(MAY we WITH MAMMA MARY live in holiness)
MAY 1️⃣7️⃣ – Mary, Mystical Rose
💭 To Reflect
Mary, mystically dwelling in heaven with her Beloved Son, is the beautiful Rose whose fragrance of love and holiness, can inspire every soul with joy and hope!
✅ To Practise
Spread the fragrance of God’s Love & Joy
🙏🏻To Pray
Mamma Mary, intercede for me, that I may practise the virtues of love and hope, and share the fragrance of God’s Love to all, Amen!
“Seeking to be united with the Lord, the Light, so as to enjoy an uninterrupted and continual supply of the power of joy, peace and happiness in our lives!”
(Based on Acts 15:1-6 and Jn 15:1-8 – Wednesday of the 5th Week in Easter)
The Time Magazine in its issue dated 19th November, 1965, reported of a major electricity breakdown along the US-Canada border.
This was called as the Northeast Blackout of 1965.
The impact of the breakdown was so great that it affected people in nearly 80, 000 sq. miles along the border!
The whole area was submerged in deep darkness.
The cause of the failure was the tripping of a protective relay, or a fuse, which was just the size of a bread box!
The safety relay, which was to trip if the current exceeded the capacity of the transmission line, was set too low.
A failure in the single fuse, of such a tiny size was able to cause the breakdown of an entire power grid of such a huge magnitude!
A tiny failure in the connections caused a mighty collapse!
A minor malfunction in the grid caused a major disintegration!
It is therefore highly essential that the most basics aspects of life, however small or tiny they may appear, be given the proper and appropriate attention.
Such is the case too, in our spiritual lives…
If the connection with the Lord, the Fuse of our life trips, our whole life will be in darkness!
If the link with the Lord, the Safety Relay of our life overloads, our whole life will collapse into obscurity!
The Gospel of the Day invites us to continually nurture and nourish our relationship with the Lord and to reflect the fruits of this affiliation in our daily lives.
Jesus says that, “I am the vine, and you are the branches. Whoever remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit, because without me, you can do nothing” (Jn 15: 5)
These are highly powerful words of the Divine Lord…”WITHOUT ME, YOU CAN DO NOTHING!”
There are a few implications of these powerful words….
St Paul realized the deep understanding of this message of hope and could cry out, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Phil 4:13)
We can place our hope in the Lord…
… even when all seems lost and crashed in life
… even when things hit rock bottom in our life
The Prodigal Son realized the depth of such a break of relationship, when he had gone away from his father, and found himself in dire needs.
He would therefore say, “I shall get up and go to my Father and I shall say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you…’ (Lk 15: 18)
We are warned by the Lord…
… in every moment, we need to be dependent on the Lord
… in every situation of life, we cannot achieve true success by our own merits and talents
Sometimes in life, when things go on well and when everything seems fine, we tend to forget that it is the Lord, who is ultimately leading and guiding us.
We get into a feeling that it is my achievements and hard work alone, that is the cause of every success and smile that I enjoy.
But once in a way, when darkness engulfs our lives, maybe by way of…
… a sickness or a death…
… a financial difficulty or uncertainty of the future…
… crisis in relationships or breakage of human bonding
… or any other problem or difficulty…
We realize that there is a tripping in our relationship with the Lord, the Fuse of our life!
Unless we stay connected to this Mighty Fuse, our lives will stay in gloom and shadow
When we are connected with the Lord, even in the midst of any crisis, the supply of inner joy and peace will always remain constant!
When we are in link with the Lord, even with problems encompassing us, the streaming of Divine calm and happiness, will always remain uninterrupted!
As St John of the Cross says, “Oh, how happy is this soul that is ever conscious of God resting and reposing within its breast!”
The early Christian community gives us a beautiful example of coming together in the name of the Lord in order to resolve a crisis (Acts 15:1ff)
They realised that every human problem has its solution and consolation in the Lord!
Let us always seek to be united with the Lord, the Light, so as to enjoy an uninterrupted and continual supply of the power of joy, peace and happiness in our lives!
God Bless! Live Jesus!
Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
CELEBRATING THE CHURCH’S LITURGY – Who celebrates?
Liturgy is an “action” of the whole Christ (Christus totus).
Those who even now celebrate it without signs are already in the heavenly liturgy, where celebration is wholly communion and feast.
The book of Revelation of St. John, read in the Church’s liturgy, first reveals to us, “A throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne”: “the Lord God.”
It then shows the Lamb, “standing, as though it had been slain”: Christ crucified and risen, the one high priest of the true sanctuary, the same one “who offers and is offered, who gives and is given.”
Finally it presents “the river of the water of life… flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb,” one of most beautiful symbols of the Holy Spirit.
“Recapitulated in Christ,” these are the ones who take part in the service of the praise of God and the fulfilment of his plan: the heavenly powers, all creation (the four living beings), the servants of the Old and New Covenants (the twenty-four elders), the new People of God (the one hundred and forty-four thousand)…
… especially the martyrs “slain for the word of God”
… and the all-holy Mother of God (the Woman), the Bride of the Lamb
… and finally “a great multitude which no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes, and peoples and tongues. (CCC #1137-1138)
(MAY we WITH MAMMA MARY live in holiness)
MAY 1️⃣6️⃣ – Mary, Ark of the Covenant
💭 To Reflect
Mary, as the new Ark of the Covenant, bore in her womb, Jesus the Bread of Life, Jesus the Word of God and Jesus, the High Priest.
✅ To Practise
Be a bearer of God’s Word!
🙏🏻To Pray
Mamma Mary, intercede for me, that I may share in the priesthood of Christ, by drawing strength from the Eucharist, and sharing His Word to others, Amen!
“Not allowing the ‘burglar of anxiety and trouble’ to steal away our peace and joy in life!”
(Based on Acts 14:19-28 and Jn 14:27-31a – Tuesday of the 5th Week in Easter)
For several years, a woman had been having trouble getting to sleep at night.
The reason was that she feared burglars (thieves).
One night her husband heard a noise in the house, so he went downstairs to investigate.
When he got there, he did find a burglar.
“Good evening,” said the man of the house. “I am pleased to see you.
Come upstairs and meet my wife. She has been waiting 10 years to meet you.”
“Anticipating troubles” is one of the greatest troubles that is faced by people!
It is said that “If pleasures are the greatest in anticipation, just remember that this is also true of trouble.”
The Gospel of the Day presents Jesus warning us of this danger of increased anxiety levels and troubled moments and instead invites to lead a life of peace.
Jesus says in Jn 14:27 “Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid”
The context of this statement of Jesus is the discourse at the Last Supper.
Jesus informs of his imminent going away from the disciples, which made them sad and anxious.
They had placed their hopes in Him.
They had offered their lives to Him.
But His announcement of departure caused worry and anxiety to the disciples.
Jesus, Who knows their hearts and gauges their emotions, however, assures them, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives, do I give it to you” (Jn 14:27)
The disciples entered into an anxiety-mode as their hearts got wearied with what was to come immediately.
But Jesus invites them to go beyond such peripheral worries, and be assured of a peace that comes as a result of trusting in Him, the Lord of all future!
When one is imprisoned in the immediate worries of life…
… one fails to enjoy the true freedom of peace and joy
When one is landlocked amidst the borders of impending fears and troubles of life…
… one is unable to move out to experience real inner tranquillity and serenity
Are we finding ourselves often in situations, when our “hearts are troubled” (Jn 14:27b) and as a result, “troubled to the point of losing sleep?”
Jesus, the Master Doctor of hearts, is ready with remedies…
He would give us the tablet of His peace which would subside our fears
He would give us the tonic of His soothing Word which would calm our troubles
Troubles will, without any doubt, always haunt us…
Problems will, for sure, often beset us…
But we need to grow in our understanding that in all this, Jesus, is in perfect control of our lives.
It was this deep faith that motivated the early Church to give powerful witness to the Resurrected Lord.
Despite their persecutions and hardships, they remained faithful to the Mission of the Kingdom and encouraged one another
“… When Paul and Barnabas had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.
… And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting, they committed them to the Lord in whom they believed!” (Acts 14:21-23)
Let not the “burglar of anxiety and trouble” steal away our peace and joy in life!
Instead, May Jesus, the Master of our hearts, take complete charge of our lives
In Him, we shall experience fervent joy.
In Him, we shall live with true peace.
God Bless! Live Jesus!
📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
THE SACRAMENTS OF ETERNAL LIFE
The Church celebrates the mystery of her Lord “until he comes,” when God will be “everything to everyone.”
Since the apostolic age the liturgy has been drawn toward its goal by the Spirit’s groaning in the Church: Maranatha!
The liturgy thus shares in Jesus’ desire: “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you . . . until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”
In the sacraments of Christ the Church already receives the guarantee of her inheritance and even now shares in everlasting life, while “awaiting our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour Christ Jesus.”
The “Spirit and the Bride say, ‘Come . . . Come, Lord Jesus!”
St. Thomas sums up the various aspects of sacramental signs: “Therefore a sacrament is a sign that commemorates what precedes it – Christ’s Passion; demonstrates what is accomplished in us through Christ’s Passion – grace; and prefigures what that Passion pledges to us – future glory. (CCC # 1130)
(MAY we WITH MAMMA MARY live in holiness)
MAY 1️⃣5️⃣ – Mary, Singular Vessel of Devotion
💭 To Reflect
Mary, with a singular mind and total focus on doing God’s Will, is the singular vessel of devotion – passionately and courageously doing what God wanted in her life!
✅ To Practise
Be totally devoted to doing what God wants in life!
🙏🏻To Pray
Mamma Mary, intercede for me, that I may not be distracted or deviated; rather be totally focused on fulfilling God’s Plan in my life, Amen!
“God is knocking at our doors, seeking a home for His Son – Shall we open the doors to Him?”
(Based on Acts 14:5-18 and Jn 14:21-26 – Monday of the 5th Week in Easter)
God knocks at my door, seeking a home for His son.
“Rent is cheap”, I say.
“I don’t want to rent. I want to buy”, says God.
“I’m not sure I want to sell, but you might come in to look around”.
“I think I will”, says God
“I might let you have a room or two”.
“I like it”, says God, “I’ll take the two. You might decide to give me more some day.
I can wait”, says God
“I’d like to give you more, but it’s a bit difficult. I need some space for me”.
“I know”, says God, “but I’ll wait. I like what I see”.
“I’d like to give you the whole house, but I’m not sure”
“Think on it”, says God. “I wouldn’t put you out.
Your house would be mine and My Son would live in it.
You’d have more space than you’d ever had before”.
“I don’t understand at all”.
“I know”, says God, “but I can’t tell you about that.
You’ll have to discover it for yourself.
That can only happen if you let me have the whole house”.
“A bit risky”, I say.
“Yes”, says God, “but try me”.
“I’m not sure – I’ll let you know”
“I can wait”, says God, “I like what I see”.
It shows the beautiful dialogue between a soul and God, who desires to dwell in the heart of a person…
The Gospel of the Day presents Jesus throwing light on this beautiful theme of God wishing to make a home in our hearts: “Those who love me, will keep my word, and My Father will love them and we will come and make our home with them” (Jn 14: 23)
The story of the Bible is a God who longs to dwell with His people.
In the Old Testament, we see the Garden of Eden was a beautiful communion of the first parents with God.
The atmosphere was so much homely… so much loving
Sin caused a rupture in this homely bonding between God and human beings.
But the Lord, still longed to dwell with His people…
He accompanied the Israelites in their journey through the desert… being with them as a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.
He also established His glory among the people of Israel by dwelling in the ark of the covenant.
Every now and then, the people sinned and lost this presence of the Lord
Through the prophets, the Lord would invite the people to come back to His homely presence.
Finally, in the fullness of time, God decided to dwell with humans, when the Eternal Word became flesh…
Jn 1:14, “And the word became flesh and dwelt among us”
To perpetuate His continual presence, Jesus also gave us His Body and Blood, in Real Presence, when He instituted the Holy Eucharist at the Last Supper with the culmination of His Sacrifice on the Cross, and His rising from the dead.
This then, is the story of the longing of a God who yearns to dwell with His people.
Jesus re-iterates this constant longing of the Lord, by promising, “Those who love me, will keep my word, and My Father will love them and we will come and make our home with them” (Jn 14: 23)
The Lord wishes to dwell more close to us..
He longs to have a home in our hearts…
Do we make the space for Him?
The Lord promises to come and make His home in our hearts, if we love Him and keep His Word.
Loving Him requires giving Him the highest priority and precedence in our lives
Keeping His Word requires following His teachings and commandments at all times.
Loving Him means to constantly long for Him and to have our thoughts centered on Him
Keeping His Word means to make decisions and choices based on His Gospel virtues
Loving Him means to free our hearts from undue and inordinate attachments
Keeping His Word means to go against our personal choices to preserve His Will and plans
The Acts of the Apostles gives us the account of Paul and Barnabas giving a powerful witness in Lystra…
… and demonstrating the Power of the Lord, Who was given the highest priority in their life! (Acts 14:5-18)
The Lord wants a space in our hearts, to dwell in us…
Maybe, some rooms of our heart has been rented to many unwanted habits…
Maybe, some areas of our lives are occupied by unfit tenants of sin and evil…
Maybe, some quarters of our mind are accommodated with unholy and bad thoughts…
God is knocking at our doors, seeking a home for His Son…
We might feel it’s “a bit risky”…
“Yes”, says God, “but try me… I can wait…
I like what I see!”
God Bless! Live Jesus!
Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
THE SACRAMENTS OF SALVATION
Celebrated worthily in faith, the sacraments confer the grace that they signify.
They are efficacious because in them Christ himself is at work: it is he who baptizes, he who acts in his sacraments in order to communicate the grace that each sacrament signifies.
The Father always hears the prayer of his Son’s Church which, in the epiclesis of each sacrament, expresses her faith in the power of the Spirit.
As fire transforms into itself everything it touches, so the Holy Spirit transforms into the divine life whatever is subjected to his power.
This is the meaning of the Church’s affirmation that the sacraments act ex opere operato (literally: “by the very fact of the action’s being performed”), i.e., by virtue of the saving work of Christ, accomplished once for all.
It follows that “the sacrament is not wrought by the righteousness of either the celebrant or the recipient, but by the power of God.”
From the moment that a sacrament is celebrated in accordance with the intention of the Church, the power of Christ and his Spirit acts in and through it, independently of the personal holiness of the minister.
Nevertheless, the fruits of the sacraments also depend on the disposition of the one who receives them.
The Church affirms that for believers the sacraments of the New Covenant are necessary for salvation.
“Sacramental grace” is the grace of the Holy Spirit, given by Christ and proper to each sacrament. the Spirit heals and transforms those who receive him by conforming them to the Son of God.
The fruit of the sacramental life is that the Spirit of adoption makes the faithful partakers in the divine nature by uniting them in a living union with the only Son, the Saviour. (CCC #1127-1129)
(MAY we WITH MAMMA MARY live in holiness)
MAY 1️⃣4️⃣ – Mary, Spiritual Vessel
💭 To Reflect
Mary, by accepting the Word of God, becomes the spiritual vessel of God’s Love and Mercy.
✅ To Practise
Be a holy instrument in the Hand of God!
🙏🏻To Pray
Mamma Mary, intercede for me, that I may remain ever open and attentive to God’s Word, and truly become a spiritual vessel, Amen!
“Being filled from the fountain of God’s Love, and sharing His joy and peace to a world that is broken and seeks for consolation, comfort and calm!”
(Based on Acts 14:21-27, Rev 21:1-5 and Jn 13:31-35 – 5th Sunday in easter, Cycle C)
Mr George Crane was a popular newspaper columnist, psychologist and physician in the United States.
He speaks of an experience of a wife who came into his office, full of hatred toward her husband.
Seeking a divorce, the woman blurted out to Dr Crane, “I do not only want to get rid of him, I want to get even. Before I divorce him, I want to hurt him as much as he has caused pain to me.”
Dr. Crane suggested a clever plan “Go home and do this…
Act as if you really love your husband.
Pretend and tell him how much he means to you.
Go out of your way to be as kind, considerate, and generous as possible.
Spare no efforts to please him, to enjoy him. Make him believe you love him!
And, after you’ve convinced him of your undying love and that you cannot live without him, then drop the bombshell!
Tell him that you are getting a divorce.
That will really hurt him!
Hurt him to the core!”
With revenge in her eyes, she smiled and exclaimed, “Wonderful indeed! That is a superb way of settling scores with the one who hurt me the most!”
So off she went, doing what was told, with enthusiasm, acting “as if”
She showed love, kindness, listening, giving, reinforcing, sharing…
After two months, when she didn’t return, Dr Crane called. “So, are you ready now to go through with the divorce?”
“Divorce?” she exclaimed. “Never! I discovered I really do love him.”
Her actions had changed her feelings.
Her “affectionate” motions done with revenge, resulted in “loving” emotions with sincerity!
Her “acting” in actuality helped her to rediscover her lost love.
That’s the power of love!
Love is the best medicine for any sickness which cripples human life!
And the reason for this amazing power of love is simple:
True Love flows from the heart of the One who is Love… God!
Genuine Love gushes forth from the fount of the One who is Love Incarnate… Jesus!
The Gospel of the Day is the wonderful exhortation of Jesus to His followers with the “Great Commandment of Love”
Jesus says in today’s Gospel:
“A new commandment I give you, that You love one another, even as I have loved you” (Jn 13:34)
It is interesting to note that what Jesus gives is a COMMANDMENT…
… it was not a suggestion
… it was not a piece of advice
… it was not an ordinary recommendation
It was a Commandment!
TO LOVE, is a COMMAND!
Every follower of Christ…
…is expected …
… is bound …
… and is under obligation …
.. TO LOVE… as JESUS LOVED!
We could take a clue on understanding some dimensions of “how to love, the way Jesus loved”, by taking recourse to the 15th Chapter of St John
Jesus speaks of three dimensions of love in this Gospel passage (Jn 15)
Jesus remained in the love of the Father, by doing His commandments.
And he enjoins the same principle of Obedient Love to His disciples too.
The one who loves, also obeys…
The one who loves, also follows the commands…
Do I have a love that is obedient…?
… happy to undertake the various duties and responsibilities entrusted to me and fulfilling them to the best of my capabilities.
Jesus showed the depth of His love by undertaking the highest sacrifice of His own life.
And he enjoins the same principle of Sacrificial Love to His disciples too.
The one who loves, also offers and foregoes some luxuries and securities…
The one who loves, also gives up many of the comforts and personal desires…
Do I have a love that is sacrificial?
… willing to lay down one’s bias and prejudices, dying to one’s evil inclinations, putting to sword one’s bad habits that takes away from God and making adjustments of one’s self-desires to make way for God’s plans in life.
Jesus says, “… I chose and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain… ” (Jn 15: 16)
Jesus showed the quality of His love by displaying the fruits of compassion, tender mercy, an accommodating heart, gentleness and generosity.
And he enjoins the same principle of fruitful love to His disciples too.
The one who loves, also bears fruits of patience, kindness, self-control and faithfulness…
The one who loves, also lives a life that radiates the fruits of joy, generosity and peace…
Do I have a love that is fruitful?
… bearing fruits that witness God’s love by promoting unity and harmony and attracting many to the tender mercy of the Lord by a live of passion and zeal.
The Lord has loved us tremendously… with a love that is obedient, sacrificial and fruitful.
Each of us is to possess this same treasure of love.
Love binds every brokenness…
Love joins every divorced situation…
Love unites every ruptured circumstance…
May the Lord enable us to be filled from His fountain of love and share His joy and peace to a world that is broken and seeks for consolation, comfort and calm…
… and thus help us to share in His Dwelling place “where every tear will be wiped away and there will be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain…” (Rev 21: 4)
God Bless! Live Jesus!
Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
THE SACRAMENTS OF FAITH
No sacramental rite may be modified or manipulated at the will of the minister or the community.
Even the supreme authority in the Church may not change the liturgy arbitrarily, but only in the obedience of faith and with religious respect for the mystery of the liturgy.
Likewise, since the sacraments express and develop the communion of faith in the Church, the lex orandi is one of the essential criteria of the dialogue that seeks to restore the unity of Christians. (CCC #1125-1126)
(MAY we WITH MAMMA MARY live in holiness)
MAY 1️⃣3️⃣ – Mary, Cause of our joy
💭 To Reflect
Mary, filled with the Holy Spirit, was the cause of joy to many, and continues to be a source of strength and joy to all of us!
✅ To Practise
Bring a smile to the other; be a cause of joy!
🙏🏻To Pray
Mamma Mary, intercede for me, that I may live a life in the Holy Spirit, and be a source of joy to all, Amen!
“Being docile to accept God’s ‘strange yet protective’ Will working in our lives!”
(Based on Feast of St Mathias, the Apostle)
There goes a legend of the early Church…
Some pagans, once forced a holy person to drink a portion of poison, as part of persecutions against the faithful.
This holy person had been imprisoned.
He drank it, and not only did he himself remain unharmed…
… but he also healed others who had been blinded by the potion.
When he left the prison, the pagans searched for him in vain, for he had become invisible to them.
The holy person was St Mathias.
Today is the Feast of this Apostle, St Mathias.
He is the Apostle, chosen by lot, to go “into the place of the traitor Judas”.
The Acts of the Apostles describes:” that he may take his place in this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell.” (Acts 1:25)
St Mathias had one of the most unique privileges as well as one of the most awkward moments.
He had the unique privilege of being counted the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ.
He had the unique awkward moment of taking the position left blank by Judas, the betrayer.
It is usually hard to fill up empty spaces of vacancies and opportunities.
And it indeed gets too hard to fill up the vacancy of being counted among the exclusive Twelve Apostles.
This task gets too complicated especially if the vacancy was created as a shameful result of “betrayal” and “treachery”
St Mathias had to fill in the gap left by the “traitor” Judas Iscariot.
Yet, Divine Providence had it that St Mathias should replace Judas, to be “counted as one among the Twelve”.
Life sometimes is such…
We are asked to take up tasks that may seem highly uncomfortable
We are invited to draw up duties which may seem highly insulting
Are we willing to accept them, seeing God’s providential hand in them?
Are we ready to undertake them, knowing God’s Will is at work in that?
Let us trust in the mighty and assuring words of Jesus, “You did not choose me, but I chose you…” (Jn 15:16)
St Matthias stands in the place of the traitor Judas
But not as another traitor…
… but as one who knows the treachery of human hearts and the need for Heavenly Grace.
The Feast of St Mathias is a reminder of this naked and frightening, yet remarkable and bold truth:
There is a possibility of being a traitor in all of us
… like Judas
But there is also the glorious chance of being His faithful apostle
…like St Mathias.
There are elements of betraying God, within each of us…
… like Judas
But there are also graces of being passionately committed to the Lord…
… like St Mathias.
May St Mathias intercede and inspire us…
… to be docile to accept God’s ‘strange yet protective’ Will working in our lives
… to be bold to take up the challenge of filling up gaps caused by betrayal and uneasiness
… to be aware of God’s mighty Providence guiding every action of the Church and the world
Happy Feast of St Mathias, the Apostle
God Bless! Live Jesus!
📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
THE SACRAMENTS OF FAITH
“The purpose of the sacraments is to sanctify men, to build up the Body of Christ and, finally, to give worship to God.
Because they are signs they also instruct.
They not only presuppose faith, but by words and objects they also nourish, strengthen, and express it. That is why they are called ‘sacraments of faith.”
The Church’s faith precedes the faith of the believer who is invited to adhere to it.
When the Church celebrates the sacraments, she confesses the faith received from the apostles – whence the ancient saying: lex orandi, lex credendi (or: legem credendi lex statuat supplicandi according to Prosper of Aquitaine [5th cent.]).
The law of prayer is the law of faith: the Church believes as she prays.
Liturgy is a constitutive element of the holy and living Tradition (CCC # 1123-1124)
Reflection Capsules 