WALK IN THE SPIRIT August 2020 Issue 342 Commencement March 1992
"O Mary the power of the Most High will overshadow you!"
ISSN 1391-5967
Publication: Fr. Siri Oscar Abayaratne Kithu Dana Pubuduwa
SHARING ON PRAYER August 2020 The Blessed Mother is for us in the Pubuduwa a living sign or symbol of a life of emptying. She freed herself of all rights and in this emptying we see a mother crowned with the blessings of the divine. On the 15th August we see this mother before God in incomparable loveliness and beauty. The princess is decked in her chamber with gold-woven robes ‌..
Fr. Siri Oscar Abayaratne
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Saturday 1st August 2020
St. Alphonsus Liguori, Bishop & Doctor
Jeremiah:26/11-16, 24 Psalm:68/15-16, 30-31, 33-34 (69/14-15,29-30,32-33) Mathew:14/1-12
The First Proclamation Please read Jeremiah 26/11-16, 24 prayerfully. The Gospel Proclamation At that time Herod the ruler heard reports about Jesus; and he said to his servants. "This is John the Baptist; he has been raised from the dead, and for this reason these powers are at work in him." For Herod had arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, because John had been telling him, "It is not lawful for you to have her." Though Herod wanted to put him to death, he feared the crowd, because they regarded him as a prophet. But when Herod's birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company, and she pleased Herod so much that he promised an oath to grant her whatever she might ask. Prompted by her mother, she said, "Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter." The king was grieved, yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he commanded it to be given; he sent and had John beheaded in the prison. The head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, who brought it to her mother. His disciples came and took the body and buried it; then they went and told Jesus. Prayerful Awareness Today's Gospel describes the way in which John the Baptist was killed
by the powers of the King Herod. The text begins by giving the opinion which Herod had about Jesus. Herod tries to understand Jesus starting from the fear which assailed him after killing John. Herod was very superstitious and hid his fear behind the ostentation of his riches and his power. The Gospel reading reveals the moral weakness of Herod. So much power accumulated in the hands of one man unable to control himself. Herod was a man who was much worried only about the new capital, large estates and the class of functionaries. He was not worried about the fulfilment of his soul which is to be kept in the hands of God the Almighty. And his attitude and actions made his people much worried. They were controlled both by the government and by the religion. Our sonship Where are we in our lives? What do our actions and attitudes show? Are we also acting the character of Herodians? Let us look back at our experiences. The way we act in incidences of our day to day life. Do we show our power to our associates, to our family or our community? What are our attitudes about the nature of God? Do we act with love? Completing three months after the Pentecost fulfilling of our souls, let us pray for all humanity, to avoid using power against each other and especially for the political leaders who undergo certain incidences such as what Herod underwent. We all who are leaders of the Catholic Church are called to be servants. Let us embrace and accept the word from Our Lord. Prayer Starter I will praise the name of God with a song, I will magnify him with thanksgiving. (Ps.69/30...)
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Sunday 2nd August 2020 18th Sunday of Ordinary Time PS Wk II Prayerful Awareness Isaiah:55/1-3 Through the prophet a message of Psalm: 144/8-9,15-18 hope and consolation was proclaimed (145/8-9,15-18) to the Jews in Babylonian captivity. Romans:8/35, 37-39 Accordingly they are being invited to Mathew:14/13-21 take, eat and drink of the divine graces while directing them for repentance which means, "Listen to me, and you will have good things to eat and rich food to enjoy". Thus he promises of an everlasting covenant from God where we are supposed to adhere to Introduction the voice of God, His commandments In our society today we mostly hear and promises. The Lord also promises about storing and hoarding, guidelines to nourish with His love those who so for saving, investing and better ways of come to Him and that with no charge. Responsorial Psalm consumerism. We too might consider it timely advice according to economics You open wide your hand, O Lord, and especially as people dependent on you grant our desires. a consumer market economy. Yet the The Lord is kind and full of compasmessage presented by Jesus through the sion, slow to anger, abounding in love. Holy Gospel today is quite contrary. As How good the Lord is to all, compasdisciples of Christ and His followers sionate to all his creatures. entering into prayer on this eighteenth The Gospel Proclamation Sunday of Ordinary time, let us reflect on ourselves and open up to the Word Now when Jesus heard this, he of the Lord. Also let us pray that we withdrew from there in a boat to a may value the truths revealed by God deserted pace by himself. But when Most High and receive guidance to take the crowds heard it, they followed them to others. him on foot from the towns. When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; The First Proclamation and he had compassion for them and Ho, everyone who thirsts, come cured their sick. When it was evening to the waters; and you that have no the disciples came to him and said, money, come, buy and eat! "This is a deserted place, and the Come, buy wine and milk with- hour is now late, send the crowds out money and without price. Why away so that they may go into the do you spend your money for that village and buy food for themselves." which is not bread, and your labor for Jesus said to them, "They need not that which does not satisfy? Listen go away; you give them something to carefully to me, and eat what is good, eat." They replied, "We have nothing and delight yourselves in rich food. here but five loaves and two fish" and Incline your ear, and come to me; lis- he said, "Bring them here to me." ten so that you may live. I will make Then he ordered the crowds to sit with you an everlasting covenant, my down on the grass. Taking the five steadfast, sure love for David. loaves and the two fish, he looked up "O MARY! THE POWER OF THE MOST HIGH SHALL OVERSHADOW YOU"
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to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And all ate and were filled; and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full. And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children. Prayerful Awareness The Jews of the Old Testament were well aware of the love of God shown to the people of Israel who followed him paying heed to his voice. It is with immense love that Jesus too provides physical nourishment to people coming after him listening to his voice in a deserted place where nothing was possible with human effort alone. Accordingly, the unending love shown with food provided to the people wandering in the wilderness in hunger and the love with which the Son of God showed by feeding the hungry crowd is available to those who follow Him in every age and time. A great miracle took place when what they had was handed over to the Lord generously. In face of satisfying the hunger of the five thousand with the protein of two fish what is presented to us is how it was produced in a lonely field without any ordinary leaf of a tree or machinery which is really a marvelous act of God. The Second Proclamation Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to sepa-
rate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Prayerful Awareness We could see how St. Paul who was open to the constant love of God to man, remained steadfast in this love with whatever he was confronted with. Accordingly whatever situation was thrust upon him either from the external society or under any other circumstance, he was able to experience that nothing could separate him from the love of God flowing down as an unquenchable spring of water which he shares with us today. Our son-ship The Lord was able to perform a miracle with whatever at hand unreservedly shared by people gathered in the lonely place. Similarly, even today how ready are you to give over the little you have for the Lord to work on it? What is God requesting from me today to accomplish this task? Is it time, labour, money, talents and skills‌.? Am I in a faith experience of giving over all I have? Whatever situation I am faced with as a follower of Christ, a Christ disciple, do I believe in the Love He has for me? Even when curfew was imposed with Corona pandemic we experienced the love of the Lord who never failed to provide us with our daily bread. How is my faith in the love of God thus demonstrated? Prayer Starter God our loving Father, direct me to have steadfast faith in Your love, and lead my life with the trust that nothing could ever separate me from your love. Amen. Throughout the week: Let us believe that whatever situation we are in, we are enveloped in the love of God and should not hinder the love of God that flows to us through others.
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Monday 3rd August 2020 Jeremiah:28/1-17 Psalm:119/29,43,79-80 95,102 Mathew:14/22-36
The First Proclamation Pleases read Jeremiah 28/1-17 prayerfully. The Gospel Proclamation Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea, but when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out in fear. But immediately, Jesus spoke to them and said, "Take heart, it is I, do not be afraid. Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." He said, "Come". So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord save me!" Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" When they got in to the boat, the wind ceased, and those in the boat worshipped him, saying,
"Truly you are the Son of God." ...... Prayerful Awareness Jesus dismisses the crowds! (vs.32) Yes, "crowds" who came after Jesus seeking miracles and cures, they don't seem to interest Jesus. But Jesus, is certainly interested in His "disciples", the people who wished to live according to the teachings of Jesus. "The disciples got into the boat and preceded him to the other side". (vs.22) The life journey on earth is like crossing a river, from one bank to the other. In the journey, one encounters storms and winds of various kinds. These may take the form of sickness, financial problems, misunderstandings or even spiritual problems, like being enslaved to sinful habits, etc. or even mental problems such as stresses, worries, anxieties etc. But once a person takes Jesus as the Lord of his life, follows the way of life Jesus proclaimed, and becomes a disciple, one can be assured that Jesus is there, gazing at him every moment of the life journey. Jesus advises His disciples to be awake to His presence close to them whenever they are faced with the "storms" of life, and experience the hand of God, helping them, to go through the storms (vs.30, 31) This was foretold by the prophet Isaiah. "When you pass through the water, I will be with you, in the rivers, you shall not drown. When you walk through the fire you shall not be burned." My sonship Do I have the faith to take the plunge and to place my dependence on God, rather than on money, wealth or fame? Prayer Starter Come Holy Spirit I need Thee Come Holy Sprit I pray.
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Tuesday 4th August 2020 Jeremiah:30/1-2,12-15, 18-22 Psalm:101/16-23,29 (102/15-22,28) Mathew:15/1-2,10-14
St. John Vianney, Priest scandalized? But he answering them, said: Every plant which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. Let them alone: they are blind, and leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into the pit. Prayerful Awareness
Let us read today’s Proclamations meditatively, where the central theme The First Proclamation is the contrast between the conduct of This is the word that came to Jere- those who are led by God’s Holy Spirit, miah from the Lord,..: Thus saith the and those who are not! Lord, the God of Israel, saying: Write Today’s First Proclamation starts off thee all the words that I have spoken with terrible indictments, but ends with to thee, in a book. promises of eternal hope! Descendants For thus saith the Lord: Thy of Jacob were many times taken captive bruise is incurable, thy wound is by conquering nations for straying from very grievous….. All thy lovers have doing God’s Will, but God always had forgotten thee, and will not seek after compassion on them and brought them thee: for I have wounded thee with back to their own land after a lapse the wound of an enemy, with a cruel of time. In today’s First Proclamation chastisement: by reason of the mul- the Lord specifically tells the Prophet titude of thy iniquities, thy sins are Jeremiah to write down because it is a prophesy for the latter days, after the hardened…. time Jesus walked on the earth (as the Thus saith the Lord: Behold I will last few verses refer to our Lord Jesus bring back the captivity of the pavil- Christ), but applicable to the end times ions of Jacob, and will have pity on as well after the return of the descenhis houses, and the city shall be built dants of Jacob to the land of Israel in her high place, and the temple shall (re-established in 1948 after a lapse of be founded according to the order some two thousand years), and yet to thereof. ..... be fulfilled after the final tribulations Gospel Proclamation and the second coming of our Lord Then came to him from Jerusalem Jesus Christ, when God’s throne will scribes and Pharisees, saying: Why do be established with the faithful forever. thy disciples transgress the tradition In today’s Gospel Proclamation of the ancients? For they wash not the Lord says that man is defiled with their hands when they eat bread. eternal consequences by what abides in And having called together the his inner self, and shows least concern multitudes unto him, he said to them: as to how His utterances would offend Hear ye and understand. Not that the Pharisees and the Scribes! Amen! which goeth into the mouth defileth Alleluia! Praise the Lord! a man: but what cometh out of the Prayer Starter mouth, this defileth a man. Then The children of your servants shall came his disciples, and said to him: Dost thou know that the Pharisees, live secure, their offspring shall be eswhen they heard this word, were tablished in your presence. (Ps.102/28) "O MARY! THE POWER OF THE MOST HIGH SHALL OVERSHADOW YOU"
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Wednesday 5th August 2020 Dedication of the Basilica of St.Mary Major Jeremiah:31/1-7 Psalm:Jer.31/10-13 Mathew: 15/21-28 OR Revelation:21/1-5 Psalm:Judith:13/18-19 Luke:11/27-28
The First Proclamation At that time, says the Lord, I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people. Thus says the Lord,: The people who survived the sword found grace in the wilderness, when Israel sought for rest, the Lord appeared to him from far away I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you. Again I will build you, and you shall be built, O virgin Israel! Again you shall take your tambourines, and go forth in the dance of the merrymakers. Again you shall plant vineyards, on the mountains of Samaria, the planters shall plant, and shall enjoy the fruit. For there shall be a day when sentinels will call in the hill country of Ephraim, "Come, let us go up to Zion, to the Lord our God." For thus says the Lord: Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob and raise shouts for the chief of the nations, proclaim, give praise, and say, "Save, O Lord, your people the remnant of Israel." The Gospel Proclamation Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, "Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David, my daughter is tormented
by a demon." But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, "Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us." He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." But she came and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, help me." He answered, "It is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs." She said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table." Then Jesus answered her, "Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish." And her daughter was healed instantly. Prayerful Awareness What a clear incident we have here of Jesus going out of the Jewish territory and the beginning of the end of all barriers. Before the final debacle, Jesus wanted free time with His disciples. The big idea was to prepare them for the day of the cross. The privacy He needed and to be away from the crowd. It was for these purposes that He went out of the Jewish territory. Jesus could not free Himself of the demands of human need. That cry followed Him. Here it was a woman's cry for help. The reaction of the disciples was that the woman in focus was a nuisance and they wanted Our Lord to give her what she wanted and be undisturbed, in selfish ease. When Jesus tested her faith, she came out with flying colours. "Even the dogs eat the leftovers" The woman was saying to the Lord, "Even the dogs are fed by the Master, not the full feast meant for the children of Israel, but the dogs will get a portion; and it will still come from the Master's table." She pleaded that she belonged to the Master's household. She was not an alien." (Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen). Prayer Starter Help me to have the faith of the woman in focus. Amen.
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Thursday 6th August 2020 Daniel:7/9-10,13,14 OR 2 Peter:1/16-19 Psalm:96/1-2,5-6,9 (97/1-2,5-6,9) Luke:9/28-36
The First Proclamation I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened. I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed. Fix your gaze on Jesus Jesus, You who was, and is, and will be- Christ, the Logos, the Living Substance of the Creative God, the Essence of All That Is, we salute You. You are the Brother to all creation. We routinely forget that the creation came in to being with the Word – "let there be‌.." , and the Word which does not return to the Father without fulfilling
Transfiguration of the Lord / realising the objectives / desired wish of the Father. O What a Wonder and a Blessing You are! Now we are called upon to choose the Living Word-Jesus, and make Him incarnate within ourselves, even as our Blessed Mother did. We may not realise this manifestation in a physical sense even as She did, but nevertheless truly in our hearts and our minds. The 'Father' transfigured the 'Son' on the Mount today, and proclaimed to those on the Mount to 'Listen' to the 'Incarnate Word'. For this, our attention, and our desire, and our unwavering intent must become focused on the Word we take on, on a daily basis. The verses given today are for the comfort and support of the people of God, in reference to the persecutions that would come upon them. The great event foretold in this passage, is Christ's glorious coming, to destroy every power of darkness, and to render His own kingdom universal upon earth. But ere the solemn time arrives, for manifesting the glory of God to all worlds in His dealings with His creatures, we may expect that the doom of each of us will be determined at the hour of our death; and before the end shall come, the Father will openly give to His incarnate Son, our Mediator and Judge, the inheritance of the nations as His willing subjects. The Word of God is powerful; is living and continues to come at us. We are called upon to open ourselves to this wonderful grace momentarily available to each and all. Shall we do so? Prayer Starter The little we know becomes an obstacle in our journey to our deeper awareness. We should learn to echo our Blessed Mother, and say in faith 'How could this be!'. Lord and King, have mercy on us, and give us the gift of sight, along-with the gift of hearing.
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Friday 7th August 2020 Sts. Xystus II, Pope & Companions, Martyrs St. Cajetan, Priest sacrifice which He was to reveal in Nahum:2/1; 3/1-3, 6-7 His sufferings and death. Psalm:Dt.32/35-36,39, No one could become a faithful 41 follower of Jesus without being prepared to renounce everything, without Mathew: 16/24-28 carrying his life itself in his hand. The first desire of Jesus in speaking these words was undoubtedly to make His companions understand clearly the absolute degree of the self-sacrifice The Gospel Proclamation which they must make in spirit, if they Then Jesus told his disciples, "If were to be thoroughly associated with anyone wants to become my follow- the Leader in whom they believed. To ers, let them deny themselves and Kithudana Pubuduwa people this is take up their cross and follow me. the basic life-style. For those who want to save their Our sonship life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. We are constantly tempted to For what will it profit them if they self-indulgence, to do simply what is gain the whole world but forfeit easy and pleasant to us, agreeable to their life? Or what will they give in our taste, inclinations and habits and return for their life. others to do or leave undone altogeth"For the Son of Man is to come er the things that are not according to with his angels in the glory of his our taste or that which is required from Father, and then he will repay ev- us - any care or effort or sacrifice. But eryone for what has been done. Tru- today's Gospel speaks to our souls. We ly I tell you, there are some standing must not make a kind of part-time of here who will not taste death before religious service, that we must not be they see the Son of Man coming in earnest or self-denying in our ordinary calling and then come to Christ's work his kingdom." as an entertainment for our leisure Prayerful Awareness hours, just playing with the great Then Jesus told His disciples, "If cause of God. We must not do that. any one would come after me, let We must work if we would have God him deny himself and take up his to work with us. cross and follow me ...... It is when we do our part that we These words were spoken by Our have any right at all to expect that God Lord when He first began definitely to will do His part. To do our part, we prepare the minds of His disciples for have to pray. Put effort, face difficulthe humiliation, suffering and death ties, strain and do some hard work and which lay before Him. The conception painful things. Today we are called of a suffering life was so alien to the to accept our cross and follow Jesus. thought of His time that it became Prayer Starter necessary to prepare the minds of His Lord shower Your Spirit so that we immediate followers for the purpose of receiving the Divine idea of self- can answer our call to be a disciple. "O MARY! THE POWER OF THE MOST HIGH SHALL OVERSHADOW YOU"
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Saturday 8th August 2020 Habakuk:1/12-2/4 Psalm: 9/8-13 (9/7-12) Mathew:17/14-20
The First Proclamation Are you not from of old, O Lord my God, my Holy One? You shall not die. ... Your eyes are too pure to behold evil, and you cannot look on wrongdoing; why do you look on the treacherous, and are silent when the wicked swallow those more righteous than they? You have made people like the fish of the sea, like crawling things that have no ruler. The enemy brings all of them up with a hook; ... so he rejoices and exults. ...... The Gospel Proclamation When they came to the crowd, a man came to him, knelt before him, and said, "Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and he suffers terribly; he often falls into the fire and often into the water. And I brought him to your disciples, but they could not cure him." Jesus answered, "You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be with you? How much longer must I put up with you? Bring him here to me." And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and the boy was cured instantly. Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, "Why could we not cast it out?" He said to them, "Because of your little faith. For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there, and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you." Prayerful Awareness Let us reflect on the scriptures today.
St. Dominic, Priest In the first reading prophet, Habakkuk is complaining to God, as all of us frequently do, about the unfair nature of the world. He is asking God why bad things are happening to good people. Which is a popular question that is asked today in the modern world? And God answers; “It may seem slow in coming, but wait for it; it will certainly take place, and it will not be delayed. And this is the message: ‘Those who are evil will not survive, but those who are righteous will live because they are faithful to God.’” Be patient and have faith in God. In the Gospel, the disciples of Jesus are unable to heal a boy due to their lack of faith. It is faith that gives the power to heal the sick or to drive out demons. As Jesus says; “It was because you do not have enough faith,” answered Jesus. “I assure you that if you have faith as big as a mustard seed, you can say to this hill, ‘Go from here to there!’ and it will go. You could do anything!” Our Sonship Let us reflect on ourselves. In our day-to-day lives, when we go through a difficult or painful experience, we sometimes question God; we ask Him why? But do we have enough faith to listen to God for His answer and believe in God’s word and His promises? Or do we keep on complaining? It is the faith that we have in Him that gives us the strength to face anything. We need to accept His love and believe in His Promises. Faith is the gift that we all receive during our Baptism. But we need to nourish our faith to live life as God intended, as children of God. Prayer Starter Dear Lord, overshadow me with Thy Holy Spirit, strengthen my faith in You, oh Almighty Father.
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Sunday 9th August 2020
1 Kings:19/9,11-13 Psalm:84/9-14 (85/8-13) Romans:9/1-5 Mathew:14/22-33
Introduction Today, being the 19th Sunday of Ordinary Time the Holy Mother the Church calls us to desire the faith of seeing God at every moment of our lives. Through the Gospel Proclamation of the day it is well affirmed that not only during serene and quiet moments but also in disturbing and confusing situations God is with us and taking us by the hand he brings us out securely. The First Proclamation At that place he came to a cave, and spent the night there. He said "Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord. for the Lord is about to pass by." Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then there came a voice to him that said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" Prayerful Awareness Elijah the prophet frightened by death threats comes to Horeb or Mount Sinai and tries to hide himself in a cave.
19th Sunday of Ordinary Time PS Wk III
Then the Lord questions him twice as to what he was doing there which indicates that Elijah coming to the mountain of Horeb was a personal decision of his. And in the presence of the Lord he makes an effort to justify the decision taken by him. "I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; ‌. even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away." (1 Kings 19:10). And he repeats this twice. Then the Lord says, "Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord." When Elijah presented himself before the Lord, He did not manifest Himself in the wind, the earthquake or the fire, the means through which God manifested Himself in the Old Testament. On the contrary He manifests Himself to Elijah at this moment most unexpectedly through a gentle breeze. In order to make contact with God it would be very helpful for us to experience exterior and interior silence. Thus, in the noisy atmosphere that we live in, if we are able to silence our inner self with the Holy Spirit, we will be able to be in constant encounter with the Lord, living in His presence. The Gospel Proclamation Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountains by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, "It is a ghost" And they cried out in fear. but immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, "Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid."
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Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." He said, "Come". So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened and beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!" Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him saying to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshipped him, saying "Truly you are the Son of God." Prayerful Awareness After the multiplication of loaves the Lord presenting Himself before the Father engages in prayer throughout the night till dawn. In the fourth watch of the night He comes to His disciples walking on the lake and they are terrified. Jesus called out to them saying, "Courage! It is I! Do not be afraid.". May be His attempt was to lift up even the disciples to a powerful experience of deep faith and prayer. Here, Peter trusting in the Lord started walking on the water but in an instant his faith failed and he began to sink. Jesus put out His hand at once and held him. "Man of little faith" He said, "why did you doubt?" Isn't the Lord challenging us also to walk a journey of faith in His loving presence? The Second Proclamation I am speaking the truth in Christ - I am not lying; my conscience confirms it by the Holy Spirit - I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my own people, my kindred according to the flesh. They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises; to them belong the patriarchs, and from
them, according to the flesh, comes the Messiah, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen. Prayerful Awareness Obviously this is a prayer made by St. Paul in which he expounds on the graces received by the Israelites and of their value. Yet he also mentions of a great sorrow and an endless mental anguish in him as described from verse 9:6 onwards of the letter to the Romans. Most probably it is the reason with which he finally declares, "Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they (the Israelites) may be saved". (Rom. 10:1). Accordingly what St. Paul affirms is the necessity and responsibility that falls on us to be constantly alert to where the people of God, our brethren, are and the need to mediate and live for them in the constant presence of the Lord. Let us reflect on our actions. Our son-ship People of the Old Testament experienced that the mountain top was a special place for a God encounter. While Elijah is called to the mountain top to encounter God, the Lord Jesus went up to the mountain top to meet with Him and spent hours of solitude in prayer in the presence of God. He thus fills himself with power from above experiencing the Father's Love, Will and His Inspiration. He is so filled with the power of God that he comes to His disciples walking on the water as if He has forgotten His surroundings. If we too submit ourselves to the power of God through deep prayer, we would also experience a power that could overcome every challenge easily. Let us take a decision to allocate time for prayer (My Hour) without being daily engaged simply in work alone. Prayer Starter Lord, enable us to hold Your hand and walk our life journey without fearing the storms of life.
"O MARY! THE POWER OF THE MOST HIGH SHALL OVERSHADOW YOU"
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Monday 10th August 2020 2 Corinthians:9/6-10 Psalm:111/1-2,5-9 (112/1-2,5-9) John:12/24-26
The First Proclamation The point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work, As it is written, "He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor; his righteousness endures forever." He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. The Gospel Proclamation Very truly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor.
St. Lawrence, Deacon & Martyr Prayerful Awareness People may hesitate to give generously to God if they worry about having enough money left over to meet their own needs. Paul assured the Corinthians that God was ABLE to meet their needs. The person who gives only a LITTLE will receive only a little in return. May we never lack of faith and let us ask God to help us to give FREELY and GENEROUSLY. Our attitude when we give is more important than the AMOUNT we give. We do not have to be embarrassed if we can give only a small gift. God is concerned about how we give from the reserves we have. Mark 18/41-44 speaks of Jesus' appreciation of the poor woman's mite. Jesus said that she gave ALL she had. In the Lord's eyes, this poor widow gave more than all the others put together, though her gift was by far the smallest. The value of a gift is NOT determined by the amount, but by the spirit in which it is given. A gift given grudgingly or for recognition loses its value. Let us remember, gifts of any size are pleasing to God when they are given out of GRATITUDE and a spirit of GENEROSITY. God gives us resources to use and invest for Him. The resources that God gives us are not to be hidden, denounced or thrown away. Instead they should be cultivated in order to produce more crops. When we invest what God has given us for His work, He will provide us with even more to give in His service. Prayer Starter Jesus my Lord and Master, help us give in love, faith and generosity and never under compulsion.
"O MARY! THE POWER OF THE MOST HIGH SHALL OVERSHADOW YOU"
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Tuesday 11th August 2020 Ezekiel:2/8-3/4 Psalm:118/14,24,72, 103, 111, 131 (119/14.24.72.103,111, 131) Mathew:18/1-5,10,12-14
The First Proclamation But thou, O son of man, hear all that I say to thee: and do not thou provoke me, as that house provoketh me: open thy mouth, and eat what I give thee. And I looked, and behold, a hand was sent to me, wherein was a book rolled up: And he spread it before me, and it was written within and without: and there were written in it lamentations, and canticles, and woe. And he said to me: Son of man, eat all that thou shalt find: eat this book, and go speak to the children of Israel. ...
Song of Praise
I have been delighted in the way of thy testimonies, as in all riches. For thy testimonies are my meditation: and thy justifications my counsel. The law of thy mouth is good to me, above thousands of gold and silver. How sweet are thy words to my palate! more than honey to my mouth. I have purchased thy testimonies for an inheritance for ever: because they are a joy to my heart. I opened my mouth and panted: because I longed for thy commandments.
Gospel Proclamation
At that hour the disciples came to Jesus, saying: "Who thinkest thou is the greater in the kingdom of heaven?"
St. Clare, Virgin And Jesus calling unto him a little child, set him in the midst of them, and said: "Amen I say to you, unless you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, he is the greater in the kingdom of heaven. And he that shall receive one such little child in my name, receiveth me..... What think you? If a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them should go astray: doth he not leave the ninety-nine in the mountains, and go to seek that which is gone astray? ... Amen I say to you, he rejoiceth more for that, than for the ninety-nine that went not astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father, who is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.
Prayerful Awareness
Let us read today’s Proclamations meditatively, where the central theme is the utmost importance we should place on God’s Word in our lives. Today’s First Proclamation and the Responsorial Psalm (extracts from Psalm 119, the longest in the book of Psalms) extoll the importance of dwelling and chewing on, and savouring the Word of God! Our lives are otherwise full of lamentations and woe, but if we apply the Word of God in to our lives, and believe in and stand on God’s promises and prophesies contained therein, we can start savouring our lives to the fullest and find it sweet (I came to give you Life, Life in all its fullness: John 10:10). In the Gospel Proclamation our Lord extolls the virtue of humility and being child-like, to be considered greater in the Kingdom of God. He also explains that there is greater joy in heaven over one sinner saved than ninety nine self-righteous persons! Amen! Alleluia! Praise the Lord!
"O MARY! THE POWER OF THE MOST HIGH SHALL OVERSHADOW YOU"
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Wednesday 12th August 2020 Ezekiel:9/1-7,10,18-22 Psalm:112/1-6 (113/1-6) Mathew:18/15-20
The First Proclamation Then he cried in my hearing with a loud voice, saying "Draw near, you executioners of the city, each with his destroying weapon in his hand. ... Now the glory of the God of Israel had gone up from the cherub on which it rested to the threshold of the house. The Lord called to the man clothed in linen, who had the writing case at his side and said to him, "Go through the city, through Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of those who sigh and groan over all the abominations that are committed in it." To the others he said in my hearing, "Pass through the city after him, and kill, your eye shall not spare, and you shall show no pity. ... So they began with the elders who were in front of the house. Then he said to them, "Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain. Go!" So they went out and killed in the city. ... The Gospel Proclamation "If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one. But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If the member refuses to listen to
St. Jane Frances de Chantal them, tell it to the church, and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them." Prayerful Awareness A scheme of action is presented here for mending severed relationships and that too within Christian fellowship. To brood about a wrong is perhaps the worst thing. May be it will poison one's whole life or mind. Take the whole thing to a near and dear one, capable of advising you. Often the very; stating of it will show how unimportant and timid the whole thing is .We are also advised to put the right personality. Then we have Jesus speaking of prayer. Our experience of prayer is that often our prayers are not answered. The reason is clear - often our prayers are selfish and cannot find an answer. The aim of prayer should involve not only the welfare of not just a person or few, but the whole. Individual success would mean someone else's failure. What is there or is clear in God's answer. It is not one of escape from a human situation. He enables us to accept what we cannot understand, and also enables us to endure what without Him would be catastrophe or unendurable. Prayer Starter Help us to accept Your answers to our prayers. Amen.
"O MARY! THE POWER OF THE MOST HIGH SHALL OVERSHADOW YOU"
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Thursday 13th August 2020 Sts. Pontian, Pope & Hippolytus, Priest lift us up so much higher; the Free Will Ezekiel:12/1-12 we're endowed with, we've turned in to Psalm:77/56-59, 61,62 a curse that points us away from our inheritance of being in love and relating to (78/56-59,61-62) the togetherness / Oneness of existence, Mathew:18/21-19/1 opening up this awful chasm between us and our beloved Creator God and the Creation. Something is foundationally wrong with us when we perennially transform The First Proclamation a blessing into a curse! No wonder the The word of the Lord came to me: Lord calls us a tribe of rebels; we use the 'Son of man, you are living among a blessing of our senses, but transform/ tribe of rebels who have eyes and nev- interpret the incoming impressions in er see, they have ears and never hear, to something that is hostile and threatbecause they are a tribe of rebels. So, ening. The power vested within, we use son of man, pack an exile's bundle and to create a hostile and alienated world. Do we understand that anything set off for exile by daylight while they watch. You will leave your home and that challenges us and calls upon us go somewhere else while they watch. to a greater response (thereby bestowThen perhaps they will see that they ing upon us the assurance of a highare a tribe of rebels ....While they er-than-so-far-experienced capacity and watch, you will shoulder your pack fulfilment), can also be viewed upon as a and go out into the dark; you will threat! What is your normal response to cover your face so that you cannot see a perceived challenge? A challenge that the ground, since I have made you an tests your ability to experience and stay omen for the House of Israel....Next in love; to be in mastery over your emomorning the word of Yahweh was tions; your ability to stay on the narrow, addressed to me as follows, 'Son of chosen path as against the inclination man, did not the House of Israel ... to give in to random dark feelings and ask you, "What are you doing?" Say, desires. Together with you will I lament; "The Lord Yahweh says this: This Oh, wretched man that I am! Who will prophecy concerns Jerusalem and the liberate me from this pain, this death, whole House of Israel who live there." this trap; the enticing and beguiling traps Say, "I am an omen for you; as I have of the Liar? done, so will be done to them; they will O Holy Spirit of God, search within be deported into exile. Their prince me and bring before my consciousness will shoulder his pack in the dark and the inner processors habitually driving go out through the wall; a hole will be me, so that I could turn anew to the made to let him out; he will cover his Ever-Present Loving Presence of my face, so that he cannot see the country. Creator God who renews me, the Holy Spirit residing within... Fix your gaze on Jesus Prayer Starter Gracious Lord, I know very well Thou art Blessed O Spirit of God, S/ how obstinate and hard hearted humanity can be! After all, I myself am a He who resides within me, calling on me member of that blessed species, and I've to become conscious of Thee... to stay in had done my share of being down-right Your presence, to be in Love even as our cussed! The very same gift that was to Blessed Mother did.... "O MARY! THE POWER OF THE MOST HIGH SHALL OVERSHADOW YOU"
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Friday 14th August 2020
St. Maximilian Kolbe, Priest & Martyr
Ezekiel:16/1-15,60,63 (OR Ezekiel:16/59-63) Psalm:Isaiah 12/2-6 Mathew:19/3-12
Assumption of the Bl. Virgin Mary (Vigil Mass) 1 Chr.15/3-4,15-16;16/1-2 Psalm:131/6-7,9-10,13-14 (132/6-7,9-10,13-14) 1 Corinthians:15/54-57 Luke:11/27-28
The First Proclamation The word of Yahweh was addressed to me as follows, 'Son of man, confront Jerusalem with her loathsome practices! Say, "The Lord Yahweh says this: By origin and birth you belong to the land of Canaan. Your father was an Amorite and your mother a Hittite. At birth, the very day you were born, there was no one to cut your navel-string, or wash you in water to clean you,...You were exposed in the open fields in your own dirt on the day you were born. "I saw you kicking on the ground in your blood as I was passing, and I said to you as you lay in your blood: Live! and I made you grow like the grass of the fields. You developed, you grew, you reached marriageable age. ... The fame of your beauty spread through the nations, since it was perfect, because I had clothed you with my own splendour -- declares the Lord Yahweh. "But you became infatuated with your own beauty and used your fame to play the whore, lavishing your debauchery on all comers....but
I shall remember my covenant with you when you were a girl and shall conclude a covenant with you that will last for ever....
Fix your gaze on Jesus
Lord, You outline in graphic details a picture of the state of the chosen, how you loved them before, during and after. The evolving love story continues. The human condition since then has not changed much despite your steadfast love. We seem to be singularly incapable of learning, of discerning what is really good for us, what uplifts, what heals, what soothes and what nurtures! Perennially inclined to accept what our flesh, the world and the corrupter insinuates, we own up to being dis-empowered and a victim. We prefer to be 'Entitled', rather than experience the 'Blessings and Love' ever-flowing. Yahweh confronts Jerusalem with her loathsome practices! Let us face the reality that such practices spring forth from corrupted/ tainted beliefs. Such are we! Our inner beliefs and accepted truths create our 'reality'. We reap in accord with what we sow. We see out there, what we are inside. Thus the challenge before us is to 'Test Everything'! To Become Conscious; be aware of the inner processors, the creative work we do inside of ourselves! Turn again and again to the Lord, the Living Word-Jesus. Align yourself with our Creator God, and experience 'His Child' status. This is what Mother Mary did. She experienced the 'Wondrous things the Almighty' did for her, and magnified the Facilitator. And became 'Our Blessed Mother'! Our Lord is Awesome, Alleluia! Prayer Starter Thank You Lord for confronting us with our fallen beliefs and practices. Help us O Holy Spirit to Test what we hold dear 'Inside', and to hold fast to what is uplifting, the Truth!
"O MARY! THE POWER OF THE MOST HIGH SHALL OVERSHADOW YOU"
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Saturday 15th August 2020 The Assumption of the Bl. Virgin Mary Revelation:11/19;12/16, 10 Psalm:44/10-12,16 (45/9-11,15) 1 Corinthians:15/20-27 Luke:1/39-56
The First Proclamation Please read Revelation 11/19; 12/16, 10 prayerfully. The Gospel Proclamation In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord." And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name..... Prayerful Awareness
wife, .... Zechariah DOUBTED. In contrast Mary SUBMITTED. She believed the angel's word and AGREED. Apparently the Holy Spirit told Elizabeth that Mary's child was the Messiah because Elizabeth called her young cousin "The Mother o my Lord" as she greeted her. Elizabeth's greeting must have strengthened her faith. Mary's pregnancy may have seemed impossible but her wise relative believed in the Lord's faithfulness and REJOICED in Mary's blessed condition. Mary glorified God in song for what He was going to do for the world THROUGH HER. We see that God is pictured here as a CHAMPION of the POOR, the OPPRESSED and the DESPISED. When Mary said "From now on all generations will call me blessed", she was not proud. She was recognising and accepting the GIFT God has given her. If Mary had denied her incredible position, she would have been throwing God's blessing back at Him. In humility Mary accepted the gift and used it to praise and serve God. God kept His promise to Abraham to be merciful to God's people forever. Christ's birth fulfilled the promise and Mary understood this. She was not surprised when her special Son eventually announced that He was the MESSIAH. Because travel was not easy, long visits were customary. Mary's stay for two months must have been a great help to Elizabeth who was experiencing the discomforts of a first pregnancy in old age. Prayer Starter
Almighty Father, we believe that God's announcement of a child to You are able to do the impossible in be born was met with various responses our lives. Help us to respond to Your throughout scripture. Sarah, Abraham's demands by willing acceptance. "O MARY! THE POWER OF THE MOST HIGH SHALL OVERSHADOW YOU"
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20th Sunday of Ordinary Time PS Wk IV be called a house of prayer for all Isaiah:56/1,6-7 peoples. Psalm:66/2-3,5,6,8 Prayerful Awareness (67/1-2,4,7)
Sunday 16th August 2020
2 Romans:11/13-15, 29-32 Mathew:15/21-28
Introduction Let us awaken ourselves to the calling presented through the Gospel today. The person who submits to the authority and dominion of God will forever receive His mercy and protection. Similarly, the Lord God who created the entire universe will choose those who believe in Him and place their trust in Him to His dwelling place making them experience the gifts of the Spirit bestowed on them for the sake of the Kingdom, thus calling them to grow deeper in their faith. Let us enter into prayer asking for the power to this vocation wholeheartedly. The First Proclamation Thus says the Lord: Maintain justice, and do what is right, for soon my salvation will come, and my deliverance be revealed. And the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord to minister to him, to love the name of the Lord and to be his servants, all who keep the Sabbath, and do not profane it, and hold fast my covenant – these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall
The First Proclamation gives an account of the Israelites come out of the Babylonian exile in 538 B.C. wherein the Lord promised all people His blessing and redemption. Thus the grace bestowed upon them is not limited simply to the Israelites alone. Similarly, the man who turns to Him in faith would be ushered into His dwelling place and they will come to see the Kingdom of God since the man who belongs to the kingdom of God and trust in him is fortunate and blessed. He longs to accomplish the will of God and there will be a burning thirst in him for His dwelling place. As such He calls to his kingdom only those who listen to his voice. The righteous will inherit the kingdom since enjoying the joy of the kingdom will be his experience forever. The Second Proclamation Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. In as much then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I glorify my ministry in order to make my own people jealous, and thus save some of them. For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead. ... for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. Just as you were once disobedient to God but have now received mercy because of their disobedience, so they have now been disobedient in order that, by the mercy shown to you, they to may now receive mercy. For God has imprisoned all in disobedience
"O MARY! THE POWER OF THE MOST HIGH SHALL OVERSHADOW YOU"
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so that he may be merciful to all. Prayerful Awareness God calls St. Paul to carry the Good News to the pagans. There were both Jews and pagans in the Church of Rome yet St. Paul addresses only the pagans. Yet, he states not to be overly proud and boast about choosing pagans in place of the Jews. Also pointing out that those who do not conform to the mind of God will be imprisoned in their own disobedience He requests them to turn to Him without moving away. And those who experience the gifts of the Holy Spirit will also experience the joys of the Kingdom. Thus God calls us to respond to our vocation, experiencing His gifts. The Gospel Proclamation Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting. "Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David, my daughter is tormented by a demon." But he did not answer her at all. And His disciples came and urged him, saying, "Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us." He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the House of Israel"; But she come and knelt before him saying, "Lord, help me." He answered, "It is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs." She said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master's table". Then Jesus answered her, "Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish." And her daughter was healed instantly. Prayerful Awareness What is revealed through the Gos-
pel Proclamation is Faith. Moreover, the Lord tests the faith of the woman who is not Jewish. With the somewhat stern word thrown at her she was neither confused nor discouraged but made it a point to enrich her faith more. The Lord who paid heed to her words said, "Woman, you have great faith. Let your wish be granted." And her daughter was instantly healed. These miracles would have more and more widened the faith that Christ had in the Father and He calls the people to enter into a similar faith. Where there is faith and bonding there will also be love. Love heals, transforms and renews the other person. The Lord is calling all of us to initiate a journey of such faith and love. Let us enter into prayer pleading with the Lord for the power of the Spirit to respond to this vocation. My Son-ship The person who experiences redemption will indeed experience God. He will be freed from every bond of slavery. Therefore, let us realize the invitation extended to us to free ourselves from every sin that we have fallen victim to. Let us allow Him to touch our lives, receive it lovingly since those who fall under His gaze are sure to experience redemption. Experiencing the joy of this redemption, let us awaken ourselves to the calling and give a positive response. Let us delve deeply into prayer, pleading for the necessary power of the Spirit as well as enjoying His gifts. Prayer Starter O God, be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, that your way may be known upon earth your saving power among all nations. (Psalm 67:1-2).
"O MARY! THE POWER OF THE MOST HIGH SHALL OVERSHADOW YOU"
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Monday 17th August 2020 Ezekiel:24/15-24 Psalm:Deut.32/18-21 Mathew:19/16-22
The Gospel Proclamation Then someone came to him and said, "Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?" And he said to him, "Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments." He said to him, "Which ones?" And Jesus said, "You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; Honor your father and mother, also, You shall love your neighbor as yourself." The young man said to him, "I have kept all these; what do I still lack?" Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me." When the young man heard this word, he went away grieving, for he had many possessions. Gaze at Jesus' Sonship Obeying God's command has a cost. It was true in Jesus' Sonship. He gave up His divine image to become man. Then He embraced the cross in exchange for our sin, so that we may be saved. Therefore, when the rich man asked, "What else do I need to do?" to inherit God's Kingdom, Jesus tells him to give his riches to the poor. In the first reading, Ezekiel was told not to mourn when his wife died. God intended it to be symbolic to show his
fellow Israelites not to mourn when the city of Jerusalem is destroyed because God's Kingdom is much more than a physical city and our hope should be eternal life. Our sonship What is the image we have about Christianity? Our God is loving and faithful and His provisions are plentiful for His children. However, there is another aspect to Christianity, that is eternity in God's Kingdom. To inherit God's Kingdom and live in eternity, we also need to learn to accept |God's authority in our life, for which God commands obedience. Obedience to God is embedded in the gift from the Holy Spirit which is called fear of God and trust. Ezekiel obeyed God and did not mourn for his wife, but he was to warn the Israelites of the imminent coming of a famine. It would have been a terrible experience for Ezekiel to manage life during a famine without his wife. However, throughout the famine, it is interesting to note how God kept Ezekiel provided continuously as he listened to God's instructions. Obedience to God musters faith and trust in God's companionship. When we obey God, His provision will be much more than we have lost. Hence it is a journey that requires prayer and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Prayerful Awareness Pope Francis speaks of the church for the new era and there is a larger awakening now in the Church for the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Prayer Starter Let us pray for God's supplications for the Church which is the gift of the Holy Spirit in His fullness.
"O MARY! THE POWER OF THE MOST HIGH SHALL OVERSHADOW YOU"
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Tuesday 18th August 2020 Ezekiel:28/1-10 Psalm:Deut.32/26-28, 30,35,36 Mathew:19/23-30
The Gospel Proclamation Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Truly I tell you, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God." When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astounded and said, "Then who can be saved?" But Jesus looked at them and said, "For mortals it is impossible, but for God all things are possible." Then Jesus said in reply, "Look, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?" Jesus said to them, "Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man is seated on the throne of his glory, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold, and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first. Gaze at Jesus Jesus as the beloved Son of Father God experiences His love and protection at all times. Many of the truths and values of the Kingdom are revealed to Jesus when He is in the presence of Father God. May be in the solitude of the summit of a mountain or beside the river Jordan and whenever time permits He is in the presence of Father God and
receives all important truths and values of the Kingdom. According to the Gospel reading Jesus speaks directly to the disciples who have already started a journey with Jesus. These disciples had to be the cream and spirit who had to set a good example to the people for a transformation on their lives. Jesus in today's Gospel reading speaks to His disciples about the difficulty for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven and elaborates that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Let us consider as to why Jesus made such a statement and His inner thoughts. This statement of Jesus follows His encounter with the rich young man, who, with all his good manners and religious observances, has not got enough to gain eternal life. Jesus' answer was "If you want to be perfect, go sell your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven, then come, follow me." Following Jesus is not enough. The disciples have to be like Jesus, taking part in the same vocation and mission of proclaiming the Good News and giving liberty to the captives, freeing the oppressed and healing all kinds of diseases. They are to live without fear and greed and hoarding. Also live gracious lives with the poor so that they have treasures in heaven. Nothing is impossible with God - Incarnation, Resurrection - all for the blessing of mankind, thereby the rich giving up all their riches to the poor as the followers of Christ. Prayer Starter This life is a temporary abode. Help us dear Lord to be aware of the eternal life and have a great desire to build up a lasting and loving friendship with You throughout our lives. Amen.
"O MARY! THE POWER OF THE MOST HIGH SHALL OVERSHADOW YOU"
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Wednesday 19th August 2020 Ezekiel:34/1-11 Psalm:22/1-6 (23/1-6) Mathew:20/1-16
The First Proclamation The word of the Lord came to me: Mortal, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them - to the shepherds: Thus says the Lord God: Ah, you shepherds of Israel, who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep? You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fatlings; but you do not feed the sheep. You have not strengthened the weak, you have not healed the sick, you have not bound up the injured, you have not brought back the strayed, you have not sought the lost, but with force and harshness you have ruled them. So they were scattered, because there was no shepherd; and scattered, they became food for all the wild animals. My sheep were scattered, they wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill, my sheep were scattered over all the face of the earth, with no one to search or seek for them. Therefore, you shepherds hear the word of the Lord: As I live, says the Lord God, because my sheep have become a prey, and my sheep have become food for all the wild animals, since there was no shepherd; and because my shepherds have
not searched for my sheep, but the shepherds have fed themselves, and have not fed my sheep, therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord God, I am against the shepherds and I will demand my sheep at their hand, and put a stop to their feeding the sheep; no longer shall the shepherds feed themselves, I will rescue my sheep from their mouths, so that they may not be food for them. Prayerful Awareness Here we have Ezekiel's prophecy on the shepherding of Israel. In the life of the Jews the shepherd figure is a dominant one and they were a shepherd people. Many of the prominent figures in the Old Testament were shepherds - Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses. David was a shepherd King. The religious leaders and the political leaders were included in this category. In the present era, the clergy, teachers of religion, writers, parents etc. can be classified as shepherds. Because most of the shepherds of the Old Testament failed in their duties towards the sheep, they were denounced by the Lord. This denunciation in the Old Testament should awaken or evoke an examination of conscience from the present-day shepherds. God's concern is for His people - sheep. It is for their welfare that He appoints shepherds. Sheep are more important. This is the most important factor behind God sending His one and only Son to redeem His creation from the bondage of sin. Take a cue from Him and let us be good and faithful sheep as well as shepherds. Prayer Starter Help us to be obedient sheep in Your flock. Amen.
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Thursday 20th August 2020 Ezekiel:36/23-28 Psalm:50/12-15,18-19 (51/10-13,16-17) Mathew:22/1-14
The First Proclamation I am going to display the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned among them. And the nations will know that I am Yahweh -- declares the Lord Yahweh -- when in you I display my holiness before their eyes. For I shall take you from among the nations and gather you back from all the countries, and bring you home to your own country. I shall pour clean water over you and you will be cleansed; I shall cleanse you of all your filth and of all your foul idols. I shall give you a new heart, and put a new spirit in you; I shall remove the heart of stone from your bodies and give you a heart of flesh instead. I shall put my spirit in you, and make you keep my laws, and respect and practice my judgments. You will live in the country which I gave your ancestors. You will be my people and I shall be your God. Fix your gaze on Jesus Are my normal thought patterns like, “Lord, I have gone astray, and am experiencing the bitter results of my poor choices; the taste of life I experience is not to my liking, and I would like to change it for the better; I understand that I'm reaping what I've sown, and I see that I've sown poorly....�. Jesus was constantly asking for the will of the Father, and actively listening. This however, is NOT my normal thinking! I normally like to think that I'm good and that I do my very best! I routinely try to evade the possibility that my life situ-
St. Bernard, Abbot & Doctor ation is mostly a reflection of my choices. I tell myself that I'm mostly blameless for my present situation; that I'm mostly powerless to change the situation and circumstances and the others, that I'm a victim. I habitually try to rationalise the blame away; putting it on my brother, sister, nature and the lady luck! Today however I have realised to some extent that lying to myself is unlikely to improve my condition; ie; serve my purpose; that however bitter the truth is, it is time for me to turn away from the lies and deceptions and petty rationalisations I've been making to myself. Time I faced the truth, accepted the responsibility for forging / creating my life taste and journey, and empower myself with empowering thoughts and beliefs. With this turning, I stand today before your Living Word. Listening to your assurances of cleansing from the guilt and repercussions of past transgressions, of being given a new empowered spirit and a heart, a heart sensitive to the calling of the moment passing before me! I shall be able to abide in your commandments and become the loving, kind, empowered being you're designed me to be! I shall have that purpose in my life that would bring fulfilment to my whole being. I together with my brethren will be Your People, and You will be our God; and we shall live in the Land You cast for us hereafter! Prayer Starter Thank You dear Lord for turning us away from going astray; I, a prodigal son, have come to realise how much better it is in Your Abode once I've come to my senses and now see that I am presently wallowing in the pig sty, swilling away at the worm infested morsels available....Oh, miserable soul that I am! I am resolved to return to You; to become aware of Your constant presence in the now and here...even as our Blessed Mother was/is...
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Friday 21st August 2020 Ezekiel:37/1-14 Psalm:106/2-9 (107/2-9) Mathew:22/34-40
The Gospel Proclamation ... "Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?" He said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind'. This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself '. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." Gaze at Jesus' Sonship Pharisees wanted to know the greatest commandment in the Law. Jesus says it is 'Love'. Love to God and Love one another. Unlike a law, which is a set of instructions that one must follow, love covers a vast spectrum and there aren't set instructions to follow these two Commandments. Then how could we make these Commandments come alive? Our sonship In the first reading, God's Spirit leads Ezekiel to the valley of dry bones. When in the valley it is God's Spirit that enables Ezekiel to Prophecy. Here, Ezekiel was asked to command to the dry bones until they receive breath to live. Ruah (ruah) in Hebrew is God's Spirit or breath and God tells, it is His word and His breath that will bring the dry bones to life. Thus, Ezekiel believes and commands with authority to the dry ones until they come to life. This vision is based during an era in the Israelite history known as the Babylonian exile. During the exile the Israelites not only had issues of physical suffering,
St. Pius X, Pope but also an identity crisis, where they doubted the power of their God over the powers of the Babylonian deities. Down the ages, the crisis is over God's authority over our life. The Pharisees in Jesus time were over dependent on the Law to guide them and wanted to use it as God's authority over the people. In this age, we too question God's authority in our life with our many distractions. As a result, we too are living in exile, away from God's love which gives us life. Jesus wants to bring us back to the profound truth; it is our union with God that will enable us to have life in fullness. The Holy Spirit of Ruah as in Hebrew in the Old testament, will help us establish a healthy relationship with God and one another. A community active in faith and love will be filled with joy. Thus, it is God's desire that we return from our exile to a society where everyone knows God and will depend on His generosity. Prayer Starter Repeat these words in praise to the Lord, all you whom he has saved He has rescued you from your enemies and has brought you back from foreign countries, from east and west, from north and south Some wandered in the trackless desert and could not find their way to a city to live in. They were hungry and thirsty and had given up all hope. Then in their trouble they called to the Lord, and he saved them from their distress. He led them by a straight road to a city where they could live They must thank the Lord for his constant love, for the wonderful things he did for them. He satisfies those who are thirsty and fills the hungry with good things. (Ps:107/2-9)
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Saturday 22nd August 2020 The Queenship of the Bl. Virgin Mary She who was to give Jesus His blood, Isaiah: 9/2-7 His hereditary traits, His character, His Psalm:112/1-8 first education must have grown under (113/1-8) the shadow of the Almighty like a secret flower belonging to no one else, she had Luke:1/26-38
The Gospel Proclamation In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph ... The virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, "Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you." ... "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, ...." Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?" The angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you, therefore the child to be born, will be holy, he will be called Son of God. .... Prayerful Awareness
renounced everything else except the living God. From then on, she would be the model for everyone, since all believers in varying degrees, depending on their mission, renounce many things in order to venture on a way in which the only reward is God. From the moment of Incarnation until her death, Mary's destiny was shaped by that of her child. This is soon evident in the grief that steps between herself and her betrothed; in the journey to Bethlehem; the birth in danger and poverty; the sudden break from the protection of her home and the flight to a strange country with all the rigours of exile, then when her twelve year old Son remains behind in the Temple to be found after an agony of seeking - that the divine 'otherness' of that which stands at the centre of her existence is revealed. After eighteen years of silence, Jesus leaves the home to shoulder His missions. He is also there at the wedding in Cana where the last gesture of maternal direction and care is manifested. At last she is with Him under the cross to the end and thirsting for a word and her heart crucified with Him. With a glance at John He says, "Woman, behold thy son." And to John, "Behold thy mother". Expression, certainly of a dying son's solicitude for his mother's future, yet her heart must have twinged. Once again she is directed away from Him. Christ must face the fullness of His ultimate hour, huge, terrible, all-demanding, alone, must fulfil it from the reaches of extreme isolation, utterly alone with the load of sin that He has shouldered, before the justice of God. Prayer Starter
God sends His angel to a young girl named Mary to obtain her consent to be the mother of His Son whom He will send to the world to redeem mankind. When she tells the angel that she had decided to remain a virgin and when she is told that the power of the Most High will overshadow her and that she will be conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit she gives her whole hearted consent. "Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it done to me according to your word." Jesus is conceived in Mary through her total surrender to the unique Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is and eternal Word of the Father. The one, who from the beginning, was chosen by with thee, Blessed art thou among womGod to welcome His only Son through en and blessed is the fruit of thy womb an act of perfect faith, had to be a virgin. Jesus.... "O MARY! THE POWER OF THE MOST HIGH SHALL OVERSHADOW YOU"
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Sunday 23rd August 2020 Isaiah:22/19-23 Psalm:137/1-3,6-8 (138/1-3, 6-8) Romans:11/33-36 Mathew:16/13-20
Introduction Every authority comes from God. And he makes us know his will through his Church. Therefore our vocation as Christ disciples is to be in conformity with whatever God expects of us. What the Church reminds us even through the Eucharistic theme of the day is "To seek the authority of God." Let us pray for the chief shepherd of the Church appointed at present to guide us, open ourselves to the voice of God heard through him and adhere to it. Whatever status or position we hold, however high and learned we are our obedience is to the word of God since all authority comes from him. "Whatever positions we hold and even if we are scholars of the Holy Scriptures, on the virtue of our baptism we are ambassadors of the Gospel." (Pope Francis - Joy of the Gospel.) The First Proclamation
21st Sunday of Ordinary Time PS Wk I will clothe him with your robe and bind your sash on him. I will commit your authority to his hand, and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David; he shall open, and no one shall shut, he shall shut, and no one shall open. I will fasten him like a peg in a secure place, and he will become a throne of honor to his ancestral house. Prayerful Awareness All the servants of God chosen and appointed by Him are expected to follow the way shown by Him and to fulfill His Will totally. At times, in order to keep the chosen ones in the correct place He disciplines them, posing a challenge, separates them from the much practiced lifestyle and renews them. He is merciful to those who fear and obey the One who has the authority to condemn as well as to exalt. The Second Proclamation
O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! "For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?" "Or who has given a gift to him, to receive a gift in return?" For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen. I will thrust you from your Prayerful Awareness office, and you will be pulled down from your post. Grace that St. Paul experienced in On that day I will call my ser- his encounter with the risen Lord is an vant Ellakim son of Hilkiah, and experience ineffable as made clear by "O MARY! THE POWER OF THE MOST HIGH SHALL OVERSHADOW YOU"
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his words. It is the Almighty God who creates and rules over everything. No one on earth could create something new. What could be done is only constructing, improving and destroying. How ineffable are His ways? Let us encounter the risen Lord constantly and become authentic Christ disciples filled with the grace of God. 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 you 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." Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah. Prayerful Awareness
say of Him. Even though the disciples declared what the people said of Him who had not limited Himself to one particular place or trapped with one particular set of people, He questions them too so as to know what they say of Him. Peter's answer in response to this would have brought Him inner joy. He admires him, praises him and declares him blessed since it was through the grace of God that he was able to give such a response. Our Lord who accomplished the Will of God alone at every moment of His life in the wisdom of God performs acts far beyond human limitations. And He was also graced as to receive from Him the keys of the Kingdom. Towards us When a Christ disciple engages in sanctifying the world proclaiming the good news, he or she should allow the Wisdom of God to lead him. If the leaders chosen out of the feeble human beings share His image and likeness, entrust themselves to the hand of God, fall under the providence of God and trusting in His promises he could be a leader who accomplishes well his duties relevant to his vocation. He will be a leader who wins people for God. Even in our life journey, we should act as an authentic leader with the objective of seeking God and encountering Him while experiencing the grace of God that Peter enjoyed in his life. Prayer Starter
The Lord who had been called to O Holy Spirit, empower us to acset the captives free, give sight to the blind and proclaim the Good News knowledge Christ as our only Lord and to the poor engaged in His mission Master and to lead a life of steadfast traversing towns and villages. He who hope in Him. had a full knowledge of Himself also has a liking to know what the others
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Monday 24th August 2020 Revelation:21/9-14 Psalm:144/10-13,17,18 (145/10-13,17-18) John:1/45-51
The first Proclamation One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came to me and said, “Come, and I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb”. The Spirit took control of me, and the angel carried me to the top of a very high mountain. He showed me Jerusalem, the Holy City, coming down out of heaven from God and shining with the glory of God. The city shone like a precious stone, like a jasper, clear as crystal. It had a great, high wall with twelve gates and with twelve angels in charge of the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of the people of Israel. There were three gates on each side: three on the east, three on the south, three on the north, and three on the west. The city’s wall was built on twelve foundation stones, on which were written the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. The Gospel Proclamation
St. Bartholomew, Apostle him “Here is a real Israelite; there is nothing false in him”. Nathanael asked him, “How do you know me?” Jesus Answered, “I saw you when you were under the fig tree before Philip called you.” “Teacher” answered Nathanael, “you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” Jesus said, “Do you believe just because I told you I saw you when you were under the fig tree? You will see much greater things than this!” And he said to them, “I am telling you the truth: you will see heaven open and God’s angels going up and coming down on the Son of Man”. Prayerful Awareness
Jesus had found Phillip and Phillip could not keep his excitement to himself. He had to call his friend Nathaniel. Phillip tells Nathaniel that he has found the Messiah. But Nathaniel is skeptical, he cannot believe that the Messiah would come from a small village like Nazareth. Phillip does not argue with him but invites him to come and see. We are ambassadors of Christ and we are supposed to/expected to tell others the good news of God's unconditional Love – that while we were still sinners deserving death, God sent His only begotten Son to die in our place. We cannot argue people into Christianity. The only way to convince a person of the supremacy of Christ is to present Philip found Nathanael and told the story of the Cross. Prayer Starter him, “We have found the one whom Moses wrote about in the book of Heavenly Father grant us the desire the Law and whom the prophets and courage and the guidance of the also wrote about. He is Jesus son of Holy Spirit to approach those who don’t Joseph, from Nazareth”. “Can anybelieve in Your gift of life and tell them thing good come from Nazareth?” the good news of salvation, motivate Nathanael asked. “Come and see”; and empower us Oh Spirit of God so answered Philip. When Jesus saw Nathat we could reach out to those who thanael coming to him, he said about are lost, in Jesus' Name we pray. "O MARY! THE POWER OF THE MOST HIGH SHALL OVERSHADOW YOU"
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Tuesday 25th August 2020 St.Louis, Priest, St.Joseph Calasanz, Priest other people whereas faith is related to God. Jesus says " .... love God with all your heart ... and love your neighbour as yourself." What Jesus means is that relating to others is equally important as relating to God. God seems to identify Himself with man. ".... what you do to the least of my brethren, you do it unto me." The cross has the horizontal fixed on to the vertical. The cross is the sign of salvation. Therefore it is important that we The First Proclamation relate to others as well as to God. Please read 2 Thessalonians 2/1-3, How does Jesus like us to relate to 14-17 meditatively. others? By doing justice and showing mercy. Justice and mercy are qualities The Gospel Proclamation attributed to God. And, Jesus demands "Woe to you, scribes and Phari- us to possess these qualities. ".... be persees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, fect as the heavenly Father is perfect." dill, and cummin, and have neglected Can we be perfect like God? Isn't the weightier matters of the law; Jesus unfair? Yes, on the surface it justice and mercy and faith. It is seems so. But, the fact is that God in these you ought to have practiced and through His Spirit is willing to live without neglecting the others. You in us and operate in us and thus, bring blind guides! You strain out a gnat out these godly qualities in us. but swallow a camel! Christianity is not our producing Woe to you, scribes and Phar- godly qualities with our efforts, but isees, hypocrites! You clean the rather permitting God to live in us and outside of the cup and of the plate, produce godly qualities in us. For this, but inside they are full of greed and we need to permit the Holy Spirit who self-indulgence. ...You blind Phari- lives in us, to move us. In order to give see! First clean the inside of the cup, effect to this, we become awake to the so that the outside also may become presence of the Holy Spirit within us clean. several times a day. Prayerful Awareness John 14:15, 16 says "I will ask the Jesus distinguishes between things Father and He will send you another that are not so important and things that Comforter to live with you. He is the are vitally important for a practicing Spirit of Truth, whom the world can Christian. The more important things never receive, since it neither sees that a follower ought to be mindful of nor knows Him, but you know him are justice, mercy and faith (vs. 23). because He is with you, He is in You." Further, in verse 24 Jesus specifies exPrayer Starter tortion and self indulgence as the more Say among the nations, "The Lord is important things that are to be avoided king! The world is firmly established; it by a true follower. shall never be moved. He will judge the Justice and mercy are related to peoples with equity." (Ps.96/10)
2 Thessalonians:2/1-3, 14-17 Psalm:95/10-13 (96/10-13) Mathew:23/23-26
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Wednesday 26th August 2020 2 Thessalonians:3/6-10 16-18 Psalm:127/1-2,4-5, (128/1-2, 4-5) Mathew:23/27-32
The First Proclamation Now we command you, beloved, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from believers who are living in idleness and not according to the tradition that they received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, we were not idle when we were with you, and we did not eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, so that we might not burden any of you. This was not because we do not have that right, but in order to give you an example to imitate. For even when we were with you, we gave you this command: Anyone unwilling to work should not eat. Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways. The Lord be with all of you. I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. This is the mark in every letter of mine; it is the way I write. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you. Gaze on Jesus Oh Incarnate Word, You who gives life to us, please become enfleshed within .... Those who have received the Gos-
pel, are to live according to the Gospel. Such as could work, and would not, were not to be maintained in idleness. Christianity is not to countenance slothfulness, which would consume what is meant to encourage the industrious, and to support the sick and afflicted, Industry in our calling as men, is a duty required by our calling as Christians. Remember the injunction as we left the Garden of Eden. "By the sweat of thy brow will thee earn thy keep ...." But some expected to be maintained in idleness, and indulged in curious and conceited temper. They meddled with the concerns of others, and did much harm. It is a great error and abuse of religion, to make it a cloak for idleness or any other sin. The servant who waits for the coming of his Lord aright, must be working as his Lord has commanded. If we are idle, the devil and a corrupt heart will soon find us something to do. The mind of man is a busy thing; if it is not employed in doing good, it will be doing evil. It is an excellent, but rare union, to be active in our own business, yet quiet as to other people's. If any refused to labor with quietness, they were to note him with censure, and to separate from his company, yet they were to seek his good by loving admonition. The Lord is with you while you are with Him. Hold on your way, and hold on to the end. We must never give over, or tire in our work. It will be time enough to rest when we come to heaven. Prayer Starter Unless the Lord builds the house; those who built it labor in vain. Unless the Lord guards the city, the guard keeps watch in vain. It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives sleep to his beloved. (Ps.127/1-2)
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Thursday 27th August 2020 1 Corinthians:1/1-9 Psalm:144/2-7 (145/2-7) Mathew:24/42-51
The First Proclamation Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and Sosthenes, our brother, to the church of God in Corinth, to those who have been consecrated in Christ Jesus and called to be God's holy people, with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord as well as ours. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I am continually thanking God about you, for the grace of God which you have been given in Christ Jesus; in him you have been richly endowed in every kind of utterance and knowledge; so firmly has witness to Christ taken root in you. And so you are not lacking in any gift as you wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed; he will continue to give you strength till the very end, so that you will be irreproachable on the Day of our Lord Jesus Christ. You can rely on God, who has called you to be partners with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Fix your gaze on Jesus
St. Monica for themselves in no uncertain terms! The miraculous work of the Spirit of God enacted among the believers of that period is revealed. They experienced the filling of the Spirit of God manifested within them, in that they were richly endowed in every kind of knowledge, and their utterances reflected this. Praise be to God our Father and the Son, our Liberator!!! They experienced close kinship with the incarnate Christ by the Mind-OfChrist taking root deep in their psyche, causing them to experience all kinds of gifts and blessings, manifested in the material realm too! They experienced that inner conviction and assurances peculiar to those who are ontologically anchored on the Living Word. Now, are you of the opinion that the Spirit of God is deficient today in any respect from then? Definitely not, you'd say! Okay; then how come, we today experience this truth different to the communities of that time? Are we ready to believe that we too are “God's Holy People�? That you are Holy? That you are indeed filled with the Spirit of God? That you have with certainty received a multiplicity of gifts and grace to be partners with Jesus, the Son of God? That, the Christ strengthens you in every life challenge you are confronted with, empowering you to be loving, and kind, and patient, and wise. Ready to accept this astounding truth? Our Blessed Mother experienced this state! Okay... become aware of God's presence in the now and here; and let's open up to admit the truth that we indeed are Holy! Any thoughts and beliefs contrary to this to be refused consistently... Prayer Starter
Oh, my! Partners with Jesus Christ; that's who we are! Can you believe that? We are going to be irreproachable on that day! Would we now dare to believe/ accept such thoughts? St. Paul in this epistle to the community at Corinth affirmed the liberating truth that we The Lord's Will abides in me, The indeed are God's Holy People! Word incarnate within, the Fire of the And the members of the Corinthian Spirit is my Blessing...O Blessed Mother, Community did experience this truth intercede before your Son for us... "O MARY! THE POWER OF THE MOST HIGH SHALL OVERSHADOW YOU"
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Friday 28th August 2020 1 Corinthians:1/17-25 Psalm:32/1-2,4-5,10-11 (33/1-2,4-5,10-11) Mathew:25/1-13
The First Proclamation Christ did not send me to baptize. but to proclaim the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its power. For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing; but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart." Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe. ... Christ, the power of God and the wisdom of God. For God's foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God's weakness is stronger than human strength. The Gospel Proclamation At that time the Kingdom of heaven will be like this. Once there were ten young women who took their oil lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and the other five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any extra oil with them, while the wise ones took containers full of oil for their lamps. The bridegroom was late in coming, so they began to nod and fall asleep.
St. Augustine, Bishop & Doctor It was already midnight when the cry rang out, "Here is the bridegroom! Come and meet him!"; The ten young women woke up and trimmed their lamps. Then the foolish ones said to the wise ones, "Let us have some of your oil, because our lamps are going out." No, indeed" the wise ones answered, "there is not enough for you and for us. Go to the store and buy some for yourselves". So the foolish ones went off to buy some oil; and while they were gone, the bridegroom arrived. The five who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast, and the door was closed. Later the others arrived. "Sir, sir! Let us in!"; they cried out. "Certainly not! I don't know you" the bridegroom answered."; And Jesus concluded, "Watch out, then, because you do not know the day or the hour." Prayerful Awareness Jesus gives us this parable to tell us that we need to be ready. We are the church – the bride of Christ. And He is coming to take us to Himself and the hour is uncertain, but are we ready? We need to be ready every moment of our lives. This parable also gives us two warnings. It tells us that there are certain things which cannot be done at the last minute: waiting or the last minute to have a relationship with the Lord and correct our life styles, and we cannot borrow. We cannot borrow a relationship with God; we must possess it for ourselves. We cannot borrow a character; we must be clothed with it. There are certain things we must win or acquire for ourselves, for we cannot borrow them from others. Prayer Starter Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Happy are those to whom the Lord imputes no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. (Ps. 32/1, 2)
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Saturday 29th August 2020
Jeremiah:1/17-19 Psalm:70/1-6,15,17 (71/1-6,15-17) Mark:6/17-29
The First Proclamation Please read Jeremiah 1/17-19 meditatively. The Gospel Proclamation For Herod himself had sent men who arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, because Herod had married her. For John had been telling Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife." And Herodias had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. ... But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet .... When his daughter Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests, and the king said to the girl, "Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it." .... She went out and said to her mother, "What should I ask for?" She replied, "The head of John the baptizer." .... The king was deeply grieved, yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he did not want to refuse her. Immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard with orders to bring John's head. .... Prayerful Awareness The supreme revelation of Christian faith is "God is Love|". With this infinite love He created the entire Universe and He wants all creatures in it to have that same love relationship to be flourished and cherished until eternity. But unfortunately man, because of his selfishness became disobedient to God right from
The Passion of John the Baptist the beginning. God could not bear this and in order to reconcile and reunite with man, He decided to send many prophets. One such prophet is Jeremiah and God fortified him and sent him giving him the necessary confidence to go with God's presence. We see this in the first reading. The Gospel proclamation of today highlights the mission of prophet John the Baptist, during the short life he led. He is not only the prophet of the New Testament who depended on God, preparing the way for Jesus Christ but also of the Old Testament. He had been anointed by the Holy Spirit ever before he was born. When he was young he was the 'Voice in the Wilderness' and the forerunner for Jesus Christ. John was faithful, calling people to the baptism of repentance that led to the forgiveness of sins. People came to him and turned from their lives of sin and injustice. But it was the religious, economic and religious leadership that resisted him. He went after the king, Herod, who had murdered his brother and accused him of his misdoing openly. He was imprisoned for this act, but King Herod was afraid of the people and would not kill him. But in reality he was more afraid of his new wife and of looking bad at a dinner party, and so he had John beheaded in prison. How do we fare? According to the Sacrament of Baptism, we too have been anointed for a prophetic call. God's desire for us is to participate in the building of His Kingdom values in our society. But how often do we go astray, without witnessing for the Truth. Therefore, it is time to inquire from ourselves and give our time and energy for same. Prayer Starter I shall always hope and praise You more and more, my lips will proclaim Your goodness and tell of your salvation always, little though it is what I can understand.
"O MARY! THE POWER OF THE MOST HIGH SHALL OVERSHADOW YOU"
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Sunday 30th August 2020 Jeremiah:20/7-9 Psalm:62/2-6,8-9 (63/1-5,7-8) Romans:12/1-2 Mathew:16/21-27
Introduction
22nd Sunday of Ordinary Time PS Wk II the difficulty of accomplishing the task as a human being. "You were the stronger‌." He thus affirms that those chosen and called to serve his people cannot act denying the will of God but are compelled to accomplish his will amidst thousands of hindrances, persecution, suffering and obstacle to fulfill his prophetic mission. Also he proclaims that the Holiness of God will be revealed through Him alone. What is presented especially through the first proclamation is that one's mission cannot be accomplished without divine inspiration. The prophet can never deny it since it is like a fire burning in his heart. The word of God is a holy fire, a double edged sword, a fierce hammer. Just as the voice of God, the word cannot be kept hidden within oneself, trying to do so would be deeply wearisome. Responsorial Psalm
A Christian is not always able to enjoy the comfort and sweetness that he or she hopes for in life as a human being because if we give the authority of our life to God and stay loyal to him with an authentic love not only we will be subjected to rejection and insult before the world but in our life with Christ we will undergo physical and mental suffering and persecution as well. We should daily follow him carrying our cross for which we should be ready at What does the Psalmist reveal of the all times. Lord through the responsorial psalm? "O God, you are my God, I seek you, my The First Proclamation soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for O Lord, you have enticed me, and you, as in a dry and weary land where I was enticed; you have overpowered there is no water. So I have looked upon me, and you have prevailed. I have you in the sanctuary, beholding your become a laughingstock all day long; power and glory. Because your steadeveryone mocks me. For whenever I fast love is better than life, my lips will speak, I must cry out, I must shout, praise you. So I will bless you as long "Violence and destruction!" For the as I live; I will lift up my hands and call word of the Lord has become for me on your name. My soul is satisfied a with a reproach and derision all day long. a rich feast, and my mouth praises you If I say, "I will not mention him, or with joyful lips speak any more in his name," then For you have been my help, and in within me there is something like a the shadow of your wings I sing for joy. burning fire shut up in my bones, I am weary with holding it in, and My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me..... I cannot. In human life, whatever obstacle as Prayerful Awareness well as physical and mental suffering The prophet Jeremiah with his own one is faced with, even though everyexperience speaks of his vocation, thing seems futile and barren, the person the gravity of his responsibility and who is grounded with steadfast faith in "O MARY! THE POWER OF THE MOST HIGH SHALL OVERSHADOW YOU"
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God, will never fear anything but even amidst intense suffering, difficulty and sorrow he will thirst for the Lord, will give praise to the Lord with his whole life and his failure will be turned into victory which means the divine providence will be his since his full security is from the Lord. The Second Proclamation I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sister, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God - what is good and acceptable and perfect. Prayerful Awareness St. Paul in his letter to the Romans points out how as Christians we should maintain our life in the social environment by means of the Holy Spirit. Also he explains how we should serve the God Almighty. What St. Paul says is the way we should love God who has extended to us such immense mercy and kindness since the Lord is our Creator, Author of our life and the one who loves us eternally. The Gospel Proclamation From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him saying, "God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you.' But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things. Then Jesus told his disciples, 'If
any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life? "For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father and then he will repay everyone for what has been done. Prayerful Awareness Jesus Christ the greatest prophet reveals through his human son-ship how deep his divine son-ship is and provides us with a powerful example. We cannot be an authentic Christian unless we daily discern the will of God and respond wholeheartedly. Christ revealed that it is through opening access to the Holy plan of Father that we would be able to free ourselves from eternal death and enter the path of eternal life. Peter's intention in getting closer to God and responding thus was to be an authentic Christ disciple. Yet later through the Holy Spirit he realized that at that particular moment he spoke and behaved as an obstacle.
Towards us
"Mary! The power of the most high will overshadow you." The Theme of the year is really a challenge to you and to me. Let us ponder for a moment on the life of Mother Mary and see if her life experience does not spell out really what the authentic Christ discipleship, divine son-ship is. Prayer Starter He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress, I shall never be shaken. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. (Ps.62/2,8....)
"O MARY! THE POWER OF THE MOST HIGH SHALL OVERSHADOW YOU"
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Monday 31st August 2020 1 Corinthians:2/1-5 Psalm:118/97-102 (119/97-102) Luke:4/16-30
The First Proclamation When I came to you, brothers and sisters, I did not use big words and great learning. For while I was with you, I made up my mind to forget everything except Jesus Christ and especially his death on the cross. So when I came to you, I was weak and trembled all over with fear, and my teaching and message were not delivered with skillful words of human wisdom, but with convincing proof of the power of God's Spirit. Your faith, then, does not rest on human wisdom but on God's power.” Prayerful Awareness We’re all familiar with the phrase, “knowledge is power,” yet how is that power used? If knowledge is power, what is wisdom? What drives King David to say, “How I love your law! I think about it all day long... I have greater wisdom than those who are old, because I obey your commands?” (Ps. 119:97,100). Sure, wisdom is nice, but the rest of it does not sound as fun. And what makes St. Paul, once a Pharisee of scholarly standing, decide to empty his mind of all things “except Jesus Christ and especially his death on the cross?” Is Jesus really that interesting that St. Paul chooses to contemplate nothing else? In Psalm 110:10, it is written “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,” because it is also the beginning
of experience and recognition of who God is. In James 3:17, it is written “the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.” It is a gift and action of the power of God’s Spirit. When we look at our writers of today’s first two readings, St. Paul and King David, one thing we can learn is that they did not learn how to be wise. They did not get a degree before setting out to fill the huge positions that God destined for them, as shepherds of God’s people. Rather, they received wisdom and understanding in the act of letting go, of who they thought they were and what they thought they knew. It was this that the people of Nazareth lacked. By emptying themselves, Paul and David gained a brand new godly perspective that they could not tire of. St. Paul writes he was “weak and trembling” as he came to the learned people of Corinth. Yet he speaks to them. Because through his own experiences, he understands that the transformation of people’s hearts towards a life of holiness and worship has nothing to do with his own merits but the power of God revealed and felt through the action of the Holy Spirit. King David found wisdom in God’s commandments. St. Paul found the highest wisdom in the cross of Christ, which he writes is “folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18). Prayer Starter Dear heavenly Father, I seek Your wisdom. Let me understand that the heart of wisdom is found when I rest only in You. Let me be like Jesus, in whom all the wisdom of the universe is found. In Christ’s Name, Amen.
"O MARY! THE POWER OF THE MOST HIGH SHALL OVERSHADOW YOU"
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"O MARY! THE POWER OF THE MOST HIGH SHALL OVERSHADOW YOU"