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April 10, 2022Read More“Blessed is He who is coming as King in the Name of the Lord!” Luke 19:38
Who is this who comes to us humbly riding on the foal of a donkey? Behold, He is the Lord God, the Creator of the Universe now coming into our midst as King. Only the poor in spirit, however are able to recognise Him and praise Him. The rich, the learned and the clever turn their eyes away from Him in contempt - joy and praise are far from their minds or their hearts while encountering the person of Jesus Christ. Their minds being set on the standards of this world, they are unable to recognise the King of the Universe. -
March 31, 2022Read More“He was despised, the lowest of men, a man of sorrows, familiar with suffering, one from whom, as it were, we averted our gaze, despised, for whom we had no regard.” Isaiah 53:3
The Prophet Isaiah prophesied hundreds of years before the Christ was to come about the form of His appearance. These signs invite us to identify Him carefully. Unlike a handsome, majestic and magnificently attired king, the form of the Messiah would be startling - he would be the lowest of men, a man of sorrows and of much suffering. As if from the most despicable beggar on the street, the majority would turn their eyes away from him in scorn. Jesus perfectly fits into this description. -
March 30, 2022Read More“My strength is trickling away, my bones are all disjointed, my heart has turned to wax, melting inside me.” Psalm 22:14
The great love Jesus our Lord has for us led Him to take our weaknesses on Himself. He willed to become weak so that we might become strong. In our weakness, let us not hesitate to approach our good Lord, who waits for us to dispense the healing effects of His Passion into our souls. During this Holy Season, let us compensate for our terpidity with repentance, fervour and greater love. -
March 29, 2022Read More“The Lord guides a strong man’s steps and keeps them firm; and takes pleasure in him. When he trips he is not thrown sprawling, since the Lord supports him by the hand” Psalms 37:23-24
The Scripture tells us that the Lord loves those who are strong and courageous. A strong man is the one in whom the Word of God abides and who cuts down every temptation with the strong blows of God’s Word which He uses like a divine sword. Even if such a person trips, the Lord his protector and shield, quickly raises him up with His mighty hands. -
March 28, 2022Read More“I was resolved that the only knowledge I would have... was knowledge of Jesus, and of Him as the Crucified Christ.” 1 Corinthians 2:2
Knowledge is something everyone likes to have, because knowledge makes one powerful. People like to boast and show off their knowledge in various fields and domains. Before his conversion, Saint Paul, the Apostle of Divine Wisdom, was no different. He was a master of the Law and a very knowledgeable man, and prided himself on it. But once he met the Lord Jesus Christ, he realised that all his former knowledge was but a grain of sand, a drop of water beside the vast and eternal ocean of Divine Wisdom, presented to humanity in the person of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Crucified and Risen Saviour of the whole human race. But there is a condition to receive the knowledge of Jesus - all those who wish to know Jesus must make a resolve: a resolve to know only about Jesus, and of Him as the Crucified Christ. -
March 27, 2022Read More“Blessed are you when people abuse you and persecute you and speak all kinds of calumny against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven..” Matthew 5:11-12
Jesus tells us three things in the above verses: the first, that we should resolutely stand for Him, the second that we should be prepared to hear all kinds of calumny spoken against us, and the third that we greatly rejoice because our reward is assured. We are indeed on the right track if we have to suffer because we stand for Jesus. -
March 26, 2022Read More“He was bearing our sins in His own body on the Cross, so that we might die to our sins and live for uprightness; through His bruises you have been healed.” 1 Peter 2:25
When Adam and Eve committed the first sin, the first sacrifice was also made to make clothes of skin to cover their nakedness. For those who turn to Him, the Lord covers the nakedness caused by their sins with dazzling garments of righteousness. These garments are made from the Lamb of God, His Son Jesus Christ. -
March 25, 2022Read More“The angel answered, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will cover you with its shadow. And so the child will be holy and will be called Son of God.”Luke 1:35 God chose the lowliest of all maidens to receive the greatest revelation He could ever give to humanity - the revelation of His Son, the mystery which as Saint Paul describes, He had kept hidden within Himself for many generations, and now had chosen to reveal to humanity. The Virgin believed and gave Her assent to God’s revelation and behold, the Word - the Son of God, became flesh and dwelt amongst us.
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March 24, 2022Read More“Each one should give as much as he has decided on his own initiative, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:7
God has given us everything we have. Some may offer back to God part of their wealth or their possessions. The saints, on the other hand, give us an example in giving back everything to God, including their own lives and all their freedom - so that God free to do as He pleases in their lives, without complaint. Let us imitate them by being joyful in our offerings, because God loves those who offer their gifts to him with a smile that comes from deep within their generous and joyful heart. -
March 23, 2022Read More“He was bearing our sins in His own body on the Cross, so that we might die to our sins and live for uprightness; through His bruises you have been healed.” 1 Peter 2:25
Every one of us has wounds within our inner selves. The more deeper and serious of these wounds are those caused by our sins. Such wounds make us feel disturbed, depressed, sad, dejected, lonely and uneasy. But let us never become discouraged - Jesus has carried all our sins in His own body on the Cross - so that we would die to our sins and live for uprightness. Therefore, let us come with hope into the presence of the Divine Saviour in the Blessed Sacrament, let us disclose all our wounds in His Presence. He will treat them, dress them and clothe our naked souls so that we will be completely healed. -
March 22, 2022Read More“I was resolved that the only knowledge I would have... was knowledge of Jesus, and of Him as the Crucified Christ.” 1 Corinthians 2:2
Knowledge is something everyone likes to have, because knowledge makes one powerful. People like to boast and show off their knowledge in various fields and domains. Before his conversion, Saint Paul, the Apostle of Divine Wisdom, was no different. He was a master of the Law and a very knowledgeable man, and prided himself on it. But once he met the Lord Jesus Christ, he realised that all his former knowledge was but a grain of sand, a drop of water beside the vast and eternal ocean of Divine Wisdom, presented to humanity in the person of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Crucified and Risen Saviour of the whole human race. But there is a condition to receive the knowledge of Jesus - all those who wish to know Jesus must make a resolve: a resolve to know only about Jesus, and of Him as the Crucified Christ. -
March 21, 2022Read More“A hard lot has been created for human beings, a heavy yoke lies on the children of Adam from the day they come out of their mother’s womb, till the day they return to the mother of them all.” Sirach 40:1
After the sin of our first parents, God has laid on all of humanity the yoke of earning their daily bread by the sweat of their brow. This heavy yoke however is made light in Christ when we accept this yoke in a spirit of penance, and in reparation for our sins. Rebelling against this yoke or trying to throw it off is of no use, we would only be getting in the way of our own sanctification. -
March 20, 2022Read More“But in so far as you share in the sufferings of Christ, be glad, so that you may enjoy a much greater gladness when His glory is revealed.” 1 Peter 4:13
To share in the sufferings of Christ is a great privilege. How can we share in the sufferings of Christ? It is by following Christ who even today carries His Cross and goes in front of us. We are given a place with Jesus on the road to Calvary when we accept sufferings joyously for doing the Will of God. -
March 19, 2022Read More“Her husband Joseph, being an upright man and wanting to spare her disgrace, decided to divorce her informally.” Matthew 1:19
Saint Joseph is called the upright in the Bible - but his uprightness far surpassed that of the Law. From the depths of his upright soul came his altogether noble and praiseworthy action, that of deciding to silently take leave of Mary his betrothed rather than exposing her to disgrace. God who rewards good deeds done in secret and in silence, was swift to intervene and give him a reward beyond compare - His Only Begotten Son. -
March 18, 2022Read More“For if this is what is done to green wood, what will be done when the wood is dry?’ Luke 23:31
Green wood is a sign of Divine Life. The unjust sufferings that the Lord had to undergo are compared to green wood which is treated harshly. If this is so, how much more suffering will there be in store for dry wood, which symbolises those who refuse to repent. The Lord also wanted to tell the world that the sufferings of the upright are much less in comparison with the sufferings of sinners. -
March 17, 2022Read More
“... Jesus, knowing that His hour had come to pass from this world to the Father, having loved those who were His in the world, loved them to the end.” John 13:1
Among the people whom we know, we label many as “friends” or “loved ones”, but can we be absolutely sure that they will love us till the end? Sooner or later, we will realise that there is only one ever-loving and ever-faithful friend: Jesus our Lord, who loves us in all circumstances - while we are awake or asleep, in sickness or health, whether we are upright or sinners. Even when our dearest friend may get fed up with us and leave us, Jesus still continues to love us. Realising His great love, let us try to love our Lord in return, more and more each day. -
March 16, 2022Read More“A hard lot has been created for human beings, a heavy yoke lies on the children of Adam from the day they come out of their mother’s womb, till the day they return to the mother of them all.” Sirach 40:1
After the sin of our first parents, God has laid on all of humanity the yoke of earning our daily bread by the sweat of our brow. This heavy yoke however is made light in Christ when we accept this yoke in a spirit of penance, and in reparation for our sins. Rebelling against this yoke or trying to throw it off, or just living our lives with the short-sighted aim to get rich quickly is of no use, we would only be getting in the way of our own sanctification. -
March 15, 2022Read More“Think of the way in which He persevered against such opposition from sinners and then you will not lose heart and come to grief.” Hebrews 12:3
Jesus and Mary braved the hostile crowd who were so mad with hatred that they would not stop their shouts for His crucifixion till they had their way. They then followed Him to Calvary, to hound Him to His death. During all these moments, our Lord and His Mother never lost their courage or their resolve to fulfil the Will of God and to complete their sacrifice. Even during the terrible moments of the Crucifixion and while enduring their taunts during His dying moments on the Cross, our Lord and His Mother forgave His murderers. Meditating on the perseverance of Jesus and Mary will help us to resolutely and patiently face any persecution we may have to suffer in following the Will of God to the end. -
March 14, 2022Read More“For if this is what is done to green wood, what will be done when the wood is dry?’ Luke 23:31
The Lord compared Himself to green wood. Green wood also stands for those who follow Him, His Divine Life flows in them. Dry wood stands for those who separate themselves from God, the source of Divine Life, by a life in sin. Green wood could also stand for bodily sufferings in this world, and dry wood can stand for sufferings in the world to come. If the Lord and His followers suffer in this world, we can imagine how terrible will be the sufferings for those who refuse to repent of their sins! During this season of Lent, let us take these words which our Lord spoke to the women of Jerusalem while on His way to Calvary very seriously indeed - let us truly repent of all our sins, may we suffer as green wood and not as the wood that is dry. -
March 13, 2022Read More“If the world hates you, you must realize that it hated me before it hated you.” John 15:18
Jesus came into the world as the true light, and yet many hated Him - they preferred to remain in the darkness of their sins. The Lord challenges us to follow Him by being a light for the world and to boldly rebuke it by the witness of a holy life lived according to God’s commandments and principles, in the uprightness and holiness of the truth. If we truly do this, we will experience that the world will start to hate us too. But let us not be discouraged! We remember the words of Saint Francis of Assisi, that our enemies are our “benefactors” - they give us the opportunity to suffer for Christ, by which we gain a great reward in heaven.
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