Walk in the Spirit June 2020

WALK IN THE SPIRIT June 2020 Issue 340 Commencement March 1992

“O Mary! The power of the Most High shall overshadow you”

ISSN 1391-5967

Publication: Fr. Siri Oscar Abayaratne Kithu Dana Pubuduwa

SHARING ON PRAYER June 2020 The picture of the Blessed Mother hanging on the wall in front of me is nothing more than any other picture that remains unnoticed.

Its time that I tell myself that I come back to her and experience the impact of her seething power so freely available. I look at her picture over and again and allow what happens to continue to happen.

Dear Mother, share with me the Holy Spirit you are filled with.

Fr. Siri Oscar Abayaratne

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Monday 1st June 2020 Genesis:3/9-15,20 OR Acts:1/12-14 Psalm:86/1-3,5-7 (87/1-3, 5-7) John:19/25-34

The First Proclamation Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day's journey away. When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying, Peter and John and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Mathew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.

The Gospel Proclamation Meanwhile standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, "Woman, here is your son."

Then he said to the disciple, "Here is your mother." And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.

After this, when Jesus knew that all was now finished, he said (in order to fulfill the scripture), "I am thirsty."

A jar full of sour wine was standing there. So they put a sponge full of the wine on a branch of hyssop and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the wine, he said, "It is finished."

Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Since it was the day of Preparation, the Jews did not want the bodies

left on the cross during the sabbath, especially because that sabbath was a day of great solemnity. So they asked Pilate to have the legs of the crucified men broken and the bodies removed.

Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who had been crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once blood and water came out.

Gaze at Jesus' Sonship When our Lord began the work of redemption, Our Lady's role as His mother changed. The change was from being the mother of Jesus to the mother of everyone whom Jesus redeemed. Added to this she became the mother of His mystical body or the Church - she the new Eve and Our Lord the new Adam. "Our Lord picked up the refrain of Cana and addressed Our Blessed Mother with the same title He gave her at the marriage feast - "Woman".

It was the second annunciation. With a gesture of His dust-filled eyes and His thorn-crowned head He looked lovingly at her, who had sent Him willingly to the cross and who is now standing beneath it as a co-operator in His redemption. He did not call Him John: to do that would have been to address him as the son of Zebedee. But in his anonymity John stood for all mankind. Here is the answer to the mysterious words in the Gospel of the Incarnation which stated that Our Blessed Mother laid her "first-born" in the manger. Did that mean she was to have other children? It certainly did, but not according to the flesh. Jesus Christ was to have other children not according to flesh, but according to the Spirit." (Archbishop F.J.Sheen).

Prayer Starter Virgin purest, virgin rarest; help of all who cry to thee. Amen.

“O Mary! The power of the Most High shall overshadow you�

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Tuesday 2nd June 2020 2 Peter:3/12-15,17-18 Psalm:89/2-4,10,14,16 (90/2-4,10,14,16) Mark:12/13-17

The First Proclamation Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;…. Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

Fix your gaze on Jesus How real is the present perception we have of reality? Jesus, our Master in saying, ‘Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s’ seems to infer a distinction here, between what is of God and what is of the World; and the first reading very emphatically and clearly states the same, seeming to hint at the states of material manifestation and that of energy / intelligence-the true indestructible and foundational stuff of this creation. A very necessary question

we need to ask seems to be, ‘what is our true nature’? And, ‘what is the nature of the on-going renewal / transformation / evolution / process that the Creator/God is conducting here’?

We are told that ‘we are not human beings learning to be spiritual, but spiritual beings being trained to be human’.

If we were to say this in other words, we are Children of Light- creatures who are foundationally Energy/Intelligence in nature (divine stuff), who are presently (in the Now and Here) relating to a material state of being!

Please search within to find your personal take on what is meant by, ‘God, who is also the Living WORD, gave up his glory, and became flesh. One in being with the Father’. Now, set aside your personal take for an instant and try to relate this to the statements above. See the wonder that is transpiring! We who are called human being are really composed of divine stuff; we simply need to shed our erroneous understandings of ‘Who We Think We Are’, and accept God’s assertions of ‘Who We Should Think (believe) We Are’. So, ‘beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ’. In spite of their intention to trap Jesus, they said the truth, ‘Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man of the World; u regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth’. Shall we too accept that Jesus is the Truth, and his revelations are the ‘Way’ to the Bosom of Love, so that we could have ‘Life’ eternal?

Prayer Starter As through a faded mirror, things seem to be becoming clearer O Lord.... we should contemplate your word more and more and seek to experience the true nature of ‘What Is’, and our relationship with the enveloping 'Abba Amma' ...

“O Mary! The power of the Most High shall overshadow you”

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Wednesday 3rd June 2020 2 Timothy:1/1-3,6-12 Psalm: 122/1-2 (123/1-2) Mark:12/18-27 The Gospel Proclamation Some Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him and asked him a question, saying "Teacher, Moses wrote for us that 'If a man's brother dies, leaving a wife but no child, the man shall marry the widow and raise up children for his brother.'

There were seven brothers; the first married and, when he died, left no children; ... Last of all the woman herself died. In the resurrection whose wife will she be? For the seven had married her."

Jesus said to them, "Is not this the reason you are wrong, that you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God? For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. ..,...

Prayerful Awareness

Charles Lwanga & Companions produce children, care for her and allow the family line to continue. The first son of this marriage was considered the heir of the dead man. (Deut. 25/5-6). What life would be like after the resurrection is far beyond our ability to understand or imagine (Isaiah 64:4, 1 Cor.2:9). We need not be afraid of eternal life because of the unknown. Therefore, instead of wondering what God's coming Kingdom would be like, we should concentrate on our relationship with Christ right now because in the new kingdom we will be with Him. Let us learn to love and trust Christ now. Then we will not be afraid of what He has in store for us.

Jesus' statement does not mean that people would not recognise their partners in the coming kingdom. It simply means that God's new order will not be that an extension of this life, with the same physical and material rules would not apply. Jesus' comment in verse 25 was not intended to be the final word on marriage in heaven. Instead His response was, Jesus' refusal to answer the Sadducees' riddle and fall into their trap. Side stepping their question about a much married woman, He gave a definite answer to their question about the Resurrection.

The Sadducees' real question was not about marriage but about the doctrine of resurrection. Jesus quoted from Exodus 3:6 to prove that there is life after death.

God spoke of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob years after their death as if they still lived. God's covenant with all people exists beyond death. Jesus' reply "have you not read the book of Moses in the account of the bush how God said to him, "I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob?

He is not the God of the dead but of the living. You are badly mistaken."

Prayer Starter

After the Pharisees and Herodians failed to trap Jesus with their tax question, the Sadducees stepped in with a question they were sure would stump Him. This was a question that they had successfully used because the Pharisees could not come up with an answer. The Sadducees did not believe in life after death because the Pentateuch (Genesis & Deuteronomy) had no direct teaching about it, and the writings of Moses were the only scriptures they followed. But Jesus was about to point out that Moses' books support this idea of eternal life (Mark 12:26). According to the Old TesJesus my Lord and Master, we believe tament Law when a man died with a son, that You are the Son of God Most High. his brother had to marry the widow and Jesus give us eternal life.

“O Mary! The power of the Most High shall overshadow you�

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Thursday 4th June 2020 2 Timothy:2/8-15 Psalm:24/4-5,8-10,14 (25/4-5,8-10,14) Mark:12/28-34 OR Our Lord Jesus Christ, The Eternal High Priest Genesis: 22/9-18 Psalm:39/7-11,17 (40/7-11,17) Matthew:26/36-42 The First Proclamation When they came to the place that God had shown him, Abraham built an altar there .... He bound his son Isaac, and laid him on the altar, ....

Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to kill his son. But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven, and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." He said, "Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me." And Abraham looked up and saw a ram, caught in a thicket by its horns. Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering, instead of his son. ...

The angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven, and said, "By myself I have sworn, says the Lord; Because you have done this, and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will indeed bless you, and I will make your offspring as numerous as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. .... and by your offspring shall all the nations of the earth gain blessing for themselves, because you have obeyed

my voice."

The Gospel Proclamation Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and agitated. Then he said to them, "I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and stay awake with me." And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed. "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me, yet not what I want but what you want." Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, "So, could you not stay awake with me one hour?

Stay awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." Again he went away for the second time and prayed, "My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done."

Prayerful Awareness This night was a night like no other.

Jesus knew that he would have to face the agony of a cross alone. Though He took His three trusted disciples, the battle was his to fight. At 33 years He was facing the terrible concept of a crucifixion. He had to speak to the Father whom He trusted. He knelt down to pray and submitted to the Father's Will. He came out of the Garden of Gethsemane with one resolve that He would accept death on a cross so that you and I could have the gift of eternal life.

Prayer Starter Thank You Heavenly Father for Jesus Thy precious Son. I thank and praise You Lord for accepting the cross in my place and dying to save a sinner like me. I love You Lord. Amen!

“O Mary! The power of the Most High shall overshadow you�

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Friday 5th June 2020

St. Boniface, Bishop & Martyr

2 Timothy:3/10-17 Psalm:118/157,160, 161,165,166,168 (119/157,160,161,165, 166,168) Mark:12/35-37

Gospel Proclamation While Jesus was teaching in the temple, he said, “How can the scribes say that the Messiah is the son of David? David himself, by the Holy Spirit, declared, 'The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet."

David himself calls him lord; so how can he be his son?” And the large crowd was listening to him with delig ht.

Prayerful Awareness People of the time of Jesus thought, that a future Kingdom should arrive through one to be sent by God, called Messiah, or Christ. He would have been anointed so as to be able to carry out His mission as stated in Isaiah 61:1. Some expected that He would be a prophet; others, a king, a disciple or a priest. In Psalm 72 they expected an ideal king, new and more powerful than David.

In the first reading (2 Tim. 3:10-17) St. Paul writes to Timothy and the followers to adhere to his teachings on the way of life, it’s purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions and sufferings, such as what he had to undergo and endure, yet from all these the Lord delivered him. He further stated that all who want to live religiously in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. But wicked people and charlatans will go from

bad to worse, deceivers and deceived.

But you, remain faithful to what you have learned and believed, because you know from whom you learned it, and that from infancy you have known the sacred Scriptures, which are capable of giving you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired

by God and is useful for teaching, for refutation, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that one who belongs to God may be competent, equipped for every good work. Jesus’ disciple James wrote in his letter (Jm. 1: 2-8), to consider it all joy, when you encounter various trials, and to know those as testing of your faith that produces perseverance which should be perfect, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. He also said that if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly. But he should ask in faith, not doubting. For the one who doubts must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord.

Have Faith in God and His great Love (1 Jn.4:16 & Deut. 31;.6 ) that He will never leave you or forsake you. Trust in the great Love of God and believe and know that He cares for you. St. Paul in his letter (1 Thes. 5: 16-18) said Rejoice always, Pray without ceasing, In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the Will of God for you in Christ Jesus. Therefore trust and depend on God for everything, like the Holy Mother guided by the Holy Spirit. For God cares and looks after us.

Let us thank, pray and depend on Him for everything as a child of God. Prayer Starter God our Loving Father, grant me Wisdom to understand Your great Love for me and for every one whom You created as Your own. We know that You, created us to Your own Image to act like You and bring You glory. We thank You and praise You. We ask all this in the Name of our Lord, Jesus Amen.

“O Mary! The power of the Most High shall overshadow you”

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Saturday 6th June 2020 2 Timothy:4/1-8 Psalm:70/8-9,14-17,22 (71/8-9,14-17,22) Mark:12/38-44 Introduction Let us read today’s Proclamations meditatively, which are self-explanatory, and which highlight the contrasting behaviors of those who are close to God’s heart, i.e., those who are led by the Holy Spirit, and experiencing God’s Son-ship, and those who are not.

Saint Norbert, Bishop St. Norbert was born at Xanten in the Rhineland, about the year 1080. The early part of his life was devoted to the world and its pleasures. He entered upon the ecclesiastical state in a worldly spirit…..

The thunderstorm had boiled up suddenly as Norbert was out riding. Norbert, who had always chosen the easy way, would never have deliberately gone on a journey that promised danger, risk, or discomfort. …But now high winds pushed and pulled at his fashionable coif, rain slashed at his fancy clothes, and dark rolling clouds pressed right down upon his light thoughts. A sudden flash of lightning split the dark and his horse bucked, throwing Norbert to the ground.

For almost an hour, the still form of the courtier lay unmoving. Even the rain soaking his clothes and the howl of thunder did not bring him back to consciousness and life. When he awoke his first words were, "Lord, what do you want me to do?"

-- the same words Saul spoke on the road to Damascus. In response Norbert heard in his heart, "Turn from evil and do good.

Seek peace and pursue it." He immediately returned to the place of his birth, Xanten, to devote himself to prayer and penance.

He now embraced the instruction for the priesthood he had avoided and was ordained in 1115. His complete conversion and new ways caused some to denounce the former courtier as a hypocrite. Norbert's response was to give everything he

St. Norbert, Bishop owned to the poor and to go to the pope for permission to preach.

With this commission in hand, he became an itinerant preacher, traveling through Europe with his two companions.

In an extreme response to his old ways, he now chose the most difficult ways to travel -- walking barefoot in the middle of winter through snow and ice. …. Norbert was gaining the respect of those sincere clerics who had despised him before. The bishop of Laon ..offered Norbert land where he could start his own community.

In a lonely valley called Prmontr, began his community with thirteen canons.

Despite the strictness of his regulation, or perhaps because of it, his reforms attracted many disciples until eight abbeys and two convents were involved. Even the canons who had originally rejected him asked to be part of the reform.

In Norbert's community we have the first evidence of lay affiliation with a religious order. This came about when a count Theobald wanted to join Norbert.

Norbert realized that Theobald was not called to holy orders but to marriage and worldly duties. But he did not entirely reject Theobald, giving him a rule and devotions as well as a scapular to wear to identify him as part of the community.

It was on the trip accompanying Theobald to his marriage, that Norbert was spotted by Emperor Lothair and chosen as bishop of Magdebourg. Legend has it the porter refused to let Norbert into his new residence, assuming he was a beggar. When the crowd pointed out to the flustered porter that this was the new bishop Norbert told the porter, "You were right the first time." Norbert … was soon called back -- not because the citizens missed him but because the emperor and the pope pressured them.

When two rival popes were elected after the death of Honorius II, Norbert helped try to heal the Church by getting his admirer the emperor to support the first elected, Innocent II. At the end of his life he was made an archbishop but he died soon after on June 6, 1134 at the age of 53. (extracted from the Internet)

“O Mary! The power of the Most High shall overshadow you”

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Sunday 7th June 2020 The Most Holy Trinity OR Trinity Sunday Ps Wk I though this is a stiff-necked people, Exodus:34/4-6,8-9 pardon our iniquity and our sin, and Psalm:Daniel:3/52-56 take us for your inheritance."

(Daniel:1/29-34 ) Prayerful Awareness 2 Corinthians:13/11-13 John:3/16-18

Introduction

Moses, the servant favoured by the Lord, responded to God listening to every word of His. Accordingly, he rises up at dawn and again goes up to the mountain Sinai, in conformity with the word of God. Thus, in the day's proclamation we find him renewing the laws broken by the people.

And God too reveals Himself openly as the One who is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness to which Moses responds in pleading with Him to once again walk amidst them, acknowledging them as His inheritance. Thus, throughout the Holy Scriptures we are made aware of how the God of love journeys with the Israelites.

Responsorial Psalm

God revealed Himself to man as the Triune God. His invisible love was presented to us through the Incarnation of His only begotten Son descended among us. Through the Holy Spirit we have access to be united with the Son. All of us offer our constant worship to the Father through Jesus Christ our Redeemer and Mediator and the Holy Spirit. We are constantly reminded of the Trinitarian God when we make the Sign of the Cross at the beginning as well as at the end of every prayer. Therefore as a community Blessed are you in the temple of experiencing the Trinitarian Love, your holy glory, and to be extolled and let us celebrate the solemnity of the highly glorified forever.

Trinity with much devotion.

Blessed are you who look into the The First Proclamation depths from your throne on the cher….. The Lord passed before him, ubim, and to be praised and highly and proclaimed, "The Lord, the exalted forever.

Lord, a God merciful and gracious, Blessed are you on the throne of slow to anger, and abounding in your kingdom, and to be extolled and steadfast love and faithfulness, highly exalted forever.

Gospel Proclamation And Moses quickly bowed his head toward the earth and worFor God so loved the world shipped. He said, "If now I have that he gave his only Son, so that found favour in your sight, O Lord, everyone who believes in him may I pray, let the Lord go with us, Al- not perish but may have eternal life.

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Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. Prayerful Awareness God who was present with His chosen people continually loved them.

Yet, when the people now and again went away abandoning Him, still He never ceased to pour down His abounding love by sending His only begotten Son. Man had access to such love simply because he was created in His own image and likeness. Therefore, God in His pursuing love of man, would never forsake him.

The love that was made visible with the incarnation of the Son, reached its climax with His death on the cross. The life sacrifice of Jesus confirmed God's love for man. God gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not be lost but may have eternal life, so that through Him the world might be saved.

Through His sacrifice on the cross, He generously bestows on us the Spirit of His overflowing love.

The Second Proclamation Finally, brothers and sisters, farewell. Put things in order, listen to my appeal, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.

Greet one another with a holy kiss.

All the saints greet you.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.

Prayerful Awareness In accordance with the exhortation of St. Paul to the Corinthians, we are made perfect by participating in the Trinity. Thus, does our life as Christians reflect the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ who showed His mercy through His total sacrifice of self, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit?

Our Sonship The Universe itself declares the presence of the Trinity. How much do we experience the love of the Father the giver, the love of the Son the receiver and the fruit of this reciprocal love the Holy Spirit, the Beloved in our day today events.

How much do we experience this giving and receiving love through one another and also through creation? Let us enter into prayer invoking God who is love, to make us open ourselves to this act of reciprocal love being manifest throughout His creation?

Prayer Starter Abba Father, You have created us in Your own image and likeness so that we may experience and give witness to Your love. Direct us always to reflect Your image through our lifestyle and to abide in Your Son who came to our midst to reveal the mystery of Your Godhead through which we would be enabled to worship the three Divine Persons in One God. Amen.

“O Mary! The power of the Most High shall overshadow you�

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Monday 8th June 2020 1 Kings:17/1-6 Psalm: 120/1-8 (121/1-8) Mathew:5/1-12

The First Proclamation Now Elijah and Tishbite, of Tishbe in Gilead said to Ahab, "As the Lord the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word." The word of the Lord came to him, saying, "Go from here and turn eastward, and hide yourself by the Wadi Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. You shall drink from the wadi, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there." So he went and did according to the word of the Lord; he went and lived by the Wadi Cherith, which is east of the Jordan.

The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the wadi.

The Gospel Proclamation

of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Gaze at Jesus' Sonship Here we have Jesus presenting His message to His disciples. They in turn were to take it to the people, to the corners of the earth. Here in the Sermon on the Mount, we have the essence of the teaching of Jesus to His disciples. "In the Beatitudes our Divine Lord takes those eight flimsy catchwords of the world - "Security", "Revenge", "Laughter", "Popularity", "Getting Even", "Sex", "Armed Might", and "Comfort" - and turns them upside down. To those who say, "You cannot be happy unless you are rich", He says, "Blessed are the poor in spirit". To those who say, "Don't let him get away with it", He says, "Blessed are the patient".

To those who say, "Laugh and the world laughs with you", He says, "Blessed are those who mourn". To those who say, "If nature gave you sex instincts you ought to give them free expression, otherwise you will become frustrated", He says, "Blessed are the clean of heart" : To those who say, "Seek to be popular and well known,: He says, "Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and speak all manner of evil against you falsely because of Me". To those who say, "In time of peace prepare for war" He says, "Blessed are the peacemakers."

(Archbishop F.J.Sheen).

Prayer Starter

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

Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will Help us to be open to the blessings see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children in Beatitudes, at our doorstep. Amen.

“O Mary! The power of the Most High shall overshadow you�

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Tuesday 9th June 2020

St. Ephrem, Deacon & Doctor

1 Kings:17/7-16 Psalm:4/2-5,7-8 (4/1-4,6-7) Mathew:5/13-16

The First Proclamation But after a while the stream dried up, for the country had had no rain.

And then the word of Yahweh came to him, 'Up and go to Zarephath in Sidonia, and stay there. I have ordered a widow there to give you food.'

So he went off to Sidon. And when he reached the city gate, there was a widow gathering sticks. Addressing her he said, 'Please bring a little water in a pitcher for me to drink.' She was on her way to fetch it when he called after her. 'Please', he said, 'bring me a scrap of bread in your hand.' 'As Yahweh your God lives,' she replied, 'I have no baked bread, but only a handful of meal in a jar and a little oil in a jug; I am just gathering a stick or two to go and prepare this for myself and my son to eat, and then we shall die.' But Elijah said to her, 'Do not be afraid, go and do as you have said; but first make a little scone of it for me and bring it to me, and then make some for yourself and for your son.

For Yahweh, God of Israel, says this: Jar of meal shall not be spent, jug of oil shall not be emptied, before the day when Yahweh sends rain on the face of the earth.' The woman went and did as Elijah told her and they ate the food, she, himself and her son.

The jar of meal was not spent nor the jug of oil emptied, just as Yahweh had foretold through Elijah.

Fix your gaze on Jesus Help us stay before the ‘Life Giving Word’ today O Holy Spirit of God.....

Look at how the Lord works: In the time of Elias, the many widows in Israel, some of whom may have welcomed him to their houses; were not so favoured. He is instead sent to a city of Sidon, a Gentile city, and so becomes the first prophet of the Gentiles.

Jezebel was Elijah’s greatest enemy; yet, to show her how powerless was her malice, God found a hiding–place for him in her own country. The person chosen to facilitate Elijah was not rich nor great; but a poor widow in want and desolate, who is made both able and willing to sustain him.

It is God’s way, and it is his glory, to make use of, and put honour upon, the apparent weak and foolish things of the world. So far as the Creator sees things differently, it behoves us too to think differently; it is an eye opener, to come before the possibility that our perceptions are faulty; that what we have fondly come to believe and accept and understand as true may not be quite so; that our picture/image of ‘what is’ is not accurate; that we somehow are living a Lie! What would be the truth then? It would be pertinent to listen to the Lord who says, “'You are salt for the earth. But if salt loses its taste, what can make it salty again? It is good for nothing, and can only be thrown out to be trampled under people's feet. 'You are light for the world....no one lights a lamp to put it under a tub...in the same way your light must shine in people's sight, so that, seeing your good works, they may give praise to your Father in heaven.” O You Widow! Great was thy faith! You took the prophet’s word, in such a way that you did not lose by it.

That listening mind, and trusting heart, we should all cultivate….

Prayer Starter Help us stay open, discern your will, and trust/obey you in our journey O Abba Amma....

“O Mary! The power of the Most High shall overshadow you”

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Wednesday 10th June 2020 1 Kings:18/20-39 Psalm:15/1-2,4-5,8,11 (16/1-2,4-5,8-11) Mathew:5/17-19

The Gospel Proclamation "Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. Fr truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do so the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven , but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Gaze at Jesus Jesus teaches the perfect law and the fullness of the law. that is the law equipped with the Spirit of life and truth and justice for all.

When Jesus proposes a perfect law, He does not intend like other Jewish leaders to reform the religious laws or to remove them. He exhorts us to receive the Spirit which inspired the Law. This is a popular remark of Jesus: "Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the Scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom of God." He did not want the Pharisees

to place burdens on innocent people, which is not God's intension. However, Jesus made it very clear that the essence o God's Law Commandments and way of life must be fulfilled.

On many occasions Jesus cured many who were gravely sick, redeemed the oppressed and set free the people who were possessed by evil spirits on the Sabbath day. This was done amidst the opposition of the Pharisees. He gave a meaning to the Sabbath in liberating people from their enslavements and showed that He is the Lord of the Sabbath too.

Jesus always wanted to free the people and this is the Father's wish for His Kingdom.

According to the First Proclamation, prophet Elijah challenges the people to prove who is God. A bull was made ready to be offered as a sacrifice to God but without fire. Elijah was also to do the same. The people began to pray to Baal and danced calling his name for a long time. But everything was in vain. Next it was Elijah's turn to show the people that He alone is God. Fire of the Lord fell and burned up the offering. The people were wonder struck and declared that the Lord is God. Elijah was able to witness to the people about God and His love and faithfulness which are beyond traditions and rituals.

Prayer Starter Protect me, O God, for in You I take refuge. I say to the Lord, "You are my Lord; I have no good apart from You. You show me the path of life.

In Your presence there is fullness of joy; in your right hand are pleasures forevermore. (Ps.16/1,2,11)

“O Mary! The power of the Most High shall overshadow you�

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Thursday 11th June 2020 Acts:11/21-26; 13/1-3 Psalm: 97/1-6 ( 98/1-6) Mathew:10/7-13

Gospel Proclamation As you go, proclaim the good news, 'The kingdom of heaven has come near.' Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment.

Take no gold, or silver, or copper in your belts, no bag for your journey, or two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for labourers deserve their food.

Whatever town or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy, and stay there until you leave. As you enter the house, greet it. If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.

Prayerful Awareness Jesus said to His disciples and followers that “the kingdom of heaven is at hand, heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons.

Freely you received and therefore give free to everyone”. We must know Lord’s Word and practice it in our lives before we preach it to others.

All who practice what Jesus taught, will receive the Holy Spirit from God the Father through the intercession of Jesus, to be with them always (Jn. 14: 15 -16). Holy Spirit, the Advocate who comes to them will teach them about everything and remind them of all what Jesus spoke and guide them to live as

St. Barnabas, Apostle Sons and daughters of God ( Jn. 14: 26 & Rom. 8 :14 ). The Holy Spirit will guide them and empower them to share the word about Jesus with others. Pray to the Holy Spirit, depend on Him and ask for His help and guidance to speak the Word about Jesus and teach others everything about Jesus, to know who Jesus is and accept Him and pray to Him. The first reading of Acts: on proclaiming the Word of Lord Jesus to the Gentile community in Antioch where a great number who believed turned to the Lord. Barnabas from Jerusalem was sent to investigate this and he was so favourably impressed by what he observed that he persuaded his friend Saul (later St. Paul) to participate in the Antioch mission. The word “Christians” was first applied to the members of the community at Antioch because the Gentile members of the community enabled it to stand out clearly from Judaism. While they were worshipping the Lord, fasting, the message of the Holy Spirit was received “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them” Then, completing their fasting and prayer, they laid hands on them and sent them off to the first missionary effort in Asia Minor under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

Prayer Starter Let us fast and pray to the Holy Spirit within us to unite us in the Name of Jesus Christ, our Leader, our Saviour and Lord and thank and praise God our Loving Father for everything and for the guidance of the Holy Spirit to know His Will for us and to carry out His Will for us to bring Glory to Him. Amen.

“O Mary! The power of the Most High shall overshadow you”

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Friday 12th June 2020

"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. ....

But I say to you, that anyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of unchastity, causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

Prayerful Awareness

desire to have sex with someone other than your spouse is mental adultery and thus sin. Jesus emphasized that if the act is wrong, then so is the intention. To be faithful to your spouse with your body but not your mind is to break the trust, so vital to a strong marriage.

Acting out sinful desires is harmful in many ways. It causes people to excuse sin rather than to stop sinning.

It destroys marriages. It is deliberate rebellion against God's word. It always hurts someone else in addition to the sinner. Sinful action is more dangerous than sinful desires. Desires should not be acted out. Wrong actions turn people away from God. When Jesus said to get rid of your hand or your eye, He was speaking figuratively. He did not mean literally to gouge out your eye because even a blind man can lust. But if that were the only choice, it would be better to go to heaven with one eye or hand than to go to hell with two. It is better to experience the pain of removal of a bad habit that allows sin to bring judgement and condemnation.

Divorce is as hurtful and destructive today as in Jesus' day. God intends marriages to be a lifetime commitment.

(Genesis 2:24) "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife and they will become one flesh". When entering into marriage, people should never consider divorce an option for solving problems or a way out of a relationship that seems dead. Jesus is also attacking those who purposefully abuse marriage contract using divorce to satisfy their desire to marry someone else.

Prayer Starter

The Old Testament law said that it is wrong for a person to have sex with someone other than his or her spouse (Exodus 20:14). But Jesus said that the

Lord Jesus, help everyone to remember that "Marriage is a Sacrament instituted by God and the union is similar to Christ and His Church."

1 Kings:19/9,11-16 Psalm:26/7-9,13-14 (27/7-9,13-14 ) Mathew:5/27-32

The First Proclamation ... He said, "Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by." .... Then there came a voice to him that said, "What are you doing here Elijah?"

He answered, "I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away." Then the Lord said to him, "Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Samascus, when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael as king over Aram.....

The Gospel Proclamation

“O Mary! The power of the Most High shall overshadow you�

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Saturday 13th June 2020

St. Anthony of Padua, Priest & Doctor

1 Kings:19/19-21 Psalm:15/1-2,4,7-10 (16/1-2,5,7-10 ) Mathew:5/33-37

Introduction Let us read today’s Proclamations meditatively. Let us especially take to heart our Lord’s appeal to us in today’s Gospel Proclamation, to not resort to swearing ‘But let your speech be yea, yea: no, no: and that which is over and above these, is of evil.’

Responsorial Psalm Preserve me, O Lord, for I have put trust in thee…The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and of my cup: it is thou that wilt restore my inheritance to me.….

Therefore my heart hath been glad, and my tongue hath rejoiced: moreover my flesh also shall rest in hope. Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; nor wilt then give thy holy one to see corruption.

Prayerful Awareness Most of the Old Testament is a pointer to the New Covenant established by our Lord Jesus Christ, His Mission on earth, His experiences, and the trust He had in His Abba Father. Today’s Responsorial Psalm is a good example of this.

Saint Anthony of Padua Saint Anthony was born Fernando Martins in Lisbon, Portugal. He was born into a wealthy family and by the age of fifteen asked to be sent to the Abbey of Santa Cruz in Coimbra, the then capital of Portugal. During his time in the Abbey, he learned theology and Latin.

Following his ordination to the priesthood, Franciscan friars settled a small hermitage outside Coimbra ded-

icated to Saint Anthony of Egypt, and Fernando felt a longing to join them, and eventually received permission to leave the Abbey so he could join the new Franciscan Order. When he was admitted, he changed his name to Anthony…… Soon, news of his eloquence reached Francis of Assisi, who held a strong distrust of the brotherhood's commitment to a life of poverty. However, in Anthony, he found a friend.

In 1224, Francis entrusted his friars' pursuits of studies to Anthony. Anthony had a book of psalms that contained notes and comments to help when teaching students…When a novice decided to leave the hermitage, he stole Anthony's valuable book. When Anthony discovered it was missing, he prayed it would be found or returned to him. The thief did return the book and in an extra step returned to the Order as well. (The book is said to be preserved in the Franciscan friary in Bologna today).

Once, when St. Anthony of Padua attempted to preach the true Gospel of the Catholic Church to heretics who would not listen to him, he went out and preached his message to the fish. This was not, as liberals and naturalists have tried to say, for the instruction of the fish, but rather for the glory of God, the delight of the angels, and the easing of his own heart. …He was only 35-yearsold when he died and was canonized less than one year afterward by Pope Gregory IX. Upon exhumation some 336 years after his death… his tongue was totally incorrupt, so perfect were the teachings that had been formed upon it. He is typically depicted with a book and the Infant Child Jesus and is commonly referred to today as the "finder of lost articles." St Anthony is venerated all over the world as the Patron Saint for lost articles, and is credited with many miracles involving lost people, lost things and even lost spiritual goods. (extracted from the internet)

“O Mary! The power of the Most High shall overshadow you”

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Sunday 14th June 2020

The Most Holy Body & Blood of Christ

Deuteronomy: 8/2-3, 14-16 Psalm:147/12-15,19-20 1 Corinthians:10/16-17 John:6/51-58

Introduction Today, the Eleventh Sunday of Ordinary Time is the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. And Holy Mother the Church is awakening us to be centered on Christ, the spiritual food and drink that nourishes us. Eucharist is the greatest manifestation of the communal aspect of the Holy Church for which reason we should give priority to receiving Holy Communion whereby we participate in His Paschal Mystery. Thus let us embody him in us on our earthly journey and enter into prayer pleading with the Lord to make us anew.

The First Proclamation Remember the long way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, in order to humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commandments. He humbled you by letting you hunger, then by feeding you with manna, with which neither you nor your ancestors were acquainted, in order to make you understand that one does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.

... then do not exalt yourself, forgetting the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, who led you through the great and terrible wilderness, an arid wasteland with poisonous snakes and scorpions. He made water flow for you from flint rock and fed you in the wilderness with manna that your ancestors did not know, to humble ou and to test you; and in the end to do you good.

Prayerful Awareness It was not the Will of God that His chosen people would destroy themselves by forgetting Him and going after other gods thus behaving as they want. What is revealed through the First Proclamation today is the experience of the tangible love of God. In the wilderness He safeguarded and led them by His hand, made access for them to experience Him on their own level, provided them with bodily food as well as spiritual food through revelation of His word and in ushering them into a deep harmony with Him. Provision of Manna as food and water from the rock to quench their thirst was a great manifestation of His infinite love. Even today it is the same love that He expresses towards us which is ours to embrace in faith.

The Gospel Proclamation "I am the living bread that came down from heaven;. Whoever eats of this bread, will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh" The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, "how can this man give us his flesh to eat?" So

“O Mary! The power of the Most High shall overshadow you�

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Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day, for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink.

Those who eat my flesh and drink my flood abide in me, and I in them.

Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever.

Prayerful Awareness "I am the living bread which came down from heaven." The words proclaimed by our Lord are not comprehensive to the human mind. As Christians if we are to enter eternal life we should unite ourselves with Christ the Lord, the Living Bread. The food we take in is consumed and absorbed into our body. Yet, what the Lord is speaking of is of a different kind and which gives us eternal life. He loved us to the extent of giving Himself as our food and offering Himself in sacrifice for our redemption. Even today He manifests Himself through His existential presence in the Eucharist.

As followers of Christ we gain access to forgiveness and life eternal by receiving His Body and Blood.

The Second Proclamation The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a sharing in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for

we all partake of the one bread.

Prayerful Awareness The Most Holy Church is the Mystical Body of Christ. It is with the great desire of ushering his community into the same powerful experience of his, when St. Paul received his Christ encounter that he reveals the risen Lord whom he experienced. We should lead our lives as members of the Mystical Body of Christ. The invitation of the Lord present in the Eucharist is for a deep communion and union. When we partake of one bread and one cup we cannot be divided for which reason we should let go all dissension, disharmony and hurt and enter into light by forgiving one another.

Towards us We who receive communion every time we participate at Mass are in union with the Lord. What is our faith in the Eucharist? The infinite love flowed down to us when we receive the Blessed Sacrament does indeed unite us with each other building up community. To the extent we open access to Him, He will channel His love through us. Therefore, let us open up to the Lord for Him to enter into our lives and nourish us to His heart's content.

Prayer Starter Eucharistic Lord, the food of Love that paves the way for us to enter eternal life, guide us to fix our eyes on You at every existential and passing experience of ours. Lead us to be broken and crushed in offering ourselves in sacrifice for others.

Throughout the day: Whenever possible let us participate in the Eucharistic Celebration and receive the Blessed Sacrament.

“O Mary! The power of the Most High shall overshadow you�

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Monday 15th June 2020 1 Kings:21/1-16 Psalm:5/2-3,5-7 (5/1-2,4-6) Mathew:5/38-42

The First Proclamation Later the following events took place. Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard in Jezreel, beside the palace of King Ahab... And Ahab said to Naboth, "Give me your vineyard, so that I may have it for a vegetable garden, because it is near my house; I will give you a better vineyard for it, or, if it seems good to you, I will give you its value in money." But Naboth said to Ahab, "The Lord forbid that I should give you my ancestral inheritance." Ahab went home resentful and sullen because of what Naboth the Jezreelite had said to him, for he had said, "I will not give you my ancestral inheritance." He lay down on his bed, turned away his face, and would not eat.

His wife Jezebel came to him and said, "Why are you so depressed that you will not eat?" He said to her, "Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezereelite and said to him, 'Give me your vineyard for money; or else, if you prefer, I will give you another vineyard for it' but he answered, 'I will not give you my vineyard.' His wife Jezebel said to him, "Do you now govern Israel? Get up, eat some food, and be cheerful; I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezereelite."......

The Gospel Proclamation

an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also, and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well; and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile.

Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you.

Prayerful Awareness In the old world, the form of vengeance meant going beyond 'Tit for Tat' - i.e. waging war in which many lives were lost. So Moses' Law was 'An eye for an eye or a tooth for a tooth'. The idea behind was to restrict the severity of vengeance. But here we see Jesus perfecting the law of the Old Testament.

The depth of His teaching - one must not take vengeance or destroy or kill, deprive the enemy of his personal liberty and fundamental rights. "Why turn the other cheek - Because hate multiplies like a seed. If one preaches hate and violence in ten men in a row and tells the first man to strike the second, and the second to strike the third, the hatred will envelop all ten. The only way to stop this hate is for one man (say the fifth in line), to turn his other cheek.

Then the hatred ends. It is never passed on. Absorb violence for the sake of the Saviour, Who will absorb sin and die for it. The Christian law is that the innocent shall suffer for the guilty. (Archbishop F.J.Sheen). "Christians think not of their rights, but of their duties; not of their privileges, but of their responsibilities.

Christians are people who have forgotten that they have any rights at all; and those who will fight to the legal death for their rights, inside or outside the Church, are far from the Christian way." (The New Daily Study Bible) Prayer Starter

"You have heard that it was said, Help us master the Christian way of 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth'. But I say to you, Do not resist life and bear ftuit. Amen

“O Mary! The power of the Most High shall overshadow you�

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Tuesday 16th June 2020 1 Kings:21/17-29 Psalm:50/3-6,11,16 (51/1-4,11 ) Mathew:5/43-48

The First Proclamation Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, Go down to meet Ahab of Israel who rules in Samaria: he is now in the vineyard of Naboth, where he has gone to take possession. You shall say him, saying, Thus says the Lord, Hast thou killed, and also taken possession? And thou shall speak unto him, saying, Thus says the Lord, In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick thy blood, even thine. And Ahab said to Elijah, Hast thou found me, O mine enemy?....because thou hast sold thyself to work evil in the sight of the Lord. Behold, I will bring evil upon thee, and will take away thy posterity…. for the provocation wherewith thou hast provoked me to anger, and made Israel to sin....The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.... And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly. And the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, Seest thou how Ahab humbles himself before me? Because he humbles himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his days: but in his son’s days will I bring the evil upon his house.

Fix your gaze on Jesus Listen to our Lord today all ye faithful; ‘Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shall love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse

you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven....’Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect’.

Blessed Paul complains that he was sold under sin, as a poor captive against his will; but Ahab was willing, he sold himself to sin; of choice, and as his own act and deed, he loved the domain of sin. He believed that the fruit of sin was good for him and his! Jezebel his wife encouraged this belief and stirred him up to do wicked deeds.

Ahab is reproved, and his sin set before his eyes, by Elijah. The condition of a man who has made the WORD of God his enemy is very miserable; and very desperate, who reckons the ministers of that WORD his enemies, because they confront him with the truth. God is here to turn this situation inside-out. S/He has crafted you as a creator, and is trying to teach us to create what is GOOD for ourselves; and for this, abiding in the commandments is a necessity. Listen again to our Lord and Master revealing the simple truth before the multitude before him.

How sincere Ahab was in putting on the garb and guise of a penitent we do not know, yet God’s intent/orientation is clear; S/He is keen to give a second chance, and a third, and a fourth, ad infinitum in the here and now, so that we would grow in our consciousness, learn from our mistakes and get to know the wonder of abiding in His Love.

Prayer Starter Holy Lord, we need to inculcate obedience within; to start believing that abiding in Your commandments are good for us; and in fact will result in our experiencing the best for ourselves... journey us towards this truth O Lord our Abba our Amma...!

“O Mary! The power of the Most High shall overshadow you”

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Wednesday 17th June 2020 2 Kings:2/1, 6-14 Psalm:30/20, 21,24 (31/19-20, 23) Mathew:6/1-6.16-18

Gospel Proclamation

Holy Spirit cannot act in this manner.

Jesus said “when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, to make it a secret, so that the Father who sees this in secret will repay you", and similarly "not to pray like hypocrites for others to see”. This is where we should be truthful and our intentions should be pure and focused to give glory to God through our every act, in every word we speak and in every thought of ours to allow the Will of God. We are created to God’s own image, the image of LOVE, the great LOVE that emanates truth, kindness, forgiveness, care that does not stop whatever wrong we do. This is what Jesus taught us by the story of the “Prodigal son”. We as children of God belong to God and should act with God’s qualities in order to bring glory to God (Is. 43:7). This is why God gave us Commandments to adhere in our lives and laws to abide to live pious lives. Jesus came into this world due to God’s great Love for us, to open us the path of Salvation and complete the laws by adding LOVE. He gave us another Commandment, to love one another as He loves us. We cannot do all this alone, but when we live our lives following all commandments what Jesus gave, He intercedes for us and sends to us the Third Person of the Holy Trinity from Father, the Holy Spirit, to be with us all the time as our Advocate, Guide and Friend to help us and guide us to live as children of God, away from the worldly life of sin, lying, cheating, deceiving others and robbing etc. Always pray to the Holy Spirit and ask for His help to guide us to do the Will of God. Prayer Starter

Jesus said to his disciples: “Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.

But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you. “When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you. “When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites.

They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may not appear to others to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who Holy Spirit of God, please grant us sees what is hidden will repay you.” more Wisdom to know God’s Love for us, Prayerful Awareness and help us to love and honour God our Some people carry out good deeds Father and His Son our Lord and Saviour, for others to see in order to form a good Jesus Christ. Help us to follow all Jesus’ impression on themselves among others. Commandments. We ask all this in the We as children of God guided by the Name of our Lord, Jesus Christ Amen.

“O Mary! The power of the Most High shall overshadow you”

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Thursday 18th June 2020 Sirach:48/1-15 Psalm:96/1-7 (97/1-7) Mathew:6/7-15

The First Proclamation Then Elijah arose, a prophet like fire, and his word burned like a torch. ... By the word of the Lord he shut up the heavens, and also three times brought down fire. ... You were taken up by a whirlwind of fire, in a chariot with horses of fire. .....

The Gospel Proclamation When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

"Pray then in this way; Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.

Your kingdom come Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one.

For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Prayerful Awareness In the first reading today, we see the greatness of the prophet Elijah. Let us pause for a while and see what makes this prophet so great. Was it because of his strengths and powers? It's because he was a man of God, a man who let God

control his life. He was one with the Holy Spirit; he was able to perform great things according to the Will of God with the power of the Holy Spirit.

“When Elijah was hidden by the whirlwind, Elisha was filled with his spirit. As long as he lived, he was not afraid of rulers, and they could not make him do as they wished.”

The same spirit that made Elijah great was given to his successor Elisha.

In the Gospel, Jesus teaches the disciples how to pray; He teachers that the focus of prayer should be on the Will of the Father ABBA. “When you pray, do not use a lot of meaningless words, as the pagans do, who think that their gods will hear them because their prayers are long. Do not be like them. Your Father already knows what you need before you ask him.”

God created the world, and He knows the best for the world as Jesus experienced during His whole life.

Our Sonship As we reflected on the scriptures today. God the Father knows what is best for us. It’s through obedience that we achieve greatness. As we saw in the first reading, prophet Elijah was great because the Holy Spirit led him.

So let us ask ourselves, how do we pray? Do we also say a lot of words and ask a lot during prayer? Or are we able to let the Holy Spirit lead us to prayer?

Do we believe in the words we say when we pray the "Our Father."

“Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

Let us ask the Holy Spirit to help us pray as Jesus taught us.

Prayer Starter Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven…

“O Mary! The power of the Most High shall overshadow you”

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Friday 19th June 2020

The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

Deuteronomy:7/6-11 Psalm:102/1-4,6-8,10 (103/1-4,6-8,10) 1 John:4/7-16 Mathew:11/25-30

The Second Proclamation Beloved let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. God's love was revealed among us in this way.

God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we loved God but, that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.

Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us.

By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world. God abides in those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and they abide in God. So we have known and believe the love that God has for us.....

Prayerful Awareness

God. In this beautiful text, St. John insists on the inseparability of the love of God and love of our neighbour. The reason for this he explains; if we can love God, it is because God loved us first, and if we love each other, it is because God's love extends among us.

The heart is considered as the seat of love. To reveal this love to the whole Universe, God chose the people of Israel in bringing them out of their slavery with a mighty hand. St. John teaches us that God is love and God's love was revealed among us: "God sent His only Son into this world so that we might live through Him." The heart of Jesus is the seat of this highest form of love, as Jesus abides in God and God abides in Him, in the most perfect form.

Honouring the Sacred Heart of Jesus is honouring God, who is love. Jesus reveals the tenderness, gentleness and sweetness of His heart as He says, "Come to me, all you that are weary and are heavy laden and I will give you rest."

Do I experience the love, compassion, mercy, sweetness, gentleness of God in Jesus, as I go on with my daily activities? If so, I am not alone. With all these I should be able to make an effort to reach out to others in love and compassion as God Himself reached out to others with love and compassion.by sending His only begotten Son for our salvation.

According to the first proclamation, the Israelites are the people consecrated to Yahweh, and they were chosen among the people on the face of the earth so that they may be His own people and to fulfill the oath He made to their fathers. Therefore with a firm hand Yahweh brought them out of slavery in Egypt.

Prayer Starter

Today the Holy Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus as a way to remind us of the greatness of God's love for us. All readings of today express the love that God has for us as revealed in Jesus.

Let us thank God in a special way The supreme revelation of the Chris- for He has kept His Covenant and let us tian faith is "God is Love". The dy- pledge to love and keep His Commandnamism of this love moves the entire ments and Covenant. creation and the source lies in the love of

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Saturday 20th June 2020

Immaculate Heart of the Bl. Virgin Mary

Isaiah:61/9-11 Psalm:1 Sam.2/1,4-8 Luke:2/41-51 Psalm: Hannah's Prayer Hannah prayed and said, "The Lord has filled my heart with joy, how happy I am because of what He has done! ... The childless wife has borne seven children, but Mother Mary is left with none .... He lifts the poor from the dust and raises the needy from their misery. ....

The Gospel Proclamation Now every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up as usual for the festival. When the festival was ended ... the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. Assuming that he was in the group of travelers, they went a day's journey. Then they started to look for him... After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions....., "Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety." He said to them, "Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?... Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. His mother treasured all these things in he heart.

Prayerful Awareness Please take a moment to read all of today's readings in the Bible.

From the first proclamation of God's love,; "They will be famous among the nations, everyone who sees them will know that they are a people whom I have blessed. ....(Isaiah 61/9-11).

Today's readings bring us to reflect on not one but two mothers. We see the

promise of the first proclamation come true in the lives of two women who both experienced miraculous conceptions and prayerfully committed their only son to God's service. Through deep prayer, both Hannah, the mother of Samuel and May who conceived Jesus Christ, emptied themselves to become vessels of God's divine purpose in their role as mother and experienced the fullest of God's favour. It leads Hannah to sing her song of praise. n surrendering their own expectations, they raised their child in preparation for God's service and in this way participated in bringing God's plan of liberation for HIs chosen people to fulfilment.

We especially reflect on Mary today as we celebrate the memorial of the Immaculate Heart of of the Blessed Virgin Mary. From the annunciation she knew her child was the Son of God and she journeyed quietly alongside Him. Her life was not without pain and struggle.

Today's Gospel proclamation gives us a glimpse of her worry and her pain when the child Jesus goes missing.

When they finally find Him and hears His explanation, Mother Mary does not understand His meaning straightaway; yet so profound was her faith in God's promise that she never reacts as mothers sometimes do, or demand some answers.

Se empties herself to continually discern the Will of God for herself and for her Son. How much her pain would have been multiplied as she watched Jesus being crucified. Though Jesus recognised His purpose from the beginning, it is through silent contemplation that Mother Mary comes to understand God's plan.

We reflect on her heart today, as second or equal to Jesus.

Prayer Starter Let us meditatively say a Hail Mary as we reflect on the purity and virtues of her heart that inspire us. Pray ..... Hail Mary full of Grace, the Lord is with thee .....

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Sunday 21st June 2020

12th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Jeremiah:20/10-13 Psalm:68/8-10,14,17, 33-35 (69/7-9,13,16,32-34) Romans:5/12-15 Mathew:10/26-33

(Pope's Day – Theme: Smiling Messenger of Peace) Introduction Today's first proclamation presents the challenges faced by prophet Jeremiah in proclaiming the will of God. While in the Gospel the Lord Jesus Christ reveals how we should act when faced with challenges in giving witness to the will of God, it also reveals of the love of God and security one would experience therein. In the second proclamation St. Paul states the fact that the whole humanity inherited death in consequence of the sin of "the first Adam" by denouncing the will of God and how man inherited the eternal life, the abundant blessing of God through total obedience of Jesus the Lord, "the new Adam" to the will of God. Today Holy Mother the Church sets before us Our Holy Father the Pope, a great witness to this splendid revelation as a Smiling Messenger of Peace. Keeping all of the above before our eyes let us enter into our prayer journey with the Holy Spirit.

The First Proclamation For I hear many whispering.

"Terror is all around! Denounce him! Let us denounce him!" All my close friends are watching for me to

PS Wk IV stumble. "Perhaps he can be enticed, and we can prevail against him, and take our revenge on him." But the Lord is with me as a dread warrior; therefore my persecutors will stumble, and they will not prevail. They will be greatly shamed, for they will not succeed. Their eternal dishonor will never be forgotten. O Lord of hosts, you test the righteous, you see the heart and the mind, let me see your retribution upon them, for to you I have committed my cause.....

Prayerful Awareness The Scripture passage Jeremiah 20:7-18, taken from the proclamation chosen for today, is rightly termed "the complaint of Jeremiah" for he grumbles against God for deceiving him. And it is also called a lamentation of self revelation since it sets forth the promise given to him by God in 1:8 as well as in 1:17 & 18 and the sufferings he would have to face as a prophet. Just like any other prophet he finds his mission from the day one of his vocation to be very hard and bitter and he expounds on his experience. Overwhelmed by the burden he says that even if he tries to flee away without responding to the vocation there is something that prevents him. (20:9). Let us turn to ourselves. Aren't we facing the same experience as Jeremiah? If possible let us reflectively meditate on the verses of this passage one by one.

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

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

"Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven. but whoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father in heaven.

Prayerful Awareness Today the Lord is inviting us to enter into his own experience of being stable in face of the will of God, unflinchingly conforming to it, until death on the cross. He never did anything outside the will of God for which reason He declares "Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul." So experiencing the love and security of God, He sets it before us clearly. "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father's will. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. What you hear whispered, proclaim upon the house tops." Thus, he is calling us share the experience we have received with others without keeping it to ourselves.

The Second Proclamation Therefore just as sin came into the world through one man, and death came through sin, and so death spread to all because all have sinned – sin was indeed in the world before the law, but sin is not reckoned when there is no law. Yet death exercised dominion from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sins were not like the transgression of

Adam, who is a type of the one who was to come.

But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died through the one man's trespass, much more surely have the grace of God and the free gift in the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abounded for the many.

Prayerful Awareness St. Paul, based on the life transformation with his Christ encounter experienced through his life that Jesus Christ is the only Lord, Redeemer and Shepherd which made him boldly proclaim wherever he went the Good News of Jesus Christ. Strength, Power and Light for the task was obtained through a life of moving and being in the Holy Spirit (Acts 17:28). It was the result of a life filled with the Holy Spirit and in union with Christ (Ephesians 5:18).

Towards our sonship "I can do nothing of my own accord" (John 5:19). Are we leading a life led by the Holy Spirit just as Christ did?

(Rom. 8:14) How continuously conscious are we of awareness to the Holy Spirit? (Seven-fold awareness and five-fold awareness) How conscious am I of my prayer life? (My Hour) Am I conscious of my responsibility to be fed on the Word of God and be an evangelizer? Let us come before the Lord and ask the power and light of the Holy Spirit?

Prayer Starter O rider in the heavens, the ancient heavens; listen, he sends out his voice, his mighty voice. Ascribe power to God, whose majesty is over Israel, and whose power is in the skies.

Awesome is God in his sanctuary, the God of Israel; he gives power and strength to his people. Blessed be God! (Ps.68/33-35)

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Monday 22nd June 2020

St.Paulinus of Nola, Sts.John Fisher, Thomaas More,Martyrs

2 Kings:17/5-8,13-15,18 Psalm:59/3-5,12-13 (60/1-3,10-11) Mathew:7/1-5

The First Proclamation Then the king of Assyria invaded all the land and came to Samaria; for three years he besieged it. in the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Assyria captured Samara; he carried the Israelites away to Assyria. He placed them in Halah, on the Habor, the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.

This occurred because the people of Israel had sinned against the Lord their God, who had brought them up out of the land of Egypt from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

They had worshiped other gods and walked in the customs of the nations whom the Lord drove out before the people of Israel, and in the customs that the kings of Israel had introduced.

Yet the Lord warned Israel and Judah by every prophet and every seer, saying, "Turn from your evil ways and keep my commandments and my statutes, in accordance with all the law that I commanded your ancestors and that I sent to you by my servants the prophets."

The Gospel Proclamation "Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. Why do you see the speck in

your neighbor's eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbor, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' while the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor's eye.

Prayerful Awareness The Lord does forbid judging - judging the interior disposition of another's soul - the standing before God and the interior spiritual worth. That judgement - yes, only God can make that judgement and He is an expert at that. What is expected of us is not to judge or condemn people. The Lord wants us not to condemn people or judge rashly. Do we know ourselves fully? No, it is the Lord who knows us fully. As such we cannot read others' hearts. We are unable to judge objectively. Often our judgements are based on our own ideas, prejudice, mentality etc. A person blessed with a healthy home background knows little of or not at all of a person from a bad heredity, environment etc. If we take into consideration what some have to go through - or have gone through - far from condemning them we would be amazed to note that they have succeeded in being as good as they are or what they are. "They seem to be unlovely, but that is because we do not know the whole person. Everyone has something good in him or her. Our task is not to condemn by the superficial unloveliness, but to look for the undying beauty. He who condemns people arrogates to himself a right which he does not possess at all.

He presumes to exercise a right which belongs to God from whom alone a correct verdict is possible and legitimate."

(Words of Eternal Life) Prayer Starter Help us not to judge others by externals. Amen.

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Tuesday 23rd June 2020 2 Kings:19/9-11,14-21, 31-36 Psalm:47/2-4,10-11 (48/1-3,9-10) Mathew:7/6,12-14 The Nativity of St.John the Baptist Vigil Mass

1 Jeremiah:1/4-10 Psalm:70/1-6,15,17 (71/1-6,15,17) 1 Peter:1/8-12 Luke:1/5-17

The First Proclamation When the king heard concerning King Tirhakah of Ethiopia, "See, he has set out to fight against you," he sent messengers again to Hezekiah, saying, "Thus shall you speak to King Hezekiah of Judah: Do not let your God on whom you rely deceive you by promising that Jerusalem will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria. See, you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands, destroying them utterly. Shall you be delivered?.....

The Gospel Proclamation

'Do not give what is holy to dogs; and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under foot and turn and maul you.

In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets.

'Enter through the narrow gate, for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Fix your gaze on Jesus Thank You Lord for the Good News today...it is indeed heartening to hear Your assurances that our enemies will not triumph over us. You are here for us; we understand this! Now, train us to be here for You and Your Kingdom!

Hezekiah, the King of Judah on receiving the threatening message from Sennacherib, the King of Assyria turned to the Lord of the Hosts for succour. Man proposes and God disposes. Sennacherib, whose host for enforcing his will on neighbouring nations numbering greater than 185,000 came to naught. Seemingly overwhelming forces gathered for the express purpose of subjugating the other, laying to waste the Will of the Almighty (Kingdom of Love encompassing all Life) was made futile. This is the desire of the Creator God, and this is what came to be.

Alleluia!

Jesus our Lord cautioned His audience on these aspects. Valued things, whether of material or immaterial origin, should only be accorded to those who are able to appreciate them. As some are perennially inclined to read weakness in to kindness and to exploit the helping hand, Beware!

Do not embrace, encourage or further these erroneous thoughts.

We serve a Just Creator who rewards us according to what we choose, ie: We reap what we sow: our inner taste of life is a reflection of the thoughts and beliefs we choose. Thus does the Lord ask us to treat the Other, as we would like to be treated ourselves. Shall we?

Prayer Starter

Dearest Lord, we are truly comforted

by Your assurances to the extent we believe them. Now do turn us anew so that we anchor ourselves on the rock of Your Living Word....

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Wednesday 24th June 2020

The Nativity of St.John the Baptist

the style of the Old Testament. The birth of these two little boys makes a U-turn in the history.

It is the day that we celebrate the birth of John the Baptist who announced the Saviour of our world.

The name John in Hebrew means "The Lord is gracious". God showed His kindness to Elizabeth and ZechariThe Gospel Proclamation ah, fulfilling their desire to have a child.

Now the time came for Elizabeth For the ancient Jews, a name capto give birth, and she bore a son. Her tured, even defined, a person's identity. neighbors and relatives heard that So for Elizabeth to name her son the Lord had shown his great mercy 'John' was significant. It showed her to her, and they rejoiced with her. recognition of God's plan for the child.

On the eighth day they came to Zechariah had doubted God and was circumcise the child, and they were struck mute. He regains his speech only going to name him Zechariah after after publicly accepting God's plan and his father. But his mother said, "No; allowing his new born son to take the he is to be called John." They said to name John. her, "None of your relatives has this Our sonship name." Then they began motioning We too might have a bit of Zechto his father to find out what name he wanted to give him. He asked ariah in us. We resist God, only to hit for a writing tablet and wrote, "His a dead end. Bad friendships, habits of name is John." And all of them were serious sin, rising despair - all of these amazed. Immediately his mouth was can eat away at us. Yet repentance is opened and his tongue freed, and he slow to come. Why? "We think that evil began to speak, praising God. Fear is basically good!" said Pope Emeritus came over all their neighbors, and Benedict XVI. We think that we need it, all these things were talked about at least a little in order to experience the throughout the entire hill country of fullness of being. If we look however at Judea. All who heard them pondered the world that surrounds us, we could them and said, "What then will this see that this is not so. In other words, child become?" For, indeed, the that evil is always poisonous, does not uplift human beings, but degrades and hand of the Lord was with him. humiliates them. Am I resisting God's Prayerful Awareness plan?

In this chapter St. Luke describes Prayer Starter the announcement of the birth of two Lord, You have put family members little ones - John and Jesus, who will occupy a very important place in the and other loved ones in my life for a realization of God's plan. What God reason. I am to help them get to heaven begins in the Old Testament starts to be and they are to help me do the same. realized through them. This is why St. Remind me of the truth and especially Luke presents many facts and people of help me not to interfere with the plans the Old Testament succeed in imitating You have for the children in my life.

Isaiah:49/I-6 Psalm:138/1-3,13-15 (139/1-3,13-15) Acts:13/22-26 Luke: 1/57-66,80

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Thursday 25th June 2020 2 Kings:24/8-17 Psalm:78/2-5,8-9 (79/1-5,8-9) Mathew:7/21-29

The First Proclamation Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he began to reign; he reigned three months in Jerusalem.

His mother's name was Nehushta daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem.

He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, just as his father had done.

At that time the servants of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came up to Jerusalem, and the city was besieged. King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came to the city, while his servants were besieging it; King Jehoiachin of Judah gave himself up to the king of Babylon, himself, his mother, his servants, his officers, and his palace officials. The king of Babylon took him prisoner in the eighth year of his reign.

The Gospel Proclamation "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord;' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power, in your name?' Then I will declare to them, "I never knew you; go away from me, you evil-doers.

"Everyone then who hears these

words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock.

And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell - and great was its fall!"

Now when Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.

Prayerful Awareness Oh yes, this is definitely a wakeup call to many pillars of the Church.

Those who are so engrossed with their lives, those absolutely selfish, judgmental, gossiping and slandering others, but at the same time portraying to the rest that they are God-fearing and selfless and working for God and serving their fellow-men. Jesus who sees our inner thoughts, sees who we really are. He says only those who do the Will of the Father will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus tells us that obedience requires poverty of spirit, mourning, meekness, hungering and thirsting for righteousness, mercy, purity of heart and peace-making.

Prayer Starter Dear Lord, we have erred in many ways and have displeased you. Have mercy on us Lord and give us the grace to be obedient to the Will of our Father and be welcomed by You on that day of Judgment. Amen.

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Friday 26th June 2020 2 Kings:25/1-12 Psalm:136/1-6 (1371-6) Mathew:8/1-4

The Gospel Proclamation When Jesus came down from the hill, large crowds followed him. Then a man suffering from a dreaded skin disease came to him, knelt before him, and said, “Sir, if you want to, you can make me clean.” Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him. “I do want to,” he answered. “Be clean!” At once the man was healed of his disease. ....

Gaze at Jesus’ Sonship According to Jewish law, leprosy was considered a curse from God. Those afflicted with leprosy were cast out from the community. The law, required them to wear mourning clothes, carry a bell and shout “unclean” “unclean” whenever others came near them. The encounter with Jesus healed the leper and he was made clean again.

Our sonship Sometimes we find cars with stickers or three wheelers with banners, “Jesus is Alive”. This is the true nature of the Christian faith. Our faith is alive because our Savior is risen and alive and with us in every circumstance.

Therefore, an encounter with Jesus is always a life changing experience.

In the encounter when Jesus meets us, He blesses us with the Holy Spirit who in return begins to move and work in our lives making changes to our ways of living and attitudes that enable us to be clean.

One might ask how can we meet Jesus? There are many ways Lord paves the way to meet Him. Most sacred mo-

ment we can encounter Jesus is in the Blessed Sacrament and in the Eucharist celebration that enables us to reflect, confess and the words of guidance and assurances Jesus comes alive throughout the Eucharistic celebration.

Then as Christians when we unite in His Name to help one another in need, we then trust that Jesus comes alive in our unity.

Therefore, Christian faith is a call to a life in communion with Jesus and community. When our lives begin to impact others, Christ comes alive in the community.

Life in a community needs patience, love, gentleness, truthfulness, honesty, discipline, loyalty, humility and many other character traits. Absence of these traits in the Jewish society, made it a hard place to live, and Jesus took steps to change their attitudes when He healed the man with leprosy.

Without a strong faith in Jesus one cannot embrace the lifestyle Jesus calls us to live. Therefore, we are continually reminded that we need to go through the narrow door to live our life with purity.

Personal Experience: A friend shared, how a relative wanted temporary accommodation because of a sudden situation in their household.

With the outbreak of Covid-19 my friend said it was a challenge to accommodate them because they had got all their supplies ready for curfew. However, in prayer Lord had given them the thought “in my name” which she said made it possible to accommodate the extra numbers in their house.

Prayer Starter Lord let us never forget how You labored to make us pure through Your healing grace. When we were poor You were there to provide for us. Therefore, let us continue Your mission of bringing others to encounter You.

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Saturday 27th June 2020 St. Cyril of Alexandria, Bishop & Doctor Lamentation:2/2,10-14 18-19 Psalm:73/1-7,20-21 (74/1-7, 20-21) Mathew:8/5-17

Isaiah, "he took our infirmities and bore our diseases."

Prayerful Awareness

In this Gospel passage Mathew brings out the fact how Jesus rewards those who have a deep faith in Him. Jesus marveled not only of the centurion's faith but at his humility too. The centurion who was not a believer in God trusts Jesus so much The Gospel Proclamation that he believes that if Jesus only says When he entered Capernaum, a the word the servant will be healed, his centurion came to him, appealing to him illness will definitely leave him. Jesus and saying, "Lord, my servant is lying further admires the centurion's humility, at home paralyzed, in terrible distress." "I am not worthy that thou shouldst come and he said to him, "I will come and under my roof, say but the word and my cure him," ... "Lord, I am not worthy servant will be healed." Although the to have you come under my roof, but centurion has one hundred soldiers under only speak the word, and my servant him who are ready to obey all his orders, will be healed. For I also am a man he feels he is unworthy that Jesus comes under authority, with soldiers under under his roof. The centurion has such a me, and I say to one 'go' and he goes, high regard and esteem for Jesus, unlike and to another 'come' and he comes, the proud Pharisees who considered themand to my slave 'Do this' and the slave selves the elite of God's chosen race. Jesus does it." When Jesus heard him, he was further predicts that many of the chosen amazed and said to those who followed people of God will be lost on the last day him, "Truly I tell you, in no one in Israel of Judgement. "They will be thrown into have I found such faith. I tell you, many the fire where there will be weeping and will come from east and west and will gnashing of teeth, for many are called but eat with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob few are chosen." Jesus predicts that many in the kingdom of heaven, while the Gentiles will enter the Kingdom of heaven heirs of the kingdom will be thrown into and sit with the prophets and patriarchs and the outer darkness, where there will be enjoy eternal happiness in the presence weeping and gnashing of teeth." And to of the Blessed Trinity, the Blessed Virgin the centurion Jesus said, "Go, let it be Mary and the saints. done for you according to your faith."

Later Jesus healed St. Peter's motherand the servant was healed in that hour. in-law, many people possessed of demons When Jesus entered Peter's house, and the sick who were brought to Him. he saw his mother-in-law lying in bed Here we see Jesus the healer, sympathising with a fever. He touched her hand, with the sick and healing them of their and the fever left her, and she got up various illnesses. and began to serve him. That evening Prayer Starter they brought to him many who were Truly God is good to the upright, to possessed with demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word, and cured all those who are pure in heart... For they who were sick. This was to fulfill what have no pain; their bodies are sound and had been spoken through the prophet sleek. (Ps.73/1.4...)

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Sunday 28th June 2020

13th Sunday of Ordinary Time

2 Kings:4/8-11,14-16 Psalm:88/2-3,16-19 (89/1-2, 15-18) Romans:6/3-4,8-11 Mathew:10/37-42 Vigil Mass: Sts.Peter & Paul, Apostles Acts:3/1-10 Psalm:18/2-5 Galatians:1/11-20 John:21/15-19

Introduction Today, on the thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time the Lord is calling us for service in the Kingdom of God. The Lord Himself who loves us immensely has chosen us and called us. Similarly He exalts us to a higher plane within the great bond He has with us. Isn't it ours to experience the presence of God within us who have been chosen by God, just as the rich woman found the existence of God in Prophet Elisha presented in the First Proclamation of the day?

In the Second Proclamation St. Paul points out that we should lead a life in union with Christ. In the same vein the Gospel Proclamation invites us to leave everything behind and follow the Lord. Let us ask for the grace of God to walk in the foot paths of Jesus.

PS Wk I

The First Proclamation One day as Elisha was passing through Shunem, where a wealthy woman lived who urged him to have a meal. So whenever he passed that way, he would stop there for a meal. She said to her husband, 'Look, I am sure that this man who regularly passes our way is a holy man of God. ….

Prayerful Awareness Certainly God dwells in the person chosen by Him through whom His work is manifested. The first proclamation expresses the fact that since the woman of rank realized the presence of God in Elisha and thus he was a holy man, she welcomed him to her home. It reveals the Good News that we should believe in God and His presence so as to welcome Him to our hearts and homes. Let us give a positive response to this and make space for God to act in us.

Gospel Acclamation You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a people set apart to sing the praises of God who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

Alleluia!

The Second Proclamation Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?

Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory o the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life..

But if we have died with Christ,

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we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. The death he died, he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives, he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Prayerful Awareness

receive the reward of the righteous, and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones, in the name of a disciple - truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward."

Prayerful Awareness God is love. Everyone chosen by God should Love Him above all else and at all times should act in conformity with His will. Jesus who said, 'Deny yourself take up your cross and follow me' always discerned and accomplished the will of God and gave up his life in sacrifice. Thus he calls us to thirst for the will of God to be accomplished in our life too, and that at every moment of our existence which also includes loving God above all else.

Towards us

St. Paul pointing out to his community that sin separates from God speaks out of his experience how we are made alive for God in Christ Jesus. In the first Christian community baptism was by immersing in the water which indicated not only that the person coming out of water is completely purified but also that having destroyed and buried the power of sin he has received a new life in Christ. Participating in the death and resurrection of Christ through Our vocation as people endowed baptism we too have inherited a new with an inheritance to divine son-ship life which inspires us to long for union by virtue of our baptism is to follow with Him. the Lord which entails facing chalThe Gospel Proclamation lenges, rejection and death. Let flight Whoever loves father or mother not be our response to the way of the more than me is not worthy of me; cross but embrace it as a sacrament and whoever loves son or daughter that enables us to experience the love more than me is not worthy of me; of God. Let us detect and identify what and whoever does not take up the hinders this and eliminate selfishness cross and follow me is not worthy and sin, love God above all else, be of me. Those who find their life will genuine in our service of the kingdom lose it, and those who lose their life and witness as authentic Christians. for my sake will find it.

Prayer Starter Whoever welcomes you welI will sing of your steadfast love, comes me, and whoever welcomes O Lord, forever; with my mouth I me welcomes the one who sent me. will proclaim your faithfulness to all Whoever welcomes a prophet in generations. the name of a prophet will receive I declare that your steadfast love is a prophet's reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the established forever; your faithfulness name of a righteous person will is as firm as the heavens. (Ps.89/1-2)

“O Mary! The power of the Most High shall overshadow you�

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Monday 29th June 2020

Sts. Peter & Paul, Apostles

Acts: 12/1-11 Psalm:33/2-9 (34/1-8) 2 Timothy:4/6-8,17-18 Mathew:16/13-19

The First Proclamation About that time King Herod laid violent hands upon some who belonged to the church. He had James, the brother of John, killed with the sword. After he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. .... When he had seized him, he put him in prison and handed him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, ... While Peter was kept in prison, the church prayed fervently to God for him.

The very night before Herod was going to bring him out, Peter, bound with two chains, was sleeping between two soldiers, while guards in front of the door were keeping watch over the prison. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell.

He tapped Peter on the side and woke him,..., "Get up quickly." And the chains fell off his wrists. The angel said to him, "Fasten your belt and put on your sandals." He did so. Then he said to him, "Wrap your cloak around and follow me." ....

The Gospel Proclamation Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of man is?" And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?'

Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God"

and Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

Gaze at Jesus' Sonship Jesus had so much to say and to teach His disciples. So He selects a solitary place. Time was running out and the final debacle was near. The lot Jesus had to tell His disciples consisted of many things - things they could neither understand nor bear. He came out with one prominent question - regarding His true identity. This was a crucial one and it involved the very survival of Christian faith. It was His true identity. The worthy attention was drawn to it as all His future work in the church depended primarily on that. What a picture we have here - a penniless wanderer, a Galilean carpenter and twelve ordinary men, most of them fishermen. "Peter confessed Christ was the true Messiah, commissioned by God to reveal His Will to men and fulfilling all prophecies and the law; He was the Son of God, begotten from all eternity, but also the Son of Man begotten in time - true God and true Man. Our blessed Lord revealed to Peter that he did not know this of and by himself; that no natural study or discernment could ever reveal this great truth. "Simon son of Jonah, you are favoured indeed. You did not learn that from mortal man; it was revealed to you by my heavenly Father." (Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen) Prayer Starter Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, have mercy on us. Amen.

“O Mary! The power of the Most High shall overshadow you�

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Tuesday 30th June 2020 First Martyrs of the Holy Roman Church Amos:3/1-8;4/11-12 Psalm:5/5-8 (5/6-7) Mathew:8/23-27

The First Proclamation Hear this word that the Lord hath spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying, You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.

Can two walk together, except they be agreed? Will a lion roar in the forest, when he hath no prey? will a young lion cry out of his den, if he have taken nothing? Can a bird fall in a snare upon the earth, where no gin is for him? shall one take up a snare from the earth, and have taken nothing at all? Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the Lord hath not done it? Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord God hath spoken, who can but prophesy?

Fix your gaze on Jesus O Love of God, God with us, the complete Spirit of God, bring us to focus on Jesus, the beloved Son. God and man cannot walk together, unless they are in agreement. We cannot walk with him, unless abide in the Commandments, and then will His glory reflect from us. S/He being the Creator, and this creation His handiwork, there is no better way to bring out the best. Viz: a motor car performs at its best when each part conforms to

the design specifications and the consumable (fuel and oil) is of the required quality. In other words, all components and inputs must conform to or abide in the given standard; the specifications; the program; the WORD. So it is with us, the highest apex of God’s handiwork. This creation is to come in to consciousness in and through us. To make the gift of life ever more valuable, we have been given the added gift of Free Will; the power of choice! We are able to choose, or create what-ever we desire from life.

God the Father wants us to create for ourselves the very best, and gives us the necessary instructions there-for through the WORD. Do we listen to Him? Like the Beloved Son did? No way! We have our own opinions and beliefs contrary to our design specifications. That’s the cause of our down-fall and all the problems and agony we taste. And, the reason for our lack of power and effectiveness. Look at Jesus. In today’s Gospel, He commands the stormy seas; and the winds and the sea obey Him. To what extent are we able to command the storms in our lives? And Jesus says unto us, “Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? “ Prayer Starter Lord, moment to moment we do not know what prompts us to do what we do.

To paraphrase St. Paul, “For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am..! For the most part, we are not even aware of this on-going battle within and are comfortable cruising forward on auto pilot. Time to turn...Do bring us in to awareness O Holy Spirit of God….

“O Mary! The power of the Most High shall overshadow you”

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