Denaha,The Manifestaton of the Lord.

Today's Gospel gives the account of  the Baptism of the Lord and  the descent of the Holy Spirt on Jesus. Jesus , like any other person of his time went over to John  the Baptist to recieve the baptism of repentance . John was  reluctant to baptize Jesus as he knew that the person standing before him is  the one who should be giving hm the baptism. But ,  he went along as by the express desire of Jesus.It is  after the baptism that Jesus began his public ministry and preached the advent of the Kingdom of God,  the kingdom of love and forgivness.
All of us  have received our baptism and  recieved the gifts of the Holy Spirit.But, our spirit is dormant and we are reluctant to  live and preach our faith.Our selfsihness and arrogance control us.This feast of Denaha should be a starting point for us to begin our Christian life  in a renewed way  , manifesting our faith in the Lord,Jesus.We should also take effort to speak about our faith and preach the message of Jesus.

Lenten Reflection,March 1,12,Mt.5:33-42

In today's Gospel, Jesus reverses some of the teachings that have come from the old Testament.People were once told that it was all right to take revenge upon people who had hurt them. Jesus is telling them not to to take revenge and to conquer evil with good.
During this season of Lent, we will get many opoortunities to do good. We should use them.It does not matter that we were hurt by the actions by others.  Jesus wants us not to retaliate and instead to shower the enemy with acts of goodness.
Retaliation,forgiveness  constricts our heart whereas forgiveness enlarges the horizon of our mind.Jesus wants us to be generous and forgiving.When we forgive, we experience the mercy of the Lord.We be come freed of all bondages.We become victors instead of victims.
We shall ask the Lord to give us the grace to foeget and forgive.