Tag Archives: encounter

WHAT MATTERS MOST?

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Thursday 3rd September- Memorial of St. Gregory the Great, Pope & Doctor

WHAT MATTERS MOST?

LUKE 5: 1-11

What a great day it is today! Jesus has not stopped doing good things, He is still in the business. Today’s reading recorded the great miracle he performed for Peter and his companions. It should however be noted that this miracle was able to take place because Simon Peter obeyed the master’s instruction. At the end, the miracle did not matter the most to them, rather the One who performed the miracle did. It is amazing how a person’s life can be transformed in just one genuine encounter with the Lord. It can make all the difference needed.

In our modern world today, it seems most of us have completely missed the goal of Christianity. Many of us come closer to God only when there is a pressing need and once the request is granted, off we are to our usual routine of doing things. God is indeed very merciful to us, but we must not take the mercy of God for granted. We are called as Christians to go after what matters the most, which is God Himself. When Peter and his companions pulled the net ashore, they left everything to follow Jesus because they have found something more to live for. They immediately switched from being ordinary fishermen to great soul winners. Therefore friend let’s buckle up and stop chasing things, instead let us chase the Maker Himself, He is worth devoting a lifetime to find. Ask yourself today what matters most to me? If your answer is not focused on Christ, kindly re-examine your life. “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” (Mt 6:33)

PRAYER: Lord, help me that I may focus on you. Lead me not into the tempt of all ungodly things that matters to me.

KNOW YOUR FAITH: CCC 151: “We can believe in Jesus Christ because He is Himself God, the Word made flesh: “No one has ever seen God; the only Son, who is in the Father, He has made Him known.”

HIDE A TREASURE: “You will seek me, and you will find me because you will seek me with all your heart” Jeremiah 29:13.

Today’s readings: 1 Cor 1:9-14; Ps 98:2-6; Lk 5:1-11

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JESUS IS HERE FOR YOU

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Saturday 17th January – Memorial of St Anthony, Abbot

Reflection: Mark 2:13-17

JESUS IS HERE FOR YOU

Beloved in Christ, the more we recognize our emptiness without Jesus, the more we encounter him in every sphere of our lives. This takes a re-orientation of self in admitting that all we have and are, all we have achieved and will ever achieve is made possible by the grace of Christ’s presence in our lives. Many are living today with a wrong conception of Christianity because they have allowed the devil to lure them in believing that they are righteous by their works only and not by God’s grace. We are children of God because God made it to be so.

Our reading today shows us the only criteria that Christ’s seeks from us in order to walk with Him. Levi left his office to follow Christ promptly. This seemingly simple act is what we all must do to allow Jesus to work his miracle of redemption in our lives. This would take away everything from us except Jesus whom have chosen to follow. This was what the young rich man could not do in Matthew 19:16-22 when Jesus said; “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven; then come and follow me”. Jesus is here for you today; he wants to dine with you just like he did with Levi. He is not here to accuse you of your sins but to cleanse you by his powerful presence in your life.

Let us approach God with confidence today with the readiness to encounter him and with a determination to do as He says. His grace and mercy are more than sufficient for us. Jesus is here for you and I. He beckons on us as He did to Levi. Are we ready to follow Him?

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I thank you for calling me to yourself I am ready to deny myself of every pleasure of life to follow you, please help me to be faithful to your calling. Amen.

KNOW YOUR FAITH: YOUCAT 354 – Can people be forced to believe in God?

No. No one may force others to believe, not even one’s own children, just as no one may be forced to be an unbeliever. A person can make the decision to believe only in complete freedom. Christians, however, are called to help other people, by word and example, to find the way to faith.

HIDE A TREASURE: “I am the bread of life, those who come to me will never be hungry; those who believe in me will never be thirsty”. John 6:35 GNB

Readings for Today: Hebrews 4:12-16; Psalm 19:8-10, 15; Mark 2:13-17

AUTHENTIC CONVERSION

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Saturday, 25th January

Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul

Reflection: Acts 9:1-22

AUTHENTIC CONVERSION

Saint Paul, who is also referred to as an “Apostle to the Gentiles” made his impact in spreading the good news of salvation through the help of the Holy Spirit and his strong determination to complete what God entrusted to his care. This whole work cannot but be traced back to his encounter with Christ on his way to Damascus which led to an authentic conversion. Anytime we remember how he became an apostle, it is always wonderful to think of how God can chose even the worst of sinners for his work of salvation.

Today, we wonder why the flame of the faith grows weak even with sound liturgies and constant celebration of Sacraments by the Church. People complain that the Church is boring and seem not to know why they are in the church. Dear friend, a Christian without an authentic conversion brought about by a divine encounter with Christ will not be able to live out the Gospel of Jesus. Christianity is not always about what we hear about God from people but is significantly what God says to you, what God reveals to you and what God has entrusted to you. St. Paul in our reading today encountered God with some “elements” which made the encounter very unique; the presence of Christ, a new sight and baptism of the Holy Spirit. Also, God perfected and made all this possible by sending Ananias to minister to him. Beloved in Christ, have you ever had an encounter with Christ which you can hold on to and recall whenever the fight of faith gets tough? Do you desire more and more of Christ’s revelation of himself to you? This is the testimony and power of great men of faith.

Our obedience to the great commission of Christ, “Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good news to all creation” in the Gospel reading of today (Mark 16:15) would be dependent on our individual testimony of Christ and divine encounter with him. Let us be conscious of the fact that nobody is dispensable or too weak to proclaim Christ.

Dear Friends, as we go out today, let us pray that God may give us the grace to truly encounter Him in our daily activities.

TALK TO YOUR FRIEND: Lord Jesus, reveal yourself to me in a way that I have never experienced before. Let your light shine on me to enkindle the fire of your love in my heart. Amen.

KNOW YOUR FAITH: CCC 27- The desire for God

The desire for God is written in the human heart, because man is created by God and for God; and God never cease to draw man to himself. Only in God will he find the truth and happiness he never stops searching for.

HIDE A TREASURE: “You did not choose me; I chose you and appointed you to go and bear much fruit, the kind of fruit that endures” John 15:16 GNB

Readings for Today: Acts 9:1-22; Psalm 117; Mark 16:15-18