Mark: 13/24-32

"O Lord, to Receive a Touch of Your Love"

But about

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great power and glory, and then he will send out the angels and gather (his) elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the sky.

Learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near. In the same way, when you see these things happening, know that he is near, at the very gates.

Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

"But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

Gaze at Jesus Jesus is confirming the events predicted in the First proclamation.

Michael has been replaced by Himself as the one on whom 'the elect' will depend for security. Jesus seems to be telling us to focus on His coming rather than the tribulations and disasters that will precede it. He is in other words asking us to look forward to His coming - 'THE PAROUSIA'. Keep on the look out for the signs of His coming with eagerness. But do not try to predict definite times because Jesus says that it is the privilege of the Father to decide. Does the Father Who loves us so much want to surprise us?

Again the question of whether you and I will be included in the elect of the Son of Man is hanging in the balance.

Let us gaze longingly at Jesus and ask Him whether we have been included. The second proclamation gives us the answer.

The Second Proclamation Every priest stands daily at his ministry, offering frequently those same sacrifices that can never take away sins. But this one offered one sacrifice for sins, and took his seat forever at the right hand of God; now he waits until his enemies are made his footstool. For by one offering he has made perfect forever those who are being consecrated. Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer offering for sin.

Our sonship What has Jesus done for us? He has offered one sacrifice for our sins and has taken His seat forever at the right hand of God to plead for us. Forgiveness is available to all those who ask for it. He even waits till His enemies are open enough to become in the least, His foot stools. The footstool of the King is quite a privileged position to be in. It is far better than being outside the door isn't it? The incident when Jesus permitted the sinful woman to anoint His feet with expensive oil, and the incident of the woman who touched the hem of His garment tell us of the advantage of being as close as possible to Him. If the desire to be with Him is in us, Jesus takes over to fulfil that desire despite ourselves. Our sonship is guaranteed because of our Saviour Jesus Christ.

Rather than because of what we have done.

Prayer Starter "Heavenly Father, open our hearts to the silent presence of the spirit of Your Son. Lead us into that mysterious silence where Your love is revealed to all who call "Maranatha' Come Lord Jesus'.

"O Lord, to Receive a Touch of Your Love"

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Monday 16th November 2015 St.Margaret of Scotland, St.Gertrude 1 Macabees:1/10-15, 41-43, 54-57, 62-64 Psalm: 119/53,61,134, 150, 155, 158 Luke: 18/35-43 The Gospel Proclamation As he approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard a crowd going by, he asked what was happening. They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” Then he shouted, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Those who were in front sternly ordered him to be quiet; but he shouted even more loudly, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus stood still and ordered the man to be brought to him; and when he came near, he asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?”

He said, “Lord, let me see again.”

Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight, your faith has saved you.”

Immediately he regained his sight and followed him, glorifying God, and all the people, when they saw it, praised God. Gaze at Jesus’ Sonship Has the Lord ever abandoned anyone who held Him in constant reverence? Has the Lord ever ignored anyone who prayed to Him? (Sirach 2:10) So here we see Jesus telling the blind man in Jericho “Then see!

Your faith has made you well.”

He keeps the promises made in the Old Testament. Jesus saw the depth

of the blind man’s faith - the spiritual sight was not impaired but only the physical sight was. Through attention to physical blindness Jesus draws our attention not to be blind to our faults. He tells us: “Why do you see the speck in your neighbour’s eye but do not notice the log in your own eye?” (Matthew 7:3) Gaze at my sonship Although we have physical sight, do we have spiritual sight? A very common form of blindness is that we see only what we want to see and disregard the rest. How about a father addicted to liquor who just cannot see the misery he is causing his wife and children? It is selfishness that prevents us from seeing.

Because of that, don’t we restrict ourselves to our little world? Then there is the superiority complex - the end result of which is that you look down on others and you place yourself on a high pedestal. In order to overcome all these short comings, let us have an openness to the truth.

When the Centurion saw the way Jesus died on the cross, he said, “This Man was really the Son of God.” (Mark 15:39) Wasn’t he open to truth?

Prayer Starter Lord, help me to see clearly Your Will for me at all times of my life, the loving ways You have already marked out for me, i.e. my vocation. In every sphere of my life help me to say “Thy will be done.”

"O Lord, to Receive a Touch of Your Love"

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Tuesday 17th November 2015 St. Elizabeth of Hungary 2 Maccabees: 6/18-31 Psalm:3/1-7 Luke: 19/1-10 The Gospel Proclamation He entered Jericho and was going through the town and suddenly a man whose name was Zacchaeus made his appearance; he was one of the senior tax collectors and a wealthy man. He kept trying to see which Jesus was, but he was too short and could not see him for the crowd; so he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to catch a glimpse of Jesus who was to pass that way. When Jesus reached the spot he looked up and spoke to him, 'Zacchaeus, come down. Hurry, because I am to stay at your house today.' And he hurried down and welcomed him joyfully. They all complained when they saw what was happening. 'He has gone to stay at a sinner's house,' they said. But Zacchaeus stood his ground and said to the Lord, 'Look, sir, I am going to give half my property to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody I will pay him back four times the amount.' And Jesus said to him, 'Today salvation has come to this house, because this man too is a son of Abraham; for the Son of man has come to seek out and save what was lost.'

Fix your gaze on Jesus Thank You Lord for giving what we really want deep down in overflowing measure....

Zacchaeus clearly was a person who searched for peace and contentment deep down. His situation in life as a senior tax collector required for him to be aligned with the oppressors of the society of that time.

In most probability, he was himself using his station in life to add to the oppression by cheating/extorting on the amounts of tax to collect.

Humanity's fallen nature generally means that positions of power over fellow beings are exploited for personal gain.

He became rich in terms of worldly concerns, but clearly was experiencing dissatisfaction despite worldly blessings, and was experiencing rejection from his brethren. His short stature too added to his miseries. So, he had probably come to the realisation that worldly abundance (kneeling before the world) does not translate to feelings of joy and peace, of self-worth.

And was searching for a solution to his discontent.

The recognition by Jesus- the person everyone was jostling by the roadside to see and experience, and acceptance as a worthy fellow being (being chosen for having a meal with) thus was the tipping point for Zacchaeus to let go of the predominant thought patterns he had been choosing/associating with for so long in life. After-all, those thoughts he had been choosing (sowing) had been giving him bitter results (reaping)!

Jesus, during the course of having dinner gave him the correct (pleasing to the Lord) thoughts to go for, the right path to travel, thus freeing Zacchaeus to let go of his attachments to the worldly things accumulated. Thus was he saved!

Now the challenge before us too is to become aware of what we 'sow' for ourselves by the harvest we gather, allowing us to change and improve the thoughts/ desires/ expectations/ goals/ orientations we've become used to.

Shall we proceed?

Prayer Starter Thank You Lord, for You bring before us the results of our choices....help us to become aware of what we do to ourselves, enabling us to turn, returning us to experiencing a drop of Your love in this eternal moment....

"O Lord, to Receive a Touch of Your Love"

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Wednesday 18th November 2015 Dedication of the Basilica of St.Peter & Paul 2 Macabees:7/1, 20-31 Psalm: 17/1, 5-6, 8, 15 Luke: 19/11-28 OR Acts: 28/11-16, 30-31 Psalm: 98/1-6 Matthew: 14/22-33 The Gospel Proclamation Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but by this time the boat battered by the waves, was far from the land, ... And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. But when the disciples saw him ... they were terrified, saying "It is a ghost!" And they cried out in fear. But immediately, Jesus spoke to them and said, "Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid."

Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water" He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!"

Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?"

When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshipped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God." Gaze at Jesus

are alone with the Father. May be You fell asleep on the grass with the wind blowing against You taking Your tiredness away.

It is now close to dawn, but it is still dark around You. Your physical eyes cannot see through the darkness, but in Your minds eye the Holy Spirit shows You the disciples rowing the boat and their location. The Holy Spirit is clearly commanding You. You could have by-located straight into the boat. Instead You stand on the water. The disciples take You for a ghost. You speak and calm their fears.

Lord teach me to let go and let God by listening to the Holy Spirit.

Prayerful Awareness Let us look at Peter's behaviour. Peter's impulsive nature can be clearly seen. He recognizes the Lord and starts out walking on the water. But the seasoned fisherman looks around, loses his faith and begins to sink. Quickly he recovers and without trying to swim, shouts, "Lord, save me".

Gaze at my sonship

We too, each one of us, give in to our human frailties in our walk with the Lord.

In fact in my case, very often.

After the slip, I repent. And the loving God reminds me of His unconditional love.

I think of Jesus who emptied Himself of all His glory and power and limited Himself to be a human being like you and me The only faculty I possess is my FREE WILL. Thus man becomes the supreme creation, because all other species were created to operate on instinct. So Jesus suffered a great deal to teach us how to use our free will.

When we read the gospels, Luke in particular, the prayer life of Jesus is clearly mentioned. This is the time where we train ourselves to listen to His voice. Discover Lord You have fed 5000 men with 5 His love and remain in it. Be still and know loaves and two fish. You are prompted by that Jesus is God. the Holy Spirit to be alone with the FaPrayer Starter ther. So You tell Your disciples to get into the boat and head back to Capernaum, Lord help me trust You despite the when You dispense the crowd. Soon You world and the environment.

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Thursday 19th November 2015 1 Macabees: 2/15-29 Psalm: 50/1-2,5-6, 14-15 Luke: 19/41-44 The Gospel Proclamation As he came near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, “If you, even you, had only recognized on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.

Indeed, the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up ramparts around you and surround you, and hem you in on every side. They will crush you to the ground, you and your children within you, and they will not leave within you one stone upon another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation from God.” Prayerful Awareness

ence of the Father. Jesus when He saw the state to which Jerusalem had deteriorated He wept. Jerusalem was supposed to be a city of peace due to the presence of God in it. But now it had become a centre for trade and commerce Jesus “seeing” the destruction that was in store for the city of peace is moved with pity. He says that all this is due to the people not recognizing the “time of your visitation”.

Our sonship

Have we recognized the time of our visitation? The time of visitation is right now. The Lord is not slow to show mercy. Letting go the moment of grace given us to repent is indeed a tragedy.

It grieves the Holy Spirit within us. The Lord in His mercy gives us grace and time to turn away from sin, but that time is right now. If we delay, even for a moment, we may discover that grace Jerusalem derives its name from the has passed us by and our time is up. word “salem” which means “peace”. Do you accept the grace to turn away The temple in Jerusalem was a con- from sin and to walk in God’s way of stant reminder to the people, of God’s peace and holiness? presence with them. Why does Jesus We are called upon to be conweep and lament for this city? The word stantly aware of the guiding presence Peace means different things to differ- of the Holy Spirit within us. He it is ent people. It depends on their current that moves and directs us to claim our life experience. But the peace that Jesus heritage of being sons/daughters of is talking about is peace that is experi- God. “Those who are led by the Spirit enced despite one’s current experi- of God are the sons of God.” (Romans ence. Jesus talked about peace just 8;14) before His arrest. “The hour is comPrayer Starter ing, indeed it has come, when all of you would be scattered, every man to Lord, You have visited and rehis home and will leave me alone; yet I deemed Your people. May I not miss am not alone, for the Father is with the grace of Your visitation today as me. I have said this to you, that in me You move to bring Your people into you may have peace.” (John 16:32-33). greater righteousness and holiness of The peace that Jesus talks about is life. Purify my heart and mind that I that which is obtained by the experi- may understand Your ways better and ence of being constantly in the pres- conform my life more fully to Your Will.

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Friday 20th November 2015 1 Macabees:4/36-37, 52-59 Psalm:1 Chronicles: 29/10-12 Luke: 19/45-48 The First Proclamation Then Judas and his brothers said, "See, our enemies are crushed; let us go up to cleanse the sanctuary and dedicate it." So all the army assembled and went up to Mount Zion. ...

Early in the morning on the twentyfifth day of the ninth month, which is the month of Chislev, in the one hundred fort-eighth year, they rose and offered sacrifice, as the law directs, on the new altar of burnt offering that they had built. At the very season and on the very day that the Gentiles had profaned it, it was dedicated with songs and harps and lutes and cymbals. All the people fell on their faces and worshiped and blessed Heaven, who had prospered them. So they celebrated the dedication of the altar for eight days, and joyfully offered burnt offerings; they offered a sacrifice of well-being and a thanksgiving offering. They decorated the front of the temple with golden crowns and small shields; they restored the gates and the chambers for the priests, and fitted them with doors.

The Gospel Proclamation Then he entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling things there, and he said, "It is written, 'My house shall be a house of prayer'; but you have made it a den of robbers."

Every day he was teaching in the temple. The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people kept looking for a way to kill him, but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people were spellbound by what

they heard.

Prayerful Awareness Let us gaze at the verse, "My house shall be a house of prayer" (vs. 46) symbolically We are the dwelling place of God. Therefore, we ourselves, need to be praying people. But the question is, what s true prayer? In order to get an answer to this question let us see what prayer is not.

Jesus says "When you pray, do not be like hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and street corners, so that others may see them ....

But when you pray, go to your inner room close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. " (Matthew 6:5). According to Jesus, true prayer needs to be a matter of the heart and mind. Whenever, we go to the presence of God in our hearts and minds, then we are at prayer. This could happen during the course of our daily routine activities.

The recitation of the Holy Rosary, where we meditate on the life of Jesus and Mary, and go to the presence of God in our hearts and minds, is obviously the best prayer, as the official teachings of the Church declare and proclaimed by God, through the Blessed Virgin Mary, at Fatima, Lourdes etc.

Also in verse 7 in Mathew ch. 6, it is said, "In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard, because of their many words."

Therefore, it is clear, that true prayer is not a matter of the lips.

Furthermore, in the "Lord's Prayer" where Jesus showed how to pray, every verse exhorts us to act. Let us reflect, "Thy Will be done" ".. as we forgive others .." etc. etc. Therefore true prayer ultimately boils down to a way of living.

Prayer Starter Blessed may You be, O Lord .... (Ps. 1 Chron. 29/10 ....

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Saturday 21st November 2015 Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Zechariah:2/14-17 Psalm: Luke: 1/46-55 Matthew: 12/46-50 Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Our Lady's parents, Sts. Joachim and Anna, in fulfilment of their vow, brought their three-year old daughter Mary to the temple in Jerusalem. There she was to be educated by the holy women together with the other young virgins, and consecrated to God's service. This feast emphasizes the holiness conferred on her from the very inception of her life on earth and which continued through her early childhood and beyond. Surely it was the result of her total dedication to God. Through practice of the virtues of humility, obedience and charity, she became a temple greater than any made by human hands. Having chosen her for her unique role in His saving work, God not only indwelt her in a marvelous manner but also sanctified her.

The Gospel Proclamation Please read Matthew: 12/46-50 prayerfully.

Prayerful Awareness This account is disheartening.

There is the love and care for Jesus shown by His mother and his relatives.

They are anxious about Him and one is puzzled by what He does and say.

This is one of the greatest tragedies of Jesus' life that during His lifetime, His kith and kin never understood Him. They tried to restrain Him thinking that He was mad.(Luke 3:21) They also thought He was inviting danger, throwing His life away. Jesus seemed to engage in detaching Himself from both earthly and human affections and building up a kind of supernatural and spiritual kinship - the result of obeying and doing the Will of the Father.

"It was announced to Our Lord that His mother was seeking Him. Our Lord with seeming unconcern, turned to the crowd and asked "Who is my mother?" (Mth.12:48) Then revealing the great Christian mystery that relationship is not dependent on flesh and blood, but on union with Divine nature through grace, He added "Here are my mother and my brothers. Whoever does the Will of my heavenly Father is my brother, my sister, my mother" (Mt.12:50) The mystery came to an end on Calvary. There she became our Mother, the moment she lost her Divine Son. What seems an alienation of affection was in reality a deepening of affection. No love ever mounts to a higher level without death to a lower one. Mary died to the love of Jesus at Cana, and recovered Jesus again at Calvary with His Mystical body which He redeemed. It was for the moment a poor exchange, giving up her Divine Son to win mankind, but in reality she did not win mankind apart from Him. On that day when she came to Him preaching, He began to merge the Divine maternity into the new motherhood of all men; at Calvary He caused her to love men as He loved them." (Archbishop F.J.Sheen) "Becoming a disciple of Jesus means accepting the invitation to belong to God's family, to live in conformity with His way of life: "For whoever does the Will of my Father in heaven is my brother, and sister, and mother." Parents should welcome and respect with joy and thanksgiving the Lord's call to one of their children to follow Him in virginity for the sake of the Kingdom in consecrated life or in priestly ministry. (C.C.C.2233) Prayer Starter Help us to be Your friends by doing what You command us to do.

Amen.

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34th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Sunday 22nd November 2015 Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe Daniel: 7/13-14 Psalm: 93/1-2, 5 Revelation: 1/5-8 John: 18/33-37

The great day of celebration is come. Christ who was subject to the most humiliating of human experiences, makes the very 'cross' the door way to Glory, to power and kingship. He is the King of kings.

"The lamb who was slain is worthy to receive strength and divinity, wisdom and power and honour, to him be glory and power for ever."

We end the Liturgical Year in a spirit of great joy because the hold that the power of evil has on man and the world around, is broken.

Let us pray: Almighty and merciful God, You break the power of evil and make all things new in Your Son Jesus Christ, the King of the Universe. May all in heaven and earth acclaim Your glory and never cease to praise You Amen.

The Gospel: John 18/33-37 'Are you the king of the Jews?' Pilate asked. Jesus replied, 'Do you ask this of your own accord, or have others spo-

ken to you about me?' Pilate answered, 'Am I a Jew? It is your own people and the chief priests who have handed you over to me; what have you done?'

Jesus replied, 'Mine is not a kingdom of this world; if my kingdom were of this world, my men would have fought to prevent my being surrendered to the Jews. But my kingdom is not of this kind.' 'So you are king then?' said Pilate. 'It is you who say it' answered Jesus.

'Yes, I am a king. I was born for this. I came into the world for this; to bear witness to the truth; and all who are on the side of truth listen to my voice' Let us imagine a stranger at the court of Pilate listening to this public confession of Jesus regarding who He is. What could possibly be his reaction. He would have a few questions to ask himself.

- Who is this man? Can he be taken seriously? Is he mentally deranged or abnormal, though he doesn't look one. Isn't he misleading the masses.

There could possibly be however a group who sees things in their correct perspective. They see differently. They have a Seventh Eye. They are ready to believe that He probably is the prophet waited

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for. He must really be King.

The Second Reading Revelation 1/5-8 Here is material for the 7th Eye to read, to take in and believe. The writer of the Book of Revelation or the Apocalypse under the direction of the Holy Spirit opens out to us an incomparable vision of Jesus â&#x20AC;&#x201C; He summarises for us cryptically though, who the real Jesus is. Mark the words: - Jesus the faithful witness, the first-born from the dead, Ruler of the kings of the earth.

- He who loves us, washes away our sins with His own Blood, makes us a line of kings, priests to serve God and Father - It is He who comes on the clouds - Everyone will see Him; even those who pierced Him - All the races of the earth will mourn over Him - To Him be Glory and power for ever and ever He is the Alpha and Omega says the Lord God who is, who was, and who is to come the Almighty.

The First Reading

writer of the Apocalypse was already seen by Daniel a long time before Jesus appeared on the scene.

The first reading provides us today in our 21st Century, material for a contemplative stance before Jesus.

I gazed into the vision of the night. I saw coming on the clouds of heaven one like a son of man.

He came to the one of great age and was led into his presence. On him was conferred sovereignty, glory and kingship, and men of all peoples, nations and languages became his servants. His sovereignty is an eternal sovereignty which shall never pass away nor will his empire ever be destroyed.

Let us conclude our gaze at Jesus the King with the prayer: Father all- powerful, God of love, You have raised our Lord Jesus Christ from death to life, resplendent in glory as King of creation. Open our hearts, free all the world to rejoice in His peace, to glory in His justice, to live in His love. Bring all mankind together in Jesus Christ Your Son whose kingdom is with You and the Holy Spirit one God for ever and ever.

Daniel 7/13-14 What John saw as also the

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Monday 23rd November 2015 St. Clement I, Pope & Martyr Daniel: 1/1-6, 8-20 Psalm: Daniel: 3/52-56 Luke: 21/1-4 The First Proclamation In the third year of the reign of king Jehoakim of Judah, King Nebuchadnezar of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it ....

Then the King commanded his palace master ... to bring some of the Israelites of the royal family and of the nobility, young men without physical defect and handsome, versed in every branch of wisdom, endowed with knowledge and insight, and competent to serve in the king’s palace.... The king assigned them a daily portion of the royal rations of food and wine....Among them were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, from the tribe of Juda.... But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the royal rations of food and wine; so he asked the palace master to allow him not to defile himself. Now God allowed Daniel to receive favor and compassion from the palace master ..... “Please test your servants for ten days. Let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. You can then compare our appearance with the appearance of the young men who eat the royal rations ... At the end of ten days it was observed that they appeared better and fatter than all the young men who had been eating the royal rations .... To these four young men God gave knowledge and skill in every aspect of literature and wisdom.

Daniel also had insight into all visions and dreams ....

The Gospel Proclamation Jesus looked around and saw rich men dropping their gifts in the temple treasury, and He also saw a very poor widow dropping in two little copper

coins. He said, “I tell you that this poor widow put in more than all the others.

For the others offered their gifts from what they had to spare of their riches, but she, poor as she is, gave all she had to live on” Prayerful Awareness Jesus is not concerned so much about the quantity or the abundance but about the quality – about what we offer to God. Is there anything that we can offer God that does not belong to Him already? You and I, our very lives are His possession. This we forget and we place a higher value on our possessions and even identify ourselves based on them. i.e. I am the owner of a company …… a modern vehicle…….. a well-equipped house …… etc. The parable of the rich man who owned several barns full of grain tells us the futility of possessions when compared to life itself. On the other hand when we abandon ourselves to God Almighty He undertakes the provision of all that we need for our sustenance. This is what the poor widow did when she gave all she had to God and placed herself totally in His care.

Let us ask for the faith we need to totally rely on God rather than our possessions, skills, knowledge and connections to powerful people of the world.

Prayer Starter “Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb?

Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you.

Behold, I have graven you on the palms of my hands; Let me remember your promise and abandon myself to your loving care …….

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Tuesday 24th November 2015

When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, he said, "As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another, all will be thrown down."

They asked him, "Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?" And he said, "Beware that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name and say, 'I am he!" and, 'The time is near!' Do not go after them.

"When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified, for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately."

Then he said to them, "Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom; there will be great earthquakes and in various places famines and plagues, and there will be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven.

Prayerful Awareness

miring was not Solomon's temple - that had been destroyed by the Babylonians in the Seventh Century B.C. This temple had been built by Ezra, after the return from exile in the sixth century B.C. desecrated by the Selencids in the second Century B.C. reconstructed by the Maccabees soon afterwards, and enormously expanded

by Herod the Great over a 46 year period. It was a BEAUTIFUL, imposing structure with a significant history, but Jesus said that it would be COMPLETELY DESTROYED. This happened when the Roman army burned Jerusalem.

Jesus did NOT leave His disciples UNPREPARED for the difficult years ahead. He WARNED them about FALSE MESSIAHS, natural disasters and persecutions, but He assured them that He would be WITH THEM to protect them and make His Kingdom known through them, in the end. Jesus PROMISED that He would RETURN IN POWER AND GLORY to SAVE them. Jesus' warnings and promises to His disciples also apply to US, as we look forward to His return. Jesus predicted both near and distant events so that they could learn how to live in the present and to help us to remain SPIRITUALLY ALERT and PREPARED at all times as we wait for His return.

Prayer Starter

Here we see, Jesus clearly speaks of the destruction of the Temple when His disciples came to Him to call his attention to the beauty of its buildings. Jesus predicted to them very clearly the things to happen in the future.

The temple the disciples were ad-

Jesus our Saviour, we wait for Your return and while we wait, we delight in the Holy Spirit's power to tell and show others what Jesus has done through His death and resurrection, and His promise to RETURN. Help us to witness of Your GOODNESS and GRACE.

Daniel: 2/31-45 Psalm: Daniel: 1/57-61 Luke: 21/5-11 The First Proclamation Please read Daniel 1/31-45 meditatively.

The Gospel Proclamation

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Wednesday 25th November 2015 Daniel: 5/1-6,13-14, 16-17, 23-28 Psalm: Daniel: 3/62-67 Luke: 21/12-19 The Gospel Proclamation "But before all this occurs, they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. This will give you an opportunity to testify. So make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance, for I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict.

You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, by relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death.

You will be hated by all because of my name. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your souls."

Prayerful Awareness We all have read about the denial of the knowledge of Jesus by Peter at the trial of Our Lord. Some interpret this event that since Peter denied Jesus three times, the Lord asked him thrice, "Do you love me?" I have heard of a different interpretation which I wish to state here.

Before that a brief look at the English word "love" which is used rightly or wrongly in many ways. If one says I love my girl friend, that is acceptable. In the same breadth if I say I love to read or I love ice cream, then something is wrong. The Sinhala language as well as the Greek in which the New Testament was written has many words for the English word love. We will just take two words today for the

purpose of our reflection.

They are 1) Phileo and 2) Agape.

PHILEO stands for human love and fellowship among friends.

AGAPE on the other hand is unconditional LOVE that is difficult to explain and we use adjectives like pursuing, relentless, forgiving to describe.

So the conversation between the Risen Lord and Peter, conducted in the Aramaic language would have been something like this. "Simon, son of Jonah, do you AGAPE me? Peter replies, "Lord you know that I PHILEO you." The same question repeated the second time; Simon replies with a different tone, but the same answer. Jesus repeats for the third time. Peter is seeing a light. He is talking to the Son of God in person, and his reply is something like this. Lord you know everything. You know whether I AGAPE you or not."

Another person who listened to this conversation is John, the beloved disciple. John would have thought much about this conversation and he writes in 1 John 4/10 - In this is love, not that we have loved God, but he loved us and sent His Son as expiation for our sins.

Gaze at my sonship I can love God only to the extent that I permit the Holy Spirit to act through me. You and I are being gradually taken through a process of living that requires us to die to our self daily in order that we may be empowered to AGAPE. May we all thirst to be another Christ in this world.

Prayer Starter Lord the Holy Spirit, teach me to Agape!

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Thursday 26th November 2015 Daniel: 1/12-28 Psalm: Daniel: 3/68-74 Luke: 21/20-28 Gospel Proclamation When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies then you must realize that it will be soon laid desolate.

Then those in Judaea must escape to the mountains, those inside the city must leave it, and those in country districts must not take refuge in it. For this is the time of retribution when all that scripture says must be fulfilled.

Alas for those with child, or with babies at the breast, when those days come! For great misery will descend on the land and retribution on this people. They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive to every gentile country and Jerusalem will be trampled down by the gentiles until their time is complete.

There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars; on earth nations in agony bewildered by the turmoil of the ocean and its waves; men fainting away with terror and fear at what menaces the world, for the powers of heaven will be shaken. And then they will see the son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand erect, hold your heads high, because your liberation is near at hand.

Gaze at Jesus Through the scripture today we are looking at a world that is turbulent, at a world that is full of uncertainties. Yet in the midst of the uncertainties, the scripture promises hope. Hope when the Son of Man is going to be revealed. Gospel also encourages the world to accept that ultimate freedom to all our suffering will come from Jesus.

Prayerful Awareness Todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s world is not only turbulent with natural disaster, it is also a world of rush to the extent that people have forgotten God. End result being the chaos we experience.

The good news is embedded in the Word with its promise that even in the midst of this chaos, God will choose the day to reveal Himself to the world. Therefore, we have to be still and have hope in Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s existence.

Therefore, those of us to whom God has made His living presence known, must undertake a life worthy of our knowledge about what God can accomplish in the world.

In the first reading today we read the story of Daniel who was rescued from the lions. He was such a man that he led a life worthy of the relationship he had secured in God. To his intellect Daniel knew that God was worth all his attention. Therefore, he did not allow the king's commandment to jeopardize his relationship with God.Finally, Danielâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s faith was not only appreciated by God, but because of the faith he demonstrated, king Darius recognized the living presence of God and proclaimed to all the nations about God. Prayer Starter (Psalm: Daniel 3:68-74) Dew and rain, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever Frost and chill, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever Ice and snow, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever Light and darkness, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever Lightning and clouds, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever Let the earth bless the Lord, praise and exalt him above all forever

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Friday 27th November 2015 Daniel: 7/2-14 Psalm: Daniel: 3/75-81 Luke: 21/29-33 The First Proclamation I, Daniel, saw in my vision by night the four winds of heaven stirring up the great sea, and four great beasts came up out of the sea, different from one another. .... As I watched, thrones were set in place, and an Ancient One took his throne, his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames, and its wheels were burning fire. A stream of fire issued and flowed out from his presence. A thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood attending him. The court sat in judgment, and the books were opened..... I saw one like a human being coming with the clouds of heaven. And he came to the Ancient One and was presented before him. To him was given dominion and glory and kingship, that all peoples, nations and languages should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not pass away, and his kingship is one that shall never be destroyed.

The Gospel Proclamation Then he told them a parable: "Look at the fig tree and all the trees; as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the Kingdom of God is near. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away, until all things have taken place.

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

Prayerful Awareness Now, towards the end of Jesus' life on earth, He says ".... when you see these things happening, know that the Kingdom of God is near" (vs. 31). At the very beginning of Jesus' public ministry too, Jesus said, similar words . "This is the time of fulfilment, the Kingdom of God is close at hand ..."

(Luke 1:15) Do these two statements, contradict each other? Definitely not.

But they complement each other.

What Jesus seems to say is, that, the Kingdom of God which dawned on earth at His first arrival, will see its completion or perfection, when He comes upon the earth the second time in glory.

And in between these two events, the Kingdom of God exists here on earth. Jesus calls us to enter into it, to experience it. The way to the Kingdom is Jesus Himself - "I am the way, the truth and the life" He said. "The Kingdom of God is within you ... around you" Jesus said. Therefore, let us make hay while the sun shines.

The end will come someday. So, the prudent thing is not to waste time, but to make use of the time, that God gives us every day, in order to experience God's Kingdom, savour it, relish the love, kindness and compassion, power and supremacy of God. Prayer Starter Bless the Lord, mountains and hills; sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever. Bless the Lord, you springs; sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever. Bless the Lord, all that grows in the ground; sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever. .... (Ps. Daniel 3:75 ....)

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Saturday 28th November 2015 Feast of St. Catherene Laboure (Virgin) Daniel: 7/15-27 Psalm: Daniel: 3/82-87 Luke: 21/34-36 St. Catherene Laboure She was born on May 02,1806. Her father was a prosperous French farmer and her mother was Madeleine Louis Gontard.

She was the ninth of 17 children. She had no formal education. Despite her father's opposition she sustained her desire to become a religious. She kept house for her father and brothers. In 1830 she entered the novitiate of the Sisters of Charity at Rue Du Bac in Paris, taking the name Catherene. Her supernatural manifestations began with the visible presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament and His apparition as King on Trinity Sunday. This was followed by three remarkable revelations of Our Lady. The Miraculous medal Our Lady wanted her to make popular was the source of marvelous cures and spiritual favours. Died: December 31, 1876. Beatified: May 03, 1933; Canonized: July 27, 1947 by Pope Pius XII.

The Gospel Proclamation "Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life; and that day catch you unexpectedly, like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.

Prayerful Awareness We have an exhortation to vigilance on the last day of the Liturgical Year. Of the message Jesus preached, the exhortation to be ready for His Second Coming is a basic one. How a person will stand before

the Son of Man is decided by the way that a person lives now. "There are two things certain in this life - death and taxes." This is a popular saying but we have to add a third - judgement. "All of us will stand before God to be judged by Him. Every one of us will have to give an account of himself to God. (Romans 14:10, 12). "The time of His second coming, He knows not as a man, but only as God. He will not tell it except in warning that it will be sudden, like lightening. He came as a "Man of Sorrows". Then He shall come in glory. (Archbishop F.J.Sheen.) The account of our life we have to give Him has to include how closely we have followed Jesus Christ, how faithful and earnest we have been to His cause and also how true and loyal; whether we have multiplied the talents entrusted to us or kept them safe without using them.

(Matthew 25:14-30). As long as we are interested only in enjoying this earthly life, we won't have time or desire to think of the Second Coming of the Lord. Giving priority to temporal things and have no time for prayer - then we too may get this reply from Him, "I never knew you; get away from me, you wicked people".

(Mth. 7;23). Have firm faith and stand with confidence before Him now, then we need not fear His judgement. In Jesus "the Kingdom of God is at hand." He calls His hearers to conversion and faith but also to watchfulness. In prayer the disciple keeps watch, attentive to Him Who Is and Him Who comes, in memory of His first coming in the lowliness of the flesh, and in the hope of His Second Coming in glory. In communion with their Master, the disciples' prayer is a battle; only by keeping watch in prayer can one avoid falling into temptation. (C.C.C.2612)

Prayer Starter Help us to be on guard, as we do not know the day and hour Our Lord will come." Amen. (Mathew 24:42)

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Sunday 29th November 2015

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First Sunday of Advent

Jeremiah:33/14-16 Psalm: 25/4-5, 8-9, 10-14 1 Thessalonian:3/124/2 Luke: 21/25-28, 34-36

The First Proclamation

The days are coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and Judah.

In those days, in that time, I will raise up for David a just shoot; he shall do what is right and just in the land. In those days Judah shall be safe and Introduction Jerusalem shall dwell secure; this is Today the Catholic Church begins a what they shall call her; "The Lord new Liturgical year. It begins with the sea- our justice."

Prayerful Awareness son of Advent which consists of four weeks. Why are these four weeks before The season of Advent though only Christmas called "Advent"? The term four weeks for us, for the chosen which comes from a Latin word, adventus people of God, it spanned a period of (Greek parousia), means "coming" or "ar- six centuries. But they never lost rival" and the season of Advent is focused hope. The promise of the Lord exon the "coming" of Jesus as Messiah pressed in the proclamation of today (Christ or King). It is the day on which we was handed down from generation to sing the hymn: generation. In four weeks time we will O come, Divine Messiah, be celebrating the fulfilment of that promise which happened 2015 years The world in silence waits the ago. But it must be remembered that day this long awaited coming was unnoWhen hope shall sing its triumph, ticed by some, rejected by others and And sadness flee away welcomed only by a handful. The Messiah went unnoticed by those preDear Saviour haste! occupied with other concerns. He was Come, come to earth, rejected by those who had preconDispel the night and show Thy ceived ideas of the specifications of face the Messiah and His coming was acAnd bid us hail the dawn of grace cepted only by those who truly had a As the Hymn expresses Advent is need for Him and were ready to accept a time of hope. We await in hope the Him in any way that He was willing to coming of the Messiah on whom we come. have placed our trust to fulfill our deAre you and I ready to accept the sire for salvation from all forms of op- Messiah in the way that He came? pression, violence and hatred. So let What is the meaning of being born of us join the Entrance Antiphon express- a Virgin, and in a stable, acknowledged ing our trust in God. as the Messiah only by poor shepTo you my God, I lift my soul, I trust herds and a few animals, and three in you; let me never come to shame. Magi who were not even aware of the Do not let my enemies laugh at me. promise of Yahweh? Or are we going No one who waits for you is ever put to romanticize His coming in the traditional way and plan as to how we could to shame.

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enjoy Christmas?

The Gospel Proclamation There will be signs in the sun, the moon and the stars, and on earth nations will be in dismay, perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves.

People will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken and then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand" "Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life, and that day catch you by surprise like a trap. For that day will assault everyone who lives in the face of the earth. Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man." Gaze at Jesus Advent is also a preparation for the Second Coming of Christ in His glory. The First Coming of the Messiah, was anticipated with joy by our forefathers in the Lord. But what is our attitude towards His Second Coming?

How would Jesus want us to await His Second Coming?

There are so many parables regarding the need for readiness to receive Him when He comes again. In today's Gospel proclamation too Jesus tells us: "Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man." The Second Proclamation And may the Lord make you in-

crease and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we have for you, so as to strengthen your hearts, to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus, with all his holy ones.

(Amen). Finally, brothers, we earnestly ask and exhort you in the Lord Jesus that, as you received from us how you should conduct yourselves to please God - and as you are conducting yourselves -you do so even more.

For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

Our Sonship We need to celebrate the First Coming of Jesus and prepare for His Second Coming; the way to do it is to be aware of His coming into our life every moment of every day. It is appropriate to remind ourselves of how we may encouner the Lord. Let us read the following scripture passages.

Where two or three gather in my name I am there in the midst of them (Matthew 18:19-20) Whatsoever you do the least of my brothers that you do unto me. (Matthew 25:40) And he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" And he said "Who are you, Lord? " And he said "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. (Acts 9:4-5) Prayer Starter Lord Jesus Christ, Who is, Who was and Who is to come, we pray for the virtue of hope, that amidst the trials and difficulties of this world, we may keep our hearts fixed upon You, who reigns over the Cosmos. May Your grace enliven us, strengthening us, and defend us, as we await Your coming in glory. Amen. (David Bennett)

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Monday 30th November 2015 St. Andrew Apostle Isaiah: 2/1-5 Psalm: 122/1-2, 4-5, 6-9 Matthew: 8/5-11 Gospel Proclamation When he went to Capernaum, a centurion came up and pleaded with him. Sir he said, my servant is lying at home paralyzed and in great pain.

Jesus said to him, I will come myself and cure him. The centurion replied, Sir, I am not worthy to have you under my roof, just give the word and my servant will be cured. For I am under authority myself and have soldiers under me, and I say to one man, ‘go’ and he goes; to another, ‘come here’, and he comes; to my servant, ‘do this’ and he does it. When Jesus heard this He was astonished and said to those following him, in truth I tell you, in no one in Israel have I found faith as great as this. And I tell you that many will come from east and west and sit down with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob at the feast in the kingdom of heaven.

Gaze at Jesus Centurion, a man in authority points our attention towards Jesus who has ultimate authority and dominion over our lives. Centurion’s story teaches us to submit our lives to Jesus who brings healing and reconciliation and allow us to encounter God’s unconditional charity opening up to us if we allow God’s dominion to be established over our lives. Jesus too reiterates in the story, what we need to experience this love is to have faith and hope in Him. Gaze at our sonship In our day to day affairs of life, we gather and would love to yield into a

lot of pressure to be in control.

We manage our lives, our responsibilities, our positions as if Jesus is non-existent.

We are also often sucked into the values of the society. Therefore we forget God. To let God take control of our lives, it often requires patience and an inner disposition to be still in the hope that Lord will lead us to the best platforms.

Just gaze at the centurion’s inner disposition in this story. Once he gives his servant’s condition to the Lord, he had faith to believe in Jesus and was peaceful and calm until he got home to discover what Lord had accomplished for him.

Through the words of Isaiah, let us also gaze at the ultimate authority of God that will rise up over the world.

Prayer Starter (Isaiah 2: 1-5) This is what Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem: In the last days the mountain of the Lord's temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. Many peoples will come and say, ”Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.” The law will go out from Zion, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plow shares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. Come, descendants of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the Lord

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WALK IN THE SPIRIT

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THE COVER STORY The pelican was thought to be particularly attentive to her young, to the point of providing her own blood by wounding her own breast, thus sacrificing her life, when no other food was available.

The sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ of His life for our salvation, and the gift of His body and blood for our nourishment in the Holy Eucharist was symbolized by the Pelican in early Christian tradition.

“In love, Jesus Christ gladly permitted Himself to be wounded.”

Therefore, O Lord, in receiving a touch of love such as Yours would enable us to love in a way which permits the wounding of ourselves and the sacrificing of ourselves for the sake of the growth of others.

Walk in the Spirit - November 2015

ISSN 1391-5967 "O Lord, to Receive a Touch of Your Love"