Ask and Receive.

In our day to day life we are faced by many problems where some problems seem too difficult to be tackled and solution seems impossible. At that point of time do we seek Gods help or do we with our human power try to overcome the problem? At times we do so and when the problem goes out of hand we blame God and say hes the cause of it.

Today's scripture(16 march 2016) tells us of Gods promise to save us from all our tribulations when we call out to Him in faith. In the first reading Shadrach, Meshack and Abednego are saved from the furnace of fire as they asked Gods help and God did protect them. In the Gospel Jesus tells that He is the one who will free them from sin. From this we see we have a loving God who is every ready to help and save us from all harm and evil.

From confusion to boldness

The death of Jesus came as a blow hard on the faces of His disciples. They did not know what to do. They were like sheep without a shepherd. With such an event they thought that death was final. It hadn’t dawned in their minds that He had once told them, that He would rise again. The disciples going to Emmaus didn’t recognize Jesus but at the breaking of the bread opened their eyes and minds and everything that He had told them earlier made sense to them and they returned back to the other disciples.

 Then finally it dawned on them that He had truly risen as in fulfillment of His words that He had told them. And from then on they could boldly witness to Jesus’ resurrection and could proclaim to all that, He had “RISEN”

Presentation of the Lord

Today the church celebrates the presentation of Jesus in the temple. Its been 40 days now from the birth of Jesus. This day should also remind us of our baptism, where on that day we became Christians and were welcomed into the Catholic faith. It was also the day where all your family members, relatives and neighbors came to celebrate the joy of your birth.

Simeon the priest waited for a long time to see the Messiah, and when he did see Him, he thanked God for fulfilling his promise. “A sword will pierce your soul”, these words said by Simeon to Mary were pondered by her. She didn’t know what it meant, but moved on in faith.

Today is also the Day of Consecrated life, let’s pray for all consecrated, that they may be committed to the Lord and grow in holiness.

LENT

            The Holy Mother Church believes that she should celebrate the saving work of Her divine spouse in a sacred commemoration for a period in the course of the year. One such sacred commemoration is lent which is fast approaching. Lent reaches its climax after forty days on Easter Sunday which is Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. The Holy Mother Church gifts us forty days of lent where one is called to practice fasting, penance and almsgiving in preparation for the feast of Easter.

            Today the average life span is 60 – 80 years. It would be a wise thing to set aside forty days of a year and figure out God’s merciful love towards us that He chooses to die for us just to open the gates of heaven for us. In the Bible it’s quite clear that God considered forty days as spiritually significant time for transformation in ones life.

v  Noah in the ark during the  forty days of rain

v  Moses on Mount Sinai for forty days.

v  The city of Nineveh gave up its evil ways after forty days were given to them to repent.

v  Jesus was strengthened for forty days in the desert before He began his ministry.

v  The disciples were transformed after spending forty days with Jesus after His resurrection.

            These forty days of lent are days of grace and if one takes it seriously there will surely be change and one will surely be transformed into a new person.

            Most of the cars have a GPS app. What is its purpose? It’s to guide when one has lost the way and it helps to bring the person on the right track. This special season of lent is just like this GPS. We are people who have lost our path and this season of lent helps us to come back on the right path. Lent helps us to realize our wrong doings and to reconcile and return to the lord who is waiting with His arms wide open to receive us back into His embrace. Lent is the best time to introspect, reflect and contemplate.

             Pope Francis has declared this year as the jubilee year of mercy which is quite apt. The season of lent calls us to be merciful towards others and to receive mercy from others; it’s all about forgiving, loving, caring, helping, etc of what value is it if a person does things for the sake without putting himself/herself into the particular work? I can assume being merciful, forgiving, loving, caring will not be easy and simple; it will surely be tough. But we can follow the footsteps of Jesus and imitate His example like Him.

            How am I going to spend my lent this time? Will it just be another lent like the previous year, or will there be a change?

            We always feel that lent is a time of being sad, gloomy, doing a lot of penance, etc. but it’s not so. It’s a time to move out of the muck, have a wash and wear new clothes. It’s a season to change and move on and start again on a new leaf. God is waiting with arms wide open. It’s just our effort with a clear heart and true repentance which will give us the happiness of lent.

ST. JOSEPH

           

            Today is the feast of St. Joseph, the foster father of Jesus and the husband of Blessed Virgin Mary. In St. Joseph we see obedience in faith. He takes the leap of faith not knowing what is next on the other side but he is sure that the one who has asked him will surely be his guide and protector. In him we see the whole hearted yes that he said to the will of God.

            In our lives too God asks of us something we find it difficult to completely believe in God, we want things to be comfortable while dong God’s will.

            By the example of St. Joseph we can trust God even though when the path is rough and uncomfortable and also be sure of providence when we are truly in need of it. And for such a step God will surely honour and bless us.