If You Can't Build, Don't Wreck

As I watched them tear a building down

A gang of men in a busy town

With a ho-heave-ho, and a lusty yell

They swung a beam and the side wall fell

I asked the foreman, “Are these men skilled,

And the men you’d hire if you wanted to build?”

He laughed and said, “No, indeed,

Just common labour is all I need.”

I can easily wreck in a day or two,

What builders have taken years to do.”

And I thought to myself, as I went my way

Which of these roles have I tried to play?

Am I a builder who works with care,

Measuring life by rule and square?

Am I shaping my work to a well-made plan

Patiently doing the best I can?

Or am I a wrecker who walks to town

Content with the labour of tearing down?

“O Lord let my life and my labours be

That which will build for eternity!”

Any Kingdom Divided Against Itself Will Be Ruined (Luke 11:17)

“It is by the hand of God that I drive out demons.” (Luke 11:20)

It is not unusual for holiness and love to be accused of being sin and hate. Often times, good is misunderstood as evil and evil attributed as “an angel of light.” Though the people in today’s gospel were amazed when Jesus casts out the mute demon, they ascribed that the source of his power was not from God but Beelzebub (Luke 11:15). What an absurd accusation! Dom Helder Camara once said, “When I give food to the poor, they call me a saint. When I ask why the poor have no food, they call me a communist.”

Jesus goes on to say, “It is by the hand of God that I drive out demons” (Luke 11:20). Of course, God is the mighty Healer, not Satan! Satan can never heal or restore anything, he only divides and destroys. Matthew clearly identifies his accusers as “the Pharisees” (Matthew 12:24) and Mark as “the scribes” (Mark 3:22). Why did the Scribes and Pharisees fail to recognize Jesus’ healing as that from God? It was because they thought goodness only existed in them. A certain kind of snobbishness and pride existed in the Pharisees and Scribes. They looked down upon others and treated them as sinners. Jesus moved around with sinners and publicans, he ate and partied with them and so they categorized him as being one of them.

Have you heard of the 21^st century Pharisee? He pretends to be more spiritual than he really is. He sings, “When We All Get To Heaven,” and he is as mean as a two-headed snake. He pretends to pray but doesn’t. He pretends to give, but his annual church contribution wouldn’t but a box of chocolates. He pretends to love people but assassinates them with his toxic tongue. Many of us belong to this group. Are we not so absorbed in out Lenten practices and religious services that we despise those who fail to abstain or fast as we do? Isn’t our judgment wrong and faulty?

The ones who were against Jesus, tried their best to tarnish His name, but Jesus was not disturbed by the slanderers. When we choose to walk in Jesus’ footsteps, no doubt criticism and false accusation will follow. Nevertheless, we should keep on doing the good there is to do. What happens around us might be very destructive and violent, but we will find peace only if we gather with the Lord. Prayer is the best way to connect with Jesus.

Now if you have failed to produce fruits during the first half of Lent, do not be discouraged. The second half awaits! Ask Jesus to rid you of the dumb devil. Ask for the grace to see the good in others and God will amaze you by the results.

“Jesus, I am sorry for running people down, trying to bring them to my level of perception. Lord, let me see things the way you see them.”

Godly Friends An Immense Blessing

“But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24)

The Bible gives us many examples of friendship. God called Abraham His friend (James 2:23). Aaron and Hur stood by Moses’ side and supported his hands to ensure victory in battle (Exodus 17:12). David and Jonathan are a well-known example of friendship (1 Samuel 18).

These friendships were more than casual relationships. In the midst of difficulty or hardships, they offered support and strength for each other. When we take time to establish a deep, mutual relationship, we have someone whom we can depend on and who will stand with us no matter what we might face.

We need to be careful as we choose our friends, because in some way they influence our lives. They bring enjoyment, delight and pleasure. Friends can help us learn how to get along with other people, how to give and take and how to relate more intimately. They can drive us, motivate us, disillusion us, distress us, or even destroy us. If you feel smothered in a friendship, something is wrong. It’s not godly so ‘Get out of it!’

We all want to feel accepted and loved. If you build a friendship based on a need that you have, it will not last. When the need is satisfied, you will grow weary of the friendship, or you will become dissatisfied if the need is not being met. If we choose our friends based only on what they have to offer, we will rarely discover the blessings of a genuine friendship.

A good friend is quick to ask forgiveness and ready to be forgiving. If we are easily offended or hold on to bitterness, we will have a hard time making friends. No one is perfect! We all make mistakes now and then. If we take a truthful look at ourselves, we’ll admit that we bear some of the blame when things go wrong in a friendship. Therefore, let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.

Take the time to build true, genuine, devoted, and loyal friendships, and your life will be immensely blessed by the effort.

“Lord, the friends I choose either help anchor my faith or create barriers between You and me. Help me to choose wisely those with whom I spend my time.”

Follow Them So That You May Live (Deuteronomy 4:1)

“Do not let these things slip from your memory.”
(Deuteronomy 4:9)

During Jesus’ time, laws had become a burden on people, a yoke to heavy to bear and difficult to carry. Jesus tried to clarify, update, renew and give a deeper meaning to it. He cared more for the spirit of the law rather than the letter of the law.

The New Testament has its roots from the Old Testament. The Old Testament is necessary for us to understand the New. Moreover, the Hebrew Scriptures are what our Lord read from and taught from during His earthly ministry. Jesus said, “For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be great in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:18-19).

Our heavenly Father was the first to write a book. It was a book of laws, following those laws would lead us to lasting treasure, wisdom and prosperity in the Promised Land. The good news is that we possess this book; it is the Bible. Moses urged the Israelites as he stood on the threshold of the Promised Land. Do not forget how you got here. Almighty God led you to this place. He delivered you from the hands of the Egyptians where you were slaves. Moreover, He sustained you in the desert for forty years. You had food on your table and water in the desert. Your clothes did not wear out and your feet did not swell. Remember all these things as you enter into this land flowing with milk and honey. A land promised on oath to our ancestors, remember to teach your children and grandchildren about the love and mercy of our God.

“Listen to the statutes and the rules that I am teaching you.” (Deuteronomy 4:1) Listen, because these statutes and rules are from God. God has given them to us to bless us for life. As Christians, we are a people of law and grace. Law and grace are not at odds with each other; they work together to bring us to God.

The Scriptures are clear – God is very interested in how we live our lives. God in His goodness has given us some boundaries. Living within these boundaries brings us a blessing from God. We keep the commandments not to earn God’s love, but out of gratitude, for all that God has done for us. Nevertheless, when we slip and fall, Jesus our Savior is there to pick us up.

Moses remembered. Joshua remembered. King David, Isaiah, Ezekiel, and so many others remembered. What about us, can we sit and think about some occasions when we felt a strong presence of God or when we knew He was working powerfully in our lives? Try to recall a few situations like that. Maybe it was an answer to a desperate prayer. Maybe it was a reunion. Or just a time when we felt loved by God and very close to Him. Go ahead take a minute or two to reflect.

Try to incorporate these personal stories into the foundation of your faith, along with the truths and the Bible stories. Write them down in a journal, and keep the journal somewhere visible in your home or at work. Holding on to these events will help give you a better sense of God’s direction for your life. It will help you say “yes” to God and “no” to temptation. And even more importantly, it will spur you to look for God’s hand today, tomorrow and the day after.

“Lord, thank you for showing me a road to life, help me stay on the right lane throughout this journey.”

Return To Innocence - Enigma

Enigma - Return to Innocence

Forgiveness Prayer

Loving Father, I choose to forgive everyone in my life, including myself, because You have forgiven me. Thank You, Lord, for this grace. I forgive myself for all my sins, faults and failings, especially _______________. I forgive myself for not being perfect, I accept myself and make a decision to stop picking on myself and being my own worst enemy. I release the things held against myself, free myself from bondage and make peace with myself today, by the power of the Holy Spirit.

I forgive my parents for any negativity and injustice they may have extended to me throughout my life, knowingly or unknowingly, especially ______________. For any abuses, unkind acts, hurts and deprivations I do forgive them today. If in any way, they did not provide a deep, full, satisfying parental blessing, I do forgive them today. I release them from bondage and make peace with them today.

I forgive my spouse for any negativity and injustice extended to me throughout our time together, especially ______________. For all the wounds of our relationship, I do forgive my spouse today. I release my spouse from bondage and make peace between us today.

I forgive my children for any hurts especially ______________. I release my children from bondage and make peace between us today. Bless them, Lord.

I forgive my sisters, brothers and blood relatives for any negativity and hatred, especially ______________. I forgive my ancestors for any negative actions that affect my life today and make it harder for me today to live in the freedom of a child of God. I release them from the bondage and make peace with them today, in Jesus’ name.

I forgive my friends for any actions of negativity and hatred, especially ______________. For any time they abused our relationship or led me astray, I do forgive them. I release them from bondage and make peace with them today, in the power of the Holy Spirit.

I forgive my employers/employees of the present and the past for any negativity and injustice, especially ______________. I release them from all the bondage and pray a blessing on them today, in Jesus’ name.

I forgive my schoolteachers for any negative, abusive actions, especially ______________.

I forgive my lawyers, doctors, nurses and other professionals, especially ______________.

I forgive clergy and all representatives of the church, especially ______________. I release them all, in Jesus’ name.

I forgive every member of society who has hurt my family or me in any way, those who have hurt us by criminal action.

I forgive all in public life who have passed laws opposing Christian values. I forgive all the unfair anonymous sources of pain and annoyances in my life.

Heavenly Father I now ask for the grace to forgive the one person in life who has hurt me the most. The one who is hardest to forgive, I now choose to forgive, though I may still feel angry and hurt. I also make peace with that one family member, the one friend and the one authority figure that has hurt me the most.

Lord, is there anyone else I need to forgive? (Be still and listen to the Lord). Thank You, loving Father, for setting me free.

I now pray a blessing on those who have hurt me. Lord, do something special for each of them today. I thank and praise You, Lord.

Amen

~(From the 'Joyful Hour')

Unique Gifts For The Pope

Pope Benedict XVI tries on a metalworker’s helmet bearing his name at the end of an audience with members of the Terni diocese's in Paul VI hall at the Vatican. The helmet gifted to the Pope is of the chemical Lyondell Basell plant of Terni, which is located in Umbria, about 100kms north of Rome.

Pope Benedict XVI holds a jersey bearing his name that was gifted to him, at the end of a special audience with members of Terni's diocese in the Paul VI hall at the Vatican.

He Walked Right Through The Crowd (Luke 4:30)

“No prophet is accepted in his own country.”

(Luke 4:24)

In today’s Gospel, we have Christ once again in his hometown. He was welcomed on previous occasions, but this time it was different. The people expected him to work wonders here as he did in Capernaum. They wanted favoritism from Jesus, but failed to realize that God has not favourites (Romans 2:11). Jesus tells them that as a prophet, his mission is not to benefit his own people, but to do God’s Will. The primary duty of the prophet is to call people to repentance and to be the voice of Almighty God.

Though the words that Jesus spoke in the synagogue amazed everyone, they refused to grasp the message simply because they knew where he was coming from. A carpenter’s son, his mother too was an ordinary woman they knew his friends and family. They watched him grow. He had no formal education. The Scribes and Pharisees were smarter than he was. Based on this mentality they rejected Jesus. Saddened by the situation Christ uttered these words, “A prophet is not accepted in his own country.”

This is true even today, our own family and friends reject us because we dream big or we turn out to be more successful than the rest of them. Jealousy or envy is a cardinal sin it is the most powerful enemy of love. If someone is envious of you and treats you coldly, try to be compassionate. When people act cruelly towards us, it’s not that they dislike us, but because they’re unlike us. They lack our strength. If they belittle us, they’re just trying to cut us down to their size. Yet, if we extend our hand in friendship, we may have the power to change their life. By our own example, we will be able to teach them that blowing out another’s candle will not make their own shine brighter.

The people in today’s Gospel were furious when Christ mentioned Sidon and Syria they wanted God to love them more than he loved the others. God’s love is boundless! Christ’s salvation is for all. They tried to kill Jesus, but his hour had not yet come. The Gospel ends with Jesus slipping away from the crowd. That was the best thing to do. Jesus did not retaliate. You don’t fight battles that have no spoils instead fight battles that are worth fighting for!

“Lord Jesus, many times I get into useless arguments that result in strife. Teach me to be like your servant David and ignore the voices of Eliab in my life, only then will I overcome the Goliaths that are ahead of me.”

Christ The Redeemer - Earth Hour 2011

This two-picture combo shows an aerial view of the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue before and after the lights that illuminate the statue are switched off to observe an hour of voluntary darkness for the global "Earth Hour" campaign, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday March 26, 2011. An estimated 1,000 landmarks' lights were turned off worldwide for 60 minutes at 8:30 p.m. local time, as a symbolic act to raise awareness about climate change and to make people aware of everyday energy use.

-AP Photo

Will You Give Me A Drink (John 4:7)

“Give me a drink.”
(John 4:7)

Prejudices are like rats and men’s minds are like traps. Once these prejudices get in, they are trapped and it is doubtful whether they will get out. Every Jew lived with set prejudices against the Samaritans and vice versa. Today’s gospel describes Jesus’ encounter with a water bearer: a ‘triple prejudice’ by Jewish standards. Being a Samaritan was bad enough, being a Samaritan woman was worse; being a six-husband Samaritan woman was simply abominable! Moreover, since no sane Rabbi spoke to women in public, Jesus’ disciples were shocked to see their revered Rabbi befriending a Samaritan woman (v.27) in broad daylight, the sixth hour, to be precise. Jesus hardly bothered about altering his behaviour to please others. Jesus’ dialogue with the Samaritan woman was delightful.

Jesus unsettles the woman by demolishing prevalent prejudices about Jew-Samaritan, man-woman, pure-impure. The woman pays attention and comes out with teasing comments: “You have no bucket sir, therefore how can one get living water which lies deep down in the well.” It is clear that the woman and Jesus are speaking on different wavelengths. Starting with ‘well water’, Jesus takes the woman deeper by discussing ‘living water’. Water in the Old Testament, especially ‘living’ (running) water, symbolizes either God’s saving gifts (Isaiah 12:3, 55:1), (Jeremiah 2:13), (Ezekiel 47:1-12), (Zechariah 14:8) or the Spirit of God (Isaiah 44:3). In John’s gospel, ‘living water’ refers to God’s Spirit (John 7:37-39, 19:34).

An instant conversion takes place with the woman. She first addresses Jesus as a Jew, à then Sir, à next a Prophet à and finally the ‘Messiah’. This woman comes to Jesus not even knowing how burdened, thirsty, and alone she is, but she leaves excited and fulfilled. Her sins are forgiven and her guilt removed. She has tasted the living water of his mercy, and her life is transformed! As soon as she discovers the Messiah, she puts down her water jar and hurried back to the town to tell the people of her encounter. Healed and happy she becomes the first evangelist in John’s Gospel. Her testimony converts a town (v.39).

We have to cast aside our prejudices if we want to get to heaven, because heaven is filled with all sorts of people who have freed themselves from prejudices and have dared to love others unconditionally. The Sacrament of Reconciliation helps us get rid of the burdens that weigh us down! Confession is about coming to Jesus and letting him set us free. It reunites us with ‘the Bearer of the Water of Life’. It’s about letting Jesus wash away our sins. It’s about experiencing a mercy that goes far beyond our expectations and being so transformed by it that we want to share it with everyone around us.

“Lord Jesus, fill me with your love and mercy, may all my words and deeds lead people to you.”

A Samaritan Woman Came (John 4:7)

A woman came. She is a symbol of the Church not yet made righteous. Righteousness follows from the conversation. She came in ignorance, she found Christ, and he enters into conversation with her. Let us see what it is about, let us see why a Samaritan woman came to draw water. The Samaritans did not form part of the Jewish people: they were foreigners. The fact that she came from a foreign people is part of the symbolic meaning, for she is a symbol of the Church. The Church was to come from the Gentiles, of a different race from the Jews.

We must then recognise ourselves in her words and in her person, and with her give our own thanks to God. She was a symbol, not the reality; she foreshadowed the reality, and the reality came to be. She found faith in Christ, who was using her as a symbol to teach us what was to come. She came then to draw water. She had simply come to draw water; in the normal way of man or woman.

Jesus says to her: Give me water to drink. For his disciples had gone to the city to buy food. The Samaritan woman therefore says to him: How is it that you, though a Jew, ask me for water to drink, though I am a Samaritan woman? For Jews have nothing to do with Samaritans.

The Samaritans were foreigners; Jews never used their utensils. The woman was carrying a pail for drawing water. She was astonished that a Jew should ask her for a drink of water, a thing that Jews would not do. But the one who was asking for a drink of water was thirsting for her faith.

Listen now and learn who it is that asks for a drink. Jesus answered her and said: If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, “Give me a drink,” perhaps you might have asked him and he would have given you living water.

He asks for a drink, and he promises a drink. He is in need, as one hoping to receive, yet he is rich, as one about to satisfy the thirst of others. He says: If you knew the gift of God. The gift of God is the Holy Spirit. But he is still using veiled language as he speaks to the woman and gradually enters into her heart. Or is he already teaching her? What could be more gentle and kind than the encouragement he gives? If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, “Give me a drink,” perhaps you might ask and he would give you living water.

What is this water that he will give if not the water spoken of in Scripture: With you is the fountain of life? How can those feel thirst who will drink deeply from the abundance in your house?

He was promising the Holy Spirit in satisfying abundance. She did not yet understand. In her failure to grasp his meaning, what was her reply? The woman says to him: Master, give me this drink, so that I may feel no thirst or come here to draw water. Her need forced her to this labour, her weakness shrank from it. If only she could hear those words: Come to me, all who labour and are burdened, and I will refresh you. Jesus was saying this to her, so that her labours might be at an end; but she was not yet able to understand.

~ Saint Augustine

"I Have Sinned Against Heaven" (Luke 15:18)

"Got together all he had, set off for a distant country"
(Luke 15:13)

Our God is a God of second, third... multiple chances, who is madly in love with us. The sad part is we are blinded by the lures of this world and we fail to see this magnificent love. God does not prevent us from sinning and rebelling. He has given us a free will to choose between good and evil. I think of all those people who have left the Church and gone their own way. God’s blessings are still with them, similar to what the wealthy father did in the story of the Lost Son. He gave his younger son a share of the inheritance. The son did not leave his father’s house empty handed.

The Prodigal Son’s selfishness and stubbornness took him to a distant country, where he squandered his wealth in wild living. Remember that, any place you chose to live away from God is a distant country. It does not have to be far away geographically. So famished was he that he longed to fill his stomach even with the food given to the pigs, but no one offered him anything. (Luke 15:16). Whenever you walk away from God, you will be in want. He squandered all his wealth his life had come to nothing, just ashes. When you have ashes in your life, it means that something has been burnt. Ashes are a result of lust, disobedience and rebellion.

Reasons and Results of Walking Away From God:

Desire – It always begins with a desire, “Father give me my share of the estate” (v.12)

Deception – Satan never sleeps he is there to deceive us, “Not long after that” (v.13)

Decision – He left everything he already owned, “got together all he had and set off” (v.13)

Departure – To depart from the will of God is slavery to sin, “Set off for a distant country” (v.13)

Delight – In sin, “squandering his wealth in wild living” (v.13, 30)

Disappointment – Everything the world offers you will disappoint you if your relationship is not right with God.

Despair – How am I going to get out of the mess I have done?

Disastrous – People do not realize that, there is a solution to every problem. So they turn themselves to evil, sometimes even take their own life and end it all. God can forgive every sin ever committed.

When he [the younger son] came to his senses… he got up and went to his father (Luke 15:17, 20). Even though God loves us immensely, he waits patiently until we “come to our senses.” God will never force us into anything; he just loves us to perfection, that does not mean that we should try his patience. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son” (v.20) the only place in the Bible where God is portrayed running towards us. God is full of compassion and mercy, Christ died for us while we were yet sinners (Romans 5:8). The moment we repent and turn away from our sins, God welcomes us with outstretched arms. Every time a lost person returns home to God the Father, there is a banquet in Paradise.

Some of us are like the older brother we do not understand the Father’s love. We are so caught up with working and earning the Father’s love that we miss the opportunity to love—either to give it or receive it. We behave like slaves, not heirs of the Father. When God created us, he knew we would fall. When that happens, He runs towards us to pick us up and enfolds us in his loving embrace. Nothing we do can surprise God, He knows our feelings and desires. The only right attitude before God is one of infinite gratitude.

Take the first step towards God: Are you willing to come to your senses? Make a decision and act on your decision. God does not want us to be spiritually independent but to depend on him at all times. Lent is a time for us to change. Jesus did not come to teach us penance and fasting but rather to love and forgive and most importantly, to do the Father’s Will.

“Heavenly Father, your love is immeasurable, nothing I do can change that. I thank you for loving me in spite of my many sins. Lord, thank you for embracing me in my darkest moments and in the longest hours.”

Earth Hour March 26, 2011

Earth Hour 2011 – Firstly, it makes no sense paying attention to naysayers scoffing this off. I say do your bit for the planet! Let us treat the earth well, we did not inherit it from our ancestors we just borrowed it from our children. Staying without electricity for an hour, is a difficult task but it could also be the best exercise we could ever do this Lenten season. Think about it, you being part of a global event too!!

No one knows if it is going to save the world or not! However, I am not going to stand in the way of people trying their best to effect a change for the better. In fact, they have my full support. Turning off the lights for an hour will not necessarily stop climate change or whatever it is that ails our planet but it gives us all a chance to reflect on a pressing fact: our planet needs help! Whether we humans are the cause of the problem or the solution, we must try it even if our efforts prove futile.

If we cannot be part of the solution, at least don’t be an obstacle to those trying.

So, Saturday, March 26, 2011, remember to switch off all your lights and maybe other electronic gadgets if possible from 8:30-9:30 pm and please spread the message around.

The Annunciation - Man's Reconciliation With God

The mystery of man's reconciliation with God

Lowliness is assured by majesty, weakness by power, mortality by eternity. To pay the debt of our sinful state, a nature that was incapable of suffering was joined to one that could suffer. Thus, in keeping with the healing that we needed, one and the same mediator between God and men, the man Jesus Christ, was able to die in one nature, and unable to die in the other.

He who is true God was therefore born in the complete and perfect nature of a true man, whole in his own nature, whole in ours. By our nature we mean what the Creator had fashioned in us from the beginning, and took to himself in order to restore it.

For in the Saviour there was no trace of what the deceiver introduced and man, being misled, allowed to enter. It does not follow that because he submitted to sharing in our human weakness he therefore shared in our sins.

He took the nature of a servant without stain of sin, enlarging our humanity without diminishing his divinity. He emptied himself; though invisible he made himself visible, though Creator and Lord of all things he chose to be one of us mortal men. Yet this was the condescension of compassion, not the loss of omnipotence. So he who in the nature of God had created man, became in the nature of a servant, man himself.

Thus the Son of God enters this lowly world. He comes down from the throne of heaven, yet does not separate himself from the Father’s glory. He is born in a new condition, by a new birth.

He was born in a new condition, for, invisible in his own nature, he became visible in ours. Beyond our grasp, he chose to come within our grasp. Existing before time began, he began to exist at a moment in time. Lord of the universe, he hid his infinite glory and took the nature of a servant. Incapable of suffering as God, he did not refuse to be a man, capable of suffering. Immortal, he chose to be subject to the laws of death.

He who is true God is also true man. There is no falsehood in this unity as long as the lowliness of man and the pre-eminence of God coexist in mutual relationship.

As God does not change by his condescension, so man is not swallowed up by being exalted. Each nature exercises its own activity, in communion with the other. The Word does what is proper to the Word, the flesh fulfils what is proper to the flesh.

One nature is resplendent with miracles, the other falls victim to injuries. As the Word does not lose equality with the Father’s glory, so the flesh does not leave behind the nature of our race.

One and the same person – this must be said over and over again – is truly the Son of God and truly the son of man. He is God in virtue of the fact that in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He is man in virtue of the fact that the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.

~ St. Leo the Great, pope

The Annunciation Of The Lord (Feast)

"Hail, favoured one!"
(Luke 1:28)

Virgin, you have heard that you will conceive and bear a son; you have heard that it will be by the Holy Spirit and not by a man. The angel is waiting for your reply. It is time for him to return to the One who sent him. We, too, are waiting for this merciful word, my lady, we who are miserably weighed down under a sentence of condemnation.

The price of our salvation is being offered you. If you consent, we shall immediately be set free. We all have been made in the eternal Word of God, and look, we are dying (2 Corinthians 6:9). In your brief reply we shall be restored and so brought back to life.

Sorrowful Adam and his unhappy offspring, exiled from Paradise, implore you, kind Virgin, to give this answer. David asks it. Abraham asks it. All the other holy patriarchs, your very own fathers beg it of you, as do those now dwelling in the region of the shadow of death (Isaiah 9:1). For it the whole world is waiting, bowed down at your feet. And rightly so, because on your answer depends the comfort of the afflicted; the redemption of captives; the deliverance of the damned; the salvation of all the sons of Adam, your whole race.

So answer the angel quickly or rather, through the angel, answer God. Only say the word and receive the Word. Give yours and conceive God’s. Breathe one fleeting word and embrace the everlasting Word… .

Blessed Virgin, open your heart to faith, your lips to consent, and your womb to your Creator. Behold, the long-desired of all nations is standing at the door and knocking (Revelation 3:20). Oh, what if he should pass by because of your delay and, sorrowing, you should again have to seek him whom your soul loves (Song of Songs 3:1-4)? Get up, run, open!

“Behold,” she says, “I am the handmaiden of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38).

- St. Bernard of Clairvaux

“Father, we praise you for sending your Son and setting us free! Be with us, as you were with Mary, so that we may be as willing as she was to say yes to your plan for our lives!”

Meat Friday?

Citing Canon 1251 *, various dioceses, Catholic bloggers, and even secular newspapers are noting that the obligation to abstain from meat is abrogated on Friday, March 25, 2011 because it is the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord.

Source(s): these links will take you to other sites, in a new window.

• It’s ok to eat meat this Friday. Really! (Omaha World-Herald)
• Saint Albert the Great Offers Place of Worship and Fellowship (Not to Mention Fish Fry) (Baldwin-Whitehall Patch)
• Archdiocese issues Lenten regulations (St. Louis Review)
• Liturgical Advisories (Diocese of Pueblo)
• Archdiocese of Washington: comments (Facebook)
• Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord (Diocese of Des Moines)
• Happy Meat-Eating Friday! (2011 Edition) (JimmyAkin.org)

*[Canon 1251] - "Abstinence from meat, or from some other food as determined by the Episcopal Conference, is to be observed on all Fridays, unless a solemnity should fall on a Friday. Abstinence and fasting are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday."

Though allowed by the Church [i.e. Friday, March 25, 2011], I feel it is up to individuals what suits them best. As for me, I will be abstaining from meat; Fridays have always been Fishy to me, lent or otherwise!!!

The Rich Man And Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31)

“There was a rich man who…. dined sumptuously each day.”
(Luke 16:19)

The Gospel story about the Rich Man (Dives) and Lazarus remains a popular folk tale, even two thousand years after Christ first shared it. The background of this parable is a tale from Egyptian folklore about the reversal of fates after death. This parable is found only in the book of Luke. The rich man (‘dives’ = rich, Latin) dressed in purple, and fine linen, portrays a picture of ultimate luxury. The poor man Lazarus covered with sores is a beggar. The rich man feasted daily with the finest of food and wines. The poor man fed himself with the leftovers from the rich man’s table.

How rich do you think this man (dives) was? The passage does not speak about the wealth he owned, because that was not an issue. The real problem was that he did not share his riches with the beggar (Lazarus). Many of us have grown up in conditions the rich man would envy. In today’s society, it is but natural to own luxury cars, bikes, fanciful apartments, dine in the finest of restaurants and party with the elite. Yet not too far away there are people who live only on ‘one square meal a day’, while we waste and throw it to the dogs.

This passage brings back memories of my own grandma, who had servants for every need under the sun. They were at our service day or night. The conditions she lived in would have put this rich man to shame, but there was a sharp contrast. She never refused anyone who needed help she taught us the true meaning of charity. She sheltered the homeless, fed the hungry, and clothed the naked. Her charitable legacy lives on in us and through the many lives she has touched along the way. It is not about the wealth you own rather how willing you are to share your wealth with the needy. Everyone would love to hear the words, “welcome home, good and faithful servant” - the only way to hear those words is when we become charitable. Not only monetary wise, but also with time, forgiveness, love.

The rich man lived for himself, and horded his wealth, that was his condemnation. He failed to notice poor Lazarus at his doorstep. This Lent, let us rid ourselves of the rich man living in us. May we become more generous and share our resources with the needy. All our possessions come from God; he blesses us so that we can be a blessing to the less fortunate. Let us not cling on to the thirty pieces of silver as Judas did least we forfeit Paradise. Whenever we alleviate someone’s suffering we are assisting in the expansion of God’s earthly kingdom. Please God in your dealings with the poor and one day like Lazarus you will be in Abraham’s bosom.

“Lord, let me never turn away from the many Lazarus’ that cross my path, instead let me be generous with your gifts. May the needy feel your presence every time I reach out in faith.”

Lent - Fast Food

Pope Prays For Libya

Pope Benedict XVI burns incense during a ceremony to bless the altar of the new church of “San Corbiniano,” in the outskirts of Rome.

Pope Benedict XVI issued an urgent appeal to all military and political leaders ‘to consider the safety of Libyan civilians and ensure they have access to emergency aid in his first public comments on the conflict’.

After the Sunday Angelus in St. Peter’s Square the Pope told the faithful, “The disturbing news coming from Libya has awakened in me fear and trepidation. I pray for a horizon of peace and harmony to arise in Libya and for those involved in the dramatic situation in that country. To all the victims and to those who find themselves in situations of anguish, I assure my prayers and my closeness, while I call for aid and help for the stricken populations.”

Pope Benedict XVI offered a “special prayer” about the state of affairs in Libya during his Lenten spiritual exercises last week.

The Gift Of Love

“May the Lord make you increase and abound in love” (1 Thessalonians 3:12)

How freely do you love others? Do you give love without needing or expecting love in return? While each of us desires love, it is far more rewarding to give rather than receive. 1 Thessalonians 3:12 reads, “May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.”

This poor world is a cold place to many. I pray that, no one who comes to us may ever feel chilled here, but rather that all chilliness may melt, by the blessed glow of heavenly love. Don’t let us ever be afraid of being too loving. Intense love does not measure, it just gives. Love is a fruit in season at all times, and within reach of every hand. We can never love enough.

So, I pray, “Lord, keep us free to love. Never let the lightest shade of suspicion over shadow any heart. Help each to think the very best of every other. Through all the chances and changes of life, hold all together in tender love. Let nothing quench love. Let nothing cool it. Let it never fade away. Let it glow in hope. Keep every thread of the gold cord unbroken, tightly bound, even unto the end. O my Lord, Thou Loving One, keep my beloveds close together in Thy love forever.”

How you love others reflects the love you have for Jesus. Be patient in love, willing to receive little or no thanks for something you have done in love for another, and quick to forgive. Remember, no act of love, including forgiveness, is ever wasted.

“Lord, help me remember that no act of love is wasted. Help me increase and abound in love.”

Do Not Do What They Do (Matthew 23:3)

“The greatest among you must be your servant.” (Matthew 23:11)

There is a sharp contrast between Jesus and the religious teachers of his time. Jesus was constantly annoyed by their behaviour. The Pharisees made themselves the centre of attention wherever they went. They portrayed a holier-than thou attitude, only they did not practice what they preached. Everything they did was for show. What a condemnation of those who are supposed to show the way, of those who are entrusted with leadership and oversight.

In biblical times, the religious leaders placed enormous spiritual burdens on common people’s spiritual shoulders by telling others that they had to follow through and obey the 613 rules and regulations from the Old Testament. Imagine the weight of your religion on your shoulders. You would be called “religious” only if you obeyed all those 613 rules from the Old Testament. What a heavy load!

The Pharisees were well versed with Scriptures, but knowing the truth isn’t enough. We must be doers rather than just hearers. People, like these Pharisees, who place themselves first lacked moral leadership, since they lacked the strength of character to give a good example. Jesus accused the Pharisees of oppressing the faithful because their focus was self-centered. Today, if we were to list the names of the people who have misled us, or who have not practiced what they preached, or who have fallen prey to money and abused power, we would be here forever and a day.

In the time of Jesus, the titles ‘rabbi’ ‘father’ and ‘head teacher’ or ‘leader’ were titles in the Jewish community. The title of ‘rabbi’ did not refer to clergy per se (rabbis, pastor or priest, as clergy), but to the teacher or master of a school. The title of ‘father’ extended beyond the one’s relationship with a male parent; it could refer to a male elder or deceased ancestor. The title ‘head teacher’ referred to one’s personal instructor. ‘Rabbi’ would mean a spiritual director ‘father’ a moral guide or example, and ‘head teacher’ meant guru (master). If you claim any of these titles, Jesus seemed to say, you promote yourself over the needs of others.

Leadership is a gift, not a right. When leaders think they earned the office and its benefits, they see others only through selfish eyes. Abuse follows. When leaders exercise their office as a gift, however, they see others through the eyes of he who gave the gift (God) and act accordingly (serve others). True servants do not seek glory of the world. They seek to help others see the glory of heaven.

Jesus admonishes his followers and the crowds, ‘do as they say, not as they do’. Rather be humble, not exalted, serve rather than seek greatness. Christ teaches us the greatest among you is your servant. On Holy Thursday, He washed the feet of his disciples. This action of Jesus shocked everyone it was an attitude of humility. Humility means living life with at least half an eye on heaven - from where the good things come.

The world does honour achievement - and those in authority are often caught up in titles and ways of dressing that are designed to alert people to that authority. The question to be asked is - do the people concerned really believe that they have earned or deserved it or do they recognise that it is a gift they have been given and that they will be answerable for how they have used it?

Nevertheless, we must obey lawful authority regardless of their failures and shortcomings, for all authority comes from God. We the followers of Jesus must detach ourselves from desire for human recognition, praise, status and popularity. The world today needs witnesses more than teachers. Teachers who practice what they teach become witnesses. We may not know it but there are people around who look up at us, and watch us in action. We can become effective leaders only if we are prepared to serve in humility, just as Jesus did.

“Jesus, cleanse me from all unrighteousness and renew my spirit. Fill me with zeal for your kingdom.”