Walk in the Spirit November 2019

WALK IN THE SPIRIT November 2019 Issue 333 Commencement March 1992

"Abba Father ! Abba Mother!"

ISSN 1391-5967

Publication: Fr. Siri Oscar Abayaratne Kithu Dana Pubuduwa

SHARING ON PRAYER November 2019

Holiness is a privilege. We are called to be saints. Contrary of Holiness is Failure and not Sin. Why should I shy away from the word “I am a saint.” This is what I am called to be. Christ’s holiness is mine. Why should I deny it? If I fail to claim it, appropriate it, despite my sinfulness, which is so evidently present in my life, then I am a failure.

Why should I fail to own what I have received? Work is not the cause of holiness but its effect. I’ve got to live up to what I am. I have received the gift of Priesthood. Let me make sure that I live upto it. I’ve got to use this gift.

Fr. Siri Oscar Abayaratne

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Friday 1st November 2019 Revelation:7/2-4,9-14 Psalm:23/1-6 (24/1-6) 1 John:3/1-3 Mathew:5/1-12

All Saints have mercy shown them.

Blessed are the pure in heart: they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: they shall be recognised as children of God. .....

Prayerful Awareness

Introduction Today is All Saints Day. Let us read today’s Proclamations meditatively where the central theme is the mercy of God, our Abba Father, Abba Mother, who is in the process of sanctifying us, His children, to become Saints to be with Him in eternity.

Second Proclamation

You must see what great love the Father has lavished on us by letting us be called God's children -- which is what we are! The reason why the world does not acknowledge us is that it did not acknowledge Him. My dear friends, we are already God's children, but what we shall be in the future has not yet been revealed. .....

Gospel Proclamation

Seeing the crowds, he went onto the mountain. And when he was seated his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak. This is what he taught them: How blessed are the poor in spirit: the kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

Blessed are the gentle: they shall have the earth as inheritance.

Blessed are those who mourn: they shall be comforted.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for uprightness: they shall have their fill.

Blessed are the merciful: they shall

Today’s First Proclamation describes a vision of God’s presence where there was a multitude of people, impossible for anyone to count, from every nation, race, tribe and language; they were standing in front of the Lamb, dressed in white robes, who are said to be those who have been through the great trial; they have washed their robes white in the blood of the Lamb.

In the Gospel Proclamation our Lord Jesus Christ commences a series of sayings which are known as the Sermon on the Mount, describing the value system that will qualify one to become a member of God’s Kingdom. We know these values are in total contrast to the value system of the world, and hence one would need to swim against the tide and suffer much rejection in the process to be worthy to be in God’s presence in eternity!

Song of Praise (Psalm 23: 1-6)

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. In grassy meadows he lets me lie. By tranquil streams he leads me to restore my spirit. He guides me in paths of saving justice as befits his name.

Even were I to walk in a ravine as dark as death I should fear no danger, for you are at my side. Your staff and your crook are there to soothe me.

You prepare a table for me under the eyes of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup brims over.

Kindness and faithful love pursue me every day of my life. I make my home in the house of Yahweh for all time to come.

"Abba Father! Abba Mother!"

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Saturday 2nd November 2019 Commemoration of all the faithful Departed ( All Souls' Day)

Prayerful Awareness Isaiah:25/6-9 When our hope is in God, it cannot Psalm: 23/1-6 turn to dust and ashes. When our hope Romans: 5/5-11 is in God, it cannot be disappointment.

John: 6/37-40 When our hope is in the love of God it

Commemoration of all the faithful departed This commemoration invites us to meditate on three realities - (1) Death, the inevitable, is a right of passage for every human being born into this world (2) Though we do not respond adequately to the call to be a saint, we are called.

The result is that there are souls who undergo further purification posthumously and they need our prayers for the process of purification to be hastened and they can be admitted to heaven (3) The Church (Militant) is integrally linked to the Church (Triumphant) - the saints we honour and the Church (Expectant) - the souls in Purgatory, whom we remember today. The Good News is that the members of these communities can receive and offer help mutually. (ORDO).

The Second Proclamation and hope does not disappoint us; because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.

Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person - ... But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us. ....

For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more surely having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life. But more than that, we even boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

can never be illusionary, for God loves us with an everlasting love backed by an everlasting power." (The New Daily Study Bible).

The good Lord has poured out His love, His unconditional love, through the Holy Spirit. He is God's supreme gift to us. How aware or open are we to this gift - the Holy Spirit - Who indwells us? "I will ask the Father and He will give you another Helper, who will stay with you for ever. He is the Spirit who reveals the truth about God. The world cannot receive Him, because it cannot see Him or know Him. But you know Him, because He remains with you and is in you." (John 143:16-17).

With Christ's death on the cross our status with God, our relationship with God changed and was put into a right footing. Can a saved sinner continue to be a sinner? No, but must become good, become a new creation. Christ's death on the cross changed our status; and His risen life changes our status. He is alive and is always available to help and guide us. He fills us with His strength in order to help us overcome temptation from flesh, the world and the evil one.

"Come as you are". Even when we are still sinners, He keeps on following us, giving us ample opportunities, to quit sin and become His sons and daughters.

The whole saving process begins with the change of our status - justification.

The saving process, sanctification, goes on without an end. At the root of the whole matter there is the love of God and His Son was the instrument God used to show His love to mankind.

Prayer Starter Help us to be devout citizens of Thy Kingdom. Amen.

"Abba Father! Abba Mother!"

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Sunday 3rd November 2019 31st Sunday of Ordinary Time PS Wk III exist, and detest none of the things that you have made, for you would not have made anything if you had hated it. How would anything have endured if you had not willed it? Or how would anything not called forth by you have been preserved? You spare all things, for they are yours, O Lord you who love the living. For your immortal spirit is in all things.

Therefore you correct little by little those who trespass, and you remind and warn them of the things through Introduction which they sin, so that they may be The First Proclamation of the freed from wickedness and put their day presents a clear revelation of the trust in you, O Lord. paternal and maternal love of God. Prayerful Awareness Everything on earth is a manifestation Revealed through the First Proclaof the Almighty God for which reason mation is the unconditional, steadfast the word reveals "The Lord loves the and never ending love of the Almighty living." In the Gospel proclamation Jesus entering the house of Zacchaeus God over the entire Universe, created reveals why He came into the world. and sustained by Him. It also clearly Thus He says, "The Son of man came depicts the supreme action of God. to seek and to save the lost." The sec- Filled with the Holy Spirit, let us ond proclamation taken from St. Paul's read this meditatively and enter into letter to Thessalonians with the words, a reflection. If we focus on the first "The name of our Lord Jesus may be phrase, it says, "In your sight, Lord, glorified in you" spells out how our the whole world is like a grain of life on earth should really be. Let us dust that tips the scales" which enter into prayer singing "I will bless implies that before God, the whole thy name forever and ever my God world is like a little bit of dust that is and King" (Psalm 145, the response capable of upsetting a balance. The given in the responsorial psalm to the second phrase says that the earth is like a drop of morning dew falling on the above revelations. ground. Thus, as much as possible let The First Proclamation us awaken ourselves to the unravelling Because the whole world before of each phrase. you is like a speck that tips the The Gospel Proclamation scales, and like a drop of morning He entered Jericho and was dew that falls on the ground. But passing through it. A man was there you are merciful to all, for you can do all things, and you overlook named Zacchaeus, he was a chief people's sins, so that they may re- tax collector and was rich. He was pent. For you love all things that trying to see who Jesus was, but on Wisdom:11/22-12/2 Psalm: 144/1-2,8-11, 13-14 (145/1-2,8-11,13-14) 2 Thessa: 1/11-2/2 Luke:19/1-10

"Abba Father! Abba Mother!"

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account of the crowd he could not, because he was short in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see him, because he was going to pass that way. When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today." So he hurried down and was happy to welcome him. All who saw it began to grumble and said, "He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner." Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, "Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much." Then Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house because he too is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost."

Prayerful Awareness Seeing the great inner thirst in Zacchaeus, Jesus not only visited his house but entered into the very depths of his heart, thus touching his entire life. In that society, the tax collectors were considered sinners. While Zacchaeus too was a rich tax collector, the loving step taken by Jesus was instrumental for him to experience salvation (Christ) in the deep recesses of his heart, confronting a life transition.

Realizing his sinful nature, he decides to correct his faults and also amend his ways and thus enters into repentance.

A life transition, a reformation is what God desires, even for you and me.

Revealed through the process of action of Jesus with regard to Zacchaeus, is the attitude of the Almighty God, our Abba Father and Abba Mother towards vulnerable sinners. Beginning of repentance is an encounter with the Lord Jesus. Therefore, let us also pray

for a great longing to encounter Christ continually.

The Second Proclamation To this end we always pray for you, asking that our God will make you worthy of his call and will fulfill by his power every good resolve and work of faith, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

As to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we beg you, brothers and sisters, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as though from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord is already here Prayerful Awareness Through this letter, St Paul guiding the people on the steps to be taken when confronted with conflicts in community life, does pray for them.

Also he counsels, through his letter, on the false teachings spread round regarding the glorious Second Coming of Jesus Christ. He requests people not to be alarmed nor get excited on this issue.

When faced with conflicts in our community life, how do we look at it, think and act? In such moments, have we been able to gaze on Christ, to appear on behalf of the people, filled with His power and submit ourselves to the guidance of the Holy Spirit?

Prayer Starter O Holy Spirit, awaken me to see the sin I have committed, in thought, word and deed and through negligence, to admit them and truly enter into repentance.

"Abba Father! Abba Mother!"

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Monday 4th November 2019

St. Charles Borromeo, Bishop

we know of all that is! Those who truly know most in this limited imperfect state, feel their own lack/weakness the most.

There is not only depth in the Divine counsels, but riches; abundance of that which is precious and invaluable. The Divine counsels are complete; they have not only depth and height, but breadth and length, There is that vast distance and disproportion between God and man, between the Creator and the creature, which forever shuts us from (complete) The First Proclamation knowledge of S/His ways. The apostle for the gifts and the calling of adores the sovereignty of the Divine God are irrevocable. Just as you counsels. So did Saint Borromeo, who were once disobedient to God but made a staunch stand for Counter-Refhave now received mercy because ormation together with St. Ignatius of of their disobedience, so they have Loyola in the times of the Protestant now been disobedient in order that, Reformation. He is our Patron Saint for by the mercy shown to you, they too Obesity and Dieting, having recognised may now receive mercy. For God has how our unrestrained appetites caused imprisoned all in disobedience so that by - foundered on erroneous scarcity beliefs / mentality (please contemplate this he may be merciful to all. ..... aspect) lead us towards disobedience, The Gospel Proclamation sickness, imbalance, pain and death.

'When you give a lunch or a We need to journey towards the adedinner, do not invite your friends or quacy – nay generosity of God's Grace your brothers or your relations or rich and Providence for all of our needs and neighbours ... No; when you have a master our appetites according to need party, invite the poor, the crippled, (not want or desires of the flesh). the lame, the blind; then you will be Our Saviour here teaches, that works blessed, for they have no means to of charity are better than works of show. repay you and so you will be repaid We need to recognise the temptation when the upright rise again.' of seeking self-glory, and resist it. We have lost the God given feeling of being Fix your gaze on Jesus worthy and are therefore in a non-ending Holy Lord, bless us to inculcate Your quest for worthiness, mostly begging thought patterns, the underlying truthful this from our brethren. We are lost, like beliefs... sheep gone their own ways without a The apostle Paul knew the mysteries shepherd‌. of the Kingdom of God as well as any Prayer Starter man could; yet he confesses himself at a Dear Lord, anoint us in our journey loss; and despairing to find the bottom, he humbly sits down at the brink, and of becoming aware, so that we could adores the depth. This is an attribute of reduce this burden we hoist on ourselves those who become aware; awareness by our accommodating erroneous beliefs expands your horizons and perceptions .... believe Your uplifting word, make You so that you become ever more humble incarnate within, let You be more, and (truthful) in the knowing of how little abide in Your Love....

Romans:11/29-36 Psalm:68/30-31,33-34, 36-37 (69/29-30,32-33,35-36) Luke:14/12-14

"Abba Father! Abba Mother!"

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Tuesday 5th November 2019 to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and said to his slave, 'Go out at once into the streets and lanes of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame'. And the slave said, 'Sir, what you ordered has been done, and there is still room.' Then the master said to the slave, 'Go out into the roads and lanes and compel people to come in, so that my house may be filled. For The First Proclamation I tell you, none of those who were so we, who are many, are one invited will taste my dinner.' body in Christ, and individually we Gaze on Jesus are members one of another. We According to Bible specialists have gifts that differ according to parables contain the exact views, the grace given to us; .... thoughts and words of our Blessed Let love be genuine, hate what is Lord. Through this parable Jesus conevil, hold fast to what is good; love veys to us a fact that all those called one another with mutual affection; by Our Blessed Lord may not taste the outdo one another in showing honor. word of God. Though we are different Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spir- individuals in answering the call of it, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, God, we become one body in Christ, be patient in suffering, persevere that is the Church. The Church is enin prayer. Contribute to the needs dowed with enormous gifts and when of the saints, extend hospitality to we use these gifts, we bear witness to strangers.

Jesus Christ our Lord and thus taste the Bless those who persecute you; banquet of Christ. bless and do not curse them. Rejoice Prayerful Awareness with those who rejoice, weep with As children of God, let us be honest those who weep, live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but and sincere in our thoughts, views and associate with the lowly; do not claim actions. Let us hold fast to what is good and let our love be genuine. Be patient to be wiser than you are. in times of tribulations. Let us live in The Gospel Proclamation harmony and rejoice with the Lord One of the dinner guests on always. Pray constantly, giving thanks hearing this said to him, "Blessed to God in Christ in all circumstances, is anyone who will eat bread in the for this is the Will and Plan of God in kingdom of God!" Then Jesus said to Christ Jesus. him, "Someone gave a great dinner Prayer Starter and invited many. At the time for the May the God of peace sanctify us dinner he sent his slave to say to those who had been invited, "Come, for wholly and may our spirit, soul and everything is ready now.' But they body be kept sound and blameless till all alike began to make excuses. ... So the coming of Our Blessed Lord Jesus the slave returned and reported this Christ. Amen.

Romans:12/5-16 Psalm: 130/1-3 (131/1-3) Luke:14/15-24

"Abba Father! Abba Mother!"

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Wednesday 6th November 2019 Romans:13/8-10 Psalm: 111/1-2,4-5,9 (112/1-2,4-5,9) Luke:14/25-33

The Gospel Proclamation Now large crowds were travelling with him; and he turned and said to them, "Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it. Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him, saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.' Or what king, going out to wage war against another king, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? If he cannot, then, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for the terms of peace. So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions.

Gaze at Jesus’ sonship To live the model of divine sonship in human form, Jesus had to “let go” many things. First His comfortable and secure abode with the Father Himself and take the nature of a man.

Living in the image of man, He had to continue to live in the image of God, which was love. Through Jesus God’s

love reached to the poor, the marginalized and to those rejected in the society.

To reach out, Jesus had to embrace poverty, rejection and torture. Therefore, Jesus had a strong relationship with God who helped Him to live His divine image of Sonship.

For our sonship Christian discipleship is a challenge. It is a call to total obedience to God’s plan. Therefore, the challenge of discipleship needs courageous considerations. Like the one who plans to build the tower or the king who plans to declare war against another nation must consider first the cost of doing so.

Christian discipleship does not entail the more populistic attitude of acquisition, security with abundance or being progressive with worldly position.

These make us prisoners to our own human nature.

Therefore, Jesus did not sell discipleship with attractive models. Instead Jesus said, one must consider a strong and secure relationship with Jesus Himself rather than with other fellow beings.

Prayer Starter Let us sing the following hymn I have decided to follow Jesus // No turning back, no turning back.

Though I may wander, I still will follow; No turning back, no turning back.

The world behind me, the cross before me; No turning back, no turning back.

Though none go with me, still I will follow; No turning back, no turning back.

Will you decide now to follow Jesus?

No turning back, no turning back.

"Abba Father! Abba Mother!"

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Thursday 7th November 2019 Romans:147/7-12 Psalm:26/1,4,13-14 (27/1,4,13-14)) Luke:15/1-10

The Gospel Proclamation Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, "This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them."

So he told them this parable.

"Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.' Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance ....

Prayerful Awareness We cannot comprehend the deep and sacrificial love God has for us.

Jesus experienced this love of God and reflects this love in all His parables.

The two particular parables in today's Good News express God's love and mercy which surpasses all human barriers.

The shepherd was personally

responsible for his sheep. It is not easy to tend to his flock. If a sheep was lost, the shepherd must at least bring home the fleece to show how it had died. They were experts at tracking and could follow the straying sheep's foot-prints for miles across the hill.

Sometimes there are two or three shepherds in charge of a large flock and if one of them did not come home and was still out on the mountainside searching for sheep which are lost, the whole village would be on the watch and when in the distance they see the shepherd striding home with the lost sheep across his shoulders, there would rise from the community a shout of joy and thanksgiving. This is how Jesus convinces us how God is like. God is as glad when a lost sinner is found as a shepherd is when a strayed sheep is found and brought home.

Jesus also speaks to us through the parable of the coin a woman lost and her joy when she found it. Similarly there is more joy in heaven over one repentant sinner than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

Let us believe in the seeking love of God that is incarnate in Jesus Christ - the Son of God who came to seek and to save that which was lost.

My sonship Am I eager to seek the lost sheep in my community and help them to experience God's love.

Prayer Starter "Jesus Lord, I ask for mercy, let me not implore in vain, all my sins I now detest them, never will I sin again."

"Abba Father! Abba Mother!"

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Friday 8th November 2019 Romans:15/14-21 Psalm: 97/1-4 (98/1-4) Luke:16/1-8

The Gospel Proclamation He also said to his disciples, 'There was a rich man and he had a steward who was denounced to him for being wasteful with his property. He called for the man and said, "What is this I hear about you? Draw me up an account of your stewardship because you are not to be my steward any longer." .... I know what I will do to make sure that when I am dismissed from office there will be some to welcome me into their homes." ...‘The master praised the dishonest steward for his astuteness. For the children of this world are more astute in dealing with their own kind than are the children of light.'

Prayerful Awareness Let us read today’s Proclamations meditatively, where the central theme is the difference between those who are led by the Holy Spirit and those who are not.

We know Almighty God, our Abba Father, Abba Mother, created man to be His children and have fellowship with Him in eternity, but this plan was sabotaged by Satan the Devil, chief of the fallen angels. Their fall was due to pride, which made them want to be equal to God, which made them rebel against God and be cast out. When God created man in His likeness to be His children, the Devil was filled with jealousy and ever since has been scheming to prevent mankind from achieving

man’s inheritance, and prowls like a wolf looking for a prey to devour, to drag the people, and especially believers, down to hell. We know when man was created, man was given the gift of free choice, which means we have to make an on-going decision as to whether we want to live in God’s way of goodness and love, or the Devil’s way of scheming, full of greed, jealousy and hatred.

We see this tussle between good and bad throughout human history, and after our Lord Jesus’ salvific sacrificial death on the cross and Resurrection, God’s Holy Spirit has been bestowed on man to be a Helper to those who accept Jesus as their Saviour, that is, believers.

Those who willingly submit to God’s Will come to be led by His Holy Spirit, and thus become His children (Romans 8:14). First some Jews came to be led by His Holy Spirit, and then extended to the Gentiles, which explains the context of today’s First Proclamation.

In today’s Gospel Proclamation our Lord brings out the unjust and scheming actions of the worldly with regard to their wealth, and laments that children of light are not so astute when it comes to the spreading of God’s Kingdom. The Lord condemns the Pharisees as “lovers of money”. Continuing in chapter 16 we see the Lord encouraging His followers to be generous with their wealth in this life so that in the life to come their new friends will receive them “into eternal dwellings.”

Song of Praise (Psalm 97:1-4) The Lord is king! Let earth rejoice, the many isles be glad! Cloud, black cloud enfolds him, saving justice and judgement the foundations of his throne.

Fire goes before him, sets ablaze his enemies all around: his lightning-flashes light up the world, the earth sees it and quakes. Amen! Alleluia! Praise the Lord!

"Abba Father! Abba Mother!"

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Saturday 9th November 2019 The Dedication of the Lateran Basilica Ezekiel:47/1-2,8-9,12 OR 1 Corinthians:3/9-11, 16-17 Psalm:45/2-3,5-6, 8-9 (46/2-3,5-6,8-9) John:2/13-22

The Gospel Proclamation ... Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple ... "Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father's house a market-place!" His disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for your house will consume me." The Jews then said to him, "What sign can you show us for doing this?" Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up." ...

After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this and they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.

Prayerful Awareness What a vital incident we have here.

It is so vital that all four Evangelists mention it. (Mth.21/12-13; Mk.11/15-17; Lk.19/45-46). Here we have an awe-inspiring sight - the picture of Jesus with the whip and His anger - a just and holy one. There was the bare-faced exhortation of the poor and humble pilgrims.

They were virtually forced to buy the religious needs from the temple booths if they wished to sacrifice. The necessary background had already been set with the knowledge and blessings of the religious authorities. Surely this is a glaring social injustice. The level of extortion was very high. The misdemeanours were

aimed at God's loving children. Jesus saw through all these and because He loved the Father, He showed His anger and displeasure both by His words and action. He just could not stand still or passively. He had already worked His first miracle at Cana, now He came into His Father's house to claim a son's right.

Our blessed Lord, finding Himself in this incongruous scene, where prayers were mingled with the blasphemous bidding of the merchants and where the clinging of money chimed with the buying of cattle, was filled with zeal for His Father's house. He made a small scourge and proceeded to drive out the cattle and the profiteers. The unpopularity of the exploiters and their fear of public scandal probably prevented them from putting up any real resistance to the Saviour. They were bewildered by His capacity for righteous indignation and they demanded a sign. He had already given them a sign that He was God, for He told them that they had profaned His Father's house. To ask for another sign was like asking for a light to see a light. "Destroy ...." "He was challenging them directly to test His priestly power by a Crucifixion and He would answer it with a Resurrection." (Archbishop F.J.Sheen). Many of Jesus' deeds and words constituted a sign of contradiction but more so for the religious authorities in Jerusalem. Christ's relations with the Pharisees was not exclusively polemical.

Some Pharisees warn Him of the danger He was courting. Jesus praises some of them, like the Scribe of Mark 12:34 and dines several times at their homes.

Jesus endorses some of the teachings imparted by the religious elite of God's people - almsgiving, fasting and prayer, the custom of addressing God as Father and the centrality of the commandment to love God and neighbour.(C.C.C.575) Prayer Starter Keep us in the right track, in our dealings with our neighbours. Amen.

"Abba Father! Abba Mother!"

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Sunday 10th November 2019 2 Maccabees:7/1-2, 9-14 Psalm:16/1,5-6,8,15 (17/1,5-6,8,15) 2 Thessalonians:2/163/5 Luke:20/27-38 OR 20/27, 34-38

Introduction On this thirty second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Holy Mother the Church is inviting us Christians, blessed with the vocation of enjoying eternal life to "raise our eyes to the heavens and keep our feet firmly in His paths."

Our aim and objective is to claim our right to eternal life. For this we must live in steadfast faith and hope is what we are made conscious of through the proclamations of the day. While the first proclamation reminds us of the strenuous experience gone through by a mother and seven sons in order to secure their faith and enter eternal life, the second proclamation depicts the Lord's response to the question arisen as to whose wife the woman would be at the resurrection from among the seven brothers now dead whom she had been previously married to which is quite beyond the scope of human wisdom. Yet, for the Christians awaiting in hope of the heavenly kingdom it is great Good News. Let us pray especially for power to fix our eyes right along our life journey on the Lord Himself who has called us "Come follow me!"

The First Proclamation

32nd Sunday of Ordinary Time PS Wk IV by the king, under torture with whips and thongs, to partake of unlawful swine's flesh, One of them, acting as their spokesman, said, 'What do youintend to ask and learn from us?

For we areready to die rather than transgress the laws of our ancestors.'

And when he was at his last breath he said, "You accursed wretch, you dismiss us frm this present life, but the King of the universe will raise us up to an everlasting renewal of life, because we have died for his laws.

After him, the third was the victim of their sport. When it was demanded, he quicy put out his tongue and courageusly stretched frth his hands, and said nbl, "I got these from Heaven, and becase f his aws I disdain them, and frm him I hope to get them back again." As a result the king himself and those with him were astonished at the young man's spirit, for he regarded his sufferings as nothing..

After he too had died, they mal-treated and tortured the fourth in the same way. When he was near death, he said, "one cannot but choose to die at the hands of mortals and to cherish the hope God gives of being raised again by him. But for you there will be no resurrection to life!"

Prayerful Awareness

The second proclamation points out that those who live in steadfast faith in God are ever ready to sacrifice their life for their faith. Since they had a worthy cause in view, they had deep faith so as to stand firm in face of challenges, difficulties and suffering in achieving their goal. Let us pray for the grace to It happened also that seven awaken ourselves to receive the blessbrothers and their mother were ar- ing bestowed on those with the gift of rested and wewre being compelled martyrdom. Let us concentrate on what

"Abba Father! Abba Mother!"

15

is better and worthy.

The Gospel Proclamation Some Sadducees, those who say there is no resurrection, came to him and asked him a question, 'Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies, leaving a wife but no children, the man shall marry the widow and Well, then, there were seven brothers. ….Now at the resurrection, to which of them will she be wife since she had been married to all seven? Jesus replied, 'The children of this world take wives and husbands, but those who are judged worthy of a place in the other world and in the resurrection from the dead do not marry because they can no longer die, for they are the same as angels and being children of the resurrection they are sons of God. (Please read the whole proclamation.)

Prayerful Awareness No one could embarrass or deceive our Lord who was full of God experience – the perfect love. The answer given in response to the question directed at him by our Lord who saw through each and everyone that tried to trap him in his words or embarrass him would really have embarrassed them in return. Being engaged in logical arguments and remaining ignorant with regard to a matter of faith is the result of denying and despising the truth. The Lord who came to this world to bestow on us and on the entire universe the eternal life, demonstrated through his life witness as to how we should lead our lives in order to inherit eternal life. Therefore let us pray that we may be empowered to live on this earth as people who are living in hope of eternal life.

The Second Proclamation

quickly, and be received with honour as it was among you, and pray that we may be preserved from the interference of bigoted and evil people, for faith if not given to everyone. But the Lord is faithful, and he will give you strength and guard you from the evil one….

Prayerful Awareness St. Paul who is filled with a great longing to proclaim the message of Lord's love and spread the kingdom of God throughout the world requests prayers that the message may spread quickly. In the same breath he reminds us that we as people gifted with faith should open ourselves to the task of proclaiming the Gospel to others.

Our sonship The vocation of a Christian is not simply experiencing the transient nature of this world but a life vocation with the promised inheritance of eternal life. Do we lead our lives in hope of our eternal inheritance? Are we in the process of abandoning what we should for this worthy cause and live in steadfast faith in God? Shouldn't we reflect on our lives? Do my lifestyle, faith life and my witnessing correspond to a person living in hope of eternal life? As reminded by St. Paul we who have received the gift of faith are also commissioned with the mission of proclaiming the Gospel. Let us pray persistently for power to do so.

Prayer Starter

Let us enter into prayer with the responsorial psalm for the day (Psalm 17:1, 5-6, 8, 15).

Throughout the day "Guard me as the apple of your eye.

Hide me in the shadow of your wings.

As for me, in my justice I shall see your face and be filled, when I awake, ….brothers, pray for us; pray with the sight of your glory" (Psalm that the Lord's message may spread 17:8. 15).

"Abba Father! Abba Mother!"

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Monday 11th November 2019 Wisdom:1/1-7 Psalm:138/1-10 (139/1-10) Luke:17/1-6

The First Proclamation Love uprightness you who are rulers on earth, be properly disposed towards the Lord and seek him in simplicity of heart; for he will be found by those who do not put him to the test, revealing himself to those who do not mistrust him. ...Wisdom will never enter the soul of a wrong-doer, nor dwell in a body enslaved to sin; for the holy spirit of instruction flees deceitfulness, recoils from unintelligent thoughts, is thwarted by the onset of vice. Wisdom is a spirit friendly to humanity, though she will not let a blasphemer's words go unpunished; since God observes the very soul and accurately surveys the heart, listening to every word. For the spirit of the Lord fills the world, and that which holds everything together knows every word said.

Fix your gaze on Jesus The Living Word is clear, O Holy Spirit of God; please help us to undo the damage we’ve done/are doing and will do to ourselves in having admitted error in to our beliefs....

In the Gospel today, Jesus speaks of the call to ‘not lead others astray’, of the Power of Faith (for co-creating the Heavenly Kingdom here), and of brotherly correction - harking back to ‘not lead others astray’. Now how do we put this into practice? Let’s look at it carefully.

Today’s first reading exhorts 'Rulers'

St. Martin of Tours to ‘seek Him in simplicity of heart’. Now are we able to do this? Could we really ‘abide’ in this instruction? St. Martin did not find it difficult; he who was an 'Elite' of that society had no issue in once using his sword to cut his warm coat in half and sharing it with the beggar found shivering in the Winter cold! Faced with a similar instance, our experience today could be that we are in conflict! May be an experience that our lives are more complex and entangled .. and of feeling ‘overwhelmed’ at times...

But in truth, an utter simplicity which defies usual (read erroneous/ fallen) human ways of thinking lies beyond this complexity. A very simple arrangement underlies the structure of ‘What Is’- our perceptions of ‘SELF’, of our relationships to ‘All that Is’, of the source of our ‘Well Being’, of our ability to ‘Stay Happy and Vibrant and in Love’.... To grasp this Simplicity, remember it’s elements; we are given a gift called ‘Free Will’- we can choose! Next, we’re created in the ‘Image/Likeness’ of the Creator. Thus, we can ‘Create’ through ‘Faith’ what we truly desire (choose). So, Choice and Faith, consistently/persistently/flawlessly applied, will deliver you what you dream of!

So dream on, create what is ‘Good’ for our ‘Togetherness’. A word of caution: ensure that you dream in accord with the ‘Maker’s 'dream' .....or 'Wisdom' will flee you ...

Prayer Starter Come O Spirit of God, illuminate my heart’s true desires, correct me as You Will...

'Increase our faith.' Help us grow that small mustard seed You have given us O Abba our Father, our Mother; and thus would we be able to say to the mulberry tree, "Be uprooted and planted in the sea," and it would obey us....

"Abba Father! Abba Mother!"

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Tuesday 12th November 2019 Wisdom:2/23-3/9 Psalm:33/2-3,16-19 (34/1-2,15-18) Luke:17/7-10

The Gospel Proclamation "Who among you would say to your slave who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, 'Come here at once and take your place at the table'? Would you not rather say to him, 'Prepare supper for me, put on your apron and serve me while I eat and drink; later you may eat and drink'? Do you thank the slave for doing what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, 'We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!'"

Prayerful Awareness Jesus asked three questions to see how a person will act or treat his servant who has worked all day for him. At the time Jesus lived on earth, wealthy and powerful persons had servants or slaves who had to serve their master all day long. Jesus wants us to be servants and said “So with you, when you have done all you have been told to do, say ‘We are useless servants, we have done no more than our duty”. Jesus Himself has given us an example when He said: “The Son of Man has not come to be served, but to serve” (Mk 10 : 45). Isaiah 42:1-9 announced the coming of the Messiah as the Servant of God and service represents the form in which the poor in the time of Jesus, were waiting for the

St. Josephat, Bishop & Martyr Messiah: not like a king, high priest or judge, but rather as the Servant of God. Mary, the Mother of Jesus, said to the Angel: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord, may it be done to me according to your word!” (Lk 1 : 38). Jesus tells His followers: “Anyone who wants to be first among you must be your slave” (Mt 20: 27).

How do I define my life? Do I ask myself the three questions of Jesus?

Jesus wants us to be servants to one another and also know that God does not owe us anything. We have a duty to live our lives to bring glory to God, glory to the image of His Love, His Mercy and Care, and to be His witnesses in every word we speak and in everything we do, as children of God. The First Reading tells us that God formed man to be imperishable; in the image of His own nature He made them. But by the envy of the Devil, death entered the world, and they who are in his possession experience it. But the souls of the just are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch them. Those who trust in Him shall understand truth, and the faithful shall abide with Him in love: Because grace and mercy are with His holy ones, and His care is with His elect.

Prayer Starter God our loving Father, we thank Thee for Your love and care for all who live just lives. Help us to accept Your great love and accept Your begotten Son Jesus Christ as our Saviour and Lord, and follow Him and abide by all His Commandments to live according to Your Will. Lord Jesus, intercede for us and send forth to us the Holy Spirit to guide us to live as children of God, our ever Loving Father.

"Abba Father! Abba Mother!"

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Wednesday 13th November 2019 Wisdom:6/1-11 Psalm:81/3-4, 6-7 (82/3-4,6-7) Luke:17/11-19

The First Proclamation Listen therefore, O kings, and understand; learn, O judges of the ends of the earth. Give ear, you that rule over multitudes, and boast of many nations. For your dominion was given you from the Lord, and your sovereignty from the Most High, he will search out your works and inquire into your plans. ....

Gospel Proclamation Please read Luke 17/11-19 meditatively.

Prayerful Awareness Jesus always cared for the marginalized and embraced the people whom nobody wanted. This is why He obliged to heal the leapers and said "Go, show yourselves to the priests." We see, by saying only these words, Jesus put into test their faith, and on their way to the priest, they realized that they were healed. The question here is, why only one of the ten lepers who were healed, the Samaritan, returned to glorify God and thank Jesus for His Godly act. Jewish lepers had to go through many rituals after receiving healing, to prove their cleanliness, before being absorbed to the society and have to make offerings in thanksgiving to God in accordance with the rules laid in the book of Leviticus: 14. Jewish lepers who got healed would have been more concerned with the next steps to be taken, than to come back and thank Jesus who was considered as a Jewish miraculous healer, a person of

their own. On the other hand, since people of Samaria were treated as outcasts by the Jewish society, this Samaritan leper, would have been very grateful to Jesus for showing him mercy and healing him. Although he was a Samaritan he had faith that Jesus will heal him.

This is why Jesus specifically said to him “your faith has saved you�. Most of our people too call to Jesus when they are in distress, sick or in need of help, but some without 100% faith that Jesus will heal them or help them. We should have the kind of faith the Samaritan had and trust Jesus and His Word and give our lives to Him and depend on Him. Like the Jewish lepers who got healed, some of us pray to Jesus or remember Jesus, only when we are in distress, and after receiving help for our problem, we totally tend to forget the call Jesus has given to all of us as Baptized Christians, to spread His Word to all, from one end of the world to the other, and be His witnesses. Let us look back and see where we are. Do we call ourselves Christians, followers of Christ, who follow all His Teachings and His Word? Do we spread His Word to the world, through our way of life - that is, through what we speak, how we behave, how we act and live?

We are called to live pious lives as children of God, guided by the Holy Spirit whom we received at Baptism.

Rulers are answerable to God for all they do. They should seek Wisdom, have fear of God and honour Him, His Word and all His Commandments.

Prayer Starter Almighty God, Our Loving Father, I Thank You for sending Your Begotten Son to pay for our sins and to open us the doors of Salvation, due to Your great Love for us. Grant us Your Wisdom through Your Holy Spirit, to know Your Will. In the Name of our Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.

"Abba Father! Abba Mother!"

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Thursday 14th November 2019 Wisdom:7/22-8/1 Psalm:118/89-91, 130, 135, 175 (119/89-91,130,135,175) Luke: 17/20-25

The First Proclamation ....... For wisdom is more mobile than any motion; because of her pureness she pervades and penetrates all things. For she is a breath of the power of God, and a pure emanation of the glory of the Almighty; therefore nothing defiled gains entrance into her. For she is a reflection of eternal light, a spotless mirror of the working of God, and an image of his goodness. Although she is but one, she can do all things, and while remaining in herself, she renews all things; in every generation she passes into holy souls and makes them friends of God, and prophets, for God loves nothing so much as the person who lives with wisdom.

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

Then he said to the disciples, "The days are coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. They will say to you, 'Look there!' or 'Look here!' Do not go, do not set off in pursuit. For as the lightning flashes

and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day. But first he must endure much suffering and be rejected by this generation.

Prayerful Awareness Today we find the first reading is about Wisdom. Let us read the passage carefully…

What is the first thought that comes to your mind when you read it? For me, it was the "Holy Spirit"; It's like what King Solomon is describing, as Wisdom is what we experience as Holy Spirit. Interestingly, King Solomon describes Wisdom as a person; Wisdom is not something you can accumulate like knowledge. It's a relationship you form with the divine person who is the Holy Spirit of God. It's not something you gain or achieve with determination or hard work, but something you are gifted with, through unconditional Love of God. In the Gospel today, Jesus talks about the Kingdom of God. "The Kingdom of God does not come in such a way as to be seen. No one will say, 'Look, here it is!" 'or, 'There it is!’; because the Kingdom of God is within you.”

The Kingdom of God is not a place you can reach. It's an experience of total surrender to the Will of Abba Father and sinking in the complete and unconditional Love of ABBA Father, ABBA Mother, which is where the Wisdom of the Holy Spirit guides us.

Prayer Starter Dear God ABBA Father, ABBA Mother, grant me the Wisdom of the Holy Spirit so that I may experience the Kingdom of God within me through experiencing Your deep and never-ending Love…

"Abba Father! Abba Mother!"

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Friday 15th November 2019 St.Albert the Great, Bishop & Doctor Wisdom:13/1-9 Psalm:18/2-5 (19/1-4) Luke:17/26-37

The First Proclamation For all people who were ignorant of God were foolish by nature; and they were unable from the good things that are seen to know the one who exists, nor did they recognize the artisan while paying heed to his works; but they supposed that either fire or wind or swift air, or the circle of the stars, or turbulent water, or the luminaries of heaven were the gods that rule the world. If through delight in the beauty of these things people assumed them to be gods, let them know how much better than these is their Lord, for the author of beauty created them. And if people were amazed at their power and working, let them perceive from them how much more powerful is the one who formed them. For from the greatness and beauty of created things comes a corresponding perception of their Creator......

The Gospel Proclamation

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

Most people will be going about their everyday tasks, indifferent to the demands of God. They will be as surprised by Christ's return as the people in Noah's day were by the FLOODS (Genesis 6 - 8) or the people in Lot's day by the destruction of Sodom (Genesis 19). We do not know the TIME of Christ's return, but we DO KNOW that He IS coming.

He may come TODAY, TOMOROW or centuries later. Whenever He comes, we must be MORALLY and SPIRITUALLY ready and live as if Jesus was returning TODAY. Jesus warned against false security.

We are to abandon the values and attachments of this world in order to be ready for Christ's return. His return WILL HAPPEN SUDDENLY and when He comes, there will be no second chances.

Some will be with Him and the rest will be left behind.

To answer the disciples' question, Jesus quoted a familiar proverb. "Where there is a dead body, there the vultures will gather". One vulture circling overhead does not mean much, but a gathering of vultures means that a dead body is nearby. Likewise, ONE sign of the end may not be significant, but when many signs occur, the SECOND Coming is near.

Let us remember that God's reason for sending the floods was to destroy all the earth's wickedness - Sin. Jesus warns "It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed". They will be surprised by Christ's return.

Prayer Starter

Just as it was in the days of Noah, so too it will be in the days of the Son of Man. They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark and the flood came and destroyed all of them. Likewise just as it was in the days of Lot; they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, but on the day that Lot left Sodom, Lord, help us to persist in prayer to it rained fire and sulfur from heaven grow in character, faith and hope. Thank and destroyed all of them - it will be You for Your Spirit renewing us everyday like that on the day that the Son of and drawing us closer to Your love.

Man is revealed.....

"Abba Father! Abba Mother!"

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Saturday 16th November 2019 St. Margaret of Scotland (Queen) the unjust judge says. And will not God Wisdom:18/14-16; grant justice to his chosen ones who cry 19/6-9 to him day and night? ... I tell you, he Psalm:104/2-3,36-37, will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he 42-43 find faith on earth?"

(105/2-3,36-37,42-43 Prayerful Awareness Luke:18/1-8

St. Margaret of Scotland She was raised at the Christian court of Hungary during Canute's Danish domination of England. In 1037, she returned to English soil when her father was sent for by St. Edward the Confessor. She was married to King Malcolm II Canmore. She was a model of Christian virtue by her personal holiness, tact, humility and performance. With the help of her husband, King Malcolm, she was able to raise the Scottish people to new heights of Christian virtue, prosperity and humanness. She was instrumental in bringing the Celtic Church into conformity with Roman practices.

Her generosity knew no bounds and many Saxon slaves owe their freedom to her. She spent long hours in prayer and in attending to the needs of the poor and destitute.

Died: November 16, 1093. Canonized

by Pope Innocent IV. She is the patron of Scotland.

The Gospel Proclamation

Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. He said, "In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people. In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, 'Grant me justice against my opponent.' ... Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, ...'' And the Lord said, "Listen to what

This parable shows clearly that in prayer we should not lose heart. P-U-S- H.Pray until something happens. This is one way the young ones express that idea. The judge in focus was a fair one in comparison to some who were labeled 'robber judges'.

There are stories of judges who perverted justice for a dish of meat. The woman in focus was a symbol of all who were poor and defenceless. As she was poor, there was neither hope nor a way of extracting justice. But at her disposal there was one weapon - persistence. The striking feature of this parable is that it does not liken God to an unjust judge but rather contrasts.

"When God called him, Abraham goes forth as the Lord had told him". Abraham's heart is entirely submissive to the Word and so he obeys. Such attentiveness of the heart, whose decisions are made according to God's Will, is essential to prayer, while the words used count only in relation to it. Abraham's prayer is expressed first by deeds; a man of silence, he constructs an altar to the Lord at each stage of his journey. Only later does Abraham's first prayer in words appear: a veiled complaint reminding God of His promises which seem unfulfilled. Thus one aspect of prayer appears from the beginning: the test of faith in the fidelity of God. (C.C.C. 2570).

Our prayers and requests - it is good to end them with one of the words of Jesus on the cross - "Thy will be done."

Prayer Starter

"Will God not judge in favour of His own people who cry to Him day and night for help" (Luke 18:7). Amen.

"Abba Father! Abba Mother!"

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Sunday 17th November 2019

33rd Sunday of Ordinary Time PS Wk I

Malachi:4/1-2 Psalm:97/5-9 (98/5-9) 2 Thessalonians:3/7-12 Luke:21/5-19 Introduction Jesus Christ is Our Lord and King.

One who follows him, submits oneself to the Will of God saying 'yes'; will always be under his protection. His reign is just and righteous. We give honour to his name, engage ourselves in the service of God with our might as enthusiastic heralds of Good News and give authentic Christian witness. We are Christ disciples living under His guidance.

Let us enter into prayer asking the Lord to grace us with power to be authentic Christians – instruments of peace, bringing light to where there is darkness, faith to where there is doubt and peace and comfort to where there is war.

First Proclamation

destiny at the Last Judgment.

Therefore the invitation is to be mindful in your actions. The comforting presence of God will be the reward of those who give correct life witness in conformity with His Will. Also they will never lack His blessings because one who heeds His voice will finally be victorious. And none will be able to rob him of any of these. Let us hunger and thirst to constantly say yes to the Will of God remaining under His guidance and blessing.

O Lord, the source of light let me out of the darkness I am enveloped in.

Second Proclamation For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us: we were not idle when we were with you, and we did not eat anyone's bread without paying for it; but with toil and labor we worked night and day, so that we might not burden any of you. This was not because we do not have that right, but in order to give you an example to imitate. For even when we were with you: we gave you this command: Anyone unwilling to work should not eat. Now we hear that some of you are living in idleness, mere busybodies, not doing any work. Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.

Prayerful Awareness

See the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble; the day that comes shall burn them up, says the Lord of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing It is out of his own experience that in its wings. You shall go out leaping St. Paul is addressing the Thessalonian like calves from the stall. community. Further he reminds them Prayerful Awareness indirectly that laziness and lethargy is The fire will burn up everything. On a sin. He also points out the importance one hand it will burn up gold etcetera of accomplishing the Will of God and creating something new. Yet when straw leading a responsible lifestyle because is burnt only ash will remain which is we must follow God's example as well of no use to anybody. It is hinting at the as be an example to others. Moreover, evil-doers, living to their hearts' content, the person who neglects his duty, being despising the Will of God, of their final lazy and lethargic is not in conformity

"Abba Father! Abba Mother!"

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with the Will of God. That sort of life is a burden to oneself as well as others and is a sin. St. Paul is very strong in his reminder.

Collect: Grant us, we pray, O Lord our God, the constant gladness of being devoted to You, for it is full and lasting happiness to serve with constancy the Author of all that is good. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

The Gospel Proclamation When some were speaking about the Temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, he said, "As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another: all will be thrown down." And they put to him this question.

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

"When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately." then he said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and plagues; and there will be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven.

But before all this occurs, they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. This will give you an opportunity to testify. So make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance, for I will give you words and

a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict.

You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, by relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. you will be hated by all because of my name. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your souls.

Prayerful Awareness It seems that the Lord is talking about His death in reference to the temple. It is also an invitation to stay rooted in the truth without following the false prophets that would appear in His name. He warns of persecutions, famines, disasters, great signs as well as wars. Yet the end will not be too soon. He says not to prepare any defence beforehand, even if taken to courts but to be filled with the wisdom of God. Once you endure everything and say "yes" to God following His way you will attain victory is what He tries to drive home.

My son-ship Let us be awake. Jesus Christ is our only Lord and Master. Blessed is he who follows Him because they have nothing to fear in sickness, wars, conflicts, persecutions and court cases. The victory belongs to Him. One who listens and does the Will of God will always triumph. Therefore considering all else secondary, let us walk in His way.

Pleading for the power to do so let us enter into prayer!

Prayer Starter The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord of all the earth.

The heavens proclaim his righteousness; and all the peoples behold his glory. All worshippers of images are put to shame, those who make their boast in worthless idols; all gods bow down before him.

For you, O Lord, are most high over all the earth, you are exalted far above all gods.(Ps.97/5-9..)

"Abba Father! Abba Mother!"

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Monday 18th November 2019 Dedication of the Basilica of Sts.Peter & Paul

1 Maccabees:1/10-15, begin to see this were we but inclined to critically assess our momentary choices, 41-43.54-57,62-64 with the results we reap.

Psalm:118/53, 61, 134, Firstly, we shy away from the tests 150, 155, 158 put on our path by the Lord God to uplift (119/53,61,134,150,155,) us further, those tests designed to help us 158) separate the chaff (error) from the wheat (truth), and come to the true freedom beLuke:18/35-43 The First Proclamation Please read the narrative of how in the time of King Antiochus Epiphanes, a set of renegades from Israel led many people astray, to ally themselves with the gentiles for fortune and succour. They approached the king, who authorised them to practise the Gentiles' observances. So they built a gymnasium in Jerusalem, such as the gentiles have, disguised their circumcision, and abandoned the holy covenant, submitting to Gentile rule as willing slaves of impiety....The king then issued a proclamation to his whole kingdom that all were to become a single people, each nation renouncing its particular customs. All the Gentiles conformed to the king's decree, and many Israelites chose to accept his religion, sacrificing to idols and profaning the Sabbath .... Any books of the Law that came to light were torn up and burned.

Whenever anyone was discovered possessing a copy of the covenant or practising the Law, the king's decree sentenced him to death .....Yet there were many in Israel who stood firm and found the courage to refuse unclean food ... choose death rather than contamination... and they were executed....

Fix your gaze on Jesus

O Holy Spirit of God, what do we do to ourselves?

The essence of the historical events depicted in today’s scripture is repeated day-in and day-out in our own lives, singularly and collectively and we would

stowed by Truth, empowering us further to continue on the narrow path. Then we choose the easy, the convenient, the cosy, the lazy broad-way; and we are started on the slippery slope, at best towards stagnation, but normally towards a major fall - destruction and isolation, towards perdition and death. Following the crowd, the latest trend or fashion is not the way of the faithful; going against the flow sometimes is!

Do become conscious and grow in our consciousness. This is essentially why we need to follow the example of our Lord Jesus; we need to train our hearts and minds to obey; to follow the Higher Consciousness; to allow the Bigger Picture; to journey from ‘ME’ to ‘WE’; and once the path is chosen, to follow it conscientiously. As Fr. Richard Rohr expresses it, ‘Dare to say “Yes”, before you dare to say “No”’. I would take this to mean that, only in saying ‘Yes’ and following it diligently will we discover the instances that allow for further improvement and uplifting .... not to re-invent the wheel, so to say; step by step, going higher towards and closer to Heaven; Look at today’s Gospel; Jesus encounters on entering Jericho a blind man, who shouting aloud despite the protestations / objections of the crowd receives sight. Were you the blind man, what would your behaviour have been?

Prayer Starter Thank You O Holy Spirit. Let me know the path to tread, command me, Jesus my Master, and I shall follow, journey me on to the Bosom of Abba our Mother....

"Abba Father! Abba Mother!"

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Tuesday 19th November 2019 2 Maccabees:6/18-31 Psalm:3/2-7 (3/1-7) Luke:19/1-10

The First Proclamation Eleazar, one of the scribes in high position, a man now advanced in age and of noble presence, was being forced to open his mouth to eat swine's flesh. But he, welcoming death with honor rather than life with pollution, went up to the rack of his own accord, spitting out the flesh, as all ought to go who have the courage to refuse things that it is not right to taste, even for the natural love of life. ....

The Gospel Proclamation He entered Jericho and was passing through it. A man was there named Zacchaeus, he was a chief tax collector and was rich. He was trying to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was short in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see him, ... When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today."

So he hurried down and was happy to welcome him. All who saw it began to grumble and said, "He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner."

Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, "Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much."

Then Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house because he too is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek out and to

save the lost."

Gaze on Jesus Jesus would have been highly taken up by the interest and eagerness shown

by Zacchaeus in order to see Him well.

So He addressed the public sinner that He is going to be a guest at his home. Jesus would have been overjoyed because Zacchaeus was becoming childlike in order to win the Kingdom of God which brought about a complete transformation in his life. Thus the words of Jesus "Today salvation has come to this house" would have made a great impact on the public gathering. Also, Jesus made this an opportunity to disclose to them that Father God loves them so much for their conversion. Jesus has come in search of the lost ones and to save them, if they are sincere and truthful.

Prayerful Awareness God speaks to us through this incident. Jesus is willing to come to each one of us. Are we eager to examine our weak nature and repent sincerely for our sins?

Let us have a great desire like Zacchaeus to accept Jesus into our lives.

Similarly we read in the First Proclamation, Eleazar, an honest, sincere man, was even prepared to die rather than being selfish and untruthful. By this action he witnessed the Lord by showing a correct example to his friends and the young. What example do we give to those who are younger than us? In our lifestyles, in what we choose or refuse to do or be a part of and in standing against our nation regarding moral issues of life and death?

Prayer Starter Thank You Father God for giving us Your Son Jesus. May we gaze at Him as often as we could and allow Him to transform us for better and live according to Your Holy Will. Amen.

"Abba Father! Abba Mother!"

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Wednesday 20th November 2019 2 Maccabees:7/1,20-31 Psalm:16/1,5-6,8,15 (17/1,5-6,8,15) Luke:19/11-28

The First Proclamation Please read 2 Maccabees 7/1.20-31 prayerfully.

The Gospel Proclamation As they were listening to this he went on to tell a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and because they supposed that the Kingdom of God was to appear immediately.

So he said, "A nobleman went to a distant country to get royal power for himself and then return. He summoned ten of his slaves and gave them ten pounds and said to them, 'Do business with these until I come back.' But the citizens of his country hated him and sent a delegation after him saying, 'We do not want this man to rule over us.' When he returned, having received royal power, he ordered these slaves, to whom he had given the money, to be summoned so that he might find out what they had gained by trading.... 'I tell you, to all those who have, more will be given, but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away.....

Prayerful Awareness Let us invoke the Holy Spirit to reveal the heart and mind of Jesus. Firstly Jesus coined this parable because His disciples thought He was going to Jerusalem to establish His Kingdom.

A worldly kingdom on the lines of David the shepherd who took over the mantle of kingship of the nation

Israel. So the nobleman is Jesus, who goes away to the far country meaning Heaven, to be appointed as King. He leaves His slaves with one pound each instructing them to do business. One slave made a tenfold profit and he was given in charge of ten cities. The least enterprising hoarded his pound when the clear instructions of the nobleman was to do business. Thus what he had was taken from him and given to the slave who showed very good results When we count out the other slave who made a five fold profit, we are left wondering what the other seven slaves did with their pound. We can glean that some of them banked it by Jesus' words in vs. 23. "Why then did you not put my money into the bank? Then when I returned, I could have collected it with interest?"

So to put it simply, Jesus the King is coming. And all of us who have accepted Him, must be engaged in the business of preparing for His coming in glory. As for those who petitioned God, that they do not want to accept His Son, their future is clearly stated.

My Sonship Thanks be to God, I have realized even late in life, that everything I own is a gift from God. My human abilities, talents, education and everything is God given. I must simply seek the anointing of the Holy Spirit so that God may achieve what He planned to achieve through me before the foundation of the world.

Prayer Starter Lord Jesus, the greatest gift You have given me is Your own Spirit. Help me to empty myself like Your Blessed Mother that I may fall in line one hundred percent with the Will of God, the merciful Father.

"Abba Father! Abba Mother!"

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Thursday 21st November 2019 Presentation of the Bl. Virgin Mary

with God meant first and foremost, faith Zechariah:2/10-13 and trust, prayer and worship of a loving Psalm: Luke:1/46-55 God. Mother Mary sought God's Will Mathew:12/46-50 constantly and lived with it. When the

The First Proclamation Sing and rejoice, O daughter Zion! For lo, I will come and dwell in your midst, says the Lord. Many nations shall join themselves to the Lord on that day, and shall be my people, and I will dwell in your midst.

And you shall know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you. The Lord will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land, and will again choose Jerusalem. ...

The Gospel Proclamation While he was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers were standing outside, wanting to speak to him. Someone told him, "Look, your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you." But to the one who had told him this, Jesus replied, "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?" And pointing to his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the Will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother."

Prayerful Awareness On today's feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Mother Mary to God by her parents, let us thank Our Lord immensely and in a special way for fulfilling His promise given for the chosen people. Surely Father God would have chosen her to be the Mother of Jesus to redeem the whole of mankind even before her conception. Since her childhood, her personal relationship

Lord said, "Whoever does the Will of my Father in heaven is my brother, sister and mother", He would have been well aware that apart from Himself, it was His mother who holds the pride of place in fulfilling the Will of God. Mother Mary is the perfect model for each one of us for being open to the Will of God, i.e to accept the Word of God wholeheartedly and live accordingly. Discipleship for her became a way of life. Mother Mary is not only the Mother of Jesus, she is also the Mother of all of us. That is why, far greater than blood relationship, is the relationship that is established through obedience to the Word of God. For Jesus, spiritual relationship is greater than biological relationship. Mother Mary is related to Him by blood and by obedience to God's Word that she received through the angel.

Gaze at our sonship Have I a thirst for the Word of God and do I act accordingly? Do I experience the power of the Word of God? The Holy Bible is full of promises and resolutions. Do I make them practical in my daily life and share them with others to glorify God? Like Mother Mary I too can have a closer relationship with Jesus.

Prayer Starter Holy Spirit inspire me to see all people as children of God and consider all those whom I meet as my spiritual family.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

"Abba Father! Abba Mother!"

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Friday 22nd November 2019 St. Cecilia, Virgin & Martyr

sacrifices and offered sacrifices there ac1 Maccabees:4/36-37, cording to the percepts of the law. It was 52-59 decided that the feast should be solemnly Psalm:1 Chr.29/10-12) celebrated each year to commemorate the end of the period of persecution and Luke:19/45-48

blasphemy.

Jesus shows His respect for the temple in today's Gospel with the ejection of vendors from the temple area. What had St. Cecilia begun as a convenience for visitors from Today we celebrate the feast of St. other parts of the country to buy the neCecilia, the patroness of musicians. It is cessities for the sacrifices that they were written that as the musicians played at to offer had become a place of commerce. her wedding, she "sang in her heart to The action is also an implicit Lucan the Lord". She is one of seven women, acknowledgement that God does not in addition to the Blessed Virgin, commemorated by name in the Canon of the dwell in houses made by human hands Mass. The legend about Cecilia's death (Acts 7/1-53).

Christianity has always had churches says that after being struck three times on the neck with a sword, she lived for three of particular reverence, but never a single days and asked the Pope to convert her place of distinct or obligatory worship.

The reason for this is clear from the Goshome into a Church. pels. The risen Jesus is the locus of sacred The First Proclamation worship; He is the unique tabernacle of Then Judas and his brothers said, the new dispensation. In addition, He now "See, our enemies are crushed; let us shares the Spirit with His followers, with go up to cleanse the sanctuary and the result that they too become temples dedicate it." So all the army assembled of God. Or with the Johannine Jesus, we worship God not on Mount Gerizim nor and went up to Mount Zion. .... At the very season and on the in Jerusalem but in spirit and truth.

Gaze at our sonship very day that the Gentiles had profaned it, it was dedicated with songs * Does your prayer to the Lord conand harps and lutes and cymbals. ...... sist in a simple relationship of father to The Gospel Proclamation son in which you find all that is needed Then he entered the temple and to communicate with God, or is it accombegan to drive out those who were panied by usage and practices to gain His selling things there, and he said, "It is goodness? * "My house will be a house of written, 'My house shall be a house of prayer'; but you have made it a den of prayer", Jesus returns the temple to the Father. This speaks to us. Is the church robbers.".... a house of prayer for me? Does it heal Prayerful Awareness my spirit?

The first reading today recounts the * Let us practice eternal silence at our re-dedication of the Temple by Judas daily experiences of prayer as we are also and his brothers, recalled today in the given the chance to be the temple of God. Jewish feast of Hanukkah. The temple Prayer Starter had been desecrated with the blasphemies of Antiochus Epiphances. Judas and his O Lord strengthen our spirit for being company constructed the altar of burnt houses of prayer to the Father!

"Abba Father! Abba Mother!"

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St. Clement I, Pope & Martyr Saturday 23rd November 2019 St. Columban being children of the resurrection.

1 Maccabees: 6/1-13 And the fact that the dead are raised, Psalm:9/2-4, 6, 16, 19 Moses himself showed, in the story about the bush, where he speaks of (9/1-3,5,15,18) the Lord as the God of Abraham, the Luke:20/27-40 God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.

Now he is God not of the dead, but of the living, for to him all of them are alive." Then some of the scribes The First Proclamation answered, "Teacher, you have spoken well." For they no longer dared to ask King Antiochus was going him another question. through the upper provinces when Prayerful Awareness he heard that Elymais in Persia was a city famed for its wealth in silver The resurrection of the dead is and gold ..... So he came and tried confirmed by Jesus Christ. "He is the to take the city and plunder it, but God of the living, not of the dead, for he could not because his plan had to Him all are alive." (Luke 20:38). become known to the citizens and On the Mount of Transfiguration, they withstood him in battle. So he "Then .... Moses and Elijah talking with fled and in great disappointment left Jesus" (Mathew 17:30 - This clearly there to return to Babylon....... says that they were alive. He wants us The Gospel Proclamation to be alive - physically, morally and intellectually. On our part, as followers Some Sadducees, ...... came to of Jesus Christ, we are expected to help him and asked him a question. our brethren to be alive in all these "Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if areas. The Church too is dedicated to a man's brother dies, leaving a wife this task and runs schools, institutions, but no children, the man shall marry orphanages etc. to help needy people. the widow and raise up children for When faced with this task we feel we his brother. Now there were seven are not up to it or are unable to face it brothers; the first married, and successfully. The way Jesus tackled died childless, then the second and this problem is a guiding star. He used the third married her, and so in the language, arguments and experiences same way all seven died childless. which people could and were able to Finally the woman also died. In the understand. He used their own vocabresurrection, therefore, whose wife ulary or their own ground. To be better will the woman be? For the seven teachers of His word we have to do the had married her. same. "God has placed me here not to Jesus said to them, "Those who be successful but to be faithful". (Mothbelong to this age marry and are er Theresa). Let us resolve to be faithful given in marriage, but those who to the task and let Him have the crop. are considered worthy of a place Prayer Starter in that age and in the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor Help us to be true to the task ahead are given in marriage. Indeed they of us, not to run away but to face the cannot die anymore, because they are challenges with the sole aim of glorilike angels and are children of God, fying You O Lord. Amen.

"Abba Father! Abba Mother!"

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34th Sunday of Ordinary Time Sunday 24th October 2019 Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe 2 Samuel:5/1-3 Psalm:121/1-2,4-5 (122/1-5) Colossians:1/12-20 Luke:23/35-43

Introduction On this last Sunday of the year, the Holy Mother the Church reminds us that we too should submit ourselves to the sovereignty of Jesus Christ the King of kings of the entire universe. He is the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End of everything. Everything has been created in Him, through Him and for Him. It is our faith that just as there is no end to His dominion, He will come one day to judge the living and the dead. Therefore let us pray that we too may give over the authority of our lives to Him and make our life journey in union with Him. The First Proclamation Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron, and said, "Look, we are your bone and flesh. For some time, while Saul was king over us, it was you who led out Israel and brought it in. The Lord said to you: It is you who shall be shepherd of my people Israel, you who shall be ruler over Israel." So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron; and king David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel.

Prayerful Awareness Today, the first proclamation speaks of David, an Israelite of thirty years, being anointed as king over Israel. While he was highly esteemed by people, his reign of forty years is considered a

magnificent era in the history of Israel.

Sincerely repenting for his sins and being loyal to God, he ruled the nation with great love for his people and God's hand moved to give birth to the Savior of the world from the line of King David.

The Gospel Proclamation And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, "He saved others, let him save himself if he is the messiah of God, his chosen one!" The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and saying, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!'

There was also an inscription over him, "This is the King of the Jews."

One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, "Are you not the Messiah!

Save yourself and us!" But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong. Then he said "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." He replied, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise."

Prayerful Awareness Jewish soldiers as well as most of the people watching the drama near the cross were waiting to see the action of the Lord Jesus similar to that of a human king. The Lord hanging on the cross confronted with slander and scoffing directed at Him, was able to face the whole issue as the King of the Kingdom of God since He was equipped with the power of the Holy Spirit which He experienced even on the cross. Revelations of the Kingdom of God that the Lord Jesus made known to us through His

"Abba Father! Abba Mother!"

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sacrifice on the cross, can be grasped only by those who have experienced the light of the Holy Spirit. The thief on the right that we meet in today's Gospel proclamation, at that precise moment was able to see Jesus in a new light. It was something that the Jewish soldiers and the criminal on the left failed to see and thus did not understand.

This incident further sets before us the mercy and kindness of Jesus towards the Jews, Gentiles, disciples, women and sinners at large that we come across in the Gospel of St. Luke. Accordingly, the thief on the left won the mercy of Jesus at the exact moment that he repented for his sins. Therefore, let us not drop the keys of repentance that we hold in our right hand as a means of stepping on to the Kingdom we are called to enter.

The Second Proclamation giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation, for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominations or rulers or powers - all things have been created through him and for him. ... He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the first-born from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.

Prayerful Awareness It was by the salvific death of Jesus that the whole world was reconciled to the Creator through redemption and

repentance. What the people experienced through Him was the sweetness of heaven and also mercy and kindness, the divine attributes of the invisible God. Accordingly all perfection is found in Him. Further, through His sacrificial blood, the unbroken bond of reconciliation of everything in heaven and earth was dawned on earth.

During the time of Jesus on earth all the inhabitants of Palestine were beset with severe economic difficulties due to which robbers, underground groups as well as unemployment and slavery were largely on the increase along with the high payment of taxes to the Emperor.

Seeing their plight of falling victims to modes of oppression under human power, the Lord called them with His merciful love to enter into the realm of the Kingdom of God and in consequence they daily experienced true freedom within and without under His dominion and authority, proclaimed with their lips Jesus Christ is Lord and embraced a lifestyle in submission to Him.

Our Son-ship Today, on this last Sunday of the liturgical year, as we reflect on the experience received through our participation in the Eucharistic celebration during the past year and on meditating on the word of God, can we say that we have acknowledged Lord Jesus as our Lord and King?

Let us meditate. Is the Eucharistic celebration a mere ritual, a liturgical action for me or do I experience, through the sacrifice of Calvary, the power to face pain and death encountered in life?

Prayer Starter Abba Father, Abba Mother, grace us with the light of the Holy Spirit to be in constant thirst for the love of God channeled to us through the life of Your Son and gift it to others while enjoining it within ourselves.

"Abba Father! Abba Mother!"

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Monday 25th November 2019 Daniel:1/1-6, 8-20 Psalm:Dan.3/52-56 (Daniel 1/29-34 OR 3/52-56) Luke:21/1-4

The First Proclamation .... Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched on Jerusalem and besieged it. The Lord let Jehoiakim king of Judah fall into his power, ... From the Israelites, the king ordered Ashpenaz, his chief eunuch, to bring a certain number of boys of royal or noble descent ... suitable for service at the royal court. Ashpenaz was to teach them to speak and write the language of the Chaldaeans. The king assigned them a daily allowance of food and wine from the royal table. They were to receive an education lasting for three years, after which they would enter the royal service. Among them were the Judaeans Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah .... Daniel, who was determined not to incur pollution by food and wine from the royal table, begged the chief eunuch to spare him this defilement. ... Daniel then said, 'Please allow your servants a ten days' trial, during which we are given only vegetables to eat and water to drink .... When the ten days were over, they looked better and fatter than any of the boys who had eaten their allowance from the royal table ... To these four boys God gave knowledge and skill in every aspect of literature and learning ... The king conversed with them, and among all the boys found none to equal Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.

So they became members of the king's court...

St. Catherine of Alexandria

Fix your gaze on Jesus Lord, teach us to stay blessed even as Daniel here did, despite the allure of the 'World' to diffuse our focus from the source of 'All that there Is'....

Our parents 'Adam and Eve' admitted the belief that the power to 'Satisfy Us' and 'Make us feel/experience our Worthiness' rested outside of ourselves. In the belief that they were 'Not Okay', they searched for their worthiness, their likeness to God, in the eating of the 'Forbidden Fruit'. The Lord's assurances that they were 'Okay', and indeed 'Beloved', and to experience their worthiness in the existing connection were discarded, and the Liar's contention accepted. The beautifully packaged 'Lie', pleasing to the primal senses, thus became our sad truth. We have remained trapped in this lie since, except for a few blessed individuals like Daniel who refused gluttony at the king's table in the understanding that food is basically nutrients for the upkeep of the (temporary) body we're housed in presently. Thus did it become necessary for the Lord Jesus to come and proclaim that the 'Kingdom of God' is very near; was truly within you! And His praising of the poor widow to explain this mind-set in the Gospel today. For the Lord loves a cheerful giver; underlying which attitude is a 'Richness and Abundance' of the heart!

Prayer Starter

Dearest Lord, thank You for revealing Your love for us; we understand that we are created rich; that we are truly beautiful and powerful; that we have the ability to experience Love and be Loving and be in communion despite external circumstances. We can create what is 'Good and Bountiful' for ourselves given our connection to the Almighty, Abba our Father-Mother!

Please help us stay in this truth, to put it to practice....

"Abba Father! Abba Mother!"

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Tuesday 26th November 2019 Daniel:2/31-45 Psalm:Dan.3/57-61 (Dan. 1/35-39 OR 3/57-61) Luke:21/5-11

The Gospel Proclamation When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, he said, "As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another, all will be thrown down."

They asked him, "Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?

And he said, "Beware that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name and say, 'I am he!' and, 'The time is near!' Do not go after them. ......

Gaze on Jesus It was a comment on the splendour of the temple that moved Jesus to prophesy. Jesus could read the signs of history Others might be blind to the approaching disaster. Jesus saw the disaster about to descend. This is because Jesus sees things through the eyes of God, that he sees them clearly. He did not leave His disciples unprepared for the difficult years ahead. Thus, He warns the disciples the magnificent temple of which they are so proud of will soon be completely destroyed and nothing will be left of it. He warned them about false messiahs, natural disasters and persecutions, but assured them to protect them and make His Kingdom

St. Sylvester of Osimo, Abbot known through them.

Jesus speaking on the Last Day, warns the people not to be mislead by the false prophets who will come in His Name to represent Jesus or claim to proclaim Jesus. "See that you are not deceived, for many will come in my name saying, 'I am he and the time has come." (vs.8) Jesus gives an emphatic response. "Do not follow them". Jesus promised them in the end He would return in power and glory to save them.

Jesus' warnings and promises to His disciples also apply to us as we look forward to His return. Isn't this a very serious situation we have to take not of in our present century? Let us be awake and steadfast in faith, pray to 'Almighty God who could calm down all our fears.

We listen and do mostly what the world says. It is because we do not awaken ourselves to the Holy Spirit. Do we experience the Kingdom of God in our midst because of Jesus? It is where the Will of God is reigning that we see this Kingdom. Let us believe that Jesus will come in all His glory in His Second Coming.

In the First Proclamation Daniel reports on the king's dream and is truthful in telling the king that another will replace him and that the kingdom will be divided into alliances made by marriage and that all will shatter and fall. But there will be a kingdom without end set up by God. It will be stronger than all kingdoms on earth. Daniel the slave becomes Daniel the prophet of God, speaking the truth to the mightiest power in his lifetime/history.

Prayer Starter Dear Lord, empower us through the Holy Spirit to be always aware to Your presence, to listen and obey You and do what You want us to do in building Your Kingdom.

"Abba Father! Abba Mother!"

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Wednesday 27th November 2019 Daniel:5/1-6,13-14, 16-17,23-28 Psalm:Dan.3/62-67 (Dan. 1/40-45 OR 3/62-67) Luke:21/12-19

Gospel Proclamation 'Before all these things take place, however, you will be arrested and persecuted; ...; you will be brought before kings and rulers for my sake. This will be your chance to tell the Good News.

Make up your minds beforehand not to worry about how you will defend yourselves, because I will give you such words and wisdom that none of your enemies will be able to refute or contradict what you say. You will be handed over by your parents, your brothers, your relatives, and your friends; and some of you will be put to death. But not a single hair from your heads will be lost. Stand firm, and you will save yourselves. Everyone will hate you because of me. ' Gaze at Jesus When one identifies him/herself as a Christian it also shows their commitment to follow Christ. The life that entails following Christ is in its humility, simplicity, forgiveness, acceptance of others under challenging circumstances, reaching out to those in need. In the bigger picture, when one decided to take a stand for Christ, he/she also will take steps to evangelize. Jesus recognizes that the way of life He has introduced to those who commit their life to Him will have to live challenging life styles.

Therefore, Lord assures His faithfulness to those who have been called.

Our sonship In the first reading the mysterious

hand that writes on the wall warns King Belshazzar and those who were gathered in the king’s court about their extravagance and false worship.

Thus, it is a testimony to those of us living in this fast-paced society, overshadowed with material comfort, that wealth, power and pride cannot be treated with divinity. God is our heavenly father and when we begin to live within the paradigm of God’s security, we really do not need much of the hoarding we do to secure our comforts.

Let us also search our hearts today to reflect on our own priorities. Unwittingly we may be drawn to idols that over power us in a way that we have moved away from the simplicity that God calls us to live.

Let us also gaze at our God through all the natural phenomena and let us remind ourselves that the creator of all this is our own heavenly father. Therefore, let us place all our trust in Him and praise Him for His faithfulness to each one of us.

Prayerful Praise (Daniel 3: 62-67) Praise the Lord, sun and moon; Sing his praise and honour him forever.

Praise the Lord stars of heaven; Sing his praise and honour him forever Praise the Lord, rain and dew; Sing his praise and honour him forever Praise the Lord, all winds; Sing his praise and honour him forever Praise the Lord, fire and heat; Sing his praise and honour him forever Praise the Lord, bitter cold and scorching heat; Sing his praise and honour him forever.

"Abba Father! Abba Mother!"

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Thursday 28th November 2019 Daniel:6/12-28 Psalm:Dan.3/68-74 (Dan.1/46-52 OR 3/68-74) Luke:21/20-28

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

Prayerful Awareness When Luke mentioned the destruction of Jerusalem that took place in 70 A.D., it was around 15 years after the occurrence, upon which Luke and his community look back to know how it occurred just as Jesus predicted. Jesus said that they will know the time when they see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, for believers of His Word to escape and take shelter. This gives us an assurance that the Son of Man will come in a cloud as referred to in vs. 2728 above, where Jesus predicted the last days of final redemption, for His believers to know and be ready. Jesus tells us to stay awake and pray for strength and be on guard and not let anyone lead us astray, and follow all His Teachings and

Commandments. It is said, "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments (Matthew 22:37-40) Jesus also said “love one another as I love you ” (John 15:12), and “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Mathew 28: 19-20). First we are called to follow all His Commandments and be His witnesses to spread His Word in every possible way, leading pious lives.

The First Reading speaks of Daniel, God’s servant, who was thrown to the lions, for praying to his God. But, God sent His angels and shut the mouths of the lions to save Daniel. Then king Darius wrote to all people, tribes, and languages, dwelling in the whole earth.

“It is decreed by me, that in all my empire and my kingdom all men dread and fear the God of Daniel. For He is the living and eternal God for ever: and His kingdom shall not be destroyed, and His power shall be forever. He is the deliverer, and saviour, doing signs and wonders in heaven, and on earth: who hath delivered Daniel out of the lions’ den.”

Prayer Starter Jesus Christ, I accept You as my Saviour and Lord. Forgive me for all my past sins, mould me and raise me, Intercede for me and send to me the Holy Spirit of God to receive His Wisdom to repent for all my sins and change my life to be a true witness of You Lord, Amen.

"Abba Father! Abba Mother!"

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Friday 29th November 2019 towards the end of November. CorreDaniel:7/2-14 spondingly, through the daily scripture Psalm:Dan.3/75-81 readings, the faithful are called to (Dan.1/53-59 OR contemplate on the first coming of the 3/75-81) Second Person of the Holy Trinity, into this world. On Christmas day and Luke:21/29-33 the Sunday preceding it, the scripture readings focus on this event.

At this juncture we are close to the end of the current Liturgical Year.

The First Proclamation Correspondingly the Mother Church I, Daniel, saw in my vision by draws our attention to the end of the night the four winds of heaven world, which coincides with the Second stirring up the great sea, and four Coming of Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus great beasts came up out of the sea, Christ into our world. different from one another. ..... As I The significance of the Second watched, thrones were set in place, and an Ancient One took his throne, Coming of Lord Jesus is that the judgehis clothing was white as snow, and ment of all the living and the dead will the hair of his head like pure wool; take place on this day. In contrast to the his throne was fiery flames, and its First Coming, Lord Jesus will come in wheels were burning fire. A stream glory to establish His Kingdom. We of fire issued and flowed from his proclaim this in the Creed.

Today's scripture readings, whilst presence .... I saw one like a human being coming with the clouds of drawing our attention to this event, exheaven. And he came to the Ancient plain through a simple parable, how we One and was presented before him. can recognise the arrival of the Second To him was given dominion and glory Coming of Lord Jesus. The preceding and kingship that all peoples, nations paragraphs give the details of what will and languages should serve him ..... happen prior to the end of the world.

My Sonship The Gospel Proclamation Then he told them a parable: "Look at the fig tree and all the trees, as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

Prayerful Awareness The Catholic liturgical year, begins

As I make my life's journey in this world, how conscious am I of the impending end of the world? How much of awareness do I have of the end of my life on earth? Or like Noah, am I only concerned about the daily routine and activities? Am I ready to face judgement at the end of my life?

Prayer Starter Blessed are You, O Lord, God of our ancestors, and to be praised and highly exalted forever. And blessed is Your glorious holy name .... (Daniel 3:52 ...)

"Abba Father! Abba Mother!"

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Saturday 30th November 2019 Romans:10/9-18 Psalm: 18/2-5

(19/1-4) Mathew:4/18-22

St. Andrew He was the elder brother of St. Peter. He had been a disciple of John the Baptist before Jesus was pointed out by him as the Messiah. No preaching and miracles were needed to convince him.

In the various lists of apostles, his name occupies the 2nd place. He was martyred during the reign of Nero at Patras on 30th November 60 by being tied to a cross made like the letter X (since known as St. Andrew's Cross). His body was buried in the Church of the Apostles.

His relics now lie in Amalfi, Italy and are revered to this day. Patron of Russia and Scotland and also of fishermen and of spinsters.

The First Proclamation because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. The scripture says, 'No one who believes in him will be put to shame.' For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. For, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."

But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? and how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? As

St. Andrew, Apostle it is written , "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"

But not all have obeyed the good news; for Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our message?'" So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ.....

Prayerful Awareness The very first two verses give us the basis of the first Christian creed.

Say Jesus Christ is Lord. 'KURIOS' is the word for Lord and it was the key word of early Christianity. The parallel for 'Lord' in English is 'Sir', 'Monsieur' in French. It is the title of Greek gods, and the Roman Emperor. Jesus Kurios - when we call Him like that we pledge Him reverent worship, obedience and give Him the supreme place in life. We place Him on par with God. Our belief in Jesus' Resurrection must be a firm one or unwavering. It is the very foundation of Christian belief. We must not only know about Christ, we must know Him - this is one of the basic truths of Christianity.

Christ not only lived, but also lives. To limit our knowledge of Christ to a mere figure in history - surely we have gone beyond and we are living with a real presence. He is both the martyr and the victor. And of these basic truths, St.Paul says, we must not only believe in our hearts but also confess with our lips.

As Christians let us combine these two belief plus confession. Not only through our words but also by our deeds and acts let us "Preach without preaching". There is an open invitation to Jews as well as to us to abandon the way of legalism and woo the way of grace. Their enthusiasm was misplaced and the only way to God was and is through His Son Jesus Christ and this is open to all.

Prayer Starter What a blessed thing it is, that " No one who believes in Jesus will be put to shame." Amen.

"Abba Father! Abba Mother!"

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"Abba Father! Abba Mother!"