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.

NOVENA TO DON BOSCO - DAY 3

24th January, 2017: Don Bosco - A Beloved Son of Mary 

Our Challenge: That we true sons of the Blessed Mother, who carried out God's will diligently. 

Our Prayer:

Lord God, thank you for Don Bosco, a man who identified himself as a beloved son of Mary. In every stage of his life and in every one of his endeavours he felt the maternal presence of the Blessed Mother. Grant that we may recommend ourselves totally to our Heavenly Mother, that we may be guided, protected and directed towards doing your will with utmost diligence. We make this prayer through Christ our Lord. 

UNITY OCTAVE 2017 - DAY 7

The Love of Christ compels us

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

Reconciliation between God and human beings is the key reality of our Christian faith. Paul was convinced that the love of Christ compels us to bring God’s reconciliation to bear in all aspects of our life. Today this leads us to examine our consciences in relation to our divisions. As the story of Joseph demonstrates, God always gives the grace needed for the healing of broken relationships.

The great reformers such as Martin Luther, Ulrich Zwingli and John Calvin, as well as many who remained Catholics, such as Ignatius of Loyola, Francis de Sales and Charles Borromeo, sought to bring about renewal in the Western church. However, what should have been a story of God’s grace was also marred by human sinfulness and became a story of the rending of the unity of God’s people. Compounded by sin and warfare, mutual hostility and suspicion deepened over the centuries.

The ministry of reconciliation includes the work of overcoming divisions within Christianity. Today, many Christian churches work together in mutual trust and respect. One positive example of ecumenical reconciliation is the dialogue between the Lutheran World Federation and the Mennonite World Conference. After the dialogue results were published in the document “Healing Memories: Reconciling in Christ”, the two organizations held a penitential service together in 2010 followed by further reconciliation services throughout Germany and in many other countries.

THEME FOR DAY 7: THE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION (2 Cor 5:18,19)

REFERENCES:

Genesis 50:15-21	Joseph is reconciled with his brothers
Psalm 72	God’s kingdom brings righteousness and peace
1 John 3:16b-21	God’s love compels us to love one another
John 17:20-26	Jesus prays for the unity of his church

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.

THE WORD AND THE SAINT

What you call 'formalities'...

Celebrating St. Francis de Sales - 24th Jan, 2017

Heb 10: 1-10; Mk 3:31-35

I remember, quite some time back, when I got to know a new person in life... it was a strange experience. The person would apologise for even a small or simple fault. The person would endlessly go on giving explanations and justifications for some thing that happened or something that did not happen - at times to the extent of wearying me. However, I was totally aware those were 'necessary formalities' of politeness, the relationship being at the initial stages. The readings today seem to speak of a similar experience of what you call 'formalities' with God! When our relationship with God has still not set off on its way to maturity, we would weary God with our formalities of rituals, rites and legalities. But when we build a true and personal relationship with God, we would mind nothing more than a bonding - like mother-child, like brother-brother, like brother-sister, like friends and so on! 

St. Francis of Sales, is known to be a person of such material: gentle, God-loving and intimately related to God, a person of sweet and deep spirituality. He could attract people with his sweetness, direct them to the same, everything in a deep relationship with the Lord. The challenge that he poses us today is to grow out of 'formalities' with God as soon as possible and concentrate on, listening to God's words and living it everyday.

NOVENA TO DON BOSCO - DAY 2

23rd January, 2017: Don Bosco - A Shepherd of the Young 

Our Challenge: That we become shepherds in our own way, to the young and to our peers.

Our Prayer:

Lord God, thank you for Don Bosco, a man who was capable of leading the young to their divine Shepherd. Grant us the grace to lead the young towards the fullness of life. May we never become a scandal to others, especially to the young. May we become an inspiration to our peers and all those who are around us. We make this prayer through Christ our Lord. 

UNITY OCTAVE 2017 - DAY 6

The Love of Christ compels us

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

Reconciliation has two sides: it is fascinating and terrifying at the same time. It draws us in so that we desire it: within ourselves, with one another, and between our different confessional traditions. We see the price and it scares us. For reconciliation means renouncing our desire for power and recognition. In Christ God graciously reconciles us to himself even though we have turned away from him. God's action goes beyond even this: God reconciles not only humanity, but the whole of creation to himself.

In the Old Testament God was faithful and merciful to the people of Israel, with whom he established a covenant. This covenant remains: “the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable” (Rom 11:29). Jesus, who inaugurated the new covenant in his blood, was a son of Israel. Too often in history our churches have failed to honor this. After the Holocaust, it is the distinctive task of the German churches to combat antisemitism. Similarly all churches are called to bring forth reconciliation in their communities and resist all forms of human discrimination, for we are all part of God’s covenant.

THEME FOR DAY 6: GOD HAS RECONCILED US TO HIMSELF (2 Cor 5:18)

References: Genesis 17:1-8	God makes a covenant with Abraham
Psalm 98	The world has seen the victory of God
Romans 5:6-11	God reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ
Luke 2:8-14	Proclamation of the good news

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.

WORD 2day: 23rd January, 2017

The Promise of the New Covenant

Monday, 3rd week in Ordinary Time

Heb 9:15, 24-28; Mk 3: 22-30

Jesus' promise of the New Covenant is a promise of eternal salvation. The Word affirms that this salvation is given to all, by that sacrifice once and for all, on Calvary. Every one is promised forgiveness and salvation, but every person has to claim that salvation for oneself. There can be three blocks that can prevent a person from personalising this salvation. The first is the social block - that the background and experience handed down does not allow one to experience this salvation. This can be overcome by a new experience that can change the entire life of a person. The second is the personal block - that the weaknesses within us, the limitations that we personally experience keeps us away from God. But this can be worked out of, with the grace of God. The third is a psuedo block because of which I deliberately keep myself away from God. It is my lack of openness and unspiritual bias that takes me far from the promise of the New Covenant.