thots-n-lots

Tuesday, May 22, 2018

மே 23: எளிய மனத்தோர் யார்?

இறைவனில் தஞ்சம் புகுவோர் பேறுபெற்றோர்!

யாக் 4: 13-17; மாற் 9: 38-40

எளிய மனத்தோர் பேறுபெற்றோர் ஏனெனில் விண்ணரசு அவர்களதே (மத 5:3) - இது நாம் அறிந்ததே. ஆனால் எளிய மனத்தோர் என்பவர் யார்?இதையே இன்றைய இறைவார்த்தை நமக்கு தெளிவாய் எடுத்து கூறுகிறது! இறைவனை நம்பி வாழ்வோர், அவரது திருவுளம் நாடுவோர், அவரில் தஞ்சம் புகுவோரே எளிய மனத்தோர், அவர்களே பேறுபெற்றோர் என்கிறது இன்றைய வார்த்தை.

இம்மனநிலைக்கு எதிரான இரண்டு குணங்களை இறை வார்த்தை சாடுகிறது - ஒன்று, தற்பெருமை, இரண்டு பொறாமை. தற்பெருமை தன்னையே அனைத்திற்கும் மையமாக்கிக்கொள்ளும்; பொறாமை அடுத்தவரோடு என்னை ஒப்பிட்டு மன உளைச்சல் தரும்.

யாக்கோபு இன்று தற்பெருமைக்கு எதிராய் குரல் கொடுக்கிறார். என் வாழ்வு, என் முடிவுகள், என் சாதனைகள் என்று என்னையே நான் மையப்படுத்திக்கொண்டேன் என்றால் அங்கு இறைவனுக்கு இடமேது? எனக்கு தெரிந்த ஒரு நண்பர் - தன் வாழ்வின் அடுத்த 20-25 ஆண்டுகள் என்னென்ன நடக்க வேண்டும், எதை எதையெல்லாம் சாதிக்க வேண்டும் என்று தெளிவாய் தேதிகளோடு எழுதி வைத்துள்ளார்... வாழ்க்கைக்கென ஒரு திட்டம் வைத்திருப்பது சரியே, ஆனால் எல்லாம் என் கையில் தான் இருக்கிறது என்று பிதற்றும் போக்கு சற்று விந்தையானதே! அடுத்த நொடி என்ன நடக்கும் என்பதை இறைவனையன்றி யாரிவார்?

கிறிஸ்து தன் சீடர்களிடம் பொறாமையை குறித்து பேசாமல் பேசுகிறார்... தாங்களே கடவுளின் கொடைகளுக்கெல்லாம் தர்மகர்த்தாக்கள் போன்று எண்ணிக்கொள்ளும் சீடர்களை சற்று நிதானமாய் சிந்திக்க அழைக்கிறார். நம்மில் பலரும் கூட நாம் பெற்றிருப்பதை குறித்து மகிழ்வதை விட அடுத்தவர் பெற்றிருப்பதை குறித்து அங்கலாய்ப்பதிலே குறியாய் உள்ளோம். உண்மைதானே?

இரண்டு அழைப்புக்கள் இன்று:
1. அடுத்தவரோடு ஒப்பிட்டு பார்க்காதீர்கள்: உங்களுக்கே நீங்கள் தந்துகொள்ளும் தேவையில்லா தண்டனை அது!

2. தற்பெருமை கொள்ளாதீர்கள்: கடவுளை மையப்படுத்துங்கள், அவரை சார்ந்து வாழ கற்றுக்கொள்ளுங்கள், நன்றியுள்ளவர்களாய் மாறுங்கள்.

தற்பெருமை, பொறாமை - இவ்விரண்டு சோதனைகளை நாம் கடந்தால், புனிதத்தை நோக்கிய நமது பயணம் துரிதமடையும்!

MARY HELP OF CHRISTIANS-150 - NOVENA-Day 9

2018 - is a very special year! It is 150 years since the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians in Valdocco, Turin was consecrated, in 1868. We shall pray the Novena together this year... as loving children of the Help of Christians, and grow closer to our Saviour, Lord Jesus Christ.

23rd May, 2018 - Day 9

What Eve had destroyed, was created, through you, Holy Mary, once again in the Son, opening Heaven’s gate and giving refuge to the downcast.

BIBLE READING:

“When Jesus therefore had seen his mother and the disciple standing whom he loved, he says to his mother: Woman, behold your son. After that, he says to the disciple: Behold your mother. And from that hour, the disciple took her to his own.” (John 19: 26-27)

Mary Most Holy, lovingly consenting to the immolation of the Victim she bore, was given as a mother to the disciple and to all of us. The Virgin Mary is the Church's model of faith and charity. Mary, Help of Christians, cooperates in the work of the Redeemer to restore the supernatural life in souls.

“Behold, your Mother." (John 19: 27).

PRAYER:

O Mary, my most gracious Mother, at all times so ready to be the help of Christians, assist me with your powerful patronage throughout my life and especially at the hour of death. Grant that, having loved and revered you on earth, I may sing your mercies in Heaven. Amen.

(Remember your Intentions here)

Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory Be... Hail Holy Queen.
Mary, Help of Christians, Pray for us.

Prayer Concluding the Novena:

O God You who established the Mother of Your beloved Son as Mother and Help of Christians, grant, we beseech, that we may live under Your protection, and that the Church may rejoice in Your everlasting peace.Through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, in union with the Holy Spirit. Amen

Poor in Spirit - they depend on God

Wednesday, 7th week in Ordinary Time

23rd May, 2018: Jam 4: 13-17; Mk 9: 38-40

Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (Mt 5:3). How do we understand the expression 'poor in spirit'? The Word today has a simple description: they depend on God. Two traits that are enlisted as opposition or rebellion to God are Pride and Jealousy! Pride claims illegitimate credits for things; Jealousy detests anyone being better in comparison to me.

James hits out against pride, which claims that we are in control of our entire life! I know of a person who has planned in black and white his next two decades or so - all that he would do, where he would reach and so on! One thing is to have a plan, while it is totally another matter to be too sure about taking control of everything!

Jesus speaks of jealousy in subtle manner, without hurting the sentiments of his own apostles. He instructs them about not monopolising the role of being God's instruments! Anyone could be used by God, just as you could be! When you are used by God for God's purposes, rejoice and be glad. When someone else is used by God, give praise to God all the same!

This comes from two important qualities we need to develop:
1. Stop comparing... that is the worst punishment you can give yourself and lose all that you can truly cherish otherwise!
2. Place God at the centre, not yourself. Thus you will understand the great plan that exists not merely your petty thinking and childish accomplishments!

When we work out of these two temptations: of jealousy and pride, we would be well on our way to sanctity...for that is a sign that we depend on God, that we are poor in spirit, and the kingdom of heaven belongs to us!

Monday, May 21, 2018

MARY HELP OF CHRISTIANS-150 - NOVENA-Day 8

22nd May, 2018 - Day 8

Glorious Lady, more brilliant than the sun, at your breast you nourished the God who created thee.

BIBLE READING:

“Now there stood by the cross of Jesus, his mother and his mother's sister, Mary of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore had seen his mother and the disciple standing whom he loved, he says to his mother: Woman, behold your son. After that, he says to the disciple: Behold your mother. And from that hour, the disciple took her to his own.” (John 19: 25-27)

We can never forget the words of the dying Jesus, “Mother, behold thy son. Son, behold thy Mother." Before dying, he entrusted his mother Mary to his disciple so that the faithful might have such a Mother present in their last agony.

PRAYER:

O Mary, the Church's spiritual pillar and Help of Christians, I beseech you to keep me firm in the Divine Faith, and safeguard in me the freedom and dignity of God's children.

For my part I promise you never to stain my soul with sin, nor be a part of any society condemned by the Holy See. I promise you to obey the perennial teachings of the Church, since I want to live and die within the bosom of the Catholic Religion, the only one in which I can expect with certainty my eternal salvation. Amen

(Remember your Intentions here)

Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory Be... Hail Holy Queen.
Mary, Help of Christians, Pray for us.

The Battle Within

Tuesday, 7th week in Ordinary Time

22nd May, 2018: Jam 4: 1-10; Mk 9: 30-37

Both James and Jesus through the Word today, speak to us of the important battle that is waging within us, which determines much of the battles around us. The self seeking, self centered and self focused egoism, twists and twirls all our priorities and thus wrongly motivates our choices.

The worst of the conditions that we find today is the way the society prioritises. What is wrong if one thinks of one's own self fulfillment? The justification in terms of God-given capabilities and bringing them to their perfection is another rationalisation of this ego feeding. The Self or the Ego is being enshrined at the centre of human life as the most sacred thing that has to be preserved, promoted and pleased! If this is not idolatry, what is? Some are so worried about use of images and icons as being idolatrous, while they make of themselves saviours, mouth pieces of God, indispensable dispensers of the god-element, the doorways to god and so on...

The question is clear today: have you compromised on the place given to God in your life? Is God the first priority in your life? Is God, God's plan and God's will the most important criterion in all the choices you make? If it is so, then you are on a winning streak in the battle within... Kudos! March on!

மே 22: உனக்குள் நடக்கும் யுத்தம்

முடிவுகள் எடுக்கும் போது மேலோங்கி நிற்பது எது?

யாக். 4: 1-10; மாற் 9: 30-37

இன்று யாக்கோபும் இயேசுவும் நமக்குள் நடக்கும் ஒரு தொடர் யுத்தத்தை குறித்து நம்மிடம் பேசுகிறார்கள். நமக்குள் நடக்கும் இந்த யுத்தமே நம்மை சுற்றி நடக்கும் பல யுத்தங்களை நிர்ணயிக்கின்றது. தன்னலத்தையும் தன்மையப்படுத்துதலையும் முதன்மையாய் கொண்டு இயங்கும் மனநிலையால் வரும் யுத்தம் அது! தவறான முக்கியத்துவங்களினால் எடுக்கப்படும் தவறான முடிவுகளில் பிறக்கும் யுத்தம் அது.

இன்றைய சமூகத்தின் முக்கியத்துவங்களை அலசினால் நமது வாழ்வின் அவலம் புரியும். தனது மகிழ்ச்சியையும் தன்னிறைவையும் முன்னிறுத்துவதால் ஒருவர் என்ன தவறு செய்கிறார்? அதில் என்ன பெருங்குற்றம் இருக்கிறது?, என்று தெளிவாய் கேட்கிறது இன்றைய உலகம். கடவுள் நமக்கு கொடுத்த கொடைகளை பயன்படுத்தி நாம் வளர்கிறோம், நிறைவு காண்கிறோம் - இது குற்றமா? என்று கேட்கும் உலகம், கடவுள் கொடுத்ததை எல்லாம் எனக்காக மட்டுமா கொடுத்தார்... நான் மகிழ, நான் உயர, நான் நிறைவு பெற மட்டுமே கொடுத்தாரா? என்று கேட்க மறந்துவிடுகிறது! நான் என்ற எண்ணத்திற்கும், தான் என்ற அகந்தைக்கும் உரமிட்டு வளர்த்து தன்னையே உலகம் என்னும் கோவிலின் மூலஸ்தானத்திலே (மையத்தில்) தெய்வமாக்கிக்கொள்கிறது இன்றைய மனிதம். இதைவிட பெரிய உருவ வழிபாடு எது இருக்க முடியும்? உருவவழிபாடு இருக்கக்கூடாது என்று கூக்குரலிடும் பலரும் கூட இன்று தங்களையே தனி மனித வழிபாட்டுக்குரியவர்களாக்கி கொண்டு, தாங்களே கடவுளை ஏலத்திற்கு எடுத்துவிட்டவர்களை போல் பிதற்றும் மடமை இன்று அதிகம் ஆகிக்கொண்டே வருகிறது.

இன்று இறைவார்த்தை நம்மை கேட்கும் கேள்வி ஒன்று தான்: கடவுளுக்கு கொடுக்க வேண்டிய முதன்மை இடத்தை நான் வேறு ஏதாவது ஒன்றிற்கு தந்திருக்கின்றேனா? என்னை பொறுத்தவரை கடவுளன்றி வேறு யாரும் வேறு எதுவும் முதல் இடத்தை எடுக்க முடியாது என்பதில் நான் உறுதியாய் உள்ளேனா? அப்படி உறுதியாய் இருந்தால், தொடர்ந்து முன்செல்லுங்கள், இந்த உலகம் உங்களை திரும்பி பார்க்கும்!

MARY HELP OF CHRISTIANS-150 - NOVENA-Day 7

21st May, 2018 - Day 7

Praise be to God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit now and forever. Amen.

BIBLE READING:

“Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount that is called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, within a Sabbath day's journey. And when they had come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode Peter and John, James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James of Alpheus, Simon Zelotes, and Jude, the brother of James. All these were persevering with one mind in prayer with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.” (Acts 1: 12-14)

O Mary, teach us to pray, trust and persevere.

PRAYER:

O Mary, Mother of mercy, who so often saved Christians from the plague and other bodily scourges by your powerful intercession, help them and deliver them now from the plague of impiety and irreligion, which insinuates itself in a thousand ways into their souls keeping them from the Church and pious practices, especially through sects, the press and perverse schools. I humbly ask you to help the good, that they may persevere; strengthen the weak; call the wayward and sinners to repentance, so that the Truth and the Kingdom of Jesus Christ may triumph here on earth, thus increasing your glory and that of your Son, and saving souls. Amen

(Remember your Intentions here)

Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory Be... Hail Holy Queen.
Mary, Help of Christians, Pray for us.

Sunday, May 20, 2018

MARY - The Mother of the Church

A New Feast in the Family

Monday after the Pentecost - 21st May, 2018

Acts 1:12-14; Jn 19: 25-34

We celebrate a new memorial today in the Church, to be celebrated on the day following the Pentecost Sunday hereon - the memorial of Mary, Mother of the Church! The positioning of the feast is very crucial: the day after the Pentecost, to prolong the celebration of the Pentecost and to remain with the extraordinary event that took place, resulting in the genesis of the Church!

Mary is indisputably the Mother of the Church for the following three reasons:

1. Mary bore Jesus, the head of the Church: As the mother of the head of the Church, she naturally becomes the mother of the body of Christ - the Church. As she gave birth to Jesus and nourished him, so does she nourish each of us in our faith in Christ her son. As she brought up Jesus in wisdom and grace, so does she watch us mature in our faith and hope. As she cared for Jesus and protected him from all worldly perils (be it fleeing to Egypt or going in search of Jesus at Jerusalem), so does she care for us and protect us. THE PATRONESS AND PROTECTORESS OF THE CHURCH.

2. Jesus nominated her as the mother of his followers: While Jesus was about to culminate his divine moment of sacrifice to the Father, on the Cross, he deliberately nominated Mary as the mother of his followers! He looked at Johh, the beloved disciple who represented every beloved of Christ who would form his Church, and said, Behold your Mother! That was a parting gift, a final gesture of love and care towards his loved ones on earth. As Mary went home with John that day, so does she come home with everyone who accepts this gift from Jesus, she is there to guide us and accompany us. THE GUIDE AND MODEL OF THE CHURCH.

3. Mary was there holding the Apostles together, at the descent of the Spirit: Mary was one of the first members of the Church, right at its origin. Just yesterday we celebrated the birthday of the Church - I wonder how some conveniently forget one important person who was at the centre of it all. How can there be the Church without Mary! She was united, in fact she united the disciples in prayer until the Spirit came! The Holy Spirit was no stranger to Mary. Her faith journey began with the rendezvous with the Spirit. Mary unites us as one of us and as a person filled with the Spirit! A MEMBER OF THE CHURCH AND A SPIRIT-FILLED PERSON.

Note that the three reasons that we just saw, are all from the Word of God, so faithfully cherished by the Tradition of the Church. The Feast that is instituted this year is not merely an invention of fantasy - but a profound reflection of the Word and its impact on our faith. Let us cherish out Blessed Mother, the Mother of God, Our Mother and the Mother of the Church!

Saturday, May 19, 2018

MARY HELP OF CHRISTIANS-150 - NOVENA-Day 6

20th May, 2018 - Day 6

Keep our life all spotless, make our way secure till we find in Jesus, joy for evermore.

BIBLE READING:

The Lord “is your praise, and your God, that has done for you these great and terrible things, which your eyes have seen.” (Deut. 10:21)

In fact, God, gazing at the humility of his faithful servant, Mary Most Holy, gave us through her the Savior of all men, Our Lord Jesus Christ.

"O Mary, grant us the grace to imitate thy love of God and neighbor."

PRAYER:

O Mary, Queen of the Apostles, take under thy precious protection the Sacred Ministers and all the faithful of the Catholic Church, obtain for them the spirit of unity, and fervent zeal for the salvation of souls; particularly extend your loving help to missionaries, so they may lead all peoples of the earth to the true faith. Thus may the world become one fold under the guidance of only one Shepherd, Our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen

(Remember your Intentions here)

Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory Be... Hail Holy Queen.
Mary, Help of Christians, Pray for us.

Come Holy Spirit

Fire, Fruits and Friendship

Pentecost Sunday - 20th May 2018

Acts 2:1-11; Gal 5: 16-25; Jn 20: 19-23

Welcome to the Birthday bash of the One Holy Apostolic Church! Thousands of small communities of the people of God chosen by God, saved by the Word and animated by the Spirit might exist in the world today - the origin is the One Holy Spirit, the One Spirit of communion and courage, the One Spirit of conviction and consolation who underlies every good thing that comes from God. Hence...let us wish each other today a happy birthday, because we were reborn in the Spirit as the people of God. When Jesus said, unless one is born again in the Spirit of God, one cannot enter the Reign of God - this is what the Lord meant: to receive the Spirit - the fire, the fruits and the friendship that comes from the Spirit.

We need the holy Spirit, now more than ever! Look around us...

Injustice, inhumanity, cruelties, insensitivities, insincerity, exploitation, corruption, dehumanisation, abuse, sexual perversion, self seeking, money mindedness, materialism, relativism, consumerism, egoism, fundamentalism, fanaticism... every thing working against Truth and Justice! Sinfulness has become the order of the day and every day the level of sinfulness keeps rising and nothing matters anymore than the capacity to fend for oneself.

We need the FIRE of the Holy Spirit to convict each of us and give us the courage to face the Truth! The fire that burns the evil away and the fire that lights up the true Christian way! The fire that was set in our hearts at our baptism, the fire that we were commissioned to keep burning till we return to the Lord, that we may see our way and show it to our brothers and sisters, friends and neighbours.

We need the holy Spirit, now more than ever! What difference can we make...

When selfishness is justified and glorified as success mindset, when violence is looked upon as a way to make one's dreams come true, when money and wealth come before humanity and peace, when politics means nothing but dominating the masses in whichever inhuman means possible, when happiness means pleasure and excitement at the cost of anything and anyone, when love means possessing and marriage means a contract, what difference are we called to make today as people of the Spirit?

We need the FRUITS of the Holy Spirit, that we may live true love and teach it to the world, that we may have the inner joy and show it to those around, that we may spread peace that creates heaven where we are, that we may have the patience to endure the evils holding firm to the good, that we may possess the kindness to see beyond the failures of people, that we may have the generosity to give of ourselves for the good of the other and the entire humanity, that we may ever be faithful to the One who has called us and commissioned us, that we may challenge the violent world with our gentleness, that we may possess the self control that puts us in control of everything else - this is the difference we are called to make - can we?

We need the holy Spirit, now more than ever! How do we picture ourselves...

As people of the Spirit, people of God, people of Redemption, our identity has to be different from that of the world. The world identifies itself with power, possession and prestige. Persons are ready to do anything to have power - power over others, power over means of wealth, power over systems and power over everyone else! The craze to possess, ruins any humanity that could be. To possess things and to possess persons have come to mean the same and the world differentiates no more one from the other. Prestige and ego, seem to rule everything and the society seems ready to sacrifice anything for it.

We need the FRIENDSHIP of the Holy Spirit, to understand the true identity that we have. We are friends - friends of God, friends to each other, friends to the needy and broken! It is the Spirit that gives us the heart and the capacity it takes to be friends... the Spirit unites, makes us understood by each other, synchronises our thoughts, synergises our capacities and moulds us together as One People of God. Where there is division and hatred, there is no Spirit because the Spirit of God, is the Spirit of love and wisdom, communion and friendship.

Yes, let us pray together this day:

Come Holy Spirit, we need thee!

We need your Fire to burn and light up,

We need your Fruits to raise this world up,

We need your Friendship to truly grow up!

Come Holy Spirit, we need thee!