Walk in the Spirit July 2018

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"Your Word, Your Will, A Fire & A Blessing"

WALK IN THE SPIRIT July 2018 Volume 07 Issue 16

"Your Word, Your Will, A Fire & A Blessing"

ISSN 1391-5967

Publication: Fr. Siri Oscar Abayaratne Kithu Dana Pubuduwa

SHARING ON PRAYER July 2018 “Humility is seeing ourselves clearly as we are. We are made of mud (Genesis). We are made in the image and likeness of God (Genesis). When we are near-sighted and can see mud, but not the image of God. Other times we are far-sighted, we see sonship and fail to see the mud-part. Either way we are not seeing ourselves as we should. Either way we are failing to be humble.� (Quote) The gift of Dual Awareness is a treasure that we have received. May the Spirit help us grow in this awareness.

Fr. Siri Oscar Abayaratne

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

Sunday 1st July 2018 Wisdom:1/13-15; 2/23-24 Psalm: 29/2,4-6,11-13 (30/1, 3-5,10-12) 2 Corinthians:8/7,9, 13-15 Mark: 5/21-43 OR 5/21-24, 35-43 Introduction In the history of salvation those who did not allow for the working of the Lord were destroyed. The earth inheriting pain, suffering and death is the result of sin of our first parents who were deceived by the Serpent or the Devil. Yet, those who abide in the ever living Jesus the Lord inherit immortal righteousness. Therefore, thirsting for an undying life even through death, let us turn to the Holy Spirit who empowers us to be in union with our Lord Jesus Christ and enter into a life of faith, and communion.

The First Proclamation because God did not make death, and he does not delight in the death of the living, For he created all things so that they might exist; the generative forces of the world are wholesome, and there is no destructive poison in them, and the dominion of Hades is not on earth.

For righteousness is immortal. for God created us for incorruption, and made us in the image of his own eternity, but through the devil's envy death entered the world, and those who belong to his company experience it.

13th Sunday of Ordinary Time Ps Wk I Prayerful Awareness When God created the universe he saw that everything was good, says the book of Genesis. Even through the first proclamation today the book of Wisdom states that all creation is good. Yet the power of evil has turned everything upside down. Death has come upon man as well as the world created to be undying. By now we see the creation being destroyed and distorted. It is not wrong to say that those who bring disaster upon the world through distortion and destruction are co-workers of the devil.

Though our bodies may one day face death, righteousness and virtue will not. Therefore, during this short span of life let us strive towards everlasting righteousness. Let us see the necessity of prayer for a life of union with the Lord. Since prayer is a fitting instrument in driving out the devil who opposes us let us make it a priority in life.

The Gospel Proclamation "When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered around him and he was by the sea. Then one of the leaders of the synagogue named Jairus came and, when he saw him, fell at his feet and begged him repeatedly, 'My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on, so that she may be made well, and live." So he went with him.

Gaze on Jesus When Jesus is accompanying Jairus at his request another miracle occurs – the healing of the woman with a haemorrhage who was healed

"Your Word, Your Will A Fire & A Blessing"

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instantly at the touch of the Lord's garment. Her faith healed her and the faith of Jairus healed his daughter.

Above all what can we say about the faith of Jesus? No doubt his eyes of faith were focused on God. Despite the comments of the outsiders confirming the girl's death, saying "The child is not dead but asleep," he takes her by the hand and raises her up to life.

Whatever the voices around the world, Jesus listened and acted according to the voice of the Father.

Even in our life there are moments of testing our faith. Without listening to the voice of the world, the flesh and the devil if we can be only attuned to the voice of God like Jesus what a blessing it would be? Can we totally depend on him and his word in faith? It is not easy to discern the voice of God out of the numerous voices echoing around us. Yet, if we are continuously on the alert and seek the help of the Holy Spirit, He himself will guide us in discerning the will of God. Therefore let us be conscious of the Holy Spirit who dwells in us and with us at all times.

The Second Proclamation

their abundance may be for your need, in order that there may be a fair balance. As it is written, 'The one who had much did not have too much, and the one who had little did not have too little."

Prayerful Awareness

Faith and trust enliven Christian life. St. Paul advising the Corinthian community to spend themselves even in the works of mercy shows forth the attribute of communion of sharing with one another tending to their needs. Pointing out how Jesus became poor for the sake of the poor he brings out how justice is manifested when the rich share what they have with those who do not have. The Lord who was rich with divine power emptied himself and embraced the poverty of being human.

As humans our constant attempt is to gather things for ourselves. Do we ever think that we are robbing another sector by collecting more? As St. Paul says, if we can fulfill another's need with the excess we have then justice will prevail. Are we blind to the fact that our luxurious living while another suffers in poverty does not comply Now as you excel in everything with the mind of Christ? Let us be - in faith, in speech, in knowledge, mindful of the invitation of St. Paul in utmost eagerness, and in love for today to turn back for a closer look at you, so we want you to excel also in ourselves and our actions. this generous undertaking.

Prayer For you know the generous act of Lord of the living, inflame us with our Lord Jesus Christ, that though Your Spirit and guide us. Make us he was rich, yet for your sakes he thirst for a life of faith, communion became poor, so that by his poverty and sharing. you might become rich.

Through the Week I do not mean that there should Let us muse on the words "Virtue be relief for others and pressure on you, but it is a question of a is undying" and live on it. fair balance between your present Let us be sensitive to the needs of abundance and their need, so that our brother.

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

Monday 2nd July 2018 Amos:2/6-10, 13-16 Psalm: 49/16-23

(50/16-23) Mathew:8/18-22 First Proclamation Please read Amos 2/26-10, 13-16 meditatively.

Prayerful Awareness Let us meditate on today’s Proclamations, which are about the sinfulness of the World in terms of thorough exploitation and utter injustice on the poor and the weak, and sexual immorality and idol (wealth, power, ego, lust, going after momentary pleasure, with an ‘anything is OK’ mentality, etc.) worship, and absence of love when dealing with own family members let alone neighbour, and the wrath of God that will be poured out unless we repent and turn back to Almighty God, our Abba Father, in a spirit of Love, Thanksgiving and Praise, to love God and neighbour!

Gospel Proclamation

in line with this year’s theme ‘Your Word, Your Will, a Fire and a Blessing! To do this He had to let go of all comforts, and take life as it unfolded moment to moment, day by day, totally dependent on the Father. And through His carrying out the Will of the Father to the fullest, and His sacrificial death on the cross, He has restored our true calling to be children of Almighty God, Abba Father! This calling is not easy, and Jesus tells us, ‘Deny yourself, carry your cross daily, and follow me.

For whoever wants to save their own life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for my sake will save it. Will people gain anything if they win the whole world but are themselves lost or defeated?’ (Luke 9:23-25). The Reward promised is eternal life with the Father!

Which we have to claim by faith! But most of us postpone the decision to submit ourselves to do the Father’s Will, thinking we can do so when the children have grown and left the fold, or when we retire, etc. etc. but the Lord tells the man who wanted to postpone the decision till he has looked after his parents till their death 'Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their dead.' What the Lord is saying is, ‘Seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and everything else will fall into place’. We can say that we have experienced this in our lives, in that when we have given the first place to the Lord, everything else has worked out to the best! And the alternative is death, not only eternal death, but even our lives become powerless, like dead, and that is why the Lord says, let the dead bury their dead!

Prayer Starter

When Jesus saw the crowd all about him he gave orders to leave for the other side. One of the scribes then came up and said to him, 'Master, I will follow you wherever you go.'

Jesus said, 'Foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of man has nowhere to lay his head.' Another man, one of the disciples, said to him, 'Lord, let me go and bury my father first.' But Jesus said, 'Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their dead.'

Dear Lord, anoint us with Your Gaze at Jesus Holy Spirit, to empower us to submit Let us gaze at the life of our Lord our lives to do the Father’s Will to Jesus Christ who carried out His Fa- gain the reward of eternal life with the ther’s Will one hundred percent, fully Father!

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Tuesday 3rd July 2018 Ephesians: 2/19-22 Psalm: 116/1-2 (117/1, 2) John: 20/24-29

St. Thomas, Apostle

St. Thomas He was an unlearned fisherman from Galilee. He was called by Jesus to be one of His apostles. When the other apostles feared being stoned to death by the Jews in Judea, Thomas took the lead - "Let us all go with the Teacher, so that we may die with Him." (John 11:16). It was his declaration at the Last Supper. "Lord, we do not know where You are going, so how can we know the way?" (John 14:5) that drew the assertion from Jesus: "I am the Way the Truth and the Life". (John 14:6).

He has come to be called the "Doubting Thomas" for his refusal to believe in Our Lord's Resurrection when told of it by the other disciples. Present with them at Jesus' second apparition Thomas made that timeless act of faith, "My Lord and my God". The Church has since richly indulgenced for use at the elevation of the Sacred Host at Mass and at Benediction.

He is believed to have landed in Kerala, India in declared the apostle of India by Pope Pius VI in 1973.

The Gospel Proclamation

Prayerful Awareness It is interesting to note that when the other three Evangelists (the synoptic Gospels) mention Thomas only in the list of disciples, Evangelist John mentions the name on four occasions. Thomas was full of courage that when Our Lord proposed going to Bethany and the other disciples were hesitant and afraid, he came to the fore and encouraged his fellow disciples "Let us all go with the Teacher so that we may die with Him. (John 4:16) When Our Lord was crucified Thomas was so broken-hearted, that he wanted to be alone.

He faced the sole episode of crucifixion all by himself. He was not with his fellow disciples when Jesus came back. He refused to believe this news, he waged war - that he would never believe that Jesus had risen from the dead. Not only that, he put forward conditions - until he had seen the scars of the nails in His hands and put his finger in His side, he would not believe. When one week had elapsed Jesus came back to let Thomas have the test he had demanded. Jesus repeated the very word used by Thomas. love and devotion engulfed Thomas. What deep faith, devotion and love are expressed in "My Lord and my God." What total and complete trust and explicit faith in the divinity of Jesus Christ. Paul was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, neither was Thomas. The doubter was so convinced by positive proof that he became a worshipper. Throwing himself on his knees, he said to the risen Saviour, "My Lord and my God." It was an acknowledgement that the Emmanuel of Isaiah was before him. He who was the last to believe, was the first to make the full confession of the divinity of the Risen Saviour". (Archbishop F.J.Sheen) Prayer Starter

But Thomas ... was not with them when Jesus came. ... "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe."

A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. ... Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas "Put your finger here and see my hands, ...

Like Thomas let us surrender unDo not doubt but believe." Thomas conditionally to Our Lord. Let us also answered him, "My Lord and my accept whatever plan God has for our God!~"... lives. Amen.

"Your Word, Your Will, A Fire & A Blessing"

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

Wednesday 4th July 2018

St. Elizabeth of Portugal

would be the timeless (eternal) phase.

Amos:5/14-15, 21-24 Psalm: 49/7-13, 16-17 There is a tug-of-war waged between Light and Darkness, with you and me (50/7-13,16-17) as the price! The contest between Light Matthew: 8/28-34 and Darkness is to win us over; a war to be waged to secure our souls. For this, the Prince of Light offers us Truth and The First Proclamation Life, and the prince of darkness lies and Seek good and not evil so that deceit to entrap us towards Death. But, you may survive, and Yahweh, God there are limitations placed on the prince Sabaoth, be with you as you claim of darkness that we should be aware of! he is. Hate evil, love good, let justice Looking at the Gospel today, we identify reign at the city gate: it may be that some of them. They are fearful of the Yahweh, God Sabaoth, will take pity Prince of Light, crying out, ‘What have on the remnant of Joseph.....I hate, I we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of scorn your festivals, I take no pleasure God? art thou come hither to torment us in your solemn assemblies. When you before the time?’, acknowledging that bring me burnt offerings . . . your ob- there is a limit placed in respect of this lations, I do not accept them and I do domain’s duration. Further, it would not look at your communion sacrifices appear that their role-play is limited to of fat cattle. Spare me the din of your beguiling higher sentient beings! They chanting, let me hear none of your needed permission even to possess the strumming on lyres, but let justice swine herd afar, ‘so the devils besought flow like water, and uprightness like him, saying “If thou cast us out, suffer a never-failing stream! us to go away into the herd of swine”’.

Fix your gaze on Jesus Our Almighty Abba easily turns You Lord, are awesome! What is affliction and sorrow into prosperity Righteousness but an attribute of God, and joy for repenting sinners. S/He and Justice, calling for Judgement, could as easily turn the prosperity of requires perfect awareness of all fac- daring sinners into utter darkness. Men tors relating to a given situation; yet who choose evil habitually, will bring another divine aspect! Yet You want us ruin upon their land. Conversely, men to reflect these divine aspects! Having who choose Good, will save their land gifted self-awareness to inanimate from ruin. It behoves us to plead God’s material (in a manner as yet not quite spiritual promises, to beseech him to clear to us), now these sentient beings create in us a clean heart, and to renew a are drawn yet higher in consciousness right spirit within us. This is the journey given us for this year. S/His Word, Will, towards divinity...

At present there is power given stands ready. Would you allow that Fire the prince of darkness to rule; we to consume and renew you? Turning (the gift of consciousness residing every situation in to a Blessing? Are in a mysteriously animated material you ready to experience heaven all the housing called bodies) are placed in way to heaven?

Prayer Starter this domain so that we could use our gift of choice to opt for (eternal) Life Lord, we understand. We want to be or Death! Our consciousness is been in Your presence, to let You en-kindle trained in this passing phase for what us...

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Thursday 5th July 2018

St.Anthony Zaccaria, Priest

over and came to his own town. Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This The First Proclamation fellow is blaspheming!” Knowing Then Amaziah the priest of their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do Bethel sent a message to Jeroboam you entertain evil thoughts in your king of Israel: “Amos is raising a hearts? Which is easier: to say, ‘Your conspiracy against you in the very sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up heart of Israel. The land cannot bear and walk’? But I want you to know all his words. For this is what Amos that the Son of Man has authority is saying: Jeroboam will die by the on earth to forgive sins.” So he said sword, and Israel will surely go into to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take exile away from their native land. your mat and go home.” Then the Then Amaziah said to Amos, Get man got up and went home. When out, you seer! Go back to the land the crowd saw this, they were filled of Judah. Earn your bread there and with awe; and they praised God, who do your prophesying there. Don’t had given such authority to man. prophesy anymore at Bethel, bePrayerful Awareness cause this is the king’s sanctuary and These particular verses show us the the temple of the kingdom. Amos love and compassion of Jesus, the faith answered Amaziah, I was neither a prophet nor the son of a prophet, of the friends of the paralyzed man and but I was a shepherd, and I also the hypocrisy of the teachers of the took care of sycamore-fig trees. But law waiting and watching Jesus' every the Lord took me from tending the move with the intention of accusing flock and said to me, ‘Go, prophesy with something or the other. Are we to my people Israel.’ Now then, hear also like the hypocrites of Jesus time? the word of the Lord. You say, “Do Are we waiting for something disasnot prophesy against Israel, and stop trous to happen to our brother or sister preaching against the descendants and gossip about it? Do we recognize of Isaac.’ Therefore this is what the another’s mistake, pray about it and Lord says: "Your wife will become advise the person who needs our help?

Prayer Starter a prostitute in the city, and your sons and daughters will fall by the Dear Lord, fill us with Your love sword. Your land will be measured and compassion towards our brother and divided up, and you yourself will and sister and grant us the grace not die in a pagan[a] country. And Israel to judge and be hypocritical towards will surely go into exile, away from our neighbor, but know that we are their native land.’” children of the same Father who loves The Gospel Proclamation us equally. Amen.

Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed

Amos: 7/10-17 Psalm:18/8-11 (19/7-10) Mathew: 9/1-8

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

Friday 6th July 2018 Amos: 8/4-6, 9-12 Psalm:118/2,10,20,30, 40, 131 (119/2,10,30,40,131) Mathew: 9/9-13 From the Biography of the Saint Born in Italy of a poor farming family, Maria Goretti was much given to prayer since childhood. Her only desire was to stay single dedicating her life to God and living a life of purity according to the will of God. Yet, though Alexender a neighbouring youth came in pursuit of her to satisfy his sinful desires and since she did not give in to him pointing out that it was a sin, he stabbed her to death in fury. Forgiving him at her death and protecting her virginity Maria Goretti entered the bosom of God the Father.

She was canonized on 25th June 1950 as a model for the youth of all ages. Alexander who had been converted to the right path through her mediation as well as her mother was among the participants at the celebration. Admiring her saintly life let us praise the Lord.

The Gospel Proclamation "As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax both, and he said to him, "Follow me." And he got up and followed him…

And as he sat at dinner in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came and were sitting with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" But when he heard this, he said, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, "I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners

The First Proclamation "…a famine not of bread, a drought not of water, but of hearing the word of the Lord….."

Prayerful Awareness We see in the Gospel Proclamation of today, the steadfast love of God that embraces the weak, the sinner and the alienated as they are and makes them worthy of His kingdom, overflowing through Jesus Christ. Inspired by this great love Jesus calls Matthew alienated from society as a sinner at the customs house saying "Follow me," and also sits with him at dinner in his house. Though attacked and criticized by the Pharisees for associating with sinners and tax collectors, undeterred by any he silenced them with the words "It is not the healthy who need the doctor, but the sick….I did not come to call the virtuous but sinners" thus posing a great challenge.

The prophet Amos through the first proclamation warns of the disaster that would fall on those who devoid of love and against injustice suppress the poor people furthermore.

Towards us The Lord who called Matthew, resurrected and alive among us today calls us too saying, "Follow me." Thus our vocation is to be engaged in a meaningful and powerful process of action in an attempt to rid ourselves of the bonds of slavery in order to experience true freedom as a family, community and nation.

Let us implore the power of the Holy Spirit to witness to the truth, listening to the word of God, the only solution to the unquenchable thirst of man and loving the weak, the sick and the sinner.

Let us enter into prayer and keep before our eyes the whole day: "They are happy who do his will, seeking him with all their hearts" (Ps. 119:2).

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Saturday 7th July 2018 Amos: 9/11-15 Psalm:84/9, 11-14 (85/8, 10-13) Mathew:9/14-17 The Gospel Proclamation Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?" And Jesus said to them, "The wedding guests cannot mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them, can they? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast. No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old cloak, for the patch pulls away from the cloak, and a worse tear is made. Neither is new wine put into old wineskins, otherwise, the skins burst, and the wine is spilled, and the skins are destroyed, but new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved."

Prayerful Awareness In today’s Gospel of Mathew, the disciples of John the Baptist seem judgemental towards Jesus because He and His followers are not fasting.

So, the disciples of John the Baptist ask Jesus why His disciples do not fast. Jesus answers this question with two reasons. Firstly, Jesus says that now is not the time to fast, but a time will come when the disciples will fast.

This answer is similar to the response that Jesus gave to John the Baptist at the River Jordan; “But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” Jesus replied, “Let it be so

now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfil all righteousness.” Then John consented (Mathew 3: 14 – 15).

Therefore, Jesus only gives prominence to the Will of God and not the will of man. When we live according to our will, we feel an urgency to accomplish what our ego says is important. Defending our good image, saving ourselves from shame and doing the right thing presses on with urgency.

However, to Jesus, human honour is sacrificed for the sake of God’s Will and what Jesus does in secret with God is kept secret from others.

Jesus then indicates the reason why the disciples are not yet burdened with this important tradition of fasting.

Jesus explains that new garment (disciples who have just begun their spiritual journey) are not burdened with old garment (rituals and traditions).

He re-iterates this point by saying that new wine (disciples who have just begun their spiritual journey) are not burdened with old wine skins (rituals and traditions). We see over and over again in the Gospels that Jesus does not give prominence to rituals and traditions in place of God’s Will.

Rituals and traditions that we would ordinarily take for granted as “right” or “correct” are turned upside down

by Jesus, challenging us to re-think or repent. Repentance means a change of heart and mind, a new way of looking at things.

Prayer Starter Holy Spirit, our transformation can only occur through repentance.

What does a change of heart and a change of mind even look like? This cannot even be preconceived. Help me to surrender……

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

14th Sunday of Ordinary Time Sunday 8th July 2018 Ps. Wk II Prayerful Awareness Ezekiel:2/2-5 Psalm:122/1-4 When the Israelites were in cap123/1-4 tivity, the prophet engaged himself 2 Corinthians:12/7-10 in his duty as a prophet which was constantly manifested through divine Mark: 6/1-6 inspiration. It was God himself who sends the prophet to an obstinate set Introduction of people and the word proclaimed is In the Old Testament it was the the word of God. We can see how this prophets who acted as mediators word proclaimed is at times challenging between God and man. Today it is to the one who proclaims as well as to done by priests whose task is to make the listener. No doubt the prophet was present the paschal sacrifice of Christ more than frightened every time he in order to enrich the world with his reached the people in keeping with the love. Once St. John Paul II said, "The words of God, "I am sending you to the priesthood is a mystery and a great gift Israelites, to the rebels who have turned bestowed on us" since the life of the against me." priest is more related to God than to From the Responsorial Psalm man. Thus the priest should constantly I was glad when they said to me, listen to God and act as a mediator between God and man. Similarly he "Let us go to the house of. the Lord!" should unceasingly follow Jesus Christ Our feet are standing within your gates, the Most High Priest. So, let us pray O Jerusalem. Jerusalem - built as a city for priests today in a very special way that is bound firmly together. To it the since they are entrusted with the task tribes go up the tribes of the Lord, as of living out the priestly function of was decreed for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the Lord.

Jesus himself.

The Second Proclamation First Proclamation even considering the exceptional "And when he spoke to me, a character of the revelations. Therespirit entered into me and set me on my feet; and I heard him speaking fore, to keep me from being too to me. He said to me, 'Mortal, I am elated, a thorn was given me in the sending you to the people of Israel, to flesh, a messenger of Satan to tora nation of rebels who have rebelled ment me, to keep me from being too against me, they and their ancestors elated. Three times I appealed to the have transgressed against me to this Lord about this, that it would leave very day. The descendants are im- me, but he said to me, "My grace is pudent and stubborn I am sending sufficient for you, for power is made you to them, and you shall say to perfect in weakness. So I will boast them, "Thus says the Lord God" . all the more gladly of my weaknesses, Whether they hear or refuse to hear so that the power of Christ may dwell (for they are a rebellious house), in me. Therefore I am content with they shall know that there has been weaknesses, insults, hardships. persecution and calamities for the sake a prophet among them. of Christ, for whenever I am weak,

"Your Word, Your Will A Fire & A Blessing"

then I am strong.

Prayerful Awareness St. Paul is a powerful personality we come across along with the resurrection of Christ in the New Testament.

Sacrificing his time and talent to guide the people on the right path through exhortations he proclaimed the Gospel of Christ boldly and courageously amidst persecutions.

Yet looking at the second proclamation we realize how it has been his lot to experience delicate temptations and oppressions running parallel to his personal life and how he was not exempt from whatever is inherent to every man.

Those called to holiness are men and women facing ordinary life experiences. Every man and woman struggles within himself or herself with capital sins, inner wounds, personal, ancestral and original sin and passions in leading a community life. Since St. Paul was well aware of the most delicate temptations and weaknesses playing havoc inside of him he was able to somehow continue the journey of accomplishing his great mission.

Gospel Proclamation He left that place and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him On the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astounded.

They said, "Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? What deeds of power are being done by his hands!

Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us? And they took offense at him. Then Jesus said to them, "Prophets are not without honor, except in their hometown, and among their own kin, and in

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their own house. And he could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them And he was amazed at their unbelief.

Gaze at Jesus Let us pray for the power of the Holy Spirit to walk into the inner experience of Jesus through the Gospel Proclamation. This event takes place in Galilee, Nazareth on a Sabbath day in a synagogue. We see how Jesus is subjected to slander, disrespect and condemnation. Here Jesus is called 'the carpenter' out of disrespect and also to show that Jesus is a labourer of the same social status as they are. Similarly calling him 'the son of Mary' is by way of insult since in the Jewish background a person is usually introduced under his father's name. Here Jesus' inner experience would have been the conviction that there is no truth in any of the names attributed to him. For definitely the Holy Spirit would have reminded him at this precise moment that he is the son of the God almighty the creator of the world.

Towards our sonship Today the word of God awakens us to say 'Amen," to the word and the will of God wholeheartedly amidst insults, slander and many other oppressions and suppressions. Since it is at times a frightening experience, I must allow the Holy Spirit to inflame my heart with a blazing fire and let him make me respond amidst slander and insult rooted in my true identity inherited through Jesus Christ as well as to carry me through in humble submission before every weakness and sin.

Prayer O Holy Spirit the beloved of my soul, I bow down before you in worship. Guide me at all times to experience your word and you will as a fire and a blessing. Amen!

"Your Word, Your Will A Fire & A Blessing!"

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

St. Augustine Zhao Rong, Priest & Monday 9th July 2018 Companions, Martyrs

Hosea:2/16-18, 21-22 Psalm:144/2-9

(145/2-9) Mathew:9/18-26 First Proclamation But look, I am going to seduce her and lead her into the desert and speak to her heart. There I shall give her back her vineyards, and make the Vale of Achor a gateway of hope.

There she will respond as when she was young, as on the day when she came up from Egypt. When that day comes - declares Yahweh - you will call me, 'My husband', no more will you call me, 'My Baal'. I shall betroth you to myself for ever, I shall betroth you in uprightness and justice, and faithful love and tenderness. Yes, I shall betroth you to myself in loyalty and in the knowledge of Yahweh.

Gospel Proclamation While he was speaking to them, suddenly one of the officials came up, ....'My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her and her life will be saved.' Jesus rose and, with his disciples, followed him. Then suddenly from behind him came a woman, who had been suffering from a haemorrhage for twelve years, and she touched the fringe of his cloak, ... 'If only I can touch his cloak I shall be saved.' Jesus turned round and saw her; and he said to her, 'Courage, my daughter, your faith has saved you.' And from that moment the woman was saved. When Jesus reached the official's house and saw the flute-players, ... he said, 'Get out of here; the little girl is not dead; she is asleep.' .... But when the people had been turned out he went inside and took her by the hand; and she stood up. And the news of this spread all

round the countryside.

Prayerful Awareness

Let us meditatively dwell on today’s Proclamations which demonstrate God’s Love is universal, sacrificial, humble/ serving and unconditional/constant.

The prophet Hosea was especially concerned about the idolatry of the people and their faithlessness toward God. Hosea boldly pictured this faithlessness in terms of his own disastrous marriage to an unfaithful woman. Just as his wife Gomer turned out to be unfaithful to him, so God’s people had deserted the Lord. For this, judgement would fall on Israel. Yet in the end God’s constant love for the people would prevail, and he would win the nation back to Himself and restore the relationship. It is God’s plan for restoration that is beautifully depicted in today’s First Proclamation!

Aspects of God’s Love are also manifest in today’s Gospel Proclamation. It is also made apparent that we need utmost faith in the Lord in order to appropriate the beneficial aspects of God’s Love, healing and forgiveness.

Notice how the Lord got rid of the crowd that did not have faith in Him before performing the great miracle! Alleluia!

Praise the Lord!

Song of Praise (Psalm 145:2-9) Day after day I shall bless you, I shall praise your name for ever and ever. Great is Yahweh and worthy of all praise, his greatness beyond all reckoning.

Each age will praise your deeds to the next, proclaiming your mighty works. Your renown is the splendour of your glory, I will ponder the story of your wonders. They will speak of your awesome power, and I shall recount your greatness. They will bring out the memory of your great generosity, and joyfully acclaim your saving justice. ....

"Your Word, Your Will A Fire & A Blessing"

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(Brothers) St.Felicity Tuesday 10th July 2018 Feast of seven Martyrsand their mother to send out laborers into his harvest" Prayerful Awareness

Is it possible to harbour an attitude of neutrality towards Jesus? The attitude of the crowds was one of amazed wonder; Seven Martyrs (Brothers) & while that of the Pharisees was one of St. Felicity, their mother hatred. The crowds, mostly simple peoThe martyrdom of these illustri- ple, looked on Jesus with wonder. Their's ous saints took place in Rome when was a crying sense of need. They saw Antonius was the Emperor. The seven that they had nowhere to go to satiate brothers were the sons of St. Felicity, a their need, but in Jesus that need could pious, noble Christian widow of Rome. be fulfilled in the most astonishing way.

After her husband's death she served Deeper the need the more wonderful He God, devoted herself wholly to prayer will appear to be. The Pharisees, on the and to works of charity. Many embraced other hand, saw Jesus in league with all Christianity on seeing the edifying ex- the evil, powers of evil. Though they ample of this saintly lady. Provoked hea- did not deny His wondrous powers they then priests complained to the Emperor attributed them to the evil one. Change about the boldness with which she bore and say yes to the new were foreign to witness to her faith. The mother and all them. Their thought patterns and ways of her sons were apprehended. Their efforts thinking were too rigid. They were in the to make the mother and her sons give up same boat as their ancestors were - hated Christianity failed. She encouraged her and even killed the prophets. Jesus came sons to be faithful to the divine love. The with the real interpretation of religion. brothers were scourged, clubbed, flung They hated Him too. The pedestal they headlong to death down a precipice or placed themselves on was such that they beheaded. Four months later the mother did not want to submit - change was foreign to them. So was repentance. was beheaded.

Repentance - yes, it means seeing flaws The Gospel Proclamation in our ways of living. We must come to After they had gone away, a de- the realisation that in Christ alone there moniac who was mute was brought to is life. Surrender unconditionally to His him. And when the demon had been power, will, guidance and loving with cast out, the one who had been mute which alone that all important change spoke, and the crowds were amazed can be had. As citizens of the divine and said, "Never has anything like this kingdom, it is our duty to show Christ been seen in Israel. But the Pharisees to others preferably through our deeds. said, "By the ruler of the demons he "Preach without preaching" (Archbishop casts out the demons."

F.J.Sheen). The view of life of the PhariThen Jesus went about all the sees was a very narrow one. They almost cities and villages, teaching in their always wanted to condemn, punish or synagogues, and proclaiming the good kill - no second chance. But Jesus was news of the kingdom and curing every the one side of the coin. He saw the massdisease and every sickness. ... Then es as a harvest to be reaped and saved. he said to his disciples, "The harvest Prayer Starter is plentiful, but the laborers are few, Let us ask Him to make us true carritherefore ask the Lord of the harvest ers of His word in our deeds too. Amen.

Hosea:8/4-7, 11-13 Psalm: 113/3-10 (115/3-10) Mathew: 9/32-38

"Your Word, Your Will, A Fire & A Blessing"

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

Wednesday 11th July 2018 Hosea:10/1-3,7-8, 12 Psalm: 104/2-7 (105/2-7) Mathew: 10/1-7 The First Proclamation Israel was a luxuriant vine yielding plenty of fruit. The more his fruit increased, the more altars he built; the richer his land became, the richer he made the sacred pillars. Theirs is a divided heart; now they will have to pay for it. He himself will hack down their altars and wreck their sacred pillars. Then they will say, 'We have no king because we have not feared Yahweh, but what could the king do for us?'...... Sow saving justice for yourselves, reap a harvest of faithful love; break up your fallow ground: it is time to seek out Yahweh until he comes to rain saving justice down on you.

Fix your gaze on Jesus Dear Lord, prophet Hosea does ramble on, now doesn't he Lord? What do you make of his ramblings; his proclamations of the declarations of the Living WORD? Were you astounded as to how it reflected the dire state of humanity’s inner brokenness and ruinous orientation? Most assuredly, yes.

Not only have we distanced ourselves from the Loving Lord, but have left the security of the group and ventured each on his/her own way, leaving the space reserved for the Lord of the Hosts empty, allowing weeds and refuse to fill that space up. Whereas contrarily, you Lord Jesus, spilling over with Love and the Spirit of God, infused the twelve disciples with power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease, and sent them out proclaiming the Good

St.Benedict, Abbot News - that the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand; and to turn and experience it.

We remember that a vine is only valuable for its fruit; but Israel now brought no fruit to perfection, their hearts, divided. God is the Sovereign of the heart; he will have all, or none. Were the stream of the heart wholly after God, it would run strongly, and bear down all before it. Their pretences to covenant with God were deceitful. Even the proceeding of justice was as poisonous hemlock. Alas, how empty a vine is the visible church even today! All earthly prosperity is but a collection of bubbles, soon destroyed like foam upon the water.

Look back at history; what of man’s colossal efforts and edifices remain? The next tsunami or the quake will rubbish it. Sinners will seek shelter at that time from the Judge (whom they now despise as a Saviour) in vain; there is no running away from the wrath or judgement of the Creator of this firmament.

God however, not desiring the death and ruin of sinners, desires their chastisement in his mercy. The children of iniquity still remained in Israel. The enemies would be gathered against them. God makes those who indulge themselves in ease and pleasure, know hardships; lets them cleanse their hearts from all corrupt affections and lusts, and be of a broken and contrite spirit. Lets them abound in works of piety towards God, and of justice and charity towards one another: turning them, and letting them sow of the Spirit; furthering the commandment to be stewards of the creation.

Prayer Starter Dearest Lord, we admit our daily experienced brokenness, and turn to you with a contrite heart and mind. Now infuse Thy Word, Thy Will within, en-kindle our hearts with your Spirit, and shower us with your blessings...

"Your Word, Your Will A Fire & A Blessing"

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Thursday 12th July 2018 Hosea: 11/1-4, 8-9 Psalm:79/2-3, 15-16 (80/1-2, 14-15) Mathew: 10/7-15 Gospel Proclamation Jesus said to his Apostles “As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give. Do not take gold or silver or copper for your belts; no sack for the journey, or a second tunic, or sandals, or walking stick. The laborer deserves his keep. Whatever town or village you enter, look for a worthy person in it, and stay there until you leave. As you enter a house, wish it peace. If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; if not, let your peace return to you. Whoever will not receive you or listen to your words go outside that house or town and shake the dust from your feet. ....

Prayerful Awareness Jesus sent apostles to go and make the proclamation that “The Kingdom of heaven is at hand”. This is the message to be given to everyone even today. He sends all of us who accept Jesus as Saviour and Lord and abide by His teachings to love others as He commanded (to whom He grants the Holy Spirit from the Father through His intervention as stated in John 14 : 15 ), to proclaim the Good News about Jesus, the Son of God who came down from heaven, and His life on earth, and His Passion, Death and Resurrection and His teachings to save all. Jesus wants us to serve Him and promised to be with us to the end ( Mathew 28 : 20 ). He ordered apostles to stay in Jerusalem until He sent the Holy Spirit to them ( Luke 14:49). We received the Holy Spirit by the Sacrament of Baptism and our lives were

pledged to Lord Jesus as we are absorbed

be members of the Body of Christ. This to was strengthened by the Sacrament of

Confirmation. But some of us may still not know that the Holy Spirit is with us and within us, and may try to live our lives according to the guidance of the world, and some to satisfy the desires of the body, the flesh, and the organs of our body connected to taste, touch, hear, sight etc. Temptations may come, but, the Holy Spirit within us will help us to defeat them and live according to all Teachings of the Lord without breaking a single Commandment and live by the guidance of the Holy Spirit, as Children of God (Rom 8 : 14). God the Father looks after His abiding children who live according to His Commandments, as it is said that all things work for good for those who love God (Rom 8 : 28).

In the First Reading , we are reminded of the acts of Lord God to His people to bring them out of slavery but yet they preferred to go on their own way, to live according to their own earthly desires worshiping idols, breaking God’s commandments, turning away from God’s great Love and Mercy, thus going towards destruction of their souls. And God says, Yet, He did not abandon them, as He could not give them up or destroy them again, “For I am God and not man, the Holy One present among you; I will not let the flames consume you”. Our God is full of Love and Mercy more than we can ever imagine.

Prayer Starter Let us Thank and Praise G o d o u r Creator for His Great Love and Mercy for all of us and for sending His only Begotten Son Jesus Christ to save us from sin and guide us to salvation. I accept Jesus Christ as my Saviour and Lord. Through His intervention please grant me the Holy Spirit to know the Will of God and to fulfill the Will of God in every act , and in every word and in every thought of mine, Amen

"Your Word, Your Will, A Fire & A Blessing"

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

Friday 13th July 2018 Hosea: 14/2-10 Psalm:50/3-4,8-9,12-14, 17 (51/1-2,6-7,10-12,15) Mathew: 10/16-23 The First Proclamation Take words with you and return to the Lord, say to him, "Take away all guilt, accept that which is good, and he will offer the fruit of our lips.

Assyria shall not save us; we will not rule upon horses, we will say no more, 'Our God,' to the work of our hands.

In you the orphan finds mercy."

I will heal their disloyalty; I will love them freely, for my anger has turned from them. I will be like the dew to Israel, he shall blossom like the lily, he shall strike root like the forests of Lebanon. His shoots shall spread out, his beauty shall be like the olive tree, and his fragrance like that of Lebanon. ......

The Gospel Proclamation

persecute you in one town, flee to the next; for truly I tell you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

Prayerful Awareness The opposition of the Pharisees would be like ravaging wolves. The disciples 'only hope would be to look to their SHEPHERD. We are not to be SHEEPLIKE in our attitude but SENSIBLE and PRUDENT. We are not to be gullible pawns but neither are we to be DECEITFUL CONNIVERS. We must find a balance e wisdom and vulnerability to accomplish God's work.

Later the disciples experienced hardships NOT only from without (Governments, courts) but also from within (friends, family) (Acts 5/40, 12/1-3, 10/21). In times of persecution, we can be confident because Jesus has 'OVERCOME the WORLD" (John 116:33).

And those who stand firm to the end will be saved.

Jesus told the disciples that when arrested for preaching the Gospel, they should NOT WORRY about what to say in their defense - God's Spirit would speak through them. This PROMISE was FULFILLED. (Acts 4/8-14). Jesus is not telling us to stop preparing but to stop WORRYING. Christ warned the disciples against PREMATURE MARTYRDOM. They were to leave BEFORE the persecution got too great. There is plenty of work to do and many people to reach. Our work would not be FINISHED until Christ returns. And only after HE returns will the whole world realize HIS TRUE IDENTITY. (Romans 14/9-12).

Prayer Starter

See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of them, for they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them and the Gentiles. When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you at that time, for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise against Jesus, our Redeemer, help us to focus parents and have them put to death and you will be hated by all because on Your promises in the midst of troubles. of my name. But the one who endures We know that when we suffer for Jesus, to the end will be saved. When they He comes to walk us through it.

"Your Word, Your Will A Fire & A Blessing"

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Saturday 14th July 2018 Isaiah: 6/1-8 Psalm: 92/1-2, 5 (93/1-2, 5) Mathew:10/24-33

The First Proclamation "â&#x20AC;Ś.Then I said, 'What a wretched state I am in! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have looked at the King, the Lord of hosts.'â&#x20AC;ŚThen I heard the voice of the Lord saying: 'Whom shall I send?

Who will be our messenger?' I answered, 'Here I am, send me.'"

Prayerful Awareness We need not be worrying over our sins forever. Lord's ways are not our ways and his thoughts are not our thoughts. Despite the fact that Isaiah was downhearted thinking about his sin and confessed the wretched state he was in, the Lord could forgive him.

With the touch of a burning coal on his mouth, Isaiah was purified and even his sins were wiped away. Further, since Isaiah saw God, with his own eyes his life was transformed and was ready to be sent forth.

The Gospel Proclamation "A disciple is not above the teacher, nor a slave above the master; it is enough for the disciple to be like the teacher, and the slave like the master.

If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household!

"So have no fear of them; for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known. What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops. Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul, rather fear him who can destroy

both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. And even the hairs of your head are all counted. So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows......

Our Son-ship The Gospel proclamation today clearly pronounces the deep love and concern of God toward us humans.

Man at present is beset with many fears, problems and struggles. In the face of sickness, danger and death he feels disheartened and depressed. How many are shivering with the fear of being killed at any moment by enemies or rogues. If we live, we live for the Lord and if we die we die for the Lord. Yet, the physical body has no value, the value lies in the soul.

Therefore, let us be afraid of those who can kill our body and fear rather who can destroy both body and soul in hell.

Moreover, isn't it with an overflowing, unbounded love and deep concern that the Lord says, we are of more value to him than the worthless sparrows and even every hair on our head has been counted?

The message of such immense love is an invitation for us to be his witnesses. Inability to be thus seems to imply danger: "But the one who disowns me in the presence of men, I will disown in the presence of my Father in heaven."

If we gain the whole world but lose our soul, what profit would that be? O Holy Spirit be our Guide.

Prayer Starter It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High, to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night, How great are your works O Lord!

Your thoughts are very deep! (Pa.92/12,5)

"Your Word, Your Will, A Fire & A Blessing"

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

Sunday 15th July 2018 Amos: 7/12-15 Psalm: 84/9-14

(85/8-13) Ephesians: 1/3-14 OR 1/3-10 Mark:6/7-13 "He chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him" (Eph. 1:4).

Introduction There are many teachings based on the interpretations of the senders, servants of the word and missionaries.

The basic foundation for all these teachings lies on: the exhortations of Jesus Christ when calling the apostles (Mk. 6:7-18, Mt. 10:5-15, Lk. 9:1-6) and the guidance given on sending out the seventy two ((Lk. 10:1-12). Similarly, the risen Christ in bestowing the Holy Spirit on the disciples with his breath said: "As the Father has sent me, even so I send you" (John. 20:21). What the proclamations present us with today is, calling, choice, appointment as well as the prayer life, total dependence on God and the simple life style one should be equipped with as learnt from the life example of Jesus himself.

The First Proclamation And Amaziah said to Amos, "O seer, go, flee say to the land of Judah, earn your bread here, and prophesy there; but never again prophesy at Bethel, for it is the king's sanctuary, and it is a temple of the kingdom."Then Amos answered Amaziah, "I am no prophet, nor a prophet's son, but I am a herdsman, and a dresser of sycamore trees, and the Lord took me from following the flock, and the Lord said to me, 'Go prophesy to my people Israel.'

15th Sunday of Ordinary Time Ps Wk III Prayerful Awareness Obviously, prophet Amos carried out his mission around 787 BC in the Northern Kingdom of Israel. At that time, though there was great prosperity in the land, while the majority was under the oppression of injustice and inequality, the rich were growing fast in wealth dragging the poor more into the depths of poverty. Even the priests in conformity with the rulers not only demeaned the word of God, but humiliated and insulted the prophets. Amos, a shepherd and a sycamore dresser in Takoa, though not a prophet by profession, courageously fulfilled his task keeping himself in line with the God given vocation.

Prayer Starter Abba Father, Your word as well as your Will is a fire and a blessing. Therefore, fill us with the power of Your Spirit that we may speak on Your behalf and witness to You in sharing the Gospel.

The Gospel Proclamation Then he went about among the villages teaching. He called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. He ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff, no bread, no bag, no money in their belts; but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics. He said to them, "Wherever you enter a house stay there until you leave the place. If any place will not welcome you and they refuse to hear you, as you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them. So, they went out and proclaimed that all should repent. They cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.

Prayerful Awareness The Gospel of St. Mark starts with

"Your Word, Your Will A Fire & A Blessing"

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the words, "The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God" (Mk. 1:1). "And he appointed twelve, to be with him, and to be sent out to preach and have authority over the demons" (Mk. 3:14-15). Those sent out are prepared for it only after close association with him. Thus, to the extent that we draw from his life style that we are enabled to witness to him. What good news!

A life experience A sub-title under 1996 theme was "Let go." Being a prophetic statement, it caused much disturbance in Pubuduwa and even the deeply established structure was abandoned. The senders considered to be in a Brahmachari state were sent forth out of their own habitat to most difficult areas. The words of Swami thaththa before sending them stand valid even to this day: "My brothers, share not what you know but what you experience. One who does not live (have a close relationship with Jesus) cannot be a true leader. Therefore, live sharing what you live."

An aid to prayer "Spirit-filled evangelizers mean evangelizers fearlessly open to the working of the Holy Spirit. At Pentecost, the Spirit made the apostles go forth from themselves and turned them into heralds of God's wondrous deeds, capable of speaking to each person in his or her own language. The Holy Spirit also grants the courage to proclaim the newness of the Gospel with boldness (parrhesia) in every time and place, even when it meets with opposition. Let us call upon him today, firmly rooted in prayer, for without prayer all our activity risks being fruitless and our message empty. Jesus wants evangelizers who proclaim the good news not only with words, but above all by a life transfigured by God's presence" (Evangelii Gaudium, No. 259).

The Second Proclamation Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us to the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he lavished on us. .... In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, so that we who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit, this is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God's own people, to the praise of his glory.

Prayer Starter Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all the spiritual blessings of heaven in Christ. Before the world was made, he chose us, chose us in Christ, to be holy and spotless, and to live in his presenceâ&#x20AC;Ś(Turn the whole of the second proclamation into a prayer.)

Since Christ has chosen and appointed me, I shall be faithful to my vocation.

I acknowledge that I have been chosen before the world was made, to be holy and spotless.

I shall give praise to God rejoicing in the joy of sharing my experience of the Gospel.

"Your Word, Your Will A Fire & A Blessing!"

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

Monday 16th July 2018 Isaiah: 1/10-17 Psalm:49/8-9,16-17, 21, 23 (50/8-9,16-17,21-23) Mathew: 10/34-11/1 OR Zechariah:2/14-17 Psalm:Luke:1/46-55 Mathew: 12/46-50 The Gospel Proclamation "Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth, I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.

For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in -law against her mother-in-law; and one's foes will be members of one's own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find. it.

Whoever welcomes you welcomes me and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous, and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple - truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward."

Prayerful Awareness Christ, the Prince of Peace reveals to us through the Good News of today,

something which is quite contradictory or different to His usual teaching.

"Do not think I have come to bring peace to the earth, I have not come to bring peace but a sword" are the challenging words of Jesus. He elaborates the purpose of His coming to this earth. We are also reminded to be strong as expressed in the words of Ephesians. "fasten the belt of truth r your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. With all of these take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." Amidst all challenges from the Pharisees, Scribes and the priests, Jesus proclaimed and practised what His heavenly Father wanted Him to do. "I do what my Father is doing and I say what I hear my Father say".

My parents, brothers and sisters and my children are all gifts of God. So it is my responsibility to safeguard my life. But more than this I should love God wholeheartedly because my life belongs to Him and so I should abide in God by responding to the leading of the Holy Spirit.

It is also our experience that when we accept Jesus as the Saviour the Word of God becomes a sword and fire. Christ clears in me all what is unwanted for the Kingdom of God. When I give room for this change the Holy Spirit plants in me the real values of the Kingdom.

Prayer Starter Have mercy on me O God, in your constant love. In your great compassion blot out my sin. Wash me thoroughly of my guilt. Cleanse me of evil. Amen.

"Your Word, Your Will A Fire & A Blessing"

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Tuesday 17th July 2018 Isaiah:7/1-9 Psalm: 47/2-8 (48/1-7)

Feast of St. Alexius, Confessor Prayerful Awareness

Mathew:11/20-24 St. Alexius He was the only son in his family and was born in Rome in the 5th Century. From the charitable example of his parents he learnt that the riches given away to the poor remain with us forever, and that alms deeds are a treasure transferred to heaven with the interest of an immense reward. While yet a child he was intent on the relief of all whom he saw in distress, and thought himself obliged to those who received his charity and regarded them as his benefactors. He declared to renounce the world, fearing distraction of earthly honour, pomp and glory might distance him from what is more noble or divine.

On his wedding night, by special divine inspiration and the consent of his bride he quit /Rome. He lived on alms. He returned to his parental home and lived there as a slave. After seventeen years he died and thereafter his father, spouse and slaves came to know of his true identity but was too late. God bore testimony to his sanctity by way of many miracles.

The Gospel Proclamation

In this Gospel text, we have the lament of Jesus over towns of Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum. The Lord did many mighty things in those towns but the Gospels have not recorded them. "If they were all written down one by one I suppose that the whole world could not hold the books that would be written." (John 21:25).

Although many tremendous things happened in these towns we are in the dark. Surely they must rank high in what Our Lord did. In the Gospels we do not have the full selection of His works. A passage of this nature alerts us to the fact of how little we know of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Also we must be extra careful as it is difficult to discern the truth of Jesus' voice and the words He used - "How terrible ....(vs.21) He blared out a warning as He had been insulted. He offered them the most precious thing in the world but was rejected or disregarded. The reaction of Jesus was one of sorrow. His anger was a holy one. It emerged from a broken heart and was not outraged pride.

What privilege was given to Chorazin, Capernaum and Bethsaida while Tyre, Sidon, Sodom and Gomorrah were not given? Chorazin, Capernaum, and Bethsaida had the privilege of experiencing Jesus firsthand. If the people who have had that chance to do the right, resort to the wrong, they stand condemned. Jesus! attitude towards who purposely turn away from Him is clear. It is one filled with sorrow and not revenge of any kind. He stands at the door and knocks. Let us ask the Holy Spirit to help us give our ears to it and turn to Him. Prayer Starter

Then he began to reproach the cities in which most of his deeds of power had been done, because they did not repent. "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the deeds of power done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, on the day Help us to be true to our sonship. of judgment it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon than for you. .... Amen.

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

Wednesday 18th July 2018 Isaiah: 10/5-7, 13-16 Psalm: 93/5-10,14-15 94/5-10,14-15 Mathew:11/25-27 The First Proclamation Woe to Assyria, rod of my anger, the club in their hands is my fury! I was sending him against a godless nation, commissioning him against the people who enraged me, to pillage and plunder at will and trample on them like the mud in the streets......

For he thinks: “By the strength of my own arm I have done this and by my own wisdom: how intelligent I have been! I have abolished the frontiers between peoples, I have plundered their treasures, like a hero, I have subjugated their inhabitants. My hand has found, as though a bird's nest, the riches of the peoples. Like someone collecting deserted eggs, I have collected the whole world while no one has fluttered a wing or opened a beak to squawk.”

Does the axe claim more credit than the man who wields it, or the saw more strength than the man who handles it? As though a staff controlled those who raise it, or the club could raise what is not made of wood! That is why Yahweh Sabaoth is going to inflict leanness on his stout men, and beneath his glory kindle a fever burning like a fire.

Fix your gaze on Jesus Holy Lord, You are indeed Holy; and Mighty; and Awesome! How arrogant are the thoughts we choose! It behoves us to remember that we are but elements of Your imagination – brought in to being / manifested to experience Your Love....and not believe that we could go against the wishes of the Creator;

living our lives out in ignorance of and in denial of the truth....

The king of Assyria, in his pride, thought he acted by his own will.

But, even the tyrants of the world are tools of Providence. God designs (in and through everything) to correct his people for their hypocrisy: of their narrow-mindedness: of selfishness: of their insensitivity to the larger picture: bring them nearer to him from numbness; but is that Sennacherib’s design? No; he designs to gratify his own covetousness and ambition. The Assyrian boasts what great things he has done to other nations, by his own policy and power. He knows not that it is God who makes him what he is, empowering him even in his ungodly activities, putting the staff into his hand. Because he conquered Samaria, he thinks Jerusalem would of course fall! It was lamentable that Jerusalem should have set up graven images, but in this respect she was surpassed by the heathen. But is it not equally foolish for Christians to emulate the people of the world in vanities, instead of keeping to things which are their special honour?

For a tool to boast, or to strive against him that formed it, would not be more out of the way, than for Sennacherib to vaunt himself against Yahweh. When God brings his people into trouble, it is to bring sin to their remembrance, and humble them, and to awaken them to a sense of their duty and bigger destiny; the taking away of sin must be the fruit.

This attempt upon Zion and Jerusalem should come to nothing. God will be as a fire to consume the workers of iniquity, both soul and body. Who is able to stand before this great and holy Lord God? Prayer Starter Lord, I understand a little; and choose to be humbled and thankful before your greatness and mercy..., teach us your Word, your Will, that will enflame us with your blessings....

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Thursday 19th July 2018 Isaiah:26/7-9,12,16-19 Psalm: 102/12-20 Matthew: 11/28-30 The First Proclamation The way of the righteous is level; O Just One, you make smooth the path of the righteous. In the path of your judgments, O Lord, we wait for you; your name and your renown are the soul's desire. My soul yearns for you in the night, my spirit within me earnestly seeks you. For when your judgments are in the earth, 0the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.

O Lord, you will ordain peace for us, for indeed, all that we have done, you have done for us. ....

The Gospel Proclamation "Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

Prayerful Awareness Today’s Gospel of Mathew is an invitation from Jesus to come to Him. Notice that there are no pre-requisites set by Jesus to starting a relationship with Him. He does not say that we must first repent, let go of our sinfulness or give anything up. Jesus only offers and does not ask us to do anything.

“Big-heartedness always draws close to the other, always draws the other close.

Francis of Assisi, Benedict, Dorothy Day, Jean Vanier—like Jesus himself— draw people naturally into relationship.

And the hunger of the human heart that God put in us is not just for casual and

recreational relationships. We long for relationships of meaning.” (Fr. Richard Rohr).

So how do we take up this offer of relationship? The obvious answer is to start to spend time with Him through prayer. However, for someone who has been distant with God/Jesus for a while, this is not easy. In fact, the suggestion itself may not be so attractive to such a person. They would think/say that they would not even know where to begin or what to say. Or they may genuinely give it a good try and say some rote learned prayers, but still feel an immense distance with God. Maybe this person remembers having a deep relationship with God through meditation/contemplation/prayer but gives up because the same experience cannot seem to be attained. What should we do if we are in such a situation or suggest to someone who is in this type of situation?

"I suggest that we borrow from the Hindu tradition of “darsana” where Hindus visit the temple not to see God, but to let God gaze upon them – and then to join God’s seeing which is always unconditional love and compassion. Imagine God looking upon God’s Self within you, loving what God sees”, (Richard Rohr). When we spend time with God in this way, there is nothing we have to say. We have to just allow God to see Himself in us. We can then begin to look at others with the eyes of God and see God/Jesus in others. Not only will this begin a deep meaningful relationship with God but will allow us to have meaningful relationships with others.

Prayer Starter You will rise up and have compassion on Zion, for it is time to favor it; the appointed time has come..... (Ps: 102/13...

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

Friday 20th July 2018

St. Appollinarius, Bishop & Martyr

Isaiah:38/1-6,20-21,7-8 Psalm:Isaiah:38/10-12, 16 Mathew:12/1-8 Gospel Proclamation At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath: and his disciples being hungry, began to pluck the ears, and to eat. And the Pharisees seeing them, said to him: Behold thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do on the Sabbath days. But he said to them: Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, and they that were with him: How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the loaves of proposition, which it was not lawful for him to eat, nor for them that were with him, but for the priests only?

Or have ye not read in the law, that on the Sabbath days the priests in the temple break the Sabbath, and are without blame? But I tell you that there is here a greater than the temple. And if you knew what this meaneth: I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: you would never have condemned the innocent. For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.

Prayerful Awareness Going through corn fields, disciples plucked and ate ears of corn as they were hungry, and this disturbed the Pharisees more than anyone else as they were waiting to catch some fault of Jesus and His disciples, condemning the act, categorizing it as work as they did not accept Jesus as the Messiah and rejected His Teachings. According to Jewish rules and practice (Deuteronomy 24 : 25 - 26) a person entering another man’s field may pluck ears

with his hands and eat ( not take away).

Law enforcing Pharisees could not see the charity part of the act allowing the hungry to feed and took it as work breaking the rule of Sabbath. This is why Jesus took it up as He was the Lord of the Sabbath pointing out that priests too break the Sabbath in the temple, also reminding what David did when he and his men were hungry (Samuel 21: 6-7). God is Love and full of Mercy, but Pharisees acted without Love and burdened the poor, innocent people.

We too can fall into this category if we act without God’s Love.

The First Reading (Isaiah 38) is about Hezekiah who was sick even to death, and Isaiah the son of Amos the prophet came unto him, and said to him: Thus saith the Lord: Take order with thy house, for thou shalt die, and not live.

And Hezekiah turned his face towards the wall, and prayed to the Lord. and said: I beseech thee, O Lord, remember how I have walked before thee in truth, and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept with great weeping.

And the word of the Lord came to Isaiah saying: Go and say to Hezekiah: Thus saith the Lord the God of David thy father: I have heard thy prayer, and I have seen thy tears: behold I will add to thy days fifteen years: And I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of the Assyrians, and I will protect the city.

Prayer Starter Holy Spirit, God’s Spirit of Love that flows to us as followers of Jesus Christ through His intercession , Grant us His Love and Wisdom and fill my heart with His Love to make all my acts Holy, all my words Holy and all my thoughts Holy. I pray and ask all this in the name of my Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ, Amen

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Saturday 21st July 2018 St, Lawrence of Brindisi,Priest & Doctor Micah:2/1-5 Psalm:9/22-25,28-29, 33 10/1-4,7-8,14 Mathew:12/14-21

The First Proclamation Human Plans and God’s Plans Woe to those who plan iniquity, to those who plot evil on their beds!

At morning’s light they carry it out because it is in their power to do it.

They covet fields and seize them, and houses, and take them. They defraud people of their homes, they rob them of their inheritance.

Therefore, the Lord says: “I am planning disaster against this people, from which you cannot save yourselves.

You will no longer walk proudly, for it will be a time of calamity.

In that day people will ridicule you; they will taunt you with this mournful song: ‘We are utterly ruined; my people’s possession is divided up. He takes it from me!

He assigns our fields to traitors.’”

Therefore you will have no one in the assembly of the Lord to divide the land by lot.

The Gospel Proclamation But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus.

When Jesus heard the plot against him withdrew from that place. A large crowd followed him, and he healed all who were ill. He warned them not to tell others about him.

This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: “Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations.

He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear his voice in the streets.

A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he has brought justice through to victory. In his name the nations will put their hope.”

Prayerful Awareness In the First Proclamation God curses those seeped in the sin of greed and injustice. Even today we see the same injustice due to the greed and the selfishness of man. Every aspect of the environment and morality and goodness in man is gradually being destroyed. We see before our eyes the degradation of our society. As Christians we should set an example and pray for our world and mankind.

In the Gospel Proclamation Jesus had just carried out a healing on a Sabbath day. Jesus knew the teachers of the Law were plotting against Him yet he had such compassion for the man and the difficulty he would have had that Jesus healed him. This action of Jesus tells us that when there is a need it should be dealt with immediately.

Prayer Starter Dear Lord, teach us to do what is right in your sight and pleasing to you without being selfish and greedy for more. Help us to empty ourselves share the gifts you have blessed us with the less fortunate and bring them into a closer relationship with thee

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

16th Sunday of Ordinary Time Ps.Wk.IV and they shall be fruitful and mulJeremiah:23/1-6 tiply. I will raise up shepherds over Psalm:22/1-6 them who will shepherd them and (23/1-6) they shall not fear any longer, or be Ephesians:2/13-18 dismayed, nor shall any be missing, says the Lord.

Mark:6/30-34 The days are surely coming, says Introduction the Lord, when I will raise up for "The Lord is my shepherd; there is David a righteous Branch, and he nothing I shall want. Fresh and green shall reign as king and deal wisely, are the pastures where he gives me and shall execute justice and righrepose. Near restful waters he leads teousness in the land. In his days me, to revive my drooping spirit. He Judah will be saved and Israel will guides me along the right path; he is live in safety. And this is the name by which he will be called. "The Lord is true to his name: (Ps. 23:1-3). our righteousness": God the Father made the Son a Prayerful Awareness medium to share his love. The divine shepherd made use of every event in God promises a virtuous king for his life a means of guiding his flock the people of Israel. For before captivalong the right path. He showed forth ity they were under abusive dominion the wisdom, justice and righteousness of kings. Thus the prophet proclaims prevalent under the dominion of God. of a new era full of hope. 'Virtuous Those who walk in it, adhere to it king' is a translation of 'Zemen Zaand comply with it experience God's dic' in Hebrew which is a messianic mercy and love. Let us enter into this term. Similarly, 'righteousness' can be domain, listen to his voice and thus defined as Lord's presence and action act accordingly. Let us proceed with among his people and it would have our prayer invoking the power of the been obvious to Jesus that the prophet Holy Spirit. was simply speaking about him. Not only was he a virtuous shepherd but The First Proclamation paved the way for virtuous leadership.

"Woe to the shepherds who He was so filled with the Love of God destroy and scatter the sheep of my that he set free the captives, forgave pasture! says the Lord. Therefore and saved sinners, healed the sick and thus says the Lord; the God of Is- gave sight to the blind, thus proving rael, concerning the shepherds who himself a good shepherd. shepherd my people. It is you who The Second Proclamation have scattered my flock, and have driven them away, and you have not "But now in Christ Jesus you attended to them. So, I will attend who once were far off have been to you for your evil doings, says the brought near by the blood of Christ.

Lord. Then I myself will gather the For he is our peace; in his flesh he remnant of my flock out of all the has made both groups into one and lands where I have driven them, and has broken down the dividing wall, I will bring them back to their fold, that is, the hostility between us. He Sunday 22nd July 2018

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has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, and might reconcile both groups to God in one body through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it. So he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father.

Prayerful Awareness St. Paul shows how Jesus through his cross brought salvation to all nations. In the past, the Jews paid homage to God in the temple of Jerusalem.

Similarly, in its premises was a large square ground where Jews as well as Gentiles could gather. Yet, admission to the next interior court-yard was forbidden. There was a stone wall separating the two court-yards, and woe to any Gentile who trespass the limits as displayed on a notice board in Greek and Latin. Therefore the barrier St. Paul is speaking of could be this dividing wall. Thus the new man Christ, the second Adam, through his life sacrifice for the sake of humanity gave new life to man. Law was only a protection and an exhortation till the coming of Christ which came to its fulfillment through him. St. Paul stresses the fact that Jew or Gentile belongs to the same Church and the salvation is totally God's gift to us received through faith in Christ.

The Gospel Proclamation "The apostles gathered around Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. He said to them, 'Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while'.

For many were coming and going and they had no leisure even to eat.

And they went away in the boat

to a deserted place by themselves Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they hurried there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he began to teach them many things.

Prayerful Awareness Disciples are with Jesus working hard for the cause of the Kingdom taking untiring efforts in proclaiming the Gospel. Jesus invites them to come away to a lonely place for some rest, not only because they were physically tired, but since a lack of spiritual resources would result in having no love of God to share with people. Even the Son, amidst all responsibility at hand allotted time to fill Himself up with the love of the Father.

A strong spiritual bond is a must to be a good shepherd providing correct guidance. Jesus who sees people even at a distance, has pity on them and starts teaching. Hence, it is imperative that we follow Him in our task of becoming a good shepherd.

Towards Our Sonship Abba Father, amidst the hustle and bustle of life, let us be guided by the Holy Spirit to stop a while to gaze at You. Show us the way to strive for the Kingdom. Grant us the power of the Holy Spirit to win people for the Kingdom through sensitivity and correct shepherding. Similarly help us to wait on You, in order to enter into the true repose of experiencing Your love.

Prayer Starter In You our ancestors trusted, they trusted, and you delivered tem. To you they cried, and were saved, in you they trusted, and were not put to shame.

(Ps. 22/4, 5)

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

Monday 23rd July 2018

St. Bridget of Sweden

in return to what God has done to me, through Jesus?

God is a spirit, And so, God does not expect material things. He expects loyalty to Him and fellowship with Him (vs. 8). God expects us to do His Will. God's Will for our life has been The First Proclamation made manifest through Jesus.

Hear what the Lord says: Rise, To send Jesus into this world God plead your case before the moun- had to work through people and events tains and let the hills hear your for thousands and thousands of years voice. Hear, you mountains, the in the history of mankind. IT was a controversy of the Lord, and you plan drawn up and executed by God enduring foundations of the earth; the Father at much sacrifice to Himfor the Lord has a controversy with self. Ultimately, God had to see His his people and he will contend with own Son humiliated, tortured and die Israel. "O my people, what have I on a cross like a criminal. done to you? In what have I wearied And now, God expects from man you? Answer me! For I brought nothing more or nothing less, that you up from the land of Egypt and obeying Jesus, His Word Incarnate. redeemed you from the house of God is not satisfied with cheap substislavery and I sent before you Moses, tutes, such as the offering of holocaust Aaron and Miriam. with calves a year old, thousands of "With what shall I come before rams or even the first born. (vs. 6, 7) the Lord and bow myself before God expects man to accept Jesus, God on high? Shall I come before the Absolute Truth, personified. Achim with burnt offerings, with cepting Jesus entails going through a calves a year old? Will the Lord be change, in the inner attitudes - repenpleased with thousands of rams, tance. It entails dying to our own likes, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? ideas, preferences - dying to self. It Shall I give my firstborn for my entails a change of heart and not mere transgression the fruit of my body change in external acts only. It entails for the sin of my soul?" making the heart a "store of goodness" He has told you, O mortal, what from which springs forth good actions. is good; and what does the Lord re- (Mathew 12:35). quire of you but to do justice, and to Prayer Starter love kindness, and to walk humbly Those who offer praise as a sacriwith your God? fice honor me; to the obedient, I will Prayerful Awareness show the salvation of God (Ps/50/23) What does God expect from me, Micah:6/1-4, 6-8 Psalm: 49/5-6,9,16-17, 21,23 (50/5-6,8-9,16-17,21,23) Mathew:12/38-42

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Tuesday 24th July 2018

Feast of St. Sharbel Makhluf, Priest

Micah:7/13-15,18-20 Psalm: 84/2-8

(85/1-7) Mathew:12/46-50 The First Proclamation But the earth will be desolate because of its inhabitants, .... Shepherd your people with your staff, the flock that belongs to you, which lives alone in a forest in the midst of a garden land, .....Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of your possessions? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in showing clemency. ....

Prayerful Awareness In this prayer of the prophet Micah he mentions the shepherd. This idea runs through the Old Testament and New Testament. ."... your community will be like sheep without a shepherd" (Numbers 27:17) "I scattered my people, but I will gather them and guard them as a shepherd guards his flock: (Jeremiah 31:10) God has raised from death our Lord Jesus, Who is the great Shepherd of the sheep as the result of His sacrificial death: (Hebrews 13:20) "...to follow the shepherd and keeper of your souls" (1 Peter 2:25) "The Lord revealed at what cost these green pastures are purchased. He was not the Good Shepherd because He provided economic plenty, but because He would lay down His life for His sheep, Once again the cross appears under the symbol of the shepherd. The shepherd-patriach Jacob and the shepherd-king David now pass into the shepherd-Saviour, as the staff becomes a crook, the crook a sceptre, and the sceptre a cross." (Archbishop F.J.Sheen) The Gospel Proclamation

crowds, his mother and his brothers were standing outside, wanting to speak to him. Someone told him, "Look, your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you." But to the one who had told him this, Jesus replied, "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?"

And pointing to his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother."

Prayerful Awareness What a disheartening episode we have here! True, His mother Mary and relatives love and follow Him. They are puzzled by what He does and says. At the same time we see Jesus, little by little detaching Himself from His kinship. We can see clearly that He is more bent on enhancing a kind of spiritual and supernatural kinship that comes from doing the Will of God. Surely Jesus did not want to underestimate His love for His mother and relatives or deny the value of family affections. Christian message stresses the necessity and greatness of family bonds. Give priority to doing the Will of God and be raised to the supreme dignity of intimacy with Him. The Kingdom shines out before man in the word, in the works and in the presence of Christ. To welcome Jesus' word is to welcome "the Kingdom itself". The seed and the beginning of the Kingdom are the "little flock" whom Jesus came to gather around Him, the flock whose shepherd He is. They form Jesus' true family. To those whom He thus gathered around Him, He taught a new "way of acting" and a prayer of their own. (C.C.C. 764) Prayer Starter He lets me rest in fields of green grass and leads us to quiet pools of fresh water. Amen (Ps.23:2)

While he was still speaking to the

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

Wednesday 25th July 2018 2 Corinthians4/7-15 Psalm: 125/1-6

(126/1-6) Mathew:20/20-28 The First Proclamation But we hold this treasure in pots of earthenware, so that the immensity of the power is God's and not our own. We are subjected to every kind of hardship, but never distressed; we see no way out but we never despair; we are pursued but never cut off; knocked down, but still have some life in us; always we carry with us in our body the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus, too, may be visible in our body. ....

The Gospel Proclamation Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came with her sons to make a request of him, and bowed low; and he said to her, 'What is it you want?' ...Jesus answered, 'You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink?'...

He said to them, 'Very well; you shall drink my cup, but as for seats at my right hand and my left, these are not mine to grant; they belong to those to whom they have been allotted by my Father.'..... anyone who wants to become great among you must be your servant, and anyone who wants to be first among you must be your slave, just as the Son of man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'

Fix your gaze on Jesus Our Super model Lord Jesus prophecies of his coming passion and glory in today’s Gospel. He has perfected the practice of searching for, and becoming aware of the 'Will of the ABBA' mo-

St. James, Apostle ment by moment, and responding with a resounding “Yes” there-to...

How well practised are we in this regard? We need to look inwardly in to our inner reality to identify our own placement: the world of thoughts, desires, drives, beliefs, feelings, motives, understandings, passions and compulsions; the whole rigamarole / miasma of what makes me 'Me'.

How do we respond to the calling to stand in S/His presence every given moment? The call is to respond with all our mind (attentive, focused), our heart (with gladness, gratefully and with passion), and our strength (will, resolve, steadfast decision), to walk the narrow path (staying in that place) of receiving / giving unconditional love, even as Jesus our Lord and Master did, and Not be tossed here-there-all-over by ungoverned desires and emotional storms...

This seems to be the same vein of thought/belief the First proclamation points us to! The vicissitudes normal to life is NOT what dictate our life taste; whatsoever we choose to believe, creates our life taste. We live, and die in the Lord Jesus, this inter-twined process happening every moment; the need is to become aware of and to allow the creative process to flow through us ...without becoming fixated on outcomes that we 'think' and 'want' is 'right'...

Prayer Starter Lord Jesus, when we turn and give you mastery in our lives, when we truly abide in your commandments (hold the life giving Word before us in all circumstances), you will infuse us with life.

Your Word, your Will, will en-kindle us, and bless us! This is truly an experience we need to repetitively taste. O Lord, may we be so blessed.....

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Thursday 26th July 2018

Sts.Jochim & Anne, Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Jeremiah:2/1-3,7-8, 12-13 Psalm: 35/6-11

(36/5-11) Mathew:13/10-17 The First Proclamation The word of the Lord came to me, saying: Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem, Thus says the Lord: I remember the devotion of your youth, your love as a bride, how you followed me in the wilderness, in a land not sown. Israel was holy to the Lord, the first fruits of his harvest. All who are of it were held guilty; disaster came upon them, says the Lord.

I brought you into a plentiful land to eat its fruit and its good things.

But when you entered you defiled my land, and made my heritage an abomination. ....

The Gospel Proclamation Then the disciples came and asked him, "Why do you speak to them in parables?" He answered, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For to those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance, but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. The reason I speak to them in parables is that 'seeing they do not perceive, and hearing they do not listen, nor do they understand.' With them indeed is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah what says, 'You will indeed listen, but never understand, and you will indeed look, but never perceive. For this people's heart has grown dull, and their ears are hard of hearing and they have shut their eyes, so that they might not look

with their eyes, and listen with their ears, and understand with their heart and turn - and I would heal them.'

Prayerful Awareness Human ears hear many sounds but there is a deeper kind of listening that results in SPIRITUAL UNDERSTANDING. If one honestly seek God's Will, you have spiritual HEARING and the parable will give NEW perspectives, listening with MIND and HEART is necessary. When speaking in parables, Jesus was not HIDING TRUTH, from sincere seekers, because those who were receptive to spiritual truth UNDERSTOOD, the illustrations, To others they were only STORIES without meaning.

This allowed Jesus to give spiritual food to those who HUNGERED for it while preventing His enemies from trapping Him sooner than they might otherwise have done.

Some people do not understand God's truth because they are not READY for it, God reveals truth to people who will ACT on it, who will make it visible with their lives. When we talk with people about God, we must be aware that they will not understand if they are not yet ready. We must be patient, taking every chance to tell them more of the truth about God, and PRAY that the Holy Spirit will open their minds and hearts to receive the truth and act on it.

God told Isaiah that people would hear without understanding and see without perceiving (Isaiah 6:9) and that kind of reaction confronted Jesus. The parable of the Sower was an ACCURATE picture of the peoples' reaction to the rest of His parables.

Prayer Starter Lord help us to be prepared to share Christ as the Spirit leads us, whether they are people we know well, or those we meet even just once.

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

Friday 27th July 2018 Jeremiah:3/14-17 Psalm:Jeremiah:31/1013 Mathew:13/18-23 Please read prayerfully the proclamations for today.

During Jesus' time, Jews were living by the Law of Moses which had become their life-style. They agitated when they heard Jesus' teachings which challenged them to conform to the spirit of the law than its letter. They perceived Jesus' teachings as being contrary to their Law. To impart His teachings, Jesus chose those who were marginalized by this Law and appointed them as disciples. He spoke to the wider community through parables. Thus the parable of the sower in Mathew explains to the disciples the state of the heart who responds to Jesus' teachings. "And the seed sown in rich soil is someone who hears the word and understands it; this is the one who yields a harvest and produces now a hundredfold, now sixty, now thirty."

Jeremiah also refers to a time that this would happen. "And when you have multiplied and increased in the land, in those days, says the Lord, they shall no longer say, "The ark of the covenant of the Lord, it shall not come to mind, or be remembered, or missed; nor shall another one be made. At that time Jerusalem shall be called the throne of the Lord, and all nations shall gather to it, to the presence of the Lord in Jerusalem, and they shall no longer stubbornly follow their own evil will." "Ark of the Covenant" is the box made for the tablets on which the Ten Commandments were written which became redundant when the disciples matured in the Holy Spirit.

The law was now written in their hearts and minds rather than on tablets of stone.

"I will put my law within them, and I will write it upon their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people." (Jeremiah 31:33) Today, we are aware, with their maturity in the Spirit; the disciples became fearless and gave their lives to the Good News. "I alone am your Master, and I will take you, one from a town, two from a family, and bring you to Zion. I shall give you shepherds after my own heart, who will pasture you wisely and discreetly." (Jeremiah 3/14-15) God's aim for us is high. He wants us to become co-heirs of His kingdom.

Therefore, we too have received the gifts and the fruits of the Holy Spirit to prove our worth as children of God. Our humility to accept Jesus as our Saviour enables us to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, who lays the foundation in us to bring forth God's image in us and foster its values from inside out. In such an environment we do not need enforcers of the Law. Christians spread all over the world may differ in nationality and culture, yet we speak a common language that is from God, directed by His Holy Spirit which are love, peace, joy and harmony that comes through humility, patience, faithfulness and self control. A Spirit directed life therefore, in society will stand out as different.

Prayer Starter (Hymn) We are one in the Spirit We are one in the Lord// And we pray that our unity may one day be restored And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love Yeah, they'll know we are Christians by our love

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Saturday 28th July 2018 of the Kingdom of God. God the Father unceasingly loves the world. In that holy love He permits the concurrent existence of good and evil. It seems that God's plan is not to eliminate evil just yet, though He has the power to do so. God desires The Gospel Proclamation that the wheat grows in the midst of the He put before them another par- weeds till the time of the harvest. He able: "The kingdom of heaven may does not wish His children to be taken be compared to someone who sowed out of the world but to be in the world.

Jesus is the Way in conforming to good seed in his field, but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came the Will of God His Father. Jesus was and sowed weeds among the wheat, able to overcome all obstacles with love and then went away. So when the to reveal to us the vision of His Father's plants came up and bore grain, then Kingdom. Through being in tune with the weeds appeared as well. And the His Father's Will He was able to expeslaves of the householder came and rience the destruction of the evil and said to him, "Master, did you not sow finally victory of God's Kingdom. With good seed in your field? Where, then, this experience Jesus invites all of us to did these weeds come from?" He be sons and daughters of His Kingdom.\ answered, 'An enemy has done this.'

The first reading tells us how God The slaves said to him, 'Then do you had been trying to get His people to want us to go and gather them?' But make their own the values of God's he replied, 'No; for in gathering the Kingdom. God asks Jeremiah to proweeds you would uproot the wheat claim to the Israelites that they should along with them. let both of them change their lives and keep His comgrow together until the harvest; and mandments, if they were to experience at harvest time I will tell the reapers, His presence amongst them.

Collect the weeds first and bind them God through Jeremiah exhorts us. in bundles to be burned, but gather "For if you truly amend your ways the wheat into my barn.'" and your doings, if you truly act justly Prayerful Awareness one with another, if you do not oppress There is a constant struggle between the alien, the orphan, and the widow, good and evil throughout our lives. or shed innocent blood in this place, They are found together and not easily and if you do not go after other gods separated. Good thrives when we have to your own hurt, then I will dwell had our development in a spiritual with you in this place, in the land that background and thus the Holy Spirit I gave of old to your ancestors for ever influences our behaviour and life-style. and ever.

Prayer Starter This helps us to live for the glory of God. In contrast when vices and bad Lord, through Your Holy Spirit company abound in the environment enlighten us to heed Your word and act we live, evil tends to flourish, thereby accordingly, to do what is pleasing to we experience the unfortunate situation You, rather than groping in the dark, of darkness. performing rituals and other practices.

Our Lord reveals to us the vision Amen.

Jeremiah:7/1-11 Psalm: 83/3-6,8,11 (84/2-5, 7-10) Mathew:13/24-30

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

Sunday 29th July 2018 2 Kings:4/42-44 Psalm: 144/10-11.15-18 (145/10-11,15-18) Ephesians:4/1-6 John: 6/1-15 OR Isaiah:6/1-9 Psalm:144/10-11,15 (145/10-11, 15-18) Ephesians:1/3-14 Mathew: 9/35-38 Introduction Holy Mother the Church has declared today as the Indigenous Clergy – Religious Sunday. First Proclamation presents the call of Isaiah. The Second Proclamation, the letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians speaks of the plan of God regarding the whole universe and reveals how all of us are called through Christ in directing the universe towards this goal. Through the Gospel, the Lord invites us to pray for vocations. "The harvest is plentiful, but the laboureres are few. Pray therefore to the Lord of harvest to send out laboureres into his harvest."Thus let us enter into prayer pleading with the Lord to send Farmers or rather the shepherds who commit themselves wholeheartedly for the service of the people.

The First Proclamation "In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lofty; and the hem of his robe filled the temple. Seraphs were in attendance above him; each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, and with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew.

And one called to another and said: 'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory.'

17th Sunday of Ordinary Time Ps. Wk I The pivots on the threshold shook at the voices of those who called, and the house filled with smoke. And I said, "Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, yet my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!

Then one of the seraphs flew to me, holding a live coal that had been taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. The seraph touched my mouth with it and said, "Now that this has touched your lips, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out."

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go before us?' Then I said, 'Here am I! Send me.' And I said, Here am I, send me!" And he said, "Go and say to this people: 'Keep listening, but do not comprehend; keep looking, but do not understand.'

Prayerful Awareness God calls Isaiah apparently when he is in the temple or during an apparition connected with the temple. He receives the calling as well as the power to speak for God. Every time we are present before the Lord we receive the grace of to recognize our true self – We see for ourselves, the weakness, unworthiness and sinfulness inherent to us. Isaiah accepts and confesses his unworthiness.

And as a symbol of his purification a seraph touching his lips with a burning coal from the altar says, "See, this has touched your lips, your guilt is taken away and your sin is forgiven." Isn't this truly an experience of repentance and conversion? The result was Isaiah being anointed as a prophet. His reply was, "Here am I! Send me."

Gospel Proclamation "Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the good news of the kingdom, and curing

"Your Word, Your Will A Fire & A Blessing"

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every disease and every sickness.

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest."

Prayerful Awareness The Lord most merciful is a fitting title for this chapter in the Gospel of St. Matthew since it elaborates on His mercy and compassion towards the people. He manifests His attributes as a shepherd inviting you and me to pray to God for vocations. Obviously this invitation is relevant to this day. While the prayer is for the clergy and religious, the shepherds of the Church on the other hand, it is an invitation to us, the people of God to carry out our mission of shepherding in this land.

Second Proclamation "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless before him in love. He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious graces that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his graces that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according

to his counsel and will, so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit, this is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God's own people, to the praise of his glory.

Prayerful Awareness St. Paul aptly describes the goal of our life â&#x20AC;&#x201C; to unite the whole universe under the Lordship of Christ for the praise and glory of God. It would be quite obvious to us if we only look through watchful eyes, under the guidance and the light of the Holy Spirit that the whole universe is intrinsically moving towards this goal. Yet at the same time we also notice how the man using his God given free-will acts against it. Are we aware of our responsibility to be more conscious of our vocation? Just as prophet Isaiah was called God calls us too.

Towards our Sonship "God chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. He destined us in love to be His sons through Jesus Christ, according to His purpose of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace which He feely bestowed on us in the Beloved." Let us be conscious of our vocation and chosen-ness.

Let us prevail on God for the grace of the Holy Spirit to be a son, daughter, mother and a father to live for the sake of the Kingdom, through a life of sacrifice and love for others in the triple vocation of shepherding, priestly and prophetic.

Let us present ourselves before the Lord on behalf of our shepherds committed for the cause of the Kingdom.

Prayer Starter Happy are the people to whom such blessings fall; happy are the people whose God is the Lord. (Ps/144/15)

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

Monday 30th July 2018

St. Peter Chrysologus, Bishop & Doctor

Jeremiah:13/1-11 Psalm: Deut.32/18-21 Mathew:13/31-35 Gospel Proclamation Jesus proposed another parable to the crowds."The Kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a person took and sowed in a field.

It is the smallest of all the seeds, yet when full-grown it is the largest of plants. It becomes a large bush, and the 'birds of the sky come and dwell in its branches. He spoke to them another parable. "The Kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed with three measures of wheat flour until the whole batch was leavened." All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables. He spoke to them only in parables, to fulfill what had been said through prophet “I will open my mouth in parables, I will announce what has lain hidden from the foundation ( of the world )” Prayerful Awareness The sower of the seed is Jesus Himself. He is the Lord of the Word, the planter of the Word who came down to pay for our sins and teach us the path of Salvation. To all who accept Him and keep His Commandments, He will intercede and send the Holy Spirit from God the Father (John 14:15-16 ).

Holy Spirit will guide them to all Truth and to know to do the Will of God (John 16:13). The mustard seed was the smallest seed known at the time, it represents the Word, the simplest message of Gospel, starting very small, growing to reach millions throughout the world who will inherit the Kingdom. The

field represents all the people of the earth who will receive Him. The seed grows large and becomes a source of food, rest and shelter, for both believers and false professing individuals that seek to consume or take advantage of its benefits while residing or mixing among what was produced by the seed (1 Corinthians 5:1, 6:7, 2 Corinthians 11:3 & Galatians 1:7).

In other words, Jesus predicts that, the church will grow extremely large from just a small start providing shelter to all, even the worst sinners. It is the believers who should take the Kingdom forward to represent God, His Great Love and His Great Mercy to all, as the Kingdom of heaven includes God and His people. It has to be first created within us, if we have to be partners of that Kingdom. The Parable of the Leaven bread shares this theme of large growth from small beginnings. We may say Kingdom of God is here and there, but, Kingdom of God is where the Will of God is done, where the Spirit of God (The Holy Spirit) Reigns, where there is God’s Love everywhere and with every one. Where people Love each other, as Lord loves us. Like adding yeast to the wheat, God’s Spirit make us experience God’s Love and make us know God’s Will to make all our acts Holy, all our words Holy, and all our thoughts Holy. Any act of spreading this Love must start within our hearts in a small way starting from the Word of Lord.

Prayer Starter Jesus Christ, plant Your Word in my heart and make it grow to make me a fruit bearing branch of wine attached to You and make the Holy Spirit of God, guide me, correct me and control me as a child of God, Amen.

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Tuesday 31st July 2018 Jeremiah:14/17-22 Psalm: 78/8-9,11,13 Mathew:13/36-43

St. Ignatius of Loyola He was born at Loyola in Northern Spain. He was the last of the eleven children in his family. Following a military career, he was seriously wounded at the siege of Pamphona, and during a long convalescence read a book on the life of Christ and a book of saints' lives.

His eyes were opened and realized the hollowness and futility of his own self. He asked himself, "If the saints can why not I? He studied Philosophy and Theology and took his M.A. Degree. He was able to attract six young men to his way of life - mortification, poverty and spiritual exercises. Sts. Peter Faber and Francis Xavier were among them. In 1540 he founded the "Society of Jesus". They are popularly called "Jesuits". Died: 31st July 1556.

Beatified by Pope Paul V on 27th July 1609. Canonized by Pope Gregory XV on 12th March, 1672, Declared Patron of Spiritual Exercises and Retreats by Pope Pius XI in 1922.

The Gospel Proclamation Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples approached him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field." He answered, "The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; the field is the world, and the good seed are the children of the kingdom; the weeds are the children of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels.

Just as the weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at

St. Ignatius of Loyola, Priest

the end of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, and they will throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let anyone with ears listen!

Prayerful Awareness The experiences in this parable were familiar to the people of Palestine. This parable is one of the most practical ones that Jesus ever told. The weeds in focus resembled wheat and it was difficult to separate one from the other. Only when harvested they separate one from the other. Grains of weed are slightly poisonous. It alerts us to the fact that there is always a hostile power or influence seeking the ruin of souls. The influence is two-pronged one that helps the divine word grow and the other seeking ways and means to destroy the word. So we have got to be alert. Those who are in the Kingdom and those not - it is hard to distinguish.

The classification of our contemporaries labeling them without knowing the facts - "Stop judging by external standards" (John 7:24) Judgement comes in the end. Though not hasty it comes/ In this life sinners seem to thrive and escape consequences, but there is the final judgement and a life to come. And of judgement, it is only God who has the right to judge. It is only He who can and has authority to discern the good and the bad.

Prayer Starter and that they should not be like their ancestors, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation whose heart was not steadfast, whose spirit was not faithful to God. (Ps. 78:8)

"Your Word, Your Will, A Fire & A Blessing"

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"Your Word, Your Will A Fire & A Blessing!"