Walk In the Spirit June 2016

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WALK IN THE SPIRIT

June 2016 Volume 06 Issue 15

"The Lord is with you. Be awake"

ISSN 1391-5967

Publication: Fr. Siri Oscar Abayaratne Kithu Dana Pubuduwa

"The Lord is with you. Be awake!"

SHARING ON PRAYER June 2016

O LORD! We come before Your presence.

Grant us the grace to exercise leadership whilst simultaneously living like unto a servant.

When we ask of You to “Grant us the grace” we come to realize what You expect from us. Guide us to fulfill what You have placed Your hope in us to do through community life.

Fr. Siri Oscar Abayaratne

"The Lord is with you. Be awake!"

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Wednesday 1st June 2016

St. Justin, Martyr

2 Timothy: 1/1-3, 6-12 Psalm: 123/1-2 Mark: 12/18-27 The First Proclamation Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, for the sake of the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus.

To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

I am grateful to God - whom I worship with a clear conscience, as my ancestors did - when I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. ... For this reason I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands; for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and power and of love and of self-discipline.

Do not be shamed then, of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God, who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace This grace was given to us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. For this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher and for this reason I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know the one in whom I have put my trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard until that day what I have entrusted to him.

Prayerful Awareness This letter has a somber tone. Paul was imprisoned for the last time and

he would soon die. Emperor Nero began this major persecution, to pass the great FIRE of Rome form himself to the CHRISTIANS. This persecution spread across the empire and included EXPULSION, PUBLIC TORTURE and MURDER, As such Paul wrote to timothy his dear friend who was like a SON, Paul prayed constantly for Timothy, a strong leader in the Christian Church.

PRAYER provided a source of mutual ENCOURAGEMENT. We too MUST pray for those who do God’s work.

At the time of his ordination, Timothy had received gifts of the Holy Spirit to enable him to serve the church. In telling Timothy to “Fan into flame the gifts of God”, Paul was encouraging him to PERSEVERE, to be COURAGEOUS, SELF DISCIPLINED, to hang on to the truth and to USE the GIFTS. God gives all Christians gifts to use, to BUILD THE BODY OF CHRIST. Timothy received the gift of the HOLY SPIRIT when Paul and the elders had laid their hands on him and set him apart for ministry, and He gives special gifts to some through Church leaders, who serve as God’s INSTRUMENTS. Paul gives a brief summary of the Gospel. God LOVES US, CALLED US and sent Christ to DIE for us. We CAN have eternal life through FAITH IN HIM, because He broke the power of death with His RESURRECTION. We do not deserve to be saved, but God offers us SALVATION anyway. What we must do is BELIVE IN HIM, and accept His offer.

Even in prison, Paul knew that God was still in CONTROL. No matter what setbacks or problems WE face, we can trust fully in God. Prayer Starter Father, give us faith to know Your love and care and to rest in Your embrace. Grant our desire to be like You in all our ways that we might live for Your honour.

"The Lord is with you. Be awake!"

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zzY=oaOd;auhdfKkS" uu Tnjykafiag jkaokd kuialdr lrñ' ud l< hq;= l=ula±hs ug wK l< uekjZZ

Thursday 2nd June 2016

Sts. Marcellinus and Peter, Martyrs

2 Timothy: 2/8-15 Psalm: 25/4-5,8-10,14 Mark: 12/28-34 The Gospel Proclamation

reading of the scripture, my personal prayer, all seem like rituals performed more as a habit and not through the sheer longing of my heart.

What should I do? According to today’s proclamations I feel that I should perform my daily activities according to the divine Will of God. If not I am not observing the greatest Commandment.

After confiding to God my problem I want an immediate response. Failing I resort to other observances and I go very far from God. Disappointed I come back to God. Then God obliges me at the correct moment. When God gives He does more than what we expect and in the best quality. For instance the miracle at Cana, changing water into wine. Also feeding 5,000 people. So after confiding to God let me have some patience. He will never forsake me.

Jesus is the only One who fulfilled the greatest commandment - He gave His whole life through love and loved everyone till the last. “What I do is my Father’s desire.” What else can we expect from a son?

My sonship

One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, he asked him, “Which commandment is the first of all?”

Jesus answered, “The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’

The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these,” Then the scribe said to him, “You are right Teacher, you have truly said that ‘he is one, and besides him there is no other’, and to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself’ - this is much more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he How close am I to Father God? If said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” After that no I have strayed from Him let me come one dared to ask him any question. near Him again. Let me accept my neighbour without minding his fault Prayerful Awareness and let me be humble in my dealings.

From the time I wake up in the When I become humble like a little morning, what do I engage myself in child God will make me know His Will. with all my strength? I started to recPrayer Starter ollect myself along this thought. I soon Dear Father God, we love Jesus in realized that what I have done is not according to what Apostle Mark has our neighbour. This is because Jesus stated but according to my own will. identifies totally with all of us. Help Can I be satisfied with my other spiri- me to die to my ego and become an tual observances? Normally my daily instrument of Your love. Amen.

"The Lord is with you. Be awake!"

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Friday 3rd June 2016

The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

Ezekiel: 34/11-16 Psalm: 23/1-6 Romans: 5/5-11 Luke: 15/3-7 Introduction Let us read today’s Proclamations meditatively which describe God’s eternal and unconditional love for His people! It is conveyed using imagery of sheep in the care of a good shepherd, imagery that was very close to the heart of the Israelites! And today’s Psalm contains the words on which the much loved hymn, “The Lord’s my Shepherd!” is based.

First Proclamation “For thus says the Lord God: “I myself will search for my sheep, and will seek them out. ... I will rescue them from all the places to which they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. ..... I will feed them with good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel shall be their pasture, there they shall lie down in good grazing land, ..... I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I will make them lie down, says the Lord God. I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, but the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them with justice.

Gospel Proclamation So he told them this parable: ‘Which one of you with a hundred sheep, if he lost one, would fail to leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the missing one till he found it? And when he found it, would he not joyfully take it on his shoulders and then, when he got home, call together his friends and neighbours, saying to them, “Rejoice with me, I have found my sheep that was lost.” In the same way, I tell

you, there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner repenting than over ninety-nine upright people who have no need of repentance.

Prayerful Awareness Today is the solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus! It is through our Lord Jesus Christ, our Good Shepherd, that Almighty God, our Abba Father, was able to demonstrate to us how much He loved us. “For God loved the world so much that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not die but have eternal life.” (John 3:16). Let us gaze in awe at the above expressions of God’s love which reveals that God willingly gives up His most treasured possession, His beloved Son, so that we may have eternal life.

Let us also ponder on the phrase contained in today’s Second Proclamation: “the love of God has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit which has been given to us”. Would it not be appropriate for us to ask “Is there anything that God will withhold from you and me whom He loves?”

Today’s Gospel Proclamation is preceded by the grumbling of the Pharisees who were unhappy that Jesus was associating with those whom the Pharisees considered outcasts/ sinners, such as tax collectors. Jesus responds: “Which one of you with a hundred sheep, if he lost one, would fail to leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the missing one till he found it?” Once again describing the depth of God’s love, in the willingness to risk the safety and wellbeing of ninety nine for the sake of one who is lost.

Song of Praise (Psalm 23) The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake. ......

"The Lord is with you. Be awake!"

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Saturday 4th June 2016

Immaculate Heart of the Bl. Virgin Mary

Heart of Mary”. What is referred to as “heart” is not the physical heart, but the entity that is spoken of in conjunction with the mind. (Acts 4;33). Why does the Church give so much importance and recognition to the heart of Mary?

The Gospel Proclamation It is because this devotion is founded Now every year his parents went on the scriptures - the “Word” of to Jerusalem for the festival of the God - “and his mother kept all these Passover. And when he was twelve things in her heart.” (vs. 51), “... the years old, they went up as usual for mouth speaks whatever fills the heart” the festival. When the festival was (Mathew 12:34). Hence the Magnifiended and they started to return, cat (Luke 1:46-55) that Mary voiced the boy Jesus stayed behind in through her mouth, reveals to us the Jerusalem, but his parents did not wondrous riches of Mary’s humble know it. Assuming that he was in and regal heart. Mary’s heart is one the group of travelers, they went a that sings praises of God. It is a heart day’s journey. Then they started to that sings of the liberation of the poor. look for him among their relatives The Second Vatican Council states and friends. When they did not find that, “at the message of the angel, him, they returned to Jerusalem Mary received the Word of God in to search for him. After three days her heart and her body and gave life they found him in the temple, sitting to the world.” (LG 53). Pope John among the teachers, listening to them Paul II notes that, “the Mystery of the and asking them questions. And all Redemption was formed, we might who heard him were amazed at his say, under the Heart of the Virgin of understanding and his answers. Nazareth, when she pronounced her When his parents saw him they were “fiat” - “I am the handmaid of the astonished and his mother said to Lord.” (Luke 1:38) him, “Child, why have you treated From that moment, the Immaculate us like this? Look, your father and I heart of Mary under the special action have been searching for you in great of the Holy Spirit, always follows the anxiety.” He said to them, “Why work of the Son and goes out toward were you searching for me? Did all those whom Christ has embraced you not know that I must be in my and continues to embrace in the inexFather’s house?” But they did not haustible love. understand what he said to them.

My sonship Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient Does the mother of Jesus have an to them. His mother treasured all important place in my life? these things in her heart.

Prayer Starter Prayerful Awareness Hail Mary, full of grace Today the Universal Church celthe Lord is with you ...... ebrates the feast of the ”Immaculate

Isaiah: 61/9-11 Psalm: 1 Samuel:2/1, 4-8 Luke: 2/41-51

"The Lord is with you. Be awake!"

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Sunday 5th June 2016

Tenth Sunday of Ordinary Time

1 Kings: 17/17-24 Psalm:30/1, 3, 4-5, 10-12 Galatians:1/11-19 Luke: 7/11-17

Introduction What role does God play in our daily life? Is God just a myth which helps us out in times of crises? Therefore when one god does not help us, do we resort to the practice of going behind one deity after the other till at last one satisfies our need? How much does the experience of the people of God differ from or equal to our own?

The Entrance antiphon describes the role of God in the life of the chosen people of God.

Entrance Antiphon

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; whom should I dread? When those who do evil draw near, they stumble and fall.

The First Proclamation

Sometime later the son of the mistress of the house fell sick, and his sickness grew more severe until he stopped breathing. So she said to Elijah, “Why have you done this to me, O man of God? Have you come to me to call attention to my guilt and to kill my son?” “Give me your son,” Elijah said to her. Taking him from her lap, he carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him on his own bed. He called outto the Lord: “O Lord, my God, will you afflict even the widow with whom I am staying by killing her son/” Then he stretched himself out upon the child three times and called out to the lord: “O Lord, my God, let the

life breath return to the body of this child.” The Lord heard the prayer of Elijah; the life breath returned to the child’s body and he revived. Taking the child, Elijah brought him down into the house from the upper room and gave him to is mother. “See!” Elijah said to her, “your son is alive.”

“Now indeed I know that you are a man of God,” the woman replied to Elijah. “The word of the Lord comes truly from our mouth.”

Prayerful Awareness

The God-experience of Elijah is of a God who not only permits but awaits the intercession of someone who is in a faithful relationship with Him before He moves with power to intervene in a situation where nothing else can help. The woman confirms Elijah as a man of God only after God acts to bring her son back to life in answer to Elijah’s prayer.

Let us read the Gospel proclamation and observe the effect that this incident seems to have had on the faith of Jesus.

Gospel Proclamation

Soon afterward he journeyed to a city called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd accompanied him. As he drew near to the gate of the city, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. A large crowd from the city was with her When the lord saw her, he was moved with pity for her and said to her, “Do not weep.”

He stepped forward and touched the coffin; at this the bearers halted, and he said, “Young man, I tell you, arise!” The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother,. Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, exclaiming,

"The Lord is with you. Be awake!"

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“A great prophet has arisen in our midst” and “God has visited his people.” This report about him spread through the whole of Judea and in all the surrounding region.

Gaze at Jesus

Jesus raises the widow’s son without anyone requesting it. Again it is another occasion that Jesus bears witness to God’s ‘partiality’ towards widows. It is the compassionate love of God His Abba that He demonstrates and bears out in this instance. The sovereign love of God does not depend on the merits of the recipients. The man who was raised to life was the only son of the widow. He would surely have been the breadwinner of the family. So it was not only the son who was raised to life but also the widowed mother who depended on him for a livelihood.

Life for the mother and the son would nothave been the same after this event.

Their life of faith in God was totally transformed. Unlike in the incident described in the first proclamation where only the widow and her son were the only beneficiaries of the miracle, Jesus raised the young man to life before a whole village. The faith of all of them also would have been renewed. Their response was to glorify God.

Second Proclamation

Now I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel preached by me is not of human origin. For I did not receive it form a human being, nor was I taught it, but it came through a revelation of Jesus Christ. For you heard of my former way of life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it, and progressed in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my race, since I was even more a zealot for my ancestral traditions. But when God, who from my mother’s womb had

set me apart and called me through hisgrace, was pleased to reveal his Sonto me, so that I might proclaim him to the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult flesh and blood, nor did I go u[ to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, rather, I went into Arabia and then returned to Damaseus. Then after tree years I went up to Jerusalem to confer with Cephas and remained with him for fifteen days. ButI did not see any other of the apostles, only James the brother of the Lord.

Our sonship

St. Paul experiences a new life as a consequence of the sovereign love of Gold .he not anybody else asks for it. Paul realizes that he had been set apart form is mother’s womb, for the mission he was to carry out amongst the gentiles.

Are we also not people who have been set apart to experience God’s love and engage in a mission special to each one of us? Have we taken time to discern the Will of God for our lives alone n prayer and with the community/church?

Prayer Starter

I, the Lord of wind and flame, I will tend the poor and lame I will set a feast for them, My hand will save Finest bread I will provide, Till their hearts be satisfied I will give my life to them Whom I shall I send?

Here I am Lord, Is it I Lord?

I h a v e h e a rd Yo u c a l l i n g in the night I will go Lord, if You lead me I will hold your people in my heart

"The Lord is with you. Be awake!"

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Monday 6th June 2016

Feast of St. Norbert, Bishop

1 Kings: 17/1-7 Psalm: 121/1-8 Matthew: 5/1-12 St. Norbert He was the son of Count Heribert of Gennep and Hedwig of Guise. He was related to the German imperial house. He led a worldly life as ...... at the court of Emperor Henry V. He narrowly escaped death by lightning and was thrown off his frightened horse. His life changed and he led a life of severe penance. He received Holy Orders, attempted to reform the Chapter at Xanton but failed. He gave his possessions to the poor and wandered barefoot and penniless. He started the Religious Order of Canon Regular of strict Observance at Premorte. He was later appointed Archbishop of Magdeberg. Died: June 6, 1134. Canonized by Pope Gregory XIII in 1852.

The Gospel Proclamation ..... “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the needy, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Prayerful Awareness In the ‘Sermon on the Mount’ we

have the official teaching of Jesus.

Through it He opened His whole mind to His disciples. The blessedness spoken of is found in the presence of God and it is a reality to be enjoyed right here. The world presents us many ways to enjoy ourselves but even the changes in the weather can take away that joy. But if we give that all important lordship of our lives to Jesus Christ and walk with Him - the joy we can experience is untouchable, unfathomable and is irreplaceable, by anything or anyone. Then there is the desire to do what God requires which is rewarded by the promise that God will satisfy them fully. It all means complete righteousness. Often we are content with a part of it. Our morality, respectability and honesty may be of a high calibre but if we are not moved by or refrain from taking action to alleviate the suffering of our neighbors, surely it is a partial goodness. On the other side of the coin, if we are full of all kinds of faults - gamble, swear, lose temper and drink - but are moved by and take action when we see our brethren in trouble..... It too is partial goodness. Aim higher - total goodness..

Hunger and thirst for the same. “It is by his actions that a person is put right with God and not by his faith alone.” (James 3:24) “As the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without actions is dead.” (James 2:26) “What He taught was self-crucifixion; to love those who hate us; to pluck out eyes and cut off arms in order to prevent sinning; to be clean on the inside when the passions clamour for satisfaction on the outside; to forgive those who would put us to death; to overcome evil with good; to bless those who curse us, to live in the world and still keep oneself unpolluted from it.” (Archbishop F.J.Sheen) Prayer Starter ‘Help us to sentence the old man in us to death.” Amen.

"The Lord is with you. Be awake!"

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Tuesday 7th June 2016 1 Kings: 17/7-16 Psalm:4/1-4, 6-7 Matthew: 5/13-16 The First Proclamation But after a while the stream dried up, for the country had had no rain.

And then the word of Yahweh came to him, ‘Up and go to Zarephath in Sidonia, and stay there. I have ordered a widow there to give you food.’

So he went off to Sidon. And when he reached the city gate, there was a widow gathering sticks. Addressing her he said, ‘Please bring a little water in a pitcher for me to drink.’ She was on her way to fetch it when he called after her. ‘Please’, he said, ‘bring me a scrap of bread in your hand.’ ‘As Yahweh your God lives,’ she replied, ‘I have no baked bread, but only a handful of meal in a jar and a little oil in a jug; I am just gathering a stick or two to go and prepare this for myself and my son to eat, and then we shall die.’ But Elijah said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, go and do as you have said; but first make a little scone of it for me and bring it to me, and then make some for yourself and for your son.

For Yahweh, God of Israel, says this: Jar of meal shall not be spent, jug of oil shall not be emptied, before the day when Yahweh sends rain on the face of the earth.’ The woman went and did as Elijah told her and they ate the food, she, himself and her son.

The jar of meal was not spent nor the jug of oil emptied, just as Yahweh had foretold through Elijah.

Fix your gaze on Jesus Jesus, Lord, You understood the truth; that humanity transcended the bodily manifestation; that the spirit of God within us enabled us to be cogni-

zant that the physical manifestation but hid a deeper / underlying reality; and that therefore, life/intelligence is able to shape / create anew what is, as it suits them! Paradoxically, internally first and then externally. Thus did you teach the listeners to Go-For-Their-God-GivenPotential! We hear you say, Ye are the salt of the earth....Ye are the light of the world. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Thus did Elias of the Olden days guide himself too. There were many widows in Israel in the days of Elias, and some, it is likely, would have bidden him welcome to their houses; yet he is sent to honour and bless with his presence a city of Sidon, a Gentile city, and so becomes the first prophet of the Gentiles. Jezebel was Elijah’s greatest enemy; yet, to show her how powerless was her malice, God will find a hiding– place for him even in her own country.

The person appointed to entertain Elijah is not one of the rich or great men of Sidon; but a poor widow woman, in want, and desolate, made both able and willing to sustain him It is God’s way, and it is his glory, to make use of, and put honour upon, the weak and foolish things of the world. O woman, great was thy faith; one not found in Israel.

She took the prophet’s word, that she should not lose by it. Those who can venture upon the promise of God, will make no difficulty to expose and empty themselves in his service, by giving him his part first Prayer Starter Let us become and stay attuned to/ connected to the Source, our Creator God, and all things will be possible and be done unto you...get in touch with the real stuff, the indestructible inexhaustible intelligence and power within.

"The Lord is with you. Be awake!"

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Wednesday 8th June 2016 1 Kings:18/20-39 Psalm: 16/1-2, 4-5, 8-11 Matthew: 5/17-19

The First Proclamation

So Ahab sent to all the Israelites, and assembled the prophets at Mount Carmel. Elijah then came near to all the people, and said, “How long will you go limping with two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” ....Then Elijah said to the people, “I, even I only, am left a prophet of the Lord, but Baal’s prophets number four hundred fifty. Let two bulls be given to us; let them choose one bull for themselves, cut it in pieces and lay it on the wood, but put no fire to us; I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood, but put no fire to it. ....” ..... So they took the bull that was given them, prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, crying, “O Baal, answer us!”

But there was no voice and no answer.

They limped about the altar that they had made........

The Gospel Proclamation

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.

For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Prayerful Awareness

God’s perfect moral and ceremonial laws were given to HELP people LOVE

GOD with all their hearts and minds.

However, these laws had been often misquoted and misapplied. By Jesus’ time, religious leaders had turned the laws into a confusing mass of RULES. Jesus was trying to bring people back to its ORIGINAL purpose. Jesus never spoke against the law itself, but against abuses and excesses to which it had been subjected by the Religious leaders.

We see that in the Old Testament, there were three categories of law, CEREMONIAL, CIVIL and MORAL. The ceremonial laws were connected to Israel’s WORSHIP, Civil law, was for daily living in Israel, Moral law, like the Ten Commandments is the direct command of God for strict obedience.

This law tells the NATURE and WILL of God, and it still applies today and for ever. Jesus Himself, obeyed the moral law fully. Jesus explained and made it clear, that obeying God is more important than EXPLAINING it, as was the case of some experts, telling others WHAT TO DO, but they themselves missed the central point of God’s Laws.

We too must first obey God’s Law and be a living example before telling others to obey them and put them into practice. It is often EASTIER TELLING than DOING. In Exodus 20, we see the function and beauty of God’s Laws. They were designed to lead Israel to a life of PRACTICAL HOLINESS. In them people could see God’s nature and plan, for how they should live. The guidelines were intended to DIRECT the community to meet the needs of each individual in a LOVING and RESPONSIBLE manner.

This is God’s ultimate LAW OF LOVE.

Prayer Starter

Lord, we rejoice in Your Laws, Your presence and Your Love for us. We thank You knowing Your Love is constant, and unchanging forever fixed.

"The Lord is with you. Be awake!"

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Thursday 9th June 2016

1 Kings:18/41-46 Psalm: 65/9-12 Matthew:5/20-26

The Gospel Proclamation For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

“You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not murder’, and ‘whoever murders shall be liable to judgement.’ But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgement, and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council, and if you say, ‘You fool,’ you will be liable to the hell of fire. So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go, first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.

Prayerful Awareness

God is love and this infinite love springs up without ceasing, overflowing through Jesus to the entire world.

Nothing is impossible with this great love. This love is in view of us just like a commandment in order to be righteous and to go along the path of righteousness. It is depicted not only through the words of Jesus, but also through His life-style. We meditated

St. Ephrem of Syria on this during the recent Lent Season on how Jesus loves, forgives and uplifts the lives of each and everyone. This is the nature of Jesus, which He has inherited from Father God. So He was the Suffering Servant who bore all pain alone, to establish the Kingdom of God. Jesus awakens us and challenges us on how we conduct ourselves and whether we live a life pleasing to God and man. One day we will have to give an account of our life before God. He is truth. Therefore let us not call sin only that which is seen or condemned as such by people. For my sins are all the bad thoughts that I keep inside and which produce evil fruits when the opportunity comes.

The comparison of the two enemies walking side by side teaches us that we must not continually delay the moment for settling accounts and for rectifying our lives. Better today than tomorrow, not only to repent but to repair the damage done. Also, I must question why I am so weak that I am carried away by desire. I have to strengthen my weak will by means of prayer and self control.

We are warned - ‘until you pay your fine down to the last penny’. Evil deeds and falsehood on our conscience will be brought to light before we may enjoy the happiness and eternity of God. If we are not purified during this life, we will be during or after our death. The Church calls this painful purification the ‘Purgatory’.

Prayer Starter

Teach me Lord to be more righteous by observing all my daily activities.

Strengthen me to be away from all temptation and lead me to live a life pleasing to You and for Your creation.

Amen.

"The Lord is with you. Be awake!"

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zzY=oaOd;auhdfKkS" uu Tnjykafiag jkaokd kuialdr lrñ' ud l< hq;= l=ula±hs ug wK l< uekjZZ

Friday 10th June 2016 1 King:19/9, 11-16 Psalm: 27/7-9,13-14 Matthew:5/27-32 Gospel Proclamation ‘You have heard how it was said, You shall not commit adultery. But I say this to you, if a man looks at a woman lustfully, he has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

If your right eye should be your downfall, tear it out and throw it away; for it will do you less harm to lose one part of yourself than to have your whole body thrown into hell. ………..

Prayerful Awareness Meditating on today’s Gospel Proclamation one is wont to wonder who then can be saved? It seems too exacting and humanly impossible to live by the standards set by our Lord Jesus Christ!

It truly is humanly impossible, but that is why the Lord gave us the gift of the Holy Spirit!

It has been said that anything that detracts us from loving one another in the manner Almighty God, our Abba Father loves us, can be deemed a sin.

Sin acts as a barrier to selfless love. The Lord is warning us against dwelling on evil thoughts. Good and evil thoughts arise in the human mind constantly and spontaneously. The triple evil forces of the flesh, the world, and the devil will all lead to the arising of sinful thoughts in our minds. The mere arising of a sinful thought would not constitute a sin, but dwelling on such thoughts would lead us to engage in acts which are sinful.

Also, sin is when we rebel against God’s Will and stubbornly want to use our freedom to be willful. It is also a sin to grumble at what we have to go through and experience. In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Saint Paul tells us: “Be joyful always, pray at all times, be thankful

in all circumstances. This is what God wants from you in your union with Christ Jesus”. Pray at all times does not mean that we have to be on our knees all the time, but that we stay connected to the triune God always in our thoughts, discerning how we are to act / respond in every given situation. We can also be full of thanks and praise in all circumstances when we begin to believe that everything that happens to us is according to God’s definitive Will of permissive Will, and armed with the knowledge that “in all things God works for the good with those who love Him, those whom He has called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).

It is the Holy Spirit that will help us to guard ourselves from sin. Therefore we need to receive the benefit of the full power by being connected to the Holy Spirit constantly. Romans 8:14 says: “Those who are led by God’s Spirit are God’s children”. Let us therefore develop the habit of ‘Walk in the Spirit’, whereby we can derive the gifts (1 Corinthians 12:4-11) and fruits (Galatians 5:22) of the Spirit! the foremost of which are faith, hope, and love, and the most important of them is Love (1 Cor.13:4-7).

This is not to say that we immediately become holy the moment we start being led by the Holy Spirit, but through surrendering our lives to the Lord we become like clay in the Lord’s hands to be moulded to be like Jesus, over time. It is a lengthy process, but He will accomplish the impossible. In the meantime we will fall/fail many times, but the important thing is to plod on in faith!

Song of Praise (Psalm: 27/7-9, 13-14) Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud, be gracious to me and answer me! “Come”, my heart says, “seek his face!” Your face, Lord, do I seek. Do not hide your face from me. ........

"The Lord is with you. Be awake!"

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zzY=oaOd;auhdfKkS" uu Tnjykafiag jkaokd kuialdr lrñ' ud l< hq;= l=ula±hs ug wK l< uekjZZ

Saturday 11th June 2016 Acts: 11/21-26; 13/1-3 Psalm: 98/1-6 Matthew:10/7-13 The First Proclamation 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.

Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for an entire year they met with the church and taught a great many people, and it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called ‘Christians’.

Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers.

Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a member of the court of Herod the ruler, and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit, said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.

Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.

Prayerful Awareness “When he came and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced ………” The early church experienced first-hand the active involvement of God in their work for the kingdom. God acted to choose and anoint persons to spread His kingdom.

The people of God on the other hand

had complete trust in God to back them in their human efforts. They were spreading and building the kingdom of God submitting to the Reign of God. It is the Risen Lord Jesus Christ fulfilling the promise He made, to be with His disciples to the end of time.

Gospel Proclamation Jesus said to his disciples: “You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, Do not take a false oath, but make good to the Lord all that you vow. But I say to you, do not swear at all; not by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is his footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Do not swear by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black. Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’ Anything more is from the Evil One.” Gaze at Jesus It is an individual who does not have an integrity to speak of who sees the need to swear upon someone or something of proven integrity. So in this incident recorded in the Gospel of today Jesus challenges His disciples to be or grow up to be men and women of integrity whose ‘yes’ or ‘no’ would be sufficient to prove the veracity of what they say. Jesus was able to say without fear “I am the Way the Truth and the Life”.

My sonship We who believe that we are children of God need to “Put on the mind of Christ …..”

Prayer Starter To be like Jesus, to be like Jesus All I ask to be like Him; All through life’s journey From earth to glory; All I ask to be like Him

"The Lord is with you. Be awake!"

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zzY=oaOd;auhdfKkS" uu Tnjykafiag jkaokd kuialdr lrñ' ud l< hq;= l=ula±hs ug wK l< uekjZZ

Sunday 12th June 2016

Eleventh Sunday of Ordinary Time

2 Samuel: 12/7-10, 13 Psalm: 3/1-2, 5, 7-11 Galatians:2/16,19-21 Luke: 7/36-50 or 7/36-8/3 Introduction When we look around the society of today the things that cause pain and suffering is in the forefront. Take for instance the suffering of the “internally displaced persons” in our beloved country. The title by which they are called do not tell us about the pain and suffering they undergo. We give them respectable titles so that we become insulated from their plight. If we really know what these people are going through we too, like King David in the first proclamation, will demand to know who is responsible. We will want to punish those responsible. But let us turn to the Holy Spirit of truth who is dwelling within us and hear him say “You are the (wo)man!” Let Him convict you and me of our sin which is inflicting untold suffering on innocents loved by God. When someone whom God loves suffers God suffers with and on behalf of that person. Let us read the first proclamation and allow the indictment against us prick our conscience. Let us with David say: “I have sinned against the Lord”. The Gospel proclamation reveals to us the response of the Lord to a sincere penitent. The Lord forgives and something beautiful happens. It invokes a response of deep love in the one forgiven. The second proclamation tells us of the price paid for our justification by the Son of God and what we are entitled to through that justification.

The First Proclamation Then Nathan said to David: “You are the man! Thus says the Lord

God of Israel: ‘I anointed you king of Israel. I rescued you from the hand of Saul. I gave you our lord’s house and your lord’s wives for your own. I gave you the house of Israel and of Judah. And if this were not enough, I could count up for you still more. Why have you spurned the Lord and done evil in his sight?

You have cut down Uriah the Hittite with the sword; you took his wife as your own, and him you killed with the sword of the Ammonites. Now, therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah to be your wife.’ Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” Nathan answered David: “The Lord on his part has forgiven your sin: you shall not die.”

Prayer: I acknowledge my sin to you, my guilt I covered not. I said, “I confess my faults to the Lord.” And you took away the guilt of my sin. Lord, forgive the wrong I have done.

The Gospel Proclamation A Pharisee invited him to dine with him, and he entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table.

Now there was a sinful woman in the city who learned that he was at table in the house of the Pharisee.

Bringing an alabaster flask of ointment, she stood behind him at his feet weeping and began to bathe his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and anointed them with the ointment.

When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, that she is a sinner.” Jesus said to him

"The Lord is with you. Be awake!"

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in reply, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said. “Two people were in debt to a certain creditor; one owed five hundred days’ wages and the other owed fifty. Since they were unable to repay the debt, he forgave it for both. Which of them will love him more?” Simon said in reply, “The one, I suppose, whose larger debt was forgiven.” He said to him, “You have judged rightly.” Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? When I entered your house, you did not give me water for my feet, but she has bathed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but she has not ceased kissing my feet since the time I entered. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she anointed my feet with ointment.

So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; hence, she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven loves little.” He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” The others at table said to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” But he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Gaze at Jesus Let us acknowledge our sins and their consequences. Let us become aware that our words and our silence, our actions and our inertia, our interests and disinterests have all directly or indirectly caused pain and suffering.

Now let us stand before the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ forgiving us and telling us “your faith has saved you, go in peace.”

The Second Proclamation Brothers and sisters: We who know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed

in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.

For through the law I died to the law that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ; yet I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me; insofar as I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God who has loved me and given himself up for me. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if justification comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing.

Prayerful Awareness The Holy Spirit tells us from within us that for our justification before the Father, the Son of God gave Himself up for me. For our sake He made Him to be sin who did not know sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Corinthians 5:21).

For once let us give a name to the reality of sin, so that it will not remain something abstract to us. Jesus bore all human pride, all rebellion against God, all lust, all hypocrisy, all injustice, all violence, all untruth, and all hatred which we must realize is such a terrible thing. He is the Lamb of God who takes upon Himself the sins of the world. He does all this WILLINGLY because of the love He has for us.

Prayer Starter Lord through Your death and resurrection You have saved me and restored my true identity and image. You have given me the power to live Your life in my life. Grant me the grace to make the prayer of St. Francis of Assisi my own: Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace. Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon .Where there is doubt; faith.

Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light. Where there is sadness, joy.

"The Lord is with you. Be awake!"

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zzY=oaOd;auhdfKkS" uu Tnjykafiag jkaokd kuialdr lrñ' ud l< hq;= l=ula±hs ug wK l< uekjZZ

Monday 13th June 2016 St. Anthonhy of Padua & Lisbon 1 Kings: 21/1-16 Psalm: 5/1-2, 4-6 Matthew: 5/38-42 St. Anthony of Padua and Lisbon He was a native of Lisbon, Portugal. He joined the Canons Regular of St. Agustine in 1210. On seeing the bodies of Franciscan martyrs brought from Morocco, he was inflamed with a desire for martyrdom. He joined the Mendicant Order of St. Francis D’Assisi and took the name Anthony and at his request sent to Morocco. He fell seriously ill and his ship was caught in a great storm and driven to Sicily. There he joined a general Chapter at Assisi and saw St. Francis for the first time. He concealed his learning and attended to menial tasks at a monastery near Forli.

His learning and gift of preaching were later found out and made use of. God granted him the gift of miracles, of tongues and of prophecy. Died; June 13, 1231 aged barely 31. Canonized just one year later. Declared Doctor in 1946

by Pope Pius XII. Patron of Portugal, travellers, pregnant and barren women and of the poor.

The Gospel Proclamation “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile.

Give to everyone who begs from you and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you.

Prayerful Awareness Here we have Christian ethic that is characteristic of Christian life. In the

tribal societies vengeance was so rude that they went to the extremes - take revenge from the whole tribe, sometimes killing the whole tribe. “The punishment is to be a life for a life, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a hand for a hand, a foot for a foot. (Deuteronomy 19:21).

Doesn’t this law limit vengeance? Jesus even abolished the old law - limited vengeance. He abolishes tit for tat and introduces the new law based on love and forgiveness. Retaliation and resentment are to be rooted out. We must get to the root of what Jesus is saying.

We will miss the point if we take the meaning literally. “.. slap you on the right cheek ...” (vs. 39) What He wants to tell us is that a true Christian does not resent insults and retaliate in any way.

When Jesus sets an example for us to follow Him what did He get back? “He is a glutton and a drinker, a friend of tax collectors and other outcasts.” (Luke 7:34) What is our reaction when we do not get the place due to us even in our parishes? Have we correctly learnt from the Master to accept any insult and never to resent it, or to retaliate?

The magnitude of the insult, intentional or unintentional, however deadly or however calculated - we Christians are expected not to retaliate, we are expected to be aware of our duty to be of help to all. “Absorb violence for the sake of the Saviour, who will absorb sin and die for it. The Christian law is that the innocent shall suffer for the guilty.

Thus He would have us do away with adversaries, because when no resistance is offered, the adversary is conquered by a superior moral power, such love prevents infection of the wound of hate.”

(Archbishop F.J.Sheen) Prayer Starter Help us with Christian values, to be the salt of the earth, the leaven in the mass. Amen.

"The Lord is with you. Be awake!"

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zzY=oaOd;auhdfKkS" uu Tnjykafiag jkaokd kuialdr lrñ' ud l< hq;= l=ula±hs ug wK l< uekjZZ

Tuesday 14th June 2016 1 Kings: 21/17-29 Psalm: 51/1-4, 11 Matthew: 5/43-48 Please read the scripture passage for today where the word of Yahweh came to Elijah the prophet to go and meet Ahab the king of Israel, in Samaria.

Elijah was to recite the details of the errors of Ahab and the consequences God intends for him and his heirs. God had also warned Jezebel the queen in a similar vain. Cause and effect; in other words, choices and their ramifications.

We are called to “Become Aware!”, and improve on our choices; to abide in the Commandments and reap better results! ‘You have heard how it was said, You will love your neighbour and hate your enemy. But I say this to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you; so that you may be children of your Father in heaven, for he causes his sun to rise on the bad as well as the good, and sends down rain to fall on the upright and the wicked alike. For if you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Do not even the tax collectors do as much?

And if you save your greetings for your brothers, are you doing anything exceptional? Do not even the gentiles do as much? You must therefore be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.

‘Fix your gaze on Jesus ”Blessed Paul complains that he was sold under sin, as a poor captive against his will; but Ahab was eager and willing. He sold himself to sin and as his own act and deed, he loved the domain of sin. He believed that the fruit of sin was good for him and his!

Jezebel his wife encouraged this belief and stirred him up to do wicked deeds.

Ahab is reproved, and his sin set before

his eyes, by Elijah. The condition of a man who has made the WORD of God his enemy is very miserable; and very desperate, who reckons the ministers of that WORD his enemies, because they confront him with the truth. God is here to turn this situation inside-out. S/He has crafted you as a creator, and is trying to teach us to create what is GOOD for ourselves; and for this, abiding in the commandments is a necessity.

Listen again to our Lord and Master revealing the simple truth before the multitude before him, ‘Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shall love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he makes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. How sincere Ahab was in putting on the garb and guise of a penitent we do not know, yet God’s intent/orientation is clear; S/He is keen to give a second chance, and a third, and a fourth, ad infinitum in the here and now, so that we would grow in our consciousness, learn from our mistakes and get to know the wonder of abiding in His Love.

Prayer Starter Holy Lord, we need to inculcate obedience within; to start believing that abiding in Your commandments is good for us; and in fact will result in our experiencing the best for ourselves...journey us towards this truth O Lord...!

"The Lord is with you. Be awake!"

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zzY=oaOd;auhdfKkS" uu Tnjykafiag jkaokd kuialdr lrñ' ud l< hq;= l=ula±hs ug wK l< uekjZZ

Wednesday 15th June 2016 2 Kings: 2/1, 6-14 in the Old Testament, as an additional tool to ask for Divine intervention for Psalm: 31/19-20, 23 Matthew: 6/1-6,16-18 Help and Guidance. In Psalm 51, King “Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; ..... “But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. “When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. ....

But when you pray, go in to your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you”. “When ever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearances so that they will be noticed by men when they are fasting.

Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full”. “But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face so that your fasting will not be noticed by men, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you”, Prayerful Awareness

David used fasting as a way to Worship God and ask for forgiveness for his sin.

Prayer improves our relationship with God our Father, Lord Jesus and Holy Spirit in the same manner that bring close people who talk to each other.

We are expected to live this life with the help from God who Loves us. The more we pray the more Heavenly Father will give to those who ask Him- good things ( Mathew 7: 1) the Holy Spirit (Luke 11: 13). Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God / the Spirit of Lord Jesus / the Spirit of Love is the most valuable gift any Christian could receive.

When St. Paul came to Ephesus (Acts 19: 2-6) He asked, ‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?” They answered , “We have never heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”

He said, “How were you baptized?”

They replied, “With the Baptism of John.” Paul then said, “John baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come, that is, Jesus.” When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of Lord Jesus. And when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.

Prayer Starter

Giving to the poor, Prayer and Fasting are three important acts that Lord educated people to do to build up a close relationship with God. When we give, to the needy and destitute, we give to Lord. In Fasting we try to break away from desire to satisfy our own lusts on materialism and the desires to satisfy our physical body. Fasting generally helps us to improve our spiritual hunger and turn to God through scripture reading and prayer. This is why Fasting was used

Heavenly Father, I thank and Praise You for Lord Jesus who saved me. I pray that the Holy Spirit be sent upon me. Lord Jesus, baptise me in the Holy Spirit. I accept and receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit by faith in Your Word.

May the anointing, the glory, and the power of God come upon me and into my life. May I be empowered by Your Spirit to serve You. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for baptising me in Your Holy Spirit. Amen.”

Gospel Proclamation

"The Lord is with you. Be awake!"

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Thursday 16th June 2016 Sirach:48/1-14 Psalm:97/1-7 Mathew: 6/7-15 Gospel Proclamation In your prayers do not babble as the gentiles do, for they think that by using many words they will make themselves heard. Do not be like them; your father knows what you need before you ask him. So you should pray like this: our father in heaven, may your name be held holy, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we have forgiven those who are in debt to us. And do not put us to the test, but save us from the evil one. Yes, if you forgive others their failings, your heavenly father will forgive yours; but if you do not forgive others, your father will not forgive your failings either.

Gaze at Jesus Jesus, the Word incarnate is a manifestation of the holy will of God in the world. Therefore His actions, His speech and His very being revealed the Holy Will of God. In the first reading of Sirach, the author describes Elijah, who “by the word of the Lord” did many things that amazed and baffled the people of Israel. Elijah as a result became well known as a great prophet who listened to God’s voice and prophesied God’s will and judgement to the people of Israel.

Elijah nor Jesus never in their ministries babbled idle words to confuse God’s vision or His will. Their total being in the world uplifted God’s will.

Gaze at our sonship As the scripture leads, let us reflect on Lord’s prayer. Jesus wants us to acknowledge God’s authority over the

earth. In the Psalm today, Psalmist too responds to God’s holiness as he professes in Ps 97:vs. 1-2. “The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice, let the many coastlands be glad. Clouds and thick darkness are round about him. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne”.

As we call ourselves Christians, we also ought to learn to seek God’s authority in our life and allow His Will to reign over our lives as Elijah did and became a strong instrument of God. To know His Will we need to develop a still composure in our heart, mind and spirit to hear God’s word and to be led by the Holy Spirit. These faculties otherwise will control our actions and will lead us astray. Therefore, Lord Jesus outlines the attitudes we ought to develop in prayer.

We are also invited purposefully today to acknowledge that righteousness and justice reigns over the earth through God’s authority. We are asked to accept God’s judgement over situations that happen in our life and be able to surrender our lives to God’s jurisdiction to become followers of Christ.

Therefore, the last attitude Jesus wants us to grow in is the most important command. That is to let God take action over those who are in error and free ourselves of hatred, malice and vengeance against those who afflict us.

Prayer Starter Be with us dear Holy Spirit, guide us through our circumstances to understand God’s Holy Will.

Let us also intercede for His Eminence Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith as we celebrate his discipleship as Archbishop of Colombo to empower him and bless him in his responsibility to continue as Archbishop to lead God’s flock to maturity.

"The Lord is with you. Be awake!"

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zzY=oaOd;auhdfKkS" uu Tnjykafiag jkaokd kuialdr lrñ' ud l< hq;= l=ula±hs ug wK l< uekjZZ

Friday 17th June 2016 2 Chronicles:11/1-4, 9-18,20 Psalm:132/11-14,17-18 Matthew: 6/19-23

The Gospel Proclamation “No one can serve two masters, for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.”

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow, they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you - you of little faith? .... Strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. .....

Prayerful Awareness

worldly affairs and also get involved in God’s affairs. We like to have the best of both worlds. But, God thinks otherwise - either the world or God. Can both man and God be correct?

Definitely not.

We think, we need to get involved in the world, please the world in order to exist in the world. We think we need to work out our own future and make it secure, by our own efforts. So, we tend to work, work and work, in order to earn more and more and fatten our bank accounts thinking our future will then be secure. This is the human way of thinking.

But today, Jesus speaks of another way of living our life. That is, to surrender our life, our future to God, the omnipotent and all powerful being, by giving the first place in our life to God. This means living and taking the decisions of life, according to the Will of God. (Word of God). Thereby we place trust in God and His ability to take care of our present and the future.

To prove this point, Jesus takes two examples - birds and plants and shows how God cares and looks after these valueless creations of His. However, there is a difference.

Birds and plants are attuned by nature to live according to God’s Will. But we humans are called upon to choose living in conformity with God’s Will using our free will.

Are we ready for this?

Prayer Starter

Forever, I will maintain my love We human beings think that we can serve the world and serve God for him, my covenant with him stands also. Be absorbed in the world and the firm. (Ps. 89:29 ...)

"The Lord is with you. Be awake!"

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zzY=oaOd;auhdfKkS" uu Tnjykafiag jkaokd kuialdr lrñ' ud l< hq;= l=ula±hs ug wK l< uekjZZ

Saturday 18th June 2016 2 Chronicles:24/17-25 Psalm: 89/3-4,28-33 Matthew:6/24-34

Prayerful Awareness

In Matthew 5:1 it is said that Jesus began to teach His disciples. Then follows a long discourse of Jesus’ teachings. Today’s scripture passage The Gospel Proclamation is a continuation of this address to His No one can serve two masters, for “disciples” (rather than to the crowds). a slave will either hate the one and Gaze at Jesus love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot What does Jesus say? “No one can serve God and wealth. serve two masters”. (Matthew 6:24) “Therefore I tell you, do not wor- Yes, Jesus is very clear. It is “either” ry about your life, what; you will eat “or”. There does not seem to be a or what you will drink, or about your middle path. Similarly elsewhere too, body, what you will wear. Is not life Jesus says, that “those who are not with more than food, and the body more me, are against me.” Let me reflect .... than clothing? Look at the birds of what goes on in the mind of Jesus? .... the air; they neither sow nor reap My sonship nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you If I call myself a disciple, can I have not of more value than they? And any other masters in my life? - a percan any of you by worrying add a son, even a religious dignitary, money, single hour to your span of life? And power etc. Do I read and meditate the why do you worry about clothing? scriptures in order to know the Will of Consider the lilies of the field, how my Master, in my life situations? they grow, They neither toil or spin, Can I who call myself a disciple of yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of Jesus simply fold my hands and wait, these. But if God so clothes the grass having a personal relationship with of the field, which is alive today and Jesus, until the satanic powers sweep tomorrow is thrown into the oven, through the world, and take people to will he not much more clothe you - hell? Is Jesus calling me to take a stand you of little faith? Therefore do not on various issues, - religious, social, worry, saying,’What will we eat? or political etc. that effect the humanity, ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will without sitting on the fence, or being we wear?’ For it is the Gentiles who inactive. Isn’t the Kingdom of God strive for all these things and indeed within me, and around me also? your heavenly Father knows that Prayer Starter you need all these things. But strive Our Father in heaven, hallowed be first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things Thine Name will be given to you as well.

Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be “So do not worry about tomor- done on earth ..... row, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

"The Lord is with you. Be awake!"

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Sunday 19th June 2016

12th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Zecharia: 12/10-11; 13/1 Psalm: 63/1-5, 7-8 Galatians: 3/26-29 Luke: 9/18-24

pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a first-born. On that day the mourning in Jerusalem will be as great as the mourning Introduction for Hadadrim’mon in the plain of Megid’do.

Jesus was a Palestinian Jew. He Prayerful Awareness would have grown up with stories of conquest and oppression. These Being born and brought up in a stories recounted the many waves of setting as described in the introducforeign invasion that sought to subju- tion, Jesus like other Jews would have gate the Jewish people. The Roman been more or less occupied with the occupation of Israel (63 BCE.) was identity and character of the deliverthe last in a long line of invasions er. The Messiah would be pierced, beginning with the Babylonians mourned for, bitterly wept over. It was (539 BCE), then the Persians and the not a very rosy picture which would Greeks. There were yet other stories inspire in a person a wish to be part that recounted successful self-rule of it. Having received the anointing at under the Hebrew kings Saul, David His baptism in the Jordan was Jesus and Solomon. History records that the disturbed by the words used by ZechJewish people were more often the ariah describing the Messiah? victims than the victors in their fight The Gospel Proclamation for national sovereignty. But the Jewish people had an undying hope that in spite of the nation’s lowly position and its spiritual insensitivity, a Deliverer will bring a time of ultimate blessing.

The Entrance Antiphon sets the tone for the proclamations of today.

God is the strength of his people, in Him, we His people live in safety.

Save us Lord who share in Your life, and give us Your blessing; be our shepherd for ever.

The First Proclamation “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of compassion and supplication, so that, when they look on him whom they have

Now it happened that as he was praying alone the disciples were with him; and he asked them, “Who do the people say that I am?” And they answered, “John the Baptist; but others say, Eli’jah; and others, that one of the old prophets has risen.” And he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter answered, “The Christ of God.” But he charged and commanded them to tell this to no one, saying, “The Son of man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.” And he said to all, “If any man would come after me, let him

"The Lord is with you. Be awake!"

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deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake, he will save it.

Gaze at Jesus The question that comes out of Jesus when the disciples came to Him while at prayer gives us a clue to what the subject of His prayer was. It was the question of His identity; the identity that He had claimed for Himself and the identity that others gave Him. On the one hand Jesus would have been happy that at least His disciples agreed as to His identity. But on the other hand Jesus wanted to make it clear that what they expected from Him as Messiah and what was really going to happen were two different things. In addition those who aspire to follow Him are told that they too will have to follow Him on the way of the cross in their own lives day by day and every day. Jesus challenged His disciples to a life of letting go, a life of losing one’s self, of climbing down rather than up. But what is the reward that Jesus is offering in return?

Let us read the second proclamationfor the answer.

The Second Proclamation For through faith you are all children of God in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free person there is not male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendant, heirs according to the promise.

Our sonship The reward for answering the call “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me…”is finding one’s self in the Risen Christ Jesus, the Cosmic Christ, Who is all and in all. Please read the highlighted phrases in the second proclamation and be captivated by their meaning.

Let us tell ourselves,: “I am baptized (immersed, absorbed) into Christ.”, “I am clothed with Christ” ‘In Christ Jesus I am one with all of humanity; they are my brothers and sisters”, “I belong to Christ, and to Him alone.”

“In Christ Jesus, I am God’s son.”

Prayer Starter We are One in The Spirit We are One in the Lord We are One in the Spirit We are One in the Lord And we pray that all unity may one day be restored.

And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our Love.

Yes they’ll know we are Christians by our love.

We will work with each other We will work side by side We will work with each other, We will work side by side And we’ll guard each man’s dignity And save each man’s pride

"The Lord is with you. Be awake!"

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Monday 20th June 2016 2 Kings: 17/5-8,13-15, 18 Psalm: 60/1-3, 10-11 Matthew: 7/1-5 The First Proclamation Then the king of Assyria invaded all the land and came to Samaria, for three years he besieged it. In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Assyria captured Samaria; he carried the Israelites away to Assyria. He placed them in Halah, on the Habor, the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.

This occurred because the people of Israel had sinned against the Lord their God, who had brought them up out of the land of Egypt from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

They had worshiped other gods and walked in the customs of the nations whom the Lord drove out before the people of Israel, and in the customs that the kings of Israel had introduced. The people of Israel secretly did things that were not right against the Lord their God. They built for themselves high places at all their towns, from watchtower to fortified city; they set up for themselves pillars and sacred poles on every high hill and under every green tree; there they made offerings on all the high places, as the nations did whom the Lord carried away before them.......

The Gospel Proclamation “Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbor, ‘Let me take the speck out of your

eye,’ while the log is in your own eye?

You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor’s eye.

Fix your gaze on Jesus Jesus preached to the Israelites what God His Father expected of all human beings. God had earlier given ten commandments, through Moses to the Israelites as basic laws and statutes.

Since then, God had enlightened them through His prophets and patriarchs, whom He had been sending from time to time. Finally He sent His only Son to teach the Israelites what He expected of them, if they were to live a life pleasing to God. Jesus’ doctrine is based on “Love”, love of God and man. In this chapter He preaches on love of men or neighbor.

There is a tendency within us to see the evil or the faults and failings in the other person rather than in us. It is this weak point that Jesus touches on and asks us not to judge others. Once Jesus said, “I have come not to judge but to redeem mankind.” Jesus is our redeemer.

So as His followers we too should help others to be saved. He further says that if we do not judge others, we too will be free from being judged. Many people overlook their own sin or guilt and do not care to repent or to ask God for forgiveness. Their fingers are often pointed at others while they overlook the greater evil in themselves. We are not humble enough to admit our own faults, just like the Pharisee who complemented himself for paying 1/10th tithes unlike the Publican who was begging mercy from God for his sins.

Prayer Starter Lord Holy Spirit, help me to look deep into my heart and enable me to know my shortcomings.

"The Lord is with you. Be awake!"

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Tuesday 21st June 2016

St.Aloysus Gonzaga

2 Kings:19/9-11,14-21, 31-34 Psalm: 48/1-3,9-10 Matthew: 7/6,12-14 St. Aloysius Gonzaga He was the son of a high dignitary of the Spanish court. He fell in love with Christ humiliated and crucified when he was still a child. At 16, he gave up his hereditary right to be prince of Mantua, in Italy. Though his father objected, he joined the Jesuits in 1587.

When a plague broke out he volunteered to serve the sick. He did not catch the disease but died of exhaustion on June 21, 1581. He is a model to be followed by the non-conformist youth of today.

He is the patron of youth, proclaimed

by Pope Benedict XIII as he died at 23 and was a holy conformist.

The Gospel Proclamation Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not give what is holy to dogs, or throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them underfoot, and turn and tear you to pieces. “Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the Law and the Prophets.

“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction and those who enter through it are many. How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few.”

Prayerful Awareness

but only to those who are “of the truth”.

Though Herod was glad to see Our Lord, his gladness did not arise from noble motives of repentance. Hence, the Christ, Who spoke to a penitent thief and to Magdalene and Judas, would not speak to the Galilean king, for Herod’s conscience was dead. He was too familiar with religion. He wanted miracles, not as motives of credibility, but as delights of curiosity. His soul was so blinded by appeals, including even the Baptist’s, that one more appeal would have only deepened his guilt. It was not his soul for salvation that Herod offered the Lord. but only his nerves for titillation. So the Lord of the world spoke not a word to the worldling.”

(Archbishop F.J.Sheen) ‘Do for others what you want them to do for you.” (vs.12) Here we have something that had never been said before. It is a new view of life and a new teaching. We have the negative and it is the basis of ethical teaching. It is interesting to note that no one but Jesus has put it in the positive form. In the negative it does not sound a religious rule at all. Without it, it is not possible for the society to function. The negative form involves not doing certain things or refraining from certain actions. Doesn’t it sound a legal principle? Even people who have neither interest nor belief in religion can keep it. If one consistently refrains from action what use is that one to his neigbours and the society at large?

Doing nothing is contrary to Christian goodness. In the last two verses Jesus speaks of the wide gate that leads to ruin and the narrow one - to life. The way to greatness is not easy and greatness is the result of toil; greatness is the result of constant attention to detail and long labour.

Prayer Starter

“Do not give what is holy to dogs .....” (vs. ) On the face of it, it demands exclusiveness that is contrary to the Christian message. What a difficult saying of Jesus it is! Jews misused this text - a Gentile must become circumcised and accept the law and become a Jew before he could become a Christian.

God’s grace, gifts were for Jews only.

Help us to do what we do, do well.

“Religion is not to be given to everyone, Amen

"The Lord is with you. Be awake!"

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Wednesday 22nd June 2016 Sts. Paulinus, John Fisher, Thomas Moor 2 Kings:22/8-13, 23/1-3 Psalm: 119/33-37,40 Matthew: 7/15-20 Gospel Proclamation Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? So every sound tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears evil fruit. A sound tree cannot bear evil fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will know them by their fruits.

Gaze at Jesus’ Sonship There were the true prophets who prophesied in God’s name and there were the keepers of the Law, who served their own needs using God’s word such as the Pharisees and the Sadducees. Then there was Jesus as the word of God incarnate in to the world. His missionary status fulfilled God’s vision and perceptions to build and mold His flock, guide and comfort them as God the father wanted.

Thus Jesus became the true vine who descended from God. Jesus, the Risen Lord is with us even today. He wants us to choose our lives carefully with Him to bear fruit that are worthy of God’s attention.

Our sonship In the first reading from the 2nd letter of Kings, the king of Judah hears the words from the book of the covenant read to him by the secretary of the High Priest, Shaphan. He realizes that the covenant Lord had with the people of Judah and Jerusalem was a reciprocal relationship. Hence when the king accepted God’s covenant, the whole nation

took a stand for it too.

King of Judah showed true leadership in God’s vision. He was the one accepted God’s word first and was willing to be refined into God’s vision.

His action bore many good fruits for the kingdom of God. The king won the whole nation back to God and avoided God’s wrath for the nation.

Let us come before the Lord to hear His call for true repentance and accept God’s covenant love to lead our lives.

Jesu is the true vine and let us be rooted into the vine through Jesus. He will never leave as orphans.

Experience: When a mother started joining us with a hopeless experience, devastated by her circumstances, she was led to Pubuduwa by her friend. At the time, we could only offer our fellowship and prayer to her. She was asked by some of her other friends to join another evangelical group so that she could have help in different means. However, the person who led her to Pubuduwa had the courage to do so, knowing that it is only the Lord who could change her circumstances. After a few years of journeying in the community, she says, she is able to now identify her crisis with the Lord.

We continue to intercede for her as she says “it is the Lord who blessed me and takes care of me in my troubles”. We are sure, Lord has an evangelical vision for her. Until she is built to walk with more spiritual authority, her God given family will be there with her in prayer.

Prayer Starter Lord almighty, our heavenly father, we perceiver in the truth as you reveal to us. We acknowledge that there is a divine purpose for our lives to bear good fruits through our relationship with Christ. We pray for your divine intervention to take charge of our lives and give ourselves to you as the King of Judah did. Amen!

"The Lord is with you. Be awake!"

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Thursday 23rd June 2016 2 Kings :24/8-17 Psalm:79/1-5, 8-9 Matthew:7/21-29

Gospel Proclamation “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.

“Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Y our name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’ “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. “And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. “Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.

“The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell -and great was its fall.” When Jesus had finished these words, the crowds were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.

Prayerful Awareness

From the Gospel Proclamation we note Lord Jesus’ own teaching that “he who does the will of God in heaven will enter the kingdom of heaven”. Here a question arises, ‘what is the Will of God’.

It is given in the Word of God, if we read the Book, the Word. In 10 Commandments and in Lord Jesus’ Teachings of the

greatest commandment – “ you shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind, the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself (St. Mathew 22:3640 ). Also a special commandment was given by Lord Jesus : love one another as I Love you (John 16:12), and then set up the example of giving His life to save us. He did not do or say anything to hurt anyone, and gave His first place to God the Father to bring Glory to God in everything He did and say. Even when He accused Pharisees, Scribes and other Jewish leaders, He did so to correct them, to teach them about God’s Will, to love everyone. God created man to His own image (Genesis 1:26 & 27 ). God is Love ( I John 4:8). Therefore man is created to become a son and to be full of Love, with qualities of God. Isaiah 43: 7 says man is created to bring Glory to God in everything. As man is created to God’s own image, it is God’s Will, and our duty to bring Glory to God in everything we do, in every act, in every word, in every thought. We sometimes try to do the Will of God, but some other times we change it to suit our own will, rejecting God’s Will. In 1 Thessalonians 4:1, St. Paul reminds, ask and exhort in the Lord Jesus, for us to follow teachings and conduct ourselves to please God. Living a holy life is not easy without help from above and this is why in Acts 19: -6 St. Paul in Ephesus baptised people in the name of the Lord Jesus to receive Holy Spirit (The Helper, the Counselor, the Advocate) to lead their lives as children of God (Romans 8:14). Holy Spirit will teach everything and remind of all that Jesus has told. (St. John 14:26)

Prayer Starter

Lord Jesus, grant me Your Spirit and put me under the control of Holy Spirit to lead my life, to do the Will of God as a child of God. Thank You Lord, Amen

"The Lord is with you. Be awake!"

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Friday 24th June 2016

Nativity of St. John the Baptist

Isaiah:49/1-6 Psalm: 139/1-3,13-15 Acts:13/22-26 Luke:1/57-66, 80 The First Proclamation Listen to me, O coastlands, pay attention, you peoples from far away! The Lord called me before I was born, while I was in my mother’s womb he named me. He made my mouth like a sharp sword, in the shadow of his hand he hid me, he made me a polished arrow, in his quiver he hid me away ......

The Gospel Proclamation Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.

On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him Zechariah after his father. But his mother said, ‘No, he is not to be called John.” They said to her “None of your relatives has this name.” Then they began motioning to his father to find out what name he wanted to give him.

He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And all of them were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue freed and he began to speak praising God. Fear came over all their neighbors and all these things were talked about throughout the entire hill country of Judea. All who heard them pondered them and said, “What then will this child become/” For, indeed, the hand of the Lord was with him.

The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the

wilderness until the day he appeared publicly to Israel.

Prayerful Awareness Elizabeth who was married to Zechariah was barren until her old age and many used to cast remarks at her.

But God works according to His plan.

One day angel Gabriel announced to Zechariah that Elizabeth was pregnant.

But Zechariah her husband did not believe and as a result of his disbelief he became dumb.

Although Zechariah doubted the angel’s message, at the beginning, he agreed with angel Gabriel’s name “John’ as Elizabeth also did and when his relations wanted to give another name, he was adamant to name him “John” and immediately his dumbness left him and he regained his voice.

This was a marvelous miracle that God performed at the beginning of John the Baptist’s life.

This gives a message to us too, that we should not doubt God’s words or His messages to us even though they appear to be unpractical by human standards, strange or different from our ways.

God’s ways are strange and different from our ways at times. He is Divine and He has said, “Your ways are not my ways”. We should be able to give up our ways and adjust our ways to fit into God’s plan of work. Above all we should believe Him and have a strong faith in Him. Even when God speaks in an unnatural way, we should have an unwavering faith in Him and then God will be pleased and act miraculously and we will be satisfied.

Prayer Starter “I walked life’s path with worry, Disturbed and quite unblest, Until I trusted Jesus,

"The Lord is with you. Be awake!"

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Saturday 25th June 2016 Lamentations:2/2, 10-14,18-19 Psalm: 74/1-7,20-21 Matthew:8/5-17

The Gospel Proclamation When he entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, appealing to him and saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, in terrible distress.” And he said to him, “I will come and cure him.” The centurion answered, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only speak the word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me, and I say to one, ‘Go’ and he goes and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and the slave does it.’ When Jesus heard him, he was amazed and said to those who followed him, “Truly I tell you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith. I tell you, many will come from east and west and will eat with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, while the heirs of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” And to the centurion Jesus said, “Go, let it be done for you according to your faith.” And the servant was healed in that hour.

When Jesus entered Peter’s house, he saw his mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever, he touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to serve him. That evening they brought to him many who were possessed with demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word, and cured all who were sick. This was to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah, ‘He took our infirmities and bore our diseases.’

Prayerful Awareness Today’s scripture reading contains several references to miraculous deeds performed by Lord Jesus Christ. Such happenings are referred to as “signs” elsewhere in the scriptures. The term “sign” indicates a direction or points at a thing. Then, what do these signs indicate? Let us reflect.... that with the arrival of the Second Person of the Godhead upon earth, the Kingdom of God has come upon the earth.

Today’s scripture reading also reveals several ways how we could formulate our own prayers to God in an effective manner.

In the prayer of the Centurion, he merely offers his problem to God (Jesus), “Lord, my servant ....” (vs. 5) What is the specialty of this prayer, which in fact is classified as a petition?

One aspect could be the lowliness assumed by the Centurion. Another aspect is the certainty he had that Jesus was able to help him. These are revealed through the words in verses 8 and 9 (Please refer). Jesus too confirms this, by His words in verse 10 “.... I have found such faith .....” (please refer)

Gaze at Jesus

In Mathew 6/5-13 Jesus teaches His disciples how not to pray and also how one ought to pray. Let us read these verses and try to see what Jesus means by “prayer”

Prayer Starter

Oh God, why do you cast us off forever?

Why does your anger smoke against the sheep of your pasture?

Remember your congregation, which you acquired long ago, which you redeemed to be the tribe of your heritage .... (Ps:74/1, 2....)

"The Lord is with you. Be awake!"

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Sunday 26th June 2016

Thirteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time

1 Kings: 19/16, 19-21 Psalm: 16/1-2, 7/11 Galatians: 5/1, 13-18 Luke: 9/51-62 Introduction A Poem by – Shanty Smith.Freedom – All I want is freedom. Is that too much to ask. All I want is freedom. To forget everything in my past. All I want is freedom to take away all the tears and the pain All I want is freedom To never feel that way again All I want is freedom To love you my own way All I want is freedom To make all my fears go away All I want is freedom To say “I love you” All I want is freedom To hear you say “I love you too”. I would like to add the following to the above poem: All I want is freedom To hear You call Lord “Come follow me”. All I want is freedom is to respond “Here I come Lord with all I am”. Let us in anticipation of the freedom that today’s proclamations offer to lead us towards, sing/chant/recite the ENTRANCE ANTIPHON. “All nations clap your hands.

Shout with a voice of joy to God.” The First Proclamation Then you shall anoint Jehu, son of Nimshi, as king of Israel, and Elisha, son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah, as prophet to succeed you. If anyone escapes the sword of Jazael, Jehu will kill him. If he escapes the sword of Jehu, Elisha will kill him. Yet I will leave seven thousand men in Israel-all those who have not knelt to Baal or kissed him.” Elijah ¬set out and came upon Elisha, son of Shaphat, as he was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen; he was following the twelfth. Elijah went over to him and threw his cloak over him.

Elisha left the oxen, ran after Elijah,

and said, “Please, let me kiss my father and mother good-bye, and I will follow you.” “Go back!” Elijah answered, “Have I done anything to you?” Elisha left him and, taking the yoke of oxen, slaughtered them; he used the plowing equipment for fuel to boil their flesh, and gave it to his people to eat. Then he left and followed Elijah as his attendant.

Prayerful Awareness Here we see a dramatic response in the call of Elisha who was to succeed Elijah as prophet. Elisa like any dutiful son wanted to bid farewell to his parents. “Go, go.” Said Elijah. But then Elisha thought better of it. He seemed to find the freedom deposited by God in his heart to respond to the call of God and he takes his two oxen and slaughters them. He takes his plough and uses it to make a fire for cooking the ox meat which he gives to all his men. All these things symbolized who he was at the time of his call; a son, an employer, a co-worker. Empty-handed but totally free he then followed Elijah. No doubt Jesus when reading this passage as true Man would have been inspired. In His missionary journey His was always as empty handed response to God His Abba who led Him towards an unprecedented freedom that had not been experienced by any man. But to find that ultimate freedom it was necessary to engage in a journey of “letting go”. Let us read the Gospel proclamation to discover the scope of this letting go.

Gospel Proclamation When the days for his being taken up were fulfilled, he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem, and he sent messengers ahead of him.

On the way they entered a Samaritan village to prepare for his reception

"The Lord is with you. Be awake!"

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there, t they would not welcome him because the destination of his journey was Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?”

Jesus turned and rebuked them and they journeyed to another village.

As they were proceeding on their journey someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus answered him, “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.” And to another he said, “Follow me.” But he replied “(Lord,) let me go first and bury my father.” But he answered him, “Let the dead bury their dead. But you, go and proclaim the kingdom of Gold.” And another said, “I will follow you, Lord. But first let me say farewell to my family at home.” (To him) Jesus said, “No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God.” Gaze at Jesus Jerusalem could be identified as the center-point of Jewish nationalism. When Jesus expressed His desire to journey there His disciples and al who heard of it interpreted it in their own way. Whatever Jesus said about the meaning of being the anointed of God, (Messiah) they had their own opinions. Most of them wanted to see Jesus as a messiah come to free them from the oppression of the Romans. So no wonder that those who considered themselves patriots desired to follow Him to wherever He led them .But on His part Jesus accepts those who wish to follow Him to Jerusalem as those who are willing to be part of the journey that His Father had planned for Him. Therefore discerning in each of them the particular obstacle for the journey ahead Jesus challenges them to let go of it. St. Paul who was able to

give a 100% response advises us in the following proclamation …..

For freedom Christ set us free; so stand firm and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery. For you were called for freedom brothers,But do not use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh; rather, serve one another through love. For the whole law is fulfilled in one statement, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you go on biting and devouring one another, beware that you are not consumed by one another. I say, then; live by the Spirit and you will certainly not gratify the desire of the flesh. For the flesh has desires against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you may not do what you want. But if you are guided by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Our sonship Freedom according to St. Paul is the freedom to love one’s neighbor. It is the freedom that Christ Jesus has won for us. The gift of his Holy Spirit given us is the Spirit of His love. Freedom to love in the face of rejection, disloyalty, betrayal, infidelity, injustice and discrimination is freedom indeed. And true love is to lay down one’s life for another despite the other’s character or how (s) he relates to you. People like Bishop Romero, Mother Teresa, Maximilian Kolbe, our own Fr. Michael Rodrigo, Fr. Abba Costa and many others, they said an unconditional ‘Yes’ to Jesus and to life. They joined Him unconditionally in walking resolutely to Jerusalem.

They pt their hand to the plough and did not look back. Can I not do the same?

Prayer Starter Lord Holy Spirit, grant me the grace to discover in me the freedom to say a resounding “Yes” to Your call “Come follow me” ……

"The Lord is with you. Be awake!"

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Monday 27th June 2016

St. Cyril of Alexandria, Bishop & Doctor

Amos:2/6-10, 13-16 Psalm: 50/16-22 Matthew: 8/18-22 St. Cyril of Alexandria He was a native of Alexandria, Egypt.

He was trained in the ascetical life in the Egyptian desert. When he was 36, he was named to the See. He immediately undertook two drastic measures - closing of all Novatian churches so as to protect his flock from the false teachings of that sect and the expulsion of all the Jews.

Their hatred for the Christians had caused repeated riots and massacres. He defended numerous writings of the Catholic doctrine of the dignity of the Blessed Mother as the Mother of God and the hypostatic union of two perfect and distinct natures in Christ the divine and the human. He was declared Doctor of the Universal Church in 1882.

The Gospel Proclamation

Now when Jesus saw great crowds around him, he gave orders to go over to the other side. A scribe then approached and said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” Another of his disciples said to him, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” But Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead”.

Prayerful Awareness

The thoughts running in Evangelist Mathew’s mind that Jesus was the Suffering Servant has come to light here.

No wonder Jesus was born in a borrowed stable and when He died, His body was placed in a borrowed tomb. In a chapter studded with miracles, Evangelist Matthew has inserted this passage as he had seen a miracle there - a Scribe or a

teacher of law wishing to follow Jesus.

He addressed Jesus “Teacher, “Rabbi”, acclaiming Him the greatest teacher, giving the highest honour. Surely it is a miracle when we think of a teacher of Law wishing to follow Jesus, who stood not for but against or destruction of narrow legalism - their religion was built on.

Also it is a miracle, the particular Scribe has faced truth, truth in all its fullness in Jesus. The impact of the personality of the Son of God - in what ways has it touched, changed and made us fruitful? Think of the impact of a personality on another and effects it can bring about. Often it is a teacher or parents whose impact tells upon the development of character in a child. So too, our exemplary way of living affects others and they are moved to the Christian way of living - make Jesus the Lord of their lives. This is called “Preach without preaching”. So it is clear that the important thing to do is not so much to talk to them about Jesus but let the personality of Jesus do the needful. When Jesus told the scribe “Foxes have holes, birds have nests but the Son of Man has nowhere to lie down and rest - He reminded him to bear his cross and follow Him. ‘The kingdom belongs to the poor and lowly”, which means those who have accepted it with humble hearts.

Jesus is sent to “preach good news to the poor”. He declares them blessed, “for theirs is the kingdom of heaven”. To them - the “little ones” - the Father is pleased to reveal what remains hidden from the wise and the learned. Jesus shares the life of the poor, from the cradle to the cross. He experiences hunger, thirst and privation.

Jesus identifies with the poor of every kind and makes active love toward them the condition for entering His Kingdom.”

(C.C.C. 544)

Prayer Starter

Help us to identify ourselves with and love the poor. Amen.

"The Lord is with you. Be awake!"

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zzY=oaOd;auhdfKkS" uu Tnjykafiag jkaokd kuialdr lrñ' ud l< hq;= l=ula±hs ug wK l< uekjZZ

Tuesday 28th June 2016

St. Irenaeus, Bishop & Martyr

Amos:3/1-8; 4 /11-12 Psalm: 5/4-8 Matthew: 8/23-27

The First Proclamation Listen, Israelites, to this prophecy which Yahweh pronounces against you, against the whole family which I brought up from Egypt: You alone have I intimately known of all the families of earth, that is why I shall punish you for all your wrong-doings. Do two people travel together unless they have agreed to do so? Does the lion roar in the forest if it has no prey?...Does the trumpet sound in the city without the people being alarmed?... No indeed, Lord Yahweh does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets. …

Lord Yahweh has spoken: who will not prophesy? ... I overturned you as God overturned Sodom and Gomorrah; you were like a brand snatched from the blaze and still you would not come back to me -declares Yahweh. So this, Israel, is what I plan to do to you. Because I am going to do this to you, Israel, prepare to meet your God!

Fix your gaze on Jesus

O Holy Spirit, O Love of God, God with us, the complete Spirit of God, bring us to focus on Jesus, the beloved Son. God and man cannot walk together, unless they are in agreement. We cannot walk with him, unless we seek his glory, and then will His glory reflect from us.

S/He being the Creator, and this creation His handiwork, there is no better way to bring out the best. As an example, a motor car performs at its best when each part conforms to the design specifications and the consumable (fuel and oil) is of the required quality. In other words, all components and inputs must conform to/abide in the given standard; the specifications;

the program therefor; the WORD So it is with us, the highest apex of God’s handiwork. This creation is to come in to consciousness in and through us. To make the gift of life ever more valuable, we have been given the added gift of Free Will; the power of choice! We are able to choose, or create what-ever we desire from life. In other words, what truly happens is that according to the beliefs we hold, we exercise the power of choice and create the very taste of life we would experience.

God the Father wants us to create for ourselves the very best, and gives us the necessary instructions there-for through the Living WORD. Do we listen to Him? Like the Beloved Son did? No way! We have our own opinions and beliefs contrary to our design. Little do we understand that that’s the cause of our down-fall and all the problems and agony we taste. And, the reason for our lack of power and effectiveness. Look at Jesus. In today’s Gospel, He commands the stormy seas; and the winds and the sea obey Him. To what extent are we able to command the storms in our lives? And Jesus says unto us, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith.

Prayer Starter

Lord, we are not truly aware of our innermost motives. To paraphrase St. Paul, For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?...”.

For the most part, we are comfortable cruising forward on auto pilot. Not good; O bring us in to awareness Beloved Spirit of God….

"The Lord is with you. Be awake!"

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Wednesday 29th June 2016

Sts. Peter & Paul, Apostles

Acts: 12/1-11 When we are with Christ, we will Psalm: 34/1-4 discover that it was all WORTH it.

2 Timothy: 4/6-8, 17-18 Paul viewed his life as an offering.

Matthew: 16/13-19 With his leader and advisor in

The Second Proclamation As for me, I am already being poured out as a libation, and the time of my departure has come.

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and save me for his heavenly kingdom, To him be the glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Prayerful Awareness As he neared the end of his life Paul could say, he had been faithful to his call. He faced death calmly knowing that he would be rewarded

by Christ. Let us reflect, “Is your life, preparing you for death”? Paul gave those words to encourage Timothy and us, that no matter how difficult the fight seems - keep fighting.

prison and his church in trouble, Timothy, Paul’s friend and son, was probably NOT feeling very brave.

Paul is telling Timothy that the Lord had called Timothy to PREACH and would give him courage to continue to do so. God always GIVES US STRENGTH TO DO His command.

This strength may not be evident, until we step out in FAITH and actually begin doing His task.

Paul was affirming his BELIEF in ETERNAL LIFE after death. Paul knew the END was NEAR and he was ready for it. Paul was more than confident in God’s power even as he faced death. Anyone facing a life and death STRUGGLE can be comforted knowing that God will bring each believer safely through death to His HEAVENLY KINGDOM. Paul’s last letter reveals his HEART, his PRIORITIES, sound DOCRINE, STEADFAST FAITH,CONFIDENT ENDURANCE and PERMANENT LOVE. Prayer Starter Lord help us remember Christ’s call and use His gifts with boldness, keep to the faith and prepare others to follow him.

"The Lord is with you. Be awake!"

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Thursday 30th June 2016

First Martyrs of the Church of Rome

Amos: 7/10-17 Psalm: 19/7-10 Matthew: 9/1-8 Gospel Proclamation Getting into a boat, Jesus crossed over the sea and came to His own city.

And they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, “Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven.”

And some of the scribes said to themselves, “This fellow blasphemes”.

And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, “Why are you thinking evil in your hearts? “Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, and walk’? “But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins “- then He said to the paralytic, “Get up, pick up your bed and go home.”

And he got up and went home. But when the crowds saw this, they were awe struck, and glorified God, who had given such authority to men.

Prayerful Awareness First Reading from the book of Amos, is how God used Amos, a shepherd to inform the king of Israel and the people, what is to befall on them for their sinful way of life. He prophesied at the great cult center of Bethel, that the king shall die and Israel will go to exile. This message was given as part of God’s plan for the salvation of the people. But, instead, Amos was chased out of the city. Here we see how great is God’s Love even for the people who have started following cult way rejecting Almighty God, message was given first, to allow them to change. From the above Bible Proclamation we see that Jesus the Son of man had the authority to forgive. He is our Leader, our Teacher and our Lord. In baptism we all are

connected to Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:27). But how close is our relationship with Lord, and how well do we know Him. In 1 John 2: 3 we are advised of that “ the way we may be sure that we know Him is to keep His commandments”. And also according to 1 John 2: 2 “ Jesus Christ Himself is the means by which our sins are forgiven”. We are called to improve our relationship with our Saviour and Lord. When we improve our relationship with Lord, we can share our thoughts, our emotions and our problems and also repent for our sins and ask for forgiveness for our sins as Lord has the power to forgive them and Raise us. The thief who was on the right side of Lord Jesus came to know Lord personally only for a very short period of time, but, coming to know that Lord was the Messiah and was going through all suffering without any wrong, he united with Lord, when the whole world ( except for Mother Mary and the group at the foot of the cross) including the thief at the left have totally rejected Lord, This thief, accepted his sins and repented by admitting that he is suffering for his own sins and obtained forgiveness from Lord by totally accepting Lord by his words “ remember me when you come into your kingdom”. Having known Lord for sometime more than this thief, why not we too make use of our relationship with Lord to ask for forgiveness for all our sins by repenting for our own faults. Lord gave disciples the power to forgive and established the Sacrament of Reconciliation (St. John 20: 21 - 23).

Prayer Starter Lord Jesus, Son of God, my Saviour, forgive all my sins and Raise me to follow Your Teachings to do everything according to the Will of God our Father, and to love everyone the same way You Love me. Thank You Lord, Amen.

"The Lord is with you. Be awake!"

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THE COVER STORY “Come to our aid” We are living at a time when the encyclical composed and gifted to the world by the leader of the Catholic people, our beloved Holy Father Pope Francis, in honor of St. Francis of Assisi who is acknowledged as the saint of Mother Nature, is touching the minds and hearts of all people of goodwill.

“Laudato Si” “Praise be to you. My Lord!”

It is God’s desire and hope that we live in communion with each other and nature. Pope Francis in his encyclical guides us in the way we should proceed to fulfill God’s desire.

“All-powerful God, you are present in the whole universe and in the smallest of your creatures. You embrace with your tenderness all that exists. ……Teach us to discover the worth of each thing, to be filled with awe and contemplation, to recognize that we are profoundly united with every creature as we journey towards your infinite light.”(Adapted from “A prayer for our earth” – Laudato Si) O Lord! We present ourselves before Thee and pray that Thou wilt aid us to be servant- leaders like unto Thee.

Walk in the Spirit - June 2016

ISSN 1391-5967