Walk In the Spirit November 2017

SHARING ON PRAYER November 2017

“To say ‘Yes’ to what happens” To say 'No' to what should not” To say 'Yes' and 'No', help me heavenly Father".

We are enshrouded by “Mystery”. God is mystery. What an immersion in the Mystery of God must have been Jesus’.

No wonder He would teach us to pray the way He did by directing us to say “Holy be Your Name”

Fr. Siri Oscar Abayaratne

WALK IN THE SPIRIT November 2017 Volume 11 Issue 15

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord"

ISSN 1391-5967

Publication: Fr. Siri Oscar Abayaratne Kithu Dana Pubuduwa

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Wednesday 1st November 2017 Revelation:7/2-4, 9-14 Psalm:24/1-6 1 John: 3/1-3 Mathew: 5/1-12 The Gospel Proclamation When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him. He began to teach them, saying: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land.

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.

Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

Prayerful Awareness God our Creator brought us in to this world to His own image (Genesis 1: 27 - image of His Love, Mercy, Purity etc.) in order to bring Glory to Him (Isaiah 43 :7 ) to be His witnesses as children of God. We are given the freedom to choose whether we will live as children of God carrying out the Will of God, or live as sons of the world according to the rules and traditions set by man to satisfy desires connected to self and the flesh. Jesus Christ set out

All Saints the example from His life as our Leader, as to how we should always do the Will of God and asked us to follow Him and His Teachings to finally receive Salvation. To the rich young man Jesus said, keep the commandments to gain eternal life (Mathew 19 : 16 - 21 ) and to sell what he has and give it to the poor. In Mathew 22 : 34 - 40 Jesus said the greatest Commandment is to love the Lord our God, with all our heart, with all our soul, and with all our mind. and the second is to love our neighbor as ourselves. Jesus gives another set of guidelines, the Beatitudes, to show what qualities that please God. Qualities that generate desires within us to live good lives and drive us to achieve everlasting life in heaven. Poor in spirit are the ones who depend on their faith and trust in the Lord. Ones with Godly sorrow truly forsake sin and turn to the Savior, Lord Jesus Christ. Meek, not the wicked, will inherit the earth. One who fervently seeks righteousness will lead a Godly life. One who has received God's rich mercy is merciful because of God’s Grace. The pure in heart will see God in all His glory in everything they see. We can love others and have peace with them, including our enemies, because of Christ who destroyed the hostility. Ones who truly work to spread the Gospel and the Kingdom of God are sure to face objections or persecutions from the world. Therefore Beatitudes are to bring awareness of spiritual need, humility, peaceful living, moral living, and compassion as the keys, to a happy blessed life, like the blessed life our Holy Mother lived.

Prayer Starter Holy Spirit of God, fill our hearts as You filled the heart of the Holy Mother, Help us to be like her, pious, God loving and God fearing servants of God, Amen

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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Thursday 2nd November 2017 Isaiah: 25/6-9 Psalm: 23/1-6 Romans: 5/5-11 John: 6/37-40 The Second Proclamation This hope does not disappoint us, for God has poured out his love into our hearts by means of the Holy Spirit, who is God's gift to us..............

But God has shown us how much he loves us — it was while we were still sinners that Christ died for us! By his sacrificial death we are now put right with God; how much more, then, will we be saved by him from God's anger! We were God's enemies, but he made us his friends through the death of his Son. Now that we are God's friends, how much more will we be saved by Christ's life!

The Gospel Proclamation Everyone whom my Father gives me will come to me. I will never turn away anyone who comes to me, because I have come down from heaven to do not my own will but the will of him who sent me. And it is the will of him who sent me that I should not lose any of all those he has given me, but that I should raise them all to life on the last day.

Prayerful Awareness In the Second Proclamation Paul tells us that the wonder of Jesus Christ is that He died for us when we were sinners and in a state of hostility to God. The saved sinner cannot go on being a sinner; he must become good.

Christ's death changed our status; His risen life changes our state. He is not dead but alive; He is with us always to

All Souls help us and guide us, to fill us with His strength so as to overcome temptation, to clothe our lives with something of His radiance.

No searching of the human mind or longing of the human heart can fully find God apart from Jesus. As the Gospel Proclamation tells us, at the back of the whole process is God. It is those whom God has given Him who come to Christ. God not only provides the goal; He moves in the human heart to awaken desire for Him; and He works in the human heart to take away the rebellion and the pride which would hinder the great submission. We could never even have sought Him unless He had already found us. There remains that stubborn something which enables us to refuse the offer of God. In the last analysis, the one thing which defeats God is the defiance of the human heart. Life is there for the taking--or the refusing.

When we take, two things happen.

Firstly, into life enters new satisfaction. The human heart finds what it was searching for and life ceases to be mere existence and becomes something to live for. Secondly even beyond life we are safe. Even on the last day when all things end we are still secure. The offer of Christ is life in time and life in eternity. That is the greatness and glory of which we cheat ourselves when we refuse His invitation.

Prayer Starter I Thank and Praise You Lord my God for Your unfathomable love for a sinner like me. Thank You for leading me in the paths of righteousness. Yes though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: For thou art with me; Goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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Friday 3rd November 2017

St. Martin de Porres

Prayerful Awareness Romans:9/1-5 Psalm:147/12-15,19-20 Let us meditatively dwell on todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Proclamations where the central theme is Luke: 14/1-6 Gospel Proclamation Now it happened that on a Sabbath day he had gone to share a meal in the house of one of the leading Pharisees; and they watched him closely.

Now there in front of him was a man with dropsy, and Jesus addressed the lawyers and Pharisees with the words, 'Is it against the law to cure someone on the Sabbath, or not?' But they remained silent, so he took the man and cured him and sent him away. Then he said to them, 'Which of you here, if his son falls into a well, or his ox, will not pull him out on a Sabbath day without any hesitation? And to this they could find no answer.

Song of Praise (147/12-15,19-20) Praise Yahweh, Jerusalem, Zion, praise your God. For he gives strength to the bars of your gates, he blesses your children within you, he maintains the peace of your frontiers, gives you your fill of finest wheat.

He sends his word to the earth, his command runs quickly, .....

First Proclamation This is the truth and I am speaking in Christ, without pretence, as my conscience testifies for me in the Holy Spirit; there is great sorrow and unremitting agony in my heart: I could pray that I myself might be accursed and cut off from Christ, if this could benefit the brothers who are my own flesh and blood. They are Israelites; it was they who were adopted as children, the glory was theirs and the covenants; to them were given the Law and the worship of God and the promises......

the special place given by God to the children of Israel, descendants of Abraham, the Father of faith, and more specifically the twelve tribes of Israel, descendants of the twelve sons of the Patriarch Jacob, grandson of Abraham (Jacob was named Israel by God), and the immense sorrow caused in heaven and earth due to the rejection of Jesus Christ, the Messiah, by most Israelites due to a misguided belief system.

When our lives become too rigid in its ways we tend to become unduly agitated on account of any and every variation from the set pattern. This was the problem with the Pharisees and Sadducees who had become very rigid in their interpretations of the Law, devoid of love. They had taken the basic commandments (given by God to foster good and loving human relationships) and made a plethora of rules and regulations, and used them as a means of wielding power over the congregation. In the process a majority of them had become very pompous and unable to see beyond their narrow confines. This is why the Lord Jesus Christ had to admonish them time and time again and extol the virtues of being like little children who are humble, full of untainted love, tolerant, and ever ready to learn new things and embrace new experiences.

We can well empathise with the feelings expressed by St. Paul with regard to the utter sadness he felt in seeing how his brother Israelites were missing the salvation offered to them on a platter by God the Father and God the Son. On the other hand he knew it was as per Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Holy Will, whereby salvation was extended to us Gentiles, who have now become descendants of Abraham, by faith! Amen!

Alleluia! Praise the Lord!

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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Saturday 4th November 2017 Romans:11/1-2, 11-12, 25-29 Psalm: 94/12-115,17-18 Luke: 14/1, 7-11 St. Charles Borromeo He was born on 2nd October 1538.

He was the second son of his family. He received the tonsure at the age of 12 and his doctorate in Civil and Canon Law at 21. He was appointed administrator of the Archdiocese of Milan when he was 22, still only a deacon. When the suspended Ecumenical Council of Trent was reassembled with Charles as the soul of the Council, specific clarifications of doctrine and Church reform were enacted, he had been ordained priest and was now consecrated Archbishop of Milan.

His austere practices included just one meal a day - bread, water and some dried figs - four hours of sleep per day. He sold his valuable furniture. He founded six seminaries, the Swiss College of Milan and reformed his 3000 clergy. Died: November 3, 1584. Canonized by Pope Paul V on 1st November 1610. He is the patron of catechists and is invoked against pestilence.

Gospel Proclamation ... When he noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, he told them a parable. "When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not sit down at the place of honor, in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited by your host; and the host who invited both of you may come and say to you, 'Give this person your place,' and then in disgrace you would start to take the lowest place.

But when you are invited, go and sit down at the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he may say to you 'Friend, move up higher'; then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at the table with you. For all

St. Charles Borromeo, Bishop who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."

Prayerful Awareness To teach His disciples the way of discipleship Our Lord used this parable. Here we see Jesus speaking to us from the bottom of His heart with love.

He Himself had learned this lesson from experience, the experience of being humble before the Father. "But our Blessed Lord is here described as washing the disciples' feet because He is to go back again to the Father. He has taught humility by precept, "He that humbleth himself shall be exalted." by parable, as in the story of the Pharisees and the Publican, by example, as when He took a child in His arms; and now by condescension" (Archbishop F.J.Sheen).

"For this reason God raised Him to the highest place above and gave Him the name that is greater than any other name.

And so, in honour of the name of Jesus all beings in heaven, on earth and in the world below will fall on their knees and all will openly proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. " (Phil. 2:9-11).

"Jesus was born in a humble stable, into a poor family. Simple shepherds were the first witnesses to this event. In this poverty heaven's glory was made manifest. The Church never tires of singing the glory of this night.

The Virgin today brings into the world the eternal and the earth offers a cave to the Inaccessible. The angels and shepherds praise Him. And the Magi advance with the star, For You are born for us, Little child, God Eternal !

(C.C.C. 525).

Prayer Starter Help us, poor banished children of Eve, to experience humbly the redemptive work of Christ who died on the cross. Amen.

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time Ps. Wk III Malachi:1/13-2/2, 8-10 own selves, because you have become very dear to us.

Psalm: 131/1-3 You remember our labor and toil, 1 Thessalonians:2/7-9, brothers and sisters; we worked night 13 and day, so that we might not burden Mathew:23/1-12 any of you while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. The First Proclamation We also constantly give thanks to "What a weariness this is," you God for this, that when you received say, and you sniff at me, says the the word of God that you heard from Lord of hosts. You bring what has us, you accepted it not as a human been taken by violence or is lame or word but as what it really is, God's sick, and this you bring as your of- word, which is also at work in you fering! Shall I accept that from your believers. hand? says the Lord!. Cursed be the The Gospel Proclamation cheat who has a male in the flock and Then Jesus said to the crowds and vows to give it, and yet sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished; for I am to his disciples, "The scribes and the a great King, says the Lord of hosts, Pharisees sit on Moses' seat, thereand my name is reverenced among fore, do whatever they teach you and follow it, but do not do as they do, for the nations. they do not practice what they teach.

And now, O priests, this com- They tie up heavy burdens, hard to mand is for you. bear, and lay them on the shoulders But you have turned aside from of others, but they themselves are the way; you have caused many to unwilling to lift a finger to move stumble by your instruction; you them. They do all their deeds to be have corrupted the covenant of Levi, seen by others, for they make their says the Lord of hosts, and so I make phylacteries broad and their fringes you despised and abased before all long. They love to have the place of the people, inasmuch as you have honor at banquets and the best seats not kept my ways but have shown in the synagogues, and to be greeted partiality in your instruction. with respect in the marketplaces, and Have we not all one father? Has to have people call them, rabbi. But not one God created us? Why then you are not to be called rabbi, for are we faithless to one another, pro- you have one teacher, and you are all faning the covenant of our ancestors? students. And call no one your father on earth, for you have one Father,The Second Proclamation the one in heaven. Nor are you to be though we might have made de- called instructors, for you have one mands as apostles of Christ. But we instructor, the Messiah. The greatest were gentle among you, like a nurse among you will be your servant. All tenderly caring for her own children. who exalt themselves will be humSo deeply do we care for you that we bled, and all who humble themselves are determined to share with you not will be exalted. only the gospel of God but also our Sunday 5th November 2017

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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Prayerful Awareness

The words of Jesus are disturbingly subversive when proclaimed courageously and heard with courage in the contemporary Christian Church. We do have our 'Fathers'. We even have our "Eminences', 'Lords' and 'Your Graces', and there are some to whom these titles of honour and public recognition of authority are important. Titles, in themselves, mean little. It is the person behind the title, which always has some historical explanation, who is important. The lesson we learn from both the words and life of Jesus is clear; the gift of self in humble and loving service is the only way to reflect what God has done for us. If we practice what we preach (vs.3) the presence or absence of titles will become irrelevant (vs. 8-10) Prayer Starter

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Mathew has Jesus turn to both the people and His disciples to draw his lesson from conflict between himself and the religious leaders of Israel.

Mathew's own Christian community were reading this Gospel story - not the Pharisees (Mt. 23:1). Today's Gospel reading is not primarily an attack on the Pharisees, as it may appear. It is above all an address to the people and Jesus' disciples. It is instruction, not vitriol.

Jesus speaks out against the hypocrisy of authorities who have received the authentic tradition of the Word of God, but who do not live according to that tradition vv 2-3). The word that such people proclaim remains valid, just as their office as the teachers of the word, occupying the chair of Moses, is valid. Because of the intrinsic validity of the word itself and the office of teacher, the Scribes and the Pharisees must be listened to. But the lives they live must never guide the people and the disciples: 'they do not practice what they preach.' (v.3).

The Christian is always summoned to follow Jesus. This means both preaching and living the authentic word of God. True religion never parades its virtues, it spends itself in giving life to others through loss of self in generous loving.

The Synagogue had its Rabbis, Fathers and Teachers. Many of the members of Mathew's community had come into Christianity from the Synagogue. They had come to believe that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God, and they had crossed the road from the secure traditions of Israel into the newness of faith in Jesus Christ. Understandably some people from Mathew's community envied the Rabbis, the Fathers and the Teachers of the Synagogue. They were figures with authority. Some would have liked

to repeat this safe structure within the Christian community.

Jesus tells them it must not be so within Christianity (vs.8-9). There must be no bowing and scraping to human figures who take on the roles which the Christians once knew when they were in the Synagogue. They had 'crossed the road' from established ways into a Christian community. The old structures could no longer hold, because they now lived in a new world. In that world, which is also ours as we continue to live in the Christian community, there can be only one Master, one Father, one Teacher, the Christ. (vs.9) Gaze at Jesus

O Lord, my heart is not lifted up, my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me.

But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; my soul is like the weaned child that is with me.

O Israel, hope in the Lord from this time on and forevermore.(Ps. 131/1-3)

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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Monday 6th November 2017 Romans:11/29-36 Psalm:69/29-30, 2-33, 35-36 Luke: 14/12-14

those who become aware; awareness expands your horizons and perceptions so that you become ever more humble in the knowing of how little we know of all that is! Those who truly know most in this limited imperfect state, feel their The First Proclamation own weakness most. There is not only There is no change of mind on depth in the Divine counsels, but riches; God's part about the gifts he has abundance of that which is precious made or of his choice. Just as you and valuable. The Divine counsels are were in the past disobedient to God complete; they have not only depth and but now you have been shown mercy, height, but breadth and length, There through their disobedience; so in the is that vast distance and disproportion same way they are disobedient now, between God and man, between the so that through the mercy shown to Creator and the creature, which forever you they too will receive mercy. God shuts us from (complete) knowledge has imprisoned all human beings in of his ways. The apostle adores the their own disobedience only to show sovereignty of the Divine counsels. All mercy to them all. How rich and deep things in heaven and earth, especially are the wisdom and the knowledge of those which relate to our salvation, that God! ... Who has given anything to belong to our peace, are all of him by him, so that his presents come only as way of creation, through him by way a debt returned? Everything there is of providence, that they may be to him comes from him and is caused by him in their end. Of God, as the Spring and and exists for him. To him be glory for Fountain of all; through Christ, to God, as the end. Whatever begins, let God’s ever! Amen. glory be the end. The saints in heaven From the Gospel: Then he said to never dispute, but always praise. his host, 'When you give a lunch or Our Saviour here teaches, that works a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relations or of charity are better than works of show. rich neighbours, in case they invite Let us ask as to why we really do these you back and so repay you. No; when ‘Works of Show’? It is for the seeking of you have a party, invite the poor, the self-glory; to draw attention to ourselves crippled, the lame, the blind; then and to generate the feelings that you are you will be blessed, for they have no worthy in the eyes of the others. Why? means to repay you and so you will be Because, for some reason, we have lost repaid when the upright rise again.' the feeling of being worthy. We believe that we are unworthy, and are therefore Fix your gaze on Jesus in a non ending quest for worthiness. We Holy Lord, bless us with under- are lost, like sheep gone their own ways standing of Your thought patterns, the without a shepherd…. underlying beliefs...

Prayer Starter The apostle Paul knew the mysteries Dear Lord, anoint us in our journey of the Kingdom of God as well as any man could; yet he confesses himself at a of becoming aware, so that we could reloss; and despairing to find the bottom, duce this burden we hoist on ourselves.... he humbly sits down at the brink, and believe and lean on You, and abide in adores the depth. This is an attribute of Your Love....

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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Tuesday 7th November 2017 Romans:12/5-16 Psalm: 131/1-3 Luke: 14/15-24

The First Proclamation so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another.

We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness.

Let love be genuine, hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor.

Do not lag in zeal; be ardent in spirit. Serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.

Bless those who persecute you, bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly, do not claim to be wiser than you are.

Prayerful Awareness God's gifts differ in nature, power and effectiveness according to HIS Wisdom and Graciousness. NOT according to OUR faith. "Proportion to his faith" means that God will give spiritual power necessary to carry out each responsibility. He gives faith as

He wills to serve others with what Christ has given us.

When we look at the list of gifts we could imagine the kinds of people who would have each gift. Prophets are bold and articulate. Servers are faithful and loyal. Teachers are clear thinkers. Encouragers know how to motivate others. Givers are generous and trusting. Leaders are good organizers and managers. Those who show mercy are caring people, happy to give. It would be difficult for ONE person to embody ALL those gifts. My gift cannot do the work of the Church ALONE. TOGETHER we can build Christ's Church.

God calls us to REAL and SINCERE LOVE that goes far beyond pretence. Love demands our time, money and personal involvement. As Christians we love and honour people because they have been created in God's image and because they are our brothers and sisters in Christ, also, they have a unique contribution to make to Christ's Church.

Christian hospitality differs from social entertaining. ENTERTAINING focuses on the HOST. HOSPITALITY by contrast focuses on the GUESTS. Their needs whether for a place to stay, food, a listening ear or acceptance - are the primary concerns. We need not hesitate to offer hospitality just because we are tired, too busy or not wealthy enough to entertain.

Prayer Starter Father in heaven, help us to give others the taste of love, mercy and kindness that You offer us and do everything for the glory of God; just as Jesus Christ did.

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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Wednesday 8th November 2017 Romans:13/8-10 Psalm:112/1-2, 4-5, 9 Luke: 14/25-33 The Gospel Proclamation Now large crowds were travelling with him; and he turned and said to them, "Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him, saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.' ......

So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions.

Gaze on Jesus Lord, You make a humanly devastating statement. But then Lord, You are not simply Son of Man, but also Son of God. We have been created for You. My father and mother, wife and children were created for You. Give me the strength to repent for the mistakes of permitting my human relationship to interfere with my relationship with You. I feel what You are saying today through the Holy Spirit is that I serve my father, my mother, my wife, my children, my brother, my sister by seeing You in them and serving You in them.

You are also in me and the Holy Spirit empowers me to increasingly visualise the mystery hidden for ages.

Prayerful Awareness How can I hate my own mother who

bore me? But let me go beyond human words and invite the Holy Spirit to reveal the heart of Jesus, as He utters these words Himself, limited to human words and trying to explain the depth of Love.

In one instance Jesus said all flesh is grass. Here today gone tomorrow. All of us learn about love in our infancy from the human love extended to us by our parents and then our siblings. But this is just a faint image of the real and everlasting love of God. So Jesus explicitly states to grasp the everlasting kind and let go the temporal.

Seen in this light only can one appreciate a 33 year old Man saying 'yes' to a death on the cross and leaving His loving mother to the care of His disciples.

Behind this mind boggling decision we see the confidence of the Son of Man as the Son of God. Am I confident that I am a child of God? I must be a disciple of Christ to enter into this reality fully. If so, the words of Jesus must apply to me. "Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple."

Let us right now count the cost of discipleship, keeping in mind Jesus' words in Luke 14/3. "So therefore, whoever of you does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple."

Prayer Starter Praise the Lord, I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation, Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who have pleasure in them He has caused his wonderful works to be remembered; the Lord is gracious and merciful He provides food for those who fear him, he is ever mindful of his covenant (Ps. 111/1-2, 4-5)

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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Thursday 9th November 2017 The dedication of the Lateran Basilica Ezekiel:47/1-12 OR 1 Corinthians:3/9-17 Psalm:46/2-3,5-6,8-9 John:2/13-22 The Gospel Proclamation The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves and the money changers seated at their tables. Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple .... He told those who were selling the doves, "Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father's house a marketplace!" ..."Zeal for your house will consume me." The Jews then said to him, "What sign can you show us for doing this?" Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up." .... "This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and will you raise it up in three days?"

But he was speaking of the temple of his body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this and they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.

Gaze at Jesus For the Jews the temple was the most important place where God dwelt.

Therefore the temple of Jerusalem is like the heart of the Jewish nation and the symbol of their religion. It is supposed to be a place of meeting God, paying Him homage, praying and worshipping Him. Also, it is a place of fellowship.

At this particular instant, Jesus has not yet begun preaching and He saw what is just the opposite of what He expected happening. He was in such a rage Jesus made a whip of cord, drove them all out of the temple court, together with

the oxen and sheep, He knocked over the tables of the money changers scattering the coins and ordered the people selling doves, "Take all this away and stop turning my Father's house into a marketplace Here Jesus was challenged to prove His authority for what He did and Jesus in turn challenged them to destroy His Body which He sees as the temple of God, His Abba saying that He will raise it up in three days.

Zeal for your house devours me as a fire and the insults of those who insult You have fallen on me. (Psalm) Actually the hatred of the Chief Priests for Jesus will bring Him to His death.

The apostles could not understand these words, for at that time nothing was more sacred to them than the temple and the scriptures. But later they would know that the most ordinary word of Jesus has much weight as the whole scriptures.

They would also understand that Jesus is the true temple. Until then, people constructed temples and looked for places where they could meet God and obtain His favours. Now God has made Himself present in Jesus; it is He who delivers God's riches to us.

Jesus speaks to us of the temple of His body. Paul tells his Corinthian converts that the Holy Spirit dwells within the Corinthian community in a very special way. If it is so, the body of every believer too is a temple of the Holy Spirit.

Am I aware of the fact that I am a temple of the Holy Spirit. If so, how graciously should I conduct myself, pleasing to Father God and to His creation.

Prayer Starter Help us Lord as we are the Church and we build foundations not of buildings but of relationships of freedom, justice and hope for all the people of the world.

Let me go forth to the world in service of others. Amen.

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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Friday 10th November 2017 Romans:15/14-21 Song:98/1-4 Luke:16/1-8 Introduction Let us meditatively dwell on today’s Proclamations where the central theme is that the Holy Trinity is calling us to be ingenious in spreading the Good News to the outermost parts of the earth, to maximize the number of people saved!

First Proclamation My brothers, I am quite sure that you, in particular, are full of goodness, fully instructed and capable of correcting each other. But I have special confidence in writing on some points to you, to refresh your memories, because of the grace that was given to me

by God. I was given grace to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the gentiles, dedicated to offer them the gospel of God, so that gentiles might become an acceptable offering, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. So I can be proud, in Christ Jesus, of what I have done for God. Of course I can dare to speak only of the things which Christ has done through me to win the allegiance of the gentiles, using what I have said and done, by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God. .....Those who have never been told about him will see him, and those who have never heard about him will understand.

Gospel Proclamation ..... 'There was a rich man and he had a steward who was denounced to him for being wasteful with his property. He called for the man and said, "What is this I hear about you? Draw me up an account of your stewardship because you are not to be my steward any longer." Then the steward said to

St. Leo the Great himself, "Now that my master is taking the stewardship from me, what am I to do? Dig? I am not strong enough.

Go begging? I should be too ashamed.

Ah, I know what I will do to make sure that when I am dismissed from office there will be some to welcome me into their homes." 'Then he called his master's debtors one by one. To the first he said, "How much do you owe my master?" "One hundred measures of oil," he said. The steward said, "Here, take your bond; sit down and quickly write fifty." To another he said, "And you, sir, how much do you owe?" "One hundred measures of wheat," he said.

The steward said, "Here, take your bond and write eighty." 'The master praised the dishonest steward for his astuteness. For the children of this world are more astute in dealing with their own kind than are the children of light.'

Prayerful Awareness In the First Proclamation St. Paul pats himself on the back (which he truly deserves) for the work he has accomplished for the Lord, which should be an example for us to follow!

In today’s Gospel Proclamation our Lord Jesus Christ exhorts us (read 9-14 also) to put our wealth to good use for winning souls for God’s Kingdom without becoming a slave to accumulating more and more for selfish ends.

Song of Praise (Psalm 98/1-4) Sing a new song to Yahweh, for he has performed wonders, his saving power is in his right hand and his holy arm.

Yahweh has made known his saving power, revealed his saving justice for the nations to see, mindful of his faithful love and his constancy to the House of Israel. The whole wide world has seen the saving power of our God. Acclaim Yahweh, all the earth, burst into shouts of joy!

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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

Saturday 11th November 2017 Romans:16/3-9, 16, 22-27 Psalm:145/2-5, 10-11 Luke: 16/9-15 St. Martin de Tours At the time of his birth both his parents were pagans. At 15, he was recruited to the imperial cavalry. Moved with compassion while passing a half-naked beggar he split his cloak in two and gave one half to the poor man. It is reported that, that very night Christ appeared to him wearing the cloak. (The other half has long been preserved in the chapel of the Frankish kings). Not long after this incident, Martin was baptized and was soon discharged from military service.

He was instrumental in founding the famous Benedictine Abbey of Liguge. He undertook missionary journeys through Central and Western Gaul where idolatry was still rampant among the rural folk.

A highly reluctant Martin was forced by popular acclaim into becoming the Bishop of the vacant See at Tours (France).

Died: November 11th, 397.

Gospel Proclamation And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of dishonest wealth so that when it is gone, they may welcome you into the eternal homes.

"Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much, and whoever is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much. If then you have not been faithful with the dishonest wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?

And if you have not been faithful with what belongs to another, who will give you what is your own? No slave can serve two masters, for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth." ......

St. Martin de Tours, Bishop Prayerful Awareness In this reading Jesus draws our attention to love of money, misplaced love of money. "The love of money is a source of all kinds of evil." (1 Timothy 5:10). "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, "I will never leave you, I will never abandon you." (Hebrews 13:5). Jesus draws our attention to money as it has the ability, uncanny one, to make us servants, control our hearts and effect many of our decisions. Without this knowledge the Pharisees had been caught in this web.

Many think money is everything - it can guarantee security, prestige and can open up new ways to pursue pleasure .... but can it guarantee complete happiness?

Many pursue it as an idol. They focus all their energies to become more and more wealthy with the aim of becoming happier and happier. Can money satiate all our deepest needs? Only God can do that as His resources are infinite. Jesus said that "Whoever is faithful in small matters will be faithful in large ones."

(Luke 16:10) Think of the material and spiritual resources God has made available or placed at our disposal. He wants us to exercise good stewardship over them. We need to exercise frugality in and over everything. God wants us to be generous and be on the look out to grab opportunities to cater to the needs of our brethren." "Give until it hurts." (St. Mother Theresa of Calcutta).

To guard yourself so as not to fall into sin, use the spiritual treasures - time spent in prayer and reading the scripture.

Forgive and forget others' trespasses .... love and be loved .... thus let Jesus shower His blessings on us.

Prayer Starter Let us thank the Lord for all the things He has made available to us, and use them to bring Him glory. Amen.

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Sunday 12th November 2017 Thirty Second Sunday of Ordinary Time Ps. Wk. IV up in the clouds together with them Wisdom: 6/12-16 to meet the Lord in the air, and so Psalm: 63/1-7 we will be with the Lord forever.

1 Thessalonians: 4/13- Therefore encourage one another

18 OR 4/13-14 with these words.

Mathew: 25/1-13 The Gospel Proclamation The First Proclamation Wisdom is radiant and unfading, and she is easily discerned by those who love her, and is found by those who seek her. She hastens to make herself known to those who desire her. One who rises early to seek her will have no difficulty, for she will be found sitting at the gate. To fix one's thought on her is perfect understanding, and one who is vigilant on her account will soon be free from care, because she goes about seeking those worthy of her, and she graciously appears to them in their paths, and meets them in every thought.

The Second Proclamation But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died. For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who have died. For the Lord himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel's call and with the sound of God's trumpet, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught

"Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them. But the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a shout, 'Look!

Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.' Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' But the wise replied, 'No! there will not be enough for you and for us, you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.' And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet, and the door was shut. Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, 'Lord, lord, open to us.' But he replied, "Truly I tell you, I do not know you.' Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

Prayerful Awareness As the Gospel of Mathew draws towards the end of Jesus' public ministry, the themes of delay and the need to be ready for the final coming of the Lord become important. Although, as we have seen over the Paschal Season, Matthew presents the death and resurrection as the 'turning point of

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the ages', when heaven and earth pass away (see Mathew 5:7-18; 27:51-53; 28:2-4), his community is still well aware that heaven and earth are in their usual place. The paschal events are behind them, but the community understands that their own history lies ahead of them. The Christian Church may have to live its life in imitation of Christ through a long history, but it must always remember that in the end, He will return as the Lord of all history.

The setting for the parable of the ten bridesmaids is strongly reminiscent of oriental wedding practices. The ten virginal bridesmaids are an escort of honour appointed to greet the bridegroom when he returns from the house of the bride, bringing his bride with him. The problems of the wedding contract and the unhurried exchange of gifts inevitably led to long delays.

The virgins, some better equipped than others, wait with their lamps alight for this evening celebration, to play their role in the joyful procession.

The contrast between the five wise and the five foolish virgins is that the wise ones reckon with the possibility of a delay. The unwise virgins fail to anticipate such a delay, and thus find themselves unprepared when the groom eventually arrives. To share the oil would have meant that all the lamps would go out, and the welcoming ceremony would be a failure.

Thus 'those who were ready' escort the groom, while the others seek oil. On their return, calling out 'Lord, Lord', they are told that they are not known.

The parable leads inevitably to the final words of Jesus: 'Stay awake because you do not know either the day or the hour'. This story, which probably comes from popular folk tales, has been retold in the Gospel of Mathew to warn against making too

much of the 'now' and forgetting that the 'not yet' is an essential part of the Christian life.

Gaze at Jesus In its present form Jesus' parable speaks strongly to our need to live our present with an eye on the future. The tendency to live our own history as if it were the only one that mattered is within us all. Most of us have a tendency to live as if the 'now' is the only important thing, while some ignore the joys, sufferings and responsibilities of the 'now' and simply wait for God's final solution in the 'not yet'. Both approaches to the Christian life leave us unprepared for the God of surprises who has His own plans for our todays and our tomorrows. Christian living can never settle for the present, nor can it simply wait idly for the future coming of God. It must be deeply committed to God's gift of the present, waiting for God's future gifts, and His final coming; and prepared to take all the risks of following His Son, Jesus of Nazareth, through the time in between.

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 joyful lips when I think of you on my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I sing for joy. (Ps.63/1-7)

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Monday 13th November 2017 Wisdom:1/1-7 Psalm:139/1-10 Luke: 17/1-6 The First Proclamation Love uprightness you who are rulers on earth, be properly disposed towards the Lord and seek him in simplicity of heart; for he will be found by those who do not put him to the test, .... Perverse thoughts, however, separate people from God, and power, when put to the test, confounds the stupid. Wisdom will never enter the soul of a wrong-doer, nor dwell in a body enslaved to sin; for the Holy Spirit of instruction flees deceitfulness, recoils from unintelligent thoughts, is thwarted by the onset of vice. Wisdom is a spirit friendly to humanity, though she will not let a blasphemer's words go unpunished; since God observes the very soul and accurately surveys the heart, listening to every word....

Fix your gaze on Jesus The Living Word is clear, O Holy Spirit of God; please help us to undo the damage we’ve done, are doing and will do to ourselves in admitting error in to our thoughts, beliefs....

The first reading appears more applicable to ‘Rulers’, and it exhorts them to ‘seek Him in simplicity of heart’. God however speaks to all of us, and in relating to this reading, we need to ask ourselves, ‘are we able to do this?’ Could we really ‘abide’ in this instruction? Is it not our experience today, that our lives are complex and entangled? Don’t we feel ‘overwhelmed’ at times, without succour and alienated? Factor in the revelation, “Perverse thoughts, however, separate people from God”. We know that being together with God is consolation, is happiness, is completeness, is fulfilment.

As such, we really need to question what perverse thoughts we harbour within, which generate these negative ‘feelings’!

In most instances, our world-view is perverse. Let's illustrate.

We start off our life-journey with a simple understanding: my parents are there for me; and so are my toys, and my siblings. This ‘feeling’ expands to embrace the entirety of the physical realm, so that the universe is viewed as all being there for “MYSELF”. I am to 'Use' what is 'Out There' to generate 'Good Feelings' for myself. This is perverse. This is false. We should begin the journey from this ‘Selfish’ orientation towards ‘Togetherness’; to sense that there is an underlying bigger picture, and that Myself ‘Together’ with these ‘Others (persons and things)’ are parts of a larger system; that somehow we ‘All’ are to be bound together in “LOVE”. But along the way, in our journey, before developing this understanding, we become bogged down in complexity.....

In Truth, an utter simplicity which defies usual (read erroneous/ fallen) human ways of thinking lies beyond this complexity. A very simple arrangement underlies the structure of ‘What Is’- our perceptions of ‘SELF’, of our relationships to ‘All that Is’, of the source of our ‘Well Being’, of our ability to ‘Stay Happy and Vibrant and In Love’....

To grasp this Simplicity, remember it’s elements; we are given a gift called ‘Free Will’-we can choose! Next, we’re created in the ‘Image / Likeness’ of the Creator. Thus, we can ‘Create’ through ‘Faith’ what we truly desire (choose).

So, Choice and Faith, consistently/ persistently/ flawlessly applied will deliver you what you dream of! So dream on, create what is ‘Good’ for our ‘Togetherness’. A word of caution: ensure that you dream in accord with the ‘Maker’s’ dream.....

Prayer Starter

Come O Spirit of God, reveal my heart’s true desires, and correct me as You Will...

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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

Tuesday 14th November 2017 Wisdom:2/23-3/9 Psalm:34/1-2, 15-18 Luke: 17/7-10 The Gospel Proclamation "Who among you would say to your slave who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, 'Come here at once and take your place at the table'? Would you not rather say to him, 'Prepare supper for me, put on your apron and serve me while I eat and drink; later you may eat and drink'? Do you thank the slave for doing what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, 'We are worthless slaves, we have done only what we ought to have done!'"

Prayerful Awareness Christ came to this earth to implement fully God's mission which has been entrusted to Him. Although He is the Son of God, He had to be a servant showing unconditional and selfless love towards all mankind. Jesus expected the same life style from His community. He exhibited for all, this humility by washing the feet of the twelve apostles. Through this Gospel proclamation, Jesus made them understand the values of humility, obedience, being always ready for work and not accepting any reward. Once Jesus said, "I came to serve and not to be served."

Do we examine our lives and see if our deeds tell the truth of our words - that we are the servants of the Lord? Are we willing and grateful servants, working for the Kingdom of God, planting the seed of the Word, harvesting the bread for all and making

sure that the communities/nations of the world are gathered as one? Or are we even more useless than the servants in the Gospel who do all that they have been commanded to do, and still have far to go in being of use to God? In our society we are accustomed to receive awards and earn a good name for the work that we discharge. The sense of duty is diminishing. Here, the Lord presents another mind and practice that will lead us to the final true prize.

According to the book of Wisdom God has created man to be immortal in the likeness of His own nature, but the envy of the devil has brought death to the world and those who take his side shall experience death. But the souls of the upright are in the hands of God and the soul does not die when the body dies. So when we live according to the Gospel, the award we will receive will be in the other life for ever.

Where do I stand? How do I discharge my duties in the building up of the Kingdom of God? Do I think of it as a sacred duty without being compelled by anyone? Do I express my praise and worship which is God's due? What makes our offering pleasing to God is the love we express in the gift of self giving. Do I love others selflessly and unconditionally? So, let us ask God to direct us to love one another so that He will abide in us and His love perfected in us Prayer Starter Lord help us to serve our neighbour voluntarily as a sacred duty. Help us to offer our lives generously and selflessly.

Fill our hearts with the boundless love that gives what is good for the sake of others as You have shown in Your lifetime.

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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Wednesday 15th November 2017 Wisdom:6/1-11 Psalm:82/3-4, 6-7 Luke: 17/11-19 The First Proclamation Listen therefore, O kings, and understand; learn, O judges of the ends of the earth. Give ear, you that rule over multitudes, and boast of many nations. For your dominion was given you from the Lord, and your sovereignty from the Most High; he will search out your works and inquire into your plans. Because as servants of his kingdom you did not rule rightly, or keep the law, or walk according to the purpose of God, he will come upon you terribly and swiftly, because severe judgment falls on those in high places. For the lowliest may be pardoned in mercy, but the mighty will be mightily tested. ....

The Gospel Proclamation On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him.

Keeping their distance, they called out, saying, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" When he saw them, he said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were made clean. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He prostrated himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus asked, "Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" Then he said to him, "Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well."

Prayerful Awareness Jesus was deeply interested in peo-

St. Albert the Great

ple. He showed warm concern for ALL who came in contact with Him. Men, women and children. The RICH and the POOR. As a PERFECT HUMAN Jesus showed tender COMPASSION to the SICK and the MAIMED. The DESPISED, the HURT and the SINFUL. No one was rejected or IGNORED. People who had leprosy were required to stay away from others and to announce their presence if they had to come near. If a leper thought his leprosy is healed, he was supposed to present himself to a priest who could declare him CLEAN. Jesus sent the ten lepers to the priest BEFORE they were healed - and they went! They responded in FAITH and Jesus HEALED them on the WAY. They did not question Jesus as to WHY they are sent BEFORE healing. They went in TRUST and OBEDIENC to HIS WORD. Jesus healed TEN men, but only ONE returned to thank Him. NINE of the ten received God's great GIFT with an UNGRATEFUL spirit. God does not demand that we thank Him, but He is pleased when we do so. And He uses our responsiveness to teach us more about Himself.

Not only was this grateful man a leper, he was also a SAMARITAN - a race despised by the JEWS as idolatrous half-breeds. Luke is pointing out that God's GRACE is for EVERYBODY. Jesus' LOVE for ALL people is GOODNEWS for everyone. His MESSAGE too is for all people in every nation. Each one of us has an opportunity to respond to Jesus in faith. Jesus is more than an idea or teacher - He CARES for us. Only this kind of deep love can satisfy our needs.

Prayer Starter Almighty Father in heaven, we praise and glorify You for sending Your Beloved Son, the SAVIOUR for all people - our risen and triumphant Lord.

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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

Thursday 16th November 2017 St.Margaret of Scotland, St.Gertrude Therefore, the gift of wisdom creates a transformation in our lives, instead of seeing with my own eyes, I begin to see with God’s eyes.

In a simple example, Pope Francis described the gift of wisdom in action in a mother; “when the mother is tired and she The First Proclamation shouts at her children, is that wisdom? for wisdom, the fashioner of all I ask you is that wisdom - what do you things, taught me. There is in her a say? No! Instead when the mother takes spirit that is intelligent, holy, unique, her child to one side and gently rebukes manifold, subtle, mobile, clear, unpol- him, and explains, this is God's wisdom! luted, distinct, invulnerable, loving the Yes! And this is what the Holy Spirit good, keen, irresistible, beneficent, gives us in life.” Again, he said; “In a humane, steadfast, sure, free from anx- marriage for example, the couple argue, iety, all-powerful, overseeing all, and then they won't look at one another, or penetrating through all spirits that are if they do it is with anger. Is that God's intelligent, pure, and altogether subtle. wisdom? No! Instead when they say let For wisdom is more mobile than the storm pass, let's make peace! That's any motion; because of her pureness wisdom”. Although this sounds simple she pervades and penetrates all things. enough to do with some exercise in will For she is a breath of the power of God, power, Pope Francis added that “it cannot and a pure emanation of the glory of be learned, it is a gift of the Holy Spirit!” the Almighty; therefore nothing dePope Francis, however, pointed out filed gains entrance into her. For she is that intimacy with God is the precursor a reflection of eternal light, a spotless to the gift of wisdom. “When we are in mirror of the working of God, and an communion with the Lord, it is as if the image of his goodness. Although she Spirit transfigures our heart and helps it to is but one, she can do all things, and perceive all his warmth and predilection”. while remaining in herself, she renews As Fr. Richard Rohr points out, commuall things in every generation she nion with the Lord (through continuous passes into holy souls and makes them prayer and contemplation) also includes friends of God, and prophets, for God a feeling of connection with people, anloves nothing so much as the person imals, plants, the earth and the universe who lives with wisdom. ..... that are connected to God and connected Prayerful Awareness to us personally. When this feeling of In the reading, wisdom is personified connectedness is established, seeing with with personality characteristics, as it is in God’s eyes is inevitable. Through God’s many instances in the Bible. The author eyes we are all precious and what you of the text seems to know this majestic do to the other, whether it is to a person, “Wisdom” intimately and is also besotted an animal or to our environment, is done by “her”. Who or what is this wisdom? also to the Lord. Thus, we begin to see In a series of talks by Pope Francis, the with the eyes of God, the eyes of love. gift of wisdom is defined “as the grace Prayer Starter of being able to see everything with the Make your face shine upon your eyes of God. It is simply this: Seeing servant, and teach me your statutes (Ps. the world, situations, conjunctures, problems, everything with God's eyes”. 119/135

Wisdom:7/22-8/1 Psalm:119/89-91,130, 135, 175 Luke: 17/20-25

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Friday 17th October 2017 Wisdom: 13/1-9 Psalm:19/1-4 Luke: 17/26-37 The Gospel Proclamation Just as it was in the days of Noah, so too it will be in the days of the Son of Man. They were eating and drinking, and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed all of them. Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot; they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, but on the day that Lot left Sodom, it rained fire and sulfur from heaven and destroyed all of them - it will be like that on the day that the Son of Man is revealed. On that day, anyone on the housetop who has belongings in the house must not come down to take them away; and likewise anyone in the field must not turn back.

Remember Lot's wife. Those who try to make their life secure will lose it, but those who lose their life will keep it. I tell you, on that night there will be two in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. There will be two women grinding meal together, one will be taken and the other left. Then they asked him, "Where Lord?' He said to them, "Where the corpse is, there the vultures will gather."

Prayerful Awareness At a time the world is engrossed and enslaved by the comforts and pleasures such as eating, drinking and merry-making, the Word of God in today's Gospel stands true and firm today and till the end times.

The Word awakens the people and makes them mindful of the destruction that would overtake them. We have to face this reality and the only way

St. Elizabeth of Hungary to prepare for Jesus' Second Coming and to win eternal life is to conduct ourselves in a pleasing manner to God and to abide by the Commandments given to us.

Jesus teaches the disciples how to prepare for the Second Coming. He gives two biblical stories - Noah and the flood and Lot and the destruction of Sodom, to illustrate what His disciples should carefully avoid.

On the last day, those who are found good and worthy will be taken to the blessed life with God. Are we able to find our lives worthy? Those who belong to God, obey Him and trust His providence like Noah and Lot and like the Lord Himself pick up their own crosses and face the power of evil in this world. At the last judgement they will be separated from those found unworthy, i.e. those who get lost in worldly affairs and ignore God's call. e.g. What happened to Lot's wife. We have to risk ourselves and trusting God in order to save ourselves.

According to the First Proclamation, King Solomon states, "For all people who were ignorant of God are foolish by nature; and they were unable from the good things that are seen to know the one who exists...."

If people are charmed by God's creation and impressed by its power and energy, let them deduce how much mightier is the One who formed them.

The words of Wisdom challenge and blame us for only appreciating the creations of God and for not knowing how much the Master of these excels in beauty and greatness.

Prayer Starter Awaken us O Lord to discern Your Holy Will as to how we should live overcoming the temptations of the world. Amen.

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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

of Sts.Peter Saturday 18th November 2017 Dedication of the Basilica and Paul Wisdom:18/14-16, 19/6-9 Psalm:105/2-3,36-37, 42-43 Luke: 18/1-8 OR Acts: 28/11-16,30-31 Psalm:98/1-6 Mathew:14/22-33 The Gospel Proclamation Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. He said, "In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people.

In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, 'Grant me justice against my opponent.' For a while he refused; but later he said to himself, 'Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.'

And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? ....

Prayerful Awareness Appointed by the Romans or by Herod, the judge in this parable is one of the paid. Almost all of them were notorious. The chances of getting a case settled fairly was beyond hope unless one had the means - money, material to bribe the judge. It is said that these judges stooped to low standards such as even food to prevent justice being done.

The widow in focus here was the symbol - yes, of all the poor and defenceless.

She was at the mercy of the judge and she did not have the means or ways to extract justice. She had one weapon at her disposal - persistence. "The acts of faith, hope and charity enjoined by the

first commandment are accomplished in prayer. Lifting up the mind towards God is an expression of our adoration of God. prayer of praise and thanksgiving, intercession and petition. Prayer is an indispensable condition of being able to obey God's commandments. "We ought always to pray and not to lose heart."

(C.C.C. 2098) Experience: She was suffering from a severe form of rheumatism and was bed-ridden. Her near and dear ones laid their hands on her and prayed. Later she was warded in a hospital. She recovered but her cure was not a complete one as she often suffered from the same sickness but not as severe as before. She is able to count her blessings and thank God. "Thy Will be done."

In the parable God is not likened to the unjust judge but is contrasted. If the rapacious judge, in the end, listened to and vindicated the widow, how much more will the good Lord provide His children with what they need? God wants us not to get discouraged but to persevere in prayer. This waiting in prayer is in itself a time of blessing and deep grace for us. The divine task here is that we are taught and our desires are purified. We are refined where we are not. The ultimate outcome - may be not the solution or the result or the healing we asked for but something better and agreeable to our needs. Let us wait for, trust in and open our hearts to Jesus Christ Who purifies us. The guidance and the power to tread the right path, of course it comes from the Holy Spirit Who indwells us. Let Him have free access to our interior and in the end we can find the reward that is beyond our expectations.

Prayer Starter We place our needs and sufferings before You. Make us worthy of Your love, mercy and compassion. Help us to see our brethren in the way You see them. Amen.

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Sunday 19th November 2017 Thirty-third Sunday of Ordinary Time Ps. Wk. I

Proverbs:31/10-13, as the church teaches us, let all of us see

19-20,30-31 ourselves as the corporate bride/wife of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Who has entrusted Psalm:128/1-5 His Sacred Heart to us, in order that e may 1 Thessalonians:5/1-6 love with His heart. Let us ask the Holy Mathew:25/14-30 OR Spirit to grace us with a reverential fear of the Lord Jesus and await with eagerness 14,15,19-21 Introduction How did we become living beings?

None of us chose to come to life. Life is indeed a gift that we have received. It is a gift from the Giver of life, the Holy Spirit, (the Nicene Creed). We who had no life have been “called to life”. Why have we been called to life? What plans do the Lord, the Giver of Life, have for us, His creation? Let us read the Entrance Antiphon to discern the answer …..

Entrance Antiphon The Lord says: my plans for you are peace and not disaster,; when you call me, I will listen to you and I will bring you back to the place from which I called you.

First Proclamation When one finds a worthy wife, her value is far beyond pearls. Her husband, entrusting his heart to her, has an unfailing prize, she brings him good, and not evil, all the days of her life. ... She reaches out her hands to the poor, and extends her arms to the needy. Charm is deceptive and beauty fleeting; the woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give her a reward of her labors, and let her works praise her at the city gates.

Prayerful Awareness Reading the above proclamation we begin to appreciate the role that a good wife plays in the life of her husband.

Those of us who are husbands may be inclined to use this passage to lament the lack of such qualities in our wives. But

the rewards of our labors and praises for our works.

Gospel Proclamation

For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; to one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one – to each according to his ability. Then he went away. The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents. In the same way, the one who had the two talents ....But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.

After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, '.....' His master said to him, 'Well done, good and trustworthy slave, you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things enter into the joy of your master.' And the one with the two talents also came forward, ..... Then the one who had received the one talent ..., 'Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.'

But his master replied, 'You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from

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imprisonment and even dispossession.

The latter choice is considered to be the heroic one from the point of view of the Kingdom of God. Let us also be aware that this parable is immediately followed by Jesus describing the Last Judgment (Next Sunday’s Gospel) Jesus revealed God as a loving FaThe Second Proclamation ther. When we read about Jesus’ teachings about God it is about a forgiving, Concerning times and seasons compassionate Father who waits for the brothers, you have no need for anyreturn of His wayward children, a shep- thing to be written to you. For you herd who leaves the ninety nine and goes yourselves know very well that the in search of the one who is lost. day of the Lord will come like a thief But the image of the master/no- at night. When people are saying, bleman in the parable we read is quite “Peace and security,” then sudden different. He is described as a demanding disaster comes upon them, like labor person, harvesting where he did not plant pains upon a pregnant woman, and and gathering where he did not scatter; they will not escape. But you, brotha person encouraging the lending of ers, are not in darkness, for that day money with an interest charged for its to overtake you like a thief. For all use; and a person who has no misgiving of you are children of the light and about making the rich richer and the children of the day. We are not of the poor poorer. It is very difficult to accept night or of darkness. Therefore, let us that Jesus would want to portray God not sleep as the rest do, but let us stay His Father in this way. It is a completely alert and sober. contradictory image. So is there perhaps Our sonship another message that Jesus wishes to We are told that the “Day of the Lord convey through this parable? will come like a thief in the night”, that Some theologians now believe the disaster will strike at any moment and nobleman in the parable to be Herod there is not escape, that we need to be Archelaus (23 BC. 18 AD) the cruel ruler awake and ready, alert and sober to face who quelled with the utmost cruelty a the day when it ultimately comes. In sedition of the Pharisees, slaying nearly doing so we are called upon to realize three thousand of them, before making and claim our identity as children of his journey to Rome to receive kingship the day and the children of the light and from Caesar, at about the time that Jesus live as such. related this parable. If we accept this In short we need to pray that e be view, the parable will tell a totally different story to what we have been used given the grace to live in the “NOW” to. It is about Jesus warning His disciples facing whatever is happening “NOW”, that it was going to be difficult to live the with whoever we relate to in life “NOW” values of God’s kingdom in a world ruled as children of God. God is calling us in the “NOW” to a “LIFE” of relationship by persons such as Herod Archelaus. with Him as His children, culminating Jesus describes two ways of respond- in the fulfillment of His plan for lasting ing to such a ruler. One is to do one’s peace and contentment. utmost to conform to his desires and be Prayer Starter rewarded the servants who earned a profit for their master) or refuse to conform and Abba Father! We thank You, we run the risk of punishment in the form of praise You, and we worship You in song! him, and give it to the one with the ten talents. For to all those who have more will be given, and they will have an abundance, but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. ....

Gaze at Jesus

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Monday 20th November 2017 1 Macabees:1/10-15, 41-43,54-57, 62-64 Psalm: 118/53,61,134, 150,155,158 Luke: 18/35-43 The First Proclamation From these there grew a wicked offshoot, Antiochus Epiphanes son of King Antiochus; once a hostage in Rome, .... It was then that there emerged from Israel a set of renegades who led many people astray. 'Come,' they said, 'let us ally ourselves with the gentiles surrounding us, for since we separated ourselves from them many misfortunes have overtaken us.' This proposal proved acceptable, and a number of the people eagerly approached the king, who authorised them to practise the gentiles' observances. So they built a gymnasium in Jerusalem....submitting to gentile rule as willing slaves of impiety... The king then issued a proclamation to his whole kingdom that all were to become a single people, each nation renouncing its particular customs... and many Israelites chose to accept his religion, sacrificing to idols and profaning the Sabbath....Whenever anyone was discovered possessing a copy of the covenant or practising the Law, the king's decree sentenced him to death... Yet there were many in Israel who stood firm and found the courage to refuse unclean food. They chose death rather than contamination by such fare or profanation of the holy covenant...

Fix your gaze on Jesus

come to the true freedom bestowed by Truth, empowering us further to continue on the narrow path; we choose instead to perceive these tests as reducing us, demeaning us and even as punishments.

Then we choose the easy, the convenient, the cosy, the lazy broad-way; and so are we started on the slippery slope, at best towards stagnation, but normally towards a major fall - destruction and isolation, towards perdition and death. Following the crowd, the latest trend or fashion is not the way of the Faithful; going against the flow, the crowd, the lemmings sometimes is!

The essence of the historical events depicted in today’s scripture is repeated day-in and day-out in our own lives, singularly and collectively, and we would begin to see this were we but inclined to critically assess our momentary choices, with the results we reap. Do become conscious, and grow in our consciousness.

This is essentially why we need to follow the example of our Lord Jesus; we need to train our hearts and minds to obey; to follow the Higher Consciousness; to allow the Bigger Picture; to journey from ‘ME’ to ‘WE’; and once the path is chosen, to follow it conscientiously. As Fr. Richard Rohr expresses it, ‘Dare to say “Yes”, before you dare to say “No”’ to sound instruction. Basically what this means is that, only in saying ‘Yes’ and following it diligently will you discover the blessings realisable; and discover the instances that allow for further improvement and uplifting....step by step, going higher towards and closer to Heaven; look at today’s Gospel; Jesus encounters on entering Jericho a blind man, who shouting aloud despite the protestations /objections of the crowd receives sight.

Were you the blind man, what would your behaviour have been?

Prayer Starter

O Holy Spirit of God, what do we do to ourselves?

Firstly, we shy away from the tests Thank you O Holy Spirit. Let me put on our path by the Lord God to uplift us further, those tests designed to help us know the path to tread, command me, I separate the chaff from the wheat, and shall follow....

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

Tuesday 21st November 2017

Presentation of the Bl. Virgin Mary

dom of God adds a new dimension and meaning to everything human and therefore to human bond. "Motherhood" and "brotherhood" acquires a totally different meaning and perspective from the "motherhood" and "brotherhood" according to the flesh. "This kingdom The First Proclamation shines out before men in the world, in Sing and rejoice, O daughter the works and in the presence of Christ."

Zion! For lo, I will come and dwell To welcome Jesus' word is to welcome in your midst, says the Lord. Many "the Kingdom itself". The seed and nations shall join themselves to the beginning of the Kingdom are the flock Lord on that day, and shall be my whom Jesus came to gather around Him, people, and I will dwell in your midst. the flock whose shepherd He is. They And you shall know that the Lord of form Jesus' true family. To those whom hosts has sent me to you. The Lord He thus gathered around Him, He taught will inherit Judah as his portion in a new "way of acting" and a prayer of the holy land, and will again choose their own (C.C.C. 764).

Jerusalem.

Gaze at my sonship Be silent, all people, before the Let us be true friends of Jesus. He Lord, for he has roused himself from offers us His relationship with the Father his holy dwelling. as a model - a model to be followed. ReThe Gospel Proclamation lationships or close contacts with great, While he was still speaking to the important rich people - yes, we yearn crowds, his mother and his brothers for the same. We consider it a fortune if were standing outside, wanting to we are in the good books of them. Jesus speak to him. Someone told him, offers us His relationship.

"Look, your mother and your brothMary is the mother of Jesus, and also ers are standing outside wanting to the mother of all of us. She heard and speak to you." But to the one who had heeded the word of God. When we hear told him this, Jesus replied, "Who is the word of God and act accordingly we my mother, and who are my broth- become 'mother, 'sister' and 'brother' of ers?" And pointing to his disciples, Jesus. In order to be related to Jesus, we he said, "Here are my mother and my have got to listen to the word of God, brothers! For whoever does the will think and act like Him. Then our target, of my Father in heaven is my brother that is, intimacy with Jesus, is made and sister and mother." possible. "Becoming a disciple of Jesus means accepting the invitation to belong Gaze at Jesus to God's family, to live in conformity This reply fits well with the reply with His way of life. "For whoever Jesus gave when He was twelve years does the Will of my Father in heaven old and was found after three days in the is my brother, and sister and mother." temple in Jerusalem "Why were you (C.C.C. 2233) searching for me? Did you not know Prayer Starter that I must be in my Father's house?"

O Lord I am not worthy to be called (Luke 2:49) His foremost concern was the work of His Father's Kingdom. To Your son/daughter. But only say the this He gave top priority. This King- word and .....

Zechariah:2/10-13 Psalm:Luke:1/46-55 Mathew: 12/46-50

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Wednesday 22nd November 2017 2 Macabees:7/1,20-31 Psalm: 17/1,5-6,8,15 Luke: 19/11-28

Gospel Proclamation While the people were listening to this, Jesus continued and told them a parable. ...... ....“There was once a man of high rank who was going to a country far away to be made king, after which he planned to come back home. Before he left, he called his ten servants and gave them each a gold coin and told them, “See what you can earn with this while I am gone." Now, his own people hated him, and so they sent messengers after him to say, “We don’t want this man to be our king.’“The man was made king and came back. At once he ordered his servants to appear before him, in order to find out how much they had earned. The first one came and said, “Sir, I have earned ten gold coins with the one you gave me.|" 'Well done,' he said; “you are a good servant! Since you were faithful in small matters, I will put you in charge of ten cities.’ The second servant came and said, “Sir, I have earned five gold coins with the one you gave me.’

To this one he said, “You will be in charge of five cities.’ Another servant came and said, “Sir, here is your gold coin; I kept it hidden in a handkerchief. I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take what is not yours and reap what you did not plant.’ He said to him, “You bad servant! I will use your own words to condemn you! You know that I am a hard man, taking what is not mine and reaping what I have not planted.

Well, then, why didn’t you put my

St.Cecilia, Virgin & Martyr money in the bank? Then I would have received it back with interest when I returned.’ Then he said to those who were standing there, “Take the gold coin away from him and give it to the servant who has ten coins.’

But they said to him, “Sir, he already has ten coins!’“I tell you,’ he replied, “that to those who have something, even more will be given; but those who have nothing, even the little that they have will be taken away from them. Now, as for those enemies of mine who did not want me to be their king, bring them here and kill them in my presence!’“ Gaze on Jesus This parable reminds us how very important it is to use, to the best of our ability for the benefit of His kingdom, every gift that God has given to us, every talent He created us to have, every bit of time we've got and every breath that we breathe, our financial resources, and every unique facet of our personalities. Ministry is nothing more and nothing less than putting to good use whatever we have gained from experiences, training, hardships, and blessings of the Lord.

Prayer Starter Heavenly Father please forgive us for not using and sometimes misusing the talents You have given us, and grant us the discernment to recognise the talents we have and use these gifts wisely for our own benefit and the benefit of others, so that we could grow and blossom, and not remain stuck and stagnant. It is Your Will for us to grow and develop, and as we do so, open our minds and hearts to all the goodness that You want to give us in Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

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

Thursday 23rd November 2017 1 Maccabees:2/15-29 Psalm:50/1-2,5-6,14-15 Luke: 19/41-44 The First Proclamation Then the king's officials, who were forcing the people to turn from God, ….. We will not obey the king's decree, and we will not change our way of worship in the least. Just as he finished speaking, one of the men from Modein decided to obey the king's decree and stepped out in front of everyone to offer a pagan sacrifice on the altar that stood there. When Mattathias saw him, .... Shaking with rage, he ran forward and killed the man right there on the altar. …… In this way Mattathias showed his deep devotion for the Law, ……Then Mattathias went through the town shouting, Everyone who is faithful to God's covenant and obeys his Law, follow me! With this, he and his sons fled to the mountains, leaving behind all they owned.

Gospel Proclamation He came closer to the city, and when he saw it, he wept over it, saying, “If you only knew today what is needed for peace! But now you cannot see it! The time will come when your enemies will surround you with barricades, blockade you, and close in on you from every side. They will completely destroy you and the people within your walls; not a single stone will they leave in its place, because you did not recognize the time when God came to save you!”

Gaze on Jesus The Son of God and the Prince of peace, wept for Jerusalem. The people of Jerusalem, who had every advantage imaginable - where the oracles of God were committed to them. Covenants of promise had been made to them.

To them had been given the prophets.

St. Clement I, Pope & Martyr St. Columban, Abbot Through them God had sent His beloved Son but they would refuse to know Him. It was not just ignorance, it was wilful ignorance. The people of Jerusalem didn’t know they were lost and dead in their sins. They didn’t know they were helpless and how hopeless they were and that their only salvation was the Lord Jesus Christ. Because they refused to know, Jesus wept for them. Jesus wept for what they might have had, had they only accepted Him. He knew that in less than a week’s time they would crucify Him, and He wept. Not for Himself, but for the sinners who rejected Him. The Lord Jesus Christ preached to the multitudes.

He fed the multitudes. He ministered to the multitudes. But He never lost sight of the fact that the multitudes are individual people who have individual needs and who need an individual Savior. He saw them as individuals. He loved them individually. And His heart was broken over their individual condemnation.

Prayerful Awareness When Jesus looks down from heaven on us, He sees individuals. We are not some mass of humanity to Him. Man, was created in God’s image and after God’s likeness for communion with God, and is alienated from God by sin. We too would have no other means of being reconciled to God and having our sins forgiven except by accepting Jesus His Son. God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. And as Jesus wept for the people in Jerusalem, so He would weep for us as well if we refuse Him or harden our hearts and reject Him or be too willfully ignorant like the people of Jerusalem and not want to know Him. Prayer Starter Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and pay your vows to the Most High. Call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me. (Ps.50/14,15)

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Friday 24th November 2017

Sts. Andrew Dung-Lae, Priest & Companions

1 Maccabees: 4/36-37, or surprised by sin. His counter action towards sin was love and mercy. Unless

52-59 of course, it was sin that the person was Song:1 Chronicles:29/ not willing to see and transform. Such 10-12 was the case with the Pharisees who Luke:19/45-48 were blind to their own sin. Jesus said The First Proclamation Please read 1 Maccabees 4/363-37, 52-59 prayerfully.

The Gospel Proclamation Then he entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling things there, and he said, "It is written, 'My house shall be a house of prayer; but you have made it a den of robbers."

Every day he was teaching in the temple. The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people kept looking for a way to kill him, but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people were spellbound by what they heard.

Prayerful Awareness Sometimes due to over exposure, we may take for granted the interpretation that we thought we have heard countless times before. Firstly, it seems in this incident that Jesus was offended and angered by sin and wants the sellers to be removed far away from Himself and the church. If this is the way we viewed this text and others similarly, we may have also looked at that particular woman with a reputation of being unfaithful with judgmental eyes, refusing to sit at the same church pew as her. Or we may have felt right and just in calling out that drunks should not come to church.

However, in contrast to such views, in numerous incidents described in the Bible, Jesus welcomed sinners such as the prostitute and the tax collector.

In fact, Jesus was never offended

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean.” Therefore, it is always transformation that Jesus is calling us for. As Fr. Richard Rohr explains, so what if we keep saying “we believe, we believe, we believe” when it doesn’t transform us. Transformation is the key.

Today’s reading in Luke is also calling us for transformation and not to banish sinners from our midst and proximity.

Transformation requires self-knowledge. We need to see and accept ourselves as we truly are. Every nationality, whether American, Chinese, Indian or Arabian have their own stereotypes.

Although, we need to be aware that stereotypes are not always true for each individual person, making fun of themselves on the internet such as Youtube, is an eye opener, although far from transformation. So, what about us as Sri-Lankans, have we ever considered what our stereotype is? Could it be that Sri-Lankans are extremely sensitive to criticism, easily offended and shamed (especially concerning financial matters) and live in a highly conformist culture?

How can we transform as a nation?

Prayer Starter Blessed are You, O Lord, the God of our ancestor Israel, forever and ever.

Yours, O Lord, are the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty; for all that is in the heavens and on the earth is Yours, Yours is the kingdom O Lord, and You are exalted as Head above all.

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

Saturday 25th November 2017 St.Catharine of Alexandria, Virgin & 1 Maccabees: 6/1-13 Psalm:9/1-3,5, 15, 18 Luke: 20/27-40 St. Catherine of Alexandria She was born of a noble family in Alexandria and was extremely learned. She was converted by a vision of Our Lady.

She dared to protest the persecution of the Christians under the Roman Emperor Maxentius. He was unable to refute the arguments she raised with him directly.

In order to counter her arguments the emperor had a battery of some 50 eminent philosophers assembled. But their admittance of defeat before her prowess rung the death-knell both for them and for her - they were burnt alive while she was imprisoned. In prison she succeeded in converting not only the jailers but also the emperor's wife, Faustina. She was sentenced to death - by being fastened to a spiked wheel. The wheel mysteriously broke apart and she was unscathed. She was later beheaded. She is the patroness of wheelwrights.

The First Proclamation Please read 1 Maccabees 6/1-13 prayerfully.

Prayerful Awareness It speaks of King Antiochus IV who ruled Asia Minor, Syria. He wanted to wipe out Jewish traditions and replace them with Greek culture. 'Gymnasiums' were set up in Israel and the Jews who were for and approved his plans were promoted and the Jews who were against him were punished. He not only entered the Holy of Holies in the temple of Jerusalem but also carried away the gold and silver vessels. He even went to the extremes and erected an altar to pagan gods in the temple. This action divided the Jews into two groups. Some who joined Judas Maccabees fought back and were able to overpower Antiochus' forces. The king died of frustration and

Martyr disappointment. "But then I remembered the wrongs I did in Jerusalem when I took all the silver and gold objects from the temple and tried without any good reason to destroy the inhabitants of Judea.

I know this is why these terrible things have happened to me and I am about to die in deep despair here in this foreign land." (1 Maccabees 6/12-13) The lesson that the wicked will not prosper is clear. The king's death is the punishment for his crimes against Judah - the people of God. Today the whole world is threatened with evil and violence. Can we keep our attention away from it? It has soaked us and we are almost helpless. Hatred reigns supreme.

Division is visible everywhere. The beauty of the world is eclipsed by sin and death. Against this background we have the redeemer in Jesus Christ. It is in and from Him alone we have the good news - "Where death, is your victory?

Where, death is your power to hurt?" (1 Corinthians 15:55) The secret of undying life - yes, we receive it from Christ who died for us and rose again. Let us love life the Almighty has given us of which He is the sole owner. We are citizens of both this and the divine kingdoms.

As citizens of the divine kingdom we have the obligation to help spread His word and to make room for His Will to take root. He never fails to vindicate the trust of His faithful. Believers are persecuted in may countries and undue attention is given to money, power and sex. The future seems to be bleak but the Almighty will win at the end. So let us not get discouraged, lose hope or give up, but hold fast to our beliefs to the best of our abilities. "If you belong to Christ, then you are the descendants of Abraham and will receive what God has promised."

(Galatians 3:25).

Prayer Starter

When we feel discouraged or feel like giving up, be at our side Lord, guide us and give us divine strength to carry on..

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34th Sunday of Ordinary Time Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

Sunday 26th November 2017

Ezekiel:34/11-12,15-17 Psalm:23/1-3, 5-6 1 Corinthians:15/20-

26, 28 Mathew:25/31-46 Introduction Put simply Sotieriology is the study of the doctrine of salvation. As Christians we believe that there will be an end of time. It will be marked by the Second Coming of Our Lord Jesus Christ in His glory as the King of Kings and Lord of all. It is important for us to remember that He paid with His life the price of our salvation. Therefore we can sing the Entrance Antiphon without any reservation.

Entrance Antiphon The Lamb who was slain is worthy to receive strength and divinity, wisdom and power and honour; to Him be glory and power for ever.

The First Proclamation For thus says the Lord God: I myself will look after and tend my sheep.

As a shepherd tends his flock when he finds himself among scattered sheep, so will I tend my sheep. As a shepherd tends his flock when he finds himself among his scattered sheep, so will I tend my sheep. I will rescue them from every place where they were scattered when it was cloudy and dark. I myself will pasture my sheep; I myself will give them rest, says the Lord God. The lost I will seek out, the strayed, I will bring back, the injured I will bind up, the sick I will heal ( but the sleek and the strong I will destroy), shepherding them rightly. As for you, my sheep, says the Lord God, I will judge between one sheep and another,

between rams and goats.

Prayerful Awareness In the world the King is the one who owns you and judges and rules you. The subjects who are ruled have to pay taxes and obey the king in all things. He has the right even over your life. But the Lord God wishes to play the role of King in a different way. It is the way a shepherd treats his sheep. Here it is the shepherd who is ‘ruled’ by the needs of his sheep. He is the servant of his sheep. Let us read the first proclamation again paying attention to the phrase highlighted in bold letters and permit the Holy Spirit to reveal to us the love and concern our Shepherd King and Lord has for each and everyone of us.

The Gospel Proclamation “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, and all the nations will be assembled before him. And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.’ Then the righteous will answer him and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit

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you? And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’

Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, a stranger and you gave me no welcome, naked and you gave me no clothing, ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.’ Then they will answer and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison, and not minister to your needs?’ He will answer them, ‘Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.’ And these will go off to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

Gaze at Jesus It seems that there is an intention in the love and concern that the Lord showers on us during our life. From the foregoing Gospel proclamation it is clear that the Lord wishes His sheep/subjects to treat each other in the same way that He treated them.

Are we aware of the way that the Lord is treating us? Because we are used to always grumbling about what we have not been given rather than what we have. What are the blessings that the Lord our Shepherd has showered on us?

Second Proclamation But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a human being, the resurrection of the dead came also through a human being. For just as in Adam all die, so too in Christ shall all be brought to life, but each one in proper order; Christ the first

fruits; then, at his coming, those who belong to Christ; then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to his God and Father, when he has destroyed every sovereignty and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. When everything is subjected to him, then the Son himself will (also) be subjected to the one who subjected everything to him so that God may be all in all.

Our Sonship Through His death and resurrection we have been delivered from the powers of darkness and transferred us to His kingdom. We have been called to live in the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. The only goal that matters, the only dream that matters is the dream of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ and our participation in this Kingdom. This dream includes the purpose for our lives, the formation of a community of God’s love that makes life meaningful. The community of love includes reverence and respect for the presence of the Lord in our families, in each individual in the family, and in each individual in the world.

Our baptism into the life of Christ was and continues to be a bold statement to the world. Jesus is Lord and King of our lives. We dream His dreams. We share his hopes. We believe that nothing, not even death, can steal the dream of His Kingdom from us.

Jesus has not given up His hope for us.

We cannot give up our participation in His dream.

His dreams are our dreams. His hope is our hope. His present is our future.

Prayer Starter Our Father in heaven, holy be Your Name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven……

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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Monday 27th November 2017 Daniel:1/1-6, 8-20 Song:Daniel:3/52,

53-56 Luke:21/1-4 The First Proclamation Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched on Jerusalem and besieged it. The Lord let Jehoiakim king of Judah fall into his power, as well as some of the vessels belonging to the Temple of God .... From the Israelites, the king ordered Ashpenaz, his chief eunuch, to bring a certain number of boys of royal or noble descent; they had to be without any physical defect, of good appearance, versed in every branch of wisdom, well-informed, discerning, suitable for service at the royal court.....They were to receive an education lasting for three years, after which they would enter the royal service. Among them were the Judaeans Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah .... Daniel, who was determined not to incur pollution by food and wine from the royal table, begged the chief eunuch to spare him this defilement.... The man agreed to do what they asked and put them on ten days' trial. When the ten days were over, they looked better and fatter than any of the boys who had eaten their allowance from the royal table; so the guard withdrew their allowance of food and the wine they were to drink, and gave them vegetables. To these four boys God gave knowledge and skill in every aspect of literature and learning;...The king conversed with them, and among all the boys found none to equal Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. So they became members of the king's court, and on whatever point of wisdom or understanding he might ques-

tion them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and soothsayers in his entire kingdom....

Fix your gaze on Jesus Lord, teach us to stay blessed even as Daniel here did, despite the allure of the 'World' to diffuse our focus from the source of 'All that there Is'....

Our parents 'Adam and Eve' admitted the belief that the power to 'Satisfy Us' and 'Make us feel/experience our Worthiness' rested outside of ourselves.

In the belief that they were 'Not Okay', they searched for their worthiness, their likeness to God, in the eating of the 'Forbidden Fruit'. The Lord's assurances that they were 'Okay', and indeed 'Beloved', and to experience their worthiness in the existing connection were discarded, and the Liar's contention accepted. The beautifully packaged 'Lie', pleasing to the primal senses, thus became our sad truth. We have remained trapped in this lie since, except for a few blessed individuals like Daniel who refused gluttony at the king's table in the understanding that food is basically nutrients for the upkeep of the (temporary) body we're housed in presently. Thus did it become necessary for the Lord Jesus to come and proclaim that the 'Kingdom of God' is very near; was truly within you! And his praising of the poor widow to explain this mind-set in the Gospel today.

Prayer Starter Dearest Lord, thank You for revealing Your Will to us today; we understand that we are created rich; that we are truly beautiful and powerful; that we have the ability to experience Love and be Loving and be in communion despite what the external circumstances may imply. Please help us stay in this truth, put it to practice....

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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

Tuesday 28th November 2017 Daniel: 2/31-45 Psalm: Daniel:3/57-61 Luke: 21/5-11 Gospel Proclamation While some people were speaking about how the temple was adorned with costly stones and votive offerings, Jesus said, "All that you see here–the days will come when there will not be left a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down."

Then they asked him, "Teacher, when will this happen? And what sign will there be when all these things are about to happen?" He answered, "See that you not be deceived, for many will come in my name, saying, 'I am he,' and 'The time has come.' Do not follow them!

When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for such things must happen first, but it will not immediately be the end." Then he said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plagues from place to place; and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky."

Prayerful Awareness There will be a last day for our lives, and also a Judgment Day. People wanted to know when, this day will be, and Lord said that we will see signs to give us an indication - earthquakes, disasters, one country fighting against another, terrorist activities etc. Some of these signs have already come true, which tells us that the end times are near, but how near no one knows. At every pivotal time in history, there are people who claimed to see the end in sight. The coming of the third millen-

nium was no exception, but, they have all been wrong. Jesus tells people to be spiritually ready, but, Take care not to be deceived by the ones who claim to be the returned Lord or know the times of the end. Jesus’ warning is that His followers should not misread the signs or be too alarmed. The attitude of Christians is not to be one of fear and anxiety. It sees the new era as a time of challenge and opportunity to change, a time for new beginnings. If we follow Jesus, we will reach heaven. Our flesh and blood temples cannot save us; we need the Messiah. Living in Him and through Him today will secure our future in the Kingdom of God, even if the Second Coming of Christ does not occur in our lifetimes. Our bodies, which are temples of the Holy Spirit, will die and decay, but our Messiah has come. Staying together with God in these times, we find a faith that nobody can take from us. Life is full of unexpected events and it is important to remind our children of this fact, especially since they live in a world that tries to give the impression that one can plan everything, including the number of children they have (but not how long they live).We should not give up in our endeavors, but give our stresses up to the Lord. Pray. Trust. Ask for peace and guidance. If we always do this, then we should have nothing to fear, even if it is the End of Days.

Prayer Starter Lord Jesus Christ, forgive my sins and intercede for me to receive the Holy Spirit to make me humble like You, be able to love others as You Love me, and Help others as You have taught us.

Help me to follow all commandments and live a pious life like our Holy Mother, and always carry out the Will of God, our Loving Father, Thank You

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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Wednesday 29th November 2017 Daniel:5/1-6,13-14, 16-17, 23-28 Psalm: Daniel:3/62-67 Luke: 21/12-19 The First Proclamation Please read Daniel 5/1-6, 13-14, 16-17, 23-28 meditatively.

Prayerful Awareness In the first proclamation, King Belshazzar demonstrated the extent of his worldly fortune by throwing a banquet for his noblemen, his wives, and his concubines. To add flair to his gathering, he brings out the gold and silver cups that his father, King Nebuchednezzar, had taken from the Holy Temple of Jerusalem. The party drank as they praised gods made of gold, silver, bronze and stone. They are suddenly interrupted by a hand writing on the plaster of the wall, though nobody can understand it. King Belshazzar summoned Daniel, known to be blessed by the spirit of the holy gods and being skilful, knowledgeable, and wise, to decipher the writing.

The inscription contained three words which God used to remind King Belshazzar of how he, and all people will be truly, ultimately judged.

"This is what was written: 'Number, number, weight, divisions.' And this is what it means: number, God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end; weight, you have been weighed on the scales and found to be too light; divisions, your kingdom is divided up and given to the Medes and Persians."

We too try to add weight to our existence by gaining respect or favour with people, perhaps by demonstrating wealth or status. But this kind of ap-

proval is of little consequence. As God reminded King Belshazzar, he reminds us also today: our days on earth are numbered. We too, will be weighed on the day of judgment. The significance that our life has gained in God's eyes will be directly proportionate to the extent we upheld and promoted God's kingdom and values amongst people, even in the face of persecution. When we do all things for the glory of God, our actions are directly inspired and blessed by Him, and thus we bear more fruit. But if we bear no fruit, the little we have been taken, divided, and distributed.

Gospel Proclamation Before all these things take place, however, you will be arrested and persecuted; you will be handed over to be tried in synagogues and be put in prison; you will be brought before kings and rulers for my sake. This will be your chance to tell the Good News.

Make up your minds beforehand not to worry about how you will defend yourselves, because I will give you such words and wisdom that none of your enemies will be able to refute or contradict what you say. You will be handed over by your parents, your brothers, your relatives, and your friends; and some of you will be put to death. Everyone will hate you because of me. But not a single hair from your heads will be lost. Stand firm, and you will save yourselves.

Prayerful Awareness The more we commit our lives to God, from our every thought, word and action, the more we can claim the blessed promises of God that are found throughout the Bible. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Lord will fight for you, you need only to be still" (Exodus 14:14).

"If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8: 31).

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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

Thursday 30th November 2017 Romans: 10/9-18 Psalm:19/1-4 Mathew:4/18-22 Gospel Proclamation As Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen. He said to them, "Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed him. He walked along from there and saw two other brothers, James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets.

He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father and followed him.

Prayerful Awareness Jesus Christ called Peter and Andrew to follow Him, to be taught to be fishers of men in order to guide men to follow the path of Jesus Christ to receive salvation. He then called James and John also to join Him. It was a common practice of the time, for those who wanted religious training, to join a Teacher, a Rabbi. Jesus, however, instead of waiting for followers to come, went in search of them. The first four people Jesus’ called were not scholars and not people pursuing a career in rabbinical or priestly training. They were all ordinary fishermen who expected to spend their lives on the sea.

We look at His teaching, we look at His life, we read the Bible, all what Jesus preached, and ask what would Jesus want me to do? Lord calls us, but said “If any one comes to me with-

St. Andrew, Apostle out hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. Everyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.

(Luke 14:25 – 33 ). In John 8:31 Jesus said to the Jews who believed in Him, “If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples”.

Jesus further said in John 13:34-35 , "I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also love one another.

This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” The Catechism section 1816 defines : The disciple of Christ must not only keep the faith and live on it, but also profess it, confidently bear witness to it, and spread it: "All however must be prepared to confess Christ before men and to follow Him along the way of the Cross, amidst the persecutions which the Church never lacks." Service of and witness to the faith are necessary for salvation: "So every one who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven; but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven."(St. Mathew 10:32-33) Prayer Starter Lord Jesus Christ, forgive all my sins. Help me to repent for all my sins and all sinful acts I have committed and also for all such acts of good deeds I have omitted. Grant me the Holy Spirit to always act and serve others with Your Great Love, the Love You grant me so free. Amen

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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