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
7th January, 2011
O Praise the Lord, Jerusalem!
“If you will, you can make me clean,” cried out the leper. Jesus stretched out his hand, toughed him and healed him. The leper suffered from two ailments: physical due to the disease of leprosy and mental due to social and religious expulsion. In his frustration, he called out to the Lord as the last ray hope of being healed.
He was amply rewarded for his trust in the power of the Lord. By touching him and healing him, the Lord restored both his physical health and his human dignity in the community. Jesus the divine healer is our refuge in our sufferings and problems, and he in his turn commissions us to extend our hands of healing to the teeming humanity who suffer in one way or the other.
“Compassion has converted more sinners than zeal, eloquence and learning.” – Frederick W. Faber.
“If you will, you can make me clean,” cried out the leper. Jesus stretched out his hand, toughed him and healed him. The leper suffered from two ailments: physical due to the disease of leprosy and mental due to social and religious expulsion. In his frustration, he called out to the Lord as the last ray hope of being healed.
He was amply rewarded for his trust in the power of the Lord. By touching him and healing him, the Lord restored both his physical health and his human dignity in the community. Jesus the divine healer is our refuge in our sufferings and problems, and he in his turn commissions us to extend our hands of healing to the teeming humanity who suffer in one way or the other.
“Compassion has converted more sinners than zeal, eloquence and learning.” – Frederick W. Faber.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
6th January, 2011
All nations shall fall prostrate before you, O Lord.
It was the inaugural speech of Jesus – his mission statement. Being filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, he spoke like one who has a radical mission – the mission of liberating the oppressed and freeing the captives and ushering in an era of peace and total wellness. Jesus, through his life, death and resurrection brought about this liberation. But his mission continues through his followers. The same Spirit that empowered Jesus is in us, empowering and challenging us to bring the fruits of liberation to the people of our generation.
“Before Christ sent the Church into the world, he sent the Spirit into the Church. The same order must be observed today.” – John R.W. Stott
It was the inaugural speech of Jesus – his mission statement. Being filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, he spoke like one who has a radical mission – the mission of liberating the oppressed and freeing the captives and ushering in an era of peace and total wellness. Jesus, through his life, death and resurrection brought about this liberation. But his mission continues through his followers. The same Spirit that empowered Jesus is in us, empowering and challenging us to bring the fruits of liberation to the people of our generation.
“Before Christ sent the Church into the world, he sent the Spirit into the Church. The same order must be observed today.” – John R.W. Stott
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
5th January, 2011
All nations shall fall prostrate before you, O Lord.
The disciples are terrified by the strong wind that has hit their boat. But the Lord comes walking towards them and his presence brings peace, and calms the wind. He tells them: "Take courage, it is I, do not afraid!"
There are storms in our lives too - storms of sorrow, doubt, tension, uncertainty, anxiety, worries, anger, despair and temptations. Storms reveal our inability to handle ourselves and so we have to place our trust in the one who has power over every situation in life. The presence of Jesus gives us peace even in high tides of our life. This, however, demands a child-like faith in God and in his providence.
"What is more elevating and transporting than the generosity of heart which risks everything on God's word?" - Cardinal Newman
The disciples are terrified by the strong wind that has hit their boat. But the Lord comes walking towards them and his presence brings peace, and calms the wind. He tells them: "Take courage, it is I, do not afraid!"
There are storms in our lives too - storms of sorrow, doubt, tension, uncertainty, anxiety, worries, anger, despair and temptations. Storms reveal our inability to handle ourselves and so we have to place our trust in the one who has power over every situation in life. The presence of Jesus gives us peace even in high tides of our life. This, however, demands a child-like faith in God and in his providence.
"What is more elevating and transporting than the generosity of heart which risks everything on God's word?" - Cardinal Newman
4th January, 2011
All nations shall fall prostrate before you, O Lord.
It was a critical situation - a deserted place, the day was over, and the crowd was too large and hungry. And they had no way of getting food in that deserted place at such late hour of the day. Jesus places a challenge before the disciples: "You give them something yourselves." An impossible call indeed! But the one with the five loaves and two fish thought otherwise and made it possible. That results in the great miracle.
God works His miracle when when we show goodwill to be generous and sharing. And that's the key to diffusing any hopeless situation. The Lord challenges us today: "You give them something yourselves." How willing and generous am I to help the needy and minimize hunger of any kind in the world? "The road to Jericho today, the road to the Good Samaritan runs through every under-developed country." - Michael Quoist
It was a critical situation - a deserted place, the day was over, and the crowd was too large and hungry. And they had no way of getting food in that deserted place at such late hour of the day. Jesus places a challenge before the disciples: "You give them something yourselves." An impossible call indeed! But the one with the five loaves and two fish thought otherwise and made it possible. That results in the great miracle.
God works His miracle when when we show goodwill to be generous and sharing. And that's the key to diffusing any hopeless situation. The Lord challenges us today: "You give them something yourselves." How willing and generous am I to help the needy and minimize hunger of any kind in the world? "The road to Jericho today, the road to the Good Samaritan runs through every under-developed country." - Michael Quoist
3rd January, 2011
I will give you the nations for your heritage.
Prophet Isaiah had foretold about the Lord’s coming as a great light that would shine on a people sitting in darkness. Jesus would later describe himself: “I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (Jn 8:20). Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, whose coming brings light to those who walked in darkness.
Light and darkness are two opposing principles like good and evil. Light brightens things up, gives energy to living beings and makes them grow. Christ the light brings us joy, and frees us of all evil powers. “It would scarcely be necessary to expand doctrine if our lives were radiant enough. If we behaved liked true Christians, there would be no pagans." - Bl. Pope John XXIII
Prophet Isaiah had foretold about the Lord’s coming as a great light that would shine on a people sitting in darkness. Jesus would later describe himself: “I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (Jn 8:20). Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, whose coming brings light to those who walked in darkness.
Light and darkness are two opposing principles like good and evil. Light brightens things up, gives energy to living beings and makes them grow. Christ the light brings us joy, and frees us of all evil powers. “It would scarcely be necessary to expand doctrine if our lives were radiant enough. If we behaved liked true Christians, there would be no pagans." - Bl. Pope John XXIII
2nd Jaunary, 2011
All nations shall fall prostrate before you, O Lord.
Jesus Christ did not leave anything in writing nor did he command his disciples to write down his teachings. What we know of Jesus from the Gospels and other New Testament writings came from what was remembered, reflected upon, and transmitted by witnesses from the beginning and the ministers of the Word. When the evangelists wrote the gospels, it was not only to preserve what Jesus taught and did but also to enlighten believers in their living of the Christian faith. Words and deeds of Jesus that could serve as inspiration or enlightenment in the life situation of Christians were easily recalled.
When Mathew was writing his gospel, the good news of salvation was already being preached, first to Israel, and then to the other nations, that is, the pagans. The proclamation was met by two kinds of responses: some believed and came to worship the Saviour, others rejected the message. The Jews as a whole did not accept Jesus as the Messiah while many of the pagans did. The pagans deprived of sacred Scriptures, have knowledge of God only through nature (Rom 1:19-20). And so the magi receive a revelation through astrology.
The story of the magi, therefore, is a miniature gospel. Already it presents Jesus as a sign that is contradicted, a cause for the fall of some but the rise of others, as Simeon prophesies of him (Lk 2:34). In the words of St. Paul, “God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing, things that are, so that no one might boast in the presence of God” (1Cor 1:28-29).
The solemnity of Epiphany elicits in us praise and thanksgiving to God who has revealed his Son to all, on no merit of anyone. The revelation to the magi is a sign that the “Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and co-partners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel” (Eph 3:6).
Jesus Christ did not leave anything in writing nor did he command his disciples to write down his teachings. What we know of Jesus from the Gospels and other New Testament writings came from what was remembered, reflected upon, and transmitted by witnesses from the beginning and the ministers of the Word. When the evangelists wrote the gospels, it was not only to preserve what Jesus taught and did but also to enlighten believers in their living of the Christian faith. Words and deeds of Jesus that could serve as inspiration or enlightenment in the life situation of Christians were easily recalled.
When Mathew was writing his gospel, the good news of salvation was already being preached, first to Israel, and then to the other nations, that is, the pagans. The proclamation was met by two kinds of responses: some believed and came to worship the Saviour, others rejected the message. The Jews as a whole did not accept Jesus as the Messiah while many of the pagans did. The pagans deprived of sacred Scriptures, have knowledge of God only through nature (Rom 1:19-20). And so the magi receive a revelation through astrology.
The story of the magi, therefore, is a miniature gospel. Already it presents Jesus as a sign that is contradicted, a cause for the fall of some but the rise of others, as Simeon prophesies of him (Lk 2:34). In the words of St. Paul, “God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing, things that are, so that no one might boast in the presence of God” (1Cor 1:28-29).
The solemnity of Epiphany elicits in us praise and thanksgiving to God who has revealed his Son to all, on no merit of anyone. The revelation to the magi is a sign that the “Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and co-partners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel” (Eph 3:6).
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