REPENTANCE IS NOT ONE TIME ACTIVITY BUT A CONTINUOUS PROCESS… By: Ivan Rodrigues.

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time
September 27, 2020
Today’s Readings:

Ezekiel 18:25-28
Ps 25:4-5, 8-10, 14
Philippians 2:1-11
Matthew 21:28-32
bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/092720.cfm
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
bible.usccb.org/podcasts/audio/2020-09-27

But if he turns from the wickedness he has committed,
he does what is right and just,
he shall preserve his life;
since he has turned away from all the sins that he has committed,
he shall surely live, he shall not die.

Repentance is such a powerful weapon or action in a Human Being that he does not require anything else for his Salvation or eternal life. Repentance brings God face to face and we do not require to do anything else but to Worship him. If we do not repent in our life , whatever we do in our life, it is a big waste, or like a building a Tower without a foundation, or life of Hypocrisy. If a person does not do anything in his life but carries a repentant heart, acknowledging his sins and walking in the path of Christ then he or she will reach to the eternal way of Heaven.

Sin is the route cause of every Evil or bad news of this World. If something goes wrong in our life or family we must first sit in silence and examine our life how we have offended the Lord in our rebelliousness, and take a decision to go back to the Commandments of love and make peace with him and live in that decision.

Pandemic of Covid is the consequence of the Sins of the World, if each and every person in this World turns away from their Wickedness and accepts the Commandment of love and forgiveness , then in a moment this pandemic will vanish from this World. There is no doubt that this Pandemic is the consequence of our Sins and if we repent, Gods mercy will flow and healing and deliverance will be in a fraction of time because this is one activity , when Man repents, his Sins disappear and the block or bondage is cleared and the mercy gushes forth from the Heart of Jesus and heals the World. A World Repentance Day must be observed by the Church and a day of fasting and abstinence must be observed for the Sins of the World by repenting our own sins first and a general absolution given by the Head of the Church as a sign of forgiveness. This is the spiritual way of healing and deliverance.

Daily Examination of Conscience with Repentance at the end of the day is first and foremost importance of the family prayer. The devotions like Rosary, intercession, personal Prayer, Eucharistic adoration, Praise and Worship make sense only when we are in the presence and fellowship of God. If we are not right with God, all our devotions are a big waste because we are connected with God and try to talk to him. It is like talking to a person on the phone without connection or without listening to his voice from other end.

Many a time we think that we are saints but our holiness can not be evaluated by our commitments but we need to be connected to Gods mercy. The best way to know how far we are from his presence is to listen to him and not to pray or in adoration. If we can listen to his voice in our life , we can be sure that we are connected with him and then we can adore him, intercede with him and put our petitions before him.( I keep a diary and write every day What he said to me. Some days he does not talk , immediately I examine my Conscience and search my heart if there is any Sin or forgiveness in my life and ask his forgiveness for the offence. When I go through this process , immediately I can listen to him talking many things louder than before ).

Jesus came in to this World to proclaim the Gospel of Repentance , Jesus started his ministry saying repent and believe in the good news . Repentance is everyday process and not a one time activity in life time. We read Saints life repenting their Sins 5 to 7 times a day. There is no guarantee of a saint will not fall in to mortal Sin tomorrow and loose the grace of God. Repentance is a continuous process of our life which begins with our Baptism till the last breath of our death. What is important is to possess a heart of repentance . Repentance is an act of humility , love , poor in Spirit, Spiritual poverty so on which keeps away Pride , self righteousness, Hypocrisy, rebelliousness away from our life.

We see in today’s readings Jesus picked the teachers of the Law and exposed their Hypocrisy. These readings apply every individual today and exposes our life before his presence. Repentant Heart cultivates true love and this love of God keeps us in his presence in our daily life. Let us live with him in love and forgiveness.

Prayer : Lord give me a repentant heart and do not take Holyspirit from me.Amen.

Life is adventurous and exciting, if we walk in the love of God.

Friday of the 25th Week of Ordinary Time
September 25, 2020
Today’s Readings:

Ecclesiastes 3:1-11
Psalm 144:1-4
Luke 9:18-22
bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/092520.cfm
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
bible.usccb.org/podcasts/audio/2020-09-25

What advantage has the worker from his toil?
I have considered the task that God has appointed
for the sons of men to be busied about.
He has made everything appropriate to its time,
and has put the timeless into their hearts,
without man’s ever discovering,
from beginning to end, the work which God has done.

God has a definite plan for every human being and being revealed part by part like a treasure hunt . We must walk through the map of the Word of God or love of God in our life and unwrap the mysteries of the Kingdom of God. The Word of God is a lamp to our feet and light to our path , the light of the lamp show us light to walk at the moment but does not show light to the whole life in a moment but he is there always as a light to our path when we study and reflect his ways and walk through them. These ways are God’s ways and very exciting because at every round about there is a buried mystery which we must dig it out and it tells us which way to go ahead in our life. If we walk in this way we are provided, sheltered, clothed and protected and moreover it leads us to the final destination called life Eternal way called Jesus Christ the Messiah who is the only eternal way who leads us to eternal life. This is the eternal truth.

Prayer : Our Father lead us to Jesus Christ the eternal way of our life Amen.

The Word of God is only the truth of this World.

Thursday of the 25th Week of Ordinary Time
September 24, 2020
Today’s Readings:

Ecclesiastes 1:2-11
Psalm 90:(1) 3-6, 12-14, 17
Luke 9:7-9
bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/092420.cfm
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
bible.usccb.org/podcasts/audio/2020-09-24

All speech is labored;
there is nothing one can say.
The eye is not satisfied with seeing
nor is the ear satisfied with hearing

Today in the book of Ecclesiastic the author of the book says Mans life on this Earth is nothing new but a repeat actions of the past. There is nothing permanent but everything is passing by in its own time and Nothing is complete . If a person is running after this World for perfection and fullness it is deceptive because the Worldly things are perishable and temporary.

The whole World is repeating or adding something extra from things existed and make a new idea or Funda and present to the World saying this is new invention. The World can not have anything new because there is nothing new has been created but we play around with the created things and make something duplicate and say this is my invention. Man himself one day goes back to the dust of this Earth and no human on this Earth came back to life from death except Lord Jesus Christ.

We have computers, technology, Science and all modern arms and ammunition but from the beginning of the Earth till today we have not heard of some Wise Men of the Earth being resurrected or came back from death or invented something to live eternally in this World. In fact as long as the World exist no human can live eternally on this Earth because the World itself is temporary and perishable.

The theory of evolution is part of the wisdom of God or Science but the knowledge of the evolution theory is incomplete because the author himself does not know where the evolution of this World is leading this World to or final destination of the Evolution. If there is beginning there has to be an end as well and if we talk about beginning and motion without telling where the World is leading to , it is better not to talk about incomplete work which is a waste and does not achieve anything but bring confusion and chaos.

The Evolution of this world does not invent something new but evolve with in the things existed and turn round and and round in circles to reach where the evolution began with , you catch the Big Bang theory or the rupture , everything part of the creation, but Man assumes in his own imagination with the evidences of the present and past that these theories lead us to a better understanding or insight but in reality if we read the Word of God like today’s first reading of Ecclesiastics the author says the Whole World is passing by or there is nothing permanent or things are turning like a Whirlwind . If we try to run after the Whirlwind of this World, it may give us a thrill in the beginning but slowly and gradually it draws us to the center of the point where the current or spell of this World consumes us to the eternal death.

God c remind us his love in various ways of our life , if we ignore these reminders and harden our heart we become rebellious or possess the rebellious spirit and sin against the Creator or go against the Natural Law of the Creator. When we trespass the Natural Law , we fight against God’s Wisdom or fight against God himself. The Pandemics , Calamities , Self Sufferings, Sicknesses are the reactions of the Natural Law and we can not blame God for it , because the Whole Creation exist and manage in that Wisdom because this wisdom or management is good for Human Beings. If a human does not want to believe the Wisdom or the Natural Law and does something stupid as per his own mind then he must bear the consequences.

The Word of God is complete truth of any invention or research because the source of every research or invention made through the Word and end with the Word of God. A wise man believes the Word of God blindly and follows the Word of God which takes him beyond the World. The Word of God takes us to eternal truth Jesus Christ who is the Alpha and the Omega. If a person in this World comes to this understanding , he is the real wise man of this World but any other self ideologies or theories of this World bring us disaster , Chaos, suffering , sickness and Pandemics in our life.

Prayer : Lord, give us an obedient and understanding heart to obey your Word . Amen

Man has been made plain and simple but Man made himself Complicated….

Wednesday of the 25th Week of Ordinary Time
Memorial of Saint Pius of Pietrelcina, Priest
September 23, 2020
Today’s Readings:

Proverbs 30:5-9
Psalm 119:(105) 29, 72, 89, 101, 104, 163
Luke 9:1-6
bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/092320.cfm
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
bible.usccb.org/podcasts/audio/2020-09-23

Give me neither poverty nor riches;
provide me only with the food I need;
Lest, being full, I deny you,
saying, “Who is the LORD?”
Or, being in want, I steal,
and profane the name of my God.

Today’s reading from Proverb teach us how to live and what to expect and gather in life. Every Human in this World has a mission to proclaim the Word of love by living as a witness and teaching others by our words and action. Jesus commissions his disciples and sends them two by two to proclaim the good news. All couples are called for a mission of Christ , they are called , chosen and sent two by two as a Couple to proclaim the good news of love through their lived life and testimony. Family is the first mission house and the Children are the people whom the parents are called to love and teach to love.

Modern World teaches children to be prosperous in finance or in Worldly point of view, but very few families focus on love and the Christ values of life. Love and forgiveness are the basic tools to be taught by the parents to their children, and to do that they must be ambassadors of love and forgiveness as an example. If we tell our children not to use internet all the time, first of all we must stop using internet by ourselves and become an example to them, otherwise we become a scandal to our own Children.

The Word of God says not to take purse or Sandal or food for the journey and it will be provided at the appointed time and place of our journey. This does not mean that we have to stop earning our daily bread but not to spend our entire life to earn our daily bread and Worldly prosperity. Daily Bread is part of our mission and a supporting function but not the mission. All our support directly or indirectly comes from the Providence of God and we must believe this than worrying all the time over money, job, house, food and family. The Proverb tells us what to seek and how much to seek , wise man says do not give me riches so that I may forget the Blessings and do not give me poverty so that I may steal and sin against the Lord. What the wise man says is give us the necessities of our life.

The necessities are provided if we stick to the Word of God and live in love in our families and communities. The problems comes in our families when we try to live in selfishness and earn our livelihood in easy living or laziness or gather in greed and lust of this World. The food , shelter , clothing, education is for our living resources and not the purpose of our life, when we make these living resources as our only purpose of our life and forget the main purpose of love and forgiveness which we are called and sent to become witnesses to our families , friends, society and nations , then we drift away from our vocation as Parents or missionaries of love.

God has made us plain and simple but we have made ourselves so much complicated in life that some people have become Gods in their life. The missionary work is not to proclaim in the remote jungles but in our daily life situations. The preaching of Christ is a lived life in love and forgiveness and not adding in numbers or creating differences in the society. Lord will judge every word spoken in his name and if that word does not bind in love and forgiveness but bring division and hatred among people , God will judge them on the last day saying ” away from me you wicked generation and False Prophets”. Let us make love and forgiveness as the center and purpose of life and all the rest of the needs will be provided by itself in the process of our life journey.

Prayer : Lord , give us today our daily Bread. Amen.

Spiritual Mother, Brothers and Sisters of Christ.

Tuesday of the 25th Week of Ordinary Time
September 22, 2020
Today’s Readings:

Proverbs 21:1-6, 10-13
Psalm 119:1, 27, 30, 34, 35, 44
Luke 8:19-21
bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/092220.cfm
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
bible.usccb.org/podcasts/audio/2020-09-22

Give me discernment, that I may observe your law
and keep it with all my heart.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
⁹ “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts. – Is 55:8-9

God’s Ways are much more superior and pure compare to the most knowledgeable and brave people of this World. We need Science, technology,philosophy,theology, Economics , Political Science, Medicine, legality so on but if these ways do not reveal or help the main purpose of life then these ways remain as only Worldly ways but not heavenly things in our life. If we talk these things to the atheist it is foolishness for them because the Word of God does not make sense to them because they have not understood them or reflected upon the same.

The definition of Word of God is “Complete truth” , all the truths of the World must lead us to the Whole truth the Word of God. Heaven and Earth may pass away but the Wisdom of God will not pass away because this Wisdom is not created but Creator himself the Holy spirit. Heaven experiences and the worldly things are created through the Word of God and must pass away one day or the other in our life. If we hold on to these things we live in half truth of our life or half the Road to the complete truth.If we die at this stage without meeting the Whole truth we have not lived our life.

God has a common plan for every human or discernment or understanding to see the goodness of the Word of God and live it as a testimony to the Wisdom of God. This is the plan of God for every human in their life. When we understand or discern the Word of God , a secret mystery of the kingdom of God reveals us and elevates us to understand our life in the next level of the kingdom of God. Sometimes these levels may be completely foolish or irrelevant in the Eyes of the World but they are very precious or valuable in the Kingdom of God.

The main ingredient of the Word of God is love , if we live in love we live in the Word of God. If any Worldly achievement is not used for love then this achievement is a waste or garbage in the eyes of God. If we live, marry, make Children and become successful people of this World without love , these relationships or achievements are a waste or garbage. In the Kingdom of God or after our death we are not related in flesh to each other but we will be like angels and spiritual beings with no relationships like this World. We must live on this World like Spiritual mothers, brothers and sisters who are united with a common bond called love or the Word of God. Jesus wants us to become his spiritual mother,sister and brother on this Earth and that is the reason he formed the Church. We must make our families spiritual power houses of love and come out of the greed and lust of the World.

Jesus came to this World to spread the Kingdom of love so he was born in the manger like a beggar and died on a cross like a criminal a shameful death . For a Worldly person these activities are least in the Worldly point view but in the Kingdom of love all activities are evaluated or measured through the Word of God or love of God. Let us make love and forgiveness as the main ingredient of the recipe called life and make our life tasty and aromatic and present it in style to the great glory of God.

Prayer : Lord give me the understanding of heart to understand your teaching and follow you. Amen

Salvation can be attained only through Mercy and not in Sacrifice.

September 21, 2020
Today’s Readings:

Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-13
Ps 19:2-5
Matthew 9:9-13
bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/092120.cfm
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
bible.usccb.org/podcasts/audio/2020-09-21

I desire mercy, not sacrifice.

The spirituality of Sacrifice and spirituality of mercy are contrast spirituality to each other. A person may say I have sacrificed my entire life for the Works of God and other person may say I live on the providence of God. To understand both the spirituality we have to reflect upon the Parable of Prodigal Son . If we analyse characteristics of the eldest Son and the prodigal son we see Prodigal Son was a sinner and did everything possible breaking all the Ten Commandments of God and committed a mortal Sin a permanent state being away from the presence of God but the eldest Son kept all the Ten Commandments and remained in the presence of God. At the end of the parable the Prodigal Son seeks mercy and Eldest Son claims his righteousness. There was great feast at Fathers house but eldest Son refuses to enter in to Fathers House and remains outside but Prodigal Son enjoys the presence and Son ship of his Father .

The Spiritual poverty comes from from Humility and simplicity of our heart. Sin drags a person away from self righteousness , it is good to be tempted by the Evil in our weakness than being a self God of our life. Righteousness develops spiritual Pride or Self Righteous behavior which always tries to correct others or act like a checkmate or feel Superior to others on the Word of God and Commandments of God. A Spiritually poor always reflects his Weakness and accepts himself as a Sinner and becomes a friend of other Sinner and help him to love and serve in his Weakness. All saints always felt themselves greatest sinners of this Earth. A Sacrifice or Tapasya made to attain Heaven or Moksha is an act of self righteousness and does not benefit the soul to attain Salvation. Salvation comes from the mercy of God and to receive this mercy we must be poor in our Spiritual attitude. Man is at the receiving end and can not be at the giving end because Man receives from the hands of God and gives it to others. Man has been made a good steward of the Earth and not the Master of the Earth.

Mercy acknowledges God’s greatness and generosity but Sacrifice competes with Gods power and generosity. If we are gifted or generous to make ourselves as God’s then we are in the Self righteous attitude. Today the entire World in the hands of Self Righteous attitude and call them self Godly, Heavenly, Charitable, Christian so on but Jesus calls these people Hypocrites and self Righteous. St. Paul says if we use our gifts to build the Church or build my Neighbor we finish the Work of Salvation and become true members or stewards to Master this universe through the grace, power and mercy of God.

Prayer : Lord take everything which is related to self righteousness in my life.amen.

Resurrected life is the Identity and Proof of Every Christian.

Friday of the 24th Week of Ordinary Time
September 18, 2020Today’s Prayer
Today’s Readings:

1 Corinthians 15:12-20
Psalm 17:1bcd, 6-8b,15
Luke 8:1-3
bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/091820.cfm
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
bible.usccb.org/podcasts/audio/2020-09-18

Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out,
Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza,
Susanna, and many others
who provided for them out of their resources.

Resurrection of Jesus is the identity and proof of every Christian. If a Christian is not resurrected in Christ , they are not Christians at all but just like any other Worldly person. How do we know that we are resurrected with Christ in our life? If we are resurrected then we do the things Jesus did in his life like preach the Gospel , drive out the demons, heal the sick and use our resources to spread the Kingdom of God. If we say we are resurrected Christians but do not do above things then we are dead Christians who live in Sin and not saved or resurrected in Christ.

In the resurrection we get the in built properties of evangelisation because the Holy spirit who is the main inspiration prompts us to speak about Jesus and good news of the kingdom, fills us with gifts of the Holy spirit to make miracles and fills us with fruits of Charity and love. If a Christian says himself that the work of spreading good news is of Clergy then there is a serious doubt the about resurrection of that person because a resurrected person is inspired to speak the Word of God in their life. On the day of Pentecost Peter and the Disciples started speaking in different languages of tongues and spoke about the Wonders and Salvation in the Name of Jesus.

Christian is a missionary of Christ otherwise he is not Christian at all. I remember about an Alcoholic who experienced the resurrection of Jesus came straight from the Retreat Center to his local market place and started preaching the Word of God, every one was surprised because in the previous Week he was fallen drunk in the same market . It is not suggested in that manner but the point is there is a bubbling joy and zeal which drives a person to Evangelisation at every encounter of Christ. This is spontaneous and not learnt in the Seminary or Theological Classes.

A Christian who do not live his resurrection in his life, Paul says in the first reading : “For if the dead are not raised, neither has Christ been raised,
and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is vain;you are still in your sins”. What Paul basically telling is the People who do not have resurrection experience, in theory and practical do not believe in the resurrection of Christ and their faith is not faith at all because they still live in Sin.

Prayer : Lord resurrect me in your Love Amen.

Love Forgives our sinfulness.

Thursday of the 24th Week of Ordinary Time
September 17, 2020
Today’s Readings:

1 Corinthians 15:1-11Ps 118:1-2,16-17,28Luke 7:36-50
bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/091720.cfm
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
bible.usccb.org/podcasts/audio/2020-09-17

So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven;
hence, she has shown great love.
But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.”

When we give , we forgive and when we forgive we are forgiven. We may think these are three different activities but they are only one activity called love. The Woman loved the Prophet called Jesus but in reality got saved from her sinful life and met the Messiah and Salvation. Love is the shortcut to Heaven. When we do not know how to pray or live in Holiness or understand the Word of God or trust in God , we need to do only one thing in our life that is to live in love. When we live in love we go through or encounter or follow all the above steps without our knowledge.

If we love, our many sins are forgiven, is it not a good news . Let us love and forgive. Love is Holiness and love makes us saints. We can be missionaries of love and forgiveness in our own circle of life like Family, Workplace, Neighborhood and in our local Communities. We must take a vow of love in our life and we can live a Covenant life of love and service in our daily life. In the modern World we need these kind of missionaries of love in our own houses and Societies. The World is changing and vocations are reducing but the love and Charity is increasing in the Families, Communities and among the Nations. Let us make love as our Vow in our daily life.

Prayer : Lord let your grace teach me to love Amen.

Love Never Fails

Wednesday of the 24th Week of Ordinary Time
Memorial of Saints Cornelius, Pope, and Cyprian, Bishop, Martyrs
September 16, 2020
Today’s Readings:

1 Corinthians 12:31–13:13
Psalm 33:2-5,12,22
Luke 7:31-35
bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/091620.cfm
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
bible.usccb.org/podcasts/audio/2020-09-16

At present I know partially;
then I shall know fully, as I am fully known.
So faith, hope, love remain, these three;
but the greatest of these is love

Love is fulfillment of all Commandments , all Prophesies, all gifts , all good works in our life. Love is the bottom line of our life. Our Judgement is based upon the merits or credits of love we have grown or lived with , there is nothing else we need to do in our life but to love.

We need to understand the true meaning of love in our life. True love is to die to ourselves and do the will or follow the Commandments of God or Word of God or Promptings of the Holy spirit in our life. When we put God first and center of our life and follow him he teaches us the true love and how to love and the true meaning of love. Human love how selfless it may look like but limited and selfish but God teaches us selfless and unconditional love of God in our life.

Love never fails and remains forever because love is God the Holy spirit. Whole Heaven and the Earth may pass but Holy spirit the love of God will remain forever. If we remain in that love we will live with him forever but if we depend upon Heavenly feelings or live on divine experiences or miracles, or petitions without living in love we may not live forever because all Heavenly gifts or experiences lead to the love of God and are only support instruments to reach the target and not God or love himself, and have to pass by one day in the process to reach God. Most of the modern Spirituality give more priorities to the gifts or Heavenly experiences and remain in that state of life forever, these spirituality is deceptive and must be discerned by the Church Governance and show them the true Aim and Salvation which Jesus taught and witnessed through his teaching, life, passion, death , resurrection and Pentecost the formation of the Body of Christ the Holy spirit the love of God.

Prayer : Lord reveal me the true love of God in my life Amen.

The Sorrows of Mary reveal the thoughts of many Heart.

Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows
September 15, 2020
Today’s Readings:

1 Corinthians 15:1-11
Psalm 118:1b-2, 16-17, 28
John 19:25-27 or Luke 2:33-35
bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/091520.cfm
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
bible.usccb.org/podcasts/audio/2020-09-15

“Behold, this child is destined
for the fall and rise of many in Israel,
and to be a sign that will be contradicted
and you yourself a sword will pierce
so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

The Sorrows of Mary reveal the thoughts of many hearts or if we put in other way around through Mary’s life the mysteries of the Kingdom of God are revealed and made known to the poor in Spirit. In short Mary reveals Jesus to the World.

Prayer : Mother Mary grant us the revelation of your son through your most Sorrowful pondering of the Word of God in your heart. Amen.