“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)