Walk in the Spirit July 2021 by Pubuduwa

WALK IN THE SPIRIT July 2021 Issue 348 Commencement March 1992

"Jesus Christ is Lord"

ISSN 1391-5967

Publication: Fr. Siri Oscar Abayaratne Kithu Dana Pubuduwa

SHARING ON PRAYER July 2021 Moment to moment living is an experience of reception. Let everything become a sacrament of Love’s donation and my reception. More and more and more of receiving must at some point of time, touch the cosmic dimension, when its love from everything and everyone inclusive of the tiniest creature. Jesus in His risen life embraces all and everything. He is the sacrament of sacraments. When the Spirit lead us to fix our gaze on Jesus, we are brought to the presence of the Abba. We become recipients of universal love. Every moment becomes an experience of redeeming, elevating love from the very source. The experience of such love can be astounding. Fr. Siri Oscar Abayaratne

Thursday 1st July 2021

13th Week in Ordinary Time (PS Wk I ) (Green)

After these things God tested Abraham....“Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains that I shall show you.” So Abraham rose early in the morning,....and went to the place in the distance that God had shown him... Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to kill his son. But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven, and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” ...The angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven, and said, “By myself I have sworn, says the Lord: Because you have done this, and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will indeed bless you, and I will make your offspring as numerous as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of their enemies, and by your offspring shall all the nations of the earth gain blessing for themselves, because you have obeyed my voice.”.... Prayerful Awareness

question God or put it off. He began his journey early next morning because he was sure of the voice of God. Abraham was fully prepared to offer Isaac but at the same time still he believed in the promise of God “... I shall maintain my covenant with him, a covenant in perpetuity, to be his God and the God of his descendants after him.” ( Genesis 17:19) At the last moment God stops him from sacrificing Isaac on the alter, but not from worship. God provides a sheep for sacrifice just as Abraham had told Isaac that God would “Provide”. After God’s intervention God reaffirms His promise to Abraham with a powerful oath and declaration. Abraham’s act of faith is awesome. The writer of Hebrews reflect on the quality of Abraham’s faith “It was by faith that Abraham, when put to the test, offered up Isaac. He offered to sacrifice his only son even though he had yet to receive what had been promised, and he had been told , Isaac is the one through whom your name will be carried on. He was confident that God had the power even to raise the dead: and so figuratively speaking, he was given back Isaac from the dead.” (Hebrew 11:17-19) In today’s Gospel when paralytic man was brought to Jesus it was not only the act of faith Jesus noticed, Jesus saw his sinful heart which was the root cause of the disease. Jesus clearly understands the need of the hour and heals the paralytic man both spiritually and physically. It didn’t matter to Jesus how scribes thought of Him. What mattered to Him was the will of God. Prayer Starter

Today’s first reading describes Abraham’s amazing faith and obedience to God, almighty. When the word of God came to Abraham to offer his only beloved son, Abraham didn’t

Abba Father we thank you for your immense love to us in giving Your Son your only Beloved Son as the sacrifice for our sins. Help us to trust you and totally depend on you as Abraham did.

Genesis: 22/1-19 Psalm: 114/1-6,8-9 (115/1-6,8-9) Mathew: 9/1-8 The First Proclamation

"JESUS CHRIST IS LORD"

Friday 2nd July 2021

(PS Wk I ) (Green)

Genesis: 23/1-4,19, 24/1-8,62-67 Psalm: 105/1-5 (106/1-5) Mathew: 9/9-13

The Gospel Proclamation As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him. And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” Gaze on Jesus In today’s Gospel proclamation, we see the total conversion of Mathew as he encounters the unconditional love of God embodied in the charismatic presence of Jesus. The simplicity with which the gospel is written underplays the profound nature of Matthew’s act of faith. He abandons his lucrative position as tax collector for the Roman government to respond to Jesus’ call: “Follow me.” It was a big leap from the self-indulgent lifestyle of a tax-collector to the self-sacrificing service as an apostle of Christ. Yet his decision was absolute. Once he left, he knew he would not be able to return, although he would not have

fully understood for who and what he was sacrificing all. In calling Matthew, Jesus revealed that truly no one is beyond the reach of God’s love, for tax-collectors were a despised class in Jewish society for their outright deceitfulness. What is especially beautiful about this passage is how Matthew’s conversion became an opportunity for other tax collectors and identified sinners to encounter Jesus. They came to eat with Him; they sought His company and were comfortable in it. Jesus is fully present to them, not compromising His holiness, at the same time, not delivering judgment. The Pharisees, who keep their distance, do not understand it. They cannot recognize love and mercy, because they have not known it. Gaze at our Sonship Are there times when we hear Jesus calling but we postpone the act of faith? Do we feel we are not ready? “...Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.” (Matthew 9:12). Those who meet Jesus and know they need Him are the ones who recognize that they are sinners: people who know they are lost and stay close to His heels; people who know they are entangled and need Jesus’ hands to untangle them; people who recognize the void within them and come to be filled. Prayer Starter Dear Jesus, I rejoice, because though I am still a sinner, I am no longer lost. You have called me by name. You are the answer to every question. With You, there are no dead-ends. The more I disappear in You, the more I am found. The more of myself I give to You, the more I am complete.

"JESUS CHRIST IS LORD"

St. Thomas, Apostle

Saturday 3rd July 2021 Ephesians: 2/19-22 Psalm: 116/1-2 (117/1-2) John: 20/24-29 The Gospel Proclamation Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in his side, I will not believe." Eight days later, his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. The doors were shut, but Jesus came and stood among them, and said, "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side; do not be faithless, but believing." Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe!" Prayerful Awareness Out of the passage given above, the first point we can meditate on could be Jesus entering in despite locked doors. When we apply this to ourselves maybe we do not open ourselves to others and to God due to certain fears, hurts and wounds. We stay locked within ourselves in our own world and we are not free to relate to others. The passage says that locked doors are not a problem for the Lord to enter in. Yes, if we accept our inability to open ourselves and really long for His coming he will make His way into our hearts. Shall we place before God our failure to open up and

(PS Wk I ) (Red)

at least desire Him to come and heal us? Secondly He let Thomas touch His wounds just as he had requested for to believe. With regard to ourselves once we too are healed of our wounds wouldn't we be in a position to open our scars and confess to others how Jesus has healed us and invite them to open to a similar experience of deepening their faith? Aren't we then proclaiming to others the presence and action of the Risen Lord among us? Thirdly when we reflect on the saying, "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe" we could also be counted among the Blessed. As in every Sunday Liturgy, during Easter Vigil we professed our faith and renewed our baptismal vows. So, as given in the first proclamation "we are no longer strangers and sojourners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus.. in whom we also are built into it for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit." Thus, as we celebrate the Feast of St. Thomas the apostle, we too can join with him and sing praises to God with the responsorial psalm, for God has chosen us to be carriers of Good News to others. To be fitting instruments in His hands let us be aware of our locked doors and ask the Spirit to show us the reasons for it. Let us realize how staying behind closed doors are a hindrance to our calling and desire our Lord to enter in, touch and heal us that we may be free to witness to others of our encounter with the Risen Lord. Let us be in constant prayer that we may continue to remain a worthy dwelling place of God in the Spirit and always remember that our Lord can surely enter despite locked doors and make us cry out "My Lord and my God." Do we really long for and relish such experience?

"JESUS CHRIST IS LORD"

14th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Sunday 4th July 2021

(PS Wk II ) (Green)

Ezekiel: 2/2-5 Psalm: 122/1-4 (123/1-4) 2 Corinthians: 12/7-10 Mark: 6/1-6

Introduction The Lord Jesus having come to earth in human form allowed the plan of God for oneself to be fully accomplished in him. In this regard, before ascending to the Father he instituted the Eucharist, the most sublime banquet where bread and wine brought to the altar is transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ through the action of the Holy Spirit during consecration. The Eucharistic Celebration is a moment in which the entire universal Church is brought into a community spirit, to a banquet that unites all of us who are of different calibre, to a great power that leads us towards the love of humanity making us experience the boundlessness of the love of God. Also it is a wonderful pre-figurative experience of the festive banquet at the end times. Our preparation now is to meditate on the Word of God for the day in order to enter into this noble sacrifice. The First Proclamation The spirit came into me and made me stand up, and I heard the Lord speaking tome. He said, 'Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, to the rebels who have turned against me. Till now they and their ancestors have been

in revolt against me. The sons are defiant and obstinate; I am sending you to them, to say, "The Lord says this." Whether they listen or not, this set of rebels shall know there is a prophet among them. Prayerful Awareness Presented to us in the first proclamation is the call of Ezekiel. The prophet Ezekiel is chosen by God in a backdrop where the Israelites, the chosen people of God are engaged in different acts of betrayal without paying heed to His voice and being defiant and obstinate. Even though man, distancing himself from God, rebels against Him God who is love can never despise him. Whether they listen to Him or not God always selects somebody to communicate His desires to them as a sign of His love for the people. The Responsorial Psalm Have mercy on us Lord, have mercy. We are filled with contempt. The Second Proclamation ….to stop me from getting too proud I was given a thorn in the flesh, and angel of Satan to beat me and stop me from getting too proud! ….So I shall be very happy to make my weakness my special boast so that the power of Christ may stay over me, and that is why I am quite content with my weaknesses, and with insults, hardships, persecutions, and the agonies I go through for Christ's sake. For it is when I am weak that I am strong.

"JESUS CHRIST IS LORD"

Prayerful Awareness

when He went to His hometown, the village of Nazareth? Even though He was a Rabbi, He experienced how He was rejected. The Lord Jesus who knew that human intelligence would not suffice to grasp the mysterious wisdom of God, kept His hope in the power from above, the power of the Holy Spirit. Also there would have emerged from His inner self a deep compassion for His countrymen who could not understand the plan of God. Further, He oriented himself more and more to depend only on God the Father rather than depending or living on man since the objective within Him was to glorify God alone. Towards our Sonship

Constantly, the servant of the Lord in face of every life situation he is confronted with and experiences should totally depend on God. Even St. Paul, a servant of the Gospel in his struggles and temptations presented them before the Lord. Even though he pleaded with the Lord for them to leave him, what he finally realized was that in face of every struggle and failure he should only depend on the power and grace of God. Accordingly we could see through the above proclamation that St. Paul had come to learn through his life style the secret of facing with no grumbling the persecutions, suffering and lack that come our way as All of us too have received a spea result of witnessing to Jesus Christ. cial vocation from God to work in the field of the kingdom of God. We too The Gospel Proclamation will be faced with different problems and criticism from people while being Jesus went to his home town engaged in this missionary vocation. and his disciples accompanied him. When confronted with these how do With the coming of the Sabbath he we bear witness? Let us pray for the began teaching in the synagogue needed power to lead a life of witness and most of them were astonished gazing on the prophets and apostles as when they heard him. They said, well as Jesus Christ our only Lord and 'Where did the man get all this? Master who faced the same obstacles What is this wisdom that had been and persecution. granted him, and these miracles that are worked through him? …. Prayer Starter Focusing on the Lord Loving God the Father, grant us the needed power and guidance to Jesus had become a problem to accept rejection, calumny and slanthe society He lived in. It was mostly der in bearing witness as Your Son because He acted contrary to the ex- did. In our attempt to give witness to istent social norms and the tradition Our Lord Jesus, fill us with Your Holy of Jewish religion. He performed Spirit that when faced with failure, many acts that the human eye or hu- lack, persecution and suffering not man intelligence could comprehend. to succumb to them but to boldly give What would have been His inner our kingly, priestly and prophetic experience in face of the rejection witness, to the power of our Baptism He received from His countrymen anointing. Amen. "JESUS CHRIST IS LORD"

Monday 5th July 2021 Genesis: 28/10-22 Psalm: 90/1-4,14-15 ( 91/1-4,14-15 ) Mathew: 9/18-26 Introduction Let us read today’s scripture passages meditatively where the central theme is the protection and blessings God has given to His Chosen people. People who love Him become His children, irrespective of whether one is a Jew or a Gentile! This is through the promise God made to Abraham, which is repeated to Abraham’s grandson Jacob in today’s First Proclamation. Jacob was renamed Israel by God, and the twelve tribes of Israel are the descendants of the twelve sons of Israel (Jacob). The relevant excerpt is reproduced below for the reader’s convenience: (Gen. 28:13-15) ‘I am the Lord God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac; the land, wherein thou sleepest, I will give to thee and to thy seed. And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth: thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and IN THEE and thy seed all the tribes of the earth SHALL BE BLESSED. And I will be thy keeper whithersoever thou goest, and will bring thee back into this land: neither will I leave thee, till I shall have accomplished all that I have said.’ The Gospel Proclamation As he was speaking these things unto them, behold a certain ruler came up, and adored him, saying: Lord, my daughter is even now dead; but come, lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live. And Jesus rising up followed him, with his disciples. And behold a woman who was troubled

St. Anthony Zaccaria, Priest (PS Wk II) (Green/White)

with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment. For she said within herself: If I shall touch only his garment, I shall be healed. But Jesus turning and seeing her, said: Be of good heart, daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour. And when Jesus was come into the house of the ruler, and saw the minstrels and the multitude making a rout, He said: Give place, for the girl is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn. And when the multitude was put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand. And the maid arose. And the fame hereof went abroad into all that country. Responsorial Psalm He that dwelleth in the aid of the Most High, shall abide under the protection of the God of Jacob. He shall say to the Lord: Thou art my protector, and my refuge: my God, in him will I trust.... Prayerful Awareness Jacob’s seed through whom all nations of the earth be blessed is a reference to the saving grace accorded to us believers by the sacrificial death and resurrection of God become Man, our Lord Jesus Christ! The key to unlocking God’s protection and blessings on our lives is to practice the three main pillars of a Christian’s life, i.e. faith, hope, and love, whereby we can begin to experience the joy of heaven here on earth itself! In today’s First Proclamation we see Jacob obtaining God’s favour because of his love for God. In today’s Gospel Proclamation we see how the ruler, and an ordinary woman, wrought Jesus’s favour through their faith. And Psalm 91 is a beautiful prayer of protection for the believer! Amen! Alleluia! Praise the Lord!

"JESUS CHRIST IS LORD"

St. Maria Goretti, Virgin

Tuesday 6th July 2021

(PS Wk II ) (Green/Red)

and every sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask The First Proclamation the Lord of the harvest to send out ....Jacob was left alone; and a laborers into his harvest.” man wrestled with him until dayPrayerful Awareness break. When the man saw that he In this passage our attention is did not prevail against Jacob, he struck him on the hip socket; and drown to the fact that an attitude of Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as neutrality towards Jesus is an imhe wrestled with him. Then he said, possibility. We are presented with “Let me go, for the day is breaking.” two reactions –amazed wonder and But Jacob said, “I will not let you virulent hatred. The inner feelings, go, unless you bless me.” So he said some deep-rooted, have a say in what to him, “What is your name?” And the eye sees. The ordinary masses, he said, “Jacob.” Then the man simple they were, had a need and this said, “You shall no longer be called was satiated by Jesus. Their minds Jacob, but Israel, for you have were open and unmolested. The Pharstriven with God and with humans, isees on the other hand saw Jesus in and have prevailed.” Then Jacob a different angle- Jesus in league with asked him, “Please tell me your the evil powers, a challenge to their name.” But he said, “Why is it that social status, teachings and way of life. you ask my name?” And there he They were so deeply rooted in these blessed him. So Jacob called the that a change, a change for the better place Peniel, saying, “For I have was something foreign to them. They seen God face to face, and yet my were stubborn. In Jesus one could see the truth and the power of God. In life is preserved.”.... which boat are we- the Pharisees or the The Gospel Proclamation ordinary masses. “As a physician He After they had gone away, a de- could do no good to those who were moniac who was mute was brought curious, or who denied guilt, or called to him. And when the demon had it an Oedipus complex; He came only been cast out, the one who had to be a sin–bearer, and hence only been mute spoke; and the crowds the sinners and not the self-righteous were amazed and said, “Never has would profit by His coming.” (Archanything like this been seen in Is- bishop Fulton J. Sheen) rael.” But the Pharisees said, “By Prayer Starter the ruler of the demons he casts Let us strive to be Christ-bearers out the demons.” Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, where we live. O Lord, You have teaching in their synagogues, and placed us here not to be successful but proclaiming the good news of the to be faithful. Amen. kingdom, and curing every disease Genesis: 32/23-33 Psalm: 16/1-3,6-8,15 ( 17/1-3,6-8,15 ) Mathew: 9/32-38

"JESUS CHRIST IS LORD"

Wednesday 7th July 2021 Genesis: 41/55-57;42/57,17-24 Psalm: 32/2-3,10-11, 18-19 (33/2-3,10-11, 18-19) Mathew: 10/1-7

The First Proclamation And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread: and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Joseph; what he says to you, do. And the famine was over all the face of the earth: And Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians; and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt. And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn ;….And the sons of Israel came to buy corn among those that came: for the famine was in the land of Canaan. And Joseph was the governor over the land, and he it was that sold to all the people of the land: and Joseph’s brethren came, and bowed down themselves before him with their faces to the earth…. And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them, but made himself strange unto them, and spoke roughly unto them;… Fix your gaze on Jesus

(PS Wk II) (Green )

in the land of his affliction. In his heart and mind, he sowed (in accord with the will of the Lord) and he reaped thereon. See the ‘Creative’ power humanity is endowed with! On careful diligent inward investigation, we get to see that our ‘Life Taste’ is mostly what we create for ourselves. That's the ‘Good News’ God presents us with! As we ‘become aware’, we understand and practice ever more diligently the 'Sowing of the Right stuff', creating for ourselves what we truly desire…. The seven plenteous years came, and were ended. We ought to look forward to the end of the days, both of our prosperity and of our opportunity. We must not be secure in prosperity, nor slothful in making good use of opportunity. Years of plenty will end; what thy hand finds to do, do it; and gather in gathering time. The dearth came, and the famine was not only in Egypt, but in other lands. Joseph was diligent in laying up, while the plenty lasted. He was prudent and careful in giving out, when the famine came. Joseph was engaged in useful and important labours. What a large portion of our troubles would be done away if we knew the whole truth! Let these events lead us to Jesus. There is a famine of the bread of life throughout the whole earth. Go to Jesus, and what He bids you, do. Attend to His voice, apply to Him; He will open His treasures, and satisfy with goodness the hungry soul of every age and nation, without money and without price. There is provision in Christ; but we must come to Him, and seek it from Him. Do your creative work with Him, in Him and through Him! Let Him be our Lord. Prayer Starter

Thanks for your divine Living Word O Lord.let's focus our attention thereon, and search for understanding, allowing the Spirit of God to guide us....Knowing Joseph's life story, see how Joseph chose to focus on the presence of the Lord in his life, the ‘Possibilities’ present despite circumstances, in and through the Thank you Lord! We choose to ‘exvicissitudes he goes through. He chose not to steep himself in the ‘Misery’ perience’ the Love, and to ‘share’ the we'd ordinarily be inclined to in these Love as decreed…! We shall create and circumstances; and was made fruitful bring down on earth Your Kingdom! "JESUS CHRIST IS LORD"

Thursday 8th July 2021 Genesis: 44/18-21,2329;45/1-5 Psalm: 104/16-21 ( 105/16-21) Mathew: 10/7-15 The First Proclamation Then Judah stepped up to him and said, “O my Lord, let your servant please speak a word in my Lord's ears, and do not be angry with your servant; for you are like Pharaoh himself. My Lord asked his servants, saying, ‘Have you a father or a brother?’ And we said to my Lord, ‘We have a father, an old man, and a young brother, the child of his old age. His brother is dead; he alone is left of his mother's children, and his father loves him.’ Then you said to your servants, ‘Bring him down to me, so that I may set my eyes on him.’ Then you said to your servants, ‘Unless your youngest brother comes down with you, you shall see my face no more.’ When we went back to your servant my father we told him the words of my Lord. And when our father said, ‘Go again, buy us a little food,’ we said, ‘We cannot go down. Only if our youngest brother goes with us, will we go down; for we cannot see the man's face unless our youngest brother is with us.’ Then your servant my father said to us,.... If you take this one also from me, and harm comes to him, you will bring down my gray hairs in sorrow to Sheol.’ .......And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard it. Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph...Come closer to me.” And they came closer. He said, “I am your

(PS Wk II) (Green)

brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. And now do not be distressed, or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. Prayerful Awareness Joseph wouldn't have known that being discarded from his own family would eventually lead to a great rank in society. We can imagine the pain and misery he would have felt when he was rejected by those that he loved so much. In such hurtful situations in our families, we feel wronged and act impulsively in our anger. However, God has shown us that love is sacrificial, merciful and healing, all of which requires us to crush our ego. When we are hurt, we tend to harden our hearts to the voice of God, afraid that He will ask us to be understanding and kind. The grudge deep within our hearts cloud our emotions, our goals and response to others then onwards. It is this poisoning that God wants to free you of when he asks you to let go. In all the problems we face, God does not sit there and judge how we act. He cares for the peace in our lives and despite whatever happened, He wants us to feel His love and joy in the present. It is to this that He prompts and guides us. So then why do we trade long lasting peace for temporary release of our hurt and pain? Joseph didn't take revenge on his brothers when he had the good opportunity to do so. It conveys the surrendering of his emotions and self-righteousness before God to turn the situation around, to not how he wants it but how God wills it. The promise that the Lord gives us today is that God sees how we take on suffering for His sake. Let us surrender our worries to Him. After all, if God knows our hearts, do we need to right ourselves in the hearts of others?

"JESUS CHRIST IS LORD"

Friday 9th July 2021

Sts. Augustine Zhao Rong, Priest & Companions, Martyrs (PS Wk II ) (Green/ Red)

Genesis: 46/1-7,28-30 Psalm: 36/3-4,18-19, 27-28,39-40 (37/3-4,18-19,27-29, 39-40) Mathew: 10/16-23

The Gospel Proclamation “Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves. But beware of people, for they will hand you over to courts and scourge you in their synagogues, and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake as a witness before them and the pagans. When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say. For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will hand over brother to death, and the father his child; children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by all because of my name, but whoever endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in one town, flee to another. Amen, I say to you, you will not finish the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes." Fix your gaze on Jesus In today's gospel, Lord Jesus awakens us to the persecutions, struggles, and challenges that may be encountered in living for the Kingdom of God. Jesus, "the only begotten Son of the Father" in the guidance of

the Holy Spirit with His baptism in the River Jordan, always lived a life pleasing to God the Father, seeking the heart of God. He only spoke what the Father revealed to Him. He performed all the miracles with Father’s connivance. He testified as the Son of God. He was well aware and foresaw the fate that would befall His beloved disciples who had to continue the work He started. So He strengthened them by informing them of it in advance. He tells the same message to those of us who are His disciples today. True witnessing is not possible without the Holy Spirit, but He asserts that all challenges can be met with courage by constantly being filled with the Holy Spirit. Lord Jesus calls us to obey the wisdom of God that surpasses human wisdom, to respond to it with the Holy Spirit, and to remain in the mind and heart of God the Father continually. Today's First Reading shows how Lord God Himself acted in Joseph who was sold to Egypt by his brothers due to jealousy, to bear witness to even those Gentiles. Lord chose Joseph to demonstrate His power over Egypt. It is a wonderful reflection of the Lord's plan unfolding in all evil acts. Lord today awakens us to the call to live as those who live in the world, but belong to the Kingdom of God. Prayer Starter Lord Jesus, Give us the power to suffer for the Kingdom with joy, just as you answered then, as the glorious Son of God, in the wisdom of the Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit, keep tuning us to the channel to know the heart of God the Father. Amen.

"JESUS CHRIST IS LORD"

Saturday 10th July 2021 Genesis: 49/29-32; 50/15-26 Psalm: 104:1-4,6-7 ( 105:1-4,6-7 ) Mathew: 10/24-33 The Gospel Proclamation A disciple is not above the teacher, nor a slave above the master; it is enough for the disciple to be like the teacher, and the slave like the master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household! “So have no fear of them; for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known. What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops. Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. And even the hairs of your head are all counted. So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows. “Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven; but whoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father in heaven. Prayerful Awareness "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in hell." Today the Gospel Reading brings about three kinds of fear. They are the fear of persecution, fear of death and

Blessed Virgin Mary (PS WkII ) ( Green/White )

fear of injuries. In our fear of persecution Jesus gives us a word of encouragement: Do not fear persecutors because the truth will someday be known. God will reveal the truth in the day of judgment, if not before. All the talk, abuse, wrong accusations, lies and mistreatment inflicted upon believers will be handled by Christ. We can rest assured: The day is coming when the truth will be known. The secrets of all men will be stripped and unveiled for all to see. If we have confidence that God will reveal the truth, If we have faith that God will do this, then we will not fear what our persecutors say. Same in the fear of death and in the fear of injuries, the fear of getting hurt we have been encouraged to withstand with faith. Fear and faith are mutually exclusives. fear is the opposite of belief. Believing God eliminates fear. Towards our Soship The one who put His trust in the love and care of God will never be defeated. In order to withstand fear in our day-today life we have to have a living relationship with Jesus. The living relationship with Jesus opens the path to the heavenly life on earth. Let’s look back to our lives and examine the fears that we have and let’s pray for a life free of fear. Prayer Starter "It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed." (Deuteronomy 31:8) When you are fearing a situation or emotional challenge, really envision God saying this, just to you. He is on your side.

"JESUS CHRIST IS LORD"

Sunday 11th July 2021 Amos: 7/12-15 Psalm: 84/9-14 ( 85/8-13 ) Ephesians: 1/3-14(or 1/3-10) Mark: 6/7-13

Introduction Today the Lord addressing both you and me declares, "As the Father sent me, so I send you." St. Paul with the words not only states "God chose us, chose us in Christ, to be holy and spotless, and to live through love in his presence" that He has especially chosen us for the above purpose but also affirms with the words, "predetermining that we should become His adopted sons, through Jesus Christ" that we have been called to a very special status in life, that is to the experience of divine son-ship. Let us enter into the prayer journey for today awakening ourselves to where we are really in comparison to all these. The First Proclamation Amazia, the priest of Bethel, said to Amos, 'Go away, seer; get back to the land of Judah; earn your bread there, do your prophesying there. We want no more prophesying in Bethel; this is the royal sanctuary, the national temple.' 'I was no prophet, neither did I belong to any of the brotherhoods of prophets," Amos replied to Amaziah. 'I was a shepherd, and looked after sycamores: but it was the Lord who took me from

15th Sunday of Ordinary Time (PS Wk III ) (Green)

the herding the flock, and the Lord who said, "Go, prophecy to my people Israel." Prayerful Awareness While Amazia is the priest of Bethel, the national shrine of the Israelites. Condemning the prophetic mission of Amos he orders him not to prophesy at Bethel. He also gives reasons for his order. The reply of Amos for the above is that he was a shepherd and a dresser of sycamore trees and not a prophet by occupation but he is prophesying in accordance with the command and calling from God. What is the reason for a conflict as this between a priest and prophet? It is quite obvious that Amazia is only representing the human king without serving God. In the Gospel proclamation of the day, is revealed the sending forth of the twelve apostles by the Lord. According to the first proclamation both priest and prophet have been sent forth. Here revealed is the importance of accomplishing one's missionary service according to the vocation each one has received. (Please read Amos 7:10-17.) The Gospel Proclamation Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out in pairs giving them authority over the unclean spirits. And he instructed them to take nothing for the journey except a staff – no bread, no haversack, no coppers for their purses. They were to wear sandals but, he added, 'Do not take a spare tunic.' And he said to them, 'If you enter a house anywhere, stay there until you

"JESUS CHRIST IS LORD"

leave the district. …So they set off to preach repentance; and they cast out many devils, and anointed many sick people with oil and cured them. Prayerful Awareness The apostle means the one who is being sent forth. The chosen twelve were eye witnesses to the life, death and resurrection of Christ. They were the representatives endowed with His power. The Lord Jesus sent out His twelve apostles for the mission of Evangelization. And He sent them two by two. Surely He would have acted thus since He was very much convinced of His promise 'where there are two or three gathered in my name, I am with them.' Clearly, the meaning of every directive given by the Lord Jesus in sending out is leading them to an experience of totally trusting in and depending on God the Father throughout their missionary journey. Also He guides them as not to give opportunity for anybody to belittle theWord of God. Accordingly, it is certain that all that is said by the Lord Jesus today will be a light for us too, who are engaged in missionary activity. The Second Proclamation Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all the spiritual blessings of heaven in Christ. Before the world was made, he chose us, chose us in Christ, to be holy and spotless, and to live through love in his presence, determining that we should become his adopted sons, through Jesus Christ for his own kind purposes, to make us praise the glory of his grace, his free gift to us in the Beloved ….

Prayerful Awareness St. Paul reveals for what purpose God has chosen us in Christ. That is the revelation that before the world was made, He chose us, chose us in Christ, to be holy and spotless, and to live through love in His presence, determining that we should become His adopted sons. Moreover, St. Paul presents the fundamental vision, the objective of Christian life. Accordingly the life vision of all of us should be to bring everything on earth together in Christ for the glory of God. Thus, the final goal of the mission of all of us is to unite the entire universe under the sovereignty of Christ. Towards Our Sonship Today Christ calls you and me. What is our response? St Paul declares that we have been especially chosen through Christ, that we are a chosen people. If so, can the One who chose us be pleased with us? St. Paul reveals, 'Now you too, in him, have heard the message of the truth and the good news of your salvation, and have believed it: and you too have been stamped with the seal of the Holy Spirit of the Promise.' Isn't the Lord sending us out today to take this news to others as well? The Lord gives us the same calling he gave to the apostles since it is our very fundamental vocation. "God needs somebody to be sent forth. And that person is you! Prayer Starter For the Lord God is a sun and shield; he bestows favor and honor. No good thing does the Lord withhold from those who walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, happy is everyone who trusts inYou.

"JESUS CHRIST IS LORD"

Monday 12th July 2021 Exodus: 1/8-14,22 Psalm: 123/1-8 (124/1-8) Mathew: 10/34-11/1 Introduction Let us read today’s scripture passages meditatively where the central theme is that we have to learn to meet life with equanimity, taking the ups and downs in our stride. But there is a glorious eternal reward to those who persevere and stand firm in their faith, even to the extent of giving up their lives for the sake of the Lord. But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the human heart conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9) The Lord promises rewards commensurate with the level of faith and the level of sacrifice one has had to contribute towards the degree of attainment of fulfilling God’s Will in our lives. The best examples for this will be the lives of our Lord Jesus Christ and our Blessed Mother. In fulfilling God’s Will in their lives they had to undergo untold hardships, pain and suffering, but they bore it all up joyfully as Abba Father’s Will for their lives and were always full of love for those around them! Hence they had joyful and fulfilling lives even here on earth, which is the calling for us believers as well! The Gospel Proclamation “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and one’s foes will be members of one’s own

(PS Wk III) (Green)

household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me....

Prayerful Awareness

This world’s systems are governed by Satan because man handed over his God given authority to Satan. Adam was deceived to do so by Satan driven by jealousy towards man due to man’s pre-eminent position in Creation. In John 10:10 our Lord says "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came so that they would have life, and have it abundantly." As a result of the foregoing, there will always be stiff resistance against the Good News preached by the Lord, which will lead to divisions even amongst family members which is what the Lord refers to in the first few verses (34-36) of today’s Gospel Proclamation. The rest I think are self-explanatory. Today’s First Proclamation gives an account of what led to the enslavement of the Hebrews in Egypt, requiring them to be saved from oppression and slavery by Moses, a man specially chosen and nurtured by God for the purpose, as a precursor to God’s Plan to save mankind from slavery to sin through Jesus Christ our Lord! Responsorial Psalm Our soul hath been delivered as a sparrow out of the snare of the fowlers. The snare is broken, and we are delivered. Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth. Amen! Alleluia! Praise the Lord!

"JESUS CHRIST IS LORD"

Tuesday 13th July 2021 Exodus: 2/1-15 Psalm: 68/3,14,30-31, 33-34 (69/2,13,29-30,32-33) Mathew: 11/20-24 The First Proclamation ....The woman conceived and bore a son; and when she saw that he was a fine baby, she hid him three months. When she could hide him no longer she got a papyrus basket for him, and plastered it with bitumen and pitch; she put the child in it and placed it among the reeds on the bank of the river. His sister stood at a distance, to see what would happen to him... One day, after Moses had grown up, he went out to his people and saw their forced labor. He saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his kinsfolk. He looked this way and that, and seeing no one he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. When he went out the next day, he saw two Hebrews fighting; and he said to the one who was in the wrong, “Why do you strike your fellow Hebrew?” He answered, “Who made you a ruler and judge over us? Do you mean to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid and thought, “Surely the thing is known.” When Pharaoh heard of it, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh. He settled in the land of Midian, and sat down by a well. The Gospel Proclamation Then he began to reproach the cities in which most of his deeds of power had been done, because they did not repent. “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the deeds of power done in you had been

St. Henry, Bishop & Doctor (PS Wk III) (Green/White)

done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, on the day of judgment it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades. For if the deeds of power done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I tell you that on the day of judgment it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom than for you.” Prayerful Awareness A passage like this shows us how little we know of Jesus. In John’s final sentence of his Gospel we have, “There are many other things that Jesus did. If they were all written down one by one, I suppose that the whole world could not hold the books that would be written.” (John 21:25) So it is very clear that the things we do not know about Jesus far outnumber the things we do know. What can we see in Jesus’ voice. “How terrible it will be for you, Chorazin” (Mathew11:21) He has been insulted and He is blazing in anger, Jesus’ self-esteem has been touched and He is the temper. He offered the most precious thing to the masses and saw it disregarded by them. Jesus’ condemnation of sin is holy angel, but the anger comes not from outraged pride but from a broken heart” (The New Daily Study Bible). Suppose a person never had the chance of knowing any better and if he does wrong he can be excused. But if a person had every chance to the right and does wrong, then that person stands condemned. Prayer Starter Help us to make ourselves freely available to You for the work of Thy Kingdom. Amen.

"JESUS CHRIST IS LORD"

Wednesday 14th July 2021 Exodus: 3/1-6,9-12 Psalm: 102/1-4,6-7 (103/1-4,6-7) Mathew: 11/25-27 The First Proclamation ....the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed…. God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses.....put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham… And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God…. Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them. Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt…. And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt? And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee:.... Fix your gaze on Jesus Lord Holy Spirit, awaken within us a proper understanding of the Divine Word.... Moses was the chosen leader of Israel in liberating his people from slavery in Egypt. He spent the first part of his life in a palace since he was adopted into the royal household and received an upbringing that prepared him for his future leadership role. Maybe his own mother told him of his origins which

St. Camilius de Lellis, Priest

(PS Wk III ) ( Green/White)

he never forgot. Yet, since he acted impulsively and violently he had to flee from Egypt to save his own life. And as a shepherd in Midian he learnt the art of shepherding, another preparation for the future. It was while Moses was tending his flock that God revealed himself through a burning bush. The bush was burning but was not consumed. As a matter of fact in the Old Testament we find God revealing himself through visions and angels. Why did and why does God reveal himself? It is to make known to us who he is, who we are and what is expected of us. In the case of Moses God said to him, "put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for you are in holy ground." What does this imply? Isn't it an indication that when we present ourselves before God, we should actually realize who we are and that we are not worthy to be in his presence. Yet out of His immense love He calls us to make known His love to us, His plans to us. Removing shoes can be interpreted as a sign of humility and respect, accepting ourselves as we are, the truth of ourselves. Then God tells Moses what is expected of him. Moses now a humble man accepts his weakness, his inability to accomplish the task. Similarly, we too have been chosen by God for a particular purpose. It is in communion with Him that we get to know what it is, who God is and who we are in relation to Him. To the extent we get to know God we get to know ourselves too. And to assume leadership in liberation as expected of us first we have to be spiritually liberated ourselves. Prayer Starter Thank You Lord for Your Divine Living Word; journey us forth towards self-knowledge and understanding, a comprehension of ‘What-Is’, the ‘Truth’ which sets us Free...

"JESUS CHRIST IS LORD"

Thursday 15th July 2021 Exodus: 3/13-20 Psalm: 104/1,5,8-9, 24-27 (105/1,5,8-9,24-27) Mathew: 11/28-30 The First Proclamation But Moses said to God, “If I come to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” He said further, “Thus you shall say to the Israelites, ‘I am has sent me to you.” God also said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the Israelites, ‘The Lord, the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you’: This is my name forever, and this my title for all generations.... The Gospel Proclamation “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Prayerful Awareness In the first proclamation God reveals himself to Moses, and when he asked God His name; “God said to Moses, ‘I am who I am.” (Exodus 3:14) God is the one and only God hence He does not need a name, He is God. And then God gives a promise; “I declare that I will bring you

St. Bonaventure, Bishop & Doctor (PS Wk III ) (White )

up out of the misery of Egypt, …a land flowing with milk and honey.” (Exodus 3:17) God has heard their cry and knows the misery they experience in Egypt. And God cares for his people. And God chooses Moses to be his intermediary. And Moses shouldered the burden for the glory of God. although it seemed to be an impossible endeavour. In the New Testament, Jesus says in the Gospel today, to those who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens to come to Him. As Moses was the intermediary to free God’s people from the King of Egypt, Jesus becomes the intermediary for eternity to free God’s people from the bonds of sin. Loving God himself had to intervene, as the bond of sin was too strong for His beloved people to overcome. So, God chooses to take up the burden Himself for the sake of His people. Because as it is said in the first reading God will be God till and beyond the end of time; “I am who I am.” (Exodus 3:14) “This is my name forever, and this my title for all generations.” (Exodus 3:15) God humbled Himself to become one of us, a free man (Jesus) in the midst of slaves (us). to save His loved ones, God’s People. Prayer Starter O give thanks to the Lord, call on his name, make known his deeds among the peoples. Remember the wonderful works he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he has uttered, He is mindful of his covenant forever, of the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations.

"JESUS CHRIST IS LORD"

Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Friday 16th July 2021

(PS Wk III) (Green/White )

Exodus: 11/10-12/14 Psalm: 115/12-13,15-18 (116/12-13,15-18) Mathew: 12/1-8 OR Zechariah: 2/14-17 Psalm:Luke: 1/46-55 Mathew: 12/46-50 The First Proclamation Moses and Aaron performed all these wonders before Pharaoh; but the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, ....It is the passover of the Lord. For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike down every firstborn in the land of Egypt, both human beings and animals; on all the gods of Egypt ...I am the Lord. The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live: when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague shall destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt. This day shall be a day of remembrance for you. You shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord; throughout your generations you shall observe it as a perpetual ordinance. The Gospel Proclamation "At that time Jesus went through the grain fields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain and eat them. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.” He answered, “Haven’t you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread—which was not lawful for them to do, but only for the priests. Or haven’t you read in the Law that

the priests on Sabbath duty in the temple desecrate the Sabbath and yet are innocent? I tell you that something greater than the temple is here. If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,” you would not have condemned the innocent. For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.” Prayerful Awareness This Gospel Proclamation tells us that the disciples following Jesus went through a grain field and they were hungry, and began to pluck heads of grain to eat. The Pharisees watching and waiting to find fault complained to Jesus that they are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath. This was a time where rabbis filled Judaism with elaborate rituals related to the Sabbath and observance of other laws not in keeping with the law of God. Jesus never violated God’s command to observe the Sabbath or approved of His disciples violating God’s Sabbath command, but He often broke man’s legalistic additions to that law. Jesus reminded them that human need is more important than observing ceremonial rituals. Jesus reminded them that the priests themselves break the Sabbath all the time. Then He went on to tell them that the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath. This was a direct claim to Deity. He was God made flesh! Since Jesus is greater than the temple, we should regard Him as so. We should admire Jesus with love and wonder even more, honour Him and worship Him and love and serve Him. Prayer Starter Holy Spirit teach us to love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our mind and with all our strength. Never let us forget that He is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king; we praise and worship Jesus for ever and ever. Amen

"JESUS CHRIST IS LORD"

Saturday 17th July 2021 Exodus: 12/37-42 Psalm: 135/1,23-24, 10-15 (136/1,23-24,10-15) Mathew: 12/14-21

The First Proclamation

Blessed Virgin Mary

(PS Wk III ) ( Green /White)

the marginalized. This way of justice did not appeal to the Pharisees, because their authority was challenged. The way Jesus interpreted God’s laws and justice was very different. Therefore, they plotted to kill Him. Although with the challenges Jesus was never discouraged or disheartened in loving those who turned to Him. He was always there to sustain them with love and mercy. Because of this reason the scripture says, “in Him, all peoples will put their hope”. Our Sonship

....The Israelites had lived in Egypt for 430 years. On the day the 430 years ended, all the tribes of the LORD 's people left Egypt. It was a night when the LORD kept watch to bring them out of Egypt... We are blessed today because The Gospel Proclamation Jews rejected Jesus and God opened His Kingdom to the gentiles. For Then the Pharisees left and this reason, we became part of His made plans to kill Jesus. When Salvation Plan. Jesus heard about the plot against Let us deeply search our hearts. Is him, he went away from that place; and large crowds followed him. He Jesus our hope? To the degree we seek healed all those who were ill and Jesus, to that extent we will find Jesus gave them orders not to tell others and He is there to meet with us. Our about him. He did this so as to make continuous reconciliation with Jesus what God had said through the brings us hope. Then we can truly say prophet Isaiah come true: “Here is that we are sustained by a relationship my servant, whom I have chosen, we have with Jesus. This kind of relathe one I love, and with whom I tionship could be forged if we have a am pleased. I will send my Spirit deep prayer life that is sustained by the upon him, and he will announce my Holy Spirit who continuously leads us judgement to the nations. He will to the promises of God in the Word. not argue or shout or make loud In the First Proclamation we are speeches in the streets. He will not told that God kept watch to bring the break off a bent reed or put out a Israelites out of Egypt. This is the flickering lamp. He will persist until kind of love we can hope from our he causes justice to triumph, and in relationship with Jesus. We place our him all peoples will put their hope. hope in Him because He is risen, and He is with us. To the extent we believe Gaze at Jesus in this marvelous and glorious truth Those who looked towards an we can be peaceful and free. all-powerful resemblance of God, in Prayer Starter Jesus, were disappointed to see Him. The way he carried out social justice Jesus be our hope! Be our hope to irritated the Pharisees and Sadducees. the end of eternity! He was with the lowly, the poor and "JESUS CHRIST IS LORD"

Sunday 18th July 2021 Jeremiah: 23/1-6 Psalm: 22/1-6 ( 23/1-6) Ephesians: 2/13-18 Mark: 6/30-34

Introduction We who have been called to inherit the blessedness of being a Christian are really fortunate since the Lord Jesus Christ risen from the dead is living with us even today nourishing us and guiding us as our shepherd. The Eucharistic theme of the day, 'Like a shepherd he guards his flock …' too awakens us to experience Jesus Christ as the shepherd of our lives. Also the day's proclamations direct us to spell out the vocation, responsibility and nobility of shepherding. The kingly, priestly and prophetic vocation we have received by virtue of our baptismal calling, the mission for all of us is to witness as true shepherds in the shepherding model of Christ. Let us pray for the needed power for all of us for this task. The First Proclamation

16th Sunday of Ordinary Time

(PS Wk IV) (Green)

who speaks! But the remnant of my flock I myself will gather from all the countries where I have dispersed them, and will bring them back to their pastures: ….not one shall be lost - …. (Please read the whole proclamation.) Prayerful Awareness With regard to the chosen people of God, He acts with unbounded compassion and love. He who does not tolerate the behavior of the shepherds appointed to feed and look after His sheep declares "I will take care of your misdeeds." Also through the prophet He reveals that a new future filled with hope will dawn on the people of Israel. The Second Proclamation In Christ Jesus, you that used to be so far apart from us have been brought very close, by the blood of Christ. For he is the peace between us, and had made the two into one and broken down the barrier which used to keep them apart, actually destroying in his own person the hostility caused by the rules and decrees of the Law. This was to create one single New Man in himself out of the two of them and by restoring peace through the cross, to unite them both in a single Body and reconcile them with God. …Through him, both of us have in the one Spirit our way to come to the Father. Prayerful Awareness

"Doom for the shepherds who allow the flock of my pasture to be destroyed and scattered – it is the Lord who speaks! This, therefore, is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says about the shepherds in charge of my people: You have let my flock be scattered and go wanThe man who had been endowed dering and have not taken care of with to be powerful participants in them. Right, I will take care of you the plan of God in consequence of for your misdeeds – it is the Lord sin faced the most unfortunate fate "JESUS CHRIST IS LORD"

of disinheriting everything. Thus he distanced himself from God. Even then, He who loves man with an unquenchable love bestowed on him the blessed state of passing over to eternal life through the death and resurrection of Christ. The death of our Lord Jesus on the Cross was the saving gate for the entire humanity through which we were raised to a new life of love, union and being united to His Body. Nothing and nobody could separate or divide us, who have been called to a life of sharing and living in community by experiencing that love. The Gospel Proclamation

who fully accomplished the mission entrusted to them, returned to the Lord and shared their missionary experience with Him. The Lord being sensitive and appreciative of them let them rest for a while. He, who consulted God as to how and what He should do, led the disciples also into the same experience. For this very reason He taught them how important the need is to rest and to be awakened to the love of God. Also it was aiming at winning over the Kingdom of God for them that He shared with the people who followed Him, the revelation of God's love. Towards us

The apostles rejoined Jesus and told him all they had done and taught. Then he said to them, 'You must come away to some lonely place all by yourselves and rest for a while'; for there were so many coming and going that the apostles had no time even to eat. So they went off in a boat to a lonely place where they could be by themselves. But people saw them going, and many could guess where; and from every town they all hurried to the place on foot and reached it before them. So as he stepped ashore he saw a large crowd; and he took pity on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he set himself to teach them at some length. Prayerful Awareness

We too have been called to enter into a deep relationship with Him by whom we have been called saying, "Come follow me." Also He invites us to be true shepherds who would bring back to Him the scattered sheep, feed them and take care of them. If we are to build up the Kingdom of God we should have the thirst and the awareness to constantly listen to the Word of God, discern His Will and act accordingly. Let us pray for the necessary power. Similarly, let us pray that we may be endowed with the power to be true shepherds of the kingdom. Prayer Starter

Show favour, O Lord, to your servants and mercifully increase the gifts of your grace, that, made fervent in hope, faith and charity, The Lord who experienced the they may be ever watchful in keeping fullness of love flowed down from your commands (Collect). the Father, released this immense Throughout the day love towards all. Having made the "The Lord is my shepherd; there kingdom His only aim in life He called the disciples for to experience is nothing I shall want" (Psalm 22:1). and share the Kingdom of God. They "JESUS CHRIST IS LORD"

Monday 19th July 2021 Exodus: 14/5-18 Psalm: Ex:15/1-6 Mathew: 12/38-42 The Gospel Proclamation Some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Jesus, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.” He said to them in reply, “An evil and unfaithful generation seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it except the sign of Jonah the prophet. Just as Jonah was in the belly of the whale three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights. At the judgment, the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and there is something greater than Jonah here. At the judgment the queen of the south will arise with this generation and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and there is something greater than Solomon here. ” Prayerful Awareness People who have heard of Jesus knew about the miracles He performed, healing the sick and raising dead. They believed that Jesus is someone who has come from God. Some of the Scribes and Pharisees were skeptical about the teachings of Jesus, and were trying to find a reason to condemn Him. Jesus knew this when they asked for a sign, accused them for their evil thoughts and intentions and said, “An evil and unfaithful generation seeks a sign, but no sign will be given to them, except the sign of the of Jonah the prophet”. He also said, “Just as Jonah was in the belly of the whale three days and three nights, the Son of Man will be in the

(PS Wk IV) ( Green )

heart of the earth three days and three nights”. “At the judgment, the men of Nineveh will arise, because they repented”. Where are we? Are we also asking for a miracle or fulfillment of our desires to follow Jesus. First, we have to follow all His Commandments as requested in John 14: 15-16 and receive the Gift of the Holy Spirit. Then we can act as Children of God doing the Will of God. Then we can experience miracles in our lives every day. If we break even a single Commandment, we cannot expect Lord to do miracles in our lives. Therefore, we should truly repent and ask for Lord’s forgiveness and correct ourselves to sin no more. The Sacrament of Confession was established for this. First Reading draws our attention to Pharaoh and his servants changing their minds on the release of Israelites. The Egyptians, then, pursued them; Pharaoh’s whole army caught up with them as they lay encamped by the sea, at Pi-hahiroth, in front of Baal-zephon. When the children of Israel looked up and saw that the Egyptians were on the march in pursuit of them. In great fright they cried out to the LORD. And they complained to Moses, “Were there no burial places in Egypt that you had to bring us out here to die in the desert? Why did you do this to us? Why did you bring us out of Egypt? But Moses answered the people, “Fear not! Stand your ground, and you will see the victory the LORD will win for you today.” We are called to be in constant prayer, Trust, have Faith and depend on Lord with our focus on Lord. Prayer Starter Lord God, our ever Loving Father, we Thank you for Your Great Love for us. We Trust You and have Faith in You and know that You are there with us all the time to Help us. Grant us Your Holy Spirit to be with us and Guide us. Amen.

"JESUS CHRIST IS LORD"

Tuesday 20th July 2021 Exodus: 14/21-15/1 Psalm: Ex:15/8-10, 12,17 Mathew: 12/46-50 The First Proclamation ....Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea, so that the water may come back upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots and chariot drivers.” So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at dawn the sea returned to its normal depth. As the Egyptians fled before it, the Lord tossed the Egyptians into the sea. The waters returned and covered the chariots and the chariot drivers, the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed them into the sea; not one of them remained. But the Israelites walked on dry ground through the sea, the waters forming a wall for them on their right and on their left. Thus the Lord saved Israel that day from the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. Israel saw the great work that the Lord did against the Egyptians. So the people feared the Lord and believed in the Lord and in his servant Moses.... The Gospel Proclamation While he was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers were standing outside, wanting to speak to him. Someone told him, “Look, your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.” But to the one who had told him this, Jesus replied, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” And pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For

St. Apollinaris, Bishop & Martyr (PS Wk IV) (Green/Red)

whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” Prayerful Awareness This is a disheartening episode. During Jesus’ lifetime, His near and dear ones did not understand Him properly. May be they thought He was insane or was busily engaged in throwing His life away. May be He seems or wants to detach Himself from human and earthly contacts to give priority to spiritual and divine Kinship which comes from doing the Will of God. Surely He did not want to underestimate His love for His mother and relatives. On the other hand He wanted to show the Christian message that stresses the greatness and necessity of family ties. “Being a disciple of Jesus means accepting the invitation to belong to God’s family, to live in conformity with His way of life. ‘For whoever does the Will of My Father in heaven is My brother, sister and mother. Parents should welcome and respect with joy and thanksgiving the Lord’s call to one of their children to follow Him in virginity, to follow Him for the sake of the Kingdom in the consecrated life or in priestly ministry.” (C.C.C. 2233) “On that day when she came to Him preaching, He began to merge the divine maternity into the new motherhood of all men. It was the greatest of all honours to be the mother of Christ; but it was also a great honour to be the mother of Christians. There was no room in the inn for that first birth; but Mary had the whole world for her second.”( Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen) Prayer Starter Guide us through thick and thin to the supreme dignity of intimacy with You. Amen.

"JESUS CHRIST IS LORD"

Wednesday 21st July 2021 Exodus: 16/1-5,9-15 Psalm: 77/18-19,23-28 (78/18-19,23-28 ) Mathew: 13/1-9

The First Proclamation That same day, Jesus left the house and sat by the lakeside, but such large crowds gathered round him that he got into a boat and sat there... he told them many things in parables. He said, 'Listen, a sower went out to sow. As he sowed, some seeds fell on the edge of the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Others fell on patches of rock where they found little soil and sprang up at once, because there was no depth of earth; but as soon as the sun came up they were scorched and, not having any roots, they withered away. Others fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Others fell on rich soil and produced their crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Anyone who has ears should listen!' Fix your gaze on Jesus Awesome Lord, you are indeed Holy; forever beyond us mortals, always bigger than who we are! We however seem to forget that we are created in your image and likeness, able to be in union and connected with you (and your creation). O Holy Spirit of God, do continue to draw/ trend us towards a higher consciousness; towards being more connected with your creation; towards being united and in unity with All-ThatIs....

St. Lawrence of Brindisi, Priest (PS Wk IV) (Green/White)

This is how we all start off in terms of our consciousness. The Lord has imbued us with His Spirit, inviting us towards a higher consciousness. We are presented with sensory impressions in our life, and we imbue these impressions with meanings. Since we are fallen (our thinking/ beliefs are faulty/in error), our take on reality is fundamentally faulty. Which regrettably means we are in a state of being numbed / insensitive to 'What Is'; we listen, but do not hear; look, but do not really see. We choose to be limited to what we 'already know'. Would it not be correct to say that all of us succumb to this evil trap at one time or another in our lives? I would admit to being in this trap of the Liar many a times, choosing to ignore the clearly revealed will of the Father, the way shown by Jesus our saviour. Let us today turn anew, and listen to the Good Lord who gives us our potential, our destiny, our heritage. Jesus was clear in today's Gospel that our hearts and minds are called to be fertile fields for the Living Word to be sown in! Shall we listen? Really Listen? And change our present beliefs that are contrary to the Lord's revelations regarding who we are? Prayer Starter Lord, be with us as we go on this journey of changing our inherent beliefs and ways of thinking, and align with the thoughts and beliefs You want us to have; to abide inYour Commandments and thereby abide in Your Love...open up our awareness to Your continued presence with and in me...to admit the love of Abba, our Amma...

"JESUS CHRIST IS LORD"

St. Mary Magdalene

Thursday 22nd July 2021 Song of Solomon:3/1-4 Or 2 Corinthians: 5/14-17 Psalm: 62/2-6,8-9 (63/1-5,7-8) John: 20/1-2,11-18 The Gospel Proclamation

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.”.... But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. ... Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”; and she told them that he had said these things to her. Prayerful Awareness On this day of Mary Magdalene’s feast, let us ponder over certain aspects of her life according to the Gospels. As given in Luke 8:2 she is the one who had been freed of seven demons. It was Jesus who had rescued this oppressed woman. Then onwards Jesus was the only master of her life whom she ministers to (Mk 23:55, 56. Luke 8:3). She started following Jesus

(PS Wk IV) (White)

and neither the passion nor death could separate her from him. In John 19:25 we find her at the foot of the cross. Mary like a true devotee cannot live without the blessing of his presence, the presence of his beloved master. She waits at the tomb and she receives the reward of her perseverance. Thus it was to her that the risen Lord first revealed himself. Let us reflect on ourselves. In one time or other haven't we come to the realization that Jesus is our only Lord and master? Once convinced of this did our lives change? Did we follow Jesus with such zeal that nothing could separate us from him? Are we ready to be at the foot of the cross like Mary Magdalene with devotion and then to experience His resurrection? The risen Lord is present among us even today he is with us in our day to day lives. Are we people who cannot live without the love of Jesus to the extent that we would dry up and die without Christ. We all were born to this world as a result of this love. With all the worldly possessions we could feel a great emptiness which could only be filled with divine love. The Holy Scriptures testifies that if one encounters Christ and abides in Him there is always a new creation. The First Proclamation of today gives proof to the above statement. Indeed the love of Christ holds us. He died for all so that those who live may live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again for them. For that same reason, he who is in Christ is a new creature. For Him all things have passed away, a new world has come." Prayer Starter For You my soul is thirsting, O Lord, my God. (Psalm 62)

"JESUS CHRIST IS LORD"

St. Bridget of Sweden, Religious (PS Wk IV ) (Green/White)

Friday 23rd July 2021 Exodus: 20/1-17 Psalm: 18/8-11 (19/7-10) Mathew: 13/18-23 Responsorial Psalm “The commands of the LORD are just and give understanding to the mind…They give knowledge to me, your servant; I am rewarded for obeying them.” (Psalm 19:8, 11). Prayerful Awareness God’s laws are not simply a list of do’s and do not’s, though that is sometimes our first impression of them. We do not like to be told what to do, and God’s expectation is perfection; all or nothing. But in fact, God’s commandments are not given to restrict us. God teaches us how to love Him as He ought to be loved: He desires to give Himself to us and He shows us the way in which we ought to give ourselves to Him. Thus, the ten commandments are really ten expressions of love: the first three concerning love of God and the remaining seven, love of neighbor. Through understanding and keeping them, we can be free to be who God calls us to be. Gaze at our Sonship Excellence is what God wants for us, and He perseveres after our hearts, so that we might live lives that bear fruit. But the struggle is real. Or rather, the majority find it difficult to lean into the struggle and give up quickly. We see this beautifully illustrated in Jesus’ “Parable of the Sower” as the seed that falls on rocky ground or the seed that falls among the thorns. We receive God’s word into our hearts, but we struggle to retain it as the enormity of our trials, or the allure of worldly pleasures take precedence.

A beautiful example of what God can do when you give Him your “yes” is found in the story of a girl from a small Irish town named Clare Crockett. As a young girl, her sole ambition was to become a famous actress. As a teenager, her talent had been noticed outside of Ireland and her career had already begun to flourish. Her early fame was accompanied by a frivolous life. All this was interrupted when she had to substitute for a sick friend and attend a Holy Week retreat with the Servant Sisters in Spain. On Good Friday, she listened attentively to the sermon, and as she kissed the feet of Jesus, she was overcome with sorrow and a sense that she had to do something for Him who had given His life for her. It was not an easy journey, but step by step, her dreams of becoming a famous actress were replaced with a yearning to have an undivided heart for God. Her wild ways were transformed into loving obedience. In 2006, she became a Servant Sister and her personal relationship with God touched everyone she met. She died at the same age as Jesus in 2016. She never became a famous actress, but after her death, the Servant Sisters made a documentary of her life that has inspired the faith of millions. It is fondly titled All or Nothing: Sr. Clare. Prayer Starter Dear Jesus, I feel that through obedience, when I do God’s will, I am truly and authentically FREE… Sure, there are acts of obedience that are hard for me, but I know that they are always for my good…I read a sentence that helps me every day when I get up… It’s a sentence that the ancients used to say when they wanted to reject magnanimously what they thought was mediocre, vulgar or evil. “I was born for greater things.” (Adapted from the personal reflections of Sr. Claire)

"JESUS CHRIST IS LORD"

Saturday 24th July 2021 Exodus: 24/3-8 Psalm: 49/1-2,5-6,14-15 (50/1-2,5-6,14-15) Mathew: 13/24-30 The Gospel Proclamation "….'The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field; …So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. ….Let both grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.'"(Please read the whole proclamation.) Prayerful Awareness The Wheat and the Weeds – in this parable, we can liken God to the sower who plants only good seeds. When we consider ourselves as the field, since we are created in the image and likeness of God we should possess only good qualities but we know that we have a bright side and a shadow side. We cannot eliminate the shadow, neither can we deny it nor fight with it. We only have to be aware and expose ourselves to the light of Christ to dispel the darkness in us. When St. Paul pleaded with the Lord to take away the thorn in him what the Lord said was 'My grace is sufficient for you.' St. Paul says, 'When I am weak then I am strong' which means to the extent that we admit our shadow side we will be open to receive the grace of God. God uses the slightest failure on our part to make us grow. Just as we have wheat and weeds inside us the society we live in also consists of both wheat and weeds. Just as we are not perfect the world is also not perfect. Yet the Lord never excludes

St. Sharbel Makhluf, Priest (PS Wk IV) (Green/White)

the sinner. He let both the good and the bad grow together. He gives sun and rain to all alike. On the other hand we cannot judge people as good and bad. Maybe the bad we see in others is a projection of ourselves. Also the person whom we find difficult to live with is there for a purpose. He or she can be the cause of our sanctification. Also as we are in a success oriented society, we tend to discard and destroy people who do not meet our needs or are a threat to us. Yet, as Christians we cannot promote even the death penalty let alone the elimination of human life by other means. Even in our day to day life we come across wheat and weeds. Each day is filled with its own joys and sorrows. As human beings we embrace joy but not sorrow. In the first proclamation Moses exhorts the people to offer sacrifices to God. In our own life too we are supposed to offer ourselves as a sacrifice to God. The Scriptures speak of the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. In moments of joy it is very easy to thank and praise God but in moments of sorrow aren't we expected to make the same sacrifice. If we can praise God in moments of darkness it will be a real sacrifice pleasing to God. When we thank and praise God it brings about our sanctification. For one thing we change the focus from our sorrow to God and on the other hand we receive the spiritual benefit of willingly submitting to the will of God. Prayer Starter Guide me O Holy Spirit to recognize and accept the wheat and the weeds within me, in the society and in my daily life. And when in difficulty bring to my mind the words of the Responsorial Psalm, 'Call on me on the day of distress, I will free you and you shall honour me.'

"JESUS CHRIST IS LORD"

Sunday 25th July 2021

17th Sunday of Ordinary Time,

Indigenous Clergy/Religious Sunday (Green)

2 Kings: 4/42-44 Psalm: 144/10-11,15-18 ( 145/10-11,15-18) Ephesians: 4/1-6 John: 6/1-15

Introduction Christ is love. God is the source of love. From time to time He calls special people to share His love with the world. In order to make known His good news to the people He called patriarchs, kings as well as prophets. In the New Testament through Christ He appointed various people for the task. As such, starting with the apostles, He gives a special vocation to those whom He has chosen to be Christ disciples. Also, today as we commemorate the Indigenous Clergy/Religious Sunday, Holy Mother the Church reminds us "You are my Chosen Servant." Therefore, let us enter into prayer pleading for the needed power for all the Clergy and Religious that they may be made conscious of their vocation and proclaim the Kingdom of God through reading the signs of the times. The First Proclamation A man came from Baal-shalishah, bringing Elisha, the man of God, bread from the first-fruits, twenty barley loaves and fresh grain in the ear. 'Give it to the people to eat,' Elisha said. But his servant replied, 'How can I serve this to a hundred men?' 'Give it to the people to eat' he insisted 'for the Lord says this, "They will

eat and have some leftover."' He served them; they ate and had some over, as the other said. Prayerful Awareness

People in the past offered the first-fruits to God. Thus, they brought the share allocated to God to the man dedicated to God, namely the prophet. Yet, when the prophet says 'Give it to the people' the man wonders since what he has at hand is very little and not sufficient to distribute among a huge crowd. The prophet of course has more faith in God than in the small amount of food that is available. Therefore, he orders the servant to distribute it to the people without any fear. The people finished eating but there was some left over. Really this is a work of God alone. Accordingly, the one who has faith in little things will experience great miracles. Wherever there is dedication to God and in the one who spends himself with commitment there will be miracles performed for sure. The Second Proclamation I, the prisoner in the Lord, implore you to lead a life worthy of your vocation. Bear with one another charitable, in complete selflessness, gentleness and patience. Do all you can to preserve the unity of the Spirit by the peace that binds you together. There is one Body, one Spirit, just as you were all called into one and the same hope when you were called. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism and one God who is Father of all, through all and within all. Prayerful Awareness There is only one God. Therefore,

"JESUS CHRIST IS LORD"

St. Paul invites his community to live in unity. Also he points out that it is the Christian duty to fill oneself with the love of Christ and to share it with others. God has bestowed on the Church different gifts. Christ is the head of the Church, and the members of the Church the Body of Christ. Thus they should act as one. Moreover, they should grow in faith and trust. Therefore, St. Paul invites the community to be engaged in one's own mission showing respect to one another in humility. The Gospel Proclamation …Jesus climbed the hillside, and sat down there with his disciples. ….Looking up, Jesus saw the crowds approaching, and said to Philip, "Where can you buy some bread for these people to eat? He only said this to test Philip; he himself knew exactly what he was going to do. Philip answered, 'Two hundred denarii would only buy enough to give them a small piece each.' One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said, 'There is a small boy here with five barley loaves and two fish; but what is that between so many?' Jesus said to them, 'Make the people sit down.' …and as many as five thousand men sat down. Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and gave them out to all who were sitting ready; …When they had eaten enough he said to the disciples, 'Pick up the pieces left over, so that nothing gets wasted.' So they picked them up, and filled twelve hampers with scraps left over from the meal of five barley loaves. Prayerful Awareness

which they experienced the love of God. In the New Testament, Christ providing food to the people who followed Him listening to His word, showed them the mercy and love of God. The brother of Simon Peter says to the Lord, 'There is a small boy here with five barley loaves and two fish.' This was a loaf small in size made out of barley which was a meal of the poor. The Lord took this, gave thanks and gave it out to be distributed. Jesus was sensitive to the poor that nourishing them physically and spiritually he showed them the love, mercy and compassion of God. This was a great consolation to the people. It was like a drop of water to a dry land, to a people overwhelmed with suffering and problem, the answer they hoped for. Jesus then realized that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him a king. Yet, Lord Jesus Christ points out to them that it is not the Will of God. So, He withdrew again to the mountains by Himself to be alone with the Father. Wasn't it to be filled with the love of God once again? Towards our Sonhip Let us be conscious for a moment. We too are called by God for a prophetic, kingly and priestly mission. In order to answer this vocation let us listen to the voice of God. Let us worthily respond to our vocation. And let us enter into prayer asking for the needed power for the clergy and the religious who have received a special vocation that they may give a worthy response and joyfully work for the Kingdom of God. Prayer Starter

Happy are the people to whom In the Old Testament God sat- such blessings fall; happy are the isfied the hunger of the people in people whose God is the Lord. the wilderness with manna through "JESUS CHRIST IS LORD"

Monday 26th July 2021 Exodus: 32/15-24,30-34 Psalm: 105/19-23 (106/19-23 ) Mathew: 13/31-35

The First Proclamation ....But the Lord said to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me I will blot out of my book. But now go, lead the people to the place about which I have spoken to you; see, my angel shall go in front of you. Nevertheless, when the day comes for punishment, I will punish them for their sin.” The Gospel Proclamation He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.” He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.” Jesus told the crowds all these things in parables; without a parable he told them nothing. This was to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet: “I will open my mouth to speak in parables; I will proclaim what has been hidden from the foundation of the world.” Prayerful Awareness When we reflect on the scripture today. We find in the first proclama-

Sts. Joachim & Anne, Parents of the

Bl. Virgin Mary

(PS Wk I) (White)

tion the chosen people of God have rebelled against God. They have built up a golden calf to worship rather than keeping their faith in the unseen God who brought them out of Egypt. When we reflect on the Gospel today Jesus gives us two parables, about a mustard seed and yeast. What can mustard seeds and leaven teach us about the kingdom of God? The tiny mustard seed grew to be a tree that attracted numerous birds because they loved the little black mustard seed, it produced. God's Kingdom works similarly. It starts from the smallest beginnings in the hearts of men and women who believe and have faith in God's word. And it works unseen and causes a transformation from within. yeast is another powerful agent of change. A lump of dough left to itself remains just what it is, a lump of dough. But when the yeast is added to it a transformation takes place which produces rich and wholesome bread when heated. The Kingdom of God produces a transformation in those who receive the new life which Jesus Christ offers. When we believe in the promises and have faith in the word of God. Our lives are transformed by Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit who dwells in us. We just need to have faith as the mustard seed for the Holy Spirit to transform us to the image God intended for us. Prayer Starter "Lord, fill me with your Holy Spirit and transform me into the image You intended for me when You created me. Increase my faith and zeal forYour Kingdom and instil in me a holy desire to live for Your greater glory."Amen.

"JESUS CHRIST IS LORD"

(PS Wk I ) (Green)

Tuesday 27th July 2021 Exodus: 33/7-11,34/ 5-9,28 Psalm: 102/6-13 (103/6-13 ) Mathew: 13/36-43 The First Proclamation Now Moses used to take a tent and pitch it outside the camp some distance away, calling it the “tent of meeting.” Anyone inquiring of the LORD would go to the tent of meeting outside the camp. And whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people rose and stood at the entrances to their tents, watching Moses until he entered the tent. As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the entrance, while the LORD spoke with Moses. Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshiped, each at the entrance to their tent. The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent.... The Gospel Proclamation Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.” He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the har-

vesters are angels. “As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear. Prayerful Awareness To understand this Gospel Passage it's best to read it together with the Parable of the Weeds. Jesus explains each element of this parable to his disciples. He tells his disciples that the good seed are the children of God and the weeds are the children of the devil. This is so significant in our times where we hear false teachings all the times. The word of God is taken out of context and applied in ways that are sinful. This work of the devil is so deceitfully done that many a Christian has gone astray and this has created atheists, agnostics, the prosperity church, false prophets etc. Jesus says that this good seed grows together with the weeds. We the children of God live with the evil among us in this world which is the field that Jesus speaks of. We recognize this with the grace of the Holy Spirit who leads us to the truth and keeps us safe from the machinations of the evil one. Prayer Starter Dear Lord grant us the wisdom and the discernment only You can impart to us so that we your children will be able to live a holy and righteous life and be in the world but not of the world, and bring praise and glory to Your name. Amen...

"JESUS CHRIST IS LORD"

Wednesday 28th July 2021 Exodus: 34/29-35 Psalm: 98/5-7,9 (99/5-7,9 ) Mathew: 13/44-46 The First Proclamation Moses came down from Mount Sinai. As he came down from the mountain with the two tablets of the covenant in his hand, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God. When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, the skin of his face was shining, and they were afraid to come near him. But Moses called to them; and Aaron and all the leaders of the congregation returned to him, and Moses spoke with them. Afterward all the Israelites came near, and he gave them in commandment all that the Lord had spoken with him on Mount Sinai. When Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil on his face; but whenever Moses went in before the Lord to speak with him, he would take the veil off, until he came out; and when he came out, and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, the Israelites would see the face of Moses, that the skin of his face was shining; and Moses would put the veil on his face again, until he went in to speak with him. The Gospel Proclamation

(PS Wk I ) (Green)

on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it. Prayerful Awareness To the extent that we maintain a close relationship with God, His own goodness and love manifest in our actions and appearance. Similarly, the time we spend away from Him takes a toll on our soul and our wandering minds bring temporary distractions to fill the 'God-sized' gap in our lives. The Gospel today reminds me of a mindset of a certain youth known as Sr. Claire. She says that she didn't know what she wanted in her life. However she knew she couldn't keep her feet in both worlds. To her it was either a complete devotion to Christ or Nothing. All or nothing. She boldly believes what many of us do not like to accept. 'You cannot serve two masters'. To be a Christian means to be awake to the Holy Spirit at every moment, so that we could carry out the will of God. Yet many who do not have a prayer life, who do not listen to the promptings of God and witness to Him call themselves Christians. Seeing the kingdom of God as a hidden treasure that we would sell everything we have for and as a pearl so valuable that we find every other quest meaningless, is the turning point of the life of a Christian. Let us think for a moment about what the kingdom of God means to us. Is it a burden that we try to ignore or is it the source of absolute joy that we constantly seek? Prayer Starter

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in Abba father, guide my wandering his joy he goes and sells all that he mind to You and grant me the grace of has and buys that field. “Again, discovering the one and true hidden the kingdom of heaven is like a treasure that is Thy Kingdom. merchant in search of fine pearls; "JESUS CHRIST IS LORD"

St. Martha

Thursday 29th July 2021 1 John: 4/7-16 Psalm: 33/2-11 (34/1-10) John: 11/19-27 Or Luke: 10/38-42

The Gospel Proclamation Many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them about their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him; but Mary sat at home. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise.” Martha said to him, “I know he will rise, in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and anyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God ” Prayerful Awareness Jesus closely associated Lazarus and his two sisters Martha and Maria. He received a message informing Lazarus' sickness but did not go saying Lazarus was asleep. Jesus had known that this is the time to bring Glory to Father. After two days He left to Lazarus’ place in Judea. By the time He reached the Lazarus’ place, it had been four days after his death. We see that God delayed in raising dead Lazarus to life beyond

(PS Wk I) (White)

four days, to show the magnitude of the miracle. This miracle showed to people that God could raise the dead even after they had been in the grave for four days. This miracle hastened the Jewish Leaders to end the life of Jesus, and God to fulfill His plan to pay for the sin of mankind and redeem man, to open up the path of Salvation to everyone who accept Jesus as their Lord and follow His Commandments. First Reading. Reminds us that God is the greatest source of Love. God created us to His own Image of Love and Mercy. Man on his own followed satan and his bad qualities, wickedness and selfishness to ruin himself and the world. Love is of God, and he who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God. God so Loved the World that He sent His only Begotten Son to redeem the world from sin. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. Jesus gave us a New Commandment (John 13:34 -35), “As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another”. Anyone who does not Love others will be too engrossed in loving himself to satisfy his selfish desires of the flesh without love, care and concern for others. Prayer Starter God, our ever Loving Father, Help us to Love others as You Love us and Help us to guide others to know You and Your Word. To Accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour and follow all His Commandments and receive salvation, Amen...

"JESUS CHRIST IS LORD"

St. Peter Chrysologus, Bishop & Doctor (PS Wk I ) (Green/White)

Friday 30th July 2021 Leviticus:23/1,4-11, 15-16,27,34-37 Psalm: 80/3-6,10-11 (81/1-5,9-10) Mathew: 13/54-58 The Gospel Proclamation He came to his hometown and began to teach the people in their synagogue, so that they were astounded and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these deeds of power? Is not this the carpenter’s son?.... And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “Prophets are not without honor except in their own country and in their own house.” And he did not do many deeds of power there, because of their unbelief. Prayerful Awareness The Word of God is so powerful and active that God was created such a wonderful world for His people to live in. God admired His beautiful creation and His intention was to see the people live a pleasing life with Him and His fellowmen. But selfishness took over the world and they could not live up to God's expectations. Nations waged war over other nations and the people suffered. Throughout the Old Testament God sent His prophets with messages to reform them, failing which He finally sent His own Son in order to build up the Kingdom of God on this earth. “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16) Jesus fully understood what His mission was. As revealed by Isaiah, Jesus was anointed by the Holy Spirit to fulfill His mission (Mark 6:1-6, Luke 4:16, Isaiah 61:1-2). Jesus spent most of the time preaching in the synagogues in the region of Galilee. Amidst challenges from the Scribes

and Pharisees, He taught the people of the Kingdom of God, of the Love of God and how to live accordingly in day to day events. The Scribes and Pharisees were mostly concerned with keeping the Law to the letter. Since it was devoid of love it was a burden to the people. Jesus revealed to the people the love of God through His words and actions through His very self and invited them to lead a life of love which was very much in harmony with what God revealed in the Old Testament and people were much taken up with this procedure. It was not a burden but good news for them. Thus Jesus was gaining popularity during His public life. This became a threat to the Pharisees, Scribes and the Chief Priests that they were waiting for an opportunity to get rid of Him. Even His own people did not accept Him. Though they were amazed by His teaching they could not reconcile with the idea that one who was so familiar to them could be blessed with such extraordinary wisdom. In today’s Gospel reading we see how the relatives of Jesus react when Jesus began His public ministry. Let us examine ourselves and see how we react to people. Pharisees had a reason to reject Him and even his own had a reason. In our life when we cannot accept people let us find out the basic reason for such behavior and attitude. What is really preventing us from accepting them? It could be our selfishness, ignorance, envy, jealousy or too much familiarity. Let us ask the Holy Spirit to inspire us as to see the truth. On the other hand we too could face similar experiences of misunderstanding and rejection as that of Jesus. At such moments let us turn to Jesus for comfort, knowing that He will understand us perfectly and would give us strength to bear up. Let us ask for the grace to have an open mind that we may recognize the goodness and talents of the members of our own family, our own community and others.

"JESUS CHRIST IS LORD"

Saturday 31st July 2021 Leviticus:25/1,8-17 Psalm: 66/2-3,5,7-8 (67/1-2,4,6-7) Mathew: 14/1-12

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 on 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

St. Ignatius of Loyola, Priest (PS Wk I) (White)

way in which John the Baptist was the victim of corruption and the arrogance of the government of Herod. The text gives us much information on the time in which Jesus lived and on the manner in which power was used by the powerful of that time. The government of Herod had three characteristics: the new capital, large estates, and the class of functionaries. This incident was in a function of celebrating. Herod tries to keep his promise. During that time there the government of Herod had a group of persons which supported the government. And there was a alliance between the religious power and the civil power. The life of the people in the villages was very controlled, both by the government and by the religion. There was no value for a life of a person. Humanity was controlled by the powers. Towards our Sonship It is possible to do the same now? Don't we know any persons who died victims of corruption and domination of the power? We can find many occasions like the same that happened during Herod's governing era. Let's pray for all the souls who sacrificed their life for faith in God and for an era which paves the path for justice. Prayer Starter Who rules by his might forever, whose eyes keep watch on the nations. let the rebellious not exalt themselves. (Psalm 66:7)

Today the Gospel describes the "JESUS CHRIST IS LORD"

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