Walk in the Spirit November 2018

WALK IN THE SPIRIT November 2018 Volume 11 Issue 16

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

ISSN 1391-5967

Publication: Fr. Siri Oscar Abayaratne Kithu Dana Pubuduwa

SHARING ON PRAYER November 2018 Jesus is a Man of Prayer. He lived, He moved, He had His being in the Spirit. To live in the Spirit is to pray. To live with an awareness always of the Spirit, in me and with me is to Pray always.

I am invited to accept the gift of His Prayer Life – His prayer is mine. While appreciating the gift, I need must make use of it. I must pray like Him. Follow closely in His prayerful attitude to the Abba.

Fr. Siri Oscar Abayaratne

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Thursday 1st November 2018 Revelation:7/2-4,9-14 Psalm: 23/1-6 (24/1-6) 1 John 3/1-3 Mathew: 5/1-12

Introduction Today is the Solemnity of All Saints. Saints are not angels but human beings like you and me. Some of them have led virtuous lives since young of age and yet others like St. Paul and St. Augustine have had a life conversion through an encounter with the Lord while leading a sinful life and then transformed their lives in total surrender to the Lord through His love and mercy. Not that the saints were free from temptations but quite obviously they had a strong desire to dedicate themselves to the Lord abandoning everything for the sake of Christ.

While the path leading to a saintly life is unfolded through the proclamations of the day, the psalmist details it as follows: "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul, He leads me in right paths for his name's sake.....

The Gospel Proclamation When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he sat down, his disciples came to him.

Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying, "Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted. "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

All Saints for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Gaze at Jesus What Jesus proclaims is His own experience and lifestyle. With a heart full of love and mercy He is revealing this secret in sure hope that we would embrace it with joy.

Our sonship As children of God we have been called to lead a saintly life in order to gain the heavenly inheritance of eternal life. This requires the strength of the word of God for, to be in constant awareness in overcoming temptations, continuous help of the Holy Spirit, an inner thirst and a strong desire. Even though so far we have not realized the supreme value of our human inheritance in leading a saintly life, at least now let us ask the mediation of all the saints to receive the wisdom, desire and conversion needed to dedicate ourselves to God on a journey towards being saints.

Prayer Starter The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want; He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me besides still waters; He restores my soul, He leads me in right paths, for His name's sake. (Ps. 23/1-3)

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Friday 2nd November 2018 All Souls, The commemoration of all the faithful departed Isaiah: 25/6-9 Psalm:23/1-6 Romans:5/5-11 John:6/37-40 Introduction On this All Souls’ day when we commemorate the souls of all our dear departed ones, let us read today’s Proclamations meditatively which are like balm to our souls, full of comforting promises from the Supreme Almighty Creator God, who we have the privilege of calling our Abba, Father! What an honour! What Grace!

The Second Proclamation ….and a hope which will not let us down, because the love of God has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit which has been given to us.

When we were still helpless, at the appointed time, Christ died for the godless. You could hardly find anyone ready to die even for someone upright; though it is just possible that, for a really good person, someone might undertake to die. So it is proof of God's own love for us, that Christ died for us while we were still sinners. How much more can we be sure, therefore, that, now that we have been justified by his death, we shall be saved through him from the retribution of God. For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, how much more can we be sure that, being now reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. ....

The Gospel Proclamation

Everyone whom the Father gives me will come to me; I will certainly not reject anyone who comes to me, because I have come from heaven, not to do my own will, but to do the will of him who sent me. Now the will of him

who sent me is that I should lose nothing of all that he has given to me, but that I should raise it up on the last day.

It is my Father's Will that whoever sees the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and that I should raise that person up on the last day.

Prayerful Awareness In the First Proclamation we read: ‘On this mountain, for all peoples, Yahweh Sabaoth is preparing a banquet of rich food, a banquet of fine wines, of succulent food, of well-strained wines.

On this mountain, he has destroyed the veil which used to veil all peoples, the pall enveloping all nations; he has destroyed death for ever. Lord Yahweh has wiped away the tears from every cheek; he has taken his people's shame away everywhere on earth, for Yahweh has spoken.’

We know the above scripture has already been partially fulfilled, and we await its full completion after the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ!

The veil that separated humankind from Holy God was rent apart at the sacrificial death of our Lord Jesus Christ when He paid the wages for mankind’s collective sin on the cross. And the banquet of the Eucharist and the wiping away of tears is available for the true believer in the here and now in that those who are filled with the Holy Spirit experience the Peace and Joy that only the Lord can give, irrespective of one’s circumstances. We live in the hope that we will all be eventually united in our Lord Jesus Christ! Amen! Alleluia! Praise the Lord!

Prayer Starter The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name's sake. (Ps.23/1-3....)

"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

Saturday 3rd November 2018 Philippians: 1/18-26 Psalm: 41/2,3,5

(42/1-2,4) Luke: 14/1,7-11 St. Martin de Porres He was born on 9th December 1570 at Lima, Peru; the child of a free love union. His father abandoned his mother after the birth of his son. Growing up in utter poverty, he cultivated an immense love for his fellow poor and the afflicted.

At twelve he was apprenticed to a surgeon and soon came to be loved by the inmates of the city hospitals and prisons among whom he distributed a part of his meagre wages. At 15, Martin became an Oblate of the Dominicans, and after 9 years he became a lay brother, his nights were filled with spiritual reading, prayer and penitential exercises. Soon he was blessed with the ministry of healing, gift of prophesy and invisibility. Although he never left Li ma, there are several authenticated cases of assisting those in sickness and distress in Mexico, Algiers, France, the Philippines, China and Japan. The supply of food through divine providence enabled him to distribute the same among the poor and the abandoned waifs. Died 3rd November 1639 aged 60, Beatified by Pope Gregory XVI in 1857. Canonized on 6th May 1962 by Pope John XXIII..

The Gospel Proclamation

St. Martin de Porres and say to you, 'Give this person your place,' and then in disgrace you would start to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit down at the lowest place, .... For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

Prayerful Awareness What a great invitation we have to the eternal marriage feast of the Lamb. We are guests of the Lord and are invited to intimacy and communion with God. The advice of the Lord is not to put ourselves in the first place but in the last place. We are to let the Lord to give us the place of honour according to His plan/Will. "Jesus scandalized the Pharisees by eating with tax collectors and sinners as familiarly with themselves. Against those among them who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised others, Jesus affirmed: "I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance".

He went further by proclaiming before the Pharisees that, since sin is universal, those who pretend not to need salvation are blind to themselves.|" (C.C.C.588).

There is the invitation to be humble and gain honour, avoid blowing one's own trumpet. Let us compare our knowledge with the sum total of knowledge. How much do we know and how much more is there to be known or achieved? Many of us think how important we are but even without us life and work will go on unabated. Jesus humbled Himself - at His birth in a stable and after His death - the body was placed in a borrowed tomb only to be given back after His resurrection. "Envy often comes from pride; the baptized person should train himself to live in humility. Rejoice in your brother's progress and merits, God will be praised."

(C.C.C.2540).

Prayer Starter

On one occasion when Jesus was going to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal on the sabbath, they were watching him closely.

When he noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, he told them a parable. When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not sit down at the place of honor, in case Holy Spirit, help me to rejoice in my someone more distinguished than you has been invited by your host and the brother's progress, and thereby to glorify host who invited both of you may come the Lord. Amen.

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Sunday 4th November 2018 Thirty-First Sunday of Ordinary Time Ps.Wk III home and when you are away, when Deut: 6/2-6 you lie down and when you rise. Bind Psalm:18/1-3, 46, 50 them as a sign on your hand, fix them Hebrews:7/23-28 as an emblem on your forehead, and Mark:12/28-34 write them on the doorposts of your Introduction The beginning, growth and ultimate goal of everything on earth relates to love. Every Christian and non-Christian accepts the fact that either the equilibrium of the world that we perceive with our eyes or its growth as well as its destruction rests on the love and care it receives. The love we show ourselves and others depends on the measure of love we ourselves have received. One who has not received love is possessed with only a little ability to love another thing or a being, let alone a human being. They are obsessed with a great thirst for love. The Proclamations of the day reveal the solution to this problem.

First Proclamation so that you and; your children and your children's children may fear the Lord your God all the days of your life, and keep all his decrees and his commandments that I am commanding you, so that your days may be long. Hear therefore, O Israel and observe them diligently, so that it may go well with you and so that you may multiply greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, as the Lord the God of your ancestors has promised you.

Hear, Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at

house and on your gates.

Prayerful Awareness

Amazing is the way the chosen people of God were brought to the promised-land through the desert for forty long years. A special characteristic of the love of God was how He made them realize through this long journey of bitter experiences what He really is. Scholars are of the opinion that the second discourse of Moses (Ch. 4:4428:68) has thus stressed the importance of embodying and practicing the greatest commandment that far supersedes every other commandment they received throughout their journey anticipating a land overflowing with milk and honey.

Gospel Proclamation One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, he asked him, "Which commandment is the first of all?"

Jesus answered, "The first is, 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one, you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength,' The second is this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." Then the scribe said to him, "You are right, Teacher, you have truly said that 'he is one, and besides him there is no other', and 'to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength,' and 'to love one's neighbor as oneself,' - this is much more important than all whole burnt offering and sacrifices." When Jesus saw that

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

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he answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." After that no one dared to ask him any question.

Prayerful Awareness What was the secret of Jesus who never went to school, being equipped with enough wisdom from God to silence all who came to argue with Him. It was simply the capacity He had to get up early in the morning before daylight (Mark 1:35), and to start the day filled with the love of the Father. In constant awareness of the presence of the Holy Spirit He was the wisdom personified.

He had only one aim in life and that was to bring into fulfillment the great good news revealed in the Old Testament. His answer to the scribe was; 'You are not far from the kingdom of God'; which means where there is love there is the Kingdom of God. A life experience: She was a mother of a religious sister and while in hospital at the first stage of paralysis, suddenly a nurse in charge got another patient down from the bed and offered it to her. Remaining on the wheel chair itself this mother continuously pleaded with the nurse to let the patient be where she is and refused to accept the vacant bed. The reply was; 'You have come here through channeling and we are supposed to give you a bed'; Yet the nurse herself had to give in to her request since she vehemently refused the offer. The following day when a patient was discharged she was a given a bed. In five days she was cured and her parting words to the nurse were, 'Daughter, don't you ever be afraid to do what is right.'.

Prayerful Awareness Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith.

Where there is despair, hope. Where

there is darkness, light.

Where there is sadness, joy, O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life (St. Francis of Assisi).

Second Proclamation Furthermore, the former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently he is able for all time to save those who approach God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, blameless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he has no need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for those of the people, this he did once for all when he offered himself. For the law appoints as high priests those who are subject to weakness, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.

Prayerful Awareness Through Baptism we are called to partake in the sacrificial love of God. Love does involve sacrifice.

Prayer Starter I love You, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my rock in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, so I shall be saved from my enemies.

(Ps. 18/1-3)

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

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Monday 5th November 2018 Philippians:2/1-4 Psalm:130/1-3 (131/1-3) Luke:14/12-14 The First Proclamation of God’s Love So if in Christ there is anything that will move you, any incentive in love, any fellowship in the Spirit, any warmth or sympathy -- I appeal to you, make my joy complete by being of a single mind, one in love, one in heart and one in mind. Nothing is to be done out of jealousy or vanity; instead, out of humility of mind everyone should give preference to others, everyone pursuing not selfish interests but those of others.

From the Gospel He said also to the one who had invited him, "When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, in case they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid. But when you give a banquet invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous".

Fix your gaze on Jesus O Holy Spirit of God, reveal to us the heart and mind of Jesus our Lord for today….

We are continuously engaged in a search for happiness, peace and worthiness. Herein lies a foundational issue for humanity. Our eternal quest arises out of our beliefs (among others) that we are, ‘not worthy’, ‘not at peace’ and ‘are not happy’. This was the issue faced by our parents ‘Adam and Eve’, who subscribed to the lie that ‘we’re NOT

OK’! These fallen beliefs are inherited by us, and we in turn pass it on to the next generations. We lost sight of the truth that “we’re a work in progress; evolving to be perfect even as our heavenly Father is”! None are foolhardy to expect a ‘four-weeks old fetus’ to exhibit the development of a ‘six month old baby’ let alone that of an adult. In the bigger picture, humanity could still be a ‘four-week-old fetus’! We need to learn to trust the on-going-process, evolving us towards our inheritance of divinity….

This is why we need to turn away from our wrong beliefs, be content as we are, drop our competition among brethren, and take the inner journey! Going to the ‘Heart’ is as important as going to the ‘Stars’. Develop the connectedness to the Lord Who Comes Now! Be OK, and start believing that we really are created in S/His image and likeness- in other words, we are competent to love unconditionally; to be in love, and share ourselves with our human brethren, and the brother Sun and Sister Moon, as St. Francis of Assisi expressed it.

Once our ‘ego’ drives are laid to rest, we would be free to do good without seeking any return for ourselves. This is the exhortations to Christian duties; to like–mindedness and lowly–mindedness, according to the example of the Lord Jesus. Let there not be among us a spirit of pride. Understand that pride is a defensive mental shield, weakening / separating us from our connectedness to all that is. We must be severe upon our own faults, and quick in observing our own defects, but ready to make favourable allowances for others. Neither inward nor outward peace can be enjoyed, without lowliness of mind.

Prayer Starter I am beginning to comprehend the inner changes required for turning O Lord; Your Word indeed is a blessings!

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Tuesday 6th November 2018 Philippians:2/5-11 Psalm:21/26-32 (22/25-31) Luke:14/15-24

From the First Proclamation Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness.

And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death - even death on a cross.

Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Prayerful Awareness

The statement of St. Paul "I live not I, but Christ lives in me," emphasizes the great profundity of the deep relationship he, Saul, once an anti-Christian, maintained with the Risen Christ after his encounter with Him on the road to Damascus.

The request "in your minds you must be the same as Christ Jesus"; carries with it the expectation that the Philippian community also would model their lives on the Lord who emptied Himself to assume the condition of a slave, and became humbler yet, even to accepting death, death on a cross.

From the Gospel Proclamation

One of the dinner guests, on hearing this, said to him, "Blessed is anyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!"

Then Jesus said to him, "Someone gave great banquet, and invited many. At the time for the dinner, he sent his slave to say to those who had been invited, 'Come; for everything is ready now. But they all alike began to make excuses….; I tell you, not one of those who were invited will taste of my dinner.

Prayerful Awareness

The Lord often proclaimed that though the invitation to inherit the Kingdom of God extends to everybody alike, only a few would enter. Through the Proclamation of the day the Lord says, that the heavenly banquet will be enjoyed by the outcasts and the marginalized rather than those who lay claim to inherit it.

The inner heart of the Lord is quite obvious. He is focusing on pointing out the actual stance of the Jewish officials, High priests and Scribes who were amassing wealth and resources at the cost of the poor and the vulnerable. His intention is to guide them in the correct track. "Many are called but few are chosen."

Towards us

Isn't the word of the Lord challenging us, we who have surrendered ourselves to the Lordship of Christ and set ourselves on His way of life? Has the Lord called us simply to a work oriented life and labour, day and night as workaholics? Haven't we restricted ourselves to the task of fulfilling the Sunday obligation only? Haven't we limited our Pubudu life merely to participate in a praise gathering, a family day and Pentecost Rally if and when time permits?

How ready are we to claim the blessings bestowed on us through the fire kindled in us by way of listening to the Word of God and accomplishing His Will?

Prayer Starter

Awaken us O Holy Spirit!

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Wednesday 7th November 2018 Philippians:2/12-18 Psalm:26/1-4, 13-14 (27/1-4, 13-14) Luke: 14/25-33 The First Proclamation

become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions.

Prayerful Awareness Here Jesus enlightens us to be awake to our priorities. That is what the First Commandment requires, for God said, "I am the Lord your God, You shall have no other gods before me." We can allow many things to become god to us. Money, fame, work, people or pleasures can become gods by the "TIME" we devote to them. Letting God hold the central place in our lives keeps these things from turning into gods.

Jesus' audience was well aware of what it meant to carry one's own cross, When the Romans led a criminal to his execution site, he was forced to carry the cross on which he would die. This showed his submission to Rome and warned observers that they had better submit too. Jesus spoke this teaching to get the crowds to think through their enthusiasm for Him. Following Christ means TOTAL SUBMISSION to Him; perhaps to the point of DEATH. When a builder does not count the cost, his building may be left HALF completed. Our Christian life should not be only half built and then abandoned because we did not count the cost of commitment to Jesus. What are those costs?

Christians may face loss of SOCIAL STATUS or WEALTH. They may have to give up CONTROL over their MONEY, their TIME or their CAREER. They may be HATED, SEPARATED from their family and even put to DEATH. Following Christ does not mean a trouble free life. We must carefully count the cost of becoming Christ's disciples so that we will know what we are getting into and would not be tempted later to turn back.

Prayer Starter

Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence, but much more now in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Do all things without murmuring and arguing, so that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine like stars in the world.....

The Gospel Proclamation Now large crowds were traveling with him, and he turned and said to them, "Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple.

Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it. Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him, saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.'

Or what king, going out to wage war against another king, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? If he cannot, then, while Lord, let us not to love just in words, the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for the terms of but in actions and in truth. Teach us to peace. So therefore, none of you can be obedient to Your Call.

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Thursday 8th November 2018 considered advantageous so far is of no use. Rooted in deep faith, he encourages the people under persecution urging them to follow the humble attitude of our Lord without being enticed by vanity and selfishness. And it also highlights the importance of simplicity in a From the First Proclamation committed lifestyle.

For it is we who are the circumToday's Gospel proclamation prescision, who worship in the Spirit of ents the parable of the lost sheep God, and boast in Christ Jesus and narrated by Jesus in response to the have no confidence in the flesh - even displeasure shown by Pharisees and though I, too, have reason for confi- Scribes, the so called elite of the society dence in the flesh. who didn't agree with Jesus mercifully ....Yet whatever gains I had, these accepting the tax collectors and sinners I have come to regard as loss because of the lower strata. It further details the of Christ. More than that, I regard unconditional paternal and maternal everything as loss because of the love of the Father and the rejoicing in surpassing value of knowing Christ heaven over one repentant sinner.

Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have Our sonship suffered the loss of all things, and I What does the Lord expect of me? Is regard them as rubbish, in order that the relationship in my family as husband I may gain Christ and wife, parents and children sincere The Gospel Proclamation and honest, bereft hidden agendas?

What man among you with a Though well aware of the necessity hundred sheep, losing one, would of making a good confession before not leave the ninety-nine in the wil- receiving Holy Communion do we pay derness and go after the missing one heed to the voice within or wear a mask till he found it? And when he found of false humility and holiness? Let us it, would he not joyfully take it on turn to the Lord in repentance. his shoulders and then, when he got Have mercy on me, O God, in home, call together his friends and your unfailing love; in your abundant neighbours? compassion, blot out my sin. Wash me Rejoice with me, he would say ;I thoroughly of my guilt; and cleanse me have found my sheep that was lost.; In from my sin. Do not cast me out of your the same way, I tell you, there will be presence, nor take from me your spirit more rejoicing in heaven over one re- of holiness; (Ps. 51:1, 2, 11). pentant sinner than over ninety-nine Prayer Starter virtuous men who have no need of You set the earth on its foundations, repentance. so that it shall never be shaken. you Prayerful Awareness cover it with the deep as with a garment; As a result of the conversion expe- the waters stood above the mountains. rience of St. Paul encountering the risen At your rebuke they flee; at the sound Christ on the road to Damascus he came of your thunder they take to flight. to the realization that everything he had (Ps.104/5-7)

Philippians:3/3-8 Psalm:104/2-7 (105/2-7) Luke: 15/1-10

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Friday 9th November 2018 The Dedicatioan of the Lateran Basilica

by Satan the Devil, and were driven Exodus:47/1-2,8-9,12 away from the Garden of Eden. But our OR merciful God had a plan from the be1 Corinthians:3/9-11, ginning for the redemption of mankind 16-17 through Himself paying the price for Psalm: 45/2-3,5-6,8-9 mankind’s collective sin by offering His life in sacrifice in the form of the second (46/2-3,5-6,8-9) personage in the Holy Trinity, His Only John:2/13-22 The Gospel Proclamation When the time of the Jewish Passover was near Jesus went up to Jerusalem, and in the Temple he found people selling cattle and sheep and doves, and the money changers sitting there. Making a whip out of cord, he drove them all out of the Temple, ... "Take all this out of here and stop using my Father's house as a market.' ....The Jews intervened and said, "What sign can you show us that you should act like this? Jesus answered, "Destroy this Temple, and in three days I will raise it up." The Jews replied, "It has taken forty-six years to build this Temple: are you going to raise it up again in three days?" ....

Prayerful Awareness Let us read today’s proclamations meditatively wherein it says that our Lord Jesus Christ’s body was the Temple of God because the Spirit of the Holy God was in Him. In the Old Testament times, we see that only a few persons chosen to carry out a particular mission of His was endowed with God’s Holy Spirit on a very selective basis empowering them for the task at hand.

In Romans 8:14 we are told that those who are led by the Holy Spirit shall be called children of God. We know our first parents Adam and Eve were created children of God but they lost that status when they willingly chose to be misled

Begotten Son, the Word, our Lord Jesus Christ, who released His Spirit upon the creation at His death & Resurrection whereby Son-ship is now restored to whosoever believes and surrenders his/ her life willingly to the Lord. The community of believers together then forms the Church, which in turn becomes the body (or the bride) of the Risen Lord!

In this regard, the narrative in today’s Gospel Proclamation is a symbol of the Lord driving away all that is sinful remaining in each and every one of us after we have chosen to be Born Again in the Spirit to be His children!

Let us then see today’s First Proclamation also in this light, whereby St. Paul tells us that God’s Church is built on the one and only foundation, which is our Lord Jesus Christ, and warns of dire consequences to anyone who tries to destroy the body of believers! ‘Do you not realise that you are a temple of God with the Spirit of God living in you?

If anybody should destroy the temple of God, God will destroy that person, because God's temple is holy; and you are that temple’.

Song of Praise (Psalm 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9) So we shall not be afraid though the earth be in turmoil, though mountains tumble into the depths of the sea, and its waters roar and seethe, and the mountains totter as it heaves. (Yahweh Sabaoth is with us, our citadel, the God of Jacob.)

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

St. Leo the Great, Pope, Con Saturday 10th November 2018 Feast offessor, Doctor of the Church

they sneered at Jesus because they loved Philippians:4/10-19 money. Jesus said to them , "You are the Psalm:111/1-2.5-6,8-9 ones who make yourselves look right in (112/1-2.5-6.8-9) other people's sight, but God knows your Luke:16/9-15 hearts. For the things that are considered St. Leo the Great At a critical time in history, when the Western Empire was disintegrating and the Eastern Church was profoundly disturbed by dogmatic controversies and speculations, God raised to the throne of St. Peter in 440 a far-sighted and wise Pontiff. Leo 1; he was to become one of the three saintly popes whom we honour with the title of "the Great", Gregory in the 6th century and Nicholas 1 in the 9th being the other two. He took sharp measures to maintain the purity of the Church's doctrine. He clearly set forth the Church's doctrine that Christ is one person but possesses two different natures - the divine and the human. He was able to dissuade the calamitous barbarians in all prisons of Attila but the city was plundered. He managed to avert complete destruction and massacre.

Died: 10th November 461 The Gospel Proclamation And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of dishonest wealth so that when it is gone, they may welcome you into the eternal homes.

"Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much; and whoever is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much. If then you have not been faithful with what belongs to another, who will give you what is your own?

No slave can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth."

Some sayings of Jesus: When the Pharisees heard all these,

of great value are worth nothing in God's sight.

Prayerful Awareness

The Lord tells us, "Whoever is faithful in small matters will be faithful in large ones." Small things count, have values. Let us look at Jesus, His life. For thirty years He did small things, things like helping His foster father in his carpentry shop and taking the finished work to the customers. He also helped His mother in her domestic work - like fetching water from the well. What is our attitude to small things - one filled with love or hate? - not to cause inconvenience to others, to keep one's word, not to lose temper, not to use harsh words etc. What is our motive in doing the work entrusted to us? It is that motive that gives merit to our lives. So let us fill all our actions with love. Jesus draws our attention to being faithful to God, be loyal and love Him. In all these give priority to God not to temporal things. A theory that makes profit the exclusive norm and ultimate end of the economic activity is morally unacceptable. The disordered desire for money cannot but produce perverse effects. It is one of the causes of the many conflicts which disturb the social order.

A system that "subordinates the basic rights of individuals and of groups to the collective organisation of production" is contrary to human dignity. Every practice that reduces persons to nothing more than a means of profit, enslaves man, leads to idolizing money and contributes to the spread of atheism. "You cannot serve both God and mammon." (.C.C.2424) Prayer Starter Help us to be satisfied with what we have; to be content whether full or hungry; have too much or too little."

(Philippians 4/11-15)

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32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time PS Wk IV little oil in a jug; I am now gathering 1 Kings: 17/10-16 a couple of sticks, so that I may go Psalm: 145/6-10 home and prepare it for myself and (146/6-10) my son, that we may eat it, and die."

Hebrews:9/24-28 Elijah said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mark:12/38-44 OR go and do as you have said, but first 12/41-44 make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterwards make something for yourself and your son. For Introduction thus says the Lord the God of Israel.

People of God in the Old Testament The jar of meal will not be emptied never neglected offering the tenths of and the jug of oil will not fail until the everything to God. And the short term day that the Lord sends rain on the happiness one enjoys accumulating earth." She went and did as Elijah wealth and resources can never be the said, so that she as well as he and her same as the freedom, joy and peace household ate for many days. The experienced by a person who shares jar of meal was not emptied, neither what he or she has with others. One did the jug of oil fail, according to who offers what he owns to God does the word of the Lord that he spoke experience the providence of God that by Elijah.

Prayerful Awareness secures him as well as his family.

Thus he totally depends on God, There are two great events found in greatly experiences the love of God and 1 Kings Chapter 17. penetrates deep into faith. It is simply First is the widow accepting God's an opening up to receive salvation. word and depending on Him during Therefore let us come to experience the the drought. Second is restoring life to great love of God by allowing Him to her son dead of an incurable disease. enter into our lives.

The significance here is in obedient Entrance Antiphon trust surrendering oneself to the mighty Let my prayer come into your hand of God. Faith paves the way to a presence. Incline your ear to my cry new life. Hence, let us see life with the light of faith and give ourselves to God for help, O Lord. in total surrender.

From the First Proclamation From the Second Proclamation So he set out and went to ZareFor Christ did not enter a a sancphath. When he came to the gate of the town, a widow was there gather- tuary made by human hands, a mere ing sticks; he called to her and said, copy of the true one, but he entered "Bring me a little water in a vessel, so into heaven itself, now to appear in that I may drink." As she was going the presence of God on our behalf. to bring it, he called to her and said, Nor was it to offer himself again and "Bring me a morsel of bread in your again as the high priest enters the hand." But she said, "As the Lord Holy Place year after year with blood your God lives, I have nothing baked, that is not his own, for then he would only a handful of meal in a jar, and a have had to suffer again and again since the foundation of the world.

Sunday 11th November 2018

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but as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the age to remove sin by sacrifice of himself. And just as it is appointed for mortals to die once and after that the judgement, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time not to deal with sin, but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

Prayerful Awareness

condemnation. It is said that in the women's courts of the temple there had been thirteen vessels kept for collecting money for the treasury and they were of the shape of trumpets placed upside down. Watching the multitude putting money to the treasury Jesus says, the poor widow has put in everything she had, her whole living. And also He states that God will look after those who totally depend on Him. It is an invitation for us to let go of worldly What the author wishes to point values in order to win the Kingdom out by referring to the sacrifice offered of God. once and for all for the remission of My sonship sins is the heavenly life, the eternal life won by Christ through His sacrifice on "Truly, I say to you, this poor the cross. And unlike the animal sacri- widow has put in more than all who fices in the Old Testament, Our Lord are contributing to the treasury." on His own free will offered Himself Through these words Jesus seems to as a one single sacrifice. Hence, there be throwing a challenge at our life of is no need to offer sacrifices again and faith. That is, an invitation to a depenagain. While other sacrifices are time- dent lifestyle and to live for now. This ly, the offering of Christ is for eternity. moment or the moment before us is a Similarly, this invites us to wait in faith grace filled moment of God. "Thereand hope for the ultimate victory at His fore I tell you, do not be anxious second coming. about your life, what you shall eat or drink, nor about your body, what you From the Gospel Proclamation shall put on. For the Gentiles seek â&#x20AC;Ś He sat down opposite the trea- all these things; and your heavenly sury and watched the crowd putting Father knows that you need them money into the treasury. Many rich all. But seek first the kingdom and people put in large sums. A poor wid- his righteousness, and all these things ow came and put in two small copper shall be yours as well." (Matthew coins, which are worth a penny. 6:25, 32-34).

Then he called his disciples and said Spending ourselves within the kingto them, "Truly I tell you, this poor dom of God let us prepare our hearts widow has put in more than all those for His Second Coming and enter into are contributing to the treasury. For prayer with the above thought in mind. all of them have contributed out of Prayer Starter their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she The Lord is gracious and merciful, had, all she had to live on." slow to anger and abounding in steadPrayerful Awareness fast love. The Lord is good to all, and his compassion is over all that he has Our Lord in His exhortation at the made. All your works shall give thanks temple says, 'Beware of the scribes'; to you, O Lord, and all your faithful He says that since they devour widows' shall bless you. (Ps.145/8-10) houses while for a pretense make long prayers they will receive the greater

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

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Monday 12th November 2018

St. Josephat, Bisho & Martyr

Titus:1/1-9 Psalm:23/1-6 (24/1-6) Luke: 17/1-6

Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God's elect and the knowledge of the truth that is in accordance with Godliness, in the hope of eternal life that God who never lies, promised before the ages began - in due time he revealed his word through the proclamation with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our savior To Titus, my loyal child in the faith we share: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Saviour.

I left you behind in Crete for this reason, so that you should put in order what remained to be done, and should appoint elders in every town, as I directed you; someone who is blameless, married only once, whose children are believers ,..... for a bishop, as God's steward must be blameless, he must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or addicted to wine or violent or greedy for gain; but he must be hospitable, a lover of goodness, prudent, upright, devout, and self-controlled. He must have a firm grasp of the word that is trustworthy in accordance with the teaching, so that he may be able both to preach with sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict it.

Fix your gaze on Jesus

infused S/His progeny with; we really are creators with the difference that we create using what is already available; we deal with the divine stuff (the whole of this creation is infused with S/His energy/intent), and (is called upon to) create what is good for ourselves.

We are familiar with the concept that the creativity process we do manifest externally, but not quite so aware that this is as true in the interior world. This aspect which seems to be lost on most of humanity need not continue to be so.

The ‘Awakening process’ the Holy Spirit of God does (to the extent we desire and allow) elevates our ‘Consciousness’ higher….so that we would be readier to face our existence in a conscious manner, on a ‘timeless’ ‘eternal’ dimension!

This however necessitates us to become aware of ‘what is good’ for us.

A prime source of ‘what-is-good’ is the revealed scripture explaining to us what/ how error could be rejected, raising us from our constant groveling before the ‘Satan, World and Flesh’ for satisfaction and worthiness; turn us back to our destiny of being ‘Children of the Almighty’.

All those who are not slaves of sin and Satan are the servants of God. All gospel truth is according to godliness, with the intent to raise up hope as well as faith; to take off the mind and heart from the world, and to raise them to heaven and the things above. How excellent then is the gospel, which was the matter of Divine promise so early!

Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God; and whosoever is appointed and called, must preach the word.

Prayer Starter

Dearest Lord, we are distracted and adrift; without focus and confused in intent! Come, save us from this morass….

The Gospel, the Good News is all about the potential the Creator has

Dear Lord, help us turn away from our previously chosen beliefs/thoughts that are contrary to Your Holy Word! To reject Satan and his works, believe in the loving Creator!

The First Proclamation

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

Tuesday 13th November 2018 Titus:2/1-8, 11-14 Psalm:36/3-4,18-23.27, 29 (37/3-4,18,23,26,27,29) Luke: 17/7-10 Gospel Proclamation Please read Luke 17/7-10 prayerfully.

Prayerful Awareness I recently read a quote from St. Vincent de Paul, “The biggest sin man has is PRIDE”. How many of us will tell a loyal servant who has worked for us to help us, to come and eat with us, to take a place at the table? We talk so much on human rights but most of us are so tied to the “Society sin” and the “Structural sin”, as we try to maintain a different place in the society due to hypothetical standards we have set, mostly in line with duties carried out. Sometimes, this may be due to different problems that could arise, but, what steps have we taken to educate and train them in order to raise them to respect each other and behave respectfully. This problem we see in our society than in the developed world, may be partly due to our educational system. God created man (every one) to His own IMAGE and it is we who have formed borders and different levels. This is why in Revelation 2:4 it is said “But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first". This is to say that the love we initially had when we surrendered our lives to Christ has shifted to a love of self that demands tangible value rather than finding spiritual value in serving our gracious and merciful Creator.

Once, a person living in a developed country made a statement “we living in the first world should be envious

of those living in third world poverty, because the poor fulfill their servitude to God in their daily sufferings that a life in poverty presents to them. It is we, the rich and privileged of the world who must deny the materialistic life that lies before us and counter-culturally live an unprofitable life for the poor.”

I think it is of utmost importance to remind ourselves that we too, are servants, unprofitable servants, who are obliged not only to serve God, but to serve one another. We all must learn how to view humility not as an unwelcome intruder, but as the spouse of our soul to whom we have wedded ourselves forever. Jesus said we are “unworthy,” to show us that we are servants who are now debt-free - in the sense that God owes us nothing and our service does not entitle us to a reward.

No one, no matter how hard working, can ever put God in his/her debt. Our prayers should rather be servants' prayers as: “Father, what do you want me to do today? How can I help another today. Give me strength and boldness to be a witness for You and Your great love that we receive as promised to us through Christ”. This is why Jesus tells us “Whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave” (Math. 20:27).

The first reading urges us to first of all to pray - petitions, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all .

Prayer Starter Lord Jesus, Help me to daily surrender my prideful arrogance, selfishness, and negative attitudes of expectation and entitlement. Lord by Your Love and Your Word wash over my selfish heart and remind me that You are there for all my needs for me to live according to the Will of God, our ever Loving Father, Amen

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Wednesday 14th November 2018 Titus: 3/1-7 Psalm:22/1-6

(113/1-7) Luke: 17/11-19 The Gospel Proclamation On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him.

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

Prayerful Awareness The incident in today's Gospel depicts a perfect example of gratitude which should be practised in response to kindness and goodness shown by others.

Gratitude is a great gift of God, who is the source of all blessings. The incident quotes the healing of ten lepers by Jesus.

Although ten lepers were healed, only one of them returned to give thanks to God. Jesus differentiates the grateful Samaritan with the other nine in such a way that implies the criticism of the latter. He commands that we do what is necessary according to the Law so that we can live in the society and contribute to it.

How often do we go to God with

hearts full of joy and gratitude to praise and worship Him? We are reminded that what we have is God’s gift to us and what we do with our life becomes our thanksgiving gift to God. Do we realize this? God has blessed each one of us and He continues to bless us. Jesus comment is an indictment of the common tendency of forgetting the benefactor once the need has been met.

The Blessed Mother praised God for all what He had done in her life. She had been selected as the Mother of Jesus and also the mother of the entire world. That is why she praised God with a heart full of gratitude with the song ‘Magnificat’ Please focus mainly on the blessings and benefits they receive rather than the source from which they received them.

In contrast the Samaritan leper enters into a personal relationship with Jesus through his act of thanksgiving. How often do we thank God for His blessings?

Does God look at all of us (the other nine) and say, “Where are you?”

In the First Proclamation, we have Tobit a Jew from the North of Palestine.

He is a man tested by God, but not rejected by Him. His perseverance in prayer brings God’s blessings upon him.

As we say today, God may delay, but He does not forget’. Tobit remains faithful to his poor exiled people. He is an example of solidarity for us. This reading is a prayer to God by Tobit for God’s forgiveness for his sins and all others Prayer Starter I implore mercy from You dear God for being ungrateful in spite of all the blessings I receive daily. Lord Jesus, You not only gave healing to the leper but also dignity for which he showed gratitude. Likewise give me a heart to kneel before Thee and praise and give thanks to Thee for ever and ever. Amen.

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

Thursday 15th November 2018 Philomen: 1/7-20 Psalm: 145/6-10 (146/7-10) Luke: 17/20-25

Gospel Proclamation Once Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming, and he answered, "The kingdom of God is not coming with things that can be observed; nor will they say, 'Look, here it is!' or 'There it is!' For, in fact, the kingdom of God is among you."

Then he said to the disciples, "The days are coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. They will say to you, 'Look there!' or 'Look here!' Do not go, do not set off in pursuit. For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day. But first he must endure much suffering and be rejected by this generation.

Prayerful Awareness Wherever the Kingdom of God is experienced as a family, a community or personally - a new creation, a new life, novelty and change will be made manifest. There are two channels through which the Lord who overcame death awakens us to experience the Kingdom of God. First is as mentioned in Matthew 18:19, when we gather in His name and encounter Him, make contact with Him and experience Him. Second is when we receive the Eucharist worthily and incorporate ourselves into Him in readiness to effect a total transformation in us. One who makes use of these opportunities

St. Albert the Great to have a Christ encounter and build and maintain a good relationship with Him will always renew oneself as well as experience Him from within.

"Onesimus not as a slave any more but, something better than a slave, a dear brother; especially dear to me, but how much more to you, as a blood-brother as well as a brother in the Lord", these words from the first proclamation addressed to Philemon

by Paul whose life was transformed through a Christ encounter, challenges us today. It also implies the fraternal bond we should cultivate with God and His Kingdom.

Our sonship How much do I experience the Kingdom of God as a simple Catholic, as a family member and employee or a student? Does my lifestyle pose a correct witness to others of the Kingdom of God? How open am I to the vocation and invitation extended to me through the daily Gospel reading? Isn't it necessary to scrutinize myself and see the level of my awareness to God's presence and His guidance? Where am I in my prayer life? Am I being dumb and deaf like a person who neither hears nor sees what is presented to me? Let us identify the obstacles we have set up against the manifestation of the Kingdom within ourselves and our family. Let us allow ourselves to be truly repentant and be reborn.

Throughout the day The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. The Lord is good to all, and his compassion is over all that he has made.

All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord, and all your faithful shall bless you. (Ps. 145/8-10)

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Friday 16th November 2018

St. Margaret of Scotland, St.Gertrude

2 John: 4-9 about their everyday tasks, indifferent Psalm: 118/1-2,10-11, to the DEMANDS of God. They will be as surprised by CHRIST'S RETURN 17-18 as the people in Noah's day were by the (119/1-2,10-11,17-18) FLOOD (Genesis 6-80 or the people of Luke: 17/26-37 LOT'S day by the destruction of Sodom The First Proclamation .... Everyone who does not abide in the teaching of Christ, but goes beyond it, does not have God, whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. The Gospel Proclamation Just as it was in the days of Noah, so too it will be in the days of the Son of Man. They were eating and drinking, and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed all of them. Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot; they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, .... it will be like that on the day that the Son of Man is revealed. On that day, anyone on the housetop who has belonging in the house must not come down to take them away, and likewise anyone in the field must not turn back. Remember Lot's wife. Those who try to make their life secure will lose it, but those who lose their life will keep it. I tell you, on that night there will be two on one bed, one will be taken and the other left. There will be two women grinding meal together; one will be taken and the other left. Then they asked him, "Where, Lord?" He said to them, "Where the corpse is, there the vultures will gather."

Prayerful Awareness Life will be going on as usual on the day Christ returns. There will be no warning. Most people will be going

(Genesis 19). We do not know the TIME of Christ's return, but we do know that HE IS COMING. He may come TODAY , TOMORROW or CENTURIES LATER. Whenever He comes, we must be MORALLY and SPIRITUALLY READY and live as if Jesus were returning today.

Jesus warned against false security.

We are to abandon the values and attachments of this world, in order to be ready for Christ's return. His return will happen SUDDENLY and when He comes there will be NO SECOND CHANCE. Some will be taken to be with Him, the rest will be left behind.

To answer the disciple's question, Jesus quoted a familiar proverb. One vulture circling overhead does not mean MUCH, but a gathering of vultures means that a DEAD BODY is nearby.

Likewise ONE SIGN of the END may not be significant, but when many signs occur, the second COMING IS NEAR. The story of Noah's life involves two great and TRAGIC floods. The world in Noah's day was FLOODED WITH EVIL. There is enough water on the earth to cover all dry land. Sending the flood waters was to DESTROY all the EARTH'S WICKEDNESS. Like Noah we must concentrate on what God has given us to do, and leave the rest to God. One great challenge Noah's life gives us - TO LIVE, in acceptance of GOD'S GRACE, an ENTIRE LIFE TIME of obedience and gratitude.

Prayer Starter Almighty and Eternal God, help us to be worthy when Christ returns. May we rest in Jesus' arms.

"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

Saturday 17th November 2018 3 John: 5-8 Psalm:111/1-6 (112/1-6) Luke:18/1-8 St. Elizabeth of Hungary She was the daughter of the King of Hungary and was betrothed in infancy to Louis IV. She was brought up at the Wartburge Castle and educated at the Thuringian Court. Though misunderstood by her contemporaries she pursued her devotions and active works of charity.

Characteristic of her humility was her refusal to wear her golden and bejeweled coronet in church - "How can I, when our dear Lord wears a crown of thorns!"

At the then not unusual age of 14 she was married to Louis and they had three children. Louis fully seconded his young wife's prodigal charities among the poor and her loving. When the husband died, she safeguarded her children's rights and the future and actively engaged herself in works of charity. Died: 17th November 1231. Canonized by Pope Gregory the IX in 1235. Patroness of the Franciscan Tertiaries and of bankers.

The First Proclamation Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the friends, even though they are strangers to you, they have testified to your love before the church.

You will do well to send them on in a manner worthy of God, for they began their journey for the sake of Christ, accepting no support from no- believers. Therefore we ought to support such people, so that we may become co-workers with the truth.

Prayerful Awareness Here St. John gives us the main reason for writing this letter. A group of missionaries is sent by him to the church of which Gaius is a member. St. John wants Gaius to welcome them, give

St. Elizabeth of Hungary them every support and to send them on

their way - all these in a true Christian

manner. This passage also tells us about the wandering missionaries. in order to take His word to others, to other parts, they gave up everything - home, relatives and other comforts. If a gentile offered help and shelter, hospitality, how much more seriously should a Christian take it.

'The chief official of the island welcomed us kindly and for three days we were his guests." (Acts 28:7) Open your homes to each other without complaining" (1 Peter 4:9) "Remember to welcome strangers in your homes. There were some who did that and welcomed angels without knowing it." (Hebrews: 13:2). 'They understood that the Father had sent Him to suffer persecution. As the love of the Father was in Him, so the love of the Father and Himself would be in them. The authority behind the apostolic mission was overwhelming; for its roots were in the analogy of the Father sending His Son and of the Son sending them. It was no wonder that He told them that whoever would reject one of His apostles would be rejecting Him. (Archbishop F.J.Sheen).

Can everyone become a missionary of a preacher? The circumstances one is in is a deciding factor. One's job and its demands plus routine duties of life and living might occupy his full time. But one's money, support and prayers can go a long way. These can support and encourage those in the frontlines. Both the backline and the frontline, all allies of the truth, are needed to take His Word to others." The mission entrusted to the people of God is to be salt of the earth and light of the world. This people is "a most sure seed of unity, hope and salvation for the whole human race." The final goal is to bring the Kingdom of perfection by Him at the end of time." (C.C.C. 782).

Prayer Starter Let us resolve to be true sons and daughters of the Kingdom of God by working for truth. Amen.

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Sunday 18th November 2018 Thirty-third Sunday of Ordinary Time PS WK I Daniel:12/1-3 Prayerful Awareness Psalm:16/5, 8-11 The phrase referring to the end Hebrews:10/11-14, 18 of time is from the Book of Daniel.

Mark: 13/24-32 Prophet Daniel's name denotes: God is my Judge; and he is considered to be the author of this book written at a time the Israelites had been subjected Introduction to much harassment, suffering and We are well aware that Holy Moth- oppression under a foreign dominion. er the Church has set apart the month While the name Michael mentioned of November as a time for commem- here, denoting who is like God? is orating the dead. Similarly presenting considered to be the guardian angel of the glorious second coming of the the Israelites, it is stated that he would Lord through today's proclamations arrive at the end of time which is preshe awakens us to the need of being dicted as a time of judgment.

Reference is also being made that alert and awake in readiness. Reference to the end of the world and end those living righteously would attain of times create fear and fright in most eternal life, whereas the rest would fall of us since its literal meaning reminds into shame and everlasting disgrace. us of the world's end or rather the end The Gospel Proclamation of our age. Yet for us Christians, it is "But in those days, after that sufnot simply the end but also a beginning of a new era. If we are giving a correct fering, the sun will be darkened, and response to the mission entrusted to the moon will not give its light, and us there is nothing to be afraid of. So, the stars will be falling from heaven, with all this in mind let us enter into and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see 'the Son prayer with the Holy Spirit. of Man coming in clouds' with great The First Proclamation power and glory. Then he will send At that time Michael the great out the angels, and gather his elect prince, the protector of your people, from the four winds, from the ends shall arise. There shall be a time of of the earth to the ends of heaven. anguish, such as has never occurred From the fig tree learn its lesson, since nations first came into exis- as soon as its branch becomes tender tence. but at that time your people and puts forth its leaves, you know shall be delivered, everyone who is that summer is near. So also, when found written in the book. Many of you see these things taking place, those who sleep in the dust of the you know that he is near, at the very earth shall awake, some to ever- gates. Truly I tell you, this generalasting life and some to shame and tion will not pass away until all these everlasting contempt. Those who are things have taken place. Heaven and wise shall shine like the brightness of earth will pass away, but my words the sky, and those who lead many to will not pass away. righteousness, like the stars forever "But about that day or hour no and ever ... one knows, neither the angels in

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heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

Prayerful Awareness Today, through the Gospel proclamation St. Mark reveals facts about the Second Coming of the Lord. He shows forth a time of distress and cosmic upheaval involving the sun, moon and the stars out of which the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. Further it states how He will gather those chosen unto Him. He also awakens us to the importance of being conscious of the signs of the times with reference to the statement, "take the fig tree as a parable". With the words, He is near, at the very gates, He warns us who are faced with the most unnatural occurrences in life. The Lord who led a life of total dependence on God and bowed down to His Will forever proclaims the fact that only the Father knows the day and the hour, saying, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not."

From the Second Proclamation And every priest stands day after day at his service, offering again and again the same sacrifices that can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, and since then has been waiting until his enemies would be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.

Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.

Prayerful Awareness Lord Jesus Christ is the supreme High Priest. Since ancient times, priests of different caliber offered different sacrifices for the forgiveness

of sins. Christ who was sinless bearing the sin of the whole humanity offered Himself up on the cross for our sanctification. Thus accomplishing the Will of God He overcame death, rose again and sits at the right hand of God the Father. Lord Jesus Christ is our one and only Savior. You and I are called to prepare the people for His glorious Second Coming bringing out the dawn of a new heaven and earth with the fulfillment of God's kingdom.

Our sonship Foundation for achieving eternal life is none other than participating in the great plan of salvation manifested in Christ the Lord. We should not forget that the calling to follow Him is to partake in this mission. Aren't we called both personally and as a family to be constantly engaged in this missionary activity? Eternal salvation wrought through His sacrifice is not only for you and for me but a great gift won for the sake of the whole Universe. And hence, we should continuously desire carrying this message to the world at large. In the wake of St. Joseph Vaz, the patron saint of our nation let us invoke the grace of the Holy Spirit to enter into this mission wholeheartedly.

Prayer Starter The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot.

I keep the Lord always before me, because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices; my body also rests secure.

For you do not give me up to Sheol, or let your faithful one see the Pit. You show me the path of life, In your presence there is fullness of joy; in your right hand are pleasures forevermore. (Ps.16/5, 6-11)

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Monday 19th November 2018 Revelation:1/1-4,2/1-5 Psalm: 1/1-4, 6 Luke: 18/35-43

The First Proclamation A revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him so that he could tell his servants what is now to take place very soon; he sent his angel to make it known to his servant John, and John has borne witness to the Word of God and to the witness of Jesus Christ, everything that he saw. Blessed is anyone who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed those who hear them, if they treasure the content, because the Time is near. … grace and peace to you from him who is, who was, and who is to come...'Write to the angel of the church in Ephesus and say, "Here is the message ... I know your activities, your hard work and your perseverance. I know you cannot stand wicked people, and how you put to the test those who were self-styled apostles, and found them false. I know too that you have perseverance, and have suffered for my name without growing tired. ..........

Fix your gaze on Jesus Lord, give us the hearing necessary to understand your mind and heart for today….

The book of Revelation and the whole of the Bible for that, reveal the heart and mind of Christ to us. God (Love) is revealed through Christ (Word), and all living beings relate to/ experience God through Christ.

It is in allowing the Word to rule over our hearts and minds that we come to experience Love! In other words, when we are guided by the attitudes /values /rules followed and espoused by our

Lord Jesus, to the extent our hearts are disciplined by the Living Word, we will experience and remain in an experience of Love! (Abide in my commandments and you will remain in my love) To Christ we owe the knowledge of what we are to expect from God, and what he expects from us. Those are well employed who search the scriptures. It is not enough that we read and hear, but we must keep the things that are written, in our memories, in our minds, in our affections, and in practice, and we shall be blessed in the deed.

Christ knows and observes the state of these churches; though in heaven, yet he walks in the midst of his churches on earth, observing what is wrong in them, and what they want. It is not enough that we are diligent; there must be bearing patience, and there must be waiting patience. And though we must show all meekness to all men, yet we must show just zeal against their sins.

The sin Christ charged this church with, is, not the having left and forsaken the object of love, but having lost the fervent degree of it that at first appeared. Christ is displeased with his people, when he sees them grow remiss and cold toward him. To what extent does this reflect on you and me….?

We must endeavour to recover our first zeal, tenderness, and seriousness, and must pray as earnestly, and watch as diligently, as when we first set out in the ways of God. The Christian life is a warfare against sin, embodied in Satan, the world, and the flesh. We must never yield to our spiritual enemies, and then we shall have a glorious triumph and reward.

Prayer Starter Thank You Lord for Your beneficence; we are indeed blessed in Your Word / Mercies.....teach us to be obedient even as You were, to stay in love as You

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

Tuesday 20th November 2018 Revelation:3/1-6,14-22 Psalm: 14/2-5 (15/1-5) Luke: 19/1-10

Gospel Proclamation Jesus went on into Jericho and was passing through. There was a chief tax collector there named Zacchaeus, who was rich. He was trying to see who Jesus was, but he was a little man and could not see Jesus because of the crowd. So, he ran ahead of the crowd and climbed a sycamore tree to see Jesus, who was going to pass that way. When Jesus came to that place, he looked up and said to Zacchaeus, Hurry down, Zacchaeus, because I must stay in your house today.

Zacchaeus hurried down and welcomed him with great joy. All the people who saw it started grumbling, “This man has gone as a guest to the home of a sinner.

Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Listen, Sir! I will give half my belongings to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone, I will pay back four times as much. Jesus said to him, “Salvation has come to this house today, for this man, also, is a descendant of Abraham. The son of man came to save the lost.

Our sonship (Revelation 3: 1-6) So, wake up, and strengthen what you still have before it dies completely. For I find that what you have done is not yet perfect in the sight of my God. Remember, then, what you were taught and what you heard; obey it and turn from your sins. If you do not wake up, I will come upon you like a thief, and you will not even know the time when I will come. But a few of you there in Sardis have kept your clothes clean. You will walk with me, clothed in white, because you are worthy to do so. Those who win the victory will be clothed like this in white, and I will not remove their names from the book of the living. In the presence of my father and of his angels I will declare openly that they belong to me.

We are reminded that our worldly abode is temporary. Our life belongs to God. Therefore, wealth alone will not lead us to our destination, which is eternity.

We are also reminded that God’s vision for man was to live in harmony with the environment and with one another. Therefore, what we do to disrupt the harmony that God intends is sinful.

Prayerful Awareness

If we are to perfect our image in God’s sight, let us repent and ask Jesus to help Worldly riches bind us to luxury that us to change like the way He did with makes us seek for more. Riches of heaven Zacchaeus. are not bound to worldly riches. Therefore, Prayer Starter Jesus from the very beginning of his life The Lord looks down from heaven on showed the uselessness of wealth. Zacchaeus who encounter Jesus also begin to humankind to see if there are any who are his life in a different light. To embrace it, wise, who seek after God. They have all he goes all out to change his life style and gone astray, they are all alike perverse, change came to him, first, through repen- there is no one who does good, no, not one. tance. Secondly, he was willing to give Have they no knowledge all the evildoers away all the riches that he earned unlaw- who eat up my people as they eat bread, fully. Goal in the process was salvation. and do not call upon the Lord. (Ps. 14/2-4)

Gaze at Jesus

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Wednesday 21st November 2018 Presentatin of the Bl. Virgin Mary Zechariah:2/14-17 Psalm:Luke:1/46-55 Mathew:12/46-50

Gospel Proclamation While he was still speaking to the 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 he, 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 Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion; for lo, I come and I will dwell in the midst of youâ&#x20AC;Ś(Zech 2:10).

The promise given to his chosen people by God was fulfilled in the New Testament through our Blessed Mother. She who bowed down before the Will of God, always made herself available to act in accordance with it. Right throughout her life she was open to the Will of God. When the Lord said, "Whoever does the Will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother", He would have been well aware that apart from Himself, it was His mother who holds the pride of place in fulfilling the Will

of God. Therefore, shouldn't we consider the words He uttered in hearing of His mother and brothers who come looking for Him, of much praise and exaltation rather than causing hurt and distress? Certainly the way His mother complied with the Will of God would have had a great impact on Him as well.

Towards us The greatest honour we can pay to our Blessed Mother as Christians is to model our life on hers and inculcate in ourselves the significant qualities she bore. With special grace of the Holy Spirit the way she accomplished and allowed the Will of God to manifest in her life is a pre-eminent example for us.

Therefore let us hunger and thirst for the Will of God, to both discern and embrace it lovingly. Without falling into the clutches of our triple enemy - the devil, the world and the flesh let us at all times surrender ourselves to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Let a life of prayer based on the Scriptures be our constant aid and support while asking the Blessed Mother to intercede for us.

Let us have a strong belief that the Blessed Mother is always there ready to mediate and plead with her to obtain for us the graces necessary to emulate her in our daily life.

Prayer Starter God the Father, motivate me to search and find Your Will from moment to moment and live accordingly.

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

Thursday 22nd November 2018 Revelation:5/1-10 Psalm: 149/1-6, 9 Luke:19/41-44 Gospel Proclamation As he came near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying. "If you, even you, had only recognized on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.

Indeed, the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up ramparts around you and surround you, and hem you in on every side. They will crush you to the ground, you and your children within you and they will not leave within you one stone upon another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation from God".

Prayerful Awareness Jesus wept over Jerusalem as He knew what was going to happen in the future. People were not prepared to repent and change. Recently I listened to a talk on Fatima apparitions made by a priest. It said that the world at present is worse than the time Noah was asked to build a ship. It also said, it is worse than the time of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Homosexuality, acts of sex outside marriage, idolatry etc. It also said the world is killing 50 million babies every year. This gave me an impression that we are living on a time bomb. The only consolation is that there are more people, who are trying to follow Jesus and His teachings guided by the Holy Spirit. It was said by the 1917, August 19th Fourth Apparition, we are called to “Pray, pray much and sacrifice for sinners for many souls go to hell”. We are called to pray and sacrifice for others and their souls who may otherwise go to hell. Lord God’s wish is to save every one He created, all who belong to Him as Isaiah 43:7 says: “Everyone who

St. Cecilia, Virgin & Martyr is called by name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”

Our lives have a purpose, we are not brought into this world to just live a life according to our own desires to satisfy our bodies or flesh and live selfish lives.

God created everyone due to His great love and to this image of Love, to bring glory to Him (Who is Love ) and His great love. Everything we do without this Love is not an act according to His Will.

This is why Jesus Christ condemned acts of Pharisees whose job was to ensure practice of Law of Moses. Although Jesus said, law is Holy, Pharisees acted without love. Since we are called to be His people, we are called to be His witnesses to display His great qualities, Love and Mercy. Proclaiming God’s glory to the world always begins by taking a look at our own hearts. We cannot declare that God is above every other name if “we” are still on the throne of our hearts and not of God. We cannot proclaim how great is His Love for us and then seek personal selfish gains, success, approval and affirmation from others etc. Declaring of God’s glory starts with our humility. It begins with a life of sacrifice to the One who has given up everything for us.

First Reading is of a vision St. John saw. There was no one worthy to open the scroll, but God kept His promise, a Lamb from the tribe of Judah, the root of David to open the scroll with seven seals.

Prayer Starter Lord Jesus Christ , Forgive my every sin how ever small, I have carried out against You, in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and in what I have failed to do. Grant me the Holy Spirit to know all sins that are not seen or not known by me and Help me to Repent and Change and become a fruit bearing True Witness for You and Your Great Love for me, Thank You, Lord, Amen

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Friday 23rd November 2018 Revelation:10/8-11 Psalm: 119/14,24,72, 103, 111, 131 Luke:19/45-48

The Gospel Proclamation Then he entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling things there and he said, "It is written, 'My house shall be a house of prayer'; but you have made it a den of robbers.|" Every day he was teaching in the temple. The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people kept looking for a way to kill him, but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people were spellbound by what they heard.

Prayerful Awareness

Before Jesus entered the temple He was coming to Jerusalem. From the descent of the Mount of Olives there is a magnificent view of Jerusalem with the whole city fully displayed. He stopped and wept over Jerusalem. He knew what was going to happen to the city. The tears of Jesus are the tears of God when He sees the needless pain and suffering in which men involve themselves through foolish rebelling against His Will.

Jesus saw what was happening. He began to drive out those who sold and those who bought in the temple and He did not allow to carry anything through the Temple. He taught and said to them, "Is it not written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations. But you have made it a den of robbers." The chief priests and the scribes heard and sought a way to destroy Him, for they feared Him, because the multitudes were astonished at His teaching.

St. Cecilia, Virgin & Martyr The stern reaction of the Lord in the temple is understandable, because those who had turned the place into a robbers' den had defamed the true spirit of religion so much that there was no other observations possible.

How are our reactions during the festive seasons? Even today we too have lost the true values of religion. Have we not lost some essential values by reducing our religious ceremonies to passive gatherings? We should understand that at every Eucharistic celebration we celebrate the victory of Jesus over death and sin. Jesus is the one whom we should celebrate.

He inaugurated the true worship of God. Otherwise we too will be in the practice of using God and prayer for our own selfish gain. He cleansed the Temple with much violence as Jesus felt that the poor people are getting exploited. Jesus' example here is an eye-opener and we should never be ashamed to show who we are and whom we serve.

Let us learn from Jesus the true values which He taught in the temple everyday.

Our first priority should be to the first part of the Eucharistic celebration - "Liturgy of the Word". Obedience to the Word is the true worship which God expects of us.

Let us give pride and place to the quotings taken from the scriptures. "M y house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of robbers". Let us not confine ourselves only to the Word. We should extend it outside, by being attentive to the Word and applying it to all aspects of our life.

Prayer Starter

I delight in the way of your decrees as much as in all riches.

The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.

How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

(Ps.119/14, 72, 103)

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

Saturday 24th November 2018 Revelation:11/4-12 Psalm: 143/1-2, 9-10 (144/1-2, 9-10) Luke:20/27-40 St. Andrew Dung-lac and Companions The Christian faith was introduced to Vietnam (then three separate kingdoms) by the Portuguese. The first permanent mission was opened at Da Nang in 1615

by Jesuit missionaries. The French and the Spanish gradually followed. Severe persecution raged from time to time, all missionaries being banned and the rulers attempting to wipe off every trace of Christianity by way of getting the converts to apostatize by trampling the crucifix. Between 100,000 and 300,000 were subjected to various kinds of hardship and fatal torture. Even a lad barely aged 9 was martyred. Among those martyred between 1820 and 1862 were Andrew Dung-lac and 116 others. Members of this group were beatified in batches on four different occasions between 1900 and 1951 and were all canonized by Pope John Paul II on 18th June 1988.

Gospel Proclamation

St. Andrew Dung-Lac marriage. ..., Now he is God not of the dead, but of the living, for to him all of them are alive." ......

Prayerful Awareness The Sadducees and the Pharisees were poles apart with regard to the belief in the resurrection from the dead. According to the Levirate Law of marriage if a man died childless, his brother must marry the widow and beget children to carry on the line. The Mosaic regulations included this and it is far from likely that it was operative in the period of Jesus.

The question about marriage was posed

by Sadducees, as they did not believe in the resurrection of the body and wanted to ridicule it. The answer given by Jesus had a permanently valid truth. Think of heaven in terms of earthly values - no, we must not. Life in heaven is different and we too will be quite different. Though no one challenged them on this ground Jesus did. He pointed out that Moses himself had heard God say, "I am God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. He is God of the living not of the dead."

(Mark 12:27). Thus it is clear that God is not the God of the dead. So, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Moses must be still alive. What a clever answer it was and He had met the Sadducees on their own issue and defeated them. To drive home a point Jesus sometimes used arguments that the people He was arguing with could understand. This, the ordinary people of His day appreciated. They listened to Him gladly. Here is the way we should take His word to others - use language and arguments which people could understand, use their own vocabulary and experiences. "Preach without preaching.

(Archbishop F.J.Sheen) Exemplary life does what words find hard to do.

Prayer Starter

Some Sadducees, ... came to him and asked him a question. "Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies, leaving a wife but no children, the man shall marry the widow and raise up children for his brother.

Now there were seven brothers; ... and so in the same way all seven died childless. Finally the woman also died.

In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? ....."

Jesus said to them, "Those who belong to this age marry and are given in marriage, but those who are Help us to use the talents and opporconsidered worthy of a place in that tunities You have made available to take age and in the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in Your word to others. Amen.

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Sunday 25th November 2018 34th Sunday in Ordinary Time Our Lord Jesus Christ King of the Universe Daniel:7/13, 14 to the Ancient One and was presented before him. To him was given doPsalm: 92/1-2, 5 minion and glory and kingship, that Revelation:1/5-8 all peoples, nations and languages John:18/33-37 should serve him. His dominion is an eternal dominion that shall not pass away, and his kingship is one that shall never be destroyed.

Entrance Antiphon Prayerful Awareness How worthy is the Lamb who was

slain, to receive power and divinity, and wisdom and strength and honour.

To him belong glory and power for ever and ever.

Introduction

Today, close upon the end of the Liturgical Year Holy Mother the Church has come to celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King. Thus she assures us, the people who started a life-journey centered on Christ that He does prevail over our lives as our King. It is simply through the path of humility and suffering that Jesus our Lord won the title of kingship.

Have we experienced Him as our Lord and King throughout the passing year? Have we entered on a life journey of keeping to His Will, gazing at Lord Jesus through His word? How much do I feel nourished by the Eucharistic meal that sustains me in a life bearing witness to my divine son-ship? We come to understand the meaning of every earthly struggle and suffering only by contemplating on the ultimate victory we arrive at through them. Do we anticipate being victorious like Jesus Christ? If so, we too should walk in His footsteps. Let us thirst for that way of humility and suffering.

From the First Proclamation As I watched in the night visions, I saw one like a human being coming with the clouds of heaven. He came

The first proclamation refers to a vision of Daniel. Whom the sovereignty, glory and kingship was conferred on was none other than Jesus Christ; His sovereignty is an eternal sovereignty which shall never pass away, nor will His empire be destroyed. As one among the people with heavenly inheritance how far have I subjected myself to His dominion? How much do I allow his authority to rule my life?

Thus let us listen to the challenge the proclamations offer us on this Solemnity of Christ the King.

Responsorial Psalm The Lord is king with majesty enrobed; the Lord has robed himself with might, he has girded himself with power.

From the Gospel Proclamation Then Pilate entered the head-quarters again, summoned Jesus and asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus answered, "Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?" Pilate replied, "I am not a Jew am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?" Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom

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is not from here." Pilate asked him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king.

For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice."

Gaze at Jesus According to the Constitution then, a person could be brought before the Roman Tribunal on a matter of political concern but it had nothing to do with religion. Also the jurisdiction was theirs to authorize the death penalty. The attempt of the Jewish leaders as well as those manipulated by them was to prove that Jesus did act against the Roman Empire. It is in this backdrop that Jesus boldly proclaims His Kingship.

Yet the meaning of this kingship was entirely different from the notion the non-Christian Romans held on the same title denoting political power.

Jesus further explains how it differs from the worldly dominion of the Roman Empire. What is specified is the misunderstanding regarding the Kingship of Jesus. A clear understanding of His Kingship could only be obtained by grasping the real truth about Him. Jews as well as Pilate couldn't grasp the kingship of Jesus for they rejected the truth. Being a witness to the truth and love of God, Jesus spread forth the dominion of God's Kingdom.

From the Second Proclamation .. and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the first-born of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.

To him who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood, and made us to be a kingdom, priests serving his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. ........... Amen.

Prayerful Awareness The book of Revelation starts with presenting Jesus Christ as the firstborn of the dead and the ruler of the kings of the earth. This introduction is quite fitting and true of our Lord Jesus. As the beginning and the image of Resurrection He invites us as well to participate in a life of resurrection. Similarly, by attributing the name allotted to God in the Old Testament to Jesus, He is being introduced as the King of kings.

In the Old Testament just as God acknowledged the Israelites as a priestly and kingly nation, Jesus becomes the King who paved the way for the whole humanity to reach the Almighty God as kings and priests. The statement 'I am the beginning and the end' is an affirmation of the fact that everything on this earth is under His sovereignty.

Our Sonship As a Christian embracing the divine life inherited at baptism have I placed myself under His sovereignty?

Am I a Christian witnessing to the priestly and kingly vocation received through this anointing? Is my life a model for my co-workers and associates? Gazing at ourselves let us repent today for the many short comings on our part and the needed transformation.

Where am I on my Pubudu life-journey, started as an awakened Christian, acknowledging Jesus Christ as my Lord and Master? Let us invoke the Lord to pass us over to the life of witness that is meant to be more appealing.

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!

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Monday 26th November 2018 Revelation:14/1-5 Psalm: 23/1-6 (24/1-6) Luke: 21/1-4

The Gospel Proclamation Looking up, he saw rich people putting their offerings into the treasury; and he noticed a poverty-stricken widow putting in two small coins, and he said, 'I tell you truly, this poor widow has put in more than any of them; for these have all put in money they could spare, but she in her poverty has put in all she had to live on.'

Fix your gaze on Jesus

St. Sylvester of Osimo, Abbot

nature we cling on to what we have, hoarding and craving the perceived solace given by material comforts and wealth. Instead of an 'abundance mind-set', we practice a 'scarcity mind-set'. And when everyone follows this, hoarding much more than is needed for the simple needs of any person, then the Mother Earth herself becomes insufficient. Remember that Jesus exhorted us to Not Worry about the future, but to trust in the Heavenly Father who provides for all?

The apparently poor widow has learnt this valuable lesson. She had found that inner certitude of the Lord providing her day-to-day needs. How about you? Would you too care to give up the initiative stifling and destructive habit of worrying about the future? Do plan, prepare for the future, work towards identified goals consistently and realise them.

Exercise your creativity. But, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t develop a tunnel-vision, in other words, do not narrow your choices down to the limited few options you are able to dream up presently!

This stops us from opening up to the possibilities the Lord will bring before us. Remember that obstacles are challenges for a higher response; failures are the necessary steps towards success. Develop the abundance mind-set, simply because the Lord our God IS our source. Become rich and generous in your heart, even as the widow was!

Prayer Starter

Looking to the Living Word, we see Jesus sum up the inner attitude of the widow as giving up all she had, despite an outward experience/ appearance of poverty. Let me repeat that: an apparent outward appearance of poverty!

Looking at our own inner workings, we would recognise that the ability to give up or let go of what you have, comes only when either you have 'the assurance of enough' or the assurance of 'something better coming along', or when hanging on to what you have involves too much pain. In the case of the widow, the former two would be the situation.

So, where did the widow come in to the experience and awareness that the Lord is the source of all that Lord, turn me back towards yourflows, whether by way of human agency or nature? For most of us, self, to see and experience the ever this is a hard lesson to come by; by flowing Love and Care that You are...

"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

Tuesday 27th November 2018 Revelation:14/14-19 Psalm:95/10-13 (96/10-13) Luke:21/5-11 The Gospel Proclamation When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, he said, "As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another, all will be thrown down."

They asked him, "Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?" And he said, "Beware that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name and say, 'I am he!' and, 'The time is near!' Do not go after them.

"When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately."

Then he said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and plagues, and there will be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven.

Prayerful Awareness Since the Second Coming of the Son of Man is a certainty, God desires that we be prepared for it. Only He is aware of the date and time of its manifestation. Yet, Christ has revealed to us the events that would take place prior to the end. God has entrusted to each one of us a special mission in life.

And His desire is that we would give a correct response to this vocation.

Since God Himself has called us let us long to answer our vocation in a fitting manner. At the last judgment definitely He will question us as to the response given. And we will be called blessed if we could joyfully and unhesitatingly account for it.

The proclamation of the day reminds us of the warning of Jesus to be aware of the deceivers who would appear in His name. In spite of this, many contemporary Christians have been deceived by false prophets. They have lost their way as a result of going in search of instant healing and comfort through evil practices mainly believing in the power of the devil, auspicious times, horoscopes and astrologers and falling into idolatry. Thus they gravely sin against the Lord of the Universe. We also miss the target by being enslaved to wealth and riches, power and prestige.

Only God can provide a solution for every sickness, trouble and suffering in our life whether it be material, social or spiritual. What God offers is a joy that nothing could take away. Immersed in this eternal joy let us try to be faithful to Him even in difficult times.

Prayer Starter Lord God, bless me that I be a fertile soil bearing the seed of Your Kingdom. Bestow on me the grace to yield a good harvest at the appointed time on the last day! Amen.

Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it. Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy before the Lord, for he is coming, for he is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness and the peoples with his truth. (Psalm 96:11-13).

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

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Wednesday 28th November 2018 Revelation:15/1-4 Psalm: 97/1-3,7-9 (98/1-3, 7-9) Luke:21/12-19 The First Proclamation …seven angels were bringing the seven plagues that are the last of all, because they exhaust the anger of the God. …those who had fought against the beast and won, ….were singing the hymn of Moses, the servant of God, and of the lamb: How great and wonderful are your works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are all your ways, …You alone are holy….

From the Gospel Proclamation .... they will arrest you and persecute you; ... because of my name.

This will give you an opportunity to testify. So make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance, for I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict. ....

You will be hated by all because of my name. but not a hair of your head will perish. ...

Gazing at Jesus Our master, the Lord Jesus Christ is sharing His experience with the people.

His faith was in God alone that He could proclaim these words at a time He was nearing His death. His only desire was to accomplish the Will of the Father and His only thirst was to fulfill His plan which was quite evident throughout His paschal mystery. Wasn't it His experience when one of His disciples betrayed Him, was scourged before Pilate, mocked and crowned with thorns, spat upon, abandoned by all His loved ones and throughout the way of the cross?

The victorious and glorious resurrection as well as the living presence of Jesus

was the only witness that manifested the failure of man to destroy His uttermost objective, and the inability of the weak human to harm even His body though subjected to severe external persecution.

Today, He also invites, awakens and encourages all His followers to witness to a similar life journey, most sublime.

According to the first proclamation, there is a great and glorious exultation and praise in heaven in the presence of God. All who lived a life in conformity with the Will of God and won eternal life has joined in praise with the choirs of heaven. As Christians passing this earth, even our ultimate goal is this. Just as the people of the Old Testament, arrived at the promised-land amid difficulties, hardships and challenges, we too are journeying to heaven, our promised land. Many saints before us achieved that crown amidst many a struggle. The first Christian communities even under severe persecution and martyrdom stood steadfast and attained the blessed state of joining with the choirs of heaven before the throne of God. Our age is full of evil that moves contrary to the plan of God. War and strife, murder and theft in search of power, daughters being abused even by fathers, new born children being thrown to the drains and even being aborted by mothers themselves, families being disrupted by sin, drug addiction and homo sexuality are some such evils. Yet the Lord awakens us to stand steadfast bearing witness.

Even today, in different parts of the world thousands are being martyred for being Christians. So, let us take courage and be firm in our faith amidst such calamity in order to enter eternal life.

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

(Ps. 97/1, 2..)

"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

Thursday 29th November 2018 Revelation:18/1-2, 21-23; 19/1-3, 9 Psalm: 99/2-5 (100/1-5) Luke:21/20-28

The First Proclamation After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven having great authority; and the earth was made bright with his splendor. He called out with a mighty voice, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! It has become a dwelling place of demons, a haunt of every foul spirit, a haunt of every foul bird, a haunt of every foul and hateful beast......

Prayerful Awareness The Old Testament era clearly depicts how the man sinned against God and the punishment he received in consequence. Today, in the book of Revelation of the New Testament St. John unfolds his vision concerning the fall of Babylon. His judgments are true and just. He has condemned the great harlot who corrupted the world with her adultery (Rev.19:2). Babylon was thus punished as a result of rejecting God and working contrary to his wishes. Similar to Babylon that was sunk in sin enticed by wealth, power and lust, not only our island but the whole world is gradually becoming as that of a prostitute. We hear about many instances where children of a very young age of 11, 12 years committing sexual sins as well as children being abused. What do we daily read and hear in newspapers and television?

Aren't they very much to do with arousing carnal desires in people? Even the adults today have caused destruction and disaster on their families. Unimaginable is the threat to life caused by drugs and alcohol. Overwhelming is the crime

and murder due to desire for power and wealth while avarice, jealousy and selfishness dominate the scene.

Setting before us the destruction of Babylon what does the Lord intend telling us?

The Gospel Proclamation When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains and those inside the city must leave it, and those out in the country must not enter it; for these are days of vengeance, as a fulfillment of all that is written. Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing infants in those days! For there will be great distress on the earth and wrath against this people; they will fall by the edge of the sword and be taken away as captives among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled....

Gaze at Jesus Lord Jesus is drawing our attention to His glorious Second Coming. To read the signs of the times and to hear the voice of the Lord we need to be guided by the Holy Spirit. This proclamation surely stirs our hearts. Aren't we like the people at the time of Noah? Where are we as families, parishes, organizations, children and adults? When we take the Christian message to others what we hear at times is, 'We are happy and contended as we are. Why bother about a life after death?'; Can we be thus blind and deaf to reality? Let us determine to fulfill our mission received in Baptism and especially as an awakened group of Christians.

Prayer Starter Abba Father and Mother grant me the gift of being awake!

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Friday 30th November 2018 Romans:10/9-18 Psalm: 18/2-5 (19/1-4) Mathew:4/18-22

St. Andrew, Apostle

Gospel Proclamation As Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen. He said to them, "Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed him. He walked along from there and saw two other brothers, James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets.

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

Prayerful Awareness Jesus calls each one of us to follow Him, and all who accept His Word to grow with His Word, to accept Him as Saviour and Lord and become a disciple.

In John 15:16 Jesus said "It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name He may give you." Disciples are called to many challenges, to change totally, to totally give up everything and follow Jesus and depend on Jesus for everything. How ready are we to do this?” This is a difficult task for most of us. Jesus said to the young rich man who wished to follow Him, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” (Mathew 19:21). In Luke 14:33 it is said, "everyone of who does not

renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.” In order to become a disciple of Lord, we must leave everything, get detached from everything, follow Jesus and live according to all His Commandments and Teachings. In John 15:17, He commands us to love one another. Also “Love your enemies and bless those who persecute you” (Math 5:44). When we become His disciples we will be only serving Him as St. Peter said "Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God." Jesus told them in Luke 24 : 46-48 “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.” God created us to His own image (Image of Love and Mercy) for His Glory (Isaiah 43:7). We belong to God and no one else. The purpose of our lives should be to bring Him Glory and be witnesses of His Love and Mercy. Therefore we should always seek His Will as Jesus showed us and fulfill His Will to bring God glory.

The first reading is on St. Paul’s letter to Romans “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved.”

Prayer Starter Heavenly Father, I worship You and thank You for bringing me into this world to be a witness for You and Your great Love. Help me to love everyone as Jesus taught me, the same way Jesus loves me, I ask this in the name of my Savior and Lord Jesus Christ, Amen

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

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