Transfiguration,Mt.7,1-9,Kaitha 5,Aug.6,Monday,18

In today's Gospel,we are listening to an event that is indescribably beautiful.The three disciples of Jesus were given a vision of the divinity of Jesus, a vision they would never forget in their lives.Even in the midst of the harshest of persecutions, th ememory of the vision and the words they listened to would be  forever stamped in their minds:Jesus is God.The voice telling them to listen to Him as He is the beloved Son of God was forever echoing in their ears.
Today for us listening to the event and trying to understnad their meaning, we have to tell ourselves that we hve to look at our expereinces in the perspective of the teachings of Jesus.We have to be afraid of nothing and keep our  total trust in Jesus.He is our everything and the source of our comfort and security.Each one of us will have differnt experience but we will be one when we carry in our hearts our fith in Jesus. He will protect us and carry us forward when the storms and turbulences of life try to harm us.He is our Lord and he will carry us in his arms.

Sept.22,Sleeva 2nd Friday,Mt.15:1-9

In today's Gospel, we find the Pharisees and the Scribes asking Jesus why his disciples are not keeping the age-old traditions of their faith . Eating  meals before washing their hands was considered a violation of the tradition. Jesus counters their argument by telling them that they are accusing his disciples of a braking a human tradition, while they are violating the divine commandment by not taking care of their parents. Jesus quotes the words of the prophet Isaiah to show that they are hypocritical in their words and actions.Jesus further points out that it is not the external actions that are important but their interior dispositions. It is our interior thoughts and actions directed by those thoughts that are more important.Our bad thoughts defile us.
Let us not be hypocritical in our lives.It is not the observance of rituals and traditions that are important but the good thoughts and actions that come from us are more important.We shall ask the Lord to change  our hearts so that we may become more merciful and loving.

Elia1,Sept.16,Lk.15:1-7,Parable of the Lost Sheep

 Jesus speaks about the joy that is felt by God when a sinner repents of his sins and  returns to Him. Jesus explains this through the parable of the Lost Sheep.A shepherd searches for his lost sheep and  feels extremely happy when he finds it.So too there will be joy in heaven when a sinner repents and comes back to God.This parable was spoken when the Pharisees and scribes accused Jesus of his association with sinners.They found it unacceptable that Jesus was welcoming sinners and eating with them.

Jesus makes it clear that he is not going to reject sinners but will accept them and love them.He wants them to be saved and not to be rejected and condemned.

What a source of comfort and consolation this saying of Jesus is for each one of us.We are not going to be rejected and abandoned just because of our sins. He will forgive us and offer his love for us.

Often we are caught in the web of our guilt feelings and feel ourselves condemned and guilty because of our sins.But through this parable Jesus offers us hope and peace.This is the joy that Christianity offers us.

Navarre Commentary: "In the face of our weakness,God does not stand idly by:he goes out in search of what is lost and makes every effort to find it....Meditation on this passage will help us to be optimistic and confident."

St.Therese of Lisieux: "What joy to remember that Our Lord is just;that he makes allowances for all our shortcomings, and knows full well how weak we are.What have I fear to then?Surely the god of infinite justice  who pardons th eprodigal son with such mercy will be just with me."

Elia 1 Wednesday,sept.13,Lk.12:41-48,Feast of St.John Chrysostom

Quotes from St.John Chrysostom
If you cannot find Christ in the beggar at the Chruch door, you will not find Him in the chalice.
Prayer is the place of refuge for every worry, a foundation for cheerfulness, a source of constant happiness, a protection against sadness.
Why not learn to enjoy the little things--there are so many of them.
the rich man is not one who is in possession of much, but one who gives much.
the Eucharist is a fire that inflames us ,that like lions breathing fire, we may retire from the altar being made terrible to the devil.
When we teach our children  to be good,to be gentle, to be forgiving...we instill in their souls and revel the image of god within them.
St.John was the Archbishop of Constantinople and later banished from the see on account of  the allegation raised against him that he was close to some followers of Origin.
4th-5th C.
In today's Gospel,   Jesus speaks about the need to be a careful steward. If we fail in our duty and waste the resources entrusted to our care, we would be punished and deprived of the opportunity to be in charge of the tasks that were  entrusted to us.More would be expected from theose who are given more.
God has given us the faith.We know the Lord will be there to protect us and to love us.We should use our knowledge to protect and love the  people entrusted to our care.Our faith should glow more powerfully through our daily activities.
god be kind to me and help me to grow in my love for you.

Sept.12,Elia 1,Lk 9 :23-27

In today's Gospel, Jesus speaks about the true nature of discipleship.Following Jesus would involve acceptance of the crosses of our daily life.The hardships and difficulties of daily life are the sources of our salvation.It is an accepting them that we become true followers of Jesus.We accept them not because we love suffering for its own sake but because we know that Jesus will protect us. Instead of becoming rebellious and hard-hearted, we become compassonate and merciful .Jesus reminds us that all that we accumulate as our comforts becomes meaningless, if they do not help our spiritual life.What is important is being with the Lord.
Lord, thank you for giving us the courage to follow you. No hardship of life will have the power to deflect us from our attachment to you.You give us peace and comfort and in you we find the joy of our life.What is  important is the salvation of our soul.Thank you Lord for your protection and love.

Sept1,Kaitha 6, Jo.15:18-25

Jesus speaks about the persecution and suffering that are going to be experienced by his disciples.The world is hating Jesus because he is speaking their value-systems.All those who follow Jesus will also stand by those values and hence they will be hated by the world.What he is telling us is that we don't have a rosy path to follow in our life of faith.When we live by the light of our faith, we are always standing against the spirit of the world and hence will be opposed and persecuted.
What we have to bear in mind is that opposition to our faith and religious life from our neighbors and friends on account of our faith should not deter us from following our path.We have  standing beside  us, Jesus, the anchor and protector of our life.

Sept.2,Kaitha 6,Lk.21:5-6;20-24

Jesus speaks about the destruction of the Temple and of the calamities that would happen to the people of Israel.These warnings remind us that nothing is permanent in our life. All that we see and enjoy as the most beautiful creations of man will disappear before our very eyes.What is important is our faith in our lord Jesus Christ and our determination to change the direction of our lives.Our faith in him will act as a strong bulwark against all kinds of oppressive systems