WORd 2day: 11th March, 2014

TURN YOUR HEARTS TO GOD: that is Prayer!

Prayer is not about well-worded phrases and decorated utterances, it is about turning one's heart to God. The Word today teaches us how our prayer should be, drawing inspiration from the very Word of God and its nature. The prayer that we make should rise from the heart, it should be a self-communication that brings us close to God! When it happens every word we use will have its effect; the words will not be empty phrases but concrete commitments to the Lord and our relationship with God.  Jesus teaches a model in the 'Our Father' - glorifying God's name, desiring God's Reign, submitting to God's will: aren't they concrete commitments? Let not our prayer me empty phrases and legalistic performances, but total surrender and concrete commitment to the Lord. In simple terms, prayer is a constant and daily effort to turn away from things that distract and turning our hearts to God.

WORD 2day: 10th March, 2014

RELEARN YOUR BASICS

Law and Holiness had a very intimate connection for the Jews. For them, a strict observance of the law meant a sure way to holiness. As time went by, they began to identify the law and holiness, forgetting what lay in between... the relationships that the laws were meant to ensure! Laws were given to enhance the relationship between the people and their God and among people with each other as a community. And that is exactly what Jesus stresses on: the relationships! As St. John questions, how can anyone who does not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, love God whom they have not seen? (cf. 1Jn 4:20). Jesus places this as an absolute condition - the correlation between faith and love; when they combine there is hope; if not, the very fundamentals are under question. Let us relearn our basics this lent - let us begin within our family; let us love each other genuinely and that will be the best starting point to grow in holiness!