Never forget the deeds of the Lord.
The paralytic was able to come to Jesus because of the goodwill of his friends. Neither the huge crowd nor the roof of the building would stop them from brining their suffering friend to Jesus. They were ready to undergo any risk provided they could reach their goal. It was their faith in Jesus’ power and their goodwill to help the helpless that made it possible for Jesus to heal the paralytic. Even today many people around us are waiting to come to Jesus for physical, spiritual and mental healing. They, on their own, may not be able to reach Jesus. We, the believers, have the duty to bring them to Jesus so that the miracle of healing can continue to take place through us.
“Today God does nothing without human cooperation; if God works a miracle today, it is done through man.” – Paracelsus
Friday, January 14, 2011
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
13th January, 2011
O that today you would listen to his voice! ‘Harden not your hearts.’
The reading from Hebrews presents Jesus as the High Priest who suffers in every way. He suffers in order to free those who are suffering. He undergoes death in order to destroy the power of death. Unlike the High Priest of the Old Testament, he becomes one like the people he came to redeem.
The gospel story of today shows how Jesus, with compassion and love, reaches out to a leper, a person who had no status and rights in the society, by stretching out his hand and touching him. We thus have a High Priest who sympathizes with us in every way and understands our sufferings and struggles and brings us healing and salvation through his suffering and death.
“Unless you are deliberately kind to every creature, you will often to cruel to many.” – John Ruskin
The reading from Hebrews presents Jesus as the High Priest who suffers in every way. He suffers in order to free those who are suffering. He undergoes death in order to destroy the power of death. Unlike the High Priest of the Old Testament, he becomes one like the people he came to redeem.
The gospel story of today shows how Jesus, with compassion and love, reaches out to a leper, a person who had no status and rights in the society, by stretching out his hand and touching him. We thus have a High Priest who sympathizes with us in every way and understands our sufferings and struggles and brings us healing and salvation through his suffering and death.
“Unless you are deliberately kind to every creature, you will often to cruel to many.” – John Ruskin
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
12th January, 2011
The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
Jesus the divine healer is at work. He starts with his most familiar environment - the home of Peter. He heals Peter's mother-in-law of her fever. It is significant that, she after being healed, took the initiative to serve Jesus and his friends.
Being anointed and healed is our baptism, we are made servants of the community. Our discipleship of Jesus makes us partners in his mission as servants of the Word and the community.
"Jesus never intended his Church to be a refrigerator in which to preserve perishable piety. He intended it to be an incubator in which to hatch converts" - F. Lincicome.
Jesus the divine healer is at work. He starts with his most familiar environment - the home of Peter. He heals Peter's mother-in-law of her fever. It is significant that, she after being healed, took the initiative to serve Jesus and his friends.
Being anointed and healed is our baptism, we are made servants of the community. Our discipleship of Jesus makes us partners in his mission as servants of the Word and the community.
"Jesus never intended his Church to be a refrigerator in which to preserve perishable piety. He intended it to be an incubator in which to hatch converts" - F. Lincicome.
Monday, January 10, 2011
11th January, 2011
You gave your Son power over the works of your hand.
Jesus is the Son of God with all the powers of heaven and earth and as God would, he exercised his authority with love, gentleness, compassion and mercy. He preached what he practiced, and practiced what he stood for, unlike the authorities of this world. He exercised his authority in full obedience to His father’s will. In Jesus we have an authority figure that goes so far as to give his very life for others.
All of us, in one way or the other, also exercise authority, whether it be as a parent, an elder brother or sister, teacher or in our workplace. Jesus is our example and guide in the exercise of our authority.
“What others think of me is becoming less and less important; what they think of Jesus because of me is critical.” – Cliff Richard.
Jesus is the Son of God with all the powers of heaven and earth and as God would, he exercised his authority with love, gentleness, compassion and mercy. He preached what he practiced, and practiced what he stood for, unlike the authorities of this world. He exercised his authority in full obedience to His father’s will. In Jesus we have an authority figure that goes so far as to give his very life for others.
All of us, in one way or the other, also exercise authority, whether it be as a parent, an elder brother or sister, teacher or in our workplace. Jesus is our example and guide in the exercise of our authority.
“What others think of me is becoming less and less important; what they think of Jesus because of me is critical.” – Cliff Richard.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
10th January, 2011
All you angels worship the Lord.
One of the very first things Jesus does as he begins proclaiming the good news of God is to call a group of men to be with him. This means that the preaching of the kingdom will not be the sole responsibility of Jesus alone. He forsees a time when an intimate group will do the proclaiming after they have been instructed in the mysteries of the kingdom. The call, “Come after me,” is really an invitation to discipleship. Simon and Andrew, James and John are to followJesus to be with him, to listen to his teachings, to witness to his miracles and mighty acts.
It is, however, also connected with the prospect of Jesus’ passion: “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross and follow me.”
One of the very first things Jesus does as he begins proclaiming the good news of God is to call a group of men to be with him. This means that the preaching of the kingdom will not be the sole responsibility of Jesus alone. He forsees a time when an intimate group will do the proclaiming after they have been instructed in the mysteries of the kingdom. The call, “Come after me,” is really an invitation to discipleship. Simon and Andrew, James and John are to followJesus to be with him, to listen to his teachings, to witness to his miracles and mighty acts.
It is, however, also connected with the prospect of Jesus’ passion: “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross and follow me.”
9th January, 2011
The Lord will bless his people with peace.
Among those who came to John for baptism was also Jesus, the Son of God. Jesus had no need for baptism as John himself says, “It is I who needs baptism from you.” Why did Jesus then approach John for baptism? The answer is found in the larger picture of the Incarnation itself. There was no strict necessity for Jesus to become a human being to save us. God could have saved us through many other ways, but he chose the path of being one with humanity, being in solidarity with us in everything except sin, taking upon himself our weaknesses, pains, sorrows and struggles.
Baptism is thus one of the ways he expresses his solidarity with us. In the same way he will undergo sufferings and death later to complete the redemptive work. Our own baptism reminds us of our oneness with God and our fellowship with the people of God. Like Jesus we too are specially favoured by God and are infused by the Spirit from above. This equips and challenges us to be the messengers of God’s love and compassion.
“The day when a person is baptized is more important than the day when a person is ordained priest or bishop.” – Raymond E. Brown
Among those who came to John for baptism was also Jesus, the Son of God. Jesus had no need for baptism as John himself says, “It is I who needs baptism from you.” Why did Jesus then approach John for baptism? The answer is found in the larger picture of the Incarnation itself. There was no strict necessity for Jesus to become a human being to save us. God could have saved us through many other ways, but he chose the path of being one with humanity, being in solidarity with us in everything except sin, taking upon himself our weaknesses, pains, sorrows and struggles.
Baptism is thus one of the ways he expresses his solidarity with us. In the same way he will undergo sufferings and death later to complete the redemptive work. Our own baptism reminds us of our oneness with God and our fellowship with the people of God. Like Jesus we too are specially favoured by God and are infused by the Spirit from above. This equips and challenges us to be the messengers of God’s love and compassion.
“The day when a person is baptized is more important than the day when a person is ordained priest or bishop.” – Raymond E. Brown
Friday, January 7, 2011
8th January, 2011
The Lord takes delight in his people.
John knows his mission very well. He is the best man of the bridegroom who rejoices with him. John’s awareness of his role, his joy in the presence of the messiah and his humility make him the greatest person born of a woman as Jesus testified him of. John is a model for anyone entrusted with any type of responsibility – in the family, in the community, in the Church, in the school, in the office…
The slogan “He must increase, I must decrease” can bring about real change in the world that goes after power, position, authority, wealth and fame.
“Humility like darkness reveals the heavenly light.” – Henry D. Thoreau
John knows his mission very well. He is the best man of the bridegroom who rejoices with him. John’s awareness of his role, his joy in the presence of the messiah and his humility make him the greatest person born of a woman as Jesus testified him of. John is a model for anyone entrusted with any type of responsibility – in the family, in the community, in the Church, in the school, in the office…
The slogan “He must increase, I must decrease” can bring about real change in the world that goes after power, position, authority, wealth and fame.
“Humility like darkness reveals the heavenly light.” – Henry D. Thoreau
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