Walk in the Spirit April 2016 by Pubuduwa

Walk in the Spirit April 2016

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WALK IN THE SPIRIT April 2016 Volume 04 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"

SHARING ON PRAYER April 2016

‘Love has first to lose before it can win’ The touch of the Holy Spirit, call it filling, anointing with the Holy Spirit or baptism of the Holy Spirit, it is a gift of Love that must first of all lead us to be humble or empty. The Spirit would lead us to reflect in our new born life, the ‘let it be’ of the Blessed Mother. It is a let it be that would spell the ’emptying’ of the ‘self”. The filling that first ‘empties’ and an emptying that yearns for a further filling. The further filling comes in the form of the Abba’s Word, Who is first and foremost the Incarnate Word and then the words that continue to fill us with words about Jesus. The Spirit would lead us to “know Jesus” as the Son of God Who is Son of Man.

Fr. Siri Oscar Abayaratne

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

Friday 1st April 2016 Feast of St. Hugh, Bishop, Confessor Acts: 4/1-12 Psalm:118/1-2, 4, 22-27 John: 21/1-14 St. Hugh He was a native of Dauphine, S.E. France. While still a layman he was made Canon at Valance at the age of 25. He actively defended the reforms promulgated by Pope St. Gregory VII. This Pope consecrated him Bishop of Grenoble. He endeavoured for two years but without success to eradicate evils of simony and concubinage in his diocese. He resigned from his office and became a Benedictine monk. He was reinstated by the succeeding popes. He visited the monks frequently to share their life of poverty, prayer and solitary study. His personal austerities and excessive fasts affected his health but was later moderated on the advice of his spiritual director, St. Bruno. He is said to have sold his golden chalice and Episcopal ring to relieve the distress of his poor. Died: April 01, 1132. Canonized by Pope Innocent I in 1134. The Gospel Proclamation After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way. Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We will go with you." They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, "Children, you have no fish,

have you?" They answered him, "No" He said to them, "Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" ..... Prayerful Awareness To prove or demonstrate the reality of the Resurrection this reading has been added. Risen Christ is neither a vision or a spirit, but a real person. The tomb was empty and He had a real body with marks of the nails and also of the spear. It is unlikely that a vision would point out a shoal of fish, light a fire, cook a meal and share it. Then the attention to the number of fishes - 153. According to St. Jerome there are 153 kinds of fishes in the sea. The catch included all kinds of fish. One day all people of all nations will be gathered together. This big catch was gathered into a net. What is this net? It is the Church. Christ is the Head of this Church and there is room for all people of all nations in His Church. Yes, the Church can and has enough room for all of them. The universality of the Church too is highlighted. It is open to all and there is neither prejudice nor exclusiveness. The First Proclamation presents us with an example of priests and Sadducees who would not listen to the truth themselves or give others a chance even to hear it. To this end they aimed all their activities. If the disciples were allowed to carry on their activities unchecked, the result would be civil disorder or even riots. Prayer Starter Unconditional surrender to Your love - yes, My Lord, nothing but a life under Your guidance and as a citizen of the divine Kingdom. Amen.

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

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Saturday 2nd April 2016 Acts: 4/13-21 Psalm:118/1, 14-21 Mark: 16/9-15 The First Proclamation They were astonished at the fearlessness shown by Peter and John, considering that they were uneducated laymen; and they recognised them as associates of Jesus; but when they saw the man who had been cured standing by their side, they could find no answer. So they ordered them to stand outside while the Sanhedrin had a private discussion. 'What are we going to do with these men?' they asked. 'It is obvious to everybody in Jerusalem that a notable miracle has been worked through them, and we cannot deny it. But to stop the whole thing spreading any further among the people, let us threaten them against ever speaking to anyone in this name again.' So they called them in and gave them a warning on no account to make statements or to teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John retorted, 'You must judge whether in God's eyes it is right to listen to you and not to God. We cannot stop proclaiming what we have seen and heard.' The court repeated the threats and then released them; they could not think of any way to punish them, since all the people were giving glory to God for what had happened. Fix your gaze on Jesus In the Gospel today, we see the disciples unwilling to be receptive to the witnessing of Mary Magdalene, and the couple who journeyed to Emmaus. But, the Acts narrate of entirely different personalities. What a change of heart the disciples have had, after re-

ceiving the promised Spirit of God! A vibrant and renewed heart O Lord, create anew within all of us! All the Pharisees cared for, it appears is for the status quo to be continued; that their lively hood did not get threatened; that their hypocrisy, wickedness, and tyranny not get revealed; that the truth does not emerge; that the chosen do not journey higher in to experience freedom, healing, acceptance, mercy and a real personal relationship with their Creator God! The aim was to secure their jobs; that the priest-centric worship patterns of the Deity continue; as such the doctrine of Christ must not spread among the people, even though they cannot say it is false or dangerous, or of any ill tendency. Those who know how to put a just value upon Christ's promises, know how to put just contempt upon the world's threatenings. The apostles look with concern on perishing souls, and know they cannot escape eternal ruin but by Jesus Christ, therefore they are faithful in warning, and showing the right way. None will enjoy peace of mind, nor act uprightly, till they have learned to guide their conduct by the fixed standard of truth, and not by the shifting opinions and fancies of men. Especially beware of a vain attempt to serve two masters, God and the world; the end will be, you can serve neither fully. Prayer Starter We have no better news than that of Christ's resurrection. Let us experience this personally in our lives, revel in the salvation and healing experienced, and carry the good news out to the parched and weary world..lift us up anew O Lord therefor..

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

Sunday 3rd April 2016 Second Sumday of Easter Acts: 5/12-16 Psalm: 118/2-4, 13-15, 22-27 Revelation: 1/9-13, 17-19 John 20/19-31 Introduction Each new experience has, as it were, its baby steps. Milk is the food we are able to digest. Milk has to be provided by someone who cares. As newborns we are unable to supply our own nourishment. The new life the disciples began after the resurrection required a special form of nourishment. It is the nourishment of the Spirit that is necessary rather than that of the body and mind. That is exactly what the Entrance Antiphon tells us to thirst for. Entrance Antiphon Like newborn children you should thirst for milk, on which your spirit can grow to strength. Alleluia. Today let us change the order in which we read the proclamations so that we could see them in chronological sequence. So first we read and reflect on the Gospel proclamation followed by the First Proclamation and finally the Second Proclamation. The Gospel Proclamation On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, …. Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit ….” Thomas called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples said to

him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nail marks and put my hand into his side I will not believe.” …. Then he said to Thomas “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed. “ …. Gaze at Jesus The disciples are overcome with joy. The unbelievable has happened. Jesus is still with them. This also is a promise made at the Last Supper. “In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.” (16:16) …. “I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.” (16:22) Their joy, like their peace, will be enduring. The initial dose of spiritual milk is an experience which they, the disciples, receive from the Risen Lord through their senses; their sense of sight, hearing and touch (and taste in other stories of the appearance of the risen Lord recorded in the Gospels). It is startlingly similar to the experience that a newborn baby receives when put to the breast. We have observed how a mother’s love flows to the infant during feeding. The disciples, newborns to the relationship with the resurrected Lord, would surely have undergone a similar experience of maternal love. Unlike the experience of human maternal love, the experience of divine love is not to be kept within but to be shared. Therefore the Risen Lord Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I

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

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send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained. Let us observe how the Apostles carried out this mandate …. The First Proclamation Many signs and wonders were done among the people at the hands of the apostles. They were all together in Solomon’s portico. None of the others dared to join them, but the people esteemed them. Yet more than ever, believers in the Lord, great numbers of men and women were added to them. Thus they even carried …… so that when Peter came by, at least his shadow might fall on one or another of them. A large number of people from the towns in the vicinity of Jerusalem also gathered, bringing the sick and those disturbed by unclean spirits, and they were all cured. Prayerful Awareness It is essentially a corporate mission. There are no lone rangers who pose as specially anointed persons. The apostles carry out their mission as a consequence of their new life in Christ. They are inspired not only to live like Jesus, they also draw others to share their own experience of reciprocal knowing and loving Jesus. They are not satisfied with living such a life for themselves, only for their own future with God. Thanks and praise be to God they carried out that mission so that we can be together today to celebrate the Eucharist. The Second Proclamation I, John, your brother, who share with you the distress, the kingdom, and the endurance we have in Jesus, found myself on the island called Patmos because I proclaimed God’s word and gave testimony to Jesus. I was caught up in spirit on the Lord’s day and heard behind me a voice as loud as a trumpet, which said, “Write

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on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.” Then I turned to see whose voice it was that spoke to me, and when I turned, I saw seven gold lampstands and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, wearing an ankle-length robe, with a gold sash around his chest. When I caught sight of him, I fell down at his feet as though dead. He touched me with his right hand and said, “Do not be afraid. I am the first and the last, the one who lives. Once I was dead, but now I am alive forever and ever. I hold the keys to death and the netherworld. Write down, therefore what you have seen and what is happening, and what will happen afterwards. Our sonship John’s experience tells us that the experience of the Risen Lord is not limited to the experience of miracles and others of a triumphalistic nature. John speaks of sharing with his brothers the distress, the kingdom and the endurance in the life in Jesus. He experiences the consoling love of the Risen Lord through the vision that is described. He touched me with his right hand and said , “Do not be afraid, I am the first and the last, the one who lives. Once I was dead, but now I am alive forever and ever. I hold the keys to death and the netherworld.” Because Jesus lives those who have put their faith in Him can live through whatever is happening and what will happen afterwards. Prayer Starter Heavenly Father and God of mercy, we no longer look for Jesus among the dead, for He is alive and has become the Lord of life. From the waters of death You raise us with Him and renew Your gift of life within us. Increase in our minds and hearts the risen life we share with Christ and help us to grow as Your people toward the fullness of eternal life with You. We ask this through Christ our Lord.

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

Monday 4th April 2016

The Annunciation of the Lord

Isaiah: 7/10-14 Psalm: 40/6-10 Hebrews: 10/4-10 Luke: 1/26-38 The Gospel Proclamation In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, "Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you." But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end." Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?" The angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy, he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God." Then Mary said, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord, let it be with me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her. Prayerful Awareness Angel Gabriel visited the blessed Virgin Mary, greeted her and said that God was in favour of her. The angel announced that Mary would conceive

the Son of God in her womb, with the power of the Holy Spirit. Mary was surprised with the announcement for she did not in the least think that she was worthy of being the mother of the Son of God for she was that humble. The angel further predicted that He will be given the Throne of King David and will reign as King for ever. This refers to the resurrected Jesus' eternal presence in the world among us. This birth was to differ from all the other human births for no human being was involved in it. The Son of God was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit. Though Mary was frightened about this at first, later she bowed down to God's Will as a humble obedient daughter of God. "Here I am the handmaid of the Lord, be it done to me according to Thy word." Though she had accepted Joseph as her bethrothed, at the angel's announcement she bowed her head saying, "Amen", to God's Will. This giving up of one's desires and obeying God's Will is a good example to all of us, especially to the young who are not willing to give up their desires and choices. Very often we find it hard to change our ways even when they appear to be foolish or not correct. The youth of today want to have their own way even when their parents or elders want it otherwise. The Blessed Mother is a good example for them, as well as for all of us to seek God's Will and to sacrifice ours. "Thy Will be done on earth as it is in Heaven." Prayer Starter Sacrifice and offering you do not desire, but you have given me an open ear. Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required. Then I said "Here I am; in the scroll of the book it is written of me. I delight to do your will, O my God, your law is within my heart." (Ps: 40/6-8....)

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

zz Y = o aOd; au hd f KkS"

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Tuesday 5th April 2016 St. Vincent Ferrer, Priest Acts: 4/32-37 Psalm: 93/1-2, 5 John: 3/7-15 The First Proclamation Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common. With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold. They laid it at the apostles' feet and it was distributed to each as any had need...... Prayerful Awareness The First Reading refers to the new way of life the disciples practiced after receiving the powers of the Holy Spirit on the Pentecost Day, guiding them to teach new believers of the new way of life Loving each other as Lord Jesus loved them and share their wealth with the have not. In the Gospel Reading Lord Jesus Christ explains Nicodemus about the change of life one should have to enter into Heaven. To be born again with the Spirit, whom Lord Jesus pledged to send (“But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go. For if I do not go, the Advocate, the Helper will not come to you. But If I go, I will send Him to you”). He also said, When the Spirit comes, who reveals the Truth about God, He will lead you into all Truth. (John 16:13) St. Paul in his letter to Romans, (8:14) said "Those who are led by the Spirit are children of God". The Spirit tells us what sin is and to do the Will of God. He will guide us to God’s Love to be filled with His Love and follow Lord Jesus

and all His Commandments, to love others as Lord loves us. In Baptism we received the Holy Spirit, when most of us were infants and only our God Parents vouched to guide us, to live as children of God. And in Confirmation although this is renewed and strengthened, most of us were below adolescence and how many of us knew and accepted the Spirit to guide our lives from there onwards. When we accept the Holy Spirit as our Counselor, He will guide us to know more of God our Father and His great unending Love for us. Holy Spirit will guide us to read and know the Word. He will also guide us to know more of Lord Jesus Christ and His sacrificial Love for us and His great mercy to redeem our sins we truly repent for, and to accept Him as our personal Saviour. A Spirit filled or Spirit guided life is an interesting one as Holy Spirit guides us to do the just and the correct acts and helps us whenever we ask for help. So, if we still do not know or have a relationship with the Holy Spirit who is with us as our close Friend, or the Advocate and Counselor, we must build up such a relationship by praying continuously, asking the Holy Spirit to guide us to know Him and to make us feel His presence. The Holy Spirit who intercedes for us will take our problems to Lord Jesus and God the Father in Heaven to give necessary solutions. Prayer Starter God our Loving Father, grant me Holy Spirit in a special way. Lord Jesus Christ, my Saviour and Lord, Anoint me with the Holy Spirit to follow You and Love one another as You Love me. Holy Spirit, Lord with me and within me, Help me to know You better and to ask for Your Help and depend on You. In the name of God the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

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

Wednesday 6th April 2016 Acts: 5/17-26 Psalm:34/1-8 John: 3/16-21 Introduction Today’s Gospel Proclamation contains one of the best loved and most quoted phrases in the Holy Bible, i.e. John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son so that whosoever believeth in Him will not perish but have eternal life!” Please read today’s Proclamations meditatively paying attention to the phrases that are highlighted, and stay a few minutes basking in the Father’s Love, enjoying His loving embrace! In Pubuduwa, we are taught that ‘My Hour’ personal prayer is all about awakening to, and enjoying the Love flowing from the Triune God, who is within me, and around me! Those who are able to experience this Love will in turn be empowered to love those who are around us, whereas the way of darkness is all about envy, hatred, conflict, decay, destruction, and death! First Proclamation Then the high priest intervened ...Filled with jealousy, they arrested the apostles and had them put in the public gaol. But at night the angel of the Lord opened the prison gates and said as he led them out, ‘Go and take up position in the Temple, and tell the people all about this new Life.’ They did as they were told; .... When the high priest arrived, he and his supporters convened the Sanhedrin.... and sent to the gaol for them to be brought. But when the officials arrived at the prison they found they were not inside, so they went back and reported, ‘We found the gaol securely locked and the warders on duty at the gates, but when we unlocked the door we found no one inside.’ When the captain of the Temple and the chief priests heard this news they wondered

what could be happening. Then a man arrived with fresh news. ‘Look!’ he said, ‘the men you imprisoned are in the Temple. They are standing there preaching to the people.’ .... Gospel Proclamation For this is how God loved the world: he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. For God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but so that through him the world might be saved. No one who believes in him will be judged; but whoever does not believe is judged already, because that person does not believe in the Name of God’s only Son. And the judgement is this: though the light has come into the world people have preferred darkness to the light because their deeds were evil. And indeed, everybody who does wrong hates the light and avoids it, to prevent his actions from being shown up; but whoever does the truth comes out into the light, so that what he is doing may plainly appear as done in God.’ Song of Praise I will bless Yahweh at all times, his praise continually on my lips. I will praise Yahweh from my heart; let the humble hear and rejoice. Proclaim with me the greatness of Yahweh, let us acclaim his name together. I seek Yahweh and he answers me, frees me from all my fears. Fix your gaze on Yahweh and your face will grow bright, you will never hang your head in shame. A pauper calls out and Yahweh hears, saves him from all his troubles. The angel of Yahweh encamps around those who fear him, and rescues them. Taste and see that Yahweh is good. How blessed are those who take refuge in him. (Psalm 34:1-8). Amen! Alleluia! Praise the Lord!

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

zz Y = o aOd; au hd f KkS"

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Thursday 7th April 2016 St. John Baptist de la Salle, Priest Acts: 5/27-33 Psalm: 34/2, 9, 17-20 John: 3/31-36 The First Proclamation When they had brought them, they had them stand before the council. The high priest questioned them, saying, "We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you are determined to bring this man's blood on us. But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than any human authority. The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at the right hand as Leader and Saviour that he might give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him. When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them. The Gospel Proclamation The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks about earthly things. The one who comes from heaven is above all. He testifies to what he has seen and heard, yet no one accepts his testimony. Whoever has accepted his testimony has certified this, that God is true. He whom God has sent speaks the words of God for he gives the Spirit without measure. The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in his hands. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but must endure God's wrath.

Prayerful Awareness "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever disobeys the Son, will not see life .... " (Vs.36). Let us reflect upon every word of this sentence .... "Whoever" ... yes, there are no conditions attached... "believes" ... belief in something entails action ... It is not being passive, but being active .... "In the Son" ... Son, refers to Jesus ... the Word of God personified .. it encompasses the totality of the person, his thoughts, words, deeds etc. etc. "has" - it is something happening in the present, here and now .... "eternal life" - it is not just everlasting life, but something more than that .... the Sinhala word being "Sadhathana Jeevithaya" - it implies a higher quality of life, not mere everlasting life .... Let us put all these together now and reflect ..... The first reading seems to buttress these ideas and throw more light. Acts 5:32 says ".... as is the Holy Spirit that God has given, to those who obey him." Combining the two verses, it implies that "eternal life" is synonymous with the Holy Spirit and they are received only by those who obey God. Therefore, those who obey God or God's Word, is personified by Jesus Christ, and is reflected by the totality of Jesus - His words, actions, reactions, thoughts etc. The receipt of the Holy Spirit and eternal life seems to work in a cycle and are either increasing or decreasing, according to one's belief - faith in action. Prayer Starter My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad. O fear the Lord, you his holy ones, for those who fear him have no want. When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and rescues them from all their troubles.... (Ps.34/2,9, 17 ....)

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

Friday 8th April 2016

Feast of St. Julie Billiart, Virgin

Acts: 5/34-42 Psalm: 27/1, 4, 13-14 John: 6/1-15

in calculations. Even after seeing many miracles he was unable to understand Him. Then Andrew appears on the scene and his approach was a positive one. He presents the boy with five The Gospel Proclamation loaves of barley bread and two fish to After this Jesus went to the other Jesus - the foundation he thought was side of the Sea of Galilee, .... A large helpful to the miracle that followed. It crowd kept following him, ... Jesus was as if Andrew said "I will do what I went up the mountain and sat down can and Jesus will put the finishing there with his disciples. ... When he touches." If we follow Andrew, take looked up and saw a large crowd com- others to Jesus what mighty things ing toward him, Jesus said to Philip. can take place with His touch. Why "Where are we to buy bread for these not take our children to Him in love, people to eat?" He said this to test fear and understanding of God and see him, for he himself knew what he was for ourselves the mighty things they going to do. Philip answered him, "Six will do for God, others and their land. months' wages would not buy enough The little boy willingly gave what he bread for each of them to get a little." had and these became the material One of his disciples, ... said to him, needed for the miracle. Are we too in "There is a boy here who has five bar- the same boat as the boy? Do we bring ley loaves and two fish. But what are to Him what we have? Do we make they among so many people?" Jesus ourselves availabel to Him for the work said, "Make the people sit down." ..., of His Kingdom? The reaction of the so they sat down about five thousand crowd - they wished ot use Him fo r in all. Then Jesus took the loaves and their own purposes - a king, to free the when he had given thanks he distrib- land from the Romans. They had their uted them to those who were seated; own plans and ideas and they wanted so also the fish, as much as they Him to fit into them. Shouldn't it be the wanted. ... "Gather up the fragments other way - we tell Him, 'Thy will be left over, so that nothing may be lost." done'. Not to ask Him to sign and So they gathered them up ... they filled rubberstamp our plans. twelve baskets. .... The First Proclamation presents Gamaliel as an unexpected helper Prayerful Awareness speaking for the disciples. He quoted Jesus was under continuous strain examples -Theudas and Judas. A very and He needed rest. So He withdrew vital point of opinion came out - exerfrom the crowds. Added to this, He cising one's free will. If it is against wanted to speak to His disciples pri- God - the plans or activities will surely vately with the view to deepen their fail. If it is for Him, success all the way understanding of Himself and on top and none can stop. of all these - time for private prayer. Prayer Starter This miracle is of vital importance and is mentioned by all four Evangelists. Rejoice in the Lord always and Jesus turned to Philip as he knew the again I say rejoice. Amen. place well and also to test him. He failed the test miserably as he was locked up

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

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uu k ui al dr l =u laÂąh s

T nj yk a f i ag l rĂą' wK l<

j k ao k d u ek j Z Z

Saturday 9thApril 2016 Acts: 6/1-7 Psalm: 33/1-2, 4-5 John: 6/16-21 The First Proclamation About this time, when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenists made a complaint against the Hebrews: in the daily distribution their own widows were being overlooked. So the Twelve called a full meeting of the disciples and addressed them, 'It would not be right for us to neglect the word of God so as to give out food; you, brothers, must select from among yourselves seven men of good reputation, filled with the Spirit and with wisdom, to whom we can hand over this duty. We ourselves will continue to devote ourselves to prayer and to the service of the word.' The whole assembly approved of this proposal and elected Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, together with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus of Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these to the apostles, and after prayer they laid their hands on them. The word of the Lord continued to spread: the number of disciples in Jerusalem was greatly increased, and a large group of priests made their submission to the faith. Fix your gaze on Jesus O Jesus, what would you have us do? We are so beset with worldly cares, that we loose sight of the heavenly progression.... Hitherto the disciples had been of one accord; witnessing to the death defying, worldly wisdom-imploding, Creator glorifying rising of the Lord Jesus the Christ from the dead! The total focus was to be witnesses of the

Cosmic Christ who could appear anywhere and everywhere in an instant, who could walk on water and calm the mightiest gale, and whose love embraced the lowliest and most doubtful believers, converting them to be the most unshakable disciples. In His Name, they were experiencing the power of the Spirit and carrying out marvelous and truly miraculous deeds of love, healing and mercy. This often had been noticed to their honour; but now as they were multiplied, the caliber of their faith and experience began to deteriorate and there began murmurings. Disseminating the word of God was enough to take up all the thoughts, cares, and time of the apostles. Therefore, the persons chosen to otherwise provide care for the flock; serve tables (provide other ministries and services) had to be duly qualified. They had to be filled with gifts and graces of the Holy Spirit, necessary to rightly managing this trust; men of truth, and hating covetousness. All who are chosen and employed in the service of the church, ought to be commended to the Divine grace by the prayers of the body of Christ, the church. Thus, the faithful collectively blessed the chosen in the name of the Lord. The word and grace of God was therein greatly magnified, as God enabled and empowered these chosen to serve the Body magnificently. Prayer Starter Dearest Lord, You call the humble and the meek to serve Your purposes! Those who respond to Your call, and thereafter allow and welcome the work of the Spirit within, are transformed and empowered. Those that You call, You enable. Well, here I am Lord to do thy will.....let me experience just a touch of Your Love...!

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

Sunday 10th April 2016 3rd Sunday of Easter, National Small Christian Community Day Acts: 5/27-32, 40-41 not able to pull it in because of the Psalm: 30/2-5, 10-12 number of fish. So the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Revelation: 5/11-14 Lord.” When Simon Peter heard that it John: 21/1-19 or was the Lord, he tucked in his garment, 21/1-14 for he was lightly clad, and jumped into the sea. The other disciples came in Introduction the boat. …. When they climbed out The resurrection of our Lord was on shore, they saw a charcoal fire with something to be grasped through ex- fish on it and bread. Jesus said to them, perience rather than logical reasoning. “Bring some of the fish you just As time passes the impact of the expe- caught.” So Simon Peter went over and rience fades and even runs the risk of dragged the net ashore full of one hunbeing labeled as a daydream or a vi- dred fifty three large fish. Even though sion. The risen Lord appeared to His there were so many, the net was not disciples several times and established torn. Jesus said to them, “Come, have the fact that His Resurrection is be- breakfast.” And none of the disciples yond the realm of fiction. The response dared to ask him, “who are you/” beof those who share this experience is cause they realized it was the Lord. articulated in the Entrance Antiphon. Jesus came over and took the bread and gave it to them and in like manner Entrance Antiphon the fish. This was now the third time Jesus was revealed to his disciples Let all the earth cry out to God after being raised from the dead. with joy; praise the glory of His name; proclaim His gloriGaze at Jesus ous praise, Alleluia. It seems that the Risen Lord is The Gospel Proclamation working on reinforcing the reality of After this, Jesus revealed himself His resurrection in His disciples. The again to his disciples at the Sea of necessity of a third appearance apparTiberias …. Together were Simon Pe- ently was due to the disciples revertter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael ing back to their former way of life. As from Cana in Galilee, Zebedee’s sons, far as they were concerned it was all and two others of his disciples. Simon over and they themselves were in danPeter said to them, “I am going fish- ger. They had left Jerusalem and gone ing.” They said to him, “We also will all the way back to their native Galilee come with you.” …. But that night they to resume their former way of life as caught nothing. When it was already fishermen. The previous three years dawn, Jesus was standing on the had been an interesting and even exshore, but the disciples did not realize citing interlude in their lives but now that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, they were back to what they had al“Children, have you caught anything ways been doing. Now Jesus catches to eat?” They answered him, “No”. So them at a time of despondency. It is he said to them, “Cast the net over the early morning. They are all tired and right side of the boat and you will find disappointed. After a whole night’s something.” So they cast it, and were fishing, they had caught absolutely

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

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nothing. They had forgotten the words April 2016 ofFriday Jesus: 1st “Without me, you can do nothing.” Jesus addressing them utters familiar words from the past. “Cast the net over the right side of the boat and you will find something.” All that the disciples experienced during the past few years would have come flooding back. Though they did not say, it seems that they realized that it was not over. The Lord was with them, risen and alive. What was the result? Let us read the first proclamation. The First Proclamation When they had brought them in and made them stand before the Sanhedrin, the high priest questioned them, “We gave you strict orders (did we not?) to stop teaching in that name. Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and want to bring this man’s blood upon us.” But Peter and the apostles said in reply, “We must obey God rather than men. The God of our ancestors raised Jesus. Though you had him killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as leader and savior to grant Israel repentance and forgiveness of sins. We are witnesses of these things as is the Holy Spirit that God has given to those who obey him.” After recalling the apostles, they had them flogged, ordered them to stop speaking in the name of Jesus, and dismissed them. So they left the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they had been found worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name. Prayerful Awareness The disciples were a transformed lot. No longer were they cowardly. No they were ready and willing to give everything for the sake of the reign of God. Suffering for the sake of the kingdom was a cause for rejoicing.

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j k ao k d u ek j Z Z

The Second Proclamation I looked again and heard the voices of many angels who surrounded the throne and the living creatures and the elders. They were countless in number, and they cried out in a loud voice: “Worthy is the lamb that was slain to receive power and riches, wisdom and strength, honor and glory and blessing.” Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, everything in the universe, cry out: “ To the one who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor, glory and might..., forever and ever.” The four living creatures answered, “Amen”, and the elders fell down and worshipped. Our sonship As the “beloved disciple” was the first to recognize the Lord in the shadowy stranger, so we too will have Jesus in our lives pointed out to us. Let us be open to the Lord coming into our lives at times we least expect. He is indeed risen and alive. It is our responsibility too, to help others recognize the presence of Jesus and the Lord at work in their daily experiences. It can have such a liberating effect on people and it is a real form of evangelizing which anyone can do. Prayer Starter O Lord! Penetrate and possess my whole being so utterly That all my life may be only a radiance of yours Shine through me and be so in me That every person I encounter Will feel Your presence in me Let them look up and see, not only me, but also Thee”

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

Monday 11th April 2016 St. Stanislaus, Bishop & Martyr

The next day the crowd that had stayed on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there. They also saw that Jesus had not got into the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. Then some boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus. When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, "Rabbi, when did you come here?' Jesus answered them, "Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal. Then they said to him, "What must we do to perform the works of God?" Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent." Prayerful Awareness

Jesus becomes our bread when we believe in Him. The bread that comes down from heaven is not something but Someone and that is Christ. The true bread communicates eternal life to us but to receive it, it is necessary to take a step, that is, to believe in Christ and to make a personal commitment to Him. Today, Jesus tells us that we should not be making effort to find perishable food, but make every effort to acquire food that remains unto eternal life and that food is what our heavenly Father gives through His Son Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Eucharist and His Word. There are two kinds of hunger physical and spiritual. Only God can satisfy the spiritual hunger in our heart and soul - the hunger for truth. Jesus also spoke about works of God and what we must do, viz. to believe in God's Son whom He has sent into the world. Jesus offers a new relationship with God which issues in a new kind of life. A life of love and service and forgiveness of others which corresponds to God's mercy and kindness; a life of holiness and a life of submission and trust which corresponds to the Wisdom of God. This is the work which Jesus directs us to do and enables us to perform in the power of the Holy Spirit. This should be our hunger and thirst for everlasting life. Prayer Starter

What do we most hunger for health, wealth, love, truth, life? Jesus addressed this issue with those who sought Him, after the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves He tries to drive into our hearts and soul as to what is most important to our lives. Jesus says that He is the true bread from whom we receive eternal life.

Lord, You alone can satisfy the deepest longing and hunger in our hearts. May we always hunger for the imperishable bread that may be satisfied in You alone as true bread of heaven. Nourish and strengthen us that we may serve You with great joy, generosity and zeal all the days of our life. Amen.

Acts: 6/8-15 Psalm: 119/23-24, 26-27, 29-30 John: 6/22-29 The Gospel Proclamation

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

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Tuesday 12th April 2016 Acts: 7/51-8/1 Psalm: 31/2-3, 5-7, 16, 20 John: 6/30-35 The First Proclamation "You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you are forever opposing the Holy Spirit, just as your ancestors used to do. Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, and now you have become his betrayers and murderers. .... When they heard these things, they became enraged and ground their teeth at Stephen. But filled with the Holy Spirit, he gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. "Look" he said, "I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!" But they covered their ears and with a loud shout all rushed together against him. Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him, and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, 'Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." .... The Gospel Proclamation So they said to him, "What sign are you going to give us then, so that we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.' Then Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. ... They said to him, "Sir, give us ths

bread always." Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty." Prayerful Awareness John makes it clear that Jesus not just a man, He is the eternal Son of God. He is the light of the world because He offers this gift of eternal life to ALL mankind. How blind and foolish to ask a miraculous sign to SEE and believe. They saw Jesus as nothing more than an unusually good man or moral teacher. WE should pay more attention to His divine identity and life giving message. Jesus' deity is revealed through the titles "I am" when Jesus uses this phrase, He affirms His PRE-EXISTENCE and ETERNAL DEITY. Here Jesus says "I am the bread of life." People eat bread to satisfy physical hunger and to sustain physical life. We can satisfy spiritual hunger and sustain spiritual life ONLY by a right relationship with Jesus Christ. No wonder He called Himself the BREAD OF LIFE. But bread must be EATEN to sustain life, and Christ must be invited into our DAILY WALK to sustain spiritual life. Many sincere seekers for God are puzzled about what He wants them to do. The FIRST STEP is accepting that Jesus IS WHO HE CLAIMS TO BE. All spiritual development is built on this affirmation. Declare to Jesus "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God" and embark on a life of BELIEF that is satisfying to Your CREATOR. Prayer Starter Father, we praise You for revealing Your truth to us. Help us to live each day through the 'Living Bread' that can satisfy the world's spiritual hunger.

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

Wednesday 13th April 2016 Acts: 8/1-8 Psalm: 66/1-7 John: 6/35-40 Introduction Please read today’s Proclamations meditatively and enter in to a time of personal prayer. First Proclamation Saul approved of the killing. That day a bitter persecution started against the church in Jerusalem, and everyone except the apostles scattered to the country districts of Judaea and Samaria. ……Saul then began doing great harm to the church; he went from house to house arresting both men and women and sending them to prison. Once they had scattered, they went from place to place preaching the good news. And Philip went to a Samaritan town and proclaimed the Christ to them. The people unanimously welcomed the message Philip preached,..…As a result there was great rejoicing in that town. Gospel Proclamation Jesus answered them: I am the bread of life. No one who comes to me will ever hunger; no one who believes in me will ever thirst. But, as I have told you, you can see me and still you do not believe. Everyone whom the Father gives me will come to me; I will certainly not reject anyone who comes to me, because I have come from heaven, not to do my own will, but to do the will of him who sent me. .... Prayerful Awareness The last verse in today’s Gospel Proclamation (John 6:40) is very similar to one of the best loved and most quoted phrases in the Holy Bible, i.e. John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son so that whoso-

St. Martin 1, Pope & Martyr ever believeth in Him will not perish but have eternal life!” It is God’s Will that everyone will be able to receive this saving grace made freely available to all mankind. Our Lord Jesus Christ offered His body and blood as living bread and wine to believers so that they will have eternal life and not be hungry or thirsty anymore! However it has to be claimed by faith by our own free will. In the First Proclamation we see Saul’s (who was transformed and changed his name to Paul after his encounter with the Risen Lord!) involvement in the killing of Stephen, the first martyred Saint of the Church. In Romans 8:28, Saint Paul tells us thus: “We know that in all things God works for good with those who love Him!” We see this in action in the saving grace all of us have received on account of the pain and sacrificial death suffered by our Lord Jesus Christ, in the martyrdom of Saint Stephen (who was welcomed to heaven that instant), and the spreading of the Good News when the believers scattered across the remote areas of Judaea and Samaria on account of the severe persecution unleashed by the likes of Saul, and Saul’s conversion soon afterwards which led to the spreading of the Good News to the Gentiles and the ends of the earth! Song of Praise (Psalm:66/1-7) Acclaim God, all the earth, sing psalms to the glory of his name, glorify him with your praises, say to God, ‘How awesome you are! ‘Your achievements are the measure of your power, your enemies woo your favour, all the earth bows down before you, sings psalms to you, sings psalms to your name. Come and see the marvels of God, his awesome deeds for the children of Adam: he changed the sea into dry land, they crossed the river on foot. So let us rejoice in him, who rules for ever by his power; his eyes keep watch on the nations to forestall rebellion against him. Amen! Alleluia! Praise the Lord!

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

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T nj yk a f i ag l rĂą' wK l<

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Thursday 14thApril 2016 Acts: 8/26-40 Psalm: 66/8-9, 16-17, 20 John: 6/44-51 The First Proclamation Then an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Get up and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza. (This is a wilderness road). So he got up and went. Now there was an Ehiopian eunuch, .... He had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning home; seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet, Isaiah. Then the Spirit said to Philip "Go over to this chariot and join it." So Philip ran up to it and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah. He asked "Do you understand what you are reading?" He replied, 'How can I, unless someone guides me?" And he invited Philip to get in and sit beside him..... Then Philip began to speak, and starting with this scripture, he proclaimed to him the good news about Jesus..... As they were going along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, 'Look, here is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized?' He commanded the chariot to stop, and both of them.... went down into the water, and Philip baptized him...... The Gospel Proclamation No one can come to me unless drawn by the Father who sent me; and I will raise that person up on the last day. It is written in the prophets, 'And they shall all be taught by God'.' Everyone who has heard and learned from, the Father comes to, me. Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God; he has seen the Father. Very truly, I tell you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; and they died. This is the bread that comes down from

heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever, and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh. Prayerful Awareness This passage is connected with the post resurrection etc. What thought ought to come to our minds, in the post resurrection time? .... reflect .... yes, it is the promise of Jesus, as recorded in John 16:5, 7 "But now I am going to the one who sent me.... If I go, I will send him (Holy Spirit) to you ....' Therefore, in the book of "Acts" we are reminded to look out for the acts or the working of the Holy Spirit. In this light, let us read this scripture passage. Here it is recorded that the Angel of the Lord and the Holy Spirit worked hand n hand upon Philip, in order to explain the scripture passage to the Eunuch. All these details about the conversion of the Eunuch to Christianity, is to give a strong supernatural cast. Things were not happening coincidentally. we can see the working of the Holy Spirit, when we take into account the various happenings, which apparently seem to be coincidental. Let us see how the hand of God acted, in the conversion of the eunuch. A parallel event is the conversion of Saul. Here too, it is by supernatural deed hat Saul is converted. Let us reflect .... Does conversions always take place according to supernatural action? .... how about my conversion .... is it natural and co-incidental? .... Do I see the workings of the Holy Spirit in my day to day life? .... Or. when things take place in my life, do I think that they just happened?.... Prayer Starter Bless our God, O peoples, let the sound of his praise be heard, who has kept us among the living, and has not let our feet slip.... (Ps: 66/8....)

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

Friday 15th April 2016 Feast of St. Benedict Joseph Labre, Confessor Acts: 9/1-20 Psalm: 117/1-2 John: 6/52-59 St. Benedict Joseph Labre He was born on 25, March 1748 at Amettes, France. His father was a wellto-do farmer and shopkeeper. He ws refused admission by two Cartusian monasteries. He made a pilgrimage to the great shrines in Spain, Germany, France, Italy and Switzerland. His baggage - the New Testament, his breviary and some prayer books. He remained cheerful inspite of suffering from elements. He was supernaturally able to pass on the inner peace he experienced to others. He came to be known as the "beggar of perpetual adoration." Died: April 16, 1783. Canonized by Pope Leo XIII on 8, December 1883. The Gospel Proclamation The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" So Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever. He said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum. Prayerful Awareness Evangelist John led by the Holy

Spirit is giving the inner significance of His words. The full humanity of Jesus, yes, we must not let it go but grasp it. The Word of God, Jesus, became a person, faced and struggled with our problems, human situations and battled with temptations. Hasn't He taken our life in full on Him? - our struggles, despair, disgust with life and living. But O Lord, our life is changed with Your touch. Isn't this good news? Holy Spirit, help and guide us to do our part - take our life You have given us, into the very centre of Your being which we know belongs to God. So the goal of real life is to take You into us, to go into You and taste real life. In the First Proclamation we have 'The Conversion of Saul'. The early members of Christ's Mystical Body prayed that God would send someone to refute Saul. God heard their prayer; He sent Paul to answer Saul. "How could Saul be persecuting Our Lord who was glorified in heaven? Why should the voice from heaven say: "Saul, Saul, why doest thou persecute Me?" If someone stepped on the foot, would not the head complain because it is part of the body? Our Lord was now saying that in striking His body, Paul was striking Him. When the Body of Christ was persecuted, it was Christ the Invisible Head who arose to speak and to protest. The Mystical Body of Christ, therefore no more stands between Christ and an individual than His physical Body stood between Magdalene and His forgiveness or His hand stood between the little children and His blessing. It was through His human Body or the Church that He comes to men in His mystical corporate life." (Archbishop F.J.Sheen). Prayer Starter Help us to be active members of Your Mystical body. Amen.

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

zz Y = o aOd; au hd f KkS"

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uu k ui al dr l =u laÂąh s

T nj yk a f i ag l rĂą' wK l<

j k ao k d u ek j Z Z

Saturday 16th April 2016 Acts: 9/31-42 Psalm: 116/12-17 John: 6/60-69 The First Proclamation The churches throughout Judaea, Galilee and Samaria were now left in peace, building themselves up and living in the fear of the Lord; encouraged by the Holy Spirit, they continued to grow. It happened that Peter visited one place after another and eventually came to God's holy people living down in Lydda. There he found a man called Aeneas, a paralytic who had been bedridden for eight years. Peter said to him, 'Aeneas, Jesus Christ cures you: get up and make your bed.' Aeneas got up immediately; everybody who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they were converted to the Lord. At Jaffa there was a disciple called Tabitha... at this time she became ill and died, and they washed her and laid her out in an upper room....and on his arrival they took him to the upper room, where all the widows stood round him in tears, showing him tunics and other clothes Dorcas had made when she was with them. Peter sent everyone out of the room and knelt down and prayed. Then he turned to the dead woman and said, 'Tabitha, stand up.' She opened her eyes, looked at Peter and sat up. Peter helped her to her feet, then he called in the members of the congregation and widows and showed them she was alive. The whole of Jaffa heard about it and many believed in the Lord. Fix your gaze on Jesus Praise you O Holy Spirit of God; you constantly re-orient us towards the Living Word-Jesus! Thus do we come to experience the exhilaration of

real living...empowered and liberated... Looking at the conduct of Peter, we are amazed at how focused he was on his Lord and Master...the name of Jesus was constantly on his mind and lips. It is quite clear that he received life and vigour from this constant channeling of the Living Word through him. The Word empowered him with power and grace not experienced by ordinary humans. He had come to experience the essence of being a 'Child Of God'! He was extraordinary; most gifted; able to receive Love unconditionally, and pour Love out unconditionally. Mercy and healing poured forth through him. Acceptance and Empowerment coursed through him! Not enamoured by selfishness, always ready to be of service to the brethren, just as the Christ was when he trod the earth in his human form. But then, isn't that the way we all are called to be? Those of us who have received the gift of faith, and being anointed with the Holy Spirit of God have received the empowerment necessary to be Priestly, Kingly and Prophetic. Just as St. Peter was. To what extent have we owned up to this? The mind of the Christ- to what extent has this consciousness superseded our own self-oriented narrow mind-set? Opened up ourselves to the Unitive Consciousness? Bridged the chasm from our aloneness to being One with All That Is? Connected with the Ever-Flowing Creative Renewing Source of All? Prayer Starter Ponder O my Heart on the unceasing flow of Creative Source surrounding me, and become connected thereto. Open up to these drops of mercy and grace ever falling; stay in S/His touch of Love...

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

Sunday 17th April 2016

Fourth Sunday of Easter

Acts: 13/14, 43-52 Psalm: 100/1-3, 5 Revelation:7/9, 14-17 John: 10/27-30 Introduction When one has to tread on ground that is unfamiliar we would like to have an ally who has knowledge of the territory to be our helper and guide. Anyone who desires a life which has the experience of the risen Lord Jesus as the center is indeed on extraordinary ground. The Entrance antiphon gives us the basic attitude of such a person towards heaven and earth. It is an attitude which sees the goodness therein. Entrance Antiphon The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord; by the word of the Lord the heavens were made, Alleluia. The proclamations for today also open our heart and mind to the role of the Lord as our Good Shepherd as we journey through life. Today is known as ‘GOOD SHEPHERD SUNDAY’ which always falls on this Fourth Sunday of the Easter season. Let us begin with the Gospel of today. The Gospel Proclamation My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one can take them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can take them out of the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.” Gaze at Jesus Let us remind ourselves that the words spoken by the risen Jesus in the Gospel proclamation is for us. Let us gaze at Jesus our Shepherd speak-

ing to us, His sheep. Whatever the attitude we have towards our Shepherd the attitude that He has is one of intimacy, trust and caring. And so the Gospel today says that we have been given to Jesus by the Father. For it is in and through Jesus, the Way, that we find our way to the bosom of the Father. Jesus is Truth and Life and can only lead us to the source of all Truth and Life, God Himself. The First Proclamation They continued on from Perga and reached Antioc in Pisidia. On the sabbath they entered (into) the synagogue and took their seats. After the congregation had dispersed, many Jews and worshipers who were converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who spoke to them and urged them to remain faithful to the grace of God. On the following Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and with violent abuse contradicted what Paul said. Both Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first, but since you reject it and condemn yourselves as unworthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. For so the Lord has commanded us, ‘I have made you a light to the Gentiles, that you may be an instrument of salvation to the ends of the earth.’ The Gentiles were delighted when they heard this and glorified the word of the Lord. All who were destined for eternal life came to believe, and the word of the Lord continued to spread through the whole region. The Jews, however, incited the women of prominence who were worshipers and the leading men of the city, stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their territory. So they shook the dust

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

zz Y = o aOd; au hd f KkS"

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from their feet in protest against them Friday 2016The disciples and went1st to April Iconium. were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit. Prayerful Awareness We see in this proclamation two types of sheep, One type who are willing to hear and listen and the other type who don’t want to do so. But from what is said it is also stated that it was the unwillingness of the latter which opened the door to Paul and Barnabas to proclaim the Good News to the Gentiles. By that time the Gentiles who were destined to hear the word of God were ready to receive it. They rejoiced when they heard the word and glorified God. But the Jews had apparently lost the way. They were concerned with trying to keep the word reserved for them alone. They considered themselves to be chosen to the exclusion of any other nation. The second proclamation gives us an insight into how the Lord was going to treat the diverse nations who were going to respond to the Word of God. The Second Proclamation After this I had a vision of a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation, race, people, and tongue. They stood before the throne and before the Lamb, wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands. I said to him, “My Lord, you are the one who knows.” He said to me, “These are the ones who have survived the time of great distress; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”For this reason they stand before God’s throne and worship him day and night in his temple. The one who sits on the throne will shelter them. They will not hunger or thirst anymore, nor will the sun or any heat

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strike them. For the Lamb who is in the centre of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to springs of lifegiving water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” Our sonship Today is also called vocations Sunday. We need to understand that a vocation does not necessarily mean a vocation to the priesthood. We need to realise that every Christian, indeed every person, has a vocation. Not one of us can say, “I don’t have a vocation” and that today’s theme does not concern us. My work, my profession, my job must be fully saturated with my commitment to being Christian. I am not just a professional, a parent, a son or daughter who happens to be a Catholic. I am first of all a Christian, a follower of Jesus Christ …. Beyond that there is a general need – according to my gifts and abilities – to be more committed and deeply involved in the wellbeing of my society and of my Christian community which serves that society. Let us thirst to belong to that “huge number” of martyr-witnesses who have identified their lives with that of the Lamb, Jesus, who offered Himself in love for the world. Prayer Starter Shout joyfully to the Lord, all you lands; Worship the Lord with cries of gladness; Come before him with joyful song, Know that the Lord is God, our maker to whom we belong, whose people we are, God’s well-tended flock. Good indeed is the Lord. Whose love endures forever, whose faithfulness lasts through every age.

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

Monday 18th April 2016 Acts: 11/1-18 Psalm: 41/2-3;42/3-4 John:10/1-10 Gospel Proclamation Jesus said, I am telling you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate, but climbs in some other way, is a thief and a robber. The man who goes in through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him; the sheep hear his voice as he calls his own sheep by name, and he leads them out. When he has brought them out, he goes ahead of them and the sheep follow him, because they know his voice. They will not follow someone else; instead they will run away from such a person because they do not know his voice. Jesus told them this parable, but they did not understand what he meant. So Jesus said again, “I am telling you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All others who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever comes in by me will be saved; they will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief come only in order to steal, kill and destroy. I have come in order that you might have life – life in all its fullness. Gaze at Jesus Today Jesus is preparing us to receive His word that promises life. Few points that are salient in Lord’s awakening to us today through the scripture are that there is a call to enter a path through a gate that leads us to a ”life in all its fullness”. For that Jesus awakens us to the need to be attuned to His voice that calls us. He reiterates that His voice is the “truth”. Therefore following any other voice will only lead us astray.

Gaze at our sonship We are His sheepfold. The essence we need to understand is that we are given the Holy Spirit who confirms the calling to be in His flock, and Jesus’ voice comes to us through the Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit give us the correct promptings about God’s plans that leads us to salvation. To help us understand the importance of being attuned to the gifts of the Holy Spirit, Book of Acts, describe Apostle Peter’s experience that enabled salvation to Cornelius and His family. Voice of the Holy Spirit is not only truth but also gives our Christian lives authority. St. Peter was able to shut down voices of deceit that came from within his community with authority because he had the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, he was definite that the path he took to bring salvation to the gentile family was right. St Peter also speaks of the importance of prayer as he heard the voice and the promptings of the Spirit while in prayer. Often we are scared to take a path that is not the norm because we do not pray sufficiently with discernment. Spirit led prayer will bring God’s word to us. Therefore, we are also awakened to a key factor. As Christians, we are led to pray in discernment and build communities that pray. When leaders lead communities with example the communities themselves will radiate with life that is rich with God’s promises and enablers of God’s plans. Prayerful Awareness The Lord will protect them and preserve their lives; he will make them happy in the land; he will not abandon them to the power of their enemies. (Psalm 41:2)

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

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Tuesday 19th April 2016 Acts: 11/19-26 Psalm: 87/1-7 John: 10/22-30

The First Proclamation Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that took place over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, and they spoke the word to no one except Jews. But among them were some men of Cyprus and Cyrene who, on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, proclaiming the Lord Jesus. The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number became believers and turned to the Lord. News of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch, when he came and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast devotion, for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were brought to the Lord. ....

The Gospel Proclamation At that time the festival of te Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around him and said to him. "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly." Jesus answered, "I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name testify to me, but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. What my Father

has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father's hand. The Father and I are one. Prayerful Awareness The feast of dedication commemorated the cleansing of the Temple under Judas Maccabeus after Antiochus had defiled it by sacrificing a PIG on the altar of burnt offering. The feast was celebrated towards the end of December. This is also the present Feast of Lights. Solomon's colonnade was a roofed walkway supported by large stone columns inside the walls of the temple courtyard. Many people asking for PROOF do so for WRONG reasons. Most of these QUESTIONERS did not want to follow Jesus in the way that He wanted to lead them. They hoped that Jesus would declare HIMSELF MESSIAH for PERVERTED reasons. They along with the disciples and everyone else in the Jewish nation would have been delighted to have HIM drive out the Romans. Just as a shepherd protects his sheep, Jesus protects HIS people from eternal harm . BELIEVERS can expect to suffer on earth yet Satan cannot harm their souls. Earth is the devil's domain. Choose Christ and follow HIM. Jesus will give you eternal life. Jesus is not merely a good teacher HE IS GOD. His claim to be God was UNMISTAKABLE. Prayer Starter Thank You, Lord Jesus, for coming to our rescue when we were lost in sin.

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

Wednesday 20th April 2016 Acts: 12/24-13/5 Psalm: 67/1-2, 4-5, 7 John: 12/44-50 The Gospel Proclamation Then Jesus cried aloud: "Whoever believes in me believes not in me but in him who sent me. and whoever sees me sees him who sent me. I have come as light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me should not remain in the darkness. I do not judge anyone who hears my words and does not keep them, for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. The one who rejects me and does not receive my word has a judge; on the last day the word that I have spoken will serve as judge, for I have not spoken on my own, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment about what to say and what do speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I speak therefore, I speak just as the Father has told me." Prayerful Awareness Everywhere that Jesus spoke He referred to God, saying that He was giving witness to God His Father and that He was doing His Father's Will. He pledges that He and His Father are one. But the common folk did not understand this. Jesus came to the world when the world was in darkness, the darkness of sin, when the people were slaves of sin and inner emptiness, quite oblivious of a Saviour or Messiah who had come to deliver them from the vicious environment that overshadowed them. It was a time that Herod and Pontius Pilate unjustly ruled Israel.

Jesus did not come as a judge to pass sentence on their actions - but as a Saviour to redeem them from the yoke of sin that they were burdened with. This relief that Jesus was giving was not a burden to the people but to Jesus Himself for it was our sins that He bore while carrying the cross to Calvary, as well as while He was suffering and dying on the cross. It was the most cruel torture that He had to bear on the cross. In order to give life to all mankind He had to die a most painful death on the cross. The injustice of that death passes all the injustices that the world experienced before or after His death. Jesus always lived, acted and died having His Father's Will in front of Him, that is He did what His Father wanted unto the last. "Father not my will but Thine be done". So on the last day of judgement His doctrine and the Truths that He spoke of and which came from His Father will act as the judge to redeem or condemn man either to eternal joy and happiness or to eternal damnation. So let us all listen to Jesus' word and act and live in the way that He preached. May He give us the grace to live by His word. Prayer Starter "O send Thy Spirit Lord unto me, That He may touch my eyes and make me see Show me the Truth concealed within Thy Word And in the book revealed I see the Lord." "Groves"

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

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Thursday 21st April 2016 Acts: 13/13-25 Psalm: 89/2,20-21, 24, 26 John: 13/16-20 The First Proclamation Then Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. John, however, left them and returned to Jerusalem, but they went on from Perga and came to Antioch in Pisidia. And on the sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down. After the reading of the law and the prophets, the officials of the synagogue sent them a message, saying, "Brothers, if you have any word of exhortation for the people give it." So Paul stood up and with a gesture began to speak. "You Israelites, and others who fear God, listen. The God of this people Israel chose our ancestors and made the people great during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with uplifted arm he led them out of it. ..... The Gospel Proclamation

Prayerful Awareness "Amen, Amen, I say to you, no slave is greater than his master ....' (vs. 16) Let us enter into the mind of Jesus, through these words .... What is Jesus thinking about? In the preceding paragraph, the washing of the disciples' feet is described. And Jesus says in the previous verse that this act of Jesus is a model to be followed by His disciples (vs. 15). What does the washing of the feet symbolise? It is the removal of the dirt by Jesus. Was Jesus thinking about His death on the cross, whereby the sins of all mankind would be washed away by the Blood of Jesus? Jesus refers to this and says in verse 17, ".... blessed are you, if you do it." Washing away, removing, others' sins is blessedness .... Let us reflect ...... Prior to shedding the blood on the cross, Jesus had to go through a process of suffering, pain, rejection, humiliation. In order to wash away the sins of others, do I also have to go through a process, similar to that of Jesus? Let us reflect .... Prayer Starter

Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. I am not speaking of all of you; I know The promises of the Lord, I will whom I have chosen. But it is to fulfill sing forever, proclaim your loyalty the scripture, 'The one who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.' through all ages .... (Ps. 89:2, 3 ....) I tell you this now, before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe that I am he. Very truly l, I tell you, whoever receives one whom I send receives me; and whoever receives me receives him who sent me."

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

Friday 22nd April 2016 This sermon touches upon every aspect that would best prevail with the Jews to receive and embrace Christ as the promised Messiah. All views of the Lord's dealings with His church, reThe First Proclamation minds us of His mercy and long-sufMy brothers, you descendants of fering and of man's ingratitude and Abraham's family, and others who fear perverseness. Paul uses genealogy and shows God, to us the message of this salvation has been sent. Because the resi- that this Jesus is His promised Seed; a dents of Jerusalem and their leaders Saviour for all mankind; to save them did not recognize him or understand from their sins, their worst enemies. the words of the prophets that are read When the apostles preached Christ every sabbath, they fulfilled those as the Saviour, they always preached words by condemning him. Even the Christ crucified. Our complete though they found no cause for a sen- separation from sin, as is engineered tence of death, they asked Pilate to by God, is represented by our being have him killed. When they had car- buried with Christ. Jesus not only died, ried out everything that was written but also rose again from the dead, with about him, they took him down from no corruption. This was the great truth the tree and laid him in a tomb. But to be preached. God raised him from the dead and for Jesus re-orients us today in the many days he appeared to those who Gospel: "Do not let your hearts be came up with him from Galilee to troubled. Believe in God, believe also Jerusalem, and they are now his wit- in me. In my Father's house are many nesses to the people. And we bring you dwelling places. If it were not so, the good news that what God prom- would I have told you; that I go to preised to our ancestors he has fulfilled pare a place for you. And if I go and for us, their children, by raising prepare a place for you, I will come Jesus, as also it is written in the sec- again, and will take you to myself, so ond psalm, 'You are my Son; today I that where I am, there you may be have begotten you. also. And you know the way to the place where I am going." Thomas said Prayerful Awareness to him, "Lord, we do not know where When we come together to wor- you are going. How can we know the ship God, we must do it, not only by way?" Jesus said to him, 'I am the prayer and praise, but by the reading way, and the truth, and the life. No one and hearing of the Word of God. The comes to the Father except through bare reading of the Scriptures in pub- me." lic assemblies is not enough, They Prayer Starter should be expounded, and the people exhorted out of them. This is to help Serve the Lord with fear, with trempeople do that which are necessary to bling kiss his feet, or he will be angry, make the Word profitable to apply it and you will perish in the way; for his to themselves. wrath is quickly kindled. Happy are all who take refuge in him. (Ps. 2/11)

Acts: 13/26-33 Psalm: 2/6-11 John: 14/1-6

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

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Saturday 23rd April 2016 St.George, Martyr and St.Adalbert,Bishop & Martyr Acts: 13/44-52 Psalm: 98/1-4 John:14/7-14 The First Proclamation The next Sabbath almost the whole town assembled to hear the word of God. When they saw the crowds, the Jews, filled with jealousy, used blasphemies to contradict everything Paul said. Then Paul and Barnabas spoke out fearlessly. 'We had to proclaim the word of God to you first, but since you have rejected it, since you do not think yourselves worthy of eternal life, here and now we turn to the gentiles. For this is what the Lord commanded us to do when he said: I have made you a light to the nations, so that my salvation may reach the remotest parts of the earth.' It made the gentiles very happy to hear this and they gave thanks to the Lord for his message; all who were destined for eternal life became believers. Thus the word of the Lord spread through the whole countryside. But the Jews worked on some of the devout women of the upper classes and the leading men of the city; they stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas and expelled them from their territory. So they shook the dust from their feet in protest against them and went off to Iconium; but the converts were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit. Fix your gaze on Jesus O Spirit of God, may we be blessed to look at and learn from the spirit you endowed St. Paul with .. The Jews opposed the witnessing by the apostles of Jesus the Risen; and when they could find no real objection, they blasphemed Christ and

his gospel. The habits of our minds are such that those who begin with contradicting, end with blaspheming. This is an almost automatic process within, and very few persons develop the mental discipline necessary to control or avoid the hostility generated within. It takes awareness and inner work to develop the discipline to "Disagree without being Disagreeable". But where adversaries of Christ's cause are daring, its advocates should be the bolder. And while many (through their adversarial attitude towards the Good News could be said to) judge themselves unworthy of eternal life, others, who appear less likely, desire to hear more of the glad tidings of salvation. This is according to what was foretold in the Old Testament. What light, what power, what a treasure does this gospel bring with it! How excellent are its truths, its precepts, its promises! It is good to see honourable women devout; the less they have to do in the world, the more they should do for their own souls, and the souls of others: but it is sad, when, under the veneer of devotion to God, they try to show hatred to Christ. Listen, we cannot follow and experience a God of Love, by habouring hatred or any form of rejection of the brethren within. The sin, Yes; the brother (sinner), No! The more we experience the comforts and encouragements within the power of godliness, the better prepared we are to face difficulties in the sharing of this godliness. Prayer Starter Bring us to awareness O Holy Spirit of God; let us stay in the experience of a touch of Your Love, journeying us towards who we really are!

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

Sunday 24th April 2016 Fifth Sunday of Easter National Laity Sunday Acts: 14/21-27 Psalm: 145/8-13 Revelation: 21/1-5 John: 13/31-35 Introduction Salvation is a central theme in our lives as Christians. But what does it mean to be saved? Some of us may say that we are saved from the fires of hell. But what is hell? And what is its fire? Is hell a place with a geographical location or is it a state of being? And does the fire consist of consuming flames or is it another kind of fire with a different kind of burning? The catechism of the Catholic Church article 1035 states thus: The teaching of the Church affirms the existence of hell and its eternity. Immediately after death the souls of those who die in a state of mortal sin descend into hell, where they suffer the punishments of hell, “eternal fire”. The chief punishment of hell is eternal separation from God, in whom alone man can possess the life and happiness for which he was created and for which he longs. In other words the salvation that our Savior Lord Jesus Christ gifts to us is the restoration of the experience of God’s love and the ability to love in like manner. So the Entrance Antiphon invites us to: Sing to the Lord a new song, for He has done marvelous deeds; He has revealed to the nations His saving power. Alleluia. The Gospel Proclamation When he had left, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of man glorified, and

God is glorified in him. (If God is glorified in him), God will also glorify him in himself, and he will glorify him at once. My children, I will be with you only a little while longer. You will look for me, and as I told the Jews, ‘Where I go you cannot come’, so now I say it to you. I give you a new commandment; love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another.” Gaze at Jesus Jesus having completed His mission on earth is getting closer to the day He has to leave this earth and go back to His Father. He is leaving behind His disciples who would have to set about reaping the benefits of His mission for themselves and for those who would so desire. So Jesus spells out the fruit of His mission – the ability to LOVE AS HE LOVED. The sign of discipleship would be if we who call ourselves His disciples could love as He loved, nothing less and nothing more. Lord Jesus You are expressing Your desire to delight in those whom You would call Your disciples. Your glory would be the love the disciples have for one another. Let us see how the disciples responded. The First Proclamation After they had proclaimed the good news to that city and made a considerable number of disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch. They strengthened the spirits of the disciples and exhorted them to persevere in the faith, saying, “It is necessary for us to undergo

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

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many hardships to enter the kingdom April 2016 presbyters ofFriday God.” 1st They appointed for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, commended them to the Lord in whom they had put their faith. Then they traveled through Pisidia and reached Pamphylia. After proclaiming the word at Perga they went down to Attalia. From there they sailed to Antioc, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work they had now accomplished. And when they arrived they called the church together and reported what God had done with them and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. Prayerful Awareness The disciples are given the wisdom to realize that in order to be what their Master wished them to be that they would have to do some work. The first thing that they did was to proclaim the good news and increase their number. Secondly they consolidated those who were already disciples in the need to persevere. Thirdly they created a structure to carry the mission given them by their Lord and Master, appointing a few to take responsibility. Fourthly they moved further to proclaim the good news. They were a church alive and moving ahead, reaching out to those who were ready to listen to the good news. The Second Proclamation Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth. The former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. I also saw the holy city, a New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, God’s dwelling is with the

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human race. He will dwell with them and they will be his people and God himself will always be with them (as their God), He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain (for) the old order has passed away.” …. Our sonship The question “How do we become like the early Christians” is always a challenge to us in the 21st century. We are overwhelmed by such a load of distractions that being Christian in the real sense is consigned to the bottom of our list of priorities. The powerful media institutions with their advertisements give us visions of a life of ease and affluence and almost force us to spend all our time and efforts to acquire them. The second proclamation gives us a vision worth working towards. It is the vision of a new heaven and a new earth, a New Jerusalem; God’s dwelling with the human race. Are we ready and willing to work towards this vision? Does a state where God’s love is freely experienced and freely shared something we treasure more than anything else in the world? Am I ready to work towards this vision to be realized in the family and the community in which I live? Prayer Starter Make me a channel of Your peace. Where there is hatred let me bring Your love Where there is injury, Your pardon Lord, And where there’s doubt, true faith in You Let us see how the disciples responded.

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

Monday 25th April 2016 1 Peter: 5/5-14 Psalm: 89/1-2, 5-6, 15-16 Mark: 16/15-20 The First Proclamation In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. ... for "God opposes the proud, but gives graces to the humble." Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. Discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast in your faith, .... Gospel Proclamation Jesus appeared to the Eleven and said to them: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned. These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will drive out demons, they will speak new languages. They will pick up serpents with their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” Then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them, was taken up into heaven and took his seat at the right hand of God. But they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word through accompanying signs. Prayerful Awareness Jesus Risen from the dead is manifesting Himself before the eleven disciples. He

commissions them with a task. It is to announce the Gospel or the Good News to every creature. The Good News that victory over death won by Jesus Christ is available to all who believe and are baptized. He also promises that those who believe will enjoy various powers; especially over demons and other creatures and substances that can harm them. Then He leaves them and goes to sit at the right hand of God to ensure that the promises He made would be fulfilled. To enjoy these powers the key is faith in Jesus Christ and to be baptized. The early Christian community was blessed with the gift of faith. They believed in Jesus working with them through His Spirit. Many miracles happened through them confirming the presence of the Lord with them as promised. Yet there were times when they underwent difficulties, trials and tribulations. The Apostle Peter advises them thus: “Be sober and vigilant. Your opponent the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast in faith ……..” Let us become aware of our present life experience. Whatever it may be let us firmly place our faith in the promise of Jesus to be with us till the end of time. Prayer Starter God our Loving Father, bless us with the Holy Spirit, mold us and change us to be true believers of Jesus Christ accepting Him as our Saviour and Lord and to become tools in Lord’s hands to spread the good news of salvation to everyone we meet, to spread the Word of God’s Love and Mercy available to everyone willing to accept His Love and change, Thank You, Father, we ask all these in the name of our Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ, Amen

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

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Tuesday 26th April 2016 Acts: 14/19-28 Psalm: 145/10-13, 21 John:14/27-31 The First Proclamation But Jews came there from Antioch and Iconium and won over the crowds. Then they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, ... But when the disciples surrounded him, he got up and went into the city. The next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe. ..... Gospel Proclamation Peace is what I leave with you. It is my own peace that I give you. I do not give it as the world does. Do not be worried and upset; do not be afraid. You heard me say to you, I am leaving, but I will come back to you. If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the father; for He is greater than I. I have told you this now before it all happens, so that when it does happen, you will believe. I cannot talk with you much longer because the ruler of this world is coming. He has no power over me. But the world must know that I love the father that is why I do everything as he commands me. Come, let us go from this place. Gaze at Jesus’ Sonship Jesus speaks of the peace that is within Him that He want to share with those who follow Him. He assures the apostles “Do not be worried or upset or afraid” as He was going to the Father who is greater. These words of comfort were spoken just before He was condemned and crucified. He was aware of the agony He was about to undertake. However, Jesus had peace while He went through this ordeal, as He was committed to doing what pleased the Father. He also knew that God was the source for His blessings and therefore He was at peace.

Gaze at our sonship In the first reading, St. Paul after being harassed by the Jews were finally saved by the believers for preaching the good news. The word also says, that after being rescued, Paul and Barnabas continued to preach and won many disciples. In the same way that Jesus comforted the apostles, St Paul and Barnabas also strengthened and encouraged the believers to remain true to the faith knowing that final comfort does not come from the world but from God. Therefore, our peace needs to be derived by doing what God wants us to do as Jesus did. When we move about in society, people speak of many comforts. World would describe it as “cool stuff”. It is not easy to shut these offers down as they come in many sizes, shapes and colours. Then there are also the words and emotions that make us lose our peace. Then our desire to have the last word in all situations. Likewise there are many different ways we lose our peace. Therefore, to help people to remain in faith, at the time, St Paul appointed each church with an elder and with instructions for prayer and fasting. This is a useful practice even today. AS fasting teachers us to develop inner attitudes in rebuking temptations that destroy our peace and prayer that assist us into a growing relationship with God who is the source of eternal peace and directs us to do His Will even in the hands of persecution. Prayer Starter We are all on a pilgrimage on earth. journeying to be with God. Although this journey is full of perils and detours we are at peace that God will take us eventually to our heavenly home to be united with Jesus and God our Father and all the other saints.

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

Wednesday 27th April 2016 Acts: 15/1-6 Psalm: 122/1-4 John: 15/1-8 The First Proclamation Then certain individuals came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved." And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to discuss this question with the apostles and the elders. So they were sent on their way by the church, and as they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, they reported the conversion of the Gentiles and brought great joy to all the believers. ..... The Gospel Proclamation 'I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers, such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples. Prayerful Awareness This title has an important second

part. "You are the branches". As in so many of HIS other names, Jesus reminds us that just as branches gain life from the vine and cannot live apart from it, so WE are COMPLETELY DEPENDENT ON CHRIST for SPIRITUAL LIFE. The grapevine is a productive, fruitful plant, a single vine bears many grapes. In the Old Testament, grapes symbolized Israel's fruitfulness, doing God's work on earth. In the Passover meal the grapes symbolized GOD'S GOONESS to His people. The branches are those who claim to be followers of Christ. FRUITFUL BRANCHES are those who LIVE in UNION with Christ. Jesus makes a distinction between two kinds of pruning. (1) Separating and (2) Cutting. Cut to promote growth - to strengthen our faith and character. But cut off at the TRUNK because they are worthless. They can infect the rest of the tree. Those who BLOCK the efforts of God's followers will be cut off from HIS LIFE-GIVING POWER. Remaining in Christ means BELIEVING that He is God's Son, RECEIVING Him as Saviour and Lord. Doing what God says. Believe the Gospel and relating in love to the community of believers. Jesus says that the only way to live a truly good life is to STAY CLOSE TO HIM, like branches attached to the vine. Receive nourishment and life offered by Christ. When a vine bears "much fruit" God is GLORIFIED. This farming similarity shows how God is glorified when PEOPLE COME into a right RELATIONSHIP with Him and begin to bear much fruit in their lives. Prayer Starter Dear Lord, we want to follow you wholeheartedly. Help us not to place anythng or anyone before YOU.

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

zz Y = o aOd; au hd f KkS"

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uu k ui al dr l =u laÂąh s

T nj yk a f i ag l rĂą' wK l<

j k ao k d u ek j Z Z

Thursday 28th April 2016 Acts: 15/7-21 Psalm: 96/1-3, 10 John: 15/9-11

The Gospel Proclamation As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you, abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

Prayerful Awareness The underlying theme in today's scripture passage is that love should be the guiding force/light in all our decision making, instead of depending on past traditions and practices, or the rule of law. In the First Proclamation of God's love (Acts 15:7-21) we read of the culmination of the debate that had gone on for some time amongst the early Christians, the Pharisees amongst them arguing that Gentiles must be circumcised to be saved. 'After a long debate Peter stood up and said, 'My brothers, you know that a long time ago God chose me from among you to preach the Good News to the Gentiles, so that they could hear and believe. And God, who knows the thoughts of everyone, showed His approval of the Gentiles by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as He had to us, He made no difference between us and them; He forgave their sins because they believed. So then, why do you want to put God to the test by laying a load on the back of the believers which neither our ancestors nor we ourselves were able to carry? No! We believe and are saved by the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they are."

Abraham's descendants were given the practice of Circumcision as an outward sign of purity, to set them apart from the rest of humanity. But after the redemption mankind was bestowed through the sacrificial Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the resultant outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the believers, we too become heirs to the 'Father of faith' Abraham's heritage, of being part of God's family. This now needs no outward signs, but is an inner purity of the heart, bestowed upon us by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Gaze on Jesus In today's Gospel Proclamation, our Lord tells us that if we obey His commandments we will remain in His love, and our joy will be complete. Continuing He says, 'My commandment is this: love one another, just as I love you. The greatest love a person can have for his friends is to give his life for them.' (John 15:12, 13)

Our sonship When we practice the Fourfold (Universal, Sacrificial, Serving and Unceasing) Love of God the Father as manifested through the life of His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ in our lives, it helps build strong fellowship in our communities which makes our lives joyful. For the Spirit produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility and selfcontrol, (Galatians 5:22)

Prayer Starter O Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples.(Ps:96/1-3...)

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

Friday 29th April 2016 Acts: 15/22-31 Psalm: 57/7-11 John: 15/12-27 The First Proclamation Then the apostles and the elders, with the consent of the whole church, decided to choose men from among their members and to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, and Silas, ..., with the following letter. ".... Since we have heard that certain persons who have gone out from us, though with no instructions from us, have said things to disturb you and have unsettled your minds, we have decided unanimously to choose representatives and send them to you, along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, who have risked their lives for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ. .... For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to impose on you no further burden than these essentials that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangled and from fornication. If you keep yourselves from these you will do well. Farewell..... The Gospel Proclamation "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing, but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.

Prayerful Awareness "I have told you this, so that my joy might be in you, and your joy might be complete" (vs.11) Jesus is offering to us today "joy". The world offers us happiness, fulfilment, excitement, etc. but Jesus offers us none of these but instead what He calls "joy". In fact, what Jesus is offering us is what He Himself seems to be experiencing. Jesus wants us also to have this same quality of life, which He calls "joy". But in order to experience joy in our life, we are called to respond to Jesus' call to "Love one another, as I love you." (vs. 12) Jesus' recipe for one to have "joy" is to love others in the same way Jesus loved us. How has Jesus loved us? During the season of Lent, the Holy Mother Church focussed her attention on how Jesus suffered and died. By giving up His life, by Jesus' suffering and death, Jesus loved each one of us. Jesus had His body wounded in order that our wounds caused by our sins may be healed. Jesus suffered death on the cross that we may overcome our death, caused by our sins and that we may have eternal life. To put everything in a nutshell, Jesus lost everything, so that we may have everything. That is how Jesus loved us. Thereby, He showed us what is meant by 'love". And today, Jesus tells us to do just that, to lose ourselves for others, in order that we too may experience "joy" just as He experienced joy.

Prayer Starter For your love towers to the heavens Your faithfulness to the skies Show Yourself over the heavens; God May Your glory appear above all earth" (Ps:57/10,11)

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

zz Y = o aOd; au hd f KkS"

hq; =

uu k ui al dr l =u laÂąh s

Saturday 30th April 2016

T nj yk a f i ag l rĂą' wK l<

j k ao k d u ek j Z Z

St. Pius V, Pope

Acts: 16/1-10 Psalm: 100/1-3, 5 John: 15/18-21 The First Proclamation Paul went on also to Derbe and Listra, where there was a disciple named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer; but his father was a Greek. He was well spoken of by the believers in Lystra and Iconium. Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him and he took him and had him circumcised because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. As they went from town to town, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem. So the churches were strengthened in the faith and increased in numbers daily. ...... The Gospel Proclamation If the world hates you, be aware that it hated me before it hated you. If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own. because you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world -therefore the world hates you. Remember, the word that I said to you, 'Servants are not greater than their master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you; If they kept my word, they will keep yours also. But they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. Prayerful Awareness When God created this world, He may have not thought it would be so corrupted and tempted by the evil one. Corruption and temptation is taking place almost every second causing darkness and destruction. It is at a time like this Jesus' words stand firm and

challenging to the people and they would be to the end times. Persecution goes on enveloping the world in darkness and who will come to our light but our Lord Jesus. The Pharisees and the Scribes led by the High Priests hated Jesus and tried to put Him to death. They represented the "world". This is the force that has come together to join hands with the evil one to obstruct the work of God, His Messiah and the followers. The "word" in scripture refers to that society of people who are hostile towards God and opposed to His Will. The 'World' rejected Jesus and His disciples can expect the same treatment. They (the world) hated Jesus to the extent of His crucifixion. Jesus leaves no middle path for His followers. We are either for Him or against Him, for His Kingdom of Light or the kingdom of darkness. Isaiah warned that humans separated from God by sin and spiritual darkness would end up calling evil good and good evil. (Isaiah 5:20). How can we rightly distinguish good from evil? The love of God draws us to all that is true and good. If we truly love God then we will submit to His truth and Will for our lives. A friend of God cannot expect to be a friend of the 'World'. Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him. (John 2:15) We must make a choice, either for or against God. Do you seek to please God in all your thoughts, actions and relationships? Let the Holy Spirit inflame your heart with the love for God. Prayer Starter Lord, may the fire of Your love inflame our hearts with zeal for Your Kingdom. And may there be no rivals to keep us from loving You first and foremost above all else. Amen.

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

WALK IN THE SPIRIT

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Distribution: Pubudu Publication & Distribution Service Sri Prasansaramaya Walpola, Ragama. Tel: 011-2230300, 011-2231490, 011-5764123 Places from which the Walk in the Spirit publication can be obtained: Kithu Dana Pubuduwa, 7th Floor, Paul VI Centre, Malwatte Road, Colombo 11. 011-2325132 / 011-5736240 Sri Ramyaramaya, Palakudawa, Talawila Church 032-3325688 / 032-5678645 Sri Christudharmaramaya, Deduru Oya, Manuwangama, Chilaw 032-2221979 / 032-5675585 Pubudu Nivasa, Dankotuwa 031-3617917 Pubudu Nivasa, Negombo 031-2222256 / 031-5675763 Christu Centre, Ja-Ela 011-2243301 / 011-5736834 Cost: Rs. 17/= "O Lord, to Receive a Touch of Your Love"

zz Y = o aOd; au hd f KkS"

hq; =

uu k ui al dr l =u la±h s

T nj yk a f i ag l rñ' wK l<

j k ao k d u ek j Z Z

THE COVER STORY The anointing by the Holy Spirit is indeed grace. To be constantly aware of the presence of the Holy Spirit is a gift. How marvelous are these very same gifts received by our Blessed Mother? She submitted herself totally to the Will of God. Her ability to say 'yes' to what happened to her and to say 'no' to what should not happen was the result of the Word made flesh within her; because this unique event truly became Good News to her. The “Five Fold Awareness of the Holy Spirit” are like attractive colorful flowers blooming in a garden.

Walk in the Spirit - April 2016

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