Walk In the Spirit May 2017

WALK IN THE SPIRIT May 2017 Volume 05 Issue 15

"The Lord is with you. Be awake"

ISSN 1391-5967

Publication: Fr. Siri Oscar Abayaratne Kithu Dana Pubuduwa

SHARING ON PRAYER May 2017

“To share the fate of God for the life of the world” is our vocation. To be at the foot of the Cross to begin with. “Be baptized in the Lord’s Blood” which is a fullness of the Baptism with the Spirit.

It is not a call to live passively but to live the resurrection - the new creation which is to share this life for the life of the world. A sharing is death. This is God’s fate, sharing His life unto death for the life of the world which again is death unto life.

Therefore to follow Jesus is not a mere "saving myself”. It is not a mere “creating a new social order”. It is more. It is not creating a spiritual elite or an exclusive group but an inclusive group that carries the mystery of sin and the mystery of love in the power of the Spirit. It is to follow Him bearing the mystery of human death and resurrection daily, every hour and every moment. Moment to moment living, what a call!

Fr. Siri Oscar Abayaratne

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Monday 1st May 2017 Genesis: 1/26-2/3 OR Colossians:3/14-15,17, 23-24 Psalm:90/2-4,12-14,16 Mathew:13/54-58 The First Proclamation Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body.

And be thankful ... And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him .... Whatever your task, put yourselves into it, as done for the Lord and not for your masters, since you know that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward; you serve the Lord Christ.

The Gospel Proclamation He came to his hometown and began to teach the people in their synagogue, so that they were astounded and said, "Where did this man get this wisdom and these deeds of power? Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all this?" And they took offense at him.

But Jesus said to them, "Prophets are not without honor except in their own country and in their own house." And he did not do many deeds of power there, because of their unbelief.

Prayerful Awareness Jesus preached and worked miracles in order to please His Father and to reveal His Father's Kingdom to man. He also had pity on the sick and the dying

St. Joseph the worker and He healed the sick and gave new life.

The sermons that Jesus preached were so full of life and wisdom that those who heard them were astounded. They did not know Jesus' true identity, that He was the Son of God. They took Him to be Joseph, the carpenter's and Mary, St. Anne and St. Joachim's daughter's son.

They were ignorant of Jesus' divinity.

Just because Jesus associated with the common crowd, with Peter, James and John and Andrew who were ordinary fishermen and Mary and Martha, they thought that they were Jesus' own brothers and sisters.

But the Psalmist says that even before the earth was created, Jesus was there and He was God. This shows that those who listened to Jesus' preaching were ignorant of the Truth hidden in the psalms. And they were not well versed in what Jesus preached such as "I came from the Father and am going back to the Father" and "I and my Father are One." St. Paul who changed his life from a persecutor of early Christians into a follower and apostle of Jesus Christ taught the people to live in love and harmony, to let the peace of Christ to live in their hearts, singing psalms and hymns and doing everything in the name of Jesus Christ, through Him and in Him and in glorifying God the Father in all that they did.

Prayer Starter Beyond earth's sorrows the joys of Heaven Eternal blessings with Christ my Lord, Earth's weeping ended, earth's trials over, Sweet rest in Jesus O blest reward."

Gilmore What is done for Christ in this life will be rewarded in the life to come.

"The Lord is with you. Be awake!"

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Tuesday 2nd May 2017

St. Athanasius, Bishop & Doctor

Acts:7/51-8/1 Psalm:31/2-3,5-7,16, 20 John: 6/30-35 The Gospel Proclamation So they said to him , "What sign are you going to give us then, so that we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.' Then Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven.

For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." They said to him, "Sir, give us this bread always."

Psalm:31/2-3, 5-7, 20 Incline your ear to me; rescue me speedily. Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me. You are indeed my rock and my fortress, for your name's sake lead me and guide me.

You hate those who pay regard to worthless idols, but I trust in the Lord, I will exult and rejoice in your steadfast love, because you have seen my affliction; you have taken heed of my adversities In the shelter of your presence you hide them from human plots; you hold them safe under your shelter from contentious tongues Prayerful Awareness This is one of the great collection of songs and prayers expressing the heart and soul of humanity. In Psalms, the whole range of human experiences is expressed. The writers honestly pour out their true feelings, dynamic, powerful and life-changing friendship with God.

The psalmists, CONFESS their sins, express their DOUBTS and FEAR, ask God for HELP in times of trouble, and PRAISE and WORSHIP Him. Psalm 31 gives the message that, in times of stress, depending upon God requires COMPLETE COMMITMENT. Because God is righteous and loving, He loves to deliver His people.

We say we have faith in God, but do we really TRUST Him? David's words, "Into your hands I commit my spirit" convey his COMPLETE trust in God. Jesus used this same phrase as He was DYING on the Cross - showing His ABSOLUTE dependence on God the Father (Luke 23:46).

Stephen repeated these words as he was being STONED to death (Acts 7:59), CONFIDENT that in death, he was simply passing from God's earthly care to God's ETERNAL care.

We should commit our possessions, our families, and our vocations to God. First and foremost we should commit OURSELVES completely to Him. Why did David suddenly bring up the subject of IDOL worship? He wanted to contrast his total devotion to God with the diluted worship offered by many Israelites. Pagan religious rituals were NEVER completely banished from Israel, and Judah, despite the efforts of David and a few other kings. Obviously a person who clings to idols could not commit his spirit into God's hands.

When we put today's idols (wealth, material possessions, success) first in our lives, we cannot expect God's Spirit to guide us. God is our HIGHEST AUTHORITY and requires our FIRST allegiance.

Prayer Starter God our loving Father, give us both peace and strength to face the storms of life.

"The Lord is with you. Be awake!"

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Wednesday 3rd May 2017 1 Corinthians:15/1-8 Psalm:18/2-5 John: 14/6-14 The First Proclamation .... For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received, that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, and that he was buried and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.

Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, ......

The Gospel Proclamation Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. .....

Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father and we will be satisfied."

Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. ..... Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.

Prayerful Awareness The mystery of the most Holy Trinity is most profound, beyond our comprehension and still we believe in

Sts. Philip & James, Apostles it because it has been revealed to us by Jesus Himself.

God is Trinity. God is three centres of consciousness (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) that are the same being. God is one undivided "being" but three "people". Jesus is the same entity as God. According to this central mystery, there is only one God in three persons, while distinct from one another in their relation of origin. It is the Father who generates, Son who is begotten, the Holy Spirit who proceeds.

And in their relation with one another they are stated to be one in all else, co-equal and co-eternal. Accordingly, the whole work of creation and grace is seen as a single operation common to all three divine persons, in which each shows forth what is proper to Him in the Trinity, so that all things are from the Father, through the Son and in the Holy Spirit.

Philip seeks to know the Father and yet he does not understand Jesus' words. If we see Jesus, the Word made flesh, then we see God the Father. The mystery of the Trinity - the dwelling as One of the Father, Son and Spirit and our initiation into the Trinity, is what our life is. It is what sustains us and makes us holy, whether we are apostles, disciples, preachers, teachers, workers, husbands, wives, parents or students we are all coming to the Father through Jesus' words.

From the first proclamation, St. Paul reminds us of the Good News that he preached to us on which we should stand firm. It reminds us of the unique event that brings happiness to mankind - Jesus Christ has risen from among the dead and He will raise us. This is the heart of the Christian message.

Prayer Starter I love you, O Lord my strength, The Lord is my rock, my fortress, my deliverer. He is my shield, the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

"The Lord is with you. Be awake!"

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Thursday 4th May 2017 Acts: 8/26-40 Psalm: 66/8-9,16-17,20 John : 6/44-51 The First Proclamation The angel of the Lord spoke to Philip saying, 'Set out at noon ....' So he set off on his journey. Now an Ethiopian had been on pilgrimage to Jerusalem; .... He was now on his way home; and as he sat in his chariot he was reading the prophet Isaiah. The Spirit said to Philip, 'Go up and join that chariot.' When Philip ran up, he heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, 'Do you understand what you are reading?' He replied, 'How could I, unless I have someone to guide me?' So he urged Philip to get in and sit by his side. .....The eunuch addressed Philip and said, 'Tell me, is the prophet referring to himself or someone else?' Starting, therefore, with this text of scripture Philip proceeded to explain the good news of Jesus to him. Further along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, 'Look, is some water; is there anything to prevent my being baptised?'

He ordered the chariot to stop, then Philip and the eunuch both went down into the water and he baptised him.

But after they had come up out of the water again Philip was taken away by the Spirit of the Lord, and the eunuch never saw him again but went on his way rejoicing. ....

The Gospel Proclamation No one can come to me unless drawn by the Father who sent me, and I will raise that person up on the last day. It is written in the prophets: They will all be taught by God; everyone who has listened to the Father, and learnt from him, comes to me. Not that anybody has

seen the Father, except him who has his being from God: he has seen the Father.

In all truth I tell you, everyone who believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate manna in the desert and they are dead; but this is the bread which comes down from heaven, so that a person may eat it and not die. I am the living bread which has come down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live for ever; and the bread that I shall give is my flesh, for the life of the world.'

Prayerful Awareness Let us meditatively dwell on today’s proclamations, which touch on two important aspects in a believer’s life, namely, the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Eucharist.

In Romans 8:14 we read ‘those who are led by the Spirit are called children of God’. The Holy Spirit is bestowed on those who believe, and the Spirit will guide the believer to the truth i.e. ‘they will be taught by God’, and we see the Holy Spirit guiding the Apostle Philip in today’s First Proclamation.

The other gift believers receive is the ability to partake of the bread of life in the form of the Holy Eucharist at Holy Mass.

Both gifts confer the gift of eternal life to the true believer who will do the Will of the Lord! What grace!

Song of Praise (Psalm: 66/8-9,16-17,20) Nations, bless our God, let the sound of his praise be heard; he brings us to life and keeps our feet from stumbling.

Come and listen, all who fear God, while I tell what he has done for me. To him I cried aloud, high praise was on my tongue.

Blessed be God who has not turned away my prayer, nor his own faithful love from me.

"The Lord is with you. Be awake!"

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Friday 5th May 2017 Acts: 9/1-20 Psalm: 117/1-2 John: 6/52-59 The First Proclamation Meanwhile Saul was still breathing threats to slaughter the Lord's disciples. He went to the high priest and asked for letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, that would authorise him to arrest and take to Jerusalem any followers of the Way, men or women, that he might find. It happened that while he was travelling to Damascus and approaching the city, suddenly a light from heaven shone all round him. He fell to the ground, and then he heard a voice saying, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?' 'Who are you, Lord?' he asked, and the answer came, 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you are to do.' .....There was a disciple in Damascus called Ananias, and he had a vision in which the Lord said to him, 'Ananias!' When he replied, 'Here I am, Lord,' the Lord said, ....'Go, for this man is my chosen instrument to bring my name before gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel; I myself will show him how much he must suffer for my name.'

Then Ananias went....he got up and was baptised, and after taking some food he regained his strength. After he had spent only a few days with the disciples in Damascus, he began preaching in the synagogues, 'Jesus is the Son of God.' Fix your gaze on Jesus Lord, help us to see Your mind-set in how you win over Saul to be Your Lion…

Saul thought that he ought to do all he could against the name of Christ, who claimed to be the Son of God. This Jesus, known to be unqualified to even be a mere Rabbi by education and training, coming as he did from a mediocre background, dared to blaspheme the Holy God of the chosen! He (Saul) will do his best to serve the Holy of Holies.

Saul did serve the God, as he knew thereby; in fact he seemed to breathe this in as his very element. He was a very fervent and very devout man.

This pattern of thought is a very effective trap of the Devil. He would like us to create a God according to our own desires and beliefs. Since we all of us are limited and localised, our imagination and creativity essentially constrained, we thereby create a limited god. We would always be excluding (rejecting) some aspects of the Creation; in other words, we would deny or hate some parts of God's creation.

In doing so, we would NOT reflect the image of God – who is LOVE. Jesus, the Christ reconciled everything within Himself; there is room in God even for those who reject Him, or blame Him for every thing that we ourselves do wrong. Even those who deny Him are lovingly embraced, the sun shining for them too. Let us today recognize that our thinking is essentially limited, and journey towards the truth; to identify our own particular biases and prejudices, wounds from past experiences and even faulty genetic wirings, that prevent us from reaching for our power and freedom TO LOVE. Let's turn anew, and be Present(conscious of), to the Ever Abiding Presence....

Prayer Starter We need to be saved and freed from ourselves O Lord; Maranatha….

"The Lord is with you. Be awake!"

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Saturday 6th May 2017

Feast of St. Dominic Savio, Confessor

Acts: 9/31-42 Psalm: 116/12-17 John: 6/60-69

the twelve, "Do you also wish to go away?" Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the holy One of God." St. Dominic Savio Prayerful Awareness He was born at Murialdo, in Northern Italy on 2nd April, 1842. He was Here we have Jesus claiming to be one of the first pupils of St. John Bosco. the very life of God come down from Young Dominic's holy life was nurtured heaven. The moral demand is such both at home and in the parish. He was that even His disciples found it hard to helped by Don Bosco to enkindle a deep accept. To live that life or face eternity love for God and a deep devotion to the yes, it is beyond our abilities or powers.

Virgin Mother of Christ. His routine But with His help and by submitting to included going to daily Mass at 5 am, Him, one can live that life. "The first serve at Mass and then spent his time in announcement of the Eucharist divided devotion and prayer. Extreme changes the disciples, just as the announcement in weather could not change his rou- of the Passion scandalized them: 'This is tine. His spiritual life showed signs of a hard saying, who can listen to it?" The superior advancement and was highly Eucharist and the cross are stumbling commended by the Popes, Pius X and blocks. It is the same mystery and it nevPius XI. He burst into ecstatic excla- er ceases to be an occasion of division. mation on 9th March 1857 - "Oh what "Will you also go away?" The Lord's a beautiful sight I see!" before passing question echoes through the ages, as a to his reward. Canonized on 12th June loving invitation to discover that only He 1954 by Pope Pius XII. has "the words of eternal life" and that to receive in faith the gift of His Eucharist The Gospel Proclamation When many of his disciples heard is to receive the Lord Himself" (Jesus it, they said, "This teaching is difficult, also reveals the all-important thing - the who can accept it?" But Jesus, being life-giving power of the Holy Spirit. The aware that his disciples were com- spirit in which all activities are done is plaining about it, said to them "Does the most important thing and in this way this offend you? Then what if you the things of the flesh gain value.

"Peter confessed Christ was the true were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the spirit Messiah, commissioned by God to reveal that gives life; the flesh is useless. The His Will to men and fulfilling all prophwords that I have spoken to you are esies and the Law; He was the Son of spirit and life. But among you there God, begotten from all eternity, but also are some who do not believe." For the Son of Man begotten in time - true Jesus knew from the first who were the God and true Man. Our Blessed Lord ones that did not believe, and who was revealed to Peer that he did not know the one that would betray him. And he this - of an by - himself; that no natural said, "For this reason I have told you study of discernment could ever reveal that no one can come to me unless it this great truth" (Archbishop F.J.Sheen) is granted by the Father.

Prayer Starter Because of this many of his disWhen engulfed by the ups and downs ciples turned back and no longer of this life, You alone are the source of went about with him. So Jesus asked refuge, "To whom would we go?" Amen.

"The Lord is with you. Be awake!"

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Sunday 7th May 2017 Fourth Sunday of Easter , World Day of Prayer for Vocations Ps. Week.IV is that? But if you endure when you Acts: 2/14, 36-41 do right and suffer for it, you have Psalm: 23/1-6 God's approval. For to this you 1 Peter: 2/20-25 have been called, because Christ John: 10/1-10 also suffered for you, leaving you an The First Proclamation example, so that you should follow But Peter, standing with the in his steps. eleven, raised his voice and ad"He committed no sin, and no dressed them, "Men of Judea and deceit was found in his mouth" all who live in Jerusalem, let this When he was abused, he did not be known to you, and listen to return abuse; when he suffered,; he what I say. did not threaten, but he entrusted Therefore let the entire house of himself to the one who judges justly.

Israel know with certainty that God He himself bore our sins in his body has made him both Lord and Mes- on the cross, so that, free from sins, siah, this Jesus whom you crucified. we might live for righteousness; by Now when they heard this, they his wounds you have been healed. were cut to the heart and said to For you were going astray like Peter and to the other apostles, sheep, but now you have returned "Brothers, what should we do? to the shepherd and guardian of Peter said to them, "Repent, and your souls. be baptized everyone of you in the The Gospel Proclamation name of Jesus Christ so that your "Very truly I tell you, anyone sins may be forgiven; and you will who does not enter the sheepfold receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. by the gate but climbs in by anothFor the promise is for you, for your er way is a thief and a bandit. The children and for all who are far one who enters by the gate is the away, everyone whom the Lord shepherd of the sheep. The gateour God calls to him. And he teskeeper opens the gate for him, and tified with many other arguments the sheep hear his voice. He calls and exhorted them, saying, "Save his own sheep by name and leads yourselves from this corrupt genthem out. When he has brought out eration." So those who welcomed all his own, he goes ahead of them, his message were baptized, and that and the sheep follow him because day about three thousand persons they know his voice. They will not were added. follow a stranger, but they will run The Second Proclamation from him because they do not know If you endure when you are the voice of strangers. Jesus used beaten for doing wrong, what credit this figure of speech with them, but

"The Lord is with you. Be awake!"

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they did not understand what he was saying to them.

So again Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

Prayerful Awareness In order to fully grasp what Jesus says to us, there is a need for us cultivate a deep and an intimate friendship with Jesus. As His disciples did not understand what He was saying to them, we too most of the time, remain in theological darkness. Only by following Jesus, we come to grasp what He is communicating to us.

What He communicates to us is His very life. Unlike false shepherds, Jesus is the life-giver par excellence, because He is the Shepherd of shepherds. He is the one who shepherds all the other shepherds.

Most of times, we do a great dis-service and damage to ourselves by trying to follow other shepherds, especially false shepherds. This tendency has become so widespread and rampant in the contemporary world. In a sense, we could say that the whole world has gone after false shepherds and also in a confused world, more and more false shepherds come forward and become influential and dominant.

When people live empty and meaningless lives, they also become easy prey to these fake shepherds.

False shepherds only fool people.

Even some Christians give more prominence to famous personalities than to Christ.

People like politicians, journalists, media men, gurus, photographers, Hollywood and Bollywood actors and actresses, cricketers, football players, rich businessmen, musicians, singers, fashion models could also take the place of false shepherds in the modern world.

Our world today is full of false shepherds. The more confused people are, the more they tend to idolise false shepherds.

To recognise that one has gone after false shepherds is also quite a spiritual accomplishment. We have been created to follow only the true Shepherd.

Since Jesus is the authentic way, truth and life, He is also the real door of sheep. We have no other way to enter by. His is the door of salvation and life.

Jesus came to give us life, to offer it to us abundantly and everlastingly.

Prayer Starter O Lord guide us to choose the true shepherd of our life, and guard us from false shepherds. Give us the grace to choose the life-giving door, the door that leads us to everlasting life and also enlighten those who are blindly following false and fake shepherds.

"The Lord is with you. Be awake!"

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Monday 8th May 2017

Acts: 11/1-18 Psalm:42/1-2; 43/3-4 John: 10/11-18

to save everyone who accepts Him. No man is capable of becoming the Good Shepherd Jesus Christ, which He proved by the suffering and the cruel death, by which He restored the path for Eternal Life. By stating “I am the The Gospel Proclamation Good Shepherd” Jesus Christ reminds “ I am the Good Shepherd. A us not to trust any other, as there could good shepherd lays down his life for be false prophets, false preachers, the sheep. A hired man, who is not false leaders, who pretend to be good a shepherd and those sheep are shepherds, but fail to act as the Good not his own , sees a wolf coming and Shepherd. Human beings are weak leaves the sheep and runs away, and and could have various desires to guide the wolf catches and scatters them. them and sometimes control them .

This is because He works for pay They could have hidden agendas, and has no concern for the sheep. I hidden plans, hidden motives, hidden am the Good Shepherd, and I know desires, hidden weaknesses to hold mine and mine knows me and I know positions or leadership continuously, the Father, and I will lay down my to become popular and to earn others’ life for the sheep. I have other sheep respect etc. But, in the case of the Good that do not belong to this fold. These Shepherd , it was only Love, and Love, also I must lead, and they will hear a sacrificial Love to save His sheep by my voice, and they will be one flock, totally giving His Life and everything one Shepherd. This is why Father He owned and possessed, which He Loves me, because I lay down my willingly offered to share with everylife in order to take it up again. No one who accept the path of Salvation to one takes it from me, but I lay it have a rewarding eternal life with Him down on my own. I have power to for ever, than to die and end up in mislay it down, and the power to take ery. Lord calls us to change, repent and it up again. This Command I have come back how sinful one is and obtain received from my Father.” forgiveness for all sins, follow His Prayerful Awareness Teachings and join with Him to share There was no other person on Earth His Word to everyone, as humble as a who could have given a better recom- dove, but with the Wisdom as a serpent, mendation about Lord other than Jesus filled with Lord’s Love, in order to save Christ Himself, as no man would have all of them to have eternal life . known who Lord Truly was, or what Prayer Starter His Love for mankind, the magnitude Lord Jesus Christ, I accept you as of which no man can measure or know. my Saviour and my Lord, the Good God (Father, Son and the Holy Spirit), Shepherd who Loves me and so Conso Loved the world that He gave His cerned of me. Forgive all my sins and only Son, so that everyone who be- grant me the Holy Spirit more and lieves might have eternal life (St. John more to know the Truth about Your Love 3:16). and Jesus Christ said in St. John and Concern and Your Mercy. Help 18:37 that “I came into this world to me to repent for all my sins and change testify to the Truth”. The Truth about to become a better son or daughGod and His Great Love and His plan ter of God. Thank You Lord, Amen

"The Lord is with you. Be awake!"

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Tuesday 9th May 2017 Acts: 11/19-26 Psalm: 87/1-7 John: 10/22-30 The Gospel Proclamation At that time the festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem.

It was winter and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Salomon. So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, 'How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly." Jesus answered, "I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name testify to me; but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep, My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish.

No one will snatch them out of my hand. What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father's hand. The Father and I are one."

Prayerful Awareness "I and the Father are one". This verse reveals the "Oneness" and the unity of God the Father and the Son that there is only "One God". However much Jesus told the Jews that He is Christ and the Son of God, they could not understand. The Jews looked at Jesus and His ways, perhaps in a worldly manner. They believed that living a life of pomp and pageantry, coming from a royal heritage, mixing with kings and princes and the elite would be the life chosen by the Messiah. Hence of Jesus they said, "Isn't He the Son of Joseph the carpenter?

The real heritage of Jesus was hidden to the Jews.

At least the wondrous miracles that Jesus performed "that the blind saw, the dumb spoke, the deaf heard, the lame walked, people possessed by evil spirits were cured". But the Jews were blind to all these miracles. Hence they had very little regard for those miracles. Of them Jesus said, "They look but do not see, they hear but do not understand". To them Jesus was just one of them. Hence Jesus' true identity was really hidden to them.

Jesus' sheep, His apostles and His disciples knew Him and loved Him. But even they came to believe in Jesus' true divine nature, that He was God, only after His Resurrection.

After Jesus ascended into Heaven, His Father sent the Holy Spirit upon the apostles and disciples and they were filled with the grace of the Holy Spirit with His fruits and gifts and they started preaching Jesus' doctrine at first to the Jews and later to the Gentiles even to those living beyond Jerusalem. It is said that after St. Peter's first sermon 3,000 people came to believe in Jesus Christ. While after his second sermon 5,000 were converted.

It was the power of the Holy Spirit that resulted in these conversions. The name "Christian" was given to the disciples and converts at "Antioch".

Prayer Starter We are called with a holy calling.

The light of the world to be, To lift up the lamp of the Saviour The others His Light may see" Anon "The straight and narrow way is God's way for a crooked generation."

"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 10th May 2017 Acts: 12/24-13/5 Psalm: 67/1-2,4-5,7 John: 12/44-50 Gospel Proclamation “Who believes in me believes not in me but also in him who sent me. Whoever sees me sees also him who sent me.

I have come to the world as light so that everyone who believes in me should not remain in the darkness. If anyone hears my message and does not obey it, I will not judge him. I came, not to judge the world, but to save it. Those who reject me and do not accept my message have one who will judge them. The words I have spoken will be their judge on the last day!

This is true, because I have not spoken on my own authority, but the father who sent me has commanded me what I must say and speak. And I know that his command brings eternal life. What I say, then, is what the father has told me to say.

Gaze at Jesus’ Sonship Dictionary.com define sonship as “the state, fact, or relation of being a son.

Merriam Webster define sonship as the relationship of son to father. There are important factors that are revealed through these definitions. It defines continuity from father to son and in Jesus’ life He showed the kind of submission that fulfilled God’s purpose. Jesus also is revealing characteristics of the father in him as the divine son. Therefore, in the Gospel today Jesus is inviting us to embrace God’s salvation that stems down through Him.

Our sonship (Acts 12: 24-13:5) Meanwhile the word of God continued to spread and grow.

Barnabas and Saul finished their mission and returned from Jerusalem, taking John Mark with them.

In the church of Antioch there were

some prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon (called the black), Lucius (from Cyrene), Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod, the Governor) and Saul.

While they were serving the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said to them, “set apart for me Barnabas and Saul, to do the work to which I have called them”. They fasted and prayed, placed their hands on them and sent them off. Having been sent by the Holy Spirit, Barnabas and Saul went to Seleucia …

The book of Acts points towards an era after the Pentecost when the church became a powerful instrument of God. During this period, the church resembled the power and the flavor of God. The reason was their submission to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is said in the scripture (Romans 8:14) that “those who are led by God’s Spirit are children of God”. Therefore, the church as a body was a reflection of God’s divine sonship.

In 2017 the church began their Golden Jubilee celebrations of the experience of a new Pentecost after the 2nd Vatican council’s prayer for renewal in the Catholic Church. With Pope Francis in the Holy Seat of the Vatican in the current era is inviting us Catholics to embrace attitudes of Christ with humbleness. Acts of the Apostles clearly resemble their submission to the direction given to them by the Holy Spirit. Therefore, the church grew in faith and in numbers.

They also prayed as a body to discern the will of God revealed to them by the Lord. Therefore, miraculous things began to take place among them enriching their faith life.

Prayer Starter (Psalm 67: 1-2) God be merciful to us and bless us.

Look on us with kindness, so that the whole world may know Your Will, so that all nations may know Your salvation.

"The Lord is with you. Be awake!"

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Thursday 11th May 2017 Acts: 13/13-25 Psalm: 89/2-3, 21-22 25, 27 John: 13/16-20 The First Proclamation Paul and his companions went by sea from Paphos to Perga…. till they reached Antioch in Pisidia. Here they went to synagogue on the Sabbath ...

After the passages from the Law and the Prophets had been read, the presidents of the synagogue sent them a message, 'Brothers, if you would like to address some words of encouragement to the congregation, please do so.' Paul stood up, ... and began to speak: 'Men of Israel, and fearers of God, listen! The God of our nation Israel chose our ancestors and made our people great when they were living in Egypt, .... then by divine power he led them out and for about forty years took care of them in the desert. ... After this he gave them judges, down to the prophet Samuel. Then they demanded a king, and God gave them Saul son of Kish, .... After forty years, he deposed him and raised up David to be king, whom he attested in these words, "I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart, who will perform my entire will." To keep his promise, God has raised up for Israel one of David's descendants, Jesus, as Saviour, whose coming was heralded by John when he proclaimed a baptism of repentance for the whole people of Israel. ....."

Psalm for you have said: love is built to last for ever, you have fixed your constancy firm in the heavens.

'I have made a covenant with my Chosen One, sworn an oath to my servant David: My hand will always be with him,

my arm will make him strong. 'No enemy will be able to outwit him, no wicked man overcome him; I shall establish his power over the sea, his dominion over the rivers.

So I shall make him my first-born, the highest of earthly kings. (Psalm:89/2-3, 21-22,25,27) Gospel Proclamation 'In all truth I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, no messenger is greater than the one who sent him.

'Now that you know this, blessed are you if you behave accordingly.

I am not speaking about all of you: I know the ones I have chosen; but what scripture says must be fulfilled: 'He who shares my table takes advantage of me. I tell you this now, before it happens, so that when it does happen you may believe that I am He. In all truth I tell you, whoever welcomes the one I send, welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me, welcomes the one who sent me.'

Gaze at Jesus Let us meditatively reflect on today’s Proclamations and Psalm which points to God’s plan of salvation through the sacrificial death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. In the First Proclamation St. Paul gives a brief summary of the history of salvation from the beginning till the time of Jesus, and the Psalm foretells that because of God’s Love for His creation He will exalt the Son of Man to be King of Kings! thereby paving the way for believers to rein with Him in eternity. In the Gospel Proclamation Jesus gives an insight to the working of the sin of pride in the mind of Judas which leads to His betrayal to bring to fruition God’s plan of salvation. And the incident described in the First Proclamation is an example of: whoever welcomes the one I send, welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me, welcomes the one who sent me. Dear Lord Jesus, help us to do likewise. 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 12th May 2017 St. Nereus & Achilleus, St. Pancras, Martyrs Acts: 13/26-33 Psalm: 2/6-11 John: 14/1-6 The First Proclamation 'My brothers, sons of Abraham's race, and all you god-fearers, this message of salvation is meant for you. What the people of Jerusalem and their rulers did, though they did not realise it, was in fact to fulfil the prophecies read on every Sabbath.

Though they found nothing to justify his execution, they condemned him and asked Pilate to have him put to death. When they had carried out everything that scripture foretells about him they took him down from the tree and buried him in a tomb. But God raised him from the dead, and for many days he appeared to those who had accompanied him from Galilee to Jerusalem: and it is these same companions of his who are now his witnesses before our people. 'We have come here to tell you the good news that the promise made to our ancestors has come about. God has fulfilled it to their children by raising Jesus from the dead. As scripture says in the psalms: You are my son: today I have fathered you.

Fix your gaze on Jesus Come Holy Spirit, overshadow us; awaken us to the kingdom of the Lord within; give sight that we would hear and see His glory without and within!

When we come together to worship God, we must do it, not only by prayer and praise, but by the reading and hearing of the word of God. The bare reading of the Scriptures in

public assemblies is not enough; they should be expounded, and the people exhorted out of them. This is to help people do that which are necessary to make the word profitable; to apply it to themselves. This sermon touches upon every aspect that would best prevail with the Jews to receive and embrace Christ as the promised Messiah. All views of the Lord's dealings with his church, reminds us of his mercy and long–suffering, and of man's ingratitude and perverseness.

Paul uses genealogy and shows that this Jesus is His promised Seed; a Saviour for all mankind; to save them from their sins, their worst enemies.

When the apostles preached Christ as the Saviour, they always preached the Christ crucified. Our complete separation from sin, as is engineered by God, is represented by our being buried with Jesus the Christ. Jesus not only dies, but also rose again from the dead, with no corruption: this was the great truth to be preached. Jesus re-orients us today in the Gospel: “Let not your heart be troubled: believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I come again, and will receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also….. I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no one cometh unto the Father, but by me”.

Prayer Starter Thy Word was like bee’s honey to my mouth… and Your Word nourishes me…Help me Lord to stay before Thy life giving Word and to abide within…

"The Lord is with you. Be awake!"

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Saturday 13th May 2017

Feast of Our Lady of Fatima

Acts:13/44-52 Psalm: 98/1-4 John: 14/7-14 OR Isaiah: 61/9-11 Psalm:45/11-12,14-17 Luke: 11/27-28 Our Lady of Fatima On May 3, 1917, the third year of the First World War which cost eight million lives, important events were taking place simultaneously - in Russia, communists, atheistic Bolshevism was being organised; in the neighbourhood of the little Portugese town of Fatima, Our Lady herself deigned on appear in the first of six apparitions to three children - through whom she made the final appeal to our materialistic war-torn world. "O my Jesus, forgive us our sins!

Save us from the fires of hell! Lead all souls to heaven, especially those who most need Thy mercy!"

This prayer was given by Our Lady herself, to be recited at the end of each decade of the rosary.

The Gospel Proclamation ..... Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied."

Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in

fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.

Prayerful Awareness Jesus' claim and invitation to His disciples to see and experience God in Him was a staggering one. The people of His day could never have dared to think that they could see God. In Jesus God shared in the most homely and intimate things. "God knows what it is to be tempted. The life of Jesus shows us not the serenity but the struggle of God. Anyone might conceive of a God who lived in a serenity and peace which were beyond the tensions of this world;' but Jesus show us a God who goes through the struggle that we must undergo. God is not like a commander who leads from behind the lines, He too knows the firing line of life." (William Barclay) What a practical mind Philip had.

On the shores of Galilee Jesus wanted to feed his audience of five thousand men.

When Philip was asked to handle the situation, his immediate response was that there wasn't enough money to feed the crowd. Undoubtedly he was amazed at the way Jesus solved the problem. He was equally amazed at the Last Supper when he asked the Lord, "Show us the Father and we will be satisfied." Jesus' answer was in the form of a reprimand.

Jesus' demand was one of faith. It is interesting to note how he gave his life for his faith in the Lord - he was crucified.

"Still, the Christian faith is not a 'religion of the book'. Christianity is the religion of the "word" of God, "not a written and mute word but incarnate and living."

(C.C.C. 108) Prayer Starter Instill in us an unprecedented reverence for Your Law. Amen.

"The Lord is with you. Be awake!"

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zzY=oaOd;auhdfKkS" uu Tnjykafiag jkaokd kuialdr lrĂą' ud l< hq;= l=ulaÂąhs ug wK l< uekjZZ

Sunday 14th May 2017 Acts:6/1-7 Psalm:33/1-2,4-5,18-19 1 Peter:2/4-9 John: 14/1-12 The First Proclamation Now during those days, when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food. And the twelve called together the whole community of the disciples and said, "It is not right that we should neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables. Therefore, friends, select from among yourselves seven men of good standing, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this task, while we, for our part, will devote ourselves to prayer and to serving the word. What they said pleased the whole community, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, together with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor Timon, Parmenas and Nicolaus, a proslyte of Antioch. They had these men stand before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.

The word of God continued to spread; the number of the disciples increased greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.

The Second Proclamation Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God's sight, and like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in scripture: "See, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious; and

Fifth Sunday of Easter National Laity Sunday Ps. Week. I whoever believes in him will not be put to shame." To you then who believe, he is precious; but for those who do not believe, "The stone that the builders rejected has become the very head of the corner," and "A stone that makes them stumble, and a rock that makes them fall."They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation. God's own people in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

The Gospel Proclamation "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me.

In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going. Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know t he way?" Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him."

Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied."

Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the

"The Lord is with you. Be awake!"

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father and the Father is in ,but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. Very truly I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father.

Prayerful Awareness Today's Gospel draws our attention to Jesus' departure, and to the attitude of the disciples in the new era. It opens with a two-fold command: 'Trust in God still and trust in me'/ (John 14:1)., and it closes with the same message: "Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? .... You must believe me ..... believe it on the evidence of this work .... Whoever believes in me ..... will perform even greater works" (vs. 10, 11, 12). In this way the theme for the passage is set. Jesus must return to His Father, and thus leave the disciples in the world to continue the task which Jesus has begun.

However, there is a way of life which will give the disciples guidance and courage: the way of faith. But there is more than guidance and courage involved. Not only will the believing disciples continue the presence of Jesus in the world, they will 'perform even greater works' (vs.

12). The Church does not simply repeat what Jesus did. It lives through the centuries, facing new challenges, translating the words and ways of Jesus into new situations and new demands upon the Gospel which it preaches.

How is all this possible? The answer is supplied in the words of Jesus which come between His two exhortations to faith. Jesus tells of His place in the Father's plan. The departure of Jesus from His followers is a temporary measure, a necessary journey away from us so that one day He will be able to come back and lead us to His Father's house (vs.2-3). In the meantime, we should know the way to the place where He is going. (vs.4) Therein lies the problem: Philip voices our complaint in saying that we do not know the way (vs.5). But we should.

Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. (vs. 6). We are called to adopt His way, His life-style, His approach to God and to humankind and creation. This is the only Way which can be described as Truth and Life. It responds to the deepest stirring of our spirit, leading us to a knowledge of the one true God. (vs.7-10). Jesus is not among us as a physical person whom we can consult, look at and follow in the physical sense. But He is always among us as the Way, the Truth and Life.

Our God and Father has made Himself known in the life-story of Jesus (vs.10). Jesus primarily describes Himself as 'the way'. The words 'the truth and the life' are used to describe 'the way' (vs.6). In Jesus we can discover God's way in the world, a way which brings truth and life. To do greater things than Jesus, we must rediscover the purpose and the driving force behind Jesus' life-story.

Gaze at Jesus There are many 'ways of life' which are daily thrust before us as the 'way to success'. But, as the great success stories of this world come and go, rise and fall, live and die, the word and way of Jesus are always with us. If we await His return guided by the way He lived and loved, then we will enjoy the presence of both Jesus and His Father empowering us to do even greater things than Jesus. The success of what we do depends upon our faith and trust in Him. following Jesus the way, we Christians will bring the truth and life which continue to give direction to those who have become lost or puzzled in the confusions of our difficult world.

Prayer Starter Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous.

Praise befits the upright. Praise the Lord with the lyre; make melody to him with the harp of ten strings For the word of the Lord is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness.

He loves righteousness and justice, the earth is full of the steadfast love of the 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

Monday 15h May 2017 Acts:14/5-18 Psalm:115/1-4,15-16 John: 14/21-26 The First Proclamation Then some Gentiles and Jews, together with their leaders, decided to mistreat the apostles and stone them.

When the apostles learned about it, they fled to the cities of Lystra and Derbe in Lycaonia and to the surrounding territory. There they preached the Good News… In Lystra there was a crippled man who ... had never been able to walk… Paul saw that he believed and could be healed, so he looked straight at him and said in a loud voice, “Stand up straight on your feet!” The man jumped up and started walking around. When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they started shouting .... “The gods have become like men and have come down to us!” … the crowds wanted to offer sacrifice to the apostles. … “Why are you doing this? We ourselves are only human beings like you! We are here to announce the Good News, to turn you away from these worthless things to the living God, …” .......

The Gospel Proclamation “Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. My Father will love those who love me; I too will love them and reveal myself to them.”

Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “Lord, how can it be that you will reveal yourself to us and not to the world?”

Jesus answered him, “Those who love me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and my Father and I will come to them and live with them.

Those who do not love me do not obey my teaching. And the teaching you have heard is not mine, but comes from the Father, who sent me.

“I have told you this while I am still with you. The Helper, the Holy Spirit,

whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and make you remember all that I have told you.

Prayerful Awareness “May you be blessed by the Lord, who made heaven and earth! Heaven belongs to the Lord alone but he gave the earth to us humans” (Ps 115: 15-16). In the beginning, God brought us to life within a beautiful and complex creation which he placed under our responsibility. If we look to the scriptures for an indication of our purpose, the answer is clear: to bring glory to God. “To you alone, O Lord, to you alone, and not to us, must glory be given because of your constant love and faithfulness” (Ps 115: 1).

Today’s readings also reveal how difficult it is authentically experience God. In the first reading, many miss out on encountering the living God in their lives because they are unable to set aside what they know. “Their gods are made of silver and gold, formed by human hands. They have mouths, but cannot speak and eyes, but cannot see” (Ps 115: 4-5).

The state of the world reveals that humanity has strayed significantly from the perfection in which God first created us. Nevertheless, the Bible is full of people (including the apostles) who prioritized giving God glory, conquering personal challenges as well as challenging conditions of society to inspire pockets of goodness and hope. When we give God the focus, we can still follow our passion while striving to bring glory to God in all we do. In fact, our efforts become more fruitful because with God, our potential is unlimited as we work for a purpose which is greater than ourselves. “Those who love me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and my Father and I will come to them and live with them” (John 14: 23).

Prayer Starter Not to us O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness.

"The Lord is with you. Be awake!"

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Tuesday 16th May 2017 Acts:14/19-28 Psalm: 145/10-13, 21 John:14/27-31 Gospel Proclamation “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.

You heard me tell you, ‘I am going away and I will come back to you.’

If you loved me, you will rejoice that I am going to the Father ; for the Father is greater than I. “And now I have told you this before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe. I will no longer speak much with you, for the ruler of the world is coming. He has no power over me, but the world must know that I Love the Father and that I do just as the Father has commanded me. Get up, let us go.

Prayerful Awareness “I leave my Peace with you”.

Peace Jesus Christ experienced as Son of God, obeying all instructions given

by God the Father as the Loving Son, knowing that the Father loves and cares, and that the Father was there with Him all the time and would never forsake Him what ever happens. This same Peace was given by Jesus Christ to the disciples and to us who ever accepted Him as Saviour and Lord, and God the Father will never forsake us as promised in Deut. 31:6 and therefore we need not be troubled or afraid. “I will come back to you” as Jesus had already promised to be where two or three assembled in His name (St. Mathew 18:20). Jesus further said that if the disciples loved Him, they should be happy as He was going to

the Father. He can then intercede for the disciples and all the Believers in the presence of Father. We too are called to go to Father, through Jesus Christ in our prayers regularly, dropping all our anguishes and enjoy His Peace. We may call the Holy Spirit to take us there. Then on the final day we will be ready to go there. In one of my prayer mediations of the past I saw a vision, a person coming and taking me on a voyage on foot through shrubs to a place where there was a small cliff. Here, another person joined us and we continued our journey uphill on a big mountain and finally came to the mist covered summit. We went to the tallest point beyond where there was nothing and only mist to be seen. Here all three were standing having our hands raised up at the sky, having our gaze at the sky that was gleaming with beautiful colours like a plasma. What peace I experienced there ( In the presence of God with the Holy Spirit and Lord Jesus ). Christ also said that the ruler of the world was coming to take Him to task, but yet he had no authority except for what Jesus allowed according to the plan the Father had for Him, to pay for the sins of the mankind. In the same manner Satan has no authority over any of us who have accepted Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord and have received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit to be children of God. We should always reject him with the help of the Holy Spirit.

Prayer Starter Lord Jesus Christ, grant us Your Peace more and more, and help us to enjoy living our lives as children of God, guided by the Holy Spirit to do everything according to the Will of God. Thank You Lord, 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

Wednesday 17th May 2017 Acts:15/1-6 Psalm: 122/1-5 John:15/1-8 The First Proclamation Then certain individuals came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers. "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved." And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to discuss this question with the apostles and the elders. So they were sent on their way by the church and as they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, they reported the conversion of the Gentiles and brought great joy to all the believers. When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders and they reported all that God had done with them, But some believers who belonged to the sect of the Pharisees stood up and said, "It is necessary for them to be circumcised and ordered to keep the law of Moses."

The Gospel Proclamation "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit.

You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you.

Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in

me is thrown away like a branch and withers, such branches are gathered , thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.

Prayerful Awareness In today’s reading of John, virtually all the phrases seem to have such great significance. “I am the true vine”, “cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit”, “remain in me as I also remain in you”, “no branch can bear fruit by itself”, “apart from me you can do nothing” and “ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you”.

What happens when we are not part of the vine that is Jesus? In today’s first reading of the Acts, we can see what happens when some of the early Christian teachers are unable to break their bonds to the law, and therefore are not responding as part of the true vine.

There is disharmony. There is prominence to the law instead of love. There is also a great risk that the teachers’ insistence on circumcision will result in no “fruit”. In fact, the multiplication of Christianity would have been greatly thwarted had there been an insistence on circumcision.

Fortunately, the teachers, guided by the church, seek the advice of the apostles and the elders. The apostles and the elders, firmly connected to the true vine, ask for guidance; for when we remain in Jesus we can ask for whatever we wish and it will done for us.

Prayer Starter Jesus, You are the vine and I am the branch. Help me to always remain in You, because without You I can do nothing. I believe firmly that my request will be fulfilled by You.

"The Lord is with you. Be awake!"

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Thursday 18th May 2017

Acts: 15/7-21 Psalm: 96/1-3, 10 John: 15/9-11 Gospel Proclamation I love you just as the father loves me; remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my father’s commands and remain in His love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

Gaze at Jesus Jesus invites His faithful today to “remain in His love”. What are the bench marks given to remain in His love? Jesus says; obey His commands just as He obeys His father’s commands. His commands were to love God and to love one another.

How did Jesus obey God’s Commands? He was willing to die even for the sake of those who forsake Him. Scripture also says that, He was obedient to His father’s commands to the extent that He gave up His divine identity to reach out to the lowly and the outcast. He brought Good News to the captives, and set the down trodden free.

Therefore, when Jesus says, “remain in my love” He wants us to show our readiness to embrace God’s forgiving love in our life as we all fall short in following His commands. He also wants us to cherish others in the same way He loves us.

Our sonship (Acts 15: 7-21) After a long debate Peter stood up and said, “My brothers and sisters, you know that a long time

St. John I, Pope & Martyr ago God chose me from among you to preach the Good News to the gentiles, so that they could hear and believe.

And God who knows the thoughts of everyone, showed His approval of the gentiles by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as He had to us. He made no difference between us and them.

He forgave their sins because they believed. So then why do you now want to put God to the test by laying a load on the backs of the believers which neither our ancestors nor we ourselves were able to carry!

Peter rising says by a revelation of the Holy Spirit that God’s grace is equal to all. In God’s love no one is justified by law but by God’s grace alone. God has made all of us worthy by the spiritual intercession of the Holy Spirit who assists us repent, and live God’s commands. Therefore, all Christians undertake a spiritual journey when they are baptized to “Walk in the enlightenment of the Spirit”.

Prayerful Awareness Abba father, you are merciful and loving. You aim to build our lives in the foundations of love. Dear Lord, by the intercession of your spirit, impart with us, the wisdom to live in the foundations of love.

Prayer Starter (Psalm 96:1-3, 10) Sing a new song to the Lord! Sing to the Lord, all the world! Sing to the Lord, and praise Him! Proclaim every day the good news that He has saved us. Proclaim His glory to the nations, His mighty deeds to all peoples. Say to all the nations, the Lord is king!

The earth is set firmly in place and cannot be moved, he will judge the people with justice.

"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 19th May 2017 Acts: 15/22-31 Psalm:57/7-11 John:15/12-17 The First Proclamation Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to choose delegates from among themselves to send to Antioch...They chose Judas..., and Silas, both leading men in the brotherhood, and gave them this letter to take with them: 'The apostles and elders, your brothers, send greetings to the brothers of gentile birth in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia. We hear that some people coming from here, but acting without any authority from ourselves, have disturbed you with their demands and have unsettled your minds; and so we have decided unanimously to elect delegates and to send them to you... who have committed their lives to the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Accordingly we are sending you Judas and Silas, who will confirm by word of mouth what we have written. It has been decided by the Holy Spirit and by ourselves not to impose on you any burden beyond these essentials: you are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from illicit marriages.

Avoid these, and you will do what is right. Farewell.' The party left and went down to Antioch, where they summoned the whole community and delivered the letter. The community read it and were delighted with the encouragement it gave them.

Fix your gaze on Jesus How does one qualify to be an apostle? Clement of Alexandria says that Matthias, like all the other apostles,

was not chosen by Jesus for what he already was, but for what Jesus foresaw he would become. God, having infused us with divine potential, is keen that we come in to an experience of that potential. Thus, Judas and Silas were elected not because they were worthy but because they would become worthy; because they has already evidenced that they were faithful in little things, indicating that they could be faithful in big things. Jesus chooses all of us in the same way. What does Jesus want you to become? What is the unique dance that he wants you to dance? Which special role does he want you to play in His-Body? Are you keen on finding this out? Are you prepared to listen there-for? Circumstances will reveal the divine desire....choose to respond in accord with his commandments outlining His will... the acid test being whether you can experience and are able to love in all circumstances....

It is fit that God should choose his own servants. Similarly, we too must come to know the Christ. The ‘Living Word’ must become infused within; and then, ‘I call you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have learnt from my Father. You did not choose me, no, I chose you; and I commissioned you to go out and to bear fruit, fruit that will last; so that the Father will give you anything you ask him in my name. My command to you is to love one another’ will become our reality…..

Prayer Starter You have chosen me; even before I was conceived in my mothers’ womb, you drew out a destiny for me....a beautiful dance, a significant role in thy body you have allotted me; I am indeed blessed O Lord; you have done mighty deeds for me; thank you, praise you...

"The Lord is with you. Be awake!"

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Saturday 20th May 2017 Acts:16/1-10 Psalm: 100/1-3, 5 John: 15/18-21 St. Bernadine of Siena He was born on 8th September 1380 at Massa Marittima near Siena (Itay). He was orphaned early in life and was brought up by a maternal aunt in stern self-discipline. At 17 he joined the severely ascetical Confraternity of Our Lady. When the plague broke out in the city during the Jubilee Year 1400, he along with 12 young friends, ran the overcrowded and under-staffed hospital of Siena for four months. Later he distributed his inheritance among the poor and joined the Observantines of the Franciscan Order. God had work in store for him. He became a popular preacher.

Died: May 20, 1444. Canonized: May 24, 1450 by Pope Nicholas V. The Gospel Proclamation "If the world hates you, be aware that it hated me before it hated you. If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own. Because you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world - therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, 'Servants are not greater than their master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also. But they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me.

Prayerful Awareness As the Evangelist saw it, we've got to be either for or against Christ, either of the world of of Christ. By that time Christians were persecuted because of His Name and the Church was under threat of persecution. Being a Christian was a matter of life or death. Christ had forewarned of this situation. "You your-

St. Bernadine of Siena, Priest selves must be on guard. You will be arrested and taken to court .... Men will hand you over their own brothers to be put to death and fathers will do the same to their children. I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot afterwards do anything more (Mark 13:9-13; Mathew 10:17-29; Luke 12:2-9). Put Christ first, say He is the Lord and King - persecution comes to those who do and say so. Some regard God as the only reality in life and others He is irrelevant for life. Between the two there is always a rift. People who try to be different are often misunderstood or called a danger, eccentric or crazy. Neutrality or being lukewarm has no place in Christianity. "I know what you have done; I know that you are neither cold or hot. How I wish you were either one or the other! But because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I am going to spit you out of my mouth". (Revelation 3:15-16) The flight into Egypt and the massacre of the innocents make manifest the opposition of darkness to the light: "He came to His own home and His own people received Him not." Christ's whole life was lived under the sign of persecution. His own share it with Him. Jesus' departure from Egypt recalls the exodus and presents Him as the definitive liberator of God's people" (C.C.C. 540).

In the First Proclamation taken from Acts of the Apostles, the noteworthy thing is that Paul, in selecting Timothy to be a helper, did not want to act contrary to the ceremonies of the Jewish way of life. Also he respected or acted in compliance with the decisions which had been arrived at by the apostles and elders. What a lesson we have here! Paul was happy to see the results of his labour in Timothy - who was ready to take over his work when the Lord wanted him to.

Prayer Starter Help us to carry on Your work regardless of brickbats from evil forces.

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

Sunday 21st May 2017

Sixth Sunday of Easter Ps. Week. II

Acts: 8/5-8,14-17 Psalm: 66/1-7,16, 20 1 Peter: 3/15-18 John: 14/15-21

commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me; and he who loves me will be loved by my Father and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”

Prayerful Awareness Introduction For those who have had a relationFreedom is perceived as a prereqship, parting is a painful process. For a uisite for the experience of that elusive condition called ‘HAPPINESS’. “Hw child who has to part with the mother in (God) Himself made human beings order to attend the Montessori for the in the beginning, and left them free first time is a traumatic experience. To to make their own decisions.” (Sirach part with your friends who have been 15:14). Alas! Man freely sinned. By your classmates for more than ten years refusing God’s plan of love, he de- is a tearful occasion. For a husband and ceived himself and became a slave to wife who have been faithful to each sin. Man has become obsessed with the other, to be parted by death is heartsatisfaction of his own interests and the breaking. On occasions of parting we enjoyment of earthly goods which he exchange gifts, souvenirs, autographs identifies as being happy. Today the etc. to keep memories alive.

In today’s Gospel Jesus seems to be 6th Sunday of Easter, our holy mother the Church invites us to celebrate the addressing the desire of the disciples freedom that Christ the Risen Lord has and His own for an intimate relationwon for us through His Resurrection. ship that will be continued even after physical separation. Jesus is offering Entrance Antiphon nothing else by the same intimacy He “Speak out with a voice of joy; let enjoyed with the Father after He had it be heard to the ends of the earth. The “emptied Himself” taking the form of Lord has set His people free. Alleluia!” a slave, becoming as human beings The Gospel: John 14/15-21 are, and being in every way like a “If you love me, you will keep my human being. (Philippians 2:7). Jesus commandments. And I will pray the enjoyed an ‘In-dwelling’ experience Father and he will give you another of the Father which He describes as Counselor, to be with you for ever, “the Father is in me and II am in the even the spirit of truth, whom the Father”. This was the result of the deep world cannot receive, because it and intimate relationship of “LVE neither sees him nor knows him; you between the father and the Son. The know him, for he dwells with you, LOVE the Son had for the Father was expressed by obeying the Will of the and will be in you.

“I will not leave you desolate; I Father, totally and unconditionally. The will come to you. Yet a little while, Father’s LOVE which Jesus experiand the world will see me no more, enced set Him free from self-interest but you will see me; because I live, and empowered Him to live for the you will live also. In that day you will other. Jesus experienced the freedom know that I am in my father, and you from the ‘tyranny of SELF” by obeying in me, and I in you. He who has my the One who loves Him.

"The Lord is with you. Be awake!"

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Let us gaze at Jesus who expresses His desire to share what He experienced. He expresses His willingness to intercede on our behalf “… I will ask the father and He will give you another Paraclete to be with you always…..”

He tells of His continuing concern for them. “I will not leave you orphaned; I will come back to you. ….”

The First Proclamation Philip went down to a city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ. And the multitudes with one accord gave heed to what was said by Philip, when they heard him and saw the signs which he did. For unclean spirits came out of many who were possessed, crying with a loud voice; and many who were paralysed or lame were healed. So there was much joy in the city. Now when the apostles of Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit; for it had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.

Prayerful Awareness In the early Church the apostles were experiencing the “life in the Spirit” in abundance. They were led by the Spirit to share their experience with anybody who would listen. It did not matter whether they were Jews, Samaritans or Greeks. The Lord living within them was teaching them His desire to proclaim His Father’s Love for all mankind.

The apostles were open to the Spirit given them by the Lord, and the Spirit was teaching them the desires of the Lord Jesus Christ. When they heard that Samarians had willingly accepted the Word of God it was clear to them

that the Lord wanted them to receive the Holy Spirit so that they too may be led by Him from within.

The Second Proclamation But in our hearts reverence Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who calls you to account for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and reverence, and keep your conscience clear, so that, when you are abused, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing right, if that should be God’s will, than for doing wrong. For Christ also died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit.

Prayerful Awareness What is the evidence that proves that we have received the Holy Spirit?

First and foremost who receive the Spirit will reverence Christ as Lord in their hearts. “Jesus Christ is Lord” will not be just a cliché but the very foundation of life for them. Secondly those who have received the Spirit will have hope not in the material world but in the salvation won for them by Jesus Christ. As a consequence they will be ready to suffer for doing good rather than evil; willing to face libel on account of their way of life in Christ.

In short, they will be gazing at Jesus Christ to learn their responses to the events of their daily lives.

Prayer Starter Lord Holy Spirit, You have been poured into our hearts as we experience the freedom for which Christ has set us free. May we be given the grace to be ever conscious of Your presence within us so that You may become our Paraclete, our Comforter, Our Teacher ……

"The Lord is with you. Be awake!"

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zzY=oaOd;auhdfKkS" uu Tnjykafiag jkaokd kuialdr lrĂą' ud l< hq;= l=ulaÂąhs ug wK l< uekjZZ

Monday 22nd May 2017

Acts: 16/11-15 Psalm: 149/1-6, 9 John: 15/26-16/4 The First Proclamation Then they secretly instigated some men to say, "We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God." They stirred up the people as well as the elders and the scribes; then they suddenly confronted him, seized him, and brought him before the council. They set up false witnesses who said, "This man never stops saying things against this holy place and the law; for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses handed on to us." And all who sat in the council looked intently at him, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

Prayerful Awareness It is amazing to see the cross-section of the population that Paul was able to convert to Christ in Philippi. They included people from the top rung of the social ladder to the very last. Lydia, a female merchant trading in purple dye was won for Christ. It was she who saw to the basic needs of Paul and his missionary companions. Her hospitality is an example for Christians to follow.

In John 15/26, 27 two ideas are presented - the first being the witness of the Holy Spirit. Surely it is the Holy Spirit within us who makes us respond to Jesus Christ. The second is that we, as Christians, have to bear witness to Jesus Christ. Long fellowship and intimacy with Christ are factors that contribute to Christian intimacy. To bear witness for Christ one has to be with Him. Then there is the inner conviction required to bear witness. Can there be effective

Christian witness without the inner conviction which is a result of personal intimacy with Him? A witness is someone who knows that something is true and is prepared to say that he/she knows that it is true. So we see a Christian witness is one who knows and wants others to know Christ. As Christians, we are privileged to be witnesses for Christ here on earth. To be effective witnesses let us have personal intimacy, inner conviction and lucid outward testimony to our faith.

Gaze at my sonship It is the Lord who gives us faith and opens our heart to receive it. The Greek word for Advocate is "Paraclete". It also means "Counsellor", "Defender". The battle we have to fight in our lives is so severe that we need a defender. The defender that Jesus sends us is the Holy Spirit, God Himself. The Advocate is the Spirit of Truth (John 15:26). Till the end of our lives, dying and rising accomplished in Jesus Christ must go on. We must die to our evil inclinations and also to ourselves. To have life we must live for God and for our brothers.

The fact that, strictly redemption is not a thing of the past, should be kept in our minds. Yes, it is effected now and here. It is repeated on our altar. Doesn't He help us to die a slow death to sin and practice virtue? Without ceasing we continually rise to new life. We are expected to testify with our lives to the basic truth that Christ died, rose and will come again. To be a (true) Christian witness, knowing something theoretically must be accompanied by showing the same in one's daily life. "Example is better than precept". "No cross, no crown" - this is the way of the Lord and inevitably it is also our way.

Prayer Starter "God of mercy, may our celebrations of Your Son's Resurrection help us to experience its effect in our lives. Amen.

"The Lord is with you. Be awake!"

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Tuesday 23rd May 2017 Acts: 16/22-34 Psalm: 138/1-3, 7-8 John:16/5-11

his entire household rejoiced that he had become a believer in God. Prayerful Awareness Let us read today’s reading of the Acts. Do you have an experience of The First Proclamation praying in such utter despair? Maybe The crowd joined in attacking no one was home and you were able to them, and the magistrates had lock the doors, and pray, and cry aloud? them stripped of their clothing and Maybe you could not sleep, and while ordered them to be beaten with everybody else slept, you wept on the rods. After they had given them a pillow and cried for God’s mercy? It severe flogging, they threw them should not surprise you that many of into prison and ordered the jailer to the readers are quite likely to have had keep them securely. Following these such an experience at least once in their instructions, he put them in the inlife time. nermost cell and fastened their feet The heart of Jesus melts easily. in the stocks.

When Jesus saw the widow mourning About midnight Paul and Silas the loss of her son, He was greatly were praying and singing hymns to moved by her despair. When Lazarus God, and the prisoners were listendied, Jesus wept. Again, in today’s ing to them. Suddenly there was an reading of John we see Jesus trying to earthquake, so violent that the founcomfort His disciples from heartache. dation of the prison were shaken, Jesus’ experience of humanity was and immediately all the doors were no less. He was born completely as a opened and everyone's chains were human being because that was God’s unfastened. When the jailer woke up plan. and saw the prison doors wide open, Although there is no question about he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, since he supposed that my humanity, I am also called to live the prisoners had escaped. But Paul as a son/daughter of God. However, we shouted in a loud voice, "Do not should not be ashamed to cry. In fact, harm yourself, for we are all here." Jesus Himself cried to express deep The jailer called for lights, and rush- sadness. It has even been found that ing in he fell down trembling before if proper sadness is not expressed at Paul and Silas. Then he brought appropriate times, for example when them outside and said, "Sirs, what a loved one passes away, the grieving must I do to be saved?" They an- process is not able to progress normalswered, "Believe on the Lord Jesus, ly, and that person is unable to move and you will be saved, you and your on with the experience. So let us think household." They spoke the word of twice before we tell someone, “don’t the Lord to him and to all who were cry”. in his house. At the same hour of Prayer Starter the night he took them and washed Jesus help me to embrace my hutheir wounds, then he and his entire manity, my frailness, my weakness, for family were baptized without delay. when I am the weakest Your power is He brought them up into the house the greatest. and set food before them, and he and

"The Lord is with you. Be awake!"

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zzY=oaOd;auhdfKkS" uu Tnjykafiag jkaokd kuialdr lrĂą' ud l< hq;= l=ulaÂąhs ug wK l< uekjZZ

Wednesday 24th May 2017 Acts: 17/15,22-18/1 Psalm: 148/1-3, 11-14 John:16/12-15 The First Proclamation Those who conducted Paul brought him as far as Athens; and after receiving instructions to have Silas and Timothy join him as soon as possible, they left him.

Then Paul stood in front of the Areopagus and said, "Athenians, I see how extremely religious you are in every way. For as I went through the city and looked carefully at the objects of your worship, I found among them an altar with the inscription, 'To an unknown god.' What therefore you worship as unknown this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it, he who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by human hands, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed any thing, since he himself gives to all mortals life and breath and all things. ....

The Gospel Proclamation "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine.

For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

Prayerful Awareness Before the departure of Jesus from this earth, He speaks and consoles the disciples who were overcome with

grief. He assures them that it is better for Him to go away, because as long as Jesus does not leave, the Helper will not come for them. Jesus tells them that He will uncover the lie of the world and show clearly its sin.

The disciples were unable to bear all that Jesus had to say to them and so He refrains from doing so. The Spirit of Truth will guide them when He comes.

He will only say what He hears and will declare to them the things that are to come. He will glorify Jesus by taking what is in Jesus and declare it to them.

According to the First Proclamation, Paul was very much upset when he saw how full of idols the city of Athens was. In his famous discourse at the Areopagus Council captioned 'To the unknown God",. St. Paul based his arguments to proclaim that God the Creator of all things is manifest in Christ Jesus.

St. Paul was well aware of the Christ mind and so he was able to reveal the truth about the Father and the Son through the help of the Holy Spirit. That is why he said "We are His children. In Him we live and move and have our being. (Acts 17/28).

When we are aware of the present age, how many times each day have we sincerely thanked God. We are living in the new age of the Holy Spirit. Jesus has kept His promise. The Counsellor has come in order to convince the world of sin, righteousness and judgement. It is our turn to confide and seek counsel. We have to listen to the Holy Spirit amidst the different voices of the world and follow His guidance.

Prayer Starter Father God, I thank You immensely for Your gift of the Holy Spirit. Enable me to be aware of the Holy Spirit in my heart and make me to seek Him throughout my life's journey.

"The Lord is with you. Be awake!"

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Thursday 25th May 2017

St. Bede,St.Gregory VII, Pope & St.Mary Magdalene de Pazzi, Virgin

Acts: 18/1-8 Psalm: 98/1-4 John: 16/16-20

.

The First Proclamation After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. There he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, and, because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and they worked together - by trade they were tentmakers. Every sabbath he would argue in the synagogue and would try to convince Jews and Greeks.

When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with proclaiming the word, testifying to the Jews that the Messiah was Jesus. When they opposed and reviled him, in protest he shook the dust from this clothes, and said to them, "Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles." Then he left the synagogue and went to the home of a man named Titius Justus, a worshipper of God, his house was next door to the synagogue. Crispus, the official of the synagogue, became a believer in the Lord, together with all his household, and many of the Corinthians who heard Paul became believers and were baptized.

Prayerful Awareness Corinth was the political and commercial centre of Greece, surpassing Athens in importance. It had a reputation for great WICKEDNESS and IMMORALITY. A temple to Aphrodite goddess of love and war - had been built on the large hill behind the city. In this

popular religion. people worshipped the goddess by giving money to the temple and taking part in sexual acts with male and female temple prostitutes.

Paul found here a challenge and great MINISTRY OPPORTUNITY. Later he wrote a series of letters to Corinthians, dealing in problems of IMMORALITY. Paul and Aquila had been trained in tent making, cutting and sewing the woven cloth of goats hair into tents.

Tents housed soldiers and those tents may have been sold to the ROMAN ARMY. As a tent maker Paul was able to GO ANYWHERE GOD LED HIM carrying his livelihood with him.

The word "tentmaker" in Greek was a leather maker.

Paul told the Jews he had done all he could for them. Because they rejected JESUS as the MESSIAH, he would go to the GENTILES who would be more RECEPTIVE. Sometimes, WE too can feel ALONE or ISOLATED specially when we see WICKEDNESS all around us and persecuted for our faith. However, there are others in the neighbourhood or community who also follow Christ.

We must ask God to LEAD us to them.

Aquila and Priscilla are a couple who knew how to make the MOST OF LIFE. They went on using their home as a warm place for training and worship.

Aquila and Priscilla are an EXAMPLE of what can happen THROUGH husband and wife. Their hospitality opened the doorway of SALVATION for many.

The Christian home is STILL one of the best TOOLS for spreading the Gospel.

Prayer Starter God, my loving Father, help guests to find Christ in my home. Make my home a valuable tool for evangelism.

"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 26th May 2017 Acts: 18/9-18 Psalm: 47/1-6 John: 16/20-23 The First Proclamation One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision, 'Be fearless; speak out and do not keep silence: I am with you. I have so many people that belong to me in this city that no one will attempt to hurt you.' So Paul stayed there preaching the word of God among them for eighteen months.....

Fix your gaze on Jesus Lord Jesus, I fail to understand.

Why did you have to speak to Paul in a vision / dream, and encourage him to be fearless? Saul, who became Paul, was already a zealous, ardent, and passionate person, ready to lay down his life and limb and wealth for what he believed in! This was after-all, evident from his initial persecution of the followers of Jesus the Christ.

Questions arise in our minds that demand answers, such as; 1. Did his character change after encountering the Lord Jesus? If it did, was it for the better or was it for the worse?

2. Did he become the “meek mouse” after being anointed with the Holy Spirit of God, preferring to keep 'mum' instead of proclaiming the Good News, the Gospel?

3. Why was he 'lying low' in the mission of witnessing of the salvation brought about by Jesus our Lord?

What reasons / externalities caused this behaviour?

St. Philip Neri, Priest

4. After that close encounter with Jesus, was he not inclined to maintain a close fellowship with our Lord in the day-to-day life? Did he loose sight of the reality of the Lord living with him and in him?

5. Did he not realise that so many others were searching for the very solution he has been graced with, that of the liberation experienced when Jesus enters our lives?

Without a deep study of the scriptures in this respect, and research involving the other circumstances of that time documented elsewhere, we may not find satisfactory answers to these questions.

It would however be more important for ourselves to apply those same questions to ourselves and our life situation. Can we proceed to do so now?

Let us go through those questions again, substituting the word 'his/he/ him' where it refers to Saul with 'my/I/ me' as relevant. Let's do it with care and deliberation, searching our own interior with honesty, going on that journey of finding ourselves, going on towards the truth....

Prayer Starter Lord Jesus, finding what makes myself tick is not so easy as I'd thought....I know that St. Paul too came across this difficulty expressed in his cry, 'O wretched man that I am... there is a different law in my members...'. Like him, I too rest in knowing that there is salvation for me in You....I trust in you who is ever present in me and with me, come what the external circumstances be...

"The Lord is with you. Be awake!"

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Saturday 27th May 2017 Acts: 18/23-28 Psalm:47/1-03, 8-9 John:16/23-28 St. Augustine of Canterbury He was Roman by birth. He and Prior of the Benedictine Monastery of St. Andrew on the Coelian Hill in Rome plus 40 other monks were deputed by Gregory the Great in 596 to evangelize England. They were disturbed by rumours of the brutality of the locals; the band attempted to return mid-way; but persisted on the advice of the then Pope.

They were received hospitably by King Ethelbert of Kent and invited to live in Canterbury. They established their Benedictine routine together with the preaching mission. The king who had married a Catholic princess was deeply impressed by his spiritual message and personal sanctity. The king was baptized at Pentecost and more than 10,000 of his subjects too were baptized. Later he was made Archbishop of Canterbury.

He laid well the foundation on which others could continue to build. Died: May 26, 605.

The Gospel Proclamation On that day you will ask nothing of me. Very truly, I tell you if you ask anything of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name.

Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.

"I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures, but will tell you plainly of the Father. On that day you will ask in my name. I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf, for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. I came from the Father and have come into the world,

St. Augustine of Canterbury, Bishop

again, I am leaving the world and am going to the Father.

Prayerful Awareness Christ speaks of asking. What do we always ask for in prayer? And are our requests on par with His frame of mind? "You do not have what you want because you do not ask God for it. And when you ask, you do not receive it, because your motives are bad; you ask for things to use for your own pleasures" (James 4:3). Here 'bad' means selfish. It is clear that our prayer requests should always be generous. Aim to be fully with Christ and you will see miracles - periods of questions will give in to periods of answers. A new relationship with God will come into being. The result being that we could go to Him and ask Him for anything. Jesus makes this new approach or relationship possible.

Our joy is perfect and knowledge complete because of Jesus. He is the source through which all we have got come. We ask and receive everything in His Name.

Truth in all its stark clarity - yes, that is what Our Lord tells His disciples. He tells them He came from God and He is going back to Him. His claim behind these words is that He is the Son of God. For Him the way back to God is the cross and it is not a criminal's death. "I do not say I will ask Him on your behalf for the Father Himself loves you." A God of judgement - not so, what Jesus did is presented here as Jesus showed us His true face - one of love. We can go to the Father as He loves us. The invitation is open and wide - "Come as you are". Christ died on the cross to tell us God is love. The reason behind Jesus' coming into the world is that God loves the world.

Prayer Starter Thank You Lord Jesus Christ for making the way to God open for everyone. 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

Sunday 28th May 2017 Acts: 1/1-11 Psalm:47/1-2, 5-8 Ephesians:1/17-23 Mathew: 28/16-20

Seventh Sunday of Easter Ascension of the Lord

witnesses. While this is happening Jesus is taken up to heaven. Soon afterwards the promise of Jesus’ return is given by two angels.

The Gospel Event Introduction Today we celebrate the exaltation of Jesus’ humanity which has paved the way for the exaltation of the whole of humanity. Jesus, after His missionary journey on earth in total submission to the Father’s Will, opened the door for us to tread the same journey as a people, as a people who are willingly going on this journey. Let us pray: God our Father, Make us joyful in the Ascension of Your Son Jesus Christ. May we follow Him into the new creation for His Ascension is our glory and our hope.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ Your Son who lives and reigns with You and the holy Spirit one God for ever and ever Amen.

The First Proclamation

The eleven disciples went to the hills in Galilee where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshipped him, even though some of them doubted.

Jesus drew near and said to them, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Go, then, to all people everywhere and make them my disciples; baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And I will be with you always, to the end of the age.”

Prayerful Awareness We have read accounts of the same event – the Ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ – from two points of view. Fixing our gaze on Jesus presented in this particular event, we see Him taking part in a farewell ceremony. At such moments we all know the mixed feelings we experience. On the one hand sadness because He has to leave His beloved disciples who were still not equipped to handle the future tasks expected of them; on the other hand the sense of happiness, joy in anticipation of the reunion with His Beloved Abba!

Oh! What a lot He would have

St. Luke reminds his readers about the account he has given regarding Jesus in his gospel. Especially Jesus’ suffering and death.

Then he stresses the reality of His Resurrection, by relating a few incidents in which the Resurrected Jesus spoke to the disciples.

Jesus tells His disciples to await the promise of the Father – the baptism of the Holy Spirit, then He tells them their mission to be His "The Lord is with you. Be awake!"

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had to tell His Abba. All those moments of sadness, anxiety and concern mixed with the joys, triumphs and yes, the ultimate victory. He would have looked forward to telling His Abba about how surprised and overjoyed He felt at the glorified body He received as the prize for His victory against the powers of darkness. Jesus the little so, the heroic son who was eagerly waiting to go home to His Abba! Father!

But before going home He had to prepare His disciples for His departure. First of all He reassures the disciples of His mysterious presence through the Holy Spirit.

He promises them power when the Holy Spirit comes down on them.

Then He entrusts the disciples with a formidable task. “…. To make disciples of all nations ….. then you are to be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria. Yes, even to the ends of the earth.”

Jesus in entrusting the disciples with their mission does not seem to be concerned or anxious regarding their ability to fulfil it. The confidence the Resurrected and Glorified Jesus has is not in the ability of the disciples but on the power of the Holy Spirit to carry out His mandate.

The Second Proclamation I remember you my prayers and ask the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, to give you the Spirit, who will make you wise and reveal God to you, so that you will know him. I ask that your minds may be opened to see his light, so

that you will know what is the hope to which he has called you, how rich are the wonderful blessings he promises his people, and how very great is his power at work in us who believe.

This power working in us is the same as the mighty strength which he used when he raised Christ from death and seated him at his right side in the heavenly world. Christ rules there above all heavenly rulers, authorities, powers and lords; he has a title superior to all titles of authority in this world and in the next. God put all things under Christ’s feet and gave him to the church as supreme Lord over all things. The church is Christ’s body, the completion of him who himself completes all things everywhere.

Prayerful Awareness The post-resurrection apostle of Jesus – Paul, being enlightened regarding the mysterious all permeating innermost presence of the Risen Lord, prays that you and I may be given the same enlightenment. Let us yearn for that enlightenment to see the fullness of Him who fills the universe in all its parts. It is the enlightenment to see the Loving Word of the Father incarnate within us, participating in our life experience.

Prayer Starter Lord Jesus! Thank You for the promise of the Holy Spirit. We constantly await His coming in an ever new way to awaken us to Your Holy presence within us……

"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 29th May 2017 Acts: 19/1-8 Psalm: 68/1-6 John:16/29-33 The First Proclamation While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul passed through the interior regions and came to Ephesus, where he found some disciples. He said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?" They replied, "No. we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit." Then he said "Into what then were you baptized?" They answered, "Into John's baptism." Paul said, "John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus. On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of Lord Jesus.pon them, and they spoke in tongues When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied - altogether there were about twelve of them.

He entered the synagogue and for three months spoke out boldly, and argued persuasively about the kingdom of God. The Gospel Proclamation His disciples said, "Yes, now you are speaking plainly, not in any figure of speech! Now we know that you know all things, and do not need to have anyone question you, by this we believe that you came from God." Jesus answered them, "Do you now believe?

The hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each one to his home, and you will leave me alone.

Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution. But take courage, I have conquered the world!"

Prayerful Awareness "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?” Why does Saint Paul ask this question with such importance and insistence? Why do we need to receive the Holy Spirit? Isn’t baptism enough? Isn’t it enough that I go to Sunday mass, pray before I go to sleep/start the day? Receive communion?

Volunteer at church? But no, it’s not just Saint Paul that insists on the believers receiving the Holy Spirit, Jesus, as He neared closer to death by crucifixion, also spoke about the great promise of the Holy Spirit.

In today’s reading of John, the disciples tell Jesus “Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech”.

What has Jesus been speaking so clearly about? If we go a little back to John 14: 16, 17, He says “And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.”

Holy Spirit is with us because Jesus asked the Father to give Him to us, to stay with us forever, help us and teach us all things. Sometimes, when a person gives us a very expensive present we may feel unworthy of receiving it, or due to its value we may protect it by locking it up in a cupboard. In the same way, we may not be using the gift of the Holy Spirit because we feel unworthy because it is too precious.

Prayer Starter Jesus we thank You for pleading to the Father to give us the Holy Spirit.

Father how generous of You to have given us the Holy Spirit! This gift doesn’t come with an instruction booklet, because He speaks to my heart. Help me to believe that I am worthy of this gift and help me to open up more and more to the Holy Spirit so that I may be fruitful.

"The Lord is with you. Be awake!"

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Tuesday 30th May 2017 Acts:20/17-27 Psalm: 68/9-10,19-20 John: 17/1-11 The Gospel Proclamation

Prayerful Awareness This entire chapter is Jesus' prayer.

From it we learn that the world is a tremendous BATTLE GROUND where the forces under Satan's power and those under |GOD"S AUTHORITY are at WAR. Satan has bitter hatred for Christ. Jesus prayed for His disciples, including those of us who FOLLOW HIM today, making them pure and holy, uniting them through His TRUTH. How do we get eternal life? Jesus tells us clearly here - by KNOWING GOD THE FATHER, through HIS SON Jesus Christ. Through entering into a personal RELATIONSHIP with God, admitting OUR SIN and turning away from it. Christ's love, live in us by the HOLY SPIRIT. Before Jesus came to earth, He was ONE with God. At this point, when His mission on earth was almost finished, Jesus was asking His Father to restore Him to HIS ORIGINAL PLACE of honour and authority. Jesus' resurrection and ascension attest that Jesus DID RETURN to His exalted position at the RIGHT HAND of God. The lives of Jesus' disciples reveal HIS CHARACTER and HE is PRESENT to the world through them.\ Jesus was asking His disciples to be united in HARMONY and LOVE as the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are united - the STRONGEST of all UNIONS. Prayer Starter

After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed.

I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.

I am asking on their behalf, I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I have been glorified in them. And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am Almighty Holy God, help us to coming to you. Holy Father, protect reveal Jesus' love and presence in them in your name that you have our lives. Renew our relationship with given me, so that they may be one, Christ, and guide us to the right path. as we are one.

"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 31st May 2017

Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Romans:12/9-16 OR Zephania:3/14-18 Song:Isaiah:12/2-6 Luke: 1/39-56 Gospel Proclamation During those days Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, "Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled."

And Mary said: "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior.

For he has looked upon his handmaid's lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed. The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is from age to age to those who fear him. He has shown might with his arm, dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart. He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly. The hungry he has filled with good things; the rich he has sent away empty. He has helped Israel his servant, remembering his mercy, according to his promise to our fathers, to Abraham and to his descendants forever." Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.

Prayerful Awareness God selected Mary the most humble and God fearing pious girl descending from King David,(through the second son Nathan - Luke 3: 23 – 38)to be the Mother of His own Son, His own Image.

She was so humble to accept His call, (Luke 1 : 38 ) as she was so obedient and so close to God to Trust His Word and give her entire life into His hands.

This shows that God has planned for her ages before to make her what she was, to become Lord’s Mother and the Mother to all who accepted Lord.

She was filled by the Holy Spirit on acceptance of God’s Call ( Luke 1 : 35 ), and Elizabeth filled with the Holy Spirit cried out “Most Blessed are you among women” a name no other woman on earth could be called or receive, as she became the Mother of our Lord ( the King of Kings), on earth. And due to her Pious life, enduring all what she had to go through, she became the Queen of All Saints, the one who is most close to Lord Jesus Christ to intercede for all of us. In my young days, I drifted away from my Saviour and Lord due to my weaknesses and sins not being able to accept a sudden happening, breaking away a very close relationship I had with the Lord at that time. And during this time all my prayer requests for Help were forwarded to Holy Mother reciting three Hail May Prayers, and on all such occasions Holy Mother interceded for me and gave solutions to all my prayers. I know, Holy Mother interceded for me in the presence of Lord Jesus to solve my problems.

Prayer Starter God our Loving Father , I Thank You for Holy Mary, Mother given to us, and I also Thank our Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ for listening and acting on all our Prayer Requests submitted through Holy Mother, Amen

"The Lord is with you. Be awake!"

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