The Word of Life

 

On 15th May 2025 [VM 6]

Meditating the Words of Jesus from Holy Scriptures 

Lord, make us the light for the world, to spread your unconditional love to others

‘You are light for the world. A city built on a hilltop cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp to put it under a tub; they put it on the lampstand where it shines for everyone in the house. 16 In the same way your light must shine in people’s sight, so that, seeing your good works, they may give praise to your Father in heaven. Mt 5: 14-16 Lord is asking us to be the light of the world and spread the fragrance of the Gospel to the faithful of the church and to the nations. Whatever talents, graces or gifts we received from the Lord has to be given back by doing the best for the kingdom of God. Our virtues should reflect through our words and deeds and it should flow naturally by our humility to serve others unconditionally, the way Jesus served the apostles and the disciples.

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.   8 God is perfectly able to enrich you with every grace, so that you always have enough for every conceivable need, and your resources overflow in all kinds of good work. 9 As scripture says: To the needy he gave without stint; his uprightness stands firm forever.10 The one who so freely provides seed for the sower and food to eat 2 Co 9:7–10). Lord is asking us to give generously, and he will return us generously by hundred-fold. He will return us many graces which will empower us to work for the kingdom of God.  And some seed fell into good soil and grew and produced its crop a hundredfold.’ Saying this he cried, ‘Anyone who has ears for listening should listen!’ Lk. 8: 8. Same way it is happening while we ponder the Word of God. How the condition is, our heart should be noble and generous. The faith in Jesus should be unwavering and steadfast and trustworthy.  As for the part in the rich soil, this is people with a noble and generous heart who have heard the word and take it to themselves and yield a harvest through their perseverance. Lk 8: 15

The Word of Life

 

On 13th May 2025 [VM 5]

Meditating the Words of Jesus from Holy Scriptures 

Lord, make us humble, faithful and trustworthy till the end of our life.

 

13 ‘You are salt for the earth. But if salt loses its taste, what can make it salty again? It is good for nothing and can only be thrown out to be trampled under people’s feet. [1]

Jesus is teaching us, that we are the salt of the earth. Salt is considered goes into all kind of the food preparation and it gives the taste. It’s a symbol of purity, loyalty, faithfulness, love, mercy and compassion and such people will be the foundation of the Kingdom of God. Lord needs such faithful servants not the masters to serve his people on earth. Here the earth he considers whole humanity, the people of God, to serve them like a shepherd looking after his flocks. Salt considers bring peace on earth, such kind of people are peace makers. For everyone will be salted with fire. 50 Salt is a good thing, but if salt has become insipid, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves and be at peace with one another.’ [2]Mk 9: 49.

 

 How St. Paul became the salt of the earth? He was considered the enemy of the Church became a insipid, but Lord, brought him back to become the real salt to the earth. St. Paul was gone through a great conversion and became the greatest apostle for His Kingdom. It happened that while he was travelling to Damascus and approaching the city, suddenly a light from heaven shone all round him. 4 He fell to the ground, and then he heard a voice saying, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ 5 ‘Who are you, Lord?’ he asked, and the answer came, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 Get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you are to do.’ 7The men travelling with Saul stood there speechless, for though they heard the voice they could see no one. St Paul got conversion as he met Jesus on the road to Damascus But Judas, he could not become a loyal friend to our Lord, he lost the real value of the salt, the faithfulness, loyalty, trustworthy, love and compassion. He betrayed Jesus but could not repent for his sin, he lost the real purpose his life. He hanged himself and lost his life. Judas betrayed Jesus, he told the Jews and soldiers: ‘The one I kiss, he is the man. Arrest him.’ 49 So he went up to Jesus at once and said, ‘Greetings, Rabbi,’ and kissed him. 50 Jesus said to him, ‘My friend, do what you are here for.’ Then they came forward, seized Jesus, and arrested him[3]. Judas told the priests from whom he took money for betraying Jesus. Saying, ‘I have sinned. I have betrayed innocent blood.’ They replied, ‘What is that to us? That is your concern.’ 5 And flinging down the silver pieces in the sanctuary he made off, and went and hanged himself[4]Mt 27: 4-5(NJB) Judas lost his saltiness, the faithfulness to his Master and betrayed Jesus for few silver coins, that was the value he considered for the salt, the most valuable companionship and the discipleship to the Lord, and he lost it forever, so tragic. He ended his life by hanging himself on a tree.

 

 

[1] The New Jerusalem Bible. (1985). (Mt 5:13). New York: Doubleday.

[2] The New Jerusalem Bible. (1985). (Mk 9:49–50). New York: Doubleday.

[3] The New Jerusalem Bible. (1985). (Mt 26:48–50). New York: Doubleday.

[4] The New Jerusalem Bible. (1985). (Mt 27:4–5). New York: Doubleday.

Word of Life

 

On 8th May 2025 [VM 4]

Meditating the Words of Jesus from Holy Scriptures 

Lord, make us rejoice and be glad while we are persecuted

 

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.  (Matthew 5:11–12, NJB) Whenever we experience abuse and humiliation, we should keep in mind how everyone tormented, mistreated, and degraded Jesus. Jesus says that we shall be persecuted because of his name and his life. According to Jesus, the suffering we shall endure in the last day will be unbearable and extremely terrible, so pray to the Lord during those days when the church will be persecuted. For then there will be great distress, unparalleled since * the world began, and such as will never be again. 22 And if that time had not been shortened, no human being would have survived; but shortened that time shall be, for the sake of those who are chosen.  (Matthew 24:21–22, NJB). The Jews and Roman troops also caused St. Paul a great deal of suffering. However, during his spiritual journey, he never gave up and relentlessly shared the gospel with the masses. No other apostle has endured as much suffering or traveled as widely as he did in order to share the gospel and bear witness to Christ our Lord. This roused the whole city; people came running from all sides; they seized Paul and dragged him out of the Temple, and the gates were closed behind them. 31 While they were setting about killing him, word reached the tribune of the cohort that there was tumult all over Jerusalem (Acts 21:30–31, NJB)

 

The Word of Life

 

On 4th May 2025 [VM 3]

Meditating the Words of Jesus from Holy Scriptures 

Lord, give us strength, perseverance and grace to overcome the persecutions. 

Blessed are those who are persecuted in the cause of uprightness: the kingdom of Heaven is theirs.  (Matthew 5:10, NJB) Jesus always says that the people will persecute us, but we have to pray for them. As he says: But I say this to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you; (Matthew 5:44, NJB). We can see how St Stephen prayed for his persecutors. He did not resist while the Jews were throwing stones on him and beating him but was praying while he was dying.  As they were stoning him, Stephen said in invocation, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ 60 Then he knelt down and said aloud, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’ And with these words he fell asleep.  (Acts 7:59–60, NJB) St Stephen prayed fervently for the persecutors and that was a special prayer he has done and many were repented and converted and among them was Saul the persecutor of the Church and he became St Paul the greatest Apostle. When we pray for for our enemies they will become our friends. What St Paul Apostle says about the persecution he has gone through is written in his letters. We are subjected to every kind of hardship, but never distressed; we see no way out but we never despair; 9 we are pursued but never cut off; knocked down, but still have some life in us; 10 always we carry with us in our body the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus, too, may be visible in our body. 11 Indeed, while we are still alive, we are continually being handed over to death, for the sake of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus, too, may be visible in our mortal flesh. 12 In us, then, death is at work; in you, life. 13 But as we have the same spirit of faith as is described in scripture—I believed and therefore I spoke * —we, too, believe and therefore we, too, speak, (2Cr 4: 8-13, NJB) What St Paul wrote is enough for us to reflect and meditate. Let us pray: Lord, give us strength, perseverance and grace to overcome the persecutions.

 

 

 

 

 

The Word of Life

 

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On 2nd May 2025 [VM2]

Meditating the Words of Jesus from Holy Scriptures 

Blessed are the peacemakers, they are the children of God 

Blessed are the peacemakers: they shall be recognized as children of God[1] Lord is asking us to be the peace makers with all our adversaries. Jesus is promising us, he will give us his peace. And he says again that he is giving the peace to us, that means he has given the peace to us. The worldly peace is not permanent, and it may waver; the peace our Lord Jesus is giving us is the eternal peace. Peace, I bequeath to you, my own peace I give you, a peace which the world cannot give, this is my gift to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.  (John 14:27, NJB)

Late Pope Francis always says to make peace with the people with our neighbors, enemies and between nations. In his own words: “Peace, according to the Bishop of Rome, “is the first gift that the Lord has given us, and it is the first duty that the leaders of nations must fulfil: peace is the fundamental condition for the respect of the rights of every human being.”

In the evening of that same day, the first day of the week, the doors were closed in the room where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews. Jesus came and stood among them. He said to them, ‘Peace be with you,’ (John 20:19, NJB) In another time at once after Jesus encountered with the disciples of Emma-us he was not left from those scenario. While the desciples of Emmaus talking about the encounter, immediately Jesus fcame to Emmaus and were explaining what had happened. Jesus came into their midst, and They were still talking about all this when he himself stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you!’ 3 (Luke 24:36–37, NJB)

Pope Francis: “On the day of New Year 2025 At the dawn of this New Year given to us by our heavenly Father, a year of Jubilee in the spirit of hope, I offer heartfelt good wishes of peace to every man and woman.”

 

 

 

[1] The New Jerusalem Bible. (1985). (Mt 5:9). New York: Doubleday.

The Word of Life

 

On 30th April 2025 [VM1]

Meditating the Words of Jesus from Holy Scriptures

Lord, bless us with a pure heart 

Blessed are the pure in heart: they shall see God. (Matthew 5:8, NJB, https://ref.ly/Mt5.8;njb) Lord, haw can I keep my heart pure and holy. Lord, only by You can be is possible, not by my human effort. Jesus says: What goes into the mouth does not make anyone unclean; it is what comes out of the mouth that makes someone unclean (Matthew 15:11, NJB) Any dirty words coming out of the tongue are a sign of a corrupt heart. Thus, the Lord commands us to purify and sanctify our hearts. After then, the Lord will cause our tongues to speak His Word. He reiterates in the Gospel of Matthew that everything that comes out of our mouths originates in our hearts, and that if we ponder bad thoughts, they will manifest in our mouths as wicked words and deeds, rendering us filthy and causing us to commit numerous crimes.  But whatever comes out of the mouth comes from the heart, and it is this that makes someone unclean. 19 For from the heart come evil intentions: murder, adultery, fornication, theft, perjury, slander. 20 These are the things that make a person unclean. But eating with unwashed hands does not make anyone unclean.’ (Matthew 15:18–20, NJB, https://ref.ly/Mt15.18-20;njb) Lord Jesus, make our hearts humble and holy.   

    Reason should be the basis for every activity, reflection must come before any undertaking. 17 Thoughts are rooted in the heart, and this sends out four branches: 18 good and evil, life and death, and mistress of them always is the tongue. 1 (Sirach 37:16–19, NJB Our hearts are filled with both good and wicked thoughts. Our Lord will talk to us when we reflect on Him or think about His statutes and laws found in the Bible. We are always able to join our Lord in His eternity when we pray with profound devotion. A pure heart is the source of the positive thoughts. Our innermost beings die as a result of our wicked ideas. We become impure in our souls and talk about bad practices when we think about them Controlling our tongue is crucial to our spiritual lives since it is one of the most dangerous things in our bodies, like a sword. The devil is quite alluring when it comes to his wicked ways, which include pride in material belongings, lust, worldly pleasures, and many more.

 

The Word of Life

Happy Feast of Divine Mercy 

On 27th April 2025

Meditating the Words of Jesus from Holy Scriptures 

Lord, teach us to be in mercy and compassIon on everyone 

Blessed is the merciful: they shall have mercy shown them[1]Mt 5: 7When we are merciful to everyone, including the neighbors our enemies, God will reciprocate our generosity. The Lord is so gracious as to show us his love and compassion.

Or are you not disregarding his abundant goodness, tolerance, and patience, failing to realize that this generosity of God is meant to bring you to repentance? The Lord is merciful. Rm 2: 4(NJB)   The Lord shows us mercy because He is aware of our weakness and how it leads to sin. We must be humble before the Lord in order to receive his mercy.  We are commemorating the feast of Devine Mercy Sunday today, April 27, 2025. From the pierced Heart of Jesus our Lord, God lavishes us all with his kindness in the shape of water and blood, as well as beams of crimson and white light. Jesus showed St. Maria Faustina the rays of Red and White to demonstrate the richness of God's mercy.

We can see how our Lord was merciful to the people of Nineveh, and it was a big city and hundreds of thousands of people were living there. God told Jonah to prophecy the Up!’ he said, ‘Go to Nineveh, the great city, and preach to it as I shall tell you.’ 3 Jonah set out and went to Nineveh in obedience to the word of Yahweh. Now Nineveh was a city great beyond compare; to cross it took three days[2]and the people of Nineveh believed in God; they proclaimed a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least. 6 When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his robe, put on sackcloth and sat down in ashes.[3]  The Prophet Jonah spoken to people of Nineveh about the destruction of their land as per the order from the Lord. All the people took it seriously and they were repented wholeheartedly about tear sins and were reconciled to God. Who knows? Perhaps God will change his mind and relent and renounce his burning wrath, so that we shall not perish.’ 10 God saw their efforts to renounce their evil ways. And God relented about the disaster which he had threatened to bring on them, and did not bring it.  (Jonah 3:9–10, NJB) God relented because all the people of Nineveh plead for God;s mercy  by humbling themtselves and renouncing their sins. Lord, teach us to be in mercy and compassIon on everyone 

[1] The New Jerusalem Bible. (1985). (Mt 5:7). 

[2] The New Jerusalem Bible. (1985). (Jon 3:2–3).

[3] The New Jerusalem Bible. (1985). (Jon 3:5–6).