Walk In the Spirit July 2017

WALK IN THE SPIRIT July 2017 Volume 07 Issue 15

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord"

ISSN 1391-5967

Publication: Fr. Siri Oscar Abayaratne Kithu Dana Pubuduwa

SHARING ON PRAYER July 2017

The Spirit’s anointing of Jesus is most effective in the WAY Jesus is in accord with the WILL of the Abba.

(Matthew: 12/46-50) The Father’s Will is most astoundingly the be end and the end all of His life.

This is “SONSHIP” in sum. I could only thank for such a privilege and gift.

“Holy Spirit lead me to say ‘Yes’ to the Father’s Will as they happen in my life. No, but that’s not enough. Lead me to become aware of His Will here and now, every moment of the day”

Fr. Siri Oscar Abayaratne

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Saturday 1st July2017 Genesis: 18/1-15 Song: Luke:1/46-50, 53-55 Mathew:8/5-17 Gospel Proclamation When he went into Capernaum a centurion came up and pleaded with him. 'Sir,' he said, 'my servant is lying at home paralysed and in great pain.'

Jesus said .., 'I will come myself and cure him.' ... 'Sir, I am not worthy to have you under my roof; just give the word and my servant will be cured. For I am under authority myself and have soldiers under me; and I say to one man, "Go," and he goes; to another, "Come here," and he comes; to my servant, "Do this," and he does it.' When Jesus heard this he was astonished ..., 'In truth I tell you, in no one in Israel have I found faith as great as this. And I tell you that many will come from east and west and sit down with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob at the feast in the kingdom of Heaven; but the children of the kingdom will be thrown out into the darkness outside, ....' And to the centurion Jesus said, 'Go back, then; let this be done for you, as your faith demands.' And the servant was cured at that moment.

And going into Peter's house Jesus found Peter's mother-in-law in bed and feverish. He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to serve him. That evening they brought him many who were possessed by devils. He drove out the spirits with a command and cured all who were sick. ....

Song of Praise: And Mary said: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour; because he has looked upon the humiliation of his servant. Yes, from now onwards all generations will call me

blessed, for the Almighty has done great things for me. Holy is his name, and his faithful love extends age after age to those who fear him.

He has filled the starving with good things, sent the rich away empty. He has come to the help of Israel his servant, mindful of his faithful love -according to the promise he made to our ancestors -- of his mercy to Abraham and to his descendants for ever. (Luke: 1/46-50, 53-55).

Prayerful Awareness Let us meditatively dwell on today’s Proclamations where the central theme is the blessings we receive when we submit ourselves to be led by the Holy Spirit whereby we manifest aspects of God’s Love, universal, sacrificial, humble/ serving, unconditional, constant, and unceasing. In order to do this effectively we have to constantly be attuned to the promptings of the Holy Spirit to guide us to say and do the right thing at the right time.

In the First Proclamation we see the blessing Abraham and Sarah received by showing love and extreme hospitality to total strangers, by being alive to the fact that the Lord is present in everything and everyone around us. In the Song of Praise we see the unprecedented blessing Mother Mary received through her qualities of being a humble little girl, an honour which queens and princesses would have dreamt of being the recipient over countless generations!

In the Gospel Proclamation we see the blessing received by the Roman centurion through the qualities he demonstrated of faith and humility. Also we receive quick relief from aches and pains and ailments from the Lord when we have a thirst to exude sacrificial and serving love, like Peter’s mother-in-law was able to get up and serve all in today’s Gospel narrative. Alleluia! Praise the Lord!

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Ps. Wk. I Whoever welcomes you wel2 Kings:4/8-11, 14-16 comes me, and whoever welcomes Psalm:89/1-2, 15-18 me welcomes the one who sent me.

Romans: 6/3-4, 8-11 Whoever welcomes a prophet in Mathew: 10/37-42 the name of a prophet will receive a prophet's reward; and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the The First Proclamation name of a righteous person will One day Elisha was passing receive the reward of the righteous, through Shunem, where a wealthy and whoever gives even a cup of cold woman lived, who urged him to water to one of these little ones in the have a meal. So whenever he passed name of a disciples, truly I tell you, that way, he would stop there for none of these will lose their reward. a meal. She said to her husband, The Second Proclamation "Look, I am sure that this man who Sunday 2nd July 2017

regularly passes our way is a holy man of God. Let us make a small roof chamber with walls, and put there for him a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp, so that he can stay there whenever he comes to us.

One day when he came there, he went up to the chamber and lay down there.

He said, "What then may be done for her?" Gehazi answered, "Well, she has no son, and her husband is old." He said, "Call her."

When he had called her, she stood at the door. He said, At this season, in due time, you shall embrace a son."

She replied, "No, my lord, O man of God, do not deceive your servant.

The Gospel Proclamation

Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?

Before we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the father, so we too might walk in newness of life.

But if we have died with Christ we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. The death he died, he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives in God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Prayerful Awareness

Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.

Jesus' missionary discourse began with His command to the disciples that they were to go only to the lost sheep of Israel (see Mat. 10:6). Today's gospel shows no limitations.

The word which is most frequently throughout Jesus' address to His disciples is 'anyone' (see vs. 37 - 42). A part of Jesus' message is that racial and national concerns do not influence

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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the following of Jesus. The Kingdom which He has come to bring is not limited to Israel. The Kingdom of God is available to 'anyone'.

The passage itself is carefully structured. First Jesus tells of three ways in which 'anyone' will be unworthy of discipleship (vs. 37-38). A further central affirmation on losing and finding life (vs. 39) and, finally, three ways in which 'anyone' will be able to show himself or herself worthy of Jesus and the reward which he has come to bring. (vs. 40-42).

Jesus does not mince matters. He is to be the centre, the focal-point of the life of 'anyone' who would claim to be His follower. To make this clear He chooses the family, the place seen in all cultures as having a prior place in our hearts, calling for our care and attention. However, not even the bonds which tie child to father or mother (vs.17) or parent to child (vs.

38) must be allowed to come before one's attachment to Jesus.

This does not mean that the bonds between parents and children are to be in any way lessened in importance in the Christian world. Indeed, the command to love must be lived in the home. However, great as the bonds of true family affection may be, the bond which unites the Christian to Jesus must be greater. Jesus uses this approach, not to play down our love for one another, but to show just how significant must be the bond between Jesus and His followers. Such close attachment to a Man who went to a Cross will be difficult. It will summon from us a loving gift of ourselves, so that others may have life. We must be prepared to take up the cross, as He took up His (vs. 38-39). But strangely, the loss of self in love does not lead

to misery. Our own experience tells us that such a life-style produces lasting love and joy in this life. Jesus adds to this by telling us that it will produce eternal love and joy. (vs.39).

Gaze at Jesus The positive signs of a disciple of Jesus make this clear; welcoming, allowing other people, with all their needs, to come into our lives. In welcoming the prophet or the holy man (vs. 41), in offering respite and hospitality to the person in need, even by so small a gesture as a cup of cold water (vs.42), we welcome Jesus Himself (vs. 40). It is the way we place others before ourselves, caring for them in the little and large things, that we welcome Jesus who is always among us in His people. But Jesus does not come alone. In welcoming Jesus, we welcome the one who sent Him. The way we deal with others is the measure of the presence of God in our lives. The joy this brings is ours to be had now - but the word of Jesus also tells us that to welcome people in this way is a sure way to an everlasting reward (vs. 42).

Prayer Starter I will sing of your steadfast love, O Lord forever, with my mouth I will proclaim your faithfulness to all generations. I declare that your steadfast love is established forever, your faithfulness is as firm as the heavens.

Happy are the people who know the festal shout, who walk, O Lord, in the light of your countenance, they exult in your name all day long, and extol your righteousness. For you are the glory of their strength, by your favor our horn is exalted,. For our shield belongs to the Lord, our king to the Holy One of Israel.

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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Monday 3rd July 2017 Ephesians: 2/19-22 Psalm: 117/1, 2 John : 20/24-29 St. Thomas He was an unlearned simple fisherman from Galilee. He was called by Jesus to be one of His twelve disciples.

A glimpse of Thomas' great love for his Master is evident at the time when he was ready to accompany Jesus to the house where Lazarus had just died, though the other disciples feared being stoned by the Jews in Judea. - "Let us also go, that we may die with Him." (Luke 11:1). It was his declaration at the Last Supper: "Lord, we do not know where You are going, so how can we know the way?" (John 14:5) that drew the assertion from Jesus: "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life." (John 14:5). He came to be called the "Doubting Thomas" for his refusal to believe in Our Lord's Resurrection, when told of it by the other disciples. Present with them at Jesus' second apparition he made that timeless act of faith: "My Lord and my God." (John 20:20). This profession of faith, the Church has since richly indulgenced for use at the Elevation of the Sacred Host at Mass and at Benediction.

He was declared the Apostle of India by Pope Paul VI in 1972.

The Gospel Proclamation But Thomas .... was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord."

But he said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe."A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you."

Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side.

Do not doubt but believe." Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!"

St. Thomas, Apostle Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe."

Prayerful Awareness Thomas was a courageous one, not a pessimist. He loved Jesus when the other disciples were unwilling, hesitant and afraid to accompany Jesus to Jerusalem.

It was he who came forward and told other disciples "Let us also go, that we may die with Him." (John 11:16). The mistake he harboured is that he withdrew from the Christian fellowship. In place of togetherness, he sought loneliness.

The first coming of Jesus, he missed it as he was not with the others. He was courageous or brave enough not to say he understood what he did not understand.

He was bold enough not to pretend - to say he believed what he did not believe.

His honesty was uncompromising. "There was every reason to suppose that Thomas did as he was invited to do, just as there was every reason to suppose that the ten apostles had done precisely the same on the first Easter evening. rebuking words of Our Lord to Thomas - to be doubting no longer - also contained an exhortation to believe and to shake off his glom which was his besetting sin.

Paul was not disobedient to the heavenly vision; neither was Thomas, to be doubting no longer, also contained an exhortation to believe and to shake off his gloom, which was his besetting sin.

Paul was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, neither was Thomas.

The doubter was so convinced by positive proof that he became a worshipper.

(Archbishop Fulton J.Sheen). It was an acknowledgement that the Emmanuel of Isaiah was before him. He, who was the last to believe, was the first to make the full confession of the Divinity of the Risen Saviour.

Prayer Starter Help us to have firm faith in You. Amen.

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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Tuesday 4th July 2017 Genesis: 19/15-29 Psalm: 26/2-3, 9-12 Mathew: 8/23-27

The Gospel Proclamation Then he got into the boat followed by his disciples. Suddenly a storm broke over the lake, so violent that the boat was being swamped by the waves. But he was asleep. So they went to him and woke him saying, 'Save us, Lord, we are lost!' And he said to them, 'Why are you so frightened, you who have so little faith?' And then he stood up and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. They were astounded and said, 'Whatever kind of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?'

Fix your gaze on Jesus Visualise the following: What does it take for you to sleep contended on a low lying sailing boat? A boat that is sailing on a storm tossed sea, with the waves and spray splashing on to you constantly?

While the hard breathing of them who labour to keep the boat from being flooded sounded loud in your ears? How would you deal with the emotional outpouring of the fellow passengers whose main responses were fear and anger, may be even terror at the impending peril!

What levels of assurances Jesus would have experienced to calmly face those high winds and raging waves! From whence did Jesus receive that confidence and clarity in the midst of the reigning chaos?

I would presume that this comes only from the extremely close connection / rapport Jesus had with ABBA, his loving Creator. Jesus knew that He was Master of the apparent chaotic surroundings; placing Himself above the situation, knowing

St. Elizabeth of Portugal that the outer circumstances did not arise without cause, and that 'He' was able to channel the forces necessary for causing a different outcome. Jesus knew that the creative power to change any situation lay within Himself, based on the connection to the Source of All Goodness!

And goes on to assure us, His brethren, that the same power is vested in all of us!

Calls on His fellow travellers to have faith ... even declaring later that we'd do 'even greater things than He Himself did'! Isn't this Good News?

Take care that we do not respond in a similar vein as Lot did, in the First Proclamation of today. Even though Lot knew that Yahweh was merciful and good to him, he rebelled against the instruction to flee to the 'Hills', presuming that doing so would be perilous for his well-being.

The Lord accommodated this big shift in policy, sparing a small city on the plain. But even the simple demand for not looking back, forging ahead in faith toward the destiny identified, Lot's wife could not follow. How do you stand, in terms of obedience to the revealed Will of the Creator God? Search, and search diligently within...

Prayer Starter Thank You O Holy Spirit for bring us to awareness in Your gentle manner...now help us to stay turned towards the source of All Love and Goodness in our lives moment to moment, as it unfolds....according to our inward choices....and keep us aware of what we choose for ourselves, and what we create for ourselves as a result there-of!

Help us journey away from been numb / insensitive to 'What Is', and encourage us to bring down the walls of defences we've built up during our lives...help us become receptive to Your love and mercies without conditions....

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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Wednesday 5th July 2017

St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria, Priest

Genesis: 21/5, 8-20 Psalm: 34/6-7, 9-11 Matthew:8/28-34 The First Proclamation .... But Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, ..., playing with her son Isaac. So she said to Abraham, "Cast out this slave woman with her son, for the son of this slave woman shall not inherit along with my son Isaac." The matter was very distressing to Abraham on account of his son. But God said to Abraham, "Do not be distressed because of the boy and because of your slave woman; whatever Sarah says to you, do as she tells you, for it is through Isaac that offspring shall be named for you. As for the son of the slave woman, I will make a nation of him also, because he is your offspring......

The Gospel Proclamation When he came to the other side, ... two demoniacs coming out of the tombs met him. They were so fierce that no one could pass that way. Suddenly they shouted, "What have you to do with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?"

Now a large herd of swine was feeding at some distance from them. The demons begged him, "If you cast us out, send us into the herd of swine." And he said to them, "Go!" So they came out and entered the swine, and suddenly, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and perished in the water. The swineherds ran off, and on going into the town, they told the whole story about what had happened to the demoniacs. Then the whole town came out to meet Jesus; ... , Prayerful Awareness The region of the Gadarenes was one of the most important governments, largely inhabited by GENTILES which explain the herd of pigs. JEWS consid-

ered PIGS unclean, thus unfit to eat.

Demon possessed people are under the CONTROL of one or more demons.

Demons are fallen angels who rebelled against God and are now EVIL SPIRITS under Satan's control. But whenever they are confronted by Jesus, demons LOSE their power. They recognised Jesus as GOD'S SON. According to Jewish ceremonial laws. the men Jesus encountered were unclean in THREE ways. They were GENTILES, DEMON POSSESSED and lived in GRAVEYARDS. Jesus helped them anyway. To Jesus every human individual is a UNIQUE CREATION of God, needing to be touched by His LOVE. Here we see, the VALUE Jesus places on each human life.

Let us see why the people asked Jesus to leave. Unlike their own pagan gods, Jesus COULD NOT be CONTAINED, CONTROLLED or APPEASED. They feared Jesus' supernatural power, the POWER they had never before witnessed. And they were upset about losing a herd of pigs more than they were glad about the deliverance of the demon possessed men.

Human beings are created in GOD'S IMAGE, and have ETERNAL LIFE. How foolish and how easy it is to value possessions, investments and even animals ABOVE human life.

The Bible tells us that at the end of the world, the devil and his angels will be thrown into the lake of BURNING SULFUR (Revelation 20:10). When the demons asked if Jesus had come to torment them "Before the appointed time" they showed they knew their ultimate fate.

Prayer Starter Lord Jesus, help us to be like You. To serve and not to be served. Sometimes we fail to think of others. Please give us a heart like Yours.

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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Thursday 6th July 2017

Genesis 22/1-19 Psalm: 115/1-6, 8-9 Matthew:9/1-8 The Gospel Proclamation .... And just then some people were carrying a paralyzed man lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven." Then some of the scribes said to themselves, "This man is blaspheming." But Jesus, perceiving their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven, or to say, 'Stand up and walk?' But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins" - he then said to the paralytic - "Stand up, take your bed and go to your home." And he stood up and went to his house. When the crowds saw it, they were filled with awe, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to human beings.

Gaze at Jesus While I was about to write today's reflection, the Holy Spirit reminded me of the inspiring words of God revealed to us by St. John in verse 16 of chapter 3: "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life." What a loving God we have to give His only Son for all mankind. God had a dream and it was fulfilled by Jesus. It was to build the Kingdom of God. To effect this, Jesus depended on His Father God, day to day and moment to moment. He started to establish the Kingdom by revealing His infinite love. At times Jesus preached the Good News, saying, "Repent the Kingdom of God is at hand". He healed the sick by giving vision to the blind, hearing to the dumb, relieved the people who were possessed by the devil and so on. At this particular instance a paralytic

St. Maria Goretti was brought to him to get cured.

Mathew invites us to focus our attention on Jesus and His words. How did Jesus act? He did not instantly respond to the paralytic's physical need but first forgives him his sins. The healing of the man was done later and only as a demonstration of the fact that Jesus has power and authority to forgive sin, because the scribes consider what Jesus did as an act of blasphemy.

Since Jesus heals by the power of God, He can forgive sins by the same power. In other words He is God, who could restore life to a paralyzed soul, could certainly restore health to a paralyzed body. "Get up and walk" was only a confirmation that Our Lord is the healer of soul and body.

Prayerful Awareness God promised Abraham at the age of 75 years that his family would be blessed with a son. Abraham believed and awaited. It was a long wait and finally the promise was fulfilled after about 25years. Then God wanted him to offer his son as a sacrifice. Abraham obeyed but at the same time he believed that God will do something. Such was Abraham and how he became the father of faith.

My sonship Where do I stand? And what is my level of faith? Do I want everything I desire to happen easily and perhaps overnight and mess up everything. Jesus' word stands firm today too. "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart."

(Mathew 11:29) Let us follow Jesus to get ourselves relieved.

Prayer Starter We thank You Father God for Jesus.

He pardoned the paralytic and healed his soul and body. Help us to go to Jesus as often as we could in order to forgive our sins and experience His consolation throughout our life.

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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Friday 7th July 2017

Genesis:23/1-4, 19; 24/1-8, 62-67 Psalm:106/1-5 Mathew:9/9-13

The Gospel Proclamation As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, "Follow me."| And he got up and followed him.

And as he sat at dinner in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came and were sitting with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?"

But when he heard this, he said, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice' For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners."

Prayerful Awareness

collectors office, with people who were labeled 'sinners' by the Pharisees, they wanted to know why Jesus associated Himself with people who were looked down upon as enemies of God. But Jesus gave a fine answer to this question - that the weak and the sick needed the help of a doctor and the tax collectors and the people whom the Pharisees regarded as sinners needed the help of the ministering of Jesus who had come to teach the "Way" to eternity. Today those who are looked down upon as offenders and sinners and enemies of God, have a better chance of redemption. than those who consider themselves as sinless, saintly persons. In today's society the ones who point their finger at others, condemning them, have a lesser chance of being saved than those who think they are weak, sinners and who look up to God to save them.

We can only say, we are all sinners who are fortunate enough to have been redeemed by the precious Blood of Jesus. We should all repent for our sins and beg for God's mercy and forgiveness and try to lead better lives in the future with the blessing of Jesus Christ.

Mathew changed his life and became one of the four writers of the Gospels of Jesus Christ and today is a saint.

Prayer Starter

Matthew was a tax collector whom most people did not respect much as most tax collectors were dishonest.

Almost all of them after collecting taxes from people used to put part of the money collected, into their own pockets.

We cannot judge Matthew any"I've strayed O Lord and turned way. But when Jesus passed that aside. I've disobeyed Your voice, way, seeing Mathew seated at the tax But now with a contrite heart I turn collectors office just said, "Follow And make Your Will my choice." me" and immediately Mathew rose and followed Jesus. Jesus' command D. De Haan was so magnetic, that Mathew could True repentance turns from the not resist. And later, when Jesus was wrong and returns to the right. seated with His disciples at the tax

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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Saturday 8th July 2017

Genesis: 27/1-5, 15-29 Psalm:135/1-6 Matthew: 9/14-17 Gospel Proclamation Then John's disciples came to him ... 'Why is it that we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not?'Jesus replied, 'Surely the bridegroom's attendants cannot mourn as long as the bridegroom is still with them? But the time will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast. No one puts a piece of unshrunken cloth onto an old cloak, because the patch pulls away from the cloak and the tear gets worse. Nor do people put new wine into old wineskins; otherwise, the skins burst, the wine runs out, and the skins are lost.

No; they put new wine in fresh skins and both are preserved.'

Song of Praise Alleluia! Praise the name of Yahweh, you who serve Yahweh, praise him, serving in the house of Yahweh, in the courts of the house of our God. Praise Yahweh, for Yahweh is good, make music for his name -- it brings joyfor Yahweh has chosen Jacob for himself, Israel as his own possession...... (Psalm 135:1-6) Prayerful Awareness Let us meditatively reflect on today’s Proclamations and Psalm where the central theme is that God is able to use all things, people, and situations to achieve His purposes.

Today’s First Proclamation describes the trickery used by Rebecca, Isaac’s wife, to obtain Isaac’s parting blessing for Jacob, her younger son, in place of the elder son Esau.

Like Abel, Adam’s younger son found favour with God because he loved God, here too we see that Jacob, Isaac

and Rebecca’s younger son found favour with God and Rebecca, because Jacob loved God. Preceding today’s first proclamation narrative we read of the account whereby Jacob was able to purchase Esau’s birthright of being the elder son because Esau treasured world’s fleeting pleasures much more than spiritual joy which endures forever. Isaac however would not have bestowed the father’s blessing (which was due to the eldest son according to Jewish tradition) on Jacob, unless tricked into doing so without his knowledge due to his failing faculties on account of his old age. Thus we observe God using people, events, and situations to achieve His purposes, as we read: for Yahweh has chosen Jacob for himself, Israel as his own possession……Yahweh does whatever he pleases in heaven, on earth, in the waters and all the depths.

And who are we to question??? It is a sign of pride and lack of wisdom and understanding that leads us to question God. Also we tend to become unhappy, disgruntled and dissatisfied when we compare with others.

Our thinking becomes tainted with sinful intentions and misinterpretations due to conditioning of the mind we receive from the womb to the tomb.

We need the Holy Spirit to enable us to break free from our pre conceived notions, and tendency to jump to erroneous conclusions based on false notions and thus wrongly judge others and situations due to the same reasons. This is why our Lord Jesus Christ related the parable of the wineskins whereby he stresses the need for fresh and child-like thinking in order to embrace the salvation God is offering us on a platter. Most will miss the opportunity due to their being stuck with their erroneous thinking and pre conceived notions, etc. But those who confess Jesus as Lord receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, whereby they are born anew, and thus are able to receive salvation! What grace! Amen! Alleluia!

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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14th Sunday of Ordinary Time Ps. Wk. II Zecharia:9/9-10 souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.'

Psalm: 145/1-2, 8-11, 13-14 The Second Proclamation Romans:9/9, 11-13 For this is what the promise said, Matthew: 11/25-30 "About this time I will return and Sarah shall have a son."

Even before they had been born or had done anything good or bad The First Proclamation (so that God's purpose of election Rejoice greatly, O daughter might continue, not by works but Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter by his call) she was told, "The elder Jerusalem! Lo, your king comes shall serve the younger." As it is to you; triumphant and victorious written, "I have loved Jacob, but I is he, humble and riding on a don- have hated Esau' Prayerful Awareness key, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

He will cut off the chariot from So much is said about Jesus. He Ephraim an the war horse from works miracles (Mat. 8-9) and he Jerusalem; and the battle bow shall commissions His disciples to follow be cut off, and he shall command him in His mission (ch.10). Jesus is peace to the nations; his dominion to be the focal point for the life of the shall be from sea to sea, and from disciple (ch.10/37-42). The way of the River to the ends of the earth. telling the story could lead the reader The Gospel Proclamation of the Gospel to lose sight of the cenAt the time Jesus said, "I thank trality of God in the Christian life: 'the you, Father, Lord of heaven and one who sent' Jesus (see 10:40). This earth, because you have hidden danger is averted in today's Gospel, these things from the wise and the as Jesus points away from Himself intelligent and have revealed them towards His Father. Everything Jesus to infants, yes, father, for such says and does comes from His Father: was your gracious will. All things 'Everything has been entrusted to me have been handed over to me by by my Father" (11:26). The learned my father, and no one knows the and the clever are unable to reach beSon except the father, and no one yond what they see happening before knows the father except the Son and their yes. They do not even wonder anyone to whom the Son chooses to about the more profound mystery of the God and Father of Jesus who sent reveal him.

Him (vs.25).

Come to me, all you that are Some, however, do not need to weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take be able to control all the answers my yoke upon you, and learn from with their own schemes. these are the me; for I am gentle and humble in ones who are not full of themselves heart, and you will find rest for your and their own abilities and achieveSunday 9th July 2017

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ments. The image of 'mere children' is carefully chosen (vs. 25). To be a child does not mean to be ignorant or irresponsible. It means to adopt that receptive attitude of a child to whom everything is new. Children wait, with an open mind and an open heart, to receive all the wonderful new things that happen and are said each day. They have space in their hearts, their minds and their lives to receive the gifts which are given to them.

Thus it is with true followers of Jesus.

They too have space in their hearts, their minds and their lives to receive the gifts the Father gives them. The greatest of all these gifts is His Son. In today's gospel Jesus expresses one of the main beliefs of the Christian Faith. The Father of Jesus would be unknown, were it not for Jesus His Son. Jesus knows the Father, and makes Him known to us (vs.27). Without Jesus, the deepest longings of all men and women would not have their ultimate answer: the God and Father of Jesus who is also our God and Father. The Gospel of John says this so clearly: "No one has ever seen God. His only begotten Son, who is turned in loving union towards His Father, he has told his story" (John 1:18u). By means of his life, teaching, death and resurrection, by means of his 'story' Jesus has made the unseen God known to us. Have we made space to receive that knowledge?

Gaze at Jesus In the time of Jesus it was thought that one could only know God by the exact observance of the yoke and burdens of the Law. There were 613 laws which, if perfectly lived, assured the faithful Israelite of a righteousness in the eyes of God. Jesus does not take

away the obligations of law. After all, He did not come to destroy the Law and the Prophets, He came to bring them to perfection (see 5:17). But Jesus offers a new yoke and a new burden (vs. 29).

The words of Jesus must be taken seriously. A yoke and a burden there must be in Christianity. There is a discipline to the Christian life. We must be prepared to take on the command of Jesus to love and we must try to live the Gospel we proclaim. That can, at times, appear to be a yoke and a burden, but Jesus assures us that it frees our hearts and responds to our deepest needs. That is why it is easy and light; that is why in taking the risk of opening ourselves and accepting the God and Father of Jesus as our God and Father, we will find rest for our souls.

Prayer Starter I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever.

Every day I will bless you, and praise your name forever and ever.

The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. The Lord is good to all, and his compassion is over all that he has made.

All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord and all your faithful shall bless you. They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom, and tell of your power, Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations. The Lord is faithful in all his words, and gracious in all his deeds. The Lord upholds all who are falling, and raises up all who are bowed down.

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Monday 10th July 2017 Genesis:28/10-22 Psalm:91/1-4, 14-15 Mathew: 9/18-26 The Gospel Proclamation While he was saying these things to them, suddenly a leader of the synagogue came in and knelt before him, saying, "My daughter has just died; but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live." And Jesus got up and followed him, with his disciples.

Then suddenly a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his cloak, for she said to herself, "If I only touch his cloak, I will be made well." Jesus turned and seeing her he said, "Take heart, daughter, your faith has made you well." And instantly the woman was made well. When Jesus came to the leader's house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, he said, "Go away; for the girl is not dead but sleeping." And they laughed at him. But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl got up. And the report of this spread throughout that district.

Prayerful Awareness The two healings presented, the healing of the Jewish official's daughter and the healing of the woman with the severe bleeding sickness, have something in common. When everything else had failed and no where to go the official came to Jesus as the last resort when every doctor and medicines had failed. In the case of the woman too the story is not a different one but there is room for superstition in her attitude.

The important thing to be noted is that they turned to Jesus in desperation and found His love and power waiting with

a favourable reply. What a nice example, an encouraging thing we have here.

Aren't many of us in the same boat as the official and the woman. How we go to Christ is not what matters but that we go to Him. We aren't perfect but He is ready with open arms to welcome us.

Let us go to Him as we are and He will renew us, open our eyes and make us what we ought to be.

The way Jesus responded to the situation teaches us a lesson, an unforgettable one. The official, the ruler of the synagogue had his own share of responsibilities which were aimed at the external order in public worship bereft of duties of priests. Jesus knew and saw the situation he was in. When the turn of events went from bad to worse only he came to Jesus. His inner disposition was not for but against Jesus. Jesus could have flatly refused to act if he had taken into consideration all these.

For Jesus the official was a son of the Father and the situation he was in was the ideal or ripe to open his eyes, to see clearly and renew him. In Jesus there was never that injured pride; He did not bear grudges and had no place for the unforgiving spirit. "The signs worked

by Jesus attest that the Father has sent Him. They invite belief in Him. To those who turn to Him in faith, He grants what they ask. So miracles strengthen faith in the One who does His Father's works; they bear witness that He is the Son of God. But His miracles can also be occasions for "offense"; they are not intended to satisfy people's curiosity or desire for magic. Despite His evident miracles some people reject Jesus, He is even accused of acting by the power of demons." (C.C.C. 548) Prayer Starter Strengthen our faith, guard us when danger is near, place us in the right track. amen.

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

Tuesday 11th July 2017 Genesis:32/22-32 Psalm:17/1-3,6-8, 15 Mathew: 9/32-38 The First Proclamation The gift went ahead of him, but he himself spent that night in the camp....After he had taken them across the stream, he sent all his possessions over too. And Jacob was left alone. Then someone wrestled with him until daybreak who, seeing that he could not master him, struck him on the hip socket, and Jacob's hip was dislocated as he wrestled with him. He said, 'Let me go, for day is breaking.' Jacob replied, 'I will not let you go unless you bless me.' The other said, 'What is your name?' 'Jacob,' he replied. He said, 'No longer are you to be called Jacob, but Israel since you have shown your strength against God and men and have prevailed.' ... Jacob named the place Peniel, 'Because I have seen God face to face,' he said, 'and have survived.' The sun rose as he passed Peniel, limping from his hip.

The Gospel Proclamation They had only just left when suddenly a man was brought to him, a dumb demoniac. And when the devil was driven out, the dumb man spoke and the people were amazed and said, 'Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.'... Jesus made a tour through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing all kinds of disease and all kinds of illness. And when he saw the crowds he felt sorry for them because they were harassed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his dis-

ciples, 'The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers to his harvest.'

Fix your gaze on Jesus O Holy Lord, help us discern Your mind in today’s Word!

For a great while before day-break, Jacob being alone, more fully spread his fears before God in prayer. While thus employed, One in the likeness of a man wrestled with him. When the spirit helps us in our infirmities, and our earnest and vast desires can scarcely find words to utter them, and we still mean more than we can express, then prayer is indeed wrestling with God. When we prevail though we be tried or discouraged, we shall prevail against all enemies that strive with us. The highest form of vigor and unceasing exertion is wrestling. It is an emblem of the true spirit of faith and prayer. Jacob kept his ground; though the struggle continued long, this did not shake his faith, nor silence his prayer. He will have a blessing, and had rather have all his bone put out of joint than go away without one. Those who would have the blessing of Christ, must resolve to take no denial. The fervent prayer is the effectual prayer.

And let us too resolve that we will be so. After all, This is Jesus' prayer for humanity in the Gospel today. We are to pray earnestly for Spirit inspired persons to work in the vineyard of the Lord our Creator!

Prayer Starter Lord, you are teaching us of the value of persistent prayer; of having clear consistent goals in mind, envisioning the result desired with steadfast faith, living in Hope, and Love.

Amen, Lord Amen indeed.

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Wednesday 12th July 2017 Genesis: 41/55-57; 42/5-7,17-24 Psalm: 33/2,3,10,11, 18, 19 Mathew: 10/1-7 The First Proclamation When all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread. Pharaoh said ... "Go to Joseph; what he says to you, do."

And since the famine had spread over all the land, Joseph opened all the store-houses, and sold to the Egyptian, ...Thus the sons of Israel were among the other people who came to buy grain, for the famine had reached the land of Canaan. ....And Joseph's brothers came and bowed themselves before him with their faces to the ground. When Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he treated them like strangers and spoke harshly to them.

"Where do you come from?" he said, They said, "From the land of Canaan, to buy food."

The Gospel Proclamation Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness. .....

These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: "Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, proclaim the good news, 'The kingdom of heaven has come near'. Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. You received without payment, give without payment.

Prayerful Awareness Very often when God wants to give a certain message or to convey something, He chooses some incidents or selects an appropriate opportunity.

In this instance God wanted for a great famine at the time to let Jacob's sons to meet Joseph, their brother, who they ill-treated, but who in the end came to their rescue. People may think that it is by mere accident that such things happen. But very often God works out His plans according to His Will. While the ordinary man is quite ignorant of it.

That is why some say that God's ways are strange. God Himself has said, "My ways are different from your ways."

In the New Testament Jesus wanted to spread His Father's Kingdom with the help of His disciples. So He gave them power to cast out demons and to cure diseases which He Himself was doing at the time. Jesus wanted the disciples to minister to the chosen flock - the Israelites at first. Power to perform miracles was given to the disciples free of charge.

In the same way Jesus wanted them not to charge any money for the miracles they themselves performed.

This is a good lesson for us too. Not to be too dependent on money. Money is a good servant but a bad master. It is also said that "money is the root of all evils". Today people would not move even a finger without asking for money.

Hence the friendly relationship among people who existed in the early days has weakened and the brotherly feeling has fallen apart.

Prayer Starter "Let us be Christ's true disciples, Looking to another's needs Making stony pathways smoother By a gentle word or deed."

Thorson

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

Thursday 13th July 2017 Genesis:44/18-21, 23-29; 45/1-5 Psalm:105/16-21 Mathew: 10/7-15 The Gospel Proclamation As you go, proclaim the good news. "The kingdom of heaven has come near.' Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. You received without payment, give without payment.

Take no gold, or silver or copper in your belts, no bag for your journey, or two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for labourers deserve their food.

Whatever town or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy, and stay there until you leave. As you enter the house greet it. If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town.

Truly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.

Prayerful Awareness

St. Henry Jesus gave His disciples a PRINCIPLE to guide their actions, when they ministered to others. We too should GENEROUSLY give to others our TIME, LOVE and POSSESSIONS because Jesus said "Freely you have received, freely give."

We must take care of priests who serve God by serving us. Jesus did not want the missionaries to be encumbered by excess material goods. They could expect food and shelter in return for the spiritual services they provided.

Why did Jesus tell His disciples to SHAKE the DUST off their feet IF a CITY or HOME did not welcome them? When leaving GENTILE cities, pious Jews often shook the dust from their feet to SHOW their SEPARATION from Gentile PRATICES. If the disciples shook the dust off a JEWISH town from their feet, it would show their separation from Jews who rejected THEIR MESSIAH. This gesture was to show the people that they were making a WRONG CHOICE, the opportunity to choose Christ might not present itself again.

If we IGNORE the Spirit's prompting, we may NOT GET another chance.

The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed by FIRE from heaven because of their wickedness (Genesis 19:24-25).

Those who reject the Gospel, when they hear it will be WORSE off than the wicked people of these destroyed cities; who never heard the GOSPEL at ALL. Prayer Starter

The Jews waited for a leader who had been promised by inspired prophets. They believed that this leader - the Messiah would rescue them from their Roman oppressors and establish a new kingdom. A political and military kingdom to bring back the days of glory under David and Solomon. But Jesus was talking about a SPIRITUAL Kingdom. The gospel today is that 'Jesus' Jesus our Saviour, You have called the Saviour has already BEGUN His us to serve one another, to spread Your Kingdom on earth, in the HEARTS of 'Word'. Give us willing hearts to accept His followers. the care of others.

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Friday 14th July 2017 Genesis: 46/1-7, 28-30 Psalm:37/3-4,18-19 27-28, 39-40 Mathew: 10/16-23 Gospel Proclamation "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of men; for they will deliver you up to councils, and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear testimony before them and the Gentiles. When they deliver you up, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next; for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel, before the Son of man comes.

Gaze at Jesus The forewarning that Jesus offers the twelve when they were sent on their first mission was based on His own inner experience. He was sent to the world to save the world, but what awaited Him here was persecution for revealing the truth about man’s deception vs God’s love. He was fearless to offer His life to ensure that deception be defeated and that it’s dominion discontinued from leading people astray.

Therefore, He committed fearlessly to the cause He was sent.

Our sonship For us who trust in the dominion of God, what lies beyond persecution is eternal life in the household of our eternal father which we call heaven.

Therefore, Jesus encourages the disciples to foster two virtues. One, dependence on God. “For what you are to say will be given to you in the hour; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you”.

The world is ruled by darkness, deception and rivalry; hence Jesus says, those who are sent needs to be cautious and strong in faith. Therefore, the second attitude is prudence to overcome temptations.

As believers, we need to understand that God had a plan when He created the world and that we are chosen as part of his plan. Jacob’s family was the chosen race. In Jacob’s story, it appears that malicious actions of his own older sons through jealousy traps Joseph the youngest son that resulted in Joseph taken as slave to Egypt. However, the one who had faith in God was Joseph who could identify God’s plan at the end of all.

Prayer Starter Heavenly Father, we pray that we will be filled with strength. Help us Lord to accept the beauty and the love that comes with your invitation. When we stride in our own way, we deliver each other into the hands of the devil as Jesus say in the Gospel today, “Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death”. Therefore, dear Holy Spirit, help us to speak the words of love, compassion and healing that comes from you that world may be once again united with Christ.

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

Saturday 15th July 2017

St. Bonaventure, Bishop & Doctor

Genesis:49/29-33; 50/15-25 Psalm:105/1-4, 6-7 Mathew: 10/24-33 Gospel Proclamation "A disciple is not above the teacher, nor a slave above the master; it is enough for the disciple to be like the teacher, and the slave like the master.

If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household!

"So have no fear of them; for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known. What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops. Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold, for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. And even the hairs of your head are all counted.

So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.

"Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven; but whoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my father in heaven.

Prayerful Awareness A disciple will try to become like his teacher, similarly a slave like his master.

Therefore if the master of the house is Beelzebul, then how many more will try to be like him, but Jesus tells us followers, not to be afraid of them as the Truth will be revealed to us and nothing will be hidden to us and we will be given the

power to tell the Truth openly, without any fear of any one who cannot destroy our soul. Jesus, in a way warns us that if we become a slave of sin we can end up in hell where the evil one can destroy both our soul and body. Today we hear of Christians who have suffered torture and death for the sake of the Gospel, how they stood boldly for Jesus—and why they forgave their persecutors. St. Stephen who preached the Gospel was stoned to death ( Acts 7:54 - 60). Filled with the Holy Spirit he looked up and saw the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God. He called out “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit” and fell to his knees and cried out in a loud voice “Lord, do not hold this sin against them”. St. Stephan received the Baptism of blood to reach heaven.

We are called to repent for our sins and receive forgiveness and not to become a slave of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna, the Hell where Satan rules. In Luke 23: 39 the thief hanged with Jesus on the right side, openly confessed that he was suffering for his own crimes (repentance) and spoke for Jesus accepting Jesus as a Holy person of authority (as Lord ) and said “remember me when you come into your kingdom” and received salvation.

As followers we are called to be like Christ in every way, full of true love, kindness, mercy and desire to guide and save others to receive Salvation.

Prayer Starter Lord Jesus, I accept You as my Teacher and my Lord. Help me to learn from You and your Teachings and follow You in every way to do the Will of God the Father and become pious like You, as a child of God the Father, with the help of the Holy Spirit, Thank You Lord, Amen

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Sunday 16th July 2017 Isaiah:55/10-11 Psalm:65/9-13 Romans: 8/18-23 Mathew: 13/1-23 OR 13/1-9

Introduction The Entrance Antiphon of today summarizes our yearning, how we should fulfill it, and what we shalt feel if and when we do so.

In my justice I shall see your face, O Lord; when your glory appears, my joy will be full.

Our yearning is to be joyous in beholding the glory of God. We feel we can reach our goal by our uprightness (upholding our sense of justice).

The proclamations of today tell us a different story; that our joy is a prearranged fact. God through the prophet Isaiah assures us that each one of us is a word that has come forth from the mouth of God and that it will NOT RETURN TO HIM VOID. The Gospel proclamation tells us we are similar to seeds sown that have fallen on different types of soil.

The Second Proclamation tells us that we are awaiting our birth into our true self in God, The First Proclamation For just as from the heavens the rain and snow come down and do not return there till they have watered the earth, making it fertile and fruitful, giving seed to him who sows and bread to him who eats, so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; It shall not

15th Sunday of Ordinary Time Ps. Wk. III return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it.

Prayerful Awareness When each one of us reaches a certain stage of self awareness, we ask ourselves questions like: Who am I? What is the purpose of my being? Where will I ultimately end up? etc. Jesus says: …… I know where I came from and where I am going.

But you do not know where I come from or where I am going.” (John 8/14) A bold statement indeed. How did Jesus as true Man arrive at this conclusion? We believe it is through faith in the revelation of God handed down to Him through tradition. (The Blessed Mother). It is superfluous to state that it was the Holy Spirit who gave Him that gift of faith.

Reading the writings of Prophet Isaiah in which He also found His mission statement (Luke 4/16-21; Isaiah 61/1-2) Jesus would have been inspired to make the statement He made in John 8u/14. It was with this awareness that He went about teaching and proclaiming the Good News.

The Gospel Proclamation On that day, Jesus went out of the house and sat down by the sea. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd stood along the shore. And he spoke to them at length in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow.

And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky ground, where it had little soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was

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not deep, and when the sun rose it was scorched, and it withered for lack of roots. Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it. But some seed fell on rich soil, and produced fruit, a hundred or sixty or thirty fold.

Whoever has ears ought to hear.”

Gaze at Jesus In John 20/21 Jesus appearing to His disciples after the resurrection says, “As the Father sent me so I send you.” The Father as the sower sowed His Word. His Son Jesus. He fell on to the world and gave the Father’s yield. Jesus in turn now takes the role of the sower and sows Hs seed.

He sends us out in to the world. He is aware that all the seeds are not going to fall on rich soil.

What about the seed that fell by the wayside, rocky ground and among thorns? They too are words which went forth from the mouth of God; they would not return to Him void, but shall do His Will, achieving the end for which He sent them. So what is His Will regarding the above categories of seeds? What is the end to which He sent those seeds?

Did not Jesus experience being the seed of the Father which fell by the wayside – the establishment consisting of the Pharisees, Sadducees, priests and the rulers of His time?

Did He not fall on the rocky ground of the hearts of those who came only to hear words of comfort, healing and prosperity? Did He not fall on soil already overgrown with thorns like the heart of the rich young man?

Let us read the Second Proclamation asking ourselves how the post-resurrection followers of Jesus Christ experienced being the seed

sowed by Him. The Second Proclamation Consider that the sufferings of this present time are as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed for us. For creation awaits with eager expectation the revelation of the children of God; for creation was made subject to futility, not of its own accord but because of the one who subjected it, in hope that creation itself would be set free from slavery to corruption and share in the glorious freedom of the children of God. We know that all creation is groaning in labor pains even until now; and not only that, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, we also groan within ourselves as we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.

Our sonship There is but one thing we can say about the followers of Jesus Christ after the Resurrection. They were a people who endured their daily trials and tribulations with faith in the love of God who held their destiny in His hands. They waited in hope for the redemption of their bodies and adoption as children of God their loving Father to be manifested.

Prayer Starter Father! Our command the seed to rise, Lord God, though the sower is unaware. Grant that those who labour for You may trust not in their own work but in Your help. May we rely on the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, Your love for us O Father and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit in our pilgrimage on earth.

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Monday 17th July 2017 Exodus: 1/8-14, 22 Psalm:124/1-8 Mathew: 10/34-11/1 St. Alexius He was born in Rome in the fifth century. The lesson he learnt from his charitable parents was "riches given away to the poor remain with us forever and that alms deeds are a treasure transferred to heaven with the interest of an immense reward." In his child age he thought himself obliged to those who received his charity and regarded them as his benefactors. He decided to renounce the world fearing that the earthly honour might distance him from what is godly and more noble. On his wedding night, by special divine inspiration, and the consent of his bride, left Rome and went to Edessa in the far East. He gave away all he had to the poor and lived an austere life at the gate of the Church there. An image of Our Lady divulged his secret to the people and they called him "Man of God." Thereupon he fled back to his home under cover. In his own home he was employed as a beggar. For seventeen long years he underwent ill-treatment, mockery and ill-usage at the hands of his own father, spouse and slave. It was after his death that his identity was revealed from his own writings but it was too late.

The Gospel Proclamation Please read the gospel proclamation meditatively - "Not Peace but a Sword" and "Rewards".

Prayerful Awareness Sheer honesty of Our Lord, yes, it is explicitly displayed here. What is demanded of a Christian is presented in a very forceful way. What is expected of a follower is clearly presented. "Do not think I have come to bring peace, but a sword." (Mathew 10:34). In what a forceful way does Our Lord say that His word, the Gospel, is a challenge or a

Feast of St. Alexius, Confessor source of "uneasiness" for all the people.

It is demanding and shakes us completely. His word does not let us settle down to "peace" - at the end of it we become dulled or insensitive. The end result would be devoid of value and uninteresting. The old self must die. It is hard to do it and it effects a strong internal struggle.

This is where the heart of the true Christian becomes a battlefield. At the base of Jesus' challenge is the presence of the reign of God. At the presence of this challenge we, as true Christians, got to give ourselves over to that reign. Many find it difficult to accept this. Rift in families was the result. 'The apostles were forewarned that those who accepted Him would be hated by the members of their own families. The gospel would stir up strife between those who would accept Him and those who would reject Him. The unconverted mother would hate her converted daughter, and the unconverted father would hate the converted son, so that man's bitterest foes would be those of his own household. But they were not to think that all this was a loss. There is a double life; the physical and the spiritual. Tertullian noted that when the Romans put the early Christians to death, the pagan appeal always was "Save your life; do not throw your life away." But as He would lay down His life and take it up again, so too what they would lose biologically, they would save spiritually.

What was sacrificed to Him was never lost. They did not understand what He was saying, but He was summarising for them again His Cross and Resurrection: "By gaining his life a man will lose it; by losing his life for my sake, he will gain it.(Mat. 10:39) (Archbishop Fulton J.Sheen) Prayer Starter The Cross was the crowning incident in Christ's life, the primary reason for His coming; it is evident once again as You invited them to crucifixion. Help us not to flee but to woo Your cross. Amen.

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

Tuesday 18th July 2017 Exodus: 2/1-15 Psalm:69/2,13,29-30 32, 33 Mathew: 11/20-24 The First Proclamation Please read the narration of how the parents protected the infant Moses from the decree of the Pharaoh to kill all new born male Hebrews, and facilitated his entry to the Pharaoh's household. Of how Moses grew up with awareness of his roots, setting up the background for his to kill in the name of justice....

Fix your gaze on Jesus

The parents of Moses saw he was a goodly child. A lively faith can take encouragement from the least hint of the Divine favour. The parents of Moses hid him by faith; they relied upon the promise that Israel should be preserved. Faith in God will set us above the fear of man. At three months' end the mother put him in an ark of bulrushes by the river's brink, and set his sister to watch. And if the weak affection of a mother were thus careful, what shall we think of Him, whose love, whose compassion is, as himself, boundless. Moses never had a stronger protection about him, no, not when all the Israelites were round his tent in the wilderness, than now, when he lay alone, a helpless babe upon the waves. No water, no Egyptian can hurt him. When we seem most neglected and forlorn, God is most present with us. Have you seen this? Providence guides the Pharaoh's daughter to the place where this poor forlorn infant lay, and inclines her heart to pity it, when no one else would.

Learn the lesson; Unless we learn to read the underlying forces at play, and a-tune ourselves to be sensitive there-to, our interpretation will be in error. Journey towards Truth; the clear Will of the ABBA. Otherwise, you will come before the echo of 'Alas for you, Chorazin! Alas for you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.... Still, I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on Judgement Day than for you.'

Prayer Starter

Dearest Lord, we're awed by your mighty deeds indeed, but lack the insight to understand your thinking...help our weak faith and help us to search….

Observe the order of Providence: just at the time when Pharaoh's cruelty rose to its height by ordering the Hebrew children to be drowned, the deliverer was born.

When men are contriving the ruin of the church, God is preparing for its salvation.

The rebellious son went his own way and frittered away his inheritance, coming to his senses only when he came to rest in the sty with the livestock under his care.

God's creation is crafted in such a way that intelligence is trended towards S/His nature. In other words, when the results of our choices come to visit us, and we come to be aware of the causality relationship (cause-effect), Lord, awaken us to our mental we come to our senses, and turn back towards the source of All Goodness. habit of judging every situation, and loosing sight of the wonders You could This is indeed Good-News. be about, in that very same situation….

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Wednesday 19th July 2017

Exodus:3/1-6, 9-12 Psalm: 103/1-4, 6-7 Mathew: 11/25-27 The First Proclamation

life as a Midianite SHEPHERD! As a prince he had EVERYTHING done for him. He was FAMOUS, SON of an Egyptian PRINCESS. As a shepherd he had to do everything for himself. God was getting him ready to FREE Israel from Pharaoh's grasp.

Mount Horeb is another name for MOUNT SINAI, where God would give the people His revealed LAW. God spoke to Moses from an UNEXPECTED source. A burning bush.

Moses went to investigate. We too should be willing to investigate and be open to God's surprises.

Many people in the Bible experienced God in VISIBLE (not necessarily human) form. Abraham saw the SMOKING FIRE POT and BLAZING TORCH (Genesis 15:17). Jacob wrestled with a MAN (Genesis 32:24-29).

When the slaves were freed from Egypt, God led them by PILLARS OF CLOUD and FIRE. God made such appearances to ENCOURAGE His new Nation, to GUIDE them, and to PROVE the reliability of His verbal message.

God commanded Moses to remove his sandals. IT is an act of reverence, conveying his own unworthiness before God. God is our FRIEND, but, He is also our SOVEREIGN LORD. We too must adjust our attitude, so that it is suitable for approaching a HOLY GOD To approach God frivolously shows a lack of respect and sincerity.

Prayer Starter

Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian, he led his flock beyond the wilderness, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of a bush; he looked, and the bush was blazing, yet it was not consumed. Then Moses said, "I must turn aside and look at this great sight and see why the bush is not burned up." When the Lord saw that he had turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush. "Moses, Moses!"

And he said, "Here I am." Then he said, "Come no closer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground." He said further, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God....

The cry of the Israelites has now come to me; I have also seen how the Egyptians oppress them. l send you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt. But Moses said ot God, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?" He said, "I will with you, and this shall be the sign for you that it is I who sent you when you have brought the people out of Thank You Almighty Father in Egypt, you shall worship God on this heaven, for working in mysterious mountain." ways, to make our lives safe and secure.

Help us trust You, even when we don't Prayerful Awareness understand, why things happen as they What a contrast between Moses' do. Remind us Lord of Your goodness life as an Egyptian PRINCE and his and love.

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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

Tuesday 20th July 2017

St. Appollinarius, Bishop & Martyr

Exodus: 3/13-20 Psalm: 105/1,5,8-9, 24-25,26-27 Matthew: 11/28-30 The First Proclamation But Moses said to God "If I come to the Israelites and say to them, 'The God of your ancestors has sent me to you, and they ask me, 'What is his name?' what shall I say to them? God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." He said further, "Thus you shall say to the Israelites, "I AM has sent me to you."

God also said to Moses, "Thus you shall say to the Israelites, "The Lord, the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob has sent me to you. ......

Gospel Proclamation Jesus said: "Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light."

Prayerful Awareness Jesus here, perhaps, refers primarily to the Jews, who were burdened and weight down with legal dos and don’ts of Pharisees and Scribes and the traditions of the elders. In Acts 15:10 Peter tells others (Gentiles) that by coming to Jesus, and embracing the new system of religion, they would be freed from these burdensome rites and ceremonies. Jesus invites all who suffer and burdened to receive perfect freedom by following him. It is mainly the innocent, the poor, lost, ruined, the humble, righteous, upright and genuine people who have to go through various hardships in this society that runs on unscrupulous behavior led

by selfishness, lust where taking bribes and commissions have become very normal, trying to earn money even by drug and sex trafficking and many more ill doings. Christ tells them to come to him, to believe in him, and to trust him and him only, for salvation. Doing this, he will give them rest - rest from their sins, from the alarms of conscience, from the terrors of the law, and from the fears of eternal death. In John 6:35 Jesus said, “I am the bread of life, whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst” An invitation to all who need him, and an unconditioned promise of welcome, to submit to his teaching, and a promise that those who do so shall find rest in it. In John 6 :27 Jesus said, “Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life which the Son of Man will give you. For on him the Father, God, has set his seal.”

Jesus also said in John 8: 12 “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Jesus calls everyone to take his yoke for his yoke is easy, and his burden is light. Romans 10 ; 17 say "Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ."

So let us all follow His Word of invitation to follow Lord Jesus Christ as our Leader, as our Master, as our Helper and our Lord who is there to help us and never forsake us.

Prayer Starter Lord Jesus, I accept You as my Saviour, my Teacher and my Lord who Cares for me and Intercede for me in the presence of God our Loving Father.

Please send to me the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth to Teach me and Guide me and to Strengthen me to know the Will of God and to always do the Will of God, Thank You Lord, Amen

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Friday 21st July 2017

St. Lawrence of Brindisi, Priest & Doctor

Exodus: 11/10-12/14 Psalm:116/12-13,15-18 Mathew: 12/1-8

Gospel Proclamation At that time Jesus went through the grain fields on the Sabbath; his disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat.

But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, “Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath.” He said to them, “Have you not read what David did, when he was hungry, and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him to eat nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests? Or have you not read in the law how on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are guiltless? I tell you, something greater than the temple is here. And if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of man is Lord of the Sabbath.”

Gaze at Jesus The laws relating to Passover or Sabbath were observed by the Jews with much caution as the Law of Moses was decreed by God himself. The laws were dictated by God at the time to establish dominion over a situation where Jews were going to be led out of slavery in Egypt to the promised land. Therefore, it was necessary to keep unity among them while on their journey through Sinai. If God’s exit plan had to be a success, the Israelites attention had to be kept on God and on His commands. Hence the Laws of Moses came into existence. There was another aspect to these plans, that being the coming of Messiah, the one who would ultimately lead the total creation to freedom.

Therefore, today, we gaze at Jesus as the one whose presence transcended the laws of Moses into a purpose that fulfilled God’s plan.

Our sonship Jesus’ presence takes Laws of Moses into another level. Where there was harshness to meet tough circumstances in Moses’ laws were valueless over a period. The priests who were overseers of these laws themselves began to profane them. When they realized, they were futile, they had nothing to replace them with, yet they did not ask God. Instead, when they saw in Jesus the authority that would bring change, they did not want to accept Him in fear of losing their superiority. Hence Jesus was condemned to death. However, Risen Christ has established dominion over God’s plan now and His salvation plan continues to manifest. What a wonder!

Therefore, let us not live condemning one another. He invites us to be faithful to His plan of Salvation, and when we commit our life to Jesus, we also commit our life to uplift God’s plan to resurrect creation from condemnation and lead it towards salvation just as Moses did.

Prayer of Praise (Ps 116: 12-13; 15-18) What shall I return to the Lord for all his goodness to me?

I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord.

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful servants.

Truly I am your servant, Lord; I serve you just as my mother did; you have freed me from my chains.

I will sacrifice a thank offering to you and call on the name of the Lord.

I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people

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

Saturday 22nd July 2017

Song: 3/1-4 OR 2 Corinthians: 5/14-17 Psalm: 63/1-5, 7-8 John: 20/1-2, 11-18

The First Proclamation Please read 2 Corinthians 5/14-17 prayerfully.

Prayerful Awareness In today's first reading we see how a crisis transformed Paul in to having a whole different perspective on life.

Paul says “Christ’s love compels”, what strong words! Paul is “convinced” that Jesus died for all. Paul no longer lives for himself but for Jesus. Paul is so filled with wisdom, influencing the way he sees others, that is not from a worldly point of view. Through Jesus Paul is experiencing a new creation in himself. “The old has gone, the new is here!”

The Gospel Proclamation Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, .... and said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him."

But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and she saw two angels in white, ... They said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him." When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?

Whom are you looking for?" Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, "Sir, if you have carried him

St. Mary Magdalene

away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away. Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to him in Hebrew, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, "Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God'. Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples "I have seen the Lord" and she told them that he had said these things to her.

Prayerful Awareness Mary is experiencing a crisis in her life. She has decided to visit the tomb of her dead teacher and overcome by the sadness that she is still feeling, is crying.

As if the death of Jesus had not destabilized her enough, she is knocked off her feet again by the visitation of the two angels. And then there is an appearance of Jesus Himself, who told her, ‘‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary’s is still in this surreal experience, when she runs to the disciples, and still breathless, shouts “I have seen the Lord!”.

Are you facing a crisis at the moment or can you think back to a time of crisis?

A time of crisis, is certainly an invitation from God, offering us an opportunity to grow, evolve and profoundly change our whole perspective on life. From our side, if we are prepared to use the crisis as an opportunity for change, then despite the pain and the confusion, we will arrive at a place of greater wisdom, tolerance and understanding.

Prayer Starter O God, you are my God, I seek you, my soul thirsts for you, my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. ...(Ps. 63/1-2....)

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Sunday 23rd July 2017 Wisdom:12/13,16-19 Psalm: 86/5-6,9-10, 15-16 Romans:8/26-27 Mathew: 13/24-45 OR 13/24-30 Introduction The increasing number of suicide and the prevalence of depressive illnesses globally is proof that more and more people feel a sense of isolation, loneliness and abandonment. The cause for this situation can be analysed from various perspectives.

Into this situation comes an invitation to believe in a God who cares for you and me. When that invitation is the result of not just a philosophical concept or a scientific hypothesis, but the lived experience of a people, it is in the lease imprudent to disregard it.

The Entrance antiphon for today is an assertion of that kind of experience.

God Himself is my help. The Lord upholds my life. I will offer you a willing sacrifice l will praise Your Name O Lord for its goodness.

The First Proclamation For neither is there any god besides you who have the care of all, that you need show you have not unjustly condemned; For your strength is the source of righteousness, and your sovereignty over all causes you to spare all. For you show your strength when people doubt the completeness of your power, and you rebuke any insolence among those who know it. Although you are sovereign in strength, you judge with mildness, and with great

16th Sunday of Ordinary Time Ps. Wk. IV forbearance you govern us; for you have power to act whenever you choose. Through such works you have taught your people that the righteous must be kind, and you have filled your children with good hope, because you give repentance for sins.

Prayerful Awareness The first proclamation taken from the book of Wisdom paints the picture of God who has power, might and mastery over all things. But God does not use that power arbitrarily. Rather He uses it caringly, leniently, judging with clemency and giving good ground foe hope permitting repentance. It is a God who is condescendingly good and caring, but who seems detached or far away. But still it served as a valid and useful remedy for the sense of malevolent isolation leading to pervading fear and anxiety.

Let us read the Gospel proclamation asking the Holy Spirit to show us how Jesus experienced God. The Gospel Proclamation He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field, but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well. And the slaves of the householder came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?’ He answered, ‘An enemy has done this.’

The slaves said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ But he replied, ‘No; for in gathering the

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weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. Let both of them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; (Please read the rest of the Gospel proclamation Mathew 13/30-43) Gaze at Jesus

The Second Proclamation

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God who searches the heart, know what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. Our sonship When Jesus related this parable it would have struck a resonant chord It is through becoming aware of the in the hearts of people who strived to indwelling Holy Spirit (You however, live an upright and God fearing life. live â&#x20AC;Ś by the Spirit, since the Spirit of Why God permits evildoers to carry God has made a home in you. (Romans on regardless and does not act to stop 8/9) Do you not realize that you are a them is a perennial problem for the temple of God with the Spirit of God just and upright. It is our nature to living n you? (1 Corinthians 3/16) seek comfort and east in living a life Let us desire to become aware and pleasing to God, in a society which is have an intimate relationship with the full of acrimony and debauchery. Jesus Holy Spirit of God Who is INTIMAreveals that what we desire is not the CY personified. Let us permit the Holy way God sees it. It is His permissive Spirit of God to restore our hearts, our will that good and evil, light and dark- humanity and set us free to live the life ness, poverty and plenty co-exist till He created us to live. the end of time, the time of the harvest.

Prayer Starter Jesus reveals that it is not by getGive me a candle of the Spirit, ting rid of evil, darkness and poverty O God, that God plans to redeem creation including humanity. It is rather by calling As I go down into the deep of my own on His chosen to willingly hold the being tension of the contradictions of good Show me the hidden things and evil, light and darkness, poverty Take me down to the spring and plenty till it is transformed. of my life, Let us gaze at Jesus who is at And tell me my nature and my name once Son of God and son of man; He Give me freedom to grow so that I becomes sin but yet did not sin; He is may become The Master but still serves by washing the feet of His disciples; He died but My true-self the fulfillment of is still gloriously alive. the seed Which You planted in me at my Holding the tension is easier said making than done. How do we who call ourselves His disciples respond to His call Out of the deep I cry unto Thee O in this regard? Let us read the second God. Amen. proclamation for the answer.

- George Appleton

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Monday 24th July 2017

Exodus: 14/5-18 Song: Exodus:15/1-6 Mathew: 12/38-42 The Gospel Proclamation Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to him, "Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you." But the answered them, "An evil and adulterous generation asks for a sign, but no sign will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster, so for three days and three nights the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth. The people of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the proclamation of Jonah, and see, something greater than Jonah is here!

The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon, and see, something greater than Solomon is here!

Prayerful Awareness Some teachers of the Law and some Pharisees asked Jesus for signs, to perform miracles. Miracles are no cure for unbelief. Some would not believe though one were to rise daily from the dead. No sign would be wrought which would bring complete conviction, for the will can refuse to what the intellect knows to be true. The Pharisees admitted: "This Man is performing many signs". (John 11:48) But though miracles were admitted, the Person Who worded them was denied. (Archbishop Fulton J.Sheen). Jesus' miracles were signs and were not like the ones mentioned in the Old Testament.

They were signs of God's love, kindness, mercy and compassion. They were used

by God to show us He is nearer to us in the everyday things. Count your many

St. Sharbel Makhluf, Priest

blessings and do not air your grievances.

Always look at things and events of life positively. Of course, to do it that way, it is the Holy Spirit Who helps and guides us. The fundamental or the basic mistake of the Pharisees was they preferred to see God in the abnormal. 'If the Ninevites repented at the preaching of Jonah, then why did they not repent unto Him, to Whom Jonah pointed" They asked for a sign to condemn Him; He gave them a sign which condemned them. They wanted a sign from heaven; He gave them one from the depths of the earth; they wanted a sign which would excite wonder; He gave them one which would stir up repentance; they wanted a sign for themselves alone; He gave them one from the land of the Gentiles to which His gospel would pass after His resurrection. At Nazareth, when His fellow citizens attempted to kill Him, He gave two examples from the Old Testament drawn from the Gentiles to show that His Gospel would pass to them. In this controversy, He used three more examples from the Gentiles. But since "Salvation is of the Jews" as He told them, they must first reject Him before the Gentile world would receive His truth and life. Once more, the Cross and risen glory are placarded before them as the reason of His coming from heaven to earth. "(Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen) The First Proclamation tells us that the Egyptians pursued the Israelites after they had left Egypt. Though we say we have abandoned sin there is the temptation to sin again. The devil uses all his power to re-assert this dominion over the sinner. Passions indulged in earlier will come back in a new way. This chase will be greater and stronger and the devil will use all tactics to regain mastery. On our part we are expected to be alert with the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Prayer Starter Protect us from the snares of the devil. Amen.

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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

Tuesday 25th July 2017

2 Corinthians: 4/7-15 Song: 126/1-6 Mathew: 20/20-28 The First Proclamation But we hold this treasure in pots of earthenware, so that the immensity of the power is God's and not our own. We are subjected to every kind of hardship, but never distressed; we see no way out but we never despair; we are pursued but never cut off; knocked down, but still have some life in us; always we carry with us in our body the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus, too, may be visible in our body. .... In us, then, death is at work; in you, life....realising that he who raised up the Lord Jesus will raise us up with Jesus in our turn, and bring us to himself -- and you as well. You see, everything is for your benefit, so that as grace spreads, so, to the glory of God, thanksgiving may also overflow among more and more people.

The Gospel Proclamation Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came with her sons to make a request of him, and bowed low; and he said to her, 'What is it you want?' ... Jesus answered, 'You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink?'...He said to them, 'Very well; you shall drink my cup, but as for seats at my right hand and my left, these are not mine to grant; they belong to those to whom they have been allotted by my Father.'..... anyone who wants to become great among you must be your servant, and anyone who wants to be first among you must be your slave, just as the Son of man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'

Fix your gaze on Jesus O Holy Spirit of God, nurture the

St. James, Apostle

heart and mind of Jesus within us today...

Our Supreme model Lord Jesus prophecies of his coming passion and glory in today’s Gospel. He is perfect in searching for, and becoming aware of the 'Will of the ABBA' moment by moment, and responding with a resounding “Yes” there-to...

Where do we stand in respect thereto? We need to look inwardly in to our inner reality to identify our own placement: the world of thoughts, desires, drives, beliefs, feelings, motives, understandings, passions and compulsions; the whole miasma of what makes me 'Me'.

How do we respond to the calling to stand in S/His presence every given moment?

The call is to respond with all our mind (attentive, focused), our heart (with gladness, gratefully and with passion), and our strength (will, resolve, steadfast decision)? To walk the narrow (carefully chosen with fore thought) path even as Jesus our Lord and Master did, and Not be tossed hither and wither by ungoverned desires and emotional storms...

This seems to be the same vein of thought/belief the First proclamation points us to! The vicissitudes normal to life is NOT what dictate our life taste; whatsoever we choose to believe, creates our life taste. We live, and die in the Lord Jesus, this inter-twined process happening every moment; the need is to become aware of and to allow the creative process to flow through us ...without becoming fixated on outcomes that we 'think' is 'right'...

Prayer Starter Lord Jesus, when we turn and give You mastery in our lives, when we truly abide in Your commandments (hold the life giving Word before us in all circumstances), You will infuse us with life.

Your word will comfort us, and make us free! This is truly an experience we need to repetitively taste. O Lord, may we be blessed….

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Wednesday 26th July 2017 Exodus: 16/1-5,9-15 Psalm:78/18-19,23-28 Mathew: 13/1-9 OR Sirach:44/1, 10-15 Psalm:132/11.13-14, 17-18 Mathew: 13/16-17

Sts. Jachim & Anne, Parents of the Bl. Virgin Mary and they could be persuaded by anyone for many different purposes because their hearts were not rooted in faith in God, but upon their own selfish needs. He preached in synagogues to the Pharisees who were hard in their hearts like rocks.

He also preached to some who took His word seriously and was willing to fulfill God’s purpose on earth, though whom the kingdom of God has multiplied and transformed in to the twenty-first century.

Gospel Proclamation

Our sonship

That same day Jesus left the house and went to the lake side, where he sat down to teach. The crowd that gathered round him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it, while the crowd stood on the shore. He used parables to tell them many things.

Once there was a man who went out to sow corn. As he scattered the seed in the field, some of it fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some of it fell on Rocky ground where there was little soil. The seeds soon sprouted, because the soil wasn’t deep. But when the sun came up, it burnt the young plants; and because the roots had not grown deep enough, the plants soon dried up. Some of the seed fell among thorn bushes, which grew up and choked the plants. But some seeds fell on good soil, and the plants produced corn; some produced 100 grains, others sixty, and others thirty.

And Jesus concluded, “Listen then, if you have ears”.

In the first reading Jesus tells Moses “Now I am going to make food rain down from the sky for all of you. The people must go out every day and gather enough for that day. In this way, I can test them to find out if they will follow my instructions”(Exodus 16:4) In the natural order of the world, there are parameters in which the world functions. If they are used correctly, they will yield good results. All those can be interpreted as God’s instructions. If they are not adhered to correctly the people reap futile results. Climate change etc are good examples of such actions.

Therefore, we must awaken that, God’s instructions, guidance and promises come in many ways. However, to His chosen, God speaks through the word of God in the scripture and in the living traditions of the church. These, enlighten our faith and nourishes us to live a purposeful life in God. Church takes various ways and means to catechize the people of God, so that they may be planted on firm ground in the word and in the teachings of the church.

Therefore, let us pray for God’s church.

Gaze at Jesus Jesus is speaking about a way of life per God’s plan and He is talking about the environment in which he must speak the word of God. Thus, His ministry called Him to preach the word as he walked across Judea, where people gathered for the sake of miracles they experienced

Prayer starter Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!

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

Thursday 27th July 2017

St. Cyril of Alexandria, Bishop & Doctor

Exodus: 19/1-2, 9-11, 16-20 Daniel:1/29-34 Mathew: 13/10-17 The First Proclamation On the third new moon after the Israelites had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that very day, they came to the wilderness of Sinai....

Then the Lord said to Moses, "I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, in order that the people may hear when I speak with you and so trust you ever after.

When Moses had told the words of the people to the Lord, the Lord said to Moses, "Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. ....

On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, as well as a thick cloud on the mountain, and a blast of a trumpet so loud that all the people who were in the camp trembled. Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God. .....

The Gospel Proclamation Then the disciples came and asked him, "Why do you speak to them in parables?" He answered, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For to those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance, but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. The reason I speak to them in parables is that 'seeing they do not perceive, and hearing they do not listen, nor do they understand.'

With them indeed is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah that says: 'You will indeed listen, but never understand, and you will indeed look, but never perceive. For this people's

heart has grown dull, and their ears are hard of hearing, and they have shut their eyes; so that they might not look with their eyes, and listen with their ears, and understand with their heart and turn - and I would heal them.'

But blessed are your eyes; for they see, and your ears, for they hear. Truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.

Gaze at Jesus During his public life, Jesus was very busy establishing the Kingdom of God. Wherever Jesus was the people flocked to see the miracles and to listen to Him. He always talked to them of what Father God revealed to Him. Jesus had to explain to the people about the secrets and truths of the Kingdom of God, namely, social peace, justice and happiness.

There are some people who become so dull and heavy and blunted in mind that when God's truth comes to them, they cannot see it. It is not God's fault.

They have become so mentally lazy, so blind by prejudice, so unwilling to see anything they do not want to see, that they have become incapable of assimilating God's truth.

According to the Old Testament we see God had selected Moses to lead the chosen people to the Promised Land.

During this journey Moses had to listen constantly to the revelations of God and act according to them. Wherever God was present, Moses experienced His holiness and any time he heard the trembling of the earth, Moses knew that it was God's presence.

Prayer Starter Blessed are you, O Lord, God of our ancestors, and to be praised and highly exalted forever; And blessed is your glorious, holy name, and to be highly praised and highly exalted forever.....

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Friday 28th July 2017 Exodus: 20/1-17 Psalm: 19/7-10 Mathew:13/18-23

like a category one listener? Have we ever been wrong and then found out that we were mistaken? What was our reaction? “Oh! Sha! I can’t believe I was wrong!”. But, what if we never found out The Gospel Proclamation that we were wrong? Then we would not "Hear then the parable of the sow- give a second thought to it! We would just er. When anyone hears the word of the assume that were right. Then, chances kingdom and does not understand it, are, at least concerning the Word that is the evil one comes and snatches away constantly being revealed, there must be what is sown in the heart; this is what occasions when we have failed to underwas sown on the path. As for what was stand it, but do not know it yet.

How about category two? Can we sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately identify with reading or listening to receives it with joy; yet such a person intellectually stimulating explanations has no root, but endures only for a of the Word? Maybe the priest delivered while, and when trouble or persecu- a convincing argument about forgivetion arises on account of the word, ness during the Sunday sermon, or you that person immediately falls away. read a book about communicating more As for what was sown among thorns, effectively with your spouse; as soon as this is the one who hears the word, but you heard the message you understood the cares of the world and the lure of the logic behind it. But, with “no root”, wealth choke the word, and it yields that is instead of “just understanding”, if nothing. But as for what was sown on I am not “living it” moment to moment, good soil, this is the one who hears the willing to die to myself at every occasion, word and understands it, who indeed these teachings will not take effect. bears fruit and yields, in one case a Thirdly, let us look at the next type hundredfold, in another sixty, and in of listeners, those that are not fruitful. another thirty."

Some of the fruits of the Holy Spirit are love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, Prayerful Awareness goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and Jesus described four types of listen- self-control. Can we honestly say that we ers; (1) those that do not understand what are fruitful? How do we behave towards they are hearing, (2) those that hear the each other in our family, when no one words and receive it with joy, but only at else is around? What things get in our first, (3) those that receive the word but way of being fruitful? What “weeds” are unfruitful, and finally (4) listeners stop us from being fruitful; our need that hear the word, understand it and to be respected, listened to, feel loved, reap fruits. Which category do I belong keep a clean house, having well behaved to? Do I place myself in category four children all the time, to be right, etc. Or from above just because I call myself not having enough patience, the inner a “believer”? When we put aside our wounds that we carry around, and our pretences, denials and blindness to our endless worries of the future? own dark shadows, we can allow the Prayer Starter Holy Spirit to shine a light to our own weaknesses. It was most likely not Jesus’ Holy Spirit, help me to be a fruitful intention that we use the parable above listener. Help me to LIVE with constant to point our fingers at others, so let us awareness of You and my weaknesses look within. and the humility to die to myself, so that Are there occasions when we behave I can be fruitful.

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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

Saturday 29th July 2017 1 John: 4/7-16 Psalm: 34/1-10 John: 11/19--27 OR Luke:10/38-42

The First Proclamation Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. God's love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. ....

Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God, if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us........

Gospel Proclamation Many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them about their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary stayed at home. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.”

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

She said to him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world.”

Prayerful Awareness The two sisters Martha and Mary and their brother Lazarus were very

St. Martha close friends of Jesus, and due to this, a message was sent to Jesus when Lazarus was critically ill, so that Jesus could come and heal him. With the agony of Jesus’ not coming on time, Mary would have been hurt to meet Jesus, and this is why Martha also said, my brother would not have died if Jesus had been here. Here we see how different God acts, different to the ways we think. We also see how Martha was led by the Holy Spirit to say “but even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him”. Yet she knew that according to the Jewish belief the soul, or the spirit, will linger near the body or the tomb only for three days after death, and the dead body was already four days old, thus leaving no hope. But, Lord tested her faith, and she affirmed that she believed Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God, which confirmed that the Holy Spirit was with her. God had a purpose in all what happened using the best friend of Jesus as a tool to perform the great miracle of raising to life a person dead beyond all reasonable doubt or understanding, the miracle which made many of the Jews who were there, believe Jesus as the one who was to come, the Messiah.

Do we receive messages of wisdom like Martha and Do we personally know the Third Person of the Holy Trinity the God of the Holy Spirit whom we received at Baptism. Lord said in John 14:16, “And I will ask the Father and He will give you another Advocate to be with you always.”

Prayer Starter Lord Jesus Christ, the begotten Son of God, our Saviour and our Lord, intercede for us and send to us the Holy Spirit to Teach us, to Guide us and Raise us to become a tool in Your hands to become True Witnesses for You and Your Love for us by following Your Teaching to do the Will of God. Thank You Lord, Amen

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Sunday 30th July 2017 Seventeenth Sunday of Ordinary Time Indigenous Clergy Sunday Ps. Wk. IV pleased that Solomon made this re1 Kings:3/5, 7-12 quest. So God said to him: “Because Psalm: 119/57,72,76, you have asked for this ….. I do as 77, 127-130 you requested. I give you a heart so Romans: 8/28-30 wise and understanding that there Mathew:13/44-52 OR has never been anyone like you up 44-46 to now, and after you there will come no one to equal you.

Prayerful Awareness Introduction A child will say, ‘I want to go home” s/he will tell the parents when in unfamiliar, threatening environments; he will tell his friends, “I want to run away from home” when he feels alienated, neglected and abandoned at “home” . We get caught in between these two states of mind even as adults. We seem always to be engaged in a quest for our true “home”. St. Augustine expressed this truth in the following words “O Lord, you have made us for thyself and our hearts are restless until they rest in you!”

The Entrance Antiphon prepares us for our mysterious journey towards OUR HOME. The Holy dwelling place of God which is no place other than the divine Relationship of THE TRIUNE GOD. God is in his holy dwelling; He will give a home to the lonely, he gives power and strength to his people.

The First Proclamation In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream at night. ….

“Ask something of me and I will give it to you.” O Lord, my God, you have made me, your servant, king to succeed my father David; but I am a mere youth, not knowing at all how to act. …. Give your servant, therefore, an understanding heart to judge your people and to distinguish right from wrong. …. The Lord was

It seems King Solomon wanted to feel “at home” in his role as the ruler of the chosen people of God. In his dream when he was free from extraneous distractions the deepest desire of his heart (made in the image of God) came to the surface. That desire was to have a heart centred relationship with the people he had to govern. The point of reference to what was right, just and wise in dealing with his people was LOVE the very nature, image and likeness of God. It is important to note that nothing passed before Solomon’s eyes or entered his ears that does not pass before everyone else’s eyes or enters everyone else’s ears. The difference between Solomon and all those others revolve around how each interprets the “raw material” that is part of everyone’s life. Solomon ‘s interpretation of the information was not limited to the faculties of his mind only. He desired to always see them with the eyes of God. We could say that Solomon while engaging in his daily work, on the royal judgment seat, on the building site of the Temple, his heart yet stayed with God. He permitted the reign of God to be manifest through him and the people he ruled felt at home under his reign.

The Gospel The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure bride in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all hat he

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has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls … Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net thrown into the sea, which collects fish of every kind. When it is full they haul it ashore and sit down to put what is good into buckets. What is bad they throw away. Thus it will be at the end of the age …. “Do you understand all these things?” They answered, “Yes.” And he replied, “Then every scribe who has been instructed in the kingdom of heaven is like the head of a household who brings from his storeroom both the new and the old.”

Gaze at Jesus Let us read the following story to help us understand what Jesus is trying to reveal to us.

The rich industrialist from the North was horrified to find the southern fisherman lying lazily beside his boat, smoking a pipe. Why aren’t you out fishing?” said the industrialist.

‘Because I have caught enough fish forth day,” said the fisherman. “Why don’t you catch more than you need?” said the industrialist. “What would I do with them?” asked the fisherman.

“You could earn more money,” was the reply. “With that you could have a motor fixed for your boat. Then you could go into deeper water and catch more fish. Then you would make enough to buy nylon nets. These would bring you more fish and more money.

Soon you would have enough money town two boats. Then you would be a rich man like me.” “What would I do then?” asked the fisherman. “Then you could sit down and enjoy life.” Said the industrialist. “What do you think I am doing right now?” said the contented fisherman. The rich industrialist seems to be a good example of someone looking to find something without really

having the slightest idea as to what he is looking for, while the fisherman is a good example of one who knows what he was looking for and found it.

By comparing the kingdom of God to a treasure buried in a field and a pearl of great price, Jesus seems to want His listeners to go in search of it.

Secondly Jesus wants us to recognize the treasure/pearl of great price when we find it. Thirdly He wants us to be ready to give up or let go of all that we considered as our treasure up to hat point.

The Second Proclamation We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.

For the foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined he also called; and those he called he also justified and those he justified he also glorified.

Our sonship To experience what St. Paul states in the second proclamation faith in the love of God we must become a people of faith. People of faith have a knack for connecting the dots which make up their lives in such away that they can see God’s loving hand in everything and everyone around them. The dots are similar for everyone. But because of faith, one person is able to make sense of them; while, without faith, another thinks they’re predestined to be conformed to the image of God’s Son.” They even have the courage to believe they’re “called, justified and glorified.”

Prayer Starter Our Father who art in heaven holy be Your Name, Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

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Monday 31st July 2017

Exodus: 32/15-24, 30-34 Psalm: 106/19-23 Mathew:13/31-35 St. Francis de Loyola He was born at Loyola in Northern Spain and was the last of the 11 children.

He followed a military career and was seriously wounded at the siege of Pamplona and during a long convalescence read books on Christ and saints. "If the saints could do this, why not I?' he asked himself. After his recovery he spent one year in solitude searching for God's Will and then made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land.

At 33 he started studying Latin and later took his M.A. Degree. After the approbation of the "Society of Jesus" in 1540 he was elected general and composed its constitutions. The "Jesuits" as they came to be called grew rapidly. Died: July 31, 1556, Beatified by Pope Paul V on 27th July 1609, Canonized by Pope Gregory XV on 12th March 1622. Patron of Spiritual Exercises and Retreats.

The Gospel Proclamation He put before them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the brds of the air come and make nests in its branches.

He told them another parable.

"The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it as leavened."

Jesus told the crowds all these things in parables, without a parable he told them nothing.This was to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophets: "I will open my mouth to speak in parables; I will proclaim what has been hidden from the foundation of the world."

Feast of St. Francis de Loyola

Prayerful Awareness In the Old Testament itself one of the commonest pictures of a great empire is a big tree. The birds that roost there are the nations. The parable clearly tells us that the Kingdom of Heaven begins in a small way and many nations are gathered within it later on. "A road of a thousand miles begins with a small step."

The reformation let lose by Jesus, yes, no one can predict the results, but the progress achieved so far is matchless and is unstoppable. What Jesus expects of us is to serve and witness in our own situations without being discouraged. 'God has placed me here not to be successful but to be faithful". (St.Mother Theresa of Calcutta). Let us do our part, may be insignificant, from which the Kingdom will grow and be the biggest tree.

In the First Proclamation we have the story of the golden calf. Though they promised God they would be faithful to Him they could not keep their promise.

The reason behind is clear - When temptations came upon them they failed to be true to their promise. In our very nature, we are prone to evil and have to be cleansed and put back on the right track.

For this procedure to take place in us we have the Sacrament of Penance and the Holy Eucharist. If we go on unchecked the walk back to the old nature will be a worse one. 'The divine Name, "I AM " or "HE IS" expresses God's faithfulness; despite the faithlessness of man's sin and the punishment it deserves, He keeps "steadfast love for thousands". By going so far as to give up His own Son for us, God reveals that He is "rich in mercy".

By giving His life to free us from sin, Jesus reveals that He Himself bears the divine name: "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will realise that 'I AM'" (C.C.C. 211) Prayer Starter

Help us to give You that little, to work the miracle. Amen.

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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