"And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart." (Luke 2: 19)
What Mary kept in her heart and pondered deeply are all the words she heard in the course of her pregnancy and birth of Jesus Christ: Angelic salutation, Joseph's dream, Elizabeth's greeting, Simeon and Anna's words and the testimony of the shepherds. Together these words were profound signs from God to Mary to strengthen her faith in her unique mission.
We too receive our own signs. Sometimes, they are little signs and occasionally they are big signs. It is a good idea to form the habit of noting all signs that we receive from God and to reflect on them frequently. All the signs together form a critical mass that point to our destiny.
Saturday, June 08, 2013
Friday, June 07, 2013
From Christ alone comes riches
"I myself will pasture my sheep; I myself will give them rest—oracle of the Lord GOD.
The lost I will search out, the strays I will bring back, the injured I will bind up, and the sick I will heal; but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd them in judgment." (Ezekiel 34: 15 - 16)
From Christ alone comes my pasture, my rest, my healing and my strength. No need to look elsewhere.
"The LORD is my shepherd;
there is nothing I lack.
In green pastures he makes me lie down;
to still waters he leads me;
he restores my soul.
He guides me along right paths
for the sake of his name.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff comfort me." (Psalm 23: 1 - 4)
Do I believe all the above to be true? ABSOLUTELY!!!
The lost I will search out, the strays I will bring back, the injured I will bind up, and the sick I will heal; but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd them in judgment." (Ezekiel 34: 15 - 16)
From Christ alone comes my pasture, my rest, my healing and my strength. No need to look elsewhere.
"The LORD is my shepherd;
there is nothing I lack.
In green pastures he makes me lie down;
to still waters he leads me;
he restores my soul.
He guides me along right paths
for the sake of his name.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff comfort me." (Psalm 23: 1 - 4)
Do I believe all the above to be true? ABSOLUTELY!!!
Thursday, June 06, 2013
Loving God above all things
"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’
The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12: 30 - 31)
How can I love the Lord my God with all my heart, soul, mind and with all my strength?
I know: "But seek first the kingdom (of God) and his righteousness,* and all these things will be given you besides." (Matthew 6: 33)
When I put God first ahead of my health, family, finances, job, property and tools, food and future, I know that I love Him above all things.
The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12: 30 - 31)
How can I love the Lord my God with all my heart, soul, mind and with all my strength?
I know: "But seek first the kingdom (of God) and his righteousness,* and all these things will be given you besides." (Matthew 6: 33)
When I put God first ahead of my health, family, finances, job, property and tools, food and future, I know that I love Him above all things.
Wednesday, June 05, 2013
Ignorance of Scripture
Mark 12:24
24 Jesus said to them, “Is this not the reason you are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God?
Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ. - St Jerome
Tuesday, June 04, 2013
Trust in the Presence of Jesus and do not fear
"He shall not fear an ill report;
his heart is steadfast, trusting the LORD.
His heart is tranquil, without fear,
till at last he looks down on his foes." (Psalm 112: 7 - 8)
The man who is steadfast in trusting in the Lord with all his heart will not fear bad news from any quarters. Whether the devil attacks him with ill tidings on family, health, finances, job, tools and property, food and future. He will not be moved because his heart and mind are fixed on God for his security.
"God is our refuge and our strength,
an ever-present help in distress.
Thus we do not fear, though earth be shaken
and mountains quake to the depths of the sea,
Though its waters rage and foam
and mountains totter at its surging." (Psalm 46: 2 - 4)
"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff comfort me." (Psalm 23: 4)
"Do not fear: I am with you;
do not be anxious: I am your God.
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my victorious right hand." (Isaiah 41: 10)
"Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God.
Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4: 6 - 7)
"Fear is useless; what is needed is trust." (Luke 8: 50; Mark 5: 36)
Trust in the Lord and refuse steadfastly any fears, worries or doubts. What makes us fearless is the absolute certainty of the presence of Jesus with us.
his heart is steadfast, trusting the LORD.
His heart is tranquil, without fear,
till at last he looks down on his foes." (Psalm 112: 7 - 8)
The man who is steadfast in trusting in the Lord with all his heart will not fear bad news from any quarters. Whether the devil attacks him with ill tidings on family, health, finances, job, tools and property, food and future. He will not be moved because his heart and mind are fixed on God for his security.
"God is our refuge and our strength,
an ever-present help in distress.
Thus we do not fear, though earth be shaken
and mountains quake to the depths of the sea,
Though its waters rage and foam
and mountains totter at its surging." (Psalm 46: 2 - 4)
"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff comfort me." (Psalm 23: 4)
"Do not fear: I am with you;
do not be anxious: I am your God.
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my victorious right hand." (Isaiah 41: 10)
"Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God.
Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4: 6 - 7)
"Fear is useless; what is needed is trust." (Luke 8: 50; Mark 5: 36)
Trust in the Lord and refuse steadfastly any fears, worries or doubts. What makes us fearless is the absolute certainty of the presence of Jesus with us.
Monday, June 03, 2013
The stone rejected by the builders
"Have you not read this scripture passage:
‘The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
by the Lord has this been done,
and it is wonderful in our eyes’?” (Mark 12: 10 - 11)
The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. God is Master of surprises. Sometimes He springs His surprises through reversals of position. The first becomes the last; the last becomes the first. Some other interesting reversals in the Bible are shown below:
"He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones
but lifted up the lowly.
The hungry he has filled with good things;
the rich he has sent away empty." Luke 1: 52 and 53)
"The well-fed hire themselves out for bread,
while the hungry no longer have to toil.
The barren wife bears seven sons,
while the mother of many languishes." (1 Samuel 2: 5)
"He raises the needy from the dust;
from the ash heap lifts up the poor,
To seat them with nobles
and make a glorious throne their heritage.
“For the pillars of the earth are the LORD’s,
and he has set the world upon them." (1 Samuel 2: 8)
"He guards the footsteps of his faithful ones,
but the wicked shall perish in the darkness;
for not by strength does one prevail." (1 Samuel 2: 9)
O Lord my God, how happy I am because my destiny is completely in your hands. I will trust you to make me whatever you like.
"My destiny is in your hands;" (Psalm 31: 16)
‘The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
by the Lord has this been done,
and it is wonderful in our eyes’?” (Mark 12: 10 - 11)
The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. God is Master of surprises. Sometimes He springs His surprises through reversals of position. The first becomes the last; the last becomes the first. Some other interesting reversals in the Bible are shown below:
"He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones
but lifted up the lowly.
The hungry he has filled with good things;
the rich he has sent away empty." Luke 1: 52 and 53)
"The well-fed hire themselves out for bread,
while the hungry no longer have to toil.
The barren wife bears seven sons,
while the mother of many languishes." (1 Samuel 2: 5)
"He raises the needy from the dust;
from the ash heap lifts up the poor,
To seat them with nobles
and make a glorious throne their heritage.
“For the pillars of the earth are the LORD’s,
and he has set the world upon them." (1 Samuel 2: 8)
"He guards the footsteps of his faithful ones,
but the wicked shall perish in the darkness;
for not by strength does one prevail." (1 Samuel 2: 9)
O Lord my God, how happy I am because my destiny is completely in your hands. I will trust you to make me whatever you like.
"My destiny is in your hands;" (Psalm 31: 16)
Sunday, June 02, 2013
This is My Body. This is My Blood.
"Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me." (John 6: 57)
Thank you Jesus for the gift of your Body and Blood. Thank you for the undeserved and great privilege of feeding on you constantly. Thank you too for the easy and constant access to your Presence in the Blessed Sacrament. You are the Ever-green Cypress Tree. Because of you, I enjoy these incredible gifts. Lord, since you have blessed me with these gifts without any merit of mine, bless me too with the fullness of your life as you promised. Give me too a heart full of gratitude for your blessings. Amen!
Thank you Jesus for the gift of your Body and Blood. Thank you for the undeserved and great privilege of feeding on you constantly. Thank you too for the easy and constant access to your Presence in the Blessed Sacrament. You are the Ever-green Cypress Tree. Because of you, I enjoy these incredible gifts. Lord, since you have blessed me with these gifts without any merit of mine, bless me too with the fullness of your life as you promised. Give me too a heart full of gratitude for your blessings. Amen!
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