Walk in the Spirit February 2016

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

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WALK IN THE SPIRIT February 2016 Volume 02 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 February 2016

To listen to the Abba's Word (Jesus) in the Spirit, is the first response of one who is awakened to the Spirit's presence always and everywhere.

One way of discerning whether I am alive to the presence of the Spirit is the facility I experience in listening to things, events, happenings as sacraments of encounter with the Abba thro' Jesus.

Fr. Siri Oscar Abayaratne

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

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Monday 1st February 2016 2 Samuel:15/13-14,30; 16/5-13 Psalm:3/1-7 Mark:5/1-20 Introduction The underlying theme in today’s Proclamations is regarding the peace of mind that we would be able to achieve if only we accept all what happens to us in this life with equanimity, knowing that everything happens with the knowledge of our Abba Father, the awesome Creator God, who allows things to happen according to His Definitive Will, or Permissive Will. In Romans 8:28 St. Paul tells us: “We know that in all things God works for good with those who love Him”.

Therefore let us savour our life as it unfolds according to God’s Plan, and enjoy it moment to moment, praising our Maker. Our Lord Jesus Christ and Mother Mary are the best role models we have in this regard, for they took everything that happened to them in their stride, totally submitting to the Will of God, always giving thanks and praise to Abba Father!

Let us also see this in action in the life of King David, as described in today’s first proclamation, as follows: First Proclamation A messenger came and told David, ‘The men of Israel have shifted their allegiance to Absalom.’ David said to all his retinue ... ‘Up, let us flee, or we shall not escape from Absalom! Leave as quickly as you can, in case he mounts a sudden attack, overcomes us and puts the city to the sword.’... David then made his way up the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went, ... And all the people with him had their heads covered and made their way up, weeping as they went…As David was reaching Bahurim, out came a man of the same clan as Saul’s family. His name was Shimei son of Gera and, as he came, he uttered curse after curse and threw stones

at David and at all King David’s retinue, even though the whole army and all the champions formed an escort round the king on either side. The words of his curse were these, ‘Off with you, off with you, man of blood, scoundrel! Yahweh has paid you back for all the spilt blood of the House of Saul whose sovereignty you have usurped; and Yahweh has transferred the sovereign power to Absalom your son.

Now your wickedness has overtaken you, man of blood that you are.’

Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, ‘Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and cut his head off.’But the king replied, ‘What concern is my business to you, sons of Zeruiah?

Let him curse! If Yahweh has said to him, “Curse David!” what right has anyone to say, “Why have you done so?” David said to Abishai and all his retinue, ‘Why, the son sprung from my own body is now seeking my life; all the more reason for this Benjaminite to do so! Let him curse on, if Yahweh has told him to! Perhaps Yahweh will look on my wretchedness and will repay me with good for his curses today.’ So David and his men went on their way, and Shimei kept pace with him along the opposite mountainside, cursing as he went, throwing stones and flinging dust.

Song of Praise [Psalm of David when he was fleeing from his son Absalom] Yahweh, how countless are my enemies, how countless those who rise up against me, how countless those who say of me, ‘No salvation for him from his God!’ But you, Yahweh, the shield at my side, my glory, you hold my head high. I cry out to Yahweh; he answers from his holy mountain. As for me, if I lie down and sleep, I shall awake, for Yahweh sustains me. I have no fear of people in their thousands upon thousands, who range themselves against me wherever I turn. Arise, Yahweh, rescue me, my God! You strike all my foes across the face, you break the teeth of the wicked. (Psalm 3: 1-7)

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Tuesday 2nd February 2016

Presentation of Our Lord

Malachi:3/1-4 or Hebrews: 2/14-18 Psalm:24/7-10 Luke: 2/22-40 or 2/22-32 The First Proclamation Since, therefore, the children share flesh and blood, he himself likewise shared the same things, so that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by the fear of death. For it is clear that he did not come to help angels, but the descendants of Abraham.

Therefore he had to become like his brothers and sisters in every respect, so that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.

Prayerful Awareness The theme of the scripture passage is about God becoming a man, which is known as "Incarnation".

Are we taking this word lightly?

Or, have we taken it for granted?

St. Paul describes the word incarnation as follows - "therefore, he had to become like his brothers in every way, that he might e a merciful and faithful high priest before God, to expiate the sins of people."

Incarnation does not mean that God got disguised as a man or God externally put on the mask of a man.

But incarnation means, as St. Paul puts it, that God became "like his brothers in every way". Not in some ways only.

Let us reflect. Let me look at my own human self. How am I? How do I think, in which ways am I strong, and in which ways am I weak? What are my desires .....

What are my weaknesses ..... Yes, God in Jesus, became all of these, and many, many more, of human frailties, human blindness etc. Yes, that is what is meant by "like his brothers in every way."

Yes, God in Jesus, is truly divine, but truly man too. Jesus, has two natures, divine and human, intertwined. That is why, God in Jesus, can save all human beings including you and me, because He became just like you and me too.

But the difference is that Jesus overcame all human weaknesses and limitations, by divine grace. He too was tempted, but did not give in to these, by the strength of divine power.

In today's Gospel Proclamation, Luke 2:22-40, we see Simeon and Anna, two people who had been constantly in prayer awaiting the coming of the Messiah, receiving fulfilment in the Temple in Jerusalem! Praise the Lord our God, Abba Father! For His Mercy and Love!

Prayer Starter The Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I lack ...... (Ps. 23/1)

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

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Wednesday 3rd February 2016 Feast of St.Blasius, Bishop, Martyr 2 Samuel:24/2, 9-17 Psalm:32/1-2, 5-7 Mark: 6/1-6 St. Blaise His life story, introduced at the time of Crusades, is based mainly on old legends. He was a physician and a man of virtue. He was appointed Bishop in His native city Sebaste in Armania (Turkey).

Even after Constantine's edict of Milan the persecution of Christians was carried on by Licinus, the co-Emperor of Constantine. When he refused to abjure Christ he was arrested, tortured with a wool-comber's brush and was finally beheaded. On account of his having saved the life of a boy choking to death on a fishbone he invoked particularly against diseases of the throat. Priests give the 'blessing of St. Blaise' by touching the throats of the faithful with two candles held in the form of a St.Andrew's Cross. He is the patron of wool-combers, wax-chandlers, builders and physicians.

Gospel Proclamation He left that place and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. On the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, ... They said, "Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been given to him?

What deeds of power are being done by his hands! Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?" ... Then Jesus said to them, "Prophets are not without honor, except in their hometown, and among their own kin, and in their own house." ....

Prayerful Awareness

When we place our faith in Him He will act freely in us, perform mighty deeds for us, in us. Here is what Jesus told His disciples about faith in Mathew 17:20 - "I assure you that if you have faith the size of a mustard seed you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you." The yardstick God uses in assessing or looking at us is - one's sonship and not one's family or social background.

He will not waver from trusting our competence, commitment and goodness. This text brings out clearly the hidden attitude of the people of His day to Him. It is one of discrimination, misconception and indifference. Because they did not have faith in Him they questioned His family background and capacity. (It is interesting and encouraging to note that God will never be biased or prejudiced against us.)

"It was understandable that the people of Nazareth, who had seen Jesus grow up among them, were surprised to hear Him proclaim Himself the anointed of God, of whom Isaiah spoke. They now had a double alternative before them, either they could accept Him as the fulfilment of prophecy; or they could rebel. The privilege of being home-town of the longawaited Messiah and the One Whom the Heavenly Father in the Jordan proclaimed His Divine Son was too much for them, because of their familiarity with Him. He was indeed the son of a carpenter, but also the Carpenter Who made heaven and earth.

Because God has taken upon Himself a human nature, and had been seen in the lowliness of a village artisan, He failed to win the respect of men. (Archbishop F.J.Sheen). "Whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you receive it, and you will.

Such is the power of prayer and of faith that does not doubt, all things are possible to him who believes. (C.C.C.2610) Prayer Starter

Primarily God wants us to place our faith in Him. Having faith means to rely on or trust in Him. It also means to say 'yes' Help me Lord not to look at the speck to what he says and does to us - not to in my brother's eye but to pay attention to doubt His Will, ways and the divine plan. the log in my own eye. Amen.

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

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Thursday 4th February 2016

Our Lady of Lanka

Isaiah:43/1-5 Psalm: 95/1-3,7-10 Acts:1/12-13; 2/1-2 Mathew:2/1-2, 7-12

The First Proclamation But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel; Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.

For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I give Egypt as your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in exchange for you. Because you are precious in my sight, and honored, and I love you, I give people in return for you, nations in exchange for your life.

Do not fear, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you.

Fix your gaze on Jesus Great tidings O Lord indeed....we are Yours, and You are with us....we are One now...

O look at how the Creator God gives us an identity, a relationship with him spanning the generations, encompassing all of us that is in the present, the past and the future!

The narration identifies the so intertwined relationship between us and the Creator! It explains as to how S/He created us with great care and formed us to the present state, and cared for

us from the beginning. It goes on to say how we were redeemed back from our fallen condition. It comforts us from the constant fears - the phobias we are stressed with, assuring us of our been chosen, to be S/His own. S/ His constant present is reassured with a few past events presented as reminders. Of course, all of these past events are manifested today in different ways for us to exercise our faith and trust in S/His love.

And more specifically to develop us in the exercise of S/His given powers, and in the course therein to own up to our God given talents and powers of creativity. We are to exercise these powers given over the creation itself; as stated, God gave Egypt for us, and Ethiopia and Seba. We are the stewards over the creation, the blessings placed before us in the trappings of the whole creation! All this as S/He loved us.

Let us now change our perceptions of the Lord and S/His creation; all of these are blessings placed by the Creator before us; for the purpose of experiencing S/His everlasting constant ever complete Love...! Let us learn and put in to practice trusting in S/His wisdom to do Good to us in all circumstances. After all, the saying goes that, 'smooth seas a skilled sailor does not make'; it is trial and adversity that makes us strong and skillful in navigating life's journey.

Prayer Starter O Thank You Lord for sending adversity my way...for presenting me with the opportunity to become stronger and more skillful, and able to experience Your love in so many different ways....

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

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Friday 5th February 2016

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Feast of St. Agatha

Sirach:47/2-11 Psalm:18/30,46, 49, 50 Mark: 6/14-29 The Gospel Proclamation King Herod heard of it, for Jesus' name had become known. Some were saying, "John the baptizer has been raised from the dead and for this reason these powers are at work in him."

But others said, "It is Elijah." And others said, "It is a prophet like one of the prophets of old." But when Herod heard of it, he said, "John, whom I beheaded, has been raised."

For Herod himself had sent men who arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, because Herod had married her. For John had been telling Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife."

And Herodias had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. But she could not, for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man and he protected him. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed and yet he liked to listen to him. But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and for the leaders of Galilee.....

Prayerful Awareness John was an outstanding prophet who had given way and was led by the Holy Spirit, throughout his short period of life.

The Holy Spirit had influenced him right from the start, when he was in his mother's womb. The presence of Mother Mary made the baby leap for joy.

Jesus and John were both childhood companions. They would have grown up together in many ways, especially their understanding of the relationship of their

people with God. Both of them were born under special circumstances which were well planned by God. Their parents would have taught them of their role in the plan of God. It was really a coincidence for them to meet at the river Jordan and Jesus to be baptized by John which was guided by God. Thus began their ministry calling on the people to repentance. John admitted most humbly, although his administration of baptism to Jesus, by saying, "I baptize you with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know. Although he comes after me, I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandals."

As John was led by the Spirit he spoke out fearlessly to the people, religious leaders and even King Herod. He openly challenged the king saying, "It is not right for you to live with your brother's wife." This made the king to arrest John and put him in prison. Later he was beheaded. This shows that John fearlessly witnessed for the truth.

Another good quality he had was his humility. John was very humble and he did not take any glory or credit. Also, John gave the testimony, "I saw the Spirit coming down on Jesus like a dove from heaven and resting on Him." He also said, "Yes, I have seen and I declare that this is the Chosen One of God." My sonship Where do I stand? Am I able to recognize what is right from wrong? Am I able to raise a voice to my surroundings about something very destructive. Drugs are freely available. Can I save the lives of children and our youngsters from this evil.

I know it is a challenge. Let me be open to the Holy Spirit and be guided to act accordingly.

Prayer Starter Thank You Father God for giving us John the Baptist so that his life would influence us to do the right thing. Amen.

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Saturday 6th February 2016 St. Paul Miki & Martyrs 1 Kings:3/4-13 Psalm: 119/9-14 Mark: 6/30-34 Gospel Proclamation The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, ”Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.

Gaze at Jesus Jesus had limited time to accomplish His mission on earth. Hence every moment He discerned for the Will of God as to how He spent His time to make the Kingdom of God known to the multitude.

Here in this episode we see Him wanting to take a rest. However, He saw the greater need of the crowd following Him and with great discernment He chose to teach them instead.

Gaze at our sonship

testers of Solomon’s authority in managing God’s people.

God bestows the gifts of wisdom, knowledge and discernment upon confirmed Christians. They are among the 9 gifts of the Holy Spirit that we receive when we receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. (1 Corinthians 12:4 – 11).

I am reminded of a children’s story by John Bush titled The Fish who could wish. (Available on You tube) There was a fish who could wish. He used this gift frivolously and wished for many things.

One day he made the silliest mistake to wish that he would be like the other fish.

Being like other fish he lost the gift of wishing. The morale of the story is one needs wisdom to manage their resources.

Therefore, confirmed Christians who do not use the gifts of the Holy Spirit wisely are dead Christians. When we look at the prevailing chaos in the society, one has to question about Christians who are planted in various positions in the society to be the salt and the yeast. Do we live a life worthy of the gifts of the Holy Spirit we received at Confirmation? Do we make the Will of God known in the society on matters of importance? Absence of Christ like lives in the society, society suffers as there is none to make sound judgment and none to make the Will of God known to the society, at places of work and family.

Prayer starter

Dear Holy Spirit of God we pray over everyone who is hearing the Gospel today.

King Solomon humbling himself before Overshadow them with the gift of Your God, asked for wisdom to rule God’s Spirit that empowers them to live their people. God granted his wish by giving Christian lives meaningfully to build the him a discerning heart. Then he gave him community and society at large. two things that he did not ask for. That is St Paul Miki and companions gave as God said ”I will give you what you have their life to make Christ know in Japan not asked for—both wealth and honor. and preserve Christianity. Help us to take Wealth and power gives one authority action to reveal Christian virtues that will to govern others. Therefore they became impact others to live their faith.

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

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Sunday 7th February 2016 Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time Isaiah: 6/1-8 Psalm:138/1-5, 7-8 1 Corinthians: 15/1-11 Luke:5/1-11 Introduction Who is our God? What is the image we have of Him in our minds and hearts? When we delve into the revelations have of God we are presented with what appears to be contradictory images. One presents God as caring, intimately loving and adorable. The other in contrast presents Him as holy living in unapproachable light, one Who is to be feared, One Who is distant to us. Whatever image you and I have of God at this moment, one thing is certain He is our creator and He calls upon us to be part of His plan for the rest of creation in time and space.

Therefore …………….

Entrance Antiphon O come, let us worship God, bow low before God Who made us, for He is the lord our God. First Proclamation In the year King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne, with the train of his garment filling the temple. Seraphim were stationed above.

They cried one to the other, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts! All the earth is filled with his glory!”At the sound of that cry, the frame of the door shook and the house was filled with smoke.

Then I said, “Woe is me, I am doomed! For I am a man of unclean lips, living among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” Then one of the

seraphim flew to me, holding an ember that he had taken with tongs from the altar.

He touched my mouth with it, and said, “See, now that this has touched your lips, your wickedness is removed, your sin purged.”Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?” “Here I am,” I said; “send me!”

Prayerful Awareness The awesome presence of God is revealed to the prophet. The Lord seems so frightening that the prophet feels that he is doomed. Then something is initiated by the Seraphim serving the Lord God; it is the act of sanctifying through burning. It is a generous act without strings attached. Immediately following this sanctifying act the lord offers the prophet the opportunity to undertake in freedom a mission on His behalf. The response apparently is enthusiastic and immediate.

Let us now read the Gospel proclamation which seems to confirm this pattern of those chosen for a mission by the Lord God being exposed to His holiness and then being sanctified and ultimately being offered the opportunity to serve Him in freedom.

Gospel Proclamation While the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening to the word of God, he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret. He saw two boats there alongside the lake; the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets.

Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, he asked him to put out a short distance from the

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shore.

Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat.

After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.”

Simon said in reply, “Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets.”

When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their nets were tearing. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come to help them. They came and filled both boats so that the boats were in danger of sinking.

When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, "Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him and all those with him, and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners of Simon. Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.”

When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him Gaze at Jesus

and gaze at Jesus and permit Him to take us through the process of willingly becoming His disciples. Ie. Letting ourselves be exposed to the Lord’s holiness, permit ourselves to be sanctified by Him, hear the invitation of the Lord calling us to follow Him and become aware of our response welling up from within our hearts.

Second Proclamation Brothers and sisters, I handed on to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures; that he was buried; that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures; that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at once, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. After that he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one abnormally born, he appeared to me.

Therefore, whether it be I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

Our sonship

St. Paul bears witness to his encounter with the Lord’s holiness, his sanctification and his response to the Jesus always being in the presence Lord’s call. It is left to us to hear what of His Abba seems to be directed by those who have been thus called and Him to see Peter and his associates as believe in our own calling. Let us go being chosen for a special mission. through in our minds the host of saints Jesus proceeds to put into operation living and dead who went through this the process of presenting the experi- process through God’s grace. ence of God’s holiness to those who Prayer Starter are chosen, followed by sanctifying Amazing grace! how sweet the them, offering them their life’s mission and ultimately obtaining a positive sound, response. Please read the phrases That saved a wretch; like me! highlighted reflectively to see this proI once was lost, but now am found, cess in operation.

Was blind, but now I see.

Let us place ourselves in Peter’s situation (virtually in Peter’s shoes)

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

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Monday 8th February 2016 St. Jerome Emiliyani, St. Josephin Bakitha 1 Kings: 8/1-7,9-13 Psalm: 132/6-10 Mark: 6/53-56 Introduction The Lord chooses to dwell in thick darkness (1 Kings 8/12-13). When those who dwell in the thick darkness of human suffering, look for and find the Lord, they are invited to touch the fringe of His garment and be made whole. (Mark 6:56) When reading the life stories of Saints Jerome Emiliyani and Josephin Bakitha, what struck me most was the following phrase: “It was there that Bakhita came to know about God, whom “she had experienced in her heart without knowing who He was” since she was a child. “Seeing the sun, the moon and the stars, I said to myself: who could be the Master of these beautiful things? And I felt a great desire to see Him, to know Him and to pay Him homage...”.

Prayerful Awareness When I see the beauty of nature all around, or hear the songs of the birds, and the sounds of music, I feel my heart and soul well up with thankfulness and praise for our awesome Creator God, our Abba Father, who made all these with the objective of sharing Himself and His Love! How exquisite and perfect He has made everything in creation! One might be tempted to ask however, ‘what beauty is there in a common crow?’ On the other hand, if not for this contrast we would not be able to appreciate the beauty and goodness of something, like the contrast of light from darkness, good from evil, Saint Josephine Bekhita St. Josephine Bakhita was born in Sudan in 1869. This African flower, who knew the anguish of kidnapping and slavery, bloomed marvelously in Italy, in response to God’s grace, with the Daughters of Charity, where everyone still calls her “Mother Moretta” (our Black Mother”).

Bakhita was not the name she received from her parents at birth. The fright and the terrible experience she went through made her forget the name her parents gave her. Bakhita, which means “fortunate”, was the name given to her by her kidnappers.

Sold in the markets of El Obeid and Khartoum, she experienced the physical and moral humiliations and sufferings of slavery. In the Sudanese capital, Bakhita was bought by an Italian consul, Callisto Legnani. For the first time since the day she was kidnapped, she realized with pleasant surprise that no one used the lash when giving her orders; instead, she was treated with love and cordiality. In the consul’s residence Bakhita experienced peace, warmth and moments of joy, even though veiled with nostalgia for her own family whom, perhaps, she had lost forever.

The political situation forced the consul to leave for Italy. Bakhita asked and obtained permission to go with him and a friend of his, a certain Mr. Augusto Michieli. On their arrival in Genoa, Mr. Legnani, at the request of Mr. Michieli’s wife, agreed to leave Bakhita with them.

She followed the new “family”, which settled in Zianigo, near Mirano Veneto.

When their daughter Mimmina was born, Bakhita became her babysitter and friend. The acquisition and management of a large hotel in Suakin on the Red Sea forced Mrs. Michieli to move to Suakin to help her husband. Meanwhile, on the advice of their administrator, Mimmina and Bhakita were entrusted to the Canossian Sisters of the Institute of Catechumens in Venice. …Her humility, simplicity and constant smile won the hearts of all the citizens. Her sisters in the community esteemed her for her constant sweet nature, exquisite goodness and deep desire to make the Lord known. “Be good, love the Lord, pray for those who do not know him. What a great grace it is to know God!” she said. ….died 8 Feb 1947, beatified on 17 May 1992, and Canonized on 1st October 2000

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Tuesday 9th February 2016 1 Kings: 8/22-23, 2730 Psalm: 84/2-4, 9-10 Mark: 7/1-13

The Gospel Proclamation Now when the Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around him, they noticed that some of his disciples were eating with defiled hands, that is, without washing them. (For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, do not eat unless they thoroughly wash their hands, thus observing the tradition of the elders; and they do not eat anything from the market unless they wash it; and there are also many other traditions that they observe, the washing of cups, pots and bronze kettles.) So the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not live according to the traditions of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?” He said to them, “Isaiah prophesied rightly about you hypocrites, as it is written, ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching human precepts as doctrines.’

You abandon the commandment of God and hold to human tradition.”

Then he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition!

For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’, and, ‘Whoever speaks evil of father or mother must surely die.’

But you say that if anyone tells father or mother, ‘Whatever support you might have had from me is Corban’ (that is, an offering to God) - then you no longer permit doing anything for a father or mother, thus making void the word of God through your tradition that you

have handed on. And you do many things like this.”

Prayerful Awareness Let us try to enter into the mind of Jesus, in and through these words .....reflect..... Yes, there are two distinct things one is the keeping of God’s commandments, in the true sense, the other is the observance of man- made rituals and practices related to the commandment which are called traditions.

Jesus clearly tries to distinguish between the two. It is very often easy to comply with the human tradition, and satisfy oneself, that one has fulfilled the Commandment.

But it is not so easy to comply with God’s Commandment, in its real sense. It demands, dying to one’s self - giving up one’s self esteem, pleasures, comfort, one’s, rights, etc. etc. for the sake of God. It demands inner purification - giving up anger, resentment, pride, envy, impatience etc.

It is also easy to do such things as light in a lamp and keeping flowers for Jesus, or worship the Eucharist with pious physical gestures. But today’s Word says, “You nullify the Word of God in favour of your traditions, that you have handed on . Ad you do such things “ (vs.

13). Are these external acts alone sufficient, without living according to the “Word of God”, which too is a manifestation or presence of Jesus Christ.

Let us review our external “good” behaviour and actions, in the light of verse 13.

Prayer Starter My soul yearns and pines for the courts of the Lord, My heart and flesh cry out for the living God. (Ps. 84:2)

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

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Wednesday 10th February 2016 Ash Wednesday Joel: 2/12-18 Psalm: 51/1-4,10-13, 15 2 Corinthians:5/20-6/2 Mathew: 6/1-6,16-18 Ash Wednesday Once more the blessed season of Lent is with us. It is the time to climb the holy mountain of Easter. The Lenten season has a double character, namely to prepare both catechumens and faithful to celebrate the paschal mystery. The catechumens, both with the right of election and scrutinies, are prepared for the celebration of the sacraments of Christian initiation; the faithful, ever more attentive to the word of their baptismal promises. God and prayer, prepare themselves by penance for the renewal of their baptismal promises.

The faithful are to be encouraged to participate in an ever more intense and faithful way in the Lenten liturgy and in penitential celebrations. They are to be clearly reminded that both according to the law and tradition they should approach the sacrament of penance during this season so that with purified heart they may participate in the paschal mysteries.

(ORDO) The Gospel Proclamation "Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven.

"So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do ... But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

"And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, ... so that they may be seen by others. ...But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in

secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Prayerful Awareness Our attention is drawn to three acts of piety - almsgiving, prayer and fasting. Jesus said that these should be done in secret.

He stresses what our motivation and inner disposition should be - not for becoming spectacular, sensational and public display, but as these are the right things to do.

Through almsgiving, prayer and fasting we can show our love of God and our concern towards our neighbours. In these our dependence on God and our service to our brethren can be made visible. Also our desire to glorify God and be part of our neighbour's welfare are fulfilled in almsgiving, prayer and fasting. The inner disposition is made clear - not to be seen, recognised or talked about. "Jesus' call to conversion and penance, like that of the prophets before Him, does not aim first at outward works, "sack-cloth and ashes", fasting and mortification, but at the conversion of the heart, interior conversion.

Without this such penances remain sterile and false; however, interior conversion urges expression in visible signs, gestures and works of penance (C.C.C.1430) "Interior repentance is a radical reorientation of our whole life, a return, a conversion to God with all our heart, an end of sin, a turning away from evil, with repugnance towards the evil actions we have committed. At the same time it entails the desire and resolution to change one's life, with hope in God's mercy and trust in the help of His grace. This conversion of heart is accompanied by a salutary pain and sadness which the Fathers called "animi cruciatus' (affliction of spirit and 'compunctio cordis (repentance of heart).

C.C.C. 1431.

Prayer Starter Help me to see the opportunities available to love, serve and follow Thee in the true spirit. Guide me in almsgiving, prayer and fasting. Amen.

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

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Thursday 11th February 2016 Deuteronomy:30/15-20 Psalm: 1/1-4, 6 Luke: 9/22-25 The First Proclamation

World Sick day chaotic data stream our senses assail us with, you were at rest; in the turbulence of continuing change, you perceived the always present Love manifested through the creation of ABBA. You were the Best; the Most; the faithful; the steadfast; the Perfect reflection of the Father. Please coach us to look to you more and more, to learn from you ...

What could be said more moving, and more likely to make deep and lasting impressions? Every man wishes to obtain life and good, and to escape death and evil; he desires happiness, and dreads loneliness and misery. So great is the compassion of the Lord, that he has favoured men, by his word, with such a knowledge of good and evil as will make them for ever happy, if it be not for their own faults (wrong choices).

Let us hear the sum of the whole matter. If they and theirs would love God, and serve him, they should live and be happy. If they or theirs should turn from God, desert his service, and worship other gods, that would certainly be their ruin..The question then is, how should we understand / perceive / interpret these instructions?

Prayer Starter

See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, death and adversity. If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I am commanding you today, by loving the Lord your God, walking in his ways, and observing his commandments, decrees, and ordinances, then you shall live and become numerous, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to possess. But if your heart turns away and you do not hear, but are led astray to bow down to other gods and serve them, I declare to you today that you shall perish, you shall not live long in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and holding fast to him; for that means life to you and length of days, so that you may live in the land that the Lord swore to give to your ancestors, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.

Life is a call to grow; to journey Fix your gaze on Jesus towards our true worth and potential; Lord Jesus, You kept Your gaze Lord, guide us on the journey of refixed on the Father at all times; stayed jecting the errors we have admitted in the experience of Love constantly; within and of becoming conscious, of choose to listen only to the ever- coming to be conscious of thy everpresent ever-constant ever-envelop- flowing ever-constant ever redeeming ing Love. Amidst the cacophony the saving grace we're presented within world presents us with, the resultant the moment....

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

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Friday 12th February 2016 Isaiah: 58/1-9 Psalm: 51/1-4, 16, 17 Matthew: 9/14-15 The First Proclamation Shout out, do not hold back! Lift up your voice like a trumpet!

Announce to my people their rebellion, to the house of Jacob their sins. Yet day after day they seek me and delight to know my ways, as if they were a nation that practiced righteousness and did not forsake the ordinance of their God; they ask of me righteous judgments, they delight to draw near to God. “Why do we fast, but you do not see? Why humble ourselves, but you do not notice?”

Look, you serve your own interest on your fast day and oppress all your workers. Look, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to strike with a wicked fist. Such fasting as you do today will not make your voice heard on high..... Is not this the fast that I choose; to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and ring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin?....

The Gospel Proclamation

Prayerful Awareness In the first proclamation Isaiah the prophet speaks of what real fasting that pleases God is. Usually people really stick only to the letter of fasting.

They eat half of their usual meals and then their fasting is over. It may be a sacrifice to the stomach, but their usual weaknesses and desires remain the same. Their physical fasting, wearing sack-cloth, seated on ashes remain the same. Truly humility should come from within - with our dealings with others, in our conversations and behaviour. On the day of the fast we should show greater love and consideration towards others. If possible we should share the meals we sacrificed with another, specially, with one who is hungry.

Without doing any of these things, that is without changing our ways, we just fast, but the hardness of our hearts and the selfishness remain the same. And remaining in that same mentality we invoke God and when we don’t get what we ask from Him, we find fault saying that God is deaf to our appeals. God wants us to fast from the very depths of our hearts which will cause a change of our lives for the better. So true fasting means a physical, mental and spiritual fast that will be pleasing to God and valuable to us.

Prayer Starter

Then the disciples of John came Lord grant me grace throughout to him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but our disciples this day; do not fast?” And Jesus said to them, To walk the straight and narrow “The wedding guests cannot mourn way; as long as the bridegroom is with them To do whatever in Thy sight, is can they? The days will come when good and perfect, just and right. the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.

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Saturday 13th February 2016 Isaiah: 58/9-14 Psalm: 86/1-6 Luke: 5/27-32

The Gospel Proclamation After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, "Follow me".

And he got up, left everything and followed him. Then Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house; and there was a large crowd of tax collectors and others sitting at the table with them.

The Pharisees and their scribes were complaining to his disciples, saying, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?" Jesus answered, "Those who are well have no need of a physician but those who are sick. I have come to call not the righteous but sinners to repentance.

Prayerful Awareness We are reminded of God’s Loving Care for us from the 1 st reading of Isaiah, that we have only to call for help or cry for help and Lord will answer “I am here”. We are called to trust and have faith and live our lives pleasing to God, so that Lord will strengthen us. We are also called to give first place to God in our lives, and every week to reserve at least one day, the 7 th day, the Sabbath day to God in a special way, to give Thanks and Praise to God and bring Glory to God. By the Gospel proclamation we are awakened to the call of Levi, the tax collector condemned by the then Jewish society as a sinner, collecting taxes for the Roman Empire from which who keep a sizeable percentage for themselves, making them rich and sometimes forcing hardships on people in collecting taxes. Whereas Pharisees were law enforcers who ensured that all Jews strictly adhered to the reli-

gious laws and practices. Scribes were writers and copyists and interpreters of sacred writings of the old testament.

Pharisees and Scribes accused disciples of Jesus Christ of eating and drinking with tax collectors rejected by the then Jewish society and Lord Jesus rebuked and said that He has come to save sinners and not the people who think of themselves as holy.

We must check our minds and hearts whether we too act knowingly or unknowingly in judging others without Godly Love as the Pharisees and Scribes did.

According to Romans 3, 23 – All have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God. By the Love of God we are called to follow all His Commandments. By breaking a God’s Commandment we may commit a sin. For example, breaking of the First Commandment “You shall have no other gods before me”, could be due to our falling to any of the following. Idolatry, greed, covetousness, love of money, gluttony, complaining; not loving God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength; tempting God, highmindedness, disobedience, witchcraft, lover of self, putting family, friends, job, or anything else above God including food and money, sports, Internet, TV, movies, cars, attachment to riches or material goods and dozens of other things.

Prayer Starter Let us pray and ask the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Love, the Holy Spirit, to take control of our minds and hearts and guide us to act always as Children of God, in fulfilling God’s Will and in sharing with others God’s Love, we receive free. In the name God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, Amen

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

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Sunday 14th February 2016 First Sunday of Lent Deuteronomy: 26/4-10 Psalm: 91/1-2,10-15 Romans: 10/8-13 Luke: 4/1-13

Introduction Whatever the level of belief that you and I have in God, He is still invisible to our eyes, inaudible to our ears, and intangible to our touch. We need to be given the faculty of faith as a gift to experience the presence of God. The Holy Spirit, the first and greatest gift that Jesus invoked the Father on our behalf, brings with Her the gift of faith to be bestowed upon us. With the reception of the gift of faith we are able to trust God Who loves us enough to be available to us when we call upon Him/ Her. Thus we hear God saying ………….

Entrance Antiphon When he calls on me, I will answer him; I will deliver him and give him glory, I will grant him length of days.

First Proclamation Moses spoke to the people, saying: ”The priest shall receive the basket from you and shall set it in front of the altar of the Lord, your God. Then you shall declare before the Lord, your God, ‘My father was a wandering Aramean who went down to Egypt with a small household and lived there as an alien. But there he became a nation great, strong, and numerous. When the Egyptians maltreated and oppressed us, imposing hard labor upon us, we cried to the Lord, the God of our fathers, and he heard our cry and saw our affliction, our toil, and our oppression. He brought us out of Egypt with his strong hand and outstretched arm, with

terrifying power, with signs and wonders; and bringing us into this country, he gave us this land flowing with milk and honey.

Therefore, I have now brought you the firstfruits of the products of the soil which you, O Lord, have given me.’And having set them before the Lord, your God, you shall bow down in his presence.”

Prayerful Awareness The chosen people of God kept the faith of their fathers alive through recalling and remembering the mighty deeds that the Lord their God worked on their behalf.

These deeds were carried out by God when the people bearing His name were totally at the mercy of their enemies. They related these stories to each other and to their children carried out rituals which helped them to make a commitment to their belief. They gratefully accepted the fact they are able to live securely and work in the land because of God’s benevolent intervention in their lives. Therefore they brought the first fruits of their labor to be offered to God.

Gospel Proclamation Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the desert for forty days, to be tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when they were over he was hungry. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” Jesus answered him, “It is written, One does not live on bread alone.” Then he took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a single instant. The devil said to him, “I shall give to you all this power and glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I may give it to whomever I wish.

All this will be yours, if you worship me.” Jesus said to him in reply, “It is written: You shall worship the Lord, your God,

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

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and him alone shall you serve.” Then he led him to Jerusalem, made him stand on the parapet of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written: He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you, and: With their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone.” Jesus said to him in reply, “It also says, You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.” When the devil had finished every temptation, he departed from him for a time.

Gaze at Jesus It is true that the people of God preserved their faith in a benevolent, all powerful and all loving God through their traditions and rituals. But they fell short of the faith expected of them at crucial times resulting in being taken into captivity to live as slaves under their conquerors. Jesus as the true son of man receives the Holy Spirit at the river Jordon and with it the fullness of faith in the God of the people of Israel His chosen people. Jesus is driven into the desert to be tempted by God’s enemy Satan. The temptations are, a challenge to Jesus’ faith in God Whom He will henceforth call His Abba, for every need of His life. Jesus is tempted to use His divine Sonship, to gain power to feed himself, to possess whatever He wished for His pleasure and ultimately to gain prestige through the spectacular demonstration of His divine Sonship. Jesus as the true Son of God chooses to be a son Who obeys His Father to do His will rather than using it for His own selfish purposes.

Second Proclamation Brothers and sisters: What does Scripture say? The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart —that is, the word of faith that we preach—, for, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For one believes with the heart and so is justi-

fied, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. For the Scripture says, No one who believes in him will be put to shame. For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all, enriching all who call upon him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Our sonship The gift of faith given by God to be received and established seems to require another important factor. This is the factor of an environment of living faith. Even Paul after his initial encounter with the risen lord had to be with a man of faith – Ananias to be established in the faith.

We are indeed blessed to have the Holy Bible containing the faith experience of the people of God available to us for our reading and meditation. As we prayerfully read the Holy Scriptures the Living Word of God, Jesus Christ comes to us to be near us, in our mouths and in our hearts. Experiencing Jesus intimately in this way inspires us to call on His name and thus be saved.

Prayer Starter My Jesus, my Saviour Lord there is none like You All of my days I want to praise The wonders of Your mighty love My comfort, my shelter Tower of refuge and strength Let every breath, all that I am Never cease to worship You Shout to the Lord all the Earth, let us sing Power and majesty, praise to the King Mountains bow down and the seas will roar At the sound of Your name

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

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Monday 15th February 2016 Leviticus:19/1-2,11-18 Psalm:19/7-9, 14 Matthew: 25/31-46 The Gospel Proclamation "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, ...., then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left.

Then the king will say to those at his right hand, 'Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, ... Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? ....And the king will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.' Then he will say to those at his left hand, 'You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, .... naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' Then they also will answer 'Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and did not take care of you?' Then he will answer them, "Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.' And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

Prayerful Awareness God will separate His obedient fol-

lowers from PRETENDERS, and unbelievers. The REAL evidence of our belief is the WAY we ACT. To treat all persons we encounter as if they are 'JESUS' is NO EASY task. What we do for others demonstrates what we really THINK about Jesus' words to us - feed the hungry, give the homeless a home, look after the sick.

How well do our actions separate us from PRETENDERS and UNBELIEVERS? Jesus used sheep and goats to picture the division between believers and unbelievers. Sheep and goats often grazed together but were separated when it came time to SHEAR the sheep. Ezekiel 34:1724 also refers to the separation of sheep and goats.

This parable describes acts of mercy we all can do EVERYDAY. These acts do not depend on WEALTH, ABILITY or INTELLIGENCE; they are SIMPLE acts freely given and freely received. We have no excuse to neglect those who have deep needs and we cannot hand over this responsibility to the Church or government.

Jesus demands our PERSONAL involvement in caring for others' needs. ((Isaiah 58:7). The focus of this parable is that we should LOVE every person and serve ANYONE we can. Such love for others GLORIFIES GOD by reflecting our love for HIM. Eternal punishment takes place in HELL (the lake of fire) the place of punishment after death for all those who refuse to REPENT. This is the final and eternal state of the wicked after the resurrection and the last judgement. When Jesus WARNS us against unbelief, He is trying to SAVE us from AGONIZING punishment.

Prayer Starter Almighty Father, give us a passion for the unseen, eternal rewards that You offer us. Make us indifferent to the temporary pleasures of this world; for when Christ returns, He will take us HOME to be with Him forever.

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Tuesday 16th February 2016 Isaiah: 55/10-11 Psalm: 34/3-6, 15-18 Matthew: 6/7-15 The First Proclamation For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there until they have watered the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

The Gospel Proclamation

Prayerful Awareness "In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard, because of their many words.....

This is how you are to pray .... " (Matthew 6:7-13) Let us break up this scripture passage into two parts. The first part comprising verses 7, 8, tells us, what not to do, in praying. Jesus, clearly give us an indication, that prayer is not mere lip service.

The second part comprising verses 9 - 14, tells us, what we ought to do.

Let us read these verses one by one slowly, and reflectively, in the light of the first part, and enter into the mind of Jesus. Let us reflect ....

Do these verses contain mere recitation of words only? Don't each of the verses we utter, impel us, to act in a certain way? Let us reflect .... Yes, "Let Thy Kingdom come" .... What does these words indicate? .... Can the Kingdom of God come upon this world, if you and I remain dormant, inactive?

Will the mere repetition of words, bring about the Kingdom of God"? Aren't we supposed to do something about it? ....

Yes, let us reflect upon every verse .... Will mere lip service do? Or, are we called upon to act ... Yes, prayer is not mere utterance of words and sounds .....

Prayer Starter

"When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard because of their many words.

Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

"Pray then in ths way: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be our name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one. For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forO magnify the Lord with me, and give others, neither will your Father let us exalt his name together .... forgive your trespasses.

(Ps. 34:3....)

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

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Wednesday 17th February 2016 Feast of the 7 Holy Founders of the Servite Order Jonah: 3/1-10 Psalm: 51/1-2, 1-11, 16-17 Luke: 11/29-32 Seven Holy Founders of the Servite Order It was the middle of the 13th Century and Florence (Italy) was torn with political strife as well as Cathari heresy. Our Blessed Mother appealed to the seven members of a Florentine Confraternity, when they were at prayer and bade them to withdraw into solitude. Two of them were widowed. Having settled their personal affairs and made adequate provision for their dependents, they established themselves away from Monte Senario. Our Lady appeared to them again and showed them the black habit and instructed them to found the Order of Friar Servants of St. Mary. They devoted themselves to much prayer, penance and silence on the one hand and preaching, teaching and ministerial activities on the other. By the beginning of the 14th Century, it had spread its tentacles to India. Alexis Falconieri, a lay brother and one of the founders of the Order lived to see the order raised to the dignity of a religious order by Pope Benedict XI in 1304. All seven were canonized as a group by Pope Leo XIII in 1888.

The Gospel Proclamation When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, "This generation is an evil generation; it asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. For just as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so the Son of Man will be to this generation. The queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the people of this generation and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon, and see, something greater than Solomon is here! The people of

Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the proclamation of Jonah, and see, something greater than Jonah is here!

Prayerful Awareness We have Pharisees and Scribes asking for a sign from Jesus. They needed assurance that He was really the Son of God; to be sure about Him. All these because they were lacking in faith, full of doubts about His identity. They were unable to accept Him whoever He was. "I refuse to perform stunts to win them, for they would not really be won that way. It is only when I am seen on the cross that I really draw men to myself; it is by sacrifice, and not by marvels, that I must make my appeal. I must win followers not with test tubes, but with my blood; not with material power, but with love, not with celestial fireworks, but with the right use of reason and free will. No sign will be given to this generation but the sign of Jonah, namely, the sign of someone rising up from below, not of someone flinging himself down from the pinnacles. I want my missionaries and martyrs to love me in prison and death as I love them in my suffering. I never worked any miracles to save myself." (Archbishop F.J.Sheen) Turning to ourselves - do we follow Him because of something spectacular or do we really love Him; go to Him because of His powerful deeds or His personality? His death on the cross for our sake - yes, it speaks volumes that He loves us. Do we need verbal assurance or sensational works? The blessings He has showered on us - yes, they are countless.

How alert are we to these signs - in nature, in our neighbours, in incidents and experiences in our lives? "Do not put the Lord your God to the test." (Deut. 6:16) Prayer Starter That we may not question Your Will, rebel against Your plan and doubt Your ways, we pray to Thee. Amen.

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Thursday 18th February 2016 Esther (Deut.) 4/17 Psalm: 138/1-3, 7-8 Matthew: 7/7-12 The First Proclamation But we have sinned against you and you have handed us over to our enemies for paying honour to their gods. Lord, you are upright.

Gospel Proclamation Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?

Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

Fix your gaze on Jesus Master of All Powers, Glory be to you indeed! O King of Creation, Master of all that is seen and unseen, turn us too as You did the chosen of that time!

Prayer is the appointed means for obtaining what we need. Pray; pray often; make a business (be busy) of prayer, and be serious and earnest in it.

Prayer is a very powerful communication channel; the Lord teaches, we learn: He loves, we experience and revel therein; we supplicate, the Lord provides: the Lord shows us our potential, we begin to see and experience

our power and worthiness. We blossom forth to realize our true nature and to be co-creators with the Almighty.. with the power to choose and consciously create our own 'Life Taste' whatever the external circumstances we face be!

Prayer will unfold new vistas and paradigms for us to journey through, so long as you are before the One True God. Do not bend your knees before the multitudes of gods this world promotes, acknowledges and worships.

The One True God is the God of Love and the call is to stay in this 'sphere' of love! You will not find lasting joy nor the peace that passeth understanding, were you to choose some other. You will be chasing a mirage, and will face disappointment and fatigue, together with estrangement and alienation from "Who and What Is".

Prayer is also 'Asking', ask as a beggar asks alms or as a traveler asks the way. Prayer is also 'Seeking', seek as for a thing of value that we have lost. Prayer is also 'Knocking', knock as he that desires to enter into the house knocks at the door. Sin (error; falsehood) has shut and barred the door against us; by prayer we 'Turn Anew'.

Remember God is faithful, and whatever you pray for, according to the promise, shall be given you! Are you truly conscious of what you are asking for deep within?

Prayer Starter O Holy Spirit of God, journey us forth to become ever more conscious of our innermost choices; to be aware of what we really sow for ourselves.

And to stay disciplined....in that we sow only what is pleasing to the Lord who is our Creator...thus staying in S/His Love!

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

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Friday 19th February 2016 Ezekiel: 18/21-28 Psalm: 130/1-8 Matthew: 5/20-26 Gospel Proclamation For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.”You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. ...

“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.

“Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court.

Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.

Gaze at Jesus Not wanting to be seen vulnerable, man covers himself with the shield of Pride.

Here the Lord challenges, learn to accept one’s own iniquity. During advent we reflected on Jesus' humility to become man.

In the season of lent journeying towards Holy week, we meditate on Lord’s humility on the cross. Jesus embraced to do these profound acts of Charity to bring us close to God. Gaze at our sonship God also created an inter-dependent creation. Therefore it is impossible for us

to run away from taking responsibility for the well-being of the world and of one another. However, we all have personal weaknesses that hurt others and create barriers in our relationships.

Therefore the scripture awakens us to common weaknesses that hinder healthy relationships. Pride that overpowers our personalities conveniently enables us to overlook and make excuses for our own actions that hurt, devalue and infuriate others. We prefer to deny than accept responsibility for them. Thereby reconciliation with “one another” has been made redundant. Jesus reminds us today, there could be no reconciliation with God without taking practical steps to reconcile with fellow.

To develop such a personal trait, one needs courage, humility and integrity. It is important in the society that we as Christians take the first step towards reconciliation that bring about harmony and good will among each other, community and society at large. Christians are endowed with the fruits of the Holy Spirit who helps us in our weaknesses and also the courage to be humble.

Therefore, Jesus says Go and “settle matters quickly”.

Prayer Starter Dear Lord You have given us 40 days in the season of Lent to reflect and identify our personality traits. Holy Spirit overshadow me to see my sinful nature. Help me become aware of the scores I hold against others. Help us identify the underlying sinful spirit that govern our actions, especially by way of the seven deadly sins of pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath and sloth.

We claim God’s promise through Ezekiel 18, verse 23. “Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?”.

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Saturday 20th February 2016 who persecute you". For once you pray for someone you cannot hate him.

So prayer is a way of getting rid of your anger. Hatred of your neighbor is a grave sin when one deliberately The First Proclamation wishes him great harm. It is only when This very day the Lord your God Christ lives in our heart that all bitteris commanding you to observe these ness will die and then we can really statutes and ordinances; so observe love.

We have to be patient with all those them diligently with all your heart and with all you soul. Today you have ob- who love us as well as all those who tained the Lord's agreement: to be hate or hurt us. God makes the sun your God; and for you to walk in his rise on all the good as well as on the ways, to keep his statutes, his com- evil, and sends the rain to the just as mandments, and his ordinances, and well as to the unjust. St. Paul tells us, to obey him. Today the Lord has ob- "Do not repay anyone, evil with evil. tained your agreement: to be his trea- Never avenge yourselves. No, if any sured people, as he promised you, and of your enemies are hungry feed them. to keep his commandments; for him If they are thirsty give them something to set you high above all nations that to drink. Do not repay evil with evil he has made, in praise and in fame but overcome evil with good." and in honor; and for you to be a people According to the first proclamaholy to the Lord your God, as he prom- tion, before the coming of Jesus they ised. adhered to the Mosaic Law, for example, a tooth for a tooth, an eye for The Gospel Proclamation an eye - that is if someone hits me or "You have heard that it was said, injures me, according to the Mosaic 'You shall love your neighbor and hate Law, it is lawful for me to hit back and your enemy'. But I say to you, Love destroy the other person's eye. But your enemies and pray for those who according to Jesus, on the cross Jesus persecute you, so that you may be chil- said, "Father, forgive them for they dren of your Father in heaven, for he know not what they do." Jesus apmakes his sun rise on the evil and on pealed for His murderers even while the good, and sends rain on the righ- dying on the cross. That should be teous and on the unrighteous. For if the attitude of every Christian. you love those who love you, what rePrayer Starter ward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you "We know there will be times of greet only your brothers and sisters, stress. what more are you doing than others?

With people who must have their Do not even the Gentiles do the same? way; Be perfect, therefore, as your heavBut we should always choose to enly Father is perfect. love, Prayerful Awareness To live in peace and for them In today's Gospel the Lord says pray."

"Love your enemies and pray for those D. De Haan

Deuteronomy: 26/16-19 Psalm: 119/1-2,4-5,7-8 Matthew: 5/43-48

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Sunday 21st February 2016 Second Sunday in Lent Genesis:15/5-12, 17-18 Psalm: 27/1,17-9,13-14 Philippians: 3/17-4/1 or 3/20-4/1 Luke: 9/28-35 Introduction

this land as a possession.” “O Lord GOD,” he asked, “how am I to know that I shall possess it?”

He answered him, ”Bring me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old she-goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.”

Abram brought him all these, split them in two, and placed each half opposite the other; but the birds he did not cut up. Birds of prey swooped down on the carcasses, but Abram stayed with them. As the sun was about to set, a trance fell upon Abram, and a deep, terrifying darkness enveloped him.

When the sun had set and it was dark, there appeared a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch, which passed between those pieces. It was on that occasion that the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying: “To your descendants I give this land, from the Wadi of Egypt to the Great River, the Euphrates.”

Prayerful Awareness

It is only those who think themselves hard headed scientists will deny an existence other than what can be verified by our senses and our intellect. But even they would not hesitate to seek the help of the spiritual when they are in dire straits. The JudeoChristian tradition to which we belong presents to us a God who gets involved in the affairs of His people. It is Abraham who starts off this experience when he leaves his family and the land of his birth to journey to a land promised by God whom he encounters.

Today we are invited to open our hearts to this wonderful tradition of faith. When we sincerely listen to our hearts rather than the opinions and ideas of the society the insight to seek the face of God will come.

We accept that Abraham was the first person in the history of salvation Entrance Antiphon to hear and listen to God speaking to a Of you my heart has spoken, Seek man’s heart. Thus he is the one whom his face. we call the father of our faith. As we It is your face, O Lord, that I seek; read in the entrance antiphon Abraham was able to experience God without hide not your face from me. having recourse to his normal senses First Proclamation (seeing, hearing and touching). He will The Lord God took Abram outside always challenge us as we proceed in and said, ”Look up at the sky and our faith journey. count the stars, if you can. Just so,” Let us read the Gospel and see he added, “shall your descendants what Jesus does with His disciples to be.” Abram put his faith in the confirm their faith in the presence of Lord, who credited it to him as an act the divine. of righteousness. He then said to Gospel Proclamation him, ”I am the Lord who brought you Jesus took Peter, John, and from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you

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James and went up the mountain to pray. While he was praying his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white. And behold, two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem. Peter and his companions had been overcome by sleep, but becoming fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. As they were about to part from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here; let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”But he did not know what he was saying. While he was still speaking, a cloud came and cast a shadow over them, and they became frightened when they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, ”This is my chosen Son; listen to him.” After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone.

They fell silent and did not at that time tell anyone what they had seen.

Gaze at Jesus Jesus knew the enormous challenges that His disciples would face in carrying out the mission He would give them to bear witness to Him. Jesus realized that they would have to have a solid experience of the “Really Real” to fall back on when the going got tough.

For those of us who have been entrusted with a mission amongst the people of God – and that include all of us – it is heartening to note that Jesus knows our limitations and provides us with the necessary support. Let us also accompany Him up to the mountain to pray and experience the transfiguration.

Second Proclamation Brothers and sisters: Our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we also await a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

He will change our lowly body to conform with his glorified body by the power that enables him also to bring all things into subjection to himself.

Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord, beloved.

Our sonship Please read the above proclamation pausing to reflect on the highlighted phrases. They speak about our destiny and that to get there is not upon our heads but the submission to the gratuitous action of our savior Jesus Christ.

Prayer Starter From glory to glory He’s changing me, changing me, changing me; His likeness and image to perfect me, The love of God shown to the world.

For He’s changing, changing me, From earthly things to the heavenly, His likeness and image to perfect in me, The love of God shown to the world.

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Monday 22nd February 2016 1 Peter: 5/1-4 Psalm: 22/1-3, 6 Matthew:16/13-19 The Gospel Proclamation Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." He said to them, "But who do you say that I am".

Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

Prayerful Awareness Caesarea Philippi was located several miles North of the Sea of Galilee, in the territory ruled by Philip. The influence of Greek and Roman culture was everywhere and pagan temples and idols abounded.

The disciples answered Jesus' question with the common view - that Jesus was one of the great prophets come back to life. The belief may have stemmed from Deuteronomy 18:18 where God said He would raise up a prophet from among the people. Peter however confessed Jesus as DIVINE and as the promised and long awaited

MESSIAH. If Jesus were to ask us this question, how would we answer? Is He your LORD and MESSIAH? The rock on which Jesus would build His Church seems most likely that the ROCK refers to PETER as the leader of the Church (for his function, NOT necessarily his CHARACTER).

Just as Peter had revealed the TRUE IDENTITY of Christ, so Jesus revealed Peter's identity and ROLE. Late Peter reminds Christians that THEY are the CHURCH built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets with JESUS as the CORNERSTONE. All believers are joined into this church by FAITH in Jesus Christ as Saviour, the same faith that Peter expressed here. Jesus praised Peter for his confession of faith. It is faith like Peter's that is the foundation of Christ's Kingdom.

The "KEYS" may represent the authority to carry out Church discipline, legislation and administration and authority to announce the forgiveness of sins and the opportunity to bring people to the kingdom of heaven by presenting them with the message of salvation found in GOD's WORD. The religious leaders thought they held the keys of the Kingdom and they tried to shut some people out. We cannot decide to open or close the kingdom of heaven for others, but God uses US to help others find the way.

To all who Believe in Christ and obeys His words, the Kingdom doors are SWUNG WIDE OPEN! Prayer Starter Heavenly Father, we thank You for Jesus, help us to identify Him as our Lord and Saviour as Peter did, for Christ, our foundation, the Rock, is our sure hope.

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Tuesday 23rd February 2016 Isaiah: 1/10, 16-20 Psalm: 50/8-9, 16-17, 21, 23 Mathew: 23/1-12

are you to be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Messiah. The greatest among you will be your servant. All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted.

Prayerful Awareness

The First Proclamation

Today, Jesus seems to be denouncing the actions and behaviour of a category of people, who lived during te time of Jesus, called the scribes and Pharisees. They were important and respected religious personalities of that society. What are the attributes, that Jesus denounced in them .

Firstly, for being hypocrites by not living themselves in their own life, what they preached to others (vs. 3). Secondly by not helping others, in their life's struggles. (vs. 4) Thirdly, for being exhibitionists, by doing even religious activities, in order to obtain glory for themselves (vs.

5) Fourthly, desiring in their minds respect and honour from others. (vs. 6) Let us note, that these words are addressed to everyone - not to the "crowds" - people who went after Jesus for curiosity and to his "disciples" - people who truly wanted to live according to the teachThen Jesus said to the crowds and to ings of Jesus his disciples, "The scribes and the PhariGaze at Jesus sees sit on Moses seat, therefore , do whatJesus, the true Man and true God. As ever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice we read scriptures, let us observe, how what they teach. They tie up heavy bur- Jesus, the true Man, lived out His life. He dens, hard to bear, and lay them on the surely would not have these wrong attishoulders of others, but they themselves tudes in His behavioural pattern. Let us are unwilling to lift a finger to move them learn, the true qualities of a man, from Jesus. . They do all their deeds to be seen by My sonship others, for they make their phylacteries As a praise group leader, or someone broad and their fringes long. They love to have the place of honor at banquets and holding a position in an association, do I the best seats in the synagogues, and to be tend to behave, lithe scribes and Pharigreeted with respect in the market-places, sees? Or do I, emulate the qualities that and to have people call them rabbi. But Jesus exhibited?

Prayer Starter you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all students. And Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you, call no one your father on earth, for you nor for your holocausts, set before me daily. have one Father - the one in heaven. Nor (Ps.50/8....)

Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom! Listen to the teaching of our God, you people of Gomorrah!

Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your doings from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow.

Come now, let us argue it out, says the Lord; though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be like snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

The Gospel Proclamation

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Wednesday 24th February 2016 Jeremiah: 18/18-20 Psalm: 31/4-5, 13-115 Matthew: 20/17-28 The Gospel Proclamation While Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside by themselves, and said to them on the way, "See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death; then they will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified; and on the third day he will be raised.

Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to him with her sons, and kneeling before him, she asked a favor of him. And he said to her, "What do you want?" She said to him, "Declare that these two sons of mine will sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom." But Jesus answered, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?" They said to him, "We are able." He said to them, "You will indeed drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left, this is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father."

When the ten heard it, they were angry with the two brothers. But Jesus called them to him and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. It will not be so among you, but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave; just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many."

Prayerful Awareness Behind this request of the mother of

James and John there were personal distinctions and glory. She was thinking of gain without pain; glory without sacrifice.

How blind was she and her ambitions! The concept of greatness they had was wrong.

The seats at the right and at the left of the Master - to sit there connotes a favoured status and authority. Of the two positions the right one is more advantageous as advise is sought from it and is usually the successor to the throne. The reaction of the other disciples - they became indignant. They thought they were more qualified and should be the first. Jesus on the other hand did not lose His temper. He saw through the whole situation and trusted and believed them .He corrected their wrong ideas. The cup He mentioned meant His forthcoming passion and death.

He also asked them whether they were ready to undergo all the trials and tribulations for continuing His work. "The Master was walking well in advance of His apostles up the steep mountain path.

While they lagged behind, shrinking in uncomprehending terror as He hastened to His cross, there was one thought uppermost in His mind: His voluntary submission to sacrifice. According to the Father's plan, the cross was necessary for him as a means of imparting life to others. The apostles on the other hand, until the very last moment, were looking for some manifestation of His power which would release their nation from political bondage and lift them personally to some glory and dominion. They were amazed at His readiness to enter Jerusalem, which meant suffering. They were dreaming of thrones and He was thinking of a cross. Calvary, He was telling His quarreling apostles, would be no interruption of His life activities, no tragic and premature spoiling of His plan, no evil and which hostile forces would impose upon Him. (Archbishop F.J.Sheen) Prayer Starter Help me to avoid the temptation of popularity and power. Amen.

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Thursday 25th February 2016 Jeremiah: 17/5-10 Psalm: 1/1-4, 6 Luke: 16/19-31 The First Proclamation Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord. For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited. Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

Fix your gaze on Jesus

ence is that we are much more involved with and in effect create our own stories as we go along in the choices we make in selecting the thoughts, feelings, beliefs, values, attitudes and resultant actions and reactions in life.

It would be good to be mindful that these passing forms but represent some-thing more; a Some-One Else.

Somehow, we need to keep our full attention and focus on the essence of these forms that pass before our consciousness. This is what the Creator, who desires that we experience His likeness and image, would have us awaken to! He wants us to awaken to the few simple rules that govern our creative effort; for example: that you shall reap what you sow; in today's scripture, "give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings".

Nothing in the material realm is permanent; but are mere passing forms of the creative effort, singly and collectively. The Lord would have us therefore give primary attention to the source of our being rather than be entranced and enticed by the end results; the results will come naturally once we learn to handle the causation properly.

We are the co-creators and the Source never fails.

The cause is the Spirit, the energy, the intelligence that was, is, and will be.

The result/manifestation; well, that's up to us. Shall we create some thing that is Good, beneficial, harmonious and complete; as the Lord God wants us to do? In other words, create a continuing experience of being immersed in Love?

Prayer Starter

O Jesus, the personification of the Will of the Creator, the Word of God somehow become material; en-fleshed!

Help us to focus on You-the Logos more and more in this journey called life...

Like a movie projection flickering on the wide screen before our eyes, drawing our attention, getting us to identify with the various characters in the story, inciting our thoughts, desires, feelings and reactions, and riveting us with the drama, the drama called life too presents us with The Thank You for helping us awaken Story and the forms thereof passing O Lord of the Hosts to our own conbefore our consciousness. The differ- tribution to 'What Is...'

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Friday 26th February 2016 Genesis: 37/3-4, 12-13, 17-28 Psalm: 105/16-21 Matthew: 21/33-43, 45-46 The First Proclamation Please read Genesis 37/3-4, 12-13, 1728 meditatively.

Gospel Proclamation "Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a watch-tower.

Then he leased it to tenants and went to another country. When the harvest time had come, he sent his slaves to the tenants to collect his produce. but the tenants seized his slaves and beat one, killed another, and stoned another.... Finally he sent his son to them, saying, 'They will respect my son.' But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, 'This is the heir, come, let us kill him and get his inheritance,' So they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him..... Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the scriptures; 'The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord's doing, and it is amazing in our eyes'?.... When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they realized that he was speaking about them. They wanted to arrest him, but they feared the crowds, because they regarded him as a prophet.

Prayerful Awareness From the first proclamation we know that God turns over to good, everything bad casted upon God’s people - Children of God ( those guided by the Spirit of God – Romans 8,14 ). Although it is tough to go through the hardships, God will reward

for all sufferings endured, due to His Love.

Gospel proclamation discloses that although the chief priests and the Pharisees understood that the parable of the Land owner was meant for them, they were not prepared to accept it and change, but, instead were thinking of ways how to seize Jesus Christ to put an end to His Word.

God created this world and created man (male and female) in His image to subdue the earth and have dominion over every living creature of it, and to bear witness to God and God’s Love and bring Glory to God from our lives. When people tried to live sinful lives putting aside all God’s commandments, with no respect to God and God’s teachings, God sent prophets to remind the people of how they are expected to live, following all God’s Commandments. But people rejected prophets. Therefore, God finally sent His only Son, Lord Jesus Christ to deliver the message in order to save people from sin. But, the people instead of changing their lives, crucified Jesus Christ. As God can turn around everything to good, God raised Jesus Christ from the dead and brought Him to Glory. Lord Jesus said “ I am the true vine. And my Father is the vine grower.

He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and every one that does, He prunes so that it bears more fruit” – John 15, 1-2 . Unless we remain in Christ, like a branch attached to the vine and bear fruit, our lives too will wither like branches cut off from the vine and then thrown to the fire.

Prayer Starter Lord Jesus Christ, Help me follow all Your Commandments and remain attached to You to bear fruit as a witness of Your Love in everything I do, in every word I speak and in every thought I have, And, help me to love others as You love me. In the name of God our Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen

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Saturday 27th February 2016 Micah: 7/14-15, 18-20 Psalm: 103/1-4, 9-12 Luke: 15/1-3, 11-32

The Gospel Proclamation Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, "This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them"

So he told them this parable.

Then Jesus said, "There was a man who had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.' ...'

A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. ....

But when he came to himself he said, 'How many of my father's hired hands have bread enough and to spare but here I am dying of hunger. I will get up and go to my Father, .... So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion, he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. Then the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, I am no longer worthy to be called your son." But the father said to his slaves, 'Quickly bring out a robe- the best one and put it on him, put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate, for his son of mine was dead and is alive again, he was lost and is found! And they began to celebrate......

Prayerful Awareness Jesus did not worry about the accusations, instead He continued helping those who needed Him, regardless of the effect people might have on His reputation.

The younger son's share of the estate would have been one-third, with the older receiving two-thirds (Deut.21:17). What is UNUSUAL here is that the younger one initiated the DIVISION of the estate. This showed ARROGANT DISREGARD for his father's AUTHORITY as head of the family.

The EXTRAORDINARY LOVE that God has, is to tenderly search for sinners and JOYFULLY forgive.

Pigs were unclean, not fit to eat for sacrifice. Jesus did to even TOUCH pigs.

The younger son degraded beyond belief, had truly SUNK to the depths!

In this story of the 'Lost Son' the father's response is contrasted with the older brother's. The father forgave because he was FILLED with LOVE. The son refused because he was BITTER. The older brother represents the Pharisees, resentful that sinners were welcomed into God's Kingdom.

When our self-righteousness gets in the way of rejoicing when others come to Jesus, we are no better than the Pharisees.

If we are refusing to forgive people, we are missing a wonderful opportunity to experience JOY and share it with others.

Prayer Starter Heavenly Father, forgive us for the foolish choices we have made. Please enable us to be wiser in our choices. Help us to remember that God's forgiveness frees us from the chains of regret.

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Sunday 28th February 2016

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Third Sunday in Lent

Exodus: 3/1-8, 13-15 Psalm: 103/1-4, 6-8,11 1 Corinthians: 10/1-6, 10-12 Luke: 13/1-9 Introduction We believe in God who is on the side of the poor, the oppressed and the afflicted. In this jubilee year of mercy we as Catholics need to take the lead in trusting the Lord our God to be on our side when we suffer.

Therefore let us chant or recite the entrance antiphon with sincerity.

Entrance Antiphon My eyes are always on the Lord, For he rescues my feet from the snare.

Turn to me and have mercy on me, For I am alone and poor.

First Proclamation Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian.Leading the flock across the desert, he came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There an angel of the LORD appeared to Moses in fire flaming out of a bush. As he looked on, he was surprised to see that the bush, though on fire, was not consumed. So Moses decided, “I must go over to look at this remarkable sight, and see why the bush is not burned.”

When the Lord saw him coming over to look at it more closely, God called out to him from the bush, “Moses! Moses!” He answered, “Here I am.” God said, “Come no nearer!

Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you stand is

holy ground. I am the God of your fathers,” he continued, “the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob.” Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God. But the Lord said, “I have witnessed the affliction of my people in Egypt and have heard their cry of complaint against their slave drivers, so I know well what they are suffering. Therefore I have come down to rescue them from the hands of the Egyptians and lead them out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey.”

Moses said to God, “But when I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ if they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what am I to tell them?”

God replied, “I am who am.” Then he added, “This is what you shall tell the Israelites: I AM sent me to you.” God spoke further to Moses, “Thus shall you say to the Israelites: The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. “This is my name forever; thus am I to be remembered through all generations.”

Prayerful Awareness The Lord heard the constant cry of the Chosen people and intervened through His servant Moses to bring them out of the land of Egypt after four hundred and thirty years. (Exodus 12:40). We need to persevere in crying out to the Lord and continue to trust in His mercy till one day He will act with power.

Gospel Proclamation Some people told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had

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mingled with the blood of their sacrifices. Jesus said to them in reply, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were greater sinners than all other Galileans?

By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did!

Or those eighteen people who were killed when the tower at Siloam fell on them— do you think they were more guilty than everyone else who lived in Jerusalem?

By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did!”

And he told them this parable: ”There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard, and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none, he said to the gardener, ‘For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree but have found none. So cut it down. Why should it exhaust the soil?’

He said to him in reply, ‘Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; it may bear fruit in the future.

If not you can cut it down.’

Gaze at Jesus

ing anxiously for the return of the sinner.

Second Proclamation I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea, and all of them were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. All ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they drank from a spiritual rock that followed them and the rock was the Christ. Yet God was not pleased with most of them, for they were struck down in the desert. These things happened as examples for us, so that we might not desire evil things, as they did. Do not grumble as some of them did, and suffered death by the destroyer. These things happened to them as an example, and they have been written down as a warning to us, upon whom the end of the ages has come. Therefore, whoever thinks he is standing secure should take care not to fall.

Our sonship The mere fact of being chosen does not ensure salvation. We need to always respond to the love God which has only our good at heart.

Obeying His will for our lives is to be doing the best for our selves. When we start thinking that we know what is best for us and that we don’t need God we begin to destroy ourselves. Rejecting the love of God is what sin is. We need Real Eyes to Realize where the Real Lies.

Prayer Starter

In their relationship with God over the years, the Israeli people continually developed their image of God. Out of these many images the one which saw God as a punisher of sinners did not change. Jesus came and revealed the true face of God, Whom He addressed as Abba, as one who is ever “….Lead us not into temptations, ready to forgive a repentant sinner. but deliver us from evil.”

Jesus revealed God as one who is wait-

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Monday 29th February 2016 2 Kings: 5/1-15 Psalm: 42/1-2; 43/3-4 Luke:4/16, 24-30 The Gospel Proclamation When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read....

And he said, "Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the prophet's hometown. But the truth is, there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months and there was a severe famine over all the land; yet Elijah was sent to none of them except to a widow at Zarephath in Sidon. There were also many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian." When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage. They got up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff. But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way.

Gaze at Jesus Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up and as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and stood up to read (Luke 4/16...) He went to the place where He had been 'brought up'. Bringing up is an important thing in life. We find that Jesus was accustomed to go to the Temple on the Sabbath day. He

had been reared in a godly home.

Jesus stated that God had anointed Him to preach deliverance to the captives and bring good tidings to the poor and broken-hearted. He selected the text from Isaiah 61, which announced the whole object of His mission on earth. He was commissioned and sent by God and divinely qualified for His work. He is our KinsmanRedeemer. He was made like us, that He might bring man close to God. Early in Jesus' ministry we see those of His own home town scheming to kill Him. They said, "Is not this Jesus, Joseph's son." This is the first hint of his rejection. He proclaimed Himself to be the Messiah. They were angered that He should hint that their Jewish Messiah would also be sent to the Gentiles. They believed that God's grace was to be confined to the Jews and so they were ready to kill Him. He refused to work miracles for them, because of their unbelief. They attempted to cast Him down form the brow of the hill, ut He escaped and went to Capernaum.

Wherever Jesus went, a multitude of people followed Him and sought to touch Him for there went virtue out of Him and healed them all. He gave of Himself. Our service must be of this kind.

Prayer Starter Dear Father God, make Jesus the sinner's friend, the disciple's teacher.

Let Jesus be the light of the dark and the strength of the weak. Thank You for giving us Jesus as our perfect model. Amen.

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THE COVER STORY

The person who lives a life of awareness to the Holy Spirit always has a thirst to listen to Jesus Christ. The very first invitation that is received from Him is “Come Follow Me”.

Though this call is received at the time of receiving the sacrament of Baptism, we need to become aware of this call on a daily basis when we experience pain, failure, rejection and loneliness. The Holy Spirit comes to our help at these times. ”If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”

(Mark 8:34)

May the Holy Spirit enlighten us to make the Lenten season of 2016 a time of listening to the experience of Jesus Christ!

Walk in the Spirit - February 2016

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

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WALK IN THE SPIRIT

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