Bible Reflections I 17.05.2022 - TUESDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Easter Week 5

Readings 

           I - Acts 14: 19-28

          II - Jh. 14: 27-31

         

PEACE IS GOD’S GIFT

In today’s Gospel passage Jesus promises of his peace to his disciples. His own peace and not the peace that the world gives. The gift of the Risen Lord is peace, the absolute peace that no person or a thing can give.

People search for peace in power, position, status, wealth, man power, strength and money. Nothing of this can give us peace but Christ alone. Peace therefore is the gift of God to people who search for and live by His will. Try to seek and His Will and peace will automatically be filled in our hearts and lives. May our mind and heart resonate with the prayer, “Lord Jesus, fill us with your peace”. 

Bible Reflections I 16.05.2022 - MONDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Easter Week 5

Readings 

           I - Acts 14: 5-18

          II - Jh. 14: 21-26

WITH FAITH ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE

Today’s first reading is about Paul healing the man at Lystra. The man was crippled from birth and had never walked. At the command of Paul, “stand upright on your feet”, the crippled man walked. The miracle was possible because the bible says, “seeing that he had faith to be made well, Paul gave such command. Faith is two way, both the giver and the receiver should have faith. The faith of Paul and the faith of the crippled made the miracle possible.

The one thing that predominating in the minds of people is that, “will this happen?” This doubt implies ‘no faith’. With ‘no faith’ nothing is possible. Let us examine our faith when we approach the throne of God with various petitions and prayer requests. Only to the one who has faith, all things are possible. May the passage help us to examine the quality of our faith in the Lord. Let our mind and heart resonate with the prayer: “Lord Jesus, give me the gift of faith”. 

Bible Reflections I 15.05.2022 - SUNDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Easter Week 5

Readings 

           I - Acts 14: 21-27

          II - Rev. 21: 1-5

         III - Jn. 13: 31-35

BECOME WITNESSES OF GOD’S LOVE

Today’s Gospel passage is the touchstone of discipleship: “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another”. 

 The apostles, early Christians and the Church suffered because they bore testimony to the love of the Lord in their patient love and endurance. In the first reading Paul and Barnabas encourages the Christians to go through the tribulation for their belief in Christ Jesus in order to enter into the Kingdom of God. The second reading provides hope for the new heaven and earth and New Jerusalem where there shall be no suffering or mourning or crying but everlasting happiness and peace.

For Christ’s sake we might have to endure little afflictions and inconveniences but they worth nothing to the joy that awaits in the world yet to come, the New Jerusalem. Love is always suffering. Sr. Rani Maria loved the tribals, the Australian missionary Graham Stain loved the lepers, St. Oscar Romero loved the people, a reflection of Christ’s love for his people and therefore they had to suffer giving up their life but they had merited the life eternal, the reward of the beloved of Jesus. 

Love people and radiate the joy of being loved by God proving ourselves to be the disciples of the Lord. May our mind and heart resonate with the prayer: “Lord Jesus, help us to be your authentic disciples in loving others” 

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Bible Reflections I 14.05.2022 - SATURDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Easter Week 4

Readings 

           I - Acts 1: 15-17, 20-26

          II - Jn. 15: 9-17

Matthias, Apostle (Feast)

WE ARE GOD’S CHOICE

Jesus chose the twelve, loved them, called them friends and taught them everything he had learnt from his Father but Judas desperately failed him by selling Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. Instead of repenting and restarting his life like other disciples who had also failed Jesus, Judas killed himself in remorse and guilt instead of trusting in the love and mercy of the Lord. Today the Church celebrates the feast of St. Matthias, the one selected in the place of Judas. Matthias was the follower of Jesus and witness of resurrection as well and therefore no less than the other disciples. Matthias courageously took the Gospel to the people bearing witness to the life, teaching, death and resurrection of the Lord.

The Lord has chosen each of us to be his followers out of his benevolence, goodness and mercy. We have not chosen him, it is God who has chosen each of us to be his followers. Due to our own weakness and in frailty we may happen to fail as followers of Jesus but let us not lose heart instead repent and resume our discipleship in Christ Jesus our Lord. May St. Matthias, the apostle, help us to be daring disciples of Jesus as we keep repeating the prayer: “St. Matthias, Pray for us”.

    

Bible Reflections I 13.05.2022 - FRIDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Easter Week 4

Readings 

           I - Acts 13: 26-33

          II - Jn. 14: 1-6

Our Lady of Fatima (Memorial)

JESUS IS THE WAY

In today’s Gospel passage Jesus assures his disciples of a place in the paradise, his Father’s House. The promise given to the disciples befits us his followers as well. To inherit the eternal dwelling with the Father we need to do two things: one, to trust in Jesus and two, to tread the path set out by Jesus aware of the truth that Jesus is the Way. God’s wish and desire for each of us is that we be with Him in the Paradise.

Today the Church celebrates the feast of Our Lady of Fatima, who appeared six times to the Portuguese children viz. Lucia, Jacinta and Francisco insisting to pray for the conversion of sinners. Prayer and conversion was the central message of almost all apparitions of our Blessed Mother so that no one perishes but be with his Son in the Paradise. Throughout this on her day, let us invoke the intercession of Mother Mary to lead us on the path of his Son and our Lord Jesus Christ as we keep repeating the prayer in the silence of our hearts: “Mother Mary, lead us to your Son Jesus”.       

    

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Bible Reflections I 12.05.2022 - THURSDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Easter Week 4

Readings 

           I - Acts 13: 13-25

          II - Jn. 13: 16-20

FOLLOW THE MASTER

Jesus humbled himself to the extent of assuming the role of a slave in washing the feet of the apostles, He was obedient to the God the Father to the extent of emptying himself by taking up the form of a man, He was humiliated and tortured to the extent of crucifixion on the cross, still, He went about doing only good. He shared his table, roof and life willingly even with the one who betrayed him. This is the style of Jesus and the Path set out by him through his life example. Jesus had travelled the untrodden land and bids us to follow that his beaten path of love, peace and fraternity. 

We are not greater than the Master but only his messengers with his message of love. We might have to suffer standing by his principles and exhortations. We needn’t fear for Jesus had walked that way and would be as he had promised be with us until the end of time. Until then we keep going in love proving ourselves to be the authentic followers of the Master Jesus Christ. May our mind and heart resonate with the prayer: “Lord Jesus our Master, give us the courage to walk your way”   

 

Bible Reflections I 11.05.2022 - WEDNESDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Easter Week 4

Readings 

           I - Acts 12: 24 - 13: 5

          II - Jn. 12: 44-50

      

LISTEN TO DISCERN

In the first reading the Holy Spirit says to those gathered in the Church of Antioch to set aside Paul and Barnabas for the work that He had called them.  Precisely to be the missionaries of spreading the message about Christ far and wide across many lands of the world.  In worship, prayer and fasting did they hear the Word of the Holy Spirit speaking to them.

 In the light of this reading, let us examine the quality of our prayer.  Is it merely a one way prayer viz. asking, pleading, petitioning and requesting?  We often fast and pray for our own satisfaction and gratification. Instead pray to the Lord that we might be disposed to listen and discern the will of God for our lives so that we might be sterling sheep of the flock of Christ. May our mind and heart resonate with the prayer: “Lord Jesus, teach me to be attentive to your voice”

Bible Reflections I 10.05.2022 - TUESDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

10.05.2022

Easter Week 4

Readings 

           I - Acts 11: 19-26

          II - Jn. 10: 22-30

St. Damien of Molokai (Memorial)

HEED TO THE VOICE OF THE SHEPHERD

In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus says that his sheep hear his voice, they follow him and inherit eternal life. The Jews heard him and witnessed the works done by him but were adamant and stubborn to listen to his words and to perceive his works.

Today the Church remembers St. Damien of Molokai. He had been a shepherd to the lepers in loving them, caring for them, attending to them and to the extent of dying for them in leprosy. The saint heard the voice of Jesus in the lepers, attended to them as he would to Jesus and served them sacrificing himself for them completely. 

As Christians, the little flock of Chirst, in the light of the Gospel passage and the life of the saint of the day reflect about our following the Shepherd. Our priority should be to catch up the voice of our Good Shepherd and follow him wherever he leads: towards unity, forgiveness, peace, freedom, justice and fraternity; and that is credible Christian living. May our mind and heart resonate with the prayer: “Lord Jesus, help me to listen and attend to your voice”

Bible Reflections i 09.05.2022 - MONDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Easter Week 4

Readings 

           I - Acts 11: 1-18

          II - Jn. 10: 1-10

                 

The flock of Christ is all inclusive and the Word of God is not the privilege of the few but all. Whoever hears, listens, repents, amends his/her ways unto that of the Word and resolves to follow the Lord belong to the sheepfold of Christ. In the first reading, Peter was exhorted by the Lord to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles and the gentiles accepted the preaching of Peter about Jesus with all their hearts and were anointed by the Holy Spirit as did the apostles themselves in the upper room. In the Gospel passage we read that accepting Christ is accepting eternal life and rejecting Christ is rejecting eternal life because Christ is the gateway to the sheepfold.

In the fold of Christ all are equal and no one is small, great, rich, poor, high, low, significant or insignificant as St. Paul says, “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3: 28). Therefore accepting the Word of God is accepting the Way of the Lord. Be attentive to the Shepherd and behold the eternal life that He brings. May our mind and heart resonate with the prayer: “Lord Jesus, our Divine Shepherd, we trust in you”

Bible Reflections I 08.05.2022 - SUNDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Easter Week 4

Readings 

           I - Acts 13: 14, 43-52

          II - Rev. 7: 9, 14-17

         III - Jn. 10: 27-30       

         

“MY SHEEP HEAR MY VOICE”

The fourth week of the Easter Sunday is celebrated as ‘Good Shepherd Sunday’. In today’s Gospel passage Jesus says, “My sheep hear my voice”. The consequences of listening or rejecting the Word of God is given in all the three readings. Those who listen to the Word of God and live by the same, as we read in the second reading would join the multitudes standing before the throne of God. Jesus says that they would inherit life eternal and will never perish. Those who reject the Word of God in the stubbornness of their heart as did the Jews in the first reading can judge for themselves to be unworthy of eternal life. 

God’s words are sown into our hearts by various persons and we too do read the Scripture individually. Reading alone does not suffice, we must hear God speaking to us, listen to him and abide by the same. If we do so even amidst all joys, sorrows, success, failure, ups and downs of our life, we are sure to inherit life eternal promised by our Good Shepherd Jesus Christ. May our mind and hear resonate with the prayer: “Lord Jesus, teach me to listen to you”

Bible Reflections I 07.05.2022 - SATURDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Easter Week 3

Readings 

           I - Acts 9: 31-42

          II - Jn. 6: 60-69

    

BECOME PERSONS OF PRAYER AND PERSONS OF GOD

In the first reading today, Peter cures Aeneas, a bed ridden person for eight years in Joppa and raises Tabitha, full of charity and good works, in Lydda.  These miracles were possible for Peter precisely because he was a man of God and a man of prayer.  The narration accounts that Peter healed the bed ridden in the name of Jesus and; knelt down and prayed before he could present Tabitha alive to the saints and the widows. 

All things are possible with God and to the one who believes in the power of His Name, Jesus. “Jesus” is a powerful prayer of the believer.  Even unarticulated words and emotions become prayer in pronouncing the supreme name of ‘Jesus’.  It is not merely enough to be Christians but the quality of being Christian depend upon our belief in the Life and Teaching of Christ our Lord. Prayer is not merely the multiplicity of words but tremendous trust in the Lord in living our lives based on his teaching.  May our mind and heat resonate with the prayer: “Lord Jesus, help us to be persons of prayer and persons of God”.

Bible Reflections I 06.05.2022 - FRIDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Easter Week 3

Readings 

           I - Acts 9: 1-20

          II - Jn. 6: 52-59        

         

Some are born saint and some are made saints and both are by the grace of God. St. Dominic Savio whose feast we celebrate today is a born saint. A twelve year boy at the oratory of DB with a motto, "Death rather than sin". He lived lost in sanctity, indulging himself in mortification and sacrifice beyond his age that Don Bosco had to intervene to give a different orientation to sanctity and its cheerfulness.  Dominic Savio inspired the life of many boys at the oratory and others as well. Blsd. Laura Viccuna who is in the process of canonization had Dominc Savio as her model saint making his motto her own, "Death rather than sin".

Let us take up the first reading about the conversion of St. Paul for our reflection. Saul, St. Paul before his conversion, an authentic and a fanatic Jew goes to the high priests to obtain permission to persecute the Christians at Damascus. But with a powerful light accompanied with voice and the commission for a mission, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do”, the life of ‘Saul’ Changes to ‘Paul’, from a persecutor to the pillar of the Church, from a vehement Jew to a convinced Christian and from being a persecutor to the one being persecuted for Christ’s sake.

God chose St. Paul for a purpose - to be an apostle to the gentiles which he never knew for himself till on his way to Damascus. Paul had a great pride of being a Jew, ‘people of God’ and the so called noble purpose of torturing the Christians. God Catches and commissions for a noble cause. Nothing is a chance and everything happens with a reason and for a purpose. Let us take all things in life as it comes, all experiences as proposed by God for a purpose and yield unto the Lord to execute His will in our lives because God’s ways are always noble and notable. May our mind and heart resonate with the prayer: “Lord Jesus, help me to accept life as it comes with a great trust in you”

Bible Reflections I 05.05.2022 - THURSDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Easter Week 3

Readings 

           I - Acts 8: 26-40

          II - Jn. 6: 44-51

       

JESUS IS THE BREAD OF LIFE

Today’s Gospel passage is about Manna and the Eucharist.  The former is from God to satisfy the basic need of a human person and the latter is God Himself becoming bread to satisfy the supreme need of a soul.  Those who ate manna in the desert perished but those who eat the body of Christ is promised of life eternal. The one who believes in Jesus and eats of his flesh has eternal life.

The Eucharist is the greatest gift and memory of Jesus himself.  Every time we celebrate we recall the love and the life of the Lord who down precisely to impart life eternal to us.  Most of the times we take the celebration of the Eucharist for granted and partake in it as a part of obligation or ritual.  God so loved the world that He sent His only Son to save us, Jesus loved us so much that he has given himself, his body and blood as our food and drink and if we consume without recognising this we are then dishonoring the body of Christ thereby inheriting the judgment of God upon ourselves (1Cor. 11: 12).  Let us partake worthily and consume reverently with a resoluteness of following the footsteps of Jesus.  May our mind and heart resonate with the prayer: “Lord Jesus, the bread of life, thank you for your body and blood that give us eternal life”

Bible Reflections I 04.05.2022 - WEDNESDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Easter Week 3

Readings 

           I - Acts 8: 1-8

          II - Jn. 6: 35-40

SEEK AND STAY WITH THE LORD

In today’s Gospel passage Jesus says, “Whoever comes to me shall not hunger and whoever believes in me shall never thirst”. Because Jesus is the truth and whoever discovers the truth in Jesus is at peace, content with seeking and accomplishing the will of God as did Jesus himself: “My food is to do the will of the Father” (Jn. 4: 34).  

St. Augustine says, “You have made us for yourself O Lord and our hearts is restless until it rests in you”. The world hungers for power, wealth, honour, glory and status that are temporary and not satisfying at all. When one want is satisfied another pops up automatically seeming to be important and that one cannot exist without that. On the contrary if a person turns towards God and fixes his heart upon God everything becomes insignificant and least important but God alone. He shall never again hunger or thirst for worldly parameters of success and lifestyle but the Gospel requirements of inheriting eternal life, the will of God as the one thing essential. May our mind and heart resonate with the prayer: “Lord Jesus, teach us to seek God above all”

Bible Reflections I 03.05.2022 - TUESDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Easter Week 3

Readings 

           I - 1Cor. 15: 1-8

          II - Jn. 14: 6-14

         

JESUS IS GOD

There are two promises in the Gospel passage of the day: One, whoever believes in Jesus would do even greater works than Jesus himself and two, whatever is asked in the name of Jesus will be granted. These two promises require belief in Jesus Christ that he is the Lord and God. His ways, words and the very life is the manifestation of God and the testimony of His love for us. We have no way but Jesus; his words are true and he alone can impart life eternal to each of us because Jesus is God.

We are Christians and we believe that Jesus is our Lord and God. But when we are battered by life’s struggles, challenges, tests and trials we tend to look for this person and that person, this means and that means, this ways and that ways in getting rid of the same. But these are moments that are even opportunities to prove our faith and belief in Jesus. He can do all things for us if only we believe that ‘nothing is impossible with’ God (Lk. 1: 37). May our mind and heart resonate with the prayer: “Lord Jesus, you are my Lord and my God”.

Bible Reflections I 02.05.2022 - MONDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Easter Week 3

Readings 

           I - Acts 6: 8-15

          II - Jn. 6: 22-29

LOOK BEYOND THE GRASP

Today’s Gospel passage is an invitation to look beyond a happening or an incident or an event to grasp the truth. The crowd looked for Jesus because they had their fill through the multiplication of the fives loaves and the two fish but failed to grasp this sign and understand the truth that Jesus is the messiah and the Promised One of God.

Miracles do happen in our lives but we too fail to fathom the message beyond the miracles. The miracles are the proof of God’s love and the assurance of His presence with us. There is a saying, “God gives and forgives, and man gets and forgets”. Let us not stop with getting alone but try to go beyond getting to appreciate, love and trust in the Lord. May our mind and heart resonate with the prayer: “Lord Jesus, we believe in you”.

Bible Reflections I 01.05.2022 - SUNDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Easter Week 3

Readings 

           I - Acts 5: 27-32, 40-41

          II - Rev. 5: 11-14

          II - Jn. 21: 1-19

       

MAY DAY - ST. JOSEPH THE WORKER

We are stepping into the third Sunday of the Easter Season. Since May 1st is celebrated as ‘Workers Day’, we shall base our reflection on the sanctifying effect of work in the plan of God. This day recognises God as creator, redeemer and sustainer, the ONE who is always at work. Jesus says, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working” (Jn. 5: 17) and hence the dignity of work and that of the workers has its source in God. Jesus served God in His work, we are also exhorted to serve God in our work. Jesus saved the world working in obedience to the will of His father. We are also called to work for the sanctification of self and that of the world as St. Paul would say, “Whatever you do, work with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human master, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving” (Col. 3: 23-24).

The Church today look at St. Joseph, the worker as a model for all workers. St. Joseph through his hard work has shown the dignity and salvific importance of human work. He had been the guardian, provider and protector of the Holy Family through the hard toil of his hands. Jesus had been at the workshop of his father helping him and working along with him as responsible and obedient son of his parents (Lk. 2: 51). Dignity of life depends upon the dignity of work and no work is inferior or superior for the goal of work is simple: provision for worldly sustenance and inheritance of sanctification. Through the intercession of St. Joseph, the worker, we shall pray for all the workers and in particular for those who have lost their jobs due to various reasons, the unemployed, those who consider work as a burden and those who do not respect the dignity of labour. May the Lord bless all the workers with their deserving rewards. Let our mind and heart resonate with the prayer: “Lord Jesus, bless all the workers”.

Bible Reflections I 30.04.2022 - SATURDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Easter Week 2

Readings 

           I - Acts 6: 1-7

          II - Jn. 6: 16-21

                  

FOCUS ON GOD RATHER THAN PROBLEMS

Today’s Gospel passage is about Jesus walking on the water. With darkness around, rough sea and strong wind the disciples were able to row the boat about three or four miles with great difficulty to sail safely. They were so much engrossed in their problem that they were not able to identify their master who came towards them walking on the water but were terrified. With Jesus the boat sailed safe on the shore.

In our life too when are faced with challenges, difficulties, anxieties, worries and problems we seem to strain ourselves in all ways to come out of the same forgetting the presence of the Master our Lord Jesus Christ in our lives. With Jesus burdens become light (Mt. 11: 30). We often forget this and toil hard to sail safe from all that bother us. Instead recognise the presence of the Lord and experience everyday miracles happening in our lives. May our mind and heart resonate with the prayer: “Lord Jesus, help me to focus on you rather than our problems”

Bible Reflections I 29.04.2022 - FRIDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Easter Week 2

Readings 

           I - Acts 5: 34-42

          II - Jn. 6: 1-15

                 

IN THE LORD IS OUR HOPE

Today’s Gospel passage is about the multiplication of the loaves. Jesus asks Phillip, “Where are we to but bread for these people to eat?” To this question Jesus get two responses from two persons: Phillip and Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. Phillips responds saying, “six month’s wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little” but Andrew responds, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish”. One gets bewildered while the other brings something. Jesus blessed that something to the extent of getting the leftover filled in twelve baskets even after feeding the multitude of at least five thousand men.  

We are likely to give up hope in bewilderment at the face of trying situations like Phillip. Hopelessness would blur or blind us from the openings, possibilities, opportunities and chances that the situation holds in grip. Panicky might prevent from discovering the ways and means to solve the problems that we encounter. We are in the Easter season that echoes the message of ‘hope’ loud and clear. The risen Lord is always with us as did he with his apostles and we are only to have faith in him, like Andrew, offering the mite we have with which he can perform wonder to the astonishment of all. Trust in the Lord and all thing are possible. May our mind and heart resonate with the prayer: “Lord Jesus, strengthen my faith at the face of trials in particular”.

Bible Reflections I 28.04.2022 - THURSDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Easter Week 2

Readings 

           I - Acts 5: 27-33

          II - Jn. 3: 31-36

                  

BELIEVE IN THE LORD JESUS

Jesus is the perfect revelation of God’s love and he came to save the world from eternal damnation to eternal life. Jesus taught with authority (Mt. 7: 29); dealt with compassion (Mt. 9: 36); moved about doing good (Acts 10:38) and forgave even the executioners who crucified him to the cross (Lk. 23: 34) and all these testified that he was from above. He had been the absolute witness of God’s love in all His thoughts, words and deeds. In today’s Gospel passage Jesus says that he was from above and that anyone who believes in him inherits eternal life.

The easiest way to attain eternal life is to believe in the Lord Jesus. Believing in Jesus means daring to walk on the path that he tread - the path of freedom, fraternity and justice. It is accepting the light of Christ and becoming one to others. The best way to express our trust and faith in the Lord is to project him in our lives. As Jesus bears testimony to the love of the Father may we his followers bear testimony to the love of our Lord in our day to day living and in this way shall we be identified his witnesses to the world. Let our mind and heart resonate with the prayer: “Lord Jesus, help me to be the witness of your love”.