St Vincent de Paul

"Come you whom my Father has blessed....For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you made me welcome, lacking clothes and you clothed me, sick and you visited me, in prison and you came to see me" (Matthew 25: 34-36)

St Vincent de Paul was born in 1580. As a priest, he devoted his life to the care of the poor and the sick in Paris. Vincent founded the Congregation of the Missions, the Sisters of Charity, orphanages, and hospitals.

The Lord opened the hearts of wealthy women to support his work. A charity bearing his name, St Vincent de Paul Society was founded in his name in Paris in 1833 and this society is active in most countries of the world today. St Vincent de Paul died in 1660 and his feast day is September 27. St Vincent de Paul is the patron saint of charitable societies and hospital workers.

What I love about this saint is his absolute trust in God’s providence. He learned this secret after many years in the ministry.

BOOKS ON ST VINCENT DE PAUL

Money! Money! Money!

"Keep your lives free from love of money, and be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, 'I will never leave you, I will never abandon you'" (Hebrews 13:5).

Are you anxious about money? Most of us are since money seems to provide all our needs. In order that our needs do not control our lives, we must learn that God made plans for every aspect of our lives. He has plans for our family, job, health, food, money, etc. These plans were long-established before we were born; they are trustworthy and excellent. God has a detailed financial plan for every individual. If we understand and accept His plans for providing us with money, we shall have peace and enjoy whatever money we happen to have. The message of Hebrews 13:5 could provide the key for understanding God's plan for us. God is telling us in the text:

• Have no anxiety whatsoever about money.


• Whatever you have at any material time, be content with it. It could be large or a small, let that not worry you.


• God promises: I will always support you and be your sufficiency and you will never be embarrassed by money. You will always have what you need.

Because God has made the above promise and we know that He is faithful, we are bold and confident as we say: 'The Lord is our helper in all financial needs. Why should we be afraid? Nobody can threaten us or embarrass us about money.' The message is very clear: Do not worry about money. Trust in God at all times to supply. "The Lord is my shepherd; I have everything I need." (Psalm 23:1) Jesus is indeed our good Shepherd. At all times, he leads us beside restful waters and refreshes our soul. Even though we walk in the dark valley of financial uncertainty, we fear no evil because he promises to be at our side to encourage us.

In order to enjoy true and constant financial security, we must learn like St. Paul how to live in humble circumstances and how to live in abundance. Armed with this secret, we can say like Paul, “I have the strength to face all conditions by the power that Christ gives me.” (Philippians 4: 13)

The key to appropriating God's promises about money is to understand and obey God's word to us about money. In one word, it is trust – making God’s love for us the foundation of our life. Each promise of God in the scriptures has individual application. God has a specific message for every person about money. Discover what God is saying to you about money.

Recommended book: The Richest Man in Babylon

Ministry

"The Spirit's presence is shown in some way in each person for the good of all"(1 Corinthians 12:7).

One of the ways of making Christ present in our life is to use our gifts for service of others in our community. This service is what is called Christian ministry. What are your gifts? Each person has a gift which he can employ to build up the body of Christ. To live happy and fulfilled lives, we must discover the talents that God has given to us and use them for the service of others. The Holy Spirit is our Master Teacher. He teaches us how to use God's gifts. When we start to use our gifts of time, talent and treasure for the service of our neighbor, we start to act like Christ and deepen our knowledge of Him.

The Documents of Vatican II, Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity, says "For this the Church was founded: that by spreading the kingdom of Christ everywhere for the glory of God the Father, she might bring all men to share in Christ's saving redemption; and that through them the whole world might in actual fact be brought into relationship with Him. All activity of the Mystical Body directed to the attainment of this goal is called the Apostolate (ministry), and the Church carries it on in various ways through all members."

Different Ministries in the Church:
Eucharistic ministry
Ministry of the Word or Lectors
Pastoral Council
Choir
Hospitality ministry

Mother of Emmanuel

"Look! the virgin is with child and will give birth to a son whom they will call Emmanuel, a name which means 'God-is-with-us"(Matthew 1:23)NJB

The prophecy of the birth of the Messiah in Isaiah 7:14 shows God's plan for Mary in the economy of salvation. The characteristics of God's plans are: they are long-term, trustworthy and excellent. Mary could see in her life the fulfillment of another prophecy in Isaiah 25:1 - "Yahweh, you are my God, I shall praise you to the heights, I shall praise your name; for you have accomplished marvels, plans long-conceived, faithfully, firmly"(NJB). God has indeed accomplished marvellous things for Mary. He has made her the mother of Emmanuel. In her Magnificat, Mary echoes the same sentiments.

In the Gospels, we see Mary's closeness to the life and work of Jesus. Mary was always present in key defining moments in the life of her Son.

St Pius X wrote in his Encyclical, Ad diem illum of February 2, 1904: "When one reflects that with her alone did Jesus spend thirty years in that family union of Son and Mother, surely there is no doubt that through Mary the surest way of knowing Christ is opened to us....Nobody ever knew Christ so profoundly as she did, and nobody could be more competent as a guide and teacher of the knowledge of Christ."

I hope that you will discover as I did, that Mary is not only the Mother of Christ, but she is also Mary, our Mother, our mentor and our friend.

Books on Mary

The Faith of the Magi

"They went into the house, and when they saw the child with his mother Mary, they knelt down and worshipped him" (Matthew 2: 11).GNB

Mary presented the child Jesus to the three wise men and received the gifts on behalf of Jesus. The three wise men represent all those who seek for Jesus throughout the ages. Mary prefigures the Church, whose task is to present Jesus to the world. The 'gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh' represent the offerings of our time, talent and treasure to Jesus Christ.
According to The Documents of Vatican II, (Lumen Gentium), "The union of the Mother with the Son in the work of salvation was manifested from the time of Christ's virginal conception up to His death. It is shown first of all when Mary, arising in haste to go to visit Elizabeth, was greeted by her as blessed because of her belief in thg promise of salvation, while the precursor leaped with joy in the womb of his mother (cf Luke 1: 41 -45). This association was shown also at the birth of our Lord, who did not diminish His Mother's virginal integrity but sanctified it, when the Mother of God joyfully showed her first-born Son to the shepherds and Magi."

The three wise men saw an ordinary looking child and her ordinary mother in a very ordinary setting and believed that this was the Christ. All those who encountered the child Jesus, recognized Him in faith. Christ is present in the Eucharist as He promised. We are invited to recognize Him in faith as did the Magi.

Be Prepared

"You may be quite sure of this, that if the householder had known at what time the burglar would come, he would not have let anyone break through the wall of his house" (Luke 12:39).

How would you react if you know for certain that you will be robbed next Monday at 4 PM? Would you allow anyone to break into your house and rob you? One of the things that attracted me to the Boy Scouts as a young boy was their motto. I later learned of their reputation for courage. My expectations were not disappointed because as a Boy Scout, I learned one principle of courage that has remained with me till today. "BE PREPARED" is not just the motto of the Boy's Scout but may well be one of the most valuable principles of courage. I have always admired men of courage. As a kid growing up, I was deeply fascinated by the stories of Samson in the Bible. David's exploits with lions as a shepherd boy still captivate me. Jesus teaches that the way to be courageous is to be prepared and vigilant. (Luke 12:39).

I had often wondered whether I will ever be a man of courage like Samson, David and Winston Churchill. For a great part of my life, I had believed that courageous men are born and not made. One mid-September night, faced with a life and death situation, I discovered the power of Joshua 1:9 and similar scriptures to imbue us with courage when we need it most. “I command you: be firm and steadfast! Do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord, your God, is with you wherever you go.” Then I learned that the word of God makes us strong and courageous. To be prepared is to be ready with an appropriate word of God as answer to the event that demands courage. An example is what St Paul wrote to Timothy: “God did not give us a spirit of timidity but a spirit of power and love and self-control”. (2 Timothy 1:7)

As Jesus Christ taught, we must be constantly vigilant with the word of God so that no situation can take us by surprise.

See: Some Books on Courage

Some Sayings of St. José Maria

"The Lord has sworn an oath and he will not retract; you are a priest forever, in the line of Melchisedech" (Psalm 110:4)

"Do you see? One strand of wire entwined with another, many woven tightly together, form that cable strong enough to lift huge weights. "You and your brothers, with wills united to carry out God's will, can overcome all obstacles" (St. José Maria, "The Way", 480).

"Conversion is something momentary; sanctification is the work of a lifetime. The divine seed of charity, which God has sown in our souls, wants to grow, to express itself in action, to yield results which continually corresponds with what God wants. Therefore, we must be ready to begin again, to find again -- in new situations--the light and the stimulus of our first conversion" (Christ is Passing By, 58).

"If we want to achieve holiness--in spite of personal shortcomings and miseries which will last as long as we live--we must make an effort, with God's grace, to practice charity, which is the fullness of the law and the bond of perfection. Charity is not something abstract; it entails a real, complete, self-giving to the service of God and all men in the hubbub of the world and those people whose existence is interwoven with our own. By living charity--love--we live all the human and supernatural virtues required of a Christian" (Conversations, 62).

"I assure you, my children, that when a Christian carries out with love the most insignificant everyday action, that action overflows with the transcendence of God. That is why I have told you repeatedly, and hammered away once and again on the idea, that the Christian vocation consists in making heroic verse out of the prose of each day. Heaven and earth seem to merge, my children, on the horizon. But where they really meet is in your hearts, when you sanctify your everyday lives" (Conversations, 116).

"A child of God treats the Lord as his Father. He is not obsequious and servile; he is not merely formal and well-mannered: he is completely sincere and trusting. God is not shocked by what we do. Our infidelities do not wear him out. Our Father in heaven pardons any offense when his child returns to him, when he repents and asks for pardon. The Lord is such a good father that he anticipates our desire to be pardoned and comes forward to us, opening his arms laden with grace" (Christ is Passing By, 64).

Opus Dei

BOOKS ON St. JOSEMARIA

St. José Maria Escriva

"The Lord has sworn an oath and he will not retract; you are a priest forever, in the line of Melchisedech" (Psalm 110:4)

God chose St. José Maria Escriva as the instrument to found Opus Dei. Opus Dei is an enabling way of holiness in daily work and in the fulfillment of the ordinary duties of a Christian. José Maria taught that we can turn all the circumstances and events of our lives into opportunities to love and serve God and the Church. That is to say, we can come to trust divine providence in every circumstance of our life. We can do this because of who we are: children of God. A thorough understanding of what he called divine affiliation will change our entire perspective. His teachings inspire a life of joy and simplicity with faith and love. Many lay people all over the world follow this teaching enthusiastically today.

St. José Maria Escriva de Balaguer was born in Spain on 9 January 1902. He was ordained to the priesthood on 28 March 1925. He cherished the priesthood and like Melchisedech, he is a priest forever.

During his life, St. José Maria criss-crossed the world several times, giving many seminars and interviews. He wrote many books and speeches, all for the growth of Opus Dei and today the body has about 85,000 members in 80 countries. José Maria died in Rome on 26 June 1975. Pope John Paul II canonized him a saint on the 6th of October, 2002.
Opus Dei

BOOKS ON BLESSED JOSEMARIA ESCRIVA

Unless the Lord builds....

"Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. .... In vain you rise early and go late to rest, toiling for the bread you eat; he supplies the needs of those he loves.(Psalm 127: 1-2)

Finding, keeping and progressing in a good job constitute one of life's great blessings. A good job means many wonderful things in life. It means personal prosperity: a nice home, new cars and vacations. It allows you to give your children great opportunities in life. A good job signifies winning respect, leadership, being admired by people in your social life and business circles. With a good job, you enjoy maximum freedom: freedom from worries, fears, frustrations and failure. A good job means self-esteem. As you optimize your potentials, you discover more happiness and satisfaction from life. You are proud that you are able to do more for people who depend on you.

Everybody wants a good job. We all want the best that life can offer us. Getting that good job is like building a house. The Bible teaches us to build on rock so that the house can stand storms and tempests. God is the architect and the master builder of our jobs, our families and in fact of our lives. He has the blue print. Let us trust Him. "Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain(Psalm 127: 1)

Read:The Richest Man in Babylon

St. John the Evangelist

"I was born and came into the world for this one purpose, to speak about the truth." (John 18:37)

The Gospel of St John is the outcome of a theological reflection on the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. From the beginning of the book to the end, we see the author's faith shining through every verse. We meet Jesus in the Gospel as the Lamb of God. Jesus is also presented as the truth, the way, the life, the bread of life, etc. The reflections provided the blog Seekfirst are not theological. As I read the Gospel of St John, I wrote down random thoughts that occur to me. I share these jottings hoping that somebody may find spiritual nourishment from them.

The Holy Spirit draws men to Christ

"And when I am lifted up from the earth, I shall draw all men to myself" (John 12:32).

Christ promised to draw all men to Himself when he was lifted up. His crucifixion, resurrection and ascension into heaven completed the salvation of all mankind. The way is now open for Christ to lead all men to heaven.

Christ draws us to Himself. The attraction we have for Him and our love for Him are His gifts to us. When Christ was lifted up, He sent the Holy Spirit whose work is to draw all men to Christ. His graces are ever present, ever active in all of us. Our duty is to cooperate with Him. The Holy Spirit draws us to Christ through the Word of God and through the sacraments, especially the Eucharist.

O Holy Spirit, we have heard your word. We thank you for it. We believe it. You are drawing us closer to Christ everyday. We believe in your loving presence in us. We love you. We surrender ourselves totally to you so that your grace may triumph in us. You can make us holy if you want or indeed whatever you want. We are all yours. Amen.

See: Navarre Bible: St John

A Grain of Wheat

"Unless a wheat grain falls on the ground and dies, it remains only a single grain; but if it dies, it yields a rich harvest" (John 12:24).

Just as a wheat grain must die on the ground before it yields a rich harvest, so must we die to old selves before we can yield a rich harvest of good works. Dying to our old selves means abandoning totally our old world ideas on key areas of life: family, health, money, job, tools and food. When these old ideas are flushed out, we replace them with Christ's ideas. The Christ-centered new ideas will influence a new way of seeing things and a new way of behaving.

But the process of dying, any dying is very painful. Christ compared the dying process to a woman in child-birth. She groans and cries because her time of trial has come. But then, the test is for a short time and she experiences the joy of suckling a new baby. Anyone who loves his life so much to want to keep his old self intact with loose it. Hating one's life means hating one's Christ-less ideas. Christ's ideas renew us and make new persons of us.

Lord Jesus, show us how to die to ourselves everyday.

See: Navarre Bible: St John

The Precious Ointment

"You have the poor with you always, you will not always have me" (John 12:8.)

Jesus accepted an act of kindness from Mary. She did not count the cost of the ointment. It was very expensive. Mary thought that her Love and Master deserved it. Jesus showed His appreciation by praising her act.

We are called to a life of friendship and companionship with Jesus. How do we show our generosity to Jesus? The first thing in friendship is to provide enough time to nourish the relationship. Mary followed Jesus everywhere. In offering her twenty-four hours to Jesus, she offered her soul, heart, will and everything.

Our love for Jesus must be all-encompassing like Mary's. Often we allow our love for God to remain on the level of intentions. Good intentions on themselves are a good start but for the intentions to become reality, we need the grace of God. The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness and gives us a generous heart to fulfill our good intentions. Christ is passing by us everyday. What we cannot do for him here and now may be a lost opportunity.

See: Navarre Bible: St John

Let him go free

"Unbind him, let him go free" (John 11:44)

The raising to life of Lazarus presents us with a number of lessons:
1. "This sickness will not end in death but in God's glory and through it the Son of God will be glorified" (John 11:4). Our adversities are opportunities for the glory of God. If we are patient to the end, our tests will become testimonies.

2. "I am the resurrection. If anyone believes in me, even though he dies, he will live, and whoever lives and believes in me will never die" (John 11:26). Christ in raising Lazarus from the dead, proves that He has the power over life and death. This miracle also teaches that Jesus can raise any person to spiritual life no matter the degree of our deadness to sin.

3. "Have I not told you that if you believe you will see the glory of God?" (John 11:40) Believe unleashes miracles. Jesus also promises that if we believe we can do greater things than He did.

"Unbind him, let him go free" (John 11:44). Ignorance, disease and death all represent forms of loss of freedom. The Truth that is Jesus unbinds us from spiritual death.

See: Navarre Bible: St John

Belief in Jesus

"Do you believe in the Son of man?" (John 9:36)

When Jesus asked this question to the man who had been born blind, the blind man responded in the affirmative because he understood the question. If Jesus asks you: What does belief in the Son of man mean to you? Would your answers include: Jesus is my Lord and God, my Savior and Redeemer, my King and Boss, my Friend and Companion?

Jesus' intervention in the life of the blind man gave him back his sight and gave him faith as well. In a literal sense, he experienced Jesus as his savior and redeemer. Has Jesus made any interventions in your life that touched your faith?

Some years ago, while working in Paris, I had a work-related problem that needed a miracle. I prayed and prayed and was given this scripture: "Do not be afraid! Stand firm, and you will see what Yahweh will do to rescue you today: The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. Yahweh will do the fighting for you; all you need to do is to keep calm" (Exodus 14: 13-14). I clung to this scripture as a drowning man clings to any object. God turned around my situation and produced a miracle that made many people praise Him. This event uplifted my faith enormously. Jesus rescued me from a certain career disaster. He was indeed my Savior and Redeemer.

The blind man's adversity has brought him something greater than physical vision. He now had a Lord and God who is his personal Savior and Redeemer. God intervenes in our life to save us from sin and evil in order to strengthen our faith.

"Do you believe in the Son of man?" (John 9:36) Yes, Lord. Strengthen my faith

See: Navarre Bible: St John

Sin and Slavery

"I tell you most solemnly, everyone who commits sin is a slave....So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed" (John 8:34, 36)

Sin is slavery to passion: food, drink, sex, money, etc. The law of compulsion is at work whenever sin is committed. Compulsion or impulsiveness is the opposite of freedom. If the sin is alcohol, it acts like this: 'Look, I am here. Come and drink your fill.' Or if it id money,: 'I am here. Use me now to fulfill yourself.’ The person concerned cannot say no because of lack of freedom.

Jesus came to set us free from this compulsion and impulsion to act sinfully. When sin as alcohol says to us: 'Come and drink me.' We can respond: 'Christ said: ‘Man does not live by drink alone. There is life for him in every word that comes from the mouth of God."

For every temptation, Jesus has given us a script for it. As good actors, we should be aware of these scripts and use them appropriately. Jesus gives us genuine freedom through His word. His word exposes the lies and errors of temptations such as alcohol, food, sex or money. When we are tempted to turn "these stones into bread”, we know how to respond.

Lord Jesus, make us truly free.

See: Navarre Bible: St John

The Word makes Disciples

"If you make my word your home you will indeed be my disciples, you will learn the truth and the truth will make you free" (John 8:31)

One of the most popular sayings in the Bible is: "The truth shall make you free." I knew of this quotation before I came to read the Bible. We all love freedom. Today more than ever, there are so many things that enslave us: Money, sex, television, alcohol, drugs, food, tobacco, pornography, cars, gadgets and so on. A number of businesses has grown promising to liberate us from our dependencies and addictions.

Jesus promises that knowing His word will lead to knowledge of the truth. Truth comes as light to chase away the error or darkness that causes sin, ignorance and death. Truth frees us from fear: Fears of ill-health, lack of money, opinion of people; fears of no job and its consequences. These subtle fears drive us to addictions.

How many people are genuinely free today? "Those who rush to other gods bring many troubles on themselves" (Psalm 16:4). These tin gods: money, alcohol, sex, food, etc exploit our weaknesses, enslave us and bring so much unhappiness to our lives. How can we be free? Feeding the mind with the words of Jesus Christ will make us free. "If you make my word your home you will indeed be my disciples, you will learn the truth and the truth will make you free" (John 8:31)

See: Navarre Bible: St John

There is time for everything!

"The right time for me has not come yet, but any time is the right time for you." (John 7:6)

When the brothers of Jesus urged Him to manifest Himself openly in Judaea, Jesus told them that the time is not right for such a show. Have you ever been under pressure to act? Subtle pressures to act 'now'; 'to show myself to the world' have troubled me in the past.

When you need to make a critical move in your life, success depends on timing. How do we recognize the right time? The Master is teaching us in John 7:6 that there is time for everything. To succeed, we must align ourselves to God's will and time-table. But how do we find out God's time on any issue?

Christ never took any major step in His life without prayer. He spent the night in prayer before He chose His the twelve apostles. Seeking God's will implies readiness to wait for it. "Faith that is firm is also patient." (Isaiah 28:16). When we wait for God's light and guidance after prayer, He never fails to manifest it. He does this through various means. Once we receive this guidance, then, "Do whatever he tells you." We can then act in confidence, certain that this is God's right time for us.

See: Navarre Bible: St John

The Spirit gives Life

"It is the Spirit that gives life, the flesh has nothing to offer" (John 6:63)

To experience joy, peace, happiness and contentment is to be alive in the Spirit. The Holy Spirit who is in us makes this condition possible. After we have received the Holy Spirit through baptism, the Spirit maintains His life in us through His word and through the sacraments especially the Eucharist. These are two most important means for building up the body of Christ.

The Holy Spirit transforms the ordinary bread and wine we bring to the altar during the Eucharist into the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ for the life of the soul. The word of God gives spiritual life to man. So does the Bread of life. To have real life, the life that endures, man must partake of the Word of God and the Bread of life.

"It is the Spirit that gives life, the flesh has nothing to offer" To connect to the Spirit, make your home in the word of God and eat and drink the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ often.

See: Navarre Bible: St John

Bread of Life

"I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never be hungry; he who believes in me will never thirst" (John 6:35).

There are few sources of pleasure in life that could rival food. One saying has it that love enters through the stomach. Food was a major cause of conflict between God and His people during their forty years of journey through the desert to the Promised Land. We are familiar with food riots in homes, schools, prisons and even in societies. Happiness, fulfillment, eternal life have been presented frequently through the images of food, drink and banquet in the Bible.

When Jesus said: "I am the bread of life", He chose a very powerful symbol in which to reach man. Jesus indeed is the bread of life. Under the appearance of bread and wine, He gives us Himself in the Eucharist. How do we know that this is true? This is the very word of Jesus. This is an explicit promise. The original people who heard this knew that Jesus was not being metaphorical. Their reaction showed what their understanding. Secondly, the Church had believed this from the very beginning. The Church believes it today. The Church will believe this till the end of time.

When we come to Jesus in Holy Communion, what do we seek? Christ promises us two things explicitly in the Eucharist. If we come to Him, we will never be hungry and we will never know thirst. "Man does not live by bread alone, there is life for him in every word that comes from the mouth of God." The natural man has great hunger and thirst for material things. The genuine bread, 'the bread of life' will gradually free man from excessive appetite for material food and drink.

See: Navarre Bible: St John

Do not be afraid

"They had rowed three or four miles when they saw Jesus walking on the lake and coming towards the boat. This frightened them, but he said, 'It is I. Do not be afraid" (John 6: 19-20)

Jesus is in every event in our life. In these verses, He is saying to us: 'Do not be afraid. I am present.' How can we make this truth serve us? In the midst of the stormy events of life, how do we call to mind the sure presence of Jesus? One way is to cultivate the presence of Jesus through the Jesus prayer. Form the habit of using the name of Jesus as affirmation. Whenever you mention that name, sense His presence.

Jesus is present in us through the Holy Spirit. How can we be sure of this? Because of the peace and tranquility we enjoy. When trial comes to us and we forget the presence of Jesus with us, we become afraid. We feel that we are in control of events and we feel so inadequate. Jesus wants us to know: "I am here. Do not be afraid."

How can we be constantly aware of the presence of Jesus? The words of Jesus bring peace and comfort in troubles. When we immerse ourselves in these words during calm weather, we could recall them easily during storms. Using the name of Jesus, which is Jesus prayer is the simplest but the most powerful type of prayer. It brings calm.

Jesus! "Yes, I am here. Do not be afraid."

See: Navarre Bible: St John

"My food is the will of God"

"My food is to do the will of the one who sent me, and to complete his work" (John 4:34).

The Father sent Jesus to redeem the world from sin. Christ understood His mission perfectly. Fulfilling this mission gives His life sustenance as food does to the body. "Man does not live on bread alone. There is life for him in every word that comes from the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4). Word of God and Will of God are the same thing.

Food apart from sustaining us, gives pleasure. Doing God's will give Christ the maximum pleasure. How about us?

The loving Father is always communicating with His children. He is eager to let us know His will in every situation. Psalm 40:8 tells us: "Your instructions for me are in the book of the Law" (GNB). If we follow these instructions, we find as Christ did that doing God's will can be food and drink to our life. Jesus left us this teaching and example. Our fulfillment, joy, peace and prosperity lie in following this instruction and example.

O Holy Spirit, lead and guide us to discern God's will for us in every situation.

See: Navarre Bible: St John

True Worship of God

"But the hour will come – in fact it is here already - when true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth: This is the kind of worship the Father wants." (John 4:23)

Genuine worship of the Father will be in spirit and truth. The Holy Spirit in us will lead us to the true worship of God. The Holy Spirit inspires and teaches authentic Christian doctrine and worship.

"God is spirit, and those who worship must worship in spirit and truth" (John 4:24). To worship God properly, we must recognize our spiritual nature and close the doors to the evidence of our senses. Our senses which represent materiality can be obstacle to genuine worship. For example, closing the eyes facilitates prayers for many.

Father, grant us the Holy Spirit so that we can worship you properly.

See: Navarre Bible: St John

The 10 Commandments

"Yahweh made this covenant not with our ancestors, but with us, with all of us alive here today." (Deuteronomy 5:3).

1. I am Yahweh your God who brought you out of Egypt, out of the place of slave-labor. You will have no gods other than me.

Where is your Egypt and where is your place of slave-labor? From what has the Lord delivered you? What is holding you in bondage today? What the Lord did in the past, He can repeat today. If you have been delivered from bondage or from the place of slave-labor, hold fast to your freedom. Do not lose it again.

2. You must not misuse the name of Yahweh your God, for Yahweh will not leave unpunished anyone who uses his name for what is false.

The Opening Prayer in the Memorial Mass of a saint touches on the special gift of the saint. Thus, the Opening Prayer on the feast of St. Ignatius Loyola says: "Father, you gave St. Ignatius of Loyola to your Church to bring greater glory to your name. May we follow his example on earth and share the crown of life in heaven..." Ignatius like many saints had an extraordinary love for the name of Jesus. The Scripture foretold this love when it says: "At the name of Jesus every knee must bend, in heaven, on earth, and under the earth; every tongue should proclaim to the glory of God the Father: Jesus Christ is Lord." (Philippians 2: 10 - 11)

What does the name of Jesus mean to us?

3. "Observe the Sabbath day and keep it holy, as Yahweh your God has commanded you. Labor for six days, doing all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath for Yahweh your God. You must not do any work that day. "

Do you see Sunday as a gift of God to us to help us to renew ourselves spiritually, emotionally and physically? If we understand the idea behind this commandment, we will understand that every commandment is for our benefit.

4. Honor your father and your mother, as Yahweh your God has commanded you, so that you may have long life and may prosper in the country which Yahweh your God is giving you.

5. You must not kill.

6. You must not commit adultery.

7. You must not steal.

8. You must not give false evidence against your fellow.

9. You must not set your heart on your neighbor's spouse.

10. You must not set your heart on your neighbor's house, or field, or servant - man or woman - or ox, or donkey or any of your neighbor's possessions.

Gods love

."Yes, God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not be lost but may have eternal life" (John 3:16).

Jesus is the expression of God's love for the world. When we are asked: How do you know that God loves the world? We point to Jesus. The presence of Jesus in our lives is the concrete evidence of God's love for us.

Jesus is present in everyone who believes in Him. Belief in Jesus means we accept Jesus as the light of our life, the center of our being, the meaning of our life. Faith in Jesus implies that we agree freely to walk by His light. This light is provided by the Gospels. We allow every detail of our life to be touched by this light. Acceptance of Jesus signifies knowing Jesus intimately, loving Him passionately us and committing ourselves to follow Him everywhere.

See: Navarre Bible: St John

Purpose

"I was born and came into the world for this one purpose, to speak about the truth" (John 18: 37).

Jesus defined His purpose on earth as bearing testimony to the truth. The truth is the business of these pages.

Jesus promises:” I have opened a door in front of you which no one can close" (Revelation 3:8). This promise is for all of us and the internet could be that door. The net provides us with a stupendous opportunity to spread and receive the healing truth of Jesus Christ.

This Blog shares personal reflections on the teachings of Jesus Christ.

"Go and preach to all nations: baptize them and teach them all I have commanded you"(Matthew 28: 19-20).

MISSION STATEMENT: I learn and I communicate the Truth

Jesus Must Reign on the Web

"The weapons we use in our fight are not the world's weapons but God's powerful weapons, which we use to destroy strong-holds. We destroy false arguments; we pull down every proud obstacle that is raised against the knowledge of God; we take every thougth captive and make it obey Christ" (2 Corinthians 10: 4-5)New Jerusalem Bible.

God gave us in His word a powerful weapon. With this weapon, we can destroy strong-holds, false arguments and pull down every proud obstacle that is raised against the knowledge of God. How do we use God's word as a weapon in spiritual warfare? Jesus told us to make His word our home if we want to be His disciples. Only trained disciples can participate in the war. When the word is in our hearts and on our lips, the Holy Spirit will inspire us when and what to use. Jesus Christ must reign on the internet. Below are links to some Christian sites on the web.

VATICAN: This is the homepage of the Holy See, the official site of the administration of the Catholic Church. It is one of the most popular Catholic websites.

Documents of the Roman Catholic Church: This is the warehouse of Catholic documents. Most historic documents are listed included those of the Council of Trent and the Second Vatican Council. Major papal encyclicals, writings of the Church Fathers and excerpts from the new Cathechism of the Catholic Church are listed.

Two Thousand Years of Catholic Writing: The works of major Catholic authors in the past 20 centuries are listed. Authors are listed in chronological order. The listing tells a wider story of a Church that has shaped modern civilization.

Summa Theologica St Thomas Aquinas' Summa Theologica and the writings of St Augustine shaped Catholic thoughts as no other Church Fathers since the time of the Apostles

Daughters of St Paul The Daughters of St Paul is an international congregation of religious women in the Catholic Church whose aim is "communicating God's love through media technology.

Jesuit Resources on the Web The Society of Jesus, known as the Jesuits was founded by Ignatius Loyola (1492 - 1556). The Society is an order of religious men bound by vows of poverty, chastity and special obedience to the Pope. Founded in 1540, the Society of Jesus has had great influence in the history of the Church.

Opus Dei This is the official site of Opus Dei, a religious movement founded by St. Josemaria Escriva. Opus Dei encourages lay spirituality and believes that God calls everybody to holiness no matter the state in life.

Internet Theology Resources This is a rich resource page for theology. It looks at Christian theology from various angles. There are links to schools, libraries, fellowships, journals, associations and newsgroups

Wisdom and the Cross

“The first principle of wisdom is: acquire wisdom; at the cost of all you have, acquire understanding! Hold her close, and she will make you great; embrace her, and she will be your pride; she will provide a graceful garland for your head, bestow a crown of honor on you.” (Proverbs 4: 7-9)

My pursuit of wisdom took me to self-development literature, philosophy, theology and history. After many years of seeking wisdom from second-hand sources, I was pointed to the fountain of wisdom: the Bible.

Roger Crawford in his book, How High Can You Bounce? , writes: "Resilient people realize that it’s impossible to see the full value of adversity until it is behind us. Understanding and wisdom come after an event, not before." Wisdom can come during an event if one feeds himself with a daily portion of the word of God.

Wisdom and the Cross

St Francis de Sales writes: "The everlasting God has in His wisdom foreseen from eternity, the cross He now presents to you from His innermost heart. This cross He now sends you He has considered with His all-knowing eyes, understood with His divine mind, tested with His wise justice, warmed with loving arms and weighed with His own hands to see that it is not one ounce too heavy for you. He has blessed it with His Holy Name, anointed it with His grace, perfumed it with His consolation, and taken one last glance at you and your courage - has sent it to you from heaven, a special greeting from God to you, an alms of the all merciful love of God."
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More Scriptures on Wisdom

• “Blessed are those who have discovered wisdom, those who have acquired understanding! Gaining her is more rewarding than silver, her yield is more valuable than gold. She is beyond the price of pearls, nothing you could covet is her equal. In her right hand is length of days; in her left hand, riches and honor. Her ways are filled with delight, her paths all lead to contentment. She is a tree of life for those who hold her fast, those who cling to her live happy lives.” (Proverbs 3: 13-18)


• "Teach me wisdom and knowledge, for in your commands I trust. (Psalm 119:66)


• "And now my children listen to me. Happy are those who keep my ways. Listen to instruction and become wise, do not reject it. Blessed, whoever listens to me, who day after day keep watch at my portals. For whoever finds me finds life, and obtains the favor of Yahweh; but whoever misses me harms himself, all who hate me are in love with death." (Proverbs 9: 32-36)


• “The blessing of Yahweh is what brings riches, to this, hard toil has nothing to add.” (Proverbs 11: 22)


• “For want of leadership a people perishes, safety lies in many advisers” (Proverbs 11: 14)


• “A sudden fortune will dwindle away, accumulation little by little is the way to riches.” (Proverbs 13: 11)


• “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, desire fulfilled is a tree of life.” (Proverbs 13:12)


• “In the fear of Yahweh is powerful security; for his children he is a refuge.” (Proverbs 14:26)


• “Better to have a little and with it fear of Yahweh than immense wealth and with it anxiety.” (Proverbs 15:16)


• "Two things I beg of you, do not grudge me them before I die: keep falsehood and lies far from me, give me neither poverty nor riches, grant me only my share of food, for fear that, surrounded by plenty, I should fall away and say, 'Yahweh - who is Yahweh?' or else, in destitution, take to stealing and profane the name of my God."(Proverbs 30: 7-9)


• “For Yahweh himself is giver of wisdom, from his mouth issue knowledge and understanding. He reserves his advice for the honest, a shield to those whose ways are sound; he stands guard over the path of equity.”(Proverbs 2: 6-8)


• “Trust wholeheartedly in Yahweh, put no faith in your own perception; acknowledge him in every course you take, and he will see that your paths are smooth.”(Proverbs 3:5-6)


• “My child do not scorn correction from Yahweh, do not resent his reproof; for Yahweh reproves those he love, as a father the child whom he loves.”(Proverbs 3: 11-120)

The Gold & Silver in God's Word

"The law of your mouth is to me more precious than thousands of gold and silver pieces.” (Psalm 119: 72).

How do we know for certain that God's word is more precious than silver and gold? God's word transforms ordinary humans into extraordinary beings. There are abundant proofs from the lives of many people. Their heroic lives had been recognized and many of them canonized as saints. The proof also come from the lives of dedicated Christians living among us. These individuals have the courage to test the life-changing principles in the Bible and confirm that they work. Their highly successful lives and achievements bear testimony to the power of God's word. God’s word contains many promises each of which may be worth more than silver and gold, depending on our needs.

To discover the gold and silver in the word of God, read it as a personal letter. Read the word in order to act on its principles and so obtain what it promises.

How Apply the Word of God to your Problem:

• Define the problem.


• . State two or more key words that are contained in your problem.


• Get a Bible Concordance and list all the references to your keywords.


• Take your Bible and write out all the references that bear directly on the problem.


• Focus on a number of texts that apply directly to you.


• Ask the Holy Spirit to show you how to apply the scripture.

The last step is critical: Understand what the scripture is saying to your actual situation. If you are not satisfied with the answer that you are getting, keep working on it until you are enlightened.

Believe the Bible text that God has revealed as answer to your problem. Belief may not come automatically. Like Peter, you can say again and again: "Lord I believe; increase my faith."

When you get a clear idea on concrete steps to take to solve your problem, act without hesitation. If you are not sure, wait until you get this clear signal. This is the most important step. "Faith that is firm is also patient." (Isaiah 28:16)

See books on: The Word of God

Baptism of the Holy Spirit

"I tell you most solemnly, unless a man is born through water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God" (John 3:5).

The kingdom of God here and now is something we cannot experience without the Holy Spirit. An old Chinese proverb says: ‘When the student is ready, the teacher appears.’ The Holy Spirit is the Teacher and Friend who is standing by waiting for us to be ready and invite Him into our lives. Jesus says that we must be born through water and the Holy Spirit. Full acceptance of Jesus Christ ushers the Holy Spirit into our lives. This experience marks our entrance into the kingdom of God which starts here and now. We experience the kingdom of God when we practice justice, truth, love and self-control.

Jesus says that we need the Holy Spirit to succeed as Christians. We respond to this message of our Lord and Savior by seeking everyday, a fresh anointing of the Holy Spirit to help us to overcome sin and give us the power to proclaim Jesus Christ with boldness.

Thank you Jesus for your promise to give the Holy Spirit to whoever asks for it. Give us the Holy Spirit, Lord.

See: Navarre Bible: St John

Lamb of God

"Look, there is the Lamb of God." (John 1:36)

The Lamb is one of John's favorite images for Jesus. It is one that is full of meekness, gentleness and tenderness. Jesus is not the lion of God or the horse of God but rather the Lamb of God. Everything in Scripture is written to teach us some truth. Jesus is the image of God the Father. One of the purposes of His incarnation is to reveal to us the nature of the Father. Jesus is the God who is meek, gentle and tender. A God that is very lovable.

Jesus as the Lamb of God is a concept we can all relate to: young and old, poor and rich, strong and weak. The New Testament has so many names for Jesus: Emmanuel, Prince of peace, High Priest, Son of David, etc. The Lamb is one of the tenderest descriptions of Jesus. It is an image of the power that created the universe presented as powerless.

Jesus is the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world. The Lamb defeated the ferocious enemy, the ruler of the powers and principalities. The Lamb was slaughtered but now is alive forever more. Is it not amazing that the image of a lamb is used to portray the power that defeated Satan? God displays His mighty power through meekness, gentleness and tenderness, rather than through brutal force.

Lord Jesus, make us meek, gentle and tender lambs.

See: Navarre Bible: St John

St. Peter Canisius

"Besides being a sage, Qoheleth taught the people what he himself knew, having weighed, studied and emended many proverbs. Qoheleth took pains to write in an attractive style and by it to convey truths(Ecclesiastes 12: 9-10).

Peter Canisius was born in Nijmegen, Holland in 1521. Peter studied canon law at Cologne University and Louvain. After his studies, he joined the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) and distinguished himself in teaching, preaching and writing. Peter Canisius became a type of Qoheleth (Ecclesiastes 12: 9-10, 12). He was a sage who shared liberally the fruits of his arduous studies in many books. "When I discovered your teaching, I devoured it. Your words brought me joy and gladness; you have called me your own, O Lord my God." (Jeremaiah 15:16) Peter Canisius could say the same thing.

In 1555, Peter published his famous Catechism, (Summa Doctrinae Christianae), which was the Catholic answer to Luther's great work. This Catechism which was translated into more than 16 languages during Peter Canisius's life became a model for catechisms up to this day. The Lord sustained him in the priesthood till the end of his life: "The Lord has sworn an oath and he will not retract; you are a priest forever, in the line of Melchisedech" (Psalm 110:4)

St Peter Canisius died in 1597 and was canonized and declared a saint of the Church in 1925. "He shall receive a blessing from the Lord, a reward from God his savior. Such is the race that seeks for him, that seeks the face of the God of Jacob." (Psalm 24: 5-6) His feast day is December 21.

BOOKS ON ST PETER CANISIUS

My Top 10 Historical Events

"At that time the Emperor Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the Roman Empire. When this first census took place, Quirinius was the governor of Syria. Everyone then went to register himself, each to his own town.
Joseph went to register with Mary" (Luke 2: 1-5).

Charles A. Beard (1874 - 1948). Historian. When asked if he could summarize the lessons of history in a short book, said he could do it in four sentences:

• Whom the gods destroy, they first make mad with power.
• The mills of God grind slowly, yet they grind exceedingly small.
• The bee fertilizes the flower it robs.
• When it is dark enough, you can see all the stars.

"Condensed History Lesson," Readers Digest, February 1941.

1. Judea 4 BC: Mary, the wife of Joseph gave birth to Jesus called the Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit.

2. Judea, 7 September 70 AD: Emperor Titus destroyed Jerusalem.

3. Milan, Feb 313: Edict of Milan - Emperors Constantine and Lucinius agreed on a policy of religious toleration for Christians.

4. Rome, 3 July 321: Sunday became a day of rest throughout the Roman empire.

5. Asia Minor, June 431: The third ecumenical council meeting at Ephesus condemned the Nestorian doctrine as heresy and declared Mary as Theotokos, that is, Mother of God.

6. Arabia, 16 July 622: Mohamed fled Mecca and took refuge at Medina. His flight is known as the hegira.

7. Caribbean, 12 October 1492: Christopher Columbus landed in an island he called San Salvador.

8. Germany, 31 October 1517: Martin Luther posted a list of 95 theses challenging the Church.

9. Lourdes, 15 February 1858: The Blessed Virgin Mary appeared in Lourdes grotto.

10. Washington DC, 1 January 1863: President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Act, proclaiming all slaves in the confederate states free.

Abundant Life

"I have come that they may have life and have it to the full" (John 10:10)

We all desire to live abundantly, to achieve our potentials in life. The aim of education is to develop our talents to live to the full. Christ promises that He came that we may have abundant life. Experience shows us that this present life does not satisfy all our needs and does not last forever. Jesus must mean some other form of life in his promise of abundant life. He is talking of spiritual life, eternal life. A life that begins here and continues forever. Jesus achieved this life for us through His teaching, death and resurrection.

In another passage, Jesus says: "And this is eternal life, that they know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent" [John 17:3.4]. What then is eternal life? Why do we need it? Who gives eternal life and how is it obtained? When and where is eternal life given?

Man, created in the image and likeness of God has a spiritual nature. Eternal life is the life of the spirit that enables man to live as a son of God. Jesus Christ gives the life through His word and the Eucharist, that is, the gift of His Body and Blood. To obtain this life, we ask for it in faith and Jesus gives us through His Holy Spirit. If man lives to the full when he lives spiritually, it means that people without God cannot live to the full. To live to the full we need Jesus.

See: Navarre Bible: St John

St. John Chrysostom

"Besides being a sage, Qoheleth taught the people what he himself knew, having weighed, studied and emended many proverbs. Qoheleth took pains to write in an attractive style and by it to convey truths(Ecclesiastes 12: 9-10).

St John Chrysostom was born in 347, the son of a Latin father and a Greek mother. His name 'Chrysostom' means golden-mouthed. John, a type of Qoheleth in (Ecclesiastes 12: 9-10, 12) wrote numerous homilies on the Gospels of Matthew and John and the letter to the Romans. He became very distinquished as a writer and preacher. As the patriarch of Constantinople, John was reform minded. John is one of the four Greek doctors of the Church. St. John Chrysostom is the patron of preachers. His feast day is September 13.

Quotes from John Chrysostom

"There is no better teaching than the teacher's own example. By taking this course, the teacher is sure to get his disciple to follow him. Speak wisely, instruct as eloquently as you can...,but your example will make a greater impression, will be more decisive...When your actions are in line with your words, nobody will be able to find fault with you" (Homily on Philippians).

"The books of the Bible are teachers which never cease to instruct us[...].Open these books. What a treasuries of good remedies they contain! [...]. All you need do is look at the book, read it and remember well the wise teachings therein. The source of all our evils is our ignorance of the sacred books" (Homilies on Colossians).

"If God has honored us with countless gifts it is thanks to his love, not to our merits. Our fervor, our strength, our faith and our unity are the fruits of God's benevolence and our response to his goodness" (Homily on Ephesians, ad loc).

BOOKS ON ST JOHN CHRYSOSTOM

The Light of the World

"The Word was the light that enlightens all men." (John 1:9)

The Word is Jesus Christ. Jesus provides meaning for the life of man. This meaning is the light that guides us in dark places of the world. Without this light, we move in darkness and error. The Word gives meaning to the spiritual nature of man. He explains everything about man in relation to God.

There are two lights in the world: the light of the Word and the light of Satan, which is in reality darkness. This light is error; it distorts the image of man by trying to portray man as purely a material being. But Christ is the true light of the world. Where is this light? Where is Christ? Where Christ is, there is the light. Christ is alive in the Church; He is in His word; He is also in the sacraments of the Church. Christ is also anywhere two or three people are gathered in His name. It is obvious that we cannot perceive Jesus today with our physical eyes. We need the light of faith to do so.

How do we apply this scripture today? The word of God is the true light that enlightens me on: health, family, food, tools, job and money. Any other light will lead me into error. When I ask prayerfully this question: What does the word of God say on my health, family, job, food, money or tools, the answer I get will guide me to right action in relation to all these basic necessities of life.

See: Navarre Bible: St John

Are your confident

"God indeed is my savior; I am confident and unafraid. My strength and my courage is the Lord, and he has been my savior." (Isaiah 12:2)

What makes the word of God so potent in transforming our fears and weakness into strength? One good reason to me is the person behind that word and promise. We know that God cannot fail come what may.

The Holy Spirit writes in Isaiah 12:2 "God indeed is my savior; I am confident and unafraid. My strength and my courage is the Lord, and he has been my savior." When we receive words like these with an open and trusting heart, incredible strength and courage is born within us. And we feel that we can do almost anything because of Him who gives us strength.

The Bible urges us again and again to have courage and not to be afraid. We need courage to claim our inheritance. Every parent realizes this truth. Our Father in heaven knows that we cannot claim our rights as His children without courage. If we believe that God is indeed our Savior and ever present help, then we should be confident and not be afraid. The life of love, praise and worship of our creator which is the very essence of the Christian life demands courage.

See: Some Books on Courage

My 10 Favorite Names of Jesus

"Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,' which means, 'God is with us" (Matthew 1:23).

Jesus Christ is called by many names and titles in the Bible. . All the names are significant. The ten names below are my favorite names of Jesus.

1. Emmanuel : "Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,' which means, 'God is with us" (Matthew 1:23).

2. Alpha and Omega : "I am the Alpha and the Omega,' says the Lord God, who is, who was, and who is to come, the Almighty (Revelation 1:8).

3. Lamb of God : "Look, there is the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world."(John 1:29).

4. Kings of kings : "He is the blessed and only Sovereign, King of kings and Lord of lords." (1 Timothy 6:15).

5. Prince of Peace: "And this is the name he has been given, 'Wonder-Counselor, Mighty-God, Eternal-Father, Prince-of-Peace" (Isaiah 9:5).

6. Teacher : "Rabbi, we know that you have come from God as a teacher" (John 3:2).
7. Living One : "I am the Living One" (Revelation 1:17).

8. Bread of life : "I am the bread of life" (John 6:48).

9. Faithful Witness : "Grace and peace to you from him who is, who was, and who is to come, ...and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness" (Revelation 1:5).

10. Light of the world : "I am the light of the world" (John 8:12).

Do you want power?

"But you will receive the power of the Holy Spirit which will come upon you, and then you will be my witnesses not only in Jerusalem but throughout Judea and Samaria, and indeed to earths remotest end.." (Acts 1:8)

1. The Holy Spirit is the power behind all Christian witnessing


2. The Holy Spirit is the source and power for evangelization.

Power is the predominant attribute of the Holy Spirit. Can the Holy Spirit make a difference in our lives? Some years ago, I was totally powerless in many areas of my life. I was inspired to seek the Holy Spirit. I became empowered to a degree that I never imagined was possible. When the Holy Spirit enters a life, it transforms it.

GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT:

* Word of wisdom * Word of knowledge * Faith
* Healing power * Working of miracles * Prophecy
* Discernment of spirits * Gift of tongues * Interpretation of tongues
(1 Corinthians 12: 8-10)

FRUITS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

* Love * Joy * Peace
* Long-suffering * Kindness * Goodness
* Faithfulness * Gentleness * Self-control
(Galatians 5:22-23)

Prayer to the Holy Spirit

"Spirit of God, enliven me.
Spirit of Truth, guide me.
Spirit of Goodness, strengthen me.
Spirit of Love, inflame me.
Spirit of life, sanctify me.
Spirit of mercy, forgive me.
Spirit of God, be ever in my heart and on my lips."

The Family Tree of Jesus Christ

"The roll of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, son of David, son of Abraham: Abraham fathered Isaac, Isaac fathered Jacob, Jacob fathered Judah and his brothers.......Matthan fathered Jacob; and Jacob fathered Joseph the husband of Mary; of her was born Jesus who is called Christ"(Matthew 1: 1-2, 16)

Mary is named in family tree of Jesus Christ. From the beginning of salvation history, God had carved an important niche for Mary. The genealogy teaches us that God's plan for our redemption was formed long ago.

The family tree of Jesus Christ presents a motley crowd. We see high achievers like Abraham, Isaac and David. We also see plain ordinary people like Jesse the father of David. God called each one to perform a unique an irrepeatable task. Mary's unique role was to be the mother of Jesus.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches: "Against all human expectation God chooses those who were considered powerless and weak to show forth his faithfulness to his promises: Hannah, the mother of Samuel; Deborah; Ruth; Judith and Esther; and many other women. Mary stands out among the poor and humble of the Lord, who confidently hope for and receive salvation from him. After a long period of waiting the times are fulfilled in her, the exalted Daughter of Sion, and the new plan of salvation is established.'"

Jesus, Mary & Joseph as Refugees

"Get up, take the child and his mother with you, and escape into Egypt, and stay there until I tell you, because Herod intends to search for the child and do away with him. So Joseph got up and, taking the child and his mother with him, left that night for Egypt"(Matthew 2: 13-15).

Mary was present in all the defining moments in the life of her Son. As a result to the threat to the life of Jesus by Herod, Mary, Joseph and Jesus became immigrant refugees in Egypt. How many immigrant refugees are there in the world today? Jesus and His parents had the refugee experience.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches: "Christ's whole life is a mystery of redemption. Redemption comes to us above all through the blood of his cross, but this mystery is at work throughout Christ's entire life:

- already in his incarnation through which by becoming poor he enriches us with his poverty;
- in his hidden life which by his submission atones for our disobedience;
- in his word which purifies his hearers;
- in his healing and exorcisms by which 'he took our infirmities and bore our diseases';
- and in his resurrection by which he justifies us;

Christ's whole life is a mystery of recapitulation. All Jesus did, said, had for its aim restoring fallen man to his original vocation:

When Christ became incarnate and was made man, he recapitulated in himself the long history of mankind and procured for us a 'short-cut' to salvation, so that what we have lost in Adam, that is, being in the image and likeness of God, we might recover in Christ Jesus. For this reason Christ experienced all the stages of life, thereby giving communion with God to all men."

Be Courageous

"I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."(Joshua 1:9)

The Bible is filled with texts on courage and they point to one lesson: It is God's will for us to be men and women of courage. In fact, it is our birthright. So how do we get courage? I find that the following ideas have served me well as I try to believe God's word and act courageously.

1. Acknowledge that you need courage just like everyone else.

2. Recognize the source of courage.

3. Fill your mind with words of courage from the Bible. Memorize your favorite ones and repeat them often.

4. Reflect on and write down those occasions when you need courage.

5. As events approach that demand courage, prepare yourself through prayer and affirmations.

6. Ask the Holy Spirit again and again to give you courage to fulfill your purpose in life.

7. Like faith, hope and love, courage grows with daily use. Use it or lose it. Be alert to opportunities to exercise your courage.

8. Finally remember this: To be bold, act boldly. As you act boldly, power will flow into you.

See: Some Books on Courage

Bible Characters

MY TOP 10 BIBLE CHARACTERS

"There are many different gifts, but it is always the same Spirit; there are many different ways of serving, but it is always the same Lord." (1 Corinthians 12: 4-5)

What do the Bible personalities listed below have in common? Each of them can write CCA (Choice, Call and Anointed) after his name. God chose and called them for a particular mission. He anointed them for a specific task. Their characters and gifts differ and they responded to God's word according to their unique traits of character.

Abraham
Joseph

Moses
Joshua

David

Daniel

Mary
Peter
Paul
Stephen
Commentaries on the Bible
Bible Concordances
Thesaurus of the Bible

Who are my brethren?

"My mother and my brethren are those who hear the word of God and do it."(Luke 8: 21)

Mary was never far from the ministry of Jesus. Although she kept in the background during His public life, she was fully aware of what Jesus was doing. In this passage, we see Mary seek out her Son during His ministry. Jesus used the opportunity to teach us a useful lesson about what constitutes true relationship in the kingdom: "My mother and my brethren are those who hear the word of God and do it."

Navarre Bible Texts and Commentaries": writes -
"These words of our Lord show us that fulfillment of the Will of God is more important than kinship and that, therefore, our Lady is more united to her Son by virtue of her perfect fulfillment of what God asked of her, than by the Holy Spirit's using her to make Christ's body.....Therefore, the Church reminds us that the Blessed Virgin "in the course of her Son's preaching received the words whereby, in extolling a kingdom beyond the concerns and ties of flesh and blood, He declared blessed those who heard and kept the word of God as she was faithfully doing" (Vatican II, "Lumen Gentium", 58)."

Books on Mary

Blind Bartimaeus

"What do you want me to do for you?' The blind man said to him, 'Rabbuni, let me see again'" (Mark 10:51)NJB

Suppose Jesus asks you: "What do you want me to do for you?" How would you reply? When I have sensed Him asking that of me, my answer depended on my circumstances. In periods of ill-health, I wanted instant healing. When an old car needed repair, we desire a new car. Our desires are indeed complex, but Bartimaeus' prayer was precise.

When God asked Solomon what he wanted most, Solomon's request pleased God. Why? Because the king had asked for wisdom -- not for his own benefit, but so he could rule Israel according to God's purpose. God wants us to choose wisely and in accordance with His will. In the Lord's prayer, Jesus taught us what to pray for. God's will is paramount. He showed an example in Gethsemane when in terrible anguish, he groaned: "My Father,..not what I want but what you want" (Matthew 26:39)

Bartimaeus' prayer brought him physical and spiritual vision. Jesus always gives more than we ask for. He wants us to pray with confidence for all our needs, but he also desires we place spiritual well-being above material comfort. The world needs people with spiritual vision. "Without vision the people perish" (Proverbs 29: 18). The prophet Hosea writes: "My people perish for want of knowledge." (Hosea 4:6) May God help us to pray with Bartimaeus: Lord, that we may see!

Books on Prayer

Listen and Grow

"Jesus said, 'Listen, a sower went out to sow...And the seed sown in rich soil is someone who hears the word and understands it; this is the one who yields a harvest and produces now a hundredfold, now sixty, now thirty."(Matthew 13: 3, 23)

The parable of the sower teaches the principle of personal growth and reveals the secret. The word of God sown in a receptive mind has the power to geminate and transform the personality.
Why is America so rich in producing many talented writers in personal growth? The United States provides an enabling environment for all types of talents to flourish. The public, university libraries and bookstores nurture a learning culture. When one is eager to develop his God-given talents, a good idea is to look at what other people have done. The wealth of ideas in self-development literature makes America a land of sunshine, opportunity and adventure.

These books inspire us to develop our potentials.
Meet below some of the great inspirational writiers of our age. Their writings have influenced millions of people all over the world including myself.

Norman Vincent Peale
Napoleon Hill
Joseph Murphy
Stephen Covey
Tom Hopkins
Anthony Robbins
George Clason
Maxwell Maltz
Peter Drucker
Robert Schuller

For everything there is a time..

"For everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under the heavens" (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

Unerstanding the concept of kairos, God's time-table for our life is the secret of success and happiness. Even a child understands that a seed requires time to grow in order to yield fruit. Each stage in its life cycle from sprouting to fruition is marked by internal changes and constant adaptation to ever-changing environment. An internal biological clock governs its life. Human beings created for a higher purpose are not different. The Creator said that He has an excellent plan for each person (Jeremiah 29:11).

As we go through various stages in our life-cycle, it is consoling to be aware that God is present in every change and has a superb time-table for our development. If there is time for every purpose, how do we find out the right time for our projects? The four steps listed below have helped me in discerning God's will for my life.

1. Believe that God is in full control of the situation.

2. Pray for light and guidance.

3. Wait for God to speak to you on the problem. "Faith that is firm is also patient" (Isaiah 28:16). When God speaks, He can use any of these means: His word, people, events, inspirations.

4. Do whatever he tells you (John 2:5).
God's guidance is peace. If you do not feel peace at this stage, you have not received an answer. Continue to wait.

Health and Healing

"That evening they brought him many who were possessed by devils. He drove out the spirits with a command and cured all who were sick. That was to fulfil what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: He himself bore our sickness away and carried our diseases.(Matthew 8: 16-17)

Perhaps you are sick in your body at this moment or may be you are just worried whether you may be able to keep the good health you enjoy right now till the end of life. Good health is one of the great riches of life. Even as adult, I experienced ill-health on many occasions. Encouraged by stories of people who had overcome chronic disabilities, I became determined that I must enjoy good health. Reasonable good health is possible for most people. Just as there are rules for success in anything, there are also rules for success with regard to health.

Whatever may be your situation, it is most comforting to realize that God, our Father has made concrete provisions concerning our health in His word. The key to enjoying His promises on our health is to understand these promises as they apply to us; to trust God's word and to obey what they ask us to do. Realize also that "good health" is a matter of attitude. Everyday you wake up, have your meals and go about your business, you are in good health. There may of course be some pains and aches. These may never be entirely absent in life. Thank God that you are alive and able to move about, enjoy a good meal and do what God expects of you everyday.

Mary called Magdalen

"Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means"(Luke 8:2-3).

Women who benefited from the ministry of Jesus provided for His needs and those of His disciples. They provided for them "out of their means." The widow of Zarephath provided for Elijah out of her meagre resources. God blessed this source and it never dried up.

This incidence is typical of God's arrangement for providing the future disciples of Christ. In the Old Testament, we see many instances of God providing for His servants through people. This principle was established with the levitical priesthood. Elisha, the prophet was likewise provided for by a couple in the course of his work. In the New Testament, we find abundant examples from the works of the Twelve and St Paul.

What are the lessons for us? God makes adequate provisions for the needs of those who preach the gospel. God prefers a situation of weakness and dependence for His servants so that His wisdom and power can triumph through their work. God infact wants His collaborators in the work of salvation to imitate the simplicity of Jesus Christ. He appoints people to supply the needs of His workers.

How do the disciples of Christ today appropriate God's blessings and provisions for them? First, they must be aware of these provisions in the Bible. They must understand what God's word or promise is saying to their particular situation. Disciples of Jesus must believe his word and act on this word. Trust and obedience activate the power of the word.

Family

"No one who prefers father or mother to me is worthy of me. No one who prefers son or daughter to me is worthy of me.(Matthew 10:37)

Most of the joys and sorrows we experience in this life come from the family. To appropriate the joys and minimize the sorrows, we must learn God's promises on the family. As we understand God's plan for family life, we are led to believe in God's wonderful provisions for the family. Obedience to God's word on family life is the key to enjoyoying the generous provisions He has made for us. Most of us have experienced problems in family relationships. Some of us have come close to despair. I was at this point, when I cried out to God and and asked for help. God heard my cry of distress and answered my prayer. He led me to his word on the first principles of right relationship: There can be no peace between poeple unless there is peace between each person and God. Then He taught me forgiveness, acceptance and patience. The healing process started.

Pope John Paul II in his The Gospel of Life says this about the family:
"The family is truly the sanctuary of life: the place in which life - the gift of God - can be properly welcomed and protected against the many attacks to which it is exposed, and can develop in accordance with what constitutes authentic human growth. Consequently the role of a family in building a culture of life is decisive and irreplaceable.....The family celebrates the gospel of life through daily prayer, both individual and family prayer. The family prays in order to glorify and give thanks to God for the gift of life, and implores his light and strength in order to face times of difficulty and suffering without losing hope. But the celebration which gives meaning to every form of prayer and worship is found in the family's actual daily life together, if it is a life of love and self-giving."

Prayer fof a balanced family life
Grant our family Lord, the gift of balance,
the grace of due proportion.
May we pray when it is time to pray,
Work when it is time to work,
Laugh when it is time to laugh.
May our lives be whole,
and wholly given to you.

When you need courage.....

"I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."(Joshua 1:9)

Using a specific scripture at a critical moment brings power to the mind. God is present wherever His word is acknowledged with faith. To allow this power to flow to us at the moment of need, we feed our minds with God's word in periods when we are not pressed by tests. When we sow the word of God, we reap a harvest of courage and power during emergencies. Below are some scriptures that can be used as affirmations.

Some scriptures on courage:

WHEN YOU NEED TO BE BOLD AND DECISIVE:

Be strong and brave (2Sam 2:7)
Be strong and courageous: (Deut31:6, 7, 23; Joshua 1:6, 9, 18; 10:25; 2Sam 10:12; 13:28; 1Chronicle 22:13; 2Chronicle 32:7)
Be of good courage and act (Ezra 10:4)
Be strong and take courage (Psalm 31:24)
Those who trust in the Lord will fear no bad news (Psalm 112:7)
The righteous are bold as a lion (Proverb 28:1)
They spoke the word of God boldly (Acts 4:31)
God gives encouragement (Romans 15:5)
We do not lose heart (2Corinthians 4:1, 16)
Let us not lose heart (Galatians 6:9)
The bretheren have been encouraged to speak the word (Philippians 1:14)

WHY BE AFRAID IF THE LORD IS WITH YOU?

I will not be afraid of tens of thousands Psalm 3:6)
You will not be afraid (Psalm 3:24)
I will fear no evil (Psalm 23:4)
The Lord is my light, whom shall I fear? (Psalm 27:1)
He delivered me from all my fears (Psalm 34:4)
We will not fear though the earth change (Psalm 46:2)
You will not fear the terror by night (Psalm 91:5) You will not be afraid of arrow or pestilence (Psalm 91:5-6)
I will trust and not be afraid (Isaiah 12:2)
We have not received a spirit of bondage to fear (Romans 8:15)
God has not given us a spirit of timidity (2Tim 1:7)
I will not be afraid (Psalm 56:4, 11; Hebrews 13:6)
We are not those who shrink back (Hebrews 10 :38 - 39)
Perfect love casts out fear (1John 4:18)

See: Some Books on Courage

THE ASSUMPTION OF MARY

THE ASSUMPTION OF MARY:
A BELIEF SINCE APOSTOLIC TIMES Father Clifford Stevens

The Assumption is the oldest feast day of Our Lady, but we don't know how it first came to be celebrated.
Its origin is lost in those days when Jerusalem was restored as a sacred city, at the time of the Roman Emperor Constantine (c. 285-337). By then it had been a pagan city for two centuries, ever since Emperor Hadrian (76-138) had leveled it around the year 135 and rebuilt it as in honor of Jupiter.

For 200 years, every memory of Jesus was obliterated from the city, and the sites made holy by His life, death and Resurrection became pagan temples.
After the building of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in 336, the sacred sites began to be restored and memories of the life of Our Lord began to be celebrated by the people of Jerusalem. One of the memories about his mother centered around the "Tomb of Mary," close to Mount Zion, where the early Christian community had lived.
On the hill itself was the "Place of Dormition," the spot of Mary's "falling asleep," where she had died. The "Tomb of Mary" was where she was buried.
At this time, the "Memory of Mary" was being celebrated. Later it was to become our feast of the Assumption.

For a time, the "Memory of Mary" was marked only in Palestine, but then it was extended by the emperor to all the churches of the East. In the seventh century, it began to be celebrated in Rome under the title of the "Falling Asleep" ("Dormitio") of the Mother of God.
Soon the name was changed to the "Assumption of Mary," since there was more to the feast than her dying. It also proclaimed that she had been taken up, body and soul, into heaven.
That belief was ancient, dating back to the apostles themselves. What was clear from the beginning was that there were no relics of Mary to be venerated, and that an empty tomb stood on the edge of Jerusalem near the site of her death. That location also soon became a place of pilgrimage. (Today, the Benedictine Abbey of the Dormition of Mary stands on the spot.)
At the Council of Chalcedon in 451, when bishops from throughout the Mediterranean world gathered in Constantinople, Emperor Marcian asked the Patriarch of Jerusalem to bring the relics of Mary to Constantinople to be enshrined in the capitol. The patriarch explained to the emperor that there were no relics of Mary in Jerusalem, that "Mary had died in the presence of the apostles; but her tomb, when opened later . . . was found empty and so the apostles concluded that the body was taken up into heaven."

In the eighth century, St. John Damascene was known for giving sermons at the holy places in Jerusalem. At the Tomb of Mary, he expressed the belief of the Church on the meaning of the feast: "Although the body was duly buried, it did not remain in the state of death, neither was it dissolved by decay. . . . You were transferred to your heavenly home, O Lady, Queen and Mother of God in truth."

All the feast days of Mary mark the great mysteries of her life and her part in the work of redemption. The central mystery of her life and person is her divine motherhood, celebrated both at Christmas and a week later (Jan. 1) on the feast of the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. The Immaculate Conception (Dec. 8) marks the preparation for that motherhood, so that she had the fullness of grace from the first moment of her existence, completely untouched by sin. Her whole being throbbed with divine life from the very beginning, readying her for the exalted role of mother of the Savior.

The Assumption completes God's work in her since it was not fitting that the flesh that had given life to God himself should ever undergo corruption. The Assumption is God's crowning of His work as Mary ends her earthly life and enters eternity. The feast turns our eyes in that direction, where we will follow when our earthly life is over.

The feast days of the Church are not just the commemoration of historical events; they do not look only to the past. They look to the present and to the future and give us an insight into our own relationship with God. The Assumption looks to eternity and gives us hope that we, too, will follow Our Lady when our life is ended.

The prayer for the feast reads: "All-powerful and ever-living God: You raised the sinless Virgin Mary, mother of your Son, body and soul, to the glory of heaven. May we see heaven as our final goal and come to share her glory."

In 1950, in the Apostolic Constitution , Pope Pius XII proclaimed the Assumption of Mary a dogma of the Catholic Church in these words: "The Immaculate Mother of God, the ever-virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heaven."

With that, an ancient belief became Catholic doctrine and the Assumption was declared a truth revealed by God.

http://www.ewtn.com/library/ANSWERS/AOFMARY.HTM

Father Clifford Stevens writes from Tintern Monastery in Oakdale, Neb.
This article was taken from the July-August 1996 issue of "Catholic Heritage". To subscribe write Our Sunday Visitor, Inc., 200 Noll Plaza, Huntington, IN 46750-9957 or call 1-800-348-2440. Published bimonthly at a charge of $18.00 per year.
Provided Courtesy of:Eternal Word Television Network5817 Old Leeds RoadIrondale, AL 35210www.ewtn.com

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Books on the Blessed Virgin Mary

"Look! the virgin is with child and will give birth to a son whom they will call Emmanuel, a name which means 'God-is-with-us"(Matthew 1:23)NJB

1. At the Foot of the Cross: The Seven Lessons of Mary for the Sorrowing Heart
Gerald Vann / Paperback / Date Published: February 1998

2. Mary for All Christians
John Macquarrie / Paperback / Date Published: January 1992

3.Our Lady in the Liturgy
J. D. Crichton / Paperback / Date Published: January 1998

4. The Incarnate God: The Feasts and the Life of Jesus Christ
Catherine Aslanoff (Editor),Andrew Tregubov (Illustrator),Paul Meyendorff (Translator) / Hardcover / Date Published: January 1994

5. Book of Mary: Prayers in Honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary
United States Catholic Conference (Editor) / Paperback / Date Published: January 1987

6. Blessed Virgin Mary: Her Life & Mission
Corinne Heline / Paperback / Date Published: January 1986

7. Blessed Virgin Mary
Alphonse Liguori / Paperback / Date Published: June 1974

8. Let Heaven and Earth Unite!: Apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Messages from Our Lord, Jesus Christ, to Bernardo Martine
Miriam A. Weglian,Stephen M. Weglian / Paperback / Date Published: November 1996

9. Mary the Mother of All: Protestant Perspectives and Experiences of Medjugorje
Sharon E. Cheston / Paperback / Date Published: October 1994

10. Mother and Disciple: A Devoted Discourse on the Blessed Virgin Mary
Charles Edward Miller / Paperback / Date Published: January 1989

11. A Protestant Pastor Looks at Mary
Cgarles Dickson,Charles Dickson / Paperback / Date Published: September 1996

12. Mary of the Koran: A Meeting Point between Christianity and Islam
Nilo Geagea,Lawrence T. Fares / Hardcover / Date Published: January 1984