Walk in the Spirit February 2020

WALK IN THE SPIRIT

February 2020

Issue 336

Commencement March 1992

"Abba Father ! Abba Mother!"

ISSN 1391-5967

Publication:

Fr. Siri Oscar Abayaratne

Kithu Dana Pubuduwa

SHARING ON PRAYER

February 2020

It seems to me that February is a unique

month that surface important happenings that

I should not forget or ignore as far as I am

concerned. My ordination to the priesthood is

one such event that took place in the month of

February.

Everyone has his or her own month. I could

take a look at the life of Jesus or even the Blessed

Mother for whom there would have been

months of importance. For Jesus the month of

His birth, the month of His passion, death and

resurrection stands commandingly important.

One could say that for Jesus there was no day

that was not important. Everyday He was with

the Abba. What was of more concern for Jesus

than the experience of the Father.

May the Holy Spirit lead us to make every

year, month and day, years and months and

days, moments of oneness with the Abba. It is

only the Holy Spirit who could draw me close

to the Abba.

Fr. Siri Oscar Abayaratne

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Saturday 1st February 2020

2 Samuel:12/1-7,10-17

Psalm:50/12-17

(51/10-15)

Mark:4/35-41

Gospel Proclamation

On that day, when evening had

come, he said to them: “Let us go

cross to the other side.” ... A great

wind storm arose, ... so that the boat

was already being swamped. But he

was in the stern, asleep on the cushion

and they woke him and said to him,

“Teacher, do you not care that we are

perishing?” He woke up and rebuked

the wind, and said to the sea, “Quiet!

Be still!” Then the wind ceased and

there was a dead calm. He said to

them, “Why are you afraid? Have you

still no faith?” And they were filled

with great awe and said to one another,

“Who then is this, that even wind and

sea obey him?”

Prayerful Awareness

Jesus was sleeping when the boat

got caught in a storm. Disciples did not

know that Jesus was the Son of God, and

were helpless, not knowing what to do.

Finally they woke up Jesus as He was

their leader, saying they were perishing.

They were amazed when Jesus rebuked

the wind and quietened the sea. They

witnessed the power the words of Jesus

had. Jesus rebuked the disciples for their

lack of faith, the lack of knowledge and

trust in Jesus. This happens even now

with some of our people who still do not

know Jesus. They may know Him as the

Second Person of the Holy Trinity. They

may know Him as the Messiah who came

down from heaven to save mankind from

sin. Yet they may not know Him as their

Saviour, as the only person who is prepared

to give His life to save them due

"Abba Father! Abba Mother!"

to His great Love for them, as and when

they ask for His help. The only thing Jesus

asks from them in return is “Keep my

commandments’’. This is why in John

14:15 He said “If you love me, follow all

my Commandments ” And when we do

that He intervenes for us and takes steps

to grant us the Best Gift - the Advocate,

the Holy Spirit (John 14: 16). When the

Holy Spirit comes to dwell in us, He

will give us the gifts of Love, joy, peace,

patience, wisdom, kindness, generosity,

faithfulness, gentleness, self-control

(Galatians 5: 22-23). Let us talk to Jesus

and ask for His help to know Him better,

to build a personal relationship with Him

as our Leader, our Lord and our Best

Friend. Let us start a new life and practice

following His Commandments, and be

guided by His teachings, accepting Him

as our Teacher, our Leader, our Friend

and Lord waiting to help us whenever

we ask for His help with faith, without

any doubt (James 1:6).

The First Reading speaks to us on

how King David accepted his sin and

repented when Nathan the Prophet told

him and unveiled the sin he committed

in secret. How well do we accept the

faults and sins we commit knowingly or

unknowingly or our weaknesses when

someone else points it out to us. Do we

try to correct ourselves and repent for our

sins and ask for Lord’s forgiveness for

doing things against His LOVE. Let us

repent and change, and make our voyage

to become pious as far as possible, to

reap salvation, purifying ourselves little

by little with the help of the Holy Spirit,

our Helper and Counselor.

Prayer Starter

Have mercy on me, Almighty God and

our ever Loving Father, Reveal to us all

our secret sins, faults and weak nesses

and help us to repent and ask for Your

forgiveness with the Help of the Holy

Spirit. Wipe away my offenses, wash me

clean from my guilt, purify me from my

sin. Amen .

Sunday 2nd February 2020

Malachi:3/1-4

Psalm:23/7-10

(24/7-10)

Hebrews:2/14-18

Luke:2/22-40 OR

2/22-32

Introduction

Today, forty days after celebrating

the birth of our Lord Jesus, we celebrate

yet another special feast. Holy Mother

the Church is inviting us today to celebrate

the blessed moment of the infant

Jesus being offered in the temple of

God. On this feast day we commemorate

another manifestation of the Lord Jesus.

He is the light of the people of God as

well as the glory of the Israelites, the

chosen people of God. Also He is a contradictory

sign in comparison to what the

world admires. We too who are followers

of Christ are being invited through the

celebration of the day to bear the light of

Christ to the world where we are called

to be contradictory signs since accomplishing

our duties sincerely, faithfully

and righteously could be a contradiction

before the world. Therefore pleading

with the Lord to turn us into angels of

light carrying the light of Christ to the

world, let us reflect on the word of God

for the day.

The First Proclamation

See, I am sending my messenger

to prepare the way before me, and the

Lord whom you seek will suddenly

come to his temple. The messenger of

the covenant in whom you delight -

indeed, he is coming, says the Lord of

hosts. But who can endure the day of

his coming, and who can stand when

he appears?

Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time

The Presentation of the Lord

For he is like a refiner's fire and

like fullers' soap; he will sit as a refiner

and purifier of silver, and he will

purify the descendants of Levi and

refine them like gold and silver, until

they present offerings to the Lord in

righteousness. Then the offering of

Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing

to the Lord as in the days of old and

as in former years.

Prayerful Awareness

In an unjust social context one of

the many questions that had come up

was "Where is the God who is just?"

And the response given by the prophet

is "the angel of the covenant whom you

are longing for is coming." The promise

stated by the prophets in the years of

old (Jeremiah 31:31) is unfolded again

before the people. With regard to the

feast celebrated today it has already been

manifested to the world. Also the prophet

reveals that in the same manner the

Israelites of old experienced immense

protection and security throughout their

wilderness journey the people of the new

covenant too will be welcomed by the

Lord as in former days.

The Gospel Proclamation

When the time came for their purification

according to the Law of Moses,

they brought him up to Jerusalem

to present him to the Lord …. and they

offered a sacrifice according to what

is stated in the law of the Lord, a pair

of turtle-doves or two young pigeons."

Now there was a man in Jerusalem

whose name was Simeon; this man

was righteous and devout; looking

forward to the consolation of Israel

and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It

had been revealed to him by the Holy

Spirit that he would not see death before

he had seen the Lord's Messiah.

… Simeon took him in his arms and

praised God, saying, "Master, now

you are dismissing your servant in


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peace, according to your word; for my

eyes have seen your salvation which

you have prepared in the presence

of all peoples, a light for revelation

to the Gentiles and for glory to your

people Israel.'

Prayerful Awareness

According to the Jewish Law, when

a male child completes 40 days of his

birth purification rites should be accomplished

during which a lamb of one year

is be offered as the blood sacrifice and s

turtledove or s young pigeon as the sin

offering. Those who could not afford

this could offer either a pair of turtledoves

or two young pigeons of which

the former was as the blood sacrifice and

the latter as the sin offering.

Also in connection with a Jewish

first born male child there was another

ritual of consecrating the child to God

(Exodus 13/1-2). Thus the infant Jesus

too was dedicated to God in the temple.

On this day there was an action

of God that took place surpassing the

traditional rite which was the fulfillment

of the expectations of the people

of God who were attuned to His voice

from of old and awaiting the advent of

the Messiah. Accordingly, the just man

Simeon, through the inspiration of the

Holy Spirit saw how the promises of

God that had been in revelation from of

old have been fulfilled in the little infant

in the hands of His parents.

Moving further on, the word proclaimed

by this old man to mother Mary

is a prophecy regarding the Lord Jesus.

'This child is destined for the fall and

for the rising of many in Israel' indicates

that those who believe in Him will be

raised or saved while those who do not

believe will fall.

The Second Proclamation

Since, therefore, the children

share flesh and blood, he himself

likewise shared the same things, so

that through death he might destroy

the one who has the power of death,

that is, the devil, and free those who

all their lives were held in slavery by

the fear of death. For it is clear that

he did not come to help angels, but the

descendants of Abraham. Therefore

he had to become like his brothers

and sister s in every respect, so that

he might be a merciful and faithful

high priest in the service of God, to

make a sacrifice of atonement for the

sins of the people. Because he himself

was tested by what he suffered, he is

able to help those who are being tested.

Prayerful Awareness

The Lord Jesus truly incarnated

Himself, both in the life of humanity as

well as in the house of Judah, by being

made man, who did not sin like unto man

and by fulfilling every rite according

to the Law of Moses. Therefore fully

understanding the real problems of man

He became like man himself by going

through temptation and suffering. In

order to experience the power of the light

of Jesus the Lord who offered Himself

as a sacrifice for the redemption of man,

all of us should walk through the door

of salvation.

Our sonship

The just devotee Simeon who had

great faith and hope in the promises of

God always depended on God. Just as he

was graced to see Christ before his death

let us also await in unwavering hope for

the coming of Christ, our great hope and

fulfillment of the entire Universe.

Moreover, am I ready to acknowledge

Him, who shared my humanity, as

my Redeemer in face of every struggle,

temptation and suffering now and always?

For this purpose let us open all

avenues, that remain closed, for Him

to enter and experience and enjoy the

presence of the majestic and glorious

King as my only Savior.

Prayer Starter

Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud, be

gracious to me and answer me! "Come,"

my heart says, "seek his face!" Your face,

Lord, do I seek. Do not hide your face

from me.


Monday 3rd February 2020

2 Samuel:15/13-14,30

16/5-13

Psalm: 3/2-7

(3/1-7)

Mark: 5/1-20


They came to the other side of the

sea, to the country of the Gerasenes....

immediately a man out of the tombs

with an unclean spirit met him. ...

When he saw Jesus from a distance,

he ran and bowed down before him;

and he shouted at the top of his voice,

"What have you to do with me, Jesus,

Son of the Most High God?... do not

torment me." For he had said to him,

"Come out of the man, you unclean

spirit!? Then Jesus asked him, "What

is your name?" He replied, "My

name is Legion; for we are many."

He begged him earnestly not to send

them out of the country. Now there

on the hillside a great herd of swine

was feeding, and the unclean spirit

begged him, "Send us into the swine;

let us enter them." So he gave them

permission. And the unclean spirits

came out and entered the swine ...

and were drowned in the sea. .... As

he was getting into the boat, the man

who had been possessed by demons

begged him that he might be with

him. But Jesus refused, and said to

him, "Go home to your friends, and

tell them how much the Lord has

done for you, and what mercy he has

shown you."....

Gaze at Jesus

In the previous narrative, we have an

account of how Jesus calmed the storm.

In this Scripture passage, we have the

account of how Jesus overpowered

the evil spirit. Jesus, this simple man

from Nazareth, seems to possess some

unusual powers. Who is this man? How

can he overpower a legion (multiple) of

evil spirits?

The earliest reference to Jesus and to

Blessed Virgin Mary is in Genesis 3:15

"...he will strike your head, and you will

strike his heal." Yes, Jesus would crush

and kill Satan on the Cross and would

bring victory to all mankind over the

powers of Satan.

Prayerful Awareness

Jesus who died on the Cross released

to all mankind His Holy Spirit. This

Holy Spirit was promised to mankind

by Jesus, just before His departure

from this world. John 14:16, 17 says "I

shall ask the Father and He will give

you another Advocate, to be with you

for ever, the Spirit of truth, whom

the world can never receive, since it

neither sees nor knows him, but you

know him, because he is with you, he

is in you."

Yes, God lives in man through His

Spirit and with the power of this Holy

Spirit, man is enabled to overcome and

overpower the evil spirit, who induces

man to sin. Through the power of the

Holy Spirit, man is enabled to withstand

t he forces arrayed against him by Satan.

In order that the Holy Spirit may

be active within us, let us awake to His

presence, several times a day. A simple

method is the twin awareness, whereby

we first awake to the condition of our

heart, and then ask the Holy Spirit to

overshadow our condition.

Prayer Starter

... you O Lord, are a shield around

me, my glory, and the one who lifts up

my head. I cry aloud to the Lord, and

he answers me from his holy hill. (Ps.3/

3.4....)


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Tuesday 4th February 2020

Isaiah:43/1-3,5,10-13

Psalm:95/1-3, 7-10

Acts:1/12-13; 2/1-2,

4-8,11

Mathew:2/1-2, 7-12

Introduction

Today we commemorate gaining

Independence from foreign rule. But true

independence has to come from within,

by aligning our inner most being to God’s

Love and His Will for our lives, so that

we will have inner peace and experience

a sense of purpose and fulfillment! True

independence can only be experienced

when we are able to overcome unholy

yearnings of the flesh, the beckoning

of worldly pleasures (which are only

illusory and fleeting), and the deceitful

machinations of the Devil whose only

purpose is to prevent us from gaining

our true liberation / identity of divine

son-ship.


But now, thus says the Lord, ...

Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;

I have called you by name, you are

mine. When you pass through the waters,

I will be with you; and through

the rivers, they shall not overwhelm

you; when you walk through fire, you

will not be burned and the flame shall

not consume you. For I am the Lord,

your God, the Holy One of Israel, your

Saviour. …


In the time of King Herod, suddenly

some wise men came to Jerusalem

from the east asking, 'Where is the

infant king of the Jews? We saw his

star as it rose and have come to do

him homage.'

Our Lady of Lanka, Patroness of Sri

Lanka


Then Herod summoned the wise

men .... He asked them the exact date

on which the star had appeared and

sent them on to Bethlehem with the

words, 'Go and find out all about the

child, and when you have found him,

let me know, so that I too may go and

do him homage.' …. and going into

the house they saw the child with his

mother Mary, and falling to their knees

they did him homage. Then, opening

their treasures, they offered him gifts

of gold and frankincense and myrrh.

But they were given a warning in a

dream not to go back to Herod, and

returned to their own country by a

different way.

Prayerful Awareness

Almighty God, our Abba Father,

reveals Himself and His redeeming Love

for us in the First Proclamation, and also

promises to be with us and protect us

through all circumstances. In the Gospel

Proclamation we see wise men from the

East falling on their knees and paying

homage fit to a King to baby Jesus, being

guided to Him by a special star. And

in the Second Proclamation we read in

the Acts of the Apostles the impact the

outpouring of the Holy Spirit had on the

Apostles, whereby they who were hiding

in fear came out praising God boldly,

speaking in different languages such

that those who assembled there could

hear in their own language/s. Therefore

let us awaken to the Father, the Son, and

the Holy Spirit, i.e. the Holy Trinity who

are within us and around us and experience

His embracing love, providence,

protection, inner peace, and the sense of

real freedom which can only be gained

by our surrendering to Him!

Prayer Starter

Come, let us cry out with joy to

Yahweh, acclaim the rock of our salvation.

Let us come into his presence with

thanksgiving, acclaim him with music

(Psalm 95:1 & 2).

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Wednesday 5th February 2020

2 Samuel:24/2,9-17

Psalm:31/1-2,5-7

(32/1-2, 5-7)

Mark:6/1-6


So the king said to Joab and the

commanders of the army, who were

with him, "Go through all the tribes

of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, and

take a census of the people, so that I

may know how many there are."

Joab reported to the king the

number of those who had been recorded:

in Israel there were eight

hundred thousand soldiers able to

draw the sword, and those of Judah

were five hundred thousand.

But afterward, David was stricken

to the heart because he had

numbered the people. David said to

the Lord, "I have sinned greatly in

what I have done. But now, O Lord,

I pray you, take away the guilt of

your servant, for I have done very

foolishly." When David rose in the

morning, the word of the Lord came

to the prophet Gad, David's seer,

saying, "Go and say to David, Thus

says the Lord: Three things I offer

you, choose one of them, and I will do

it to you.".... Gad came to David ....

and said unto him. Shall seven years

of famine come unto thee in thy land?

or wilt thou flee three months before

thine enemies, while they pursue

thee? or that there be three days'

pestilence in thy land? ... David said

unto Gad, I am in a great strait'; let

us fall now into the hand of the Lord;

for his mercies are great; and let me

not fall into the hand of man. So the

Lord sent a pestilence upon Israel ....

and there died of the people ... seventy

thousand men ....

Gaze on Jesus

Awaken us O Holy Spirit! Indeed

let us become aware of the great injury

we do to ourselves and Your blessed

creation when we sin!

It is well, when a man has sinned,

if he has a heart within to smite him for

it. Indeed if we have a heart (if we are

not benumbed by selfish thoughts and

beliefs and create isolationist existence)

we will feel smitten when we sin.

When we turn back and confess our

sins, we must faithfully pray that God

would forgive and in His pardoning

mercy take away the sin which we

cast away by sincere repentance. If we

harbour pride within, it is just in God

to take from us what we are proud of,

or make bitter to us, and make it our

punishment. Today's scriptural situation

must be such a punishment, for though it

was David's sin that opened the sluice,

the sins of the people (pride in their

might) all contributed to the flood. In

this difficulty, David chose a judgment

which came immediately from God,

whose mercies he knew to be very great,

rather than from men, who would have

triumphed in the miseries of Israel, and

have been thereby hardened in their

idolatry. In choosing the pestilence, he

and his family were equally at risk as

the poorest Israelite; and he would continue

to experience the Divine rebuke

for a shorter time, however severe it

was. The rapid effects of the pestilence

shows how easily God can bring down

the proudest and how reliant we are on

Divine patience and mercy.

Prayer Starter

O for a heart and mind that admits

our ability to respond freely in Love .....


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Thursday 6th February 2020

St. Paul Miki and Companions

1 Kings:2/1-4, 10-12

Psalm:1 Chr.29/10-12

Mark: 6/7-13


When David's time to die drew

near, he charged his son Solomon,

saying, "I am about to go the way of

all the earth. Be strong, be courageous,

and keep the charge of the Lord your

God, walking in his ways and keeping

his statutes, his commandments, his

ordinances, and his testimonies, as

it is written in the Law of Moses, so

that you may prosper in all that you

do and wherever you turn. Then the

Lord will establish his word that he

spoke concerning me: ....

Prayerful Awareness

King David who had been a shepherd

boy in order to become the shepherd of

the Israelites, claimed the Lord as his

shepherd. Even though at times he fell

victim to his weaknesses, in returning

with total conversion of heart, experienced

immensely the mercy of God.

The following words of God make it

clear how much this privilege made him

intimate with God. "Then King David

went in and sat before the Lord and

said, …" (1 Chr. 17:16). He was so intimate

with God so as to sit before him and

engage in a friendly conversation. Let us

repent for a moment for undervaluing the

compassion of God.


Then he went about among the

villages teaching. He called the twelve

and began to send them out two by

two, and gave them authority over the

unclean spirit. ... "Wherever you enter

a house stay there until you leave the

place. If any place will not welcome


you and they refuse to hear you, as you

leave shake off the dust that is on your

feet as a testimony against them." So

they went out and proclaimed that all

should repent. ...

Gaze at Jesus

The Gospel proclamation of the day

shows us how the Lord counsels the 12

disciples chosen by Him to participate

in His mission for the Kingdom. He

sends them forth two by two assuring

them of His presence when there is unity

involved in their journey. The Lord Jesus

is thrusting the disciples into the most

secure and dependable love of God that

overcomes all obstacles in order to admit

them into the narrow path in their journey

of proclaiming the Kingdom. However

much they thirst for the proclamation of

the Gospel, without the anointing and the

grace of the Lord Jesus they would be

able to accomplish nothing. We find how

they bore abundant fruit since they had

been equipped with power and anointing

from the beginning of their journey itself.

Towards us

We had been in continuous thirst of

evangelization proclaiming Jesus Christ

the only Lord and Master. Are we still

burning with that thirst to gift Jesus that

we experience to others whom we come

in contact with surpassing all boundaries?

As our Holy Father states: "One who

proclaims the gospel should not be like

a person who is just after a funeral. Even

through tears let us actively re-engage

in the joy and gladness of spreading the

gospel.

"Lord Jesus loves you, He sacrificed

His life for you and is always with you

to free you and to strengthen you" are

the words that should be proclaimed

again and again with the lips of one who

spreads the gospel.

Prayer Starter

Blessed are you, O Lord, the God

of our ancestor Israel, forever and ever.

Friday 7th February 2020

Sirach:47/2-13

Psalm:17/31,47,50,51

(18/30,46,49,50)

Mark:6/14-29

Gospel Proclamation

King Herod heard about Jesus,...,

and people were saying, “John

the Baptist has been raised from the

dead; that is why mighty powers are

at work in him.” ... But when Herod

learned of it, he said, “It is John

whom I beheaded. He has been raised

up.” ..... John had said to Herod, “It

is not lawful for you to have your

brother’s wife.” Herodias harbored a

grudge against him and wanted to kill

him but was unable to do so. Herod

feared John, knowing him to be a

righteous and holy man, and kept

him in custody. ... Herodias had an

opportunity one day when Herod, on

his birthday, gave a banquet .... His

own daughter came in and performed

a dance that delighted Herod and

his guests. The king said to the girl,

“Ask of me whatever you wish and I

will grant it to you.” ... She went out

and said to her mother, “What shall

I ask for?” Her mother replied, “The

head of John the Baptist.” The girl

hurried back to the king’s presence

and made her request, “I want you

to give me at once on a platter the

head of John the Baptist.” The king

was deeply distressed, but because

of his oaths and the guests he did not

wish to break his word to her. So he

promptly dispatched an executioner

with orders to bring back his head.

He went off and beheaded him in the

prison. He brought in the head on a

platter and gave it to the girl. The

girl in turn gave it to her mother.

When his disciples heard about it,

they came and took his body and laid

it in a tomb.

Prayerful Awareness

The Gospel today describes how

John the Baptist was victim of the

corruption and of the arrogance of the

government of Herod. He died without

being judged by a tribunal, in the course

of a banquet given by Herod with the

great men of the kingdom. John, the

prophet, was a living denouncement in

the corrupt system. This is why he was

eliminated under the pretext of personal

vengeance. All this reveals what a man

who did not control himself could do

abusing the power accumulated in his

hands, to work against the Kingdom

of God, against Love, Kindness and

Justice. Herod, under the enthusiasm of

the feast and of the wine swore lightly

to give something to the young dancer.

As he was superstitious, Herod decide to

maintain his oath, as for Him life of his

subjects had no value. But when Herod

heard about Jesus, he got frightened to

think that John the Baptist is reborn. We

see and hear that such things happens

even today with corrupt and biased

politicians who gain power by various

means which they abuse to safeguard

their own selfish interests and hide their

corrupt activities. Do we also commit

sins due to our pride, selfishness and

greed? The first reading is on how God’s

Grace lifted David to give praise and

glory to God, where God forgave him

his sins. We too are called to be humble,

accept our sins, repent and change.

Prayer Starter

Lord our God, help us to love You

with all our hearts and to love all

people as You love them. We ask this

through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your

Son, who lives and reigns with You and

the Holy Spirit, One God, forever and

ever. Amen.


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Saturday 8th February 2020

1 Kings:3/4-13

Psalm: 118/9-14

(119/9-14)

Mark:6/30-34


..... At Gibeon the Lord appeared to

Solomon in a dream by night, and God

said, "Ask what I should give you." And

Solomon said, "You have shown great

and steadfast love to your servant my

father David, because he walked before

you in faithfulness, in righteousness,

and in uprightness of heart toward you;

and you have kept for him this great

and steadfast love, and have given him a

son to sit on his throne today. And now,

O Lord my God, you have made your

servant king in place of my father David,

although I am only a little child, I do

not know how to go out or come in. And

your servant is in the midst of the people

whom you have chosen, a great people,

so numerous they cannot be numbered

or counted. Give your servant therefore

an understanding mind to govern your

people, able to discern between good

and evil, for who can govern this your

great people?"

It pleased the Lord that Solomon

had asked this. God said to him, "Because

you have asked this, and have not

asked for yourself long life or riches, or

for the life of your enemies, but have

asked for yourself understanding to

discern what is right, I now do according

to your word. Indeed I give you a

wise and discerning mind; no one like

you has been before you and no one like

you shall arise after you.....


Prayerful Awareness

When we reflect on the first reading

today, we come across young King Solomon

son of the great King David. He is

young but has accepted the burden and the

great responsibility of leadership. So he is

humbling himself before God. He knows

that the relationship that his father had

with God is the only reason he became a

great King.

So when God asked Solomon what

he wanted, his focus was not internal or

selfish, but external and selfless. He is not

asking for wealth or power; he is asking

for help, for him to lead his people on the

correct path. The young king is determined

to please God. So when God sees the real

intent of Solomon, He grants him his wish

of Wisdom.

In the Gospel Today, we see the divine

quality of communion with the people. He

is sensitive to the feelings of the disciples;

He notices that they are tired from the

mission, and asks them to take a rest.

“Come away by yourselves to a

deserted place and rest awhile."

But when he sees the crowds; his

heart was moved with pity for them, for

they were like sheep without a shepherd;

and he began to teach them many things.”

Our sonship

We are called to be selfless. And to do

God's Will with the help of the Holy Spirit.

The role of a shepherd is attending to the

sheep's every need, sacrificing all luxuries.

As we have accepted Jesus as our Lord and

Savior, we too must follow in the footsteps

of the Good Shepard Himself, JESUS.

Prayer Starter

I was pushed hard, so that I was falling

but the Lord helped me. The Lord is my

strength and my might; he has become

my salvation.

Sunday 9th February 2020

Isaiah:58/7-10

Psalm:111/4-9

(112/4-9)

1 Corinthians: 2/1-5

Mathew:5/13-16/

Introduction

Lord Jesus with the statement

from the Gospel proclamation "You

are the light of the world, the salt of

the earth" is inviting us to be a light to

the world and society we live in and

to give favour to the lives of others.

In the present day society most people

pursuing after what is transient such as

power, wealth and positions, selfishly

engulfed in destructive live patterns

are stuck in a life of slavery and addiction

and moreover, considering it

the correct behavior are simply lost.

Thus they display their ignorance

of the qualities of mercy, love and

selflessness. Today, the Holy Mother

the Church is extending an invitation

to you and to me to be a solution and

a challenge to this type of society

personally, as a family as well as

a community. Let us enter into the

journey of prayer pleading with the

Lord for the gifts of the Holy Spirit

and the strength needed to accomplish

this task.


Is it not to share your bread with

the hungry, and bring the homeless

poor into your house; when you see

the naked, to cover them, and not

5th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Ps Wk I

to hide yourself from your own kin?

Then your light shall break forth

like the dawn, and your healing shall

spring up quickly; your vindicator

shall go before you, the glory of the

Lord shall be your rear guard. Then

you shall call, and the Lord will

answer; you shall cry for help, and

he will say, Here I am.

Prayerful Awareness


13

In the book of Isaiah chapters 55

to 66 we find the attempt of Isaiah

encourage the Israelites returned to

Jerusalem freed from Babylonian

exile to get out of the despair and

uncertainty they were engulfed in. He

affirms that God will ever be faithful

to his promises. As indicated in the

above passage God through prophet

Isaiah well clarifies how his chosen

people the Israelites should lead their

lives. Explaining what real fasting is

the people are awakened to the fruits

they could reap through this exercise.

Further, his mercy and kindness is

proclaimed with 'Cry and the Lord

will answer; call, and he will say, 'I

am here' and also that when they live

righteously their life will be made a

light to the others.

From the Gospel Proclamation

"You are the salt of the earth;

but if salt has lost its taste, how can

its saltiness be restored? It is no longer

good for anything, but is thrown

out and trampled under foot.

"You are the light of the world.

A city built on a hill cannot be hid.

No city built on a hill cannot be hid.

No one after lighting a lamp puts it

under the bushel basket, but on the

lamp-stand, and it gives light to all

in the house. In the same way, let

14

your light shine before others, so

that they may see your good works

and give glory to your Father in

heaven."

Prayerful Awareness

St. Matthew in the 5th, 6th and 7th

chapters of his Gospel presents the

"Sermon on the mount." In the passage

given here the Lord's proclamation is

about his disciples in which the Lord

highlighting his personal relationship

addressing them as 'You.' Salt is of

precious value since it is used to add

taste to food as well as for preservation.

Salt is also used in religious rites.

The proclamation "You are the salt

of the earth" reveals the lifestyle that

should be of a disciple. While in John

8:12, the Lord states, "I am the light

of the world; he who follows me will

not walk in darkness, but will have the

light of life" here declares, "You are

the light of the world." Accordingly it

is clear that the vocation of a disciple

is to take the place of the Lord Jesus.

Let us open up to the invitation of

the Lord: "Your light must shine in

the sight of men, so that, seeing your

good works, they may give the praise

to your Father in heaven."


When I came to you, brothers

and sisters, I did not come proclaiming

the mystery of God to you

in lofty words or wisdom. For I

decided to know nothing among you

except Jesus Christ and him crucified.

And I came to you in weakness

and in fear and in much trembling.

My speech and my proclamation

were not with plausible words of

wisdom, but with a demonstration

of the Spirit and of power, so that

your faith might rest not on human

wisdom but on the power of God.

Prayerful Awareness

St. Paul clearly gives us his life

experience proclaiming that his power

and strength is simply of Christ and

of the Holy Spirit. He unfolds before

us the position we should hold as an

authentic Christian disciple which

means the way we should bear witness

to him. St. Paul who says that our faint

should not depend on human philosophy

but on the power of God gives

his witness in being a 'light' and 'salt'

to the earth. Can we feel contended

with our lifestyle as a Christ disciple?

Let us awake.

Towards my son-ship

His invitation to you and to me is

to always live in the discipleship of

Christ being a light to the society, to

whom I come into contact with, my

neighbours and the parish community

and to add taste to their life. For this

purpose, let us constantly be open to

the Holy Spirit, live a life in union

with Christ and be a light to the lives

of others with a love filled lifestyle as

true sons and daughters of God. Let us

more and more spend ourselves and

commit ourselves for this task.

Prayer Starter

He has gained renown by his wonderful

deeds; the Lord is gracious and

merciful. He provides food for those

who fear him, he is ever mindful of his

covenant. He has shown his people

the power of his works, in giving them

the heritage of the nations. The works

of his hands are faithful and just; all

his precepts are trustworthy. They

are established for ever and ever; to

be performed with faithfulness and

uprightness. He sent redemption to

his people; he has commanded his

covenant forever. Holy and awesome

is his name.


Monday 10th February 2020

1 Kings 8/1-7, 9-13

Psalm:131/6-10

( 132/6-10)

Mark:6/53-56


When they have crossed over,

they came to land at Gennesaret and

moored the boat. When they got out

of the boat, people at recognized him,

and rushed about that whole region

and began to bring the sick on mats to

wherever they heard he was.

And wherever he went, into villages

or cities or farms, they laid the sick

in the marketplaces, and begged him

that they might touch even the fringe

of his cloak, and all who touched it

were healed.

Prayerful Awareness

Today's Gospel reading reminds us

that Our Lord Jesus Christ is the Divine

Physician. Yes, He is the Divine Physician

at all times. During His public life

Jesus cured all the people who came to

Him in countless numbers. Jesus not only

cured them physically but also mentally

and spiritually. This is what Jesus has

come for. His healing love is freely

available to the whole Universe.

At this particular instance Jesus was

in Gennesaret. News spread around like

wild fire that Jesus is curing the sick.

They were brought to Him on mats, lying

on beds. Their faith was marvelous.

Wherever Jesus went, they laid the sick

in the market place and besought Him

that they might touch even the fringe of

His garment and all those who touched

it were made well.

The people were powerfully drawn

to Him and that is why they ran to Him.

They were confident that Jesus was able

to heal and teach them. They eagerly

St.Scholastica, Virgin


15

longed for what He offered; words of

hope and comfort, the revelation of the

love of the Father and the power of humble,

surrendered life. Some ran just to see

Him heal the sick. There was an urgency.

We must go to Jesus now! On behalf of

the Kingdom He was building He was

in the midst of the people, curing them

with His eyes ever open to Father God.

All the services of Jesus was done with

the hope of giving relief to the poor and

distressed and it was an opportunity of

fulfilling joy and hope for all.

Jesus never turned anyone away.

He was always open to the people's

needs. This evangelization is not merely

to achieve worldly happiness, but it is

a call to give sound health and joy in

anticipating the bliss of heaven. So,

Jesus loved and cared for all those who

came to Him. The physically sick whom

Jesus touched (like the paralytic in Mark

2/1-12) knew that their healing was not

just physical but spiritual as well - their

sins were forgiven and their hearts were

touched and transformed by the love of

the Father. Everyone, including the physically

healthy, had cause to run after the

spiritual healing. Let us also run to Jesus

and seek His healing love.

Our sonship

Where do we stand? Jesus had a great

desire and a thirst to build the Kingdom

of God here and lift more and more hearts

of the people towards Father God. How

can I contribute to this worthy cause?

Can't I witness and make it known to

others that I have been miraculously

healed of my sicknesses. Every night,

during sleep, Jesus heals my whole body

system silently. He renews all my wasted

cells and makes me enjoy good health for

the new day.

Prayer Starter

Abba Father, Abba Mother, we thank

You immensely for gifting us Your beloved

Son Jesus who heals us physically, mentally

and spiritually.

16


Our Lady of Lourdes

1 Kings:8/22-23,

27-30

Psalm:83/3,4,5.10,11

(84/2-4,9-10)

Mark:7/1-13

OR

Isaiah:66/10-14

Psalm:Judith:13/18,19

John:2/1-11

Introduction

Let us read today’s Proclamations

meditatively where the central theme

is God’s faithfulness to man, despite

man’s constant unfaithfulness towards

Almighty God, our Abba Father/Mother!

Song of Praise (Psalm 84: 3, 4, 5, 10,

11)

Even the sparrow finds a home, and

the swallow a nest for herself, where she

may lay her young, at your altars, O Lord

of hosts, my King and my God. Happy

are those who live in your house, ever

singing your praise. Happy are those

whose strength is in you, in whose heart

are the highways to Zion. ......

First Proclamation

Then Solomon stood before the

altar of the Lord in the presence of all

the assembly of Israel, and spread out

his hands to heaven. He said, "O Lord,

God of Israel, there is no God like you

in heaven above or on earth beneath,

keeping covenant and steadfast love

for your servants who walk before you

with all their heart.

"But will God indeed dwell on the

earth? Even heaven and the highest

heaven cannot contain you, much less

this house that I have built! Regard

your servant's prayer and his plea, O


Lord my God, heeding the cry and

the prayer that your servant prays to

you today; that your eyes may be open

night and day toward this house, the

place of which you said, 'My name

shall be there,' that you may heed the

prayer that your servant prays toward

this place.

Prayerful Awareness

In today’s Gospel Proclamation the

Pharisees and scribes ask Jesus why His

disciples are not respecting the tradition

of the elders but eat their food with unclean

hands. It is not because the disciples

had eaten with unwashed hands but

that they had not followed the elaborate

washing tradition established by the Jews

as per their interpretations of the Law.

To which Lord Jesus admonished them

saying 'How rightly Isaiah prophesied

about you hypocrites in the passage of

scripture: This people honours me only

with lip-service, while their hearts are

far from me’.

Our Lord Jesus Christ was not

bound/ restricted or constrained by man

made rules and regulations and traditions.

His only concern was doing His

Father’s Will to the fullest, at all times,

filled with His Father’s Universal, Sacrificial,

Humble/Serving and Constant

eternal unconditional Love which He exuded

to those around Him, being led by

the Holy Spirit at all times. His free way

of life influenced the disciples to also live

likewise as per the Lord’s example. This

is the same life that the Lord grants the

believers, and what a great gift it is for

us to be not unduly bound by man made

rituals and traditions! Also, as is written

in God’s Word, ‘So, if the Son sets you

free, you are free indeed!’ (John 8:36).

When one is led by the Holy Spirit, such

a person is full of the fruits of the Spirit

such as love, joy, peace, etc. (Galatians

5:22-26) and is always full of joy (1

Thessalonians 5:16-18). Amen! Alleluia!

Praise the Lord!


1 Kings:10/1-10

Psalm:36/4-6,30-31,

30-40

(37/5-6,30-31,39-40)

Mark: 7/14-23


When the queen of Sheba heard

of the fame of Solomon, (fame due to

the name of the Lord), she came to test

him with hard questions. She came to

Jerusalem with a very great retinue,

with camels, bearing spices, and very

much gold, and precious stones, and

when she came to Solomon, she told

him all that was on her mind. Solomon

answered all her questions; there was

nothing hidden from the king that he

could not explain to her. When the

queen of Sheba had observed all the

wisdom of Solomon, the house that

he had built, the food of his table, the

seating of his officials, and the attendance

of his servants, their clothing,

his valets, and his burnt offerings that

he offered at the house of the Lord,

there was no more spirit in her. .....


Then he called the crowd again

and said to them "Listen to me, all of

you, and understand; there is nothing

outside a person that by going in can

defile, but the things that come out are

what defile."

When he had left the crowd and

entered the house, his disciples asked

him about the parable. He said to

them, "Then do you also fail to understand?

Do you not see that whatever

goes into a person from outside cannot

defile, since it entered, not the heart

but the stomach, and goes out into

the sewer? (Thus he declared all foods


17

clean.) And he said, it is what comes

out of a person that defiles. For it is

from within, from the human heart

that evil intentions come: fornication,

theft, murder, adultery, avarice,

wickedness, deceit, licentiousness,

envy, slander, pride, folly. All these

evil things come from within, and they

defile a person."

Prayerful Awareness

This passage in the New Testament is

perhaps the most revolutionary one. He is

successful in showing how rigid adherence

to the traditional law can actually

mean disobedience to the Law of God.

In 1 Maccabees 7, there is the story of a

widow and her seven sons being put to

death in very inhuman ways for not eating

pork. Jesus made His revolutionary

statement that nothing that goes into a

person can defile him. No wonder He

did wipe out the laws for which He was

accused of and crucified. Evil thoughts

precede evil actions. "The Jewish people

and their spiritual leaders viewed Jesus

as a Rabbi. He often argued within the

frame-work of Rabbinical interpretation

of the Laws. Yet Jesus could not help

but offend the teachers of the Law, for

He was not content to propose His interpretations

along theirs but taught the

people "as one who had authority and not

as their scribes." In Jesus, the same word

of God that had resounded on Mount

Sinai to give the written law to Moses,

made itself heard anew on the Mount of

the Beatitudes. Jesus did not abolish the

law but fulfilled it by giving it's ultimate

interpretation in a divine way; "You have

heard that it was said to the men of old

..... But I say to you ....." With this same

divine authority, He disavowed certain

human traditions of the Pharisees that

were "making void the Word of God."

Prayer Starter

Help us to examine our hearts

honestly and follow Thee bearing our

crosses. Amen.

18


1 Kings:11/4-13

Psalm:105/3-4, 35-37,

40

(106/3-4,35-37,40)

Mark:7/24-30


For when Solomon was old, his

wives turned away his heart after other

gods; and his heart was not true to the

Lord his God, as was the heart of his

father David. ... So Solomon did what

was evil in the sight of the Lord, and

did not completely follow the Lord, as

his father David had done. Then Solomon

built a high place for Chemosh the

abomination of Moab, and for Molech

the abomination of the Ammonites, on

the mountain east of Jerusalem. He

did the same for all his foreign wives,

who offered incense and sacrificed to

their gods. ...


From there he set out and went

away to the region of Tyre. He entered

a house and did not want anyone to

know he was there. Yet he could not

escape notice, but a woman whose

little daughter had an unclean spirit

immediately heard about him, and

she came and bowed down at his feet,

Now the woman was a Gentile of Syrophoenician

origin. She begged him

to cast the demon out of her daughter.

He said to her, "Let the children be fed

first, for it is not fair to take the children's

food and throw it to the dogs."

But she answered him, "Sir, even the

dogs under the table eat the children's

crumbs." Then he said to her, "For

saying that, you may go, the demon has

left your daughter." So she went home,


found the child lying on the bed, and

the demon gone.

Gaze at Jesus' Sonship

Prayer to Jesus is answered by Him

already during His ministry, through

signs that anticipate the power of His

death and resurrection. Jesus hears the

prayer of faith expressed in words (the

leper, Jairus, the Cannanite woman, the

good thief) or in silence (the bearers of

the paralytic, the woman with haemorrhage

who touches His clothes, the tears

and ointment of the sinful woman). The

urgent request of the blind men, "Have

mercy on us, Son of David", or "Jesus,

Son of David have mercy on me" has

been renewed in the traditional prayer to

Jesus known as the Jesus Prayer. "Lord

Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy

on me a sinner!" Healing infirmities or

forgiving sins, Jesus always responds to

a prayer offered in faith. "Your faith has

done you well; go in peace." St. Augustine

wonderfully summarizes the three

dimensions of Jesus' prayer. "He prays

for us as our Priest, prays in us as our

Head and is prayed to by us as our God.

Therefore let us acknowledge our voice

in Him and His in us." (C..C. C.2616)

Gaze at my sonship

How much does God love HIs people?

It seems as if Jesus with His outstretched

hands on the Cross said, "I love

you this much." What is our response to

His unconditional love? Do we give back

to our neighbour the love we receive from

God or keep it to ourselves? We ought

to experience His love and share it with

others, be bearers of His love and word.

St. John the Evangelist told his disciples

"Love and you will be saved." So let us

ask our friend and teacher, the Holy Spirit,

who indwells us, to show and guide us

in the correct path of love.

Prayer Starter

Heart of Jesus, inflame my heart with

love for Thee and my neighbour.


1 Kings:11/29-32;

12/19

Psalm:80/10-15

(81/9-14)

Mark:7/31-37


Please read 1 Kings 11/29-32; 12/19

prayerfully.

Prayerful Awareness

Prophet Ahijah tore the new garment

he was wearing into twelve pieces

and gave ten pieces to Jeroboam who

was with him. This is in compliance

with the word of God. "I am about

to tear the kingdom from Solomon's

hands to give you ten tribes. Only one

tribe shall be left to him for the sake

of my servant David and Jerusalem,

the city which I have chosen out of all

the tribes of Israel. For Solomon has

forsaken me and worshipped other

gods. Unlike his father David. he has

not walked in my ways to do what

is right before me and to keep my

commandments and decisions." Soon

after he became king after the death of

his father David, the Lord had given him

a discerning mind such as no one has

had before nor anyone after him shall

ever have. Even without his asking, he

was also given wealth and fame and

no king shall be his equal during his

life time. He will also be given long

life if he keeps God's commands and

statutes as his father did. (vs.3:13, 14).

Solomon had many foreign wives and

in his old age he was led astray by them

and served other gods and did what

displeased the Lord (vs.4,6).


Please read Mark 7/31-37 meditatively.


19

Gaze on Jesus

The people wanted Jesus to lay

hands on a deaf and dumb man whom

they brought to Him. They considered

this to be a way of invoking divine

power but for Jesus it was not necessary

to do so. By His gesture He showed

that He had within Himself, within His

human person, all the health that people

need and He communicated this to the

sick man. Jesus took the man apart from

the people, put His fingers into his ears

and touched his tongue with spittle and

looking up to heaven Jesus groaned and

uttered the words to him, "Ephphatha"

which means be opened. The man was

healed and began to speak clearly. What

made Jesus to groan before He spoke

the words of healing? Because the man

before Him is an impressive symbol of

those who have eyes and ears but neither

see nor hear. The people who brought

the deaf and dumb man to Jesus are also

the same. Jesus can order the people not

to speak about what they had seen and

experienced but how can they resist

the urge to share the most remarkable

experience of their lives? As for Jesus

He will never turn away anyone who

comes to Him for relief even if He has

to set aside other commitments. At the

same time, He does not wish to be given

all the thanks and honour which should

be given to the Father in heaven. God

Himself, in Jesus, has come down to

cure humankind. Because this work

would be very long and painful, it was

necessary to provide some visible signs

to help people believe in this almost

imperceptible healing.

Prayer Starter

When you feel all hope is gone

When you are standing all alone

He will hear your faintest cry

Jesus is present to heal.

20


1 Kings:12/26-32

13/33-34

Psalm: 105/6,7,

19-22

(106/6-7,19-22)

Mark:8/1-10


He said to himself, "As things are

now, if my people go to Jerusalem

and offer sacrifices to the Lord in

the Temple there, they will transfer

their allegiance to King Rehoboam of

Judah and will kill me." After thinking

it over, he made two bull-calves of

gold and said to his people, "You have

been going long enough to Jerusalem

to worship. People of Israel, here are

your gods who brought you out of

Egypt!" He placed one of the gold

bull-calves in Bethel and the other in

Dan. And so the people sinned, going

to worship in Bethel and in Dan. Jeroboam

also built places of worship

on hilltops, and he chose priests from

families who were not of the tribe

of Levi. Jeroboam also instituted a

religious festival on the fifteenth day

of the eighth month, like the festival

in Judah. On the altar in Bethel he

offered sacrifices to the gold bullcalves

he had made, and he placed

there in Bethel the priests serving at

the places of worship he had built.

The Gospel proclamation

Not long afterward another large

crowd came together. When the

people had nothing left to eat, Jesus

called the disciples to him and

said, "I feel sorry for these people,

because they have been with me for

three days and now have nothing to

eat. If I send them home without

feeding them, they will faint as they

go, because some of them have come

a long way." His disciples asked him,

"Where in this desert can anyone find

enough food to feed all these people?"

"How much bread do you have?"

Jesus asked. "Seven loaves," they

answered. He ordered the crowd to

sit down on the ground. Then he took

the seven loaves, gave thanks to God,

broke them, and gave them to his disciples

to distribute to the crowd; and

the disciples did so. They also had a

few small fish. Jesus gave thanks for

these and told the disciples to distribute

them too. Everybody ate and

had enough - there were about four

thousand people. Then the disciples

took up seven baskets full of pieces

left over. Jesus sent the people away

Gaze at Jesus

This gospel passage shows the

reader the compassion Jesus had for the

people. He understood their plight, their

helplessness, their difficulty, and their

weakness. He had pity on them. Do we

look at our neighbor through the eyes

of Jesus? Do we understand and have

compassion on them and their needs

and have the desire to share what we

have with them? Or do we neglect and

ignore their needs and mutter the simple

solution “Yes we will pray for you, God

will help you” and walk away. Here

Jesus teaches us to be concerned and

to be considerate and compassionate

and to depend on Him because he is

our provider.

Prayer Starter

Dear Lord we know you are the

giver of all good things help us to see

our neighbor through your eyes and

feel the way you feel towards them, so

that we may live our lives in a way that

pleases you.


Sunday 16th February 2020 Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time

Ps Wk II

each person are life and death, and

Sirach:15/16-21 whichever one chooses will be given.

Psalm:118/1-2,4-5 For great is the wisdom of the Lord;

17-18,33-34 he is mighty in power and sees everything,

his eyes are on those who fear

(119/1-2,4-5,17-18,

33-34)

him, and he knows

1 Corinthians:2/6-10

Prayerful Awareness

Mathew:5/17-37

Introduction

Today the invitation of the Holy

Mother the Church to you and to me

who have inherited divine son-ship

through Baptism is to experience the

freedom of divine son-ship making

use of the Law. "If you wish, you can

keep the commandments, to behave

faithfully is within your power. He

never commanded anyone to be godless,

he has given no one permission to

sin" While the Book of Ecclesiasticus

states thus, St. Paul too invites us to

proclaim the mystery of the wisdom of

God. St. Matthew through the Gospel

proclamation awakens us to gaze on

the Lord come to fulfill the will of

God. "Do not imagine that I have come

to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I

have come not to abolish them but to

complete them." Let us realize that we

who have been called to experience the

freedom of divine son-ship should lead

our lives and pray for the power to live

worthy of this call.


He has placed before you fire

and water; stretch out your hand

for whichever you choose. Before


21

Ecclesiasticus written by a Jew

named Sirach in the second century

B.C. consisting of many guidelines

intended to reorient the people of God

gone astray influenced by Greek tradition,

rites and customs to true wisdom

of God had been originally written in

Hebrew and later translated to Greek.

The book states that true wisdom is

related to the Law of God.

The unique gift bestowed on man

created to the image and likeness of

God is free will. Man endowed with

the ability to discern using his free will

is also capable of giving a splendid

response. To the extent that the experience

of divine son-ship deepens in a

man he is enlightened and empowered

to act much better than an ordinary

person.


Yet among the mature we do

speak wisdom, though it is not a wisdom

of this age or of the rulers of this

age, who are doomed to perish. But

we speak God's wisdom, secret and

hidden, which God decreed before

the ages for our glory. None of the

rulers of this age understood this; for

if they had, they would not have crucified

the Lord of glory. But as it is

written, "What no eye has seen, nor

ear heard, nor the human heart conceived,

what God has prepared for

those who love him." - these things

God has revealed to us through the

Spirit; for the Spirit searches every-

22

thing, even the depths of God.

Prayerful Awareness

The exhortation given in the letter

written to the Corinthian community

by St. Paul is important. He who

experienced Jesus Christ as his only

Lord and Master describes a simple

and much solemn experience that

surpasses human wisdom directing

his eyes, mind and heart to the Christ

crucified. He even invites the Corinthian

community to enter into the same.

God's wisdom is connected to the experience

of the cross. God has prepared

for those who lead a conscious life

continuously and surrenders himself

to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, an

experience that no eye has seen and

no ear has heard, things beyond the

mind of man which can also be yours

and mine.


"Do not think that I have come

to abolish the Law or the Prophets.

I have come not to abolish but to

fulfill. For truly I tell you until

heaven and earth pass away, not

one letter, not one stroke, of a letter,

will pass from the Law until all is

accomplished. Therefore, whoever

breaks one of the least of these commandments,

and teaches others to

do the same, will be called least in

the kingdom of heaven; but whoever

does them and teaches them will

be called great in the kingdom of

heaven. For I tell you, unless your

righteousness exceeds that of the

scribes and Pharisees, you will never

enter the kingdom of heaven.

Prayerful Awareness

O Holy Spirit, enlighten us that

we may see the inner heart of the

Lord Jesus!

The Law and the Prophets were

considered the first five books of

the Old Testament and the Books of

prophets as well as the first and second

groups of books in the Hebrew Scriptures.

The Law and the Prophets have

been used to name the whole of the Old

Testament. Jesus completed the Law

by explaining away the whole idea it

contained and by affirming the deep

fundamental principles in connection

with it.

His aim, expectation and vision

were to accomplish the Will of the

Father. The task entrusted to Him by

the Father is that all may have access

to Him without anyone being lost.

In this endeavour He never failed to

discern the Will of God and to walk to

the presence of God. He who tried to

direct people in the correct path by fulfilling

the Law and the commandments

of God always oriented people to the

depths of fulfilling them giving priority

to love and explained the Will of God

contained in it.

Our sonship

You and I who are followers of Jesus

Christ acknowledging Jesus Christ

as our only Lord and Master – are we

in a journey of discernment? Do we

reflect and proclaim the mysteries of

the Wisdom of God? Are we living

in hope of inheriting eternal life by

keeping God's Commandments? Let us

pause for a moment and reflect, repent

and pray for power to turn back to Him.

Prayer Starter

O give thanks to the Lord, for he

is good; his steadfast love endures

forever!

Let those who fear the Lord say,

"His steadfast love endures forever.:

Out of my distress I called on the

Lord; the Lord answered me and set

me in a broad place.



James:1/1-11

Psalm:118/67,68,71,

72,75,76

(119/67,68,71,72,75,

76)

Mark:8/11-13

Gospel Proclamation

The Pharisees came and began

to argue with him, asking him for a

sign from heaven, to test him. And he

sighed deeply in his spirit and said,

“Why does this generation ask for a

sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be

given to this generation.” .....

Prayerful Awareness

Pharisees were a Group of Jewish

Religious leaders appointed to monitor

that the people observe the legislation

given by God to Moses, carried out as

a Holy job. But, they were harassing

people by putting undue pressure on

them with the authority they had, and

were trying to judge Jesus too, to show

their authority to rule Jesus in the same

way they rule innocent people. They

have heard so many things of what Jesus

has done, but was trying to display their

power to the people demanding Jesus to

show them a sign from heaven. This type

of events occur every day even among

us, people including some Christians,

trying to rule others with the authority

or the positions they are given to help

others with love and kindness of God, to

display God’s qualities and bring glory

to God by helping others. As Jesus said

whoever wishes to be great among you

shall be your servant; whoever wishes to

be first among you shall be your slave.

Just so, the Son of Man did not come to

be served but to serve and give His life

as a ransom for many (Mat 20: 26-28).

We are called to spread God’s love and

Seven Holy Founders of the Servite

Order


23

Kindness to everyone, as we too are

created to God’s own image (Gen: 1-27),

to act as His sons and daughters to bring

Him Glory in everything we do, every

word we speak and in every thought,

spreading His Love and Kindness and

be just in everything we do.

In the first reading James advises us

to “Consider it all joy, when you encounter

various trials, for you know that the

testing of your faith produces endurance.

And let endurance be perfect, so that you

may be mature and complete, lacking in

nothing. If any of you is lacking in wisdom,

ask God who gives to all generously

and ungrudgingly, and it will be given

you. But ask in faith, never doubting, for

the one who doubts is like a wave of the

sea driven and tossed about by the wind,

for the doubter, being double-minded and

unstable in every way, must not expect to

receive anything from the Lord.

Let the believer who is lowly boast

in being raised up, and the rich in being

brought low, because the rich will disappear

like a flower in the field.” For

the sun rises with its scorching heat and

withers the field, its flower falls, and its

beauty perishes. It is the same way the

rich; in the midst of a busy life, they will

wither away”.

We are called to have Faith without

any doubt, and to ask for Wisdom to

act wisely in everything we do deriving

divine help.

Prayer starter

Lord God, forgive us in our weak

faith that sometimes we ask for signs and

wonders. We know that You are Almighty

God and our Father, but it is not always

easy for us to recognize Your loving

presence. Grant us Wisdom and give us

eyes of faith to see the sign that You are

always with us in Jesus and His message.

Purify us and help us to trust in You and

in Jesus that we may become more mature

Christians, who love You through Jesus

Christ our Lord. Amen.

24


James:1/12-18

Psalm:93/12-15,18-19

(94/12-15, 18-19)

Mark:8/14-21


Blessed is anyone who endures

temptation. Such a one has stood the

test and will receive the crown of life

that the Lord has promised to those who

love him. No one, when tempted, should

say, "I am being tempted by God"; for

God cannot be tempted by evil and he

himself tempts no one. But one is tempted

by one's own desire, being lured and

enticed by it; then, when that desire has

conceived, it gives birth to sin, and that

sin, when it is fully grown, gives birth

to death. .......


Now the disciples had forgotten to

bring any bread; and they had only

one loaf with them in the boat. And he

cautioned them, saying, "Watch out

- beware of the yeast of the Pharisees

and the yeast of Herod." They said to

one another, "It is because we have no

bread." And becoming aware of it, Jesus

said to them, "Why are you talking

about having no bread? Do you still

not perceive or understand? Are your

hearts hardened? Do you have eyes, and

fail to see? Do you have ears, and fail to

hear? And do you not remember? When

I broke the five loaves for the five thousand,

how many baskets full of broken

pieces did you collect?" They said to

him, "Twelve." "And the seven for the

four thousand, how many baskets full

of broken pieces did you collect?" And

they said to him, "Seven." Then he said

to them, "Do you not yet understand?"

Prayerful Awareness

Today's Gospel speaks of the misunderstanding

between Jesus and the

disciples and shows that the yeast of the

Pharisees and of Herod, had taken possession

of the mentality of the disciples to the

point of hindering them from listening to

the Good News.

Jesus tries to explain very serious

things and reveal the total lack of understanding

on the part of the disciples. Even

if it seems unbelievable. the disciples reach

the point in which there is no difference

between them and the enemies of Jesus.

First, it was the hardness of heart of the

Pharisees and of the Herodians that made

Jesus to feel sad. Now, the disciples themselves

have hardened their hearts.

Our sonship

What is for us today the yeast of the

Pharisees and of Herod?

What does it mean today for me to have

a hardened heart?

The yeast of Herod and the Pharisees

prevents the disciples from understanding

the Good News.

Perhaps today the propaganda of television

prevents us from understanding the

Good New of Jesus OR

Is it the Mobile, the Social Media or

Politics have hardened our hearts?

Let us turn towards the Good News

which makes us live a holy life.

Prayer Starter

Happy are those whom you discipline,

O Lord and whom you teach out of your

law, giving them respite from days of trouble,

until a pit is dug for the wicked. For

the Lord will not forsake his people, he will

not abandon this heritage, for justice will

return to the righteous, and all the upright

in heart will follow it. (Ps.94/12-15)


25


James:1/19-27

Psalm:14/2-5

(15/1-5)

Mark:8/22-26


You must understand this, my

beloved, let everyone be quick to

listen, slow to speak, slow to anger;

for your anger does not produce

God's righteousness. Therefore rid

yourselves of all sordidness and rank

growth of wickedness, and welcome

with meekness the implanted word

that has the power to save your souls.

But be doers of the word, and

not merely hearers who deceive

themselves. For if any are hearers

of the word and not doers, they are

like those who look at themselves in

a mirror, for they look at themselves

and, on going away, immediately

forget what they were like. But those

who look into the perfect law, the law

of liberty, and persevere, being not

hearers who forget but doers who act

- they will be blessed in their doing.


They came to Bethsaida. Some

people brought a blind man to him

and begged him to touch him. He

took the blind man by the hand

and led him out of the village, and

when he had put saliva on his eyes

and laid his hands on him, he asked

him, "Can you see anything?" And

the man looked up and said, "I can

see people but they look like trees,

walking." Then Jesus laid his hands

on his eyes again; and he looked

intently and his sight was restored,

and he saw everything clearly. Then

he sent him away to his home, saying,

" Do not even go into the village."

Prayerful Awareness

In his preaching the Lord Jesus often

makes use of the signs of creation to

make known the mysteries of the Kingdom

of God. He performs healings and

illustrates His preaching with physical

signs or symbolic gestures (spittle,

laying on of hands, mud and washing).

He gives new meaning to the deeds

and signs of the Old Covenant, above

all to the Exodus and the Passover, for

He Himself is the meaning of all these

signs." (C.C.C. 1151).

This miracle is mentioned only by

Mark. In order to lessen the bewilderment

on gaining sight, Jesus took the

blind man away from the crowd and

the village. The unique consideration of

Jesus is evident here. He wanted to let

the thrill of seeing break little by little

upon him. Although Jesus' miracles

happened completely and suddenly,

this one happened gradually. The man

got his sight in stages. God's truth -

yes, no one sees it all at once. Taking

a decision to make Christ the Lord of

our lives - it is good but it is not the

end of the road. it is just the beginning

and we've got to tread the path, leaving

room for becoming new all the time.

We should be open for conversion.

Prayer Starter

That we grow in grace, learn more

and more about the wonder and beauty

of Jesus Christ - we pray to the Lord.

Amen.


26


James:2/1-9

Psalm:33/2-7

(34/1-6)

Mark:8/27-33


My brothers and sisters, do you

with your acts of favoritism really

believe in our glorious Lord Jesus

Christ? For if a person with gold

rings and in fine clothes comes into

your assembly, and if a poor person

in dirty clothes also comes in, and if

you take notice of the one wearing the

fine clothes and say, "have a seat here,

please," while to the one who is poor

you say, "Stand there," or "Sit at my

feet," have you not made distinction

among yourselves, and become judges

with evil thoughts?' ... Has not God

chosen the poor in the world to be rich

in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom

that he has promised to those who

love him? But you have dishonoured

the poor. ....


Jesus went on with his disciples to

the village of Caesarea Philippi and on

the way he asked his disciples, "Who

do people say that I am?' ... "John the

Baptist, and others; Elijah, and still

others, one of the prophets." ... "But

who do you say that I am?' Peter answered

him, "You are the Messiah."

And he sternly ordered them not to

tell anyone about him.

Then he began to teach them

that the Son of Man must undergo

great suffering, and be rejected by

the elders, the chief priests, and the

scribes, and be killed, and after three

days rise again. .... And Peter took him

aside and began to rebuke him. But


....; he rebuked Peter and said, "Get

behind me Satan! For you are setting

your mind not on divine things but on

human things."

Prayerful Awareness

In the letter of James, the writer says

that Christ mad no distinction between

the rich and the poor. He treated all

alike. There should be no discrimination

between the different classes in society

- it is not the outward look or apparel

that should be appreciated but the man

within. It is his faith and the life he leads

that counts and is regarded as valuable

in God's eyes.

According to the Gospel, Jesus

wanted to find out what the common man

things of Him. According to the Apostles,

they gave several answers. Jesus asked

this question after He had performed

several miracles. The common man put

Him in the rank of a prophet. But Pete

inspired by the Holy Spirit proclaimed

that Jesus was no other but "Christ" Himself.

Jesus was going to endure suffering

and death according to His own Will, so

He did not want anyone to interfere with

His crucifixion and death. So when Peter

found fault with the mode of HIs death,

Jesus called him "Satan", for it was God

who wanted Christ to suffer and die on

the cross and this form of death was

essential for the salvation of the whole

human race. Peter was trying to dissuade

Christ from being crucified.

Lives of holy men were lives of pain

and suffering and it was Christ who set

the best example for He was the Holiest

Man who lived on earth.

Prayer Starter

Praise the Lord with the lyre; make

melody to him with the harp of ten

strings. Sing to him a new song; play

skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.

For the word of the Lord is upright,

and all his works is done in faithfulness.

... (Ps.33/2,3,4 ....)

Friday 21st February 2020

James:2/14-24, 26

Psalm: 111/1-6

(112/1-6)

Mark:8/34-9/1


Please read James 2/14-24, 26 prayerfully,

Prayerful Awareness

The first reading presents to us a very

important teaching. It says Faith should

follow deeds. Then only it becomes active

in our lives. at is the use of all the wisdom

if we do not apply it in our lives. Father

Abraham is a good example. His faith was

active along with his deeds and became

perfect by what he did. So the Word of

Scripture was thus fulfilled. He believed

in God and was considered a righteous

person and he was called the friend of

God. "Just as the body is dead without the

Spirit, faith without deeds is also dead.".


He called the crowd with his disciples,

and said to them, "If any want

to become my followers, let them deny

themselves and take up their cross and

follow me. For those who want to save

their life will lose it, and those who lose

their life for my sake, and for the sake

of the gospel, will save it. ...

Gaze at Jesus

Our Lord Jesus Christ came into this

world for the great purpose of executing

God's plan to build the Kingdom of God

and to win salvation to all mankind. To

fulfill this promise He had to give up His

heavenly glory and take the nature of a

servant, deny Himself and ultimately go

through the suffering of the cross. With the

Baptism of the Spirit at the river Jordan

He was empowered to deny Himself and

depend solely on His Father God. The

birds had nests and the foxes had caves,

but the Son of Man did not have anything


27

to lie on. Although He was the Son of God

He learnt suffering through obedience. he

was destined to face an unjust judgement

and had to undergo a horrible crucifixion

on the cross. With all this in mind, Jesus

responded to God's Will, by healing all

forms of diseases of the people, relieving

those who were possessed with evil spirits,

freeing the captives and consoling the

suffering. People came to Him in flocks

to achieve all these advantages but not

to contribute to Jesus' mission. Even the

disciples who left everything and followed

Jesus did not really understand what true

discipleship is. However, Jesus made them

understand that they are destined to win

the resurrection when they dedicate their

lives on behalf of Jesus and the Gospel

and so they responded. All these were

possible through the empowerment of the

Holy Spirit.

Take up the Cross means to follow

the same path which Jesus undertook. In

a way renounce our life or we must risk

ourselves for something noble instead of

being concerned about our own future.

We have to take up our cross by accepting

freely the sacrifices that the Father sends

each day. In return we receive something

more marvelous than what was sacrificed

- inner freedom and more profound happiness

(Mark 10;30).

It is time to think seriously about what

Jesus tells us in today's Gospel proclamation.

"Does a person gain anything if he

wins the whole world but loses his life?"

Life is not a bed of roses as the saying

goes. Every Christian has to go through

hardships and we have to face them freely,

without grumbling, because the Holy

Spirit is empowering and guiding us all

the way. Christ went through all the trials

on behalf of all mankind to win salvation

for all the people. Let us follow Him to

win resurrection which He had promised.

Prayer Starter

Dear Father God, give us more and

more faith in order to live according to

Your ideals.

28

Saturday 22nd February 2020 Chair of St.Peter, The Apostle

1 Peter:5/1-4

Psalm:22/1-6

(23/1-6)

Matthew:16/13-19

Gospel Proclamation

Now when Jesus came into the

district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked

his disciples, “Who do people say the

Son of Man is?” “Some say John the

Baptist,” they answered. “Others say

Elijah, while others say Jeremiah or

some other prophet.” “What about

you?” he asked them. “Who do you

say I am?” Simon Peter answered,

“You are the Messiah, the Son of the

living God.” “Good for you, Simon

son of John!” answered Jesus. “For

this truth did not come to you from

any human being, but it was given to

you directly by my Father in heaven.

And so, I tell you, Peter: you are a

rock, and on this rock foundation I will

build my church, and not even death

will ever be able to overcome it. I will

give you the keys of the Kingdom of

heaven; what you prohibit on earth

will be prohibited in heaven, and what

you permit on earth will be permitted

in heaven.”

Gaze at Jesus’ Sonship

When asked, Peter the Apostle distinguishes

the identity of Jesus as Messiah.

It is in the prophetic mission of God,

that Jesus is identified and revealed to the

world as the promised deliverer. In that

mission, Peter was unique because he

was open to the promptings of the Holy

Spirit. In this instance too Peter allows

the Holy Spirit to guide him to identify

the true nature of Jesus as Messiah.

Thus, Jesus becomes confident that He

is entrusting the leadership of the Church

to Peter who processed the gifts of the


Holy Spirit, which is a prerequisite in an

Evangelical Church.

My sonship (1 Peter 5: 1-4)

I, who am an elder myself, appeal

to the church elders among you. I am a

witness of Christ's sufferings, and I will

share in the glory that will be revealed. I

appeal to you to be shepherds of the flock

that God gave you and to take care of it

willingly, as God wants you to, and not

unwillingly. Do your work, not for mere

pay, but from a real desire to serve. Do

not try to rule over those who have been

put in your care, but be examples to the

flock. And when the Chief Shepherd

appears, you will receive the glorious

crown which will never lose its brightness.

In the same way you younger people

must submit to your elders. And all of

you must put on the apron of humility, to

serve one another; for the scripture says,

“God resists the proud, but shows favour

to the humble.”

Prayerful Awareness

The church must identify leaders

who are led by the Holy Spirit who will

have the missionary zeal to carry out the

responsibility it is entrusted with, which

is to uplift the society from its bondages.

The church must hear the cry from the

world that it needs Jesus.

Therefore, the first reading clearly

stipulate that Church leaders cannot

stagnate. They should give their life to

God in the same way Jesus did.

Therefore, let us Pray

Let us begin our prayer by reading

Psalm 23 once again meditatively. Dear

Holy Spirit our guide and our counselor,

we intercede with You today for our

Church leaders, that they may be instruments

of Christ to lead God’s flock to the

greener pastures that God Himself has

prepared for them through Christ.

We praise and thank God for giving

us Pope Francis with his missionary zeal.

Sunday 23rd February 2020

Leviticus:19/1-2,17-18

Psalm:102/1-4,8,10-13

(103/1-4,8,10,12-13)

1 Corinthians:3/16-23

Mathew:5/38-48

Introduction

God the source of infinite love

has called us to a life of relationship

with him, of experiencing his love.

Love means outpouring of oneself,

offering oneself for the sake of the

other which should be done voluntarily.

God so loved the world that he gave

his only begotten son. Jesus Christ

who unfolded and proved his love for

us through self-sacrifice is the only

person who fulfilled the Law and the

commandments. Love is the ultimate

solution for every problem that crops

up in the world – loving and giving

attention. Christ the Lord through his

love redeemed the world. Let us follow

his steps and be a solution to the world.

For this purpose let us get enwrapped

in the breath of the Spirit and enter

into prayer.


…."Be holy, for I, the Lord your

God am holy. You must not bear

hatred for your brother in your

heart. You must openly tell him, your

neighbor, of his offence; this way you

will not take a sin upon yourself.

You must not exact vengeance, nor

must you bear a grudge against the

children of your people. You must

love your neighbor as yourself. I am

the Lord.

Seventh Sunday of Ordinary Time

Ps Wk III

Prayerful Awareness


29

The term applied for Law in the

Old Testament was 'Torah.' Also, the

book of Leviticus is one of the first five

books of the Holy Bible. The Law that

has been developed since ancient times

through contexts of ritualism, covenant

and social has been presented in varied

forms. The main theme of the Book

containing many liturgical laws and

regulations in connection with Levite

Priestly Tradition is the manner in

which the people should offer worship

and sacrifice to God to preserve his

holiness and to maintain relationship

with him. "Be holy, for I, the Lord your

God am holy."

In order to lead a sinless life without

spot or stain let us continue to be

purified through the precious blood

of the Lord Jesus, follow him and be

his witnesses demonstrating through

our life actions the words of the Lord,

"Love your neigbour as I love you."


Do you not know that you are

God's temple and that God's Spirit

dwells in you? If anyone destroys

God's temple, God will destroy that

person. For God's temple is holy, and

you are that temple.

Do not deceive yourselves. If you

think that you are wise in this age,

you should become fools so that you

may become wise. For the wisdom of

this world is foolishness with God.

For it is written,

"He catches the wise in their

craftiness," and again, "The Lord

knows the thoughts of the wise, that

they are futile." So let no one boast

about human leaders. For all things

are yours, whether Paul or Apolos or

Cephas or the world or life or death

or the present or the future - all be-

30

long to you, and you belong to Christ,

and Christ belongs to God.

Prayerful Awareness

The Holy Spirit dwells in the temple

of God and the place he lives in is

holy. Every Christian is a temple of

God. Hence, St. Paul invites his community

to love and respect each other.

None of us works for the destruction of

oneself and we should do the same for

others. In the worldly standard we seek

victory over one another. Yet when we

look at the worldly wisdom it is only

limited to the world but the wisdom of

God surpasses human understanding.

Also St. Paul tells us to live as people

belonging to God and to give him what

is his right. Let us identify the vices and

sins rooted in us and repent in conversion.

Take steps to work according to

the mind of God. And for this purpose

let us plead for power from above.


"You have heard that it was said,

'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a

tooth.' But I say to you, Do not resist

an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you

on the right cheek, turn the other

also, and if anyone wants to sue you

and take your coat, give your cloak

as well; and if anyone forces you to

go one mile, go also the second mile.

Give to everyone who begs from you

and do not refuse anyone who wants

to borrow from you.

"You have heard that it was said,

'You shall love your neighbor and

hate your enemy.' But I say to you,

Love your enemies and pray for those

who persecute you, so that you may

be children of your Father in heaven;

for he makes his sun rise on the evil

one on the good, and sends rain on

the righteous and on the unrighteous.

For if you love those who love you,

what reward do you have? Do not

even the tax collectors do the same?

And if you greet only your brothers

and sisters, what more are you doing

than others? Do not even the Gentiles

do the same? Be perfect, therefore,

as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Prayerful Awareness

Christ our life model poses us a

challenge as well as extends an invitation

which means give witness to his

loving action that supersedes the social

and religious laws prevalent at the time.

"Love your enemies just as I have loved

you." The enemy cannot bear to see us

loving him but that is what Christ did.

He proclaimed to the world the law of

love. His love was revolutionary. He

changed doing tit for tat of the Old

Testament, the law of "tooth for tooth"

and fulfilling it he taught even to love

our enemies. He proclaimed of peace,

joy and love instead of revenge, hatred,

anger, envy and jealousy. God forever

loves the entire universe equally and

invites us also to do the same.

Towards my son-ship

"When love fades away from the

earth thousands will die of cold." Invitation

through the Gospel today is

to love one another not merely human

love but to love others with hearts filled

with the love of God. God forever

remaining perfect guides us too on the

same path which should be our constant

reflection. Let us entrust our minds and

thoughts, feelings and emotions as well

as desires and expectations to God and

allow the Holy Spirit to lead us.

Prayer Starter

Hear my prayer, O Lord; let my cry

come to you. Do not hide your face from

me in the day of my distress. Incline

your ear; answer me speedily in the

day when I call.

For my days pass away like smoke,

and my bones burn like a furnace. My

heart is stricken and withered like

grass; I am too wasted to eat my bread.

(Ps.102/1-3)


31


James:3/13-18

Psalm:18/8-10,15

( 19/7-9, 14)

Mark:9/14-29


When they came to the disciples,

they saw a great crowd around them,

and some scribes arguing with them.

When the whole crowd saw him, they

were immediately overcome with awe,

and they ran forward to greet him. He

asked them, "What are you arguing

about with them?" .... "Teacher I

brought you my son, he has a spirit,

that makes him unable to speak, ....

and I asked your disciples to cast it

out, but they could not do so." He

answered them, "You faithless generation,

how much longer must I be

among you? ..... Bring him to me." ....

When the spirit saw him, immediately

it convulsed the boy .... "How long

has this been happening to him?" ....

"From childhood, but if you are able

to do anything, have pity on us and

help us." Jesus said to him "If you are

able! - All things can be done for the

one who believes." Immediately the

father of the child cried out, "I believe,

help my unbelief!" ...... Jesus took

him by the hand and lifted him up,

and he was able to stand. When he had

entered the house his disciples asked

him privately, "Why could we not cast

it out?" He said to them, "This kind

can come out only through prayer."

Prayerful Awareness

Today's Gospel reading brings to

light two inspiring words of Jesus - Faith

and Prayer. The boy was possessed by

a demon from his childhood. When the

father brought him to Jesus the devil had

robbed him of his speech, thrown him on

the ground, caused him to foam at the

mouth, gnash his teeth and convulse . It

was truly a pathetic situation.

Why couldn't the disciples drive out

the evil spirit? Although the disciples

have driven out demons on their mission

to the villages, they failed to do so here.

Perhaps they did not have a special authority

here, or perhaps their faith was

faltering. Mark tells this story to show

that the battle with Satan is a difficult

ongoing struggle. Victory over sin and

temptation comes through faith in Jesus

Christ, not through our own efforts. The

pleading of the father was, "If you can

do anything, take pity on us and help us."

Jesus immediately strengthens his faith

by saying, "Everything is possible for

him who believes." Instantly the boy's

father proclaimed, "I do believe, help

my unbelief." So he received more than

he asked - the gift of faith, complete healing,

learnt the need of Jesus to believe,

At Jesus' command, Satan left the boy

never to return.

Faith is a gift from God. It grows

as a constant process of daily renewing

our trust in Jesus. Prayer is the key that

unlocks faith in our lives. Effective

prayer needs both an attitude - complete

dependence and action - asking.

We should humbly invite God to fill us

with faith and power, especially in circumstances

that seem impossible. Jesus

made it clear to His disciples and to all

of us today that nothing is impossible to

God. Jesus administered His disciples

to pray by saying, "This can come out

only by prayer."

Prayer Starter

Lord, we pray that our faith be

strengthened like the father of the boy

who pleaded with you. "I do have faith,

but not enough. Help me to have more

faith. Amen."


32


James:4/1-10

Psalm:54/7-11,23

(55/6-10,22)

Mark:9/30-37


Where do all the fights and quarrels

among you come from? They come

from your desires for pleasure, which

are constantly fighting within you. You

want things, but you cannot have them,

so you are ready to kill; you strongly

desire things, but you cannot get them,

so you quarrel and fight. You do not

have what you want because you do not

ask God for it. And when you ask, you

do not receive it, because your motives

are bad; you ask for things to use for

your own pleasures. Unfaithful people!

Don't you know that to be the world's

friend means to be God's enemy? If you

want to be the world's friend, you make

yourself God's enemy. ...


Jesus and his disciples left that place

and went on through Galilee. Jesus did

not want anyone to know where he was,

because he was teaching his disciples:

"The Son of Man will be handed over

to those who will kill him. Three days

later, however, he will rise to life."

But they did not understand what this

teaching meant, and they were afraid

to ask him. They came to Capernaum,

and after going indoors Jesus asked

his disciples, "What were you arguing

about on the road?" ... Jesus sat down,

called the twelve disciples, and said to

them, "Whoever wants to be first must

place himself last of all and be the servant

of all." Then he took a child and

had him stand in front of them. He put

his arms around him and said to them,

"Whoever welcomes in my name one

of these children, welcomes me; and

whoever welcomes me, welcomes not

only me but also the one who sent me."

Gaze at Jesus

In this passage Jesus teaches us a few

lessons. He is on the way to Jerusalem

and to the Cross which awaits him there.

He tells his disciples “The Son of Man

will be handed over to those who will kill

him. Three days later, however, he will

rise to life." But they don’t understand

Him. Is the world so different today? The

Christian message talks about the glory

of accepting Christ and the tragedy which

awaits those who reject Him. Yet the world

still refuses to understand Him, to accept

Him. The disciples were still thinking

of His Kingdom in earthly terms and of

themselves as His chief ministers of state.

There is something heart-breaking in the

thought of Jesus going towards a Cross and

His disciples arguing about who would be

greatest. Jesus explains that if they sought

greatness in his Kingdom they must find

it, not by being first but by being last, not

by being masters but by being servants

of all. The world would be a better place

if men lived for what they could do for

others and not for what they could get for

themselves. In order to make His point

clear Jesus brings in a child to their midst.

Jesus wants to show that to be a part of

His Kingdom His followers must be like

a children. There is no prestige in a child,

no ambition but is completely dependent.

Prayer Starter

Help us Lord to shed our ambitions

and our desire to seek prestige and privileges

and be totally dependent on You with

the desire to serve our fellow man.


33


Ash Wednesday

Joel:2/12-18

Psalm:50/3-6,12-14,

17

(51/1-4,10-13,15)

2 Corinthians:5/20-6/2

Mathew:6/1-6,16-18


Beware of practicing your piety

before others in order to be seen by

them, for then you have no reward

from your Father in heaven.

"So whenever you give alms, do

not sound a trumpet before you, as

the hypocrites do in the synagogues

and in the streets, so that they may be

praised by others. Truly I tell you, they

have received their reward. But when

you give alms, do not let your left hand

know what your right hand is doing, so

that your alms may be done in secret;

and your father who sees in secret will

reward you.......

Prayerful Awareness

Once more the blessed season of

Lent is with us. It mainly invites us to

look at ourselves and engage in deeper

prayer, fasting and almsgiving, to gain

merit in the sight of God and as atonement

and forgiveness for our sins. Here

we are faced with a problem - the problem

of outward show when we pray, fast

and give alms. In fasting, unkempt hair,

soiled clothes, whitened faces and telling

others of it are some ways condemned

by Jesus. Can these be regarded as acts

of humility? Surely not. They are acts

of spiritual pride. If fasting is undertaken

for its own sake then there is no

value in it. It is just a demonstration of

superior piety. Jesus calls to conversion

and penance, like that of the prophets


before Him, do not aim first at outward

works, sackcloth and ashes", fasting and

mortification, but at the conversion of

the heart, interior conversion. Without

this, such penance remains sterile and

false, however interior conversion urges

expression in visible signs, gestures and

works of penance." (C.C.C.1430). Wise

fasting is an excellent thing. It is good for

self-discipline. It would do much good

to us if we at least once a fortnight, set

aside our wishes and desires and exercise

stringent self-discipline. Fasting is good

for health. It is a way of respite to the

digestive system, which if overburdened

results in getting soft and flabby. If it is

neglected it is easy to reach a stage where

we might live to eat instead of the reverse.

The ability to do without certain things is

preserved by fasting. How many things

in our life are regarded as essential or we

cannot do without? We can be independent

if there are fewer essential things. If

our list of essential things is long, then we

will be at the mercy of the luxuries of life.

How about walking along a street lined

with shop windows and making a list of

things we can do without? To appreciate

things all the more - when some pleasures

come seldom, we yearn to enjoy them.

Such hedonistic engagements kill true

fulfillment. Instead, fasting keeps us

satisfied deep within leaving us fresh

and new. What Jesus condemned was the

wrong kind of fasting and never to eliminate

it from life. Let us make it a way to

go to Him. And in prayer - Our prayers

are full of conditions for God to comply

with. If, instead of our telling God "Thy

will be done", He tells us "Thy will be

done"? The voice crying in the wilderness

is a call to penance through which let us

make this Lent a time of salvation - to go

to where we should be.

Prayer Starter

Help us to see and free ourselves from

the hypocrisy of almsgiving, fasting and

prayer. Amen.

34


Deuteronomy:30/15-20

Psalm:1/1-4, 6

Luke: 9/22-25


See, I have set before you today life

and prosperity, death and adversity. If

you obey the commandments of the

Lord your God,.... walking in his ways,

and observing his commandments, ....

then you shall live and become numerous,

and the Lord your God will bless

you in the land that you are entering

to possess. But if your heart turns

away and you do not hear, but are

led astray to bow down to other gods

and serve them, I declare to you today

that you shall perish; you shall not live

long in the land that you are crossing

the Jordan to enter and possess. I call

heaven and earth to witness against

you today that I have set before you

life and death, blessings and curses.

Choose life so that you and your descendants

may live, loving the Lord

your God, obeying him, and holding

fast to him, for that means life to you

and length of days, so that you may

live in the land that the Lord swore to

give to your ancestors, to Abraham, to

Isaac and to Jacob.


The Son of Man must undergo

great suffering, and be rejected by

the elders, chief priests, and scribes,

and be killed, and on the third day

be raised."

Then he said to them all, "If any

want to become my followers, let them

deny themselves and take up their

cross daily and follow me. For those

who want to save their life will lose


it, and those who lose their life for my

sake will save it. What does it profit

them if they gain the whole world, but

lose or forfeit themselves?

Gaze on Jesus

Jesus starts this paragraph by giving

His apostles a summary of His own future

plan of life, which was quite a puzzle to

them. Most of His apostles were hoping

that Jesus would set up a worldly kingdom

of glory on earth. To hear that Jesus

was to be killed and resurrected was a

mystery to them. Above all, as resurrection

was never heard of at the time, the

apostles were flabbergasted and scared.

Jesus wanted all the followers in

the present and the future to deny themselves.

That is, to give up their desires,

their ideals and their attachments to self

altogether and follow Jesus. We have to

follow Jesus by "taking up our cross". It

means by facing all hardships, troubles,

pains and suffering and questions and not

by running away from them or throwing

them on the shoulders of others. And we

are to do this not for a day or two but "daily"

which means throughout our lives.

Jesus further says that if we give up

our own well-being and comfort, for His

sake, Jesus will reward us much more and

look after us more than we ourselves can.

Finally, Jesus says what can we gain if we

win the whole world with all its marvelous

attractions and worldly values but if

we lose our souls and be damned forever.

Prayer Starter

Happy are those who do not follow

the advice of the wicked, or take the

path that sinners tread, or sit in the seat

of scoffers; but their delight is in the law

of the Lord, and on his law they meditate

day and night. They are like trees planted

by streams of water, which yield their

fruit in its season, and their leaves do not

wither in all that they do, they prosper.

(Ps.1/1-3)

35


Isaiah:58/1-9

Psalm:50/3-6,18-19

(51/1-4,16.17)

Mathew:9/14-15


Then the disciples of John came

to him, saying, "Why do we and the

Pharisees fast often, but your disciples

do not fast?" And Jesus said to them,

"The wedding guests cannot mourn as

long as the bridegroom is with them,

can they? The days will come when the

bridegroom is taken away from them,

and then they will fast.

Gaze on Jesus

Jesus lived a life of strict abstinence

and his food was locusts and wild honey.

Nowhere is it said that he spoke about

fasting. The disciples of John may have

been led by the Pharisees before they

came to John. The Pharisees most of

the time were out to find fault with what

Jesus said or did and they may have

induced the disciples of John to put this

question about fasting. These religious

leaders may not be happy when the

people who came to them earlier are

now flocking in large numbers to Jesus

to listen to His sermons and to be healed

of their ailments.

The Pharisees considered fasting to

be a sign of liberation and in their prayers

they wanted God to come and liberate the

people. Here Jesus says that when God

comes in the form of Jesus Himself, joy

and celebration are more appropriate.

Prophet Isaiah has also announced in vs.

62/4,5 of the wedding feast of God with

His people when He comes to visit them

and this has been actualized when Jesus

presents Himself as the bridegroom.

Towards the end of His fast of forty


days in the wilderness after His Baptism,

the devil made a futile attempt to make

Him to end His fast. "If you are the Son

of God command this stone to become

bread." Jesus responded with the words

of scripture, "Man does not live by

bread alone, but by every word that

proceeds from the mouth of God."

(Matthew 3:3,4) Even in His Sermon

on the Mount, Jesus has presented the

mind of the Father in regard to fasting.

(Mathew 6:16, 18). "When you fast, do

not look dismal like the hypocrites, for

they disfigure their faces that their

fasting may be seen by men .... But

when you fast, anoint your head and

wash your face, that your fasting may

not be seen by men but by your Father

who is in secret, and your Father who

sees in secret will reward you."

Prayerful Awareness

Here in this passage, Prophet Isaiah

who lived about 600 years before Christ,

presents the mind of God in regard to

fasting. They say that when they fast

they are not even seen and the penance

they do are not noticed. But on the other

hand on the day they fast they force the

labourers to work and they end up quarrelling

and fighting. Becoming humble

and wearing sack cloth alone will not

please the Lord. The fast that pleases the

Lord is to do away with injustice, release

the oppressed in any form, sharing the

food with the hungry, give shelter to the

homeless, clothe the naked and not reject

your kin who come to you. Then when

you call, the Lord will answer and will

readily accept you.

Prayer Starter

Let me be aware every moment of

the day that You are one with all those

who are destitute and uncared for and

may I unite with them at least in spirit

and uphold them in prayer every moment

they come to my mind.

36


Isaiah:58/9-14

Psalm:85/1-6

(86/1-6)

Luke:5/27-32

Gospel Proclamation

After this, Jesus went out and saw

a tax collector named Levi, sitting in

his office. Jesus said to him, “Follow

me.” Levi got up, left everything,

and followed him. Then Levi had a

big feast in his house for Jesus, and

among the guests was a large number

of tax collectors and other people.

Some Pharisees and some teachers of

the Law who belonged to their group

complained to Jesus' disciples. “Why

do you eat and drink with tax collectors

and other outcasts?” they asked.

Jesus answered them, “People who

are well do not need a doctor, but only

those who are sick. I have not come to

call respectable people to repent, but

outcasts.”

Gaze at Jesus’ Sonship

Jesus utters two profound words to

the two groups present at Levi’s house,

namely the tax collectors and the Pharisees.

To the Tax collectors, Jesus said

“Follow me”. To the Pharisees Jesus

said, “I have not come to call respectable

to repent, but outcasts”. In both expectations,

the person to whom they are called

to turn to is Jesus. Jesus calls them to

follow Him and to repent because in

Him is implicit security, joy, happiness

and freedom devoid of sin.

Our Sonship

Repentance is the sign that we accept

Jesus as the divine provider even when

we commit an error, in our trials and

pain. Repentance is also a sign that we

accept Jesus as the Lord and Master of


our life.

Book of Isaiah says in the first

reading, “When you pray, I will answer

you. When you call to me, I will

respond. “If you put an end to oppression,

to every gesture of contempt, and

to every evil word; if you give food to

the hungry and satisfy those who are

in need, then the darkness around you

will turn to the brightness of noon.

And I will always guide you and satisfy

you with good things. I will keep

you strong and well. You will be like

a garden that has plenty of water, like

a spring of water that never runs dry.

Your people will rebuild what has long

been in ruins, building again on the

old foundations. You will be known as

the people who rebuilt the walls, who

restored the ruined houses.”

Therefore, let us reflect, where does

our joy begin from? What do we call

freedom?

More we gaze at Jesus' Sonship,

we begin to see our inequities, our own

selfishness, our inner anger, dissatisfactions

that lead us to hoarding of power

and wealth.

We have begun the season of Lent

and it is a good time to consider Jesus’

invitation to repent.

Prayer Starter

(Psalm 86: 1-6)

Listen to me, Lord, and answer me,

for I am helpless and weak.

Save me from death, because I am

loyal to you; save me, for I am your

servant and I trust in you.

You are my God, so be merciful to

me; I pray to you all day long.

Make your servant glad, O Lord,

because my prayers go up to you.

You are good to us and forgiving, full

of constant love for all who pray to you.

Listen, Lord, to my prayer; hear my

cries for help.

Walk in the Spirit

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Walk in the Spirit February 2020

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