Bible Reflections I 14.12.2022 - WEDNESDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Advent: Week 3

Readings 

           I - Is. 45: 6-8, 21-25 

          II - Lk. 7: 19-23

ST. JOHN OF THE CROSS (Memorial)

                  

In today’s Gospel passage, John the Baptist sends his disciples to ask Jesus whether he was the one who is to come or do they still have to wait for someone else.  To this question, Jesus did not answer directly but he only told them to go and tell John the Baptist what they had seen and heard: “the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead raised, the poor have good news brought to them” - a perfect fulfillment of the prophesy of Isaiah in him (Is. 35: 5, 6).  So that from this life of Jesus, as fulfillment of the prophecies, John the Baptist can understand that Jesus was the Messiah for whom the people of Israel for generations waited in hope.

Today the Church remembers St. John of the Cross, a mystic and the doctor of the Church.  With great effort, courage and dynamism, he revived and reformed the Carmelite way of life unto the ways of religious living. He had to face suffering and oppositions from his own fellow priests on this accord. He pursued bravely in all his efforts because he wanted the religious communities to witness to the love of Jesus Christ.  May this saint help us to become credible witnesses of Christ in our day to day living.

புனித லூசியா I ST. LUCY I 13.12.2022 - TUESDAY I REV FR. AROKIA DOSS SD...

Bible Reflections I 13.12.2022 - TUESDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Advent: Week 3

Readings 

           I - Zep. 3: 1-2, 9-13 

          II - Mt. 21: 28-32

SAINT LUCY

                  

Today’s Gospel passage an invitation to integrity. The first son refused to go and work in the vineyard but later changed his mind and went to work. The second son seemed to have obeyed at the first instance but then failed to go to the vineyard. The chief priests and elders claimed themselves to be God’s own people and projected to be concerned about God’s work but in their pride and arrogance, slighted the invitation of John the Baptist and Jesus alike. Instead the rejected people of Israel: the tax collectors, prostitutes, Samaritans and the sinners were already aligning their ways according to the preaching of John the Baptist and Jesus.

We are in the grace filled season of advent, preparing ourselves to behold the Lord as He comes. Prepare in repentance and conversion. With the grace try to remove all that is not of God: ideologies, belief, hatred, enmity, exploitation, revenge and underestimating people; and put on the values of Christ: love, brotherhood, joy, happiness, care for the earth, appreciate the good, admonish in love and accept everyone as they are for the sake of Christ our Lord. Reflect and redefine your living unto the ways of God - this is Christian living. Let our mind and heart resonate with the prayer: “Lord Jesus help me to be an authentic Christian”.

Bible Reflections I 12.12.2022 - MONDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Advent: Week 3

Readings 

           I - Num. 24: 2-7, 15-17 

          II - Mt. 21: 23-27

BLESSED VIRGIN MARY OF GUADALUPE

                  

Today the Church remembers and honours the Blessed Virgin Mary of Guadalupe.  She is the patron saint of Mexico and the patroness of the Americans.  The feast commemorates the apparition of Mother Mary to Saint Juan Diego whose feast we celebrated last week. The Blessed Virgin appeared to Juan Diego in the hills of Tepeyach in 1531 and asked him to tell the bishop to build a church for her atop Tepeyach hill.  The Bishop demanded a sign before he could approve for the construction of the Church.  Mother Mary appeared to Juan Diego and told him to collect the roses that was rare during that season.  He gathered the roses in his cloak and went with a sign, to the Bishop, the second time.  When Juan Diego opened his cloak before the Bishop, roses fell to the floor revealing the image of Mother Mary imprinted on his cloak.  The image is still there displayed and venerated in the Basilica of Guadalupe.  St. John Paul II declared the Blessed Virgin of Guadalupe the patroness of the Americans.  

To Juan Diego, Mother Mary promised of her protection, love, assistance, help and support.  The Blessed Virgin had also said to Juan Diego, “Listen and understand, my little son, let nothing frighten and afflict you or trouble your heart.  Am I not here, I, who am your mother?”  Let the words of the Blessed Virgin resound in the minds and hearts when we are troubled, discouraged, depressed and disheartened.  Do we not have a mother who is gentle, understanding and all loving?  May our mind and heart resonate with the prayer: “Blessed Virgin Mary of Guadalupe, Pray for us.”

மகிழும் ஞாயிறு I ADVENT 3RD SUNDAY - 11.12.2022 I REV. FR. AROKIA DOSS S...

OUR LADY OF LORETO I 10.12. 2022 - SATURDAY I REV. FR. AROKIA DOSS SDB ...

Bible Reflections I 11.12.2022 - SUNDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Advent Sunday: Week 3

Readings 

           I - Is. 35: 1-6, 10

          II - Jas. 5: 7-10 

         III - Mt. 11: 2-11

                

REJOICE THE LORD IS NEAR

                  

The third Sunday of Advent is called Gaudete Sunday. It expresses the joy of anticipation at the imminent approach of the Christmas celebration. In the first reading prophet Isaiah foretells about the joyous days of the Messiah. The prophet encourages the faint hearted to be hopeful and fearless because with the Messiah comes the salvation: the restoration of Israel. In the second reading, St. Paul exhorts the Christians to be patient and enduring by proposing the model of prophets who suffered on account of the proclamation of the Word of God. He asks them to be patient like the farmer who waits for the precious fruits of the earth because with the Lord remains our reward. In the Gospel passage, John the Baptist sends his disciples to Jesus for the confirmation about the Messiah. Jesus says nothing but quotes Prophet Isaiah’s prophecy and makes them witnesses of the same. In the second part of the Gospel Jesus praises John the Baptist because he was intent in preparing the way of the Lord with great courage and boldness that inherited him death.  

Advent is a grace filled time given by the Church to amend our ways, to align our lives unto the ways of the Lord. Do be discouraged at all that is happening around, be intent and focused like John the Baptist in preparing ourselves and helping others as well for the second coming of the Lord. Do not lose patient in practicing the Gospel values because, with the Lord will come our reward to, the joy of being with him forever in Heaven. May our mind and heart resonate with the Prayer: “Come Lord Jesus, come.”

Bible Reflections I 10.12.2022 - SATURDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Advent: Week 2

Readings 

           I - Sir. 48: 1-4, 9-11 

          II - Mt. 17: 10-13

BLESSED VIRGIN MARY OF LORETO

                  

Today the Church celebrates the feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Loreto, with the decree of Pope Francis in 2019, that this feast be celebrated every year on December 10, the day on which there is a feast in Loreto. Blessed Virgin Mary of Loreto is the patron of pilots, airmen and flight attendants as declared by Emeritus Pope Benedict XV on March 24, 1920. She is also a heavenly patroness of those who travel by plane. This title of Blessed Virgin Mary is attributed based on a house. Tradition tells that a small house in Loreto, Italy originated in Nazareth, the actual home of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is composed of mortar and stones found in Palestine in a style consistent of the time of Jesus. It is considered to be the home of St. Joachim and St. Anne, the parents of mother Mary. It was here that the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary occurred; it was here that annunciation took place and it was here that holy family lived after their return from Egypt.   

Since the time of the apostles this house was in Nazareth and was a place of pilgrimage and worship. In the third century Constantine built a basilica around the Holy House to protect and safeguard the same. This basilica was destroyed by the Saracens in the eleventh century but the Holy House in it remained untouched. The basilica was rebuilt in the twelfth century. This basilica was destroyed by the Muslims during the crusades but again the Holy House remained unharmed. When the Christians were driven completely out of the Holy Land in the thirteen century, the Holy House disappeared from Nazareth and appeared in modern day Croatia (Southeast Europe). It is said that the Holy House was transported there by the angels. The house was again moved by the angels on December 10, 1294 because of the Muslim invasion of Albania. The Holy House first landed in Recanti, Italy and afterwards moved to its present location in Loreto, Italy. The celebration of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Loreto invites all families, priests, religious and everyone to imitate the Mary, the perfect disciple of the Gospel. Modelled after Mother Mary, may we become humble disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ as we invoke our Blessed Mother praying: “Blessed Virgin of Loreto, Pray for us.”

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Bible Reflections I 09.12.2022 - FRIDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Advent: Week 2

Readings 

           I - Is. 48: 17-19 

          II - Mt. 11: 16-19

LISTEN AND LIVE BY THE WORD OF GOD

                  

Acceptance and rejection are the two possible reactions to any teaching, preaching or living. John the Baptist was austere, he neither ate nor drank but was concerned only about the preparing of the way of the Lord, and people called him ‘possessed’. Jesus came, eating and drinking, he was casual but was concerned only about the Kingdom of God, and people called him ‘drunkard, glutton and a friend of tax collectors and sinners’. The teachings of both, John the Baptist and Jesus was not comfortable and often confronted, contradicted and challenged their life style. Hence they rejected both of them, choosing their comfortable cozy life. On the contrary, the sinners, the tax collectors and the gentiles accepted them and were already occupying a place in the Kingdom of God. 

We too often try our best to ignore the voice of God that comes in prayer, persons, Word of God and our own conscience because it challenges and causes inconvenience. In the first reading, Prophet Isaiah enlightens about the blessings brought down on those who adhere to the Word of God: prosperity, happiness, integrity and all other blessings as well. Want to be blessed by the Lord? Accept and abide by his teachings; and that is life. May our mind and heart resonate with the prayer: “Lord Jesus, help me to live by your words”

Bible Reflections I 08.12.2022 - THURSDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Advent: Week 2

Readings 

           I - Gen. 3: 9-15, 20 

          II - Eph. 1: 3-6, 11-12

         III - Lk. 1: 26-38

THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY (Solemnity)

                  

God chose Mary for the great purpose of the fulfillment of the His promise, the salvation of the world from the clutches of the sin caused by the deliberate disobedience of Adam and Eve. He gave them a promise for the restoration of the original peace, joy and harmony that existed; and thereby making us once again holy and blameless children of God: “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will strike your head and you will strike his heel”. As a fulfilment of the promise, Mary was predestined to be immaculate, worthy of beholding the Son of God.

The single takeaway that can be drawn from the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the three readings of the day is: Obedience - Submission and surrender to the will of God. Obedience has the power to make us holy and blameless before God. Adam and Eve disobeyed God and incurring sin and death upon themselves The New Eve, Blessed Virgin Mary through her obedience and submission to the will of God: “Behold the hand maid of the Lord…”brought forth the New Adam and along with him, the salvation and the new world order of freedom, fraternity and justice.  

We are the children of our Blessed Mother. She is our model and guide. May this her feast inspire us to imitate this dazzling trait of our Blessed Mother: the Obedience, to behold the Lord with a blameless heart, surrendering ourselves unto His will. Do not be carried away by the jazzy lifestyle of the false world around, like Eve of the Garden of Eden but conquer courageously like our Mother Mary, the New Eve in obedience and submission to the will of God. May our mind and heart resonate with the prayer: “Mother Mary ever virgin, help me to save my soul”.

Bible Reflections I 07.12.2022 - WEDNESDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Advent: Week 2

Readings 

           I - Is. 40: 25-31 

          II - Mt. 11: 28-30

INSPIRE EVERYONE WITH YOUR LIFE

                  

As followers of Christ, in carrying out his command of love: “love one another as I have loved you” (Jn. 13: 34) one may have to experience and endure sufferings, pain, tortures, isolations, misunderstanding, persecutions and setbacks. This is the yoke and the heavy burden encountered on account of Jesus. But there is always joy in this suffering because it is an expression of our love for Jesus who loved us to the point of giving his life for us. Anything done in and out of love is a burden that is light and easy. In today’s Gospel passage Jesus invites these his people to come and rest in his love that is comforting and consoling.   

Jesus was a sign of contradiction to the upper class society. All good accomplished by him were undermined as violation of law. He was purposely underestimated in all his mighty works. But Jesus was unperturbed and went about doing good because he was gentle and humble. We will also be able to bear the burden on account of the Gospel, only if we are humble and gentle. Today the Church celebrates the feast of St. Ambrose who was responsible for the conversion of St. Augustine. He was a bishop and is the doctor of the Church. In the effecting living and preaching of St. Ambrose the Church got St. Augustin, the great theologian, defender of faith and above all source of hope and inspiration. Let our life become a source of inspiration and preaching to whomever we come in contact with.

Bible Reflections I 06.12.2022 - TUESDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Advent: Week 2

Readings 

           I - Is. 40: 1-11 

          II - Mt. 18: 12-14

JESUS IS OUR GOOD SHEPHERD

                  

“It is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost” is the concern, care and mindfulness of the Good Shepherd towards his sheep. Leaving ninety nine on the mountain and going in search of the lost one do not mean that the ninety nine are less important to him. Every sheep in the ninety nine matters to the shepherd individually and personally; they are secure in his care and therefore he goes in search of the one that is lost. Every one of the sheep is precious to him and he is willing to give up his life to save even the one that is lost in wandering in order to bring it back safe to the sheepfold where they are free and secure.

As sheep belonging to the Sheepfold of Christ we have a triple responsibility: One, to remain in the sheepfold; two, if wandering away from Christ, adhere to his voice and get back to the sheepfold; and three, with Christ gather the sheep into the sheepfold through our words, deed, gestures and in short, through our exemplary living. Today the church celebrates the feast of St. Nicholas, 4th century bishop of Myra, from whom was derived the inspiration for the Santa Claus. The saint is known for his charity and generosity. He sold all his possessions and gave the money to the poor and the less privileged. St. Nicholas is the patron saint of Greece and Russia; also of the soldiers and children. The saint who cared for the less fortunate inspire us to be generous towards the sick and weak sheep of the sheepfold. May our mind and heart resonate with the prayer: “St. Nicholas, Pray for us.

Bible Reflections I 05.12.2022 - MONDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Advent Week 2

Readings 

           I - Is. 35: 1-10 

          II - Lk. 5: 17-26

THE WORD OF GOD HEALS

                  

The Gospel passage of the day is about the healing of the paralytic. To the rebellious and stubborn Pharisees and the teachers of the Law, who criticised Jesus for saying that his sins were forgiven, Jesus asked, “Which is easier, to say, ‘your sins are forgiven or stand up and walk”. The word of God is powerful. The word of God can heal, forgive, console and work miracles. At the command of Jesus, the sins of the paralytic were forgiven, he was healed - stood up and walked and thereafter went glorifying God.  

In today’s Gospel we read, “…the power of the Lord was with him to heal”. Consider this season of advent, as an opportunity to approach the Lord with all infirmities and weakness but with the faith that the Lord can liberate from all bondage: sufferings, sickness, crisis, addictions, inabilities and from all that discourage and weigh us down. He is our compassionate and merciful healer. He would definitely heal us, set us free and fill us with peace. Pray also for our suffering brethren in sickness, sin, pain and sorrow. Like those four men, intercede for them to the Lord for mercy and healing to them. May our mind and heart resonate with the prayer: “Lord Jesus, bless everyone in the world”.

Bible Reflections I 04.12.2022 - SUNDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Advent Sunday: Week 2

Readings 

           I - Is. 11: 1-10

          II - Rom. 15: 4-9 

         III - Mt. 3: 1-12

              

PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD

                  

The theme for the second week of the advent is ‘peace’. In the first reading Prophet Isaiah ushers peace and harmony in the coming of the Promised One. The original order of harmony that existed in the creation. In the second reading St. Paul exhorts to strive for harmony among the Christians in Jesus Christ who humbled himself to become all for all. In the Gospel passage John the Baptist preaches vehemently on the coming of the Son of Man. He exhorts the people of Jerusalem and Judea to return to the Lord in repentance so that they can be found ready at his coming. He encourages to bear fruit worthy of repentance and conversion because at the coming of the Son of God, the good people will be gathered like wheat in barn and the wicked like the chaff will be gathered and thrown into the fire.

Advent is the grace filled time given by the Church to prepare ourselves for the second coming of the Lord. Give up old ways that deviate from the Gospel living. Make efforts with the grace of God to witness to Christ in our living otherwise we would be found helpless at the coming of the Lord, when he comes in all his glory. Repent and return to the Lord whose coming is approaching. Let our mind and heart resonate with the prayer: “Come Lord Jesus”.

புனித பிரான்சிஸ் சவேரியார் I ST. FRANCIS XAVIER I 03.12.2022 - SATURDAY ...

Bible Reflections I 03.12.2022 - SATURDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Advent Week 1

Readings 

           I - Jer. 1: 4-9

          II - 2 Cor. 4: 7-15 

         III - Lk. 10: 1-16

                

ST. FRANCIS XAVIER (Solemnity for India)

                  

Today the Church celebrates the feast of St. Francis Xavier, a legendary missionary from Spain. He was an ardent follower of Christ and a daring missionary with great zeal and commitment for the proclamation of the Gospel. Francis Xavier, in his younger days had various ambitions and plans for his future. Disturbed by the Word of God, “For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life?” (Mt. 16:26), Francis Xavier, gave away all his dreams and desires; and determined to follow Christ leaving his country and people behind. He dared to be a missionary to set the light of Christ thereby infusing hope and faith in the Lord Jesus. He preached along the coastal areas of Goa, various parts of South India, Malaya and Japan and turned many hearts towards Christ. 

Today’s Gospel passage is about the extension of the mission of Jesus entrusted to seventy two summoning them with authority to preach, proclaim, heal and cure as the sign of the Kingdom of God amidst them as was done by Jesus himself. In order to be focused and not to give much importance to material things and relationship, Jesus conditions them not to take the money bag, knapsack, sandals and never to greet anyone on the road. Jesus wished that this ministry be carried on and on until the Kingdom of God is established with utmost focus and determination. St. Francis Xavier whose feast we celebrate today is a typical model of Christian Discipleship. May the saint intercede for us that we may become effective heralds of hope, wherever we are. Let our mind and heart resonate with the prayer: “St. Francis Xavier, Pray for us”.