“Never forgetting that ‘Jesus Christ is precious and He loves us very much!'”

(Based on Acts 13:14, 43-52, Rev 7:9, 14b-17 and Jn 10:27-30 – 4th Sunday in Easter)

The city train station was bursting with noise – announcements echoed, luggage wheels rattled, and voices layered over each other like a storm of sound.

In the middle of it all stood a small boy – about 7 years old – alone, calm, quietly waiting.

A concerned passerby approached and asked gently, “Are you lost?”
>> He shook his head: “No, my dad just went to get something. He told me to wait.”

The man looked around. “But how will you find him in this crowd?”
>> The boy replied, “I won’t. He’ll find me. I just need to stay where I can hear him.”

Moments later, through the blur of voices, the boy’s ears perked up.
>> His face lit up with joy.
>> He ran across the platform straight into the arms of a man calling his name.

“Daddy!” he shouted.
>> His father knelt and hugged him tightly.
>> “I told you I’d come.”


That boy wasn’t panicking.
>> He wasn’t trying to shout over the crowd. >> He knew his father’s voice, and he trusted that his father would find him.


Just like that, Jesus, our Good Shepherd, calls us by name…
… even when life is noisy and confusing, when we feel small or forgotten
… His voice will break through.


Have we discovered and tasted the deep Love of God in our lives?

God our Father loves us so much that He goes to any extent to ensure His protection, care and love.

Jesus, in today’s Gospel, tells us, “My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand!” (Jn 10:29)


All the pages of the Bible speak to us one important Truth: God is intimately involved with our lives!
>> He is not far away.
>> He constantly and consistently longs to have us with Him.


Jesus reminds us that as His sheep, we ought to “hear His Voice, know Him and follow Him!” (Cf. Jn 10:27)

This imagery of the Lord, as a Good Shepherd, is a very consoling, assuring and encouraging one


Sheep in the times and areas of Jesus were often reared for their wool, rather than the meat.
>> The sheep would be with the Shepherd for some time – and an affinity would develop among them

The shepherd would make all the efforts – even at the cost of comforts – to take care of the sheep…
… the sheep, would remain in submission to this affection, and faithfully follow the Master


As a Good Shepherd, the Lord looks at us, not as a flock – a group
>> Instead, we are seen and cared for, very uniquely – as individual sheep!

In the Presence of the Lord, we don’t need a ‘nametag!’
>> He knows us by name!

My worth is not in what I do…
… but in whose hands I rest.


It’s this awareness that I am loved, and uniquely cared for, that will strengthen us in moments of strife!

When we feel hurt, rejected, unloved, or lost, it can be overwhelmingly difficult to see God’s light.
>> When we go through temptations or times of distress, we may stray away and feel unworthy

But the protective care of the Lord is always with us, as He assures us, “no one shall snatch them out of My Hand!” (Jn 10:28).

Yes, we are invited to be His ‘own people!’
>> We are called to be His ‘inescapable people!’


The Merciful Father – our Good Shepherd – is waiting for each one of us…
… Whatever be the mess, that my life may be in!

Let us run into His embrace of Love, with sincere repentance and contrition of heart
>> And pledge to live for Him, and with Him… forever!


Let us never forget that “Jesus Christ is precious and He loves us very much!”
>> Let these words be repeated constantly in our life…
… with deep piety, profound conviction and committed service to one another!


Let’s remember: “I am not a statistic in God’s book…
… I am a heartbeat in His chest!”


God Bless! Live Jesus!


—————————–
📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
MAN’S VOCATION LIFE IN THE SPIRIT – GOD’S SALVATION: LAW AND GRACE – The Fourth Commandment – The Family and the society
>> When you walk, they will lead you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; and when you awake, they will talk with you.”
>> A wise son hears his father’s instruction, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke. (CCC # 2216)
——————-

“Rising up to the challenge to remain loyal and faithful to the demands placed on us by Christ, our Powerful and Mighty King!”

(Based on Acts 9:31-42 and Jn 6:60-69 – Saturday of the Third Week in Easter)

There is a challenging incident that goes thus…

A Parish Priest, after the Holy Mass on a Sunday, was standing outside the Church, when he came across a young girl.

This girl had been in the hotel plaza and had missed the Sunday service.

“Good Morning!” greeted the Priest.

“Good Morning too, Father,” came the reply from the girl.

“Are you well this morning?”

“Oh, I am so tired!” she explained, “I blistered my feet dancing, the whole night!”

And then she had a query, “By the way, Father, what do you think about dancing?”

With a grave seriousness, the Priest replied, “You call yourself to be a Christian, isn’t it?

Have you ever blistered your feet for God?”

That question hit her like a lightening!

She turned away, with guilt and shame displayed on her face.

A few days later, she spoke to the Priest again, saying, “I have hardly slept since you asked me that question.

I want to tell you honestly… I have never blistered my feet for the Lord.
But to the best of my abilities, I will seek to work for Him, hereafter!”

Has our Christian Life ever caused us…
… blisters on our feet?
… aches in our hands?
… tensions in our minds?
… anxiety in our hearts?

It pays to be a Christian!

It costs much to be a Follower of Christ!

Yes, Christianity demands…
>> And only the ones who are willing to respond to these demands are worthy of being the followers of the Lord.

The Lord is pretty straight-forward and candid in His challenging requirements and would even ask us, as He asks His disciples in the Gospel of the Day, “Do you also wish to go away?” (Jn 6: 67)


We are at the concluding portion of the 6th Chapter of the Gospel of St John – known as the chapter on the Discourse of the Bread of Life.

The hearers of Jesus, from the beginning of this Chapter have been taken through a very intriguing path…

It began with the fragrance of compassion and mercy being radiated by the Lord in the multiplication of the loaves (Jn 6: 1-15)
>> This fragrance developed into an aura of authority and power that was displayed in the incident of the walking on the water (Jn 6: 16-21)

This aura began to radiate more gloriously through His teachings on He being the Bread of Life (Jn 6: 22-59)
>> This glorious splendour was further revealed and explained when He declared Himself as the Son of Man who would ascend to where He was (Jn 6: 61-62)

The Chapter, as its nears the conclusion, finds many of the hearers abandoning Christ.

Therefore we read, “As a result of this, many of His disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied Him” (Jn 6:66)


It seemed nice and wonderful to be the followers of Christ, when He provided food to their satisfaction
… But when there was a demand made by Christ, the “goody-goody” feelings disappeared and they began to reject Him!

Is this not the attitude that is prevalent among many of the Christians… including we, perhaps?

As long as the ground of our lives, receives the continual showers of favours being granted and prayers being instantly heard, we feel nice with the Lord.
… But in the times when the ground has to experience the drought of delays in prayers and absence of the rains of consolation, we feel to do away with the ways of the Lord!

As long as the garden of my life, is blessed with the flowers of prosperity, security and comforts, we remain happy to be with the Lord
… But in the circumstances when the garden goes dry and the weeds of misery begin to crop up, we feel to abandon the presence of the Lord and tread our own wills!


And therefore the Lord asks us, “Do you also wish to go away?” (Jn 6: 67)

Faith in the Lord is no cheap thing!
>> It indeed costs to be faithful!


The book of the Acts of the Apostles beautifully recounts many incidents of people following the Lord – willing to give up their past life, and live a new life in Christ…

The healing of the paralyzed Aeneas through the instrumentality of Peter, made “all the residents of Lydda and Sharon… to turn to the Lord.” (Cf. Acts 9:35)
>> The healing of Tabitha, in Joppa, also caused many people to “believe in the Lord!” (Acts 9:36-42)


What is it costing us to be faithful to our Lord and King?

Often times, our practice of Christian faith enters, tiptoed and slyly, into the halls of comfort and coziness…
>> A few Church obligations completed once in a way…
>> Some occasionally unavoidable practise of piety and devotion…

This is all that sometimes it “costs” us in being a Christian!


But the Lord today powerfully seeks to shake off the dusts of lethargy and casualness and confronts us, “Do you also wish to go away?”

Our remaining with the Lord, ought not to be in mere words, but also in deeds and actions

Being with the Lord demands…
… that we grow in our zeal and love for the Lord
… that we become an extension of Christ to the needy
… that we strive to be passionate proponents of His love and mercy


We have to be ready and willing, to let our “feet be blistered”, bear “aches in our hands”, go through “tensions in our minds”
… battle “anxiety in our hearts” for the sake of the Lord and His Kingdom
… and remain loyal and faithful to the ‘love-demands’ placed on us by Christ, our Powerful and Mighty King!


God Bless! Live Jesus!

—————————–
📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
MAN’S VOCATION LIFE IN THE SPIRIT – GOD’S SALVATION: LAW AND GRACE – The Fourth Commandment – The Family and the society
>> Filial respect is shown by true docility and obedience.
>> “My son, keep your father’s commandment, and forsake not your mother’s teaching. (CCC # 2216)
——————-

“Growing in the Love for the Holy Eucharist and deepening our faith and conviction in Him!”

(Based on Acts 9:1-20 and Jn 6:52-59 – Friday of the Third Week in Easter)

In the early 1970s, during the Vietnam War, Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan was the Archbishop of Saigon.
>> The Communists saw him as a threat.

On the Feast of the Assumption – 1975 – he was arrested and shipped off to a prison in North Vietnam.

He stayed there for thirteen years, nine of them in solitary confinement.
>> During his imprisonment, he couldn’t celebrate Mass or receive the Eucharist.

However, the Archbishop was allowed one luxury: to write letters to friends outside prison.

When he did, he often asked them to send him what he called “his medicine.”
>> They knew what he meant.

They sent him cough medicine bottles…
… filled with wine and small bits of bread.

Sympathetic guards smuggled him some wood and wire, and from that he made a small cross, which he hid in a bar of soap.
>> He kept all this in a cardboard box.

That box became his own private altar.
>> Every day, at 3:00 p.m. – the hour of Christ’s death – he would place drops of wine in the palm of his hand, mingled with water, to celebrate Mass.

The greatest ongoing miracle in history was able to take place.

That cramped prison cell became as beautiful and as blessed as any cathedral…
… a sanctuary for the glory of God.

He did this for thirteen years…
… till he was finally freed in 1988.


This is a man who understood – with every fibre of his being – how precious Holy Communion is.

What about us?

How deep is my understanding, faith and love for the Most Holy Eucharist?


The Holy Eucharist – the Body and Blood of Jesus – is the greatest treasure that the Church offers to Her children…

Yet, the Holy Eucharist sometimes, also becomes the great barrier for people to misunderstand and misinterpret the Church.


The same was true even in the time of Jesus.

The mention of His Body and Blood caused great division, misunderstanding and led to the misinterpretation of Jesus.


The Gospel of the Day is an account of the Lord declaring the necessity of being partakers of His Body and Blood to be having a share in eternal life.

Jesus continues His discourse on He being the “Bread of Life”.

The Lord surprises His hearers by saying that He is “the bread that came down from heaven” (Jn 6:51a)

He shocks them even further by saying that “the bread that I give is my flesh for the world” (Jn 6:51b)


This caused a dispute among the people, “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?” (Jn 6:52)

The bold declaration of the Lord that He would give His Flesh and His Blood as food and drink, caused a huge scandal among His listeners and it cause deep divisions and disputes.


The same is so much true in our own world, when the Church declares the Holy Eucharist to be the True and Real Body and Blood of the Lord, there is so much dispute and division caused.

Not many are able to accept this understanding
>> Not many are convinced of this teaching
>> Not many even believe this to be true
>> Not many are passionate either


The Catechism of the Church declares that “the mode of Christ’s presence under the Eucharistic species is unique”

“In the Most Blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist ‘the body and blood, together with the soul and divinity, of our Lord Jesus Christ and, therefore, the whole Christ is truly, really, and substantially contained.”


Questions now arise before us…

How is my belief and understanding of this most Precious and Treasured Gift of the Holy Eucharist – “the source and summit of Christian Life”?
… Do I believe with conviction that Jesus is truly present in the Blessed Eucharist?
… Do I celebrate and participate in the Holy Mass with this Divine Fervour?
What is the effect that this Sacrament of Total Self-giving on me?

… Does the reception of Jesus, the Love Incarnate, make me in turn to be more loving towards others and do I make deliberate choices to extend love to all?
… Does the sacrifice of the Holy Eucharist impel me also to make sacrifices – even tiny, insignificant, unnoticed – for the cause and good of others?

How is my contribution to spread the Good News of the Holy Eucharist to others?
… Am I being a person who radiates the love of the Eucharist to others, by my conscious efforts to be respectful, reverent and devoted in the Chapel or Church and also become aware of the Lord’s Presence, when passing by Churches or handling Sacred objects?
… Do I tell to other people about this exciting, real presence of God in the Holy Eucharist, to other people, especially the sick, the suffering and those in distress, that they may experience the Real and True healing presence of the Lord?


May we understand that in the Most Holy Eucharist – the greatest ongoing miracle in history – takes place.

It is this miracle that can turn even a cramped prison cell to become as beautiful and as blessed as any cathedral…
… a sanctuary for the glory of God.


Let us grow in the Love for the Holy Eucharist and deepen our faith and conviction in Him.

May Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist always be praised…
… and may our Blessed Mother Mary, the Mother of the Eucharist, intercede for us!


God Bless! Live Jesus!

—————————–
📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
MAN’S VOCATION LIFE IN THE SPIRIT – GOD’S SALVATION: LAW AND GRACE – The Fourth Commandment – The Family and the society
>> With all your heart honor your father, and do not forget the birth pangs of your mother. >> Remember that through your parents you were born; what can you give back to them that equals their gift to you?” (CCC # 2215)
——————-

“Growing in our love for Jesus in the Most Holy Eucharist – the Bread of Life!”

(Based on Acts 8:26-40 and Jn 6:44-51 – Thursday of the Third Week in Easter)

Saint Mother Teresa was known for her immense devotion to the Blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist.

She found her strength for her services of mercy, by being united and spending time with the Eucharistic Lord…
… everyday!

She has spoken very beautifully about the Holy Eucharist:

She says: “When Jesus came into the world, he loved it so much that he gave His Life for it.

He wanted to satisfy our hunger for God.

And what did He do?
>> He made himself the ‘Bread of Life.’

He became small, fragile and defenseless for us.
Bits of bread can be so small that…
… even a small child can chew it!
… even a dying person can eat it!”


Have we discovered our Love for this “Precious Bread of Life?”

The Sixth Chapter of the Gospel of St John can be called as “the great discourse on the Bread of Life”


Jesus declares Himself as the “Bread of Life” (Jn 6:35), Who came down from heaven.

On hearing this statement of the Lord, the Jews “murmured” about Him (Jn 6:41)

They knew that Jesus was only the son of Joseph.
>> They knew the father and mother of Jesus.
>> They were very familiar with His human origins

Therefore, the statement of Jesus that “He was the bread, Who came down from heaven” caused a great deal of “murmur”.


The Greek word that is used here for murmur is a word, “gogguzo”…

This “gogguzo” means…
… any low, continuous sound as of a brook, the wind, trees etc or low indistinct voices
… a mumbled or private expression of discontent
… to show “smouldering discontent”, droning on in a low, constant murmur


A similar “gogguzo” was also expressed by the Israelites, in their long journey in the desert.

When Moses led the large multitude of the Israelites through the desert, the impatient crowd, raised their voices in complaint against Moses and Aaron:
“Would that we had died at the Lord’s hand in the land of Egypt, as we sat by our fleshpots and ate our fill of bread” (Ex 16:3)

The Israelites also “murmured!”


In response to this “murmuring” of the people, God Yahweh provided them with the “flesh of the quail” and the “bread of the Manna” (Ex 16: 4-15)

In the Gospel, when the Jews “murmured”, Jesus provides them with a reply of the “flesh of His body” and the “bread of His Life”


Jesus tells – as we see in today’s Gospel also – “Stop murmuring among yourselves… I am the Bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died.
>> This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that a man may eat of it and not die.” (Jn 6: 43, 48-50)


The Israelites were given perishable flesh of the quails and they who ate the Manna, died.
>> But Jesus, now gives His imperishable flesh of His Own Body and offers the Eternal Manna as the Bread of our life!


It is in the Holy Eucharist, that the Lord offers this imperishable food and salvation to each of us.

What is our perception and passion towards this True Life that Jesus offers in the Holy Eucharist?


The Israelites in the Old Testament as well as the Jews in Jesus’ time, “murmured”…

Do I also “murmur” and remain indifferent to believing in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist?

Do I also “murmur” and fail to prepare myself well to receive Jesus, in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass?

Do I also “murmur” and become unmindful or even disrespectful to the Presence of the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, in the Chapels and in the Churches?


May this lengthened meditation on John 6 – the “the great discourse on the Bread of Life” – help us to deepen our faith and zeal for Jesus, in the Most Holy Eucharist.

It is this devotion and union with the Lord, alone, that can make us also, in turn, a Eucharistic people – breaking and giving ourselves – for the welfare and salvation of the world!


In the book of the Acts of the Apostles, Philip…
… inspired by an Angel of the Lord reaches out to a royal official – an Ethiopian eunach – and delivers the Word of God and the Salvific Message of the Risen Lord.

When we have a deep passion for the Lord in our hearts, we too will reach out the Message of God’s Love and Mercy to the world around us.


May the words of St Francis de Sales inspire us:
“When the bee has gathered the dew of heaven and the earth’s sweetest nectar from the flowers, it turns it into honey, then hastens to its hive.

In the same way, the priest, having taken from the Altar, the Son of God (who is as the dew from heaven, and true son of Mary, flower of our humanity)…
… gives Him to you as Delicious Food!”


Let us seek to satisfy our hunger for God…
… by growing in our love for Jesus in the Most Holy Eucharist – the Bread of Life!”


God Bless! Live Jesus!


—————————–
📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
MAN’S VOCATION LIFE IN THE SPIRIT – GOD’S SALVATION: LAW AND GRACE – The Fourth Commandment – The Family and the society
>> Respect for parents (filial piety) derives from gratitude toward those who, by the gift of life, their love and their work, have brought their children into the world…
… and enabled them to grow in stature, wisdom, and grace. (CCC # 2215)
——————-

“May Jesus, the Bread of Life, always be the source, strength and summit of our Christian living!”

(Based on Acts 8:1b-8 and Jn 6:35-40 – Wednesday of the Third Week in Easter)

A story is told about a pilot who always looked down intently on a certain valley…
… when the plane passed overhead.

One day his co-pilot asked, “What’s so interesting about that spot?”

The pilot replied: “See that stream?

Well, when I was a kid I used to sit down there on a log and fish.

Every time an airplane flew over, I would look up and wish I were flying…
… now I look down and wish I were fishing.”

There is a deep craving for satisfaction and fulfilment, inside every creature,
One is restless till this thirst is fulfilled…
One is impatient till this craving is satisfied…

This ‘longing’ is innate in every human being…
… a thirst for the Divine, for the Transcendental.

This ‘longing’ compels humans…
… to search… to seek…
… for the source of satisfaction
… for the fountain of fulfilment

But how wonderful it would be to be knowing and to be convinced that this “thirst” can find its fulfilment only in God.

The Gospel of the Day presents Jesus promising this fulfilment and contentment to all those who come to Him and believe in Him – the Bread of Life.

Jesus declares, “I am the Bread of Life; He who comes to me shall not hunger and he who believes in me shall never thirst” (Jn 6: 35)

The crowds who had been fed by Jesus, by the miracle of the multiplication of loaves, came in search of Jesus…
… probably expecting more!

They wanted still more… and they express this to Jesus, “Sir, give us this bread always” (Jn 6:34)

In John Chapter 4, we read the story of the Samaritan woman, by the well of Jacob, who had also expressed a similar desire.

She said to Jesus “Sir, give me this water, so that I may not be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water” (Jn 4: 15)

Each of us, deep within, are ‘longing’…
… to drink water and eat food that will quench the longing, forever.

It is this search that makes people to go out and seek the various sources of satisfaction.

Some feel to have found this fulfilment…
… through worldly pleasures and bad habits like smoking, drinking, obsession with sex, drugs etc, which only lead to momentary external satisfaction and short-lived bursts of thrill.

Some feel to have found this fulfilment…
… in the various philosophies, new-age patterns of life and naturalistic means of spirituality etc, which may have traces of truth, but fail to provide authentic and fullness of life.

The Book of the Acts of the Apostles records one such notable example of Saul.

Saul (who is also called Paul) failed to understand and grasp “The Truth” and persecuted all those who followed “The Way!”
“But Saul was ravaging the church by entering house after house; dragging off both men and women, he committed them to prison.” (Acts 8:3)

But Jesus, today, boldly and unambiguously declares that it’s only in HIM that true and complete fulfilment of life can be found:
“He who comes to me shall not hunger and he who believes in me shall never thirst” (Jn 6: 35)

Are we convinced of this fact, that it’s only in Jesus, that I can achieve true and complete happiness…?

The Lord, today, calls us back to Him…
… to His Heart
… to His Church
… to His Eucharist
… to experience Him fully.

To those who have strayed…
… the call of the Gospel, is to come back to the paths of truth

To those who are holding on to Him…
… the call of the Gospel, is to deepen the conviction, that in Him alone, can the hunger of my soul and the thirst of my heart be fulfilled.

To those who have strayed…
… the Lord invites to build the virtues of humility, docility and openness to the Spirit.

To those who are holding on to Him…
… the Lord invites to build the virtues of patience, firm trust and a passionate longing.

May Jesus, the Bread of Life, always be the source, strength and summit of our Christian living!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
MAN’S VOCATION LIFE IN THE SPIRIT – GOD’S SALVATION: LAW AND GRACE – The Fourth Commandment – The Family and the society

The respect of children, whether minors or adults, for their father and mother…
… is nourished by the natural affection born of the bond uniting them.

It is required by God’s commandment. (CCC # 2214)

“Living closely united to the Bread of Life – the Most Holy Eucharist!”

(Based on Acts 7:51-8:1a and Jn 6:30-35 – Tuesday of the Third Week in Easter)

Stones flew with terrifying force, striking without mercy.

The mob roared – driven by rage, deaf to reason.
Chaos ruled the moment!

But at the center of it all stood Stephen – unshaken, eyes lifted, heart anchored in heaven.

He was not alone.

In that final hour, as his body weakened, his spirit surged with power – not from within, but from the One he had lived for: Jesus, the Living Bread.
Christ ruled in his heart!

Then it happened – heaven was unveiled.

And there stood the Son of Man – not seated, as Scripture so often says, but standing.

The Eternal High Priest, the Bread come down from heaven…
… rose to welcome the one, who had been nourished by His very self.

Probably, giving a standing ovation!

Jesus stood, for the one who had drawn life from the Eucharist!

Stephen’s strength was not his own.

It was Christ in him – Christ, his food, his fire, his everything.

Such is the power of the Bread of Life: it feeds not just the body…
.. but raises up souls strong enough to make even Heaven rise in honor.

The Gospel of the Day presents Jesus, the Spiritual Dietician…
… exhorting the most important element that is to be part of the “spiritual diet” of everyone who follows Him – the Holy Eucharist – through the “Bread of Life” discourses.

After the feeding of the large multitude of people by the multiplication of the loaves, the people sought Jesus.

Jesus, knew their hearts longed not for Him, but for the bread-giver!
Jesus knew they were following not Him, but the food-provider!

So Jesus sought to put the matters in the right perspective and teaches them about the real food that they should be longing.

It is in this context that Jesus declares, “I am the bread of life; He who comes to me shall not hunger and He who believes in me, shall never thirst” (Jn 6: 35)

Jesus declares Himself as the Bread of Life.

The Greek word that is used here for “bread” is “artos”.

This “artos”….
… refers to food composed of flour mixed with water, and baked.
… also refers to food of any kind or food in general.

As “bread” or “food” is essential for the physical life
… Jesus as “the bread of life” is required for the spiritual life!

Without bread, physical life would perish….
… Without Jesus, the bread, spiritual life would perish!

In the Holy Eucharist, Jesus offers this “Bread of Life” for us…
… to be our nourishment and strength
… to be our sustenance and energy
… to be our life and forte

What is our disposition and attitude towards Jesus, the “Bread of Life” in the Holy Eucharist?

History is a witness, that through centuries, there have been many saints, both men and women, who have lived for major chunks of their lives, just on the Holy Eucharist.

They would take no food or drink, but ONLY received the Holy Communion, everyday.

A few notable among these saints are…

…. St Catherine of Siena (in the 1350’s….. prior to her death, for seven years, she took no food into her body, except the Holy Eucharist)

… St Nicholas of Flue (lived in Switzerland as a hermit, in the 1400’s… for nearly 19 years, lived without any food, except the Holy Eucharist)

… Blessed Alexandrina da Costa of Portugal (of the 20th century… for the last thirteen years of her life, lived on the Holy Eucharist alone)

Our Lord himself explained to Blessed Alexandrina why He gives this grace to his some of His saints:
“You are to live by the Eucharist alone,” Jesus told her, “because I want to prove to the world the power of the Eucharist and the power of my life in souls.”

This greatest Treasure of Lives – the Holy Eucharist – the Bread of Life…
… eagerly longs for our reception
… keenly awaits for our adoration

As Pope Benedict XVI says,
“In the Sacrament of the Altar, the Lord meets us, men and women created in God’s image and likeness, and becomes our companion along the way.

In this Sacrament, the Lord truly becomes food for us, to satisfy our hunger for truth and freedom.
Since only the truth can make us free, Christ becomes for us the food of truth.”

Shall we not renew our love and commitment to receiving the “Bread of Life” more frequently, more devoutly, more passionately and with greater preparedness?

Shall we not revive our affection and dedication to spend more time with the “Bread of Life” in the Blessed Sacrament…
… to gain strength, to atone for sins and to offer the world for its sanctification and healing?

St Francis de Sales (SFS) beautifully tells us:
“I often speak with my Teacher – Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament – because I can learn from Him.

Jesus is the Teacher of the Science of Holiness.
I go to Him because I would like to learn from Him, how to become a saint!”

Let us live so closely united to the Bread of Life – the Most Holy Eucharist…
.. that when our final hour comes, Heaven too will rise to its feet.

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
MAN’S VOCATION LIFE IN THE SPIRIT – GOD’S SALVATION: LAW AND GRACE – The Fourth Commandment – The Family and the society

The Divine Fatherhood is the source of human fatherhood…

… this is the foundation of the honour owed to parents. (CCC # 2214)

“Living our lives in the grandeur of Jesus and His Everlasting Kingdom!”

(Based on Acts 6:8-15 and Jn 6:22-29 – Monday of the Third Week in Easter)

In a quiet village nestled amidst rolling hills, there was talk of a mysterious garden hidden deep in the forest.

Legends whispered that this garden held a secret so profound…
… that it could grant anyone who found it boundless joy and fulfillment.

One brave soul, a young shepherd named Luca, decided to embark on a quest to find this elusive garden.

Armed with determination and a map passed down through generations…
… Lucas set off into the unknown.

Days turned into weeks as Lucas journeyed through dense forests, crossed roaring rivers, and climbed towering mountains.

Doubts crept into his mind, wondering if the garden was just a myth.

Just when he was about to give up…
… he stumbled upon a clearing bathed in golden sunlight.

In the center stood a magnificent tree with leaves that shimmered like emeralds.

Approaching the tree, Lucas discovered a small wooden chest nestled among its roots. >> With trembling hands, he opened it and found a simple note inside.

“True happiness,” the note read, “is not a destination but a journey.

It is found in moments of kindness, love, and gratitude shared along the way.”

With newfound clarity, Lucas realized that the real treasure was not the garden itself…
… but the lessons he learned and the experiences he gained during his quest.

How often we also lose our focus
… interested only in worldly pleasures…
… and rejecting offers for eternal treasures and heavenly happiness

The Gospel of the Day presents Jesus inviting and exhorting them to seek for higher and heavenly longings in life…
“Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you” (Jn 6: 27)

The people had witnessed Jesus’ great miracle of the multiplication of loaves.

Their hunger had been satisfied.
Their appetites had been gratified.

In Jesus, they found a person who was able to answer the bodily needs.

The people desired to crown Him as their King!

Is this not a trend in our society as well?

How often are the bread-givers and money-makers held in high esteem, even in our days…
… at the expense of people who are unable contribute much or do much work.

Think of the aged, the sick, the invalids in our own houses, communities and societies, who are unable to work or contribute anything materially…
How often do we neglect them!
How often do we put them down!
How often do we call them as useless!

We sometimes glorify people based only their work, their position and their activities…

The “being” of a person is often neglected
… only the “doing” of a person is exalted!

The “essence” of a person is often not given value
… only the “work” of a person is given credit!

But Jesus refrains from being a victim to this mentality of the society.

He refuses to be their “Bread-Boss!”
He rejects to being their “Materialistic-Messiah!”

And so when people, come to Him, Jesus recognizes their motive in seeking Him…
… and He chides them saying: “Amen, Amen, I say to you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs but you ate the loaves and were filled.

Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you” (Jn 6: 26-27)

The Lord seeks to lead the people to desire and long for the higher realities of life.

And this is the wish of the Lord for each one of us too, that we…
… be interested not only in worldly affairs; rather, we be more attracted to the heavenly realms
… be busy not only with gathering earthly satisfactions; but, we accept and embrace more of heavenly happiness

It is true that “to the hungry one, food and other material wants demand higher urgency”

But having said this…
… one must also be willing to accept, that beyond these material aspects, the human person has greater needs – on a spiritual sense – towards the transcendental realities!

What is needed therefore, is a proper prioritizing…

Does God and the Heavenly realities mean more to me, than earthly desires?
Does Jesus and His Virtues occupy primal position in my life, than the worldly values?

A true prioritizing and firm conviction alone can help us to be the true witnesses of Jesus, the Messiah.

Jesus is our model and example, Who, in His life, accorded the first and primal place to God and His Will.

The lives of the saints and the martyrs are also proof for this fact.

In the Acts of the Apostles, 6:8-15, we read of how St Stephen, the first Martyr of the Church, “was filled with grace and power, and could withstand any persecution”…
… because he had a made a choice for Jesus and His Kingdom, above all!

He rejected all worldly promises and desires that blocked his view of the Kingdom!

Let’s realise that “true happiness is not a destination but a journey.

It is found in moments of kindness, love, and gratitude shared along the way!”

Let us become people, who transcend and rise up higher…
… to live our lives in the grandeur of Jesus and His Everlasting Kingdom!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
MAN’S VOCATION LIFE IN THE SPIRIT – GOD’S SALVATION: LAW AND GRACE – The Fourth Commandment – The Family and the society

Right relations between employers and employees, between those who govern and citizens…

… presuppose a natural good will in keeping with the dignity of human persons concerned for justice and fraternity. (CCC # 2213)

With a deep conviction in the Resurrection, let us build ‘Maison Shaloms – Houses of Peace’ in our families, our societies and in our world!”

(Based on Acts 5:27-32, 40b-41, Rev 5:11-14 and Jn 21:1-19 – Third Sunday of Easter, Cycle C)

In the heart of war-torn Burundi, in 1993, death and darkness swept across the land like a plague.

One woman, Maggy Barankitse, stood in the midst of it all.

She watched – helpless – as her best friends, her family, and members of her Church community were brutally massacred right before her eyes.
Sorrow pierced her soul like a dagger.

The killers turned to her and said, “Run. Or you’re next.”

But she didn’t run.

She stayed.

And she hid 25 orphaned children that night – not just in corners and closets, but in her heart.

She smuggled them out to safety, risking her life, armed with nothing but her courage and her faith in a Christ who had risen from death.

Years passed.

Maggy lost everything, except one thing: Her unshakable belief that Resurrection is stronger than revenge.

She founded Maison Shalom — “The House of Peace” – which has now transformed the lives of over 20,000 war orphans and child soldiers.

When the world asked her, “How did you survive such horror and keep going?”…
… she answered with fire in her voice: “I have seen death.

But I believe in the Resurrection. That’s my only revenge: to love again!”

(Source: Vatican News, Oct 17, 2021)

Her story challenges us to ask: Have we embraced the Resurrection as a life-giving truth…
… or have we reduced it to just a ‘faith-slogan?’

The Gospel of the Day presents the Risen Lord encountering His Disciples and strengthening their belief and faith in His Resurrection.

The Disciples after the death of their Master, had been a frightened lot.

They were even unable to believe some of the appearance stories of Jesus, to people who were associated with them.

But the Lord today appears to them, and casts away their fears and apprehensions.

He invites His disciples to have breakfast with Him (Jn 21:10, 12)

Jesus calls the disciples to throw away their doubts…
… and instead to believe that He is truly Risen, in human flesh and blood.

This experience of the Risen Lord would find its empowerment, for the Disciples, on the Pentecost Day, when the Holy Spirit would fill them with power and strength.

It is this exhibition of power and force that we see in St Peter, when he boldly proclaimed Jesus as the Lord and Saviour (Acts 3: 13-15, 17-19)

The Risen Lord, became for the Apostles, the source, strength and summit for their expression of faith and trust.

Today, we are invited to have this similar faith – bold, passionate and zealous- in the Risen Lord.

However, sometimes, the Resurrection of the Lord remains only a mere “theoretical” dogma and fails to get converted to a “practical” and experiential reality in our life.

Our lives are often lived in “fear”
… We go about on our day to day works very often with “apprehension”

We live our lives without much “joy”
We spend our days without much “hope”

We are reminded: “We cannot dine at the table of the Risen Lord if we refuse to leave the tomb of fear and doubt.”

The Risen Lord today invites us: to believe in Him more deeply and witness His life more radically in our lives.

He offers His Holy Eucharist as His Risen and Living Presence in our midst.
He gives His Holy Word as His Dynamic and Transforming Reality in our lives.

Let us grow more and more, in our conviction and love for Jesus, the Life and the Resurrection.

With St Peter, let us also proclaim and profess: “Lord, You know everything! You know that I love You!” (Jn 21: 17b)

May our faith in Him, not be a “pragmatic” approach, just to receive favours and benefits…
… rather, may it grow, transform and bring renovations in our life!

Let’s realise that ‘Faith in the Resurrection is not about escaping pain – it’s about facing it with a power greater than death!’

With a deeper conviction that says, “I believe in the Resurrection”
… let us build “Maison Shaloms – Houses of Peace” in our families, our societies and in our world!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
MAN’S VOCATION LIFE IN THE SPIRIT – GOD’S SALVATION: LAW AND GRACE – The Fourth Commandment – The Family and the society

Human communities are made up of persons.

Governing them well is not limited to guaranteeing rights and fulfilling duties such as honoring contracts. (CCC # 2213)

“Having a ‘burning desire’ to be ever faithful to Christ and His Kingdom!”

(Based on the Feast of Saints Philip and James, Apostles)

One of the famous stories by the American author, Napoleon Hill goes thus…

Years back, a great warrior found himself to be in a situation, wherein he had to take a hard decision, to ensure success on the battlefield.

He was about to send his armies against a powerful foe, whose men outnumbered his own.

He got his soldiers into boats and sailed to the enemy’s country.

He then unloaded all the soldiers and the equipment.

When they had disembarked, he gave a strong order, “Burn the ships!”

The ships that had carried them were burnt!
… Up they went, in smoke!

Then he addressed his soldiers, “You see the boats going up in smoke.

That means that we cannot leave these shores alive unless we win!
We now have no choice – we win, or we perish!”

The result of the battle was astonishing:
Though they were a very small number… they still won!

It’s such in life…

Any person who wishes to find success in any undertaking, must be willing to “burn all ships”…
… cut all sources of retreat
… and have a burning desire to win!

Today Holy Mother the Church celebrates the Feast of two such saints – Apostles St Philip and St James – who lived a faithful and courageous life as followers of Jesus…
… having “burnt all ships” that kept them away from Christ
… cut all sources of retreat
… and had a burning desire to be ‘ever faithful!’

The Apostle St Philip was a native of Bethsaida, on Lake Gennesaret. He was among the first disciples of Jesus (Jn 1:43)

At the miraculous feeding of the multitude, it was to Philip that Jesus asked, “Where shall we buy bread that these may eat?” to which Philip replied, “Two hundred denarii worth food will not be enough for them to have a little” (Jn 6:5)

When through Greeks came to meet Jesus, it was Philip whom they met and it was he who reported to Andrew and they both went to Jesus (Jn 12: 21-22)

It was Philip who told Jesus, in the Upper Room, “Lord, show us the Father and it is enough for us” (Jn 14: 8)

The Apostle St James is called as the Younger or the Less, because he was the second of that name who was an apostle of Jesus – distinguishing him from James the Greater, the son of Zebedee

St James the Less was also called as James the Just and is sometimes also called as the “Brother of the Lord”

He is the author of one of the Epistles in the New Testament and he was also ordained as the Bishop of Jerusalem.

The Gospel of the Day (Jn 14:6-14) presents Jesus declaring Himself as “The Way, the Truth and The Life” (Jn 14: 6)

These two Apostles, St Philip and St James by their life, gave a faithful witness to Jesus, The Way, The Truth and The Life!

We are called and challenged, by these Apostles to do the same as well…

Being ready…
to embrace Jesus as The Way…
… seeking to follow only His paths and doing His Will
…being bold to stand firm in the face of hardships, while walking on the Way

Being ready…
to embrace Jesus as The Truth…
… wanting to let go a life of dishonesty and hypocrisy in our actions of life
… determined in the conviction to live for Christ and His virtues in day-to-day life

Being ready…
to embrace Jesus as The Life…
… willing to utilize all our talents, gifts, resources in life for the glory of God and His Kingdom
… being brave to let go off anything which prevents us from living a life for the Lord

The Apostles St Philip and St James…
… were greatly purified in their following of the Lord, through various persecutions and hardships
.. and finally, gave their life in martyrdom to the Lord and His Kingdom!

We are invited and exhorted by these Great Apostles…
.. to “burn all ships” – that can take us away from Christ..
…”cut all sources of retreat” – that tempt us to go away from the battlefield of Christian life
… and instead have a “burning desire” to be ever faithful to Christ and His Kingdom!

Wish you a Happy Feast of the Apostles – St Philip and St James!

May we too, seek and work to be His True Apostles and thus live to be a Saint!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
MAN’S VOCATION LIFE IN THE SPIRIT – GOD’S SALVATION: LAW AND GRACE – The Fourth Commandment – The Family and the society

In this way our relationships with our neighbors are recognized as personal in character.

The neighbour is not a “unit” in the human collective; he is “someone” who by his known origins deserves particular attention and respect. (CCC # 2212)

“Moving from ‘murmuring moments to experiencing multiplying miracles!'”

(Based on Acts 5:34-42 and Jn 6:1-15 – Friday of the 2nd Week of Easter)

An elderly priest was addressing a group of young couples.

In his sermon, he remarked: “Remember that ‘life is about moving from murmuring to multiplying!’

Move from ‘murmuring’ about your grudges, to ‘multiplying’ your gratitude!
Move from ‘murmuring’ about your insufficiencies, to ‘multiplying’ your interconnectededness!
Move from ‘murmuring’ hateful complaints, to ‘multiplying’ healthy communication with each other!”

Can we make our life a ‘movement from murmuring moments to experiencing multiplying miracles?”

The Gospel of the Day is the remarkable miracle of multiplication…
… as the Lord leads his disciples and people from the “tempting world of murmuring to the transformative life of multiplication!”

The feeding of the people, by the mighty deed of multiplication of the loaves, in the only miracle…
… besides the miracle of the Resurrection of Jesus
… that finds a mention in all the four Gospels.

And each of the Gospels also have something unique to speak of this incident:

Mt 14: 13-21: mentions about five thousand men being fed, “without counting women and children”
Mk 6: 31-4: mentions of making the people to be seated in “groups and clusters of hundreds and fifties”
Lk 9: 10-17: also mentions of five thousand men and being seated in clusters of fifty and also mentions Jesus, “looking up to the heavens”.
Jn 6: 5-15: mentions of a “little boy”, who is the provider of the five loaves and two fish and also that “the Lord gave thanks for it”, before distributing it to the people.

The Gospel of the Day presents this account of the multiplication from the eyes of St John, the Evangelist.

Since this miracle finds its parallel with the Resurrection, as the only one mentioned in all the four Gospels, we could highlight some of the outstanding features of this “massive” miracle

A. The multiplication of the loaves fed a massive crowd.

Five thousand men could mean, that including women and children, it would have easily exceeded probably over twenty thousand people!

This easily was the miracle that Jesus performed with the greatest number of witnesses and participants.

B. The multiplication of the loaves was a unique miracle

There are other miracles of Jesus, mentioned in the Bible, which could fall in the following categories…

Miracles of healing: Curing of many sicknesses and diseases
Miracles over nature: Powerful control over the forces of nature
Miracles of exorcism: Casting out demons and liberating people from them
Miracles of transformation: Transforming an object to something else or even of people
Miracles of restoration: Restoring people to their original state of life and good condition

But the miracle of the “multiplication” is unique and special

C. This miracle of the multiplication also reveals some of the finest qualities of Jesus, the Messiah

i. His sensitivity to the needs of the people
While the disciples were just eager to send the crowd away, Jesus reaches out to them in compassion and love.

ii. His ability to effect changes in the mindset and thinking-pattern
The disciples could see no way, in that desert to feed the gigantic crowd. They had only question marks before them.

But Jesus, sheds new light on their minds and helps them find a solution, even in the seemingly impossible situation

iii. His perfect control in a situation of panic
Though there would have been panic in the minds of the disciples, Jesus impresses upon them the fact, that He is in total charge and in complete control.

As the Lord and Creator, He knows exactly what is to be done in the moment of crisis and calamity.

iv. His attitude of raising His heart in thanksgiving at every situation
We read that before the actual multiplication happened, Jesus “took the loaves, and gave thanks…” (Jn 6: 11)

It’s amazing to imagine that situation:
… Thousands and thousands of people, eagerly waiting, hungry and exhausted….
… Having just Five Loaves and the Two Fish – which was scarcely able to meet the hunger of a couple of people…
… Jesus still raises His Heart in thanksgiving and gratitude!

It is tremendous faith that allows a person to raise one’s mind in gratitude, even in the midst of utter poverty, deep need and barren nothingness!

v. His consciousness to gather the remaining pieces, after the miracle
The Lord, “Who came save and seek the lost” is also highly mindful of gathering up the remaining broken pieces of the loaves.

The disciples get trained to become aware of “what is often considered as wasteful” can also become resourceful!

The disciples are reminded that even things that are usually “discarded” and regarded as being “unwanted and useless,” can become sources of strength and nourishment!

Let us reflect on the following:

Am I able…

(1) To be sensitive and responsive to the needs and desires of those around me?

(2) To see the brighter side of life, with the Grace and strength from God, and rub the fragrance of this positivity onto others in my life?

(3) To rise above the situations of panic and disturbances, and be calm, knowing that I have a God, who is ultimately in total and perfect control of every situation of turmoil?

(4) To lift up my heart to the Lord, in thanksgiving, at every moment and situation of life, even when the chips are down or when I pass through the dark tunnels and the despairing valleys of life?

(5) To be aware of the “unwanted” talents in me, the “excess” people of the society and the “discarded” peripherals of the world, and seek to make the best use of them and collect them to be part of the mainframe scene?

Let us allow the Lord to lead us…
… from the “tempting world of murmuring to the transformative life of multiplication!”

Yes… Let us move from “murmuring moments to experiencing multiplying miracles!”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
MAN’S VOCATION LIFE IN THE SPIRIT – GOD’S SALVATION: LAW AND GRACE – The Fourth Commandment – The Family and the society

The fourth commandment illuminates other relationships in society.
In our brothers and sisters we see the children of our parents; in our cousins, the descendants of our ancestors
… in our fellow citizens, the children of our country; in the baptized, the children of our mother the Church

… in every human person, a son or daughter of the One who wants to be called “our Father.” (CCC # 2212)