Walk in the Spirit March 2021 by Pubuduwa

WALK IN THE SPIRIT March 2021 Issue 346 Commencement March 1992

"O MARY! THE POWER OF THE MOST HIGH SHALL OVERSHADOW YOU"

ISSN 1391-5967

Publication: Fr. Siri Oscar Abayaratne Kithu Dana Pubuduwa

SHARING ON PRAYER March 2021 “If your virtue does not surpass that of the scribes and the Pharisees, you will never enter to the Kingdom of heaven.’ (Mathew 5/20) There is one virtue that in a sense stands above all others; it opens the gate to the Kingdom. It is repentance or turning around, not once but always to the source of all virtue, the Abba, through Christ, in the Holy Spirit. Lent is the flag-staff that is raised with the flag of “turn-around”. This is a flag that should never be brought down. Fr. Siri Oscar Abayaratne

Monday 1st March 2021

Second Week of Lent

Daniel: 9/4-10 Psalm: 78/8-9,11,13 (79/8-9,11,13) Luke: 6/36-38

The Gospel Proclamation “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Do not judge, and you will not be judged … Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. … Prayerful Awareness

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possible for men to aim towards that absolute perfection. But seeing God as a merciful father, allows us to better understand what constitutes his perfection, and this inspires us to be as He is, full of love, compassion, and mercy. Our Sonship What does it mean for us Christians to be merciful? Jesus explains this with two verbs: “forgive” (Lk 6:37) and “give” (Lk 6:38). Mercy is expressed, first of all, in forgiveness. Forgiveness is the pillar that holds up the life of the Christian community because it shows the unconditional nature of God’s Love, God has loved us first. We must forgive! Why? Because we have been forgiven. Jesus also indicates a second pillar, “to give”. Forgiveness is the first pillar; giving is the second pillar. God gives far beyond our merits, but He will be even more generous with those who have been generous on earth. But Jesus warns us with the image of the “measure”. It is we who determine how we will be judged. If we look closely, there is a clear logic: the extent to which you receive from God, you give to others, and the extent to which you give to others, you will receive from God! Prayer Starter

In the Gospel today, Jesus says: “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” (Luke 6:36) This sounds like a catch phrase but it is a life commitment. When we look at the parallel text from the Gospel of Matthew, where Jesus says: “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48) In the Sermon on the Mount, which opens with the Beatitudes, Jesus teaches us, that perfection lies in love, the fulfillment of all the precepts of the Law. In this same perspective, St Luke specifies that perfection is merciful love: to be perfect means to be merciful. A person cannot be perfect or good without being merciful. Goodness and perfection are Dear Lord, fill us with your rooted in mercy. Certainly, God is Holy Spirit so that we may be merperfect. However, if we consider ciful as you are merciful… Him in this way, it becomes im"O MARY! THE POWER OF THE MOST HIGH SHALL OVERSHADOW YOU"

Tuesday 2nd March 2021 Isaiah: 1/10, 16-20 Psalm: 49/8-9,16-17, 21, 23 ( 50/8-9,16-17,21, 23) Mathew: 23/1-12

(PS Wk II) (Purple)

The Gospel Proclamation Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, ‘The teachers of the law and the Pharisees have sat down on the chair of Moses. So you shall do and observe all they say but do not do as they do, for they do not do what they say ... and they like ... being called ‘Master’ by the people. But you, do not let yourselves be called Master because you have only one Master and all of you are brothers and sisters. ... Let the greatest among you be the servant of all. ...

the religious leaders of their real vocation, which is to bring people closer to God and it must begin with a personal witnessing to their faith. Jesus sees that the main drawback is from the Scribes and Pharisees and He awakens them by challenging their sin they are committing although they don’t realize the gravity of it. They give the first preference to rituals and traditions and thinking least about self-giving faith and by blocking the people to experience God. These words of Jesus are a timely reminder for the leaders of the world. In a way He makes us understand that the most important quality which a leader should have is to “Practice what you preach". Leadership today is mostly related to power and it can ruin a nation. Some use this to enrich themselves like in politics instead of treating it as a gift for greater service to God and people. Jesus is our model. Let us learn from Him who showed obedience to the father’s will, to serve.

Gaze at Jesus Our Lord Jesus Christ emptied His divine glory and came down to this earth for a very important mission from God His Father to build the kingdom of God here. It was a time the whole society was sinful and this 'social sin' was prevailing amidst all nations. There were people who were marginalized, poverty stricken and the blind were leading the blind. The human values were deteriorating daily and the people were moving away from God. He has to sacrifice His whole life to win redemption for the entire world. How is He going to do this? To give leadership to this transformation. Yes, He needs to be a servant of all totally depending on God His Father. He does this through the baptism he received at the river Jordan and the leading of the Holy Spirit. Jesus has to relieve the people from the grip of the Scribes and Pharisees and set them on the correct path. He reminds

By nature, what kind of a person am I? Am I a Christian for name sake? It’s time to examine myself of the deeds I do most of the time. Do I pray as a habit? If so, how is my sacrificing love? Do I take my own decisions? As a leader, how am I treating my family and my community? Let me feel sorry and repent. We are in the period of Lent. It is a time of grace and repentance for a new birth. Jesus’ desire is not for the offering but for our obedience to Him, with a good heart. Let us make our own, the promise given by prophet Isaiah. Here the chosen people were settled down in the promised land and began turning away from covenanted life. They did not surrender to God. They worship idols. But what an unconditional love God has. He calls them back forgiving them. He asks them to wash themselves clean, as He is ready He is ready to wash away the stain of their sins.

My Sonship

"O MARY! THE POWER OF THE MOST HIGH SHALL OVERSHADOW YOU"

Wednesday 3rd March 2021 Jeremiah: 18/18-20 Psalm: 30/5-6, 14-16 ( 31/4-5,13-15) Mathew: 20/17-28

The First Proclamation And they said: Come, and let us invent devices against Jeremias: for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet: come, and let us strike him with the tongue, and let us give no heed to all his words. Give heed to me, O Lord, and hear the voice of my adversaries. Shall evil be rendered for good, because they have dug a pit for my soul? Remember that I have stood in thy sight, to speak good for them, and turn away thy indignation from them. Gospel Proclamation And Jesus going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples apart, and said to them: Behold we go up to Jerusalem, and the Son of man shall be betrayed to the chief priests and the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death. And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to be mocked, and scourged, and crucified, and the third day he shall rise again. Then came to him the mother of the sons of Zebedee with her sons, adoring and asking something of him. Who said to her: What wilt thou? She saith to him: Say that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left, in thy kingdom. And Jesus answering, said: You know not what you ask. Can you drink the chalice that I shall drink? They say to him: We can. He saith to them: My chalice indeed you shall drink; but to sit on my right or left

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hand, is not mine to give to you, but to them for whom it is prepared by my Father. And the ten hearing it, were moved with indignation against the two brethren. But Jesus called them to him, and said: You know that the princes of the Gentiles lord it over them; and they that are the greater, exercise power upon them. It shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be the greater among you, let him be your minister: And he that will be first among you, shall be your servant. Even as the Son of man is not come to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a redemption for many. Prayerful Awareness

Let us read today’s Proclamations meditatively, where the central theme is that of man’s response to God’s warnings through His messengers, the Prophets. People ignore or discard the warnings because they do not want to change their ways. They therefore proceed to persecute the messengers, even to the extent of killing them, including killing the Son of God, which Jesus foretold in the parable of the tenants in the Vineyard (Luke 20:9-16). But observe the contrast of the responses between Prophet Jeremiah (one of complaining, as described in the First Proclamation), and Jesus (stoically bearing all the suffering as His Father’s Will, trusting the Father to the end, that He will rescue Him even after surrendering His spirit as a willing sacrifice, as foretold in the Responsorial Psalm). Accepting everything that happens as God’s Will (Definitive Will, or Permissive Will) gives us a Peace that passeth understanding, because of our faith that God will bring about something good through it, for us, and for those around us (Romans 8:28)! Amen! Alleluia! Praise the Lord!

"O MARY! THE POWER OF THE MOST HIGH SHALL OVERSHADOW YOU"

Thursday 4th March 2021 Jeremiah: 17/5-10 Psalm: 1/1-4, 6 Luke: 16/19-31

The First Proclamation Thus says the Lord: Cursed are those who trust in mere mortals and make mere flesh their strength, whose hearts turn away from the Lord. They shall be like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see when relief comes. They shall live in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land. Blessed are those who trust in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. They shall be like a tree planted by water, sending out its roots by the stream. It shall not fear when heat comes, and its leaves shall stay green; in the year of drought it is not anxious, and it does not cease to bear fruit. The heart is devious above all else; it is perverse—who can understand it? I the Lord test the mind and search the heart, to give to all according to their ways, according to the fruit of their doings. The Gospel Proclamation

(PS Wk II) (Purple)

I am in great pain in this fire!” But Abraham said, “Remember, my son, that you in your lifetime, you were given all good things while Lazarus got all the bad things. But now he is enjoying himself here, while you are in pain. Besides all that, there is a deep pit lying between us. … None can cross over to us from where you are. The rich man said, “Send Lazarus to warn my brothers so that they will not come to this place of pain.” Abraham said, “Your brothers have prophets. They should listen to them.” … Prayerful Awareness In this parable we have two characters. One, very very rich and the other, in dire poverty. The rich man wore very expensive robes and he feasted in luxury every day. He was apathetic and did not take any notice of poor Lazarus. It is only this character Lazarus, who is given a name in any of the parables. He was so helpless that he couldn’t even ward off stray dogs that pestered him. What a change of events is presented here instantly – Lazarus is in glory and the rich man is in pain, torment. The door to salvation was open to the rich man but he couldn't care less or was blind to it. The rich man’s sin was that he never even noticed Lazarus, he even thought that the predicament Lazarus was in, was natural and that it was fitting that he should be in pain and hunger while he feasted. Are we too of the same mind as the rich man?

There was once a rich man who lived in great luxury every day. There was also a poor man named Lazarus, who was covered with sores. He used to be brought to the rich man’s door. … The poor man died and was carried by angels to heaven. The rich man died on Hades and he was in great pain. He looked Prayer starter up and saw Abraham with Lazarus Help us O Lord! to see the sufat His side. He called out, “Father Abraham! Take pity on me and send ferings of others and take necessary Lazarus to dip his finger in some action. Amen. water and cool my tongue, because "O MARY! THE POWER OF THE MOST HIGH SHALL OVERSHADOW YOU"

Friday 5th March 2021 Genesis: 37/3-4,12-13, 17-28 Psalm: 104/16-21 (105/16-21) Mathew: 21/33-43, 45-46

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passing, and they pulled Joseph out of the well. They sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver, and these men took Joseph to Egypt. Fix your gaze on Jesus

Lord, you are indeed great! How you influence and manage the destiny of Joseph and his brothers here despite their petty jealousy and prejudices is The First Proclamation indeed awesome. More so considering Jacob loved Joseph more than all the ramifications you take in to account his other sons, for he was the son of far down-stream in time! Let us remind his old age, and he had a decorated ourselves that this same God is in charge tunic made for him. But his brothers, of our day to day needs and desires, and seeing how much more his father is trending us towards our own destinies loved him than all his other sons, despite our own inclinations and foibles. came to hate him so much that they Our destiny is to be sons and daughters could not say a civil word to him... of the Almighty, co-creating what is His brothers went to pasture their good for ourselves and the creation in father's flock at Shechem. Then Is- its entirety, training ourselves given rael said to Joseph, 'Your brothers the guidance of Her/His Holy Spirit to are with the flock at Shechem, aren't be in Her/His likeness and image! We they? Come, I am going to send you to have the capability to receive and give them.' 'I am ready,' he replied.... The love without any conditions attached; man answered, 'They have moved on and be in union with the rich diversity from here; indeed I heard them say, of God's Creation. Looking at the great "Let us go to Dothan." ' So Joseph miracle you brought forth in our own went after his brothers and found land in response to our earnest prayers them at Dothan. They saw him in the for succour was indeed praiseworthy. distance, and before he reached them But, we have not learnt to use the opthey made a plot to kill him... Reuben portunity you gave, and have chosen the heard, and he saved him from their pit of sin again in our collective search clutches. 'We must not take his life,' for mortal kings. Yet, from despair and he said. 'Shed no blood,' said Reuben great uncertainty, you will manifest an to them, 'throw him down that well era of hope and promise! We know this out in the desert, but do not kill him belief will bring about a marvel! We yourselves' -- intending to save him continue to intercede before you for a from them and to restore him to his lasting productive peace that is based on father. So, when Joseph reached his justice and equality; a social order that is brothers, they pulled off his tunic... founded on the principles you espouse; threw him into the well. The well was that of your kingdom cometh... empty, with no water in it. ...Then Prayer Starter Judah said to his brothers,'..Come, let Lord, we look to you to bring about us sell him to the Ishmaelites, then we shall not have laid hands on him our- the manifestation of your kingdom in selves. After all, he is our brother, and our midst! Our hope is in you.. we stand our own flesh.' His brothers agreed. ready to do your will thereto.. Now some Midianite merchants were "O MARY! THE POWER OF THE MOST HIGH SHALL OVERSHADOW YOU"

Saturday 6th March 2021 Micah: 7/14-15,18-20 Psalm: 102/1-4, 9-12 (103/1-4,9-12) Luke: 15/1-3,11-32

The Gospel Proclamation The tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to him, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” So to them he addressed this parable. (The Parable of the Lost Son) Then he said, “ A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of your estate that should come to me.’ So the father divided the property between them. After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings and set off to a distant country where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation. When he had freely spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he found himself in dire need. So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens who sent him to his farm to tend the swine. And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed, but nobody gave him any. Coming to his senses he thought, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough to eat, but here am I, dying from hunger. I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.’ So he got up and went back to his father. While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his

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son, embraced him and kissed him. His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.’… (please read up to verse 32). Prayerful Awareness Jesus spoke of the parable of the Lost Sheep to show how much God loves each one of us and how much He is concerned in saving the one who is lost. He wants everyone be saved without considering how great the sin or sins they have committed. Jesus then took the parable of the Lost Son, also to show the wonder of God’s LOVE. Jesus even went down to the level of people who were categorized as sinners and marginalized in society, to help them to change. Zachaeus, the tax collector changed completely when Jesus visited him at his place (Math. 19: 1-10). Great was Jesus’ Love to accept him as he was, which made everyone in his household change. We too are called to repent for all sins that we may have committed, and change to live like sons and daughters of God displaying His Love and His Loving qualities with the Help and guidance of the Holy Spirit, as St. Augustine did. First Reading of Micah gives a warning and also gives Hope for people to change and turn to God for everything. God is so merciful and ready to forgive our transgressions if we repent and chan ge. Prayer Starter Let us start our prayer with the prayer of St. Augustine. Breathe in me O Holy Spirit that my thoughts may all be Holy. Act in me O Holy Spirit that my work too may be Holy. Draw my heart O Holy Spirit that I love but what is Holy. Strengthen me O Holy Spirit to defend all that is Holy, Amen.

"O MARY! THE POWER OF THE MOST HIGH SHALL OVERSHADOW YOU"

Sunday 7th March 2021

Third Sunday of Lent

PS Wk III (Purple)

Exodus: 20/1-17(or 20/ 1-3,7-8,12-17) Psalm: 18/8-11(19/7-10) 1Corinthians: 1/22-25 John: 2/13-25 OR Exodus: 17/3-7 Psalm: 94/1-2,6-9 (Psalm: 95/1-2,6-9) Romans: 5/1-2,5-8 John: 4/5-42(or 4/5-15, 19-26,39-42)

'You shall have no gods except me … The Lord will not leave unpunished the man who utters his name to misuse it. Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. … Honour your father and mother so that you may have a long life in the land that the Lord your God has given to you. You shall not kill. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. You shall not covet your neighbour's house. You shall not covet your neighbour's wife, or his servant, man or woman, or Introduction his ox, or his donkey, or anything Today is the third Sunday of that is his.' Lent. On our Lenten journey from Prayerful Awareness Ash Wednesday to this Sunday, Holy Mother the Church has invited us to The journey through which the move to the depths of repentance. Israelites, who did not pay heed to Through the Eucharistic theme of the the voice of God, who disobeyed day we are awakened to experience His word and defied his plans, the law of love as the law of God. were saved from slavery in Egypt As revealed through the first proc- and brought to a land of freedom is lamation, the covenant relationship called the Exodus journey. The first of God and His people, in connec- proclamation of the day mentions the tion with the Exodus, the central covenant at Sinai, that which God experience of the Old Testament is made with the Israelites while they depicted through the covenant at were still on this journey. The coveSinai. Similarly, St. Paul too presents nant termed the Ten Commandments through the second proclamation, contain a command concerning the his life experience in connection love man should extend towards with Christ the Lord. "Here are we God as well as towards their fellow preaching a crucified Christ." The men. Presented to us today is the exGospel unfolds the love relationship perience in which God pursued man that exists between the Father and who distanced himself from Him by the Son: rejecting His love, disciplined him and initiated a rebuilding of that The First Proclamation broken relationship. God spoke all these words. He The Gospel Proclamation said, 'I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Just before the Jewish Passover Egypt, out of the house of slavery. Jesus went up to Jerusalem, and in "O MARY! THE POWER OF THE MOST HIGH SHALL OVERSHADOW YOU"

the Temple he found people selling cattle and sheep and pigeons, and the money changers sitting at their counters there. Making a whip out of some cord, he drove them all out of the Temple, … and knocked their tables over and said ..'Take all this out of here and stop turning my Father's house into a market.' … 'Destroy this sanctuary, and in three days I will raise it up.' … But he was speaking of the sanctuary that was his body, and when Jesus rose from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the scripture and the words he had said. …(Please read the whole proclamation.) Prayerful Awareness The love the Son bore for the Father was demonstrated by the deep respect He had for the Temple of God, the dwelling place of the Father. 'Stop turning my Father's house into a market.' The way he cleaned the temple feeling furious at seeing the destruction caused by the merchants, was quite challenging. So much so that the disciples were reminded of the words, "For zeal for thy house has consumed me" (Psalm 69:7). Jesus giving no direct reply to the Jews who questioned him, were unable to understand His words; 'Destroy this sanctuary, and in three days I will raise it up' - simply stated: let the plan of God to unfold. Even the disciples could understand His words that annoyed the Jews, only after His resurrection which was the experience of Christ the Lord as the temple of God. Second Proclamation

wisdom, here are we preaching a crucified Christ; to the Jews an obstacle that they cannot get over, to the pagans madness, but to those who have been called, whether they are Jews or Greeks, a Christ who is the power and the wisdom of God. For God's foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God's weakness is stronger than human strength. Prayerful Awareness Certainly, St. Paul who proclaims "Here we are preaching a crucified Christ" is filled with divine wisdom that far surpasses human wisdom. Exhorting the Corinthian community he pointed out the difference between God's action and human action, plus divine wisdom and human wisdom. Thus he guides them to work in the spirit of divine wisdom. In the same breath he invites those called, to experience Christ as the power and the wisdom of God. Towards us

While St. Paul says to those who have been called, that Christ is the power and the wisdom of God, the Lord's instruction to us is 'You shall have no gods except me.' Let us reflect for a moment. Under whose direction and dominion are we in our day to day lives? In varied life events we are faced with, do we experience that we have no other God but Him? Or else do we go in search of other gods for instant solutions and immediate healing? Do we experience that Christ is the only remedy in our struggles, pain, inability, sickness and anxiety? As people called to divine son-ship While the Jews demand mir- let us experience that Christ is the acles and the Greeks look for power and wisdom of God. "O MARY! THE POWER OF THE MOST HIGH SHALL OVERSHADOW YOU"

Monday 8th March 2021 2 Kings: 5/1-15 Psalm: 41/2-3, 42/3- 4 (Psalm: 42/1-2,43/3-4) Luke: 4/24-30

OR Exodus: 17/1-7 Psalm: 94/1-2,6-9 John: 4/5-42

The Gospel Proclamation And He said, “Amen I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his native place. Indeed, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah when the sky was closed for three and a half years and a severe famine spread over the entire land. It was to none of these that Elijah was sent, but only to widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon. Again there were many lepers in Israel during the time Elisha the prophet: yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.” When the people in the synagogue heard this, they were all filled with fury. They rose up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town had been built, to hurl him down headlong. But he passed through the midst of them and went away. " Fix your gaze on Jesus Today’s Gospel tells us how Jesus went about and engaged in His prophetic mission in the village that He was born and raised in, and the challenges He faced there. He clothed himself in the glory of Divine Sonship, having inherited that Sonship one hundred percent through the baptism of the Holy Spirit; He traveled from village to village proclaiming the kingdom of

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God. He also came to Nazareth, where he grew up, and proclaimed the Word at the synagogue. But it was not easy for those who knew Him and those who knew His family from an early age to accept His Divine Sonship and the authority He showed. So they rejected Jesus. Criticized him. But Jesus faced those challenges and became established in His knowledge of being the Son of God through the works he performed until His death on the cross. We will face similar challenges in proclaiming the Kingdom of God. Because of our status, the environment in which we grew up, and the attitudes we have towards ourselves, we will have to reject such limitations instead of bowing under them. Also, our ideologies, our attitudes, our thoughts, our opinions, that make us reluctant to see Christ and accept Him as the Son of God, need to be overcome. Those circumstances are sure to prevent us from fully accepting and belonging to the Lord. So He is challenging us today asking us whether we are ready to accept His sonship in the face of such challenges. Whether our beliefs transcend imagination and whether we can accept His sonship. The first reading reveals how a leper named Naaman in Syria was cured. When Naaman went to the prophet Elisha to seek healing, all he had to do to be healed was a simple procedure that he had never expected, never imagined, that was never accessible to his intellect. Although his intellect did not allow him to do so at first, his faith persuaded Naaman to obey it. So he was heal ed. Prayer starter Holy Spirit, help us to identify our thoughts, our attitudes, which hinder us from seeing the Lord, and draw our eyes and heart to Him, Instill in me the attitude of life that was in Christ, Amen.

"O MARY! THE POWER OF THE MOST HIGH SHALL OVERSHADOW YOU"

Tuesday 9th March 2021 Daniel: 3/25, 34-43 Psalm: 24/4-9 (Psalm: 25/4-9) Mathew: 18/21-35 The Gospel Proclamation Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times. “For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him; and, as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, and payment to be made. So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt. But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat, he said, ‘Pay what you owe.’ Then his fellow slave fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he would pay the debt. When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. Then his lord summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded

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with me. Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he would pay his entire debt. So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart.” Prayerful Awareness Today we are called to be awakened to the God’s infinite mercy that is revealed through the Holy Scriptures. The loyalty and deep faith shown towards God by the three young men in the first reading is astounding. Even in the midst of a fierce fire that could burn them to ashes their eyes were fixed on the mercy of God. They were so filled with the Holy Spirit and prayed to God for the sins of their own nation that caused them to suffer. As Gods chosen people who were formed in the image of God, today we are invited to be perfect, just as God of heaven and earth is perfect. , Let us fix our gaze upon Jesus that is revealed through the Gospel. The Heart of Jesus is filled with compassion to forgive infinitely. There are no conditions. No recollections of past. The more we experience God's love and forgiveness, God expects us to be more compassionate to others. Otherwise the consequences can be unpleasant. Therefore, Let us bow down before the Holy love of God and ask him to fill us with the Holy Spirit to love one another as he has loved us. Prayer Make me to know thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me for thou art the God of my salvation; for thee I wait all the day long.

"O MARY! THE POWER OF THE MOST HIGH SHALL OVERSHADOW YOU"

Wednesday 10th March 2021 Deuteronomy: 4/1, 5-9 Psalm: 147/12-13, 15-16, 19-20 Mathew: 5/17-19

The First Proclamation And now, O Israel, hear the commandments and judgments which I teach thee: that doing them, thou mayst live, and entering in mayst possess the land which the Lord the God of your fathers will give you. You know that I have taught you statutes and justices, as the Lord my God hath commanded me: so shall you do them in the land which you shall possess: And you shall observe, and fulfill them in practice. For this is your wisdom, and understanding in the sight of nations, that hearing all these precepts, they may say: Behold a wise and understanding people, a great nation. ... For what other nation is there so renowned that hath ceremonies, and just judgments, and all the law, which I will set forth this day before your eyes? Keep thyself therefore, and thy soul carefully. Forget not the words that thy eyes have seen, and let them not go out of thy heart all the days of thy life. Thou shalt teach them to thy sons and to thy grandsons. Responsorial Psalm Praise the Lord, ...Because he hath strengthened the bolts of thy gates, he hath blessed thy children within thee. Who sendeth forth his speech to the earth: his word runneth swiftly. Who giveth snow like wool: scattereth mists like ashes ... He hath not done in like manner to every nation: and his judgments he hath not made manifest to them. Alleluia.

(PS Wk III) (Purple)

The Gospel Proclamation Do not think that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets. I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For amen I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot, or one tittle shall not pass of the law, till all be fulfilled. ... Prayerful Awareness Let us read today’s Proclamations meditatively and prayerfully, where the central theme is the importance of abiding by Almighty God’s “commandments and judgments”, “statutes and justices”, “all these precepts”, and also of teaching others to keep them, whereby all who comply will enjoy God’s Blessings thereon, from generation to generation! These are all communicated with words, and we are reminded of the Gospel passage, referring to Jesus: ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.’ (read John 1:1-14). Today’s Responsorial Psalm also indicates the connection between the natural elements of nature, creation, and the promise of salvation (the ‘Word) to Israel (descendants of Jacob), and to us, the believers, the ‘Church’, who have become children of God, by extension those who are led by the Spirit shall be called children of God (Romans 8:14)). And Jesus by demonstrating Love, shows the fulfillment of the law by liberating us to experience the overriding purpose of the law than the mere application of the ‘letter’ of the Law! Amen! Alleluia! Praise the Lord!

"O MARY! THE POWER OF THE MOST HIGH SHALL OVERSHADOW YOU"

Thursday 11th March 2021 Jeremiah: 7/23-28 Psalm: 94/1-2,6-9 (Psalm: 95/1-2,6-9) Luke: 11/14-23

The First Proclamation But this command I gave them, “Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people; and walk only in the way that I command you, so that it may be well with you.” Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but, in the stubbornness of their evil will, they walked in their own counsels, and looked backward rather than forward. From the day that your ancestors came out of the land of Egypt until this day, I have persistently sent all my servants the prophets to them, day after day; yet they did not listen to me, or pay attention, but they stiffened their necks. They did worse than their ancestors did. So you shall speak all these words to them, but they will not listen to you. You shall call to them, but they will not answer you. You shall say to them: This is the nation that did not obey the voice of the Lord their God, and did not accept discipline; truth has perished; it is cut off from their lips. The Gospel Proclamation Now he was casting out a demon that was mute; when the demon had gone out, the one who had been mute spoke, and the crowds were amazed. But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons.” Others, to test him, kept demanding from him a sign from heaven. But he knew what they were thinking and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself becomes a desert, and house falls on

(PS Wk III) (Purple)

house. If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? —for you say that I cast out the demons by Beelzebul. Now if I cast out the demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your exorcists cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out the demons, then the kingdom of God has come to you. When a strong man, fully armed, guards his castle, his property is safe. But when one stronger than he attacks him and overpowers him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his plunder. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. Prayerful Awareness

What obedience the father expects from His people! When man was created by Him He gave him full or complete freedom. He wants them to come to Him: awaits at their door and knocks. “Jesus always talked as one under orders. Free from the compulsion of heredity, circumstances or family, this boy of twelve said that he was bound by heaven’s commission. Therefore He asked why they had searched for him. He was surprised that any explanation other than that He was obeying His Father’s will should even have occurred to them” (Archbishop F.J. Sheen) The apostles were the foundation of His kingdom on earth and then, who are that foundation to date. We as Christians, from that foundation to date, how alert are we to that fact and vocation? Prayer starter O Holy Spirit, guide us to be the true foundation of divine kingdom. Amen.

"O MARY! THE POWER OF THE MOST HIGH SHALL OVERSHADOW YOU"

Friday 12th March 2021 Hosea: 14/2-10 Psalm: 80/6-11,14,17 (Psalm: 81/5-7,8-11, 13,16) Mark: 12/28-34

The First Proclamation Israel, come back to Yahweh your God your guilt was the cause of your downfall. Provide yourself with words and come back to Yahweh. Say to him, 'Take all guilt away and give us what is good, instead of bulls we will dedicate to you our lips. Assyria cannot save us, we will not ride horses any more, or say, "Our God!" to our own handiwork, for you are the one in whom orphans find compassion.' I shall cure them of their disloyalty, I shall love them with all my heart, for my anger has turned away from them. I shall fall like dew on Israel, he will bloom like the lily and thrust out roots like the cedar of Lebanon; ...They will come back to live in my shade; ...What has Ephraim to do with idols any more when I hear him and watch over him? I am like an evergreen cypress, you owe your fruitfulness to me. Let the wise understand these words, let the intelligent grasp their meaning, for Yahweh's ways are straight and the upright will walk in them, but sinners will stumble. Fix your gaze on Jesus Dearest Lord, coming before these Words of Life as revealed to Hosea, you would have rejoiced; for this is the way to experience real life! It takes some time, a degree of maturity, to develop the awareness that we become what we choose: in other words, the thoughts we choose to ac-

(PS Wk III) (Purple)

cept, the beliefs we nurture within, the desires we constantly feed, the appetites perpetually indulged in, are instrumental in creating our personal realities. Thus, were we to nurture the belief that we receive love, support and affection from our environment (parents, siblings, teachers, nature), then we proceed to encounter the same throughout our lives, further strengthening this belief. If on the other hand, were we to nurture the belief that everyone is out to get us, and most circumstances turn against us, then our lives will constantly strengthen this belief. As the saying goes, “When you smile at the world, the world smiles back at you”. A foundational truth is that your own inner reality is reflected back at you constantly by the external reality! What you truly believe, shall become your reality. Easy enough to comprehend once you awaken to your true nature of being a creator, empowered to manifest what you truly aim for. Thus the scripture today calls upon us to change our inner reality; our innermost held beliefs and desires. Change from the negativity and the separation/ isolation we have chosen. Once we change this inner reality, the external reality will tend to change to reflect this. And the Lord calls upon us to change internally to align with the True realitywhich is the Loving Creator! This creation is loving and supportive of life; is created to bring about intelligence with an awareness of the loving unitive being of All that Is. So, walk on the straight and narrow; be steadfast in your beliefs, and “not be swayed by random currents of air” as the book of Sirach advices... Prayer Starter Thank you Lord for saving us from ourselves (our own choices)! Now guide us in your everlasting ways of Life and Truth... we trust in you...

"O MARY! THE POWER OF THE MOST HIGH SHALL OVERSHADOW YOU"

(PS Wk III)

Saturday 13th March 2021 Hosea: 6/1-6 Psalm: 50/3-4,18-21 (Psalm: 51/1-2,16-19 Luke: 18/9-14 The First Proclamation Come let us return to Yahweh. He who shatters us to pieces will heal us as well; he has struck us down, but he will bind up our wounds. Two days later he will bring us back to life; on the third day, he will raise us up, and we shall live in his presence. Let us strive to know Yahweh. His coming is as certain as the dawn;..... Prayerful Awareness In this love story of Hosea, he speaks about God’s infinite and unconditioned love for the sinful people. What a constant and persistent love it portrays and how He forgives these people. Yet, people did not understand the depth of their sins. They did not turn from their idols. What God expects and desires is the steadfast love and sacrifice and also the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. Humility is most valued in the kingdom of God and when Jesus says in today’s Gospel that He is gentle of heart, we too as followers and heirs are also called to be like him in every way. The Gospel Proclamation ... The Pharisee stood by himself and said, “I thank you, God, that I am not like other people, grasping, crooked, adulterous, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all my income to the temple.” In the meantime the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift his eyes to leaven, but beat his breast, saying, “O God, be merciful to me a sinner.” I tell you, when this man went back to the house, he had been reconciled with God but not the

(Purple)

other ...

Prayerful Awareness

Today’s Gospel reading addresses all people who pray and it teaches us in what manner we need to commune ourselves with God, our Father. So, in this parable Jesus highlights the attitude on prayer by comparing and contrasting between the Pharisee and the Tax collector. Both of them were in the temple. This Pharisee considers himself righteous and despises others. He is totally self-centered. His prayer of thanksgiving is self-praise and all his acts of piety are self-accomplished and blinded by pride. In contrast, the tax collector stays at a distance, casting his eyes down, and beating his breast, which tells us of his physical and spiritual attitude. He admits his sinfulness before God and people and he waits for forgiveness. He prays humbly, ‘O God, be merciful to me, a sinner”. He is mindful of what he had done and the gulf between him and God. The Pharisee creates a gap between himself and the sinner (and so lies to himself) and a gap opens up between him and God. Humility and faithfulness closes the gap between ourselves and God. God desires love and the tax collector is in the truth and so, God’s grace is with him. He was made righteous and reconciled. My Sonship How is my relationship with God? How is my prayer life? For Jesus’ prayer is spontaneous. Wherever He is, whatever he does He is wide awake to the love of God His father, communicating and depending on Him throughout his mission. That is why the Spirit empowers Him to make the right choices discerning the mind of God. How poor I am in my relationship with God. Lord help me to give priority to abide in Jesus, as the branch abides with the vine to bear much fruit. Lord Help me to be merciful to others always and respond to your love ceaselessly.

"O MARY! THE POWER OF THE MOST HIGH SHALL OVERSHADOW YOU"

Sunday 14th March 2021

Fourth Sunday of Lent

2 Chronicles: 36/14-16, 19-23 Psalm: 136/1-6 (Psalm: 137/1-6) Ephesians: 2/4-10 John: 3/14-21 OR 1 Samuel: 16/1,6-7,10-13 Psalm: 22/1-6 (Psalm: 23/1-6) Ephesians: 5/8-14 John: 9/1-41 (or 1, 6-9, 1317, 34-38)

Introduction From the beginning of creation we observe the immense love God has shown to man. Even when man rejects the love of God continuously He comes in search of man. The deepest proclamation of this unconditional love of God to man was sending His only begotten Son to us in the flesh. The Son thus present among us willingly drank the bitter cup of sin in order to redeem us. What we most meditate on during Lent is how sin distances us daily from God, man and from creation. Therefore, on this fourth Sunday of Lent let us realize the gravity of sin. Let us gaze in faith at the cross, the medium through which the Lord himself redeemed us and claim the salvation thus offered. During this time of fasting let us resolve to free ourselves from sin, engage in fasting and penance that calls us to take this path and meditate today on the word of God with repentant hearts.

(PS Wk IV)

(Purple or Rose)

The First Proclamation … And in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, to fulfill the word of the Lord that was spoken through Jeremiah, the Lord roused the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia to issue a proclamation and to have it publicly displayed throughout his kingdom: 'Thus speaks Cyrus king of Persia, "The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth; he has ordered me to build him a Temple in Jerusalem, in Judah. Whoever there is among you of all his people, may his God be with him! Let him go up."' Prayerful Awareness Since the Jews did not pay heed to the voice of God, the word of God, they were subjected to punishment. Hence they were exiled from the land given by God and were in captivity in Babylon where the youth as well as the aged and the sick were pitilessly experiencing the pain of slavery. Yet the proclamation today shows how God in his loving plan inspired Cyrus the King of Persia to liberate them from this bitter experience. People all alike were brought to unity as a result of the action of God himself. The Gospel Proclamation The Son of Man must be lifted up as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him. Yes, God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in

"O MARY! THE POWER OF THE MOST HIGH SHALL OVERSHADOW YOU"

him may not be lost but may have eternal life. For God sent his Son into the world not to condemn the world but so that through him the world might be saved. … Focusing on Christ the Lord

that you have done, so that nobody can claim the credit. We are God's work of art, created in Christ Jesus to live the good life as from the beginning he had meant us to live it. Our Son-ship

St. Paul through the Second proclamation emphasizes the importance of the offering up of His own Son by God out of His love for the world. Therefore we are reminded today that the salvation we have received is not a result of our own actions but a gift from God. Let us claim the salvation we have inherited through the abundant love of God and constantly lead our lives as fitting to the inheritance of new life in and through Christ Jesus. Great was the mercy and kindness of God that even when man sinned in defying the will of God, He manifested His love to the world by sending to the world the divine savior, which was through the incarnation of the Word, Christ the Lord. Thus through his death on the cross the gates of eternal life was opened to the entire world. Hence, during this time of grace let us prepare ourselves to accomplish what seems impossible in human terms through the infinite mercy of God. Let us detect what hinders us in claiming His love totally, again and again step on to the redemptive way that we have inherited with a repentant heart. Emptying ourselves of the sins of hatred, revenge, envy, jealousy, violence, insincerity and selfishness let us move on the path … It is by grace that you have of experiencing the inheritance of been saved, through faith; not by divine son-ship. anything of your own, but by a gift from God; not by anything Since the beginning of creation the Almighty God Most high started manifesting his love to the world at which He made man to his own image and likeness. The epitome of this love could be seen with the sending of His only begotten Son to be with us in human form. Similarly, He let His Son suffer death on the cross in order to dispel the darkness of sin in humanity and pass us over to eternal life. And thus the God Most High affirmed His love for the world. The letter of St. John speaks of this love as follows: "In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent His Son to be the expiation for our sins" (1 John 4:10). When the chosen people of the Old Testament rose against God and Moses they were subjected to His punishment. Even so, through the action of the abundant love of God they were healed by looking at the bronze serpent raised up on a pole. Similarly, Jesus was aware that the will of God is for people to receive eternal salvation in gazing at Him raised on the cross. Accordingly, He waited with interior readiness to bestow eternal life on the world through His sacrificial love. The Second Proclamation

"O MARY! THE POWER OF THE MOST HIGH SHALL OVERSHADOW YOU"

Monday 15th March 2021

PS Wk IV (Purple)

Isaiah: 65/17-21 Psalm: 29/2,4-6,11-13 (Psalm: 30/1,3-5,10-12) John: 4/43-54 OR Micah: 7/7-9 Psalm: 26/1,7-9,13-14 John: 9/1-41

and receives the answer to his need. In here Jesus wants to explain how our faith should be. The official would believe only if Jesus went with him to his house. He wanted to see Jesus curing. In general, this is the attitude that we all have. We are not aware of the deficiency of our faith. We often expect God to accomplish His work in the way we think it should be done. Jesus did not respond to the petition of this man but formulated in a different The Gospel Proclamation way: “Go home! Your son will live!” ..Then he came again to Cana Without seeing any sign, nor any porin Galilee where he had changed tent, the man believed in Jesus’ word the water into wine. Now there was and returns home. a royal official whose son lay ill in Our sonship Capernaum. When he heard that The return of the official towards Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and begged him to come home would not have been easy. This down and heal his son, for he was at is the true miracle of faith: to believe the point of death. Then Jesus said without any other guarantee, except the to him, “Unless you see signs and word of Jesus. The ideal is to believe in wonders you will not believe.” The the word of Jesus, even without seeing. official said to him, “Sir, come down There is always a result of faith in the before my little boy dies.” Jesus said word of Jesus. When the man was on to him, “Go; your son will live.” The his way home, his servants ran to him man believed the word that Jesus to tell that the son was cured, and was spoke to him and started on his way. alive. He was confirmed in his faith. As he was going down, his slaves met An Experience: him and told him that his child was It was an incident where I was alive. So he asked them the hour when he began to recover, and they unable to forgive one of my friends, said to him, “Yesterday at one in the who was a school colleague. The word afternoon the fever left him.” The of God reached my soul during the father realized that this was the hour prayers at the end of school. It was to when Jesus had said to him, “Your forgive her. It was not that easy but I son will live.” So he himself believed, believed that Jesus will do something. Just after about thirty minutes, she along with his whole household ... came towards me and was talking in a Prayerful Awareness friendly manner. My soul was silently … Jesus said to him, “You may praising Him for His great miracle. And go; your son will live.” The man I realized that God was so quick when believed what Jesus said to him and we are quick to believe. Prayer Starter left … Faith is like an X-ray: It enables one Today the Gospel speaks to us about our faith. Let us read the faith of to see what the naked eye cannot see. Let the Court Official. He believes in Jesus us pray for the eye of faith! "O MARY! THE POWER OF THE MOST HIGH SHALL OVERSHADOW YOU"

Tuesday 16th March 2021 Ezekiel: 47/1-9, 12 Psalm: 45/2-3,5-6, 8-9 (Psalm: 46/1-5,7-8) John: 5/1-16 The First Proclamation Then he brought me back to the entrance of the temple; there, water was flowing from below the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east); and the water was flowing down from below the south end of the threshold of the temple, south of the altar ... Then he led me back along the bank of the river...“ .... Wherever the river goes, every living creature that swarms will live, and there will be very many fish, once these waters reach there. It will become fresh; and everything will live where the river goes...” The Gospel Proclamation

....One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be made well?” The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up...” Jesus said to him, “Stand up, take your mat and walk.” At once the man was made well, and he took up his mat and began to walk....So the Jews said to the man who had been cured, “It is the sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your mat.”... Later Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “See, you have been made well! Do not sin any more, so that nothing worse happens to you.” The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.... Prayerful Awareness

PS Wk IV (Purple)

water flowing out of the temple. The temple symbolizes God the almighty and the altar represents the sacrifice of the perfect lamb, Jesus Christ. Water as we know it, sustains life, refreshes the dry and cleans the dirty. It portrays the renewal that God brings to the humanity. The water pouring over, uncontained inside the temple brings out the boundless love of God. “Wherever the river goes, every living creature that swarms will live.” People who keep a relationship with God have refreshed spirits. The abundant love we receive from Him should also pour forth to others, because divine love is uncontainable to be kept to one’s self alone. Jesus healing the crippled man in the Gospel proclamation without having to go into the ‘miraculous water’ is a manifestation of the truth that Jesus is the living water. The unblemished, ever-living river through which we can be cleansed and have new life. Jesus’ love was not bound by the laws of Sabbath. Nor should ours be bound by our ego or what the world might say. When the Living water seeps into our lives, we bear fresh fruits and are sources of healing to the world. Towards us In the present situation with the pandemic, we have come to realize the insatiable emptiness in our usual lives. So especially during this Lent, we need to rid ourselves of our dependence on fruitless desires and seek God to quench our thirst. Many around us experience intense workload, economic pressures and a deep loneliness. As renewed Christians we need to think whether the love, joy and peace of Christ that we experience flow towards these silently suffering souls in our midst. Prayer Starter

Lord, guide us to the tranquil waters so that we may rest in your love in turIn the first reading, we come across bulent days. Amen.

"O MARY! THE POWER OF THE MOST HIGH SHALL OVERSHADOW YOU"

Wednesday 17th March 2021 Isaiah: 49/8-15 Psalm: 144/8-9,13-14, 17-18 (Psalm: 145/8-9,13-14, 17-18) John: 5/17-30

The First Proclamation "In a time of favour I have answered you, in a day of salvation I have helped you; I have kept you and given you as a covenant to the people … They shall feed along the ways, on all bare heights shall be their pasture … Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you." Prayerful Awareness The words of Isaiah addressed to the people of Israel apply to us as well during this lent. They remind us of our baptismal vocation of having been chosen as a covenant people and how we will be nourished and led along the correct path. Mainly, it is a revelation of God's immense love, the love of a father and a mother 'Can a woman forget her sucking child, even if these forget I will not forget you." As human beings we seek acceptance, love and approval from others. In order to achieve this end we play games, wear different masks. At home we have one face. In our work place we wear a different mask and with our friends we are totally something else since we fear rejection. We relate to God too in the same way. In this time of favour He is inviting us to open ourselves before Him. If we are sure of someone else's love for us and we know for sure that he or she will not reject us,

PS Wk IV (Purple)

then we are ready to show our real self. Whom can we trust more than God for unconditional love? Let us present ourselves before him with warts and all. In his presence let us look at our shadow side, our sinful side and allow him to heal and transform us. The Gospel proclamation speaks of the case of the Jews who refused to accept the immense love of the Father totally revealed in His son. Jesus came to save us from sin. He says, the truth shall make you free. Do we accept the truth of ourselves? Do we accept and acknowledge the unconditional love of God expressed through Jesus? We are weak humans. We make mistakes. Yet, we try to hide them. So we lie to others. During this lent the Lord is inviting us to come to him with our failures and shortcomings. The judgment we receive will depend on rejecting his love and salvation since He is ever ready to embrace us when we sincerely turn to him. Unless we accept that we are ill no physician can cure us. It is the same with our inner selves. We have to accept that we need liberation. We are not free. We are bound and imprisoned in our sinful nature. We are so stuck and grown used to this situation we prefer to stay the same. Yet, the Lord is forever working for our salvation pouring enough grace to admit our sin. If we try a tiny bit at least to open ourselves to the outpouring of his love he will free us and effect a change in us just as he did with Zacchaeus and many others during his earthly life. Prayer starter O Holy Spirit, come into our hearts to help us experience the tenderly love of God expressed in the words 'Can a mother forget her baby…' Enlighten our minds to see the dark side of ourselves that we may present them to the Lord through the sacrament of reconciliation for healing and redemption. Amen.

"O MARY! THE POWER OF THE MOST HIGH SHALL OVERSHADOW YOU"

Thursday 18th March 2021 Exodus: 32/7-14 Psalm: 105/19-23 (Psalm: 106/19-23) John: 5/31-47

The First Proclamation .....Now let me alone, so that my wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them; and of you I will make a great nation. ”But Moses implored the Lord his God, and said, “O Lord, why does your wrath burn hot against your people,...? Turn from your fierce wrath; change your mind and do not bring disaster on your people. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, how you swore to them by your own self, saying to them, ‘I will multiply your descendants like the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have promised I will give to your descendants, and they shall inherit it forever.’” And the Lord changed his mind about the disaster that he planned to bring on his people. Gospel proclamation

(PS Wk IV) (Purple)

show that the father has sent me. … Father also testifies on my behalf. You have never heard His voice or seen His face. … You study the scriptures because you think that in them you will find eternal life. … I am not looking for human praise. … I know that you have no love for God in your hearts. … Do not think, however, that I am the one who will accuse you to my Father. … Since you do not believe what Moses wrote, how can you believe what I say. Prayerful Awareness Jesus is answering the charges of His opponents; Pharisees and high priests. Jesus tackles their joint attack. He cites the evidence of John the Baptist, whom they too accepted. But he was a pleasant diversion to be listened to as long as he said the things they liked and to be discarded whenever he became awkward. John’s aim was to lead those who accepted him to repentance and to God. He decreased while Jesus increased. Those who bear true witness to God burn themselves out. God’s truth is something to be received in repentance and in the dust and in the ashes of humiliation. The glory, the prestige of Jesus’ words – He never took them all to Himself but pointed them to the power of God. They read the scriptures in the wrong way, with a shut mind and not to search for God. Instead they wanted to support their positions and opinions. The function of the scriptures is to point to Jesus Christ who gives life. Prayer Starter

“If I testify on my own behalf, what I say is not to be accepted as real proof. But there is someone else who testifies on my behalf, and I know that what he says about me is true. John is the one to whom you sent your messengers, and he spoke on behalf of the truth. … I have a witness on my behalf which is even greater than the witness that John gave, what I do, that is, the deeds my Father gave me to Help us see Your love in the fire do, these speak on my behalf and you brought. Amen. "O MARY! THE POWER OF THE MOST HIGH SHALL OVERSHADOW YOU"

Friday 19th March 2021

St.Joseph, Spouse of the Bl. Virgin Mary (PS Wk IV) (White)

2 Samuel: 7/4-5,12-14, 16 Psalm: 88/2-5,27,29 (Psalm: 89/1-4,26,28 Romans: 4/13,16-18,22 Matthew: 1/16,18-21,24 OR Luke: 2/41-51 The First Proclamation And it came to pass that night, that the word of the LORD came unto Nathan, saying, Go and tell my servant David, Thus said the LORD, Shall thou build me a house for me to dwell in? ... And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shall sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever. I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men … And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever. Fix your gaze on Jesus Jesus, O Son of God, the First born, who was with God and is God, renew us! Blessings are promised to the family and posterity of David. These promises mostly relate to Solomon, David's immediate successor, and the royal line of Judah. But they also relate to Christ, who is often called David and the Son of David. To him God gave all power in heaven and earth, with authority to execute judgment. He was to build the gospel temple, a house for God's name;

the spiritual temple of true believers, to be a habitation of God through the Spirit. The establishing of his house, his throne, and his kingdom for ever, can be applied to no other than to Christ and his kingdom: David's house and kingdom have long since come to an end. The committing iniquity cannot be applied to the Messiah himself, but to his spiritual seed; true believers have infirmities, for which they must expect to be corrected, though they are not cast off. This is the on-going process called life, in order that we may learn to despise the vain honours of this world, as compared with piety and holiness. We have to open up to the potential of our true spiritual nature. We have to identify the error /misbeliefs/ lies we have accepted in to ourselves, and discard them. Diligently testing everything, and discarding that which robs/ distances us from the constant experiencing of the Love of God, is the refining technique. It was so ordered that Christ should partake of our nature, yet that he should be pure from the defilement of original sin, which has been communicated to all the sons of Adam. Observe, it is the thoughtful, not the unthinking, whom God will guide. God's instructions are most listened to, when His people are at a loss. Divine comforts most delight the soul when under the pressure of twisted, tangled up and perplexed thoughts and their consequences. Picture the prodigal son, slurping up the swill in the sty. Let's get back ... Prayer Starter Help us Lord. We need to see the great crimes we do to ourselves in straying from the given path. The thought patterns we habitually indulge in are convoluted and steal from us the experience of LOVE; of being in the presence of GOD. Spirit of God, renew our minds, our hearts …..

"O MARY! THE POWER OF THE MOST HIGH SHALL OVERSHADOW YOU"

Saturday 20th March 2021

(PS Wk IV) (Purple)

Jeremiah: 11/18-20 ing of the law—there is a curse on them.” Nicodemus, who had gone Psalm: 7/2-3,9-12 to Jesus earlier and who was one of John: 7/40-53 their own number, asked, “Does our law condemn a man without first hearing him to find out what he has been doing?” They replied, “Are The First Proclamation you from Galilee, too? Look into it, Because the LORD revealed and you will find that a prophet does their plot to me, I knew it, for at not come out of Galilee.” Then they that time he showed me what they all went home. were doing. I had been like a gentle Prayerful Awareness lamb led to the slaughter; I did not In this gospel passage we see that realize that they had plotted against me, saying, “Let us destroy the tree after hearing Jesus the people had a and its fruit; let us cut him off from difference of opinion as to who he the land of the living, that his name was. If we have one view of him and be remembered no more.” But someone else has another, it does not you, LORD Almighty, who judge matter so long as both of us find him righteously and test the heart and to be our Saviour and accept him as mind, let me see your vengeance on Lord. Even if we explain our religious them, for to you I have committed experience in different ways that should never divide us, for it is the my cause. experience that is important, and not The Gospel Proclamation our explanation of it. In our defense of On hearing his words, some of Jesus Christ it is better to be reckless the people said, “Surely this man with our hearts than prudent with our is the Prophet.” Others said, “He heads. To stand up for him may bring is the Messiah.” Still others asked, us mockery and unpopularity; it may “How can the Messiah come from even mean hardship and sacrifice. Galilee? Does not Scripture say that But the fact remains that Jesus said the Messiah will come from David’s he would confess before his Father, descendants and from Bethlehem, the man who confessed him on earth, the town where David lived?” Thus and deny before his Father the man the people were divided because of who denied him on earth. Loyalty to Jesus. Some wanted to seize him, Christ may produce a cross on earth, but no one laid a hand on him. Fi- but it brings a crown in eternity. nally the temple guards went back Prayer to the chief priests and the PhariHeavenly Father help us to be sees, who asked them, “Why didn’t you bring him in?” “No one ever loyal to your son Jesus our Lord and spoke the way this man does,” the savior even if the society we live in guards replied. “You mean he has mocks us and cause us hardship and deceived you also?” the Pharisees unpopularity. Give us the grace to proretorted. “Have any of the rulers claim the good news of His salvation or of the Pharisees believed in him? even if it means persecution and death, No! But this mob that knows noth- in Jesus' name we pray. "O MARY! THE POWER OF THE MOST HIGH SHALL OVERSHADOW YOU"

Sunday 21st March 2021

Fifth Sunday of Lent

Jeremiah: 31/31-34 Psalm: 50/3-4,12-15 (Psalm: 51/1-2,10-13) Hebrews: 5/7-9 John: 12/20-33 OR Ezekiel: 37/12-14 Psalm: 129/1-8 (Psalm: 130/1-7) Romans: 8/8-11 John: 11/1-45 (or 3-7,17,20-27, 33-45)

Introduction

(PS Wk I) (Purple)

soil of Israel. And you will know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and raise you from your graves, my people. And I shall put my spirit in you, and you will live, and I shall resettle you on your own soil; and you will know that I, the Lord have said and done this - … Prayerful Awareness The Prophet Ezekiel was an exile in Babylon. He possessed a deep faith and a great power of thinking. He was also a priest and a chosen prophet of God who declared his hope of the restoration of the nation. He received his vocation in a vision of God's glory. The Lord of Israel is the Lord of the whole universe. It is the Lord who restores life to the people dead and buried in sin and revives them. "When I open your graves and raise you from your graves…." The book of Ezekiel reflects that most messages of God received by him were through vivid symbolic actions. It was a time of receiving new hope, new light and a new life as well as a new support where there was no hope but just emptiness. God with whom all things are possible, bestowing on them His spirit, raises them to life in rebuilding a close relationship. The Second Proclamation

Eventually we have arrived at the last Sunday of Lent on which Holy Mother the Church is inviting us to consciously enter into the paschal mystery. Similarly, we are called today to experience the resurrection and the new life bestowed on us and to bear witness. Further, our mission as Christians is to free others from sin and bring them closer to God for the cause of the kingdom. Also, with sincere repentance let us turn to God the Father and offer others the new life thus received. The Holy Spirit abiding in us constantly guides us along the correct path. Renewing ourselves again and again let us thirst to receive the new life, the life eternal. And imploring for the needed power let us enter People who are interested only into prayer. in unspiritual things can never be The First Proclamation pleasing to God. Your interests, The Lord says this: I am now however, are not in the spiritual, going to open your graves; I mean since the Spirit of God had made to raise you from your graves, my his home in you. …If the Spirit people, and lead you back to the of him who raised Jesus from the "O MARY! THE POWER OF THE MOST HIGH SHALL OVERSHADOW YOU"

dead is living in you, then he who raised Jesus from the dead will give life to your own mortal bodies through his Spirit living in you. Prayerful Awareness How true and deep are the mysteries revealed by the risen Lord whom St. Paul encountered! He invites the community challenging them to strive for the spiritual but not the unspiritual. Is life truly led by the Holy Spirit? St. Paul again and again awakening the community leads them to repentance in spite of their failures and calls them to be born anew which is the new life bestowed on the community by the Holy Spirit through experiencing death. Today, we too are awakened through the word of God. We are the temples of God and the Spirit dwells in us. Let us shed the covering of sin we are enveloped in and encounter the living Lord, repent, turn and follow Him. The Gospel Proclamation

….Jesus said, 'I am the resurrection and the life. If anyone believes in me, even though he dies he will live, and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. … Have I not told you that if you believe you will see the glory of God? …Then Jesus lifted up his eyes and said: 'Father, I thank you for hearing my prayer. …. He cried in a loud voice, 'Lazarus here! Come out!' ….Jesus said to them, 'Unbind him, let him go free.' (Please read the whole proclamation.) Prayerful Awareness One who believes in Jesus Christ

will receive eternal life. He states as follows: "I came that they may have life and have it abundantly' (John 10:10). Life is not something that you receive in the future or at the end of the world but it is received through faith in Christ. Death is not the ending of human life but entering into God and to participation with him since only he is eternal. One who inherits eternal life will enter into participation with him. Moreover, the disciple of Christ who encounters him, has contact with him, associates him and shares one's own experience with others. Thus, He or she will receive eternal life. Similarly, the person who surrenders oneself to the guidance of the Holy Spirit and lives in Him will witness to the truth. In keeping with the words of the Lord at bringing back Lazarus from death, 'Unbind him, let him go free', let us untie the bonds of hatred, malice, jealousy and revenge, free the oppressed and experience true redemption. Towards my son-ship Let us awaken ourselves. The Lord' invitation for us today is to unbind the bonds of slavery. Let us bring to mind past memories and instances that in our thought and mind we keep others in bondage. Let us free each one of them in the name of Christ since in a few days we are to enter into the pass-over. In the pass-over and in allowing the Lord to pass us by what we will experience is new life, a new birth. Let us prepare ourselves for this. Let us with a meaningful and sincere confession turn to the Lord and asking for the grace needed for this, let us enter into prayer.

"O MARY! THE POWER OF THE MOST HIGH SHALL OVERSHADOW YOU"

Monday 22nd March 2021 Daniel: 13/1-9,15-17, 19-30,33-62 (OR 13/41-62) Psalm: 22/1-6 (Psalm: 23/1-6) John: 8/1-11 Prayerful Awareness Having read today’s proclamations, let us take a closer look at some of the people in these stories to reach a deeper understanding of ourselves in relation to God. 1. The Treacherous Elders: The first proclamation says the elders “[forgot] the demands of justice and virtue, their lust grew all the more as they made no effort to turn their eyes to heaven.” (Daniel 13:9). Like the elders, we often settle for short-term satisfaction rather than remaining in God’s presence. We see the elders’ downward spiral as they act on their desire, threaten Susanna, and when denied the satisfaction, use their power over the law to justify themselves and take revenge on her with a death sentence. When we keep our gaze averted from God, we allow ourselves to fall deeper and deeper into sin and settle for less than God’s higher purpose for our lives. 2. Daniel (God’s Messenger) and Jesus (Son of God): The purity of Daniel and Jesus enabled the Holy Spirit to move within them, giving them wisdom to see the truth, as well as to act. In the Old Testament, Daniel became an agent of justice, and “innocent blood was spared that day.” (Daniel 13:62). In the New Testament, though the woman was guilty, Jesus saw the hearts of the Pharisees who came to test him, as well as the woman’s heart for conversion. Jesus says to her, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and do not sin again.” (John 8:11). 3. Susanna: Susanna is a woman of

(PS Wk I)

(Purple)

exemplary faith. When the elders laid out their clever trap, Susanna said: I would rather be persecuted than sin in the eyes of the Lord. (Daniel 13:23). The next day, the elders summoned Susanna for a hearing. “Completely trusting in the Lord, she raised her tearful eyes to heaven. The elders started making their accusation... Susanna was condemned to death. She cried aloud, “Eternal God, nothing is hidden from you… Would you let me die, though I am not guilty of all their malicious charges?” (Daniel 13:35-36, 41-43). The scripture indicates that Susanna kept her eyes firmly on God at all times. The Lord heard her (Daniel 13:44). On that day, her faith bore witness to the whole assembly who “shouted and blessed God for helping those who hope in him.” (Daniel 13:60) 4. The Adulterous Woman: The scripture does not offer much about her except that she had become a pawn in the hands of the Pharisees. Perhaps, she too gazed up and sought the mercy of God in the midst of her sin. By Law, she should have been stoned to death. But by his grace, Jesus delivered her from this penalty. The relief that is to be found in the love of Jesus is incomparable with anything the world has to offer. It gives us new life. We can only imagine that from this point on, she stopped settling for anything less than experiencing the goodness of God. Gaze on Jesus As we draw nearer to the end of Lent, let us turn our eyes more purposefully towards heaven. Let us ask Jesus for forgiveness for our sins and a deeper conversion of our hearts. And let us abandon ourselves to his outstretched arms on the cross, as we experience the healing power of his love. Responsorial Psalm

...In you our fathers trusted, ...They cried to you, and were saved; ...

"O MARY! THE POWER OF THE MOST HIGH SHALL OVERSHADOW YOU"

Tuesday 23rd March 2021 Numbers: 21/4-9 Psalm: 101/2-3,16-21 (Psalm: 102/1-2,15-20) John: 8/21-30

The Gospel Proclamation Again he said to them, “I am going away, and you will search for me, but you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.” Then the Jews said, “Is he going to kill himself? Is that what he means by saying, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?”… Prayerful Awareness On the first reading today from the Book of Numbers, we read that in the desert the Lord commanded Moses to make a serpent and to set on a pole and that ‘everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live’”. What does the serpent represent? The serpent is the sign for sin. In the book of Genesis: it was the serpent that seduced Eve, tempting her to sin. Here God commands Moses to lift up the serpent, that is sin, as a flag of victory. This is hard to understand if one does not understand what Jesus said in the Gospel. Jesus says: “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own, but I speak these things as the Father instructed me” (John 8:28)

(PS Wk I) (Purple)

Lifting up the symbol of their sin and transforming it into an instrument of salvation therefore represents the redemption that comes from Christ lifted up on the Cross. “Christianity is not a philosophical doctrine, it is not a program of life that enables one to be wellformed and to make peace. These are its consequences. Christianity is a person, a person lifted up on the Cross. A person who emptied himself to save us. He took on sin. And so just as in the desert, sin was lifted up, here God made man, was lifted up for us. And all of our sins were there”. Therefore, one cannot understand Christianity without understanding this profound humiliation of the Son of God, who humbled himself and made himself a servant unto death on the Cross. To serve”. (Pope Francis) Our Sonship Let us Gaze at Jesus our Salvation, our saviour on the Cross, and look at his wounds, which are our sins so that we are healed and our sins shall be forgiven. “God’s forgiveness is not a matter of cancelling a debt we have with him. God forgives us in the wounds of his Son lifted up on the Cross”. (Pope Francis) Prayer Starter Dear Lord draw us near so that we might allow ourselves to be healed…

"O MARY! THE POWER OF THE MOST HIGH SHALL OVERSHADOW YOU"

Wednesday 24th March 2021 Daniel: 3/14-20, 91-92, 95 Psalm: Daniel: 3/52-56 John: 8/31-42

The Gospel Proclamation 'So, Jesus said to those who believed in him, “If you obey my teaching, you are really my disciples; you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” “We are the descendants of Abraham,” they answered, “and we have never been anybody's slaves. What do you mean, then, by saying, ‘You will be free’?” Jesus said to them, “I am telling you the truth: everyone who sins is a slave of sin. A slave does not belong to a family permanently, but a son belongs there forever. If the Son sets you free, then you will be really free. I know you are Abraham's descendants. Yet you are trying to kill me, because you will not accept my teaching. I talk about what my Father has shown me, but you do what your father has told you.” They answered him, “Our father is Abraham.” “If you really were Abraham's children,” Jesus replied, “you would do the same things that he did. All I have ever done is to tell you the truth I heard from God, yet you are trying to kill me. Abraham did nothing like this! You are doing what your father did.” “God himself is the only Father we have,” they answered, “and we are his true children.” Jesus said to them, “If God really were your Father, you would love me, because I came from God and now, I am here. I did not come on my own authority, but he sent me.' Gaze at Jesus Jesus is the way, truth and life. He is also the word incarnate. Therefore,

(PS Wk I) (Purple)

those who follow a lifestyle according to the teachings of Jesus are guaranteed true freedom. Jesus boldly tells the Pharisees; those who live by my teaching will be my disciples. For the Pharisees, the identity of their superiority came from the fact that they were descendants of Abraham. However, Jesus continued to challenge them, by quoting the same example, if they call themselves descendants of Abraham, the exemplary life of dependence on God, Abraham led was absent in the life of the Pharisees. Our sonship In the first reading, we read the story of the three men in the furnace. Because Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego observed the commandments of the Lord an entire nation converted. Jesus is waiting to set entire nations free in His truth. As, those called by God, Lord is waiting to see us witness to the truth, so that He can set individuals, communities, business establishments free. Most of all Lord is calling the church to live the truth, so that our lifestyles will set others free. As we sing the Psalm, let us ask the Lord for his grace so that we will follow the exemplary life of Abraham. Prayer starter May your glorious, holy name be held in honour and reverence for ever. May hymns be sung to your glory for ever and may your holy presence be praised in that temple, where you sit on your heavenly throne above the winged creatures and look down to the world of the dead. May you be praised and honoured for ever. May you be praised as you sit on your royal throne. May hymns be sung to your glory forever. May you be praised in the dome of the heavens. May hymns be sung to your glory forever.

"O MARY! THE POWER OF THE MOST HIGH SHALL OVERSHADOW YOU"

Thursday 25th March 2021 Isaiah: 7/10-14; 8/10 Psalm: 39/7-11 (Psalm: 40/6-10) Hebrews: 10/4-10 Luke: 1/26-38

The Second Proclamation For it is impossible that with the blood of oxen and goats sin should be taken away. Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith: Sacrifice and oblation thou wouldest not: but a body thou hast fitted to me: Holocausts for sin did not please thee. Then said I: Behold I come: in the head of the book it is written of me: that I should do thy will, O God ...Then said I: Behold, I come to do thy will, O God: he taketh away the first, that he may establish that which followeth. In the which will, we are sanctified by the oblation of the body of Jesus Christ once. The Gospel Proclamation And in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee, called Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And the angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women... And the angel said to her: Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God. Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the most High; and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of David his father; and he shall reign in the house of Jacob for ever. And of his kingdom there shall be no end. And

The Annunciation of the Lord (PS Wk I) (White)

Mary said to the angel: How shall this be done, because I know not man?... The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the most High shall overshadow thee. And therefore also the Holy which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God..... Because no word shall be impossible with God. And Mary said: Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to thy word. ... Prayerful Awareness

Let us read today’s Proclamations meditatively and prayerfully, which contains God’s elaborate Plan of action for the Redemption of Mankind, which He had devised in His infinite Mercy even before the Creation, knowing that man will abuse the gift of free will given to him, and give his glorious inheritance away for a pittance, thus needing to be redeemed! The wages of sin is death, and it was the practice of the Israelites to shed blood on the altar carrying out animal sacrifices in atonement for their deviations from the Law, which is a precursor of the saving grace performed by Jesus Christ our Lord, by shedding His blood and sacrificing His Life once and for all, so that whoever believes in this saving grace and repents and asks for forgiveness will receive restoration of their Divine Sonship, described in the prophesies pertaining to our Saviour Jesus Christ contained in today’s Second Proclamation and Psalm! The First Proclamation contains the prophecy that a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and His name shall be called Emmanuel, God with Us! This prophesy is fulfilled in Mother Mary, as described in today’s Gospel Proclamation, which is celebrated by the Church as the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord! Amen! Alleluia! Praise the Lord!

"O MARY! THE POWER OF THE MOST HIGH SHALL OVERSHADOW YOU"

Friday 26th March 2021 Jeremiah: 20/10-13 Psalm: 17/2-7 (Psalm: 18/1-6) John: 10/31-42

The Gospel Proclamation The Jews again picked up rocks to stone Jesus. Jesus answered them, "I have shown you many good works from my Father. For which of these are you trying to stone me?” The Jews answered him, "We are not stoning you for a good work but for blasphemy. You, a man, are making yourself God." Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your law, 'I said, 'You are gods"'? If it calls them gods to whom the word of God came, and Scripture cannot be set aside, can you say that the one whom the Father has consecrated and sent into the world blasphemes because I said, 'I am the Son of God'? If I do not perform my Father's works, do not believe me; but if I perform them, even if you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may realize and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father." Then they tried again to arrest him; but he escaped from their power. He went back across the Jordan to the place where John first baptized, and there he remained. Many came to him and said, "John performed no sign, but everything John said about this man was true." And many there began to believe in him. Prayerful Awareness A thought that came in to my

(PS Wk I) (Purple)

mind - Who is Jesus to me (to us ). Is he just a man who lived as the Jews said in this Gospel passage, or is He the Good Shepherd who came from God the Father to look after His sheep, to educate them and help them, and finally to lay down His life for them in order to save them due to His Great Love, to fulfill the Will of God. With the power of God the Father, He performed many good works (miracles), yet they accused Him of blasphemy. He is the Son of God who came to this world, laid His life to save us and resurrected on the third day by the power of God. As He promised, He is with us all the time to Help us and Guide us. He is the one who intercede for us and send the Spirit of God to be with us all the time to help us not to fall into temptations, guide and purify us from all evil thoughts to live as children of God, displaying God’s Love and Mercy to everyone. First reading of Jeremiah informs us of the terror and persecutions we may have to face from the world since we appear as a threat to their evil doings. Lord wants us to look at those as tests and not to fall in line with the world and its pleasures. We are called to sing to the Lord and Praise Him who will be with us as a strong warrior to fight for us. Prayer Starter Lord Jesus, Son of God who came into this World to open the path of salvation for all of us by laying down .your life. We Thank You and accept you as our Saviour and Lord. Help us to follow all your Commandments and receive the Spirit of God through Your intercession to guide us to live as Children of God. Amen.

"O MARY! THE POWER OF THE MOST HIGH SHALL OVERSHADOW YOU"

Saturday 27th March 2021

(PS Wk I) (Purple)

you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.” He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one. So from that day on The First Proclamation they plotted to take his life. ThereAnd say to them, ‘This is what fore Jesus no longer moved about the Sovereign LORD says: I will publicly among the people of Judea. take the Israelites out of the nations Instead he withdrew to a region near where they have gone. I will gather the wilderness, to a village called them from all around and bring Ephraim, where he stayed with his them back into their own land. I will disciples. When it was almost time make them one nation in the land, for the Jewish Passover, many went on the mountains of Israel. There up from the country to Jerusalem will be one king over all of them. ... for their ceremonial cleansing before I will save them from all their sinful the Passover. They kept looking for backsliding, and I will cleanse them. Jesus, and as they stood in the temThey will be my people, and I will be ple courts they asked one another, their God. “... I will make a covenant “What do you think? Isn’t he coming of peace with them; it will be an ev- to the festival at all?” erlasting covenant. I will establish Prayerful Awareness them and increase their numbers, This Gospel verse is the continuand I will put my sanctuary among them forever. My dwelling place will ation after Jesus raised Lazarus from be with them; I will be their God, the dead. The people who had come to and they will be my people. Then the Bethany saw this miracle and believed nations will know that I the LORD in Jesus. But not the High Priest and make Israel holy, when my sanctu- the Pharisees. Jesus was becoming popular among the people and the ary is among them forever.’ ” Pharisees were not happy. From that The Gospel Proclamation day onwards they plotted to kill Jesus. .... Then the chief priests and Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life the Pharisees called a meeting of for every man who is dead in sin and the Sanhedrin. “What are we ac- dead to God today. Jesus has authority complishing?” they asked. “Here is over death and death is something we this man performing many signs. If as Christians should not be concerned we let him go on like this, everyone about. will believe in him, and then the Prayer Starter Romans will come and take away O! Lord You will turn our mourning both our temple and our nation.” Then one of them, named Caiaphas, into joy and will comfort us.Therefore who was high priest that year, spoke we praise You. Becouse You are our up, “You know nothing at all! You God and Heavenly Father. do not realize that it is better for

Ezekiel: 37/21-28 Psalm: Jeremiah: 31/ 10-13 John: 11/45-56

"O MARY! THE POWER OF THE MOST HIGH SHALL OVERSHADOW YOU"

Sunday 28th March 2021

Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord

For the Procession of Palms: Mark: 11/1-10 OR John: 12/12-16 Mass: Isaiah: 50/4-7 Psalm: 21/8-9,17-20, 23-24 (Psalm: 22/7-8,1619,22-23 ) Philippians: 2/6-11 Mark: 14/1-15,47 (or Mark: 15/1-39)

Introduction

(PS Wk II) (Red)

ple's tongue. So that I may know how to reply to the wearied he provides me with speech. Each morning he wakes me to hear, to listen like a disciple. …The Lord comes to my help, so that I am untouched by the insults. So, too I set myself like flint; I know I shall not be ashamed. (Please read the whole proclamation.) Prayerful Awareness The book of Isaiah is considered to have been compiled during 742 – 687 BC. Given here is a section of one of the four songs written about the 'suffering servant.' (The four songs are as follows: Isaiah 42:1-4, 49:1-6, 50:4-11, 52:13-53:12). The theme allotted to the proclamation of the day is 'the obedience of the servant of the Lord.' The gospel passage clearly depicts how Jesus Christ experiences in his own life the given presentation of the song picturing the servant of God. Certainly He was fully convinced and was totally aware of what is being revealed here – of his prayer life, of his submission to the will of God and especially how brave and courageous he will be in face of every suffering during his passion. Moreover, in the Gospel proclamation we find the way he accomplishes everything as foretold. The Gospel proclamation

Today, Holy Mother the Church, ending the forty day period of Lent and arriving at Palm Sunday celebrates the entrance of the Lord Jesus into Jerusalem to willingly enter into His passion. Coming week is the Holy Week during which He faces the great saving act of suffering, death and resurrection in order to exalt the entire human race and the whole of the universe towards God. Commemorating his glorious entry into Jerusalem for this purpose and before the Eucharistic celebration we shall go in procession to the church carrying palm branches and with loud acclamations of singing (Please meditatively read the "Hosanna, Blessed is he who comes whole Gospel proclamation for in the name of the Lord.' Along with today that tells us of the passion of this, we also move into meditating the our Lord.) experience of His passion through the Prayerful Awareness day's Gospel. The First Proclamation Today, presented to us through the Gospel of St. Mark is the passion The Lord has given me a disci- of our Lord Jesus Christ – the events "O MARY! THE POWER OF THE MOST HIGH SHALL OVERSHADOW YOU"

that took place during the last two days of His life on earth. It is as if, with this, Holy Mother the Church unraveling the manner in which the Lord responds to the crowning moment of His mission, is preparing us to go through the same lot. While reflecting on the daily proclamations during the next few days, let us also daily meditate on the passion, the focus of our meditation today. The Second Proclamation

result of thus responding through His life and His life existence - which is God highly exalting Him and giving him the Name of Jesus that outshines all other names, so that all knees should bend in heaven, on earth and under the earth, and all tongues proclaim that Jesus Christ is the Lord to the glory of God the Father. Therefore Jesus is the King, Lord and Ruler over the entire universe. Towards our son-ship

His state was divine, yet Christ Jesus did not cling to his equality with God but emptied himself to assume the condition of a slave, and became as men are, … so that all beings in the heavens, on earth and on the underworld, should bend the knee at the name of Jesus and that every tongue should acclaim Jesus Christ as Lord, to the glory of God the Father. ... (Please read the whole proclamation.) Prayerful Awareness

We see in the manner in which the Lord faces his passion, what is proclaimed of the suffering servant through the first proclamation of the day, which was for the purpose of bringing salvation to the entire universe including the whole of humanity. It would be best to meditate personally on the response given by the Lord in face of the events of the two days that we call Maundy Thursday and Good Friday and if possible to share it with others in communion. All the same, we are also invited and called to enter into the resurrection experience throughout the day and throughout our life just like Jesus entered into the experience of Holy Saturday through all of the above. Let us remain in this awareness and proceed in preparation for the Holy Week. Let us enjoy the experience of the Lord, the experience of prayer and fasting and share it with others. Responsorial Psalm

This song termed 'the condescension and exaltation of the Lord' is also called 'the song of incarnation.' It is said to have been sung by the early Christian communities during liturgy. The passage describes that since Jesus Christ the third person of the Trinity embraced humanness and faced death, the Father raised him to the highest place in heaven. Thus presented is the submission and generous unselfish sacrifice expected by Paul from the Christians. Portrayed here is how Christ in coming to earth emptied himself of his claim to equality with God, meaning the power, majesty and glory of God, assumed the condition of a slave with no right whatsoever, and humbled himself by being obedient unto death. St. Paul also spells out the

Based on the psalm 21:8-9, 1720, 23-24 (including verse 21:1), presenting ourselves before the inner experience of the Lord, let us praise God for the response given. What are the possibilities for making it our experience too….?

"O MARY! THE POWER OF THE MOST HIGH SHALL OVERSHADOW YOU"

Monday 29th March 2021 Isaiah: 42/1-7 Psalm: 26/1-3,13-14 (Psalm: 27/1-3,13-14) John: 12/1-11 Chrism Mass: Isaiah: 61/1-3, 6, 8-9 Psalm: 88/21-22,25,27 (Psalm: 89/20-21,24,26) Revelation: 1/5-8 Luke: 4/16-21 The Gospel Proclamation Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead ... Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair.... But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?” (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.”... Prayerful Awareness

“Leave her alone. Let her keep this for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.”… We have entered into Holy Week, the week of the Passover of Jesus, of his passing from this world to the father. Liturgy today places before us the beginning of Chapter 12 of the Gospel of St. John. This chapter gives a clue about the Passover of Jesus. As well

Holy Week

(PS Wk II) (Purple)

as in a situation where Jesus seeked to be killed. Mary, Martha and Lazarus received Jesus in their house and offered Him something to eat. Because Love overcomes fear. During the meal, Mary anoints the feet of Jesus with a pound of perfume of pure spikenard, which was a very costly one. Then she dried His feet with her hair. Mary does not speak during this whole episode, she only acts. The gesture filled with symbolism speaks for itself. In washing the feet, Mary becomes a servant. Jesus will repeat the gesture at the last supper. And Judas, in his own egoistic interests, thought only about money. This is why he was not aware of what Mary kept in her heart. Jesus reads the heart and defends Mary. Our Sonship “And this is why I am giving you this command: always be open handed with your brother, and with anyone in your country who is in need and poor!”(Deuteronomy 15:11) This verse from the Old Testament gives the answer for our question; don’t we need to be concerned about the poor? According to this law, the community should accept the poor and share its goods with them. And also to live together with them, not having any love does not help us to know others. Rather, it blinds people. To be the friend of Jesus could be dangerous. Lazarus was in danger of death. But He knew Jesus and His love. A living community experiences the living Jesus and His Holy love. And also, a living community runs the risk of its life because it is the living proof of the good news of God! Prayer Starter “Test me, Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind.” (Psalm 26:2)

"O MARY! THE POWER OF THE MOST HIGH SHALL OVERSHADOW YOU"

Tuesday 30th March 2021 Isaiah: 49/1-6 Psalm: 70/1-6,15,17 (Psalm: 71/1-6,15,17) John: 13/21-33,36-38

Introduction As we move closer to the great event of celebrating Easter, certain modes of help are set before us to support us along the journey of discipleship. The first proclamation mentions being a light to the nations as part of the mission entrusted to Isaiah. The Gospel proclamation presents Jesus, the light of the world (cf. John 8:12) predicting the impending betrayal of two of his disciples as a warning. Just as prophet Isaiah received God's guidance in prayer (cf. Is. 50:4), we too have access to prayer, scriptures and the Holy Spirit to lead us. Let us reflect on the Gospel passage for today for further enlightenment. The Gospel Proclamation When Jesus had thus spoken, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, "Truly, truly I say to you, one of you will betray me." …."It is he whom I shall give this morsel when I have dipped it." So when he had dipped the morsel, he gave it to Judas, …. So, after receiving the morsel, he immediately went out' and it was night. … Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, where are you going?" Jesus answered, "Where I am going you cannot follow me now; but you shall follow afterward." Peter said to him, "Lord, why cannot I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you." Jesus answered, "Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the cock will not crow, till you have denied me three times.

(PS Wk II) (Purple)

Prayerful Awareness It would have been a very heart rending experience for Jesus to know that his own disciples would betray him. Yet, he makes one last attempt to stretch a friendly hand to Judas but he refuses the light and instead disappears into the darkness of the night. Judas missed the opportunity given to him and stuck to his own plans of gaining money. Even though Judas had initially left everything to follow him, maybe his desire for worldly grandeur led him to betray Jesus. The devil traps us at our weakest point. Are we aware? At St. Peter's betrayal as mentioned in John 18:17-18, having rejected the Light of the World, Peter seeks the warmth of the same fire that the men of the world flock around. No wonder Peter denies Jesus. In the Gospel proclamation of today, when Jesus said to his disciples 'Where I am going you cannot come,' Peter said to him, "Lord, why cannot I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you" Standing among those around the fire, Peter has gone back on his promise. Even then, according to the Gospel of St. John, Peter is not an example of failed faith. Peter symbolizes the struggles and travails of discipleship. He demonstrates not only the impact of human weakness but also the triumph of grace (cf. John 21). Prayer starter Lord Jesus, Light of the World, even though we have promised to be faithful to you most of the time we succumb to temptation and change course. Help us to have recourse to prayer, scripture and seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit so as not to walk into darkness but always to remain in your vicinity and experience the triumph of grace. Amen.

"O MARY! THE POWER OF THE MOST HIGH SHALL OVERSHADOW YOU"

Wednesday 31st March 2021 Isaiah: 50/4-9 Psalm: 68/8-10,21-22, 31, 33-34 (Psalm: 69/7-9,2021,30,32-33) Mathew: 26/14-25 The Gospel Proclamation Then went one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests, and said, “What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?” They paid him thirty pieces of silver, and from that time on he looked for an opportunity to hand him over. Preparation for the Passover: On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples approached Jesus and said “Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?” He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, the teacher says, “My appointed time draws near; in your house I shall celebrate the Passover with my disciples.” The disciples then did as Jesus had ordered, and prepared the Passover. The Betrayer: When it was evening, he reclined at table with the Twelve. And while they were eating, he said, “Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” Deeply distressed at this, they began to say to him one after another, “Surely it is not I, Lord?” He said in reply, “He who has dipped his hand into the dish with me is the one who will betray me. The Son of Man indeed goes, as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed. It would be better for that man if he had never been born.” Then Judas said “Surely it is not I, Rabbi?” Jesus answered, “You have said so. ”

(PS Wk II) (Purple)

Prayerful Awareness Jesus knew everything that was going to happen through the power of the Holy Spirit (gifts) with Him ( 1 Cor. 12: 4-11). Yet, we see from the scripture how innocent Judas pretended to act, and Jesus replied “You have said so”. Judas could betray His Teacher, Friend and Leader for past 3 years for 30 silver coins. Judas could forget all the valuable advise/teaching/training and the Love He experienced from the Lord, for the greed he had for the wealth of the world. We see this happening even today, how some people with power even go to the extent of killing others (innocent and powerless) who could prevent or could be an obstruction for them to satisfy their greed. We must ask ourselves, where are we? Are we also supporting them, in words or thoughts etc.? Do we also reject Lord to go after the riches of the World and its sinful pleasures? If so, Lord wants us to repent and come back to Him as St. Peter did after his rejection of knowing the Lord. We too are called to repent and change and enjoy the spiritual gifts of the Holy Spirit that lead us to live happy pious lives with the Lord. In First Reading Prophet Isaiah informs us that Lord hath given us a learned tongue to know how to uphold the weary by His Word. Behold the Lord God our helper and then whoever that shall condemn us, shall all be destroyed as a garment, the moth has eaten up. Prayer Starter Lord Jesus, I love You and Thank You for coming to this world to pay for our sins and save us to give us eternal life. Help us to follow all Your Commandments and receive the Spirit of God through Your intercession, to guide us to live pious lives and bring glory to God our Father in everything we do, Amen.

"O MARY! THE POWER OF THE MOST HIGH SHALL OVERSHADOW YOU"

THE COVER STORY

Within God’s invitation to “a life journey” in close relation with Him, the very first word that is heard is “METANOIA” (“Repentance”) “Metanoia” is A revolutionary change of life; An ‘about turn’ in the journey of life A Radical Transformation. This is impossible through plain human effort. It is something that is accomplished within man by God alone. The outcome of metanoia in a person is. .... - A comprehensive transformation in the direction of one’s life-journey. - Embracing the vision of the kingdom of God for one’s life. To a person such as this, the door to God’s Kingdom is always open. Therefore let us not permit the METANOIA experience be lost to us.

Walk in the Spirit - March 2021

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