Walk In the Spirit December 2017

WALK IN THE SPIRIT December 2017 Volume 12 Issue 15

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord"

ISSN 1391-5967

Publication: Fr. Siri Oscar Abayaratne Kithu Dana Pubuduwa

SHARING ON PRAYER December 2017

The desire in my heart is growing to live moment to moment right at the “centre” of the Abba’s Will. I see that the “desire” remains as desire with the passing minutes and hours without a thought to the Abba’s Will being paid attention to.

To make the Abba’s Will my food – my sustenance, has to be unquestionably the work of the Holy Spirit working in me. It is total gift. When and how, I can on my part cultivate the desire and await ‘His Coming’ with greater and greater intensity into my life.

‘Come Lord Jesus’.

Fr. Siri Oscar Abayaratne

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Friday 1st December 2017 Daniel:7/2-14 Psalm:Daniel:3/82-87 Luke:21/29-33

mer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place.

The First Proclamation Heaven and earth will pass away, but I, Daniel, saw in my vision by night my words will not pass away.

Prayerful Awareness the four winds of heaven stirring up the great sea, and four great beasts Jesus spoke in parables. A parable is came up out of the sea, different from a brief story using physical symbols to one another. .... illustrate a spiritual truth. He spoke of As I watched, thrones were set in SUMMER - a time of hope, the warmest place and an Ancient One took his season of the year and gives extra day throne, his clothing as white as snow, light in the evenings. FIG TREE, a fruit and the hair of his head like pure bearing tree, familiar to the people. wool; his throne was fiery flames, and In Jesus' day, the world seemed conits wheels were burning fire. A stream crete, dependable and permanent. These of fire issued and flowed out from days many fear its destruction by nuclear his presence. A thousand thousands war. Jesus tells us, however, that even if served him, and ten thousand times the earth passes away, the TRUTH of ten thousand stood attending him. His WORDS will never be changed or The court sat in judgement, and the abolished. God and His word provide books were opened. I watched then the ONLY stability in our unstable world. because of the noise of the arrogant How short-sighted people are who spend words that the horn was speaking. their TIME accumulating possessions and as I watched, the beast was put to and learning about this temporary world, death, and its body destroyed and giv- while neglecting the BIBLE and its en over to be burned with fire. As for ETERNAL TRUTHS! the rest of the beasts, their dominion The picture of the coming persecuwas taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season and a time. As I tions and natural disasters is GLOOMY, watched in the night visions, I saw one but ultimately it is a cause NOT to WORlike a human being coming with the RY but for great JOY. When believers clouds of heaven. And he came to the see those events happening, they will Ancient One and was presented before know that the return of the MESSIAH him. To him was given dominion and is near, and can look forward to His reign glory and kingship, that all peoples, of JUSTICE and PEACE. nations and languages should serve Jesus is talking here about the ENDhim. His dominion is an everlasting TIMES and future events. But GOD IS dominion that shall not pass away, and IN CONTROL. He will not forget HIS his kingship is one that shall never be PEOPLE. destroyed.

Prayer Starter The Gospel Proclamation Dear Lord, may I commit each day to Then he told them a parable: standing on the unchanging truth of Your "Look at the fig tree and all the trees, Word and to growing in my relationship as soon as they sprout leaves you can with You; the only measure of success in see for yourselves and know that sum- this life and in eternity.

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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Saturday 2nd December 2017 Daniel:7/15-27 Psalm: Daniel:3/82-87 Luke: 21/34-36 Introduction Let us meditatively dwell on todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Proclamations which are in respect of prophesies regarding the end times.

First Proclamation 'I, Daniel, was deeply disturbed and the visions that passed through my head alarmed me. So I approached one of those who were standing by and asked him about all this. And in reply he revealed to me what these things meant. .... Then I asked about the fourth beast, different from all the rest, -- This was the horn I had watched making war on the holy ones and proving the stronger, until the coming of the One most venerable who gave judgement in favour of the holy ones of the Most High, when the time came for the holy ones to assume kingship.

This is what he said: "The fourth beast is to be a fourth kingdom on earth, different from all other kingdoms. It will devour the whole world, trample it underfoot and crush it. As for the ten horns: from this kingdom will rise ten kings, and another after them; this one will be different from the previous ones and will bring down three kings; he will insult the Most High, and torment the holy ones of the Most High. .... But the court will sit, and he will be stripped of his royal authority which will be finally destroyed and reduced to nothing. And kingship and rule and the splendours of all the kingdoms under heaven will be given to the people of the holy ones of the Most High, whose royal power is an eternal power, whom every empire

will serve and obey."

Gospel Proclamation 'Watch yourselves, or your hearts will be coarsened by debauchery and drunkenness and the cares of life, and that day will come upon you unexpectedly, like a trap. For it will come down on all those living on the face of the earth. Stay awake, praying at all times for the strength to survive all that is going to happen, and to hold your ground before the Son of man.'

Prayerful Awareness In the First Proclamation, the prophet Daniel describes a vision he had of the end times, which paints a picture of a horrible time on earth, which if not cut short would not see anyone survive.

Hence the revelation tells us that a seven year period is hence halved to three and a half years. But notice the vision culminates in glorious victory for good over evil, when the Lord wrests total control.

In the Gospel Proclamation the Lord extols the faithful to stay awake and pray at all times for strength to survive, till victory is wrought by the Lord and the faithful servants rewarded!

Song of Praise (Psalm: Daniel 3/8287) Bless the Lord, all the human race: praise and glorify him for ever!

Bless the Lord, O Israel, praise and glorify him for ever!

Bless the Lord, priests, praise and glorify him for ever!

Bless the Lord, his servants, praise and glorify him for ever!

Bless the Lord, spirits and souls of the upright, praise and glorify him for ever!

Bless the Lord, faithful, humble-hearted people, praise and glorify him for ever!

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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Sunday 3rd December 2017 Isaiah:63/16-17, 19 Psalm:80/2-3. 15-16, 18-19 1 Corinthians:1/3-9 Mark: 13/33-37

The First Proclamation For you are our father, though Abraham does not know us and Israel does not acknowledge us, you, O Lord, are our father, our Redeemer from of old is your name.

Why, O Lord, do you make us stray from your ways and harden our heart, so that we do not fear you?

We have long been like those whom you do not rule, like those not called by your name.

The Second Proclamation Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind - just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you - so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

First Sunday in Advent Ps Week I

The Gospel Proclamation Beware, keep alert, for you do not know when the time will come.

It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. Therefore, keep awake - for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake."

Prayerful Awareness The Gospel of Mark will dominate the Liturgy of the Word throughout Year B. One might expect the first Sunday of the liturgical year to be highlighted by the beginnings of the Gospel. But, given the unique character of the period of Advent, this is impossible. We begin our reading of the Gospel of Mark, not at the beginning but rather near the end.

In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus' ministry closes quite solemnly. He enters Jerusalem and brings the cultic life of the Temple to a close (Mark 11; He enters into debate with the traditional religious authorities of Israel (Mark 12), and finally, looking down upon the city of Jerusalem from the vantage point of the Mount of Olives, He speaks of the future destruction of Jerusalem, and the end of the world.

(Mark 13).

Toadyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Gospel is taken from the remarks of Jesus, directed to His disciples, which close His sermon on the

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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end of Jerusalem and the end of the world. As Jesus is about to leave his disciples, through the obedient gift of Himself on the Cross, He tells them of the need to take their present role in the world and society seriously.

In close association with His own departure, Jesus speaks of a man travelling broad (13:34). He leaves servants in charge of the situation at home, and he tells the doorkeeper to stay awake. Even though the master of the house may be away, there will come a time when he will return.

Those who have been given the responsibility to care for the household of the master do not know when he will return (vs.15), but they are assured that in his own time and in his own way, 'the master of the house is coming'. He expects to find his house in good order, and his representatives attentive to their mission when he does (vs.37). Constant wakefulness is called for.

This brief allegory on a master who departs, only to come back in some undetermined future sets the Advent atmosphere perfectly. Advent is that time of the year when we are waiting expectantly for the coming of Jesus at Christmas. Yet, while we wait for His coming, we are aware that Jesus has already been among us in His life, death and resurrection.

Not only do we 'know' of Jesus' presence among us; we celebrate it.

We break open His Word and His body, we already share in the cup of His Blood. The faith that gathers us around His altar is ours because He has already come. Advent is the

liturgical period when we look forward to Christmas, recognising that He is among us because of Christmas, but that He will come again.

Gaze at Jesus We are the servants and the doorkeeper. The master is not too far away.

He has been among us, and his presence lives on in the challenge of the Gospel, handed down to his servants.

He will soon be back again, hoping to find his household in good order. We do not know when this return might be, but we should joyfully accept our privileged role in God's household.

Preparing for the coming of Jesus at Christmas we are urged by the Gospel to stay awake, to be always ready for the coming of our Lord and God. What we celebrate liturgically in Advent should be the mark of our Christian lives at all times.

Prayer Starter Stir up your might, and come to save us!

Restore us, O God, let your face shine, that we may be saved. the stock that your right hand planted.

They have burned it with fire, they have cut it down; may they perish at the rebuke of your countenance.

Then we will never turn back from you; give us life, and we will call on your name.

Restore us, O Lord God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved.

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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Monday 4th December 2017 Isaiah:2/1-5 Psalm: 122/1-9 Mathew:8/5-11 St. John Damascene His father was a fervent Christian who held the important post of grand vizier (Chief Financial Officer) under the rulers of Damascus. His education was entrusted to Cosumos, a devout and erudite Sicilian. Although he was appointed chief counselor of the city of Damascus he soon resigned from his post. Later he became a monk with Cosmos. He taught in the monastery, preached in Jerusalem and counseled various bishops in matters of faith and doctrine. He is best known for his great oratorical skills and his important theological writings. His "Fountain of Wisdom" is perhaps the earliest "Summa Theologica". He spearheaded the drive to preserve the faith in its purity.

He is the prince of Greek hymn-writers.

He did for musical notation in the East what St. Gregory did for it in the West.

Proclaimed Doctor of the Church by Pope Leo X in 1890.

The Gospel Proclamation When he entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, appealing to him and saying, "Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, in terrible distress." And he said to him, "I will come and cure him." The centurion answered, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only speak the word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me, and I say to one, 'Go' and he goes, and to another, 'come' and he comes; and to my slave, 'Do this,' and the slave does it. When Jesus heard him, he was amazed and said to those who followed him, "Truly I tell you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith.

I tell you, many will come from east and west and will eat with Abraham

Feast of St.Damascene, Confessor, Father & Doctor of the Church and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, Prayerful Awareness A centurion in the Roman army was in charge of 100 soldiers. The centurion in focus was naturally loyal to the emperor. But he was a different one. He went to the extent of building a synagogue for the locals. There were other centurions - the one who recognized Jesus on the cross as the Son of God; the centurion who suddenly discovered that Paul was a Roman citizen and helped him. The centurion who came to Jesus was an extraordinary man for he really loved and cared for his slave. Jesus saw his genuineness, gentleness and love for his servant. The fact that he was gentle did not matter to Jesus. In the case of the Canaanite woman, what He saw was her deep faith and He reacted positively. (Matthew 15:21-26). The colour of the skin, social status, wealth and education - yes, Jesus looked beyond these. To Him every one was either a son or a daughter of the Father. It is this outlook that came to the fore. He saw through his request - deep rooted faith. This faith was backed by his life experience in the army. He knew very well what it was to give a command and to have it carried out unquestioningly and to the full. He had no doubt about the Lordship of Our Lord, so his request "Just give the order and my servant will get well." (Mth. 8:8) "Whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you receive it, and you will." Such is the power of prayer and of faith that does not doubt, "all things are possible to him who believes". Jesus is saddened by the "lack of faith" of His own neighbours and the "little faith" of His own disciples as He is struck with admiration at the great faith of the Roman Centurion and the Canaanite woman."

(C.C.C. 22610).

Prayer Starter Equip us with the faith the Centurion had. Amen.

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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

Tuesday 5th December 2017 Isaiah:11/1-10 Psalm:72/1,7-8,12-13, 17 Luke:10/21-24 The First Proclamation A shoot will spring from the stock of Jesse, ... On him will rest the spirit of Yahweh, the spirit of wisdom and insight, the spirit of counsel and power, the spirit of knowledge and fear of Yahweh: his inspiration will lie in fearing Yahweh. .... He will judge the weak with integrity and give fair sentence for the humblest in the land....

Uprightness will be the belt around his waist, and constancy the belt about his hips. ..... No hurt, no harm will be done on all my holy mountain, for the country will be full of knowledge of Yahweh as the waters cover the sea....

The Gospel Proclamation “filled with joy by the Holy Spirit, he said, 'I bless you, Father, Lord of heaven and of earth, for hiding these things from the learned and the clever and revealing them to little children...'

Then turning to his disciples he spoke to them by themselves, 'Blessed are the eyes that see what you see, for I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see, and never saw it; to hear what you hear, and never heard it.'

Fix your gaze on Jesus Dearest Lord, Your Will is good for us; let us now come to know it and rejoice therein....

The house of David was brought very low at the time of Christ’s birth.

The Messiah thus gave early notice that his kingdom was not of this world.

But the Holy Spirit, in all his gifts and graces, shall rest and abide upon him; he shall have the fullness of the Godhead dwelling within. The influences of the

Holy Spirit is here clearly taught. The Messiah would be just and righteous in all his government. His threatening shall be executed by the working of his Spirit according to his word. There shall be great peace and quiet under his government. The gospel changes the nature of sentience, and makes those who trampled on the meek of the earth, meek like them, and kind to them. Despite the reality/necessity of a food chain, if the physiological requirements are evolved, the predatory instincts resulting there-from shall evolve too! We humans know that learned behavior patterns could be changed in time periods even shorter than a single generation; what of the multi-generational / millennium spanning episodes the Gospel relates to!

Also Christ, the great Shepherd, shall take care of his flock, that the nature of troubles, and of death itself, shall be so changed, that they shall not do any real hurt. God’s people shall be delivered, not only from evil, but from the fear of it. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? The better we know the God of love, the more shall we be changed into the same likeness, and the better disposed to all who have any likeness to him. All our victories over Satan/Error, are obtained by power derived from Jesus Christ/Truth, and He must have all the praise. In the Gospel today, our Lord rejoiced at the prospect of the salvation of many souls. The more we rely on the teaching, help, and blessing of the Son of God, the more we shall know both of the Father and of the Son; the more blessed we shall be in seeing the glory, and hearing the words of the Divine Saviour; and the more useful we shall be made in promoting His kingdom.

Prayer Starter Reveal your Will to reign in our hearts and minds Lord, that our joy is made complete...

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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Wednesday 6th December 2017 Isaiah:25/6-10 Psalm:23/1-6, Mathew:15/29-37 Psalm 23/1-6 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name's sake.

Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil, for you are with me, your rod and your staff - they comfort me. .....

The Gospel Proclamation After Jesus had left that place, he passed along the Sea of Galilee, and he went up the mountain,....

Great crowds came to him, bringing with them the lame, the maimed, the blind, the mute, and many others. ...

Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, "I have compassion for the crowd,... and I do not want to send them away hungry, for they might faint on the way." The disciples said to him, "Where are we to get enough bread in the desert to feed so great a crowd?" Jesus asked them, "How many loaves have you?" They said, "Seven, and a few small fish." Then ordering the crowd to sit down on the ground, he took the seven loaves and the fish, and after giving thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And all of them ate and were filled, and they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full.

Prayerful Awareness In Psalm 23 which is composed by King David - he refers to God as "His Good Shepherd". Before King David reigned as a King of Israel, he was a shepherd himself, looking after his

father's flocks of sheep. He was very fond of his sheep and looked after them lovingly. He never kept them hungry or thirsty, for he took them to lands filled with grass and places where there were pools filled with still water.

In the same way King David felt God too was a good shepherd to him, seeing to his spiritual needs and even to his physical needs, for David says God took him along paths of righteousness.

King David says that at times he had to face dark situations, such as even death by the threats that came his way from wild animals and even from his superior King Saul and in later life from neighouring kings who waged wars with him.

But God was always on his side, protecting him from all the dangers that came his way. Hence David always trusted God as his master and guardian and so he feared no one.

Apart from this, God saw that David was filled with all the good things in life .

Further God was also very kind to David forgiving all his iniquities. Hence David says that God looked after him very tenderly and had a very soft corner for him.

When we look back at our lives we too can feel like King David - how God looks after us as a good Shepherd protecting us from all evils, looking after our physical and spiritual needs, forgiving us of our sins and giving us a hope that we shall dwell in the presence of God for ever. God is a Saviour, a Redeemer, a Comforter and gives happiness to us.

Prayer Starter "I never walk alone, Christ walks behind me.

With such a friend to comfort and to guide me I never, no, I never walk alone."

Ackley

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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Thursday 7th December 2017 Isaiah: 26/1-6 Psalm:118/1,8-9,19-21 25-27 Mathew:7/21, 24-27 Gospel Proclamation “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.

Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name? Did we not drive out demons in your name? Did we not do mighty deeds in your name.' Then I will declare to them solemnly, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.' (The Two Foundations) “ Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock. And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined.”

Prayerful Awareness The Will of God. God created the universe and created man to God’s own image (Genesis 1:27 ) to share His Love, in order to bring Him Glory (Isaiah 43:7), for man to live with God’s qualities and finally inherit His kingdom (Romans 1:20 ). But, man went away from God, and God had to find a way to bring man back to Him as children of God through prophets, His Servants and Agents and finally

St. Ambrose

through His own beloved Son, our Saviour and Lord, Jesus Christ by paying for our sins and showing us the path for salvation. Jesus Christ interceded for all who accepted Him and followed His Teachings to receive the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth (the Third Person of the Holy Trinity) to be with us always (John 14: 15-17) to empower and help us to continue to live as faithful followers up to the end times. Holy Spirit lead us to all Truth (John 16:13) and make us know how great God’s Love is and the Love of Lord Jesus Christ and help us to accept this Love granted so freely and also to share with others. Holy Spirit will always lead us (Rom. 8:14-15 ) to live as Children of God, to cry to God as “Father”, because of our connection to Jesus Christ as followers and disciples.

Father who loves and cares for all of us will lead us by the Holy Spirit to do the Will of God and finally receive salvation to enter the kingdom of God (John 3:3-8) . We should pray to the Holy Spirit our Helper, and ask and allow the Holy Spirit to guide us always to do the Will of God. In Baptism we received the Holy Spirit to make us all sons and daughters of God and in Confirmation, we have agreed to complete the above with a special strength from the Holy Spirit to be true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and defend the Faith by word and deed.

Prayer Starter Come Holy Spirit I need Thee, Come Holy Spirit I pray. Holy Spirit help me to do the Will of God always, Breath in me that my thoughts may all be holy, Act in me that my words may be holy, Draw my heart Holy Spirit that I love what is holy and strengthen me to defend what is holy. Amen

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Immaculate Conception of the Friday 8th December 2017

Bl. Virgin Mary are expressed in Mother Mary, His ChoGenesis:3/9-15,20 sen One. This is to redeem mankind from Psalm:98/1-4 the bondage of sin and to enable them Ephesians:1/3-6,11-12 to win everlasting happiness in heaven.

Luke:1/26-38 During this season of Advent let us

raise our hearts in praise towards God Almighty for what He has done for manIn the sixth month the angel kind. The fulfilment of what Angel GaGabriel was sent by God to a town in briel said changed the course of history.

Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin Never has there been a greater gift than engaged to a man whose name was the gift God gave us that Christ morning.

Joseph, of the house of David. The The birth of Jesus in Bethlehem is God's virgin's name was Mary. And he came gift of reassurance and hope. to her and said, "Greetings, favored At the annunciation the angel said one! The Lord is with you." But she "Rejoice full of grace the Lord is with was much perplexed by his words you." This greeting would have disand pondered what sort of greeting turbed her but the Holy Spirit strengththis might be. The angel said to her, ened her to understand that God has "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have chosen her to be the mother of God. found favor with God. And now you Also, at that moment the word of prophwill conceive in your womb and bear esy about a virgin giving birth to a son a son, and you will name him Jesus. who will be named Emmanuel (God is He will be great, and will be called with us) would have come to her mind the Son of the Most High, and the and she would have wondered whether Lord God will give to him the throne the words of the angel addressed to her of his ancestor David. He will reign referred to this word of prophecy. This over the house of Jacob forever, and prophecy was fulfilled when Mary gave of his kingdom there will be no end." birth to Jesus Christ.

Mary said to the angel, "How can this Prayer Starter be, since I am a virgin?" The angel O sing to the Lord a new song, said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most for he has done marvelous things.

High will overshadow you, therefore His right hand and his holy arm have the child to be born will be holy, he gotten him victory. The Lord has made will be called Son of God. And now known his victory; he has revealed his your relative Elizabeth in her old age vindication in the sight of the nations. has also conceived a son, and this is He has remembered his steadfast love the sixth month for her who was said and faithfulness to the house of Israel. to be barren. For nothing will be All the ends of the earth have seen the impossible with God." Then Mary victory of our God. said, "Here am I, the servant of the Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all Lord, let it be with me according to the earth, break forth into joyous song your word." Then the angel departed and sing praises, Sing praises to the from her.

Lord with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody. With trumpets and the Prayerful Awareness sound of horn make a joyful noise before God's love for mankind is immense the King, the Lord. (Ps: 98/1-6...) and boundless, that His Will and Plan The Gospel Proclamation

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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

Saturday 9th December 2017 Isaiah:30/19-21,23-26 Psalm:147/1-6 Matthew:9/35-10/1,6-8 First Proclamation Yes, people of Zion living in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. He will be gracious to you when your cry for help rings out; as soon as he hears it, he will answer you. When the Lord has given you the bread of suffering and the water of distress, he who is your teacher will hide no longer, and you will see your teacher with your own eyes. Your ears will hear these words behind you, 'This is the way, keep to it,' whether you turn to right or left.

He will send rain for the seed you sow in the ground, and the bread that the ground provides will be rich and nourishing. That day, your cattle will graze in wide pastures. Oxen and donkeys that work the land will eat for fodder wild sorrel, spread by the shovel-load and fork-load. On every lofty mountain, on every high hill there will be streams and water-courses, on the day of the great slaughter when the strongholds fall. Then moonlight will be bright as sunlight and sunlight itself be seven times brighter -Song of Praise (Psalm 147/1-6) Alleluia! Praise Yahweh -- it is good to sing psalms to our God -- how pleasant to praise him. Yahweh, Builder of Jerusalem! He gathers together the exiles of Israel, healing the broken-hearted and binding up their wounds; he counts out the number of the stars, and gives each one of them a name. Our Lord is great, all-powerful, his wisdom beyond all telling. Yahweh sustains the poor, and humbles the wicked to the ground.

Prayerful Awareness Today’s First Proclamation and the

St. John Diago Psalm contains prophesies regarding a time of joy, peace, and prosperity for the people of Israel (descendants of Abraham, Father of faith, whereby we gentiles too become heirs through faith) and Jerusalem, which is to come after the terrible time of the end times culminating at the Second Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in glory and power, whereby He will establish God’s Kingdom forever.

The prophesies predicted the advent of our Lord Jesus Christ on the earth (Emmanuel, God with us!), His willing sacrifice of His life on the cross to pave the way for mankind’s redemption, and His victory over the Devil, and death, through His death & glorious Resurrection, whereby parts of what was foretold had been realized at His First Coming, but the total fulfilment is yet to come at His Second Coming.

Let us now meditate on how our Lord set about laying the foundation for the establishment of God’s Kingdom on earth at His First Coming, and ask the Lord to guide us as to how we could honour our baptismal calling to do likewise, to the ends of the earth!

Gospel Proclamation Jesus made a tour through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing all kinds of disease and all kinds of illness. And when he saw the crowds he felt sorry for them .... Then he said ....'The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers to his harvest.'.

He summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits with power to drive them out and to cure all kinds of disease and all kinds of illness….Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those suffering from virulent skin-diseases, drive out devils. You received without charge, give without charge.

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Sunday 10th December 2017

Isaiah:40/1-5,9-11 Psalm:85/9-13 2 Peter:3/8-14 Mark:1/1-8

The First Proclamation Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid, that she has received from the Lord's hand double for all her sins.

A voice cries out; "In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain.

Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken."

Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good tidings, lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings, lift it up, do not fear, say to the cities of Judah, "Here is your God!" See, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for him, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. He will feed his flock like a shepherd, he will gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead the mother sheep.

The Second Proclamation But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some

Second Sunday of Advent

Ps Week II think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and everything that is done on it will be disclosed.

Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, what sort of persons ought you to be in leading lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set ablaze and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire? But, in accordance with his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home.

Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be found by him at peace, without spot or blemish.

The Gospel Proclamation

The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, "See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way, the voice of one crying out in the wilderness; 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.'"

John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, "The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me, I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thongs of his sandals. I have baptized you with

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water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.

Prayerful Awareness The Gospel of Mark opens with a solemn profession: this books is good news. Jesus of Nazareth, whose birth we are about to celebrate, is the Son of God and the Messiah (Mark 1:1). This is a strange way to begin a book. The reader is told all the secrets about the identity of the hero, Jesus of Nazareth, in the very first line.

Although the hero is announced solemnly, he plays no immediate role in the action. Two witnesses to the one who is to come are the first to appear; God who speaks His word through the prophet Isaiah, and John the Baptist. The first of the witnesses is the Word of God in the prophecy taken from Isaiah (see Isaiah 40:3). The story-teller introduces the prophet's words solemnly: 'It is written' (vs. 2). It is God who announces Jesus by promising, through the words of His prophet, that a messenger will be sent forth to prepare the way for someone addressed by God as 'you': 'He will prepare a way for you' (vs. 2). God tells 'someone' that a messenger will cry out in the wilderness. The prophecy changes to the third person. The 'you' who is to come is finally described as 'the Lord'.

The messenger is told: 'prepare a way for the Lord' (vs. 3).

The next witness to be introduced is the Baptist (vv. 4-6). He is the one who will fulfil the promise of the Word of God. However, before he begins to act out his part in the fulfilment of God's prophecy, the Baptist is described. He comes as a holy man, a God-filled ascetic, and possibly as the second Elijah (v.6), announcing 'the more powerful one' (v.7). In the Old Testament, it was God who was called 'the Powerful One'.

The Baptist announces that the one who is to come is 'the more Powerful One'.

He will take over a role of God, giving the Holy Spirit in a new baptism, unlike the simple baptism of repentance of John the Baptist (v. 8). Little wonder John

regards himself as even unworthy to be the humblest of servants to the One who is to come. (v.7).

In these few verses the good news has been announced. We have been told that Jesus of Nazareth is the Son of God, the Christ. The Word of God has announced that He is the Lord, and the Baptist points towards Him as 'the more Powerful One' and the One who will baptise with the Holy Spirit. Many things are being said about Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God, the Christ, which previously had only ever been said of God. This Man will be the Son of God. Gaze at Jesus It is with eager expectation that we await the coming of this remarkable gift of God: His Son. Advent is a time when the Church asks us to live that eager expectation. We have now been given a great deal of information about 'who' Jesus is. We must now read His story to discover 'how' Jesus is the Son of God. We are being led into that story through the reliable witness of the Word of God and the Baptist. There are many surprises ahead of us.

The wonder of the story of Jesus, however, will always need reliable witnesses. While we celebrate our expectant waiting for the coming of the Saviour, we are asked to accept the witness to His first coming as a reminder that His second coming still needs the reliable witness of our lives. We too, in our own time, must be reliable witnesses to Jesus, Son of God, Messiah, the Lord, the stronger one, the one who has baptised us in the Holy Spirit.

Prayer Starter Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land.

Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will kiss each other.

Faithfulness will spring up from the ground, and righteousness will look down from the sky..... (Ps.85/9-13)

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Monday 11th December 2017 Isaiah:35/1-10 Psalm: 85/8-13 Luke:5/17-26 St. Damasus He was born in Rome of Spanish parents. He was elected Pope on 1st October 366 to succeed St. Liberius under whom he had served as a deacon. A violent faction set up Ursucinus as anti-pope continued to disturb the peace of the Church for more than 12 years. Damasus was, according to St. Jerome, "an incomparable man", "a Virgin Doctor of a Virgin Church". The first Pope to call the See of Rome, the 'Apostolic See' Damasus emphasized in no uncertain terms at the Roman Council of 382, that the ecclesiastical supremacy of Rome was based not on the decree of any council but on the very words of Christ Himself. It was Damasus who encouraged St. Jerome to prepare the Vulgate version of the Bible.

We owe much of our knowledge about the early martyrs to the numerous marble inscriptions which he composed and are still extant. He introduced the use of Latin for the Roman Mass. Died: 11th December 384.

The Gospel Proclamation .... Just then some men came, carrying a paralyzed man on a bed. ... but finding no way .... they went up on the roof and let him down .... in front of Jesus. When he saw their faith, he said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven you." Then the scribes and the Pharisees ...., "Who is this who is speaking blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?" ...."Why do you raise such questions in your hearts? Which is easier to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Stand up and walk'| But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins" - .... - "I say to you, stand up and take your bed and go

Feast of St.Damasus I, Pope & Confessor to your home." Immediately he stood up before them, took what he had been lying on, and went to his home, glorifying God. ....

Prayerful Awareness It is important to remember that in Palestine they believed that sin and suffering were connected - suffering was he consequence of sin. So we see Jesus beginning by telling the man that his sins were forgiven ,without which he would never believe that he could be cured.

Jesus acted on their own arguments and assumptions - the man was ill because he had sinned. The cure then, was proof enough that his sins were forgiven.

"When Jesus saw how much faith they had," (Math. 5:20) - the man was saved, cured by the faith of his friends. That faith was so strong that they were not discouraged by the heart-wrenching incidents they had to face. "In their minds, He was guilty of blasphemy because He claimed the power of God. Concerning His authority to forgive sins, He gave them sensible evidence that His claim was not fictitious. Though they could not deny what they had seen, they did not acknowledge His power. Faith in Christ was increasing among the people of every village of Galilee and Judea and in Jerusalem, but decreasing among these Pharisees, Scribes and Doctors of the Law. Miracles are not necessarily a cure for unbelief. If the will is perverse, all the evidence in the world would not convince, not even a Resurrection from the dead." (Archbishop F.J.Sheen) Gifts and blessings of God are not always material things. Of these the greatest is the liberation from sin. His wonder-packed words are in the heart of man. It is noteworthy to see that the man who was borne on a bed, went back carrying the same.

Prayer Starter Help us to live upright on our feet and walk as true sons of God. Amen.

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

Tuesday 12th December 2017 Isaiah:40/1-11 Psalm:96/1-3,10-13 Mathew:18/12-14

The First Proclamation 'Console my people, console them,' says your God. 'Speak to the heart of Jerusalem and cry to her that her period of service is ended, that her guilt has been atoned for, that, from the hand of Yahweh, she has received double punishment for all her sins.' A voice cries, 'Prepare in the desert a way for Yahweh. Make a straight highway for our God across the wastelands.

Let every valley be filled in, every mountain and hill be levelled, every cliff become a plateau, every escarpment a plain; then the glory of Yahweh will be revealed and all humanity will see it together... Go up on a high mountain, messenger of Zion. Shout as loud as you can, messenger of Jerusalem! Shout fearlessly, say to the towns of Judah, 'Here is your God.' Here is Lord Yahweh coming with power, his arm maintains his authority, his reward is with him and his prize precedes him. He is like a shepherd feeding his flock, gathering lambs in his arms, holding them against his breast and leading to their rest the mother ewes.

Fix your gaze on Jesus Thank You O Lord, for Your desire, Your Will becomes clearer by the minute....

Sentience (self-awareness) has an inclination to feel separated; and to that extent, perceives a feeling of

existential anxiety-like, ‘something over there is out to get me’! Thus, all of human life becomes a warfare; and Christian life is more so, since we choose to face our dread in the hope that the struggle will not last always. Instead of responding with aggression, denials and escapism, we hold the tension. The troubles / anxieties are removed in love; when sin is pardoned and the error eliminated/ erased. What is this sin/error? It is the foundational belief and thereby the experience of separation. We’re never ever alone or separated; how can we ever be separated from the creation?

It is but a creation within our own minds. And, in embracing the great atonement of the death of Christ, the mercy of God is experienced, and we are free to rejoice in the glory of his justice. In Christ, and his sufferings, true penitents receive of the Lord’s hand double for all their sins. Listen to the Loving Lord, ‘How think ye? If a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. Even so it is not the Will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish’.

Prayer Starter May the Lord prepare our hearts by the teaching of His word and the convictions of His Spirit, that we may be ready for His Will on earth, His heavenly kingdom.

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Wednesday 13th December 2017 Isaiah:40/25-31 Psalm:103/1-4, 8 10 Mathew:11/28-30 The Bible, inspired by the Holy Spirit, is written by humans who are unequivocally influenced by their belief systems and culture, but it can nevertheless reveal some profound truths about God. For example, the author wrote in Genesis 1: 26 “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness.”

This was written thousands of years before we knew about the Holy Spirit and before the Trinitarian God was officially accepted in 381 AD. Another profound truth written by an author in Genesis Chapter 1:3; “God said, “Let there be light”. However, it was much later in verse 16 when the author of the Creation Story talks about the creation of the sun and the moon. So, what is this first light that the author was inspired to mention? We now know from science, that the universe began with the Big Bang, and by no doubt produced an immensely powerful light that is still detected today, billions of years later.

Creation, is God the spirit, deciding to be manifest materially. It is for this reason that some people say that the first Bible is in fact creation.

The First Proclamation To whom then will you compare me; or who is my equal? says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high and see; Who created these? he who brings out their host and numbers them, calming them all by name, because he is great in strength, mighty in power, not one is missing.

Why do you say, O Jacob, and spoke, O Israel. "My way is hidden from the Lord and my right is disre-

garded by my God"? Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary, his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint and strengthens the powerless. Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted, but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary they shall walk and not faint.

Prayerful Awareness In today’s first reading in Isaiah 40: 25-31 the author is posing the question, as if the Lord Himself is asking, “To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?”. The author then continues by seeing God through His creation; the stars, the sky, an eagle, the weak, the weary, and young men. So, what can we learn from reading the first Bible?

Creation is infinite, always creating something new, vast, unknowable, magnificent, resurrecting, all-encompassing, awe inspiring. Creation is also not “perfect” from the eyes of the world. There is imperfection, death, unpredictability, danger, darkness.

Our universe began with an explosion of light, and interestingly light is also the only constant in our universe.

The speed of light is not effected by anything. Another scientific discovery is that even in darkness, there are photons of light. In John 8:12 Jesus says "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

Prayer Starter Holy Spirit, teach me to read the first Bible, creation, so that I may learn more about this unknowable God.

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

Thursday 14th December 2017 Isaiah:41/3-20 Psalm:145/1, 9-13 Mathew:11/11-15 The First Proclamation He pursues them and passes on safely, scarcely touching the path with his feet. Who has performed and done this, calling the generations from the beginning? I, the Lord, am first, and will be with the last. The coastlands have seen and are afraid, the ends of the earth tremble, they have drawn near and come. Each one helps the other, saying to one another, "Take courage!" The artisan encourages the goldsmith, and the one who smooths with the hammer encourages the one who strikes the anvil, saying of the soldering, "It is good"; and they fasten it with nails so that it cannot be moved. But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, the offspring of Abraham, my friend; you whom I took from the ends of the earth, and called from its farthest corners, saying to you, "You are my servant, I have chosen you and not cast you off"; I do not fear, for I am with you, do not be afraid, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand .....

The Gospel Proclamation Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered

St. John of the Cross violence, and the violent take it by force. For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John came, and if you are willing to accept it; he is Elijah who is to come. Let anyone with ears listen!

Prayerful Awareness John remained faithful to his calling. This wild-looking man had no power or position in the Jewish political system, but he spoke with almost IRRESISTIBLE authority. People were moved by his words because he spoke the TRUTH, challenging them to turn from their sins. His MAIN ROLE was to announce the coming of the SAVIOUR. John the Baptist was UNIQUE. He wore odd clothes and ate strange food and preached an UNUSUAL MESSAGE. No man ever fulfilled his God-given purpose better than John. YET, in God's coming KINGDOM all members will have a GREATER SPIRITUAL heritage than John, because they will have SEEN and KNOWN Christ and His finished work on the CROSS. They have clearer knowledge of the purpose of Jesus' death and resurrection. Entering God's Kingdom takes COURAGE, UNWAVERING FAITH, DETERMINATION and ENDURANCE because of the growing opposition leveled at Jesus' followers.

Then and now John was NOT a resurrected Elijah, but he took on Elijah's prophetic role - BOLDLY confronting SIN and pointing people to God. Prayer Starter Father in heaven, thank You for Your written Word and the examples of people who lived by faith. Help us to follow You as they did.

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Friday 15th December 2017

Isaiah:48/17-19 Psalm:1/1-4, 6 Mathew: 11/16-19 The First Proclamation Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I am the Lord your God, who teaches you for your own good, who leads you in the way you should go.

O that you had paid attention to my commandments! Then your prosperity would have been like a river, and your success like the waves of the sea; your offspring would have been like the sand and you descendant like its grains, their name would never be cut off or destroyed from before me.

Psalm: 1/1-4, 6 Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path that sinners tread, or sit in the seat of scoffers; but their delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law they meditate day and night. They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper.

The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. for the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

The Gospel Proclamation But to what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to one another, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we wailed, and you did not mourn.’ For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon’; the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors

and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.”

Prayerful Awareness Let us go in to meditative prayer with the above proclamations.

The central theme in today’s proclamations is the blessings that will accrue to those who listen to the Word of God and follow the guidance that emanates from it and obey it.

But today’s Gospel Proclamation describes the true situation we are in.

Rather than following the good advice contained in God’s Word, we act according to our own whims and fancies, driven by the triple forces of our flesh, the world, and the devil, the arch deceiver, and fall into misery, ill health, and are facing the prospect of eternal death/hell. We live as though we will live forever, always grasping, and gasping for more, but in reality we are turning away from the prospect of eternal life, joy, and salvation which our Lord offers us in His mercy!

Also Jesus’ words tell us that people who do not want to obey will always find ways and means of belittling the message by finding fault with the messenger, saying he/she is this, or that. In this manner we would rationalize our indifference to the message, because giving credence to the teaching would entail action that is contrary to our way of life/liking, and we would have to change. Because Jesus says, “Come, follow me!” or “take up your cross daily and follow me!” which is hard for us to do. To enable us to follow Him, we need the strength and guidance of the Holy Spirit, Come! Holy Spirit! I need You! Prayer Starter Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path that sinners tread, or sit in the seat of scoffers; but their delight is in the law of the Lord and on his law they meditate day and night.

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

Saturday 16th December 2017 Sirach: 48/1-4,9-11 Psalm:80/1-2,14-15, 17-18 Mathew:17/10-13 The First Proclamation Then there arose, a prophet like fire, and his word burned like a torch.

He brought a famine upon them, and by his zeal he made them few in number. By the word of the Lord he shut up the heavens, and as three times brought down fire. ....

The Gospel Proclamation Then the disciples asked Jesus, “Why do the teachers of the Law say that Elijah has to come first?”“Elijah is indeed coming first,” answered Jesus, “and he will get everything ready.

But I tell you that Elijah has already come and people did not recognize him, but treated him just as they pleased. In the same way they will also ill-treat the Son of Man.” Prayerful Awareness God appointed Elijah this man of the desert to go before kings, bringing the message of warning and repentance.

He was a human being just like any of us—a man of similar hopes and dreams, weaknesses and shortcomings, but also a man of deep faith in God. He spoke to God's chosen who had ignored God to repent for their sins and turn to God. Gospel Proclamation - the disciples who witnessed the transfiguration asks Jesus why the teachers of the Law say that Elijah has to come first? Jesus says that Elijah truly shall first come, and restore, or regulate, all things — Jesus not only acknowledged the necessity of Elijah’s coming before the Messiah, according to Malachi’s prediction, but he assured his disciples that he was already come, and described the treatment he had met with from the nation in such a

manner as to make them understand that he spoke of John the Baptist John’s mission was to turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He proclaimed the coming of the Messiah to a people who desperately needed a Savior; ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” Jesus further says that people will treat the Son of Man just the way they treated His precursor.

We too need God's gift of salvation.

Therefore we need to repent, turn from our sins and recognize the Love and Mercy of God. Repentance means letting go of our ways when they're not God's ways.

We need to sacrifice our resistance to the cross. Repentance purifies us and helps us to grow in holiness.

When our hearts are not fully devoted to God, we are not truly committed to being holy. When we hurt someone and by feeling remorseful because of the troubles we've caused, we get the business of holiness out of the way and soon return to whatever caused the trouble in the first place. But it's not too late—for us personally—to repent of our own personal sins! If we will accept God's rule and sovereignty in our lives, we don't have to suffer with a blind society headed for oblivion. May God help us to understand His Truth.

Prayer Starter Turn again O God of hosts, look down from heaven, and see; have regard for this vine, the stock that your right hand planted.

But let your hand be upon the one at your right hand, the one whom you made strong for yourself.

Then we will never turn back from you; give us life, and we will call on your name.

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Sunday 17th December 2017

Third Sunday in Advent

Ps Week III

bring glad tidings to the poor, to Isaiah:61/1-2, 10-11 heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim Psalm:Luke:1/46-50, liberty to the captives and release to 53-55 the prisoners, to announce a year of 1 Thessalonians: 5/16- favor from the Lord a day of vindi 24 cation by our God ……..

John:1/6-8,19-28 Prayerful Awareness Introduction What makes us happy? When can we rejoice? It is n secret that everyone of us in various ways are in search of happiness and joy. When you observe an infant you realize that it takes very little to make him/her happy and joyous. But as we grow older the requirements for “happiness” and “joy” become more complex. The social scientist/psychologist Abraham Maslow constructed his famed hierarchy of needs which he said when fulfilled would make a person happy. The needs were categorized as follows: Physiological Needs, Safety Needs, Needs of Love, Affection and Belongingness. Needs for Esteem and Needs for Self-Actualization.

While anyone who wants to follow Maslow’s path to happiness has so much to DO, the Entrance Antiphon quoting St. Paul tells us that the Lord being near is enough reason to rejoice. Let us read God’s Proclamations of Love to see how that will come about.

Entrance Antiphon Rejoice in the Lord always; and again I say rejoice! The Lord is near.

The First Proclamation The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to

Good news! Good news!! Good news!!! Someone nay Yahweh, Almighty God Himself is concerned for the poor and is going to vindicate them. The prophet who believed the good news revealed to him is ecstatic.

He expresses himself thus: he has clothed me with a robe of salvation and wrapped me in a mantle of justice, like a bridegroom adorned with a diadem, like a bride bedecked with her jewels.

Though the prophet is not aware when all this is going to take place, the fact that the promise has been given is more than enough for rejoicing and celebration. The prophet explains the time factor taking the example of the earth bringing forth plants and a garden making its growth spring up.

The message is sure: Yahweh’ who made the promise is trustworthy. Let us wait patiently for it to happen!

Gospel Proclamation A man named John was sent from God. He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe though him. He was not the light, but came to testify to the light. And this is the testimony of John. When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to him to ask him, “Who are you?” He admitted and did not deny it, but admitted, “I am not the Christ.”

So they asked him, “What are you then? Are you Elijah?” And

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he said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.” So they said to him, “Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us? What do you have to say for yourself?” He said: “I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, ‘make straight the way of the Lord,” as Isaiah the prophet said,” some Pharisees were also sent. They asked him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ or Elijah or the Prophet?”

John answered them, “I baptize with water, but there is one among you whom you do not recognize, the one who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.” This happened in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

Gaze at Jesus Here is a man who is part of a people and wishes to fulfill the historical responsibility cast on him.

He does not call into question why he was not chosen to be The Light rather than testify to the Light. Jesus Lord You would truly have been full of admiration for Your ‘cousin’ who discerned his mission and was faithful to it to the point of sacrificing his life. He gave You ‘a role-model’ in obeying the Will of Your Father in heaven. He was not only the one who prepared the way for You but also the ‘launching pad’ for Your mission.

No doubt You would have thanked Your Father for the gift of courage, forthrightness and outspokenness given to John.

The Second Proclamation Brothers and sisters: Rejoice always without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit.

Do not despise prophetic utterances. Test everything; retain what is good. Refrain from every kind of evil. May the God of peace make you perfectly holy and may you entirely, spirit, soul, and body, be preserved blameless for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will also accomplish it.

Our Sonship We are called to live in the reign of God. His rule assures us that “The one who calls you is faithful, and he will also accomplish it.” Isn’t that good news? Our call is to surrender to His work within us and around us, in time and space. Is there anything left other than rejoice in the Lord?

Prayer Starter My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord My spirit rejoices in God my Savior for he has looked upon his lowly servant From this day all generations will call me blessed The Almighty has done great things for me And holy is his Name He has mercy on those who fear him In every generation He has filled the hungry with good things And the rich he has sent away empty He has come to the help of his servant Israel For he has remembered His promise of mercy, My soul rejoices in God

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Monday 18th December 2017 Jeremiah:23/5-8 Psalm:72/1,12-13,18-19 Mathew:1/18-24 The Gospel Proclamation Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly.

But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet.

"Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel," which means, "God is with us." When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son, and he named him Jesus.

Prayerful Awareness

of a just man - he lives by faith, prays and seeks to do good in every sphere of life. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and was born of Mary. Joseph is called the "foster father, adoptive father, legal father of Jesus." Surely he was father to Jesus in all respects, but physical generation. The responsibilities of a father, yes, he fulfilled them to the utmost. "He was named Jesus"(Luke 2:21). Joseph got up, took the child and His mother, and left during the night for Egypt." (Matthew 2:14) "So they took the child to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord." (Luke 1:22) Did Joseph suspect Mary about her virginity? The clearest answer is no. Why did he consider giving up the bond of marriage? It is mentioned that he wanted to do it secretly. The answer to this question is not given. But authorities are of the view that he believed in a strong way that she is innocent and holy. No doubt he loved her deeply.

Both of them behaved and believed the other in a strong way. He was sure of her unblemished character. May be he was told of this by her relatives. Besides all these may be he saw the divine plan in all these. May be he wanted not to get involved in the divine plan which he was not aware of. He did not want to meddle with things of the Most High.

"I am not worthy to be a part of that divine plan" may be he thought like that. Had he taken her to his house, the world might think he is the father of the child. He did not want to give that impression to others. He did not want to lay his hands on things God had not given to him. Let us resolve to be righteous - the way God the Father has shown us through St. Joseph.

Prayer Starter

Joseph is described as a just man and Jesus Himself lived in submission to him. With fatherly love he watched over Jesus Christ who was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit. Joseph was a just man. "He made plans to break the engagement privately".

He alone does these wonderful (Matthew 1/19). In scripture, justice consists in the agreement of one's will things. Praise His glorious Name for with that of the divine Will. Qualities ever. 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

Tuesday 19th December 2017 Judges:13/2-7, 24-25 Psalm:71/3-6, 16-17 Luke: 1/5-25 The First Proclamation There was a man of Zorah of the tribe of Dan, called Manoah.

His wife was barren; she had borne no children. The Angel of Yahweh appeared to this woman and said to her, 'You are barren and have had no child, but you are going to conceive and give birth to a son. From now on, take great care. Drink no wine... and eat nothing unclean. For you are going to conceive and give birth to a son. No razor is to touch his head, for the boy is to be God's nazirite from his mother's womb; and he will start rescuing Israel from the power of the Philistines.' The woman then went and told her husband, 'A man of God has just come to me, who looked like the Angel of God, so majestic was he. I did not ask him where he came from, and he did not tell me his name.

But he said to me, "You are going to conceive and give birth to a son. From now on, drink no wine...For the boy is to be God's nazirite from his mother's womb to his dying day." ' The woman gave birth to a son and called him Samson. The child grew, and Yahweh blessed him; and the spirit of Yahweh began to stir him in the Camp of Dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.

Fix your gaze on Jesus

fallen, and the most foundational error we're sick with, is the illusion of separation from the Creator and the Creation.

True enough that in being 'Self-Aware', we form a feeling of being unique, of having distinctively different attributes from / to my fellow beings; whether they be human or otherwise! Each of us have an individualised unique role in this creation, and towards this creation, so that the Creator's intent there-for manifests in the purest grandest form.

This truism however in no way signifies that there is a separateness, a distance, a chasm between 'Self' and the 'Other'.

This is explained by St. Paul in the symbolic expression of the 'Body'; each cell, unique by it-self, yet, forming an aggregate whole, seamlessly joining with the other in joy and togetherness, expressing synergy, completeness and wholeness.

The background during the time of Samson, the oppression of the Philistines, the apparent barrenness of Manoah's wife, the attributes of Samson including how his mane is to be treated, all are a composite whole for the glory of God to be revealed to humanity. The Creator desires to intimate to S/His creation that S/He is together with it, whatever the perceptions of the begotten creatures were. Contrast the response of Samson's mother with that of our beloved Mother when the good news (coming of the son) was conveyed. Then again with the response of Zechariah.

Note the marked difference, stemming from 'Sceptical Doubt'. How fortunate would we too would be, when we start believing what the Lord reveals to us of our own destiny / identity.

Prayer Starter

Glorious God, our beloved Saviour, thank you for your steadfast efforts to redeem us...

We believe Lord, we want to! Guide The scriptures reveal to us today the generation spanning loving effort of our us to revel in the destiny you lay out Creator God to guide us back towards a before us, to come to realise it step by deeper union with S/Him. Man kind is step....day by day...

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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Wednesday 20th December 2017 Isaiah:7/10-14 Psalm: 24/1-6 Luke: 1/26-38 The Gospel Proclamation In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, "Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you." But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High and the Lord God will give to Him the throne of his ancestor David.

He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end." Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?"

The angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you, therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God." Then Mary said, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord. Let it be with me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her.

Prayerful Awareness Today the holy Church celebrates the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Mother Mary was a very special creation of God. So blessed was she to conceive the Son of

God, through the grace of the Holy Spirit.

Blessed Virgin Mary was truly beloved of God. Of all men and women she was the only one who was always pleasing to God, because she alone was free from sin (Immaculate Conception) and thus always beloved of the Almighty. From all eternity God loved her. Out of love He created her. Out of love He preserved her from sin, out of love He adorned her with every grace and beauty. In every sense her name is Holy.

The book of Genesis describes how death entered the earth and sin engulfed the entire humanity. Will a merciful Father allow this to continue, abandoning His children to this sad, hopeless plight?

God in His divine wisdom designed a solution to repair the damage caused by sin. This wise and loving plan began with Immaculate Mary by which she is made worthy of receiving the Messiah, the Saviour.

The people of the town of Galilee regarded her as an ordinary woman, but today she is the Mother of the whole Universe. This is as a result of her being chosen by God before creation of the world to be pure and holy.

Mother Mary uplifted her lowliness to God and experienced what God had done in her life. In like manner if we experience lowliness before God amidst all the talents and skills He has bestowed upon us, we could be filled with immense graces.

Prayer Starter Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?

And who shall stand in his holy place?

Those who have clean hands and pure hearts, who do not lift up their souls to what is false, and do not swear deceitfully. They will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from the God of their salvation,. Such is the company of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob. (Ps. 24/3-6)

"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 21st December 2017 Song of Solomon:2/8-14 OR Zephania:3/14-18 Psalm:33/2-3,11-12, 20-21 Luke:1/39-45

The Gospel Proclamation In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy.

And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.

Prayerful Awareness Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfil his promises to her! (Luke 1: 45) The above verse is part of Elizabeth’s greeting to Mother Mary. When Mother Mary heard about Elizabeth’s pregnancy she hurried to go to see her.

Elizabeth felt the baby in her womb leap for joy at the sight and sound of Mother Mary. She then proclaims the blessedness of Mother Mary for she had believed the Lord.

Mary had believed or in other words, she had faith. What is faith?

Fr. Richard Rohr, a Franciscan friar, has much to say about this topic. In Fr.

St. Peter Canisius Rohr’s reflection on Faith and Belief: Weekly Summary (July 22, 2017), he says “faith enlightens the path behind you, but as a rule, in front of you it is still dark.” Having faith does not mean you know what will happen next. But faith allows you to accept the reality that you are facing right at this moment. Faith takes away the fear of the world, future and of scarcity. Why is there no fear when there is faith?

Because faith in God is faith in His infinite abundance, infinite grace and infinite love. God the constant, will always be there.

“Faith” is not an affirmation of a creed, an intellectual acceptance of God, or believing certain doctrines to be true or orthodox (although those things might well be good). Yet that seems to be what many Christians have whittled faith down to. Such faith does not usually change your heart or your lifestyle”, (Participation: Week 2, April 10, 2016). The key here is that faith needs to transform our lives. However, “most people think having faith means “to believe in Jesus.” But, “to share in the faith of Jesus” is a much richer concept”, (ibid).

Therefore, faith is full participation, without fear, in the reality that God provides for me. It is God, that abides in me, that creates this faith.

It is a journey of transformation as I become more like the image of my creator.

Prayer Starter Holy Spirit, help me to make the transition from faith as an act of willpower, where I mistakenly believe that faith in Jesus will provide me with what I want, to instead accept this reality, this moment, created by God, and fully participate in life with faith.

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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Friday 22nd December 2017 our ancestors.’

1 Samuel: 1/24-28 Prayerful Awareness Psalm:1 Samuel: 2/1,

4-8 In the First Proclamation Hannah Luke: 1/46-56 who had no children and was abused by other women because of it, prayed The First Proclamation earnestly that the Lord would give her When she had weaned him, she a son. And He did. And Hannah sings took him up with her, along with a a song of praise which is very similar three-year-old bull, an epah of flour, to Mary's song in the Gospel proclaand a skin of wine. She brought him mation. Mary’s soul feels the greatness to the house of the Lord at Shiloh; and holiness and mercy of God. And and the child was young. Then the feeling is primarily one of joy. "My they slaughtered the bull, and they spirit rejoices in God!" Let us examine brought the child to Eli. And she said, our consciences on how seldom we "Oh my lord! As you live, my lord, praise God. Yet faith tells us that prayers I am the woman who was standing of praise and adoration are the most here in your presence, praying to the important form of prayer. For, unless Lord. For this child I prayed; and the this form of prayer is at least implicit, Lord has granted me the petition that we are not even praying. Unless we I made to him. Therefore I have lent praise God, magnifying Him, we are not him to the Lord, as long as he lives, acknowledging God for Who He is and ourselves for what we are. God really he is given to the Lord. wants us to be happy. He wants us to She left him there for the Lord. rejoice in Him, but on His conditions: in doing His Will and not the world’s The Gospel Proclamation or the evil spirit’s or as our natural And Mary said: ‘My soul glori- inclinations urge. The only reason why fies the Lord and my spirit rejoices Mary became, under God, the Mother of in God my Saviour, for he has been God is because she was so profoundly mindful of the humble state of his aware of being the servant of the Lord. servant. From now on all generations God brings down the arrogant but lifts will call me blessed, for the Mighty up the humble. Lastly, Mary tells us that One has done great things for me – God keeps His promises. He is faithful holy is his name. in the face of our disloyalty.

His mercy extends to those who Prayer Starter fear him, from generation to genMother of Jesus and Mother of God, eration. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered teach us something of your quiet peacethose who are proud in their inmost fulness and childlike confidence in your thoughts. He has brought down Son. Help us to trust Him, especially rulers from their thrones but has when things seem to go wrong. Help us lifted up the humble. He has filled the to believe in Him as you did, that the hungry with good things but has sent promises He makes to us He will fulfill. the rich away empty. He has helped Help us never to worry or be sad but his servant Israel, remembering to be always rejoice like you, in God, your merciful to Abraham and his descen- Savior and ours, your beloved Son and dants for ever, just as he promised our dearest Lord. 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

Saturday 23rd December 2017 Malachi:3/1-4;4/5-6 Psalm:25/4-5,8-10,14 Luke: 1/57-66 The First Proclamation See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight indeed, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears?

For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers soap; he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the Lord in righteousness. Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years. .....

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

On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him Zechariah after his father. But his mother said, "No, he is to be called John." They said to her, "None of your relatives has this name.' Then they began motioning to his father to find out what name he wanted to give him. He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, "His name is John." And all of them were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue freed, and he began to speak, praising God. Fear came over all their neighbours, and all these things were talked about

throughout the entire hill country of Judea. All who heard them pondered them and said, "What then will this child become?" For, indeed, the hand of the Lord was with him.

Prayerful Awareness Zechariah was told before anyone else that God was setting in motion HIS OWN visit to earth. Zechariah and his wife, Elizabeth were known for their personal HOLINESS. They were well SUITED to doing a special work for God. But they shared the pain of not having children, In Jewish culture THIS was considered NOT having God's BLESSING. They were OLD and they had stopped even asking for children.

Anyway, God's timing is rarely our own, but it is always worth waiting for. The circumcision ceremony was an important event to the family of a Jewish baby boy. God commanded circumcision when He was beginning to form His holy nation. This ceremony was a time of GREAT JOY for family and friends - The baby's becoming part of God's covenant nation. Family lines and family names were important to the Jews.

The people naturally assumed the child would receive Zechariah's name or even a family name. They were surprised that both Elizabeth and Zechariah wanted to name the boy JOHN as the angel had told them to do. Zechariah was deaf and dumb and had not heard what his wife had said. He was talked to by gestures.

We see here that PHYSICAL limitations do NOT LIMIT God. God accomplishes HIS WILL sometimes in unexpected ways. Every birth is a MIRACLE and every child is a GIFT from God. Prayer Starter Heavenly Father, give us the desire to obey You and do everything for Your glory. Direct our focus towards You and teach us to follow You in love.

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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Sunday 24th December 2017 2 Samuel:7/1-6,8-11,16 Psalm:89/1-4,26,28 Romans:16/25-27 Luke:1/26-38 Introduction In the creation story in Genesis there is an often unnoticed phenomenon which was highlighted by a popular spiritual author. We are familiar with God declaring what He created as good. But most of us have not noticed that after the initial creation of light which God declares as good, there is no mention of the creation being good till the third day. To make a long story short, the separation of light from darkness and the separation of heaven from earth are apparently NOT seen as good by God. Today’s Entrance antiphon seems to be a desire for the reunification of heaven and earth.

Entrance Antiphon Let the clouds rain down the Just One, and the earth bring forth a savior.

The First Proclamation When King David was settled in his palace, and the Lord had given him rest from his enemies on every side, he said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God dwells in a tent!” Nathan answered the king, “Go, do whatever you have in mind, for the Lord is with you.”

But that night the Lord spoke to Nathan and said: “Go, tell my servant David, “Thus says the Lord: Should

Fourth Sunday of Advent

Ps Week IV

you build me a house to dwell in?”

Now then, speak thus to my servant David, ‘The Lord of hosts has this to say: It was I who took you from the pasture and from the care of the flock to be commander of my people Israel. I have been with you wherever you went, and I have destroyed all your enemies before you. And I will make you famous like the great ones of the earth. ….. The Lord also reveals to you that he will establish a house for you. Your house and your kingdom shall endure forever before me; your throne shall stand firm forever.”

Prayerful Awareness The chosen people of God, the Israelites, demonstrated through their life experience a strong connection between heaven and earth. King David was more or less a personification of that connection. He through his experience of Yahweh-God’s close involvement with the earthly affairs led his people to embrace that reality.

Reading the Psalms (the authorship of most is attributed to King David) we see proof of this experience.

Let us read the Gospel to meet another person who in submission to the heavenly, reconciled heaven and earth in her very womb.

Gospel Proclamation In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, ‘Hail, favored one!

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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The Lord is with you.” But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” And the angel said to her in reply, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.

Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren, for nothing will be impossible for God.” Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

Gaze a Jesus It is mentioned that Joseph to whom Mary was betrothed was from the house of David. The implication is that the “bloodline” of King David carried with it the thirst of experiencing Yahweh-God’s intimate involvement with the affairs of men on earth. Mary in her self awareness had accepted that her life was not just about herself but part and parcel of what God had planned for His chosen

people. When the time came she said a whole hearted “AMEN” to what the Lord expected of her. Then The Word became flesh. Heaven and earth, the divine and the human, the temporal and the eternal were reconciled within Mary’s womb. The miracle of miracles had taken place. The promise of Yahweh-God to all humanity through His chosen people had been fulfilled.

Second Proclamation Now to him who can strengthen you, according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret for long ages now manifested through the prophetic writings and, according to the command of the eternal God, made known to all nations to bring about the obedience of faith, to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Our Sonship We as Christians have been called to an awareness of being called to be part of God’s plan for the salvation of the whole of humanity. We are called to bring about the obedience of faith, to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ be glory forever and ever.

Prayer Starter When I hear your call to be part of your plan let me say “Let it be” When my call according to worldly standards is to climb down rather than up, let me say “Let it be” When the going gets tough and I feel alone and abandoned; Father let me trust You and say “Let it be done according to Your Word”. Amen.

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Monday 25th December 2017 Mass at Dawn: Isaiah:62/11-12 Psalm:96/1, 6, 11,12 Titus:3/4-7 Luke: 2/15-20 Morning Mass: Isaiah:52/7-10 Psalm:98/1-6 Hebrews:1/1-6 John:1/1-18 OR 1/1-5,9-14 Christmas Time After the annual celebration of the paschal Mystery, there is no more ancient feast day for the Church than the recalling of the memory of the Nativity of the Lord and of the mysteries of His first appearing. This is the purpose of Christmas time. In the 42nd year of the rule of Caesar Octavian Augustus; while the whole world was at peace Jesus Christ, Eternal God and Son of the Eternal Father desiring to consecrate the world by His most glorious coming, having been conceived of the Holy Spirit, and when nine months had passed after His conception, is born as man in Bethlehem of Judah from the Virgin Mary. (ORDO 2016-2017).

The Gospel Proclamation Please read Luke 2/15-20 prayerfully.

Prayerful Awareness The first announcement of the birth of Jesus, Son of God, was to some shepherds. Oh! shouldn't it have been to kings and the well-to-do! What good news - why not celebrate it on a grand scale! God is holy. Holy also means different. "My thoughts, says the Lord, "are not like yours, and my ways are different from yours. As high as the heavens are above the earth, so high are my ways and thoughts above

The Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ

yours." (Isaiah 55:8-9). Shepherds were in the lowest rung of the then social ladder. Being a shepherd demanded many things and they had to attend to the constant demands made by their flock. It was to these simple men of the field that His message came first."It was not so much that His birth cast a shadow on His life, and thus led to His death, it was rather that the cross was there from the beginning, and it cast its shadow backward to His birth. Ordinary mortals go from the known to the unknown submitting themselves to forces beyond their control; hence we can speak of their "tragedies". But He went from the known to the known, from the reason for His coming, namely, to be "Jesus" or "Saviour" to the fulfilment of His coming, namely, the death on the cross.

Hence, there was no tragedy in His life, for, tragedy implies the unforeseeable, the uncontrollable, and the fatalistic.

Modern life is tragic when there is spiritual darkness and unredeemable guilt. But for Christ child, there were no uncontrollable forces; no submission to fatalistic chains from which there could be no escape, but there was an "inscape" - the microcosmic manger summarizing, like an atom, the microcosmic Cross on Golgotha.

In His first Advent, He took the name of Jesus or "Saviour", it will be in His Second Advent that he will take the name of "Judge". Jesus was not a name He had before. He assumed a human nature; it properly refers to that which was united to His Divinity, not that which existed from all eternity. Some say "Jesus taught" as they would say "Plato taught", never once thinking that His name means "Saviour from sin." (Archbishop Fulton J.Sheen) Prayer Starter Help us to be humble of spirit, to recognise the Divine Son who went into an eclipse.

"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 26th December 2017 Acts:6/8-10; 7/54-59 Psalm:31/3-7,15-16 Mathew:10/17-22 The Gospel Proclamation 'Be prepared for people to hand you over to sanhedrins and scourge you in their synagogues. You will be brought before governors and kings for my sake, as evidence to them and to the gentiles. But when you are handed over, do not worry about how to speak or what to say; what you are to say will be given to you when the time comes, because it is not you who will be speaking; the Spirit of your Father will be speaking in you. 'Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will come forward against their parents and have them put to death. You will be universally hated on account of my name; but anyone who stands firm to the end will be saved.

Fix your gaze on Jesus

a grab at gaining a bigger share of the 'Pie', we feel we will face annihilation.

This 'Scarcity' mind-set drives us towards ever increasing acquisitiveness and hoarding, creating the very-same situation that we are fearful of and wish to avoid.

Jesus however comes to tell us something radically different. He brings us the Good News, that this 'Creation' is extremely beneficial for the Creator's progeny. We have been accorded a very benevolent and nurturing 'Ecosphere' to experience and taste the 'Love' of the Creator, in and through the Creation, meaning the environment and the others. There is always enough for the 'Need' of 'All', and the environment is sufficiently fruitful for us to transform what is available towards our purpose. We call this the 'Abundance mind-set'. The question we need to ask is, what is my personal frame-work?

However, even if we 'Turn' and change our 'mind-set' to that of Jesus, so that the 'Mind of Christ' is in us, yet will those 'Others' persist in the scarcity frame-work, and will of course resist all efforts to change. This necessarily creates conflict; and Jesus cautions us to expect these situations.

Again, those who change over to the abundance-mind-set will have to face hostility from those who persist in the scarcity mind-set. No surprise there!

But the Truth will arise, though may be not today! So, persist in the Saviour's mind-set, as Love and Positivity will be triumphant, and wait on the Holy Spirit of God to guide you on the ways of the Lord ….!

Prayer Starter

What a turn O Lord, what a turn!

We celebrated Your coming, Your incarnation yesterday, bringing us the promised redemption and salvation.

And today You tell us to brace ourselves for the trouble Your followers will surely face in the obeying of Your commandments.

Change is normally traumatic for humans. We have this on-going inclination to perceive the 'Environment', and 'The Other' as a threat to our existence; our survival, we perceive is at risk unless we are defensive at all O Lord, show us Your way; reveal times. This orientation means that we are at constant war with 'the other' and Your thinking and desires for us to even with ourselves. Unless we make understand and follow...

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Wednesday 27th December 2017 1 John:1/1-4 Psalm:97/1-2,5-6,11-12 John:20/1-8 Gospel Proclamation So, she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”

So, Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. Finally, the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed.

Gaze at Jesus The first person who was commissioned to witness Risen Christ also was given the responsibility to go and tell the others. Here Mary Magdalene informs the apostles of Christ's resurrection.

They too rush to witness the Good News, that Christ is risen indeed. Finally, the scripture says “the other disciple also went inside. He saw and believed”. The other apostle was John. Two days after Christmas, the Church is celebrating the most profound faith in Christianity, that is Christ is risen and lives with us today through this feast. The flavor of this feast is that Messiah, meaning the love of God and His wisdom has come to live with us, taking a human form, which is described in the first reading today of St. John chapter 1 verses 1 – 4 as “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word

St. John, Apostle and Evangelist

was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind”.

Towards our sonship Therefore, the most significant aspect of the feast today is that John was given the opportunity to witness Christ’s resurrection. When he saw the empty tomb, he believed.

As a church, we are in the season of advent, celebrating the word of God taking a human form to be born on Christmas day. As believers we are also given the opportunity to meet Him, know Him and build a relationship with Him through His resurrection because He lives with us today. As we go through our life’s journey through hills and valleys, through gravel paths, through storms and avalanches, not only he is with us, but He also illuminates our life’s journey with wisdom and truth through God’s word.

Prayerful Awareness All the other apostles took time to believe in Christ's resurrection.

Therefore, Jesus came to meet them in numerous ways after His resurrection.

However, John saw the empty tomb and believed. Therefore, dear Holy Spirit give us a strong faith so that Jesus lives with us as He continually reveals Himself to us.

Prayer Starter The Lord is king! Let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad!

Clouds and thick darkness are all around him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.

The mountain melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord of all the earth.

The heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all the peoples behold his glory

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

35

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

Thursday 28th December 2017

1 John:1/5-2/2 Psalm: 123/2-5,7-8 Mathew:2/13-18 The First Proclamation

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true. But if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. ....

Prayerful Awareness Our God is light, truth, freedom and holiness. We are born in God, dwell in God and so must walk in the light and make sure that the truth dwells in us. We are not to deceive ourselves and become liars, saying that we do not sin and that there is no darkness in us. We are to keep ourselves from sin, from missing the mark of being the beloved children of God. We are to walk with Jesus, in the Spirit, in the presence of the Father.

The Gospel Proclamation Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him. " Then Joseph got up took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had

been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, "Out of Egypt I have called my son."

When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah.

A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children, she refused to be consoled, because they are no more."

Prayerful Awareness Although Joseph was not Jesus' natural father, he was Jesus' legal father and was responsible for His safety and well being. Divine guidance comes only to prepared hearts. Joseph remained receptive to God's guidance. King Herod killed boys under two years in an attempt to kill Jesus. He stained his hands with blood, but he could not harm Jesus, the new born KING . Herod was king by human appointment, but Jesus was King by Divine appointment. No one can thwart God's plans.

Herod was afraid that Jesus the new King would one day take his throne.

Herod misunderstood that Jesus came to give eternal life to Herod - to be King of Herod's life. Jesus cannot be equated with any person or power. He is supreme ruler of time and eternity, heaven and earth, humans and angels. We should give Jesus His rightful place as King of our lives.

Prayer Starter Lord, we lift our hearts to heaven.

Have mercy on us O Lord. Blessed be the Lord who has granted us the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Love to act within us and lead us and guide us to You. Amen.

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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Friday 29th December 2017 1 John:2/3-11 Psalm: 96/1-3, 5-6 Luke: 2/22-35 Gospel Proclamation When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, the parents of Jesus took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. .... and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtle-doves or two young pigeons.

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, waiting the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord. He came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law in regard to him, he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying: "Lord, now let your servant go in peace; your word has been fulfilled: my own eyes have seen the salvation which you prepared in the sight of all people, a light to reveal you to the nations and the glory of your people Israel."

The child's father and mother were amazed at what was said about him; and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted (and you yourself a sword will pierce) so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."

Prayerful Awareness Holy Mother and St. Joseph took

the infant Jesus to the Temple to fulfill requirements laid down by Mosaic Law (Lv. 12:2-8) that had become a tradition for all Jews to consecrate the First Born baby boy to God (Exodus 13: 2 & 22:28-29). Simeon a Holy man who lived a pious life visiting the temple regularly was guided by the Holy Spirit that he will see the Messiah, and that he will not pass away until he sees the child. When infant Jesus was brought to the Temple the Holy Spirit led Simeon to the Temple to see Infant Jesus, and he prophesied about the destiny of Infant Jesus and what suffering this will bring to the Holy Mother. Holy Mother would have grasped everything that was said and kept all this in her mind as part of God’s plan. From the time the Angel Gabriel’s Annunciation, Holy Mother would have known that God’s protection and guidance was there with her to strengthen her and empower her to face all that, as she was shielded by the Holy Spirit. It was the Holy Spirit who prepared her to accept the Divine Call to say “Yes, I am the handmaid of God, Let it happen to me as stated (Luke 1:35-38). Holy Mother was prepared by the Holy Spirit to guide Her and gave Her the strength and power to remain even at the foot of the Cross.

Prayer Starter

Holy Mother, Mother of God Pray for us sinners now and at the hour of death. Pray for us to accept Jesus Christ as our Saviour and Lord and follow all His teachings to live pious lives as You did, and to receive a special anointing of the Holy Spirit to guide us to do everything according to the Will of God, our Loving Father and to love others as Lord loves us, Amen

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

37

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Saturday 30th December 2017 1 John:2/12-17 Psalm: 96/7-10 Luke: 2/36-40 The First Proclamation I am writing to you little children, because your sins are forgiven on account of his name. I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young people, because you have conquered the evil one. I write to you, children, because you know the Father. I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young people, because you are strong and the word of God abides in you and you have overcome the evil one. ......

Prayerful Awareness Today’s first reading is from First John. Who was John? John is known as the beloved disciple of Jesus. Mary, the mother of Jesus, is now recognised as the first disciple of Jesus. Could we also say that Mother Mary probably knew and understood the most about God? At least we could say that Mother Mary probably “got it” (the message of Jesus) right from the very beginning. We can also guess that after the death of Jesus, Mother Mary and John the beloved disciple would have become much closer.

(When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman,[a] here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. (John 19: 26-27). Therefore, could Mother Mary have been a teacher figure to Thomas? Her experience of being emptied, her wisdom, faith and acceptance of God’s will, no doubt would have had a profound influence on Thomas, espe-

cially once he was also consciously open to the Holy Spirit.

Thus, Thomas seem to show this greater understanding compared to the other three gospels of Mathew, Mark and Luke as he gives importance to Christ, instead of Jesus the historical figure.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome[a] it. (John 1: 1-5).

Jesus was the manifestation of Christ in the human form, the only Son of God. He completely emptied Himself and was born a human. Yes, we have fallen in love with Jesus, because this was inevitable. But what is the danger of just “believing in Jesus” and “worshipping Jesus”? We end up reducing God the Trinity, down to just focusing on Jesus, and the great message of death and resurrection, i.e. our own transformation is not given any importance. Jesus brought us closer to an unknowable God. But we need to be aware of the ever-present Christ that exists in all matter in our Universe.

“All matter reveals Spirit, and Spirit needs matter to “show itself”! I believe “the Second Coming of Christ” happens whenever and wherever we allow this to be utterly true for us. This is how God continually breaks into history—even before the first Stone Age, humans stood in awe and wonder, gazing at the stars.”

(The Second Coming of Christ, October 30, 2016, Fr. Richard Rohr.)

Prayer Starter Jesus Christ, You are the bread of life, the light of the world, the beginning and the end.

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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Sunday 31st December 2017 The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary & Joseph Whoever reveres his father will Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14 Psalms 128:1-2, 3, 4-5 live a long life; he who obeys his father brings comfort to his mother.

Colossians 3:12-21 My son, take care of your father Luke 2:22-40 or 2:22, when he is old; grieve him not as long 39-40 as he lives.

OR Even if his mind fail, be considerGenesis:15/1-6;21/1-3 ate of him; revile him not all the days Psalm: 105/1-6,8-9 of his life, kindness to a father will not be forgotten, firmly planted against Hebrews:11/8,11,12, the debt of your sins — a house raised 17-19 in justice to you.

Luke: 2/22-40 OR Prayerful Awareness Introduction God created us human beings in We as human beings learn more ef- His image. The image does not only fectively by following examples rather consist of a pictorial representation but than by reading books or listening to also the form of relationships between lectures. The Catholic Church presents members of the Holy Trinity. The first to us saints from various walks of life proclamation talks about honoring, so that we may follow their example. praying and revering among the family Today the Church presents to us the members. It talks about obeying and Holy Family of Nazareth to gaze upon bringing comfort, being caring, being considerate, not reviling, and showing and follow.

So like the shepherds let us hasten kindness to one’s parents. This is how to go and ‘find’ Mary and Joseph with a house made of brick and mortar is transformed into a home. This is God’s the Baby Jesus and gaze upon them. will and plan for those who respond to Entrance Antiphon His call to become ‘family’.

Gospel Proclamation The shepherds hastened to Bethlehem, where they found Mary and When the days were completed Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger for their purification according to the First Proclamation law of Moses, They took him up to Jerusalem to God sets a father in honor over his children; a mother's authority he present him to the Lord, just as it is written in the law of the Lord, confirms over her sons.

Every male that opens the womb Whoever honors his father atones for sins, and preserves himself from shall be consecrated to the Lord, and to offer the sacrifice of a pair of them.

When he prays, he is heard; he turtledoves or two young pigeons, in stores up riches who reveres his accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord. mother.

When they had fulfilled all the Whoever honors his father is prescriptions of the law of the Lord, gladdened by children, and, when he they returned to Galilee, to their own prays, is heard.

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

39

town of Nazareth.

The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him Gaze at Jesus Jesus who would have learnt of the way His parents took Him to the Temple in Jerusalem to be consecrated to the Lord according to the written Law. In participating in the Jewish religious customs Jesus would have been made to realize that although He was born into a family that He was also born as part of a people with a unique history and traditions of significance. These traditions connected Jesus to the God experience of His people. This is the way that Jesus grew in His twofold identity of being the Son of God and Son of man. When we gaze at Jesus we see that that He gave equal importance to both aspects of His personality until both became truly one. The environment and support that Jesus received from His family, especially from His Blessed Mother, was responsible in no small way in fulfilling this task given Him by God His Father.

The Second Proclamation Brothers and sisters: Put on, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if one has a grievance against another; as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do. And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfection.

And let the peace of Christ control your hearts, the peace into which you were also called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.

And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Wives, be subordinate to your husbands, as is proper in the Lord.

Husbands, love your wives, and avoid any bitterness toward them.

Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, so they may not become discouraged.

Our sonship Jesus Christ through His incarnation, suffering, death and resurrection restored to us our original divine image created by God our creator even before the world came into being. (Ephesians 1:4) . There is no need to find it, buy it, earn it or fight for it. It is there to be discovered through awareness. We have it. According to the above proclamation THE DIVINE IMAGE is there to be put on; It is to permit Christ Who dwells in you to control your hearts; it is to do everything in the Name of the Lord Jesus.

Prayer Starter O Holy Spirit! Grace us with the amazing gift of awareness to come to the realization of being one with Jesus in His divine sonship. May we be able to say with St.Paul, “I live, no not I but Jesus lives in me” May our families desire to form of a milieu to promote the experience which inspires their members to sing ……….. “ Christ above me …… Christ be low me.

Christ to left ……..Christ to right.

Christ before me ……Christ be hind me Christ within me…….

Both day and night”

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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