Walk in the Spirit Dec 2015

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

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WALK IN THE SPIRIT December 2015 Volume 12 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 December 2015

“O send forth your light and your truth, let these be my guide. Let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell.

(Ps.43:3)

I need not make a request for light, for truth, for guidance for entry into His dwelling place. It’s given. It’s for me to play my part and make use of the gifts available to me. Jesus the Way, the Truth, the Light, the Revealer, the Saviour is come. I’ve only to become aware of His presence and allow Him to take over.

Fr. Siri Oscar Abayaratne

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

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Tuesday 1st December 2015 Isaiah:11/1-10 Psalm:72/1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17 Luke: 10/21-24 The First Proclamation And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord; And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.

The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.

And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be

glorious.

Fix your gaze on Jesus Your designs are great O Lord of the Hosts, and we rejoice therein....

O how we pray for us to be in a world where there is love and acceptance, harmony and freedom, justice and fairness, faithfulness and trustworthiness and so on; where we do not have to be on the constant watch out for 'The Others' who is always 'Out to Get Us'...! This seems to be exactly what the Lord has designed for in His Kingdom; this is S/His promise for the faithful; those who choose to be S/ His people, the faithful, those who seek S/His Face and turn away from their own untimely ways, shall be reaping this reward. We, the co-creators have the responsibility of bringing S/ His Kingdom about; simply by sowing what we'd like to reap. God has set up the system, where those who choose to be good and bad all have S/ His blessings; and then we have to consciously create what we really want! We need to journey towards being in the presence of the Holy Spirit of God, gradually growing in our awareness of the whole Spirit....

Then will we begin to see what Jesus promised for us, the things which kings and prophets have not seen, our eyes seeing the blessedness of the whole creation, where heaven and earth is full of S/His Glory, and S/ His reign is forever.....

Prayer Starter We thank You Lord for Your blessed design, for this earth we are housed in, and the entirety of Your creation so wondrous and awesome....help us stay in Your love and be grateful...!

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Wednesday 2nd December 2015 Isaiah: 25/6-10 Psalm:23/1-6 Mathew: 15/29-37

The First Proclamation On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of wellaged wines, of rich food filled with marrow, of well-aged wines strained clear. And he will destroy on this mountain the shroud that is cast over all peoples, the sheet that is spread over all nations; he will swallow up death forever. then the Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces, and the disgrace of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken. It will be said on that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, so that he might save us. This is the Lord for whom we have waited; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation. For the hand of the Lord will rest on this mountain. The Moabites shall be trodden down in their place as straw is trodden down in a dung-pit.

Prayerful Awareness Here is a marvelous prophecy of “ALL PEOPLES” Gentiles and Jews, together - at God’s Messianic feast, celebrating the overthrow of EVIL and the joy of ETERNITY with God. It shows that God intended His saving message to go out to the WHOLE WORLD, NOT just to the Jews.

During the feast God will END DEATH FOREVER. The people who

participate in this great feast will be those who have been living by faith.

That is why they say, “SURELY this is OUR GOD. We trusted in Him and He SAVED us.

When the Lord speaks, He DOES what He SAYS. It is comforting to know that God’s plans and activities are closely tied to His word.

When we pray according to God’s Will and claim His promises (as recorded in the Bible) He HEARS us and ANSWERS our requests.

God’s ultimate victory is seen when death, our ultimate ENEMY is defeated.

We often wonder what eternity will be like...”The GREAT BANQUET”, The Holy City, the New Jerusalem is described as the place where God will WIPE every TEAR from the eyes. Forevermore, there will be NO DEATH, PAIN, SORROW or CRYING. What a wonderful truth! No matter what we are going through, it is not the last word - God has written the FINAL CHAPTER and it is about true fulfilment and eternal JOY for those who love Him. Eternity with God will be more wonderful than we could ever imagine for those who have been living

by FAITH. Prayer Starter We exalt and praise You Lord, realizing the Lord, our God, completes His plans, fulfil His promises and answers our prayers. Thank You Almighty Father, for Your goodness and faithfulness.

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

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Thursday 3rd December 2015 St. Francis Xaviour Jeremiah:1/4-9 Psalm:117/1-2 1 Corinthians:9/16-19, 22-23 Mark:16/15-20 St. Francis Zavier He was born on April 7, 1506. His parents were Don Juan de Jassu & Maria de Aloilcueta. His ambition was to become a distinguished scholar of Philosophy.

Everything changed when he fell under the spell of St. Ignatius Loyola. He admonished young Francis, “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world if he suffers the loss of his own soul” He with 70 others took their vows as the first Jesuits on 15th August 1534. He was ordained priest on 24th June 1537 after a rigorous 40-day fast and spiritual preparation. At the request of King John III of Portugal he came to India with Jesuit missionaries. He learnt the local language, nursed and comforted the sick, preached and taught catechism.

He came to Sri Lanka in 1544 and then to Malacca, Spice Islands and Cochin China.

Some believe he even went to Philippines.

He went to Japan on 15th August 1549.

Died: December 3rd,1552. Beatified: 1619 and canonized by Pope Gregory XV on 12th March 1622.

The Gospel Proclamation And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation. The one who believes and is baptized will be saved; but the one who does not believe will be condemned. ....

So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and proclaimed the good news everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that accompanied it.

Prayerful Awareness These last few verses of Evangelist Mark’s gospel lays down the duties of the Church given by Christ Himself. The first is to take the Word to the ends of the world, to everyone . It is also the duty of every Christian to preach, and also to preach without preaching - i.e. through our active faith. What a good example we have in John the Baptist to be the herald of Jesus.

Then there is the healing aspect - healing both to the soul and to the body. We are all left alone but help, guidance and power are always available through the Holy Spirit.

A coronation upon the earth, instead of an ascension into heaven, would have confined men’s thought of Him to the earth. But the ascension would cause men’s minds and hearts to ascend above the earth. In relation to Himself, it was fitting that the human nature which He took as the instrument for teaching, and governing and sanctifying, should partake of glory as it shared in shame. It was very hard to believe that He, who was the Man of Sorrows and acquainted with grief, was the beloved Son in whom the Father was well pleased. It was difficult to believe that He, who did not come down from the cross, could ascend into heaven, or that the momentary glory that shone around Him on the mount of Transfiguration was a permanent possession. The ascension put all such doubts away by introducing His human nature into intimate and eternal communion with God. (Archbishop F.J.Sheen) “Already the final age of the world is with us, and the renewal of the world is irrevocably under way; it is even now anticipated in a certain real way, for the church on earth is endowed already with the sanctity that is real but imperfect.”.

(C.C.C.670) Prayer Starter Help us to be faithful to the task of taking Your word to others. Amen.

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Friday 4th December 2015 St. John Damascene Isaiah:29/17-24 Psalm: 27/1,4, 13-14 Mathew: 9/27-31

First Proclamation Is it not true that in a very short time Lebanon will become productive ground, so productive you might take it for a forest?

That day the deaf will hear the words of the book and, delivered from shadow and darkness, the eyes of the blind will see. The lowly will find ever more joy in Yahweh and the poorest of people will delight in the Holy One of Israel; for the tyrant will be no more, the scoffer has vanished and all those on the look-out for evil have been destroyed: those who incriminate others by their words, those who lay traps for the arbitrator at the gate and groundlessly deprive the upright of fair judgement.

That is why Yahweh, God of the House of Jacob, Abraham’s redeemer, says this, ‘No longer shall Jacob be disappointed, no more shall his face grow pale, for when he sees his children, my creatures, home again with him, he will acknowledge my name as holy, he will acknowledge the Holy One of Jacob to be holy and will hold the God of Israel in awe. Erring spirits will learn to understand and murmurers accept instruction.’

Gospel Proclamation As Jesus went on his way two blind men followed him shouting, ‘Take pity on us, son of David.’

And when Jesus reached the house the blind men came up to him and he said to them, ‘Do you believe I can do this?’ They said, ‘Lord, we do.’

Then he touched their eyes saying,

‘According to your faith, let it be done to you.’ And their sight returned. Then Jesus sternly warned them, ‘Take care that no one learns about this.’

But when they had gone away, they talked about him all over the countryside.

Prayerful Awareness The underlying theme in today’s Proclamations is regarding God’s Kingdom, comprising prophesies on what it will be like when it is restored on earth with the coming of the Messiah, how it was experienced by the people during the time Jesus walked the earth, how it can be experienced by us in the here and now, and how it will be fully established at the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ!

Since the fall of Adam from grace due to disobedience, mankind has been reaping the consequences of sin, in terms of natural calamities and willfully inflicted disasters, wars, destruction, disease, decay, etc., and death, which is so final!. But God so loved the world that He took it upon Himself to pay the penalty for mankind’s collective sin, by subjecting Himself to excruciating pain and suffering and even death on a cross, in the form of His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, (John 3:1617) whereby a path has been laid for us to enter His Kingdom through faith in Him! It is not something we can earn of our own accord, but is a gift bestowed on us through faith, which is also a gift from the Holy Spirit!

One can be deaf and blind physically, but most are deaf and blind spiritually, in that, as the Lord says elsewhere, they listen but not hear / nor give heed to what is being said, or they look, but not see! Let us thank the Lord that we have been chosen to be His children, or heirs, who can hear and see in a spiritual sense. Amen!

Alleluia! Praise the Lord!

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

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Saturday 5th December 2015 Isaiah: 30/19-21, 23-26 Psalm: 147/1-6 Mathew:9/35-10/1, 6-8 The First Proclamation Truly, O people in Zion, inhabitants of Jerusalem, you shall weep no more. He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry; when he hears it, he will answer you. Though the Lord may give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your teacher will not hide himself any more, but your eyes shall see your Teacher. And when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left, your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it."

He will give rain for the seed with which you sow the ground, and grain, the produce of the ground, which will be rich and plenteous. ...

The Gospel Proclamation Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.

Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness. ... but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, pro-

claim the good news, 'The kingdom of heaven has come near.' Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. You received without payment give without payment.

Prayerful Awareness "At the sight of the crowds, His heart was moved with pity for them, because they were troubled and abandoned like sheep, without a shepherd." (vs. 36). Verse 8 in chapter 10 reads thus "Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers".

On the surface, going by the literal meaning, Jesus seems to appear like a physician, desiring to heal physical sicknesses of people.

But when the whole content is considered, it appears that Jesus is speaking about healing the spiritually sick, spiritual lepers, and the spiritually dead.

Therefore, the words in verse 35 "... proclaiming the gospel of the Kingdom and curing every disease and illness ...." is better interpreted to mean spiritual healing resulting in proclaiming the Kingdom of God, though physical healings are not ruled out.

Today, medical sciences are definite, that many illnesses are psychosomatic, which in fact goes to confirm the teachings of Jesus.

Even in Jesus' teachings, He has emphasised the need to give priority to the soul, rather than to the body.

Therefore, as Catholics, let us take the Word of God in its proper context, in the overall sense and not consider particular verses, in isolation.

Prayer Starter Praise the Lord from heavens, give praise in the heights

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Sunday 6th December 2015 Baruch:5/1-9 Psalm:126/1-6 Phlippians:1/3-6, 8-11 Luke: 3/1-6

Introduction The Entrance Antiphon for today reads thus: "People of Zion the Lord will come to save all nations, and your hearts will exult to hear His majestic voice." This proclamation of good news would surely have given tremendous hope and encouragement to the chosen people of God. Today it is addressed to us. And what is our response? Does it inspire a desire to prepare ourselves for His coming?

Let us join in reciting the opening prayer for today.

God of power and mercy, open our hearts in welcome. Remove the things that hinder us from receiving Christ with joy, so that we may share His wisdom and become one with Him when He comes in glory for He lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit one God forever and ever, Amen.

Prayerful Awareness A hope of better things to come is a powerful motivator. The prophets of old constantly reminded the chosen people of God that God was present with them in the circumstances they were facing. They were constantly reminded of the

Second Sunday of Advent

fact that Yahweh Who loved them was working to bring about their salvation from seemingly hopeless situations.

What were they supposed to do on behalf of their salvation? Surprisingly, nothing that involves heroic efforts, but to have faith in the promises of Yahweh and wait for the day when He would fulfil them.

But one thing is important and that is to accept the fact that we are in need of salvation and that we are unable to work it out ourselves.

Those who are busy working out their own salvation fail to see the work of Yahweh on their behalf.

The 'Good News' is wasted on them.

When we gaze at the experience of the people of God there is something that we begin to realise.

And that is that they claimed the promises of Yahweh as a people and not as isolated individuals.

Therefore they handed down the promises of Yahweh from generation to generation, each hoping for them to be fulfilled during their lifetime.

In today's Gospel we encounter John the Baptizer coming at a particular time in the history of the people of God - "In the fifteenth year of the rule of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was procurator of Judea, Herod the tetrarch of Galilee, Philip his brother tetrarch of the region of Ituarae and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, dur-

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

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ing the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God was spoken to John son of Zachariah in the desert." He reminds the people of God of a prophecy of Isaiah and the need to be prepared.

Let us pause for a moment to become aware and absorb the atmosphere at the time of John the Baptist and prepare ourselves to gaze at Jesus about to enter the scene.

Gaze at Jesus' Sonship Jesus and John were born to parents to whom their birth was foretold. Both mothers according to the scriptures were women with a deep relationship to Yahweh their God. It would not be fictitious to imagine the two mothers nurturing their sons not only on food, but also on the word of God proclaimed in the Holy Scriptures. It would also not be far fetched to surmise that particular attention was paid to certain passages of scripture. The following passage from Isaiah would have been one of those. "A voice of one that cries in the desert: Prepare a way for the Lord, make His paths straight! Let every valley be filled in and every mountain and hill be leveled, winding ways be straightened and rough roads be made smooth, and all humanity will see the salvation of God." Could we dare to imagine the two boys in their growing years meeting off and on to discuss these passages which they had owned to be about themselves? Both of

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them convincing themselves and each other that their lives are not about themselves but fulfilling what God had planned for them. Each of them understood his role according to scriptural revelation.

John goes to live in the desert in preparation for his mission while Jesus bides His time.

Lord Holy Spirit, anoint my mind so that it may be enlightened to gaze at the heart of Jesus.

Lord Jesus, I see You now in dialogue with Your Father in heaven. You are talking about Your Second Coming. It is as if You are discussing about the best time for You to come in Your glory. Simultaneously You observe with joy Your Holy Spirit establishing the signs of the time, heralding Your Second Coming.

Your Spirit is preparing Your bride, the Church, to greet You her Bridegroom. Lord You seem to be eagerly awaiting the day and the hour to be revealed by the Father so that You may come down to claim Your bride whom You have made holy and faultless with no speck or wrinkle by sacrificing Yourself for her.

O come Divine Messiah, come!

Prayer Starter O Holy Spirit grant us the grace to yield to Your purifying work within us so that we may be found worthy of our Bridegroom.

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

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Monday 7th December 2015 Feast of St. Ambrose Isaiah: 35/1-10 Psalm: 85/9-14 Luke: 5/17-26 St. Ambrose His father was an aristocratic Roman Christian, held the highest government post, namely Prefect of Gallia, which then included Britain, Spain and Gaul. When his father died, the family returned to Rome. He studied law and was able to attract the attention of the Emperor. He was appointed governor of Northern Italy at 33. His administration was just and gentile. Though he was only a catechumen he was elected the new bishop when the Bishop Auxentius died. Not long after his baptism, he was ordained priest and then consecrated Bishop. His property was given to the poor and the Church. He engaged himself in the study of scriptures and the Church Fathers. Soon he became famous for his short, practical and bold sermons. Died: April 4th, 397.

The Gospel Proclamation One day, while he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting near by (they had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem); and the power of the Lord was with him to heal. Just then some men came, carrying a paralytic man on a bed. They were trying to bring him in and lay him before Jesus; but finding no way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the middle of the crowd in front of Jesus. When he saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven you.” Then the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, “Who is this who is speaking blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone? When Jesus perceived their questionings, he answered them, “Why do you raise such questions in your hearts? Which is easier to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Stand up and walk’?

But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins - he said to the one who was paralyzed - “I say to you, stand up and take your bed and go to our home.”

Immediately he stood up before them, took what he had been lying on, and went to his home glorifying God. Amazement seized all of them, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, “We have seen strange things today.”

Prayerful Awareness Rules and regulations were a matter of life and death for Pharisees and teachers of the Law. Jesus, on the other hand had no use for rules and regulations. For Him the cry of human need occupied the first place or superseded all other things. They saw Him as a law-breaker and instigated others to do the same. Those who claimed to be the caretakers of religion were responsible for His crucifixion. He was under the scrutiny of eyes full of enmity. In His prayer Jesus was strengthened by the Father to meet the challenge. We have the faith of the paralytic and the men who brought him to Jesus. Their faith was so strong that nothing could stop them from taking the paralytic to Jesus. By the faith of his friends, the paralytic was cured. The faith of parents is the model for the children to follow. When Augustine was living an immoral life his mother mediated in prayer for him. Her prayers were answered.

My Lord and my God, take from me everything that distances me from You. My Lord and my God, give me everything that brings me close to You. My Lord and my God, detach me from myself to give my all to you.(C.C.C.226) Prayer Starter ‘Let nothing trouble you. Let nothing frighten you. Everything passes. God never changes. Patience obtains all. Whoever has God wants for nothing. God alone is enough. Amen.

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

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Tuesday 8th December 2015 Immaculate Conception Genesis: 3/9-15, 20 Psalm:98/1-4 Ephesians:1/3-6, 1112 Luke:1/26-38 The First Proclamation But the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, "Where are you?" He said, "I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself." He said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?" The man said, "The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate." Then the Lord God said to the woman, "What is this that you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent tricked me, and I ate." The Lord God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, cursed are you among all animals and among all wild creatures; upon your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will strike your head, and you will strike his heel."

The man named his wife Eve because she was the mother of all living.

Fix your gaze on Jesus Today we celebrate the immaculate conception of our Blessed Mother.

This was the marvelous miraculous work of the Creator God; the receptiveness of the hearts and minds of the related humans notwithstanding!

Yet, our Blessed Mother's 'Yes' did count, and was critical, as the erasing of the original taint requires this. In that sense, our Mother is ever so more blessed!

Let's look at an aspect of the original taint; the inclination to hoist the responsibility of personal choices on to 'The Other'. Adam did this, blaming the Lord (for bringing Eve to himself) and Eve (for giving him the forbidden fruit) for his bad choices. Eve did this too blaming the serpent for her own bad choices. Both refused to accept their own ability to respond in a conscious, thoughtful, mature, and disciplined manner. We all of us would recognise this taint in ourselves, were we to carefully inspect our own thought processors. Most of us habitually blame others for our own shortcomings. This inclination robs us of the chance to work on improving our own responses to life's challenges.

We easily blame everyone and everything else; and as a consequence are disempowered and stay in the rut.

We sow an untruth (We are powerless to respond in a better manner), and reap the sorry result of no improvement, no progress, and definitely no transcendence.

On this day we show our respect and love to our Blessed Mother, could we come to grips with this (fallen thinking) issue we have, and resolve to become empowered? Just become conscious of the fact that all we need to do is change a few thoughts/beliefs!

Repeat the new empowering beliefs to yourself for a few days, so that the truth sinks in, and our old unproductive destructive beliefs will be replaced in our sub-conscious.

Accept our ability to respond (Response-ability) in a much more empowered, mature and conscious manner.

This could be the best way of expressing our respect for our Mother!

Prayer Starter Thank you O Lord God for giving us our Blessed Mother! Help us emulate her response to life's challenges....

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Wednesday 9th December 2015 Isaiah: 40/25-31 Psalm:103/1-4, 8, 10 Matthew:11/28-30 The Gospel Proclamation “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Prayerful Awareness In the first verse of this Gospel proclamation, Jesus offers some words of inspiration and comfort. He invites all of us who labor and are burdened to come to Him and that He will give us rest.

All of us have burdens that we must learn to deal with in our lives. Amidst these problems we tend to depend on our own resources to solve them. But there is another solution - we have to go to Jesus.

The way through which we can receive the rest that Jesus offers is to go to Him and say “I need Your help”. As Jesus says in another part of the Gospel, “Ask and you shall receive, seek and you will find”, all we have to do is ask and we will receive help from God. God’s help might not come to us immediately. However, He wants us to trust in Him during the trying times that we face. We might feel like that all is lost because we are afraid of the future and what it holds. I propose that whenever you are afraid because of the problems you have to face say this simple but powerful prayer: “Jesus, I trust in you.” What does trusting in Jesus require?

We need to gaze at Jesus Who is the Son of God made man. He became man by emptying Himself of the equality with God so that He could experience firsthand what you and I as human beings go through in our life. Let us hear and listen to what

Jesus tells us.

Jesus tells us to: “Take my yoke upon your shoulders and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart, and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

What is the yoke that Jesus is talking about? It is the yoke of obeying the Father’s will and letting go of His own will. Jesus’ yoke is easy and His burden light because He trusted in His Father’s love for Him. He permitted God His Father to be in control of His life. We are invited to do likewise.

Prayer Starter What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!

O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations?

Is there trouble anywhere?

We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer.

Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?

Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?

Precious Savior, still our refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer.

Do your friends despise, forsake you?

Take it to the Lord in prayer!

In His arms He’ll take and shield you; you will find a solace there..

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Thursday 10th December 2015 Isaiah: 41/13-20 Psalm: 145/1, 9-13 Matthew:11/11-15 The First Proclamation For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand, it is I who say to you, “Do not fear, I will help you.” Do not fear, you worm Jacob, you insect Israel! I will help you, says the Lord, your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel. Now, I will make of you a threshing sledge, sharp, new, and having teeth, you shall thresh the mountain and crush them, and you shall make the hills like chaff.

You shall winnow them and the wind shall carry them away, and the tempest shall scatter them. Then you shall rejoice in the Lord, in the Holy One of Israel you shall glory. When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue is parched with thirst, I the Lord will answer them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them, I will open rivers on the bare heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water. ... I will set in the desert the cypress, the plane and the pine together, so that all may see and know, all may consider and understand, that the hand of the Lord has done this, the Holy One of Israel has created it.

The Gospel Proclamation Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence and the violent take it by force. For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John came, and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. Let anyone with ears listen!

Prayerful Awareness John the Baptist was unique. He wore odd clothes and ate strange food and preached an unusual message to Judeans who went out to the wastelands to see him. He knew he had a special role to play in the word - announcing the coming of the SAVIOR - and John put all his energies into this task. This wild looking man had NO POWER or POSIITION in the Jewish political system, but he SPOKE with almost irresistible AUTHORITY. He spoke the TRUTH, challenging them to turn from sin. They responded by the hundreds Jesus told His disciples and to the crowd that no man ever fulfilled his GOD GIVEN purpose better than John. Yet in God’s coming Kingdom all members will have a greater spiritual heritage than John because they will have seen and known CHRIST and His finished work on the CROSS. Jesus may have been referring to a vast movement towards God that began with John’s preaching or Jesus may have meant that entering God’s Kingdom takes courage, unwavering faith, determination and endurance because of the growing opposition leveled at Jesus’ followers.

John was not a resurrected Elijah; but he took on Elijah’s prophetic role - boldly confronting sin and pointing people to God. John even challenged King Herod to admit his sin. Although Herodias (Herod’s illegal keep) was able to get John killed, she was NOT ABLE to STOP his MESSAGE. God has given each of us a purpose for living. We can trust Him to guide us.

God can use us in a way, He can use no one else.

Prayer Starter Lord, Almighty Father, Help us to know without doubt Your purpose for our living.

We want to let You know our willingness to follow Jesus today.

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

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Friday 11th December 2015 St. Damasus I, Pope Isaiah:48/17-19 Psalm: 1/1-4, 6 Matthew: 11/16-19 First Proclamation Thus says Yahweh, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I am Yahweh your God and teach you for your own good, I lead you in the way you ought to go.

If only you had listened to my commandments! Your prosperity would have been like a river and your saving justice like the waves of the sea. Your descendants would have been numbered like the sand, your offspring as many as its grains. Their name would never be cancelled or blotted out from my presence.

Gospel Proclamation ‘What comparison can I find for this generation? It is like children shouting to each other as they sit in the market place: We played the pipes for you, and you wouldn’t dance; we sang dirges, and you wouldn’t be mourners. ‘For John came, neither eating nor drinking, and they say, “He is possessed.” The Son of man came, eating and drinking, and they say, “Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.”

Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.’

Prayerful Awareness The underlying theme in today’s Proclamations is regarding the blessings that can accrue to those who give heed to God’s instructions, which are self-explanatory!

However, as our Lord Jesus Christ says in the Gospel Proclamation, people do not heed instructions given to them for their own good, but act

contrary as if they are deaf and blind to the message and the Deliverer of the message! They tend to disregard the message by attributing preconceived negative opinions regarding the one delivering the message, because giving credence to what is being said would mean they would have to mend their ways which would require them to let go of their opinions, preconceptions, comfort zones, etc., which people find difficult to do. This was often the case with the prophets of the Old Testament, and also with regard to John the Baptist who was the last of the prophets, and finally, with Jesus, the Son of God! This behaviour is so aptly described by our Lord Jesus Christ in the ‘Parable of the Tenants in the Vineyard’ narrated in the Gospel of Saint. Mathew (Chapter 21: verses 33-43). People see God’s messengers as a threat to their accustomed way of life, and generally go to any length to get rid of the messenger rather than give heed to it.

Gaze at my sonship Let us prayerfully discern where do we stand in this scenario. On one hand is continuing with our lives the way we are used to, hankering after more and more material wealth, power, position, and fame, in a selfish manner whereby we will be successful for a time in the eyes of the world, but lose our soul when we die, or are we prepared to live by the teachings of God’s Holy Word, where our Lord Jesus Christ says, ‘Seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and everything else will be added on to you’ and thereby enjoy all the blessings He has promised to those who unselfishly heed His instructions, in the here and now, as well as in eternity?

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

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Saturday 12th December 2015 Sirach: 48/1-4, 9-11 Psalm:80/2-3, 14-16, 18-19 Mathew: 17/10-13 The First Proclamation Then Elijah arose, a prophet like fire, and his word burned like a torch.

He brought a famine upon them, and by his zeal he made them few in number. By the word of the Lord he shut up the heavens, and also three times brought down fire. How glorious you were Elijah, in your wondrous deeds!

Whose glory is equal to yours?

You were taken up by a whirlwind of fire, in a chariot with horses of fire.

At the appointed time, it is written, you are destined to calm the wrath of God before it breaks out in fury to turn the hearts of parents to their children, and to restore the tribes of Jacob.

Happy are those who saw you and were adorned with our love!

The Gospel Proclamation And the disciples asked him, "Why, then, do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?" He replied, "Elijah is indeed coming and will restore all things, but I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but they did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of Man is about to suffer at their hands." Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them about John the Baptist.

Prayerful Awareness "Do not tell this vision to anyone, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead". (vs. 9)

The preceding paragraph records the transfiguration of Jesus. In another gospel narrative, Jesus is reported to have reminded the disciples of the necessity to go to Mount Calvary, rather than remain at Mount Tabor watching this spectacle and being in ecstasy.

Hence, the focus of Jesus' attention at this point of time, was about the suffering and death He was expected to undergo, as the Messiah. "...so also will the Son of Man, suffer at their hands." (vs.12) What has Jesus' death got to do with the sentiments of verse 9? Yes, Jesus was thinking about the Holy Spirit who would come upon the earth after death and resurrection.

Jesus knew that people would be blind to the reality, unless they have the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit, unless their eyes of faith are opened.

The Holy Spirit gives the ability for man to understand and accept divine realities, which man is unable to do with his natural, human, intelligence and understanding. The Holy Spirit gives gifts such as faith, knowledge, wisdom, understanding etc.

The Holy Spirit grants abilities such as healing, miracles, discernment of spirits, speaking in tongues etc. in order to build up the Church.

Prayer Starter Turn again Lord of hosts look down from heaven and see Attend to this vine the shoot your right hand has planted. (Ps.80:1)

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

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Sunday 13th December 2015

Third Sunday of Advent

Zephania:3/14-18 Psalm: Isaiah:12/2-6 Philippians:4/4-7 Luke: 3/10-18

Introduction We are at the third stop on the journey. The first two Sundays presented us with the vision of salvation for all the world. The vision was not a mere unrealistic dream but the certain promise of the great liberation, the whole of creation is yearning for. Its realisation has already begun in Jesus. There is therefore every reason to pause on our journey to rejoice and make festival.

"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say rejoice! The Lord is near."

The First Proclamation Shout for joy, O daughter Zion! sing joyfully, O Israel! Be glad and exult with all your hearts, daughter Jerusalem! The Lord has removed the judgment against you, he has turned away your enemies. The King of Israel, the Lord, is in our midst, you have no further misfortune to fear. On that day, it shall be said to Jerusalem; Fear not, O Zion, be not discouraged! The Lord our God, is in your midst, a mighty saviour; He will rejoice over you with gladness, and renew you in his love, He will sing joyfully because of you, as one sings at festivals. I will remove disaster from

among you, so that none may recount your disgrace.

Let us in the spirit pay attention to the words: "The Lord your God is in your midst.

He will exult with joy over you He will renew you by His love."

In the Old Testament, the good news was directed to Israel and to Jerusalem. In Jesus we see that the whole world, Jew and Gentile is called upon to "dance with shouts of joy." Jesus on hearing the great invitation of Zephaniah, would have in the Holy Spirit responded to the call to rejoice. No wonder that His contemporaries, could not understand His enjoying a meal with His friends, who were often the socalled sinners, the alcoholics and the outcasts. He was called a drunkard.

He didn't mind contravening the Sabbatical law. He referred to an inner joy that couldn't be warded off even on the day before the passion.

(John 1/11).

Abba, we are overawed, we are amazed at the paradox of Jesus, a man of sorrow and a man of joy.

Help us in the Holy Spirit to be not confused at what the Good News is all about. Without the help of the Holy Spirit, we would never be able to come to grips with the contradictions of curse being called a blessing, the cross of defeat, coming to be hailed as the cross of victory.

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

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The Gospel Proclamation

The crowds asked Him, "What ought we to do?" In reply he said, "Let the man with two coats give to him who has none. The man who has food should do the same." Tax collectors also came to be baptized and they said to him, "Teacher, what are we to do?" He answered them, "Exact nothing over and above your fixed amount." Soldiers likewise asked him, 'What about us?" He told them "Don't bully anyone.

Denounce no one falsely. Be content with your pay." The people were full of anticipation, wondering in their hearts whether John might be the Messiah. John answered them all by saying, "I am baptizing you in water, but there is one to come who is mightier than I. I am not fit to loosen his sandal strap. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and in fire. His winnowing-fan is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and gather the wheat into his barn; but the chaff he will burn in unquenchable fire." Using exhortations of this sort, he preached the good news to the people.

The good news of joy, of great expectation, of song and dance making demands that can be more than painful to bear.

"If any one has two tunics he must share with the man who has none.

And the one with something to eat must do the same."

The Jesus of history, was a man who was the Good News of joy and

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sorrow, of giving and demanding.

Jesus in the Spirit needs to be listened to by His followers of today in Sri Lanka. The demands seem to come from the most unexpected sources - from the deprived youth, who do not have a place to rest their heads. To the followers of Christ (the charismatics) there is the call 'rejoice in your ability to sell, if not all your possessions, at least a fraction of it to meet the evil consequences of structural and systematic sin."

The Second Proclamation Rejoice in the Lord always! I say it again Rejoice! Everyone should see how unselfish you are.

The Lord is near. Dismiss all anxiety from your minds. Present your needs to God in every form of prayer and in petition full of gratitude. Then God's own peace, which is beyond all understanding will stand guard over your hearts and minds, in Christ Jesus.

Prayer Starter Alleluia! Alleluia! Jesus I make mine Your proclamation: The Spirit of the Lord has been given to me.

He has sent me to bring good news to the poor. Alleluia, Lord God, may we Your people who look forward to the birthday of Christ, experience the joy of salvation and celebrate the feast with love and thanksgiving. O Holy Spirit help us to welcome the Lord, who will challenge us to 'let go' even of our possessions in order that we may celebrate Christmas with the joy it brings .....

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

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Monday 14th December 2015 Numbers:24/2-7, 15-17 Psalm: 25/4-9 Mathew: 21/23-27 St. John of the Cross His father was a nobleman but was disinherited for marrying below his rank.

His mother was a humble silk weaver. Before his birth his father died. He was frail and undersized and was educated at a school for the poor. At 21 he became a Carmalite. He studied Philosophy and Theology and was ordained priest. St. Teresa of Avila persuaded him to do for the Carmalite Order of men what she was doing for the nuns. He became the confessor to St. Teresa and her nuns at Avila.

Due to internal strife and disagreements over contradictory orders he was imprisoned by his own brethren for 9 months.

He was miraculously shown a means of escape. Died; December 14th, 1591. Beatified by Pope Clement in 1675. Canonized by Pope Benedict XIII in 1721. Declared Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius XI on 24th November 1926.

The Gospel Proclamation When he entered the temple the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him ... "By what authority are you doing these things and who gave you this authority?" Jesus said to them, "I will also ask you one question; ... Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin? And they argued with one another, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say to us, 'Why then did you not believe him? but if we say, 'Of human origin', we are afraid of the crowd, for all regard John as a prophet." So they answered Jesus, 'We do not know." And he said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things."

Prayerful Awareness What right have you...? Who gave you ...? we cannot be surprised that the Jewish

Feast of St.John of the Cross, authorities asked Jesus these questions when we consider what He said and did.

A direct answer to these questions would have meant inviting the end. He turned tables on them. He asked them a two-pronged question. They were placed in a dilemma. They became speechless. The Father's programme of work was not yet over and the time for the final crisis had not yet come. "The exercise of authority is meant to give outward expression to a just hierarchy of values in order to facilitate the exercise of freedom and responsibility by all. Those in authority should practice distributive justice wisely, taking account of the needs and contribution of each, with a view to harmony and peace.

They should take care that the regulations and measures they adopt are not a source of temptation by setting personal interest against that of the community."

(C.C.C.2236).

"Respect for the human person proceeds by way of respect for the principle that, "everyone should look upon his neighbour (without any exception) as 'another self'. Above all bearing in mind his life and the means necessary for living it with dignity. No legislation could by itself do away with the fears, prejudices, and attitudes of pride and selfishness which obstruct the establishment of truly fraternal societies. Such behaviour will cease only through the charity that finds in every man a "neighbour" a brother (C.C.C.1931). The fourth commandment, "honour your father and mother ....." includes and presupposes the duties of parents, instructors, teachers, leaders, magistrates, those who govern, all who exercise authority over others and over a community of persons." (C.C.C.2199) Authority without love is tyranny." (Archbishop Fulton J.Sheen) Prayer Starter Help us to contribute along with the civil authorities to do the good of society in a spirit of truth, justice, solidarity and freedom. (C.C.C.2239) Amen.

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

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Tuesday 15th December 2015 Zephania3/1-2, 9-13 Psalm: 34/2-3, 6-7, 17-19, 23 Matthew: 21/28-32 The First Proclamation Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city! She obeyed not the voice; she received not correction; she trusted not in the Lord; she drew not near to her God....For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the Lord, to serve him with one consent. From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, even the daughter of my dispersed, shall bring mine offering. In that day shalt thou not be ashamed for all thy doings, wherein thou hast transgressed against me: for then I will take away out of the midst of thee them that rejoice in thy pride, and thou shalt no more be haughty because of my holy mountain. I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the Lord. The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid.

Fix your gaze on Jesus Lord, open up our ears and eyes; make us receptive to Thy Living Word....

We are fallen; in the thought patterns we habitually choose, in the emotions we generate and taste for ourselves day-by-day, in the desires and hopes and aspirations we routinely set before ourselves, we are less than optimal; we are fundamentally selfish in our outlook since we feel our separation from the Lord’s reality. We have created a chasm between (what

we view as) ourselves and the Whole Other!

The resultant feeling of been somehow less than complete, of being inferior, of being ashamed and of the need to stay on constant guard against possible intrusion on the self has become our inheritance.

Here we see the Lord giving assurance of wiping out our shame and guilt, of accepting us back in to S/His fold and loving embrace, provided we accept correction and turn away from our own ways. Have we yet come to the understanding and experience that S/His ways are always better for our life?

As for myself, I have tested out the normal human worldly ways as well as the Lord’s ways, and have become quite convinced that S/His ways are so much better! My earnest prayer today is to enable me to become more and more obedient to S/His commandments. I who was a rebel nowadays search whole-heartedly for the Living Word-Jesus, so that I could follow him.

To walk the narrow path, and not to be distracted from the enticements of the World, the Devil and the flesh.

And of course the Lord will always maintain differences in the societywe will always have the ‘Poor’, so that we could practice loving our brothers and sisters selflessly. To serve our Lord God in Spirit and in Truth!

Prayer Starter Lord, thank You for making Your will clear to us. And for placing before us the challenge to love each other even as You loved us! Teach us to trust You, and to be obedient, to practice the discipline required of Your Sons (and daughters)! What we are really asking of You is to enable us to stay in Your love.....

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

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Wednesday 16th December 2015 Isaiah:45/6-8, 18, 21-25 Psalm:85/9-14 Luke: 7/18-23 The First Proclamation ... so that they may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is no one besides me; I am the Lord, and there is no other. I form light and create darkness, I make weal and create woe; I the Lord do all these things. Shower, O heavens, from above, and let the skies rain down righteousness; let the earth open, that salvation may spring up, and let it cause righteousness to sprout up also; I the Lord have created it....

For thus says the Lord, who created the heavens (he is God!) who formed the earth and made it (he established it; he did not create it a chaos, he formed it to be inhabited!) I am the Lord, and there is no other.

The Gospel Proclamation

good news brought to them. And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me."

Prayerful Awareness The words of our Blessed Lord to the disciples of John to the question posed by John "Go and report to John what you have seen and heard. Blessed is that man who finds no stumbling block in me". The experience of the disciples of John and these words of Jesus convey to us too the mighty works of the Lord and the manner the word of God is given. Be on the alert to things taking place in and around you for the Lord speaks to us in many and various ways.

Let us be like little children for the Lord is open to them and speaks to them. Jesus revealing the Father declared "I thank thee Father, Lord of heaven and earth that thou hast hidden these things from the wise and the understanding, and revealed them to the babes." All the words of Jesus and all His actions reveal the fact, "All things have been delivered to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father and no one know the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him."

(Mat. 11/25). Jesus has also said "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of God. Whoever humbles himself like a little child, he is the greatest in the Kingdom of God." (Mat. 18/3, 4) Prayer Starter

The disciples of John reported all these things to him. So John summoned two of his disciples, and sent them to the Lord to ask, "Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?" When the men had come to him, they said, 'John the Baptist has sent us to you to ask, 'Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?" Jesus had just then cured many people of diseases, plagues, and evil spirits, and had given sight to many who were blind. And he answered them, "Go and tell John what you have seen and heard; the Blessed is the man who trusts in blind receive their sight, the lame thee for the Lord never withholds walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf good from them who walk upright. hear, the dead are raised, the poor have Lord God hear my prayer. Amen.

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

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Thursday 17th December 2015 Genesis:49/1, 2, 8-10 Psalm: 72/1-4, 7-8, 17 Mathew:1/1-17 The First Proclamation And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days. Gather yourselves together, and hear, ye sons of Jacob; and hearken unto Israel your father .... Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father’s children shall bow down before thee. Judah is a lion’s whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up? The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.

Fix your gaze on Jesus O Lord, that we would come to the feeling of been One with You and Yours....

In the Gospel today we see a long narration of the genealogy of Jesus.

This is important. We also are aware of the Pride of those folks who could trace their lineage back to some noble person back in History.

Even contemporarily, those who can relate to some VIP are normally suffused with the feeling of being worthy. The feeling of belongingness, of being close, of being One with a bigger whole is necessary- nay essential for a person's feeling of self-worth. So what if we could develop the feeling of being one with the Whole- meaning we feel we are united with God; our Father who art in heaven, and also on Earth!

It is our sense of being separate that robs us of this closeness to God

our Creator. This sense is in fact a falsehood we’re accepted in to our belief systems. We (your and I) are essentially a microcosm of the macrocosm; a microscopic depiction of the cosmological whole. We are complete in ourselves even as the universe is complete in itself.

It is necessary for us to come to view (and understand) that relationships that bind us all together define, maintain and uplift us! We are not defined by what we are singularlyfor example, however skilled you may be as a brain surgeon, without another human being to work your magic on, what use would these hard-won skills be? What we are, the gifts and blessings we realise in life are essentially the means, the tools for being in relationship with another. And it is this relationship which provides us with our sustenance, and justifies our continued existence.

And this seems to be the essence of what Jacob seems to be imparting to his children. For some, he may appear to be laying the foundation for an autocracy, defining a sort of ruling class; but on the other hand he seems to be saying something like, well- there is the mind which has to monitor the body as a whole and control/balance it, and then there is the heart too!

Of course there is the liver, the lungs, the skin etc., none of which is more important than the other, each serving the others as is their assigned role/purpose.

Prayer Starter Lord, journey us towards the truth; we are lost in being anchored down with manifold falsehoods and erroneous beliefs. Show us Your truth that we may shed these unholy beliefs....and come to experience Your love in an ever more closer manner....

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

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Friday 18th December 2015 Jeremiah:23/5-8 Psalm: 72/1-2, 12-13, 18-19 Mathew:1/18-24 The Gospel Proclamation Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. ... When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, he took her as his wife.

Prayerful Awareness Today we are presented with Joseph the husband of mother Mary. Let us see the way the gospel of today describes him.

As mentioned he was the husband of mother Mary. Therefore he had a dream of raising a family with Mary according to the traditions of the Jewish society. His dreams are shattered when he discovers that Mary his betrothed is with child without his involvement. He decides upon a solution based upon the next title that the Holy Scriptures gives him; He is described as a righteous man. The decision he comes to because of his righteousness is to dismiss her quietly. Up to this moment Joseph acted in his human capacity. Now he experiences divine intervention through the appearance of an angel of the Lord. This angel brings to Joseph’s awareness of another identity that he possessed; that of being a son of David. This made Joseph

aware of being part of God’s chosen people and His plan for them. The angel reveals to Joseph God’s plan for him and his betrothed Mary. Joseph wakes from sleep and decides to do as the angel commanded and willingly falls in line with God’s plan for his life.

Our sonship Let us present ourselves before St. Joseph’s response to God’s plan. To have a dream like unto what Joseph had in the situation described, he would have been a man of prayer who had accepted his place in God’s plan for His people Israel. Consequently he was ready to let-go of his plan and embrace that which God had for his life. We know that it was not an easy decision to take nor to follow through with it. The journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem with Mary about to give birth and the flight to Egypt with the newborn Jesus are two incidents which we need to reflect upon.

Are we willing to accept St.Joseph as someone we need to emulate?

What are the situations in life we are faced with at this point in time? What plans and decisions have we made to face them?

Are we willing to go into prayer and ask the Lord God for His will regarding those situations? What about our willingness “to let go and let God?” Prayer Starter I do not know what lies ahead, the way I cannot see; yet One stands near to be my guide, He’ll show the way to me: I know who holds the future, and He’ll guide me with His hand; with God things don’t just happen, everything by Him is planned.

So as I face tomorrow, with its problems large and small, I’ll trust the God of miracles, give to Him my all.

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

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Saturday 19th December 2015 Judges: 13/2-7, 24-25 Psalm:71/3-6, 16-17 Luke: 1/5-25 The Gospel Proclamation In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, .. his wife was .. Elizabeth. Both of them were righteous before God, living blamelessly according to all the commandments and regulations of the Lord. But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were getting on in years.... Then there appeared to him an angel of the Lord...

When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified and fear overwhelmed him. But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. ... Zechariah said to the angel, "How will I know that this is so? For I am an old man, and my wife is getting on in years." The angel replied, "I am Gabriel, I stand in the presence of God and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. But now because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their time, you will become mute, unable to speak, until the day these things occur ....

After those days his wife Elizabeth conceived and for five months she remained in seclusion. She said, "This is what the Lord has done for me when he looked favorably on me and took away the disgrace I have endured among my people".

Prayerful Awareness "Both were righteous in the eyes of God, observing all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly. But, they had no child ... (vs. 6) At this point of time, if the line is drawn in the life of Zechariah and Elizabeth, according to worldly standards and human understanding, Elizabeth was a cursed woman, for she was apparently barren.

But as the story unfolds, she ultimately bears a child, under mysterious circumstances. Now, what does the world and human understanding tell? She is blessed.

Yes, as human beings, we are not supposed to draw the line, at a particular time, during our lifespan and arrive at conclusions. Because the Word of God says, "My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways, my ways .... As high as the heavens are above the earth, so high are my ways above your ways, and my thoughts above your thoughts" (Isaiah 58,9). God does things in His own time and in His own ways.

We are called to be patient and live righteously in faith and hope. Then, just as God acted in the life of Elizabeth He will act in our life too.

Even though the world is changing and things are supposed to happen instantly, God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. God never changes.

Let us do our part and God is sure to do His! Prayer Starter In You Lord, I take refuge Let me never be put to shame In Your justice rescue and deliver me ... (Ps. 71:1 ....)

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Sunday 20th December 2015 Micah: 5/1-4 Psalm: 80/2-3, 15-16, 18-19 Hebrews:10/5-10 Luke:1/39-45 Introduction The hour has come for the realisation of the promise to take shape. The end-time is beginning to happen. The Saviour is about to cross the threshold. The Saviour the Liberator is coming. Mankind, creation, is called upon to cry out in unison" Let the clouds rain down the Just One and the earth bring forth a Saviour From the above and below let the Saviour make His appearance.

The First Proclamation But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too small to be among the class of Judah. From you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel; Whose origin is from of old, from ancient times. Therefore the Lord will give them up, until the time when she who is to give birth has borne.

And the rest of his brethren shall return to the children of Israel.

He shall stand firm and shepherd his flock by the strength of the Lord, in the majestic name of the Lord, his God; and they shall remain, for now his greatness shall reach to the ends of the earth, he shall be peace. If Assyria invades our country and treads upon our land, we shall raise against it seven shepherds, eight men of royal rank.

May the Holy Spirit din into our hearts the good news of the closeness of the Lord.

"He will stand and feed His flock with the power of the Lord, with the majesty of the name of His God." There is in the Scriptures a manifest evidence of Yahweh's seeming partiality for the small, the negligible, the poor, the outcast. In the world 'created' by man, there is however, abundance of testimony to man's behavioural patterns that lean towards the rich, the powerful, the gifted, the educated and the prominent. Even the place of birth for the promised Messiah is to be insignificant Bethlehem.

"You Bethlehem Ephrathah, too small to be among the class of Judah. From you shall come forth for me one who is to be the ruler in Israel."

Jesus, is the unrivalled revealer of the Abba. The very place and the village of His birth is a summons to His followers to stop, to pause a while on their life's journey to take in the meaning of all these happenings; Primacy of place for the WORD (Dhamma) and the 'Poor" cannot be cliches for mere mindsatisfying intellectual discourse but a revealed word for selfless commitment and action. Psalm 80 Lord of hosts, restore us, if your face shine upon us, then we shall be safe O shepherd of Israel hearken O guide of the flock of Joseph From Your throne upon the Cherubim shine forth.

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The Gospel Proclamation Thereupon Mary set out, proceeding in haste into the hill country to a town of Judah, where she entered Zechariah's house and greeted Elizabeth.

When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leapt in her womb. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and cried out in a loud voice. "Blest are you among women and blest is the fruit of your womb. But who am I that the mother of my Lord should come to me? The moment your greeting sounded in my ear, the baby leapt in my womb for joy."

The hour has indeed come for the fulfilment of the promise. Mark the words, "Yes, blessed is she who believed that the promise made her by the Lord would be fulfilled."

Mary, the poor young woman, is poor in more than one sense, poor in being subject to misunderstanding even by Joseph. How many prying eyes and inquisitive ears could have found material to impoverish her more and more. A simple village woman Elizabeth, poor in her old age, is able to 'see', to 'hear' what most others couldn't or wouldn't. In Mary's poverty, she carried the Promise of Yahweh in her womb.

There was an adoration of the Incarnate Word and a dance of welcome, unseen or beyond the experience of the rationally or intellectually rich. It would be a most valuable and enriching exercise for us to repeat with Mary her exuberant response to the welcome extended to her.

"My being proclaims, the Greatness of the Lord. My spirit finds joy in God my Saviour. For

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He has looked upon his servant in her lowliness, all ages to come shall call me blessed ... He has deposed the mighty from their seats and paved the lowly to high places ... the rich He has sent away empty."

The Second Proclamation Wherefore, on coming into the world, Jesus said, "Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you have prepared for me. Holocausts and sin offerings you took no delight in. Then I said, 'as is written of me in the book, I have come to do your will, O God," First he says, 'sacrifice and offerings, holocausts and sin offerings, you neither desired nor delighted in." Then he says "I have come to do your will". In other words, he takes away the first covenant to establish the second. By this "will" we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."

Prayer Starter Abba, in the manner of Jesus could we be sensitive to Your Word.

Could we say soulfully, "Lord here I am! I am coming to do Your Will".

Your Will is already revealed to us in the verbal Word especially in the Holy Scriptures, in Your Incarnate Word Jesus, in Your Son's Body - the Church and in Your ongoing Word in and through Your daily revelations among us. Help us to pay heed to that special Word that You are with and among the poor of our land.

Help us to gain deeper insights into the two words - Dhamma and the poor ....

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Monday 21st December 2015 Feast of St. Peter Canisius, Confessor, Song of Solomon:2/8-14 or Zephania: 3/14-18 Psalm: 33/2-3, 11-12, 20-21 Luke: 1/39-45 St. Peter Canisius He was born on 8th May 1521. His father was the wealthy Mayor of the Dutch city of Nijmegen. He was a university student at 15 and at 19 received his Master's degree. He was the first German to enter the Society of Jesus. He was ordained priest at 25. He made his solemn profession as a Jesuit and was sent to Vienna where he taught Theology at the university. The Church in Vienna then was in a deplorable state - with no priests having been ordained for over 18 years and many parishes had to be abandoned. He laboured in every way possible to restore the Church there and the true Catholic doctrine. Thousands were won back to the faith and crowds thronged his confessional and his masses. He is famous for his Triple Catechism - for children, young people and adults. The last 17 years of his life was spent in Switzerland where he died on 21st December 1597. Beatified in 1864. Canonized and declared Doctor of the Church - 1925.

The Gospel Proclamation ... Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town ..., where she entered the house of Zecharia and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth .... exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. ... For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her by the Lord."

Prayerful Awareness When the Angel Gabriel told Our Lady that her elderly cousin Elizabeth had conceived a son, the implicit invitation was that she should visit her. Mary was given a sign that she would conceive by the Holy Spirit. Her elderly cousin Elizabeth had already conceived a son in her old age, and was now in her sixth month. Mary, now bearing the Divine Secret within her, journeyed several days from Nazareth to the city of Hebron, which, according to tradition, rested over the ashes of the founders of the people of God - Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Elizabeth, in some mysterious way, knew that Mary was bearing within herself the Messiah. The salutation came from the mother of the herald to the mother of the King whose path the herald was destined to prepare. John the Baptist, still cloistered in his mother's womb, on his mother's testimony leaped with joy at the mother who brought the Christ to her home." (Archbishop F.J.Sheen).

Called in the gospels "the Mother of Jesus", Mary is acclaimed by Elizabeth at the prompting of the Spirit and even before the birth of her son, as "the mother of my Lord." In fact, the One whom she conceived as man by the Holy Spirit, who truly became her Son according to the flesh, was none other than the Father's eternal Son, the Second person of the Holy Trinity. Hence the Church confesses that Mary is truly "Mother of God" (Theotokos).

(C.C.C.495). Elizabeth, with John still in her womb, was filled with joy and was blessed when Our Lady, with the presence of Jesus in her womb visited her What wonderful things happen when Jesus is present. How alert are we to this fact Jesus is present with and in all of us.

Prayer Starter "May we always recognize with joy the presence of Christ in the Eucharist we celebrate, as John the Baptist hailed the presence of our Saviour in the womb of Mary.

Amen.

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Tuesday 22nd December 2015 1 Samuel: 1/24-28 Song: 1 Samuel: 2/ 1, 4-8 Luke:1/46-56 The First Proclamation Once he was weaned, she brought him up with her, along with a threeyear-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and presented him at the temple of the Lord in Shiloh. After the boy's father had sacrificed the young bull, Hannah, his mother, approached Eli and said, 'Pardon, my lord! As you live my lord, I am the woman who stood near you here, praying to the Lord. I prayed for this child, and the Lord granted my request. Now I, in turn, give him to to Lord as long as he lives, he shall be dedicated to the Lord.

The Gospel Proclamation And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.

Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm, he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly, he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty ....

Prayerful Awareness The theme in today's readings is the assurance and the conviction in the hearts of two women that God looks with favour on the lowly. It is of course the grace of God that leads one to acknowledge poverty.

Hannah the mother of Samuel and wife

of Elkanath was suffering deeply the humiliation of not having a child of her own.

She was being taunted daily by Peninnah the other wife of Elkanath and the desperate prayer from her heart was answered by the Lord. She names the male child "Samuel" which means "I asked him from the Lord". In her song of thanksgiving, she exalts God for He alone decides.

The "Magnificat" of our Mother Mary, was no doubt inspired by the Song of Hannah. This sixteen year old virgin was in no way desperate for a child. Yet she said, "Yes" to the angel Gabriel notwithstanding the risk of being stoned to death, being an unwed mother.

Another woman, Elizabeth, is meanwhile going through a Hannah type experience and the Holy Spirit chooses her mouth to confirm to Mary, that the Prophet of prophets is now conceived within her womb. Mary goes into her song of praise, as Elizabeth calls her blessed, and Mary perceives that she will be called blessed forever. Jesus Christ Himself was going to preach the Beatitudes 30 years later, where He is going to call the humble blessed.

How does one define humility or spiritual poverty? It is total dependance on God, irrespective of position, status or possessions that one may have.

One of the Charismas of the Pubuduwa is "Being empty like Mary".

We need to empty ourselves daily and that is one reason why "My Hour" with the Lord is so important. As we sit submitted to the Lord then we are inspired to unconditionally and wholeheartedly surrender to Him. Humility is a mindset. It means to die to self, die to effort; die to trying; die to scheming, simply empty myself and say "YES" to Him. Prayer Starter I submit Lord! Help me to carry the cross and follow You daily.

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Wednesday 23rd December 2015 Malachi: 3/1-4; 4/5-6 Psalm: 25/4-5, 8-10, 14 Luke: 1/57-66 The Gospel Proclamation Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.

On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him Zechariah after his father. But his mother said, “No, he is to be called John.” They said to her, “None of your relatives has this name.” Then they began motioning to his father to find out what name he wanted to give him. He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And all of them were amazed.

Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue freed, and he began to speak, praising God. Fear came over all their neighbors, and all these things were talked about throughout the entire hill country of Judea. All who heard them pondered them and said, “What then will this child become? For, indeed, the hand of the Lord was with him.

Prayerful Awareness

named John the Baptist because he baptized Jesus with water from the river Jordan. He baptized the people too from the river. John asking them to repent for their sins of the past.

Zechariah who was dumb regained his power of speech when he acknowledged the name John suitable for his son. John the Baptist prepared the way of the Lord before Jesus’ coming. “Repent for all your sins.” John preached a baptism of Repentance for the forgiveness of sins and according to Isaiah the prophet, it is said about John, ‘prepare the way of the Lord, make His path straight. Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be brought low - leveled and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.” The sins committed by the people at this time must have been really atrocious for John called the people “You brood of vipers”. To the people who had money he asked them to share with the poor to such an extent that those who had two coats, to give one to the other.

John said that he baptized with water but one will come who will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire, the buckle of whose shoe he is not worthy to unbuckle. When we read these passages we come to realize that God is allowing things to happen according to a predestined plan.

Prayer Starter

The Lord had shown great mercy to her and they, the neighbors and the He is the Way the Truth, the Life. kinsfolk rejoiced with her They were The One whose name is Jesus. all happy that Elizabeth had given birth to a son for she was really old, quite There is no other name on earth passed her child-bearing age. It was a that has the power to save us.” special blessing that God had beSper stowed on Elizabeth and Zechariah to Only one road leads us to Heaven. produce a prophet son, whom they Jesus Christ is the Way”

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Thursday 24th December 2015 2 Samuel:7/1-6, 8-11, 16 Psalm: 89/1-4, 26, 28 Luke: 1/67-79

Introduction Being the day before Christmas day, by purple colour we are led to repentance, to prepare our hearts and souls to receive our Lord. God so Loved us that He sent His only Son to live amongst us to teach and guide us to live our lives to please God, and then to pay for our sins - redeem us.

The First Proclamation teach us about King David, who in gratitude for all the help and protection received from God, decides to construct a building to house the Arc of the Covenant of God, placed in a tent at that time. But, God sends a message through the Prophet Nathan, to inform that the construction of such a place is not a job for King David.

The Gospel Proclamation Please read Luke 1/67-79 meditatively.

Prayerful Awareness From the first reading we are shown that God has a plan for everything. Even to carry out an act which we identify as good, we should first seek guidance from God by prayer and await God’s response which we may receive through the acts of the Holy Spirit or through God’s Word.

And therefore we should be awake and in continuous prayer ready to receive such guidance. I wish to share an experience of a person whom the doctors advised to undergo an operation as a solution to a problem she had. Since it was a serious operation she wished to rely on her Faith and prayers, for God to do something about it. Whilst on continuous prayer, members of prayer group received messages, for her to stand the operation. But,

she continued to have her Faith and Hope on Lord, that Lord would do something.

At this juncture, prayers were led requesting Lord to guide her direct as to what should be done. To everyone’s surprise she herself started narrating a vision she had seen, whilst in prayer; “she was dressed in surgical garments and had been taken on a hospital trolley to the operating room”. This changed her mind and without fear she gave her consent to stand for the operation. Though it was a serious operation we knew that Lord was there through the entire operation to help and guide the doctors do their job.

Gospel message draws our attention to Zachariah, father of John the Baptist who was filled by the Holy Spirit to Praise God for His Love and Mercy to arrange us redemption and Salvation through the coming of Lord Jesus Christ.

We have been anointed by the Holy Spirit at Baptism to pledge our lives to our Master Lord Jesus Christ, and at Confirmation the blessing most of us received as small children are renewed at an age we can understand, guiding us to live a Spirit filled life as Children of God. ( For those who are led by the Spirit of God are Children of God - Romans 8, 14 ) Holy Spirit within us will guide us to Lord Jesus Christ and help us to obey all Lord’s Commandments and to Love others as Lord Loves us. For Jesus said “ When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth that proceeds from the Father, He will testify to me” - John 15,26 Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, at Baptism I accepted You as my Saviour and my Lord, and You Blessed me with the Holy Spirit using water and fire as symbols to make me a Child of God. Grant me the Wisdom and the Powers of the Holy Spirit to follow all Your Commandments and remain in Your Love, Amen

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Friday 25th December 2015 Mid-night Mass: Isaiah:9/2-7 Psalm: 96/1-3,11-13 Titus:2/11-14 Luke: 2/1-14 Morning Mass: Isaiah:52/7-10 Psalm: 98/1-6 Hebrews:1/1-6 John:1/1-18 or 1/1-5, 9-14 The Gospel Proclamation In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. .....

The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. ... But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God., ....

Prayerful Awareness In the Gospel for the Holy Mass of Christmas morning introduces Jesus as the Word of God become flesh. The Church reminds us of this fact three times during the day when we pray the Angelus. The following truths are also revealed in this Gospel: ·all things were made through him, ·In him was life, and the life was the light of men. ·The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. ·But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God., who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or

of the will of man, but of God. The news of a newborn babe is always good news. But why is Christmas special to us Christians? The above facts that have been highlighted gives us the answer.

You and I, The entirety of the human race have been created “through Him”. All of us are “words” created within “The Word”. In Isaiah 55:11 it is said: “so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and prosper in the thing for which I sent it.”

The Word of God taking on human life lived the truth of being the Son of God thus becoming the light of all humankind..

He showed us The Way to live The Truth of who we are, and thus became the Light of men that shines in the darkness and which the darkness will not overcome.

The good news of Christmas is that to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. This Christmas, once again, we are offered the opportunity to be enlightened through Christ Who is our light to see and accept the gratuitous gift of being born of God; to become children of God. That is enough and more reason to celebrate Christmas.

Prayer Starter O Come All Ye Faithful Joyful and triumphant, O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem.

Come and behold Him, Born the King of Angels; O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.

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Saturday 26th December 2015 Acts:6/8-10; 7/54-59 Psalm: 31/3-7,15-16 Matthew:10/17-22 The First Proclamation Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), ... stood up and argued with Stephen. But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke.

When they heard these things, they became enraged and ground their teeth at Stephen. But filled with the Holy Spirit, he gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. "Look," he said, "I see the heavens opened and he Son of man standing at the right hand of God!" But they covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him. Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him, and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."

The Gospel Proclamation Beware of them, for they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues; and you will be dragged before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them and the Gentiles. When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you at that time, for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to

death, and you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

Prayerful Awareness In this narrative, Jesus is forewarning His disciples about what they are supposed to face, after His departure from this world and how they are to conduct themselves (vs. 16,17,18,22) Having said all this, Jesus assures them - "do not worry how you are to speak... you will be given at that moment, what you are to say .... the Spirit of your Father speaking through you." (vs. 19, 20) And finally Jesus says an all important thing, "... but whoever endures to the end, will be saved." 9(vs. 22) Gaze at Jesus Jesus experienced severe pain of mind and body during His passion and death. For instance, at the garden of Gethsemane, when betrayed by Judas, when He was scourged and crowned with thorns, when false allegations were leveled at the trials, and finally when carrying the cross and at crucifixion.

Jesus' life was not taken away by human beings, but He gave up His life willingly at the appropriate moment.

(John 19:30). He could have given up His breath at any of these moments, in order to get rid of the pain. But He endured to the end, until the offering of His body and blood to the Heavenly Father on the cross, for the atonement of sins of all mankind and the granting of the Spirit to the small community at the foot of the cross, who symbolised the Church.

Prayer Starter In You Lord, I take refuge; let me never be put to shame. In Your justice deliver me... (Ps.31:2 ...)

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Sunday 27th December 2015 1 Samuel:1/20-22, 24-28 Psalm: 4/1-5, 8-9 1 John:3/1-2, 21-24 Luke: 2/41-52

Introduction On this Sunday we are called upon to spend a little time to take a good look at the holy Family, in the light of the Holy Spirit. We have already seen the three of them at the place of Jesus' birth in Bethlehem. Today we see them going through a very disturbing experience on one of their pilgrimages to Jerusalem. We could as well take a peep at what happened in Nazareth upto the great day of His Baptism in the River Jordan.

The First Proclamation Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son and called him Samuel 'since' she said 'I asked the Lord for him'.

When a year had gone by the husband Elkanah went up again with all his family to offer the annual sacrifice to the Lord and to fulfil his vow. Hannah however, did not go up having said to her husband 'Not before te child is weaned. Then I will bring him and present him before the Lord and he shall stay there forever." When she had weaned him she took him up with her and brought him to the temple of the Lord at Shiloh ... she said 'If you please my Lord as you live, I am the woman who stood here beside your presence, praying to the Lord. This is the child I prayed for, and the Lord granted me what I asked Him. Now I make him over to the Lord for the whole of his life. He is made over to the Lord." There she left him for the Lord.

Feast of the Holy Family Prayerful Awareness The Blessed Mother would have adverted to the story of Hannah and her son Samuel a number of times in her life. In all probability, she would have identified with her in the unexpected way she conceived Jesus and the inner sacrifice she made when she had to experience within her, the tearing apart of maternal ties with this one child of her womb. And as for Joseph!

His acquiescence to what he perceived as Yahweh's Will for him! Now for Jesus! He belonged elsewhere and not primarily to the human family that He was planted in. Did such like experience of His youthful days make Him seize on the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to utter in His prayer at the Last Supper "They are in the world" (John 1711). "They are not of the world."

(John 17/16) His followers must be where He is.

Response-Psalm 84 How lovely is your dwelling place Lord God of Hosts My soul is longing and yearning for the courts of the Lord My heart and my soul ring out their joy to God the living God. They are happy who dwell in your house forever singing your praise.

They are happy whose strength is in you; they walk with ever growing strength The Gospel Proclamation Every year the parents of Jesus used to go to Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover. When He was twelve years old, they went up for the feast as usual. When they were on their way home after the feast, the boy

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Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem without his parents knowing it. They assumed he was with the caravan, and it was only after a day's journey that they went to look for him among their relations and acquaintances. When they failed to find him there, they went back to Jerusalem looking for him everywhere. Three days later, they found him in the temple, sitting among the doctors, listening to them and asking them questions, and all those who heard him were astounded at his intelligence and his replies. They were overcome when they saw him and his mother said to him, 'My child why have you done this to us? See how worried your father and I have been looking for you." "Why were you looking for me" He replied, "Did you not know that I must be busy with my Father's affairs?" But they did not understand what he meant.

He then went down with them and came to Nazareth and lived under their authority. His mother stored up all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom, in stature, and in favour with God and men.

Prayerful Awareness

Jesus, typically Him, even at the age of twelve - Son of the Abba. He was happily preoccupied with Abba's concerns.

The Second Proclamation

It would have been a very significant experience for all three of them.

This event took place when Jesus was only twelve years of age. The Blessed Mother as any mother, would naturally have been disturbed with her imagination threatening to run riot with innumerable pictures of the dangers that would have befalled Jesus. But, her immense trust in Yahweh would have helped her to ward off any fears with the silent prayer, "Lord, You are with Him, He belongs to you." Joseph, out of his wits, could have been assured by the trustful calm that pervaded Mary's whole demeanour. And as for

Father in heaven, creator of all, You ordered the earth to bring forth life and crowned its goodness by creating the family of man. In history's moment when all was ready, you sent Your Son to dwell in time, obedient to the laws of life in our world. Teach us the sanctity of human love, show us the value of family life and help us to live in peace with all men that we may share in Your life forever. We desire very much to constantly fix our gaze on Jesus, Mary and Joseph ....

See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God, and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know is hat it did not know him. Beloved, we are God's children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is.

Beloved if our hearts do not condemn us, we have boldness before God; and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him.

And this is his commandment that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.

All who obey his commandments abide in him, and he abides in them.

And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit that he has given us.

Prayer Starter

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Monday 28th December 2015 Holy Innocents, Martyrs 1 John:1/5-2/2 Psalm: 124/2-5, 7-8 Matthew: 2/13-18 Holy Innocents Today the Church honours the memory of the little children who, according to Mathew, were massacred by order of King Herod. Herod was highly disturbed by the very existence of the new-born King.

The Magi had come his way to worship Him. Under Herod's order all male children under two years of age were slaughtered in the vain hope of getting rid of Jesus.

Herod's cruelty did not know boundaries he was responsible for the killing of his wife, her mother, two sons, brother, two brothers-in-law and finally another son just a few days before his own death. The Church venerates the infants massacred as martyrs because they died not only for Christ but also instead of Christ. How dreadful was this act of Herod. It helps us to draw our attention to an even more atrocious crime being committed worldwide today. Within the confines of the womb how many millions of unborn babies are killed? "The greatest danger of peace today is abortion." (Mother Theresa) The First Proclamation This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true; but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just, will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all

unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar and his word is not in us.

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

Prayerful Awareness "God is light". (vs.5) tells us of His glory and splendour. One of the functions of light is to show the way. To see the road clearly it has to be lit .What a blessing it is - the path to be trodden is well lit and His unfailing guidance is always available without fail. He lights up the darkness, reveals Himself. Oh! How He wishes to be known and seen.He is pure and holy. Darkness also hides evil. As He is light He is pure and not only without blemish but also reveals blemishes. All forms of imperfections are revealed. The invitation is clear and is open to everyone - to have fellowship with Him. As His ardent followers we must give priority to fulfil our obligations. When we strive to come near Him, we bear witness to Him mainly in the way we live. Our attention is drawn to two erroneous ways of thought - one who says he has no sin and the other who claims he has not sinned.

When people say they have no responsibility for their sin, they actually engage themselves in finding defenses to hide behind. It is easy to put the blame on others, things or events. Here the most essential thing is face the situation with penitent and humble confession to God, and if the situation demands, to other people too.

Prayer Starter Thank You Lord for the promise of mercy to all who come to Thee with penitent hearts. Amen.

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Tuesday 29th December 2015 St. Thomas Beckett 1 John: 2/3-11 Psalm: 96/1-3, 5-6 Luke: 2/22-34 Gospel Proclamation When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord .... and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons. Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Loved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts.

When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation,which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.” The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: ”This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

Gaze at Jesus God throughout history promised salvation to humanity through His Son and in that Simeon had a special call to see Jesus in person.

On that day, Simeon had a special

prompting from the Holy Spirit to go to the Temple. He encountered the Holy Family. Although they did not do anything phenomenal to draw Simeon’s attention, he was so tuned to the promptings of the Spirit that he was also able to recognize Baby Jesus as the one God had promised to bring salvation. Not only that he recognized Jesus, he also prophesied Jesus’ mission.

Our sonship It is a grace given to those who have been called to reveal the salvation of God in the society. You and I are baptized into this mission. For that we must be able to love the society to reconstruct it meaningfully into God’s mission. However, if we are struggling in our personal relationships, then as St. John claims in His letter, we are blinded by darkness, completely unaware of the salvation that Jesus has brought to us.

Prayerful Awareness Therefore, if we are struggling in our personal relationships, and if we are stubborn to lead our lives in the same way as the rest of the world, Jesus cannot open the floodgates of love through us into the society and use us in His mission to reconstruct society.

Practical step Be present before the Blessed Sacrament and in honest submission ask for Lord's assistance to bring peace into any sore relationship you may have with someone.

Prayerful Praise O sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all he earth. Sing to the lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples.

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Wednesday 30th December 2015 1 John: 2/12-1 Psalm: 96/7-10 Luke: 2/36-40 The First Proclamation I am writing to you little children, because your sins are forgiven on account of his name. I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young people, because you have conquered the evil one. I write to you, children, because you know the Father. I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young people, because you are strong and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

Do not love the world or the things in the world. The love of the Father is not in those who love the world, for all that is in the world - the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, the pride in riches - comes not from the Father but from the world. And the world and its desires are passing away, but those who do the will of God live forever.

The Gospel Proclamation There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanoel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshipped there with fasting and prayer night and day. At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.

When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and

became strong, filled with wisdom and the favor of God was upon him.

Prayerful Awareness Although Simeon and Anna were very old, they had never lost their hope that they would SEE the Messiah. Led by the Holy Spirit they were among the FIRST to bear witness to Jesus. In the Jewish culture, elders were RESPECTED, so because of Simeonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and Annaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s age, their prophecies carried extra weight.

Our society however values youthfulness, over wisdom and potential contributions by the elderly are often ignored. As Christians, we should reverse these values wherever we can. Encourage older people to share their wisdom and experience.

Listen carefully when they speak. Offer them your friendship and help them find ways to continue to serve God. Anna was called a prophetess, indicating that she was unusually close to God. Prophets did not necessarily predict the future. Their main role was to SPEAK to GOD, proclaiming His truth.

Joseph and Mary obeyed the Law of the Lord to the fullest. They did everything required by the Law. Only then, they returned to Nazareth.

Jesus was filled with wisdom, which is not surprising since He stayed in close contact with His heavenly Father. James 1:5 says God gives wisdom generously to all who ask. Like Jesus we can grow in wisdom by WALKING WITH GOD. Prayer Starter Help us O Lord to build our relationship with You through communication. A prayer-life, a deeper, clearer understanding to help us to become more like Jesus.

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Thursday 31st December 2015 St. Sylvester, 1st Pope 1 John: 2/18-21 Psalm: 96/1-2, 11-13 John: 1/1-18 Introduction Today we are reminded of our lives on earth as “pilgrims” who have come into this world ( 1 Peter 2,11 ) to live well to get a ticket to go to our destiny – to be with ever Loving God our Father and be in the presence of our Leader, Friend, Teacher, and Loving and Caring Big Brother, Lord Jesus Christ.

The First Proclamation First reading alert us that the last hour is coming closer as we have already heard of the coming of the antichrist and that many antichrists have come and gone.

This awakes us to repent for our sins and be clean and be ready to go when the call comes, so that we would be able to get to our Father and save our soul. In Mathew 3, 2 our Leader Lord Jesus Christ called us to repent for all our sins and be ready, where it is said, “Repent your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.”

The Gospel Proclamation In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be. What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

A man named John was sent from God He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. .....

But to those who did accept him he

gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born not by natural generation nor by human choice nor by a man’s decision, but of God. …………..

Prayerful Awareness Gospel message draws our attention to our Leader, Friend, Teacher, Guide and our big brother, Lord Jesus Christ is no other but God Himself - the Son of God or the Second form of God or the visible form of God; God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit. Father so Loved the world ( His creation and man the most precious of all ), that He sent His only Son ( John 3, 16 ) to the world to show the True path for our salvation and to pay for all our past sins, in order to redeem us. He ( the Son ) gave up all He had as God to come into this world for the Love He has for us, to show us the correct path and save all of us. Lord reminds us to follow His teachings and to always do the Will God, our Father (eg; Mathew 7, 21 ). To the rich young man who asked Lord what else he should do to achieve the Kingdom of God, as the young man has kept all of the ten commandments, Lord replied “ sell everything you have and follow me “ ( Mathew 19,21) We are also called to give up everything we have and follow Lord, but as we find it difficult to do this the Holy Spirit was sent to us to be with us and to Help us, Guide us and Strengthens us.

Let us today give some thought to this call of our Master and find ways at least to get detached from desires, reservations and bonds we have for the riches of the secular world and to give the First place to our Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ.

Let us pray: Holy Spirit, our Advocate and Comforter, Help me to focus my heart and soul and body on Lord Jesus Christ in everything I do, every word I say and every thought I have and always do my best to bring Glory to God our Loving Father, Amen

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WALK IN THE SPIRIT

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THE COVER STORY Preparation for that glorious moment called Advent which means The Coming is not to be confined to just one season of the year.

The time has come to make use of this gift and do what I need to do, as my part.

Come let us go to meet the Saviour, the One Who is called The Way, The truth and the Revealer of light.

Then we shall understand the true meaning of Christmas.

"And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world. God abides in those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and they abide in God. (1 John 4:14- 15) WISH YOU ALLAVERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS!!

Walk in the Spirit - December 2015

ISSN 1391-5967

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