Respect People; Respect God.

Tuesday 1st June 2021. Read Tobit 2:9-14 and Mark 12:13-17 

“She said to me, "It was given to me as a gift in addition to my wages." But I did not believe her, and told her to return it to the owners. I became flushed with anger against her over this. Then she replied to me, “Where are your acts of charity? Where are your righteous deeds? These things are known about you!” (Tobit 2:14) 

Our first reading today takes us to the home of Tobit. His wife Anna had gone out to sell a piece of cloth she wove herself and was paid for it in full. Perhaps, seeing her impoverished condition, they decided to give her a gift; a goat.

Tobit did not believe her story. For him, the only way his wife would return home with a goat was if she had stolen it. Bear in mind that those days, goats were quite expensive to the extent that when a man’s riches were calculated, it was according to number of livestock he has.

Tobit mistrusted his own wife despite the number of years they have been together. Who knows if something had happened before that led to his mistrust? Without trust, marital life is tough. Couples should be able to trust each other. This means that you must completely forgive your spouse each time they wrong you lest an issue of the past becomes the reason for today’s quarrel.

Tobit, who was blind at the time, admitted the fact that he lost his temper. He probably said things that also made Anna angry. And she blurted out: “Aren’t you Mr. Righteous? How has it helped you now? What do you have to show for your sacrifices for others?” Anna’s words pierced Tobit to the heart. He literally burst into tears and began to pray. (Cf. Tobit 3:1ff)

It demands special grace and certain skills to be happily married. One of these skills is emotional intelligence; the ability to know when you are angry and not allow your anger to control your speech or actions. Another important skill is respect. If Tobit had shown some respect for Anna, he would have believed her story. And if Anna had shown respect for Tobit, she wouldn’t have spoken that way to him.

To respect a person is to give him or her their due regardless of how you feel. Every human being deserves respect. The fact that you know everything about your spouse (including their limitations and weak points) does not mean you should disrespect them.

Never look down on your spouse. Be mindful of the words you use on them. a person could be insulted by a stranger and laugh it off but when that insult comes from one’s spouse, the pain is unbearable. Even if you don’t believe in what your spouse is doing, avoid making a mockery of their life’s work. In an argument or discussion, be respectful of the opinions of your spouse even if you don’t agree. At least, listen to them first. Everyone longs to be heard; it gives a feeling of importance and we all need it.

In our Gospel passage, Jesus is asked a very tricky question. And in response, Jesus said: “Give to Caesar the things that are the Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” (Mark 12:17). Respect people; respect God.   

Today, we remember St. Justin, the great Christian martyr who so brilliantly defended (explained) the Christian Faith with the use of philosophy. Through his writings (also known as “apologies”), many came to believe in God and practice the Christian faith. Like St. Paul, the apostle, Justin was the right man for his time.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, help me get better at respecting others that I may also give you the loyalty and respect that is yours. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Tuesday of the 9^th Week in Ordinary Time, Memorial of Saint Justin, Martyr Bible Study: Tobit 2:9-14 and Mark 12:13-17).

The Power Of A Visit

Monday 31st May 2021. Read Zephaniah 3:14-18, Psalm {Isaiah 12:1-3} and Luke 1:39-56

“For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy.” (Luke 1:44) 

Mary’s visit to Elizabeth was the best gift Elizabeth needed at that point in time. Apart from her poor social reputation as ‘the barren woman’, Elizabeth had another downside; she was advanced in age. Has it ever occurred to you the magnitude of sufferings endured by old people who are childless? When last did you pay a visit to a home for the elderly?

The third issue with Elizabeth was that she was now pregnant. For someone who was always alone, Elizabeth needed someone around to help out. As soon as Mary heard about Elizabeth’s condition, she left everything else behind and ran all the way to help out.

Mary did not consider the fact that she had just become the Mother of God. She ran to become a servant to Elizabeth and she remained with her three months until she gave birth to John the Baptist.

Dear friends, as we celebrate the Visitation of Mary today, we too are called to develop the habit of visiting others, not simply our friends but those in need of help. When you never reach out to help, you always assume your problems are the greatest in the world but in truth, everyone has a cross to carry.

And the secret of life is this: when you help someone carry his cross, yours become lighter. If you think life is hard, look around you and you will see those dreaming to be given twice of your problems in exchange for theirs. Be like Mary, reach out, visit, help, don’t be self-centred.

Mary sang the Magnificat when she got to the house of Elizabeth. This Magnificat is a song similar to that of Hannah when she gave birth to Samuel after being childless for some time. The Magnificat is a song that teaches us to regard ourselves as nothing before God, a song that condemns pride and shows God’s preferential care for the hungry and despised.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, touch my heart to act like Mary who visited Elizabeth and brought joy to her home. May I be a carrier of joy wherever I go. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Feast. Bible Study: Zephaniah 3:14-18, Psalm {Isaiah 12:1-3} and Luke 1:39-56).

God is Trinity; God is Love, God is Family

Sunday 30th May 2021. Read Deuteronomy 4:32-40, Psalm 33, Romans 8:14-17 and Matthew 28:16-20 

“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.” (Matthew 28:19) 

Who is God? How can we describe God? What makes God so great, so powerful, so extraordinary? Of course, these are questions that the human mind cannot comprehend. What we know is that God is much more than what we can imagine or understand. Speaking to the Israelites, Moses in today’s first reading says:

“Did any people ever hear the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire? ... Know therefore this day, and lay it to your heart, that the Lord is God in heaven above and on earth beneath; there is no other.” (Deuteronomy 4:33-39). In other words, God is both in heaven and on earth at the same time and there is no other. This brings us to our first lesson for today:

1. God is Trinity.

The same one God created the world as Father and at the same time, came to be born as a man; Jesus Christ, and at the same time, descended from heaven upon the disciples gathered in worship on Pentecost Day. Matthew ends his Gospel with the scene of Jesus’ apparition to his disciples after his resurrection when he told them: “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.” (Matthew 28:19). This means there is perfect equality in the Trinity.

Since we are made in the image and likeness of God who is Trinity, we cannot afford to be lone rangers. We need communion with others for our full potentials and gifts to be materialized. We must, therefore, avoid selfishness, self-centeredness, individualism, the me-myself-and-I syndrome.

2. God is Love

When we say God is Love, we mean God is three persons living in one perfect union of Love. The perfect unity that exists in the Trinity is a great lesson in love. Love is the magic that makes living with others possible. Take love away and everyone becomes an enemy, we begin to fight ourselves and soon the life becomes unbearable.

In today’s first reading, we hear Moses saying: “Keep his statutes and his commandments, which I am commanding you today for your own well-being and that of your descendants after you, so that you may long remain in the land that the LORD your God is giving you for all time.” (Deuteronomy 4:40) Guess what, a Pharisee once asked Jesus to summarize all the commandments of God and this was His response:

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbour as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” (Matthew 22:37-40)

In our Gospel passage today, Jesus gives us a divine mandate, to go and make disciples of all nations. How can we fulfil this mandate if there is no love in our hearts? We may be eloquent in speech, we may be able to speak in tongues or work miracles but if our hearts are lacking in love, we wouldn’t win a single soul. (Cf. 1^st Corinthians 13:1-3). Love is the answer. Let each one reach one and we would soon have heaven down here.

3. God is Family.

At the concluding part of today’s Gospel passage, Jesus says to us: “I am with you always to the close of the age.” (Matthew 28:20) God who is in heaven above is at the same time always with us. God is in me, and in you. He lives in you. He watches over. He is even in your reflection. The Psalmist asks, “Oh where can I flee from your presence? Even if I climb the highest mountain, you are there and if I say let the light around me be darkness, you are still there.” (Cf. Psalm 139:7-12)

God is Trinity. God is Family. To say God is Father, Son, and Spirit at the same time is to say that 1. God understands perfectly what it means to be a Father to us, his children, 2. God understands what it means to be a brother to us and 3. God understands the depth of our spirits.

In today’s second reading, St. Paul says that all who are led by the spirit of God are sons of God. We are not orphans. We have a Father who is in charge of the universe and we are co-heirs with Christ. This is why we can say “Abba Father”

This is why we pray with confidence knowing whatever we ask we shall receive, whatever we seek we shall find and whatever door we knock, it shall be opened. (Cf. Matthew 7:7-8) What Father is there that would give his children stone when they ask for bread or give them snake when they ask for fish? Let us trust God more.

4. Baptism and the Trinity.

I once saw a video clip where a certain man was teaching about baptism. According to him, baptism must be done in the name of Jesus Christ alone. As I watched the video, I began to question if today’s Gospel passage is not in his own Bible. This is because as we can see, Jesus clearly instructed us to baptise in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Any baptism that does not use this Trinitarian formula is not valid.

Let us pray: God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, teach me to love, to live and act according to your will and promptings. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (The Most Holy Trinity – Solemnity. Bible Study: Deuteronomy 4:32-40, Psalm 33, Romans 8:14-17 and Matthew 28:16-20).

Repent From Hypocrisy; Learn to Look Inwards

Saturday 29th May 2021. Read Sirach 51:12-20, Psalm 19 and Mark 11:27-33 

“The scribes, and the elders came to him and said, ‘By what authority are you doing these things? Who gave you this authority to do them?” (Mark 11:27-28)

Our Gospel passage today continues from that of yesterday. Jesus had gone into the temple to cleanse it by driving out those who had practically turned the temple into a market place. In the words of Jesus, they had the Temple into a den of robbers – they were tactically taking advantage of (stealing from) those who were coming to the Temple to pray.

While Jesus was cleansing the Temple, the only thing on the mind of the chief priests and religious leaders was how they could destroy Jesus. For them, Jesus was nothing more than a trouble maker who had come to deprive them of their daily bread. Their eyes had become so blinded by money that they failed to see anything wrong with buying and selling in the Temple.

In today’s Gospel passage, the chief priests, while searching for a way to bring Jesus down decided to begin by asking who gave him the authority to do what He had just done. Where did He get such audacity? In other words, they wanted to know who ordained Jesus. Jesus, in response, asked them the source of John the Baptist’s authority; a question they couldn’t answer.

As we noted yesterday, the hypocrite sees that his house is dirty but instead of cleaning it, he rushes quickly to paint the outside. Another characteristic of the hypocrite is to attack and condemn anyone who tells him that his house is dirty. We gain nothing by fighting those who tell us the truth.

Since truth is bitter, whenever we are told the truth, it tends to sound like an insult to us. This is especially when it is coming from someone younger than us or someone we look down on. It is not every “insult” that is actually an insult; some “insults” are blessings in disguise.

No one is perfect. You are not always as good as you like to assume. Be humble, be willing to learn.  As the book of Sirach today tells us: “I resolved to live according to wisdom, and I was zealous for the good, and I shall never be disappointed. My soul grappled with wisdom, and in my conduct I was strict; I spread out my hands to the heavens, and lamented my ignorance of her.” (Sirach 51:18-19).

The day you come to the conclusion that you have known all that there is ever to be known or that no one can ever correct you is the day you begin to die.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, save me from the foolishness of pride. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Saturday of week 8 in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: Sirach 51:12-20, Psalm 19 and Mark 11:27-33).

Beware of Hypocrisy: You Can Lie to Others, Not to Yourself

Friday 28th May 2021. Read Sirach 44:1.9-13, Psalm 149 and Mark 11:11-25 

“Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.” (Mark 11:25)

Given that it was not the season for figs, what crime did this fig tree commit to deserve such a curse from Jesus Christ? The tree was attractive from a distance but upon close examination, it was useless. Despite the leaves, there were no figs developing on it. 

Like this tree, many of us Christians are externally attractive but are empty within. We preach love in public but practice hatred in secret. We are more concerned about maintaining a positive image than actually doing what God desires. This is called Hypocrisy or “packaging” if you like.

Hypocrisy is living a lie. It is making everyone believe you are good when you are not. Just like the temple that appeared good externally but had become an extension of the market; a den of robbers, the fig tree was full of leaves (at a time when it shouldn’t have leaves since it was not the season) but it lacked figs.

Jesus cursed the tree because it had lost the purpose of its existence. It was now good for firewood. As Jesus would say: “If salt has lost its taste, of what good is it anymore other than to be thrown down and trodden underfoot by men?” (Cf. Matthew 5:13, Luke 14:34). In a sense, the curse Jesus placed on the fig tree prophetically became the fate of that Temple in 70 AD.

The disciples of Jesus were surprised the following day to see the fig tree withered. Obviously, they didn’t expect Jesus’ words to come to pass so quickly. Words are powerful. Believe it, there is so much power in your tongue. Jesus tells us to pray with faith. Whatever we say when we pray will surely come to pass.

“Truly I tell you, if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and if you do not doubt in your heart, but believe that what you say will come to pass, it will be done for you. So I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” (Mark 11:23-24) 

It is funny how we make up our minds never to forgive others for the wrongs they have done to us but we ask God every day to forgive and forget our own sins. For me, this is hypocrisy. It is asking God to turn a blind eye on your faults while you try to crush others to pieces for their own faults. Why do you assume you are perfect and others are bad?

The cure for hypocrisy is a constant examination of conscience. It is being able to judge yourself, admitting your faults while making concrete efforts to repent. The hypocrite knows the house is dirty and smelling, he goes ahead to paint the outside walls but allows the inside to decay even more. The Christian knows the house is dirty and smelling, he begins the washing from the inside gradually, cleans everywhere before painting the outside.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, free me from hypocrisy. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Friday of week 8 in Ordinary Time, Bible Study: Sirach 44:1.9-13, Psalm 149 and Mark 11:11-25).

Never Stop Praying

Thursday 27th May 2021. Read Sirach 42:15-25, Psalm 33 and Mark 10:46-52 

“Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’” (Mark 10:48) 

The book of Sirach today teaches us that nothing can ever be hidden from God. It says: “For the Most High knows all that may be known… No thought escapes him, and not one word is hidden from him.” (Sirach 42:18-20). In this regard, the Psalmist declares:

“Where can I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there. If I take the wings of the morning and settle at the farthest limits of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me fast. If I say, ‘Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light around me become night,’ even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is as bright as the day, for darkness is as light to you.” (Psalm 139:7-13)

If God knows all that there is to be known why do we still need to pray at all? How come Bartimaeus, in our Gospel passage today, had to call out to Jesus to get His attention? As far as our relationship with God is concerned, we cannot do without prayer.

God already knows what we want even before we open our lips to pray, (Cf. Matthew 6:7-8) but He demands that we ask: “Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8)

When we pray, we are informing God of anything which He already does not know. God knows everything. When we pray, we spend time with God, we relate with Him and we express our Faith.

There will always be people to discourage us from praying, many would tell us that prayers are a waste of time. They would try to shut us down but like Bartimaeus, we must never give in to the pressure of the crowd.

As to why Jesus delayed in responding to Bartimaeus initially, this shows us that prayer is not magic. Sometimes, God responds with “Yes.” Sometimes, God responds by saying: “Not yet.” Jesus gave us the parable of the unjust judge to teach us to be always persistent in prayer and never give up. (Luke 18:1-8)

Jesus still asked Bartimaeus, “What do you want me to do for you?” That Jesus asked him this question teaches us once again that God wants to hear from us. It is not okay to assume God already knows what you want, God wants to hear you say it. Never stop praying. Every moment spent prayer is never wasted.

Let us pray: Lord God, help me to see that prayer is a relationship. Help me to value the time I spend with you and give me the grace of a persistent faith that I may never be discouraged by those who do not believe in prayer. Amen

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Thursday of week 8 in Ordinary Time, Bible Study: Sirach 42:15-25, Psalm 33 and Mark 10:46-52).

*NB: HAPPY CHILDREN’S DAY TO ALL THE CHILDREN OF THE WORLD.*

The Secret Key to Greatness is Service

Wednesday 26th May 2021. Read Sirach 36:1-2,5-6a,11-17, Psalm 79 and Mark 10:32-45 

“Whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant.” (Mark 10:43) 

The desire for greatness is something that is in-built in every single human being. Having being created in the image and likeness of a great God, we have in our DNA a longing for self-actualization. In today’s Gospel passage, we see two brothers who were not ashamed to tell Jesus of their aspiration for greatness.

“Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” And he said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?” And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” And they said to him, “We are able.”

A student who desires straight A’s must be ready to drink the chalice of hardwork and burn the midnight candles. Even getting to heaven involves having to drink the cup of pain and sacrifice. On the night of his arrest at the garden of Gethesemane, when Jesus was face to face with this same chalice he begged God: “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt.” (Matthew 26:39).

Jesus then goes on to say. “The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.” In other words, even after we have made great efforts, it is entirely up to God to reward our sacrifices.

The other disciples became jealous of James and John. Note again that Jesus did not find any fault in their aspiration instead he told them the secret of achieving greatness: “Whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.” The key to greatness is to serve others.

The life of St. Philip Neri who we celebrate today also sheds light on service of others; sacrificial service. Every priest literally offers himself and chooses to live a life of hard renunciations to be available to the people of God. Such was the life of St. Philip Neri, a missionary priest and founder of Congregation of the Oratory.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, give the grace I need to humble myself so as to achieve my deepest aspiration for greatness. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Wednesday of the 8^th Week in Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Philip Neri. Bible Study:  Sirach 36:1-2,5-6a,11-17, Psalm 79 and Mark 10:32-45).

There Is No Sacrifice Without A Reward.

Tuesday 25th May 2021. Read Sirach 35:1-12, Psalm 50 and Mark 10:28-31 

“Peter began to say to him, ‘Look, we have left everything and followed you.’ Jesus said, ‘Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields, for my sake and for the sake of the good news, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this age-- houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields with persecutions-- and in the age to come eternal life.’” (Mark 10:28-30) 

When the rich young man walked away from Jesus sorrowfully, Peter recalled how he left his fishing business (with its hopes and promises of a comfortable life), how Matthew left his tax collection business, how James and John left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and how the other disciples also left family and possessions to follow Jesus. He exclaimed: “Behold, we have left everything to follow you.” 

In his response, Jesus assured Peter that he had not made a bad choice. In fact, as Jesus puts it, no one who has left anything behind for the sake of the Gospel will go unrewarded. In truth, serving God requires a lot of sacrifice on our part but as long as our sufferings help to advance God’s kingdom on earth, we shall certainly not miss our reward.

In one of His parables, Jesus described the kingdom of God as a fine pearl which a man found buried in a field and he went and sold all he had just to buy that field. Serving God demands a lot of letting go. Writing to the Philippians, St. Paul remarks: “For his sake, I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as refuse, in order that I may gain Christ.” (Philippians 3:8).

The book of Sirach today speaks of the beauty of giving and offering sacrifices to God. It says: “Do not appear before the Lord empty-handed… glorify the Lord generously… with every gift show a cheerful face, and dedicate your tithe with gladness. Give to the Most High as he has given, and as generously as your hand has found. For the Lord is the one who repays, and he will repay you sevenfold.” (Sirach 35:4-11).

In as much as there is a reward for our gifts and sacrifices on God’s behalf, the book of Sirach is quick to warn: “Do not offer him a bribe, for he will not accept it; and do not trust to an unrighteous sacrifice; for the Lord is the judge, and with him is no partiality.” (Sirach 35:12).

You may wonder, which gift would God find most pleasing today? The gift of our time spent in prayer and visitation to the Blessed Sacrament, the gift of our fasting especially from sin and the gift of our alms to the poor and the needy around us. These are great sacrifices and they are never without their reward.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, help me to trust you more than money. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Tuesday of week 8 in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: Sirach 35:1-12, Psalm 50 and Mark 10:28-31). 

Celebrating Mary, the Mother of the Church

Monday 24th May 2021. Read Genesis 3:9-15,20 Psalm 87 and John 19:25-34 

“When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, ‘Woman, behold, your son!’ Then he said to the disciple, ‘Behold, your mother!’” (John 19:26-27)

Every year, on the day just after Pentecost Sunday, the church celebrates a very special memorial called Mary, the Mother of the Church. Having completed the seven weeks of Easter, today is a day for us to pause a while and remember the special role of Mary in the course of the whole Easter festivities and in particular, to examine the full weight of the words Jesus spoke the foot of the cross: “Behold, Your Mother.” 

In our first reading today, we are reminded of the words God spoke just after Adam and Eve had eaten from the forbidden tree. In cursing the serpent who tempted them, God said: “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed…” Who was God referring to as “the woman”? The Blessed Virgin Mary and her seed? Jesus Christ.

Mary holds the title of the Mother of the Church because she was present as a Mother throughout all the events that marked the beginnings of the church. When Jesus appeared to his disciples after rising from the dead, Mary was there. On the day of Pentecost, the day the church was born, Mary was there. Like a very responsible and caring mother, Mary has never abandoned the church. All the apostles addressed her as Mother and treated her with respect and dignity.

Just as John took her home upon hearing the words, “Behold Your Mother” we also take Mary home through our devotional practices. One may ask, does Mary deserve this title? What makes her mother of the church? Mary, together with Joseph raised Jesus. She was with him throughout his hidden years of formation and remained with him all through his public ministry. Mary instigated Jesus’ first public miracle for the good of the couple in Cana.

Through Mary’s intercession, the church has recorded and continues to record countless testimonies. Mary has proven beyond every doubt that she is more than just an envelope, she is a woman we can talk to, a woman we can rely upon to help her talk to her Son, Jesus Christ.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, may your Mother intercede for us both now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Memorial of Mary, Mother of the Church. Bible Study: Genesis 3:9-15,20, Psalm 87 and John 19:25-34).

Come Holy Spirit, Come

Sunday 23rd May 2021. Read Acts 2:1-11, Galatians 5:16-25 and John 15:26-27; 16:12-15 

“Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16-17)

Today’s original Feast dates back to the Old Testament times. Pentecost meaning fifty is the second of the great Jewish national festivals which was observed on the 50th day, or 7 weeks, from the Paschal Feast Passover, (2nd Chronicles 8:12-13). It was on one of such Feasts of Pentecost that the Holy Spirit came down mightily upon the Church as we read in today’s first reading from the Acts of the Apostles.

On that beautiful Sunday morning, exactly fifty days after the resurrection of Christ, the community of believers including Mary, the Mother of Jesus were gathered in one place when they received the physical manifestation and outpouring of the Holy Spirit. As the church was gathered in one place, praying and worshipping God, we too are gathered today and we all ask God for another outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

More than ever before, the church today is in dire need of the Holy Spirit. So many things have gone wrong, we have lost our drive for evangelisation, we have so much compromised our values; we have allowed pleasure and material comfort to take upper place in our lives. These are very dark moments.

Dear friends, how do we know when the Holy Spirit is present in us? St. Paul answers this question in today’s second reading saying: “The fruits of the Holy Spirit which are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23).

In our Gospel passage, Jesus identifies the Holy Spirit with FOUR QUALITIES: Counselling, Witnessing, Truth (Revelation) and Glory.

1. Counsellor.

The Holy Spirit is the Counsellor, He gives advice and direction in life. Are you confused? Not sure where exactly to turn? Call on the Counsellor; reach out for the Holy Spirit. He understands what you are passing through better than any human being can. The Holy Spirit not only tells us what to do, he is right there with us, within our reach at any time, he goes with us, and he is the best friend we can ever have. Become devoted to the Holy Spirit today. Get used to uttering that prayer: “Come, Holy Spirit, Come!”

2. Witness.

Do you want to preach Christ to the world? Do you want to change the world? The Holy Spirit is exactly what you need. Without the Holy Spirit in us, we become negative adverts of Christ; without the Holy Spirit at work in us, we Christians actually witness against Christ. As St. Paul explains, when we do not give in to the impulses of the Spirit, the flesh takes over. We who claim to be close to God find ourselves scandalizing even the unbelievers.

3. Truth – Revelation.

Jesus Christ admitted that in the course of his earthly sojourn, he couldn’t tell us everything we need to know about God. Even the little he said and did are not all contained in the Bible. St. John said, if all were to be written, the world would not contain all the books that would have to be written. (John 21:25). The Holy Spirit is the source and final arbiter of Truth. Jesus said: “He will guide you into all the truth… he will declare to you the things that are to come.” (John 16:13).

Is there something in the Bible that you do not understand? Are you beginning to doubt if God really exists? Do you want to know God better or desire to have an apparition? Call on the Holy Spirit today. He is the light you need in the midst of your darkness.

4. Glory.

The Holy Spirit as Jesus says is the Source of Glory. What does this mean? There is no competition in the Trinity. The Holy Spirit does not outshine Jesus, he glorifies Jesus by taking what is his and declaring it to us. If the Holy Spirit is the agent of glory, it means that the only glory we should seek is that which the Holy Spirit gives. Human glory is vain and extremely limited. We should never seek to be praised by people, the only glory we should work for is that which God alone gives.

Finally, dear friends, let us open our hearts today for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit. As we remember that day that the church was born; that day that all timidity and fear was wiped out of the believers; that day that the church received fire and utterance to spread the message across the world; we sincerely pray that God may find us worthy again to receive that fire and begin a new era of Christianity. Amen

Let us pray: Come Holy Spirit, enkindle in us the fire of your love. Send Forth your Spirit and renew the face of the earth. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Pentecost - Mass of the Day. Bible Study: Acts 2:1-11, Galatians 5:16-25 and John 15:26-27; 16:12-15).

Do Not Be a Busybody

Saturday 22nd May 2021. Read Acts 28:16-31, Psalm 11 and John 21:20-25 

“Jesus said to him, ‘If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? Follow me!.’” (John 21:22)

Having been told of his fate, Peter wanted to know if this would be the case for others. Looking and seeing John, Peter asked Jesus: “What about this man?” Sometimes, we behave like Peter; we compare and contrast with others as though life is a competition. Jesus answered: “Even if I say he will remain till I come, what is that to you? Just follow me.” 

God calls us individually to different tasks. Just as our gifts and abilities are different, our sufferings for the sake of God are never the same.  Sometimes we would wonder if God is partial but all that matters is that we follow Jesus.

You may be thinking someone else is carrying a lighter cross but unless you are that person, you will never see the full picture. St. Paul encourages us to mind our business and avoid being busybodies. (2 Thessalonians 3:11-12)

Our first reading tells us how Paul arrived in Rome and continued the work of evangelisation there. Paul and Peter had different gifts, they both worked to spread the Gospel but their crosses were different; they did not suffer the same fate. In the end, all we know is that great things happened through them.

Finally, as John reports, the Bible does not contain everything Jesus did and said. “Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.” (John 21:25).

This statement perfectly introduces us to tomorrow’s Feast of Pentecost. Since the Bible does not exhaust all that Christ said and did, there is only one way we can know the full story – through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus told us, “But when the Counsellor comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness to me.” (John 15:26)

Let us pray: Come Holy Spirit and enkindle in us your Sacred Fire. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Saturday of the 7th week of Eastertide. Bible Study: Acts 28:16-31, Psalm 11 and John 21:20-25). 

Simon, Do You Love Me?

Friday 21st May 2021. Read Acts 25:13-21, Psalm 103 and John 21:15-19 

“When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my lambs.’” (John 21:15)

Very often, you hear people say: “Love is blind.” The meaning of this is that when we are in love, we become blind to the limitations of the other person or better put, we are able to bear with whatever pain or suffering the person brings to us. 

Love is like the energy that keeps us going. When you love your job, you do not see it as “work” because you enjoy doing it but when you hate your job, even the simplest tasks are like punishments for you. This is why it was necessary for Jesus to ask Peter three times if he loved Him.

If Peter was to succeed in feeding the lambs of Jesus, it was absolutely necessary that Jesus remained the only love of his life. For all those times Peter would have to suffer for the sake of the faith, he would think back and remember how he said “yes” to Jesus’ question.

Jesus even went as far as predicting the kind of death Peter would die; how he would stretch his hands while others will tie his belt and take him where he does not wish to go. Love takes no record of wrongs; love never ends; love never gives up.

Dear friends, let us try to answer this question today. Imagine you were Peter and Jesus is asking you: “Do you Love me?” What would be your response? How deep is your love for God? To what extent are you willing to suffer for God’s sake?

If in your opinion the Christian life is hard/impossible, it is a sign that you do not love God. Love is not something we can pretend about. Jesus tells us: “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” (Matthew 6:24)

Our first reading today contains one episode of the account of Paul’s travails for the sake of spreading the Gospel. In truth, the only thing that kept Paul going was his ever-burning love for God.

Let us pray: Come Holy Spirit and enkindle in us your Sacred Fire. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Friday of the 7th week of Eastertide. Bible Study: Acts 25:13-21, Psalm 103 and John 21:15-19).