Tag Archives: our christian call

RE-DEDICATE EACH DAY TO GOD

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Friday 20th November – Friday of week 33 of the year

Reflection: 1 Maccabees 4: 36-37, 52-59

RE-DEDICATE EACH DAY TO GOD

After a long yawn and stretch, people usually do their routine ‘wake up ritual’. For some it is a cup of coffee, for some it is some push-ups, for some it is a chapter of the bible and for others it is a few more minutes of sleep. One thing is common to all of them; each person is renewed and energized by these activities, and each person regards these activities necessary for a smooth day; whether they woke up on the wrong or right side of the bed.

In the same way, after the defeat of their enemies the Israelites rose at dawn and proceeded to Mount Zion to purify the temple; which had been profaned by their pagan enemies, and re-consecrate it to God. Do you know that you are the temple of the living God and there is no rooms for idols in it? (2 Corinthians 5: 16)

Dear friend, we can take the cue from Judas and his brothers in today’s first reading. Christ calls you each moment to draw life and strength from His redeeming grace.  All it takes is that we open our hearts in prayers and meditation; and that we strive to live out our Christian call in everything.

PRAYER: Dear God, strengthen and renew me each day to live according to your will. Amen.

KNOW YOUR FAITH: YOUCAT 224 – Why did Christ give us the sacrament of Penance and the Anointing of the Sick?

Christ’s love is shown in the fact that he seeks the lost and heals the sick. That is why he gave us the sacraments of healing and restoration, in which we are freed from sin and strengthened in our physical and spiritual weakness.

HIDE A TREASURE: “Don’t let yourselves be shaped by the world where you live, but rather be transformed through the renewal of your mind. You must discern the will of God: what is good, what pleases, what is perfect.” Romans 12: 2 RSV-CE

Today’s Readings: 1 Maccabees 4: 36-37, 52-59; 1 Chronicles 29: 10-11, 12; Luke 19: 45-48

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LOVE GOD, LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOUR

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Tuesday 6th January – Tuesday after Epiphany

Reflection: 1 John 4: 7-10

LOVE GOD, LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOUR

Love is a strong feeling of deep affection for someone or something. True love possesses characteristics like: kindness, patience, selflessness, compassion, gentility and so on. In today’s world, love is greatly misunderstood and is interpreted in a variety of ways by different people. However, as children of God, our standard of love should be none other than God himself, for He loves us despite our sinfulness and gave up His only son Jesus Christ to redeem us (1 John 4:9; 1 John 3:16).

Dear friends, if God out of his unconditional love for us could sacrifice his only son for the whole of the human race, what excuse do we have for failing to love our brethren? Let us show love to all irrespective of who they are: that person who detests you and picks on you unnecessarily, that lonely person in your neighbourhood, that helpless old fellow who has been abandoned or the little child who is homeless and hungry. In showing love to these ones, we are loving God for if we don’t see God in our brothers, we will never see Him face to face (cf Matthew 25: 45) “If we say we love God but hate our brothers and sisters we are liars. For people cannot love God, whom they have not seen, if they do not love their brothers and sisters whom they have seen” (1John 4:20).

As humans, we often expect the love we show others to be reciprocated or rewarded. However, as beneficiaries of God’s love, let us show love selflessly without expecting anything in return. As we do this, God will meet us at our needs beyond our human expectation.

PRAYER: Almighty Father, you gave up your only begotten Son for me long before I came into existence. Help me to appreciate your love for me and also show it to the world. Amen.

KNOW YOUR FAITH: YOUCAT 305 – What are the three supernatural virtues?

The supernatural virtues are faith, hope and charity. They are called “supernatural” because they have their foundation on God, are directly related to God and are for us men the way by which we can reach God directly.

HIDE A TREASURE: “Happy are those who are merciful to others; God will be merciful to them”. Matthew 5:7 GNB

Readings for Today: 1 John 4: 7-10; Psalm 72: 1-4, 7-8; Mark 6: 34-44

LOVE: THE CALL TO CHARITY

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Monday 3rd November – Monday of week 31 of the year

Reflection: Luke 14:12-14

LOVE: THE CALL TO CHARITY

“Love” is often used to describe a variety of feelings, states, and attitudes that range from interpersonal affection to pleasure. It can refer to an emotion of a strong attraction and personal attachment. It can also be a virtue representing human kindness, compassion, and affection – the unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another. In the context of Christianity, the divine love (Agape) is self-emptying. Love is a theological virtue, for it endures forever and it is the greatest of all virtue (1 Corinthians 13:8).

The word ‘Love’ is one of the most commonly used words in our society today, however, the word is often used without a deep reflection on its true meaning. The Apostle Paul tells us what Love entails:

“Love is patient, kind, without envy. It is not boastful or arrogant. It is not ill-mannered nor does it seek its own interest. Love overcomes anger and forgets offences. It does not take delight in wrong, but rejoices in truth. Love excuses everything, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things”. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)

Jesus tells us today to extend our helping hands and our gifts outside the confines of our friends and relatives. He asks us to reach out to the sick, prisoners, homeless, poor and to any one in need of our help. In doing this, we seek not our own interests alone but those of others, irrespective of who they are. As Jesus told the teacher of the Law in Luke 10:25-37; ‘Our neighbour is anyone in need of our help’. The call to charity requires us to love them and seek their own good in all things.

Dear friends, our Christian calling is to be like God. God is love and all His children are called to love. Thus, we must daily yield to the demands of love. We must learn to be patient, bear the faults of others patiently and consider the good of others in all we do.

PRAYER: Lord, God of love, please teach me to love as you have loved me. Amen.

KNOW YOUR FAITH: CCC 1825 – …The Lord asks us to love as he does, even our enemies, to make ourselves the neighbour of those farthest away, and to love children and the poor as Christ himself.

HIDE A TREASURE: “Love cannot do the neighbour any harm; so fulfils the whole law.” Romans 13:10 CCB

Readings for Today: Philippians 2:1-4; Psalm 131:1-3; Luke 14:12-14