Tag Archives: intimacy

EMMANUEL

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Wednesday 13th May – Memorial of Our Lady of Fatima

Reflection: Acts 17: 15, 22 – 18:1

EMMANUEL

“Yet He is not far from each one of us, for ‘in him we live and move and have our being”’

Acts 17: 27-28

Human relationships thrive on personal contact. We grow close to those with whom we live and work and without efforts to maintain good communication, our love and friendship can grow cold when we are physically distant from each other. The name “Emmanuel” which means “God is with us” was given through the prophet Isaiah as he foretold the virgin birth of Christ (Is 7:14; Mt 1: 22-23). Indeed through the incarnation, God came to dwell amongst us men. He came to relate with us humans so as to build intimacy with us and raise us up to Himself.

Dear friend, even today, several centuries after Jesus’ ascension, God is not far from us. He seeks to encounter you and I right where we are and through our everyday circumstances. He is in our midst in the poor and needy and dwells amongst us in a special way in the Eucharist.

Are there times you are lonely, helpless or confused? Does the world around you seem to be falling apart? God reminds you today that He is neither far from you nor oblivious of your difficulties. He seeks to step into your situation if you permit Him. Like St Paul told the people of Athens in today’s reading, He is closer to you than you can imagine. Turn to Him in prayer today and tell Him your concerns and difficulties. Ask for His direction as you make important decisions because God is indeed very close. He is truly Emmanuel – God is with us.

PRAYER: Thank you dear Father for your ever abiding presence. Please help me to stay close to you so I can be transformed by your grace. Amen.

KNOW YOUR FAITH: YOUCAT 470 – What prompts a person to pray?

We pray because we are full of an infinite longing and God has created us men for himself: “Our hearts are restless until they rest in you” (St. Augustine). But we pray also because we need to; Mother Teresa says, “Because I cannot rely on myself, I rely on him, twenty-four hours a day.”

 HIDE A TREASURE: “Behold, I am with you always, to the close of the age.” Matthew 28:20 RSV-CE

Today’s Readings: Acts 17: 15, 22 – 18:1; Psalm 148: 1-2, 11-14; John 16: 12-15

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DO YOU KNOW HIM?

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Thursday 26th March – Thursday of the 5th week of Lent

Reflection: John 8: 51-59

DO YOU KNOW HIM?

Do you know the President of your country? Your response is certainly “Yes! I do”. Let’s take another question: Do you know your mother? Sure, you certainly know your mother! But, I am certain that you know your mother in a different way; you know her character, likes and dislikes,  favourite food, clothing, movie, music etc. This is because you have lived with her and so know her in an intimate way. Though you know your country’s president, you probably just know his name, maybe his background and nothing more because you have no personal relationship with Him. You simply know about him rather than know him.

Many of us claim to know God. We would be just as offended as the Jews in today’s reading if someone says we don’t know God like Jesus told the Jews: “my glory is conferred by the Father, by the one of whom you say, “He is our God” although you do not know Him…” (John 8: 54-55). But did they really know God? If they did, would they not have recognized and accepted the Christ just as Simeon and Hannah recognized the Baby Jesus in the temple?

Dear friend, God desires that you and I know Him. We are not merely His creatures; we are His beloved children through our Baptism. He created us to know Him, love Him, serve Him in this world and be with Him eternally. We can only love and serve God truly when we know Him. Do you seek to know God? He is always ready to reveal Himself to you through Scriptures, in prayer, in every day events, in the Eucharist…but are you willing to spend time with Him? God is ever calling you to Himself, make a decision this season to spend more time with God and you will truly come to know Him.

PRAYER: Lord, I desire to know you! Please help me to develop an intimate friendship with you by responding to your call to be alone with you and may I grow in my knowledge and love for you through this. Amen.

KNOW YOUR FAITH: YOUCAT 7 – Why did God have to show himself in order for us to be able to know what he is like?

Man can know by reason that God exists, but not what God is really like. Yet because God would very much like to be known, he has revealed himself.

HIDE A TREASURE: “I am the good shepherd, I know my own and my own know me” John 10:14 RSV-CE

Today’s Readings: Genesis 17: 3-9; Psalm 105: 4-9; John 8: 51-59