Being HIS People

Humility, Integrity and Sincerity

4th Sunday in Ordinary Time: 29th January, 2017

Zeph 2:3, 3:12-13; 1 Cor 1:26-31; Mt 5:1-12

Once again we have the beatitudes to reflect upon, a splendid description of a true people of God, the real people of the Reign, the people who can belong to God and make present God here and now!

Seek the Lord, Seek humility, Seek Integrity...Zephaniah summarises the entire message of today in those words. Being poor in spirit, peace makers, humble of heart, vulnerable in spirit - those are the true characteristics of a person of the Reign... and today we can put them all into one single call - the call to be HIS people...to be Humble, Integral and Sincere people!

Humble: Humility is to attribute praises to God from one's heart! We are today living in a context where people claim to be almost gods, or greater than even God. There are people living with us who are regular visitors to heaven (according to their claim) or even form part of the council of saints there! Jesus when he lived on earth, though he could have claimed credit for everything he did or said, he declared: 'All that I speak, I do not speak on my own; all that I do, I do not do it all on my own!' That was the Son of God.

Integral: Integrity is to have no discrepancy whatsoever between one's words and one's life! We see today people who live in total divided selves. They seem to be crying bitterly, but rejoicing in their hearts; they seem to be slogging for the good of others, but actually plotting against everyone to make their own way up.

Sincere: Sincerity is to accepting what one is and putting on no appearances! It is to be what one is and manifest just that to everyone around. There are people who have two or three lives lived simultaneously. They do anything that they can to make people believe their false selves. What do they gain by it - except that they end up never living their lives. 

We are called to be HIS people, humble, integral and sincere people, people of the beatitudes, people of the Reign!

NOVENA TO DON BOSCO - DAY 8

29th January, 2017: Don Bosco - A Man with Divine qualities 

Our Challenge: That we as youth ministers can see through the hearts of the youth to accompany them and as youth to be open to the divine guidance.

Our Prayer:

Lord God, thank you for Don Bosco, a man who could see through the hearts of the youth in order that he could accompany them. May our love for the young, be as strong as his, that we may see, hear and understand the exact needs of the young, leading them to the salvation you have prepared. Grant us the grace to be sensitive to every one around us bringing them to feel your tender loving care. We make this prayer through Christ Our Lord. Amen

THE WORD AND THE SAINT

Keep Calm; Keep Faith

Celebrating St.   Thomas Aquinas -28th  Jan, 2017 

Heb 11: 1-2,8-19; Mk 4: 34-41

One of the clearest signs of faith in a person is given today: Keeping calm! To keep calm when everything is under control is no great feat, though even that is getting into the list of rarities. Keeping calm under pressure situations and situations of trouble is the true test of faith. 

The Saint we celebrate today was a great exponent of Christian faith and a person who loved the Lord and grew in that love without ceasing. We are called to grow in our faith, In our way of feeling connected to God, In our consciousness of the presence of God with us. 

These are the qualities that can help us keep calm...as today's readings tell us. I can keep calm, if...

- I consider God someone close to me

- I am convinced that everything that is happening in my life is known to God

- it doesn't matter what's happening, I am convinced that God is in-charge! 

NOVENA TO DON BOSCO - DAY 7

28th January, 2017: Don Bosco - A lover of the young

Our Challenge: That we understand our call to love the young, those in our care, those who depend on our goodness 

Our Prayer:

Lord God, thank you for Don Bosco, a man who loved what the young loved, in order to make them love what they ought to love. Like Don Bosco, grant us the grace to place always the needs of the others, especially those who depend on us in some way, before any of our needs. May we be sacrificing enough to give up anything for their good and for their salvation. We make this prayer through Christ Our Lord. Amen

WORD 2day: 27th January, 2017

Do not draw back

Friday, 3rd week in Ordinary time
Heb 10: 32-39; Mk 4: 26-34

In a true struggle, in a sincere rethinking or in a serious growth process there sure is one rule that we need to take to heart:  do not draw back. Do not withdraw. Keep fighting even if you think you are buried... you will one day arise to shine!

NOVENA TO DON BOSCO - DAY 6

27th January, 2017: Don Bosco - Father and Friend of Youth

Our Challenge: That we understand our call to have a filial attachment to Don Bosco, as a man who had a special charism from God! 

Our Prayer:

Lord God, thank you for Don Bosco, a man who loved the young genuinely, with the heart of a father and friend. Grant us the grace of loving people with sincerity of heart. May we make a difference in the lives of those who are around us, that they may feel related to us - as father, or friend, or guide or companion! May our relationships be genuine and life changing that we may be efficacious agents of your Reign on earth. We make this prayer through Christ Our Lord. Amen

THE WORD AND THE SAINTS

From and To - Being apostles

Celebrating Timothy and Titus -26th Jan 2017

2 Tim 1:1-8 (or) Tit 1: 1-5; Mk 4: 21-25

Apart from a regular first reading today we have an alternative reading... when out of curiosity I went through both the readings, I found one thing in common between the two passages. From Paul to Timothy and From Paul to Titus. From and To... I tend to feel that's the message for today. Being apostles is to give from ourselves to others. From us to them... passing  on - it's  such an essential part of being apostles!

The Gospel reminds us of the same task in other words; that we pass the light on, that we give! Let us burn, and pass on the light. Let us give without measure, and be blessed without measure! Being apostles is to be burning lights and endless givers. We are all apostles, let us never forget that. 

This is from me to you... a loving and mutual reminder about being apostles!

NOVENA TO DON BOSCO - DAY 5

26th January, 2017: Don Bosco - A Spiritual Father

Our Challenge: That we understand our Catholic Spirituality and follow it in its depth. 

Our Prayer:

Lord God, thank you for Don Bosco, a man who promoted reverence to the Blessed Sacrament, love for Blessed Mother and loyalty to the Holy Father. He was a Spiritual Father to hundreds of youth and continues to be the same for millions of them today. Make us grateful for the Catholic faith we have and help us deepen our understanding and appreciation. We make this prayer through Christ our Lord.

NOVENA TO DON BOSCO - DAY 4

25th January, 2017: Don Bosco - A Father of a Family

Our Challenge: That we feel part of a family called to march towards sanctity

Our Prayer:

Lord God, thank you for Don Bosco, a man who initiated a movement, a family that marches hand in hand towards sanctity. May we inherit from this great person of God the sense of belonging to each other, specially to those who are suffering or in need. May we edify each other by our personal sanctity and journey together towards that eternal home of bliss that you have prepared for us. We make this prayer through Christ our Lord. 

UNITY OCTAVE 2017 - DAY 8

The Love of Christ compels us

Reconciliation: 
Prayer for Unity in the Church, Jan18-Jan25

What if? What if the prophecies in the Bible actually came true? If the wars between people stopped and if life-giving things were to be made out of the weapons of war? What if God’s justice and peace reigned, a peace which was more than simply the absence of war? If all of humanity came together for a celebration in which not a single person was marginalized? What if there really was no more mourning, no more tears, and no more death? It would be the culmination of the reconciliation that God brought about in Jesus Christ. It would be heaven!

Psalms, canticles, and hymns sing of the day when the whole perfected creation finally arrives at its goal, the day when God will be “all in all”. They tell about the Christian hope for the fulfilment of God´s reign, when suffering will be transformed into joy. On that day, the Church will be revealed in her beauty and grace as the one body of Christ. Wherever we gather in the Spirit to sing together about the fulfilment of God’s promises, the heavens break open and we begin here and now to dance to the melody of eternity.

As we can already experience this presence of heaven, let us celebrate together. We may be inspired to share images, poems and songs from our particular traditions. These materials can open up spaces for us to experience our common faith in and hope for God’s Kingdom.

THEME FOR DAY 8: RECONCILED TO GOD (2 Cor 5:20)

REFERENCES:

Micah 4:1-5	In the last days justice will reign
Psalm 87	Glorious things are spoken of God
Revelation 21:1-5a	God will make a new heaven and a new earth
John 20:11-18	Meeting the risen Christ leads to personal mission

PRAYER FOR THE UNITY OF THE CHURCH God of all, we pray as one, that we may be one, just as the Lord Jesus prayed we may be one in Him. Your son Jesus compels us to be reconciled to one another. May our spirits be joined to your Holy Spirit, that we may witness to the visible unity of the Church. May we all recognise that we are truly one with you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit and grow together in peace. We ask this in the name of Jesus our Lord Amen.