Space scientists in the 1960’s and 70’s made several efforts to help astronauts or cosmonauts to have a safer and healthier stay in space. 

The major hurdle to this was the fact that no matter how well prepared physically the cosmonauts or astronauts for the trip…

… even a short stay in space had a massive negative influence on their health.

 
Weightlessness (antigravity) and lack of movement (hypokinesia) caused immediate retardation of the whole body space traveller – muscles, bones, peripheral and central nervous systems degenerated within several hours to a large extent.

 

On return to Earth, the astronauts had to readjust to Earth’s gravity and experienced problems standing up, stabilizing their gaze, walking and turning.

>> They needed a long-term intensive rehabilitation to get back in shape.

 
To counteract this, a running suit laced with elastic bands was utilized.

 

The function of this elastic band, was to resist every move that the cosmonaut would make.

>> This resistance would force them to exert extra strength.

 

This worked!

>> When they had resistance, their muscles were stronger and it prepared them for recovery back into the earth’s atmosphere.

>> The greater pressure they exerted, the stronger was their physique and faster did it help them to get back to normalcy faster.

 

How true is this of our life as well!

>> The easier our life, the greater is the possibility of our spiritual fibre being weak…

>> The comfortable our living, the higher are the chances of being lax and lethargic…

 

Strength of any kind grows only by exertion!

 

And therefore, the Gospel of the Day will present Jesus encouraging and motivating His disciples to be firm and strong, even in the midst of any sort of persecution or problems.

>> Jesus will tell, “In the world you will have tribulations; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (Jn 16: 33)

 
The Lord in His final discourses to the Disciples constantly gives the message of Hope and Encouragement.

 

>> Jesus is a not a leader who shys away from presenting the truth.

>> Jesus is not a Master who hides the real facts of following Him.

 

He plainly tells them that His going away from the world will result in a number of persecutions.

>> He predicts that His chosen ones would desert Him in His time of agony and suffering: “Behold, the hour is coming and has arrived when each of you will be scattered to His own home and you will leave me alone.” (Jn 16: 32)

 

Yet, He assures His followers, that He will still remain with them and strengthen them.

He is bold to tell them, “… Take courage, I have conquered the world” (Jn 16: 33b)

 
Our life is also beset with many problems, afflictions and difficulties.

>> Sometimes, we do ask ourselves, “why do I face so many problems?”

>> Sometimes, we do feel, “why such immense pains in our life?”

>> Sometimes, we do question, “why is life so unfair to me?”

 

But the Lord tells us, that we ought not to get discouraged or disheartened.

>> Rather, we need to realise, that such hardships and problems, keep us oriented towards seeking the help of God.

 

When difficulties creep in life, our face is set more towards the Lord.

… but when life goes on too smoothly, there are chances that tend to relax our relation with Him

 

When problems surface and surmount, our minds are attuned more towards seeking the Lord

… but when life is too cosy and comfortable, there are possibilities of being too casual in prayer life

 

When hardships bite us hard, our hearts long deeper for the presence and providence of God

… but when life goes on a smooth sailing, there are prospects that we tend to forget the important role of the Lord in life

 

Adversities in life act as elastic bands, that cosmonauts or astronauts use…

…. they function in a way, to resist our every good action and aspiration…

>> But resistance ought to make us exert greater effort and have a stronger dependence on the Lord!

 

The greater the adversities, the stronger ought to be our dependence and trust in the Lord.

>> Strength of any kind grows only by exertion!

 

 

Let us not get discouraged by the problems of life… instead, consider them as golden opportunities and graces to grow much deeper and stronger in the Love of the Lord!

 

 

God Bless! Live Jesus!

Dear Friends in Christ, I invite you to take a moment and watch this short video on Preparation for the Mass. Hope you find it enriching and do share it with your friends and family!

https://youtu.be/5dWlxLVv8sc

 On the coast of Norway was a lighthouse where the keeper lived with his two little children.

 

One day the keeper went to the distant shore for provisions.

A storm arose, and he was unable to return.

 

It was, however, time for lighting the lamp.

 

Elena, the elder child, said to her little brother, “We must light the lamp, Willie.”

“How can we?” asked Willie. “We are not big enough!”

 

The two children climbed the long, narrow stairs to the tower where the lamp was kept.

Elena pulled up a chair and tried to reach the lamp in the great reflector.

It was too high!

 

Groping down the stairs, she ascended again with a small oil lamp in her hand, she climbed on the chair again, but still the reflector was just beyond her reach.

 

“Get down,” said Willie; “I know what we can do.”

 

She jumped down.

The little boy stretched his little body across the chair. “Stand on me,”he said.

 

She stood surprised for a moment… but then soon stood on the little fellow as he lay across the chair.

 

She raised the lamp high, and its light shone far out across the water.

 

Holding it first with one hand, then with the other, to rest her little arms, she called down to her brother, “Does it hurt you, Willie?”

 

“Of course it hurts,” exclaimed li’l Willie, “but keep the light burning!”

 

The little kids made sure every effort was taken to keep the light lit, even if it meant difficulty and pain.

 

• Are we keeping the light of Christ’s love burning in the world, even though it hurts?

• Are we holding it up so that all nations may see its beams afar?

 
Today is the Feast of the Ascension of our Lord.

 

This is the day…

… in which He gave the mission mandate of preaching His Good News to the entire world.

… in which He ascended to the heavens, as a culmination of the glory of the Resurrection

 
In our proclamation of the Apostles’ Creed, we affirm, ” … He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty!”

 
The Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord is a declaration of various pointers for our reflection…

 

1. The Ascension is an event that reminds the glory and majesty of the Lord, who is sovereign over all

 

The Lord ascended.

Elsewhere in the Bible, we have incidents of persons being taken up to heaven

• Enoch was taken up by God: “Then Enoch walked with God and he was no longer here, for God took him” (Gen 5:24)

• Elijah went up: “As they walked on conversing, a flaming chariot and flaming horses came between Elisha and Elijah, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind” (2Kgs 2: 11)

Mother Mary was ‘assumed’ into heaven, body and soul (Dogma of the Assumption)

 

However, Christ ‘ascended’

>> It was His Power that made Him to ‘go up’ to the heavens.

 

This is a tremendous demonstration of His Divinity, His Glory and His Power!

 

2. The Ascension is an event which radiates hope to the suffering and optimism to the distressed

The interesting saga of Christ’s life, which beginning with….

…. His simple yet powerful event of His Birth…

… His ordinary yet impressive event of His ministry…

… His agonizing yet impactful event of His passion and death…

… His glorious and spectacularly amazing event of the Resurrection…

finds its joyful and resplendent finale in His Ascension to the heavens.

 

This is a beautiful exhibition of how a life, lived in faith and commitment, even if it has to go through the barbed wires of pain, humiliation, suffering and uncertainty has a splendid and magnificent ending!

 

3. The Ascension is an event that prods our memory and commitment to be the missionaries for the Kingdom of God

 

The Lord’s concluding words to His apostles constituted a binding mandate…

… to go into the whole world and preach the Gospel to the whole creation

… to be an instrument of His power to cast out demons, to speak in new tongues, to endure poisons, to lay hands on sick and restore them to recovery.

 

This is a dutiful reminder of how the Lord trusts and has immense confidence in each one of us to be the proclaimers of His word.

 

• The Lord wishes to reign over in our hearts.

• He wishes to be the sovereign ruler of our lives.

 

May the Feast of the Ascension be a reminder for us to open our hearts to let the Lord to be in total command of our lives.

 

May the conviction in His love, the zeal to be His Missionaries and the passion to make this world a holier place help us, even in the face of pain and suffering and hardships, to exclaim…

“Of course it hurts, but I still keep the light burning!”

 
God Bless! Live Jesus!

A cute story is told of 6 year old Sally.
Sally loved to walk to and from, school, daily. 
One evening, as she came back from school, it was too cloudy.

>> The skies were dark; with a frightening intervention of lightning and thunder. 
>> But Sally still enjoyed to walk in those overcast conditions. 
As she reached home, her mother was extremely worried.
More than anything, she was worried that her little daughter would be extremely frightened by the heavy storm and the peals of thunder and lightning.
However, as the mother saw her daughter coming from far, towards home, she was surprised.

>> She could see her little daughter looking up to the skies, every time a lightning flashed.

In curiosity, the mother asked the daughter, when she reached home: 

“My child, were you not afraid of this dreadful climate? And why at all were you looking up, every time that there was a lightning?”
The little girl, with all her innocence said:

“Why at all should I be worried, Mamma?

God is always walking with me, isn’t it?

>> And moreover, today, He was taking pictures of me. So I kept looking at those flashes with a big smile!”

Well, that’s the innocent heart of a child…who trusts in God, and knows that He would be with her, in all the walks of life!

 

How happy are we, if we recognize that our Heavenly Father, is deeply in love with us, His children, and never ceases to express His caring affection to us, at every moment.

 

 

The Gospel of the Day is a testimony to Jesus affirming the assuring and loving presence of God, our Heavenly Father.

 
Jesus declares these beautiful words, which ought to be inscribed in golden shades, on the canvas of our hearts, “… the Father Himself loves you…” (Jn 16: 27a)

 

 This is indeed one of the mightiest and loftiest truth that we all need to know, experience, be convinced of, and live constantly in its assurance…

… the truth that “The Father Himself loves us!”

 
Every person longs for love and longs to be cared for…

 

Human love, however, sometimes fails to answer to this basic and essential need.

> Sometimes people around us get too busy, to even care for us…

>> Sometimes, people from whom we expect love, fail to understand our need…

>>> Sometimes, people who ought to care for us, fall short of their responsibility….

 

 

 All this could leave a feeling a hurt within us.

>> All this could imprint a wound of sadness inside of us.

 

But in such moments of feeling lonely and desperation, especially, Jesus assures and promises us that we are not abandoned or left lonely…

>> Instead Jesus emphatically proclaims that just as He was loved by His Father, we too are loved by our Heavenly Father!

 

>> It is confidence in this tremendous love of the Father…

… that will make us to seek whatever we wish in life, knowing that our prayers will be answered, in the way and the time, that He, My Father wishes! (Jn 16: 26)

 

His Love will make me delight in His Will, letting go of my personal desires!

 

 

>> It is conviction in this unconditional love of the Father…

… that will make us to enjoy a deep sense of joy and bliss, knowing that in any situation of gloom or sadness or tension or worry, He, My Father, is taking me through! (Jn 16: 24)

 

His Love will make me want to do only His Will, setting aside my individual wantings!

 

 

Our Heavenly Father, our Abba is in deep love of each one of us…

>> The Crucifix is the proof of this “mad love” of the Father.

 

May we, with His grace, deepen our love and conviction in the Amazing Love of the Father.

 

>> He is busy.. but busy expressing His tender love to us.

>> He is busy writing… writing His letters of His precious love to us.

 
May we always realize that He is walking with us, through every stormy and rainy situations of life…

… and we can boldly look up to the pealing flashes of troubles, with a smile, acknowledging: “My God is always with me!”

 

God Bless! Live Jesus!

A cute story is told of 6 year old Sally.

Sally loved to walk to and from, school, daily.

One evening, as she came back from school, it was too cloudy.
>> The skies were dark; with a frightening intervention of lightning and thunder.

>> But Sally still enjoyed to walk in those overcast conditions.

As she reached home, her mother was extremely worried.

More than anything, she was worried that her little daughter would be extremely frightened by the heavy storm and the peals of thunder and lightning.

However, as the mother saw her daughter coming from far, towards home, she was surprised.
>> She could see her little daughter looking up to the skies, every time a lightning flashed.

In curiosity, the mother asked the daughter, when she reached home:
“My child, were you not afraid of this dreadful climate? And why at all were you looking up, every time that there was a lightning?”

The little girl, with all her innocence said:
“Why at all should I be worried, Mamma?
God is always walking with me, isn’t it?
>> And moreover, today, He was taking pictures of me. So I kept looking at those flashes with a big smile!”

Well, that’s the innocent heart of a child…who trusts in God, and knows that He would be with her, in all the walks of life!

How happy are we, if we recognize that our Heavenly Father,  is deeply in love with us, His children, and never ceases to express His caring affection to us, at every moment.

The Gospel of the Day is a testimony to Jesus affirming the assuring and loving presence of God, our Heavenly Father.

Jesus declares these beautiful words, which ought to be inscribed in golden shades, on the canvas of our hearts, “… the Father Himself loves you…” (Jn 16: 27a)

This is indeed one of the mightiest and loftiest truth that we all need to know, experience, be convinced of, and live constantly in its assurance…
… the truth that “The Father Himself loves us!”

Every person longs for love and longs to be cared for…

Human love, however, sometimes fails to answer to this basic and essential need.
> Sometimes people around us get too busy, to even care for us…
>> Sometimes, people from whom we expect love, fail to understand our need…
>>> Sometimes, people who ought to care for us, fall short of their responsibility….

All this could leave a feeling a hurt within us.
>> All this could imprint a wound of sadness inside of us.

But in such moments of feeling lonely and desperation, especially, Jesus assures and promises us that we are not abandoned or left lonely…
>> Instead Jesus emphatically proclaims that just as He was loved by His Father, we too are loved by our Heavenly Father!

>> It is confidence in this tremendous love of the Father…
… that will make us to seek whatever we wish in life, knowing that our prayers will be answered, in the way and the time, that He, My Father wishes! (Jn 16: 26)

His Love will make me delight in His Will, letting go of my personal desires!

>> It is conviction in this unconditional love of the Father…
… that will make us to enjoy a deep sense of joy and bliss, knowing that in any situation of gloom or sadness or tension or worry, He, My Father, is taking me through! (Jn 16: 24)

His Love will make me want to do only His Will, setting aside my individual wantings!

Our Heavenly Father, our Abba is in deep love of each one of us…
>> The Crucifix is the proof of this “mad love” of the Father.

May we, with His grace, deepen our love and conviction in the Amazing Love of the Father.

>> He is busy.. but busy expressing His tender love to us.
>> He is busy writing… writing His letters of His precious love to us.

May we always realize that He is  walking with us, through every stormy and rainy situations of life…
… and we can boldly look up to the pealing flashes of troubles, with a smile, acknowledging: “My God is always with me!”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

 “Ten Fingers for God” is a biography on the life of Dr Paul W Brand, a noted leprosy expert. 

 

Dr. Brand was the first physician to appreciate that leprosy did not cause the rotting away of tissues, but that it was the loss of the sensation of pain which made sufferers susceptible to injury.

 

 

The biography, “Ten Fingers for God”, notes Dr Brand’s frightening experience one night, when he thought he had contracted leprosy…

 

Dr. Brand arrived in London one night after an exhausting trip.

 

He was getting ready for bed, had taken off his shoes, and as he pulled off a sock, discovered there was no feeling in his heel!

 >> The numbness in his heel terrified him!

 

He rose mechanically, found a pin, sat down again, and pricked the small area below his ankle.

>> He felt no pain!

 

He thrust the pin deeper, until a speck of blood showed… Still he felt nothing!

 

He supposed, like other workers with leprosy… he too had contracted the dreaded disease!

 

All that night the great orthopaedic surgeon tried to imagine his new life…

… as a leper, an outcast

… his medical staff’s shattered

… the forced separation from his family.

 

 

As night receded, “with steady fingers he bared the skin below his ankle, jabbed in the point….

… and behold…. He yelled!!”

 

Blessed was the sensation of pain!

 

He then realized that during the long train ride, sitting immobile, he had numbed a nerve.

>> And that had caused him a temporary numbness!

 

From then on, whenever Dr. Brand cut his finger, turned an ankle, or even suffered immense nauseating pain, he was to respond with fervent gratitude, ‘Thank God for pain!’

 

 

Pain was understood as being vital for the preservation of healthy tissue in anyone leading a normal life.

 

Pain is also to be understood as vital for the promotion, perseverance and progress of anyone wanting to lead a life, in deeper and closer union with the Lord!

 

 

The Gospel of the Day presents Jesus declaring the reality of the presence of pain, suffering and sorrows in spiritual life, and yet those factors being pathways and passages to experience deep joy and bliss!

 

Not negating the actuality of the darker side of life, Jesus also mightily displays the large canvas of life which is enveloped in the light of happiness…

“Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy” (Jn 16: 20)

 

Jesus was making His Apostles aware of the realities of His passion and death.

> He had came into the world to die!

>> Death was the goal and fulfilment of His life.

 

To the delicate and fragile minds of the Apostles, the Lord gives a very practical analogy: the pains and the bliss of motherhood…

“When a woman is in labour, she is in anguish, because her hour has arrived; but when she has given birth to a child, she no longer remembers the pain because of her joy that a child has been born into the world” (Jn 16: 21)

 

This analogy of the Lord sheds light and hope for our sufferings and pains in life too.

 

Mothers know the pain of giving birth to a child.

To others, this pain, though not experienced, can be vaguely understood as being a very painful experience.

 

>> The pain is too excruciating…

>> The pain causes to think that everything within is being pulled out, with a piercing pain…

>> The pain sometimes makes the person to even cry out ‘I wish this never happened to me’ ….

Jesus says that the hardships, sufferings and trials that we undergo in life are such.

 

But the moment, the child is delivered and the mother sees the innocent face of her tender babe, the whole scenario of emotions changes…

>> The excruciating pain is replaced by a thrilling excitement and exhilaration!

>> The severe-anguishing sore is replaced by a delightful bliss and ecstasy!

>> The nerve-wracking ache is replaced by a heavenly joy and happiness!

 

And Jesus, such will be our joy too, if we are also faithful and loyal to the Lord, in pains and sufferings!

 

This is indeed a higher spirituality… a higher level of holiness…

>> To cherish joy, even in the midst of pain

>> To radiate happiness, even in the thick of sorrows.

It is to this elevated floor of sanctity that the Lord invites us.

 

>> He is with us to hold our hands to climb up to this floor.

>> He is wanting to embrace us in love, as He beckons us to come nearer to Him.

 

When life stings us with pain…

> When problems beset us into agony…

… With hope, trust, faith and strength,

>> Let us exclaim: ‘Thank God for pain!’

 

God Bless! Live Jesus!

 “Just a minute, honey, and I will be ready…”

… thus goes the words of the wife who is busy with her make-up, while her husband keeps waiting, impatiently looking at his watch.

>> He knows it’s getting late to go for the scheduled program.

>>He also knows that the phrase “just a minute” would last a much longer time!

 

 

“Oh, Yes, I will get the work done in the next ten minutes…”

… thus goes the words of the official when asked to speed up the pending paper work of the renewal of a contract by a perplexed client

>> But the client knows the work will take much longer to be completed

>> He knows that the phrase “in the next ten minutes” would last a much longer time!

 

 

“Yes, Mummy, I will clean up the room right now…”

… thus goes the words of kids, when asked to clean up their room, which is in a state of mess

>> But the Mother knows that this cleaning up would be further delayed and would need more reminders

>> She knows that the phrase, “right now” would last a much longer time!

 

 

These are some of our day-to-day experiences of not being able to come to terms with “delays and uncertainties” with respect to time.

> Such delays and uncertainties, often put us through tensions or anxiety or an “uncomfortable” state of mind!

 

In the Gospel of the day, the disciples also undergo this experience… of “delays and uncertainties” with respect to time.

 

 

Jesus tells His disciples, “A little while and you will see me no more; again a little while and you will see me” (Jn 16:16)

 

But these words of Jesus put the disciples into a state of dilemma

>> They failed to grasp the meaning of the words of Jesus and were confused!

 

They began to have a discussion on the phrase of Jesus – “a little while”

>> “What does he mean by ‘a little while'”? (Jn 16: 18)

 

>> How long was this “little while” going to be?

>> How does He define the phrase “a little while”?

 

If they knew exactly how long this “little while” would last…

…. then they would have been more courageous and patient

 

But now the disciples find themselves to be confused and in dilemma.

 

 

However, Jesus the Good Shepherd, knew the confusion of His little sheep

>> Jesus, the Master, knew the perplexity of His simple followers

 

But He doesn’t define the phrase “a little while”

>> He doesn’t say that it is a particular moment of time, that can be considered as a countdown!

>> He doesn’t refer to it as being an exact measure of time, to which one can count and gauge!

 

Instead, Jesus defines “a little while” in terms of an experience…

…an experience of weeping and lamenting turning into rejoicing

… an experience of sorrow turning into joy (Jn 16:20)

 

 

Is our life today in a state of crisis and confusion?

> Is our life today passing through waves of troubles and the deserts of anxiety?

>> Is our life today moving along the rough terrains of calamities and the valleys of brokenness?

 

Then the Lord assures us…

… “In a little while” and things will be fine!

… “In a little while” and the sunshine will appear again!

 

We might complain… How long is this “little while”!

We might argue…. this “little while” is being too agonising!

 

 

But the Lord invites and challenges us to look to Him, telling us…

“I too have had my painful and agonising moments… in My life and especially on the Cross

I too had My experience of feeling ‘how long is this little while going to last’…

 

But I stood firm and patient in trusting the Will of My Father…

… I held on the mighty Providence of my Father and knew that a bright morn awaited Me”

 

 

Yes, Jesus, through the Gospel wishes to encourage us and strengthen us…

… in sufferings, to love Him strongly!

… in hardships, to trust in Him deeper!

… in uncertainties, to depend on Him greater!

 

 

Surely, life will take us through many experiences… of “delays and uncertainties” with respect to time.

… We may tend to lose our patience!

… We may feel like giving up!

… We may want to quit!

 

But let us turn to the Lord for strength, grace and courage…

… and listen to Him whispering to us…

“Hold on my Child! I am with you….embracing you in my arms!

In Me, your weeping will be changed to rejoicing

In Me, your sorrow will be turned to joy!”

 

Let us seek earnestly for this gift of deeper trust and complete surrender to the Mighty Providence and Holy Will of the Lord!

 

God Bless! Live Jesus!

William Lyon Phelps was an American author, critic and scholar who taught the first American university course on the modern novel.

 

He taught English literature at the Yale University for forty-one years until his retirement in 1933.

 

Once, while correcting an answer-paper, before Christmas one year, Phelps came across a note (like the kind, even these days, some children would do in an examination, to appease and please their teachers!) in the answer paper: “Only God knows the answer to this question. Merry Christmas.”

 

A bit amused, Phelps returned the paper with this note: “For that answer, God gets an A grade – outstanding. And you get an F – below satisfactory. Happy New Year!!”

 

 

This little humorous incident (without being too critical), when looked from a global spiritual perspective, points out a grand and complex reality:

 

There are many questions of life which will keep baffling humanity.

 

To some answers will be found.

>> To some, answers will be known.

 

But to many, there will be a mysterious silence.

Humanity does not have an answer to all questions in life.

 

Yet, life encourages us to walk ahead, with trust and hope.

 

As Christians, this trust and hope finds a greater meaning and strength, because we have the assurance and promise of the Lord that He is with us, and solutions for life’s problems will be revealed to us, in and through the power of the Holy Spirit.

 

 

The Gospel of the Day is this assurance of Jesus that even though many things are not understood in life, the Holy Spirit will reveal to us, in time and as needed, the mysteries of life and of our faith.

 

The Lord had been with the disciples for quite some time and had instructed them on many teachings.

Even at the final discourse, in the context of the Last Supper, Jesus teaches His chosen ones many things.

 

Yet, He still has many more things to tell and teach.

 

But like a loving parent, who knows the grasping power of the child….

>> Like an understanding teacher, who realises the comprehending capability of the student…

 

Jesus knows, that the disciples would not be able to understand still further His teachings.

 

And so He says, “I have yet many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now” (Jn 16:12)

 

But He does not leave the Disciples in this state of hanging in mid-air…

>> He assures them of the Might Power that will follow His going away from the disciples.

>> He promises them that the Holy Spirit will descend on them and they would realise, gradually, the power and depth of His teachings!

 

“But when He comes, the Spirit of Truth, He will guide you to all truth” (Jn 16: 13)

 

Our lives too remains a blank question-paper, with questions hurled at us, and answers found wanting!

 

Situations and circumstances put forward many uneasy, awkward and even unanswerable questions to us.

>> We look for answers.

>>We seek for solutions.

 

Sometimes we get.

>> But many times, we fail to obtain.

 

It may lead us to desperation.

>> It may even lead us to anxiety.

 

But the Lord assures us…

… that He has the answer to every question in the world

… that He has the solution to every problem of our life.

 

But not all will be told to us, or revealed to us, at once.

>> They will be conveyed to us, at the appropriate time, in the appropriate situation.

 

From our part, what is simply needed is…

… an openness to His Spirit

… a trust in His Divine Providence

… a constant seeking to know His Will

 

The underlying principle for this simple, yet, seemingly hard to practise philosophy of life, is the fact that “God Loves Us” immeasurably, and that every moment of our life, is taken care by Him.

>> His glory fills the heavens and the earth.

>> His knowledge permeates in every event of life.

 

Let us seek to grow in this faith and trust in the Lord.

 

 

God Bless! Live Jesus!

 

Sports coaches assist athletes in developing their full potential.

 

They are responsible for training athletes in a sport by analyzing their performances, instructing them in their skills and by providing encouragement.

 

Sportspersons would vouch the important role played by their coaches in their formation to be excelling in their field of sports.

 

It is the role of the coach to help the sportspersons…

… to fine tune some of their skills and abilities

… to observe their weak zones and suggest ways to strengthen those areas

… to motivate and encourage them in moments of failures or lethargy or disappointments

 

In the game of life, only One Coach matters the most… Jesus!

 

The Gospel of the day presents this is encouraging and comforting “coaching” dimension of Jesus and an invitation to always derive motivation and strength from Jesus, the ‘Coach’!

 

It is the context of the Last Supper discourses – when Jesus speaks of His going away from the world.

 

The disciples are a frightened lot – confused, worried and uncertain of the future.

• The Lord promises the gift of the Holy Spirit.
• He also warns of the many impending persecutions that will befall on them.
 

But in this context of fear, worry, doubts and anxieties, Jesus assures them, ” I have told you this, that you may not fall away” (Jn 16:1)

 

Jesus knows His disciples very well.

He has lived with them for nearly three years.

 

Like a very good “coach”, He is aware of who the disciples are…

• He knows many of their instincts and tendencies – to doubt, to not understand many things, to waver in their trust, to be unclear of their goals in life…
• He also is aware of their sincerity and simplicity, their openness and obedience and their preciousness in personality…
 

Therefore, Jesus assures them that He would strengthen them so that “they don’t fall away”

 

Later, Jesus would repeat similar words particularly to Peter, the leader of the Apostles, “Simon, Simon… I have prayed that your own faith may not fail..” (Lk 22: 32)

 

Jesus, the Coach wanted all His disciples to not “fall in life”; rather to be faithful and committed.

And He invites and exhorts each one of us as well, to train under the guidance of His coaching and be on the winning side of life!

 

Jesus, the Coach assures us…

… that He would accompany us, by the Holy Spirit, the Counsellor, who will help us to give testimony to Christ (Jn 15: 26)

… that He would remain with us, even when we have to face the hardships of being expelled as a result of the “improper and deformed” consciences of people (Jn 16: 2)

 

Each day makes us to play the game of life – filled with joys and thrills, and yet also of possibilities of disappointments, worries and disturbances.

Our best bet to come out with flying colours in this game of life is to take shelter with Jesus, the Coach.

 

He will help…

… to fine tune our skills and abilities with His grace, to be His zealous witnesses

… to observe our weak zones and help us purify those sinful and disturbing areas of life

… to motivate and encourage us in moments of sadness, discouragement and hopelessness

 

The Cross of Christ has opened the door to victory for us…

It is our turn to give our best in this game of life and share in the victory lap with the Lord.

Jesus, the Life Coach beckons us….

 
God Bless! Live Jesus!

A young man was to be sentenced to the prison for a serious offence.

The judge had known him from childhood, for he was well acquainted with his late father.

 

His father was a famous legal scholar and the author of an exhaustive study entitled, “The Law of Trusts.”

 

“Do you remember your father?” asked the magistrate.

“I remember him well, your honour,” came the reply.

 

Seeking to probe further, the judge said, “As you are about to be sentenced and as you think of your wonderful dad, what do you remember most clearly about him?”

 

There was a groaning pause.

Then the judge received an answer he had not expected.

 

“I remember when I went to him for advice.

He looked up at me from the book he was writing and said, ‘Run along, boy; I’m busy!’

>> When I went to him for companionship, he turned me away, saying “Run along, son; the writing of this book must be finished!’

 

Your honour, you remember him as a great lawyer.

>> But I remember him, only as a lost friend!”

 

The magistrate muttered to himself, “Alas! He finished the book, but lost the boy!”

 

 

The busyness of the father resulted in the boy failing to receive love, and thus ended up into bad ways of living.

 

· Every person longs for love…

· Every person longs to be cared for…

 

The father in this story, achieved great success in his worldly life, but failed miserably to love and care for his son.

 

 

However, in absolute contrast, we have our Heavenly Father, who is deeply in love with us, His children, and who never ceases to express His caring affection to us, at every moment.

>> Our Heavenly Father is also busy… but busy in loving His children, and expressing His constant care.

 

 

The Gospel of the Day is a testimony of Jesus affirming the assuring and loving presence of God, our Heavenly Father…

… Who would send the Holy Spirit amidst us, in order to always keep alive the presence of Jesus in our hearts.

 

Jesus assures: “And I will pray to the Father, and He will give you another Counsellor, to be with you, forever…” (Jn 14:16)

 

 

The context of this Gospel Passage is the talk with the disciples at The Last Supper.

>> This is the last discourse that the Lord has with His disciples, before His agonizing moments of the Passion.

 

He does not leave His chosen ones in desperation or dejection

>> Instead, He assures them…

… of His continual Presence

… of the Abiding Love of the Father

… of the Guiding assistance of the Holy Spirit

 

 

Later, in this discourse, the Lord will go on to declare: “… the Father Himself loves you…” (Jn 16: 27a)

>> These are beautiful words, which ought to be inscribed in golden shades, on the canvas of our hearts!

 

 

 This is indeed one of the mightiest and loftiest truth that we all need to know, experience, be convinced of, and live constantly in its assurance…

… the truth that “The Father Himself loves us!”

… the truth that the “Triune God is always with us!”

 

 

Every person longs for love and longs to be cared for…

 

Human love, however, sometimes fails to answer to this basic and essential need.

· Sometimes people around us get too busy, to even care for us…

· Sometimes, people from whom we expect love, fail to understand our need…

· Sometimes, people who ought to care for us, fall short of their responsibility….

 

 

 All this…

… could leave a feeling a hurt within us.

… could imprint a wound of sadness inside of us.

 

But in such moments of feeling lonely and desperation, Jesus assures and promises us that we are not abandoned or left lonely…

>> Instead Jesus emphatically proclaims that just as He was loved by His Father, we too are loved by our Heavenly Father – “He who loves me, will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him” (Jn 14:21)

 

 

It is confidence in this tremendous love of the Father…

… that will make us to be strong in weak moments, knowing that the Lord is always with us – “I will not leave you desolate” (Jn 14: 18)

 

 

· It is conviction in this unconditional love of the Father…

… that will make us to enjoy a deep sense of joy and bliss, knowing that in any situation of gloom or sadness or tension or worry, the Lord will take us through

 

 

 

Our Heavenly Father – our Abba – is in deep love with each one of us…

>> The Crucifix is the proof of this “mad love” of the Father.

 

 

May we, with His grace, deepen our love and conviction in the Amazing Love of the Father.

 

· He is busy.. but busy expressing His tender love to us.

· He is busy writing… writing His letters of His precious love to us.

 

 

May we be privileged to hear:

“Wow!! He finished his/her life, and gained eternal life!”

 

 

God Bless! Live Jesus!