Apr 7 (Jn 10:31-42)

“We are strewn all over the ground.

 

— Some of us are considered useless….

— Some of us are just stamped upon…

— Some are made use in some hard labour…

 

Some of us… well..some of us, however, are made use for some inhuman practices.

 

This includes making use of some of us, to hurt others… to cause pains and wounds to others…and some even to cause fatal deaths!

 

Our life is often long… but sometimes, such kind of painful moments and incidents, ooze out any bit of feelings we may have (though we are considered not to be having any sentiments!)

 

Are you wondering who we are?

 

 

Well.. we are the family of stones!

 

Yep.. Stones!

Strewn all over…

— Sometimes useless, right?

— Sometimes just stamped upon, right?

— Sometimes just made use for hard labour, right?

 

But sometimes, some of us, the stones … also become objects of injuring and causing pain to others…

 

One such occasion was when, as you read in the Gospel of St John 8..some of us were picked up by a gang of highly malicious, judgemental and selfish people, to cause death to a woman who was caught in an act of immorality.

 

• We were ready to thrown on that woman.

• We were set to become objects of brutality and terror.

 

However, that day, we encountered the most amazing personality.

 

— He had glorious eyes.

— He had a breathtaking voice.

— He had a tremendous authority.

His name was Jesus!

— And His one sentence, “He who is without sin, let him be the first to stone” dropped the jaws of all those blood-thirsty and cruel people.

 

We were all released from their hands.

We saw them all turning their backs and going home, in shame.

We also saw, the wonderful triumph of mercy and love and compassion.

 

However, a few days later, some of us were soon back to find ourselves in the hands of those blood-thirsty men.

— This time, the target was none other than that same charismatic person named Jesus.

 

You read about that in John 10:31, “The Jews took up stones again to stone Jesus”

 

We were left wondering why was this innocent man being targeted so badly.

 

• He was after all preaching the Kingdom of God.

• He was bringing the message of God’s Love and salvation to the world .

 

By His Life, He was declaring Himself to be the Messiah from God.

>> By His works, He was also proving Himself to be the Son of God.

 

But none of these “clear-cut” evidences were able to convince those people.

• They still believed that Jesus was a blasphemer.

• They still were determined to think that Jesus was a heretic.

 

And so they picked us up.. yes, we the stones… to indulge themselves in a blood-bath of the Blessed Man of claimed Himself to be the Lord and Saviour of the World!

 

Our thoughts go out to those people who wanted to stone….

 

• God had blessed them with such beautiful hearts.

• God had showered them with so much of wisdom to discern and understand.

Yet, they failed to make use of these divine gifts and instead, had hardened their hearts!

 

What a pity, that those human beings had become like us… stones!

 

Yes, just how could they become stone-hearted??

— Stone-hearted… that they failed to be open to the possibility of God’s hand at work.

— Stone hearted… that they were adamant to be closed to any explanation of the Lord.

— Stone-hearted… that they were stubborn to listen to the voice of God’s Spirit in their lives.

 

We, the stones, now appeal to you, dear readers….To be wary and examine your lives:

 

Are you also acquiring a nature like us, the stones…

…. hard to the feelings of other people and failing to understand them?

… rigid to the inspirations of the Spirit of God and not letting Him work in your lives?

… inflexible to have changes and transformations in life, to attune oneself to God’s Will?

 

There are many of us in the world…

Your streets, your roads… are all, indeed strewn with all of us, the stones.

 

But we sincerely beg you…

… not to let your hearts to become like us

… not to let your lives to be similar to our nature.

 

Let the world have more of, not stony-hearts, but tender, loving, understanding and compassionate hearts…

>> Let the world have more of, not hardened souls, but docile, open, submissive and humble lives…

 

God Bless! Live Jesus!

Apr 6 (Jn 8:51-59)

 Christus Heri Hodie Semper – Christ, Yesterday Today Forever!

>> This was the theme of the Great Jubilee year 2000.

 

The theme highlighted the great aspect of the perpetual divinity of the Lord.

 

He is the same.. yesterday, today and forever! (Heb 13:8)

 

However, not all are able to digest this fact, that Jesus, could be fully divine.

>> Not all are able to grasp this aspect that Jesus, could be the Son of God.

 

 

It is such a debating discussion over the Divinity of the Lord that forms the chunk of the Gospel of the Day.

 

One of the constant companions of the Lord, all through His life was..being hated!

 

It was especially His declaration on having a Divine origin that generated greater sparks of hatred.

 

The debate continues between Jesus and the Jews.

>>The Jews had immense pride in calling themselves as the children of their Father, Abraham.

 

As the debate continues, the Lord puts forward the gem of His defence…the core of His revelation: ” Truly truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM” (Jn 8:58)

 

Those words hit the critics of the Lord, direct on the face…

“Before Abraham was, I AM!”

 

>> “I AM” was the title of God Yawheh!

>> “I AM” was the sole privilege of the Lord Almighty!

 

This was the name that was given by God to Moses: “I AM who am. This is what you shall tell the Israelites: I AM sent me to you” (Ex 3:14)

 

>> It was pure blasphemy for any mortal to use it for oneself.

>> It was sheer heretical for any human to apply it to oneself.

 

I AM – the Name..

… demanded fear as to none other

… commanded respect as to no one

… contained awesomeness as in nothing else

 

And therefore, the Lord had to face the consequences of this “blasphemous” act: 

“So they picked up stones to throw at Him” (Jn 8:59)

 

 

And so the life of the Lord expounds an important truth:

>> Where there is the mention of Divinity…

… there are forces of the evil seeking to cast it away.

 

>> Where there is the presence of the Divine…

… there are powers seeking to destroy the sacredness.

 

Jesus, the One hated the most, was the Most Divine.

>> Jesus, the One who was always contrary to the moods of the world, was the Most Divine

 

 

Fulton Sheen picks up this beautiful aspect, to present a secular, rational and a logical reasoning to see the Truth in the Holy Catholic Church.

 

We quote him here….

 

“If I were not a Catholic, and were looking for the true Church in the world today, I would look for the one Church which did not get along well with the world; 

in other words, I would look for the Church which the world hated.

My reason for doing this would be, that if Christ is in any one of the churches of the world today, He must still be hated as He was when He was on earth in the flesh.

 

If you would find Christ today, then find the Church that does not get along with the world!

 

>> Look for the Church…

… that is hated by the world as Christ was hated by the world!

… that is accused of being behind the times, as our Lord was accused of being ignorant and never having learned.

… which men sneer at as socially inferior, as they sneered at Our Lord because He came from Nazareth.

… which is accused of having a devil, as Our Lord was accused of being possessed by Beelzebub, the Prince of Devils.

… which, in seasons of bigotry, men say must be destroyed in the name of God as men crucified Christ and thought they had done a service to God.

… which the world rejects because it claims it is infallible, as Pilate rejected Christ because He called Himself the Truth.

… which is rejected by the world as Our Lord was rejected by men.

… which amid the confusions of conflicting opinions, its members love as they love Christ, and respect its Voice as the very voice of its Founder, and the suspicion will grow, that if the Church is unpopular with the spirit of the world, then it is unworldly, and if it is unworldly it is other worldly. since it is other-worldly, it is infinitely loved and infinitely hated as was Christ Himself.

 

But only that which is Divine can be infinitely hated and infinitely loved.

>> Therefore the Church is Divine.”

 
Our own lives sometimes becomes an object of hate when we stand for Christ, the Truth

 

> The more we tend towards being Divine… 

… the greater is the opposition we face.

 

> The more we tend towards being Spiritual…

… the higher is the shame we encounter.

 

Jesus, is the same, yesterday today and forever

 

As His true followers, we too will have to undergo agony, pain, humiliation and even suffering….

>> Let us be firm in His grace and stand bold, facing the challenges to our faith

>> Let us grow in our love and commitment to the Holy Church and share in Her suffering.

 

 

God Bless! Live Jesus!

Apr 5 (Jn 8:31-42)

There is a simple fable, perhaps known to many of us… of a swan…. 

The swan – white, beautiful and spotless – was pitying a poor pig, who was in its muddy environment.

>> It began to describe to the pig, that further up the river, there was a beautiful country – with green banks and rising slopes.

 
The swan invited the pig to join the happy company of the white swans that lived in that “pleasant country”.

 

The pig was pretty fascinated and was willing to go.

>> But it asked a question: ” Is there any marshy swamp in that pleasant country?”

 

“Oh no!” replied the swan, “the land is free from all mud and mire”

 

“Ah Hmm…” said the pig with face cast-down, “In that case, I am sorry, I cannot accompany you!

I must stay here in the swamp!”

 

 

An invitation to move from the dirty swamp to a pleasant country was extended…

… but the offer was refused and rejected!

 

 

So true is this fable, with respect to our own experience in spiritual life.

 

>> We are constantly exhorted, to advance to live in holiness and purity…

… but we stubbornly choose to inhabit in sin, shame and ignorance!

 

>> We are often invited, to move into a life of spotlessness and sanctity..

… but we remain satisfied to dwell with the unclean and dirty things of life!

 

 

The Gospel of the Day is a continuation of the Jews getting into arguments with Jesus on the question of His Divinity.

 

>> The Lord invites them open their eyes to see and experience the Truth…

… but they close their minds, and choose to remain stubborn, in their own understanding

 

>> The Lord exposes before them the futility of being ignorant and the advantage of knowing the Truth…

… but they wilfully choose to remain stuck in their past knowledge and be unwilling to open their hearts to possibilities of change.

 

 

Jesus, the Truth-Incarnate, declares:

” You will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free” (Jn 8: 31)

 

But the people retorted and answered: “… we have never been enslaved…” (Jn 8: 33)

 

They considered slavery from only a physical perspective!

>> They were extremely offended when Jesus considered them to be slaves!

 

But Jesus brings the focus into right perspective (as he does always!), and speaks of a deadlier form of slavery and a higher form of freedom…

>> A slavery to Sin…

… that causes one to be away from God and His people

 

>> A slavery to ignorance and error…

… that causes one to be closed to God’s Word and prevent His transformation to take place within

 
He invites to receive Freedom in Him…

… that enjoins with knowing and doing the Father’s Will

… that liberates one from the bondages of death, and leads into peace and joy!

 

 

The danger to remain stagnant in sinful or ignorant ways constantly lurks in our life:

>> The Truth of the Bible is often presented to us in appealing and interesting formats…

… but we often seek to remain ignorant or don’t show any interest to read and understand God’s Word

 

>> The beauty of the Sacramental Life and the Teachings of the Church is laid before our eyes…

… but we time and again, tend to be lethargic, casual and sometimes even, hostile to them

 

>> Our eyes often come into contact with the suffering lot of people, in and around us…

… but many times, we turn a blind eye to them and remain indifferent in our cosy lifestyle

 

 

Each of us needs a purification…

>> Each of us needs a movement…

 

 A purification from our stubborn ways to a life of obedience and docility to God’s Word

>> A movement from a sluggish life of faith to being a fervent and committed Christian

 

 

Yes, Jesus is constantly extending His Nail-Scarred Hands to lead us to the “pleasant country” of holiness and sanctity.

>> Let us not deny his invitation and say:

 “Ah Hmm…! I am sorry, I cannot accompany You!

I must stay here in the swamp!”

 

Instead, let us make a self-examination of our state of life…

… realise the need to have a purification and a movement…

… and embrace and live with Jesus, the Truth, “Who sets us free”!

 
God Bless! Live Jesus!

Apr 4 (Jn 8:21-30)

Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one’s own death.

 

Though it has many and wide range of reasons and factors, the cause is frequently attributed to mental disorders such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, borderline personality disorder, alcoholism, or drug abuse.

>> Stress factors such as financial difficulties or troubles with interpersonal relationships also often play a key role.

 

In this fast-paced world, where indifference has grown in a humongous manner, suicide is certainly one great tendency and trend.

 

This suicide is, mainly, of the physical order.

 

• How many of us have, however, thought of the threat of suicide occurring, even with respect to our spiritual life?

• How many of us, have considered, that there is a danger of suicide happening, even with respect to our life of faith?

 
The Gospel of the Day is a warning to be aware of the danger of “suicide” from a spiritual angle, that can occur in the soul of each person.

 

Jesus continues His revelation to the people, of He, being the ambassador of God, His Father.

 

He tells the people that “I am going away and you will look for me, but you will die in your sin” (Jn 8: 21)

 

The Lord refers to “dying in one’s sin”

 

This aspect of “dying in one’s sin”, which would be equivalent to a person committing suicide in the spiritual sense, could consist of various ways:

 

1. A person dangers oneself to “suicide” in the spiritual sense, when one is too self-righteous – an attitude of “I know everything – even more than God!”

 

When Jesus told that He is going away, the Jews said, “He is not going to kill Himself, is He, because He said, “Where I am going, you cannot come?” (Jn 8:22)

 

The Jews failed to understand the words of the Lord, because they were filled with pride of their knowledge, and considered themselves to know everything.

 

They were filled with a certain obstinacy in being open to the words of the Lord, and failed to see that there could be also other possibilities of looking at the words of Jesus.

 
2. A person risks the danger of “suicide” with respect to one’s faith, when one fails to set one’s eyes heavenward, and instead gets fixated with earthly things.

 

Jesus said to the Jews, ” You belong to what is below. I belong to what is above. You belong to this world, but I do not belong to this world” (Jn 8: 23)

 

The Jews had their thoughts and deeds centred only on the things of this world and failed to transcend their minds heavenward.

They were filled with a certain worldliness that made their concerns to be limited.

 

They were unable to understand the heavenly realities that the Lord presented before them, and even shut their eyes to make an attempt to understand them

 

3. A person exposes oneself to the perils of “suicide” from the spiritual point of view, when one is wilfully ignorant of the Truth.

 

Though Jesus had spoken much, performed much, the Jews still ask Him,” Who are you?”. Jesus then said to them, “What I told you from the beginning” (Jn 8: 25)

 

The Jews had great many opportunities to discover faith in the Lord, as He had exposed them to many great wonders, taught several teachings and performed many deeds to show His divinity.

 

Though, they were learned in their scripture and laws, they failed to recognise the Source of the Scripture and the Giver of the Law.

• Their minds were adamantly closed to the Reality.

• Their hearts were purposely shut to the Truth.

 

 

 

The Lord moaned that these Jews were risking the danger of “committing suicide” spiritually… of “dying in one’s sins”.

 

This warning is addressed to us also….

• Am I exposing myself to the risk of “losing my life, in sin”?

• Am I endangering myself to the peril of “forfeiting my soul, in sin?”

 

Let us be wary of these menaces…

… to be adamantly self-righteous and being proud with ouw own knowledge and failing to trust in the mighty wisdom and power of the Lord.

… to be engrossed only in the affairs of this world and failing to raise our hearts to “seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness”.

… to be obstinately closed in spirit, to the promptings of the Lord through various inspirations and failing to see the hand of God in the wonders that occur in our lives.
 

God Bless! Live Jesus!

Apr 3 (Jn 8:1-11)

A small boy had done something wrong.

>> Unfortunately for him, he got caught up by his elder brother.
Caught red-handed, the little boy found himself, in the midst of a room full of elders…

… stern and hard-looking – waiting to scold him!
(The elders wanted the boy to understand the seriousness of his offence) 

The boy looked at each one – with a sense of remorse and guilt -and a tear-stained face.
Seeing no sign of any of the elders relenting, the little boy burst into tears and asked: 

>> “Oh, won’t somebody forgive me?”

Forgiveness is a treasure, that is sought after by many people in our world today

>> So many are broken… so many are hurt… so many are guilty
Maybe…

… they have committed mistakes, knowingly

… they have fallen into wrongs, without being aware

… they got trapped into situations of errors and faults
But each of them… asks us a question:

>> “Oh, won’t somebody forgive me?”
 

The Gospel of the Day is a beautiful testimony of a person who…

… found herself at the lowest ebbs of her life

… when everybody seemed to reject her

… and all seemed over and out!

 

Yet…

… was able to receive acceptance and forgiveness 

… found herself to be called to renew her life

… and be given a chance, to live life anew!
All by the grace and power of the Lord, who intervened, and instilled a new hope and zeal in her…

… giving her an answer to the question: “Oh, won’t somebody forgive me?”
 

The incident in focus is the ‘infamous’ occurrence of the woman who was “caught” in adultery.
This is the story…

… of a tragic failure in life.

… of immense shame in life.

… of generous grace in life.

 

There are so many things to be pondered and reflected on, through this incident…

 

 

>> Think of the “mean” and “disgraceful” attitude of the people who “caught” this woman “in the act” (Jn 8:3)

… Were they fitted with “special probing and lusty” eyes, that devilishly gazed into “intimate exchanges”, that too on an early morning?

 

>> Think of the “self-appointed” role of these “moralists” who sought to restore the innocence of the land, without realising that, perhaps, their own eyes were filled with lust, their hearts drenched in obscenity and their lives soaked in vulgarity.

… How was it that their “clean” consciences and “true” intentions caught hold of only the woman, “caught in the act”, whereas, the man involved, was left, scot-free?

 

>> Think of the “deadly” trap that they were laying before the Lord, in seeking to find his opinion on the accused woman

… How neatly they had trapped the Lord in a “most vicious” dilemma:

~~ If the Lord permitted death, it would be going against the Law of the land – of the Romans – since only the Romans were permitted to take the life of a person

~~ If the Lord did not allow to stone, He would be going against the Law of the Lord, which had ordered the stoning of the convicted adulterer to death.

 

>> If the Lord permitted killing, He would be going against His own teaching of mercy, and His fundamental mission of “coming to seek and save the lost”

>> If the Lord forgave her, He would be going against the principle of Justice, and that would be infringing the rights and duties of a Just God.

 

It was a near-perfect scene, for the religious leaders to dreadfully trap the Lord.

The woman had been caught “in the act” of adultery…

>> Jesus was now to be trapped “in the act” of breaking the Law…

 

The woman had been shamefully paraded and stripped of all her dignity…

>> Jesus was now to be gloriously humiliated and disrobed of His glory and majesty…

 

But all these were “mere” human thinking and wile wishes…

>> The wisdom of God is much greater than all human craftiness and cunningness

>> The mercy of the Lord extends much beyond all human wickedness and maliciousness.

 

In their wickedness, they failed to see, that they were testing the law with the Law-Giver Himself!

 

And so, the Benevolent Law-giver, bent down, and wrote with His finger…(Jn 8:6)

… just as He had, centuries back, written the Law on the tablet and given to Moses: “… tablets that were made by God, having inscriptions on them that were engraved by God Himself” (Ex 32:16)

 

 

>> He wrote, not a new law…

… but He wrote to make the law perfectly understood..
>> He wrote, not a new commandment…

… but He wrote to make understand the true spirit of the commandment…

“Let the one who is without sin, be the first to throw a stone at her” (Jn 8:7)

 
This statement shattered all those accusers who heard it!

 

>> Those who came to cast the stone had themselves stoned brutally, by the guilt of their sin!

>> Those who came to enjoy parading the nakedness of the woman, themselves were stripped naked, by their sin and shame!

 

Justice had triumphed!

>> Mercy had excelled!

>>> Love had won!

 

All had left, save the one accused and the One who was Love and Compassion!

>> The one accused, stood in fear and trembling before the One who recreates and renews!

 

 

And so she was given another chance… 

… to realise the mistakes of her life

… to amend her life

… and to start anew!

 
Life may very often reduce us also to the same state as this one who was accused.

We may find ourselves crushed….broken…accused… abandoned…shamed!

>> But the Lord, still gives us a chance….

 

Whenever we find ourselves lost, abandoned, broken, helpless…

… And ask the question: “Oh, won’t somebody forgive me?”
>> Jesus answers: ” I forgive you, My Child!”

Let us fall at the feet of our Compassionate and Merciful Saviour…

… and hearing Him telling us:

“Neither do I condemn you! Go, from now on… sin no more!

I forgive you, My Child!”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

Apr 2 (Jn 11:1-45)

An incident is narrated of a 6 year old boy, who was diagnosed with leukemia (cancer of the blood/bone-marrow).

One day, the child had to undergo a very painful procedure called “spinal tap”.

(‘Spinal Tap’ is a procedure in which a needle is inserted into the spinal cord in order to take out fluid for the purpose of diagnosis or treatment).

The mother, knowing that her child would have to undergo a lot of pain, approached him and told:

“Remember, if it hurts, it’s because you are loved, and there is purpose for the pain!”
The child remembered this sentence and took it to heart.

As the procedure was conducted, the child yelled and sobbed and cried…

… with the horrendous pain.
When the process was finally getting through, the child, with tears in his reddish eyes, looked up to the doctor and exclaimed: 

“Thank you Doctor for the pain! 

I know there is a purpose!

I know I am loved!”

( The incident goes on to say, that the child survived the painful illness and went on to live a normal life!)

Well, life often takes us through “painful procedures” right?
In all such situations, our Christian faith reminds us: 

“Remember, if it hurts, it’s because you are loved, and there is purpose for the pain!”

The Gospel of the Day – the raising of Lazarus – is a powerful teaching on this dimension of how we need to put our trust in the Lord…

… and realise, that there is a purpose that God has in store for us, even in the most painful situations of our life. 

The narration of the raising of Lazarus is the longest single narrative/story in the entire Gospels (Jn 11: 1-45). 

Long as it is, this incident also teaches us a number of essential lessons for life…

1. The Providence of God, that answers, even when we do not “feel” His presence around us (Jn 11: 4-6)

>> “So when Jesus heard, that Lazarus was ill, He remained for two days in the place where He was” (Jn 11: 6)
Thus teaching us…

… we need to depend on the Lord at all times, even in our dark moments of life

… the Lord will never abandon us and in fact, can never leave us
2. The slow understanding of the Disciples, who were with the Lord for a while, and yet had not understood His Ways and Words (Jn 11: 8-16)

>> “Master, if he is asleep, he will be saved” (Jn 11: 12)
Thus teaching us…

… doubts and dilemmas are very much part of one’s life as a disciple

… the patience of the Lord in dealing with those who are called and chosen
3. The power of trust and hope in the Lord , even in hard and trying situations of life (Jn 11: 21-27)

>> Martha said to Jesus, ‘Yes Lord, I have come to believe, that You are the Messiah, the Son of God…” (Jn 11: 27)
Thus teaching us…

… as gold is tested in furnace, so our faith will be tested in the crucible of pains and sufferings

… we need to resign ourselves to the Power of the Lord, even though we may not understand many things
4. The empathy of the Lord in sharing with the pain of humanity (Jn 11: 35)

>> “And Jesus wept” (Jn 11: 35)
Thus teaching us…

… in our suffering moments, the Lord is very much close to us, and suffers with us

… our tears are precious to the Lord and He stores them in a bottle (Ps 56:9)
5. The power of God’s Word (Jn 11: 43-44)

>> “Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out!'” (Jn 11: 43)
Thus teaching us…

… the Word Which created the entire universe, is given to us in the Holy Bible, for us to read, cherish and find strength!

… the promises given by His Word will come to fruition in due season and no powers on this earth can diffuse or dilute it!

In the midst of all these and various other “food for transformation” that this incident offers…

… we focus our attention on one message: “God’s delays are not His denials”
Yes, God’s delays are, certainly, not His denials!

One of the striking aspects we encounter in this Gospel passage is the delay that Jesus “purposely” entails in coming to Lazarus. 
The Gospel says that “… when Jesus heard that Lazarus was ill, he remained for two days in the place where he was.” (Jn 11: 6)

This statement is on one side surprising; while on the other, shocking!
It was clearly known that Jesus was closely associated with Lazarus. 
“A friend in need, is a friend indeed” is a phrase that we are aware. 

>> Then why did Jesus delay in going to Lazarus?

As the Lord Himself answers: “This illness is not to end in death, but is for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” (Jn 11: 4)
This verse then is the key to many of our problems and anxieties about “prayers not being answered!”
>> How many are the times, when we go through the struggles of life, and we expect the Lord to work a wondrous deed…

… But when nothing as such happens, we become feeble in our faith!
>> How many are the occasions, when we face a problem in our material or spiritual life, and we hope that something terrific is going to happen…

… But when the situation remains the same, we begin to waver in our belief!

This is where the words of the Lord, “this illness is not to end in death, but is for the glory of God”…

… ought to come to our aid!

We need to examine our life…

… Am I only having “belief in the Lord”, but not having “trust in Him”?

… Am I only “professing the Lord with my lips”, but failing to “recognize His power from my heart”?
>> “Belief in the Lord” would only consist of declaring oneself to be a Christian, and having a name that one is a follower of Christ…

… But “Trust in the Lord” would translate to also follow the commandments of being a Christian, and seek to live as Christ lived, by seeking and doing God’s Will in life.
>> “Professing the Lord with my lips” would only include saying vocal prayers, being regular to the practices of devotion and piety and finding satisfaction in doing the external duties of the religion…

… But “Recognizing His Power from the heart” would mean to also remain calm in the face of problems, being patient even in great darkness and being joyful in the midst of turbulent life situations. 

As Christians, the only way is the “Way of the Cross”

… a way filled with pains and sufferings

… a way that enshrines hardships and struggles
But, we must also realise, that it is this “way of the Cross” alone…

… that would lead to the “joy of the Resurrection!”

All our “unwanted” situations of life – pains, struggles, difficulties, crisis – have a meaning and purpose in the eternal plan of God… 

>> “… all things work for good, for those who love God…” (Rom 8:28)

>> “… I know well that plans for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare, not for woe..” (Jer 29:11)

Yes, in all our struggles and hardships of life, let us seek…

… to move higher in our faith and belief towards a real “trust in the Lord”

… to advance from just “professing the Lord with my lips” to “recognizing His power from our hearts!”
And thus, in every situation of life let us with hope and trust exclaim:

“Thank you Lord for the pain! 

I know there is a purpose!

I know I am loved!”

God Bless! Live Jesus!