WORD 2day: 15th May, 2017

The plot, the power and perseverance

Monday, 5th week of Easter

Acts 14:5-18; Jn 14:21-26

The Jews and the non Jews together plot to get rid of the apostles but what triumphed was not the plot but the power of God. The Power of God was more and more getting manifest in the life and works of the apostles and they were bearing an unimaginable witness to the Christ-experience.   

What did the apostles do to acquire such power as to stand before the authorities and systems which seemed so frightening earlier - it was due to their perseverance. They were threatened, they were beaten up, they were arrested and they were flogged, but nothing could stop them for living their life for the Lord and for the Lord's message.

The plots will abound even in our life, but if we are strong in our mind and heart, these plots will be overcome by the power of the Lord, invested within me by the Lord. Make us strong O Lord.

CHOSEN TO BE A PRIESTLY PEOPLE

Chosen to belong forever

5th Sunday of Easter: 14th May, 2017
Acts 6:1-7; 1 Pt 2:4-9; Jn 14:1-12

God “chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before God in love” (Eph 1:4). That is our identity; we are a chosen race, royal priesthood, holy nation, God’s own people in order that we may proclaim the mighty acts of God, the God who has called us from darkness into his marvelous light (1 Pet 2:9). 

What is my identity of myself?

Are we merely people who are looking upto God for some favours? People who wait on God to come and solve our everyday problems? People complaining to God about those around us who are not living upto our expectations, disappointing us, troubling us, not understanding us or causing us grief? Can we take a breath and imagine what identity God has invested in us and to what level we have diluted in our daily living of our faith.

We are Chosen…

It is not by chance that I am a Christian, I am chosen. Recently, Anandhi (name changed) a girl of another faith, came to me asking to be prepared for baptism. She was in love with Alfred (name changed), a Catholic and wanted to marry him in the Church. After all the preparation, finally I asked, “Who brought you to this intention of receiving Baptism?” Without hesitation, Anandhi said, “Alfred.” I smiled at her and took the opportunity to tell her, ‘It is truly Christ who has brought you to Baptism’. It is the Lord who has chosen us dear friends and it is not the other way around: “You did not choose me, but I chose you”, says the Lord (Jn 15:16). It is the Lord who has chosen you and me, and all that we need to do is happily walk holding his hand.

We are Chosen to belong…

Last week we celebrated the Good Shepherd Sunday and we prayed for Vocations to Priesthood and Religious Life. That is a special call, a call for a ministry, just like Stephen and the 6 others are chosen today in the first reading for a special task – that is what we call Ministerial Priesthood. But there is another call that is universal… that is the call to Royal Priesthood… each and every one who is chosen in Christ, who is washed in the waters of baptism, is called to this priesthood. Yes! We are all priests unto the Lord! We are Chosen Race, Royal Priesthood… We have a special call to belong to the Lord. That is the crux of this priesthood. The ordained priests are ordained for a special ministry, while all of us share in the priesthood of Christ. The Priesthood of Christ consists in belonging to the Father. “I am in the Father and the Father is in me” says the Lord (Jn 14:11). The priesthood that we share with Christ is to be in God, the Father and Mother; to belong to God, to be grafted on to God, to remain in God as the branches remain in the wine and give fruit.

We are Chosen to belong forever…

In belonging to the Lord, in remaining with Christ, in sharing the priesthood of Christ we inherit the greatest of all patrimonies: a dwelling place in the courts of the Lord. That is what is prepared for us, that if we belong in our life to God, we would belong to God forever even in death. Christ has gone before us to prepare this place for us, and when he comes we should still belong to God, we should still be his Priestly People, that we may receive that dwelling place prepared for us!

Every day is an opportunity, through our ordinary tasks and daily duties, by our conscious choices and deliberate decisions, to deepen our belonging to the Lord, to realize we are chosen, that we are chosen to belong to God, chosen to belong forever, as a chosen race, a Priestly People!

FATIMA 100 YEARS - LET US CELEBRATE- Day 9

OUR LADY OF FATIMA - 100 YEARS

WE HAVE BEEN A NOVENA COMMUNITY THESE 9 DAYS...
LET US BRING EACH OTHER'S INTENTIONS TO THE FEET OF OUR BLESSED MOTHER
LET US ALSO CONSECRATE OURSELVES TODAY...PRAY TILL THE END...

DAY 9: 13TH MAY 2017 - 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE APPARITION AT FATIMA

LET US PRAY:

ost Holy Virgin, who has deigned to come to Fatima to reveal to the three little shepherds the treasures of graces hidden in the recitation of the Rosary, inspire our hearts with sincere love of this devotion.  

      By meditating on the mysteries of our redemption that are recalled in your Rosary, may we gather the fruits contained therein and obtain the conversion of sinners, the conversion of Russia, the Peace of Christ for the world, and this favor that I so earnestly seek of you in this novena....

   Mother most admirable and Mother most loving, in one heart and mind we surrender into your hand the intentions of every one in this novena community, praying to your with a child like trust these 9 days. Receive our intentions as we present them into your loving arms...(mention your intentions here)...Bless our families, be with our faith communities and strengthen our faith today, as we consecrate ourselves to you with love. 

I ask this of you, for the greater glory of God, for your own honour and for the good of all people. Amen

Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be (three times)

Please do not forget to pray the Rosary these 9 days!

LET US CONSECRATE OURSELVES TO MOTHER MARY TODAY 

May 13, 2017 - Centenary of OUR LADY'S  Apparitions at Fatima

Taking to heart the request of Mother Mary at Fatima, to CONSECRATE ourselves to her IMMACULATE HEART, let us take refuge in Mary by consecrating ourselves, our families, friends and communities to her by using the simple formula below:

O MARY, VIRGIN MOST HOLY AND REFUGE OF SINNERS, I ACCEPT YOU AS MY MOTHER AND I CONSECRATE MYSELF TO YOUR IMMACULATE HEART. I CONSECRATE TO YOU MY VERY BEING AND MY WHOLE LIFE: ALL THAT I HAVE, ALL THAT I LOVE, ALL THAT I AM. TO YOU I GIVE MY BODY, MY HEART AND MY SOUL; TO YOU I GIVE MY HOME, MY FAMILY, MY FRIENDS AND MY COUNTRY. DEAR MOTHER, ACCEPT ME AS YOUR CHILD AND BRING ME TO THE REDEEMING LOVE OF JESUS. AMEN

3 Hail Marys and a Glory be.

THE WORD AND THE FEAST

OUR LADY OF FATIMA 

13th MAY, 2017: 100 YEARS OF FATIMA
Acts 13:44-52; Jn 14: 7-14

On 13th of May 1917, Mother Mary appeared to the three children - Jacinta, Francis and Lucia and continued to do so, for 6 consecutive months on the same 13th day of the month. On 13th May 1881 John Paul II was miraculously protected from an attempt on his life. On May 13th 2000, John Paul II beatified Jacinta(she was 9 when she died)  and Francis(he was 10 when he died) ... they are going to be canonized today. Lucia died as a cloistered nun on 13th February, 2005. All miraculous events...and today is 100 years since this phenomenon ever began.

Many ask a question, is it not too much to claim that Mary keeps doing such powerful things? Is it not a mere clamorous attribution of the catholic church? The Gospel of the day (though it is not the proper of the feast) gives us a special insight into this question. 'I tell you solemnly, whoever believes in me  will perform the same works as I do myself, he (or she) will perform even greater works'... can we think of a person who believed more than our Blessed Mother? 

She is the most favoured daughter of God and the specially chosen Mother of God. What a beautiful mystery she embodies! Let us pay heed to her message: repent, pray, consecrate yourself to God...be prepared for the worst things in the world but be assured you belong to God.

O Queen of Holy Rosary, our Blessed Mother of Fatima, pray for us. 

FATIMA 100 YEARS - THE EVE OF THE FEAST - Day 8

OUR LADY OF FATIMA - 100 YEARS

LET US FORM A NOVENA COMMUNITY...

LET US PRAY TOGETHER FOR THESE 9 DAYS...

DAY 8: 12TH MAY 2017

LET US PRAY:

ost Holy Virgin, who has deigned to come to Fatima to reveal to the three little shepherds the treasures of graces hidden in the recitation of the Rosary, inspire our hearts with sincere love of this devotion.  

      By meditating on the mysteries of our redemption that are recalled in your Rosary, may we gather the fruits contained therein and obtain the conversion of sinners, the conversion of Russia, the Peace of Christ for the world, and this favor that I so earnestly seek of you in this novena....

   Mother, the Help of Christians, in one heart and mind we surrender into your care all the pilgrims gathered at your place for the feast and all those who intend to come. Mother we unite ourselves and everyone who loves you and thinks of you this day. May all of us be protected from all evils. May we be true witnesses to the Gospel in these changing times. May our life show to the world the beauty of being the children of God and the splendour of having you as our mother and protectress.  

I ask this of you, for the greater glory of God, for your own honour and for the good of all people. Amen

Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be (three times)

Please do not forget to pray the Rosary these 9 days!

WORD 2day:12th May, 2017

The Father, Son and the begotten

Friday, 4th week in Easter

Acts 13:26-33; Jn 14: 1-6

The promise of the Father and the faithfulness to the promise, the oneness of the Father and the Son, the Son leading us to the Father, the Way to the Father, the Truth of the oneness and the eternal Life that is assure in this - these are the themes presented today. They give us an important insight into our life of faith - it is not a life of do's and don'ts, nor a life of mere rules and regulations but a life of relationships!

The Father who has been so concerned about this relationship that was initiated in and through the covenant, the Son who felt so related to the Father and wanted to share the same sense of relatedness with us, the Spirit who never leaves us dwelling within us with an intimate relationship, the way of making these relationships true and concrete by our relationships with each other and finally, being convinced that all of us are related and we are marching together hand in hand towards our eternal home - the love of the Almighty! This is our faith. This is our daily life. 

Can we treasure our relationships...make them more and more sincere and loving...then we will have the Way, the Truth and the Life with us!

FATIMA 100 YEARS - UNITE IN PRAYER - Day 7

OUR LADY OF FATIMA - 100 YEARS

LET US FORM A NOVENA COMMUNITY...

LET US PRAY TOGETHER FOR THESE 9 DAYS...

DAY 7: 11TH MAY 2017

LET US PRAY:

ost Holy Virgin, who has deigned to come to Fatima to reveal to the three little shepherds the treasures of graces hidden in the recitation of the Rosary, inspire our hearts with sincere love of this devotion.  

      By meditating on the mysteries of our redemption that are recalled in your Rosary, may we gather the fruits contained therein and obtain the conversion of sinners, the conversion of Russia, the Peace of Christ for the world, and this favor that I so earnestly seek of you in this novena....

   O Miraculous Mother, you spoke to those three children and used them as your messengers to the entire world. We unite with one heart and mind to pray for our children and youth today. Protect them for all the dangers that abound today, dangers of body, mind and soul. Their future remains precarious with all the developments we see in the world today. We ask you to safeguard them from the enemy, keep them faithful to your Son always. 

I ask this of you, for the greater glory of God, for your own honour and for the good of all people. Amen

Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be (three times)

Please do not forget to pray the Rosary these 9 days!

WORD 2day: 11th May, 2017

Handing on: Retelling the Story

Thursday, 4th week in Easter

Acts 13: 13-25; Jn 13:16-20

These days, I am preparing to hand over the Centre that I have been taking care of for the past three years. The one who is going to take up the responsibility is already announced and it is time for me to hand it over. At this juncture the usual concern is, what happens to everything that I built up bit by bit. I cannot but read today's word from this background. Jesus hands over his task to be continued by the disciples, the task of taking the good news further to the ends of the world.

Taking the good news to the ends of the world is Evangelisation. One definition that I have loved about evengelisation goes, 'evangelisation is retelling the story of Jesus'. That is exactly what Paul does in the synagogue in the first reading - retelling the story of Jesus from the Old Testament. Yes, tracing the roots of Jesus in the Old Testament, Paul retells the story of Jesus to make people aware how Jesus is the awaited Messiah. 

Do we retell the story of Jesus whenever we get an opportunity...from our own background, from our own context, basing on our own concerns? We are all evangelisers in our own right, every one of us by our very baptism. Let us never forget that fact.

FATIMA 100 YEARS - LET'S PRAY - Day 6

OUR LADY OF FATIMA - 100 YEARS

LET US FORM A NOVENA COMMUNITY...

LET US PRAY TOGETHER FOR THESE 9 DAYS...

DAY 6: 10TH MAY 2017

LET US PRAY:

ost Holy Virgin, who has deigned to come to Fatima to reveal to the three little shepherds the treasures of graces hidden in the recitation of the Rosary, inspire our hearts with sincere love of this devotion.  

      By meditating on the mysteries of our redemption that are recalled in your Rosary, may we gather the fruits contained therein and obtain the conversion of sinners, the conversion of Russia, the Peace of Christ for the world, and this favor that I so earnestly seek of you in this novena....

   O Mother of God, we pray in one heart and mind for persons who are terminally ill, in a very special way for those whom the medical science has given up on. Let your maternal care and love descend upon them. Accompany them with your tender consolation and fill their hearts with hope that your Son brought to this world. Bless all those who are taking care of them, and those who are around them. May this world be filled with hope and love.

I ask this of you, for the greater glory of God, for your own honour and for the good of all people. Amen

Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be (three times)

Please do not forget to pray the Rosary these 9 days!

WORD 2day: 10th May, 2017

Carrying out Orders

Wednesday, 4th week in Easter

Acts 12:24 - 13:5; Jn 12: 44-50

I always love conducting the game, "Jesus Says" for kids. It is an adaptation of the famous scout game: SM Says. The kids are instructed to carry out any order that is given with the prefix, 'Jesus Says' - for instance, Jesus says Sit down or Jesus says Hands Up etc. They are not to carry out the orders that are without the prefix - for instance, sit down or hands up etc. It is fun but has an important message to give. If I am a true disciple of Christ I will do just what he says. Jesus did that: he did only what his Father said! 

It is one thing to do just what the Lord says. It is yet another thing, and more important, to do all that the Lord says! We become choosy at times, doing what suits and leaving what causes inconvenience. The first reading speaks to us of how the early Christian community paid heed to what the Lord had to say, and carried out orders to the dot. Has that tendency become extinct today? Do we hear, listen and attentively carry out orders from the Lord or are we busy making sure our own orders are carried out? How many local churches are in trouble these days, I wish not to pin the cause on anyone - the people or the ministers or the so-called bigwigs. But the reason is, we have moved far from carrying out the orders from the Lord. We have our own opinions and wishes to be fulfilled and justified.

Can we return to that original spirit of Carrying out Orders!