Monthly Archives: February 2015

February 24, 2015 @ 6:17 am »

Tuesday 24th February – Tuesday of the 1st Week of Lent

Reflection: Psalm 34:4-7, 16-20

BLESSED ASSURANCE

“Good people suffer many troubles, but the Lord saves them from all, the Lord preserves them completely; not one of their bones are broken” Psalm 34:19-20

Do you remember the incident recorded in the gospels of Jesus sleeping in the boat amidst a raging storm and his fear-stricken disciples (Luke 8:22-25)? That picture fits beautifully into the psalmist’s description of the life of a person who honours God and trusts in Him. Such person is always assured of the saving grace of God even in the midst of trouble.

What else can we hope for in our daily lives which are often full of uncertainty? God assures us in the first reading that His words are sure and always fulfil their purpose (Isaiah 55:11). God’s word must never leave our hearts so that it can drive far away from us every form of fear posed by the devil who always wants to steal our joy. We must let it dwell in our hearts and daily confess it in prayer and in moments of trials.

Dear friends, our young minds can easily be weighed down by the numerous political and economic problems in our nation and in the world around us. Let us consciously and constantly put our concerns before God and let His peace fill our beings. Pray for peace in your heart and rest in the blessed assurance of God’s word to keep you firm in hope and joyful in charity and share this living hope with someone else today.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, please remove anything that contends with Your word in my heart. Let my heart rest in Your saving power and fill me with Your peace that I may live by the faith and not by sight. Amen.

KNOW YOUR FAITH: CCC 2755: Two frequent temptations threaten prayer: lack of faith, and acedia – a form of depression stemming from lax ascetical practice that leads to discouragement.

HIDE A TREASURE: “Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which can never be shaken, never be moved.” Psalm 125:1 GNB

Today’s Readings: Isaiah 55:10-11; Psalm 34:4-7, 16-19; Matthew 6:7-15

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MEETING GOD IN YOUR NEIGHBOR

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Monday 23rd February – Monday of the 1st Week of Lent

Reflection: Matthew 25:31-46

MEETING GOD IN YOUR NEIGHBOR

God always seeks communion with His children. In the Sacraments, He comes to meet us in signs such as the Eucharist and the priest at the confessional but our lack of faith and worldly minds often prevent us from recognising Him. Yet, Christ tells us that He stands at the door of our hearts, knocking” (cf Rev 3:20). Beloved in Christ, what is your response to God’s divine appointments with you?

Today’s reading reveals that God is closer to us than we can ever imagine – in the every needy person around us. Our works of mercy to those in need are actions which have an eternal value. Christ approaches us each day as a neighbour in need but do we pay close attention to recognize him? Are we still oblivious of the opportunities given to us to channel our treasures to our eternal home (cf Mt 6:20)?

As our Lord illustrated with the parable of the Good Samaritan (Lk 10:25-36), attending to the needs of others is putting God first in our lives. It implies that we are placing our eternity at the top of our dreams in life and positioning ourselves to be blessed by God. (Mt 25:34). It is never too late to choose to be on the right hand side of God on judgment day. The thief on the cross recognised Christ at his last moment and was saved. Let us always be conscious of Christ presence in our neighbour and willingly extend our hands to them in charity. This season of Lent, look out for those in need: your schoolmate, sibling, parents, a street beggar, an elderly neighbour, a child, your colleague at work etc and offer some help.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, please open my eyes that I may see you in my neighbour and respond to their needs with love. Amen.

KNOW YOUR FAITH: CCC 2463 – How can we not recognise Lazarus, the hungry beggar in the parable, in the multitude of human beings without bread, a roof or a place to stay? How can we fail to hear Jesus: “As you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me” (Mt 25:45)?

HIDE A TREASURE: “…whenever you refused to help one of these least important ones, you refused to help me” Matthew 25:45 GNB

Today’s Readings: Leviticus 19:1-2, 11-18; Psalm 19:8-10,15; Matthew 25:31-46

IMITATING CHRIST

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Sunday 22nd February – First Sunday of Lent

Reflection: Mark 1:12-15

IMITATING CHRIST

Consider the heroes of faith we read about in Scripture and in the Church’s tradition. What was their mission and purpose? Why did they have to battle against the world? These Heroes whom we look up to all lived for a single reason: the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Beloved, you and I are called to live out this same gospel in our own day and age.

Today’s reading gives us a schematic view of our Christian lives. Like Jesus, our mission begins at Baptism when become children of God. Yet, in order to live out our Christian calling and preach the good news effectively, we must be tried. As we overcome the daily temptations the devil throws at us, we can courageously proclaim Jesus’ message: “The Kingdom of God is near. Turn away from your sins and believe the Good News”. A disciple who is not ready to tread his master’s path can never become like his master. No Christian is exempted from this great commission (Mark 16:15) hence you and I cannot afford to be silent about it.

Christ’s temptation prepared Him for His ministry. To imitate Christ we must be courageous in the face of temptation and be spiritually alert so as to recognise and resist the devil’s tactics to derail us from the master’s path.  Let us never give up on God’s transforming power in the good news for as we preach it with sincerity and humility, we are transformed into what we preach.
Beloved, Lent offers us a wonderful opportunity to become more like Christ. Make use of every opportunity you have; in school, at work, on the internet, at family prayers, while hanging out with friends etc. to preach Christ, your hope of glory.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, help me to become more like you in my words and deeds. Let your love consume me and compel me to preach the Good news. Amen.

KNOW YOUR FAITH: CCC 425: The transmission of the Christian faith consists primarily in proclaiming Jesus Christ in order to lead others to faith in him. From the beginning, the first disciples burned with the desire to proclaim Christ: “We cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard”. And they invite people of every era to enter into the joy of their communion with Christ.

HIDE A TREASURE: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel; it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith…” Romans 1:16 RSV-CE

Today’s Readings: Genesis 9:8-15; Psalm 25:4-9; 1 Peter 3:18-22; Mark 1:12-15

TAKE UP YOUR CROSS

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Thursday 19th February – Thursday after Ash Wednesday

Reflection: Luke 9: 22-25

TAKE UP YOUR CROSS

Crucifixion was a torturous means of execution used by the Romans for many criminals during the first century. It symbolized shame and rejection; hence, Jesus’ followers must have been taken aback when he told them that following Him would demand “carrying their crosses daily”. Yet, His words would become real to them as He carried His own cross to the place of His crucifixion. Dear young friend, Jesus words remain as true and relevant today as they were 20 centuries back. He says to you and I: “If you want to be my follower, renounce yourself, take up your cross everyday and follow me…what gain is it if you win the whole world and ruin or lose your very self?” (Luke 9: 23, 25)

The season of Lent brings that call more to our awareness. As you journey with Jesus through the Stations of the Cross this season, think about the crosses you are called to carry: it may be an unpleasant situation at home, school or work; putting up with a very difficult person; persecution on account of your faith; financial difficulties or some struggles in your personal life and journey of faith. Our joy is that we do not carry the cross alone – we carry it behind our master who knows all things and desires to form us into better disciples through those crosses. Let us trust Him to strengthen us as we carry our crosses and follow Him faithfully.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, you carried your cross to Calvary without complaining. Please forgive me for the times I have complained about my crosses and help me to carry them faithfully and trustfully. Amen.

KNOW YOUR FAITH: YOUCAT 277- What are the Stations of the Cross?

Following Jesus on his Way of the Cross by praying and meditating on the fourteen Stations is a very ancient devotion in the Church, which is practiced especially in Lent and Holy week.

HIDE A TREASURE: “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” Luke 9:24 RSV-CE

Today’s Readings: Deuteronomy 30: 15-20; Psalm 1: 1-6; Luke 9: 22-25