Dec 14, 2018 | Daily Devotions
Isaiah 48:17-19. Matthew 11:16-19
Jesus berates the crowds listening to Him about their non-commitment to His message nor to that of John the Baptist. Thus, they denied themselves the messages of salvation that the Saviour has brought and shutting themselves out of the kingdom. The failure of the crowds to accept the teachings of Jesus was partly because of their conception of Jesus. They see Him as a mere prophet, who came eating and drinking with sinners. They have no spiritual eyes to see that Jesus is more than a mere prophet. We also fall into the same mistake sometimes by what we see in others and say about them. Some people see nothing good in others no matter what. Some people see good in others but call it bad, some people see good but will never admit it because of pride and selfishness. The verdict of Jesus on our own generation will even be more startling. We are a generation that have made progress in all aspects of life, in sciences and technology; but we have not made the same progress in spiritual matters. We have reduced everything to the level of competing with God. We are now devising means and policies of changing the eternal moral laws to suit ourselves and our lifestyles. INDEED, WE ARE A GENERATION HEADING FOR DESTRUCTION CREATED BY OURSELVES. Let us ask St. John of the Cross whose feast we celebrate today to intercede for us and help us to make a radical U-TURN in following Jesus as he did in reforming the Carmelite Order during his time in Spain. He is also considered one of the great mystics of the Church and known for his writings. May God give us the grace to see and appreciate the good in others. Amen. God bless you and enjoy your weekend*.
A CHRISTIAN IS NOT AN ORDINARY PERSON.
Dec 13, 2018 | Daily Devotions
2ND WEEK OF ADVENT
Isaiah 41:13-20. Matthew 11:11-15
The first reading presents God’s comforting reassurance to the people of Israel, promising them that He will remove the mountains in their lives. We also need such reassurance every day since we have different mountains in our lives. Isaiah says, “The afflicted and the needy seek water in vain.” What is that prayer point that you have been seeking in vain? What is that mountain that has remained unmovable in your life? God promises to remove and thrash them, since his promises are eternal, we have to believe and trust in God’s Solutions to our problems. But, God’s solutions to our problems are not always easy, they are hard and better, like the Sermons on the Mount.
In the Gospel Jesus had a high praise for John the Baptist, showing the greatness of John. While other prophets ‘saw’ and prophesied about Jesus from a distance, John actually saw what was prophesied-Jesus. May she intercede for us. May God help us to trust in His ability and solutions to move mountains from our lives. Amen. God bless you*.
A CHRISTIAN IS NOT AN ORDINARY PERSON.
Dec 12, 2018 | Daily Devotions
MEMORIAL OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE.
Isaiah 40:25-31. Matthew 11:28-30
Once in the Junior Seminary, a seminarian went to report an issue to the Rector. He told the latter that he caught seminarian X sleeping in the chapel, looking expectantly at the Rector for the ultimate pronouncement of a punishment for the sleeping boy. Surprisingly, the Rector told him to leave the seminarian alone, since he was sleeping in his ‘father’s house’. Today, Jesus tells us to come and find rest in Him. He will make our burdens and troubles light. Jesus knows our challenges and what we are passing through. The way to achieve this is to take the yoke of Jesus upon ourselves (submitting oneself to His authority). His yoke is easy and his burden light. The Christian life lived by faith and love is a lighter yoke and burden to carry than the legalistic laws of the Pharisees/righteousness, moreover Jesus through His obedience had carried our burden, thus if we follow Jesus (or yoked together with Him); the journey becomes easy and we can rest or even ‘sleep’ like the seminarian in our story. ARE YOU READY TO FOLLOW JESUS AND TAKE HIS YOKE?
We celebrate today the memorial of our Lady of Guadalupe or the Virgin of Guadalupe, which; as a devotion has reached many places in the world today. The Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to a convert Juan Diego, who had a church built in her honour. In this place, Mary showed herself as a tender and compassionate Mother, reaching out to the poor and calling them to faith in Jesus Christ. PRAYER: Lord God, may we learn to follow Jesus and rest in Him always. God bless you today and do have a blessed day*.
A CHRISTIAN IS NOT AN ORDINARY PERSON.
Dec 11, 2018 | Daily Devotions
Isaiah 40:1-11. Matthew 18:12-14
The parable of the lost sheep is God’s own way of telling us that all of us are important in his sight. It is telling you that you are God’s ‘Personal Person’ no matter what has happened. He is ready to rescue you and remove that dirt around you and in you. Jesus’ coming was primarily to accomplish this, no wonder he was accused of loving sinners and eating with them. JESUS LEAVING THE 99 SHEEP BEHIND TO LOOK FOR 1 LOST SHEEP WILL MAKE NO SENSE TO YOU, UNTIL YOU SEE YOURSELF AS THE 1 LOST SHEEP.
Dear child of God, we have a God who looks for us more than we look for Him. He is after our own good and well being more than we are, He is more interested in you than you are in yourself. Let us realize the fact and make amends during this Advent season. It is time of total return to God. Nothing can separate us from the love of God. Though what pains the Shepherd-Jesus is not our sin, but the non-committal to total repentance, we still desire to be lost over and over again, and we want Jesus to keep looking for us. PRAYER: Lord help us return to you and become faithful in following you. Amen. God bless you and do have a nice Tuesday.
A CHRISTIAN IS NOT AN ORDINARY PERSON.
