JesusSon of God

 

Part V

   Jesus answered: “In all truth I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above. ‘John 3:3. We have to be born again in the Spirit of God. ‘For your new birth was not from any perishable seed but from imperishable seed, the living and enduring Word of God. ‘1 Pt 1:23. The Spirit gives us birth in the living and enduring Word of God.Jesus is the Word existing from the beginning. “In the beginning God created heaven and earth. Genesis 1:1 (NJB) This is the beginning St John the Apostle explained in his Gospel. The Word was with God in the beginning and in Him was created everything in the earth and in the universe. ‘1. In the beginning was the Word: the Word was with God and the Word was God. 2. He was with God in the beginning. 3. Through him all things came into being, not one thing came into being except through him. 4. What has come into being in him was life, life that was the light of men; 5 and light shines in darkness, and darkness could not overpower it. ‘ John 1:1-5 ( NJB) From the Book of Genesis or from the beginning Jesus was with the Father and God created man in the image of Jesus. How much love Heavenly Father has shown us by giving His own Son to us. On 27th December we celebrated the Feast of St John the Apostle and Evangelist. At Holy Mass the priest explained St John’s closeness to Jesus. “St John was sitting at the foot of Jesus. Why ? To listen to the voice of the Word of God. He was very close to Jesus’s heart. We become close to our friend when we love him or her. Love is the most important factor which determines our closeness to God and man. Love, love, love.. nothing else can satisfy our Lord.”

Jesus Son of God

Part IV 

Only in Jesus, we will have the salvation 

  Jesus is the stone which is rejected by many because accepting salvation does not come from mere human understanding. The Holy Spirit reveals these mysteries to those chosen by Jesus. “This is the stone which you, the builders, rejected but which has become the cornerstone. Only in him is there salvation; for all the names in the world given to men, this is the only one by which we can be saved. “ Acts 4:11-12. One who seeks the faith; will think by faith and live by faith; and it will lead him to salvation . Faith is a free gift from God and we do not question him for anything. God revealed himself to the whole of humanity only through his beloved son. We do not have the ability to see God through our naked eyes.He sent his only begotten Son to reveal himself to us. Jesus is the one who reveals the Heavenly Father to us. Here the revelation will come when we humble ourselves in front of God. This was the way the Virgin Mary humbled herself and said yes to the Lord. Luke 1:38(NJB):Mary said,’You see before you the Lord’s servant, let it happen to me as you have said. ‘And the angel left her.

 

Jesus Son of God, Spiritual Documents

 

Part III

No one has ever seen God, its is the only Son, who has seen the Father!
The real nature of God is known only by Jesus. ‘No one has ever seen God; it is the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known. ‘ Jn 1:18. Here St John says Jesus is close to the Father’s heart. St John himself emulates this closeness to the heart of Jesus as the Gospel Of John says, ‘The disciple Jesus loved was reclining next to Jesus. Jn 13:23. When we love God wholeheartedly, we will be close to his heart.“I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart, who will perform my entire will. “To keep his promise, God has raised up for Israel one of David’s descendants, Jesus, as Savior.  Acts 13 :22-23. In this way God s Son was born from David’s dynasty. What a great blessing God brought for David’s house, the Son of God was born and brought up in the House of David. Our homes too will be blessed when Christ becomes the centre of our life.

Jesus Son of God

 Part II

You are Christ Son of the Living God 

  He is the Son of the living God, the only Son of God. It is the faith which proclaimed by St. Peter when Jesus asked His disciples ‘But you,’ he said, ‘who do you say I am?’ Then Simon Peter spoke up and said, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ Matt.16: 16. This is the mystery and the ultimate truth that Jesus is the man and God. St Peter was just a fisher man and unlearned. By receiving the wisdom of God he proclaimed the truth which was  hidden from the learned and the wise. Jesus himself said that “Simon son of Jonah, you are a blessed man! Because, no human agency that revealed this to you; but my Father in heaven”. Matt 16: 17. Heavenly Father will reveal the secret mysteries of Jesus and His Kingdom to all whom he loved in this world. It was God’s plan that His Godly and earthly nature is to make His flocks to understand the nature of God. This was Heavenly Fathers’ plan to save His own children from the destruction and save their souls. We have to accept Jesus as our Lord and God, and then we will feel the difference. “But to those who did accept him he gave power to become the children of God, to those who believed in his name who were born not for human stock or human desire or human will but from God himself.” Jon. 1: 12-13. We are born in Christ not from human stock but from God Himslef. So what is important is to believe in His name, this makes us to born again in His enduring Word.

Jesus Son of God

Part I 

Jesus will be called Son of Most High

Our faith is, Jesus Son of God and this is the ultimate foundation of Christianity and the Catholic faith. This faith is the gift of our Lord through His mercy which poured upon us. Gabriel the Angel of God came to Mother Mary and proclaims the mystery, the birth of Jesus. ‘But the angel of God said to her ‘Mary, do not be afraid; you have won God’s favor. Look! You are to conceive in you womb and bear a son, and you must name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of Most High.’ Lk.1: 31-32. Heavenly Father himself proclaims about Jesus; He is the Son of God. Jesus was born a man and he has divine nature. That’s why he is Son of God. While John the Baptist baptizing Jesus, John  has seen the Holy Spirit descend on Jesus and he heard the Word of the  Father.’ And the Holy Spirit descended on him like in a physical form, like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “you are my Son; today have I fathered you.” Lk. 3: 22. God the Father Himself declared that Jesus is His only Son, How can anybody we neglect this factor. Through him only the salvation comes. This makes us separate from the other religions and other sects. 

Daily Prayer

Day 26, Evening Prayer:  Lord, I am lifting my hands towards You, have mercy on me!

  After the whole day’s of effort, what we gain and what we lost? We have to examine ourselves wholeheartedly. In the evening of the day examine ourselves with a humble and contrite heart, how efficiently we spent our day with the Lord. ‘The prayer of the humble pierces the clouds: and until it does, he is not to be consoled, nor will he desist until the Most High takes notice of him, acquits the upright and delivers judgement.’ Eccles. 35: 16-17. So do the prayer in a humble nature because our Lord humbled Himself to accept the death on the Cross. He did not count equality with God. The evening prayer is so important because all our efforts which we done in the Spirit of God during the day should be examined and say thanks to God for His mercy. More over ask pardon for our failings (the sins in words and deeds) which we done against God’s will. Our prayer should be like incense which is pleasing God as the priests offer during the time of Sacrifice of Holy Mass. ‘Yahweh, I am calling, hurry to me, and listen to my voice when I call to you. May my prayer be like incense in your presence, my uplifted hands like the evening sacrifice? Ps. 141: 1-2. When we lift our hands all our bondages will be broken and we will be free to accept the Spirit of God.

Daily Prayer

Day 25, Lord, You have counted my sorrows and collected my tears in Your wineskin. 

  Our tears of repentance is loved by God. In the Gospel of St  Mathew says about Jesus heals the blind men. Jesus heard the cry of of the blind men. They followed Jesus till he reached his home. Matthew 9:27–30 (NJB): As Jesus went on his way two blind men followed him shouting(crying loudly), ‘Take pity on us, son of David.’ 28 And when Jesus reached the house the blind men came up to him and he said to them, ‘Do you believe I can do this?’ They said, ‘Lord, we do.’ 29 Then he touched their eyes saying, ‘According to your faith, let it be done to you.’ 30 And their sight returned. Then Jesus sternly warned them, ‘Take care that no one learns about this.’  Here we could see Jesus understand their grievances and he was ready to cure their blindness. Psalm 42:3–4 (NJB): have no food but tears day and night, as all day long I am taunted, ‘Where is your God?’ 4 This I remember as I pour out my heart, how I used to pass under the roof of the Most High used to go to the house of God, among cries of joy and praise, the sound of the feast. Here we could see how the Psalmist lamented for his unworthiness. He was so much distressed about his companions as they all deserted him. Psalm 56:8 (NJB): You yourself have counted up my sorrows, collect my tears in your wineskin. Lord know very well about our miseries and nothingness. All our actions are recoded in His Book of Life. Nothing is to worry, but we should lament for our sins with deep repentance. 

Daily Prayer

Day 24, Lord, “Seven times a day I praise You for Your upright judgements.”

  Daniel prayed to God three times a day. ‘Three times each day, he went down on his knees, praying and giving praise to God as he had always done.’ Dan. 6:10. But What the Psalmist says? Psalmist prayed seven times a day. ‘Seven time a day I praise you for your upright judgements.’ Ps. 119: 164. Psalmist lamented three times in a day. ‘For my part, I appeal to God and Yahweh saves me; evening, morning, noon, I complain and I groan.’ Ps. 55: 16-17. Our Catholic Church’s official prayers; the Divine Office Prayer also has seven times prayer schedules. When we practice is a discipline in our prayer life, we will grow spiritually one with our Lord. Other wise we cannot gHow Elijah prayed for the rain in Israel. He was very much attached to the love of God. Elijah trust in God and he never despise Him. We all know he was taken to Heaven in body and soul. 1 Kings 18:42–46 (NJB): While Ahab went back to eat and drink, Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel and bowed down to the ground, putting his face between his knees. 43 ‘Now go up’, he told his servant, ‘and look out to sea.’ He went up and looked. ‘There is nothing at all,’ he said. Seven times Elijah told him to go back. 44 The seventh time, the servant said, ‘Now there is a cloud, small as a man’s hand, rising from the sea.’ Elijah said, ‘Go and say to Ahab, “Harness the chariot and go down before the rain stops you.” ’ 45 And with that the sky grew dark with cloud and storm, and rain fell in torrents. Ahab mounted his chariot and made for Jezreel. 46 But the hand of Yahweh had come on Elijah and, hitching up his clothes, he ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel. Elijah also prayed seven times, seven has significant meaning or fulfilment of the Word of God. Joshua and Israelites marched seven times around the city walls of Jericho, they raised the war cry on the  seventh day and the walls was collapsed, they entered the city and captured the city. Josh 6: 10-20Joshua 6:14–16 (NJB): ……………They marched once round the city (on the second day) and went back to camp; and so on for six days. 15 On the seventh day, they got up at dawn and marched (in the same manner) round the city seven times. (This was the only day when they marched round the city seven times.) 16 At the seventh time, the priests blew their trumpets and Joshua said to the people, ‘Raise the war cry, for Yahweh has given you the city! Joshua 6:20 (NJB): The people raised the war cry, the trumpets sounded. When the people heard the sound of the trumpet, they raised a mighty war cry and the wall collapsed then and there. At once the people stormed the city, each man going straight forward; and they captured the city. These are evidence of constant prayer of the faithful servants of God in the Holy Scriptures

Daily Prayer

 

Day 23, The Morning Prayer, God loves a cheerful giver. 

   One more important thing we have to do is; always do the penance for our sins, for our own constant conversion. We have to pray for our enemies as they are our benefactors and we should give them unconditional love. Sirach 35:16–18 (NJB): Whoever wholeheartedly serves God will be accepted, his petitions will carry to the clouds.  17 The prayer of the humble pierces the clouds: and until it does, he is not to be consoled, 18 nor will he desist until the Most High takes notice of him, acquits the upright and delivers judgement. Do not approach our lord with empty hands. ‘No one will appear before me empty-handed.’ Exod. 34: 20. We should strive for the holy virtues and these are the gifts God is expecting from us and he is not asking money or something materially. Sirach 35:8–10 (NJB): Add a smiling face to all your gifts, and be cheerful as you dedicate your tithes. 9 Give to the Most High as he has given to you, as generously as your means can afford; 10 for the Lord is a good rewarder, he will reward you seven times over. Our love towards Him is to obey His commandments. Lord says:There are many gifts and many wonders God has shared with us. These blessings are innumerable and immeasurable and we cannot put the value for it. God loves the cheerful giver, 2 Corinthians 9:7 (NJB): Each one should give as much as he has decided on his own initiative, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. so we should give abundantly without any measure. We will be rewarded in many ways which we never knew. ‘If you love me you will keep my commandments.’ Jon. 14: 15.

Daily Prayer

Day 22, The Moning Prayer, Lord, help us to stay away from sins.

  One thing is very important in our spiritual life is that to do fasting and prayer, this way we get the repentance and we will lament for our sins. This will help us to stay away from the sins. We may experience the presence of Jesus when we start keeping vigil in our prayers. It will give us the constant intimacy with our Lord and He will give us the concentration in our prayers.  If we starve our body we can control our temptations and our body; the flesh. That’s why Sirach says about the overeating. ‘Sirach 23:6 (NJB): do not let lechery and lust grip me, do not leave me a prey to shameless desire. St. Paul also says not to be the belly worshipers. ‘They are destined to be lost; their god is the stomach; they glory in what they should think shameful, since their minds are set on earthly things. Phi. 3:19. Even Jesus was tempted by Satan to have food, but what Jesus told is to be an eye opening for us: ‘Human beings live not on bread alone.’ Lk. 4: 4. But by Word of God: ‘………to show that not in bread alone doth man live, but in every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God. Detr.8:3(V-DRBO). So let’s pray to our Lord, to strive for fasting and prayer; it is an important factor to grow spiritually.

Daily Prayer

Day 21, The Morning Prayer. Lord, at day break You hear my voice and I fix my eyes on You!

   The Psalmist says in great devotion: ‘To you I pray, Yahweh. At day break you hear my voice; at day break I lay my case before you and fix my eyes on you.’ Ps. 5: 3.This is exactly what we have to do in the morning. We should pray to God before the Sun rises to say thanks to His Holy Name. ‘To give you thanks, we must rise before the sun and meet you at the dawning of the day………’Wis. 16: 28.We submit everything unto Him. Fix the eyes on Him; that means read the Scriptures; this way we can fix our eyes on Him. Read the Bible in humbly and reverently to listen His voice silently. If we lament for or sins, we can concentrate in prayer and will come closer into His heart. Jesus also prayed early in the morning before he does anything for the Kingdom of God.’ When the day light came he left the house and made his way to a lonely place’ Lk. 4:22. St. Paul says about the daily prayer: ‘Pray constantly’1Thes. 5:17. Again he says: ‘Be persevering in your prayers and thankful as stay awake to pray’. We should stay awake to pray. ‘Do not be hesitant in prayer; do not neglect to give alms.’ Sir.7: 10. Never feel lazy for praying. Prayer and almsgiving goes together. Sirach 32:15 (D-R): And at the time of rising be not slack: but be first to run home to thy house, and there withdraw thyself, and there take thy pastime When we wake up first thing we have to do is the prayer and remember His Name always. Fear of Lord brings us listen the scolding of Him and never be discouraged or wavering in our faith. Our pleasure will be to obey His statitudes and there the grace comes and abide in us.

Daily Prayer

 

Day 20, Lord, purify my heart and body to serve you whole heartedly

   There are so many ways to pray to God. But God looks into our heart, He test us how much love we put in our heart for Him while praying. While praying if we kneel and pray, we will be blessed with humility. “We are brought low in all the earth, this day for our sins” St Boneventure wrote in his Book: Holiness of Life. We should surrender ourselves, bend low, down to earth. The earth is the foot stool of God, and we are not ashamed to bend the knee in front of our Lord. Psalmist says: Psalm 95:6–7 (NJB): Come, let us bow low and do reverence; kneel before Yahweh who made us! 7 For he is our God, and we the people of his sheepfold, the flock of his hand. Daniel also prayed  three times by kneeling towards east(Jerusalem)Daniel 6:11 (NJB): When Daniel heard that the document had been signed, he retired to his house. The windows of his upstairs room faced towards Jerusalem. Three times each day, he went down on his knees, praying and giving praise to God as he had always done. Daniel never afraid of anyone, but he trust in God. He has the faith that, God will always hear his prayer. 

Daily Prayer

 

Day 19, Lord, let us stay awake to pray, let Your spirit guide us

   The night in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus again encountered with his Father. Jesus has to obey his Father’s will and to establish the everlasting covenant by giving his life as a sacrifice. The disciples have heavy eyes while Jesus was praying in the late night; they could not stay awake to pray with him. Jesus was so distressed in the Spirit; he began to feel terror and anguish. Jesus asked the disciples. so you had not the strength to stay awake with me for one hour? Stay awake, and pray not to be put to the test. The spirit is willing enough but the human nature is weak.’ Matt. 26: 41.  While we are praying we become one body and soul with God. It will be an inseparable communion with Father, Son and Spirit. Many saints will accompany us and we can experience this communion of saints and God will reveal them to us. ‘That’s why the one hour prayer in the midnight is very important. He prayed earnestly with full of grievances to submit all the souls to the Father from the beginning to the end because he is Alpha and Omega. ‘In his anguish he prayed even more earnestly, and his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood.’ Lk. 22: 44. His sweat drops became drops of blood. He accepted all the darkness, which is encountering our mind and body.

Daily Prayer

Day 18, Lord, teach us the secrets of Your Kingdom. 

   When we are in union with Christ, God will open His Divine door of Mysteries in front or us to get the inheritance in His eternity. We will be His children and He will be our Father. According to measure of His grace we will be able to do all the goodness to build up His Kingdom in our midst. Then what we need from this world, nothing! He is having the tremendous wealth in His most rich Kingdom. God will reveal the mysteries of the wealth in His Kingdom and the world of Satan; ‘I shall give you the secret treasures and hidden hoards of wealth, so that will know that I am Yahweh, who call you by your name, the God of Israel’. Is. 45: 3. No body can count or measure His wealth. God gave us His most precious possession that is His only Son Jesus our Lord. That’s why God is asking us to call Him or pray to Him till He answers our petitions. ‘Call to me I will answer you; I will tell you great secrets of which you know nothing.’ Jer. 33: 3. We know nothing about His eternal secrets because we are in flesh and his kingdom is not of this world. This Jesus told Pilate: John 18:36 (NJB): ‘Mine is not a kingdom of this world; if my kingdom were of this world, my men would have fought to prevent my being surrendered to the Jews. As it is, my kingdom does not belong here.’ 

   ‘Prayer is the desire for God, an indescribable devotion, not given by man but brought about by God’s grace. As St Paul says: For when we cannot choose words in order to pray properly, the Spirit himself intercedes on our behalf in a way that could never be put into words. If God gives to someone the gift of such prayer, it is a gift of imperishable riches, a heavenly food that satisfies the spirit. Whoever tastes that food catches fire and his soul burns for ever with desire for the Lord’. The excerpts from an homily of St John Chrysostum

Daily Prayer

 

Day 17, Lord, wash away my hidden faults, from pride persevere Your servant

  Two things are very important to lead a prayer life that is, zeal and constancy. Always be joyful whatever comes in our life and persevere in hardship. ‘In the service of the Lord, work not half-heartedly but with consciousness and an eager spirit. Be joyful in hope, persevere in hardship; keep praying regularly.’ Rom. 12: 11-12. If we can cry bitterly with tears for our sins through humility and we are blessed by God with that gift of prayer which He will entrust to us as He gave to all His saints. We should pray like this: Lord, ‘Wash away my hidden faults. And from pride persevere your servant, never let it be my master. So shall I be above reproach, free from grave sin. May the words of my mouth always find favour, And the whispering of my heart, In your presence, Yahweh, My rock, my redeemer’ Ps. 19: 12-14. The pride should not be our master when we lead a spiritual life. A clear conscience should be there to understand our weakness and failures. ‘I have conversed this present day with all good conscience before God until this present day.’ Acts. 23:1 This will make us to be humble in front of God and men.  A pure soul never use so many words in front our Lord instead she will cry or lament for her sins.

Daily Prayer

Midnight Prayer

 Day 16, Lord, let me awake in the watch of the night to praise You!

 We should have the zeal to do the prayer in the midnight. Br. Victor gave advice to Bros., to do the holy hour in the midnight. Praying in the midnight is a great virtue, by constant prayer we will be blessed with this grace to pray. But not to be dishearten from this. Jesus understands this and we have to keep our thirst to do such kind of sacrificial prayer. First of all we should try to wake up in the middle of the night between 1 and 2’o clock. Psalmist says about this mystery: ‘My eyes are awake before each watch of the night, to ponder your promise.’ Ps. 119: 148. While getting up praise God with one or two Psalms with a great devotion with love towards our Lord. Continue it for few days, then our Lord will increase our faith and zeal towards Him. According to our Constancy in prayer, God will increase the timing of our prayer by His tremendous grace. This is the best time to meditate the Word of God and ponder into our heart. We have to train ourselves to that kind of heart and will; to serve the Lord with a great zeal. Psalmist again says: Psalm 102:1–2 (NJB): 1” Yahweh, hear my prayer, let my cry for help reach you. 2 Do not turn away your face from me  when I am in trouble; bend down and listen to me, when I call, be quick to answer me!” Our Lord will listen our prayer and He is very quick to answer our prayers

 

Daily Prayer

 

Day 15, Lord, make me humble, let me find favour in Your presence

  So humble ourselves in the presence of our Lord. Br Victor in a talk told that, meditate Sirach. 3: 18 thousand times before you pray or open the Bible to meditate the Word of God. ‘The greater you are, the more humbly you should behave, and then you will find favour with the Lord.’ Sir.3: 18. The humility is the most difficult virtue. The humble will accept all the persecutions gladly without retaliating. The humble never expect any reward after doing good to others. The humble always try to serve others wholeheartedly. The humility always comes from our heart and act by the will of God. The humble will be satisfied in the content with what they have. ‘Religion, of course, does bring large profits, but only to those who are content with what they have. The humble never will be greedy for anything and never proud in their heart.’1Timo. 6:6. Then God will carry our all our burdens, sins and all other ailments in our daily life. Be like a beggar in front of Him. Jesus asks us to learn from him the gentleness and humbleness. ‘Shoulder my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for hour souls. Yes, my yoke is easy and my burden is light.’Mattl.11:28-30. If we trust in Him, he will guide us to get the strength to carry all the worries and tribulations in a smiling way. When we pray to God in strong faith he will provide us whatever we ask.

Daily Prayer

 

Day 14,  Lord, day and night, let me hear Your Holy Word

  Let us be silent in nature while praying and wait for the Lord. He will give the  words through His Spirit to pray because the Spirit is inspiring us and interceding for us in front of God. Romans 8:26–27 (NJB): 26 And as well as this, the Spirit too comes to help us in our weakness, for, when we do not know how to pray properly, then the Spirit personally makes our petitions for us in groans that cannot be put into words; 27 and he who can see into all hearts knows what the Spirit means because the prayers that the Spirit makes for God’s holy people are always in accordance with the mind of God. Then again be silent and meditate the mercies of our Lord towards us sinners. Stop our thoughts and worries of this contemporary world; all this will decay. Our worries and doubts will be hindrance to approach our Lord.

  How our Lord will help us no one knows. He will be there in all our troubles and tribulations Wisdom of Solomon 18:21 (NJB): ’for a blameless man hurried to their defence. Wielding the weapons of his sacred office, prayer and expiating incense, he confronted Retribution and put an end to the plague, thus showing that he was your servant.’ Jesus is coming, the spotless and blameless to redeem us by his sacred office, the prayer and incense. How wonderful it is if our Lord hear our prayers as well as when we hear His voice, His Word. 

Daily Prayer

Day 13, Lord, take away all my pride in possessions and all other earthly matters go off from my mind and heart. 

  While we are praying we should use less words and speak to our Lord in the language of love and with full heart and conviction. ‘In your prayers do not babble as the gentiles do, for they think that by using many words they will make themselves heard. Do not be like them; your Father knows what you need before you ask him. So you should pray like this. Our Father who art in Heaven…………’ Matt. 6: 7-9. St There’s of Avila wrote a book ‘The way of Perfection’ about the “Our Father ………”Prayer which Jesus taught the Apostles and disciples. Meditate about the mysteries of God. Meditate the mysteries in the Rosary and pray it from our heart with full of love towards the Mother of Jesus, our Mother. Kneel down in front of His footstool, the earth and bend our head down, lift our heart and mind to our Lord and pray like this: ‘Lord, I am an unworthy in front of you, I am a sinner, have mercy on me Lord!’ Lord! Let my pride in possessions and all other earthly matters go off from my mind and heart.’

  Honour Him always in words and deeds. Do not make empty promises to God. Be faithful to our promises and oaths towards our Lord. " I am bound by the vows I have made, God, I will pay you the debt of thanks, Ps 56:12" Do not forget to do anything which God has asked us to do. Plead to Him for cleanse us from all our sins.

 

Daily Prayer

 

Day 12,  Leave the crowd, go to a lonely and secret place to pray, as Jesus did!

  We should leave the crowd to receive grace of God in its fullness. Jesus never wasted the time even for a minute serving his Father. After finish the preaching; he leaves the crowd and goes to a lonely place for prayer. ‘After sending the crowds away he went up into the hills by himself to pray.’ (Matt. 14: 23) Jesus went alone to pray. We need the personnel prayer for the union with God. In the Morning and Evening; Jesus done the personnel prayer according to the Fathers’ will. ‘In the morning, long before dawn, he got up and left the house and went off to a lonely place and prayed there.’(Mk. 1: 35) Our Lord has given us so many examples of prayer life by his own way of life. He prayed and fasted for forty days in the desert and was tested by Satan. ‘Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the desert for forty days being put to the test by the devil. During the time he ate nothing…………’Satan knew he was hungry and he tempted Jesus and asked him, ‘if you are Son of God, tell this stone to turn into a loaf.’ But Jesus replied, ‘Scripture says: Human beings live not on bread alone.’ Lk. 4: 1-13 He prayed fervently even he was tested by Satan but he didn’t fail in anything. When he has chosen the apostles, he prayed whole night lonely in a mountain. He chose the apostles after long hours of prayer.  ‘Now it happened in those days that he went onto the mountain to pray; and he spent the whole night in prayer to God. When day came he summoned his disciples and picked out twelve of them; he called them apostles.’ Lk. 6: 12-13

Daily Prayer

 

Day 11. Prayer is the key to open the house, which our Lord prepared for each one of us. 

  Our Lord is inviting us to find our secret place, the castle which God has given us. Let us pray with a humble and wailing heart. The intensity of tears and in the fullness of love of God is the invitation, to be alone with Him in silence. The tears are the blessing from God those whom love Him and make themselves humble in front of God and men. We should be like beggars in the presence of God like Lazerous sitting in front of the gate of a rich man’s house. This will happen, when we humble ourselves and produce the wholesome virtue of holiness. Then we start producing the fruit of the Holy Spirit.  “Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, trustfulness, gentleness and self control.” Gal. 5: 22. This is the way prayer goes and prayer is always to be filled with the love of God. 

  Jesus already made the castle or house for each one of us when he resurrected and ascended into heaven. But we have to be qualified for that according to His will. The first thing we have to do is pray, pray and pray!!! Prayer is the key to our castle which God has prepared for us. Prayer is the union with God and the oneness with Him. Pray to our Lord for the holiness with a contrite heart.  “But my eyes always are drawn to the person of humble and contrite heart and those trembles at his Word.” Is. 66:2. There is no other way to approach the divine door of Kingdom. That’s what Jesus says: ‘In my Father’s house there are many places to live in; otherwise I would have told you. I am going now to prepare a place for you……….’Jon. 14: 2-3. Each castle will be different according to the measure of our faithfulness.

Daily Prayer

 

Day 10

Lord, let Your love embrace us in our prayers

  God will put so many beautiful things in the castle which St Therese of Avila explained in her Book of Interior Castle. When we pray, be humble in front of our Lord, then we cannot imagine how it will please us with a tremendous joy in our heart. How marvelous the joy and pleasure will be, when it will strengthen us. We will overcome all the temptations, persecutions and all kind of tribulations. Jesus’ love will make us happy in our life; nothing will be more important than the work of His Will. This will be our eternal asset which no one can steal from us. St. Paul says: ‘But what were once my assets I now through Christ Jesus count as losses. Yes I will go further: because of the supreme advantage of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, I count everything else as loss.’ Phil. 3: 7-8. When we start to explore the prayer and union with Him, God’s glory will shine in the whole Castle. Our heart  and mind will multiply with tremendous light of all eternal virtues. Then we will experience the beauty of Heaven in holiness by our way of life in Christ.

Daily Prayer

Day 9, Lord, make us humble to reach Your House 

Prayer the Hidden Castle

  Prayer is like a soul searching for her castle as St. Theresa of Avila describe about. God has made for each one of us a castle to stay in union with Him. How can we approach this castle? By humility and holiness we find our room in Heaven. That’s what Jesus says: “In my Fathers’ house there are many places to live in; otherwise I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you.”Jon 14:2. Jesus himself says about this castle and the special place which he already prepared in his Spirit. The soul will understand this by the grace of God. Without His grace we cannot do anything. God’s presence will be there to save His children and mould them according to their faithfulness in Him. Our faithfulness should be tested by fire. ‘but each person's handiwork will be shown for what it is. The Day which dawns in fire will make it clear and the fire itself will test the quality of each person's work. 14 The one whose work stands up to it will be given his wages; 15 the one whose work is burnt down will suffer the loss of it, though he himself will be saved; he will be saved as someone might expect to be saved from a fire.’ 1Cor. 3: 13-15. 

Daily Prayer

Day 8, ‘Lord Jesus, Son of God, am a sinner, have mercy on me!’

  Our Lord is inviting each one of us to be with Him and to trust in Him. He will cover us with his warming love. But he is asking one condition that is to make us humble like him. ‘Come to me, all you who labour and are over burdened, and I will give you rest. Shoulder my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Yes, my yoke is easy and my burden light.’ Mat. 11: 28-30. How our worries and troubles will be lighter? When we make ourselves gentle and humble like Jesus is!! ‘Lord Jesus! Son of God, am a sinner have mercy on me.’ Matt. 16: 16, Matt. 20: 31. This is a universal prayer or an anti-phone to recite repeatedly as a prayer. So many saints of past from Eastern countries used this prayer in their daily life. This prayer which made a great impact on them in their spiritual life.  It was made them humble themselves and they experience tremendous repentance.

  “Prayer is a go-between linking us to God. It gives joy to the soul and calms its emotions. I warn you, though: do not imagine that prayer is simply words. Prayer is the desire for God, an indescribable devotion, not given by man but brought about by God’s grace. As St Paul says: For when we cannot choose words in order to pray properly, the Spirit himself intercedes on our behalf in a way that could never be put into words.” From A Homily of St John Chrysostum 

Daily Prayer

 Day 7, The sacrifice of Eucharist is our Eternal Food

  The most valuable and precious act of prayer is the Holy Mass. In this prayer of sacrifice which Jesus himself made for us the greatest of all mysteries, which is the body and blood of our Lord. The sacrifice of Eucharist is our eternal food. The Eucharist itself is the Word of God which became flesh. Attending and participating in the Holy Mass is an eternal gift God promised through His New Covenant. God’s love proclaims the secrets of this mystery which is essential in our religious life. His humility and gentleness made this ultimate gift possible for us to make our body and soul capable to stay in His Heavenly Kingdom. Jesus says about this: ‘Anyone who does eat my flesh and drink my blood has eternal life, and will raise that person up on the last day. For my flesh is real food and blood is real drink.’ Jon. 6: 54-55. Jesus himself is waiting for each one of us in the Holy Eucharist; to pray along with him to pay the homage to our Heavenly Father. We can experience the love of Jesus; when we pray daily in front of the Blessed Sacrament. It is very important for the growth in our spiritual life. Those who do the Holy Hour will be strengthened in the Holy Spirit. They will be filled with the knowledge and wisdom of our Lord. 

How David adored the Ark of the Covenant which is symbolizing the Eucharist. ‘He praise God and dance in front of the Ark of The Lord, very reverently, the bearers of the ark of Yahweh had gone six paces, he sacrificed and ox and a fat sheep. And David danced whirling round before Yahweh with all his might...... Thus with war cry and blast on the horn, David and the entire house of Israel brought up the ark of Yahweh.’ 2 Sam. 6:13-14. 

Daily Prayer

 Day 6. Lord, teach us how to pray in silence 

  During the Sunday Holy Mass on 2nd October a Priest from Switzerland, in his homily he told about the prayer in silence. He said ‘Silence is a beautiful virtue to be alone with our  Lord Jesus. This is the way of contemplation we all should experience. We are having beautiful and a great Cathedral in Abu Dhabi to pray in silence. Lord will visit us in our silence. I remember the word of St Mother Therese of Calcutta. She says: the fruit of silence is the prayer, the fruit of prayer is faith, the fruit of faith is Love, and fruit of Love is peace, and the fruit of peace is service. When we do any service for the Lord and his people, you all should start from the bottom. Let us try to have that silence which will make us able to hear the voice of our Lord. If we fail the silence, will fail in all other virtues; the prayer, faith, love and peace of Christ, we will fail to do the service the mission for the Lord. If we find time to pray 30 minutes in front of the Blessed Sacrament we will see the difference in our spiritual life. Jesus also was doing the prayer alone in the silence before any mission he carried out. We could see many political turmoil in many countries.  We can see the wars between countries for unimportant reasons. Pray for others whom are in sufferings, those in persecutions and in many other difficulties. Today is my 8th year anniversary of my priest hood. My spiritual father told me to spend 30 minutes personnel prayer in front of Blessed Sacrament. Since I became priest I never fail to do this act of prayer in silence till today. I invite you all to pray this way in your daily life, you will bless by God!” We should find the silence in our daily spiritual life to spend alone with Christ. 

Daily Prayer

 Day 5

Lord, teach us how to pray in secret. 

  Pray in the secret and silence is very important, there we will find God’s peace and His consolation. So the personal prayer and interaction with God is very essential and He will speak to us secretly.  Matthew 6:5–6 (NJB): And when you pray, do not imitate the hypocrites: they love to say their prayers standing up in the synagogues and at the street corners for people to see them. In truth I tell you, they have had their reward. 6 But when you pray, go to your private room, shut yourself in, and so pray to your Father who is in that secret place, and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you. 

  Reading and meditating the Word of God is the best way to get the grace of prayer. We may start praying through the Scriptures till we get the Spirit of Prayer. Jesus asks us make the Word of God our home to grow steadily and constantly to reach and understand the truth about God and His mysteries and it will make us free. ‘If you make my word your home you will indeed be my disciples; you will come to know the truth and the truth will set you free.’ Jon. 8:31-32. We all would come more closer to Jesus, the intimacy with him. So if we have the zeal for the Word of God then we can be the disciples of Jesus.

  St John Chrysotum beautifully says about the prayer: “Prayer is the light of the soul, true knowledge of God, a mediator between God and men. Prayer lifts the soul into the heavens where it hugs God in an indescribable embrace. The soul seeks the milk of God like a baby crying for the breast. It fulfils its own vows and receives in exchange gifts better than anything that can be seen or imagined.”From: Divine Office Prayer Universalis 

Daily Prayer

 Day 4

Lord, give us your Holy Spirit

  We have to mourn for God’s love towards us, as Jesus Son of God gave his own life on the Cross for our sins. The love towards our Lord should comes from our heart and it should flow with tears from our eyes tremendously and unceasingly, according to the intimacy with Him. Our prayer and  meditation must be, remembering the nativity, passion, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Then we get the repentance, the repentance from God. 2 Corinthians 7:9 (NJB): ‘I am glad now, not because you were made to feel distress, but because the distress that you were caused led to repentance; your distress was the kind that God approves and so you have come to no kind of harm through us.’When we repent; the Holy Spirit will start working in us. Holy Spirit will show us our hidden sins which we do not know and this will help us to grow in grace. The Holy Spirit will teach us the constancy in prayer. Ask and plead for the help from Mother Mary to learn the way of prayer, because she is the spouse of the Holy Spirit.

Daily Prayer

Day 3 

Lord, have mercy on us, we are sinners

First of all we have to pray for the Spirit of Prayer to be unite with God. Lord says: ‘I shall pour out a spirit of grace and prayer, and they will look to me. They will mourn for the one whom they have pierced as though for an only child, and weep for him as people weep for a first born child.’ Zach. 12: 10. 

God the Father has promised this gift of the grace of prayer to all of us. We will mourn for our sins, He says about His only Son Jesus Christ will be crucified for our salvation. When we meditate on the death of Jesus, we will realize he is the First born of our Father in Heaven also for all of us. When we pray in front of the crucifix, we get the repentance and Jesus will bless us with the tears and the love of God

Daily Prayer

Day 2

Lord, Teach us to Pray 

  The disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray: He said to them, 'When you pray, this is what to say: Father, may your name be held holy, your kingdom come; 3 give us each day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins, 4 for we ourselves forgive each one who is in debt to us. And do not put us to the test.’ LK 11: 2-4. Jesus teaches us how to pray, and gives us the Holy Spirit to guide us to pray. We have to start our prayer life with a small act of constant prayer. 

When we get up from bed, we should remember our God and lift our hands and hearts to Heaven. Then, with a grateful heart we should say, one Our Father, one Hail Mary and one Glory Be. This is what Br. Joemon taught me to grow in prayer during the first years of my Community life. It was difficult at first for me to get that constancy in prayer, to say this simple and short prayer without forgetting the intentions. It has taken months for me to get that grace to pray.

Daily Prayer

 Prayer is an act of a soul seeks to unite with God. Those who love God will pray unceasingly. The soul listen the voice of her Master in silently or without any word from her mouth but only wish of her to be united with Him at all the time. ‘At dawn and with all his heart he turns to the Lord his Creator; he pleads in the presence of the Most High, he opens his mouth in prayer and makes entreaty for his sins. If such are be the will of the great Lord, he will be filled with the spirit of intelligence, he will shower forth words of wisdom and in prayer give thanks to the Lord.’ Sir.39: 5-6. 

Jesus also prayed alone in the mountian, he spent whole night in porayer to God, then how much we have to pray. Luke 6:12 (NJB): Now it happened in those days that he went onto the mountain to pray; and he spent the whole night in prayer to God. After the prayer he chose the twelve apostles among his disciples. Jesus is teaching us how fervently we have to pray to God. We have to pray until our prayers are answered by Him.  

Cross the Tree of Life

The Cross Tree of Life

Jesus came into this world to destroy the work of Evil

He is the incarnation of the Heavenly Father 

He brought him into this world for the salvation of the world

God allowed him to carry the Cross 

Jesus, our Lord is blameless , spotless and a real victim 

Like a sapling he grew up before God 

He had no form or charm to attract us, 

No beauty to win our hearts; he was despised, 

The lowest of men, a man of sorrows, 

So familiar with suffering, one from whom, as it were, 

We averted our gaze, despised, for whom we had no regard

Yet ours were the sufferings he was bearing,

Ours the sorrows he was carrying, 

While we thought of him as someone being punished and 

He was struck with affliction by God; 

He was being wounded for our rebellions, 

He was crushed because of our guilt; 

The punishment reconciling us fell on him, 

We have been healed by his bruises

He took all the shame, our sins, our weaknesses, our pain

Through Mary's obedience God has forgiven the sin of Eve

Mary crushed the fruit of sin by her humility

Through Jesus God crushed the head of Satan

The love of Jesus conquered all the world

Jesus chose death by himself

But he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, 

Becoming as human beings are; in every way like a human being, 

He was humbler yet, even to accepting death, death on a cross.

The flesh of his body was torn into pieces

His hands were pierced by nails

His legs were also pierced by nails 

The nails are pieced through his flesh and bones

What sin has he done to die on the Cross?

He embraced the cross to make it the Tree of Life

The disobedience of Adam and Eve could not accept the will of God 

The obedience of Mary and Jesus returned Tree of Life into Heaven

The blood of Jesus oozed out from the Cross

The lance of the Roman soldier pierced his side 

Even at death blood and water came out from his side

The Holy Blood of Jesus was poured on the bones of Adam and abolished death

Jesus you are saviour of the world, by your Holy Cross you redeemed the world!

Name of God

 

Name of God, On 16th Aug 2022

‘Every tongue should acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord to the glory of God the Father’

  Jesus is shared his personality equal with God the Father, he became like a slave to die on the Cross. Cross is the symbol of curse in the time of Jesus in Palestine. This kind of punishment is given to the people who do most shameful sins in the society. He took the Cross to remove the sins of the old parents by plucking the fruit of the forbidden tree and ate it. God commanded them not to eat the fruit of the tree. So Jesus sacrificed his body on the Cross of wood of the tree. The tree which was symbolising the tree which Adam and Eve was tempted by Devil. Jesus made it as a libation of his blood to bring salvation for the dead and alive. ‘Should bend the knee at the name of Jesus and that every tongue should acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord to the glory of God the Father. Ph 2: 11. Here God acknowledge His name of Lord to Jesus. gave this Name, because everything in heavens, earth and underworld to bend the knee in-front
of Jesus Christ to glorify God the Father. ‘Who, being in the form of God, did not count equality with God something to be grasped. But he emptied himself, Taking the form of a slave, becoming as human beingare; and being in every way like a human being he was humbler yet, even to accept death, death on a cross. And for this God raised him high, and gave him the name which is above all other names; So that all beings In the heavens, on earth and in underworld, (Phi. 2: 6-11) Jesus did not consider his divinity as Son with the Father. He emptied himself to be crucified on the Cross to bring all the humanity into salvation.  

Happy Feast on Assumption of Virgin Mary

 

The Apostolic Constitution of Pope Pius XII on the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

St John Damascene 

On the Assumption of Mother Mary

Thus St John Damascene, who is the greatest exponent of this tradition, compares the bodily Assumption of the revered Mother of God with her other gifts and privileges: It was right that she who had kept her virginity unimpaired virginity unimpaired through the process of giving birth should have kept her body without decay through death. It was right that she who had given her Creator, as a child, a place at her breast should be given a place in the dwelling-place of her God. It was right that the bride espoused by the Father should dwell in the heavenly bridal chamber. It was right that she who had gazed on her Son on the cross, her heart pierced at that moment by the sword of sorrow that she had escaped at his birth, should now gaze on him seated with his Father. It was right that the Mother of God should possess what belongs to her Son and be honoured by every creature as God’s Mother and handmaid.

Name of God

 

Jesus we believe, you and the Father is One God

   Lord, when you said you are Son of God they tried to kill you. He answer to them was, ‘My Father still goes on working, and I am at work, too.’ But that only made Jews even more intent on killing him, because not only was breaking the Sabbath, but he spoke of God as his own Father and so made himself God’s equal. Here Jesus said God is "My Father". Jesus and Father is doing the Heavenly mysterious work together for His own creation. This made the Jews got angry towards Jesus and they made up their mind to kill him. He again said, whatever the Father do he does also, this means Jesus and Father is One and cannot be separated. When we honor the Son,  we honor the Father too, this is the way the unity of God the Father and God the Son is an inseparable dignity. When Jesus said he and the Father is One God and Jews got angry because of this: Jesus answered ‘To this Jesus replied: In all truth I tell you, by himself the Son can do nothing: and whatever the Father does the Son does too. For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything he himself does, and he will show him even greater things than these, works that will astonish you. Thus, as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so the Son gives life to anyone he chooses; for the Father judges no one; he has entrusted all judgements to the Son, so that all may honour Son as they honour the Father. Whoever refuses honour to the Son refuses honour to the Father who sent him? In all truth I tell you, whoever listens to my words, and believes in the one who sent me, has eternal life…’(Jon. 5:17-24)’ Whatever Father do, the Son also does and Jesus doesn’t do any thing of his own but he do always the Father’s will. Father entrusted all the judgements to the Son, Jesus Christ. Whoever refuses to honor the Son, refuses the Father and they never believe in God. Those who disrespect the One God; the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit would be perished and they will not enter eternal life.  

Name of God

 

Jesus, You are the Christ Son of the Living God .

  When we believe that Father and the Son is one, then only our faith will increase. This faith makes us  grow spiritual and enter into maturity in grace. But growing spiritual means we should become nothing. Let us pray to our Lord, to make us empty our pride and all kind of grudges.  ‘He must grow greater, I must grow less’ (Jon. 3: 30) Lord, increase our faith in you. Like St. Peter proclaimed his faith. Jesus said, ‘who do you say I am?’ Then Simon Peter spoke up and said, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God’ (Matt.16: 16). Matthew 16:17 (D-R): because flesh and blood hath not revealed it to thee, but my Father who is in heaven. Believing Jesus is the Son of God is ultimate step for our spiritual life. Father and son is the only One God, this should be our faith. Lord, make us empty ourselves and fill your grace in us. Unless are not in the Spirit of God we don’t understand the Name and greatness of our Lord. We should be humble like Mother Mary to understand the mysteries of God. Mary said, ‘You see before you the Lord’s servant, let it happen to me as you have said.’(Lk. 1: 38) ‘The greater you are, the more humbly you should behave, and then you will find favour with the Lord’ (Sir. 3: 18)

The Name of God

 

Sanctify ourselves and our Lord will work wonders among us. 

   God allows only the holy people to stand in the presence of Him. Lord asked Moses and the Israelites to see His presence only Moses allowed to go close to him and talk to him. God ordered Moses no one should come closer to him otherwise they will die. We should sanctify ourselves, and then only we could see God. Yahweh then said to Moses, ‘Go to the people and tell them to sanctify themselves today and tomorrow. They must wash their clothes and be ready for the day after tomorrow, in the sight of all the people; Yahweh will descend on Mount Sinai. You will mark out the limits of the mountain and say, “Take care not to go up the mountain of the touch the edge of it. Anyone who touches the mountain will be put to death. No one may lay a hand on him: he must be stoned or shot by arrow; whether man of beast, he shall not live.” When the ram’s horn sounds a long blast, they must go up the mountain.’ So Moses came down from the mountain to the people; he made the people sanctify themselves and they washed their clothes. He then said to the people, ‘Be ready for the day after tomorrow; do not touch a woman.’(Exodus.19: 10-15). Let us sanctify ourselves to meet Jesus and the  Father in His glory. I remember years back when I was in distress Br.Abey gave thre Word of God, Josh 3:5. Joshua said to the peoples, ‘Sanctify yourselves, since tomorrow Yahweh will work wonders among you’  I received this Word of God. All the worries and troubles vanished by the grace of God. God made marvelous miracles in me in that particular time to do what exactly He wants in me. He wiped away all my tears and kept me stand firm in Jesus. Praise God! And praise His Holy Name. 

Name of God

 

Jesus said: I am He, they moved back and fell on the ground. 

   When Our Lord said to the Sadducees and the Pharisees this Word ‘I am He’, they were trembled in fear and were withdrawn back and fall on the ground. Jesus shows us no one can stand in front of the power of God. But he is merciful and he emptied himself to be like us. If God says ‘I am’ that means nothing sustain in front of his power. There is only one ‘I’, who is our Lord and God.  ‘Knowing everything that was to happen to him, Jesus came forward and said, ‘Who are you looking for?’ They answered, ‘Jesus Nazarene.’ He said, ‘I am He.’ Now Judas the traitor was standing among them. When Jesus said to them, ‘I am He,’ they moved back and fell on the ground. He asked them a second time, who are you looking for? They said Jesus the Nazarene. Jesus replied ‘I have told that I am He. If I am the one you are looking for, let these others go’. This was to fulfil the words he had spoken, ‘Not one of those you gave me have I lost ’ (Jon. 18: 4-9). Nobody can stand in-front of the power of God. When Jesus said: ‘I Am He’ they all moved back because of the power by his Word. Jesus himself is the Word and they were afraid of him and they fall on the ground. How powerful his Word is and He is the Creator of all the Universe. He  humbled Himself to fulfill His mission for salvation of all humanity. 

Name of God

“Eternal life is this: to know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You sent”

Jesus was praying in the Gospel of John Chapter 17, for all the apostles and disciples before his passion. The prayer of Jesus in Gospel of John is very touching, our Lord Jesus Christ is praying to Father in Heaven. He did not miss any intentions for all of us. In John 17:3 “ eternal life is this: to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” Here Jesus is explaining about the eternal life. The eternal life is this to know God the Father and the Son He sent. While believing Jesus is the Son of God, our faith in God will be complete. How we get the eternal life is by knowing and understanding Jesus Christ and Father is One God. If we read this chapter on daily basis before going to sleep, will give us so much courage and strength from God through His Spirit.

Name of God

 

The Son of Man will be lifted up, then we will realise, Jesus Christ is Son of God. 

   Jesus again revealed his name to the peoples as God revealed his divine name to Moses that “I Am He”  In scripture says: They did not recognise who he was talking to them, about the Father. Here Jesus is revealing about his death on the Cross, and his resurrection. Jesus says “when you have lifted up the Son of Man” we will realise he made the sacrifice of his life for us and died for our sins.   So Jesus said: ‘When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that ‘I am He’, and that I say is what the Father has taught me; he who sent me is with me, and has not left me to myself, for I am always do what pleases him.’(Jon. 8: 28). Jesus is saying and teaching us what the Father told him to do, but nothing from his own. He always do what pleases the Father in Heaven. The Father is always with him, and He did not left Jesus alone, everything was planned according to His own will. What a great plan God has planned for us through Jesus Christ for our salvation. This was to establish the Eternal Everlasting Covenant which was His plan from the Beginning.  

Name of God

 

Name of God, 3rd Aug 2022

 “Yes, if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”

 Lord, through our little knowledge it is difficult to understand your kingdom. But Lord, send us your Spirit and wisdom from above. “Where I am going, you cannot come?” ‘ Jesus went on: You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. I have told already: You will die in your sins. Yes, if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.’ (Jon.8: 22-24) Yes Lord, if we do not believe that you and Father is the one God, we will die in our sins. Jesus said the same name God gave to Moses ‘I Am He’. Lord, How many times you said to us you are the one and the only Son of God who came down form heaven. Still we Israelites do not believe the Truth. The Truth is the Word of God ‘Consecrate them in the truth; your word is truth’. (Jon. 17: 17) When we encounter with God and come to spirituality we will understand God is true and existing in this universe. When we find that the Truth is Jesus, he will be our only God, then we will turn away from any human made gods.  There are many cosmic powers, principalities and ruling forces in this world. When we come to know the the truth we will understand God the Trinity ‘And eternal life is this to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent’. (Jon. 17: 3) Lord, let me surrender myself to you and hold me in your arms.

Name of God

 

Jesus Christ is the same God, who has spoken to Moses from the bush

I remember the words of Br. Shaji when he explains the Name of God. He said: ‘Jesus Christ is the same God, the living God, who  has spoken to Moses from the bush, in Mt. Sinai. And we should believe He is our Lord and God’ ‘The angel of Yahweh appeared to him in a flame blazing from the middle of a bush. Moses looked; there was the bush blazing, but the bush was not being burnt up. Moses said, ‘I must go across and see this strange sight, and why the bush was not being burnt up.’ When Yahweh saw him going across to look, God called to him from the middle of the bush. ‘Moses, Moses!’ he said. Here I am,’ he answered. Come no nearer,’ he said. ‘Take of your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground. I am God of your ancestors.’ he said ‘the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and God of Jacob.’ At this Moses covered his face, for he was afraid to look at God.’(Exodus.3: 2-6). God is asking Moses to make him holy before approaching Him. God has told His name to Moses and he afraid to approach God and face His vision. In this Vision to Moses he felt his nothingness and he humbled himself and accept the will of God. God again revealed His Name “God of Abraham, God of Isaac and God of Jacob. Moses was trembled with fear and respect towards God. 

Name of God

 

God revealed His Name to Moses, “I am He sent me to you”

God revealed His divine name to Moses, God Himself talk to him. He blessed Him with many graces and virtues, which no other Prophets or holy people ever experience this much. Moses then said to God, ‘Look if I go to the Israelites and say to them, “ The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,” and they say to me, “What is his name?” what am I to tell them?’ God said to Moses ‘I am he who is.’ And he said, ‘this is what you are to say to the Israelites “I am has sent me to you.” God further said to Moses, ‘You are to tell the Israelites, “Yahweh, the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.” This is my name for all time, and thus I am to be invoked for all generations to come.’ (Exodus. 3: 13-15). God has appointed Moses to liberate Israelites from the Egyptians. God has chosen Moses by His mercy and grace not by any effort of Moses. But He made him His own friend. God spoke to Moses and He shown His Mighty presence to him. He will pour of His grace to all of us once we know and understand Him. What a powerful name God is having 'I AM'. Only God is the One who is eligible to proclaim 'I Am God'. 

Precious Blood of Jesus, Day 31.

God’s testimony greater than anything in this world and in Heaven, which He about His Son. 

1 John 5:7–9 (NJB): So there are three witnesses, 8 the Spirit, water and blood; and the three of them coincide. 9 If we accept the testimony of human witnesses, God’s testimony is greater, for this is God’s testimony which he gave about his Son. 

What is the testimony God is giving to us is three witnesses, the Spirit, water and blood. The Spirit is the promise of Jesus to us, while he was departed from this world. Whatever the teaching of Jesus is reminding by the Holy Spirit, and He is the One guiding us to the Father through Jesus Christ. Nobody know the Father unless Jesus allows us to know Him, only Jesus know him. This is the work of Jesus fulfilling by the Holy Spirit. Water is symbolizing our baptism, which Jesus took on the Cross by giving his own life, his death by shedding his Blood. These all are his mission entrusted by the Father for him to be fulfilled. Jesus says about this baptism in the Gospel of Luke 12:50 (NJB): “There is a baptism I must still receive, and what constraint I am under until it is completed!”. The other witness is about the Blood of Jesus, which he shed for all of us to fulfill his promise, to establish the New Eternal Covenant. This is which he said in Luke 22:20 (NJB): This cup is the new covenant in my blood poured out for you. Jesus established the Everlasting  Covenant by his own Precious Blood. 

Lord, make us faithful to your teaching which you have entrusted to us by your saints and many holy people.