Word of Life

 

On 9th Jan 2025 

Meditating the Words of Jesus from Holy Scriptures 

St John the Baptist said: ‘Repent, for the kingdom of Heaven is close at hand.’

   Mt 3: 2-3 Repent, for the kingdom of Heaven is close at hand.’ 3 This was the man spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said: A voice of one that cries in the desert, ‘Prepare a way for the Lord, make his paths straight.’ *John the Baptist came in this world to prepare a way for Christ. He proclaimed the message of repentance to everyone. He told everyone to produce fruit in repentance. Let us ask Jesus to give us the repentance and believe in him and come back from the old ways of life. Jesus said about John the Baptist that, he is the greatest among born from a woman. John the Baptist says about, what is his mission and what is the mission of Jesus: I baptise you in water for repentance, but the one who comes after me is more powerful than I, and I am not fit to carry his sandals; he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire. John the Baptist was doing the baptism of water for the repentance, but Jesus came to baptise everyone by the Holy Spirit. John wants to make the path straight for Jesus and of those are repenting and give them the baptism with the water. Ps 51:17  Sacrifice to God is a broken spirit,  a broken, contrite heart you never scorn. Psalmist also says to have repentant, God never despise a broken heart soul, He will lift him up Prophet Joel says: Joel 2: 12-13 Yahweh—come back to me with all your heart, fasting, weeping, mourning.’ 13 Tear your hearts and not your clothes. How to repent ourselves is with fasting, weeping and mourning. When we are facing the absence of God in our soul and mind, means we are fallen into sin. So we have to get more closer to God again. Only a penitent person can melt the heart of God, He will hear the prayer of him and relent on such persons and forgive their sins

Word of Life

Word of Life

On 5th Jan 2025 

Happy Feast of Epiphany to All

Let us meditate the Words of Jesus from the Holy Scritpures 

Jesus said: Anyone loves me will keep my Word 

Lk 2: 1-  After Jesus had been born at Bethlehem in Judaea during the reign of King Herod, suddenly some wise men came to Jerusalem from the east 2 asking, ‘Where is the infant king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose and have come to do him homage.’ 3 When King Herod heard this he was perturbed, and so was the whole of Jerusalem……….King Herod asked the wise men which date they have seen the star, as he wants to calculate when was the birth of Jesus. The kings saw the star which was guiding them to place where Jesus was born. King Herod told them to come back to him and tell him about the child, where he was born. But the Kings of the east has gone different way without meeting King Herod as they have seen a dream that, they should not go to King Herod. 

In the Gospel of Mathew Chapter 1 explains about the geneology of Jesus Christ. This chapter tells us how he became the son of David. Then in the same chapter 1: 18-25 says how virgin conceives Jesus in her womb without the intervention of a man, but by the power of God through the Holy Spirit. Joseph was betrothed to Virgin Mary but he found she was pregnant and the angel of God came to him in vision and told him to accept Mary as his wife. Mt 1: 23-25 Look! the virgin is with child and will give birth to a son whom they will call Immanuel, *  a name which means ‘God-is-with-us’. 24 When Joseph woke up he did what the angel of the Lord had told him to do: he took his wife to his home; 25 he had not had intercourse with her when she gave birth to a son; and he named him Jesus. This prophecy of Isiah was fulfilled as the birth of Jesus is going to happen. As we all celebrated Christmas and we are taking so many resolutions. Let us think, how we can will fulfill the mission of Jesus. Jesus needs our love and nothing else, let us make some kind of sacrifices for to live a life of holiness. How can we show him that whether we love him, by keeping his commandments, Jn 14: 23, Jesus replied: “Anyone who loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we shall come to him and make a home in him”. 

Family is Heart of the Church

 

Happy Feast of Holy Family 

Family is Heart of the Church 

Lord, even you were born in a manger 

Lord, you lived in the Holy Family, the fulfillment of the Heavenly Father 

Till the time was fulfilled to preach the Kingdom of God

to everyone the present, past and the future

Lord Jesus, You gave an example of family life

As you obeyed your parents, 

To teach the whole human race how to obey parents,

The first steps of the ladder to obey the Living God  

Lord, we all brought up through the families 

You brought us into the world to practice the true faith in You

Lord Jesus, you were born in the Holy Family’

Which was the plan of the Heavenly Father to David and other Prophets 

Lord, family is a place for a child to nourish his or her faith from their home.

The parents are the teachers to teach them the faith and love of God 

Oh Father, you created a great family, the Holy Family 

To bring Your child, Your own Son into the world

Jesus was called a carpenter’s son 

It may be disgrace by humanly way 

But God allowed His Son to be humble and to bear all humiliations

Even he is the King of kings and Lord of the lords

Lord, we are praying for our many families

Some are broken by troubling circumstances of this world 

Lord, the children are suffering by the broken families 

The single parents are suffering, by their untimely separation

You only can bring them hope by uniting them 

Lord, give them your humble and gentle heart 

To forgive and forget each other and heal the wounds from their heart 

Pope St Paul VI said; “Next, there is a lesson on family life. May Nazareth teach us what family life is, its communion of love, its austere and simple beauty, and its sacred and inviolable character. Let us learn from Nazareth that the formation received at home is gentle and irreplaceable. Let us learn the prime importance of the role of the family in the social order.”

Word of God Reflection I Part VI

A Study and Reflection on Sirach Chapter 39 : 1-11

Word of God Reflection Sirach 39: 8-11, On 19th Dec. 2024

Lord, You made the New Everlasting Covenant with us for our eternal salvation 

  Let us meditate the verses of Sirach 39: 8-11 He will display the instruction he has received, taking his pride in the Law of the Lord’s covenant. 9 Many will praise his intelligence and it will never be forgotten. His memory will not disappear, generation after generation his name will live. 10 Nations will proclaim his wisdom, the assembly will celebrate his praises. *  11 If he lives long, his name will be more glorious than a thousand others, and if he dies, that will satisfy him just as well. 

  He will meditate on the instruction he has received from the Lord and will give to others freely. He will take his pride in the Law of the Lord’s and in His covenants of the Old and the New Everlasting Covenant which Jesus has established by sacrificing his own life.  Ps 119: 72 The Law you have uttered is more precious to me  than all the wealth in the world.  The law of the Lord will be precious for those trust in Him. God will reveal His covenant to those who fear Him. Ps 25: 14 Only those who fear Yahweh  have his secret and his covenant, for their understanding. When someone learns about the covenants of the past, they will comprehend the mystery of the Eternal Everlasting Covenant, which Jesus made as part of the Heavenly Father's plan, in which God Himself became a sacrifice. Although God established covenants with Abraham, Noah, Moses, and the Ten Commandments, He was not pleased with each of these Covenants. Through Jeremiah, the Lord informed us of the New Covenant He intends to establish with the House of Israel., Jer 31: 31-34, “……………….but not like the covenant I made with their ancestors the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of Egypt, a covenant which they broke, even though I was their Master, Yahweh declares. No, this is the covenant I shall make with the House of Israel when those days have come, Yahweh declares. Within them I shall plant my Law, writing it on their hearts. Then I shall be their God and they will be my people.……….” When someone praises the Almighty God and obey His commandments, his wisdom will increase and his words will be gracious for the listeners. In their descendants  they find a rich inheritance, their posterity. 12 Their descendants stand by the commandments and, thanks to them, so do their children’s children. 13 Their offspring will last for ever, their glory will not fade. 14 Their bodies have been buried in peace, and their name lives on for all generations. 15 The peoples will proclaim their wisdom, the assembly will celebrate their praises. *Such individuals are evidently present in the nation's highest office. No matter where they travel or who they visit, they will be appreciated. Such person will control the nations and have a name more glorious than a thousand others, if he is wise and knowledgeable about many subjects. He will be satisfied even if he passes away because he has completed the tasks the Lord has given him. 

Word of God Reflection I Part V

A Study and Reflection on Sirach Chapter 39 : 1-11

Word of God Reflection Sirach 39: 6 & 7, On 12th Dec. 2024

Fear of the Lord is the principle, to obtain wisdom from God

  Let us meditate the Verses of Sirach 6 & 7, If such 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. 7 He will grow upright in purpose and learning, he will ponder the Lord’s hidden mysteries. Lord will give the Spirit of intelligence for such person who is seeking the Lord. If God is merciful to him he will be blessed with the wisdom of God. Wis 8: 7-8Or if it be uprightness you love, why, virtues are the fruit of her labours, since it is she who teaches temperance and prudence, justice and fortitude; nothing in life is more useful for human beings. 8 Or if you are eager for wide experience, she knows the past, she forecasts the future; she knows how to turn maxims, and solve riddles; she has foreknowledge of signs and wonders, and of the unfolding of the ages and the times. He will devote himself to studying the Holy Scriptures day and night in order to discover God's knowledge. He will be taught the qualities that are most beneficial to humans—temperance, prudence, justice, and fortitude—by his extensive experience with wisdom. He will discover our Lord's hidden mysteries here in the Holy Scriptures.. Pr 9: 9-10 Be open with the wise, he grows wiser still, teach the upright, he will gain yet more. 10 The first principle of wisdom is the fear of Yahweh, What God’s holy ones know—this is understanding. Men who are filled with the Spirit of God will be more wise because they will be surrounded by wise people. He is going to preach and educate others about the Kingdom of God. The wisdom of God will be revealed in anything he says. He would never stop praying and thanking God with praises and hymns. A fear of the Lord is the first step toward wisdom. God's holy people will be able to conduct a humble life because they will grasp how wisdom approaches them. Being humble before the Lord is a magnificent way for a soul to obtain eternal life. 

Word of God Reflection I Part IV

 

A Study and Reflection on Sirach Chapter 39 : 1-11

Word of God Reflection Sirach 39: 5, On 6th Dec 2024

Lord Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me, am a  sinner,  

  Let us meditate these Verse of Sir 39: 5, 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. A sincere follower of Jesus will rise early, either before the sun rises or before the cock crows. Before he does anything, he will pray to the Lord as he gets out of bed. The first fruit of our lives must be given to the Lord.  He is going to attend Holy Mass at the church in the morning. He will give thanks to God for all the blessings (time, talent, and treasure) before going to the Holy Mass. To obtain repentance, we must read and contemplate Psalm 51, a lovely Psalm. The Psalmist expresses profound repentance to God in the opening two lines of this lovely plea;  Ps 51: 1-2 Have mercy on me, O God, in your faithful love,  in your great tenderness wipe away my offences;  2 wash me clean from my guilt,  purify me from my sin. God has given the grace to him to give to listen and obey His commandments. He will examine his conscience before he attend the Holy Mass and receiving the Eucharist. God will pour His mercy on us even we are sinners as mentioned in Rm 2: 4 Or are you not disregarding his abundant goodness, tolerance and patience, failing to realise that this generosity of God is meant to bring you to repentance? 

  His top priority will be setting aside time for prayer in front of our Lord. He dedicates the prime time of the day to the Lord by praying first thing in the morning. We should make amends for our past transgressions, especially those that may have led to more serious ones. He's going to pray like the Psalmist, which I thought was very great.., Ps 19: 12-14 But who can detect his own failings?  Wash away my hidden faults.  13 And from pride preserve your servant,  never let it be my master.  So shall I be above reproach,  free from grave sin.  14 May the words of my mouth always find favour,  and the whispering of my heart,  in your presence, Yahweh,  my rock, my redeemer. We may not recognize our sins, and how the occasion or situations for the temptations comes due to our pride in heart and in our words, which leads us to do the grave sins in shame. James 1: 12 Blessed is anyone who perseveres *  when trials come. Such a person is of proven worth and will win the prize of life, the crown that the Lord has promised to those who love him. Therefore, we must remain persistent in the face of difficulties and temptations that could lead us to sin, which could be right outside our door at any time. However, we shall obtain the reward of life if we endure hardships. The apostle James states that even if we may not sin if we love God, the Lord will crown us with eternal life. 

The Word of God Reflection I Part III

A Study and Reflection on Sirach Chapter 39 : 1-11

Word of God Reflection Sirach 39: 4, On 2nd Dec 2024

Lord, help us to become your disciples to understand Your ways!

Let us meditate the verse of Sirach 39: 4 He enters the service of princes, he is seen in the presence of rulers. He travels in foreign countries, he has experienced human good and human evil. 

The man who follow and obey the commandments of the Lord. Jesus says about such people Jn 14: 23-24(NJB)“Anyone who loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we shall come to him and make a home in him. Anyone who does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not my own: it is the word of the Father who sent me.” These kinds of people will enlist to dutifully serve the kings and princes. People of this type will be widely recognized in society and may hold high positions of dignity when the great leaders of their nations are present. God will grant them the opportunity to represent their nation abroad as ambassadors. They are the ones who reverently serve the Lord, and God will permit them to follow the path of righteousness. In the Letter to Ephesians, St. Paul states that he is the messenger of the gospel, which Jesus has committed to him. He also states that we shall be the messengers of Christ for his gospel once we are united with the Lord. Eph 6: 20 “of which I am an ambassador in chains; pray that in proclaiming it I may speak as fearlessly as I ought to.” When we are Christ's prisoners, we shall act in the way that the Lord desires of us rather than requesting the comforts of this world. As Sirach says above, when we trust in the Word of God and its secret mysteries, the Lord permits us to enter His rest, which He offers for us eternally. In this way, the soul will enter His Divine Rest. Heb 4:3 We, however, who have faith, are entering a place of rest,……They might have the fear of the Lord in abundance. Ps 25: 12-14(NJB) “MEN who respect Yahweh, what of them?  He teaches them the way they must choose. Neighbours to happiness will they live,  and their children inherit the land.  Only those who fear Yahweh  have his secret and his covenant, for their understanding.” When we are in the service of God, the Lord will lead us to the green pastures of the world and he will be blessed them with best provisions in materially and spiritually. They travel around the world to spread the Good News, God’s Word and will do it without any fear. We are fighting against the evil, and we have to face all his tactics in our daily spiritual life but we can win him by doing good things in our daily which is pleasing God. Eph 6: 10-12 ‘Put on the full armour of God so as to be able to resist the devil’s tactics. For it is not against human enemies that we have to struggle, but against the principalities and the ruling forces who are masters of the darkness in this world, the spirits of evil in the heavens.’