Col.3:12-17;Rom.12:9-21

Col.3:12-17
Clothe yourselves with heartfelt mercy,with kindness, humility...patience.Forgive as the Lord has forgiven you....Sing gratefully to God from your hearts in the psalms,hymns, and inspired songs.Whatever you do...do it int the name of the Lord Jesus.Give thanks to God the Father.
Rom.12:9-21
Detest what is evil...Love one another...Bless your persecutors.Never repay injury with injury..Do not be conquered by evil..Conquer evil with good.
Today is the day for me to live in the spirit of the above words of St.Paul.As Bishop has reminded, we have to leave the past and the future to God and live in the present, finding peace and happiness in the presence of the Lord. The presence of the Lord in our hearts gives us the courage to banish all thoughts of worry and fear.
The Lord is my life and strength and I will spend my time praising him.

Denaha-Epiphany,1st S,Jan.9,11,Lk.4:14-22

Tomorrow is the celebration of the Epiphany of the Lord---the manifestation of Jesus to the public.The reading from the Gospel is the proclamation of the Lord that the words of the Prophet Isaiah are fulfilled in him as he read those words in the Synagogue at Nazareth.The celebration of the Epiphany should be a reminder in my life about my life's mission and goals. As a Christian, my mission in this world is to live my faith and proclaim it through my life and actions.When I live the faith in total submission to the will of God, my life becomes another epiphany of my Christian faith.
Lord, help me to live a life that is open to you totally. Let me not be bothered by what I get from life or what others think of me. What is important is how I appear before you.Help me to live in peace , knowing that You are there always for me.As long as you are there in my life and as long as my faith in you remains unshaken, no power on earth , religious or non-religious, political or social, can take away peace from from the depths of my heart. As Merton, says,knowing that God loves me is enough for my happiness.

Jan.1,2011

Today is the beginning of the New year, offering me opportunities of plenty of reflections on the year that went by and the year that is taking shape. At the midnight mass, in my sermon, I made a reference to the opening lines of Browning's poem Rabbi Ben Ezra:" Grow old with me, the best is yet to be...See all and don't be afraid."I have to look ahead and walk confidently because the Lord will watch over me.Whatever He prepares for me in the months ahead will be "the best yet to be."In the Gospel for the mass, I read Mary's Magnificat which in fact represents for me my feeling about the past year: "My soul magnifies the Lord.He has done great things for me."Looking back, I find that He has guided me and protected me without any scratch. Whatever may be the challenges and problems I face in the New Year, I know, I would have the presence of the Lord in my life which will help me to walk confidently to face the music of life.Appropriating for myself, the words of Maria in the Sound of Music, I would say: "I have got confidence in me."
My Daily Bread gives very good reflections that are good for me: " Place your hopes, ambitions and efforts at My Feet.Do your best and leave the rest to Me....Rely on My Wisdom and love,and I will bring peace into your heart. Worries and fears will not leave you until you submit yourself to My Will in all things."
Thank you Lord for this New Year. Trusting you,I move forward.