Walk In the Spirit January 2018

WALK IN THE SPIRIT January 2018 Volume 01 Issue 16

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord"

ISSN 1391-5967

Publication: Fr. Siri Oscar Abayaratne Kithu Dana Pubuduwa

SHARING ON PRAYER January 2018

A changed life or in the words of Jesus “born again” life is what should happen in prayer. I must be able to say in and thro’ a reality experienced, as Paul could and would.

“I live now not I but Christ liveth in me” A mere saying would be insufficient, if the reality is not verily experienced to overflowing. It is necessary for me to take note of the fact that the “experience” is one that will be calling for more.

Fr. Siri Oscar Abayaratne

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Monday 1st January 2018 1 Numbers:6/22-27 Psalm:66/2-3,5-6, 8 (67/1-7) Galatians:4/4-7 Luke:2/16-21 Introduction On this blessed first day of this New Year, let us thank and praise our Abba Father for His constant Love, and the dawn of a new year given to us from His Bounty!

And let us meditatively dwell on today’s Proclamations which are in respect of God’s Plan for man’s redemption, set even before the ‘Creation’, knowing full well that man will abuse God’s gift of free will. The Plan involved choosing a race through who God blessed mankind, and a particular Royal lineage, through who the Saviour was born, of Virgin Mary.

Today is thus appropriately dedicated to our Blessed Mother, Mary, the Holy Mother of God, who played a most important role in the execution of God’s Holy Plan for the restoration of divine son-ship for mankind through the offering of God’s own self in the form of His only Begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, as a sacrifice for the atonement for mankind’s sin of disobedience! And God’s Holy Word informs us that the meaning of the name Jesus is, ‘God Saves!’

Second Proclamation But when the completion of the time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born a subject of the Law, to redeem the subjects of the Law, so that we could receive adoption as sons.

As you are sons, God has sent into our hearts the Spirit of his Son crying, 'Abba, Father'; and so you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir, by God's own act.

Gospel Proclamation .... the shepherds said to one an-

other, 'Let us go to Bethlehem and see this event which the Lord has made known to us.'

So they hurried away and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. ....As for Mary, she treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart. .....When the eighth day came and the child was to be circumcised, they gave him the name Jesus, the name the angel had given him before his conception.

First Proclamation Yahweh spoke to Moses and said, 'Speak to Aaron and his sons and say: "This is how you must bless the Israelites. You will say: May Yahweh bless you and keep you. May Yahweh let his face shine on you and be gracious to you. May Yahweh show you his face and bring you peace." This is how they must call down my name on the Israelites, and then I shall bless them.'

Song of Praise (Psalm 67/1-7) May God show kindness and bless us, and make his face shine on us. Then the earth will acknowledge your ways, and all nations your power to save. Let the nations praise you, God, let all the nations praise you. Let the nations rejoice and sing for joy, for you judge the world with justice, you judge the peoples with fairness, you guide the nations on earth.

Let the nations praise you, God, let all the nations praise you. The earth has yielded its produce; God, our God has blessed us.

May God continue to bless us, and be revered by the whole wide world.

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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Tuesday 2nd January 2018 1 John:2/22-28 Psalm: 97/1-4 (98/1-4) John:1/19-28 St. Basil the Great He comes from a remarkably holy family for the Church honours as saints his parents, his two brothers and sister; added to the list were the parents of his father. He excelled in his studies - rhetoric and philosophy, astronomy, geometry and medicine. His mind was turned from the worldly knowledge to the spiritual by his sister. He visited colonies of monks and hermits in Syria, Palestine, Egypt and Mesopotamia, led the eremitical life for 5 years and later founded the monastic colony on his family property.

He was ordained priest and 6 years later he succeeded the Archbishop of Caesarea. His concern for the destitute was outstanding. He himself practised the Christian precept of poverty. Died: January 01, 379. Patron of Russia and Hospital Administrator.

The Gospel Proclamation This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?" He confessed .... "I am not the Messiah." And they asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." Are you the prophet?" He answered, "No," Then they said to him, "Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?" He said, "I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way of the Lord' as the prophet Isaiah said. ....They asked him, "Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?" John answered them, "I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, the one who is coming after me, I am not worthy

St. Basil the Great to untie the thong of his sandal." This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing.

Prayerful Awareness The message of John the Baptist is of paramount importance that it is presented by all four evangelists. Of all the saints it is only his birthday that is celebrated in sacred liturgy (June 24th).

The idea and expectations of the Messiah were vivid. John's way of bearing witness to truth was both new and a different one. It aroused curiosity specially among Jewish authorities. They were in a dilemma, whether he was a priest or a preacher. The emissaries questioned him in order to clear their doubts. What is most interesting is the straightforward answers he gave to their questions.

To the very first question levelled at him, "Who are you?" his answer was a clear one. He did not want to shine in borrowed plumes. His attitude is not a popular one, specially in our time. He claims no credit for himself. The task he had to fulfil was clear - prepare the way for someone else. That One was much greater than himself. He flatly admitted that he was not worthy to unfasten the strap of that person's sandals. Simplicity, humility and occupying a back seat these are not all popular. The temptation to be admired, admired more than the One to come, to keep his followers for himself - these temptations were resisted by him. As precursor he knew his scope of work very well. His vocation was to lead others to Our Lord and not to steal the honour and glory to be given to God. Isn't that our vocation as well?

With the talents He has given us and with the guidance of the Holy Spirit let us commit ourselves to the task of leading others to Christ.

Prayer Starter Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth, break forth into joyous song and sing praises .....

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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Wednesday 3rd January 2018 1 John:2/29-3/6 Psalm:97/1, 3-6 (98/1,3-6) John:1/29-34 OR Philippians:2/1-11 Psalm:8/4-9 Luke:2/21-24 The First Proclamation If you know that he is upright you must recognise that everyone whose life is upright is a child of his...

You must see what great love the Father has lavished on us by letting us be called God's children -- which is what we are! The reason why the world does not acknowledge us is that it did not acknowledge him. My dear friends, we are already God's children, but what we shall be in the future has not yet been revealed. We are well aware that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he really is. Whoever treasures this hope of him purifies himself, to be as pure as he is. Whoever sins, acts wickedly, because all sin is wickedness. Now you are well aware that he has appeared in order to take sins away, and that in him there is no sin. No one who remains in him sins, and whoever sins has neither seen him nor recognised him.

Fix your gaze on Jesus Dear Lord Jesus, the most perfect of the Son of Man, be incarnate within us, so that we too could say like St. Paul, 'It is no longer me but Him...'

There is a saying that the Truth is self-evident. Yet, us humans find it so difficult to separate the lies and falsehoods from the Truth. We are so adapt

Holy Name of Jesus at wallowing in the mire of lies and shades of grey, that we find the truth to be very strange; And Uncomfortable, and even Threatening!

We prefer to create our own deceit and illusions, rationalising away our falsehoods and labelling them as the 'Gospel Truth'. Packaging these 'truths' adroitly, we sell each other these parcels, leading each other astray. Proving the adage, 'When you repeat a lie to yourself a few times, that lie becomes your Truth'. Oh, we humans have become Past Masters at this game!

The scriptures today however reveal to us that our real nature is being 'Children of God', the bearers of the 'Truth', witnesses of the 'Real'.

This transition however, calls upon us to journey towards the 'Truth' from being mired in 'Sin'. And essentially, Jesus who is the Christ- the Living Word is the means for this to happen.

As John the Baptist says, 'He has to become more and I, less'. Then shall we become 'Upright' even as He is. The world will not acknowledge this in us even as they did not acknowledge him.

Our hope rests on Him however, and treasuring this hope of him we shall purify ourselves, to be as pure as he is.

Come brethren, let's eat the Living Word, taste it, cherish it, meditate upon it, imbibe it until 'He' becomes incarnate within, so that our old self-corruption tainted thinking passes away. Let Christ arise from the deadold my-self...!

Prayer Starter Reveal to us Your Holy Will O Abba, the Truth of Your Love and our place / call there-in, and our roles in sustaining and enabling your creation.....

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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Thursday 4th January 2018 1 John: 3/7-10 Psalm: 97/1, 7-9 (98/1,7-9) John: 1/35-42

The Gospel Proclamation The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, "Look, here is the Lamb of God!" The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus.

When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, "What are you looking for?" They said to him, "Rabbi" (which translated means Teacher). 'where are you staying?"

He said to them, "Come and see."

They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o'clock in the afternoon. One of the two who heard John speak and follow him was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.

He first found his brother Simon and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which is translated Anointed). He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, "You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas" (which is to be translated Peter).

Prayerful Awareness These new disciples used several names to Jesus, their long-awaited "Messiah". "LAMB OF GOD", "SON OF GOD", "KING OF ISRAEL", "RABBI. As they got to know Jesus, their APPRECIATION for Him grew.

The more TIME we spend getting to know Christ, the more we will understand and appreciate Who He really IS. We may be drawn to Him for His TEACHING, but we will come to KNOW Him as the SON OF GOD. The disciples would not fully understand

Jesus until THREE YEARS later, but DEEP appreciation for Christ comes with LIVING by FAITH. Why did these disciples leave John the Baptist? Because that was what John wanted them to do - he was pointing the way to Jesus. These were Jesus' first disciples along with Simon Peter.

When the two disciples began to follow Jesus, He asked them, "What do you WANT?" Following Christ is not enough, we must follow Him for the RIGHT reasons. To follow Jesus for our own purposes would be asking Christ to follow US - to align with us to support and advance OUR cause, NOT HIS. We must examine our motives for following Him. Seek His glory. Not ours.

Andrew accepted John the Baptist's testimony about Jesus and immediately went to tell his brother, Simon about Jesus. There was question in Andrew's mind that Jesus WAS the Messiah. Not only did he tell his brother, he was also eager to introduce others to Jesus.

Jesus SAW not only WHO Simon was, but who he would BECOME. That is why Jesus gave Simon a new name - 'PETER' in Greek means "ROCK". Peter became a SOLID ROCK in the days of the early Church, as we learn in the book of Acts. By giving Simon a new name, Jesus introduced a CHANGE in character.

We may wonder what Jesus SEES ion us when He calls us to follow hm.

But we know Jesus accepted Peter, and in spite of his failures, Peter went on to do GREAT things for God.

Prayer Starter Jesus our loving Saviour, change us, as You changed Peter with new goals and new priorities. Help us to follow You, even though we often stumble. As Peter was sent out, send us too.

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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Friday 5th January 2018 1 John:3/11-21 Psalm:99/2-5 (100/1-5) John: 1/43-51

The Gospel Proclamation The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, "Follow me." Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote. Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth." Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?'

Philip said to him, "Come and see."

When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, "Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!"

Nathanael asked him, "Where did you get to know me?" Jesus answered, "I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you." Nathanael replied, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are King of Israel!" Jesus answered, "Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these." And he said to him, "Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man."

Prayerful Awareness Jesus is led by the Holy Spirit to go to Galilee, where He found Philip to whom He said "Come with me". Philip follows the powerful command and is so impressed with Jesus after associating with Him, that he tells Nathanael about Jesus and tells him to "Come and see".

Let us be awake here. This is the calling for each one of us, to get to know Jesus by associating Him closely. Also through experiencing Him through con-

stant awareness and prayer. Let us guide those around us also to meet Jesus In today's first proclamation, Apostle John reveals to us the Christian virtues such as charity, service and sacrifice. Just as God knows our true being, we have come to know Our Lord Jesus as the Way, the Truth and the Life. The way to salvation, the truth of creation and transformation of life from mortality to immortality is brought about buy Faith, Hope and Love.

Faith has renewed our knowledge of God. But what matters most is to understand His Love and for that there is no better teaching than that of the cross.

The Apostle John describes the dividing line between people who love and those who do not love. Because believers are in the camp of those who love, they will be persecuted.

Recently Pope Francis reflected on Jesus' commandment to love God above all things and your neighbour as yourself, saying that it is in the Eucharist that we receive the grace to carry this out. Also he proclaimed "God who is Love, has created us to make us part of His life, to be loved and to love Him and to love all other people with Him. This is God's 'dream' for man. In order to accomplish this we need His Grace. We need to receive the ability to love that comes from God Himself."

He went on to say, "For this reason Jesus offers Himself to us in the Eucharist. In it we receive His Body and Blood, that is, we receive Jesus in the best expression of His love, when He has offered Himself to the Father for our salvation."

Prayer Starter Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come into his presence with singing.

Know that the Lord is God. It is he that made us, and we are his, we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.....

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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Saturday 6th January 2018 1 John: 5/5-13 Psalm:147/12-15, 19-20 Mark: 1/7-11 OR Luke:3/23-38 The First Proclamation Who is it that conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? This is the one who came by water and blood. Jesus Christ, not with the water only but with the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one that testifies, for the Spirit is the truth. ....

Those who believe in the Son of God have the testimony in their hearts.

Those who do not believe in God have made him a liar by not believing in the testimony that God has given concerning his Son. .... Whoever has the Son has life, whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

The Gospel Proclamation He proclaimed, "The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit" In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized

by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him.

And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved, with you I am well pleased."

Prayerful Awareness St. John reminds us to believe that Jesus is Christ which means our Redeemer whom God has chosen to save us from the bondage of sin which is eternal

slavery and damnation. Hence when we believe in Jesus and live according to His doctrine, we are saved. Thus we are called followers of Jesus. God has given a conscience to the educated as well as to the uneducated, to all those who have passed the age of reason. We cannot understand everything that Jesus has taught. God's word is in the Holy Bible, but no one can master the Holy Bible fully. The Catholic Church believes in the Traditions of the Church which are not found in the Holy Bible. This is where Faith comes in. Even though we cannot comprehend all that appears in the Holy Bible we can believe through faith, though perhaps not analytically.

Unlike Buddhism which appeals more to the mind - Christianity appeals more to our faith.

The prayer "I believe" teaches us to believe the Christian Doctrine even when it speaks of things which are far beyond our comprehension such as "Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit", "The third day He rose again from the dead", "He ascended into heaven" etc.

All these mysteries are beyond human comprehension as Christianity is a Divine religion pertaining to the Divinity involved in a human body and a Divine soul.

St. John the Baptist bears witness to both the human and the Divine nature of Jesus when he was baptizing Jesus in the waters of river Jordan. St. John saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove on Jesus ' head and heard God the Father calling from above "Thou art my well beloved Son. With Thee I am well pleased." This is a rare occasion where the Blessed Trinity appeared altogether on earth.

Prayer Starter "Believes who are Spirit-filled are unaware that God may be revealing through their Christ-like way, a glimpse of His Reality"

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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Sunday 7th January 2018

Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord

Isaiah:60/1-6 Psalm:71/1-2,7-8,10-13 (72/1-2,7-8,10-13) Ephesians:3/2-3, 5-6 Mathew:2/1-12 The First Proclamation: Isaiah 60/1-6 Arise, shine, for your light has come, the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples, but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you. Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. Lift up your eyes and look around; they all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall come from far away, and your daughters shall be carried on their nurses' arms. Then you shall see and be radiant; our heart shall thrill and rejoice, because the abundance of the sea shall be brought to you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you. A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense.

The Gospel Proclamation: Matthew 2/1-12

heard about this, he was very upset .... He called together all the chief priests and the teachers of the Law and asked them, "where will the Messiah be born?" "In the town of Bethlehem in Judea" they answered, "For this is what the prophet wrote" 'Bethlehem in the land of Judah, you are by no means the least of the leading cities of Judah, for from you will come a leader who will guide my people Israel,' So Herod called the visitors from the East .... and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem with these instructions: "Go and make a careful search for the child; and when you find him, let me know, so that I too may go and worship him." And so they left .... they saw the same star they had seen in the East. When they saw it, how happy they were ..... It went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. .... they knelt down and worshiped him.

The Second Proclamation: Ephesians: 3/2-6 Surely you have heard that God in his grace has given me this work to do for our good. God revealed his secret plan and made it known to me.

In past times human beings were not told this secret, but God has revealed it now by the Spirit to his holy apostles and prophets. The secret is that by means of the gospel the Gentiles have a part with the Jews in God's blessings; they are members of the same body and share in the promise that God made through Jesus Christ.

Prayerful Awareness

Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem in Judea, during the time when Herod was king. Soon afterward, some men who studied the stars came from the East to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the baby born to be the king of the Jews? We saw this star when it came Christian tradition has long assoup in the East, and we have come to worship him." When King Herod ciated the visit of the three Magi to

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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the infant Jesus with the celebration of God's making His Son known to the whole world. Indeed, this is a proper understanding of the figures of the Magi in the Gospel of Matthew.

Today's celebration of the Feast of the Epiphany demands a reading of, and a reflection upon, the story of the Magi.

But the most important element in this Gospel passage are the actors in the story, especially the Magi, and not the star of Bethlehem.

On the one hand, we have the story of some 'wise men' who come from the East. They were not born and bred within the traditions and beliefs of Israel. They do not form part of the 'chosen people' but they come to render homage to a new-born King. Following the indications of a star, which they read as the sign marking the birth of a King, they come to the right place: Jerusalem. In the Holy City, and in the Holy Scriptures of the Chosen People the truth will be found. Indeed, they are told the correct answer, the Scriptures have foretold that the Messiah will be born in Bethlehem.

Filled with delight as they follow the star, the Wise Men find the child in Bethlehem, fall to their knees and offer their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh - symbols of Jesus' being born to be a king - unto death. Finally, they humbly and obediently respond to the Lord's warning about Herod which they receive in a dream, and 'returned to their own country by a different way'. They might not belong to a people 'chosen' by history or culture, but they were 'chosen' by God from the Gentile world, and they came in faith and love.

This story of a joyful and positive response from the Wise Men is matched by the opposite reaction from those who should have known better.

The Wise Men came to Jerusalem, the sacred city of God, and ask for further knowledge about the new-born King. Indeed, the Chief Priests and the Scribes are able to provide the information: Bethlehem. They know the answers from their sacred tradition, but they do not have the openness to the revelation of God present in this child born to be king. Herod and the whole of Jerusalem are perturbed.

This consternation will eventually lead to the slaying of the Innocents.

There are dark hints of what might soon happen as Herod interrogates the Magi 'privately'; so that he too may offer homage.

While today the Church proclaims the revelation of God to the whole world - in the figures of the Wise Men from the East - it also warns all who have been blessed with the 'knowledge' of the truth. The Magi have no special privileges; they simply respond to the sign which comes from God. The Chosen People in their Holy City with their Holy Scriptures are threatened when their 'religion' is disturbed by Jesus.

We 'chosen ones' with our Catholic history and culture, can also miss the wonder of God's presence in our lives, because it challenges our own tidy schemes too radically. The life and teaching of Jesus will always threaten our comfort, and call us to great love.

It is one thing to say that we have our answers in the person and teaching of Jesus, it is another to live lives which show such answers to be true.

Prayer Starter Father, You revealed Your Son to the nations by the guidance of a star.

Lead us to Your glory in heaven by the light of faith.

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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Monday 8th January 2018

Isaiah:55/1-11 Psalm:12/2-6 (Isaiah:12/2-6) 1 John:5/1-9 Mark:1/7-11 The First Proclamation Oh, come to the water all you who are thirsty; though you have no money, come! Buy and eat; come, buy wine and milk without money, free!

Why spend money on what cannot nourish and your wages on what fails to satisfy? Listen carefully to me, and you will have good things to eat and rich food to enjoy.

Pay attention, come to me; listen, and you will live. I shall make an everlasting covenant with you in fulfilment of the favours promised to David......

Seek out Yahweh while he is still to be found, call to him while he is still near. Let the wicked abandon his way and the evil one his thoughts.

Let him turn back to Yahweh who will take pity on him, to our God, for he is rich in forgiveness; for my thoughts are not your thoughts and your ways are not my ways, declares Yahweh. For the heavens are as high above earth as my ways are above your ways, my thoughts above your thoughts......

Second Proclamation Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is a child of God, and whoever loves the father loves the son. In this way we know that we love God's children, when we love God and keep his commandments………

Gospel Proclamation In the course of his (John the Baptist’s) preaching he said, 'After

Baptism of our Lord me is coming someone who is more powerful than me, and I am not fit to kneel down and undo the strap of his sandals. I have baptised you with water, but he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit.'

It was at this time that Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptised in the Jordan by John.

And at once, as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit, like a dove, descending on him. And a voice came from heaven, 'You are my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on you.'

Prayerful Awareness Man is born with a feeling of emptiness, hopelessness, which we try to satisfy through various means, by seeking pleasure, power, wealth, and accomplishments, etc. to no avail.

The beautiful hymn ‘Come to the Water! You who are thirsty’ is based on Isaiah 55:1-11. This Water symbolizes God, Abundant Life, Love, Word, Renewal, Baptism, Holy Spirit, etc. which alone can satisfy man’s yearning.

I would say the most untainted human love is the love between parent and child, but even this is highly conditional as we all well know. Any behavior contrary to expectation is bound to test its limits. Even at its most noble and sacrificial, it cannot last beyond a lifetime. Hence only finding God, Abba Father, the source of eternal life, and all that is, and experiencing His constant and unconditional Love can truly satisfy this yearning, this thirst!

Also, God’s Word nourishes and strengthens us, and was made flesh in the form of our Lord Jesus Christ, and dwelt amongst us, and accomplished all that was entrusted to Him! Thanks be to God forever! Amen! Alleluia!

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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Tuesday 9th January 2018

Feast of St. Adrian of Canterbury

1 Samuel:1/9-20 Psalm:1 Samuel: 2/1, 4-8 Mark:1/21-28 St. Adrian of Canterbury By birth he was African. He became a Benedictine monk in Italy. Though he was still young, he was made Abbot of the monastery of Nerida near Naples.

Outstanding for his learning and sanctity he was offered the post of Archbishop of Canterbury by the then Pope. As he considered himself unworthy of such a high office, he succeeded in persuading the Pope to appoint the 66 year old Theodore. He was detained in France for 2 years on suspicion of bearing secret messages to England. On returning home he was made Abbot of the monastery of St. Peter in Canterbury. Later under his guidance it became the seat of learning. The missionaries and scholars from this monastery established the faith in Germany.

The Gospel Proclamation They went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. .... Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God." But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent, and come out of him!" And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. They were all amazed, ...."What is this?

A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him." .....

Prayerful Awareness The synagogue was the place of

teaching and instruction. The ruler had liberty to call on any competent person to address the gathering. So we see Jesus was able to open His campaign in the synagogues.

"The gospel reports many incidents when Jesus was accused of violating the Sabbath Law. But Jesus never failed to respect the holiness of this day. He gives this law its authentic and authoritative interpretation. 'The Sabbath was made for man not man for the Sabbath'. With compassion, Christ declares the Sabbath for doing good rather than harm, for saving life rather than killing. The Sabbath is the Day of the Lord of mercies and a day to honour God. "The Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath." (C.C.C. 2173).

On meeting Jesus the demon-possessed in Palestine cried out. They knew that the reign of the Messiah was the end of demons. The ordinary Jewish and pagan exorcists used elaborate incantations and spells and magical rites to drive away demons. Jesus on the other hand exorcised demons with one word of clear simple order. No one had ever seen anything like that before. The power was not in the spell but in Him. People were astonished.

In God's agenda for His Son, one object (of His word) was the restoration of human nature to freedom from demonical influence. "We must wear faith and love as a breastplate and our hope of salvation as a helmet. God did not choose us to suffer his anger, but to possess salvation through Our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us in order that we might live together with Him whether we are alive or dead when He comes."

(1 Thessalonians 5:8-10) Prayer Starter Be our safeguard against the snares of the devil, defend us in the day of battle. Amen.

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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Wednesday 10th January 2018 1 Samuel:3/1-10,19-20 Psalm:39/2,5,7-10 (40/1,4,6-9) Mark:1/29-39 The First Proclamation Now, the boy Samuel was serving Yahweh in the presence of Eli; in those days it was rare for Yahweh to speak; visions were uncommon.

One day, it happened that Eli was lying down in his room. His eyes were beginning to grow dim; he could no longer see. The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying in Yahweh's sanctuary, where the ark of God was, when Yahweh called, 'Samuel! Samuel!' He answered, 'Here I am,' and, running to Eli, he said, 'Here I am, as you called me.'

Eli said, 'I did not call. Go back and lie down.'....As yet, Samuel had no knowledge of Yahweh and the word of Yahweh had not yet been revealed to him. Again Yahweh called, the third time....Eli then understood that Yahweh was calling the child, and he said to Samuel, 'Go and lie down, and if someone calls say, "Speak, Yahweh; for your servant is listening." ' So Samuel went and lay down in his place. Yahweh then came and stood by, calling as he had done before, 'Samuel! Samuel!' Samuel answered, 'Speak, Yahweh; for your servant is listening.'...Samuel grew up. Yahweh was with him and did not let a single word fall to the ground of all that he had told him. All Israel knew, from Dan to Beersheba, that Samuel was attested as a prophet of Yahweh.

Fix your gaze on Jesus

ing us to awareness; we stand before Your Living Word coming at us continuously (in the Never-Ending eternal NOW)........

The call which Divine grace designs shall be made effectual; will be repeated till it is so, till we come to (become aware of and respond to) the call. Eli, perceiving that it was the voice of God that Samuel heard, instructed him what to say. Eli did not consider it a disgrace for Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s call to be directed to Samuel, and instructed him on how to meet it.

Thus should elders do their utmost to assist and improve the younger that are rising up. Let us never fail to teach those who are coming after us, even such as will soon be preferred before us, ?Good thoughts and words should be put into childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s minds and mouths, by which they may be prepared to learn Divine things, and be trained up to regard them.

All increase in wisdom and grace, is owing to the presence of God with us.

God will graciously repeat his visits to those who receive them aright. Early piety will be the greatest honour of young people. Those who honour God, He will honour. Let young people consider the piety of Samuel, and from him learn to remember their Creator in the days of their youth. Young children are capable of religion training. Samuel is a proof that their waiting upon the Lord will be pleasing to Him. He is a preview of Jesus, of the patterns of all those amiable tempers to adorn ourselves with, which are the brightest ornament of youth, and a sure source of happiness.

Prayer Starter

Thank you O Lord for your guidance towards being perfect even as you are....

Thank you O Holy Lord for bring-

"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

Thursday 11th January 2018 1 Samuel: 4/1-11 Psalm: 43/1-11.14-15.

24-25 (44/9,10,13,14, 23, 24) Mark: 1/40-45 The Gospel Proclamation A leper came to him begging him, and kneeling he said to him, "If you choose, you can make me clean." Moved with pity, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, "I do choose.

Be made clean!" Immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. After sternly warning him he sent him away at once, saying to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them,." But he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the word, so that Jesus could no longer go into a town openly but stayed out in the country, and people came to him from every quarter.

Prayerful Awareness

that we should experience His loving presence and healing warmth. Also He would desire that we listen to Him in silent moments of the day.

Today's Good News throws us a ray of light. The leper came to Jesus kneeling down and begging he pleaded the will of Jesus in order to be healed by Him. "If you wish, you can make me clean" He had great faith in the power of Jesus to heal him completely. Instead of distancing Himself from the leper Jesus comes close to him and going still further touches him. Jesus goes beyond the strict observance of the law to execute the perfect Law of Love. "I do will it, Be made clean." That's how Jesus healed and that was His prayer.

No matter how terrible our sin or how distant we feel from God, Jesus loves us, forgives us and wants to heal us completely. Let us seek Him with confidence as did the leper because we believe He loves us and has compassion for us. Let us approach Him with true sorrow for our sins, yet without fear. If we approach Him He will stretch out His hand and touch us.

The leper represents all people stained by sin who are before God. God is righteous and holy and no unclean person can dwell in His presence. Sin separates us from God. Even so, God does not want His children to remain separated from Him and makes every provision for us to return to Him through His Son whose death and resurrection conquered sin.

Prayer Starter

We pray to Father God and it is our loving relationship with Him. Have we ever pondered what we are praying about? May be we pray for a long time or may be as a habit, but if we analyze our utterances, only then we would understand that our prayers are limited to our desires, wishes, likes and dislikes. All these are good and God will accept them. It shows that we Rouse yourself! Why do you sleep are depending on our Creator God for everything. But what does God expect O Lord? Awake, do not cast us off really from us? His greatest desire is forever!

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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Friday 12th January 2018 1 Samuel:8/4-7, 10-22 Psalm: 88/16-19 (89/15-18) Mark: 2/1-12 Gospel Proclamation When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days, it became known that he was at home. Many gathered together so that there was no longer room for them, not even around the door, and he preached the word to them. They came bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men.

Unable to get near Jesus because of the crowd, they opened up the roof above him. .... When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Child, your sins are forgiven.” Now some of the scribes were sitting there asking themselves, “Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming. Who but God alone can forgive sins?” Jesus immediately knew in his mind what they were thinking to themselves, so he said, “Why are you thinking such things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, pick up your mat and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth”— he said to the paralytic, “I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home.” He rose, picked up his mat at once, and went away in the sight of everyone. ....

Prayerful Awareness Jesus Christ was full of Love and Mercy and wanted to grant this Love and Mercy to everyone who asked for it. He was Son of Man and lived among people as an ordinary man in every aspect. He was also the Son of God, with all Godly qualities – Love and Mercy and was totally guided by the Holy Spirit of God on whom Jesus depended for Guidance and Help. Through the

Holy Spirit He could always approach God, His Father in heaven. In His day to day life, moving from place to place He chose Capernaum, Simon Peter’s place as His second home . This is where four men brought the paralytic to receive healing. We all know Jesus Christ was sent to us by God due to the Great Love and Mercy God has for man, to save all mankind from eternal death, to save all who believes in Jesus Christ ( John 3 : 16). For the Love Jesus had for mankind, He shared everything He had including God the Father and His inheritance to the Kingdom of God, with all who accepted Him and lived their lives according to His Teachings and Commandments. This is why He taught His followers to address God as ‘Father’ as their own Father, opening the door for a new relationship with God, bringing it to the same level Jesus Christ on earth had. Through His intercession, He also sent to us the Holy Spirit from God the Father ( John 14 : 15 – 17 ) to be with us all the time and Help and Guide us in the same way The Holy Spirit guided and Helped Him. This Holy Spirit is with all of us who accepts Jesus Christ as the sole Saviour and Lord (only Master) and live according to His Teachings and Commandments and follow to live our lives like the way Jesus Christ lived on earth fulfilling the Will of God, with all qualities of God, full of Love and Mercy for all.

Prayer Starter God our Loving Father , I Thank You for Your Great Love and Mercy for me and for all of us, Grant me and fill me with Your Holy Spirit to help and guide me to live my life on earth in the same way Jesus Christ lived on earth, fulfilling the Will of God to bring Glory to God in every thing I do, in every word I speak and in every thought of mine, in the name of my Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ, 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

Saturday 13th January 2018 1 Samuel:9/1-4,17-19.

10/1 Psalm:20/2-7 (21/1-6) Mark:2/13-17 The Gospel Proclamation Jesus went out again beside the sea; the whole crowd gathered around him, and he taught them. As he was walking along he saw Levi .... sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, "Follow me". And he got up and followed him.

And as he sat at dinner in Levi's house, many tax collectors and sinners were also sitting with Jesus and his disciples..... When the scribes of the Pharisees saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, they said to his disciples, "Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?"

When Jesus heard this, he said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick, I have come to call not the righteous but sinners."

Prayerful Awareness In this reading, Jesus saw Levi, a known “sinner”, sitting at the tax collector’s booth. What would we do in a similar situation? We try not to make eye contact with them, pretend to not see them, and we definitely do not want them to speak to us!

However, we may have some internal reactions; thoughts that involve negative judgement and/or emotions such as disgust. But what does Jesus do? He approaches Levi and then has a meal with him and his other “sinful” associates!

Jesus said, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9).

Jesus is definitely seeing Levi and the other “sinners” through God’s eyes and therefore has the ability to love them. Fr. Richard Rohr says “The only way I know how to love God and to teach you how to love God is to love what God loves. To love God means to love everything . . . no exceptions.

Of course, that can only be done with divine love flowing through us.” So how can we let this love flow through us rather than get blocked? “By way of contemplative, non-dualistic consciousness, where we stop eliminating and choosing. This is the transformed mind (Romans 12:2) that allows you to see God in everything, and empowers your behaviour to almost naturally change” (Fr. Rohr).

Non-dualistic thinking is to NOT classify things as good/bad, beautiful/ugly, right/wrong etc but to just see subject to subject. “The work of spirituality is to look with a different pair of eyes (non-dual eyes) beyond what Merton calls “the shadow and the disguise” of things until you can see them in their connectedness and wholeness. In a very real sense, the word God is just a synonym for everything. So if you do not want to get involved with everything, stay away from God” (Fr. Rohr).

Prayer Starter Oh my dualistic thinking that classify, prosecute and judge! Holy Spirit help me to connect with my inner true self so that I may see with the eyes of God and love everything…..

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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Sunday 14th January 2018 Second Sunday in Ordinary Time Ps. Wk II Teacher), "where are you staying?"

1 Samuel:3/3-10,19 He said to them, "Come and see."

Psalm:39/2,4,7-10 They came and saw where he was (40/1, 3, 6-9) staying, and they remained with him 1 Corinthians:6/13-15, that day. It was about four o'clock in 17-20 the afternoon. One of the two who John:1/35-42 heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.

The First Proclamation He first found his brother Simon The lamp of God had not yet gone and said to him, "We have found out, and Samuel was lying down in the Messiah" (which is translated the temple of the Lord, where the ark Anointed). He brought Simon to of God was. Then the Lord called, Jesus, who looked at him and said, "Samuel! Samuel!" and he said, "You are Simon son of John. You "Here I am!" and ran to Eli and are to be called Cephas" (which is said, "Here I am, for you called me." translated Peter).

The Second Proclamation But he said, "I did not call, lie down again." So he went and lay down.

"Food is meant for the stomach The Lord called again, "Samuel!" and the stomach for food," and Samuel got up and went to Eli, and God will destroy both one and the said, "Here I am, for you called me." other.

The body is meant not for But he said, "I did not call, my son, lie down again." Now Samuel did not fornication, but for the Lord and the yet know the Lord, and the word of Lord for the body. And God raised the Lord had not yet been revealed to the Lord and will also raise us by him. The Lord called Samuel again his power. Do you not know that a third time. And he got up and your bodies are members of Christ? went to Eli, and aid, "Here I am, for Should I therefore take the members you called me." Then Eli perceived of Christ and make them members that the Lord was calling the boy. of a prostitute? Never.

But anyone united to the Lord Therefore Eli said to Samuel, "Go, lie down; and if he calls you, you shall becomes one spirit with him. Shun say, 'Speak, Lord, for your servant is fornication! Every sin that a person listening." So Samuel went and lay commits is outside the body, but the fornicator sins against the body itself. down in his place.

Or do you not know that your body The Gospel Proclamation is a temple of the Holy Spirit within The next day John again was you, which you have from God, and standing with two of his disciples that you are not your own? For you and as he watched Jesus walk my, he were bought with a price; therefore exclaimed, "Look, here is the Lamb glorify God in your body. of God!" The two disciples heard Prayerful Awareness him say this, and they followed Jesus.

At the beginning of the Gospel of When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, "What are John there is a series of days, during you looking for?" They said to him, which John the Baptist points towards "Rabbi!" (which translated means Jesus and the first disciples gather

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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around their new master. As throughout all the Gospel traditions concerning John the Baptist, he points his disciples away from himself. The storyteller plays on verbs of motion. As Jesus passes by the Baptist and two disciples are standing (John 1:35-36). The Baptist physically points towards Jesus and announces that this man, passing by, is the Lamb of God (vs. 36) The disciples begin to move, away from the Baptist, towards Jesus. There is the beginnings of an act of faith in this initial movement of the disciples.

Never before in Jewish religion had a man been called 'the Lamb of God'.

Just what the disciples might have understood by that term is not clear, and it was probably not clear to them either. The fact is that they accept the witness of the Baptist and move off following the man indicated to them by their former master.

The motion of Jesus stops, as he turns and asks his new found followers.

'What do you want?' (vs.38). This is a major question, but for the moment the disciples are not able to comprehend just who Jesus is and what it is He has to offer. They address Him as a Teacher, and they want to know where He lives.

This is normal enough as the Rabbi sits in his house, gathers students around himself, and teaches them the Law. They think they have found a Rabbi.

Anyone reading the Gospel of John has already read the Prologue (see John 11-18), and is aware that Jesus is much more. He is the Word become flesh (1:14).

After staying with Him the disciples become aware that Jesus is more than a Rabbi. (vs.39). They hurry off to find Simon Peter, and they announce, "We have found the Messiah:" (vs.41). This is progress, but they think they could find the Messiah. There is a sense that Jesus is the Messiah, but His Messiahship will never simply fulfil the

expectations of the disciples. They will eventually come to understand that the Messiah finds them!

Jesus' promise to Simon Peter is an indication that such will be the case.

He uses the future tense. 'You are to be called Cephas - meaning Rock' (vs:42) At this stage in the story this all lies in the future. It must have been very confusing to these ex-disciples of the Baptist who followed Jesus of Nazareth, thinking they had found a Rabbi and a Messiah. They are being told that things will not be as they planned them - but as he will plan them.

So it will always be with disciples of Jesus. We all tend to make Jesus into the figure we would like Him to be: our Rabbi or our Messiah. In the end He is the Lord. He will call us into a discipleship which He will determine.

Jesus continues to stop on His journey, turn His gaze towards us and ask "What do you want?" We should know from experience that the only way to be a disciple of Jesus is to be a follower of Jesus. The disciples of today's Gospel believed they had found the person who would fulfil their hopes for a Rabbi and a Messiah. They still had a lot to learn, as do we all. How often we too try to lead Him where we would like to go, but find that, in the end, He is Lord of all and leads us where He will.

Prayer Starter Abba, we thank You for Your quiet, patient, unfolding of the mystery that You are enshrined in. You made the people of old to know you step by step as Creator, as Almighty, as Sovereign, as the Righteous Judge, as the Shepherd and in Jesus, Your beloved Son, You unceasingly reveal Yourself as our dear Father, our Abba. May we by the help of Your Spirit, in coming to know Your Son intimately, come to the ever-deepening realisation that we too are Your sons and daughters.

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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Monday 15th January 2018

1 Samuel:15/16-23 Psalm: 49/8-9,16-17, 21, 23 (50/8-9,16-17, 21, 23) Mark: 2/18-22 The Gospel Proclamation

Now John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting l and people came and said to him, "Why do John's disciples and the disciples of the Pharisee fast, but your disciples do not fast?" Jesus said to them, "The wedding guests cannot fast while the bridegroom is with them, can they? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast on that day.

No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old cloak; otherwise, the patch pulls away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear is made. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins, otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost, and so are the skins, but one puts new wine into fresh wineskins."

Prayerful Awareness Jesus compared Himself to a bridegroom. In the Bible the image of a BRIDE is often used for GOD'S PEOPLE and the image of a BRIDEGROOM for the GOD who LOVES them.

John had two goals to lead people to REPENT for their sin and to PREPARE them for Christ's coming.

John's message was sobering, so he

and his followers fasted. Fasting is both an OUTWARD sign of HUMILITY and REGRET for sin and an inner discipline that clears the MIND and keeps the SPIRIT alert.

Fasting empties the body of FOOD, repentance empties the life of SIN. Jesus' disciples did not need to fast to prepare for His coming, because He WAS WITH them. Jesus did not condemn fasting, however, He Himself fasted for 40 days. Nevertheless, Jesus EMPHASIZED fasting with right motives. The Pharisees fasted TWICE a week to SHOW others how HOLY they were. Jesus explained that if people fast only to impress others, they will be TWISTING the purpose of fasting Jesus placed an excellent fact before them. A wineskin was a goatskin, sewed together at the edges to form a water-tight bag. New wine expanding as it aged, stretched the wineskin.

NEW WINE, therefore could not be put into OLD WINESKIN that had already been stretched, or the taut skin would BURST. The Pharisees had become RIGID like old wineskins. They could not accept FAITH in Jesus that would not be contained or LIMITED by manmade ideas or rules. Our hearts, like wineskins, can become unyielding or inflexible and prevent us from accepting the NEW LIFE that Christ offers, unless we pray for the Holy Spirit's guidance to do God's Will.

Prayer Starter Almighty and everlasting Abba keep our hearts pliable and open to accept the life-changing truths of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour.

"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 16th January 2018 Isaiah:52/7-10 Psalm:96/1-3, 6-8, 10 Acts:20/17-18, 28-32, 36 Mark:16/15-20 St. Joseph Vaz He was born on 21st April 1651 in Goa, India. His parents were Christopher Vaz and Maria de Miranda. He was ordained priest at 25. His pioneering efforts in organizing the first ever indigenous missionary institute in the Third World known as the oratory of the Cross of Miracles of Old Goa not only ensured a steady supply of missionaries to continue the work in various places but actually helped revive the Church in Sri Lanka and save it from virtual extinction. In Sri Lanka he was imprisoned

by King Wimaladharmasuriya II. When small-pox spread in the Kandy area, he masterminded the relief operations. The king observed all these and granted him liberty to continue his mission and also to build churches. He was instrumental in dedicating the shrine of Our Lady of Madhu in 1705. Died - 16th January 1711. Beatified - January 21st, 1995 by Pope John Paul II. Canonized - 2015 by Pope Francis in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

The Gospel Proclamation

Feast of St. Joseph Vaz bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and he gave some to his companions."

Then he said to them, "The sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for the sabbath, so the Son of Man is Lord even of the sabbath."

Prayerful Awareness The Jewish people and their leaders viewed Jesus as a rabbi. He often argued within the framework of rabbinical interpretation of the Law. Yet Jesus could not help but offend the teachers of the Law, for He was not content to propose His interpretations alongside theirs, but taught the people 'as one who had authority and not as their scribes.' In Jesus the same Word of God that had resounded on Mount Sinai to give the written law to Moses, made itself heard anew on the Mount of Beatitudes. Jesus did not abolish the Law but fulfilled it by giving its ultimate interpretation in a divine way: 'You have heard that it was said to the men of old .... But I say to you .." With this same divine authority, He disallowed certain human traditions of the Pharisees that were 'making void the word of God. (CCC 581) Being a Christian would be easy if one is content with attending Church and abstaining from work and pleasure on Sunday, saying daily prayers and reading the Holy Bible. But at the heart of religion we have love, forgiveness, service and mercy. If these are not given priority, religion is on the decline. "Do for others just what you want them to do for you." (Luke 6:31). Help others and it is the best way to worship God. Prayer Starter

One sabbath he was going through the grainfields, and as they made their way his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. The Pharisees said to him, "Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the sabbath?" And he said to them, "Have you never read what David did when he and his companMake me a better Christian by makions were hungry and in need of food? ing me new everyday. Help me to make He entered the house of God, when Abiathar was high priest, and ate the myself available to you unconditionally.

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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Wednesday 17th January 2018 1 Samuel:17/32-33,37, 40-51 Psalm:143/1-2, 9-10 (144/1-2, 9-10) Mark: 3/1-6 The First Proclamation David said to Saul, 'Let no one be discouraged on his account; your servant will go and fight this Philistine.'

Saul said to David, 'You cannot go and fight the Philistine; you are only a boy and he has been a warrior since his youth.'...'Yahweh,' David went on, 'who delivered me from the claws of lion and bear, will deliver me from the clutches of this Philistine.' ….He took his stick in his hand, selected five smooth stones from the river bed and put them in his shepherd's bag, in his pouch; then, sling in hand, he walked towards the Philistine.... The Philistine said to David, 'Come over here and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the wild beasts!' David retorted to the Philistine, 'You come to me with sword, spear and scimitar, but I come to you in the name of Yahweh Sabaoth, God of the armies of Israel, whom you have challenged. Today, Yahweh will deliver you into my hand; I shall kill you, I shall cut off your head; today, I shall give your corpse and the corpses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the wild beasts, so that the whole world may know that there is a God in Israel, and this whole assembly know that Yahweh does not give victory by means of sword and spear -- for Yahweh is lord of the battle and he will deliver you into our power.'.... When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled.

Fix your gaze on Jesus Thank You Lord for setting before us the likes of David, the shepherd boy made king....the wonder of your deeds astound-

St. Anthony. Abbot ing us and empowering us to follow ….

David's character is such that he had embraced fully his given position in life; that of a shepherd's. He was not in to whining and complaining about his life's circumstances. The care and security the simple beasts needed were provided in ample measure by David dutifully and lovingly. The mind-set of entering fully in to the situation inevitably gravitates to continuous improvement of the skill set required to face the circumstances.

And David's circumstances were that of providing for his flock and safeguarding them from the carnivores hunting in the area. This is amply evidenced by his response to Saul who wanted to discourage this simple lad from facing off against the trained Philistine killer. Hear him again, “The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine”. In the course of his duties, David had faced off the mountain lions and bears of that area, armed with his staff and catapult. He had protected his charges, and may be even hunted the carnivores out of the area the flock needed to grace. He had the confidence in using these weapons, which in his hands were as deadly as the sword was in the hands of his adversary, and at a longer range. Thus did he cast off the (unfamiliar) protective gear Saul gave him for the battle. Taking care of the flock had trained and nurtured him well, imbibing within the attitudes critical towards being responsible for the Lord's chosen.

Prayer Starter Lord, thank you for enlightening us regarding the nurturing and training of the model King David. The forerunner for Jesus- our perfect model, we too could learn a lot from him. Turn us anew to look upon him closely, and learn the needed lessons, so that we too would begin to experience the confidence of being in your love and care momentarily....

"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 18th January 2018 1 Samuel:18/6-9,19/1-7 Psalm:55/2-3, 9-13 (56/1-2,8-13) Mark:3/7-12 The First Proclamation As they were coming home, when David returned from killing the Philistine, the women came out of all the towns of Israel, singing and dancing to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with songs of joy, and with musical instruments. And the women sang to one another as they made merry.

"Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands."

Saul was very angry, for this saying displeased him. He said, "They have ascribed to David ten thousands and to me they have ascribed thousands, what more can he have but the kingdom? So Saul eyed David from that day on.

Prayerful Awareness In the above reading, before Saul became preoccupied and obsessed by the thoughts of suspicion that prompted him to then plan to kill David, what arose in him was an emotional/physical reaction that swelled up within himself. This kind of trigger is named “painbody” by Eckhart Tolley. According to Tolley, painful life experiences become accumulated within us when we do not fully accept them when they first arose. For example, a student, after the death of his father, had to go back to university and continue his studies; he had to put aside his immense grief, forget the incident and get on with studies and exams. Therefore, the student did not have enough time to fully accept the painful experience.

Another much more common example is when we as children, experienced painful situations, but did not have the

emotional capability to express that sadness and fully accept the situation.

Therefore, we all have a painbody. This painbody is triggered by various, and mostly minor incidents.

Once the painbody emerges, it grasps the mind and inundates it with negative thinking. The negative thoughts that arose in Saul was “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, but to me they have ascribed thousands. Now what more can he have but the kingdom?”

Eckhart Tolley says the painbody starts feeding on these negative thoughts and then gets even more energised. So, for example, years after the death of the above student’s father, he gets married; the student who is now a lawyer, becomes triggered by his new born son’s cry (this is not his only trigger), which then cause arguments with his wife. The negative thoughts that might arise in such a situation are; why can’t my wife console my son, I married the wrong person, my wife can’t do anything right, remember last week when she didn’t cook and I was hungry, my wife is just like her mother whom I just can’t stand, oh I can’t live one more day with this woman!!

We need the Holy Spirit’s help to become aware of the painbody arising in us before it takes over our mind. Once the painbody has taken over the mind, the negative thoughts are likely to continue for hours, days, or even longer. It may even be active while trying to sleep or even while asleep. It will cause anger, arguments and even physical harm to others. When the painbody has subsided, we may not even remember what caused the fight in the first place.

Prayer Starter Be gracious to me O God, for people trample on me, all day long, for many fight against me. O Most High, when I am afraid, I put my trust in you.

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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Friday 19th January 2018 1 Samuel:24/2-20 (3-21) Psalm:56/2-4, 6,11 (57/1-3, 5, 10) Mark:3/13-19 Gospel Proclamation He went up the mountain and summoned those whom he wanted and they came to him. He appointed twelve [whom he also named apostles] that they might be with him and he might send them forth to preach and to have authority to drive out demons: he appointed the twelve: Simon, whom he named Peter; James, son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James, whom he named Boanerges, that is, sons of thunder; Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus; Thaddeus, Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot who betrayed him.

Prayerful Awareness Jesus Christ had a large number of followers. According to Acts 1 : 15, there was a group of about 120 followers who were praying at one place after His death and Resurrection. It is also said that after resurrection, He had appeared to more than 500 of His followers (1 Corinth. 15:6). We also know that in one occasion (Luke 10:1), He gave His powers and sent out 70 people in pairs, to visit prior to Him the places He intended to visit, to teach the people, cast out demons and cure the sick. Finally Jesus made a group of twelve persons as Apostles in order to give more consistency to His

mission; and also to signify the continuity of God’s project of building His kingdom. The twelve Apostles of the New Testament are the successors of the twelve Tribes of Israel. Jesus delegated them the authority to cast out demons and preach. Even today Jesus calls His followers with a changed personality to work with Him closely in building His kingdom.

In the First Reading David’s act made him a great example of a God’s servant. He resisted harming Saul who was searching to kill him, he moved first, and sought the good of his enemy. We have much to learn from David, but we know there were times in David's life where he did not perform as a good servant of God. However, there is a Greater David, Jesus Christ, the True King, who, at infinite cost to Himself, pursued us by dying and rising in our place, to win us the opportunity of becoming God's sons and daughters. Romans 5:8 says, "But God proves His Love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.”

Prayer Starter Lord Jesus Christ, I accept You as my Saviour and Lord , Help me to accept Your call to serve You as a True follower, to love others as You Love me, to abide with all Your Commandments and to receive the Holy Spirit, You will intercede and send to me from the Father to be with me all the time to Guide me and Help me. Thank You Lord, 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

Saturday 20th January 2018

Sts. Fabian and Sebastian

2 Samuel:1/1-4,11-12, follower. In the first reading David who was chosen as king waited patiently

19, 23-27 until Saul died to take the crown. In Psalm: 79/2-3,5-7 that waiting, his life was challenged, (80/1-2, 4-6) because Saul plotted to kill David many times. David too had many opMark:3/20-21 portunities to kill Saul. If David was Gospel proclamation greedy for the crown, he could have justified many times to say, “God apThen Jesus went back home pointed me as King”. However, David after choosing the disciples. A large was patient and depended on the Lord. crowd gathered around Jesus and We too are called to live the dying his disciples that they had no time to eat. When his family heard about values of society that is, honesty, faithit, they set out to take charge of him, fulness, integrity at all levels and work because people were saying, He’s not for our glory, but for the good of what it calls to be and most of all live gone mad. for the glory of God. In practicing any Gaze at Jesus’ sonship of these virtues, one could feel lonely, Let us visualize the situation Jesus isolated and abandoned. We will have is facing. He has returned to his home many trials, many fears. Lord wants after choosing his twelve disciples. us to be joyful always, be authoritative Just before this incident Marks’ Gos- like Himself without being fearful who pel says he was at the Lake of Galilee rose above the societal insults. We live where a large crowd had gathered and with the truth, Christ lives with us. So he was healing many. These miracu- let us venture for His Name. That was lous healings brought larger crowds. It the essence of the life of Jesus, and that was a new development and something (--not safety and security--) should be that never existed before. People the motto of every Christian and the were coming to see miracles, others mainspring of the Christian life. to receive healing some others because Prayer Starter they were curious and the sceptics who Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, called Jesus “mad”. The family was worried and concerned. In this chaos you who lead Joseph like a flock! You Jesus, led by the Holy Spirit brings it who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth before Ephraim and to a correct perception.

Benjamin and Manasseh. Stir up your Gaze at our sonship might, and come to save us! Restore Let us also identify ourselves with us, O God, let your face shine, that we our faith life. We too are misunder- may be saved. stood, misinterpreted and misjudged O Lord God of hosts, how long because of the stand we take against will you be angry with your people's societal values. It is the kind of calling prayers? You have fed them with the Jesus wants us to celebrate through bread of tears, and given them tears to our lives. drink in full measure. You make us the Therefore, let us prayerfully at- scorn of our neighbors, our enemies tempt to identify what the Lord is laugh among themselves. (Ps.80/1-2, asking from each one of us as a Christ 4-6)

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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Sunday 21st January 2018 Third Sunday in Ordinary Time Ps WK III Jonah:3/1-5, 10 out for the city of Nineveh, and Psalm: 24/4-9 announce to it the message that I (25/4-9) will tell you." We have covered only 1 Corinthians:7/29-31 a short distance on our trek to the Mark: 1/14-20 heart of the Abba when we hear the words thro' Jonah. "Forty days more Last Sunday we experienced a and Nineveh shall be destroyed." summons, a call to listen. We cried We need must be awe struck by the to the Lord during the course of last sin loaded people of Nineveh whose week. "Speak Lord, Your servant is positive response took the form of "a listening." This Sunday we hear the fast for all of them, great and small, Lord speaking to us through Jonah. and the putting on of sackcloth." We The First Proclamation hear the report of Jonah: "When God The word of the Lord came to saw by their actions, how they turned Jonah a second time, saying, "Get away from their evil way, He repented up, go to Nineveh, that great city, for the evil that He had threatened to and proclaim to it the message that do to them."

The Gospel Proclamation I tell you." So Jonah set out and went to Nineveh, according to the Now after John had been arword of the Lord. Now Nineveh was rested, Jesus came to Galilee, proan exceedingly large city, a three claiming the good news of God and days' walk across. Jonah began to saying "The time is fulfilled, and the go into the city, going a day's walk. kingdom of God has come near, reAnd he cried out, "Forty days more, pent, and believe in the good news." and Nineveh shall be overthrown."

As Jesus passed along the Sea And the people of Nineveh believed of Galilee, he saw Simon and his God, they proclaimed a fast, and brother Andrew casting a net into everyone, great and small, put on the sea - for they were fishermen. sackcloth.

And Jesus said to them, "Follow me When God saw what they did, and I will make you fish for people." how they turned from their evil And immediately they left their ways, God changed his mind about nets and followed him. As he went the calamity that he had said he a little farther, he saw James son would bring upon them, and he did of Zebedee and his brother John, not do it. who were in their boat mending the The first reading of this third Sun- nets. Immediately he called them, day in Ordinary Time of our journey, and they left their father Zebedee we have the example of prophet Jonah in the boat with the hired men, and who gets a word from the Lord. "Set followed him.

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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The words of Jonah to repent and reform did bear fruit - however there was more to the matter of repentance and return to God. Jesus is at the scene. He brings Good News. It's a call. It's a challenge. There can be no better, no greater. "The time is fulfilled. The reign of God is at hand.

Repent - reform your lives. Believe the Gospel."

Time is filled to the full with God's Love. He is incarnate and with us. He speaks directly like man to man. He carries with it the all embracing Holy, unconditional, gratuitous Love that man is yearning for "My heart has been made for you O God, it shall not rest until it rests in You." This Love is a sweet, benign, tolerant and understanding reign. The poor, the discarded will hold prominent place "Blessed are the poor for theirs is the reign of God." (Luke 6/21) The words of Jonah too reverberate though the tone is totally different.

The call is to come. Come as you are but be sincere, be honest, come to the banquet I've readied for you.

Don a wedding garment and come.

He explains what the repentance He speaks of really means. He has for us one of the most beautiful and greatest short stories ever told - The parable of the prodigal son, which is verily and truly the story of a generous, prodigal and benevolent father.

The Second Proclamation In the Second Proclamation we see Paul, the great Paul had returned to where he belongs - He had repented.

His life is a witness to the belief that Jesus called for. "Believe the Good News. "I mean brothers and sisters, the appointed time has grown short, from now on, let even those who have wives be as though they had none, and those who mourn as though they were not mourning and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no possessions and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away.

Paul brooks no compromise. he has a word for the married, for the sorrowing and for the consumerist.

He speaks out a life that is lived. He exhorts us to do so "The world as we know it is passing away."

Prayer Starter All powerful and ever-living God, direct Your love that is within us that our efforts in the name of Your Son may bring mankind to unity and peace.

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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Monday 22nd January 2018 2 Samuel:5/1-7. 10 Psalm:88/20-22, 25-26 (89/19-21,24-25)

Mark:3/22-30 The First Proclamation Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron, and said, "Look, we are your bone and flesh. For some time, while Saul was king over us, it was you who led out Israel and brought it in. The Lord said to you, It is you who shall be shepherd of my people Israel, you who shall be ruler over Israel." So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel. David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. ....

The Gospel Proclamation And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, "He has Beelzebul, and by the ruler of the demons he casts out demons." And he called them to him, and spoke to them in parables.

"How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but his end has come.

But no one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his property without first tying up the strong man, then indeed the house can be plundered.

"Truly I tell you, people will be forgiven for their sins and whatever blasphemies they utter, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit can never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin"- for they had said, "He has an unclean spirit."

Prayerful Awareness The Pharisees and the teachers of the Law could not deny the REALITY of Jesus' miracles and SUPERNATURAL power. They refused to believe that His power was from GOD, however, because then they would have had to ACCEPT Him as the MESSIAH. Their PRIDE would not let them do that. So in an attempt to destroy Jesus' popularity among the people, the Pharisees accused Jesus of having power from Satan. Jesus' reply showed that their argument DID NOT make SENSE (Beelzebul refers to Satan).

Although God permits Satan to work in our world, GOD is still in CONTROL. Jesus, because He is God, has power over Satan. Jesus is able to drive out demons and END their terrible work in people's lives. One day Satan will be bound FOREVER (Revelation 20:10).

Christians sometimes wonder if they have committed this sin of BLASPHEMY against the Holy Spirit. Christians need not worry about this sin, because this sin is attributing to the devil what is WORK of the Holy Spirit. It reveals a HEART attitude of UNBELIEF and UNREPENTANCE. Deliberate, ongoing rejection of the work of the Holy Spirit IS blasphemy, because it is rejecting GOD Himself. The religious leaders accused Jesus of blasphemy, but ironically THEY were the GUILTY ONES when they looked Jesus in the face and accused Him of being possessed by Satan.

We see that the Sadducees, Pharisees and Teachers of the Law, denied Jesus' AUTHORITY and POWER, because, Jesus did not obey all their traditions.

They were notoriously wicked people.

Prayer Starter Lord, please cultivate the fruit of the Spirit to change us, our thinking, our attitudes, and our actions, to grow and mature in Jesus Christ, so we can impact the lives of those around us.

"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 23rd January 2018

St. Emrentina, Virgin Martyr

2 Samuel:6/12-15, 17-19 Psalm:23/7-10 (24/7-10) Mark:3/31-35 St. Emerentina According to Roman Martyrlogy, she was the foster sister of St. Agnes. Both of them were as much the same age. Emerentina was yet only a catechumen. While praying beside the grave of St. Agnes, she was stoned to death, thus receiving the baptism of blood. She was buried in the Cemeterium Majus, a little farther along Via Nomentana in Rome; then the spot where the Basilica dedicated to St. Agnes was erected. Later her remains were transferred to the Basilica.

The Gospel Proclamation Then his mother and his brothers came; ..., they sent to him and called him. A crowd was sitting around him; ...., "Your mother and your brothers and sisters are outside asking for you."

And he replied, "Who are my mother and my brothers?" And looking at those who sat around him, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother."

Prayerful Awareness What is true kingship? A matter of flesh and blood? To be nearer to someone who is not a blood relation is possible. The deepest relationship is the relationship of heart to heart and mind to mind. The blood relationship devoid of mind to mind and heart to heart is not a real one. Real relationship includes or is made up of common interests, principles and goals in life. As true Christians we must enter into a deep relationship with God. When one does God's Will, and gives it the due place in one's life, He can enter into that deep relationship with him. In Jesus Christ, we have the perfect

model. All who do God's Will are related to Jesus and they enter into that deep relationship, heart to heart and mind to mind, with Him. True kingship lies in common interests. A prayer group where the members are interested in reading and sharing the Holy Bible, know and experience Jesus Christ, and share life experiences - it is here we can find the origin and development of true kinship - the true relationship where the founder and master are one - Jesus Christ. When it grows deeper and deeper the members share not only their life experiences but also inner and deeper problems of life, family life etc. No wonder when Jesus Christ is the Lord of one's life, it is made possible with the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit who indwells everyone. Because of the common obedience to the Lord the members are held together, the natural understanding is deepened and the willingness to help and share is fostered.

"The great Christian mystery is not dependant on flesh and blood, but on union with divine nature through grace. The mystery came to an end on Calvary. There she became our mother, the moment she lost her Divine Son. What seemed an alienation of affection was in reality a deepening of affection.

Mary died to the love of Jesus at Cana, and recovered Jesus again at Calvary with His Mystical Body which He redeemed. It was for the moment, a poor exchange, giving up her Divine Son to win mankind, but in reality she did not win mankind apart from Him. It was the greatest of all honours to be the mother of Christ, but it was also a great honour to be the mother of Christians. There was no room in the inn for that first birth, but Mary had the whole world for her second.

Prayer Starter Give us a new eye to see You in our neighbours and to help them unreservedly.

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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Wednesday 24th January 2018 2 Samuel: 7/4-17 Psalm:88/4-5, 27-30 (89/3-4,26-29) Mark: 4/1-20 The First Proclamation But that very night, the word of Yahweh came to Nathan: 'Go and tell my servant David, "Yahweh says this: Are you to build me a temple for me to live in? I have never lived in a house from the day when I brought the Israelites out of Egypt until today, but have kept travelling with a tent for shelter...." This is what you must say to my servant David, "Yahweh Sabaoth says this: I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be leader of my people Israel; I have been with you wherever you went; I have got rid of all your enemies for you. I am going to make your fame as great as the fame of the greatest on earth. I am going to provide a place for my people Israel; I shall plant them there, and there they will live and never be disturbed again; nor will they be oppressed by the wicked any more, as they were in former times ever since the time when I instituted judges to govern my people Israel; and I shall grant you rest from all your enemies. Yahweh furthermore tells you that he will make you a dynasty. And when your days are over and you fall asleep with your ancestors, I shall appoint your heir, your own son to succeed you ... I shall be a father to him and he a son to me; if he does wrong, I shall punish him... but my faithful love will never be withdrawn from him as I withdrew it from Saul, whom I removed from before you..." ' Nathan related all these words and this whole revelation to David.

St. Francis de Sales Fix your gaze on Jesus Jesus, O Son of God, the First born, who was with God and is God, renew us!

Blessings are promised to the family and posterity of David. These promises relate to Solomon, David's immediate successor, and the royal line of Judah.

And they also relate to Christ, who is often called David and the Son of David.

To him God gave all power in heaven and earth, with authority to execute judgement. He was to build the gospel temple, a house for God's name; the spiritual temple of true believers, to be a habitation of God through the Spirit. The establishing of his house, his throne, and his kingdom for ever, can be applied to no other than to Christ and his kingdom: David's house and kingdom have long since come to an end.

The committing iniquity cannot be applied to the Messiah himself, but to his spiritual seed; true believers have infirmities, for which they must expect to be corrected, though they are not cast off. This is the on-going process called life, in order that we may learn to despise the vain honours of this world, as compared with piety and holiness. We have to open up to the potential of our true spiritual nature.

It was so ordered that Christ should partake of our nature, yet that he should be pure from the defilement of original sin, which has been communicated to all the sons of Adam. God's instructions are most listened to, when His people are at a loss. Divine comforts most delight the soul when under the pressure of twisted, tangled up and perplexed thoughts and their consequences.

Prayer Starter Lord, we need help to see the great crimes we do to ourselves in straying from the given path. The thought patterns we habitually indulge in are convoluted and steal from us the experience of LOVE; of GOD. Do renew our minds, hearts â&#x20AC;Ś..

"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

Thursday 25th January 2018 Acts:22/3-16 OR Acts:9/1-22 Psalm:116/1-2 (117/1-2) Mark: 16/15-18 The First Proclamation "I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel,..... I persecuted this Way up to the point of death by binding both men and women and putting them in prison, as the high priest and the whole council of elders can testify about me. From them I also received letters to the brothers in Damascus and I went there in order to bind those who were there and to bring them back to Jerusalem for punishment. "While I was on my way and approaching Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone about me. I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?' I answered, 'Who are you, Lord?' Then he said to me, 'I am Jesus of Nazareth whom you are persecuting.' .... I asked , 'What am I to do, Lord?' The Lord said to me, 'Get up and go to Damascus; there you will be told everything that has been assigned to you to do.' Since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, those who were with me took my hand led me to Damascus.

A certain Ananias, who was a devout man, .... came to me; and standing beside me, he said, "Brother Saul, regain your sight!' In that very hour I regained my sight and saw him. Then he said, 'The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will, to see the Righteous One and to hear his own voice, for you will be his witness to all the world of what you

Conversion of St. Paul have seen and heard. And now why do you delay? Get up, be baptized, and have your sins washed away, calling on his name.'

Prayerful Awareness The first reading is a good example where Jesus changes the lives of people from inside to out. It means a complete change over.

Paul went out from Jerusalem to Damascus threatening to bring all followers of Jesus bound, whom he met on the way, with the intention of persecuting them. On the say Jesus appeared to him in a vision and demanded from him why he was persecuting Him. To Jesus all Christians mean Jesus Himself. That was the interpretation that Jesus gave to His faithful followers. While Jesus was living in the world, He said "Whatever you do to the least of my brethren you do it unto me." It shows how much Jesus loved His faithful followers.

Saul asked Him "Who are you Lord?" without knowing the greatness of the speaker. He fell from a great height to the ground. In the common man's sight Saul was so arrogant and powerful that he had the power to overthrow and carry away any follower of Jesus. This looked like Saul's fall but it was his rise into the hands of Jesus. Paul fell from sin and pride, but rose up to life of repentance and grace and fellowship with Jesus our Lord. With Paul's worldly fall he became blind, but with Annanias' prayerful laying of hands, Paul not only regained his sight but was also filled with the Holy Spirit. Such was Paul's transformation from a persecutor of Jesus to a faithful follower and preacher of His. Prayer Starter He touched me, Oh He touched me, And Oh! the joy that floods my soul.

Something happened and now I know, He touched me and made me whole.

Gaither

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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Friday 26th January 2018 2 Timothy: 1/1-8 OR Titus: 1/1-5 Psalm:95/1-3, 7-8,10 (96/1-3, 7-10) Luke: 10/1-9 The First Proclamation Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ to further the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness— in the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time, and which now at his appointed season he has brought to light through the preaching entrusted to me by the command of God our Savior, To Titus, my true son in our common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior. ....

The Gospel Proclamation After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others .... He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road. “When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you. Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house. “When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you. Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’

Prayerful Awareness The Good News is that “…the hope of eternal life, which God…promised before the beginning of time…” (Titus) belongs to everyone who believes in Jesus Christ.

Today’s readings emphasize the responsibility we have to further faith in others,

Sts. Timothy & Titus and enlightens us on key characteristics of how and what it means to share the Good News.

Firstly, we see that the mission is disruptive. It overhauls the current, complacent, self-absorbed order of things. In the gospel proclamation, the disciples are instructed to go in pairs. Where they are accepted, they gather people together as a community around Christ. They do not simply preach; they perform miracles. Jesus also commands, “Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you.” This is a particularly significant gesture as the appointed are Jews, traveling to Gentile towns who do not follow the same rituals of preparing food. By depending on their hosts’ generosity, it cancels differences and fosters deeper connection and thereby readiness to receive Jesus in an atmosphere of unity and love.

Peace is a key identifying characteristic of a true believer. As Paul wishes Titus, “Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Saviour,” (Titus 1:4) we too should strive for a closer relationship with the Father, the Son, and the Spirit to experience His peace and give it to others.

The third characteristic is Jesus’ advice to travel lightly. We should strive to go through life with as less attachments to material possessions. Thereby, we have less restrictions and are freer to leave our comfort zones to unite with people with the purpose of sharing Christ.

For the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. As the 72 depart to prepare the hearts and lives of Gentiles to receive Jesus, it is our duty to do the same in the present day in preparation for the Lord’s second coming.

Prayer Starter “Christ has no body on earth but yours;no hands but yours; no feet but yours. Yours are the eyes through which the compassion of Christ looks out to the world. Yours are the feet with which he is to go about doing good. Yours are the hands with which he is to bless others now.” - St. Teresa of Avila

"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 27th January 2018 2 Samuel:12/1-7, 10-17 Psalm:50/12-17 (51/12-17) Mark:4/35-41 Gospel Proclamation On that day, as evening drew on, he said to them, “Let us cross to the other side.”Leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat just as he was. And other boats were with him. A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was already filling up.

Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. They woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Quiet!

Be still!” The wind ceased and there was great calm. Then he asked them, “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?” They were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?”

Prayerful Awareness Jesus Christ was there in the boat when the storm broke out, but the disciples were terrified as the boat was getting filled with water and had to wake up Jesus for help. Jesus rebuked the wind to calm the sea and asked the disciples what faith they have. Disciples were surprised of the power Jesus had.

The twelve disciples who were also named as apostles were appointed by Jesus to be with Him and to send them to preach and to have authority to drive out demons ( Mark 3 : 14 - 15 ), but they were terrified thinking they were going to lose their lives as they did not believe who Lord was due to lack of faith. In the same manner today we meet many baptized Catholics who know that they are baptized and blessed with the Holy

St. Anjela Merici

Spirit to give them faith, to take all their issues through the Holy Spirit to Lord Jesus Christ who is with us till the end times (Mathew 28:20). Sometimes some of our communities feel like a small boat lost in the sea of life, without much hope of arriving to the port, with Jesus seeming to be asleep in the boat.

If we are not aware of the Holy Spirit within us whom we received at Baptism, we will lack faith to know that Lord Jesus loves us and cares for us and is with us till the end times, to take all our problems to God the Father who loves and cares for our wellbeing all the time, and wants to save all of us, to spend the rest of our lives with Him. If we have faith we can always have hope that Lord will do something to help us then we will also have love for others as Lord has taught us to love others and share and help, and our lives will be peaceful and happy, with less persisting worries and troubles as Lord is with us to give strength, wisdom and the power to face them, and help us win them.

In the First Reading, God sent His servant, Nathan ( a prophet ) to King David to speak on the crime he had carried out secretly and on the punishment due to him. King David accepted the sin he committed and immediately repented saying “I have sinned against the Lord” and Nathan answered “The Lord on His part has forgiven your sin: you shall not die, but since you have utterly spurned the Lord by this deed, the child born to you must surely die.”

Prayer Starter Holy Spirit, guide me and remind me of all the sins I have committed against Lord God and His Great Love, and help me to truly repent for all such sins. Grant me wisdom to resist sin and not to sin again, and also to forgive all who sin against me. Thank You Holy Spirit, Amen

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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Sunday 28th January 2018

Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time Holy Childhood Sunday Ps. Wk IV

Deuteronomy:18/15- 20 Psalm: 94/1-2, 6-9 (95/1-2, 6-9) 1 Corinthians:7/32-35 Mark:1/21-28 OR Deuteronomy:6/1-9 Psalm: 127/1-5 (128/1-5) Colossians:3/12-21 Mark:10/13-15

The First Proclamation

The Gospel Proclamation They went to Capernaum; and when the Sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God." But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent, and come out of him!" and the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, "What is this? A new teaching -with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him." At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.

Let us join the synagogue goers in Capernaum on this particular Sabbath and listen to Jesus and reflect on His words. His are, words put into His mouth by the Abba. We are spell-bound and enraptured by what He said and did as also the way He said and did what He did. There was unquestionable authority in His voice. What He did and the way He did it is verily astounding. Its an order the unclean spirit had naught to do but obey. "Be quiet. Come out of the man". The evil one did shriek loudly and he did convulse the man in his grips but he had to go. Jesus

A prophet like me will the Lord your God, raise up for you from among your own kinsmen, to him you shall listen. This is exactly what you requested of the Lord, your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly, when you said, 'Let us not again hear the voice of the Lord, our God, nor see this great fire any more, lest we die.' and the Lord said to me, 'This was well said. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their kinsmen, and will put my words into his mouth; he shall tell them all that I command him. If any man will not listen to my words which he speaks in my name, I myself will make him answer for it. But if a prophet presumes to speak in my name an oracle that I have not commanded him to speak, or speak in the name of other gods he shall die."

Jesus is the prophet of prophets God raised up. God has put words into His mouth. He will tell the people all that God commanded Him. "Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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spoke with authority and uncompromisingly. He has unleashed an "assault" on the reign of Satan.

Let us pause for a spell of deep communion with Him. He speaks to us with authority. He makes two distinct commands. The first word is 'Come' and the second is 'Go'. We are to obey His command to come to Him and to be with Him, learn from Him and be tutored by Him. He invites us to commune with Him. Once the period of training and experiencing Him personally is done, to go and do what the Abba wants us to do, We've to do what He did, i.e.

- Proclaim Him - Make people encounter Him personally - Break down the power of the evil one - Extend the healing touch to broken bodies, minds and hearts - Commune with one another as the Father did with the Son and the Son with the Father in the Holy Spirit.

- Be Church, localize it in a small community - Take up the cross daily and follow Him - Lay down our lives - sacrificially as He did in Love - Establish the Abba's reign in society - challenge its values and hasten the coming of the Father's reign so that the New earth and New heavens is a reality - Let God's justice and not any other ideology take precedence

The Second Proclamation It's Paul once again, sharing a word with us. He would say, "I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the affairs of the Lord, how to please the Lord; but the married man is anxious about the affairs of the world, how to please his wife, and his interests are divided. And the unmarried woman and the virgin are anxious about the affairs of the Lord, so that they may be holy in body and spirit, but the married woman is anxious about the affairs of the world, how to please her husband. I say this for your own benefit, not to put any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and unhindered devotion to the Lord.

Paul who could say elsewhere: "You should realize, then, that the real descendants of Abraham are the people who have faith" shares intimately with those who are called like him to a life of deep, very deep commitment to follow suit.

- Be a virgin - Let not the care of the world absorb you - Devote yourself entirely to the Lord and what He stood for - the Reign of God among men.

Prayer Starter Lord our God, help us to love with all our hearts and to love all men as You love them.

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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Monday 29th January 2018 2 Samuel: 15/13-14,

30; 16/5-13 Psalm: 3/2-7 (3/1-7) Mark: 5/1-20 The Gospel Proclamation They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. ..., immediately a man out of the tombs with an unclean spirit met him. ...

When he saw Jesus from a distance, ...., and he shouted at the top of his voice.

"What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me." For he had said to him, "Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!" Then Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" He replied, "My name is Legion, for we are many." He begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country.

Now there on the hillside a great herd of swine was feeding, and the unclean spirits begged him, "Send us into the swine, let us enter them." So he gave them permission. ....

Fix your gaze on Jesus Post-modern people do not understand the stories of exorcism. However, stories of exorcism are abundant in Jesus’ ministry. Driving out the devil seems most likely a metaphor of what we now call addiction. There are seven clear stories of Jesus driving out the devil. The first incident occurs in the sacred place of the synagogue, which appear to be an addiction to religion. Two other devils keep people blind and mute; another that keeps a woman bent over; the fifth is in a boy that is self-destructive (such a common story today); another appear as a girl with a sense of unworthiness; and the seventh is chained in the cemetery by the local people. In addition to the above seven occasions, there are four further occasions in the Gospel of driving out

the devil.

What is this referring to? Why don’t we do exorcisms anymore? Has it taken on a new form? Yes, it does appear to have taken on a new form in this modern day. Exorcism was a primitive and truthful way of referring to addiction. In other words, it is a great metaphor for addiction. How is this so? We see that when a person is possessed by the devil, it is something that happens TO them, rather than a CHOICE the person makes. Yet, it took centuries to accept addiction as a disease. History thought of people with addiction as morally inferior individuals.

However, it is now more correct to view addiction as something that is done to you and is accepted as a disease. It is a force larger than the person which, in the gospel is personified as the devil, and once possessed, they are paralysed. Today we call this being “powerless” to do anything about it. The addicted are trapped.

In several cases in the Gospel, the person that seeks help is not the person that is possessed but the mother, father or someone else in the family. The wounded one does not yet recognise what they are dealing with. However, in the healing, both the person seeking help on their behalf and the addicted person is healed.

How incredible that the metaphors in the Gospel are all correct, yet it has been understood by modern day people too literally and hence not taken seriously.

Intelligence or willpower has nothing to do with coming out of addiction. A spiritual solution is needed.(Fr. Richard Rohr on Exorcism Stories articulating Addictions, available on YouTube) Prayer Starter O Lord, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me; many are saying to me, "There is no help for you in God." But you, O Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, and the one who lifts up my head.

I cry aloud to the Lord and he answers me from his holy hill.

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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Tuesday 30th January 2018 2 Samuel: 18/9-10,14,

24-25, 30-19/3, Psalm: 85/1-6 (86/1-6) Mark: 5/21-43 St. Bathildis She was a Catholic girl from England, who had been sold as a slave to the "Majordomo" of King Clovis II of Neustria and Burgundy. The king impressed by her beauty and Christian values, freed her and married her in 649. She thus became the mother of 3 kings. When her first son, Clovis died, she was proclaimed "Queen Regent" under the nominal reign of her 5 year old son Clothaire. She was instrumental in abolishing the trade in Christian slaves; simony among the clergy and oppressive taxation. Through her generosity she built numerous hospitals and monasteries. The last 15 years of her life was spent as a humble nun, serving the poor.

After a painful illness, she breathed her last at Challes on 30th January 680.

The Gospel Proclamation .... Then one of the leaders of the synagogue .... , "My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well, and live." So he went with him. .... Now there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years. .... She had heard about Jesus and came up behind him .... and touched his cloak, ..., "If I but touch his clothes, I will be made well." Immediately her hemorrhage stopped, and she felt in her body that she was healed.... Immediately aware that power had gone forth from him, Jesus turned ... "Who touched my clothes?" .... But the woman knowing what had happened to her, came in fear ..... He said to her, "Daughter

Feast of St. Bathildis, Queen your faith has made you well, go in peace and be healed of your disease." .... Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher any further. But ... Jesus said ... "Do not fear only believe." .......

Prayerful Awareness Going back to Naaman (2 Kings 5) and his leprosy, we see Elisha's prescription that he should wash in the waters of Jordan. Naaman the commander of the Syrian army, got rid of his pride, complied with Elisha's instructions and was made well. Similar things have happened here. The woman had faith and she touched Jesus' cloak with faith. She was healed. Weren't there others in that crowd who wanted to be cured? Because they did not touch Him with faith they were not cured. But this particular woman found medicine in faith. The divine physician found what was most needed in her and cured her. The problem with us .... do we touch Him with faith? What issues of passions - anger, gluttony, pride, theft etc - are we engulfed with?

How can we touch the Divine Physician? Touch Him with faith. "The body without the Spirit is dead, so also, faith without actions is dead." (James 2:26).

"Prayer to Jesus is answered by Him during His ministry, through signs that anticipate the power of His death and resurrection: Jesus heard the prayer of faith expressed in words (the leper, the Canaanite woman, the good thief) or in silence (the bearers of the paralytic, the tears and ointment of the sinful woman).

Healing infirmities or forgiving sins, Jesus always responds to a prayer offered in faith: "Your faith has made you well; go in peace." (C.C.C. 2616) Prayer Starter Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, have mercy on us, poor sinners.

Amen.

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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Wednesday 31st January 2018 2 Samuel:24/2, 9-17 Psalm: 31/1-2, 5-7 (32/1-2, 5-7) Mark: 6/1-6 The First Proclamation The king said to Joab and the senior army officers who were with him, 'Now, go through all the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beersheba, and take a census of the people; I wish to know the size of the population.'....

Joab gave the king the census results for the people... But afterwards David's heart misgave him for having taken a census of the people. David then said to Yahweh, 'I have committed a grave sin by doing this. But now, Yahweh, I beg you to forgive your servant for this fault, for I have acted very foolishly.' When, however, David got up next morning, the following message had come from Yahweh to the prophet Gad, David's seer, 'Go and say to David, "Yahweh says this: I offer you three things; choose which one of them I am to inflict on you." So Gad went to David and said, 'Which do you prefer: to have three years of famine befall your country; to flee for three months before a pursuing army; or to have three days of epidemic in your country? Now think, and decide how I am to answer him who sends me.' David said to Gad, 'I am very apprehensive . . . Better to fall into Yahweh's hands, since his mercies are great, than to fall into the hands of men!' So David chose the epidemic...

Yahweh unleashed an epidemic on Israel...plague ravaged the people... seventy thousand died. But when the angel stretched his hand towards Jerusalem to destroy it, Yahweh felt sorry about the calamity and said to the angel who was destroying the people, 'Enough now! Hold your hand!'... David saw the angel who

St. John Bosco

was ravaging the people, he said to Yahweh, 'I was the one who sinned. I was the one who acted wrongly. But these, the flock, what have they done?

Let your hand lie heavy on me and on my family!'

Fix your gaze on Jesus Awaken us O Holy Spirit! Indeed guide us towards becoming aware of the great injury we do to ourselves and your blessed creation when we Sin! It is well, when a man has sinned, if he still has a heart sensitive enough within to smite him for it. Indeed if our hearts are not benumbed by selfish thoughts and beliefs distancing ourselves from our brethren and the joyous creation, we will feel smitten when we sin. When we turn back and confess our sins, we must faithfully pray that God would forgive and in His pardoning mercy take away the sin which we cast away by sincere repentance. If we habour pride within, it is just in God to take from us what we are proud of, or make bitter to us, and make it our punishment. Todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s scriptural situation must be such a punishment, for though it was David's sin that opened the sluice, the sins of the people all contributed to the flood.

David chose a judgement which came immediately from God, whose mercies he knew to be very great, rather than from men. In choosing the pestilence, he and his family were equally at risk as the poorest Israelite; and he would continue to experience the Divine rebuke for a shorter time, however severe it was. The rapid effects of the pestilence shows how easily God can bring down the proudest, and how reliant we are on Divine patience and mercy.

Prayer Starter O for a heart and mind that admits the possibility for us to experience love unconditionally, and our ability to respond freely in Loveâ&#x20AC;Ś.

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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