“Be on the alert and pray always.” (Lk 21:36)

“Be on the alert and pray always.” (Lk 21:36) 

Today’s Passage: Lk 21:34-36

Meditation: Today’s meditation verse has got naturally two aspects; (a) be on the alert, and (b) pray always. Can these two aspects go together? Or whether they are two sides of the same coin or not? This means that I have to be on the alert as well as to be on the knees. Some anyway doubt this double mission. ‘Let me be free first from all these works, then, I can go for some days’ prayer,’ may their thinking. If not, they think that they are quite disturbed.

 

‘To be on the alert’ or ‘on guard’ presumes a lot of efforts from your part; both physical and mental.  When you concentrate fully on something or someone, then you have to take your attention from other things. Your restriction to this particular task may compel you to deny something; likes and conveniences. We hear of people who are in military or defense makes more such denunciations. All these make them concentrate fully on their mission and task.

Prayer also needs a lot of concentration for it is conversation between God and man; whether they are thanksgiving, praising, petitions, or repentance. When we are talking with someone, whom we like most, we don’t like to be disturbed by all means. If there is a possibility of disturbance, then we will go for an undisturbed area. This is also the same with some serious matters.

Now, we may feel that what people say has some meaning in it; work and prayer won’t go hand in hand. Why then does Jesus say, “Be on the alert and pray always?” (Lk 21:36) I do think that they are to be considered as two sides of the same coin. Jesus is speaking about your dependency on God; ‘you alone can’t do this, my dear son, I shall help you.’ In John 15:5 we read, “You can do nothing without me.”

Therefore, ‘be on the alert’ and ‘pray always’ are not two different activities, rather this is one and the same moment where you depend completely on God and God is working through you. This is otherwise called providence. The word of Lord says to you and me today, “Come near to God, and he will come near to you” (Js 4:8).

                

Prayer: Lord God, we thank you and praise you for your daily eternal bread. Teach us, O Lord, how to pray. We do not know, sometimes, the real meaning or the purpose of prayer. Help each one of us to have a real personal relationship with you and understand the warmth of prayer. This will, of course, lead us to pray always and everywhere. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen!

Greetings: God is with you! Have a nice and blissful Saturday…

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” (Lk 21:33)

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” (Lk 21:33)

Today’s Passage: Lk 21:29-33  

Meditation: One of the best attributes of God revealed to us is that he exists for ever; “‘I am the first and the last,’ says the Lord God almighty, who is, who was, and who is to come” (Rev 1:8). When Moses asked God for his name, he revealed himself as, “I am who I am” (Ex 3:14). The book of Lamentation says, “But you, O Lord, reign for ever; your throne endures to all generations” (Lam 5:19). In other words, neither he nor his reign has beginning and end; he is the eternal presence without having past or future. What a mystery it is!

This everlasting nature is not only with regard to his existence, but also to his other qualities or aspects. In the book of Lamentations we read, “The steadfast love of God never ceases, his mercies never come to an end” (Lam 3:22). The Psalter sings, “Praise the Lord! O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever” (Ps 106:1); “the sum of your word is truth; and every one of your righteous ordinances endures forever” (119, 160).

It is the same God who tells each one of us today, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away” (Lk 21:33). Here the meaning of ‘words’ has to be understood as promises. At the time of his temptation by the Satan in the wilderness, Jesus answers, “The scripture says, ‘Man cannot live on bread alone, but needs every word that God speaks” (Mt 4:4). But this verse is actually quoted from the book of Deuteronomy (8:3), where the people of Israel are reminded of the need of their genuine faith in God who is steadfast in his promises. 

Then, the meaning of ‘my words will never pass away’ is ‘my promises will never pass away.’ That is why the author of the book of Hebrews invites us, “Let us hold on firmly to the hope we profess, because we can trust God to his promise” (Heb 10:23). It is this firm trust in the promises of God that made Abraham, the father of the faithful. This word of the Lord, today then, compels me to review my faith in God and in his promises revealed in and through the bible.

       

Prayer: Lord God, we thank you and praise you for your daily eternal bread. Help each one of us to have real faith in you and in your promises. Teach us the meaning of the definition of faith revealed in the book of Hebrews, “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen” (Heb 11:1). We pray today in a special for the renewal of our own faith as well as for those who have lost their real faith. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen!

Greetings: God is with you! Have a nice and blissful Thursday…

“When these things begin to happen, stand up and raise your heads, your salvation is near.” (Lk 21:28)

“When these things begin to happen, stand up and raise your heads, your salvation is near.” (Lk 21:28)

Today’s Passage: Lk 21:20-28  

Meditation: When you are confident enough, honest, authentic, and courageous, you stand upright and hold your head high; the opposite happens when you lack honesty, courage, and confidence. In today’s meditation verse Jesus invites or rather challenges you and me to stand erect and raise our heads before persecution. Why does Jesus make this invitation? Am I bold enough to respond to this invitation today?

It is quite sure that many of us were and are bold enough in front of some of our misfortunes and tribulations. There are also other similar occasions in our lives. Though we were not financially sound enough in matters of money we looked for the financial support from elsewhere. Even now, regarding the studies, or professional courses, or marriages of our children, we may not be anxious for either we have kept something for that or we have some sources in mind for that.

Even when you were weak, how could you be bold enough to take up all these? It is naturally because you have confidence either in you or in your sources. Then, if I am afraid of the persecutions or sufferings for the sake of Jesus, it proves itself that I am not trusting in his promises. Fear shows the absence of love; love for Jesus. Are we concerned more about the loss or the gain through these sufferings?

Jesus says, “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather be afraid of God, who can destroy both body and soul in hell” (Mt 10:28) and gives us the courage and promise too. “Do not be afraid for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you, and I will uphold you with my victorious right hand” (Is 41:10). It is the confidence in God’s promise that made martyrs stand erect before persecutors, and it is the same that makes me confident too.

             

Prayer: Lord God, we thank you and praise you for your daily eternal bread. Help each one of us to have real faith in you and your promises. Let us also be then able to proclaim that we walk not by our eyes but by our faith. We thank you for all martyrs and saints who have left us good model in faith life, and we pray for those who face right now persecutions in different parts of the world, and help us to renew and strengthen our faith in you. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen!

Greetings: God is with you! Have a nice and blissful Thursday…

Jesus said, “This will be your chance to tell the Good News.” (Lk 21:13)

Jesus said, “This will be your chance to tell the Good News.” (Lk 21:13)

Today’s Passage: Lk 21:12-19  

Meditation: What? My God! Is it not quite embarrassing to hear today’s meditation verse against the background of knowing about the approaching troubles and tribulations? For many it is rather frightening and disappointing too. There are also some people who on hearing about such news like wars, famine, earthquakes, etc., they will just respond indifferently that it is not around us, somewhere faraway, or since it affects all, then, why should we alone bother about all these?

Just remember people’s various reactions to some news read in the news paper or watched on the TV. ‘It may happen there, but anyway not here,’ ‘it may happen in their family, not here in our family,’ will be sometimes their cool answers. These may be of crimes, killing of innocents, different abuses, social injustices, discrimination or violence against women, etc. In some of these cases, you may be tempted to keep indifferent feelings against such news; for it doesn't sometimes directly concern me or my family. 

However, the next one is not something about the other places, people or families; it does affect me. Jesus says, “You will be arrested and persecuted; you will be handed over to be tried in a synagogues and be put in prison; you will be brought before kings and rulers for my sake.” (Lk 21:12) We do hope that at least this won’t be taken carelessly; rather they will be on fire. In other words, they will look for some way for their escape. But Jesus has something to say here differently at this point.

Jesus says, “This will be your chance to tell the Good News.” (Lk 21:13) Yes, this may turn to be the last chance to proclaim the Good News. When will the indifference be taken from our lives? Is it not today the best and right time to proclaim and share the joy of the gospel in and around us? Don’t be too much concerned about the end times, but about the proclamation and spread of the word of God.

 For Jesus tells us, “This Good News about the Kingdom will be preached through all the world for a witness to all mankind; and then the end will come.” (Mt 24:14) Are you afraid now of the end times or your failure to proclaim the Kingdom of God?

            

 Prayer: Lord God, we thank you and praise you for your daily eternal bread. Help each one of us to be on alert against false teachings. O Holy Spirit, give us the courage to proclaim the word of God in and through our lives. God’s will is to save all mankind. They all should be purified before their salvation and it is your word that sanctifies them. Let your will be done and your kingdom may come. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen!

Greetings: God is with you! Have a nice and blissful Wednesday…

Jesus said, “Be on guard; don’t be deceived.” (Lk 21:8)

Jesus said, “Be on guard; don’t be deceived.” (Lk 21:8)

Today’s Passage: Lk 21:5-11  

Meditation: We find now and then Jesus giving strict instructions to his disciples as to keep alert and be vigilant on; sometimes on second coming, on other occasions on false teachings. You can also call to your minds many parables he has spoken on this subject. Through today’s meditation passage Jesus is preparing even us to be on alert as we hear something about the end times. Of course, it was there in the beginning of the early church and continued through centuries up to this day. Why is Jesus so much concerned about this?

It is because anyone is easily deceived when he is desperate, in difficult situations, in fear, in confusion etc. These moments, therefore, are to be handled with care and discernment. We need the help of the Holy Spirit in its abundance at this juncture. Certainly, we feel relieved as we hear something that gives solace and support to us; however, these can be deceiving also. In the holy bible as well as in our daily lives, we find many examples for this.

These moments can be even the moments of our tests and trials. One of the best examples in the bible is the person of Job. In his most difficult situation of his life, we find that he was tested through his wife and his friends. But he was cautious enough not to speak anything against God. In our most difficult situations, Satan may not be in the form of something negative or frightening, but can be in the form of our friends and relatives; in the forms of what we are most in need of.

Even Jesus was tempted in the form of bread as he was hungry after his forty days of fasting. In today’s passage, Jesus says, “Be on guard; don’t be deceived. Many men, claiming to speak for me, will come and say, ‘I am he!’ ‘The time has come!’ But don’t follow them. Don’t be afraid when you hear of wars and revolutions; such things must happen first, but they do not mean that the end is near.” (Lk 21:8, 9) Yes, be on alert always and everywhere.

 Prayer: Lord God, we thank you and praise you for your daily eternal bread. Help each one of us to be on alert against false teachings. O Holy Spirit, give us the gift of discernment that we may always learn and live the true teachings. We pray especially for those who were and are deceived by the false prophets that they may return to the fullness of the truth at the earliest. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen!  

Greetings: God is with you! Have a nice and blissful Tuesday…

Jesus said, “I tell you that this poor widow put in more than all the others.” (Lk 21:3)

Jesus said, “I tell you that this poor widow put in more than all the others.” (Lk 21:3)

Today’s Passage: Lk 21:1-4  

Meditation: It is quite an interesting picture of Jesus we get from today’s meditation verse. He is sitting near the Jerusalem temple donation box and simply watching the people who offer their gifts to the temple. Is it just to see the people who offer more than anyone else and benefit from them? For offerings of the people in these days draw a lot of attention. How much each one has contributed to is well counted today. There are also people who go after those who give more donations and make secure that all their programs are well sponsored.

However, from the response of Jesus, we understand that his purpose is not of that sort anyway. He is not praising here the rich people who contributed more out of their prosperity, but the poor widow who offered only two small copper coins. Therefore, it doesn’t give us any indication as to his appreciation for the huge gifts of the rich, rather it give the impression that he was reading their minds and hearts. There we get a lot of encouragement and solace to our life

.

The Psalter prays to Lord, “My wanderings you have noted; are my tears not stored in your vial, recorded in your book? (Ps 56:9) Surely, this widow also should have the prayed the same; for she is offering these two small coins not from her abundance but from her utter poverty. Jesus saw her purity of heart beyond her offering. We hear in the beatitudes, “Blessed are the pure in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Mt 5:3)

We also do some offerings in our daily lives as well. They may be offerings of our time, talents, conveniences, and money etc considering all our limitations. If they are from the depth of our hearts, then, be rest assured that they are well counted before the Lord; they are written in the book of life.

   

 Prayer: Lord God, we thank you and praise you for your daily eternal bread. Help us today to examine ourselves and lead a genuine Christian life. Sometimes, we also are like these Pharisees who lived a life of show before others. It is not that which we offer matters but the attitude. Give us the grace to trust in you and surrender ourselves before you. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen! 

                

Greetings: God is with you! Have a nice and blissful Monday…

“He is the God of the living, not of the dead, for to him all are alive.” (Lk 20:38)

“He is the God of the living, not of the dead, for to him all are alive.” (Lk 20:38)

Today’s Passage: Lk 20:27-40  

Meditation: Before going into the meaning of today’s meditation verse, it is good that we have some background of it. Verses 19 and 20 rightly say about the teachers of the law; who they are and what they have in their minds. It is because of this dual mind set, Jesus reproached them of their hypocrisy. However, they had good qualities too; they always stood with the traditions and the structure. If at all with some importance to the externals, they always stood faithfully with the law and traditions.  We know for sure from history that it is only the Pharisees who could resist the roman domination and continue to exist.

 

Now see the Sadducee, they are the priestly class and are here only to test Jesus. They are considered as the custodians of the heavenly things but speak as if they are of the children of the dead. They always stood with the political authority in power and felt security in their life. They were not enjoying the protection and help from the living God. The net result of this is what we know from the Jewish history that they were fully buried in the pages of history; they do not even exist now.

Jesus says, “He is the God of the living, not of the dead, for to him all are alive.” (Lk 20:38) All are alive for the living God. I do believe that it is not only about the life after death or resurrection, but of the life right now here on earth; it is for you and me. If we lead a life of the dead with regard to faith, heavenly things, and life after death, etc., we are away from the living God. We will be like the Sadducee who always sought the safer side with the authority of this world.

How is our life as a faithful? Is it just like the hypocritical life of Solomon “who loved the Lord, and obeyed the statutes of his father David; yet he offered sacrifice and burned incense on the high places?” (1Kg 3:3) Then, either we are dead or we do not believe in the living God. Like Sadducee, we also will be buried in the pages of history without anything to hand over. Therefore, let us pray with the Psalter, “Some rely on chariots, others on horses, but we on the name of the Lord our God.” (Ps 21:8)

        

Prayer: Lord God, we thank you and praise you for your daily eternal bread. Help us today to examine ourselves and lead a genuine Christian life. Sometimes, we also are like Sadducee who lived a life of hypocrisy. Give us the grace to live for Jesus and witness to Jesus in and around us. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen! 

                

Greetings: God is with you! Have a nice and blissful Saturday…

“Whoever does what my father in heaven wants him to do is my brother, my sister, and my mother.” (Mt 12:50)

“Whoever does what my father in heaven wants him to do is my brother, my sister, and my mother.” (Mt 12:50)

Today’s Passage: Mt 12:46-50  

Meditation: Look at the way the people considered Jesus’ mother and his brothers. They are asking Jesus to meet them immediately; “Look, your mother and brothers are standing outside, and they want to speak with you.” (Mt 12:47) They love Jesus absolutely and therefore, those who are beloved to Jesus are beloved for them too. How nice the people are!

Again, what did Jesus say? Jesus answered, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers? Then he pointed to his disciples and said, “Look! Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does what my father in heaven wants him to do is my brother, my sister, and my mother.” (Mt 12:50) Those people who are listening to the word of God are beloved ones of God the father. Here Jesus also acknowledges that those who are beloved to the father are also his beloved ones.

Today, I want to meditate on our own relationships. How do we consider them? There are blood relatives, friends, masters, subordinates, teachers, and students, and so on. Remember that our relationship to these people says louder than our speeches and stories. Secondly, are these relationships rooted in our relation to God? It does matter a lot for Jesus. Does it matter to me too?

St. John says, “What we have seen and heard we announce to you also, so that you will join with us in the fellowship we have with the Father and with the Son Jesus Christ.” (1Jn 1:3) The letters and proclamations were for them to make a relation with God the father and Jesus Christ. In other words, whatever we do should be for the greater glory of God; to have union with God, to lead others into this union. 

           

Prayer:  Lord God, we thank you and praise you for your daily eternal bread. Our physical birth into a family itself makes us related to a great number of people in this world. How more related we will be through our rebirth in baptism. O God, give us the courage to understand that we are related each other and have the duty to be thankful and help each other in our lives. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen! 

                

Greetings: God is with you! Have a nice and blissful Friday…

Jesus said, “If you only knew today what is needed for peace! But now you cannot see it!” (Lk 19: 42)

Jesus said, “If you only knew today what is needed for peace! But now you cannot see it!” (Lk 19: 42)

Today’s Passage: Lk 19:41-44  

Meditation: How sharp Jesus’ word in today’s meditation verse is! It is true that many are very happy with Jesus’ picture of everlasting love, forgiving love, compassionate etc. All these pictures are real and true. However, there are moments where even this ever-forgiving God himself cannot do anything for you. It is about this moment St. Augustine says, “God who created you without your consent and cooperation, won’t redeem you without your consent and cooperation.”

It is true that he forgives and accepts us even at the last moment. We experience this forgiving love in its abundance on the cross as we hear, “I promise you that today you will be in Paradise with me.” (Lk 23:43) Again, Jesus’ prayer on the cross, before God the father, for the forgiveness of those who sinned against him and his imparting of power to Peter who denied him thrice are also moments of his compassionate and forgiving love.

Truly, he longs for the return of each and every sinner and is waiting for them. All the three parables of the fifteenth chapter of Luke underline this truth; the parables of lost sheep, lost coin, and prodigal son. There we read, “There will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety nine respectable people who do not need to repent;” (Lk 15:7) “the angels of God rejoice over one sinner who repents;” (Lk 15:10) and “we had to celebrate and be happy, because your brother was dead, but now he is alive, he was lost, but now he has been found.” (Lk 15:32)

However, he laments, “If you only knew today what is needed for peace! But now you cannot see it!” (Lk 19: 42) Those who walk away from God and boasts of their bad ways should know that there comes a moment in their life, where they no more can think of God or salvation. Going after evil ways make you deprived of the Holy Spirit who guides in the path of the Lord. Jesus says, “But now you cannot see it!” Therefore, let us not dishearten ourselves and turn against God. 

Prayer:  Lord God, we thank you and praise you for your daily eternal bread. Have mercy on us! O Lord, many a time we were on our own self-centered ways. We had forsaken you and sought for the worldly pleasures. Lord, help us to return to you and your ways. Give your Holy Spirit in its abundance that we may always walk in your path. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen!

                  

Greetings: God is with you! Have a nice and blissful Thursday…

“Take the gold coin away from him and give it to the servant who has ten coins.” (Lk 19: 24)

“Take the gold coin away from him and give it to the servant who has ten coins.” (Lk 19: 24)

Today’s Passage: Lk 19:11-28  

Meditation: Jesus says, “I have come in order that you might have life – life in all its fullness.” (Jn 10:10) We know for sure that the crucifix proves itself vividly this mind of Jesus. However, today’s meditation verse first gives us the impression that he is another person. It seems that he is justifying the act of the man who has gone to be enthroned. Like this man, Jesus also has come to take whatever we have from us. He is almost like an unrighteous judge. Because, the other servants too feel the same and that is why they are saying, “Sir, he has already ten coins.” What an injustice it is!

We also find in and around our society the same thing. When the poor become poorer and the rich become richer, people feel that God is hardheartedly taking away from them even whatever they have. But, is that the same matter discussed here? Is it in the same way that we approach this verse? Anyway, to understand in a better way, let us see also the parable of the talents (Mt 25:14-30) along with the parable of gold coins (Lk 19:11-28), since they are taught in view of the immediate expectancy of the kingdom.

The main thrust of both the parables was on the faithfulness, though there is difference in the way of presenting. In the former, the man did neither entrust them to do some business with the amount nor was concerned about what they have earned, but whether they faithful or not. In the latter, he entrust them to do some business and earn for him. Therefore, we find him rewarding the servants according to their work. However, the final message is whether they were faithful or not.

This is about the final judgment. We are given some duties to be accomplished before second coming. There is time for laziness and therefore, we have to be more alert and watchful on our duties entrusted. Jesus himself gives us the model: he says, “My food is to obey the will of the one who sent me and to finish the work he gave me to do.” (Jn 4:34) Again at the end of his life we hear, “I have shown your glory on earth; I have finished the work you gave me to do.” (Jn 17:4) 

       

 Prayer:  Lord God, we thank you and praise you for your daily eternal bread. Have mercy on us! O Lord, many a time we forgot the duties entrusted to us and were lazy people. You are the righteous one and we have to be righteous too. Give your Holy Spirit in its abundance that we may be always responsible and faithful servants in our life.  We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen! 

                

Greetings: God is with you! Have a nice and blissful Wednesday…

“This man has gone as a guest to the home of a sinner.” (Lk 19:7)

“This man has gone as a guest to the home of a sinner.” (Lk 19:7)

Today’s Passage: Lk 19:1-10  

Meditation: Today’s meditation verse gives us a lot of encouragement and strength to our real Christian life. Jesus’ decision as to go to the house of Zacchaeus made people think, “This man has gone as a guest to the home of a sinner.” (Lk 19:7) However, I do like and appreciate Zacchaeus very much for his humility and openness before God and people.

How painful it was for him to live a life amidst contempt and humiliation. But one day he made up his mind to come forward and be reconciled with God and his people. If you closely observe his actions, you will understand that he was not just saying the prayer, “I confess to almighty God,” but was living the penitential prayer. Let us try to live this prayer more honestly and humbly.

 It may not be his cheating (cf. v.8 declaration of Zacchaeus proves himself that he was not a cheater) that made people go against Zacchaeus, but the title tax collector. May be through decades, because of many reasons, the title tax collector received this negative mark. Jesus himself uses that title in a negative sense; “even the sinners and the tax collectors.” But Zacchaeus came out from that with his humility and openness of heart.

Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Listen sir! I will half my belongings to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone, I will pay him back four times as much.” (Lk 19:8) Jesus’ saying gets good meaning here in this action of Zacchaeus, “If you are about to offer your gift to God at the altar and there you remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar, go at once and make peace with your brother, and then come back and offer your gift to God.”  

  

 Prayer:  Lord God, we thank you and praise you for your daily eternal bread. Have mercy on us! O Lord, give us the courage to lead a meaningful Christian life in all circumstances. We want to repeat that simple sentence, “When I say, “I am a Christian,” I do not mean that I am holier than you, rather I confess that I am a simple sinner who received God’s grace somehow, and want to live that grace,” and offer it as our today’s prayer. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen!  

                

Greetings: God is with you! Have a nice and blissful Tuesday…

“When the crowd saw it, they all praised God.” (Lk 18:43)

 “When the crowd saw it, they all praised God.” (Lk 18:43)

Today’s Passage: Lk 18:35-43  

Meditation: In the gospel of Mathew w read, “In the same way, your light must shine before people, so that they will see the good things you do and praise your father in heaven.” (Mt 5:16) It means that our each good deed turns to be a witness to God’s love and is an occasion for others praising God. While I was attending a charismatic retreat there were some testimonies of those who received different graces from God, both physical and spiritual. All these testimonies were received by the people in great thankfulness to God. It was really moments of praise and thanksgiving.

If we go through the gospels, many a time we find people from different walks of life praising God after seeing the miracles performed by Jesus. Today’s meditation passage is one of such instances. The poor blind man, who received healing from Jesus, followed him praising God. Seeing this act of the healed one, the crowd praised God. Therefore, we can see here a double miracle: the healing of the man born blind as well as the people turning to God praising him.

Today also many people receive God’s graces; some of them, of course, give thanks to God and few others forget thanksgiving. Today’s verse clearly indicates that our thanksgiving has a great witness value. Your thanks giving and praise to God invite others also to praise him and lead a thankful life. Jesus himself was impressed by the thankfulness of the Samaritan who was healed from his leprosy.

  

But this act of thanksgiving in public, in anyway, should not be a show before others. Jesus always criticized this attitude of the Pharisees and instructed his disciples saying, “When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites! They love to stand up and pray in the houses of worship and on the street corners, so that everyone will see them.” (Mt 6:5) Do we lead a life of thanksgiving before God in our day to day life?

 Prayer:  Lord God, we thank you and praise you for your daily eternal bread. Have mercy on us! O Lord, many a time we receive abundant graces from you, but often forget to give you thanks and praise. Today we understand that it is not only our duty and right but also it is our salvation. Thanksgiving life itself is a witnessing life. Give us the courage to lead a thankful life in all circumstances. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen! 

                

Greetings: God is with you! Have a nice and blissful Monday…

“But, will the Son of Man find faith on earth when he comes?” (Lk 18:8)

“But, will the Son of Man find faith on earth when he comes?” (Lk 18:8)

Today’s Passage: Lk 18:1-8

Meditation: After giving an example of a judge, who neither feared God nor respected man but made sure that his client widow got everything settled, Jesus reveals that God is certainly more righteous and generous than this unjust judge. But the story concludes with a big question as to his doubt on man’s faith even when he comes in glory.

During his public ministry we find Jesus at times reproaching people and his disciples due to their little faith or lack of faith. The synoptic gospels give ample examples or references to this theme; Jesus walks on the water (Mt 14:31), Jesus heals a boy with a demon (Mt 17:17), Jesus appears to the eleven (Mk 16:14), Jesus healing young daughter of Jairus (Mk 5:40), the unbelieving towns (Lk 11:20), the sign of Jonah (Mt 12:38), Jesus is rejected at Nazareth (Mt 13:58) etc. These pictures of those people who lived at Jesus’ time surely make us sad and prompt us to judge them. But before judging them, that let us meditate on today’s verse.

Today’s meditation verse is on sharing Jesus’ anxiety over man’s faith at his second coming. Then, it is no longer about others, but it is about you and me who are eagerly waiting for the second coming of Christ. So we have to review ourselves today as to our faith in God and his promises. Constant prayer of the widow manifests her trust in the unjust judge. Prayer is, of course then, the expression of our trust and faith too. In other words, if we fail in our prayers, we lose our faith in God.

The pictures of those unbelieving people at the time of Jesus should help us to review ourselves before judging them. For, “everything written in the scriptures was written to teach us, in order that we might have hope through the patience and encouragement which the scripture gives us.” (Rom 15:4) So let us think about ourselves. How is my prayer life? Did I lose faith in Jesus and his promises? 

                    

Prayer:  Lord God, we thank you and praise you for your daily eternal bread. Give us today the real courage to examine ourselves with an open heart. Every now and then we look at the faith of others and criticize them, but today you are inviting us to look at ourselves. Send your Holy Spirit upon us with the gift of discernment. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen!  

                

Greetings: God is with you! Have a nice and blissful Saturday…