Bible Reflections I 23.11.2022 - WEDNESDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Ordinary Time - Week 34

Readings 

           I - Rev. 15: 1-4

          II - Lk. 21: 12-19

                   

LIVE FOR THE LORD

                  

On account of Jesus, we might have to endure opposition, oppression, accusations and persecutions from those in power, position and authority. We might be betrayed by our own family, friends and relatives, hated and put to death. Jesus exhorts to endure with the blessed assurance of his assistance and protection. He promises of wisdom in our speech which none of the adversaries would be able to contradict. We are so precious to the Lord that he will never let even a hair our head to perish.  

Do not get panicked at embarrassing and endangering situation, the Lord our God like a mighty warrior and would fight on our behalf, defending and protecting (Jer. 20:21). Endure everything with the Lord until the day of meeting him face to face, for he says, “I will not leave you as orphans” (Jh. 14:18)” and “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Mt. 28: 20). Endure every trial patiently with the joy of meriting the Kingdom of God when he comes in His glory. May our mind and heart resonate with the prayer, “Lord Jesus, help me to be your witness”.

புனித செசிலியா I SAINT CECILIA I 22.11.2022 - TUESDAY I REV. FR. AROKIA ...

Bible Reflections I 22.11.2022 - TUESDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Ordinary Time - Week 34

Readings 

           I - Rev. 14: 14-19

          II - Lk. 21: 5-11

St. Cecelia (Memorial)

                   

In the Gospel passage of the day, Jesus predicts the destruction of the Jerusalem temple. The temple of Jerusalem was their pride as people of God. It was intertwined with the emotions of every Jew. Jesus also predicts the sufferings that the people of God had to endure under the clutches of the great and greedy rulers, the powers of the world, natural catastrophes, war and violence. At those circumstances Jesus instructs people to remain calm in the Lord. Because all atrocious activities and oppressing powers will be overthrown with the coming of the Kingdom of God. From the Gospel passage it can be inferred that we have to be ready to face any suffering on account of Jesus, endure so willingly with the hope that God will one day act on our behalf.  

Today the Church celebrates the feast of St. Cecilia, the patroness of music and musicians, who offered herself to the Lord with all her heart, body and soul. On account of her love and devotion to the Lord she had to lose her head and be martyred. Saint Cecelia courageously endured and saved her life for the eternal kingdom. May the saint of the day, help us to stand for the Lord with resolute firmness in his love. Let our mind and heart resonate with the prayer: “St. Cecelia, Pray for us”.

PRESENTATION OF THE VIRGIN MARY I 21.11.2022 - MONDAY REV. FR. AROKIA DO...

கிறிஸ்து அரசர் பெருவிழா I SOLEMNITY OF CHRIST THE KING - 20.11.2022 I RE...

Bible Reflections I 21.11.2022 - MONDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Ordinary Time - Week 34

Readings 

           I - Rev. 14: 1-3, 4-5

          II - Lk. 21: 1-4

                  

PRESENTATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

                  

Today the Church celebrates the presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the temple. The feast recalls the grace filled moment when the parents of Mother Mary, St. Joachim and St. Anne presented their daughter in the temple. Against all odds, captivity, exile, desecration of their temple, oppression and suppression, the people of Israel hoped in the deliverance of the Lord. In every new born they hoped for God’s promise of deliverance: the Messiah. To echo Prophet Zechariah, in her presentation, Mary enters the temple as ‘Daughter of Sion’ that signaled the imminent coming of the Immanuel. Mary enters the temple as the chosen of God, who would one day become the temple of the Lord - the Word made Flesh!  

The Gospel passage of the day is about the widow who presented two small copper coins to the Lord in the temple. She contributed all that she had for her living to Lord must be with great devotion and love for the Lord and won also the appreciation of the Lord. From the feast and the Gospel passage of the day, we can take away two points for our life. One, the role of family in the life of children. In bringing up Mary, in way that the Lord God wanted, St. Joachim and St. Anne, made her befitting to be the Mother of the Lord. Create a conducive environment in the family for the children to grow up as God’s children. And two, the attitude behind every one of our offering should be love and devotion with no self-seeking interests. Let our mind and heart resonate with the prayer: “Blessed Virgin Mary, Pray for us”.

Bible Reflections I 20.11.2022 - SUNDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Readings 

           I - 2 Sam. 5: 1-3

          II - Col. 1: 12-20 

         III - Lk. 23: 35-43

                  

SOLEMNITY OF CHRIST HE KING

                  

Today the Church joyously celebrates the solemnity of the Kingship of Christ our Lord. The feast was introduced by Pope Pius XI with his encyclical ‘Quas Primas’ to combat the secularism that was prevailing. Pomp, power, glory, glamour, might and majesty mark the earthly royalty. The feast tries to put the right side up in celebrating the Kingship of Christ that authority and power consists in love, kindness, meekness, gentleness, humility and simplicity. In the first reading, David’s kinsmen anoint him to be their king. In Israel, anointing was a ritual that inaugurated the offices of the prophets, the priests and the kings. The idea of ‘messianism’ started with God’s covenant with David, a promise of God to establish his dynasty forever. The Good Shepherd from the line of the shepherd David! The second reading projects that we are the partakers in the inheritance of Christ our Lord. In the Gospel reading, on his Cross, Jesus sets the essence of Kingdom: love and forgiveness. Like the thieves on the either side of the cross, we are given the freedom of choice, either to accept him and remain in his Kingdom or to reject him and restrain from his Kingdom.  

With the celebration of the solemnity of the Feast of Christ the King, the ordinary time of the liturgical year ends and we are about to enter into the season of advent. This celebration is an invitation to accept the kingship of Jesus. Rid from all that is not of the Kingdom of God and make worthy of befitting into that Kingdom where freedom, fraternity and justice reign. Let us during the day keep praying like the good theif: “Jesus, remember me in your kingdom”.

உடனிருக்கும் இறைவனை உணர்வோமா? I 19.11.2022 - SATURDAY I REV. FR. AROKIA ...

Bible Reflections I 19.11.2022 - SATURDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Ordinary Time - Week 33

Readings 

           I - Rev. 11: 4-12 

          II - Lk. 20: 27-40

THE GOD THE LIVING

                  

The Sadducees were scholars and experts in Torah, the first five books of the Scripture. Yet, firstly, the failed to recognise the presence of the Lord in Jesus and secondly, they were far away from the wisdom of God. They were trying to figure out the heaven from their earthly experience. This is why Jesus quotes from Torah; the incident of the burning bush that remained unconsumed and Moses calling the Lord as the God of Abraham, God of Isaac and the God of Jacob thereby proving that He is the God of the living and no the God of the dead. 

We are often not different from the Sadducees who were blind with eyes open wide. They were learned and scholars but failed to understand the wisdom of God when the time demanded. The Lord comes to us in the Word, Sacraments, persons and events, we miss him for various reasons. With all God experience we often too fail to discover him when the time demands. Invoke the wisdom of the Lord to discover him at every moment of our lives. Let our mind and heart resonate with the prayer: “Lord Jesus, give me the gift of wisdom to recognise you”.

Bible Reflections I 18.11.2022 - FRIDAY I INDRAYA MANNA

Ordinary Time - Week 33

Readings 

           I - Rev. 10: 8-11 

          II - Lk. 19: 45-48

                 

DEDICATION OF THE CHURCHES OF PETER AND PAUL

                  

Today’s Gospel passage is an invitation to reflect upon the two aspects of Jesus viz. the power of his life and the power of his words. On entering the temple, Jesus drove out those selling things in the temple and none dared to prevent nor disapprove of him for his act because such was the power of his life, a life of righteousness par excellence. In the second part of the Gospel passage of the day, we read that the crowd that listened to Jesus was spell bound at his teachings. Such was the power of his words. 

Today the church celebrates the feast of the dedication of the basilicas of Saints Peter and Paul. Peter recognised Jesus in the might catch (Lk. 5:1-11) and Paul in his Damascus experience (Acts.9: 1-8). They recognised him rightly, followed him passionately and offered themselves willingly as martyrs for their faith in the Risen Lord. To mark the heroism of the two giants and the pillars of the Church and churches dedicated for them in their name for the glory of the Lord. We are the temple of God (1Cor. 6:19). Keep worthy of yourselves so that we may be befitting when Christ comes to visit us through the Scripture, persons and events. Recognising and living for him is glory to Him. May St. Peter and St. Paul, like them, help us to be effective in our words and through our lives in bearing witness to the life of Christ. Let our mind and heart resonate with the prayer: “Saints Peter and Paul pray for us”.

ST. ELIZABETH OF HUNGARY I I 17.11.2022 - THURSDAY I REV. FR. AROKIA DOS...

Bible Reflections I 17.11.2022 - THURSDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Ordinary Time - Week 33

Readings 

            I - Rev. 5: 1-10

           II - Lk. 19: 41-44.

       

RECOGNISE THE LORD AS HE COMES 

                  

Today the Church celebrates the feast of St. Elizabeth of Hungary. She is the patron saint of beggars, bakers, charities, homeless people, hospitals, widows, and brides. She is also known as St. Elizabeth of Thuringia. She lost her mother when she was six years. With the death of her mother Elizabeth’s perspective of life and death changed completely and she began to seek peace with prayer. She was married to Ludwig, a noble man whom she loved deeply. They had three children and one of them embraced the religious life. St. Elizabeth devoted her life to prayer and works of charity. Taken up by the life of St. Francis of Assisi, she lived a simple, austere and charitable life. In 1226 when floods and disease struck Thuringia, she took care of the victims and built hospital for them. It is said that during one of her trips delivering bread to the poor in secret, her husband Ludwig met her and enquired her with questions to erase everyone's suspicions that she was stealing treasures from the castle. He asked her to reveal the contents under her cloak, and as she did a vision of white and red roses was seen. To Ludwig, this incident manifested God's protection. St. Elizabeth is depicted with a basket of bread to show her love for the poor and hungry. St. Elizabeth was canonised by Pope Gregory IX on May 27, 1235. 

In today’s Gospel passage Jesus weeps over Jerusalem because Jerusalem failed to recognise the presence of the Promised one in its midst. The more he wanted to gather, the more they scarred and went far away from him. Every day during the Eucharistic celebration, the Lord comes to us in the form of the Holy Eucharist, if we recognise him we will shine as Credible Christians like St. Elizabeth of Hungary in our love for God and neighbour. May the saint inspire to recognise God in every moment of life and in every person we meet.

DAILY REFLECTIONS I 16.11.2022 - WEDNESDAY I REV. FR. AROKIA DOSS SDB I ...

Bible Reflections I 16.11.2022 - WEDNESDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Ordinary Time - Week 33

Readings 

            I - Rev. 4: 1-11

           II - Lk. 19: 11-28.

       

USE YOURS GIFTS FOR THE GLORY OF THE LORD 

                  

The noble man in today’s Gospel passage goes on a journey to receive for himself a kingdom and so he calls ten of his servants and gives them ten minas and asks them to engage in business until he comes. ‘mina’ is used only in the Gospel according to Luke. ‘mina’ is less than a ‘talent’ sixty minas make a talent. The amount was less a talent. He gives it with no condition of how to engage but only with an instruction to engage. On his return, he calls them for reporting, the first one gives back making it ten minas, the second one, into five and the third, having kept it idle, starts accusing the master. The master in the end rewards the first two and punishes the last. 

God is our loving master. Each of us are bestowed with graces, blessings, gifts and talents meant to be utilised in establishing the Kingdom of God. For every gift wasted in this regard should greatly be accounted for on his return or rather when we encounter the Lord after our earthly existence here on earth. If we have utilised them well we can hear from the Lord, “Well done, good and faithful servant…..come and share your master’s happiness” (Mt. 25: 23). Discover, appreciate and utilise the gifts of God in establishing freedom, fraternity and justice here on earth instead of wasting our time in vain. Let our mind and heart resonate with the prayer: “Lord Jesus, thank you for my talents. Help me use them well for your glory”.

Bible Reflections I 15.11.2022 - TUESDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Ordinary Time - Week 33

Readings 

            I - Rev. 3: 1-6; 14-22

           II - Lk. 19: 1-10

       

SEEK THE LORD AND YOU WILL FIND 

                  

Today’s Gospel passage is about the conversion of Zacchaeus. The curiosity of Zacchaeus and the compassion of Jesus results in the conversion of Zacchaeus, the Chief tax collector. Zacchaeus was curious to see Jesus, the familiar and trending rabbi of the time. On account of the crowd and his short stature, he ran ahead and climbed the sycamore tree. To his astonishment, Jesus in his compassion and mercy proposes for a stay at his house. This compassionate act of Jesus brings about a roundabout conversion in the life of Zacchaeus. In order to gain and retain the love of the Lord, greedy Zacchaeus gives up all that he had accumulated at the cost of the hatred of his people around and his loneIIness with the title as ‘the sinner’. 

  

For love and friendship of Jesus many have given up along with their possessions their lives as well. We may say we love God. And if we do love God, are we ready to give up all that does not align with the will of God? If we dare to give up all that is not of God, then we are credible Christians called to walk on the way of the Lord. Cooperate with the grace of God and give up hatred, anger, jealousy, false finding attitude, gossip, pride, dishonesty, greed, enmity and avarice and shine brightly as sterling Christians in charity after the compassionate heart of Jesus. Then can we hear Jesus say, “Today salvation has come to this house”. May our mind and heart resonate with the prayer: “Lord Jesus, give me the courage to give up anything for your love".

CHILDREN 'S DAY I14.11.2022 - MONDAY I REV. FR. AROKIA DOSS SDB I INDRAY...

Bible Reflections I 14.11.2022 - MONDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Ordinary Time - Week 33

Readings 

            I - Rev. 1: 1-4; 2: 1-5

           II - Lk. 18: 35-43

Children’s Day (India)

          

CALL TO THE LORD

                  

Today’s Gospel passage is about the healing of the blind beggar on the road near Jericho. Three lessons can be drawn for life from this passage. One, though the beggar was blind, he was attentive and keen in capturing what was happening around him. When he realised that Jesus was passing by, he began to shout out saying, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me”. Two, the crowds commanded him to be quite. The more they ordered the shouted even more louder calling out the name of Jesus for his healing. And, three, the gratefulness of the blind beggar. Regaining his sight the blind beggar followed Jesus, glorifying God. At all moments in our life, be attentive to capture the presence of God; call to him at the time of trouble without giving in to despair and discouragement and finally thank God at all times for all his marvels in our life.

Today in India, we celebrate Children’s Day. Children are the greatest gift and model to each of us. Of all things Jesus turned upside down, none was more surprising and unexpected than his depiction of a little child as the model we should imitate and learn from. The image he put forward as the ideal to strive for was not the image of some great heroic figure, a person of great strength and power, a superstar, or even a wise old man or woman . For Jesus, the child was a model of radical humility, trust, a sense of wonder and playfulness. While we thank God for the Children who are the great asset of a nation, do not also forget to pray for those children who have lost their childhood becoming victims of social evils like trafficking, child abuse, alcohol, violence, hard labour and drugs. May God bless all our children, the pillars of the Church and the Nation. God Bless them all. Let our mind and heart resonate with the prayer: “Lord Jesus, bless our children”.

Bible Reflections I 13.11.2022 - SUNDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Ordinary Time - Week 33

Readings 

            I - Mal. 4: 1-2

           II - 2 Thess. 1: 7-12

          III - Lk. 21: 5-19

BE PREPARED TO MEET THE LORD 

                  

Through readings of the day, the Church invites us to be prepared for the day of the Lord so as to face it courageously and joyously. In the first reading, Prophet Malachi compares the day of the Lord to a burning oven that will stubble all the arrogant and the evil doers but the righteous who revered the name of the Lord will rise with the healing in its wings. The second reading is a refutation against false preaching. St. Paul with his life example, encourages the Christians at Thessalonica to work quietly and earn their living with faith and hope in the Lord like Paul himself, instead of getting deceived by the false preaching that they can conduct their life in idleness and anyhow, because of the delay in the coming of the Lord. In the Gospel passage Jesus predicts the destruction of the temple and the persecutions that his people have to encounter on his accord. Jesus assures of his support and encourages to endure the suffering with faith and hope in him.

In our own times we hear of wars, pandemic, natural calamities and betrayals. We need not fear or get panicked but trust in the Lord who assures “fear not, I am with you” in every problem or trouble we encounter. Just walk on the track set out by our Lord - Love and endure everything with faith and hope in him, revering his holy name so that we can meet the Lord as he comes in all his glory true to his promises. Let our mind and heart resonate with the prayer: “Lord Jesus, help me to live a life worthy of you”

ST. JOSEPHATE I 12.11.2022 - SATURDAY I REV. FR. AROKIA DOSS SDB I INDR...

Bible Reflections I 12.11.2022 - SATURDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Ordinary Time - Week 32

Readings 

            I - 3 Jn. 5-8

           II - Lk. 18: 1-8

PERSEVERE IN PRAYER

                  

Today’s Gospel passage is on the parable of the unjust judge and the widow. The judge neither feared God nor respected men. The Judge had least concern for the Law of the Lord or in the wellbeing of his fellowmen. Still, he gave justice to the widow not out of pity or concern for her but she was bothering him so much with her incessant pleading. Unlike the unjust judge, God is our loving, kind and compassionate Father, will he not grant justice to his children when they cry to him night and day for help? But all we require is an unshakable faith in Him.

We are the children of God, the loving, compassionate and merciful Father. In the trending world of the time, we get everything at the click of a button. We need everything instantaneously. We have lost the great value of patience. This has entered our prayer life as well. We expect an immediate response from God. We are least interested in the ‘waiting time’. Let the parable help us to be convinced that we are children of God and that our prayers would be answered ‘Just in Time’ when required. Patiently persevere and remain steadfast in prayer with hope and faith in the Lord. May our mind and heart resonate with the prayer: "Lord Jesus, bless me with the gift of faith".