Offering up everything

"Lord, look with mercy on our offerings. May the sacrifice of Christ, your Son, bring us to eternal life …" (Prayer at Mass)

"Many brought a pound of costly perfume made from genuine aromatic nard, with which she anointed Jesus' feet." (John 12: 3)

Mary gave her first fruits to Jesus. She gave Him the very best.

Do I give my very best to Jesus?

• Time
  
• Talent
  
• Treasure
  

Lord Jesus, I offer you through the Immaculate Heart of Mary all my prayers, desires, hopes, sufferings, temptations, delays, obstacles and disappointments.

Lord Jesus, help me to give you always my very best. I want to give you not Magis but Maximus.

 

First Fruits

"Many brought a pound of costly perfume made from genuine aromatic nard, with which she anointed Jesus' feet." (John 12: 3)

Mary gave her first fruits to Jesus. She gave Him the very best.

Do I give my very best to Jesus?

• Time
  
• Talent
  
• Treasure
  

Lord Jesus, help me to give you always my very best. I want to give you not Magis but Maximus.

Wait for the Lord

"The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear? / The Lord is my life's refuge; of whom should I be afraid? ………./I believe that I shall see the bounty of the Lord in the land of the living. / Wait for the Lord with courage; be stout-hearted and wait for the Lord." (Psalm 27 ..)

If God is with me, who can be against me? If God is with me, I shall triumph over my foes. If God is with me, it is accomplished.

Yes, I shall see the bounty of the Lord in this land. I wait for the Lord with courage. I wait for the Lord until He answers me.

Call, Chosen and Anointed

"I, the Lord, has called you for the victory of justice, I have grasped you by the hand; I formed you and set you as a covenant of the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes of the blind, to bring out prisoners from confinement, and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness." (Isaiah 42: 6-7)

The Lord has called me for the victory of justice. God grasped me by the hand as I grasped JR the day he was lost. God is forming me; He is training me. He will set me as a covenant of the people, a light for the nations. God is calling me to open the eyes of the blind; to bring out prisoners from confinement and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness.

I can do all these things because I am His servant whom He upholds, His chosen one with whom He is pleased. He has put His Spirit in me. If God is with me, then it is accomplished.

Passion of Christ

"All-powerful God, by the suffering and death of your Son, strengthen and protect us in our weakness…" (Prayer at Mass)

Passion of Christ, strengthen me.

Blood of Jesus, protect me.

Perfect Sacrifice

"Lord, may the suffering and death of Jesus, your only Son, make us pleasing to you. Alone we can do nothing, but may this perfect sacrifice win us your mercy and love…." (Mass Prayer)

Jesus Christ reconciled us to the Father through His passion and death. It is the perfect sacrifice sought by God. We commemorate this in the Mass. This is why the Mass has the power to win us the mercy and love of God.

It pays to be humble

"Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself…." (Philippians 2: 6-11)

Christ was humble. God raised Him up high.

Mary was humble. God raised her.

David was humble. God promoted him.

If I am humble, God will surely raise me.

A Well-trained Tongue

"The Lord God has given me a well-trained tongue, that I might know how to speak to the weary a word that will rouse them. Morning by morning he opens my ear that I may hear; and I have not rebelled, have not turned back." (Isaiah 50: 4-7)

Father, give me a well-trained tongue. Bless me also with a well-trained hand. Lead me, guide me and use me.

God blessed these people with a well-trained tongue:

• Paul
  
• Augustine
  
• Josemaria
  
• Louis de Monfort
  
• Patrick
  
• John Chrysostom
  

Estrangement and Reconciliation

"Almighty Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, you sent your Son to be born of a woman and die on a cross, so that through the obedience of one man estrangement may be dissolved for all men. Guide our minds by his truth and strengthen our lives by the example of his death, that we may live in union with you in the kingdom of your promise." (Prayer at Mass)

Our sins caused our estrangement from God. Christ's obedience reconciles us to God.

Guide our minds by His truth: Truth as found in the Gospel and in the Bible.

Triumphing over Suffering

"Almighty, ever-living God, you have given the human race Jesus Christ our Savior as a model of humility. He fulfilled your will by becoming man and giving his life on the cross. Help us to bear witness to you by following the example of suffering and make us worthy to share in his resurrection…." (Prayer at Mass)

"By his stripes, we are healed." (1 Peter 2: 24)

Christ suffered and conquered death. He destroyed the fear of death and suffering for all of us. He suffered and overcame. If I accept the sufferings in my life that I cannot prevent, I too will triumph over the fear of sufferings.

Lord Jesus, help us to overcome the fear of suffering.

The Meek and Humble King

"Behold, your king comes to you, meek and riding on an ass, and on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden." (Matthew 21: 1-11)

What a King we have in Jesus. Our King is meek and humble. It is thus Jesus presents Himself to us in the Blessed Sacrament – meek and humble. He comes to us in the Eucharist as a meek and humble King. This is the King who washes the feet of His servants.

Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like yours.

Baptism and New Life

"Ever-living God, in Baptism, the sacrament of our faith, you restore us to life. Accept the prayers and gifts of your people; forgive our sins and fulfill our hopes and desires…." (Prayers at Mass)

Through Baptism, we are given new life. The bread and wine we offer in the offertory symbolize the gifts of ourselves to God.

Inspite of Baptism restoring us to new life, sins continue to dog our footsteps.

Vital Information Systems

"The Jewish Passover was drawing near….." (John 11: 55)

Times and seasons are ordained by God. In 1999, I confided the following on the above scripture to my journal:

"It was ordained that Jesus, the Lamb of God would be sacrificed during the Jewish Passover. The sacrifice of Jesus marked the end of the old covenant and the beginning of a new one. Our God uses the symbolisms of timings to teach us about His plans. Now I know that my prayers for the Vital Information Systems this year, my Jubilee year will have the sympathetic ears of God."

Reflecting on the above today in June of 2008, I am amazed to see how God answered the prayer: Seekfirstweb.Com.

Mourning and Joy

"I will turn their mourning into joy, I will console and gladden them after their sorrows." (Jeremiah 31: 13)

Those who sow in tears shall laugh when they reap. This is the word of the Lord.

God’s Saving Plan

"I shall save them from the acts of infidelity which they have committed and shall cleanse them; they will be my people and I shall be their God." (Ezekiel 37: 23)

God our Father is continually working to save us. The sacraments are the means through which God is saving us, cleansing us of our acts of infidelity.

As Easter Approaches

"God our Father, you always work to save us, and now we rejoice in the great love you give to your chosen people. Protect all who are about to become your children, and continue to bless those who are already baptized." (Prayer at Mass in the Period of Lent)

God our Father is always working to save us. What a consoling thought! As Easter approaches, the Church intensifies its preparation and prayer for those who will be received into the Church at Easter. These catechumens and candidates need the prayers of the Church to be steadfast in their determination to join the Chosen People. The Church is aware that this is the period of greatest temptation to some of them. We help them with our prayers to overcome the obstacles of the evil one.

The Eucharist protects us from harm

"Lord, may we always receive the protection of this sacrifice. May it keep us safe from all harm." (Prayer at Mass)

The Eucharist confers sanctifying grace to us. It protects us from what harms our soul. As it nourishes our soul with the best of spiritual food, it starves our carnal appetite. How do we receive the fullest blessings of the Eucharist? By coming to the Eucharist in a state of grace, we show our desire for the blessings. Then we ask for the blessings we desire.

His Wounds

"Jesus carried our sins in his own body on the cross so that we could die to sin and live in holiness; by his wounds we have been healed." (1 Peter 2: 24)

By his wounds, we have been healed of our enslavement to sin and all consequences of sin. We become free as sons. We enjoy the perquisites of sons. We understand and accept God's sovereignty and plan for our lives. Physical healing becomes secondary.

Commenting on the above scripture, St. Bernard wrote: "I have come to see that true wisdom lies in meditating on these things […]. Some have provided me with wholesome, if bitter, drink, and I have used others as gentle and soothing unction. This gives me strength in adversity and helps me to be humble in prosperity; it allows me to walk with a sure step on the royal road of salvation, through the good things and the evil things of this present life, free from the dangers which threaten to right and left." (Sermons on the Song of Songs, 43, 4).

You are gods

"So it uses the word 'gods' of those to whom the word of God was addressed – and scripture cannot be set aside." (John 10: 35)

God addresses His word to His sons. Thank you Father.

Blessed are you who hear the word and keep it.

Struggle against Evil

"The breakers of death surged round me, the destroying floods overwhelmed me. The cords of the nether world enmeshed me, the snares of death overtook me." (Psalm 18: 5-6)

Breakers of death, destroying floods, cords of the nether world and snares of death are all figures of speech depicting the epic struggle with the forces of evil.

"In my distress I called upon the Lord, and he heard my voice." (Psalm 18:7)

In periods of temptation, cry out like Peter in the storm: "Lord, save me. I am drowning."

You shall overcome through:

• Blood of the lamb
  
• Your word of testimony – Cry out in your distress
  
• Be prepared to "cut off the hand or pluck out the eye" if necessary.

Mighty Hero

"For Yahweh is at my side like a mighty hero; my opponents will stumble, vanquished, confounded by their failure; everlasting, unforgettable disgrace will be theirs." (Jeremiah 20: 11)

Yahweh is at my side like a might hero: It is Yahweh is at my side, it is accomplished. One with God is a majority. If Yahweh is at my side, I will be victorious.

Enslavement to sin

"Lord, grant us your forgiveness, and set us free from our enslavement to sin…." (Mass Prayer)

Is it possible to be freed from enslavement to sin while we are alive? Spiritual writers believe that total freedom from the effects of concupiscence comes with death. The enslavement to sin that is referred to in the above prayer is enslavement to venial sins. While it is possible for the committed Christian to fall into mortal sin, such an isolated mishap cannot be described as enslavement. Most of us keep confessing the same venial sins year after year. This is a definition of enslavement to sin.

Rescue me

"Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am in distress; rescue me from the hands of my enemies. Lord, keep me from shame, for I have called to you." (Psalm 31:10, 16, 18)

Actual grace is the grace that God provides us here and now to deal with any crisis. We tap into the flow of this grace through prayer. The Catechism of the Catholic Church describes Actual grace as "God's interventions, whether at the beginning of conversion or in the course of the work of sanctification." (CCC ##2000)

Our Own Annunciation

"The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will cover you with its shadow." (Luke 1: 35)

The Annunciation is the anointing of Mary for her mission.

Those who were called and anointed:

• Moses
  
• David
  
• Isaiah
  
• Jeremiah
  
• Jesus
  
• Paul
  

All the above depended on the Holy Spirit to fulfill their mission.

What mission am I anointed for? To learn and to communicate. When I wrote the above in 1999, I confided to my diary the following limitations:

• I have no qualification
  
• No ability
  
• No money
  

Today, the hesitation has vanished. I know for certain that I can do all things with the help of the Holy Spirit.

"The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will cover you with its shadow." (Luke 1: 35)

I am the Lord's servant. May it be done to me according to His word.

Each of us has a vocation. When we experience our annunciation, if we surrender to God like Mary, then the Holy Spirit will use us to achieve incredible things for the Kingdom of God.

Eating Christ

"Then I said, "Here I am, I am coming,' in the scroll of the book it is written of me, to do your will, God." (Hebrews 10: 7)

God's will for me is to be made holy through the Eucharist. This is a gradual process. Every day I eat Christ in the Eucharist, I become little by little like the One that I eat. I may not see the effect but through faith, I know that it is true.

Be Holy

"And then he says: Here I am! I am coming to do your will: He is abolishing the first sort to establish the second. And this will was for us to be made holy by the offering of the body of Jesus Christ made once and for all" (Hebrews 10: 9-10)

God's will is for us to be made holy through Christ's sacrifice on the cross which is commemorated everyday at Mass.

Immanuel

"The young woman is with child and will give birth to a son whom she will call Immanuel." (Isaiah 7: 14)

Immanuel: God is with us

Christ – Sign of God's presence with us

The Church – Sign of Christ's presence in the world

Only through faith can we see Christ in His Church.

The Anawin

"Almighty Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, you have revealed the beauty of your power by exalting the lowly virgin of Nazareth and making her the mother of our Savior. May the prayers of this woman bring Jesus to the waiting world and fill the void of incompletion with the presence of her child …." (Opening Prayer in the Mass of Annunciation)

How God reveals the beauty of His power:

• Exaltation of Mary
  
• Triumph of David over Goliath
  
• Victory of the Cross
  
• Triumph of Daniel
  

It amazes me how desperate we try to be strong and powerful. Yet, in Sacred Scripture, God again and again shows His predilection for the weak and the lowly. By lifting the weak and the lowly, it shows the beauty of God's power. This insight bashes the self-development philosophy. This philosophy promises to make us strong, rich and powerful. When we become strong, rich and powerful, we forego the privileges of the anawin.

Becoming More Like Christ

"God our Father, your Word became man and was born of the Virgin Mary. May we become more like Jesus Christ, whom we acknowledge as our Redeemer, God and man …." (Prayer at Mass)

How do we become more like Christ?

• Simplicity
  
• Humility
  
• Meekness/Gentleness
  
• Faith
  
• Courage
  
• Wisdom
  
• Patience
  

Doing God’s Will

"As Christ came into the world, he said: Behold! I have come to do your will, O God." (Hebrews 10: 5,7)

Lord Jesus, grant me the intense desire to do your will in everything. Amen.

The Eucharist heals

"Lord, may the mysteries we receive heal us, remove sin from our hearts, and make us grow strong under your constant protection….." (Mass Prayer)

The Eucharist heals us spiritually and physically. The Eucharist makes us grow strong spiritually. When we are strong spiritually, we shall have physical strength to do whatever God wants us to do.

Source of Health and Strength

"Lord, you have given us these gifts to honor your name. bless them, let them become a source of health and strength …" (Prayer at Mass)

The Eucharist is the source of health and strength. Thank you, Jesus.

Discipleship Principles

"If you make my word your home, you will indeed be my disciples; you will come to know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (John 8: 31-32)

Principles of discipleship:

• Make my word your home
  
• Carry your cross everyday and follow me
  
• Be inserted in me as the branch lives in the vine
  

Those are the words of Christ. Those are the three key principles of discipleship.

Daniel and his companions

"Blessed be the God of Sharach, Meshach and Abed-Nego: has sent his angels to rescue his servants who, putting their trust in him, defied the order of the king, and preferred to forfeit their bodies rather than serve or worship any god but their God." (Daniel 3: 28/95)

When we find ourselves in a similar situation as Daniel and his companions, how do we win? The scripture above gives the answer. The same idea is also expressed in Revelation:

"They conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; love of life did not deter them from death." (Revelation 12: 11)

The Word and the Sacrament

"Father of mercy, hear the prayers of your repentant children who call on you in love. Enlighten our minds and sanctify our hearts….." (Mass Prayer)

Enlighten our minds through your word. Sanctify our hearts through your sacraments.

Jesus Christ comes to us in word and in sacrament to strengthen us in holiness.

Long Journey

"But their patience worn out by the journey, the people complained against God and Moses." (Numbers 21: 4-5)

The Enterprise is a journey. It is a long journey. Beware of complaining, criticizing and condemning.

What are the things God provides to sustain my spirit in this journey? I think of the 7-Way plan. Yesterday was the feast of Corpus Christi. For a couple of times now, I have celebrated this feast which includes a procession after Mass at the Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral. I go the Cathedral to "do" thanks for the gift of the Eucharist which is a great food for this journey.

The Power of the Cross 2

"When you have lifted up the Son of man then you will know that I am He and that I do nothing of my own accord." (John 8: 28)

No cross, no crown.

No crucifixion, no resurrection.

The crucifixion would prove the divinity of Christ. Our sufferings and triumph over them will glorify God.

"When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men to myself, says the Lord." (John 32: 32)

The power of the cross.

Christ saves us through His cross.

Response to Distress

"O Lord, hear my prayer and let my cry come to you. Hide not your face from me in the day of my distress. Incline your ear to me; in the day when I call, answer me speedily." (Psalm 102: 2-3)

I do not complain, criticize or condemn. Instead my response to distress is: "O Lord, hear my prayer and let my cry come to you. Hide not your face from me in the day of my distress. Incline your ear to me; in the day when I call, answer me speedily." (Psalm 102: 2-3)

 

The People lost patience

"They left Mount Hor by the road to the sea of Suph, to skirt round Edom. On the way the people lost patience. They spoke against God and against Moses." (Numbers 21: 4-5)

The Enterprise is journey with Christ. The Enterprise is the extension of Desert-95 experience. The journey may be long and at times very hard. Do not complain. Do not criticize. Do not condemn.

Rather, "Put your hope in the Lord. Take courage and be strong." (Psalm 27: 14)

Unwavering love of truth

"Lord, through the apostolic work of St. Turibius and his unwavering love of the truth, you helped your Church to grow in faith and holiness…." (Mass Prayer)

Father, grant me an unwavering love of truth. Lead me, guide me and use me in your Church.

The reformers of the 16^th century lacked the unwavering love of truth. After about five centuries of multiple reformations, many of the churches that broke away from the Catholic Church have gone so far away from the Truth. They failed to perceive the wisdom of God in making the Church the bulwark of the truth. It is God's will that truth in the Church be maintained in a relationship of inter-dependent synergies of Scripture, Tradition and Magisterium. These trio functions like nature's ecosystem.

God’s will

"Lord, help us to do your will that your Church may grow and become more faithful in your service……" (Prayer at Mass)

Jesus said, "Without me, you can do nothing." I believe this thoroughly. Therefore I pray, "Lord, help me to do your will."

When I do God's will, the Church grows.

Take courage and be strong

"Put your hope in the Lord. Take courage and be strong." (Psalm 27:14)

Yes, I put all my hope in the Lord.

"Take courage and be strong." Let your hope not weaken. Let it grow stronger every day. Let challenges, delays, obstacles and disappointments strengthen it.

Do not condemn

"Let the one among you who is guiltless be the first to throw a stone at her." (John 8: 7)

It is mercy that I want and not sacrifice.

Be compassionate as your heavenly Father is compassionate.

Do not criticize; do not condemn; do not complain.

Valley of Darkness

"Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me." (Psalm 23: 4)

I believe this. No matter the situation, I will not fear. I will remember always that God is with me. He was with Susana. He was with Daniel in the lions' den. He shall be with me always. That is His promise.

Susana

"The Lord heard her cry, and, as she was being led away to die, he roused the holy spirit residing in a young boy called Daniel who began to shout, 'I am innocent of this woman's death." (13: 44-46)

"This woman" is Susana falsely accused of adultery. At the very last moment, God intervened through Daniel to save the life of Susana.

O God, take pity on me! My enemies are crushing me. (Psalm 56:2)

"Then the whole assembly shouted, blessing God, the Savior of those who trust him." (Daniel 13: 60)

Yes, God saves those who trust in Him. He saved them as He saves Susana or He saves them as He saved St. Thomas More.

Father of love

"Father of love, source of all blessings, help us to pass from our old life of sin to the new life of grace. Prepare us for the glory of your kingdom…" (Prayer at Mass)

God is the Father of love. He is also the source of all blessings. Redemption is passage from the old life of sin to the new life of grace.

Prepare us for the glory of your kingdom. God is saving us through everything. Our life here and now and everything we do prepare us for eternal life.

Cry out to God

"God, take pity on me! My enemies are crushing me; all day long they wage war on me." (Psalm 56:2)

Lord, help me! I am drowning. Call on the Lord in the hour of distress and He will answer.

My enemies wage war on me all day long. How true! What do I do? Trust in the Lord at all times. Call on Him at the hour of confrontation.

Alive in the Spirit

"Almighty God, may the sacrifice we offer take away the sins of those whom you enlighten with the Christian faith…." (Prayer at Mass)

The Eucharist is a sacrifice that takes away our sins.

"He who lives and believes in me will not die forever." (John 11: 26)

He who believes in me and is alive in the Spirit will not die.

Plenteous Redemption

"For with the Lord is kindness and plenteous redemption; And he will redeem Israel from all its iniquities." (Psalm 130: 7-8)

I am Israel. The Lord will be kind to me. He will redeem me fully from all my iniquities. Thank you Father.

Sentinels waiting for the dawn

"With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption….. I trust in the Lord; my soul trusts in his word. More than sentinels wait for the dawn, let Israel wait for the Lord." (Psalm 130: 5-7)

God is merciful. He will have mercy on me and grant me full redemption from my sins. Thank you Father. No longer will the sins of my youth disrupt God's plan for my life. Thank you Father. For this, I trust in the Lord; my soul trusts in His word. I wait for the Lord to fulfill His promises to me more than watchmen wait for daybreak. Surely the Lord will come just like the dawn never fails to come.

Holy Spirit – The Transformer

"I will put my spirit in you that you may live, and I will settle you upon your land; thus you shall know that I am the Lord. I have promised, and I will do it, says the Lord." (Ezekiel 37: 12 – 14)

The above scripture answers the question: How to embrace the world given to me without comprising myself? God promised to give me His Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit in me will anoint me for the work of my life and teach me how to embrace the world without any compromise.

Christ embraced the world without compromise. He ate with sinners. He embraced Mary Magdalene. He drank wine with sinners. When we surrender completely to the Holy Spirit, He will transform us to love like Christ.

Transform us

"Father in heaven, the love of your Son led him to accept the suffering of the cross that his brothers might glory in new life. Change our selfishness into self-giving. Help us to embrace the world you have given us, that we may transform the darkness of its pain into the life and joy of Easter …." (Mass Prayer in Lent)

If we love Jesus and the salvation of our brothers and sisters, then we will share gladly in the cross of Christ so that our brethren may find new life.

Guide us Lord by the example of Christ. Change our selfishness into self-giving. May the discipline of Lent of prayer, fasting and almsgiving affect in us this attitude permanently.

Another Christ

"Father, help us to be like Christ your Son, who loved the world and died for our salvation. Inspire us by his love, guide us by his example…"

Help us to be like Christ. The Holy Spirit transforms us into the image of Christ. Help us to be another Christ. Teach us to love the world that Christ loved and to be ready to die for its salvation if necessary.

May Christ's love for man inspire us in our thoughts, words and deeds.

Guide us by Christ's examples: faith, patience, wisdom, humility and courage.

God is my refuge

"Give me justice, O God, and defend my cause against the wicked; rescue me from deceitful and unjust men. You, O God, are my refuge." (Psalm 43: 1-2)

God is my refuge.

When deceitful, unjust and wicked men confront me, God is my refuge and my strength. He is the guardian of my rights.

With God, justice delayed is not justice denied. In UEF86, God is my refuge and my strength. In CNUA94, he stood by my side.

Do this/ Observe all

"Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age." (Matthew 28: 19 – 20)

"Then he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, 'This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me." (Luke 22: 19)

At the Last Supper, Jesus instructed the disciples to observe the Sacred Meal in remembrance of Him. Before ascending into heaven, He gave the great commission to His disciples and asked them to observe everything He taught them. It was not enough to believe what He taught them but they must observe and do as well.

Reading leads to forgetfulness. Practice leads to remembrance. The disciples were to teach their new converts to practice the faith. Practice leads to tradition.

"I glorify you on earth by accomplishing the work that you gave me to do." (John 17: 4)

The Power of the Eucharist 2

"Lord, may the power of your holy gifts free us from sin and help us to please you in our daily lives….." (Prayer at Mass)

The Eucharist is powerful enough to free us from sins. In fact, our venial sins are forgiven during the Eucharist. The Eucharist also helps us to please God in our daily lives.

Correct Answer

"So the people could not agree about him." (John 7: 43)

"Who do men say that I am?" This is the question that divides Christianity. Different denominations and different answers to this question. Since correct thought is the key to correct action, the answer to this question directly impacts on our understanding of the teaching of Christ.

"Who do you say that I am?"

"Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me. And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me." (Luke 10: 16)

 

Lion’s Prey

"Lord, my God, I take shelter in you…. Save me from my pursuers and rescue me, lest I become like the lion's prey, to be torn to pieces, with no one to rescue me." (Psalm 7: 2-3)

Unless I take shelter all the time in the Lord, I will become exposed and a prey to the hungry lion, to be torn to pieces. There will be none to rescue me.

I will make the Lord my refuge and my shield.

Trustful Lamb

"I for my part was like a trustful lamb being led to the slaughterhouse, not knowing the schemes they were plotting against me, 'Let us destroy the tree in its strength, let us cut him off from the land of the living, so that his name may no longer be remembered." (Jeremiah 11: 19-20)

Christ is the Lamb of God. He was the tree his enemies plotted to destroy in His vigor. They planned a total solution to the Jesus problem. God allowed their wicked schemes to succeed for a time.

Spiritual Warfare

"Yahweh informed me and I knew it; you then revealed their scheming to me." (Jeremiah 11: 18)

Has God ever revealed to you the source and the meaning of the persecution you are experiencing? This is what happened to Jeremiah here. It is has also happened to me. This revelation comes with great strength and patience to endure whatever you are facing. You simply know that God is in control and you are in good hands.

Gentle Mercy

"Lord, guide us in your gentle mercy, for left to ourselves we cannot do your will …." (Opening Mass Prayer)

Lead me, guide me in your gentle mercy. Without you, I can do nothing.

The snares of death

"The snares of death overtook me, the ropes of hell tightened around me; in my distress I called upon the Lord, and he heard my voice." (Psalm 18: 5-7)

The snares of death – sin

The ropes of hell – sin

Call upon the Lord in your distress and He will answer you.

Unselfish love

"Father, with unselfish love St. Joseph cared for your son, born of the Virgin Mary. May we also serve you at the altar with pure hearts …." (Prayer on the feast of St. Joseph – March 19)

St. Joseph cared for the holy family with unselfish love. St. Joseph, pray for me that I may serve God with a pure heart.

Joseph

"When Joseph woke up he did what the angel of the Lord had told him to do: he took his wife to his home." (Matthew 1:24)

Joseph was an upright man. He was obedient to God's will.

I believe

"For the promise to Abraham and his descendants that he should inherit the world was not through the Law, but through the uprightness of faith." (Romans 4: 13)

The promises of God are made independent of the work that is required to keep the Law. We appropriate God's promises through our faith. We know that God has the integrity and power to fulfill His promises. We believe He will keep His word. By making the promises, God is treating us as sons and daughters. By believing, we are acting as sons and daughters.

Abraham believed in God's promises. We believe in the promise of salvation through Jesus. I believe in God's promises on the Enterprise. Because I believe, God is blessing me and treating me as a son.

Son of David

"And when your days are over and you fall asleep with your ancestors, I shall appoint your heir, your own son to succeed you…… Your dynasty and your sovereignty will ever stand firm before me and your throne be forever secure." (2 Samuel 7: 12, 16)

Jesus Christ is the Son of David, the promised Messiah.

The Faithful Servant

"The Lord has put his faithful servant in charge of his house-hold." (Luke 12: 42)

Joseph, the husband of Mary is the model of the faithful servant. The Lord put him in charge of His holy family.

Cleansing Power of the Sacraments

"Lord, may the sacraments we receive cleanse us of sin and free us from guilt, for our sins bring us sorrow, but your promise of salvation bring us joy…"

The sacraments, especially the Eucharist and Penance cleanse us of sins and free us from guilt.

Our sins bring us sorrow. How true! God's promise of salvation brings us joy.

The Promise of the Holy Spirit

"I will put my law within them, I will write it on their hearts; then I shall be their God, and they will be my people." (Jeremiah 31: 33)

It is the Holy Spirit within us that makes us to be God's people. He enables the divine filiation. Without His presence, we are unable to walk in God's ways.

"All you need is the Holy Spirit." - 0595

A Shining Lamp

"John was a lamp lit and shining and for a time you were content to enjoy the light that he gave." (John 5: 35)

Lord Jesus, make me a lamp in your Church. Light me that I may shine for you. Sow your word in my heart. Grant me the grace to expose your word with simplicity and courage.

Today is the feast of St. Anslem, Bishop and Doctor of the Church. This is a man who shone for Christ.

They Forgot

"Lord, remember us for the love you bear your people.

They forgot the God who had saved them, who had done great deeds in Egypt, wondrous deeds in the land of Ham, terrible things at the Red Sea." (Psalm 106: 4, 21-2)

It is not that God does not perform wondrous deeds in our lives. We either do not make effort to remember or just choose to forget.

How easily I forgot what God did for me in:

• Lon80
  
• Abid84
  
• Par85
  
• UEF86
  
• Kal87
  

From Swd91, I started taking note of God's wondrous deeds in my life.

Jesus gave us the Eucharist in order never to forget what He did for us in the Paschal Mystery. It is something to give thanks for that the Church has celebrated the Eucharist everyday for the past 2000 years.

Metal Calf

"Yahweh then said to Moses, 'Go down at once, for your people whom you brought here from Egypt have become corrupt. They have quickly left the way which I ordered them to follow. They have cast themselves a metal calf, worshipped it and offered sacrifice to it, shouting, 'Israel, here is your God who brought you here from Egypt." (Exodus 32: 7-8)

The people have become quickly corrupt. The Exodus is the 'Enterprise' of the Israelites. They became corrupt even before they reached the Promised Land. They quickly left the way mapped out for them by God. Derailment in our journey of faith can come quickly and easily.

"They have cast themselves metal calf, worshipped it and offered sacrifice to it." What metal calf is tempting me today? Family, health, money, job, tools or food?

The Enterprise is journey with Christ. There are dangers on the way.

Lord Jesus, you have led me this far. Help me to persevere to the end. Amen!

St. Cyril of Jerusalem

"Father, through St. Cyril of Jerusalem you lead your Church to a deeper understanding of the mysteries of salvation. Let his prayers help us to know your Son better and to have eternal life in all its fullness …." (Memorial Mass of St. Cyril of Jerusalem)

St. Cyril of Jerusalem is known as Doctor of Catechesis. Concerning chastity, he wrote:

"….Let us not for a short pleasure defile so great, so noble a body: for short and momentary is the sin, but the shame for many years and forever. Angels working upon earth are they who practice chastity: the virgins have their portion with Mary the Virgin. Let all vain ornament be banished, and every hurtful glance, and all wanton gait, and every flowing robe, and perfume enticing to pleasure. But in all, for perfume let there be the prayer of sweet odor, and the practice of good works and the sanctification of our bodies: that the Virgin-born Lord may say even of us, both men who live in chastity and women who wear the crown, "I will dwell in them and walk in them, and I will be their God, and they shall be My people."

Healing Gifts

"Lord, may we never misuse your healing gifts, but always find in them a source of life and salvation…." (Mass Prayer)

The Eucharist is the healing gift par excellence. The Eucharist heals us of our ills of mind and body and at the same time renewing us.

Supernatural life

"Thus, as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so the Son gives life to anyone he chooses." (John 5: 21)

The Son gives life to anyone He chooses. Lord Jesus, grant me life. Fill me with your life. Grant me the power to communicate this life to others.

The Lord is kind and merciful

"The Lord is kind and merciful. The Lord is faithful in all his words and holy in all his works." (Psalm 145: 8, 13)

Yes, I can trust God.

Faith – hearing God's word and believing it

Faithing – putting this belief into action

I shall not forget you

"Can a woman forget her baby at the breast, feel no pity for the child she has born? Even if these were to forget, I shall not forget you." (Isaiah 49: 15)

God will not forget me. I am constantly in his presence.

My Shepherd

"The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. In green pastures he gives me rest; he leads me beside the waters of peace." (Psalm 23:1)

This Christ's word on my situation today. I believe it.

Christ is my shepherd, I lack nothing here and now. My pastures shall be green and abundant. I shall also enjoy rest in my labors. I shall be filled with the Holy Spirit. Amen! Amen! Amen!

Your word is enough

"Do you want to be well again? 'Sir,' replied the sick man, 'I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is disturbed; …' Jesus said, 'Get up, pick up your sleeping mat and walk around." (John 5: 7-8)

Jesus seemed to say to the sick man: 'With me present, there is no need for you to go into the pool. I dispense the step for you. All things serve me. My word is enough.'

Lord Jesus, I believe. Say but a word and heal me. Lord, say but a word and grant my heart's desires. Say a word and heal my circumstances.

All that I need is a word from Jesus on my situation and everything is alright.

Preparation and Easter Joy

"Father, may our Lenten observance prepare us to embrace the paschal mystery and to proclaim your salvation with joyful praise ……." (Mass Prayer in Lent)

Our Lenten Observance:

• Prayer
  
• Fasting
  
• Almsgiving
  

When we pray, fast and give alms during Lent, we prepare ourselves to embrace more fully the paschal mystery. The paschal mystery is the mystery of the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Without adequate preparation, we cannot enter fully into this mystery. With good preparation, we come to identify more closely with Christ. If we die with Christ, we rise with Christ. We come step by step to appreciate the power of the cross in our daily lives.

Come and Drink

"Come to the waters, all who thirst; though you have no money, come and drink with joy." (Isaiah 55:1)

Come and drink your fill of the Holy Spirit. It is free. I am thirsty. I ask for this water every day. When can I drink my fill of this water?

Do not ask for signs. Look for the fruits:

• Peace and tranquility
  
• Joy and consolation
  
• Light and guidance
  
• Gentle touches of the Holy Spirit
  

Who is invited to drink? Everybody is invited. Anybody who is thirsty should come and drink. Many are thirsty but instead of coming to the water, they go to personal development philosophy hoping to fill their thirst with its muddied water.

Weeping at Night

"At night fall, weeping enters in but with dawn, rejoicing." (Psalm 30: 6)

I wept during my Desert Experience. Today, I am rejoicing in the Lord. The Lord "changed my mourning into dancing."

O Lord, forever will I give you thanks.

Big Promotion

"I will extol you, O Lord, for you drew me clear and did not let my enemies rejoice over me. O Lord, you brought me up from the nether world; you preserved me from among those going down into the pit." (Psalm 30: 1-4)

I was first rescued from NCAU and then from ZAN. God transferred me from Egypt into His glorious kingdom and gave my enemies zero opportunity to laugh at me.

Today, we have the funeral Mass of Ngozi. May God also transfer her from this valley of tears into His glorious kingdom. Amen.

Plant Vineyards

"They will build houses and live in them, they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit." (Isaiah 65: 21)

Anyone who is in Christ is a new creation. This person can build a house and enjoy it. He will enjoy the fruits of his labor.

Be Joyful

"Rather be joyful, be glad forever at what I am creating, for look, I am creating Jerusalem to be "joy" and my people to be gladness." (Isaiah 65: 18)

I will be joyful; I will be glad in the Lord.

Thank you, Father.

The Sacraments and New Life

"Father, creator, you give the world new life by your sacraments. May we, your Church, grow in your life and continue to receive your help on earth …."

The sacraments give us new life. As the plant sheds its old leaves and sprout new buds, so the sacraments renews our lives.

Oh, that everyone would come to the sacraments to be renewed.

"Come to the waters, all who thirst; though you have no money, come and drink with joy." (Isaiah 55: 1)

Lord, fill me with this water. Use me to bring people to this water.

The sacraments are the ordained means of growth for the Church. Destroy the priesthood, you destroy the sacraments and the Church.

Trusting God

"Lord, I put my trust in you; I shall be glad and rejoice in your mercy, because you have seen my affliction." (Ps 31: 7-8)

The Lord will show me mercy. He has seen my pain and poverty. He sees me; He hears me; He loves me.

Light of the Gospel

"Father, you enlighten all who come into the world. Fill our hearts with the light of your gospel, that our thoughts may please you, and our love be sincere…" (Mass Prayer)

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is a light to the world. When our hearts are filled with the light of the Gospel like the blind man in John 9: 1-41, our thoughts will be pleasing to God.

Blessed is the man who meditates on the word of God day and night.

Increase our reverence

"Lord, we offer you these gifts which bring us peace and joy. Increase our reverence by this Eucharist and bring salvation to the world …"

The Eucharist undoubtedly brings us peace and joy. I bear witness to this truth.

Reverence to God and sacred things increase our faith. I have experienced this.

Born Blind

"Go wash in the Pool of Siloam" (which means Sent). So he went and washed, and came back able to see." (John 9: 7)

Jesus gave back sight to the man born blind. He gave him much more besides. He gave him wisdom and the courage to be a witness to God's marvelous works. So the man became better off than those who were born with sight but in fact are blind spiritually. Every disadvantage is a blessing.

Fruitless Works of Darkness

"Try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the fruitless works of darkness; rather expose them." (Ephesians 5: 10-11)

Blessed is the man who meditates on the work of God day and night.

The word of God is alive and active. It exposes the fruitless works of darkness. It shows the fine lines between truth and falsehood.

The Power of the Cross

The Power of the Cross:

Accept God's will

Accept your cross

Obtain your crown

Accept your thorns

Receive your triumph

This is the power of the cross.

"I gave my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who plucked my beard; My face id did not shield from buffets and spitting. The Lord God is my help, therefore I am not disgraced; I have set my face like flint, knowing that I shall not be put to shame." (Isaiah 50: 6-7)

Verdant Pastures

"The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. In verdant pastures he gives me repose; beside restful waters he leads me; he refreshes my soul." (Psalm 23: 1-2)

I know for certain that the Lord is my Shepherd. He provides me everything I need:

• Holy Spirit
  
• Health
  
• Peace
  
• Rest
  
• Food
  
• Money
  
• Books
  
• Security
  

He provides me what I need every day as and when I need them. He who is faithful in little things will be faithful in bigger things. My Shepherd will provide me with my ministry.

"in verdant pastures, he gives me repose." I have seen the verdant pastures as the field of my ministry. "Cast your net to the right of the boat." I cast as Christ bid me and the haul of fish was so large; yet the net was not broken because it was miraculously sustained. I pray for a ministry that will stretch my resources without breaking me.

The Power of the Cross

"God our Father, your Word, Jesus Christ, spoke peace to a sinful world and brought mankind the gift of reconciliation by the suffering and death he endured. Teach us, the people who bear his name to follow the example he gave us: may our faith, hope and charity turn hatred to love, conflict to peace, death to eternal life …" (Mass Opening Prayer)

Christ's message is peace to the soul; it is peace in the family. It is peace between men. It is peace to the world.

The Church opposes every kind of violence.

Christ reconciled us to His Father by His suffering and death. The power of the cross.

Teach us Father to use our faith, hope and charity to turn hatred to love, conflict to peace, death to eternal life. The power of the cross.

Believe and keep believing; hope and keep and keep hoping; love and keep loving until you turn hatred into love. Do not believe, hope and love for one day and expect the result the next day.

Sin and Downfall

"Israel, come back to Yahweh your God. Your guilt was the cause of your downfall. Provide yourselves with words and come back to Yahweh. Say to him, take all guilt away and give us what is good, instead of bulls we will dedicate to you our lips." (Hosea 14: 2-3)

Sin causes one's downfall.

• Mobutu
  
• Abacha
  
• Saddam
  

Only God can deliver us from our sins.

"A sacrifice of thanksgiving honors me."

Our human weaknesses

"Merciful Father, fill our hearts with your love and keep us faithful to the gospel of Christ. Give us the grace to rise above our human weakness…." (Mass Prayer in Lent)

Our God is a merciful Father. We pray that He fills our hearts with the perfect love that drive out fear. At the Transfiguration, the Father urged us to listen to Jesus Christ. We ask here for the grace to be faithful to His gospel. Every action and every word of Jesus is part of His Gospel. But the heart of the gospel of Jesus Christ is found in the Sermon on the Mount.

Finally in this prayer, we ask the merciful Father to give us the grace to rise above our human weakness. What are some of these human weaknesses?

St. John summarizes this beautifully in 1 John 2:16 –

• Disorderly bodily desires
  
• Disordered desires of the eyes
  
• Pride in possession
  

 

Tin gods

"Lord, there is no god to compare with you; you are great and do wonderful things, you are the only God." (Psalm 86: 8, 10)

What god can be compared with our God?

• Family
  
• Health
  
• Job
  
• Money
  
• Tools
  
• Food
  
• Estate
  
• Country
  

These gods may have mouth but they do not speak. They may have ears but do not hear. They are powerless to save. Those who worship these gods bring much sorrow on themselves. These tiny gods are experts in taking advantage of their devotees. But our God saves. He provides all our needs in due season.

 

True Gifts

"Lord, take away our sinfulness and be pleased with our offerings. Help us to pursue the true gifts you promise and not become lost in false joys…." (Mass Prayer in Lent)

Take away our sinfulness = Take away our sinful tendencies

True gifts = Genuine gifts

The gifts that God promises are true and genuine. Some of them are:

• The Holy Spirit
  
• The Eucharist
  
• The Word of God
  

 

 

The Strong Man and the Stronger Man

"So long as a strong man fully armed guards his own home, his goods are undisturbed; but when someone stronger than himself attacks and defeats him, the stronger man takes all the weapons he relied on and shares out his spoil." (Luke 11: 21-22)

Satan is the strong man. Christ is the stronger man. Thank you Jesus for your word and your strength. I delight in your strength.

Jesus is stronger than Satan.

Satan guards his possession. When Jesus comes, He attacks, defeats Satan and frees the prisoner. He takes away all Satan's weapons and shares out his spoil.

Meribah and Massah

"If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Harden not your hearts as at Meribah, as in the day of Massah in the desert, where your fathers tempted me; they tested me though they had seen my works." (Psalm 95: 8-9)

Meribah and Massah are type and shadow of the desert; the place for testing and refining our character. It is God who tests the hearts and minds of men. Do not reverse the role and test God. I have often wondered why God allowed His people to almost die of thirst in the hot and inhospitable desert and got to the point of rebellion before providing them that basic and vital necessity of life.

This morning, the Gospel reading was the story of the Prodigal Son. At the end of the homily, the priest asked us a question: "Why did it take the Father of the Prodigal so long to communicate to his elder son that he appreciated him?" As I reflected on the question, I remembered the incident at Meribah and Massah. I saw a parallel in the two incidents. Scripture teaches us to walk by faith and not by sight. The disgruntled Israelites in Meribah and Massah were also required to walk by faith and not by sight. God saved them from slavery in Egypt. God provided and protected them every step of their journey till Meribah and Massah. Why did they think He would abandon them at this point?

Similarly, the elder son of the Father lived in the comfort of his Father's house where he enjoyed every prerogative and privilege. Why did he judge his Father's love and affection for him by the gift of a mere small lamb? To paraphrase his thought, "My Father did not give me a small lamb to feast with my friends. Therefore he does not love me."

It is God who tests the hearts and minds of men. Do not reverse the role and test God. Do not complain; do not criticize; do not condemn.