Forgiveness, a Grace not a Wish…

Forgiveness, a Grace not a Wish…

One of the most beautiful words in any language is the word “forgive.” The word is a common one but the essence of the word is in the last part, “give”. To forGIVE means to give someone a release from the wrong that he has done to you. It means to give up any right of retaliation. Forgiveness is a matter of love and not of how many times. Forgiveness costs especially when it means accepting instead of demanding repayment for the wrong done; releasing the other instead of exacting revenge; reaching out in love instead of relinquishing resentments. This is never possible by personal efforts alone, BUT by the grace of God. May the Lord grant us this special grace in this Lenten season and ever more.

GOSPEL...

The message of Christ in John 3:16 can been called a summary of the Bible and summarizes the entire Gospel as well. Maybe because we can find the acronym, GOSPEL Let us listen very carefully: “For God so loved the world that He gave His Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him might not Perish but might have Eternal Life;” (3:16).

The last place you thought to Look...!

The last place you thought to Look...!
            Think about times you have lost something and, after looking high and low, finally discovered it. Perhaps you said to yourself, "that is the last place I thought of looking for it!" Keep this experience in mind as you reflect on the readings for this, the third Sunday of Lent.
            In the first reading, we are given commandments as God's signposts to discover Him. The other two readings make clear that the commandments were but the beginning of our way to God. Something more was needed if we were to mature in our knowledge and love of God. The last place God's people thought of looking for a key to this mature growth was a cross. But a cross, as it turned out, was the key.
            The truth is that we, like the Jews and the Greeks, look for Jesus in spectacular deeds and words of worldly wisdom. A true understanding of Jesus is to be found in an unlikely place - in the mystery of the cross.

ASAP....! (Matt 6:7-15)

I pray that God’s will be done, not may will!

“Prayer does not change God, but it changes the one who offers it.”

S. Kierkegaard.

I’m sure when you hear somebody shout: “ASAP!” The meaning that would immediately enter our minds is generally we think of it in terms of even more hurry and stress in our lives.

Also maybe we think of this abbreviation as “As Soon As Possible.” How about if we think of it in a different manner in order to find a new way to deal with those rough days along the way as like these:

1. There is work to do, deadlines to meet; you have got no time to spare but as you hurry and scurry = ASAP! Always Say A Prayer.
2. In the midst of family chaos quality time is rare. Do your best let God do the rest = ASAP! Always Say A Prayer.
3. It may seem like your worries are more than you can bear. Slow down and take a breather = ASAP! Always Say A Prayer.
4. God knows how stressful life is. He wants to ease our cares and He will respond to all your needs = ASAP! Always Say A Prayer.

 

Who is a friend? (John 15:15)...

Who is a friend? (John 15:15).

“I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father

I have made known to you,” (John 15:15).

Who is a friend? Many a times we can ask or we really do. I want to borrow the description of C. Raymond Beran in his book of "Bits and Pieces":

He says that friends are people with whom you dare to be yourself. Your soul can be naked with them. They ask you to put on nothing, only to be what you are. They do not want you to be better or worse. When you are with them, you feel as a prisoner feels, who has been declared innocent. You do not have to be on your guard.

You can say what you think, as long as it is genuinely you. Friends understand those contradictions in your nature that lead others to misjudge you. With them you breathe freely. You can avow your little vanities and envies and hates and vicious sparks, your meannesses and absurdities and in opening them up to friends, they are lost, dissolved on the white ocean of their loyalty. They understand. You do not have to be careful. You can abuse them, neglect them and tolerate them.

Best of all, you can keep still with them. It makes no matter. They like you. They are like fire that purges to the bone. They understand. You can weep with them, sing with them, laugh with them and pray with them. Through it all and underneath they see, know and love you. What is a friend? Just one, I repeat, with whom you dare to be yourself.

Jesus is our friend. We may have neglected the friendship or been out of touch for a while from Him but the Lord continues to have an intimate and growing relationship with each one of us who comes to Him. He’s ready whenever we are to renew the friendship. Our Friend Jesus is waiting to hear from us. If so, then let us get back and be in touch with Him again. Let us build friendship with Jesus into our life’s story.

 

 

The Messiah came to call sinners not to condone...

The Messiah came to call sinners not to condone...

One day when Pope John XXIII was a bishop of Venice, he was told that one of his priests was becoming an alcoholic, ‘We’ll have to go and visit him,” he told his secretary. When they got near the presbytery of the priest’s parish, the bishop and his secretary stopped at a hotel and the future Pope John sent his secretary off to get the priest. The secretary came back and said, “His hat is lying on table but he isn’t there.” To which the future Pope answered, “If his hat is there, he must also be there. Go and look again.”

 

A few minutes later the secretary came back. He had found the priest at the local pub. All three of them walked over the presbytery. There the bishop offered the priest a chair and said to him, “Sit down brother. I want you to hear my confession,” (Willi Hoffsuemmer).

 

Just like the understanding bishop in the story, Jesus in the gospel does not cover up the tax collector’s situation. He shows His critics that as the Messiah, he has come to call sinners like them, not to condone their sinful acts but correct them. Jesus, as Divine Physician, associates with the spiritually sick to invite them to repentance.

Can we do the same as Jesus did?

 

 

“Lenten diet...."

“Lenten diet:

1. Eat your words,

2. Swallow your pride,

3. Digest God’s teachings,

4. For dessert, indulge in prayer.”

And to complete the Lenten trio: share with the poor.”