WALK IN THE SPIRIT August 2019 Volume 08 Issue 16
"Abba Father! Abba Mother!"
ISSN 1391-5967
Publication: Fr. Siri Oscar Abayaratne Kithu Dana Pubuduwa
SHARING ON PRAYER August 2019 The Transfiguration of Jesus - This experience of Jesus is sandwiched between the mental sufferings of Jesus and the physical. The Transfiguration experience is the external manifestation of the inner transformation that accompanied both His mental and physical pains. There was peace - joy, inner freedom that went hand in hand with the pain. The Transfiguration is the external overflow as if it were of His inner being.
Fr. Siri Oscar Abayaratne
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Thursday 1st August 2019 St. Alphonsus Liguori, Bishop & Doctor / multitudes of cravings / ambitions / Exodus:40/16-21, take priority over the development of 34-38 our spiritual self? Do we continue to Psalm: 83/3-6, 8,11 fight the immediate fire without paying attention to the cause thereof? (84/1-4,7,10) Mathew:13/47-53 Background: The cloud covered the tabernacle even in the clearest day; it was not a cloud which the sun scatters. This cloud was a token of God’s presence to be seen day and night, by The First Proclamation all, that they may never again question. Moses did this; he did exactly as Question: Is the Lord among us, or is Yahweh had ordered him. On the He not? Even as it guided the Hebrews first day of the first month in the through the wilderness, do we sense S/ second year the Dwelling was erected. His presence guiding us today? While Moses erected the Dwelling. He fixed the cloud rested on the tabernacle, they its sockets, set up its frames, put its rested; when it removed, they followed crossbars in position and set up its it. Do we rest in S/His presence, and poles. He spread the tent over the follow spiritual and worldly directions? Dwelling and the covering for the God is Light; a consuming Fire, so tent over that, as Yahweh had ordered Moses. He took the Testimony and put dazzling, so dreadful, that Moses was it in the ark, positioned the shafts on not able to enter, till the splendour abatthe ark and put the mercy-seat on top ed. But what Moses could not do, our of the ark. He brought the ark into Lord Jesus has done, whom God caused the Dwelling and put the screening to draw near; and who has invited us to curtain in place, screening the ark come boldly, even to the mercy-seat. of the Testimony, as Yahweh had Being taught by the Holy Spirit to follow the example of Christ, and to ordered Moses. depend upon Him, and obey His preFix your gaze on Jesus cepts, we shall be kept from losing our Lord, what does the Living Word way, and be kept safe, till we come to portray for us today, to learn, to trust, heaven, the habitation of His holiness. and to put in to practice..? Trust in the Living Word is the founBack ground: The tabernacle and the dational requisite for us to realise our furniture of it were prepared not at the destiny; we need to challenge ourselves destination, but while on the journey, in everyday, assess the very thoughts and the midst of the camp, in their life situ- desires we choose and harbour within, ation; for them, the Hebrews in exodus, test everything vigorously and seek for journeying forth to the promised land, the truth; even as Moses followed the instructions to the letter! Do these inner in the here and now! Question: What are our attitudes choices bring us to the bosom of Abba /inclinations in general, in life? Do Father? Do we experience the enfolding we wait for our worldly affairs to be love of Abba Amma? Validate! Prayer Starter settled before turning to God; to focus on our spiritual journey? Must our Blessed be God our Father, our studies / health concerns / occupations Mother, for Jesus the Christ!
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St.Eusebius of Vercelli, Bishop Friday 2nd August 2019 St. Peter Julian Eymard, Priest Leviticus:23/1,4-11, And he did not do many deeds of power there, because of their unbelief. 15-16, 27, 34-37 Prayerful Awareness Psalm:80/3-6.10-11 The residents of Jesus' hometown Mathew:13/54-58
The First Proclamation The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: These are the appointed festivals of the Lord, the holy convocations, which you shall celebrate at the time appointed for them. .... seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall have a holy convocation, you shall not work at your occupations. For seven days you shall present the Lord's offerings by fire, on the seventh day there shall be a holy convocation, you shall not work at your occupations. The Lord spoke to Moses: Speak to the people of Israel and say to them: When you enter the land that I am giving you and you reap its harvest, you shall bring the sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest to the priest. He shall raise the sheaf before the Lord, that you may find acceptance on the day after the sabbath the priest shall raise it. .... The Gospel Proclamation He came to his hometown and began to teach the people in their synagogue, so that they were astounded and said, "Where did this man get this wisdom and these deeds of power? Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all this?" And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, "Prophets are not without honor except in their own country and in their own house."
had known Jesus since He was a young child and were acquainted with His family. They could not bring themselves to believe in His message. They were too close to the situation. Jesus had come to them as a prophet. One who challenged them to respond to unpopular SPIRITUAL TRUTH. They did not believe nor listen to the TIMELESS message because they could not see beyond the man. Jesus was not the first prophet to be rejected in his own country. Jeremiah experienced rejection in his hometown. Even by members of his own family (Jeremiah 12:5-6). Life was extremely difficult for Jeremiah despite his love for and obedience to God. When he called to God for relief, God's reply in effect was, "If you think this is bad, how are you going to cope with when it really gets tough?" Not all of God's answers to prayer are nice or easy to handle. Any Christian who has experienced WAR, BEREAVEMENT or a SERIOUS ILLNESS knows this. But we are to be committed to God, even when the going gets TOUGH and when His answers to our prayer do not bring immediate relief. Jesus did FEW miracles in His hometown "BECAUSE OF THEIR LACK OF FAITH". Lack of faith BLINDS people to the truth, and robs them of HOPE. These people missed the Messiah. If we cannot see God's work, perhaps it is because of our unbelief. We must BELIEVE, ASK, for a mighty work in our life, and EXPECT Him to act. Let us look with the EYES of FAITH. Prayer Starter Father in Heaven, we acknowledge You as our sure foundation, our only security. Our faith and hope are in You.
"Abba Father! Abba Mother!"
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Saturday 3rd August 2019 Leviticus:25/1,8-17 Psalm:66/2-3, 5, 7-8 (67/1-2,4,6-7) Mathew:14/1-12
Gospel Proclamation At that time Herod, the ruler of Galilee, heard about Jesus. … For Herod had earlier ordered John's arrest, and he had him chained and put in prison. He had done this because of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife. For some time, John the Baptist had told Herod, “It isn't right for you to be married to Herodias!” Herod wanted to kill him, but he was afraid of the Jewish people, because they considered John to be a prophet. On Herod's birthday the daughter of Herodias danced in front of the whole group. Herod was so pleased that he promised her, “I swear that I will give you anything you ask for!” At her mother's suggestion she asked him, “Give me here and now the head of John the Baptist on a dish!” The king was sad, but because of the promise he had made in front of all his guests he gave orders that her wish be granted. So he had John beheaded in prison… Prayerful Awareness From today’s Gospel, let us reflect on aspects of Herod’s behavior. Herod Antipas was known for his vices and follies. His action was completely vile to the extent that as a ruler he had no moral obligation nor consciousness about his governing style. This became a sign for Jesus to begin His public ministry. Our sonship A Christian’s mission is to build a just society. It needs courage, commitment and a prayer life that can change your conscience to turn to God’s Will
against your own free will. Therefore, I would like to highlight certain aspects for your prayer life, which you already may be a practitioner, or if you are not then you will become curious enough that you will want to develop those character traits to enrich your Christian life. First a Spirit led prayer life where you experience gifts of the Holy Spirit. Meditative reading of the written word in the Bible. Also the practice of discerning through good counsel through those around you and through church teachings. Family Experience: I would like to witness to you today about the power of reading the Word of God to help you change your mind before taking decisions. When my husband was going through a retrenchment procedure at his previous place of employment, we were advised that the labour department was corrupt that we may have to bribe. However, the Word of God one morning from Jeremiah 17:7-11 helped us to completely place our trust in Him. We praise God today about our decision, because God took us through the legal procedure and we were able to pay up the loans we had at the time. God’s continued supply has never ceased until today. Prayer Starter (Jeremiah 17: 7-11) “Blessed are those who trust in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. They shall be like a tree planted by water, sending out its roots by the stream. It shall not fear when heat comes, and its leaves shall stay green in the year of drought it is not anxious, and it does not cease to bear fruit. The heart is devious above all else; it is perverse - who can understand it? I the Lord test the mind and search the heart, to give to all according to their ways, according to the fruit of their doings.
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Eighteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time PS Wk II Prayerful Awareness Ecclesiastes:1/2; In building up one's life will he 2/21-23 overcome the vanity of this world? Can Psalm:90/3-6,12-14, a person come to understand life either 17 through position, education, wealth Colossians:3/1-5,9-11 and property, nature or through any Luke:12/13-21 other objective? Out of these, certain things are better than others. Yet they themselves would lead us to vanity. Life on earth is meaningless. In God alone we could find real meaning in life. The Second Proclamation Introduction
Sunday 4th August 2019
Life will be meaningful when we relate to each other in mutual cooperation, unity and brotherhood in sharing. As Christians what we should achieve is heavenly things, not things of earth since as presented through the Gospel we do not know the hour or the moment that the Almighty God, the owner of our life calls us unto Himself. Further meditating on the Word of God for this eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, let us open ourselves to hear what the Lord says to us. The First Proclamation Vanity of vanities, says the Teacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity. because sometimes one who has toiled with wisdom and knowledge and skill must leave all to be enjoyed by another who did not toil for it. This also is vanity and a great evil. What do mortals get from all the toil and strain with which they toil under the sun? For all their days are full of pain, and their work is a vexation, even at night their minds do not rest. This also is vanity.
So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory. Put to death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly; fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry). Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator. In that renewal there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all! Prayerful Awareness It has been pointed out that the Christians leading a new lifestyle be-
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gun through the Resurrection of Jesus Christ should build up their lives on new values. St. Paul affirms further that we have already stripped off old behavior and have put on a new self. Thus the second proclamation declares that in this new self, there is no room for any distinction since there is only Christ: He is everything and He is in everything. The Gospel Proclamation Someone in the crowd said to him, Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me." But he said to him, "Friend, who set me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?" And he said to them, "Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one's life does not consist in the abundance of possessions." Then he told them a parable. "The land of a rich man produced abundantly. And he thought to himself, 'What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops?' Then he said, 'I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and then I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, 'Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.' But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich towards God." Gaze at Jesus Jesus lived among men getting involved in word and deed in their struggle for existence. In face of the
response given by Jesus through the Gospel proclamation let us open ourselves under the guidance of the Holy Spirit to the inner experience of our Lord. "My friend", He replied, "who appointed me your judge, or the arbitrator of your claims?" Jesus who was well aware of His mission gives a reply well fitting to the inner self of the man since He is able to see through. The Father has ownership over everything, even time and space. Therefore man must always depend on God. The person who trusts on his wealth and riches, capabilities and other securities is a fool. Hence we are called to make ourselves rich in the sight of God. Our Son-ship Am I a Christian, similar to the person in the Gospel, who presents the issues of my life to the Lord? Are they mainly concerned with my own needs and more or less worldly? As a Christ follower and a person sensitive to the Will of God living in accordance with my conscience, do I lead a life dependent on God (Abba Father – Abba Mother) when confronted with life incidents and struggles? Even in the face of recent incidents in our country isn't the Lord requesting us not to be like the rich man found in the Gospel but to lead a life dependent on God the Father who has authority over everything? Prayer Starter Abba Father, the Lord Almighty, in this year of deeply experiencing that You are my Father and Mother, guide me to see the vanity of everything around me that is external and material and help me lead a life style fitting to my real identity of divine sonship.
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Monday 5th August 2019 Dedication of the Basilica of St.Mary Major Numbers:11/4-15 Psalm:80/12-17 (81/11-16) Mathew:14/13-21 OR 14/22-36 OR Revelation:21/1-5 Psalm:Judith:13/18,19 Luke:11/27, 28
The First Proclamation The rabble among them had a strong craving; and the Israelites also wept again, and said, "If only we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we used ot eat in Egypt for nothing, .... but now our strength is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this manna to look at".... Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, all at the entrances of their tents,. Then the Lord became very angry, and Moses was displeased..... The Gospel Proclamation … When he went ashore he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion on them and cured their sick. When it was evening came, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a deserted place, and the hour is now late; send the crowds away, so that they may go into the villages to buy food for themselves." Jesus said to them, "They need not go away; you give them something to eat." They replied, "We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish." …. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and blessed and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them, to the disciples and the disciples gave them to the crowds.
And all ate and were filled, ... Prayerful Awareness What is presented in the Gospel today is the multiplication of loaves to feed the crowd. The miracle was a prefiguring of the Eucharist Jesus intended to offer for the nourishment of His followers. Just as in the ancient times when Israelites on their wilderness journey complained against lack of food and God satisfied their hunger by sending manna from heaven, Jesus provided food to satisfy the hunger of those who came after Him. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus said, "Do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' …. your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.' In the Gospel narrative Jesus took the loaves, said the blessing, and breaking the loaves handed them to His disciples. It was the same act that He performed at the Last Supper. Thus it is evident that the multiplication of loaves has Eucharistic overtones. Towards us Message received through the proclamations of the day is that within our family circles, among neighbours and within the society we are given the opportunity to feel contended and find meaning in life by sharing our resources with the have-nots and the not so-able and through communion. Yet today the society is obviously oriented towards a contrary lifestyle that is utterly selfish as seen through divided family and restless society. In this context, Jesus reiterates what He said to His disciples. "Give them something to eat yourselves." Prayer Starter God the Father most merciful, even amidst the cruel, extremist and destructive forces of evil prevalent in our land, empower us with the Holy Spirit to lead a life of sharing and communion.
"Abba Father! Abba Mother!"
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Tuesday 6th August 2019 Transfiguration of the Lord Daniel:7/9-10,13-14 Psalm:96/1-2,5-6,9 (97/1-2,5-6,9) Luke:9/28-36
Introduction Let us read today’s Proclamations meditatively where the common theme is the symbolic description of the glory of Almighty God, our Abba Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit in the form of flames of fire (in the First Proclamation) and in the form of a thick cloud (Gospel Proclamation). The First Proclamation I beheld till thrones were placed, and the Ancient of days sat: his garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like clean wool: his throne like flames of fire: the wheels of it like a burning fire. A swift stream of fire issued forth from before him: thousands of thousands ministered to him, and ten thousand times a hundred thousand stood before him: the judgment sat, and the books were opened. ..... Gospel Proclamation
‘About eight days after these words’: refers to Jesus confiding in the disciples what was in store for Him, the suffering and death, and also His Resurrection. He also said ‘anyone who wants to follow me must give up oneself and take up their cross daily and follow me!’ Just as He was preparing them for what was to come, He also wanted to give the selected few a glimpse of the glory that awaits those who give up everything to follow Him! Peter was so entranced by what he beheld that he wanted to stay there forever! But Jesus said He has to come down to carry out the Father’s Will. Also notice the presence of Royal, Priestly, and Prophetic roles of Jesus (and us, His followers) manifested in the three persons in the Transfiguration, Jesus, Elijah, and Moses! Song of Praise (Psalm 97: 1-2, 5-6, 9) The Lord hath reigned, let the earth rejoice: let many islands be glad! Clouds and darkness are round about him: justice and judgment are the establishment of his throne. The mountains melted like wax, at the presence of the Lord: at the presence of the Lord of all the earth. The heavens declared his justice: and all people saw his glory....
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Now about eight days after these sayings, Jesus took with him Peter, and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah talking to him. They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake, they saw his glory, and the two men who
stood with him. .... Peter said to Jesus: "Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah; not knowing what he said. While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified, as they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said: This is my Son; my chosen listen to him! When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen. Prayerful Awareness
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Wednesday 7th August 2019
SS Xyxtus II, Pope & Companions St. Cajetan, Priest
Numbers: 13/1-2,25- 14/1,26-30,34-35 Psalm: 105/6-7,1314, 21-23 (106/6-7,13-14,21-23) Mathew:15/21-28
St.Sixtus II & Companions He succeeded Pope Stephen I in August 257. He met his clergy for the Eucharist in the catacombs. The persecution begun by Emperor Decius in 250A.D. was one of the most violent persecutions faced by the Church. It was continued by his successor Valerian, who even forbade believers to ever hold assemblies. On 6th August 258 they were found in the cemetery of Praetextatus. Sixtus together with four of his deacons, Saints Januarius, Vincent, Magnus and Stephen were seized and beheaded. Sixtus was buried in the nearby cemetery of St. Callistus. The most highly venerated pope martyred after St. Peter, St. Sixtus II is commemorated in the Roman Canon of the Mass. Gospel Proclamation ... a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David, my daughter is tormented by a demon.” ... He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But she came ... saying, “Lord, help me”. He answered, “It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed instantly.
Prayerful Awareness The scene presented describes the only occasion in which Jesus was outside the Jewish area. He was not intimated by the hostility of the Scribes and the Pharisees. Then there was the fact that no Jew could be likely to follow Him outside their territory. It was a time of privacy, when He could prepare His disciples for the end – the cross. There were the things that had to be told to His disciples in a quiet surrounding and apt time. It was not running away, but preparing Himself and His disciples for the final battle which lay ahead. Though the woman in focus was a Gentile, she had love. And this love almost forced her to go to Jesus for an answer to her daughter who was tormented by demons. In her heart there was love for her daughter and surely it was a reflection of God’s love for His children. She had strong faith in Jesus whom she took to be great and powerful. Though she began by following Jesus, finally she ended by kneeling before Him. The apostles were not asking for a miracle to be worked for the woman’s sake; they only wanted to be alone, undisturbed, in selfish ease. As she continued to plead and to worship Him, Our Blessed Lord proceeded to test her faith with a seemingly hard remark: “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” {Mathew 15:26) The children He was referring to were, of course, the Jews. The term “dogs” signified contempt, and it was not beyond the Jews to apply it often to the Gentiles. As the Roman Centurion endured a seeming delay, so this woman suffered a stunning rebuff. (Archbishop F.J.Sheen). Inspite of difficulties and obstacles, strong faith keeps one on the move, on the right track. Our Lord did not harbor disdain long but granted her request, in modern day language - a remote controlled one. Prayer Starter Make us true carriers of Your love and compassion. Amen..
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Thursday 8th August 2019 Numbers: 20/1-13 Psalm: 94/1-2,6-9 (95/1-2,6-9) Mathew:16/13-23
St. Dominc, Priest Israel advanced towards Canaan again.
There was no water for the congrega-
The First Proclamation The Israelites, the whole community, arrived in the first month at the desert of Zin ... There was no water for the community, so they banded together against Moses and Aaron. The people laid the blame on Moses. 'We would rather have died', they said, 'as our brothers died before Yahweh! Why have you brought Yahweh's community into this desert, for us and our livestock to die here? Why did you lead us out of Egypt, only to bring us to this wretched place? It is a place unfit for sowing, it has no figs, no vines, no pomegranates, and there is not even water to drink!' Leaving the assembly, Moses and Aaron went to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting. They threw themselves on their faces, and the glory of Yahweh appeared to them... Moses took up the branch from before Yahweh, as he had directed him. Moses and Aaron then called the assembly together in front of the rock. He then said to them, 'Listen now, you rebels. Shall we make water gush from this rock for you?' Moses then raised his hand and struck the rock twice with the branch; water gushed out in abundance, and the community and their livestock drank. ...These were the Waters of Meribah, where the Israelites laid the blame on Yahweh and where, by their means, he asserted his holiness. Fix your gaze on Jesus After thirty–eight years' of tedious staying in the wilderness, the armies of
tion; neither sustenance in abundance; this was a testing period to learn trust and obedience. Remember; Israel erred thirty-eight years back in believing / accepting the report of Spies sent in to Canaan (to spy out the lay of the land), instead of venturing forth in faith as the Lord commanded! We too continue to live in a world wanting certitudes, and wherever we are, must expect to meet with something to put us out (we will always, always be dissatisfied with one thing or another). Here, they murmured against Moses and Aaron. They spoke the same absurd and brutish language their fathers had done. It made their crime the worse, in that they had smarted so long for the discontent and distrusts of their fathers, and knew well the error of those ways, and yet they now venture in the same patterns of useless unproductive burdensome thoughts. Moses must again, in God's name, command water out of a rock for them; God is as able as ever to supply His people with what is needful for them. But Moses and Aaron acted wrong. They were to speak to the rock, but they smote it; they did not glorify God. How very like us! Beware, until we learn the correct lesson (the lesson the Lord is trying to teach us), history will repeat! We need to come to know Jesus, the Son of Man, as the Son of God - our Redeemer! Prayer Starter Holy Lord, when we begin to understand how everything works for the good of those who love the Lord, we enter in to the wonder of Your Being. You are truly, truly great O Lord, and we stand in awe before the wondrous works of Your creation. Help us to abide in Your Commands; to welcome and heed the Living Word, and to truly remain in Your Love‌! O Abba Father; O Abba Mother!
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Friday 9th August 2019
St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, Virgin & Martyr
Deuteronomy:4/32-40 Psalm: 77/12-15, 20 Mathew:16/24-28
The First Proclamation Please read Deuteronomy 4/32-40 prayerfully.
The Gospel Proclamation
Then Jesus told his disciples, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life? "For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and there he will repay everyone for what has been done. Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."
Prayerful Awareness
Today's Gospel reading highlights on discipleship, the most important loving relationship we ought to cultivate day by day in our journey towards the 'Promised Land'. Am I a disciple of Jesus Christ? If it is so, He invites me to look into my self and discover qualities which are most essential. A man must deny himself, that is, to ignore the very existence of oneself. It is to treat the self as it if did not exist. Usually, we treat ourselves as if our self
is by far the most important thing in the world. If we are to follow Jesus, we must forget that self exists. A man must take up his cross. Jesus taught His disciples who He was and what is meant to be called a disciple. Having forewarned them of His impending death and resurrection, He called Peter, James and John aside, to offer them a glimpse of the glory that was to come. Through the Transfiguration Jesus reassured them, strengthening their belief by a divine revelation that gave a glimpse of the future heavenly Kingdom. To take up our cross means to be ready to endure the worst that man can do to us, for the sake of being true to Him. A Christian must realise that he is given life, not to keep for himself, but to spend it for others. If we are true and loyal to Him during our life, He will be true to us in eternity. This revelation is important. Jesus had told His followers that they were to walk in the way He walked, to take up their cross, just as He would to become like their Master.
Our sonship
We are disciples of Jesus learning continuously what it means to follow Him. We need to be taught by Jesus daily. We must listen to God's voice summoning us. Everyday God calls us to be renewed by His Son - in the Eucharist, in our time of prayer, through reading scripture and as we sit quietly in His presence. Amidst the many occupations, toil, confusion and struggles of our days, it is indeed good to be with Jesus. Intimacy with God offers enduring comfort, peace and joy.
Prayer Starter
Your way, O God, is holy. What god is so great as our God? You are the God who works wonders; You have displayed Your might among the peoples. With Your strong arm You redeemed Your people,...
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Saturday 10th August 2019 2 Corinthians:9/6-10 Psalm:111/1-2, 5-9 (112/1-2,5-9) John:12/24-26 Gospel Proclamation Jesus said to his disciples: "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life. ..... Prayerful Awareness Jesus, the only begotten Son of God, came into this world to fulfill the Will of God, to open the way of Salvation for all. By fulfilling the Will of God, He brought glory to God the Father. We too are born into this world to bring Glory to God the Father (Isaiah 43 : 7). Not to acquire for ourselves riches of this world in a selfish manner and to seek or bring glory to our own selves. God is Love, and we are created to God’s own image of Love, to Love others. Same as Jesus, we too are called to live with love, and share God’s Love with others as witnesses of God, willingly spend our lives as a sacrifice to raise others to God (the Will of God), God wants to save all who accept His Word and the Lord of the Word, Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. To all who accept Jesus, He gave a special commandment (Jn. 15:12) to love others as He loves us. Jesus gave up His life to save mankind due to God’s great Love for us, a Love that is deeper than the entire universe which cannot be measured or understood by our human mind. He proved that He cares for us so much and promised to be with us throughout our lives on earth (Math 28:20), for us to finally reach and share eternal life with
St. Lawrence, Deacon & Martyr Him in the presence of God the Father. Jesus calls each one of us to give up everything and follow Him. First we are expected to keep all His Commandments and also Love others as He Loves us. To act as Salt, to be witnesses of God and His Love to fulfill His Will. The question is how inclined are we to serve God and carry out His Will. How detached are we from the desires and the riches of the world? Do we totally depend on God and His great Love than the teachings of the world? How much do we trust Him and His Word and His Love and the Lord of the Word, Jesus Christ? Hebrew 13: 5 says - let your life be free from love of money but be content with what you have, for God has said He will never forsake you or abandon you. The First Proclamation 2 Cor. 9:610 (pls. read) gives us the message that whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Moreover, for such persons, God is able to make every grace abundant, so that in all things, always having all they need; they may have abundance for every good work. Pope Francis in His Lenten message for 2014, said “In the poor and outcast we see Christ’s face; by loving and helping the poor, we love and serve Christ.” We should see ourselves represented by the grain of wheat that achieves its potential only by falling to the ground and dying. In that natural act, it is planted in the fertile soil and grows, producing an abundance of good fruit. How should we see ourselves represented in this natural action? Prayer Starter Lord, I desire to follow You wherever You lead. Give me firm resolves to walk in Your ways and to imitate the courage of St. Thomas. When I fail, help me to get up and resolve again. Jesus, I trust You. Help me to love You with my life and love others as You Love me, Amen
"Abba Father! Abba Mother!"
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Sunday 11th August 2019 Wisdom:18/6-9 Psalm: 33/1,12,18-20,22 Hebrews:11/1-2, 8-19 OR 11/1-2, 8-12 Luke:12/32-48 OR 12/35-40
Introduction In the Gospel proclamation of the day the statement, "You too must stand ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect"; points out the necessity of being prepared for the glorious Second Coming of Christ. The First Proclamation recalling the central event of the Old Testament "The Exodus" speaks of a divine covenant between God and the virtuous. And the Second Proclamation taken from the letter to the Hebrews referring to the lifestyle of Abraham speaks well of the qualities of a faithful. Taking into account all of the above the Gospel proclaims, "There is no need to be afraid, little flock, for it has pleased your Father to give you the Kingdom". Therefore let us enter into our prayer journey invoking the gifts of the Spirit in response to the invitation "You too must stand ready." The First Proclamation That night was made known beforehand to our ancestors, so that they might rejoice in sure knowledge of the oaths in which they trusted. The deliverance of the righteous and the destruction of their enemies were expected by our people. For by the same means by which you punished our enemies you called us to yourself and glorified us. For in secret the holy children of good people offered sacrifices, and with one accord agreed to the di-
19th Sunday of Ordinary Time PS Wk III
vine law, so that the saints would share alike the same things both blessings and dangers, and already they were singing the praises of the ancestors. Prayerful Awareness
"That night"; mentioned in the first proclamation is the night in which the Israelites in the central event of the salvation history of the Old Testament set off to the promised land after being freed from slavery in Egypt through God's intervention (Exodus 11:14). The book of Wisdom later describes the interaction of God and His people. Let us read this phrase several times meditatively and open ourselves to receive what it reveals. "By the same means by which you punished our enemies you called us to yourself and glorified us." This is a description of the unlimited love of God experienced through striking down the firstborn of Egypt, crossing over the Red Sea and through the destruction of enemies that pursued them. It is affirmed here that the devout struck this divine pact "the saints would share the same blessings and dangers alike"; with one accord. The result was initiating a deeper relationship with God and man based on the covenant love. The Gospel Proclamation Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. "Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will
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fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them. If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves. "But know this, if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour." Prayerful Awareness Our only aim is to inherit the Kingdom of God. The Lord's promise is, " Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.." Yet, there is a prerequisite, a condition to be fulfilled on our side. That is, His invitation to build our lives on things heavenly and eternal that would never decay, rather than living in hope of earthly treasures that go waste. Those who live thirsting for this way of life belong to the little flock. Also with the statement "You too must be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect"; we are awakened to the glorious Second Coming of the Lord. The explanation given is of how we should be ready. The Second Proclamation Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible. By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance and he set out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he stayed for a time in the land he had been promised as in a foreign land, living in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he looked forward to the city that has foundations whose architect and
builder is God. By faith he received power of procreation, even though he was too old - and Sarah herself was barren - because he considered him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one person, and this one as good as dead, descendants were born, as many as the stars of heaven and as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore." Prayerful Awareness This clearly depicts the amazing response given by Abraham to his call from God (Gen. 12:1, 2) which also expounds on the faith and hope in him. Unaware of where he was heading for, yet fully in conformity with the Will of God he set forth keeping his hope in God. Abraham and Sarah who were of age received the gift of a child, Isaac, as a result of believing in the promise of God. Once again when requested to offer Isaac in sacrifice, received him back from death by standing steadfastly on the faith that God can do everything. Towards our son-ship "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." On what do we spend our time and strength most? Our "treasure" is there. Let us reflect for a moment. Am I on a life journey of being alert to the Holy Spirit and constantly in the presence of God in prayer? It is true that we need food to eat, clothes to wear, facility to travel – material things of this earth for our existence. Yet if we are fully dependent on them can we call ourselves belonging to the little flock? Let us long to fulfill the Will of God in everything – in what we think, say or do. Maranatha – Come Lord Jesus. Prayer Starter Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous, Praise befits the upright. Truly the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, to deliver their soul from death and to keep them alive in famine. (Ps.33/1, 18,19)
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Monday 12th August 2019 Deuteronomy:10/12-22 Psalm:147/12-15,19-20 Mathew:17/22-27
The First Proclamation Please read Deuteronomy:10/12-22 meditatively. Prayerful Awareness The First Proclamation awakens us to believe how blessed we are to be the chosen people of the Lord. We have to pay attention to the fact that God loved first and chose us to respond to His love and express it by our obedience. God's mercy comes first and as Paul reminds us, no one can boast of merits and rights before God (Romans 3:20). We are reminded of the two related Commandments which Jesus combined into one. "Love God and serve Him with all your heart and all your soul." Responding to God's love is to love those who are helpless, such as widows, orphans and strangers in order that God will render justice to them. The Gospel Proclamation As they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, "The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into human hands. And they will kill him and on the third day he will be raised." And they were greatly distressed. When they reached Capernaum, the collectors of the temple tax came to Peter and said, "Does your teacher not pay the temple tax?" He said, "Yes, he does." and when he came home, Jesus spoke of it first, asking, "What do you think Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tribute? From their children or from others?" When Peter said, "From others," Jesus said to him,
St. Jane Frances de Chantal "Then the children are free. However, so that we do not give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook; take the first fish that comes up and when you open its mouth, you will find a coin; take that and give it to them for you and me." Prayerful Awareness According to today's Gospel reading Jesus came into this world and sacrificed His life because of His love for mankind. Jesus foresees His death and resurrection and says, "the Son of Man will rise on the third day". The result is that we have a living God, who is ever present in our Universe, in order that we experience His love for us. This is expressed and revealed by Jesus in these words "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lays down his life for his friend." (John 15:13). In the same way He commanded His disciples to love one another as He had loved them. For it is by this sign that people will know that they are His disciples. Let us gaze at Jesus Who dedicated His whole life in building the Kingdom of God on this earth. How wonderfully Jesus responded to the tax collectors who asked Peter whether they are paying the temple tax. Although Jesus was not obliged to pay the temple tax, He sfreely chose to do so out of consideration to Jewish community, particularly the tax collectors. Although Jesus has the authority, He had the humility to bow down to the human law. Isn't this act a challenge for all of us? Prayer Starter Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem! Praise your God, O Zion! For he strengthens the bars of your gates; he blesses your children within you. He grants peace within your borders; he fills you with the finest of wheat, He sends out his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly. (Ps.147/12-15)
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Tuesday 13th August 2019 Sts.Pontian, Pope & Hippolytus, Martyrs ditional. God’s Love is also a Pursuing Deuteronomy:31/1-8 Love! That is why, despite man’s disPsalm:Deut.32/3-4,7-9, obedience whereby man brought (at the 12 behest of Satan the Liar, the chief of the fallen angels, who out of jealousy always Mathew:18/1-5, 10, tries to keep man from achieving his true 12-14
inheritance of divine son-ship, which is higher than the angels) disease, decay/ decomposition, destruction and death on himself as just wages for disobedience The Gospel Proclamation despite being forewarned of the conseAt that hour the disciples came quences, God had pre-planned before to Jesus, and asked: "Who is the the creation that He Himself will redeem greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" man by paying the price for mankind’s He called a child, whom he put collective sin by sacrificing His Life (in among them, and said: "Truly I tell the form of the Second Person of the you, unless you change and, become Holy Trinity, the Word, taking human like children, you will never enter form) for the salvation of His Creation! the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever In today’s Gospel Proclamation we becomes humble like this child, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. see Jesus extolling the virtues of humilWhoever welcomes one such child ity, and pursuing love (going in search of the lost). He says unless we become in my name, welcomes me. humble like little children and open to Take care that you do not despise assimilation of new ideas we may not one of these little ones: for I tell you, be able to be ‘Born Again’ which is a in heaven their angels continually pre-requisite to enter the Kingdom of see the face of my Father in heaven. God. When we are able to let go of all What do you think? If a shepherd preconceived notions, beliefs, attitudes, has a hundred sheep, and one of them and prejudices, etc. and are able to has gone astray: does he not leave the accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, ninety-nine on the mountains, and go we become born anew, and become an in search of the one that went astray? adopted child of God with the impartaAnd if he finds it: truly I tell you, he tion of the Holy Spirit on us (Romans rejoices over it more than over the 8:14). We then become empowered by ninety-nine that never went astray. the gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 12:1So it is not the will of your Father in 11) and tempered by the fruits thereof heaven, that one of these little ones (Galatians 5:22-26) we are enabled to should be lost. shed our selfishness and become service Prayerful Awareness oriented, thus starting on a journey to Let us read today’s Proclamations become progressively more Christ like! Song of Praise meditatively, where the central theme is the manifestation of the different aspects Because I will invoke the name of the of God’s all-encompassing Love in the Lord: give ye magnificence to our God. exemplary lives of Moses, and our Lord The works of God are perfect, and all Jesus Christ! his ways are judgments: God is faithful God’s Love is Universal, Sacrificial, and without any iniquity, he is just and Humble/Serving, Constant and uncon- right.(Ps:Deut.32/3-4,7-9,...)
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Wednesday 14th August 2019 St. Maximilian Kolbe,Priest & Martyr Deuteronomy:34/1-12 Psalm:65/1-3,5,16,17 (66/1-3,5,8,16-17) Mathew:18/15-20 1 Chronicles:15/3-4,15-16;16/1-2 Psalm:131/6-7,9-10,13-14 (132/6-7,9-10,13-14) 1 Corinthians:15/54-57 Luke:11/27-28 St. Maximilian Mary Kolbe He was born in Poland on 8th January1894 to Julias and Maria Kolbe. As a young man he entered the Order of Friars Minor Conventuals and was ordained priest in 1918 in Rome. He was instrumental in founding the “Army of Immaculate Mary” and later the :Knights of the Immaculate”, In 1930, he went to Japan as a missionary. He returned to Poland in 1936. In 1939 he was imprisoned for his anti-Nazi propaganda. When one of the prisoners escaped, ten prisoners were selected at random, to die of starvation in an empty bunker. One of them was Franciszek, a father of nine. He wailed, "No, God! Not me, please! What will become of my poor wife and children." Fr. Kolbe intervened and said, "I am a Catholic priest from Poland. I am old. I want to take his place because he has a wife and children", exemplifying Christ's redemptive love. He alone remained. The cell was needed for the next batch of the condemned. His death was hastened with an injection of carbolic acid. His remains were found to be in a state of illumination in the dark cell, before being cremated. Beatified: by Pope Paul VI on 17th October 1971. Canonized by Pope John Paul II on 10th October 1982. The Gospel Proclamation "If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone.
If the member listens to you, you have regained that one. But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. .... Prayerful Awareness In the Book of Sirach we read, "Question a friend; perhaps he did not do it or if he did, so that he may not do it again. Question a neighbour; perhaps he did not say it; or if he said it, so that he may not repeat it. Question a friend for often it is slander; so do not believe everything, you hear. A person may make a slip without intending it. Who has not sinned with his tongue. Question your neighbour before you threaten him, and let the law of the Most High take its course."s (19/13-17). "All Christians by the example of their lives and the witness of their word, wherever they live, have an obligation to manifest the new man which they have put on in Baptism, and to reveal the power of the Holy Spirit by Whom they were strengthened at Confirmation." (C.C.C.2472). "Christ Jesus, Who died, yes, Who was raised from the dead, Who is at the right hand of God, Who indeed intercedes for us," is present in many ways to His Church, in His word, in His Church's prayer, "Where two or three are gathered in My Name", in the poor, the sick and imprisoned, in the Sacraments in which He is the Author, in the sacrifice of the Mass and in the person of the minister. But "He is present most specially in the Eucharistic species." (C.C.C. 1383). Jesus keeps His promises. He is present at the prayer gathering or Bible study circle with a few people as in the Eucharist. He is not a slave of numbers. He is the unseen guest in every home. Prayer Starter Enable us to accept what we cannot understand as You are in control of everything. Amen.
"Abba Father! Abba Mother!"
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Thursday 15th August 2019 The Assumption of the Bl. Virgin Mary all believers. Do you really believe this Good News? Enter in to the Truth that we are NOT limited in terms of this physical body, and to the five primary senses, as we sometimes are inclined to believe. Practice saying ‘No’ to this lie; and saying ‘Yes’ to the Good News. We are primarily creatures of Spirit / Energy / Intelligence, who are somehow for a divine purpose localized and made to interface with reality through a material The First Proclamation body. But, the on-going process the Then the sanctuary of God in Holy Spirit conducts, is to awaken our heaven opened, and the ark of the Consciousness towards our Divine Pocovenant could be seen inside it..... tential; that we, the Spirit, the breath of Now a great sign appeared in heaven: God ‘Is’- ‘Exists’ apart from the physical a woman, robed with the sun, stand- body. The same way that energy is maning on the moon, and on her head a ifested in physical form explained by crown of twelve stars. She was preg- scientists through the equation E=mC2, nant, and in labour, crying aloud in there exists a plane/realm of energy/ the pangs of childbirth.... The woman spirit right along with this physical was delivered of a boy, the son who realm we are so familiar with. Become was to rule all the nations with an used to these aspects, and the wonder iron sceptre, and the child was taken and beauty of God and of His work will straight up to God and to his throne, shine through to your consciousness! while the woman escaped into the We, dear brethren are metamorphosing/ desert, ....Then I heard a voice shout evolving; whilst in the womb, we had from heaven, 'Salvation and power but limited sensory connection to our and empire for ever have been won surroundings. Then came the rejection/ by our God, and all authority for his death/birth trauma, and we came in Christ, now that the accuser, who to the world, and connected with our accused our brothers day and night primary senses; awareness expanded. before our God, has been brought Through stages we connected with our instinctual and intellectual, and then to down. our reflective thinking faculties. We beFix your gaze on Jesus came aware that we are not our bodies, Wonderful Lord, You who does nor our thoughts, not the feelings, but Great Things for us, help us practice the creators there-of. We are gods, and even as our Blessed Mother embraced our faith in You... We celebrate today our blessed this destiny so should we all! Prayer Starter Mother, the most blessed virgin, being lifted up in both aspects of Body and Lord, we are so limited as yet in our Soul/Spirit. Up to that point in time, understanding of Your work, and of the the only person so blessed was our Lord mighty deeds You have in mind for us. Jesus the Christ. Now, the receptacle Help us open up our hearts and minds of the Holy Spirit for the ‘Word’ to for these great things You have set in become flesh too is blessed similarly! store for us; to be thankful there-for, The church expounds today the Good and be receptive to the on-going work News that so shall be the outcome for of the Spirit....
Revelation:11/19;12/1 6,10 Psalm:44/10-12,16 (45/9-11, 15) 1 Corinthians:15/20-27 Luke:1/39-56
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Friday 16th August 2019 Joshua:24/1-13 Psalm:135/1-3,16-18, 21, (136/1-3,16-18,21-22, 24) Mathew:19/3-12
The Gospel Proclamation Some Pharisees came to him, and to test him they asked, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause?" He answered, "Have you not read that the one who made them at the beginning 'made them male and female.' and said, 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate." They said to him, "Why then did Moses command us to give a certificate of dismissal and to divorce her?" He said to them, "It was because you were so hard hearted that Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for unchastity, and marries another commits adultery." His disciples said to him, "If such is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry." But he said to them, "Not everyone can accept this teaching, but only those to whom it is given. For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let anyone accept this who can."
St. Stephen of Hungary
Prayerful Awareness In the social context of the day when Pharisees who were well aware of the Law of Moses regarding divorce questioned Jesus as to whether the divorce is lawful, the response of Jesus is a life of love that exceeded and exalted the Law to a new order. He says, "What God has united, man must not divide." What He further explains is the Sacrament of Love. What Christ proclaims through the Gospel is, in the marriage between man and woman, that is in the greatest bond of love bestowed on man, there is an inter play of external and internal grace binding them together. Here, the Lord speaks of the Kingdom of God and eunuchs for the sake of the Kingdom. It is only through power and grace from above that one could enter into this way of life. The Lord reveals today that it cannot be achieved through our ability and strength but is a way of life bestowed from above.
My son-ship
Today, we are being awakened to the vocation of each one of us. Since the beginning, God has a dream for our lives that never changes but is eternal. The most important duty within the path chosen by us is to proclaim the love of God. Marriage is also a Sacrament of Love. Moreover living single for God is also a life of grace and love. In whatever vocation we are in life whether married or single, let us pray for power to give an inner response of love and grace " His love endures forever" (Psalm 136:1).
Prayer Starter
Praise the Lord! Praise the name of the Lord; give praise, O servants of the Lord, you that stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God. (Ps.135/1-2)
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Saturday 17th August 2019 Joshua:24/14-29 Psalm:16/1-2,5,7-8,11 Mathew:19/13-15
The First Proclamation Now therefore revere the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness; put away the gods that our ancestors served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. Now if you are unwilling to serve the Lord choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served in the region beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are lying; but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord. Then the people answered, ""Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods, for it is the Lord our God who brought us and our ancestors up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight. He protected us along all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed, and the Lord drove out before us all the peoples, the Amorites who lived in the land. Therefore we also will serve the Lord, for he is our God.".... The Gospel Proclamation Then little children were being brought to him in order that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples spoke sternly to those who brought them; but Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them, for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs." And he laid his hands on them and went on his way.
Prayerful Awareness Let us reflect on today’s scripture readings; in the first reading Joshua is making the people decide on which God they want to worship and emphasizes on the fact that they can only worship one God. Let us pause for a moment and reflect on ourselves; let us put ourselves in that situation. Picture Joshua is asking us the same question, can we give an answer without hesitation? Or do you think we might hesitate to answer? Because it is not a simple thing to say our ONLY Lord and Master is GOD. Because if that’s true our total existence should depend on the Will of God. Since sometimes we forget to consult Him when taking decisions, we need to honestly ask ourselves whether it’s really true, and repent. And let the Holy Spirit, strengthen our faith, so that we may experience divine providence in our daily lives. As Jesus says in the Gospel “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these”, we need to become like children and entrust our total selves to the protection and guidance of God the Father. Then only we may inherit heaven. Prayer Starter Protect me, O God; I trust in You for safety. I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; You, Lord, are all I have, and You give me all I need; my future is in Your hands. I praise the Lord, because He guides me, and in the night my conscience warns me. I am always aware of the Lord's presence; He is near, and nothing can shake me. You will show me the path that leads to life; Your presence fills me with joy and brings me pleasure forever.
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20th Sunday of Ordinary Time PS Wk IV ropes. Now there was no water in the Jeremiah: 38/4-6, 8- cistern, but only mud, and Jeremiah 10 sank in the mud. Psalm: 39/2-4, So Ebedmelech left the king's 40/1-3,17 house and spoke to the king, "My lord king, these men have acted wickHebrews:12/1-4 edly in all they did to the prophet Luke:12/49-53 Jeremiah by throwing him into the cistern to die there of hunger, for there is no bread left in the city." Then the king commanded Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, "Take three Introduction men with you from here, and pull the prophet Jeremiah up from the cistern The truth will make you free. The before he dies." truth does set me free and the Spirit of Prayerful Awareness truth will show us the way. He will kindle us with the spirit of fire and with a Since the king's leading men fail to burning thirst for God. The person filled accept the words of Jeremiah they try with the Spirit is quite different from to silence him. Their plan is to put him others since he does not fall into despair to death and that they launch out. Yet, when faced with tribulation, persecu- God protects His disciple. "Behold, I tion and slander. With an enlightened make you this day a fortified city, an mind he will see through everything iron pillar, and a bronze wall, against since he is equipped and empowered by the whole land - against the kings of the Lord with experience. The second Judah, its princes, its priests, and the proclamation invites us to acknowledge people of the land. (Jeremiah 1:18). The and experience Him in our life. In the leading men try to kill him by throwing same wave it is an invitation to the him down a well so that not a drop of follower to take up his cross and follow blood would be shed. It is also a king the Lord. Let us enter into prayer asking who mediates for him at this crucial for such power from above. moment. He sends his servants to save The First Proclamation him. Thus the Lord fulfills the promise given to Jeremiah when He called him Then the officials said to the king, as a prophet by saving him from death. "This man ought to be put to death, God does not will the destruction of any because he is discouraging the sol- of His followers but rather safeguards diers who are left in this city, and all them. Therefore God extends an invitathe people, by speaking such words tion for all of us through the Gospel of to them. For this man is not seeking the day to witness to the truth in spite the welfare of this people, but their of slander, persecution and rejection. harm." King Zedekiah said, "Here The Second Proclamation he is; he is in your hands, for the Therefore, since we are surroundking is powerless against you." So they took Jeremiah and threw him ed by so great a cloud of witnesses, let into the cistern of Malchiah, the us also lay aside every weight and the king's son, which was in the court of sin that clings so closely, and let us the guard, letting Jeremiah down by run with perseverance the race that Sunday 18th August 2019
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is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners, so that you may not grow weary or lose heart. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. Prayerful Awareness A Christian is a person who believes in Christ, encounters Him, has constant contact with Him and follows Him. Today the author of the letter to the Hebrews says, to keep running steadily in the race we have started. Just as an athlete when running a race, runs to his goal overcoming every obstacle with enduring courage, the Christ disciple also should rise up defeating sin since the Lord Jesus who overcame sin turned into a sign of victory the cross once considered a curse. If we are to walk joyfully embracing this victorious cross, we should defeat every inability, weakness and sin as well as overcome every persecution and tribulation and achieve the redemption won for us by Christ. Therefore let us enter into prayer invoking the power to do so. Gospel Proclamation "I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what stress I am under until it is completed! Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! From now on five in one household will be divided: three against two and two against three; they will be divided, father against son, and son against father, mother against daughter, and
daughter against mother, mother-inlaw against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-inlaw." Prayerful Awareness Fire in one way is destructive but also it can be used to create or mould something new. The goldsmith makes use of fire to create a nice ornament out of gold. The fire our Lord speaks of in the Gospel today is the spirit of fire experienced by the person filled with the Holy Spirit. When the Spirit comes He will renew everything. Those who follow the Lord are kindled with this fire. On the same line, Jesus introduces His suffering and death on the cross as baptism. There will be opposition even from one's family members against those who follow Christ and believe in Him and they will be subjected to persecution. Yet, He invites us to overcome every rejection and persecution in order to win life. My son-ship Rather than choosing what is good according to worldly standards let us discern the Will of God, allow ourselves to be kindled with the Holy Spirit, fulfill our duties and responsibilities as baptized Christians, respond to our priestly, prophetic and kingly vocation and reading the signs of the times accomplish the Will of God. Throughout the week Let us be eager to bring to completion our prophetic mission concerning our families, communities and our nation amidst every obstacle and persecution fixing our gaze on Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself. Prayer Starter "Lord, let me know my end, and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is. (Ps.39/4...)
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Monday 19th August 2019 Judges:2/11-19 Psalm:105/34-37,39-40 43, 44 (106/34-37,39-40,43- 44) Mathew:19/16-22
Gospel Proclamation Please read Mathew 19/16-22 prayerfully. Prayerful Awareness Jesus calls me and you (all Christians) to follow Him. It is not easy. First, we should follow God’s Commandments like this Rich Man, and in order to become perfect, take steps to clean all our sins and weaknesses connected to our self-centered lives and give special attention to the Commandment Jesus gave us, to love others as He loves us (Jn. 15:12). All the gospels tell us about the story of the rich man (Mt. 19:16-22; Mk.10:17-22; Lk.18:1823). Matthew says he was young; Luke says he was an official. A rich person depends and wants to be protected by the security of the riches he possesses, and has a difficulty in opening the hand of his security. Attached to the advantages of his goods and wealth, he tries to defend his own interests. Jesus asks to give oneself completely to the neighbor and follow Him, to totally depend on Him, trust in Him and rely on Him for everything. Jesus asks the rich man to sell everything and give it to the poor and follow Him. The young man did not accept Jesus’ proposal, and goes away “because he was very rich.” How would we respond if Jesus asks us ( you and me) to sell all that we own and give it to the people in need?
St. John Eudes, Priest Would we have the inner freedom to dispossess all we own? For most of us, this might seem impossible to do. After all, for years we have worked hard for what we have. Most likely, we are very willing to share from our abundance. But to give everything we have? That is too much to ask of us! Yet if we truly wish to follow Jesus, He desires that we give our all to Him. It may not mean dispossessing ourselves of everything we own. However, it most likely will require changes in our lives and in our priorities. These changes may be very stretching for us and require sacrifice. Are we truly willing to make difficult decisions to change our lives and our lifestyle to follow Jesus? The First Reading is on the children of Israel offending the Lord God by serving the Baals, abandoning God of their fathers, who led them out of the land of Egypt. They followed the other gods of the various nations around them, and the worship of these provoked Lord God. The anger of the Lord flared up against Israel, and He delivered them over to plunderers who despoiled them. As we belong to God, we should obey His Commandments and the greatest of all Commandments, to Love our ever Loving God with all our heart, with all our soul, and with all our strength to give Him the prime place in our lives. Prayer Starter Holy Spirit of God who art with us in our hearts and souls, as we received You in a special way at our Baptism by our acceptance (or through our God parents’ acceptance) of Jesus Christ into our lives as our Saviour and Lord, grant us Your Wisdom and help us know the depth of God’s Love for me and everyone else, and His desire to save all of us from death to have eternal life forever. Amen
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Tuesday 20th August 2019
St. Bernard, Abbot and Doctor
destroyed and their lives endangered. They were impoverished. This word literally means that they were at the "end of their rope" Their main problem was that they counted God out. They cried out to Him, but they probably did not believe that He was listening, or that He was able to do anything to help them. But, God always The First Proclamation has a message. He reminds them of His ..... The angel of the Lord appeared grace in their lives and calls them to a to him and said to him, "The Lord place of repentance. is with you, you mighty warrior." Our sonship Gideon answered him, "But sir, if the Today, Jesus tells His disciples that Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all his "it is easier for a camel to pass through wonderful deeds that our ancestors the eye of a needle than for a rich recounted to us, saying, 'Did not the person to enter the Kingdom of God." Lord bring us up from Egypt?' But For many of us this statement of Jesus now the Lord has cast us off, and given sounds strange. us into the hand of Midian." Then the Why was Jesus cautious about Lord turned to him and said, "Go in wealth? Wealth can bring many blessthis might of yours and deliver Israel ings and many challenges. Wealth also from the hand of Midian; I hereby may create a sense of false security. Our commission you." He responded, "But wealth may enable us to lord it over sir, how can I deliver Israel? My clan is others or to think we are better than the weakest in Manaseh, and I am the others Wealth has the potential to be an least in my family." The Lord said to obstacle for having a true understanding him, "But I will be with you, and you of where the true riches in our life lies shall strike down the Midianites, every the individuals we love, joy, peace, our one of them." .... faith, God's love and care for us and our relationship with God. Prayerful Awareness When we are comfortable and happy, "Not only does God have a message. He always has a man as well". In the God may get relegated to the background passage before us, we will meet the of our lives rather than the foreground. man God chose to save Israel. We will Some of us may turn to God only when meet the man called Gideon, his name we are in need. Ask yourself ... when life means, "He who cuts down". Gideon is more positive and happy for you, do does not look like he has much to offer you give God the same amount of your at the time he was called, in the end, he time and attention? Do you thank God for would be responsible for cutting down your many blessings? Or does God seem the enemies of God's people. Gideon was to recede to the background? Prayer Starter a man who questioned God's plan, yet he did God' Will. For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Israel nation was suffering under he bestows favor and honor. No good the grip of Midianite oppression. They thing does the Lord withhold from those watched helplessly as their land was who walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, stripped, their homes and villages were happy are everyone who trusts in you.
Judges:6/11-24 Psalm:84/9,11-14 (85/8,10-13) Matthew:19/23-30
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Wednesday 21st August 2019 St. Pius X, Pope, Confessor give to this last the same as I give to Judges:9/6-15 Psalm: 20/2-7 you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? ..." (21/1-6) So the last will be first, and the first Mathew:20/1-16 will be last." Prayerful Awareness The Gospel Proclamation
Though this parable sounds an imaginary one, it is not the case. The grape harvest is ready by the end of September and it has to be plucked before the rains that follow. So there is a frantic race against time. Laborers were needed and the owners of vineyards were ready to employ many and finish the work in time. The truth Jesus wants to drive home goes to the very core of Christianity. We also can see this parable as a warning - both to the disciples and to us. The disciples had the privilege of becoming Christians right at the start of the Church. Others will come in later. Though the disciples were the first they cannot and are not expected to claim special honours or places. All are equally precious to Him irrespective of the time they come. Aren't there people who think that just because they have been Christians for a long time, the Church practically belongs to them. They think they can dictate terms. People of that calibre resent the infusion of new blood, new ideas into the Church, the Church is their property. Seniority - it does not necessarily mean honour. Irrespective of the time one becomes a Christian at birth, in the teens, in the strength of the middle age or when wear and tear tells on the frame or on the death-bed, all are equally dear to Him. Prayer Starter
"For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. When he went at about nine o'clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace; and he said to them, '' You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right." So they went. When he went out again about noon and about three o'clock, he did the same. And about five o'clock he went out and found others standing around; ..., 'Why are you standing here idle all day?" ... 'Because no one has hired us.' ... 'You also go into the vineyard.' When evening came, ... 'Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.' When those hired about five o'clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage. Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more but each of them also received the usual daily wage. ..., they grumbled against the landowner, saying, 'These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.' But he replied ..., 'Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me Guide us in the correct path to for the usual daily wage? Take what work for the joy of serving God and belongs to you and go; I choose to neighbour. Amen.
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Thursday 22nd August 2019 The Queenship of the Bl. Virgin Mary turned it's back to the loving creator. Isaiah:9/1-6 The delivery of this promise is in the Psalm: 112/1-8 Annunciation depicted in the Gospel (113/1-8) reading today. Luke:1/26-38 Lets try to identify in a concise way
The First Proclamation The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light; on the inhabitants of a country in shadow dark as death light has blazed forth. You have enlarged the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at harvest time, as they exult when they are dividing the spoils. For the yoke that weighed on it, the bar across its shoulders, the rod of its oppressor, these you have broken as on the day of Midian. For all the footgear clanking over the ground and all the clothing rolled in blood, will be burnt, will be food for the flames. For a son has been born for us, a son has been given to us, and dominion has been laid on his shoulders; and this is the name he has been given, 'Wonder-Counsellor, Mighty-God, Eternal-Father, Princeof-Peace' to extend his dominion in boundless peace, over the throne of David and over his kingdom to make it secure and sustain it in fair judgement and integrity.... 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, promises to become incarnate, to become material in a very special way, in a manner and in a form that humans can easily relate to, is celebrated today. God reaches out to S/His creation to win back what has
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. Moving on, the next phase induces 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! Please ensure you are on this journey of faith and destiny realisation... 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 ...
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Friday 23rd August 2019 Ruth:1/1,3-6,14-16,22 Psalm:145/5-10 (146/5-10) Mathew:22/34-40
The First Proclamation In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land, and a certain man of Bethlehem in Judah went to live in the country of Moab, he and his wife and two sons..... Then they wept aloud again. Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth said, "Do not press me to leave you or to turn back from following you! Where you go, I will go; Where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God. So Naomi returned together with Ruth the Moabite, her daughter-inlaw, who came back with her from the country of Moab. They came to Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest. The Gospel Proclamation
St. Rose de Lima, Virgin yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." Gaze on Jesus The question posed by the Pharisees to Jesus, "Teacher, what is the greatest commandment in the law?" Jesus answering them said, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind. This is the greatest and first commandment and the second is liken to it - 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself". From the attitude and action of the two daughters-in-law Orpha and Ruth, as we read in the first proclamation we could notice the selfish manner Orpha acts depending on her wisdom and intellect whilst Ruth with a steadfast faith in God clung to her mother-in-law crying out " Do not press me to leave you or to turn back from following you! Where you go, I will go; Where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God." Here we see Ruth did not act with selfishness but was open to God's Will and Plan. God's love is limitless. She served God with her whole heart, soul and mind and also she helped her mother-in-law too to be obedient to the Will and Plan of God and was out to do God's Will - come what may. Let us for a moment look at ourselves. How do we act in times of tribulation? Do we have the faith of Ruth? Let us pray to the Lord to grant us too the gift of faith and permit us not to be selfish. Prayer Starter
When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. "Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?" He said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your I cry to Thee O Lord, Thou art my mind. This is the greatest and first rock, fortress and refuge. Give heed to commandment. And a second is like my cry O Lord and deliver me from the it. 'You shall love your neighbor as wicked ways. Amen.
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Saturday 24th August 2019 Revelation:21/9-14 Psalm:144/10-13, 17-18 (145/10-13.17-18) John :1/45-51
The First Proclamation The second vision of the heavenly Jerusalem; the Temple coming from God. The two images which are basic in the Bible, the wedding banquet and the temple are combined to describe the New Jerusalem. The temple expresses the people's longing to see God present among them. But the temples are no longer necessary; the shadows are replaced by reality. God is in the midst of His people in a visible and permanent way. The Gospel Proclamation Please read John 1/45-51 prayerfully. Gaze on Jesus When John the Baptist saw Jesus walking by he said to his disciples that this is the Lamb of God. The two disciples went with Jesus and spent the rest of the day with Him. Andrew, brother of Simon Peter was one of them. Next day Andrew brought his brother Simon to Jesus and Jesus called him Cepas which means rock. Next day Jesus found Philip and asked him to follow Him. Philip found Nathaniel and said to him, "We have found the one that Moses wrote in the book of Deuteronomy (vs. 18/18) and that he is Jesus, son of Joseph of Nazareth." Nathaniel had his doubts about what was said to him for he said, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Nathaniel would have been surprised when Jesus told him that he is a true Israelite and there is nothing false in
St. Bartholomew, Apostle him. Again when Jesus told him that he saw him under the fig tree, Nathaniel told Jesus that He is the Son of God and the King of Israel. Then Jesus told him that he will see the heavens opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man. Prayerful Awareness Jesus did not look into their credentials when he called them to be His disciples. He called them as they were whilst they were actively engaged in their day to day tasks. They left everything and followed Him. The disciples were always with Him and they watched His life unfold from day to day, heard His words and shared His experiences from the beginning of His public appearance. From among the disciples Jesus chose twelve to be His apostles after being in prayer for a whole night with the Father (Luke 6/12). One of them was Judas who will eventually betray Him to His enemies. None of them could be considered suitable for the difficult role for which they were called. What counts is that Christ has called them and empowered them and sent them forth to preach the Good News of the Kingdom of God. "You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit." (John 15/16). When the terrible events of Good Friday run counter to their expectations they are utterly confounded and they seek their own safety. But when the Holy Spirit descends on them on the day of Pentecost they become transformed and go out fearlessly to bear witness to their Master. Prayer Starter Lord Jesus we believe that God the Father has chosen us to be Your followers and that we have been called to live our Christian life in such a way as to bear witness to You in the world we live. May we always be mindful of this call and may the Holy Spirit empower us to live up to Your expectations.
"Abba Father! Abba Mother!"
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Sunday 25th August 2019 Isaiah:66/18-21 Psalm:116/1,2 (117/1-2) Hebrews:12/5-7,11-13 Luke:13/22-30
Introduction In keeping with the Christian vocation received at baptism we are called to a life of witness dependent on the providence of God and experiencing His love. We have entered a life journey of experiencing Lord as our only savior and redeemer by way of claiming Jesus as our only Lord and Master. We have already given the authority of our life to Jesus. Yet, as human beings aren't we engaged in an effort to achieve salvation on this earthly journey itself. Through the Eucharistic theme set for today, the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time we are being awakened to reflect on ourselves in humility and with a change of heart to repent. Let us pray to God for the power to do so. Entrance Antiphon Turn your ear, O Lord, and answer me; save the servant who trusts in you, my God. Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I cry to you all the day long. The First Proclamation For I know their works and their thoughts, and I am coming to gather all nations and tongues; and they shall see my glory, and I will set a sign among them. From them I will send survivors to the nations, to Tarshish, Put and Lud - which draw the bow - to Tubal and Javan, to the coastlands far away that have not heard of my fame or seen
21st Sunday of Ordinary Time PS Wk I my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the nations. They shall bring all your kindred from all the nations as an offering to the Lord on horses, and in chariots and in litters, and on mules, and on dromedaries, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, says the Lord, just as the Israelites bring a grain offering in a clean vessel to the house of the Lord. Prayerful Awareness The Lord who knows the works and thoughts of all not only proclaims through prophet Isaiah that he is coming to gather the nations of every language but also says, he will send some of them to the nations that have not heard His fame and they will bring all the sons of Israel from all the nations as an offering to Him. The Lord who came to this world to glorify the Father and to declare His glory on earth accomplished fully the will of God on this universe. The Responsorial Psalm I love the Lord because he has heard my voice and my supplications. (Psalm 116:1) The Second Proclamation And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as children - "My child, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, or lose heart when you are punished by him; for the Lord disciplines those whom he loves, and chastises every child whom he accepts." Endure trials for the sake of discipline. God is treating you as children; for what child is there whom a parent does not discipline? Now discipline always seems painful rather than pleasant at the time, but later it yields the peaceful
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fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed. Prayerful Awareness
west, from north and south, and will eat in the kingdom of God. Indeed, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last." Prayerful Awareness The mind of our Lord revealed through the Gospel proclamation surprises human hearts. It is through his own experience that he proclaims a request to walk the narrow road to be saved. The Lord who underwent intense suffering and died on the cross for our redemption invites us too to take the same route of the way of the cross. "Try your best to enter by the narrow door." Lord Jesus who in perfect conformity with the Will of God accepted His word calls us as well for a life of experiencing His word. Otherwise He will say to us, "I do not know where you come from." Towards us
The author of the letter to the Hebrews proclaims as follows the immense love and concern of God to those whom He loves: "My son, when the Lord corrects you, do not treat it lightly; but do not get discouraged when he reprimands you. For the Lord trains the ones that he loves."; When we receive a punishment though it causes pain, let us consider it as a means to get over our frailties and sinfulness in life and to make us holy. Let us be convinced that they are opportunities provided for We are endowed with a unique sonus to lead lives pleasing to God. ship of being able to call the almighty The Gospel Proclamation God "Abba Mother, Abba Father." If Jesus went through one town and we are to witness to the divine son-ship village after another, teaching as he inherited through Christ we should made his way to Jerusalem. Someone gaze at him and live by him. We too asked him, "Lord, will only a few should enter a life of discerning and be saved?" He said to them, "Strive accomplishing the will of God. If to enter through the narrow door, we are to inherit eternal life we must for many I tell you, will try to enter perceive what should be done and act and will not be able. When once the on the vision of Christ. Even through owner of the house has got up and the Eucharistic theme for the day we shut the door, and you begin to stand are invited to "reflect on ourselves in outside and to knock at the door say- humility and to have a change of heart ing, 'Lord open to us', then in reply in repentance." Let us pray to God for he will say to you, 'I do not know the power to do so. Prayer Starter where you come from.' Then you will begin to say, 'We ate and drank with O Holy Spirit, help us to enter you, and you taught in our streets.' But he will say, 'I do not know where through the narrow door following you come from; go away from me, all the way of the Lord as heirs of divine you evildoers!' There will be weeping son-ship. In order to gather people for and gnashing of teeth when you see the glory of God smooth out the path Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and we tread. O praise the Lord, all you nations, all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrown out. acclaim Him all you peoples! Then people will come from east and
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Monday 26th August 2019
Prayerful Awareness
1 Thessalonians:1/1-5, Being a religious leader in Jerusalem 8-10 was very different from being a Pastor or Psalm:149/1-6, 9 Priest in secular society today. Israel's his (149/1-5,9) tory, culture and daily life centered around Mathew:23/13-22 its relationship with God. The religious
The First Proclamation ..... We always give thanks to God for all of you and mention you in our prayers, constantly remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know, brothers and sisters beloved by God, that he has chosen you, because our message of the gospel came to you not in word only; but also in power and in the holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of persons we proved to be among you for your sake.
The Gospel Proclamation
"But woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you lock people out of the kingdom of heaven. For you do not go in yourselves, and when others are going in, you stop them. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cross sea and land to make a single convert, and you make the new convert twice as much a child of hell as yourselves. Woe to you blind guides, who say, 'Whoever swears by the sanctuary is bound by nothing, but whoever swears by the gold of the sanctuary is bound by the oath.' You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the sanctuary that has made the gold sacred? .... and whoever swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God and by the one who is seated upon it.
leaders were best known, most powerful and most respected of all leaders. Jesus made these stinging accusations because the leaders' hunger for more POWER, MONEY and STATUS had made them lose sight of God, and their blindness was spreading to the whole nation. The Pharisees' converts were attracted to Pharisaism, NOT to GOD. By getting caught up in the details of their additional laws and regulations they completely missed God, to whom the laws pointed. A religion of DEEDS put pressure on people to surpass others in what they know and do. Thus, a hypocritical teacher was likely to have students who were even more hypocritical. We must make sure we are not creating Pharisees by emphasizing OUTWARD obedience at the expense of INNER renewal. Jesus saw and knew that the religious leaders even wanted to be seen as 'holy' and public prayer was one way to get ATTENTION (Mathew 6/5-6). A pretence of piety, insincerity, false appearance of virtue, was hypocrisy. Hypocrisy led to envy and slander of every kind. Christ calls all of His disciples, each and every one of us, to rise above mediocrity and to mature in every area, becoming like Him. Those who strive to become perfect WILL one day be perfect, even as Christ is perfect. (1 John 3:2-3)
Prayer Starter
Lord Jesus, help us to hunger for You and your Word. Help us never to seek worldly values. Guide us to keep away from hypocrisy.
"Abba Father! Abba Mother!"
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Tuesday 27th August 2019 1 Thessalonians:2/1-8 Psalm:138/1-6 (139/1-6) Mathew:23/23-26
Gospel Proclamation Jesus said:....."Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You cleanse the outside of cup and dish, but inside they are full of plunder and self- indulgence. Blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may be clean. Prayerful Awareness Jesus speaks against scribes and Pharisees who act as hypocrites. Jesus said “You pay your tithe of mint and dill and cumin and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy and fidelity.” They insisted on the observance and penance which led people away from the way of love. Without love such observance makes an idol in the presence of God. Again Jesus speaks against those who clean things on the outside when the inside is dirty. “You clean the outside of the cup and dish and leave the inside full of coercion and intemperance”. Jesus pointed out to the Pharisees that they were neglecting these "weightier matters". Yet those things they neglected were the very essence of God's message to their father Abraham (Genesis 18:18-19). The Law of Moses also required that each person be fair, loving, and trustworthy toward his neighbour, treating him as an equal as it was stated "You shall do no injustice but in righteousness you shall judge and you shall love your
Memorial of St. Monica neighbour as yourself" (Leviticus 19:15 &18). On these laws of love hung all the rest of the laws. Love the Lord your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind (Mat. 22:37-40). Some Pharisees were practicing injustice and were, guilty of "devouring widows’ houses". This meant that they were being hypocrites, making a great show of scrupulous attention to their offerings to God, yet violating the higher ethics in their dealings with their fellow men. It appears that Pharisees and scribes did not pay much attention to the connection to the immense source of Love that God is, which should have been the main criteria, but were lost in the things or the acts they were involved as the main criteria, without Love thus making them hypocrites. We too can get into this way of life without knowledge. How many of us also may have acted as hypocrites at times to show the world that we are genuine, good, truthful and holy when inside of us were boiling with anger, malice or resentment having impure thoughts. James 1: 22 reminds us to be “Be doers of the Word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves” First reading from St. Paul’s letter 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 (Pls. read) - You yourselves know, brothers and sisters, that our reception among you was not without effect. Rather, after we had suffered and been insolently treated, as you know, in Philippi, we drew courage through our God to speak to you the gospel of God with much struggle. Prayer Starter Holy Spirit, Help us to Proclaim God’s salvation day after day, declare His glory among the nations, His marvels to every people (Ps 96 :2-3) and have a life of virtue, In the name of our Saviour Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.
"Abba Father! Abba Mother!"
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& Wednesday 28th August 2019 St. Augustine of Hippo, BishopDoctor 1 Thessalonians:2/19-1 Psalm:138/7-12 (139/7-12) Mathew:23/27-32
St. Augustine of Hippo. His father was Patricius, a pagan official at Tagaste North Africa. The mother was St. Monica. He was the eldest of three children. He was the preoccupation of his mother. He was ensnared by the Manichaean heresy, and his passions had led him into an illicit attachment with a woman .The mother sought the help of a visiting Bishop to get her son back into the right track. The Bishop gave her his assurance; "It is impossible that the son of such tears should perish." When St. Augustine went to Rome to teach rhetoric he deceived her by a ruse and sailed off alone. When he moved to Milan, he was met by his mother. She came to know St. Ambrose the great bishop, who was instrumental in converting Augustine to Christianity. Through popular insistence he was later ordained priest. In 354 A.D. he was made Bishop of Hipo. His "Confessions", the world's most noted autobiography is a memorial of his deep repentance. "Kill the errors, yes, but love the erring." "Take my heart, O Lord! for I cannot give it to you." Died: 28th August 430. The Gospel Proclamation "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which on the outside look beautiful, but inside they are full of the bones of the dead and of all kinds of filth. So you also on the
outside look righteous to others, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. ... Prayerful Awareness Touching a dead body, a human bone or a grave makes a person unclean. (Numbers 19:16). Jesus took this up and compared Pharisees with it. Their outward actions gave the world the picture that they were deeply religious men but their hearts were full of sins and were devoid of love. Jesus saw through all these and found fault with them. In that He was full of love - as He wanted them to see the real picture and turn away from that predicament. One may walk with folded hands, reverent steps and bowed heads in the posture of humility, but looking down on sinners all the time. Some are so absorbed in it that they relish this picture of piety and are gladdened to hear others appreciate them. In other words they place themselves on higher pedestals, higher than all others. "But many who now are first will be last, and many who now are last will be first." (Mat. 19:30). "Once a man is convinced of his own sinfulness, he cannot be convinced of his own righteousness; once a man is convinced that Christ has saved him from sins, then he is convinced that Christ is his righteousness. Good Friday seemed to ascribe sin to Christ and righteousness to His judges, but Pentecost and coming of the Spirit would assign righteousness to the Crucified and sin to His judges. To those who rejected Him, righteousness would one day appear as a terrible justice; to the sinful men who accepted Him and allied themselves to His life, righteousness would show itself as mercy." (Archbishop F.J.Sheen) Prayer Starter Help us to die to sin and live the new life which You gave us. Amen.
"Abba Father! Abba Mother!"
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Thursday 29th August 2019
The Passion of St. Johnthe Baptist
Jeremiah:1/17-19 Psalm:70/1-6,15,17 (71/1-6,15-17) Mark:6/17-20
The First Proclamation 'As for you, prepare yourself for action. Stand up and tell them all I command you. Have no fear of them and in their presence I will make you fearless. For look, today I have made you into a fortified city, a pillar of iron, a wall of bronze to stand against the whole country: the kings of Judah, its princes, its priests and the people of the country. They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you, Yahweh declares, to rescue you.' Fix your gaze on Jesus Thank You Lord for being here for us. We have come to know You as our Abba, the loving Father, Holy, completely Other, yet Merciful, Empowering, Encouraging and Cherishing; We also know You as our Ever-Present, Enfolding, Soothing, Healing and Loving Mother, enabling the flow of Your beauty and grace on to the thirsty world .... We hear You O Father, and shall gird our selves to stand against the powers of Darkness; we shall become that Pillar of Iron, that Wall of Bronze against those who would be the Agents of the Evil One, sowing discord, enmity and strife amongst humanity. The Tornado of evil starts Big, pitting Nations against each other, then one Race against another, one
Tribe before the other, Family against Neighbour, Father against the Children, Brother against Sister, spiralling down to the selfishness and the individual feeding of sick appetites. Have you not become aware of this trend yet? If not, it is critical to become cognizant there-of! This is happening all around us, amongst us, and within each of us individually. We all are to some measure, the captives of these dark evil forces / spirits let loose in the world.... But we have a different calling; we are here to proclaim fearlessly our Creator's Good News to those who would (rather) give ear to the Harbingers of Doom and Despair, misguided in to believing the falsehoods and errors of the Prince of this world. We know O Lord that when you are on our side, none will be able to prevail against us! We shall be the bearers of The Truth. We shall reveal and proclaimed this self evident, yet so easily hidden Truth. This creation O Lord, reflects Your wonderful attributes of Togetherness and Love. And we shall NOT be fearful, as no harm shall befall us, for you are our fortification. Kings and Princes, nor Presidents and Ministers, nor Councillors and Governors, nor Officialdom and Bureaucrats propagating hatred and schisms will prevail against us; for our God will be here to buttress us and to rescue us.... Prayer Starter Just like John the Baptist told Herod, 'It is against the law for you to have your brother's wife Herodias', so shall we become instruments of Thy liberating Truth O Lord, and everyone shall come to know of us to be good and upright, and of You as our indomitable protection. Praise be to the Lord our God, our Abba Father, our Abba Mother...
"Abba Father! Abba Mother!"
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Friday 30th August 2019 buy some for yourselves.' And while
1 Thessalonians:4/1-8 they went to buy it, the bridegroom Psalm: 96/1,2,5,6,10-12 came and those who were ready went (97/1-2,5-6,10-12) with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. Later the other Mathew:25/1-13
The First Proclamation Finally brothers and sisters we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus that, .... you should do so more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. For this is the Will of God, your sanctification; that you abstain from fornication; that each one of you know how to control your own body in holiness and honor, not with lustful passion .... that no one wrong or exploit a brother or sister in this matter because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, ... For God did not call us to impurity but in holiness. Therefore whoever rejects this rejects not human authority but God, who also gives his Holy Spirit to you. The Gospel Proclamation "Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. But at midnight ... 'Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.' ... The foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out,' But the wise replied, 'No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and
bridesmaids came also. 'Lord, lord, open to us.' But he replied, 'Truly I tell you, I do not know you.' Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.' Prayerful Awareness
According to the above Gospel reading, Lord Jesus teaches us to be rich with the gifts of the Holy Spirit to have a strong Faith and focus our lives in fulfilling the Will of God in everything we do, our every thought and emotion. Gaze at my sonship In our lives there is a battle between the earthly gifts and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. However much I trust that God loves me, and that God will do something to solve the problems I have to face in life, my faith at times, is not strong to give me the spiritual happiness and peace of mind to wait patiently for the Lord to act. My thirst to be attached to Lord Jesus sometimes wanes off when I get engrossed in earthly matters and have to face various obstructions. At times our praise to God is also like the lamps without oil. We do not allow the Holy Spirit to guide us and give us the oil to praise God. Prayer Starter Holy Spirit the Lord the giver of Life, we adore You and worship You. Command us to do what God the Father in Heaven wants us to do. Help us to love one another as Lord Jesus loves us. Give us the thirst to meet Lord Jesus our Saviour and our Lord.
"Abba Father! Abba Mother!"
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Saturday 31st August 2019 1 Thessalonians:4/9-11 thoughts go back to the Homily given by His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Psalm: 97/1,7-9 Ranjith on the Sunday soon after the (98/1,7-9) Easter attack. He reminded, that there are no two human beings alike, not even Mathew:25/14-30
Gospel Proclamation “At that time the Kingdom of heaven will be like this. Once there was a man who was about to go on a journey; he called his servants and put them in charge of his property. He gave to each one according to his ability: to one he gave 5,000 gold coins, to another he gave 2,000, and to another he gave 1,000. Then he left on his journey. The servant who had received 5,000 coins went at once and invested his money and earned another 5,000. In the same way the servant who had received 2,000 coins earned another 2,000. But the servant who had received 1,000 coins went off, dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master's money. “After a long time, the master of those servants came back …. Gaze at Jesus We all know on his return, what the Master found out about the 5000, 2000 and 1000 coins and what the Master had to say to each one of them. This parable is popularly called the parable of the talents. Here the master is Christ and the servants are us. God has given man many talents to be extended in service of God’s Kingdom. Therefore, the reality every Christian cannot run away from is that ultimately what we achieve should glorify God who is our creator and through Jesus we are called to be the body of Christ. Our Sonship As I write this reflection my
among twins. He quoted the scripture from Psalm 139, that God carefully watches each one of us crafted inside our mother’s womb. Therefore, everyone is unique. In that uniqueness each one of us possess unique talents that contribute to the upliftment of society. When one is lost either by early death or misguided and misled because of societal values or bad upbringing by parents and teachers, the society loses all the talents he/she was given by God their creator. In other instances, one could use the talents and opportunities for the sole purpose of their personal growth. Prayerful Awareness (1 Thessalonians 4: 9-11) “Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more, and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody. ” Prayer Starter Prayer intention of the Holy Father for the Month of August is that “families, through their life of prayer and love, become ever more clearly, schools of true human growth”. (ORDO 2018/19) Let us all unite with the words of St. Paul in the first reading and as we pray for our families and youth, let us pray that they will earn the respect of outsiders in their daily living to glorify the vision of their Creator.
"Abba Father! Abba Mother!"
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