Jesus is not an imagination but a revelation.

 

Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul
June 29, 2020

Today’s Readings:Acts 12:1-11
Ps 34:2-9
2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18
Matthew 16:13-19
www.usccb.org/bible/readings/062920.cfm
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/2020/20_06_29.mp3            

For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.
And so I say to you, you are Peter,
and upon this rock I will build my Church,

Jesus is not a Historical figure or a saint who can be imitated by his teachings like other leaders, but Jesus is the Revelation to those who seek in truth  the Kingdom of God. Peter and Paul were looking for the Messiah to come on this Earth and establish his Kingdom but were seeking him in the Kingly Power and rules and regulations of the Law. Peter and Paul transformed themselves with divine revelation of Messiah and the ways of his Kingdom. They changed their focus of power and Law in to love and Faith and both of them became mighty pillars  and model of the Body of Christ on this Earth.

Who  is Jesus to us ? Is he a  Genie who fulfills all our wishes and requests ? Is he a mighty Exorcist who over powers Satan and all Evil powers in our life? Is he a Saint or Prophet who intercedes for us and fulfills the Prophesies? If we see Jesus in these things our focus is not on Divine things but of Earthly. Jesus is a Divine Revelation , every Word of Jesus is a divine revelation. Jesus can not be understood from the letters of Scriptures or by just listening to the Words but when we reflect  and walk upon the revelation behind the hidden letters and Words of Christ in the act of love and service we meet the real second person of Holy Trinity in our life.

We must stop imagining Jesus in our life but to experience him in  the act of love and service. The Contemplative Spirituality gives us a feeling of his revelation  but not the real person of Jesus. Peter and Paul had this feeling when they confessed him as Messiah and Lord but they met him personally in the mission.  Jesus is an transforming experience or a relationship which we can not attain through the law, teachings, obligations, rules and regulation , discipline but through a  divine revelation of love and service. World may call this revelation in many names but if we collate all the names it equals to the divine love of God.

Prayer :

Abba Father , reveal your son Jesus the divine love the Messiah to me in the act of love and service Amen.

 

Faith is a Trusted Relationship in action and not an Imagination.

Saturday June 28, 2020

Lamentations 2:2, 10-14, 18-19
Psalm 74:1-7, 20-21
Matthew 8:5-17
www.usccb.org/bible/readings/062720.cfm
Podcast:
ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/2020/20_06_27.mp3

When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him,
“Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith.
I say to you, many will come from the east and the west,
and will recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
at the banquet in the Kingdom of heaven,
but the children of the Kingdom
will be driven out into the outer darkness,
where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.

We have a very good scripture to reflect upon our faith . The Centurion was  not a Jew and expresses his faith in Jesus. We can imagine him as a Non Believer , superstitious , idol worshiper and all those thoughts in our minds of a Non Christian. Human Heart thirsts for the real living Water of God’s love and it searches in various circumstances and situations in our life, but due to our Carnal Nature we fail to feel the thirst of our heart in our human actions.  In the intercession of the Centurion we see  this thirst in following features.

1. Charity : The Prayer of Centurion was not for himself but for his servant , the servants in the time of Roman Empire were basically slaves who were caught in captivity and considered like a Donkey or an Animal,  but the Centurion considers his servant like his own Son by showing Compassion and mercy and approaches Jesus to Cure him.  Intercessory prayer is a action of Charity and Compassion from a heart of the faithful who searches God for help. This burden must come from our own commitment of love and can not be borrowed from the Air or from the books.
2. Faith : The definition of faith is trusting relationship. The Centurion must have heard the testimony of others who were healed by Jesus and heart to heart decides to approach Jesus with his burden of compassion  request and Jesus recognizes his pure request turns to him immediately without any delay . Jesus does  not see his Caste, Religion , Color, education but looks at the Compassionate request of a soul . Faith is not only a request or prayer but trusted friendship , people can express this in various ways but what is important is the trusted relationship. The Centurion can not come from no where and expressed his faith but after hearing Jesus Compassion heart and expecting to encounter him in expectant faith. Our Intercessions must have this  kind of Compassion and merciful burden  for others with a sure guarantee of God’s Mercy and love.
3. Humility  : The Centurion not only had Charity and Expectant Faith but he manifested his faith in humility. He acknowledged the Authority and greatness of God by surrendering himself to the Authority of God.
4. Expression: Faith is not a  Contemplative meditation but is an expression. The Centurion expressed his version of faith or he translated his version of faith in to a human activity. This manifestation of his faith became a greatest testimony  of his faith in the eyes of God. God does not look at the knowledge or the quantity of time spent in Prayer but the time and knowledge to understand his knowledge and love and put that Knowledge and time to Express our Faith in action , how small it may look like , it has strength from with in.

We do not become Christians by mere Birth as Jesus said in the Gospel , the people from east and west will possess the Kingdom but if Baptized Christians do not have a trusted relationship with God by having a transformation Experience in the Holy Spirit then it will be very difficult to have that thirst or search , God is looking in our heart. God is looking at these kind of intercessors like Elijah and the Prophets and the Centurion.

Prayer :

Abba  Father draw us  to  the heart of Jesus Amen.

Immaculate Heart of Mary is the Spectacle to see the Sacred heart of Jesus.

Saturday June 20, 2020
Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary

2 Chronicles 24:17-25
Psalm 89:4-5, 29-34
Luke 2:41-51
www.usccb.org/bible/readings/062020.cfm
Podcast:
ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/2020/20_06_20.mp3

The immaculate Heart of Mary resembles the Sacred Heart of Jesus which shadows the love of God in the heart of Mary. Once I heard a Non Catholic  preacher  taunting at the Sacred Heart of Jesus. He was  ridiculing the Church devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus by saying why we have to see Jesus in his body part by part  like Sacred heart  of Jesus, sacred head of Jesus and why we can not adore Jesus as a Whole. As I was reflecting upon the teachings of the Church , the Lord revealed me it is not the part of the Body of Jesus which we adore but the love it contained in his divinity and of his sacrificial love .

The love of God can not be expressed in human language or figure . The ultimate sign of human love is a Heart , so the Church projects Heart as a sign of Gods love. As Jesus lived on this Earth and ascended in to Heaven , the heart of Jesus is the perfect sign and symbol to ponder and express Gods love in a human way. Jesus is seated at the right hand of the father in the same Human Heart loving the whole World. The Non Catholic preacher was so much wrong in his narrow minded approach and hate preaching in a Congregation of love and mercy.

To experience the love of God in our life we require a model of love. God chose  Blessed Mary as a shadow of the Gods love and the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Mary became one with the heart of Gods love when she united her heart in to the heart of Gods love when she accepted the Will of God to cooperate in the plan of Salvation. Mary not only said yes to the Will of God but lived uniting to the heart of God through out her life. The trinity lived in her heart through out her life thus her heart resembled the Sacred heart of Jesus .

When we fall in love , heart is the figure of love , this we can understand if we have fallen in love relationship. When a young couple fall in real conjugal love  they do not look at the status , race, caste, language. wealth , beauty so on but just fall in love and want to live with each other in that love come what may in joy or sorrow , in health or  in sickness. We can fall in love with Jesus in the same manner in Gods Agape love and when we fall in love with Jesus , we do not consider the Wealth  and success of this World but simply live to love Jesus in our lives in joy or Sorrow , in health and sickness. Mother Mary is the perfect example who became a spouse and Mother of Jesus in Divine Human relationship. Mother Mary lived a life pondering in heart the love of God from assumption till the foot of the Cross , Pentecost  and formation of the first Church in the acts of the Apostles.

Mary becomes the perfect model or visible human way to show the Word of God or Gods love to walk or experience in our life. To see Gods love we need  spectacles of Mary’s Heart , it is not that we can not see the Heart of God in our naked eyes but through Mary we can see him as  he is and like that Non Catholic preached looked at the love of God in Human way. Looking God in human eyes is deceptive and can lead in to wrong spirituality but if we see Gods love or Sacred Heart of  Jesus through the immaculate heart of  Mary , we can see and walk through the testimony and intercession of Mary. Human need help to see God and this help is Mary because there is no human who was as close to Jesus as Mary as Mother or a Disciple and no one  has seen God except through the person of Jesus on this Earth.

When we see Jesus through the life of Mary and Experience him , our Hearts too resemble Jesus and Mary . We become the instruments of love and become examples like Mary to others in our lives.

Prayer:

Mother Mary  reveal Jesus your Son to us so that we may see him as he is and teach us to love him as you loved him Amen.

 

Twelve Promises those who adore Sacred Heart of Jesus

https://ewtn.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/ebook12promises.pdf?utm_campaign=Cultivation&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=89808618&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_N8X6o_Soljut83d68k2D_FyHJNiS3b_qjDf-6lFDrsi5mXLsV1aVslz02hkHqv0AGluZ8UGyXGKMgF50qa1UzcrjYAQ&utm_content=89808618&utm_source=hs_email

 
In the 17th-century, Jesus appeared four times to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, a French Visitation
nun. In these apparitions, Jesus asked that Catholics receive Holy Communion on the First Fridays of
the month, adore Our Lord in the Eucharist, and celebrate a feast in honor of the Sacred Heart.
In addition to these requests, Jesus revealed Twelve Promises for those who honor His Sacred Heart.
1. “I will give them all the graces necessary in their state of life.
2. I will establish peace in their homes.
3. I will comfort them in all their afflictions.
4. I will be their secure refuge during life, and above all, in death.
5. I will bestow abundant blessings upon all their undertakings.
6. Sinners will find in my Heart the source and infinite ocean of mercy.
7. Lukewarm souls shall become fervent.
8. Fervent souls shall quickly mount to high perfection.
9. I will bless every place in which an image of my Heart is exposed and honored.
10. I will give to priests the gift of touching the most hardened hearts.
11. Those who shall promote this devotion shall have their names written in my Heart.
12. I promise you in the excessive mercy of my Heart that my all-powerful love will grant to all those who receive Holy Communion on the First Fridays in nine consecutive
months the grace of final perseverance; they shall not die in my disgrace, nor without
receiving their sacraments. My divine Heart shall be their safe refuge in this last
moment.”
– from The Devotion to the Sacred Heart, by Fr. Jean Croiset, the spiritual director to St. Margaret Mary

First Promise
“I will give them all the graces necessary in their state of life.”
Meditation
No matter our vocation in life, God wants to provide us with all of the graces that we need. God gives
us a specific mission, something that is tailor-made for each one of us. He doesn’t expect us to do
this on our own. Whether a parish priest, a wife and mother, a widowed grandfather, or a young
postulant, God wants to pour graces on each of us as we live out our vocations.
Prayer
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, I ask that You grant me the grace to live my vocation as You would have me
live it. Always lead me in your path. Show me how to serve others in my actions and by my words,
and help me to lead others to You. Through my state of life, please show me how to love you more
each day. Amen.
Reflection Questions
How can I glorify God in my daily life? Are there any particular graces I should ask God to bestow on
me?

Second Promise
“I will establish peace in their homes.”
Meditation
St. Gerard Majella, an 18th-century Italian lay brother, once said, “Who except God can give you
peace? Has the world ever been able to satisfy the heart?” As Christians, we know that God can give
us great peace, even in the midst of trials. Through the love from His Sacred Heart, Jesus wants to
lessen our burdens, calm our fears, and comfort our souls.
Prayer
O Heart of Jesus, only You can give true peace. I ask that You bestow your peace in my heart, in the
hearts of my family members, and upon all who seek You. When I am anxious, calm my heart. When I
am grieving, comfort me. Just as St. Margaret and St. Gertrude rested their heads on Your Sacred
Heart, let me rest too on Your Precious Heart. Amen.
Reflection Questions
Where do I turn when I am anxious? Do I seek the peace that only Christ can give?

Third Promise
“I will comfort them in all their afflictions.”
Meditation
St. Alphonsa of the Immaculate Conception, a 20th-century Indian saint, said, “No matter what my
sufferings may be, I will never complain and if I have to undergo any humiliation, I will seek refuge in
the Sacred Heart of Jesus.” When we have any type of suffering – whether physical pain, concern
over family, financial problems, or anything else – we can turn to the Sacred Heart of Our Lord. In
Matthew 11:28, Jesus said, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
This is still true 2,000 years later.
Prayer
O Sacred Heart, I ask that You comfort me when I am suffering. Through the unending Love of Your
Sacred Heart, bring me solace in my sorrow and joy throughout my pain. And, in Your goodness,
please show me how to unite my suffering with Yours for the salvation of souls and for the release of
the Holy Souls in Purgatory. Amen.
Reflection Questions
When I face trials, do I unite them with the Lord? Do I seek God’s solace in my sorrows?

Fourth Promise
“I will be their secure refuge during life, and above all, in death.”
Meditation
In Romans 14:8, St. Paul says, “
If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so
then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.” How comforting these words are: “We
are the Lord’s.” Like a loving earthly parent who holds their child, God wants to be our security and
our home, and He wants us to desire Him to care for us. And He desperately wants our eternal home
to be with Him in heaven.
Prayer
Most Precious Sacred Heart, I ask that You guide me on the path to heaven so that I can live with You
throughout eternity. Nothing on this earth is worth more than being with You eternally, so I ask that
you “Make me to know Your ways, O LORD; teach me Your paths.” (Psalm 25:4). Amen.
Reflection Questions
As I journey through my life, do I focus more on temporal matters or on my eternal soul? What can I
do today to bring my heart in better alignment with the Sacred Heart?

Fifth Promise
“I will bestow abundant blessings upon all their undertakings.”
Meditation
St. Margaret Mary Alacoque said, “It is plainly evident that there is no one in the world who will not
receive all kinds of heavenly blessings if they have a true love of Jesus Christ manifested by a
devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.” Our Lord, in His boundless love, cares about each one of us
and wants to bless us individually. As long as our wills aligns with God’s Will, He will bless our
endeavors, especially if we honor His Most Sacred Heart.
Prayer
O Heart of Jesus, may I never forget that You care so deeply for me individually, among the billions of
people on this earth. I humbly ask that you bless everything that I do, as long as it is within Your Will.
And I ask that You guide me in Your Will so that I only want what You want. Amen.
Reflection Questions
How do I give my time to God? Do I ask that God works through me in my daily tasks?

Sixth Promise
“Sinners will find in my Heart the source and infinite ocean of mercy.”
Meditation
In Romans 5:8, St. Paul says, “God shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died
for us.” The very fact that Jesus – God Himself – died for sinners tell us how much He loves us. And
no matter our sins, Jesus waits for us to return to Him. In the precious gift of sacramental Confession,
Jesus cleanses us from our sins so that we can better reflect His Image.
Prayer
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, I know that we do not deserve your great mercy, but you grant us your
mercy out of Your love for each of us. Thank you for Your love and Your forgiveness. Help me to grant
mercy to others just as readily as You give Your mercy to me.
Reflection Question
Do I give mercy to others? Or do I hold on to resentments?

Seventh Promise
“Lukewarm souls shall become fervent.”
Meditation
As Christians, we should never be lukewarm in our faith (see Revelation 3:15-16). In the goodness of
Jesus’ Sacred Heart, He wants to inspire us to grow continually closer to Him. Being a Christian is not
a part-time endeavor. With Jesus’ help, we can grow in our faith and love God more every day.
Prayer
O Heart of Jesus, I believe in You, but guide me closer to You so that I might never be lukewarm in my
faith. I love You, but ask that that You show me how to love you even more, and inspire others to
grow in their love for You, as well. Amen.
Reflection Question
St. Teresa of Avila says, “The lukewarm do not embrace the cross, they merely drag it along.” Do I
take all of my concerns and thoughts to God, asking for His help in growing closer to Him?

Eighth Promise
“Fervent souls shall quickly mount to high perfection.”
Meditation
In Romans 12:10-11, St. Paul says, “… love one another with brotherly affection; outdo one another
in showing honor. Never flag in zeal, be aglow with the Spirit, serve the Lord.” For those who are firm
in their faith, there is always room to grow closer to Our Lord, to “be aglow with the Spirit.” Every
day of our lives, every moment, we have an opportunity to love Him more. He wants us to burn with
love for Him because that is how He loves us. As Mother Angelica once said, “I want you to breathe
Jesus, think of Jesus. I want you to talk to Jesus. I want you to … be Jesus oriented.” Every day, with
the help of His Sacred Heart, we can grow more “Jesus oriented.”
Prayer
O Heart of Jesus, I ask that You inspire me to love You more. Even though I am unable to love You the
way that I should, show me how to love you more each day. Your love for me is my greatest gift, O
Lord. Amen.
Reflection Question
Is my heart on fire for the Lord? In what ways am I using my gifts to advance the Kingdom of God?
Ninth Promise
“I will bless every place in which an image of my Heart is exposed
and honored.”
Meditation
The Catholic faith fills our senses with the sounds of Gregorian chant, the smell of incense, the
feeling of a rosary in our hands. As we are physical beings, our faith is increased by our senses. This is
why sacred images are so important. They raise our hearts and minds to heaven. Pope Leo XIII said,
“There is in the Sacred Heart the symbol and express image of the infinite love of Jesus Christ which
moves us to love in return.” As we look at images of Jesus’ Sacred Heart, it moves us to love Him as
He burns with love for us.
Prayer
O Sacred Heart, as I gaze on Your image, I ask that You show me how to love You with a deep,
burning love. As I honor You, bless my home and my family, and guide all of us to You, that we may
love and honor You for eternity. Amen.
Reflection Question
Do I often look at the Sacred Heart of the Lord? Do I meditate on His love for me?

Tenth Promise
“I will give to priests the gift of touching the most hardened hearts.”
Meditation
St. John Vianney, a 19th-century French priest, said, “The priesthood is the love of the heart of Jesus.
When you see a priest, think of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Through the Sacred Heart, priests can reach
people, gently showing them the love of Christ. Without priests, we wouldn’t have most of the
sacraments, which is why we should never take the priesthood for granted. And we should always
pray that they align their hearts with the Heart of Christ.
Prayer
O Heart of Jesus, I ask that You bless all priests, and infuse them with a great desire to reach their
flocks with love and truth. Send more priests to us, and help us to appreciate this beautiful gift by
which they exercise Your priesthood on our behalf. Amen.
Reflection Questions
Do I appreciate my parish priest? How can I encourage priests in their vocation?

Eleventh Promise
“Those who shall promote this devotion shall have their names
written in my Heart.”
Meditation
How wonderful it is to hear that our names could be written on Jesus’ Heart! And He asks so little in
return. All He wants is for us to promote His Sacred Heart. If we have His image hanging in our house,
or mention this devotion to friends, or share a Sacred Heart quote with our Bible study group, we are
promoting this devotion. In return, Our Lord will reward us a hundredfold with our names written on
His Sacred Heart.
Prayer
O Sacred Heart, I ask that You shine your light through me so that I can share Your Love with the
world. I might not have the right words or the right manner, but You can make up where I am lacking.
I want others to know You and honor Your Sacred Heart. Work through me to share Your love with all
whom I meet in daily life. Amen.
Reflection Question
How can I share the message of Jesus’ Sacred Heart?

Twelfth Promise
“I promise you in the excessive mercy of My Heart that My all-powerful love will
grant to all those who receive Holy Communion on the First Fridays in nine
consecutive months the grace of final perseverance; they shall not die in my
disgrace, nor without receiving their sacraments. My divine Heart shall be their safe
refuge in this last moment.”
Meditation
This is perhaps the greatest promise of them all. If we receive Communion on nine consecutive First
Fridays, Jesus’ Heart will be our “safe refuge in this last moment.” Since Jesus died for us on Good
Friday, it is fitting that we offer Him a small offering by making the Nine First Fridays. There is nothing
more wonderful on this earth than receiving Our Lord in the Most Holy Eucharist, and Jesus Himself
wants to share this Communion with us, particularly as we honor His Sacred Heart.
Prayer
My dear Lord, thank You for offering your Heart to me and for the Twelve Promises of the Sacred
Heart. I ask that You help me to honor your Sacred Heart by devoutly making my First Friday
devotion. You ask so little from us, but You always give so much in return. I love you, dear Lord, and I
ask that you always guide me closer to Your Precious Heart. Amen.
Reflection Question
Have I considered making my First Fridays? How could this strengthen my love for the Sacred Heart
of Jesus?

Meeting Jesus in his Visible Body and Blood in our daily life.

 

Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ
June 14, 2020

Today’s Readings:Deuteronomy 8:2-3, 14b-16a
Psalm 147:12-15, 19-20
1 Corinthians 10:16-17
John 6:51-58
www.usccb.org/bible/readings/061420.cfm
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/2020/20_06_14.mp3

In the beginning Man was created in the image of God’s love  , when man lost his image of love , God reprinted his image through Ten Commandments in Mans heart , when Man manipulated the printing of Ten Commandments in his heart , God sent the second original image of love Jesus in to this World to show Man that God’s image is love. Jesus taught how to love and became a witness of God’s love on this Earth through his Sacrifice on the Cross. Jesus made new Covenant of God’s love to those who unite with him in love. This new Commandment was locked or consumed in the Body and Blood of Jesus. Jesus established a process to imprint the lost image of love by consuming the Body and  Blood of Jesus in a Worldly sign or in remembrance  and  in action.

The Body and Blood of Jesus is not just a process or a sign or a Sacrament but a reality to get united to the real Body of Christ who is seated at the right of the Father in his real Body and Blood. When we get united in the Process of the imprinting of the God’s love by getting united with him , his Body and blood passes through our Body and Blood and we become his body and our body becomes his Body.  Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father in his glorified Victorious Body which rose from the dead and glorified or unified with the Holy-trinity when he was ascended in to Heaven. When we get united with Jesus we get united with him in his glorified and Victorious Body and  Blood. The Glorified Body can not die again because it has already died and rose again and glorified with the Holy Trinity. In the glorified Body of Christ there are no perishing properties and death can prevail against it or it can not die again because it is divine Body.

When we unite with him in love by  consuming his Body and Blood , the divine properties of his Body and blood transmit in to our Body and blood and we transform in to his image of love. This process is called  Transubstantiation. Jesus formed his body  and blood in remembrance and in action. After Jesus formed the Sacrament of Eucharist , he washed Disciples feet and started his Passion to Calvary, so the process of getting united is not a process of reflection of  getting united with the  Body and Blood  of Christ in Sacrament or in sign but we must walk though this sign where it points out to love and die for our brothers and Sisters like Jesus.

Unfortunately the Church teaches and emphasizes only the first part and the main part where we get united in action is missing in our life. The Sacraments are Theories in our life which tell us what to do and how to go about in our lives but we must go through these signs and do what they tell us to do . If we live a theoretical life and forget to accomplish or imprint the love of God by loving  or forgiving our  Brothers and Sisters then our entire Sacramental life is a big waste of time.  This is the reason many Sunday Christians can not experience the real Body and Blood of Christ in their life and remain a ritualistic Christians not united in the Body of Christ in action of love and service but mere wearing the mask of Christ.

Mother Theresa celebrated the Corpus Christi in the Morning for one hour in Mass and adoration but loved the poor and sick for next eight hours .  We must get united with our Neighbor in love of God , when we get united with our Neighbor in love the love of God passes through them to us through their Body and Blood. This is the real meaning of  love or Corpus Christi which Jesus accomplished in Calvary by shedding his Body and Blood. The Contemplative Christianity challenges us at every stage to love and forgive our Brothers and Sisters. The Body and Blood of Christ is in the Body and blood of  every individual on this Earth, it is a mystery but true , when we love them we plug our vein to the Body of Christ  and divine properties of love  pass  to us which are immortal and      nonperishable.

This imprinting or transfusion of  God’s love in our life is a continuous process because we live in a sinful World and our self  draws us to the Evil , When we get involved in the process of this getting united to the body and Blood of Christ , we get transformed in to his likeness and the old man of Sin disappear and new Man in Christ is born in our inner self who gets united to the Body and Blood of Christ , this is the real meaning of Church. These kind of people are immortal , though they die in body but their inner self lives forever with Christ, Father and Holy-spirit. Some of them though die their body remain nonperishable for years because the divine Property of their Body supersedes the Natural  Law  .

Prayer:

Lord Jesus give me the real experience of your Body and Blood , give me the strength to love my Brother, Sister, Enemy and become an example of love   in remembrance what you did on the Mount Calvary by giving your life to the Whole World. Amen.

 

 

 

 

Characteristics of a Missionory. By: Ivan Rodrigues – Contemporary Theologian

Thursday of the 10th Week in Ordinary Time

Memorial of Saint Barnabas, Apostle
June 11, 2020

Today’s Readings:Acts 11:21b-26; 12:1-3,

PS 98:1, 2-3AB, 3CD-4, 5-6

MT 10:7-13

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/0611-memorial-barnabas.cfm
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/2020/20_06_11.mp3

For Barnabas was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and faith.

Barnabas was an associate of Paul and in their missionary work they went together in many missions to spread the Gospel. The works of the Apostles says Barnabas was a good man , filled with the Holy-spirit and faith. If we split this sentence in to three parts i.e. 1. Good Man 2. Filled with the Holy-spirit 3. Full of Faith , we can see the Characteristics of a Missionary.

1. Good Man : A Pastor or a Priest or a Missionary must be a good and righteous man full of love and Charity. This Character  is most important of all because the charity and love comes from faith and  fruits of the Holy-spirit. The righteous man can be a witness in actions and as  a teacher to teach others to do the same what he witnessed in actions. If we have not reached to this stage of righteousness , it is better not to preach but try to put our lives in order then witness, otherwise we will become a scandal for others because we do not live what we preach.
2. Filled with the Holy-spirit: A Pastor / Priest or a Missionary  must possess the visible signs of the Holy-spirit particularly the Charisma or the gifts of the Holy-spirit. This is a confirmation for our works that God is with us and working with us in signs and wonders. If we do not posses these gifts then our labor may  become monotonous or it is difficult to say whether we are doing our work for the glory of God. If we do not see the signs we must offer our work to the Lord and ask him to accompany us with his gifts and he confirms our work by saying I am with you. Many people do so called good works of this World but the Lord is missing in their work , we need a confirmation from the Lord always that it is his will by  giving us the signs of his gifts.
3. Full of Faith: Faith is the beginning of our Missionary Work , without Prayer or trusting in the Word , it will be impossible for us to receive the gifts of the Holy-spirit and cultivate love and be righteous. Faith is humbling ourselves before God and making him the Center and   Lord of our life which is repentance , Salvation and transformation experience.  This transformation leads us to the Father and Father pours out his love  the Holy-spirit in to our hearts , by the grace of the Holy spirit we become righteous and then we must preach or teach the Word to the poor.

 

The above three steps are basic characteristics of a Missionary , without these Characters  it will be difficult to teach, preach, witness our Lord on this Earth. If we are confident of these three Characters in our life , then it is time to jump in to a ministry to serve the Lord or even full time to serve the Lord, but if we miss even one Character then we must build this missing character in our life then carry on the Marathon Mission journey. I have seen many Preachers and Priests in their impulsiveness start the mission journey but there is no balance in their Wheel and get punctured or get a jerk whenever  the Wheel hits to the Hard ground in that missing  spike or character of their life  Wheel.

Prayer: Lord Jesus fill me with Faith , Holy-spirit  and  righteousness , make me a man of love , and send me to do your will on this Earth ,to spread your Kingdom in Words and Action. Amen.

 

 

 

 

 

True Prophets and False Prophets in the Church Today. By: Ivan Rodrigues – Contemporary Theologian.

Wednesday of the 10th Week in Ordinary Time
June 10, 2020

Today’s Readings:1 Kings 18:20-39
Ps 16:1b-2ab,4,5ab,8,11
Matthew 5:17-19
www.usccb.org/bible/readings/061020.cfm
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/2020/20_06_10.mp3

Answer me, LORD!
Answer me, that this people may know that you, LORD, are God
and that you have brought them back to their senses.

Today’s first reading is the test of the fittest both in  the context of a Prophet and God. In the time of Elijah the competition was between the Yahweh the God of Israel  and Baal the God of the Pagans. Elijah risks his life trusting on the Lord for a natural sign of a fire, Elijah makes an Alter with twelve stones representing twelve tribes of Israel to remind the Lord of his promise ,” Your name shall be Israel”.  God of Israel was not a God of illusions and imaginations or a blind belief but a living God who accompanied the Israelite’s from Abraham , Moses with mighty  visible signs and wonders.

Do we have faith like Elijah in our days. St. Francis the Assisi had gone to preach Sultan who was attacking Europe and put the condition to his Priests to walk in the midst of burning fire , Sultan was impressed with St.Francis’s faith in which his own Priests failed to counter St. Francis. Faith surpasses the Natural Law because the Nature was created in the spoken Word of Faith. This kind of  gift of Faith is used to destroy the power of Evil and an act of deliverance. when we use  this gift to prove our faith to Pagans and it works  in a mighty manner. We must use this kind of faith in our day today life. Sometimes it does not work but it teaches us a right perspective where and when to use this gift of faith . When we are attentive to the promptings of the Holy-spirit we become Prophets of God. Prophets are not born in a day but during the Course of time , sometimes it becomes difficult to discern the promptings but if our faith is in the Lord , even false Prophesies spoken in faith for the good of people can come true.

The definition of false Prophets are  Wolves disguise in the form of a Sheep to plunder and kill the Sheep. These Prophets motives are not to spread love but to make money and live in  selfish and fleshly desires of their heart. The Pride, Greed,Lust, Laziness, Jealousy, Gluttony, Anger drives these people to gain advantage over the poor people in the pretext of love and evangelisation. We see many Priests and Religious taking advantage of their Priesthood  by molesting Children , Widows and making money to fulfill their unfulfilled desires of the World. These are false Prophets .

False Prophets preach the Word but do not live that Word in their lives. The word love completely  missing in their  life. The Pharisees and Scribes at Jesus time were Hypocrites and false Prophets , Jesus loved the Sinners but used strong words against these False Prophets. False teachers also False Prophets as their teachings does not consist the full truth. They manipulate the Word of God and teach people what they want to listen. There are some preachers who are recognized as International Preachers  to add an additional feather in their Preaching. All these preaching is Worldly and for self pacifying and not an act of Evangelisation .

Jesus preached same Word but with the real meaning and essence of that love. Jesus preached and became witness to the words he had spoken by loving and dying for the World. Jesus said in the Gospel :But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments
will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.”  Jesus did not say those who teach the Commandments are greatest but obeys and teaches so if we want to be Prophets of God, let us obey the Commandments of love and once we obey the Word of God we will understand the real meaning of the Word and then testify to that Word in which we live like Mother Theresa and St. Fr.Assisi witnessed in their life. When we live the Word of God we need not learn how to preach or teach , our lived lives becomes a theological College and our challenges and  sacrifices become the Seminary of Priesthood, let us come in to this kind of Priesthood which is not framed in rules and regulations but through the lived life.

Prayer :

Lord Jesus make us good Prophets of God’s love on this Earth. Bring us in to true senses  of God’s love by living in our daily life and to teach  others through our lived life.Amen.

 

 

 

Pray and Love – By: Ivan Rodrigues- (Contemporary Theologian)

Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity

June 7, 2020

Today’s Readings:Exodus 34:4b-6, 8-9
Daniel 3:52-56
2 Corinthians 13:11-13
John 3:16-18
www.usccb.org/bible/readings/060720.cfm
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/2020/20_06_07.mp3

On the day of Ascension Jesus  the second person is glorified  , on the day of Pentecost Holy-spirit the third person  was revealed to the World and on the day of Holy-trinity  Abba Father unites all three persons with the Whole World in him. Today is the day of unification or day of love or the anniversary of the first Complete Holy family.

God teaches the Humanity that they are his Children created in his image and likeness and their permanent place is in the family of Holy Trinity. The liturgical Calendar gives us six months to experience his love and transform in to his likeness through Advent , Nativity, Death and Resurrection, Ascension, Pentecost and finally Feast of Holy Trinity , a completion of  transformation mission of Christ.  We are back in the Holy Family of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit , the Liturgical Calendar gives us the Ordinary time of six months from June to November. Every  year  the  Church gives us a Renewal Retreat to renew our ways to Christ and transformed in to his likeness for the first six months and another six months to bear fruits of love and Charity.

The ordinary time is the season of our bearing fruits and harvest which is more important than the time of renewal and transformation. If we sow a seed and take care of it to grow to become a tree and then neglect it or cut it then the purpose of cultivating that tree is not met because the fruits are not produced yet. On the day of  Holy-trinity a Christian   finishes their  maturity which was nourished , sanctified, redeemed and empowered through advent, Nativity, Death and Resurrection , Ascension and Pentecost. In the ordinary time of six months , it is a time to give fruits of love and Charity.  God creates man to give fruits of love , the entire Salvation plan was to empower us to make people of love. If we miss this point then our entire time of transformation and redemption is a big waste of time.

It is like a Child studies for twenty years to become a Doctor but after receiving his M.B.B.S,  does not practice medicine by serving people in Clinics or Hospital, but sits and reflects his knowledge doing nothing. This is the situation in our Christian Spirituality today , we see ourselves in a Mirror and understand where we need to change for six months and only think about the changes or talk about it or pray about it but never  make efforts to change in our daily lives in the field , in our families, Neighborhood , Workplace, local Community, Society, and whole of the Nation. The ordinary time is given to bear fruits of love which is more exciting and full of thrill . When a plant gives its first flower to grow as a fruit , a visible transformation takes place in that plant . A flower transforms in to a tiny tender fruit and grows in to full fruit with full of co lour and sweetness. These Fruits are not used for self benefit but for the benefit of others and reproduction. The fruit produces more seeds of love and builds the Church and carries on the Work of Salvation to the next generation.

Let us not waste what we believed but put those values in action in our lives by serving in a ministry of love. We have limited ministries in our Parishes but we must go beyond Parish level . We must get involved in our Families and Neighborhood to become good ambassadors for Christ by Sharing and teaching the love of  God in our actions of service. The whole mankind is groaning with pain for the love of God in different ways , we must ask ourselves how we can be the remedy and healing Balm to this pain  so that by nursing this situation a new life will be born, a new fruit which our Lord wants us to become and the only purpose of our life on this Earth. Prayer brings faith and grace but this faith and grace must be applied by us physically to the people to whom we prayed for , Christian spirituality is Divine Human Partnership and we must be active in application of God’s grace.

God listens or provides grace and faith to every good prayer without any delay or failure but we only pray but do not apply this grace to the very purpose  or to that situation. Our mission of Intercession must be Pray & Love , if we follow this  slogan ,miracles and wonders follow in our life because we apply the supernatural grace to the natural world and the Natural is transformed in to supernatural.  Sadly our Churches or Parishes concentrate only on first part of spirituality and we can not see any acts of love and charity like the first Christians who shared and sold everything they had and nothing called as their own but belonged to everyone. Can we say one of our belonging, belongs to everyone. Let us ponder on this area, we have to be people of Charity . If we are not then we are not Christians on this Earth , if we are not Christians we can not be called  Children of God and enter in to the  Holy Family the Holy Trinity.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus as celebrate the feast of Holy Trinity , let us learn from you that it is not in only in Prayer you saved the World but through your  suffering and death on the Cross.  Lord make us people of love , charity , giving and forgiving and bear abundant fruits of love, joy , peace, patience, gentleness, meekness, faithfulness and self control and change the World in to your love . Amen

 

God’s love can not be lived in Worldly Standard but in Christ love. By: Ivan Rodrigues – (Contemporary Christian Theologean)

Saturday June 6, 2020

2 Timothy 4:1-8
Psalm 71:8-9, 14-17, 22
Mark 12:38-44
www.usccb.org/bible/readings/060620.cfm
Podcast:
ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/2020/20_06_06.mp3

“Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more
than all the other contributors to the treasury.
For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth,
but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had,
her whole livelihood.”

The Kingdom of God can not be measured in Worldly Prosperity and Success  but in the values of Christ. On the final day or Judgement day I am sure there will be Chaos , the people who thought themselves holy and  sure of the Kingdom will be rejected in the Kingdom of God and the people who thought themselves poor in Spirit will qualified to enter the Kingdom of God. God’s judgement is only one thing we must ponder in our entire life and strive to live the Salvation in fear and trembling ,because we do not know his Wisdom and Justice.

When we buy any product or adopt a way of life , there are some core guidelines to follow , the success has been evaluated in line with the guidelines and not the amount of work we have done in the project. If there is something does not fall under the guidelines, it will be thrown in to the junk. I remember writing my  first Essay in one of my studies with  many things to look it high profile , I spent all possible hi tech and Contemporary material  but it was rejected for the first time without any credits. When I met my Professor for a tutorial , he showed me the guidelines for the Essay and none of the guidelines were met and the purpose of the Essay remained blank  or junk.

In our life , if we do not use Christian values or  Gospel values or Ten Commandments or God’s image of love as our guidelines then our whole life is a big waste or it is like a mass gathering of rubbish temporary things of this World which perish and stink. When we love  God/ Neighbor  , we must love  as Jesus loved us . Jesus gave himself completely and to accomplish his mission  he suffered and died on the Cross. The sufferings/persecutions /inconveniences are part of Christian life on this earth. These are the core guidelines of Jesus teaching or of the Gospel. If we teach something people want to hear then these very teachings do not fall under the guidelines of Christ teaching or teachings of love. The message of Cross or Message of Be attitudes of Christ  are the guidelines , these guidelines resemble ten commandments , Word of God , Jesus . Holy-spirit ,  Father , love of God , Church , a follower of Christ , Priest , Pastor, Christian Charity and Christian Preaching .

If our Charity or preaching or Community is not inline with the guidelines of Christ then all our Charities and preaching s are a big waste . If we have many centers and big buildings or many numbers does not fall in the guidelines of the teachings of Christ but goes against it. This trend is Worldly and will not help to enter the Kingdom of God. The Churches must evaluate these core values and step out with Christian teaching  or Christian Charity like Paul and the Widow who gave everything they had in their life and entered in to the kingdom of God.