Gratitude & Thanksgiving

Wise words from St Theresa of Calcutta “ We need silence  to be alone with God,  to speak to him,  to listen to him,  to ponder his words deep in our hearts. In silence  we are filled  with the energy of God himself  that makes us do all things  with joy. The fruit of silence is prayer,  the fruit of prayer is faith,  the fruit of faith is love, and the fruit of love is service.  To be only all for Jesus  we need a deep life of prayer.  How do we learn to pray?  By praying.  Let us adore Jesus  in the Eucharistic silence. Souls of prayer  are souls of great silence.  We must endeavor to  live alone  with Jesus  in the sanctuary of our inmost heart.  In reality  there is only one substantial prayer, Christ himself. One voice  which unites in itself  all the voices raised in prayer. Saint Teresa of Calcutta († 1997)

About Acts 8:26-40, Philip and the Ethiopian “ Do you understand what you are reading?” Acts 8:30 “How can i unless somebody instructs me? Acts 8:31 Philip was there to help the Eunuch understand. The Bible can be hard to understand but God gives us teachers.  Who are the Philips in our midst, opening up the Word of God for us, helping us to reach a deeper understanding and a livelier faith? (Sermon from FORMED, 22 April 2021) May we all continue to be humble asking for help, encountering our own Phillips and being Philip to others. 

Excerpt from homily by Rev Deacon Clement, Church of the Holy family Because of the Life of Christ,  We have eternal life. Because of the Light of Christ, We no longer live in darkness. Because of His Grace and Truth We attain Grace and Truth. Because of Jesus We know what God is like. Jesus is God’s gift to us. The giver of the gift is God. The reason of the gift is Love. The recipient of the gift is you and I.

"Go and take your place in the temple and tell the people everything about this life."  Acts 5:20   What is this life? This life that the apostles are to tell the people is the life in Christ. And this life in Christ is a life marked by joy, peace and above all by love, and by forgiveness. A life with a deep wellspring of love. We are to be witnesses like the disciples, to tell people about this life.   Are we living this life in Christ in Christ Jesus?   Or are we living the ordinary life, the life of the average person in this world? We are called to a higher life - a life filled with God's grace and God's love. Our life need to reflect that love. Lets live out the life of love in Jesus Christ, and share this life with others.

It’s Divine Mercy Sunday... and homily at mass made me connect some dots from past readings....     I jotted down 4 take-aways.  May you be blessed too!  

In psalm 4, David was confronted with a multitude of afflictions - fleeing from his son,  chased out of his land, being slandered by his enemies and having his integrity at stake: How long, you people, shall my honor suffer shame?  How  long will you love vain words, and seek after lies?  Psalm 4:2 4  When David asks the Lord to give him joy instead of asking for other  blessings. There are many who pray: “Give us more blessings, O LORD. Look on us with kindness!” But the joy that you have given me is more than they will ever have...Psalm 4:6-7 He knows that Peace is the outcome of our capacity to be joyful in the Lord. 8  In peace I will both lie down and sleep;  for you alone, O Lord, makes  me dwell in safety.   Psalm 4:8 David is also wise to know that his coming to God is not his own righteousness but the mercy of God. I through the abundance of your merciful love will enter your house. Psalm 5:7      

Late night reading the book of Genesis - the amazing story of the life Joseph, and listening to Fr Thomas Bobby Emprayil’s preaching..... Notes taken from from Rev Fr Bobby’s preaching We should look at the incidents of our life through a divine perspective. If we want to grow in spiritual life, we should received a SPIRITUALITY INNER VISION - The Eyes of our Heart. Once we receive this, we will look at everything through a Godly perspective. There are two ways through which we can look at our lives esp the miseries, the misunderstandings, the accusations, the misfortunes, the crosses we have to carry.... We can see these through a divine perspective or an earthly perspective. —> GOD CALLS US TO A HOPE Eph 1:17 17  I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him,  18  so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you , what ...