Saturday, February 17, 2024

The Passion of Christ

 



Passion of Christ Part II

‘Blessed are those who are persecuted in the cause of uprightness: the kingdom of Heaven is theirs.’

   In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus delivered the Word of God, known as the Beatitudes, which is both beautiful and powerful. These verses are closely related to Jesus' life in general, or to a humble guideline that Jesus entrusted to all of us to follow. He taught the Beatitudes, and Mt 5: 3-11, the eight verses from 3 to 11, are at the heart of the Sermon on the Mount. The passages from Mt 5:10-12 are particularly relevant during this Lenten season. When we begin to live spiritually and in a holy manner, the evil will persuade us to do numerous things that are not pleasing to God. In other words, even if we do the right thing, we will face persecution. Those who are persecuting us will find it difficult because of our integrity. But, as Jesus says, we must remain attentive, calm, and patient in the face of false accusations. Rejoice in all instances of persecution, because Jesus promises us the prize in heaven if we accept all of the suffering in Jesus' name. Matthew 5:10–12 (NJB):  Blessed are those who are persecuted in the cause of uprightness: the kingdom of Heaven is theirs. 11 ‘Blessed are you when people abuse you and persecute you and speak all kinds of calumny against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven; this is how they persecuted the prophets before you. 


Wednesday, February 14, 2024

The Passion of Christ

Passion of Christ Part I

We are dust, the dust shall we return(Sir 41:10)

  Today, we going to start the Lent in the universal church and it is the time for reconciliation with our Lord.The suffering of Jesus has started from the time of his birth. Joseph has tried very hard to get a place for his wife Mary to give birth of Baby Jesus.  Luke 2:7 (NJB): and she gave birth to a son, her first-born. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger because there was no room for them in the living-space. There was no room found for Mary to give birth to Jesus. Instead she laid Baby Jesus in a manger of the cattles. 

   After the birth of Jesus the Holy Family was not free from suffering. They were left their home country and left for Egypt along with the Baby Jesus as they guided by the angel of the Lord to avoid his before the time fulfilled. Matthew 2:13–18 (NJB): After they had left, suddenly the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, ‘Get up, take the child and his mother with you, and escape into Egypt, and stay there until I tell you, because Herod intends to search for the child and do away with him.’ 14 So Joseph got up and, taking the child and his mother with him, left that night for Egypt, 15 where he stayed until Herod was dead. This was to fulfil what the Lord had spoken through the prophet: I called my son out of Egypt.16 Herod was furious on realising that he had been fooled by the wise men, and in Bethlehem and its surrounding district he had all the male children killed who were two years old or less, reckoning by the date he had been careful to ask the wise men. 17 Then were fulfilled the words spoken through the prophet Jeremiah: 18 A voice is heard in Ramah, lamenting and weeping bitterly: it is Rachel weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted because they are no more. All the male infants in Israel and Palestine were killed by King Herod. Jesus was protected by God and sent him to a safe place in Egypt. 

  Jesus lived with his parents, Mary and Joseph, until he began his public mission. He began his ministry by preaching, casting out evil, and healing the sick. He performed many miracles, yet the people did not believed in him. Jesus was greatly troubled as he realized his time to be crucified was approaching. He expresses this from his wounded heart: John 12:27 (NJB): Now my soul is troubled. What shall I say: Father, save me from this hour? But it is for this very reason that I have come to this hour. Jesus was waiting for this hour to become the sacrifice for all humanity.


Sunday, February 11, 2024

Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, Mary Immaculate Conception

 

Our Lady of Lourdes, Immaculate Conception 

Mary My Mother 

Today is the feast day of Our Lady of Lourdes, also known as Mary Immaculate Conception. Everyone thinks about the feast when it touches the hearts of Mary's dedicated servants. When we do not know Mary, we are not true Christians. Once we know Jesus and comprehend the secrets of salvation, we shall learn about Mary, the Apostles, and the communion of saints. How beautiful it will be when all the angels and saints praise God in unison, Glory to God on High. Then we'll find serenity in Him. Jesus provides peace and joy to all generations.

Our lady told Bernadette Soubirous 
“I am Immaculate”
She told Bernadette to “pray for sinners,
Kiss the earth as a sigh of penitence for sinners”

Like Jesus has born from Mary,
Lord made all should be born from her through the living and enduring Word of God 
Mary never disobey the commandments of God 
She was pondering each and every Word from His mouth 

She is the book of God’s commandments, the Law that stands for ever; 
Those who keep her shall live, those who desert her shall die. 
Lord, let us trurn back, like Jacob, seized her, in her radiance make our way to light: 
Do not yield your glory to another, your privilege to a people not your own.
Israel, blessed are we: what pleases God has been revealed to us. 

In the holy tent she ministered before him and she became established in Zion. 
In the beloved city he has given me rest, and in Jerusalem I wield my authority 
I have taken root In a privileged people, in the Lord’s property, in His inheritance.
Mother you were given all the wealth of world to glorify God's name.

Mother, your guarantee is the Most High. 
Lord in his register of peoples will note against each, ‘Born there’, 
All the princes no less than native-born; 
All the faithful make their home in you. 

Many recent generations have seen the day and peopled the earth in their turn,
The way of knowledge they have not found; 
They have not recognised the paths she treads. 
Nor have their children had any grasp of her, remaining far from her way. 
Even many Sects of Christians still not knowing her, our Mother
The Mother of our Lord, they misjudge her and blaspheming her

I asked Lord, how the churches given the name Mary were more glorious than any other churches in this world. 
My Heavenly Father has pleased in her of my birth as a wonderful mission by her. 
He has pleased in Mary as she was with me in His missions,  
In my death and in my resurrection. 
"My earthly dwelling place was my Mother; Mary's womb 
And I finished the earthly mission with her till I shed the last drop of blood. 
Her perseverance in the suffering gave me the strength to overcome all pains.”
That is why the churches; those were given her name are more glorious
Than any other temples of God, 
Because her womb was my first earthly temple;
Which God has chosen for His Trinity as a Living Ark of the Covenant".

Seeing his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing near her, 
Jesus said to his mother, and telling ‘Woman, this is your son.’
Then to the disciple and also telling me as well he said, ‘This is your mother.’ 
How blessed are we to have Mother Mary as our own mother  

Lord, I receive her and taking her to my home forever 

The Light and Darkness

Part XXXXII Jesus said: “Do not work for food that goes bad, but work for food that endures for eternal life.”   Jesus fed the multitude by ...