GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST.MATTHEW

A WOMAN’S FAITH

Jesus left that place and went off to the territory near the cities of Tyre and Sidon.  A Canaanite woman who lived in that region came to Him.  “Son of David!” she cried out. “Have mercy on me, Sir!  My daughter has a demon and is in a terrible condition.” 

But Jesus did not say a word to her.  His disciples came to Him and begged Him, “Send her away! She is following us and making all this noise!” 

Then Jesus replied, “I have been sent only to the lost sheep of the people of Israel.” 

At this the woman came and fell at His feet, “Help me, Sir!” she said. 

Jesus answered, “It isn’t right to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” 

“That’s true, Sir,” she answered, “but even the dogs eat the leftovers that fall from their master’s table.”

So Jesus answered her, “You are a woman of great faith!  What you want will be done for you.”  And at that very moment her daughter was healed.

(Chapter 15 :21-28)

This is the Word of the Lord

Thanks be to God

GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW

THE QUESTION ABOUT THE SABBATH

“Not long afterwards Jesus was walking through some cornfields on the Sabbath.  His disciples were hungry, so they began to pick ears of corn and eat the grain.  When the Pharisees saw this, they said to Jesus, “Look it is against our law for your disciples to do this on the Sabbath.”

Jesus answered, “Have you never read what David did that time when he and his men were hungry? He went into the house of God and he and his men ate the bread offered to God, even though it was against the law for them to eat it – only the priest were allowed to eat that bread.  Have you not read in the Law of Moses that every Sabbath the priests in the temple actually break the Sabbath law, yet they are not guilty?  I tell you that there is something here greater than the Temple.  The scripture says that it is kindness that I want not animal sacrifices.  If you really knew what this means you would not condemn people who are not guilty.  For the Son of Man is the Lord of the Sabbath.”

THE MAN WITH A PARALYZED HAND

Jesus left that place and went to a synagogue where there was a man who had a paralyzed hand. Some people were there who wanted to accuse Jesus of doing wrong. So they asked him, “Is it against our law to heal on the Sabbath.” 

Jesus answered, “What if one of you has a sheep and it falls into a deep hole on the Sabbath?  Will he not take hold of it and lift it out? And a man is worth much more than a sheep!   So then, our Law does allow us to help someone on the Sabbath.”  Then he said to the man with the paralyzed hand, “Stretch out your hand.”

He stretched it out, and it became well again, just like the other one.  Then the Pharisees left and made plans to kill Jesus.

GOD’S CHOSEN SERVANT

When Jesus heard about the plot against Him, He went away from that place and large crowds followed Him.  He healed all those who were ill and gave them orders not to tell others about Him.  He did this so as to make what God had said through the prophet Isaiah come true:

“Here is my servant, whom I have chosen.

The one I love, and with whom I am pleased.

I will send my Spirit upon him,

and he will announce my judgment to the nations.

He will not argue or shout,

or make loud speech in the streets.

He will not break off a bent reed

or put out a flickering lamp.

He will persist until he causes justice to triumph,

and in him all peoples will put their hope.”

(Matthew 12:1–21)

This is the Word of the Lord

Thanks be to God!

GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. JOHN

THE WORLD’S HATRED

“If the world hates you, just remember that it has hated Me first.  If you belonged to the world, then the world would love you as its own.  But I choose you from this world, and you do not belong to it; that is why the world hates you.  Remember what I told you: ‘No slave is greater than his master.’  If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you too; if they obeyed My teaching, they will obey yours too.  But they will do all this to you because you are Mine; for they do not know the One who sent Me.  They would not have been guilty of sin if I had not come and spoken to them; as it is, they no longer have any excuse for their sin.  Whoever hates me, hates my Father also.  They would not have been guilty of sin, if I had not done among them the things that no one else ever did; as it is, they have seen what I did, and they hate, both Me and my Father. This however, was bound to happen so that what is written in their Law may come true: ‘They hated me for no reason at all.’ 

The Helper will come – the Spirit, who reveals the truth about God and who comes from the Father.  I will send Him to you from the Father and He will speak about me. And you, too, will speak about me, because you have been with me from the very beginning.”

(John 15 :18 -27)

                                                This is the Word of the Lord
                                                     Thanks be to God! 

GOSPEL OF ST.JOHN

“The Word was the source of life, and this life brought light to mankind.”    (John 1:4)

THE WORD OF LIFE

“Before the world was created, the Word already existed; He was with God. And He was the same as God. From the very beginning the Word was with God. Through Him God made all things; not one thing in all creation was made without Him. The Word was the source of life, and this life brought light to mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has never put it out.

God sent His messenger, a man named John, who came to tell people about the light, so that all should hear the message and believe. He himself was not the light; he came to tell about the light. This was the real light – the light that comes into the world and shines on all mankind.

The Word was in the world, and though God made the world through Him, yet the world did not recognize Him. He came to His own country, but His own people did not receive Him. Some, however did receive Him, and believed in Him; so He gave them the right to become God’s children. They did not become God’s children by natural means that is being born as the children of a human father; God himself was their Father.

The Word became a human being and, full of grace and truth, lived among us. We saw His glory, the glory which He received as the Father’s Only Son.

John spoke about Him. He cried out, “This is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘He comes after me, but He is greater than I am, because He existed before I was born.’ ”

Out of the fullness of His grace he blessed us all, giving us one blessing after another. God gave the law through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. The only Son, who is the same as God and is at the Father’s side, he has made Him known.”   (John 1:1-18)

This is the Word of the Lord

Thanks be to Lord Jesus Christ! Amen

GOSPEL OF ST.JOHN

“Holy Father! Keep them safe by the power of Your name, the name You gave Me, so that they may be one just as You and I are one.” (John 17:11)

JESUS PRAYS FOR HIS DISCIPLES

After Jesus finished saying this, he looked up to Heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come. Give glory to your Son, so that the Son may give glory to You. For you gave Him authority over all mankind, so that He might give eternal life to all those You gave Him. And eternal life means knowing You, the only true God, and knowing Jesus Christ whom you sent. I have shown your glory on earth; I have finished the work you gave me to do. Father! Give me glory in your presence now, the same glory I had with You before the world was made.

“I have made You known to those You gave me out of the world. They belonged to You, and You gave them to Me. They have obeyed Your word, and now they know that everything You gave me comes from You. I gave them the message that You gave Me, and they received it; they know that it is true that I came from You, and they believe that You sent Me.”

“I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those you gave me, for they belong to You. All I have is Yours, and all You have is Mine; and my glory is shown through them. And now I am coming to You; I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world. Holy Father! Keep them safe by the power of  Your name, the name You gave Me, so that they may be one just as You and I are one. While I was with them, I kept them safe by the power of Your name, the name You gave Me. I protected them, and not one of them was lost except the man who was bound to be lost---so that the scripture might come true. And now I am coming to You, and I say these things in the world so that they might have My joy in their hearts in all its fullness. I gave them Your message, and the world hated them, because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world.  I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but I do ask You to keep them safe from the Evil One. Just as I do not belong to the world, they do not belong to the world. Dedicate them to Yourself by means of the truth; Your word is truth. I sent them into the world, just as You sent me into the world. And for their sake I dedicate myself to You, in order that they, too, may be truly dedicated to You.”

“I pray not only for them, but also for those who believe in Me because of their message. I pray that they may all be one. Father! May they be in Us, just as You are in Me and I am in You. May they be one, so that the world will believe that You sent Me. I gave them the same glory , You gave Me, so that they may be one, just as You and I are one: I in them and You in Me, so that they may be completely one , in order that the world may know that You sent Me and that You love them as You love Me.

Father! You have given them to Me and I want them to be with Me where I am, so that they may see my glory, the glory You gave Me; for You loved Me  before the world was made. The world does not know You, but I know You, and these know that You sent Me. I made you known to them, and I will continue to do so, in order that the love You have for Me, maybe in them and so that I also may be in them.” (John 17)

This is the Word of the Lord

Thanks be to Lord Jesus Christ! Amen

GOSPEL OF ST.JOHN

Sovereign Lord announces to Prophet Isaiah, “Here on the Mount Zion, I will prepare a banquet for all the nations of the world -a banquet of the richest food and finest wine.” (Isaiah 25:6)

JESUS THE REAL VINE

“I am the real vine, and my Father is the gardener. He breaks off every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, and He prunes every branch that does bear fruit, so that it will be clean and bear more fruit. You have been made clean already by the teaching I have given you. Remain united to me, and I will remain united to you. A branch cannot bear fruit by itself; it can do so only if it remains in the vine. In the same way, you cannot bear fruit unless you remain in Me.

I am the vine, and you are the branches. Whoever remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit; for you can do nothing without Me. Whoever does not remain in Me is thrown out like a branch and dries up; such branches are gathered up and thrown into the fire, where they are burnt. If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, then you shall ask for anything you wish, and you shall have it. My Father’s glory is shown by your bearing much fruit; and in this way you become my disciples. I love you just as the Father loves me; remain in My love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in My love. Just as how I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in His love.

I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My commandment is this: Love one another, just as I love you. The greatest love a person can have for his friends is to give his life for them. And you are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because a servant does not know what his master is doing. Instead, I call you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from My Father. You did not choose Me; I chose you and appointed you to go and bear much fruit, the kind of fruit that endures. And so the Father will give you whatever you ask of Him in My name.

This then, is what I command you: love one another.” (John 15:1-17)

This is the Word of the Lord

Thanks be to Lord Jesus Christ! Amen

GOSPEL OF ST.JOHN

Every scripture of the Holy Bible is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, reproof, for correction and for training in righteousness. (2 Tim. 3)

Bible is the source of inspiration, instruction and guidance so, as a believer of Christ, let us put our faith and trust in the Bible--- the Most Holy Book-- treasured work for life.

It would be wise to read the Holy Bible as a daily spiritual nourishment. Reflect on the Word of God as day to day living and contact with others to live  a renewed way of life according to the varied circumstances we need to face in our challenging and changing world. Then certainly we will receive new life from our Lord.

"For the Word of God is alive and active, sharper than any double edged sword. (Heb.4:12)"

THE HEALING AT THE POOL

After this, Jesus went to Jerusalem for a religious festival. Near the Sheep Gate in Jerusalem there is a pool with five porches; in Hebrew it is called Bethzatha. A large crowd of sick people were lying the porches --- the blind, the lame and the paralyzed. A man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. Jesus saw him lying there, and he knew that the man had been ill for such long time; so He asked him, “Do you want to get well?”

The sick man answered, “Sir, I have no one to put me in the pool when the water is stirred up; while I am trying to get in, somebody else gets there first.”

Jesus said to him, “Get up, pick up your mat, and walk.” Immediately the man got well; he picked up his mat and started walking.

The day this happened was a Sabbath, so the Jewish authorities told the man who had been healed, “This is a Sabbath, and it is against our law for you to carry your mat.”

He answered, “The man who made me well told me to pick up my mat and walk.”

They asked him, “Who is the man who told you to do this?”

But the man who had been healed did not know who Jesus was, for there was a crowd in that place, and Jesus had slipped away.

Afterwards, Jesus found him in the Temple and said, “Listen, you are well now; so stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.”

Then the man left and told the Jewish authorities that it was Jesus  who had healed him. So they began to persecute Jesus, because He had this healing on a Sabbath.  Jesus answered them, “My Father is always working, and I too must work.”

This made the Jewish authorities all the more determined to kill Him; not only had he broken the  Sabbath law, but he had said that God was His own Father and in this way had made himself equal with God.

This is the Word of the Lord

Thanks be to Jesus Christ! Amen

FAMILY – A PLACE OF EXTREME BLISS

PART II

The Bible says, “…Therefore what God has joined together, let men not separate.”  (Matt. 19:6)

Lord Jesus loved His people and his disciples more than his own life, but for all those love what response did he receive?

His lips knew no blames; He did not take refuge in loneliness. In spite of the sorrow that even His disciples did not see Lord Jesus the way He was, He refrained deviating from His aim till the end and fulfilled all His work patiently.

The Cross of Calvary is the true measuring rod of this love. To realize the attitude with which the Lord who suffered utmost pain, we have to visualize the Cross. Similarly, if we receive the Cross of our daily life by visualizing them in the same way, then our relationships will be like the full moon, which shines even in the dark. For this we may have to ask and receive Christ’s attitude daily.

It was not for His own interest that Jesus Christ sacrificed Himself and received the Cross.

The Cross standing aloft reflects two major values

He Forgot Himself and He Sacrificed Himself

In marital relation too, the Love of Christ demands a similar attitude that man should sacrifice his interests and woman should forget her own pleasures. It is better if this is imbibed by us.

No man or woman can satisfy their life partner by giving one’s own love because everyone seeks and desires the same boundless love for themselves.

From the weak heart as big as a fist, we can offer only our weak love but great satisfaction and happiness will bloom if we daily imbibe and share the Eternal Love, which flows from the King of Love.

Love is not something that can be stolen or snatched.

When love begins to flow from undying springs, then it fails to get limited within the search for momentary happiness or desire to get anything in return.

If marital relation begins to take refuge in worldly emotions or evolves to be self oriented then these relations will turn out to be mere objects to satisfy emotions alone.

When couples begin to live freely with Godly thoughts, then all their emotional problems tend to melt and flow into nothingness.

Relationships will be strengthened when we realize that love means responsibilities that arise from mutual decisions.

Dear Ones, the hurt feelings you have inflicted on your life partner may be very deep, but don’t worry, only the sorrowful passions of our Lord Jesus can heal them. Neither person nor medicine can heal the wounds.

The path you seek and the victory we achieved may perhaps lead us to a guilty conscience with moments of downfall which are natural to human life,but what holds importance is how we handle them.

If we begin to waste our days with an attitude that the days are near, cipher and if we whisper that they are unsold, then the healing becomes impossible. There may be moments of argument and opposition in one’s life. In such moments, if you could cool down for a moment and turn to the Lord for guidance, give a thought to your responsibilities, then God will surely help you.

Personal relationship with Jesus i.e. personal prayer is essential to draw strength and hold united to deal the crisis in marital life.

The Holy Bible directs that “An excellent wife wakes up early in the morning and glorify God. Giving first priority to God is the initial responsibility of every wife.

Similarly the Holy Bible  states, “It is his practice to get up early and pray aloud to God His Creator asking the most High to forgive his sins. He prays with gratitude for his needs and increases his knowledge by reading the Word of God.” (Sirach 39:5-9)

The fact that husband and wife speak to Jesus individually everyday itself is a mighty blessing. Then the Holy Spirit will bless both of them with the required graces to sanctify their relationship, thus helping the couple to move in unity towards God. By mutually surrendering themselves, offences will be pardoned and bruises will be healed. Holy Spirit will train them with the manner to pray and to behave themselves with each other. When they together begin to seek the Will of God, the words of the Bible will be proved true:

“Whenever two of you on earth agree about anything you pray, it will be done for you by my Father in Heaven.” ( Matt 18:19)

Again the Lord says, “I will make my home with my people and live among them.” (2 Cor. 6:16)

Yes dear ones, what a mighty blessing has Father promised through our marital relation!

How then can we who neglect such blessing expect his prosperity?

God says, “Man should not separate what God has united.” We should not forget that sitting at the right side of the Father, Jesus will intercede for us and the Holy Spirit by his instruction and advices will guide us to walk on the true path.  If we co-operate with them, we will be able to turn ourselves into sacrificial offering as two candles burning in flames of true sacrifice.

He further says, “If you wish to, you will be able to obey the commandments. Whether you should be faithful or not, depends on your will.” (Sirach 15:15)

Christ will give you the strength just like Tobias and Joseph, the descendant of David, we shall also set aside all our depression and loneliness and accept our life partner from the hands of the Almighty. If you ceaselessly strive and seek help from the Lord of Hope, then you will be transformed into a cactus growing beside streams of life giving water.

By reading this message together and by casting away all the old lullabies of life, may God bless you in abundant grace to accept each other. Amen!

FAMILY – A PLACE OF EXTREME BLISS

PART I

The Bible says, “…Therefore what God has joined together, let men not separate.”  (Matt. 19:6)

Books and articles describing family life and included relationships are easily available. But those which are useful in leading these relations of love to improvement and one burning with an attitude of sacrifice, thus imparting greater depths of spirituality in Godly ways are rarely available. I pray in Christ, those who read these words may spread the fragrance of love and purity.

Dear ones in Christ ages have passed since the initial sacred marital life started. The Holy Bible teaches that “God our Father realized that it is not good for man to stay alone and so He made a most appropriate partner for him, out of his own flesh and bones that is woman.” (Gen 2:22)

Thus God the spirit of unity uprooted loneliness and put us together in his unity. Lord appointed first man and woman as husband and wife. So that by taking refuge in Christ and by being filled with God’s Love, they can there after instill that love in one’s life partner.

After filling in the relations, when the spirit of Christ begins to build unity among couples, only then life turns out to be truly harmonious, lyrical and united.

Thus, they can spread and build a wide canopy, perfect and complete this world by partaking in the work of creation. The foundation of matrimonial relationship was thus laid down. The Bible says  “Since this matter comes from the Lord, it’s not for us to speak ill or well about it." God also gave the guidance required for the successes of this relationship. (Genesis 24:50) 

“God was with them.”

In the Gospel, Jesus has given an ideal example portraying of the good of these relationship. The Bible describes both the wise one who built his house by digging deep on strong rock and also the foolish one who built his house on sand. “The house built on strong rock withheld the mighty wind and storm.

 But in adverse condition, the house built on sand fell flat on the ground with a loud crash.”(Luke. 6:46-49)

Jesus was not teaching us to build a house but was revealing to us the need to begin life on a strong foundation. The Holy Bible says “How happy you will be if you put it into practice.” (John 13:17)

One who desires to be victorious will surely live according to this direction. Then we will receive God’s grace which will enable us to resist all pleasures of life. Jesus Christ says “Dear children how wrong you are! It is because you don’t know the scriptures or Gods power.” (Mat.22:29)

Yes dear ones, like the unity prevailing in the blessed trinity, every couple should be united as one with the Lord.

The firmness of marital life lies in the extend of union it has with God. Where prayer is lifted up, there the marital relation too will be fixed up in love.

The Holy Bible says, “A family divided against itself falls apart.” (Luke 11:17)

It further states that the family that prays together stays together.

The Bible says in Old Testament, “Tri-chords are hard to break.” (Eccl. 4:12) These words teach us that marital relations can never be limited to two individuals alone. Through various examples, the Holy Bible clearly teaches that the strong hands and divine guidance of an unseen Holy Priest (Lord Jesus) is of utmost importance amidst them.

Lord himself says, “The maintenance of this relationship is impossible for human heart.” (Mark 10:27)  But it is very simple for your Heavenly Father, who always desires to see you in unity.

So dear ones, aren’t these words giving us supernatural hope for maintaining our marital relationship?

Through the Holy Spirit, Lord is ever ready to give us anything we ask for and even more.

Knowing the appropriate Word of God and by submitting to the will of his parents, Tobias, their only son decided to receive his life partner. He very well knew that the girl he was going to receive had been married seven times and each time, her husband died on the first night itself, but, believing she was made for him, accepted her from God’s hand.

On the wedding night, when they were alone in their chamber, Tobias told his life partner, “Come let us pray for God’s mercy.”

He further prayed, “I am receiving her not by bodily desire, but by innocent love alone. Have mercy on us; grant that we may grow old together.” Then they both said “Amen” and concluded. (Tobit 8:7-8)

The following chapter, it is mentioned that the Lord blessed them with a life of perfection in His sight.

This is an example of an ideal marital life given by our Heavenly Father.

The Lord said to Joseph, “Joseph, descendant of David, do not be afraid to take Mary to be your wife.” (Matt. 1:20)

Inspite of being believers, in order to follow this modern world we have long back trespassed God’s direction. Therefore, all the holy relations are in a pitiful state today.

Isn’t it wise to check our life once again? Is there any need for hesitation regarding the correction of our mistakes?

Many disasters have occurred in our lives because we have not accepted our life partner as he or she is and due to lack of mutual prayer.

Didn’t you wander for years together with complaint lodged on your lips?

How many times have you cursed the person who brought the proposal to you?

How many times have you repeatedly complained that ‘the cause of all your troubles was due to the carelessness on the part of your parents? Had they given a second thought to the proposal, you could have married another better person?’What all misunderstandings, so many doubts right from the day you got married?

The opponent (partner) then begins, “From the day I began my life with you…… I am left with nothing except my cries and grinding of teeth. You are in a state of numbness…What is remaining now? There will be no changes in these …….”

Lack of contentment, hatred, numbness of life etc. begin to develop and to add to all these arrives a disregard towards the Creator.

However God our Father does not desire all this from his children. He is always waiting by to see the unity and love of His children. He wishes that we take leave from these narcotics of selfishness and live free from its side effects which are rejection and loneliness.

Father says, “As Christ loved, so also you should love one another.” (John 15: 12)

(to be continued…..)