“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)

“Reviving our hearts to firmly install the Lord as the Alpha and the Omega of all our activities and our life!

(Based on Acts 5:27-33 and Jn 3:31-36 – Thursday of the 2nd Week of Easter)

A few days back we celebrated the Easter Vigil.

The Easter Vigil is called as the mother of all vigils.

In the liturgy of the Easter Vigil, a Paschal Candle is prepared.

The priest marks the candle, in the shape of the Cross, Alpha and Omega – the first and the last Greek letters and the present Year, 2025

He uses the following words:
… Christ yesterday and today (on the vertical arm of the cross)
… the Beginning and the End (horizontal arm of the cross)
… the Alpha (alpha above the cross)
… and the Omega (omega below the cross)
… All time belongs to him (numeral 2 in upper left corner of cross)
… and all the ages (numeral 0 in upper right corner of cross)
… To him be glory and power (numeral 2 in lower left corner)
… through every age and for ever. Amen (numeral 5 in lower right corner)

These words declare the Supreme authority and Heavenly glory of Jesus, the Son of God.

However, it can happen so, that at times, in our life…
… such fundamental factors of faith are taken for granted…
… such basic truths of our spiritual life are presumed as known…

Therefore, it is sometimes good take a pause in our spiritual life, and ask ourselves, this fundamental question,

”Am I really trusting and believing in Jesus, as the True Son of God, the One who is all-powerful and Holy?”
“Is my faith and spirituality truly built on the great foundation, that the Lord is the ultimate beginning (Alpha) and the end (Omega) of everything?”

The Gospel of the day is an invitation to make this examination of the basics of our faith and spirituality and to renew our belief and trust in the Lord.

The Gospel passage begins with the verse, “The One who comes from heaven is above all” (Jn 3:31)

This verse refers to the Divine origin of the Lord.

At the Annunciation, Angel Gabriel had announced to Mother Mary that Her child “will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High” (Lk 1: 32)

The Divinity of the Lord was affirmed by Him through the various works of wonders and great deeds…
… of healing many in afflictions and sicknesses
… of accepting many of the rejected and unwanted
… of strengthening many of the oppressed and the abused
… of preaching many on the need for repentance and striving to enter the Kingdom

His personality shone with Divinity!
His character radiated with Holiness!

He sought to become the Way-revealer, the Truth-instiller and the Life-giver.

He is the One “Whom the Father loves” and “to Whom the Father has given everything” (Jn 3:35)

Have we given our lives entirely to Him, who is above all things?

Have we entrusted ourselves entirely to Him, who has been entrusted everything by the Father?

At the Holy Mass, one of the most beautiful prayers is called as the “Doxology”.

In this, we render all the praise to the Father, through the Son, in the Holy Spirit.

“Through Him, With Him, In Him…. O God Almighty Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honour is Yours, forever and ever, Amen!”

It would be good, to make this prayer of the Doxology, our own, in our works and activities.

This could be a conscious way of acknowledging the Divinity of the Lord in all our activities.

This could be a meaningful way of saying that the Lord reigns in all our works and deeds.

Let us revive our hearts to firmly install the Lord as the True Alpha (the beginning) and the True Omega (the end) of all our activities…
… and our life itself!

Today is the First of May.

The Church commemorates St Joseph, the Worker.

We look up to St Joseph, the Worker, who was able to fulfil the duties entrusted to him, with a sense of immense trust and faith in the Lord.

St. Alphonsus Liguori says, “We should, indeed, honour St. Joseph, since the Son of God Himself was graciously pleased to honour him by calling him father.

If the King of kings was pleased to raise Joseph to so high a dignity, it is right and obligatory on our part to endeavour to honour him as much as we can!”

Let us seek the intercession of St Joseph, who was able to fulfill the duties entrusted to him, with a sense of immense trust and faith in the Lord…
… in order to seek for the higher and heavenly longings of life!

Happy Feast of St Joseph, the Just Worker in God’s Plan of Redemption.

Glorious Blessings of Jesus, his Precious Child – the Way, the Truth and the Life
Heavenly Intercessions of Mary – his loving Spouse and our affectionately protecting Mother

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 political community has a duty to honour the family, to assist it, and to ensure especially:
… the protection of security and health, especially with respect to dangers like drugs, pornography, alcoholism, etc.

…. the freedom to form associations with other families and so to have representation before civil authority. (CCC # 2211)

“Standing before the Cross – the Ultimate Expression of God’s Tremendous Love – and hearing the voice of Jesus whispering to our hearts: ‘I stayed… because of you!'”

(Based on Acts 5:17-26 and Jn 3:16-21 – Wednesday of the 2nd Week of Easter)

One day, a little boy walked into a grand, towering church for the very first time.

His tiny eyes widened at the sheer beauty around him…
… the colorful stained glass
… the glow of the candles
… the sound of the choir.

But then… his gaze froze.

Right above the altar, hanging solemnly, was a large Crucifix…
… the image of a man, beaten, bruised, and bloodied.

The boy tugged his father’s sleeve and, in a small, trembling voice asked,
“Daddy… why is that man hanging there?

Didn’t anyone love Him enough to save Him?

The father bent down, held his son close, and whispered, “Son, they could not save Him… because He refused to save Himself.

He loved us too much to come down from that Cross.”

The boy stared again, this time not with fear, but with wonder.

A tear rolled down his cheek as he whispered back, “He stayed… because of me?”

The father smiled, tears now in his own eyes, and said, “Yes, my child. You were on His mind… when He was on that Cross!”

Yes… Love doesn’t leave when it hurts —

Love stays, even when the nails are hammered in!

Today, like that little boy, we are invited to stand before the Cross and hear the voice of Jesus whispering to our hearts:
“I stayed… because of you.”

The sacrifice of Jesus, on the Cross, reveals the depth of God’s Love

It is this love of God that Jesus spells out, when He says to Nicodemus, in today’s Gospel:
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him, should not perish, but may have eternal life…” (Jn 3:16)

This verse, John 3:16 has some of the most unique credits….
… it is perhaps one of the most favourite verses of the entire Bible
… it is perhaps one of the most known verses of the entire Bible

In seven phrases, this verse, reveals the gist and the core of the entire Good News…
… For God: The Great Lord and the Creator of the entire universe
… so loved the world: The Great Purpose of God
… that He gave His only Son: The Great Sacrifice
… that whoever: The Great Open Invitation
… believes in Him: The Great Condition
… should not perish: The Great Desire
… but may have eternal life: The Great Promise

Jesus was teaching Nicodemus that the heart of God’s love would be revealed in the sacrifice and death of His Beloved Son, on the Cross.
The Cross is not for condemnation…
The Cross is not for judgement…
The Cross is for salvation
The Cross is for hope!

To the one who believes and trusts in this power of the Cross, there is hope and salvation.

To the one who rejects and refuses this power of the Cross, judgement and condemnation is self-inflicted and self-imposed.

God doesn’t want to condemn…
… He only wants to redeem.
God doesn’t desire to judge…
… He only wants to save.

The Cross of the Lord invites us today…
… to be faithful to the salvation won by the Lord, always
… to seek the grace to live a life in the light, always
… to make efforts to walk the path of truth, always.

Let the voice of our Crucified Lord, telling each one of us: ‘I stayed… because of you!”
… resound in our hearts
… reminding us to live in holiness!

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 political community has a duty to honour the family and to ensure especially:
… the right to private property, to free enterprise, to obtain work and housing, and the right to emigrate

… in keeping with the country’s institutions, the right to medical care, assistance for the aged, and family benefits. (CCC # 2211)

“‘Updating’ our lives with the love and power of the Holy Spirit'”

(Based on Acts 4:32-37 and Jn 3:7b-15 – Tuesday of the 2nd Week of Easter)

This beautiful message on prayer, was written in bold large letters…
…. in front of the arch leading to a famous Shrine:
“When you pray, remember:

1. The love of God that wants the best for us.
2. The wisdom of God that knows what is best for us.
3. The power of God that can accomplish it!”

Yes… prayer is acknowledging the Love, the Wisdom and the Power of God…
… which will always want the best for us,
… know what’s best for us
… and accomplish what’s best for us!

Do we realise that ‘God’s Way is always the best way?’
… or is my life failing “to be in compatibility” with the Ways of God?

When we are not in proper terms with God, we fail to understand many of His plans for us.

And that is why the Lord tells in today’s Gospel, “If I tell you about earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things?” (Jn 3:12)

The conversation between Nicodemus, in the darkness of the night and Jesus, the Light of the world continues…

The Lord speaks of the need “to be born anew” and of how the movement of the Spirit cannot be judged, but its effects can be perceived and felt (Jn 3:7)

But Nicodemus fails to understand these words of the Lord…

In his ignorance and unawareness, he puts forward a genuine doubt, “How can this be?” (Jn 3:9)

Nicodemus was unable to grasp the meaning of the words of the Lord.

He looked lost.

His thoughts were not “compatible” with the thoughts of the Lord.

And so Jesus says that one would fail to understand heavenly things, if one fails to even understand the earthly things.

How often is our life also, not “compatible” with the requirements of Jesus, and His Gospel!

Our thought-pattern often fails to be “compatible” with the teachings of the Church….

Our relationship with others, often fails to be “compatible” with the command of love of all…

Our personal following of Jesus, often fails to be “compatible” with our dual mind of seeking also the pleasures of this world….

We need to realise that ‘God’s Way is always the best way!’

We need to deepen our prayer life and our bonding with the Lord.

This will help us to acknowledge the Love, the Wisdom and the Power of God…
… which always wants the best for us,
… which knows what’s best for us
… and which accomplishes what’s best for us!

Let us “update” our lives with the love and power of the Holy Spirit.

Let us move from a state of “How can this be?” to a state of “Indeed, it is so!” with the power of the Holy Spirit.

Let us thirst for Him.
Let us long for Him.

We also seek the intercession today, of St Catherine of Siena – the patron saint of Europe and the first woman along with St Teresa of Avila, to be declared as Doctor of the Church – on her feast day.

Her words are an inspiration to us:
“Everything comes from love, all is ordained for the salvation of man…
… God does nothing without this goal in mind!”

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 political community has a duty to ensure:
… the protection of the stability of the marriage bond and the institution of the family

… the freedom to profess one’s faith, to hand it on, and raise one’s children in it, with the necessary means and institutions. (CCC # 2211)

“Being ready to give ourselves entirely to the Lord – to the Spirit of God – and allow Him to renew us!’”

(Based on Acts 4:23-31 and Jn 3:1-8 – Monday of the 2nd Week of Easter)

A businessman, once, wanted to sell his vast old castle along with his property.

The massive building had, however, been empty for months and needed many repairs.

Uninhabited for many years, and been prone to many thieves, vandals and natural calamities, there was a lot of damage to the building.
Doors had been damaged
Windows had been smashed
The interiors were badly damaged

As he showed a prospective buyer the building and the property, this businessman took pains to explain…
… that he would replace the broken windows
… bring in the engineering crew to correct any structural damage
… and clean out the garbage.

But the one who came to buy had other plans. “Forget about the repairs,” the buyer said without giving heed to what the businessman was saying.

“When I buy this place, I’m going to build something completely different. I am not interested in the building alone; I want the entire site!”

The businessman was worried about the many repairs he had to do before he undertook the deal.

But the one who came to buy was interested more in the land – the site itself – than the building and the minor repair works.

Something similar happens when we seek to hand over the property of our lives to God.

We, get perplexed and worried over the many little aspects

But the Lord is interested in our entire life
He demands a total transformation.
He requires a complete conversion.

This is what the Gospel of the Day also points to – “No one can enter the Kingdom of God, without being born of the water and the spirit” (Jn 3:5)

Jesus is in conversation with Nicodemus.
Nicodemus was a Pharisee, a ruler of the Jews.

The Gospel is particular to point out that “he came to Jesus at night” (Jn 3:2)

Nicodemus finds three mentions in the Gospel of St John.

One, in this meeting with the Lord. (Jn 3: 1ff)
The second, in discussion with the chief priests and Pharisees who were discussing the origins of Jesus, the Messiah (Jn 7: 45-52)
The third, at the burial of Jesus, along with Joseph of Arimathea (Jn 19: 38-41)

In all these three occasions, we find an element of darkness that is associated

It was in the darkness of a night when Nicodemus first came to meet Jesus…
Second, Nicodemus was in a discussion of darkness that made plans to eliminate Jesus
Third, Nicodemus buries the body of Jesus in the darkness of nature and human folly

Darkness would seek to get associated with Nicodemus every time…

But Jesus, the light of the world, invited Nicodemus to move to the light
… “those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God” (Jn 3:21)

Jesus invites Nicodemus to experience and live the Truth…
… that one needs to be born from above to see the Kingdom of God
… that one needs to be born of the water and the spirit to enter the Kingdom of God

The same invitation is rendered to each one of us.

We too may often be finding ourselves in the “darkness”

But Jesus, the Light of the world invites us to embrace Him wholly and to undergo a complete transformation.

What is needed is to let the Spirit of God work in ways that He wants

We need to have complete openness to the inspirations of the Holy Spirit.

We need to allow the Spirit of God, “the Wind [to] blow where it wills…’’ (Jn 3: 8)

When the early Church went through moments of persecution and hardships, they allowed themselves to be guided and led by the Power of the Holy Spirit.

Offering their struggles, they prayed to the Lord; and they were filled with the Holy Spirit
“And now, Lord, look at their threats, and grant to your servants to speak your word with all boldness…
… while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.

When they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken…
… and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness!” (Acts 4:29-31)

Yes, when we make a complete offering of our lives to the Lord…
… we are filled with Power and Courage!

The Lord seeks the complete property of our lives.

We may be worried about the complications in which a transformation is possible

We may be thinking, how can I, with so many complications in life, have a true conversion

But the One who comes to occupy our lives has other plans…

He says “When I occupy your life, I’m going to build something completely different.

I am not interested in the externals; I want your entire self…
… the whole life!”

Are we ready and willing to give ourselves entirely to the Lord – to the Spirit of God – and allow Him to “make us anew and renewed?”

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 political community has a duty to honour the family, to assist it, and to ensure especially:
… the freedom to establish a family
… have children

… and bring them up in keeping with the family’s own moral and religious convictions. (CCC # 2211)

“Renewing our commitment to a life of holiness, offering our weaknesses and sins totally to the unfathomable Mercy of God and becoming a Missionary of Mercy to all!”

(Based on the Second Sunday of Easter – Sunday of Divine Mercy)

St. John Maria Vianney is the patron saint of priests.

As a model priest, he helped all the needy in his parish or in the region around him.

Once, word was sent to him that a very sick man of his parish was seeking to make confession.

However, this man was pretty far off from the place where the church was.

It was a time when vehicles were too sparse.
The climate was bitter cold and the rain storm was blowing in.

But the zeal in the heart of the Saintly Priest was still greater.

So, he picked up his cloak and started his walk to the sick man’s house.

The freezing cold pierced through his frail bones
The lashing winds wrenched his body in frosty pain
Yet, St John Vianney trekked on!

Finally he reached the house of the sick man.

By the time he arrived, St Vianney himself was shivering and wobbly with high fever.

He fell so ill, that he had to hear the confession, lying down, beside the sick man’s bed.
Many in fact, even thought, that the priest was more sick than the penitent ill-man!

It was the personal experiences of God’s Mercy that helped St John Vianney to share God’s immense mercy!

God’s Mercy always reaches out – to the one who is in need, to the one who seeks!

All of us are to have an experience of the Lord’s forgiving love and be a Missionary of Mercy

Pope St John Paul II beautifully tells us: “Divine Mercy! This is the Easter Gift that the Church receives from the Risen Christ and offers to Humanity at the dawn of the third millennium!”

Today as we celebrate God’s Mercy – on this Divine Mercy Sunday – we are presented with the example of St Thomas, the Apostle, who is a consolation to all who face uncertainties in spiritual life

St Thomas sometimes is considered by others, as being “adamant” and “proud.”

But…
… it was his search for convictions in life that made him seek for a proof for the Lord’s appearance
… it was his desire for certainty in life that caused him to doubt the words of his companions

When we go through the life of St Thomas as seen in the Gospels, we encounter a person…
… constantly displaying courage
… expressing commitment
… and seeking for convictions.

It was probably St Thomas who first expressed his desire to give up his life for the Lord and His Kingdom… “Let us also go, that we may die with Him” (Jn 11: 16)

He becomes a motivation for all those who follow Christ, to be bold and brave and even to give up one’s life for the Lord and His Kingdom

St Thomas also had the simplicity and the openness to ask Jesus, “Lord, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?” (Jn 14:5)

He becomes a consolation to all those who face genuine uncertainties in spiritual life and encourages to remain like a child – in openness, simplicity and frankness.

St Thomas refused to trust the words of his companions on the issue of the Jesus’ Resurrection.

He knew that many of his companions had impulsive reactions and therefore, could not be believed for their words.

Therefore, he insisted that his belief in Christ’s Resurrection would depend only on His personal experience with the Lord
“Unless I see the mark of the nails in His Hands and put my finger into His side, I will not believe” (Jn 20:25)

He becomes a refuge for all those who grapple with spiritual anxieties – lack of consolation in prayer life, deep longing to experience God and many confusions regarding spiritual teachings and faith experiences

St Thomas is a shining beacon of courage.

He had his doubts.

But once cleared, he became a person of immense conviction.

It was the personal experience of God’s Mercy that helped St Thomas to cry out with conviction: “My Lord and my God!” (Jn 20:28) and to share God’s immense mercy to others!

This intimate experience made him to travel across many lands to give witness to Jesus, His Lord and Master…
… and even to give up His life, in martyrdom!

The Feast of the Divine Mercy is an invitation for all of us to plunge into the ocean of God’s Mercy…
… even though often we are crushed under the weight of sin, struggles, failures and helplessness!

Let’s remember “the ocean of God’s Mercy is greater than all our sins, failures and weaknesses!”

St Faustina, in The Diary, reminds us the Mind of the Lord: “I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and shelter for all souls, and especially for poor sinners.

On that day the very depths of My Tender Mercy are open. I pour out a whole ocean of Graces upon those souls who approach the Fount of My Mercy.

The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment!”

Let this Feast of the Divine Mercy be an opportunity for all of us to renew our commitment to a life of holiness, offer our weaknesses and sins totally to the unfathomable Mercy of God…
… and with this personal experience of God’s Mercy, become a Missionary of Mercy to all!

Happy Feast of the Mercy of the Lord!

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

Civil authority should consider it a grave duty “to acknowledge the true nature of marriage and the family…

… to protect and foster them, to safeguard public morality, and promote domestic prosperity.” (CCC # 2210)

“Being assured that the Lord, Who has entrusted His task to us, will continue to trust in us!”

(Based on Acts 4:13-21 and Mk 16:9-15 – Saturday of the Easter Octave)

There are moments when a man’s secret tells his whole story.

One such secret lay, not on a golden throne, not in papal documents…
… but in a small, time-worn crucifix…
… tucked quietly inside the cassock of a man who had just been made Pope.

Years ago, as a young priest in Argentina, Jorge Mario Bergoglio visited the deathbed of an old confessor…
… a priest who had spent countless hours listening, forgiving, and healing broken souls.

There, beside that humble man, Fr. Jorge felt something stir.

And as he left, he looked at the crucifix the dying priest used to hold during every confession.

He paused…
… looked around
… and quietly, he took it!

Years later, as Pope Francis, he admitted:
“I stole it…!

But it’s the crucifix of a great forgiver.

I carry it with me always.

When a bad thought comes, or when I feel troubled…
… I reach into my pocket and touch that cross. >> It reminds me of God’s mercy.
It gives me courage!”

He didn’t steal gold.
He didn’t steal power.

He ‘stole mercy.’
And mercy became the mission for life for Pope Francis!

Today, as the world mourns and bells toll over Rome, we remember ‘the Pope of Mercy,’ who led…
… not with perfection, but with presence
… not with certainties, but with compassion

He didn’t hide his wounds…
… he let Christ shine through them; thus giving heed to Christ’s mandate of proclamation!

The Gospel of the Day recounts the mandate given to the Apostles by Jesus, the Master, to spread His Gospel to the entire nations:
“Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to the whole creation” (Mk 16:15)

We are on the Saturday of the Easter Octave.

Over the last few days, we have meditated on the various Resurrection accounts from the various Gospel narratives.

The encounter of the women, on the way back from the tomb (Mt 28: 8-15)
The encounter by Mary of Magdalene, calling her by name (Jn 20: 11-18)
The encounter of the two disciples on the way to Emmaus, with the Risen Lord, at the breaking of bread (Lk 24: 13-35)
The encounter of the Apostles with the Risen Lord in the closed room (Lk 24: 35-48)
The encounter of the Apostles with the Risen Lord by the Sea of Tiberias (Jn 21: 1-14)

Today, in the Gospel of St Mark, we have a sort of summary of the many Resurrection narratives, closing with the mission mandate of the Lord…
… to “go into all the world” and reach out the saving Word of the Lord.

In all these various Resurrection narratives that are mentioned in today’s Gospel…
… one common element is seen: A mention of unbelief or uncertainty of the disciples.

When Mary Magdalene saw the Lord and reported this to the disciples…
… “but when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it” (Mk 16:11)

When the two disciples on the way to Emmaus spoke of the Risen Lord’s appearance to them, “they did not believe them” either (Mk 16: 13)
… but later the Lord appeared to the disciples themselves and “rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart because they had not believed…” (Mk 16: 14, NABRE)

The disciples found it hard to accept and believe in the Resurrection of the Lord.

They had been rebuked often by the Lord, during His earthly ministry.
Now they are again chided for their lack of faith, even after His Resurrection.

Despite this less intensity in their belief, the Risen Lord entrusts them with His mission of proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom.

Despite this little strength in their faith, the Risen Lord, hands over to them His task of preaching the Word of God to all the nations.

That’s the trust of the Lord in His disciples.

It’s His conviction that “I will be with them
… and above all, I trust them!”

Like the disciples, we too may and will have our moments of…
… variations in faith
… slackening in trust
… and slipping in hope

In all this, let us be assured that the Lord, Who has entrusted His task to us, will continue to trust in us, and assures His presence with us.

We are weak…
We are fragile…
The Lord knows these aspects in us, much better than we ourselves.

He knew all this, even of the Apostles.

Yet, He wholly trusted them.

And He wholly trusts us too!

The disciples would grow in the strength of this trust and would become courageous and powerful…
… to give witness to the Risen Lord – even when put through trials and tribulations.

After all, “the Gospel was never meant to be whispered in safe rooms – it was born to be shouted in wounded streets!”

This bold witness even surprised many people, including the religious leaders:
“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were amazed and recognized them as companions of Jesus!” (Acts 4:13)

Their conviction made them to profess the Lord in all what they did:
“But Peter and John answered them, ‘Whether it is right in God’s sight to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge…
… for we cannot keep from speaking about what we have seen and heard!’” (Acts 4:19-20)

We live in the midst of a modern generation screaming with ‘apparent and peripheral solutions!’

Let us be Christians….
… who don’t stammer for answers; instead, strongly shout out God’s Love!

Today, we lay to rest Pope Francis – a shepherd whose heart burned with the fire of mercy.

He showed us that holiness is not about standing tall – but about kneeling low.
He reminded us that even a trembling voice can thunder with the Gospel when spoken in love.

And now, as he returns to His Faithful Master, let us carry forward the crucifix he held close to his heart…
… not just the one in his pocket,
… but the One nailed to our hearts – the Risen Christ, who still believes in us.

Don’t wait to be flawless.

Just be faithful.

Don’t wait to feel ready.

Just say “Here I am.”

Because the same Jesus who trusted Peter and the other apostles…
… who trusted Jorge Mario Bergoglio – Pope Francis…
… trusts you!

Rest in Peace, our Holy Father Pope Francis!

Grazie, Papa Francesco!

Blessed Easter to all of you!

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

Civil authority should consider it a grave duty “to acknowledge the true nature of marriage and the family…

… to protect and foster them, to safeguard public morality, and promote domestic prosperity.” (CCC # 2210)