“Seeking the help and intercession of the Archangels – St Michael, St Gabriel and St Raphael – to grow in our love for the Lord!”

(Based on the Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, Archangels)

The Church professes and proclaims Her faith in God which is encapsulated in the Nicene Creed.

The Nicene Creed begins with the proclamation, “We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of all things VISIBLE AND INVISIBLE.”

The existence of the spiritual, non-corporeal beings, that Sacred Scripture usually calls “angels,” is a truth of faith!

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Three Archangels – St Michael, St Gabriel and St Raphael.

Archangels are traditionally understood as one of the nine choirs of angels. (cf. Eph 1:21, Col 1:16)

In ascending order, the choirs or classes are 1) Angels, 2) Archangels, 3) Principalities, 4) Powers, 5) Virtues, 6) Dominations, 7) Thrones, 8) Cherubim, and 9) Seraphim.

The Feast of the Three Archangels – St Michael, St Gabriel and St Raphael is an opportunity to learn more about them and to grow in deeper devotion and fondness for them.

ST. MICHAEL

The name of the archangel Michael means, in Hebrew, “Who is like unto God?”

St Michael is known as “the prince of the heavenly host.”
He is usually pictured as a strong warrior, dressed in armour.

St Michael appears on four occasions in the Bible:

In Dan 10:13 and in Dan 12:1, he appears as the special guardian of the people of Israel.
In Jude 9, he appears in a dispute with the Devil.
In Rev 12:7-9, he fights against Satan and his evil forces.

What does St Michael teach us?

St Michael teaches us…
… to depend on the power of God in our battle against the forces of Satan
… to guard ourselves against the disguises and snares of evil forces.
… to become a guard and protector of our fellow brothers and sisters.

ST GABRIEL

The name of the archangel Gabriel means, in Hebrew, “God is my strength”

St Gabriel is known as a “messenger of God”
He is usually pictured announcing something and sometimes with a lily or a sceptre.

St Gabriel appears three times in the Bible:

In Dan 8:15–26 and 9:21–27, he appears to Daniel to explain his visions
In Lk 1:11-38, he appears to Zechariah and Mary to deliver the good news from God

What does St Gabriel teach us?

St Gabriel invites us…
… to listen to God’s voice and inspirations through various sources.
… to find courage in situations of fear, by trusting in God’s Providence.
… to be open to surprises and wonders the Lord works in our lives.

ST RAPHAEL

The name of the archangel Raphael means, in Hebrew, “God has healed?”

St Raphael is known as “a wonderful helper and fellow traveller”

He is usually pictured walking with a young boy, sometimes carrying a staff.

St Raphael makes many appearance in the Book of Tobit in the Bible:

St Raphael appears disguised in human form as the travelling companion of Tobias, the son of Tobit.

What does St Raphael teach us?

St Raphael inspires us…
… to discover God as the healing balm in our afflictions and hardships.
… to walk boldly with God in all the terrains and valleys and paths of life.
… to trust in God in seemingly hopeless and impossible hurdles of life.

Let the celebration of this Feast of the Three Archangels – St Michael, St Gabriel and St Raphael – help us to grow in our love for our Blessed Lord!

The Lord wants us to grow in holiness.
The Lord wants us to be protected in His care.
The Lord wants to be fearless in being His beloved Child.

May the Archangels help us in this our journey of life.

Happy Feast of the Holy Archangels!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

“Firmly trusting and relaxing in the arms of our Caring and Loving Heavenly Father!”

(Based on Job 1:6-22 and Lk 9:46-50 – Monday of the 26th Week in Ordinary Time, Year 2)

A little boy once came to his Daddy, one night.

He confessed a mistake that he had done during the course of the day.

Then kneeling at Daddy’s feet, the child, with hands folded, prayed with tears:
“Dear God, make me a man – like Daddy – wise and strong.

I know You can!”

This innocent gesture touched the father very much. He had a profound realisation of his deep limitations and the child’s high expectations

Then when the child had slept, the father knelt beside his bed.

Confessing his sins, and praying with a low-bowed head, made this prayer:
“O God, make me a child – like my sweet child here – pure, guileless, trusting in You with a faith sincere.

I know You can!”

We all grow up in life – physically, socially, psychologically etc…

But sometimes this “growing up” fails to preserve the “growth” that is already witnessed in little children – openness, sincerity, trust and spontaneity.

Can we dare, as adults, to “grow” into being a child?

The Gospel of the Day is an elegant presentation by Jesus on the “necessary attitude” that is required for a valid entry into the Kingdom of Heaven: a child-like nature.

Jesus says, “Whoever welcomes this child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me; for the least among all of you is the greatest.” (Lk 9: 47)

In the Gospel of Mathew, we read, “Truly I say to you, unless you turn and become like little children, you will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven” (Mt 18:3)

One of the grave dangers in the process of “growing- up” is the tendency to lose our “natural child-like” traits.

A child is born with many inherent qualities.

But in the process of “becoming an adult,” we abandon many of those.

This ‘abandonment’ could be because…
… of the upbringing in the society or the culture we live
… or the various experiences that we go through as we grow up

As a child, we would be free to express our emotions
… but as we grow up, we tend to hold them up all within (only to burst out one day!)

As a child, we would trust and depend easily on those who care for us
.. but as we grow up, we become fearful or disbelieving towards those same persons

As a child, we would be eased to live in the present moment, enjoying and relaxing
… but as we grow up, we fall into the trap of the past and cringed with the fear of the future.

The Lord invites us to have a “renewal of our minds” and to retrieve back the ‘lost’ child-like faith and trust, in God!

It takes courage and dare to make efforts to let go of our “matured egoistic” tendencies in order to depend more on our Heavenly Father.

The process usually is encountered by resistance…

Why should I depend on someone…
… I am mature enough to think for myself
Why should I become humble…
… I have my own desires to be satisfied to

These could be some of the thought-patterns that one stumbles into, in giving heed to the call of the Lord to “be like a child”.

Our Lord Himself is the greatest model and example in learning to have a “child-like” faith…

St Paul tells in his letter to the Philippians, ” … though He was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God, a thing to be grasped.

Rather, He emptied Himself, taking the form of a slave, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross” (Phil 2: 6-8)

A child-like faith also prompts to place one’s trust totally in the Lord, knowing that He is the Source and End of all…
… as beautifully displayed by Job, during his great ordeal, when he exclaimed: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return;
The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Job 1:21)

May we be privileged to be graced with the gift of being “like children”…
… and thus be able to firmly trust and relax in the arms of our Caring and Loving Heavenly Father
… and live a life of humility and trust!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

“Amending our lives in a way that we not only preach, but much more, practise in life!”

(Based on Ezek 18:25-28, Phil 2:1-11 and Mt 21:28-32 – 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A)

In a certain village, a parishioner – a Catholic for many years – was having a conversation with his parish priest.

He said: “Father, if I had fifty acres of land, I would have gladly donated half of it – twenty-five acres – to the Lord and His church”

The priest replied: “Ah! That’s so nice and generous of you. And what if you had only 20 acres?”

The man replied: “Oh! Yes, I would have given 10 of it!”

“And”, continued the priest, “what if you had only 10 acres?” Will you spare five for the Lord?”

“Sure, I would”, said the man.

Finally, the priest said, “And what if you had only two acres? Would you give one to the Lord?”

“Oh!”, snapped the man, “Now don’t ask me that!
You know, that I have only two acres!”

Well…
… that’s how it is often in our lives as well, isn’t it?

We promise many big things to the Lord…
… but when it comes to “actually doing something for the Lord”, we tend to back out!

Are we just preachers?
… or can we also be people who practise?

Life judges us, on the basis of how well does our preaching and practising co-ordinate and complement each other.

Life presents different moments when there seems to be a dichotomy between one’s words and deeds…

The Gospel of the Day presents to us an interesting parable of two Sons who are asked to work by their Father.

One SAYS NO…but DOES!
The other SAYS YES…BUT DOES NOT!

One does not preach… but practises!

The other preaches… but does not practise!

One refuses initially, but consents finally!

The other consents initially, but refuses finally!

How often does this situation arise in our own lives and situations too…

We pledge ourselves at trendy events, for the cause of the poor…
… but we fail to help

Many others remain quite unnoticed…
… but become forerunners for the cause of the poor!

We make a big show and be popular as a helpful person…
… but we fail in some genuine needs

Many others remain quite unnoticed…
… but are present with their full force to render help!

We make many resolutions on New Year days or birthdays…
… but fail to materialize them

Many others remain quite unnoticed…
… but are able to make many amendments and changes!

We make many promises to the Lord during feast days or novena times…
… but fail to live up

Many others remain quite unnoticed…
… but render much love to the Lord through the year!

We all experience this “I will do”…
… but “I did not do” experiences in life.

On the personal Faith Level, this trend is seen more distinctly and vividly…

People claim themselves to be Catholics…
… but appear in church only on grand feast days!

People appreciate the Catholic teaching…
… but support moral laws and practise morality which go directly against!

People assert having dedicated their lives to God…
… but fail to find time for God and prayer!

People declare loving God above all…
… but fail to reject pleasures which hurts and pains Him!

People profess and make vows to God…
… but neglect to even try to keep up those promises!

Like the second son, who said Yes…
… very often, we too become people who nod our heads in consent for anything and everything…
… but fail to live up to that YES!

The Lord says in Mt 7:21, “Not all who say Lord, Lord, will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but he does the Will of My Father”

Therefore, the proposition is clear: It is not pompous words that will grant life, but carrying out the Will of the Father!

It is not only good news “proclaimed” but good news “practised“…
… that will win others to the glorious freedom of forgiveness of sins!

Yes, let us examine…
… and accordingly amend our lives:
Are we the one who only preaches?
… or can we also be the one who practises?

God Bless! Live Jesus!

“Asking the Grace to remain ever faithful to the Lord and be loyal to His Love and His Kingdom!”

(Based on Eccles 11:9-12:8 and Lk 9:43b-45 – Saturday of the 25th Week in Ordinary Time, Year 2)

“Julius Caesar” is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare.

It is one of several plays written by Shakespeare based on true events from Roman history.

The life of Julius Caesar engrossingly proceeds with placing a great trust in his best friend Brutus.

Brutus, though his closest and most trusted friend, was albeit a misled man.
Therefore, among the conspirators who finally assassinated the Roman leader on March 15, 44 was Brutus as well.

Caesar had not only trusted him, but also favoured Brutus as his own son.

Roman history tells that Caesar had first resisted the onslaught of his assassins.

But when he saw his beloved Brutus among them, with his dagger draw, the Roman Emperor ceased to struggle and withdraw every attempt of resistance.

He pulled the top part of his robe over the face and asked the infamous question, “Et tu, Brute?”(You too, Brutus?)

“YOU TOO, BRUTUS?”
… A question which cuts across the marrows of the bones and the pierces the depths of the heart, to express disgust and contempt of the deadly human vice of betrayal!
… A question which cuts across civilizations and generations, to show forth the abhorrence and the detestation of the wicked trait of disloyalty!

The Gospel of the Day presents a mighty warning by Jesus on the danger of we becoming disciples who betray Him and His Love!

Jesus tells His disciples, “Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into human hands!” (Lk 9: 44)

Jesus gives a forewarning to His disciples on the sword of betrayal that would be his painful lot.

This betrayal had to be faced on different levels..
… an act of betrayal through a kiss by Judas Iscariot
… acts of denial by Peter, His close disciple
… acts of abandonment by His other disciples
… acts of rejection by the chief priests and elders
… acts of passivity by the people for whom He had served

Today our Lord poses the same question: Am I betraying Him by my acts and deeds?

Is the Lord, calling us by name, asking us, “Et tu,? “You too, ?”

Do I betray the Lord…
… by failing to avoid occasions of sin and constantly moving away from doing His Will?
… with my words of unpleasantness, judgmental nature and destructively critical?
… by being unkind, unforgiving and harbouring grudge by my actions?
… by causing harm to others and being insincere in my works?

Let us ask the Grace to remain ever faithful to the Lord and be loyal to His Love and His Kingdom.

As St Philip Neri, let us also pray:
“Watch me, O Lord, this day; for, abandoned to myself, I shall surely betray thee.”

God Bless! Live Jesus!