“Having the glory of Christ, and not the beauty of any materialistic concern, as the focus of our works!”

(Based on Dan 2:31-45 and Lk 21:5-11 – Tuesday of the 34th Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1)

Leonardo da Vinci was one of the greatest painters of all time.

His masterpiece, “The Last Supper” has been a source of many inspirations and stories.

Some of these are based on true facts; some on fictitious imaginations.

One such incident (without any certification of its truthfulness or falsity) goes such…

The artist Da Vinci had put all his talent on this great masterpiece, which was painted on a convent wall in Milan, Italy.

The painting was drawn with so much perfection, that it appeared to be extremely realistic.

Even the cup that was used by the Lord used was drawn perfectly…
… an opulent golden vessel richly set with jewels.

At the completion of the picture, some of his friends were given the privilege to view the painting.

The friends were wonder-stuck at the sight of the painting, and especially the dazzling chalice, and exclaimed:
“Wow! What a wonderful cup!”
“What a shine! See how the vessel sparkles!”
“I’ve never seen a cup with such exquisite beauty being painted before!”

Hearing such comments, the great painter, immediately stroked some dark colours over the glittering cup…
… and made it look like an ordinary vessel.

As he did so, he remarked:
“The glory of Christ, and not the beauty of the cup, must be the focus of my work!

In all things, He must be pre-eminent!”

Is Christ pre-eminent in our faith?
… or have other materialistic concerns – which may appear to be more sparkling and attractive- taken precedence in our life of faith?

The Gospel of the Day is a strong exhortation to restore the primacy of Christ in our lives…
… even at the cost of shattering every materialistic temples that we have dreamt of!
… even at the price of bringing down every worldly concerns that we have built up!

Jesus is on the courtyard of the Jerusalem Temple.

He heard some speak of “how the temple was adorned with costly stones and votive offerings” (Lk 21:5)

The Jerusalem Temple was a glorious structure and one of the great wonders of the time.

This Temple – which was originally constructed by King Solomon – had been marvellously rebuilt by Herod the Great.

The Jerusalem Temple was a vast glittering mass of white marble…
… with the occasional presence of gold and precious stones.

The old Rabbis had a saying: “Whosoever had not gazed on it, had not seen the perfection of beauty”
Tacitus, the historian complemented this, by calling this spectacular edifice as “a temple of vast wealth”

Princes and other noblemen who visited this holy house gifted crowns, shields and vessels of gold and silver.

The Jerusalem Temple was indeed rich in these votive offerings.

Despite such a grand spectacle in the background, Jesus makes a prophetic saying:
“All that you see here – the days will come when there will not be left a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down” (Lk 21:6).

Our Blessed Lord doesn’t really mince words, isn’t it?

He is the One Who is least afraid of calling “a spade as a spade!”

While all others lavished phrases of vain glory on the majestic Temple…
… Jesus predicted its mighty fall!

While all others had pinned their hopes and faith in this structure of grandeur…
… Jesus prophesied its soon-to-come destruction!

Here is a great truth that Jesus invites us to always be reminded of:
“While the human mind seeks to find comfort and coziness in external glories and splendour…
… the Divine always minimizes such vain laurels and insists on the true beauties of life!”

Jesus forewarns His disciples:
“See that you not be deceived, for many will come in my name saying: ‘I am he’ and ‘The time has come’
… Do not follow them!” (Lk 21: 8)

Jesus was teaching His disciples…
… of not losing the focus, in the midst of materialistic and attractive fascinations!
… of not missing the track, in the face of many disguises, falsities and deceptions!

A Christian, always ought to have…
… Jesus as the focus!
… the Kingdom of God as the goal!

Anything… or anyone…
… which causes distraction or diversion, will have to be remedied!

Are there such distracting forces in our life, which takes away our focus from the Lord and His Kingdom?

Many of such disturbances would be…
… deceptive
… subtle in nature
… attractive at first-sight

But let us not be afraid to restore the primacy of Christ in our lives…
… even at the cost of shattering every materialistic temples that we have dreamt of!
… even at the price of bringing down every worldly concerns that we have built up!

May the glory of Christ, and not the beauty of any materialistic concern, be the focus of our works!
“In all things, may Christ be pre-eminent!”

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 Sixth Commandment – You shall not commit adultery – Male and Female He created them

While it is always gravely sinful to engage in prostitution…

… the imputability of the offense can be attenuated by destitution, blackmail, or social pressure. (CCC # 2355)

“Becoming ‘all-giving’ disciples of our ‘all-giving’ Master!”

(Based on Dan 1:1-6, 8-20 and Lk 21:1-4 – Monday of the 34th Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1)

A rich business man and his assistant were travelling around a village on a tour.

As they walked along, they saw a boy pulling a plough (= a large farming implement with blades fixed in a frame
… drawn over soil to turn it over and cut furrows in preparation for the planting of seeds – usually pulled only by animals)
… which was steered by an old man.

It amused the assistant so much that he insisted on taking a picture of the scene with his little pocket camera.

Later he showed the picture to a priest in the next village, remarking about the peculiar spectacle.

“Yes,” said the Priest, “it seems a very strange way to plough a field that way.

But I happen to know the boy and old man well.

They are very poor.
However, when the little church was built here in the village…
… they wanted to contribute something.

They had no money.
They had no grain to spare and winter was coming on.

So they sold their ox which pulled the plough and gave the money to the church building fund…
… and now – minus the valuable animal – they have to pull the plough themselves.”

The men looked at each other for a moment, then the assistant said, “But what a magnanimous sacrifice! Why did you allow it?”

“They did not feel that way about it” said the priest, “They regarded it as a great joy that they had an ox to give to the Lord’s work!”

Yes, true charity happens when there is an involvement of sacrifice and surrender.

Do we have the joy and the generosity to give ourselves, to the Lord and for His works?

The Gospel of the Day demonstrates the powerful message of True Giving, through the incident of the Offering of the Poor Widow.

The passage begins with the verse, “When Jesus looked up and saw…” (Lk 21: 1)

Jesus has sharp eyes…
He observes what most people pass on as ordinary

He sees what most people miss to see…
He perceives what most people ignore…

There are many times in our life, when we think or do little things and we would feel them as insignificant.

But the Lord sees deeper…

A tiny word of thanks and appreciation…
… the Lord sees our goodness.
A small gesture of timely help and assistance…
… the Lord sees our nobility.
A genuine smile of encouragement and support…
… the Lord sees our benevolence.

The palace of goodness is built by the tiny bricks of genuine actions and loving thoughts.

And the Lord sees it all – “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, watching the evil and the good” (Prov. 15:3)

He doesn’t miss a single gift, small or large.
He knows every giver, rich and poor.

This is the significance of being engaged in little and small acts of charity.

The Lord keenly observed the insignificant action of the Poor Widow dropping in two copper coins into the Temple Treasury.

The Temple Treasury was in the Court of the Women, which was on the easternmost part of the Temple.

The Court of the Women obtained its name, not from its appropriation to the exclusive use of women…
… but because they were not allowed to proceed farther, except for sacrificial purposes.

Against the walls of this temple area were the thirteen chests, or ‘trumpets,’ for charitable contributions.

These thirteen chests were shaped like trumpets, narrow at the mouth and wide at the bottom.

Each one had a different Hebrew letter designating separate offerings and causes.
Into this Temple Treasury, “the poor widow just drops in two small copper coins” (Lk 21:2)

What difference did her two coins make toward meeting the temple budget?

Probably nothing!!

Perhaps the treasurer muttered under his breath as he saw it being dropped:
“Why do people throw such small coins into the treasury? They’re more a nuisance to count than they’re worth!”

But the Lord has a totally different yardstick of measuring and of judging.

People count worth of money by what is given.

God counts worth of money by what is left over.

People say “wow” over thicker and fatter amounts given, irrespective of the means and intention.

God says “wow” over any amount given, but only when given with the proper means and true intention.

While most people would have sidelined this meager act of giving, the Lord lavishes praise on the poor widow who “gave it all”.

The gifts of the rich would have not cost them much…
… But the widow may have gone hungry that night because she gave all what she had.

She gave it all, not for any praise or to show-off, but out of love of God and her religion.

What is our attitude in “giving” to God?

Often we give only “leftovers” to God.

If we have some food left, after we have relished nicely, we give it off to some hungry
If we have anything left, after we’ve spent for all our needs, then we drop a bit for charity.
If we have some “time” left, after engaging in all leisure, then we give the time to God.
If we have some goodwill left, after busying with many works, we offer our thanks to the Lord.

The Lord, seriously, is in no need of the offering of our money.

But the Lord, very seriously, is on the lookout for an ‘offering of our hearts!’

Let us make not just peripheral contribution of our lives, but rather engage in sacrificial offerings of our self.

As Saint Mother Teresa of Kolkotta would say:
“Give, but give until it hurts…
… It’s not how much we give but how much love we put into giving”

The Lord has given everything for us.

As His disciples, we too are expected to be similar: to give everything to Him.

An “all-giving” Master deserves “all-giving” disciples…
… doesn’t He?

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 Sixth Commandment – You shall not commit adultery – Male and Female He created them

The one who pays sins gravely against himself: he violates the chastity to which his Baptism pledged him and defiles his body, the temple of the Holy Spirit.

Prostitution is a social scourge. It usually involves women, but also men, children, and adolescents. (The latter two cases involve the added sin of scandal.) (CCC # 2355)

“As a true ‘Cristero,’ willing to boldly proclaim – every day and in every situation – the mighty cry: ‘Viva Cristo Rey – Long live Christ the King!’”

(Based on the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe)

The 1920s saw Mexico undergoing a totalitarian regime.

They tried to suppress the Church.

To overcome this tyranny, the Christians, calling themselves, “Cristeros”…
… took up the faith-cry: “Viva Cristo Rey!” (“Long live Christ the King!”)

One of the most famous “Cristero” was a young priest named Padre Miguel Pro.

Caught for the many ‘illegal’ Christian services to the people, the government would arrest him…
… and he would be sentenced to public execution.

The president thought that Padre Miguel Pro would beg for mercy

And so he invited a number of people including the press, to the execution.

Padre Pro however, did not plead for his life

Instead, he knelt, holding a crucifix.

When he finished his prayer – after having forgiven the executioners – he kissed the crucifix and stood up.

Holding the crucifix in his right hand, he extended his arms and shouted: “Viva Cristo Rey!”

At that moment the soldiers fired!

The brave “Cristero” had offered his life for the Master!

What about us?

Are we ready to be a true “Cristero”…
… willing to boldly proclaim – every day and in every situation – the mighty cry: “Viva Cristo Rey – Long live Christ the King!”

Today is the Feast of Christ the King.

It is the Last Sunday of the Liturgical year

This feast is a relatively new feast.

It was established by Pope Pius XI in 1925 through an encyclical letter called “Quas Primas” (In the First) .

In the history of the Church, liturgical feasts have been instituted…
… in answer to particular needs that arise in the life of the world & Church.

This Feast of Christ the King was in response to the grave and disturbing situation of the world:

The world in 1925, was still recovering from the devastation effects of the First World War.

Nations had been devastated.
New weapons and armoury had been introduced.

A wave of terror and danger was still vivid.
Modernity had crept into the human mind.

Human reason was considered to have enough power and capability for unlimited progress.
Human societies were abandoning Christian values and sought to do away with divine and spiritual dimensions of life.

It’s at the height of this secularization of the world, that we are presented with this great Feast of Christ the King.

Human progress gives a feeling that humans have absolute power over all forces in the universe.

But this feast reminds us, that Christ still reigns above all.

The Kingdom of Christ the King is under several threats today…

As we see in the Gospel of the Day (Lk 23:35-43), the world today very often sneers and asks: “If you are the King of the Jews…” (Cf. Lk 23:37)

The forces of materialism and consumerism…
… try to cloud the minds of several people with riches and pleasures, challenging us:

“If you are [the followers of] the King of the Jews…”

The forces of sensualism and sensationalism…
… corrupt many innocent hearts and destroyed many simple minds, challenging us:

“If you are [the followers of] the King of the Jews…”

The forces of authoritarianism and individualism…
… shattered many families and community lives, challenging us:

“If you are [the followers of] the King of the Jews…”

The forces of relativism and practical atheism…
… strongly rage against the practice of faith and the teachings of the Church, challenging us:

“If you are [the followers of] the King of the Jews…”

We are called to counter such forces and to proclaim with passion and conviction:
“Yes! I am the follower of Jesus Christ, the King of the Universe!”

As Christians, we are soldiers belonging to the Kingdom of God, with Christ as our King.

A soldier ought to be one who is deeply convinced and highly passionate of one’s King and Kingdom

As a Christian…
… am I deeply convinced of my faith and love for Christ and His Kingdom?
… am I passionately enthusiastic to live my Christian virtues in this world?

There are many who say that they are willing to give up their lives and die for Christ.

But today, the Lord also demands, “Are you willing to LIVE for me?”

There is an urgent need to become Christ the King’s living witnesses in this world.

Kings are often identified with a lot of pomp and grandeur and power and triumphalism.

But Christ our King is not bothered about any such external pageantry or vain flashiness.

What is the identification of this Christ the King?

In Mt 2:2, we read a question, “Where is the (new born) King of the Jews?”

The answer to this question will be found at the end of the Gospel, with Jesus hanging on the Cross and a statement which reads in Mt 27:37, “This is the King of the Jews!”

Where the Cross is, there is Christ the King!

Where the lost, the sinful, the abandoned and the lonely are… there is Christ the King.
Where the poor, the suffering, the miserable and the abused are… there is Christ the King.

The Lord in the Gospel of St Matthew, reminds us through the Scene of the Judgment:
“Amen, I say to you, whatever you did
for one of the least brothers of mine, you did for me.” (My 25:40)

The Cross is the identity and symbol of Christ the King!

As this Crucified King’s soldiers, we too are invited to be sharers in the Cross of Christ.

It is said that people who are crucified with Christ will have three distinct marks:
Since they are crucified…

They can only look in one direction
They can never turn back
They no longer have plans of their own.

And these three characteristics ought to reflect in our Christian lives…

Being totally focused on Jesus and His kingdom… (looking in one direction)
Never to turn back from our commitment and get attracted to the ways of the world… (never turning back)
Giving up any of our personal goals and agenda which can deter us from God’s will… (no plans of their own)

Yes, let us Hearken to His voice…
… Christ, the King – The Great King.

No land to reign, but our hearts…
No majestic throne, but the Cross…
No mighty army, but a few people to spread His word…
No royal treats all the time, but pain and suffering that leads to salvation…
No grand fiesta, but the sacrifice of the Calvary, in the Most Holy Eucharist…

This King – along with His Blessed Mother, the Queen, Who stood at the Foot of the Cross with absolute faith, hope and love – invites us today to renew our commitment to Him

Royalty is less, but faithfulness is assured!
Popularity is rare, but blessings are plenty!

Are we ready to be a true “Cristero”…
… willing to boldly proclaim – every day and in every situation – the mighty cry:
“Viva Cristo Rey – Long live Christ the King!”

Happy Feast to all the “Cristeros” – the Valiant and Faithful Soldiers of Christ, the Awesome King!

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 Sixth Commandment – You shall not commit adultery – Male and Female He created them

Prostitution does injury to the dignity of the person who engages in it…

…. reducing the person to an instrument of sexual pleasure. (CCC # 2355)

“Growing in our faith in the Resurrection and living in holiness and sanctity in a way to boldly proclaim this belief to all!”

(Based on 1 Macc 6:1-13 and Lk 20:27-40 – Saturday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1)

There is a story of a man who had been afflicted with a terminal disease.

With much fear of death, he sought counselling and help from one of his Christian doctors.

The doctor, was initially lost for words.
He did not know how to console the dying man.

As he was fumbling for an answer, he heard the noise of scratching on his door.

He got the answer of consolation.
“Do you hear that?” he asked his patient, calling his attention to the scratching noise on the door.

“Well!” continued the doctor, “that’s my dog!
I left him downstairs.

But he has become very impatient and has come up, hearing my voice.
He doesn’t have much idea, of what’s happening in here- beyond the door…
… but he knows one thing: ‘That I am here!’
And so, if I open the door now, he would just jump over me, into this room!”

The doctor continued, looking into the eyes of the patients, “Isn’t it the same with our lives?

We don’t have much idea of what lies beyond the Door, but we know that the Master is there!”

This is the Christian Faith: that beyond the Door of this Life, is the Master!

This is the hope of Resurrection!
The Gospel of the Day is an invitation to reinforce our faith and hope in the Resurrection.

The Sadducees who did not believe in the Resurrection, put forth a question of “after-life” to Jesus. (Lk 20: 27-33)

Jesus, Who knows the intentions of all hearts and the craftiness of every mind, spoke…
… of the difference in the nature of life – in this world and in the next
… of His sovereignty over those who have died and those who are alive

Referring to the passage of the Burning Jesus, Jesus proclaims, “… He is not God of the dead, but of the living, for to him, all are alive!” (Lk 20: 38)

This verse of the Lord is one of the direct and easy-to-understand basis…
… for the Catholic teaching and practice of “praying for the dead”.

Many are the times when this noble piety of the Catholics is put into question…

“It is unbiblical to pray for the dead”
“Our prayers have no effect on those who are dead, since it is not our works, but their faith, which saves”
… These are some of the statements said against the Catholic practice of “praying for the dead”

But the Lord very clearly shows, through today’s Gospel…
… that God is the God of all – the living and the dead
… that all are living for Him – even though for us, apparently those who are gone from us, are dead

It is our human experience, that while living on this earth…
… we do seek the help of one another – especially through prayers

We ask one another’s help and prayers…
… when we are going through a crisis or problem
… when we are struggling through sufferings

Then can’t the same logic be applied to those who have died (who are actually alive in the eyes of God!)

Can’t those who are away from this world – the faithful departed – seek for our help and assistance, in their moments of suffering and struggles?

[For those of us… who may have doubts as to “what kind of suffering do the dead have…”

The Church teaches us …
…. Nothing unclean will enter the presence of God in heaven (Rev. 21:27)
While we may die with our mortal sins forgiven, there can still be many impurities in us…
….especially venial sins and the temporal punishment due to sins already forgiven.

Therefore, it is needed to have “purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven… “

This is called as “purgatory”.

This purification causes suffering… as a purification that takes place in fire!
The dead – the faithful departed – seek our prayers, for a deliverance from this struggle of sufferings!]

November is a month especially dedicated to pray for the Faithful Departed.

The Church invites her children in this world…
To remember and pray
To offer sacrifices and penances
To lead a life away from sin, in holiness
… for the faithful departed!

Yes, it is our faith and hope in the Resurrection, that spurs us…
… to live a life of holiness
… to be zealous in reaching out the message of salvation to all
… to be fervent in our prayers for the suffering who have passed away from us

Let us cease to be like a “practical Sadducee”: professing belief in the Resurrection by lips…
… but failing to display this belief by a life of holiness!

It is true that we don’t have much awareness of how the “next life” would be…
… We do fall short of words to explain the nature of the life-to-come or rationally describing “how heaven would be!”
… We may even have our own fears and anxieties in thinking of death or in the parting moments of our loved ones!

But we do know for certain one thing: that we would be one with our Lord- the lover of our soul…
… the fullness of joy
… the supremacy of holiness
… the culmination of every desire

Yes, we don’t have much idea of what lies beyond the Door, but we know that the Master is there!

Let us grow in our faith in the Resurrection…
… and let us live a life of holiness and sanctity – that would boldly proclaim this belief to all!

Let us seek the intercession of St Cecilia, the Patron Saint of musicians, whose feast we celebrate today.

May we imitate her passion and zeal to be always single-focused and close to the Lord, even to the point of intense suffering …
… and thus at all times, have “Sacred Music” in our hearts!

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 Sixth Commandment – You shall not commit adultery- Male and Female He created them

It does grave injury to the dignity of its participants (actors, vendors, the public), since each one becomes an object of base pleasure and illicit profit for others. I

It immerses all who are involved in the illusion of a fantasy world. It is a grave offense. Civil authorities should prevent the production and distribution of pornographic materials. (CCC # 2354)

“Reviving the ‘Sense of the Sacred’ and growing in holiness, with the intercession and help of Mother Mary!”

(Based on 1 Macc 4:36-37, 52-59 and Lk 19:45-48 – Friday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1 – Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary)

A family of four were on a holiday trip – a ten day cruise.

They had a good number of bags with them – thirteen in all.
As they were set to enter the ship, loading in all their stuffed baggage, the absent-minded husband remarked, “Oh, I wish I had also taken the white-coloured bag that was kept on our main table!”

The wife, who was pretty exasperated with the large number of bags exclaimed, “What? We already have more than a dozen bags, and you wanted another one?”

The man, sheepishly replied: “Well… our tickets are in that white bag!”

This humorous incident reflects an important dimension of our lives: We often miss out of picking up the right priorities of life!

In our spiritual journey, do we sometimes neglect in carrying the ‘white bag?’ – the bag of holiness and sacredness?

Do we sometimes end up missing out “the sense of the Sacred” in our lives?

The Gospel of the day presents a classic case of this loss of the Sacred Sense.

The Temple of Jerusalem is desecrated by a loss of the Sacred Sense and Jesus seeks to restore it by cleansing the temple.>> “Then Jesus entered the temple area and proceeded to drive out those who were selling things” (Lk 19:45)

One of the basic characteristics of religion is the aspect of Sacredness.
God is Holy.

And all matters pertaining to our holy God, has a Sense of the Sacred.

Worship becomes meaningful, when one becomes aware of this Sense of the Sacred.

Preaching becomes powerful, when one is convinced of this Sense of the Sacred.>> Liturgy becomes heart-touching, when one acknowledges this Sense of the Sacred.

The Gospel of the Day – the incident of the cleansing of the Jerusalem Temple invites us to make a deep examination…

Is my Worship of God becoming merely external and losing its inner values?>> Is my Preaching of God reduced to great talks but devoid of conviction and passion?>> Is my Liturgy more a ritualistic and obligatory exercise than truly an experiential one?

If the answer to any of the above questions is a ‘Yes’…… then we are perhaps losing the Sense of the Sacred.… then perhaps, the “bag of holiness” is missing in our journey of life.

The Jerusalem Temple was very dear to the faith of the people of Israel.

Worshipping in this temple was the ultimate for the Israelites, in their honouring of God.

At the Passover, Jews from around the world came to the temple to sacrifice to the Lord (Ex. 12:1-28; Lev. 23:4-8).

It was highly impractical to bring sacrificial animals long distances.
So they were made available in the Jerusalem Temple.

Most Jews also paid the temple tax during the Passover.

Since, they came from various places and bore pagan Roman seals, money-changers were there in the temple, to convert the Roman coinage into appropriate currency.
Pagan symbols on Roman money made it unacceptable for Yahweh’s house.
Where there is money, corruption slowly creeps in…!

Pilgrims had to pay exorbitant rates to change money, and sellers exploited those in poverty, overcharging for the poor man’s offering of pigeons and doves (Lev. 5:7).

To make things worse, these merchants set up shop in the Court of the Gentiles, making it useless as a place of prayer due to the hustle and bustle of the buying and the selling of goods..

Though not inherently evil, these practices became occasions for sin.

What started for a noble cause, led to immense corruption!
There began the loss of the “Sense of the Sacred”…

And this is so true in our own lives…
The beginning of the loss of the Sense of the Sacred begins with trivial things.

We allow a little delays and some relaxations in our prayer life…

And suddenly, we find no excitement in spending time in prayer.

We allow laxity and silence and indifference in our relationships…

And suddenly, we find no meaning in many of our relations…

We allow unpreparedness and disinterest to walk into our celebration and participation of Mass…

And suddenly, we find no meaning in the Holy Eucharist.

The loss of the Sense of the Sacred happens in a very subtle and quiet way.
And unless, we remain vigilant and careful, we can lose our way in the spiritual warfare.

It is this reminder and warning that the Lord delivers today, by cleansing the Jerusalem Temple.>> “It is written, ‘My house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it into a den of robbers'” (Lk 19: 46)

The cleansing of the Jerusalem Temple is a strong reminder for us, to check, how and where have we lost the Sense of the Sacred…

We complain…… that the world is becoming more materialistic and less spiritual.… that the Church is becoming more “worldly” and less inspiring.

One of the root problems lies in the fact, that we perhaps losing the “Sense of the Sacred”

Unless we are in awe of the God who has created this beautiful and majestic world…… we will continue to abuse and misuse the world.
Unless we are in wonder of the God who has gifted the Church with life-saving sacraments…… we will continue to blame the Church and lose precious graces that we can obtain through her.

Let us revive the “Sense of the Sacred”…

In our spiritual journey, may we never neglect or forget to carry the ‘white bag’ – the bag of holiness and sacredness…… ‘cos in them contain the tickets to heaven!

Today we celebrate the initiation of our Blessed Mother into the way of holiness – The Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Like Mother Mary, we are to “give ourselves” wholly to the Lord…… and seek Her intercession, so that, like Her, we too can be wholly belonging to the Lord!

Most of us, were perhaps initiated into a life of holiness, in our younger days… at Baptism, at Confirmation…

Have we sought to increase in our level of holiness?>> What efforts do we make towards that?

Let us “offer ourselves” to the Lord…… an offering of a faithful life… an offering of a holy life

As little children, holding the Hands of our Blessed Mother, let us pledge to the Lord – “For You, Forever!”

Happy Feast of the Presentation of our Blessed Mamma!

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 Sixth Commandment – You shall not commit adultery – Male and Female He created them

Pornography consists in removing real or simulated sexual acts from the intimacy of the partners…
… in order to display them deliberately to third parties.
It offends against chastity because it perverts the conjugal act, the intimate giving of spouses to each other.

It does grave injury to the dignity of its participants (actors, vendors, the public), since each one becomes an object of base pleasure and illicit profit for others. (CCC # 2354)