“Being assured of the promise of the Lord that He is with us, and that the answers to the examinations of life will be revealed to us, in and through the power of the Holy Spirit!”

(Based on Acts 17:15, 22-18:1 and Jn 16:12-15 – Wednesday of the 6th Week in Easter)

A law-school professor was telling his class what to expect of the final examination.

“The question paper will be nearly 14 pages long” he explained, “and it will take at least four hours to answer all the questions!”

Hearing that, the entire class groaned with murmuring.

As the class grumbled, the Professor added, with a tone of consolation:
“Don’t be worried.

In this tough exercise of the examination, all of you will be in the same boat!”

At this, one student, with a naughty grin spoke up: “Yeah, Sir… We all will be in the same boat.

Just that, the name of the boat would be Titanic!!”

(Titanic was the name of the boat that had a tragic end – sinking into the ocean after a crash with an iceberg and leading to the death of nearly 1500 people in the year 1912)

This little humorous incident (without being too critical or analytical), when looked from a global spiritual perspective…
… points out a grand and complex reality:
There are many examinations in life, which tends to drown our life!

To some questions of life, answers will be found.

But to many, there will be a mysterious silence.

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

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

As Christians, this trust and hope finds a greater meaning and strength, because we have the assurance and promise of the Lord that He is with us…
….and the Answers to the Examinations of Life will be revealed to us…
… in and through the power of the Holy Spirit.

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

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

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

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

But…
… like a loving parent, who knows the grasping power of the child
… like an understanding teacher, who realises the comprehending capability of the student

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

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

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

He assures them of the Might Power that will follow His going away from the disciples.
He promises them that the Holy Spirit will descend on them and they would realise, gradually, the power and depth of His teachings!

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

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

Situations and circumstances put forward many uneasy, awkward and even unanswerable questions to us.
We look for answers.
We seek for solutions.

Sometimes we get.
But many times, we fail to obtain.

It may lead us to desperation.
It may even lead us to anxiety.

But the Lord assures us…
… that He has the answer to every question in the world
… that He has the solution to every problem of our life.

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

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

From our part, what is simply needed is…
… an openness to His Spirit
… a trust in His Divine Providence
… a constant seeking to know His Will

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

His glory fills the heavens and the earth.
His knowledge permeates in every event of life.

St Paul invited the people of Athens… to leave behind unknown objects of worship…
… and instead, to trust and believe in the Living God, Who has risen from the dead, and lives and moves in each one of us:

“The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by man
… nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything
… since He Himself gives to all men life and breath and everything.
And He made from one every nation of men to live on all the face of the earth
… having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their habitation, that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel after Him and find Him.
Yet he is not far from each one of us, for ‘In Him we live and move and have our being!’” (Acts 17:24-28)

The greater our trust in the Living God…
… the nearer will we be, to the answers of life!

Yes, Life will constantly place before us “tough exams”

We may sometimes complain and grumble

In frustration, we may sometimes even feel that “lives may turn out to be like the Titanic!”

But let’s not lose hope…

May we rather, seek to grow in faith and trust in 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

Parents should teach their children to subordinate the “material and instinctual dimensions to interior and spiritual ones.”
Parents have a grave responsibility to give good example to their children.

By knowing how to acknowledge their own failings to their children, parents will be better able to guide and correct them. (CCC # 2223)

“Thanking God for the gift of life, and with humility, totally depending on Him!”

(Based on Acts 16:22-34 and Jn 16:5-11 – Tuesday of the 6th Week in Easter)

Here is an interesting prayer, that perhaps, many of us might have not actually made…
… but perhaps, is echoed, in the depths of one’s heart:

“Dear God,
So far today I’ve done all right.
I’m so grateful to you!

I haven’t gossiped
I haven’t lost my temper.
I haven’t been greedy or grumpy
I haven’t been nasty or selfish or even over-indulgent.

I’m indeed very thankful for that!

But…
… But in a few minutes, God, I’m going to get out of bed…
… and from then on, I’m probably going to need a lot of help, Amen!”

Do we realise that we are prone to sin?
… or have we become quite “lethargic and tepid” in matters concerning sin?

Becoming aware that we are weak and fragile, helps us to depend more on the Power and Grace of God…
… Failure to realise so, will make us to bank only on ourselves and thus will lead to great falls!

It is the Holy Spirit Who gives us the Grace to be aware of the “sinful areas and tendencies” of our lives…
… and helps us to totally depend on Him, to live a holy and credible life.

Jesus, in the Gospel of the day, enlightening on the coming of the Holy Spirit, speaks of the role of the Holy Spirit in convicting the world regarding sin.

He says, “And when He (Holy Spirit, the Advocate) comes, He will convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and condemnation” (Jn 16: 8)

One of the standout factors in the teachings of Jesus is His uncompromising attitude with respect to sin.

And perhaps, this is where Jesus as a Holy Person stands out incomparable with all other great spiritual or philosophical leaders of the world.

This is also where Christianity as a religion stands out unmatched with any other belief system or practice of spirituality.

For Jesus and in Christianity…
… there is an uncompromising teaching on the need to root out sin and evil offences
… there is an absolutely unparalleled insistence on removal of sin for spiritual progress and on being holy and pure to be in communion with Him

The Lord points out to this prime role of the Holy Spirit: Convicting the world of sin.

St Peter, after His first proclamation on Pentecost Day, had the hearers’ conscience convicted of sin.

“Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and they asked Peter and the other apostles, ‘What are we to do, my brothers?'” (Acts 2:37)

It is the Holy Spirit Who causes a person to become aware of one’s state of sinfulness and living an evil life.

This also means, that when there is “a loss of the sense of sin,” the working of the Holy Spirit is also highly dormant and latent.

A “loss of sense of sin” occurs, when the Holy Spirit fails to have an active role in one’s life!

We need to make an honest examination of our conscience…

Is our life suffering from a “lack of sensation to sin”…?

Do I continue to pursue, persevere or promote deeds of sin…
… even though I am aware of it, or has been brought to my notice?

Do I fail to be sensitive to issues of immense sin and evil happening in and around me, in people and situations…
… and instead become indifferent and uninterested?

A persistence with this tendency can very dangerously sever our relation with the Lord.

It is only by the power of the Holy Spirit that we become ‘convicted’ of this spiritual malady and make efforts to overcome them.

Let the reality of sin be recognized and acknowledged in our lives and in the world.

Paul and Silas, who were locked in the prison, experienced the miraculous Power of the Holy Spirit – as we read in Acts of the Apostles (Acts 16:25-34)

This incident evoked feelings of faith and repentance in jailor. His cry for the Mercy of the Lord would be answered by Paul and Silas in a majestic manner:

“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household!” (Acts 16:31)

Let us also have an open heart to accept this “conviction of sin” by the Holy Spirit and to co-operate with Him to remedy this spiritual woe!

As we thank God, every morning, for the gift of life, let us also, with humility and total dependence on Him, pray:
“…in a few minutes, God, I’m going to get out of bed…
… and from then on, I’m probably going to need a lot of help, Amen!”

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 home is well suited for education in the virtues.
This requires an apprenticeship in self-denial, sound judgment, and self-mastery…

… the preconditions of all true freedom. (CCC # 2223)

“Witnessing JESUS CHRIST – in thought, in word, in deed!”

(Based on Acts 16:11-15 and Jn 15:26-16:4a – Monday of the 6th Week in Easter)

Every Christian is expected to be a witness to Jesus Christ and His Kingdom, in one’s everyday life.

In a random survey conducted, as to why many Christians don’t speak about Christ to others, some of the common answers given by Christians were as follows:

“I am not sure what I have to say!”
“My lifestyle doesn’t match what Christ expects of me!”
“I may not be able to give convincing answers, when questions are asked!”
“I am not sure if I will be called as a hypocrite – or living by double standards!”
“I don’t really care about speaking about Christ etc…”
“I think it is not my duty. It is the duty of the leaders of the Church. First let them do…”

And prominently…

“I am afraid what others will feel…!”
“I feel anxious if I will be rejected and be side-lined by all!”

What about us?

Do we witness to Christ, daily?
Do we speak about and witness the Love of God to people?

What answer do we have?

The Gospel of the Day is an assurance and an invitation by Jesus to live by the Power of the Holy Spirit…
… and thus be a “Witness of Jesus and His Kingdom!”

One of the primary tasks of Jesus, as he left this world, was to “Strengthen His Disciples”

He knew very well, how each one of them would go through periods of crisis, after His Departure.

When things go on well, life seems to be easy…
… But when hardships and loneliness creeps in, life seems to be too difficult!

As long as Jesus was with them, the disciples would have an easy life…
… But with the departure of Jesus, they would have to face a difficult life!

And so Jesus prepares them by assuring them of how the Holy Spirit would strengthen them:
“When the Counsellor comes, Whom I shall send you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth… >> He will bear witness to Me, and you also are witnesses…

I have said all this to you, to keep you from falling away!” (Jn 15:26-27, 16:1)

Jesus knew that all his disciples had weaknesses …

Some would be unsure of what answer to be given when questions were asked

(Like Peter who would deny Jesus, when questions were asked – Lk 22: 54-61)

Some would only worry about their own positions and comforts

(Like the disciples at the Last Supper, who would discuss the one who is great among them – Lk 22: 24)

Some would be afraid of the people and the society around

(Like the disciples who would run away and abandon Jesus – Mk 14: 50)

Some would prefer to choose riches and money, than Jesus

(Like Judas who would betray the Lord for the sake of money – Mk 14: 10-11)

Despite these weakness and fragilities, the Lord did not give up on them

He invited them to “Be open to Receive the Holy Spirit and thus to Live a Powerful Life of Witnessing!”

By this Power of the Person of the Holy Spirit, the disciples became powerful witnesses to the world, bringing many people to experience the Love of the Lord
… as we read in the Acts of the Apostles…
“One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyati′ra, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to give heed to what was said by Paul.” (Acts 16:14)

We too have our own weaknesses in witnessing to the Lord, in this modern society…

Some of us…
… are not sure of what answers to be given to questions that are asked about faith

Some of us…
… like to remain in our own comfort zones

Some of us…
… are afraid of “what other people will think” and if I will “lose my name and esteem in the society”

Some of us…
… give more importance to the false promises of the world, and don’t make a clear-cut choice for God and His Kingdom (Mt 6:33)

To each of us too, the Lord invites to “Be open to receive the Holy Spirit and thus to Live a powerful Life of Witnessing!”

Yes, He doesn’t give up on us.

Let us renew our commitment to the Lord, everyday..
… and by His Spirit, with boldness and courage, “Stand Firm for the Gospel Values”

Let us “Witness Jesus Christ” – in thought, in word, in deed!

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

Parents have the first responsibility for the education of their children.
They bear witness to this responsibility first by creating a home…

… where tenderness, forgiveness, respect, fidelity, and disinterested service are the rules. (CCC # 2223)

“Living our Christian lives in such a way that is pleasing to Jesus, our Master!”

(Based on Acts 15:1-2, 22-29, Rev 21:10-14, 22-23 and Jn 14:23-29 – 6th Sunday of Easter)

A story is told of a famous violinist who was to perform at a concert hall of world renown.

As he stood before the packed house that night and played his violin, he mesmerized the audience with his prowess and skill…
… and he was given a standing ovation.

He looked at the crowd for a moment and walked off the stage…
… only to return to render another performance.

To the amazement of the crowd, this performance was even more beautiful and flawless than the first.

He looked to the audience and left the stage for the second time, but was beckoned back by the deafening roar of the multitudes…
… and rendered a third performance.

This sequence was repeated several more times until finally the man finished his piece, looked to the audience…
… nodded his head and simply walked off the stage…
… while the cheers could still be heard.

Reporters pressed outside the violinist’s dressing room, waiting to catch a word from the man who had just given the performance of a lifetime.

As he emerged from the small room, one reporter asked the question, “Sir, why did you give so many encore performances?

You could have stopped after the first and everyone would have been amazed.”

The violinist stopped and replied, “For the very first time in my career, my master, the one who taught me to play the violin, was in the audience.

When I finished my performance, everyone stood except for one person.

I played again, and everyone stood to applaud except for him.
I continued to play.

At the conclusion of the last, I looked into the seats and I noticed that everyone, including my master, was standing and applauding!

It was only then that I was satisfied that I had done a good job.”

What about us?

Do we live our Christian lives in such a way that is pleasing to Jesus, our Master?

Do we allow Him to find a place in our hearts…
… so that we can reflect His Divine Touch, by our words and deeds?

The Gospel of the Day presents Jesus throwing light on this beautiful theme of God wishing to make a home in our hearts:

“Those who love me, will keep my word, and My Father will love them and we will come and make our home with them” (Jn 14: 23)

Our Blessed Lord presents a profound truth: Love for Him is shown not primarily through emotion, but through obedience.

In the Bible, to “keep the Word” is not just to obey outwardly
… but to guard it within
… to treasure it
… and allow it to shape every aspect of life

‘Keeping His Word’ is the hallmark of authentic discipleship.

In a world that often reduces love to emotion and obedience to legalism, Jesus restores the connection:

To love Him is to trust Him; to trust Him is to obey Him.

Do I obey God only when it is convenient, or even when it costs me something?

It is in such “obedient hearts” that the Trinity “will make a home!”

This is a fulfillment of God’s desire to ‘tabernacle among His people.’ (cf. Ex 25:8; Jn 1:14).

This is a movement from the external to the internal, from the temple to the heart.
The Trinity wishes to choose each one of us as His dwelling place.

The Creator of the universe desires not just our obedience…
… but a living relationship, so intimate that He chooses to dwell within us.

This longing of God is seen throughout salvation history:

In the garden, He walked with Adam and Eve.
In the wilderness, He dwelt in the Tabernacle with His people.
In Christ, “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (Jn 1:14).
Now, through the Spirit, He seeks to make each of us a sanctuary.

This truth is echoed in Revelation 21, where the New Jerusalem has no temple…
… because “its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb.” (Rev 21:22)

What area of my life is Jesus inviting me to surrender, to make space for His Word to dwell?

Is my inner life – my thoughts, desires, and motivations – a space where God feels at home?

As we journey through Easter, we are reminded that the Resurrection is not just a past event – it is a present reality.

Jesus is alive…
… and He desires to dwell within each of us.

The question is: Have we made room for Him?

Let us seek to live our Christian lives in such a way that is pleasing to Jesus, our Master!

Yes, let us allow Him to find a place in our hearts…
… so that we can reflect His Divine Touch, by our words and deeds!

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

Parents must regard their children as children of God and respect them as human persons.

Showing themselves obedient to the will of the Father in heaven, they educate their children to fulfill God’s law. (CCC # 2222)

“Having faith that is not just worn on the neck, but that’s clutched in the heart!”

(Based on Acts 16:1-10 and Jn 15:18-21 – Saturday of the Fifth Week of Easter)

In a country where religious freedom was restricted, there lived a young teacher named Ivan.

Under his shirt, tied with an old string, he wore a small wooden cross – rough, worn, carved by his grandfather.

Every day, when the classroom emptied for lunch, Ivan would bow his head silently…
… And spend few minutes in silence, clinging to the Cross
… and praying to be faithful.

Ivan would often be called to meetings and gatherings, where he would be ridiculed, mocked and asked to give up his faith.

But in all those moments, quietly, he would reach to his Cross…
… and find strength and courage.

Years later, one of his former students – now grown up – stood near the baptismal font

When asked what brought him to Christ, he said: “I was taught by teacher, who did not publicly speak about God…
… but couldn’t stop hiding God from us, by His life and actions!”

Indeed, ‘some of the loudest sermons are whispered by the lives of the quietly courageous.’

That’s the kind of faith we are called to have:

Not a faith that looks fashionable…
… but that’s faithful.
Not a faith that always roars…
… but that refuses to retreat.
Not a faith that is just worn on the neck…
… but that’s clutched in the heart.

The Gospel of the Day is a mighty invitation by Jesus to remain steadfast and bold even in the face of persecution in defence for our faith in Him.

And this steadfastness is in imitation of Jesus, our Master, who Himself underwent a miserable series of pain, persecution, suffering and humiliation…
… and yet remained totally faithful to His Mission.

Jesus says, “If the world hates you, realise that it hated me first… If they persecuted me, they will persecute you” (Jn 15:18, 20b)

The Lord is very clear in His teaching and preaching: Friendship with Jesus would mean hostility from the world.

Our Lord Himself had to undergo this pain of rejection, persecution and opposition throughout His life…

At His birth, King Herod sought to terminate His life
After Baptism, Satan sought to tempt Him out of His mission.
During His ministry, the Pharisees and Scribes would misunderstand and misjudge Him

The Lord alerts His disciples that the same will be true in their lives too, if they choose to remain faithful to their vocation.

As a follower of the Lord, we too need to be aware that sufferings and hardships in being Christian are sure to come our way.

What is our attitude and disposition to these trials that we face because of our faith in Christ?

Are we bold and courageous…
… even when we are to face isolation or seclusion due to standing firm in our values and principles in the Lord?

Do we live our life in joy and calmness…
… even when we have to face misunderstandings and become an object of laughter, or called “old-traditionalists” due to being staunch in following the Gospel values?

The world constantly ensnares us with temptations to abandon the Cross…

Are we going to yield to such temptations and enticements…
… or are we prepared to face any amount of difficulty, to uphold our Faith in the Lord?

Let’s realise: A faith untested is just a theory…
… but a faith, tested and trusted, becomes a testimony!

Seeking the assistance of Mary, Help of Christians, on Her Feast Day…
… let’s be faithful, fearless and fruitful!

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 role of parents in education is of such importance that it is almost impossible to provide an adequate substitute.

The right and the duty of parents to educate their children are primordial and inalienable. (CCC # 2221)