Walk In the Spirit September 2017 by Pubuduwa

WALK IN THE SPIRIT September 2017 Volume 09 Issue 15

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord"

ISSN 1391-5967

Publication: Fr. Siri Oscar Abayaratne Kithu Dana Pubuduwa

SHARING ON PRAYER September 2017

The Spirit leads me to be with Jesus crying “Abba Father”. My desire grows to be with Jesus and listen to the Abba saying “You are my beloved son. I am with you. You are my love.” I discern the yearning welling up within me, to be completely surrendered. If I could only be lost, free of my Ego, free of my ‘Self-Will’ – free of me. “Abba Father, You know the desire of my heart. Would You not give me this gift to be free, free, for Thee.

Fr. Siri Oscar Abayaratne

Friday 1st September 2017 of God, but the foolish virgins did not have with them merits to enter the kingdom, oil represented the merits they had. When the call came to come out and meet the bridegroom, the unwise virgins did not have enough Gospel Proclamation oil, and had to go to the merchants to Jesus told his disciples this para- buy oil, which showed that they had ble: "The Kingdom of heaven will be not pre planned their meeting with the like ten virgins who took their lamps bridegroom and were not prepared. and went out to meet the bride- They were trying to depend on others groom. Five of them were foolish (the wise virgins) to provide oil for and five were wise. The foolish ones, them, which could not be done at that when taking their lamps, brought no stage. This is why Jesus teach us to oil with them, but the wise brought stay awake and be ready, as no one flasks of oil with their lamps. Since would know the day or the hour of the the bridegroom was long delayed, judgment, and all of us will be taken they all became drowsy and fell unawares to face it, according to the asleep. At midnight, there was a cry, good what we have done in our lives. 'Behold, the bridegroom! Come out Even today we come across people to meet him!' Then all those virgins who try to live very selfish lives withgot up and trimmed their lamps. The out thinking that there are others in this foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give society, trying to have everything for us some of your oil, for our lamps themselves and have their own way, are going out.' But the wise ones cheating and stealing, taking bribes replied, 'No, for there may not be and commissions which they are not enough for us and you. Go instead entitled to in carrying out their jobs, to the merchants and buy some for thus deceiving others and telling lies yourselves.' While they went off to to hide their irregular activities and buy it, the bridegroom came and many more. They will do all that, living those who were ready went into the unjust lives and still expect to receive wedding feast with him. Then the a share of the merits of the good. We door was locked. Afterwards the will only be able to reap merits of what other virgins came and said, 'Lord, we sow now. So be awake and always Lord, open the door for us!' But he do good to others thinking that we are said in reply, 'Amen, I say to you, I doing it to the Lord and let us learn do not know you.' Therefore, stay to forgive all who do wrong to us so awake, for you know neither the day that the wrongs we do knowingly or nor the hour. unknowingly will be forgiven by Lord. Prayerful Awareness Prayer Starter

1 Thessalonians:4/1-8 Psalm:97/1-2,5-6,10-12 Matthew:25/1-13

As true followers of Jesus Christ, we are called to live pious lives, following His Teachings and be ready with merits to meet Lord on the judgment day. The five wise virgins carried enough merits to enter the Kingdom

Lord Jesus, forgive all my sins and purify me to become a true follower and a disciple. Raise me and help me to follow all Your Teachings and live a pious life as a true child of God with the help of the Holy Spirit, Amen

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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

Saturday 2nd September 2017 1 Thessalonians:4/9-12 Psalm:98/1, 7-9 Mathew: 25/14-30 Gospel Proclamation At that time the kingdom heaven will be like this. Once there was man who was about to go on a journey; he called his servants and put them in charge of his property. He gave to each one according to his ability: to one he gave 5000 gold coins, to another he gave 2000 and to another he gave 1000. Then he left on his journey. The servant who had received 5000 coins went at once and invested his money and earned another 5000. In the same way the servant who had received 2000 coins earned another 2000. But the servant who had received 1000 coins went off, dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master’s money. After a long time the master of those servants came back and settled accounts with them. The servant who had received 5000 coins came in and handed over the other 5000. You gave me 5000 coins, sir, he said. Look! Here are another 5000 that I have earned. Well done you good and faithful servant! Said his master. You have been faithful in managing small amounts, so I will put you in charge of large amounts. Come on in and share my happiness. Then the servant who had been given 2000 coins …Then the servant who had received 1000 coins came in and said, Sir, I know you are a hard man, you reap harvests where you did not sow, and you gather crops where you did not scatter seed. I was afraid, so I went off and hid your money in the ground. Look here is what belongs to you ….

Gaze at Jesus Jesus teaches us some profound lessons in this parable. The first lesson about the authority he has given us to initiate action that will increase and multiply. He gives us the resources, it is how creative we are to invest and prosper wisely. Secondly, God gives us according to our ability. Therefore, it is not for us to compare or complain, but do our best. We also need to remember that we accomplish for God and not for our own selfish purposes. At the end, we are accountable before God or as the parable says on return of the king. Our sonship St Paul in 1 Thessalonians write “now about your love for one another, we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. And in fact you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you brothers and sisters, to do so more and more and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life. You should mind your own business and work with your hands just as we told you so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody”. Our talents are best discovered in our working situations. It may be as a professional or in a labor oriented capacity. They are diverse. However, if we are self-disciplined and able to contribute within our community in love towards helping one another then our unity in diversity will earn the respect of “outsiders”. Prayer Starter Lord we pray, help us to understand the goodness of our talents to serve the greater causes of society. Give us the wisdom to develop them and harness them within a community.

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

Sunday 3rd September 2017 Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Ps. WK II Time "God forbid it. Lord! This must Jeremiah:20/7-9 never happen to you." But he turned Psalm: 63/1-5,7-8 and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Romans:12/1-2 Satan! You are a stumbling block to Mathew: 16/21-27 me' for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.| The First Proclamation Then Jesus told his disciples, "If O Lord, you have enticed me, any want to become my followers, let and I was enticed; you have over- them deny themselves and take up powered me, and you have pre- their cross and follow me. For those vailed. I have become a laughing who want to save their life will lose stock all day long; everyone mocks it, and those who lose their life for me. For whenever I speak, I must my sake will find it.For what will it cry out, I must shout, "Violence and profit them if they gain the whole destruction!" For the word of the world but forfeit their life? Or what Lord has become for me a reproach will they give in return for their life? "For the Son of Man is to come and derision all day long. If I say, "I will not mention him, or speak any with his angels in the glory of his more in his name," then within me Father, and then he will repay everythere is something like a burning one for what has been done. Truly fire shut up in my bones, I am weary I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before withholding it in, and I cannot. they see the Son of Man coming in The Second Proclamation his kingdom." I appeal to you therefore, brothPrayerful Awareness ers and sisters, by the mercies of How quickly the mighty fall! God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable Only last week we rejoiced in the gift to God, which is your spiritual of understanding given to Peter (Mt. worship. Do not be conformed to 16:13-20). Today we read of his failure this world, but be transformed by and his being cursed. Last week we the renewing of your minds, so that read of his being the rock upon which you may discern what is the will of the Church is founded (vs.18). Today God - what is good and acceptable we read of his being the stone over which Jesus might stumble on His and perfect. way to the Cross (vs. 23). Peter is also The Gospel Proclamation 'rock'; but he can be a rock upon which From that time on, Jesus began the Church can be founded, or a rock to show his disciples that he must which leads it to stumble. go to Jerusalem and undergo great At Caesarea Philippi Jesus asked, suffering at the hands of the elders "Who do men say that the Son of and chief priests and scribes, and Man is?" After Peter's confession, be killed, and on the third day be Jesus teaches His disciples that the raised. And Peter took him aside Christ, the Son of the living God is and began to rebuke him, saying still the Son of Man. The title 'the Son

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

of Man' was a part of Jesus' question to Peter, and Jesus being the Son of Man means that He must go on to Jerusalem to meet suffering and death Throughout the Gospel whenever Jesus speaks of the need to go to Jerusalem, to suffer, die and rise again, He always uses the expression 'the Son of Man'. (See Mathew 16/21; 17/22-23; 20/17-19; 26/2) Peter was able to understand that Jesus, the Son of Man, was the Christ, the Son of the living God, but he was unable to cope with Jesus' further teaching. It was impossible for Peter to accept that the Christ, the Son of the living God, would exercise His royal Messiahship from the throne of a Cross. He thus attempts to stop Jesus' journey towards Jerusalem. The story-teller goes to some trouble to show that Peter physically attempts to block Jesus' journey to Jerusalem. It is not only a question of sharp words of disagreement. It is that, but it is more; "Taking him aside, Peter started to remonstrate with him.' (vs. 22). His action and his words lead Jesus to address him as a stone over which he might stumble. Peter must take the place assigned to all true disciples" behind Jesus, following Him towards Jerusalem: 'Get behind me' (vs. 23) Gaze at Jesus

His being our brother in both our joys and our sufferings. There is also the further danger that, like Peter, the disciple might run the risk of telling Jesus the direction to take. Most of us would like God and His Son to be with us as we direct our own lives and establish our own agendas. Disciples must be followers of Jesus, never people who try to tell Jesus which way He must go. Thus, the disciple is also called to take up the Cross and follow Jesus (vs.24-25). As Christ and Son of the living God, Jesus will be ultimately victorious through His loving gift of Himself. However, such a victory belongs only to those who have been prepared to follow Him down the way of the Son of Man. All of us like Jesus, yearn for the glory which can be ours; but we are often not ready to pay the price of unconditional love. 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. Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; I will lift up my hands and call on your name. My soul is satisfied as with a rich feast, and my mouth praises you with Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the joyful lips. living God. However, He is not only For you have been my help, and in that, He is also the Son of Man. He is the shadow of your wings I sing for joy. among us as the One who serves, and My soul clings to you; your right who calls us to follow Him down His hand upholds me. way of loving service and gift of self. There is always the danger that Jesus might be understood as a glorious divine figure who somehow passed through the human story and thus saved us. This is a wrong, one-sided, understanding of Jesus which neglects

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

Monday 4th September 2017 1 Thessalonians:4/13- to meet Jesus Christ. 18 The Thessalonians were wonPsalm: 96/1, 3-5, 11-13 dering why many of their fellow believers had died; and what would Luke: 4/16-30 happen to them when Christ returned. Paul wanted them to understand that DEATH is NOT the end of the story. The First Proclamation When Christ returns, ALL BELIEVBut we do not want you to be ERS - DEAD and ALIVE - will be uninformed, brothers and sisters, reunited, NEVER to suffer or DIE about those who have died, so that again. Paul wrote these words to you may not grieve as others do who challenge believers to COMFORT have no hope. For since we believe and ENCOURAGE one another when that Jesus died and rose again, even loved ones die. This passage can be so, through Jesus, God will bring a great comfort when any believer with him those who have died. For dies. The same love that should unite this we declare to you by the word believers in THIS LIFE will unite of the Lord, that we who are alive, when Christ returns and REIGNS who are left until the coming of for eternity. the Lord will by no means precede Because Jesus Christ came back those who have died. For the Lord to LIFE, so will all believers. ALL himself, with a cry of command, Christians, including those living with the archangel's call and with when Christ returns, WILL LIVE the sound of God's trumpet, will with Christ FOREVER. Therefore descend from heaven, and the dead we need not despair when loved ones in Christ will rise first. Then we who die or when world events take a tragic are alive, who are left, will be caught turn. God will turn our tragedies to up in the clouds together with them TRIUMPHS, our poverty to RICHES, to meet the Lord in the air, and so our pain to GLORY and our defeat we will be with the Lord forever. to VICTORY. Believers throughout Therefore encourage one another history will stand UNITED in God's with these words. very presence, SAFE and SECURE. With the promise of the resurrection, Prayerful Awareness we should comfort and reassure each Paul wrote the events of Christ's other with this great HOPE. return and what will happen once Prayer Starter Christ does return. Christ will return VISIBLY, with a loud command. Thank You Jesus, You defeated and There will be UNMISTAKABLE overcame death, and now we have CRY from an angel. There will be a hope beyond the grave! TRUMPET FANFARE such as has "Where O death, is your victory? never been heard. Believers in Christ Where O death, is your sting?" who are dead WILL RISE from their graves. Believers who are ALIVE (1 Corinthians 15:55) will be caught up IN THE CLOUDS

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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

Tuesday 5th September 2017 1 Thessalonians: 5/1-6, 9-11 Psalm: 27/1.4, 13-14 Luke: 4/31-37 Gospel Proclamation He went down to Capernaum,... and taught them on the Sabbath. .... In the synagogue there was a man possessed by the spirit of an unclean devil, ... ' But Jesus rebuked it, saying, 'Be quiet! Come out of him!' And the devil, throwing the man into the middle, went out of him without hurting him at all. Astonishment seized them ... 'What is it in his words? He gives orders to unclean spirits with authority and power and they come out.' ... Prayerful Awareness Let us meditatively dwell on today’s Proclamations which are self-explanatory, where the central theme is the saving power of our Abba Father, our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, which is the giving, receiving, and binding love between the Father and the Son, which together manifests as the Holy Trinity, and sing today’s Psalm thus: Yahweh is my light and my salvation, whom should I fear? Yahweh is the fortress of my life, whom should I dread? One thing I ask of Yahweh, one thing I seek: to dwell in Yahweh's house all the days of my life, to enjoy the sweetness of Yahweh, to seek out his temple. This I believe: I shall see the goodness of Yahweh, in the land of the living. Put your hope in Yahweh, be strong, let your heart be bold, put your hope in Yahweh. How wonderful it is when we develop correct understanding of our Triune God, His Creation, and the purpose of life, and our Life! We become filled with awe, and with thanksgiving, for

His mighty Power, Glory, Love, Mercy, and Authority! And when we come to the realization that everything happens in the universe (and beyond?) according to God’s Holy Will, both His Definitive Will and Permissive Will, and learn to submit to same, we achieve a great sense of Peace and Joy, and are also empowered to let His Love flow to others as we receive! The prime example we have of such a life is that of the Blessed Mother, who accepted life as it unfolded, giving thanks and praise at all times, never complaining, but always in a spirit of joy and peace! This is the Joy and Peace that our Lord Jesus Christ promises us. He says I give not as the world gives, i.e. it is an inner peace and joy independent of the circumstances we find ourselves in, irrespective of the conditions around us, which therefore nobody can take away from us! What Peace, what Joy, what Grace! And now, let us read today’s First Proclamation in this context: About times and dates, brothers, there is no need to write to you for you are well aware in any case that the Day of the Lord is going to come like a thief in the night. It is when people are saying, 'How quiet and peaceful it is' that sudden destruction falls on them, as suddenly as labour pains come on a pregnant woman; and there is no escape. But you, brothers, do not live in the dark that the Day should take you unawares like a thief. No, you are all children of light and children of the day: we do not belong to the night or to darkness, so we should not go on sleeping, as everyone else does, but stay wide awake and sober. God destined us not for his retribution, but to win salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that, awake or asleep, we should still live united to him. So give encouragement to each other, and keep strengthening one another, as you do already. Amen! Alleluia!

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

Wednesday 6th September 2017 Colossians:1/1-8 Psalm: 52/8-9 Luke: 4/38-44 The First Proclamation Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the saints and faithful brothers and sisters in Christ in Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father. In our prayers for you we always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. You have heard of this hope before in the word of the truth, the gospel that has come to you. Just as it is bearing fruit and growing in the whole world, so it has been bearing fruit among yourselves from the day you heard it and truly comprehended the grace of God. .... Prayerful Awareness

small and praise even non-existent. But a true Christian will do all things - big, small or menial - as he or she does them in and for the Lord. Also the work is done cheerfully, diligently and without complaining. Doesn't He give meaning to our lives and keep us on the right track? Paul is gladdened to hear and gives thanks to God for the Colossians now possess or show two great Christian values - love their neighbors and have faith in Christ. Surely these are the two great pillars of the Christian life. They go hand in hand - the double commitment. To have only love for others - not so, as it might become sentimentality. And only faith - it can involve us in an orthodoxy that is devoid of love. "Christian petition is centred on the desire and search for the Kingdom to come, in keeping with the teaching of Christ. There is a hierarchy in these petitions: we pray first for the Kingdom, then for what is necessary to welcome it and co-operate with its coming. The collaboration with the mission of Christ and the Holy Spirit, which is now that of the Church, is the object of the prayer of the apostolic community. It is the prayer of Paul, the apostle par excellence, which reveals to us how the divine solicitude for all the churches ought to inspire Christian prayer. By prayer every baptised Christian works for the coming of the Kingdom." (C.C.C. 2632). In the section from the letter to the Colossians we have a kind of summary of what the gospel draws our attention to. Not just guesses but stark truth about God is presented. It tells of His grace - what He offers us freely. Prayer Starter

In the greeting we have here, two things are significant, i.e. Paul writes to the Christians in Colosse and those in Christ. We Christians are in a territory or a place in the world and also in Christ. The temporal duties - yes, we do not treat them lightly but give priority to live in Christ. Wherever we are we are always in Him. So the problems we face make little difference as he is with and in us. Our peace and joy are not dependant on those problems. So aren't we able to do any work wholeheartedly? The work to be done may Help and guide us not to hoard that be unpleasant, painful, extraordinary than we might expect to have. The which is divinely given but to pass it on remuneration or the prize may be to others. Amen.

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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

Thursday 7th September 2017 Colossians: 1/9-14 Psalm:98/2-6 Luke: 5/1-11 The First Proclamation That is why, ever since the day he told us, we have never failed to remember you in our prayers and ask that through perfect wisdom and spiritual understanding you should reach the fullest knowledge of his will and so be able to lead a life worthy of the Lord, a life acceptable to him in all its aspects, bearing fruit in every kind of good work and growing in knowledge of God, fortified, in accordance with his glorious strength, with all power always to persevere and endure, giving thanks with joy to the Father who has made you able to share the lot of God's holy people and with them to inherit the light.... Fix your gaze on Jesus Let us praise The Holy Lord! Do stay with us O Holy Spirit of God, that we may awaken more and more to Your presence and the Great Works You do for us! The apostle was constant in prayer, that the believers might be filled with the knowledge of God's will, in all wisdom. Good thoughts and words and beliefs, when persistently held within, will manifest as good works. Be mindful, for we reap what we sow. Therein underlies the crucial need to abide in the Word of God. Look at when Jesus said to Simon, 'Put out into deep water and pay out your nets for a catch.' Simon replied, 'Master, we worked hard all night long and caught nothing, but if you say so, I will pay out the nets.' And when they had done this they netted such a huge number of fish that their nets began to tear, so they signalled to

their companions in the other boat to come and help them; when these came, they filled both boats to sinking point. Point: We toil away unproductively, but Obey the Living Word, and the Results are 'Something Else'! He who undertakes to give strength to his people, is a God of Generosity, of Mercy, and of glorious Power. The blessed Spirit of God continues the creative process of renewing His People, renewing everything; everything is recycled, and nothing goes to waste. Ah, such wisdom! In praying for spiritual strength, we really are asking for the courage to ACCEPT 'What Is', to Denigrate the Lie that we are Separate, and ENTER in to Our Connection / Strength in Him who Provides and Empowers us. We need to remind ourselves that “What Is”, is Good; and our strength lies in our 'Weakness' / Admittance of the 'Other'! Check whether your understanding has reached that truism? We are not straitened, or confined in the 'Promises' of God; the 'Rules / Commandments' are there to lift us up from our inclinations to be in sin and reach our potential/ destiny. This is modeled by the Kite. A kite is able to stay aloft, and soar ever higher on the currents of wind, so long as it stays tied to the string in the Master's hand; so are we lifted up by the Master! To bring about this change, we 'who were slaves of Satan' are 'to choose' to be 'willing subjects of Christ'; All who are designed for heaven hereafter, are prepared for heaven now. Those who have the inheritance of sons, have the education of sons, and the disposition of sons. Prayer Starter Praise and Glory be to the Eternal; S/He who is coaching us to be children….

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

Friday 8th September 2017

Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Micah: 5/1-5 OR Romans: 8/28-30 Psalm:13/5-6 Matthew: 1/1-16,18-23 OR 1/18-23

The Gospel Proclamation An account of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, and Judah the father of Perez and Serahby Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Aram, and Aram the father of Aminadab, and Aminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, and Salmon the father of Boaz ..., and Boaz the father of Obed ... and Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of King David. And David was the father of Solomon ..., and Solomon the father of Rehoboam and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asaph and Asaph the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram and Joram the father of Uzziah and Uzziah the father of Jotham and Jotham the father of Ahaz and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah and Hezekiah the father of Manaseh and Manaseh the father of Amos and Amos the father of Josiah and Josiah the father of Jehoniah ... and Matthan the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah.

Prayerful Awareness Presenting this genealogy was one of the most interesting ways that Mathew

could begin a book for a Jewish audience. Because a person's family line proved his or her standing as one of God's chosen people. Mathew began by showing that Jesus WAS a descendant of Abraham, the father of all Jews, and DIRECT descendant of DAVID, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies about the MESSIAH'S line. Mathew wrote this book to Jews to present Jesus as KING and Messiah who would reign FOREVER. In the first 17 verses we meet 46 people whose lifetimes span 2,000 years. All were ancestors of Jesus, but they varied considerably in PERSONALITY, SPIRITUALITY and EXPERIENCE. Some were heroes of faith - like Abraham, Isaac, Ruth and David. Some had shady reputations. Many were very ordinary and others were evil - like Manaseh and Abijar. God's work in history is NOT LIMITED by human failures or sins, and He works through ordinary people. Just as God used all kinds of people to bring His Son into the world, He uses ALL KINDS TODAY to accomplish His Divine Will. And God wants to use US. Because Mary was a virgin when she became pregnant, Mathew lists Joseph only as the husband of Mary, NOT the FATHER of Jesus. Mathew's genealogy gives Jesus LEGAL or ROYAL lineage through Joseph. Both Mary and Joseph were direct descendants of David. Mathew traced the genealogy back to ABRAHAM. Mathew wrote to the Jews. So Jesus was shown as a descendant of THEIR FATHER, Abraham.

Prayer Starter Lord Jesus, You cannot be equated with any person or power. You are the Supreme ruler of time and eternity, heaven and earth, humans and angels. We give You Jesus Your rightful place as KING OF OUR LIVES.

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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

Saturday 9th September 2017 Colossians: 1/21-23 Psalm: 54/1-2, 4,6 Luke: 6/1-5 The First Proclamation And you who were once estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his fleshly body through death, so as to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before him provided that you continue securely established and steadfast in the faith, without shifting from the hope promised by the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven. I, Paul, became a servant of this gospel. Gospel Proclamation While Jesus was going through a field of grain on a Sabbath, his disciples were picking the heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands, and eating them. Some Pharisees said, "Why are you doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?" Jesus said to them in reply, "Have you not read what David did when he and those who were with him were hungry? How he went into the house of God, took the bread of offering, which only the priests could lawfully eat, ate of it, and shared it with his companions?" Then he said to them, "The Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath." Prayerful Awareness According to the Ten Commandments ( Exodus 20 : 8 to 10 ) no work may be done on the Sabbath day. Jesus' disciples were hungry, so they pick heads of grain to eat. Pharisees ( whose job was to see that Jewish rules were adhered ) criticized them for doing

St. Peter Claver this on a Sabbath day, categorizing it as work. Jesus, reminded them what David did when he was hungry, and went onto tell them that Son of Man is the authority of the Sabbath. Jesus often spoke against religious rules that were hardships for people, saying "They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people's shoulders" ( St. Mathew 23 : 4 ) and also that “Sabbath was made for man , not man for Sabbath” ( St Mark 2 : 27 ). The Church leaders, Pharisees, the wise and the learned did not want to accept what Jesus said and therefore they did not come to know who Jesus truly was. This is why Jesus said, I give Praise to You Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although You have hidden these things from the wise and the learned You have revealed them to the childlike. Yes, Father , such has been Your gracious will ( St. Mathew 11 : 25 -26). For, if they had totally believed and accepted Jesus as the Son of Man ( the Messiah to come ), they would not have put Him to the cruel death on the cross, and God’s plan to save the mankind from the original sin and renew the bond between God and man would not have taken place, and the world would be sinful and condemned throughout without the Saviour. Jesus in His Teachings as the Saviour , showed us the path for salvation. Prayer Starter God our Loving Father , I thank and praise You for Your Great Love and concern for me. Help me to follow all Your Commandments and do everything according to Your Will with Love of a True Witness for You and bring You Glory in everything I do, and in every word I speak and in every thought I have with the guidance of the Holy Spirit within me. Amen

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

Sunday 10th September 2017 Twenty third Sunday in Ordinary Time Ps.Wk. III you have regained that one. But if Ezekiel: 33/7-9 you are not listened to, take one or Psalm:95/1-2, 6-8 two others along with you, so that Romans: 13/8-10 every word may be confirmed by the Mathew: 18/15-20 evidence of two or three witnesses. If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even The First Proclamation to the church, let such a one be to So you, mortal, I have made you as a Gentile and a tax collector. a sentinel for the house of Israel; Truly I tell you, whatever you bind whenever you hear a word from my on earth will be bound in heaven, mouth, you shall give them warning and whatever you loose on earth from me. If I say to the wicked, "O will be loosed in heaven. Again, wicked ones, you shall surely die," truly I tell you, if two or you agree and you do not speak to warn the on earth about anything you ask, it wicked to turn from their ways, the will be done for you by my Father wicked shall die in their iniquity, but in heaven. For where two or three their blood I will require at your are gathered in my name, I am there hand. But if you warn the wicked among them." to turn from their ways, and they Prayerful Awareness do not turn from their ways, the wicked shall die in their iniquity, Today's Gospel is part of a disbut you will have saved your life. course which Jesus gives to His followers on the way disciples should The Second Proclamation relate to one another. His words made Owe no one anything, except to demands that seem impossible in the love one another; for the one who hard-nosed world of today. Yet we loves another has fulfilled the law. are called to make these words of The commandments, "You shall Jesus real. not commit adultery; You shall not When conflict arises over the inmurder; You shall not steal; You jury we inevitably do to one another, shall not covet"; and any other then peace must be established by an commandment are summed up in encounter between the offended party this word, "Love your neighbor as and the offender (Matthew 18:15). yourself." Love does not wrong to If this fails one should call upon the a neighbor; therefore, love is the help of two or three other Christian fulfilling of the law. witnesses so that the wrong can be set The Gospel Proclamation right and peace established within the If another member of the church community (vs. 16). If this fails, the sins against you, go and point out whole Christian community should the fault when the two of you are be called upon to make a judgement alone. If the member listens to you, (vs. 17). The Christian offender who

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

refuses to accept what the community decides is to be sent away from the community itself. He or she is arrogantly refusing to live by the basic law of Christianity; the law of love. But is this the end of the question? What is meant by 'treat him like a pagan or a tax collector? (vs.17) Mathew's Gospel was written to send the infant Church to the Gentiles to teach them (see 28:19), and in this Gospel Jesus shows a particular interest was shown in a tax collector named 'Mathew' (see 9:9; 10:3). Is the Christian who refuses the authority of the community to be shunned, or to be the subject of outreach and concern in imitation of a Jesus who was so interested in searching out tax collectors that he was called their friend (see 11:19)? As Jesus will shortly tell Peter, one must forgive one's brethren 'seventy-seven times' - an infinite number of times (vs.22). Gaze at Jesus

our own time are attempts to bind and loose in the pursuit of a love which imitates the love of Jesus. To survive, the Church must be a society existing among other societies, but if we are to be true to Jesus, His life and His teaching, then we must sometimes act in a way that other institutions regard as foolishness. To search out and care for those who refuse the authority of the institution could be seen as suicidal, but that was the way of Jesus. The number of people who have turned away from the Church because they found it too forgiving is not large! Many have abandoned it because they found it unforgiving. We will always need the presence of Jesus to give us the courage to love in such a way. That is why Jesus finishes His instructions with a command to constant prayer, and a reminder that when we gather together in His Name, He is there in the midst of us. (vs.19-20). The Christian community has its Prayer Starter own authority, but it is exercised in a way which proclaims that it flows O come, let us sing to the Lord, let from Jesus' new law of love. The us make a joyful noise to the rock of members of the community should our salvation! have a quality of life among them that Let us come into his presence with makes people outside the community thanksgiving; let us make a joyful say: 'See how they love one another'. noise to him with songs of praise! This must be preserved, as it repeats O come, let us worship and bow in Christian life, the life-style of Jesus Himself: 'You must love one another down, let us kneel before the Lord, as I have loved you' (John 13:34). our Maker! Based on this love command, the For he is our God, and we are the binding and loosing in the community people of his pasture, and the sheep will reflect the binding and loosing of his hand. which our God requirs from us. WhatO that today you would listen to ever its strengths and weaknesses, the his voice! Church's guidance and judgments in

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

Monday 11th September 2017 Colossians: 1/24-2/3 Psalm:62/5-6, 8 Luke: 6/6-11 The First Proclamation I am now rejoicing in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am completing what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church. I became its servant according to God's commission that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery that has been hidden throughout the ages and generations but has now been revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. It is he whom we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone in all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil and struggle with all the energy that he powerfully inspires within me. .... The Gospel Proclamation On another sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught, and there was a man there whose right hand was withered. The scribes and the Pharisees watched him to see whether he would cure on the sabbath, so that they might find an accusation against him. Even though he knew what they were thinking, he said to the man who had the withered hand, "Come and stand here." He got up and stood there. Then Jesus said to them, "I ask you, is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the sabbath, to save life or to destroy it?" After looking around at all of them, he said to him, "Stretch out your hand." He did so, and his hand was restored. But they were filled with fury and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.

Gaze at Jesus In the process of establishing the Kingdom of God on earth, there was no particular place or time that Jesus had to choose. The first and foremost is the deep union with the Father God. Jesus had to spend most of the time preaching to convince the people about the Word of God. What a loving Father God we have and how often He is willing to pardon the sins of the people. Jesus relieved all who came to Him from different sicknesses and freed people who were victims of various bondages and those possessed by demons. On this particular Sabbath day while teaching in the synagogue, Jesus' attention was drawn to a man whose right hand was withered, also the scribes and Pharisees who were watching Jesus. Jesus was aware of the evil thoughts of the scribes and Pharisees. So while healing the man with the withered hand, Jesus wanted to teach the scribes the real meaning of Sabbath and the observance of the rule of Sabbath. The man with the withered hand was asked to stretch out his hand. He was instantly healed. Jesus challenged the Pharisees and said, "Is it permitted to do good or to do evil on the Sabbath? To save life or to destroy it?" Through the act of mercy done Jesus proved to them that the mission He has received from the Father comes first. God's master plan is made more clear in today's first proclamation. The mystery hidden for ages from angels and men is now made manifest to His saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in You, the hope of Glory. (Colossians 1/27). Prayer Starter For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. (Ps.62/5,6)

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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

Tuesday 12th September 2017 Colossians: 2/6-15 Psalm: 145/1-2, 8-11 Luke: 6/12-19 OR GalatiansL4/4-7 OR Ephesians:1/3-6,11-12 Song: Luke:1/46-55 Luke: 1/39-47 Gospel Proclamation Now it happened in those days that he went onto the mountain to pray; and he spent the whole night in prayer to God. When day came he summoned his disciples and picked out twelve of them; he called them 'apostles': Simon whom he called Peter, and his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon called the Zealot, Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot who became a traitor. Fix Your Gaze on Jesus Let us gaze at our Lord Jesus in order to learn how He was able to discern Abba Father’s Will and carry it out one hundred percent! We see how the Lord allowed Himself be filled with the Holy Spirit of God by spending time alone (the whole night) in prayer, discerning what His Abba wanted Him to do the next day, whereby He was able to plan how He would set about laying the foundation for the establishment of God’s Kingdom on earth. Those whom He selected as His key Team from amongst the disciples was a diverse bunch of people, from various walks of life, and notable is the fact that the Holy Spirit led Him to include Judas Iscariot being fully aware that he will turn traitor, because it was necessary for the fulfilment of Abba Father’s Plan for mankind’s redemption!

The Most Holy Name of Mary In order to carry out God’s Holy Will in our lives we need to instil in us the habit of reading God’s Word on a daily basis. When the Lord was tempted in the wilderness He was able to defeat Satan’s deceptions by quoting the Word of God. From the scriptures He knew He had to suffer rejection, betrayal, humiliation, excruciating pain, and death on the cross. God’s Holy Will for us also is to trod the narrow and difficult path rather than take the wide & easy road. It is a calling to imitate His Love, which is universal, sacrificial, humble /serving, and constant & unconditional! Doing God’s Will is to meet life’s events and circumstances as they unfold in our lives with praise and thanksgiving, like our Lord Jesus Christ and the Blessed Mother. In order to do this we must remain constantly attuned to God’s Holy Spirit, who is our constant companion, helper, and guide! First Proclamation So then, as you received Jesus as Lord and Christ, now live your lives in him, be rooted in him and built up on him, held firm by the faith you have been taught, and overflowing with thanksgiving…. You have been buried with him by your baptism; by which, too, you have been raised up with him through your belief in the power of God who raised him from the dead…… Song of Praise (Psalm 145:1-2, 8-9, 10-11) I shall praise you to the heights, God my King, I shall bless your name for ever and ever. Day after day I shall bless you, I shall praise your name for ever and ever. Yahweh is tenderness and pity, slow to anger, full of faithful love. Yahweh is generous to all, his tenderness embraces all his creatures......

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

Wednesday 13th September 2017 Colossians: 3/1-11 Psalm:145/2-3, 10-13 Luke: 6/20-26 St.John Chrysostom He was the son of a Latin father and a Greek mother. He was directed to study Holy Scripture. He was made a priest in 386 A.D. Many of his treaties and books have come down to us. The spiritual content of his teaching was deep. He earned the Greek suffix 'Chrysostem' meaning "golden mouthed". After 12 years he was made Bishop of that great Eastern Metropolis - Constantinople. In his sermons he fearlessly inveighed against the dissolute lives and excessive luxuries and vanities of the imperial court. The common people, moved by his sermons, even applauded in the church. He was sent into exile twice. Died: 14th September 407. Patron of Preachers and is invoked against epilepsy. The Gospel Proclamation Then he looked up at his disciples and said; "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. ..... Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven, for that is what their ancestors did to the prophets. But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. "Woe to you who are full now, for you will be hungry. "Woe to you who are laughing now, for you will mourn and weep. ...." Prayerful Awareness We have a series of revolutionary ideas in the Beatitudes presented here. Naturally each one is a challenge.

St. John Chrysostom Accepted normal standards are turned upside down. People who are labeled happy by worldly standards - Jesus calls them wretched and vice versa. One may aim at the things which the world values - and they can be had but isn't that all one will get? Take the case of one who sets his heart on and be true to, loyal to God - all kinds of troubles are in store for him, all aimed at making him holy and the reward is yet to come - eternal joy. The challenge is clear and what is our choice ....? It starts in our childhood and continues throughout our lives. Our choice - easy path with promises of pleasure and luxury? On the reverse are you ready to sacrifice them for that eternal reward? Christ or pleasures of this world? Woo one and abandon the other .... The way to happiness was clear to Our Lord and it is that He wants us to follow. The promise of Our Lord to His disciples - to be happy; fearless and always in trouble. Our short life span and the troubles we face are no match for the crown ready for us in heaven. "The Beatitudes reveal an order of happiness and grace, of beauty and peace. Jesus celebrates the joy of the poor, to whom the Kingdom already belongs. The Word speaks of voluntary humility as "poverty in spirit"; the Apostle gives an example of God's poverty when he says "For your sakes He became poor." The Lord grieves over the rich, because they find their consolation in the abundance of goods. "Let the proud seek and live earthly kingdoms, but blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Abandonment to the providence of the Father in heaven frees us from anxiety about tomorrow. Trust in God is a preparation for the blessedness of the poor. They shall see God." (C.C.C. 2545 & 2547). Prayer Starter Help us choose the right track that will take us to You.

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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

Thursday 14th September 2017 Numbers:21/4-9 Psalm:78/1-2, 34-38 Philippians:2/6-11 John: 3/13-17 The First Proclamation They left Mount Hor by the road to the Sea of Suph, .... On the way the people lost patience. They spoke against God and against Moses, .... At this, God sent fiery serpents among the people; their bite brought death to many in Israel. The people came and said to Moses, 'We have sinned by speaking against Yahweh and against you. Intercede for us with Yahweh to save us from these serpents.' Moses interceded for the people, and Yahweh replied, 'Make a fiery serpent and raise it as a standard. Anyone who is bitten and looks at it will survive.' ... Fix your gaze on Jesus O Jesus, You the Living Word, manifesting in material form, then recently as the Son of Mary, and since then - now in Your cosmic form essentially in and through everything, and most specially through the Eucharist, help us grasp the love of the Creator You convey to us..... The children of Israel were wearied by a long march around the land of Edom. They speak discontentedly of what God had done for them, and were distrustful of what He would do. What will they be pleased with, whom manna will not please? Let not the contempt which some cast on the word of God, make us value it less. It is the bread of life, substantial bread, and will nourish those who by faith feed upon it, to eternal life. We see the righteous judgment God brought upon them for murmuring. The fiery serpents sent among them bit or stung many to death. They would not have owned the sin, had they had not felt the smart;

Exaltation of the Holy Cross but they relent under the rod. And God makes a wonderful provision for their relief. It was not the sight of the brazen serpent that cured; but in looking up to it, they looked up to God as the Lord that healed them. The material form is simply a manifestation of the real stuff - the divine stuff underlying it. We must develop the sight to see this, were we to progress as sons of God; and our present scientific progress especially in the quantum mechanics, particle physics and the General Theory of Relativity, facilitates this understanding. In fulfillment of the Jewish experience, our Saviour confirmed, that as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that whatsoever believes in Him, should not perish. Compare their disease and ours. Sin bites like a serpent, and stings like an adder. Compare the application of their remedy and ours. They looked and lived, and we, if we believe, shall not perish too. It is by faith that we look unto Jesus, and whosoever looked, however desperate his case, or feeble his sight, or distant his place, was certainly and perfectly cured. The Lord would relieve us from dangers and distresses, had we but the faith there-for. Oh that the venom of the old serpent, inflaming men’s passions, and causing them to commit sins which causes their eternal destruction, were as sensibly felt, and the danger as plainly seen, as the Israelites felt pain from the bite of the fiery serpents, and feared the death which followed! Then none would shut their eyes to Christ, or turn from His gospel. Then a crucified Saviour would be so valued, that all things else would be accounted loss for him; then, without delay, and with earnestness and simplicity, all would apply to Him, crying, Lord, save us; we perish! Prayer Starter We are lost without You O Lord, save us! Reveal Yourself to us O Lord.....

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

Friday 15th September 2017 Hebrews:5/7-9 Psalm:31/14-15, 10 John: 19/25-27 OR Luke: 2/33-35 The First Proclamation In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered, and having been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him, The Gospel Proclamation And that is what the soldiers did. Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and he disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, "Woman, here is your son." Then he said to the disciple, "Here is your mother." And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home. Prayerful Awareness Mother Mary was a very special creation of God, so blessed she was to conceive the Son of God, through the grace of the Holy Spirit. She bore in her womb child Jesus and gifted Him to the world to accomplish the Father's mission. At the presentation of the infant Jesus in the temple Simeon prophesied that Mary's soul would be pierced with a sword so that the thoughts of many hearts would be revealed. Then and there she dedicated her Son to the Father with her whole heart and all these she kept deep in her heart. She was ever ready to face any challenges and sufferings to

Our Lady of Sorrows give way to the Will of God. Here we are reminded of what she said to angel Gabriel, "I am the handmaid of the Lord. Thy will be done to me." It was a hard time for Jesus and His disciples. Amidst all the challenges and set-backs from the scribes, Pharisees and the Chief Priests, Jesus proclaimed the Good News of the Kingdom of God, healed all the people who were physically, mentally and spiritually sick, depending on the love and power of Father God. Mother Mary too closely associated her Son and she became the first and great disciple of her Son and participated in a most profound way in the redemption work of Christ. When she saw the humiliations and sufferings her Son was subjected to, she could not remain unaffected. So she accompanied her Son to the foot of the cross to see her Son offer the supreme sacrifice to the Heavenly Father for the redemption of the world. Let us take to our hearts the most loving words of Jesus to Mother Mary and loving disciple John, "Woman this is your son. This is your mother." So saying He entrusted all of us to her care and protection. What a fortune, we have a mother to confide everything and be saved from all conflicts. We became her children and she our mother. My sonship How do we respond when difficulties affect us? Do we want them solved instantly or bear them up with faith in God? Then consolation will surely come our way. At the same time we should strive to assist others to solve their problems. Prayer Starter We thank You Father God for Jesus and Mother Mary. Help us Father God to follow the examples of Jesus and Mother Mary and follow their footsteps in accepting Your Will. Amen.

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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

Saturday 16th September 2017 Sts. Cornelius, Pope & Cyprian, Bishop 1 Timothy: 1/15-17 characteristics start to rub off on us and we also start to display the fruit Psalm:113/1-7 of the Holy Spirit in our lives and our Luke:6/43-49 interactions with others. But, what if the fruit of the Holy The Gospel Proclamation Spirit are lacking from our lives? If we "No good tree bears bad fruit, were to ask from those closest to us, nor again does a bad tree bear good our children, spouse or parents, what frit; for each tree is known by its would they say about our display of the own fruit. Figs are not gathered fruit of the Holy Spirit? If we were to from thorns, nor are grapes picked truly have the fruit of the Holy Spirit, from a bramble bush. The good there would not be any excuses given person out of the good treasure of for why sometimes or often time we the heart produces good, and the evil lack love, patience and gentleness etc. person out of evil treasure produces There is NO excuse. However, our strong determination evil, for it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks. or promise to be loving, peaceful, pa"Why do you call me 'Lord, tient and kind like God, is not going Lord,' and do not do what I tell you? to result in us being able to display the I will show you what someone is like fruit of the Holy Spirit. So, what is it who comes to me, hears my words, that we need to do? As Jim Murphy and acts on them. That one is like further insisted, we need to stop relya man building a house, who dug ing on our own effort and admit our deeply and laid the foundation on weaknesses. What we are is a vessel rock, when a flood arose, the river for God to abide in. When we allow burst against that house but could this to happen through prayer and not shake it, because it had been contemplation, we allow God to act well built, but the one who hears through us. Then we do not take credit and does not act is like a man who for ourselves when the fruit of the Holy built a house on the ground without Spirit are displayed in our lives. We a foundation. When the river burst also do not shame or judge those that against it, immediately it fell, and are incapable of displaying the fruit of the Holy Spirit at certain times. great was the ruin of that house." Prayer Starter Prayerful Awareness As a sign of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, our lives need to display the fruit of the Holy Spirit; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Jim Murphy, the president of the International Catholic Charismatic Renewal described the fruit of the Holy Spirit as the personality characteristics of God. When we have a close association with God (the Trinity: the Father, Son and Holy Spirit) these

Praise the Lord! Praise, O servant of the Lord praise the name of the Lord. Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time on and forevermore. From the rising of the sun to its setting the name of the Lord is to be praised. The Lord is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens.

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

Sunday 17th September 2017 Twenty Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time Ps Wk IV neighbor, remember the covenant Sirach:27/30-28/7 of the Most High, and overlook Psalm:103/1-4, 9-12 faults. Romans: 14/7-9 Prayerful Awareness Matthew: 18/21-35

Introduction

One who loves sin does not have any mercy. He lets anger reside within him. Because he does not think of asking forgiveness from God he does not forgive others. Yet if he gets an opportunity to think of his end, what he gets after his death he might take a decision to avoid sin. Gospel Proclamation

The consequence of sin is like a flowing river. One person’s sin might cause even an innocent infant to suffer pain. Anyone who loves himself, his neighbour, and society will not refuse to take a decision to put a stop to sins. One who loves Then Peter came and said to God loves himself and his brother him, “Lord, if another member of simultaneously. the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many First Proclamation as seven times?” Jesus said to him, Anger and wrath, these also are “Not seven times, but, I tell you, abominations, yet a sinner holds seventy-seven times.” on to them. “For this reason the kingdom The vengeful will face the of heaven may be compared takLord’s vengeance, for he keeps a ing who wished to settle accounts strict account of their sins. Forgive with his slaves. When he began the your neighbor the wrong he has reckoning, one who owed him ten done, and then your sins will be thousand talents was brought to pardoned when you pray. Does him, and, as he could not pay, his anyone harbor anger against anlord ordered him to be sold, togethother, and expect healing from the er with his wife and children, and Lord? If one has no mercy toward all his possessions, and payment another like himself, can he then to be made. So the slave fell on his seek pardon for his own sins? If a knees before him, saying, ‘Have mere mortal harbors wrath, who patience with me, and I will pay will make an atoning sacrifice for you everything.’ And out of pity for his sins? Remember the end of him, the lord of that slave released your life, and set enmity aside; him and forgave him the debt. But remember corruption and death, that same slave, as he went out, and be true to the commandments. came upon one of his fellow slaves Remember the commandments, who owed him a hundred denarii; and do not be angry with your and seizing him by the throat, he

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

said, ‘Pay what you owe.’ Then his fellow slave fell down and pleaded with him., ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you’ But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he would pay the debt. When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. Then his lord summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he would pay his entire debt,. So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart.” Prayerful Awareness Eighteenth chapter of St. Mathew contains the teachings of the Lord Jesus on falling into sin, returning after sin, reproving, admitting the wrong done, asking for forgiveness and receiving forgiveness in community life. When close relationships are being built up there will be many obstacles to have deep unity. Jesus has promised, “Where there is unity, where there is agreement I too am there in the midst of you” (Matt. 18/19-20). To be a person who meets Jesus Christ often, to associate with Him often, that is to lead a life as a true Christian, it is necessary to enter into a life of forgiveness. It is not enough to forget the un-

pleasant memories of the past which are obstacles to unity. We need to be filled with the Holy Spirit in order to be empty of them. The Second Proclamation We do not live to ourselves, and we do not die to ourselves. If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and lived again, so that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living. Prayerful Awareness In community life, because of close relationship, we might share even personal things of our lives. It is dangerous to do so. Although a person enters a covenant life, once he/she is out of it (covenant life) if that person discusses the confidential weaknesses of the others with outsiders the damage done is severe. There are some people who unknowingly aid and abet the evil one in his attempt to attack the Kingdom of God. Therefore we live for Christ, we die for Christ and in life and in death we belong to Christ. Prayer Starter Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all his benefits – who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the Pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, (Ps.103.1-4)

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

Monday 18th September 2017 1 Timothy: 2/1-8 Psalm:28/2, 7-9 Luke: 7/1-10 The First Proclamation First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be made for everyone, for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity. This is right and is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For, there is one God; there is also one mediator between God and humankind, Christ Jesus, himself human, who gave himself a ransom for all ..... The Gospel Proclamation After Jesus had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. A centurion there had a slave whom he valued highly, and who was ill and close to death. When he heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to him,... When they came to Jesus, they appealed to him earnestly, saying, "He is worthy of having you do this for him, for he loves our people, ...." And Jesus went with them, but when he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to say to him, "Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; therefore I did not presume to come to you. But only speak the word, and let my servant be healed. For I also am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me, and I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes, and to another, 'Come,' and he comes and to my slave, 'Do this,' and the slave does it. When Jesus heard this he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd ..., "I tell you,

not even in Israel have I found such faith." When those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the slave in good health. Prayerful Awareness St. Paul unlike most of us, wants to see that the Blood of Jesus is not shed in vain; so he wants all mankind to be saved. He is very generous in his attitude towards others. So he wants all Christians to appeal to God, in ever way possible - by prayers, supplications and intercessions for all administrators, governors and politicians that they may learn about God and that they may know that Jesus is the Redeemer of the world and the One and only Mediator before Abba our Father in heaven. Hence without Jesus' intercession no one can be redeemed. Jesus was very much moved by the centurion for his immense faith in Jesus Christ. Although he was not a follower of the chosen race - not an Israelite, the Centurion believed in Jesus Christ so much that he did not want Jesus to come near the patient as he believed that Jesus can cure him from afar. Jesus marveled at his faith, saying, "Not even in Israel have I found such faith". This incident is a very good example for all of us. We who pray for all our needs and wants, very often are in suspense whether we will get what we want or not. Some even turn to false gods and when they do not get what they have prayed for. Hence this is a very good example for us to trust Jesus to the fullest that He will grant us the favours we ask of Him, if we really deserve it. Prayer Starter "Lord give us grace to trust You when life's burdens seem too much to bear. Dispel the darkness with new hope, and help us rise above despair" Sper

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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

Tuesday 19th September 2017 St. Januarius, Bishop & Martyr 1 Timothy:3/1-13 Psalm: 101/1-3, 5-6 Luke: 7/11-17 The First Proclamation The saying is sure: whoever aspires to the office of bishop desires a noble task. Now a bishop must be above reproach, .... He must manage his own household well, keeping his children submissive and respectful in every way - for if someone does not know how to manage his own household how can he take care of God's church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may be puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace and the snare of the devil..... The Gospel Proclamation Soon afterwards he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went with him. As he approached the gate of the town, a man who had died was being carried out. He was his mother's only son, and she was a widow, and with her was a large crowd from the town. When the Lord saw her, he had compassion for her and said to her, "Do not weep." Then he came forward and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, "Young man, I say to you, rise!" The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Fear seized all of them, and they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet has risen among us!" and "God has looked favorably on his people!" This word about him spread throughout Judea and all the surrounding country. Prayerful Awareness Luke reveals Jesus' compassion for

people's needs. The widow's situation was serious. She had lost her husband, and here her only son was dead - her last means of support. The crowd of mourners would go home, and she would be left PENNILESS and ALONE. Her future was bleak. She would be an easy prey for swindlers and would be reduced to begging for food. THIS woman was just the kind of person Jesus had come to help - and HELP HER HE DID. Jesus has the POWER to bring HOPE out of any tragedy. This story illustrates SALVATION. The whole world was DEAD in sin, just as the widow's son. Being dead we could do NOTHING to help ourselves - we could not even ASK for help. But God had compassion on us, and SENT Jesus to RAISE us to life with Him. The dead man did not EARN his second chance at life, and WE cannot earn our new life in Christ. We can only accept God's gift of life, praise God for it and use our lives to do His Divine Will. Honouring the dead was important in Jewish tradition. A funeral procession - the relatives of the dead person following the body, carried on a kind of stretcher, would make its way through town and bystanders would be expected to join the procession. In addition, HIRED MOURNERS would cry aloud to draw attention to the procession. The family's mourning would continue for 30 days. The people thought of Jesus as a prophet. They were CORRECT in thinking that Jesus was a PROPHET, but He is much more, Jesus is GOD Himself. Prayer Starter Father in heaven, we thank You for Jesus. Your love, care, mercy and attention upon us, even though we are dead in sin. Help us Lord to be alive to God in Christ Jesus.

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

Wednesday 20th September St. Andrew Kim Taegon, St.Paul Chong Hasang and companions 1 Timothy: 3/14-16 Psalm: 111/1-6 Luke: 7/31-35 The First Proclamation I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these instructions to you so that, if I am delayed, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and bulwark of the truth. Without any doubt, the mystery of our religion is great: He was revealed in flesh, vindicated in spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among Gentiles, believed in throughout the world, taken up in glory. Prayerful Awareness

'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we wailed, and you did not weep.' For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and dinking no wine, and you say, 'He has a demon', the Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, 'Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' Nevertheless, wisdom is vindicated by all her children." Prayerful Awareness

In this parable, there are two groups of children, one of which proposes different entertainments to the other, that will not agree with either proposals. The first represents John, Jesus and their disciples; the second, those who reject John for his ascetism and Jesus for His table association with those Today we are reminded that we are despised by the religiously observant. called to be members of God's family, Prayer Starter if we are members of God's family, Praise the Lord! I will give thanks then, we ought to live in an appropriate manner. The household of God is to the Lord with my whole heart, in termed as the Church. In the Church, the company of the upright, in the congregation. the truth has to be upheld. Great are the works of the Lord, The Church comprises the believers and the ordained ministers. studied by all who delight in them. In the preceding paragraph (vs. 8-13 Full of honor and majesty is his the responsibilities of the deacons are work, and his righteousness endures outlined. In the passage that follows forever. we are warned that false teachers can He has gained renown by his infiltrate the church and proclaim wonderful deeds; the Lord is gracious false doctrines, specially during the and merciful. end times, which has already begun. He provides food for those who The Gospel Proclamation fear him; he is ever mindful of his To what then will I compare the covenant. people of this generation, and what He has shown his people the power are they like? They are like children of his works, in giving them the herisitting in the marketplace and call- tage of the nations. ing to one another,

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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

Thursday 21st September 2017 Ephesians: 4/1-7, 11-13 Psalm:19/1-3 Mathew: 9/9-13

The First Proclamation I, the prisoner in the Lord, urge you therefore to lead a life worthy of the vocation to which you were called. With all humility and gentleness, and with patience, support each other in love. Take every care to preserve the unity of the Spirit by the peace that binds you together. There is one Body, one Spirit, just as one hope is the goal of your calling by God. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of all, over all, through all and within all. On each one of us God's favour has been bestowed in whatever way Christ allotted it. Fix your gaze on Jesus O Jesus, what a calling; what a destiny; what an inheritance You are holding before us! We, who admit to been in sin, are been told that 'Mercy is what pleases me, not sacrifice. And indeed I came to call not the upright, but sinners'; and we are called upon to 'Be Ye perfect even as your Father in heaven is.... As I stand before today’s Living Word, I hear the heavenly chorus; ‘Ye are sons of the Almighty; yes, you are gods’. Can you hear it too, and come to believe/accept it from the bottom of your heart? Nothing is pressed more earnestly in the Scriptures, than to walk as befits those called to Christ’s kingdom and glory. With humility, which is opposed to pride, a foolish notion of 'Holier than Thou'. By meekness, that excellent disposition of soul, that makes men unwilling to provoke, and, not easily

St. Mathew, Apostle & Evangelist provoked or offended. We find much in ourselves for which we can hardly forgive ourselves; therefore we must not be surprised if we find in others that which we think it hard to forgive. To the extent we deny 'ourselves' (read 'false-self'; the ego), to that extent we become free and powerful to Love unconditionally; and to know/ experience LOVE unconditionally (reap what you sow). There is one Christ in whom all believers hope, and one heaven (with many mansions, rooms) they are all hoping for; therefore they should be of one heart. They are all of one faith, as to its Object, Author, Nature, and Power. They all have been admitted into the church by one baptism, with water, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, as the sign of regeneration. In all believers God the Father dwells, as in His holy temple, by His Spirit and special grace. Start believing this, and you will enter in to Grace... Unto every believer is given some gift of grace, for their mutual help and growth in grace, such as brings trust and obedience. The more a person finds himself drawn out to improve in his station, and according to his measure, all that he has received, to the spiritual good of others, he may the more certainly believe that he has the grace of sincere love and charity rooted in his heart. Prayer Starter Thank You Lord Jesus for the greatest gift I’ve received in my life; Your Holy Spirit; and all manifestations in and through THE GIFT, I accept gratefully with worship and praise! Turn me more and more towards Yourself; make me experience the godhood You holdout...O Divine physician, heal me there-for, reveal Yourself to me....!

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

Friday 22nd September 2017 1 Timothy: 6/2-12 Psalm: 40/5-9,16-19 Luke: 8/1-3

The Gospel Proclamation Soon afterwards he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. The twelve were with him, as well as some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities. Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Herod's steward Choza, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their resources.

Gaze on Jesus The Gospel reading of today's liturgy of the Word says that some women went with Jesus and the apostles on their journey through cities and villages. He preached and brought the Good News of the Kingdom of God. These women (Mary called Magdalene for whom seven demons were driven away, Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Susanna and many others) fulfilled the basic needs of Jesus and His apostles out of their means. (Luke 8/2-3). The special sensitivities of women towards Christ's mission is evident in all four Gospels. The women are the first to come to the tomb and find it empty. They are the first to hear the news of the Resurrection - "He is not here, for He has been raised...." (Mathew 28:6). They are the first to embrace His feet (Mathew 28:9) and they are the first to be called to announce the truth of the Resurrection to the apostles. Mary Magdalene was the first to bear witness to Him before the Apostles,. She became to be called "Apostle of the Apostles". Being born of a woman - this is the way Jesus selected to ennoble womanhood. Son of God is also Son of Mary.

What about the loving care and training He had in His childhood from Our Lady. We cannot under estimate the role of providing the basic needs played by Susanna, Mary Magdalene Joanna and other pious women. This had a big backing on preaching and bringing the Good News of the Kingdom of God by Jesus and His disciples.

Gaze at my sonship God has given us many varied talents. With these He expects of us to be at His disposal, to be bearers of HIs Word and be of service to our neighbours. Women in the civil society and Christian community, have been and are sources of consolation for unaccountable numbers of suffering people. They play a very important role in situations of sickness, suffering, discrimination and old age when the feminine touch is most needed. It is women who have the ability to have children. This makes her more sensitive to the needs of others and are often unreserved in offering love and care to the needy. From the second reading - all of us started life without any resources of our own. It is the divine providence that sees us thro ugh all trials and tribulations. It is the good that we do that follows us and is the criterion for judgement at the end of our lives. So let us not be tempted and trapped by senseless, ,harmful desires that plunge us into ruin and destruction. Money and riches are not in themselves evil. It is the attachment to them that is evil. It is a root sin and it leads to quarrels, murder, theft, oppression, bribery, lies, envy, theft etc. So grab true happiness in God alone.

Prayer Starter Lord Jesus, in a society in which women were deprived any rights, You accepted them as they were and treated them with the respect they deserved. May we also follow Your example and consider them as children of the Father in heaven.

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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

Saturday 23rd September 2017 1 Timothy: 6/13-16 Psalm: 100/2-5 Luke: 8/4-15 The Gospel Proclamation When a great crowd gathered ..., he said in a parable: "A sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell on the path and was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up. Some fell on the rock; and as it grew up, it withered for lack of moisture. Some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew with it and choked it. Some fell into good soil, and when it grew, it produced a hundredfold." As he said this, he called out, "Let anyone with ears to hear listen!" Then his disciples asked him what this parable meant. He said, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God; but to others I speak in parables, so that 'looking they may not perceive, and listening they may not understand.' Prayerful Awareness Jesus described four types of listeners; (1) those that do not understand what they are hearing and therefore unable to keep it in their heart, (2) those that hear the words and receive it with joy, but only at first, (3) those that receive the word but are unfruitful, and finally (4) listeners that hear the word, understand it and reap fruits. Which type of listener am I? Can I call myself a type four listener from above just because I call myself a “believer”? Let us have an honest look within our self. When we put aside our pretences, denials and blindness to our own dark shadows, we can allow the Holy Spirit to shine a light to our own weaknesses and look within. It was most likely not Jesus’ intention that we use the parable above to point our fingers at others, so let us look within.

St. Pius of Pietrelcina Are there occasions when we have behaved like a type 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 that we were wrong? Then we would not give a second thought to it! We would just assume that we were right. Then, chances are, there must be occasions when we have failed to understand the Word, but do not know it yet. How about type two? Can we identify with reading or listening to intellectually stimulating explanations of the Word? Maybe the priest delivered a convincing argument about forgiveness during the Sunday sermon, or you read a book about communicating more effectively with your spouse; as soon as you heard the message you understood the logic behind it. But, with “no root”, that is instead of “just understanding”, if I am not “living it” moment to moment, willing to die to myself at every occasion, these teachings will not take effect. Thirdly, let us look at the next type of listeners, those that are not fruitful. Some of the fruit of the Holy Spirit are love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Can we honestly say that we are fruitful? How do we behave towards each other in our family, when no one else is around? What things get in our way of being fruitful? What “weeds” stop us from being fruitful; our need to be respected, listened to, feel loved, keep a clean house, having well behaved children all the time, to be right, etc. Or the inner wounds that we carry around, and our endless worries of the future? Prayer Starter

Holy Spirit, help me to be a fruitful listener. I know that I am weak, but if You live inside of me, I will be quiet and You can speak through me. Use my body, my hands and my tongue so that my weak body may be a vessel for Your fruit.

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

Sunday 24th September 2017

25th Sunday of Ordinary Time National Catechetical; Day PS.Wk.1

Isaiah:55/6-9 Psalm: 145/2-3,8-9 17-18 Philippians:1/20-24, 27 Mathew:20/1-16 Introduction The Lord says “I am the creator of my people. When they call me in their distress, I will listen to them, I am their Lord forever. The mystical Love of the Unlimited Unequal Lord God is amazing. Man cannot fully comprehend it. He calls when He likes and fulfills His mission through them. His gifts and graces are varied. There is no reason for anyone to criticize or find fault with it. When engaged in the mission of the kingdom of God, while being in the kingdom of man, there is bound to be selfishness, competition, envy and comparison. If one lives in awareness in the Holy Spirit one can see their sins, accept, repent, renew and journey on. If not, whatever mission one does, it will not be of any use as it is based only on human wisdom and ability. This walk in the Spirit cannot be decided on human standards or vision. Let us recognize each other’s gifts and make use of them for the Kingdom of God and encourage others also to do the same. Let us praise the Lord for His Mercy. The First Proclamation

Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake their way, and the unrighteous their thoughts; let them return to the lord, that he may have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your

thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the ord. for as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Prayerful Awareness Truly the lives that have met the Lord are changed, renewed. The only answer to change man’s pain, loneliness is the living God. If you believe that He is near, you will receive power and strength. Every person has his own plans for himself, his family, children and community. In the same way God has a plan for each one. In order to understand that divine plan we must allow God to act in us. Let us stand before the greatness of God’s plans and thoughts which are much higher than our human thoughts, ideas and ways. Let us humbly allow Him to act within us, within our community. Somehow in the end it is the Will of God that manifests at the end of our Christian covenant life. Therefore let us be aware of it and act with understanding. Gospel Proclamation “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. When he went out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace; and he said to them, ‘you also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went. When he went out again about noon and about three o’clock, he did the same. And about five o’clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, ‘Why are you standing here idle all day?’ They said to him, ‘Because no

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

one has hired us.’ ..., ‘You also go into the vineyard.’ When evening came,..., ‘Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.’ When those hired about five o’clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage. Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received the usual daily wage. .... ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong, did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ So the last will be first and the first will be last.” Gaze at Jesus Christ, who speaks to His disciples in parables about the hidden values of the Kingdom of God, proclaims about the uniqueness and the difference of God. Justice of God is above human limits, wisdom and justice. It arises through the wisdom of God. Christ worked for the Kingdom of God unceasingly. He performed the Will of God under the direction of the Holy Spirit, and in the Father. He who was the divine teacher, was close to His disciples. He who was the owner of everything affirmed His right to do what He wants in the presence of the confused labourers. Our actions, thoughts and ways depend on human wisdom. Then the conflicts, limits and boundaries increase in our life situations. It will be difficult to love each other because of the selfish ideas, evil thoughts, jealousies that are within each one. We will not be aware of doing the Will of Gold or being dependent on Him. Then there will be no joy or freedom in life.

How much of the day do we spend on the Kingdom of God? The wages that God has promised for our mission is Eternal life. Let us strive to achieve that. Second Proclamation It is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be put to shame in any way, but that by my speaking with all boldness, Christ will be exalted now as always in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me, and I do not know which I prefer. I am hard pressed between the two; my desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better; but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for you. Only live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that, whether I come and see you or am absent and hear about you, I will know that you are standing firm in one spirit, striving side by side with one mind for the faith of the gospel. Prayerful Awareness This precious witness of St. Paul, who encountered the living Christ, shows the uniqueness, greatness of God. St. Paul who was contended with possessing Jesus Christ, does not ask for anything more. He who was enriched by the love of God, had a great thirst to glorify Him. What is our goal in our communities and in our private lives? How much in our lives do we glorify Jesus whom we have met? Do we live for others? Is it to satisfy our desires and obtain our wishes and hopes? Or is it for Christ? Prayer Starter Holy Spirit, Living Being, give us the power to do the Will of God. (My family, my community, my country). Be open to the signs of time, glorifying God and avoiding the sin of comparing one another. "For me to live is to live for Christ"

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

Monday 25th September 2017

Ezra: 1/1-6 Song: 126/1-6 Luke: 8/16-18 The Gospel proclamation No one after lighting a lamp hides it under a jar, or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a lampstand, so that those who enter may see the light. For nothing is hidden that will not be disclosed, nor is anything secret that will not become known and come to light. ....

Gaze at Jesus Word of God (instructions of God) is a light unto our path and its truths are not hidden from us. They are accessible to us in the light of faith. Jesus invites us to actively listen to the word of God that will transform our life from darkness to light. Therefore, it is to the extent we are willing to be spiritually responsive to God’s word, Jesus assures that we will also be enriched and enlightened to shine in the world. This is a gift that no one will be able take away from us. Our sonship Let us begin our travel towards healing ourselves. First reading of Ezra begins with an order from King Darius to search the archives. King Darius is known for throwing Daniel into the den with lions. When Daniel escapes the wrath of the lions miraculously, King Darius cultivates an immense reverence to “Daniel’s God” and wants to build the temple for “Daniel’s God”. However, Jewish enemies who wants to disrupt the temple building bring false stories before the King. To sort the confusion King Darius found a decree as a memorandum stored by King Cyrus in the treasury at Babylon with instructions to build the temple. Daniel’s faith life is the kind of life Jesus wants us to live with. It is a

challenge. However, Jesus assures us, if we begin in our own little way and build our faith life gradually, we will be blessed with more to impact the society we live in. In a suffering world, especially in our own country we find Sri Lanka in such disarray. We could assist to untangle this mess by taking meaningful action to live our Christian faith. Here are a few ways to unite with our ailing country in a meaningful way to share God’s security we experience with our non-Christian breather. God has given us the full empowerment to live a life of power through the fruits of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, we could: 1. Be accountable for the work we undertake in our working, studying institutions. 2. Show responsibility and care for our environment. 3. Be punctual (not Sri Lanka time). 4. Be honest in money matters. 5. Be accountable for a word you give to another. Learn to call and say when you are unable fulfill your commitments. 6. Show patience and civility to one another and accommodate one another’s weaknesses with patience and dignity. Prayerful Praise (Psalm 126: 1 – 6) Praise the Lord! Give thanks to the Lord, because he is good, his love is eternal. Who can tell all the great things he has done? Who can praise him enough? Happy are those who obey his commands, who always do what is right. Remember me, Lord when you help your people, include me when you save them. Let me see the prosperity of your people and share in the happiness of your nation in the glad pride of those who belong to you.

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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

Tuesday 26th September 2017 Ezra: 6/7-8, 12, 14-20 Psalm:122/1-5 Luke: 8/19-21 The First Proclamation let the work on this house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews rebuild this house of God on its site. Moreover I make a decree ... the cost is to be paid to these people, in full and without delay, from the royal revenue, the tribute of the province Beyond the River. May the God who has established his name there overthrow any king or people that shall put forth a hand to alter this, or to destroy this house of God in Jerusalem..... The Gospel Proclamation Then his mother and his brothers came to him, but they could not reach him because of the crowd. and he was told, "Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you." But he said to them, "My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it." Prayerful Awareness In today's Gospel there is room for one to misunderstand why Mother Mary's motherhood had been underestimated. But actually it is not so. She is the first disciple of Christ to hear the Word of God, accept it and apply it in her life. She not only gave life to it but dedicated her whole life for the sake of the Word of God. So unhesitatingly we can say Jesus was giving the greatest tribute to His mother Mary. Because He knew it was Mary who eagerly heard God's Word and treasured it in her heart. She surrendered her will to the heavenly Father. According to Jesus she became the perfect model for all. To do this we all should become or belong to the family of Jesus.

Sts. Cosmas & Damian, Martyrs

This Gospel passage inspires us to see a practical truth. It may very well be that a man finds himself closer to people who are not related to him than he does to his own kith and kin. The deepest relationship of life is not merely a blood relationship. It is the relationship of mind to mind and heart to heart. It is when people have common aims or goals, common principles, common interests that they become really and truly kin. The Kingdom of God is a society upon earth where God's Will is perfectly done as it is in heaven. Jesus and His Father God think and act in intimate union with one another that the Will of both become the same. Therefore all whose aim in life is to make God's Will their own, are the true kindred of Jesus. It is when a man puts his will in line with God's Will with the help of the Holy Spirit that real kinship begins. Word of God is power. God's word can encourage, give hope and create a vision for life. The Psalmist says that God's Word is a lamp to my feet and light to my path." (Ps.119:105) We live because of the Word. When we are down hearted and become desperate, we could overcome this situation through the Word of God. Jesus always assures us when we are in fear, "Fear not, I am with you." His word can transform the lives of people for better, the moment they believe the Word. My sonship Do I really thirst for the holy Word of God? Do I reflect it in my mind and put into practice in my life? Do I experience the power of the Word and share it with all whom I meet and ensure that it bears fruit. Prayer Starter I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go to the house of the Lord!" Our feet are standing within your gates, O Jerusalem,.... (Ps.122/1,2 ...)

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

Wednesday 27th September 2017

St. Vincent de Paul

Ezra: 9/5-9 Song:Tobit:13/2-4,6-8 Luke:9/1-6

Wherever they do not welcome you, as you are leaving that town shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them." They departed and went through the villages, bringing the good news and curing diseases The First Proclamation everywhere. At the evening sacrifice I got up Gaze at Jesus from my fasting, with my garments Jesus, the perfect Man, performed and my mantle torn, and fell on my knees, spread out my hands to the many miracles as recorded in the preceding paragraphs. Jesus was able to do Lord my God, and said, these extraordinary deeds because He "O my God, I am too ashamed was filled with the Holy Spirit. and embarrassed to lift my face to In the Scripture reading, we find Jeyou, my God, for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our sus conferring this power to His twelve guilt has mounted up to the heavens. apostles. What is this power? It is the From the days of our ancestors to this Holy Spirit. day we have been deep in guilt, and Jesus' instructions to the Apostles for our iniquities we, our kings, and were three fold: to proclaim the Kingour priests have been handed over to dom of God, to heal the sick, and to the kings of the lands, to the sword, to exorcise demons. Jesus expected the captivity, to plundering, and to utter Apostles to depend totally on God as shame, as is now the case. But now for they went about doing this work. Jesus a brief moment favor has been shown said "Take nothing for the journey, by the Lord our God, who has left us neither walking stick, nor sack, nor a remnant, and given us a stake in food nor money, and let no one take a his holy place, in order that he may second tunic." (vs.3). Jesus advises the brighten our eyes and grant us a little Apostles to engage in this work only sustenance in our slavery. For we are for those who welcome the Apostles. slaves; yet our God has not forsaken For Jesus knew that nothing could be us in our slavery, but has extended to achieved without faith on the part of us his steadfast love before the kings the recipients. of Persia, to give us new life to set up Our sonship the house of our God, to repair its By virtue of the Sacrament of Bapruins, and to give us a wall in Judea tism I too have received the gift of the and Jerusalem. Holy Spirit - the power of God. Am I The Gospel Proclamation conscious of this fact? Like the Apostles, Then Jesus called the twelve do I too experience that the Holy Spirit together and gave them power and has empowered me to do things which authority over all demons and to are not ordinary? Do I experience that cure diseases and he sent them out to the Holy Spirit is leading and guiding proclaim the kingdom of God and to me? Does the Holy Spirit enlighten me? heal. He said to them, "Take nothing Prayer Starter for your journey, no staff, nor bag, Blessed be God who lives forever, nor bread, nor money, not even an extra tunic. Whatever house you en- because His Kingdom lasts for all ages. ter, stay there, and leave from there.

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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

Thursday 28th September 2017 St.Wenceslaus,Martyr & St.Lawrence Ruiz

yet they must go back to it. The Jews Haggai:1/1-8 did not say that they would not build a Psalm: 149/1-6, 9 temple, but, just Not yet. Thus men do Luke: 9/7-9 not say they will not repent, nor reform, nor become better, nor be religious, but, Not just yet. And so the great The First Proclamation business we were sent into the world to In the second year of King Dar- do, is not done. There is a proneness in ius, on the first day of the sixth us to be slothful regarding the journey month, the word of Yahweh was we are called upon to be on; to think addressed through the prophet Hag- wrongly of discouragements in our gai to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel duty, as if the discouragements were governor of Judah and to Joshua a discharge from our duty, when they son of Jehozadak the high priest as are in reality only a trial of our courage follows, 'Yahweh Sabaoth says this, and faith and steadfastness. "This people says: The time has They neglected the building of not yet come to rebuild the Temple God's house, that they might have more of Yahweh." ' (And the word of time and money for worldly affairs. Yahweh was addressed through the The result was unproductivity, and prophet Haggai, as follows,) 'Is this a ineffectiveness at their labours; that the time for you to live in your panelled punishment might answer to the sin, houses, when this House lies in ru- the poverty they thought to prevent by ins? So now, Yahweh Sabaoth says not building the temple, God brought this, "Think carefully about your upon them for not building it. Many behaviour. You have sown much and good works have been intended, but harvested little; you eat but never not done, because men supposed the have enough, drink but never have proper time was not come. Thus believyour fill, put on clothes but feel no ers let slip opportunities of usefulness, warmth. The wage-earner gets his and sinners delay the concerns of their wages only to put them in a bag with souls, till too late. If we labour only for a hole in it." Yahweh Sabaoth says the meat that perishes, as the Jews here, this, "Think carefully about your we are in danger of losing our labour; behaviour. Go up into the hills, fetch but we are sure it shall not be in vain timber and rebuild the House; and I in the Lord, if we labour for the meat shall take pleasure in it and manifest which lasts to eternal life. my glory there -- Yahweh says. Prayer Starter Fix your gaze on Jesus Dear Lord, we are so mixed up. Holy Lord, help us hear Your re- We lack understanding, and a sense of vealed will, so that we may align our proportion and balance. We've become priorities in line with Your Will, and mesmerized and entranced by what therein realise our full potential ! the world and the flesh lays before Observe the sin of the Jews, after us; not really comprehending that we their return from captivity in Babylon. are focussing on the result and not the causative factor. Help us to move over Those employed for God may be to our spirituality; our creativeness; driven from their work by a storm, our godhood ….

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

Friday 29th September 2017 The Holy Archangels, Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael Gaze at Jesus' Sonship Daniel:7/9-10, 13-14 OR Vocation can come through different ways. Here Jesus Himself offers it to Revelation:12/7-12 Nathaniel as He did to St. Paul (Acts Psalm: 138/1-3 09). Jesus gave His "Come and see" or John: 1/47-51 "Come, follow Me" to Nathaniel as he The First Proclamation As I watched, thrones were set in place and an Ancient One took his throne, his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames, and its wheels were burning fire. A stream of fire issued and flowed out from his presence. A thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood attending him. The court sat in judgment and the books were opened. As I watched in the night visions, I saw one like a human being coming with the clouds of heaven. And he came to the Ancient One and was presented before him. To him was given dominion and glory and kingship, that all peoples, nations and languages should serve him. ..... The Gospel Proclamation When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, "Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!" Nathaniel asked him, "Where did you get to know me?" Jesus answered , "I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you." Nathanael replied, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" Jesus answered, "Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these." And he said to him, "Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man."

saw something different in him. Nathaniel must have told himself, "Here is the One who sees through my dreams!, knows my prayers, has seen into my most intimate and secret longings - longings which I have never dared to put into words. Jesus translated the inarticulate sigh of his soul. Through Jesus' revelations He helped Nathaniel come to the conclusion that He was the Promised, Anointed One. It was as if Jesus said to Nathaniel, 'I can do more, more than read your heart. I can be for you and for everyone the way, the ladder that leads to heaven. (Genesis 28:12-13). Gaze at my sonship In Nathaniel we have the true Israelite who burst the bonds of national pride and prejudice and gave himself to Jesus Christ. In Philip we see a person who did not argue. He simply said, "Come and see." The one and only way to convince people of the supremacy of Christ is to make them encounter Christ. It is not argumentative and philosophical preaching and teaching that wins men and women for Christ. That goal can be achieved only through the presentation of the story of the cross. 'No cross, no crown.' The best argument to be presented to people is 'Come and see!' We cannot give another what we do not have ourselves. To extend that loving invitation to "Come and see' to another we must have personally met Christ ourselves. Prayer Starter

Our search for happiness and satisfaction finds fruition in Thee O Lord! It is only You who can satisfy the longing of our waiting and seeking heart. Amen.

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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

Saturday 30th September 2017

St. Jerome, Priest & Doctor

Zecharia:2/1-5,10-11 Song:Jeremiah:31/1013 Luke: 9/43-45

Lord is also joyous, as He proclaimed through the prophet Zachariah, that He is indeed coming. With a total emptying experience, the Word became flesh and was born as Jesus and truly human. However, when we contrast the The First Proclamation joy of the coming of Jesus with today’s third reading, it seems to be a big letI looked up and saw a man with down. “Listen carefully to what I am a measuring line in his hand. Then I about to tell you: The Son of Man is asked, "Where are you going?" He going to be delivered into the hands answered me, "To measure Jerusaof men.” (Luke 9: 44). Indeed, God’s lem, to see what is its width and what wisdom is foolish to the world. It is is its length." Then the angel who incomprehensible. talked with me came forward, and In fact, it is so incomprehensible, another angel came forward to meet him, and said to him, "Run, say to that many a time, instead of man being that young man: Jerusalem shall be created in the image of God, we tend inhabited like villages without walls, to re-create God in the image of man. because of the multitude of people In the image of man, we may form and animals in it. For I will be a wall contracts with God: “God if you save of fire all around it, says the Lord, my life from this illness, THEN I will dedicate my whole life to you”. At and I will be the glory within it." other times, we may view that God’s Sing and rejoice, O daughter favour can be created through magic Zion! For lo, I will come and dwell or an allusive concoction of events that in your midst says the Lord. Many is certain to work: a combination of a nations shall join themselves to the certain number of Hail-Marys, a visit to Lord on that day, and shall be my a certain church by a certain saint and people, and I will dwell in your midst. giving alms to the poor – in return for And you shall know that the Lord of my “dream”. At other times, we may hosts has sent me to you. try to make a transaction with God. Just Prayerful Awareness like the more money we spend the betIn today’s first reading of Zachariah ter quality is my purchase; the more I can offer prayers and get other people to we read the following: pray for what I need (currency offered “Shout and be glad, Daughter to God), the more likelihood that God Zion. For I am coming, and I will is going to be pleased with what He live among you,” declares the Lord. receives and provide me what I need. “Many nations will be joined with the Many “good Christians” have such Lord in that day and will become my views and are then disillusioned when people. I will live among you and you they do not receive what they need. will know that the Lord Almighty has Prayer Starter sent me to you. May Your Holy Will be done oh It is indeed a reason for humanity to rejoice! The Lord’s promise to come Lord! Holy Spirit, help me not to maand live among us as a human. The nipulate God with my planning mind.

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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