Walk in the Spirit December 2018 by Pubuduwa

WALK IN THE SPIRIT December 2018 Volume 12 Issue 16

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

ISSN 1391-5967

Publication: Fr. Siri Oscar Abayaratne Kithu Dana Pubuduwa

SHARING ON PRAYER December 2018 “Come Lord Jesus come” should be the yearning of our hearts these days. He is come, He will come, He comes today and every day. He came in the flesh 2000 years ago. He will come, else the world will have no future. He is coming today is the challenge that is before me. Come Lord Jesus come here and now at this moment and hour. You’ve to come unceasingly until the hour strikes, the end comes and the new has begun. Holy Spirit keep my mind and heart awakened to this mighty revelation.

Fr. Siri Oscar Abayaratne

Saturday 1st December 2018 Revelation:22/1-7 Psalm: 95/1-7 Luke:21/34-36 Introduction Let us read today’s Proclamations meditatively, of which the First Proclamation is full of symbolism as is the hall mark of the book of Revelations in the Bible. ‘The river of life rising from the throne of God and of the Lamb and flowing crystal clear’ denotes the flowing of the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of Life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son! ‘The trees of life, which bear twelve crops of fruit in a year, one in each month, and the leaves of which are the cure for the nations’ denotes the twelve tribes of Israel, through whom the World was/ is/will be blessed. In the New Testament era, believers become extension of Israel by virtue of becoming children of the Father of Faith, Abraham, through whom the nation of Israel came into being as his descendants. ‘The curse of destruction will be abolished’ became true for the Believers, by way of the salvation wrought by our Lord Jesus Christ, which will see fulfillment after the Second Coming of the Lord! Then ‘The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city; His servants will worship Him, they will see Him face to face, and His name will be written on their foreheads.’ The First Proclamation Then the angel showed me the river of life…… And night will be abolished; they will not need lamplight or sunlight, because the Lord God will be shining on them. They will reign for ever and ever. ..., All that you have written is sure and will come true: the Lord God who inspires the prophets has sent his angel to reveal to his servants what is soon to take place. I am coming soon! Blessed are those who keep the prophetic message of this book. The Gospel Proclamation Watch yourselves, or your hearts

will be coarsened by debauchery and drunkenness and the cares of life, and that day will come upon you unexpectedly, like a trap. For it will come down on all those living on the face of the earth. Stay awake, praying at all times for the strength to survive all that is going to happen, and to hold your ground before the Son of man. Prayerful Awareness The Gospel Proclamation warns us that the day of reckoning/judgement will come at an unexpected hour. This will be at our point of death, and/or at the end of time, the end of the world as we know it. The book of Revelations describes the horrendous times that will precede, and hence the Lord tells us believers to be prepared to face it at any time, and praying at all times for the strength to survive and hold our ground before the Lord! For, like the Resurrection of the Lord, the believers who persevere to the end will see the glorious new Dawn described towards the end of the First Proclamation, which is the Good News we are asked to proclaim to all the ends of the earth! The Believers can enjoy a semblance of this new life even in the here and now if we surrender our lives to the Lord and strive constantly to be led by the Holy Spirit (those who are led by the Holy Spirit shall be called children of God: Romans 8:14). Song of Praise: Psalm: 95/1-7 Come, let us cry out with joy to Yahweh, acclaim the rock of our salvation. Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving, acclaim him with music. For Yahweh is a great God, a king greater than all the gods. In his power are the depths of the earth, the peaks of the mountains are his; the sea belongs to him, for he made it, and the dry land, moulded by his hands. Come, let us bow low and do reverence; kneel before Yahweh who made us! For he is our God, and we the people of his sheepfold, the flock of his hand. If only you would listen to him today! Amen! Alleluia!

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

Sunday 2nd December 2018 Jeremiah:33/14-16 Psalm: 25/4-5,8-10, 14 1 Thessalonians:3/124/2 Luke: 21/25-28,34-36

Introduction Today being the First Sunday in Advent, Holy Mother the Church steps on to yet another Liturgical Year. The word Advent literally means arrival or coming. As such, the Season of Advent is a time of preparation for the three-fold coming of Christ, namely, to Bethlehem as a poor infant, His glorious Second Coming on the last day of judgment and His daily coming into our lives through the powerful medium of His grace. Today, Holy Mother the Church invites us to have unwavering faith and hope in Christ who thus comes to us as our Savior and to wait patiently with open hearts and minds to welcome Him wholeheartedly. Let us open ourselves to such sublime grace and prepare ourselves for the Eucharistic celebration meditating on the word of God. Entrance Antiphon To you I lift up my soul, O my God. In you I have trusted; let me not be put to shame. Nor let my enemies exult over me; and let none who hope in you be put to shame. The First Proclamation The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time, I will cause a righteous branch to spring up for David, and he

First Sunday of Advent shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. And this is the name by which it will be called, "The Lord is our righteousness." Prayerful Awareness The book of Jeremiah written centuries before the birth of Christ foretells the coming of the Messiah. It took ages for this prophecy to be fulfilled. Yet, the people who did not give up their hope in God expressed both in word and deed their desire for a time of justice. And this became a reality with the birth of Christ on earth. Jesus being quite familiar with the Old Testament did claim His identity as the "virtuous branch of David" as predicted by Jeremiah. Thus the dawn of justice and righteousness was set forth as the; kingdom of God. And therefore his opening address to the people in anticipation of him, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel". (Mark 1:15). Responsorial Psalm Lord, make me know your ways. Lord teach me your pathsâ&#x20AC;Ś. He guides the humble in the right path; he teaches his way to the poor. From the Second Proclamation And may he so strengthen your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints. Finally, brothers and sisters, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus that, as you learned from us how you ought to live and to please God (as, in fact you are doing), you should do so more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

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

Prayerful Awareness The letter of St. Paul to the Thessalonians considered the first letter written by Paul was meant to provide comfort and solace to the Christians of this community. At the same time we could see how Paul tackles the problem of the Second Coming of Christ prevalent then. This noble purpose is being maintained with certitude through the proclamations of the day. That is, since the time and date of His Second Coming is not known to us, as Christians we are invited to confirm our hearts in holiness so that we may be blameless in the sight of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus Christ comes with all His saints. During the time of Advent let us be conscious of the sins that hinder the constant coming of our Lord into our hearts and be eager to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The Gospel Proclamation "There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will; be shaken. Then they will see 'the Son of Man' coming in a cloud' with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." "Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day catch you unexpectedly, like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place and to stand before the Son of Man." Towards our son-ship Throughout the season of Advent

the Scriptures would awaken us to the many different ways through which our Lord would come into our hearts. Even the Gospel proclamation today reminds us of the Second Coming of our Lord at which the universe would experience a cosmic revival. It further exhorts us to wait in anticipation and stay alert at all times in order to survive all that is going to happen and to stand with confidence before the Son of Man. As Christians we should wait with great expectation for the day that the Son of Man will come with power and great glory since it would be the day on which the whole Universe will attain its fulfillment â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the dawn of a new heaven and earth. Let us not consider it merely as a day of judgment but wait in great hope for the fulfillment we are sure to experience as Christians. Among many who speak about the Second Coming of Christ are also fundamentalists who instill in others a great fear of this upcoming event. As a disciple of Christ should we be frightened if our lives are continuously pleasing to God? If I am leading a life based on the word of God and in conformity with the Will of God, my prayer and heartfelt wish concerning this day should be, nothing else but; 'Maranatha, come Lord Jesus'. Prayer Starter Make me to know your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation, for you I wait all day long. Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in the way. He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way. All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his decrees. The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes his covenant known to them. (Ps.25/4-5, 8-10, 14)

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

Monday 3rd December 2018 Jeremiah: 1/4-9 Psalm: 117/1, 2 1 Corinthians:9/16-19, 22-23 Mark: 16/15-20 St. Francis Xavier He was born on 7th April 1506 at Navarre (Spain). Though he was bent on becoming a distinguished scholar and doctor of philosophy, he fell under the spell of St. Ignatius Loyola. He was the second of a batch of 7 who took their vows as the first Jesuits on 15th August 1534. He was ordained on 24th June 1537, A call came from King John III of Portugal for Jesuit missionaries to be sent to the East Indies. Though the notice was a very short one he willingly joined the party. The 11000-mile journey voyage consumed 13 months and he landed in Goa, India, on 6th May 1542. In 1544 he came to Ceylon (Sri Lanka) and from here to Malacca and to Cochin - China. Some believe he even went to Philippines. He went to Japan and overcame language barriers and opposition from the Buddhist monks. He died on 3rd December 1552. His body was found incorrupt after two months and it was returned to Goa, where it is venerated to this day in the Bom Jesus Basilica. beatified - in 1619 and canonized by Pope Gregory XV on 12th March 1622. The First Proclamation Now the word of the Lord came to me saying, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations." Then I said, "Ah, Lord God! Truly I do not know how to speak, for I am only a boy." But the Lord said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a boy'; for you shall go to all to whom I send you, and you shall speak whatever I command

St. Francis Zavier you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord. .... Prayerful Awareness What a marvelous thing it is to know that the prophet Jeremiah is called by God Himself. It is equally interesting to read that God's plan for the prophet had taken root even before he was born. "Even before the world was made, God ad already chosen us to be His through our union with Christ." (Ephesians 1:4). As God chose Jeremiah so does He with each and every one of us. His plans, plans older than the world are unique. They are full of love, understanding and mercy. Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception. From the first moment of his existence, a human being must be recognised as having the rights of a person - among which is the inviolable right of every innocent being to life. "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you." My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately wrought in the depths of the earth." (C.C.C. 2270). We can apply what the Lord said to Jeremiah to every one of us. Man is the only creature created by Him to His own likeness and endowed with that special gift - free will. There is a place for each one of us in His plan. We should listen to His voice, message, that comes to us in diverse ways - in prayer, through our neighbours, nature, events etc. That special call - yes, we should be alert to the same we have received through Christ. Be a true citizen of the divine kingdom in thoughts, words and deeds. Prayer Starter Lord, I have come to You for protection, never let me be defeated! Because You are righteous, help me and rescue me. (Ps.71:1-2)

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

Tuesday 4th December 2018

St.John Damascene, Priest & Doctor

Isaiah:11/1-10 Psalm:72/1,7-8,12-13, 17 (71/1-2,7-8,12-13,17) Luke: 10/21-24

The First Proclamation A shoot will spring from the stock of Jesse, a new shoot will grow from his roots. On him will rest the spirit of Yahweh, the spirit of wisdom and insight, the spirit of counsel and power, the spirit of knowledge and fear of Yahweh: his inspiration will lie in fearing Yahweh. His judgement will not be by appearances. his verdict not given on hearsay. He will judge the weak with integrity and give fair sentence for the humblest in the land. He will strike the country with the rod of his mouth and with the breath of his lips bring death to the wicked. Uprightness will be the belt around his waist, and constancy the belt about his hips. The wolf will live with the lamb, the panther lie down with the kid, calf, lion and fat-stock beast together, with a little boy to lead them. The cow and the bear will graze, their young will lie down together. The lion will eat hay like the ox. The infant will play over the den of the adder; the baby will put his hand into the viper's lair. No hurt, no harm will be done on all my holy mountain, for the country will be full of knowledge of Yahweh as the waters cover the sea. That day, the root of Jesse, standing as a signal for the peoples, will be sought out by the nations and its home will be glorious.

Fix your gaze on Jesus

Your designs are great, the optimal O Lord of the Hosts, and we rejoice therein.... Think about how we earnestly seek

to be in a world where there is love and acceptance, harmony and freedom, justice and fairness, faithfulness and trustworthiness and so on; where we do not have to be on constant guard, watching out for 'The Others' who are always 'Out to Get Us'...! This seems to be exactly what the Lord has designed to be the status in His Kingdom; this is S/His promise for the faithful; those who choose to be S/His people, the faithful, those who seek S/His Face and turn away from their own untimely ways, shall be reaping this reward. We, the co-creators have the responsibility of bringing S/His Kingdom about; simply by sowing what we would (really) like to reap. God has set up the system, where those who choose to be good and bad all have S/His blessings; and then we have to consciously create what we really want! We need to journey towards being in the presence of the Holy Spirit of God, gradually growing in our awareness of the whole Spirit.... We should stop kneeling before the 'World' and our 'Flesh' for succor, for satisfaction, for gratification, for fulfillment! Drop the erroneous beliefs that goad us to grovel at the feet of the 'Liar'. Journey towards the Truth that Nothing Separates us from the Love of God except through our own admittance of 'Lies' in our own minds and hearts. Do identify and eradicate these falsehoods .... Then will we begin to see what Jesus has promised for us, the things which kings and prophets have not seen, our eyes seeing the blessedness of the whole creation, where heaven and earth is full of S/His Glory, and S/His reign is forever.....

Prayer Starter

We thank You Lord for Your blessed design, for this earth we are housed in, and the entirety of Your creation so wondrous and awesome....guide us to stay gratefully in Your love...!

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

Wedneday 5th December 2018 Isaiah:25/6-10 Psalm:23/1-6 (22/1-6) Mathew:15/29-37 Gospel Proclamation ... Jesus ..... went up on the mountain ... Great crowds came to him, ... Jesus summoned his disciples and said, "My heart is moved with pity for the crowd, for they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, ...." .... "Where could we ever get enough bread in this deserted place to satisfy such a crowd?" Jesus said ... "How many loaves do you have?" "Seven," ... "and a few fish." .... Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, gave thanks, broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds. They all ate and were satisfied. ... Prayerful Awareness The above passage takes my mind back to year 1997 in Oman. Rev. Fr. Oscar Abeyaratne (Swami Thatha) was engaged in preparing us for the final blessing of the Holy Spirit after eight days of talks. I noticed the one who organized all this was in misery. He has got down only 25 lunch packets for the very few who were there to receive the final blessing and the helpers, but a large number of people had come just before lunch, to participate in the final ceremony, increasing the number to over 75 people. At this stage I noticed Rev. Fr. walking up and down in a state of meditation. Even though we were asked to stay for lunch, knowing the situation, since we had prepared lunch at our flat there, we went home to have lunch and a small rest before the next session. On our return the organizer approached us and invited to have some food as there was enough food left over after all have finished having lunch. Then I asked what

happened. Rev. Fr. has asked all packets to be put together and after prayer and blessing had told them to eat. After all had eaten and finished there was food left over - a miracle of Prayer and Faith. What a wonderful experience it was. This was the day we got our Special Blessing of the Holy Spirit, to change our lives and depend on the Holy Spirit for guidance, and be led by the Holy Spirit as children of God. How great God is and how wonderful His acts are. What faith Rev. Fr. Oscar Abayaratne (Swami Thatha) had. He would have known that by the intercession of the Holy Spirit, God grants whatever he asks God the Father in the Name of Jesus Christ whom we have accepted as our Lord and Saviour, for whom we work to spread the Word of God to make others followers and then disciples of the Lord, to be guided by the Holy Spirit to finally receive the salvation God promised. Are we on the same footing, following what Swami Thatha has taught us, to be true disciples of the Lord to have a close relationship with the Holy Spirit as our Friend and Helper who takes us closer to our Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ, and through Him to our Father in heaven and to His Heart, that is FULL of LOVE, Love that is full of MERCY to forgive all who repent. The first proclamation tells us â&#x20AC;&#x153;On this mountain (Mountain of Zion, symbol of heavenly Jerusalem) the Lord of hosts will provide for all peoples a feast of rich food and choice wines. On this mountain he will destroy the veil that veils all peoples. Prayer Starter Holy Spirit of God, come into me and raise my wisdom to know God, to fear God, to honour God and to love our God the Father, Creator and Owner of my life, to worship, praise, pray and depend on Him for everything, I ask these in the Name of my Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ, Amen

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

Thursday 6th December 2018 Isaiah:26/1-6 Psalm:118/1, 8 -9,19-21 25-27 (117/1, 8-9,19-21,25-27) Mathew:7/21, 24-27 The First Proclamation On this day this song will be sung in the land of Judah! We have a strong city; he sets up victory like walls and bulwarks. Open the gates, so that the righteous nation that keeps faith may enter in. Those of steadfast mind you keep in peace - in peace because they trust in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for in the Lord God you have an everlasting rock. For he has brought low the inhabitants of the height, the lofty city he lays low. He lays it low to the ground, casts it to the dust. The foot tramples it, the feet of the poor, the steps of the needy. The Gospel Proclamation Not everyone who says to me, "Lord, Lord' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine, and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell - and great was its fall!" Prayerful Awareness Some self-professed athletes can "talk" a great game, but that tells us

St. Nicholas, Bishop nothing about their athletic skills. And not everyone who talks about heaven belongs to God's Kingdom. Jesus is more concerned about our WALK than our TALK. He wants us to DO right, not just SAY the right words. Your house, which represents your life, will withstand the STORMS of life only if you do what is right instead of just talking about it. What we DO cannot be separated from what we BELIEVE. Jesus exposed those people who sounded religious but had no personal relationship with Him. On "THAT DAY" - (the day of judgement) our acceptance of Jesus as 'Saviour' and our obedience to Him - WILL MATTER. God will settle all accounts, judging sin, and rewarding faith. To build "on the rock" is to be, a hearing, responding disciple, not a phony, superficial one. Practicing OBEDIENCE becomes the solid foundation to weather the STORMS of life. Like a house of cards, the FOOL'S' life crumbles. Most people do not deliberately seek to build on a false or inferior foundation; instead, the just do not think about their life's purpose. Many people are headed for destruction, not out of stubbornness but out of THOUGHTLESSNESS. Part of our responsibility as believers is to help others stop and think about WHERE their lives are headed and to point out the consequences of IGNORING Christ's message. As Christians, we are SAVED by God's GRACE, and salvation frees us from sin's control. This does not mean that we are free to do as we please, we are now FREE to OBEY God. Prayer Starter Dear God, help us to hear and obey the words of Jesus! May we practice and obey them, to build our lives on a steady, rock-solid foundation.

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

Friday 7th December 2018 Isaiah:29/17-24 Psalm: 27/1,4,13-14 (26/1, 4, 13-14) Mathew: 9/27-31 The First Proclamation Shall not Lebanon in a very little while become a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be regarded as a forest? On that day the deaf shall hear the words of a scroll, and out of their gloom and darkness, the eyes of the blind will see. The meek shall obtain fresh joy in the Lord, and the neediest people shall exult in the Holy One of Israel. For the tyrant shall be no more, and the scoffer shall cease to be, all those alert to do evil shall be cut off - those who cause a person to lose a lawsuit, who set a trap for the arbiter in the gate, and without grounds deny justice to the one in the right...... The Gospel Proclamation As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him crying loudly, "Have mercy on us, Son of David!" When he entered the house, the blind men came to him, and Jesus said to them. "Do you believe that I am able to do this? They said, to him, Yes, Lord." Then he touched their eyes and said, "According to your faith let it be done to you." And their eyes were opened. Then Jesus sternly ordered them "See that no one knows of this.". But they went away and spread the news about him throughout that district. Prayerful Awareness Jesus is alert to the good news of giving hearing to the deaf, sight to the blind, joy to the poor and the oppressed and the dawn of peace foretold by prophet Isaiah through the first proclamation. He must have thanked the God Almighty

St. Ambrose, Bishop & Doctor for having chosen and appointed Him specifically for the task of bringing this into fulfillment. The Lord filled with the power of the Spirit, witnessing as the Son of God who makes the marginalized, the poor and the helpless experience the inheritance of God's Kingdom, heals the two blind men that cried for sympathy. The deep faith they possessed was the necessary pre-requisite for them to have their sight restored. Our sonship What sort of a response do I give to my vocation as a Christian during this Christmas season wherein I am called to witness to my hope in the living Lord based on faith. "Christmas" is a word that naturally evokes feelings of joy, peace and hope in the hearts of young and old alike. Yet, isn't it also challenging us to move on to a spiritual plane of revival where we would experience as a family true peace, freedom, sharing and communion? Are we aware of the many obstacles of our own failings, bitter memories and compulsive actions amounting to past wounds that restrict our freedom to love others? Aren't we required to heal ourselves in the Lord by forgiving and being forgiven? The Lord is inviting us to open ourselves to Him for a change of lifestyle, to correct, to let go, adapt and adopt proper attitudes and behavior patterns in readiness for the upcoming event and thus be a blessing not only to us but to others as well. So, let us make a firm resolution not to limit this grace filled season of Advent to mere outward preparations of glamour and dĂŠcor but to attempt at an inner transformation. Prayer Starter Loving Father, make us more concerned with a spiritual revival during this season that we may lead a life of faith as a community united in selfless love.

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

Saturday 8th December 2018 Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary Genesis:3/9-15, 20 collective sin, and released His Spirit upon the creation at His death & ResPsalm:98/1-4 urrection whereby Divine Son-ship is (97/1-4) now restored to whosoever believes Ephesians:1/3-6,11-12 and surrenders his/her life willingly to Luke: 1/26-38 the Lord, the community of believers Introduction

thus becoming adopted children of God. Gospel Proclamation

Let us read today’s Proclamations meditatively, of which the First Proclamation describes the account in Genesis regarding our first parents Adam &Eve’s fall into sin whereby they distanced themselves from the grace of Almighty God. And all of Adam & Eve’s descendants thereafter carry the taint of the original sin. But God in His Mercy had already set in motion a plan to redeem mankind through Himself paying the price for mankind’s collective sin by God’s Word, the Second Personage in the Holy Trinity, laying down His life in sacrifice after being born as a new Adam, born holy to the Virgin Mary by the overshadowing of God’s Holy Spirit! Adam was created perfect, without sin, but gave into temptation to become disobedient. Our Lord Jesus Christ, who can be considered the second Adam, too had to be born without the taint of original sin. Hence according to God’s Plan, Mother Mary too had to be free from the taint of original sin. Today is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The official celebration of the feast was announced by Pope Pius IX on 8 December 1854 in the bull “Ineffabilis Deus”, which states that the Virgin Mary was immune from original sin, right from the moment she was conceived. The Lord Jesus Christ was obedient till the last drop of blood was shed in sacrifice in atonement for mankind’s

Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all the spiritual blessings of heaven in Christ. Thus he chose us in Christ before the world was made to be holy and faultless before him in love, marking us out for himself beforehand, to be adopted sons, through Jesus Christ. .... Song of Praise Sing a new song to Yahweh, for he has performed wonders, his saving power is in his right hand and his holy arm. Yahweh has made known his saving power, revealed his saving justice for the nations to see, mindful of his faithful love and his constancy to the House of Israel. The whole wide world has seen the saving power of our God. Acclaim Yahweh, all the earth, burst into shouts of joy! Amen! Alleluia! Praise the Lord!

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the House of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. He went in and said to her, Rejoice, you who enjoy God's favour! The Lord is with you. The angel answered, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will cover you with its shadow. And so the child will be holy and will be called Son of God. ……. Mary said, 'You see before you the Lord's servant, let it happen to me as you have said.' And the angel left her. Second Proclamation

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

Sunday 9th December 2018 Baruch: 5/1-9 Psalm:126/1-6 (125/1-6) Philippians:1/4-6, 8-11 Luke: 3/1-6

Introduction In our preparation for the upcoming event of celebrating the birth of our Savior we have come to the Second Sunday of Advent. Every year through the four Sundays of Advent we are invited to turn to God in deep faith and hope with contrite and repentant hearts. While the first proclamation speaks of the glory of God being revealed to all the nations throughout the world, the psalmist calls us to join him in praising God for His wonderful deeds among us. Similarly St. Paul reminds us through the Second Proclamation to become pure and blameless and prepare for the advent of Christ. And St. Luke quoting a prophecy of Isaiah says that all mankind shall see the face of God. Accordingly, considering this week as a time of preparation let us pray for guidance on our journey. Entrance Antiphon O people of Sion, behold, the Lord will come to save the nations, and the Lord will make the glory of His voice heard in the joy of your heart. The First Proclamation Jerusalem, take off your dress of sorrow and distress, put on the beauty of the glory of God for ever,

Second Sunday of Advent PS WK II

wrap the cloak of integrity of God around you, put the diadem of the glory of the Eternal on your head: since God means to show your splendor to every nation under heaven, since the name God gives you forever will beâ&#x20AC;Ś Prayerful Awareness In this passage, Baruch, the secretary of Jeremiah with his encouraging words speaks of the immense Love of God and powerfully reminds us of Messianic hopes. "Take off your dress of sorrow and distress, put on the beauty of the glory of God forever, wrap the cloak of integrity of God around you, put the diadem of the glory of the Eternal on your headâ&#x20AC;Ś". Thus he teaches us to live a life pleasing to God in order to experience his unending love. Gospel Acclamation Alleluiah! Alleluiah! Prepare a way for the Lord, make his paths straight, and all mankind shall see the salvation of God. Alleluiah! The Gospel Proclamation In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah, in the wilderness. He went into all the region around the Jordan district, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of

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

sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, "The voice of one crying out in the wilderness; 'Prepare a way for the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.'" Prayerful Awareness Throughout the history of salvation, by way of activating His plan God chose patriarchs, leaders and prophets to lead His chosen people along the correct path. The love He extends to an arrogant, obstinate and disobedient people is forever patient, enduring, merciful and compassionate. Thus in His determination to send His Son to the world, St. John the Baptist was also chosen as His precursor. John the Baptist proclaimed a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. The Gospel proclamation of the day depicts how he fulfills his mission of calling people for repentance in order to experience the mighty deeds of God. Second Proclamation .... constantly praying for with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus. For God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the compassion of Christ Jesus. And this is my prayer, that your love may

overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight to help you to determine what is best, so that in the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God. Prayerful Awareness We can learn from the experience of St. Paul how encountering the risen Lord could lead a person to a great change of life effecting a total transformation. St. Paul the persecutor and the destroyer of Christians turned out to be a first class messenger of the Gospel through his joyful experience in Christ and he too adds his invitation to us to seek persistently for an encounter with the Lord. Our sonship In preparing ourselves to celebrate the birth of Christ let us take off our dress of sorrow and distress, put on the beauty of the glory of God forever and repent for the forgiveness of sins thus leading a life of righteousness. Consequently we will come to experience the same joy that St. Paul experienced. Let this Christmas be especially joyful in sharing ourselves with the poor. Prayer Starter Let us invoke the Holy Spirit for help to welcome the living Lord into our hearts and share His joy, peace and freedom with others so that the wish of St. Paul will be a reality in our lives. May we become pure and blameless, and prepare for the day of Christ.

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

Monday 10th December 2018 Feast of St.Miltiades, Pope & Martyr authority on earth to forgive sins", he said to the one who was paralyzed, "I say to you, stand up and take your bed and go to your home." Immediately he stood up before them, took what he had been lying on, and went to his home, glorifying God...... St. Miltiades Prayerful Awareness He was the 32nd Pope. He succeeded to the Seat of Peter some two years after The Pharisees and Scribes were the death of St. Eusebius. It was during always at loggerheads with Jesus. The his reign (311-314) that there occurred scribes were the experts in the Law. The the great Battle at the Milvan Bridge in Pharisees on the other hand separated Rome. The outcome was that Constan- themselves from ordinary people and tine emerged as solo Emperor of the ordinary ways of life - all these in order West. This was followed by is famous to keep the rules and regulations. Thus Edict of Milan, declaring tolerance to- they placed themselves on a pedestal. wards the Christian religion, cessation But Jesus on the other hand was always of all persecution and restoration of with the ordinary people and wanted to Church property, even giving his place be identified with them in every way. at the Lateran to the Pope as his official He despised rules and regulations that residence, which position continued till weighed down the ordinary masses 1313. Though he died a natural death, which also were devoid of love. The he was included among the Church's common belief in Palestine was that sin martyrs on account of the great suffer- and suffering were connected, suffering ings he had undergone in the Maximian was the consequence of sin. That is the persecution. reason why Jesus began by telling the man that his sins were forgiven. This Gospel Proclamation was a pre-condition without which the One day while he was teaching, man could not be cured. On their own Pharisees and teachers of the law were arguments and assumptions the man was sitting near by... and the power of the sick because he had sinned. He was cured Lord was with him to heal. Just then and it was clear proof that his sins were some men came, carrying a paralyzed forgiven. The Pharisees were speechless man on a bed. ... but finding no way and their complaint had recoiled on them. to bring him in because of the crowd, How wonderful it is to see that the sick they went up on the roof and let him man was cured or saved by the faith of down ... into the middle of the crowd his friends. Their undaunted courage in front of Jesus. When he saw their and firm faith in Jesus won the cure faith, he said, "Friend, your sins are for their friend. This still happens. The forgiven you" Then the scribes and uninterrupted intercession in prayer by the Pharisees ... "Who is this who St. Monica bore fruit in the end and her is speaking blasphemies? Who can son St. Augustine, was converted. Don't forgive sins but God alone?" When we owe what we are and ever will be to Jesus perceived their questioning, ... the faith and prayers of our God fearing "Why do you raise such questions in parents. your hearts? Which is easier, to say, Prayer Starter 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say. 'Stand up and walk'? But so that you Help us to be sources of encouragemay know that the Son of Man has ment to our near and dear ones. Amen.

Isaiah:35/1-10 Psalm: 84/9-14 ( 85/8-13) Luke:5/17-26

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

Tuesday 11th December 2018 Isaiah:40/1-11 Psalm: 96/1-3,10-13 ( 95/1-3,10-13) Mathew:18/12-14 The First Proclamation 'Console my people, console them,' says your God. 'Speak to the heart of Jerusalem and cry to her that her period of service is ended, that her guilt has been atoned for, that, from the hand of Yahweh, she has received double punishment for all her sins.' A voice cries, 'Prepare in the desert a way for Yahweh. Make a straight highway for our God across the wastelands. Let every valley be filled in, every mountain and hill be levelled, every cliff become a plateau, every escarpment a plain; then the glory of Yahweh will be revealed and all humanity will see it together, for the mouth of Yahweh has spoken.'.... Shout fearlessly, say to the towns of Judah, 'Here is your God.' Here is Lord Yahweh coming with power, his arm maintains his authority, his reward is with him and his prize precedes him. He is like a shepherd feeding his flock, gathering lambs in his arms, holding them against his breast and leading to their rest the mother ewes. Fix your gaze on Jesus Lord, the mission for liberating the enslaved souls received Your absolute focus. The Father's desire to console His children and to redeem them were Your singular goal. You were fixated on this task You were assigned with. You struggled against our true enemythe spirit of darkness, emptiness and disempowerment; the Liar who traps us in outright lies and shades of truth, his crafty prisons for limiting us; your children. Your task; to empower us and to free us from these prisons we’re got-

St. Damascus 1 Pope ten ourselves in to! Our goal now is to fix our gaze on You; to learn from You and experience the power we’re endowed with and free ourselves from the traps of the Liar. Thence, become your tools for bringing your salvation to all of humanity and to the ends of the earth. All human life is a war; the Christian life more so; but the real struggle is not against our brother, but against the powers of darkness moving all of us, of the lies trapping us from realizing our divine potential, of experiencing the real love underlying all of this creation. We each of us are caught up in lies that create disempowerment and stress within. We do not abide in the command to ‘rejoice, give thanks in everything’, do not practice being in gratitude, and are caught up in a ‘Lack Mentality’. Result is that greed, covetousness and discontent rule our hearts. We enter in to THE RACE to amass externals that we believe will satiate our inner void; the chasing of which mirage creates a vicious cycle of increasing competitiveness and strife, pitting each against the other, alienating all from all. We do try to rationalize in creating bigger units (like family, village, town, race, nation etc.) to feel secure, but once the corrupted thinking becomes ingrained in your psyche, you are on a dangerous downward slope. Become aware of this reality, and don’t go on this lying path. Become free of these traps and bindings of the Devil. Enter in to the Truth; experience the freedom of abiding in the Truth! …John the Baptist experienced it, and proclaimed it. Now it is our turn. Shall we? Prayer Starter Lord, I need to become aware of my inner beliefs; the ‘truths’ I have created for myself! Then, test them against the ‘Truth’ as expounded by Jesus, the incarnate ‘TRUTH’. Holy Spirit of God, help me on this journey of identifying and the rejecting falsehoods within...

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

Wednesday 12th December 2018 Isaiah: 40/25-31 Psalm:103/1-4,8,10 Mathew: 11/28-30

Our Lady of Guadalupe Prayerful Awareness

A YOKE is a heavy wooden crossbar linking two load pulling animals. It fits over the shoulders of an ox or oxen. It is attached to a piece of equipment the animals are to pull. A PERSON may be carrying heavy The First Proclamation burdens of SIN. Excessive demands To whom then will you compare of religious leaders, oppression or me, or who is my equal? says the weariness in the search of God. Jesus Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high frees people from all these burdens. and see. Who created these? He who The "REST" that Jesus promises is brings out their host and numbers LOVE, HEALING and PEACE with them, calling them all by name, be- God, not the end of all labour. A relacause he is great in strength, mighty tionship with God changes meaningin power, not one is missing. Why less wearisome toil into SPIRITUAL do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O productivity and purpose. Israel, "My way is hidden from the Jesus Christ DIED to set us free Lord, and my right is disregarded by my God"? Have you not known? from sin and from a long list of LAWS Have you not heard? The Lord is and regulations. Christ came to set us the everlasting God, the creator of free - not free to do whatever we want the ends of the earth. He does not because that would lead us back into faint or grow weary, his under- slavery to our selfish desires. Rather, standing is unsearchable. He gives thanks to Christ Jesus, we are now free power to the faint, and strengthens and able to do what was impossible the powerless. Even youths will before - to live unselfishly. Those who faint and be weary, and the young appeal to their freedom so that they will fall exhausted; but those who can have their own way or indulge in wait for the Lord shall renew their their own desires are falling back into strength, they shall mount up with sin. but it is also wrong to put a burden wings like angels, the shall run and of LAW KEEPING on Christians. We not be weary, they shall walk and must stand against those who would enslave us with rules, methods, or not faint. special conditions for being SAVED The Gospel Proclamation or growing in Christ. "Come to me, all you that are Prayer Starter weary and are carrying heavy burHeavenly Father, we thank You for dens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from Your Love. You are God who pursues me, for I am gentle and humble in us in our restlessness, receives us in heart, and you will find rest for your our sinfulness, holds us in our brosouls. For my yoke is easy, and my kenness. You have made the way for us to come to You, in joy and boldness. burden is light."

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

Thursday 13th December 2018 Isaiah:41/13-20 Psalm:145/1, 9-13 Mathew: 11/11-15

The First Proclamation For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand, it is I who say to you "Do not fear, I will help you." .... Now, I will make of you a threshing sledge, sharp, new, and having teeth, you shall thresh the mountains and crush them, and you shall make the hills the chaff. You shall winnow them and the wind shall carry them away, and the tempest shall scatter them. Then you shall rejoice in the Lord, in the Holy One of Israel you shall glory. When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue is parched with thirst, I the Lord will answer them. I the God of Israel will not forsake them......

The Gospel Proclamation

Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence and the violent take it by force. For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John came, and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. Let anyone with ears listen!

Prayerful Awareness

Today's scripture readings depict the infinite love God has for humanity. It is beyond our understanding and when we think of the existence and planning of the Universe we are unable to comprehend it with our own limited mind. The creation feels our inability to grasp it but wonder and marvel at the intelligence beyond all these. Let us see how God's love reach us. In

St. Lucy, Virgin &Martyr the First Proclamation God tells His people not to fear even though we are described as worms, but ensures us that we are given a Redeemer who will be made into a thresher that is sharp and sure, ready to harvest and rejoice. It is our God who will care for the thirsty and hungry and turn every level of the land into a neat spacious place to dwell. God sees and knows what we could do, and will do what is necessary. The hand of the Lord is the Body of Jesus. In the Gospel Jesus praises John the Baptist and considers him the greatest among those born of women. This is because he faithfully carried out the unique role as the forerunner of the Messiah. He was the one to announce the long awaited arrival of the Messiah. Also, John made the people to repent for their sins by way of baptising them with water and uplifting them spiritually. He spoke against the authorities about the injustices taking place. By so doing he witnessed to the truth for which he was beheaded. He is called Elijah who was expected to come before the Messiah. However John could not see the Kingdom Jesus had inaugurated. John could not struggle much during his short period of life. That is why the least in heaven is greater than him. In the meantime Jesus identified Himself with the poor and desperate and released them from all enslavements by depending on His Father God and proclaimed His Kingdom. Do I believe that God has given me a vocation to carry out Jesus' mission of building the Kingdom of God? Also have I confidence in Him who will give me strength to carry on with this mission? Let us praise God with the Psalmist.

Prayer Starter

I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever. 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 145/1, 9.10,....)

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

Friday 14th December 2018 Isaiah: 48/17-19 Psalm: 1/1-4, 6 Mathew:11/16-19 The First Proclamation Please read Isaiah 48/17 - 19 prayerfully. The Gospel Proclamation Please read Matthew 11.16-19 meditatively. Gaze on Jesus Jesus gives expression to His feeling of disappointment at the response He received from His own people to whom He had been sent by the Father in order to win them back to Him. The attitude they have towards His forerunner John the Baptist and to Jesus Himself is most disrespectful. They reproach John for his austerity and Jesus for His lack of austerity. Jesus considered John to be the greatest of the prophets (vs. 11). He had the privilege of baptizing Jesus when all the other prophets before John only spoke of Jesus. His coming was foretold by prophet Isaiah. "I hear a voice shouting in the desert, prepare the way for the Lord, make his path straight." (vs. 40/3) Prophet Malachi also has this to say about John. "I sent my messenger ahead of you to prepared the way before you." (vs.3/1) He was also anointed with the Spirit even in his mother's womb. He lived a life of strict abstinence in the wilderness until he came out for his mission. This is the man whom they considered to be possessed. The accusation that Jesus was a friend of tax collectors and sinners was first made by the Scribes, when He was seen dining at the house of Matthew, also a tax collector who had left every-

St. John of the Cross thing to follow Jesus. (Mathew 9/9-11). Jesus would tell them that He came to call not the righteous but the sinners. Prayerful Awareness The tax collector was hated and despised by his own people because he worked for the Roam overlords whom the Jews never liked and also the tax collector used his authority to exhort money from the people. Jesus would disregard all these human considerations when , in deference to the Will of the Father, He called this man to His inner circle of discipleship. Jesus championed the cause of the despised and the marginalised because no one else even raised a finger on their behalf and tell the people that they also have their rights. "For the Son of Man came to seek and save what was lost." (Luke 19/10). Jesus could see that the Pharisees brought to Him a woman who had committed adultery not for justice but to lay a trap for Him. The woman has sinned alright and Jesus does not mitigate the gravity of the act. He defends her, not in the eyes of God, but from her earthly accusers and from the spirit behind the law. It is the sinners and the prostitutes who were moved by the preaching of John the Baptist and who repented. "Truly I say to you, the sinners and the prostitutes are ahead of you on the way to the kingdom of heaven ... you did not believe him, yet the sinners and prostitutes did." (Mathew 21/31). Prayer Starter He sent me to give the good news to the poor Tell prisoners that they are prisoners no more Tell the blind people that they can see and set the down-trodden free And go tell everyone that the news of the Kingdom has come.

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

Saturday 15th December 2018 Sirach:48/1-4, 9-11 Psalm: 79/2-3,15-16, 18-19 (80/1-2,14-18,17-18) Mathew:17/10-13 Introduction Today is Saturday of the second week in Advent. Season of Advent in the liturgy, reminds the faithful of the most fundamental of our faith. That is the promise of the Savior. Gaze at Jesus Let us reflect on the first reading from Sirach, the prophesy by Prophet Elijah about end times. However, He awakened the people of Israel that there will be a period of grace when Christ the savior will appear. “the scripture says that you are ready to appear at the designated time, to cool God’s anger before it breaks out in fury; that you will bring parents and children together again and restore the tribes of Israel. Fortunate are those who have already died in love, for we too shall live” Gospel Proclamation Then the disciples asked Jesus, why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah has to come first? Elijah is indeed coming first, answered Jesus, and he will get everything ready. But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and people did not recognize him, but treated him just as they pleased. In the same way they will also ill-treat the son of Man. Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist. Then in the Gospel, it is a conversation between Jesus with His disciples. Jesus acknowledges that promise of God prophesied by Elijah is now fulfilled and John the Baptizer who was designated to

come and prepare the way for the Messiah too has already come and gone. Therefore, the time to receive God’s grace in its fullness is real. However, Jesus predicts, that people will lose the opportunity because they will fail to recognize and accept the Son of Man who is already among them. Our sonship Once again, let us focus on the theme Advent according to the Liturgical Calendar. The period of preparation has begun. There is a gentleman in our little praise community in the Parish, he would always say, and encourage all of us too to prepare for Advent by abstaining from meat, liquor and other extravaganza. He says, it is a time to prepare for a meaningful confession. There are ten more days for Christmas. The joy of Christmas is Christ the Savior. Let us prepare our hearts, therefore, to experience His saving grace by repenting and asking the Lord to renew our lives for God’s glory to be established in and through our lives. When we prepare for Advent, we also cannot disassociate our focus about the Second Coming of Christ. Therefore, before God’s fury breaks out, let us sincerely accept that this is not the time to be jolly as the world does and be content by taking this as a season of giving, but fully realize the need to repent and change our own lives so that we can be a bridge to bring God’s other children into a fellowship of love, which is a much larger concept in today’s wild society. Prayer Starter Preserve and protect the people you have chosen, the nation you made so strong We will never turn away from you again, keep us alive, and we will praise you. Bring us back, Lord God Almighty. Show us your mercy, and we will be saved.

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

Sunday 16th December 2018 Zephania:3/10-11, 14-18 Psalm:Isaiah:12/2-6 Philippians:4/4-7 Luke:3/10-18

Introduction Today is a day when we rejoice and exult with all our hearts and the day on which we light the rose coloured candle or the shepherd's candle. Even the proclamations for today invite us to sing and shout for joy in anticipation of the coming of Christ. While recalling the first coming of Christ and the necessity of waiting in hope for His glorious Second Coming, we are also reminded of the importance of waiting in repentance to welcome Christ who daily knocks at the door of our hearts seeking entrance. Entrance Antiphon Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice. Indeed the Lord is near. (Phil. 4:4-5) From the First Proclamation From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, my scattered ones, shall bring my offering. On that day you shall not be put to shame because of all the deeds by which you have rebelled against me; for then I will remove from your midst your proudly exultant ones, and you shall no longer be haughty in my holy mountain.

Third Sunday of Advent PS WK III Sing aloud, O daughter Zion, shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem! The Lord has taken away the judgments against you, he has turned away your enemies. The king of Israel, the Lord is in your midst; you shall fear disaster no more, ..... Prayerful Awareness The book of Zephaniah written by the prophet of the 6th century BC is counted as one of the 17 prophetic books of the Old Testament. He exhorts the people to wait in readiness since the coming of the Messiah is near. It takes the style and shape of a song addressed to a woman in Jerusalem. In some of the old translations the verses 15 &17 are given as "The Lord is within you." The Lord speaks to us as addressing one of the remaining few who are poor and meek (v. 12) Gospel Proclamation And the crowds asked him, "What then should we do?" In reply he said to them, "Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none, and whoever has food must do likewise." Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, "Teacher, what should we do?" He said to them, "Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you." Soldiers also asked him, "And we, what should we do?' He said to them, "Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages." As the people were filled with

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

expectation and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, John answered all of them by saying "I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire." So with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people. Prayerful Awareness Let us read the Gospel proclamation several times in the manner of St. John addressing each one of us personally and open ourselves to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Natural tendency in society is to fall under the influence of the open market rather than to consider this time as a preparation for Christmas. St. John is awakening us, the people of God to be conscious of our hidden faults that we have not yet identified or detected for the last two weeks and thus leads us to repentance. "He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire." Accordingly, Christmas is presented as an occasion of being filled with the Holy Spirit and being kindled with a fire that inflames others as well. Second Proclamation

gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Prayerful Awareness This letter written by Paul while he was a prisoner, invites us to rejoice at all times. The secret of joy rests on the realization that God is with us, the expectation that He comes to us at every moment and the hope of His glorious coming at an appointed time. Therefore the key to experiencing daily the joy of Christmas is by way of maintaining an intimate relationship with Christ and creating opportunity for a constant Christ encounter. Prayer Starter

Surely God is my salvation, I will trust and will not be afraid, for the Lord God is my strength and my might; he has become my salvation. With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. And you will say in that day, 'Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known his deeds among the nations, proclaim that his name is exalted. Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously; let this be known in all the earth. Shout aloud and sing for joy, O royal Zion, for great in your midst is Rejoice in the Lord always, the Holy One of Israel. (Isaiah. 12/2-6 again I will say, Rejoice. Let your

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

Monday 17th December 2018 Feast of St. Lazarus (1st Century) different. They were proud of their an-

Genesis:49/1-2, 8-10 cestry and carefully kept the list of each Psalm: 71/1-4,7- 8,17 family's ancestors; proud of the pure Jewish blood that ran through their veins. Mathew:1/1-17 St. Lazarus Evangelist John gives a full account of the raising of Lazarus from the dead by Jesus. He was the brother of Martha and Mary of Bethany, a much-loved friend o Jesus. The Holy Bible does not give us any account of the subsequent life of this man called back from the dead. According to the tradition Lazarus together with his sisters were put into a leaking boat by the Jews at Jaffa but divine protection saw them land safely on the island of Cyprus. He was reportedly made bishop at Kition (Larnaca) where he died in peace after thirty years. In 890 the Emperor Leo VI built a church and monastery in his honour at Constantinople to which he transferred some of the saint's relics from Cyprus. The Gospel Proclamation An account of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham was the father of Isaac ... And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah, and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah.... So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David to the deportation to Babylon, fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Messiah, fourteen generations. Prayerful Awareness

We have the ancestry of Jesus in today's Gospel according to Matthew. Jesus truly belonged to the people of Israel; and within the people of Israel He belonged to the family of David. The birth of a child in a family is a joyful event. One of the signs that God still loves the world, is the coming or the birth of a child. Every individual is a gift to his/her family, to the world and to the. As such we have got to be a gift, an asset to the Lord and to the world we live in. May it never be an obstacle, cause no sorrow to God and to others. The words Jesus uttered to Judas, "How terrible for that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would have been better for that man if he had never been born! (Mathew 26:24). To the shepherds, the angel announced the birth of Jesus as the Messiah promised to Israel: "To you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. From the beginning He was 'the one whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world.' conceived as "holy" in Mary's virginal womb. God called Joseph to 'take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit'. so that Jesus, "who is called Christ" should be born of Joseph's spouse into the messianic lineage of David. (C.C.C. 437). "David, who murdered Uriah, nevertheless is the channel through which the blood of Abraham floods into the blood of Mary. There were sinners in the family tree, and He would seem to be the greatest sinner of all when He would hang upon the family tree of the cross, making men adopted sons of the heavenly Father." (F.J.Sheen) Prayer Starter

"Who are your ancestors?" We might give the names of our parents, grand Help us to be a boon to the society parents, may be great grand parents and we live in, in every possible way. Amen. not beyond. But for the Jews it was quite

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

Tuesday 18th December 2018 Jeremiah:23/5-8 Psalm:72/1-2, 12-13. 18-19 (72/1-2,12-13,18-19) Mathew:1/18-24 The First Proclamation Look, the days are coming, Yahweh declares, when I shall raise an upright Branch for David; he will reign as king and be wise, doing what is just and upright in the country. In his days Judah will triumph and Israel live in safety. And this is the name he will be called, 'Yahweh-is-our-Saving-Justice.' " 'So, look, the days are coming, Yahweh declares, when people will no longer say, "As Yahweh lives who brought the Israelites out of Egypt," but, "As Yahweh lives who led back and brought home the offspring of the House of Israel from the land of the north and all the countries to which he had driven them, to live on their own soil." Fix your gaze on Jesus Your Word is indeed a Fire and a Blessings O Lord our beloved ABBA... Thank You Lord for the Original Blessings we were endowed with! We (or rather our Fore Parents) choose to listen to the very subtle hint of the Liar, saying that 'We are Not Okay' in accepting the lie that 'when you eat of this forbidden fruit, you will be like gods, knowing good from evil.' In the knowing of 'Good' we were on the path God would have us journey, growing and evolving to be ever more divine as our Father intended. In that state of grace we were in, we were progressing, even as an infant grows to be a child and thence to adulthood. We were 'Okay', we were 'fine', we were 'great!'.

But then we had to admit the error of not been okay, and succumbed to the ploys of the Liar; and realised in addition what God cautioned us of; death and decay, suffering and separation, of loneliness. This lie of not been okay, of been separate, became rooted in our heart and minds, in our psyche! Thus, the belief of separation created our new reality; thus did we become scattered, our communiques distorted / misinterpreted, ever moving from the Big Picture of Union and Togetherness towards the Smaller Picture of 'Selfishness' and Isolation, our flesh tainted with sick appetites; appetites that are never ever sated (the worm that does not die and the fire that is never quenched) ... But the Eternal Lord desires our redemption, our salvation and seeks us with an unchanging Love. And sends Himself as a human child to the fallen children who habitually choose to 'not listen'. S/he would have us head back from wherever we have scattered ourselves, gone 'our own ways' without a shepherd, back home to the 'Bosom of Love'; to 'Live on our own soil'... Yes Lord, we choose to return. And we shall no longer say, "As Yahweh lives who brought the Israelites out of Egypt..". We will say, â&#x20AC;&#x153;As Yahweh lives who led back and brought home the offspring of the House of Israel from the land of the north and all the countries to which he had driven them, to live on their own soil." Prayer Starter Yes Lord, I truly desire to get back to that land of milk and honey You have promised us. Now teach me Your Word, and guide me in incarnating Your Living Word within my heart and soul. Then will I â&#x20AC;&#x201C; We experience Your cleansing fire and experience Your blessings...

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

Wednesday 19th December 2018 Judges: 13/2-7,24-25 Psalm: 70/3-6, 16-17 (71/3-6, 16-17) Luke:1/5-25 The First Proclamation There was a certain man of Zorah of the tribe of Danites, whose name was Manoah. His wife was barren, having borne no children. An d the angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her, "Although you are barren having borne no children, you shall conceive and bear a son. â&#x20AC;Ś. The Gospel Proclamation In the days of King Herod of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah who belonged to the priestly order of Abijah. His wife, was a descendant of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. Both of them were righteous before God, living blamelessly according to all the commandments and regulations of the Lord. But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were getting on in years.â&#x20AC;Ś.. (Please read the whole proclamation) Prayerful Awareness In accomplishing His plan of salvation God almost always went against the accepted norms and traditions of the contemporary society. This is confirmed by way of making a path way in the Red Sea for the Israelites to cross over to the promised land into freedom out of slavery, as depicted in the first proclamation giving birth to Samson the dedicated from the barren wife of Manoah, and the conception of John the Baptist, the precursor of the Savior in the womb of the wife of Zachariah also considered to be barren. In order to see his plan being manifested in such people God deliberately makes a choice. "But from

now on take great care. Take no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean. For you will conceive and bear a son. No razor is to touch his head, for the boy shall be God's Nazirite from his mother's womb (Judges 13:4-5). Similarly in the call of Elizabeth, "You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or strong drink, even before his birth he will be filled with the Holy Spirit." (Luke 1:14-15). Usual procedure in selecting a person for a great task of God is to choose a noble from the high society. Yet the choice of God far exceeds human wisdom and the limited human mind cannot grasp the plan of God since He is none other than God. Towards us Even our calling is unique and incomprehensible. It is we who cannot come to terms with His choice. "You did not choose me, but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit and fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name." (John 15:16). That is God's verdict in choosing us. Not only that He chose us but also has entrusted us with a mission. God's desire is that we bear fruit in the spread of His kingdom. Yet, how many of us are at least aware of such a responsibility being entrusted to us? At times even recalling this is an annoyance. As in the Old Testament even in the New Testament we come to realize how the saintly figures such as our Blessed Mother, John the Baptist, St. Paul, Mother Theresa of Calcutta and St. Joseph Vaz accomplished the mission entrusted to them. Prayer Starter O Holy Spirit, enlighten our minds and hearts to see where we are today with regard to our mission.

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

Thursday 20th December 2018 Isaiah:7/10-14 Psalm: 23/1-6 ( 24/1-5) Luke: 1/26-38

Gospel Proclamation In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, ... and the virgin's name was Mary. ... "Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you." But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, ... and of his Kingdom there will be no end." But Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?" And the angel said to her in reply, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. ‘Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God." Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word." Then the angel departed.

Prayerful Awareness

First Reading is on prophet Isaiah (who lived around 700 hundred years before Christ) “ Listen, O house of David! Is it not enough for you to weary men, must you also weary my God? Therefore the

Lord himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel.” Gospel message is on God sending His Gabriel Angel to the most simple girl in Nazareth whom God has selected to be the Mother of His only begotten Son, the second person of the Holy Trinity, God Himself, the Son of God, the Lord of the Word. Through Him all things were made (John 1:3). How much God has purified the generation of the Holy Mother to arrive at the level of offspring born to Joachim and St. Ann through “immaculate conception”. Although this was a message received by many Catholics through many generations, this doctrine of Virgin Mary, Declared Free From Original Sin was dogmatically defined and proclaimed by Pope Pius IX in 1854. This was also confirmed by the Holy Mother herself when a peasant girl in 1858 at Lourdes Apparition asked her, who she was, she has said, “I am the immaculate conception”. How purified she had being to receive an immaculate conception, to become the Mother of God. How Great are God’s plans to take her as the Mother of Jesus Christ the Son of God, and to give Her as our Mother due to our connection with Jesus Christ, to always intercede for us at our difficult times, as She did at the wedding of Cana.

Prayer Starter

God our Loving Father, I thank and praise You for sending Your only Begotten Son Jesus Christ to this World to pay for our sins and to show us the path for Salvation. I thank You Lord Jesus for giving us Your own Mother on earth as our Mother to intercede for us at our times of need and to guide us. Loving Mother, please pray for us and help us to follow you as a model to do the Will of God, to be filled with he Holy Spirit to find and get to know the Will of God and abide by it to bring Glory to God, Amen

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

Friday 21st December 2018

St. Peter Canisius, Priest & Doctor

Song of Solomon:2/8-14 OR Zephaniah:3/14-18 Psalm: 32/2-3,11-12,20- 21 (33/2-3,11-12, 20-21) Luke:1/39-45 The Gospel Proclamation Soon afterward Mary got ready and hurried off to a town in the hill country of Judea. She went into Zechariah's house and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby moved within her. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and said in a loud voice, “You are the most blessed of all women, and blessed is the child you will bear! Why should this great thing happen to me, that my Lord's mother comes to visit me? For as soon as I heard your greeting, the baby within me jumped with gladness. How happy you are to believe that the Lord's message to you will come true!” Prayerful Awareness In this passage Mary had just received a message from God that she was granted the blessedness of being the mother of the Son of God. Not long after the angel left her side, Mary was on her way to see Elizabeth. When Mary finally came into the presence of her cousin Elizabeth, Elizabeth was overjoyed. The child she was carrying leapt within her and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Elizabeth gave a glad cry and exclaimed to Mary, "You are blessed by God above all other women, and your child is blessed. What an honor this is, that the mother of my Lord should visit me!" Elizabeth just confirmed to Mary what the angel had spoken, for later Elizabeth says, "You are blessed, because you believed that the Lord would do what he said" Mary believed and she gained

favor with God and somehow Elizabeth knew this. The Holy Spirit inside of Elizabeth said that Truth and Life just stepped inside the door. This whole scene was instigated by God. It wasn't an accident that Mary went to Elizabeth and that Elizabeth proclaimed that, indeed, the Lord Jesus would be Mary's son. That was spoken confirmation. Gaze at our Sonship We, who claim to be children of God, let us take a look at ourselves; do we have the faith of Mary? Mary was not from a wealthy or illustrious family. When the angel appeared to this young teenage girl, she was engaged to be married and was undoubtedly doing what engaged girls do—dreaming of being married to Joseph, of the home they would live in, of the family they would have. Yet, she was willing to let go all her plans and dreams of the future and trust her God implicitly and accept the greatest task in the entire world being the mother of the son of God. The moment she believed Gods message she was filled with the Holy Spirit. In that act of surrender, Mary offered herself to God as a living sacrifice. She was willing to be used by God for His purposes. At this point we should examine ourselves deeply and recognize sincerely the areas in our lives we don’t want to surrender to God and ask the grace of God and the help of the Holy Spirit to let go these areas which keep us from the wonderful blessings God is waiting to give His children, if only we let go! Prayer Starter Heavenly Father, you know our weaknesses and the love we have for the things of this world we pray that you give us the grace to wholly surrender our lives to you and put our complete trust in you because we know you love us and want the best for us since we belong to you. Holy Spirit grant us the strength to change because we cannot do so without your help. Amen

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

Saturday 22nd December 2018 1 Samuel:1/24-28 Psalm:1 Samuel:2/1, 4-8 Luke:1/46-56 The First Proclamation When she had weaned him, she took him up with her along with a three-year old bull, an epah of flour, and a skin of wine. She brought him to the house of the Lord at Shilo, and the child was young. Then they slaughtered the bull, and they brought the child to Eli. And she said , "Oh, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who was standing here in your presence, praying to the Lord. For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me the petition that I made to him. I have lent him to the Lord; as long as he lives, he is given to the Lord. The Gospel Proclamation

And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm, He has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly, he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in rememberance of his mercy, according to the promises he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever. And Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.

Prayerful Awareness Similar to Elizabeth, Hanna presented in the first proclamation was a woman considered to be barren. Yet the deep faith she possessed made her fortunate as to bear a child. Also she did not forget to fulfill her vow to God in receiving a child saying, &#39;Now I make him over to the Lord for the whole of his life.&#39; Her only belief was that it was God himself who provided her with a child and this is made quite obvious in the responsorial psalm. Her life of faith always drew her closer to God which enabled her to experience His power and might more and more. There is a close affinity between the Gospel proclamation for today and the responsorial psalm. Mother Mary would have been well versed with the prayer of Hanna. Yet when she sings her praises to God it is out of sheer joy that she sings and also based on her deep faith experience. This event in which she recalls the words of the Old Testament speaks to us of her own experience of leading a life founded on the word of God along with steadfast faith in His promises. Through her humble submission, God&#39;s word of Love â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the word - became flesh. Certainly God did great things for her. "Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord. Our sonship Hanna as well as Mother Mary believed the promise of God being fulfilled in their lives and experienced it being manifested time and again. Today the Lord is calling us too, to be men and women of deep faith who firmly believes in his promises. Prayer Starter Let us sing the song of Mary with deep faith that in whatever trouble or struggle we are in God is sure to fulfill His promises.

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

Sunday 23rd December 2018 Micah:5/1-4 Psalm: 80/2-3,15-16, 18-19 (79/2-3,15-16,18-19) Hebrews:10/5-10 Luke:1/39-45 Introduction The season of Advent is a time of hope during which we should implant in us the hope of experiencing the redemption won by Christ the Lord. The Lord is sure to come. And it is a special calling for us, Christians to stay awake and alert to His constant presence among us as well as to the glorious Second Coming as the incarnated Son. Our vocation is to give a positive response to this loving call. Now is the time and this is the moment. If we do not give a correct response we would by ourselves close the door of the Kingdom and thus lose eternal life. Therefore let us thirst for the infilling of the Holy Spirit at all times, allow Him to lead us and bear within us Jesus our Lord just as Mother Mary did. May this Christmas be not only a celebration of His birth but also be a warm welcome given to Him as He seeks to enter into our hearts. So, resolute as we are to experience a new birth, let us enter into prayer for guidance. Entrance Antiphon Drop down dew from above, you heavens, and let the clouds rain down the Just One; let the earth be opened and bring forth a Saviour. The first proclamation

4th Sunday of Advent

PS WK IV us; with a rod they strike the ruler of Israel upon the cheek. But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one hwo is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days. Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has brought forth; then the rest of his kindred shall return to the people of Israel. And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall live secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth. Prayerful Awareness Micah, a contemporary of Isaiah was a prophet from Judah who conducted his prophetic ministry in the Southern kingdom. From time to time God chose prophets to proclaim His word, to reveal His mind to the people thus making them share in His plan of salvation. This also involved a prophecy concerning the future Messiah. The prophet foretells of a time of peace brought forth by Messiah, during which He will nourish His people with His word and manifest God's glory. The ruler referred to by the prophet is present among us, let us worship Him and welcome Him wholeheartedly making room for Him to work in us. The Second Proclamation

Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, "Sacrifices and offering you have not desired, but a body you have prepared for me; in burnt offerings and sin ofNow you are walled around ferings you have taken no pleasure. with a wall; siege is laid against Then I said, 'See, God, I have come

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

to do your will, O God' (in the scroll of the book it is written of me)." When he said above, "You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings" (these are offered according to the law), then he added, "See, I have come to do your will." He abolishes the first in order to establish the second. And it is by God's will that we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Prayerful Awareness Although Jews of the time sacrificed lambs to God as a ransom for their sins and sprinkled the animal blood on the altar, Jesus our Lord brought forth peace and redemption not only to the Jews but to the whole world by offering Himself once and for all on the cross. It was the dawn of the Kingdom of God, the kingdom of peace and love. Though it was good to observe the law, He went far beyond it and did thirst for the Will of God. He paid much attention to the call of love rather than the meticulous following of he law. Therefore, "love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things, but when the perfect comes, the imperfect will pass away." (1 Corinthians 13:7) was a reality in His life. The Gospel Proclamation

has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her by the Lord." Prayerful Awareness The living monstrance that carried Jesus Christ was Mother Mary. She is the first disciple and Christ bearer carrying the Good News. In spite of human difficulties and in-capabilities she said "yes"; to the voice of God. Similarly, when the blessed Mother visited Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit Elizabeth recognizes her relative as the Mother of the Lord and she praises God for His glory, praises Mother Mary and exalts her. Encountering the incarnated Son of God is to experience Easter joy. Since we have only two more days to celebrate His birth, let us prepare our hearts and minds and emulate Elizabeth and together with Mother Mary enter into praise and worship. Towards my son-ship God of love, help us celebrate a meaningful Christmas. Let it be more spiritual than material. Enlighten us to make space in our life to Jesus, experience a new birth and share the lasting joy that only You could give with others. Inflame our hearts that we may constantly adhere to the Will of God. Prayer Starter

In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leaped Stir up your might, and come to in her womb. And Elizabeth was save us! filled with the Holy Spirit and exRestore us, O God; let your face claimed with a loud cry, "Blessed shine, that we may be saved. are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why

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

Monday 24th December 2018 forerunner would announce His coming and prepare the way. "But before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes I will send you the prophet Elijah." (Mal. 4:5). This was their usual belief. In his son John the Baptist, he saw the one who would prepare the way for the coming of the Son of God. "But when the time The Gospel Proclamation had fully come, God sent forth His Son, Then his father Zechariah was born of a woman, born under the law, to filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke redeem those who were under the law, so this prophecy. that we might receive adoption as sons. "Blessed be the Lord God of Isra- This is "the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the el, for he has looked favorably on his Son of God". God has visited his people. people and redeemed them. He has He has fulfilled the promise He made to raised up a mighty savior for us in the Abraham and his descendants. He acted house of his servant David, as he spoke far beyond all expectations - He has sent through the mouth of his holy prophets His own "beloved Son." (C.C.C. 422). from of old, that we would be saved Until Jesus came there was no real from our enemies and from the hand of understanding of what God was like. The all who hate us. Thus he has shown the general understanding was that God was mercy promised to our ancestor, and more bent on punishing, quick to anger has remembered his holy covenant, and revengeful. He was a demanding the oath that he swore to our ancestor One. All these had to change. "God is Abraham, to grant us that we, being love and whoever lives in love lives in rescued from the hands of our enemies, union with Him." (1 John 4:16). Jesus' might serve him without fear, in holi- mission also included helping people to ness and righteousness, before him all understand the Father as a loving One. our days. And you, child, will be called He also had to put their wrong ideas of the prophet of the Most High, for you the Father in the right track. St. John the will go before the Lord to prepare his Baptist is the Lord's immediate precursor ways, to give knowledge of salvation or forerunner, sent to prepare His way. to his people by the forgiveness of "Prophet of the Most High". John surtheir sins. By the tender mercy of our passes all other prophets of whom he is God, the dawn from on high will break the last. He inaugurates the Gospel from upon us, to give light to those who sit in His mother's womb, welcomes the comdarkness and in the shadow of death, ing of Christ, and rejoices in being "in to guide our feet into the way of peace. front of the bridegroom", whom he points out as "the lamb of God who takes away Prayerful Awareness the sins of the world". Going before Jesus On Christmas Eve we have the Gos- "in the spirit and power of Elijah" John pel reading telling of Zechariah's great bears witness to Christ in his preaching, vision for his son - John the Baptist. by his baptism of conversion and through His evaluation of his son as the prophet his martyrdom." (C.C.C. 523). and the forerunner who would prepare Prayer Starter the way of the Lord was perfectly right. All Jews, the devout ones, were waiting I depend on Him alone. He alone hopefully for the great day when the protects and saves me. He is my defendMessiah would come. This great hope er and I shall never be defeated. Amen. also was tagged with the belief that a (Ps. 62/1-2)

2 Samuel: 7/1-5, 8-12, 14, 16 Psalm: 88/2-5, (89/1-4, 26, 28) Luke:1/67-79

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

Tuesday 25th December 2018 Midnight Mass: Isaiah:9/1-6 Psalm: 95/1-3,11-13 Titus:2/11-14 Luke:2/1-14 Mass during the day: Isaiah:52/7-10 Psalm:98/1-6 Hebrews:1/1-6 John:1/1-18 OR 1/1-5, 9-14 The First Proclamation The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness - on them light has shined. You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder. For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. For all the tramping warriors and all the garments rolled in blood shall be burnt, as fuel for the fire. For a child has been born for us, a son given to us, authority rests on his shoulders; and he is named 'Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty-God, Everlasting Father, Prince-of-Peace.' Fix your gaze on Jesus Lord, we stand in wonder at the astounding event we celebrate today.... The Holy Lord Himself, the Creator of all that is seen and unseen, the Fountain of all that is, the unseen Energy / Intelligence, the Living Word, becoming incarnate, becoming material in a very special way, in a manner and

in a form that humans can easily relate to, is celebrated today. God is reaching out to S/His creation to win back what has turned it's back to the loving creator. Lets try to identify in a concise way what has transpired up to this stage... It is given that the Word became manifest as the creation at the beginning; the Spirit of God processing the creation so formed, and evolving the triunic Energy / Intelligence / Material phases in such a manner that Life emerges there-from. Next phase : induce self-awareness to the emergent life, and together therewith develop environmental awareness. Thence move forward to develop intelligence; the ability to discern causality relationships, the ability to learn in a conscious manner. Next comes the stage where the creator begins to relate to the emergent progeny, imparting information regarding the relationship, and instructions to realise the destiny and so forth ...which effort is found to be unfruitful in a large measure. God, the Supreme Intelligence, communicates S/His promises to present Himself in a manner that the chosen progeny could relate easily to. S/ He promises a 'Son' to those who refuse the relationship, who lacked awareness of the Union, who did not understand the preceding steps / processors completed. So we come to today, the day we celebrate the fulfilment of God's promises in the manner we could easily relate to...Praise be to the Lord our God! Prayer Starter Humbly do we thank You Lord for Your sustained efforts to bring us to the truth of our being, our divine nature, our relationship with You, thank You for been here for us ...

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

Wednesday 26th December 2018

St. Stephen

There are three parallel points in the Acts: 6/8-10,7/54-59 Psalm:30/3-4,6-8,17,21 life and death of Jesus and Stephen. Both are killed on trumped up reasons. Both Mathew:10/17-22 forgave their executioners. Jesus gives The First Proclamation Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. Then some ,... stood up and argued with Stephen. But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke. When they heard these things, they became enraged and ground their teeth at Stephen. But filled with the Holy Spirit, he gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. "Look" he said, " I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!" ... While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Prayerful Awareness On this first day after Christmas let us look at the first Christian martyr among Jesus' followers. Stephen was a leader of the Greek speaking Jewish Christians. He was one of the seven deacons chosen to deal with internal community affairs and thus made arrangements for the apostles for preaching. Stephen was a man filled with faith and the Holy Spirit. Therefore he was strengthened and led by the Holy Spirit in all his activities. We see how boldly he acted. The Holy Spirit strengthened him even to sacrifice his life in order to uphold what he believed and to proclaim the Word of God without fear. The apostles prayed over him and then imposed hands on him. This gesture of human touching bestowed special powers and appeared often in the New Testament. This laying of hands signified healing, imparting the Holy Spirit and a commissioning for ministry.

up His spirit into the hands of the Father and Stephen to the hands of Jesus whom he saw standing at the right hand of the Father. Both made their lives meaningful in self-sacrifice. Life is for giving and not hoarding. To spend it for Jesus and for the Gospel, to save it for all eternity - as the saying goes - "A life of service has sweet fragrance". Jesus is our perfect model. He witnessed for the Kingdom of His Father. He sacrificed His life and set an example for His followers. How did He react amidst ill treatment from the authorities? Jesus entrusted everything to the Father. Jesus communed with the Father internally and experienced power and intelligence as to how He should act. What Jesus has learnt from the Spirit of His Father, He imparts to His followers. "When you are arrested, do not worry about what you are to say and how you are to speak, when the hour comes you will be given what you are to say. For it is not you who will speak, but the Spirit of your Father in you." Let us meditate. What does the Holy Spirit teach us through this scripture? How did Jesus witness for His Father during His life on earth? How did Stephen get the courage to act so boldly? The power is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit lives in you and me. In the journey of our life, we face a lot of challenges and problems that engulf us in darkness. But let us come to light. The light that shines in the dark is the light of the Holy Spirit. So let us ask the Holy Spirit to guide us and enlighten us in our journey towards our heavenly home. Prayer Starter Sing praises to the Lord, O you his faithful ones, and give thanks to his holy Name. (Ps.30/7....)

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

Thursday 27th December 2018 1 John: 1/1-4 Psalm:96/1-2,5-6,11-12 (97/1-2, 5-6,11-12) John: 20/2-8 The First Proclamation We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life - this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it, and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us - we declare to you what we have seen and heard so that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete. The Gospel Proclamation

St. John, Apostle & Evangelist God fulfilled His mission by sacrificing Himself on the cross and commended His life into the hands of the Father. Magdala who went to see Him on the first day after His body was laid in the tomb found an empty tomb. She quickly ran and told Peter and the other disciple whom Jesus loved and reported the matter. John is supposed to be the other disciple whom Jesus loved. While it was he who reached the tomb first he stood aside allowing Peter to go in. Thus it was Peter who entered first. They saw the linen clothes on the ground, and also the cloth that had been over His head; this was not with the linen but rolled up in a place by itself. The disciple whom Jesus loved and the one who was leaning against His bosom at the last supper was the same apostle and evangelist whose feast we celebrate today. He who stayed beneath the cross of Jesus till the end was a disciple who saw the historical Jesus with his own eyes, believed and touched Him with his own hands. Therefore, not only did he boldly witness to the Lord but also faced the abortive effort of being killed in a boiling oil tank after which he was sent to Patmos where he died in his old age. Thus he stands out as the only apostle who couldn't be martyred for his faith. "If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is empty and your faith comes to nothing" (1 Cor. 15:14). What the Lord desires from us who have built our lives on the foundation of the risen Christ, is to grow in our prayer life which could be achieved to the extent we closely experience His touch and to proclaim the Good News like Sts. John and Peter. Let us pray for power from on high for this tremendous task. Prayer Starter

So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him." Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the cloth that had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first O Holy Spirit, free me from all that also went in, and he saw and believed. is within myself hindering a constant Prayerful Awareness intimate relationship with the Lord and Jesus in obedience to the Will of inflame my heart with your love.

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

Friday 28th December 2018 1 John:1/5-2/2 Psalm: 123/2-5,7-8 (124/2-5, 7-8) Matthew: 2/13-18 Gospel Proclamation Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child to destroy him.” Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night and went to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod, This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, "Out of Egypt I have called my son." When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old and under, according to the time that he had learned from the wise men.. Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah: "A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation; Rachel weeping for her children, and she refused to be consoled, because they are no more. Prayerful Awareness When Christ’s birth was made known, King Herod trembled for his throne. Jesus came only to defeat the devil, but Herod was scared because he was living a sinful life. Herod sends the Magi to Bethlehem, requesting them to tell him where to find the child. After delivering their gifts to Jesus and paying homage, they were warned in a dream not to return to Herod and to go home by another road. When Herod

The Holy Innocents realizes that the Magi have tricked him, He becomes furious and orders the killing of every boy in Bethlehem and its vicinity, two years old and under, believing that the new king will surely be among them. Thus the Innocents of Bethlehem become the victims of Herod’s fear and fury. The world powers are living in fear of each other and thus carry out acts such as Herod’s which make the innocent people suffer most of the time. Like it is said in Rom. 8: 28, “All things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose”, God had a plan for Jesus and similarly God has a plan for all His people (all of us). First Reading gives a message from St. John. “This is the message that we have heard from Jesus Christ and proclaim to you: God is Light, and in him there is no darkness at all. If we say, We have fellowship with God, while we continue to walk in darkness, we lie and do not act in truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the Light, then we have fellowship with one another, and the Blood of His Son Jesus cleanses us from all sin. If we say, We are without sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we acknowledge our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrongdoing.” God our Loving Father Loves us so much and is willing to forgive all sins of whatever magnitude if we accept our sin and truly repent for same as the “Prodigal son” of the parable. Man, is full of sin due to his selfishness and pride and the desires of flesh. Prayer Starter Abba, our ever Loving Father, forgive me for my every sin I have committed against You disrespecting Your Great Love. Raise me to become a loving son, in the name of Jesus, Amen

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

Saturday 29th December 2018 1 John:2/3-11 Psalm: 95/1-3, 5-6 (96/1-3, 5-6 ) Luke: 2/22-35 The First Proclamation Now by this we may be sure that we know him, if we obey his commandments. Whoever says, "I have come to know him,' but does not obey his commandments, is a liar, and in such a person the truth does not exist; but whoever obeys his word, truly in this person the love of God has reached perfection. .... ... Yet I am writing you a new commandment that is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. Whoever says, "I am in the light,' while hating a brother or sister, is still in the darkness. Whoever loves a brother or sister lives in the light, and in such a person there is no cause for stumbling. ....

The Gospel Proclamation

â&#x20AC;ŚNow there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Messiah Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus ... Simeon took him in his arms and praised God; saying, Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace,â&#x20AC;Ś. Prayerful Awareness Love is the new commandment given by Jesus to the whole human race through the victorious redemption of His resurrection. "A new commandment I give you,

St. Thomas Becket love one another just as I have loved you".(John 13:34). It is an invitation for us to realize His calling to follow Him, to witness to His discipleship, to dispel the darkness that hinders love and to believe in the truth that the light emanated from Christ does lighten the whole world. Let us pray to the Holy Spirit in order to enter into and experience the inner journey of the Lord revealed through the Gospel proclamation. Simeon was a man of righteousness who looked forward to Israel's comforting and the Holy Spirit rested on him. And it was through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit that he recognized in the infant Jesus the future Messiah. "My eyes have seen the salvation". Thus he praises God for seeing with his own eyes and recognizing love, the redemption brought by the Lord. He also proclaims that His redemption is a light to enlighten the pagans and the glory of the people Israel which implies that the mission of Christ is for the Kingdom of God. Further he refers to His love being manifested in word and deed meaning that Christ did translate His word into action. Towards us One who is filled with the fire of the Holy Spirit waits with eager longing to do His will. If so, let us thirst for an encounter with Him that we may come face to face with love. Let us recognize the so called obstacles to love and orient ourselves toward initiatives based on faith. Just as Simeon experienced the promises of God being fulfilled let us embody the word of God in faith and be active sharers in the kingdom of God. Prayer Starter O come, let us sing to the Lord, let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. (Ps. 95/1-3)

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

Sunday 30th December 2018 1 Samuel: 1/20-22, 24-28 Psalm: 83/2-3,5-6,9-10 (84/1-2.4-5.8-9) 1 John:3/1-2. 21-24 Luke:2/41-52 Introduction Holy Mother the Church has dedicated this day to the Holy Family of Nazareth. A family consisting of a mother, father and a son forever united to the love of God and in constant obedience to the mysterious plan and His Will is definitely a holy family. The Gospel of the day presents the event of Jesus getting lost in the temple and the manner in which the holy family meets this situation. The first proclamation depicts the picture of Hanna receiving the gift of a child as a result of her prayer to God in total surrender and how she dedicates this child to God. The second proclamation speaks of the universal holy family consisting of Abba, Amma God and children. Aren't we blessed to belong to this family? Let us be conscious of the responsibility faced before us to make our family and community holy so that the whole universe may be exalted to that blessed state and with this in mind enter into prayer. First Proclamation Hanna conceived and gave birth to a son, and called him Samuel….. Hannah however, did not go up, having said to her husband, "Not before the child is weaned. Then I will bring him and present him before the Lord and he shall stay there forever…." She said to Eli, "As you live my Lord, I am the woman who

Feast of the Holy Family stood here beside you, praying to the Lord. This is the child I prayed for, and the Lord granted me what I asked him. Now I make him over to the Lord for the whole of his life. He is made over to the Lord … (Please read the whole proclamation for the day) Prayerful Awareness Hanna was a married woman afflicted with sterility. She bemoaned her lot before Yahweh in prayer and made this vow: "O Lord of Hosts, if only you will have compassion on your maidservant, if you remember me and do not forget me, if you give me a son, then I will give him to the Lord for as long as he lives" (1Sam. 1:11). As a result she bore a son and once he was weaned she took the child to the temple, dedicated him to God and handed him over to Eli the priest saying, "This is the child I prayed for, and the Lord granted me what I asked him. Now I make him over to the Lord for the whole of his life. He is made over to the Lord." And this child was none other than Samuel, the great prophet. The Gospel Proclamation Three days later, they found him in the Temple, sitting among the doctors, listening to them, and asking them questions; …. They were overcome when they saw him, and his mother said to him, "My child, why have you done this to us?" …."Why were you looking for me?"; he replied. "Did you not know that I must be busy with my Father's affairs?" … His mother stored up all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom, in stature, and in favour with God and men.

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

Prayerful Awareness For the Lord Jesus, Mother Mary and St. Joseph this incident would have been a blessed experience. It looks as if the Son, when in the home of His Father God and provided with an opportunity to witness to Him have forgotten all else. Surely, it is not the case because the answer he gives does clarify the situation. "Did you not know that I must be busy with my Father's affairs?' Though it gives the impression that their son at the age of 12 has disobeyed his human parents, the words "He then went down with them and came to Nazareth and lived under their authority" clearly shows that in complying with the Will of God, we might have to forego human desires and expectations. Mother Mary as usual maintaining the correct posture, "stores up all these things in her heart." As a child of human parents the Son, grew up in wisdom, in stature and in favour with God and men. Where am I as a parent or a child? Let us be conscious of ourselves and implore the grace of the Holy Spirit to be and to hold the correct posture and stance in whatever situation we are in. The Second Proclamation See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God's children now, what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this; when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is. Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have boldness before God, and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him.

And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. All who obey his commandments abide in him, and he abides in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit that he has given us. Prayerful Awareness What is presented is 'the universal family' or 'the community'; made up of Abba, Amma God and children. Let us first turn to our own family and community. If we keep His commandments and are in tune with His Will He does incessantly bestow on us the gift of His Spirit. His commandment is that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ and that we love one another as He told us to. 'The holy family community'; or the Mystical Body of Christ will surely be evident where such faith and love prevail. And this should be our only hope. Our son-ship Do we firmly believe that Jesus Christ is our only Lord and Master and Savior? It is the Holy Spirit who could gift us with such faith while inviting us to love others as the Son loved us, offering His life for us. Holy Spirit is the creator and benefactor of such love in a human person. Let us grow in our awareness of Him, opening ourselves more and more to His action in our lives that will enable us to fulfill the will of God as His own children in every event and circumstance of life. Prayer Starter How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs, indeed it faints for the courts of the Lord, my heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God. (Ps. 84/1-2)

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

Monday 31st December 2018 Feast of St. Sylvester I, Pope & Martyr 1 John: 2/18-21 Psalm: 95/1-2, 11-13 John: 1/1-18 St. Sylvester I He was Roman by birth and was consecrated 33rd Pope on 31st January 314. During his 21-year reign the discipline of the Roman Church was reorganised, a Roman school of chant established and the first Mariology of Roman martyrs was compiled. The insertion of the 'Kyrie Eleison' in the Holy Mass is also thought to belong to this period. Emperor Constantine moved his capital from Rome to Constantinople giving the Pope his palace of Lateran. He erected the first basilica of St. Peter's at the Vatican. But the most far-reaching event was the first Ecumenical Council of the Church at Nicaea (Turkey) in 325. It is here that the Arian heresy was condemned and the Nicene Creed was formulated. Pope Sylvester died in 335 A.D and was first buried in the cemetery of St. Priscilla on the Via Salaria. But the remains were transferred in 762 to the Church of St. Sylvester where they repose to this day. The Gospel Proclamation

accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, ... Prayerful Awareness In Genesis we see the Word of God in action in the creation story. 'Then God commanded .... (Genesis 1/3,6,9,11,14) Jesus is the power of God that created the world and was there before creation. He is not part of creation. Life and light are attributed to Jesus. There is a mysterious thing about the quality of light - it shows things as they are or their true nature. "I am the light of the world." (John 9:5) It is this light that searches the innermost nooks and corners of our hearts and reveals the stains or sins. How alert are we to this revelation? Jesus has opened a window in time to enable us see the love of God - the eternal and unchanging . He is the giver of life. "Whosoever believes in the Son has eternal life. (John 3:36). "I am the bread of life." (John 6:48). "Like ours, His human nature is destined for eternal life; but unlike ours it is perfectly exempt from sin, the cause of death. Above all, his human nature has been assumed by the divine person of the "Author of life", the "Living One". By accepting in His human will that the Father's Will be done, He accepts His death as redemptive, for "He Himself bore our sins in his body on the tree." (C.C.C. 612). "God writes His name in the soul of every man. Reason and conscience are the God within us in the natural order. Men are like so many books issued from the divine press, and if nothing else be written on them, at least the name of the Author is indissolubly engraved on the title page. God is like the watermark on paper, which may be written over, without ever being obscured." (Archbishop F.J.Sheen). Prayer Starter

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify Help us O Lord to be a beacon leadto the light. .... He came to what was his own, and his own people did not ing others to You, the true light. Amen.

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

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