Walk in the Spirit May 2018 by Pubuduwa

WALK IN THE SPIRIT May 2018 Volume 05 Issue 16

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord"

ISSN 1391-5967

Publication: Fr. Siri Oscar Abayaratne Kithu Dana Pubuduwa

SHARING ON PRAYER May 2018

What happened in the Blessed Mother must happen in all humanity. She is the symbol of God’s final victory in humanity. The closer I come to her, I shall be empty and I shall be filled.

The “weakness” I experience today is an “emptying” of my ‘Ego’. There doesn’t seem to be a better way to ‘lose self’ than the deep awareness of being highly filled with ‘self’ that I am. This of course would not happen unless the “Spirit” is beside me.

Fr. Siri Oscar Abayaratne

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

Tuesday 1st May 2018

St. Joseph the Worker

or be afraid with His going. He also promised to come back to them after fulfilling the Will of God the Father, the purpose He came for. By carrying out the Will of God the Father, Jesus brought glory to God the Father, and in return God raised Jesus to glory to be with Him, and this is why Jesus said that “you would rejoice that I am going to Father who is greater than I”. Although He was taken away from the disciples who could not face it or drink from the same cup (Mathew 20 : 22), He came back to His disciple as the Gospel Proclamation Risen Lord, after Resurrection having Peace I leave with you; my peace I been raised to be with Almighty God give to you. I do not give to you as the the Father, as the Second Person in the world gives. Do not let your hearts Holy Trinity. From the above scripture, be troubled, and do not let them be Jesus also gave us in the world the afraid. You heard me say to you, 'I message that He loves God the Father am going away, and I am coming and does only the Will of the Father, to to you.' If you loved me, you would show us His followers that we should rejoice that I am going to the Father, do the same. Jesus further said that He because the Father is greater than I. is the vine and God the Father is the And now I have told you this before grower. We as His followers whom it occurs, so that when it does occur, He has chosen and appointed should you may believe. I will no longer talk bear fruit, by carrying out the Will of much with you, for the ruler of this God and should work to spread His world is coming. He has no power Word and chosen ones who do not live over me, but I do as the Father has according to His Will would be cut off commanded me, so that the world as branches that do not bear fruit. may know that I love the Father. The First reading shows us how Rise, let us be on our way. St. Paul who was delivering the Word Prayerful Awareness of Lord as entrusted to all disciples, Jesus gave the disciples the Gift of followers and believers (Mathew 28 : ‘Peace’, not the word ‘peace’ defined 19 to 20 ) was stoned and dragged out by the world, showing an absence of of the city. We too are called to deliver civil disturbance or hostilities, or a per- the Word of Jesus Christ to the world sonality free from internal and external to save the world as St. Paul did. Prayer Starter strife. This peace,Jesus wished,also expressed as “Shalom” in Hebrew Lord Jesus Christ, purify our hearts meaning peace, harmony, wholeness, completeness, prosperity, welfare and and minds and help us understand Your tranquility. It is a Special Blessing Love for us and live our lives the way Jesus granted to His disciples to give You showed us to bear fruit as God’s them strength and power, as He asked children who fulfill His Will in everythem not to let their hearts be troubled thing we do, Thank You Jesus, Amen

Acts: 14/19-28 Psalm:144/10-13, 21 John: 14/27-15/3 OR Genesis:1/26-2/3 OR Colossians:3/`3,14-15, 17, 23-24` Psalm:89/2-4,12-14,16 (90/2-4,12-14,16) Matthew:13/54-58

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

Wednesday 2nd May 2018 Acts: 15/1-6 Psalm:121/1-5 (122/1-5 John: 15/1-8

St. Athanasius, Bishiop & Doctor

The First Proclamation Then certain individuals came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved." And after Paul and Barnabus had no small discussion and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to discuss this question with the apostles and the elders. So they were sent on their way by the church and as they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, they reported the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the believers. When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them. But some believers who belonged to the sect of the Pharisees stood up and said, "It is necessary for them to be circumcised and ordered to keep the law of Moses."

The Gospel Proclamation

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes, to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever

does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.

Gaze at Jesus

"Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit" Speaking out of his own experience Jesus invites all of us to enter into a life of deep relationship with Him so as to bear fruit. Constantly remaining in the hands of the Father, depending on Him and obeying Him, Jesus who entered into a very deep relationship with the Father actually had no life apart from Him. This connection enabled Him to produce a hundred per cent harvest in His great mission of redeeming man thus glorifying God as the beloved Son of the Father and making Himself the Suffering Servant.

Towards self

Do I bear witness to a life of intimate relationship with Christ? Or, do I respond to daily events with reactions that spring forth from the flesh. Am I aware of my actions? Is there an urge in me to be conscious and to engage myself in joint-action with the love of Christ. I shall take refuge in the Holy Spirit to hold on to the promise and the request of the Lord, "Make your home in me, as I make mine in you."

Prayer Starter

O Holy Spirit, empower me to make my own the words, "If you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask what you will and you shall get it," to lead a life rooted in faith, hope and love and to produce a hundred per cent harvest in reaching out to others with the Good News of the Gospel.

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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

Thursday 3rd May 2018 1 Corinthians: 15/1-8 Psalm:18/2-5 (19/1-4) John: 14/6-14

Sts. Philip & James, Apostles you ask in my name so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. ... Prayerful Awareness

*Philip who became a disciple accepting the invitation of Jesus, "Come, follow me," was born at Bethsaida in Galilee. It was Philip who called Nathanael to Jesus, with "Come and see." He who preached the Gospel throughout Asia Minor, towards 80 A.D. glorified the Lord by offering up his life for the same cause. *James, a brother of St. Jude Thaddeus is thought to have been a cousin of Jesus. He who abstained himself from wine and meat was a devout disciple bent on prayer, became the first Bishop of Jerusalem in 42 A.D and won the crown of martyrdom in bearing witness to his discipleship. Let us praise and thank God for the two apostles and martyrs whose feast we celebrate today. The Gospel Proclamation

The way to perfect freedom that man is forever in search of, the truth of this great vision and its result the eternal life is Jesus Christ. He Himself proclaims this with a dignity inherent to His divine Son-ship. Revealing the deep relationship He has with the Father, it is with a firm conviction that He declares, "Whoever sees me sees the Father." Therefore, in order to redeem ourselves experiencing the perfect love of the Father, we should set our eyes on Jesus, believe in Him and stay rooted in the Gospel. Bearing witness to the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, St. Paul most humbly shares with the Corinthian community his own experience that he simply received by the power of grace alone. What he reveals is since the risen Christ offered Himself as an expiation for our sins and conquered death bringing salvation to all, we are to own it through faith. Towards Self

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him. Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied. Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. ... I will do whatever

The Lord is my rock, my fortress. and my deliverer, my God, my rock in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, so I shall be saved from my enemies. (Ps. 18/1-3)

During the Easter season, especially opening myself to the power of the Risen Lord I shall enter into a new way of being a true disciple. Carrying the gospel to those who do not experience the power of the Risen Lord, I shall take steps to submit myself to the guidance of the Holy Spirit to build a redemptive society in this land where the reign of God will be a reality. Holy Spirit, baptize me more and more to achieve this goal. Prayer Starter

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

Friday 4th May 2018 Acts: 15/22-31 Psalm:56/8-12 (57/7-11) John:15/12-17

First Proclamation Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to choose delegates from among themselves to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. ..... It has been decided by the Holy Spirit and by ourselves not to impose on you any burden beyond these essentials: you are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from illicit marriages. Avoid these, and you will do what is right. Farewell.' ... Gospel Proclamation This is my commandment: love one another, as I have loved you. No one can have greater love than to lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends, if you do what I command you. I shall no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know the master's business; I call you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have learnt from my Father. You did not choose me, no, I chose you; and I commissioned you to go out and to bear fruit, fruit that will last; so that the Father will give you anything you ask him in my name. My command to you is to love one another. Prayerful Awareness

also want to belong to the same group. God’s Love for His creation made Himself pay the price for our iniquity so that we could be reconciled back to Him, washed clean by the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is God Himself coming in the form of His Son, His Word made flesh, Jesus (God Saves) whereby whosoever accepts Jesus as Saviour and willingly submits to God’s Plan will receive the gift of God’s Son-ship through His Holy Spirit. Believers can thus receive God’s Son-ship and blessings in the here and now, & forever, which is the Good News we are asked to share with others! And as we sing in the hymn, ‘they will know we are Christians by our love, by our love’! Also we read of the lifestyle of the early believers in Acts Chapter 2:43-47, which is a description of heaven on earth, and that they grew in numbers daily! And yet in the First Proclamation we see how the triple forces of evil, our flesh, the world, and the Devil, strive to always create divisions amongst us to disrupt this unity, and the importance of constant awareness of the Holy Spirit to guide us to overcome same with a spirit of Love, as Love (Divine) is the fulfillment of the Law (which is of the flesh). Song of Praise (Psalm 57:8-9, 10-11)

Awake, my glory, awake, lyre and harp, that I may awake the Dawn. I will praise you among the peoples, Lord, I will make music for you among nations,for your faithful love towers to heaven, your constancy to the clouds. Love overcomes all barriers, and Be exalted above the heavens, God! makes us all equal, and makes others Your glory over all the earth!

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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

Saturday 5th May 2018 Acts:16/1-10 Psalm: 99/2, 3, 5 (100/1-3, 5) John: 15/18-21 St. Angelo Very little is known about him. His parents were Jewish. They were converted to Christianity by a vision of Our Lord who announced to them that the long-awaited Messiah had already come and had redeemed His people. He also promised them two sons, who would grow up to be - one as a patriarch and the other a glorious martyr. Early on the twins displayed great mental and spiritual gifts. At eighteen they entered the Carmalite Order. After Angelo had spent five years on Mount Carmel as a hermit, Jesus appeared to him and bade him to go to Italy where he would have the grace to sacrifice his life. Once in Italy he was able to convert many by his teaching and miracles. One day while he was preaching to a crowd he was attacked by a band of ruffians and was mortally wounded. He gave up his spirit praying for his people and the murderers. The First Proclamation Paul went on also to Derbe and to Lystra, where there was a disciple named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. ..... Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him; and he took him and had him circumcised because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. As they went from town to town, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem. So the churches were strengthened in the faith and increased in numbers daily.... Prayerful Awareness "There is a large harvest, but few

St. Angelo, Martyr workers to gather it in." (Luke 10:2)

Paul must have been gladdened to find a

young man in Timothy to take his place to carry on the work he started unabated. Paul was fully aware of the work that lay ahead, the work entrusted to him by the risen Lord. Surely he must have been extremely happy at the infusion of young blood, to carry on uninterrupted the work in the Lord's vineyard. Surely Timothy was the result of his training, a capable hand to take up the task when he laid it down. With regard to circumcision, Paul was of the view and had not said it was not necessary for Jews. The ceremonies of the Jewish way of life - yes, the Gentiles were freed of all these. "Christ chose to be born and grew up in the bosom of the holy family of Joseph and Mary. The Church is nothing other than "the family of God." From, the beginning, the core of the Church was often constituted by those who had become believers "together with all their household." When they were converted, they desired that "their whole household" should also be saved. These families who became believers were islands of Christian life in an unbelieving world." (C.C.C. 1655) In the Gospel proclamation we have Jesus speaking of this world and the divine world. "The world loves the worldly; but to preserve its codes, practices and mental fashions, it must hate the unworldly, the divine. Let them be one in Christ following rigorously His commandments; will they be hated? Yes, "Because I have singled you out of the midst of the world." The apostles could not understand this hate. But once He ascended into heaven, and sent the Holy Spirit, they would experience the full malignity of the world's hate." (Archbishop F.J.Sheen). Prayer Starter Help us to be true citizens of the divine world. Amen.

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

Sunday 6th May 2018 Sixth Sunday of Easter Ps. Wk II This is my commandment, that Acts:10/23-26,34-35, you love one another as I have 44-48 loved you. No one has greater love Psalm:97/1-4 than this, to lay down one's life for (98/1-4) one's friends. You are my friends 1 John:4/7-10 if you do what I command you. I John: 15/9-17

The Entrance Antiphon is an anticipatory song for what is to be the possession of the followers of Christ: joy and freedom. "Speak out with a voice of joy, let it be heard to the ends of the earth. The Lord has set his people free. Alleluia." The Gospel Proclamation: John:15/9-17 Six weeks since the resurrection of Jesus, we are on the journey of reaping the fruits of God's Love brought to us by the birth, life, death and the resurrection of Jesus. We are told that its going to be joy and freedom spelt out for us in the Gospel Proclamation today by Jesus Himself in the last discourse of Jesus at the Last Supper. There is something very special about the Good News laid out for us. Jesus is telling us today in heart-warming words: As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you, abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.

do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing, but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another." The First Proclamation: Acts:10/23-26, 34-35, 44-48

...... Then Peter began to speak to them. "I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles, for they heard them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter said, "Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people who have received the Holy Spirit

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

just as we have? So he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they invited him to stay for several days. Prayerful Awareness Peter the head of the group stands up. He speaks out the mind of Jesus in respect of the commandment of Love. "The Time is fulfilled, the Kingdom of God is come" The hour has arrived for 'Love' to move out from its confinement to a particular group of people, the Jews. The time has come. Let us open out to others who have been considered todate as outsiders or pagans. The time has come not merely to proclaim but to see its realisation. We have only to be open and receptive, then we could see it happening. The Spirit of Love would come down on them too. The time is full-filled. This hour is pregnant with the power of the Spirit. I've only to open - receive the gift of love the Spirit pours upon me. 'Come O Holy Spirit fill my heart, mind and depths. Take over. May I be empowered to love as You would love. May nothing, nothing stand in the way of my opening out to others. Let this happen with little or no effort on my part. May it be an overflow that happens despite my "self". The Second Proclamation

have John teaching us what true Love is: Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God, everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. God's love was revealed among us in this way. God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Let us in union with all the followers of Christ proclaim that the Lord has shown His salvation to the nations. Sing a new song to the Lord for he has worked wonders His right hand and His holy arm have brought salvation The Lord has made known His salvation, has shown His justice to the nations. He has remembered His truth and love for the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God . Shout to the Lord all the earth, ring out your joy. (Ps 98/1-4) Prayer Starter

The Holy Spirit leads the followers of Jesus to an ever more deeper Ever-living God, help us to celeunderstanding of "Love". Implicit is brate our joy in the Resurrection of a caution not to confuse this Love the Lord and to express in our lives with the superficial brands that we the love we celebrate. see peddled in the media. Here we

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

Monday 7th May 2018 Acts: 16/11-15 Psalm:149/1-6, 9 John: 15/26-16/4 The First Proclamation Sailing from Troas we made a straight run for Samothrace; the next day for Neapolis, and from there for Philippi, a Roman colony and the principal city of that district of Macedonia. After a few days in this city we went outside the gates beside a river as it was the Sabbath and this was a customary place for prayer. We sat down and preached to the women who had come to the meeting. One of these women was called Lydia, a woman from the town of Thyatira who was in the purple-dye trade, and who revered God. She listened to us, and the Lord opened her heart to accept what Paul was saying. After she and her household had been baptised she kept urging us, 'If you judge me a true believer in the Lord,' she said, 'come and stay with us.' And she would take no refusal. Fix your gaze on Jesus Thank You Lord for coming to me, to us through Your blessed Son and His witness, Your wonderful Spirit....I am truly blessed now! Unmerited grace, You are truly the Lord's gift to us...... how could we ever be grateful enough? Today, let's identify with the Lady from the town of Thyatira called Lydia. We'll role-play and travel alongside her on this virtual journey of discovery. Action! I believe so and therefore search for peace and for solace in prayer and in unity with the other; the others who gather there-for are so diverse and interesting, their experiences valued lessons in life for me. Some experiences at first hearing may appear to be dull or atrocious,

but contain aspects that vivify life in its diversity and glory. I enjoy being of service to the community at large, earning my keep in the purple-dye trade. I know that my contributions go some way to make life better for my fellow travellers, and the fruit of my labour keeps body and soul together for the duration of this learning expedition. Today we met up with this person in flowing robes with a bushy moustache and flaming red hair at the prayer place. He is called Paul of Tarsus, and he is a very gifted orator. Paul's discourse makes my life appear so much of a gift; that the Creator God deigned to think of me as a person from amongst the uncountable other lives; and that my name is written indelibly up in His palm; would you dream that! That He wanted to come closer to me and therefore became man, and then gave up His life to the last drop of blood to prove His love for me, to save me from my incompleteness, my feelings of loneliness, unworthiness, misery and sin! That we have been granted a Paraclete, the complete Whole Holy Spirit of God, who stays with us constantly being witness to the God and the Son who resides within us loving us and making us complete, together with 'All That Is', making us totally worthy and joyful! Is this not Good News indeed! I want to enter in to this more. I am going to take Paul home; spend more time with him to listen to the Good News! Will not take NO for an answer! I am sure that you would agree with me? Prayer Starter Thank You Lord for the Good News....I shall take the time to taste the Good News daily...

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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

Tuesday 8th May 2018

Acts: 16/22-34 Psalm:137/1-3, 7-8 (138/1-3, 7-8) John: 16/5-11 The Gospel Proclamation "But now I ma going to him who sent me; yet none of you asks me, 'Where are you going?' But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts. Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment; about sin, because they do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will see me no longer; about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been condemned. Gaze at Jesus Jesus having completed His mission successfully, is about to face His passion and painful death on the cross. But His mind is with the disciples who were sad at heart because of His leaving them. He assures them it is imperative that He should go and only if so, will another comforter be sent to them. He says that it is for their own sake He is leaving. Jesus promised His followers that they would never be left alone as His Spirit will be sent to them to be with them for ever. Jesus tells them that the Holy Spirit will make them aware of their sin and lead to repentance and conversion. He also makes us experience the real presence of the Risen Lord in this world. We are given the Spirit to stand firm in the face of sin, evil, injustice,

violence and false judgement. The Spirit gives the inner and the unshakeable conviction that we shall all one day stand before the judgement seat of God. Let us pray with a sincere heart: "Come Holy Spirit, and let the fire of Your love burn within my heart." The first reading gives us a clear picture of prayer and experiencing its power. In Philippi, Paul and Silas were given many lashes and then thrown into prison with maximum security, ordering the jailors to keep a close watch on them. In the middle of the night Paul and Silas were praying and singing God's praises, while the other prisoners listened. Suddenly there was an earthquake that shook the prison to its foundation. The chains fell and the doors were opened. Paul and Silas could run, but they did not. The jailor asks for what would save him. He and his household come to believe and are baptized. In fact he takes them out of the jail, tends to their wounds and serves them a feast to celebrate the new found joy in the Lord. (Eucharist). Prayerful Awareness What is my attitude towards prayer and praise of God? How is my prayer life? Do I experience its power in the daily events of my life? If so, do I share my experiences wit others to be aware of the wonders God is doing in our lives? Prayer Starter I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart; before the gods I sing your praise, I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness; for you have exalted your name and your word above everything. On the day I called, you answered me, you increased my strength of soul. (Ps.138/1-3)

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

Wednesday 9th May 2018 Acts: 17/15, 22-18/1 Psalm:148/1-2, 11-14 John: 16/12-15 Gospel Proclamation "I still have things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. ..... Prayerful Awareness Jesus said “I have much more to tell the disciples”, but knew that the disciples could not understand them with their human mind and that they will understand everything, the truth about everything only when the Holy Spirit comes, the Spirit of Truth. Holy Spirit the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Truth, the Spirit of God’s Love that flows from God will come through the intercession of Jesus Christ to all who accept Jesus Christ as the Son of God who came down from heaven to save them, and accept Him as their Saviour and Lord to guide them, and the Holy Spirit to become their Advocate and Counselor, to lead their lives following all teachings of Christ as true followers. Jesus was speaking about the Spirit, that those who came to believe in Him were to receive (John 7:39 ). Before His assumption in to heaven, when the disciples were gathered together, He commanded them: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift the Father promised, which you have heard me discuss (Acts 1:4). Jesus said “the Advocate, the Holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told to you” (John 14:26). He further said “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send you from the Father,

the Spirit of truth that proceeds from the Father, he will testify to me” (John 15 : 26). “When He comes the Spirit of Truth, he will guide you to all Truth” (John 16:13).God so loved the world that he gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish but might have eternal Life (John 3:16). Holy Spirit we receive through the intercession of Jesus Christ will lead us to eternal life. In order to receive the Holy Spirit we must get to know Jesus Christ and believe Him and accept Him as our Saviour and Lord and keep His Commandments, then He will ask the Father, and He will give us the Advocate, the Spirit of Truth to be with us always (John 14: 16-17). He will guide us to do the Will of God always and then we will be called “ Children of God ” (Rom. 8:14). St. Peter said (Acts 2 : 38) “Repent and be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit”. Repentance will open the doors of heaven to receive grace, and acceptance of Jesus Christ will confirm us as believers to receive the Holy Spirit. The First Reading in Acts 17 on St. Paul (slave of God and Apostle of Jesus Christ – Titus 1.1.) preaching in Athens about God, the judgment and about a raising from death, and some joined him and became believers, and St. Paul proceeded to Corinth. Prayer Starter Lord Jesus Christ, help me to repent for all my past sins, forgive them and raise me to be a true follower of all Your Commandments and to love everyone as You love me. Please grant me the Holy Spirit through Your intercession and Help me to know all my weaknesses and hidden sins with the Help of the Holy Spirit and to repent for same. Help me Holy Spirit and Guide me to always do the Will of God and to be a True Witness of my Saviour and Lord, Jesus Christ, Amen .

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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

Thursday 10th May 2018 Acts:18/1-8 Psalm:97/1-4 (98/1-4) John: 16/16-20

The First Proclamation After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. There he found a Jew named Aquila, .... Paul went to see them, and, because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them, ... - by trade they were tentmakers. .... When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with proclaiming the word - testifying to the Jews that the Messiah was Jesus. When they opposed and reviled him, in protest he shook the dust from his clothes and said to them, "Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles. ... Crispus, the official of the synagogue, became a believer in the Lord, together with all his household, and many of the Corinthians who heard Paul became believers and were baptized. The Gospel Proclamation A little while, and you will no longer see me, and again a little while, and you will see me." Then some of his disciples said to one another "What does he mean by saying to us, 'A little while, and you will no longer see me, and again a little while, and you will see me', and 'Because I am going to the Father'?" They said, "What does he mean by this 'a little while'? We do not know what he is talking about." Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, "Are you discussing among yourselves what I meant when I said, "A little while, and you will no longer see me'? Very truly, I tell you, you will weep and mourn, but the world will rejoice,

you will have pain, but your pain will turn into joy. Prayerful Awareness God's plan is mysterious, as much as it is magnificent. Despite our sinfulness, He does not abandon us to the darkness. Rather, He sent His only Son so that by His suffering, death and resurrection, He might become for us, a light in the deepest abyss, our Saviour and Guide. In today's Gospel Proclamation, Jesus says that "In a little while you will not see me, and then a little while later you will see me." Jesus had to physically die as a human, thus temporarily departing from this world, before He returned and appeared to His disciples in His divine form. In His absence, the disciples were filled with deep sorrow. But "this sadness will turn into gladness" because it is by His resurrection as the divine that He is able to be present for each and every one of us, connecting with us personally. Jesus' Resurrection was an outpouring of God's love. We also see in the First Proclamation, how God's saving grace is extended to the Gentiles. This broadens the definition of God's sons and daughters to include anyone who has faith in what Paul testified then: "that Jesus is the Messiah." Thus, our existence which is often plagued by pain and sorrow is transformed into a joyous one when we begin a relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ. Prayer Starter The Lord is king! Let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad! Clouds and thick darkness are all around him, righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. Fire goes before him, and consumes his adversaries on every side. His lightnings light up the world; the earth sees and trembles.(Ps. 97/14)

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

Friday 11th May 2018 Acts:18/9-18 Psalm: 46/2-7 (47/1-6) John:16/20-23 Introduction Let us meditatively dwell on today’s Proclamations which are on the theme, ‘If God is with us, who can be against us?!’ First Proclamation One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision, 'Be fearless; speak out and do not keep silence: I am with you. I have so many people that belong to me in this city that no one will attempt to hurt you.' ..... But while Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a concerted attack on Paul and brought him before the tribunal, saying, 'We accuse this man of persuading people to worship God in a way that breaks the Law.' Before Paul could open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, 'Listen, you Jews. If this were a misdemeanour or a crime, it would be in order for me to listen to your plea; but if it is only quibbles about words and names, and about your own Law, then you must deal with it yourselves -- I have no intention of making legal decisions about these things.' Then he began to hustle them out of the court, and at once they all turned on Sosthenes, the synagogue president, and beat him in front of the tribunal. Gallio refused to take any notice at all. .... Gospel Proclamation 'In all truth I tell you, you will be weeping and wailing while the world will rejoice; .... A woman in childbirth suffers, ...; but when she has given birth to the child she forgets the suffering in her joy ... So it is with you: you are sad now, but I shall see you again,

and your hearts will be full of joy, and that joy no one shall take from you. When that day comes, you will not ask me any questions. In all truth I tell you, anything you ask from the Father he will grant in my name. Prayerful Awareness Let us awaken to the presence of the Holy Spirit within and around us. The Holy Spirit emanates from the Father and the Son, and hence we can conclude that the entire Holy Trinity is within and around us, guiding us and protecting (how St. Paul was protected is described in the First Proclamation) us. We thereby become the Temple of God, Child of God, and part of God’s Kingdom/ Family! This saving grace was wrought for us by the sacrificial suffering and death of our Lord Jesus Christ. And the Good News is the Resurrection of our Lord, who overcame death and made us heirs to the same glory! This is the meaning of our Lord’s discourse in today’s Gospel Proclamation! And the Lord says, that joy no one will be able to take it away! What joy! What grace! Alleluia! Praise the Lord! Of course there are times when God allows trials and tribulations in our lives, but the joy of resurrection will surely be ours too if we stand firm in our faith in the Lord! Song of Praise (Psalm 47:2-7) For Yahweh, the Most High, is glorious, the great king over all the earth. He brings peoples under our yoke and nations under our feet…. He chooses for us our birthright, the pride of Jacob whom he loves. …God goes up to shouts of acclaim, Yahweh to a fanfare on the ram's horn. Let the music sound for our God, let it sound, let the music sound for our king, let it sound. For he is king of the whole world; learn the music, let it sound for God!

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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

Saturday 12th May 2018 Sts.Nereus & Achilleus, Martyrs,St.Pancras truth." This new dimension of prayer and of its circumstances is displayed throughout the farewell discourse. In the Holy Spirit, Christian prayer is a communion of love with the Father, not only through Christ but also in Him: The Gospel Proclamation "Hitherto you have asked nothing in my name; ask and you will receive, that On that day you will ask nothing your joy may be full" (C.C.C. 2615) of me. Very truly, I tell you, if you ask Jesus changed the attitude of God anything of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you to mankind, from one of judgement have not asked for anything in my to one of love. Jesus died on the cross name. Ask and you will receive, so to tell us that - "God is love.' (1 John 4:8) "God so loved the world that He that your joy may be complete. gave His only Son." (John 3:16). "The "I have said these things to you in symbol of the heavens refers us back figures of speech. The hour is coming to the mystery of the covenant we are when I will no longer speak to you living when we pray to Our Father. He in figures, but will tell you plainly is in heaven, His dwelling place, the of the Father. On that day you will Father's house is our homeland. Sin has ask in my name. I do not say to you exiled us from the land of the covenant, that I will ask the Father on your but conversion of heart enables us to rebehalf; for the Father himself loves turn to the Father, to heaven. In Christ, you, because you have loved me and then, heaven and earth are reconciled, have believed that I came from God. for the Son alone "descended from I came from the Father and have heaven" and causes us to ascend there come into the world; again, I am with Him, by His Cross, Resurrection leaving the world and am going to and Ascension. (C.C.C. 2795) the Father. This final stage stays closely linked Gaze at Jesus to the first, that is, to His descent from Jesus has paved the way to the heaven in Incarnation. Only the One Father - His heart is full of love and who came from the Father can return the door is open to all of us. Being His to the Father - Christ Jesus. "No one children we can talk to Him, ask Him has ascended into heaven but He who for anything. A new way to the heart descended from heaven, the Son of of God, through His one and only Son, Man". Left to its own natural powers, is open to us. Because of Him our joy humanity does not have access to the is perfect. Take eveyrthing to the Fa- "Father's house", to God's life and ther as the relationship has been made happines. Only Christ can open to man possible by the Son. Let us make it a such access that we, His members, must to finish our prayers with one of might have confidence that we too shall His last seven words on the cross; "Not go where He, our Head and our source, my will, but yours be done." (Luke has preceded us." (C.C.C. 661) 22:42) Even more, what the Father Prayer Starter gives us when our prayer is united with Thank You Lord for making availthat of Jesus is "another Counselor to be with you forever, even the Spirit of able to us the riches of heaven. Amen.

Acts:18/23-28 Psalm: 46/2-3,8-10 (47/1-3,8-9) John:16/23-28

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

Sunday 13th May 2018 7th Sunday of Easter, Ascension of the Lord Ps. Wk III Acts: 1/1-11 This last appearance was not merely Psalm:46/2-3,6-9 one of buttressing their faith, but (47/1-2,5-8) one in which He enjoins them with Hebrews:9/24-28; a mission to proclaim this very fun10/19-23 OR damental Good News to all creation. Ephesians: 1/17-23 Jesus showed himself to the Mark:16/15-20 Eleven, and said to them, "Go

We begin our meditation on this very special day, that Jesus takes leave to go back to His Father by making our own, the prayer of praise that prefaces the Eucharistic Prayer of this day's celebration. God our Father, make us joyful in the ascension of Your Son Jesus Christ. May we follow Him into the new creation for His ascension is our glory and our hope. The Gospel: Mark: 16/15-20 The resurrection has taken place. Jesus in His glorified state manifests Himself to the disciples and lays the foundation for belief in His victory over death. The disciples were in need of such a start having seen Jesus in His last days that belied all their very human hopes. The disciples by now had seen Him vibrantly alive a number of times, even to the extent of sharing a meal with them (John 21/1-14). Mark the evangelist, leads us in the Gospel of today to the contemplation of the Risen Lord moments prior to His departure in His Glorified Body to the bosom of the Father.

out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News to all creation. He who believes and is baptised will be saved; he who does not believe will be condemned. These are the signs that will be associated with the believers, in my name they will cast out devils; they will have the gift of tongues; they will pick up snakes in their hands and be unharmed should they drink deadly poison; they will lay their hands on the sick, who will recover." And so the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven, there at the right hand of God he took his place, while they, going out, preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word by the signs that accompanied it. Prayerful Awareness These words of Jesus are more a command than a request. He underlines the importance of sharing the Good News, bringing to the fore two experiences that would follow. One was the signs that would attend this proclamation, the other, the consequences of refusal to believe it. Having struck these two, one a ringing note and the other a frightening one.

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

He leaves for His destination to be where he belongs. The First Proclamation Acts: 1/1-11 The final hours have arrived. He has the most valuable of promises that have been or will ever be uttered. The Holy Spirit. On one occasion when he met with them, he told them not to leave Jerusalem: "Wait rather, for the fulfilment of my Father's promise, of which you have heard me speak. John baptized with water, but within a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." (Acts 1/4, 5). Jesus proceeds to tell them ever more than the reception of the Holy Spirit: He tells them, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes down on you; then you are to be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, yes, even to the ends of the earth." Prayerful Awareness Here and now is for me a moment to renew my Baptism and Confirmation and be freshly empowered by the Holy Spirit. I fix my gaze on Jesus. My eyes speak to Him. He sees my desire and my thirst. He places His hands on my head and says "Receive the Spirit" which renewal I accept with all my heart. The Second Proclamation I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom

and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. Prayerful Awareness The Spirit filled followers will begin to enjoy gifts of wisdom and knowledge. They will have their 7th Eye opened enabling them to see the glory that awaits them. More than ever, they would be able to see what Power and Authority Jesus now enjoys. Also, their participation in the Glorified Body that is His. Let us pray: God our Father, make us joyful in the Ascension of Your Son Jesus Christ. May we follow Him into the new creation, for His Ascension is our glory and our hope.

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

Monday 14th May 2018 Acts:1/15-17, 20-26 Psalm: 112/1-8 (113/1-8) John: 15/9-17

St. Matthias, Apostle

The First Proclamation One day Peter stood up to speak to the brothers -- there were about a hundred and twenty people in the congregation, 'Brothers,' he said, 'the passage of scripture had to be fulfilled in which the Holy Spirit, speaking through David, foretells the fate of Judas....Now in the Book of Psalms it says: Reduce his encampment to ruin and leave his tent unoccupied. And again: Let someone else take over his office. 'Out of the men who have been with us the whole time that the Lord Jesus was living with us, from the time when John was baptising until the day when he was taken up from us, one must be appointed to serve with us as a witness to his resurrection.' Having nominated two candidates...they prayed, 'Lord, you can read everyone's heart; show us therefore which of these two you have chosen to take over this ministry and apostolate, which Judas abandoned to go to his proper place.'... the lot fell to Matthias, he was listed as one of the twelve apostles.

Fix your gaze on Jesus

How does one qualify to be an apostle? Matthias, like all the other apostles, was not chosen by Jesus for what he already was, but for what Jesus foresaw he would become. God, having infused us with divine potential, is keen that we come in to an experience of that potential. Thus, Matthias was not worthy but would become worthy. Jesus chooses all of us in the same way. What does Jesus want you to become? What is the unique dance that

he wants you to dance? Which special role does he want you to play in His-Body? Are you keen on finding this out? Are you prepared to listen there-for? Circumstances will reveal the divine desire....choose to respond in accord with his commandments outlining His will... the acid test being whether you can unconditionally (whatever the external circumstances are) experience the Love of God, and are able to love in all circumstances.... So, Peter had one criterion, that, like Andrew, James, John, and himself, the new apostle be someone who had been a disciple from the very beginning, from his baptism by John until the Ascension. The reason for this was simple, the new apostle must be a witness to Jesus' life and resurrection. He must have followed Jesus before anyone knew him, stayed with him when he made enemies, and believed in him when he spoke of the cross and of eating his body -- teachings that had made others melt away. An appeal was made to God; "Thou, Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men," It is fit that God should choose his own servants. Similarly, we too must come to know the Christ. The ‘Living Word’ must become infused within; and then, since we ‘keep His commandments, we shall abide in His love; even as He kept His Father’s commandments, and abides in Abba's love’. And ‘His joy will remain in you, and your joy might be full….We are His friends, for all things that He has heard of the Father have been made known unto us’…..

Prayer Starter

You have chosen me; even before I was conceived in my mothers’ womb, You drew out a destiny for me....a beautiful dance, a significant role in Thy body You have allotted me; I am indeed blessed O Lord; You have done mighty deeds for me; thank You, praise You...

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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

Tuesday 15th May 2018

Acts: 20/17-27 plan." He even once said "To do my Psalm:67/10-11, 20-21 Father's will and plan is my food." (John 4/34) His Father's Will and Plan (68/9-10,19-20) was to make known to all men that He John: 17/1-11 is true God and that He was sent by Him. This He has accomplished. Now The First Proclamation He prays for those who have accepted Please read Acts 20/17-27 prayer- Him. "I pray for them and not for the world." For all those who accepted fully. Him have accepted God Almighty and The Gospel Proclamation He appeals to the Father: "Holy Father ...."Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed. "I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth, that I came from you, and they have believed that you sent me. I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. .... Gaze on Jesus Our blessed Lord begins to feel and realise what the Father Almighty expects from Him. This is very clear when He states in His prayer "Father the hour has come to do thy will and

keep them in thy name. Let them be one even as we are one." Prayerful Awareness

In the first proclamation we read how Paul a Pharisee, an ardent believer in Judaic religion and a persecutor of Christians accepted the gospel and testified both to the Jews and the Greeks of repentance to God and of faith in Our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul moved by the Holy Spirit despite imprisonment and afflictions takes delight in preaching the gospel of the grace of God. Let us probe into our lives. How do we live after meeting Christ and making Him the Lord of our life? How honest and sincere are we in our commitment - Do we truly accept His divinity like Paul? Do we not pay divinity to other things in word and deed? Do we move with Him, be with Him and live with Him and bear witness to the Lord? Can we too say like Paul "I do not accord my life of any value nor precious to myself, if only I may accomplish my course and the ministry which I received from Lord Jesus Christ to testify in the gospel of the grace of God." Let us be open to the Holy Spirit dwelling in us and pray for guidance. Prayer Starter Blessed be God because He has not rejected my prayers or removed His steadfast love from me. Amen.

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

Wednesday 16th May 2018 Acts: 20/28-38 Psalm:67/29-30,33-36 (68/28-29, 33-35)) John: 17/11-19 The Gospel Proclamation And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them in your name that you have given me. .... But now, I am coming to you, and I speak these things in the world so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves. I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one. They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. Sanctify them in the truth, your word is truth. As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, so that they also may be sanctified in truth. Prayerful Awareness What does it mean to “be in the world but not of it”? What does Jesus mean when he says the “world”? It is now understood that “to be of the world” is referring to the identification with our ego; and to know that we are “not of the world” is the realisation and the fruit of realising our true self/sonship. The ego is only a mental concept that does not survive death and is constructed purely from our thinking mind. When a thought arises, we identify with the thought, we think that, “this is me,”; “I am Manel/Roy/Sunil”; “I really can’t do anything right”, “I am still hurting from

that betrayal from the past”, “Nobody loves me”, “I can’t trust my husband” “I must have another cigarette”. This type of thinking happens spontaneously, and we have experienced how difficult it is to control them, such as when we sit down to meditate/pray, and our mind is cluttered with the noise of thinking. Once one thought arises, we grab on to it, which leads to more and more thinking, and more and more identification with that thinking, affecting speech and behaviour that is in line with the thinking. A famous neuropsychological concept is that we human beings are only using 10% of our intellectual capacity, or even less. Therefore, we can assume that at least 10% of the thinking is intelligent thinking, which is essential to human beings, such as that needed to cook, find directions, write a letter, learn maths and so on. However, the majority of our thinking is very repetitive, like an old cassette tape, playing over and over in our mind. The majority of our thinking is either about our past (pain, regrets), the future (our success/ happiness/survival), comparisons (how I compare with others, am I better?) and judgements (labelling people as good/ bad/sinners/liars/untrustworthy). But the reality is, as Jesus experienced, we need to be “in the world but not of the world”. The ego and our thinking are by-products of living in this world of form, which we have to accept lovingly and without judgement. However, there is an awareness that is able to look at our thinking; that awareness is our formless self, the only true self that is able to be one with God and survive death. That awareness of our true self/sonship is a gift that the Holy Spirit gives us. Prayer starter Holy Spirit, help me to be fruitful in this world of form, from the place of my formless true self.

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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

Thursday 17th May 2018 Acts: 22/30; 23/6-11 Psalm:15/1-2,5,7-11 (16/1-2,5,7-11)) John: 17/20-26 The First Proclamation .... "Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees, I am on trial concerning the hope of the resurrection of the dead." When he said this, a dissension began between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided..... Then a great clamor arose, and certain scribes of the Pharisees' group stood up and contended, "We find nothing wrong with this man. What if a spirit of an angel has spoken to him?".... The Gospel Proclamation "I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, .... Father, I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. "Righteous Father, the world does not know you, but I know you and these know that you have sent me. I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them." Prayerful Awareness While I was meditating today's gospel reading of St. John, I was reminded of the Trinitarian love which binds the

three persons, Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. They are in perfect unity and in harmony that cannot be comprehended by the human mind. "You are in me and I am in you", says Jesus in today's Gospel, showing the intimate union between Him and the Father. Jesus' desire is to be the same with all His followers. So His beautiful and gracious prayer to Father God is that all of us as Christians, might be one body, beneath one head, animated by one soul, in union with Christ and the Father through the Holy Spirit dwelling in us. How thrilled the followers would have been as He told His Father how much He loved them and how much He cared for them! Jesus mentioned everything about Himself that He had taught them. He would keep them. He would make them one, and finally He would let His followers share in His glory some day. According to the first reading Paul is released from prison and is brought before the Sanhedrin, for his trial. Paul is shrewd and says that he is a Pharisee and that he stands before them because he believes in the Resurrection. A riot breaks out and he is rescued by the troups and is taken back to headquarters. The Lord appears in the night and he is told to have courage. He has testified to Jesus in Jerusalem. Now he will testify to the Risen Lord in Rome. Prayer Starter Dear Father God help us to examine and discover ourselves, to see whether love and unity abide among ourselves. We implore the grace and power to be united and work for the Kingdom., in order to make You known to all the people and also to make Jesus' dream come true. Help us Father God, like apostle Paul to have a great hope in the resurrected Lord and to consider everything as garbage compared with the knowledge of Christ Jesus .

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

Friday 18th May 2018 had to ask three times and get Peter to agree three times to assign him the great task to look after, feed and lead the flock of Jesus. Jesus knew that Peter loved Him, but may have given him the opportunity to profess his love out loud three times, just as he had denied Jesus three times several weeks before. Peter Gospel Proclamation loved Jesus as his leader in the human When they had finished break- way, and when Jesus told him that he fast Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Si- will deny Jesus three times, Peter said mon, son of John, do you love me “Even though I should have to die with more than these?" He said to him, you, I will not deny you” ( Math. 26: "Yes, Lord, you know that I love 34 – 35), but failed to do so at the real you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my test where he would have had to give lambs." A second time he said to him, his life, and later repented for it with "Simon, son of John, do you love the meeting of Jesus. It is apparent, me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord, that only after having received three you know that I love you." Jesus times the same affirmative response, said to him, "Tend my sheep." He Jesus entrusts to Peter the mission of said to him the third time, "Simon, taking care of the lambs. Jesus does not son of John, do you love me?" Peter ask us many things in order to be able felt hurt because he had said to him to work in His community. What he the third time,"Do you love me?" asks of us is to have much love! Jesus And he said to him, "Lord, you only asks “Do you love me” and He know everything; you know that I gave us a New Commandment “ love love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed others as I have loved you” (John my sheep. Very truly, I say to you, 13 ; 34 ). This pure Love is the only when you were younger, you used to qualification Jesus expects from His fasten your own belt and to go wher- disciples and followers. The first reading refers to how ever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, St. Paul’s accusers stood around him, and someone else will fasten a belt but did not charge him with any of around you and take you where you the crimes suspected. Instead they do not wish to go." (He said this to had some issues with him about their indicate the kind of death by which own religion and about a certain Jesus he would glorify God). After this he who had died but who Paul claimed was alive. said to him, "Follow me." Prayer Starter Prayerful Awareness

Acts:25/13-21 Psalm:102/1-2,11-12, 19-20 (103/1-2,11-12,19-20) John: 21/15-19

When the disciples got to the shore, they discovered that Jesus Christ (after resurrection) had prepared bread and roasted fish for them. When they finished eating, Jesus calls Peter and asks him three times: “Do you love me?” A question arises as to why Jesus

Jesus Christ, my Saviour and my Lord, I thank You for Your great love for me. Help me to accept Your love and respond to Your love by following all the Commandments and teachings and by loving others as You love me, with the help of the Holy Spirit, Amen

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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

Saturday 19th May 2018 Acts:28/16-20, 30-31 Psalm:10/4,5,7 (11/4-7) John: 21/20-25 For Vigil: Genesis:11/1-9 OR Exodus: 19/3-8,16-20 OR Ezekiel:37/1-14 OR Joel:3/1-5 Psalm:103/1, 2, 24,27-30 Romans:8/22-27 John:7/37-39 The Gospel Proclamation Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them; .... When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, "Lord, what about him?" Jesus said to him, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? Follow me!" ,,,, This is the disciple who is testifying to these things and has written them, and we know that his testimony is true. But there are also many other things that Jesus did, if every one of them were written down, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Prayerful Awareness A clear indication is given by Our Lord that John was to live to a very old age and the work assigned to him was to be the witness to Him. The people of that day - the Christians - must have talked about how Paul went to the other lands - to the ends of the earth and how Peter shouldered the task of shepherding the flock. The work assigned to the great figures of the Church are made clear in the end - that of shepherding the flock of Christ to Peter and witnessing to the experience of Christ to John. What is most interesting to note is that they did not make them rivals in prestige and honour; did not make one greater or less

than the other. They were exemplary

disciples of an extraordinary teacher - the unmatchable One, in history. "Having known in faith who Jesus is, they could see and make others see the traces of His mystery in all His earthly life. From the swaddling clothes of His birth to the vinegar of His passion and the shroud of His Resurrection, everything in Jesus' life was a sign of His mystery. His deeds, miracles and words all revealed that "in Him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily". His humanity appeared as "sacrament", that is, the sign and instrument of His divinity and of the salvation He brings; what was visible in His earthly life leads to the invisible mystery of His divine Sonship and redemptive mission" (C.C.C. 515). "God has placed me here not to be successful but to be faithful." (Bl. Mother Theresa of Calcutta). Today we are told by Jesus to mind our own business without poking our fingers into others' business. We have got to carry the cross given us and rid ourselves of that disastrous comparison game. With a firm determination let us serve Him with the talents He has given us and where He has placed us. In the First Proclamation, we have Paul in Rome - under house arrest. In everything there is a purpose and at the core of things there is the latent head God. The door that opened to the Gentiles was the very one closed by the Jews. What a pleasant end we have - "They will become one flock with one shepherd." (John 10/16) Nothing could silence Paul. He carried on his work of spreading the Word of God even to his guards and they must have gone from their duties with a heart filled with good news. Isn't it an eye-opener for us to engage in taking His Word to others in ways made available to us by Him. Prayer Starter Help us to be always aware of our missionary work and give priority to the same. Amen.

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

Sunday 20th May 2018 Acts:2/1-11 Psalm: 103/1,24,29-31,34 (104/1,24,29-31,65834) Galatians:5/16-25 John:15/26-27; 16/12-15 "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you" (John 20/21) Introduction Almost in every country all over the world, people are faced with problems with no solutions. It seems to be a never ending struggle. While rich countries increase in wealth, the poor countries are walking downhill with the burden of their indebtedness. Everyone is filled with uncertainty and fear. The solutions put forward by political arguments seem to be of no avail. In this backdrop it is only Christianity that has provided man with a lasting solution. Thus you and I are called to experience the good news of Jesus Christ â&#x20AC;&#x201C; of overcoming the world through His passion, death and resurrection and to share it with others. The Risen Lord fills us with His breath, that is, the Holy Spirit, and sends us forth on his mission and today's proclamation too describes the significance of this vocation. Entrance Antiphon: The Spirit of the Lord has filled the whole world and that which contains all things understands what is said, Alleluia. (Wisdom: 1/7) The First Proclamation When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. |Divid-

Pentecost Sunday ed tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability. Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? ..... Prayerful Awareness Paschal Feast of the Jews was over. After the Paschal Sacrifice of Jesus, the first disciples were hiding themselves in the upper room in fear for a long term of 50 days and even after the Ascension of Our Lord, they continued to be in constant prayer. With the above group of 120 was the Blessed Mother (Acts 1/1215). With the external manifestations of the Solemn Descent of the Holy Spirit: The strong wind, great noise, flames of fire and speaking in tongues even the outer world was shaken. From then onwards even till the end of the world the Holy Spirit continues working great wonders. History testifies to the fact that not only the action of the Holy Spirit was very powerful for a period of 300 years from the first Pentecost but it gradually decreased in intensity. After a lapse of about 1600 years, once again as a result of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal spread like wild fire Kithu Dana Pubuduwa of Sri-Lanka came into being. Today we are starting the 48th year of the birth of Kithu Dana Pubuduwa Charismatic Movement.

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

"Your Word and Will is a Fire and a Blessing." Gospel Proclamation In the evening of the first day of the week, the doors were closed in the room where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews. Jesus came and stood among them. He said to them, 'Peace be with you,' and showed them his hands and his side. The disciples were filled with joy when they saw the Lord, and he said to them again, 'Peace be with you. As the Father sent me, so am I sending you.' After saying this he breathed on them and said: 'Receive the Holy Spirit……. Prayerful Awareness In the evening after the Resurrection, the Risen Lord entered into the upper room with closed doors where the disciples were hiding in fear. Their hearts started overflowing with joy. What was the secret? Peace and serenity that Christ offered. Here the word Christ used was 'Shalom.' It denotes something far greater than the simple word 'Peace." It embodies - a deep rest, freedom from all fear, casting away all darkness hidden even in the deep recesses of our hearts as well as energy and power for the mission. And it is also evident that St. John is trying to present the event of the Pentecost through the above incident. Thus, the Holy Spirit is ready to help us when we find it difficult to pray (Rom.8:26-27). After every prayer we experience the infilling of the Holy Spirit through the ability to forgive, to free others from bondage, and to carry the Gospel to others. We are anointed to share the Gospel and without the power of the Holy Spirit we fail to give a fearless witness to the resurrection of Jesus. An experience: He never attended school and was illiterate. He could only write his name. With the guidance he received from his adopted mother and the Pubuduwa life-journey, he used to

get up early in the morning and engage himself daily in prayer for a long time. One day when I went into a shop with him I heard a powerful witness. "I got to know who Jesus is through this brother. He showed how to live happily. I who was disgusted with life now am happy. Thanks to him." I turned and looked at him. He was wiping away his tears bending his head. I am fortunate to live with him. The Second Proclamation Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit you are not subject to the law. .... I am warning you, as I warned you before, those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. Prayerful Awareness We are endowed with the gifts of the Spirit for us to bear witness to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and to proclaim the Kingdom of God building up the Body of Christ. Let us witness to the vocation received through Baptism. Through the Week Let us thirst to fill ourselves with the Sprit every moment. Let us surrender ourselves to the guidance of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8/4). Let us own the Will of God and His Word as a blessing and a fire Prayer Starter

O God, who by the mystery of today's great feast sanctify the whole Church in every people and nation, pour out, we pray, the gifts of the Holy Spirit across the face of the earth and, with the divine grace that was at work when the Gospel was first proclaimed, fill now once more the hearts of believers. Through…

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

de Monday 21st May 2018 St.Christopher Magallanes, St.Eugeme Mazenod James: 3/13-18 Psalm:18/8-10, 15 (19/7-9, 14) Mark:9/14-29

The First Proclamation Anyone who is wise or understanding among you should from a good life give evidence of deeds done in the gentleness of wisdom. But if at heart you have the bitterness of jealousy, or selfish ambition, do not be boastful or hide the truth with lies; this is not the wisdom that comes from above, but earthly, human and devilish.... whereas the wisdom that comes down from above is essentially something pure; it is also peaceable, kindly and considerate; it is full of mercy and shows itself by doing good; nor is there any trace of partiality or hypocrisy in it.... Please also read the Gospel for today, where a boy possessed by a dumb malicious spirit was brought before Jesus. Whereas the disciples were unable to, Jesus having evoked the father of the boy to proclaim his faith in God, did exorcise this spirit and restore the boy. Upon the disciples questioning him the reasons there-for, Jesus reveals that this type of exorcism requires the practitioner to be prayerful. Fix your gaze on Jesus Terrible indeed are the afflictions upon us, only the Lord is wise; and magnificent indeed that he stands ready to give this wisdom freely to all who love him .... Effectiveness towards realising goals arise from prudent understanding of ‘What Is’; verbalised differently,

this means that when you know all the factors present and the way these factors relate/link/influence to form the present situation, you would also know what needs to be changed/tweaked for the situation to trend towards your desired goals. For those who understand, creating a minor change like the fluttering of the wing of a butterfly at the correct place causes the arising of a tornado in a distant place. Effective, resourceful, and terrible indeed! If only we received even a little of that understanding, we would not be bringing so much distress upon ourselves! Looking at the Gospel scenario, we see how ineffective the disciples were in exorcising the evil spirit; but, the situation called for other aspects that Jesus recognized! The faith of the father (of the afflicted) which Jesus inspired forth was one such. Another was the mental and spiritual readiness of the practitioner (in this instance Jesus) through prayer and the denial of the flesh. Once these factors were in place, the results were immediate! Effective indeed. Could we journey towards that wisdom? Calls for love towards the Lord in our hard hearts! Prayer Starter Lord, from conception we have been training ourselves to think and feel selfishly; we tend to identify with our bodies forgetting that this is but temporary and evolving housing in perpetual relation with the surroundings; we become comfortable with certain patterns of thoughts, largely ignoring the truth that we are not our thoughts, but rather are the choosers thereof. These ego based falsehoods separate us from ‘All That Is’, and we create the chasm between ourselves, our Creator God, and his Creation. Lord, please help us break out from this self-made prison, and develop the sensitiveness towards You; to Love You....

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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

Tuesday 22nd May 2018 James:4/1-10 Psalm:54/7-11, 23 (55/6-10, 22) Mark: 9/30-37 The Gospel Proclamation They went on from there and passed through Galilee. He did not want anyone to know it, for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, "The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again." But they did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask him. Then they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house he asked them, "What were you arguing about on the way?" But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another who was the greatest. He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, "Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all." Then he took a little child and put it among them, and taking it in his arms, he said to them, "Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me." Prayerful Awareness Jesus is predicting His death and telling His disciples about it. Jesus even wanted uninterrupted time with the disciples so that He could talk to them about what was coming. Yet, no matter how much Jesus tried to explain what was coming, the disciples did not understand (Mark 9:32). But they did not understand what He meant and were afraid to ask Him about it. We later see that at Gethsemane, Jesus too was greatly troubled by His imminent death (Mark 14: 33-37). He took Peter, James and John along

St. Rita of Cascia with him, and He began to be deeply distressed and troubled. “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” He said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.” Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” Then He returned to His disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep? Couldn’t you keep watch for one hour? Jesus certainly experienced dying in Gethsemane, before His physical death. Once He had experienced dying before death, He was able to surrender to the Will of God. He is serene in front of Pilate. He surrendered to the torture of the soldiers. He forgave even while taking His last breath. Whether we will willingly surrender to it or not, our physical death is for certain. But before that final moment of death, our life is full of experiences of dying, if we are open to it. These experiences of dying need to be fully embraced if we are to fully live. Our natural inclination is of course to deny and avoid death, and we even use religious means to do this. But, in John 3:3, Jesus said “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Therefore, if we are to be born again, we must first die. Prayer starter Holy Spirit, open my eyes to moments of death. Death may come to me by moments of humiliation (take the moment to fully feel it and not run from it), physical pain and sickness (surrender to what is happening right now), saying sorry (without giving a single excuse for your behaviour), keeping quiet (when you know exactly what to say, but you know that it doesn’t come from love)…….

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

Wednesday 23rd May 2018 James: 4/13-17 Psalm: 48/2-3,6-11 (49/1-2,5-10)) Mark:9/38-40

The First Proclamation Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a town and spend a year there doing business and making money." Yet you do not even know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wishes, we will live and do this or that." As it is, you boast in your arrogance, all such boasting is evil. Anyone, then, who knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, commits sin. The Gospel Proclamation John said to him, “Teacher, we saw a man who was driving out demons in your name, and we told him to stop, because he doesn't belong to our group.” “Do not try to stop him,” Jesus told them, “because no one who performs a miracle in my name will be able soon afterward to say evil things about me. For whoever is not against us is for us. Prayerful Awareness

not belong to the group of Jesus’ dis-

ciples was casting out demons using

the name of Jesus. They surmised that he didn’t belong and therefore had no right to be doing what he was doing. John admonished him and forbade him to carry out this practice. But when they returned and informed Jesus what they had done Jesus told them “Do not try to stop him,” …..“For whoever is not against us is for us.” Gaze at our sonship This is an eye opener for the entire Christian Community; that we should not judge and marginalize evangelization when carried out in the name of Jesus. We as the sons and daughters of a merciful and loving God should not point fingers at other evangelists who carry out the work of God in the name of Jesus. A few examples of such people are Billy Graham, Martin Luther King Prayer Starter Dear Lord Give us the grace to love You more and carry out the work You have entrusted to us without being critical, suspicious and jealous of another doing Your work. Teach us to reach out to Your fragmented church and exercise the love You have showered us with to bring unity in Jesus name we pray. Amen.

In the Gospel Proclamation John is concerned that another who did

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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

Thursday 24th May 2018 Lord Jesus Christ the Eternal High Priest James: 5/1-6 Psalm:48/14-20 (49/13-19) Mark:9/41-50 OR Hebrews:10/18-23 Psalm:40/6,9-11 John: 17/14-26 The Gospel Proclamation I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one. .... Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, so that they also may be sanctified in truth. "I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word that they all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given them; ..... I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. Father, I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. "Righteous Father, the world does not know you, but I know you, and these know that you have sent me. I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them."

Prayerful Awareness The loving heart of Jesus is well reflected in the High Priestly prayer of Jesus today. So vast is the depth of this Trinitarian love between the Father and the Son that the living waters sprung from this fountain of love simply flowed to the people. So united was He with the Father, that it was His desire, those who believe in Him may not fall prey to the evil one, but be saved and be where He is, enjoying the eternal joy of the heavenly kingdom. That is, in the bosom of God the Father. "The glory that thou hast given me I have given to them that they may be one even as we are one" (St. Jn. 17:22). He acted thus for, as the Son is in the Father, we too may be united in the Father. And He prayed for those who are in disunity due to various reasons to be united with one another in love. He also invites us to join Him in prayer not only to pray for unity among Christians but also to pray for others. Our Sonship When we fall into sin we lose His image in us and also it gets blotted out. Therefore we shall ask the Lord today for the grace to exist as a son and daughter pleasing to God without losing His image in us and for the grace to enter into an experience of being filled with the Holy Spirit, imitating the quality of self-emptying of Mother Mary. With the anointing received through Baptism, let us be engaged in our mission bearing witness within our family, parish and community. Let us move into action as kings, priests and prophets. Prayer Starter O Holy Spirit, today as we celebrate the eternal priesthood of our Lord Jesus Christ, help us to get out of our ego-centricity, make us conscious of our vocation to model Your sacrificial life, commitment and love for others as well as the dire necessity of prayer.

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

Friday 25th May 2018

St.Bede the Venerable, St.Gregory VIII

sacrifice for the goodness of family. James:5/9-12 Our sonship Psalm:102/1-4,8-9,11-12 (103/1-4,8-9,11-12) Pope Francis in the World Meeting Mark:10/1-12 of Families in March 2018 said, that, Gospel Proclamation ... Crowds came flocking to him again, and he taught them, ... Some Pharisees came to him and tried to trap him. “Tell us, .., does our law allow a man to divorce his wife? Jesus answered with a question, “What law did Moses give you?” Their answer was, Moses gave permission for man to write a divorce notice and send his wife away. Jesus said to them, “Moses wrote this law for you because you are so hard to teach. But in the beginning, at the time of creation God made them male and female .... And for this reason, a man will leave his father and mother and unite with his wife and the two will become one, .... No human being then must separate what God has joined together. When they went back into the house, the disciples asked Jesus about this matter. Gaze at Jesus’ Sonship The question from the Pharisees here is “Does the law allow a man to divorce his wife?” Jesus is speaking to a male dominated society and He draws their attention to God’s design for marriage as a union with man and woman. Through their matrimonial pledge, they are co-partners. He says they both leave their parents’ house to begin their own, for which they will give their full attention and commitment. Jesus also indicate that this union is a lifelong commitment. Jesus, considered as the bridegroom of humanity, gave his life under all testing circumstances to give man new life. Therefore, family is a union where man and women makes every effort and

love should be core of family life. He also had said in his message “I wish to underline how important it is for families to ask themselves often if they live based on love, for love and in love”. Based on the principles of love, the scripture in James say “Do not complain against one another, my friends, so that God will not judge you. The judge is near ready to appear. My friends, remember the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Take them as examples of patient endurance under suffering. We call them happy because they endured. You have heard of Job’s patience, and you know how the Lord provided for him in the end. For the Lord is full of mercy and compassion. Above all my friends, do not use an oath when you make a promise. Do not swear by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Say only “Yes” when you mean yes and “No” when you mean no, and then you will not come under God’s judgement. Prayerful Awareness There are no ideal personalities that walk into any marital relationship. Therefore, as scripture in James say, “Take them as examples of patient endurance under suffering”. Perfect love will be visible through patience to bear each other and their stamina to live a righteous life. Prayer Starter Dear Lord, in you is perfect love. Dear Holy Spirit, help our families to root their lives in Jesus who will nurture them to perfect in love, bearing one another with patience, and supporting each other to perfect their lives in a relationship with Jesus as Lord!

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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

Saturday 26th May 2018 James: 5/13-20 Psalm: 140/1-3,8 (141/1-3,8) Mark:10/13-16

St. Philip Neri, Priest and the heaven gave rain and the earth yielded its harvest. ..... Prayerful Awareness

Here James has laid bare certain dominant characteristics of the early St. Philip Neri church. In the meetings of the Church He was born in Florence (Italy) on at Corinth singing was one of the essen21st July 1515. When he was 26 he gave tial features. "It is characteristic of the up his commercial activities and went to Christians that they speak to each other Rome to seek his own satisfaction and in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, that of his fellowmen. He led a disci- singing and making melody in their plined life of penance and prayer and hearts to the Lord (Ephe. 5:9). The word studied Philosophy and Theology. He of Christ dwells in them, and they teach frequently visited the seven churches - a and admonish each other in psalms and 12-mile pilgrimage, often performed on hymns and spiritual songs, singing with foot and it included entire nights spent in thankfulness in their hearts to the Lord. the catacomb of St. Sebastian. He paid (Col.3:16). There was a joy in the hearts charitable visits to the sick in hospitals. of the Christians which burst from their He was ordained in 1551 and became lips in songs of praise for the mercy and an outstanding confessor and counselor. the grace of God. (The New Daily Study His confessional was frequented by Car- Bible). Then we see the healing Church. dinals, clerics and beggars alike. Among It is interesting to note the Jewish way them were saints like Ignatius Loyola first to the Rabbi for the hands-on prayer and Charles Borromeo. Died: May 26, and then to the doctor. Countless people 1595 (in the Feast of Corpus Christi), possessed by demons were healed by Canonized by Pope Gregory IV on May the Christians when neither drugs nor exorcists had not been able to cure them. 12,. 1622. "The celebration of the sacrament inThe First Proclamation cludes the following principal elements: Are any among you suffering? the priests of the church, in silence, lay They should pray. Are any cheerful? hands on the sick; they pray over them in They should sing songs of praise. Are faith of the Church - this is the epiclesis any among you sick? They should proper to this sacrament; they then anoint call for the elders of the church and them with oil blessed, if possible, by the have them pray over them, anointing Bishop (C.C.C.1519). A deeply-rooted them with oil in the name of the Lord. idea in the Jewish community was that The prayer of faith will save the sick, sickness was due to sin. First, sin sets and the Lord will raise them up and up a barrier between God and us and anyone who has committed sins will then it sets up a barrier between other be forgiven. Therefore confess your people and us. Here we have the Sacsins to one another, and pray for one rament of Confession. Do we actually another, so that you may be healed. make use of it? "Do for others just what The prayer of the righteous is power- you want them to do for you." (Luke ful and effective. Elijah was a human 6:31). Christianity is singled out here being like us, and he prayed fervently as it only speaks of doing while others that it might not rain, and for three speak of don'ts Prayer Starter years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again Let us sin praises to our Lord. Amen.

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

Sunday 27th May 2018 Deuteronomy:4/32-34, 39-40 Psalm:33/4-6,9,18-20, 22 Romans: 8/14-17 Matthew:28/16-20 Prelude As Christians we start our daily prayer with the sign of the cross in the name of the Holy Trinity. Similarly, some are in the habit of making the sign of the cross before they leave home, and at other times (such as before meals, before going to sleep etc.). Though we have added certain things to our life traditionally they also have significant values. Thus, here we recall the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. As Christians when we offer the highest form of our worship and adoration to the One Trinitarian God, consequently their blessing naturally flows down into our lives. Today we are celebrating the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. We, who constantly experience the guidance and protection of the Trinity, come to the knowledge of the One God in three persons, purely through the light of faith that surpasses human intelligence and wisdom. We come to an experience with Him simply through His love which satisfies every human longing. How great are His riches? How deep are His designs? Let us strengthen ourselves through the protection of the Father, redemption of the Son and the new life by the Holy Spirit. Entrance Antiphon Blest be God the Father, and the Only Begotten Son of God, and also the Holy Spirit, for He has shown us His merciful love. The First Proclamation For ask now about former ages,

Trinity Sunday long before your own, ever since the day that God created human beings on the earth; ask from one end of heaven to the other; has anything so great as this ever happened or has its like ever been heard of? Has any people ever heard the voice of a god speaking out of a fire, as you have heard and lived? Or has any god ever attempted to go and take a nation for himself from the midst of another nation, by trials, by signs and wonders, by war, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, and by terrifying displays of power, as the Lord your God did for you in Egypt before your very eyes? So acknowledge today and take to heart that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath, there is no other. Keep his statutes and his commandments, which I am commanding you today for your own well-being and that of your descendants after you, so that you may long remain in the land that the Lord your God is giving you for all time. Prayerful Awareness The scene opens before us of how God has been faithful to His promises and the immense love shown to his people. Out of His steadfast love God was forever present among his chosen people working wonders. Our response to this should be to live according to His holy will. From the Responsorial Psalm The word of the Lord is faithful and all his works to be trusted. The Lord loves justice and right and fills the earth with his love. Our soul is waiting for the Lord. The Lord is our help and our shield. May your love be upon us, O Lord, as we place all our hope in you. Second Proclamation For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, "Abba! Father!" it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ - if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him. Prayerful Awareness St. Paul shows forth the effects of experiencing the Holy Spirit through his life. That is, the guidance of the Holy Spirit needed to a life of Son-ship in God. Just as Christ was led by the Holy Spirit he too was empowered by the Holy Spirit to enter into this Son-ship. He was able to face every challenge and temptation from the world, without either betraying or going against his Son-ship simply because he continuously subjected himself to the power of the Holy Spirit. In my vocation as a child of God experiencing His life, am I enjoying my son-ship in the face of difficulties, sufferings and challenges? How much do I experience the guidance of the Holy Spirit who is ever ready to help me? Gospel Proclamation Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age." Prayerful Awareness Words uttered by Jesus at the end of his life journey and before ascending

into heaven (before going to the Father), contain a petition, a promise and a message. However much weak are the disciples who received life from him, what he expresses with these words is that they be fulfilled. Thus he promised the power of the Holy Spirit through whom he experienced. This plea was accomplished in the life of the disciples who with Godly fear gave their witness as martyrs. On this day of Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity let us pay our attention to the deep love of the Trinity. Though three in persons, this love has made them One. The most sublime proclamation of the love bestowed by God the Father and the love received by the Son is the Holy Spirit the great Lover. Even today this takes place thorough out the whole universe. The ability to free myself from my own limits and the world to the ends of the earth, for to love the whole universe as well as to be a powerful witness depends on my capacity to experience this. Let us allow the Holy Spirit to lead us beyond our own limits and boundaries. Prayer Starter For the word of the Lord is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness. He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord. By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and all their host by the breath of his mouth. For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded and it stood firm. Truly the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him; on those who hope in his steadfast love, to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. Our soul waits for the Lord, he is our help and shield. Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you.

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

Monday 28th May 2018 1 Peter:1/3-9 Psalm: 110/1-2,5-6,9,10 (111/1-2,5-6,9-10) Mark:10/17-27

The First Proclamation Blessed be God ... has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ ... It is reserved in heaven for you ... And from the Gospel, He was setting out on a journey when a man ran up, ... and put this question to him, 'Good master, what must I do to inherit eternal life?' ... Jesus looked round and said to his disciples, 'How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!' ... Jesus gazed at them and said, 'By human resources it is impossible, but not for God: because for God everything is possible.'

Fix your gaze on Jesus

Lord Jesus, You are indeed the Truth, and once You enter our hearts, brings out the truth therein .... The epistle brings out the reality that in coming to know Jesus (whom we have neither seen nor heard in the flesh), we come to experience a Freedom and Joy that cannot be understood nor explained. Our Blessed Mother too expressed the same sentiments in her Magnificat. To what extent we come towards realising this wonderful and uplifted state of being depends on our innermost choices. Let's look at the Gospel event with a view to understanding the inner workings of the person coming before Jesus. Jesus observed the attributes of the man who ran up to him in public, kneeled before him and addressed him as Master and queried as to how to realise Eternal Life.

Running to reach Jesus denotes the zeal in his mind regarding his quest. In his quest he did not seek for a place of special importance, not asking for nor needing a private audience with Jesus. Kneeling indicates humility and his address of Jesus the willingness to venerate and extol another being as higher to self. His quest too was not of the substance of this domain, for recognition and riches and comforts of this world, but for eternal things. All of which are very high goals we admire and all should aim for! We gather from the background that he must have had a high station in that society with quite an upright conduct. He knew this for himself too as in Jesus asking him whether he abided by the ten commandments the response was in the affirmative. Jesus filled with love and compassion for him, sought to bring him before the real motives that lie underneath all our social and religious veneer. In our heart of hearts, whom do we serve? To serve God, are we willing to give up on the world and its allure? Do we not kneel before the World and our own Flesh for solace and succour? Do we recognise the Lies and Traps of the Liar that parade before us daily? Thus did the rich man find himself unable to respond to Jesus' invitation to give up on his riches and follow Jesus. In his heart of hearts, he found out that he was serving Mammon, not God! Isn't this true for you and me too, at least in some measure?

Prayer Starter

Lord, you are the Truth; and Life. Help me become more cognizant of the inner motives that drive me; bring me before the truth; make me aware of the powers that control me so that I could become more selective of the forces that guide me...that I give control more and more to the Living Word that will uplift and bring me to life....

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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

Tuesday 29th May 2018 1 Peter:1/10-16 Psalm:97/1-4 (98/1-4) Mark;10/28-31

The First Proclamation Please read 1 Peter 1/10--16 prayerfully. The Apostle Peter tells his listeners that they believe and love Christ even without seeing Him and they experience a heavenly joy which cannot be expressed in words. Their faith will enable them to win salvation. The prophets of old eagerly looked forward for this salvation. He wants them to be sober and hopefully look forward to the grace which they will receive when Jesus Christ appears. They should not go back to the evil ways of their former lives but imitate the life of Him who has called them and be holy as He is holy. The Gospel Proclamation Please read Mark 10/28-31 prayerfully. Gaze on Jesus A rich man who came to Jesus wanted to know what he should do in order to gain eternal life. He also told Jesus that he has been observing all the commandments from his youth. Jesus could see that he was sincere in his desire for eternal life. However when Jesus asked him to sell all that he has and give the proceeds to the poor and then come and follow Jesus, he felt sad and went away because he was very rich. His disciples were astonished when He told them that it will be very hard for those who trust in riches to enter into the Kingdom of God. The disciples were so amazed that they could not help asking as to who can then be saved. When Jesus told them that with men it is impossible but

with God everything is possible Peter tells Him that they have left everything to follow Him. Because they answered the call to follow Him they will not only gain eternal life in the world to come but will also find happiness, human fulfilment and many other unexpected things even in this life. In regard to this same event Jesus tells them in Mathew 19/28 that in the new world when the Son of Man shall sit on His glorious throne, they who have followed Him will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Prayerful Awareness Simon Peter and his brother Andrew were casting a net in the Lake of Galilee and when Jesus called them they left the nets and followed Him. Likewise James and his brother John left their father and the nets and followed Jesus when He called them. The Tax Collector Matthew also left his table in the Custom House to follow Jesus when he was called. Human as they are this idea of what they had left behind in order to follow Jesus may have been in their minds but it surfaced and was given expression only when the rich man was asked to give up everything and to follow Jesus. In His Sermon on the Mount Jesus has said in no uncertain words to His listeners that they cannot serve God and money at the same time and this is just what the rich man wanted to do and may be what we are also unwittingly trying to do. Prayer Starter The Lord is king! Let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad! Clouds and thick darkness are all around him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. Fire goes before him, and consumes his adversaries on every side, His lightnings light up the world; the earth sees and trembles. (Ps. 97/1-4)

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

Wednesday 30th May 2018 the past/present stopped, who you are as 1 Peter:1/18-25 Psalm:147/12-15,19-20 John/Mary/Savithri stopped. In that brief moment you were born again. Mark;10/32-45 The First Proclamation You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish. He was destined before the foundation of the world, but was revealed at the end of the ages for your sake. Through him you have come to trust in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are set on God. Now that you have purified your souls by your obedience to the truth so that you have genuine mutual love, love one another deeply from the heart. You have been born anew, not of perishable but of imperishable seed, through the living and enduring word of God .... Prayerful Awareness From today’s first reading, we have the following phrase: For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. What does it mean to be born again? Please close your eyes and do not think with your mind, but become aware of this question: Who was I before my parents were born? What did you find? Even if for a brief moment were you aware of yourself as nothing… emptiness… quiet...? If you were aware as such, then that is the formless you, created in God’s formless image. For that brief period, your thoughts stopped, thinking about

The born-again life is the recognition that “I am a child of God”. It is the realisation of our sonship. What is the opposite of this realisation? The opposite is the confusion that I am - my ego. The ego has constructed a personality around the person that is you. Our past experiences, both good and bad, have conditioned the mind and thinking, which has created the ego, who thinks it is “me!”. Our true self is the awareness behind the thinking, behind the ego. Close your eyes and take a step back, look at your thinking; this may give you access to the awareness that is really you. The Holy Spirit leads us to this awareness, which is your true self. To recognise the fact that we are not our ego, is to be awake! When we live in our ego we are really asleep or as Jesus would say we are actually dead. We are all made in the image of God. When we cannot love our neighbour, it is our ego that cannot love his/her ego. But when we know our true self and that this same awareness is in the other, our heart opens up to unconditional love. There may likely to be thoughts in your mind to resist the ego, thinking and the mind. But these thoughts of resistance also arise in the mind and thus create even more thoughts and identification with the ego. Our true self is always what it is, always awareness and unconditional love. It does not hate or resist. It is always at peace. So, become aware of your mind, thoughts and ego, but leave them be. Don’t attach to them as your true self. Prayer Starter Thank you, Holy Spirit, for leading me to this awareness of my formless self. But I have also been gifted with this body of form from which God’s desire is to bear fruit. So, I surrender to your will for my life.

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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

Thursday 31st May 2018

Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Zephania:3/14-18 OR Romans: 12/9-16 Psalm:Isaiah:12/2-6 Luke:1/39-56 The First Proclamation Love must be completely sincere. Hate what is evil, hold on to what is good. Love one another warmly as Christians, and be eager to show respect for one another. Work hard and do not be lazy. Serve the Lord with a heart full of devotion. Let your hope keep you joyful, be patient in your troubles, and pray at all times. Share your belongings with your needy fellow Christians, and open your homes to strangers. Ask God to bless those who persecute you—yes, ask him to bless, not to curse. Be happy with those who are happy, weep with those who weep. Have the same concern for everyone. Do not be proud, but accept humble duties.[a] Do not think of yourselves as wise. The Gospel Proclamation Soon afterward Mary got ready and hurried off to a town in the hill country of Judea. She went into Zechariah's house and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary&#39;s greeting, the baby moved within her. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and said in a loud voice, “You are the most blessed of all women, and blessed is the child you will bear! Why should this great thing happen to me, that my Lord's mother comes to visit me? For as soon as I heard your greeting, the baby within me jumped with gladness. How happy you are to believe that the Lord&#39;s message to you will come true!” Mary said, “My heart praises the Lord my soul is glad because of God my Savior, for he has remembered me, his lowly servant!

From now on all people will call me happy, because of the great things the Mighty God has done for me. His name is holy; from one generation to another he shows mercy to those who honor him. He has stretched out his mighty arm and scattered the proud with all their plans. He has brought down mighty kings from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away with empty hands. He has kept the promise he made to our ancestors, and has come to the help of his servant Israel. He has remembered to show mercy to Abraham and to all his descendants forever!” Mary stayed about three months with Elizabeth and then went back home. Prayerful awareness Mary’s soul feels the greatness and holiness and mercy of God. The feeling is primarily one of joy. Quote; My spirit rejoices in God! Quote; Let us examine our consciences on how seldom we praise God. Yet faith tells us that prayers of praise and adoration are the most important form of prayer. Unless we praise God, magnifying Him, we are not acknowledging God for Who He is and ourselves for what we are. God really wants us to be happy. The only reason why Mary became, under God, the Mother of God is because she was so profoundly aware of being the servant of the Lord. God brings down the arrogant but lifts up the humble. Lastly, Mary tells us that God keeps His promises. He is faithful in the face of our disloyalty.

"Reveal Your Holy Will to us O Lord!"

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