In the Temple

Today’s Gospel Text:  Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom; 43 and when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, 44 but supposing him to be in the company they went a day's journey, and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintances; 45 and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions; 47 and all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 And when they saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been looking for you anxiously." 49 And he said to them, "How is it that you sought me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" 50 And they did not understand the saying which he spoke to them. 51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and man. Luke 2:41-52

Reflection: Reading this passage, I felt inspired to write this song. May it help you reflect and bring healing and blessing in your life: 

Find Jesus

When all seems lost
And you are seeking in the wilderness of your heart
For that peace that will satisfy every nagging thoughts
Search for him, who is called Jesus
You will find him for sure in the temple of your heart
The more you do, the more of him you will have

Sometimes the road seems dark
Weary and tired on your way
Stop not at anything for that peace is sure to come
Search for him, who is called Jesus
You will find him for sure in the temple of your heart
The more you do, the more of him you will have

As you reach a destination for a rest
Which never was and never will be
You knock and it is not the door
Search for him, who is called Jesus
You will find him for sure in the temple of your heart.
The more you do, the more of him you will have

Speak to him and ask if you have your doubts
If he the way, the truth and the life
Is he a sure path that men should trod
Search for him, who is called Jesus
You will find him for sure in the temple of your heart.
The more you do, the more of him you will have

If you thought you were the only one to do so
Joseph and Mary did search for him too\
And with him the countless generations in all age
Search for him, who is called Jesus
You will find him for sure in the temple of your heart.
The more you do, the more of him you will have

Prayer: Lord, I believe that it is only in searching for you that I will find you closer still in my heart and the more I do the more of you I will have.

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us

Possible with God

Today’s Gospel Text:  Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there till I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him." 14 And he rose and took the child and his mother by night, and departed to Egypt, 15 and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfil what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, "Out of Egypt have I called my son."  16 Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, was in a furious rage, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time which he had ascertained from the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah:  18 "A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they were no more." Matt 2:13-18

Reflection: Sometimes some people spend time in the ejaculatory one liner prayers with fervent devotion.  They will repeat these prayers again and again raising their hearts and mind to God.

One such person I recently came across would recite this particular one liner a hundred times daily: “Nothing is impossible with God.”

Indeed our God is the God of all possibilities there is nothing that he can’t accomplish.

But such faith, if not open to the wisdom of God, can land us in severe trouble, even for all eternity; it is as if forcing God to work according to our will in all things and in everything.

Faith is best lived according to the good, pleasant and pleasing will of God and that is what we as Christians are called to train our minds at. (cfr. Rom. 12:2)

In this gospel passage of today, Joseph and Mary could have asked the God of all possibilities, the luxury of life and to work a miracle for them in Bethlehem itself rather than ask of them to rush to Egypt in this condition, that too with a divine child.

The scripture clearly tells us that it is his will which is of prime importance in every prayer we make. In other words the goal of prayer, even before we learn to ask is to learn how to grow in knowing and understanding his will and plan for us.

Each one is called to grow in the knowledge of God, which is necessary for our own growth. Seeking to please him is first and foremost an action that will help us to grow and reach our completeness and thus our happiness.

  

Great peace have those who love thy law; nothing can make them stumble. Ps 119:165

Therefore the Psalmist would say; there is nothing shall I want. (Ps. 23:1)

Prayer:  Lord, may I have your wisdom and learn to rest in your will rather than seek those comforts which does not glorify you.

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us

It’s True

Today’s Gospel Text:  Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit; 19 and her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit; 21 she will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." 22 All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:  23 "Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel" (which means, God with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had borne a son; and he called his name Jesus. Matt 1:18-25

Reflection: The Holy Spirit is the third person in the Godhead and Jesus reveals to us that it is he who is going to be with us forever.

He has been given to us in Baptism and we are called to walk according to the Spirit (Gal. 5:16,25)

Joseph was willing not to walk by the Spirit and could have continued to follow the law of God, if not for that intervention of God in his dream and he would not have been wrong to put away Mary, after all it was not his responsibility to take care of a woman, who may be momentarily, considered as irresponsible in her discretion.

The whole law would have supported him in his action and what is worse Mary would have now been exposed publicly to meet the same of the many adulterers.

If Mary was exposed publicly, who would have believed her story, even in our day people, especially those who are sexually promiscuous, find it difficult to believe the great gift of continence and faithfulness to God.

Who doesn't wait for an opportunity to stand for justice and do what is right? Yes, the godless are the first to fight for justice through violence and wicked ways and such godless may have existed among the religious society of that time, clamoring for Mary's blood. 

They would have picked up the first stone to hit at Mary and perhaps succeeded in their design, if God would not have been with the righteous Mary. 

She is an embodiment of total faith and trust in the great possibilities of God.

How many of us men of faith will say; “nothing is impossible with God”, doubtless many will be able to say that but how many among these can in their actions and in their heart believe that this statement is true in every sense of the term.

To follow Jesus through Mary, is a call to believe in this great possibility of God, and Mary is there with us if we are to seek  her help to walk daily in that faith which alone can save us every moment unto eternity.

Prayer:  Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us

Know Your Status

Today’s Gospel Text:  In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, "Hail, O favored one, the Lord is with you!" 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there will be no end." 34 And Mary said to the angel, "How shall this be, since I have no husband?" 35 And the angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.  36 And behold, your kinswoman Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing will be impossible." 38 And Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her. Luke 1:26-38

Reflection: “In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David.” (vs.26)

Joseph seemed to be no ordinary man; for he belonged to the house of David, and Mary was betrothed to him.

Such are the vagaries of life; what we are and what we become the immediate next moment! 

Mary through her betrothal gains new status but yet a status lived in the simplicity of life, because Joseph himself was a righteous and simple man.

This reflection on Mary and Joseph should make us pause and reflect on our own personal status, where we come from and where we belong. 

There are times in our lives when we could deliberately be searching for that elusive fame or ancestry or hold on to that noble lineage, which is again our worldly possession. 

Such attachments to imaginary or real superiority could be a major obstacle to receiving the ancestry of Jesus, rooted in God as the Father; “from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named.” Eph 3:15

John the Baptist having seen the obstacles that such an attitude could throw up had this warning to the sheep:

“You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?  Bear fruits that befit repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father'; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire." Lk. 3:7-9

Prayer: Lord, you have promised that all who receive your Son Jesus and believe in him will be empower ed to be your children. (cfr. Jn. 1:12) Accept me and my family and make us your own through Jesus Christ our Lord.

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us