MONDAY, 15 AUGUST 2016, "A WOMAN WHO CHANGED THE WORLD"

FIRST READING: Apocalypse 11:19,12:1-6,10/SECOND READING:1 Corinthians 15:20-26 /GOSPEL: Luke 1:39-56

We are blessed to have a mother. She is none other than our Lady Mother Mary. Her one yes gave us Jesus Christ. And we love her as our Mother and she always intercedes for her children. She said yes to God's plan in saving the world. In a world today, where woman are treated as second citizens, it is very important for us to respect and give our reverence to women. Every woman is a daughter, mother, wife and sister. She is the treasure of the house wherever she goes. We hear a lot of atrocities happening against women. Daily news paper and news channels are filled with oppression against women. So, what is my position in dealing with women around me? Do I respect them as a person? Do I treat them equally? Do I feel their need in the growth of me and the world. Let Mother Mary be our inspiration. If a woman such as Mother Mary can bring peace to the world, How much more the women around us would bring peace and happiness? It is only possible if I give them the same position and respect they deserve. 

Quote:"A woman's mind is cleaner than a man's: She changes it more often."-Oliver Herford

SUNDAY, 14 AUGUST 2016, "A HEART SET ON FIRE"

FIRST READING:Jeremiah 38:4-6,8-10 / SECOND READING: Hebrews 12:1-4 / GOSPEL: Luke 12:49-53

Have you experienced restlessness? Especially when you want to do something and have put all your mind and heart upon it? Yes, you feel and whatever may be the circumstances or condition, you would finish the task you have started. In the readings today we encounter prophet Jeremiah, whose heart was set on fire for God. He spoke on behalf of YAHWEH. He did not even hesitate to sacrifice his life inorder to speak what was revealed to him. In the second reading we read how the author suggests us to run steadily in the path we have opted or started. The faith through Jesus would bring us to perfection. In the Gospel Jesus tells his disciples that he has not come to bring peace but fire on earth. All these three persons are active and thirsty to do what they started. God as the starting and the end point. Living Christianity is not that easy as we think. Following the footsteps of Jesus is not bed of roses. If you begin to follow Jesus and live according to what he has said, surely you will not see peace around you, but a fire. People would be divided in the name of Jesus, in what you do or say. Are you ready to set fire in the name of Jesus? To bring the Good News that all are loved and we are one family. To help people in need. To see Jesus in all. If you start today you will first feel the fire in your heart and you will see the FIRE around you.

Quote: "Each of us is born with a box of matches inside us but we can't them all by ourselves."― Laura Esquivel  

SATURDAY, 13 AUGUST 2016, "ACTIVE CONSCIENCE & DEAD CONSCIENCE"

FIRST READING: Ezekiel 18:1-10,13,30-32 / GOSPEL: Matthew 19:13-15

When I read the readings I was startled and amazed by what the Lord spoke through the reading to me. Every one who has sinned will die. Whether it is father or son, daughter or mother, everyone. What kind of death does God is speaking about? The habitual sin leads our conscience to death. Where one can not distinguish between good and evil for her or him. The world today is proceeding towards this kind of trend. Where people tend to remain dead in their conscience. When there is suffering, pain and anguish in the world where we live, we are indifferent to the reality. Reasons can be many. We do not want to soil our hands or we tend to think, it's not our business. Then what could be an active  would be? It is that of a child, pure and energetic. Active conscience would feel the suffering of others and would respond to it naturally. Let us pray that we may inculcate in us the virtue of a child like spirit and heart. 

Quote: "If all the world hated you and believed you wicked, while your own conscience approved of you and absolved you from guilt, you would not be without friends."― Charlotte Brontë

FRIDAY, 12 AUGUST 2016, "THE SACREDNESS OF MARRIAGE"

FIRST READING:Ezekiel 16:1-15,60,63 / GOSPEL: Matthew 19:3-12

God rebukes people of Israel because of their stubborness. Jesus tells pharasees that they too do not want to listen. God always was guiding people of Israel. He spoke to them through prophets. But they always turned away from God. They sought darkness rather than light. They changed the laws according to their convinace. What about our world today? Even we too seem to be in the same boat as our ancestors. We do things and create laws which favours us. In the world today the perenial problem is MARRIAGE. A lot of problems we face in the marriage. Most of the marriages seem to be very superficial. There are lot of people suffering psychologically. And inorder to be in the safer side we have laws in human favour. Let us remind ourselves that God's Message is not Human thinking. Because of certain genuine cases in marriage, let us not take Divorse as the ultimate weapon. Let us remeber what Jesus said, "What God has united, man must not divide."

Let us pray for the people who are truly suffering and growing in their marriage life. May they find answers and grow in the grace of God.

Quote:"You come to love not by finding the perfect person, but by seeing an imperfect person perfectly."-Sam Keen

THURSDAY, 11 AUGUST 2016, "THE POWER OF FORGIVENESS"

FIRST READING:Ezekiel 12:1-12 / GOSPEL: Matthew 18:21-19:1

In our day to day lives we encounter hurt fellings. Sometime we have hurt someone or people have hurt us. The hurt would lead us to get angry.  Getting angry is a good thing. You can not forgive someone if you don't have anger within you. But revengeful attitude is what very harmful to us. The power of forgiveness  not only  controls our anger, it even brings positive impact in our lives. It is not for the other but for yourself you need to forgive. Forgiveness is really hard virtue to achieve. But it's not an impossible task. There may be a lot of people who need our forgiveness. Today let us recall those people whom we have hurt or we are hurt by them.Let us not be rebellious and revengeful. Let us forgive and feel the warmth and love that we desire and seek. Thus our  life would be one  that would be helpful in the Kingdom of God here on earth. May the power of forgiveness fill our hearts and the surrounding where we live.

Quote: "The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong."-Mahatma Gandhi

WEDNESDAY, 10 AUGUST 2016, "GOD LOVES A CHEERFUL GIVER"

FIRST READING:2 Corinthians 9:6-10/ GOSPEL: John 12:24-26

In our day to day life, we always encounter giving and taking. Exchange of gifts  is what we usually encounter. When someone gives gift to us, how good we feel? Because we know it is coming out of love. But if someone gives grudgingly something, we may not feel that good. The readings today suggests us whatever we give to the poor or needy we need to give cheerfully and not grudgingly. Let us ask ourselves how many things that we posses is really used frequently? If we make a list of things, we would be surprised to see. A lot of things may not be used at all. This is the time for us to share it with someone who really needs it. And let us give it not because we don't use or it's obligatory, but for the love of others. Especially for those people who are in need of us. 

Quote: "The value of a man resides in what he gives and not in what he is capable of receiving ."- Albert Einstein

TUESDAY, 9 AUGUST 2016, "BEING A CHILD"

FIRST READING:Ezekiel 2:8-3:4 GOSPEL:  Matthew 18:1-5,10,12-14

When we look at children we wish to be like them. We desire to go back to the time when we were children. Chilren are pure at heart and mind. They are simple and enjoy the little things in life. They do not worry or bother about anything. They speak out what their hearts say.  Being a child is all we need to learn and live. It's not the proud who succeeds in life but the innocent. I must have grown or walked the path of life very far, but still there is a desire in me, to be a child. A child who is innocent, pure of heart and without any malice. And if I change my attitude as of a child, I am first in the Kingdom of God. Let pray and adopt the qualities of children and live a life pure and community oriented. 

Quote: "Life is full of beauty. Notice it. Notice the bumble bee, the small child, and the smiling faces. Smell the rain, and feel the wind. Live your life to the fullest potential, and fight your dreams."-Ashley Smith